Springhas sprung
With the clocks springingahead over theweekend andtemperatures on the rise Bradfordpear trees indowntownRaeford areinfull bloom making winter feellikeadistant memory.
the BRIEF
thi s week
February, though trade war threatens to lift prices
time since September on steel and aluminum kicked in Wednesday that could send prices higher. The consumer price index increased 2.8% in February from a year ago, Wednesday’s report from the Labor Department showed, down from 3% the previous month. Core prices, which exclude the volatile food and energy categories, rose 3.1% from a year earlier, down from 3.3% in January. The in nearly four years. The declines were larger than economists expected, according to a survey by data provider FactSet.
Trump warns that arrest of Palestinian activist at Columbia
President Donald Trump is warning that the arrest and possible deportation of a Palestinian activist who helped lead protests at Columbia University come” as his administration cracks down on protests aga inst the war in Gaza. Mahmoud Khalil was arrested Saturday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. His lawyer says the agents claimed the government was revoking his green card. DHS has said the arrest was in response to Trump’s executive orders prohibiting antisemitism.
$2.00
Expansion ofphone-free pilot program approved by Boardof Education
Thepilotwillbecomingtoboth Northwood and Chatham Central High Schools
By RyanHenkel ChathamNews & Record
PITTSBORO—Chatham CountySchools(CCS)willbe expandingitspilotprogram forphone-free classrooms.
AtitsMarch10meeting,the ChathamCountySchoolsBoard ofEducationapprovedtheexpansionoftheYondrPouchpilotprogramtobothNorthwood andChathamCentralHigh School.
YondrPouchisadevice schoolscanutilizetocreate “phone-free spaces.” Phonesareplaced insideof thepouches,whicharethen locked,preventingtheiruse. Students,however,stillmaintainpossessionoftheirphone at alltimesandcanuseanun-
See BOARD, page A3
Hudson saysvoterswill ‘rewardus’ forTrump-Musk DOGE cuts
TheNorth Carolinacongressman ischair ofthe NationalRepublicanCongressional Committee
By Lisa Mascaro TheAssociated Press
WASHINGTON,D.C.—Almostt wo monthsintoPresident DonaldTrump’ssecondterm,
Braggto
the chairmanoftheHouseRepublican campaigncommittee isalreadypredictinghispartywillpickupseatsinthemidtermelectionssome 20 months away.
Liberty and backagain
“It should have never been changed to start with. It was all political anyway.” CarlHelton, whoserved at FortBragg from1962 to1964
TheArmyheld a ceremony torechristentheN.C. base previouslynamed for aConfederategeneral
By Allen G Breed and MakiyaSeminera TheAssociatedPress
FORTBRAGG—The short-livedexistenceofFortLibertycametoanendFridaywhen thenation’slargestArmy instalformername:For t Bragg. Christenedacenturyagoin honorofConfederateGen.BraxtonBragg,thepostinNorthCarolinawasrenamedin2023amid adrivetoremovesymbolsofthe Confederacy frompublic spaces. Butlast month,DefenseSecretaryPeteHegsethsignedan
Rep.RichardHudson (R-N.C.)isin chargeofincreasingtheGOP’sslimmajorityin theHouse,or at leastdefending it. Af terRepublicansmetprivately thispastweek withElon Musk,Hudsonsaidthecuts pushedbytheDepartmentof
onatingwith voters.
orderreinstatingtheBragg name,only thistimeitwillhonorArmyPfc.Roland L .Bragg,a WorldWar II paratrooperand SilverStarrecipientfromMaine. Afewhundredpeople—made upofactiveservicemenand membersof thepublic—gatheredunderblackandyellow tentsinfrontofthebase’scommandcenterheadquartersto watchthe renaming ceremony.
“Today we honoraheroworthyofthenameBragg,”Lt.Gen. GregAndersonsaidduringthe ceremony.“Itissy nonymous with excellence.”
Amongtheattendeeswere severalmembersofBragg’sfamily,includinghisdaughter,DianeWatts,andhisgranddaughter,RebeccaAmirpour,who spokeonthefamily’sbehalf duringtheceremony.Amirpour describedhergrandfatherasa “strong,hardworkingandproud” manwhodidn’tdiscusshismilitaryserviceinWorldWar II very openly. Bragg,whoservedwiththe
85%
Percentage ofsurveyed CCS YondrPouch improvedstudent engagement,academicsand overall school climate.
Withdisruptions at GOP townhallsduringtherecent break,HudsonandHouse Spea kerMikeJohnson(R-La.) havetoldRepublicanlawmakerstoskiptheeventsfornow andmeetwithconstituents elsewhere.Nevertheless,Hud-denttheir budget-cuttingis“on the side of the angels.” Here’sthepoliticaloutlook fromthe chairmanoftheNationalRepublicanCongressionalCommitteeasheconfronts Democratstryingtowinback
THURSDAY
We stand corrected
To report an error or a suspected error, please email: corrections@nsjonline.com with “Correction request” in the subject line.
CRIME LOG
March 3
• Kathryn Ariana Truitt, 32, of Bear Creek, was arrested for burglary, breaking and entering, theft, and damaging property.
• Pate Russell Scott, 35, of Bear Creek, was arrested for simple assault, assault with a deadly weapon, and assault by pointing a gun.
• Troy Thomas Blankenship II, 37, of Siler City, was arrested for communicating threats.
March 4
• Cassie Danielle Jordan, 37, of Ramseur, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana up to half an ounce, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Derek Rile Green, 48, of Staley, was arrested for misdemeanor stalking and manufacturing liquor without a permit.
March 5
• Larry Raymond Smith Jr, 39, of Bear Creek, was arrested for felony stalking, cyberstalking, and violating a domestic violence protection order.
March 6
• Marshall Sidney Gowings Jr, 48, of Pittsboro, was arrested for speeding and reckless driving with wanton disregard.
• Stacy Lawrence Currie, 52, of Siler City, was arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance on prison or jail premises and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
March 7
• Brandon Edward Scott, 41, of Siler City, was arrested for assault by strangulation, battery of an unborn child, and assault on a female.
the House in 2026. This Q&A has been edited for brevity and length.
What was your advice about holding town halls?
I just said that it’s very important that all of us are communicating with our constituents, are very visible in our districts, very accessible. And it’s a shame that Democrat organizations are paying people to disrupt in-person town halls. And so this normal dialogue that we want to have with our constituents isn’t possible at in-person town halls. So we need to use technology to reach our constituents.
Do you think the DOGE cuts will be a tough sell?
I think it’s the greatest thing that’s happened since I’ve been in Congress.
My biggest frustration as a member of Congress is these massive bureaucracies that hide all their spending and when I ask questions or send letters, ignore it. And now it’s all mapped. You can see it all. There’s transparency for the American people. Now we can go in and decide, do we like the taxpayers’ dollars being spent on this program? Yes. Let’s keep it. This one? No, let’s cut it. I mean, we actually can do our job. It’s exciting. It’s exhilarating.
Do you feel any blowback back home from people losing their jobs, cuts to veterans?
(Musk) did say that the the the rings at the VA (Department of Veterans A airs) were a mistake done by that agency, by the VA. He said mistakes were made by bureaucrats.
What do you make of the 80,000 cuts at the VA?
I’m disturbed when I hear veterans are being red. I think we ought to give veterans priority. But, you know, I do acknowledge that there may need to be rings in all these agencies.
When it comes to the VA, for example, what I’m concerned about is giving world-class health care to our veterans in a timely manner. And so any waste, fraud and abuse that makes that di cult or messes that up, I’m interested in cutting.
What’s your message to the red federal workers, what do you say to them?
Hang tight.
What’s that mean?
I mean there may be some mistakes that are being corrected.
Do you think that will be an OK message for other GOP lawmakers to use?
The American people are sick of the swamp. They’re sick of waste, fraud and abuse. For the rst time ever, we nally have the tools to a ect it. So I think the voters are going to reward us.
Democrats envision a repeat of Trump’s rst term, when they won back the House?
I think they’re digging their own grave politically.
We’re on the side of the angels. We’re doing what the American people asked us to do, what 77 million people voted for Donald Trump to get.
We’re going to pick up seats.
CHATHAM happening
Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Chatham County:
March 13
Anime, Ramen and Sake Watch Party 6-8 p.m.
Join Koshu Sake every Thursday, 6-8 p.m. for an Anime, Ramen and Sake Watch Party! Movie selections are announced a few days before each event on their Facebook page. You must be 21 with an ID to consume sake. Part of the Chatham County Craft Beverages & Country Inns Trail.
The Plant 220 Lorax Lane Pittsboro
Opinionation Trivia at House of Pops
6-8 p.m.
Join House of Hops every Thursday, 6-8 p.m. for Opinionation Trivia. This Family Feud-style trivia game is so much fun! Play at 6 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. for two chances to win $15 or $25 House of Hops gift cards. More events at House of Hops; part of Chatham County’s Craft Beverages and Country Inns Trail.
112 Russet Run Suite 110 Pittsboro
March 14
Vino!! Wine Shop Tasting 5-7 p.m.
Weekly free tastings at Vino!! Wine Shop are hosted every Friday. Experts share their picks of wines with varied pricing and from diverse locations. Tasting details, including which wines will be served, are shared on their Facebook page and in their newsletter.
March
15
Battle of the Chili Bowl Fundraisers
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
$20 entry fee per pot of homemade chili (2 gallons – approximate standard crock pot size). Chili must be cooked o -site and brought to the judging location listed below. Please bring a list of ingredients used for each pot. For those who want to eat chili and other items that will be served, please stop in to support the Chatham County American Legion Posts. Plates are $10 each. For additional information, contact 919-799-7583.
721 Alston Bridge Road Siler City
ALEX BRANDON / AP PHOTO
Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) attends a meeting of the House GOP conference in November.
17th Airborne Division, received the Silver Star and a Purple Heart for exceptional courage during the Battle of the Bulge. He was captured by Germans and commandeered an ambulance back to safety with a few wounded paratroopers, one of which survived, Anderson said.
“Rank doesn’t mean a thing when you’re in a tight spot,” said Amirpour, who was reading an excerpt from a letter her grandfather had written while recovering from an injury in an Army hospital.
Before his deployment, Bragg — of Nobleboro, Maine — trained at the North Carolina post, Watts said.
When the redesignation was announced Feb. 10, some critics saw it as a cynical sop to President Donald Trump, who criticized the removal of Confederate names as “woke” and made restoring them part of his reelection campaign.
Fort Bragg’s name being restored was like a “phoenix rising from the ashes,” said retired Maj. Al Woodall, who served at Fort Bragg at several points
during his service. Woodall, who is black, said he wasn’t bothered by the installation’s initial name origin. Instead, he felt connected to the name because it had been that way for more than 100 years.
Carl Helton, who served at Fort Bragg from 1962 to 1964, said he was “ecstatic” about the name change. The 80-year-old, who traveled about an hour to attend the ceremony, refused to call the installation Fort Liberty after it was initially renamed, he said.
“It should have never been changed to start with. It was all political anyway,” Helton said.
Hegseth signed the order during a ight to Europe and said in a video, “That’s right. Bragg is back.”
It took an act of Congress — overriding Trump’s 2020 veto — to remove Confederate names from military installations, including nine Army facilities. Although several lawmakers complained about the switch backto Bragg and its potential costs, it is unclear whether any lawmaker intends to challenge it.
The name changing continues.
Hegseth announced this
week that Georgia’s Fort Moore would revert back to Fort Benning. Originally named for Confederate Brig. Gen. Henry L. Benning, it will now honor Cpl. Fred G. Benning, a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross who served in France during World War I.
The Liberty-to-Bragg reversion was made without rst consulting with Roland Bragg’s family, but his daughter was delighted by it.
The Army said in 2023 that changing the name to Fort Liberty would cost $8 million. North Carolina’s Department of Transportation said last month that it anticipated replacing dozens of roads signs at a cost of over $200,000.
Changing the name to Fort Liberty was a waste of money to begin with, said Mike D’Arcy, who served at Fort Bragg through the 1990s. He said a solution to having to pay more to revert Fort Bragg’s name should be cutting politician salaries instead.
To Woodall, the money spent on returning to Bragg is a well-spent investment.
“Just like coming back home again,” he said.
Church News
CENTER METHODIST CHURCH
9204 Center Church Road/Green Hill Road O 87 South | Snow Camp COUNTRY BREAKFAST
6:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. Saturday, March 22 Donations Accepted
Sausage/Bacon Country Ham Homemade Biscuits Country Gravy Grits/Eggs Stewed Apples Co ee And Drinks
Everyone Welcome And We Thank You For Your Support!
locking base, typically located outside of the classroom, to remove their phones from the pouches. The pilot was rst implemented at six schools: Chatham Middle, George Moses Horton Middle, Margaret Pollard Middle, One Academy, Jordan-Matthew High and Seaforth High.
“Chatham County Schools acknowledges the signi cant impact of cell phone distractions and the harmful e ects of social media on teenager’s learning and mental health,” said Chris Poston, senior director of excellence and opportunity. “To address these challenges, we are committed to exploring e ective solutions that enhance student focus, promote classroom engagement and promote a safe school environment.”
According to Poston, in a survey sent to sta , parents and students, 85% of sta members who commented felt like the Yondr Pouch improved student engagement, academics and overall school climate.
“Seaforth High School, they have tracked the number of students who had Ds and Fs each quarter and at this time last year, they had 241 Fs in classes and this year, it was 59,” said Tracy Fowler, senior executive director of student services and support programs.
“That is a huge success.”
Pilot schools also reported a 31% decrease in suspensions as a collective than in the prior year.
tance on projects of all sizes.”
According to Fowler, RTI will collaborate with CCS to analyze community challenges, existing interventions, available research and contextual factors to guide evidence-based strategies for adapting and implementing “What Works in Schools” aligned strategies, a CDC program focused on promoting adolescent physical and mental health and well-being
“Their goal will be to work with Chatham County Schools to identify speci c activities related to health education, health services and safe and supportive environments,” Fowler said. “They want to focus on families, schools and community engagement.”
The agreement will award $40,000 annually to CCS over the next ve years for things such as sta training and community events.
Finally, the board received multiple comments from members of the Chatham County Association of Educators (CCAE) — a branch of the North Carolina Association of Educators — during its public comment period calling for additional support and incentive pay for exceptional children (EC) teachers, instructional assistants and bilingual sta at CCS in the upcoming budget.
“We want to make sure that every single child — our EC students, our ML students — have all the support and safety that they need in order to thrive,” said Brandy Varner, a CCS elementary school teacher and member of the CCAE.
Central Electric awards two Touchstone Energy Sports Camp Scholarships annually to local students in Chatham,
To be eligible to apply, the student must be in the sixth or seventh grade during the upcoming school year, have permission from a parent or guardian to attend the overnight camp and must provide their own transportation if selected to attend.
Scan the QR code or visit CEMCPower.com for more information or to apply. e deadline for applications to both camps is March 31.
“When we see the reduction in the number of disciplinary infractions, particularly, we’re not having issues around cell phones,” said Superintendent Anthony Jackson. “Very few. So that tells me we’re breaking through some walls. It might not be perfect, but we’re getting there with that.”
The board also approved a subaward agreement with RTI International, an independent, scienti c research institute “with structures to serve their partners with assis-
“We know in order to do this, you have to have highly qualied sta and competent sta and sta who will give their unwavering dedication to their kids every day like all the sta members here.”
Another item that CCAE wanted to see was the reinstatement of master’s pay and that is an item that the district has already included in its 2025-26 preliminary budget.
The Chatham County Board of Education will next meet April 14.
Share with your community! Send your birth, death, marriage, graduation and other announcements to community@ chathamnewsrecord.com
The weekly deadline is Monday at Noon.
BOARD from page A1
CHRIS SEWARD / AP PHOTO
A color guard stands in front of the headquarters building as Lt. Gen. Gregory Anderson speaks as Fort Liberty was rededicated as Fort Bragg during a ceremony on base last Friday.
THE CONVERSATION
Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
Integrity, like a tree
Integrity is often de ned as doing the right thing when no one is watching.
THERE IS A YOUNG RED maple that stands alone about 20 feet from a neighborhood trailhead. Acer rubrum is one of the most common in our state, but while this tree has the expected burning red leaves in autumn, it is distinguished by particular hangings in winter and early spring.
The tree is a living lost and found, displaying various items collected on the trail: hats, beanies, mittens, gloves, scarves and hooded sweatshirts. In addition to articles of clothing, there are walking sticks leaned against the trunk and even an occasional toy wedged in the low branches. Once, I saw a baseball tucked into the crook of a branch and was tempted to claim it, but I refrained out of respect for the unwritten code of honor — if it’s not yours, then leave it.
Integrity is often de ned as doing the right thing when no one is watching. A hiker could just as easily leave a discarded item along the trail. Another passerby might take an item from the tree that did not belong to him. But we hang the misplaced items from the tree, trusting that their original owners will collect them. Over this past weekend, a baseball cap bearing the American ag hung from a branch. Walking past, I re ected that this spirit symbolized the type of country that I am proud of, one in which neighbors and strangers look out for one another in a culture of integrity.
Of course, there are myriad examples of
dishonesty and deceit in the country, even here in my neighborhood. This includes my faults. Just as a red maple is readily identi ed by its leaves, so our character is displayed by the fruit of our actions, and we all fall short at some point.
Yet our understanding of what makes our country “great” impacts our behavior as well. New York Times columnist Damien Cave recently wrote about his grandfather’s habit of hiding one Easter egg containing a $100 bill. As a boy, Cave would search frantically for this prize, but a cousin always found it rst. “It’s just not fair,” he yelled. “Life’s unfair,” his grandfather replied. “You win or you lose.” Cave used this anecdote to illustrate zero-sum thinking — the belief that gains for one mean losses for someone else.
I understand that life is not fair in many ways, yet I am also trying to model a di erent ethic than zero-sum for my children. We respect the code of honor about the maple tree as well as treat our neighbors with the same kindness that we hope others will show us. I am by no means perfect. But they say that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and I try to model integrity for my children that I believe marks great citizenship.
Andrew Taylor-Troutman’s newest book is “This Is the Day.” He serves as pastor of Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church as well as a writer, pizza maker, co ee drinker and student of joy.
Lessons learned through the years are valuable as we move along
All that is said to point out that as I have more candles on the birthday cake, my perspective on life changes and grows.
THERE ARE ALL SORTS of universal human emotions and feelings — to love and to be loved, to know (or at least to believe) your life counts for something and a host of other emotions and beliefs.
At least I believe there are those beliefs, knowing all the while there are some folks who couldn’t care less about any of those things. And, to me, I also believe those folks who don’t care are somewhere between enjoying life and merely being alive. I get that di erent folks have had and still have di erent backgrounds — plenty and want, sickness and health, love and abuse. But I also fundamentally believe life is not so much which way the wind blows but how you set your sails.
All that is said to point out that as I have more candles on the birthday cake, my perspective on life changes and grows. And I’ll bet you can say the same thing. Life isn’t best measured in fame and fortune but in relationships. The rst and best of those is found in realizing life isn’t an accident or chance but that there is a Divine Reality. And from that then comes the ability and opportunity to have other relationships. This week marks the anniversary of the appearance of one of those important relationships in my life — the birthday of my rstborn. I won’t divulge her age — you never tell a lady’s age — but su ce it to say when either of us says it, it doesn’t roll of the tongue easily. Of course, I can say the same about my years and maybe you can yours, as well. If I imagine I am her age, then it really sounds more like I think things should be.
Anyway, as I look back on her years and the family photos, I marvel at how both of us and the people
around us and in the pictures have also changed. And I think that’s one of the big bene ts of relationship — to travel life with folks who mean something to you.
That means we — and they — have to take the good with the bad, the warts with the beauty marks. I still remember when years ago she came to me one day out of the blue and asked me, “Could I ever do anything to make you stop loving me?”
As she stood there, I realized she was waiting for an answer. I eyed her with curiosity and after a long pause before responding, said to her, “What have you got in mind?”
“Nothing,” she said. Then I realized what she was really asking me was is my love conditional. And the answer to both is “No.” I might not like some things she does at times, but I won’t stop loving her. I guess you could say the same about Al Capone’s mother, as well.
Today, she’s no longer the 6-month old I used to take outside in the middle of the night to walk around the yard so she would stop crying. Instead, she’s a mother of her own three-member brood and, I think, making a di erence where she is. I know she does for me.
Here’s hoping you have some of those relationships — from the ultimate Divine to the local practical. If you don’t, try it.
I believe you’ll like it.
Bob Wachs is a native of Chatham County and emeritus editor at Chatham News & Record. He serves as pastor of Bear Creek Baptist Church.
COLUMN | ANDREW TAYLOR-TROUTMAN
COLUMN | BOB WACHS
Appearances can be deceiving
For the sake of bucking up my felt independence, I created a bu er between me and the assumption I was just going to topple right over.
I WAS MEANDERING (a more genteel description for limping) toward the grocery store exit. A young woman, walking directly in front of me, hurried to open that door for this poor ol’ thing (AKA me.)
Oh, heavens, I might topple over!
Very thoughtful. I acceded to her door-opening generosity with a smile. Apparently, my much-resented sixth grade Southern cotillion lessons, on graciousness, paid o . (Somewhere, my mother is saying, “I told you so!” She’s entitled.)
Backtracking a bit. I’m limping through some errands because, well, my right leg appears to be experiencing a rebellious phase. On top of my recent right knee replacement, I’m now blessed with a case of tendinitis in my right foot. I don’t mean to be dim, but if the universe is sending me a speci c message regarding my ongoing lameness, I haven’t gotten it yet.
Still listening, however … Nonetheless, I continued to (bravely) plow forward with my errands. Purchase in hand, I headed toward the exit at my next stop, Walmart. The receipts checker saw me limping toward her and said, “No need to show me your receipt, dear, you’re ne. Just go right on out.” Oh, my, that was it for this ol’ limping lady! So well intended, but the concern by others had taken on a su ocating air for my remaining aliveness (of which there is a considerable amount.) Yeah, yeah, my personal sense of prideful autonomy was saying, “Let me breathe!”
COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON
For the sake of bucking up my felt independence, I created a bu er between me and the assumption I was just going to topple right over. (I wasn’t!) In response to the Walmart receipts checker kindness in giving me an easy bye, out popped, “I bet it’s my white hair and the limp, right?” followed by a smile. Couldn’t resist. Sharing this wink and nod to my physical challenge reasserted my independence. Reasserted my independence, mainly for me, let’s be truthful. Hey, that ol’ white-haired woman is sharp and funny, even if she looks like she might tilt over! I suddenly felt reinvigorated, saucy and still upright, to boot. So there. The receipts checker stared at me for a long moment, then burst out laughing. And continued laughing. Me, too. A moment of shared joy and aliveness. My locomotion challenges morphed into a door-opener for laughter. A shared merriment, that’s as essential to my spirit as, of course, Diet Dr Pepper. Hey, universe, if you’re sending me a speci c message regarding my right leg’s mobility issues, it is not yet received. In the interim, I’m relying on my sense of humor to oat my boat through this patch of unknowing. Making lemonade out of these damn physical lemons allows me to take some power back. Hoping folks on the other end of my, um, lame interactions can join me in laughter.
Jan Hutton, a resident of Chatham County and retired hospice social worker, lives life with heart and humor.
The American dream is alive again
His approval rate is steady at just under 50%, while Republicans keep making gains in party registration.
THE BIDEN-HARRIS administration killed the American Dream.
As President Donald J. Trump made clear during his historic address last week, he is renewing it. Since Jan. 20, Trump has moved at an unprecedented pace to reverse the damage caused by the Democrats, delivering major wins for you, your family and our country. He has taken critical steps to make our borders and communities more secure, and illegal border crossings have hit record lows as a result. He has reversed every one of the Biden-Harris job-killing, in ationfueling energy regulations and terminated the radical “Green New Scam.” Trump has also worked to root out government waste, fraud and abuse, and better protect your hard-earned tax dollars. He has rolled back burdensome red tape, empowering American innovation and encouraging companies to invest in communities across our country, including in North Carolina. And he has restored peace through strength, putting terrorists on notice and making our country respected again around the world.
With every action, Trump is keeping the promises he made to you.
It’s no wonder that over 50% of Americans approve of the job Trump has done in just his rst couple weeks back in o ce. The American people gave Trump and Republicans in Congress a mandate to deliver on the full America First agenda — not just parts of it. I, alongside my House Republican colleagues, am taking steps to accomplish just that. Recently, our House Republican majority passed a bill to start charting the best path forward to enact this agenda. While there is still much more work to do, I am determined to send a billto Trump’s desk that secures our border, keeps taxes low, makes everydaythings a ordable and ensures the government works better for you. Under Trump’s leadership, the winning will not stop. This is just the beginning of America’s new Golden Age. Together with Trump and Republicans in Congress, I will continue working to get our country back on track and deliver results for you and your family.
U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson represents North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District in Congress.
Formidable president storms ahead
SOME THOUGHTS spring to mind after President Donald Trump’s 100-minute address to Congress.
The rst is that this 78-year-old man has amazing resilience and perseverance. Consider that in the past 12 months, he has had to spend hours listening to a kangaroo court proceeding before a hostile judge in New York, has maintained a campaign rally schedule that would daunt candidates half his age, has participated in planning sessions for a detailed set of executive orders he might never have an opportunity to issue, has faced the former president and vice president of the United States in televised debates with moderators he had reason to believe were biased against him, and su ered a bullet wound that came within 1inch of killing him.
Around minute 98, he made mention of the last. This inspired sympathizers in the House chamber to echo the cries of “Fight! Fight! Fight!” he made as he rose above his Secret Service protectors.
A second thing to say is that, long before minute 98, his speech was almost entirely about what he has been doing, saying, proposing and persuading others to do. Four paragraphs near the end gracefully evoked themes from history, but he otherwise spoke about his orders withdrawing from United Nations institutions, eliminating government censorship (while renaming the Gulf of Mexico), overturning racially discriminatory diversity, equity and inclusion policies, and his Department of Government E ciency’s identi cation of dubious U.S. Agency for International Development programs. Instead of an overarching vision of where the world stands in history, he quoted Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s letter apologizing for his comments the previous Friday and promising to sign the mineral rights deal he had criticized in the televised exchange that for once showed the public what leaders look and sound
like in what diplomats call “a full and frank exchange.”
My third observation is that, as the Zelenskyy letter suggests, Trump is mostly getting his way. It was surely no accident that the narrow and previously fractious Republican majority in the House elected a speaker and passed a budget resolution with just one dissenting vote. Similarly, Trump’s top-level appointees have all been con rmed by the Senate. Neither foreign leaders nor domestic partisans want to defy this aggressive man with three years, 10 months and two weeks left in his term.
Fourth, there was no return to norms of civil discourse. Trump called former President Joe Biden “the worst president in American history” and condemned “the open-border, insane policies that (Biden had) allowed to destroy the country.” Democrats have a point when they say Trump started this with his derogatory nicknames for 2016 opponents. Republicans have a point when they say Democrats escalated this with the Russia collusion hoax and baseless post-presidential prosecutions, unprecedented since former President Thomas Je erson’s treason prosecution of former Vice President Aaron Burr. But neither Trump’s speech nor the Democrats’ childish behavior (that Trump predicted) in the audience moved to de-escalation.
Fifth, Trump continues to disregard free-market economists’ (in my opinion, wise) advice. True, he is encouraging congressional Republicans to reup the tax-cut-for-all legislation they passed eight years ago, but with political payo add-ons such as no tax on tips. However, he also devoted multiple paragraphs extolling his imposition of tari s, notably on Mexico and Canada. Economists point out that the tari s will likely raise the U.S. prices of many products, not just eggs. Voters won’t welcome something that looks like the Biden in ation, which could overshadow
COLUMN
SUSAN ESTRICH
Next: The law schools
SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT be able to tell a private university what to teach and how to teach it?
Is there a libertarian left in the house?
This is the letter that former and current Trump lawyer (o cially the interim D.C. U.S. Attorney) Ed Martin sent to the dean of Georgetown Law School:
“It has come to my attention reliably that Georgetown Law School continues to teach and promote DEI. This is unacceptable. I have begun an inquiry into this and would welcome your response to the following questions: First, have you eliminated all DEI from your school and its curriculum? Second, if DEI is found in your courses or teaching in any way, will you move swiftly to remove it?”
And then he went on to threaten Georgetown students:
“At this time, you should know that no applicant for our fellows program, our summer internship, or employment in our o ce who is a student or a liated with a law school or university that continues to teach and utilize DEI will be considered.”
Martin and his boss want to tell law schools what they can teach and how to teach it. And he is willing to punish their students — and deprive his o ce of top talent from top universities — if they don’t comply.
The dean of Georgetown Law School responded strongly, as he should.
“Given the First Amendment’s protection of a university’s freedom to determine its own curriculum and how to deliver it, the constitutional violation behind this threat is clear, as is the attack on the University’s mission as a Jesuit and Catholic institution,” William Treanor wrote in his response to Martin.
I spent more than 30 years as a tenured law professor at Harvard Law School and USC Law School. During most of those years, I taught a course originally entitled “Sex Discrimination” and later called “Gender Discrimination.” The course covered the history of women’s rights, legal precedents under the 14th Amendment, and federal and state statutory law. We looked at various areas of law covered in other courses — like criminal law and property law and tort law — where issues of gender must be considered. I used to think, in the early days, that a time would come when issues of gender would be addressed in all these other classes, and we wouldn’t need a separate course. I believed that the law and society would one day produce gender justice; that there would literally be nothing left to teach except history. It never happened. The last class I taught before stepping down to practice law full time was a seminar on diversity in the legal profession. There was a great deal to teach, unfortunately, and much of it grew out of the absence of diversity, particularly at the highest levels of the profession. This was only a few years ago.
Would my course be banned by Martin? Presumably so. And so would my criminal law class, which I began teaching in 1981, which was the rst criminal law class in the country to incorporate rape as a major topic in criminal law, something I urged other law professors to try in an article I wrote for the Yale Law Journal in the 1980s. Maybe that should have been banned, too?
I told my students about my own experience as a rape victim, before I started law school, and how it shaped my view of the criminal justice system.
I taught them about the history of racism and sexism that had shaped the development of rape law. My students, some 40 years later, have told me how much they remembered those classes and how much they learned. Should such discussions also be banned? Shall we only look at the law from the perspective of a white man?
The law schools are ready to ght Martin. My Facebook feed is full of promises from law professors ready to challenge Martin’s right to dictate the subjects we teach. We will win this ght, but the idea that we need to have it, in 2025, is both shocking and frightening.
Susan Estrich is a lawyer, professor, author and political commentator.
the Trump administration’s genuine successes.
This leads to my sixth observation: that he’s aware that the Constitution and calendar set limits on his time. Early in his speech, Trump noted that measures of illegal crossings on the southern border have immediately dwindled to almost nothing. Smugglers and potential illegals clearly got his message, even as Democrats and much of the press argued that only new legislation could stop the ow. His only problem is that solving a problem can deprive you of an issue. Former President George H.W. Bush’s deft handling of foreign policy problems left voters concluding they didn’t need him after the Cold War. Success can breed failure. But for a time, it can breed success. The rst words of Article II of the Constitution state, “The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.” Those words, plus recent Supreme Court decisions, suggest that most decisions limiting Trump’s administrative powers will not stand. Current polls show that Trump’s disapproval is rising, but his approval rate is steady at just under 50%, while Republicans keep making gains in party registration. What is Trump planning for years two, three and four? I’m not sure, and I suspect he’s not, either. Trump knows the Constitution’s 22nd Amendment prevents him from running again. He must know that’s likely to reduce his clout with foreign leaders and American politicians. More importantly, he’s aware his time may be cut short. In the House chamber, as in his convention speech on July 19, he remembered how he had narrowly escaped death on July 13. “I believe my life was saved that day in Butler,” he said, “for a very good reason. I was saved by God to make America great again — I believe that. I really do.”
Like him or not, he is a formidable man.
Michael Barone is a senior political analyst for the Washington Examiner, resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and longtime co-author of “The Almanac of American Politics.”
COLUMN | MICHAEL BARONE
obituaries
Clarice
Jeanette Driggers Cotton
April 11, 1931 –March 3, 2025
Clarice Jeanette Driggers Cotten, 93, of Siler City, formally of Durham, went to her Heavenly home on Monday, March 3rd, 2025, at home surrounded by family.
Clarice was born in Williamsburg County, SC, on April 11th, 1931, to the late Alexander and Mary Haddock Driggers. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Herbert Cotten; her stepmother, Marie Jones Driggers; her daughter, Cheryl Lamb; her sixteen siblings.
Clarice was a member of Bible Baptist Church and loved her church family. She worked as an Administrative Assistant in the medical insurance eld until she retired. Left to
Hubert O’Daniel
March 21, 1948 –Feb. 26, 2025
Hubert O’Daniel went home to the Good Lord on February 26, 2025 at Mission Hospital in Asheville, NC. Hubert was born March 21,1948 in Chapel Hill, NC . He is survived by his wife, Barbara; two daughters Lisa Jacobs (Teddy II) and Morgan Moore (Titus); stepdaughter Jennifer Jahoo, step-son Steven Jones; Hubert’s siblings Mary, Steve, Ralph (Janet), John; seven grandsons, Teddy III (Areonia), Kobe, Hue, Dene, Dylan, Titus, Tequone; granddaughter, Lyla;
cherish her memory are her stepsons, Billy Cotten, Doug Cotten, Jimmy Cotten and his wife, Doris, and step daughter, Betty Cotten Dixon and her husband, Lee; her brothers, Billy Driggers and his wife, Sue, and Harry Driggers and his wife, Lucille; her sister-in-law, Shirley Cotten, her son-in-law, JC Justice; her grandchildren, Wyatt, Kim, Tim, Todd, Wendy, Amber, and Chris; fourteen great grandchildren; eight great great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews, her beloved church friends, and her Bible Baptist Church family.
Funeral services will be held at Hudson Funeral Home Chapel in Durham, NC on Monday, March 10th, 2025, at 1 pm. A burial will follow the services at Brier Creek Cemetery in Raleigh. The visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Services will be o ciated by Reverend Jimmy Hall.
In lieu of owers, memorials can be made to Liberty Hospice, 401 E. 3rdSt., Siler City, NC 27344 or Bible Baptist Church, 2047 Gate 2 Rd., Creedmoor, NC 27522. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home and Hudson Funeral Home will be assisting the Cotten family. Online condolences can be made at www.smithbucknerfh. com and https://www. hudsonfuneralhome.com/ obituaries
three step-grandchildren, Reese, Presley and Adalyn.
He is preceded in death by his parents Alfred Lamb O’Daniel and Edna Teer O’Daniel. He also leaves many other family members and friends who will sadly miss him.
From 1969-1971 he was drafted in the Army and proudly served in the Vietnam War. Hubert loved his country. He showed unconditional love for his family as they were his pride and joy. He was always a person you could count on and didn’t hesitate to help anyone in need. “ A Man of Faith” He loved the outdoors and Fourth of July celebrations.
Funeral Services will be held Sunday, March 16,2025 at 1:00 pm at Orange Chapel Church, 1634 Orange Chapel Clover Garden Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516. Visitation with family will immediately follow in the Church Fellowship Building. In lieu of owers the family requests donations be made to Vietnam Veterans of America. Condolences may be made at www.donaldsonfunerals. com.
Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the O’Daniel’s family.
Nancy Cary Fullerton Peter
Dec. 6, 1931 – March 7, 2025
Nancy Cary Fullerton Peter, 93, of Bear Creek, went to her Heavenly home on Friday, March 7th, 2025, at home surrounded by family. Nancy was born in Brooklyn, NY on December 6th, 1931, to the late Alfred R. and Helen C.
Wilson Fullerton. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 72 years, Richard D. Peter; and her granddaughter, Leah Taylor. In Northport, NY, Nancy was the owner/operator of Ketcham Pony Farm where she boarded horses and help others with their horsemanship. Nancy loved anything having to do with horses. She would have horse/pony races with her children when they were younger. When she came to North Carolina, her and Richard started Horse Heaven Pony Farm in Siler City. Nancy was also an independent realtor in the area. She was one of the most patient women you could ever meet. She also had a love for big dogs, going fox hunting, and taking the kids riding on trails. She loved to play piano, dance, draw, and she loved being on the boat on the water. Everyone that knew Nancy, will always remember her for her full belly laughter. Left
to cherish Nancy’s memory are her daughters, Laura Dillinger and her partner, Clinton Myers of Siler City, and Linda Crabtree and her husband, David of Bear Creek; her grandchildren, Eric and Bryant Dillinger, and Marshall Crabtree and his wife, Kristina; and her great grandchildren, Shannon Thompson, Tyler and Kayla Crabtree, and Jordan and Jackson Taylor.
Celebration of Life ceremony will be held Friday, March 28th, 2025, at 2 pm, at Smith & Buckner Chapel. Services will be o ciated by Stacey Zanbrano. Memorials can be made to Gentiva Hospice, 1836 Doctor’s Dr., Sanford, NC 27330, or Council on Aging, 112 Village Lake Rd., Siler City, NC 27344. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home will be assisting the Peter family.
Online condolences can be made at smithbucknerfh.com
Come join
EMMA GRACE PEOPLES
APRIL 18, 2005 – MARCH 8, 2025
Emma Grace Peoples “Gracie”, 19, of Carthage, passed away on Saturday, March 8th, 2025, at Duke University Hospital. The Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, March 11th at 2pm at Putnam Friends Church. There will be visitation prior to the service from 12-1:45. Family will receive friends after the memorial service in the fellowship hall. Gracie was born on April 18th, 2005, to Brandon and Stephanie Peoples. She is a graduate from North Moore high school. She attended Putnam Friends Church. She loved her animals, babies, crafting, shopping, the beach, and photographing sunsets. She was very shy, but she was known for her love and loyalty for Jesus. She was recently engaged at Christmas. She is survived by her Fiancé Casey Marley of Carthage, Parents, Brandon and Stephanie Peoples of the home, Grandparents, Je and Tonya Knight of Randleman, Robert and Vicky Akers of Carthage, Danny Powers of Carthage. Great Grandparents James and Patricia Sipe of Bear Creek, Sisters Mady Peoples and Kennedy Peoples both of the home, and a host of family and friends.
JAMES “DREX” DREXEL ROBERTS
MAY 11, 1962 – MARCH 3, 2025
James “Drex” Drexel Roberts, 62, of Siler City, passed away at his home Monday, March 3rd, 2025.
Drex was born in Chatham County on May 11th, 1962, to Eddie and Joan Poe Roberts. He was one of three children. He loved playing golf, watching sports, and taking his mother to Jordan Lake to go shing. Drex went to high school at Jordan Matthews High School where he played baseball and basketball and was inducted into the Hall of Fame. After graduating, he played baseball for the North Carolina Tarheels and the Toronto Blue Jays. He was a reman for Siler City, and he retired after almost 30 years as a surveyor for the NCDOT. A former President, now administrator, a faithful member for over 6 years at the Siler City Moose Lodge. Drex is survived by his parents, Joan Poe Roberts of Siler City, and Eddie Roberts and his wife, Molly of Siler City; his brother, Tony Roberts and his wife, Pam; his sister, Simone Wright and her husband, Darryl of Pleasant Garden; his nieces, Jaide Roberts (Dustin Martindale), Caroline Wright; his nephew, Cooper Wright; and his great niece, Paityn Roberts. There are no services at this time.
KENNETH RALPH SIMPSON
MARCH 8, 2025
Kenneth Ralph Simpson, age 83, of Sanford, passesd away on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at FirstHealth Hospice House. He was born in Lee County, the son of the late Floyd Welch Simpson and Maggie Ashworth Simpson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by grandson John Garner. Prior to his retiring from GKN where he worked as a Lab Technician, he worked at Carnes Company, Wolverine and Eagle Electric. Kenneth was a faithful member of Kendale Acres Church, dedicating countless hours to various ministries throughout his life. He was a cherished Sunday School teacher, a beloved choir member, and served as the church secretary for many years, using his gifts to help guide and strengthen those around him. His love for the Lord and his unwavering commitment to his faith touched the lives of many. He found his greatest joy in spending time with his loved ones. He cherished every moment with his family and was a constant source of love, support, and encouragement.
DOROTHY MATTHEWS HOLDER
MARCH 9, 2025
Dorothy Matthews Holder, age 80 of Lillington, passed away on Sunday (3/9/2025) at her home with her family by her side. She was born in Lee County, daughter of the late Frank Carl Matthews and Evie Lee Holder Matthews. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her brothers, Stedman Holder, Edward Matthews, Floyd Matthews and Luther Holder. Dorothy was a member of Spring Hill United Methodist Church, worked for eighteen years as the cafeteria manager with Coca Cola and retired from Overhills Elementary School. She enjoyed cooking and spending time with her family, especially the times she shared with her granddaughter. Surviving is her husband of 63 years, Edgar L. Holder of the home; daughter, Renee Holder of Broadway, NC; Son, Anthony Holder and wife Crystal of Lillington, NC ; granddaughter, Carrianne Holder of Lillington, NC; brother and sister-in-law, Johnny and Linda Holder of Lillington, NC and several nieces and nephews.
LARRY GLENN MOODY
DEC. 10, 1949 – MARCH 8, 2025
Larry Glenn Moody, 75, of Carthage, passed away on Saturday, March 8th, 2025, at First Health Hospice Care. There will be a private memorial service at a later date.
Larry was born in Alamance County on December 10th, 1949, to Marley and Elizabeth Moody. He was retired from the poultry industry installing equipment. He served in the U.S. Army from February 25Th 1970 to October 6Th, 1971. He loved to sh, do everything outdoors, be at car shows and eat good food.
He was preceded in death by his father and two brothers.
Larry is survived by his wife, of 36 years, Kathy K. Moody, Mother, Evelyn Moody of Bonlee, Children; Ricky Moody of Siler City, Brad Moody of Pittsboro, Jerry W. Hopkins of Coleridge, brother Kenny Moody (Debra) of Bonlee, sister, Kathy Needham (Mark) of Asheboro. Three grandchildren Maisy Moody, Cecil R. Hopkins, Ezra Glenn Hopkins and a host of family and friends.
Trump says he’ll buy a Tesla to show support for Musk
The president will pay “full market price” for the vehicle
By Chris Megerian
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. —
With Elon Musk facing escalating political blowback and a drop in wealth, President Donald Trump said he would buy a Tesla vehicle from his company, an unusual show of support from the president to his most powerful adviser.
It was the latest example of how Trump has demonstrated loyalty to Musk, who spent heavily on his comeback campaign last year and has been a key gure in his second administration.
The Republican president announced early Tuesday that he was going to buy a new Tesla as “a show of con dence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American.”
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the vehicle was on its way to the White House and Trump would view it Tuesday afternoon. She said it was a “very exciting moment” and Trump would pay the “full market price.”
Musk’s electric vehicle company has been battered by sagging sales and plunging stock prices. He continues to run the au-
tomaker — as well as the social media platform X and the rocket manufacturer SpaceX — while also serving as Trump’s adviser on overhauling and downsizing the federal government.
“Elon Musk is ‘putting it on the line’ in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!” Trump wrote on social media. “But the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the World’s great automakers, and Elon’s ‘baby,’ in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for.”
Others have also rallied to Musk’s defense. Alex Jones, a
prominent conspiracy theorist, said he bought a customized version of a Cybertruck that he’ll give away to a customer of his online store next month.
In addition to Tesla’s struggles, Musk has faced other challenges too. He said X was targeted by a “massive cyberattack” that disrupted the social media platform on Monday, and the last two test launches of his Starship rocket ended in explosions.
Tesla has faced sagging sales and declining stock prices as Musk devotes his time to overhauling and downsizing the federal government as an adviser to the president.
The White House did not immediately elaborate on Trump’s plans for buying a Tesla, such as how the purchase would be handled or where the car would be kept.
Presidents almost never drive for security reasons. Joe Biden got behind the wheel of an electric truck while promoting domestic manufacturing, and Barack Obama took a spin with Jerry Seinfeld in the White House driveway for a comedy show.
But regardless of the practicality of Trump’s purchase, his overnight announcement about buying a Tesla represented another step in how the president has blurred lines between private and public interests.
During his rst term, top adviser Kellyanne Conway urged people to show their support for Trump’s daughter Ivanka by purchasing her retail products.
“Go buy Ivanka’s stu ,” she said. “I’m going to give it a free commercial here.”
Trump’s wealth and business savvy is core to his political appeal. The president promoted his products while running for o ce last year, and he attached his name to a cryptocurrency meme coin that launched shortly before he took o ce.
However, it’s rare to see Trump use his own money to support an ally, no matter how important they are.
Musk is the world’s richest person, with billions of dollars in government contracts. He’s also exerting sweeping in uence over Trump’s administration through the Department of Government E ciency, or
DOGE, and traveling frequently with the president.
During an interview with the Fox Business Network on Monday, host Larry Kudlow asked Musk how he was running his other businesses while also advising Trump.
“With great di culty,” he said.
“But there’s no turning back, you say?” Kudlow responded.
“I’m just here trying to make government more e cient, eliminate waste and fraud,” Musk said.
Tesla has recently faced protests and vandalism. Police are investigating gunshots red at a dealership in Oregon, and re o cials are examining a blaze that destroyed four Cybertrucks at a Tesla lot in Seattle.
At times, the White House has needed to play cleanup for Musk, who had never worked in public service before and has admitted that he’ll make mistakes along the way.
For example, Musk presented in ated estimates of fraud in government bene ts like Social Security on Monday, leading Democrats to argue that he was planning cuts to the popular programs.
“Most of the federal spending is entitlements,” Musk said in the interview. “That’s the big one to eliminate.”
The next morning, a White House account on X criticized news organizations as “lying hacks” and told Democrats to “spare us the fake outrage” about reducing bene ts.
“He was clearly talking about the WASTE in the programs,” the White House posted.
Pitcher Art Schallock, who replaced Mantle on Yankees’ roster, dead at 100
He had been the oldest living major league player
lyn’s Jackie Robinson during a two-inning outing in Game 4.
By Janie McCauley
The Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO — Art Schallock, a left-handed pitcher who in 1951 replaced future Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle on the Yankees’ roster and had been the oldest living former major leaguer, has died.
He was 100, having celebrated with a big birthday party when he became a centenarian last spring. His assisted living home announced Saturday that Schallock died last Thursday, also providing con rmation from the family.
“He passed away peacefully in his loving care community in Sonoma, California, at the age of 100. He would have been 101 in April,” the family said.
“A beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, Art lived a remarkable life, from serving his country in World War II to achieving his dream of playing Major League Baseball. As a pitcher for the New York Yankees, he was part of a historic era in the sport, contributing to multiple World Series championships. Beyond baseball, Art was known for his kindness, humor, and deep appreciation for the people around him. He lived a life lled with cherished friendships, family, and a passion for the sport that de ned much of his journey.”
When New York optioned the then-19-year-old Mantle to Triple-A in 1951, Schallock got his shot in the major leagues at age 27. He and Yogi Berra were roommates, and Schallock was the one who picked up Berra’s daily delivery of “funnies” as they called them.
The Bay Area native went to Tamalpais High in Mill Valley then College of Marin before becoming the 10,823rd major league player when he debuted on July 16, 1951. He pitched 22⁄3 innings for the Yankees that day at Detroit. He earned his rst career win one month later at Washington.
The lefty won three World Series rings from 1951-53, although he only pitched in the ’53 Series, retiring Brook-
“That was quite a thrill, quite a thrill playing with those guys,” Schallock told The Associated Press last year in an interview ahead of his 100th birthday. “I roomed with Yogi Berra when I got up there, and he knew all the hitters. We went over all the hitters on each team. Besides that, I had to run down to the lobby and get his funny books. Every morning. Yogi knew all the hitters, how to pitch to them, whether it’s low, high or whatever, he knew how to pitch to them. And I had to learn from him.”
Serving for the U.S. Navy in the Paci c Ocean during World War II after enlisting in 1942, Schallock narrowly escaped harm when the neighboring aircraft carrier USS Liscome Bay was sunk by a Japanese torpedo in November 1943 and 644 were killed — accounting for the majority of the casualties in the Battle of Makin.
“I never thought I would get back to the highest level. I wanted to play baseball, yes,” he said during the interview last year. “I did it in junior college. In those years, the Bay Area was full of baseball. When I say full of baseball, semi-pros. Every town had a team.”
Over a ve-year big league career primarily with the Yankees before nishing with Baltimore in 1955, Schallock went 6-7 with a 4.02 ERA over 58 games with 14 starts spanning 1701⁄3 innings. He struck out 77 batters.
Schallock was born on April 25, 1924, in Mill Valley outside San Francisco.
His age didn’t set a record: Negro Leagues pitcher Si Simmons of the 1926 New York Lincoln Giants lived to 111, while another ex-Yankees pitcher, Red Ho , reached 107.
“The community at Cogir of Sonoma Plaza is deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved resident, Arthur ‘Art’ Schallock, on March 6, 2025,” the facility said in a statement. “At the age of 100, Art was a cherished member of our community, bringing warmth, humor, and an inspiring life story to all who had the privilege of knowing him.”
JOSE LUIS MAGANA / AP PHOTO
Elon Musk ashes his T-shirt that reads “DOGE” to the media as he walks on South Lawn of the White House on Sunday.
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TAKE NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
GOLDSTON, NC 27252 Run dates: M13,20,27,A3p
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#24E001548-180
SARAH GOYEA, EXECUTOR 103 BLUERIDGE ROAD CARRBORO, NC 27510 Run dates: M13,20,27,A3p
NORTH CAROLINA
CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#24E001267-180
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned, JOE LEE WAGONER, JR., having quali ed on the 13TH Day of MAY, 2024 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of EMELDA PAYNE WAGONER, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 11TH Day of JUNE 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 13TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025. JOE LEE WAGONER, JR. 111 TURTLE CREEK FARM RD. APEX, NC 27523 ADMINISTRATOR Run dates: M13,20,27,A3p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#25E000020-180
The undersigned, DORIS P. HOLT, having quali ed on the 5TH Day of FEBRUARY, 2025 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of FLORA MAE CAMERON PETTIT, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 11TH Day of JUNE 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 13TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025.
DORIS P. HOLT, ADMINISTRATOR 740 GARNER ROAD SANFORD, NC 27330 Run dates: M13,20,27,A3p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#25E000043-180 The undersigned, KAITLIN HOLDER, having quali ed on the 24TH Day of JANUARY, 2025 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of MICHAEL CLARK HOLDER, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 11TH Day of JUNE 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 13TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025.
KAITLIN HOLDER, ADMINISTRATOR 122 STEEL SPRINGS LANE ANGIER, NC 27501 Run dates: M13,20,27,A3p
Public Notice
Chatham County Schools’ federal projects under Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 are presently being developed. Projects included:
Title I (Helping Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards)
Title II (High Quality Teachers and Principals)
Title III (Language Acquisition)
Title IV A (Student Support and Academic Enrichment) Migrant Education Program (MEP) Career and Technical Education (CTE) High school students can enroll, without cost, in college credit classes through the Career and College Promise program. This includes Career and Technical Education pathways of study. IDEA (Students with Disabilities) The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEAPart B, Public Law 108.446) Project is presently being amended. The Project describes the special education programs that Chatham County Schools proposes for Federal funding for the 2025-2026 School Year. Interested persons are encouraged to review amendments to the Project and make comments concerning the implementation of special education under this Federal Program. All comments will be considered prior to submission of the amended Project to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction in Raleigh, North Carolina These projects describe the programs that Chatham County Schools proposes for federal funding for the 2025-2026 school year. Non-pro t private schools and interested persons are encouraged to review these federal guidelines for the above listed projects and indicate their interest in participation in the projects if quali ed. These projects are being developed during April and May and are due to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction on June 30, 2025. The initial Equitable Services for Private Schools meeting will be held on March 25, 2025, at 2:00 PM, in person, at the address listed below. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the o ce of Carol Little, Executive Director Federal Programs and School Improvement, at Chatham County Board of Education, P.O. Box 128, 468 Renaissance Dr, Pittsboro, N.C. Spanish Version below: NOTICIA PUBLICA Los proyectos federales de las Escuelas del Condado Chatham bajo la Ley Cada Estudiante Triunfa (ESSA) de 2015 están en proceso de plani cación. Los proyectos incluidos son: Título I (Ayuda a los niños desfavorecidos a alcanzar altos estándares) Título II (Maestros y directores de alta calidad) Título III (Adquisición del Lenguaje) Título IV A (Apoyo al Estudiante y Enriquecimiento Académico) Programa de Educación para Familias Migrantes (MEP, por sus siglas en Inglés) Carreras y Educación Técnica (CTE, por sus siglas en Inglés) Los estudiantes de preparatoria pueden inscribirse, sin costo, en clases de créditos universitarios a través del programa Career and College Promise. Esto incluye vías de estudio de Educación Técnica y Profesional.
IDEA (Estudiantes con Discapacidades) Actualmente se encuentra en proceso de modi cación el Proyecto de Ley de Educación para Personas con Discapacidad (IDEA-Parte B, Ley Pública 108.446). El Proyecto describe los programas de educación especial que las Escuelas del Condado Chatham proponen para nanciamiento federal para el año escolar 20252026. Se anima a las personas interesadas a revisar las enmiendas al Proyecto y hacer comentarios sobre la implementación de la educación especial bajo este Programa Federal. Todos los comentarios serán considerados antes de la presentación del Proyecto modi cado al Departamento de Instrucción Pública de Carolina del Norte en Raleigh, Carolina del Norte. Estos proyectos describen los programas que las Escuelas del Condado Chatham proponen para nanciamiento federal para el año escolar 20252026. Se anima a las escuelas privadas sin nes de lucro y a las personas interesadas a revisar estas pautas federales para los proyectos enumerados anteriormente e indicar su interés en participar en los proyectos si cali can. Estos proyectos se están desarrollando durante abril y mayo y deben entregarse al Departamento de Instrucción Pública de Carolina del Norte el 30 de junio de 2025. La reunión inicial de Servicios Equitativos para Escuelas Privadas se llevará a cabo el 25 de marzo de 2025 a las 2:00 PM, en persona en la dirección listada abajo. Se anima a las partes interesadas a comunicarse con la o cina de Carol Little, Directora Ejecutiva de Programas Federales y Mejoramiento Escolar, en la Junta de Educación del Condado de Chatham, P. O. Box 128, 468 Renaissance Dr, Pittsboro, N.C.
Notice to Creditors
Estate of Steven Botha Chatham File No.: 25E000085-180 ALL PERSONS, rms and corporations having claims against Steven Botha, deceased, of Chatham County, NC, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before June 2, 2025 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 27th day of February 2025. Zelda Harlean Botha, Limited Personal Representative, in c/o Kellie M. Corbett, Attorney, at Carolina Family Estate Planning, 201 Commonwealth Court, Suite 100, Cary, NC 27511. Publication Dates: February 27, 2025 March 6, 2025 March 13, 2025 March 20, 2025
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned, having quali ed on the 28th day of February 2025, as Executor of the Estate of John B. Baer a/k/a John Balfour Baer, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 13th June, 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 13th day of March, 2025. Alison Baer Arter, Executor of the Estate of John B. Baer a/k/a John Balfour Baer c/o Candace B. Minjares, Kennon Craver, PLLC 4011 University Drive, Suite 300 Durham, North Carolina 27707
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA Chatham COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned, having quali ed on the 18th day of February , 2025, as Executor of the Estate of Eddie S. Williams aka Edward Silas Williams aka Edward S. Williams, deceased, of Chatham County does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before June 12, 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 6th day of March, 2025. Carol B. Williams Executor of the Estate of Eddie S. Williams aka Edward Silas Williams aka Edward S. Williams
c/o J Alan Campbell Law PO Box 850 Hillsborough, NC 27278
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS
OF DEBORAH KALISH COPLIN
All persons, rms and corporations having claims against DEORAH KALISH COPLIN, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit them to Laurie A. Coplin as Limited Personal Representative of the decedent’s estate on or before June 6, 2025, c/o Brittany N. Porter, Attorney at Law, 1414 Raleigh Rd., Ste. 203, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, or be barred from their recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment to the above-named Executor. This the 6th day of March, 2025. Laurie A. Coplin c/o Brittany N. Porter, Atty. TrustCounsel 1414 Raleigh Rd., Ste. 203 Chapel Hill, NC 27517
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
ESTATE OF IRIS SHIPP STOUTT CHATHAM COUNTY FILE NO. 25E000097-180
All persons, rms, and corporations having claims against Iris Shipp Stoutt, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina are noti ed to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before June 8th, 2025 or be barred from their recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This 6th day of March, 2025. Dawn Byrd Andrews, Executor c/o Attorney, Walter Brodie Burwell, Jr. Envisage Law 2601 Oberlin Road, Suite 100 Raleigh, NC 27608
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
A public hearing will be held by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners on Monday, March 17, 2025, beginning at 6:00 p.m. The hearing will be held in the courtroom of the Historic Courthouse in Pittsboro, North Carolina at 9 Hillsboro Street, Pittsboro NC 27312. Additional information is available at the Chatham County Planning Department o ce. Speakers are requested to sign up at the meeting prior to the hearing. You may also sign up on the county website prior to the meeting at www.chathamcountync.gov by selecting the heading County Government, then Commissioner Meetings, then Public Input/Hearing Sign Up. The public hearing may be continued to another date at the discretion of the Board of Commissioners. The purpose of the Public Hearing is to receive input, both written and oral, on the issues listed below: Testimony is required to be given under oath during the evidentiary hearing for the following item: Quasi-Judicial Request: A quasi-judicial public hearing for a Special Use Permit (SUP) requested by Chatham County Facilities and Construction for a new EMS station to be located on Parcel No. 62221 (2.3 acres) and 95753 (.66 acres), located at 9251 US 15-501 N, Baldwin Township. Substantial changes may be made following the public hearing due to verbal or written comments received or based on the Board’s discussions. Notice to people with special needs: If you have an audio or visual impairment, unique accessibility requirements or need language assistance, please call the number listed below prior to the hearing and assistance may be provided. If you have any questions or comments concerning these issues, please call the Chatham County Planning Department at 919-542-8204 or write to P.O. Box 54, Pittsboro N.C. 27312. Please run in your paper: March 6th and 13th, 2025
NOTICE OF MEETING
FOR THE TOWN OF PITTSBORO BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
Notice is hereby given that the Town of Pittsboro
Board of Adjustment will conduct a meeting to be held on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. The meeting will be held in the Town of Pittsboro Town Hall, 287 East Street, Suite 221, Pittsboro. The purpose of the meeting will be for the Board of Adjustment to participate in the following: Election of O cers Training For more information contact Carrie Bailey at cbailey@pittsboronc.gov, (984) 282-6647.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
25E000105-180 NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
The undersigned, Karen Howard, having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Ralph A. Howard Jr., deceased, late of Chatham County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the day of June 4, 2025, or this notice will be plead in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 6th of March, 2025. Karen Howard Administrator Marie H. Hopper Attorney for the Estate Hopper Cummings, PLLC Post O ce Box 1455 Pittsboro, NC 27312
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
25E000063-180 NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
The undersigned, Marcus Crossman, having quali ed as Administrator CTA of the Estate of Daniel G. Crossman, deceased, late of Chatham County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the day of June 3, 2025, or this notice will be plead in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 27th of February, 2025. Marcus Crossman Executor Marie H. Hopper Attorney for the Estate Hopper Cummings, PLLC Post O ce Box 1455 Pittsboro, NC 27312
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Jannell Hanood quali ed before the Chatham County Clerk of Court on February 14, 2025, as the Executor of the Estate of JOHNNY DAVIS BUTLER, 140 Brookstone Lane, Room 317, Pittsboro, NC 27312. This is to notify all persons, rms and corporations, as required by N.C.G.S. 28A-14-1, having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the attorney designated below on or before the 27th of May, 2025 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payments to the undersigned. Payments and claims should be presented to Deirdre M. Stephenson, Attorney at Law, 1518 Elm Street, Sanford, NC 27330.
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS
CHATHAM COUNTY
HAVING QUALIFIED as Executor of the Estate of Charles Lee Moody, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned on or before the 22nd day of May, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.
This the 11th day of February, 2025.
Cathy L. Moody, Executor of the Estate of Charles Lee Moody 2090 Silk Hope Liberty Road Siler City, North Carolina 27344
MOODY, WILLIAMS, ATWATER & LEE
ATTORNEYS AT LAW BOX 629
SILER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27344 (919) 663-2850 4tp
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS
CHATHAM COUNTY
HAVING QUALIFIED as Co-Executors of the Estate of James C. Brooks, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned on or before the 12th day of June, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. This the 5th day of March, 2025.
Theresa B. Varner, Co-Executor of the Estate of James C. Brooks 7809 Ferguson Road Liberty, North Carolina 27208
James R. Brooks, Co-Executor of the Estate Of James C. Brooks 408 Eden Hills Road Siler City, North Carolina 27344 MOODY, WILLIAMS, ATWATER & LEE
ATTORNEYS AT LAW BOX 629 SILER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27344 (919) 663-2850 4tp
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
22E000720-180
ALL PERSONS, rms and corporations having claims against Joseph Stroud, of Chatham County, N.C., are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before June 13, 2025 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 13th day of March, 2025.
Daron D. Satter eld Attorney for Personal Representative, Annie C. Capers 307 Meadowlands Drive, Suite 101 Hillsborough, NC 27278
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Julie L. Schwab, deceased, of 804 Harsworth Drive, Cary, Chatham County, NC, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned c/o Brady Cobin Law Group, PLLC, 4141 Parklake Avenue, Suite 310, Raleigh, NC 27612, on or before the 10th day of June, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 6th day of March, 2025. Kristin Pantiga, Executor Estate of Julie L. Schwab, Deceased c/o Brady Cobin Law Group, PLLC 4141 Parklake Avenue, Suite 310 Raleigh, NC 27612
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned, Tina Victoria Darden, having duly quali ed as Executrix of the Estate of Miotzi
Eugenia Darden, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned in care of Ronald G. Coulter, Attorney for the Estate, 3400 Croasdaile Dr., Ste 205, Durham, NC 27705, within ninety (90) days of the rst publication of this Notice or it will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons and legal entities indebted to the Estate will please make immediate payment. This the 27th day of February, 2025. Tina Victoria Darden, Executrix C/O Ronald G. Coulter, Attorney 3400 Croasdaile Drive Ste 205 Durham, NC 27705 1-919-246-5775 Publication Dates: 2/27, 3/6, 3/13, 3/20/2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#25E000082-180 The undersigned, SHERRIE HATFIELD, having quali ed on the 14TH Day of FEBRUARY, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of PATSY KING BLACK, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 4TH Day of JUNE 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 6TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025.
SHERRIE HATFIELD, EXECUTOR 2129 SANDY BRANCH CHURCH ROAD BEAR CREEK, NC 27207 MAIL AFFIDAVIT TO: THE LAW OFFICE OF LEWIS FADELY 119 N FIR AVE. SILER CITY, NC 27344 Run dates: FM6,13,20,27p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#25E000065-180
The undersigned, KIMBERLY TERRELL TEUNIS, having quali ed on the 4TH Day of FEBRUARY, 2025 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of JOHN SYLVESTER TEUNIS, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 21ST Day of MAY 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 20TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025. KIMBERLY TERRELL TEUNIS, ADMINISTRATOR 1157 SAINT CLOUD LOOP APEX, NC 27523 Run dates: F20,27,M6,13p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
ALL PERSONS, rms and corporations having claims against Wanda Alice Hudgins, deceased, of Chatham County, N.C., are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before June 17, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This March 13, 2025. c/o Shea Maliszewski, Barringer Sasser, LLP, Attorney for the Estate, 111 Commonwealth Court, Suite 101, Cary, NC 27511.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#25E000100-180
The undersigned, PAMELA BARTH JACOBS, having quali ed on the 24TH Day of FEBRUARY, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of GEORGIA RUTH HUDSON BARTH, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 11TH Day of JUNE 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 13TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025. PAMELA BARTH JACOBS, EXECUTOR 7 AZALEA LANE SPRUCE PINE, NC 28777 *MAIL AFFIDAVIT TO: 13604 US HIGHWAY 64 W. SILER CITY, NC 27344-6445 Run dates: M13,20,27,A3p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA Chatham COUNTY 24E001587-180 All persons, rms, and corporations having claims against Richard Henry Amlung, deceased, late of Chatham County, NC, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before the 28th day of May, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 27th day of February 2025. Susan Rubin, Administrator CTA c/o Hemphill Gelder, PC PO Box 97035 Raleigh, NC 27624-7035 Publication Dates: 2/27, 3/6, 3/13 and 3/20/2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#25E000095-180 The undersigned, RANDALL
RANDALL L. HOLT, EXECUTOR 175 EDWARDS HILL CHURCH RD. SILER CITY, NC 27344 Run dates: F27,M6,13,20p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#25E000101-180 The undersigned, YVONNE M STEWART, having quali ed on the 24TH Day of FEBRUARY, 2025 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of THOMAS VINCENT MORLEY, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 4TH Day of JUNE 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 6TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025. YVONNE M STEWART, ADMINSTRATOR 793 ROSSWOOD RD. CHAPEL HILL, NC 27516 Run dates: FM6,13,20,27p
PUBLIC NOTICE
LEASE OF COUNTY PROPERTY The Board of Commissioners of Chatham County intends to enter into a lease agreement for the following County-owned property: CHATHAM ARTS COUNCIL, INC. intends to lease o ce space located in a building located at 118 West Street, Pittsboro, in Chatham County, North Carolina,
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
America’s butter ies disappearing at ‘catastrophic’ rate in 2000s
National analysis says the population falling by 1.3% per year
By Seth Borenstein
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. — America’s butter ies are disappearing because of insecticides, climate change and habitat loss, with the number of the winged beauties down 22% since 2000, a new study nds.
The rst countrywide systematic analysis of butter y abundance found that the number of butter ies in the Lower 48 states has been falling on average 1.3% a year since the turn of the century, with 114 species showing signi cant declines and only nine increasing, according to a study in Thursday’s journal Science.
“Butter ies have been declining the last 20 years,” said study co-author Nick Haddad, an entomologist at Michigan State University. “And we don’t see any sign that that’s going to end.”
A team of scientists combined 76,957 surveys from 35 monitoring programs and blended them for an apples-to-apples comparison and ended up counting 12.6 million butter ies over the decades. Last month, an annual survey that looked just at monarch butteries, which federal o cials plan to put on the threatened species list, counted a nearly all-time low of fewer than 10,000, down from 1.2 million in 1997.
Many of the species in decline fell by 40% or more.
‘Catastrophic and saddening’ loss over time
David Wagner, a University of Connecticut entomologist who wasn’t part of the study,
praised its scope. And he said while the annual rate of decline may not sound signi cant, it is “catastrophic and saddening” when compounded over time.
“In just 30 or 40 years we are talking about losing half the butter ies (and other insect life) over a continent!” Wagner said in an email. “The tree of life is being denuded at unprecedented rates.”
The United States has 650
butter y species, but 96 species were so sparse they didn’t show up in the data and another 212 species weren’t found in su cient number to calculate trends, said study lead author Collin Edwards, an ecologist and data scientist at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
“I’m probably most worried about the species that couldn’t even be included in the analy-
22%
ses” because they were so rare, said University of Wisconsin-Madison entomologist Karen Oberhauser, who wasn’t part of the research.
Haddad, who specializes in rare butter ies, said in recent years he has seen just two endangered St. Francis Satyr butter ies — which only live on a bomb range at Fort Bragg in North Carolina — “so it could be extinct.”
Some well-known species had large drops. The red admiral, which is so calm it lands on people, is down 44%. The American lady butter y, with two large eyespots on its back wings, decreased by 58%, Edwards said.
Even the invasive white cabbage butter y, “a species that is well adapted to invade the world,” according to Haddad, fell by 50%.
“How can that be?” Haddad wondered.
Butter y decline as a warning sign for humans
Cornell University butter y expert Anurag Agrawal said he worries most about the future of a di erent species: humans.
“The loss of butter ies, parrots and porpoises is undoubtedly a bad sign for us, the ecosystems we need and the nature we enjoy,” Agrawal, who wasn’t part of the study, said in an email. “They are telling us that our continent’s health is not doing so well. ... Butter ies are an ambassador for nature’s beauty, fragility and the interde-
pendence of species. They have something to teach us.”
Oberhauser said butter ies connect people with nature and that “calms us down, makes us healthier and happier and promotes learning.”
What’s happening to butter ies in the United States is probably happening to other, less-studied insects across the continent and world, Wagner said. He said not only is this the most comprehensive butter y study, but the most data-rich for any insect.
Butter ies are also pollinators, though not as prominent as bees, and are a major source of pollination of the Texas cotton crop, Haddad said.
Driest and warmest areas are worst for butter ies
The biggest decrease in butter ies was in the Southwest — Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma — where the number of butter ies dropped by more than half in the 20 years.
“It looks like the butter ies that are in dry and warm areas are doing particularly poorly,” Edwards said. “And that kind of captures a lot of the Southwest.” Edwards said when they looked at butter y species that lived both in the hotter South and cooler North, the ones that did better were in the cooler areas.
Climate change, habitat loss and insecticides tend to work together to weaken buttery populations, Edwards and Haddad said. Of the three, it seems that insecticides are the biggest cause, based on previous research from the U.S. Midwest, Haddad said.
“It makes sense because insecticide use has changed in dramatic ways in the time since our study started,” Haddad said. Habitats can be restored and so can butter ies, so there’s hope, Haddad said.
“You can make changes in your backyard and in your neighborhood and in your state,” Haddad said. “That could really improve the situation for a lot of species.”
MARCH
LAUREN ROSE / NORTH STATE JOURNAL
A Monarch butter y inspects a sun ower at Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh.
CHATHAM SPORTS
Seaforth girls, Northwood boys advance to Final Four
Seaforth will make its third straight regional final appearance
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
FOR THE FOURTH time in five seasons, Chatham County will have two teams in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association regional championship round.
The second-seeded Seaforth girls took down No. 3 East Duplin at home 53-32 in the fourth round of the 2A East bracket Friday, advancing to its third straight Final Four. On the same night over 100 miles away, No. 3 Northwood went on the road and knocked No. 3 Southwest Onslow out of the 2A East playoffs 59-44, appearing in its fourth Final Four in six years.
Both teams will play in their respective regional championships Thursday at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem.
Seaforth will play No. 12 Southeast Alamance for the fourth time this season (Seaforth leads the season series 2-1) for a spot in the 2A state final at 2 p.m.
Following that game, Northwood will tip off against No. 4 West Bladen at 4 p.m.
Here’s a more in-depth recap of Friday’s fourth round games.
“I knew shots would eventually fall.”
Katie Leonard
Girls: Seaforth 53, East Duplin 32
Seaforth knocked down nine 3ss (six in the first half) and got a huge lift from guards Gabby White and Katie Leonard to beat East Duplin on Friday.
White, who finished the night with 21 points, scored 14 of the Hawks’ 17 points in the first quarter. She found ways to score all over the court, pouring in multiple second chance buckets at the rim and starting the night 2-for-2 from 3 in the opening period.
“Just getting to the basket and getting my teammates involved,” White reasoned for her early success. “That kind of opened up the game for me. Usually, teams like to focus in on me, so having my teammates know to have my back and being able to knock down those shots, I think that helped a lot.”
Junior guard Mia Moore kept the 3-point party going with two more triples in the second quarter. Senior Peyton Collins and sophomore Abigail Morgan also each con-
tributed a 3 before the half, but thanks to some solid looks in the paint (including second chance points) and free throw opportunities, East Duplin hung around to trail 31-21 at the break.
“We wanted to pick up our intensity,” Seaforth coach Charles Byrd said. “We felt like they were a little more intense than us in the first half. The biggest thing for us was coming out in the second half, turn up the energy and turn up our defense as well.”
Seaforth did exactly that, holding East Duplin to just 11 second half points.
Yet, the knockout punch was the resurgence of Leonard. Leonard only scored three points in the first half and started the night 0-for-7 from beyond the arc, however, she hit three of her last four triples, finishing the night with 16 points.
“I just tried to focus on what I could control which was getting stops, getting rebounds and finding my teammates,” Leonard said. “I knew shots would eventually fall.”
Boys: Northwood 59, Southwest Onslow 44
Junior guard Cam Fowler scored a team-high 28 points and led the Chargers’ downhill
See BASKETBALL, page B2
Chatham Central baseball sweeps Jordan-Matthews
The Bears scored 23 runs in the two games
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
THE CHATHAM Central baseball team swept its in-county rival Jordan-Matthews to win its first two games of the season last week.
After starting the year 0-4, the Bears reached their highest run totals of the season with a 9-4 victory in the first game on March 6 and an 14-1 rout in the second game Friday.
Chatham Central wrapped up the game two victory in five innings thanks to a six-run explosion in the top of the fifth sparked by sophomore Carson Jackson sending sophomore Brett Phillips home for a 9-1 lead.
Seniors Ben Wilson and Carter King brought home three more runners (one for Wilson and two for King) with consecutive singles. During King’s final at-bat of the night, senior Brady Phillips scored
“I don’t think we’re even close to what this team can be.”
Brett Walden
on a wild pitch, contributing to the Bears’ first double digit run total of the year.
King had the best night at the plate for Chatham Central, going 3 for 3 and knocking in four RBIs in game two. His first hit in the top of the first inning, a single to center field, sent home Jackson and junior Brayden Brewer for a 3-0 lead.
Including a ground ball by Wilson that scored Brett Phillips for the Bears’ first run Friday, Chatham Central scored four more runs in the first inning, making it two innings with six runs on the night.
A triple from senior Reid Albright brought in two runs (Wilson and King), and junior
2 local seniors end basketball careers with significant milestones
Reid Albright leaves Chatham Central as the program’s second-leading scorer
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
WHAT COULD’VE happened, or been known, earlier came right on time for boys’ basketball seniors Reid Albright of Chatham Central and Brennan LaVelle of Chatham Charter. During Chatham Central’s third-round loss to Southern Wake Academy in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state playoffs on March 4, Albright scored his 2,000th career point, ending the night with 22 points and a career total of 2,009. He became the school’s second leading boys’ basketball
“I just trust God through it, and thankfully, He allowed me to play this season.”
Brennan LaVelle
scorer, finishing behind Jason Thompson’s 2,104 points.
“It means a lot,” Albright said. “I haven’t really processed it yet.”
Prior to this past playoff run, Albright wasn’t exactly sure how close he was to the 2,000 mark.
While recalculating Albright’s career points, Chatham Central coach Robert Burke realized he left out two games from his freshman year, putting
LEE MOODY FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
Jordan-Matthews’ Jake Bowden (front) slides into third ahead of a tag from Chatham Central’s Benjamin Wilson during the Bears’ two-game sweep of the Jets.
ASHEEBO ROJAS / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
Seaforth’s Gabby White takes a 3-pointer during a fourth-round game against East Duplin. The Hawks advanced to the regional championships with a win.
New conferences set for Chatham County schools
The NCHSAA finalized its new conferences for the 2025-29 school year
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
THE NORTH Carolina High School Athletic Association approved its 2025-29 realignment plan on March 3, ending a months-long process of reclassifying and reorganizing its member schools.
The finalized conferences and classifications were released in a document Thursday. Schools were classified based on their average daily membership numbers for the 2024-25 school year.
Chatham County’s schools were split into four separate conferences.
Chatham Charter and Woods Charter were placed in “1A Conference 3,” an all-1A conference including Ascend Leadership, Central Carolina Academy, Clover Garden, River Mill Academy and Southern Wake Academy. The conference isn’t too different from the current Central Tar Heel 1A conference, except Central Carolina replaced Triangle Math and Science (now in “1A/2A/3A Conference A”).
Chatham Central, also a 1A school, is the only Chatham County school in “1A/2A Conference E” alongside College Prep and Leadership (1A), North Stokes (1A), South Davidson (1A), Winston-Salem Prep (1A), Bishop McGuinness (2A) and South Stokes (2A).
Jordan-Matthews (4A) and Northwood (3A) were placed
BASKETBALL from page B1
attack in the win over Southwest Onslow Friday. Fowler had an efficient and consistent night, shooting 52% from the floor and scoring 14 points in each half.
Northwood made just one 3 the entire night as it constantly
Northwood and Seaforth (right) players hit the floor in pursuit of a loose ball during a February game. These two rivals will need to make room in their non-conference schedules to play each other going forward.
together in “3A/4A Conference B” alongside Eastern Randolph (3A), North Moore (3A), Southwestern Randolph (4A) and Uwharrie Charter (4A).
Seaforth (5A) is the lone Chatham County school in “4A/5A Conference A” with Cedar Ridge (5A), Durham School of the Arts (5A), Orange (5A), South Granville (5A), Webb (5A) and Carrboro (4A). None of the conferences involving Chatham County
attacked the basket and utilized cuts for open looks at the rim.
As a team, Northwood shot 53% from the field despite going 1-for10 from 3.
The Chargers took control of the game after going on a 9-0 run sparked by a late first quarter steal from senior Beau Harvey that led to an and-one for
schools were changed from the third draft released on Feb. 14 as none of the county’s schools made any last-minute requests in front of the NCHSAA Board of Directors last week.
The next steps for the NCHSAA will be figuring out how the playoffs will work for each classification.
The new alignment will change matchups between the county’s schools for the next few years.
Fowler on the other end. The run ended the first quarter and carried over into the beginning of the second.
Up 27-21 at halftime, Northwood outscored the Stallions 18-7 in the third quarter and took a 17-point lead going into the final period. As they looked for easy shots
MILESTONES from page B1
him slightly over the mark in 105 career games.
“I was definitely surprised,” Albright said about when he found out. “I was definitely really happy about it, too.”
LaVelle knew his major accomplishment was on the way, though.
On a play called “Knights” during the fourth quarter of the Chatham Charter’s second-round loss to top-seeded Washington County in the NCHSAA state playoffs on Feb. 28, LaVelle caught a pass at the mid post from freshman Ryder Murphy and banked in a left hook for the last make of his high school career.
With his final bucket came his final milestone. After the make, LaVelle was subbed out of the game, ending his night with 26 points and his career with exactly 1,000.
“I don’t know why I was so emotional, but it was a very emotional moment for me,” LaVelle said.
For LaVelle, the count could’ve ended in his junior season at 576.
After not playing much on varsity as a freshman and sophomore, LaVelle had emerged as one of the Knights’ leading scorers as a junior, averaging 15 points per game and well in the range of becoming an 1,000-point scorer down the road.
But his playing days, let alone his scoring milestone, was all put in jeopardy on Feb. 9, 2024.
Early in a big home game against conference leader Southern Wake Academy that night, LaVelle went up for a layup on a fast break and suffered a broken tibia and fibula during the play. He missed out on two more regular season games, the conference tournament and a playoff run that could’ve added much more to his career point total.
After a successful surgery the next day, doctors told LaVelle that a return to action could take anywhere from three to 12 months.
With Northwood moving down to 2A and joining the Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference last school year, all four of the Chatham County Schools system high schools were in the same conference for the first time ever. The past two seasons, rivalry matchups between Northwood and Jordan-Matthews, Northwood and Seaforth and Chatham Central and Jordan-Matthews were often played more than once a year
4
Separate conferences for Chatham County schools
and had conference and playoff implications. But now, some of the historic rivalry games will have to fit into the non-conference schedule.
There should be some interesting new conference matchups based on the recent histories of certain programs, though. Eastern Randolph, which has turned into a solid boys’ basketball program over the last three seasons, including a state title appearance in 2023, will likely get to battle Northwood more than once a year.
There will also be more of Carrboro and Seaforth in boys’ basketball too, which put on a thrilling game in November. In girls’ soccer, Carrboro may give Seaforth stiffer conference competition, considering the Jaguars haven’t lost more than three games since 2018 and beat 1A state runner up Woods Charter 7-0 in last year’s regular season.
In football, Eastern Randolph, North Moore and Northwood could make for some big Friday night matchups with the Mustangs and Chargers splitting their last two meetings in the Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference and the Wildcats being one of the top programs out of the 1A West classification over the past few years.
in the paint, the Chargers forced Southwest Onslow into tough shots on the defensive end. The Stallions shot 3-for-21 from beyond the arc (36% from the entire field) and committed numerous turnovers that led to Northwood points. Only the Chargers’ starters scored in the game. Senior guard Hayes Burleson went 7-for-7 from two-point range for 14 points, and senior Isaiah Blair poured in eight points. Junior forward Chad Graves, who was very active on the offensive boards, contributed seven points, and Harvey scored his only two points in the first quarter.
Dedicated to his frequent physical therapy sessions and necessary stretches, LaVelle hoped to be back on the court with his team for the summer, but he still wasn’t ready by that time.
“The hardest part of it was mentally,” LaVelle said. “Having to think, ‘Oh, I’m going to be able to do this.’ It’s also just hard dealing with it because you used to be able to do this, and now you can’t walk.”
But even with the injury keeping him away from the hardwood, LaVelle didn’t let his situation keep him still.
About two months after his surgery, LaVelle started his own landscaping and pressure washing business (named LaVelle Landscaping and Washing).
“I was just tired of sitting around at the house, and I was starting to be able to move around better,” LaVelle said.
“I had the materials, I had the
equipment here because we live on a farm, and I just started reaching out to people.”
Said LaVelle, “I extended it to a pressure washing business, and I actually made really good.”
The labor also did good for his recovery. Not only did landscaping keep LaVelle in shape, he felt it sped up his return to the court.
“Especially in those early months, if I had worked all day, I would come home and be in a lot of pain with my leg,” LaVelle said. “But, my PT person told me to keep doing it and doing it because it was good for it.”
LaVelle ended up beating the 12-month recovery time by a long shot and returned to action during the fall just before the official start of this past season.
“I just trust God through it, and thankfully, He allowed me to play this season,” LaVelle said.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Chatham Charter’s Brennan LaVelle celebrates his 1,000th career point.
GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
Jordan-Matthews softball extends win streak to 4
By Asheebo Rojas
Chatham News & Record Baseball
After picking up its second win of the season over Eastern Alamance 2-1 on March 6, Seaforth fell to Chapel Hill in extra innings 4-3 Saturday. Tied at 3 runs apiece in the top of the ninth inning, Chapel Hill’s David Campos knocked in Austin Campos for the go-ahead run on a sac fly.
Northwood dropped two conference losses to Southeast Alamance, losing 5-3 on March 4 and 3-2 Friday.
Chatham Charter lost two in a row to Southern Alamance (10-0) on March 4 and Cornerstone Charter (8-3) Friday.
Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference standings (as of Sunday) (overall, conference): 1. Southeast Alamance (4-0, 4-0); T2. Chatham Central (2-4, 2-2); T2. North Moore (2-2, 1-1); 4. Northwood (1-3, 1-3); 5. Jordan-Matthews (0-4, 0-2); T6. Bartlett Yancey (1-1, 0-0); T6. Cummings (0-0, 0-0); T6. Seaforth 2-3, 0-0) Central Tar Heel 1A conference standings (as of Sunday): 1. River Mill (2-0, 0-2); 2. Triangle Math and Science (1-4, 0-2); T3. Chatham Charter (1-2, 0-0); T3. Clover Garden School (0-4, 0-0); T3. Southern Wake Academy (0-1, 0-0) Softball
Jordan-Matthews extended its win streak to four with a three straight wins over Northwood (11-4), Eastern Randolph (8-5) and North Moore (5-4) last week. Freshman Lily Zogopoulos and senior Marcy Clark both knocked in two scores apiece in the bottom of the fifth inning to lift the Jets ahead of North Moore.
Chatham Central pitcher Maddie Kaczmarczyk didn’t allow a hit in the three innings needed to beat Bartlett Yancey 15-0 on March 4. The Bears also achieved four straight wins with a 19-1 victory over Seaforth Friday.
Northwood senior Jasmine Wichowski went 3-for-3 from the plate and recorded five RBIs to lead the Chargers over Bartlett Yancey 16-0 for its first win of the season Friday. In that same game, she also allowed just one hit and struck
221.5
Points for Seaforth’s boys’ track in its win at the Southeast Alamance Tri-Meet
out four batters on the mound. Chatham Charter lost its first two games of the year to Providence Grove (4-3) on March 3 and Uwharrie Charter (15-8) on March 6.
Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference standings (as of Sunday):
T1. Chatham Central (4 -0, 2-0); T1. Jordan-Matthews (4 -0, 2-0); T3. North Moore (4-1, 2-1); T3. Seaforth (2-2, 2-1); 5. Southeast Alamance (2-2, 1-1); 6. Northwood (1-4, 1-3); T7. Bartlett Yancey (0-2, 0-2); T7. Graham (0-3, 0-2) Central Tar Heel 1A conference standings (as of Sunday): 1. Clover Garden School (2-0, 2-0); T2. River Mill (1-1, 0-1); T2. Ascend Leadership (0-1, 0-1); 4. Chatham Charter (0-2, 0-0)
Girls’ soccer
Woods Charter got its season started with a 2-1 win over Eno River on March 3, but the Wolves dropped its next game to Thales Academy Apex 2-0 on March 5.
Jordan-Matthews freshman Amiyah Vargas recorded a hat trick in the Jets’ 9-0 win over Phoenix Academy on March 6. Northwood won its second game of the year with a 4-2 victory over Southern Alamance on March 6. The rest of the week didn’t go as well, though, as the Chargers also lost to Cedar Ridge 9-6 (March 3) and Eastern Alamance 3-0 (Friday).
Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference standings (as of Sunday):
T1. Seaforth (1-0, 1-0); T1 (2-3, 1-0); T3. Cummings (0-2, 0-1); T3 Graham (0-2, 0-1); T5. Bartlett Yancey (0-2, 0-0); T5. Jordan-Matthews (2-2, 0-0); T5. North Moore (1-0, 0-0); T5. Southeast Alamance (1-3, 0-0)
Track and field
Northwood’s girls and Seaforth’s boys came out on top in the Southeast Alamance TriMeet on March 6 with scores of 191 and 221.5 respectively.
In the Central 3A meet on March 4, Woods Charter’s Ezra Roebuck finished first in the boys’ 400 with a time of 52.64 seconds, and Anna Peeler cruised to a win in the girls’ 1,600 with a time of 5:55.63.
Jordan-Matthews’ Rachael Woods won the girls’ triple jump at the Asheboro Non-Con meet on March 6 with a mark of 32 feet, 8 inches.
Boys’ lacrosse
Seaforth picked up two big wins over Southeast Alamance 20-2 (March 4) and Cedar Ridge 17-5 (March 6). Junior Ivan Grimes led the Hawks with five goals against Southeast Alamance and he tied with freshman Liam McCann and senior Cameron Exley for a team-high 4 goals against Cedar Ridge. Sophomore Anthony Karpf’s five goals led Northwood over Southeast Alamance Friday 16-0
Central/Mid-Carolina conference standings (as of Sunday): T1. Orange (5-0, 3-0); T1. Seaforth (2-1, 2-0); 3. Northwood (3-2, 3-1); T4. Southern Alamance (2-1, 1-1); T4. Williams (2-3, 1-1); T4. Eastern Alamance (2-1, 1-1); T7. Western Alamance (0-2, 0-1); T7. Cedar Ridge (0-3, 0-2); T7. Southeast Alamance (0-6, 0-4)
Boys’ tennis
Northwood extended its win streak to four with a 5-4 win over Jordan-Matthews on March 3, but Chatham Charter cooled the Chargers off after beating them 6-3 the next day. Mid-Carolina 1A/2A standings (as of Sunday): T1. Northwood (4-1, 4-0); T1. Seaforth (1-0, 1-0); 3. North Moore (3-2, 2-1); 4. Jordan-Matthews (0-3, 0-1)
Boys’ golf
Seaforth won the second Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference match of the season on March 3 with a score of 155. Seaforth junior Ty Willoughby finished first in the individual competition with a score of 35. Farrell Blackburn (Northwood), Gray Stewart (Seaforth, tied for second with Blackburn), Brady Preslar (Northwood) and Griffin Ching (Seaforth) filled out the rest of the top five finishers in order.
Chatham Central, softball
Chatham Central sophomore Maddie Kaczmarczyk earns athlete of the week honors for the week of March 3.
Kaczmarczyk, the Bears’ ace, allowed just one hit in the two wins over Bartlett Yancey on March 4 and Seaforth on Friday. In the 15-0 rout over Bartlett Yancey, Kaczmarczyk pitched a perfect three innings (the game only lasted three innings), striking out eight batters and not allowing a hit. Against Seaforth, Kaczmarczyk retired 11 batters and allowed just one hit.
Kaczmarczyk is off to a solid start to the season, allowing just six hits and three runs with an ERA of 1.00 through the Bears’ first four games.
PJ WARD-BROWN / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
SIDELINE REPORT
NCAA FOOTBALL
Nebraska replacing spring game with skills competitions
Lincoln, Neb. Nebraska’s spring game will be replaced with skills competitions and 7-on-7 games at Memorial Stadium on April 26. Coach Matt Rhule had said five weeks ago he highly doubted a spring game would be played because of his concerns about other teams scouting players in the scrimmage and possibly poaching them through the transfer portal. The Nebraska spring game dates to the 1920s and has been played annually since 1950.
NFL Raiders acquire quarterback Smith from Seahawks for 3rd-round pick
Las Vegas
Geno Smith is heading to the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders are sending the Seattle Seahawks a third-round pick for Smith. The 34-year-old, two-time Pro Bowl quarterback reunites with new Raiders coach Pete Carroll in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, the Seahawks will seek a new starter.
Smith threw for 4,320 yards and 21 touchdowns with 15 interceptions last season.
WNBA Williams joins ownership group of Toronto Tempo, WNBA’s 1st Canadian franchise
Toronto Serena Williams is joining the Toronto Tempo ownership group. The team announced the move on Monday. She will partner with Larry Tanenbaum, chairman of Kilmer Sports Ventures for the Tempo, who will begin play in the 2026 season. Williams, one of the greatest tennis players in history, will also play an active role in future jersey designs. Williams is the latest former pro athlete to join a WNBA ownership group. Magic Johnson, Tom Brady, Dwyane Wade and Renee Montgomery already are owners.
SOCCER
NWSL opens Bay FC investigation following reports of “toxic” work environment
New York
An independent investigation has been opened into the coaching staff at Bay FC following publication of a report that described a “toxic” work environment at the club. National Women’s Soccer League Commissioner Jessica Berman confirmed the probe. The San Francisco Chronicle published an investigation last Friday that said at least two formal complaints had been made about the team under coach Albertin Montoya. Two former players, who were not named in Chronicle’s report, described the team environment as toxic, and two former Bay FC employees agreed with the assessment.
NFL Chiefs WR Worthy released after Texas DA declines to pursue charges
Austin, Texas
Duke holds off desperate Heels
The Blue Devils overcame foul trouble and UNC’s hot shooting to sweep their rival
By Shawn Krest North State Journal
OFTEN after a rivalry game, Duke and Carolina players talk about heart, desire and wanting it more than the opponent. In a series that has been evenly matched for generations, the desperation is often what makes the difference.
On Saturday in Chapel Hill, there was no question that the more desperate team was the Tar Heels. UNC needed a win to get an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Duke, meanwhile, had spent the last several weeks on cruise control, blowing out ACC opponents at a record rate.
Throw in the fact that RJ Davis, a legendary Tar Heel, the program’s all-time 3-point shooting leader and second-leading scorer, was playing his last home game, and the intangibles were tilted heavily in favor of Carolina.
Now all the Heels needed was for a few things to fall their way. The combination of grit and luck would bring them victory. Fall, they did. Duke’s MVP and likely National Player of the Year Cooper Flagg picked up two early fouls then returned to the game later in the first half and committed his third.
On the other side, Davis was feeling it, capturing the magic that won him an ACC Player of the Year award. He scored 15 points in the first half, including seven in a 100-second stretch that saw a 15-point Duke lead cut to one at halftime.
“It’s like what you live for, right?” Davis said. “You prep for these type of moments, these type of games. For me to come out in the first half, shooting the basketball and hitting 3s, it
was something I envisioned in my head.”
UNC kept right on going after the half, building a seven-point lead over the reeling Blue Devils.
For Duke coach Jon Scheyer, however, it was just what the doctor ordered.
“I thought it was incredible to go through,” he said. “The first thing I said (to the team) at half is, ‘This is great.’ But I knew we needed it. It was the best thing for us. At the start of the second half, to go down seven and claw our way back? We test our trust in those moments.”
Admittedly, Scheyer has his eyes focused further down the March calendar than Saturday night, and he’d rather have Duke overwhelmed in a regular season game than a tournament contest where a loss ends the year.
Foul trouble will happen at
Super Bowl stars Sweat, Williams headline list of top NFL free agents
A look at the best non-quarterbacks on the open market
By Rob Maaddi The Associated Press
NFL TEAMS can start reshaping their rosters by signing free agents this week.
There’s plenty of attention on the quarterbacks, including Sam Darnold, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.
Agents can start negotiating with teams Monday, and players could sign new deals starting Wednesday. Here’s a look at 25 nonquarterbacks available.
Josh Sweat, edge rusher, Philadelphia Eagles: Sweat is set to cash in after an impressive performance in Philadelphia’s victory in the Super Bowl. He had 21/2 sacks. Sweat has averaged eight sacks per season since becoming a starter in 2021.
Davante Adams, wide receiver, New York Jets: Adams caught 85 passes for 1,063 yards and eight touchdowns in a down year spent with the Raiders and Jets. He’s a three-time All-Pro.
Milton Williams, defensive tackle, Philadelphia Eagles: Williams had two sacks in the Super Bowl.
Charvarius Ward, cornerback, San Francisco 49ers: A second-team All-Pro in 2023.
Chris Godwin, wide receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Coming off a gruesome ankle injury that forced him to miss the final 10 games, the 29-year-old Godwin may not get the massive deal he was on pace for.
Drew Dalman, center, Atlanta Falcons: The best center on the open market.
D.J. Reed, cornerback, New York Jets: Reed allowed just two receiving touchdowns last season, and opposing quarterbacks completed just 46.3% of their passes against him.
Dre Greenlaw, linebacker, San Francisco 49ers: Greenlaw should be back to his old form after returning from an Achilles tendon injury last year.
Haason Reddick, edge rusher, New York Jets: Before a holdout ruined his 2024 season, Reddick had 27 sacks in two seasons in Philadelphia.
Byron Murphy, cornerback, Minnesota Vikings: Murphy had his best season last year with a career-high six interceptions and allowed a 62.0 passer rating.
Amari Cooper, wide receiver, Buffalo Bills: Cooper has had seven 1,000 -yard receiving seasons in 10 years.
“Once you get to March, it can’t be just about wanting it more. Because the team you play also wants it a lot.”
Jon Scheyer, Duke coach
some point in March. So will a hot-shooting opponent. And when it does, the long string of ACC blowouts won’t do Scheyer and the Blue Devils a bit of good. A game like Saturday at the Dean Dome, however, is something to build on.
Duke passed its test of trust.
Kon Knueppel, Sion James and Tyrese Proctor all stepped up in Flagg’s absence, combining for 30 of Duke’s 43 first-half points. Flagg also showed character, playing the entire second
half without picking up another foul.
“You worry about him being hesitant, not being himself,” Scheyer said. “I told him to be aggressive. … For him to get four blocks while having the three fouls was big time.”
The Blue Devils erased the Tar Heels’ lead and rebuilt their double-digit margin, cruising to an 82-69 win and wrapping up a 19-1 ACC season.
Not bad for a team that wasn’t as desperate as the other guys. “Once you get to March, it can’t be just about wanting it more,” Scheyer said. “Because the team you play also wants it a lot. Obviously, you’ve got to make sure your competitiveness is at a certain level, your fight is at a certain level, but it also comes down to having great focus and understanding the value of this game for both teams.”
Xavier Worthy was freed after a Texas district attorney declined to pursue charges against the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver following an arrest in which he had been accused of felony domestic violence. The Williamson County District Attorney said his office had spoken with witnesses and was not accepting the case. Worthy and his lawyers were fully cooperating with the investigation. 2
Carlton Davis, cornerback, Detroit Lions: The seven-year veteran stabilized Detroit’s secondary in his first year with the Lions after spending the first six in Tampa Bay.
Nick Bolton, linebacker, Kansas City Chiefs: He’s a third-down player and was a leader for Steve Spagnuolo’s stout defense.
Jevon Holland, safety, Miami Dolphins: Despite a down season in 2024, the top
Members of the Super Bowl champion Eagles’ defense in the top three available free agents
safety on the market. Will Fries, right guard, Indianapolis Colts: Played just five games due to a broken tibia.
Khalil Mack, edge rusher, Los Angeles Chargers: He’s 34 and his sack total dropped from 17 to six last season.
Justin Reid, safety, Kansas City Chiefs: A proven leader who’d be a big upgrade for a secondary.
18. Cam Robinson, left tackle, Minnesota Vikings: Several teams could use a solid anchor to protect their quarterback’s blind side.
19. Stefon Diggs, wide receiver, Houston Texans: Diggs is coming off an ACL
injury that limited him to eight games but the four-time Pro Bowl pick could transition well to a slot role.
20. Tre’von Moehrig, safety, Las Vegas Raiders: Recorded a career-high 104 tackles and 10 pass breakups in 2024.
Mekhi Becton, right guard, Philadelphia Eagles: Moved from tackle to guard and revived his career on one of the league’s best lines.
Tevin Jenkins, offensive guard, Chicago Bears: Solid starter who should quickly find a home in free agency.
Asante Samuel Jr., cornerback, Los Angeles Chargers: He’s a playmaker despite the criticism he receives for his tackling.
Jamien Sherwood, linebacker, New York Jets: He was the best player on a disappointing defense.
Josh Myers, center, Green Bay Packers: Myers allowed just one sack last year.
MATT SLOCUM / AP PHOTO
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Josh Sweat (19) reacts after sacking Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the first half of Super Bowl 59.
CHRIS SEWARD / AP PHOTO
Duke forward Cooper Flagg (2) tries to control the ball as he is defended by UNC guard
Drake Powell (9) during the first half of Saturday’s game.
Miguel Ramirez’s fly out immediately after allowed Albright to reach home and give Chatham Central a commanding 6-0 lead early in the game.
The first contest of the twogame series was much closer, though.
Down 4-3 entering the bottom of the fourth inning, Chatham Central scored four runs in that inning alone to flip the game back in its favor.
“I still didn’t think we were very good at the plate, but we had good enough at-bats,” Chatham Central coach Brett Walden said. “Sometimes you’ve got to win them that way and win your at-bats that way. Even though they’re not great at-bats, find a way to get on base. I thought they did that all night.”
After a single from Brady Phillips and two early outs, senior Zane Overman clutched up with a single to send Phillips in for the game-tying run. The bases were loaded with Jackson and Wilson being walked in the following at-bats, setting up King for his crucial single to left field that sent in two goahead scores.
“The other two pitches, I was kind of out in front of it, so I was in my head just thinking stay back, short to the ball and just try to slap it the other way,” King said. “I ended up pulling it, but it still got down for a hit.”
Sophomore Reid Caviness contributed to the decisive fourth inning with his own single immediately after King’s that knocked in freshman Iker Vicente for a 7-4 lead.
“Their pitchers were behind most of the night, so that was helpful for us,” Walden said. “We were opportunistic. When they were not really good on the mound at times, we were able to take advantage of that. So sometimes, you have to win them that way.”
Prior to the fourth inning, Jordan-Matthews responded to Chatham Central’s three -r un output in the second inning with its own three runs in the third.
Immediately after Jordan-Matthews sophomore Gavin Davis tied the game at three with a single in the third inning, junior Jacob Eubanks put the Jets ahead by one with a double to center field that brought Elvis Nina-Chay to home plate.
Even without a stellar pitching night from the Bears’ pitching staff, Chatham Central was able to shut out Jordan-Matthews for the next four innings.
Chatham Central’s Luke Gaines (12) takes a lead off second base during the Bears’ sweep of Jordan-Matthews.
“We started throwing more strikes,” Walden said. “That was the biggest thing. And working ahead. If you’re working ahead, you’re going to be successful a lot. Coach Staley does a really good job with our pitching analytics, and he’s tried to stress to them that
something like 80% of the time we get a first-pitch strike, we get the guy out.”
Chatham Central has had a rough start to the 2025 season, losing by more than six runs in the three consecutive losses leading up to game one against the Jets. The Bears hope to turn
things around after the rivalry wins and stack more victories in its next stretch of games.
“We lost a lot of production to graduation,” Walden said. “There’s some guys that have played and been here that are going to have to take on a much larger role, and I don’t think
we’re even close to what this team can be.” Jordan-Matthews has also struggled to score in its 0-4 start to the season, recording just one run in three of its first four losses. The Jets last started a season with four straight losses in 2017 when they started 0-6.
LEE MOODY FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
Richards gets satisfaction from award honoring Connecticut residents
The Rolling Stones guitarist has kept a home in the state since 1985
By Dave Collins The Associated Press
APPEARING IN a building of books instead of a stadium with amps, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards was honored last Wednesday with a new award that recognizes Connecticut residents for their creativity, passion and generosity.
Richards, 81, who is British, has kept a home in Connecticut since 1985. He became the first recipient of the Connecticut Governor’s Award of Excellence, receiving a custom-designed medallion and hearty applause from dozens attending the ceremony at the Westport Library.
Gov. Ned Lamont, a Stones fan, praised Richards for his music career and philanthropy to local organizations, and the state’s first lady, Annie Lamont, placed the medallion around his neck.
“Well, thank you very much. And thank you Connecticut,” Richards said before pausing briefly. “You kind of get lost for words with something like this around your neck. All I gotta say is, you know, I’ve been here for 40 years, and it’s been a great place for me.”
Richards said he moved from New York City to the leafy, wealthy suburb of Weston about 50 miles to the northeast so his children could get some fresh air.
“Keith Richards is an amazing member of our community, and we’r e so proud that he’s here. And I’m so proud for the opportunity to give him this award in excellence.”
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont
“The family’s had a great life,” he said. “The kids grew up great and incredibly happy about everything.”
Richards and his wife, model and actress Patti Hansen, have two adult children. He also has two children with ex-w ife Anita Pallenberg. Another child with Pallenberg, Tara, died from sudden infant death syndrome in 1976.
Lamont noted Richards’ support of local organizations that serve people with disabilities including SPHERE, an education, recreation and arts group, and The Prospector Theater, which operates a movie theater and online popcorn business.
“Keith Richards is an amazing member of our community, and we’re so proud that he’s here,” Lamont said. “And I’m so proud for the opportunity to give him this award in excellence.”
The Democratic governor also joked that Richards is one of his “top political advisers,” through his music. Lamont played snippets of Stones’ songs including “Start Me Up” — saying it was an inspiration for helping small businesses — and “You Can’t Always Get
What You Want” — his answer to state lawmakers’ requests to increase the budget, he said.
The award medallion was designed by a Connecticut state trooper, Danny Carvalho, to which Richards may have raised an eyebrow during his earlier, hard-partying days. A fashion designer from Enfield, Justin Haynes, designed the ribbon attached to the medallion.
The Westport Library’s executive director, William Harmer, had an extra gift he presented to Richards, one Harmer said was more prestigious than a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame or a personal parking space in Times Square: a Westport Library card. Richards has an affinity for libraries, calling them a great and publicly owned equalizer in society.
“Without our books and without knowing things, and without their special meaning — this is not movies,” he said. “This is not somebody drawing you images or anything. This is a book, and you have the movie in your head. And it’s very important that we keep our books unburnt.”
SETH WENIG / AP PHOTO
Keith Richards and Connecticut
Gov. Ned Lamont smile during a ceremony for the presentation of the first Governor’s Award of Excellence in Westport, Connecticut, on March 5.
this week in history
Einstein born, Stephen Hawking died, Mussolini joined the Nazis, “The Godfather” premiered
The Associated Press
MARCH 13
1781: The seventh planet of the solar system, Uranus, was discovered by astronomer William Herschel.
2020: President Donald Trump declared a national emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
MARCH 14
1794: Eli Whitney received a patent for his cotton gin, an invention that revolutionized the American cotton industry.
1879: Albert Einstein, who would revolutionize physics and the human understanding of the universe, was born in Ulm, Germany.
1964: A jury in Dallas found Jack Ruby guilty of murdering Lee Harvey Oswald, the accused assassin of President John F. Kennedy, and sentenced Ruby to death.
2018: Stephen Hawking, the best-known theoretical physicist of his time, died at the age of 76.
MARCH 15
44 B.C.: On the “ides of March,” Roman dictator Julius Caesar was assassinated by Roman senators, including Brutus and Cassius, who feared Caesar was working to establish a monarchy.
1965: President Lyndon B. Johnson called for new legislation to guarantee every American’s right to vote. The result was passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
1972: “The Godfather,” Francis Ford Coppola’s film based on the Mario Puzo novel and starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, premiered in New York.
MARCH 16
1802: President Thomas Jefferson signed a measure authorizing the establishment of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York.
1926: Rocket science pioneer Robert H. Goddard successfully tested the first liquid-fueled rocket at his Aunt Effie’s farm in Auburn, Massachusetts.
1968: The My Lai massacre took place during the Vietnam War as U.S. Army soldiers hunting for Viet Cong fighters and sympathizers killed unarmed
Theoretical physicist Albert Einstein, who is best known for developing the theory of relativity, was born on March 14, 1879.
villagers in two hamlets of Son My village; estimates of the death toll vary from 347 to 504.
MARCH 17
1762: New York held its first St. Patrick’s Day parade.
1941: The National Gallery of Art opened in Washington, D.C.
1942: During World War II, Gen. Douglas MacArthur arrived in Australia to become supreme commander of Allied forces in the southwest Pacific theater.
1969: Golda Meir took power in Israel, beginning a stint as prime minister that would last through five crucial years in the nation’s history.
MARCH 18
1766: Britain repealed the Stamp Act of 1765.
1922: Mohandas K. Gandhi was sentenced in India to six years’ imprisonment for civil disobedience.
1940: Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini met at the Brenner Pass, where the Italian dictator agreed to join Germany’s war against France and Britain.
2017: Chuck Berry, rock ’n’ roll’s founding guitar hero and storyteller behind such classics as “Johnny B. Goode,” “Sweet Little Sixteen” and “Roll Over Beethoven,” died at age 90.
MARCH 19
1859: The opera “Faust” by Charles Gounod premiered in Paris.
1931: Nevada Gov. Fred B. Balzar signed a measure legalizing casino gambling.
1945: During World War II, 724 people were killed when a Japanese dive bomber attacked the carrier USS Franklin off Japan.
‘Eternal Flame’ recounts The Bangles’ turbulent run as all-female ’80s pop sensations
Ultimately, the band met its end in 1989
By Julie Carr Smyth
The Associated Press
FOR MEMBERS of The Bangles, the quintessential all-female band of the 1980s, “Walk Like An Egyptian” was an aberration — not just a departure from their rock-influenced roots, but running counter to it.
How the quirky single would help propel them to international fame and earn Susanna Hoffs’ flirtingly darting eyes a place in music history is laid out in a new book, “Eternal Flame: The Authorized Biography of The Bangles,” released last month.
Author and rock historian Jennifer Otter Bickerdike takes “the girls” from their origins as a teenage garage band in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley to international stardom, and on to their painful breakup in 1989.
For anyone who binged MTV or frequented the nightclubs of the ’80s, “Walk Like An Egyptian” was a staple of the era. Scenes of the band’s four members — Hoffs, sisters Vicki and
Debbi Peterson, and Michael Steele — strutting their way across the screen in flashy Egyptian costumes are interspersed with video from a live performance of the song and street scenes of random individuals performing the signature hieroglyphic lope.
Vicki Peterson, one of three band members to whom Bickerdike was granted “unprecedented access” for the book, loved the Beatles, The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and the Mamas & the Papas. Her younger sister Debbi’s drumming heroes were Ringo Starr and Charlie Watts. Hoffs desired less to be “the Rock and Roll Audrey Hepburn,” as one music promoter described her, and more the punk-poetess Patti Smith.
With “Walk Like an Egyptian,” “Manic Monday,” “Eternal Flame” and two other tunes, The Bangles became the only all-female rock band to sing and play their own instruments on five Top 10 Billboard hits. Cutting their first studio album, “All Over the Place,” in 1984 was a grueling and somewhat demoralizing experience, band members recalled. “I re-
solutions
member coming home one night and being in tears,” Vicki said. “I just kept saying, ‘How does anyone ever make a second record? Does anyone do that again?’”
“The Authorized Biography of The Bangles” by Jennifer Otter Bickerdike details the ups and downs of one of the biggest all-female bands of the 1980s.
And the music press could be brutal, too — minimizing their musical talents while inventing rivalries with other all-female bands — particularly the
Go-Go’s — or nonexistent romantic sparks with Prince, who gave them his “Manic Monday” to record on their second album, 1986’s Different Light. But celebrity was also a rush of opportunities. Singer Cyndi Lauper took a liking to the band and tapped them to open for her 1984 Fun Tour, and Prince surprised audiences on occasion when he would appear unannounced on stage and play with the band. Hoffs calls those occasions “magical.” After “Different Light,” with “Walk Like an Egyptian,” was released, The Bangles opened for rock giants Queen at Slane Castle in Ireland. A year later, their music was part of a movie soundtrack. Ultimately, the band met its end in 1989 amid exhaustion, internal rivalries and artistic differences with their record company. The Petersons describe being summoned to a meeting at their manager’s house, where Hoffs and Steele dropped the bomb that they were unhappy. By the end of the conclave, the band was no more — though they did reform in 1998 to record a song for an “Austin Powers” movie.
AP PHOTO
DA CAPO PRESS / GRAND CENTRAL PUBLISHING VIA AP
*Must set up Auto Draft for 2nd Month.
valid through February 1st 2024.
famous birthdays this week
Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles is 28, Judd Hirsh celebrates 90, Sly Stone hits 82
The Associated Press THESE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week:
MARCH 13
Actor William H. Macy is 75. Rapper-actor Common is 53. Tennis star Coco Gauff is 21.
MARCH 14
Actor-comedian Billy Crystal is 77. Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Simone Biles is 28.
MARCH 15
Actor Judd Hirsch is 90. Filmmaker David Cronenberg is 82. Musician Sly Stone is 82. Musician Ry Cooder is 78. Rock singer Dee Snider (Twisted Sister) is 70.
MARCH 16
Actor Erik Estrada is 76. Guitarist Nancy Wilson of Heart is 71. Rapper Flavor Flav of Public Enemy is 66.
MARCH 17
Actor Patrick Duffy is 76. Actor Kurt Russell is 74. Actor Gary Sinise is 70. Actor Rob Lowe is 61. Singer Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins is 58.
MARCH 18
Jazz guitarist Bill Frisell is 74. TV personality Mike Rowe (“Dirty Jobs”) is 63. Singer-actor Vanessa Williams (“Desperate Housewives,” “Ugly Betty”) is 62. Rapper-actor Queen Latifah is 55. Singer Adam Levine of Maroon 5 is 46.
MARCH 19
Actor Renee Taylor (“The Nanny”) is 91. Actor Ursula Andress (“Dr. No,” “Casino Royale”) is 89. Singer Ruth Pointer of the Pointer Sisters is 79. Actor Glenn Close is 78. Actor Bruce Willis is 70.
ABBIE PARR / AP PHOTO Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles is 28 on Friday.
JORDAN STRAUSS / INVISION / AP PHOTO Award-winning actor Judd Hirsch turns 90 on Saturday.
BRAD BARKET / INVISION / AP PHOTO Action star Bruce Willis celebrates 70 on Wednesday.
the stream
‘Moana
2’ on Disney+, Mulaney on Netflix; ‘Confessions of Octomom,’ Seyfried
“Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party” lands on Paramount+
The Associated Press
“MOANA 2,” the third-biggest movie box-office hit of 2024, and Amanda Seyfried playing a Philadelphia patrol officer fighting rampant opioid addiction in Peacock’s “Long Bright River” are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.
Also, among the streaming offerings worth your time: A long-lost documentary resurfaces on Tom Petty, comedian John Mulaney launches a live weekly celebrity talk show on Netflix, and a six-part series called “Confessions of Octomom” looks back at the turbulent life of single mom Nadya Suleman.
MOVIES TO STREAM
“Moana 2” was nearly a streaming series. Instead, it is now streaming on Disney+ after more than $1 billion in worldwide ticket sales. The movie, the third-biggest box-office hit of 2024, is set three years after the 2016 original. Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) again sets sail from her home island, this time in search of a wider community of Pacific Islanders. Dwayne Johnson, as the voice of Maui, is also back.
Directors Anthony and Joe Russo (“Avengers: Endgame”) are back on Netflix with their adaptation of Simon Stalenhag’s 2018 illustrated novel “The Electric State.” The Russos, who last released 2022’s “The Gray Man” on the streaming service, bring their big-budget flare to a retro-futuristic tale populated by cartoon-like robots. Millie Bobby Brown stars as a teenager in search of her long-lost brother, who travels the American southwest with Keats (Chris Pratt) and his robot sidekick, Herman (voiced by Anthony Mackie).
Payal Kapadia’s luminous “All We Imagine as Light” begins streaming this week on the Criterion Channel. The film, one of the most acclaimed of 2024, is about three Mumbai hospital workers — played by Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha and Chhaya Kadam — who are each grappling with different constrictions in modern Mumbai. When they travel to a seaside town, “All We Imagine as Light” transforms into a radiant, illusory imagination of the lives they could have. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr wrote, “Like a dream, this is a film that washes over you.”
plays cop
MUSIC TO STREAM
In 2022, the K-pop girl group
LE SSERAFIM emerged fully formed: An ambitious Gen Z quintet whose hooks helped usher in a new wave of such groups. It was their single “Antifragile” that seemed to suggest a new sound was being popularized: They pulled from reggaetón filtered through Rosalía as much as they did the tentpoles of much K-pop: stacked melodies, R&B, hip-hop, EDM. On Friday, they will release a new EP, “HOT,” its title-track promising further combinations of “rock and disco elements, revolving around love,” their agency Source Music said in a statement. It’s enough to get excited about.
In February 1983, “Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party” aired just once on MTV — a long-lost documentary that
doubles as Cameron Crowe’s true directorial debut. It follows Petty and his Heartbreakers around their 1982 “Long After Dark” album. The film has been found and remastered, and you can watch it now on Paramount+.
SHOWS TO STREAM
In 2009, the world was introduced to Nadya Suleman, a single mom of six who gave birth to eight living children at one time via in vitro fertilization. The public fascination into this woman dubbed Octomom quickly became vicious and judgmental. Suleman had no job and relied on government assistance, so she was declared irresponsible and unfit to raise 14 kids. She did capitalize on the attention with a book deal, tabloid deals and paid TV appearances, but within a few
“We will never be relevant. We will never be your source of news. We will always be reckless.” John Mulaney
years, she’d declared bankruptcy, turned to pornography to earn money and was accused of welfare fraud by the state of California. A new six-part series called “Confessions of Octomom” looks back at that turbulent time and how Suleman and her 14 kids made it through. It is on Lifetime and streams on Hulu live.
Comedian John Mulaney launched a live weekly celebrity talk show on Netflix called “Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney.” It’s a follow-up to “John Mulaney Presents: “Everybody’s in LA” a live nightly show during last year’s Netflix is a Joke comedy festival. Richard Kind returns as the sidekick. At a press event earlier this year to promote Netflix’s 2025 programming, Maloney promised, “We will never be relevant. We will never be your source of news. We will always be reckless.” Amanda Seyfried, who won an Emmy Award in 2022 for portraying former Silicon Valley It Girl Elizabeth Holmes, stars in a new thriller series for Peacock. In “Long Bright River,” Seyfried plays Mickey, a Philadelphia patrol officer in a neighborhood plagued by rampant
opioid addiction. Mickey becomes determined to solve a series of murders when her sister, who is also an addict, goes missing. It’s based on a novel by Liz Moore. The eight-episode series launches Thursday.
A different limited series for Apple TV+ called “Dope Thief” is also set in Philadelphia against the world of drugs. Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura star as two longtime friends who pose as DEA agents and conduct fake raids to take possession of other people’s drugs and money. It’s a series of easy scores until the two men target the wrong people. “Dope Thief,” produced by Ridley Scott, begins streaming Friday.
VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY
Video games love to make you feel like a hero, but what happens to warriors who fail? Alta, the protagonist of Wanderstop, takes a job managing a quiet tea shop in a magical forest. That sounds like the setup for a relaxing, “cozy” game like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley — but be warned, one of its creators is Davey Wreden, the mastermind behind 2013’s The Stanley Parable. That cult classic is one of the most devious brain-twisters ever, so who knows what Wreden and his colleagues at Ivy Road have up their sleeves for their indie studio’s debut release? Judging from the trailer, Alta may have more on her mind than creating the perfect cup. Find out what’s
on
OWEN SWEENEY / INVISION / AP PHOTO
recently remastered
documentary “Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party” is streaming on Paramount+.
AGOSTINI / INVISION / AP PHOTO
Live with John Mulaney” is bringing the laughs on Netflix.