North State Journal Vol. 9, Issue 49

BRIEF this week

N.C. Supreme Court election case back in court

Raleigh

A federal appeals panel heard arguments Monday involving the still-unresolved November election for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat. Three judges on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, posed questions of attorneys for Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs, Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin and the State Board of Elections. No ruling was immediately announced after a 90-minute hearing. Riggs is ahead by fewer than 750 votes. Griffin seeks to remove more than 60,000 votes from the race tally. Monday’s legal arguments focused on whether Griffin’s efforts should be heard in federal court or remain in state court.

NC joins lawsuit against Trump birthright order the

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

Mich. Sen. Peters won’t run for reelection Lansing, Mich. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who led the Democrats’ Senate campaign efforts the past two election cycles, has announced he will not seek a third term in 2026, creating a highly contested battleground seat expected to be highly coveted by both parties. The 66-year-old’s unexpected decision Tuesday to step aside after just two terms comes as a surprise and poses a challenge for Democrats in Michigan during a turbulent period, likely dividing their strong bench between the gubernatorial and Senate race in 2026. Having lost Michigan in the presidential race, Peters’ decision forces Democrats to defend a critical Senate seat in Michigan without the advantage of an incumbent, complicating their efforts to regain control of the chamber in 2026.

RALEIGH — North Carolina’s new Democratic Attorney General Jeff Jackson has joined the lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s executive order ending birth-

right citizenship for those born to individuals illegally or temporarily in the country.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, is brought by 18 Democratic state attorneys general,

See LAWSUIT, page A2

Lumbee Tribe moves closer to federal recognition

President Donald Trump directed the Department of the Interior to aid the tribe’s efforts

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — North Carolina’s Lumbee Tribe is one step closer to receiving federal recognition after action taken last week by President Donald Trump.

“Considering the Lumbee Tribe’s historical and modern significance, it is the policy of the United States to support the full Federal recognition, including the authority to receive full Federal benefits, of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina,” Trump’s memorandum to the secretary of the Interior states.

“I love the Lumbee Tribe,” Trump said while signing the memorandum among other items last Thursday.

The memorandum directs the secretary of the Interior to submit a plan to aid the Lumbee Tribe in obtaining full federal recognition through legislation or other available

See LUMBEE, page A3

Longtime conservative consultant Carter Wrenn, who worked on campaigns in North Carolina for a half-century, has revealed many of the most

will keep working to get the Lumbee Fairness Act passed and signed into law.”

ASHLEY WHITE / NORTH STATE JOURNAL

“We

Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.)

New Attorney General Jeff Jackson joined several other Democrats in opposing the effort to reshape the 14th Amendment

BEN CURTIS / AP PHOTO

President Donald Trump holds up a signed executive order relating to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina in the Oval Office last Thursday.

the word | A cure for heart trouble

Heart trouble is a serious and highly unpleasant thing. We always feel sympathy for people who are so afflicted. Trouble with the natural heart, however, is not nearly so serious nor does it cause such distress, as spiritual heart trouble. There are two kinds of natural heart trouble: one is organic, the other sympathetic or nervous heart trouble.

The first is a diseased condition of the heart. The second is a reaction from something else.

In the spiritual life, there are also two kinds of heart trouble.

One comes from sin in the heart. In other words, it is organic heart trouble. The other is trouble that does not arise from sin, but is caused by something else.

Great suffering may come from either of these. But I am glad to tell you that I have found a specific and sure cure for heart trouble of every kind that afflicts the spiritual man.

We are told that man is born unto trouble, and that his days are full of trouble. Most of us know this to be true by personal experience. Trouble will always exist but all people are not affected in the same way by their troubles.

Trouble takes greater hold upon some people than others. Some have a way of meeting trouble and conquering it, so it does not affect their soul adversely. Others are continually troubled and bothered. They do not seem to be at peace. The trouble gets hold of their hearts. The trouble hinders them in their Christian life. Their countenance is a mirror of their heart. If they would tell what is in their hearts, they would be continually pouring out a tale of woe.

God meant for his people to be happy; not happy because they had no troubles but happy in spite of them.

When people realize that they are afflicted with natural heart trouble, they usually go to the doctor and get medicine. When we have spiritual heart troubles, we

ought to go to the Great Physician and get a remedy for our heart trouble.

Earthly physicians are often unable to cure heart trouble, but the Great Physician has a remedy that has never yet failed when properly used. It is a cure-all in the truest sense. There is no ill of the human heart that it cannot reach and overcome.

Have you spiritual heart trouble? God has a remedy that will be effectual in giving you not only immediate relief, but complete healing, and the fullest restoration, if you will take it according to directions.

The greatest trouble physicians have is getting patients to take their medicine according to directions. The Great Physician has the same trouble. People want to be cured but they do not want to take his remedy as he prescribes it. They cannot be cured, if they will not follow directions.

Do you wish to be cured of your heart trouble, whatever it is? God’s prescription was brought down from Heaven nearly two thousand years ago. You have had it in your house this long time.

This great prescription is found in John

Two state agencies end use of DEI

State Auditor Dave Boliek and Labor Commissioner Luke Farley made the announcements last week

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — North Carolina Labor Commissioner Luke Farley and State Auditor Dave Boliek have announced the end of their agencies’ use of diversity, equity and inclusion, known as DEI.

“Effective immediately, I am ending the N.C. Department of Labor’s (NCDOL) use of DEI metrics in evaluating the performance of the department’s hardworking employees,” Farley said in a statement. “From this point forward, we will hire and evaluate employees based on merit and on their ability to fulfill our mission to protect the health, safety and well-being of North Carolinians.”

from page A1

including Jackson. The city and county of San Francisco are also plaintiffs.

“This executive order is a straightforward violation of the Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to all people born on U.S. soil,” Jackson said in a press release. “For over a century, this principle has been upheld by the Supreme Court and remains a bedrock of our constitutional framework.”

The executive order, “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,” focuses on the 14th Amendment, stating the amendment “has never been interpreted to extend citizenship universally to everyone born within the United States.”

Trump’s executive order rescinds automatic birthright citizenship for children born in the United States if their mother was either unlawfully present or temporarily legally present, such as those on a tourist or student visa, and if their father was not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident at the time of birth.

Farley issued the announcement last Thursday. Boliek’s announcement that he intends to end DEI practices in his agency followed hours later.

“I am directing the Office of State Human Resources to remove DEI as a core measurement for evaluating NCDOL employee performance and am also directing that NCDOL managers and supervisors no longer consider DEI as an evaluation method,” Farley said.

“Going forward, I am adding a performance measure related to safety and health which will ensure that we hold ourselves to the same standards that we expect and require of our state’s employers. Ultimately, my goal is to hire and retain qualified, professional individuals who will provide excellent service to our state.”

Boliek was a UNC Board of Trustees member when the UNC System repealed its DEI policies and offices. Cuts to the programs and policies totaled

“Ultimately, my goal is to hire and retain qualified, professional individuals who will provide excellent service to our state.”

Dave Boliek, state auditor

$17 million, which has been reinvested in other priorities for the UNC System.

“DEI is divisive and brings little-to-no return on investment of time and resources,” said Boliek in a press release. “My goal in the Auditor’s Office is to establish a professional workplace where individuals are valued and measured based on merit. Corporations across the country are abandoning DEI, as are colleges and universities, and it’s time for the government to do the same.”

The press release cited the “negative effects of DEI are

The executive order directs federal agencies to stop issuing citizenship documents to such individuals born 30 days after the order’s date of Jan. 20, 2025, though it does not affect children of lawful permanent residents or those born before the order was issued.

“The Constitution leaves no room for executive reinterpretation on this matter — it is clear, settled, and binding,” said Jackson. “This order seeks to undermine that clarity, creating legal uncertainty and denying fundamental rights to children born in this country.”

In his release, Jackson said Trump’s order violates the 14th Amendment, which states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.”

He also said the order violates Section 1401 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

14:1. Here Jesus says, “Let not your heart be troubled.” It shows that heart trouble is not necessary. It also shows that the responsibility for our having heart trouble rests upon us. He says, “Let not your heart be troubled,” and that certainly signifies that we have the power to prevent heart trouble. According to Jesus, then, believing in God is a complete cure for all heart trouble. We may have many troubles in life but if we believe in God, it will prevent these things from causing the trouble to get into our hearts in a way that affects our Christian lives and hinders us in our service to God or to humanity.

Believing in God in the sense that provides a remedy for our troubles — means relying on him, taking his promises to be our very own, taking them as realities — realities to serve us just as practically and effectively as our hands or our eyes serve us.

Just believe in God. That is the remedy for your heart trouble. His promises will be fulfilled. He will take you through, though waves of trouble roll around you; and he will keep your heart in peace in the midst of the wildest storm or the greatest difficulty, and under the most unfavorable circumstances.

“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior!” Isaiah 43:1-3

Charles Wesley Naylor is considered one of the most prolific and inspiring songwriters of the Church of God. He was bedridden for much of his adult life but wrote eight books, a newspaper column and more than 150 songs. Many of his writings are in the public domain.

backed by years of research and studies,” as well as a Rutgers University’s Social Perception Lab and the Network Contagion Research Institute report that “found that DEI can heighten racial suspicion, prejudicial attitudes, and authoritarian policing.”

“As part of a comprehensive internal review, DEI will be eliminated from internal policies at the Office of the State Auditor, including any training, performance requirements,

“This executive order is a straightforward violation of the Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to all people born on U.S. soil.”

N.C. Attorney General Jeff Jackson

“As Attorney General, my role is straightforward as well: to defend the Constitution,” Jackson said. “That’s why I’ve joined this lawsuit, to uphold the rule of law and preserve the rights that have defined our nation for generations.”

Arizona, Illinois, Oregon and Washington filed a separate lawsuit in the U.S. District Court Western District of Washington in Seattle, bringing the total to 22 states and two cities suing over the order. The lawsuits filed by state attorneys general follow a complaint filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on Jan. 20. The ACLU’s lawsuit seeks a temporary injunction on the executive order.

preferencing, and directives,” Boliek’s press release said. The announcements come after President Donald Trump issued an executive order, which was mentioned in Boliek’s press release, ending DEI programs and practices at the federal level.

In a separate executive order, Trump ordered all federal agencies to terminate DEIbased hiring practices deemed “discriminatory” and return to merit-based hiring practices.

“Denying citizenship to U.S.born children is not only unconstitutional — it’s also a reckless and ruthless repudiation of American values,” said Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union. “Birthright citizenship is part of what makes the United States the strong and dynamic nation that it is.

“This order seeks to repeat one of the gravest errors in American history, by creating a permanent subclass of people born in the U.S. who are denied full rights as Americans. We will not let this attack on newborns and future generations of Americans go unchallenged.” According to the ACLU press release, the lawsuit was filed by the ACLU, the ACLU of New Hampshire, the ACLU of Maine, the ACLU of Massachusetts, the Asian Law Caucus and the State Democracy Defenders Fund. Additionally, the Legal Defense Fund is a plaintiff in the case on behalf of organizations with “members whose babies born on U.S. soil will be denied citizenship under the order,” which include New Hampshire Indonesian Community Support, League of United Latin American Citizens and Make the Road New York.

PUBLIC DOMAIN

“Christ Healing the Sick at Bethesda” by Carl Heinrich Bloch (1883) is a painting in the Brigham Young University Museum of Art collection in Provo, Utah.

CHRIS SEWARD / AP PHOTO

State Auditor Luke Farley, pictured in 2024, announced last week that his agency was eliminating DEI policies.

NELL REDMOND / AP PHOTO

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, pictured at a campaign rally in September, announced that the state is joining a lawsuit aimed at preventing President Donald Trump from altering the interpretation of the 14th Amendment.

LAWSUIT

Wrenn reflects on decades in politics with new book

The political consultant’s memoir spans decades of campaigns, going back to the days of North Carolina Sen. Jesse Helms

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — Few have seen the number of political eras come and go in North Carolina like veteran political consultant Carter Wrenn.

In a room filled with the scent of cigars and surrounded by shelf after shelf of books, Wrenn settled back into his chair as he spoke to North State Journal about his new book, “The Trail of the Serpent: Stories from the Smoke-Filled Rooms of Politics.”

“What I was trying to show was how politics changed,” Wrenn said of his book. “And some things never change, but I wanted to go tell stories from 50 years to show what has changed.”

He said he was inspired to write the book by conversations he had with a friend during the pandemic lockdowns.

Wrenn offered an example of when Ronald Reagan ran for president, noting there were “plenty of disagreements” but said “the candidates treated each other with a degree of mutual respect.”

“There’s a great story about when Reagan was wounded,” Wrenn said. “Tip O’Neill drives the hospital, goes in his room, kneels down by the bed and says prayer with him. That was the mutual (respect). They didn’t agree on anything, but they didn’t insult each other. And what you look at today is insults happen all the time in politics; (Donald) Trump called (Kamala) Harris dumb as a rock at one time. That would have backfired because people didn’t approve of that sort of behavior.”

Wrenn said lying was another example of how politics has changed.

LUMBEE from page A1 mechanisms. The plan must include the right to receive full federal benefits.

A tribe can gain federal recognition in three ways: through an Act of Congress, through the Department of the Interior’s Office of Federal Acknowledgement process or through a federal court decision.

The Lumbee Tribe was recognized by the state of North Carolina in 1885. The tribe began seeking federal recognition in 1888 and has an estimated current membership of more than 55,000 people living in Robeson, Hoke, Cumberland and Scotland counties.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) was among those who thanked Trump.

“Thank you, @POTUS @re-

“What I was trying to show was how politics changed. And some things never change, but I wanted to go tell stories from 50 years to show what has changed.”

Carter Wrenn

“Nixon got elected by a huge landslide and then get caught on tape telling a lie about Watergate and had to resign,” said Wrenn. “Today, politicians lie all the time and people cheer. And my point is, that’s a change.

“And if you want to, it’s easy to point fingers at politicians and blame them. But if people didn’t share lies, politicians wouldn’t lie.”

Wrenn said writing about the stories meant revealing the people in them.

“You have to name the names because the people that are involved,” he said. “How do you tell stories about what Arthur Finkelstein did if you don’t tell stories about Arthur?”

Wrenn also discussed the

aldonaldtrump, for making fed-

eral recognition of the Lumbee Tribe in North Carolina one step closer!” wrote Tillis in a post on X. “Now, Congress must do its job, fulfill its promise, and pass the Lumbee Fairness Act to make this federal recognition law.”

Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) echoed Tillis’ remarks in a post on X:

“We will keep working to get the Lumbee Fairness Act passed and signed into law.”

Freshman Rep. Mark Harris (R-N.C.), whose district includes Hoke County, said in a statement to North State Journal, “The Lumbee People have waited for decades for full federal recognition — President Trump’s executive order could not have come at a better time.”

“But we can’t lose momentum now. The House and Senate

shift of power between parties and the overall change in the political landscape both nationally and in North Carolina.

During his half-century in politics, Wrenn saw a political realignment in North Carolina, citing a shift from Democratic dominance to Republican growth. He explained how the Democratic Party initially contained both conservatives and progressives, and how Sen. Jesse Helms’ switch to the Republican Party helped attract conservative Democrats, contributing to a broader political realignment.

Wrenn outlined how the Republican Party shifted from being a “mainstream, nonideological” party to becoming more ideologically conservative under Reagan. Wrenn noted that this ideological focus has somewhat faded recently, particularly with Trump’s candidacy, which he characterizes as less ideologically driven.

“I don’t want to make this a long story, but when I started out in politics in the ’70s, I had been a Democrat,” he said.

“You know the Democrat Party ruled North Carolina politics all through the 20th century up until when Helms won. And in

must pass the Lumbee Fairness Act to codify this recognition once and for all. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this across the finish line.”

Trump had supported recognition of the Lumbee Tribe in his past presidential campaigns, including a promise in September 2024 that if elected, he would “sign legislation granting the great Lumbee Tribe federal recognition that it deserves.”

In late December 2024, the U.S. House passed the Lumbee Fairness Act, which would give the tribe full federal recognition and benefits. The bill was introduced by Rep. David Rouzer (R-N.C.) earlier in 2024, but the Senate has not yet passed the bill.

More than 30 bills recognizing the Lumbee Tribe have been filed in Congress over the years.

The Panama Canal

Another parallel in his book between past campaigns and the current political landscape regards the Panama Canal. Since being reelected, President Donald Trump has pushed the idea of retaking control of the Panama Canal, the transfer of which was a defining and heavily criticized move made by late former President Jimmy Carter.

the Democrat Party, there were conservatives and progressives; something like 20% of the voters were Republican then 85% were Democrat. So a Republican couldn’t win unless he got a lot of Democrat votes.”

Wrenn said that when Republicans like Helms ran in North Carolina in the Reagan era, they won because conservative Democrats were voting for them.

“And that made politics. … It started a realignment of the Republican Party,” said Wrenn.

“Before that, the Republicans were sort of a mainstream, nonideological political party. Reagan turned it into an ideological choice between a liberal Democrat and a conservative Republican. And that was really the key to him winning, that and the Cold War.

“What’s happened since then is the ideological has faded and you still have more conservatives on the Republican side than the Democrat. But Trump’s not really an ideological-type candidate. And so character then becomes more of a factor in the election.”

Wrenn said modern elections, particularly the recent presidential race, come down to character judgments among independent voters. Wrenn described it as a “Hobson’s choice” where voters must decide which candidate would “do the least harm.”

Wrenn attributed Reagan’s loss in 1976 to the conservative movement not being strong enough yet, while Trump’s loss in 2020 was primarily due to his handling of COVID-19, with Biden’s strategy of “staying hidden” proving effective in making the election a referendum on Trump.

“But four years later … we were losing the Cold War, and that was what got Reagan elected,” said Wrenn. “In 2000, I think that, again, the Trump versus Biden wasn’t really. … It was really more about COVID than anything else. And people look to Trump, and they thought he had bungled COVID.

“And Biden just stayed hidden in his basement. He just avoided being a topic of the election, and therefore, it tilted against Trump at the end of the day. And who knows what would have happened if he hadn’t have had COVID. But I think that was the deciding thing in that election.”

In recent years, Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) introduced bills to recognize the tribe in 2020 and again in 2021. Both passed the House but did not receive a vote in the Senate. North Carolina statehouse Sen. Danny Britt (R-Robeson) spoke to North State Journal positively about the memorandum, citing his support and continued push for federal recognition.

“I’ve always supported recognition. I’m a huge proponent of federal recognition,” said Britt. “I’ve worked as hard as I could from my level to influence other folks, such as U.S. Sen. Ted Budd whenever he was running and first started campaigning in Robeson County. I pushed him real hard on the issue of federal recognition.

“I think it will be an abso-

In his book, Wrenn describes Helms’ tough 1984 reelection fight, where he faced popular Democrat Gov. Jim Hunt and how the Panama Canal played a role. One of the most memorable moments was the use of a simple yet powerful ad featuring a farmer pouring oil into a tractor engine, criticizing Hunt for supporting the Panama Canal giveaway. The ad ended with the farmer asking, “Where do you stand, Jim?”

Wrenn said that ad, along with others, was effective in painting Hunt as out of touch with conservative values while raising an issue of a foreign threat, likely costing Hunt the election.

“W

HEN Arthur stared at his last poll his eyes locked on one number: Ninety-two percent of the voters opposed giving away Panama Canal. He sat for a moment looked up at Tom Ellis: “Hit Ford for the Panama Canal giveaway — don’t say a word about anything else for the last five days.”

Four years later, after the Democrats gave away the Panama Canal, they lost the Senate but a week before our primary no one had heard the words “Panama Canal Giveaway” in a campaign; none of us knew it then but Arthur had found the issue that wreaked havoc on Gerald Ford — fear drove that river and grim-faced men and women saw the Panama Canal giveaway as the heart of weakness.”

lute shot in the arm that eastern North Carolina has never seen as far as the influx of dollars that would come in if we would receive full federal recognition. But there is still a long path, though I appreciate the symbolic nature of what President Trump has done. It’s something that, quite simply, no other president has ever done.” Britt said the memorandum “goes a long way to influence those folks who may have a vote in the U.S. House or U.S. Senate,” though he underscored that the Lumbee Fairness Act still needed to be passed by both chambers of Congress. The Robeson lawmaker also spoke about the Cherokee Indian Tribe — opponents of the Lumbee receiving recognition — having “deep pockets” that could impact the Senate’s vote.

ASHLEY WHITE / NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Carter Wrenn signs his book, “The Trail of the Serpent: Stories from the Smoke-Filled Rooms of Politics.”

ASHLEY WHITE / NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Carter Wrenn, whose career in politics spanned 50 years, discusses his time working as a conservative consultant and some of the stories from his new book, “The Trail of the Serpent: Stories from the Smoke-Filled Rooms of Politics.”

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

The inevitable population time bomb

Thirty-five years of strict population control policy has triggered a mathematical apocalypse from which China can never recover.

IN 1968, Paul Ehrlich wrote “The Population Bomb.”

Everyone read it. Most of them freaked out. Unless strictly enforced radical population control was instituted with legalized abortion, mandatory birth control and the use of sterilants in water supplies immediately worldwide, Ehrlich said, the human race would suffer tribulations comparable to the end times before the end of the next decade.

“The battle to feed all of humanity is over. In the 1970s, hundreds of millions of people will starve to death in spite of any crash programs embarked upon now,” wrote Ehrlich.

World population in 1968 was 3.5 billion. Today, there are more than 8 billion people, almost all in countries where life spans have increased. Death rates have plummeted, and poverty rates have been slashed mostly through the internationalization of free trade and commerce.

Ehrlich was spectacularly wrong and rightfully ridiculed in many sectors. He outkicked the Malthusian Doctrine all by himself.

Ever since President Joe Biden opened up the floodgates to 10 million, 15 million or maybe 20 million undocumented illegal immigrants, one question has not been answered in any coherent manner by anyone in the Biden camp:

“Why?” What was the “real reason” Biden and progressive liberals wanted so many people to flood the United States illegally in the first place?

Conspiracy theorists have postulated various nefarious reasons: Democrats need them to cheat and win elections; human trafficking for prostitution and drug gangs; fulfillment of the Cloward-Piven strategy to take down America.

Ehrlich was wrong about a population explosion outracing food production capability

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

that would trigger massive loss of life. However, official government projections now point to a time in the not-too-distant future when adversaries such as China and Russia will see their populations shrink precipitously in an irreversible manner and become a shadow of their former selves.

It won’t be because they can’t feed their populations. It will be because the Chinese and Russians stopped having enough Chinese and Russian babies to replace their parents and grow their populations.

China hit its high-water mark of 1.49 billion people in 2024. By 2050, according to various population projection sources, the Chinese population is expected to be less than 1.26 billion. By 2100, there will be only 633 million Chinese in China, 60% fewer than today ― all self-inflicted by communists following the short-sighted population control policies espoused by Ehrlich, such as the one-child mandate in China from 1979 to 2015.

Thirty-five years of strict population control policy has triggered a mathematical apocalypse from which China can never recover.

Russian population currently is 145 million. By 2050, they will be down to 136 million Russians. By 2100, only 126 million Russians will be alive, a 13% decrease from today.

It is impossible to have sufficient economic growth to support a world superpower when your population and GDP are shrinking.

As illegal and dangerous as all the immigration of undocumented aliens has been, their presence is built into current projections of population growth for Americans. There are 345 million people living in the U.S. today; by 2050, that number is expected to hit 381 million, and by 2100, there will be 421 million Americans.

There have been more than 66 million legal abortions since Roe v. Wade was decided in

1973 in the wake of population control hysteria. The live birth rate in America is less than half of what it was in the late 1950s. The only way for the U.S. to continue to grow in population is to accept far more immigrants than we would have done otherwise.

World powers that experience declining birth rates and populations do not stay world powers for very long. Japan’s population is already shrinking (by 636,000 in 2024). Japan could become an economic basket case by 2050 and totally gone as a functioning nation by 2100.

Maybe there really was one genius hidden in the bowels of the stumbling, bumbling Biden administration who saw this coming and said: “You know, we need to have a lot more immigrants so the USA can outgrow our adversaries and maintain a solid economic growth rate while they tumble into oblivion.”

If so, we need to send all the bad actors back to their home country immediately and figure out how to process the remaining illegal immigrant population like America did on Ellis Island when 12 million European immigrants were strictly and legally processed from 1892 until 1954.

Otherwise, America will be hit by the same population time bomb that will devastate China, Russia and Japan.

This is the only national security reason possible for such blatant disregard for American immigration law. It doesn’t make it right. At least it would have been more believable than anything put forth yet ― which has been nothing.

Trump visit will be a game changer for western NC

People have a renewed sense of hope and optimism now that things will get done.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S response to Hurricane Helene has been the subject of intense disagreement and debate, with residents in the impacted areas of western North Carolina saying one thing and FEMA administrators and Democrat elected officials saying something else. It started on the wrong foot the weekend Helene hit the state. Then-President Joe Biden was on vacation relaxing at his Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, home while then-Vice President Kamala Harris was conducting presidential campaign fundraising at posh events in her home state of California.

The optics alone for the Biden-Harris administration were awful considering, at the time, there was an unknown number of deaths, and the devastation was, as some weather forecasters predicted, widespread, with the topography dramatically changed and parts of western North Carolina completely unrecognizable.

Three days after the storm hit, Biden was holding a press conference on the federal response to the hurricane when a reporter point-blank asked him, “Why weren’t you and Vice President Harris here in Washington commanding this this weekend?”

A testy Biden did not like the question and responded by telling the reporter, “I was commanding it. I was on the phone for at least two hours yesterday and the day before as well. I command it. It’s called a telephone and all my security people.”

Biden did visit later that week, but by that point, the damage was done, with accusations

flying in the months after that FEMA was actually hindering rescue and recovery efforts and was making promises about temporary housing that they allegedly weren’t keeping.

Meanwhile, North Carolinians were stepping up, and nonprofits and independent organizations were filling the void as well, including Samaritan’s Purse, the Cajun Navy and a group of Amish carpenters from Pennsylvania.

Things hit a fever pitch in early January as a winter weather event was expected to impact both North and South Carolina, with local reports indicating that around 3.500 displaced families were going to be kicked out of hotels right as the storm hit because their vouchers were expiring.

After Republican leaders and Gov. Josh Stein (D) intervened, FEMA announced extensions on the vouchers so the people would have a place to stay.

During his inauguration address Jan. 20, President Donald Trump mentioned North Carolina, noting, “Our country can no longer deliver basic services in times of emergency, as recently shown by the wonderful people of North Carolina, who have been treated so badly.”

Four days later, he visited the state, the first trip he’d taken since being sworn in. He was swarmed upon arrival, with members of the community clearly eager to embrace and endorse new leadership and fresh commitments to be there every step of the way from the incoming administration.

While here, Trump indicated he was going

to be cutting a lot of red tape that had hindered progress with a slew of executive orders that specifically addressed the needs of western North Carolina.

He also pledged that federal funding would now be coming from an entity other than FEMA, the details of which have yet to be announced.

Another big priority Trump put on the todo list was the possibility of FEMA reform or even “getting rid” of it, suggesting that disaster response was best handled at the state level, saying states more so than the feds were in a better position to know the needs of their people.

It remains to be seen how his plan to address the gross inadequacies of the federal response will take shape. But one thing is certain: People have a renewed sense of hope and optimism now that things will get done.

Now the only thing left to do is for Trump to formally set conditions that will enable progress to happen.

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.

Trump inaugurates a new era

BREATHTAKING.

There’s no other word for the sheer ambition and scope of Donald Trump’s second inaugural address. Trump is back with all the confidence of a man delivered from death for a purpose.

Voters saved his political life and legacy by reelecting him in the face of every accusation and criminal charge against him.

Trump has been given a second chance — by God and country alike — and his address left no doubt he intends to use it to transform America.

“The future is ours, and our golden age has just begun,” he promised.

Other presidents have struck optimistic notes, but Trump has also laid out an agenda bolder than anything since the New Deal. John F. Kennedy pledged to take America to the moon, and Trump says we will “plant the stars and stripes on the planet Mars.”

The president backed down from nothing he vowed on the campaign trail or in the weeks since his reelection. He described the immigration crisis in the language supporters and opponents alike have come to expect, but probably no one guessed he’d invoke 1798 legislation regarding “alien enemies” as authority for a new push against foreign gangs and criminal groups operating in our country.

And cartels ferrying drugs and human beings across our borders will now officially be designated as terrorist organizations.

Trump reiterated his belief that Panama has not lived up to its obligations to America concerning the canal, overcharging our ships for passage and giving China too much influence over the critical strategic waterway.

Yet “fire and fury” wasn’t the theme of Trump’s address — quite the contrary: “My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier,” he said.

Trump’s plans for the military include expunging “radical political theories” and “social experiments” imposed on service members, and he intends to reinstate, with back pay, anyone expelled for refusing the COVID vaccine.

“Our armed forces will be free to focus on their sole mission: defeating America’s enemies,” he announced, along with an aim of rebuilding and strengthening the military.

Yet diplomacy received equal emphasis:

“We will measure our success not only by the battles we win but also by the wars that we end, and, perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into.”

The speech had terrific turns of phrase reflecting the turnarounds in policy and results of Trump promises: “Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich other countries, we will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens,”

COLUMN | GARLAND TUCKER

he said, heralding the creation of an “External Revenue Service” to collect tariff revenue.

Can Trump achieve all this with the House of Representatives barely under Republican control? For that matter, will the GOP Senate give Trump the backing to follow through on what he sees as his popular mandate?

While the president still peppers his prepared remarks with casual asides, there was no improvisation in the substance of the speech: Trump has a plan, and he told the nation exactly what it is — in detail.

Experience has taught him powerful lessons: Unlike in 2017, there will be no waiting on Congress to help set priorities this time. Trump feels the wind at his back, and his enemies haven’t yet regrouped from the rout he inflicted on them last November.

The very words of this inaugural address could change Washington, drawing new battle lines and scrambling old playbooks. Republicans have long criticized gender ideology and DEI, the identity-based policies euphemistically branded as “diversity, equity and inclusion.” But Trump declared full-on war against these core progressive commitments of the 21st century.

He reads the election as a referendum on the protection of women’s spaces against intrusion by biological males.

And although the president didn’t use the words “affirmative action,” his address signaled the entire system of racial preferences and dogmas that identity politics depends on is up for dismantling.

Before Trump spoke, administration officials briefed reporters on background about how the president’s executive orders would put his vision into effect.

They won’t leave any doubt about what it means to be a woman, for one thing: For purposes of government documents, including passports and visas, and for the protection of “intimate spaces,” from now on, federal agencies will recognize only two innate sexes, not a plethora of socially constructed genders.

There is an order to redefine birthright citizenship so the children of illegal immigrants won’t automatically be considered American. These orders will be contested in the courts, of course.

But they’ll also be contested in elections, and Trump seems certain his agenda will win at the ballot box just as he has.

This was the address of a man who dares everything, which is what Donald Trump’s supporters want and what his critics most fear.

Daniel McCarthy is the editor of “Modern Age: A Conservative Review.”

Quadrennial reflections

AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL elections come up every four years with monotonous regularity. It’s an integral part of our constitutional republic. Despite times of war, peace, economic turbulence, euphoric prosperity or whatever, we faithfully elect (or reelect) a president every four years.

One by-product of this quadrennial electoral process is that Americans are forced to engage in a brief communal period of hopeful anticipation and serious reflection. The election of a president is a natural time to anticipate the challenges of the future and to reflect on lessons of the past.

Just four years ago, we were knee-deep in this process. There was widespread anticipation that Joe Biden would be a “transitional” president, one who would move the country from the political turbulence of the past four years to a period of more political normalcy.

At the same time, a small group of prominent historians met with the newly elected president and exhorted him to move boldly to become a “transformational” president in the mold of Biden’s hero, Franklin Roosevelt. Such were the reflections four years ago.

As it turned out, Biden was neither.

But nonetheless, here we are again: four years later, fully engaged in our quadrennial reflections. The media is rife with ponderings about Trump’s second term. One of the more interesting — and perhaps useful — aspects of all these is the historical nature of some of them.

As we have been reminded now countless times, there is only one historical precedent for a president serving two nonconsecutive terms. Grover Cleveland has been referenced more in the past three months than in the preceding 130 years.

Most Americans know little or nothing of Cleveland. As commentator Karl Rove observed recently, Cleveland’s second term was a political disaster.

Although he triumphantly returned to the White House for a second term after a four-year interregnum and remained steadfast in his conservative convictions, Cleveland lost control of his political party and left office an isolated, defeated figure.

Gaining a second nonconsecutive term does not guarantee success.

Aside from the political outcome of the Cleveland presidency, Americans can benefit from a brief look at Cleveland the man. He is best remembered for his personal honesty and unflinching commitment to limited government. He holds the record for the most presidential vetoes of congressional spending. Not a bad legacy.

Perhaps even more surprising than the reemergence of Cleveland is the looming presence of Calvin Coolidge over the 2024-25 presidential reflections. The frequency with which Coolidge is mentioned these days is a bit perplexing.

At first glance, it’s hard to see many parallels between Trump and Coolidge.

Yet a recent Boston Globe article, “What the Next President Could Learn From Calvin Coolidge,” calls forth Coolidge as an exemplary president for our time. In a notso-subtle comparison to Trump, the Globe article quotes Coolidge, “It is a great advantage to a president and a major source of safety to the country, for him to know he is not a great man. When a man begins to feel that he is the only one who can lead the republic, he is guilty of treason to the spirit of the institutions.”

While it’s impossible to envision Trump embracing anything close to Coolidge’s self-deprecation, there is more affinity between their political philosophies. Coolidge was relentlessly focused on reducing the scope and cost of government and commensurately reducing taxes.

Trump’s DOGE will need a similar commitment.

Coolidge and Trump would also see tariffs and immigration similarly. In very different ways, these two men were masters of communication. Coolidge effectively employed radio and print media to dominate the decade of the ’20s, just as Trump has mastered social media.

The most eloquent insertion of Coolidge into current reflections was from Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist George Will. At the annual Coolidge Presidential Foundation dinner in New York City shortly after November’s election, Will hailed Coolidge as “the cure for our unrestful politics.”

He heartily concurred with Amity Shlaes’ designation of Coolidge as “The Great Refrainer.” Coolidge perfected a disciplined form of brevity and transformed restraint into a political virtue — attributes not found in modern politics. Will lamented, “(Coolidge’s) sixty-seven months at the helm of this country were something that will never be repeated again. That is, he left the government smaller than when he entered it.”

Coolidge believed in and abided by our founding documents — the Declaration of Independence and the U. S. Constitution. Will hailed Coolidge’s 1926 speech commemorating the sesquicentennial of the Declaration of Independence as “one of the great speeches in presidential history.”

In this speech, Coolidge proclaimed, “About the Declaration, there is a finality that is exceedingly restful.” This finality is grounded on the understanding that human nature is fixed, which presupposes “natural rights, rights essential to the flourishing of people with this nature.”

This flies directly in the face of “the nonsense about wokeness and the culture wars that have convulsed our country.” Progressivism posits that human nature is “infinitely malleable … and politics must control everything because it is shaping the malleable human creatures.”

Will concluded, “Wokeness will stop when we get back to the restful politics” of Coolidge.

Who knows how Trump’s second term will play out. Let’s just hope that, when it’s finished, it will somehow remind us of Cleveland and Coolidge.

Garland S. Tucker III is the retired chairman/CEO of Triangle Capital Corporation. He has authored several books.

BE IN TOUCH

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

Trump acts decisively on illegal immigration

AFTER GIVING ONE of the most revolutionary inaugural addresses in American history, President Donald Trump has acted decisively to prove he is serious about keeping his promises. Reversing illegal immigration and controlling the border were among the biggest issues in the 2024 election. Only the economy, inflation and affordability rivaled them.

The American people strongly agree with Trump’s focus.

At America’s New Majority Project, we have closely studied public opinion on immigration issues. The public sentiment is overwhelming.

Americans agree we must control the border first. In fact, 74% say the U.S. must first focus on securing its borders, fixing immigration laws and ending illegal immigration before making decisions about what to do about illegal immigrants already in the country (18% disagree).

Furthermore, 70% support declaring a state of emergency to allow the deployment of FEMA and National Guard personnel to border communities (19% oppose).

A full 68% support designating drug cartels as terrorist groups (22% oppose).

Trump has done all these things in his first four days in office.

The Biden-Harris administration allowed a ridiculously wide interpretation of asylumseeking laws in order to make the borders more open. Yet, 75% of Americans support requiring asylum seekers to enter the U.S. through legal methods (17% disagree).

Finally, the concern about illegal immigration is so great that 83% support requiring local law enforcement to check the status of suspects arrested for crimes with immigration authorities — and detain them for deportation if they are here illegally (11% oppose).

This strong support indicates why so many Democrats joined with Republicans to pass the Laken Riley Act. It must infuriate the media and Trump’s opponents that the first law passed under his new administration was bipartisan.

As Maya C. Miller of The New York Times wrote of the Laken Riley Act:

“The final vote, 263 to 156, capped the opening salvo in a broader Trump-era crackdown on immigration and undocumented migrants that the president has promised, Republicans have championed, and a small but increasing group of Democrats has begun to embrace. Forty-six House Democrats joined all Republicans in backing it, a sign of the growing cross-party consensus around taking a harder line against those who enter the country illegally.”

Last Wednesday, Trump signed an executive order declaring a national emergency at the southern border.

The measure directed military and National Guard forces to deploy to the southern border to assist in its security — and for Department of Homeland Security officials to finish the wall, which was greatly expanded under Trump’s first term.

On the same day, the president signed another order instructing the departments of Homeland Security, Justice and State “to take all necessary action to immediately repel, repatriate, and remove illegal aliens across the southern border of the United States.”

This effort should have a dramatic effect on those trying to get into the country illegally — or those attempting to smuggle people, drugs and weapons over the border. Importantly, this will return the asylum process to its historic, orderly state.

In the first four days of his new administration, Trump has issued an amazing number of other new executive orders.,

In addition to hardening the border and deporting hundreds of criminal illegal aliens, he has made a strong push to end birthright citizenship for children born to women in the country illegally or temporarily — unless their fathers have legal permanent residence.

This will ultimately become a serious, history-making decision for the U.S. Supreme Court. The justices will have to determine the ultimate meaning, intent and bounds of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”

To list a few more, Trump also signed orders:

•Directing federal agencies to identify nations that fail to provide sufficient information about their citizens who come to America — and bar such nationals from entry going forward

•Halting refugee admissions and so-called parole programs pending evaluations and changes to U.S. policy

•Withholding federal funds from cities and jurisdictions that don’t comply with U.S. immigration laws

•Barring illegal immigrants from receiving public benefits

•Reinstating his “Remain in Mexico” policy

•Empowering more federal law enforcement agents to enforce immigration laws

Trump has already made enormous steps toward reversing illegal immigration and fixing the broken border.

His vigor and energy are truly historic — and there is more to come.

Newt Gingrich is a former Republican speaker of the House.

Murphy to Manteo Jones &

Drought remains even after record snow fall

iveway The High Po nt F re Depar

k ng” ncident According to repor ts the duplex did not have work ing smoke

$200,000 in damage In a statement the High Point Fire Depar tment todd ler s family

EAST

Freeman said she “ conc uded that there were statements that were made by (Macar io) that appear to be fa se and mis eading ” prompting her to open an investigation by the SBI and subsequent d sm ssa l of about 180 ca ses she said were predom nantly

NATION & WORLD

Democrats, voting

groups call

bid to toss out NC ballots attack on democracy

The Supreme Court race between Allison Riggs and Jefferson Griffin remains unresolved

By Gary D. Robertson

The Associated Press

RALEIGH — Copland Rudolph cast a ballot in the November election, just as she has for years, with her vote counting on a long list of North Carolina contests that were settled soon after.

Nearly three months later, she’s still not sure it will count for one of the higher-profile races — a seat on the state Supreme Court.

The Republican candidate, Jefferson Griffin, is still seeking to reverse the outcome, even after two recounts showed Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs narrowly winning the election. Riggs remains on the court while the legal battles play out.

Litigation in state and federal court should decide the outcome of Griffin’s efforts to have roughly 66,000 ballots thrown out. If the legal challenge succeeds, Griffin’s lawyers say it would probably result in him claiming the seat. That would expand the high court’s current 5-2 conservative majority.

Rudolph is among the voters whose ballots are being challenged by Griffin and who could be disenfranchised, and she’s not happy about it. Her message to Griffin is clear: Stop the games and concede the race.

“It’s infuriating,” said Rudolph, 57, who leads an education foundation in Asheville.

“These votes have been counted. They’ve been recounted. The math is not in doubt.”

Democrats, voting rights activists and good government groups say Griffin’s actions and support for them by the state GOP are an affront to democracy. The votes on the challenged ballots have otherwise been used to determine the outcome of every other top race in North Carolina last fall.

While The Associated Press has declared 4,436 winners in the November election, with four candidates headed to runoff elections, the North Carolina Supreme Court contest is just one of four races nationwide that remain undecided.

Griffin’s critics say his refusal to accept defeat is a blatant attempt to overturn the will of the voters and further partisan interests. If successful, his legal arguments could serve as a roadmap to reverse future election results in other states.

“The eyes of the entire country are on this race because the implications of having free and fair elections that are being questioned and potentially overturned are devastating,” former Gov. Roy Cooper told reporters this month.

The fight for the Supreme Court seat in the nation’s ninth-most populous state is being considered in two court systems. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Monday about whether federal or state courts should handle the case.

The state Supreme Court declined this week to grant Griffin’s request for the justices to fast-track a decision on whether the ballots should be counted or removed from the final tally. They said Griffin’s appeals of State Board of Elections decisions last month that dismissed his ballot protests must go through a trial court first.

Riggs leads Griffin by just

734 votes out of more than 5.5 million ballots cast. Her side says Griffin is trying to overturn an election after the fact by removing ballots and violating voters’ rights and that he should have conceded long ago.

“I am disappointed that the door has been opened to dragging this out for so long,” Riggs said in a news release this past week. “I will continue to make sure that the more than 65,000 voters who Griffin seeks to disenfranchise have their voices heard.”

Griffin has declined comment on the litigation, saying doing so would violate the state’s judicial conduct code.

On election night. Griffin led Riggs by about 10,000 votes, but that lead switched to Riggs as provisional and absentee ballots were added to the totals.

Republicans already had signaled they might pursue postelection challenges in close North Carolina races when they filed numerous preelection lawsuits, a tactic the GOP used in other states last year. Their North Carolina lawsuits focused in part on registration and residency issues that are now contained in Griffin’s protests.

Tillis among GOP senators facing possible primary challenge

The North Carolina centrist has irked some Republicans

DES MOINES, Iowa — From activists on the far right to Elon Musk, allies of President Donald Trump have been quick to threaten primary challengers for Republican senators who don’t back his Cabinet picks and legislative priorities. In the case of Iowa’s Joni Ernst, conservatives threatened to run against her if she didn’t back Trump’s pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth — before she announced she would.

Louisiana’s Bill Cassidy, a doctor before entering politics, is being closely watched for how he will question Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee for health secretary.

South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham, a Trump confidant, has long been targeted by the far right in his state and was booed at a home-state rally during the 2024 presidential campaign.

And there’s North Carolina’s Thom Tillis, who has posi-

tioned himself as a Republican willing to reach across the aisle to work with Democrats. Tillis angered some on the right for not immediately supporting Trump’s first pick for attorney general, former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz. Though Gaetz withdrew from consideration, Tillis remains a frustra-

tion to some among North Carolina’s right wing, in part for voting to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.

Andy Nilsson, a onetime candidate for lieutenant governor, has filed paperwork to challenge Tillis. The retired businessman has called for a return to the Reagan-Bush Re-

Ind. man pardoned by Trump fatally shot by police

Rensselaer, Ind.

An Indiana man was fatally shot by a deputy during a traffic stop just days after he was pardoned by President Donald Trump for a misdemeanor related to the 2021 U.S. Capitol riot. Matthew Huttle, 42, of Hobart, was killed Sunday by a Jasper County sheriff’s deputy after resisting arrest, authorities said. In 2023, Huttle was sentenced to six months in custody after pleading guilty to entering a restricted building. He had traveled with his uncle to Washington, D.C., to attend the Jan. 6, 2021, pro -Trump rally, and they both entered the Capitol. Huttle was inside for 16 minutes and recorded it on video.

Woman sentenced for bringing pregnant Chinese women to U.S.

“Elections boards don’t have the authority to ignore and overrule the state constitution or state law,” state GOP Chairman Jason Simmons said recently on the social platform X.

A little over 60,000 of the challenged ballots were from voters whose registration records lack a driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number, which election officials have been required to collect since 2004. This group includes even Riggs’ parents.

Griffin’s attorneys say the registrations are incomplete, and they blame the state board for having registration forms that for years didn’t specifically require one of these numbers. But lawyers for Riggs and the state board say there are many legitimate reasons why the numbers are missing. In any case, critics of the challenges say it’s not the voters’ fault.

The State Board of Elections, of which three of the five members are Democrats, dismissed Griffin’s protests last month, mostly along partisan lines, but the state Supreme Court on Jan. 7 blocked certification of a Riggs victory, at least for now.

publican ethos, hardly an attack from the right. Tillis faced three Republican challengers in 2020, all posing as more conservative than him.

Tillis has reason to expect a right-wing challenge. That faction helped lift former Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson to the 2024 nomination for governor last year. But North Carolina is expected to be among the most competitive states for Senate Republicans to hold in 2026. Roy Cooper, a Democrat who just finished two terms as governor, has not ruled out running for the seat. National Republicans are aware of the risks of nominating someone too far to the right. Cooper’s Democratic successor, Gov. Josh Stein, beat Robinson — whose campaign was riddled with controversy — by nearly 15 percentage points in a state that Trump won by 3 points.

To that end, Trump’s team and Tillis have been working together behind the scenes, said former Gov. Pat McCrory, a fellow Republican.

“I anticipate there will be threats of challenging him from the right. But I also think he’ll deal with it as he has, with hard work and a record of accomplishment,” McCrory said.

“I think the incoming administration sees that.”

“They also see he’s the best chance of keeping North Carolina red,” he added.

A California woman was sentenced Monday to more than three years in prison in a long-running case over a business that helped pregnant Chinese women travel to the United States to deliver babies who automatically became American citizens. U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner gave Phoebe Dong a 41-month sentence and ordered her immediately taken into custody from his federal court in Los Angeles. Dong and her husband were convicted in September of conspiracy and money laundering through their company, USA Happy Baby. The sentencing came as U.S. birthright citizenship has been thrust into the spotlight by President Donald Trump.

Hundreds of U.S. visa appointments canceled in Colombia Bogota, Colombia Visa appointments at the U.S. Embassy in Colombia were canceled Monday following a dispute over deportation flights from the U.S. that nearly turned into a costly trade war between the two countries. Dozens of Colombians arrived at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota and were handed letters saying their appointments had been canceled “due to the Colombian government’s refusal to accept repatriation flights of Colombian nationals” over the weekend. Later Monday, the Colombian government said it was sending a plane to pick up a group of Colombians on a deportation flight that was not allowed to land on Sunday morning.

Netanyahu hopes to meet with Trump next week

Washington, D.C. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is hoping to meet with President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., as early as next week, according to two U.S. officials familiar with preliminary planning for the trip. Should the trip come together in that timeframe, Netanyahu could be the first foreign leader to meet with Trump at the White House since his inauguration last week. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the planning remains tentative, said details could be arranged this week.

CHRIS SEWARD / AP PHOTO

Ted Corcoran reads names from a list of more than 60,000 people who cast ballots in the November 2024 election but whose votes have been challenged by Republican state Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin.

BEN CURTIS / AP PHOTO

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) speaks at the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on Jan. 15.

NSJ 5th Annual Auto Awards

As another year of automotive evolution comes to a close, one thing stands crystal clear: Innovation isn’t limited to six-figure luxobarges or EV startups (though there’s still plenty of both). The pace of change means even affordable vehicles come packed with features that would have seemed like science fiction just a few years ago, while premium vehicles push boundaries in entirely new directions.

This year’s winners showcase the breadth of automotive progress. The Volvo EX90 brings Swedish sensibility to the electric future, while the Tesla Model 3 Performance proves that a world-class sports car doesn’t require spending six figures (and it can have four doors!). The Cybertruck, love it or hate it, points toward fundamental changes in how we’ll build cars in the future. Meanwhile, the humble Chevrolet Equinox proves that advanced tech doesn’t

require a luxury badge, and the Lincoln Nautilus reminds that American luxury can innovate beyond just following European trends.

What ties them together isn’t their powertrains or price points — it’s their ability to move the automotive world forward in meaningful ways.

Here’s to the cars that dared to be different in 2024.

— Jordan Golson, North State Journal

Best of the Year | Volvo EX90

After driving Volvos for nearly a decade — including my own beloved V60 — I wasn’t surprised that the EX90 was worth the wait. This three-row electric SUV represents everything great about Volvo: thoughtful Swedish design, cutting-edge safety technology, and family-friendly practicality, all wrapped in an impressive package built in South Carolina.

The EX90’s party piece is that prominent LIDAR sensor perched above the windshield, promising future autonomous capabilities. But it’s the complete package that impresses — from the Thor’s Hammer headlights that dramatically split open to reveal the actual lamps to the Google-powered infotainment system that actually works. With 517 horsepower and a 300-mile range, plus access to Tesla’s Supercharger network, it’s a legit competitor to anything from Germany or California.

The fact that it’s just getting started — with over-the-air updates promising new features and capabilities — makes it even more exciting. It’s the new benchmark for electric SUVs.

Sports Car of the Year | Tesla Model 3 Performance

I was so impressed with the new Model 3 Performance that I went out and bought one for myself. At some $48,000 (after $7,500 tax credit), it’s a sports sedan on par with the BMW M3 Competition for nearly half the price. And with 510 HP and a 0-60 time below 3 seconds, it has the goods to back it up.

It’s also a substantial upgrade from the old Model 3, getting quieter, more refined and generally more luxurious than before. It’s also a looker, with designer Franz von Holzhausen tightening up the car with new lighting elements front and rear completing the package. The seats in particular are worth calling out — I drove some 7,500 miles in three weeks on a cross-country road trip last month with zero fatigue from the car itself.

I only wish it was a hatchback, but that’s a small complaint for what is otherwise the best car I’ve ever driven under $100,000.

Truck of the Year | Tesla Cybertruck

SUV of the Year | Chevrolet Equinox

In a year dominated by high-tech marvels and pricey EVs, the humble Chevrolet Equinox serves as a refreshing reminder that innovation can still be found where it matters most: in cars that people can actually buy. Even better, it’s a glimpse into a future where “affordable” doesn’t necessarily mean “stripped-down.”

The Equinox takes advantage of Chevrolet’s massive economies of scale, standardizing technology across its vehicle lineup. That means even this $35,000 crossover comes packed with goodies like twin 11-inch displays, wireless Apple CarPlay, heated seats and steering wheel, and every imaginable driver assist feature. The peppy 1.5-liter turbo and eightspeed automatic make it surprisingly fun to drive, too.

It’s proof that the democratization of technology isn’t just GM marketing blather — it’s happening right now in your local Chevy dealer, and that’s worth celebrating.

Nothing else looks like the Cybertruck, and that’s by design. The controversial stainless steel body may be off-putting to some, but it represents a fundamental rethinking of how to build vehicles — eliminating the expensive and environmentally challenging paint shop entirely. Don’t like the silver? Wrap it in any color you want.

But it’s the hidden innovations that make the Cybertruck significant. The 48-volt electrical architecture enables new features while reducing complexity and weight. The steer-by-wire system eliminates the mechanical connection between steering wheel and wheels, allowing for variable ratios and better maneuverability. Even the automotive ethernet system dramatically simplifies the vehicle’s wiring.

These advancements will influence vehicle engineering for years to come, whether you love or hate the polygonal styling. The Cybertruck isn’t just different for difference’s sake (though there’s a bit of that, too) — it’s literally a car from the future.

Luxury of the Year | Lincoln Nautilus

The Nautilus proves that luxury innovation doesn’t require a European accent. Lincoln’s new 4-foot-wide display, artfully integrated beneath the windshield, isn’t just for marketing buzz — it proves that you can go beyond just slapping a massive screen in the car and calling it job done.

Running Google’s automotive operating system, this clever screen setup can sling your Apple Maps navigation up high where you need it, run a racing game while you’re parked (complete with controller support), or activate the clever new Rejuvenation Mode that combines massage, scent and climate controls for a truly relaxing experience. Even the air conditioning is smart, with vents that can oscillate like a summer breeze.

Starting in the mid-$50s, Nautilus brings cleverness to the luxury space without a prohibitive price tag. It’s exactly the kind of fresh thinking Lincoln needs to stand out in a wildly crowded segment.

immediate payment. This the 23rd day of January 2025. Norva L. Rivera 4034 Dickens Ave., Hope Mills NC 28348 Administrator of the Estate of Wilfredo Rivera Hernandez, deceased June 29, 2024

NOTICE In The General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Before the Clerk Estate File #24 E-1112 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE The undersigned having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Hilton Johnson, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby notifies all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said Estate to present/ resubmit their claim to the undersigned on or before the 9th day of April, 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. All Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 9th day of January, 2025. Regina Byrd Administrator 1100 Clarendon Street Apt. 508 Fayetteville, NC 28305

NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE NO. 24E002924-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Sylvester Kirkland, Jr., 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 April 9, 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 9th day of January, 2025. Sylvester Humphrey, Administrator of the Estate of Sylvester Kirkland, Jr. 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

NOTICE

In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Estate File # 25E000090-250 State of North Carolina County of Cumberland Administrator’s / Executor’s Notice The undersigned, having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Edna McLaurin aka Edna L. McLaurin, 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 30th day of April, 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. All Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 30th day of January, 2025. David Merel McLaurin-Executor of the Estate of Edna McLaurin aka Edna L. McLaurin 2077 Wilbur Street Eastover, NC 28312

NOTICE

In The General Court of Justice Superior Division Before the Clerk Estate File 2024 E 000472, STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE The undersigned having qualified as Executor of the Estate of ITERIA JONES MCMILLIAN, deceased, late of Cumberland County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before 21st day of May 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. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 8th day of January , 2025. 4640 Weaverhall Drive, Fayetteville NC 28314.

EXECUTORS NOTICE

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE 24E002948-250 State of North Carolina Cumberland County NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, having qualified as Co-Executors of the Estate of Betty A. Robertson aka Betty Anderson Robertson, 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 2106 Wexford Oaks Court, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28303, on or before April 9, 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 9th day of January 2025. John Frederick Robertson and Lynne R. O’Quinn Co-Executors of the Estate of Betty A. Robertson Aka Betty Anderson Robertson, Deceased c/o Gilliam Law Firm, PLLC J. Duane Gilliam, Jr., Attorney PO Box 53555 Fayetteville, NC 28305 01/09/2025, 01/16/2025, 01/23/2025 and 01/30/2025

NOTICE All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against JEAN HUNNICUTT ELLIS, deceased of New Hanover County, N.C. are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before May 5, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned.

NOTICE The undersigned, having qualified as Administrator of the estate of Emma McEachern Willis, deceased, late of Cumberland County, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 16th day of April, 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. All debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 16th day of April 2025. Dionne Willis Charles, Administrator, 5116 Lime Street, Fayetteville, NC, 28314. Of the estate of Emma McEachern Willis.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Elma Florence Walker Cumberland County Estate File No. 24E002978-50 All persons and corporations having claims against Elma Florence Walker, Deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are notified to present their claims to Pamela W. Briggs, Co-Administrator of the Estate of Elma Florence Walker, at 623 Galloway Dr. Fayetteville, NC 28303, or Timothy A. Walker, Co-Administrator of the Estate of Elma Florence Walker, at 5330 Rodwell Dr Fayetteville, NC 28311, on or before the 16 day of April, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of Elma Florence Walker are requested to make immediate payment to one or both of the CoAdministrators named above. This the 16th day of January, 2025. Pamela W. Briggs, CoAdministrator of the Estate of Timothy A. Co-Administrator Walker, of the Estate of Elma Florence Walker Gregg Illikinen 2075 Tailwinds Ct. Eastover, NC 28312 Publication Dates LWLM0220167

NOTICE

In The General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Before the Clerk Estate File #25E-000025-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE

The undersigned having qualified as Executor of the estate of Carol K. Nunnery, deceased, late of Cumberland County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 30st day of April, 2025 (which date is three months after the day of the first public notice) 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 30st day of January, 2025. Administrator of the Estate of Carol K. Nunnery

Donna Mason Truett Canady 304 W. Broad St. P.O. Box 7 St. Pauls, NC 28384

NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE NO. 25E000085-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Elsie Lou Doris Rainey, 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 April 30, 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 30th day of January, 2025.

Donald Rainey, Executor of the Estate of Elsie Lou Doris Rainey NICOLE A. CORLEY MURRAY & CORLEY, P.A. N.C. BAR NO. 56459 2517 RAEFORD ROAD FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28305 – 3007 (910) 483 – 4990 COUNSEL FOR EXECUTOR

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

In The General Court of Justice County of Cumberland Superior Court Division Estate File#: 23001231-250

Administrator’s/Executor’s Notice The undersigned, having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Terry Yi McCray, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby notifies all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate is present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 1st day of May, 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. All Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 30 day of January 2025.

with the Clerk of Superior Court for Durham County, North Carolina in the above entitled special proceeding. The Petition relates Unborn Baby Parker, expected to be born on March 15, 2025 in Durham, Durham County, North Carolina. The birth mother is Rashae Reesniah Parker, who is a 23 yearold Black female with dark brown hair hair and brown eyes. Ms. Parker reports that the putative birth father is Jorge Armando Sevilla and that conception occurred in Durham County, North Carolina. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that you are required to file a response to such pleading not later than 40 days from the first day of publication of this notice, that date being January 23, 2025, and upon your failure to do so the Petitioner will apply to the Court for relief sought in the Petition. Any parental rights you may have will be terminated upon the entry of the decree of adoption. Kelly T. Dempsey, Attorney

NEW HANOVER

to the undersigned at the above address.

This 30th day of January 2025. Norman F. Lavigne, Sr. Executor ESTATE OF HEATHER JO LAVIGNE

CAROLINA

HANOVER COUNTY

TO CREDITORS

UNDERSIGNED, David B. Reitblatt, having qualified on the 6th day of December 2024, as Executor of the Estate of Zita G. Reitblatt (2024-E-1680), deceased, does hereby notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said Estate that they must present them to the undersigned at DAVID E. ANDERSON, PLLC, 9111 Market Street, Suite A, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28411, on or before the 5th day of May, 2025, or the claims will be forever barred thereafter, and this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make prompt payment to the undersigned at the above address. This 30th day of January 2025.

David B. Reitblatt Executor ESTATE OF ZITA G. REITBLATT

David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411 Publish: January 30, 2025, February 6, 2025, February 13, 2025, February 20, 2025

RANDOLPH

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA RANDOLPH COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 24 SP 207 FOR THE ADOPTION OF A FEMALE MINOR TO: Kansas Nicole Lassiter, the biological mother of Minor Child Lassiter, a female child, born on November 01, 2018 in Valdosta, Georgia. Take notice that a Petition for Adoption was filed with the Clerk of Superior Court for Randolph County, North

Chiefs, Eagles in Super Bowl rematch, B3

the Thursday SIDELINE REPORT

NBA Curry gives jerseys to Redick’s sons

San Francisco

Golden State’s Stephen Curry signed and personalized two of his jerseys and gave them to Lakers coach JJ Redick after their game. Redick’s sons, Knox and Kai, lost their sports memorabilia collection when the L.A. wildfires destroyed the family home. Chris Paul gave the Redicks a similar gift after his Spurs played the Lakers.

NFL

Three of final four coaching vacancies filled

Pete Carroll is returning to the sideline as a head coach, and Brian Schottenheimer and Liam Coen are ready for their first shots. The Las Vegas Raiders hired the 73-year-old Carroll. The Dallas Cowboys announced that Schottenheimer would become their next coach, and Coen was hired by Jacksonville, leaving only New Orleans still without a coach.

SOCCER

Girma becomes women’s soccer’s first million-dollar player after move to Chelsea

London Women’s soccer has its first million-dollar player after United States defender Naomi Girma moved from San Diego Wave to Chelsea. The English champions spent 900,000 pounds ($1.1 million) on the transfer. That surpasses the world-record fee of $788,000 that Bay FC paid to sign Rachael Kundananji from Madrid CFF last year.

The 24-year-old Girma was drawing interest from French club Lyon and Arsenal, Chelsea’s rival.

UNC-Duke preview: Less talk, more rock

On court intensity between the rivals usually contrasts with cautious off-court comments

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

WHEN IT COMES to drama, the Duke-Carolina rivalry is kind of a dud. Not on the court, of course. Once the ball is tossed up and the game begins, there’s nothing in sports that tops it. However, in the days leading up to the game, while each fan base will be spewing vile hate at the other, the players are very careful not to say anything that could fire the other team up. That stands in stark con-

trast to the third Triangle rival. Things get downright personal before and after an NC State game against either squad.

Think of Mark Gottfried slapping Coach K on the rump following an upset at Cameron, or Armando Bacot donning sunglasses to clown a Wolfpack player following a Carolina win.

“We’ve seen it happen. It’s not happening again. We’ve witnessed it.”

Cooper Flagg, as a high-school All-American, on UNC sweeping Duke

about their rival, and the smack talk may just fly.

That’s what happened in a press conference for last year’s McDonald’s High School All-American game, which featured Duke signees Cooper Flagg and Isaiah Evans, along with UNC recruits Drake Powell and Ian Jackson.

“Their fan base is crazy,” Jackson said of the crowd he’ll play in front of on Saturday night when the Tar Heels head to Duke. “Ours is more cool. … I don’t even think Duke fans are that loud, for real. It’s just a small gym.”

Part of it is also the nature of the rivalry games. With intensity as high as it gets on a court, the coaches likely devote a great deal of attention into keeping their team on an even keel to keep them from losing their heads during the game.

Of course, that’s after the players get on campus. But ask a future Tar Heel or Blue Devil

There will be none of that from Duke or Carolina this week, nor any week leading up to the big game. Part of it may be the fact that both teams have had legendary master motivators as coaches for decades. Dean Smith, Mike Krzyzewski and Roy Williams could make any comment, no matter how benign, into fighting words at game time. So it’s best not to give them any material to work with.

Hurricanes start new chapter with Rantanen, Hall

Carolina shipped out Martin Necas and Jack Drury to Colorado in a three-team trade

By Cory Lavalette North State Journal

ELMONT, N.Y. — The Hurricanes saw their four-game winning streak end Saturday on Long Island, losing 3-2 in overtime to the Islanders on a goal by Brock Nelson. But Saturday wasn’t about getting two points in the standings. Instead, Carolina’s 50th game of the season was about emotion — sadness, joy, hope and a spectrum of others — and a new chapter in the franchise’s history. The box score will read no goals, no assists and no points for Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall, the two players — one a current superstar winger, the other a former Hart Trophy

winner-turned-hockey nomad — acquired in a blockbuster trade the day before.

The memory has the potential to mean a lot more.

Hall, named the league’s top player in 2018, joins his seventh team Friday in a 900-game career that has seen just 39 of those games come in the playoffs. After six seasons with the Oilers — who drafted him first overall in 2010 — and threeplus with the Devils, Hall has bounced across North America the past half-dozen seasons. Arizona. Buffalo. Boston. Chicago. His latest stop is with the Hurricanes, a team that surely hopes to rejuvenate the 33-yearold and make him a piece of a Stanley Cup contender.

When he was reminded that Carolina was his seventh NHL franchise — tied for the second most by a first overall pick with 1992’s Roman Hamrlik and 1986’s Joe Murphy, and two be-

“I don’t know how you can have a good fan base that’s cool,” Flagg replied. “I don’t think that brings the best energy in a game.”

Evans took it up a notch, saying, “I feel like our fans are less delusional. UNC fans have this false personal in their head.”

Powell got in on the act, pointing to Carolina’s two wins over the Blue Devils last year. “2-0, bro,” he said. “Brooms.”

See PREVIEW, page B3

hind 1979 top pick Rob Ramage’s nine teams — you could, for a second, see the wear and tear that each of those stops have had on Hall. Every other No. 1 pick since Hall was drafted by Edmonton has stayed with the team that selected them with one exception — fellow Oilers’ top pick Nail Yakupov.

“I’d love for this to be the last,” he said after the loss to the Islanders. “I’m tired of moving around.” Hall, who said he had been preparing for his move to Caro -

lina for a couple of days, had to wait patiently as the other jigsaw piece in GM Eric Tulsky’s reimagining of the franchise fell into place.

“I found out why it was taking so long,” Hall said, gesturing toward Rantanen, “and — totally understandable.”

While Hall’s emotions seemingly ranged from relieved to resigned, Rantanen was still in shock.

“Not a lot of sleep, a lot of

CORY LAVALETTE / NORTH STATE JOURNAL Mikko Rantanen, who was acquired by the Hurricanes in a trade Friday from Colorado, speaks to reporters Tuesday at Madison Square Garden in New York.

BEN MCKEOWN / AP PHOTO

Duke’s Cooper Flagg (2) sounds off after a dunk against Notre Dame earlier this month. The standout freshman is preparing for his first game in the rivalry with UNC later this week.

TRENDING

Brian Bohannon:

The former Kennesaw State coach is returning to Georgia Tech as assistant for coach Brian Key Bohannon posted a record of 72-38 at Kennesaw State before his exit Nov 11 Bohannon s decade at Kennesaw State included three Big South championships and appearances Bohannon’s second coaching job was as receivers coach at Gardner-Webb in 1996

Jurickson Profar: agreed to a $42 million, three-year contract with the Atlanta Braves less than a year after he got a $1 million deal from the San Diego Padres with spring training already underway Profar revived his career with the Padres last year when he hit .280 with 24 home runs Atlanta does not expect 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr to be ready for the start of the season

CC Sabathia:

The pitcher was one of three players elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame along with Suzuki and closer Billy Wagner Sabathia who went 7-5 in 22 starts for Kinston in 2000 was year of eligibility So was Suzuki, who became the player chosen for baseball s Hall falling one vote shy of unanimous selection

Beyond the box score

POTENT QUOTABLES

“I’

ll g ive you the secret handsha ke under the table.”

NBA on TNT’s Kenny Smith, to Caleb Wilson after the 5 -star 2025 recruit committed to UNC, Smith’s alma mater live on the show (NBA on

“Show ing

up

w ith a pack of IPA might g ive

you a head

star t ”

WNBA free agent Cour tney Vandersloot with advice for teams hoping to sign her

AUTO RACING

Roger Penske star ted his 59th sea son in motorspor ts a s a champion Porsche Penske Motorspor t won the Rolex 24 at Day tona for the second consecutive year and third time overall A s he always does, the billionaire who turns 88 nex t month stayed awake and sat w ith the team on the timing stand for the entire 24 hours

Ohio State defensive coordinator

a deal to take the same position at Penn State, a week af ter w inning the national championship K nowles, who was Duke’s defensive coordinator from 2010 to 2017, w ill make an average of $3 1 million a year over three years, ESPN repor ted

U NC football coach Bill Belichick and employ ment contract That formalized last month’s hiring af ter speculation that the six-time Super Bowl-w inning head coach might opt instead for a return to the NFL The school released the contract Thursday, a day af ter Belichick signed the deal

Three-game losing streaks for U NC ba sketball from 1968 to 1989 The Tar Heels beat Boston College (1-8 in the ACC) in over time on Saturday to avoid their four th three-game sk id in the la st three years

A mer ican Madison Keys upset t wo-time defending champion A r y na Sabalenka of Belar us in the The v ictor y gave Keys title at age 29 She is Serena Williams in 2005 to defeat both of the W TA’s top t wo players at Melbourne Park Jannik Sinner beat A lexander Zverev for the men ’ s title

JEROME MIRON /

NNIS

Mahomes, Chiefs will face Hurts, Barkley, Eagles in Super Bowl 59

Kansas City seeks a Super Bowl three-peat in a rematch with Philadelphia

By Rob Maaddi The Associated Press

PATRICK MAHOMES, Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs are going for a three-peat in a Super Bowl rematch.

This time, Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles have Saquon Barkley.

The Eagles and Chiefs will face off for the Lombardi Trophy for the second time in three years on Feb. 9 in New Orleans. Kansas City aims to become the first team to win three Super Bowls in a row.

“Each one of these is special,” Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said after being handed the Lamar Hunt Trophy, which is named after his father. “Now, we get to do something that’s never been done before. Chiefs kingdom, we’re heading to New Orleans to make history.”

Mahomes rallied the Chiefs to a 38-35 victory over the Eagles two years ago in Arizona and a 25-22 overtime win over San Francisco in Las Vegas last season.

The two-time Super Bowl and NFL MVP led Kansas City to a 32-29 win over Josh Allen and the Bills in the AFC championship game on Sunday, elim-

inating Buffalo for the fourth time in five years.

“It’s not about one guy, it’s not about a couple guys, it’s about the whole team,” Mahomes said.

With girlfriend Taylor Swift watching on the field, smiling and nodding in approval, Kelce shouted: “Never satisfied, baby!” and then sang a line from “Get Down Tonight” by KC and The Sunshine Band.

Swift watched the game from her usual suite, arriving about 90 minutes before kickoff against Buffalo. And while she was decked out in Chanel for their divisional-round win over

Houston, Swift opted for a sleek black-and-gold Louis Vuitton look for the AFC title game, including a jacquard knit jacket that retails for $5,000 and a stocking cap with a list price of $830. As confetti rained down on the field afterward, Swift and Kelce kissed in celebration.

Swift gave Chiefs coach Andy Reid a big hug, and she continued the party with Kelce’s mother, Donna, and some 80,000 fans who simply refused to leave their seats.

“I’m very thankful that I’m here in Kansas City, playing

What’s working for UNC in one of its best seasons in years

UNC is off to its best start under Courtney Banghart

By Asheebo Rojas North State Journal

FOR ANY UNC fans dying for a positive experience while watching their favorite college basketball team, look no further than Carmichael Arena.

Sitting at 18-4 and 6-3 in ACC play as of Monday, the UNC women’s basketball team is off to its best start in the Courtney Banghart era. With their fifth straight win, over Wake Forest on Jan. 23, the 15th-ranked Tar Heels won 18 of their first 21 games for the first time since Banghart took over as the head coach in 2019, and it marked their best start since going 19-2 to begin the 2012-13 season.

The hot start hit some ice with an 86-84 Quad 1 loss to Florida State at home Sunday, but a close defeat at the hands of a buzzer-beater from Ta’Niya Latson, the nation’s leading scorer (26.5 points per game), doesn’t take much away from the way UNC has played this season. In yet another loaded ACC, the Tar Heels have held their own and made a significant jump from last season.

So what’s been working for UNC?

PREVIEW from page B1

When asked for an early prediction on this year’s games, Jackson and Powell said the winning streak would continue.

“We’re gonna get over on them,” Jackson said. “2-0 sweep.”

“The game’s going to be fun for sure, a lot of energy,” Powell added, “but those brooms are tough.” Needless to say, none of the quartet will likely be repeating their sentiments this week, now that the rivalry is once again upon us.

When UNC and Duke tip off at Cameron, it will be a Blue Devils team ranked No. 2 in the nation and leading the ACC against an unranked Tar Heels squad that is looking like it may be sweating out some time on the NCAA bubble.

SMU.

After seeing the Tar Heels score just 40 points in regulation and grind out an overtime win over No. 14 Duke on Jan. 9, it’s imperative to point to their defense.

UNC boasts the best overall scoring defense in the ACC, allowing just 54.9 points per game. Against all of Division I, that figure is good for 13th in the country.

“We have some of the best primary defenders I’ve ever coached,” Banghart said after

The Heels went to overtime before getting past a 1-8 Boston College team on Saturday, avoiding a three-game losing streak. It took a last-minute comeback in regulation for UNC to avoid a defeat, and it led to a frank film session between coach Hubert Davis and his players.

“They weren’t conversations,” Davis said. “It was a monologue. What kind of issues? It was everything: ball pressure, half-court, out-of-bounds underneath, in transition, guarding one-on-one, guarding in the post, discipline, staying down for shot fakes, boxing out, getting through screens, talking and communication. There was a departure of all of that against Boston College, and I’m not sure why.”

While it seems to be shaping up as a mismatch, as the old say-

“Now, we get to do something that’s never been done before. Chiefs kingdom, we’re heading to New Orleans to make history.”

Clark Hunt, Chiefs owner

with the guys and everybody in this building,” said Kelce, who had just two catches for 19 yards as the Bills refused to let him beat them single-handedly. “It’s a special, special place. We feel that every single day, and we just try to take advantage of it and not let it slip out of our hands.”

Earlier, the Eagles ran past the Washington Commanders 55-23 in the NFC title game behind seven rushing touchdowns, including three apiece from Barkley and Hurts. It will be the 10th Super Bowl rematch and fifth within a fiveyear span. The winners of the four rematches within five years were the teams that won the first meeting, including the Chiefs over the 49ers last season. Barkley had another 60-yard touchdown run plus two other rushing scores, finishing with 118 yards. His third touchdown from 60 yards or more in two weeks came on Philadelphia’s

first play from scrimmage. No other player has three touchdowns of at least 60 yards in a playoff career.

“I always dreamed about it, but the dream wasn’t about just getting there, it was to win it,” Barkley said of the Super Bowl.

Playing with an injured knee, Hurts threw for 246 yards and one touchdown to go with his three rushing scores.

“How about our quarterback?” coach Nick Sirianni shouted from the stage after the presentation of the George Halas Trophy. “He’s a stud. I knew he would play that way. I knew it. Don’t doubt him. All he does is win.”

The 55 points Philadelphia scored are the most by any team in a conference championship game since the 1970 merger.

The Eagles (17-3) are aiming for their second Super Bowl title in five tries. Backup quarterback Nick Foles led them to a 41-33 victory over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots seven years ago. Foles presented owner Jeffrey Lurie with the Halas trophy.

“We’re there to win it,” Lurie said about going back to the Super Bowl.

The Chiefs (17-2) are 4-2 in the Super Bowl and making their fifth appearance in six years with Reid, who will be facing his former team again.

Reid spent his first 14 seasons in Philadelphia and won more games than any coach in franchise history. But the Eagles couldn’t win it all with Reid. They were 1-4 in the NFC championship game and lost to the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

Kansas City opened as a 11/2-point favorite, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

who Banghart said has been a “menace” defensively, plays a huge role in UNC’s ability to create turnovers with a team-high 43 steals.

It’s also not easy getting buckets against the Tar Heels as they’ve held opponents to an ACC-best 34.7% shooting clip. They’ve been a solid shot-contesting team with graduate Alyssa Ustby, senior Maria Gakdeng and 6-foot-5 freshman Blanca Thomas combining for 64 blocks on the year.

“To be the top defensive team in the league, it takes a lot of effort and energy,” Banghart said.

On the flip side, UNC is a much better 3-point shooting team than its been in the past.

The Tar Heels have already surpassed last season’s made 3-pointer total (172) with 180 made 3s in 11 fewer games, and they’re shooting at an improved clip of 34.1%.

holding SMU to just 33 points on Jan. 16. “Together, they communicate and have a lot of experience together.”

The Tar Heels have seen an increase in forced turnovers this season, going from opponents averaging 15.8 turnovers per game last year to 18.6 turnovers this year. Before the loss to Florida State, UNC recorded at least 10 steals in three straight ACC games for the first time since 2015.

Junior guard Indya Nivar,

ing goes, you can throw out the records. Duke and Carolina have met 14 times when one team was either No. 1 or 2 in the country and the other was unranked. The average margin of victory is just over eight points. There have been as many 15-point wins by the highly rated team (two) as upsets by the unranked one.

It’s worth noting how that McDonald’s press conference ended 10 months ago.

After the future Tar Heels predicted another sweep in 2025, Flagg took the microphone, and things got serious.

“It can’t happen,” he said. “Like we were in the crowd (on a recruiting visit at Cameron Indoor). Like we’ve seen it happen. It’s not happening again. We’ve witnessed it.”

The time for high school trash talk has passed. Things are getting real this weekend.

Graduate guard Lexi Donarski has been the go-to from beyond the arc — her 41% 3-point clip is the team’s best for players with at least 50 3-point attempts. She also hit five 3s in three consecutive games prior to Sunday’s loss.

As a whole, UNC’s offense has run more efficiently this season even after losing a highly talented offensive player in Deja Kelly to the transfer portal. The Tar Heels’ assist numbers are way up from last season, averaging 16 per outing this year compared to an ACC -worst 12.6 assists last year.

UNC also has a more even scoring distribution than in recent years with seven players

“To be the top defensive team in the league, it takes a lot of effort and energy,”

Courtney Banghart

averaging at least six points per game. The Tar Heels are getting a significant boost from their bench this season, averaging 26.2 bench points per game which ranks at 27th in the nation and third in the ACC behind Duke (32.2) and Georgia Tech (33.4).

But as promising as this season has looked, UNC still has much to prove against the nation’s elite squads. The Tar Heels are ranked 15th in the NCAA women’s basketball NET rankings, but they’re just 2-4 in Quad 1 games.

With just nine games left in the regular season, there’s still plenty of opportunities left for UNC to improve its resume for favorable seeing in the NCAA Tournament. As the NET rankings stand Monday, UNC will get a Quad 1 games at California Thursday, at Stanford on Feb. 2, against NC State on Feb. 16, at Louisville on Feb. 23 and at Duke on Feb. 27.

Without a doubt, the Tar Heels are a good basketball team that has far earned its respect as tournament worthy. However, this final stretch of regular season games should determine whether UNC can provide its basketball faithful some tournament glory.

PATRICK AFTOORA-ORSAGOS / AP PHOTO

A machine imprints the names of the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs onto a football for the upcoming Super Bowl matchup at the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory in Ada, Ohio.

LM OTERO / AP PHOTO

North Carolina head coach Courtney Banghart reacts after a Tar Heel basket against

CHRIS SEWARD / AP PHOTO

UNC coach Hubert Davis yells instructions during a tougher‑than expected game against Boston College.

Hornets forced to carry on without Brandon Miller

The second-year star underwent wrist surgery last week

By Jesse Deal North State Journal

CHARLOTTE — One step forward, one step back.

Just as the Charlotte Hornets appeared to be trending in the right direction with five wins in their past eight games, the team will now have to march on without a key starter in the mix.

Second-year standout wing Brandon Miller’s 2024-25 campaign has come to a premature end after making his final appearance of the season on Jan. 15.

While he was held out of Charlotte’s 125-123 victory over Chicago on Jan. 17 due to an initial “wrist sprain,” the severity of his injury was further revealed after that win.

The bad news became official just a few days later: The Hornets’ second-leading scorer will be out for the rest of the season.

JIM DEDMON / AP PHOTO

Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller warms up before a game against Phoenix earlier this month. The team just learned that Miller will be out for the season.

“He’s confident in himself to be able to go through a rehab process and come back even stronger.”

Hornets coach Charles Lee on Brandon Miller

1.1 steals, connecting on 3.9 3-pointers per game, fifth best in the NBA.

Miller has appeared in 101 games across two seasons with career averages of 18.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists.

go through a rehab process and come back even stronger. He’s also confident in the process that we’re going to have and the plan that we’re going to have behind him to support him.”

The Hornets (12-30) are certainly no strangers to injury woes, with fellow starters LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams each spending significant time on the sideline.

assists while racking up nearly 30 minutes of action per game.

Bench players Josh Okogie, Vasilije Micic and Seth Curry will also likely receive more of a workload going forward to help fill in the rotational gaps left by Miller’s ability to play at both the small forward and a shooting guard positions.

It helps matters that Williams — a third-year center with a rising ceiling, if he can stay healthy — has recently leveled up his game in a major way, averaging 23.2 points, 12.6 rebounds, three assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.2 steals over his last five appearances.

“The Charlotte Hornets announced today guard Brandon Miller underwent surgery to repair a torn scapholunate ligament in his right wrist,” the team announced in a Jan. 23 press release. “The surgery was performed by Dr. Michelle Carlson at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. Miller will miss the remainder of the season and updates on his status will be provided as appropriate.”

The former Alabama star’s abbreviated second season in the league showed much promise coming off a strong previous year during which he was named to the All-Rookie First Team, earned three Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors and a Rising Stars spot at All-Star Weekend.

First-year Hornets coach Charles Lee recently told reporters that Miller is still in “high spirits” despite the disappointment of a season-ending wrist injury.

In 27 games this season, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2023 draft averaged 21 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and

“We stay in touch every day, and obviously he’s been around the team,” Lee said. “He’s confident in himself to be able to

Incredibly, Charlotte’s quartet of Miller, Ball, Williams and Miles Bridges appeared together in just four contests this season as various health concerns have continued to crop up, severely limiting the amount of time that the players have had to jell on the court.

“That definitely hurts,” Ball said of Miller’s extended absence. “I was in the same kind of situation my rookie year or sophomore, whatever. I know how he feels, we just always have his back, watch out for him. He’s with the whole squad. That’ll help a little.”

In order for the Hornets to continue their recent stretch of competitive play, they will need to replace the Miller’s missing production. Nick Smith Jr., another 2023 first-round pick, has started the past five games, averaging 13 points, three rebounds and 2.6

Ideally, Miller’s presence on the court would free up space for Williams to continue to assert himself in the paint, but the former Duke star is currently on a trajectory to still capitalize on his increased workload and rotational dependence; Williams racked up a career-high 38 points in the Hornets’ 132-120 loss in Memphis last week.

As for Miller, a frustrating end to his sophomore NBA season will have him extra eager to hit the court as he looks ahead to Year 3.

“We all just have to band together and help him get through his rehab,” Lee said of his injured player.

Local products taking advantage of NWSL’s draft abolishment

Seven N.C. college players have signed contracts with NWSL teams

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

THIS PAST AUGUST, the NWSL and the Players Association agreed to eliminate the college draft as part of a new five-year collective bargaining agreement.

“Given our vision to be the best league in the world, we determined that this was the right time to align with global standards and achieve long term labor peace,” said NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman in a press release. “This CBA gives us agency over our business and gives the players agency over their careers. Our new agreement revolutionizes the game, raises standards, and innovates the business.”

Like nearly every major North American sport, the NWSL’s draft was an established core of team building.

Prospective rookies were selected in an order determined by league standings and when a team drafted a player, they held exclusive rights to said player, preventing them from signing with any other NWSL team.

However, while the draft is a staple of most professional American sports, it was an anomaly in the soccer world.

Globally, most leagues utilize an open free agency model where players can be offered contracts by any team, and the players in turn can pick and choose where they wish to sign, and so joining with that and aligning with FIFA Regulations, the NWSL became the first major American league to abolish the draft.

“The draft is an antiquated model that empowers teams to decide for players instead of players deciding for them-

CANES from page B1

emotions going through because it was 10 years in Colorado,” Rantanen said of the last 24 hours that saw him traded away by the team that had drafted and the only for which he’s played. “So it was a long time, and so maybe that’s the hardest.”

Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour can empathize with Rantanen. During his playing days, the coach was traded from Philadelphia, where he was a fan favorite, to Carolina in 2000.

“It’s a whirlwind when you get traded,” said Brind’Amour, “es-

selves,” said NWSLPA president Tori Huster. “Now, players can choose the team environment that fits their needs and maximizes their opportunities. Teams will need to step up to create environments that appeal to players.”

Many collegiate players have already taken their future into their own hands, including quite a few local talents.

So far, seven players who were playing for a North Carolina college this past season have signed contracts with NWSL teams.

Perhaps one of the most interesting cases so far has been that of Duke freshman Mary Long, who signed with the Kansas City Current — her parents, Angie and Chris Long, are majority co-owners of the team. Long, who had three goals and one assist in 15 games with the Blue Devils and also represented the U.S. at the

pecially when you’ve been somewhere a long time.”

The Rantanen/Hall trade, which sent Martin Necas, Jack Drury and draft picks to Colorado and Chicago, came 25 years and one day after the Hurricanes made the blockbuster Brind’Amour swap. That deal led to a Stanley Cup in 2006 and delivered the team’s record-breaking coach to his current position. Brind’Amour has spoken about how difficult that trade was, arriving in Raleigh during a rare snowstorm with one suit and a hotel key.

The snow from last week’s storm had melted by the time the ink was dry on the Rantanen

U-17 World Cup last year, had trained with the Current over the past two years, and without this new format, there’s no guarantee the 18-year-old forward winds up with her hometown team.

“This is the moment I’ve dreamed of for as long as I can remember,” Long told GoDuke.com. “The Current holds a special place in my heart and I can’t wait to represent my hometown as we pursue Championships.”

Joining Long with the Current, who were the fourthranked team last season, is standout UNC goalkeeper Clare Gagne. Gagne helped backstop the Tar Heels to the NCAA title this past season with a 0.771 save percentage and 13 shutouts, including back-to-back shutouts in the College Cup.

Another interesting signing was by the Houston Dash, who finished as the worst team in the

“Sometimes you have to do things that you aren’t comfortable with.”

Eric Tulsky, Hurricanes GM

trade Friday, but the 28-year-old Finn is undoubtedly feeling many of the same emotions Brind’Amour did a quarter-century ago.

“I really want to just think about the future now,” Rantanen said Saturday night, wearing an unfamiliar lava red T-shirt. “It’s behind us, and it’s a raw business in the NHL, and some-

NWSL last season but still managed to land one of the top collegiate free agents, signing Duke midfielder Maggie Graham.

The impressive midfielder helped lead the Blue Devils to an ACC regular season title and the semifinals of the College Cup with 14 goals and five assists in 22 games.

“I am excited and grateful to begin my professional career with an organization like the Houston Dash that is committed to building a competitive team and culture that supports and develops its’ players,” Graham said in a press release.

Graham was a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, given annually to the top men’s and women’s college soccer players, and was also named the ACC Midfielder of the Year and a First Team All-American.

Other North Carolina collegiate signings included 17-yearold UNC freshman defender

times it goes like this. But yeah, I think it’s going to hit in a little bit. It hasn’t maybe hit yet.” While Rantanen wrestles with what this next phase of his career means for his personal and professional life, Hurricanes fans are overcome with joy at the team landing him and brimming with cautious optimism that Tulsky, Tom Dundon and the Carolina front office can be more successful in contract extension talks than Colorado had been.

That made Saturday, an overtime loss in the standings that included a blown third period lead and failed overtime that ironically missed Necas, mostly an afterthought.

Clare

makes a save against Wake Forest during the NCAA Women’s College Cup final. Gagne is now headed to the NWSL’s Kansas City Current.

Trinity Armstrong signing with the San Diego Wave FC, UNC forward Maddie Dahlien signing with the Seattle Reign, Duke’s Ella Hase signing with Racing Louisville and Wake Forest’s Zara Chavoshi signing with the Orlando Pride.

There are still plenty more opportunities for players in the coming weeks with professional tryouts and camp invites, but overall, it will be interesting to keep an eye on how this new trailblazing model will determine the future look of the league.

“The sports industry has been dominated for decades by the interests of men’s sports,” said NWSLPA Executive Director Meghann Burke. “It’s changing because of the players. We’ve seen it with the USWNT. We’ve seen it with the WNBA. And we are seeing it with the NWSL. The players are changing this industry.”

But the day has the potential to mean a whole lot more. For Hall. For Rantanen. For Brind’Amour. For Tulsky and Dundon. For the Hurricanes’ fans.

“Sometimes,” Tulsky said in the hours before Saturday’s game, “you have to do things that you aren’t comfortable with.”

Discomfort, shock, sadness, relief, exasperation, joy, hope and more were all displayed Saturday. The score on Jan. 25, 2025, will be forgotten. Everything else that happened in the 24 hours leading up to it has the potential to be remembered forever.

BEN MCKEOWN / AP PHOTO

UNC goalkeeper

Gagne

Garth Hudson, master instrumentalist, last surviving member of The Band, dead at 87

No matter the song, Hudson summoned just the right feeling or shading

By Hillel Italie The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Garth Hudson, The Band’s virtuoso keyboardist and all-around musician who drew from a unique palette of sounds and styles to add a conversational touch to such rock standards as “Up on Cripple Creek,” “The Weight” and “Rag Mama Rag,” died Jan. 21 at age 87.

Hudson was the eldest and last surviving member of the influential group that once backed Bob Dylan and helped deepen and reshape modern American music.

Hudson was a classically trained performer and self-educated Greek chorus who spoke through piano, synthesizers, horns and his favored Lowrey organ. No matter the song, Hudson summoned just the right feeling or shading, whether the tipsy clavinet and wahwah pedal on “Up on Cripple Creek,” the galloping piano on “Rag Mama Rag” or the melancholy saxophone on “It Makes No Difference.”

The only nonsinger among five musicians celebrated for their camaraderie, texture and versatility, Hudson mostly loomed in the background, but he did have one showcase: “Chest Fever,” a Robbie Robertson composition for which he devised an introductory organ solo (“The Genetic Method”), an eclectic sampling of moods and melodies that segued into the song’s hard rock riff.

Robertson, the band’s guitarist and lead songwriter, died in 2023 after a long illness. Keyboardist-drummer Rich-

ard Manuel died by suicide in 1986, bassist Rick Danko died in his sleep in 1999 and drummer Levon Helm died of cancer in 2012. The Band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

Formed in the early 1960s as a backing group for rocker Ronnie Hawkins, The Band was originally called The Hawks and featured the Arkansas-born Helm and four Canadians recruited by Helm and Hawkins: Hudson, Danko, Manuel and Robertson.

The Band mastered their craft through years of performing as unknowns — first behind Hawkins, then as Levon and the Hawks, then as the unsuspecting targets of outrage after hooking up with Dylan in the mid-1960s. All joined Dylan on his historic tours of 1965-66 (Helm departed midway), when

he broke with his folk past and teamed with The Band for some of the most stirring and stormiest music of the time, enraging some old Dylan admirers but attracting many new ones. The group would rename itself The Band in part because so many people around Dylan simply referred to his backing musicians as “the band.” By 1967, Dylan was in semi-seclusion, having allegedly broken his neck in a motorcycle accident, and he and the group settled in the artist community in Woodstock that two years later would become world famous thanks to the festival in nearby Bethel. With no album planned, they wrote and played spontaneously in an old pink house outside of town shared by Hudson, Danko and Manuel. Hudson was in charge of the tape machine as Dylan and The

Band recorded more than 100 songs, for years available only as bootlegs, that became known as “The Basement Tapes.” Often cited as the foundation of “roots” music and “Americana,” the music varied from old folk, country and Appalachian songs to such new compositions as “Tears of Rage,” “I Shall Be Released” and “This Wheel’s on Fire.”

“There would be an informal discussion before each recording,’” Hudson told the online publication Something Else! in 2014. “There would be ideas floating around and the telling of stories. And then we’d go back to the songs.

“We looked for words, phrases and situations that were worth writing about. I think that Bob Dylan showed us discipline and ageless concern about the quality of his art.”

Dylan resurfaced in late 1967 with the austere “John Wesley Harding,” and The Band debuted soon after with “Music from Big Pink,” its down-home sound so radically different from the jams and psychedelic tricks then in fashion that artists from The Beatles to Eric Clapton to the Grateful Dead would cite its influence. The Band followed in 1969 with a self-titled album that many still consider its best and has often been ranked among the greatest rock albums of all time.

Future records included “Stage Fright,” “Cahoots” and “Northern Lights/Southern Cross,” a 1975 album that brought Hudson special praise for his work on the keyboards. A year later, Robertson decided he had tired of live performances, and The Band staged the all-star concert and Martin Scorsese film, “The Last Waltz,” featuring Dylan, Clapton, Neil Young and many others. Tension between Robertson and Helm, who would allege the film unduly elevated Robertson over the others, led to a full breakup before the documentary’s release in 1978.

Hudson played briefly with the English band the Call; appeared with various latter incarnations of The Band, usually featuring Danko, Hudson and Helm; assisted on solo albums by Robertson and Danko. Other session work included records by Van Morrison, Leonard Cohen and Emmylou Harris. The son of musicians, Hudson was born in Windsor, Ontario in 1937 and received formal training at an early age. “It was a job,” Hudson said of The Band in a 2002 interview with Maclean’s. “Play a stadium, play a theater. My job was to provide arrangements with pads underneath, pads and fills behind good poets. Same poems every night.”

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 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

the original principal amount of $200,000.00, and recorded in Book 16220 at Page 248 of the Cabarrus 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.

door or other usual place of sale in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, at 2:00PM on February 11, 2025, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: Being all of Lot 23 of Stones Throw Subdivision as shown on a map thereof recorded in Map Book 42 at Page 12 of the Cabarrus County Public Registry. Commonly Known as Address: 9619

Sandstone Court, Concord, NC 28025 Parcel ID: 5526-52-1144-0000 Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 9619 Sandstone Court, Concord, NC 28025 Tax ID: 01-021A-0023.00 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 §105228.30, in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) per each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof, and the Clerk of Courts fee, pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §7A-308, in the amount of Forty-five Cents (0.45) per each One

Address of property: 1130 Hearth Lane Southwest, Concord, NC 28025 Tax Parcel ID: 55285630020000 Present Record Owners: Alexander Dinola and Angela Dinola The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Alexander Dinola and Angela Dinola. 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

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(s) of the property are Marlon Bertoni Galves Morales and Sayda Marianela Pacheco.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the Clerk of Superior Court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination (North Carolina General Statutes §4521.16A(b)(2)). Upon termination of

NATHAN DENETTE / THE CANADIAN PRESS VIA AP

Garth Hudson, keyboardist and last surviving member of The Band, has died. He was 87.

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

24SP001599-310

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Peter A. Knutson (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Peter A. Knutson) to Sherri Toler Murrell, Trustee(s), dated August 23, 2004, and recorded in Book No. 4514, at Page 374 and re-recorded in Book No. 4584, at Page 673 in Durham 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 Durham 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 Durham, Durham

County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 3:00 PM on February 11, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Durham in the County of Durham, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Unit 40 of Building G of Hickory Downs, together with all rights and easements appurtenant to said unit, including an undivided 1.94 percent interest as tenants in common in and to the common area and facilities, as defined and described in that certain Declaration of Unit Ownership, and by laws and exhibits attached thereto or referred to therein, and recorded on September 10, 1979 in Book 1012, at Pages 73 through 108 and Drawer 2 at Pages 12 and 31, Durham County Registry, to which reference is hereby made for a more particular description. The description in said Declaration of Unit Ownership of the land on which the units are located is hereby made an integral part of this instrument and is referred to for identification purposes only as required by North Carolina General Statute 47A-14. Including the Unit located thereon; said unit being located at 4101 Five Oaks Drive, #40, Durham, 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, 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

24SP001900-310

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Real Estate Staging Plus LLC (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Real Estate Staging Plus LLC) to Stephen D. Lowry, Trustee(s), dated the 22nd day of December, 2023, and recorded in Book 10033, Page 948, in Durham County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Durham County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in the City of Durham, Durham County, North Carolina, or the customary location

1377903 – PRM 24SP001463-310 NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE’S FORECLOSURE SALE OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER AND BY VIRTUE of the power and authority contained in that certain Deed of Trust, Security Agreement and Fixture Filing executed and delivered by David Stanford Green and Stacie Green (hereinafter “Borrower”) dated March 15, 2023 and recorded on March 15, 2023 and recorded in Book 9879 at Page 390 in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Durham County, North Carolina (hereinafter “Deed of Trust”); and because of the 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 the Deed of Trust, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will place for sale, at public auction,

designated for foreclosure sales, at 3:00 p.m. on February 4, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the City of Durham, in the County of Durham, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 4, Section Two “B”, Pinewood. As per plat and survey thereof on file in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Durham County in Plat Book 101, Page 22, to which plat reference is hereby made for a more particular description of same. Together with improvements thereon, said property located at 9 Trimble Court, Durham, NC 27705 Property address: 9 Trimble Court, Durham, NC 27705 Parcel ID: 0823403032 Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in NCGS §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

to the highest bidder for cash at the usual place of sale at Durham County Courthouse, 510 South Dillard Street, Durham, North Carolina on TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2025, AT 3:00 O’CLOCK P.M., all of Borrower’s right to the real property described herein below, together with any improvements and fixtures existing or hereafter placed on or attached to the real property, and all other appurtenant rights and privileges, situated, lying and being in Durham County, State of North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING ALL OF LOT 793 IN BRIGHTLEAF AT THE PARK, PHASE 3 AS SHOWN ON PLAT RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 195, PAGES 109111, DURHAM COUNTY REGISTRY. Address of property: 3326 Prospect Parkway, Durham, Durham County, North Carolina Tax Parcel ID: 219197-0850-04-72-1503 Present Record Owner: David Stanford Green and Stacie Green The terms of the sale are that

of

and

note secured by

Trustee nor

foreclosed, nor the

of

attorneys, employees, agents or

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

Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by NCGS §7A-308(a)(1). The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty

the real property hereinbefore described will be sold for cash to the highest bidder. The Substitute Trustee reserves the right to require a cash deposit or a certified check not to exceed the greater of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00). In the event that the note holder or its intended assignee is exempt from paying the same, the successful bidder may also be required to pay revenue stamps on the Trustee’s Deed, any Land Transfer Tax, and the tax required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1). 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

dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy. Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the

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 their sole discretion, if they believe 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 N.C.G.S. §45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23 SP 733 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Carrie Snider (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S):

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 Forsyth 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 Winston Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:00 PM on February 12, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Winston Salem in the County of Forsyth, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Beginning at an iron in the Northwest right of way line of Old Greensboro Road, Formally known as Old Belews Creek Road (US Highway 158 the Southeast corner of Rutland; thence with this Line N. 26 degrees 30 minutes W. 204.35 Feet to an iron; thence N. 59 degrees 50 minutes E. 242.35 feet to an iron in the West line of Henry B. Williams; thence with his line S. 23 degrees 01 minute E. 200.62 feet to an iron in the Northwest line of Old Greensboro Road; thence with the line of said road S. 58 degrees 34 minutes W. 230.19 feet to the point and place of beginning, being a Southern portion of the property designated on Forsyth County Tax Map as Lot 6, in Block 3269. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 3101 Old Greensboro Road, Winston Salem, North Carolina.

24 SP 125 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

NORTH CAROLINA, FORSYTH COUNTY

Property Address: 3101 Old Greensboro Road Winston-Salem, NC 27101 Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion,

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Jeffrey Lee Stafford and Dena W. Stafford to Bank One, NA, Trustee(s), which was dated July 20, 2001 and recorded on July 25, 2001 in Book 2189 at Page 3668, Forsyth County Registry, North Carolina. Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on February 13, 2025 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Forsyth County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING KNOWN AND DESIGNATED as Lot No. 71 of Wooddale Acres, Section 1, as recorded in Plat Book 31, Page 195, in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Forsyth County, North Carolina, to which reference is hereby made for a more particular description. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 4044 Sundance Dr, Walnut Cove, NC 27052. A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING

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

COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Jeffrey Lee Stafford and wife, Dena W Stafford. 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

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

the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination. Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place

DURHAM

24SP000333

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

NORTH CAROLINA, NEW HANOVER COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by JAMES M BLACK to Tiago Title, Trustee(s), which was dated November 21, 2016 and recorded on November 21, 2016 in Book RB6019 at Page 92, New Hanover County Registry, North Carolina. Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at

reference is hereby made; running thence along the northerly boundary of John R. McQueen Road in a westerly direction 160 feet to an iron stake, a new corner; thence in a northerly direction and parallel with the common boundary of Lots 21 and 22, 175 feet to an iron stake, a new corner; thence in an easterly direction 160 feet to the northeast corner of Lot 20, a new corner; thence along the common boundary of Lots 20 and 21, 175 feet to the point of beginning, being all of Lot 21 and a 40-foot parallelogram carved out of the easterly one-third of Lot 22, in block F. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 508 John McQueen Road, Aberdeen, 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

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 Jacksonville, Onslow County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on February 12, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real

TO WHICH DEED REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE FOR A MORE PARRICULAR DESCRIPTION OF THIS PROEPRTY.

And also being known as:

BEING all of Lot 72, Section 4, JACOB’S RIDGE AT WEST BAY ESTATES, as the same is shown on the map entitled, “SECTION 4 OF JACOB’S RIDGE AT WEST BAY ESTATES”, as recorded in Map Book 39, Page 161 & 162 of the New Hanover County Registry, to which map reference is hereby made for a more particular description. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 7302

the county courthouse for conducting the sale on February 4, 2025 at 01:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in New Hanover County, North Carolina, to wit: Being all of Lot 98, Section 5, Meadowbrook Subdivision, as shown on a map recorded in Map Book 33 at Page 352 of the New Hanover County Registry, to which reference is hereby made for a more particular description. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 802 Mayfield Ct, Wilmington, NC 28411. A certified check only (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.

follows: BEING all of Lot 220, of the subdivision known as RAINTREE, Section III, revised, as shown on map thereof recorded in the Onslow County Public Registry, in Map Book 23, Page 148, Slide C-256, reference to said map being hereby made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 191 Raintree Circle, Jacksonville, North Carolina. Subject to restrictive covenants recorded in Book 752, Page 280, Onslow County Registry, and as amended recorded in Book 769, Page 923, Onslow County Registry. Subject to street lighting agreement recorded in Book 752, Page 55, Onslow County Registry, and as amended in Book 775, Page 483, Onslow County Registry. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in

estate situated in Swansboro in the County of Onslow, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Situated in the Township of Swansboro, County of Onslow and State of North Carolina: BEING all of Lot 16 as shown on that plat entitled “Project: The Hammocks At Port Swansboro II” Swansboro, Onslow County, North Carolina, prepared by Charles A. Rawls and Associates dated 1/24/07 and recorded in Map Book 52, Page 172, Slide L-1747, Onslow County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 3 Sloop Street, Swansboro, North Carolina. Tax ID No: 071528 (Parcel #) 1319F-11 (Map #) 535504608357 (Pin #) 138797000 (A/C #) Being the same property conveyed by Warranty Deed Grantor: PCR Investments, Inc. Grantee: Nancy E. Buck, unmarried Dated: 07/31/2007 Recorded: 08/01/2007 DOC#/Book-Page: 2922/1 Address: 3 Sloop St, Swansboro, NC 28584 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.

Konlack Court, Wilmington, NC 28411. A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/ or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes,

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. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/ or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are JAMES M. BLACK. 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

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

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,

and

or

and

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.

sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination. Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by the person conducting the sale, or their agent”. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy

NEW HANOVER

STANLY COUNTY 24SP001145-830 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY EMMA KIMMER COOKE AND HARRY RAMSEY COOKE, JR. DATED JUNE 23, 2004 AND

feet) a total distance of 233.69 feet to a rebar set in the center of an old road bed, in the line of Charles Phillips (see Deed Book 322, Page 503); thence with the center of said old road and with the line of Phillips, North 76-00 West 336.00 feet to a rebar set; thence North 61-56-30 West 179.59 feet to a nail set at the centerline intersection of Rocky River Springs Road and the

(2)

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 Stanly County courthouse at 11:00AM on February 11, 2025, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Stanly County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Emma Kimmer Cooke and Harry Ramsey Cooke, Jr., dated June 23, 2004 to secure the original principal amount of $117,725.00, and recorded in Book 1008 at Page 469 of the Stanly 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: 35643 City Lake Drive, Albemarle, NC 28001 Tax Parcel ID: 653803038915 Present Record Owners: The Estate of Emma Kimmer Cooke The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of

to a railroad spike, the point and place of beginning. Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 36106 Rocky River Springs Road, Norwood, NC 28128. Tax ID: 654301078283 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 §7A308, 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

Deeds, is/are The Estate of Emma Kimmer Cooke. 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

WHERE IS. There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, special assessments, land transfer taxes, if any, and encumbrances of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owners of the property are James D. Davenport and Rene S. Davenport. 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

the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on February 10, 2025 and will sell to

Book of Maps 1979,Page 386, Wake County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 2852 Rue Sans Famille, Raleigh,

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION WAKE COUNTY 23SP001955-910 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY SABINO ESCORZA DATED APRIL 10, 2006 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 11909 AT PAGE 2543 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 County courthouse at 11:00AM on February 11, 2025, 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 Sabino Escorza, dated April 10, 2006 to secure the original principal amount of $100,750.00, and recorded in Book 11909 at Page 2543 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: 101 Bainbridge Cir, Garner, NC 27529 Tax Parcel ID: 1710860760 / 98410 Present Record Owners: The Heirs of Sabino Escorza The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Heirs of Sabino Escorza.

PM on February 10, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Morrisville in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 13, the Park at Breckenridge Subdivision, Phase Two, as shown on plat thereof recorded in Book of Maps 2000, Page 775, Wake County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 109 Powder Ridge Court, Morrisville, North Carolina.

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

BEING the same property conveyed to Eric W. Cusack, an unmarried man by deed from Pulte Home Corporation recorded 01/02/2001 in Deed Book 8772 Page 599, in the Register of Deeds Office of Wake County, 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

North Carolina. THE PROPERTY ADDRESS AND TAX PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER LISTED ARE PROVIDED SOLELY FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES. NOTE: .The Company is prohibited from insuring the area or quantity of the land. The Company does not represent that any acreage or footage calculations are correct. References to quantity are for identification purposes only. Commonly known as: 2852 Rue Sans Famille, Raleigh, NC 27607-3049 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

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

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

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%)

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 resale. 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

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

Heuston Hall and Melanie S. Hall) to Jennifer Grant, Trustee(s), dated October 12, 2016, and recorded in Book No. 016565, at Page 01793 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

24SP000614-910

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale

contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Shawn K. Jones and spouse, April Jones to William T. Morrison and Philip M. Rudisill, Trustee(s), which was dated October 29, 2020 and recorded on October 29, 2020 in Book 018158 at Page 00945, Wake County Registry, North Carolina. Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY 23 CV 014440-910

Under and by virtue of that Judgment filed on October 21, 2024 in Wake County by the presiding superior court judge, default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the Deed of Trust recorded on July 13, 2011 in Book 14401, Page 1961, Wake County Registry, and the undersigned, Anchor Trustee Services, LLC having been appointed as Commissioner in this case, the undersigned Commissioner will offer for sale at the courthouse door or other usual place of sale in Wake County, North Carolina, at 2:00PM on February 6, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: All that certain lot or parcel of land situate in

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 February 10, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Knightdale in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 11, Huntsboro Subdivision, as depicted on a plat thereof recorded in Book of Maps 1995, Page 1214, Wake County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located 920 Knotts Hill Place, Knightdale, 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

the county courthouse for conducting the sale on February 5, 2025 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Wake County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING ALL OF LOT 3553, PHASE 5, THORNBLADE AT HEDINGHAM ON THE NEUSE, AS SHOWN ON MAP RECORDED IN BOOK OF MAPS 2000, PAGE 1246, WAKE COUNTY REGISTRY. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 2044 Persimmon Ridge Dr, Raleigh, NC 27604. A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.

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.

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. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/ or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Shawn K. Jones and spouse, April Jones. An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is

sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. Upon

To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owners of the property are Heirs of Robert Lee Patterson. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §1-339.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the Clerk of Superior Court of the county in

the County of Wake, State of North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 32 of Village of White Oak Subdivision according to plat of the same recorded in Book of Maps 1982, Page 346 of Wake County Registry. Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 8025 Hebron Church Road, Garner, NC 27529. Tax ID: 1629-66-1381 Third party purchasers must pay any land transfer tax, costs of recording the commissioner’s deed, the excise tax, pursuant North Carolina General Statutes §105-228.30, in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) per each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof. 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.

which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination (North Carolina General Statutes §4521.16A(b)(2) or other applicable statute). Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of termination. If the Commissioner 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

and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the Commissioner. If the validity of the sale is

1382434 24SP001980-910 NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE’S FORECLOSURE SALE OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER AND BY VIRTUE of the power and authority contained in that certain Deed of Trust and Assignment of Rents (hereinafter “Deed of Trust”) executed and delivered by Real Estate Staging Plus, LLC and Sarah Delmonego (hereinafter collectively “Borrowers”) dated February 27, 2024 and filed on February 29, 2024 and recorded in Book 19549 at Page 1129 in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Wake County, North Carolina; and because of the 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 the 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 the Wake County Courthouse, 316 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, North Carolina on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2025, AT 1:30 O’CLOCK P.M., all of Borrowers’ right, title and interest to the real property described hereinbelow, together with any improvements and fixtures existing or hereafter placed on or attached to the real property, and all other appurtenant rights and privileges, situated, lying and being in Wake County, State of North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows:

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

24SP001699-910

BEING ALL of Lot 5-G Wayneridge-Lot 5 as the same is shown on plat thereof recorded in Book of Maps 1983 Page 1555 Wake Registry. TOGETHER WITH rights of ingress, regress and egress in common with other owners of Lots 5-A through 5-H over and across the shared access easement as shown on the above reference plat.

Address of property: 5333 Wayne Street, Raleigh, NC 27606 Tax Parcel ID:

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by David G. Edelman (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): David G. Edelman, Heirs of David G. Edelman a/k/a David Edelman: Elijah Edelman, Johanna Edelman Armendariz, Katrina Edelman) to Shapiro & Kreisman, Trustee(s), dated April 25, 2002, and recorded in Book No. 009398, at Page 01080 in Wake County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Wake County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on February 3, 2025 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 183, Section I, Phase I, Southall Subdivision, as recorded in Book of Maps 1988, Page 105, Wake County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 4400 Knightsbridge Way, 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

OF FORECLOSURE SALE 24SP001265-910 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Raheem O. Lamidi (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Raheem O. Lamidi) to Coastal Federal Financial Group, LLC, Trustee(s), dated May 11, 2020, and recorded in Book No. 017862, at Page 02161 in Wake County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Wake County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in Raleigh, Wake County,

North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on February 3, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Garner in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 109, Clifford Grove Subdivision, Phase 2A, per plat and survey thereof recorded in Book of Maps 2019, Pages 36 through 39, inclusive, Wake County Registry, to which plat reference is hereby made for a more particular description of same. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 255 Axis Deer Lane, Garner, 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

0783.17-11-9846 0133293 Present Record Owners: Real Estate Staging Plus, LLC and Sarah Delmonego

The terms of the sale are that the real property hereinbefore described will be sold for cash to the highest bidder. The Substitute Trustee reserves the right to require a cash deposit or a certified check not to exceed the greater of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00). In the event that the note 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, any Land Transfer Tax, and the tax required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

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.

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

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

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 their sole discretion, if they believe 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 N.C.G.S. §45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

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,

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

William Walt Pettit Attorney for Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. Hutchens Law Firm, LLP 6230 Fairview Road, Suite 315 Charlotte, NC 28210 Telephone: (704) 362-9255 Email: walt.pettit@hutchenslawfirm.com

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

BOOM!

XB-1, the Boom Aerospace test plane, reached Mach 1.122 — or about 750 mph — breaking the sound barrier for the first time on Tuesday.

The test, flown by Boom Chief Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, marked the first time that an independent company broke the sound barrier in a plane not backed by a military or government. The company’s Superfactory in Greensboro will build as many as 66 of its Overture aircraft every year once production begins. Boom says Overture will carry 64 to 80 passengers at Mach 1.7, about twice the speed of today’s subsonic airliners.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

DA review of former treasurer’s use of state cars ends without charges

Raleigh

An investigation into how then-North Carolina

Treasurer Dale Folwell used state government vehicles is ending with no charges filed. Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said Monday the review found any alleged policy violations were insufficient to support a successful criminal prosecution. Freeman said Folwell agreed to pay more than $6,200 for commuting costs he should have been charged and the reimbursement for some miles driven. Folwell, a Republican, completed eight years as treasurer and lost a bid for the GOP nomination for governor last year. Folwell said he was “relieved.”

Trump offers all federal workers buyout with 8 months’ pay

Washington, D.C.

The Trump administration says it is offering buyouts to all federal employees who opt to leave their jobs by next week — an unprecedented move to shrink the U.S. government at breakneck speed. The email sent Tuesday to employees says those who leave their posts voluntarily will receive about eight months of salary but must to chose to do so by Feb. 6.

$2.00

Stanly commissioners vote on planning board appointees

Four new planning board members were unanimously approved

By Jesse Deal

Stanly County Journal

ALBEMARLE — The Stanly County Planning Board has been revamped with new membership.

With positions up for reappointment, the Stanly County Board of Commissioners approved four new appointees for the planning board at its Jan. 21 meeting. The commissioners voted 7-0 to appoint Patricia Blaney, Kelly Hart and William Gollehon to three-year terms that expire in February 2028, while

Terry Page was unanimously appointed for a term that expires in February 2027.

Prior to the commissioners’ vote, Bailey Cline, the county’s planning and zoning director, addressed the board with a planning board special presentation as she cited the need for four appointments.

Along with approving major subdivision plats, the planning board reviews land use changes and updates the county’s land use plan.

“The Stanly County Planning Board consists of seven members that are appointed by the commissioners in staggered three-year terms,” Cline said. “The terms for John Eckman, Kevin Brickman, and Joel Mauldin will all expire

“The Stanly County Planning Board consists of seven members that are appointed by the commissioners in staggered three-year terms.”

Bailey Cline, Stanly County’s planning and zoning director

this year in February 2025. Michael Williams was appointed to the Board of Adjustment but his term on the planning board does not end until February 2027. Someone will need to be appointed to

UNC, Duke Health will build NC’s first standalone children’s hospital

The new 500-bed facility is coming to the Triangle

The Associated Press

RALEIGH — Two of the state’s largest university health systems plan to construct the state’s first standalone children’s hospital — an undertaking that its boosters said will change lives physically and economically for decades to come.

UNC Health and Duke Health on Tuesday revealed the agreement to build the proposed 500-bed pediatric hospital in the state’s Research Triangle region, which includes Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. The “NC Children’s” project also will include a children’s outpatient care center and behavioral health center. Research and education opera-

tions backed by the system’s two medical schools will also be onsite, the health systems said in a news release.

Groundbreaking on a more than 100-acre campus — the specific location yet to be identified — is expected by 2027, with campus construction to take about six years. The price tag for the project is expected at more than $2 billion. A massive fundraising effort is anticipated.

There are children’s hospitals already in North Carolina, including those operated by the University of North Carolina and Duke University health systems that are attached to their main campuses in the Triangle. This project, however, is described as the first freestanding hospital dedicated to caring for kids.

“This is a big splash that will ripple out literally for years

and years and impact the people in our state and region in ways that I know we can’t even imagine yet,” Dr. Wesley Burks, CEO of UNC Health and dean of the UNC School of Medicine, said at a Raleigh announcement event also attended by Gov. Josh Stein, Senate leader Phil Berger and other education, political and health care notables.

The two entities filed paperwork on Tuesday with the state to create a nonprofit organization for a new children’s health system called North Carolina Children’s Health. Their respective pediatric-related clinical services, programs and operations will transfer to NC Children’s.

The children’s hospital idea has been a goal for many years for both institutions, which often are health care competitors. But a recent initial $320

serve out the rest of his term.”

The volunteer applications received by the planning board to fill its upcoming positions were from Blaney, Hart, Gollehon and Page, along with Brickman, Donald Adkins, Shawanna Long, and Kevin May Jr.

While Brickman sought a second term, Eckman and Mauldin did not seek reappointment to the planning board; Cline’s introduction noted that Brickman had been consistent in both attendance and participation during board meetings.

Commissioner Patty Crump made the motion to nominate Blaney, Hart, Gollehon and

See BOARD,

million appropriation for the effort by the North Carolina General Assembly accelerated talks between the two systems.

“This is a tremendous and unique opportunity to work together to reimagine how we deliver life-changing care to our region’s most vulnerable and we are grateful for the support of our state’s legislature,” Duke University Health System CEO Dr. Craig Albanese said in a release.

Stein said at the announcement event that the project will end up “saving the lives of countless children for generations to come.”

Stein and Berger said the economic results also are striking for a growing state like North Carolina — the ninth largest by population.

“This campus through its construction and operation will create thousands of jobs and be among the largest economic development projects in the history of the state of North Carolina,” Berger said. “This is a win for the economy and for our children’s health and for our state’s infrastructure.”

PHOTOS COURTESY BOOM

“Join

the conversation”

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

Published each Thursday as part of North State Journal

1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

TO SUBSCRIBE:

919-663-3232 STANLYJOURNAL.COM

Annual Subscription Price: $100.00

Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, NC and at additional mailing offices

POSTMASTER:

Send address changes to: North State Journal

1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

We stand corrected

Albemarle moves forward with Walk of Fame planning

The ceremony will honor three individuals per year

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal

ALBEMARLE — After three years of discussions, Albemarle has taken a step ahead with its Walk of Fame ceremonial planning.

The Albemarle City Council unanimously voted on Jan. 21 to approve the Walk of Fame Advisory Board’s recommendations as presented by City Manager Todd Clark.

For the council, this marked the next step in establishing the annual Albemarle Walk of Fame as a local landmark where three individuals will be honored with a 24-inch round bronze medallion each year on the sidewalk outside of City Hall on 144 North Second St.

“It is the intent of the City of Albemarle to recognize current or former residents of Albemarle who have achieved

“This has been a project that our city council has been anticipating for quite some time.”

Todd Clark, Albemarle city manager

national, regional, or local recognition and have made substantial civic contributions to the Albemarle community, over a significant period, through their work in the community, lifetime achievements and volunteer service,” the advisory board wrote in a statement presented to the council.

Nominees must have achieved recognition in one of the following eight categories: humanitarian, entertainment, civic, art/architecture, sports, military, literary and business/ industry.

The Walk of Fame Advisory Board met on Oct. 30 to ap -

prove the nomination form, and then met again Jan. 15 to discuss design layout; the accepted form and any attachments can be submitted to the City Clerk’s office by mail, drop-off, or email.

“This has been a project that our city council has been anticipating for quite some time,” Clark said. “The advisory board is now requesting council approval of a nomination form, the location of the designated area for the medallions that would be installed to recognize the recipients of the Walk of Fame, and also a calendar of events that lead up to the process of selection of those individuals.”

Along with accepting the advisory board’s recommendations, the city council also retroactively made Jan. 1, 2025, the three-year term start date for inaugural Walk of Fame Advisory Board Members Louisa Jane, Judy Holcombe, Foster Parker, Courtney Brown and Bob Johnson. The schedule that was ac-

Trump proposes ‘getting

cepted by both the advisory board and city council holds the nomination period between Jan. 1 and April 30, with nomination review (May) and city council presentation (June) coming in the months after.

Between July and September, event preparations and the medallion ordering process will take shape, all leading up to the Walk of Fame event set for October.

“We had given some thought about just pulling all the segments of concrete up to install brick, but we decided that was going to be costly on the front end and not the preferred way to go,” Clark said. “It could expand if and when that might be needed.”

As it stands, the total cost to the city for yearly preparations and the event itself adds up to an annual estimate of $10,000.

Mayor Pro-Tem Martha Sue Hall stated her appreciation for the planning and ideas put into the project by everyone involved.

“I just want to tell you all thank you because we’ve seen more activity in this during the last four months than we did in the last 18. This has been a dream,” shae said.

The Albemarle City Council is set to meet again Feb. 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.

from

Page, which was seconded by Commissioner Scott Efird and led to a vote without discussion.

Those four planning board newcomers will soon share the board with David Underwood, TJ Smith and Tim Fesperman. Smith’s term extends until February 2026; Underwood’s and Fesperman’s terms run until February 2027

Blaney has career experience as a client service executive with Cigna Healthcare, while Hart has served as a member of the Stanly County Land Use Plan Steering Committee along with her occupational experience with Dial Page and Allen Storage.

Gollehon worked and retired from Michelin Aircraft Tire in 2019, while Page is a former firefighter and also worked as a truck driver for ADUSA Transportation.

The last meeting of the current planning board is set for Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Stanly County Commons, where board members will consider the ZA 25-01 text amendment request to the Stanly County Subdivision Ordinance for revisions to the current requirements and numbering for the table of contents.

The Stanly County Board of Commissioners is set to meet again on Feb. 3 at 6 p.m. in the Gene McIntyre Meeting Room at Stanly County Commons.

To report an error or a suspected error, please email: corrections@nsjonline. com with “Correction request” in the subject line. Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: community@ stanlyjournal.com

Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon

rid of FEMA’ while touring western NC

The president said he would prefer disaster funds flow through states instead

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — President Donald Trump surveyed disaster zones in California and North Carolina last Friday and said he was considering “getting rid of” the Federal Emergency Management Agency, offering the latest sign of how he is weighing sweeping changes to the nation’s central organization for responding to disasters.

Instead of having federal financial assistance flow through FEMA, the Republican president said Washington could provide money directly to the states. He made the comments while visiting western North Carolina, which is still recovering months after Hurricane Helene, on the first trip of his second term.

“FEMA has been a very big disappointment,” the Republican president said. “It’s very bureaucratic. And it’s very slow.”

Beyond his criticism of FEMA, Trump has suggested limiting the federal government’s role in responding to disasters, echoing comments from conservative allies who

CRIME LOG

Jan. 14

• Kaylee Chandler Reed, 30, was arrested for abuse of disabled/ elderly person with injury, domestic violence, assault and battery, assault on a law enforcement officer with serious injury, habitual misdemeanor assault, and resisting a public officer.

Jan. 16

• Tyler Wayne Barrier, 20, was arrested for possession with intent to manufacture/sell/ deliver Schedule II controlled substance, trafficking opium or heroin, possession of a

have proposed reducing funding and responsibility.

“I’d like to see the states take care of disasters,” he said in North Carolina. “Let the state take care of the tornadoes and the hurricanes and all of the other things that happen.”

Trump said Michael Whatley, a North Carolina native and chair of the Republican National Committee, would help coordinate recovery efforts in the state, where frustrations over the federal response have lingered. Although Whatley does not hold an of-

stolen firearm, maintaining a place for controlled substances, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of firearm by felon, breaking and entering a motor vehicle, larceny of a firearm, and conspiracy to commit felony larceny.

• Tory Lee Rushing, 19, was arrested for breaking and entering a motor vehicle with theft, larceny of a firearm, conspiracy to commit felony larceny, possession with intent to manufacture/sell/ deliver Schedule II controlled substance, trafficking opium or heroin, possession of stolen

ficial government position, Trump said he would be “very much in charge.”

FEMA helps respond to disasters when local leaders request a presidential emergency declaration, a signal that the damage is beyond the state’s ability to handle on its own.

FEMA can reimburse governments for recovery efforts such as debris removal, and it gives stopgap financial assistance to individual residents.

Trump has criticized former President Joe Biden for his administration’s response to He-

firearm, maintaining a place for controlled substances, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jan. 25

• Tia Marie Driscoll, 26, was arrested for assault on a government official/employee, resisting a public officer, simple assault, and communicating threats.

• Sherrod L Lloyd, 54, was arrested for assault on a female and domestic violence.

• Sabrena Ann Johnson, 46, was arrested for felony possession

lene in North Carolina. As he left the White House last Friday morning, he told reporters that “it’s been a horrible thing the way that’s been allowed to fester” since the storm hit in September, and “we’re going to get it fixed up.”

In Swannanoa, residents told Trump about wading through waist-deep water to escape from their homes while fearing for their lives. Some have battled with insurance companies to get their losses covered.

“We’ve come to North Carolina with a simple message,” Trump said. “You are not forgotten any longer. You were treated very badly by the previous administration.”

FEMA has distributed $319 million in financial assistance to residents, but that hasn’t alleviated the feeling of abandonment among residents struggling to rebuild their lives.

Michael Coen, who served as chief of staff at FEMA during the Biden administration, said Trump was “misinformed” about an agency that provides critical help to states when they are overwhelmed by catastrophe.

In addition, Coen criticized the idea of attaching strings to assistance.

“I think the American people expect the federal government will be there for them on their worst day, no matter where they live,” he said.

Trump tapped Cameron Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL with limited experience managing natural disasters, as FEMA’s acting director.

of Schedule II controlled substance, possession of controlled substance on prison/ jail premises, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Hayden Kyle Battisto, 29, was arrested for domestic violence, assault by strangulation, assault on a female, and assault on a pregnant woman.

Jan. 26

• William Franklin Bailey, 46, was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, assault with a deadly weapon causing serious injury, and assault by pointing a gun.

BOARD

page A1

MARK SCHIEFELBEIN / AP PHOTO

President Donald Trump listens as resident Kim West speaks during a meeting with homeowners affected by Hurricane Helene in Swannanoa last Friday.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | SUSAN ESTRICH

Eyes on the prize

This administration has committed itself to attacking the “Deep State.”

THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT has ordered its civil rights division to halt any ongoing litigation from the Biden administration and not pursue any new cases or settlements, according to a memo sent to the temporary head of the division that was obtained by The Washington Post.

It’s a freeze on everything, which is a prelude to an about-face when/if Harmeet Dhillon is confirmed as assistant attorney general. The memo states that officials are implementing the freeze to be “consistent with the Department’s goal of ensuring that the Federal Government speaks with one voice in its view of the law and to ensure that the President’s appointees or designees have the opportunity to decide whether to initiate any new cases.”

It’s not just the new cases that will have to make it through the “one voice” screen. It’s the old cases, too. A separate memo asks the division for notice of any consent decrees the division has finalized within the last 90 days. Two such settlement agreements are especially noteworthy: one with the city of Louisville, where the 2020 police killing of Breonna Taylor sparked nationwide protests; and another — a police accountability plan — with the city leaders of Minneapolis, where George Floyd was killed. Those agreements were years in the making. Will the reforms

in the settlements be enforced or ripped apart by a new administration?

Some of this is what happens when you don’t win.

Some of this is what happens when you don’t pay attention.

The only way you ever know the difference is by paying attention.

I hear a lot of people saying that they’re simply not going to pay attention anymore, that denial and ignorance is the best way to avoid all the other feelings that come over a significant percentage of us when forced to confront the daily doings of the new administration. Surveying the front page — the front screen, as it usually is — is painful. There are so many stories to not read.

But ignorance isn’t bliss. It just means you’re going to do nothing about it. And while that might be the right approach to things you cannot change, it is not the right approach to things you cannot accept.

The Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department has a long tradition of standing up for rights that, too often, states were unwilling to enforce. It has, for years, been at the forefront of police brutality cases. Should it back away now? Should it become the branch of government that will enforce the mandate that there are only two genders, male and

The one thing Trump can’t do

Trump can create an environment that leads to more job openings and lower housing prices, but you still have to go to work.

DONALD TRUMP’S JOB is to make America great again. Improving your own life is up to you. There are lots of reasons to be excited about Trump’s return to power. He’s pledged to unleash America’s energy industry. Cheaper energy and a better regulatory environment should help contain inflation. The border will be locked down while officials deport illegal aliens.

But even if he accomplishes his entire agenda, there’s one thing Trump can’t do — guarantee you a more successful life. That may sound like a contradiction. If Trump is going to help America, doesn’t that require that he make things better for Americans? It does, but there’s an important step missing in that question — the choices you make.

For instance, one of the best predictors of personal happiness is being in a great marriage. Earning more money raises a person’s chance of being “very happy” by 88%. Being married increases your odds by 151%. But being in a “very happy” marriage boosts your likelihood by a staggering 545%. That’s all according to Brad Wilcox, author of the excellent book “Get Married.”

That’s good news. You can work on improving your marriage regardless of who the president is.

There’s a loneliness epidemic, according to Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.

He’s right. In October, a Gallup poll found 20% of adults said they felt a lot of loneliness the previous day. That suggests around 50 million adults feel isolated. It’s a miserable feeling and can lead to destructive behaviors like drug and alcohol abuse.

It’s also fixable. Go to church and join a small group. Volunteer. Sign up for a sports league. Reach out to family members.

These steps are all harder when you’re lonely and depressed. It’s why a safety net of families, churches and engaged neighbors are so important.

The government can give you a check, but it can’t give you a hug when you need it most.

This is true even in finances. It doesn’t matter how much Trump cuts taxes. If you spend more than you make, you’ll always have money problems. The best way to improve your financial health is to budget and pay down your debts. Dave Ramsey has helped an untold number of people, myself included, do just that. That’s some practical advice that’s much needed in Washington, D.C.

Trump can create an environment that leads to more job openings and lower housing prices, but you still have to go to work and earn your paycheck or start your

female, and no place for those who fit into a different category. Is that its future?

At a time when some in the mainstream media seem more inclined than ever to get in bed with the object of their attention, we have never needed them to be more independent. Who will tell us what is going on? Who will report on the memoranda to the interim directors, which is what The Washington Post was doing in its story on the Justice Department?

This administration has committed itself to attacking the “Deep State,” — aka, the civil service, the establishment, the moderate middle that has always been the bulwark of our government — that they think frustrated their revolutionary impulses last time around. And rather than being met by a skeptical audience, as Trump was last time, he is being met by a fawning one. They may be fawning out of fear, out of a better-than-the-alternative concession, but the concern is the same.

Who will tell us what is really going on? They have had four years to plan, and dream, of what they will do, and they are doing it before our eyes. It is no time to take our eyes off the prize.

Susan Estrich is a lawyer, professor, author and political commentator.

own business. In his memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” Vice President JD Vance described working in a tile distribution business before attending Yale Law School. Jobs there provided a path out of poverty for those near his poor hometown, but turnover was high.

“Too many men (were) immune to hard work,” Vance wrote. He continued, “There is a lack of agency here — a feeling that you have little control over your own life and a willingness to blame everyone but yourself.”

This isn’t to say that political leadership doesn’t matter. It does.

Think of it this way. Imagine life is a mountain path with many ups and downs. The job of Trump and other elected officials is to fly above the path and clear away landslides and boulders that make navigating it difficult. If Trump does his job well, removing those barriers will help more people go further on the path. That’s making America great again. But Trump isn’t going to fly you to your preferred destination.

The wonderful yet scary thing about freedom is that it forces you to enjoy or endure the consequences of your own decisions.

Victor Joecks is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

COLUMN | VICTOR JOECKS

Southern cities get creative to clear storm’s leftover snow, ice

New Orleans used cleaning equipment usually needed after Mardi Gras

By Jack Brook and Russ Bynum The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS — Days after a winter storm dropped ice and record-breaking snow, cleanup efforts were underway last week in several major Southern cities such as New Orleans, where crews were removing snow the same way they remove trash, drink cups and plastic beads after Mardi Gras.

Temperatures were gradually rising across the U.S. South, bringing hopes that the remaining snow and ice would melt away.

“We have to be honest with ourselves — we’re from Louisiana, we know crawfish, we know football, but we don’t really know snow and ice, and that’s OK,” said Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development spokesper-

son Daniel Gitlin. “It’s going to go away, and we’re better off letting Mother Nature do what she needs to do right now.”

Up to 200 miles of interstate remained closed until last Friday due to treacherous patches of black ice, Gitlin said. Louisiana had nearly run out of its salt supply after treating roads, he added.

In the Big Easy, a private waste management firm has been contracted to repurpose equipment typically used to clean up Mardi Gras beads and cups to clear snow from the streets.

IV Waste President Sidney Torres said his company had deployed a 4,000-gallon “flusher” truck to spray water on the ground to soften the ice for removal in the historic and festive French Quarter. The truck normally sprays lemon-scented fragrance “to get rid of that funky liquor, urine, puke smell from the night before,” Torres said. “We’re finding new solutions and better techniques to dealing with this.”

The flusher truck — normally deployed to spray lemon-scented fragrance around the pungent French Quarter — is used to clear ice last Thursday in New Orleans after a rare winter storm.

Arkansas sent Louisiana snowplows, dump trucks, salt spreaders and other equipment, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said.

The snowfall likely broke several records across the region, including in Florida, where a preliminary report of 10 inches in one town would set a new record for the state if confirmed.

Snow totals reached 3 inches in Savannah, Georgia, the most the state’s oldest city has recorded since December 1989.

The snow was lighter in metro Atlanta, where the southern

suburbs saw more snow and ice than areas north of the city. In Covington, southeast of Atlanta, Jesse Gentes used a flamethrower to deice the roads in his subdivision. In better weather, he typically uses the flamethrower for brush removal, he told WSB-TV.

South Carolina reported at least one death in the storm.

A 71-year-old man died from a medical condition while shoveling snow last Thursday in Berkeley County, Coroner Darnell Hartwell said. About 3-4

inches of snow fell in the area, according to the National Weather Service. The snow and ice had staying power and left a mess on the roads in coastal South Carolina. In Charleston, ice that melted and refroze overnight closed the James Island Connector, a bridge that links the city to its western suburbs. Police said on social media that “while crews are working hard, it is unlikely to reopen soon.”

Schools and county offices remained closed, and officials in most areas south and east of the state capital, Columbia, asked people to stay home for at least one more day.

It was a similar story in North Carolina, where slick roads remained a danger to drivers after the snow melted and then refroze overnight. Schools were also affected, including in Fayetteville, where the school system announced that students would have an “asynchronous” learning day, allowing them to complete assignments at home. Several other school districts operated on a two-hour delay.

Some school systems in central and south Alabama remained closed last Thursday due to concerns about the remaining ice on roads or the possibility of frozen pipes in schools. In coastal Baldwin County, sections of Interstate 65 and Interstate 10 were shut down due to ice.

New Vatican document offers AI guidelines from warfare to health care

It includes a number of warnings about the potential for AI

The Associated Press

VATICAN CITY — A Vatican document released Tuesday offers wide-ranging ethical guidelines for the application of artificial intelligence in sectors from warfare to health care, with an underlying call that the burgeoning technology must be used as a tool to complement, and not replace, human intelligence.

Pope Francis has issued several warnings about the risks associated with AI technology, and this new document by the Vatican’s doctrine and cultural offices expands on what the pontiff has already said. It comes as a new AI chatbot by Chinese tech startup DeepSeek has raised the stakes in the AI technology race, catching up with American generative AI leaders at a fraction of the cost.

The document underlines that human responsibility needs to grow in proportion to the new technology, and that the impact

of AI’s uses in various sectors “may not always be predictable from their inception.”

“AI should be used only as a tool to complement human intelligence, rather than replace its richness,” the document said in its conclusion.

AI and warfare

The document warns that AI has the potential to increase instruments of war “well beyond the scope of human oversight,” which could provoke “a destabilizing arms race.” Weapons systems that can identify and strike targets without human intervention, removing “the unique human capacity for moral judgement and ethical decision-making,’’ it said.

“No machine should ever choose to take the life of a human being,’’ the document warned.

AI and human relationships

The document warns that AI is not a substitute for “authentic human relationships” and cites its lack of empathy as a risk when anthropomorphizing AI in areas such as

child development or interpersonal relationships.

“While human beings are meant to experience authentic relationships, AI can only simulate them,” the document said.

AI and the search for meaning

The document cites the risk that “as society drifts away from connection with the transcendent, some are tempted to turn to AI in search of meaning and fulfillment — longings that can only be truly satisfied in communion with God.”

“The presumption of substituting God for an artifact of human making is idolatry, a practice Scripture explicitly warns against,” the document said.

AI and privacy/surveillance

Advances in AI-powered data processing have made data privacy “even more imperative as a safeguard for the dignity and relational nature” of individuals, the document said.

“The risk of surveillance overreach must be monitored by appropriate regulators to ensure

transparency and public accountability,’’ it said.

AI and the environment

The document underlined that while AI can help fight climate change through models to forecast extreme events, help manage emergencies and help promote sustainable development, it also poses risks that are obscured by the use of words like “the cloud” that detach data storage “from the physical world.”

“It is crucial to recognize that its operation demands vast amounts of energy and water, contributing significantly to CO2 emissions,” the document said.

AI and education

The document said that AI should help promote critical thinking and not just train “young people how to amass information and generate quick responses.” Education is not about “filling one’s head with ideas” but “is about taking a risk in the tensions between the mind, the heart and the hands,” it said.

“Schools, universities and scientific societies are challenged to help students and professionals to grasp the social and ethical aspects of the development and uses of technology,’’ the document said.

AI and health care

While citing the potential of AI to enhance medical care, such as in diagnosing illness, the document said it is critical that AI is used to enhance and not “replace the relationship between patients and healthcare providers.”

“Decisions regarding patient treatment and the weight of responsibility they entail must always remain with the human person, and should never be delegated to AI,’’ the document said.

AI and misinformation/ deepfakes

AI presents a risk of “generating manipulated content and false information, which can easily mislead people due to its resemblance to the truth,’’ the document said.

“Countering AI-driven falsehoods is not only the work of industry experts — it requires the efforts of all people of good will,’’ it said, calling for diligence on the part of those who share AI-generated content to verify “the truth of what they disseminate.”

GREGORIO BORGIA / AP PHOTO

Faithful leave St. Peter’s Basilica at the end of a mass presided by Pope Francis at the Vatican, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025.

SIDNEY TORRES / IV WASTE VIA AP

STANLY SPORTS

Harlem Wizards set to challenge Stanly Dragons again

The Wizards will play against Stanly educators in a charity matchup

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal

MISENHEIMER — The en-

tertainment-based Harlem Wizards basketball team is returning to Stanly County.

As a follow-up to last year’s Wizards vs. Teachers charity game at Pfeiffer University, the Wizards are scheduled to once again challenge the Stanly Dragons, a team composed of staff from the Stanly County Schools district.

The fundraising matchup is scheduled between 7-9 p.m. on Thursday night (Jan. 30); doors open at 6 p.m.

“The Stanly Dragons are teachers and staff of Stanly County Schools coached by Superintendent Dr. Dennis,” Stanly County Schools announced.

“This exciting game is filled with trick hoops and stunts and will be held at Merner Gym at Pfeiffer University. The game is sponsored by the Albemarle Rotary Club and proceeds will be used for grants to schools, scholarships, and Rotary projects which benefit our community.”

Advanced tickets are currently online only and available now on the Harlem Wizards’ official website. Student tickets are $12 and general admission tickets are $14.

For $45, attendees also have the option to purchase a specialized courtside ticket that includes reserved seating, a pregame meet and greet with players, a souvenir lanyard, and color team photo for autographs.

The 2025 Stanly Dragons of-

Porsche Penske Motorsport team members — left to right, Belgium’s Laurens Vanthoor, Brazil’s Felipe Nasr and Britain’s Nick Tandy — display the Rolex watches they received for winning the IMSA Rolex 24 hour race at Daytona International Speedway.

“The

Stanly Dragons are teachers and staff of Stanly County Schools coached by Superintendent Dr. Dennis.” Stanly

County Schools

ficial roster has been revealed ahead of the matchup.

This year’s team — led by coach Dennis — consists of Sharon H. Stephens, Tina Bowden and Amanda Urey (East Albemarle); Callie Thigpen and April Hiatt (West Stanly Middle); Randi Griffin, Hannah Naifeh, Lindsay Merritt and Zachary Caldwell (Stanfield); Shawanna Long (North Stanly Middle); Jennifer Drye, Liddy Bray and Emily Emery (Richfield).

Additionally, the roster includes Kelly Hill, Sharah Callicutt and Beth Gentry (South Stanly Middle); Kia Davis (Albemarle Middle); Emily Morton (South Stanly High); Basilio Hi-

dalgo Andrade and Faith Coble (Endy); Lauren Mauldin (North Stanly High); Diana Popoca and Marisah Stacy (Albemarle High); Angela Mills (Badin); Mary Doyle (Oakboro); Timothy Sawyer (Millingport); and Jacob Ford Huber (Central Office).

“Basketball aficionados are treated to great skills, teamwork, slick dribbling, alley-oops and crazy slams,” the Wizards’ organization said in a promotional release. “The non-hoop fans attending will find out that this is much more than just a basketball game. The night is funny, theatrical, exciting and spectacular and the gym will reverberate with oohs and aahs, laughter, enthusiasm, and much much more.”

Since 1962, the Harlem Wizards have toured domestically and internationally as a show basketball team that has specialized in fundraising events for schools and nonprofits in the communities where their charity games are held. The team has played more than 15,000 games and has raised over $25 million for schools and charity organizations.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Jordyn Crump

Albemarle, girls’ basketball

Jordyn Crump is a senior guard-forward for the Albemarle girls’ basketball team. She has also played volleyball and soccer for the Bulldogs.

Albemarle has won its last three games by a combined score of 210-42 score, including an 80-15 win over North Stanly last week.

Crump came up big in the game, knocking down 3 of 8 on 3-pointers and 4 of 5 from two-point range for 17 points, more than double her season scoring average. She added 3 assists and 6 steals.

Penske wins 2nd consecutive Rolex 24

Porsche Penske Motorsport ran first and third

By Jenna Fryer

The Associated Press

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. —

Roger Penske started his 59th season in motorsports the same way he closed last year — as a champion.

Porsche Penske Motorsport on Sunday won the Rolex 24 at Daytona for the second consecutive year and third time overall.

Back at Daytona International Speedway for the Rolex, the same place and race where Team Penske debuted in 1966, Penske returned to Victory Lane. And, as he always does, the billionaire who turns 88 next month stayed

awake and sat with the team on the timing stand for the entire 24 hours. His two cars dominated the twice-round-the-clock endurance race and finished first and third. Once attrition hit other entries in the top prototype class, the Porsches ran first and second for large portions of the race. It was the No. 7 full-time IMSA entry that won, making it back-to-back victories for that car despite a different driver lineup.

“What an incredible day for the entire Porsche Penske Motorsport organization. Both of our Porsche 963s and the drivers showed great speed and reliability,” Penske said. “The crews performed flawlessly, which is a result of meticulous preparation by everyone on the team.

“2024 was an unmatched season of success starting with a win at the 24 Hours of Daytona and it’s great to repeat that success to start 2025 with the third overall win for Team Penske and the 20th victory for Porsche.”

Felipe Nasr won last year with Dane Cameron and Josef Newgarden, but Cameron was let go at the end of 2024 and Newgarden wasn’t part of this year’s Rolex lineup. So it was Nasr again, only this time he was paired with Nick Tandy, who will be his IMSA co-driver all season, and Laurens Vanthoor, Penske’s reigning WEC champion.

It was Nasr’s second overall victory. He also won a Rolex watch for a class victory in 2022. Tandy also had a 2014 class victory, but Sunday was his first overall win. It was the first watch

for Vanthoor, who had finished in the top five of class in six of the last seven years.

All three drivers were in tears after the race. Nasr said it is Penske who pushes the team to achieve the excellence he demands.

“The feeling is amazing, just to see how much energy he brings into the team. You get out of the car, he’s like: ‘How’s the car? How’s the handling?’ Like, he’s very interested in every detail,” Nasr said. “He doesn’t miss a pit stop when the cars are coming in, and he’s looking at it all and making comments. I just have a lot of admiration for everything he does, and it stands for the team. It’s a very, very unique opportunity to be driving for Porsche Penske Motorsport here.”

Even though the No. 7 was so dominant — especially after sunrise on Sunday — the drivers were still challenged until the checkered flag. Penske’s No. 6 car took the lead with just under an hour to go, but Nasr bested Matt Campbell in a drag race through traffic to cycle back to the front with about 22 minutes remaining.

“Obviously, these guys are racers, and fortunately, we didn’t get into trouble,” Penske said. “Terrific job by the whole team. When you think about all the drivers we had, they ran strong all day. And the cars, this Porsche car we have, has just been amazing, and to think we did it two years in a row. It’s a credit to all the people here. So we’ve got one organization, and now we’ve been able to say we did it again.”

JOHN RAOUX / AP PHOTO

PHOTO COURTESY OF HARLEM WIZARDS

The Harlem Wizards will play against the Stanly Dragons on Jan. 30 inside Pfeiffer University’s Merner Gym.

SIDELINE REPORT

COLLEGE

FOOTBALL

Vegas, baby!

Sin City to host the 2027 College Football Playoff title game

Las Vegas Las Vegas will host the 2027 College Football Playoff national championship game. The CFP says the title game will be played Monday, Jan. 25, 2027, at Allegiant Stadium. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority celebrated the news by releasing a video of Strip headliner Shin Lim performing an illusion at the iconic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. Lim changed the face of the sign to revel a new message welcoming the College Football Playoff National Championship to Las Vegas. The 2026 game will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Ohio State star

Judkins declares for NFL Draft

Columbus, Ohio Ohio State star running back Quinshon Judkins, who scored three touchdowns in the national championship game, is leaving school early and entering the NFL Draft. Judkins announced his decision on social media. Judkins transferred to Ohio State after two seasons at Ole Miss. He is widely expected to be a second- day pick in April. Against Notre Dame, he ran 11 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 21 yards and a score.

SOCCER

Police investigating threats toward Premier League ref London English soccer’s match officials body says police are investigating “abhorrent attacks” aimed at Premier League referee Michael Oliver and his family following the match between Wolverhampton and Arsenal. Oliver was the referee for Saturday’s game at Molineux which Arsenal won 1-0 after both teams had a man sent off. Professional Game Match Officials Limited, the body responsible for referees in the English soccer, says it is “appalled by the threats and abuse directed at” Oliver after the game. The PGMOL says “the police are aware and a number of investigations have commenced.”

Women’s basketball players reflect on Kobe Bryant’s impact

Memories of the NBA star’s death, five years ago, are still strong

By Alanis Thames

The Associated Press

DEARICA HAMBY still smiles at the memory of Kobe Bryant sitting courtside at WNBA games.

She had met him years ago. He came to see her old team, the Las Vegas Aces, play all the time.

“I think one of the first things he told me was that I could play defense,” Hamby recalled. “And I was kind of like ‘Wha-at?’ ... That’s something I’ll cherish with me forever.”

That epitomized the late NBA great’s relationship with the women’s game. After his 20-year playing career ended, Bryant turned his focus to the next generation, mentoring some of women’s basketball’s biggest stars, from WNBA champion and Olympic gold medalist Diana Taurasi to former Oregon star Sabrina Ionescu. He worked out with them, analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of their game and

pushed for them to reach the same heights in popularity that he and his NBA peers did.

For Hamby, now with the Los Angeles Sparks, Bryant saw an aspect of her game she didn’t even know she had.

“If Kobe tells you you can play defense, you can play defense,” she quipped.

Five years after Bryant, 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, several women’s basketball players reflected on what he meant to their game and how he championed it. Many of them thought Bryant would be pleased with the overall progress of women’s sports, which have skyrocketed in popularity and reach in recent years.

“We carry this on for him,” said Satou Sabally, a forward with the WNBA’s Dallas Wings who plays for the Phantom squad in Unrivaled. “He would be so proud of this league. He would be proud of ’Phe and Stewie. I know that he’s looking down and hopefully he’s smiling and is proud of us.”

Sabally said she still gets emotional when she thinks of

that day on Jan. 26, 2020. It reminds her of her playing days at Oregon, when she, Ionescu and their Ducks teammates connected over Bryant.

“I think about ... how we all bonded together over Kobe and how we bonded together for the rest of our lives because he was so impactful,” Sabally added. “He was really a person that saw us women as the talents who we are. He came to the games, he was so outspoken and he really was really supportive.”

“I still remember exactly where I was whenever we heard the news,” said Kate Martin of the Golden State Valkyries,

playing for Laces BC at Unrivaled, “and no one really knew if it was fake or real. I think that’s just one of those things where you’re just always going to remember exactly where you were when you heard that.” Bryant became heavily involved with his daughters’ hoops journeys and coached Gianna’s youth team. He was often at women’s basketball games, especially college ones, with Gianna, who was fascinated with the UConn Huskies. Gianna was in line to further Bryant’s legacy on the court. The plan was for her to attend Connecticut, and surely the WNBA was next.

“I think a lot of people started to follow behind Kobe because he recognized our gift and our talent and how special it really is,” said former Chicago Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon, the current coach of Unrivaled’s Vinyl BC. “And his daughter was right there as well.”

That’s who Bryant had become — a face of women’s sports advocacy.

“He’s greatly missed,” Martin said. “But now his legacy will live on forever.”

ESPN pleased with 1st season of expanded CFP

Interest in the playoffs was high, although ratings were mixed

By Joe Reedy The Associated Press

THE INAUGURAL season of the 12-team College Football Playoff had its share of highlights and criticisms from fans and the media.

The same can be said for the network carrying the games.

Nick Dawson, ESPN’s vice president of college sports programming and acquisitions, said the first year was a success from their standpoint as they begin taking a deeper dive into possible improvements going into next season.

“A lot of unknowns doing something for the first time, so you’ll always sort of assess after the fact, learn and potentially look at tweaks or adjustments we might consider for the future,” Dawson said.

The 11 College Football Playoff games averaged 15.6 million viewers according to Nielsen, as audiences increased during each round. According to ESPN, viewers consumed nearly 36 billion minutes of live coverage, a 63% increase over last year’s seven-game slate of the CFP title game and New Year’s six bowl games.

The four first-round games averaged 10.6 million viewers, with the quarterfinals at 16.9 million. The semifinals averaged 19.2 million, while Ohio State’s 34-23 victory over Notre Dame in Monday night’s national championship game drew 22.1 million.

“Obviously there were a

few more games, but to see that kind of jump in just overall consumption of the product is hopefully something we can build on moving forward,” Dawson said.

There are some headwinds that ESPN will deal with under the current format. The semifinal audience decreased 17% from last year, but most of that was due to those games being on Jan. 1, 2024, compared to games on Thursday and Friday.

Notre Dame’s 27-24 victory over Penn State in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9 averaged 17.8 million. By comparison, the most-watched “Thursday Night Football” game on Amazon Prime Video this season was 17.29 million for Green Bay versus Detroit on Dec. 2.

The Jan. 10 Cotton Bowl — where Ohio State defeat-

ed Texas 28-24 — averaged 20.6 million and was the mostwatched Friday telecast across all networks in four years.

Ohio State-Notre Dame was a 12% drop from the 25 million who tuned in for the Michigan-Washington title game in 2024. CFP games ended up being nine of the 10 most-viewed this season, with three games averaging at least 20 million. The other was the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl, which always attracts a large audience.

What Dawson and ESPN are hoping for the most though are more competitive title games.

Since Alabama’s 26-23 overtime victory over Georgia in 2018, the last seven title games have had an average margin of victory of 25.4 points. The three least-viewed

of the 11 CFP title games have occurred in the past five years. Monday night’s game peaked at 26.1 million viewers during the second quarter (8:30-8:45 p.m. EST) when the game was tied at 7-all. The audience started decreasing when the Buckeyes took a 21-7 lead at halftime and took a big drop when Ohio State built a 31-7 advantage midway though the third quarter.

“You always hope for, from a TV perspective, for a tight game to the finish, right? That’s one of the biggest factors driving the ultimate viewership, but it’s also not something that you can control,” Dawson said. “Blowouts are not a college football thing. That occurs in every sport and every playoff from time to time. So you sort of have to accept that’s going to be a reality once in a while.”

BUTCH DILL / AP PHOTO

Fans watch live at the College Football Playoff national championship game between Ohio State and Notre Dame in Atlanta.

MICHAEL OWEN BAKER / AP PHOTO Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna attend an NBA game in Los Angeles.

obituaries

Emma Danielle Lowder

Barbara Jean (Taylor) Drye

April 17, 1936 ~ January 14, 2023

Feb. 4, 2006 – Jan. 22, 2025

Barbara Jean Taylor Drye, 86, of Oakboro, passed away Saturday, January 14, 2023 at her home.

Emma Danielle Lowder, 18, of Albemarle passed away on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at Atrium Health Stanly. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care Chapel in Albemarle officiated by Pastor Steve Combs. The family will receive friends from 12 – 2 p.m. prior to the hour of service at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care in Albemarle.

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. 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.

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.

Emma was born on February 4, 2006, in Cabarrus County. She is lovingly survived by her father Adam Lowder, her mother Cecelia Lowder, and her brother Alec Lowder. Those also left to cherish her memory are her grandparents, Michael and Pat Lowder, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. She is also survived by her boyfriend Kevin O’Brien and her special k9 companion Whiskey. Emma was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Richard Gentry.

Emma was an aspiring nursing student, who was attending Pfeiffer University’s Nursing Program. She was dedicated to her studies and accepted nothing less than perfection. Emma had an amazing love for farm animals which began during her FFA days in high school. She competed at the state level in animal judging and continued by having a small farm at home, with goats and more importantly her cow, “Christmas”.

Emma had the most contagious, outgoing personality and could put a smile on anyone’s face and was famous for her quick wit. She loved all things pink, all things Christmas and especially the Grinch.

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to all the first responders and the Emergency Department staff for going above and beyond the call to help Emma in her time of need. Her legacy will live on forever for the impact she had on so many. This poem sums up her life’s goal: “You’ll never do a whole lot unless you’re brave enough to try!” -Dolly Parton To all who are planning to attend the service, please honor Emma by wearing pink.

Dwight Farmer

Shirley Fisher

January 24, 1939 ~ January 15, 2023

Sept. 22, 1939 – Jan. 21, 2025

Dwight Britten Farmer Sr., 83, of Norwood died Sunday morning, January 15, 2023 at Forrest Oakes.

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.

Shirley Lesley Fisher, 85, of Albemarle, passed away on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at Bethany Woods. Funeral services are scheduled at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at Memorial Baptist Church, officiated by Pastor Jon Ferguson. Burial will follow at Stanly Gardens of Memory. The family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. prior to the hour of service.

He was a member of Cedar Grove United Methodist Church where he had served as church treasurer and choir member. He began his career with the Stanly County Sheriff’s Department moving to the Norwood Police Department and retiring as Chief of Police with the Town of Norwood after many years of service.

Dwight was an avid gardener, bird watcher and Carolina fan.

James Roseboro

John B. Kluttz

Estha Leonard Stegall

June 23, 1967 ~ January 10, 2023

James Arthur Roseboro, 55, of Albemarle, passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at Anson Health and Rehab.

Dec. 2, 1929 – Jan. 20, 2025

Estha Leonard Stegall, 95, of Albemarle, peacefully passed away on Monday, January 20, 2025, at Woodhaven Courts surrounded by her family. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 24, 2025, at Stanly Gardens of Memory officiated by Pastor Adam Hatley.

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.

Margaret “Peggy” Garzoni

March 23, 1935 - January 9, 2023

Aug. 8, 1936 – Jan. 17, 2025

Margaret (Peggy) Louise Garzoni, 88, of Locust passed away on Friday, January 17, 2025, at her home surrounded by her family. There will be no formal services scheduled.

Michael “Mike” Aaron Lawhon

Oct. 29, 1981 – Jan. 13, 2025

October 11, 1944 - January 10, 2023

Shirley was born in Rowan County on September 22, 1939, to the late Clinton and Margaret Lesley. She is lovingly survived by her son, David Fisher Jr. and his wife Sarah of Albemarle, daughters, Audrey Fisher Gaydon (James) of Concord and Susan Fisher of Albemarle, grandchildren, Jason Pinion (Megan), Allison Neal (Sam), Jason Plyler (Andrea), Jessica Crisco (Matt), Lesley Rummage (Brandon), Brandon Gaydon (Danielle), great-grandchildren, Ethen, Emry, Ezra, Kylee, Jaxon, Liam, Deacon, Cooper, Jaxon, Kathryn, Dalton, Adaline, Sophia, Raleigh, Abby, and Tyler, brotherin-law, Dan Fisher (Ellen), and special k9 companion, Buddy.

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.

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.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, David Fisher Sr. in 2022, grandson, Benjamin Plyler, granddaughter Lesley Plyler, brother Robert Lesley, and sisters, Evelyn Evans and Ruby Shores.

Ms. Shirley was a great mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She loved her family and enjoyed having all the grandchildren around. Shirley loved attending Church and especially loved her Sunday School class. She enjoyed traveling to the beach. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff at Atrium Health Stanly, Bethany Woods Nursing Facility, and Cardinal Hospice for the care they provided to Ms. Shirley. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to the Memorial Baptist Church Building Fund, (873 Pee Dee Ave. Norwood, NC 28128 Stanly Funeral and Cremation of Albemarle is serving the Fisher family.

Estha was born on December 2, 1929, in Union County to the late William and Minnie Leonard. She is lovingly survived by her daughter Sandy Hendrick and her husband Bill of Albemarle and her son Tony Stegall and his wife Sherry of Concord. She is Granny to Christy Bargesser (Michael), Danielle Mills (Jonathan), and Eric Stegall. Those also left to cherish her memory are great-grandchildren, Katie (Tyler), Drew (Gracie), Miley, Jase, Lily, Abram, Mariel, Ivey, Leighton, Brooklyn, and great-great-grandchildren, Lila, and Ada. Estha was preceded in death by her husband, James Wilson, in 1991 and brothers, Walter and Aaron Leonard.

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.

Estha was the owner and operator of Estha’s Bridal and Formal Wear in Albemarle. She spent many years helping people prepare for the most important and memorable days of their lives. She also loved spending time with her family and was very devoted to that role. Estha was a long-time member of West Albemarle Baptist Church. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Ms. Estha’s memory to the West Albemarle Baptist Church, Project Built on Faith Ministry. Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle is serving the Stegall family.

Darrick Baldwin

January 7, 1973 ~ January 8, 2023

Darrick Vashon Baldwin, age 50, entered eternal rest, Sunday, January 8, 2023, Albemarle, North Carolina. Born January 7, 1973, in Stanly County, North Carolina, Darrick was the son of Eddie James Baldwin Sr. and the late Phyllis Blue Baldwin. Darrick enjoyed life, always kept things lively and enjoyed making others smile. His presence is no longer in our midst, but his memory will forever live in our hearts.

He was educated in the Stanly County public schools and attended Albemarle Senior High School, Albemarle.

He was a great conversationalist and loved meeting people. Darrick never met a stranger and always showed love and compassion for his fellowman. He also loved his dog, Rocky.

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.

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.

Peggy was born on August 8, 1936, in DuBois, Pennsylvania to the late John and Margaret Heitzenrater. She is lovingly survived by her children, Cynthia Garzoni of Locust, Kathy Garzoni of Oakboro, James Garzoni and his wife Lisa of Indian Trail and Joseph Garzoni and his wife Anita of Salem, OH. Those also left to cherish her memory are grandchildren, Matthew Derck (Jenette), Melanie Jacobs (Jim), Anthony Garzoni, James Garzoni (Amber), Shannon Mackay (James), Jeremy Garzoni, and Adam Garzoni, greatgrandchildren, Oliver, Grant, Levi, Gabriel, Addilynn, Clara, Luke, Jace and Nathan, and brothers, John Heitzenrater and Ronald Heitzenrater (Mary Kay). Peggy is preceded in death by her husband James Garzoni of 60 years in 2015, three sisters and one brother. Peggy was a devoted wife and the best mother and grandmother. She loved to travel, she loved camping, and she enjoyed bird watching. Peggy had an amazing artistic ability as she created beautiful paintings. Peggy will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Michael “Mike” Aaron Lawhon, 43, of Albemarle passed away on Monday, January 13, 2025, at his home. The funeral service is scheduled at 2 p.m. on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at the Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care Chapel, Albemarle officiated by Pastor Tommy Blackwell. The family will receive friends from 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care, Albemarle.

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!

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.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff of Atrium Health Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus for the care provided to Peggy.

Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Locust is serving the Garzoni family.

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.

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.

Michael was born on October 29, 1981, in Stanly County to the late Michael and Mildred Lawhon. Michael is lovingly survived by his twin brother Samuel D. Lawhon and his wife Sarah of Albemarle. Those also left to cherish his memory are three sisters, Diane Morgan, MaryAnn Barringer (Ricky Ussery) and Teresa Helms (Gerald) all of Albemarle, six nieces and nephews, and six great nieces and three great nephews.

Doris Elaine Jones Coleman, 78, went home into God’s presence on January 10 after a sudden illness and a valiant week-long fight in ICU. Doris was born on October 11, 1944, in the mountains of Marion, NC while her father was away fighting in the US Navy during World War II. Raymond Jones was so proud to return after the war and meet his little girl! Doris grew up in Durham, NC and graduated from Durham High School. She furthered her studies at Watts Hospital School of Nursing in Durham and graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1966.

Doris married Rev. Dr. Ted Coleman in 1966 and had two daughters Amy and Laura. Doris raised Amy and Laura in North Augusta, SC. 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.

In addition to his parents, Michael was preceded in death by a sister, Michelle Ussery and brother-in-law Charles Morgan. Michael was dedicated to his job as a service tech and service scheduling manager at Scent Air Technology for the last 10 years. He honorably served our country in the Air Force from 2004-2010. His passion was his devotion to his twin brother Sam and Sarah. As a twin, they shared a special bond among themselves, they were inseparable, the best of friends and fishing partners. Michael’s life revolved around his brother, family and fishing. He loved to share the gospel and help anyone in need. Michael was a wonderful son, uncle, and brother. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him and never will be forgotten.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Stanly Community Christian Ministries at PO Box 58 Albemarle, NC 28002.

Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle is serving the Lawhon family.

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.

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 order ending federal DEI programs leaves uncertain ground

The president pledged to eliminate the programs during the campaign

The Associated Press

FROM FEDERAL agencies

to stakeholders who receive federal dollars for special training, many are trying to process how President Donald Trump’s sweeping executive order putting a stop to diversity, equity and inclusion programs across the U.S. government will upend their work.

DEI laws and programs have been under attack for years by Republicans who contend that the measures threaten merit-based hiring, promotion and educational opportunities of white people, specifically white men. Criticism comes from other sectors, as well: Some Asian Americans argue it unfairly limits opportunities for high-achieving students and workers, and some in the black community believe it undermines years of progress.

However, DEI supporters say the programs are necessary to ensure that institutions meet the needs of increasingly diverse populations and the impact of the loss of these measures goes beyond people of color.

On Wednesday, Trump put the federal government’s weight behind the push to end such programs by signing an executive order that would effectively dismantle them from all aspects of the federal government.

“To the people who oppose us, the ones who attack DEI, they have tried to bastardize that acronym,” Virginia Kase Solomón, president and CEO of Common Cause, said last Wednesday during a call-to-action panel after Trump’s anti-DEI executive

order. “Instead, they want to diminish and exterminate and incapacitate progress towards a multiracial democracy to maintain white supremacy and concentration of wealth.”

How did it happen?

Republican lawmakers who oppose DEI programs — created to address systemic inequities faced by certain groups — say they are discriminatory and promote left-wing ideology.

During his campaign for president, Trump vowed to end “wokeness” and “leftist indoctrination” in education. He pledged to dismantle diversity programs he says amount to discrimination and to impose fines on colleges “up to the entire amount of their endowment.”

In 2023, conservatives notched a long-sought win when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down affirmative action programs in higher education, finding that race-conscious admissions violate the Constitution. That ruling drew increased legal challenges to DEI initiatives, with some American companies citing the decision in scaling back their diversity policies.

What does Trump’s order call for?

The executive action calls for the termination of DEI programs, mandates, policies, preferences and activities in the federal government, along with the review and revision of existing federal employment practices, union contracts and training policies or programs.

Agency, department and commission heads have 60 days to terminate to the maximum extent allowed by law all DEI, DEIA and “environmental justice” offic-

es and positions, action plans, equity-related grants or contracts, as well as end all DEI or DEIA performance requirements.

It also targets federal contractors who have provided DEI training or materials, and grantees who received federal funding to provide or advance DEI programs, services or activities since former President Joe Biden took office in 2021.

Paolo Gaudiano provides DEI consulting services to a government contractor and a federal academy via his company, Aleria, which helps organizations measure inclusion, and ARC, a nonprofit focused on DEI research.

He has not heard from any agencies he works with about his contract status since Trump’s executive order. What he is hearing is that employees are terrified because the order’s meaning is unclear.

“Does it mean closing the office but giving them a different position?” Gaudiano said. “It is a mess, a complete mess.”

Many federal employees would not speak with reporters out of concern about the punitive environment within the White House.

“It’s possible that I will reach out to them and find out that they’ve all been terminated,” Gaudiano said.

Even with a rollback, Gaudiano is sure employees and contractors will still pursue some form of DEI programs, especially if it helps productivity. Although anti-DEI groups often focus on racial identity, underrepresented populations can mean women, the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities or veterans.

“What is happening is that you’re focusing on structural organizational problems, which often impacts minority groups or

underrepresented groups more than majority groups,” Gaudiano said. “When you’re fixing the problems, you fix the problems for everybody. And it just happens to benefit underrepresented groups as well as minority groups.”

What effect did the anti-DEI movement have before the executive order?

• Dozens of diversity, equity and inclusion programs have already closed in Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, Iowa, Nebraska, Texas and other states.

• Almost 200 diversity, equity and inclusion staff positions were either cut or reassigned across North Carolina’s public university system. Last May, the UNC Chapel Hill Board of Trustees approved diverting $2.3 million of state funds for advancing diversity to public safety and policing.

• Texas’ 2023 law led to the University of Texas cutting 300 full- and part-time positions and eliminating more than 600 programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion training.

• In 2023, Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt signed an anti-DEI order that led to last year’s termination of the national women’s leadership program at the University of Oklahoma.

• Universities of Wisconsin regents reached a deal with Republican lawmakers in 2023 to limit DEI positions at the system’s two dozen campuses in exchange for funds for staff raises and construction projects. The deal imposed a hiring freeze on diversity positions through 2026 and shifted more than 40 diversity-related positions to focus on “student success.”

How will the executive order be carried out?

The Office of Personnel Management in a memo last Tuesday directed agencies to place DEI office staffers on paid leave by 5 p.m. the following day and take down all public DEI-focused webpages by the same deadline. Agencies must also cancel any DEI-related training and end any related contracts, and federal workers are being asked to report to Trump’s Office of Personnel Management if they suspect any DEI-related program has been renamed to obfuscate its purpose within 10 days or face “adverse consequences.”

By last Thursday, federal agencies were directed to compile a list of federal DEI offices and workers as of Election Day. By this Friday, they are expected to develop a plan to execute a “reduction-in-force action” against those federal workers.

It may be easy for Trump to sign such an order but more difficult to carry out, said Frederick Gooding Jr., African American studies professor at Texas Christian University and author of “American Dream Deferred: Black Federal Workers in Washington, D.C., 1941-1981.”

“It’s not going to be as easy to execute,” Gooding said. “It’s going to be more of a fantasy. There are no quick fixes for these issues that took years, if not centuries, to develop.”

The National Urban League and the National Fair Housing Alliance, as government contractors, and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit against a similar executive order issued during Trump’s first administration, arguing it trampled on freedom of speech rights. A California federal court suspended that order in response to a similar lawsuit filed by Lambda Legal, an organization that advocates for the rights of LGBTQ people.

“This will test us,” National Urban League President Marc Moriel said last week during a roundtable that the group hosted. “These orders are unlawful; they are unconstitutional.”

Google will change map names for Gulf of Mexico, Denali

The company honors geographic names from national governments

The Associated Press

GOOGLE SAYS it will take its cue from the U.S. government if it has to change the names of the Gulf of Mexico and Denali on its maps.

The company said Monday that it will only make changes when the government updates its official listings for the body of water and the mountain.

After taking office, President Donald Trump ordered that the water bordered by the Southern United States, Mexico and Cuba be renamed to the Gulf of America. He also ordered America’s highest mountain peak be changed back to Mt. McKinley.

“We have a longstand-

“We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources.”

Google statement

ing practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources,” Google said in a post on X.

The company said that Maps will reflect any updates to the Geographic Names Information System, a database of more than 1 million geographic features in the United States.

“When that happens, we will update Google Maps in the U.S. quickly to show Mount McKin-

ley and Gulf of America,” Google said.

“Denali” is the mountain’s preferred name for Alaska Natives. Former President Barack Obama ordered it changed in 2015 from its previous name “McKinley,” which was a tribute to President William McKinley, designated in the late 19th century by a gold prospector.

The Associated Press, which provides news around the world to multiple audiences, will refer to the Gulf of Mexico by its original name, which it has carried for 400 years, while acknowledging the name Gulf of America.

AP will, however, use the name Mount McKinley instead of Denali; the area lies solely in the United States, and as president, Trump has the authority to change federal geographical names within the country.

JILL KARNICKI / HOUSTON CHRONICLE VIA AP

The water in the Gulf of Mexico — which President Donald Trump has proposed be renamed the Gulf of America — appears bluer than usual off of East Beach in 2023 from Galveston, Texas.

BOOM!

XB-1, the Boom Aerospace test plane, reached Mach 1.122 — or about 750 mph — breaking the sound barrier for the first time on Tuesday. The test, flown by Boom Chief Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, marked the first time that an independent company broke the sound barrier in a plane not backed by a military or government. The company’s Superfactory in Greensboro will build as many as 66 of its Overture aircraft every year once production begins. Boom says Overture will carry 64 to 80 passengers at Mach 1.7, about twice the speed of today’s subsonic airliners.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

DA review of former treasurer’s use of state cars ends without charges

Raleigh

An investigation into how then-North Carolina Treasurer Dale Folwell used state government vehicles is ending with no charges filed. Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said Monday the review found any alleged policy violations were insufficient to support a successful criminal prosecution.

Freeman said Folwell agreed to pay more than $6,200 for commuting costs he should have been charged and the reimbursement for some miles driven. Folwell, a Republican, completed eight years as treasurer and lost a bid for the GOP nomination for governor last year. Folwell said he was “relieved.”

Trump offers all federal workers buyout with 8 months’ pay Washington, D.C.

Board of Education rejects loosening of preemployment drug policy

The proposed policy change would have allowed a person who tests positive for THC to still be hired

By Ryan Henkel Twin City Herald

WINSTON-SALEM — In an era of loosening restrictions, the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education decided to stand against the tide of change.

At its Jan. 28 regular business meeting, the board was presented with a potential policy change that would alter its current pre-drug screening policy.

“We’re proposing to allow the superintendent or a designee the opportunity to authorize employment, with conditions, if a person tests positive for cannabis,” said Chief Human Resource Officer Chris Weikart.

“There’s a lot of CBD products that say they don’t have THC, but they aren’t regulated and they could, for lack of a better word, pop positive. Also, some of our surrounding states have legalized recreational use of marijuana.”

If the hiring was approved, the applicant would be subjected to four random drug tests throughout the year, which if they tested positive again, their employment would be terminated.

“We’re not saying that we agree with that decision making, but we are saying that once they become employed that we’re going to give them the opportunity to live up to our standards,” Weikart said.

Currently, WSFCS is one of two districts who do not have any flexibility with their current preemployment drug testing. If a person tests positive for a substance in the screening, they cannot be hired nor reapply for at least six months.

“So the thought here is that instead of waiting six months, we’re going to put provisions in place that they have to agree to and that are also paid at their expense,” Weikart said.

However, many of the board

members were not in favor of this policy change.

“I think we’re not being honest and truthful,” said board member Robert Barr. “I don’t think it’s about a cream, and I don’t think it’s about some type of medication someone uses that has CBD. To me, it feels like we are lowering our standards.”

Following discussion, the board did not vote in favor of the policy change.

The board did approve two calendar changes, one for this current year and one for next year, adding extra days due to inclement weather.

For the current school year,

The Trump administration says it is offering buyouts to all federal employees who opt to leave their jobs by next week — an unprecedented move to shrink the U.S. government at breakneck speed. The email sent Tuesday to employees says those who leave their posts voluntarily will receive about eight months of salary but must to chose to do so by Feb. 6. See BOARD, page A2

$2.00

The new 500-bed facility is coming to the Triangle

The Associated Press

RALEIGH — Two of the state’s largest university health systems plan to construct the state’s first standalone children’s hospital — an undertaking that its boosters said will change lives physically and economically for decades to come.

UNC Health and Duke Health on Tuesday revealed the agreement to build the proposed 500-bed pediatric hospital in the state’s Research Triangle region, which includes Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill.

The “NC Children’s” project also will include a children’s outpatient care center and behavioral health center. Research and education operations backed by the system’s two medical schools will also be onsite, the health systems said in a news release.

Groundbreaking on an over 100-acre campus — the specific location yet to be identified — is expected by 2027, with campus construction to take about six years. The price tag for the project is expected at more than $2 billion. A massive fundraising effort is anticipated.

There are children’s hospitals already in North Carolina, including those operated by the University of North Carolina and Duke University health systems that are attached to their main campuses in the Triangle. This project, however, is described as the first freestanding hospital dedicated to caring for kids.

“This is a big splash that will ripple out literally for years and years and impact the people in our state and region in ways that I know we can’t even imagine yet,” Dr. Wesley Burks, CEO of UNC Health and dean of the UNC School of Medicine, said at a Raleigh announcement event also attended by

This will “impact the people in our state and region in ways that I know we can’t even imagine yet.”

Dr.

Wesley Burks, CEO of UNC Health

Gov. Josh Stein, Senate leader Phil Berger and other education, political and health care notables.

The two entities filed paperwork on Tuesday with the state to create a nonprofit organization for a new children’s health system called North Carolina Children’s Health. Their respective pediatric-related clinical services, programs and operations will transfer to NC Children’s.

The children’s hospital idea has been a goal for many years

for both institutions, which often are health care competitors. But a recent initial $320 million appropriation for the effort by the North Carolina General Assembly accelerated talks between the two systems.

“This is a tremendous and unique opportunity to work together to reimagine how we deliver life-changing care to our region’s most vulnerable and we are grateful for the support of our state’s legislature,” Duke University Health System CEO Dr. Craig Albanese said in a release.

Stein said at the announcement event that the project will end up “saving the lives of countless children for generations to come.”

Stein and Berger said the economic results also are striking for a growing state like North Carolina — the ninth largest by population.

“This campus through its construction and operation will create thousands of jobs and be among the largest economic development projects in the history of the state of North Carolina,” Berger said. “This is a win for the economy and for our children’s health and for our state’s infrastructure.”

PHOTOS COURTESY BOOM AEROSPACE

1.30.25

THURSDAY

“Join

the conversation”

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 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

TO SUBSCRIBE: 919-663-3232

NSJONLINE.COM

Annual Subscription Price: $100.00

Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, NC and at additional mailing offices

POSTMASTER:

Send address changes to: North State Journal

1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

BOARD from page A1

the board approved the addition of three makeup days — May 21, 22 and 23 — in response to lost instructional time due to the recent winter weather.

“Our original calendar was 1,044, the state requires 1,025,” Superintendent Tricia McManus said. “So basically, we missed Sept. 27 and Dec. 3 and we were basically 25 hours short. Those dates were forgiven, so the two makeup days already approved by the board were March 7 and April 21 for 12 hours. We still need to make up 13 additional hours.”

The board was also presented with the option to add 15 additional minutes to each school day starting Feb. 3, but they opted not to go with that option due to student feedback.

“When I was weighing this out, my initial thought was, ‘Yeah, let’s go with 15 minutes. Easy peasy. We waste that much time in a day,’ said board member Sabrina Coone. “However, I started listening to our students and 15 minutes really does affect their after-school programs, tutoring, jobs. There’s so many things.”

The second change was to the 2025-26 standard and early/middle college academic calendars in order to add two additional instructional days: Dec. 19, 2025, and May 22, 2026.

“We approved a 2025-26 calendar back in the fall, but we decided to go ahead and revisit that calendar in light of the inclement weather days we have already had to try and not be in that same situation again,” said Chief Operations Officer Lauren Richards. “This gives us a very nice cushion for inclement weather days in addition to also having remote days potentially built into that calendar as well.”

The board also approved renaming the softball scoreboard at Glenn High School after Barbara Stanley Vulcano.

“Mrs. Vulcano has been very supportive of both men’s and women’s athletics at Glenn High School and spent over $90,000 of her own money just to support Glenn High School with the scoreboards for almost every venue there,” said Chief Planning Officer Darrell Walker.

“She’s been very active there for over 25 years and so she is well known and well respected in the community.”

Southern cities get creative to clear storm’s leftover snow, ice

New Orleans used cleaning equipment usually needed after Mardi Gras

By Jack Brook and Russ Bynum The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS — Days after a winter storm dropped ice and record-breaking snow, cleanup efforts were underway last week in several major Southern cities such as New Orleans, where crews were removing snow the same way they remove trash, drink cups and plastic beads after Mardi Gras.

Temperatures were gradually rising across the U.S. South, bringing hopes that the remaining snow and ice would melt away.

“We have to be honest with ourselves — we’re from Louisiana, we know crawfish, we know football, but we don’t really know snow and ice, and that’s OK,” said Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development spokesperson Daniel Gitlin. “It’s going to go away, and we’re better off letting Mother Nature do what she needs to do right now.”

Up to 200 miles of interstate remained closed until last Friday due to treacherous patches of black ice, Gitlin said. Louisiana had nearly run out of its salt supply after treating roads, he added.

In the Big Easy, a private waste management firm has been contracted to repurpose equipment typically used to clean up Mardi Gras beads and cups to clear snow from the streets.

IV Waste President Sidney Torres said his company had deployed a 4,000-gallon “flusher” truck to spray water

on the ground to soften the ice for removal in the historic and festive French Quarter. The truck normally sprays lemon-scented fragrance “to get rid of that funky liquor, urine, puke smell from the night before,” Torres said. “We’re finding new solutions and better techniques to dealing with this.”

Arkansas sent Louisiana snowplows, dump trucks, salt spreaders and other equipment, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said.

The snowfall likely broke several records across the region, including in Florida, where a preliminary report of 10 inches in one town would set a new record for the state if confirmed.

Snow totals reached 3 inches in Savannah, Georgia, the most the state’s oldest city has recorded since December 1989.

The snow was lighter in metro Atlanta, where the southern

suburbs saw more snow and ice than areas north of the city. In Covington, southeast of Atlanta, Jesse Gentes used a flamethrower to deice the roads in his subdivision. In better weather, he typically uses the flamethrower for brush removal, he told WSB-TV.

South Carolina reported at least one death in the storm.

A 71-year-old man died from a medical condition while shoveling snow last Thursday in Berkeley County, Coroner Darnell Hartwell said. About 3-4 inches of snow fell in the area, according to the National Weather Service.

The snow and ice had staying power and left a mess on the roads in coastal South Carolina. In Charleston, ice that melted and refroze overnight closed the James Island Connector, a bridge that links the city to its western suburbs. Police said on social media that “while crews are working hard, it is unlikely to reopen soon.”

Trump proposes ‘getting rid of FEMA’ while touring western NC

The president said he would prefer disaster funds flow through states instead

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — President Donald Trump surveyed disaster zones in California and North Carolina last Friday and said he was considering “getting rid of” the Federal Emergency Management Agency, offering the latest sign of how he is weighing sweeping changes to the nation’s central organization for responding to disasters.

Instead of having federal financial assistance flow through FEMA, the Republican president said Washington could provide money directly to the states. He made the comments while visiting western North Carolina, which is still recovering months after Hurricane Helene, on the first trip of his second term.

“FEMA has been a very big disappointment,” the Republican president said. “It’s very bureaucratic. And it’s very slow.”

Beyond his criticism of FEMA, Trump has suggested limiting the federal government’s role in responding to di-

sasters, echoing comments from conservative allies who have proposed reducing funding and responsibility.

“I’d like to see the states take care of disasters,” he said in North Carolina. “Let the state take care of the tornadoes and the hurricanes and all of the other things that happen.”

Trump said Michael Whatley, a North Carolina native and chair of the Republican National Committee, would help coordinate recovery efforts in the state, where frustrations over the federal response have lingered. Although Whatley does

not hold an official government position, Trump said he would be “very much in charge.”

FEMA helps respond to disasters when local leaders request a presidential emergency declaration, a signal that the damage is beyond the state’s ability to handle on its own. FEMA can reimburse governments for recovery efforts such as debris removal, and it gives stopgap financial assistance to individual residents.

Trump has criticized former President Joe Biden for his administration’s response to Helene in North Carolina. As he

Schools and county offices remained closed, and officials in most areas south and east of the state capital, Columbia, asked people to stay home for at least one more day.

It was a similar story in North Carolina, where slick roads remained a danger to drivers after the snow melted and then refroze overnight. Schools were also affected, including in Fayetteville, where the school system announced that students would have an “asynchronous” learning day, allowing them to complete assignments at home. Several other school districts operated on a two-hour delay.

Some school systems in central and south Alabama remained closed last Thursday due to concerns about the remaining ice on roads or the possibility of frozen pipes in schools. In coastal Baldwin County, sections of Interstate 65 and Interstate 10 were shut down due to ice.

left the White House last Friday morning, he told reporters that “it’s been a horrible thing the way that’s been allowed to fester” since the storm hit in September, and “we’re going to get it fixed up.”

In Swannanoa, residents told Trump about wading through waist-deep water to escape from their homes while fearing for their lives. Some have battled with insurance companies to get their losses covered.

“We’ve come to North Carolina with a simple message,” Trump said. “You are not forgotten any longer. You were treated very badly by the previous administration.”

FEMA has distributed $319 million in financial assistance to residents, but that hasn’t alleviated the feeling of abandonment among residents struggling to rebuild their lives.

Michael Coen, who served as chief of staff at FEMA during the Biden administration, said Trump was “misinformed” about an agency that provides critical help to states when they are overwhelmed by catastrophe.

In addition, Coen criticized the idea of attaching strings to assistance.

“I think the American people expect the federal government will be there for them on their worst day, no matter where they live,” he said.

Trump tapped Cameron Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL with limited experience managing natural disasters, as FEMA’s acting director.

MARK SCHIEFELBEIN / AP PHOTO

President Donald Trump listens as resident Kim West speaks during a meeting with homeowners affected by Hurricane Helene in Swannanoa last Friday.

SIDNEY TORRES / IV WASTE VIA AP

The flusher truck — normally deployed to spray lemon-scented fragrance around the pungent French Quarter — is used to clear ice last Thursday in New Orleans after a rare winter storm.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

What a difference a week makes

The road to making America great again is being paved.

WHAT AN EXCITING WEEK this has been. It must be one of the most interesting and busiest in our history. President Donald Trump has wasted no time keeping the promises he made during the campaign. It’s very refreshing.

It’s morning in America again. And the road to making America great again is being paved.

Let us look at some things that have already been done by executive actions, according to Fox News.

An order reversing some Obama-era offshore drilling restrictions and ordering a review of limits on drilling locations.

An order directing a review of national monument designations under prior administrations.

An order directing federal agencies to review the use of the H-1B visa program.

An order initiating a review of the Clean Power Plan, which restricted greenhouse gas emissions at coal-fired power plants.

An order revoking Obama-era executive orders on federal contracting.

An order requiring every agency to establish a Regulatory Reform Task Force to evaluate regulations and recommend rules for repeal or modification.

An order instructing agencies that whenever they introduce a regulation, they must first abolish two others.

An order to lengthen the ban on administration officials working as lobbyists. There is now a five-year ban on officials becoming lobbyists after they leave government and a lifetime ban on White House officials lobbying on behalf of a foreign government.

An executive order imposing a 120-day suspension of the refugee program and a 90-day ban on travel to the U.S. from citizens of seven terror hot spots: Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Sudan.

Two multipronged orders on border security and immigration enforcement, including the authorization of a U.S.-Mexico border wall; the stripping of federal grant money to sanctuary cities; hiring 5,000 more Border Patrol agents; ending “catch-and-release” policies for illegal immigrants; and reinstating local and state immigration enforcement partnerships.

Two orders reviving the Keystone XL pipeline and Dakota Access pipelines. He also signed three other related orders

COLUMN | VICTOR JOECKS

that would expedite the environmental permitting process for infrastructure projects related to the pipelines.

An order to reinstate the so-called “Mexico City Policy” — a ban on federal funds to international groups that perform abortions or lobby to legalize or promote abortion. The policy was instituted in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan but has gone into and out of effect depending on the party in power in the White House.

A notice that the U.S. will begin withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. Trump called the order “a great thing for the American worker.

An order imposing a hiring freeze for some federal government workers as a way to shrink the size of government. This excludes the military, as Trump noted at the signing.

My favorite of all the provisions he has instituted allows the 8,000 fired military service men and women to return to active duty. They were fired for failure to take the experimental vaccine during COVID. They will be allowed back at their previous rank and receive back pay.

Imagine the Biden administration firing thousands when recruitment has been at an all-time low. This must have affected our military readiness and is dangerous for our country. These men and women stood up for what they believed, and they are finally being rewarded.

The country appears to be rallying behind the president, and most are very supportive of what has happened so far. Patriotism is fashionable in America again, and so are public displays of faith.

I enjoyed watching the patriotism of the fans at the playoff football games and the public display of faith from players. We’ve come a long way since Tim Tebow took a knee in prayer and was ridiculed by the media. At the same time, the media cheered those players who took a knee during the National Anthem. When the Kansas City Chiefs took a knee in prayer at this week’s playoff game, it was OK. Acknowledging God is back in vogue. Praise the Lord.

I can’t wait to see what week two will hold. The promise to Make America Great may be right around the corner.

Joyce Krawiec represented Forsyth County and the 31st District in the North Carolina Senate from 2014 to 2024. She lives in Kernersville.

The one thing Trump can’t do

Trump can create an environment that leads to more job openings and lower housing prices, but you still have to go to work.

DONALD TRUMP’S job is to make America great again. Improving your own life is up to you.

There are lots of reasons to be excited about Trump’s return to power. He’s pledged to unleash America’s energy industry. Cheaper energy and a better regulatory environment should help contain inflation. The border will be locked down while officials deport illegal aliens. But even if he accomplishes his entire agenda, there’s one thing Trump can’t do — guarantee you a more successful life. That may sound like a contradiction. If Trump is going to help America, doesn’t that require that he make things better for Americans? It does, but there’s an important step missing in that question — the choices you make. For instance, one of the best predictors of personal happiness is being in a great marriage. Earning more money raises a person’s chance of being “very happy” by 88%. Being married increases your odds by 151%. But being in a “very happy” marriage boosts your likelihood by a staggering 545%. That’s all according to Brad Wilcox, author of the excellent book “Get Married.”

That’s good news. You can work on improving your marriage regardless of who the president is.

There’s a loneliness epidemic, according to Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. He’s right. In October, a Gallup poll found 20% of adults said they felt a lot of loneliness the previous day. That suggests around 50 million adults feel isolated. It’s a miserable feeling and can lead to destructive behaviors like drug and alcohol abuse. It’s also fixable. Go to church and join a small group. Volunteer. Sign up for a sports league. Reach out to family members.

These steps are all harder when you’re lonely and depressed.

It’s why a safety net of families, churches and engaged neighbors are so important.

The government can give you a check, but it can’t give you a hug when you need it most.

This is true even in finances. It doesn’t matter how much Trump cuts taxes. If you spend more than you make, you’ll always have money problems. The best way to improve your financial health is to budget and pay down your debts. Dave Ramsey has helped an untold number of people, myself included, do just that. That’s some practical advice that’s much needed in Washington, D.C.

Trump can create an environment that leads to more job openings and lower housing prices, but you still have to go to work and earn your paycheck or start your own business. In his memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” Vice President JD Vance described working in a tile distribution business before attending Yale Law School. Jobs there provided a path out of poverty for those near his poor hometown, but turnover was high.

“Too many men (were) immune to hard work,” Vance wrote. He continued, “There is a lack of agency here — a feeling that you have little control over your own life and a willingness to blame everyone but yourself.”

This isn’t to say that political leadership doesn’t matter. It does.

Think of it this way. Imagine life is a mountain path with many ups and downs. The job of Trump and other elected officials is to fly above the path and clear away landslides and boulders that make navigating it difficult. If Trump does his job well, removing those barriers will help more people go further on the path. That’s making America great again. But Trump isn’t going to fly you to your preferred destination.

The wonderful yet scary thing about freedom is that it forces you to enjoy or endure the consequences of your own decisions.

Victor Joecks is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

TRIAD STRAIGHT TALK | JOYCE KRAWIEC

Family: Border Patrol agent killed in Vermont worked at the Pentagon during 9/11

David Maland was killed during a traffic stop

By Kathy McCormack and Steve Karnowski

The Associated Press

A U.S. BORDER PATROL agent who was killed in Vermont during a traffic stop near the Canadian border was a military veteran who worked security duty at the Pentagon during the Sept. 11 attacks, his family said.

“He was a devoted agent who served with honor and bravery,” a family statement provided to The Associated Press last Tuesday said. “He had a tremendous respect and pride for the work he did; he truly embodied service over self.”

Agent David Maland, 44, was killed last Monday afternoon following a traffic stop, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said in a statement. A German national in the country on what the FBI called a current visa was killed and an injured suspect was taken into custody and is

27,000-resident community of Orleans County in the Northeast Kingdom section of Vermont that straddles the international border.

Maland had many chances for promotion but turned them down to stay in the field, said his cousin, Minnesota state Rep. Krista Knudsen. She paid tribute to the Minnesota native, who went by Chris, on the House floor last Wednesday before lawmakers observed a moment of silence.

“He will be remembered for his courage and commitment to protecting fellow Americans,” said Knudsen, a Republican from Lake Shore. “He is also a person who served faithfully with honor and bravery. He always put his service above himself.”

being treated at a local hospital.

The violence temporarily closed part of Interstate 91 about 20 miles from Canada in Coventry, part of the small,

Maland, whom the FBI confirmed was a U.S. Air Force veteran, was killed close to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Newport Station, part of the Swanton Sector that he was assigned to. The sector encompasses Vermont, parts of New York and New Hampshire, and

includes 295 miles of international boundary with Canada. The Derby Line–Rock Island Border Crossing is about 12 miles by highway north of Coventry. It’s a major link to the Canadian province of Quebec, giving northern Vermont more French speakers than most of New England.

Maland’s family said his career spanned nine years in the military and 15 in the federal government. On Sept. 11, 2001, his duty station was the Pentagon, and when news of the terrorist attacks broke, he was sent to guard an undersecretary to one of the branches of the military for several days at a bunker at the Joint Base-Anacostia Bolling in southeast Washington, D.C.

Maland was also a K-9 handler who served in Texas near the border with Mexico before heading to the northern border. His aunt, Joan Maland, said he was about to propose marriage to his partner.

“We are all devastated,” she told AP in a text. She called him an “exceptional person. Incredible man.”

Knudsen said she and Maland grew up in Fairmont, Minnesota, where he graduated from high school in 1999.

“Chris was an incredible man and will be missed dearly. I am grateful for his service and I know he was very proud of it,” she said. “Our family is heartbroken. He died in the line of duty, serving to protect our country. We will cherish his memories and mourn his sacrifice. Until we meet again, Godspeed, you good and faithful servant.”

Maland was the first Border Patrol agent to be killed in the line of duty by gunfire since Javier Vega Jr. was shot and killed near Santa Monica, Texas, in 2014, according to records provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Vega was initially considered to be off duty at the time of his death, but in 2016 it was determined to have been in the line of duty, the agency said.

In 2010, Brian Terry’s killing exposed the botched federal gun operation known as “Fast and Furious.” Border Patrol Agent Nicholas J. Ivie, of the Brian A. Terry Border Patrol Station, was mortally wounded in the line of duty in a remote area near Bisbee, Arizona, in 2012. Border Patrol Agent Isaac Morales was fatally stabbed while off duty in 2017 in Texas.

Faithful leave St. Peter’s Basilica at the

New Vatican document offers AI guidelines from warfare to health care

It includes a number of warnings about the potential for AI

The Associated Press

VATICAN CITY — A Vatican document released Tuesday offers wide-ranging ethical guidelines for the application of artificial intelligence in sectors from warfare to health care, with an underlying call that the burgeoning technology must be used as a tool to complement, and not replace, human intelligence.

Pope Francis has issued several warnings about the risks associated with AI technology, and this new document by the Vatican’s doctrine and cultural offices expands on what the pontiff has already said. It comes as a new AI chatbot by Chinese tech startup DeepSeek has raised the stakes in the AI technology race, catching up with American generative AI leaders at a fraction of the cost.

The document underlines that human responsibility needs to grow in proportion to the new technology, and that the impact

of AI’s uses in various sectors “may not always be predictable from their inception.”

“AI should be used only as a tool to complement human intelligence, rather than replace its richness,” the document said in its conclusion.

AI and warfare

The document warns that AI has the potential to increase instruments of war “well beyond the scope of human oversight,” which could provoke “a destabilizing arms race.” Weapons systems that can identify and strike targets without human intervention, removing “the unique human capacity for moral judgement and ethical decision-making,’’ it said.

“No machine should ever choose to take the life of a human being,’’ the document warned.

AI and human relationships

The document warns that AI is not a substitute for “authentic human relationships” and cites its lack of empathy as a risk when anthropomorphizing AI in areas such as

child development or interpersonal relationships.

“While human beings are meant to experience authentic relationships, AI can only simulate them,” the document said.

AI and the search for meaning

The document cites the risk that “as society drifts away from connection with the transcendent, some are tempted to turn to AI in search of meaning and fulfillment — longings that can only be truly satisfied in communion with God.”

“The presumption of substituting God for an artifact of human making is idolatry, a practice Scripture explicitly warns against,” the document said.

AI and privacy/surveillance

Advances in AI-powered data processing have made data privacy “even more imperative as a safeguard for the dignity and relational nature” of individuals, the document said.

“The risk of surveillance overreach must be monitored by appropriate regulators to ensure

transparency and public accountability,’’ it said.

AI and the environment

The document underlined that while AI can help fight climate change through models to forecast extreme events, help manage emergencies and help promote sustainable development, it also poses risks that are obscured by the use of words like “the cloud” that detach data storage “from the physical world.”

“It is crucial to recognize that its operation demands vast amounts of energy and water, contributing significantly to CO2 emissions,” the document said.

AI and education

The document said that AI should help promote critical thinking and not just train “young people how to amass information and generate quick responses.” Education is not about “filling one’s head with ideas” but “is about taking a risk in the tensions between the mind, the heart and the hands,” it said.

“Schools, universities and scientific societies are challenged to help students and professionals to grasp the social and ethical aspects of the development and uses of technology,’’ the document said.

AI and health care

While citing the potential of AI to enhance medical care, such as in diagnosing illness, the document said it is critical that AI is used to enhance and not “replace the relationship between patients and healthcare providers.”

“Decisions regarding patient treatment and the weight of responsibility they entail must always remain with the human person, and should never be delegated to AI,’’ the document said.

AI and misinformation/ deepfakes

AI presents a risk of “generating manipulated content and false information, which can easily mislead people due to its resemblance to the truth,’’ the document said.

“Countering AI-driven falsehoods is not only the work of industry experts — it requires the efforts of all people of good will,’’ it said, calling for diligence on the part of those who share AI-generated content to verify “the truth of what they disseminate.”

GREGORIO BORGIA / AP PHOTO

end of a mass presided by Pope Francis at the Vatican, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025.

DAVID MALAND / JOAN MALAND VIA AP

This undated image shows U.S. Border Patrol agent David Maland, who was killed Jan. 20 following a traffic stop in Vermont.

Forsyth SPORTS

Be brave: Keys’ message to herself while winning the Australian Open

The American’s run to the title included wins over world’s top two players

By Howard Fendrich

The Associated Press

MELBOURNE, Australia — Be brave. Go for it.

Those were the mantras Madison Keys turned to as she confronted the most significant points of her tennis career, trapped in the cauldron of a third set that was tied at 5-all, 30-all in the Australian Open final against two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.

No reason to be anything but aggressive, Keys thought. No reason to try to wish there weren’t nerves accompanying the moment. No reason to worry — as the American long did along the journey from prodigy at age 12 to major champion less than a month before her 30th birthday — about what would happen if things didn’t quite work out.

“I just kept saying, ‘Be brave.’ And, ‘Go for it.’ I kind of just kept repeating that. That was really my goal for the day — to just be proud, no matter a win or a loss,” Keys said after winning her first Grand Slam title with a 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 victory over the No. 1-ranked Sabalenka.

“I went after it, every single point. And if I missed it and I just didn’t execute, I could live with that. I didn’t want to have any sort of regret that I was passive and I missed. (Then) it could have been something where I thought: ‘I should have done something else,’” Keys said. “So I kind of just kept saying that, over and over.”

She spread the credit for her achievement to the team around her, including Bjorn Fratange-

Porsche Penske Motorsport team members —

left to right, Belgium’s Laurens Vanthoor, Brazil’s Felipe Nasr and Britain’s Nick Tandy — display the Rolex watches they received for winning the IMSA Rolex 24 hour race at Daytona International Speedway.

of the U.S. holds a press conference after defeating Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the women’s singles final at the Australian Open.

lo, a former player who has been her coach since mid-2023 and her husband since November. To her therapist. To her friends on tour who lifted her up when she needed it. They all believed in Keys, she said, and now, lately, she believed in herself, too. She used to be concerned about never living up to the hype that accompanied her before she was even a teen and only increased when she made her first appearance in a Grand Slam semifinal at age 19. She used to think nothing about her tennis career would matter if she never managed to claim a major trophy. She used to assume the sport’s best never felt jitters like those hampering her during her first Grand Slam final at age 22. Eventually, Keys let all of that go. It was OK not to obsess over others’ opinions. It was OK if she

“I went after it, every single point. And if I missed it and I just didn’t execute, I could live with that. I didn’t want to have any sort of regret.”

Madison Keys

never won a Slam. It was OK to face the nerves because, after all, that’s how the greats succeed — they feel discomfort but play through it.

That was the case throughout her run, which featured five three-setters and four victories over top-10 seeds (No. 1 Sabalenka, No. 2 Iga Swiatek, No. 6 Elena Rybakina and No. 10 Danielle Collins), including a trio of major champs (Sabalenka, Swiatek, Rybakina). No woman had defeated the top two ranked players during one major since 2009.

“To do it that way,” Keys said, “I think, really, I thought to myself that I can absolutely win on Saturday.”

She was so good at the start and down the stretch against Sabalenka.

From 5-all, 30-all, Keys claimed six of the last eight points.

“If she can play consistently like that, I mean, it’s not much you can do,” Sabalenka said.

“My first semifinal here feels like it was forever ago,” Keys told the AP. “I mean, I honestly felt like I was a different person then. But I think that that kind of happens when so many things have happened throughout the past decade. It’s just kind of all accumulated to get to the point where I was finally able to just go out and play some really good tennis and walk away with a Grand Slam.”

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Adriel Nyorha

Winston Salem Christian, boys’ basketball team

Adriel Nyorha is a senior combination guard and captain for the Winston Salem Christian National Lions boys’ basketball team.

Nyorha is a consensus three-star college recruit who has signed to play at Arkansas State starting next season. The 247 Sports composite index rates him as the No. 8 prospect in the state and No. 21 in the nation at his position. In a win last week over the Academy of Central Florida, Nyorha had 14 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Penske wins 2nd consecutive Rolex 24

Porsche Penske Motorsport ran first and third

By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Roger Penske started his 59th season in motorsports the same way he closed last year — as a champion.

Porsche Penske Motorsport on Sunday won the Rolex 24 at Daytona for the second consecutive year and third time overall.

Back at Daytona International Speedway for the Rolex, the same place and race where Team Penske debuted in 1966, Penske returned to Victory Lane. And, as he always does, the billionaire who turns 88 next month stayed

awake and sat with the team on the timing stand for the entire 24 hours.

His two cars dominated the twice-round-the-clock endurance race and finished first and third. Once attrition hit other entries in the top prototype class, the Porsches ran first and second for large portions of the race. It was the No. 7 full-time IMSA entry that won, making it back-to-back victories for that car despite a different driver lineup.

“What an incredible day for the entire Porsche Penske Motorsport organization. Both of our Porsche 963s and the drivers showed great speed and reliability,” Penske said. “The crews performed flawlessly, which is a result of meticulous preparation by everyone on the team.

“2024 was an unmatched season of success starting with a win at the 24 Hours of Daytona and it’s great to repeat that success to start 2025 with the third overall win for Team Penske and the 20th victory for Porsche.”

Felipe Nasr won last year with Dane Cameron and Josef Newgarden, but Cameron was let go at the end of 2024 and Newgarden wasn’t part of this year’s Rolex lineup. So it was Nasr again, only this time he was paired with Nick Tandy, who will be his IMSA co-driver all season, and Laurens Vanthoor, Penske’s reigning WEC champion. It was Nasr’s second overall victory. He also won a Rolex watch for a class victory in 2022. Tandy also had a 2014 class victory, but Sunday was his first overall win. It was the first watch

for Vanthoor, who had finished in the top five of class in six of the last seven years.

All three drivers were in tears after the race. Nasr said it is Penske who pushes the team to achieve the excellence he demands.

“The feeling is amazing, just to see how much energy he brings into the team. You get out of the car, he’s like: ‘How’s the car? How’s the handling?’ Like, he’s very interested in every detail,” Nasr said. “He doesn’t miss a pit stop when the cars are coming in, and he’s looking at it all and making comments. I just have a lot of admiration for everything he does, and it stands for the team. It’s a very, very unique opportunity to be driving for Porsche Penske Motorsport here.”

Even though the No. 7 was so dominant — especially after sunrise on Sunday — the drivers were still challenged until the checkered flag. Penske’s No. 6 car took the lead with just under an hour to go, but Nasr bested Matt Campbell in a drag race through traffic to cycle back to the front with about 22 minutes remaining.

“Obviously, these guys are racers, and fortunately, we didn’t get into trouble,” Penske said. “Terrific job by the whole team. When you think about all the drivers we had, they ran strong all day. And the cars, this Porsche car we have, has just been amazing, and to think we did it two years in a row. It’s a credit to all the people here. So we’ve got one organization, and now we’ve been able to say we did it again.”

VINCENT THIAN / AP PHOTO

Madison Keys

JOHN RAOUX / AP PHOTO

SIDELINE REPORT

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Vegas, baby!

Sin City to host the 2027 College Football Playoff title game

Las Vegas Las Vegas will host the 2027 College Football Playoff national championship game. The CFP says the title game will be played Monday, Jan. 25, 2027, at Allegiant Stadium. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority celebrated the news by releasing a video of Strip headliner Shin Lim performing an illusion at the iconic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. Lim changed the face of the sign to revel a new message welcoming the College Football Playoff National Championship to Las Vegas. The 2026 game will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Ohio State star

Judkins declares for NFL Draft

Columbus, Ohio Ohio State star running back Quinshon Judkins, who scored three touchdowns in the national championship game, is leaving school early and entering the NFL Draft. Judkins announced his decision on social media. Judkins transferred to Ohio State after two seasons at Ole Miss. He is widely expected to be a second- day pick in April. Against Notre Dame, he ran 11 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 21 yards and a score.

SOCCER

Police investigating threats toward Premier League ref

London English soccer’s match officials body says police are investigating “abhorrent attacks” aimed at Premier League referee Michael Oliver and his family following the match between Wolverhampton and Arsenal. Oliver was the referee for Saturday’s game at Molineux which Arsenal won 1-0 after both teams had a man sent off. Professional Game Match Officials Limited, the body responsible for referees in the English soccer, says it is “appalled by the threats and abuse directed at” Oliver after the game. The PGMOL says “the police are aware and a number of investigations have commenced.”

BOXING

Japanese boxing star Inoue heads to U.S. after big KO Tokyo Japanese boxing superstar Naoya Inoue is headed to the United States after another devastating knockout. His promoter wants Americans to cherish Inoue as much as they do Shohei Ohtani. The unbeaten Inoue knocked out overmatched South Korean opponent Ye Joon Kim in the fourth round in Tokyo to remain the undisputed super bantamweight champion.

Bob Arum, Inoue’s promoter at Top Rank, confirmed afterward that Inoue’s next fight will be in Las Vegas. Arum evoked comparisons with Ohtani, the star Japanese baseball player for the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Women’s basketball players reflect on Kobe Bryant’s impact

Memories of the NBA star’s death, five years ago, are still strong

By Alanis Thames The Associated Press

DEARICA HAMBY still smiles at the memory of Kobe Bryant sitting courtside at WNBA games. She had met him years ago. He came to see her old team, the Las Vegas Aces, play all the time.

“I think one of the first things he told me was that I could play defense,” Hamby recalled. “And I was kind of like ‘Wha-at?’ ... That’s something I’ll cherish with me forever.”

That epitomized the late NBA great’s relationship with the women’s game. After his 20-year playing career ended, Bryant turned his focus to the next generation, mentoring some of women’s basketball’s biggest stars, from WNBA champion and Olympic gold medalist Diana Taurasi to former

He worked out with them, analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of their game and pushed for them to reach the same heights in popularity that he and his NBA peers did.

For Hamby, now with the Los Angeles Sparks, Bryant saw an aspect of her game she didn’t even know she had.

“If Kobe tells you you can play defense, you can play defense,” she quipped.

Five years after Bryant, 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, several women’s basketball players reflected on what he meant to their game and how he championed it. Many of them thought Bryant would be pleased with the overall progress of women’s sports, which have skyrocketed in popularity and reach in recent years.

“We carry this on for him,” said Satou Sabally, a forward with the WNBA’s Dallas Wings who plays for the Phantom

ESPN pleased with 1st season of expanded College Football Playoff

Interest in the playoffs was high, although ratings were mixed

By Joe Reedy The Associated Press

THE INAUGURAL season of the 12-team College Football Playoff had its share of highlights and criticisms from fans and the media.

The same can be said for the network carrying the games.

Nick Dawson, ESPN’s vice president of college sports programming and acquisitions, said the first year was a success from their standpoint as they begin taking a deeper dive into possible improvements going into next season.

“A lot of unknowns doing something for the first time, so you’ll always sort of assess after the fact, learn and potentially look at tweaks or adjustments we might consider for the future,” Dawson said.

The 11 College Football Playoff games averaged 15.6 million viewers according to Nielsen, as audiences increased during each round. According to ESPN, viewers consumed nearly 36 billion minutes of live coverage, a 63% increase over last year’s seven-game

slate of the CFP title game and New Year’s six bowl games.

The four first-round games averaged 10.6 million viewers, with the quarterfinals at 16.9 million. The semifinals averaged 19.2 million, while Ohio State’s 34-23 victory over Notre Dame in Monday night’s national championship game drew 22.1 million.

“Obviously there were a few more games, but to see that kind of jump in just overall consumption of the product is hopefully something we can build on moving forward,” Dawson said.

There are some headwinds that ESPN will deal with under the current format. The semifinal audience decreased 17% from last year, but most of that was due to those games being on Jan. 1, 2024, compared to games on Thursday and Friday.

Notre Dame’s 27-24 victory over Penn State in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9 averaged 17.8 million. By comparison, the most-watched “Thursday Night Football” game on Amazon Prime Video this season was 17.29 million for Green Bay versus Detroit on Dec. 2.

The Jan. 10 Cotton Bowl — where Ohio State defeated Texas 28-24 — averaged 20.6 mil-

squad in Unrivaled. “He would be so proud of this league. He would be proud of ’Phe and Stewie. I know that he’s looking down and hopefully he’s smiling and is proud of us.” Sabally said she still gets emotional when she thinks of that day on Jan. 26, 2020. It reminds her of her playing days at Oregon, when she, Ionescu and their Ducks teammates connected over Bryant.

“I think about ... how we all bonded together over Kobe and how we bonded together for the rest of our lives because he was so impactful,” Sabally added. “He was really a person that saw us women as the talents who we are. He came to the games, he was so outspoken and he really was really supportive.”

“I still remember exactly where I was whenever we heard the news,” said Kate Martin of the Golden State Valkyries, playing for Laces BC at Unrivaled, “and no one really knew if it was fake or real. I think that’s just one of those things

where you’re just always going to remember exactly where you were when you heard that.” Bryant became heavily involved with his daughters’ hoops journeys and coached Gianna’s youth team. He was often at women’s basketball games, especially college ones, with Gianna, who was fascinated with the UConn Huskies. Gianna was in line to further Bryant’s legacy on the court. The plan was for her to attend Connecticut, and surely the WNBA was next.

“I think a lot of people started to follow behind Kobe because he recognized our gift and our talent and how special it really is,” said former Chicago Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon, the current coach of Unrivaled’s Vinyl BC. “And his daughter was right there as well.”

That’s who Bryant had become — a face of women’s sports advocacy.

“He’s greatly missed,” Martin said. “But now his legacy will live on forever.”

lion and was the most-watched Friday telecast across all networks in four years. Ohio State-Notre Dame was a 12% drop from the 25 million who tuned in for the Michigan-Washington title game in 2024.

CFP games ended up being nine of the 10 most-viewed this season, with three games averaging at least 20 million. The other was the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl, which always attracts a large audience. What Dawson and ESPN are hoping for the most though are more competitive title games.

Since Alabama’s 26-23 overtime victory over Georgia in 2018, the last seven title games have had an average margin of victory of 25.4 points. The three least-viewed of the 11 CFP title games have

occurred in the past five years.

Monday night’s game peaked at 26.1 million viewers during the second quarter (8:30-8:45 p.m. EST) when the game was tied at 7-all. The audience started decreasing when the Buckeyes took a 21-7 lead at halftime and took a big drop when Ohio State built a 31-7 advantage midway though the third quarter.

“You always hope for, from a TV perspective, for a tight game to the finish, right? That’s one of the biggest factors driving the ultimate viewership, but it’s also not something that you can control,” Dawson said. “Blowouts are not a college football thing. That occurs in every sport and every playoff from time to time. So you sort of have to accept that’s going to be a reality once in a while.”

Fans watch live at the College Football Playoff national championship game between Ohio State and Notre Dame in Atlanta.

Oregon star Sabrina Ionescu.

MICHAEL OWEN BAKER / AP PHOTO

Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna attend an NBA game in Los Angeles.

the stream

The Weeknd drops ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’

Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell get laughs in ‘You’re Cordially Invited’

The Associated Press

REESE WITHERSPOON and Will Ferrell starring in the wedding comedy “You’re Cordially Invited” and The Weeknd’s album “Hurry Up Tomorrow” are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you this week.

Also, among the streaming offerings worth your time: Director Robert Zemeckis’ “Here” with Tom Hanks, Sterling K. Brown returns to TV as a Secret Service agent and there’s a sequel to Citizen Sleeper, the surprise gaming hit of 2022.

MOVIES TO STREAM

Rival weddings collide in “You’re Cordially Invited,” a comedy about double-booked destination nuptials starring Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell. The film, streaming Thursday on Prime Video, unites a pair of stars from different realms of comedy in Witherspoon, who’s planning a wedding for her sister (Meredith Hagner), and Ferrell, whose daughter (Geraldine Viswanathan) is getting married. In the Nicholas Stoller-directed movie, the two families share a Georgia island wedding venue.

Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson star in Halina Reijn’s “Babygirl” (on premium video-on-demand), a kinky and darkly comic erotic thriller from A24. Kidman stars as a married Manhattan chief executive who falls under the intense sway of a new intern (Dickinson), leading to some memorable sex games of manipulation and control. In my review, I praised “Babygirl” as “a sometimes campy, frequently entertaining modern update to the erotically charged movies of the 1990s, like ‘Basic Instinct’ and ‘9½ Weeks.’” Robert Zemeckis’ “Here” has already lived many lives since opening in theaters last October. It was roundly dismissed by critics at release, only to continue to pick up defenders as the year ended. “Here” gets a second

chance Thursday on Netflix. The film, starring Hanks and Robin Wright, fixes the camera, for seemingly one long take, on one plot of land, from the time of dinosaurs up until modern day. In his review, AP’s Mark Kennedy wrote, “It’s not so strange after a while — so bursting with life is each shot and vignette — but there’s a gnawing feeling that we’re in some sort of film experiment, like testing an audience on how long they’ll watch old security camera footage.”

The Weeknd drops “Hurry

MUSIC TO STREAM

Live from your Peacock subscription is the release of a new “Saturday Night Live” special, “Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music.” The three-hour program, directed by Grammy and Academy Award-winner Questlove and Emmy Award winner Oz Rodriguez, spotlights memorable “SNL” music performances across the show’s incredible run. It features sketches, performanc -

es and more than 50 interview subjects, including Bad Bunny, Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, Mick Jagger, Dua Lipa, Darryl DMC McDaniels, Tom Morello, Kacey Musgraves, Olivia Rodrigo, Paul Simon, Chris Stapleton and Justin Timberlake.

It is the end of an era, and no doubt, one heck of a closer. On Friday, The Weeknd will release the final album in his record-breaking trilogy that began with 2020’s “After Hours” and 2022’s “Dawn FM.” It reaches its coda with “Hurry Up Tomorrow.” So what can listeners expect from one of the biggest names in pop — and the only artist to have 25 songs with 1 billion streams on Spotify? The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, is keeping the details close to his chest. But if this collection of songs comes close to something like “Blinding Lights,” well, expect them to stick around for a while.

SHOWS TO STREAM

Since “This Is Us” aired its series finale in 2022, Sterling K. Brown has had voice roles in animated shows and has concentrated on film work. He is

back on TV with a new series called “Paradise” also created by Dan Fogelman. Brown, also an executive producer, plays a Secret Service agent for the U.S. president (James Marsden) and discovers a murder that leads to shocking revelations. The first three episodes are streaming on Hulu. Noah Centineo’s “The Recruit” returns to Netflix with a second season after a long delay due in part to the Hollywood strikes. The actor plays a lawyer with a new job at the CIA who quickly finds himself embroiled in international politics. The show is suspenseful, compelling and funny. Centineo still has the charisma that charmed viewers of the “To All the Boys” movies, and it carries over for an older demo with this series. “The Recruit” season two premieres Thursday on Netflix.

The true crime docuseries “Scamanda” unravels the web of lies of Amanda Riley, a woman who faked having cancer and collected sympathy, money and gifts while she did it. Journalist Charlie Webster first told Riley’s story in a podcast of the same name and has teamed up with ABC News to bring it to TV. The series begins airing Thursday on ABC and also streams on Hulu next day.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

Citizen Sleeper, a haunting survival adventure set aboard a decrepit space station, became a surprise hit in 2022 by mixing clever gameplay with a caustic take on very-late-stage capitalism. Designer Gareth Damian Martin is now expanding on that world with Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector. Once again, you’re an android on the run from the corporation that built you, but now you have a rickety spaceship at your command. That gives you the freedom to bounce around the asteroids of the Starward Belt, where you can search for replacement parts, recruit crew members and take on highrisk contracts — as long as you can keep your own mechanical body from glitching out.

Friday

Will Ferrell plays Geraldine Viswanathan’s father in the comedy “You’re Cordially Invited,” landing on Amazon Prime on Thursday.

NIKO TAVERNISE / A24 VIA AP

Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson star in “Babygirl,” now streaming on premium video‑on‑demand.

Up Tomorrow” on Friday.

STATE & NATION

Trump order ending federal DEI programs leaves uncertain ground

The president pledged to eliminate the programs during the campaign

The Associated Press

FROM FEDERAL agencies

to stakeholders who receive federal dollars for special training, many are trying to process how President Donald Trump’s sweeping executive order putting a stop to diversity, equity and inclusion programs across the U.S. government will upend their work.

DEI laws and programs have been under attack for years by Republicans who contend that the measures threaten merit-based hiring, promotion and educational opportunities of white people, specifically white men. Criticism comes from other sectors, as well: Some Asian Americans argue it unfairly limits opportunities for high-achieving students and workers, and some in the black community believe it undermines years of progress.

However, DEI supporters say the programs are necessary to ensure that institutions meet the needs of increasingly diverse populations and the impact of the loss of these measures goes beyond people of color.

On Wednesday, Trump put the federal government’s weight behind the push to end such programs by signing an executive order that would effectively dismantle them from all aspects of the federal government.

“To the people who oppose us, the ones who attack DEI, they have tried to bastardize that acronym,” Virginia Kase Solomón, president and CEO of Common Cause, said last Wednesday during a call-to-action panel after Trump’s anti-DEI executive

order. “Instead, they want to diminish and exterminate and incapacitate progress towards a multiracial democracy to maintain white supremacy and concentration of wealth.”

How did it happen?

Republican lawmakers who oppose DEI programs — created to address systemic inequities faced by certain groups — say they are discriminatory and promote left-wing ideology.

During his campaign for president, Trump vowed to end “wokeness” and “leftist indoctrination” in education. He pledged to dismantle diversity programs he says amount to discrimination and to impose fines on colleges “up to the entire amount of their endowment.”

In 2023, conservatives notched a long-sought win when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down affirmative action programs in higher education, finding that race-conscious admissions violate the Constitution. That ruling drew increased legal challenges to DEI initiatives, with some American companies citing the decision in scaling back their diversity policies.

What does Trump’s order call for?

The executive action calls for the termination of DEI programs, mandates, policies, preferences and activities in the federal government, along with the review and revision of existing federal employment practices, union contracts and training policies or programs.

Agency, department and commission heads have 60 days to terminate to the maximum extent allowed by law all DEI, DEIA and “environmental justice” offic-

es and positions, action plans, equity-related grants or contracts, as well as end all DEI or DEIA performance requirements.

It also targets federal contractors who have provided DEI training or materials, and grantees who received federal funding to provide or advance DEI programs, services or activities since former President Joe Biden took office in 2021.

Paolo Gaudiano provides DEI consulting services to a government contractor and a federal academy via his company, Aleria, which helps organizations measure inclusion, and ARC, a nonprofit focused on DEI research.

He has not heard from any agencies he works with about his contract status since Trump’s executive order. What he is hearing is that employees are terrified because the order’s meaning is unclear.

“Does it mean closing the office but giving them a different position?” Gaudiano said. “It is a mess, a complete mess.”

Many federal employees would not speak with reporters out of concern about the punitive environment within the White House.

“It’s possible that I will reach out to them and find out that they’ve all been terminated,” Gaudiano said.

Even with a rollback, Gaudiano is sure employees and contractors will still pursue some form of DEI programs, especially if it helps productivity. Although anti-DEI groups often focus on racial identity, underrepresented populations can mean women, the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities or veterans.

“What is happening is that you’re focusing on structural organizational problems, which often impacts minority groups or

underrepresented groups more than majority groups,” Gaudiano said. “When you’re fixing the problems, you fix the problems for everybody. And it just happens to benefit underrepresented groups as well as minority groups.”

What effect did the anti-DEI movement have before the executive order?

• Dozens of diversity, equity and inclusion programs have already closed in Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, Iowa, Nebraska, Texas and other states.

• Almost 200 diversity, equity and inclusion staff positions were either cut or reassigned across North Carolina’s public university system. Last May, the UNC Chapel Hill Board of Trustees approved diverting $2.3 million of state funds for advancing diversity to public safety and policing.

• Texas’ 2023 law led to the University of Texas cutting 300 full- and part-time positions and eliminating more than 600 programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion training.

• In 2023, Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt signed an anti-DEI order that led to last year’s termination of the national women’s leadership program at the University of Oklahoma.

• Universities of Wisconsin regents reached a deal with Republican lawmakers in 2023 to limit DEI positions at the system’s two dozen campuses in exchange for funds for staff raises and construction projects. The deal imposed a hiring freeze on diversity positions through 2026 and shifted more than 40 diversity-related positions to focus on “student success.”

How will the executive order be carried out?

The Office of Personnel Management in a memo last Tuesday directed agencies to place DEI office staffers on paid leave by 5 p.m. the following day and take down all public DEI-focused webpages by the same deadline. Agencies must also cancel any DEI-related training and end any related contracts, and federal workers are being asked to report to Trump’s Office of Personnel Management if they suspect any DEI-related program has been renamed to obfuscate its purpose within 10 days or face “adverse consequences.”

By last Thursday, federal agencies were directed to compile a list of federal DEI offices and workers as of Election Day. By this Friday, they are expected to develop a plan to execute a “reduction-in-force action” against those federal workers.

It may be easy for Trump to sign such an order but more difficult to carry out, said Frederick Gooding Jr., African American studies professor at Texas Christian University and author of “American Dream Deferred: Black Federal Workers in Washington, D.C., 1941-1981.”

“It’s not going to be as easy to execute,” Gooding said. “It’s going to be more of a fantasy. There are no quick fixes for these issues that took years, if not centuries, to develop.”

The National Urban League and the National Fair Housing Alliance, as government contractors, and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit against a similar executive order issued during Trump’s first administration, arguing it trampled on freedom of speech rights. A California federal court suspended that order in response to a similar lawsuit filed by Lambda Legal, an organization that advocates for the rights of LGBTQ people.

“This will test us,” National Urban League President Marc Moriel said last week during a roundtable that the group hosted. “These orders are unlawful; they are unconstitutional.”

Google will change map names for Gulf of Mexico, Denali

The company honors geographic names from national governments

The Associated Press

GOOGLE SAYS it will take its cue from the U.S. government if it has to change the names of the Gulf of Mexico and Denali on its maps.

The company said Monday that it will only make changes when the government updates its official listings for the body of water and the mountain.

After taking office, President Donald Trump ordered that the water bordered by the Southern United States, Mexico and Cuba be renamed to the Gulf of America. He also ordered America’s highest mountain peak be changed back to Mt. McKinley.

“We have a longstand-

“We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources.”

Google statement

ing practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources,” Google said in a post on X.

The company said that Maps will reflect any updates to the Geographic Names Information System, a database of more than 1 million geographic features in the United States.

“When that happens, we will update Google Maps in the U.S. quickly to show Mount McKin-

ley and Gulf of America,” Google said.

“Denali” is the mountain’s preferred name for Alaska Natives. Former President Barack Obama ordered it changed in 2015 from its previous name “McKinley,” which was a tribute to President William McKinley, designated in the late 19th century by a gold prospector.

The Associated Press, which provides news around the world to multiple audiences, will refer to the Gulf of Mexico by its original name, which it has carried for 400 years, while acknowledging the name Gulf of America.

AP will, however, use the name Mount McKinley instead of Denali; the area lies solely in the United States and as president, Trump has the authority to change federal geographical names within the country.

JILL KARNICKI / HOUSTON CHRONICLE VIA AP

The water in the Gulf of Mexico — which President Donald Trump has proposed be renamed the Gulf of America — appears bluer than usual off of East Beach in 2023 from Galveston, Texas.

Randolph record

BOOM!

XB-1, the Boom Aerospace test plane, reached Mach 1.122 — or about 750 mph — breaking the sound barrier for the first time on Tuesday. The test, flown by Boom Chief Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, marked the first time that an independent company broke the sound barrier in a plane not backed by a military or government. The company’s Superfactory in Greensboro will build as many as 66 of its Overture aircraft every year once production begins. Boom says Overture will carry 64 to 80 passengers at Mach 1.7, about twice the speed of today’s subsonic airliners.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

DA review of former treasurer’s use of state cars ends without charges

Raleigh

An investigation into how then-North Carolina Treasurer Dale Folwell used state government vehicles is ending with no charges filed. Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said Monday the review found any alleged policy violations were insufficient to support a successful criminal prosecution. Freeman said Folwell agreed to pay more than $6,200 for commuting costs he should have been charged and the reimbursement for some miles driven. Folwell, a Republican, completed eight years as treasurer and lost a bid for the GOP nomination for governor last year. Folwell said he was “relieved.”

Trump offers all federal workers buyout with 8 months’ pay Washington, D.C.

The Trump administration says it is offering buyouts to all federal employees who opt to leave their jobs by next week — an unprecedented move to shrink the U.S. government at breakneck speed. A memo Tuesday from the Office of Personnel Management says it will begin subjecting all federal employees to “enhanced standards of suitability and conduct” and ominously warns of future downsizing. The email sent to employees says those who leave their posts voluntarily will receive about eight months of salary but must to chose to do so by Feb. 6.

Controlled burn means progress for RCC, training for firefighters

The property is a key part of expansion plans related to the community college

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

LIBERTY — A controlled burn of a building on Randolph Community College’s Liberty campus served multiple purposes Saturday.

The event marked a step in the plan to further develop RCC’s Liberty property.

Shah Ardalan, president of RCC, called the event part of the process in moving toward the college’s mission.

“This controlled burn is more than a training exercise,” Ardalan said. “It is a tangible representation of our commitment to Access and Success for Randolph County and beyond. We are excited to ignite progress at this site and look forward to serving our region through the Liberty Center.”

The demolition of the building comes in the effort to prepare the grounds for an expansion of programs at the location. It was about a year ago that RCC finalized details to pur-

chase about 22 acres in Liberty at the intersection of U.S. 421 and N.C. 49.

“It’s a step for (RCC) in what they’re doing with that property,” said Scott Kidd, Liberty’s town manager. “And it’s a good training when you can do a live burn like that. Our local fire department gets free training.”

RCC gave Saturday’s activities a theme: “Ashes to Ambitions, Crafting the Future.”

Liberty Center is intended to become a hub for innovation, career-oriented education and community collaboration, according to RCC.

The controlled burn of the house, which has been described as an older home, was an undertaking that involved several fire departments. There were 25 firefighters from seven different fire departments participating in the controlled burn.

The event went off without any unexpected complications, based on reports from the community college.

RCC officials dubbed the occasion as a chance to aid in training for the fire departments who were represented.

“These training exercises are critical to ensuring the safety

UNC and Duke Health will build NC’s first standalone children’s hospital

The new 500-bed facility is coming to the Triangle

The Associated Press

RALEIGH — Two of the state’s largest university health systems plan to construct the state’s first standalone children’s hospital — an undertaking that its boosters said will change lives physically and economically for decades to come.

UNC Health and Duke Health on Tuesday revealed the agreement to build the proposed 500-bed pediatric hospi-

tal in the state’s Research Triangle region, which includes Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. The “NC Children’s” project also will include a children’s outpatient care center and behavioral health center. Research and education operations backed by the system’s two medical schools will also be onsite, the health systems said in a news release.

Groundbreaking on an over 100-acre campus — the specific location yet to be identified — is expected by 2027, with campus construction to

take about six years. The price tag for the project is expected at more than $2 billion. A massive fundraising effort is anticipated.

There are children’s hospitals already in North Carolina, including those operated by the University of North Carolina and Duke University health systems that are attached to their main campuses in the Triangle. This project, however, is described as the first freestanding hospital dedicated to caring for kids.

“This is a big splash that will ripple out literally for years

and years and impact the people in our state and region in ways that I know we can’t even imagine yet,” Dr. Wesley Burks, CEO of UNC Health and dean of the UNC School of Medicine, said at a Raleigh announcement event also attended by Gov. Josh Stein, Senate leader Phil Berger and other education, political and health care notables.

The two entities filed paperwork on Tuesday with the state to create a nonprofit organization for a new children’s health system called North Carolina Children’s Health. Their respective pediatric-related clinical services, programs and operations will transfer to NC Children’s.

The children’s hospital idea has been a goal for many years

The controlled burn provided valuable training for area firefighters Saturday in Liberty.

THURSDAY JAN 30

FRIDAY JAN 31

REMC awards grants to area school educators

Several teaching projects at area schools draw attention

Randolph Record staff

ASHEBORO — Five educators in schools in Randolph County are recipients of grants through the Randolph Electric Membership Corporation.

Bright Ideas grants support classroom projects in the subjects of agriculture, science, art, music and more in local schools throughout REMC’s service territory.

“We commend these educators for striving to make learning fun and engaging,” said Nicole Arnold, REMC’s communications and public affairs manager.

The grants associated with schools in Randolph County went to:

• Kristen Toscano of South

Asheboro Middle School for $450 for a SAMS Comet Café Cart. One goal of the project is to provide students with essential life skills, including responsibility, teamwork and customer service. A second goal is to improve students’ skills in communication, math and daily living through real world applications.

• Cassandra Salabak of Guy B. Teachey Elementary School in Asheboro for $1,200 for low-tech coding and creative engineering. This project will teach students how to code at a young age and will improve their persistence, resilience, logical reasoning and problem solving.

• Yuliya Skeen of Farmer Elementary School for $600 for her project, Introducing Young Minds to 3D Printing. She will demonstrate how science and math work together to produce amazing creations

with this engineering tool.

• Jessica Hoffmire of Uwharrie Charter Academy Elementary School for $1,215 for her project, STEAMing it up in the Kitchen. The focus of the project is to provide students with culinary engineering experiences.

• Melissa Brown of New Market Elementary for $1,000 to construct an outdoor learning environment. In a sensory-calming garden, students can deescalate from over-stimulation and can focus on sensory-seeking tasks if experiencing hyposensitivity.

During this cycle, REMC administered the awarding of 16 total grants, with others in Chatham County, Montgomery County and Moore County. The application process will reopen for interested teachers in April 2025. Bright Ideas grant applications are collected through mid-September.

RCSS seeks to hire more bus drivers

A shortage of bus drivers means there are dual roles for some school workers

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — The need for bus drivers is ongoing within the Randolph County School System.

Superintendent Stephen Gainey said the latest push to attract more drivers isn’t an alarm as much as a reminder that the topic remains on the minds of school administrators.

“Our No. 1 job is taking care of children,” Gainey said. “We have to get them to school.”

As of last week, there were 26 positions open that include responsibilities as bus drivers.

SATURDAY FEB 1

SUNDAY FEB 2

MONDAY FEB 3

TUESDAY FEB 4

WEDNESDAY FEB 5

for both institutions, which often are health care competitors. But a recent initial $320 million appropriation for the effort by the North Carolina General Assembly accelerated talks between the two systems.

“This is a tremendous and unique opportunity to work together to reimagine how we deliver life-changing care to our

That’s a reduction from a few years ago when the problem became heightened.

“It has been a pretty steady need since the pandemic when it rose up,” Gainey said. “It has just been a situation that has not gone away.”

The positions are available in several formats. Drivers can handle morning and afternoon routes, or just a morning-only or afternoon-only route.

“If you are interested in driving a bus, we have full-time positions,” Gainey said. “We also can make parttime positions.”

There are 140 buses used on each school day in the district, he said.

The school required all full-time workers in what’s called classified positions to be certified to drive buses, so that’s how the district fills the

region’s most vulnerable and we are grateful for the support of our state’s legislature,” Duke University Health System CEO Dr. Craig Albanese said in a release.

Stein said at the announcement event that the project will end up “saving the lives of countless children for generations to come.”

Stein and Berger said the economic results also are strik-

openings.

Gainey said that might mean a teacher’s assistant, a custodian or a child nutrition worker will drive bus routes. They’re paid accordingly for those additional duties.

Ideally, those employees wouldn’t be called up as often as they are to drive buses, the superintendent said.

“It would be nice to get some relief,” he said.

There have been other employee shortages for RCSS.

Gainey pointed to child nutrition (cafeteria workers) and custodians as areas that have been addressed in the past.

Gainey said it seems like a good time to make the public aware of the shortage in an effort to recruit more drivers.

“We need all the help we can get to fill these,” he said. “Please reach out to us.”

ing for a growing state like North Carolina — the ninth largest by population.

“This campus through its construction and operation will create thousands of jobs and be among the largest economic development projects in the history of the state of North Carolina,” Berger said. “This is a win for the economy and for our children’s health and for our state’s infrastructure.”

Guide

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Randolph County:

Jan. 31

2 Guys Named Chris Morning Show Presents: Comedy Show by Stars Zack Johnson, Andy Forrester and Collin Moulton

7:30-11:30 p.m.

This one-of-a-kind comedy night will feature an array of very talented and witty comedians with unique entertainment styles. We will feature uncut and fun-filtered all-star comedians. We are excited to bring these entertainers together for one great night of comedy. The combination of raw truth, originality and comedic twists will be a night surely not to be missed!

Sunset Theatre

234 Sunset Avenue Asheboro

Feb.

3

Teen Zone

4-5 p.m.

Every Monday at 4 p.m., teens take over the TeenZone at the Asheboro Public Library! Asheboro Public Library TeenZone hosts programs for ages 12-plus, including arts and crafts, book clubs, tutoring nights and more. Free programs, no registration required. For more information, call 336-318-6804.

Asheboro Public Library

201 Worth St. Asheboro

Feb. 4

Feb. 6

Fun in Acapulco: Elvis 1– 2:37 p.m.

Thrifty Thursday Movies are shown at the Historic Sunset Theatre on the first Thursday of every month. Showtime is 1 p.m. and costs $5 per person (includes fun size drink and popcorn). Special note: Those 50 and older enjoy free admission to the show thanks to local sponsors.

Sunset Theatre 234 Sunset Avenue Asheboro

BURN from page A1

and preparedness of fire departments throughout the region,” the college said in a release. There are more steps that will need to take place before construction begins at RCC’s Liberty Center. There’s the matter of installing water and sewer lines and other infrastructure that will be necessary.

Last January, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality approved the Town of Liberty’s request to add sewer line extensions, allowing for residential, commercial and industrial growth outside of existing service areas. A small part of that was related to RCC’s property, Kidd said.

REMC PHOTO

Here’s Jessica Hoffmire with Uwharrie Charter Academy Elementary School students showing the grant certificate from the Randolph Electric Membership Corporation.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

America’s golden age has arrived

Our Republicanled Congress passed the Laken Riley Act with bipartisan support.

IT IS MORNING in America again.

On Jan. 20, the American people celebrated the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump. It is truly an incredible and historic time for our great country — it marks the beginning of a new era.

Trump has hit the ground running to fix the failures of the Biden-Harris agenda and fulfill the promises made to you, signing hundreds of executive orders and actions in his first few days back in the White House.

From ending disastrous open border programs that helped facilitate the worst invasion in history to rolling back policies that crippled American energy dominance and hiked up costs, one thing is clear: The Golden Age of America has arrived.

I, along with my Republican colleagues in the House and Senate, am working closely with Trump to advance our America First agenda in Congress. United together, we will return jobs to American workers, lower costs, cut taxes and unleash American energy dominance. Together, we will secure our borders, enforce our laws, keep our communities safe, restore peace through strength and make the federal government more efficient for you. We are excited by this generational opportunity in front of us to Make America Great Again, and we are already delivering results.

Just last week, our Republican-led Congress passed

the Laken Riley Act with bipartisan support, and it now heads to Trump’s desk to be one of the first policies signed into law as the 47th president. This important bill will help protect you by ensuring that criminal illegals are swiftly and permanently detained and deported from our country. It is more than just a piece of legislation; it is a return to common sense. Under Trump’s leadership, I will continue working with my colleagues to move legislation that restores the rule of law, secures our borders, and puts Americans like you first again.

Additionally, I held my first hearing as the new chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. I heard from stakeholders on how Congress can promote innovation and encourage investment in wireless technology. I look forward to advancing commonsense policies to help ensure all Americans can be fully connected.

While there is a lot of work to get done during Trump’s first 100 days, I have confidence and renewed hope that America’s best days are ahead. The American people gave Trump and Republicans in Congress a mandate to change the direction of our country, and that is exactly what we are going to do.

Rep. Richard Hudson represents the 9th Congressional District in Washington, D.C.

The one thing Trump can’t do

Trump can create an environment that leads to more job openings and lower housing prices, but you still have to go to work.

DONALD TRUMP’S JOB is to make America great again. Improving your own life is up to you.

There are lots of reasons to be excited about Trump’s return to power. He’s pledged to unleash America’s energy industry. Cheaper energy and a better regulatory environment should help contain inflation. The border will be locked down while officials deport illegal aliens.

But even if he accomplishes his entire agenda, there’s one thing Trump can’t do — guarantee you a more successful life.

That may sound like a contradiction. If Trump is going to help America, doesn’t that require that he make things better for Americans? It does, but there’s an important step missing in that question — the choices you make.

For instance, one of the best predictors of personal happiness is being in a great marriage. Earning more money raises a person’s chance of being “very happy” by 88%. Being married increases your odds by 151%. But being in a “very happy” marriage boosts your likelihood by a staggering 545%. That’s all according to Brad Wilcox, author of the excellent book “Get Married.”

That’s good news. You can work on improving your marriage regardless of who the president is.

There’s a loneliness epidemic, according to Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.

He’s right. In October, a Gallup poll found 20% of adults said they felt a lot of loneliness the previous day. That suggests around 50 million adults feel isolated. It’s a miserable feeling and can lead to destructive behaviors like drug and alcohol abuse.

It’s also fixable. Go to church and join a small group. Volunteer. Sign up for a sports league. Reach out to family members.

These steps are all harder when you’re lonely and depressed. It’s why a safety net of families, churches and engaged neighbors are so important.

The government can give you a check, but it can’t give you a hug when you need it most.

This is true even in finances. It doesn’t matter how much Trump cuts taxes. If you spend more than you make, you’ll always have money problems. The best way to improve your financial health is to budget and pay down your debts. Dave Ramsey has helped an untold number of people, myself included, do just that. That’s some practical advice that’s much needed in Washington.

Trump can create an environment that leads to more job openings and lower housing prices, but you still have to go to work and earn your paycheck or start your own business. In his memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” Vice President JD Vance described working in a tile distribution business before attending Yale Law School. Jobs there provided a path out of poverty for those near his poor hometown, but turnover was high.

“Too many men (were) immune to hard work,” Vance wrote. He continued, “There is a lack of agency here — a feeling that you have little control over your own life and a willingness to blame everyone but yourself.”

This isn’t to say that political leadership doesn’t matter. It does.

Think of it this way. Imagine life is a mountain path with many ups and downs. The job of Trump and other elected officials is to fly above the path and clear away landslides and boulders that make navigating it difficult. If Trump does his job well, removing those barriers will help more people go further on the path. That’s making America great again. But Trump isn’t going to fly you to your preferred destination.

The wonderful yet scary thing about freedom is that it forces you to enjoy or endure the consequences of your own decisions.

Victor Joecks is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review‑Journal.

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Southern cities get creative to clear storm’s leftover snow, ice

New Orleans used cleaning equipment usually needed after Mardi Gras

By Jack Brook and Russ Bynum

The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS — Days after a winter storm dropped ice and record-breaking snow, cleanup efforts were underway last week in several major Southern cities such as New Orleans, where crews were removing snow the same way they remove trash, drink cups and plastic beads after Mardi Gras.

Temperatures were gradually rising across the U.S. South, bringing hopes that the remaining snow and ice would melt away.

“We have to be honest with ourselves — we’re from Louisiana, we know crawfish, we know football, but we don’t really know snow and ice, and that’s OK,” said Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development spokesper-

son Daniel Gitlin. “It’s going to go away, and we’re better off letting Mother Nature do what she needs to do right now.”

Up to 200 miles of interstate remained closed until last Friday due to treacherous patches of black ice, Gitlin said. Louisiana had nearly run out of its salt supply after treating roads, he added.

In the Big Easy, a private waste management firm has been contracted to repurpose equipment typically used to clean up Mardi Gras beads and cups to clear snow from the streets.

IV Waste President Sidney Torres said his company had deployed a 4,000-gallon “flusher” truck to spray water on the ground to soften the ice for removal in the historic and festive French Quarter. The truck normally sprays lemon-scented fragrance “to get rid of that funky liquor, urine, puke smell from the night before,” Torres said.

“We’re finding new solutions and better techniques to dealing with this.”

Arkansas sent Louisiana snowplows, dump trucks, salt spreaders and other equipment, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said.

The snowfall likely broke several records across the region, including in Florida, where a preliminary report of 10 inches in one town would set a new record for the state if confirmed.

Snow totals reached 3 inches in Savannah, Georgia, the most the state’s oldest city has recorded since December 1989.

The snow was lighter in metro Atlanta, where the southern

suburbs saw more snow and ice than areas north of the city. In Covington, southeast of Atlanta, Jesse Gentes used a flamethrower to deice the roads in his subdivision. In better weather, he typically uses the flamethrower for brush removal, he told WSB-TV.

South Carolina reported at least one death in the storm.

A 71-year-old man died from a medical condition while shoveling snow last Thursday in Berkeley County, Coroner Darnell Hartwell said. About 3-4

inches of snow fell in the area, according to the National Weather Service. The snow and ice had staying power and left a mess on the roads in coastal South Carolina. In Charleston, ice that melted and refroze overnight closed the James Island Connector, a bridge that links the city to its western suburbs. Police said on social media that “while crews are working hard, it is unlikely to reopen soon.”

Schools and county offices remained closed, and officials in most areas south and east of the state capital, Columbia, asked people to stay home for at least one more day.

It was a similar story in North Carolina, where slick roads remained a danger to drivers after the snow melted and then refroze overnight. Schools were also affected, including in Fayetteville, where the school system announced that students would have an “asynchronous” learning day, allowing them to complete assignments at home. Several other school districts operated on a two-hour delay.

Some school systems in central and south Alabama remained closed last Thursday due to concerns about the remaining ice on roads or the possibility of frozen pipes in schools. In coastal Baldwin County, sections of Interstate 65 and Interstate 10 were shut down due to ice.

“Schools, universities and scientific societies are challenged to help students and professionals to grasp the social and ethical aspects of the development and uses of technology,’’ the document said.

AI and health care

It includes a number of warnings about the potential for AI

The Associated Press

VATICAN CITY — A Vatican document released Tuesday offers wide-ranging ethical guidelines for the application of artificial intelligence in sectors from warfare to health care, with an underlying call that the burgeoning technology must be used as a tool to complement, and not replace, human intelligence.

Pope Francis has issued several warnings about the risks associated with AI technology, and this new document by the Vatican’s doctrine and cultural offices expands on what the pontiff has already said. It comes as a new AI chatbot by Chinese tech startup DeepSeek has raised the stakes in the AI technology race, catching up with American generative AI leaders at a fraction of the cost.

The document underlines that human responsibility needs to grow in proportion to the new technology, and that the impact

of AI’s uses in various sectors “may not always be predictable from their inception.”

“AI should be used only as a tool to complement human intelligence, rather than replace its richness,” the document said in its conclusion.

AI and warfare

The document warns that AI has the potential to increase instruments of war “well beyond the scope of human oversight,” which could provoke “a destabilizing arms race.” Weapons systems that can identify and strike targets without human intervention, removing “the unique human capacity for moral judgement and ethical decision-making,’’ it said.

“No machine should ever choose to take the life of a human being,’’ the document warned.

AI and human relationships

The document warns that AI is not a substitute for “authentic human relationships” and cites its lack of empathy as a risk when anthropomorphizing AI in areas such as

child development or interpersonal relationships.

“While human beings are meant to experience authentic relationships, AI can only simulate them,” the document said.

AI and the search for meaning

The document cites the risk that “as society drifts away from connection with the transcendent, some are tempted to turn to AI in search of meaning and fulfillment — longings that can only be truly satisfied in communion with God.”

“The presumption of substituting God for an artifact of human making is idolatry, a practice Scripture explicitly warns against,” the document said.

AI and privacy/surveillance

Advances in AI-powered data processing have made data privacy “even more imperative as a safeguard for the dignity and relational nature” of individuals, the document said.

“The risk of surveillance overreach must be monitored by appropriate regulators to ensure

transparency and public accountability,’’ it said.

AI and the environment

The document underlined that while AI can help fight climate change through models to forecast extreme events, help manage emergencies and help promote sustainable development, it also poses risks that are obscured by the use of words like “the cloud” that detach data storage “from the physical world.”

“It is crucial to recognize that its operation demands vast amounts of energy and water, contributing significantly to CO2 emissions,” the document said.

AI and education

The document said that AI should help promote critical thinking and not just train “young people how to amass information and generate quick responses.” Education is not about “filling one’s head with ideas” but “is about taking a risk in the tensions between the mind, the heart and the hands,” it said.

While citing the potential of AI to enhance medical care, such as in diagnosing illness, the document said it is critical that AI is used to enhance and not “replace the relationship between patients and healthcare providers.”

“Decisions regarding patient treatment and the weight of responsibility they entail must always remain with the human person, and should never be delegated to AI,’’ the document said.

AI and misinformation/ deepfakes

AI presents a risk of “generating manipulated content and false information, which can easily mislead people due to its resemblance to the truth,’’ the document said.

“Countering AI-driven falsehoods is not only the work of industry experts — it requires the efforts of all people of good will,’’ it said, calling for diligence on the part of those who share AI-generated content to verify “the truth of what they disseminate.”

SIDNEY TORRES / IV WASTE VIA AP

The flusher truck — normally deployed to spray lemon-scented fragrance around the pungent French Quarter — is used to clear ice last Thursday in New Orleans after a rare winter storm.

Julian Gregory Thomas

May 1, 1932 – Jan. 25, 2025

Julian Gregory Thomas, age 92 of Siler City, passed away on Saturday, January 25, 2025.

Julian was born on May 1, 1932, in Moore County, NC to Sam and Dora Ray Thomas. Julian worked for the Chatham County Sheriff’s Department and later for NAPA Auto delivering auto parts. Julian enjoyed a good meal and loved talking to people. He was known to make his rounds in Pittsboro at Jordan Dam mini mart and at Ray’s supermarket in Moncure. He was a member at Gum Springs Baptist Church and sang in the choir. In addition to his parents, Julian was preceded in death by his brothers, Ed, Melvin, Carson, and Larry Thomas; and his sister, Lilla Thomas Foushee.

Julian is survived by his son, Trent Murufo (Brenda) of Randleman; granddaughters, Ashley Murufo (George Stump), and Jessica Murufo (Travis Lawrence); great-grandchildren, Braelynn, Haven, Kingston, and Brixston; several nieces and nephews; and his faithful canine companion, Wilbur.

A celebration of life service will be held at a later date.

Margaret Jordan Ingram

April 13, 1952 – Jan. 22, 2025

Margaret Estrella Jordan Ingram, age 72, of Asheboro passed away on January 22, 2025, at the Randolph Hospice House.

Margaret was born in Randolph County on April 13, 1952, to Roosevelt and Jewell Strider Jordan. Margaret enjoyed coloring, watching birds, and taking a trip to the beach. She loved to talk to folks and got to take a ride in a helicopter, something she had always wanted to do. Margaret enjoyed a good cheeseburger, onion rings, and a milkshake. In addition to her parents, Margaret was preceded in death by her siblings, Wayne Strider, Frances Smith, Sam Jordan, and Ernest Jordan.

She is survived by her son, Timmy Ingram, sister, Joy Morton of Troy and sister-in-law, Sandra Strider of Asheboro.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, January 26, 2025, from 1-1:50 p.m. at Pugh Funeral Home, 600 South Main Street in Randleman. Funeral services will follow on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Eddie Pugh Memorial Chapel with Pastor Zach Rich officiating. Burial will be held at Oaklawn Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Randolph, 416 Vision Drive, Asheboro, NC 27203.

Sandra Lee Hopkins Thomas

June 2, 1946 – Jan. 24, 2025

Sandra Lee Hopkins Thomas, 78, of Asheboro, passed away on Friday, January 24, 2025, and was welcomed into her eternal home. While her family feels the deep loss of her presence, they find comfort in knowing she is reunited with her Lord and Savior and catching up with loved ones gone before her.

Born in Randolph County, Sandra was the daughter of Burrell “Hop” Hopkins and Erma Lee Hopkins. She grew up in Asheboro and graduated from Kings College in Charlotte, where she developed a love for the card game, bridge, and a knack for professional skills that would serve her well throughout her career.

Sandra met Paul Thomas while working at her parent’s restaurant, Hop’s BBQ, where they started a love story that spanned 46 years of marriage. Together, they raised four lively children and, in 1981, took on the challenge of starting their own business, J.P. Thomas & Co., Inc.

For 31 years, Sandra balanced being a wife, mother, and business owner with unmatched dedication and strength.

Her love for her family was most evident in the countless ways she cared for them: from the thousands of homemade biscuits she made to the sweet tea always waiting in the fridge to the vegetables she canned from her and Paul’s garden. Sandra did not miss a single recital, game, or event her children participated in—she was their biggest cheerleader and source of steady love.

Known affectionately as “Maw-Maw,” Sandra adored her nine grandchildren and two great-granddaughters. She was always there to offer her wisdom, whether it was about proper Sunday shoes for church or gentle (and sometimes notso-gentle) opinions about hairstyles and clothes. She loved sharing updates about their accomplishments with pride and made sure everyone around her knew how much she loved them, whether they wanted to know or not.

When Sandra was not taking care of her family, she found joy in simple pleasures: Hallmark movies were at the top of her list. She would like to thank THC for the countless hours of entertainment they provided. Sandra is survived by her children: Bryan Thomas (Anna) of Asheboro, NC; Lorie Vondrak (Andrew) of Atlanta, GA; Sally Thomas of Asheboro, NC; and David “Dave” Thomas (Roxanne) of Asheboro, NC. Her nine grandchildren—Jonathon Thomas, Kari Faulkner, Hannah Ferguson, Katelyn Thomas, Blair Thomas of Asheboro, NC, Adeline Vondrak, Katerina Vondrak, Elijah Vondrak, and Benjamin Vondrak of Atlanta, GA—and two greatgranddaughters, Emma Grace Thomas, and Lainey Faulkner of Asheboro, NC. She is also survived by her sister, Cheryl McNulty of Greensboro, NC and enough nieces, nephews, and friends to fill a Hallmark movie cast.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to Renae Littleton, Robin Sheffield, and the staff at Clapp’s of Asheboro, Randolph Hospital, and Hospice of Randolph for their care and compassion.

The family will receive visitors on Thursday, January 30, 2025, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Bailey’s Grove Baptist Church in Asheboro, NC with a service to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Victory Junction Camp, Donate Online - Victory Junction or Victory Junction | 4500 Adam’s Way | Randleman, NC 27317.

Mary Frances Strickland Redding

March 3, 1936 – Jan. 23, 2025

Beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend, Mary Frances Strickland Redding, age 88, passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 23, 2025, at her home in Williamsburg, Virginia. Visitation will take place at Pugh Funeral Home on Sunday, February 2, 2025, at 1 p.m. A chapel service for family and friends will be held at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Ave., Asheboro, NC on Sunday, February 2, 2025, at 2 p.m. with burial to follow at Old City Cemetary. If you are unable to attend in person, you may sign up for the livestream of the service.

Frances (Fran, “Francie”), was born on March 3, 1936, in Asheboro, NC, to Hazel (“Hazie”) Eaddy Strickland and Franz Strickland, arriving on her brother Bobby’s 5th birthday. After graduating from Asheboro High School in 1954, Frances attended Duke University where in 1958 she received her Bachelor of Arts in Education. She subsequently obtained a Master of Education in 1965 and a Master of Music in 1966, both from UNC Greensboro, as well as a doctorate in curriculum from the Universita di Firenze, Italy, in 2004. Frances served as a professional educator for forty years and taught in the music departments of Appalachian State University, Duke University, and High Point College, and in K-12 schools and her private voice studio. In addition, Frances was a published journalist and penned a weekly column in the Raleigh News and Observer and the Watauga Democrat for many years. From a very early age Frances was recognized for her outstanding soprano singing ability, and she performed with/won numerous soloist awards from Spoleto Festival, Charlotte Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, NC School of the Arts, Regional Young Artist in Voice and in Oratorio, NC Young Artist in Voice and in Oratorio, NC Metropolitan Opera, Fulbright Competition, Chicago Lyric Opera, and Maria de Varady Competition. Additionally, Frances was a soloist with the Duke Chapel Choir for more than 50 years and toured professionally with Duke’s Ciompi Quartet. Locally, she became well known for singing the national anthem at Duke basketball games in Cameron Indoor Stadium, where for 20+ years she was lovingly introduced as “Duke’s own Frances Redding!” amidst thunderous cheers and applause.

Frances is survived by her daughters, Sally Redding Hanchett and Julie Szabo Schotzinger, sons-in-law James Hanchett and Robert Schotzinger, nieces Cynthia Strickland Graham, Rebecca Briles, Marianne Millikan, and Nancy Farlow, nephew Robert E. Strickland, and her grandchildren Jackson Hanchett, Logan Hanchett, Ben Hanchett, Kara Hanchett, Christopher Szabo, Jessica Szabo, and Kaitlyn Szabo. She is preceded in death by her parents; her brother Robert L. Strickland; her sisterin-law, Betty Ann Strickland; her husband of twenty years, Donald S. Redding of Asheboro; and her son Donald Redding, Jr. (“Buzzy”). Frances will be dearly missed on earth. Friends and family are taking solace in knowing she has joined family members in heaven, in addition to Pope Paul VI, for whom she sang while on tour in Italy in 1968.

Memorial donations may be made to Friends of Duke Chapel, the successful foundation that Frances founded and first directed 50 years ago.

Judy Lynn Wagoner Chambers

July 3, 1945 – Jan. 23, 2025

Judy Lynn Wagoner

Chambers, age 79, of Asheboro, went home to the LORD on January 23, 2025, at the Randolph Hospice House.

Mrs. Chambers was born in Guilford County on July 3, 1945, to Carl and Ruby Montgomery Wagoner. Judy was a graduate of Ragsdale High School. Following high school, Judy worked at Pilot Life Insurance Company and retired, after 35 years of service, from Randolph Health. She was a member of Amity Hills Baptist Church. In addition to her parents, Judy was preceded in death by her husband, Art Chambers, five sisters, and two brothers. Judy enjoyed reading and loved working on crossword puzzles and eating her oatmeal. Judy was a strong lady who was always ready with a warm hug and always knew what to say to comfort someone. She is survived by her daughters, Camlynn Chambers Smith (Don) of Newport and Kimberly Chambers Adams of Asheboro; son, Jason Chambers of Mexico; grandchildren, Christina Smith, Lewis Smith (Amanda), Cyndal Tysinger (Andrew), Sarah Mackey (John), and Elisabeth Adams; 12 greatgrandchildren; and sister, Cynthia Sherman (Jack) of Ether.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, from 2:00-2:50 p.m. at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue in Asheboro. Funeral services will follow on Tuesday at 3 p.m. at the Glenn “Mac” Pugh Chapel with Rev. Barry Wall officiating. Burial will be held at the Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery.

Edith Marley Routh

Dec. 3, 1945 – Jan. 19, 2025

Edith Ellen Marley Routh of Pleasant Garden, NC, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 19, 2025, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Edith was born on December 3, 1945, to Ralph Branson Marley and Margaret Caviness Marley of Pleasant Garden. She was the second of seven children, having four sisters and two brothers. Edith graduated from Southeast Guilford High School, went on to take classes at GTCC and worked for many years in the clerical field, eventually retiring from the Guilford County Finance Department.

Edith was preceded in death by her parents; she is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, Richard (Dicky) P. Routh Jr., two children, Glenna Routh Kidd (Darrell) and Paul Alan Routh (Casey), two grandsons, Jacob and Elijah Kidd, as well as her sisters Katrine East, Sharon Marley, Belinda Marley, Melody Marley, brothers James Marley (Lynne), Timothy Marley (Donna), several nephews, nieces and cousins.

Edith was a faithful member of Centre Friends Meeting where she was a birthright Quaker. She was accepted as a lifetime member to the USFW women’s circle in 2012. She accepted Jesus as her Savior as a schoolgirl when an evangelistic group from the community shared their faith and she made the Christian faith personal. Her faith has been a driving force in all she has done over the years. She hosted annual Circle Meetings at her home every Christmas and helped with multiple church activities.

Edith enjoyed traveling both through the U.S. and Canada as well as two trips to England with the NC Quaker Friends and a trip with a co-worker to Europe. On their last big trip, Dicky and Edith toured parts of Alaska. She also took many trips with her sisters to various destinations as well as to the Grand Ole Opry with her Aunt Linda and sister Katrine. Edith, Dicky, their children and grandchildren took one last trip in June 2023 to Dollywood, one of her favorite places.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Randolph Record at obits@ randolphrecord.com Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Randolph Record at obits@ randolphrecord.com

She was a great manager of the home, where she enjoyed cooking and baking for her family, including baking and decorating her children’s birthday cakes through the years. She canned and would freeze the bounty of vegetables from their garden, and made quilts, clothing and many other sewing projects that still decorate their home. In her free time, she enjoyed working on puzzles and reading. However, her favorite thing to do was spending time with her family, especially by spoiling both grandsons with many trips to the N.C. Zoo and the Greensboro Natural Science Center. Her presence will be greatly missed. The family will receive friends on Friday, January 24, 2025, at Centre Friends Meeting, 325 NC Hwy. 62 East, Greensboro, NC in the sanctuary at 1 p.m. Funeral services begin at 2 p.m. with Minister Rusty Parsons officiating. Burial will follow immediately after the service in the Centre Friends Meeting Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Centre Friends PO Box 632, Randleman, NC 27317; Hospice of Randolph,1801 Westchester Drive, High Point, NC 27262; Quaker Lake 1503 NC Hwy 62 East, Climax, NC 27233, or an organization of your choice.

STATE & NATION

Trump order ending federal DEI programs leaves uncertain ground

The president pledged to eliminate the programs during the campaign

The Associated Press

FROM FEDERAL agencies

to stakeholders who receive federal dollars for special training, many are trying to process how President Donald Trump’s sweeping executive order putting a stop to diversity, equity and inclusion programs across the U.S. government will upend their work.

DEI laws and programs have been under attack for years by Republicans who contend that the measures threaten merit-based hiring, promotion and educational opportunities of white people, specifically white men. Criticism comes from other sectors, as well: Some Asian Americans argue it unfairly limits opportunities for high-achieving students and workers, and some in the black community believe it undermines years of progress.

However, DEI supporters say the programs are necessary to ensure that institutions meet the needs of increasingly diverse populations and the impact of the loss of these measures goes beyond people of color.

On Wednesday, Trump put the federal government’s weight behind the push to end such programs by signing an executive order that would effectively dismantle them from all aspects of the federal government.

“To the people who oppose us, the ones who attack DEI, they have tried to bastardize that acronym,” Virginia Kase Solomón, president and CEO of Common Cause, said last Wednesday during a call-to-action panel after Trump’s anti-DEI executive

order. “Instead, they want to diminish and exterminate and incapacitate progress towards a multiracial democracy to maintain white supremacy and concentration of wealth.”

How did it happen?

Republican lawmakers who oppose DEI programs — created to address systemic inequities faced by certain groups — say they are discriminatory and promote left-wing ideology.

During his campaign for president, Trump vowed to end “wokeness” and “leftist indoctrination” in education. He pledged to dismantle diversity programs he says amount to discrimination and to impose fines on colleges “up to the entire amount of their endowment.”

In 2023, conservatives notched a long-sought win when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down affirmative action programs in higher education, finding that race-conscious admissions violate the Constitution. That ruling drew increased legal challenges to DEI initiatives, with some American companies citing the decision in scaling back their diversity policies.

What does Trump’s order call for?

The executive action calls for the termination of DEI programs, mandates, policies, preferences and activities in the federal government, along with the review and revision of existing federal employment practices, union contracts and training policies or programs.

Agency, department and commission heads have 60 days to terminate to the maximum extent allowed by law all DEI, DEIA and “environmental justice” offic-

es and positions, action plans, equity-related grants or contracts, as well as end all DEI or DEIA performance requirements.

It also targets federal contractors who have provided DEI training or materials, and grantees who received federal funding to provide or advance DEI programs, services or activities since former President Joe Biden took office in 2021.

Paolo Gaudiano provides DEI consulting services to a government contractor and a federal academy via his company, Aleria, which helps organizations measure inclusion, and ARC, a nonprofit focused on DEI research.

He has not heard from any agencies he works with about his contract status since Trump’s executive order. What he is hearing is that employees are terrified because the order’s meaning is unclear.

“Does it mean closing the office but giving them a different position?” Gaudiano said. “It is a mess, a complete mess.”

Many federal employees would not speak with reporters out of concern about the punitive environment within the White House.

“It’s possible that I will reach out to them and find out that they’ve all been terminated,” Gaudiano said.

Even with a rollback, Gaudiano is sure employees and contractors will still pursue some form of DEI programs, especially if it helps productivity. Although anti-DEI groups often focus on racial identity, underrepresented populations can mean women, the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities or veterans.

“What is happening is that you’re focusing on structural organizational problems, which often impacts minority groups or

underrepresented groups more than majority groups,” Gaudiano said. “When you’re fixing the problems, you fix the problems for everybody. And it just happens to benefit underrepresented groups as well as minority groups.”

What effect did the anti-DEI movement have before the executive order?

• Dozens of diversity, equity and inclusion programs have already closed in Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, Iowa, Nebraska, Texas and other states.

• Almost 200 diversity, equity and inclusion staff positions were either cut or reassigned across North Carolina’s public university system. Last May, the UNC Chapel Hill Board of Trustees approved diverting $2.3 million of state funds for advancing diversity to public safety and policing.

• Texas’ 2023 law led to the University of Texas cutting 300 full- and part-time positions and eliminating more than 600 programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion training.

• In 2023, Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt signed an anti-DEI order that led to last year’s termination of the national women’s leadership program at the University of Oklahoma.

• Universities of Wisconsin regents reached a deal with Republican lawmakers in 2023 to limit DEI positions at the system’s two dozen campuses in exchange for funds for staff raises and construction projects. The deal imposed a hiring freeze on diversity positions through 2026 and shifted more than 40 diversity-related positions to focus on “student success.”

How will the executive order be carried out?

The Office of Personnel Management in a memo last Tuesday directed agencies to place DEI office staffers on paid leave by 5 p.m. the following day and take down all public DEI-focused webpages by the same deadline.

Agencies must also cancel any DEI-related training and end any related contracts, and federal workers are being asked to report to Trump’s Office of Personnel Management if they suspect any DEI-related program has been renamed to obfuscate its purpose within 10 days or face “adverse consequences.”

By last Thursday, federal agencies were directed to compile a list of federal DEI offices and workers as of Election Day. By this Friday, they are expected to develop a plan to execute a “reduction-in-force action” against those federal workers.

It may be easy for Trump to sign such an order but more difficult to carry out, said Frederick Gooding Jr., African American studies professor at Texas Christian University and author of “American Dream Deferred: Black Federal Workers in Washington, D.C., 1941-1981.”

“It’s not going to be as easy to execute,” Gooding said. “It’s going to be more of a fantasy. There are no quick fixes for these issues that took years, if not centuries, to develop.”

The National Urban League and the National Fair Housing Alliance, as government contractors, and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit against a similar executive order issued during Trump’s first administration, arguing it trampled on freedom of speech rights. A California federal court suspended that order in response to a similar lawsuit filed by Lambda Legal, an organization that advocates for the rights of LGBTQ people.

“This will test us,” National Urban League President Marc Moriel said last week during a roundtable that the group hosted. “These orders are unlawful; they are unconstitutional.”

Google will change map names for Gulf of Mexico, Denali

The company honors geographic names from national governments

The Associated Press

GOOGLE SAYS it will take its cue from the U.S. government if it has to change the names of the Gulf of Mexico and Denali on its maps.

The company said Monday that it will only make changes when the government updates its official listings for the body of water and the mountain.

After taking office, President Donald Trump ordered that the water bordered by the Southern United States, Mexico and Cuba be renamed to the Gulf of America. He also ordered America’s highest mountain peak be changed back to Mt. McKinley.

“We have a longstand-

“We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources.”

Google statement

ing practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources,” Google said in a post on X.

The company said that Maps will reflect any updates to the Geographic Names Information System, a database of more than 1 million geographic features in the United States.

“When that happens, we will update Google Maps in the U.S. quickly to show Mount McKin-

ley and Gulf of America,” Google said.

“Denali” is the mountain’s preferred name for Alaska Natives. Former President Barack Obama ordered it changed in 2015 from its previous name “McKinley,” which was a tribute to President William McKinley, designated in the late 19th century by a gold prospector.

The Associated Press, which provides news around the world to multiple audiences, will refer to the Gulf of Mexico by its original name, which it has carried for 400 years, while acknowledging the name Gulf of America.

AP will, however, use the name Mount McKinley instead of Denali; the area lies solely in the United States, and as president, Trump has the authority to change federal geographical names within the country.

JILL KARNICKI / HOUSTON CHRONICLE VIA AP

The water in the Gulf of Mexico — which President Donald Trump has proposed be renamed the Gulf of America — appears bluer than usual off of East Beach in 2023 from Galveston, Texas.

RandolpH SPORTS

David Diamont says he’ll work to build relationships as Randleman’s new football coach.

Randleman’s new coach brings deep family roots

The Tigers are giving David Diamont his first shot as a head coach

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

RANDLEMAN — David Diamont saw his father lead high school football programs for decades and knew he wanted to do the same.

Now he’ll have that chance at Randleman.

“This definitely is a dream of mine,” Diamont said. “It’s new territory for me. I’m excited to get to work and learn.” Diamont, 35, had been of-

fensive coordinator at Burns for the past three seasons.

He takes over for Shane Timmons, who stepped aside following his fifth season as Randleman’s head coach because of family commitments.

“I’ve got all the emotions,” Diamont said. “I’m extremely, extremely grateful for the opportunity.”

He’s the son of retired coach

David Diamont, who guided teams at East Surry, Mount Airy and South Stokes to more than 300 total victories.

“Growing up with a father that is his profession, you see how many young individuals he comes in contact with and

his relationships with them every day,” he said. “I learned a lot at an early age.”

During the younger Diamont’s three seasons at Burns, the team churned out a 29 -10 record. The team averaged at least 36 points per game in each of those seasons.

Before going to Burns, he was on his father’s staff at South Stokes as defensive coordinator for two seasons. Diamont said he learned during his first job at West Stokes under coach Jimmy Upchurch the value of being well-versed in all areas.

“That has always stuck with me,” he said. “That learning process never stops. Foot -

“Things are moving quick. We’re kind of hitting the ground running.”

David Diamont, Randleman football coach

ball is always changing.” Randleman was 9-3 last season after records of 7-1, 4-7, 7-4 and 10-2 under Timmons. The Tigers were second in the Piedmont Athletic Conference behind Eastern Randolph in each of the past three seasons.

“I think I’m coming into a good situation,” he said. “Coach Timmons left a very established program. There’s a lot of good athletes.”

Diamont is an East Surry and Appalachian State graduate, and he said he wants to become immersed in the Randleman community.

He began his job Monday at Randleman. On top of coaching football, he’ll also instruct weight training and might move into a limited role teaching health and physical education.

“Things are moving quick,” Diamont said. “We’re kind of hitting the ground running.”

Trinity wrestlers eye another team title Providence Grove boys scramble PAC race

The Bulldogs have been gearing up to defend their state title in duals

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

TRINITY — Trinity’s wrestling team has a hard act to follow after what the Bulldogs did last winter.

But they say they’re up for the challenge as they’ll try to repeat as Class 2A dual team state champions.

“It was a surreal moment,” junior heavyweight Joseph Trahan said of last year’s title. “It definitely will be a lot of pressure. We have the ability to do it again.”

That’s the mindset for the Bulldogs when the state duals begin with the first and second rounds Saturday. Those pairings coming out Thursday.

The goal will be to win two meets this weekend, then capture two more next Wednesday to reach the state finals Feb. 8 in Greensboro.

Senior 138-pounder Jaden Allred said it’s difficult staying at

the top now that Trinity reached that level.

“We’ve just got to up the practice a little harder,” he said. Last year, the Bulldogs won the West Region and then topped Seaforth in the state final.

“We flew under the radar for a long time,” coach Brandon Coggins said.

That’s no longer the case. And despite losing six of the 14 starters from last season’s team, the Bulldogs appear well-stocked again.

“It’s good to have guys behind them,” Coggins said of some of

last year’s backups. “We have some young guys who’ve done better than we expected.”

There’s also a core that’s still in place. The Bulldogs have been led by sophomore 106-pounder Aiden Burkholder, a pair of middleweights in Allred and senior Lawson Coltrane, and junior heavyweight Joseph Trahan. They like what they see.

“Just being with the team, watching them grow,” Coltrane said. “Of course, we have a young team now. Because we had a bunch of older guys last

Four teams began this week within a game of first place in the conference

Randolph Record staff

ASHEBORO — Will Dabbs scored 30 points and the Providence Grove boys’ basketball team disrupted the pecking order in the Piedmont Athletic Conference by winning 63-50 at Uwharrie Charter Academy on Friday night. Andrew Thomas notched 13 points as Patriots knocked UCA out of a share of first place in a crowded PAC race. Providence Grove entered this week in a third-place tie with UCA (at 4-2) behind Randleman (5-1) and Eastern Randolph (4-1).

Tuesday’s docket showed Eastern Randolph going to Randleman in a game to determine the league leader with about two weeks remaining. Teams also have make-up

games this week after postponements for most of last week.

• Randleman did its part by blasting host Wheatmore 82-39 behind Tyshaun Goldston’s 20 points.

• Brayden Chapman’s 20 points helped host Southwestern Randolph trounce Trinity 60-38 in a PAC game.

Southwestern Randolph followed that by falling 76-44 in Saturday’s nonconference game at Mount Pleasant.

• Eastern Randolph suffered an 88-80 nonleague loss to visiting Grace Christian on Friday night.

Grace Christian had three players reach the 20-point level, led by Nate Jones’ 25.

• In the Mid-Piedmont Conference, Asheboro won its first league game in four tries and snapped a five-game overall losing skid by recording a 72-36 home rout of Montgomery Central. Eli Johnson’s 17 points and Osiris Rodriguez’s 16 points led the way.

COURTESY RANDLEMAN ATHLETICS

PJ WARD-BROWN / RANDOLPH RECORD

Trinity wrestling coach Brandon Coggins reacts during a key moment in last year’s dual team state final against Seaforth.

Osiris Rodriguez

/

Asheboro, boys’ basketball

Rodriguez has been a multiseason key contributor for the Blue Comets.

The senior forward is often the team’s top scorer and a major force on the boards as well. He’s averaging more than 14 points per game and is also Asheboro’s leader in rebounding.

Rodriguez had 16 points when the Blue Comets defeated Montgomery Central in last week’s Mid‑Piedmont Conference game.

The Blue Comets are aiming for a seventh consecutive season with a .500 or better record. They began this week at 10 6.

Two more victories keep Cougars girls unbeaten

There were few games last week, but Southwestern Randolph made the most of its opportunities

Randolph Record staff

MOUNT PLEASANT —

There were just a smattering of games last week in the area, but the Southwestern Randolph girls’ basketball team made the most of outings on back-to-back days.

Southwestern Randolph won 39-33 in Saturday’s non-conference game at Mount Pleasant to remain undefeated.

Jordin George posted 11 points and Maddie Strider had 10 points for the Cougars, who improved to 17-0.

Southwestern Randolph overcame a 20-16 halftime hole by outscoring Mount Pleasant 15-5 in the third quarter. The Tigers dropped to 9-8. It was a season-low point total for the Cougars and marked the first team other than Randleman (twice) to hold Southwestern Randolph to fewer than 50 points. On Friday night in the Piedmont Athletic Conference, Southwestern Randolph defeated visiting Trinity 61-28, with Macy Allred and Kenzie Martin each providing 14 points and George notching 13 points. Weather-related schedule adjustments resulted in a limited number of games last week.

• Randleman secured a 48- 42 road victory against

Wheatmore, with Bella Byman providing 21 points and Gracie Beane adding 13 points.

• Uwharrie Charter Academy claimed a key 44-33 victory against visiting Providence Grove in a matchup of teams trying to stay in contention in the PAC. Nevaeh Staples had 19 points for the Eagles.

UCA and Randleman entered this week tied for second place in the PAC.

• Eastern Randolph defeated visiting Faith Christian 52-29 in a nonconference outing to end a three-game losing streak.

• Asheboro came close to winning for the first time in Mid-Piedmont Conference play but fell 48-47 to visiting Montgomery Central despite nine points from Adalynn Scherer.

Area schools don’t shift in second NCHSAA reallignment draft

The process of assigning schools to conferences is winding down

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

THERE WERE NO changes involving Randolph County schools in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s second draft of conference alignments.

That revised draft was released last week.

“What I gather is our schools are pretty happy where they are,” said Stephen Gainey, superintendent of the Randolph County School System.

RCSS has six high schools as part of the NCHSAA. Gainey began a term as NCHSAA president last summer, so has a keen eye on the topic.

Appeals and comments from schools regarding the conference makeups are due this week. The realignment committee is scheduled to meet again Feb. 3-4.

“A tweak here and there would probably make every-

body happier,” Gainey said. He also pointed out that shifting one school to a different proposed conference is bound to impact several other schools so there’s a balancing act required.

The NCHSAA is expanding from four classifications to eight beginning with the next school year.

Based on the conference drafts, Randolph County schools will be represented in four different NCHSAA conferences. Currently, seven schools in the county are all in the Piedmont Athletic Conference with the exception of Asheboro, which is a member of the Mid-Piedmont Conference.

“Anything is going to be a different direction after four years being together,” Gainey said of the PAC, which also includes Uwharrie Charter Academy. A couple of realignment cycles ago and before his latest roles with the NCHSAA board, Gainey served on the realignment committee.

He has long been a propo -

nent of the influence that athletics have on school communities. He again praised athletics directors and principals for their contributions in the process of administering those sports programs at the local levels.

Here are proposed conferences involving Randolph County schools:

Class 5A/6A: Asheboro (6A), Eastern Guilford (6A), Northern Guilford (6A), Southeast Guilford (6A), Northeast Guilford (5A), Southern Guilford (5A).

Class 4A/5A: Randleman (4A), Central Davidson (4A), Ledford (4A), Lexington (4A), High Point Andrews (4A), High Point Central (5A), Montgomery Central (5A).

Class 3A/4A: Eastern Randolph (3A), Southwestern Randolph (4A), Uwharrie Charter Academy (4A), North Moore (3A), Northwood (3A), Carrboro (4A), Jordan-Matthews (4A).

Class 3A: Providence Grove, Trinity, Wheatmore, East Davidson, Thomasville, West Davidson.

Winning Smiles

Top: North Asheboro Middle School was the boys’ champion in the Randolph County basketball championships, defeating Wheatmore Middle School in the final Saturday at Trinity. Bottom: Southwestern Randolph Middle School was the girls’ champion in the Randolph County basketball championships, topping Southeastern Randolph Middle School in the final Saturday at Trinity.

WRESTLING from page B1

year, they knew what they were doing. But it’s cool to kind of be in their spot now and show people other stuff.”

Burkholder said the seriousness of last year’s team was motivating.

“The seniors we had in the practice room wanted it so bad,” he said. “They pushed us every day.”

There’s no backing off from the Bulldogs. They know what’s at stake coming up.

“It didn’t feel real. It would be great if we could do it again.”

“They’re pushing us hard every day,” Burkholder said. “We’ve been putting in the work.” Allred said the Bulldogs

have been on a good recent path. They captured an invitational team title Jan. 18 at Eden Morehead.

“We’ve been building,” Allred said. “We just do what we know we can do. … The people we have now is a really good group. They step up when they need to.”

So rekindling those feelings as a state championship team is something the Bulldogs want to reenact.

“It was just ecstatic,” Trahan said. “It didn’t feel real. It would be great if we could do it again.”

WARD-BROWN

RANDOLPH RECORD

Joseph Trahan, Trinity heavyweight

PHOTOS BY PJ WARD-BROWN / RANDOLPH RECORD

pen & paper pursuits

this week in history

Ghandi killed, black students sat in at Woolworth’s, the music died

JAN. 30

1649: England’s King Charles I was executed for high treason.

1933: Adolf Hitler was named chancellor of Germany.

1948: Indian political and spiritual leader Mohandas K. Gandhi, 78, was shot and killed in New Delhi by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu extremist.

1968: The Tet Offensive began during the Vietnam War as Communist forces launched surprise attacks against South Vietnamese towns and cities.

1969: The Beatles staged an unannounced concert atop Apple headquarters in London that would be their last public performance.

1972: Thirteen Catholic civil rights marchers were shot and killed by British soldiers in Northern Ireland on what became known as “Bloody Sunday.”

JAN. 31

1863: During the Civil War, the First South Carolina Volunteers, an all-Black Union regiment composed of many escaped slaves, was mustered into federal service at Beaufort, South Carolina.

1958: The United States entered the Space Age with its first successful launch of a satellite, Explorer 1, from Cape Canaveral.

1971: Astronauts Alan Shepard, Edgar Mitchell and Stuart Roosa blasted off aboard Apollo 14 on a mission to the moon.

FEB. 1

1865: Abolitionist John S.

Rock became the first black lawyer admitted to the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court. 1943: During World War II, one of America’s most highly decorated military units, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, made up almost exclusively of Japanese Americans, was activated.

1960: Four black North Carolina A&T students began a sit-in protest at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro where they had been refused service.

FEB. 2

1653: New Amsterdam now New York City — was incorporated. 1887: Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, held its first Groundhog Day festival. 1913: New York City’s rebuilt Grand Central Terminal officially opened to the public at one minute past midnight.

1914: Charles Chaplin made his movie debut as the come-

dy short “Making a Living” was released by Keystone Film Co.

FEB. 3

1865: President Abraham Lincoln and Confederate Vice President Alexander H. Stephens held a shipboard peace conference off the Virginia coast; the talks deadlocked over the issue of Southern autonomy.

1959: On what would become known as “the day the music died,” rock ’n’ roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson died in a small plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa.

FEB. 4

1783: Britain’s King George III proclaimed a formal cessation of hostilities in the American Revolutionary War.

1913: Rosa Parks was born Rosa Louise McCauley in Tuskegee, Alabama.

1945: President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Josef Stalin began a wartime conference at Yalta.

1974: Newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst, 19, was kidnapped in Berkeley, California, by the radical Symbionese Liberation Army.

FEB. 5

1811: George, the Prince of Wales, was named Prince Regent due to the mental illness of his father, Britain’s King George III.

1922: The first edition of Reader’s Digest was published.

1971: Apollo 14 astronauts Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell stepped onto the surface of the moon in the first of two lunar excursions.

AP PHOTO

Indian political and spiritual leader Mohandas K. Gandhi was shot and killed by a Hindu extremist on Jan. 30, 1948. He was 78.

AP PHOTO

Russian Prime Minister Joseph Stalin, right, British prime Minister Winston Churchill, left, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt, seated began a wartime conference at Livadia Palace in Yalta, Ukraine on Feb. 4, 1945.

Condon, Lopez unveil new musical ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ at Sundance festival

The pop star plays an old Hollywood screen siren in a movie-within-the-movie

By Lindsey Bahr

The Associated Press

PARK CITY, Utah — A lavish, MGM-style musical is not typical Sundance Film Festival fare. But Sunday night, Bill Condon brought such a creation — well, part of one — to Park City, Utah, with his adaptation of “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” starring Jennifer Lopez.

Audiences broke out in spontaneous applause during the screening for Lopez’s song and dance numbers. She plays an old Hollywood screen siren in a movie-within-the-movie. The packed Eccles Theater also gave Lopez, wearing a glittery spiderweb-themed frock, a standing ovation after the show.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life,” Lopez said. The story, which revolves around the conversations between two cellmates in an Argentine prison, was first a novel by Manuel Puig in 1976 and has been adapted for stage and

screen over the years. A 1985 film adaptation starred William Hurt and Raul Julia won Hurt an Oscar for his performance. On Broadway, it won multiple Tony Awards.

Condon wrote and directed this new version, which is seeking a distributor. Diego Luna plays an imprisoned revolutionary, Valentin Arregui, whose new cellmate, Luis Molina (Tonatiuh), loves movies, celebrity and glamour, and enthusiastically recounts the story of a favorite movie musical, called “Kiss of the Spider Woman” to Valentin, giving them and the audience a break from their bleak reality.

While the film has memorable moments of escapist spectacle, it also delves into serious topics of gender identity. Molina tells Valentin that they don’t feel like a man or a woman — which Valentin finds odd at first but grows to understand.

Before the screening, Condon said that one of the things the movie is about is “the attempt to bridge the incredible differences that separate us so often.” He quoted President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about two genders as official policy.

“That’s a sentiment I think

you’ll see that the movie has a different point of view on,” said Condon.

After the film, the discussion of gender identity and tolerance continued. Tonatiuh said it was difficult growing up as a “femme queer Latin kid in a culture that doesn’t necessarily praise those things,” and he was told that it would be limiting in an acting career.

“When I got this material, I knew this person spiritually,” Tonatiuh said. “I understood someone who felt like a loser in their own life and learns how to be the hero of their own story. I got to show the entire spectrum from feminine to masculine and everything in between.”

But most of all, everyone was just excited to be in a real movie musical.

“I did write that line, ‘I pity people who hate musicals,’” Condon said. “All the things that movies can do can happen in a musical.”

Lopez said it was watching “West Side Story” every Thanksgiving on television that made her want to become a performer.

Condon, Lopez said through tears, “made my dreams come true.”

Barker returns with horror story in latest novel ‘Old Soul’

The “literary horror” is a supernatural mystery

By Rob Merrill The Associated Press

IF YOU READ enough, you sometimes come across a book that defies description. That’s a decent enough way to start a review of “Old Soul,” the new novel by Susan Barker. Described in marketing materials as “literary horror,” it’s a supernatural mystery that culminates in an old-fashioned chase scene in the Badlands of New Mexico that almost leaves readers with a sense of justice. Almost.

It’s slow at first as you adjust to the unique style. Seven of the 15 chapters are prefaced with the word “Testimony,” and you soon piece together that the first-person narrator, Jake, is talking to people who died in a similar fashion as his childhood friend, Lena. He’s recording their stories, trying to find connections in his hunt for the killer. How he got to this point and the things he learned along the way are revealed in subsequent chapters, with each testimony — from friends or family of victims in Japan, Germany, Wales and Hungary — stand-

ing on their own as short stories about how a shape shifting woman entered someone’s life and left a trail of death in her wake. Interspersed with the testimonies are chapters set in New Mexico, in 2022, as the killer — she calls herself Therese in this encounter — pursues her latest victim. Barker drips out details, heightening your expectations and forcing you to turn the page for answers. We learn early that the woman in each of the

SOLUTIONS FOR THIS WEEK

“Barker tells an immersive story that despite its supernatural grounding feels real.”

testimonies is something more than human. “She was unnatural… she could manipulate her face to any affect… her entire being was a perfidious mask of surging life, behind which lurked something not living and predatory.” But we’re also told stories in each of the testimonies about how the woman treated her victims with such kindness that it’s hard not to work up a little sympathy for her. The penultimate chapter, “Testimony 7 — Theo,” soars with excerpts from the journal of a sculptor who embarks on a torrid love affair with the woman after leaving New York City in her mid-20s to pursue her artistic career in New Mexico. She finds much more than that, of course, and so do we, as readers. Some may not like the exposition near the end, and many will probably Google the term “Luciferian,” but Barker tells an immersive story that, despite its supernatural grounding, feels real.

CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO

Bill Condon, right, writer/director of “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” poses with cast members Tonatiuh and Jennifer Lopez at the film’s premier during the Sundance Film Festival on Sunday.

PUTNAM VIA AP

“Old Soul” is Susan Barker’s fourth novel.

Gene Hackman turns 95, Vanessa Redgrave is 88, Morgan Fairchild is 75, Big Boi hits 50

The Associated Press

JAN. 30

Actor Gene Hackman is 95.

Actor Vanessa Redgrave is 88. Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney is 84. Musician Phil Collins is 74. Actor Christian Bale is 51.

JAN. 31

Composer Philip Glass is 88. Blues singer-musician Charlie Musselwhite is 81. Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan is 78. Actor Minnie Driver is 55. Singer Justin Timberlake is 44.

FEB. 1

Princess Stephanie of Monaco is 60. Actor Sherilyn Fenn is 60. Comedian-actor Pauly Shore is 57. Actor Michael C. Hall is 54. Rapper Big Boi (Outkast) is 50.

FEB. 2

Rock singer-guitarist Graham Nash is 83. Television executive Barry Diller is 83. Country singer Howard Bellamy (The Bellamy Brothers) is 79. TV chef Ina Garten is 77.

FEB. 3

Actor Blythe Danner is 82. Guitarist Dave Davies of The Kinks is 78. Actor Morgan Fairchild is 75. Actor Maura Tierney (“ER,” ″NewsRadio”) is 60.

FEB. 4

Actor Jerry Adler (“The Good Wife,” “The Sopranos”) is 96. Actor Gary Conway (“Burke’s Law”) is 89. Singer Alice Cooper is 77. Country singer Clint Black is 63.

FEB. 5

Actor David Selby (“Dark Shadows,” “Falcon Crest”) is 84. Singer Al Kooper (Blood, Sweat and Tears) is 81. Actor Barbara Hershey is 77. Actor-comedian Tim Meadows (“Saturday Night Live”) is 64.

the stream

The Weeknd drops ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’

Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell get laughs in ‘You’re Cordially Invited’

The Associated Press

REESE WITHERSPOON and Will Ferrell starring in the wedding comedy “You’re Cordially Invited” and The Weeknd’s album “Hurry Up Tomorrow” are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you this week.

Also, among the streaming offerings worth your time: Director Robert Zemeckis’ “Here” with Tom Hanks, Sterling K. Brown returns to TV as a Secret Service agent and there’s a sequel to Citizen Sleeper, the surprise gaming hit of 2022.

MOVIES TO STREAM

Rival weddings collide in “You’re Cordially Invited,” a comedy about double-booked destination nuptials starring Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell. The film, streaming Thursday on Prime Video, unites a pair of stars from different realms of comedy in Witherspoon, who’s planning a wedding for her sister (Meredith Hagner), and Ferrell, whose daughter (Geraldine Viswanathan) is getting married. In the Nicholas Stoller-directed movie, the two families share a Georgia island wedding venue.

Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson star in Halina Reijn’s “Babygirl” (on premium video-on-demand), a kinky and darkly comic erotic thriller from A24. Kidman stars as a married Manhattan chief executive who falls under the intense sway of a new intern (Dickinson), leading to some memorable sex games of manipulation and control. In my review, I praised “Babygirl” as “a sometimes campy, frequently entertaining modern update to the erotically charged movies of the 1990s, like ‘Basic Instinct’ and ‘9½ Weeks.’” Robert Zemeckis’ “Here” has already lived many lives since opening in theaters last October. It was roundly dismissed by critics at release, only to continue to pick up defenders as the year ended. “Here” gets a second

chance Thursday on Netflix. The film, starring Hanks and Robin Wright, fixes the camera, for seemingly one long take, on one plot of land, from the time of dinosaurs up until modern day. In his review, AP’s Mark Kennedy wrote, “It’s not so strange after a while — so bursting with life is each shot and vignette — but there’s a gnawing feeling that we’re in some sort of film experiment, like testing an audience on how long they’ll watch old security camera footage.”

The Weeknd drops “Hurry

MUSIC TO STREAM

Live from your Peacock subscription is the release of a new “Saturday Night Live” special, “Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music.” The three-hour program, directed by Grammy and Academy Award-winner Questlove and Emmy Award winner Oz Rodriguez, spotlights memorable “SNL” music performances across the show’s incredible run. It features sketches, performanc -

es and more than 50 interview subjects, including Bad Bunny, Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, Mick Jagger, Dua Lipa, Darryl DMC McDaniels, Tom Morello, Kacey Musgraves, Olivia Rodrigo, Paul Simon, Chris Stapleton and Justin Timberlake.

It is the end of an era, and no doubt, one heck of a closer.

On Friday, The Weeknd will release the final album in his record-breaking trilogy that began with 2020’s “After Hours” and 2022’s “Dawn FM.” It reaches its coda with “Hurry Up Tomorrow.” So what can listeners expect from one of the biggest names in pop — and the only artist to have 25 songs with 1 billion streams on Spotify? The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, is keeping the details close to his chest. But if this collection of songs comes close to something like “Blinding Lights,” well, expect them to stick around for a while.

SHOWS TO STREAM

Since “This Is Us” aired its series finale in 2022, Sterling K. Brown has had voice roles in animated shows and has concentrated on film work. He is

back on TV with a new series called “Paradise” also created by Dan Fogelman. Brown, also an executive producer, plays a Secret Service agent for the U.S. president (James Marsden) and discovers a murder that leads to shocking revelations. The first three episodes are streaming on Hulu. Noah Centineo’s “The Recruit” returns to Netflix with a second season after a long delay due in part to the Hollywood strikes. The actor plays a lawyer with a new job at the CIA who quickly finds himself embroiled in international politics. The show is suspenseful, compelling and funny. Centineo still has the charisma that charmed viewers of the “To All the Boys” movies, and it carries over for an older demo with this series. “The Recruit” season two premieres Thursday on Netflix.

The true crime docuseries “Scamanda” unravels the web of lies of Amanda Riley, a woman who faked having cancer and collected sympathy, money and gifts while she did it. Journalist Charlie Webster first told Riley’s story in a podcast of the same name and has teamed up with ABC News to bring it to TV. The series begins airing Thursday on ABC and also streams on Hulu next day.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

Citizen Sleeper, a haunting survival adventure set aboard a decrepit space station, became a surprise hit in 2022 by mixing clever gameplay with a caustic take on very-late-stage capitalism. Designer Gareth Damian Martin is now expanding on that world with Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector. Once again, you’re an android on the run from the corporation that built you, but now you have a rickety spaceship at your command. That gives you the freedom to bounce around the asteroids of the Starward Belt, where you can search for replacement parts, recruit crew members and take on highrisk contracts — as long as you can keep your own mechanical body from glitching out.

Friday

Will Ferrell plays Geraldine Viswanathan’s father in the comedy “You’re Cordially Invited,” landing on Amazon Prime on Thursday.

NIKO TAVERNISE / A24 VIA AP

Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson star in “Babygirl,” now streaming on premium video‑on‑demand.

Up Tomorrow” on Friday.

HOKE COUNTY

BOOM!

XB-1, the Boom Aerospace test plane, reached Mach 1.122 — or about 750 mph — breaking the sound barrier for the first time on Tuesday. The test, flown by Boom Chief Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, marked the first time that an independent company broke the sound barrier in a plane not backed by a military or government. The company’s Superfactory in Greensboro will build as many as 66 of its Overture aircraft every year once production begins. Boom says Overture will carry 64 to 80 passengers at Mach 1.7, about twice the speed of today’s subsonic airliners.

WHAT’S

HAPPENING Hoke County appears ready to join PFAS lawsuit

DA review of former treasurer’s use of state cars ends without charges

Raleigh

An investigation into how then-North Carolina

Treasurer Dale Folwell used state government vehicles is ending with no charges filed. Wake County District

Attorney Lorrin Freeman said Monday the review found any alleged policy violations were insufficient to support a successful criminal prosecution.

Freeman said Folwell agreed to pay more than $6,200 for commuting costs he should have been charged and the reimbursement for some miles driven. Folwell, a Republican, completed eight years as treasurer and lost a bid for the GOP nomination for governor last year. Folwell said he was “relieved.”

Trump offers all federal workers buyout with 8 months’ pay

Washington, D.C.

The Trump administration says it is offering buyouts to all federal employees who opt to leave their jobs by next week — an unprecedented move to shrink the U.S. government at breakneck speed. A memo Tuesday from the Office of Personnel Management says it will begin subjecting all federal employees to “enhanced standards of suitability and conduct” and ominously warns of future downsizing. The email sent to employees says those who leave their posts voluntarily will receive about eight months of salary but must to chose to do so by Feb. 6.

Hoke Commissioners approved contracts with three different law firms

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

RAEFORD — The Hoke County Board of Commissioners appears to be ready to take legal action against manufacturers of PFAS based on the very brief meeting they held on Jan. 21. Through their consent agenda, the board approved agreements with Baron and Budd; Cossich, Sumich, Parsiola and Taylor; and Hutchens Law Firm for legal services in connection with pursuing claims against the manufacturers of firefighting foam products

(AFFF) and/or products containing perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

PFAS, which are considered forever chemicals, have been linked to increased cancer risks and are one of the major contaminants in North Carolina’s water supply.

In 2020, then-North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein — now the state’s governor — opened a suit against Chemours and DuPont, two of the largest manufacturers of PFAS, to hold them accountable for their alleged pollution of the state’s natural resources.

“DuPont and Chemours have dumped PFAS into North Carolina’s drinking water even as they knew these forever chemicals pose threats to

human health and our natural resources,” said Attorney General Josh Stein in a 2020 press release. “These companies maximized their profits at the expense of the people of North Carolina. That’s wrong. I am taking DuPont and Chemours to court to make them pay for the mess they made.”

DuPont and Chemours have a facility in Fayetteville which the suit claims to have been contaminating the Cape Fear River and downstream communities for decades.

The attorneys will receive a contingency fee of 25% of any gross recovery before deductions of costs and expenses. Per the contract, “If there is no recovery by Client, no fee will be due to Attorneys.”

UNC, Duke Health will build NC’s first standalone children’s hospital

The new 500-bed facility is coming to the Triangle

The Associated Press

RALEIGH — Two of the state’s largest university health systems plan to construct the state’s first standalone children’s hospital — an undertaking that its boosters said will change lives physically and economically for decades to come.

UNC Health and Duke Health on Tuesday revealed the agreement to build the proposed 500-bed pediatric hospital in the state’s Research Triangle region, which includes Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. The “NC Children’s” project also will include a children’s outpatient care center and behavioral health center.

Research and education operations backed by the system’s two medical schools will also be onsite, the health systems said in a news release.

Groundbreaking on an over 100-acre campus — the specific location yet to be identified — is expected by 2027, with campus construction to take about six years. The price tag for the project is expected at more than $2 billion. A massive fundraising effort is anticipated.

There are children’s hospitals already in North Carolina, including those operated by the University of North Carolina and Duke University health systems that are attached to their main campuses in the Triangle. This project, however, is described as the first freestanding hospital dedicated to caring for kids.

“This is a big splash that will ripple out literally for years

and years and impact the people in our state and region in ways that I know we can’t even imagine yet,” Dr. Wesley Burks, CEO of UNC Health and dean of the UNC School of Medicine, said at a Raleigh announcement event also attended by Gov. Josh Stein, Senate leader Phil Berger and other education, political and health care notables.

The two entities filed paperwork on Tuesday with the state to create a nonprofit organization for a new children’s health system called North Carolina Children’s Health. Their respective pediatric-related clinical services, programs and operations will transfer to NC Children’s.

The children’s hospital idea has been a goal for many years for both institutions, which often are health care competitors. But a recent initial $320

The board was also presented with the tax report for the month of December which showed that the county had collected approximately $2.72 million in tax revenue at an 85% collection rate, which is around 1.5% higher than last year’s rate.

Also on the topic of taxes, the board approved the release of nearly $1,200 in delinquent taxes.

“There were three mobile homes that were double listed, three trailer plates that were turned in and one lot that had been split but should have been billed as individual lots,” said Tax Collector Daphne Dudley.

Dudley was also appointed

million appropriation for the effort by the North Carolina General Assembly accelerated talks between the two systems.

“This is a tremendous and unique opportunity to work together to reimagine how we deliver life-changing care to our region’s most vulnerable and we are grateful for the support of our state’s legislature,” Duke University Health System CEO Dr. Craig Albanese said in a release.

Stein said at the announcement event that the project will end up “saving the lives of countless children for generations to come.”

Stein and Berger said the economic results also are striking for a growing state like North Carolina — the ninth largest by population.

“This campus through its construction and operation will create thousands of jobs and be among the largest economic development projects in the history of the state of North Carolina,” Berger said. “This is a win for the economy and for our children’s health and for our state’s infrastructure.”

PHOTOS COURTESY BOOM AEROSPACE

Sherron Leach received a life sentence without parole for the shooting that left 26-year-old Richard Locklear dead

North State Journal staff

RAEFORD — Sherron Leach pleaded guilty to first-degree murder on Jan. 24 in the 2018 shooting death of Richard Locklear, who was killed while his 2-year-old son sat in the same vehicle.

Judge Keith O. Gregory sentenced Leach, 28, to life in prison without the possibility of parole. His co-defendant James Quick is already serving life without parole for his role in the crime.

Trump proposes ‘getting rid of FEMA’

The president said he would prefer disaster funds flow through states instead

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — President Donald Trump surveyed disaster zones in California and North Carolina last Friday and said he was considering “getting rid of” the Federal Emergency Management Agency, offering the latest sign of how he is weighing sweeping changes to the nation’s central organization for responding to disasters. Instead of having federal financial assistance flow through FEMA, the Republican president said Washington could provide money directly to the states. He made the comments while visiting western North Carolina, which is still recovering months after Hurricane Helene, on the first trip of his second term.

PFAS from page A1

by the board as the County’s tax assessor. Dudley serves as the county tax collector, but will

According to media reports from the time of the incident, Leach and two other men followed Locklear’s pickup truck from a house party in the early morning hours of April 29, 2018. When the truck stopped at Shannon Road and Old Wire Road, about five miles from Raeford, the men opened fire with a handgun and rifle, firing approximately 30 rounds into the vehicle.

Locklear, 26, was killed in the shooting. His girlfriend and cousin were injured, though his toddler son was unharmed. At the time of the arrests, Sheriff Hubert Peterkin said the victims had pleaded for their lives before the shooting, which he said was motivated by robbery.

“FEMA has been a very big disappointment,” the Republican president said. “It’s very bureaucratic. And it’s very slow.”

Beyond his criticism of FEMA, Trump has suggested limiting the federal government’s role in responding to disasters, echoing comments from conservative allies who have proposed reducing funding and responsibility.

“I’d like to see the states take care of disasters,” he said in North Carolina. “Let the state take care of the tornadoes and the hurricanes and all of the other things that happen.”

Trump said Michael Whatley, a North Carolina native and chair of the Republican National Committee, would help coordinate recovery efforts in the state, where frustrations over the federal response have lingered. Although Whatley does not hold an official government position, Trump said he would be “very much in charge.”

FEMA helps respond to di-

also take on the role of Assessor. Her term is two years, running through January 2027.

In addition, the board also approved the appoint-

sasters when local leaders request a presidential emergency declaration, a signal that the damage is beyond the state’s ability to handle on its own.

FEMA can reimburse governments for recovery efforts such as debris removal, and it gives stopgap financial assistance to individual residents.

Trump has criticized former President Joe Biden for his administration’s response to Helene in North Carolina. As he left the White House last Friday morning, he told reporters that “it’s been a horrible thing the way that’s been allowed to fester” since the storm hit in September, and “we’re going to get it fixed up.”

In Swannanoa, residents told Trump about wading through waist-deep water to escape from their homes while fearing for their lives. Some have battled with insurance companies to get their losses covered.

“We’ve come to North Carolina with a simple message,”

ments of Jamie Dover, Kennedy Frierson, Byron Womack Jr. and James Allen to the Parks and Recreation Board for three -year terms and Tim

Trump said. “You are not forgotten any longer. You were treated very badly by the previous administration.”

FEMA has distributed $319 million in financial assistance to residents, but that hasn’t alleviated the feeling of abandonment among residents struggling to rebuild their lives.

Michael Coen, who served as chief of staff at FEMA during the Biden administration, said Trump was “misinformed” about an agency that provides critical help to states when they are overwhelmed by catastrophe.

In addition, Coen criticized the idea of attaching strings to assistance.

“I think the American people expect the federal government will be there for them on their worst day, no matter where they live,” he said.

Trump tapped Cameron Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL with limited experience managing natural disasters, as FEMA’s acting director.

Locklear to the Planning Board. The Hoke County Board of Commissioners will next meet Feb. 3.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON

America’s golden age has arrived

Our Republicanled Congress passed the Laken Riley Act with bipartisan support.

IT IS MORNING in America again.

On Jan. 20, the American people celebrated the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump. It is truly an incredible and historic time for our great country — it marks the beginning of a new era.

Trump has hit the ground running to fix the failures of the Biden-Harris agenda and fulfill the promises made to you, signing hundreds of executive orders and actions in his first few days back in the White House.

From ending disastrous open border programs that helped facilitate the worst invasion in history to rolling back policies that crippled American energy dominance and hiked up costs, one thing is clear: The Golden Age of America has arrived.

I, along with my Republican colleagues in the House and Senate, am working closely with Trump to advance our America First agenda in Congress. United together, we will return jobs to American workers, lower costs, cut taxes and unleash American energy dominance. Together, we will secure our borders, enforce our laws, keep our communities safe, restore peace through strength and make the federal government more efficient for you. We are excited by this generational opportunity in front of us to Make America Great Again, and we are already delivering results.

Just last week, our Republican-led Congress passed

COLUMN | VICTOR JOECKS

the Laken Riley Act with bipartisan support, and it now heads to Trump’s desk to be one of the first policies signed into law as the 47th president. This important bill will help protect you by ensuring that criminal illegals are swiftly and permanently detained and deported from our country. It is more than just a piece of legislation; it is a return to common sense. Under Trump’s leadership, I will continue working with my colleagues to move legislation that restores the rule of law, secures our borders, and puts Americans like you first again.

Additionally, I held my first hearing as the new chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. I heard from stakeholders on how Congress can promote innovation and encourage investment in wireless technology. I look forward to advancing commonsense policies to help ensure all Americans can be fully connected.

While there is a lot of work to get done during Trump’s first 100 days, I have confidence and renewed hope that America’s best days are ahead. The American people gave Trump and Republicans in Congress a mandate to change the direction of our country, and that is exactly what we are going to do.

Rep. Richard Hudson represents the 9th Congressional District in Washington, D.C.

The one thing Trump can’t do

Trump can create an environment that leads to more job openings and lower housing prices, but you still have to go to work.

DONALD TRUMP’S JOB is to make America great again. Improving your own life is up to you.

There are lots of reasons to be excited about Trump’s return to power. He’s pledged to unleash America’s energy industry. Cheaper energy and a better regulatory environment should help contain inflation. The border will be locked down while officials deport illegal aliens.

But even if he accomplishes his entire agenda, there’s one thing Trump can’t do — guarantee you a more successful life.

That may sound like a contradiction. If Trump is going to help America, doesn’t that require that he make things better for Americans? It does, but there’s an important step missing in that question — the choices you make.

For instance, one of the best predictors of personal happiness is being in a great marriage. Earning more money raises a person’s chance of being “very happy” by 88%. Being married increases your odds by 151%. But being in a “very happy” marriage boosts your likelihood by a staggering 545%. That’s all according to Brad Wilcox, author of the excellent book “Get Married.”

That’s good news. You can work on improving your marriage regardless of who the president is.

There’s a loneliness epidemic, according to Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.

He’s right. In October, a Gallup poll found 20% of adults said they felt a lot of loneliness the previous day. That suggests around 50 million adults feel isolated. It’s a miserable feeling and can lead to destructive behaviors like drug and alcohol abuse.

It’s also fixable. Go to church and join a small group. Volunteer. Sign up for a sports league. Reach out to family members.

These steps are all harder when you’re lonely and depressed. It’s why a safety net of families, churches and engaged neighbors are so important.

The government can give you a check, but it can’t give you a hug when you need it most.

This is true even in finances. It doesn’t matter how much Trump cuts taxes. If you spend more than you make, you’ll always have money problems. The best way to improve your financial health is to budget and pay down your debts. Dave Ramsey has helped an untold number of people, myself included, do just that. That’s some practical advice that’s much needed in Washington, D.C.

Trump can create an environment that leads to more job openings and lower housing prices, but you still have to go to work and earn your paycheck or start your own business. In his memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” Vice President JD Vance described working in a tile distribution business before attending Yale Law School. Jobs there provided a path out of poverty for those near his poor hometown, but turnover was high.

“Too many men (were) immune to hard work,” Vance wrote. He continued, “There is a lack of agency here — a feeling that you have little control over your own life and a willingness to blame everyone but yourself.”

This isn’t to say that political leadership doesn’t matter. It does.

Think of it this way. Imagine life is a mountain path with many ups and downs. The job of Trump and other elected officials is to fly above the path and clear away landslides and boulders that make navigating it difficult. If Trump does his job well, removing those barriers will help more people go further on the path. That’s making America great again. But Trump isn’t going to fly you to your preferred destination.

The wonderful yet scary thing about freedom is that it forces you to enjoy or endure the consequences of your own decisions.

Victor Joecks is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review‑Journal.

Southern cities get creative to clear storm’s leftover snow, ice

New Orleans used cleaning equipment usually needed after Mardi Gras

By Jack Brook and Russ Bynum The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS — Days after a winter storm dropped ice and record-breaking snow, cleanup efforts were underway last week in several major Southern cities such as New Orleans, where crews were removing snow the same way they remove trash, drink cups and plastic beads after Mardi Gras.

Temperatures were gradually rising across the U.S. South, bringing hopes that the remaining snow and ice would melt away.

“We have to be honest with ourselves — we’re from Louisiana, we know crawfish, we know football, but we don’t really know snow and ice, and that’s OK,” said Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development spokesper-

son Daniel Gitlin. “It’s going to go away, and we’re better off letting Mother Nature do what she needs to do right now.”

Up to 200 miles of interstate remained closed until last Friday due to treacherous patches of black ice, Gitlin said. Louisiana had nearly run out of its salt supply after treating roads, he added.

In the Big Easy, a private waste management firm has been contracted to repurpose equipment typically used to clean up Mardi Gras beads and cups to clear snow from the streets.

IV Waste President Sidney Torres said his company had deployed a 4,000-gallon “flusher” truck to spray water on the ground to soften the ice for removal in the historic and festive French Quarter. The truck normally sprays lemon-scented fragrance “to get rid of that funky liquor, urine, puke smell from the night before,” Torres said. “We’re finding new solutions and better techniques to dealing with this.”

Arkansas sent Louisiana snowplows, dump trucks, salt spreaders and other equipment, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said.

The snowfall likely broke several records across the region, including in Florida, where a preliminary report of 10 inches in one town would set a new record for the state if confirmed.

Snow totals reached 3 inches in Savannah, Georgia, the most the state’s oldest city has recorded since December 1989.

The snow was lighter in metro Atlanta, where the southern

suburbs saw more snow and ice than areas north of the city. In Covington, southeast of Atlanta, Jesse Gentes used a flamethrower to deice the roads in his subdivision. In better weather, he typically uses the flamethrower for brush removal, he told WSB-TV.

South Carolina reported at least one death in the storm.

A 71-year-old man died from a medical condition while shoveling snow last Thursday in Berkeley County, Coroner Darnell Hartwell said. About 3-4

New Vatican document offers AI guidelines from warfare to health care

It includes a number of warnings about the potential for AI

The Associated Press

VATICAN CITY — A Vatican document released Tuesday offers wide-ranging ethical guidelines for the application of artificial intelligence in sectors from warfare to health care, with an underlying call that the burgeoning technology must be used as a tool to complement, and not replace, human intelligence.

Pope Francis has issued several warnings about the risks associated with AI technology, and this new document by the Vatican’s doctrine and cultural offices expands on what the pontiff has already said. It comes as a new AI chatbot by Chinese tech startup DeepSeek has raised the stakes in the AI technology race, catching up with American generative AI leaders at a fraction of the cost.

The document underlines that human responsibility needs to grow in proportion to the new technology, and that the impact of AI’s uses in various sectors “may not always be predictable from their inception.”

“AI should be used only as a tool to complement human intelligence, rather than replace its richness,” the document said in its conclusion.

AI and warfare

The document warns that AI has the potential to increase instruments of war “well beyond the scope of human oversight,” which could provoke “a destabilizing arms race.” Weapons systems that can identify and strike targets without human intervention, removing “the unique human capacity for moral judgement and ethical decision-making,’’ it said.

“No machine should ever choose to take the life of a human being,’’ the document warned.

AI and human relationships

The document warns that AI is not a substitute for “authentic human relationships” and cites its lack of empathy as a risk when anthropomor-

phizing AI in areas such as child development or interpersonal relationships.

“While human beings are meant to experience authentic relationships, AI can only simulate them,” the document said.

AI and the search for meaning

The document cites the risk that “as society drifts away from connection with the transcendent, some are tempted to turn to AI in search of meaning and fulfillment — longings that can only be truly satisfied in communion with God.”

“The presumption of substituting God for an artifact of human making is idolatry, a practice Scripture explicitly warns against,” the document said.

inches of snow fell in the area, according to the National Weather Service. The snow and ice had staying power and left a mess on the roads in coastal South Carolina. In Charleston, ice that melted and refroze overnight closed the James Island Connector, a bridge that links the city to its western suburbs. Police said on social media that “while crews are working hard, it is unlikely to reopen soon.”

Schools and county offices remained closed, and officials in most areas south and east of the state capital, Columbia, asked people to stay home for at least one more day.

It was a similar story in North Carolina, where slick roads remained a danger to drivers after the snow melted and then refroze overnight. Schools were also affected, including in Fayetteville, where the school system announced that students would have an “asynchronous” learning day, allowing them to complete assignments at home. Several other school districts operated on a two-hour delay.

Some school systems in central and south Alabama remained closed last Thursday due to concerns about the remaining ice on roads or the possibility of frozen pipes in schools. In coastal Baldwin County, sections of Interstate 65 and Interstate 10 were shut down due to ice.

erate quick responses.” Education is not about “filling one’s head with ideas” but “is about taking a risk in the tensions between the mind, the heart and the hands,” it said.

AI and privacy/surveillance

Advances in AI-powered data processing have made data privacy “even more imperative as a safeguard for the dignity and relational nature” of individuals, the document said.

“The risk of surveillance overreach must be monitored by appropriate regulators to ensure transparency and public accountability,’’ it said.

AI and the environment

The document underlined that while AI can help fight climate change through models to forecast extreme events, help manage emergencies and help promote sustainable development, it also poses risks that are obscured by the use of words like “the cloud” that detach data storage “from the physical world.”

“It is crucial to recognize that its operation demands vast amounts of energy and water, contributing significantly to CO2 emissions,” the document said.

AI and education

The document said that AI should help promote critical thinking and not just train “young people how to amass information and gen-

“Schools, universities and scientific societies are challenged to help students and professionals to grasp the social and ethical aspects of the development and uses of technology,’’ the document said.

AI and health care

While citing the potential of AI to enhance medical care, such as in diagnosing illness, the document said it is critical that AI is used to enhance and not “replace the relationship between patients and healthcare providers.”

“Decisions regarding patient treatment and the weight of responsibility they entail must always remain with the human person, and should never be delegated to AI,’’ the document said.

AI and misinformation/ deepfakes

AI presents a risk of “generating manipulated content and false information, which can easily mislead people due to its resemblance to the truth,’’ the document said.

“Countering AI-driven falsehoods is not only the work of industry experts — it requires the efforts of all people of good will,’’ it said, calling for diligence on the part of those who share AI-generated content to verify “the truth of what they disseminate.”

SIDNEY TORRES / IV WASTE VIA AP

The flusher truck — normally deployed to spray lemon-scented fragrance around the pungent French Quarter — is used to clear ice last Thursday in New Orleans after a rare winter storm.

GREGORIO BORGIA / AP PHOTO

Faithful leave St. Peter’s Basilica at the end of a mass presided by Pope Francis at the Vatican, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025.

HOKE SPORTS

No changes for Hoke in latest conference realignment draft

Swimming competed in the county championships

North State Journal staff

THE NCHSAA released its second draft of the conference realignment plan, and Hoke County’s conference assignment was unchanged from the December version. The Bucks are in 7A/8A Conference A with Pinecrest, Cape Fear, Jack Britt, Lumberton, Overhills, Pine Forest, Purnell Swett and Richmond.

Schools had until Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. to accept feedback on the proposed conferences. The realignment committee looked through over 170 response forms from member schools after the first draft.

Boys’ basketball

Hoke County snapped a three-game losing streak with a 76-61 home win over Scotland.

Number of teams, including the Bucks, in Conference A proposed by the NCHSAA

The Bucks improved to 7-10 on the year, 2-5 in the Sandhills.

The Bucks will try to build on the win with a pair of league games this week, at Lee County and home against Richmond.

The JV boys also knocked off Scotland, winning a 47-44 nailbiter.

Girls’ basketball

The Hoke girls saw their losing streak extended to five games after falling 62-34 at home against Scotland.

The Lady Bucks are now 3-15, 0-7 in the Sandhills Conference. They have two chances to snap

the streak this week, at Lee County and home against Richmond. Both are league games.

The JV girls’ team had a 20-point win over Scotland, leading 35-9 at the half and cruising to a 55-33 win. Patience Morton (14), Aniya Grant (13), Shaniya McLean (12) and JaNiyah Leak (10) all scored in double figures. Morton, a freshman, added six steals. Grant had three steals and six rebounds. Leak had eight rebounds and four assists, while McLean had four assists.

Swimming

Hoke’s boys’ and girls’ swim teams both competed for the Sandhills Conference title. The boys finished sixth in the standings with 94 points, while the girls placed fifth with 300, beating out conference rivals Lee and Southern Lee.

Pinecrest won the boys’ title, while Union Pines took the girls’ championship.

SPORTS BLAST FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Hoke freshman Patience Morton plays defense during a Bucks’ JV win over Scotland last week.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

William Leak

Hoke County, track

William Leak is a junior for the Hoke County track team. He won a pair of events at the MLK Invitational Meet last week, finishing first in the boys’ high jump and boys’ long jump.

Leak’s high jump of 6 feet, 6 inches was a personal record and the fourth best jump in the state of North Carolina this year. It also ranked in the top 50 in the country. He turned in a long jump of 22 feet, 8 inches, which was third-best in the state and top 40 in the nation for the year.

The American’s run to the title included wins over world’s top two players

By Howard Fendrich

The Associated Press

MELBOURNE, Australia — Be brave.

Go for it.

Those were the mantras Madison Keys turned to as she confronted the most significant points of her tennis career, trapped in the cauldron of a third set that was tied at 5-all, 30-all in the Australian Open final against two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.

No reason to be anything but aggressive, Keys thought. No reason to try to wish there weren’t nerves accompanying the moment. No reason to worry — as the American long did along the journey from prod-

igy at age 12 to major champion less than a month before her 30th birthday — about what would happen if things didn’t quite work out. “I just kept saying, ‘Be brave.’ And, ‘Go for it.’ I kind of just kept repeating that. That was really my goal for the day — to just be proud, no matter a win or a loss,” Keys said after winning her first Grand Slam title with a 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 victory over the No. 1-ranked Sabalenka.

“I went after it, every single point. And if I missed it and I just didn’t execute, I could live with that. I didn’t want to have any sort of regret that I was passive and I missed. (Then) it could have been something where I thought: ‘I should have done something else,’” Keys said. “So I kind of just kept saying that, over and over.”

She spread the credit for her achievement to the team around her, including Bjorn

Fratangelo, a former player who has been her coach since mid2023 and her husband since November. To her therapist. To her friends on tour who lifted her up when she needed it.

They all believed in Keys, she said, and now, lately, she believed in herself, too.

She used to be concerned about never living up to the hype that accompanied her before she was even a teen and only increased when she made her first appearance in a Grand Slam semifinal at age 19. She used to think nothing about her tennis career would matter if she never managed to claim a major trophy. She used to assume the sport’s best never felt jitters like those hampering her during her first Grand Slam final at age 22. Eventually, Keys let all of that go. It was OK not to obsess over others’ opinions. It was OK if she never won a Slam. It was

“I went after it, every single point. And if I missed it and I just didn’t execute, I could live with that. I didn’t want to have any sort of regret.”

Madison Keys

OK to face the nerves because, after all, that’s how the greats succeed — they feel discomfort but play through it.

That was the case throughout her run, which featured five three-setters and four victories over top-10 seeds (No. 1 Sabalenka, No. 2 Iga Swiatek, No. 6 Elena Rybakina and No. 10 Danielle Collins), including a trio of major champs (Sabalenka, Swiatek, Rybakina). No woman had defeated the top

two ranked players during one major since 2009.

“To do it that way,” Keys said, “I think, really, I thought to myself that I can absolutely win on Saturday.”

She was so good at the start and down the stretch against Sabalenka.

From 5-all, 30-all, Keys claimed six of the last eight points.

“If she can play consistently like that, I mean, it’s not much you can do,” Sabalenka said.

“My first semifinal here feels like it was forever ago,” Keys told the AP. “I mean, I honestly felt like I was a different person then. But I think that that kind of happens when so many things have happened throughout the past decade. It’s just kind of all accumulated to get to the point where I was finally able to just go out and play some really good tennis and walk away with a Grand Slam.”

Porsche Penske Motorsport team members — left to right, Belgium’s Laurens Vanthoor, Brazil’s Felipe Nasr and Britain’s Nick Tandy — display the Rolex watches they received for winning the IMSA Rolex 24 hour race at Daytona International Speedway.

Penske wins 2nd consecutive Rolex 24

Porsche Penske Motorsport ran first and third

By Jenna Fryer

The Associated Press

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. —

Roger Penske started his 59th season in motorsports the same way he closed last year — as a champion.

Porsche Penske Motorsport on Sunday won the Rolex 24 at Daytona for the second consecutive year and third time overall. Back at Daytona International Speedway for the Rolex, the same place and race where Team Penske debuted in 1966, Penske returned to Victory Lane. And, as he always does, the billionaire who turns 88 next month stayed

SIDELINE REPORT

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Vegas, baby!

Sin City to host the 2027 College Football Playoff title game

Las Vegas Las Vegas will host the 2027 College Football Playoff national championship game. The CFP says the title game will be played Monday, Jan. 25, 2027, at Allegiant Stadium. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority celebrated the news by releasing a video of Strip headliner Shin Lim performing an illusion at the iconic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. Lim changed the face of the sign to revel a new message welcoming the College Football Playoff National Championship to Las Vegas. The 2026 game will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Ohio State star Judkins declares for NFL Draft

Columbus, Ohio

Ohio State star running back Quinshon Judkins, who scored three touchdowns in the national championship game, is leaving school early and entering the NFL Draft. Judkins announced his decision on social media. Judkins transferred to Ohio State after two seasons at Ole Miss. He is widely expected to be a second- day pick in April. Against Notre Dame, he ran 11 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 21 yards and a score.

awake and sat with the team on the timing stand for the entire 24 hours.

His two cars dominated the twice-round-the-clock endurance race and finished first and third. Once attrition hit other entries in the top prototype class, the Porsches ran first and second for large portions of the race. It was the No. 7 full-time IMSA entry that won, making it back-to-back victories for that car despite a different driver lineup.

“What an incredible day for the entire Porsche Penske Motorsport organization. Both of our Porsche 963s and the drivers showed great speed and reliability,” Penske said. “The crews performed flawlessly, which is a result of meticulous preparation by everyone on the team.

SOCCER

Police investigating threats toward Premier League ref

London

English soccer’s match officials body says police are investigating “abhorrent attacks” aimed at Premier League referee Michael Oliver and his family following the match between Wolverhampton and Arsenal. Oliver was the referee for Saturday’s game at Molineux which Arsenal won 1-0 after both teams had a man sent off. Professional Game Match Officials Limited, the body responsible for referees in the English soccer, says it is “appalled by the threats and abuse directed at” Oliver after the game. The PGMOL says “the police are aware and a number of investigations have commenced.”

BOXING

Japanese boxing star Inoue heads to U.S. after big KO

Tokyo Japanese boxing superstar Naoya Inoue is headed to the United States after another devastating knockout. His promoter wants Americans to cherish Inoue as much as they do Shohei Ohtani. The unbeaten Inoue knocked out overmatched South Korean opponent Ye Joon Kim in the fourth round in Tokyo to remain the undisputed super bantamweight champion. Bob Arum, Inoue’s promoter at Top Rank, confirmed afterward that Inoue’s next fight will be in Las Vegas. Arum evoked comparisons with Ohtani, the star Japanese baseball player for the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

“2024 was an unmatched season of success starting with a win at the 24 Hours of Daytona and it’s great to repeat that success to start 2025 with the third overall win for Team Penske and the 20th victory for Porsche.”

Felipe Nasr won last year with Dane Cameron and Josef Newgarden, but Cameron was let go at the end of 2024 and Newgarden wasn’t part of this year’s Rolex lineup. So it was Nasr again, only this time he was paired with Nick Tandy, who will be his IMSA co-driver all season, and Laurens Vanthoor, Penske’s reigning WEC champion. It was Nasr’s second overall victory. He also won a Rolex watch for a class victory in 2022. Tandy also had a 2014 class victory, but Sunday was his first overall win. It was the first watch

for Vanthoor, who had finished in the top five of class in six of the last seven years.

All three drivers were in tears after the race.

Nasr said it is Penske who pushes the team to achieve the excellence he demands.

“The feeling is amazing, just to see how much energy he brings into the team. You get out of the car, he’s like: ‘How’s the car? How’s the handling?’ Like, he’s very interested in every detail,” Nasr said. “He doesn’t miss a pit stop when the cars are coming in, and he’s looking at it all and making comments. I just have a lot of admiration for everything he does, and it stands for the team. It’s a very, very unique opportunity to be driving for Porsche Penske Motorsport here.”

Even though the No. 7 was so dominant — especially after sunrise on Sunday — the drivers were still challenged until the checkered flag. Penske’s No. 6 car took the lead with just under an hour to go, but Nasr bested Matt Campbell in a drag race through traffic to cycle back to the front with about 22 minutes remaining.

“Obviously, these guys are racers, and fortunately, we didn’t get into trouble,” Penske said. “Terrific job by the whole team. When you think about all the drivers we had, they ran strong all day. And the cars, this Porsche car we have, has just been amazing, and to think we did it two years in a row. It’s a credit to all the people here. So we’ve got one organization, and now we’ve been able to say we did it again.”

JOHN RAOUX / AP PHOTO

obituaries

Kenneth Morrison

Aug. 10, 1957 – Jan. 22, 2025

Mr. Kenneth Morrison age, 67 went home to be with his Heavenly Father on January 22, 2025. He was the son of the late Mary Stevens and Henry Morrison.

He leaves to cherish his loving memories his son, Kendrick Morrison; sisters: Shirley McLean, Rosa Chavis, Maggie McNeill, Annie J. Campbell; brothers: James McNeill, John P. McNeill, Henry Morrison, Allen Morrison. Kenneth will be greatly missed.

The Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, February 2 at 1 p.m. at the Pauline T. Buie Chapel.

Thomas Lee McCrimmon

Dec. 7, 1948 – Jan. 21, 2025

Mr. Thomas Lee McCrimmon age, 76 went home to rest with his Heavenly Father on January 21, 2025.

The Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 1 at 1 p.m. at Walls Chapel United Methodist Church.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at obits@ northstatejournal.com

Family: Border Patrol agent killed in Vermont worked at the Pentagon during 9/11

David Maland was killed during a traffic stop

By Kathy McCormack and Steve Karnowski

The Associated Press

A U.S. BORDER PATROL agent who was killed in Vermont during a traffic stop near the Canadian border was a military veteran who worked security duty at the Pentagon during the Sept. 11 attacks, his family said.

“He was a devoted agent who served with honor and bravery,” a family statement provided to The Associated Press last Tuesday said. “He had a tremendous respect and pride for the work he did; he truly embodied service over self.”

Agent David Maland, 44, was killed last Monday afternoon following a traffic stop, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said in a statement. A German national in the country on what the FBI called a current visa was killed and an injured suspect was taken into custody and is being treated at a local hospital.

The violence temporarily closed part of Interstate 91 about 20 miles from Canada in Coventry, part of the small, 27,000-resident community of Orleans County in the Northeast Kingdom section of Vermont that straddles the international border.

This undated image shows U.S. Border Patrol agent David Maland, who was killed Jan. 20 following a traffic stop in Vermont.

Maland had many chances for promotion but turned them down to stay in the field, said his cousin, Minnesota state Rep. Krista Knudsen. She paid tribute to the Minnesota native, who went by Chris, on the House floor last Wednesday before lawmakers observed a moment of silence.

“He will be remembered for his courage and commitment to protecting fellow Americans,” said Knudsen, a Republican from Lake Shore. “He is also a person who served faith-

fully with honor and bravery. He always put his service above himself.”

Maland, whom the FBI confirmed was a U.S. Air Force veteran, was killed close to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Newport Station, part of the Swanton Sector that he was assigned to. The sector encompasses Vermont, parts of New York and New Hampshire, and includes 295 miles of international boundary with Canada.

The Derby Line–Rock Island Border Crossing is about 12 miles by highway north of Coventry. It’s a major link to the Canadian province of Quebec, giving northern Vermont more French speakers than most of New England.

Maland’s family said his career spanned nine years in the military and 15 in the federal government. On Sept. 11, 2001, his duty station was the Pentagon, and when news of the terrorist attacks broke, he was sent to guard an undersecretary to one of the branches of the military for several days at a bunker at the Joint Base-Anacostia Bolling in southeast Washington, D.C.

Maland was also a K-9 handler who served in Texas near the border with Mexico before heading to the northern border. His aunt, Joan Maland, said he was about to propose marriage to his partner.

“We are all devastated,” she

told AP in a text. She called him an “exceptional person. Incredible man.”

Knudsen said she and Maland grew up in Fairmont, Minnesota, where he graduated from high school in 1999.

“Chris was an incredible man and will be missed dearly. I am grateful for his service and I know he was very proud of it,” she said. “Our family is heartbroken. He died in the line of duty, serving to protect our country. We will cherish his memories and mourn his sacrifice. Until we meet again, Godspeed, you good and faithful servant.”

Maland was the first Border Patrol agent to be killed in the line of duty by gunfire since Javier Vega Jr. was shot and killed near Santa Monica, Texas, in 2014, according to records provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Vega was initially considered to be off duty at the time of his death, but in 2016 it was determined to have been in the line of duty, the agency said.

In 2010, Brian Terry’s killing exposed the botched federal gun operation known as “Fast and Furious.” Border Patrol Agent Nicholas J. Ivie, of the Brian A. Terry Border Patrol Station, was mortally wounded in the line of duty in a remote area near Bisbee, Arizona, in 2012. Border Patrol Agent Isaac Morales was fatally stabbed while off duty in 2017 in Texas.

Father of competitor killed by stray hammer at Colorado youth track and field meet

The man was trying to shield his wife and son

By Mead Gruver The Associated Press

AN ERRANT weight thrown by a competitor in a hammer throw event struck and killed a spectator at a youth track and field meet in Colorado, according to officials at the university where the competition was held. The weight cleared certified

barriers before striking the man Sunday morning at the University of Colorado’s Colorado Springs campus, according to a university statement.

Firefighters pronounced the man dead at the scene. He apparently had tried to shield his wife and son from the ball, KRDO-TV reported. The so-called hammer in the hammer throw event is actually a heavy ball on a chain. Authorities did not identify the athlete or the man killed.

He was the father of a competitor for the Colorado United Track Club that hosted the event for high school-age athletes from around the state, according to the station.

“We are heartbroken at this horrible accident and are focused on supporting all involved,” campus Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet said in a statement.

The weight used in the hammer throw event is 16 pounds for men and 9 pounds for wom-

en in adult competition, according to World Athletics, the international track and field governing body. Fatal accidents at track and field competitions are rare. A hammer killed a student at a college track and field meet at Wheaton College in Illinois in 2017. A shot put ball struck and killed an officiant during practice at the U.S. track and field championships in Los Angeles in 2005.

DAVID MALAND / JOAN MALAND VIA AP

STATE & NATION

Trump order ending federal DEI programs leaves uncertain ground

The president pledged to eliminate the programs during the campaign

The Associated Press

FROM FEDERAL agencies

to stakeholders who receive federal dollars for special training, many are trying to process how President Donald Trump’s sweeping executive order putting a stop to diversity, equity and inclusion programs across the U.S. government will upend their work.

DEI laws and programs have been under attack for years by Republicans who contend that the measures threaten merit-based hiring, promotion and educational opportunities of white people, specifically white men. Criticism comes from other sectors, as well: Some Asian Americans argue it unfairly limits opportunities for high-achieving students and workers, and some in the black community believe it undermines years of progress.

However, DEI supporters say the programs are necessary to ensure that institutions meet the needs of increasingly diverse populations and the impact of the loss of these measures goes beyond people of color.

On Wednesday, Trump put the federal government’s weight behind the push to end such programs by signing an executive order that would effectively dismantle them from all aspects of the federal government.

“To the people who oppose us, the ones who attack DEI, they have tried to bastardize that acronym,” Virginia Kase Solomón, president and CEO of Common Cause, said last Wednesday during a call-to-action panel after Trump’s anti-DEI executive

order. “Instead, they want to diminish and exterminate and incapacitate progress towards a multiracial democracy to maintain white supremacy and concentration of wealth.”

How did it happen?

Republican lawmakers who oppose DEI programs — created to address systemic inequities faced by certain groups — say they are discriminatory and promote left-wing ideology.

During his campaign for president, Trump vowed to end “wokeness” and “leftist indoctrination” in education. He pledged to dismantle diversity programs he says amount to discrimination and to impose fines on colleges “up to the entire amount of their endowment.”

In 2023, conservatives notched a long-sought win when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down affirmative action programs in higher education, finding that race-conscious admissions violate the Constitution. That ruling drew increased legal challenges to DEI initiatives, with some American companies citing the decision in scaling back their diversity policies.

What does Trump’s order call for?

The executive action calls for the termination of DEI programs, mandates, policies, preferences and activities in the federal government, along with the review and revision of existing federal employment practices, union contracts and training policies or programs.

Agency, department and commission heads have 60 days to terminate to the maximum extent allowed by law all DEI, DEIA and “environmental justice” offic-

es and positions, action plans, equity-related grants or contracts, as well as end all DEI or DEIA performance requirements.

It also targets federal contractors who have provided DEI training or materials, and grantees who received federal funding to provide or advance DEI programs, services or activities since former President Joe Biden took office in 2021.

Paolo Gaudiano provides DEI consulting services to a government contractor and a federal academy via his company, Aleria, which helps organizations measure inclusion, and ARC, a nonprofit focused on DEI research.

He has not heard from any agencies he works with about his contract status since Trump’s executive order. What he is hearing is that employees are terrified because the order’s meaning is unclear.

“Does it mean closing the office but giving them a different position?” Gaudiano said. “It is a mess, a complete mess.”

Many federal employees would not speak with reporters out of concern about the punitive environment within the White House.

“It’s possible that I will reach out to them and find out that they’ve all been terminated,” Gaudiano said.

Even with a rollback, Gaudiano is sure employees and contractors will still pursue some form of DEI programs, especially if it helps productivity. Although anti-DEI groups often focus on racial identity, underrepresented populations can mean women, the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities or veterans.

“What is happening is that you’re focusing on structural organizational problems, which often impacts minority groups or

underrepresented groups more than majority groups,” Gaudiano said. “When you’re fixing the problems, you fix the problems for everybody. And it just happens to benefit underrepresented groups as well as minority groups.”

What effect did the anti-DEI movement have before the executive order?

• Dozens of diversity, equity and inclusion programs have already closed in Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, Iowa, Nebraska, Texas and other states.

• Almost 200 diversity, equity and inclusion staff positions were either cut or reassigned across North Carolina’s public university system. Last May, the UNC Chapel Hill Board of Trustees approved diverting $2.3 million of state funds for advancing diversity to public safety and policing.

• Texas’ 2023 law led to the University of Texas cutting 300 full- and part-time positions and eliminating more than 600 programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion training.

• In 2023, Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt signed an anti-DEI order that led to last year’s termination of the national women’s leadership program at the University of Oklahoma.

• Universities of Wisconsin regents reached a deal with Republican lawmakers in 2023 to limit DEI positions at the system’s two dozen campuses in exchange for funds for staff raises and construction projects. The deal imposed a hiring freeze on diversity positions through 2026 and shifted more than 40 diversity-related positions to focus on “student success.”

How will the executive order be carried out?

The Office of Personnel Management in a memo last Tuesday directed agencies to place DEI office staffers on paid leave by 5 p.m. the following day and take down all public DEI-focused webpages by the same deadline. Agencies must also cancel any DEI-related training and end any related contracts, and federal workers are being asked to report to Trump’s Office of Personnel Management if they suspect any DEI-related program has been renamed to obfuscate its purpose within 10 days or face “adverse consequences.”

By last Thursday, federal agencies were directed to compile a list of federal DEI offices and workers as of Election Day. By this Friday, they are expected to develop a plan to execute a “reduction-in-force action” against those federal workers.

It may be easy for Trump to sign such an order but more difficult to carry out, said Frederick Gooding Jr., African American studies professor at Texas Christian University and author of “American Dream Deferred: Black Federal Workers in Washington, D.C., 1941-1981.”

“It’s not going to be as easy to execute,” Gooding said. “It’s going to be more of a fantasy. There are no quick fixes for these issues that took years, if not centuries, to develop.”

The National Urban League and the National Fair Housing Alliance, as government contractors, and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit against a similar executive order issued during Trump’s first administration, arguing it trampled on freedom of speech rights. A California federal court suspended that order in response to a similar lawsuit filed by Lambda Legal, an organization that advocates for the rights of LGBTQ people.

“This will test us,” National Urban League President Marc Moriel said last week during a roundtable that the group hosted. “These orders are unlawful; they are unconstitutional.”

Google will change map names for Gulf of Mexico, Denali

The company honors geographic names from national governments

The Associated Press

GOOGLE SAYS it will take its cue from the U.S. government if it has to change the names of the Gulf of Mexico and Denali on its maps.

The company said Monday that it will only make changes when the government updates its official listings for the body of water and the mountain.

After taking office, President Donald Trump ordered that the water bordered by the Southern United States, Mexico and Cuba be renamed to the Gulf of America. He also ordered America’s highest mountain peak be changed back to Mt. McKinley.

“We have a longstand-

“We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources.”

Google statement

ing practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources,” Google said in a post on X.

The company said that Maps will reflect any updates to the Geographic Names Information System, a database of more than 1 million geographic features in the United States.

“When that happens, we will update Google Maps in the U.S. quickly to show Mount McKin-

ley and Gulf of America,” Google said.

“Denali” is the mountain’s preferred name for Alaska Natives. Former President Barack Obama ordered it changed in 2015 from its previous name “McKinley,” which was a tribute to President William McKinley, designated in the late 19th century by a gold prospector.

The Associated Press, which provides news around the world to multiple audiences, will refer to the Gulf of Mexico by its original name, which it has carried for 400 years, while acknowledging the name Gulf of America.

AP will, however, use the name Mount McKinley instead of Denali; the area lies solely in the United States, and as president, Trump has the authority to change federal geographical names within the country.

JILL KARNICKI / HOUSTON CHRONICLE VIA AP

The water in the Gulf of Mexico — which President Donald Trump has proposed be renamed the Gulf of America — appears bluer than usual off of East Beach in 2023 from Galveston, Texas.

MOORE COUNTY

BOOM!

XB-1, the Boom Aerospace test plane, reached Mach 1.122 — or about 750 mph — breaking the sound barrier for the first time on Tuesday.

The test, flown by Boom Chief Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, marked the first time that an independent company broke the sound barrier in a plane not backed by a military or government. The company’s Superfactory in Greensboro will build as many as 66 of its Overture aircraft every year once production begins. Boom says Overture will carry 64 to 80 passengers at Mach 1.7, about twice the speed of today’s subsonic airliners.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

DA review of former treasurer’s use of state cars ends without charges

Raleigh

An investigation into how then-North Carolina

Treasurer Dale Folwell used state government vehicles is ending with no charges filed. Wake County District

Attorney Lorrin Freeman said Monday the review found any alleged policy violations were insufficient to support a successful criminal prosecution.

Freeman said Folwell agreed to pay more than $6,200 for commuting costs he should have been charged and the reimbursement for some miles driven. Folwell, a Republican, completed eight years as treasurer and lost a bid for the GOP nomination for governor last year. Folwell said he was “relieved.”

Trump offers all federal workers buyout with 8 months’ pay

Washington, D.C.

The Trump administration says it is offering buyouts to all federal employees who opt to leave their jobs by next week — an unprecedented move to shrink the U.S. government at breakneck speed. A memo Tuesday from the Office of Personnel Management says it will begin subjecting all federal employees to “enhanced standards of suitability and conduct” and ominously warns of future downsizing. The email sent to employees says those who leave their posts voluntarily will receive about eight months of salary but must to chose to do so by Feb. 6.

Man pleads

guilty to armed home invasion in West End

The incident saw a homeowner threatened with a

North

State Journal staff

A MAN WHO broke into a West End home and threatened the resident with a handgun in September 2023 has pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges in Moore County Superior Court.

Marco Lynn Cheatham entered guilty pleas on Jan. 24 to breaking and entering to terrorize, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and being a habitual felon, according to

District Attorney Michael K. Hardin.

Judge Jessica Locklear sentenced Cheatham to 66-92 months in the Department of Adult Corrections.

The charges stem from a Sept. 13, 2023, incident on Walker Street in West End. According to prosecutors, Cheatham and the victim, Gregory Cole, were acquaintances who had lived in the same area most of their lives. Cheatham had been repeatedly parking his vehicle on Cole’s property, despite being asked to leave multiple times.

Around 7 p.m. on Sept. 12, Cole again asked Cheatham to leave the property. While

Cheatham initially complied, he returned about seven hours later, at approximately 2 a.m., and kicked in Cole’s front door while Cole was watching television with his dog. Prosecutors say Cheatham then waved a semi-automatic handgun and confronted Cole about “the way he spoke to him earlier that evening.”

After Cheatham left, Cole called 911. While Moore County Sheriff’s deputies and Taylortown Police officers responded, they were unable to locate Cheatham immediately.

Warrants were obtained and served the following day, at which time authorities found

UNC, Duke Health will build NC’s first standalone children’s hospital

The new 500-bed facility is coming to the Triangle

The Associated Press

RALEIGH — Two of the state’s largest university health systems plan to construct the state’s first standalone children’s hospital — an undertaking that its boosters said will change lives physically and economically for decades to come.

UNC Health and Duke Health on Tuesday revealed the agreement to build the proposed 500-bed pediatric hospital in the state’s Research Triangle region, which includes Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. The “NC Children’s” project also will include a children’s outpatient care center and behavioral health center. Research and education operations backed by the system’s two medical schools will also be onsite, the health sys-

tems said in a news release.

Groundbreaking on an over 100-acre campus — the specific location yet to be identified — is expected by 2027, with campus construction to take about six years. The price tag for the project is expected at more than $2 billion. A massive fundraising effort is anticipated.

There are children’s hospitals already in North Carolina, including those operated by the University of North Carolina and Duke University health systems that are attached to their main campuses in the Triangle. This project, however, is described as the first freestanding hospital dedicated to caring for kids.

“This is a big splash that will ripple out literally for years and years and impact the people in our state and region in ways that I know we can’t even imagine yet,” Dr. Wesley Burks, CEO of UNC Health and dean of the UNC School of Medicine, said at a Raleigh announce-

This will “impact the people in our state and region in ways that I know we can’t even imagine yet.”

Dr. Wesley Burks, CEO of UNC Health

ment event also attended by Gov. Josh Stein, Senate leader Phil Berger and other education, political and health care notables.

The two entities filed paperwork on Tuesday with the state to create a nonprofit organization for a new children’s health system called North Carolina Children’s Health. Their respective pediatric-related clinical services, programs and operations will transfer to NC Children’s.

The children’s hospital idea has been a goal for many years

He returned about seven hours later, at approximately 2 a.m., and kicked in Cole’s front door while Cole was watching television with his dog.

Cheatham in possession of a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun.

The federal charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon was later adopted by the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina. Cheatham has entered a guilty plea to that charge and is scheduled for sentencing in federal court on Feb. 19. Assistant District Attorney Brian Chapman prosecuted the state cases.

for both institutions, which often are health care competitors. But a recent initial $320 million appropriation for the effort by the North Carolina General Assembly accelerated talks between the two systems.

“This is a tremendous and unique opportunity to work together to reimagine how we deliver life-changing care to our region’s most vulnerable and we are grateful for the support of our state’s legislature,” Duke University Health System CEO Dr. Craig Albanese said in a release.

Stein said at the announcement event that the project will end up “saving the lives of countless children for generations to come.”

Stein and Berger said the economic results also are striking for a growing state like North Carolina — the ninth largest by population.

“This campus through its construction and operation will create thousands of jobs and be among the largest economic development projects in the history of the state of North Carolina,” Berger said. “This is a win for the economy and for our children’s health and for our state’s infrastructure.”

handgun

PHOTOS COURTESY BOOM AEROSPACE

“Join the conversation”

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 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE:

919-663-3232

MOORE.NORTHSTATEJOURNAL.COM

Annual

THURSDAY

CRIME LOG

Jan. 22

Joseph Ray Greco, 28, was arrested by Southern Pines PD for possession of stolen goods/ property.

• Kimberly Beth Osborne, 42, was arrested by MCSO for expired registration card/tag.

Jan. 23

Caridad Madelyn Tejeda Machado, 58, was arrested by Southern Pines PD for possession of stolen motor vehicle.

Jan. 24

Thomas Randall McLaughlin, 42, was arrested by Southern Pines PD for breaking/entering motor vehicle with theft.

• Braxton Lee Russell, 28, was arrested by Carthage PD for larceny from merchant.

Jan. 27:

Joseph Lee Barber, 57, was arrested by MCSO for attempted trafficking opioids by transport.

• Charles Edward Dowdy, 43, was arrested by MCSO for child support violation.

• Bobby Dewayne Jefferson, 30, was arrested by MCSO for larceny by employee.

Franklin Darnell Kelly, 58, was arrested by Southern Pines PD for felony possession of cocaine.

• Matthew O’Connor Kendall, 37, was arrested by MCSO for driving while impaired.

Elizabeth Anne Richardson, 31, was arrested by MCSO for possession of methamphetamine.

• Erik Joseph Ruiz, 45, was arrested by MCSO for shoplifting concealment of goods.

Chaucey Yvonne Williams, 38, was arrested by MCSO for interfering with electronic monitoring device.

Jan. 28:

• Cameron Nathaniel Hayes, 25, was arrested by MCSO for maintaining vehicle/dwelling/ place for controlled substance.

Trump proposes ‘getting rid of FEMA’

The president said he would prefer disaster funds flow through states instead

The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — President Donald Trump surveyed disaster zones in California and North Carolina last Friday and said he was considering “getting rid of” the Federal Emergency Management Agency, offering the latest sign of how he is weighing sweeping changes to the nation’s central organization for responding to disasters.

Instead of having federal financial assistance flow through FEMA, the Republican president said Washington could provide money directly to the states. He made the comments while visiting western North Carolina, which is still recovering months after Hurricane Helene, on the first trip of his second term.

“FEMA has been a very big disappointment,” the Republican president said. “It’s very bureaucratic. And it’s very slow.”

Beyond his criticism of FEMA, Trump has suggested limiting the federal government’s role in responding to disasters, echoing comments from conservative allies who

have proposed reducing funding and responsibility.

“I’d like to see the states take care of disasters,” he said in North Carolina. “Let the state take care of the tornadoes and the hurricanes and all of the other things that happen.”

Trump said Michael Whatley, a North Carolina native and chair of the Republican National Committee, would help coordinate recovery efforts in the state, where frustrations over the federal response have lingered. Although Whatley does not hold an official government position, Trump said he would be “very much in charge.”

FEMA helps respond to disasters when local leaders request a presidential emergency declaration, a signal that the damage is beyond the state’s ability to handle on its own. FEMA can reimburse governments for recovery efforts such as debris removal, and it gives stopgap financial assistance to individual residents.

Trump has criticized former President Joe Biden for his administration’s response to Helene in North Carolina. As he left the White House last Friday morning, he told reporters that “it’s been a horrible thing the way that’s been allowed to fester” since the storm hit in September, and “we’re going to get it fixed up.”

In Swannanoa, residents told Trump about wading through waist-deep water to escape from their homes while fearing for their lives. Some have battled with insurance companies to get their losses covered.

“We’ve come to North Carolina with a simple message,” Trump said. “You are not forgotten any longer. You were treated very badly by the previous administration.”

FEMA has distributed $319 million in financial assistance to residents, but that hasn’t alleviated the feeling of abandonment among residents struggling to rebuild their lives.

Michael Coen, who served as chief of staff at FEMA during the Biden administration, said Trump was “misinformed” about an agency that provides critical help to states when they are overwhelmed by catastrophe.

In addition, Coen criticized the idea of attaching strings to assistance.

“I think the American people expect the federal government will be there for them on their worst day, no matter where they live,” he said.

Trump tapped Cameron Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL with limited experience managing natural disasters, as FEMA’s acting director.

Family: Border Patrol agent killed in Vermont worked at the Pentagon during 9/11

David Maland was killed during a traffic stop

By Kathy McCormack and Steve Karnowski

The Associated Press

A U.S. BORDER PATROL agent who was killed in Vermont during a traffic stop near the Canadian border was a military veteran who worked security duty at the Pentagon during the Sept. 11 attacks, his family said.

“He was a devoted agent who served with honor and bravery,” a family statement provided to The Associated Press last Tuesday said. “He had a tremendous respect and pride for the work he did; he truly embodied service over self.”

Agent David Maland, 44, was killed last Monday afternoon following a traffic stop, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said in a statement. A German national in the country on what the FBI called a current visa was killed and an injured suspect was taken into custody and is being treated at a local hospital.

The violence temporarily closed part of Interstate 91 about 20 miles from Canada in Coventry, part of the small, 27,000-resident community of Orleans County in the Northeast Kingdom section of Vermont that straddles the international border.

Maland had many chances for promotion but turned them down to stay in the field, said his cousin, Minnesota state Rep. Krista Knudsen. She paid tribute to the Minnesota native, who went by Chris, on the House floor last Wednesday before lawmakers observed a moment of silence.

“He will be remembered for his courage and commitment to protecting fellow Americans,” said Knudsen, a Republican from Lake Shore. “He is also a person who served faithfully with honor and bravery. He always put his service above himself.”

Maland, whom the FBI confirmed was a U.S. Air Force veteran, was killed close to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Newport Station, part of the Swanton Sector that he was assigned to. The sector encompasses Vermont, parts of

New York and New Hampshire, and includes 295 miles of international boundary with Canada. The Derby Line–Rock Island Border Crossing is about 12 miles by highway north of Coventry. It’s a major link to the Canadian province of Quebec, giving northern Vermont more French speakers than most of New England.

Maland’s family said his career spanned nine years in the military and 15 in the federal government. On Sept. 11, 2001, his duty station was the Pentagon, and when news of the terrorist attacks broke, he was sent to guard an undersecretary to one of the branches of the military for several days at a bunker at the Joint Base-Anacostia Bolling in southeast Washington, D.C.

Maland was also a K-9 handler who served in Texas near the border with Mexico before heading to the northern border. His aunt, Joan Maland, said he was about to propose marriage to his partner.

“We are all devastated,” she told AP in a text. She called him an “exceptional person. Incredible man.”

MOORE COUNTY

moore happening

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Moore County:

Jan. 30

Arts Council of Moore County: “In the Shade of the Longleaf Pines” Art Show

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Arts Council of Moore County presents the “In the Shade of the Longleaf Pines” Art Show. The exhibit features work from painter Jonathan Douglas and woodworker William DeFee. The art will be on exhibition at the Arts Council Campbell House Galleries in Southern Pines through Wednesday, Feb. 12. Free.

Arts Council Galleries Campbell House 482 E. Connecticut Avenue Southern Pines

Sunrise Theater: “The Brutalist” 7 p.m.

Escaping post-war Europe, visionary architect László Toth arrives in America to rebuild his life, his work and his marriage to his wife, Erzsébet, after being forced apart during wartime by shifting borders and regimes. Rated R | 215 minutes. Tickets $8. Doors open 30 minutes before the movie starts.

Sunrise Theater 250 NW Broad St. Southern Pines

Cosmic Bowling 6-11:55 p.m.

Enjoy a night of family fun at Sandhills Bowling Center! Cosmic Bowling is just $17 per person and includes two hours of bowling and free shoe rental.

Sandhills Bowling Center 1680 N.C. Highway 5 Aberdeen

Jan. 30- 31, Feb. 1

Moore County Historical Association: Shaw House & Property Tours 1-4 p.m.

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.

Shaw House 110 Morganton Road Southern Pines

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

America’s golden age has arrived

Our Republicanled Congress passed the Laken Riley Act with bipartisan support.

IT IS MORNING in America again.

On Jan. 20, the American people celebrated the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump. It is truly an incredible and historic time for our great country — it marks the beginning of a new era.

Trump has hit the ground running to fix the failures of the Biden-Harris agenda and fulfill the promises made to you, signing hundreds of executive orders and actions in his first few days back in the White House.

From ending disastrous open border programs that helped facilitate the worst invasion in history to rolling back policies that crippled American energy dominance and hiked up costs, one thing is clear: The Golden Age of America has arrived.

I, along with my Republican colleagues in the House and Senate, am working closely with Trump to advance our America First agenda in Congress. United together, we will return jobs to American workers, lower costs, cut taxes and unleash American energy dominance. Together, we will secure our borders, enforce our laws, keep our communities safe, restore peace through strength and make the federal government more efficient for you. We are excited by this generational opportunity in front of us to Make America Great Again, and we are already delivering results.

Just last week, our Republican-led Congress

passed the Laken Riley Act with bipartisan support, and it now heads to Trump’s desk to be one of the first policies signed into law as the 47th president. This important bill will help protect you by ensuring that criminal illegals are swiftly and permanently detained and deported from our country. It is more than just a piece of legislation; it is a return to common sense. Under Trump’s leadership, I will continue working with my colleagues to move legislation that restores the rule of law, secures our borders, and puts Americans like you first again.

Additionally, I held my first hearing as the new chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. I heard from stakeholders on how Congress can promote innovation and encourage investment in wireless technology. I look forward to advancing commonsense policies to help ensure all Americans can be fully connected.

While there is a lot of work to get done during Trump’s first 100 days, I have confidence and renewed hope that America’s best days are ahead. The American people gave Trump and Republicans in Congress a mandate to change the direction of our country, and that is exactly what we are going to do.

Rep. Richard Hudson represents the 9th Congressional District in Washington, D.C.

The one thing Trump can’t do

Trump can create an environment that leads to more job openings and lower housing prices, but you still have to go to work.

DONALD TRUMP’S JOB is to make America great again. Improving your own life is up to you.

There are lots of reasons to be excited about Trump’s return to power. He’s pledged to unleash America’s energy industry. Cheaper energy and a better regulatory environment should help contain inflation. The border will be locked down while officials deport illegal aliens.

But even if he accomplishes his entire agenda, there’s one thing Trump can’t do — guarantee you a more successful life.

That may sound like a contradiction. If Trump is going to help America, doesn’t that require that he make things better for Americans? It does, but there’s an important step missing in that question — the choices you make.

For instance, one of the best predictors of personal happiness is being in a great marriage. Earning more money raises a person’s chance of being “very happy” by 88%. Being married increases your odds by 151%. But being in a “very happy” marriage boosts your likelihood by a staggering 545%. That’s all according to Brad Wilcox, author of the excellent book “Get Married.”

That’s good news. You can work on improving your marriage regardless of who the president is.

There’s a loneliness epidemic, according to Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.

He’s right. In October, a Gallup poll found 20% of adults said they felt a lot of loneliness the previous day. That suggests around 50 million adults feel isolated. It’s a miserable feeling and can lead to destructive behaviors like drug and alcohol abuse.

It’s also fixable. Go to church and join a small group. Volunteer. Sign up for a sports league. Reach out to family members.

These steps are all harder when you’re lonely and depressed. It’s why a safety net of families, churches and engaged neighbors are so important.

The government can give you a check, but it can’t give you a hug when you need it most.

This is true even in finances. It doesn’t matter how much Trump cuts taxes. If you spend more than you make, you’ll always have money problems. The best way to improve your financial health is to budget and pay down your debts. Dave Ramsey has helped an untold number of people, myself included, do just that. That’s some practical advice that’s much needed in Washington, D.C.

Trump can create an environment that leads to more job openings and lower housing prices, but you still have to go to work and earn your paycheck or start your own business. In his memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” Vice President JD Vance described working in a tile distribution business before attending Yale Law School. Jobs there provided a path out of poverty for those near his poor hometown, but turnover was high.

“Too many men (were) immune to hard work,” Vance wrote. He continued, “There is a lack of agency here — a feeling that you have little control over your own life and a willingness to blame everyone but yourself.”

This isn’t to say that political leadership doesn’t matter. It does.

Think of it this way. Imagine life is a mountain path with many ups and downs. The job of Trump and other elected officials is to fly above the path and clear away landslides and boulders that make navigating it difficult. If Trump does his job well, removing those barriers will help more people go further on the path. That’s making America great again. But Trump isn’t going to fly you to your preferred destination.

The wonderful yet scary thing about freedom is that it forces you to enjoy or endure the consequences of your own decisions.

Victor Joecks is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

NC’s public schools

The NC public school calendar favors the travel/vacation industry and the state’s revenue coffers with its late August start. It does not favor the children in public schools nor the teachers. Starting classes after August 26 means that the Fall semester ends in January after the Christmas break. The first weeks in January are reteach, review and mid-term prep weeks. This public school calendar is also out of sync with calendars of many colleges and universities that start their Spring semester in early January.

The Moore County school board and school administration should establish an early August start date for the 2025-2026 school year, allowing the Fall semester to conclude before the Christmas break (as other NC counties have done). They should focus on what’s best for our children, rather than what’s best for the travel/vacation industry and state revenue.

Agnes Puzak Pinehurst

Letters to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline. com or mailed to 1201 Edwards Mill Rd., Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27607. Letters must be signed; include the writer’s phone number, city and state; and be no longer than 300 words. Letters may be edited for style, length or clarity when necessary. Ideas for op-eds should be sent to opinion@ nsjonline.com.

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Southern cities get creative to clear storm’s leftover snow, ice

New Orleans used cleaning equipment usually needed after Mardi Gras

By Jack Brook and Russ Bynum

The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS — Days after a winter storm dropped ice and record-breaking snow, cleanup efforts were underway last week in several major Southern cities such as New Orleans, where crews were removing snow the same way they remove trash, drink cups and plastic beads after Mardi Gras.

Temperatures were gradually rising across the U.S. South, bringing hopes that the remaining snow and ice would melt away.

“We have to be honest with ourselves — we’re from Louisiana, we know crawfish, we know football, but we don’t really know snow and ice, and that’s OK,” said Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development spokesper-

son Daniel Gitlin. “It’s going to go away, and we’re better off letting Mother Nature do what she needs to do right now.”

Up to 200 miles of interstate remained closed until last Friday due to treacherous patches of black ice, Gitlin said. Louisiana had nearly run out of its salt supply after treating roads, he added.

In the Big Easy, a private waste management firm has been contracted to repurpose equipment typically used to clean up Mardi Gras beads and cups to clear snow from the streets.

IV Waste President Sidney Torres said his company had deployed a 4,000-gallon “flusher” truck to spray water on the ground to soften the ice for removal in the historic and festive French Quarter. The truck normally sprays lemon-scented fragrance “to get rid of that funky liquor, urine, puke smell from the night before,” Torres said. “We’re finding new solutions and better techniques to dealing with this.”

The

lemon-scented fragrance around the pungent French Quarter — is used to clear ice last Thursday in New Orleans after a rare winter storm.

Arkansas sent Louisiana snowplows, dump trucks, salt spreaders and other equipment, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said.

The snowfall likely broke several records across the region, including in Florida, where a preliminary report of 10 inches in one town would set a new record for the state if confirmed.

Snow totals reached 3 inches in Savannah, Georgia, the most the state’s oldest city has recorded since December 1989.

The snow was lighter in metro Atlanta, where the southern

suburbs saw more snow and ice than areas north of the city. In Covington, southeast of Atlanta, Jesse Gentes used a flamethrower to deice the roads in his subdivision. In better weather, he typically uses the flamethrower for brush removal, he told WSB-TV.

South Carolina reported at least one death in the storm.

A 71-year-old man died from a medical condition while shoveling snow last Thursday in Berkeley County, Coroner Darnell Hartwell said. About 3-4

inches of snow fell in the area, according to the National Weather Service.

The snow and ice had staying power and left a mess on the roads in coastal South Carolina. In Charleston, ice that melted and refroze overnight closed the James Island Connector, a bridge that links the city to its western suburbs. Police said on social media that “while crews are working hard, it is unlikely to reopen soon.”

Schools and county offices remained closed, and officials in most areas south and east of the state capital, Columbia, asked people to stay home for at least one more day. It was a similar story in North Carolina, where slick roads remained a danger to drivers after the snow melted and then refroze overnight. Schools were also affected, including in Fayetteville, where the school system announced that students would have an “asynchronous” learning day, allowing them to complete assignments at home. Several other school districts operated on a two-hour delay.

Some school systems in central and south Alabama remained closed last Thursday due to concerns about the remaining ice on roads or the possibility of frozen pipes in schools. In coastal Baldwin County, sections of Interstate 65 and Interstate 10 were shut down due to ice.

“Schools, universities and scientific societies are challenged to help students and professionals to grasp the social and ethical aspects of the development and uses of technology,’’ the document said.

AI and health care

It includes a number of warnings about the potential for AI

The Associated Press

VATICAN CITY — A Vatican document released Tuesday offers wide-ranging ethical guidelines for the application of artificial intelligence in sectors from warfare to health care, with an underlying call that the burgeoning technology must be used as a tool to complement, and not replace, human intelligence.

Pope Francis has issued several warnings about the risks associated with AI technology, and this new document by the Vatican’s doctrine and cultural offices expands on what the pontiff has already said. It comes as a new AI chatbot by Chinese tech startup DeepSeek has raised the stakes in the AI technology race, catching up with American generative AI leaders at a fraction of the cost. The document underlines that human responsibility needs to grow in proportion to the new technology, and that the impact

of AI’s uses in various sectors “may not always be predictable from their inception.”

“AI should be used only as a tool to complement human intelligence, rather than replace its richness,” the document said in its conclusion.

AI and warfare

The document warns that AI has the potential to increase instruments of war “well beyond the scope of human oversight,” which could provoke “a destabilizing arms race.” Weapons systems that can identify and strike targets without human intervention, removing “the unique human capacity for moral judgement and ethical decision-making,’’ it said.

“No machine should ever choose to take the life of a human being,’’ the document warned.

AI and human relationships

The document warns that AI is not a substitute for “authentic human relationships” and cites its lack of empathy as a risk when anthropomorphizing AI in areas such as

child development or interpersonal relationships.

“While human beings are meant to experience authentic relationships, AI can only simulate them,” the document said.

AI and the search for meaning

The document cites the risk that “as society drifts away from connection with the transcendent, some are tempted to turn to AI in search of meaning and fulfillment — longings that can only be truly satisfied in communion with God.”

“The presumption of substituting God for an artifact of human making is idolatry, a practice Scripture explicitly warns against,” the document said.

AI and privacy/surveillance

Advances in AI-powered data processing have made data privacy “even more imperative as a safeguard for the dignity and relational nature” of individuals, the document said.

“The risk of surveillance overreach must be monitored by appropriate regulators to ensure

transparency and public accountability,’’ it said.

AI and the environment

The document underlined that while AI can help fight climate change through models to forecast extreme events, help manage emergencies and help promote sustainable development, it also poses risks that are obscured by the use of words like “the cloud” that detach data storage “from the physical world.”

“It is crucial to recognize that its operation demands vast amounts of energy and water, contributing significantly to CO2 emissions,” the document said.

AI and education

The document said that AI should help promote critical thinking and not just train “young people how to amass information and generate quick responses.” Education is not about “filling one’s head with ideas” but “is about taking a risk in the tensions between the mind, the heart and the hands,” it said.

While citing the potential of AI to enhance medical care, such as in diagnosing illness, the document said it is critical that AI is used to enhance and not “replace the relationship between patients and healthcare providers.”

“Decisions regarding patient treatment and the weight of responsibility they entail must always remain with the human person, and should never be delegated to AI,’’ the document said.

AI and misinformation/ deepfakes

AI presents a risk of “generating manipulated content and false information, which can easily mislead people due to its resemblance to the truth,’’ the document said.

“Countering AI-driven falsehoods is not only the work of industry experts — it requires the efforts of all people of good will,’’ it said, calling for diligence on the part of those who share AI-generated content to verify “the truth of what they disseminate.”

SIDNEY TORRES / IV WASTE VIA AP

flusher truck — normally deployed to spray

MOORE SPORTS

Pinecrest, Union Pines take conference swim titles

North State Journal staff

IT WAS A BUSY WEEK as county schools saw swimming honors come their way, as well as a new draft of the state’s conference realignment plan.

North Moore

The Mustangs’ girls posted a 47-34 win over South Davidson in a home nonconference game. North Moore now faces Jordan-Matthews and Chatham Central this week in a pair of Mid-Carolina Conference games, the latter on the road.

Boys’ basketball has three conference games this week — home against Jordan-Matthews on a pair of road tilts at Chatham Central and Bartlett Yancey.

The NCHSAA released its second draft of the conference realignment plan, and North Moore’s conference assignment was unchanged from the December version. The Mustangs will be placed in 3A/4A Conference C with Eastern Randolph, Northwood, Carrboro, Jordan-Matthews, Southwestern Randolph and Uwharrie Charter.

Union Pines

The Vikings’ girls’ swim team won the Sandhills Conference championship, while the boys took second by a slim one-point margin, behind Pinecrest.

Union Pines swept the conference’s major individual honors, however, with Claire Weld winning female swimmer of the year and Cullen Cox taking male swimmer of the year.

Weld was first-team all-conference in the 100 breaststroke and 100 freestyle. Cox was second-team in the 100 fly.

Other Vikings to take individual all-conference first-team honors were Klay Blue (boys’

Porsche Penske Motorsport team members — left to right, Belgium’s Laurens Vanthoor, Brazil’s Felipe Nasr and Britain’s Nick Tandy — display the Rolex watches they received for winning the IMSA Rolex 24 hour race at Daytona International Speedway.

The Pinecrest boys’ and girls’ swim teams huddle up at a December meet. The swimmers brought home one conference title, just missed another and also won a host of individual honors.

500 free), Ian Hicks (boys’ 100 breast), Andrew Davis (boys’ 50 free), Ava Milkowich (girls’ 200 IM), Rebecca Kangas (girls’ 50 free and 100 fly)

All-conference second-teamers included Hicks (boys’ 200 IM), Blue (boys’ 100 back), Milkowich (girls’ 100 back), Logan Glaubitz (boys’ 200 free and 100 breast), Aiden Simmons (boys’ 50 free), Taylon Tranel (boys’ 100 free), Nyah Tranel (girls’ 200 free) and Riley Elwell (girls’ 100 fly and 500 free).

Six relay teams also won all-conference honors, featuring Cox, Blue, Simmons, Glaubitz, Taylon and Nyah Tranel, Kangas, Milkowich, Weld, Elwell and Davis.

Union Pines saw two new members added to its proposed conference. In the first draft of the plan, the Vikins were in 6A Conference 1 with Harnett Central, Lee County, Southern Lee, Triton and Western Harnett. Those members are all still included in the conference, but South Johnston and West Johnston were added in the latest rendition of the realignment.

Pinecrest

The Patriots took the Sandhills Conference title in boys’ swimming and finished second, five points off the Union Pines pace, in girls’ swimming.

Pinecrest all-conference first-teamers included Lily Grieve (girls’ 200 free and 100 back), Caleb Hill (boys’ 200 free and 100 fly), Grant Larsen (boys’ 200 IM and 100 free) and Cody Martin (boys’ 100 back).

Second-team all-conference went to Jerni Olsen (girls’ 200 IM and 100 breast), Shelby Brown (girls’ 100 free) and Ethan Perez (boys’ 500 free).

Six relay teams also took all-conference honors, featuring swimmers Grieve, Hill, Larsen, Martin, Olsen, Brown, Adelaide Bryson, Ethan Fuller, Ava Lee, Lexi Brown and Chase Salvog.

Pinecrest’s conference placement was unchanged in the second draft of the realignment. The Patriots are in 7A/8A Conference A with Hoke County, Cape Fear, Jack Britt, Lumberton, Overhills, Pine Forest, Purnell Swett and Richmond.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Claire Weld

Union Pines, swimming

Claire Weld is a senior on the Union Pines girls’ swimming team. She has also played volleyball and lacrosse for the Vikings.

Weld was named female swimmer of the year by the Sandhills Conference after earning all-conference honors in five events. She took first-team in the 100 freestyle with a time of 59.44, 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:11.32. She was also part of the Union Pines 200 medley relay first team and well as the 200 free relay first team and 400 free relay first team.

Penske wins 2nd consecutive Rolex 24

Porsche Penske Motorsport ran first and third

By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. —

Roger Penske started his 59th season in motorsports the same way he closed last year — as a champion.

Porsche Penske Motorsport on Sunday won the Rolex 24 at Daytona for the second consecutive year and third time overall.

Back at Daytona International Speedway for the Rolex, the same place and race where Team Penske debuted in 1966, Penske returned to Victory Lane. And, as he always does, the billionaire who turns 88 next month stayed

awake and sat with the team on the timing stand for the entire 24 hours.

His two cars dominated the twice-round-the-clock endurance race and finished first and third. Once attrition hit other entries in the top prototype class, the Porsches ran first and second for large portions of the race. It was the No. 7 full-time IMSA entry that won, making it back-to-back victories for that car despite a different driver lineup.

“What an incredible day for the entire Porsche Penske Motorsport organization. Both of our Porsche 963s and the drivers showed great speed and reliability,” Penske said. “The crews performed flawlessly, which is a result of meticulous preparation by everyone on the team.

“2024 was an unmatched season of success starting with a win at the 24 Hours of Daytona and it’s great to repeat that success to start 2025 with the third overall win for Team Penske and the 20th victory for Porsche.”

Felipe Nasr won last year with Dane Cameron and Josef Newgarden, but Cameron was let go at the end of 2024 and Newgarden wasn’t part of this year’s Rolex lineup. So it was Nasr again, only this time he was paired with Nick Tandy, who will be his IMSA co-driver all season, and Laurens Vanthoor, Penske’s reigning WEC champion. It was Nasr’s second overall victory. He also won a Rolex watch for a class victory in 2022. Tandy also had a 2014 class victory, but Sunday was his first overall win. It was the first watch

for Vanthoor, who had finished in the top five of class in six of the last seven years. All three drivers were in tears after the race.

Nasr said it is Penske who pushes the team to achieve the excellence he demands.

“The feeling is amazing, just to see how much energy he brings into the team. You get out of the car, he’s like: ‘How’s the car? How’s the handling?’ Like, he’s very interested in every detail,” Nasr said. “He doesn’t miss a pit stop when the cars are coming in, and he’s looking at it all and making comments. I just have a lot of admiration for everything he does, and it stands for the team. It’s a very, very unique opportunity to be driving for Porsche Penske Motorsport here.”

Even though the No. 7 was so dominant — especially after sunrise on Sunday — the drivers were still challenged until the checkered flag. Penske’s No. 6 car took the lead with just under an hour to go, but Nasr bested Matt Campbell in a drag race through traffic to cycle back to the front with about 22 minutes remaining.

“Obviously, these guys are racers, and fortunately, we didn’t get into trouble,” Penske said. “Terrific job by the whole team. When you think about all the drivers we had, they ran strong all day. And the cars, this Porsche car we have, has just been amazing, and to think we did it two years in a row. It’s a credit to all the people here. So we’ve got one organization, and now we’ve been able to say we did it again.”

DAVID SINCLAIR FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

JOHN RAOUX / AP PHOTO

SIDELINE REPORT

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Vegas, baby!

Sin City to host the 2027 College Football Playoff title game

Las Vegas Las Vegas will host the 2027 College Football Playoff national championship game. The CFP says the title game will be played Monday, Jan. 25, 2027, at Allegiant Stadium. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority celebrated the news by releasing a video of Strip headliner Shin Lim performing an illusion at the iconic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. Lim changed the face of the sign to revel a new message welcoming the College Football Playoff National Championship to Las Vegas. The 2026 game will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Ohio State star

Judkins declares for NFL Draft

Columbus, Ohio Ohio State star running back Quinshon Judkins, who scored three touchdowns in the national championship game, is leaving school early and entering the NFL Draft. Judkins announced his decision on social media. Judkins transferred to Ohio State after two seasons at Ole Miss. He is widely expected to be a second- day pick in April. Against Notre Dame, he ran 11 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 21 yards and a score.

SOCCER

Police investigating threats toward Premier League ref London English soccer’s match officials body says police are investigating “abhorrent attacks” aimed at Premier League referee Michael Oliver and his family following the match between Wolverhampton and Arsenal. Oliver was the referee for Saturday’s game at Molineux which Arsenal won 1-0 after both teams had a man sent off. Professional Game Match Officials Limited, the body responsible for referees in the English soccer, says it is “appalled by the threats and abuse directed at” Oliver after the game. The PGMOL says “the police are aware and a number of investigations have commenced.”

BOXING

Japanese boxing star Inoue heads to U.S. after big KO

Tokyo Japanese boxing superstar Naoya Inoue is headed to the United States after another devastating knockout. His promoter wants Americans to cherish Inoue as much as they do Shohei Ohtani. The unbeaten Inoue knocked out overmatched South Korean opponent Ye Joon Kim in the fourth round in Tokyo to remain the undisputed super bantamweight champion.

Bob Arum, Inoue’s promoter at Top Rank, confirmed afterward that Inoue’s next fight will be in Las Vegas. Arum evoked comparisons with Ohtani, the star Japanese baseball player for the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Women’s basketball players reflect on Kobe Bryant’s impact

Memories of the NBA star’s death, five years ago, are still strong

By Alanis Thames The Associated Press

DEARICA HAMBY still smiles at the memory of Kobe Bryant sitting courtside at WNBA games. She had met him years ago. He came to see her old team, the Las Vegas Aces, play all the time.

“I think one of the first things he told me was that I could play defense,” Hamby recalled. “And I was kind of like ‘Wha-at?’ ... That’s something I’ll cherish with me forever.”

That epitomized the late NBA great’s relationship with the women’s game. After his 20-year playing career ended, Bryant turned his focus to the next generation, mentoring some of women’s basketball’s biggest stars, from WNBA champion and Olympic gold medalist Diana Taurasi to former

He worked out with them, analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of their game and pushed for them to reach the same heights in popularity that he and his NBA peers did.

For Hamby, now with the Los Angeles Sparks, Bryant saw an aspect of her game she didn’t even know she had.

“If Kobe tells you you can play defense, you can play defense,” she quipped.

Five years after Bryant, 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, several women’s basketball players reflected on what he meant to their game and how he championed it. Many of them thought Bryant would be pleased with the overall progress of women’s sports, which have skyrocketed in popularity and reach in recent years.

“We carry this on for him,” said Satou Sabally, a forward with the WNBA’s Dallas Wings who plays for the Phantom

ESPN pleased with 1st season of expanded College Football Playoff

Interest in the playoffs was high, although ratings were mixed

By Joe Reedy The Associated Press

THE INAUGURAL season of the 12-team College Football Playoff had its share of highlights and criticisms from fans and the media.

The same can be said for the network carrying the games.

Nick Dawson, ESPN’s vice president of college sports programming and acquisitions, said the first year was a success from their standpoint as they begin taking a deeper dive into possible improvements going into next season.

“A lot of unknowns doing something for the first time, so you’ll always sort of assess after the fact, learn and potentially look at tweaks or adjustments we might consider for the future,” Dawson said.

The 11 College Football Playoff games averaged 15.6 million viewers according to Nielsen, as audiences increased during each round. According to ESPN, viewers consumed nearly 36 billion minutes of live coverage, a 63% increase over last year’s seven-game

slate of the CFP title game and New Year’s six bowl games.

The four first-round games averaged 10.6 million viewers, with the quarterfinals at 16.9 million. The semifinals averaged 19.2 million, while Ohio State’s 34-23 victory over Notre Dame in Monday night’s national championship game drew 22.1 million.

“Obviously there were a few more games, but to see that kind of jump in just overall consumption of the product is hopefully something we can build on moving forward,” Dawson said.

There are some headwinds that ESPN will deal with under the current format. The semifinal audience decreased 17% from last year, but most of that was due to those games being on Jan. 1, 2024, compared to games on Thursday and Friday.

Notre Dame’s 27-24 victory over Penn State in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9 averaged 17.8 million. By comparison, the most-watched “Thursday Night Football” game on Amazon Prime Video this season was 17.29 million for Green Bay versus Detroit on Dec. 2.

The Jan. 10 Cotton Bowl — where Ohio State defeated Texas 28-24 — averaged 20.6 mil-

squad in Unrivaled. “He would be so proud of this league. He would be proud of ’Phe and Stewie. I know that he’s looking down and hopefully he’s smiling and is proud of us.” Sabally said she still gets emotional when she thinks of that day on Jan. 26, 2020. It reminds her of her playing days at Oregon, when she, Ionescu and their Ducks teammates connected over Bryant.

“I think about ... how we all bonded together over Kobe and how we bonded together for the rest of our lives because he was so impactful,” Sabally added. “He was really a person that saw us women as the talents who we are. He came to the games, he was so outspoken and he really was really supportive.”

“I still remember exactly where I was whenever we heard the news,” said Kate Martin of the Golden State Valkyries, playing for Laces BC at Unrivaled, “and no one really knew if it was fake or real. I think that’s just one of those things

where you’re just always going to remember exactly where you were when you heard that.” Bryant became heavily involved with his daughters’ hoops journeys and coached Gianna’s youth team. He was often at women’s basketball games, especially college ones, with Gianna, who was fascinated with the UConn Huskies. Gianna was in line to further Bryant’s legacy on the court. The plan was for her to attend Connecticut, and surely the WNBA was next.

“I think a lot of people started to follow behind Kobe because he recognized our gift and our talent and how special it really is,” said former Chicago Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon, the current coach of Unrivaled’s Vinyl BC. “And his daughter was right there as well.”

That’s who Bryant had become — a face of women’s sports advocacy.

“He’s greatly missed,” Martin said. “But now his legacy will live on forever.”

lion and was the most-watched Friday telecast across all networks in four years. Ohio State-Notre Dame was a 12% drop from the 25 million who tuned in for the Michigan-Washington title game in 2024.

CFP games ended up being nine of the 10 most-viewed this season, with three games averaging at least 20 million. The other was the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl, which always attracts a large audience. What Dawson and ESPN are hoping for the most though are more competitive title games.

Since Alabama’s 26-23 overtime victory over Georgia in 2018, the last seven title games have had an average margin of victory of 25.4 points. The three least-viewed of the 11 CFP title games have

occurred in the past five years.

Monday night’s game peaked at 26.1 million viewers during the second quarter (8:30-8:45 p.m. EST) when the game was tied at 7-all. The audience started decreasing when the Buckeyes took a 21-7 lead at halftime and took a big drop when Ohio State built a 31-7 advantage midway though the third quarter.

“You always hope for, from a TV perspective, for a tight game to the finish, right? That’s one of the biggest factors driving the ultimate viewership, but it’s also not something that you can control,” Dawson said. “Blowouts are not a college football thing. That occurs in every sport and every playoff from time to time. So you sort of have to accept that’s going to be a reality once in a while.”

Fans watch live at the College Football Playoff national championship game between Ohio State and Notre Dame in Atlanta.

Oregon star Sabrina Ionescu.

MICHAEL OWEN BAKER / AP PHOTO

Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna attend an NBA game in Los Angeles.

Michael McNeal Martin Sr.

March 18, 1942 – Jan. 24, 2025

Michael McNeal Martin, 82 years old, of Pinehurst, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and son, died at home on January 24th as a result of heart complications.

Mike was born March 18, 1942, in Charleston, West Virginia to the late Leslie and Marjorie Martin. He and his wife Sarah, who died in 2014, were childhood sweethearts having been together since junior high school in Charleston and married immediately after graduation from the United States Naval Academy in 1964. They toured the world their entire life first with the Navy and then as corporate gypsies with AT&T/Western Electric/Lucent Technologies before settling on Pinehurst as their retirement location after 24 moves. Both Mike and Sarah were avid antiquers and established and ran antique businesses in nearly every town they lived in.

He is survived by his two sons, Brian M. Martin (Kathy) of Columbus, Ohio and Michael M. Martin (Ranee) of Naperville, IL., their children Max McNeal, Madelyne Ann, Abby Michelle, Christopher Matthew and his sister Leslie Susan Neal of Tyler, TX, 12 nieces and nephews and many, many dear and loving friends. He is also predeceased by brothers Larry & David.

A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday, January 28th, at the Boles Funeral Home in Pinehurst located at 35 Parker Lane followed by a reception at Pinewild Country Club, at 85 Glasgow Dr. Memorial donations can be made to Moore Humane Society online or via mail at PO Box 203, Southern Pines, NC 28388

He will be inurned at the Naval Academy Columbarium with his beloved wife Sarah.

Boles Funeral Home and Crematory of Pinehurst is assisting the family.

Stephen J. Loomis

Feb. 8, 1952 – Jan. 21, 2025

Stephen J. Loomis passed away peacefully on January 21, 2025, after a season of illness.

He was born in Oklahoma City on February 8, 1952, to F. J. and Priscilla Loomis and they moved later that year to Paw Paw, Michigan.

Steve followed his parents to North Carolina in 1974 where he spent most of the next 50 years.

For six years he served in the US Marine Corps and then apprenticed in carpentry and home construction and worked in that field until his retirement.

He was preceded in death by his former wife Gloria Adams Loomis and his mother Priscilla Loomis.

He is survived by his father F. J. Loomis of Whispering Pines, NC, his son Brian Loomis of Paw Paw, MI, three grandchildren Alexandra Loomis McGee of Tulsa, OK, Lacy Jean Loomis and Dylan Loomis of Paw Paw, MI, and by his sisters Dana Corcoran (Patrick), Lacy Pessagno (Larry), and nieces and nephews.

The family will hold a private burial. Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.

Angelia “Karen” Britt

Oct. 5, 1953 – Jan. 19, 2025

Angelia “Karen” Britt, 71, of Pinehurst, NC passed away Sunday, January 19, 2025, at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst. Karen was born October 5, 1953, in Richmond County, NC to the late Robert Lloyd Britt and the late Margie Mae Yates. Karen attended JohnstonWillis College in Richmond, VA. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in nursing and began working at JohnstonWillis Hospital. She became the hospital administrator there and at another hospital during her working career. She also worked as the chief operating officer for a friend’s home healthcare organization. She worked diligently with her expertise to grow the company to the point it became profitable and attractive for sale. After retirement, Karen moved to Pinehurst where she enjoyed one of her great passions, a game of golf. She is survived by her sister, Pamela Hilliard (Philip); aunts, Peggy Yates and Kate Holder; cousins, Sam Yates, Tony Yates (Kim), Mona Shumake (Chris) and Mandy Owen (Bill) and other extended family.

Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Pinehurst.

Charles “Curtiss” Cates

May 13, 1934 – Jan. 19, 2025

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at obits@northstatejournal.com

Curtiss Cates passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 19, 2025, at FirstHealth Hospice in Pinehurst, NC. Curtiss was born on May 13, 1934, to Addis Pittard Cates and Esther Curtiss Cates. He graduated from Faison High School in 1952 and was an Eagle Scout and a three-sport athlete. He graduated from Davidson College in 1956 where he was a member of the basketball team and the Sigma Chi fraternity. Following two years of Army service stationed in Japan, Curtiss returned to Faison to work in the family business and to start a family. He later moved to Parkton, NC and then Hope Mills, NC. He served as elder at the Faison, Parkton & Hope Mills Presbyterian Churches. Curtiss was retired President of Addis Cates Company, a shipper of green/brined cucumbers to the pickle industry. Curtiss enjoyed attending high school, college and professional sporting events his entire life. He also cheered on his children and grandchildren throughout their lives. His tennis game was stronger than his golf. He spent hours in the yard, but the moles bested him in the end. His passion was ice cream. He enjoyed the company of friends from all walks of life. Curtiss is survived by his wife Monica. They were married and were constant companions for 36 years. He is also survived by his daughter Laura Robbins (Kevin) of Lockport, NY and their daughters Margaret Montgomery (Steve) of Wayne, PA & their son Colton; Mary Rachel Robbins of Reston, VA; and Anna Robbins of Oak Park, IL. Also son John Cates (Janee) of Southern Pines, NC and their sons Brice Cates (Taylor) of Jacksonville, NC & their daughter Waylon; and Robert Cates of Jackson, WY. He is survived as well by Monica’s daughters Lynne Tetroe, Dena Price and Jill McDougall and their families in Ontario, Canada. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Brooks and Tad, his son Charles Curtiss Cates Jr. and his great-grandson Josiah Charles Montgomery. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 25 at Faison Presbyterian Church, 507 West Main Street, Faison. The family will receive friends afterward in the church fellowship hall. A private burial will take place at Phillips Chapel United Methodist Church, Haw River, NC.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Faison Presbyterian Church, PO Box 160, Faison, NC 28341, or Hope Mills Presbyterian Church, PO Box 298, Hope Mills, NC 28348. Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.

STATE & NATION

Trump order ending federal DEI programs leaves uncertain ground

The president pledged to eliminate the programs during the campaign

The Associated Press

FROM FEDERAL agencies

to stakeholders who receive federal dollars for special training, many are trying to process how President Donald Trump’s sweeping executive order putting a stop to diversity, equity and inclusion programs across the U.S. government will upend their work.

DEI laws and programs have been under attack for years by Republicans who contend that the measures threaten merit-based hiring, promotion and educational opportunities of white people, specifically white men. Criticism comes from other sectors, as well: Some Asian Americans argue it unfairly limits opportunities for high-achieving students and workers, and some in the black community believe it undermines years of progress.

However, DEI supporters say the programs are necessary to ensure that institutions meet the needs of increasingly diverse populations and the impact of the loss of these measures goes beyond people of color.

On Wednesday, Trump put the federal government’s weight behind the push to end such programs by signing an executive order that would effectively dismantle them from all aspects of the federal government.

“To the people who oppose us, the ones who attack DEI, they have tried to bastardize that acronym,” Virginia Kase Solomón, president and CEO of Common Cause, said last Wednesday during a call-to-action panel after Trump’s anti-DEI executive

order. “Instead, they want to diminish and exterminate and incapacitate progress towards a multiracial democracy to maintain white supremacy and concentration of wealth.”

How did it happen?

Republican lawmakers who oppose DEI programs — created to address systemic inequities faced by certain groups — say they are discriminatory and promote left-wing ideology.

During his campaign for president, Trump vowed to end “wokeness” and “leftist indoctrination” in education. He pledged to dismantle diversity programs he says amount to discrimination and to impose fines on colleges “up to the entire amount of their endowment.”

In 2023, conservatives notched a long-sought win when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down affirmative action programs in higher education, finding that race-conscious admissions violate the Constitution. That ruling drew increased legal challenges to DEI initiatives, with some American companies citing the decision in scaling back their diversity policies.

What does Trump’s order call for?

The executive action calls for the termination of DEI programs, mandates, policies, preferences and activities in the federal government, along with the review and revision of existing federal employment practices, union contracts and training policies or programs.

Agency, department and commission heads have 60 days to terminate to the maximum extent allowed by law all DEI, DEIA and “environmental justice” offic-

es and positions, action plans, equity-related grants or contracts, as well as end all DEI or DEIA performance requirements.

It also targets federal contractors who have provided DEI training or materials, and grantees who received federal funding to provide or advance DEI programs, services or activities since former President Joe Biden took office in 2021.

Paolo Gaudiano provides DEI consulting services to a government contractor and a federal academy via his company, Aleria, which helps organizations measure inclusion, and ARC, a nonprofit focused on DEI research.

He has not heard from any agencies he works with about his contract status since Trump’s executive order. What he is hearing is that employees are terrified because the order’s meaning is unclear.

“Does it mean closing the office but giving them a different position?” Gaudiano said. “It is a mess, a complete mess.”

Many federal employees would not speak with reporters out of concern about the punitive environment within the White House.

“It’s possible that I will reach out to them and find out that they’ve all been terminated,” Gaudiano said.

Even with a rollback, Gaudiano is sure employees and contractors will still pursue some form of DEI programs, especially if it helps productivity. Although anti-DEI groups often focus on racial identity, underrepresented populations can mean women, the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities or veterans.

“What is happening is that you’re focusing on structural organizational problems, which often impacts minority groups or

underrepresented groups more than majority groups,” Gaudiano said. “When you’re fixing the problems, you fix the problems for everybody. And it just happens to benefit underrepresented groups as well as minority groups.”

What effect did the anti-DEI movement have before the executive order?

• Dozens of diversity, equity and inclusion programs have already closed in Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, Iowa, Nebraska, Texas and other states.

• Almost 200 diversity, equity and inclusion staff positions were either cut or reassigned across North Carolina’s public university system. Last May, the UNC Chapel Hill Board of Trustees approved diverting $2.3 million of state funds for advancing diversity to public safety and policing.

• Texas’ 2023 law led to the University of Texas cutting 300 full- and part-time positions and eliminating more than 600 programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion training.

• In 2023, Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt signed an anti-DEI order that led to last year’s termination of the national women’s leadership program at the University of Oklahoma.

• Universities of Wisconsin regents reached a deal with Republican lawmakers in 2023 to limit DEI positions at the system’s two dozen campuses in exchange for funds for staff raises and construction projects. The deal imposed a hiring freeze on diversity positions through 2026 and shifted more than 40 diversity-related positions to focus on “student success.”

How will the executive order be carried out?

The Office of Personnel Management in a memo last Tuesday directed agencies to place DEI office staffers on paid leave by 5 p.m. the following day and take down all public DEI-focused webpages by the same deadline.

Agencies must also cancel any DEI-related training and end any related contracts, and federal workers are being asked to report to Trump’s Office of Personnel Management if they suspect any DEI-related program has been renamed to obfuscate its purpose within 10 days or face “adverse consequences.”

By last Thursday, federal agencies were directed to compile a list of federal DEI offices and workers as of Election Day. By this Friday, they are expected to develop a plan to execute a “reduction-in-force action” against those federal workers.

It may be easy for Trump to sign such an order but more difficult to carry out, said Frederick Gooding Jr., African American studies professor at Texas Christian University and author of “American Dream Deferred: Black Federal Workers in Washington, D.C., 1941-1981.”

“It’s not going to be as easy to execute,” Gooding said. “It’s going to be more of a fantasy. There are no quick fixes for these issues that took years, if not centuries, to develop.”

The National Urban League and the National Fair Housing Alliance, as government contractors, and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit against a similar executive order issued during Trump’s first administration, arguing it trampled on freedom of speech rights. A California federal court suspended that order in response to a similar lawsuit filed by Lambda Legal, an organization that advocates for the rights of LGBTQ people.

“This will test us,” National Urban League President Marc Moriel said last week during a roundtable that the group hosted. “These orders are unlawful; they are unconstitutional.”

Google will change map names for Gulf of Mexico, Denali

The company honors geographic names from national governments

The Associated Press

GOOGLE SAYS it will take its cue from the U.S. government if it has to change the names of the Gulf of Mexico and Denali on its maps.

The company said Monday that it will only make changes when the government updates its official listings for the body of water and the mountain.

After taking office, President Donald Trump ordered that the water bordered by the Southern United States, Mexico and Cuba be renamed to the Gulf of America. He also ordered America’s highest mountain peak be changed back to Mt. McKinley.

“We have a longstand-

“We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources.”

Google statement

ing practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources,” Google said in a post on X.

The company said that Maps will reflect any updates to the Geographic Names Information System, a database of more than 1 million geographic features in the United States.

“When that happens, we will update Google Maps in the U.S. quickly to show Mount McKin-

ley and Gulf of America,” Google said.

“Denali” is the mountain’s preferred name for Alaska Natives. Former President Barack Obama ordered it changed in 2015 from its previous name “McKinley,” which was a tribute to President William McKinley, designated in the late 19th century by a gold prospector.

The Associated Press, which provides news around the world to multiple audiences, will refer to the Gulf of Mexico by its original name, which it has carried for 400 years, while acknowledging the name Gulf of America.

AP will, however, use the name Mount McKinley instead of Denali; the area lies solely in the United States and as president, Trump has the authority to change federal geographical names within the country.

JILL KARNICKI / HOUSTON CHRONICLE VIA AP

The water in the Gulf of Mexico — which President Donald Trump has proposed be renamed the Gulf of America — appears bluer than usual off of East Beach in 2023 from Galveston, Texas.