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VOLUME 11 ISSUE 32 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

DUPLINJOURNAL.COM

Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

the

BRIEF

Harrells’ students, staff come together for prayer Harrells Christian Academy students embrace as they pray together last Thursday during the school’s annual See You at the Pole student-led prayer. Turn to A6 for more photos.

this week

Familiar face on bench moving up Robert Gilmore, currently a District Court judge in Judicial District 5, has been appointed to the Superior Court in the district, which serves Duplin, Jones, Onslow and Sampson counties. Gilmore fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Superior Court Judge Henry Stevens.

Applications open for 2027-28 Kenan Fellows Applications are now open for the 2027-28 cohort of the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership. The program connects teachers with local industries, higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations, giving educators opportunities to gain experience they can bring back to their classrooms, schools and districts. Teachers interested in applying can find application information through the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership.

Free plant giveaway planned in Wallace A free plant giveaway will return to Wallace on Oct. 17 through a partnership between Duplin Christian Outreach Ministries and Johnson Nursery Corporation. Plants will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Crisis Center, 514 S. Norwood St. Although the plants are free, attendees are invited to make contributions to DCOM, an interdenominational organization that provides financial, nutritional and spiritual assistance to Duplin County residents experiencing unexpected crises.

Duplin County early voting begins Oct. 15 Duplin County voters can cast ballots early ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. Early voting runs Oct. 15-31 at Ed Emory Auditorium at 165 Agriculture Drive in Kenansville, and American Legion Post 156 at 529 E. Southerland St. in Wallace. The voter registration deadline is Oct. 9 at 5 p.m., and the deadline to request an absentee-by-mail ballot is Oct. 20 at 5 p.m. For more information, contact the Duplin County Board of Elections at 910-296-2170.

COURTESY HARRELLS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

State auditor probes Duplin County’s financial controls Records show investigators requested information about accounts payable, purchasing cards, procurement and restricted funds By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal KENANSVILLE — Records obtained by Duplin Journal confirm that the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor is conducting an ongoing inqui-

ry into Duplin County’s financial management, procurement practices, restricted funds and disposal of county property. The inquiry includes a rapid-response review of the county’s water district refunding bonds and a broader examina-

James Sprunt president resigns Shannon L. Hair resigned about six months after taking the presidency and six weeks after being placed on administrative leave By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal KENANSVILLE — James Sprunt Community College is continuing under acting President Jeff Taylor after Shannon L. Hair resigned from the presidency about six months after

taking the position and roughly six weeks after being placed on administrative leave by the college’s Board of Trustees. Board of Trustees Chair Anita R. Powers announced Hair’s resignation to the college community last week, saying Hair voluntarily resigned “pursuant

to an agreement with the College.” The announcement did not provide additional details about the agreement. When Hair was placed on administrative leave, Powers said personnel privacy laws prevented the board from providing a reason for the action. Taylor, who previously served as JSCC’s associate vice president of MIS, will continue serving as acting president during the transition. Powers said he

Wrong-way crash claims woman’s life on I-40 Highway Patrol says a Honda collided with two tractor-trailers near Exit 380 By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

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tion of purchasing cards, procurement policies, grant accounts, restricted funds and the 2024 sale of a county dental mobile unit. The records indicate the State Auditor’s Office received reports through its anonymous tipline before beginning its review. On Jan. 15, the State Auditor’s Rapid Response team initiated contact with Finance

MAGNOLIA — A 26-year-old woman died last week after a wrong-way crash involving two tractor-trailers on Interstate 40 between Rose Hill and Magnolia. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said Hipolita A. Martinez-Velez, driving a Honda Civic, was traveling east in the westbound lanes of I-40 shortly after 11 p.m. Sept. 23. The crash occurred near Exit 380. Troopers said two commercial trucks were traveling west, with one in the left lane and another in the right. As

the Honda approached, the driver of the left-lane truck attempted to move toward the shoulder, but the Honda struck the truck head-on. The driver of the second tractor-trailer swerved to avoid the collision and left the roadway. The Honda then struck the side of that truck before coming to rest in the middle of the interstate. According to authorities, Martinez-Velez suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. The drivers of both tractor-trailers were evaluated by EMS and were not injured. Westbound I-40 remained closed between Magnolia and Rose Hill for several hours as emergency crews investigated the collision and cleared the roadway. The crash remains under investigation by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Director Chelsey Lanier regarding the Duplin County Water Districts LOB Refunding a Series 2022 debt issue with an $11.5 million ceiling. The State Auditor’s Office requested financial information showing bond expenditures, the remaining fund balance and current project status. On May 28, investigative analyst Alexandra Laffan requested records from Interim County Manager Lisa Hughes covering a broader range of county operations. The requests have included bank accounts, restricted funds, purchasing cards, grant accounts, procurement policies, See AUDITOR, page A3

will provide “steady leadership and continuity” for the college, saying his focus is keeping the college centered on its students and community. “My priority as acting president is to keep James Sprunt Community College focused on serving our students and community,” Taylor said in a statement to Duplin Journal. “Our faculty and staff continue to help students reach their goals, and I want them to know they have my unwavering support during this transition. I’m working with college leadership to See RESIGNS, page A3

Duplin Journal for Thursday, October 1, 2026

THURSDAY

10.1.26 #145

Airport board OKs meter work, DUPLIN advances apron rehabilitation happening The fuel farm is expected to be completed by the end of the year, while apron work is scheduled to begin in mid-February

By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal

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KENANSVILLE — Construction projects, rising utility costs and fuel pricing were among the key issues discussed during the September Duplin County Airport Commission Board meeting as officials worked to move forward with improvements at Duplin County Airport. Hunter Boniface, project engineer, provided an update on the fuel farm, reporting that physical construction remains slow while submittals continue to progress. Boniface said the concrete mix design has been officially approved after multiple revisions. The concrete supplier is using a standard airfield P501 mix. The approval process was delayed because earlier submittals lacked required documentation, used fine aggregate, or sand, that fell outside Federal Aviation Administration modulus specifications and carried a Virginia engineering stamp rather than a North Carolina stamp. “We’ve got a concrete mix we can approve this week, and we have requested a revised schedule from the contractor,” Boniface said. “We are waiting on designs for the pad where the new fuel tanks will go and for the shelter.” Boniface also answered questions about the concrete mix and the reasons for the lengthy approval process. “The important part is all the testing attached to it being recent and what is required,” Boniface said. Submittals are still pending for the foundation design for the tank pad and the fuel can-

“The important part is all the testing attached to it being recent and what is required.” Hunter Boniface opy/shelter design. The project is now expected to be completed by the end of the year rather than the original Oct. 31 target. An update on the apron rehabilitation project was discussed, with Airport Director Joshua Raynor distributing the formal construction contract with S.T. Wooten for board approval. The contract mirrors the original bid documents and includes standard “Buy American” steel certification requirements. The board unanimously voted to recommend approval of the contract to the county commissioners. Raynor will present the contract at the county commissioners’ preagenda meeting Thursday ahead of their Oct. 8 meeting. Pending approval, construction is expected to begin in mid-February 2027. The board continued discussing proposed changes to hangar rental rates and when to implement them. Raynor explained that rising utility costs, particularly electricity used by dehumidification and HVAC units, have created unbudgeted expenses. He also noted that the renovated hangars have increased in value. Raynor proposed establishing baseline hangar rate adjustments followed by predictable annual or biennial increases tied to the Consumer Price Index. Board members supported the approach as a way to manage rising costs while avoiding larger, unexpected rate increases in the future. The board also discussed separating electric meters so tenants can be responsible for their own utility costs. Current-

Camo for a Cause raises more than $90K for Riley’s Army Businesses, families and volunteers gathered at Tara Creek for an evening supporting children battling cancer By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal FAISON — A Southern evening of fellowship, food and generosity brought businesses, families and community members together Saturday at Tara Creek for Camo for a Cause. “We are honored to share that the second annual Camo For A Cause raised more than $90,000 to support families across North Carolina battling childhood cancer,” Amy Turner of Tara Creek told Duplin Journal.

Turner said the event drew 240 guests and more than 25 dedicated volunteers. “This evening was truly special,” said Turner. The event builds on the vision of Dona and Denny Lanier, who were inspired by the memories of their sons, Hill and Wright, both of whom died from cancer. The Laniers created Camo for a Cause to honor their sons’ desire to help other families facing childhood cancer. “Our community showed up with such generous hearts, and every person who attended, volunteered, donated, or supported the event helped make a difference for Riley’s Army and the families they serve,” Denny and Dona Lanier wrote in a statement to Duplin Journal. “We’ve experienced firsthand how pow-

erful it is when a community surrounds a family in need.” The evening featured a low country boil, music, silent and live auctions, and fellowship among supporters. Proceeds benefit Riley’s Army Triangle, a nonprofit organization that provides support to children battling cancer and their families. “We take pride in the partnerships that have been created within our community that make events like these possible,” said Lee Graham of Tara Creek. “The support, donations, the volunteer hours given will make a difference for so many in North Carolina.” Among those helping organize the event was the team at Wrill Southern Outdoors. The event also drew support from local businesses, including

ly, the main terminal building, lift station and two large corporate/community hangars are connected to a single electric meter. Raynor was instructed to meet with Tri-County Electric to assess options for separating the electrical service and having tenants pay utility providers directly. The board authorized Raynor to spend up to $5,000 to complete the meter separation if the work falls within that amount, allowing the project to move forward without waiting for the next monthly meeting. Raynor presented the operating budget for July 1 through Sept. 22 and reported that revenues and expenses were tracking on schedule. Salary expenses were under budget due to temporary staffing vacancies, while fuel purchases were higher. Year-to-date fuel purchases totaled $220,000 against an annual budget of $688,000. The board discussed whether changes to fuel rates might be necessary to cover rising costs while remaining competitive with other airports within a 50-mile radius. No rate changes were made. The airport is selling fuel for $7.08 per gallon under its flat markup structure. The board also discussed the merits of flat versus percentage-based fuel markups and the importance of protecting corporate customers, who account for about 80% of Jet-A sales. Raynor and the board agreed to conduct a comprehensive fuel study to evaluate the airport’s fuel pricing and margin structure. For September, the airport recorded 554 aircraft operations, sold 1,777 gallons of avgas and sold 11,555 gallons of jet fuel. Before adjourning, the board discussed daylight saving time and how permanent daylight saving time could affect airport operations, particularly winter morning opening hours and flight schedules.

members of the House of Raeford FLOCK. “It was a wonderful night of fellowship and generosity, all for a purpose much greater than ourselves: to help lighten the load for families walking an unimaginably difficult road,” House of Raeford FLOCK wrote in a statement. “It was wonderful to see so many from our House of Raeford team come out to support the cause, with several lending a hand throughout the evening as well.” For those involved, the event is a way to turn personal loss into support for families facing childhood cancer. “Saturday night reminded us that we’re never alone — and we’re ‘WRILLY’ thankful to be part of a community that continues to show up for others,” the Laniers wrote. Jacey Phanaulf, Riley’s Army Triangle director, thanked everyone who contributed to the event, saying their generosity is “making a meaningful difference for families when they need it most.”

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Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Duplin County.

Oct. 8 Mayor’s Makes & Mingles Craft Class 7 p.m. A free craft class. Space is limited to the first eight to RSVP. Ages 13 and up. Magnolia Community Center 104 W. Main St., Magnolia

Oct. 10 Movie Night returns 5 p.m. Movie Night at the park returns to Teachey. Activities, including fall crafts, face painting, games, a bouncy house and unlimited popcorn, will begin at 5 p.m. The movie is scheduled to begin about 7:30 p.m. Residents can choose between “Zootopia 2” and “Toy Story 5.” Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets. 140 Boney St., Teachey

Local author to hold book signing 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Local author Currie Wells will sign his new book, "Every Day with David: A Historical Perspective on the Life of King David." The book examines the life of King David from a historical perspective. The event will give attendees an opportunity to meet Wells and learn more about his work. 511 N. Norwood St., Wallace

Oct. 13 Duplin County candidates forum 6-9 p.m. The nonpartisan candidates forum is hosted by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the forum will feature candidates seeking local, state and federal offices, and give residents an opportunity to hear their views on issues affecting the community. The event is open to the public. James Sprunt Community College Monk Auditorium 133 James Sprunt Drive, Kenansville

Duplin Journal for Thursday, October 1, 2026

Beulaville student named 2026 Brody Scholar Ava Hall will receive about $135,000 in support as she begins medical school at East Carolina University By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal AVA HALL of Beulaville is beginning her medical education at East Carolina University with one of the university’s most prestigious scholarships. Hall is one of three students selected as a 2026 Brody Scholar at ECU’s Brody School of Medicine. She joins Nathan Metcalf and Shea O’Connell as mem-

bers of the medical school’s Class of 2030. According to the school announcement, the students began their first year of medical school in August. The scholarship provides approximately $135,000 in support for each student, covering tuition and fees for all four years of medical school. Recipients also can develop summer enrichment opportunities, including international travel, and receive funding for community service projects. Hall, the daughter of Rod and Kristen Hall of Beulaville, graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s degree in public health nutrition.

“Being selected as a Brody Scholar is an incredible honor and a privilege that I do not take lightly.” Ava Hall She plans to pursue a career in family medicine or internal medicine-pediatrics. For Hall, the opportunity carries a personal connection to the region she hopes to serve. “Being selected as a Brody

Wallace baby’s unexpected journey reaches national stage Five-month-old Weston James Davis has advanced to sixth place in the Baby of the Year competition By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal A 5-MONTH-OLD Wallace baby has made it to the national stage, and his family is hoping their hometown will help cheer him on. Weston James Davis is currently in sixth place in the Baby of the Year competition, a national contest that has brought the young boy and his family more attention than they expected. For his parents, reaching this point is something they never anticipated. “We didn’t know if we would have the chance to have a baby because I had only one working ovary,” Weston’s mother, Brandi Howard, told Duplin Journal. After three years of trying to have a child, Howard gave birth to Weston on March 27 at 35 weeks. He weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces and measured 17 inches. His first weeks were not without complications. Weston battled jaundice, required frequent doctor visits and blood draws, and went through six different formulas before his family found one he could tolerate as he continued to deal with severe gastroesophageal reflux disease. Today, Howard describes her son as a happy and healthy 14-pound 5-month-old who has developed a reputation for bringing smiles to those around him. His path into the Baby of the Year competition was unexpected. Howard discovered the contest through social media and decided to enter Weston without knowing how far he might go. “I was like, ‘Why not give it a try, it couldn’t hurt anything,’” Howard said. “We never thought we would make it down to the final 10, and now this week we must make the final five.”

COURTESY BRANDI HOWARD

Five-month-old Weston James Davis of Wallace is competing in the national Baby of the Year competition.

“We never thought we would make it down to the final 10, and now this week we must make the final 5.” Brandi Howard Now, the baby from Wallace is competing alongside children from across the country, with the outcome depending on the next stage of the competition. The Baby of the Year competition raises money for Baby2Baby, a nonprofit that provides basic baby essentials to low-income families. The competition also partners with Variety magazine and Jessica Alba’s Honest brand products. The winner will receive a $25,000 cash prize and be featured in a nationwide advertising campaign, including features involving Honest products.

If Weston wins, his parents plan to place the prize money in savings and give it to him when he turns 18. But for Howard, the experience has become about more than seeing how far her son can advance. “This competition has become incredibly meaningful to our family because it gives us an opportunity to share Weston’s story while supporting Baby2Baby and its work helping children and families in need,” Howard said. “We are a small family from Wallace, and it would mean so much to us to have our community behind our little boy.” As the competition continues, the family is watching to see how far their baby can go. Howard said she hopes Weston’s story reminds people of the joy that can come from even the smallest beginnings. “Even the smallest little babies can bring an enormous amount of love, hope and happiness into the world,” she said.

Scholar is an incredible honor and a privilege that I do not take lightly,” Hall said. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity and the confidence the Brody Foundation has placed in me. I hope to honor that trust by dedicating my career to serving the people of eastern North Carolina.” The Brody Scholars program began in 1983 through gifts from the Brody family and Brody Foundation. Since then, 163 medical students have been named Brody Scholars or Brody Fellows. More than half have remained in North Carolina to practice, with 40 currently serving in eastern North Carolina.

AUDITOR from page A1 Child Support Incentive funds and records related to the 2024 sale of a county dental mobile unit. The correspondence does not establish that the county violated a law or misused public money. Rather, it documents the State Auditor’s Office seeking records and explanations in several areas of county financial administration. State investigators also zeroed in on the county’s Bank of America purchasing card, or P-card, program after initial document submissions failed to produce credit card account numbers or transaction histories for former County Manager Bryan Miller despite his appearance on an inactive cardholder roster. In subsequent correspondence regarding procurement policies and competitive bidding rules under G.S. 143-129 and contractor licensing under G.S. 87, Hughes acknowledged that Duplin County lacks written procedures for accounts payable or invoice entry outside of general purchasing policies and unwritten software workflows. “We do not have written procedures for accounts payable or invoice entry outside of our purchasing policies. We do utilize workflow approvals through our software (Munis),” Hughes wrote June 17. Auditors are also scrutinizing multiyear grant accounts and restricted revenue streams. State analysts flagged timing gaps in year-to-date budget

RESIGNS from page A1 maintain continuity in our programs and services while we continue building opportunities for students and local employers.” For students and employees, the board said the immediate operations will continue as usual. Academic programs, student services and daily campus operations are expected to continue without interruption. Powers also used the announcement to thank Hair for his service to the college and wished him success in his future endeavors. As the college moves forward, Powers said the board remains focused on providing strong, stable and effec-

COURTESY EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

Ava Hall

captures for State Emergency Response and Disaster Relief Fund grants, demanding underlying appropriation records dating back to January 2024. In response, county officials submitted general ledger data for Soil and Water grants, saying no expenditures occurred prior to fiscal year 2026. The state’s inquiry also encompasses general ledger activity for Tourism Development Authority accounts and an 11-point audit demand regarding Child Support Incentive funds across fiscal years 2023 through 2025. In August, state auditors expanded their probe to inspect the July 2024 surplus declaration, sale, title transfer and proceeds handling for a county dental mobile unit. The financial review is unfolding alongside the county’s water district debt activity. Legal filings show the $9.3 million refunding bond issue was approved by the Local Government Commission to refinance 2012 water district debt. County officials have continued uploading financial records, bank statements and policy documents to a secure State Auditor’s Office portal in response to investigators’ requests. At this stage, the records raise questions about how Duplin County documents, monitors and controls its financial activity. The State Auditor’s review remains ongoing. The records obtained by Duplin Journal do not establish the outcome of the investigation.

tive leadership while supporting JSCC’s students, employees and mission. Taylor said no timeline has been determined for the search for a permanent president. The board said it will provide additional information to the college community as the transition progresses. In closing her message to the “JSCC Family,” Powers thanked students, employees and others in the campus community for their dedication, commitment and support. She said the board and the college community share a commitment to building on the institution’s existing strengths and advancing the success of its students and the surrounding communities.

Elect WRITE IN CANDIDATE Charles (Chuck)

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DUPLIN COUNTY

SHERIFF

••• Weekly deadline is Monday at noon.

SPEAKING OF HIS 28 YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT:

“It has been the honor of my life to serve Duplin County.”

COMMITMENT

HONOR

INTEGRITY

RESPECT

Duplin Journal for Thursday, October 1, 2026

THE CONVERSATION Trip Hoffend, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | JIMMY DIXON

Individual rights and the responsibilities of society

I can say from experience that there are no winners in divorce.

I RECENTLY READ an article by Bruce C. Hafen in which he talked about marriage, education and family law. I will make reference, mostly in my own words, to some of the points he made in his article. Additionally, I will express my opinion about current conditions that I believe are detrimental to the traditional family structure that I believe helped America become the greatest nation on earth. One of the new concepts proposed by our founders as they formed our government, was the concept of natural individual rights. These rights, they asserted, come from God, not from government. Our founders were committed to individual rights. However, in addition to individual rights, they also realized that a well-ordered society was necessary for the success of the whole. Thus, society needed proper rights and protection from the improper use of individual rights. To one of his friends Hafen asked, “Do you think individual rights will ever develop so much momentum that it could overpower the principles that should be balanced against it?” In other words, are there times when the best interest of society could be harmed by an individual’s rights? That question intrigued me. It is that possibility from which I would like to express opinions on two very serious and often controversial movements where so-called individual rights have hurt society.

The first is the legal development of no-fault divorce. From the mid-1960s, U.S. courts and legislatures have diminished or even neglected the protection of the value of marriage and parenting. The well-being of society in general has suffered as a result of no-fault divorce. The results are that individual interests are somehow more fundamental or compelling than society’s interest in protecting traditional marriages. I remember when couples had to get the court’s approval to get a divorce. The fact society is best served by traditional families is diminished when divorce is so easy to obtain. I can say from experience that there are no winners in divorce. David O. McKay, former president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said, “No success can fully compensate for failure in the home.” Thus, divorce being so prevalent, “The contemporary mind sees hardly any dominant social interest in our legal and cultural understanding of marriage and parenting.” A quick Google check reveals that today about 40% of all children are born to single mothers or cohabiting couples who are not married. The second issue is the effect on society of the Roe v. Wade decision on Jan. 22, 1973. The most fundamental right our founders proposed was the right to life. Two divisions have developed on the abortion issue:

the right to life and the right to choose. “The Supreme Court granted individual women the right to choose an abortion, thereby rejecting long-held beliefs in our culture about not only society’s interest held by unborn children but also allowing elected legislators to decide collectively about a question as value-laden and sensitive as when life begins,” Hafen said. Today’s very calloused ideas about divorce and unborn children have been initiated by Satan, the father of all lies. From the very beginning, his evil efforts were directed toward destroying the family unit. He tempted a brother to kill his brother. His efforts have intensified from then until now. But his efforts have become more and more open and vicious in these latter days. It seems that he knows more than ever that he will not prevail and that the destruction of Godly formed families is his goal. His efforts have recently been directed toward the most elementary creation upon which God Himself established the makeup of the family unit; gender, male and female and marriage. God Himself created a man, and knowing that it is not good for a man to be alone, He created the capstone of His creation: a woman. The proper training and teaching of children must start in stable families. We the people, if we do not want future families to be diminished by government, must inform ourselves and elect men and women who belong to the political party that has the best record of trying to protect the family unit. Rep. Jimmy Dixon represents Duplin and Wayne counties in the N.C. House of Representatives.

COLUMN | LARRY ELDER

Trump bans media from the White House — this is why he’s angry

His bitterness is more than justified.

WHY DID PRESIDENT Donald Trump ban CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House? The better question is: What took so long? But Trump made his point. The man is angry at the blatantly biased and Trump-despising legacy media. He blames them for his poor poll numbers. His bitterness is more than justified. The economy is far better than reported. The Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow model currently estimates third-quarter growth at an annualized rate of approximately 5.1%, up from an earlier estimate of 4.4%. And even at today’s elevated gasoline prices, the cost of gas as a percentage of income remains far smaller than during earlier price shocks. Inflation is lower than the Biden average. The official poverty rate is the lowest on record. The stock market has been up, and 401(k)s are fatter. A recent survey of CEOs finds confidence in the economy higher than it’s been in years — with 73% expecting hiring to remain the same or to be increased. Crime is down. The deportation of criminal illegal aliens, argues the Trump administration, is likely a contributing factor. The administration says its military campaign has pushed Iran further away from developing a nuclear weapon. Military recruitment is up. DEI is in retreat. NATO allies are finally upping defense spending as a percentage of their GDP, after former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama unsuccessfully urged it to do so. There’s a lot of good news. This stands in stark contrast with the breathless drum-beating coverage of the Russia-Trump collusion hoax, the first and biggest media-clamped weight on Trump’s ankle. And

when the hoax unraveled — and the bad actors were exposed — the media was far less interested. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee funded the opposition research that produced the discredited Steele dossier. Obama was later briefed on intelligence alleging that Clinton had approved a plan to tie Trump to Russia and divert attention from her email controversy. The Washington Post, not exactly pro-Trump, in 2017, wrote: “The Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee helped fund research that resulted in a now-famous dossier containing allegations about Trump’s connections to Russia and possible coordination between his campaign and the Kremlin, people familiar with the matter said.” The collusion probe began before the dossier, but the dossier later gave the investigation a lot of fuel, particularly for the Carter Page FISA surveillance applications. According to documents released by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, preelection intelligence reports emphasized Russia’s efforts to disrupt the election and undermine confidence in the democratic process without concluding that Moscow’s objective was to elect Trump. After Trump’s unexpected victory, however, Obama ordered a new assessment. This time it concluded Putin had developed a preference for Trump and wanted him to win. The Media Research Center said 92% of the evaluative coverage of Trump 2.0 during his first 100 days by ABC’s “World News Tonight,” the “CBS Evening News” and “NBC Nightly News” was negative. And much of this was after Trump

closed the southern border, when for years the Biden administration claimed it was closed. During the Biden administration when more than 2.75 million people had entered the country illegally during the 12 months ending September 2022, a December 2022 Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll of registered voters asked, “How many border crossings by illegal immigrants do you think are occurring each year?” Fifty-five percent estimated 500,000 or fewer, and the largest group of voters believed annual illegal border crossings numbered between 100,000 and 250,000. Ill-informed? It never ends. Nicolle Wallace, an MS NOW host, last week played an excerpt of Vice President JD Vance imploring voters to keep the Republican congressional majorities. Wallace, laughing, then said, “What I love is, like, give us two more years of rounding and rounding up and shooting Americans in the streets, stealing all of your money and destroying the economy. Nobody wants that.” It boggles the mind how much time the media spend on the inconsequential — such as Trump attaching his name to the Kennedy Center — compared with how little they spend examining how close Iran came to producing enough weapons-grade uranium for a nuclear bomb. Words fail. Trump fumes. Understandably so. His ban may not survive a court challenge. But the record of overwhelmingly negative media coverage remains open for all to see. Larry Elder is a bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio talk show host. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com).

Duplin Journal for Thursday, October 1, 2026

Heart’s Hope hosts First Night of Hope Gala Heart’s Hope Crisis Pregnancy Center hosted its first Gala: A Night of Hope last Thursday at River Landing. Guests enjoyed live music, food, keynote speaker Kellie Brooks and special guest Jay Bucksot.

COURTESY JILL SANDERSON

Teen artist brings this year’s Poultry Jubilee to life The NC Poultry Jubilee committee has announced this year’s Jubilee artist, 17-year-old Genesis Zavala of Rose Hill. Zavala, a senior at James Kenan High School, created the original artwork for this year’s Jubilee print. The original print will be available to the highest bidder Saturday, Nov. 7.

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Duplin Journal for Thursday, October 1, 2026

Community gathers for annual See You at the Pole Harrells Christian Academy students and staff gathered last Thursday for the school’s annual student-led prayer rally.

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DUPLIN SPORTS ‘Dawgs rout Cougars to prep for back-to-back SVC foes “We have to win out and can do that by firing off the ball.” Kevin Motsinger, WRH football coach

Adrian Glover scored four times in preparation for visits from Princeton and Midway

at the Jack Holley Football Complex will feature two of the best running backs in the state, much like it did last fall. The 200-meter state champ in 3A last spring ran for touchdowns two of the four times from the line scrimmage and took a kickoff and a punt to the house during a 65-0 win against Goldsboro. Quarterback Kayden Keith had his most efficient game following an early injury. The sophomore fired touchdown passes to Jaire Woodard (1-18) and Duwon Walker (2-19) while running for 45 yards and hitting pay dirt via his legs. Walker (3-39) and Josiah Faison (1-15) added scores.

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal GOLDSBORO — Adrian Glover isn’t a sprinting champion in the fall. Wallace-Rose Hill’s senior running back is somewhat of a newcomer to football, though by now he’s the next shining star. Glover, who leads Duplin Journal schools in rushing and scoring (75-795, 9 TDs), showed why WRH’s collision with Princeton on Thursday

Bulldogs vs. Bulldogs The win got WRH to 3-2 and set up a Swine Valley Conference showdown against the state’s No. 1 rusher, Teo McFatter, who has Princeton at 3-3. McFatter (169-1,689, 25 TDs) has been unstoppable this fall, though his stats are slightly padded since the Johnston County Bulldogs have played Ayden-Grifton (14), North Johnston (1-5) and NCISAA school Wake Prep (42), which has scored six points in its last three games. Even so, there’s no denying the junior has the right stuff See BULLDOGS, page B2

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Sherrod King, Taulil Pearsall, Jaylon Smith and JK will be key in keeping Midway out of the end zone.

Woodard, Murray step to front as Tigers roll past Eagles The duo combined with Taulil Pearsall on a high-octane offense as JK prepares for unbeaten Midway By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Kevin Motsinger built WRH around defense, and this season the Bulldogs have given up 11 points per game.

WARSAW — Welcome to the limelight, Zavion Woodard. James Kenan’s sophomore running back ran for 104 yards and scored four times last Friday during the Tigers’ 58-13 lambasting of Rosewood at Bill Taylor Field. Woodard entered the game with 10 carries for 74 yards and was rewarded with playing time by head coach Tim Grady because of his work ethic. Grady was shaking up his lineup following a lackluster 21-14 loss to East Duplin, and Woodard’s 11 carries electrified the offense. “We wanted to get back to running the ball harder and being more explosive,” Grady said. “Zavion is getting faster by the day and runs with real power. He’s hungry, and we’re looking for someone who we can depend on in the big game.” Woodard and the Tigers (3-1, 1-0 SVC) will get that opportunity Friday with a road trip to Midway (5-0, 1-0). “They are a really big, physical team, and the rivalry and tension dates back to when I played,” See TIGERS, page B4

JAMES KENAN HALL OF FAME

Two-way leader Mathis key during Tigers’ two title runs Stedman Mathis helped JK return to the final to beat West Montgomery in 2008 By Bill Rollins For the Duplin Journal WARSAW — James Kenan’s Stedman Mathis — who has been voted into the James Kenan Sports Hall of Fame this year along with two others — was as humble and team-first a football star as could be. But he had no hesitation last week in recalling his biggest personal moment as a two-way

leader during state final runs in 2006 and 2007. But first, Mathis’ fellow inductees this year are Jeffrey Wallace, an early-to-mid 1990s football running back; and Stephanie Player, whose defense and low-post play helped the Tigers to three straight East Regional basketball semifinals and one final from 2000-02. Their inductions will be Saturday, Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. in JK’s John P. Harmon Gym. Preceding at 5 p.m., there will be a meet-and-greet in the school’s front lobby. Mathis’ best of many career

highlights came in the 2006 East Region 1AA final at JK’s Bill Taylor Field after East Bladen jetted to a 14-0 lead on its first two possessions. But in the second quarter, Mathis broke tackles off the left side and raced 78 yards to pull the Tigers within 14-6 at the half. That run ignited him to 213 yards rushing on 20 carries (10.7 per carry) in the game. “On the way to the locker room at halftime, we were still behind (14-6), but I caught up with coach (Ken Avent Jr.) and said, ‘Don’t worry, we’ve got this,’” Mathis recalled.

50 Years combined experience serving Duplin County! Cyndi Hatcher: 910-289-1291 Dora Jernigan: 910-271-1382

Katie Jernigan: 919-222-3150 Curt Simpson: 910-290-2194

And they did, winning with 11 fourth-quarter points. Adin Del-Cid booted a 24-yard field goal early in the period. Later, Jamian Smith intercepted his second pass of the night and returned it 44 yards to the 4-yard line. From there, Brandon Satchell scored the winner with four minutes left. That earned the Tigers their first berth in a state final since winning it all in 1960, but they fell to Thomasville 13-7. Mathis and his mates would return to the final in 2007 and See HOF, page B3

COURTESY

Stedman Mathis

Duplin Journal for Thursday, October 1, 2026

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

SPONSORED BY QUINN MCGOWEN FUNERAL HOME

David Wright Cavanaugh

Betty Wallace Cavenaugh

Kathleen Oates Neu

Trelace Ann George

March 18, 1954 – Sept. 22, 2026

Dec. 20, 1938 – Sept. 22, 2026

Dec. 27, 1953 – Sept. 17, 2026

Oct. 3, 1966 – Sept. 16, 2026

David Wright Cavanaugh, 72, of Teachey passed from this earthly life to his eternal rest on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at Dayspring of Wallace. He was born on March 18, 1954, in Duplin County; the son of the late Samuel MacDonald Cavanaugh and the late Elizabeth Rich Cavanaugh Foley. Surviving to cherish his memory is his wife Lynda Smith Cavanaugh; his siblings Sammy Cavanaugh and wife Sandra, Carol Cavanaugh Henderson and husband Mike, Roland Cavanaugh and wife Cindy, Scott Cavanaugh and wife Rebecca and Delwood Raynor; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends that loved David dearly. David was a kind and simple man who loved his family with all his heart. He enjoyed being around people and especially being a waiter at the Country Squire. Earlier in life, David worked with his father at Sam’s Drug in Lumberton as a Pharmacy Technician. There he met a lot of people who became dear friends throughout the years. David was loved greatly by his siblings and many others. He will surely be missed but never forgotten. The family request that memorial gifts in David’s memory be sent to American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or online at www.cancer.org/donate. You may share your memories and send condolences to the family by selecting our Guestbook below. Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Wallace, NC

Betty Sue Wallace Cavenaugh of Richlands, NC, passed from her earthly life on the morning of Tuesday, September 22, 2026, while at home. Born on December 20, 1938, she is the daughter of the late Adrian Halsa and Lela Ellen Blanton Wallace. Also preceding her in death are daughter-Betty Jo Zatko Brannon; sister-Eleanor Wallace Brinkley; brothers-Joseph Council Wallace, Dulan Adrian Wallace, and Frank Gene Wallace. Left to cherish her memory are daughters-Annalisa Boney Southerland (Jimmy) and Dawn Cavenaugh McLean (William); grandchildren-Whitney Findeisen Baker (Ricky), Colbie Southerland Jarman (Evan), Randy West Findeisen II (Janie), Riley Stephen Findeisen, and William Boone McLean; great grandchildrenCooper Bree Jarman, Brooks Owen Jarman, and Merritt West Findeisen (who will be arriving very soon); and her loving companion and fur baby-”Kobe”. Mrs. Cavenaugh grew up in the farm life of Duplin County and learned the value of hard work and gained a great deal from her diligence in the things she accomplished. She was always a pretty lady who placed great value in the way she presented herself. Always very close to her parents and siblings, she also loved her three children, grandchildren and great grandchildren with an unlimited affection for them. Decorating for all holidays was a true joy in life for her. During her later years when health was not at its best, she was never one who gave up. A service to celebrate her life is set for 12 Noon on Friday, September 25, 2026, in the chapel of Padgett Funeral Home in Wallace. Family will visit with friends one hour prior to the service at 11:00 a.m. Officiating will be Pastor Chris Jarman.

Kathleen Neu was a loving person whose kind heart and generous spirit touched the lives of everyone fortunate enough to know her. Kathy faced one of life’s greatest challenges when she was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2025. She fought a courageous battle, demonstrating the strength and determination that had always been a part of who she was. Throughout her journey, she was surrounded by the love and care of family and friends. Although the battle was difficult, Kathy continued to be the strong, caring person her loved ones knew and cherished. Kathy was preceded in death by her husband, Toney, in 2023; her parents, Joseph and Eileen Oates, in 2024; her niece, Amy Paul, in 1993; her stepson, Matthew Harding in 2003, and beloved family member Kathleen Milewski, in 2006. She leaves behind a family who will forever carry her memory in their hearts: her sister, Callista Yacullo of Teachey, NC; her brother, Joseph Oates and wife Sheila of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; her brother, Mark Oates and wife Karin of Fuquay-Varina, NC; her sister, Rosemarie Mobley and husband Glenn of Wallace, NC, and her Uncle Richard Collins and his wife Eileen of Columbia, Ct., stepson, James Neu; stepdaughter, Lisa Salazar and family; and stepdaughter, Tiffany Perez and family, a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, greatnephews, and cousins. Also, special family members Amanda Gagen and family, TJ Milewski Jr., and Brian Prendergast and family. Kathy’s passing leaves a deep emptiness for those who loved her, but her memory will remain in the countless acts of kindness she gave so freely. She will be remembered for her generous heart, her love of family, and the many lives she made a little brighter simply by being there. Though she is no longer with us, the love she gave will continue through the family and friends she cherished. Kathy will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever held close in the hearts of those who knew and loved her. “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” Proverbs 31:25 Please join the family at 11:00 a.m. for a Memorial Service honoring Kathy on Saturday, September 26 at Wallace Pentecostal Holiness Church, 311 Cumberland St., Wallace, N.C. The family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m. to 10:55 a.m. on Saturday at the church. You may share your memories and send condolences to the family by selecting our Guestbook. Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Wallace, NC.

Trelace Ann George, 59, of Beulaville, NC passed away September 16, 2026 at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville, NC. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held 12 noon Saturday, September 26, 2026 at Hawes Funeral Home in Warsaw.

Hipolita Alexandria Martinez-Velez June 27, 2000 – Sept. 23, 2026 Ms. Hipolita Alexandria Martinez-Velez, age 26, of Magnolia, NC, passed away on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, in Magnolia, NC. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at the Chapel of Rose Hill Funeral Home, 472 Wells Town Road, Rose Hill, NC 28458

Joseph Guy “J. G.” Thomas Sept. 29, 1939 – Sept. 26, 2026 Joseph Guy “J. G.” Thomas, age 86, died on Saturday, September 26, 2026 at home. He was preceded in death by his brother, Allen Thomas. He is survived by his wife Janice Thomas of Beulaville; two daughters, Regina T. Humphries and husband Booster of Beulaville, Jenny Houston of Beulaville; sister, Sue Crawley of Beulaville; seven grandchildren Will Humphries, Kelsey H. Akins, Ethan Houston, Evan Houston, Ellis Houston, Eric Houston, Emerson Houston; and two great grandchildren, Sutton Humphries, Easton Akins. A funeral service will be Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Beulaville Baptist Church in Beulaville with visitation one hour before the service. Interment will be at Bostic Sandlin Cemetery in Beulaville. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Beulaville Baptist Church, P.O. Box 394 Beulaville, NC 28518.

Duplin Journal for Thursday, October 1, 2026

High school student racks up 47 college credits through JSCC Zailey Robinson is on track to earn two associate degrees before finishing high school

DUPLIN COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA The statewide general election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Voters will be asked to show photo ID when they vote. All voters will be allowed to vote with or without ID. Voters who lack ID can get one for free from their county board of elections. Find out more at ncsbe.gov/voter-id. Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. Early voting will be held at the following locations from Thursday, October 15, 2026, through Saturday, October 31, 2026. ED EMORY AUDITORIUM, 165 Agriculture Dr., Kenansville, NC 28349

Duplin Journal staff AT 17, Zailey Robinson is already well into her college education — and she has not finished high school yet. By December, Robinson expects to have earned two associate degrees from James Sprunt Community College: one in arts and the other in general education. She reached that milestone through JSCC’s Career and College Promise program while completing high school online through Penn Foster. Robinson entered the CCP program with a simple goal: get as much college coursework completed as possible before finishing high school. She soon discovered she had room to take on even more. As she moved quickly through her online high school classes, Robinson added college courses to her schedule. During her first year in CCP, she completed 47 college credits. “Honestly, I thought it was a lot in the beginning. I had no idea how it would turn out,” Robinson said, adding she was thankful to her parents and instructors for encouraging her throughout the process. The head start has also given Robinson more options for what comes next. She plans to pursue a business-related associate degree and take courses that could help prepare her for a real estate license. She is also looking beyond business and real estate, with law among the careers she is considering. “My top school right now is Campbell University,” Robinson said. “I would love to eventually study law there.” Getting this far has required Robinson to learn more than course material. Moving from an online high school setting

NOTICE OF GENERAL ELECTION

AMERICAN LEGION POST 156, 529 E. Southerland St., Wallace, NC 28466 Thursday, October 15 Friday, October 16 Monday, October 19 Tuesday, October 20 Wednesday, October 21 Thursday, October 22 Friday, October 23 Saturday, October 24 Monday, October 26 Tuesday, October 27 Wednesday, October 28 Thursday, October 29 Friday, October 30 Saturday, October 31

COURTESY JAMES SPRUNT COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Zailey Robinson, 17, is on track to earn two associate degrees from James Sprunt Community College by December while completing high school online.

“Honestly, I thought it was a lot in the beginning. I had no idea how it would turn out.” Zailey Robinson into college taught her to communicate with instructors, ask questions and seek help when she needs it. “In online high school, you don’t have a lot of communication with your teachers,” Robinson said. “In college, you succeed by communicating with your instructors.” Robinson said her instructors helped make that transition easier. English instructor Mary

Ann Simmons said Robinson’s approach to her work made her stand out as a student. “Zailey was a truly thoughtful and caring student who was never afraid to ask meaningful questions about assignments because she genuinely wanted to learn and do her best,” Simmons said. For Robinson, the experience has provided a head start on college while also teaching her lessons she expects to carry forward. “I learned a lot about the value of communication and avoiding procrastination throughout this process,” Robinson said. Through Career and College Promise, eligible North Carolina high school students can earn college credits tuition-free while working toward high school graduation.

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Absentee ballots will be mailed to voters who have requested them beginning September 4, 2026. Absentee ballots must be received by the county board of elections no later than 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, November 3, 2026. A voter can fill out an absentee ballot request at votebymail.ncsbe. gov, or by filling out a request form provided by the county board of elections office. The request must be received through the website or by the Duplin County Board of Elections by 5 p.m. October 20, 2026. Contests on the ballot include U. S. Senate, U.S. House, N.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice, N.C. Court of Appeals Judge, Superior and District Court Judge, N.C. House and Senate, and county offices. A Statewide Referendum proposing amendments to the N.C. Constitution will also be on the ballot. A County Referendum proposing a tax for fire protection will also be on the ballot for voters who live in the Natural Wells Fire Protection District. All persons who are registered to vote with the Duplin County Board of Elections may vote in this election. The voter registration deadline for this election is 5 p.m. Friday, October 9, 2026. Eligible individuals who are not registered by that deadline may register and vote at any early voting site during the early voting period. Individuals registering to vote at an early voting site will be required to provide current documentation of their residence (for example, a government ID, other government document, or a paycheck, bank statement, or utility bill). Voters voting in person are entitled to assistance by an election official, or, if assistance is needed due to disability or illiteracy, by a qualified person of their choice. Voting sites are accessible to all voters. Curbside voting is available for voters who are not able to enter voting sites without physical assistance because of age or physical disability. Legal Notice NOTICE TO THE VOTERS OF THE ROCKFISH PRECINCT Due to the decision made by the Duplin County Board of Elections and accepted by the State Board of Elections on 05/06/2025, the Rockfish precinct polling place will now be located at the American Legion building in Wallace at 529 E. Southerland Street, Wallace, NC 28466. NOTICE TO THE VOTERS OF THE LOCKLIN PRECINCT Due to the decision made by the Duplin County Board of Elections and accepted by the State Board of Elections on 05/06/2025, the Locklin precinct polling place will now be located at the American Legion building in Wallace at 529 E. Southerland Street, Wallace, NC 28466. Questions? Call the Duplin County Board of Elections Office at 910-296-2170 or send an email to dcboe@duplinnc.gov. Ann Henderson, Chair Duplin County Board of Elections

SpaceX’s Starship launches into orbit, delivers payload for first time The successful deployment of advanced satellites advances the path to lunar certification By Marcia Dunn The Associated Press SPACEX LAUNCHED its enormous Starship into orbit for the first time Monday and successfully delivered the most advanced Starlinks yet, but cut the flight short to ensure safety. The spacecraft reentered over the Pacific and splashed down north of Hawaii three hours after blasting off from Texas. The company had been aiming for a 10-hour flight, spanning six full laps around Earth, to prove its readiness for NASA’s Artemis moon program. Starship tipped over and erupted in flames upon splashdown, a dramatic (and intentional) end to the mission. Founder Elon Musk’s Starship almost didn’t make it to orbit when one of its engines shut down too soon. But with everything else working well and the bad engine no longer needed, flight controllers decided after several tense minutes to proceed as planned. “Starship is orbital,” Mission Control announced to cheers. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman congratulated SpaceX on reaching orbit and “managing every step in a safe,

responsible and especially inspirational way.” Rocket carries 26 of Musk’s most advanced Starlink satellites Musk’s showpiece rocket — the biggest and most powerful ever built — carried 26 of the latest Starlink satellites to join the 11,000 older models already providing internet service. They popped out of the spacecraft one by one, drawing more cheers from the SpaceX crowds looking on from the launch site at Starbase, Texas. The decision to end the flight early came soon afterward. No reason was provided. It was Starship’s 14th full-scale launch from Texas’ southern tip in three years. The earlier test flights ventured no farther than the Indian Ocean halfway around the world, often crashing in flames and briefly skimming space. This time, SpaceX was intent on circling the globe from an altitude of 170 miles — not just once but six times over almost 10 hours, ending with a Pacific splashdown near Chile. While Starship achieved the proper orbit zipping along at 17,500 mph, flight controllers opted to play it safe and bring it back several hours sooner, after just a couple laps. The first-stage booster was never meant to return to the Starbase launch site either, in-

COURTESY SPACEX

Starship takes off for its first orbital flight from Starbase, Texas on Monday morning. stead dropping into the Gulf of Mexico within minutes of the morning liftoff. SpaceX wants to ensure that everything works before flying Starship back to Starbase. If the spacecraft breaks apart over land and rains debris onto people, “our popularity would diminish very rapidly,” Musk said at a business summit earlier this month. “That’s why we’re being extremely cautious here.” Depending on the findings from Monday’s orbital debut, the next Starship could return to the launch pad with giant mechanical arms grabbing the hovering spacecraft. If the catch works — Musk gives it even or slightly better odds — then SpaceX will refly the spacecraft by year’s end or early next year. The 407-foot rocket was designed from the start to be fully reusable — a key to lowering

launch costs. SpaceX managed to salvage the last Starship from the Indian Ocean in July. Engineers modified the newly launched Starship’s heat shield based on hands-on inspections from the recovered spacecraft, which is being tugged back to Starbase. SpaceX wants Starship certified for orbital flight SpaceX is pressing hard to certify Starship for orbital flight, a vital step toward moon and Mars travel. NASA’s Artemis III mission is coming up as soon as next summer, a triple-launch docking exercise in orbit around Earth between an Orion capsule full of astronauts and competing lunar landers. Jeff Bezos’ Blue Moon will blast off first, then Orion — which will close in for a link-

up — then Musk’s Starship for a docking with Orion once Blue Moon is unleashed. The next mission — Artemis IV slated for no sooner than 2028 — would have astronauts landing on the moon in either Blue Moon or Starship, whichever is ready first. Subsequent moonshots will alternate between the two billionaires’ landers. Musk originally developed Starship for Mars, intending to launch scores of them with the red planet’s first settlers. For now, he plans to focus on the moon and use Starship to haul satellites into orbit by the truckload, phasing out the company’s frailer Falcon 9 rocket within several years. A second Starship launch site is nearing completion at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center and a third is planned for Louisiana.