North State Journal Vol. 10, Issue 24

BRIEF this week

N.C. DMV audit recommends reforms

Raleigh North Carolina’s Division of Motor Vehicles is the subject of two new audits looking to address long wait times for customers and low morale for workers. According to State Auditor Dave Boliek’s report released Monday, the DMV struggles to keep up with the growing population, leading to customer frustrations. Boliek, a Republican, recommended making the DMV an autonomous agency separate from the Department of Transportation for better control over budget and operations. Other suggestions include using outside instructors for driving tests and creating “pop-up” license o ces.

Federal judge rules Trump can’t shift disaster mitigation funds

Boston

A federal judge on Tuesday blocked the Trump administration from reallocating $4 billion meant to help communities protect against natural disasters.

U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns in Boston granted a preliminary injunction sought by 20 Democrat-led states, including North Carolina under Attorney General Je Jackson, while their lawsuit over the funding moves ahead. The states argue the Federal Emergency Management Agency lacks the authority to end the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program and redirect more than $4 billion of its funding. The program aims to harden infrastructure around the country against potential storm damage.

General Assembly passes continuing budget bill the

Whatley kicks o Senate bid; assails Cooper

Hurricane Helene cleanup focus of committee meeting

The hearing follows a report critical of former Gov. Roy Cooper’s NCORR

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — A General Assembly legislative committee questioned o cials tasked with Hurricane Helene recovery e orts during a July 30 hearing, with lawmakers fo -

cused on the speed of debris removal.

The Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations’ Subcommittee on Hurricane Response and Recovery heard from Will Ray, director of N.C. Emergency Management, and Matt Calabria, Gov. Josh Stein’s new GROW NC disaster recovery o ce director.

The meeting was chaired

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

GASTONIA — Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley formally announced his candidacy for North Carolina’s U.S. Senate seat at an event held last Thursday at Loray Mill Tap Room in Whatley’s hometown of Gastonia.

The seat is up for grabs after Republican Sen. Thom Tillis announced in June he would not seek reelection. Whatley will have to win in the primary against multiple Republicans who have already led to run for the seat before facing former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper in the general election.

“(I) want to thank President Trump,” said Whatley, “because without his vision, with-

out his leadership, without what he has done over the last 10 years to remake the Republican Party into the party that is going to stand for every family and every community all across the country, we would not be sitting here today.” Throughout his remarks, Whatley struck out at Cooper, tying him to former President Joe Biden, stating America was in a “freefall” under the former president, and citing the poor economy, high in ation, una ordable homes and groceries, open borders, along with the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the threat of Russia along with the war in Ukraine.

“As we head into the 2026 midterms, there is no doubt that once again the consequences will be signi cant,” said Whatley. “Americans will be choosing whether to return to the failed policies of Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, or if we’re going to continue the great gains

FEMA initially announced it was ending the program, but later said in a court ling that it was evaluating it.

The legislation maintains current state spending levels but authorizes educator step increases

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — The General Assembly sent a continuing budget bill to Gov. Josh Stein to keep certain items funded until a full budget can be passed. House Bill 125 addresses continuation of current items such as disaster recovery, education, health and human services, agriculture, natural and economic resources, transportation, information technology, salaries and bene ts,

and capital improvements.

The House passed the bill July 30 by a vote of 92-13, with 25 Democrats joining Republicans in voting to pass it. The measure passed the Senate the day before by a 47-2 vote. The two votes against it came from Durham County Democratic Sens. Sophia Chitlik and Natalie Murdock.

“It takes time to negotiate a good budget,” Senior House Appropriations Chair Rep. Donny Lambeth (R-Forsyth) said about the process in creating the bill. “We have the option of moving fast for the sake of being agreeable and pass something quickly that hits a fabricated deadline, or we work intensely to stand

Backed by President Donald Trump, the RNC chairman is on a collision course with the former governor

PJ WARD-BROWN / NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley announces his candidacy for North Carolina’s U.S. Senate seat last Thursday at Loray Mill Taproom in Gastonia.

on the basic needs within our state. This conference report is progress.”

Rep. Marcia Morey (D-Durham) protested that there had been little time to read the bill, claiming Democrats were not part of the process.

The bill, which is not dissimilar from a previous version, would modify reserve funds by transferring $1.14 billion to the savings reserve and reduce future building reserves by $42.2 million annually.

The bill would allocate funds for operational needs, infrastructure projects, employee bene ts and disaster relief while implementing policy changes to enhance e ciency and address speci c state priorities.

Key items include bolstering education funding, supporting Medicaid adjustments, and investing in storm disaster recovery e orts.

It would appropriate more than $104 million in recurring funds for K-12 public schools’ salary and funding adjustments. There is also $94.9 million to address enrollment growth in community colleges, public schools and UNC insti-

that we are seeing with President Trump and a Republican House and a Republican Senate.

“I know that North Carolina wants to see our economy do better. More jobs created, safer communities and a stronger military, and so do I, which is why I am very proud today to announce that, with the complete and total endorsement of President Donald Trump, I am running to be the next senator from the great state of North Carolina.”

Whatley continued to contrast Biden’s failures with Trump’s successes in controlling the border, increasing wages, enacting permanent tax cuts, and bringing the cost of living down.

“It’s pretty clear to say, America is back,” Whatley said to rounds of applause.

“As we launch our campaign for the Senate, North Carolina voters are looking at two very di erent visions for our country,” said Whatley. “Roy Cooper has shown us exactly what his vision for America is: higher taxes, dangerous streets, radical gender ideology and a weaker America.”

When we look back through the years, many things appear di erent than they did at the time. Often it takes years to gain understanding. In the moment, we question and wonder. In our human judgment, we often think things should be di erent. If we had our way, we would never allow hurtful and grievous things to happen. Sometimes we are crushed by them and cannot understand why God permits them. But if we endure the test, we can often look back and see those were the very things needed to develop strength of character or teach us lessons that made our Christian experience more e ective.

I have a quotation in my notebook that expresses a great truth. The writer had gone through dark and trying times — hours of bitterness, days of sorrow. Looking back, he wrote: “Then everything seemed to go wrong. But I see di erently now. God has a hand in placing us in our circumstances, and I know he has cared for me all these years.”

Many of us have had times when things seemed to work for our destruction. Now, looking back, we see that it was God’s kindness and mercy which led us by an unseen path to heights we had not reached before. Even when we doubted God’s care and felt forsaken, the everlasting arms were underneath us. God was guiding us, though the path was strange and di cult. Later, He brought us out into a large place and established our goings (Psalm 18:19).

A manufacturer who had worked his way up from poverty to owning a large factory had a son who loved pleasure. His father had long provided spending money, but one day called him in and said, “Son, I’ve been furnishing you money for years. That’s over. You must now make your own way. If you go to Johnson, the superintendent, he’ll likely nd a place for you.”

The son left stunned. He knew his father well enough to know he wouldn’t change his mind. Resentful and humiliated, he feared the disgrace of having to work. But realizing he had no choice, he went to the superintendent and asked for a job.

Starting in a low position, he did real work and didn’t enjoy it. But when he got his rst paycheck, he felt something new — this was money he had earned. There was satisfaction in that, though the humiliation remained. Still, he was determined to prove himself. He worked faithfully and was gradually promoted. Eventually, he reached an executive position. The experience he gained working through each level was invaluable.

He returned to his father and said, “Father, I see I did you great injustice. When you cut o my allowance and sent me to the factory, I felt humiliated. I thought you didn’t love me. But now I see it di erently. Your course was the only one that could have prepared me for the position I now hold. I’m thankful you were true to me, even though I didn’t understand it then.”

A few years ago, a young preacher came to me during a dark time

tutions, alongside support for initiatives like the NC Promise Tuition Plan. N.C. Health and Human Services would receive $600 million annually for Medicaid rebase and managed care administration, and $30 million for the Healthy Opportunities Pilots program.

Another $823.6 million would go toward infrastructure projects across state agencies, including the UNC System.

Later in the speech, Whatley linked Cooper to “radical” Democrats.

“Let’s be clear: Roy Cooper may pretend to be di erent from the radical extremists that run today’s Democratic Party, but he is all in on their agenda,” Whatley said, citing the example of Cooper marching “shoulder to shoulder with antifa” after a series of riots in Raleigh. Cooper did march around the Executive Mansion with George Floyd protesters, but it is unclear if antifa was present. He was also criticized for doing so amid his own pandemic lockdown orders and with a mask dangling from one ear.

Whatley hit Cooper for giving big incentives to corporations while resisting the Republican-led General Assembly’s tax cut reforms, which have led the state to be ranked No. 1 for business by CNBC multiple years in a row.

“He has never seen a dollar that he didn’t want to tax and that he did not want to spend,”

Whatley said of Cooper’s stance on taxes.

He also criticized Cooper for claiming Biden was competent to be in o ce but then pivoting to endorse Kamala Harris im-

Utrecht University Library in Utrecht, Netherlands.

he could not understand. Recently, he returned and said, “Those things I couldn’t understand then taught me lessons that prepared me to help many souls. I never could have helped them otherwise.” Yes, things look di erent now. He sees God’s hand in those events. He sees those di cult times as blessings to his own soul and to others. He realizes he had been in God’s school of adversity and knew it not. What seemed destructive at the time were manifestations of God’s wisdom and kindness. Now he thanks God for those bitter and hard things.

Are you passing through trials you can’t understand? Do they seem to be ruining you? Trust God and be patient. Out of your night of bitterness and sorrow will come strength of character, a deeper knowledge of God, and a clearer understanding of yourself. As Romans 8:28 assures us, “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” In time, you will look back and thank God for His wise and tender care that led you through the darkness to better and richer things beyond.

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

cense examiner positions and ferry maintenance.

Guilford County is earmarked for a $252 million investment for the development of an aircraft manufacturing site, linked to the JetZero project. An additional $198 million is proposed for the site development over the next four scal years.

The bill would also ensure employee bene ts are adequately funded for state agencies, authorize salary adjustments during the continuing budget period, include step increases for K-12 educators, and bolster funding for the State Health Plan.

If made law, disaster recovery e orts are supported with $60 million for state matching funds and community-led restoration projects. The Agricultural Disaster Crop Loss Program would get $142 million in nonrecurring funds for 2025-26.

Capital projects would receive $1.55 billion for various infrastructure improvements, and transportation initiatives include funding for driver li-

mediately after Biden dropped out.

“I believe in a better North Carolina and a stronger America,” said Whatley near the end of his remarks. “More money in your pocket, safe communities, common sense and a strong country. A better state where you could buy a home, start a family … see your kids do better than you have, right here in the Old North State.”

Sen. Brad Overcash (R-Gaston) served as master of ceremonies, introducing multiple speakers ahead of Whatley taking the stage, including Sheri Chad Hawkins and Yancey County GOP Chair John Anglin, as well as state Reps. John Torbett (R-Gaston), Jimmy Dixon (R-Duplin) and Jarrod Lowery (R-Robeson).

Before Whatley’s speech, each speaker o ered a ringing endorsement of Whatley for the seat.

As a farmer with 62 years of experience, Dixon said he was there to” enthusiastically represent the combined voice of farmers and agri-businessmen and women” to strongly support Whatley’s bid for the Senate. Lowery told the crowd

“We are grateful to the General Assembly for their agreement to provide a historic investment into the State Health Plan and for fully funding the pension plan,” said Treasurer Brad Briner in a statement.

“We have been working hard to overcome the $500 million de cit in the Plan, and these funds are critical to making the Plan solvent for our hard-working state employees.”

The bill also includes Senate Leader Phil Berger’s (R-Eden) Division of Accountability, Value, and E ciency (DAVE) Act,

Whatley has the experience needed to be a U.S. senator, explaining to those in attendance how Whatley was ghting to get the Lumbee Tribe the full federal recognition it has sought for 140 years.

Anglin highlighted Whatley’s concern for the citizens of Yancey County following Hurricane Helene, noting Whatley sent one of the rst messages he received after minimal communications were restored to the area.

“And then the next thing I know is we’ve got Starlinks coming in to connect our incident management team and our rst responders, and I give a lot of credit to Michael Whatley,” said Anglin. He added that Whatley “showed up for us,” and added, “Unfortunately, that’s not what I can say for our former governor.”

National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) said in a statement that Whatley is “exactly the kind of conservative leader North Carolina needs, tough, tested, and committed to putting America First.”

Whatley, 57, holds a history degree from UNC Charlotte, a

plus money for N.C. State Board of Elections Executive Director Sam Hayes to hire seven more executive-level exempt positions totaling nearly $1.2 million.

During House oor debate, Democrats objected to the provisions for the state board of elections.

“The DAVE Act creates exactly the type of government efciency initiatives that North Carolina needs,” N.C. Auditor Dave Boliek said in a press release. “Our team is prepared to take a data-driven approach in its evaluation of North Carolina’s government.”

“I am extremely grateful to the General Assembly for the passage of House Bill 125, which will help the State Board provide better services to the state’s 7.5 million voters and the 100 county boards of elections moving forward,” Hayes said in a statement following passage of the bill.

“This legislation provides $15 million to replace the state’s outdated election management system, which is long overdue. This project is a top priority and will result in more e cient and secure elections for North Carolina voters.”

master’s in religion from Wake Forest, and a law degree and master’s in theology from the University of Notre Dame. His start in public service began in Charlotte as a federal law clerk. Whatley then served in President George W. Bush’s administration as a senior ocial at the Department of Energy. He was also chief of sta for former North Carolina U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole. Considered one of the most successful N.C. Republican Party chairmen in state history, Whatley helped Republicans win statehouse races while guiding Republican judges to wins in consecutive state judiciary races. Whatley has been a key gure in both of Trump’s elections, serving most recently as chairman of the Republican National Committee after Trump asked him to help lead Republican e orts in 2024. After Trump won in 2016, Whatley was tapped to lead the Presidential Transition’s Energy, Environment and Agriculture teams.

Whatley and his wife, Suzanne, have three college-aged children: twin sons and a daughter.

The end of Psalm 18 is depicted in the “Utrecht Psalter”, a ninth-century illuminated psalter manuscript in the collection of the

MAKIYA SEMINERA / AP PHOTO

Rep. Donny Lambeth (R-Forsyth) speaks at a May press conference concerning the state budget.

NCGA overrides 8 vetoes before monthlong adjournment

All 14 bills vetoed saw successful override votes in their respective originating chambers

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — Before adjourning until late August, the General Assembly completed eight overrides of vetoes issued by Gov. Josh Stein out of the 14 he had issued.

Bills with completed overrides, which will now become law, are: House Bill 193 (Firearm Laws Revisions), House Bill 318 (The Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act), House Bill 402 (Limit Rules With Substantial Financial Costs), House Bill 549 (Clarify Powers of State Auditor), House Bill 805 (Prevent Sexual Exploitation/Women and Minors), Senate Bill 254 (Charter School Changes), Senate Bill 266 (The Power Bill Reduction Act), Senate Bill 416 (Personal Privacy Protection Act).

Vetoed bills calendared for additional action when the lawmakers return on Aug. 26 include bills on concealed carry, border protection, squatting, and diversity, equity and inclusion.

Senate Bill 55, which provides remedies for removing squatters, was passed before the legislature adjourned, removing sections Stein objected to from vetoed House Bill 96.

Both the House and Senate faced seven vetoed bills, with the Senate successfully overriding all seven.

“Senate Republicans stood rmly against Gov. Stein’s disastrous decision to veto bills that protect our citizens,” Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) said in a press release.

CLEANUP from page A1

by Rep. Karl Gillespie (R-Macon) and Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell).

Gillespie said approximately 15 million tons of debris have been removed from roads and waterways, and local governments were doing more work.

“Despite this progress, county o cials have complained to legislators about North Carolina Emergency Management’s heavy-handed tactics on debris removal,” said Gillespie.

Gillespie also wanted to know if the Army Corps of Engineers is “really three to four times more expensive than other alternatives we have heard.”

FEMA had reimbursed eligible debris removal costs at 100% up through March 27. Stein requested another 180 - day extension, but it was turned down in April. Stein’s appeal was also rejected in May, meaning the state is paying 10%, or approximately $200 million, of the cleanup cost.

Ray’s presentation addressed the debris removal processes, which are reimbursable local-led projects under FEMA’s Category A program.

Local governments can use local labor and equipment, locally procured contracts, state prepositioned contracts, direct federal assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or the State Mission Assigned Recovery Task program, with the state contributing a 10% cost share regardless of the chosen method.

Of the 19 projects, only the waterway debris removal in Hickory was complete, and ve had no status update other than being “in discussions.” The remaining 13 were listed as “work in progress.”

Ray, responding to an inquiry from Rep. Mark Pless (R-Haywood) on how many homes have been repaired with the $120 million from the legislature, said, “Those funds have not been converted into actual construction activities just yet,” adding that the home repair/reconstruction program “needs to be reimbursable by the federal government.”

“Those funds have to dovetail into the $1.4 billion that were

In addition to the three Senate bills with overrides completed by the House, the vetoes overridden by the Senate included the concealed carry bill (S.B. 50), a border protection bill (S.B. 153) and two DEI bills (S.B. 227 and S.B. 558).

The House, which is one shy of a veto-proof majority, successfully overrode ve of its seven vetoes with the help of one Democrat on each vote.

Rep. Shelly Willingham (D-Edgecombe) voted with Republicans on House Bills 193, 402 and 549. Similarly, Rep. Carla Cun-

ningham (D-Mecklenburg) was the one vote needed to override the veto of House Bill 318. She also joined Willingham in overriding House Bill 402.

During debate on House Bill 318, which closes loopholes for the cooperation of state law enforcement with ICE o cials, Cunningham explained why she supports the bill.

“Today is a new day, but I’d like to take a moment to reintroduce myself to each of you. I am ADOS — American Descendants of Slaves. I am a black American, and I am an American,” said Cunningham.

“Senate Republicans stood rmly against Gov. Stein’s disastrous decision to veto bills that protect our citizens.”

Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden)

“In conclusion, let me share with you all what happens when a woman lawmaker like myself chooses to move di erently,” Cunningham said. “Yes, I was degraded for my vote. Yes, I was called racist for my vote, and yes, I was said I was trash. However, I gured it out.

“They want me to stop elevating my ancestors’ history. They want me to be silent in my country. They want me to line up behind their priorities while my people and communities continue to struggle in our country.”

House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Granite Falls) intervened as members of the chamber began making noise as Cunningham spoke.

Hall singled out but did not name a female member making noises and instructed the sergeant-at-arms to remove her if she continued.

The override of House Bill 318 has been a priority for Hall, who spearheaded the bill.

Cunningham argued that immigration policies should prioritize cultural assimilation, stating immigrants must adapt to U.S. laws, language and constitutional systems rather than maintaining separate cultural practices. She claimed the U.S. has been “naive” and “exploited” by current immigration tactics, calling for stricter citizenship rules and reduced migration levels to prevent community destabilization.

Cunningham also defended herself from attacks she’d sustained over her support for the bill.

received through the CDBG-DR Program,” Ray said. “HUD is notoriously slow in getting those approvals done.”

“I think you’re misleading the public to believe that there are funds being spent in a way that is helping folks in western North Carolina,” Pless said, referring to the GROW NC website posting that $81 million has been spent. “But those folks are calling me and they’re saying, ‘When can I get something done? I have applied, I haven’t heard a word, I’m trying to move forward, but I can’t.’” Rep. Jake Johnson (R-Poke) pressed Ray on the slow debris cleanup, saying the process seemed “ine cient.”

“Sometimes the debris piles were even right beside each other within the grasp of a piece of machinery,” Johnson said of a map displaying debris dots. “It just seems so ine cient to us. …

We’ve already got the equipment out there, and it’s not cheap to move this type of equipment.” Ray countered by saying it’s a complex process to “navigate federal requirements on debris

removal and what’s going to be eligible.”

Calabria gave updated gures on how recovery funds were being spent. The presentation highlighted the $528 million out of the more than $2 billion in state funding appropriated

by the General Assembly, supporting various programs such as the Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program and VisitNC Tourism promotion. According to Calabria’s update, residents have been approved for more than $481.8

“Governor Stein and Democrats side with criminal illegal aliens, but the House stands with North Carolinians,” Hall said in a statement. “North Carolina sheri s must put public safety above politics and enforce the law, not help criminals escape it.”

Mecklenburg’s Rep. Nasif Majeed was the one Democratic vote needed to override House Bill 805.

Cunningham, Majeed and Willingham also helped complete overrides of Senate Bills 266 and 416.

Rep. Cecil Brockman (D-Guilford) joined Cunningham and Willingham to override the veto of Senate Bill 254’s vote.

million in FEMA Individual Assistance, over 6,800 households have gotten help with temporary housing, and more than 800 applications have been received for HUD’s single-family housing program.

Calabria also told lawmakers about road repairs and that 364 homes have been repaired by volunteer organizations such as Baptists on Mission and Habitat for Humanity, which utilized $6 million in state funds.

“I really want to express my gratitude for North Carolina DOT,” Calabria told lawmakers. “Almost 98% of state-maintained roads are now fully or partially reopened.”

As of May 31, more than 80% of available funds from the General Assembly’s Disaster Act Relief Acts Part 1 and 2 had been obligated or expended, according to Calabria.

“The folks in western North Carolina, a lot of them don’t care about what we’re talking about today,” Gillespie said. “What they care about is help. Seeing somebody pull up in the driveway, get out, put a nail apron on and a hammer, go to work.”

The week before the hearing, the House majority sta of the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations released a report outlining the alleged shortcomings of former Gov. Roy Cooper’s North Carolina O ce of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR).

“The North Carolina Ofce of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR) was created to help repair or replace homes damaged by Hurricane Matthew in 2016 or Hurricane Florence in 2018,” the report stated. “Lack of leadership and accountability, starting with Gov. Roy Cooper’s inattention, undermined good intentions.”

The report said NCORR’s processes led to local permitting problems, supply delays and higher costs for individual homes.

The report also cited budgeting failures resulting in the agency needing $300 million more to complete 1,759 un nished homes.

“NCORR failed at basic tasks and took on more tasks than it could deliver,” the report concluded.

GARY D. ROBERTSON / AP PHOTO

Rep. Carla Cunningham (D-Mecklenburg), pictured right with former Rep. Jason Saine in 2023, made an impassioned speech at the General Assembly after joining Republicans to overturn Gov. Josh Stein’s veto of House Bill 318.

IZZY LAVALETTE FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Debris from Hurricane Helene is piled in a yard in Swannanoa on Oct. 10 two weeks after the storm ravaged western North Carolina.

COURTESY NCGA

GROW NC Director Matt Calabria, left, and N.C. Emergency Management Director William Ray, right, testify before the legislature’s Hurricane Recovery Subcommittee on July 30 in Raleigh.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

The most brazen political crime ever in American history

“There are people in politics, just as they exist in all walks of life, whose only frame of reference when it comes to right or wrong is “did I win or not?”

I REALLY DON’T WANT to bore everyone or myself by writing too much about the revelations about the Russian collusion caper concocted during the Obama administration with the full complicity of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

However, the extent of the involvement of our nation’s highest elected o cials and their political advisers is so mind-boggling that it simply can’t be ignored or else it will happen again and again.

Most political scandals in U.S. history have involved politicians or their sta making sordid deals with their government power, which led to them making a lot of money personally. Watergate appears to have been primarily a manifestation of Richard Nixon’s intense paranoia and fear of his enemies always trying to defeat him.

During the presidency of former Union general and national hero Ulysses S Grant, many of his sta made deals of which he had no personal knowledge. That is until friends, concerned about his legacy, and the media — instead of hiding it under their cloak of freedom of the press not to publicize things they didn’t want to write about for fear of endangering their access to the current administration — publicized the improprieties.

Not too many years after Grant left o ce, Albert Fall, President Warren G. Harding’s Interior secretary, must have been taking

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

notes during the Grant administration because he secretly leased federal lands under his control at low rates to private oil companies in return for generous bribes.

By comparison, if this Russian collusion was done for greed and money, then everyone involved must have been promised billions of dollars based on the scope and intent of the obstruction of the political process.

One reason why Russian collusion is so mind-boggling is that elected o cials and their sta in D.C. are surrounded by ethics advisers and lawyers from day one when they get sworn into o ce. There was an ethics adviser I called often as chief of sta to former U.S. Congressman Alex McMillan of Charlotte until one day she half-joked and said, “Frank, you know if you think you have to call our o ce to see if you can do something like take a trip or go to a golf tournament, it probably isn’t allowed under the ethics rules we went over at the orientation session in January.”

She had a good point. But that only works if everyone has the same basis of reference when deciding what is right or wrong.

There are people in politics, just as they exist in all walks of life, whose only frame of reference when it comes to right or wrong is “did I win or not?” Apparently, the Obama/Clinton team feared losing so much to Donald Trump that they and their sta

adopted a win-at-any-cost mantra, and every ethical boundary we have adopted in our democratic republican form of government was tossed out of the window.

Another interesting item: A person who worked in the Obama White House told me he had at least one eager young politico rush into his o ce every day to ask him if they could do this or that legislatively or politically. Every day, he said he must have answered at least 50 times “No!”, so much that he thought about getting a sign with the word “No!” on it painted red in big capital letters and nailing it to the wall behind his head to save him the trouble each day. Apparently, they didn’t listen to him. And apparently no one up the chain in the command issued the warning that anyone caught doing anything the least bit illegal or unethical would be summarily dismissed from their job, which is the ultimate disinfectant of unethical behavior in Washington, D.C.

The sad thing for Democrats is that none of their leaders have come out to publicly decry this entire episode. They have given Republicans the right to plaster every Democrat candidate with the tar and feathers of “he/she supported the whole Russian collusion a air to overturn our democratic/republican form of selfgovernment!”

It is an easy political attack to make. People on the left still, a half-century later, use Watergate to paint Republicans as Gestapo-like fascists.

You would think there would be some right-thinking Democrat leader somewhere in this country who would stand up for defending the Constitution and playing the electoral game the right way.

The Democratic Party’s branding woes get worse

The lack of unity and failure to establish a clear direction heading into the 2026 midterms has left the leaderless Democratic Party in dire straits.

THERE’S BEEN A LOT said and written since the 2024 elections about the “Democratic Party brand” and how (and if) party leaders could turn things around after such devastating losses, with Republicans winning the presidency, retaking control of the Senate and retaining the House of Representatives.

Going into Election Day, Democrats thought they had a winning candidate with Vice President Kamala Harris and a winning message: Donald Trump is evil, abortion rights must be codi ed at the federal level, criminal illegal immigrants must be allowed to stay, men should be allowed to play in women’s sports as long as they identify as women, and tax the rich.

None of it worked, which sent Democrats scrambling to gure out what went wrong.

I mean, they spent eight years vilifying Trump, even going so far as to engage in blatant lawfare, and yet he was the one left standing and victorious. How could that have happened?

From the looks of things, eight months into Trump’s second term, Democrats are still trying to gure it out.

Though they remain united when it comes to opposing Trump, there are divisions elsewhere, with some factions saying the party should be focused more on kitchen table issues and not ghting for soft-on-crime policies, illegal immigrants, transgender rights, and the restoration of their diversity,

equity and inclusion priorities (though the Supreme Court may have a little something to say on the latter).

Others, however, remain committed to all of the above and more, and beyond that, are ghting to maintain the bloated bureaucracy and status quo in Washington, D.C., that bene ts entrenched politicians, not the people.

Not surprisingly, the lack of unity and failure to establish a clear direction heading into the 2026 midterms has left the leaderless Democratic Party in dire straits from a political standpoint, with polling consistently showing them in the basement with voters.

For instance, a recent Wall Street Journal headline declared “Democrats Get Lowest Rating From Voters in 35 Years, WSJ Poll Finds,” and their subhead noted “Republicans (are) preferred on most issues that decide elections despite unease with Trump over the economy, tari s, and foreign policy.”

The money quote came from Democrat pollster John Anzalone, who observed that the party’s “brand is so bad that they don’t have the credibility to be a critic of Trump or the Republican Party.”

And in a mid-July segment on CNN, the network’s chief data analyst, Harry Enten, said, “At this particular point, this election cycle looks a lot more like 2024 than it does then either 2018 or 2006,” where Democrats did very well in the midterm elections.

“And so, of course, Republicans actually

held onto the House back in 2024. Will it happen this time around? We’ll just have to wait and see,” Enten added.

Undoubtedly, both parties are gearing up for a major battle, with Democrats continuing to lean in on the “Orange Man Bad” narrative, while Republicans stick with Trump as he plays hardball with congressional Democrats, judicial activists, world leaders and the mainstream media.

Which message will resonate with voters? It’s hard to say at this point. But one thing that’s for sure is that if Democrats are still underwater with voters at this stage despite all the mud they’ve thrown at Trump over the last several months, the months leading up to November 2026 are going to be an uphill climb.

As Anzalone said in response to The Wall Street Journal poll, “Until (Democrats) reconnect with real voters and working people on who they’re for and what their economic message is, they’re going to have problems.”

In my view, that is unlikely to change anytime soon, as Democrats seem hellbent on clinging to the sinking ship of failed ideas, bless their hearts.

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

Seizing the means of seduction

They learned that to be “on the right side of history” they must be on the left side of politics.

WHEN I SAW that “brain rot” was the Oxford English Dictionary’s 2024 Word of the Year, I was only half right when I guessed that “brain rot” is the side e ect of Gen Z’s addiction to social media. I did not expect to see Gen Z adopt the term to describe the “vibe” they feel while binge-watching or “doomscrolling” TikTok videos. Nor did I expect to see a “democratic socialist” exploit Gen Z’s addiction to win the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City. Six weeks later, Zohran Mamdani’s appeal to young radicals seems not just plausible — but inevitable.

Like many of his supporters, Mamdani hails from that class of radicals whose back stories include attendance at elite private schools and colleges where they learned that to be “on the right side of history” they must be on the left side of politics and support candidates like Bernie Sanders who was the rst “democratic socialist” to bewitch young voters with a pledge to upend “unfettered capitalism.” With Sanders’ role reduced to that of jetting about railing against oligarchs, Gen Z needed a new idol, a young rebrand who would represent what The New York Times once dubbed “The Rich Kids Who Want to Tear Down Capitalism.”

Into the breach steps Mamdani, beaming “rizz” (charisma) and promises of free child care, free bus rides, rent control, city-owned grocery stores and higher property taxes for “richer, whiter, neighborhoods.” And it wasn’t just Gen Z’s would-be freeloaders who fell for Mamdani’s gambit. A New York Times analysis notes that Mamdani had a more than 35-point lead in swank Brooklyn neighborhoods — where homeowners have prospered in our free market economy. If the residents of Brooklyn’s so-called Commie Corridor know that Mamdani is on record defending “the abolition of private property” and “seizing the means of production,” they are either too rich or too daft to care.

Just as daft are the Jewish New Yorkers who support Mamdani, 60% of whom are Gen Zers who call themselves “Jews for Zohran.”

As the son of a Columbia University professor who’s on record defending suicide bombers and condemning “Israel’s genocide in Gaza,”

COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE

Mamdani had a head start becoming antiZionist and adopting the hard left’s aim to “globalize the intifada.” When NBC news anchor Kristen Welker pressed Mamdani to condemn the phrase, he responded with a weak, “That’s not language I use.” But Mamdani’s disclaimer hasn’t stopped Jewish billionaire Bill Ackman from pledging “hundreds of millions” to defeat an antiZionist in the city that has the largest Jewish population this side of Israel.

Before July 28, critics had focused on Mamdani’s contempt for Israel and our free market system, but in the wake of last week’s Park Avenue bloodbath, his (allegedly former) contempt for the NYPD has also made headlines — along with clips of Mamdani struggling to walk back the statement he issued following the 2020 death of George Floyd: “We don’t need an investigation to know that the NYPD is racist, anti-queer and a major threat to public safety. What we need is to #DefundTheNYPD.”

In his rst public appearance following last week’s slaying of an NYPD o cer, Mamdani repeated his claim that he is “not running to defund the police,” but New York’s Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul remains unconvinced. Like New York Sen. Chuck Schumer and New York Congressman Hakeem Je ries, Hochul has yet to endorse Mamdani and has even admitted, “Everybody’s concerned about what will happen to the policing of the city” if Mamdani is elected mayor.

Hochul’s “everybody” does not include Gen Z’s victims of “brain rot” because their new idol has mastered the art of online seduction. When 19th-century writer Henry David Thoreau coined the phrase to describe people who “level downward to our dullest perception,” he did not know that “brain rot” would one day be a source of pride for the disciples of a cocksure young socialist.

If Gen Z succeeds in its mission to elect a socialist as the mayor of New York City, Comrade Mamdani will see to it that the Big Apple is sliced, diced and redistributed.

Nan Miller is professor emerita of literature at Meredith College and lives in Raleigh.

Desperately seeking a pro-growth Democrat

The modern-day Democrats have sprinted away from the John F. Kennedy agenda of free trade, lower tax rates and balanced budgets.

THE MOST RECENT Wall Street Journal political poll shows that Democrats have swerved into a deep ditch. Only three of 10 voters have a positive opinion of the Democratic Party, and that is the lowest this number has been for Democrats since Bill Clinton’s rst term in o ce. Republicans aren’t very popular either — but they have a big lead over the donkeys.

I’m not a cheerleader for the Republicans, and it’s clear the GOP is not the solution to all our nation’s problems. Republicans have been coconspirators in the runaway spending and debt crisis in Washington.

What is concerning is that the Democrats have become what might be called a doughnut party: They have no middle. Around 2000, the progressive left started capturing all the important leadership seats in their party. It began with the elevation of Nancy Pelosi, and the full-scale takeover of the party happened with the election of Barack Obama. Since then, the commanding voices of the party have included Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris and Bernie Sanders.

Even as Donald Trump’s policies have taken root and, so far, are working, Dems in Washington today are opposed to nearly every Trump policy — even policies that they once supported, like trade protectionism. Every Democrat voted against making the Trump tax cuts permanent — apparently, they were ne with the typical American family paying about $2,000 a year more in taxes. OK, ne. We know what they’re against. But what exactly is the Democratic economic message?

Here are a few of their rallying cries: raise taxes on the rich; destroy America’s energy capacity due to climate change religiosity; businesses are evil; expand welfare payments; grow the government; defend rotten schools and put teacher union interests above parents and kids; put diversity over merit selection. The modern-day Democrats have sprinted away from the John F. Kennedy agenda of free trade, lower tax rates and balanced budgets. Can you imagine any Democrat today saying,

BE IN TOUCH

Europe’s recognition of ‘Palestine’ is a cynical joke

FRENCH PRESIDENT Emmanuel

Macron and British Prime Minister Keir

Starmer announced this week that their countries would unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state.

The rst problem with that is “Palestine” is a ctional place. There never was any such thing.

And diplomatic recognition of it no more changes this reality than if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were to decide to recognize the archipelago of Islamic banlieues on the outskirts of Paris as an independent nation.

But what exactly are Britain and France recognizing?

Mahmoud Abbas, the dictator of the Palestinian Authority in the “West Bank,” is now 89 years old. What do Macron and Starmer think will happen when he nally dies?

The best-case scenario, I suppose, is for another corrupt strongman to take over an independent “Palestine.” Will these Western European leaders back an autocracy?

What happens when a civil war breaks out? Because the prospects are quite high. Since the Oslo Accords, the Palestinian Authority has relied heavily on Israel’s security apparatus to stay in power. It would almost certainly implode without it.

The French and Brits should recall that the rst thing Palestinians did when handed a protostate in 2005 was destroy more than 3,000 greenhouses and modern farming systems that American Jews had purchased for $14 million and handed them, gratis. The second thing they did, though, was put Hamas in charge.

So will France and Britain support open elections in this new nation? What if Hamas, or some other iteration of that organization, wins those elections? Will France and Britain recognize such a state?

“Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people,” Macron claimed during a visit to Ramallah with Abbas in 2023. This is Western elitist twaddle: The unpleasant truth is that Islamists far better represent the people than the “moderate” Fatah party, which is propped up with billions of Western dollars and Israeli assistance.

as Kennedy did in 1963, that “tax rates are too high today, tax revenues are too low, and the fastest way to balance the budget is to lower rates now.”

In the late 1980s, a tax reform bill signed into law by Ronald Reagan lowered the highest tax rate to 28%. That passed 97-3, with 44 of 47 Democrats voting yes. No Democrat today would support a 28% tax rate.

Even more recently, we had the Clinton market-friendly centrists who were the “New Democrats” and rose to ascendancy in the Democratic Party. The 1990s were years of balanced budgets, abundant jobs, falling government spending, free trade, a technology boom, lower capital gains taxes and a mighty stock market surge.

The era of big government really was over — temporarily.

Now it’s back.

The latest wisdom of the congressional Democrats is to simply oppose everything Trump is doing. They want to run on repealing Trump’s tax cut bill, which would be a giant tax increase.

This is not an economic philosophy; it’s a pathology.

It’s not healthy that one of the two political parties has belly- opped o the shallow end. We need a war — or at least a competition — of good ideas and solutions.

I’m hard pressed to name even one Democrat in Washington — just one — who has a pro-growth, pro-America agenda.

In 1980, Democrats got shellacked by Reagan. They moved left with Walter Mondale and lost 49 states four years later. And then even when Reagan was gone, they went further left with Massachusetts liberal Michael Dukakis and lost again in 1988. It was only then that they went with pragmatism and won with Clinton. Dems may have to take another beating at the voting booths in 2028 to see the errors of their ways.

Stephen Moore is a cofounder of Unleash Prosperity and a former senior economic adviser to Donald Trump.

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

Contact a writer or columnist: connect@northstatejournal.com

In 2006, Hamas not only won the Gaza elections, but it also won a majority of the parliamentary seats in the PA, which it still holds. In 2024, Hamas and Fatah signed the Beijing Declaration, brokered by Communist China, agreeing to form an “interim national reconciliation government.”

Will the French and British “recognize” a similar arrangement in the future? Is Macron going to send French troops into Jenin to root out Islamist militants ring Iranian- or Qatari-funded missiles into Jerusalem?

Whether the French could even win such a war, I suppose, is the better question.

And what will “Palestine” look like? Not once in the dozens of attempts to give Palestinians a state have they accepted any arrangement that didn’t include “a right to return” into Israel proper.

“Nakba” itself — Palestinians’ bitter term for what they see as the “catastrophe” of Israel’s founding — was the result of a war that was launched by local Arabs and their allies who rejected a state.

Even if a deal could be struck, what makes Macron and Starmer believe Palestinians can run their own nation anyway? Palestinians in Gaza are unwilling to build the basic infrastructure necessary for themselves despite receiving hundreds of millions in yearly aid.

Every Israeli restriction on Palestinians in Gaza has been put in place to mitigate violence. When you send Gaza concrete, they build tunnels and military installations under hospitals, not schools or businesses. If you build them infrastructure, they dig up water pipes to make casements for rockets. When you allow shipments of necessities, they smuggle in explosives. When you send food, they give it to the terrorist army before the children.

Unless, of course, those children have been recruited to the Islamist cause.

Will France and Britain send in their citizens to administer this new state and its borders to ensure that the same doesn’t happen again? Or will Israel just be forced to invade once more?

Now, of course, Macron says Hamas must be “disarmed” and that Gaza needs to be rebuilt. But the French and British recognition of “Palestine” incentivizes the opposite. What does he think Israel has been trying to do?

Is France or Britain going to disarm Hamas? Is France or Britain going to bring back the more than 50 hostages still being held and tortured in Gaza?

Macron and Starmer, like so many apologists for Palestinian violence, lose nothing with this cynical moral preening to their domestic Islamists.

The real world is a lot more complicated. David Harsanyi is a senior writer at the Washington Examiner.

Murphy to Manteo Jones & Blount

Happy trails

The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources has announced nearly $11 million in trail development and restoration projects for 37 local trail projects in the Piedmont, authorized by the General Assembly as part of the Great Trails State Program. The General Assembly established the Great Trails State Program in 2023, representing a historic investment of $25 million in North Carolina trails. The program o ers matching grants to North Carolina local governments, public authorities, N.C. Regional Councils of Government and nonpro t organizations. “The 125 member organizations of the Great Trails State Coalition thank the North Carolina General Assembly for creating and funding the Great Trails State Program,” said Palmer McIntyre, director of the N.C. Great Trails State Coalition. “This visionary investment in all types of trails across the state will deliver transformative economic, health, and quality-of-life bene ts for communities of all sizes. The Coalition will continue to work alongside N.C. State Parks to support this program.”

Trail grant recipients

resulting in approximately 50,000 gallons of untreated wastewater entering Richland Creek, according to a press release from the Town of Waynesville. The bypass occurred due to a mechanical failure at the plant’s headworks and lasted about 90 minutes. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality was noti ed, and crews responded to contain and mitigate the discharge, according to the release. The press release says the over ow consisted primarily of a mixture of untreated wastewater and storm-in ltrated rainwater, which recycled the concentration of harmful pollutants. The town urged residents to avoid contact with surface waters in the a ected area. Warning signs have been posted at public access points to alert the public of potential health risks. Water quality sampling is currently being conducted to monitor environmental conditions, the town said.

NSJ

PIEDMONT

DWI charges follow deadly Harris Lake accident

Moore County A Moore County man was impaired while operating a boat that crashed Saturday afternoon, causing the death of a girl who was swimming at Shearon Harris Lake, according to North Carolina Wildlife o cials. The incident happened near the Cross Point Access Area when a 40-year-old Vass man was driving a boat “under the in uence of an impairing substance,” according to o cials. Quinten Gregory Kight was charged with DWI and the ”unintentionally caused death” of 10-year-old Brooklyn Mae Carroll.

NSJ

Man dies of gunshot shortly after seeking police help

EAST

Emerald Isle considering new social district

County o cials hold back-to-school supply drive

Randolph County

The Randolph County Sheri ’s O ce is giving back to children in more than 30 schools in the community by hosting a back-to-school supply drive for the third year in a row. Bryan Tysinger, sergeant of community outreach, said there will be a bin for each substation in Trinity and Ramseur, as well as the sheri ’s o ce, and that supplies can be dropped o this week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WXII

Guilford County A man is dead after he walked up to Greensboro police o cers early Sunday morning asking for help for a gunshot wound, police said. The man, identi ed as 34-year-old Orion Matthew Sanzeni, was pronounced dead at the scene despite e orts by o cers and EMS personnel to save him. O cers had responded to reports of shots red, including shots red into a vehicle in the 800 block of Eula Street, when o cers working an unrelated tra c crash nearby were approached by Sanzeni, who had been shot in the torso. He collapsed shortly after speaking to the o cers, police told local outlets. O cers responding to the initial Eula Street call found evidence of gun re at the scene and soon after located a 2017 Ford Fusion sedan that had crashed at the dead end of Oakland Avenue. Detectives believe all three scenes are connected. Sanzeni’s death is Greensboro’s 23rd homicide of 2025.

WFMY

Carteret County The Emerald Isle Board of Commissioners will consider a request from three local restaurants to create a new social district. Fish Hut Grill, Flipperz Family Bar, and Grill and Thirsty Surfer are looking to create the district in the K&V shopping plaza so customers can walk the premises with alcohol. The commissioners will consider the district at their next meeting Aug. 12 and discuss social district requirements, such as identifying boundaries with signage and providing cups for drink purchases.

NSJ

Onslow County Sheri ’s O ce holds driver safety event

Onslow County The Onslow County Sheri ’s O ce sought to raise awareness for driver safety through their Deputies for Drivers Safety event. Sheri ’s deputies met with community members in Richlands on Saturday, answering questions about tra c safety laws, discussing impaired driving prevention and giving away some merchandise. Safety was the key point of the day’s discussion, o cers said. Attendees even had the chance to wear a pair of “drunk driving goggles” to see what

Woman faces identity theft charges, impersonating 2 women over 10 years

Granville County The woman at the center of a decadelong investigation has been arrested and booked into the Granville County jail. Jenine Marie Ellis Alessi is accused of stealing the identities of two di erent women over 10 years. According to police, Ellis Alessi was traveling on N.C. Highway 56 on Friday afternoon when she refused to pull over. Authorities said she took o on Interstate 85, reaching speeds of 110 mph and at one point driving the wrong way on the interstate. Police said they later found her vehicle backed up to a house on Tall Pines Drive in Henderson, where she was eventually taken into custody. Pepper spray, tasers and a police K-9 were used to apprehend her. She is facing multiple charges, including felony eeing and eluding, along with three counts of probation violation. She is also facing two counts of felony identity theft in Granville County. WNCN

NATION & WORLD

Corporation for Public Broadcasting to shut down

President

Donald Trump

stripped funding for the group that fuels PBS, NPR and local stations

By Ted Anthony and Kevin Freking The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a cornerstone of American culture for three generations, announced last Friday it would take steps toward its closure after being defunded by Congress — marking the end of a nearly six-decade era in which it fueled the production of renowned educational programming, cultural content and even emergency alerts.

The demise of the corporation, known as CPB, is a direct result of President Donald Trump’s targeting of public media, which he has repeatedly said is spreading political and cultural views antithetical to those the United States should be espousing. The closure is expected to profoundly impact the journalistic and cultural landscape — in particular, public radio and TV stations in small communities across the United States.

CPB helps fund both PBS and NPR, but most of its funding is

An employee works in the control rooms at the Arizona PBS o ces in Phoenix in May. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds PBS, NPR and hundreds of local stations, will close after its funding was stripped.

distributed to more than 1,500 local public radio and television stations around the country.

The corporation also has deep ties to much of the nation’s most familiar programming, from NPR’s “All Things Considered” to, historically, “Sesame Street,” “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” and the documentaries of Ken Burns.

The corporation said its end, 58 years after being signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, would come in an “orderly wind-down.” In a statement, it said the decision came after the passage through Congress of a package that clawed back its funding for the next two budget years — about $1.1 billion. Then, the Senate Appropriations Committee reinforced that policy change last Thursday by excluding funding for the corporation for the rst time in more than 50 years as part of a broader spending bill.

“Despite the extraordinary efforts of millions of Americans who called, wrote, and petitioned Congress to preserve federal funding for CPB, we now face the di cult reality of closing our operations,” said Patricia Harrison, the corporation’s president and CEO.

Democratic members of the Senate Appropriations Commit-

tee made a last-ditch e ort this week to save the CBP’s funding.

As part of Thursday’s committee deliberations, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) authored but then withdrew an amendment to restore CPB funding for the coming budget year. She said she still believed there was a path forward “to x this before there are devastating consequences for public radio and television stations across the country.”

“It’s hard to believe we’ve ended up in the situation we’re in,” she said. “And I’m going to continue to work with my colleagues to x it.”

But Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) sounded less optimistic.

“I understand your concerns, but we all know we litigated this two weeks ago,” Capito said. “Adopting this amendment would have been contrary to what we have already voted on.”

CPB said it informed employees last Friday that most sta positions will end with the scal year on Sept. 30. It said a small transition team will stay in place until January to nish any remaining work — including, it said, “ensuring continuity for music rights and royalties that remain essential to the public media system.”

“Public media has been one of the most trusted institutions in American life, providing educational opportunity, emergency alerts, civil discourse, and cultural connection to every corner of the country,” Harrison said. “We are deeply grateful to our partners across the system for their resilience, leadership, and unwavering dedication to serving the American people.” NPR stations use millions of dollars in federal money to pay music licensing fees. Now, many will have to renegotiate these deals. That could impact, in particular, outlets that build their programming around music discovery. Federal money for public radio and television has traditionally been appropriated to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which distributes it to NPR and PBS. Roughly 70% of the money goes directly to the 330 PBS and 246 NPR stations across the country, although that’s only a shorthand way to describe its potential impact. Trump, who has called the CPB a “monstrosity,” has long said that public broadcasting displays an extreme liberal bias, and helped create the momentum in recent months for an anti-public broadcasting groundswell among his supporters in Congress and around the country. It is part of a larger initiative in which he has targeted institutions — particularly cultural ones — that produce content or espouse attitudes that he considers “un-American.” The CPB’s demise represents a political victory for those e orts.

Poll: Many Democrats call party weak, ine ective, ‘spineless’

parties, with about 4 in 10 using negative attributes, including words such as “dishonest” or “stupid.”

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. —

Many Democrats see their political party as “weak” or “ineffective,” according to a poll that nds considerable pessimism within Democratic ranks. Republicans are more complimentary of their party, although a small but signi cant share describe the GOP as “greedy” or say it is generally “bad.”

The poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public A airs Research in July reveals warning signs for both major U.S. parties as the political focus shifts to elections in New Jersey and Virginia this fall and the midterm contests next year.

Respondents were asked to share the rst word or phrase that came to mind when they thought of the Republican and Democratic parties. Answers were then sorted into broad categories, including negative and positive attributes. Overall, U.S. adults held a dim view of both

But nearly nine months after Republican Donald Trump won a second presidential term, Democrats appear to be harboring more resentment about the state of their party than do Republicans. Democrats were likelier to describe their party negatively than Republicans. Republicans were about twice as likely to describe their party positively.

“They’re spineless,” Cathia Krehbiel, a 48-year-old Democrat from Indianola, Iowa, said of her party.

She believes the party’s response to the Trump administration has been “scattershot.”

“I just feel like there’s so much recently that’s just going abhorrently wrong,” Krehbiel said. “And they speak up a little bit and they roll right over.”

Overall, roughly one-third of Democrats described their party negatively in the open-ended question.

About 15% described it using words like “weak” or “apathetic,” while an additional 10% believe it is broadly “ine ective” or “disorganized.”

Voters check in to cast ballots in the New Hampshire presidential primary at a polling site in Derry in January 2024.

Only about 2 in 10 Democrats described their party positively, with roughly 1 in 10 saying it is “empathetic,” or “inclusive.” An additional 1 in 10 used more general positive descriptors.

It is unclear what impact the Democrats’ angst may have on upcoming elections or the political debate in Washington, but no political organization wants to be plagued by internal divisions.

Still, the Democrats’ frustration appears to re ect their concern that party leaders are not doing enough to stop Trump’s GOP, which controls Washington.

There is little sign that such voters would abandon their party in favor of Trump’s allies in upcoming elections, and the

3.0 earthquake

shakes N.Y. area

Hansbrouck Heights, N.J.

A small earthquake rattled the New York metropolitan area Saturday night. The U.S. Geological Survey said the tremor had a magnitude of 3.0. It hit in the New Jersey suburb of Hasbrouck Heights, less than 8 miles west of Central Park, at a depth of about 6.2 miles. One resident of New York’s Brooklyn borough described it as a very brief tremor, just a slight swaying for a moment. The tremor was much milder than a 4.8-magnitude quake in 2024 that struck Tewksbury, New Jersey, a little farther west of the city.

Third child dies after Miami boat collision

Miami

The U.S. Coast Guard says a third child has died nearly a week after a barge struck and sank a boat during a sailing camp near Miami. All six people on the sailboat were pulled from the water after the collision, and four kids were rushed to a hospital, where two were pronounced dead last Monday. A 10-year-old girl who was in critical condition died Sunday, according to a Coast Guard statement. O cials didn’t immediately identify any victims or release a cause for the crash. The collision between a barge and the sailboat occurred in Biscayne Bay, between Miami and Miami Beach.

Colombia’s Uribe sentenced in bribery case

Bogota, Colombia Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe was sentenced last Friday to 12 years of house arrest for witness tampering and bribery in a historic case that gripped the South American nation and tarnished the conservative strongman’s legacy. The sentence, which Uribe said will be appealed, followed a nearly six-month trial in which prosecutors presented evidence that he attempted to in uence witnesses who accused the law-and-order leader of having links to a paramilitary group in the 1990s. Uribe, 73, has denied any wrongdoing. He faced up to 12 years in prison after being convicted.

Amusement park

Saudi Arabia

ride in

collapses, 20 hurt Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

vast majority of Democrats described the GOP negatively. But disa ected Democrats might decide not to vote at all. That could undermine their party’s push to reclaim at least one chamber of Congress in 2026.

Jim Williams, a 78-year-old retiree from Harper Woods, Michigan, said he typically supports Democrats, but he is “disappointed” with the party and its murky message. He feels much worse about the Republican Party, which he said “has lost it” under Trump’s leadership.

“All he does is bully and call names. They’ve got no morals, no ethics. And the more they back him, the less I like them,” the self-described independent said of Trump.

The collapse of an amusement park ride in western Saudi Arabia has left more than 20 people injured and prompted authorities to close the park and order an investigation, state media said. The accident occurred in Taif last Wednesday, when the “360 Big Pendulum” ride snapped in two, sending the part carrying people crashing to the ground. Video footage posted on social media showed the pendulum swinging riders, who were strapped into their seats, in a wide arc several times before the pendulum arm snapped, sending the passenger section crashing to the ground.

A survey by AP-NORC found voters are pessimistic about the party’s direction

DAVID GOLDMAN / AP PHOTO

KATIE OYAN / AP PHOTO

Stanford hires former Nike CEO as athletic director Stanford, Calif.

Former Nike CEO John Donahoe has been hired as Stanford’s athletic director. He will o cially start on Sept. 8, replacing Bernard Muir. Donahoe, a Stanford Business School graduate, previously led Nike, ServiceNow and eBay. Stanford President Jon Levin praised Donahoe’s vision and strategic acumen. Donahoe expressed excitement about enhancing Stanford Athletics and supporting student athletes. Stanford’s athletic program is highly successful, with 137 NCAA team titles. However, the football and men’s basketball teams have struggled recently. The school hired Andrew Luck to oversee football, aiming to improve performance.

Penske sells third of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IndyCar to Fox

Penske Entertainment has sold a one-third interest in the company to Fox. The deal is described as a strategic investment to boost IndyCar’s growth. It includes a multiyear contract extension for Fox Sports’ media rights. Penske expects the move to lead to innovative racing events and enhanced promotion for IndyCar drivers. Roger Penske said the partnership is based on trust and a shared vision. Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks, an IndyCar fan, is excited about the investment. IndyCar viewership has increased signi cantly this season. The sale that was announced last Thursday also provides some clarity on Penske’s succession plans.

Recall issued over energy drinks containing vodka Modesto, Calif. Energy drinks that mistakenly contain vodka are being recalled in more than a half- dozen states. High Noon is recalling two production lots of High Noon Beach Variety packs because some contain cans with vodka inside that were mislabeled as Celsius Astro Vibe Energy Drink. The company says the cans contain vodka seltzer and were mislabeled as “sparkling blue razz”- avored Celsius Astro Vibe energy drinks. The packs were distributed to retailers in Florida, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin. The company says a shared packaging supplier mistakenly shipped empty Celsius energy drink cans to High Noon. People who purchased the drinks with the speci ed production lot codes are encouraged to dispose of them.

Lenovo showcases newest internship program graduates, achievements

The program is in its ninth year

By Melinda Burris North State Journal

MORRISVILLE — Leno -

vo hosted an intern showcase last Thursday at its Morrisville headquarters to celebrate the achievements of 31 Triangle-area students chosen to participate in the organization’s summer internship program, now in its ninth year. With four decades of experience in personal computers and global technology, Lenovo is active in more than 180 markets and manufactures most of its products in its facilities.

“Our vision is to create smarter technology for all, and one of the ways that we really lean into that is through the Lenovo Foundation and the work we do giving back to our community,” Libby Richards, Lenovo’s community engagement manager, said. Richards said the internship program is a big part of that as it aligns with the Lenovo Foundation’s mission of “providing access to technology and STEM education for underrepresented or underserved popula-

tions all across the world.”

The internship initiative is part of the company’s partnership with the educational nonpro t NAF, a nationwide charitable organization that collaborates with schools and businesses nationwide to foster opportunities for those who have recently or are soon to graduate from high school. The goal is to allow students to gain real-world experience in a speci c area of the workforce or skill set development to enhance their readiness to face the competitive job market.

Richards said Lenovo Foundation’s partnership with NAF helps them recruit students in the Triangle. Rising seniors and recent high school graduates from ve area high schools who applied and were selected after a vetting process were embedded in di erent departments of the company for six weeks.

Richards said the internship program has been a win-win proposition from the viewpoint of the students and the managers involved.

“We are always willing to partner with young people or provide that insight to young people around career discernment as well,” she said. “We had great managers this summer,

“We are always willing to partner with young people or provide that insight to young people around career discernment as well.” Libby Richards, Lenovo community engagement manager

but also some professional development and personal development opportunities for the students, where sta were sharing their time, sharing their expertise, and helping these students through their internship experience.”

In return, she said the Lenovo leadership team gained “amazing contributions over the past six weeks” from the interns, particularly as their knowledge base and con dence grew and the students learned the value of working together to achieve important objectives.

“These students aren’t just ling papers,” Richards said.

“They’re not lling co ee cups.” Richards said Lenovo interns “are embedded in the business

All major Las Vegas Strip casinos unionized in historic labor victory

The latest agreements include a record 32% wage increase over ve years

By Rio Yamat The Associated Press

LAS VEGAS — When Susana Pacheco accepted a housekeeping job at a casino on the Las Vegas Strip 16 years ago, she believed it was a step toward stability for her and her 2-year-old daughter.

But the single mom found herself exhausted, falling behind on bills and without access to stable health insurance, caught in a cycle of low pay and little support. For years, she said, there was no safety net in sight — until now.

For 25 years, her employer, the Venetian, had resisted organizing e orts as one of the last holdouts on the Strip, locked in a prolonged stando with the Culinary Workers Union. But a recent change in ownership opened the Venetian’s doors to union representation just as the Strip’s newest casino, the Fontainebleau, was also inking its rst labor contract.

cause of the better pay and guaranteed days o .

“Now with the union, we have a voice,” Pacheco said.

NCDOT CASH REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING AUG. 1

Beginning Cash

$3,019,739,891

Receipts (income)

$66,183,684

Disbursements

$198,567,332

Cash Balance

$2,887,356,243

The historic deals nalized late last year mark a major turning point: For the rst time in the Culinary Union’s 90-year history, all major casinos on the Strip are unionized. Backed by 60,000 members, most of them in Las Vegas, it is the largest labor union in Nevada.

Pacheco says their new contract has already reshaped her day-to-day life. The housekeeper no longer races against the clock to clean an unmanageable number of hotel suites, and she’s spending more quality time with her children be-

The gains come at a time when union membership nationally is at an all-time low, and despite Republican-led e orts over the years to curb union power. About 10% of U.S. workers belonged to a union in 2024, down from 20% in 1983, the rst year for which data is available, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics.

President Donald Trump in March signed an executive order seeking to end collective bargaining for certain federal employees, which led to union leaders suing the administration. Nevada and more than two dozen other states now have so-called “right to work” laws that let workers opt out of union membership and dues.

Ruben Garcia, professor and director of the workplace program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas law school, said

the Culinary Union’s resilience stems from its deep roots in Las Vegas, its ability to adapt to the growth and corporatization of the casino industry, and its long history of navigating complex power dynamics with casino owners and operators. He said the consolidation of casinos on the Las Vegas Strip mirrors the dominance of the Big Three automakers in Detroit. A few powerful companies — MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment and Wynn Resorts — now control most of the dozens of casinos along Las Vegas Boulevard.

“That consolidation can make things harder for workers in some ways, but it also gives unions one large target,” Garcia said.

That dynamic worked in the union’s favor in 2023, when the threat of a major strike by 35,000 hospitality workers with expired contracts loomed over the Strip. But a last-minute deal with Caesars narrowly averted

units and getting hands-on experience with the various projects they’re assigned to,” giving students a sense of accomplishment and real work experience they can use to build their resumes and professional portfolios. Interns were assigned to various departments, from engineering to product management, while others worked closely with the company’s security, sponsorship, event/promotion and sales teams.

Feedback from the department managers and the interns is considered invaluable to the program’s success as Lenovo seeks to improve the program each year in the hopes the skills it helps its interns develop will encourage them to want to return and work with Lenovo in the future.

Richardson said Lenovo bene ts from the internship program in many ways.

“I know I’ve heard managers talk about how having the insight of someone who is 16 to 18 years old (is bene cial). … That’s not something that we’re able to capture all that regularly,” Richards said. “So being able to have those fresh ideas from a young mind, that’s good too. It keeps us on our toes, keeps us knowing what’s trendy.”

“It’s always been our goal to make sure that this town is a

town.”

Ted Pappageorge, Culinary Workers Union secretarytreasurer

the walkout, triggering a domino e ect across the Strip.

The latest contracts secured a historic 32% bump in pay over the life of the ve-year contract. Union casino workers will earn an average $35 hourly, including bene ts.

The union’s path hasn’t always been smooth, though. Earlier this year, two food service workers in Las Vegas led federal complaints with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing the union of deducting dues despite their objections to union membership.

“I don’t think Culinary Union bosses deserve my support,” said one of the workers, Renee Guerrero, who works at T-Mobile Arena on the Strip. “Their actions since I attempted to exercise my right to stop dues payments only con rms my decision.”

But longtime union members like Paul Anthony see things di erently. Anthony, a food server at the Bellagio and a Culinary member for nearly 40 years, said his union benets — free family health insurance, reliable pay raises, job security and a pension — helped him to build a lasting career in the hospitality industry.

“A lot of times it is an industry that doesn’t have longevity,” he said. But on the Strip, it’s a job that people can do for “20 years, 30 years, 40 years.”

Ted Pappageorge, the union’s secretary-treasurer and lead negotiator, said the union calls this the “Las Vegas dream.”

“It’s always been our goal to make sure that this town is a union town,” he said.

JOHN LOCHER / AP PHOTO

The Culinary Workers Union in Las Vegas now represents all major casinos on the Strip, achieving full coverage amid a national decline in organized labor.

union

COURTESY JOSE TAPIA

Thirty-one Triangle-area students participated in Lenovo’s summer internship program in partnership with NAF.

Neeson tries to ll Nielsen’s gumshoes in new ‘Naked Gun’

The reboot of the 1988 comedy was directed by

Akiva Scha er

By Jake Coyle

The Associated Press

SOME SAY directing is 90% casting. In the case of Leslie Nielsen as Lt. Frank Drebin, it was more like 110%.

The choice of Nielsen for “Police Squad!” and the subsequent “Naked Gun” movies deserves a special place in the annals of brilliant casting choices. Surely you could say that the masters of spoof — David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker — rst struck gold in putting Nielsen in “Airplane!” But why, exactly, Nielsen was so perfect for 1988’s “The Naked Gun” is natural to ponder during Akiva Scha er’s spirited but just o -the-mark reboot, starring Liam Neeson.

Neeson, like Nielsen, has lived largely in dramatic roles most of his career, so he’s seemingly a good candidate to not just play it straight but deadly serious. Nielsen, a ’50s leading man reborn in ’80s slapstick, once said he had been cast against type all his career until “Police Squad!” came along. So when he, as Drebin, suggested “a great, little out of the way place that serves Viking food,” Nielsen wasn’t just delivering a line with perfect deadpan. He was self-actualizing.

You can’t say the same for Neeson in “The Naked Gun.” He’s plenty game; commitment isn’t the issue. But in this sometimes-witty ode to the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker style of satire, the role nev-

“You can’t ght City Hall. It’s a building.”

Lt. Frank Drebin Jr.

er feels quite right for him. There have been a few notable exceptions, but the big-screen comedy has grown almost nonexistent lately. So it would be easy to hail “The Naked Gun” as something better than it is since its simple existence is a cause for celebration. But like most reboots, the best thing about the new “Naked Gun” is that it might send you back to the original.

This one comes from an entirely new generation. Scha er, the behind-the-scenes member of Lonely Island, directs and Seth MacFarlane produces. The script is by Scha er, Dan Gregor (“Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers,” “Dolittle”) and Doug Mand.

Those are some disparate comic sensibilities, but they together prove fairly adept at channeling the wry rhythms of Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker. David Zucker has been skeptical; he’s said he couldn’t “unsee” the trailer. The scene from that trailer happens to be the rst in the movie. During a bank heist, a little schoolgirl calmly walks in before Lt. Frank Drebin Jr.

(Neeson) reveals himself. Unmasked, he stands up tall, still wearing a now very skimpy schoolgirl uniform. The tone of that moment — a little grotesque, straining to be eye-catching, seemingly made for the trailer — belongs more to contemporary comedies than “The Naked Gun.” The good news is that there’s no worse scene in the movie.

“The Naked Gun” soon enough stabilizes in a more deadpan register. Neeson’s Drebin is the son of Nielsen’s lieutenant. The lm gives him a quick hat tip when Drebin pauses in front of a plaque of his father in the police department. If you’re wondering how the

movie handles O.J. Simpson’s legacy, another o cer momentarily stands before the same plaque for Simpson’s Nordberg before deciding against it. The quips are good, though. Drebin, watching footage of him enraged on a previous case, seethes, “I was furious about the Janet Jackson Super Bowl.” “That was 20 years ago!” someone replies. Another exchange: “You can’t ght City Hall.” “It’s a building.”

You could make a good case that a diet of such wordplay is all one really needs. There are de nite pleasures in seeing this tradition of dumb-but-smart comedy carried on. Also giving the lm a lift is Pamela Anderson, playing the distraught sister of a man killed in an electric vehicle crash. The villain this time is a tech mogul, played with typical sleazy panache by Danny Huston. Once again, a police procedural serves as the movie’s framework, complete with shadow-forming Venetian blinds and hardboiled monologuing. This time, though, thanks to Nielsen’s inty presence (and all those “Taken” thrillers), you half believe him as a tough detective.

Who might have played Drebin? The best answers I could come up with are Bryan Cranston or maybe Morgan Freeman. But I also, after going back to rewatch the original, suspect there’s just no topping Nielsen. It has to be up there among the greatest comic performances, and the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker wit surrounding him only feels more out of reach after this well-meaning homage. But if you disagree, I’m sure that we can handle this situation maturely, just like the responsible adults that we are. Isn’t that right, Mr. Poopy Pants?

“Naked Gun,” a Paramount Pictures release, is rated PG-13 for crude/sexual material, violence/bloody images and brief partial nudity. Two stars out of four.

From meat processing plant to country music stardom, Bailey Zimmerman guring it out

Luke Combs invited him to perform at the “Concert for Carolina”

By Maria Sherman The Associated Press

NEW YORK — His is a Cinderella story. Before the big tours and country music award nominations, Bailey Zimmerman was growing up in the small town of Louisville, Illinois, working at the local meat processing plant and laying gas pipeline. Then, in 2020, he decided to upload videos of himself singing to social media — Black Stone Cherry’s “Stay” and, later, an original.

He quickly garnered a fan base on TikTok. It wasn’t overnight, but it was fast. Soon, he inked a deal with Warner Music Nashville and released his debut fulllength, 2023’s “Religiously. The Album.” It peaked at No. 7 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart and was certi ed two-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Now comes Friday, when he follows it up with a sophomore offering, “Di erent Night Same Rodeo.”

“I don’t know what I’m doing,” Zimmerman, 25, told The Associated Press through a smile. “I randomly got into music in 2020, 2021, and I’d never sang before. I’d never wrote songs before.”

After “Religiously. The Album.” did well — something he didn’t see coming — Zimmerman found himself trying to recreate it while writing for his second album.

“It just didn’t work,” he said. “I just found myself not really writing that great of songs because I’m trying to write other songs that have already been written.”

So he took a step back and asked himself: “What am I trying to do with my music? And what is the whole goal of this next album?” The answer was simple: He wanted to tell stories from his life.

“You didn’t know what you were doing the rst time. And you don’t know what you’re doing now,” he told himself. “So just write songs that you love, and try to write songs that you feel like people can relate to — you know, stories from things I’ve been through.”

On “Di erent Night Same Rodeo,” those stories are told in big-hearted ballads (“Hell or

High Water”), good time stomps (“New to Country”) and varied collaborations, including with country star Luke Combs (“Backup Plan”), the rising pop voice the Kid LAROI (“Lost”), and Diplo (“Ashes”). He’s always been open to such eclectic collaborations, anchored in his raspy, charismatic tone — Zimmerman’s highest charting song to date is “All The Way,” a hip-hop-country hybrid he features on with rapper BigXThaPlug. For his second album, Zimmerman wanted to make sure he worked with artists he had true relationships with. For Combs, he knew the singer would be

perfect for the ery “Backup Plan” — he just never thought he’d meet him. Then, Combs invited Zimmerman to perform at his Hurricane Helene relief bene t “Concert for Carolina.” They hit it o , and the rest is history. The Kid LAROI (“We’re like the same person,” Zimmerman said) and Diplo (“Sometimes things just feel like God’s plan,” he said) collaborations were partnerships that also happened organically.

“When I collaborate, I just want it to be a real friendship,” he said. “And I want it to feel real because it comes across not real when it’s not.”

For an artist who describes himself as “dealing with a little bit of impostor syndrome,” he seems to know, at least intuitively, what works for himself and his fans.

“The main reason I write music is so people know they’re not alone, and that I’ve been through the things that they’ve been through too,” he said. “I think that’s what I started my whole career on was people relating to me kind of ‘therapy writing,’” he said. “‘Di erent Night Same Rodeo’ — it’s the uctuation of life. It’s the ups and the downs, the mountains, the valleys, but we’re still on a good vibe.”

REBECCA CABAGE / INVISION / AP PHOTO

PARAMOUNT PICTURES VIA AP

Liam Neeson stars as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. in “The Naked Gun.”

Country sensation Bailey Zimmerman poses last month in Los Angeles.

Unlikely star shines in Bristol MLB game, B4

the Thursday SIDELINE REPORT

NWSL

Courage hold on at home for 0-0 vs. Wave

Cary The North Carolina Courage and San Diego Wave played to a 0-0 draw Saturday in Cary. The Courage (5-54) are now undefeated in their last ve matches at home. San Diego had 18 shots to North Carolina’s six. Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy made three saves. Olympic goal medalist Jaedyn Shaw, who started her career with San Diego, came o the bench for North Carolina.

NFL Raiders safety Johnson Jr. breaks leg in mock game

Las Vegas Las Vegas Raiders safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. broke his right leg during a mock game. It is unknown how long Johnson will be sidelined. Johnson, in his seventh NFL season, has been playing with the starters in nickel defenses. He signed as a free agent after playing last season in Carolina. He’s also played for New Orleans, Tennessee and Houston.

NCAA BASKETBALL

No expansion of NCAA basketball tournaments beyond 68 teams this season

Indianapolis The NCAA has decided not to expand the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments beyond 68 teams in 2026. Discussions about possibly expanding to 72 or 76 teams for the 2027 tournaments remain ongoing. NCAA President Charlie Baker believes adding teams could enhance the tournament’s value. He mentioned having productive talks with TV partners CBS and Warner Bros.

Young wins rst PGA Tour title by demolishing eld at Wyndham

The Wake Forest alum became the 1,000th player to win on tour

The Associated Press

GREENSBORO — Cameron Young nally got his rst PGA Tour victory Sunday after seven runner-up nishes, and he made it look easy. He had ve straight birdies early to build a nine-shot lead and coasted home to a 2-under 68 to win the Wyndham Championship by six shots. He became the 1,000th player to win a recognized PGA Tour event, dating to Willie Park in the 1860 British Open. It must have felt like it took Young 165 years to win as many chances as he has had since his rookie season in 2022.

“I’ve been waiting for it for a while,” Young said, his voice

steady as tears welled in his eyes. “I never thought I’d be that emotional about it. But it’s the end of my fourth season. I’ve had my chances, and

I wasn’t going to let it get away from me.” There was no doubting this one. He followed those ve

“I’ve been waiting for it for a while.”

Cameron Young

straight birdies with nine straight pars, a pair of meaningless bogeys toward the end only cost him a chance at the tournament scoring record. He nished at 22-under 258, tying the record held by J.T. Poston (2019) and Henrik Stenson (2017).

“Where do I go? I’ve never done this before,” Young said when he walked o the 18th green. Mac Meissner won the B- ight. He shot 66 to nish alone in second, worth $893,800 and enough to move him to No. 86 in the FedEx

See WYNDHAM, page B3

With a full year under his belt, the sophomore quarterback is looking to give NC State a boost

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

CJ BAILEY was never expected to take even one significant snap last season.

The 18-year-old quarterback was just starting out his collegiate career and was expecting to sit behind and learn from Coastal Carolina transfer quarterback Grayson McCall. But when injuries forced McCall out of the game, Bailey was handed the reins. The true freshman met the challenge head on and showed a lot of promise in his rst season as the o ensive playcaller.

Now heading into year two, Bailey — the rst returning quarterback starter at NC State in more than three years — could be one of the biggest di erence makers in Triangle football this season.

“A year ago, he was trying to learn what it’s like to be a college student,” said NC State coach Dave Doeren at the ACC Kicko . “He was trying to learn an o ense, he was trying to learn the names of his coaches, the names of his teammates. This year, he’s leading those guys. He’s taking them out on the eld and working on routes, and there’s a di erence for him.”

“Last year, I was just sitting back and letting Grayson do his thing,” Bailey said. “There were a lot of things I wanted to do last year, but I didn’t want to step on his toes. So I just ob -

served. Coming into this year, it’s going to be very di erent. I used my voice more. As I said, I was way more than what I was last year, and I think I got the chance to experience being a starter of a team.”

Last season, Bailey started nine games for the Wolfpack, throwing for 2,400 yards and 17 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. While the 6-foot-6 Florida native showed a lot of promise with his arm strength and willingness to go for the deep

ball, his accuracy left a bit to be desired.

He did, however, show a lot of poise in the pocket and wasn’t afraid to use his feet when he needed, totaling 279 yards and ve touchdowns on the ground.

The most impressive stat for Bailey last season might be in the red zone where he led 17 touchdowns with zero turnovers, showing patience beyond his years.

CHRIS SEWARD / AP PHOTO

NC State quarterback CJ Bailey looks to pass against UNC last season.

CHUCK BURTON / AP PHOTO

Cameron Young hits his tee shot on the ninth hole during the nal round of the Wyndham Championship golf tournament in Greensboro. The former Demon Deacon golfer won his rst PGA tournament.

CHUCK BURTON / AP PHOTO

Cameron Young poses with the trophy after winning the Wyndham Championship golf tournament in Greensboro

THURSDAY 8 7.25

TRENDING

Jaxon Williams:

The 17-year-old forward was chosen for USA Hockey s Under-18 team that will compete in the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Czechia and Slovakia later this month The Cary native is the son of former Carolina Hurricanes winger Justin Williams who was a member of the 2006 Stanley Cup champions The tournament runs from Aug 11-16

Carson Whisenhunt: The San Francisco Giants’ top pitching prospect made his MLB debut start against the Pirates The Winston-Salemborn Mocksville native was a second-round pick out of East Carolina in 2022 He pitched in the MLB Futures Game over the All-Star break last month Whisenhunt was 8-5 for Triple-A Sacramento when he was called up

Denzel Perr yman: The Los Angeles Chargers linebacker was arrested on weapons charges stop for vehicle code violations Los Department deputies

two assault weapons in Perryman’s vehicle Perryman, who signed with the Carolina Panthers in 2021 but was traded during training camp, was booked on felony charges

Beyond the box score

POTENT QUOTABLES

“Well, I’d prefer to be turning 25, to tell you the

“It’s rea

lly

immature. Whoever is doing

it needs to g row up ” Chicago Sk y center Elizabeth Williams after fans threw sex toys on the cour t during games in Chicago and Atlanta

NASCAR at Iowa Speedway By ron went the la st 144 laps w ithout a stop en route to his second v ictor y of the sea son and 15th overall He also took the sea son points lead over pole-sitter Cha se Br iscoe By ron led 141 laps

Luka Doncic agreed to a three-year, $165 million ma ximum contract ex tension w ith the Los A ngeles Lakers, by passing a chance at free agency nex t summer to stay in Los A ngeles through 2028 The Lakers acquired Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in a blockbuster Febr uar y trade for A nthony Dav is

Seattle reliever Trent Thornton tore his Achilles tendon while coming Thornton, an A rdr y Kell graduate and former U NC pitcher, was using cr utches to get around the Mariners’ locker room af ter the game af ter w ill end his season

Holes-in-one

Stephanie Ky r iacou wa s responsible for at the Women’s Br itish Open She made one on Fr iday Sunday, Mimi R hodes’ shot bounced the hole

game wa s Super Bowl 50 w ith the Carolina Panthers, wa s inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, w ith A ntonio Gates, Er ic A llen and Sterling Shar pe Nex t year, former Panther Luke Kuechly and NC State’s af ter just missing election this year Elig ible for the Philip R ivers, Tarboro’s Todd Gurley and Panther Thoma s Dav is

Mensah seeks to elevate himself for Duke

The transfer makes the jump from the AAC to the ACC

By Asheebo Rojas North State Journal

CHARLOTTE — Duke quarterback Darian Mensah revealed that he’s a “momma’s boy.”

The San Luis Obispo, California, native recalled his two seasons at Tulane as “one of the hardest parts of (his) life” as he struggled with living on his own more than 2,000 miles away from his biggest inspiration — his “rock” who taught him about hard work and overcoming obstacles.

“Just seeing her, the way we struggled when I was younger, single mom raising my siblings, was something that, you know, I won’t forget that,” Mensah said.

So after throwing for 2,723 yards, becoming the 10th di erent quarterback in Tulane history to throw 20 or more touchdowns in a season and leading the Green Wave to a 9-3 regular season record, an American Conference Championship appearance and a bowl bid, Mensah decided to move 850 miles further east.

As much as he loves his mom and being close to home, he loves a challenge.

“I’ve just been hunting challenges because that’s where you grow,” Mensah said.

Growth in the level of competition may be the rst trial for the redshirt sophomore.

Playing power conference football had been a dream of his since he was a child, and last year, Mensah got a taste of it on Tulane’s schedule.

Tulane played Kansas State and Oklahoma in back-to-back weeks, falling to the Wildcats 34-27 and losing to the Sooners 34-19. He combined for three touchdowns, 508 passing yards and two interceptions in those two games. Tied at 27 in the fourth quarter against Kansas State, Mensah was sacked and lost a fumble that was returned for a 60-yard touchdown. Late in the fourth quarter against Oklahoma, Mensah lost another fumble on a sack.

Now he’s on the other side and is adjusting within that same competition. Despite the outcomes of his previous attempts at power conference defenses, he’s found the level of football he’ll now face on a weekly basis isn’t di erent to him.

“I’d say maybe the only thing is O-line, D-line is a little bit bigger,” Mensah said. “But other than that, the speed of the game is the same.”

However, the di erence in expectations is more undeniable, considering the shoes Mensah must ll.

Mensah was brought in to replace one of last year’s best ACC quarterbacks in Maalik Mur-

“I’ve just been hunting challenges because that’s where you grow.”

Darian Mensah

phy. Murphy led Duke to a 9-3 regular season record, which included wins over the in-state foes UNC, NC State and Wake Forest. He guided the Blue Devils to four wins when trailing in the fourth quarter (tied for the most in a year in program history) and became the rst Duke quarterback to throw three game-winning touchdown passes in the fourth quarter in a season.

The Blue Devils looked as if they’d found a quarterback that could take them to the next level, but he transferred to Oregon State.

So, they chose Mensah to do it.

“You pop on the lm, and you see a guy in his rst year super poised,” Duke coach Manny Diaz said when describing Mensah’s recruitment. “You think it’s an upgrade on your team, so you have to explore it. But the thing is, is he our type of guy? At Duke, we have a type of guy. It’s just who the school attracts. And the more you get to meet Darian, you realize he’s more than t for our roster.”

In fact, this o season, Mensah has raised the expectations

for himself from those around him. One thing that Mensah does that Murphy did not is run with the ball, and that has sparked hope for a more dynamic o ense this fall.

“Now you have to respect both the pass and the run,” Brian Parker II, the redshirt junior o ensive lineman, said. “Last year, people started to build the box quite a bit more than what we would like to see, so that makes it extremely hard to run the ball.”

On his hunt for adversity, Mensah was gifted a challenge on a silver platter: Duke’s schedule.

Charlotte’s must-win games for 2025 season

The 49ers are beginning a new chapter once again

By Jesse Deal North State Journal

THE TIM ALBIN era begins at Charlotte with measured optimism as the 49ers enter their third season in the American Athletic Conference.

Albin, who compiled a 33 -19 record with three bowl wins in four seasons at Ohio, has inherited a roster in transition with nearly 40 transfers getting ready for their rst season in the Queen City; the Niners return just one starter on offense and ve on defense.

The 49ers are coming o a 5-7 (4-4 AAC) campaign and are aiming for their rst bowl appearance since 2019 as they turn the page toward their third full-time head coach in just four seasons.

Given that Albin’s o enses at Ohio consistently ranked among the Mid-Atlantic Conference’s best in rushing yards per game, Charlotte’s new coach brings a run- rst philosophy as he aims to establish an o ensive identity behind a revamped line.

“The locker room has huge potential, but until you get going, there are so many unknowns,” Albin said at the recent AAC media day. “We’re going to have a good football team. I don’t know when, but it’s going to happen because you have so many new faces. Our mindset is that it’s year three. We’ve got a good nucle -

WYNDHAM from page B1

Cup. He won’t be advancing to the postseason, but it gives him a huge boost for staying in the top 100 by November to keep his full card.

Auburn junior Jackson Koivun shot 67 and tied for fth, getting him into the next PGA Tour event in September. He has deferred his PGA Tour card from the accelerated PGA Tour University program until next year.

The victory could not have come at a better time for Young, the 28-year-old New Yorker whose biggest goal this year was to be in uniform at Bethpage Black for the Ryder Cup.

The victory only moves him to No. 15 in the Ryder Cup standings, but he gets two more FedEx Cup playo events to make

us coming back. That’s having a year-three mentality. I want the last game of our season to be for something.”

Charlotte’s schedule features several winnable conference home games that could determine whether the 49ers reach six wins. With a new sta and a relatively open conference, the Niners have a window to surprise, but only if they nd stability on both sides of the ball.

Vs. Rice (Sept. 18)

As Charlotte’s conference opener, a Thursday night matchup in Jerry Richardson

his case. His power is an ideal t at Bethpage Black, where in 2017 he became the rst amateur to win the New York State Open.

“That team is a goal of many of us,” Young said. “Obviously, I would love the chance to play. I’ve got some more opportunities to earn my way on the team.”

There was plenty of drama at Sedge eld Country Club, but not at the top of the leaderboard. Young had a ve-shot lead and wobbled on the opening hole, making bogey. But he poured in an 8-foot birdie putt on the next hole, the start of ve straight birdies. Most telling was the third hole, when Nico Echavarria let out a yell and a st pump when he made a birdie from just inside 30 feet. Young calmly responded with a

Stadium against Rice could be a tone-setter for the rest of the 2025 campaign, providing the team with an opportunity to start American play with a 1-0 record.

Like the Niners, Rice is also entering a transitional year with a new head coach (Scott Abell) as the Owls look to improve upon a four-win season in 2024. Last season, Rice struggled with its rushing offense and turnover margin as it lost four of its rst ve games, including a 21-20 home loss to Charlotte.

Charlotte’s defense, led by linebackers Reid Williford and

25-foot birdie putt, and the rout was on. The Wyndham Championship is the nal tournament of the regular season that determined the top 70 in the FedEx Cup who advance to the lucrative postseason that starts next week. Ultimately, only Chris Kirk moved into the top 70 with his tie for fth, and Byeong Hun An (missed cut) was the only one to fall out. But the nal hour was no less riveting. Davis Thompson needed a big nish to move from No. 78 in the FedEx Cup, and he got just that with a birdie putt from just inside 50 feet on the par-5 15th. He was inside the top 70 when he reached the 18th, only to three-putt from 45 feet. Thompson missed a 6-foot par

Shay Taylor, must rattle Rice redshirt freshman quarterback Drew Devillier early and often.

The Owls will likely look to establish running back Quinton Jackson, who could emerge as a key playmaker after averaging nearly 6 yards per carry in a limited role last season.

A home victory in Albin’s conference play debut would be an important milestone for the revamped Niners.

Vs. Temple (Oct. 18)

Exactly one month after Charlotte’s matchup with Rice, the Niners will be presented with another chance to take down an Owl team at home.

With a 3–9 (2–6 AAC) record last season, Temple is still rebuilding under new coach

K.C. Keeler, putting Charlotte in a position where it can’t afford to drop a game like this, especially coming out of the season’s midpoint.

The Owls averaged 19.6 points per game and allowed 35.4 last year, making them one of the conference’s least e cient teams on both sides of the ball. The winner of the Niners’ still-undecided transfer quarterback battle between Connor Harrell (UNC) and Grayson Loftis (Duke) could be primed for a big day getting the ball down the eld.

Charlotte might also choose to lean on starting running back Henry Rutledge, who will be asked to step up in a major way after former Louisville and Miami running back Donald Chaney Jr. — the expect-

putt, moving him back down to No. 71 by a margin of ve points.

“Sucks ending the regular season this way,” Thompson said. The nal spot went to Matti Schmid of Germany, who came into the nal week at No. 70 and remarkably stayed there. He was on the verge of missing the cut until returning Saturday morning to nish the storm-delayed second round by playing the last six holes in 5 under. And then on Sunday, after a double bogey on No. 11 put him at 5 over for his round, Schmid birdied his last three holes from 25 feet, 10 feet and 25 feet that wound up sending him to the FedEx St. Jude Championship next week with its $20 million purse.

The Blue Devils will play at Tulane on Sept. 13 at 8 p.m., giving Mensah a chance to showcase his development in front of those who saw a previous version of him. He feels like he’s become bigger, faster and stronger at Duke. And under the same lights where he proved he could play with the big schools, Mensah will get to prove that the results were worth the move.

But as signi cant as the storyline seems, Mensah plans to approach it like any other game.

He didn’t come this far to dwell on the past. And that’s growth.

“The locker room has huge potential, but until you get going, there are so many unknowns.”

Tim Albin, Charlotte coach

ed lead back — was recently deemed academically ineligible for the season.

Vs. North Texas (Oct. 24)

Entering his third year coaching the Mean Green, Eric Morris has put together a middle-of-the-pack 11-14 record at North Texas. The team recorded six wins last season but just three conference victories.

This Friday night game in Charlotte arrives just six days after the Niners’ home meetup with Temple, setting up the possibility taking a pair of important conference wins one one week.

The 49ers will try to contain Makenzie McGill II, a sophomore running back who averaged 6 yards per carry in 2024 with 10 rushing touchdowns, including a 155-yard e ort in the Mean Green’s bowl-clinching win versus Temple.

There’s no getting around that Charlotte’s defense must improve after allowing at least 30 points in seven games last season. Albin will need his defensive coordinators, Nate Faanes and Kurt Mattix, who led the ninth-best defensive unit in the nation last year, to make some magic with a group of transfers and unestablished depth pieces.

Schmid had hope when he saw a video board on the 15th projecting him at No. 72.

“Which I thought, ‘All right, this is not too far away.’ And then I made three birdies, so probably I should look at it more often,” Schmid said. No one exhaled quite like Young, a big talent who nally has a trophy to show for it. Not since David Duval had someone had seven runner-up nishes on the PGA Tour before winning. Even more frustrating for Young was someone always played better.

His nal-round scoring average in those runner-up nishes was 66.7. The other was in Match Play, where Sam Burns beat him with eight birdies on his last 10 holes. Young made it hard for anyone to beat him Sunday.

NELL REDMOND / ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE Duke quarterback Darian Mensah answers questions at ACC Kicko .

ADRIAN KRAUS / AP PHOTO

Tim Albin, left, reacts to the o cials during a 2024 game as Ohio coach. Albin now takes over the program at Charlotte.

The unlikeliest All-Star

Unprotected and unwanted in November, Shane Smith is making the most of his opportunity

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

ATLANTA — There’s an old sports cliché cautioning athletes to “act like you’ve been there before.”

The opposite of that is Shane Smith.

The 25-year-old righthander was all gawks and grins as he followed Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt and Tarik Skubal into All-Star media day in Atlanta.

“It’s everything I’ve ever dreamed,” Smith gushed. “You never really know what it’ll look like, but getting to the hotel last night and just seeing players and our families, realizing what this means for a lot of people — especially me — it’s everything.

“I think it’s tough to realize, like, you’re here right now,” he continues, speaking in short bursts. “Like, you have to really soak it in and be present where your feet are. And that’s all I’m really trying to do. You know, you watch All-Star games and you realize, like, that guy’s, a ve- or six- or seven-time All- Star. But like, you know, it starts at one. And you never know if those other ones will

happen. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’m trying to treat it like that.”

There’s a good explanation for why Smith isn’t acting like he’s been here before: He hasn’t, and, just a few months ago, there was no reason to think he would be.

The former Wake Forest pitcher wasn’t drafted after college, signing with the Brewers’ organization in 2021. He pitched well, posting winning records, low ERAs and high strikeout totals in 2023 and

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’m trying to treat it like that.”

Shane Smith

2024 as he moved through the Milwaukee organization. He rarely appeared on lists of top Brewers prospects, however, and, at the end of last sea-

son, he found out where he ranked with the team: No. 41 or lower.

Each winter, baseball holds the Rule Five draft, which is a way to prevent teams from stockpiling talent. Each franchise can protect 40 veteran players — everyone on the big league roster, of course, as well as a little over a dozen of their most-prized minor leaguers.

Everyone else is exposed to the draft, where any other team can take them — without giving up anything in return — as long as they promise to keep them on the big league roster for the entire season.

The Brewers reportedly were down to three right-handed pitchers with only two spots left on their list. They opted to protect Chad Patrick and Logan Henderson, both fourth-round draft picks, and risk losing Smith.

The White Sox took him with the very rst pick. Smith went from the sobering realization that his team didn’t want him to the polar opposite — he was going to get his shot in the big leagues.

He’s made the most of it, becoming one of Chicago’s most reliable pitchers and leading the team in strikeout rate. He was chosen as the White Sox’s representative in the All-Star Game, becoming the rst Rule Five pick ever chosen for the game the year after he was left unwanted on the scrap heap and the rst since 2006.

Most importantly, after entering the year with no MLB appearances, he’s now start-

ed 19 games and thrown 91 big league innings. Henderson and Patrick, the two guys the Brewers liked better, have 24 starts and 119 innings — combined.

“It’s de nitely di erent this July than last All-Star break,” he said. “I was in Biloxi, Mississippi (home of the Brewers’ Double-A team), hanging out for a couple of days, and now, you know, I’m thankful enough to be here. So it’s quite the journey.”

It’s also one that has brought him plenty of company.

“I think I’ve got 12 tickets as of right now,” he said of the All-Star Game. “Some family members, my girlfriend, some of her family, my agent, his wife. You don’t care about the money or the tickets, you know, you’re just making sure everybody who wants to can be here.”

Eight months after he was told he wasn’t one of the 40 best Brewers, Shane Smith is one of the 30 best players in the entire American League.

“In the spring, I would have said it’ll be a successful year if I stay healthy,” he said. “And, you know, that’s all I’m trying to be is be healthy for the year and make a full season of starts, whatever that looks like. But this? This exceeds any expectation of that. You don’t go into a year trying to be an All-Star your rookie year. I think that just happens over being consistent and making sure you’re doing right.”

Shane Smith is absolutely thrilled to be here and doesn’t care who knows.

Minor leaguer steals the Speedway Classic spotlight

The rain created an unexpected opportunity for

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Normally, a rain delay on a NASCAR track means the eld gets a chance to go to the pits and regroup.

For Atlanta Braves pitcher Hurston Waldrep, however, the red ag getting waved at Bristol Motor Speedway meant his wild race was just beginning.

MLB visited Bristol Motor Speedway for a rst-of-its-kind event. They built a eld and stands on the track’s in eld to host a regular-season game between the Braves and Cincinnati Reds.

On Saturday night, as players did laps around the track in pickup trucks, Tim McGraw and Pitbull played a pregame concert for the record crowd of 91,032 and Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Chipper Jones teamed up on the rst pitch — Bench, of course, caught — Waldrep was 250 miles away preparing for a 1 p.m. Sunday start for Triple-A Gwinnett.

“I was going to watch a couple innings before I went to sleep,” Waldrep said, “and then …”

And then the rains came. With smoke from the post-anthem reworks still clouding the eld, the skies opened up, forcing a rain delay of more than two hours. By the time the game started, at 9:41 p.m., Waldrep was asleep.

He didn’t miss much. The teams got through four outs before the rains began again. With puddles forming on the in eld, the tarp came out, and the plug got pulled. They’d try again on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Atlanta had already made the

BAILEY from page B1

According to Doeren, Bailey added nearly 30 pounds to his frame, which should go a long way in his ability to both absorb contact, protect the ball and pick up yardage.

While that is certainly an important development, nothing is as important for a player as reps and experience, and with a full year under his belt, Bailey will almost certainly be better than he was in 2024.

“Your quarterback needs to be the alpha leader of your team,” Doeren said. “It’s not

decision to scratch scheduled starter Spencer Strider during the rst rain delay, instead using Austin Cox for the handful of batters they managed to get through. That meant they needed another arm.

“He was up at 4-something this morning,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said of Waldrep. “We put him in a car and drove him here.”

The ride started long before that, however.

“Where do I start?” Waldrep said. “I was asleep last night. It was around 11. Got a call from the Triple-A manager, Kanekoa Texeira.”

“Hey,” said Texeira. “You’re gonna pitch in Bristol tomorrow. You’re gonna get some calls with details. Good luck!”

“I was like, ‘OK, here we go,’” said Waldrep. The car service called to conrm his 6 a.m. pick-up time. Then it got moved an hour earlier. Waldrop went back to sleep, brie y, before waking up at 4:45. He and his girlfriend met the car and were on their way to the Show.

“Since then, it’s been nonstop,” he said after the game.

“I tried to sleep in the car on the way here,” he continued, “but it rained the whole way. It’s kind of nerve-racking to sleep in the rain.”

They arrived at 9:45 a.m., and Waldrep got his rst look at the temporary stadium, on a track in eld, inside another stadium — a veritable sports venue turducken.

“Yeah,” he said. “This is a lot. … It was really breathtaking to walk out onto the eld and see how they set it up, and then to hear from the players how last night was.”

Waldrep, who had given up 13 runs in seven innings in two previous starts for Atlanta, al-

fair to put a true freshman in that spot, but he came in and played his butt o . He learned a lot, and experience is one thing you can’t give a player.

As good and talented as he is, those reps are precious.

“You can’t just put games into a guy. He’s gotta be on the eld. He’s had some good moments and some bad moments, and both are very valuable.

The biggest thing though that you’re going to see is a bigger guy that has comradery with his guys. And not only is Bailey back for year two, but so too are a lot of his weapons.

lowed just three hits in 52⁄3 innings, earning his rst major league win as the Braves won the rst MLB game in Tennessee, 4-2.

The rain took away from what was shaping up to be a memorable event on Saturday.

“It’s amazing,” said Snitker, who also managed the Braves in MLB’s Fort Bragg game in 2016. “They always do a great job with the clubhouse. The eld looks really nice. I don’t know if I’ve ever been around this many people.”

“It was a great atmosphere,” he added afterward. “It’s a

Receivers Noah Rogers and Wesley Grimes, tight end Justin Joly, running back Hollywood Smothers and more give the o ense a lot of continuity, and new o ensive coordinator

Kurt Roper will be able to weaponize that familiarity in the game plan.

“We have a lot of guys back on o ense along with our quarterback,” Doeren said. “When you have returning players, they can build on previous experiences. And you can see there’s continuity with CJ and his receivers.”

The rst step for NC State will be improving on the disap -

“It’s de nitely not how you drew it up, but nothing in baseball is how you draw it up.”

Hurston

Waldrep

tough situation. We live in this part of the country where there’s pop-up showers and the rain is unpredictable. You see a window, and then it shuts right there in front of you. They took

pointing 2024 campaign that saw them nish below .500 for the rst time since 2019, but if Bailey can continue taking big steps, then perhaps that elusive 10-win season — and maybe even a championship game bid — might not be out of reach for the Wolfpack.

“Last year, he was in survival mode,” Doeren said. “Trying to learn the o ense, trying to understand college, trying to understand who his teammates are, and it was more about what do I have to do.

“Now, he knows what he has to do, he understands who’s with him doing it, and he’s

it as far as they could (Saturday). But the fans came back, even after getting soaked last night.”

“You deal with what gets thrown at you,” added Reds skipper Terry Francona.

No one knows that better than the pitching hero, who wasn’t even in the same state when the game began and is now MLB’s all-time leader in games won in Tennessee — and inside speedways.

“It’s de nitely not how you drew it up,” Waldrep said of his rst win, “but nothing in baseball is how you draw it up.”

“Now, he knows what he has to do, he understands who’s with him doing it, and he’s earned the respect of his teammates to lead them the right way.”

NC

earned the respect of his teammates to lead them the

way.”

Hurston Waldrep

right

BRYNN ANDERSON / AP PHOTO

Chicago White Sox pitcher Shane Smith signs autographs before the All-Star Home Run Derby in Atlanta. The former Demon Deacon is having a breakout season.

GEORGE WALKER IV / AP PHOTO

The MLB Speedway Classic created a unique experience at Bristol Motor Speedway, before rain threw a wrench into the plan.

State coach Dave Doeren on sophomore QB CJ Bailey

CUMBERLAND

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ESTATE OF BEATRICE STEADMAN Cumberland County Estate File No. 25E001158-250 All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Beatrice Steadman, deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are noti ed to present their claims to Jesse Auttwon Steadman, Administrator, at 10131 Barr Lake Dr., Houston, TX 77095, on or before the 8th day of November 2025 (which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of the Decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the Administrator named above. This the 1st day of August, 2025. Jesse Auttwon Steadman Administrator of the Estate of Beatrice Steadman Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: August 7, August 14, August 21 and August 28, 2025

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NUMBER: 25E001081-250 In the Matter of the Estate of: LARRY WASHINGTON Deceased, ADMINISTRATOR’S NOTICE

The undersigned, having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Larry Washington, deceased, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before October 17, 2025 (which is three (3) months after the day of the rst publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. THIS the 17th day of July, 2025.

Felicia Washington, Administrator of the Estate of Larry Washington, Deceased c/o J. Thomas Neville Yarborough, Winters & Neville, P.A. P.O. Box 705 Fayetteville, NC 28302-0705 Publish: 07/17/2025, 07/24/2025, 07/31/2025 and 08/07/2025

Administrator’s / Executors’ Notice

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Donald Leon Ferebee Late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the Undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 405 Southwick Dr., Fayetteville, NC 28303, not later than November 07, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to the Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. Dated this 7th day of August 2025. Viola Ferebee, Executor of the Estate of Donald Leon Ferebee, 405 Southwick Rd., Fayetteville, NC 28303.

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE 25E001099-250 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: MARIAN JACQUELYN HARGIS

ADMINISTRATOR’S NOTICE The undersigned, having quali ed as the Administrator of the estate of Marian Jacquelyn Hargis, deceased, late of Cumberland County, this is to notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 10th of November , 2025, (which is three months after the the day of the rst publication of this notice) 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 25th of July, 2025. David Hargis 933 E. Winds Ln, Fayetteville, NC 28311 Administrator of the estate of Marian Jacquelyn Hargis, deceased.

NOTICE In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Before the Clerk Estate File #25E001132-250 State of North Carolina Cumberland County Administrator Notice The undersigned having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Hwa Cha Martin, deceased, late of Cumberland County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 7th day of November, 2025 (which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice) or this notice

Notice to Creditors

The undersigned , having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Alvin Henry Hill, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby noti es all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 24day of October, 2025 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All debtors of the descendent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 24 day of July , 2025. Jacqueline Hill, 3305 Lake Bend Drive,, Fayetteville, NC 28311 of the estate of Alvin Henry Hill, Deceased.

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA In The General Court Of Justice County of Cumberland Superior Court Division Estate File # 25E000924-250 Administrator’s/Executor’s Notice The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Noel Antonio Rosado, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby noti es all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 17th day of October, 2025, (which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 17th day of July, 2025. Georgia Kasey Rosado Administrator/Executor 2218 Meadow Wood Road Fayetteville, NC 28303

Of the Estate of Noel Antonio Rosado, Deceased

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF RUTH S WOODARD FILE NO. 2024 E 001117

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ESTATE OF LARRY HURLEY, SR. Cumberland County Estate File No. 23E001988-250

All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Larry Hurley, Sr., deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are noti ed to present their claims to Davis W. Puryear, Administrator, at 4317 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28311, on or before the 8th day of November, 2025 (which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of the Decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the Administrator named above.

This the 4th day of August, 2025. Davis W. Puryear Administrator of the Estate of Larry Hurley, Sr. Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: August 7, August 14, August 21 and August 28, 2025

DURHAM

Notice to Creditors

in bar of their recovery. All Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 7th day of August, 2025. Matthew Guy Reed

The undersigned, having quali ed as Byron Cousin of the Estate of James Eltion Barlow Jr., Deceased, late of Cumberland County, herby noti es all persons, rms, and corporations having Claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 30th day of November, 2025, (which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All Debtors of the decedent are requested to make Immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 1st day of August, 2025 Byron Cousin 5117 Queensdale DR Fayetteville, NC 28304

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND IN THE MATTER OF THE ) ESTATE OF MARK D. LEVINE, ) DECEASED. )

The undersigned, having heretofore quali ed as Ancillary Executor of the Estate of Mark D. Levine, deceased, late of Cobb County, Georgia, hereby noti es all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before October 24, 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of any recovery thereon. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 24th day of July, 2025. Risa G. Levine, Ancillary Executor Estate of Mark D. Levine, Deceased c/o Keith A. Wood, Esq. Carruthers & Roth, P.A. Attorneys & Counselors at Law 235 North Edgeworth Street Post O ce Box 540 Greensboro, North Carolina 27402 July 24, 31, August 7, 14, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ESTATE OF DANIEL VERNON KINLAW CUMBERLAND County Estate File No. 25E000967-250 All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Daniel Vernon Kinlaw, deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are noti ed to present their claims to Daniel Watson Brown, Executor, at 1500 Old Lamplighter Way, Wilmington, NC 28403, on or before the 25th day of October, 2025 (which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

Debtors of the Decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the Executor named above.

This the 15th day of July, 2025. Daniel Watson Brown Executor of the Estate of Daniel Vernon Kinlaw

Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm

Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: July 24, July 31, August 7 and August 14, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ESTATE OF STANLEY HIRD HOLGATE

CUMBERLAND County Estate File No. 25E001038-250 All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Stanely Hird Holgate, deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are noti ed to present their claims to John Ragland, Executor, at 507 Cloverleaf Ct., Naperville, IL 60565, on or before the 18th day of October 2025 (which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

Debtors of the Decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the Executor named above. This the 8th day of July, 2025. John Ragland Executor of the Estate of Stanley Hird Holgate Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: July 17, July 24, July 31 and August 7, 2025

The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Ruth S Woodard, deceased, a resident of Cumberland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 17th day of October, 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 17th day of July, 2025. Monica Rosier, Executor 810 Running Horse Ln Hope Mills, NC 2834

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ESTATE OF WAYNE CHARLES ZINSSER

CUMBERLAND County Estate File No. 24E002997-250 All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Wayne Charles Zinsser, deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are noti ed to present their claims to Barbara Zinsser, Executor, at 199 Wingstone Dr., Ponte Vedra, FL 32081, on or before the 25th day of October, 2025 (which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of the Decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the Executor named above.

This the 21st day of July, 2025.

Barbara Zinsser Executor of the Estate of Wayne Charles Zinsser

Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm

Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: July 24, July 31, August 7 and August 14, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE

SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION

ESTATE FILE NO. 25E000848-250

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Jose Joaquim D’Arruda, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 2517 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC 28305, on or before November 7, 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. Dated this 7th day of August, 2025.

Dorothy Ann D’Arruda, Executor of the Estate of Jose Joaquim D’Arruda

NICOLE A. CORLEY

MURRAY & CORLEY, P.A.

N.C. BAR NO. 56459 2517 RAEFORD ROAD FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28305 – 3007 (910) 483 – 4990 COUNSEL FOR EXECUTOR

EXECUTOR’S NOTICE

In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Estate File # 25E001112-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND

The undersigned having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Flora I. Marrow, Deceased late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before November 7, 2025 at Post O ce Box 53555, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28305, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 7th day of August, 2025 Daniel L. Poindexter, Jr., Executor of the Estate of Flora I. Marrow c/o Gilliam Law Firm, PLLC Post O ce Box 53555 Fayetteville, NC 28305 (910) 485-8899 08/07/2025, 08/14/2025, 08/21/2025, 08/28/2025

Having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of SUSAN DIANE STANLEY, late of Durham County, North Carolina (25E000951-310), the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 3rd day of November 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 31st day of July 2025. Candace S. Slate Administrator of the Estate of Susan Diane Stanley c/o Lisa M. Schreiner Attorney at Law P.O. Box 446 114 Raleigh Street Fuquay Varina, NC 27526 (For publication: 07/31, 08/07, 08/14, 08/21/2025)

MOORE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Co-Administrators of the Estate of THOMAS JAY TUCKER, late of Moore County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of the decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the o ce of Ivey & Eggleston, Attorneys at Law, 111 Worth Street, Asheboro, North Carolina 27203, on or before November 1, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms or corporations indebted to said estate should make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 31st day of July, 2025 GARY THOMAS TUCKER AND CHRISTOPHER JAY TUCKER Co-Administrators of the Estate of THOMAS JAY TUCKER MARION “BETH”MCQUAID, Attorney IVEY & EGGLESTON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW 111 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 (336) 625-3043 PUBL/DATES: 07/31/25, 08/07/25 08/14/25, 08/21/25

NEW HANOVER

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA NEW HANOVER COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE UNDERSIGNED, Joseph Alan Baggett, Jr., having quali ed on the 26th day of June 2025, as Administrator of the Estate of Joseph Alan Baggett (25E001525-640), deceased, does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said Estate that they must present them to the undersigned at DAVID E. ANDERSON, PLLC, 9111 Market Street, Suite A, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28411, on or before the 3rd day of November, 2025, or the claims will be forever barred thereafter, and this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make prompt payment to the undersigned at the above address. This 31st day of July 2025. Joseph Alan Baggett, Jr. Administrator ESTATE OF JOSEPH ALAN BAGGETT

David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411

Publish: July 31, 2025, August 7, 2025, August 14, 2025, August 21, 2025

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned,KAREN SELZ, having quali ed as the Executor of the Estate of WAYNE RICHARD CHALMERS, Deceased, hereby noti es all persons, rms or corporations having claims against the Decedent to exhibit same to the said KAREN SELZ, at the address set out below, on or before October 31, 2025, or this notice may be pleaded in bar of any payment or recovery of same. All persons indebted to said Decedent will please make immediate payment to the undersigned at the address set out below. This the 22nd day of July, 2025. KAREN SELZ Executor of the Estate of WAYNE RICHARD CHALMERS c/o ROBERT H. HOCHULI, JR. 219 RACINE DR., SUITE #A6 Wilmington, NC 28405

Notice to Creditors

To All Creditors: Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Maria Ross,

and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 31st day of July 2025. Brenda G. Fales Executor of the Estate of Robert L. Wheeler Jonathan M. Parisi Attorney at Law Spangler Estate Planning P.O. Box 5994 Greensboro, NC 27435

Notice

at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cabarrus County courthouse at 10:00AM on August 12, 2025, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Katherine H. Kiker, dated August 4, 2009 to secure the original principal amount of $23,388.00, and recorded in Book 8875 at Page 208 of the Cabarrus County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modi ed by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended. Address of property: 13215 Peppercorn Lane, Midland, NC 28107 Tax Parcel ID: 55443395470000

May and June 2025, Rocket Mortgage received documented notices including a private settlement o er, enforcement demand, declaration of default, notice of false credit reporting and fee enforcement, an OCC referral (Case No. CS0385586) with referrals to NCCOB (File No. 2025-0546) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB Case Nos. 250701-21970535 and 250724-22601517), and an IRS Form 211 whistleblower ling reporting non-disclosure and securitization fraud. Rocket Mortgage failed to rebut the a davits or respond in substance.

Contact for Record:

NOBLE SPRING TR ENTERPRISE

c/o 8041 Brier Creek Parkway #1110 Raleigh, North Carolina [27617] Phone: (910) 537-0259

Notice to Creditors

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of ROGER

Present Record Owners: The Estate of Katherine H. Kiker The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Estate of Katherine H. Kiker. The property to be o ered pursuant to this notice of sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the o cers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property o ered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax

associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of ve percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certi ed funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a

The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the

are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being o ered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, special assessments, land transfer taxes, if any, and encumbrances of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owners of the property is Yolanda R. Lowery. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §45-21.29

pursuant to this notice of sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance

Property Address: 2525-102 McArthur Landing Cir, Fayetteville, NC 28311 The street address of said property is 2525102 McArthur Landing Circle, Fayetteville, NC 28311.Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in NCGS §45-21.23. Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by NCGS §7A-308(a)(1). The property to be o ered

2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Unit 102 Bldg 2525 in subdivision known as MCARTHUR LANDING, PHASE 1 and the same being duly recorded in Condo Book 7, Page 159, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina with the ownership interest, privileges, appurtenances, conditions and restrictions contained and described in the Declaration of MCARTHUR LANDING, PHASE 1. Parcel Identi cation No. 0530-11-2646-102

“AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the o cers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or McArthur Landing Owners Association, Inc. make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being o ered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments,

CUMBERLAND

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

25sp000562-250

IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY ALFRED

L. BARRETT AND SHARION BARRETT

DATED AUGUST 11, 2010 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 8459 AT PAGE 442 AND MODIFIED BY AGREEMENT RECORDED

JANUARY 17, 2017 IN BOOK 10020, PAGE 116 AND FURTHER MODIFIED BY AGREEMENT RECORDED APRIL 11, 2019 IN BOOK 10480, PAGE 296 AND FURTHER MODIFIED BY AGREEMENT RECORDED APRIL 28, 2023 IN BOOK 11722, PAGE 221 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA

NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-

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

25sp000618-250

IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY DARNELL T. POWELL AND GERALDINE POWELL AND EDDIE LEE HIGHTOWER DATED JULY 9, 2008 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 7938 AT PAGE 118 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the abovereferenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt,

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY 25 SP 480

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Lashanda Ladson and James T. Ladson, Mortgagor(s), in the original amount of $385,000.00, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., (“MERS”) as bene ciary, as nominee for The Federal Savings Bank, Mortgagee, dated February 16th, 2023 and recorded on February 20th, 2023 in Book 11674, Page 0492, as instrument number 04938, Cumberland County Registry. Default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Anchor Trustee Services, LLC having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the O ce of the Register of Deeds of Cumberland County, North Carolina, and the holder of the note evidencing

is

or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on August 13, 2025 at 01:30 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Cumberland County, North Carolina, to wit:

BEING all of Lot 46 in a Subdivision known as BLACKBRIDGE VILLAGE, PHASE ONE, ZERO LOT LINE, according to a plat of the same recorded in Plat Book 137, Page 126, Cumberland County Registry and being the same property conveyed to Charmaynn C. Smith by deed recorded in Book 10639, Page 499.

Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 4410 Narrow Pine Court, Parkton, NC 28371.

A Certi ed Check ONLY (no personal checks) of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater,

referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cumberland County courthouse at 10:00AM on August 11, 2025, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Alfred L. Barrett and Sharion Barrett, dated August 11, 2010 to secure the original principal amount of $338,395.00, and recorded in Book 8459 at Page 442 of the Cumberland County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modi ed by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended. Address of property: 4616

the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cumberland County courthouse at 10:00AM on August 11, 2025, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Darnell T. Powell and Geraldine Powell and Eddie Lee Hightower, dated July 9, 2008 to secure the original principal amount of $80,032.00, and recorded in Book 7938 at Page 118 of the Cumberland County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modi ed by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended. Address of property: 4205 Dwight Circle, Fayetteville, NC 28311 Tax Parcel ID: 0429-31-5652 Present Record Owners:

said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door or other usual place of sale in Cumberland County, North Carolina, at 2:00 PM on August 12th, 2025, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: The following described property: Situated in the City of Fayetteville, Township of Carvers Creek, County of Cumberland and State of North Carolina. Being all of Lot 288 as shown on that plat entitled “Re-Recording of Liberty Hill, Section One” with the same being duly recorded in Plat Book 133, at Page 60, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Assessor`s Parcel No: 0530-19-9320 Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 3305 Memorial Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28311 Tax ID: 0530-19-9320 Third party purchasers must pay the recording costs of the trustee’s deed, any land transfer taxes, the excise tax, pursuant North Carolina General Statutes

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 23SP000924-250 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY BERTHA MAE U. MCMILLAN DATED JUNE 22, 2006 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 7280 AT PAGE 804 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the abovereferenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cumberland County courthouse at 10:30AM on August 18, 2025, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Bertha Mae U. McMillan, dated June 22, 2006 to secure the original principal amount of $99,750.00, and recorded in Book 7280 at Page 804 of the Cumberland County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modi ed by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended. Address of property: 2068 Chipper St, Fayetteville, NC 28312 Tax Parcel ID: 0459-35-0458 Present Record Owners:

courthouse for conducting the

13,

described

at

and

on

situated in Cumberland County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING ALL OF LOT 10, IN A SUBDIVISION KNOWN AS YORKSHIRE, ACCORDING TO A PLAT OF THE SAME DULY RECORDED IN BOOK OF PLATS 24, PAGE 71, CUMBERLAND COUNTY REGISTRY.

Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 5742 Camden Road, Fayetteville, NC 28306. A Certi ed Check ONLY (no personal checks) of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY

will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing.

THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.

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

Bent Grass Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28312

Tax Parcel ID: 0477-34-5553 Present Record Owners: Alfred L. Barrett and Sharion Barrett The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Alfred L. Barrett and Sharion Barrett. The property to be o ered pursuant to this notice of sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the o cers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property o ered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and

The Estate of Eddie Lee Hightower and April D. Hightower The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Estate of Eddie Lee Hightower and April D. Hightower. The property to be o ered pursuant to this notice of sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the o cers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property o ered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit

§105-228.30, in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) per each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof, and the Clerk of Courts fee, pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §7A308, in the amount of Forty- ve Cents (0.45) per each One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or fractional part thereof with a maximum amount of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). A deposit of ve percent (5%) of the bid or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale and must be tendered in the form of certi ed funds. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts will be immediately due and owing.

Said property to be o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS WHERE IS. There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being o ered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, special assessments, land transfer taxes, if any, and encumbrances of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of

The Heirs of Bertha Mae U. McMillan The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Heirs of Bertha Mae U. McMillan. The property to be o ered pursuant to this notice of sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the o cers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property o ered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit

THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 4521.16A(b)(2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the e ective date of the termination. Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by

encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of ve percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven

of ve percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certi ed funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any resale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing. SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be

the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Lashanda Ladson and James T. Ladson. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the Clerk of Superior Court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination (North Carolina General Statutes §45-21.16A(b)(2)). Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the e ective date of termination. If the Trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the ling of a bankruptcy petition prior to the con rmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the

of ve percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certi ed funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any resale. If the sale is

Said property to be o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being o ered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Leland J. Morel and spouse, Heather J. Morel. An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 4521.16A(b)(2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the e ective date of the termination. Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by the person conducting the sale, or their agent”. If the trustee is unable to convey title to

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION WAKE COUNTY 16SP002399-910 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY WILLIAM F. HARDWICK, III AND ANGELA DAVIS HARDWICK DATED OCTOBER 4, 2006 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 12205 AT PAGE 212 AND MODIFIED BY AGREEMENT

RECORDED ON JULY 2, 2014 AT BOOK 15709, PAGE 911 IN THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION WAKE COUNTY 20SP001155-910 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY EDWARD G. JOHNSON, JR. AND KELLY O. JOHNSON

DATED MARCH 30, 2007 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 12485 AT PAGE 2365 AND MODIFIED BY AGREEMENT RECORDED JULY 25, 2019 IN BOOK 17516, PAGE 404 AND FURTHER MODIFIED BY AGREEMENT RECORDED JUNE 19, 2020 IN BOOK 17922, PAGE 947 IN THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to

25SP000674-910 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Joshua David Hamilton a/k/a J Hamilton and April Davis Hamilton to WFG National Title Insurance Company, Trustee(s), which was dated June 5, 2023 and recorded on June 9, 2023 in Book 019355 at Page 02602, Wake County Registry, North Carolina. Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale

24SP002445-910 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY

payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Wake County courthouse at 11:00AM on August 14, 2025, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Wake County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed William F. Hardwick, III and Angela Davis Hardwick, dated October 4, 2006 to secure the original principal amount of $359,176.00, and recorded in Book 12205 at Page 212 of the Wake County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modi ed by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended. Address of property: 399 Virginia Water Dr, Rolesville, NC 27571 Tax Parcel ID: 0332406

perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Wake County courthouse at 11:00AM on August 14, 2025, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Wake County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Edward G. Johnson, Jr. and Kelly O. Johnson, dated March 30, 2007 to secure the original principal amount of $190,400.00, and recorded in Book 12485 at Page 2365 of the Wake County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modi ed by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended. Address of property: 1004 Santa Rosa Dr, Apex, NC 27502 Tax Parcel ID: 0213222

on August 13, 2025 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Wake County, North Carolina, to wit: THE LAND REFERRED TO HEREIN BELOW IS SITUATED IN THE COUNTY OF WAKE, STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, AND IS DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: ALL THAT CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF LAND SITUATED IN THE CITY OF RALEIGH, WAKE FOREST TOWNSHIP, WAKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEING ALL OF LOT 27, LANDINGS AT NEUSE CROSSINGS SUBDIVISION, PHASE 1, AS SHOWN AND RECORDED IN BOOK OF MAPS 2004, PAGES 21552158, WAKE COUNTY REGISTRY Parcel/APN/Tax ID: 0329223 Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 3144 Landing Falls Ln, Raleigh, NC 27616. A Certi ed Check ONLY (no personal

Present Record Owners: William Hardwick, III and Angela Davis Hardwick The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are William Hardwick, III and Angela Davis Hardwick. The property to be o ered pursuant to this notice of sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the o cers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property o ered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of ve percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certi ed funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-

Present Record Owners: Edward G. Johnson, Jr. and Kelly O. Johnson The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Edward G. Johnson, Jr. and Kelly O. Johnson. The property to be o ered pursuant to this notice of sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the o cers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property o ered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit

checks) of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY

PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being o ered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/ or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Kenneth Yarina to CT Mortgage Information Svcs., Trustee(s), which was dated April 22, 2005 and recorded on May 5, 2005 in Book 011347 at Page 00581, Wake County Registry, North Carolina. Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on August 20, 2025 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Wake County, North Carolina, to wit: THE LAND REFERRED TO IN THIS EXHIBIT IS LOCATED IN THE COUNTY OF WAKE AND THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA IN DEED BOOK 10683 AT PAGE 1255 AND DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEING ALL OF LOT 33 OLDE MILL STREAM SUBDIVISION, PHASE 4A AS SHOWN ON PLAT RECORDED IN BOOK OF MAPS 2001, PAGE 1468, WAKE COUNTY REGISTRY. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 509 Hillswick Place, Wake Forest, NC 27587. A Certi ed Check ONLY (no personal checks) of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being o ered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/ or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Kenneth Yarina. An Order for possession of the property may

of ve percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of

and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Joshua David Hamilton and wife, April Davis Hamilton. An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the e ective date of the termination. Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by the person conducting the sale, or their agent”. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the

be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the e ective date of the termination. Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by the person conducting the sale, or their agent”.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the ling of a bankruptcy petition prior to the con rmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy. Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP001259-910 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Matthew Joshua Andrews (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Matthew Joshua Andrews) to Larry F. Pratt, Trustee(s), dated May 26, 2023, and recorded in Book No. 019345, at Page 01605 in Wake County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the O ce of the Register of Deeds Wake County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on August 18, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Raleigh in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 11, Re-subdivision of Watson Land, per plat and survey thereof recorded in Book of Maps 1942, Page 111, Wake County Registry, to which plat reference is hereby made for a more particular description of same, and also being all of the property conveyed to Hood Land Company, Inc., in a deed recorded in Book 18987, Page 74, Wake County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 1439 Garner Road, Raleigh, North Carolina. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to three hours as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.

Page 02253 in Wake County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the O ce of the Register of Deeds Wake County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in Raleigh, Wake

Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by

County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on August 18, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Willow Spring in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 26, Myatt Mill Farms, as recorded in Book of Maps 1987, Page 26, Wake County Registry. See also Book of Maps 2006, Page 1112, Wake County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 7204 Westworth Drive, Willow Spring, North Carolina.

Street Address: 7204 Westworth Drive, Willow Spring, NC 27592

N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1). The property to be o ered pursuant to this notice of sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the o cers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being o ered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A deposit of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certi ed funds at the time of the sale. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to three hours as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23. Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1). The property to be o ered pursuant to this notice of sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the o cers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being o ered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A deposit of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certi ed funds at the time of the sale. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the ling of a bankruptcy petition prior to the con rmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without

Catch of the day

A crane lifts a submerged Nissan Maxima from Jordan Lake at the U.S. 64 bridge last Friday. The vehicle was spotted earlier in the week by a sherman using sonar and recovered by the Chatham County Sheri ’s O ce with help from the Durham County Sheri ’s O ce Dive Team and Barnes Towing. Investigators are looking to see if it’s connected to any known incidents or reports.

the BRIEF this week

Violent crime in U.S.

dropped 4.5% last year, FBI data shows

Washington, D.C.

A new FBI report says violent crime in the United States fell 4.5% last year while property crime dropped 8% from the year before. The FBI statistics released Tuesday show murder and nonnegligent manslaughter in the U.S. fell nearly 15% in 2024, continuing a decline that’s been seen since a coronavirus pandemicera crime spike. Reported hate crimes decreased 1.5%. The FBI collects data through its Uniform Crime Reporting Program. Not all law enforcement agencies in the U.S. participate. The 2024 report is based on data from more than 16,000 agencies, or more than 86% of those agencies in the FBI’s program.

House committee subpoenas Epstein les, depositions with Clintons

Washington, D.C.

The House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed the Justice Department for les in the Je rey Epstein sex tra cking investigation and is seeking depositions with the Clintons and eight former top law enforcement o cials. Meanwhile, federal prosecutors are asking in court to unseal grand jury transcripts in the sex tra cking cases against Epstein and his ex-girlfriend but say there’s not much new in them.

Chatham residents can now seek state aid after Chantal ooding

The governor wrote to FEMA to ask for federal disaster relief funds

Chatham News & Record sta

RALEIGH — Individuals in Chatham and seven other counties whose homes and belongings were damaged by massive rains last month from Tropical Storm Chantal can now seek state-fundednancial grants for temporary assistance.

ter under the North Carolina Emergency Management Act.

Gov. Josh Stein issued a state disaster declaration Tuesday, making available state emergency assistance funds in Orange, Durham, Alamance, Caswell, Granville, Person, Wake and Chatham counties. Stein declared a Type 1 disas-

As much as 9 to 12 inches of rain fell in the region at the close of the July 4 weekend, sending some rivers to record-breaking levels, a ecting public water systems, and damaging homes and businesses. There were at least six storm-related deaths, law enforcement agencies said.

Democratic governors may o er path forward for party out of power

Republicans have control of D.C., but state houses o er a respite

By Bill Barrow The Associated Press

ATLANTA — Anderson Clay-

ton wanted a headline name to speak at North Carolina Dem-

NC’s

Roy Cooper vs. Michael Whatley may turn on issues rather than culture wars

By Thomas Beaumont

and

Gary D. Robertson

Associated Press

The

RALEIGH — Democrats still in the dumps over last year’s elections have found cause for optimism in North Carolina, where former Gov. Roy Cooper jumped into the race for that state’s newly open seat with a vow to address voters’ persistent concerns about making ends meet. Even Republicans quiet-

ocrats’ summer gala — but the state party chair bypassed familiar Capitol Hill gures, looking instead to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

She described him as “a real ghter” against President Donald Trump, someone who gets things done because he controls levers of government — unlike any Democrat in Washington.

ly note that Cooper’s candidacy makes their job of holding the seat more di cult and expensive. Cooper had raised $2.6 million for his campaign between his Monday launch and Tuesday, and more than $900,000 toward allied groups. Republicans, meanwhile, are hardly ceding the economic populist ground. In announcing his candidacy for the Senate on Thursday, Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley credited President Donald Trump with ful lling campaign promises to working Americans and

“I wanted people to hear from one of the Democratic governors who has defended their state, who could look at the president and say, ‘I’m in a position of power right now just like you are, and I’m doing good things,’” Clayton said. Indeed, some Democratic activists see the party’s 23 governors as their best answer to

“We can attack Republicans all day long, but unless we have candidates who can really embody that message, we’re not going to be able to take back power.”

Pat Dennis, American Bridge 21st Century

Stein also wrote President Donald Trump and the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Tuesday asking them to issue a federal major disaster declaration that would accelerate federal aid to help local governments with the costs of rebuilding roads and utilities, and for removing

Trump’s second Republican presidency. Those statehouse chiefs provide proof voters will embrace alternatives — and could give them a roadmap for the 2026 midterms, when Democrats hope at least to reclaim a U.S. House majority. They also will likely be central to the party’s hopes in the 2028 presidential race.

There is no question Democrats are down at the federal level. Republicans control the White House, the House and the Senate, allowing Trump to pursue an aggressive agenda. The party

July 28

• Xzavier Willie Raquan Allison, 24, of Siler City, was arrested for resisting a public o cer causing serious injury, assaulting a law enforcement o cer causing serious injury and assault in icting physical injury on a law enforcement o cer.

• Ronald Junior Nealy, 33, of Fayetteville, was arrested for aiding and abetting armed robbery.

August 1

• James Dewayne Ward, 49, of Pittsboro, was arrested for violating a domestic violence protective order.

Chatham completes rst natural areas inventory in more than 30 years

The study documented 56 natural areas as ecologically signi cant and will guide future planning

Chatham News & Record sta PITTSBORO — Chatham County has completed its rst comprehensive natural areas inventory in more than three decades, providing updated data on rare species and significant habitats to guide future land use decisions.

The Chatham County Planning Department and North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, partnering with Triangle Land Conservancy, nished the two-year ecological study in June. The project marks the rst county-wide update since 1992 of signicant habitats and rare species in Chatham County.

Scientists surveyed 112 tracts across the county in 2024 and 2025, identifying 56 natural areas as ecologically signi cant. The inventory also documented six newly described natural areas and 13

expanded areas based on updated ndings.

The comprehensive study began with 500 tracts identied through ecological data and community nominations.

Researchers contacted 413 landowners seeking survey access and received permission from 172 property owners to survey both public and private lands.

“This initiative re ects our commitment to sustainable growth that respects Chatham County’s rich natural heritage,” said Chance Mullis, assistant director of the Chatham County Planning Department. “The updated data will help inform conservation e orts, development regulations, and decisions made by landowners, local agencies, and nonpro t partners.”

The inventory documents the current status of rare species, natural communities and ecologically signi cant areas, providing data to balance environmental protection with the county’s economic and community needs.

Triangle Land Conservancy helped coordinate the project, which was funded through the

This initiative re ects our commitment to sustainable growth that respects Chatham County’s rich natural heritage.”

Chance Mullis, County Planning

Chatham County budget. The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program led eldwork and data analysis.

“This new inventory will be invaluable in helping protect the lands and species that make Chatham County special,” said Sandy Sweitzer, executive director of Triangle Land Conservancy. “We’re proud to support this work and continue partnering with communities to protect land for nature and people.”

The inventory serves government planners, conservation groups, landowners and residents by providing science-based information to support long-term environmental stewardship.

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Chatham County:

Aug. 7

Opinionation Trivia at House of Pops

6-8 p.m.

Two sessions of this “Family Feud”-style game are held each Thursday evening, rst round at 6 p.m. and the second at 7 p.m., o ering contestants two opportunities to win House of Hops gift cards worth $15 and $25 each.

12 Russet Run Suite 110 Pittsboro

Aug. 8

Teen Lock-In! 6-9 p.m.

Teens in grades 6-12 are invited to this social event, including games and a pizza party. Registration is required. Contact 919-545-8085.

Chatham Community Library 197 N.C. Hwy. 87 N. Pittsboro

Curtis Eller at Bynum Front Porch!

7 p.m.

Free musical performance by Curtis Eller, a singer, dancer and banjo player. Donations are welcome. This is a family-friendly event with food and beverages available for purchase on-site.

Front Porch, Bynum General Store 950 Bynum Road Bynum

Aug. 9

Chatham Mills Farmers Market

8 a.m. to noon

Producers-only farmers market o ering a wide variety of goods from fresh produce to other groceries, including eggs, cheese, meat, health and wellness items, and crafts. Everything is created by the vendors themselves.

Lawn of the historic Chatham Mills

480 Hillsboro St. Pittsboro

Aug. 13

Jazz Night at The Sycamore at Chatham Mills

6-9 p.m.

Every Wednesday night, from 6-9 p.m., The Sycamore at Chatham Mills hosts live Jazz Nights. The series features a rotating list of local musicians. The Sycamore also o ers its Lounge Menu in the dining room on Wednesday nights. Reservations are highly recommended.

480 Hillsboro St. Suite 500 Pittsboro

FAA may ease restrictions on drones traveling long distances

Drones delivering everything from food to medicine will soon be common

By Josh Funk

The Associated Press

A NEW FEDERAL rule proposed Tuesday would make it easier for companies to use drones over longer distances out of the operator’s sight without having to go through a cumbersome waiver process.

The federal government had already approved 657 waivers to allow companies such as Amazon and major utilities to do this in certain circumstances, but the waiver process made it di cult.

The industry has long pressed for the rule because being able to operate drones out of sight opens up a multitude of possibilities for their use. Being able to do this enables more use of drones for deliveries, inspecting infrastructure like bridges and power lines, and other uses in agriculture over thousands of acres on large farms.

“This draft rule is a critical step toward enabling drone operations that will enhance safe-

SENATE from page A1

painted Cooper as a puppet of the left.

Still, Cooper’s opening message that he hears the worries of working families has given Democrats in North Carolina and beyond a sense that they can reclaim their place as the party that champions the middle class. They think it’s a message that could help them pick up a Senate seat, and possibly more, in next year’s midterm elections, which in recent years have typically favored the party out of power.

“I’m Roy Cooper. And I know that today, for too many Americans, the middle class feels like a distant dream,” the former governor said in a video announcing his candidacy.

“Meanwhile, the biggest corporations and the richest Americans have grabbed unimaginable wealth at your expense.

It’s time for that to change.”

Cooper’s plainspoken appeal may represent just the latest e ort by Democrats to nd their way back to power, but it has some thinking they’ve nally found their footing after last year’s resounding losses.

“I think it would do us all a lot of good to take a close look at his example,” said Larry Grisolano, a Chicago-based Democratic media strategist and former adviser to President Barack Obama.

Whatley, a former North Carolina GOP chairman and close Trump ally, used last Thursday’s announcement that he was entering the race to hail the president as the true champion of the middle class. He said Trump had already ful lled promises

“From drones delivering medicine to unmanned aircraft surveying crops, this technology will fundamentally change the way we interact with the world.”

Sean Du y, Transportation Secretary

ty, transform commercial services, and strengthen public safety with drones as a force multiplier,” said Michael Robbins, president & CEO of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International trade group.

The rule spells out the circumstances drones can be used under while working to ensure they don’t disrupt aviation and cause problems around airports, Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford said.

“We are making the future of our aviation a reality and unleashing American drone dominance. From drones delivering

medicine to unmanned aircraft surveying crops, this technology will fundamentally change the way we interact with the world,” Transportation Secretary Sean Du y said.

President Donald Trump issued executive orders in June directing the Transportation Department to quickly get this rule out. The orders also included restrictions meant to help protect against terrorism, espionage and public safety threats.

Drones are already used in a variety of ways, including bolstering search-and-rescue operations, applying fertilizer, inspecting power lines and railroad bridges, and even delivering packages.

But the war in Ukraine has highlighted how drones could be used in a military or terrorist attack — a concern as the World Cup and Olympics approach in the U.S. There also have been espionage cases where drones have been used to surveil sensitive sites. And White House o cials said drones are being used to smuggle drugs over the border, and there are concerns about the potential for a disastrous collision between a drone and an airliner around an airport.

to end taxes on tips and overtime and said Cooper was out of step with North Carolinians.

“Six months in, it’s pretty clear to see, America is back,” Whatley said. “A healthy, robust economy, safe kids and communities and a strong America. These are the North Carolina values that I will champion if elected.”

Still, the decision by Cooper, who held statewide o ce for 24 years and has never lost an election, makes North Carolina a potential bright spot in a midterm election cycle when Democrats must net four seats to retake the majority — and when most of the 2026 Senate contests are in states Trump won comfortably last November.

State Rep. Cynthia Ball threw up a hand in excitement when asked Monday at the North Carolina Legislative Building about Cooper’s announcement.

“Everyone I’ve spoken to was

Church News

RIVES CHAPEL BAPTIST CHURCH

4338 Rives Chapel Church Road Siler City, NC 27344

Join Us

193rd Homecoming & Revival

Rives Chapel Baptist Church • Est. 1832

Homecoming Worship Service followed by covered dish meal

Sunday, Aug. 10 at 11 a.m.

Revival Services by Rev. Paul Langston Sunday, Aug. 10 to Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. nightly

Special Music Each Night. Everyone is invited!

REAVES

CHAPEL AME ZION CHURCH

7888 Goldston-Glendon Road Goldston, NC 27252

Reaves Chapel AME Zion Church will be having their Annual Homecoming Service on Sunday, Aug. 10 at 11 a.m.

You are cordially invited to come out and celebrate with us on this special occasion. Dinner will be served in the Fellowship Hall immediately after service. The speaker for our Homecoming Service will be our very own pastor, Rev. Joseph L. Marsh

GUM SPRINGS BAPTIST CHURCH

Revival Services

Aug. 18-20

Monday -Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m.

Pastor Brian Parker, Sanford will speak Monday and Pastor Brian Parker, formerly of New Hope, Sanford will be Tuesday’s speaker. Wednesday night will be a time of Congregational Praise & Worship.

Join us each Sunday forSunday School 9:00-9:30 a.m. Worship Service 10-11 a.m.

And Wednesday for Bible Study at 6:30 p.m.

We have room for you!

30-second spot says. “But he’s just another radical, D.C. liberal in disguise.”

really hoping that he was going to run,” said the Raleigh Democrat.

Democratic legislators hope having Cooper’s name at the top of the ballot will encourage higher turnout and help them in downballot races. While Republicans have controlled both General Assembly chambers since 2011, Democrats managed last fall to end the GOP’s veto-proof majority, if only by a single seat.

Republican strategists familiar with the national Senate landscape have said privately that Cooper poses a formidable threat.

The Senate Leadership Fund, a GOP super PAC a liated with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, wasted no time in challenging Cooper’s portrayal of a commonsense advocate for working people.

“Roy Cooper masquerades as a moderate,” the narrator in the

Cooper, a former state legislator who served four terms as attorney general before he became governor, has never held an o ce in Washington. Still, Whatley was quick to link Cooper to national progressive gures such as New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, former Vice President Kamala Harris and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Whatley accused Cooper of failing to address illegal immigration and of supporting liberal gender ideology. He echoed the themes raised in the Senate Leadership Fund ad, which noted Cooper’s vetoes in the Republican-led legislature of measures popular with conservatives, such as banning gender-a rming health care for minors and requiring county sheri s to cooperate with federal immigration o cials.

“Roy Cooper may pretend to be di erent than the radical extremists,” Whatley said. “But he is all-in on their agenda.” Cooper rst won the governorship in 2016, while Trump was carrying the state in his rst White House bid. Four years later, they both carried the state again.

Cooper, who grew up in a small town roughly 50 miles east of Raleigh, has long declined requests that he seek federal o ce. He “understands rural North Carolina,” veteran North Carolina strategist Thomas Mills said. “And while he’s not going to win it, he knows how to talk to those folks.” As with most Democrats, Cooper’s winning coalition in-

cludes the state’s largest cities and suburbs. But he has long made enough inroads in other areas to win.

“He actually listens to what voters are trying to tell us, instead of us trying to explain to them how they should think and feel,” said state Sen. Michael Garrett, a Greensboro Democrat.

In his video announcement, Cooper tried to turn the populist appeal Trump made to voters on checkbook issues against the party in power, casting himself as the Washington outsider. Senior Cooper strategist Morgan Jackson said the message represents a shift and will take work to drive home with voters.

“Part of the challenge Democrats had in 2024 is we were not addressing directly the issues people were concerned about today,” Jackson said. “We have to acknowledge what people are going through right now and what they are feeling, that he hears you and understands what you feel.”

Pat Dennis, president of American Bridge 21st Century, a group that conducts research for an initiative called the Working Class Project, said Cooper struck a tone that other Democrats should try to match.

“His focus on a ordability and his outsider status really hits a lot of the notes these folks are interested in,” Dennis said. “I do think it’s a model, especially his focus on a ordability.”

“We can attack Republicans all day long, but unless we have candidates who can really embody that message, we’re not going to be able to take back power.”

JEFF ROBERSON / AP PHOTO

A drone hovers in airspace outside the safety perimeter surrounding the St. Louis Lambert International Airport in March.

NELL REDMOND/ AP PHOTO

Former Gov. Roy Cooper is the presumptive Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate race in 2026.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

A concoction of protest and delight

In the ght to alleviate su ering in the weary world, we must o er our yeses and nos.

A MENTOR of mine recently challenged me to take time with three questions: What are you ghting for? What are you saying “no” to in service of that? What are you saying “yes” to in service of the same thing?

The rst two were straightforward. I am against several issues. The U.S.-Israel policies limit humanitarian aid, despite millions starving in Gaza. One out of every seven children here in Chatham County faces food insecurity, yet federal funds for various programs, especially food assistance programs and Medicaid, have been cut in the most recent “big” bill. I am aware of the issues I oppose.

But what about my yes?

I think it is often true that those of us who want to make the world a more just and peaceful place can be overly attuned to protesting the problems. The prayer must be to work harder against death-dealing forces, yet the prayer must also be to open hearts, minds and senses to the gifts and graces. Here’s something I can’t explain but have found to be true: The more you hope for delight, the more it will nd you.

Just yesterday, a new resident on our street took a stroll with his two pugs, one brown and the other black. My daughter rushed out of the house to meet the furry

creatures, who turned out to be named Poppy and Moses. Soon, another young girl and her mother joined her. Poppy and Moses delighted in the attention, and before long, we all laughed as their leashes became entangled around our legs. Eventually, we untangled, and the dogs headed home, but the girls decided to continue their fun and chalk the sidewalk. Their elaborate design of a playhouse stretched in front of several houses, and then the girls decided to make magical potions out of water, chalk dust and ower petals. Magic is made of everyday things, isn’t it? My girl taught her friend the word “concoction,” which refers to a mixture of various elements.

In the ght to alleviate su ering in the weary world, we must o er our yeses and nos. A concoction of e ort, care and kindness will help, and attentiveness is one of the most sacred gifts we o er, especially when kids are in the mix. Maybe throw in a few pugs, too, their curly tails and mashed-up faces grinning madly.

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.

Is it true, one man’s trash really is another’s treasure?

We all have some quirks, I suppose. That’s one thing that gives variety to life.

THERE’S NO denying I’m a packrat. Even though society today calls us folks by such names as “collectors,” the fact remains we’re packrats or, to some, hoarders.

There are several reasons for this behavior. One is simply a personality characteristic. I’m reluctant to use the term “character aw,” but again, to some, that’s probably more accurate.

Another reason I’m this way, I’m convinced, is because of my dear departed mother. She saved everything — except my comic book collection and baseball cards, which today would be worth several dollars to other collectors ... if I wanted to sell them.

When, as a youngster, I would ask her why she saved all that stu , she would reply, “If you’d live through a depression (the Great one of the 1930s), you’d save everything too.”

“But Mama,” I’d say, “I didn’t” or “We’re not,” to which she’d usually reply, “Well, you might need it one day.”

Now lest you think she saved “everything,” I’m not including such things as used matches or tissues, although after she left us and I cleaned out her house and pocketbook and such, I did nd some napkins and rolled up paper towels. Apparently, she wasn’t going to be without some way to cover a sneeze or wipe her nose.

However, there’s no way I can say a great deal about that because when cold weather comes around and I slip on my heavier jackets and stick my hands in the outer pockets, there is a good chance there will be a Kleenex or two there. And it’s been pointed out we Southerners will save napkins from a fast-food joint and put them in our vehicles for later.

So we all have some quirks, I suppose. That’s one thing that gives variety to life. Among my more noticeable ones are the collection of books (blame Barnes & Noble) stacked up on the oor of my study and, best of all, a signi cantly large collection of newspapers. Both of those are related to the fact I enjoy reading, partly because I’m not a mechanic or plumber but also because most of my adult life careers have involved the use of words, especially in those years of print journalism at several newspapers, including the one you’re reading now.

Reading them isn’t the problem; it’s tossing them afterward. In a bit of personal appreciation, I will say I have gotten a bit better at disposal.

But books, on the other hand ... that’s a di erent story. I know many folks today have Kindles or other electronic books. Not me. I’ve got to hold the paper in my hands, so I’m always on the lookout for a bargain book, which leads me to this point.

Sometimes the books were originally gifts or held a special place in someone’s life, and when I run across one of those, I wonder what happened to move the book from its original home.

Such a thing happened not so long ago. I was in an area Christian bookstore and found a few gems on the used book table. One was about strategies for “the back nine” of life; and, yes, it used golf as the way to deal with that period.

What attracted my attention when I sat down with it was an inside page right before the text started that noted the book was a gift from a wife to her husband on the occasion of their fth wedding anniversary. The handwriting was beautiful, and I imagined so was the life of those two, but wait ...

Why was the book gone from its original owner? Was one or the other deceased? Were they no longer Mr. and Mrs.? Did the old boy read it, say “thanks” and move on? All that, of course, made me think of my own library. What would someone think of the range of books I have from Christian authors, leftover seminary texts, joke books, volumes about baseball and the War Between the States and World War II, collections of cartoons, popular volumes of other years, assorted American history and some I can’t remember?

My plus-40-something descendants have told me not to leave a mess for them to clean up one day. Experts, whoever they are, say the younger generation(s) aren’t interested in Grandma’s tea set.

I wonder where I could nd one of those.

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 | BOB WACHS

Cuss-i-tude?

Well, there you go! Oh, but wait, there’s a codicil to the implicit positive power of swearing.

CRANKY, cranky, cranky … ... and a whole bunch of accompanying, choice, four-letter words spilling out as I attend to tasks today. I’m in a pissy mood. Wait, am I allowed to say that? Pissy, I mean?

Your post, your choice! And of course, your outcomes too … that is, if someone takes issue with the term “pissy,” it’s on you. Well, OK. With gusto, now. Pissy, pissy, pissy!!!

Does that help?

A tad, I guess. A tad. Just feels better to express how I feel — cuss words and all. Dammit!

Whoa!

And the deep breath I just expelled was de nitely a calmer-downer. Don’t think “calmer-downer” is a real phrase, but it popped right out and feels like a relaxing tonic. And a relaxing tonic sounds wonderful about now. What the heck is going on that brings you to such a state of pissiness? Not your usual mode. I mean, expressing pissy-ness, and all its near-cousin expletives, so insistently?! WTF? (Smile.)

Wait, wait, a factoid is called for (I love factoids!) Did you know that verbalizing pissiness and its expletive-deleted cousins are wonderful therapeutic stress releasers? Hey, take it from a British psychologist: “Psychologist Richard Stephens of Keele University believes in the positive power of swearing. He says go for a big one, or even a sustained outburst — a scattergun of profanity. … If people hurt themselves, I would advise them to swear.”

COLUMN | STEVE GOLD

Well, there you go! Oh, but wait, there’s a codicil to the implicit positive power of swearing.

A codicil?

Yeah, sort of an advisory regarding a protracted outburst of profanity.

What’s the advisory?

It’s advisable to choose your audience for those who hear your therapeutic, but sustained, cussing delivery.

Why, for heaven’s sakes?

Um, not everyone present might welcome a profusion of swearing.

Oh, yeah, right.

What’s currently stimulating this serial cuss word leakage on your part?

Well, if you must know, I injured my back.

Ah!! Well, damn and damnation, no wonder you’re spilling over with cuss-itude! (New word alert! New word alert!) Yes, well

Gazing out at the tree- lled canopy outside my window now. A di erent approach for releasing stress, but clearly one of many, and it also includes habitués of cuss-city. (Another new term!) Oh my!

Where in the heck is this mini-verbal rampage going?

Hey, great question; no answer. Just feels good to put it out in the ether. I want my back to stop hurting! So there.

OK, let’s hear it for a new therapeutically supportive behavior, cussitude! All together, now…

Jan Hutton, a resident of Chatham County and retired hospice social worker, lives life with heart and humor.

Record trucking-related carnage is no accident

American truck drivers move more than 70% of all freight across the country.

AFTER A FATAL ACCIDENT caused by a non-English-speaking trucker with a commercial drivers’ license (CDL), President Donald Trump ordered the Department of Transportation to review the nondomiciled CDLs issued by each state over the past four years. This is a massive victory for highway safety — preventing further loss of American lives.

Just ve years ago, new truckers had to produce a birth certi cate, speak English and con rm state residency to even qualify for a CDL. If the driver couldn’t speak English, he couldn’t get a driver’s test. Today, any evidence of a work permit or foreign visa is enough to qualify for a nondomiciled CDL.

In 2022, the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA) set high, federal standard training requirements through the Entry Level Driver Training rules. The goal was to make highways safer, in conjunction with state commercial driver training laws that have been in place for decades. But these new rules have more exemptions than the federal tax code. Employers, municipalities and online video providers, posing as educators, now provide commercial driver training through unchecked “self-certi cation.”

Consider for a minute that almost every state requires 16-year-olds to attend a state licensed driver training program before they can get behind the wheel of an automobile. But, as Teamsters President Sean O’Brien just testi ed in the Senate Commerce Committee hearing, if you want to drive an 80,000-pound truck on our nation’s highways, there is no oversight or enforcement of the new FMCSA rules. Because of the lack of enforcement, the fraud and abuse are profound as the FMCSA has allowed unquali ed “CDL training providers” to recruit and train unquali ed truck drivers, who ultimately degrade the American truck driving workforce and put the unsuspecting general public at risk every day. The results have been catastrophic. According to the National Highway Safety Administration, 153,472 highway truck accidents resulted in 5,472 highway fatalities in 2023, a 40% increase from 2014. The 2024 data show similar fatality rates. The odds of getting killed by a truck driver is 20 times greater than dying while ying on a U.S. airline.

More than 30,000 commercial driving schools are now approved by the FMCSA, but only 2,100 are state licensed. As founder and CEO of one of the nation’s largest commercial truck driving schools, I know rsthand that the largest employers or truckers make up only 10% of the trucking industry. These employers are rumored to be rejecting nearly half of truck driver applicants as they have strict safety guidelines and driver evaluation criteria.

But the $1 trillion U.S. trucking industry is 90% comprised of companies with 10 drivers or less with thin margins. These employers lack compliance and safety departments, and are hiring individuals trained at unquali ed schools. These are the trucking companies you’ve never heard of that are in the news every day causing another fatality. Everyone wants cheaper prices, and no one wants burdensome regulations, but at what cost?

In a letter to the FMCSA, the American Trucking Association outlined the problem and lambasted the agency for being too

“insu ciently robust to shield prospective drivers and the motoring public from fraudulent and non-compliant training entities that fast-track CDL applicants with minimal, if any, training.”

Some states aren’t waiting for the FMCSA to take action and are taking matters into their own hands. California, which was second in the nation in the most highway fatalities in 2023, unanimously passed a bill to eliminate nefarious commercial-driving schools in the state. Florida and Colorado, among others, are sending cease-and-desist letters to unlicensed commercial training schools that assert they are exempt because of “new federal rules” and ignoring state laws.

Trump’s requested study, coupled with his executive order requiring commercial truck drivers to be pro cient in English, should disqualify many recently minted unquali ed commercial drivers, if properly enforced. Substandard training providers who falsely attested in the Federal Training Provider Registry, should not only be removed from the program but also face the same explicit penalties as those who abused the Paycheck Protection Program after the pandemic. That alone would prevent unquali ed drivers from getting behind the wheel and putting us all at risk.

American truck drivers move more than 70% of all freight across the country. They keep supply chains running — from delivering food and medicine to stocking shelves and fueling factories. Their hard work, often behind the scenes, keeps America moving, and they deserve to be well-compensated.

The trucking industry applauds Trump and Secretary of Transportation Sean Du y for already doing so much to protect America’s truck drivers and our highways. We look forward to working alongside them to go a step farther and enforce the FMCSA rules and protect the American public by eliminating nefarious CDL training schools.

With approximately 3,000 accidents and 100 fatalities each week caused by heavy trucks, the trucking industry and general driving public can’t wait much longer.

Steve Gold is the founder and chief executive o cer of 160 Driving Academy and the Truckers Network Association. This article was originally published by Daily Caller News Foundation.

Laura Loomer strikes again

LAURA LOOMER, the right-wing in uencer and conspiracy theorist who describes herself as “pro-white nationalist” and is so far out there that she herself could not make it through the vetting process for a job in either the Trump campaign or the Trump administration, has some new scalps to add to her collection. She is the self-appointed enforcer of total loyalty, above all else, to Donald Trump, someone Trump has publicly described as “a fantastic woman, a true patriot” and “amazing.” She is also a beautiful woman, which some speculate is the real reason Trump keeps her around, gives her free access to the West Wing and listens to her diatribes about o cials she deems insu ciently loyal.

She is on a roll. Last week, it was April Falcon Doss, the general counsel of the National Security Agency, who was red after Loomer went after her because she had previously done work for the Democratic sta of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Her next victim was last Tuesday, when the FDA’s top vaccine o cial, Dr. Vinay Prasad, resigned after Loomer went after him for statements from ve or more years ago praising Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders and describing himself as a “political liberal.”

A day later, Army secretary Daniel Driscoll ordered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to revoke the job o er it had made to Army veteran Jen Easterly after Loomer went after her for serving as the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency under President Joe Biden — even though she had also worked as a cybersecurity o cial under President George W. Bush.

Earlier this year, she was directly responsible for a purge at the National Security Council and the National Security Agency and even the ring of a career prosecutor in Los Angeles who was working up a case against a major Trump donor (which has since been dropped by the o ce). As Loomer herself likes to boast, they were all “Loomered.”

The resignation of Prasad is particularly telling because it came despite the fact HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. privately supported him. Prasad is an anti-vaxxer. During the pandemic, he earned the support of rightwingers by attacking social distancing and masking. During his brief time at the FDA, he had already limited the use of COVID vaccines and had strengthened the warnings about a rare cardiac side e ect of vaccinations — none of which made enough of a di erence for Loomer — or Trump.

“You have a person, from outside of the government of no national security experience and with extreme views, having de facto hire and re authority over some of the most senior and important positions in the United States government,” Kevin Carroll, a former CIA o cial, told The New York Times. “Eventually, when all of the quali ed people are driven out and only the people acceptable to Laura Loomer remain, there could be an extremely bad result for the United States in some international crisis.”

“I was raised to dress for the job you want, and even if you don’t have the job, pretend that you do,” Loomer told an interviewer. “I want to do vetting, so I’m going to do the job I want.”

She’s doing it, unfortunately. The blame belongs to Trump. The price will be paid not only by those she targets, but also by those she drives away from public service. And by all of us.

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

BE IN TOUCH

Letters to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline.com or mailed to 1201 Edwards Mill Rd., Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27607. Letters must be signed; include the writer’s phone number, city and state; and be no longer than 300 words. Letters may be edited for style, length or clarity when necessary. Ideas for opeds should be sent to opinion@ nsjonline.com.

Contact a writer or columnist: connect@ northstatejournal.com

JORDAN GOLSON / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD Volvo trucks lined up outside the company’s assembly plant in Dublin, Virginia.

obituaries

Winfred Mccoy Cheek

July 20, 1948 –July 29, 2025

Winfred McCoy Cheek, 77, of Ramseur, passed away on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at Randolph Hospice House in Asheboro. Funeral Services, 11:00 am, Friday, August 8, 2025, at Lo in Funeral Home Chapel, Ramseur. O ciating, Rev. Samuel Moore Jr., Rev. Montez Allen. Entombment, Chatham Memorial Park Mausoleum, Siler City. Winfred was a native and lifetime resident of Randolph County, born July 20, 1948. He was a 1967 graduate of Chatham High School, a retired supervisor with Ramtex and enjoyed his lawn care business. Winfred was a veteran of the U.S. Army and a member of McCrary’s Chapel UMC. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hayworth and E e Mo tt Cheek, as well as his sister, McCoy Gathings. Survivors:

Mary Bunton Emery

Jan. 1, 1926 – July 30, 2025

Mary Bunton Emery, 99, of Statesville, passed away Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at Gordon Hospice House following an extended illness. Mary was born in Alexander Co., January 01, 1926, to the late William Alfred Bunton and Onor Gay McCurdy. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by three brothers, Everette Bunton, William M. Bunton (Bud), and Gurney Bunton, one infant son, John David Bunton, and son, Durward Emery Jr. Survivors include three sons, James Emory (Doris) of

IN MEMORY

wife of 55 years, Joan Mauldin Cheek, of the home, daughter, Tresa Hatchett and husband, Tony, of Ramseur, son, Torris Cheek and wife, Cierra, of Greensboro, sisters, Annie Haith, of Greensboro, Zula Matthews and husband, Lonnie, of Ramseur, grandchildren, “his two favorite girls”, Taylor Elizabeth Hatchett and Raya Elise Cheek, sisters-in-law, Shirley Emerson, Cynthia Brooks and husband Larry, Sandra Mauldin, Felicia Mauldin, Hattie Marsh, special brothers-in-law, Howard Miller and Tim Mauldin and wife Sherry, special niece and nephew, Vivian Siler and Charles Lennon “Buddy” Staley, his two grand-dogs, “Little Momma” and “Myloe” as well as many other loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and close friends. The family would like to express a special thanks to Home Sweet Home Care Services, LLC., Tavares Wilhite, Fresenius Kidney Care, Randolph Hospital, and Hospice of Randolph County for the special care given during Mr. Cheek’s illness. Visitation, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Thursday, August 7, 2025 at Lo in Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ramseur. Arrangements by Lo in Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ramseur. In lieu of owers and food, memorials may be made to Ramseur Elementary School, 6755 Jordan Road, Ramseur, NC 27316, or to the Ramseur Food Pantry, 724 Liberty Street, Ramseur, NC 27316.

Statesville, NC, Gary Emery (Renee) of Gibsonville, NC, and Danny Emery (Annie) of Whitsett, NC. Three daughters, Ann McDaniel (Je ) of Siler City, NC, Barbara Emery of Liberty, NC, and Denise Brinkley of Whitsett, NC. One brother, Leonard Bunton (Shirley) of Statesville, NC. Twelve grandchildren: Scott Emery, Crystal E. Sloan, Michael Emery, Tina Reed, William (Billy) Reed, Richard Brinkley, Christopher Emery, Tina C., Brandie E. Strang, Craig Emery, Kenneth (Ken) McDaniel, and Greg McDaniel. As well as numerous greatgrandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A graveside service will be conducted Saturday, August 02, 2025, at 3:00 pm at Pilgrim Baptist Church cemetery (965 Pilgrim Church Rd, Hiddenite, NC 28636). There will be a private family viewing one hour prior to the service. Pastor Noah Alvarez will o ciate. In lieu of owers, the family asks for memorials to be sent to Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County (2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625) and Brookdale East Broad (244 East Broad Street, Statesville, NC, 28625).

FRANCES “FRAN” RIVES FUNSTON GARDNER

JULY 25, 2025

Frances “Fran” Rives Funston Gardner, age 83, of Sanford, passed away on Friday, July 25, 2025. She was born in Chatham County to the late Thomas H. Rives and Sarah Mozelle Whitt Rives. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by sons William “Kent” Funston and Todd Funston and siblings Thomas H. Rives Jr., Josephine Smith, Charles “Mini Buck” Rives and Elizabeth Koury. Fran retired from Lee County where she worked in the Tax Administration o ce. She enjoyed gardening, working in her yard and time spent with her family. Fran is survived by her children Steve Funston of Stuart, Florida and Sharon Kemp of Franklinton; sister Ruth Orem of Sanford and brother Melvin Rives of Chatham County.

BANJO JOE MATTHEWS JULY 30, 2025

Banjo Joe Matthews, age 63, of Sanford, passed away at his home on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. He was born in Lee County to Mildred Taylor Matthews and the late John Ed Matthews. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his uncles Julius Matthews and Ralph Matthews and aunt Sarah Margaret Wicker. A man who truly lived life his own way, Banjo was known for his love of the land, the water, and the people around him. He found his greatest joys in the simple things: a day spent shing, a good game of golf; working the farm and sharing stories over breakfast at Hardee’s. Rain or shine, you could count on him being there each morning, co ee in hand, surrounded by friends who became like family. He had a special bond with his nieces and nephews, who adored the time they spent with their uncle – whether it was riding around the farm, casting a line at the lake, or just listening to his stories. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Zelda; mother Mildred of Sanford; brothers Randy Matthews of Sanford and Dexter Matthews (Charla) of Carthage and many special nieces, nephews and cousins.

Pauline “Polly” Blackburn Baldwin

March 13, 1933 –Aug. 2, 2025

Pauline “Polly” or “Peggy” Blackburn Baldwin, 92, of Wake Forest, went to her Heavenly home on the evening of August 2, 2025.

Polly was born on March 13, 1933, in Pender County to the late William Samuel and Bertha Lee Carroll Blackburn. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Larry Neal Baldwin in 2019. She is also preceded in

death by her siblings Ernest, Millard and Roland Blackburn, and her sisters, Lois, Lucile, Mary and Virginia.

Polly worked as an administrative assistant for several businesses in Siler City, NC where she was a resident for 52 years. She obtained a business degree from Central Carolina Community College in Pittsboro. She was a member of Oakley Baptist church in Siler City where she attended Sunday School, taught Sunday school and was an active member in WMU. In her earlier years, Polly enjoyed bowling, sewing, traveling, puzzles and games, reading her Bible and watching Christian TV. She helped deliver Meals on Wheels to the residents in Chatham County and she enjoyed participating in activities through the Chatham County Senior Center.

Polly is survived by her sons, Michael (Aisa) Baldwin of Albemarle, NC, Mitchell (Sandra) Baldwin of Peyton, CO, Mark (Kathryn) Baldwin of Cary, NC, Matt (Sandra) Baldwin of Wake Forest, NC, and her honorary son, David Oliver from Savannah, GA; her grandchildren, Andy,

Greg, Meredith, Tyler, Faith, Grace, Leigh Anne, Daniel and Matthew; her great grandchildren, Lauren, Connor, Blake and Lexi; her honorary sister, Virtie Baldwin of Scotts Hill, NC; her lifelong friend since grade school, Peggy Shepard of Wilmington, NC; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Sunday, August 10th, 2025, at 2pm at Oakley Baptist Church in Siler City. There will be visitation starting one hour prior to the service at the church. Dr. Je Johnson will be o ciating the service.

The family would like to thank the employees of The Lodge at Wake Forest, the therapists at Legacy Healthcare, and the assistants from Home Instead for their love, care, and friendship over the last two years.

In lieu of owers, memorials can be made to Oakley Baptist Church, 2300 Siler City-Glendon Road, Siler City, NC 27344. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home will be assisting the Baldwin family. Online condolences can be made at www.smithbucknerfh. com

Popular 1980s actor Loni Anderson of ‘WKRP in Cincinnati’ dead at 79

The show, about an Ohio radio station, aired from 1978 to 1982

By Christopher Weber

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Loni Anderson, who played a struggling radio station’s empowered receptionist on the hit TV comedy “WKRP in Cincinnati,” died Sunday, just days before her 80th birthday.

Anderson died at a Los Angeles hospital following a prolonged illness, said her longtime publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan.

“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother,” Anderson’s family said in a statement.

“WKRP in Cincinnati” aired from 1978 to 1982 and was set in a agging Ohio radio station trying to reinvent itself with rock music. The cast included Gary Sandy, Tim Reid, Howard Hesseman, Frank Bonner and Jan Smithers, alongside Anderson as Jennifer Marlowe, whose good looks were matched by her intelligence.

As the station’s receptionist, the blonde and high-heeled Jennifer routinely de ected unwanted business calls for her boss, Mr. Carlson. Her e ciency often kept the station running in the face of others’ incompetence.

The role earned Anderson two Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe nominations.

“You may not even tell the nicest things about yourself, because you’re telling the truth.”

Loni Anderson, talking about her autobiography

Anderson starred on the big screen alongside Burt Reynold s in the 1983 comedy “Stroker Ace,” and the two later married and became tabloid xtures before their messy breakup in 1994.

Their son, Quinton Reynolds, was “the best decision that we ever made in our entire relationship,” she said during the unveiling of a bronze bust at Reynolds’ Hollywood grave site in 2021.

“I think back to the beginning of our relationship, it was so, oh, gosh, tabloidy. We were just a spectacle all the time. And it was hard to have a relationship in that atmosphere. And somehow, we did it through many ups and downs,” Anderson told The Associated Press.

Anderson detailed their tumultuous marriage in the 1995 autobiography, “My Life in High Heels,” which she said was about “the growth of a woman, a woman who survives.”

“I think if you’re going to write about yourself, you have to do it warts and all,” Anderson told the AP while promoting the book. “You may not even tell the nicest things about yourself be-

cause you’re telling the truth.” She married four times, most recently to Bob Flick in 2008. Anderson was born Aug. 5, 1945, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her father was an environmental chemist, and her mother was a model.

Her rst role as an actress was a small part in the 1966 lm “Nevada Smith,” starring Steve McQueen. Most of her career was spent on the small screen with early guest parts in the 1970s on “S.W.A.T.” and “Police Woman.” After “WKRP,” Anderson starred in the short-lived comedy series “Easy Street” and appeared in made-for-TV movies, including “A Letter to Three Wives” and “White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd.”

In 2023, she co-starred in Lifetime’s “Ladies Of The 80s: A Divas Christmas” with Linda Gray, Donna Mills, Morgan Fairchild and Nicollette Sheridan.

“I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of the wonderful Loni Anderson!” Fairchild wrote on X. “The sweetest, most gracious lady! I’m just devastated to hear this.” Anderson is survived by Flick, her daughter Deidra and son-in law Charlie Ho man, son Quinton Anderson Reynolds, grandchildren McKenzie and Megan Ho man, stepson Adam Flick and wife Helene, and step-grandchildren Felix and Maximilian.

A private family service is planned at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Kagan said.

RICHARD SHOTWELL / INVISION / AP

Loni Anderson arrives at the 22nd Annual Race To Erase MS Event in Los Angeles in 2015.

DISASTER from page A1

debris. Public assistance damage estimates have already totaled more than $42 million, according to Stein’s o ce.

“In Chatham County, signi cant rainfall led to ash ooding, temporary shelter openings, and support operations managed in conjunction with regional partners,” the letter to Trump said, along with a lengthy list of storm-affected areas. “Moore County, too, reported ash ooding and dam monitoring activity, particularly near the Longleaf Dam and other critical infrastructure.”

Stein’s state-of-emergency declaration three weeks ago in 13 central counties was designed to jump-start the process to seek federal recovery assistance. But the letter notes

Stein’s letter on Tuesday to Trump and FEMA said that Chantal’s rains at the time resulted in more than 100 roads in the region being impassable because of ooding, sinkholes and structural damage.

that response to the storm is “beyond the capabilities of the State” and that federal resources are needed.

Stein’s letter on Tuesday to Trump and FEMA said that Chantal’s rains at the time resulted in more than 100 roads

DEMS from page A1

lacks a singular leader, and recent polling shows Democrats are deeply pessimistic about their party’s future.

Yet many governors reject the narrative that Democrats are reeling.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a 46-year-old rst-term executive, points to his work on economic development, job growth and reducing crime.

“Who was the leader of the Civil Rights Movement? I mean, there were multiple people who had leadership roles,” Moore said. “I mean, if you want to see ... the direction that people should be going, show me a place that’s delivering results.”

“You have to deliver for people”

U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, (D-N.J.) has been in congressional majorities and in the minority. Now she’s the Democratic nominee for governor in one of two 2025 governor’s races. Her former House colleague Abigail Spanberger is the Democratic nominee in Virginia.

“I can tell you what attracted me to run for governor is that there’s no ability to blame anything on anybody else,” Sherrill said. “You have a vision as governor, and you have to deliver for people.”

ing as a way to help the GOP hold more House seats in 2026.

But Sherrill and others say being a Democratic governor is not simply about opposing Trump on a personal or partisan level.

“People are furious that a president who ran on a ordability is actually raising costs on everyone,” she said.

She cited Trump’s trade wars and the GOP’s tax cuts that are tilted to the wealthy while their safety net program cuts hit the poor and working class. Democrats, she said, must level attacks based on how policies affect voters, then o er plausible alternatives.

“I’m talking to thousands of New Jerseyans every day, and what I’m hearing is, ‘I just need somebody who’s going to go to Trenton and deliver for me,’” Sherrill said.

Republicans have defended their bill, saying it was crucial because there would’ve been a massive tax increase after December when tax breaks from Trump’s rst term would expire.

“People are willing to split their ballots because they connect the results they see on the ground with their governors.”

Emily’s List President Jessica Mackler, whose organization backs Democratic women for public o ce, praised Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a possible 2028 presidential contender, and Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, who is seeking reelection in 2026, for canceling some medical debts.

Anderson Clayton, NC Democrats

Bright spots for Democrats

Bradley Beychok, a Democratic consultant and co-founder of the American Bridge super political action committee, said the dynamics in Washington are frustrating.

in the region being impassable because of ooding, sinkholes and structural damage.

Dozens of ood-related rescues were carried out in Durham and Orange counties. Water service was interrupted in Mebane, and Hillsborough’s water treatment plant was oline for several days. Many displaced residents ended up in hotels.

Individual aid from the state for items such as rental housing assistance, personal property replacement and medical expenses can be sought at disaster recovery centers in Orange, Durham and Alamance counties. Home and business owners already can seek U.S. Small Business Administration loans.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Pritzker secured a $15 per hour state minimum wage. In Kansas, Democratic Governors Association chair and twoterm Gov. Laura Kelly worked with Republican legislative majorities to reduce and nally eliminate state sales taxes on groceries. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, who is running for the Senate, expanded Medicaid insurance coverage in states with Republican legislative majorities.

“Governors are so important because they are on the front lines,” Mackler said.

Democratic governors, she added, have shored up abortion access after the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision ended a national right to the procedure, and they’ve defended access to health care for transgender patients, even in conservative states. That includes Kentucky’s Beshear, elected twice in a state Trump carried three times.

It’s about more than Trump

Some governors stand out as aggressive Trump critics, including some possible 2028 contenders.

“Our democracy is on the line,” Pritzker said at the North Carolina event. “Are you ready to ght?”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom jousts with the Trump administration on social media, and he’s produced podcasts aimed at Trump voters. Newsom and Pritzker both have asserted themselves in the partisan battle over redistricting congressional district boundaries, a matter Trump is push-

“When you lose a presidential election and the House and the Senate, no one is happy, and they shouldn’t be,” he said. But, Beychok added, “the reality is we lost a close election” and had key down-ballot wins. Republicans had the so-called Washington trifecta at the start of Trump’s rst term, and Democrats bottomed out then at just 15 out of 50 governors. But in succeeding years they ipped nine governors’ seats. Only one Democratic incumbent governor has lost since, and their current slate of 23 includes ve of seven presidential battlegrounds Trump swept in 2024.

“People are willing to split their ballots because they connect the results they see on the ground with their governors,” said Clayton, who celebrated a win in North Carolina by Democratic Gov. Josh Stein despite Trump carrying the state. “Now we just have to do a better job of localizing the federal elections the same way.”

A Spanberger win in Virginia would give Democrats 24 governors heading into 2026, when 36 executive seats will be on midterm ballots. New Jersey currently has a Democratic governor.

Governors can swing the presidential pendulum

History suggests a base of state power bodes well for opposition parties in Washington.

Bill Clinton was a longtime governor in 1992 when he ended Republicans’ winning streak of three presidential election landslides. His successor, George W. Bush, was among the many Republicans governors elected in the GOP’s 1994 midterm sweep. Before Clinton and Bush, Republican Ronald Reagan and Democrat Jimmy Carter won the presidency as former governors.

Many current Democratic executives have visited early nominating states or, like Pritzker, general election battlegrounds. Most of them, Maryland’s Moore included, dismiss 2028 speculation.

REAL ESTATE

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NOTICE OF CONVEYANCE

Notice is hereby given that a conveyance of real property has been made in Chatham County, North Carolina. The Chatham County Board of Commissioners conveyed real property located at 774 Gees Grove Road, Siler City, North Carolina, on Monday, July 21, 2025 to the Chatham Habitat for Humanity. Property Description: All that certain lot or parcel of land situated in Matthews Township, Chatham County, North Carolina, and more particularly described as follows: Containing 30,816 square feet and being all of Lot 4 on that plat entitled “Property of Wade H. Paschal” by William G. Joyner recorded in Plat Book A, Page 773, Chatham County Registry. Subject to restrictive covenants and easements of record. Parcel Number: 0062007

This notice serves to inform the public of the aforementioned conveyance of real property in accordance with Section160A-279 of the North Carolina General Statutes regarding real property transfers. This the 7th day of August, 2025. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Sections 160A-20 of the General Statutes of North Carolina /s/ Jenifer Johnson Clerk to the Board of Commissioners County of Chatham, North Carolina PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

A public hearing will be held by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners on Monday, August 18, 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: Legislative Request: A legislative public hearing requested for a Conditional District rezoning from Residential R-1 to CD-IL (CD-Light Industrial) for a major utility, Wastewater Treatment Plant, to be located within the Conservancy at Jordan Lake subdivision, Parcel 97325, being approximately 21.417 acres, Cape Fear Township. A legislative public hearing requested for a revision to an approved CD-CC (Conditional District – Compact Community), Vicker’s Village, to modify the phasing schedule for Condition Numbers, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 22 of the last modi ed phasing schedule approved in November 2024, located o US 15-501 N and Jack Bennett Road, Williams Township.

A legislative public hearing requested for a Zoning Ordinance text amendment to allow automobile and automobile accessory sales and service to the Table of Permitted Uses, Section 10.13 as “P” Permitted in the Light Industrial zoning districts. 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: August 7th and 14th, 2025

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

LEGAL

25E000371-180 NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of James E Beatty late of Chatham County, NC this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before October 27, 2025 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to said estate are noti ed to make immediate payment.

This is the 27th day of July, 2025 James A Beatty 5200 Beechwood Road Milford, OH 45150 Send claims to: Wells Law, Attorneys at Law 380 Knollwood Street, Suite 710 Winston-Salem, NC 27103

336.793.4378 July 24, 31 Aug 7, 14, 2025

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Muriel Crowley Harris, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them, duly veri ed, to the undersigned at 344 West John Street, Matthews, NC 28105, on or before October 18, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate settlement with the undersigned. This the 17th day of July, 2025. John T. Harris, Executor of the Estate of Muriel Crowley Harris, Chatham County File No. 24E001335-180, c/o Garrity & Gossage, LLP, 344 West John Street, Matthews, NC 28105.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Chatham County 25E000382-180 Having quali ed as Co-Executors of the Estate of Kaja Finkler aka Kay Finkler aka Kaile Nehame Dvora Finkler, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, the undersigned do hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claim against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned c/o Guido De Maere, P.A. at 100 Europa Drive, Suite 160, P.O. Box 3591, Chapel Hill, NC 27515 on or before the 31st day of October, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 31st day of July, 2025. Guido De Maere and Dan Oren, Co-Executors of the Estate of Kaja Finkler aka Kay Finkler aka Kaile Nehame Dvora Finkler Attorney for the Estate: Guido De Maere, P.A. P.O. Box 3591 Chapel Hill, NC 27515-3591

To be published: July 31, August 7, 14 & 21, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The undersigned, having quali ed as Co-Executors of the Estate of Eleanor Joyce Moore, Deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, do hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate to exhibit them to the undersigned at the o ces of Tillman, Whichard & Cagle, PLLC, 501 Eastowne Drive, Suite 130, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, on or before the 24th day of October, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment. This 24th day of July, 2025. JENNIFER JOYCE MOORE AND SUSANNA MCHUGH MOORE, CO-EXECUTORS, ESTATE OF ELEANOR JOYCE MOORE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners shall conduct a public hearing on August 18, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the Historic Chatham County Courthouse, 9 Hillsboro Street, Second Floor Courtroom, Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312, concerning the execution and delivery of the Second Amendment, the proposed re nancing of the Refunded Projects, and any other transactions associated therewith. The County of Chatham, North Carolina (the “County”) previously entered into an Installment Financing Contract dated as of January 1, 2013 (the “2013 Contract”), as amended by Amendment Number One to the Installment Financing Contract dated as of August 1, 2021 (the “First Amendment”), each with the Chatham County Public Facilities Corporation, a North Carolina nonpro t corporation (the “Corporation”), to nance and re nance the projects described therein.

To secure its obligations under the 2013 Contract, as amended, the County previously executed and delivered a Deed of Trust, Security Agreement and Fixture Filing dated as of January 1, 2013, as extended by a Notice of Extension of Deed of Trust to Additional Property dated as of August 1, 2021 (collectively, the “Deed of Trust”), pursuant to which the County granted a lien on the County’s fee simple interest in the real property on which the Chatham County Detention Center and the County’s Emergency Operations Center are located, together with the improvements thereon and appurtenances thereto (collectively, the “Mortgaged Property”). The Chatham County Detention Center is located at 627 Renaissance Dr., Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312. The Emergency Operations Center is located at 112 Innovation Way, Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312.

At its August 18, 2025 meeting, the Board of Commissioners of the County will consider the adoption of a resolution which would authorize the County to re nance the County’s installment payment obligations related to an Installment Financing Contract, dated as of October 15, 2014 and an Installment Financing Contract, dated as of July 1, 2015, each between the County and the Corporation, the proceeds of which were used to nance and re nance the projects described therein (collectively, the “Refunded Projects”), pursuant to Amendment Number Two to the Installment Financing Contract (the “Second Amendment” and together with the 2013 Contract and the First Amendment, the “Contract”), between the County and the Corporation, in a principal amount not to exceed $30,000,000, under which the County will make certain installment payments to make the Refunded Projects available to the County. On the County’s payment of all installment payments due under the Contract, including any future amendments to nance or re nance projects, any lien the Deed of Trust created will terminate and the County’s title to the Mortgaged Property will be unencumbered. The Contract and the Deed of Trust permit the County to enter into amendments to nance additional projects and re nance projects using the Mortgaged Property as collateral and the County may or may not grant additional collateral in connection with such amendments.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Sections 160A-20 of the General Statutes of North Carolina, that on August 18, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the Historic Chatham County Courthouse, 9 Hillsboro Street, Second Floor Courtroom, Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312, a public hearing will be conducted concerning the approval of the execution and delivery of the Second Amendment and the County’s re nancing of the Refunded Projects. All interested parties are invited to present comments at the public hearing regarding the Second Amendment and the Refunded Projects to be re nanced thereby.

/s/ Jenifer Johnson Clerk to the Board of Commissioners County of Chatham, North Carolina Published: August 7, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Jacobus E. de Vries aka Jacobus Egbert de Vries, Deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate to exhibit them to the undersigned at the o ces of Tillman, Whichard & Cagle, PLLC, 501 Eastowne Drive, Suite 130, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, on or before the 24th day of October, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment. This 24th day of July, 2025.

SARAH ELIZABETH TILLMAN, EXECUTOR ESTATE OF JACOBUS E. DE VRIES AKA JACOBUS EGBERT DE VRIES

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS CHATHAM COUNTY

HAVING QUALIFIED as Administrator CTA of the Estate of Richard Drayton Peter 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 16th day of October, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. This the 9th day of July, 2025.

Linda P. Crabtree, Administrator CTA of the Estate of Richard Drayton Peter 25 Joe Brown Road Bear Creek, North Carolina 27207 MOODY, WILLIAMS, ATWATER & LEE ATTORNEYS AT LAW BOX 629 SILER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27344 (919) 663-2850 4tp

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Margot Ann Friedrich, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them, duly veri ed, to the undersigned at 344 West John Street, Matthews, NC 28105, on or before October 17, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate settlement with the undersigned. This the 17th day of July, 2025. Heather N. Anschuetz-Je ers, Executor of the Estate of Margot Ann Friedrich, Chatham County File No. 25E000357-180, c/o Garrity & Gossage, LLP, 344 West John Street, Matthews, NC 28105.

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA WAKE COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION 25CV014284-910 NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION Pursuant to N.C.G.S. §1A-1, Rule 4(j1) ULADA ANDREYEVNA HARANINA, Plainti , vs. NICHOLAS JAMES DANIEL, DEFENDANT. TO: NICHOLAS JAMES DANIEL, Defendant Pursuant to N.C.G.S §50-6, take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been led in the above-entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is an absolute divorce. You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than September 14, 2025, and upon your failure to do so, the party seeking service against you will apply to the Court for the relief sought. This the 31th day of July, 2025. Ulada Haranina Plainti 316 Fayetteville St, Raleigh, NC 27601 Telephone: 336-639-2817 July 31, August 7, 14; 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The undersigned, having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of RICHARD JAMES MARION, Deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate to exhibit them to the undersigned at the o ces of Munson Law Firm

PLLC, P.O. Box 1811 Pittsboro, NC 27312, on or before the 24th day of October, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment.

This 24th day of July, 2025.

LYNN MARION, ADMINISTRATOR ESTATE OF RICHARD MARION NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS

CHATHAM COUNTY

HAVING QUALIFIED as Executor of the Estate of Nancy Paschal Price 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 16th day of October, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

This the 9th day of July, 2025.

Thomas King Price, III, Executor of the Estate of Nancy Paschal Price 301 South Dogwood Siler City, North Carolina 27344

MOODY, WILLIAMS, ATWATER & LEE

ATTORNEYS AT LAW BOX 629 SILER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27344 (919) 663-2850 4tp

EXECUTOR’S NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA

CHATHAM COUNTY

All persons having claims against the estate of Nancy Meltzer, of Chatham County, NC, who died on July 11, 2022 are noti ed to present them on or before October 15, 2025 to Robert N. Maitand, II, Executor, c/o Maitland & Sti er Law Firm, 2 Couch Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery.

Michele L. Sti er MAITLAND & STIFFLER LAW FIRM 2 Couch Road Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Attorney for the Estate

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Nina W. Moore quali ed before the Chatham County Clerk of Court on July 17, 2025 as The Executor of The Estate of Richard Devon Moore, 11229 Siler City Glendon Road, Bear Creek, NC 27207. This is to notify all persons, rms and corporations, as required by NCGS 28A-14-1, having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the attorney designated below on or before the 31st Day of October, 2025 or this notice will be pled 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 M. Andrew Lucas, P.O. Box 1045, Sanford, NC 27331-1045. Please Publish: July 31st, August 7th, 14th, 21st, 2025

Notice to Creditors

All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Edith Fomby Gibbons, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before October 20, 2025 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 17th day of July, 2025.

Donna M. Beaudoin, Administrator c/o W. Thomas McCuiston 200 Towne Village Drive Cary, NC 27513

Notice to Creditors

All persons, rms and corporations having claims against William Charles Swan, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before November 10, 2025 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 7th day of August, 2025.

Susan Hodge, Administrator c/o W. Thomas McCuiston

200 Towne Village Drive Cary, NC 27513

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA

CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#25000253-180 The undersigned, JEROME LEE FORSTER, having quali ed on the 6th Day of MAY, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of ANDREA CLAUDINE FORSTER, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to him on or before the 24TH Day OF OCTOBER 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, the 24TH DAY OF JULY 2025.

JEROME LEE FORSTER, EXECUTOR 261 JIM GILLILAND RD. SILER CITY, NC 27344 Run dates: Jy24,31,A7,14p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA

CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#25E000365-180 The undersigned, MELYNNA JOHNSON DOWD, having quali ed on the 9th Day of JULY, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of FAYDEENE R. JOHNSON, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to him on or before the 17TH Day OF OCTOBER 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, the 17TH DAY OF JULY 2025.

MELYNNA JOHNSON DOWD, EXECUTOR 148 VALLEY OAK COURT LEXINGTON, NC 27295 Run dates: Jy17,24,31A7p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

25E000390-180 ALL persons having claims against Matthew Gerard Cecil, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before Nov 07 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This the 7th day of August, 2025. Stephen Gerard Cecil, Executor C/O Lenfestey, Maxie & Burger, PLLC 5640 Dillard Drive, Suite 101 Cary, North Carolina 27518 A7, 14, 21 and 28

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

25E000323-180

ALL persons having claims against Darrell Lloyd Cole, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before Oct 24 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This the 24th day of July, 2025.

Alesia J Purvis, Executor C/O Bowen Law Firm PC 590 New Waverly Pl Ste 120 Cary, NC 27518 J24, 31, 7 and 14

NOTICE

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, CHATHAM COUNTY VIRGINIA LYNN NEAL, Petitioner v. TIMOTHY MICHAEL HOGAN and AMY FORDHAM COOK, Respondents (25SP000046-180) TO: AMY FORDHAM COOK Take notice that a petition seeking relief against you was led on March 19, 2025 in the above partition action. The nature of this action is as follows: petition for partition and sale of real property. You are required to make defense to such petition no later than 40 days after the date of the rst publication of this Notice and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the Court for the relief sought. Wesley A. Stewart, Esq., 5410 Trinity Rd., Ste. 210, Raleigh, NC, 27607, Petitioner’s Attorney. J24, 31 and 7

claims against Kevin

NOTICE

PERSONS, rms, and corporations

NOTICE

North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to him on or before the 31ST Day OF OCTOBER 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, the 31st DAY OF JULY 2025. HOLLY MEREDITH O’NEILL, EXECUTOR 427 MILLINGPORT LANE NEW LONDON, NC 28127 Run dates: Jy31,A7,14,21p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#23E000694-180 The undersigned, ANGELA VENDEN WALKER, having quali ed on the 16th Day of JULY, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of JOYCE LILIAN BERRY, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to him on or before the 31ST Day OF OCTOBER 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, the 31ST DAY OF JULY 2025. ANGELA VENDEN WALKER, EXECUTOR 955 BEAVER DAM RD. CHAPEL HILL, NC 27517 Run dates: Jy31,A7,14,21p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#25E000401-180 The undersigned, MICHAEL ALFRED JAMES MOORE, having quali ed on the 28TH Day of JULY, 2025 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of MICHAEL THOMAS MOORE deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to him on or before the 7TH Day NOVEMBER 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, the 7TH DAY OF AUGUST 2025. MICHAEL ALFRED JAMES MOORE, ADMINISTRATOR 1705 ELMER MOORE RD. SILER CITY, NC 27344 Run dates: A7,14,21,28p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#25E000306-180 The undersigned, RICHARD DAVID WOOD, having quali ed on the 2ND Day of JULY, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of RICHARD JOHN WOOD, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to him on or before the 31ST Day OF OCTOBER 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, the 31st DAY OF JULY 2025. RICHARD DAVID WOOD, EXECUTOR 65571 AVENIDA CADENA DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA 92240 Run dates: Jy31,A7,14,21p

Texas dispute highlights nation’s long history of partisan gerrymandering

Gerrymandering is legal and very, very common

By David A. Lieb

The Associated Press

WHEN

DEMOCRATIC

lawmakers left Texas to try to prevent the Republican-led Legislature from redrawing the state’s congressional districts, it marked the latest episode in a long national history of gerrymandering.

The word “gerrymander” was coined in America more than 200 years ago as an unattering means of describing political manipulation in legislative map-making.

The word has stood the test of time, in part, because American politics has remained ercely competitive.

Who is responsible for gerrymandering?

In many states, like Texas, the state legislature is responsible for drawing congressional districts, subject to the approval or veto of the governor. District maps must be redrawn every 10 years, after each census, to balance the population in districts.

But in some states, nothing prevents legislatures from conducting redistricting more often.

In an e ort to limit gerrymandering, some states have entrusted redistricting to special commissions composed of citizens or bipartisan panels of politicians. Democratic o cials in some states with commissions are now talking of trying to sidestep them to counter Republican redistricting in Texas.

How does a gerrymander work?

map of U.S Congressional

The term dates to 1812, when Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry signed a bill redrawing state Senate districts to bene t the Democratic-Republican Party. Some thought an oddly shaped district looked like a salamander.

Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry signed a bill redrawing state Senate districts to benet the Democratic-Republican Party. Some thought an oddly shaped district looked like a salamander. A newspaper illustration dubbed it “The Gerry-mander” — a term that later came to describe any district drawn for political advantage. Gerry lost reelection as governor in 1812 but won election that same year as vice president with President James Madison. Is political gerrymandering illegal?

cluding North Carolina’s highest court, have ruled that they also have no authority to decide partisan gerrymandering claims.

Are there any limits on redistricting?

Yes. Though it’s di cult to challenge legislative districts on political grounds, the Supreme Court has upheld challenges on racial grounds. In a 2023 case from Alabama, the high court said the congressional districts drawn by the state’s Republican-led Legislature likely violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting the voting strength of black residents. The court let a similar claim proceed in Louisiana. Both states subsequently redrew their districts.

What does data show about gerrymandering?

One common method of gerrymandering is for a majority party to draw maps that pack voters who support the opposing party into a few districts, thus allowing the majority party to win a greater number of surrounding districts.

Another common method is for the majority party to dilute the power of an opposing party’s voters by spreading them among multiple districts.

Why is it called gerrymandering?

If a political party controls both the legislature and governor’s o ce — or has such a large legislative majority that it can override vetoes — it can e ectively draw districts to its advantage.

The term dates to 1812, when

SpaceX delivers 4 astronauts to ISS 15 hours after lifto

They’ll spend six months on the station

By Marcia Dunn

The Associated Press

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX delivered a fresh crew to the International Space Station on Saturday, making the trip in a quick 15 hours.

The four U.S., Russian and Japanese astronauts pulled up in their SpaceX capsule after launching from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. They will spend at least six months at the orbiting lab, swapping places with colleagues up there since March.

Moving in are NASA’s Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan’s Kimiya Yui and Russia’s Oleg Platonov — each of whom

had been originally assigned to other missions. “Hello, space station!” Fincke radioed as soon as the capsule docked high above the South Paci c.

Cardman and another astronaut were pulled from a SpaceX ight last year to make room for NASA’s two stuck astronauts, Boeing Starliner test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, whose space station stay went from one week to more than nine months. Fincke and Yui had been training for the next Starliner mission. But with Starliner grounded by thruster and other problems until 2026, the two switched to SpaceX.

Platonov was bumped from the Soyuz launch lineup a couple of years ago because of an undisclosed illness.

Not under the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court, in a 2019 case originating from North Carolina, ruled that federal courts have no authority to decide whether partisan gerrymandering goes too far. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote: “The Constitution supplies no objective measure for assessing whether a districting map treats a political party fairly.” The Supreme Court noted that partisan gerrymandering claims could continue to be decided in state courts under their own constitutions and laws. But some state courts, in-

Statisticians and political scientists have developed a variety of ways to try to quantify the partisan advantage that may be attributable to gerrymandering. Republicans, who control redistricting in more states than Democrats, used the 2010 census data to create a strong gerrymander. An Associated Press analysis of that decade’s redistricting found that Republicans enjoyed a greater political advantage in more states than either party had in the past 50 years.

But Democrats responded to match Republican gerrymandering after the 2020 census. The adoption of redistricting commissions also limited gerrymandering in some states.

An AP analysis of the 2022 elections — the rst under new maps — found that Republicans won just one more U.S. House seat than would have been expected based on the average share of the vote they received nationwide. That was one of the most politically balanced outcomes in years.

Their arrival temporarily puts the space station population at 11.

“It was such an unbelievably beautiful sight to see the space station come into our view for the rst time,” Cardman said once on board.

While their taxi ight was speedy by U.S. standards, the Russians hold the record for the fastest trip to the space station — a lightning-fast three hours.

“It was such an unbelievably beautiful sight to see the space station come into our view for the rst time.”

Zena Cardman, NASA astronaut

ERIC GAY / AP PHOTO

A

Districts proposed plan is seen at a Texas legislators’ public hearing on congressional redistricting in Austin last week.

NASA AND SPACEX VIA AP

The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule docked with the International Space Station on Saturday.

CHATHAM SPORTS

These experienced players look to increase their impact this fall

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

THE 2025-26 high school sports season o cially started last week, and Chatham County’s football teams got to work.

After a summer of workouts, 7-on-7s and individual and team camps, the local teamsnally got the chance to go all out as the pads came on and competition began to heat up.

As they are every preseason, teams are looking to ll holes

left behind from graduation and transfers. There’ll be plenty of new faces making plays this fall, but at the same time, there’ll be some reloaded pieces looking to improve.

The county has numerous players from last fall poised to break out or build on their past impact. Based on last season and projected roles in 2025, here are the top varsity returners to look out for this season:

Duncan Parker (Seaforth, QB)

Seaforth junior Duncan Parker will once again hold the keys to the Hawks’ o ense after

throwing for more than 1,200 yards and six touchdowns while rushing for 700 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024. With returning weapons and a speedy receiver in sophomore Noah Fuller, Parker may have an even bigger year as a passer.

Grayson Cox (Northwood, QB)

After throwing for nearly 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in his rst season as a full-time starter last year, Northwood senior Grayson Cox will look to carry an even greater load for the Chargers’ o ense. Northwood lost a lot of receiv-

The inductees will be recognized Oct. 3

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

NORTHWOOD HIGH School announced its 2025 athletics Hall of Fame class on July 31. The newest inductees include Wanda Jackson Bland (class of 1981), Abdul Gha ar (1986), Brian Harrington (1991), Benji Johnson (2004), Joaquin Green (2008) and Eric Williams (2011). They will be recognized Oct. 3 during North-

1,128 rushing yards for Tripp in 2024

ing power from last season (Isaiah Blair, Beau Harvey, Antoine Brewington), giving Cox an opportunity to further establish himself as a big play creator.

Brooks Albright (Chatham Central, QB)

Sophomore quarterback Brooks Albright got thrown

into the re last season and held his own. He threw for 60 yards per game and had one of the best completion percentages in 1A. After a full oseason as the head of the offense, Albright is poised to help the Bears win some games this season.

Robert Tripp (Northwood, RB)

Northwood senior Robert Tripp was all about the gains last year as he rushed for 1,128 yards and 15 touchdowns (6.7 yards per carry). He’ll likely

Seaforth repeats as 2A Wells Fargo Cup champs

Chatham Charter and the Hawks win Conference Cups

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

SEAFORTH HIGH School

was the best in 2A once again.

The Hawks won the 2024 -25 North Carolina High School Athletic Association 2A Wells Fargo Cup, claiming the top spot for the second straight year. The school also won the Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference Wells Fargo Conference Cup.

Chatham Charter won the Conference Cup for the Central Tar Heel 1A conference for the fourth year in a row. Wells Fargo Cup points are determined by performance in state championship events. Schools that nish in the top eight positions (including ties) earn points, and in playo events involving teams from more than one classi cation, points are awarded based on the school’s nal position in that championship. Schools get 50 points for rst place, 45 for second, 40 for third, 35 for fourth, 30 for fth, 25 for sixth, 20 for seventh and 15 for eighth. Five points are awarded for each sanctioned sport in which a school makes the playo s.

The Conference Cup is based on regular season performances within conference play. It follows the same standardized

527.5 Points for Seaforth in the

point system as the statewide cup, but each conference can also determine its own system for awarding points.

Seaforth nished the athletic season with 527.5 statewide points, which was nearly 84 points ahead of second-place Pine Lake Prep and the second most in the state.

The Hawks won team titles in individual wrestling and boys’ indoor and outdoor track and eld. They nished as state runner-up in volleyball, dual team wrestling and boys’ and girls’ cross-country. In basketball, the girls made a run to the regional nal, and the boys earned a playo bid. The girls’ tennis team made the dual team playo s, and the boys’ tennis team was one of the last eight teams standing in its respective dual team bracket.

Seaforth’s boys’ swimming team nished third in the state championship meet, and the girls’ soccer team made it to the regional semi nal round. The boys’ golf team nished third in the state championship.

Within the Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference, the

GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Seaforth’s Max Hinchman (18) and Duncan Parker (7) are two of the players to watch this high school football season.

GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Caden

Nicodemus

West Chatham 12U All Stars, baseball

Caden Nicodemus of the West Chatham 12U All Stars earns athlete of the week honors for the week of July 28.

In the DYB World Series last weekend, Nicodemus hit a home run in two di erent games. Against Florida in pool play, Nicodemus ended a 10-0 run rule win with a grand slam.

During the rst round of the tournament against South Carolina, Nicodemus changed the momentum of the game. After South Carolina rallied back to within one run in the top of the fth inning, Nicodemus, the rst batter due up, smashed a homer to center eld. West Chatham went on to win 7-4 and advanced to the second round.

The former South Davidson AD will replace Tommy Peele

Park hired as Chatham Central athletic director 4

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

CHATHAM CENTRAL athletics will be under new leadership for the upcoming school year.

Kevin Park, the former South Davidson athletic director, was approved by the Chatham County Schools Board on July 31 to take on the same position at Chatham Central. Park’s rst day at Chatham Central was Tuesday.

Park is replacing Tommy Peele, who served as the Bears’ AD from 2021 until this spring.

Under Peele, the Bears saw success in numerous sports such as boys’ and girls’ basketball, softball, baseball, volleyball, boys’ and girls’ tennis, wrestling and golf.

Park received a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science from UNC Greensboro in 2008 and a master’s degree in

Hawks won titles (or shares of titles) in various sports, including volleyball, boys’ and girls’ cross-country, boys’ and girls’ indoor track, boys’ outdoor track, boys’ wrestling, baseball, girls’ soccer, boys’ lacrosse, girls’ basketball and boys’ and girls’ tennis.

Chatham Charter also had another successful year in the Central Tar Heel 1A conference. The Knights won team conference titles in baseball, girls’ bas-

sport administration from Liberty University in 2012. In addition to his AD duties, Park also coached baseball at South Davidson. Before South Davidson, Park

ketball and girls’ tennis. They nished as runner-up in softball, boys’ basketball, volleyball and boys’ tennis. Awards for athletic performances on the state and conference level could look much di erent this coming season. With the NCHSAA moving to eight classi cations, schools will compete against new opponents, which will change the chances of playo bids for certain programs. Seaforth will be moving to the 5A classi cation, joining North

spent time at Knightdale High School, where he also coached baseball and served as an assistant on the football team.

Park will take over at Chatham Central during a big realignment transition.

After spending the last four seasons in the Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference, Chatham Central will join the Greater Triad 1A/2A conference alongside Bishop McGuinness (2A), South Stokes (2A), College Prep and Leadership, North Stokes, Winston-Salem Prep and South Davidson.

The Bears will have to do a lot of traveling this school year as they are the only Chatham County school in their league.

Lincoln, the latest 3A Wells Fargo Cup champion, and former Mid-Carolina 1A/2A foe Southeast Alamance. The Hawks will compete in the Big Seven 4A/5A conference alongside Carrboro (4A), Cedar Ridge, Durham School of Arts, Orange, South Granville and Webb. For Chatham Charter, not much will change as the Knights will remain in 1A with a familiar Central Tar Heel 1A conference (Central Carolina Academy replaced Triangle Math and Science).

Seaforth’s boys’ outdoor track team celebrates winning the state championship this spring. This victory helped the Hawks secure another Wells Fargo Cup.

COURTESY DYB / FACEBOOK

Years Tommy Peele served as the Bears’ AD

CUP from page B1

COURTESY SOUTH DAVIDSON MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL Kevin Park is set to take over as the new Chatham Central athletic director.

ASHEEBO ROJAS / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

West Chatham wins 2 games at DYB World Series

The local team started hot against Florida and South Carolina

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

THE WEST Chatham 12U

All Stars got o to a strong start at the DYB World Series before being eliminated Monday.

After taking its rst loss of the tournament, West Chatham, representing North Carolina, fell to Texas 7-6 to end its World Series run.

West Chatham jumped out to a 6-1 lead through three innings, but Texas scored six unanswered runs in the fourth and the fth to complete the comeback.

To start the tournament, West Chatham run ruled Florida 10-0 in its pool play game Friday. Caden Nicodemus

have a similar, if not larger, impact this season as he’ll once again be a focal point of the Chargers’ o ense.

Jakari Blue (Jordan-Matthews, RB)

Jordan-Matthews senior Jakari Blue was the heart and soul of the Jets’ rushing attack last season and a key defender as a middle linebacker. According to Jordan-Matthews coach Kermit Carter, Blue will play at a lighter weight this season, which could make for some breakaway runs from the back, who was already hard to tackle.

Nick Glover (Chatham Central, ATH)

Senior Nick Glover was the everything man for Chatham Central last season as he played multiple roles on both sides of the ball. He accounted for 1,379 yards of o ense in 2025 as a receiver, rusher and quarterback. Should Albright stay healthy, Glover should be able to showcase more with the ball in his hands in space.

Raje Torres (Northwood, WR)

Junior Raje Torres was a reliable short game, outside run and special teams weapon for

Home runs for Caden Nicodemus

led the team with four RBIs, scored two runs and combined with Trey Carmac to allow zero hits on the mound.

With West Chatham up 6-0 with bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning, Nicodemus smashed a grand slam to right eld, ending the game as he touched home plate.

West Chatham went on to play South Carolina in the rst round of bracket play the next day. After trailing 5-2 through the fourth inning, South Caro -

the Chargers last year with his speed and elusiveness in space. As the Northwood receiving corps welcomes new faces, Torres will look to be a primary playmaker this season and put up larger numbers.

Nolan Mitchell (Jordan-Matthews, WR)

Jordan-Matthews sophomore Nolan Mitchell is one of the many Jets moving around this season. He put his speed on display as the Jets’ quarterback last year, but with Kamarie Hadley set to take over, he can be a threat at receiver and defensive back, especially with standout Kenneth Dula transferring to Chapel Hill.

Max Hinchman (Seaforth, WR)

Seaforth junior Max Hinchman will look to build on a breakout season in which he caught 23 passes for 518 yards and six touchdowns and made big plays in the defensive backeld. He’ll be a key target should Seaforth throw the ball more this year.

Nick Gregory (Seaforth, CB)

Senior cornerback Nick Gregory has been a dude in the Seaforth secondary for multiple seasons, and that won’t change this year. He’ll look to lead a more experienced sec -

The West Chatham 12U All Stars are all smiles after the pool play win over Florida at the DYB World Series.

lina cut the de cit to one run in the top of the fth. The momentum didn’t last for long,

ondary after recording 54 tackles and two interceptions in 2024.

Patrick Miller (Seaforth, S)

Senior safety Patrick Miller came away with 72 tackles and four interceptions in 2024. With some key changes in the box, Miller may have an even bigger year in the run game while continuing to be a ball hawk behind the Seaforth defense.

Omar Sanford (Jordan-Matthews, LB)

Junior Omar Sanford was one of the many Jets who had to play big minutes as a young player last season. After emerging as one of Jordan-Matthews better defensive pieces last season, Sanford is set to make a bigger splash this year alongside Blue in the linebacker corps.

Aiden Hohenwarter (Northwood, LB)

Northwood senior Aiden Hohenwarter was one of the Chargers leading tacklers in 2024, recording 54 tackles and a forced fumble as a linebacker. With a lot of key pieces in the box exiting after last season, Hohenwarter will step in as one of the Chargers’ main playmakers as they try to replace last year’s production.

though. Nicodemus, the rst batter due up in the bottom of the fth inning, hit his second

home run of the tournament to center eld to put West Chatham ahead by two runs. Later in the inning, Carmac singled to send Wyatt Clewis home.

West Chatham’s Witten Burton picked up the win on the mound after he struck out ve batters, walked one and gave up two hits and two earned runs.

After a scoreless two innings, West Chatham’s second round matchup against Mississippi was postponed Sunday and completed Monday morning.

In a low-scoring battle, Mississippi walked o a 2-1 win over West Chatham. With the game tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Mississippi loaded the bases with two singles and an intentional walk. Following a strikeout, Mississippi’s catcher hit a ground ball to send the winning run home.

FOOTBALL

COURTESY OF RAE SCOTT FIELDS

GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD Grayson Cox looks to throw a pass in a preseason practice. The senior is looking to have another big year for Northwood this fall.

Who’s the top dog?

Wave-riding canines compete in the World Dog Sur ng Championships

By Audrey McAvoy The Associated Press

CHARLIE THE 10-year-old yellow lab likes sur ng so much, he will grab his surfboard and run toward the water. His humans sometimes have to hide his board if they want to chat with friends on the beach.

Charlie joined about 15 to 20 other canine wave riders in Pacica, 14 miles south of San Francisco, on Saturday at the World Dog Sur ng Championships, an annual contest that draws thousands of spectators to Paci ca State Beach.

“Charlie does what Charlie wants to do once we’re in the water.”

Je Nieboer, co-owner of dog surfer Charlie

Pooches competed against similarly sized peers for a chance to appear in the nals. Additional heats featured multiple dogs sur ng tandem or riding with people. Labs, terriers and spaniels in monogrammed life vests dog-paddled out into the Pacific. Once out on the waves, their owners helped them hop on colorful boards and hang ten as the crowd cheered from the beach.

Judges scrutinized how long the dogs remained on their boards, how long they held their balance and whether they performed any tricks, like turning around while riding.

Iza, a 5-year-old French bulldog, won the single surfer heat for medium-size dogs for the rst time this year, her owner David Fasoli said.

Fasoli found “pure joy” during the pandemic when he brought home a surfboard from his job at Costco and taught Iza to balance in the swimming pool. The two soon started swimming in the ocean and learning to ride waves as passersby at the beach watched in awe. Now their competitions are all about defying expectations.

“I have a disability — I only

have one hand — so a nonsporting human combined with a nonsporting dog breed, we are kind of phenomenal, defying the odds of what people think we’re capable of doing,” Fasoli said after Saturday’s competition.

Charlie, who has his own Instagram page, entered the extra-large single surfer heat. He also rode tandem with two other dogs in what their humans called “The Dream Team.”

“He loves the crowd,” owner Maria Nieboer said. Charlie and Nieboer’s husband, Je Nieboer, prepare for waves together. When Je spots a good one, he turns the board around and tells Charlie to “get ready.”

He pushes the board forward, and Charlie scrunches down and rides the wave as long as he can.

Charlie can even steer the board by leaning and surfs toward an awaiting Maria on shore.

He doesn’t have to be rewarded with treats for any of it.

“Charlie does what Charlie wants to do once we’re in the water,” Je said. Contest winners received medals and bragging rights.

Charlie’s “Dream Team” compatriot, fellow yellow lab Rosie, was in four heats. The 4-yearold’s owner, Steve Drottar, said she is “stoked” after they go surfing, which they do four to ve times a week back home in Santa Cruz.

“It’s like, hey, we actually did something today, right? We did something together as a team,” Drottar said. “And the fact that you can do something as a team with your dog creates a di erent bond than you have when you just take your dog for a walk.” He can tell Rosie feels a sense of accomplishment afterward because she is extra happy, wags her tail extra hard and snuggles even more than usual.

“It’s like we go home on the couch and it feels like she’s saying, ‘Thank you,’ ” Drottar said.

Coconut is pushed through the breakers during the World Dog Sur ng Championships

Gaines calls for changes at USA Swimming as team struggles

Team has battled illness, underperformed at world championships

By Stephen Wade

The Associated Press

SINGAPORE — Rowdy

Gaines, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, minces few words when he broadcasts swimming for NBC.

And he didn’t hold back in an interview with The Associated Press over the shaky state of American swimming. He’s calling for big-time changes as the Americans struggled at the world championships in Singapore.

The American team isn’t winning as much as expected or dominating, it’s battling a case of “acute gastroenteritis” picked up at training camp in Thailand before arriving in Singapore, and the governing body — USA Swimming — has been without a CEO for a year.

The Americans did recover on Saturday, the second-to-last day of the championships, with three gold medals. They now have eight gold to lead Australia with seven.

But that does not change the big picture. Gaines called the governing body ”rudderless.”

“Can you imagine any corporation going for a year without a CEO?” Gaines asked.

The Americans were also underwhelming a year ago at the Paris Olympics. They led the medal table but won eight gold

HOF from page B1

As a batter, Johnson broke the school single-season record with 32 RBIs and tied the home run record with 10 in his junior season. The next year, he broke more school records with 25 walks and a .605 on-base percentage. Johnson went on to play catcher and rst base at UNC, where he helped the Tar Heels to two College World Series runner-up nishes in 2006 and 2007. As a sophomore, he ranked second on the team in home runs (14).

“We’re

far from killing it. It’s a major struggle, and we can’t hide our heads in the sand and say this is just a blip.”

Rowdy

Gaines

medals, the lowest total since the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

“We’re far from killing it,” said Gaines in a telephone interview from the United States.

“It’s a major struggle, and we can’t hide our heads in the sand and say this is just a blip.”

Gaines said he’s been texting frequently with Greg Meehan, the national team director who was appointed four months ago. Meehan is also the head coach in Singapore.

The American haven’t said how many swimmers have fallen ill, but in an interview Meehan said “the overwhelming majority of the team has gone through something” at the championship.”

He called Meehan a good choice and said he’s had too little time to turn things around. Gaines also pointed out that the focus is the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. These world championships, less so.

“I think he’s (Meehan) going to be great,” Gaines said. “He’s got that calm reserve. He had great success at Stanford. He’s coached some of the best swim-

The Atlanta Braves selected Johnson in the 17th round of the MLB Draft. He played seven seasons in the minors. Williams, a standout runner at Northwood, won the NCHSAA 2A cross-country state title in 2010. He also earned all-state honors in the indoor 4x800 meter relay and the outdoor 3,200, 4x800 and 1,000. At UNC Greensboro, Williams helped the Spartans win the 2011 Southern Conference cross-country title. In the 2012 outdoor season, Williams earned conference

mers ever. I think he’s a good choice, he’s just walking into a bit of a landmine.”

Like many, Gaines questioned why the Americans picked Thailand as a training camp site and noted that global swimming now has dozens of countries that can beat the Americans, and many of their elite athletes train in the States.

“You can blame it on the illness, you can blame it on the inexperience — most of these kids have never been in this situation — and you can blame it on lo -

all-freshman honors in the 3,000 steeplechase. Green was a talented quarterback and defensive back under former football coach Bill Hall. As a senior, he led the Chargers to a 12-2 record and a third round appearance in the 2007 2AA playo s. At Saint Augustine’s University, Green was named the 2009 CIAA o ensive rookie of the year after completing 113 of 233 passes for 1,318 yards, 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. That season, he threw six scores in a loss to Charleston (West Virginia), tying an

gistics,” Gaines said. “Thailand doesn’t make sense to me in the rst place.”

He also put some blame on what he called the “state of today’s athletes.”

“I think in some cases there’s an entitlement for a lot of these kids, they feel like, ‘I should be in the nals of the world championships. And I can still do the peripheral stu and not worry about making it all the way.’

“I think there needs to be a more focused attitude on the task at hand.”

NCAA Division II freshman record for single-game passing touchdowns. Harrington played football at Northwood and went on to play at North Carolina A&T. After college, he spent 22 years as a Northwood assistant coach, including 14 years as the defensive coordinator. Harrington succeeded Hall as head coach in 2015. In his four seasons as the head coach, Harrington led the Chargers to a 23-23 record and three playo appearances. His best season came in 2017, when Northwood went 7-5 overall

Gaines said much of the problem is that USA Swimming has gone for a year without a leader. Tim Hinchey resigned as the CEO a year ago. He was replaced by Chrissi Rawak, who stepped down after just a few days.

“I do think changes need to be made, there needs to be a complete reset,” Gaines said “But I don’t think the sky is falling. But there needs to be some great leadership. Whoever they hire as CEO needs to be the leader that is sorely needed.”

and 4-2 in the Big Eight 3A conference. Harrington also coached boys’ and girls’ basketball and track and eld at Northwood. Before winning multiple championships as a middle school basketball coach, Bland was a standout basketball player at Northwood. She was named the school’s female athlete of the year. Gha ar excelled on the basketball court at Northwood. After high school, he continued his playing career at UNC Pembroke (Pembroke State at the time).

LEE JIN-MAN / AP PHOTO

Team USA coach Greg Meehan celebrates with the women’s 4x100-meter medley relay team after they won gold at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.

EAKIN HOWARD / AP PHOTO

in Paci ca, California.

SIDELINE REPORT

NFL Cowboys owner dismisses Parsons’ trade request as negotiation talk

Dallas Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones does not intend to trade Micah Parsons after the star defensive end said he wants to leave the team amid a breakdown in negotiating a contract extension. Parsons remains at training camp after writing on social media to request a trade. He has yet to practice because of a back injury. No stranger to public and prolonged disputes with standout players, Jones insisted the stando with Parsons is no di erent than past situations.

MLB Wrigley Field chosen to host 2027 All-Star Game

Chicago The Friendly Con nes are set to host The Midsummer Classic. Commissioner Rob Manfred announced the 2027 All-Star Game will be held at Wrigley Field. The announcement came during a news conference at home plate with Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts, Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson. Baseball’s second- oldest ballpark hasn’t hosted an All-Star Game since 1990. Manfred cited the “amazing transformation” of the ballpark and surrounding streets in the past decade as part of a massive renovation by the Ricketts family.

NBA Former NBA star Arenas, 5 others charged with running illegal poker games

Los Angeles

Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas was arrested along with ve other people on suspicion of hosting illegal high-stakes poker games at a Los Angeles mansion owned by Arenas. The U.S. Attorney’s O ce said all six defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and one count of operating an illegal gambling business. The 43-year-old Arenas is also charged with making false statements to federal investigators.

TRACK & FIELD

Sprinter Richardson arrested at Washington airport on domestic violence o ense

Seattle Reigning 100-meter

world champion Sha’Carri Richardson was arrested for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend at Seattle Tacoma International Airport. A police report shows Richardson was arrested on a fourth-degree domestic violence o ense. She ran in the opening round of the women’s 100 meters at U.S. track and eld championships in Eugene, Oregon. She has an automatic bye to the world championships in September in Tokyo as the defending champion. USA Track and Field said it is aware of the situation.

Byron has enough fuel to win at Iowa Speedway

The Daytona 500 winner picks up his second victory of the season

By John Bohnekamp

The Associated Press

NEWTON, Iowa — William

Byron admitted he was nervous as he headed into thenal laps of the NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday at Iowa Speedway.

“But I feel like we’ve been on the other side of this in the last month and a half,” he said. Byron fought o fuel worries in the closing laps, going the last 144 laps of the 350-lap race without a stop en route to his second victory of the season — he won the Daytona 500 in February — and 15th overall. He also took the season points lead from Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott. Byron, who was second last season in Iowa, lost gambles on fuel twice this season, at Michigan and Indianapolis, but held on with the help of a cau-

tion- lled nal stage to win by 1.192 seconds over pole-sitter Chase Briscoe.

“I really feel we needed to win a race,” said Byron, who led 141 laps. “We deserved to win a race.”

Byron led the rst 67 laps during a caution-free rst stage but had to scramble with strategy as the cautions piled up.

“You never expect it to be a fuel-mileage race,” he said, “but there were so many weird cautions.”

The drivers behind Byron, who knew he was saving fuel, tried to catch him.

“It was just the way the yellows fell,” said Brad Keselowski, who nished third. “There were so many yellows there in stage 3 that it got (Byron) and (Briscoe) there where they could make it on fuel pitting way outside the window, and we couldn’t get by them. ”

“The strategies just got weird with all of those cautions,” said Ryan Blaney, last year’s winner who nished fourth. “Those guys who pit-

“I really feel we needed to win a race. We deserved to win a race.”

ted earlier, it saved them some laps. So it just got kind of funky there, and we were on the back end of it.”

Rudy Fugle, Byron’s crew chief, said he wasn’t sure until about eight laps to go whether Byron would be able to make it.

“From 30 to go until eight to go, we were able to save a really big chunk and get close,” Fugle said. “And then you’re just hoping you pick everything up.”

Briscoe thought he was in good position if Byron ran out of fuel.

“There at the end, I thought I was running William down,” he said. “I thought I was really in the catbird seat there. I just got there and kind of stalled out.”

Keselowski, who came into

the race needing a win to get into the playo s, swept the rst two stages for the rst time since 2019. He led 68 laps trying for his rst win since the May race at Darlington last season. Ryan Preece, Keselowski’s teammate at RFK Racing, was fth.

There were 12 caution ags. The rst yellow ag for any on-track incident didn’t come out until Shane Van Gisbergen’s spin on Lap 169. From that point, the race became a cascade of caution ags as the cars began to stack up and drivers scrambled for position.

Iowa sweep

Byron has now won at Iowa Speedway in all three of NASCAR’s major series. He won in the Trucks Series in 2016 and in the X nity Series in 2017. That success, he said, was built much earlier.

“When I was a kid, the iRacing schedule would always line up with the race tracks in the summer,” Byron said. “That’s when I would have the most time to run the races, in the summer. So I would race this track a ton in iRacing. I feel like that’s why it’s a good track for me — I just have thousands of laps kind of in my head with how the rhythm of this place goes.”

NFL’s kicko rule here to stay with tweak

Overtime, onside kicks and replay were also changed

By Josh Dubow The Associated Press

THE NFL’S one-year experiment with the new kicko rule becomes permanent this season with a new tweak that the league hopes will lead to a bigger increase in the rate of returns.

The league also approved changes to the overtime rule, expanded replay assist and made a few other technical changes for this season. The NFL’s Hawk-Eye virtual measuring also replaces the chains to determine rst downs.

There was no change in the tush push play that Philadelphia used so successfully on the way to winning the Super Bowl last season.

Here’s an explanation of some of the new rules that will be in place.

What’s new with the kicko ?

The league was mostly pleased with the experimental kicko put in place for 2024 that led to the rate of kicko returns increasing from a record-low 21.8% in 2023 to 32.8% last season, while reducing the rate of injuries on what had been the game’s most dangerous play.

The rule made kicko s more like scrimmage plays by placing the coverage players and blockers close together to eliminate the high-speed collisions that had contributed to

so many injuries on the play.

The league said the rate of concussions dropped 43% on returns, with a signi cant reduction as well in lower-body injuries.

By moving the touchback to the 35, the league projects that the return rate will rise to somewhere between 60% and 70%, with a similar increase in long returns, adding more excitement to the game.

How about onside kicks?

Teams will still need to declare their intention to try an onside kick because of the different formation. But a new change will allow trailing teams to try one before the start of the fourth quarter.

Coverage players will also be allowed to line up one yard closer in hopes of increasing the rate of recovery from about 6% over the past three seasons to at least 10%.

How will overtime change?

The league approved a proposal to make the regular season overtime more like the postseason, with both teams getting a chance at a possession, even if the team that gets the ball rst scores a touchdown. According to Sportradar, six of the 16 overtime games last season ended on an opening-drive touchdown for the most overtime games ended on the rst drive since the rule change went into e ect in 2010.

In all, teams that won the overtime toss won 75% of the time last season, according to Sportradar, and have a .606 winning percentage in overtime since it was cut to 10 minutes.

The league kept the 10-minute overtime period instead of expanding it back to 15 minutes.

Replay assist

The NFL expanded its replay assist system to overturn objective calls if there was “clear and obvious” evidence that a foul didn’t occur. The calls could include facemask penalties, whether there was forcible contact to the head or neck area, horse-collar tackles and tripping. Replay also would be able to overturn a roughing-the-kicker or running-into-the-kicker penalty if video showed the defender made contact with the ball.

The Competition Committee says there’s no interest in allowing replay assists to call penalties on plays missed by o cials on the eld.

Other changes

Referees will no longer use the chains to determine rst downs, opting instead for a virtual measuring system. There were some procedural rules changed in regards to injured reserve. Teams can place two players on injured reserve with the designation to return when rosters are reduced to 53 players instead of after. Playo teams also will be granted twoadditional return from IR designations.

William Byron crosses the nish line after winning

William Byron

ADAM HUNGER / AP PHOTO

The Philadelphia Eagles kick o to the New York Giants during an 2024 game. Kicko s will be slightly changed this season.

Buddy Guy keeps blues alive through ‘Sinners,’ his music — but it hasn’t been easy

His new album, “Ain’t Done With the Blues,” features guitar legends Joe Walsh and Peter Frampton

By Maria Sherman The Associated Press

NEW YORK — For Buddy Guy — a stalwart and staunch defender of the blues — there’s nothing more important than keeping his chosen genre at the forefront of conversation. It comes naturally: Guy is one of America’s greatest guitar players, a singular artist with a thick roster of A-list super fans — Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Gary Clark Jr. among them.

The list also includes innovative writer and director Ryan Coogler, who tapped Guy for his critically acclaimed lm “Sinners” earlier this year, and artists like Peter Frampton and the Eagles’ Joe Walsh, who feature on his new album “Ain’t Done with the Blues.” It was released last Wednesday, on Guy’s 89th birthday.

For the eight-time Grammy Award-winning musician, those recognitions aren’t priority. The longevity of the music that made his life is his primary concern. “Like I promised B.B. King, Muddy Waters and all of them,” he said, “I do the best I can to keep the blues alive.”

He’s concerned that radio stations no longer play the blues, and that the genre might miss out on connecting with younger listeners. It’s one of the reasons “Ain’t Done with the Blues” is a strong collection of classics that run the risk of being forgotten — like “Talk to Your Daughter,” a rendition of the J.B. Lenoir tune.

In Guy’s performance, there’s an undeniable universality.

“Blues is based on everyday life,” he said.

Or another way Guy explains it: “Music is like a bowl of real good gumbo. They got all kinds of meat in there. You got chicken in there; you got sausage in there. You got a seafood in it. ... When we play music, we put everything in there.”

It’s resonating. In its 2025 midyear report, Luminate, an industry data and analytics company, found that U.S. on-demand audio streams of blues music have climbed this year due to the success of “Sinners.”

Jaime Marconette, Luminate’s vice president of music insights and industry relations, describes the current moment as a “resurgence of the blues,” following “Sinners.”

“Several artists featured on the lm’s soundtrack, which includes works from real-life blues, folk and country musicians, saw spikes the week of the lm’s theatrical release,” he ex-

“Like I promised B.B. King, Muddy Waters and all of them, I do the best I can to keep the blues alive.”

Buddy Guy

plains. “And they’re all enjoying a sustained rise in listenership even two-plus months following release.”

Guy has noticed the shift, too.

“I walk in the grocery store, or the drugstore and people recognize me. ‘Man, you know, I heard that ‘Sinners’ music, man. Man, it sounds good,’” he said. That’s part of the reason why Guy decided to participate in the movie in the rst place.

“I hope this will give the blues a boost because my worry right now is, like I said, a young person don’t know how good a gumbo is — you’ve got to taste it,” he’s said.

For now, he’s excited to see how people respond to his new album, “Ain’t Done with the Blues” — but he’s not listening to it.

“I listen to everything but Buddy Guy,” he said. “I already know Buddy Guy. I can’t learn anything from that.”

NAM Y. HUH / AP PHOTO

Buddy Guy poses for a portrait at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago on July 24.

this week in history

U.S. drops atom bomb on Nagasaki, Manson cult strikes, Ruth Bader Ginsburg sworn in, Mickey Mantle dies

The Associated Press

AUG. 7

1789: The U.S. Department of War was established by Congress.

1942: U.S. and other allied forces landed at Guadalcanal, marking the start of the rst major allied o ensive in the Paci c during World War II.

1974: Philippe Petit performed an unapproved tightrope walk between the World Trade Center towers, more than 1,300 feet up; it was featured in the Oscar-winning “Man on Wire.”

AUG. 8

1814: During the War of 1812, peace talks between the United States and Britain began in Ghent, Belgium.

1876: Thomas Edison received a patent for his electric pen — the forerunner of the mimeograph machine.

1908: Wilbur Wright made the Wright Brothers’ rst public ying demonstration at Le Mans racecourse in France.

1963: Britain’s “Great Train Robbery” took place as thieves made o with 2.6 million pounds in banknotes.

AUG. 9

1173: Construction began on the campanile of Pisa Cathedral—better known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

1854: Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden” was rst published.

1936: Jesse Owens won his fourth gold medal at the Berlin Olympics.

1945: Three days after Hiroshima, a U.S. B-29 dropped a nuclear device on Nagasaki, killing an estimated 74,000 people from the bombing and radiation.

1969: Actor Sharon Tate and four others were found murdered at her Los Angeles home; cult leader Charles Manson and his followers were later convicted.

AUG. 10

1792: During the French Revolution, mobs in Paris attacked the Tuileries Palace, where King Louis XVI resided.

1821: Missouri became the 24th state admitted to the Union.

1945: A day after the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Imperial Japan conveyed its willing-

1956: Abstract painter Jackson Pollock died in an automobile accident at age 44.

1965: Rioting that claimed 34 lives and lasted six days broke out in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles.

2014: Academy Award-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams died at age 63.

AUG. 12

1898: Fighting in the Spanish-American War came to an end.

ness to surrender provided the status of Emperor Hirohito remained unchanged.

1969: Leno and Rosemary LaBianca were murdered in their Los Angeles home by members of Charles Manson’s cult, one day after actor Sharon Tate and four other people were slain.

1993: Ruth Bader Ginsburg was sworn in as the second female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

AUG. 11

1919: Germany’s Weimar Constitution was signed by President Friedrich Ebert.

1934: The rst federal prisoners arrived at Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay.

1909: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home to the Indianapolis 500, rst opened.

1953: The Soviet Union conducted a secret test of its rst hydrogen bomb.

1981: IBM introduced its rst personal computer, the model 5150, at a press conference in New York.

AUG. 13

1792: French revolutionaries arrested and imprisoned King Louis XVI; he would be executed by guillotine the following January.

1952: Big Mama Thornton rst recorded the song “Hound Dog,” four years before Elvis Presley’s famous version was released.

1995: Baseball Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle died at age 63.

Childhood street named for Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia

Deadheads have ocked to San Francisco for the proli c band’s 60th anniversary

By Janie Har The Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO — A few hundred people gathered last Friday to name a tiny San Francisco street after legendary Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia on what would have been his 83rd birthday and as part of a citywide celebration to mark the band’s 60th anniversary. Harrington Street, which is one block long, will also be called “Jerry Garcia Street.” He died in 1995, but the band’s popularity has only grown as younger generations discover the Dead’s improvisational music, which blended rock, blues, folk and other styles.

Garcia spent part of his childhood in a modest home in the city’s diverse Excelsior neighborhood. He lived with his grandparents after the death of his father, Jose Ramon “Joe” Garcia.

“I hope that you all get a chance to enjoy the music, dance, hug, smile,” said daughter Trixie Garcia, growing emotional during her brief remarks. “Cherish what’s valuable, what’s signi cant in life.”

Tens of thousands of fans are in San Francisco to commemorate the Grateful Dead’s 60th

“Cherish what’s valuable, what’s signi cant in life.”

Trixie Garcia

anniversary with concerts and other activities throughout the city.

The latest iteration of the band, Dead & Company, with original Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart, will play Golden Gate Park’s Polo Field for three days starting Friday. An estimated 60,000 attendees are expected each day.

Formed in 1965, the Grateful Dead played often and for free in their early years while living in a cheap Victorian home in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. The band later became a signi cant part of 1967’s Summer of Love, and the Grateful Dead has become synonymous with San Francisco and its bohemian counterculture.

Fans in rainbow tie-dye and Grateful Dead T-shirts whooped and cheered as the sign was unveiled last Friday. Nonfans with shopping bags and some using walking canes maneuvered around the crowd on what was for them just another foggy day in the working-class neighborhood.

Afterward, devotees peeled o to pose for photos in front of Garcia’s childhood home.

Jared Yankee, 23, got the

solutions

GODOFREDO A. VÁSQUEZ / AP PHOTO

Trixie Garcia, second from right, poses for sel es with Grateful Dead fans following the unveiling of Jerry Garcia Street last Friday in San Francisco.

crowd to join him in singing

“Happy Birthday.” Yankee said he ew in from Rhode Island for

the shows. He got into the music about a decade ago.

“It’s a human thing,” he said

of his impromptu singing. “I gure everyone knows the words to ‘Happy Birthday.’”

AP PHOTO

New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle died on Aug. 13, 1995.

*Must set up Auto Draft for 2nd Month.

famous birthdays this week

RICHARD SHOTWELL / INVISION / AP PHOTO

Rosanna Arquette arrives at the premiere of “Mrs. Davis” in 2023 at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles. The actor turns 66 on Sunday.

Dustin Ho man is 88, Mark Knop er turns 76, Former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders celebrates 92

The Associated Press THESE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week.

AUG. 7

Actor John Glover (“Smallville”) is 81. Actor David Rasche (“Sledge Hammer!”) is 81. Actor Wayne Knight (“Seinfeld”) is 70. Actor David Duchovny (“Californication,” ″The X-Files”) is 65.

AUG. 8

Actor Dustin Ho man is 88. Actor Connie Stevens is 87. Actor Keith Carradine (“Madam Secretary”) is 76. Guitarist The Edge of U2 is 64.

AUG. 9

Actor Sam Elliott is 81. Actor Melanie Gri th is 68. Former “Today” co-host Hoda Kotb is 61. Actor Eric Bana (“Star Trek,” “The Hulk”) is 57.

AUG. 10

Singer Patti Austin is 75. Actor Rosanna Arquette is 66. Actor Antonio Banderas is 65. Former boxer Riddick Bowe is 58.

AUG.11

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is 75. Musician Joe Jackson is 71. Actor Viola Davis is 60. Actor-host Joe Rogan is 58.

AUG. 12

Singer-musician Mark Knop er (Dire Straits) is 76. Jazz guitarist Pat Metheny is 71. Rapper Sir Mix-A-Lot is 62. Tennis Hall of Famer Pete Sampras is 54. Actor-comedian Michael Ian Black is 54.

AUG. 13

Former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders is 92. Opera singer Kathleen Battle is 77. Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Clarke is 76. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is 43.

AURELIEN MORISSARD / AP PHOTO Dustin Ho man stands before the nal match of the 2025 French Open. The Oscar-winning actor turns 88 on Friday.

SCOTT A GARFITT / INVISION / AP PHOTO

Viola Davis, pictured at the 78th international lm festival in Cannes, France, this year, turns 60 on Monday.

Eddie Murphy,

Pete Davidson team up;

‘King of the Hill,’ ‘Wednesday’

“Outlander: Blood of My Blood” debuts on Starz

The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS legend Big Freedia returning with a new gospel album and the acting trio of Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson and Keke Palmer teaming up for the armored truck action comedy “The Pickup” are some of the new television, lms, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also, among the streaming o erings worth your time: The animated “King of the Hill” returns after a 15-year pause, the rst half of season two of “Wednesday” lands on Net ix, and the “Welcome to Wrexham” spino “NECAXA” premieres with Eva Longoria.

MOVIES TO STREAM

Murphy and Davidson are armored truck drivers coerced into a heist in the action-comedy “The Pickup.” Palmer plays the criminal mastermind who disrupts their routine drive. Longoria, Andrew Dice Clay and Marshawn Lynch co-star in the movie, which made headlines during its Atlanta production after several crew members were injured in a collision during the shoot. It’s streaming now on Prime Video.

Filmmaker Osgood Perkins’ latest horror “The Monkey” will be streaming on Hulu starting Thursday. The follow-up to his breakout hit “Longlegs” was inspired by a 1980 Stephen King story. Theo James plays twin brothers whose lives turn to chaos when a demonic toy monkey causes deaths around them. In her review for The Associated Press, Jocelyn Noveck wrote that it felt “uneven.” She added, “surely there will be an audience for the creatively rendered gore. The rest of us may feel left with a witty, visually arresting, highly inventive quasi-mess on our hands.”

If you haven’t had enough Pedro Pascal this year, he’s a key part of Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck’s “Freaky Tales,” streaming on HBO Max on Friday. The anthology action comedy follows four interconnected stories in Oakland, California, in 1987. Before the lm’s Sundance debut in 2024, Boden told the AP that “It’s a movie lover’s movie. … It has one foot in reality and then one foot just launches o into fantasy.”

return

Pedro Pascal appears in a scene from the late ’80s-set,

“(“Freaky Tales”) is a movie lover’s movie. … It has one foot in reality and then one foot just launches o into fantasy.”

Anna Boden, “Freaky Tales” co-director

MUSIC TO STREAM

New Orleans legend Big Freedia, the queen of bounce music (and a notable Beyoncé collaborator, lest anyone forget the zeitgeist-shifting “Renaissance”), is back with a new album. But “Pressing Onward” is new territory for the artist. It’s her rst gospel album, and it still manages to induce as much booty-shaking as ever before. The di erence this time is that her vibrant sonic celebrations are all about faith. Start with “Holy Shu e” featuring Billy Porter or “Sunday Best” with Tamar Braxton. It’s good for the soul.

SERIES TO STREAM

Would you believe it’s been 15 years since “King of the Hill” went o the air? The animated comedy returns with a new 14th season on its new home, Hulu. All 10-episodes drop at once for bingeing. The show picks up give

or take 10 years after the events of season 13. Hank and Peggy are both retired after returning from Saudi Arabia, where Hank had been working. Their kids are now grown. Adjusting to life as retirees and in the current political climate in America presents challenges for the couple.

Another long wait comes to an end when the rst half of season two of “Wednesday” premieres on Net ix. The show follows teen Wednesday Addams (played by Jenna Ortega) as she studies at a boarding school called Nevermore Academy. Ortega’s deliciously deadpan delivery earned her an Emmy Award nomination for her work on Season 1. Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzmán play Wednesday’s parents, Morticia and Gomez. Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne proved that yes, men and women can be just friends in the rst season of their Apple TV+ comedy called “Platonic. “ The codependent buddies, Will and Syl-

via are back with a new season. We meet them again and Will is engaged to his boss — who doesn’t like Sylvia. And Sylvia is planning their wedding. Will is struggling to open his bar, and Sylvia’s event-planning business has yet to take o . More than two years ago, AMC Networks pulled the plug on its sci- comedy “Demascus “as a cost-cutting measure even though production was already completed. Tubi has rescued the show, starring Okieriete Onaodowan, and it premieres Thursday. It’s about a man who begins using an experimental technology that allows him to experience di erent timelines of his life. The “Outlander” prequel “Outlander: Blood of My Blood” debuts on Starz on Friday. It’s about the parents of Claire and Jamie from “Outlander.” Unlike its predecessor, “Blood of My Blood” does not have source material by author Diana Gabaldon, but its showrunner, Matthew B. Roberts, also works on “Outlander” and is very familiar with the lore. The cast is already lming a second season. It streams on the Starz App or through platforms like Hulu and Prime Video.

The “Welcome to Wrexham” spino “NECAXA” premieres Thursday on FX on Hulu. After

their success owning the Welsh soccer team Wrexham AFC, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney join Eva Longoria and buy a stake in a Mexican club, NECAXA, “It’s more than winning games. We’re gonna win hearts. We’re gonna inspire pride. We’re gonna empower the team,” Longoria says in the trailer.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

The Ma a series from 2K Games has moved from 1930s Chicago to 1940s New York to 1960s New Orleans, but now it’s going back in time and space. Ma a: The Old Country aims to deliver an origin story of sorts, traveling to 1900s Sicily. Enzo Favara is a young man who’s su ered a rough childhood, and he is hoping to improve his status by working for the Torrisi crime family. That means pulling o heists, punching out rivals and killing anyone who might threaten the Don. The cars may be slower and the weapons may not be as slick, but if you’re bummed out about having to wait for the next Grand Theft Auto, you might want to spend some time with the original gangsters. It arrives Friday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.

PRIME VIDEO VIA AP

Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson star in the action-comedy “The Pickup.”

LIONSGATE VIA AP

anthology-style comedy “Freaky Tales.”

Duplin Journal

Board of Education appoints new interim superintendent

Daren Tyndall steps into the leadership role following the death of Austin Obasohan

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

KENANSVILLE — Du-

plin County Schools is turning to a familiar and trusted leader to help guide the district through a time of transition. During a special meeting Monday, the Duplin County Board of Education appointed Daren Tyndall as the interim superintendent of the school system. The decision came 11 days after the death of Austin Obasohan, a deeply respected leader who served the district for 15 years.

“I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve as interim superintendent,” said Tyndall. “Duplin County Schools has always been home to me, and I am deeply committed to supporting our students, sta and families as we continue working together to ensure success for every child while honoring Dr. Obasohan’s memory and building upon the strong foundation he established.”

Tyndall’s long-standing relationships across the district and deep understanding of its culture uniquely position him to lead during this pivotal time. While the board initiates its search for a permanent superintendent, members have voiced their complete trust in Tyndall’s ability to carry forward the district’s mission.

With more than three decades of service within Duplin County Schools, Tyndall is no stranger to the needs, values and strengths of the community. His career has included roles as teacher, assistant principal, principal, central o ce leader and most recently assistant superintendent for Human Resources, a role he has held for the past four years.

Duplin Christian Outreach Ministries celebrates 20 years

On Sunday, Duplin Christian Outreach Ministries (DCOM) celebrated its 20th anniversary with a heartfelt program at its headquarters on South Norwood Street in Wallace. DCOM co-founder Philip Gladden, right, presents a plaque to co-founder James Page, left, during the ministry’s 20th anniversary celebration on Sunday afternoon, naming Page a board member emeritus. Turn to A2 for the story.

Concerns over sta ng, spending drive crowds to commissioners meeting

There was a full house at the County Commissioners meeting on Aug. 4. Attendees stood for a moment of silence in memory of late Duplin County Schools Superintendent Austin Obasohan.

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

KENANSVILLE — A large crowd attended the Duplin County Commissioners meeting Monday night, with the room lled to capacity and people spilling into the receiving area.

Public interest surged following recent departmental changes, the dissolution of the Tourism Development Authority and the purchase of a corporate golf membership, among other topics. Despite a lengthy statement from county o cials attempting to address the public’s concerns, the public called for more transparency. Jessica Thomas, who leads the group Duplin County Coalition

20-year run, Muscadine Festival hits pause

Organizers cite a breakdown in negotiations with the events center as the reason for the postponement

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

KENANSVILLE — The NC

Muscadine Festival, a hallmark event for Duplin County for the past two decades, has o cially been postponed until 2026. Traditionally held each fall at the

Duplin Events Center, the festival has showcased the county’s unique charm and Southern hospitality, bringing pride and economic vitality to the area as it celebrates North Carolina’s native muscadine grape and attracts thousands of visitors from across the state.

While some initially suggested that the recent dissolution of the Duplin County Tourism Authority was the reason for the postponement, longtime festival organizer Tom Fife clari ed that the festival is not a county-run event. He noted that a change in nancial terms with the events center was at the heart of the decision.

“The Muscadine Festival Committee puts this event on, and all of the expenses are paid through our 501(c)(3),” said Fife. He said the nonpro t operates on a tight budget, typically breaking even or generating only a modest surplus.

Frustrations over wastewater restrictions continue to grow

“I think it’s time we have a new set of eyes look at the problem and o er solutions.”

Glenn Holland

DEQ explains the town’s ongoing consent order and the path forward, including no new wastewater capacity

By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal

MOUNT OLIVE — The issue of Mount Olive’s challenges regarding its wastewater treatment facility and the state-issued moratorium on any additional ow through the facility took center stage once again at the town’s Board of Commissioners meeting Monday evening.

At the invitation of interim town manager Glenn Holland, Caroline Bari from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Infrastructure

gave a PowerPoint presentation explaining the issues leading to the wastewater moratorium placed on the town, as well as what steps will be needed to bring the system into compliance.

Bari got involved in the town’s wastewater woes about 18 months ago as a result of her duties, which include working with distressed units like the town’s wastewater treatment system.

“The town is under a special order, by consent,” Bari said. “It was issued by the Division of Water Resources because the town is having trouble, especially during heavy rainwater events, with untreated sewage being released.”

According to Bari, the current consent order is not the

In previous years, the committee was responsible for paying for venue rental and labor. However, in 2024, they were unexpectedly asked to cover the cost of tables,

See FESTIVAL,

MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

Public outrage mounts in Duplin County amid employee concerns and closed-door decisions

ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Loretta Carey O ce Manager

O ce Phone: 910 463-1240

To place a legal ad: 919 663-3232; Fax: 919 663-4042

CRIME LOG

July 28

• Bertin Mejia Hernandez, 40, was arrested by Duplin County Sheri ’s O ce (DCSO) for delivering a Schedule II controlled substance and possessing with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance.

July 29

Stephen Craig Blanton, 64, was arrested by DCSO for possessing or consuming beer or wine in a public street, littering a beer or wine container and second- degree trespassing.

Markeia R. Herring, 35, was arrested by DCSO for breaking and entering and second- degree trespassing.

Jonathan Kromer, 37, was arrested by DCSO for misdemeanor domestic violence.

• Jonathan Rivera, 36, was arrested by DCSO for driving with a revoked license, possessing or displaying a ctitious or revoked driver’s license and reckless driving.

Matthew Douglas Pender, 44, was arrested by DCSO for communicating threats.

• Kayla Caroline West, 36, was arrested by DCSO for obtaining property by false pretense.

July 30

Brandon Shelton Quinn, 36, was arrested by DCSO for providing false information to an o cer, resisting a public o cer and interfering with an electronic monitoring device.

Aug. 1

• Benjamin Marks, 38, was arrested by Beulaville PD for possessing a Schedule I controlled substance.

Brittani Amanda Oconnell, 28, was arrested by DCSO for possessing methamphetamine, nancial card theft, possessing a Schedule VI controlled substance, possessing drug paraphernalia and possessing marijuana paraphernalia.

Celebrating two decades of service to those in need

What began as a simple lunch between pastors has grown into a lifeline for Duplin County residents in crisis

By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal

WALLACE — Duplin

Christian Outreach Ministries celebrated its 20th anniversary Sunday at its headquarters on South Norwood Street in Wallace.

More than two decades ago, two Wallace-area pastors, James Page of Adoram Baptist Church and Philip Gladden of Wallace Presbyterian Church, met for a lunch of burgers and fries at what was then known as Andy’s, now Hwy 55. They were both concerned about the growing number of people reaching out to local churches for help. They were asking for assistance ranging from food to light bills, as well as help paying the rent. Using a napkin, they began to outline the concept of a centralized crisis center to serve people in need in Duplin County.

After months of work from volunteers on a planning team, Duplin Christian Outreach Ministries was born. The nonpro t organization o cially opened on July 5, 2005.

In an interview with Duplin Journal, Gladden said the need for the ministry has continued to grow.

“We have six food pantries that are under our umbrella,” Gladden said. “The need there has increased substantially. We’re anticipating that the needs are going to continue to increase with changes that are being made to government programs.”

Some funding for Duplin Christian Outreach Ministries comes from churches, individuals, organizations and businesses. Also, the ministry operates a thrift store located on Main Street in downtown Wallace, which provides additional support.

“Fifteen years ago, we started Blessings in Store,” Gladden said. “That was our dream to do that. The money that is generated from that ministry supports the crisis ministry.”

Gladden added the store provides needed items at a reasonable cost to families while also supporting Duplin

“We have six food pantries that are under our

Philip Gladden

Christian Outreach Ministries.

During a program at the anniversary celebration, Gladden thanked and recognized the many volunteers who have worked with all aspects of the ministry. He also thanked local dentist Dr. Warren Sholar, who has provided the building that houses the ministry rent-free since the creation of the nonpro t. Gladden presented a plaque to the ministry co-founder, Page, granting him the honorary title of “board member emeritus.”

The original executive director of Duplin Christian Outreach Ministries, Jeralene Merritt, who served in the role for 18 years, retired at the end of April. In May, Tomme Maier was named the new executive director.

Maier, a native of Duplin County, refers to herself as a “farm girl” raised between Beulaville and Pink Hill.

A graduate of UNC Wilmington, Maier worked in the banking industry until her middle daughter was born two months premature. She decided to leave work to be at home with her daughter. That began a journey that took her into

social service work. Because of her daughter’s disability, she was exposed to Easter Seals and other organizations. That inspired her to accept a position she was sought out for as a part-time case manager for disabled adults.

“I just love helping people,” Maier told Duplin Journal.

“It’s such a blessing.”

Maier said running a ministry like this one was easier in this area because of the people.

“We are truly blessed in Duplin County with people who have compassion,” she said. “Most of the time, you don’t even have to ask for help.”

The ministry is reaching out for more help, both nancially and from volunteers, because the need is growing rapidly.

“The need is great, but it’s going to be greater yet,” Maier said. “We’ve had several people that are homeless coming to us the past couple of months. Domestic violence is causing struggles in homes that add to the pressure of making ends meet nancially. Kids are caught in the middle. Resources are scarce right now.”

The need for more help at the ministry was echoed by Gladden during the anniversary program.

“We need your continuednancial support from churches, foundations and individuals,” Gladden said. “We also need volunteers at the ministry and at the Blessings store.”

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

Aug. 8

Co ee and Community

9 a.m.

Join Wallace Parks and Recreation for its Co ee and Community event at the Clement Park Community Center. Connect with neighbors, enjoy a beverage and take part in fun activities like puzzles, card games, adult coloring, arts and crafts, and more. For more information, call 910-285-2905.

209 E Clement St., Wallace

Aug. 9

Back-to-School Community Day

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Get ready for Back-to-School Community Day at the Duplin Events Center in Kenansville. Duplin County students Pre-K-12 can receive free school supplies while they last — child must be present. Come rain or shine, enjoy a day packed with free food, games, rides, bouncy houses, crafts and more.

195 Fairgrounds Drive, Kenansville

Jalen’s Bless the Block Event

10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Visit Jimmy Jerome Memorial Park for Jalen’s Bless the Block event. Enjoy free school supplies, haircuts, a bounce house, music and free food.

175 Lake Tut Road, Rose Hill

Aug. 14

Back-to-School vaccine clinic

4 to 7 p.m.

It’s time to gear up for the new school year. Join the Annual Back-to-School Vaccine Clinic & Resources at the Duplin County Health Department in Kenansville. Walk-ins are welcome. Vaccines available include meningitis, tetanus (Tdap), HPV and more to start the year strong. For more information, call 910-296-2130. 340 Seminary St., Kenansville

PHOTOS MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

James Page, co-founder of Duplin Christian Outreach Ministries, shows a plaque presented to him at the ministry’s 20th anniversary celebration on Sunday afternoon. He was named board member emeritus.

umbrella.”

Duplin Christian Outreach Ministries co-founder Philip Gladden addresses everyone in attendance at the ministry’s 20th anniversary celebration Sunday afternoon.

$500K playground coming to Kenan Park

The town board will vote on nal plans for the playground in September

By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal

KENANSVILLE — Children in Kenansville are one step closer to having a new, agriculture-themed playground as town o cials move forward with plans to replace the former Kenan Park play area that was removed two years ago.

“The theme we’re working on right now is agriculture,” Kenansville town manager Anna West told Duplin Journal. “It will be a farming-themed playground.”

The new playground will be all-inclusive and handicap accessible, West added. It will also be built on what is known as a “poured in place” surface, a rubberized material on the ground that makes it safer and allows for better wheelchair mobility than a mulch playground surface.

Site work is underway at Kenan Park for a new farming-themed playground, which is expected to be completed by next summer. The playground will be all-inclusive and handicap accessible.

The Kenansville Board of Commissioners is expected to vote on the nal plans for the playground at its September meeting. In the meantime, work to prepare the site has already begun.

poured-in-place surface. Some additional nancial help is coming from a company building the playground equipment.

“One of the companies we are working with has grants,” West said. “They have a maximum they’ll give back in playground equipment.”

It also featured plaques recognizing individuals who donated or sponsored speci c pieces of equipment, along with a surrounding picket fence that had names engraved on select pickets. All of these meaningful elements will be integrated into the new playground.

The new playground has been a pet project of West, and she is glad to see it nally becoming a reality. Because of her rising workload as town manager, she has placed the remaining part of the new playground project into the hands of the new Kenansville Parks and Recreation director, Courtney Brown.

“We’ve removed some of the trees recently for several reasons,” West said. “It will be easier to maintain without pine straw all over it, and some of the trees were leaning and some were starting to deteriorate. We took out what we thought we needed to for safety and to open up the area a little bit.”

Combining the state grant, current contributions and the grant from the playground equipment company, the town has $500,000 to work with for the new playground, according to West. The town is also open to receiving additional grants or contributions. Any funds raised beyond what is necessary for the playground equipment will be used to add owers and additional landscaping around the site.

Funding for the new playground is coming from a $400,000 grant from the state. In addition, ECU Health Duplin Hospital and the Southern Bank Foundation contributed funds speci cally earmarked for the

Once the new playground is complete, visitors to Kenan Park will notice that some parts of the old playground have been used in the new one.

The old playground included etched bricks, many of which were purchased to honor or memorialize loved ones.

“She’s made our park come back to life,” West said of Brown. “Courtney has really taken it and run with it.”

West said she is proud that the park is a big part of the town and clari ed that a common misconception is that Kenan Park is a county playground.

“It is not. It belongs solely to the town of Kenansville,” she said.

Project setbacks stall progress on $6M shell buildings

O cials questioned repeated change orders as road project delays push completion into October

By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal

KENANSVILLE — Members of the Duplin County Economic Development Commission board received updates on major projects underway in the county during their meeting on Aug. 1. Several development projects are currently in progress on the airport property.

In addition to a new road system at the airport, which includes an already-installed tra c circle, there are plans to build two large shell buildings and several short-term rental units.

Matthew Ferguson from Parish and Partners, an engineering rm based in Columbia, South Carolina, attended the meeting remotely. He was questioned by the board regarding various change orders related to the road construction at the airport, which are necessary to access the sites desig-

MARRIAGE LICENSES

Anita Marie Savage, Duplin County Register of Deeds issued 24 marriage licenses for the month ending on July 31, 2025.

• Ethan Oscar Ocasio, Jacksonville, and Emily Rebecca Dickson, Jacksonville;

• Leigha Michelle Byrd, Pink Hill, and Jacob andrew Batchelor, Beulaville; Yoselin Leon Ferral, Magnolia, and Benjamin Flores, Magnolia;

Franck Rebollar, Albertson, and Lorena Alvarez Chavez,

nated for the new projects.

At the July board meeting, the board approved $212,000 worth of change orders to the original contract with the rm responsible for constructing the roads leading into the Air Park area of the airport. During the meeting, another change order was presented for $7,598 to extend a drainage ditch.

“The ditch is parallel to Airport Road,” Ferguson said. “The original ditch was approved in the supplemental (change order) at the last meeting (in July). After that, it was noted that the ditch was not long enough in order to daylight the ditch. It was brought to our attention the ditch needs to be longer, approximately 250 or 260 feet longer, to meet DOT requirements.”

These changes to the ditch are expected to extend the completion date of the entire road project by another 16 days, pushing the expected nish to mid-October — 92 days past the original contract completion date.

Board members expressed frustration with the additional costs and time extension

Albertson;

• Christian Emmanuel Berrones, Clinton, and Yudith Alejandra Maldonado Maldonado, Clinton;

• Christina Lynn Price, Teachey, and Jeffery Shane Evans, Teachey;

• Andres Estuardo Mendez Vasquez, Seven Springs, and Leticia Magaly Lopez Lopez, Seven Springs; Michelle Eliza Kobjack, Chinquapin, and Thomas Anthony Mewborn, Chinquapin;

An aerial view around the

extensive development

attract industrial clients. These buildings are being constructed at a cost of $6 million under a “design-build” contract, meaning there should not be any additional costs associated with them, as the responsibility for any contractor costs lies with the contractor chosen for the project.

that will house two

and several short-term rental

the change orders have created.

“Why do we continue to get burdened with oversights?” asked Assistant County Manager Carrie Shields. “Seems like there’s a lot of oversights. Why do we continue to take responsibility for the oversights?”

“We’re also sitting here frustrated with the number of change orders,” board chairman Charley Farrior added. “We’re also frustrated that we seem to be held hostage by the contractor.”

• Harold Lee Snyder, Mount Olive, and Donna Kornegay Stilley, Mount Olive;

• Larry Donnell Furlow, Warsaw, and Gelen Marleny Izara Gomez, Magnolia;

• Kenneth Ray Lawson, Beulaville, and Alice Marie Isaacs, Beulaville;

• Maribel Venegas Rodarte, Chinquapin, and Luis Alberto Jasso Herrera, Chinquapin; Jose Julian Galindo Hendricks, Magnolia, and Keyni Estefani Hernandez Bojorquez, Magnolia;

The board approved the ditch extension change order but asked Scotty Summerlin, Duplin County Economic Development Commission executive director, to arrange an in-person meeting soon to speak with all parties involved in the road project in hopes of preventing any additional costs.

The delays in the road project will also impact the construction of two new 50,000-square -foot shell buildings in the Air Park that aim to

• Robert Brian Sykes, Magnolia, and Sharon Star Matthews Williams, Magnolia;

• Colby Chase Mobley, Pink Hill, and Hannah Denise Mcgee, Pink Hill;

• Martha Yanoy Pineda Cantarero, Honduras, and Robins Bautista Castellanos, Wallace;

• Jennifer Scherrilla Whitfield, Warsaw, and Charles Thomas Whitfield Jr, Beulaville; Nahum Asehel Enamorado Funez, Wallace, Gaby Paola Pineda Guzman, Wallace;

Additionally, the road delays will a ect the construction of approximately nine short-term rental houses in the Air Park. In an interview with Duplin Journal, Summerlin said the original concept for the units was to provide accommodations for pilots who needed to stay in the area while their corporate representatives were conducting business. This idea has now been extended to allow representatives of potential industrial or business executives to use the homes while exploring economic opportunities in the county.

In other project updates, the construction of the new shell building in the SouthPark Industrial Park near Wallace is on schedule. Summerlin made note of the rapid growth around the Wallace area.

• Armando Bladimir Vazquez, Willard, and Sharony Zunem Mendez Velasquez, Willard;

• Zoe Mechele Austin, Wallace, and Montico Rashon Miller, Warsaw;

• Roberto Serrano Luviano, Ivanhoe, and Carlota Torres Diaz, Warsaw;

• Taylor Ann Cloninger, Wallace, and Ivey Dylan Norris, Wallace;

• Emelie Marie andersson, Pink Hill, and Alex Wayne Henderson, Wallace; Tyler Wade Still, Georgia, and Venessa Vazquez, Georgia.

MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

COURTESY OF DUPLIN COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

Duplin County Airport shows the

around the property to create an Air Park

large shell buildings

homes.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

COLUMN | STEVE GOLD

Record trucking-related carnage is no accident

American truck drivers move more than 70% of all freight across the country.

AFTER A FATAL ACCIDENT caused by a non-English-speaking trucker with a commercial drivers’ license (CDL), President Donald Trump ordered the Department of Transportation to review the nondomiciled CDLs issued by each state over the past four years. This is a massive victory for highway safety — preventing further loss of American lives.

Just ve years ago, new truckers had to produce a birth certi cate, speak English and con rm state residency to even qualify for a CDL. If the driver couldn’t speak English, he couldn’t get a driver’s test. Today, any evidence of a work permit or foreign visa is enough to qualify for a nondomiciled CDL.

In 2022, the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA) set high, federal standard training requirements through the Entry Level Driver Training rules. The goal was to make highways safer, in conjunction with state commercial driver training laws that have been in place for decades. But these new rules have more exemptions than the federal tax code. Employers, municipalities and online video providers, posing as educators, now provide commercial driver training through unchecked “self-certi cation.”

Consider for a minute that almost every state requires 16-year-olds to attend a state licensed driver training program before they can get behind the wheel of an automobile. But, as Teamsters President Sean O’Brien just testi ed in the Senate Commerce Committee hearing, if you want to drive an 80,000-pound truck on our nation’s highways, there is no oversight or enforcement of the new FMCSA rules. Because of the lack of enforcement, the fraud and abuse are profound as the FMCSA has allowed unquali ed “CDL training providers” to recruit and train unquali ed truck drivers, who ultimately degrade the American truck driving workforce and put the unsuspecting general public at risk every day.

The results have been catastrophic.

According to the National Highway Safety Administration, 153,472 highway truck accidents resulted in 5,472 highway fatalities in 2023, a 40% increase from 2014. The 2024 data show similar fatality rates. The odds of getting killed by a truck driver is 20 times greater than dying while ying on a U.S. airline.

More than 30,000 commercial driving schools are now approved by the FMCSA, but only 2,100 are state licensed. As founder and CEO of one of the nation’s largest commercial truck driving schools, I know rsthand that the largest employers or truckers make up only 10% of the trucking industry. These employers are rumored to be rejecting nearly half of truck driver applicants as they have strict safety guidelines and driver evaluation criteria.

But the $1 trillion U.S. trucking industry is 90% comprised of companies with 10 drivers or less with thin margins. These employers lack compliance and safety departments, and are hiring individuals trained at unquali ed schools. These are the trucking companies you’ve never heard of that are in the news every day causing another fatality. Everyone wants cheaper prices, and no one wants burdensome regulations, but at what cost?

In a letter to the FMCSA, the American Trucking Association outlined the problem and lambasted the agency for being too “insu ciently robust to shield prospective drivers and the motoring public from fraudulent and non-compliant training entities that fast-track CDL applicants with minimal, if any, training.”

Some states aren’t waiting for the FMCSA to take action and are taking matters into their own hands. California, which was second in the nation in the most highway fatalities in 2023, unanimously passed a bill to eliminate

nefarious commercial-driving schools in the state. Florida and Colorado, among others, are sending cease-and-desist letters to unlicensed commercial training schools that assert they are exempt because of “new federal rules” and ignoring state laws.

Trump’s requested study, coupled with his executive order requiring commercial truck drivers to be pro cient in English, should disqualify many recently minted unquali ed commercial drivers, if properly enforced.

Substandard training providers who falsely attested in the Federal Training Provider Registry, should not only be removed from the program but also face the same explicit penalties as those who abused the Paycheck Protection Program after the pandemic. That alone would prevent unquali ed drivers from getting behind the wheel and putting us all at risk.

American truck drivers move more than 70% of all freight across the country. They keep supply chains running — from delivering food and medicine to stocking shelves and fueling factories. Their hard work, often behind the scenes, keeps America moving, and they deserve to be well-compensated.

The trucking industry applauds Trump and Secretary of Transportation Sean Du y for already doing so much to protect America’s truck drivers and our highways. We look forward to working alongside them to go a step farther and enforce the FMCSA rules and protect the American public by eliminating nefarious CDL training schools.

With approximately 3,000 accidents and 100 fatalities each week caused by heavy trucks, the trucking industry and general driving public can’t wait much longer.

Steve Gold is the founder and chief executive o cer of 160 Driving Academy and the Truckers Network Association. This article was originally published by Daily Caller News Foundation.

COLUMN | MICHAEL BARONE

Heading toward midterm elections, Democrats not up o the floor

It looks like the Democrats’ baggage, especially from the Biden years, is heavier than the loads Trump Republicans must juggle.

HERE’S A CLUE that the o -year elections in November 2026 may not go the way conventional wisdom suggests. That conventional wisdom is that the president’s party almost always loses the House and, slightly less often, Senate seats.

There are two structural reasons for this. One is that parties in power tend to do things or produce results that some voters dislike. The second reason is that out-party candidates can adapt to local terrain, focusing on issues on which the president’s party’s stands are unpopular. But that depends on the out party being an acceptable alternative.

Which leads to the clue referred to above.

Politico’s Andrew Howard reports that former Democrats Brian Bengs in South Dakota (Trump +29 in 2024) and Todd Achilles in Idaho (Trump +36) are joining former Democrat Dan Osborn of Nebraska (Trump +20) to run for senator as self-declared independents, with no credible Democrat in the race.

Osborn did so in 2024, scaring incumbent Republican Rep. Deb Fischer while losing by only six points. This was an improvement on Greg Orman’s 2014 independent candidacy in Kansas, where he lost by 11 points in a state that was +22 Republican for president two years before.

Why are these Democrats, some in states such as South Dakota and Nebraska that have reelected Democratic senators in recent years, shunning the Democratic label? Most likely because, in a country of increased straight-ticket voting, they believe the Democratic label is political poison.

After four years of the Biden administration, the Pew Research Center said the presidential electorate moved favoring Democrats by six points in 2020 to favoring Republicans by one point in 2024, with Republicans close to equal among under-30 voters. “For months now,” Republican pollster Patrick Ru ni notes, “we’ve observed a new trend in polling: The Democratic Party’s favorability ratings have fallen below the GOP’s. That’s hardly ever happened before.”

The Wall Street Journal’s July 16-20 poll shows that 63% of voters have negative feelings about the Democrats, the highest

since 1990. That poll also showed Republicans maintaining their 2024 lead in party identi cation, in sharp contrast to President Donald Trump’s rst term. And it showed pluralities of voters favored Republicans even on issues on which majorities disapproved of Trump’s most recent actions, including the economy, tari s, immigration, foreign policy and Ukraine.

It looks like the Democrats’ baggage, especially from the Biden years, is heavier than the loads Trump Republicans must juggle. Democrats’ credibility has been damaged as their arguments, one after another, have proven to be based on lies: the Russia collusion hoax, COVID-19 school closings, “transitory” in ation, the Hunter Biden laptop and open-borders immigration.

All of which suggests that Democrats’ hopes of overturning the Republicans’ 53-47 Senate majority may rest more on independents running in Trump-heavy states than on purple-state Democrats. And, despite conventional wisdom, there’s a cognizable chance that Republicans will not lose the narrow 220-215 majority they won in the House of Representatives in 2020.

Once upon a time, in the split-ticket voting era, Democrats maintained their large House majority in 1972 despite Richard Nixon’s 61% landslide by winning fully half the seats in House districts Nixon carried. Those days are gone. In 2024, voters in only 16 House districts split their ticket between president and congressman.

The Democrats’ problem is that Republicans are defending only three districts carried by former Vice President Kamala Harris, while Democrats are defending 13 seats won by Trump. That’s one of the reasons Steve Kornacki, to the dismay of his MSNBC audience, says Republicans could hold onto the House.

Meanwhile, Harry Enten dismays his CNN audience by pointing out that the narrow leads Democrats enjoy in House generic ballot polling leave them not nearly as well positioned for 2026 as they were at this point in 2005 and 2017 for their big gains in 2006 and 2018.

Core Democratic hatred of and obsession with Trump will certainly have them stomping

to the o -year polls, and Trump Republicans’ newly biracial and young male coalition may not be similarly motivated. But Republican gains are widespread, while Democratic gains are scarcely visible. As Bloomberg columnist Conor Sen writes, “It’s currently not possible to identify any cohort of potential rst-time Dem voters.”

As The New York Times’ brilliant graphics point out, Trump has gained a percentage over three elections in 1,433 counties with 42 million people, while his Democratic opponents gained three times in only 57 counties with 8 million people. “For years, the belief was Democrats have had demographic destiny on our side,” pollster Ben Tulchin said.

“Now, the inverse is true.”

Veteran liberal reporter Thomas Edsall portrays in his Times online column a “realignment (with) staying power” and fears. There is a “real possibility that discontent with the Democratic Party — its perceived failure to value work, its political correctness, the extremity of its social and cultural liberalism — might have become deeply embedded in the electorate.”

Meanwhile, the economic numbers are coming in more positively than those who predicted doom in April from Trump’s tari s (I called them “lunatic”), and as analyst Nate Silver writes, “There remains a strong case that voters are concerned about the economy and the cost of living, but that everything else is priced in.” As for the fuss over the Epstein tapes, Silver writes, “It looks like we’re back to the usual pattern: The overwhelming majority of voters either already hate Trump, or are happy to shrug o his scandals.”

“The country is moving toward Trump,” says Chris Matthews, onetime sta er for Jimmy Carter and Tip O’Neill. “They want a president who is a strong gure. And he’s got it. And half the country buys it.” Nothing’s inevitable in politics, but so far, the Democrats have not gotten up o the oor.

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.”

JORDAN GOLSON / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Volvo trucks lined up outside the company’s assembly plant in Dublin, Virginia.

Grant opportunities take spotlight in Beulaville

The board moved forward on water, sewer and waste services contracts

By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal

BEULAVILLE — The town board’s Monday meeting opened with a moment of silence to honor the late Austin Obasohan, former Duplin County Public Schools superintendent.

“He was a true friend of Duplin County and the citizens and students of Duplin County Schools,” Mayor Hutch Jones said.

The board conducted a public hearing concerning the 2025 Community Development Block Grant Funding (CDBG). Interim Town Manager Lori Williams informed the board that the town quali ed as having 51.7% of its population in low- and moderate-income areas, making it eligible for more grant funding, including aid for nonhousing renovations.

The board discussed the possibility of using the $950,000 max grant and $12 million state funding for eligible repairs and revitalization projects such as sidewalks, driveways, streets, paving, shelters, community buildings and houses. CDBG funding is subject to the Build America, Buy America Act requiring the materials used for infrastructure projects to be produced or manufactured in the United States. Board members were encouraged to come up with a list of suggested locations for repairs by the September board meeting, being mind-

for Accountability & Transparency, has emerged as a leading voice for several county employees and local residents. Thomas launched an anonymous survey to give county employees a safe space to share their experiences. Her grassroot e orts have galvanized public engagement, driving people in droves to the county commissioner’s meeting.

Thomas was among a group of people who spoke during public comment. However, their concerns were not addressed by the board, which went directly into closed session after the regular meeting. At the end of the meeting, several participants approached Thomas, expressing gratitude for her e orts in giving them a voice.

“The county employees dedicate their lives to this place, and they deserve to be seen,” Thomas told Duplin Journal. “They deserve to be heard. They deserve to be believed. And it’s my understanding and also my impression, given what has transpired in the past three weeks, that that’s not happening to the level that it should be happening.”

Also at the meeting

Marzella Morrisey, a longtime public servant and current advisory board member for the Duplin County Department of Social Services (DSS), voiced concerns about the agency’s ongoing sta ng issues. Drawing on her professional background, Morrisey emphasized that the current hiring process

denied.

ful that this type of eligibility does not often come around.

Williams suggested the planning engineer would be able to help guide the board toward the best areas to spend available funding once a prioritized list of considerations was developed. A second public hearing on the issue will take place at the October board meeting. Paperwork for the grants will be due by the end of October.

The public hearing closed and public comments opened. Karl Wilson, a local constituent, addressed the board concerning work on water lines at his property. According to Wilson, the work left track marks, uneven dirt, unearthed trash and exposed pipes that were causing further problems. Public Works Director Ricky Raynor said the work wasn’t nished, and the exposed pipes were marking where engineers

have to still go down and do mapping.

“It’s not easy cutting lines,” Raynor said. “What we are doing now is the hard part; then we will come around and do the clean up.” While Raynor could not give a de nite time when the work would be done, he did a rm that it should be done well before December.

Police Chief Karl Mobley reported that a smoke shop was broken into, and a juvenile has been arrested in the case. Furthermore, he reported that several vape products have now been banned, and police will undergo special training concerning them.

“If a business has any of the banned substances, we can now pursue them for criminal charges,” Mobley said.

Douglas Clark of 112 N. Grant St. then made his fth attempt to repurchase family property now owned by the town. The

0.113 acre land is important to Clark because it is part of an 1800s family plot believed to be where some of his ancestors are buried. He passed out images of a degraded cemetery within 50 yards of the town of Beulaville’s Sewer Plant gate.

“This is not our cemetery, but we are trying to keep ours from getting to this,” Clark said.

The 81-year-old has spent three years trying to secure the land “so some Sandlin and Whaley descendants can rest with no public cost.”

He was denied again for no other reason than the board “doesn’t know what other issues (they) may have to deal with for the land.”

Clark has paid surveyors to mark out proposed boundaries, made donations to the town and o ered to pay any amount for the land, yet he is continually denied.

“I’m not sure what I need to do to get this done,” Clark said. “People care about where their parents and grandparents are buried, but no one cares about where their great-grandparents are.”

The board moved on to discuss a property o Gresham Street where they have not been able to move forward with ditch repair because of disagreements with a property owner. The owner refused to allow trees to be removed because of what lives in them. The board voted to condemn the property in order to take control and clear it as they see t.

A series of contract agreements were then approved to move forward with projects and

is ine ective. She explained that sta ng shortages at DSS are leading to overwhelming workloads, contributing to employee burnout and a deteriorating work environment.

“Each month we have over 15 vacancies, if not more,” said Morrisey, emphasizing the importance of a supportive and respectful workplace. She noted that when employees feel valued, retention improves. To address the sta ng issue, she suggested forming a committee to review and revise the hiring procedures in collaboration with the county manager.

Dawn Strickland, director of Duplin County Transportation, presented a public hearing for three upcoming transportation grants. They include funds for administrative costs, new vehi-

cles, and support for elderly and disabled transit services.

The rst, in the amount of just over $267,000, will help with the cost of administrative expenses. The local share is 15%, or just over $40,000. The second grant will be used to purchase a raised roof van for lettering for that van.

“We intend on getting 16 new tablets for each of our vans in our eet. That amount is $114,915 with a 10% local share which is $11,491,” she said.

The third grant will help provide transportation for the elderly and disabled. It is a 50-50 grant of $40,000 with a local share of $20,000. The local matches for these grants will come from the department’s enterprise fund balance, and all were approved unanimously by the board.

County Planner Chris Hatcher introduced a Uni ed Development Ordinance (UDO) amendment that establishes a 1,000-foot setback from any operational agricultural facilities.

This change aims to balance residential and agricultural development and establish clarity for future planning.

The board held a public hearing and passed the amendment unanimously.

Also at the meeting, Samantha Lane, Duplin County Animal Services facility director, was honored by the Maysville Police Department for her life-saving e orts in a critical animal cruelty case. Maysville Police Chief Carl Baugus and Captain Kristy Kooper presented Lane with a plaque.

“We had ve puppies and a

town services. The Adams Company was approved to provide administrative and engineering services for CDBG-I sewer improvement projects. DPH General Contractors was approved for the ood mitigation project. Triple S. Farms and Cleaning was approved to continue handling sludge for the town. Mark Houston was approved to take on yard debris and bulk trash removal for the town.

“The rst Wednesday of the month will continue to be the day for collection of yard waste, and we will schedule a quarterly date for pickup of bulk waste,” Williams said.

An appointee for the Duplin County Transportation Committee was then discussed.

Jones acknowledged the importance of the committee for making long-range plans for the county. The problem with meeting attendance, however, is the fact that meeting times (often 9 a.m.) can be di cult.

“The committee wants a representative from each town to serve, and it’s supposed to be the highest government o cial with an alternate,” Williams said.

The board voted to appoint Jones as the representative with Williams as his alternate for the committee. The board also voted to appoint Brandon Lanier to the zoning board. According to Williams, the town’s concerns about setting allowed areas for food trucks will be part of what is discussed through the zoning board.

The board approved moving the Sept. 1 meeting to Sept. 8 because of Labor Day.

mama dog that if we didn’t act on the search warrant that night, they would not have survived,” said Kooper. “She got them dogs out of there and got them medical care that day. We couldn’t have done it without her. ... You’ve got good people working for you.” Airport Director Josh Raynor, on behalf of the Airport Commission, presented two infrastructure-related requests: a $2.6 million hangar construction change order and a $10,000 change order for the Taxiway A3 project. Both projects had been preapproved by the Airport Commission and were unanimously approved by the board.

Lastly, County Manager Bryan Miller presented an Employee Development and Educational Incentives Policy aimed at boosting employee growth and retention through funding for job-related education.

“Through this policy, we may cover tuition, textbooks, registration fees and lodging associated with approved educational activities. There are eligibility requirements associated with education and training. I believe the key to the requirements is that the course be necessary for continued performance and growth in the employee’s current role. These trainings have to be approved by both the department leader and the county manager,” said Miller, explaining that the tuition must not be paid with ad valorem tax collections or departmental fees, and there is a repayment policy for employees who choose to leave within two years of completing the training. This, too, was approved.

COURTESY DOUG CLARK

Douglas Clark has tried to repurchase a parcel of land near the Beulaville Sewer Plant, where some of his ancestors may be buried. Five separate requests have been

COUNTY from page A1

ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Maysville Police Chief Carl Baugus, left, and Capt. Kristy Kooper, right, presented Samantha Lane, Duplin County Animal Services facility director, with a plaque of appreciation for her life-saving e orts in a critical animal cruelty case.

rst the town has entered into with the state.

“The rst consent order was signed by the town and issued in October 2021,” she said. “In the original consent order, among other things, was a list of items that needed to be completed and dates. The town got behind and was starting to get ned. The state and the town renegotiated the consent order and it was reissued in April 2025.”

Bari said both consent orders have restricted how much wastewater the town can treat at its facility.

“In both of these consent orders, one very important issue is that the town of Mount Olive is not allowed to add wastewater capacity to the wastewater system,” she said.

It is that moratorium that is causing signi cant issues in issuing building permits for new construction or changes to existing homes and businesses. Those permits can only be issued if it can be shown that there will be no additional wastewater ow into the system. Until the overall problem is resolved, it leaves the town with limited options, such

chairs, and “in addition to that, we would have to pay them 10% of the gate,” said Fife, explaining that the charges would have turned the event from a breakeven scenario into a nancial loss.

“This was the rst time I had heard this. And this is after the event is over,” Fife said. “This is what led ultimately to postponing the festival until 2026.”

According to Fife, the festival’s expenses in 2024 were approximately $74,000, with only a narrow $2,000 pro t.

“If we had paid the additional things they wanted us to pay, that would have been an additional $5,000. So, right there is a $3,000 loss,” he told Duplin Journal.

When Fife was informed that

U.S. Rep. Don Davis (D-N.C.), center, accepts a certi cate of appreciation from Mount Olive Mayor Jerome Newton, left, and Town Commissioner Vicky Darden during the board of commissioners meeting Monday evening.

as agreements with property owners of abandoned buildings agreeing to be disconnected from the town’s sewage system in order for another structure to be added.

Bari complimented Holland, telling the board he was engaged

these new charges would become standard going forward and that there was no room for negotiation, the committee decided it could not proceed with the event this year.

“You can’t do an event year after year where you’re going to lose money,” he said, noting that the festival relies on sponsorships, merchandise, and ticket sales rather than large pro t margins. Planning for the festival typically begins in January, with early commitments needed for tents and band bookings. However, due to rising costs and the lack of a willingness to negotiate, the committee was unable to move forward with plans for 2025. The cancellation was communicated to vendors in the spring.

Fife expressed hope that

in nding workable, long-term solutions. Bari agreed to return to Mount Olive in the coming months for a public hearing on the wastewater challenges.

During the report from the interim town manager, Holland

the additional year would allow the committee to either reach a new agreement with the events center or explore alternative locations. Fife also noted that he plans to step back from festival leadership. While future leadership has not been determined, the current committee intends to keep the festival going.

“My hope is that it will all be worked out because the events center is something we want to support. It’s the obvious place to have it,” Fife said. “Hopefully, the county would negotiate, and we could have things worked out in time to plan for doing the event there in 2026.”

Fife said he was surprised by the sudden dissolution of the Duplin Tourism Development Authority, especially after tourism had asked him to participate in

advised that he had a meeting scheduled with a new engineering rm to discuss the wastewater treatment issue and received board approval to engage the new rm.

“I think it’s time we have a

a meeting June 26 with county representatives to discuss the possibility of tourism taking over the festival.

“That’s an awfully short time to make a decision following that and dissolve tourism if the purpose of the meeting was to talk about how tourism could operate the Muscadine Festival,” said Fife.

“I think it’s unfortunate that tourism has been dissolved because we were hoping that tourism would be able to take over (the festival). I think that would have been a natural t, but obviously that’s not going to be able to happen now.”

When asked if the county might take over the festival, there was some hesitation.

“That’s not going to be my decision. For now, I know that the committee does not want to

new set of eyes look at the problem and o er solutions,” Holland said.

In other business, the board of commissioners agreed to inspection fees for the town after the town began its own inspections, no longer depending on Wayne County inspectors to issue permits. Holland added that the change will also help the town better investigate and determine how permits may a ect the ow restrictions at the wastewater treatment facility.

Town commissioner Vicky Darden presented certi cates of appreciation from the town to U.S. Rep. Don Davis, Pastor Andrew Price, and Apostle Norbert Simmons and members of the Bridge Church for their contributions to the community.

“You don’t know how refreshing it is, coming from D.C., to sit and hear residents come to the mic and just share their concerns. This is the spirit of our democracy,” Davis said in receiving the certi cate after hearing public comments at the meeting. “Mount Olive is a very special place to me, in my heart. I’ve represented Mount Olive for a long time. It’s a charming community with amazing individuals.”

do that,” Fife said, adding that the committee’s intent remains to retain control of the festival in alignment with its original purpose. Whether this position will change in the future remains uncertain, but currently, there is no indication that county involvement is being actively pursued.

As for collaboration with the county, no new discussions have occurred.

“As far as I’m aware, the only discussions about it have been those that tourism was having with the county before tourism was dissolved,” Fife said. “Now what has happened since then, I don’t know because I’ve not been a part of it.”

Although disappointed by the interruption, Fife remains hopeful about the festival’s return in 2026.

MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

DUPLIN SPORTS

FULL SPEED AHEAD

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

CALYPSO — Sleeping in is not an option for football players and coaches at ve of Duplin Journal’s six schools.

And even though James Kenan practices in the late afternoon, its mission is the same: getting physically and mentally prepared for its Aug. 22 opener.

That’s 15 days from Thursday. Most players will have participated in enough noncontact practices since July 31 to be able to be play in scrimmages on Friday and Saturday.

However, others are likewise working diligently in anticipation of the rst crowd-arousing hit.

Duplin Journal will be ahead of the gridiron information curve. Preview stories for Richlands and Harrells Christian Academy will be in the Aug. 14 edition. East Duplin, North Duplin, James Kenan and Wallace-Rose Hill will be featured 24 hours before the regular season starts.

ED-WRH opener: Doesn’t get any better

Bulldogs reported at 7:30 a.m. last week as head coach Kevin Motsinger begins his ninth season at WRH. He’s missing two coaches, though, as his o ensive Adam Scronce is now the top coach at Hobbton and Gra-

ham Walker, another o ensive coach, has joined the sta at East Duplin. WRH nabbed two new coaches over the summer, Tyler Pugh and Doug Skipper.

Pugh played on a state championship team at James Kenan, where he coached the previous three seasons. Skipper is the former head coach at East Columbus.

Pugh is the defensive coordinator, taking over for Motsinger, who will replace Scronce in calling plays.

Ironically, WRH and ED face o at Legion Stadium in Wallace in the opener for both schools.

Yet remember, the Bulldogs and the Tigers are in the Swine Valley 3A/2A (with Rosewood as its only 2A school), while the Panthers remain in the ECC, which has three 4A schools (ED, Clinton, Southwest Onslow and three 3A schools (Trask, Pender, South Lenoir).

According to longtime writer Bill Rollins, ED and WRH have played 11 straight games decided by 10 or fewer points, with the Panthers having a 6-5 edge. WRH leads the all-time series 35-21-1 since ED became the last of four Duplin County high schools to consolidate in 1962. This encounter will feature a war between OC’s Motsinger and Battle Holley, who is also

See FOOTBALL, page B3

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Senior Cal Avent hopes to roll the Tigers back into the fourth round of the playo s after his team beat WRH for the rst time in 13 games.

Duplin Journal-area gridiron teams start scrimmages in anticipation of the regular season kicko s on Aug. 22

Top, Isiah Bennerman re lls and refreshes quickly before returning to practice at ED. Bottom, head coach Kevin Motsinger will be the o ensive coordinator for WRH. He’s entering his ninth season as the Bulldogs’ top grid man.

MICHAEL JAENICKE / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Top, ND defensive coordinator Brad Rhodes and defensive end and UNC signee Trashawn Ru n show some love as their favorite season starts. Bottom, Harrells Christian Academy’s Dashaun McKoy and Jeremiah Davis ght for a pass during Tuesday’s practice in Harrells.

HEATHER BEST FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL JAENICKE / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Gridiron grind

Above, Tyler Pugh will be the defensive coordinator at WRH after shifting over from rival James Kenan. Right, the eyes of coaches are everywhere in preseason training camp, including longtime ND o ensive coordinator Brad Rhodes.

Left, WRH assistant coach Bubba James works with players on presnap positioning and movement. Right, JK lost some valuable players on its o ensive and defensive line, but expect head coach Tim Grady — a former Tigers lineman — to have replacements in place.

Above, ED defensive coordinator Seth Sandler is preparing his group for rival Wallace-Rose Hill. Top right, the rst ve days of preseason camp is all about instruction for all coaches, including ND’s Hugh Martin. who is entering his 25th season as the Rebels’ head coach. Bottom right, former JK and Catawba quarterback Ken Avent III, left, is working to get his cousin and current JK quarterback Eli Avent game-ready for the Tigers’ Aug. 22 opener against Southern Wayne.

MICHAEL JAENICKE / DUPLIN JOURNAL

MICHAEL JAENICKE / DUPLIN JOURNAL

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

MICHAEL JAENICKE / DUPLIN JOURNAL

FOOTBALL from page B1

ED’s head coach. Holley has a 6-4 edge over Motsinger since he arrived at WRH in 2017.

Indeed, it doesn’t get any better than this, and an advance on the game will be in next week’s newspaper.

Yet the Bulldogs will face Clinton and Kinston after they tangle with the Panthers.

Reports from the Vikings’ camp say schools best beware of Kinton’s passing attack, which is led by NC State recruit Tyreek Cooper. Senior quarterback Tyler Jones threw for more than 3,000 yards and had 32 touchdown strikes.

WRH likely won’t have as easy a time with Clinton, which went 2-8 last season after head coach Cory Johnson bolted to Marlboro County following a trip to the 2A nal in 2023. Expect the Dark Horses to be vastly improved.

Panthers enter the season healthy, as ECC favorite

East Duplin appears to be a favorite in both this matchup and in the ECC.

And for good reason, even though the Panthers are far from a nished product, particularly on their o ensive and defensive lines.

Holley, who is entering his 15th season in Beulaville, is ready to move into new territory after last season’s uncharacteristic 6-6 mark.

He has a solid back eld, and a few of his best players will not have injuries to start the season. The injury bug hurt the Panthers big time last season.

ED has to very winnable nonconference games (Princeton and Richlands) and two without-a-doubt testers (James Kenan and Jacksonville).

Holley will go against Cardinals OC Pat Byrd when it faces the 5A Cardinals. Byrd beat Holley and the Panthers last season as head coach of Richlands.

Tigers upgrade nonconference schedule

The ED-JK encounter is likewise an interesting and classic Duplin rivalry. Tigers head coach Tim Grady prevailed last season in the rst sign for a team that went 12-2 and advanced to the fourth round of the 2A playo s. JK got there by breaking a 13-game losing streak to WRH.

The Tigers will likely have two romps during its nonconference slate (Southern Wayne) with JK also being a favorite for a late-season encounter with 5A Charles B. Aycock, a school that has historically had hit-or-miss success yet were 19-4 the previous two seasons. While quarterback Sidney Lancaster (69-150 for 1,190 and 16 TDs) returns, the Falcons top three running

backs and top three receivers have graduated.

A more interesting matchup will be when the Tigers travel to Bailey to face Southern Nash, who were 9-3 last season and play in a tough Big East 5A/6A Conference that has only one 6A school (Northern Nash).

Yet the biggest game for the Tigers will be when they host WRH on Oct. 31. The oddity in JK’s schedule is an open date in Week 2.

Rebels to continue its unprecedent success?

A veteran North Duplin team still with concerns on its lines could be charting its way into the history books.

Head coach Hugh Martin guided the team to 19 wins the past two seasons, and if the Rebels win 12 games, they will match the school’s most wins during a three-season stretch. Martin won 31 from 2006- 08 as did Richard Kaleel from 1970-72.

Ken Avent Sr. won 28 from 1977-79 and 27 from 1990 -92.

And in Calypso fans are aiming for the 13 wins, which includes a possibility of six postseason games. The Rebels remain a member of the newly formed Carolina 3A/2A Conference, which includes old foes Lakewood, Hobbton, Union joining three new schools — East Bladen, East Colombus and West Bladen.

Expect a thriller in Roseboro on Sept. 19 when the Rebels collide with the Leopards, the two clear favorites in the CC.

ND likely won’t be tested much early in nonconference a airs against Southside-Chocowinity, Spring Creek and Jones Senior. Yet the 53rd matchup against longtime CC member Rosewood on Aug. 28, has intrigue.

ATHLETE OF

WEEK SPONSORED BY BILL CARONE

Lilly Fulghum

North Duplin, volleyball

Lilly Fulghum has nished playing travel softball — for the present moment.

ND is on the road for four of its rst ve games and has only four games at H.E. Grubbs Field.

Wildcats start anew under Good

Richlands rst-year head coach Bill Good said he has a sta of 11 assistants.

Head softball coach Matt Lovely has returned to the eld to become the o ensive coordinator.

Richlands graduated 23 players from its 9-2 team that was coached by Byrd.

So there are a lot of changes in the Wildcats’ camp, and their o ensive approach and the defense will be an all-new unit, sans a few returnees.

And there won’t be any easy wins on their nonconference schedule or in the Coastal 5A/6A, which only has weakling in Swansboro (2-19 the past two seasons) as its lone 6A school.

Returnees could return Crusaders to postseason

Harrells Christian Academy, an NCISAA school, started practices July 28 under second-year coach Clayton Hall, the Crusaders’ longtime o ensive coordinator, who has the hogs up front and the running backs to run his Wing-T o ense.

His club missed the state playo s last season after losing its last three games following a 6-2 start.

Big games include a Sept. 26 trip to Matthews to face Covenant Day, the team that kept HCA out the postseason, and an Oct. 3 trip to faced North Raleigh Christian. Longtime rivals Ravenscroft (Oct. 24) and Trinity (Oct. 31) are two other circled dates.

North Duplin’s three-sport star will play softball in college, but she is enjoying digging, spiking and smashing cross-court winners as the Rebels prep for Tuesday’s season opener against James Kenan.

Fulghum is coming o a season in which she had 412 assists, 129 digs and 96 aces

She was a second-team all-Duplin selection in basketball.

The senior was an all-state 1A player in softball after hitting .630 with eight doubles, three triples and seven home runs while driving in 18 runs and scoring 30 times.

MICHAEL JAENICKE / DUPLIN JOURNAL

MICHAEL JAENICKE/ DUPLIN JOURNAL

ED assistant coach Graham Walker, who coached at WRH last season, works with quarterback Branson Norris. The two rival schools open the season against each other.

HEATHER BEST FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

ND head coach Hugh Martin gives his approval when plays are executed properly, as projected fullback Noa Quintanilla, left, knows.

‘Head’-strong in the box

East Duplin’s Osiris Mendoza, left, battles for the ball at Spring Creek as the Panthers scrimmaged the host schools, North Lenoir and Southern Wayne.

WRH’s Chris Zeleya clears the ball during a recent scrimmage. The Bulldogs will scrimmage Charles B. Aycock, Pine Forest and Triton on Saturday before opening the season Monday with a road trip to Greene Central.

SIDELINE REPORT

NFL

Cowboys owner dismisses Parsons’ trade request as negotiation talk

Dallas Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones does not intend to trade Micah Parsons after the star defensive end said he wants to leave the team amid a breakdown in negotiating a contract extension. Parsons remains at training camp after writing on social media to request a trade. He has yet to practice because of a back injury. No stranger to public and prolonged disputes with standout players, Jones insisted the stando with Parsons is no di erent than past situations.

MLB

Wrigley Field chosen to host 2027 All-Star Game

Chicago The Friendly Con nes are set to host The Midsummer Classic. Commissioner Rob Manfred announced the 2027 AllStar Game will be held at Wrigley Field. The announcement came during a news conference at home plate with Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts, Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson. Baseball’s second- oldest ballpark hasn’t hosted an All-Star Game since 1990. Manfred cited the “amazing transformation” of the ballpark and surrounding streets in the past decade as part of a massive renovation by the Ricketts family.

NFL’s kicko rule here to stay with tweak

Overtime, onside kicks and replay were also changed

By Josh Dubow The Associated Press

THE NFL’S one-year experiment with the new kicko rule becomes permanent this season with a new tweak that the league hopes will lead to a bigger increase in the rate of returns.

The league also approved changes to the overtime rule, expanded replay assist and made a few other technical changes for this season. The NFL’s Hawk-Eye virtual measuring also replaces the chains to determine rst downs.

There was no change in the tush push play that Philadelphia used so successfully on the way to winning the Super Bowl last season.

Here’s an explanation of

some of the new rules that will be in place.

What’s new with the kicko ?

The league was mostly pleased with the experimental kicko put in place for 2024 that led to the rate of kicko returns increasing from a record-low 21.8% in 2023 to 32.8% last season, while reducing the rate of injuries on what had been the game’s most dangerous play.

The rule made kicko s more like scrimmage plays by placing the coverage players and blockers close together to eliminate the high-speed collisions that had contributed to so many injuries on the play. The league said the rate of concussions dropped 43% on returns, with a signi cant reduction as well in lower-body injuries.

By moving the touchback

to the 35, the league projects that the return rate will rise to somewhere between 60% and 70%, with a similar increase in long returns, adding more excitement to the game.

How about onside kicks?

Teams will still need to declare their intention to try an onside kick because of the different formation. But a new change will allow trailing teams to try one before the start of the fourth quarter. Coverage players will also be allowed to line up one yard closer in hopes of increasing the rate of recovery from about 6% over the past three seasons to at least 10%.

How will overtime change?

The league approved a proposal to make the regular season overtime more like the post-

season, with both teams getting a chance at a possession, even if the team that gets the ball rst scores a touchdown.

According to Sportradar, six of the 16 overtime games last season ended on an opening-drive touchdown for the most overtime games ended on the rst drive since the rule change went into e ect in 2010.

In all, teams that won the overtime toss won 75% of the time last season, according to Sportradar, and have a .606 winning percentage in overtime since it was cut to 10 minutes.

The league kept the 10-minute overtime period instead of expanding it back to 15 minutes.

Replay assist

The NFL expanded its replay assist system to overturn objective calls if there was “clear and obvious” evidence that

a foul didn’t occur. The calls could include facemask penalties, whether there was forcible contact to the head or neck area, horse-collar tackles and tripping. Replay also would be able to overturn a roughing-the-kicker or running-into-the-kicker penalty if video showed the defender made contact with the ball.

The Competition Committee says there’s no interest in allowing replay assists to call penalties on plays missed by o cials on the eld.

Other changes

Referees will no longer use the chains to determine rst downs, opting instead for a virtual measuring system.

There were some procedural rules changed in regards to injured reserve. Teams can place two players on injured reserve with the designation to return when rosters are reduced to 53 players instead of after. Playo teams also will be granted twoadditional return from IR designations.

PHOTOS BY EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Jessie Newmons

April 22, 1952 – Aug. 1, 2025

Jessie Ray Newmons of Wallace, NC, passed away at home on Friday, August 1, 2025, after a period of declining health. Born on April 22, 1952, he is the son of the late Nathan Paul and Christine Wiley Newmons. Also preceding him in death are his wife of ftytwo years—Willa Jean Knowles Newmons; brothers—William Paul Newmons, Kenneth Wayne Newmons, and Edward Earl Newmons; and sister—Emma Isabell Newmons.

Left to cherish his memory are his children—Jessica Newmons of Wallace and Nathan of Wallace and wife Wendy Newmons of Kinston; grandchildren—Kayla Adams of Willard, Kimmie Batson of Wallace, Katie Batson of Wallace, Kayla Fitzgerald of Kinston, Mason Fitzgerald of Kinston, and Jaxon Newmons of Wallace; and brothers— Ernest Edgar Newmons and wife Deborah of Willard, and Michael Lynn Newmons of Wallace; sisterin-law—Toni Newmons of Willard; and many nieces, nephews, and family friends.

Mr. Newmons was a gentle man who was ‘set in his ways, which was usually right—if you asked him’. He was “strong willed” but was also loving, kind, and caring. He was known in the community of Wallace as “Mr. Fix It” because he was very versed in a multitude of areas such as carpentry, roo ng and other small jobs. He was one of those rare individuals who were truly considered a ‘jack of all trades’. He loved and treasured his family more than anything else on earth. Many very happy days in his life were spent while hunting or shing. A service to celebrate his life is set for 2 p.m. on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, in the chapel of Padgett Funeral Home. O ciating in the ceremony will be Reverend Kelvin Gurley. Padgett Funeral Home is assisting the Newmons family.

Baby boy Queon Nai

White Jennings

March 14, 2023 – July 28, 2025

Dudley- Baby boy Queon Nai White Jennings, two years old, completed his brief earthly journey and transitioned to his heavenly home on Monday, July 28, 2025, at Maynard Children’s Hospital in Greenville, NC. The Celebration of Life will be on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at J.B. Rhodes Jr. Memorial Chapel at 2 p.m.

Bobby Samuel Harts Sr.

April 4, 1938 – July 28, 2025

Bobby Samuel Harts Sr., 87, passed from his earthly life with lots of love and family at his bedside on Monday, July 28, 2025.

He was born April 4, 1938, in Pender County, the son of Richard Henry Harts and Edna Atkinson Harts. In addition to his parents, Bobby was preceded in death by two grandsons and brothers, Richard, Jimmy and Jacky Harts.

Bobby is survived by his wife of 45 years Carmel Hope Tart Harts; nine children, Bobby Samuel Harts Jr., Je ery Lane Harts, Derek Lee Harts (Susan), Shanan Harts Stephenson (Ashley), Debbie Ritchlin (Mike), Mark Glenn Daughtry, Jonathan Dean Daughtry, Samuel Grant Daughtry (Whitney), and Paul Edison Daughtry ( Samantha); 17 grandchildren; seven greatgrandchildren; sisters, Benida Langston (Ernie) and Wanda Kosh (Jimmy); brother, Larry Harts (Neva); many nieces, nephews, and extended family all who dearly loved Bobby. Bobby was a strong patient soul who approached life with a calm demeanor and a smile. His strength was not just in his words but in his character and kindness. He loved his children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters. A BIG fan of NASCAR, golf, and net shing, he found joy in both the thrill of the race and the tranquility of nature. As we remember him, we celebrate the profound impact he had on our lives. He will be greatly missed but forever cherished in our hearts.

The memorial service will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 1, 2025, at Quinn McGowen Funeral Home Burgaw Chapel with the Rev. William Hill Pearsall conducting the service. Following the memorial service, the family will receive friends at the funeral home.

Shared memories and condolences may be sent to the family by selecting Tribute Wall.

Larry Ward

March 20, 1949 –Aug. 3, 2025

Goldsboro- We are saddened to announce the passing of Mr. Larry Ward, who departed this life peacefully at the age of 76. Mr. Ward passed away on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at UNC Rex Hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina, leaving behind a legacy of love, kindness, and cherished memories. The arrangements are incomplete at this time. We extend our deepest condolences to the family, and please keep the family in your prayers during their time of bereavement.

Steven Matthew Wood

Aug. 13, 1945 – July 31, 2025

Steven Mathew Wood, age 79, of Rose Hill, North Carolina, passed from this earthly life to his eternal life to be with Jesus on Thursday, July 31, 2025.

He was born on August 13, 1945, in New Hanover County, the son of the late Gorman and Adell Tucker Wood. He was also preceded in death by his daughter Shannon Wood.

Steve, as he was a ectionately known, proudly served in the North Carolina National Guard. He also served as an o cer at a North Carolina Correctional Institution until retirement.

Surviving is his wife of 24 years Jackie Sholar of the home; daughter Tammy Quinn and husband Bobby of Rose Hill; son Matt Teachey of Rose Hill; grandchildren Elijah Teachey, Stephen Teachey, Dylan Sessoms and Sara Sessoms; sisters Reba Wood of Wallace and Charlotte Whiteford and husband Mac of Spokane, Washington; step children Anthony Guy of Magnolia, Ashely Guy and wife Kelly of Rose Hill, Brandon Guy and wife Julie of Durham, Amber Guy Bostic of Warsaw, Miranda Matthews and husband Jeremy of Rose Hill and Alicia Waters of Alexandria, Virginia; step grandchildren Logan Matthews, Kyle Matthews, Tyson Matthews, Greyson Waters, Reagan Waters, Bellamy Arms, and Monroe Arms; his special ‘music boys ; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and many friends that loved Steve dearly.

Steve was a loving husband and caring father, grandfather, and brother. He was a simple man who was loved and respected by all who knew him. He was a caring, generous and giving man to all he knew. He was humble and totally sel ess. To Steve, no one was a stranger. He loved people and was loved in return. He enjoyed playing the guitar, building and woodworking. With his kindness and love for young people, it seemed that youth gravitated to him. Steve touched many lives during his life. He loved his family and the Lord with all his heart. The life he lived was a great example to his family and friends. Steve will surely be missed but treasured memories will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.

Funeral service will be held at noon on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home, Wallace Chapel.

The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to noon, one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Burial will follow the service at Riverview Memorial Park in Watha.

Dennis James Brinson

March 19, 1962 – July 29, 2025

Dennis James Brinson, 63, of Rose Hill, NC passed away July 29, 2025 at his residence. Funeral service will be 1:00pm Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at Hawes Funeral Home - Warsaw. Interment following the service at Brinson Cemetery in Rose Hill, NC.

Christopher Scott Elliott

Nov. 30, 1965 – July 29, 2025

Christopher Scott Elliott, a ectionately known to all as Chris, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at the age of 59, leaving behind a legacy of love and kindness that will be cherished by all who knew him.

Born on November 30, 1965, in Gadsden, Alabama, Chris lived a life lled with compassion for others and unwavering faith.

Chris is survived by his wife and soulmate of 27 years, Sherlon Elliott; sons, Braden Elliott and Adam Elliott; father, Zennie Conway; sister, Lisa Caison and her husband, Joe; several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins; and many friends.

Chris was predeceased by his parents, Tracy Elliott and Barbara Haire Davis; his stepdad, Ronald Davis; and a sister, Jan Stoudenmire.

Chris celebrated his life to the fullest. He was continuously living life with kindness and strength beyond measure. He saw life, each day as a gift, seeing the good in every bad situation, grateful for everything and expecting nothing in return. Chris was quite a sherman, enjoying the sport, catching sh big, little and in between. Chris served 13 years in the US Marine Corps, serving honorably and proudly. Many remember Chris as their UPS man, where he worked for a number of years. Chris was the BEST husband, dad, brother, uncle and friend that anyone could ask for. His shining, guiding light in our lives will surely be missed.

Funeral service will be 3 p.m. on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at Quinn McGowen Funeral Home, Burgaw Chapel. The family will receive friends at 2 p.m., one hour prior to the funeral service.

Lenora Mainor Morris

Dec. 15, 1947 – July 31, 2025

Mrs. Lenora Mainor Morris, aka “Duche”, age 77, of Navassa, NC, passed away on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, NC. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 2 p.m. at the Rose Hill Funeral Home Chapel in Rose Hill, NC. Burial will follow at Mainor Family Cemetery, Fort Knox Road in Magnolia, NC. Left to cherish her precious memories are her husband, Robert Morris of Navassa, NC; two sons: Ronald Gresham (Regina) of Atlanta, GA and Teerin Gresham of Wilmington, NC; one daughter, Sheria Lofton of Leland, NC; four brothers: Leonard Gresham (Mae) of Whitsett, NC, Robert Gresham of Nashville, TN, Matthew McKinney of Charlotte, NC and Parrish McKinney (Charlotte) of Nashville, TN; four sisters: Leona Howard and Phyllis Blanks, both of Macon, GA, Deborah Owens of Conyers, GA and Anna M. McKinney of Wilmington, NC; twelve grandchildren, seven greatgrandchildren; ve step-children a host of step-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews cousins and friends that will miss her dearly.

Cli ord Owen Jones

Nov. 28, 1942 – July 31, 2025

Cli ord Owen Jones, 82, of Winnabow, passed away on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at SECU Hospice house of Brunswick, after a long ve-year battle with cancer. He was born on November 28, 1942, in Providence, Rhode Island, to the late Herbert Leslie Jones and the late Florence Monahan Jones.

Cli ord, a proud Coast Guard Veteran, was a devoted and loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, and greatgrandfather. He was a member of St. Mary’s Basilica. Cli ord found joy in golf, shing, reading, and playing cards with his family. He was an honorable man with a gentle spirit. He shared a lot of laughs with his family and always put them rst.

Cli ord is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Judith A. Jones; his son, Stephen Jones and wife, Lisa; his daughters, Kimberley A. Jones, Kristin Leslie Jones and husband, Alexander Maresca, Lindsay J. Adams; and husband, Brian; his sisters, Kathleen A. Gregson and husband, David, Sharon L. Jones; his grandchildren, Lauren Marchand and husband, Kyle, Courtney Jones, Matthew Jones, Julian Maresca, Mila Maresca, Harrison Adams, Owen Adams, Sylvie Adams; great grandchild, Millie Marchand; and several nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends.

Instead of owers, the family would encourage donations to Lower Cape Fear Lifecare Foundation.

A celebration of Cli ord’s Life will be at a later date.

Quinn McGowen Funeral Home of Wilmington is serving the family.

Nov. 28, 1969 – July 31, 2025

Je ery Lynn Kennedy, 55, passed away on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at his home.

Funeral Service: Saturday, August 2, 2025, 6 p.m.

Followed by a visitation

Community Funeral Home, Beulaville, NC

Graveside Service: Sunday, August 3, 2025, 2 p.m., East Duplin Memorial Gardens, Beulaville, NC

Survivors:

Spouse: Lisa Kennedy, Pink Hill, NC; Daughter: Jessica Kennedy, Pink Hill, NC

Community Funeral Home of Beulaville is honored to serve the Kennedy family.

Mary Barbara Ward

Oct. 7, 1944 – July 31, 2025

Mary Barbara Chadwick Ward, 80, ew on the wings of an angel to her home in Glory on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at her daughter’s home, surrounded by love and family.

She was born on October 7, 1944, at home in Pender County, the daughter of Elbert and Mary Harris Chadwick. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lennis Ward; a son, Michael Ward; a sister, Betty Rivenbark; and a brother, Gene Chadwick.

Barbara worked for the Pender County School System for 19 years. In later years, she did home care for senior citizens, which she enjoyed very much.

She has two daughters, Donna Ward Tyson (Emery Farmer) and JoAnn Ward Schettig-Young (Allen); grandchildren, Brandon Tyson, Chris Tyson, Erik Schettig (Sidney), Mason Schettig, Amelia Little (Paul), and Maggie Jo Ward; great grandchildren, Morgan, Molly, Addie, Shadow, Ingrid, Henry, Paige, and Ian; brother, Ray Chadwick (Patsy); sisters, Mamie Rivenbark and Gracie Atkinson; brother-in-law, Jerry Rivenbark; and many nieces and nephews.

Barbara loved to work in her garden and cook; baking delicious cakes was her specialty. Her grandchildren were all very special in her life. She attended Gateway Community Church, where she often worked in the food bank.

The memorial service will be 1 p.m. on Monday, August 4, 2025, at Quinn McGowen Funeral Home Burgaw Chapel with The Rev. Dr. Howard Harrell and Rev. Merrell McKoy conducting the service. The family will receive friends at the funeral home following the memorial service.

Backstreet Music Festival brings Wallace together for a day of celebration

Community spirit lled downtown Wallace last Saturday as locals gathered for the Backstreet Music Festival along historic Boney Street. The event featured live music, food trucks, local vendors and family-friendly activities, all in celebration of a legacy of unity that dates back to the segregation era. Backstreet was once the vibrant heart of the community, home to thriving businesses and a place where residents found pride and belonging. During segregation, it served as a safe cultural gathering spot, o ering a space to eat,

socialize and connect. The festival continues to honor this rich history of community, entrepreneurship and togetherness.

PHOTOS BY REBECCA WHITMAN COOKE FOR DUPLIN

Stanly NewS Journal

Wet and wild

A teen discovers the thrill of wakeboarding at a Wake the World event on Lake Tillery late last month. The organization, founded by Greg Hodgin, brings joy to children, veterans and families through watersports. Read more on Page B4.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Whatsit Books to hold pop-up book signing at Livi Bug’s Boutique on Saturday

Livi Bug’s Boutique on 106 South 2nd St., will partner with proposed downtown Albemarle bookstore Whatsit Books to host a pop -up book signing event Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will feature local romance author Lea Robinson, one half of The New York Times bestselling writing duo Alexa Riley. Whatsit Books will o er new and used books for sale, including “Blind Date with a Book” options.

Violent crime in U.S. dropped 4.5% last year, FBI data shows

A new FBI report says violent crime in the United States fell 4.5% last year, while property crime dropped 8% from the year before. The FBI statistics released Tuesday show murder and nonnegligent manslaughter in the U.S. fell nearly 15% in 2024, continuing a decline that’s been seen since a coronavirus pandemic- era crime spike. Reported hate crimes decreased 1.5%. The FBI collects data through its Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

House committee subpoenas for Epstein les, depositions with Clintons

The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed the Justice Department for les in the Je rey Epstein investigation and is also seeking depositions with the Clintons and eight former top law enforcement o cials from multiple presidential administrations.

Stanly commissioners approve demolition of unsafe mobile home

An eviction notice will be served to any remaining occupants

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

ALBEMARLE — A dilapidated mobile home on a 3.3-acre property in Rich eld will soon be demolished after multiple violations of Stanly County’s Minimum Housing Code were unaddressed by property owners. At Monday night’s Stanly County Board of Commissioners meeting, the board voted 4 -2 to approve an ordinance authorization for demolition and removal at 49122 Willie Road because the home was declared un t for human habitation.

Vice Chairman Brandon King joined Commissioners Scott E rd, Trent Hatley and Billy Mills voted for the move, while Chairman Mike Barbee and Commissioner Bill Lawhon voted against it.

Lawhon was in favor of slowing down the process, noting that the majority of the property taxes had been paid, although the payment details were unclear.

“Could this be brought back to our next meeting?” Lawhon asked. “The reason I’m asking is that somebody paid taxes on it, and that person might be willing to save the property. They will still own the property — we’ll just have a lien against it. I’d like to know if they’re willing to pay what it’s going to cost to have it removed before we remove it.”

The adopted ordinance authorizes Zoning Code Enforcement O cer Michael Williams to proceed with demolition and allows the planning department to serve a notice of eviction to any remaining occupants.

Costs for removal will be covered by the county’s violation abatement budget and placed as a lien against the property, which is owned by the three heirs of the late prop -

“I’m speaking on behalf of ve other neighbors who have all had problems.”

Steven Hatley Jr.

erty owner Winfred Steven Hatley: Steven Hatley IV, Harlon Hatley and Hunter Hatley. Williams stated that the county’s attempt at contacting the three owners has been unsuccessful.

The commissioners’ decision follows an 18-month enforcement process led rst by former zoning o cer Tim Swaringen and continued by Williams. The case began in January 2023 after then-planning director Bob Remsburg led a formal complaint regarding the deteriorating condition of the manufactured home.

Inspections revealed multiple code violations, including faulty electrical wiring

and plumbing, structural decay, lack of permanent heat and widespread unsanitary conditions.

A formal hearing held in April 2023 resulted in an order for the structure to be vacated and brought into compliance by July 18, 2023. However, a follow-up inspection in July 2023 found no progress had been made.

Steven Hatley Jr., the grandfather of the current heirs, recently visited the Stanly County Planning and Zoning Department to express concern over delays in removing the dilapidated mobile home. Hatley reported ongoing safety issues, including homeless individuals living behind the structure who have allegedly thrown glass bottles and rocks at pedestrians. He also noted that Elizabeth Garen Edwards, the mother of the current heirs, continues to occupy the dwelling despite its condemned status.

The funding is for a local waterline replacement project

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

RICHFIELD — A nonpro t water utility corporation based in Rich eld has been awarded nearly $5 million in state funding for a major infrastructure upgrade.

Gov. Josh Stein and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) recently announced that the Pfei er–North Stanly Water Association will receive $4.9 million in Drinking Water State Revolving Funds to support its North Main Street and Old U.S. 52 waterline replacement project.

The funding is part of a larger state allocation — morewthan $204 million — for 48 drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects across 27 counties in the state.

The Pfei er–North Stanly Water Association’s waterline replacement project is aiming to replace outdated and deteriorating water mains along two key roadways.

By upgrading these lines, it will modernize aging water infrastructure and ensure safe drinking water for residents in northern Stanly County. The project will help reduce the risk of service disruptions and improve overall system e ciency while also strengthening the utility’s ability to meet public health and environmental standards.

“These investments will help ensure North Carolinians have access to clean drinking water and will help keep people safe when disaster strikes.” North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein

THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

WEDNESDAY AUG 6 HI

North State Journal

(USPS 518620) (ISSN 2471-1365)

Neal Robbins, Publisher

Jim Sills, VP of Local Newspapers

Cory Lavalette, Senior Editor

Jordan Golson, Local News Editor

Shawn Krest, Sports Editor

Dan Reeves, Features Editor

Charles Curcio, Reporter

Jesse Deal, Reporter

PJ Ward-Brown, Photographer BUSINESS David Guy, Advertising Manager

anniversary

Oakville couple celebrates 60th anniversary in style

Surrounded by family and friends, Leonard and Donna Harvell celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary on July 6 at Five Points Public House in Albemarle. The couple was married on July 2, 1965. Their son, Je Harvell, and his wife, Charlene, hosted the elegant event, which featured a soft color palette of baby blue, baby pink, white and silver, accented with diamond crystal details.

Guests enjoyed appetizers, a lunch bu et and a custom two-tier cake named “Our First Dance.” The top tier was chocolate with fudge lling, and the second tier was vanilla with mascarpone cream cheese lling. Decorated with white royal icing and three tiers of roses, the cake was a centerpiece of the celebration.

The couple kicked o the festivities with a dance to “The Days of Wine and Roses,” and guests enjoyed music from a playlist of their favorite songs. Photos were taken beneath a 60th anniversary banner and a balloon arch.

POSTMASTER:

Send address changes to: North State Journal

1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

July 29

• Thomas Gray Smith, 55, was arrested for damaging real property.

July 30

• Debra Jean Hartsell, 33, was arrested for felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

July 31

• Joshua Darrell Hatley, 38, was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon, possession of methamphetamine, tra cking opium or heroin, maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/place for controlled substances and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Kevin Maurice Sturdivant, 38, was arrested for domestic criminal trespass and communicating threats.

August 1

• Gary Demetrius Crump, 32, was arrested for possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver marijuana, maintaining a vehicle/ dwelling/place for controlled substances, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance.

August 3

• Richard Anthony Victor Elwood, 35, was arrested for assaulting a government o cial/employee, driving while license revoked (not impaired), resisting a public o cer, communicating threats, assault by strangulation and damaging personal property.

Incorporated in 1964, the Pfei er–North Stanly Water Association has e ectively operated as a rural water utility provider as it delivers water purchased from the City of Albemarle to its member areas through its own distribution network.

“When you turn on the faucet in your home, you shouldn’t have to worry about whether that water is safe for your family,” Stein stated in a DEQ press release on July 23. “These investments will help ensure North Carolinians have access to clean drinking water

and will help keep people safe when disaster strikes.”

Collectively, the funding awards are designed to improve drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, identify and replace lead pipes, improve resiliency after future storms, and to address per uoroalkyl, poly uoroalkyl and other forever chemicals.

“At DEQ, we’re committed to ensuring everyone in North Carolina has access to clean water,” DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson added. “This funding will address aging infrastructure and improve public health for communities large and small.”

NOTICE OF ALBEMARLE CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARINGS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to the general public that the City of Albemarle City Council will conduct public hearing(s) concerning the item(s) listed below at the dates, times, and location provided herein:

ZMA 25-03- a public hearing will be held to consider a request to rezone a 3 27 +/- acre parcel on Knollwood Circle, tax record 4198 from the existing split zoning of GHBD General Highway Business District and R-10 General Residential to R-10 General Residential

The hearing(s) will be conducted in the City Council Chambers of City Hall , located at 144 N Second St ., Albemarle, N.C. 28001 at the following time(s): Monday, August 18th, 2025, at 6:30 p.m All interested parties are invited to attend the hearing. Anyone wishing to speak for or against this action shall adhere to applicable City policies and statutes regarding open meetings. The City Council approved agenda can be found on the city ’s website www.albemarlenc.gov

Dated: July 28, 2025

Publish: Wednesday, August 6, 2025, & Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Stanly County.

Aug. 9

Summer Moo-vie

Series: “Ferdinand” 6:30 p.m.

Free, family-friendly event where participants can enjoy goods from vendors o ering food, beverages, crafts and more. A petting zoo will be available for children. Admission is free; bring your own chairs

Aug. 11

DEQ reviewed 133 eligible applications requesting a combined $1.57 billion. The State Water Infrastructure Authority — an independent body responsible for awarding state and federal water infrastructure funding — approved the awards during its July 16 meeting; funding for this round came from the State Revolving Funds, including money from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Applications for service and payment information for the Pfei er–North Stanly Water Association are available at pfei ernstanlywater.com.

Aug. 13 Albemarle

Aug. 14

Locust

COURTESY CHARLENE HARVELL

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

COLUMN | STEVE GOLD

Record trucking-related carnage is no accident

American truck drivers move more than 70% of all freight across the country.

AFTER A FATAL ACCIDENT caused by a non-English-speaking trucker with a commercial drivers’ license (CDL), President Donald Trump ordered the Department of Transportation to review the nondomiciled CDLs issued by each state over the past four years. This is a massive victory for highway safety — preventing further loss of American lives.

Just ve years ago, new truckers had to produce a birth certi cate, speak English and con rm state residency to even qualify for a CDL. If the driver couldn’t speak English, he couldn’t get a driver’s test. Today, any evidence of a work permit or foreign visa is enough to qualify for a nondomiciled CDL.

In 2022, the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA) set high, federal standard training requirements through the Entry Level Driver Training rules. The goal was to make highways safer, in conjunction with state commercial driver training laws that have been in place for decades. But these new rules have more exemptions than the federal tax code. Employers, municipalities and online video providers, posing as educators, now provide commercial driver training through unchecked “self- certi cation.”

Consider for a minute that almost every state requires 16 -year- olds to attend a state licensed driver training program before they can get behind the wheel of an automobile. But, as Teamsters President Sean O’Brien just testi ed in the Senate Commerce Committee hearing, if you want to drive an 80,000 -pound truck on our nation’s highways, there is no oversight or enforcement of the new FMCSA rules. Because of the lack of enforcement, the fraud and abuse are profound as the FMCSA has allowed unquali ed “CDL training providers” to recruit and train unquali ed truck drivers, who ultimately degrade the American truck driving workforce and put the unsuspecting general public at risk every day.

The results have been catastrophic.

According to the National Highway Safety Administration, 153,472 highway truck accidents resulted in 5,472 highway fatalities in 2023, a 40% increase from 2014. The 2024 data show similar fatality rates. The odds of getting killed by a truck driver is 20 times greater than dying while ying on a U.S. airline.

More than 30,000 commercial driving schools are now approved by the FMCSA, but only 2,100 are state licensed. As founder and CEO of one of the nation’s largest commercial truck driving schools, I know rsthand that the largest employers or truckers make up only 10% of the trucking industry. These employers are rumored to be rejecting nearly half of truck driver applicants as they have strict safety guidelines and driver evaluation criteria.

But the $1 trillion U.S. trucking industry is 90% comprised of companies with 10 drivers or less with thin margins. These employers lack compliance and safety departments, and are hiring individuals trained at unquali ed schools. These are the trucking companies you’ve never heard of that are in the news every day causing another fatality. Everyone wants cheaper prices, and no one wants burdensome regulations, but at what cost?

In a letter to the FMCSA, the American Trucking Association outlined the problem and lambasted the agency for being too “insu ciently robust to shield prospective drivers and the motoring public from fraudulent and non- compliant training entities that fast-track CDL applicants with minimal, if any, training.”

Some states aren’t waiting for the FMCSA to take action and are taking matters into their own hands. California, which was second in the nation in the most highway fatalities in 2023, unanimously passed a bill to eliminate

nefarious commercial- driving schools in the state. Florida and Colorado, among others, are sending cease-and- desist letters to unlicensed commercial training schools that assert they are exempt because of “new federal rules” and ignoring state laws.

Trump’s requested study, coupled with his executive order requiring commercial truck drivers to be pro cient in English, should disqualify many recently minted unquali ed commercial drivers, if properly enforced. Substandard training providers who falsely attested in the Federal Training Provider Registry, should not only be removed from the program but also face the same explicit penalties as those who abused the Paycheck Protection Program after the pandemic. That alone would prevent unquali ed drivers from getting behind the wheel and putting us all at risk.

American truck drivers move more than 70% of all freight across the country. They keep supply chains running — from delivering food and medicine to stocking shelves and fueling factories. Their hard work, often behind the scenes, keeps America moving, and they deserve to be well- compensated.

The trucking industry applauds Trump and Secretary of Transportation Sean Du y for already doing so much to protect America’s truck drivers and our highways. We look forward to working alongside them to go a step farther and enforce the FMCSA rules and protect the American public by eliminating nefarious CDL training schools.

With approximately 3,000 accidents and 100 fatalities each week caused by heavy trucks, the trucking industry and general driving public can’t wait much longer.

Steve Gold is the founder and chief executive o cer of 160 Driving Academy and the Truckers Network Association. This article was originally published by Daily Caller News Foundation.

COLUMN | MICHAEL BARONE

Heading toward midterm elections, Democrats not up o the floor

It looks like the Democrats’ baggage, especially from the Biden years, is heavier than the loads Trump Republicans must juggle.

HERE’S A CLUE that the o -year elections in November 2026 may not go the way conventional wisdom suggests. That conventional wisdom is that the president’s party almost always loses the House and, slightly less often, Senate seats.

There are two structural reasons for this. One is that parties in power tend to do things or produce results that some voters dislike. The second reason is that out-party candidates can adapt to local terrain, focusing on issues on which the president’s party’s stands are unpopular. But that depends on the out party being an acceptable alternative.

Which leads to the clue referred to above.

Politico’s Andrew Howard reports that former Democrats Brian Bengs in South Dakota (Trump +29 in 2024) and Todd Achilles in Idaho (Trump +36) are joining former Democrat Dan Osborn of Nebraska (Trump +20) to run for senator as self- declared independents, with no credible Democrat in the race.

Osborn did so in 2024, scaring incumbent Republican Rep. Deb Fischer while losing by only six points. This was an improvement on Greg Orman’s 2014 independent candidacy in Kansas, where he lost by 11 points in a state that was +22 Republican for president two years before.

Why are these Democrats, some in states such as South Dakota and Nebraska that have reelected Democratic senators in recent years, shunning the Democratic label? Most likely because, in a country of increased straight-ticket voting, they believe the Democratic label is political poison.

After four years of the Biden administration, the Pew Research Center said the presidential electorate moved favoring Democrats by six points in 2020 to favoring Republicans by one point in 2024, with Republicans close to equal among under-30 voters. “For months now,” Republican pollster Patrick Ru ni notes, “we’ve observed a new trend in polling: The Democratic Party’s favorability ratings have fallen below the GOP’s. That’s hardly ever happened before.”

The Wall Street Journal’s July 16 -20 poll shows that 63% of voters have negative feelings about the Democrats, the highest

since 1990. That poll also showed Republicans maintaining their 2024 lead in party identi cation, in sharp contrast to President Donald Trump’s rst term. And it showed pluralities of voters favored Republicans even on issues on which majorities disapproved of Trump’s most recent actions, including the economy, tari s, immigration, foreign policy and Ukraine.

It looks like the Democrats’ baggage, especially from the Biden years, is heavier than the loads Trump Republicans must juggle. Democrats’ credibility has been damaged as their arguments, one after another, have proven to be based on lies: the Russia collusion hoax, COVID -19 school closings, “transitory” in ation, the Hunter Biden laptop and open-borders immigration.

All of which suggests that Democrats’ hopes of overturning the Republicans’ 53- 47 Senate majority may rest more on independents running in Trump -heavy states than on purple-state Democrats. And, despite conventional wisdom, there’s a cognizable chance that Republicans will not lose the narrow 220 -215 majority they won in the House of Representatives in 2020.

Once upon a time, in the split-ticket voting era, Democrats maintained their large House majority in 1972 despite Richard Nixon’s 61% landslide by winning fully half the seats in House districts Nixon carried. Those days are gone. In 2024, voters in only 16 House districts split their ticket between president and congressman.

The Democrats’ problem is that Republicans are defending only three districts carried by former Vice President Kamala Harris, while Democrats are defending 13 seats won by Trump. That’s one of the reasons Steve Kornacki, to the dismay of his MSNBC audience, says Republicans could hold onto the House.

Meanwhile, Harry Enten dismays his CNN audience by pointing out that the narrow leads Democrats enjoy in House generic ballot polling leave them not nearly as well positioned for 2026 as they were at this point in 2005 and 2017 for their big gains in 2006 and 2018.

Core Democratic hatred of and obsession with Trump will certainly have them stomping

to the o -year polls, and Trump Republicans’ newly biracial and young male coalition may not be similarly motivated. But Republican gains are widespread, while Democratic gains are scarcely visible. As Bloomberg columnist Conor Sen writes, “It’s currently not possible to identify any cohort of potential rst-time Dem voters.”

As The New York Times’ brilliant graphics point out, Trump has gained a percentage over three elections in 1,433 counties with 42 million people, while his Democratic opponents gained three times in only 57 counties with 8 million people. “For years, the belief was Democrats have had demographic destiny on our side,” pollster Ben Tulchin said.

“Now, the inverse is true.”

Veteran liberal reporter Thomas Edsall portrays in his Times online column a “realignment (with) staying power” and fears. There is a “real possibility that discontent with the Democratic Party — its perceived failure to value work, its political correctness, the extremity of its social and cultural liberalism — might have become deeply embedded in the electorate.”

Meanwhile, the economic numbers are coming in more positively than those who predicted doom in April from Trump’s tari s (I called them “lunatic”), and as analyst Nate Silver writes, “There remains a strong case that voters are concerned about the economy and the cost of living, but that everything else is priced in.” As for the fuss over the Epstein tapes, Silver writes, “It looks like we’re back to the usual pattern: The overwhelming majority of voters either already hate Trump, or are happy to shrug o his scandals.”

“The country is moving toward Trump,” says Chris Matthews, onetime sta er for Jimmy Carter and Tip O’Neill. “They want a president who is a strong gure. And he’s got it. And half the country buys it.” Nothing’s inevitable in politics, but so far, the Democrats have not gotten up o the oor.

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.”

JORDAN GOLSON / STANLY NEWS JOURNAL

Volvo trucks lined up outside the company’s assembly plant in Dublin, Virginia.

The new board was created as part of the town’s overall e orts to create a comprehensive recreation plan

By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal

NORWOOD — At Mon-

day’s Norwood town meeting, the council unanimously approved to establish a new advisory board for the town’s parks and recreation department.

The council voted 4 - 0, with council member Robbie Cohen not in attendance, to establish a seven-member board to advise the town on recreation issues.

The suggestion for the board came at the June meeting, coming out an advisory group

BOARD from page A1

which assisted the town with the creation of a comprehensive recreation plan recently.

Michael Sandy, the town’s zoning o cer, said the board would meet as often as the town council deemed necessary.

“There is always preplanning for ball seasons coming up. (The board could) have some input on Arbor Day and eld usage for di erent teams,” Sandy said. “Let (the board) bring it up instead of sta members here in town hall having to deal with parks and rec.”

He added the board could “step in and give some guidance” on those issues.

When asked by councilmember Keith Morgan if the board had any power to make decisions, Sandy said the new parks and recreation board would only advise the town council.

Morgan also asked if the new advisory board would

have “the authority to say who can and can not use the facilities,” to which Sandy said the new board would not.

Town administrator Ray Allen noted the board had six names instead of the full seven to start the board, and added the bylaws were written so only three of the new board’s members could reside outside of town.

After a discussion, the board determined thenal spot on the parks and rec

“I

The

advisory board could go to someone from out of town using those parameters.

Allen also said having an active parks and rec board would be helpful for the town to apply for various grants in the future.

Morgan moved to approve the new board with the amendment for the board to meet quarterly. The board also elected six members to three levels of staggered terms. Toby Thorpe, Lisa Coone and Kevin Dockery were named to three-year terms ending June 2028. Tonya Edwards and Jules Cohen were appointed to two-year terms, and Norwood Police Chief James Wilson was nominated to a one-year term. Mayor Linda Campbell moved to approve the new members, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem James Lilly.

Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements to be published in Stanly News Journal. community@stanlynewsjournal.com | Weekly deadline is Monday at

Heather Ross Miller

Sept. 15, 1939 – July 9, 2025

Heather Ross Miller, a proli c author, poet, and educator, passed away in July 9th, 2025 in Lexington, Virginia. She was 85. She is survived by her daughter, Melissa Miller of Albemarle, North Carolina; her son, Kirk Miller (Tina); and her grandsons, Alexander and Finnegan Miller of Natural Bridge, Virginia. She was preceded in death by her husband Clyde Miller, a WWII Pearl Harbor survivor. Heather was born on September 15, 1939, in Badin, North Carolina, to Fred and Geneva Ross, both now deceased. Heather grew up in a family of storytellers famously known as “The Writing Rosses.” Many of her works use the old aluminum-smelting town of Badin as a background.

OBITUARIES

Heather, who would go on to publish over a dozen books of poetry, ction, and short stories. Heather earned both her undergraduate and MFA degrees from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Over the years, she taught English and creative writing at Pfei er College, the University of Arkansas, and Washington and Lee University in Virginia. She is remembered as a dedicated and inspiring educator. Heather was a literary force in North Carolina and beyond winning the North Carolina Award for Literature in 1983. At age 25, she published her debut novel, The Edge of the Woods (1964), launching a distinguished career that spanned more than ve decades.

Among her most cherished works is Crusoe’s Island (2000), an autobiographical account of her family’s years living near Singletary Lake State Park. Her contributions to literature include titles such as Tenants of the House (1966), which won the Sir Walter Raleigh Award, Gone a Hundred Miles (1968), Champeen (1999), Creative Writing Murders (2007), Women Disturbing the Peace (2018), and numerous volumes of poetry and short stories, including Hard Evidence and Friends and Assassins. The family wishes to thank Trinity Place of Albemarle, NC, The May ower of Lexington, Va, and Connection Plus Healthcare.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Stanly News Journal at obits@ northstatejournal.com

Popular 1980s actor Loni Anderson of ‘WKRP in Cincinnati’ dead at 79

The show, about an Ohio radio station, aired from 1978 to 1982

By Christopher Weber The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Loni Anderson, who played a struggling radio station’s empowered receptionist on the hit TV comedy “WKRP in Cincinnati,” died Sunday, just days before her 80th birthday.

Anderson died at a Los Angeles hospital following a prolonged illness, said her longtime publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan.

“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother,” Anderson’s family said in a statement.

“WKRP in Cincinnati” aired from 1978 to 1982 and was set in a agging Ohio radio station trying to reinvent itself with rock music. The cast included Gary Sandy, Tim Reid, Howard Hesseman, Frank Bonner and Jan Smithers, alongside Anderson as Jennifer Marlowe, whose good looks were matched by her intelligence.

As the station’s receptionist, the blonde and high-heeled Jennifer routinely de ected unwanted business calls for her boss, Mr. Carlson. Her efciency often kept the station running in the face of others’ incompetence.

The role earned Anderson two Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe nominations.

Anderson starred on the big screen alongside Burt Reynold s in the 1983 comedy “Stroker Ace,” and the two later married and became tabloid xtures before their messy breakup in 1994.

Their son, Quinton Reynolds, was “the best decision that we ever made in our entire relationship,” she said during the unveiling of a bronze bust at Reynolds’ Hollywood grave site in 2021.

“I think back to the beginning of our relationship, it was so, oh, gosh, tabloidy. We were just a spectacle all the time. And it was hard to have a relationship in that atmosphere. And somehow, we did it through many ups and downs,” Anderson told The Associated Press. Anderson detailed their tumultuous marriage in the 1995 autobiography, “My Life in High Heels,” which she said was about “the growth of a woman, a woman who survives.”

“I think if you’re going to write about yourself, you have to do it warts and all,” Anderson told the AP while promoting the book. “You may not even tell the nicest things about yourself because you’re telling the truth.”

She married four times, most recently to Bob Flick in 2008.

Anderson was born Aug. 5, 1945, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her father was an environmental chemist, and her mother was a model. Her rst role as an actress was a small part in the 1966 lm “Nevada Smith,” starring

Steve McQueen. Most of her career was spent on the small screen with early guest parts in the 1970s on “S.W.A.T.” and “Police Woman.” After “WKRP,” Anderson starred in the short-lived comedy series “Easy Street” and appeared in made-for-TV movies, including “A Letter to Three Wives” and “White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd.” In 2023, she co-starred in Lifetime’s “Ladies Of The 80s: A Divas Christmas” with Linda Gray, Donna Mills, Morgan Fairchild and Nicollette Sheridan.

“I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of the wonderful Loni Anderson!” Fairchild wrote on X. “The sweetest, most gracious lady! I’m just devastated to hear this.” Anderson is survived by Flick, her daughter Deidra and son-in law Charlie Ho man, son Quinton Anderson Reynolds, grandchildren McKenzie and Megan Ho man, stepson Adam Flick and wife Helene, and step-grandchildren Felix and Maximilian.

A private family service is planned at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Kagan said.

KENNETH JOSEPH LOWDER SR. APRIL 2, 1943 – JULY 30, 2025

Kenneth Joseph Lowder Sr., 82, of Norwood, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. A private family service will be held at a later date to honor his life.

Born on April 2, 1943, in Toledo, Ohio, he was the son of the late Gilbert Lowder and Julia Riggo Lowder. Kenneth proudly served in the U.S. Army as part of an artillery unit and later retired as a land ll manager.

Kenneth had a deep love for the outdoors. He was an avid sherman and hunter, and he had a lifelong passion for drag racing, participating in the sport for nearly 20 years. He enjoyed working on cars and riding motorcycles. He also had a soft spot for his dogs and found joy in the simple pleasures of life.

To his family, Kenneth was more than just a husband and father—he was a best friend, mentor, provider, and protector. His wife described him with one word: Love. He shared a special bond with his son, often joking and carrying on in a way only they understood. He was deeply proud of his children and cherished every moment spent with them.

Kenneth is survived by his loving wife, Theresa Dixon Lowder; children, Kristy Meggs (Steve) of Indian Trail, Kenneth Joseph Lowder Jr. (Meredith) of Norwood, and Julia Lowder of Charlotte; brother, Gilbert Lowder (Ginny) of Columbus, OH; sister, Joyce Procetto (Je ) of St. Petersburg, FL; seven grandchildren, Katelyn Lee, Hanna Meggs, Summer Lowder, Steven Meggs, Cylus Baskins, Russell Lowder, and Stormy Skidmore; and two great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son Jason Patrick Lowder and a brother, Robert Lowder.

Kenneth will be remembered for his big heart, his adventurous spirit, and the unwavering love he had for his family.

HAZEL KENDALL

MAY 22, 1955 – AUG. 1, 2025

Hazel Kendall, 70, of Mt. Gilead, passed away peacefully on August 1, 2025, surrounded by her loving family and friends.

The family will receive friends at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at Twin Harbor Worship Center. A memorial service will follow at 4 p.m., o ciated by Pastor Tommy Blackwell.

Hazel was born on May 22, 1955, in Moundsville, West Virginia, to the late Delilah and Harry Wright Sr. She attended high school in Augusta, Georgia, and later completed her education at Wilkes Community College. Hazel devoted much of her life to caring for others through her work as a nursing assistant.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 44 years, John Kendall, who lovingly described her as “the heart of his life and an angel sent from God above.” She is also survived by her son, Michael James Kendall (Janie) of Little Washington, NC; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; her sister, Anna Wright of Augusta, GA; and her brothers, Harry Wright Jr. and Dennis Wright, both of Augusta, GA.

In addition to her parents, Hazel was preceded in death by her daughter, Sarah Young, and her brother, Thomas Wright. Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care is serving the Kendall family.

DONNA ROSE HUNEYCUTT

NOV. 1953 – AUG. 3, 2025

Donna Rose Huneycutt, 71, of Stanly County, passed away peacefully on the evening of August 3, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family. Born in Stanly County to Louise Smart and the late Dean Smart, Donna was a woman whose kindness and generosity touched everyone she met. Grounded in a deep and unwavering faith in God, Donna believed her purpose in life was to serve others—and she lived that out fully. God gave her the incredible gift of service, and she used it to bless all those around her. She lived her life with a servant’s heart—always thinking of others, o ering compassion freely, and showing up for those who needed her without hesitation.

Donna was the beloved wife of Leon Huneycutt of 50 years and devoted mother to Bradley Huneycutt (Cindy), Brent Huneycutt (Brandy), and Brittany Medlin (Michael). She was the proud grandmother of Brittany Jenkins, Logan Huneycutt, Chayse Huneycutt, Gracie Huneycutt, Rory Huneycutt, Mila Medlin, and Olivia Medlin, all of whom were the lights of her life.

She is also survived by her loving mother, Louise Smart, and her brothers, Mike and David Smart.

Donna had a deep love for gardening and took great joy in making Christmas magical for her family each year. Her quiet strength and dependable spirit were a comfort to all who knew her. She was a long-time supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, re ecting her lifelong dedication to helping others.

Donna was deeply loved and will be missed beyond measure.

There will be no public services! Memorial donations may be made in her name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

RICHARD SHOTWELL / INVISION / AP

Loni Anderson arrives at the 22nd Annual Race To Erase MS Event in Los Angeles in 2015.

STANLY SPORTS

COURTESY BO KINARD

Jennings Kinard takes a swing during the U.S. Kids Golf World Championships event in Pinehurst.

Locust golfers show o skills at U.S. Kids Golf World Championships

This past weekend’s tournament marked the 26th annual event

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

LOCUST — Two young golfers from Locust represented Stanly County at the 2025 U.S. Kids Golf World Championships in Pinehurst over the weekend.

The 26th annual event brought together over 1,500 children ages 5 to 12 from every U.S. state and more than 50 countries to compete on an international level.

Maverick Craig and Jennings Kinard — both regulars at Locust’s Red Bridge Golf Course — each nished in the top half of their respective leaderboards.

In the 9-year-old boys’ division, Craig tied for 57th out of 123 competitors from 19 di erent countries, nishing as the second-best performer from North Carolina at Pinehurst Resort’s 18-hole Pinehurst No. 1 course.

He landed 14-over par with a three-round total of 230, posting

rounds of 75 on Thursday, 78 on Friday and 77 on Saturday.

Sean Wilding, out of Bangkok, Thailand, won the division as he shot 7-under par with a three-round total of 209.

“Maverick’s coming home with a lot to be proud of: consistent scores, great memories, new friends from around the world, and a bunch of lessons to help him keep getting better,” said Nate Craig, Maverick’s father.

“As parents, we couldn’t be more proud of Maverick watching him do what he loves. Qualifying for the 2026 championship is underway, and he’s excited to keep working hard for a shot in next year’s eld.”

In the 6-and-under boys’ division, Kinard nished 21st out of 77 competitors from 13 di erent

countries at the nine-hole Midland Country Club, ranking as the top performer from North Carolina as he shot a 115 across three rounds, nishing 7-over par.

He opened with a 40 on Thursday and followed with a 36 on Friday before nishing with a 39 on Saturday.

Trey DeSantis, from Henderson, Nevada, red a 12-under 96 to take rst place in the division.

“U.S. Kids Golf and the town of Pinehurst put on a wonderful event,” said Bo Kinard, Jennings’ father. “Jennings enjoyed playing in the tournament, as well as meeting other golfers his age from around the world. We are extremely proud of the way he played and the con dence he is building on and o the course.”

Both golfers found out earlier in the year that they had quali ed for the championship event due to their strong performances in local tournaments throughout the state; they will now continue their gol ng journeys as they prepare to achieve a spot in the 2026 U.S. Kids World Championship.

West Stanly earns top-10 nish in Wells Fargo State Cup

The high school came in ninth place with 170 points

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

ALBEMARLE — Over the weekend, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association announced the nal standings for the 2024-25 Wells Fargo State Cup.

West Stanly was the only Stanly County school to make the list, nishing ninth in the 2A classi cation with 170 points.

The overall winners were Christ the King (1A) with 410, Seaforth (2A) with 527.5, North Lincoln (3A) with 407.5 and Cardinal Gibbons (4A) with 567.5.

“The NCHSAA, in conjunction with Wells Fargo, is proud

to release the nal standings in the 46th annual Wells Fargo Cup competitions for the 20242025 academic year,” the NCHSAA stated in a Aug. 1 media release. “The awards recognize the high schools that achieve the best overall interscholastic athletic performance within each of the state’s four competitive classi cations.”

The bulk of West Stanly’s points in the State Cup 2A standings came from its softball state championship victory and its runner-up nish in the baseball state championship. According to guidelines, State Cup points are awarded based on performance in state championship events, with schools that nish in the top eight — including ties — earning points. In championships that include teams from multiple classi ca-

tions, points are determined by each school’s nal placement. Points are awarded in each sport as follows: 50 for rst place, 45 for second, 40 for

Madison Kirkland takes a swing for West Stanly during softball season.

third, 35 for fourth, 30 for fth, 25 for sixth, 20 for seventh and 15 for eighth. In the event of a tie, teams receive an equal number of

points based on the number of schools tied and those nishing ahead of them; an additional ve points are given for each sanctioned sport in which a school quali es for postseason competition.

For the NCHSAA’s Wells Fargo Conference Cup award, which is a companion to the statewide competition based on regular-season performances within conference play, Stanly County was not represented.

Piedmont won the Rocky River 2A/3A crown, besting West Stanly, while Union Academy came out on top for the Yadkin Valley 1A/2A title over North Stanly, South Stanly and Albemarle.

Both Piedmont and Union Academy are consecutive Wells Fargo Conference Cup winners in their respective conferences.

COURTESY NATE CRAIG

Stanly County 9-year-old Maverick Craig poses while competing at the U.S. Kids Golf World Championships event in Pinehurst.

“U.S. Kids Golf and the town of Pinehurst put on a wonderful event.” Bo Kinard

Paul Gervase was traded Friday in a three-team deal to the Los Angeles Dodgers

By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal

THE MAJOR League Baseball trade deadline was July 31 this year, and a former Pfei er University pitcher was part of a three-way deal.

Just before the deadline, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds and Tampa Bay Rays put together a deal to send right-hander Paul Gervase, a former Falcon, to the Dodgers. The Dodgers also received

left-handed pitcher Adam Serwinowski from the Reds and catcher Ben Rortvedt from the Rays.

Right-handed pitcher Zack Littell was shipped to Cincinnati, and the Rays got catcher Hunter Feduccia from the Dodgers and right-handed pitcher Brian Van Belle from the Reds.

Gervase debuted with Tampa Bay on June 21 this season, pitching 62⁄3 innings in ve games, allowing three earned runs on three hits with ve walks and six strikeouts. He became the fth Pfei er product to pitch in the majors and rst since Dorn Taylor in 1990.

During his time with the Triple-A Durham Bulls, Gervase appeared in 28 games with a 3.12 earned-run average. He was 2-3 with four saves this season.

In 401⁄3 innings pitched, he had the fth-best strikeouts minus walks rate, 31.7%, in the minor leagues for pitchers who had thrown a minimum of 30 innings.

On Saturday, the Dodgers optioned Gervase to the team’s Triple-A franchise in Oklahoma City, where he appeared in and nished out the game that night with a scoreless inning in a 3-2 loss.

Gervase would be the tallest pitcher to ever don a Dodgers

Owen James is a three-time state champion in waterskiing

By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal

BADIN — A Badin 8-year-old has become a success in the ranks of water ski jumping.

Owen James, the son of Tommy James and Anna McLaurin, is a three-time state slalom champion in the Boy 1 division, having won the past three years. He is coached by his father, Tommy, and Bill Barringer. James won the overall wa-

terski state championship for two summers running and has received national ranking this year in slalom (17th) and jumping (sixth in the Boys 2 division).

This summer, James took rst place in the Boys 2 Division ump at the North Carolina State Championship, taking on competitors two to four years older than he is because the Boys 1 Division does not have a jump division in his age range.

As one of the youngest water jump skiers in the nation and world, James recently quali ed to ski in the upcoming Regional Championships in Greenwood, South Carolina, and the Nation-

al Championships in Bakerseld, California. James’ personal best in slalom is three buoys at a speed of 30.4 mph, and his best jump distance in competition is 43 feet. In practice, he has jumped as far as 50 feet and has a goal this season to jump 60 feet.

Eventually, before he leaves the Boys 1 division in 2027, James said his goal is to jump 100 feet.

A rising third grader at Badin Elementary, James started water skiing when he was 21⁄2 years old and has been competing since he was 5. He trains three to four days per week and competes in tour-

naments on the weekends with his father.

According to Tommy, the two would often practice skiing in the cold pool at the Stanly County Family YMCA with a homemade waterski set-up. This would simulate what it feels like to be pulled along in the water. This practice rst started when the younger James was just 2 years old.

Owen James said he wanted to thank Barringer for his support in skiing. Barringer, a member of the North Carolina Waterski Hall of Fame, is from Rich eld and currently holds the national jump record for the Men’s 6 Jump Division at 110 feet.

When he is not in school or training, James said his hobbies are basketball, drawing, radio-controlled cars and “showing o .”

DUANE BURLESON / AP PHOTO

Paul Gervase pitches for the Tampa Bay Rays in a game against the Detroit Tigers last month.

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Having quali ed as Administrator of the estate of Rebecca Harwood Edwards deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, This is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Rebecca Harwood Edwards to present them to the undersigned on or before Oct 17, 2025, or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This 16th day of July, 2025 John Christopher Edwards 345 Mount Pleasant Road N Mount Pleasant, NC 28124 Administrator

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Having quali ed as Administratrix of the estate of Judith Little McGee, deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina. This is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Judith Little McGee to present them to the undersigned on or before Oct 31, 2025, or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

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NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 22E000715-830

WRIGHT HINSON; Heirs of James Wright Heirs of Diane Brown Wright; JAMES SWARINGEN; Heirs of Bobby Ray Wright: JOWANNA FISHER; AUSTRALIA WRIGHT; Heirs of William Earl Wright: EARL JUNIOR WRIGHT; Heirs of William Emanuel Wright: WILLIAM JAMIA WRIGHT; TYSEAN WRIGHT; WILHEMINA W. GREEN; DENISE W. HARRIS; RACHEL W. THREADGILL; Heirs of Clark Oliver Wright, Sr.: MARY TYSON WRIGHT (wife of Clark Oliver Wright, Sr. CLARK WRIGHT, JR.; AARON WRIGHT; EARL O. WRIGHT; LADEBORAH W. BRUTON; BERNICE W. WANCHIA; ANGEL W. JOHNSON; Heirs of MARTHA ELLEN WRIGHT; Heirs of Mae Esther Wright Martin: TORRENCE LOUIE FUNDERBURK; TORRENA FUNDERBURK SMITH; Heirs of Connie Wright Rushing:

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JOWANNA FISHER AUSTRALIA WRIGHT

Wake the World: Changing lives one ride at a time

The nonpro t has grown to host about 45 events a year across the U.S. and Canada

By Dan Reeves Stanly News Journal

WAKE THE WORLD is more than an organization or a wakeboarding event — it’s a mission to bring joy to children, veterans and families who might never get the chance to experience the thrill of riding a wakeboard, waterskiing or simply doing something they thought impossible.

A 2006 car accident nearly cost Greg Hodgin his life.

“My truck ipped three times, and everything ew out except for me,” Hodgin said. “I wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, and my feet were where my butt was, and my head was out the passenger window.”

During a long recovery, the husband, father and business owner started pondering his path.

“It made me realize I needed to think about my life — what was I doing, and what was my purpose.”

The crash led Hodgin, a sixtime Masters Wakeboard state champion and U.S. Masters champion, to reevaluate what mattered most. At a church service, he heard a testimony about children in need.

In 2010, after a challenging experience at the marina where the rst two events were held, Hodgin started looking for a new venue. He’d been doing repairs and improvements at his own cost and even o ered help from his painting business to spruce up the place. But the marina owner said no. So Hodgin said he prayed for a better place to hold the events.

Hours later, he walked into Old North State Club at Badin Lake — an upscale, well-maintained marina. The manager greeted him with, “What can we do to get you here?”

“That was a clear sign,” Hodgin said. “It felt like everything had fallen into place, and we’ve been there ever since.”

Wake the World has spread across the country and Canada, giving children, veterans and families an unforgettable experience.

One of those stories sticks with Hodgin — a young man named James, who was ready to quit.

ask how they can help, don’t just say, ‘Give me money.’” Local businesses, boat dealers and gear companies have stepped up, o ering shirts, hats and boat cleaners to improve the experience.

“Some dealers send us gear that makes the day more fun for everyone,” Hodgin said. What started with children’s homes soon grew to include veterans and people with disabilities. Hodgin helped launch adaptive wakeboarding events to make sure everyone could ride.

“When we rst started adaptive events, I had no idea what to expect,” he said. “But we were determined to make it happen.” At one event, a nonverbal child was trying wakeboarding for the rst time.

“The boat driver asked, ‘How do you know if he’s happy?’ The parents said, ‘If he’s happy, he’ll slap his forehead,’” Hodgin recalled.

That was the beginning of Wake the World.

Hodgin set out to give children from local homes the chance to go wakeboarding. What started with a few boats and a couple of kids turned into something much bigger, growing into a nationwide movement with 45 events planned for 2025 as far west as Oregon.

He organized the rst event at High Rock Lake.

“I had self-doubt,” Hodgin said. “I wasn’t sure why anyone would let me take their kids out on the water. But I did it anyway.”

That rst event involved eight

“I thought, these kids don’t get the things my own kids take for granted,” he said. “They deserve more.”

“Every summer, I hear kids say, ‘This is the best day of my life,’ and it humbles me. To see the joy and excitement on their faces makes all the hard work worth it.”

Greg Hodgin, Wake the World founder

boats and children from two local homes. Its success laid the foundation for everything that followed.

“He was about to drop out of school and leave the children’s home,” Hodgin said. “I told him, ‘You’ve made it this far, why quit now? Stick it out for three more months. Finish school, and the state will pay for your college.’”

A year later, James returned to a Wake the World event. This time, everything had changed.

“He came up to me and said, ‘I’m in college because of you,’” Hodgin said. “To hear that was incredibly rewarding. It made me realize we’re truly making a di erence.”

At its core, Wake the World is a community e ort. Hodgin doesn’t just ask for money; he builds relationships.

“You have to know what you need,” he said, “and when people

As the boat picked up speed, the child started slapping his forehead. “The driver looked in the mirror, saw that and came back teary-eyed,” Hodgin said. “He told me, ‘I just want to quit my job and do this forever.’”

Outside of Wake the World, Hodgin is a decorated athlete. On top of his Masters’ resume, he received the Larry Meddock Award (Watersports Man of the Year) in 2015 and the “Pass the Handle” award from Wakeboarding Magazine in 2019. But for Hodgin, the biggest reward is what Wake the World has become — and where it’s going.

“Every summer, I hear kids say, ‘This is the best day of my life,’ and it humbles me,” he said. “To see the joy and excitement on their faces makes all the hard work worth it.”

MY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE FOR STANLY NEWS JOURNAL

Everyone enjoyed a relaxing day at the water during the Wake the World event at Lake Tillery on July 10.

South Stanly High School’s Trailblazers Club wins award

In just its second year, it has been recognized as Club of the Year

By Melinda Burris Stanly News Journal

NORWOOD — South Stanly High School’s Trailblazers Club has been named Club of the Year for the 2024-25 school year by the N.C. Youth Outdoor Engagement Commission. The organization is a member of the commission’s Trailblazers Program, a statewide initiative with the goal of encouraging North Carolina youth to get out and experience nature.

The advisers for the school’s club are Billie Conte, digital learning and media innovation facilitator, and Christy Wilson-Kaber, a science teacher. The two faculty members share much in common, as Conte also taught science for nearly two decades.

“Christy and I have worked together for a long time,” Conte said, describing their organiza-

tional approach to club activities as “just kind of tag teaming it.”

South Stanly High School was one of the rst schools to apply for the new program in 2023 and was accepted as one of 50 clubs for the 2023-24 school year. Since the organization’s inception, members have been exposed to a wide range of outdoor activities.

“We’ve done a variety of things,” Conte said, “I kind of try to let the kids have a say in what they’d like to do. I kind of

Weathered Pages Booktique looks to share the love of reading with a mobile bookshop

By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal

ONE NEW business focused on bookselling is seeking to bring the love of reading to customers instead of readers going to a store to nd a great story.

Two Rich eld Elementary teachers, Melanie Huneycutt and Crystal Morris, have opened a bookstore on wheels for various pop-up events called Weathered Pages Booktique.

On Friday, the mobile bookstore had its rst pop-up event in downtown Albemarle in the parking lot next to Make It Personal on South First Street.

The name for the booktique comes from the tragedies both have su ered in their lives, with Huneycutt losing a 2-month-old child and Morris’ husband passing away seven years ago.

“We have been through a lot together in our lives with our

give them ideas for some options ... and then they choose from there.”

The club’s excursions include several di erent ropes courses, zip lining in South Carolina, camping, hiking, disc gol ng, shing, skeet shooting and archery. Conte mentioned horseback riding as a particular highlight, observing how much she enjoyed hearing students comment that the experience was “so quiet and relaxing.” Mostly, the educator nds satisfaction

families,” Morris said. “That’s how Weathered Pages came about. We’ve weathered a lot of storms.

“We’ve been through a lot together, and we still made this happen, so there is always hope even when you feel like there is not.”

For both, books are an escape, and they created the mobile bookstore because they “want to be able to provide” an escape to others.

The logo for the converted camper is that of the birth ower and birth owers into heaven for the ones both lost.

Titles in the Weathered Pages Booktique are targeted more toward mothers and younger women, according to Morris, but the store on wheels has books from di erent young adult and other genres.

“We have a little bit of something for everybody,” Huneycutt said. “We de nitely love the secondhand (books). We wanted to provide books for people at an a ordable price.”

The teachers said they fell in love with the trailer when they saw it, saying it was more

in “just getting (students) away from their phones and technology for the day and having them enjoy nature and being outdoors.”

Local destinations, including Boone’s Cave Park, Morrow Mountain, Little Long Mountain and the Uwharrie National Forest, have provided ample opportunities for the students to get out, observe and engage outdoors.

The advisers have purposely kept membership in the club small, numbering a dozen or so students for safety and transportation reasons, but also because limiting the size of the group has advantages.

“It gives you an opportunity to get to know them more and for them to really get to know each other because they’re not in this large group that can be intimidating, and they don’t have their little cliques,” Conte said.

“We kind of just come together.”

She also credits the arrangement with helping to build bonds that encourage teamwork. Students of di erent grade levels and backgrounds nd themselves working together for a common goal.

“It’s really fun to watch them on the ropes courses and things when they’re scared, and then they’re coaching each other through. ... Just seeing them encourage each other and build

“I wasn’t expecting it, but I was very excited that we were chosen because of the variety of things that we tried.”

Billie Conte, club adviser

teamwork and get to know other people that they wouldn’t have probably engaged with otherwise has been really cool,” Conte said.

Conte said she was “shocked” by the Club of the Year honor.

“We try to do the best we can to get them out there and try new things. ... I wasn’t expecting it, but I was very excited that we were chosen because of the variety of things that we tried,” she said.

For schools considering applying to establish a Trailblazers Club of their own, Conte said, “I think it’s a great opportunity to get the kids away from technology and to get them outdoors and trying new things. I would say give it a chance and give it a try; I think it’s really good for the kids.”

The Trailblazers Program provides grant funding to public, private and charter middle and high schools throughout North Carolina.

eye-catching than bigger vehicles. Because both teach full time, a brick-and-mortar business was out of the question, so their business will have pop -up events and attend various festivals.

“This is just what practically ts our lives,” Morris said.

Both Huneycutt and Morris have three children each, which further take the time which would be spent on a store instead of the trailer.

“Right now, this is what works for us,” Huneycutt said.

Morris noted social media has helped to increase the number of people reading actual physical books and not just e-versions.

“Social media has really blown reading up,” Morris said.

“It’s become more of a hobby that’s more popular now than it used to be.”

The two are looking for donations of gently used books for their business, and more information on how to donate is available on their Facebook page.

“We have been through a lot together in our lives with our families. That’s how Weathered Pages came about. We’ve weathered a lot of storms.”

Crystal Morris

PHOTOS COURTESY SOUTH STANLY HIGH SCHOOL

Left to right, Billie Conte and Christy-Wilson Kaber

Solution to last week’s puzzle

Solution to this week’s puzzles

Powered up

A solar-powered charging station was installed at Merschel Park on West Fourth Street recently. The $16,000 installation, funded by the Winston-Salem Foundation and installed by Keep Winston-Salem Beautiful, can charge up to 13 devices simultaneously and is available for public use from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Violent crime in U.S. dropped 4.5% last year, FBI data shows Washington, D.C.

A new FBI report says violent crime in the United States fell 4.5% last year while property crime dropped 8% from the year before.

The FBI statistics released Tuesday show murder and nonnegligent manslaughter in the U.S. fell nearly 15% in 2024, continuing a decline that’s been seen since a coronavirus pandemic-era crime spike. Reported hate crimes decreased 1.5%. The FBI collects data through its Uniform Crime Reporting Program. Not all law enforcement agencies in the U.S. participate. The 2024 report is based on data from more than 16,000 agencies, or more than 86% of those agencies in the FBI’s program.

House committee subpoenas Epstein les, depositions with Clintons

Washington, D.C.

The House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed the Justice Department for les in the Je rey Epstein sex tra cking investigation and is seeking depositions with the Clintons and eight former top law enforcement o cials. Meanwhile, federal prosecutors are asking in court to unseal grand jury transcripts in the sex tra cking cases against Epstein and his ex-girlfriend but say there’s not much new in them.

$2.00

Winston-Salem adopts free fare policy for extreme weather conditions

The policy will waive xed route transit fees when it gets too hot or cold

By Ryan Henkel Twin City Herald

WINSTON-SALEM — Win-

ston-Salem is looking to better accommodate vulnerable citizens during periods of extreme weather.

At its Aug. 4 regular business meeting, the Winston-Salem City Council approved the adoption of changes to its transit policy to allow for the removal of fees in the case of extreme weather and special events.

“Last week and for nearly several days this week, we got a crash course of some very intense heatwaves,” said Director of Transportation Je Fansler.

“That prompted our sta to take a pause and go back and benchmark peer cities to see what the industry approach was to the issue of providing fare-free transit services when we have intense heat or cold.

“What we found was that ad-

opted fare policies and formal procedures around this didn’t really exist amongst transit providers around the state.”

The new policy establishes both a cold and hot weather threshold, as measured or forecasted by the weather station in Winston-Salem, that will cause Winston-Salem Transit Authority (WSTA) fares on xed route transit services to be free at certain times.

For cold weather, any consecutive four hours where the apparent temperature, or windchill, is at or below 20 degrees would see fares waived for those operational hours.

For hot weather, any part of a service day where the air temperature is at or above 95 degrees or the heat index is above 100 degrees would see fares waived between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.

According to Fansler, these thresholds are based on the National Weather Services’ published weather criteria for designating hazardous weather conditions.

The policy also states that if

NC US Senate race turns into battle for middle class

Roy Cooper vs. Michael Whatley may turn on issues rather than culture wars

By Thomas Beaumont and Gary D. Robertson The Associated Press

RALEIGH — Democrats

still in the dumps over last year’s elections have found

cause for optimism in North Carolina, where former Gov. Roy Cooper jumped into the race for that state’s newly open seat with a vow to address voters’ persistent concerns about making ends meet.

Even Republicans quietly note that Cooper’s candidacy makes their job of holding the seat more di cult and expensive. Cooper had raised

“What we found was that adopted fare policies and formal procedures around this didn’t really exist amongst transit providers around the state.”

Je Fansler, director of transportation

fares are waived, the city will issue a notice to community agencies, transit riders, media partners and local press to let citizens know in advance.

The WSTA average fare recovery revenue per day is approximately $2,300 and, according to city sta , periods of free fares would not signi cantly impact the nancial solvency of the authority.

In fact, Fansler stated that while the WSTA collects about $1 million in fare revenue a year, the city allocates approximately $30 million annually to fund it.

“We’re operating it at a loss,” said council member Annette Scippio. “So everything we give to our residents is a gift when it comes to that transit.”

The policy also designates authority to the manager’s of-

$2.6 million for his campaign between his Monday launch and Tuesday, and more than $900,000 toward allied groups.

Republicans, meanwhile, are hardly ceding the economic populist ground. In announcing his candidacy for the Senate on Thursday, Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley credited President Donald Trump with fullling campaign promises to working Americans and painted Cooper as a puppet of the left.

Still, Cooper’s opening message that he hears the worries of working families has given Democrats in North Carolina and beyond a sense that they can reclaim their place as the party that champions the middle class. They think it’s a mes-

ce to designate a free fare for special events such as election day or any other events in which the community may have interest.

The board also approved the sale of county-owned property containing a single-family house located at 3882 Draper St. for $204,000 in support of the city’s a ordable housing objectives.

According to Neighborhood Services Assistant Director Samuel Hunter, the total rehab cost for the property was around $82,500.

The board also approved the demolition and removal of structures at property located at 1405 E. 22nd St., 1515 E. 21st St. and 1526 E. 25th St.

The Winston-Salem City Council will next meet Aug. 18.

sage that could help them pick up a Senate seat, and possibly more, in next year’s midterm elections, which in recent years have typically favored the party out of power.

“I’m Roy Cooper. And I know that today, for too many Americans, the middle class feels like a distant dream,” the former governor said in a video announcing his candidacy.

“Meanwhile, the biggest corporations and the richest Americans have grabbed unimaginable wealth at your expense. It’s time for that to change.” Cooper’s plainspoken appeal may represent just the latest e ort by Democrats to nd their way back to power, but it has some thinking they’venally found their footing after

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Democratic governors may o er path forward for party out of power

Republicans have control

of D.C., state houses o er a respite

By Bill Barrow The Associated Press

ATLANTA — Anderson

Clayton wanted a headline name to speak at North Carolina Democrats’ summer gala — but the state party chair bypassed familiar Capitol Hill gures, looking instead to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

She described him as “a real ghter” against President Donald Trump, someone who gets things done because he controls levers of government — unlike any Democrat in Washington.

“I wanted people to hear from one of the Democratic governors who has defended their state, who could look at the president and say, ‘I’m in a position of power right now just like you are, and I’m doing good things,’” Clayton said.

Indeed, some Democratic activists see the party’s 23 governors as their best answer to Trump’s second Republican presidency. Those statehouse chiefs provide proof voters will embrace alternatives — and could give them a roadmap for the 2026 midterms, when Democrats hope at least to reclaim a U.S. House majority. They also will likely be central to the party’s hopes in the 2028 presidential race.

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last year’s resounding losses.

“I think it would do us all a lot of good to take a close look at his example,” said Larry Grisolano, a Chicago-based Democratic media strategist and former adviser to President Barack Obama.

Whatley, a former North Carolina GOP chairman and close Trump ally, used last Thursday’s announcement that he was entering the race to hail the president as the true champion of the middle class. He said Trump had already ful lled promises to end taxes on tips and overtime and said Cooper was out of step with North Carolinians.

“Six months in, it’s pretty clear to see, America is back,” Whatley said. “A healthy, robust economy, safe kids and communities and a strong America. These are the North Carolina values that I will champion if elected.”

Still, the decision by Cooper, who held statewide o ce for 24 years and has never lost an election, makes North Carolina a potential bright spot in a midterm election cycle when Democrats must net four seats to re-

There is no question Democrats are down at the federal level. Republicans control the White House, the House and the Senate, allowing Trump to pursue an aggressive agenda. The party lacks a singular leader, and recent polling shows Democrats are deeply pessimistic about their party’s future.

Yet many governors reject the narrative that Democrats are reeling.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a 46-year-old rst-term executive, points to his work on economic development, job growth and reducing crime.

“Who was the leader of the Civil Rights Movement? I mean, there were multiple people who had leadership roles,” Moore said. “I mean, if you want to see ... the direction that

take the majority — and when most of the 2026 Senate contests are in states Trump won comfortably last November.

State Rep. Cynthia Ball threw up a hand in excitement when asked Monday at the North Carolina Legislative Building about Cooper’s announcement.

“Everyone I’ve spoken to was really hoping that he was going to run,” said the Raleigh Democrat.

Democratic legislators hope having Cooper’s name at the top of the ballot will encourage higher turnout and help them in downballot races. While Republicans have controlled both General Assembly chambers since 2011, Democrats managed last fall to end the GOP’s veto-proof majority, if only by a single seat.

Republican strategists familiar with the national Senate landscape have said privately that Cooper poses a formidable threat.

The Senate Leadership Fund, a GOP super PAC a liated with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, wasted no time in challenging Cooper’s portrayal of a commonsense advocate for working people.

“People are willing to split their ballots because they connect the results they see on the ground with their governors.” Anderson Clayton, NC Democrats

people should be going, show me a place that’s delivering results.”

‘You have to deliver for people’

U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, has been in congressional majorities and in the minority. Now she’s the Democratic nominee for governor in one of two 2025 governor’s races. Her former House colleague Abigail Spanberger is the Democratic nominee in Virginia.

“I can tell you what attracted me to run for governor is that there’s no ability to blame anything on anybody else,” Sherrill said. “You have a vision as governor, and you have to deliver for people.”

Emily’s List President Jessica Mackler, whose organization backs Democratic women for public o ce, praised Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a possible 2028 presidential contender, and Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, who is seeking reelection in 2026, for canceling some medical debts.

Pritzker secured a $15 per hour state minimum wage. In Kansas, Democratic Governors Association chair and twoterm Gov. Laura Kelly worked with Republican legislative majorities to reduce and nally eliminate state sales taxes on groceries. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, who is running for the Senate, expanded Medicaid insurance coverage in states with Republican legislative majorities.

“Governors are so important because they are on the front lines,” Mackler said.

Democratic governors, she added, have shored up abortion access after the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision ended a national right to the procedure, and they’ve defended access to health care for transgender patients, even in conservative states. That includes Kentucky’s Beshear,

“Roy Cooper masquerades as a moderate,” the narrator in the 30-second spot says. “But he’s just another radical, D.C. liberal in disguise.”

Cooper, a former state legislator who served four terms as attorney general before he became governor, has never held an o ce in Washington. Still, Whatley was quick to link Cooper to national progressive gures such as New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, former Vice President Kamala Harris and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Whatley accused Cooper of failing to address illegal immigration and of supporting liberal gender ideology. He echoed the themes raised in the Senate Leadership Fund ad, which noted Cooper’s vetoes in the Republican-led legislature of measures popular with conservatives, such as banning gender-a rming health care for minors and requiring county sheri s to cooperate with federal immigration o cials.

“Roy Cooper may pretend to be di erent than the radical extremists,” Whatley said. “But he is all-in on their agenda.”

elected twice in a state Trump carried three times.

It’s about more than Trump

Some governors stand out as aggressive Trump critics, including some possible 2028 contenders.

“Our democracy is on the line,” Pritzker said at the North Carolina event. “Are you ready to ght?”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom jousts with the Trump administration on social media, and he’s produced podcasts aimed at Trump voters. Newsom and Pritzker both have asserted themselves in the partisan battle over redistricting congressional district boundaries, a matter Trump is pushing as a way to help the GOP hold more House seats in 2026.

But Sherrill and others say being a Democratic governor is not simply about opposing Trump on a personal or partisan level.

“People are furious that a president who ran on a ordability is actually raising costs on everyone,” she said.

She cited Trump’s trade wars and the GOP’s tax cuts that are tilted to the wealthy while their safety net program cuts hit the poor and working class. Democrats, she said, must level attacks based on how policies affect voters, then o er plausible alternatives.

“I’m talking to thousands of New Jerseyans every day, and what I’m hearing is, ‘I just need somebody who’s going to go to Trenton and deliver for me,’” Sherrill said.

Republicans have defended their bill, saying it was crucial because there would’ve been a massive tax increase after December when tax breaks from Trump’s rst term would expire.

Bright spots for Democrats

Bradley Beychok, a Democratic consultant and co-found-

Cooper rst won the governorship in 2016, while Trump was carrying the state in his rst White House bid. Four years later, they both carried the state again.

Cooper, who grew up in a small town roughly 50 miles east of Raleigh, has long declined requests that he seek federal o ce. He “understands rural North Carolina,” veteran North Carolina strategist Thomas Mills said. “And while he’s not going to win it, he knows how to talk to those folks.”

As with most Democrats, Cooper’s winning coalition includes the state’s largest cities and suburbs. But he has long made enough inroads in other areas to win.

“He actually listens to what voters are trying to tell us, instead of us trying to explain to them how they should think and feel,” said state Sen. Michael Garrett, a Greensboro Democrat.

In his video announcement, Cooper tried to turn the populist appeal Trump made to voters on checkbook issues against the party in power, casting him-

er of the American Bridge super political action committee, said the dynamics in Washington are frustrating.

“When you lose a presidential election and the House and the Senate, no one is happy, and they shouldn’t be,” he said. But, Beychok added, “the reality is we lost a close election” and had key down-ballot wins.

Republicans had the socalled Washington trifecta at the start of Trump’s rst term, and Democrats bottomed out then at just 15 out of 50 governors. But in succeeding years they ipped nine governors’ seats. Only one Democratic incumbent governor has lost since, and their current slate of 23 includes ve of seven presidential battlegrounds Trump swept in 2024.

“People are willing to split their ballots because they connect the results they see on the ground with their governors,” said Clayton, who celebrated a win in North Carolina by Democratic Gov. Josh Stein despite Trump carrying the state. “Now we just have to do a better job of localizing the federal elections the same way.”

A Spanberger win in Virginia would give Democrats 24 governors heading into 2026, when 36 executive seats will be on midterm ballots. New Jersey currently has a Democratic governor.

Governors can swing the presidential pendulum

History suggests a base of state power bodes well for opposition parties in Washington.

Bill Clinton was a longtime governor in 1992 when he ended Republicans’ winning streak of three presidential election landslides. His successor, George W. Bush, was among the many Republicans governors elected in the GOP’s 1994 midterm sweep. Before Clinton and Bush, Republican Ronald Reagan and Democrat Jimmy Carter won the presidency as former governors. Many current Democratic executives have visited early nominating states or, like Pritzker, general election battlegrounds. Most of them, Maryland’s Moore included, dismiss 2028 speculation.

self as the Washington outsider. Senior Cooper strategist Morgan Jackson said the message represents a shift and will take work to drive home with voters.

“Part of the challenge Democrats had in 2024 is we were not addressing directly the issues people were concerned about today,” Jackson said. “We have to acknowledge what people are going through right now and what they are feeling, that he hears you and understands what you feel.”

Pat Dennis, president of American Bridge 21st Century, a group that conducts research for an initiative called the Working Class Project, said Cooper struck a tone that other Democrats should try to match.

“His focus on a ordability and his outsider status really hits a lot of the notes these folks are interested in,” Dennis said. “I do think it’s a model, especially his focus on a ordability.”

“We can attack Republicans all day long, but unless we have candidates who can really embody that message, we’re not going to be able to take back power.”

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

COLUMN | STEVE GOLD

Record trucking-related carnage is no accident

American truck drivers move more than 70% of all freight across the country.

AFTER A FATAL ACCIDENT caused by a non-English-speaking trucker with a commercial drivers’ license (CDL), President Donald Trump ordered the Department of Transportation to review the nondomiciled CDLs issued by each state over the past four years. This is a massive victory for highway safety — preventing further loss of American lives.

Just ve years ago, new truckers had to produce a birth certi cate, speak English and con rm state residency to even qualify for a CDL. If the driver couldn’t speak English, he couldn’t get a driver’s test. Today, any evidence of a work permit or foreign visa is enough to qualify for a nondomiciled CDL.

In 2022, the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA) set high, federal standard training requirements through the Entry Level Driver Training rules. The goal was to make highways safer, in conjunction with state commercial driver training laws that have been in place for decades. But these new rules have more exemptions than the federal tax code. Employers, municipalities and online video providers, posing as educators, now provide commercial driver training through unchecked “self-certi cation.”

Consider for a minute that almost every state requires 16-year-olds to attend a state licensed driver training program before they can get behind the wheel of an automobile. But, as Teamsters President Sean O’Brien just testi ed in the Senate Commerce Committee hearing, if you want to drive an 80,000-pound truck on our nation’s highways, there is no oversight or enforcement of the new FMCSA rules. Because of the lack of enforcement, the fraud and abuse are profound as the FMCSA has allowed unquali ed “CDL training providers” to recruit and train unquali ed truck drivers, who ultimately degrade the American truck driving workforce and put the unsuspecting general public at risk every day.

The results have been catastrophic.

According to the National Highway Safety Administration, 153,472 highway truck accidents resulted in 5,472 highway fatalities in 2023, a 40% increase from 2014. The 2024 data show similar fatality rates. The odds of getting killed by a truck driver is 20 times greater than dying while ying on a U.S. airline.

More than 30,000 commercial driving schools are now approved by the FMCSA, but only 2,100 are state licensed. As founder and CEO of one of the nation’s largest commercial truck driving schools, I know rsthand that the largest employers or truckers make up only 10% of the trucking industry. These employers are rumored to be rejecting nearly half of truck driver applicants as they have strict safety guidelines and driver evaluation criteria.

But the $1 trillion U.S. trucking industry is 90% comprised of companies with 10 drivers or less with thin margins. These employers lack compliance and safety departments, and are hiring individuals trained at unquali ed schools. These are the trucking companies you’ve never heard of that are in the news every day causing another fatality. Everyone wants cheaper prices, and no one wants burdensome regulations, but at what cost?

In a letter to the FMCSA, the American Trucking Association outlined the problem and lambasted the agency for being too “insu ciently robust to shield prospective drivers and the motoring public from fraudulent and non-compliant training entities that fast-track CDL applicants with minimal, if any, training.”

Some states aren’t waiting for the FMCSA to take action and are taking matters into their own hands. California, which was second in the nation in the most highway fatalities in 2023, unanimously passed a bill to eliminate

nefarious commercial-driving schools in the state. Florida and Colorado, among others, are sending cease-and-desist letters to unlicensed commercial training schools that assert they are exempt because of “new federal rules” and ignoring state laws.

Trump’s requested study, coupled with his executive order requiring commercial truck drivers to be pro cient in English, should disqualify many recently minted unquali ed commercial drivers, if properly enforced.

Substandard training providers who falsely attested in the Federal Training Provider Registry, should not only be removed from the program but also face the same explicit penalties as those who abused the Paycheck Protection Program after the pandemic. That alone would prevent unquali ed drivers from getting behind the wheel and putting us all at risk.

American truck drivers move more than 70% of all freight across the country. They keep supply chains running — from delivering food and medicine to stocking shelves and fueling factories. Their hard work, often behind the scenes, keeps America moving, and they deserve to be well-compensated.

The trucking industry applauds Trump and Secretary of Transportation Sean Du y for already doing so much to protect America’s truck drivers and our highways. We look forward to working alongside them to go a step farther and enforce the FMCSA rules and protect the American public by eliminating nefarious CDL training schools.

With approximately 3,000 accidents and 100 fatalities each week caused by heavy trucks, the trucking industry and general driving public can’t wait much longer.

Steve Gold is the founder and chief executive o cer of 160 Driving Academy and the Truckers Network Association. This article was originally published by Daily Caller News Foundation.

COLUMN | MICHAEL BARONE

Heading toward midterm elections, Democrats not up o the floor

It looks like the Democrats’ baggage, especially from the Biden years, is heavier than the loads Trump Republicans must juggle.

HERE’S A CLUE that the o -year elections in November 2026 may not go the way conventional wisdom suggests. That conventional wisdom is that the president’s party almost always loses the House and, slightly less often, Senate seats.

There are two structural reasons for this. One is that parties in power tend to do things or produce results that some voters dislike. The second reason is that out-party candidates can adapt to local terrain, focusing on issues on which the president’s party’s stands are unpopular. But that depends on the out party being an acceptable alternative.

Which leads to the clue referred to above.

Politico’s Andrew Howard reports that former Democrats Brian Bengs in South Dakota (Trump +29 in 2024) and Todd Achilles in Idaho (Trump +36) are joining former Democrat Dan Osborn of Nebraska (Trump +20) to run for senator as self-declared independents, with no credible Democrat in the race.

Osborn did so in 2024, scaring incumbent Republican Rep. Deb Fischer while losing by only six points. This was an improvement on Greg Orman’s 2014 independent candidacy in Kansas, where he lost by 11 points in a state that was +22 Republican for president two years before.

Why are these Democrats, some in states such as South Dakota and Nebraska that have reelected Democratic senators in recent years, shunning the Democratic label? Most likely because, in a country of increased straight-ticket voting, they believe the Democratic label is political poison.

After four years of the Biden administration, the Pew Research Center said the presidential electorate moved favoring Democrats by six points in 2020 to favoring Republicans by one point in 2024, with Republicans close to equal among under-30 voters. “For months now,” Republican pollster Patrick Ru ni notes, “we’ve observed a new trend in polling: The Democratic Party’s favorability ratings have fallen below the GOP’s. That’s hardly ever happened before.”

The Wall Street Journal’s July 16-20 poll shows that 63% of voters have negative feelings about the Democrats, the highest

since 1990. That poll also showed Republicans maintaining their 2024 lead in party identi cation, in sharp contrast to President Donald Trump’s rst term. And it showed pluralities of voters favored Republicans even on issues on which majorities disapproved of Trump’s most recent actions, including the economy, tari s, immigration, foreign policy and Ukraine.

It looks like the Democrats’ baggage, especially from the Biden years, is heavier than the loads Trump Republicans must juggle. Democrats’ credibility has been damaged as their arguments, one after another, have proven to be based on lies: the Russia collusion hoax, COVID-19 school closings, “transitory” in ation, the Hunter Biden laptop and open-borders immigration.

All of which suggests that Democrats’ hopes of overturning the Republicans’ 53-47 Senate majority may rest more on independents running in Trump-heavy states than on purple-state Democrats. And, despite conventional wisdom, there’s a cognizable chance that Republicans will not lose the narrow 220-215 majority they won in the House of Representatives in 2020.

Once upon a time, in the split-ticket voting era, Democrats maintained their large House majority in 1972 despite Richard Nixon’s 61% landslide by winning fully half the seats in House districts Nixon carried. Those days are gone. In 2024, voters in only 16 House districts split their ticket between president and congressman.

The Democrats’ problem is that Republicans are defending only three districts carried by former Vice President Kamala Harris, while Democrats are defending 13 seats won by Trump. That’s one of the reasons Steve Kornacki, to the dismay of his MSNBC audience, says Republicans could hold onto the House.

Meanwhile, Harry Enten dismays his CNN audience by pointing out that the narrow leads Democrats enjoy in House generic ballot polling leave them not nearly as well positioned for 2026 as they were at this point in 2005 and 2017 for their big gains in 2006 and 2018.

Core Democratic hatred of and obsession with Trump will certainly have them stomping

to the o -year polls, and Trump Republicans’ newly biracial and young male coalition may not be similarly motivated. But Republican gains are widespread, while Democratic gains are scarcely visible. As Bloomberg columnist Conor Sen writes, “It’s currently not possible to identify any cohort of potential rst-time Dem voters.”

As The New York Times’ brilliant graphics point out, Trump has gained a percentage over three elections in 1,433 counties with 42 million people, while his Democratic opponents gained three times in only 57 counties with 8 million people. “For years, the belief was Democrats have had demographic destiny on our side,” pollster Ben Tulchin said.

“Now, the inverse is true.”

Veteran liberal reporter Thomas Edsall portrays in his Times online column a “realignment (with) staying power” and fears. There is a “real possibility that discontent with the Democratic Party — its perceived failure to value work, its political correctness, the extremity of its social and cultural liberalism — might have become deeply embedded in the electorate.”

Meanwhile, the economic numbers are coming in more positively than those who predicted doom in April from Trump’s tari s (I called them “lunatic”), and as analyst Nate Silver writes, “There remains a strong case that voters are concerned about the economy and the cost of living, but that everything else is priced in.” As for the fuss over the Epstein tapes, Silver writes, “It looks like we’re back to the usual pattern: The overwhelming majority of voters either already hate Trump, or are happy to shrug o his scandals.”

“The country is moving toward Trump,” says Chris Matthews, onetime sta er for Jimmy Carter and Tip O’Neill. “They want a president who is a strong gure. And he’s got it. And half the country buys it.” Nothing’s inevitable in politics, but so far, the Democrats have not gotten up o the oor.

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.”

JORDAN GOLSON / TWIN CITY HERALD

Volvo trucks lined up outside the company’s assembly plant in Dublin, Virginia.

Millions are ocking to grow virtual gardens in viral Roblox game created by teenager

FarmVille meets Minecraft?

By Barbara Ortutay

The Associated Press

Whether it serves as a chill escape from the onslaught of the real world or simply a way to beat vacation doldrums, a viral Roblox game about gardening has become the surprise hit of the summer.

Grow a Garden, created by a 16-year-old in a few days, has shattered records for the most concurrent players of any game in history, beating out video games that take years and millions of dollars to develop.

And there’s no one to shoot, ght or race. If your last attempt at cultivating vegetables was FarmVille in 2010, don’t worry — your tomatoes will grow even if you never water them.

Grow a Garden is as simple as its name suggests — players can ll a plot of land with plants and animals, harvest and sell, trade or steal each others’ bounty. The game is low stress, with an aesthetic reminiscent of Minecraft and a soundtrack of soothing classical tunes such as Mozart’s Rondo Alla Turca playing in the background. Its popularity has further cemented Roblox’ place not just in the gaming world but in popular culture — for better

or for worse, it’s where the kids hang out.

“The word I keep hearing used over and over to describe this particular game is that it’s chill, which is just such a nice alternative. I get a lot of sort of that Animal Crossing vibe from it. You know, like you can check in, you can check your gardens, you can get some new seeds, you can plant them,” said Betsy Bozdech, editorial director at the nonpro t Common Sense Media. “I have an 11-year-old son who (plays it) and he says to him the big di erence is that a lot of games have a big giant objective that you have to do, but in Grow a Garden, you can just kind of hang out and do what you want.”

Coincidence or not, Grow a Garden soared to popularity around the same time that Take-Two Interactive announced it would delay the launch of its wildly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 until next year. In late June, the gardening game logged 21.6 million concurrent players, surpassing Fortnite’s previous record of 15.2 million according to Roblox. Analysts who follow Roblox’s stock say Grow a Garden is helping boost the company’s revenue and will push the company’s quarterly earnings numbers above Wall Street’s expectations.

“I have an 11-year-old son who (plays it) and he says to him the big di erence is that a lot of games have a big giant objective that you have to do, but in Grow a Garden, you can just kind of hang out and do what you want.”

Betsy Bozdech

While it’s not clear if the GTA audience ocked to this simple gardening game to pass the time until then, the timing reignited the age-old debate about who gamers are and what titles are taken seriously by the video game establishment. It happened with Candy Crush, with puzzle games, with Animal Crossing. Are people who play cozy games true gamers? Or is the title reserved for the folks who shoot enemies in Call of Duty or drive around creating mayhem in GTA?

“There’s a huge percentage of gamers that play Roblox and the actual industry just views it as like this esoterically immature platform of weird gameplay habits,” said Janzen Madsen, the New Zealand-based CEO and founder of Splitting Point studios, which acquired the game from its teenage creator. “Well, I actually think in ve years this is what player expectation is gonna be. And be-

cause you guys haven’t embraced it, like you’re not gonna know how to make games.”

To start growing your garden, you’ll need a Roblox account. The game will start you out with an empty plot and some money — sheckles — and a starter seed. From there, you can plant seeds, harvest and sell your crops and buy more seeds, animals or tools for your garden. While it is possible to play the game without spending real-world money, it will take longer. Once you sell enough crops, you earn money to buy more expensive seeds beyond basic carrots and blueberries.

“For me, I just, I really want to get all the rarest stu . I’m a completionist, so I want everything and that’s what’s fun for me,” said Leah Ashe, a YouTuber who plays Grow a Garden and other popular games to an audience of 5.3 million. “It’s really cool because you can come together because the seed shop

is global, so everybody’s shop is the exact same. So you can work with other people and be like, ‘Oh my gosh, the sugar apple is in stock. Get online!’ The seed shop updates every ve minutes, so there’s always something pulling you back into the game.”

For Roblox, which has faced a backlash for not doing enough to protect kids on its gaming service, Grow a Garden has served as something of a reprieve — along with new safety measures such as chat restrictions and privacy tools.

New players get help from more established peers who send them gifts and let them know when rare seeds become available in the seed shop.

Bozdech said that “if you have the right supervision and guidance,” Roblox can be a positive experience for kids, allowing them to create their own designs or practice coding, for instance.

“Something like Grow a Garden, particularly, is a nice opportunity maybe for parents and kids to play together,” she said.

And perhaps the slow cultivating of a magical garden can bene t parents too.

“It’s hitting a nerve, you know?” Bozdech said. “People need an escape from the world, I think we all do.”

SpaceX delivers four astronauts to the International Space Station just 15 hours after launch

They’ll spend six months on the station

By Marcia Dunn

The Associated Press

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX delivered a fresh crew to the International Space Station on Saturday, making the trip in a quick 15 hours.

The four U.S., Russian and Japanese astronauts pulled up in their SpaceX capsule after launching from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. They will spend at least six months at the orbiting lab, swapping places with colleagues up there since March.

Moving in are NASA’s Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan’s Kimiya Yui and Russia’s Oleg Platonov — each of whom had been originally assigned to other missions. “Hello, space station!” Fincke radioed as soon as the capsule docked high above the South Paci c. Cardman and another astronaut were pulled from a SpaceX ight last year

Forsyth SPORTS

Gaines calls for changes at USA Swimming as team struggles

Team has battled illness, underperformed at world championships

By Stephen Wade The Associated Press

SINGAPORE — Rowdy

Gaines, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, minces few words when he broadcasts swimming for NBC.

And he didn’t hold back in an interview with The Associated Press over the shaky state of American swimming. He’s calling for big-time changes as the Americans struggled at the world championships in Singapore.

The American team isn’t winning as much as expected or dominating, it’s battling a case of “acute gastroenteritis” picked up at training camp in Thailand before arriving in Singapore, and the governing body — USA Swimming — has been without a CEO for a year.

The Americans did recover on Saturday, the second-to-last day of the championships, with three gold medals. They now have eight gold to lead Australia with seven.

But that does not change the big picture. Gaines called the governing body ”rudderless.”

“Can you imagine any corporation going for a year without a CEO?” Gaines asked.

The Americans were also underwhelming a year ago at the Paris Olympics. They led the medal table but won eight gold medals, the lowest total since the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

“We’re far from killing it,” said Gaines in a telephone interview from the United States. “It’s a major struggle, and we can’t hide our heads in the sand and say this is just a blip.”

Gaines said he’s been texting frequently with Greg Meehan,

the national team director who was appointed four months ago. Meehan is also the head coach in Singapore.

The American haven’t said how many swimmers have fallen ill, but in an interview Meehan said “the overwhelming majority of the team has gone through something” at the championship.”

He called Meehan a good choice and said he’s had too little time to turn things around. Gaines also pointed out that the focus is the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. These world championships, less so.

“I think he’s (Meehan) going to be great,” Gaines said. “He’s got that calm reserve. He had great success at Stanford. He’s coached some of the best swimmers ever. I think he’s a good choice, he’s just walking into a bit of a landmine.”

Like many, Gaines questioned why the Americans picked Thailand as a training camp site and noted that global swimming now has dozens of countries that can beat the Americans, and many of their elite athletes train in the States.

“You can blame it on the ill-

Who’s the top dog?

Wave-riding canines compete in the World Dog Sur ng Championships

By Audrey McAvoy

The Associated Press

CHARLIE THE 10-year-old yellow lab likes sur ng so much, he will grab his surfboard and run toward the water. His humans sometimes have to hide his board if they want to chat with friends on the beach.

Charlie joined about 15 to 20 other canine wave riders in Pacica, 14 miles south of San Francisco, on Saturday at the World Dog Sur ng Championships, an annual contest that draws thousands of spectators to Paci ca State Beach.

Pooches competed against similarly sized peers for a chance to appear in the nals. Additional heats featured multiple dogs sur ng tandem or riding with people.

Labs, terriers and spaniels in monogrammed life vests dog-paddled out into the Paci c. Once out on the waves, their owners helped them hop on colorful boards and hang ten as the crowd cheered from the beach.

Judges scrutinized how long the dogs remained on their boards, how long they held their balance and whether they performed any tricks, like turning around while riding.

Iza, a 5-year-old French bulldog, won the single surfer heat for medium-size dogs for the

ness, you can blame it on the inexperience — most of these kids have never been in this situation — and you can blame it on logistics,” Gaines said. “Thailand doesn’t make sense to me in the rst place.”

He also put some blame on what he called the “state of today’s athletes.”

“I think in some cases there’s an entitlement for a lot of these kids, they feel like, ‘I should be in the nals of the world championships. And I can still do the peripheral stu and not worry about making it all the way.’

“I think there needs to be a more focused attitude on the task at hand.”

Gaines said much of the prob

lem is that USA Swimming has gone for a year without a leader. Tim Hinchey resigned as the CEO a year ago. He was replaced by Chrissi Rawak, who stepped down after just a few days.

“I do think changes need to be made, there needs to be a complete reset,” Gaines said “But I don’t think the sky is falling. But there needs to be some great leadership. Whoever they hire as CEO needs to be the leader that is sorely needed.”

rst time this year, her owner David Fasoli said. Fasoli found “pure joy” during the pandemic when he brought home a surfboard from his job at Costco and taught Iza to balance in the swimming pool. The two soon started swimming in the ocean and learning to ride waves as passersby at the beach watched in awe. Now their competitions are all about defying expectations.

“I have a disability — I only have one hand — so a nonsporting human combined with a nonsporting dog breed, we are kind of phenomenal, defying the odds of what people think we’re capable of doing,” Fasoli said after Saturday’s competition.

Charlie, who has his own Instagram page, entered the extra-large single surfer heat. He also rode tandem with two other dogs in what their humans called “The Dream Team.”

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Will Bowman

Forsyth Country Day, golf

Will Bowman is a 2006 graduate of Forsyth Country Day, where he was a four-time all-conference and three-time all-state honoree on the boys’ golf team.

Bowman led the Furies to the 2006 state golf title while also tying for rst in the individual state championship.

He went on to play collegiate golf at UNC Greensboro, where he was named All-Southern Conference and competed in the U.S. Amateur. Bowman was named to the Forsyth Country Day Athletic Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 last week.

wants to do once we’re in the water,” Je said.

“Charlie does what Charlie wants to do once we’re in the water.”

Je Nieboer, co-owner of dog surfer Charlie

“He loves the crowd,” owner Maria Nieboer said.

Charlie and Nieboer’s husband, Je Nieboer, prepare for waves together. When Je spots a good one, he turns the board around and tells Charlie to “get ready.”

He pushes the board forward, and Charlie scrunches down and rides the wave as long as he can. Charlie can even steer the board by leaning and surfs toward an awaiting Maria on shore. He doesn’t have to be rewarded with treats for any of it.

“Charlie does what Charlie

Contest winners received medals and bragging rights.

Charlie’s “Dream Team” compatriot, fellow yellow lab Rosie, was in four heats. The 4-yearold’s owner, Steve Drottar, said she is “stoked” after they go sur ng, which they do four to ve times a week back home in Santa Cruz.

“It’s like, hey, we actually did something today, right? We did something together as a team,” Drottar said. “And the fact that you can do something as a team with your dog creates a di erent bond than you have when you just take your dog for a walk.”

He can tell Rosie feels a sense of accomplishment afterward because she is extra happy, wags her tail extra hard and snuggles even more than usual.

“It’s like we go home on the couch and it feels like she’s saying, ‘Thank you,’ ” Drottar said.

LEE JIN-MAN / AP PHOTO

Team USA coach Greg Meehan celebrates with the women’s 4x100-meter medley relay team after they won gold at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.

SIDELINE REPORT

NFL

Cowboys owner dismisses Parsons’ trade request as negotiation talk

Dallas Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones does not intend to trade Micah Parsons after the star defensive end said he wants to leave the team amid a breakdown in negotiating a contract extension. Parsons remains at training camp after writing on social media to request a trade. He has yet to practice because of a back injury. No stranger to public and prolonged disputes with standout players, Jones insisted the stando with Parsons is no di erent than past situations.

MLB Wrigley Field chosen to host 2027 All-Star Game

Chicago The Friendly Con nes are set to host The Midsummer Classic. Commissioner Rob Manfred announced the 2027 All-Star Game will be held at Wrigley Field. The announcement came during a news conference at home plate with Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts, Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson. Baseball’s second- oldest ballpark hasn’t hosted an All-Star Game since 1990. Manfred cited the “amazing transformation” of the ballpark and surrounding streets in the past decade as part of a massive renovation by the Ricketts family.

NBA Former NBA star Arenas, 5 others charged with running illegal poker games

Los Angeles

Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas was arrested along with ve other people on suspicion of hosting illegal high-stakes poker games at a Los Angeles mansion owned by Arenas. The U.S. Attorney’s O ce said all six defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and one count of operating an illegal gambling business. The 43-year-old Arenas is also charged with making false statements to federal investigators.

TRACK & FIELD

Sprinter Richardson arrested at Washington airport on domestic violence o ense

Seattle Reigning 100-meter world champion Sha’Carri Richardson was arrested for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend at Seattle Tacoma International Airport. A police report shows Richardson was arrested on a fourth-degree domestic violence o ense. She ran in the opening round of the women’s 100 meters at U.S. track and eld championships in Eugene, Oregon. She has an automatic bye to the world championships in September in Tokyo as the defending champion. USA Track and Field said it is aware of the situation.

Byron has enough fuel to win at Iowa Speedway

The Daytona 500 winner picks up his second victory of the season

By John Bohnekamp The Associated Press

NEWTON, Iowa — William

Byron admitted he was nervous as he headed into thenal laps of the NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday at Iowa Speedway.

“But I feel like we’ve been on the other side of this in the last month and a half,” he said. Byron fought o fuel worries in the closing laps, going the last 144 laps of the 350-lap race without a stop en route to his second victory of the season — he won the Daytona 500 in February — and 15th overall. He also took the season points lead from Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott.

Byron, who was second last season in Iowa, lost gambles on fuel twice this season, at Michigan and Indianapolis, but held on with the help of a cau-

tion- lled nal stage to win by 1.192 seconds over pole-sitter Chase Briscoe.

“I really feel we needed to win a race,” said Byron, who led 141 laps. “We deserved to win a race.”

Byron led the rst 67 laps during a caution-free rst stage but had to scramble with strategy as the cautions piled up.

“You never expect it to be a fuel-mileage race,” he said, “but there were so many weird cautions.”

The drivers behind Byron, who knew he was saving fuel, tried to catch him.

“It was just the way the yellows fell,” said Brad Keselowski, who nished third. “There were so many yellows there in stage 3 that it got (Byron) and (Briscoe) there where they could make it on fuel pitting way outside the window, and we couldn’t get by them. ”

“The strategies just got weird with all of those cautions,” said Ryan Blaney, last year’s winner who nished fourth. “Those guys who pit-

“I really feel we needed to win a race. We deserved to win a race.”

ted earlier, it saved them some laps. So it just got kind of funky there, and we were on the back end of it.”

Rudy Fugle, Byron’s crew chief, said he wasn’t sure until about eight laps to go whether Byron would be able to make it.

“From 30 to go until eight to go, we were able to save a really big chunk and get close,” Fugle said. “And then you’re just hoping you pick everything up.” Briscoe thought he was in good position if Byron ran out of fuel.

“There at the end, I thought I was running William down,” he said. “I thought I was really in the catbird seat there. I just got there and kind of stalled out.” Keselowski, who came into

the race needing a win to get into the playo s, swept the rst two stages for the rst time since 2019. He led 68 laps trying for his rst win since the May race at Darlington last season. Ryan Preece, Keselowski’s teammate at RFK Racing, was fth. There were 12 caution ags. The rst yellow ag for any on-track incident didn’t come out until Shane Van Gisbergen’s spin on Lap 169. From that point, the race became a cascade of caution ags as the cars began to stack up and drivers scrambled for position. Iowa sweep

Byron has now won at Iowa Speedway in all three of NASCAR’s major series. He won in the Trucks Series in 2016 and in the X nity Series in 2017. That success, he said, was built much earlier.

“When I was a kid, the iRacing schedule would always line up with the race tracks in the summer,” Byron said. “That’s when I would have the most time to run the races, in the summer. So I would race this track a ton in iRacing. I feel like that’s why it’s a good track for me — I just have thousands of laps kind of in my head with how the rhythm of this place goes.”

NFL’s kicko rule here to stay with tweak

Overtime, onside kicks and replay were also changed

By Josh Dubow The Associated Press

THE NFL’S one-year experiment with the new kicko rule becomes permanent this season with a new tweak that the league hopes will lead to a bigger increase in the rate of returns.

The league also approved changes to the overtime rule, expanded replay assist and made a few other technical changes for this season. The NFL’s Hawk-Eye virtual measuring also replaces the chains to determine rst downs.

There was no change in the tush push play that Philadelphia used so successfully on the way to winning the Super Bowl last season.

Here’s an explanation of some of the new rules that will be in place.

What’s new with the kicko ?

The league was mostly pleased with the experimental kicko put in place for 2024 that led to the rate of kicko returns increasing from a record-low 21.8% in 2023 to 32.8% last season, while reducing the rate of injuries on what had been the game’s most dangerous play.

The rule made kicko s more like scrimmage plays by placing the coverage players and blockers close together to eliminate the high-speed collisions

that had contributed to so many injuries on the play. The league said the rate of concussions dropped 43% on returns, with a signi cant reduction as well in lower-body injuries. By moving the touchback to the 35, the league projects that the return rate will rise to somewhere between 60% and 70%, with a similar increase in long returns, adding more excitement to the game.

How about onside kicks?

Teams will still need to declare their intention to try an onside kick because of the different formation. But a new change will allow trailing teams to try one before the start of the fourth quarter.

Coverage players will also be allowed to line up one yard closer in hopes of increasing the rate of recovery from about 6% over the past three seasons to at least 10%.

How will overtime change?

The league approved a proposal to make the regular season overtime more like the postseason, with both teams getting a chance at a possession, even if the team that gets the ball rst scores a touchdown. According to Sportradar, six of the 16 overtime games last season ended on an opening-drive touchdown for the most overtime games ended on the rst drive since the rule change went into e ect in 2010.

In all, teams that won the overtime toss won 75% of the time last season, according to Sportradar, and have a .606 winning percentage in overtime since it was cut to 10 minutes. The league kept the 10-minute overtime period instead of expanding it back to 15 minutes. Replay assist

The NFL expanded its replay assist system to overturn objective calls if there was “clear and obvious” evidence that a foul didn’t occur. The calls could include facemask penalties, whether there was forcible contact to the head or neck area, horse-collar tackles and tripping. Replay also would be able to overturn a roughing-the-kicker or running-into-the-kicker penalty if video showed the defender made contact with the ball.

The Competition Committee says there’s no interest in allowing replay assists to call penalties on plays missed by o cials on the eld.

Other changes

Referees will no longer use the chains to determine rst downs, opting instead for a virtual measuring system.

There were some procedural rules changed in regards to injured reserve. Teams can place two players on injured reserve with the designation to return when rosters are reduced to 53 players instead of after. Playo teams also will be granted twoadditional return from IR designations.

William Byron

ADAM HUNGER / AP PHOTO

The Philadelphia Eagles kick o to the New York Giants during an 2024 game. Kicko s will be slightly changed this season.

the stream

Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson team up;

‘King of the Hill,’ ‘Wednesday’

“Outlander: Blood of My Blood” debuts on Starz

The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS legend Big Freedia returning with a new gospel album and the acting trio of Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson and Keke Palmer teaming up for the armored truck action comedy “The Pickup” are some of the new television, lms, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also, among the streaming o erings worth your time: The animated “King of the Hill” returns after a 15-year pause, the rst half of season two of “Wednesday” lands on Net ix, and the “Welcome to Wrexham” spino “NECAXA” premieres with Eva Longoria.

MOVIES TO STREAM

Murphy and Davidson are armored truck drivers coerced into a heist in the action-comedy “The Pickup.” Palmer plays the criminal mastermind who disrupts their routine drive. Longoria, Andrew Dice Clay and Marshawn Lynch co-star in the movie, which made headlines during its Atlanta production after several crew members were injured in a collision during the shoot. It’s streaming now on Prime Video.

Filmmaker Osgood Perkins’ latest horror “The Monkey” will be streaming on Hulu starting Thursday. The follow-up to his breakout hit “Longlegs” was inspired by a 1980 Stephen King story. Theo James plays twin brothers whose lives turn to chaos when a demonic toy monkey causes deaths around them. In her review for The Associated Press, Jocelyn Noveck wrote that it felt “uneven.” She added, “surely there will be an audience for the creatively rendered gore. The rest of us may feel left with a witty, visually arresting, highly inventive quasi-mess on our hands.”

If you haven’t had enough Pedro Pascal this year, he’s a key part of Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck’s “Freaky Tales,” streaming on HBO Max on Friday. The anthology action comedy follows four interconnected stories in Oakland, California, in 1987. Before the lm’s Sundance debut in 2024, Boden told the AP that “It’s a movie lover’s movie. … It has one foot in reality and then one foot just launches o into fantasy.”

return

Pedro Pascal appears in a scene from the late ’80s-set,

“(‘Freaky Tales’) is a movie lover’s movie. … It has one foot in reality and then one foot just launches o into fantasy.”

Anna Boden, “Freaky Tales” co-director

MUSIC TO STREAM

New Orleans legend Big Freedia, the queen of bounce music (and a notable Beyoncé collaborator, lest anyone forget the zeitgeist-shifting “Renaissance”), is back with a new album. But “Pressing Onward” is new territory for the artist. It’s her rst gospel album, and it still manages to induce as much booty-shaking as ever before. The di erence this time is that her vibrant sonic celebrations are all about faith. Start with “Holy Shu e” featuring Billy Porter or “Sunday Best” with Tamar Braxton. It’s good for the soul.

SERIES TO STREAM

Would you believe it’s been 15 years since “King of the Hill” went o the air? The animated comedy returns with a new 14th season on its new home, Hulu. All 10-episodes drop at once for bingeing. The show picks up give

or take 10 years after the events of season 13. Hank and Peggy are both retired after returning from Saudi Arabia, where Hank had been working. Their kids are now grown. Adjusting to life as retirees and in the current political climate in America presents challenges for the couple.

Another long wait comes to an end when the rst half of season two of “Wednesday” premieres on Net ix. The show follows teen Wednesday Addams (played by Jenna Ortega) as she studies at a boarding school called Nevermore Academy. Ortega’s deliciously deadpan delivery earned her an Emmy Award nomination for her work on Season 1. Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzmán play Wednesday’s parents, Morticia and Gomez. Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne proved that yes, men and women can be just friends in the rst season of their Apple TV+ comedy called “Platonic. “ The codependent buddies, Will and Syl-

via are back with a new season. We meet them again and Will is engaged to his boss — who doesn’t like Sylvia. And Sylvia is planning their wedding. Will is struggling to open his bar, and Sylvia’s event-planning business has yet to take o . More than two years ago, AMC Networks pulled the plug on its sci- comedy “Demascus “as a cost-cutting measure even though production was already completed. Tubi has rescued the show, starring Okieriete Onaodowan, and it premieres Thursday. It’s about a man who begins using an experimental technology that allows him to experience di erent timelines of his life. The “Outlander” prequel “Outlander: Blood of My Blood” debuts on Starz on Friday. It’s about the parents of Claire and Jamie from “Outlander.” Unlike its predecessor, “Blood of My Blood” does not have source material by author Diana Gabaldon, but its showrunner, Matthew B. Roberts, also works on “Outlander” and is very familiar with the lore. The cast is already lming a second season. It streams on the Starz App or through platforms like Hulu and Prime Video.

The “Welcome to Wrexham” spino “NECAXA” premieres Thursday on FX on Hulu. After

their success owning the Welsh soccer team Wrexham AFC, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney join Eva Longoria and buy a stake in a Mexican club, NECAXA, “It’s more than winning games. We’re gonna win hearts. We’re gonna inspire pride. We’re gonna empower the team,” Longoria says in the trailer.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

The Ma a series from 2K Games has moved from 1930s Chicago to 1940s New York to 1960s New Orleans, but now it’s going back in time and space. Ma a: The Old Country aims to deliver an origin story of sorts, traveling to 1900s Sicily. Enzo Favara is a young man who’s su ered a rough childhood, and he is hoping to improve his status by working for the Torrisi crime family. That means pulling o heists, punching out rivals and killing anyone who might threaten the Don. The cars may be slower and the weapons may not be as slick, but if you’re bummed out about having to wait for the next Grand Theft Auto, you might want to spend some time with the original gangsters. It arrives Friday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.

PRIME VIDEO VIA AP

Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson star in the action-comedy “The Pickup.”

LIONSGATE VIA AP

anthology-style comedy “Freaky Tales.”

STATE & NATION

Texas dispute highlights nation’s long history of partisan gerrymandering

Gerrymandering is legal and very, very common

By David A. Lieb The Associated Press

WHEN DEMOCRATIC lawmakers left Texas to try to prevent the Republican-led Legislature from redrawing the state’s congressional districts, it marked the latest episode in a long national history of gerrymandering.

The word “gerrymander” was coined in America more than 200 years ago as an un attering means of describing political manipulation in legislative map-making.

The word has stood the test of time, in part, because American politics has remained ercely competitive. Who is responsible for gerrymandering?

In many states, like Texas, the state legislature is responsible for drawing congressional districts, subject to the approval or veto of the governor. District maps must be redrawn every 10 years, after each census, to balance the population in districts.

But in some states, nothing prevents legislatures from conducting redistricting more often.

In an e ort to limit gerrymandering, some states have entrusted redistricting to special commissions composed of citizens or bipartisan panels of politicians. Democratic o cials in some states with commissions are now talking of trying to sidestep them to counter Republican redistricting in Texas.

How does a gerrymander work?

If a political party controls both the legislature and governor’s o ce — or has such a large legislative majority that it can override vetoes — it can e ectively draw districts to its advantage.

One common method of gerrymandering is for a majority party to draw maps that pack voters who support the opposing party into a few districts, thus allowing the majority party to win a greater number of surrounding districts. Another common method is for the majority party to dilute the power of an opposing party’s voters by spreading them among multiple districts.

Why is it called gerrymandering?

The term dates to 1812, when

Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry signed a bill redrawing state Senate districts to benet the Democratic-Republican Party. Some thought an oddly shaped district looked like a salamander. A newspaper illustration dubbed it “The Gerry-mander” — a term that later came to describe any district drawn for political advantage. Gerry lost reelection as governor in 1812 but won election that same year as vice president with President James Madison. Is political gerrymandering illegal?

Not under the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court, in a 2019 case originating from North Carolina, ruled that federal courts have no authority to decide whether partisan gerrymandering goes too far. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote: “The Constitution supplies no

objective measure for assessing whether a districting map treats a political party fairly.”

The Supreme Court noted that partisan gerrymandering claims could continue to be decided in state courts under their own constitutions and laws. But some state courts, including North Carolina’s highest court, have ruled that they also have no authority to decide partisan gerrymandering claims.

Are there any limits on redistricting?

Yes. Though it’s di cult to challenge legislative districts on political grounds, the Supreme Court has upheld challenges on racial grounds. In a 2023 case from Alabama, the high court said the congressional districts drawn by the state’s Republican-led Legislature likely violated the Voting Rights Act by

The term dates to 1812, when Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry signed a bill redrawing state Senate districts to bene t the Democratic-Republican Party. Some thought an oddly shaped district looked like a salamander.

diluting the voting strength of black residents. The court let a similar claim proceed in Louisiana. Both states subsequently redrew their districts.

What does data show about gerrymandering?

Statisticians and political scientists have developed a variety of ways to try to quantify the partisan advantage that may be attributable to gerrymandering.

Republicans, who control redistricting in more states than Democrats, used the 2010 census data to create a strong gerrymander. An Associated Press analysis of that decade’s redistricting found that Republicans enjoyed a greater political advantage in more states than either party had in the past 50 years. But Democrats responded to match Republican gerrymandering after the 2020 census. The adoption of redistricting commissions also limited gerrymandering in some states. An AP analysis of the 2022 elections — the rst under new maps — found that Republicans won just one more U.S. House seat than would have been expected based on the average share of the vote they received nationwide. That was one of the most politically balanced outcomes in years.

FAA may ease restrictions on drones traveling long distances

Drones delivering everything from food to medicine will soon be common

By Josh Funk The Associated Press

A NEW FEDERAL rule proposed Tuesday would make it easier for companies to use drones over longer distances out of the operator’s sight without having to go through a cumbersome waiver process.

The federal government had already approved 657 waivers to allow companies such as Amazon and major utilities to do this in certain circumstances, but the waiver process made it di cult.

The industry has long pressed for the rule because being able to operate drones out of sight opens up a multitude of possibilities for their use. Being able to do this enables more use of drones for deliveries, inspect-

ing infrastructure like bridges and power lines, and other uses in agriculture over thousands of acres on large farms.

“This draft rule is a critical step toward enabling drone operations that will enhance safety, transform commercial services, and strengthen public safety with drones as a force

multiplier,” said Michael Robbins, president & CEO of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International trade group.

The rule spells out the circumstances drones can be used under while working to ensure they don’t disrupt aviation and cause problems around air-

“From drones delivering medicine to unmanned aircraft surveying crops, this technology will fundamentally change the way we interact with the world.”

Sean Du y, Transportation Secretary

ports, Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford said.

“We are making the future of our aviation a reality and unleashing American drone dominance. From drones delivering medicine to unmanned aircraft surveying crops, this technology will fundamentally change the way we interact with the world,”

Transportation Secretary Sean Du y said.

President Donald Trump is-

sued executive orders in June directing the Transportation Department to quickly get this rule out. The orders also included restrictions meant to help protect against terrorism, espionage and public safety threats. Drones are already used in a variety of ways, including bolstering search-and-rescue operations, applying fertilizer, inspecting power lines and railroad bridges, and even delivering packages. But the war in Ukraine has highlighted how drones could be used in a military or terrorist attack — a concern as the World Cup and Olympics approach in the U.S. There also have been espionage cases where drones have been used to surveil sensitive sites. And White House o cials said drones are being used to smuggle drugs over the border, and there are concerns about the potential for a disastrous collision between a drone and an airliner around an airport.

JEFF ROBERSON / AP PHOTO

A drone hovers in airspace outside the safety perimeter surrounding the St. Louis Lambert International Airport in March.

ERIC GAY / AP PHOTO

A map of U.S Congressional Districts proposed plan is seen at a Texas legislators’ public hearing on congressional redistricting in Austin last week.

Randolph record

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Violent crime in U.S. dropped 4.5% last year, FBI data shows Washington, D.C.

A new FBI report says violent crime in the United States fell 4.5% last year while property crime dropped 8% from the year before. The FBI statistics released Tuesday show murder and nonnegligent manslaughter in the U.S. fell nearly 15% in 2024, continuing a decline that’s been seen since a coronavirus pandemic-era crime spike. Reported hate crimes decreased 1.5%. The FBI collects data through its Uniform Crime Reporting Program. Not all law enforcement agencies in the U.S. participate. The 2024 report is based on data from more than 16,000 agencies, or more than 86% of those agencies in the FBI’s program.

House committee subpoenas Epstein les, depositions with Clintons

Washington, D.C.

The House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed the Justice Department for les in the Je rey Epstein sex tra cking investigation and is seeking depositions with the Clintons and eight former top law enforcement o cials. Meanwhile, federal prosecutors are asking in court to unseal grand jury transcripts in the sex tra cking cases against Epstein and his ex-girlfriend but say there’s not much new in them. PJ

$2.00

Golf Classic marks 27 years, 19 Habitat homes in Randolph County

The event coincides with Asheboro’s 50th Habitat for Humanity house

By Dan Reeves Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — What began in 1999 as a local golf tournament to support Habitat for Humanity has grown into a long-running community tradition — and a powerful driver of a ordable housing in Randolph County.

The Habitat Golf Classic, now in its 27th year, has helped fund the construction of 19 homes, including the newest and largest to date: a ve-bedroom, three-bathroom house dedicated this summer. The event’s organizer and longtime sponsor, Sam Ramsey, said the milestone re ects the deep commitment of sponsors, volunteers and community members who’ve supported the

cause for nearly three decades.

“This tournament has never been about me,” Ramsey said. “It’s about what the sponsors and community have done together. We’ve helped build 19 homes in 26 years — that’s real impact.”

The 19th home was made possible through the support of numerous sponsors and volunteers, including North State Journal, which joined the tournament this year as a rst-time sponsor.

Ramsey, who has operated a Chick- l-A franchise in Asheboro since 1988, said the idea for the tournament came during a church conversation in the late 1990s with Pat Cooper and Phil Koontz. At the time, Randolph County didn’t yet have a Habitat for Humanity chapter, but the vision to bring one into being took shape quickly.

“I said, ‘Why not a golf tournament?’ It gets people togeth-

er and raises money for good,” Ramsey recalled.

The tournament has rotated between Pinewood Country Club and Tot Hill Farm Golf Club in recent years. It typically takes place on the fourth Thursday in September — this year falling on Sept. 25. Sponsorships are available in three tiers: silver at $250, gold at $500 and platinum at $1,000.

The most recent home dedication also coincides with Habitat for Humanity of Randolph County’s 50th total build — a major milestone for the local a liate. The rst house funded by the tournament cost $41,000 and required three years of events to raise the funds. In contrast, today’s builds are larger, more complex and a clear sign of the program’s momentum.

Families selected to receive Habitat homes must meet eligibility requirements, including demonstrating nancial

“A small group of people started something back in ’99.” Because of generous sponsors and faithful volunteers, we’ve now helped 19 families nd a home.”

Sam Ramsey

need, completing nancial literacy classes and contributing “sweat equity” by helping build their home. For more on the process, Ramsey recommends contacting Dremia Myers at Habitat for Humanity of Randolph County.

“A small group of people started something back in ’99,” he said. “Because of generous sponsors and faithful volunteers, we’ve now helped 19 families nd a home.”

Sheri ’s O ce to provide SRO for Faith Christian

The school will be covering approximately 90% of the total cost for the o cer

By Ryan Henkel Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Board of Commissioners approved the establishment of another deputy sheri SRO position at its Aug. 4 regular business meeting.

The position will provide services to Faith Christian School, a private school with a student body of 350-plus students from preschool to 12th grade, located in Ramseur.

“The purpose of this position will be to foster a safe and secure environment for sta and students, build positive relationships between law enforcement and the school community, address any potential safety concerns and respond quickly to incidents and provide education on safety and crime preven-

tion to students,” said Col. Steven Nunn.

According to Nunn, the total cost for the new position will be approximately $94,000, but Faith Christian will be covering around $86,000. The remaining $8,000 will be funded by the sheri ’s o ce’s lapsed salaries.

After this year, the school will cover 10 out of the 12 months of the o cer’s salary, which is consistent with other SRO contracts done with other public and charter schools in the county.

“I think the public might like to know that any o cer who serves in a capacity at a school must be certi ed in school resource training if they spend over 19 hours a week at the school,” said Commissioner Hope Haywood.

According to Nunn, the ofcer selected is a retired ocer from the state highway patrol, and there is no worry about sta ng e ects at the sheri ’s ofce.

“This is something that Faith

“The purpose of this position will be to foster a safe and secure environment for sta and students.”

Randolph County Sheri ’s O ce Col. Steven Nunn

Christian has requested,” Nunn said. “We do have an o cer picked out for this position that Faith Christian is on board with as well.” At this time, no other private schools have approached the sheri ’s o ce about potentially sta ng SRO o cers.

The board also authorized the use of approximately $64,000 in law enforcement restricted funds to purchase body and in-car cameras. Both contracts are with Axon Enterprise. The board also approved a resolution authorizing the county manager to execute the nec-

essary documents to enter into various opioid settlement agreements.

“Randolph County has been involved in national litigation against those who were marketing, selling and distributing opioids,” said Associate County Attorney Aimee Scotten. “There have been recently proposed additional settlements by secondary opioid manufacturers.”

The county will be entering into settlement agreements with the secondary opioid manufacturers (those companies include Alvogen, Amneal Pharmaceuticals, ApotexCorp, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Indivior, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Viatris and Zydus Pharmaceuticals) as well as settlements related to the Purdue Purdue bankruptcy and with the Sackler Family. According to Scotten, the county could potentially bring in around $2 million in total from the settlements.

The Randolph County Board of Commissioners will next meet Sept. 8.

THE RANDOLPH COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

WARD-BROWN / RANDOLPH RECORD

The 19th home funded by the Habitat Golf Classic stands in Asheboro as the latest milestone in the tournament’s 27-year legacy.

Board transition to kick in for Asheboro City Schools

The number of members on the board of education will dwindle from 11 to seven and lengths of terms will be changing

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — The process of a restructuring of the Asheboro City Schools Board of Education will begin with this fall’s elections.

In time, the changes will be reducing the number of seats on the board from 11 to seven. Terms will be adjusted in length from six years to four years, while elections for the school board will eventually move to even-numbered years.

Also, beginning in 2026, the elections will be partisan.

This stems from the passing of House Bill 58 in the spring. The changes are being phased in.

For instance, in 2025, there will be two seats open for one -year terms. There are four board members whose terms expire in 2025.

Of those four, only Hilda DeCortez led to run for a board seat. DeCortez gained entry to the board via an appointment to ll a vacant seat.

Then in 2026, two seats will be on the ballot for four-year

CRIME LOG

July 20

• Anderson Stewart Townsend, 18, was arrested for stealing a trailer, possessing stolen goods, and obtaining property by false pretense.

July 27

THURSDAY AUG. 7

FRIDAY AUG. 8

SATURDAY AUG. 9

SUNDAY AUG. 10

MONDAY

• Miranda Natasha Opal Cole, 35, was arrested for identity theft, possessing a controlled substance, possessing marijuana, possessing drug paraphernalia and possessing marijuana paraphernalia.

July 28

• Christopher Neil Grimmett, 31, was arrested for assaulting a female and possessing a controlled substance on jail premises.

• Christopher William Packett, 38, was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon causing serious injury.

terms. That will put the board at nine members as part of the transition to seven members.

The transition to even-numbered years for elections means that several incumbents will have expanded terms without rerunning for those positions.

Under the House bill, board members whose terms would have expired in 2027 will receive another year, so their seats will be up for election in 2028. Those members are board chair Baxter Hammer, Adam Hurley, Beth Knott and Hailey Lee.

The 2028 election will ll three seats, so not all the incumbents would be able to stay on the board even if they chose to run.

Board members Melissa Calloway, Gidget Kidd and Ryan Patton were elected with terms expiring in 2029, but those have been extended

July 29

• Jason Nakoa Dillon, 43, was arrested for eeing from police, stealing a vehicle, possessing a stolen vehicle, assaulting a female, interfering with emergency communications, child abuse, resisting an o cer, possessing an open container of alcohol, failing to stop for police and failing to secure a child under 16.

July 31

• Justin Michael Godfrey, 39, was arrested for possessing methamphetamine, possessing drug paraphernalia and possessing marijuana paraphernalia.

• Justin Matthew Stiltner, 30, was arrested for possessing methamphetamine and possessing drug paraphernalia.

to 2030. In 2030, ve board members will have expiring terms (including those elected in 2026) and the election will have four seats available.

So there will be a period following the 2028 election until the 2030 seats are lled with eight board members. The House bill calls for the Asheboro City Council to appoint a registered voter to the district to serve on the board of education with the purpose to vote only in the case to break ties.

Incumbent Phillip Cheek’s term expires this year, but he’ll be on the ballot for a primary seeking a spot on the Asheboro City Council. That primary will be held Oct. 7 in advance of the Nov. 4 general election.

Board of education incumbents Linda Cranford and Michael Smith with terms expiring this year didn’t le to retain those seats.

Joining DeCortez on the 2025 ballot are Mikayla Cassidy, Michael Brown and Brad Thomas.

The city schools board has been at 11 members since 1957.

House Bill 58 initially related to the Town of Kittrell prior to amendments that included the provisions related to Asheboro City Schools and topics in Anson, Caswell and Scotland counites.

• Quinlyn Kim Geren, 40, was arrested for possessing methamphetamine with intent to sell or deliver, maintaining a place for controlled substances and possessing drug paraphernalia.

August 1

• Garland John Medley Jr., 33, was arrested for shooting into an occupied property and damaging personal property.

• Makayla Elmeta Jones, 23, was arrested for trespassing and resisting an o cer.

August 3

• Travious Dewan Steele, 28, was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, shooting into an occupied property, pointing a gun, damaging real property and trespassing. Share with your community! Send

Randolph Guide

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Randolph County:

Aug. 8

Friday Night Sunset Series: Held every Friday, May-August

5:30-8:30 p.m.

Admission for 21-plus is $8 per person. A variety of homemade concessions are available for purchase, including hard cider, local wine, craft beer and a variety of seasonal cocktails. Admission does not include food or drink but does cover musical performances.

Millstone Creek Orchards 506 Parks Crossroads Church Road Ramseur

Aug. 9, 12 & 14

City of Asheboro Farmers Market

7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Fresh seasonal produce, farm-fresh products, baked goods, and a variety of owers and plants are available for purchase directly from local farmers. Open weekly on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays through the end of October.

134 S. Church St. Asheboro

Aug. 11 & Aug. 13

Liberty Farmers Market

4-7 p.m.

Purchase a wide array of high-quality, fresh produce from local farmers and growers at this convenient downtown location. Open every Monday and Wednesday through the end of October.

423 W. Swannanoa Ave. Liberty

Aug. 12

Making Art with the Masters

11 a.m. to noon

Art classes each Tuesday for ages 8-12 that teach history, theory and practice. 11 a.m. classes are for ages 10-12 and 3:30 p.m. classes are for ages 8-9.

Asheboro Public Library

201 Worth St. Asheboro

Aug. 16

Summer Outdoor Market

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A producer’s market with work available from local artisans, craftspeople and food producers. Space is still available for vendors; contact 336-824-5263 for details.

Millstone Creek Orchards

506 Parks Crossroads Church Road Ramseur

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

COLUMN | STEVE GOLD

Record trucking-related carnage is no accident

American truck drivers move more than 70% of all freight across the country.

AFTER A FATAL ACCIDENT caused by a non-English-speaking trucker with a commercial drivers’ license (CDL), President Donald Trump ordered the Department of Transportation to review the nondomiciled CDLs issued by each state over the past four years. This is a massive victory for highway safety — preventing further loss of American lives.

Just ve years ago, new truckers had to produce a birth certi cate, speak English and con rm state residency to even qualify for a CDL. If the driver couldn’t speak English, he couldn’t get a driver’s test. Today, any evidence of a work permit or foreign visa is enough to qualify for a nondomiciled CDL.

In 2022, the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA) set high, federal standard training requirements through the Entry Level Driver Training rules. The goal was to make highways safer, in conjunction with state commercial driver training laws that have been in place for decades. But these new rules have more exemptions than the federal tax code. Employers, municipalities and online video providers, posing as educators, now provide commercial driver training through unchecked “self-certi cation.”

Consider for a minute that almost every state requires 16-year-olds to attend a state licensed driver training program before they can get behind the wheel of an automobile. But, as Teamsters President Sean O’Brien just testi ed in the Senate Commerce Committee hearing, if you want to drive an 80,000-pound truck on our nation’s highways, there is no oversight or enforcement of the new FMCSA rules. Because of the lack of enforcement, the fraud and abuse are profound as the FMCSA has allowed unquali ed “CDL training providers” to recruit and train unquali ed truck drivers, who ultimately degrade the American truck driving workforce and put the unsuspecting general public at risk every day.

The results have been catastrophic.

According to the National Highway Safety Administration, 153,472 highway truck accidents resulted in 5,472 highway fatalities in 2023, a 40% increase from 2014. The 2024 data show similar fatality rates. The odds of getting killed by a truck driver is 20 times greater than dying while ying on a U.S. airline.

More than 30,000 commercial driving schools are now approved by the FMCSA, but only 2,100 are state licensed. As founder and CEO of one of the nation’s largest commercial truck driving schools, I know rsthand that the largest employers or truckers make up only 10% of the trucking industry. These employers are rumored to be rejecting nearly half of truck driver applicants as they have strict safety guidelines and driver evaluation criteria.

But the $1 trillion U.S. trucking industry is 90% comprised of companies with 10 drivers or less with thin margins. These employers lack compliance and safety departments, and are hiring individuals trained at unquali ed schools. These are the trucking companies you’ve never heard of that are in the news every day causing another fatality. Everyone wants cheaper prices, and no one wants burdensome regulations, but at what cost?

In a letter to the FMCSA, the American Trucking Association outlined the problem and lambasted the agency for being too “insu ciently robust to shield prospective drivers and the motoring public from fraudulent and non-compliant training entities that fast-track CDL applicants with minimal, if any, training.”

Some states aren’t waiting for the FMCSA to take action and are taking matters into their own hands. California, which was second in the nation in the most highway fatalities in 2023, unanimously passed a bill to eliminate

nefarious commercial-driving schools in the state. Florida and Colorado, among others, are sending cease-and-desist letters to unlicensed commercial training schools that assert they are exempt because of “new federal rules” and ignoring state laws.

Trump’s requested study, coupled with his executive order requiring commercial truck drivers to be pro cient in English, should disqualify many recently minted unquali ed commercial drivers, if properly enforced. Substandard training providers who falsely attested in the Federal Training Provider Registry, should not only be removed from the program but also face the same explicit penalties as those who abused the Paycheck Protection Program after the pandemic. That alone would prevent unquali ed drivers from getting behind the wheel and putting us all at risk.

American truck drivers move more than 70% of all freight across the country. They keep supply chains running — from delivering food and medicine to stocking shelves and fueling factories. Their hard work, often behind the scenes, keeps America moving, and they deserve to be well-compensated.

The trucking industry applauds Trump and Secretary of Transportation Sean Du y for already doing so much to protect America’s truck drivers and our highways. We look forward to working alongside them to go a step farther and enforce the FMCSA rules and protect the American public by eliminating nefarious CDL training schools.

With approximately 3,000 accidents and 100 fatalities each week caused by heavy trucks, the trucking industry and general driving public can’t wait much longer.

Steve Gold is the founder and chief executive o cer of 160 Driving Academy and the Truckers Network Association. This article was originally published by Daily Caller News Foundation.

COLUMN | MICHAEL BARONE

Heading toward midterm elections, Democrats not up o the floor

It looks like the Democrats’ baggage, especially from the Biden years, is heavier than the loads Trump Republicans must juggle.

HERE’S A CLUE that the o -year elections in November 2026 may not go the way conventional wisdom suggests. That conventional wisdom is that the president’s party almost always loses the House and, slightly less often, Senate seats.

There are two structural reasons for this. One is that parties in power tend to do things or produce results that some voters dislike. The second reason is that out-party candidates can adapt to local terrain, focusing on issues on which the president’s party’s stands are unpopular. But that depends on the out party being an acceptable alternative.

Which leads to the clue referred to above.

Politico’s Andrew Howard reports that former Democrats Brian Bengs in South Dakota (Trump +29 in 2024) and Todd Achilles in Idaho (Trump +36) are joining former Democrat Dan Osborn of Nebraska (Trump +20) to run for senator as self-declared independents, with no credible Democrat in the race.

Osborn did so in 2024, scaring incumbent Republican Rep. Deb Fischer while losing by only six points. This was an improvement on Greg Orman’s 2014 independent candidacy in Kansas, where he lost by 11 points in a state that was +22 Republican for president two years before.

Why are these Democrats, some in states such as South Dakota and Nebraska that have reelected Democratic senators in recent years, shunning the Democratic label? Most likely because, in a country of increased straight-ticket voting, they believe the Democratic label is political poison.

After four years of the Biden administration, the Pew Research Center said the presidential electorate moved favoring Democrats by six points in 2020 to favoring Republicans by one point in 2024, with Republicans close to equal among under-30 voters. “For months now,” Republican pollster Patrick Ru ni notes, “we’ve observed a new trend in polling: The Democratic Party’s favorability ratings have fallen below the GOP’s. That’s hardly ever happened before.”

The Wall Street Journal’s July 16-20 poll shows that 63% of voters have negative feelings about the Democrats, the highest

since 1990. That poll also showed Republicans maintaining their 2024 lead in party identi cation, in sharp contrast to President Donald Trump’s rst term. And it showed pluralities of voters favored Republicans even on issues on which majorities disapproved of Trump’s most recent actions, including the economy, tari s, immigration, foreign policy and Ukraine.

It looks like the Democrats’ baggage, especially from the Biden years, is heavier than the loads Trump Republicans must juggle. Democrats’ credibility has been damaged as their arguments, one after another, have proven to be based on lies: the Russia collusion hoax, COVID-19 school closings, “transitory” in ation, the Hunter Biden laptop and open-borders immigration.

All of which suggests that Democrats’ hopes of overturning the Republicans’ 53-47 Senate majority may rest more on independents running in Trump-heavy states than on purple-state Democrats. And, despite conventional wisdom, there’s a cognizable chance that Republicans will not lose the narrow 220-215 majority they won in the House of Representatives in 2020.

Once upon a time, in the split-ticket voting era, Democrats maintained their large House majority in 1972 despite Richard Nixon’s 61% landslide by winning fully half the seats in House districts Nixon carried. Those days are gone. In 2024, voters in only 16 House districts split their ticket between president and congressman.

The Democrats’ problem is that Republicans are defending only three districts carried by former Vice President Kamala Harris, while Democrats are defending 13 seats won by Trump. That’s one of the reasons Steve Kornacki, to the dismay of his MSNBC audience, says Republicans could hold onto the House.

Meanwhile, Harry Enten dismays his CNN audience by pointing out that the narrow leads Democrats enjoy in House generic ballot polling leave them not nearly as well positioned for 2026 as they were at this point in 2005 and 2017 for their big gains in 2006 and 2018.

Core Democratic hatred of and obsession with Trump will certainly have them stomping

to the o -year polls, and Trump Republicans’ newly biracial and young male coalition may not be similarly motivated. But Republican gains are widespread, while Democratic gains are scarcely visible. As Bloomberg columnist Conor Sen writes, “It’s currently not possible to identify any cohort of potential rst-time Dem voters.”

As The New York Times’ brilliant graphics point out, Trump has gained a percentage over three elections in 1,433 counties with 42 million people, while his Democratic opponents gained three times in only 57 counties with 8 million people. “For years, the belief was Democrats have had demographic destiny on our side,” pollster Ben Tulchin said.

“Now, the inverse is true.”

Veteran liberal reporter Thomas Edsall portrays in his Times online column a “realignment (with) staying power” and fears. There is a “real possibility that discontent with the Democratic Party — its perceived failure to value work, its political correctness, the extremity of its social and cultural liberalism — might have become deeply embedded in the electorate.”

Meanwhile, the economic numbers are coming in more positively than those who predicted doom in April from Trump’s tari s (I called them “lunatic”), and as analyst Nate Silver writes, “There remains a strong case that voters are concerned about the economy and the cost of living, but that everything else is priced in.” As for the fuss over the Epstein tapes, Silver writes, “It looks like we’re back to the usual pattern: The overwhelming majority of voters either already hate Trump, or are happy to shrug o his scandals.”

“The country is moving toward Trump,” says Chris Matthews, onetime sta er for Jimmy Carter and Tip O’Neill. “They want a president who is a strong gure. And he’s got it. And half the country buys it.” Nothing’s inevitable in politics, but so far, the Democrats have not gotten up o the oor.

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.”

JORDAN GOLSON / RANDOLPH RECORD

Volvo trucks lined up outside the company’s assembly plant in Dublin, Virginia.

Norman George Colfax Jr.

Nov. 30. 1963 – Aug. 2, 2025

Norman George Colfax Jr., 61, of Liberty, passed away on Saturday, August 2, 2025.

Norman was also known as “Jake” to close family, a nickname given to him by his late grandfather.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 10, 2025, at Lo in Funeral Home Chapel in Ramseur. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1-1:45 p.m.

Norman was a native of Sussex County, NJ, and was a longtime resident of Liberty. He was a third-generation truck driver,

Christine Hussey Allen

Oct. 14, 1943 – July 28, 2025

Christine Hussey Allen, 81, of Asheboro, was welcomed into Heaven by her Savior, her beloved husband, and precious family members who have gone before on Monday, July 28, 2025.

A private family graveside service will be held at the Holly Spring Friends Meeting in Ramseur, and Pastor Todd Brown will be o ciating.

Christine was born in Moore County and was a longtime resident of Asheboro. She was a graduate of Westmoore High School and later attended Asheboro Commercial College. Christine was a hard worker and spent many years working for Moore-Gardner & Associates before retiring from Balfour School with the Asheboro City School System.

Christine was a member of Holly Spring Friends and was a former member of Smyrna Church. She had a love for the Lord and taught Sunday School for many years. Christine enjoyed the simple things in life, especially the relationships amongst her family and friends. She had a profound love for her nieces and nephews, as well as her special lifelong friends, Judith Jarman and Judy Rose Craven.

Christine was preceded in death by her husband of fortyfour years, Tom Allen, her parents, Alva and Mabel Hussey, her sisters, Rose Etta Hussey, Jeanette Moore, and her brother, Jackie Hussey.

Christine is survived by her sisters, Marjorie Spencer, of Robbins, Pat Nichols and husband, Johnnie, of Asheboro, as well as several nieces and nephews. She is also survived by the Allen family who has always been supportive and caring of Christine and her family throughout the years.

The family would like to extend a special “thank you” to Deborah Rich for being a caregiver and friend to Christine over the last few months.

Arrangements are by Lo in Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ramseur.

Memorials may be made to Holly Spring Friends Park Fund, 2938 Holly Spring Road, Ramseur, NC 27316.

obituaries

having driven for several local trucking companies, and was the owner and operator of NGC Jr. LLC. Norman enjoyed being outdoors, hunting and shing. Some of his favorite times were spent playing the guitar and cooking and grilling a wide variety of food. He was preceded in death by his parents, Norman George Colfax Sr., and Leah Drew Colfax, and his brother, Kenneth Colfax.

Survivors: wife of 41 years, Loretta Menger Colfax, of the home, sons, Steven David Colfax and wife, Andrea, of Wantage, NJ, Chad Michael Colfax, of Antioch, TN, sisters, Carol Wundrack and husband, Richard, of Newton, NJ, Donna Colfax, of Liberty, brother, David Colfax and wife, Wendy, of Ramseur, grandson, Schuyler Ray Colfax, as well as several extended family members and friends.

Arrangements by Lo in Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ramseur.

The family requests that memorial donations be made to an organization of your choice that helps enhance the lives of those dealing with the challenge of mental health issues.

David Kenneth “Kenny” York

Oct. 4, 1938 – July 28, 2025

David Kenneth “Kenny” York, 86, of Ramseur, passed away on Monday, July 28, 2025, surrounded by his family at Randolph Hospice House in Asheboro.

A Funeral Service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at Faith Baptist Church in Ramseur, with Pastor Gary Moger and Rev. Bruce McLanahan o ciating. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1-2:45 p.m.in the church sanctuary.

Burial, Pleasant Cross Christian Church, Asheboro.

Kenny was a native and lifelong resident of Randolph County and worked at Ramseur Interlock until 1986. Following his retirement, he became the “Glori ed Gopher” as he began helping his wife with her Accounting Business; a task that would allow him to be active with his family, friends and community. He was a member of Faith Baptist Church in Ramseur.

Kenny enjoyed riding horses with his buddies and following his children to all of their sporting events. He developed a passion for ying airplanes from the early age of eighteen, especially from his family airport, York’s Field.

Most of all, Kenny loved Jesus, his family and ying airplanes. He wasn’t perfect, but he was an honest, loyal, family man.

Kenny was preceded in death by his daughter, Tamara Y. La erty, parents, Lonnie and Lela Langley York, as well as his brothers, Ervin, Ray, J.C., Wayne and Larry York.

Survivors: wife of 61 years, Ersell Shane York, of the home, daughter, Kena Y. Langley and husband, Travis, of Staley, son, Larry Wayne York and wife, Jennifer, of Asheboro, siblings, Joe York (Nancy), of Asheboro, Linda Moore, of Burlington, Roger York (Linda), of Ramseur, Pat King, of Little River, SC, Gary York (Mary), of Liberty, grandchildren, Grant La erty, Kayla S. Edmisten (Justin), Brent La erty, Luke Langley, Kensley and Austin York, sistesr-in-law, Linda York of Greensboro, Pansy York, of Ramseur, as well as several nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Lo in Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ramseur. Memorials may be made to Faith Christian School, 5449 Brookhaven Rd., Ramseur, NC 27316.

Brenda Bean Hall

June 3, 1945 – July 29, 2025

Brenda Bean Hall, 80, of Asheboro, passed away on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at Clapp’s Convalescent Nursing Home in Asheboro.

Funeral Services, 3 p.m., Friday, August 1, 2025, at First Baptist Church, Asheboro.

O ciating, Rev. Mark Hall, Pastor Steven Owen. Burial, Oaklawn Cemetery, Asheboro.

Brenda was a native and lifelong resident of Randolph County. She retired from Randolph Community College after twenty-plus years, where she worked as the Assistant Registrar. Brenda was a member of First Baptist Church in Asheboro and was a devoted mother and grandmother whose greatest joys were found in the pages of a good book, the adventures of travel, and the cherished moments spent with her beloved family, friends and Sunday school class. She was preceded in death by her husband, John “Johnny” Thomas Hall and her parents, Ray and Helen Callicutt Bean.

Survivors: daughter, Cristy Michele Hall and husband, Richard Morris, of Newmarket, England, son, Eric Hall and wife, Amy, of Salt Lake City, UT, sister, Charlotte Parker, of Asheboro, grandchildren, Sam, Ella and Lily Hall, nephew, Ray Parker and nieces, Rachel and Rebecca Parker.

Visitation, 2-2:45 p.m., Friday, First Baptist Church, Asheboro. Arrangements by Lo in Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ramseur.

Memorials may be made to Ramseur Public Library, PO Box 546, Ramseur, NC 27316, or to First Baptist Church of Asheboro, 133 N. Church Street, Asheboro, NC 27203.

Sept. 17, 1959 – Aug. 2, 2025

Ricky James Maness, 65, of Randleman, passed away Saturday, August 2, 2025, at High Point Medical Center in High Point. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Friday, August 8, 2025, at Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, Asheboro, with Pastor Lee Carter o ciating. Burial will follow at Clearview Baptist Church Cemetery, Franklinville.

Born on September 17, 1959, in Randolph County, NC; Ricky was the son of the late Hurley James Maness and Wanda Jean Moore Maness. He was employed with Thomas Built Buses. Ricky enjoyed gardening, growing tomato plants, and keeping his yard and owers looking nice. Always the jokester, Ricky loved to pick and cut up. Ricky also

June Pauley Perkins

Jan. 27, 1939 – July 29, 2025

June McDowell Pauley Perkins, 86, of Asheboro, passed away on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at her residence. A Private Graveside Service will be held. June was a native of Bristol, Tennessee, born on January 27, 1939. She attended school in Bristol, later relocating to Asheboro. June retired from Week’s Construction Company after many years as a dedicated member of their secretarial sta . She enjoyed gardening and working with her owers, as well as cooking, reading, and drawing. June loved listening to music, particularly Nat King Cole; above all else, she loved her family and enjoyed spending time with them. She was preceded in death by her parents, William Hatton and Virginia Curry Pauley, as well as her siblings, Libby McCalister, Johnny Pauley, Roy Pauley, Bill Pauley, McGee Pauley, Thelma Fudge, and Bubby Pauley. Survivors: husband, William David Perkins, of the home, daughter, Deborah Perkins Garcia and husband, Zef, of Randleman, sons, David Perkins and wife, Vella, of Asheboro, Robert Perkins, of the home, grandchildren, Jonathan Forbes and wife, Stacy, of Asheboro, Ashley Henson and husband, Christopher, of Randleman, great-grandchildren, Lily, Mason, Jackson, and Johnathan, niece, Sharon McCallister, nephews, Johnny Fudge, Michael McCallister, and Allen Perkins. Visitation, 6-8 p.m., Friday, Lo in Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ramseur. Condolences may be made online at www. lo infuneralservice.com. Arrangements by Lo in Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ramseur.

known as “Slick Rick” had a passion for competitive racing and he enjoyed working on his classic cars. Grilling out and spending time with his family and friends brought him joy. More than anything, Ricky loved his family, especially his grandson, Ryan aka “Hot Rod”. He would call and talk to his son and grandson every day. He loved his “Lulu” with his whole heart. Sometimes he had to resort to “tough love”, but he always loved. Surviving are his wife, Alma “Lulu” Maness of the home; sons, Richard Maness (Marti), Marcos “Junior” Payne; stepsons, Simon Payne, Chancey Payne; sister, Tammy; grandson, Ryan Maness; step grandchildren, Kassidy Hammock (Jesse), Luna Payne; step great grandchild, Magnolia Hammock; and beloved fur babies, Scooby, Haylie and Sassy. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m., Thursday, August 7, 2025, at Ridge Funeral Home, Asheboro. Visitation, 6-8 p.m., Thursday, August 7, 2025, at Lo in Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ramseur.

Arrangements by Lo in Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ramseur.

In lieu of owers and food, memorials may be made to Ramseur Elementary School, 6755 Jordan Road, Ramseur, NC 27316, or to the Ramseur Food Pantry, 724 Liberty Street, Ramseur, NC 27316.

Winfred Cheek

July 20, 1948 – July 29, 2025

Winfred McCoy Cheek, 77, of Ramseur, passed away on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at Randolph Hospice House in Asheboro.

Funeral Services, 11 a.m., Friday, August 8, 2025, at Lo in Funeral Home Chapel, Ramseur.

O ciating: Rev. Samuel Moore Jr., Rev. Montez Allen. Entombment, Chatham Memorial Park Mausoleum, Siler City.

Winfred was a native and lifetime resident of Randolph County, born July 20, 1948. He was a 1967 graduate of Chatham High School, a retired supervisor with Ramtex and enjoyed his lawn care business. Winfred was a veteran of the U.S. Army and a member of McCrary’s Chapel UMC. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hayworth and E e Mo tt Cheek, as well as his sister, McCoy Gathings.

Survivors: wife of 55 years, Joan Mauldin Cheek, of the home, daughter, Tresa Hatchett and husband, Tony, of Ramseur, son, Torris Cheek and wife, Cierra, of Greensboro, sisters, Annie Haith, of Greensboro, Zula Matthews and husband, Lonnie, of Ramseur, grandchildren, “his two favorite girls”, Taylor Elizabeth Hatchett and Raya Elise Cheek, sisters-in-law, Shirley Emerson, Cynthia Brooks and husband Larry, Sandra Mauldin, Felicia Mauldin, Hattie Marsh, special brothers-in-law, Howard Miller and Tim Mauldin and wife Sherry, special niece and nephew, Vivian Siler and Charles Lennon “Buddy” Staley, his two grand-dogs, “Little Momma” and “Myloe” as well as many other loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and close friends.

The family would like to express a special thanks to Home Sweet Home Care Services, LLC., Tavares Wilhite, Fresenius Kidney Care, Randolph Hospital, and Hospice of Randolph County for the special care given during Mr. Cheek’s illness.

Robert Cli ord Nelson

March 11, 1948 – July 29, 2025

Robert “Bobby” Cli ord Nelson, age 77 of Asheboro, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at the Randolph Hospice House. Bobby was born on March 11, 1948, in Randolph County, NC, to James and Dorothea Stout Nelson. Bobby worked for 30 years in di erent capacities in the construction industry. He proudly served his country during the Vietnam War as a member of the United States Army. When he wasn’t working, Bobby loved to play golf. In addition to his parents, Bobby was preceded in death by his faithful canine companion, Pookie.

Bobby is survived by his daughter, Becky Nelson; sisters, Cletus Price, Wanda Lineberry (Dewey), Althea Webb (David), and Alma Martin (John); and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, from 1-1:45 p.m. at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Ave., Asheboro. A memorial service will follow at 2 p.m. in the Glenn “Mac” Pugh Chapel with Rev. Gary Mason o ciating.

Ricky James Maness

Laymon Cruthis

Oct. 11, 1945 – Aug. 1, 2025

Laymon Cruthis, 79, of Franklinville, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on August 1, 2025. A devoted husband, cherished father, and proud grandfather and greatgrandfather, Laymon will be fondly remembered for his unwavering loyalty to his beliefs and his steadfast faith.

Born on October 11, 1945, in High Point, North Carolina, Laymon was the son of Robert and Martha Cruthis. He grew up in a hardworking family rooted in traditional Southern values. Laymon’s early years were marked by a deep love of the land, which remained a constant throughout his life. He found joy and ful llment in raising horses, working in the timber industry, and spending time on the open road, re ecting his lifelong passion for trucking and the outdoors.

Laymon’s faith was the cornerstone of his life. He was a god-fearing man whose humility and dedication to Providence Friends enriched his community and inspired those around him. Laymon’s door was always open, and he extended kindness and friendship to all who crossed his path. Whether lending a helping hand or o ering words of wisdom, Laymon touched the lives of many.

Laymon was blessed with a loving family who brought him the greatest joy. He shared 41 wonderful years of marriage with his devoted wife, Rachelle Cruthis, building a life lled with love, laughter, and treasured memories. Laymon has three sons: Scott Cruthis (Billy Jo), Andy Clodfelter (Brenda), and Jason Cruthis (Cassie) each of whom carries on his legacy of integrity, hard work, and faith.

Laymon’s role as a grandfather and greatgrandfather was one he cherished deeply. He has 9 loving grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. He was a source of strength, guidance, and unconditional love for the younger generations, passing down his values and stories.

In both his work and his daily life, Laymon exempli ed dedication, honesty, and a profound respect for nature and community. His contributions, whether tending to his horses, working in timber, or o ering fellowship at Providence Friends, will be remembered by all who had the privilege to know him.

Laymon Cruthis will be dearly missed by his wife, Rachelle, his children, Scott (Billie Jo), Andy (Brenda) and Jason (Cassie), and by his nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, extended family, and countless friends.

A celebration of Laymon’s remarkable life will be held at a later date. The family invites friends to share memories and honor Laymon’s legacy in their own special way.

Marty Routh

Dec. 27, 1961 – July 30, 2025

Marvin “Marty” Clayton Routh, 63, of Asheboro, passed away on July 30, 2025.

Born on December 27, 1961, in Asheboro to Larry and Sally Maness Routh, Marty was a man who worked hard, loved deeply, and lived life on his own terms.

Whether he was welding, xing an engine, laying stone with the precision of a true craftsman, or racing at Caraway Speedway in his younger years, Marty poured his heart into everything he did. He had a passion for the outdoors and especially loved carp shing and hunting. Many weekends were spent at local ea markets, where he enjoyed the hustle, the people, and the simple rhythm of those days.

In his most recent years, Marty performed monument work, including engraving dates of death on headstones—a quiet and meaningful task that re ected his steady hands and attention to detail. A lifelong sports fan, Marty proudly cheered for the Atlanta Braves and the Dallas Cowboys, rarely missing a game and always ready to talk stats and plays.

But more than anything, Marty loved being “Papaw.” His grandchildren, McKenzie, Luke and Camden were the light of his life, and he was never happier than when he was with them.

Marty will be remembered for his strong hands, kind heart, and the steady presence he brought to those who knew him. He leaves behind a lifetime of memories and a legacy of love.

He is survived by his teenage sweetheart and devoted wife of 45 years, Brenda Allmon Routh; his son, Michael Routh; daughter, Kristy Rich and her husband Joshua; his beloved grandchildren, McKenzie, Luke, and Camden; his parents, Larry and Sally Routh of Sophia; his brother, Greg Routh and wife Debbie; uncles, Marvin Crocker and wife Libby, Ted Routh and wife Toni; his nephew, Gregory Routh and wife Jessica; cousin, Peggy Newton; brothers-inlaw, Ricky Allmon, Brian Allmon (Jennie), and Chris Allmon (Holly); mother-in-law, Betty Allmon; eight nephews; six nieces; seven great-nieces; and four great-nephews.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, August 2, 2025, from 2–2:45 p.m. at Mt. Calvary Independent Baptist Church, 1206 Oakland Ave, Asheboro. The funeral service will follow at 3 p.m. with Neil Poole o ciating. Burial will be held at Oaklawn Cemetery in Asheboro.

Bobby Gene Hyler

June 11, 1951 – July 30, 2025

Bobby Gene Hyler, 74, of Staley, died Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at Randolph Hospice House in Asheboro.

Funeral Services, 11 a.m., Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at Lo in Funeral Home Chapel, Ramseur.

O ciating, Rev. Mitch Nichols. Burial, Randolph Memorial Park, Asheboro.

Bobby was a native of Rockingham County and a longtime resident of Staley. He was an employee of Industrial Air for many years and was also a truck driver for Carolina Water Systems Supply. Bobby was a man of faith and loved the Lord. Bobby was preceded in death by his great-granddaughter, Ezra Mae Walden, his parents, Arthur Davis and Nora Ann Clark Hyler, his sisters, Faye Henley, Mary Brown, Elizabeth Woodell, and his brother, Cecil Hyler.

Survivors: life partner, Becky Tillman, of the home, daughter, Melissa Haga and husband, Chris, of Denton, son, James Hyler and wife Amber, of Randleman, sister, Barbara Smith, sister-in-law, Betty Sue Hyler, grandchildren, Jared Walden and wife, Haley, Robert John Walden and wife, Mekayla, and Owen Hyler, greatgrandchildren, Jace Walden, Callippe Walden, and “loved family members” Jason Thore and wife, Mandy, and their son, Dallas Thore, of Summer eld.

Visitation, 6-8 p.m., Monday, Lo in Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ramseur. Arrangements by Lo in Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ramseur.

Carl Gene Qualls

April 23, 1952 – July 31, 2025

Carl Gene Qualls, age 73, passed away on July 31, 2025, at the Levine & Dickson Hospice House in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was born on April 23, 1952, in Chenoa, Illinois.

Carl’s life was shaped by both resilience and struggle. He had a strong interest in antique collecting, classic cars, and shing—pursuits that re ected his independent spirit and love of quiet, hands-on work.

He deeply enjoyed time with his grandchildren. Their presence brought him genuine joy, and he carried that bond with him throughout his nal years.

He was preceded in death by his father, Paris “Bud” Qualls; his stepfather, Benton Bowman; his son, Adam Qualls; and his brother, David Qualls.

He is survived by his daughter, Renee Qualls of Seagrove, NC; his son, Chad Qualls of Rockwell, NC; his mother, June Teets of Dexter, MO; his brothers, Dean Qualls of Florida and Keith Bowman of Texas; his sister, Marilyn DeJournette of Missouri; and his grandchildren: Alexandra Qualls, Adam Qualls, and Gabriella Qualls-Robinson.

Irene “Rene” Stroud Swaim Isley

Aug. 28, 1944 – Aug. 1, 2025

Irene “Rene” Stroud Swaim Isley, 80, passed away on Friday, August 1, 2025, at Clapp’s Convalescent Nursing Home in Asheboro, North Carolina.

Rene was born on August 28, 1944, to Clarence Roddy and Pauline Christine Stroud Swaim. Born and raised in Asheboro, she was a beloved school teacher, adored by many throughout her more than 30year career. Rene’s wicked sense of humor, erce love, and unshakable tenacity touched the lives of everyone fortunate enough to know her. She faced life with courage, compassion, and a heart wide open, inspiring those around her every day. A dedicated teacher, Rene believed deeply in the power of education and kindness. She generously

Elizabeth Mae Collins Tilley

Nov. 8, 1933 – July 29, 2025

Elizabeth Mae Collins Tilley, age 91, of Randleman, passed away July 29, 2025, surrounded by loved ones at her home. She was born November 8, 1933, in Rockingham, North Carolina, the daughter of the late Willie James Collins and Daisy Pulliam Collins. Also preceding her in death are her husband, Otis Tilley; son, James Tilley; daughter, Linda Hunt; granddaughter, Pamela Tilley; brother, Ray Collins; sisters, Helen Trosi, Lois Hoyle and Joanne Murphy; and sons-in-law, Russell Kinlaw and Thomas Hunt.

“Liz” has left behind a legacy of resilience, warmth, and quiet strength. Born into the rural heart of North Carolina, she dedicated her life to working on a tobacco farm, embodying the values of hard work and perseverance every single day. Her hands may have been calloused from labor, but they were always open to help others, as she cared deeply for everyone around her. Liz was known for her unique blend of blunt honesty and kindness, a combination that endeared her to many. She spoke her truth with love, o ering wisdom and comfort to those in need. As a devoted mother, her greatest joy came from her family, especially the time spent with her beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Liz had a special way of making each one feel cherished and valued. In her quieter moments, she found immense pleasure in sitting on her front porch, observing the world around her. Peoplewatching was not just a pastime for Liz; it was a window into the lives of others, fueling her endless curiosity and empathy. She pondered their stories and silently shared in the tapestry of human experience.

shared her knowledge, wisdom, and encouragement, nurturing growth and con dence in all whom she taught—whether in a classroom or through everyday acts of guidance and support. She saw the potential in everyone. May her memory be a source of strength, and may we carry her spirit forward by living with the same love, unshakable resilience, and unapologetic joy she gave so freely. She will be dearly missed but forever remembered for the love she gave and the lessons she imparted.

She is survived by her loving daughters, Carolyn Isley of Asheboro, and Christina Hartman, husband Michael, and grandchildren, Wyatt, Magnolia, and Pearl of Kula, Hawaii, and her sister, Jean Yelverton and husband, Bucky of Wilson, North Carolina.

In lieu of owers, the Isley family requests that donations be made in Mrs. Isley’s honor to the Randolph County Public Library, by mail at: Friends of the Randolph County Public Libraries, P.O. Box 2806, Asheboro, NC 27204.

A Celebration of Life for Irene Isley will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, August 8, 2025, at First United Methodist Church in Asheboro, 224 N. Fayetteville St., Asheboro, NC 27203, with Rev. John Isley o ciating. Refreshments will be served for family and friends prior to the service at 1 p.m. A private burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery of Liberty, NC.

Shirley Keaton

Sept. 19, 1936 – July 31, 2025

Shirley Joan Ehrie Keaton, 88, of Asheboro, died Thursday, July 31, 2025, at Clapp’s Convalescent Nursing Home in Asheboro.

A funeral service will be conducted at 3 p.m., Sunday, August 3, 2025, at Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, with Minister Tyler Brown o ciating. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at Rose Hill Cemetery in Hillsboro, IN.

Shirley was born on September 19, 1936, in Crawfordsville, IN, the daughter of the late John Ehrie and Anna Wakeland Ehrie. She retired as a CNA after 32 years. She worked at Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton, Florida, and also Brookstone Haven in Randleman. Shirley was a member of Civil Air Patrol for many years. She enjoyed keeping and caring for birds, especially her nches. Shirley loved caring and spending time with her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Shirley was preceded in death by her rst husband, Max Beane; second husband, Charlie Keaton; sons, Larry Beane, Terry Gill, Arthur Wayne Beane; daughter, Teresa Ann Beane; siblings, Margaret Ehrie, Michael Ehrie, Wesley Ehrie, Francis Foxworthy, Irene Junk, Rosemary Covault, Julia Harshbarger, Pat Dixon, and Jack Ehrie.

She is survived her daughter, Sharon Brown and husband James of Asheboro; son, William “Bill” Beane of Asheboro; sisters, Norma Kincaid, Martha Shanks; brother, Billy Ehrie; grandchildren, Ashley Eskew (Ben), Courtney Allred (Scott), Tyler Brown (Ellie), Christina Whitley (Sam); and nine great grandchildren.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Randolph Record at obits@randolphrecord.com

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, August 8, 2025, at Midstate Cremation & Funeral Service in Asheboro, NC. A separate interment with military honors will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 14, 2025, at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery, 17357 Stars and Stripes Way, Bloom eld, MO 63825. Midstate Cremation & Funeral Service in Asheboro is honored to assist the family of Carl Gene Qualls.

Though Liz may no longer be with us, her spirit of generosity and her legacy of hard work and devotion will continue to inspire all who knew her.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Danny Tilley, Lori Kinlaw, and Tresea Tilley (Rick); 19 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; close friends and adopted sons, Ronald Bailey and Nick Hoover; sisters, Joan Cardwell, Carol Judy Collins and Carolyn Bullins; and numerous other beloved family and friends.

The family will hold a private celebration of life at a later date.

The family will receive friends from 1:45-2:45 p.m., Sunday at Ridge Funeral Home prior to the service.

Memorials may be made to Clapp’s Nursing HomeActivities Fund, 500 Mountain Top Drive, Asheboro, NC 27203.

STATE & NATION

Texas dispute highlights nation’s long history of partisan gerrymandering

Gerrymandering is legal and very, very common

By David A. Lieb The Associated Press

WHEN DEMOCRATIC lawmakers left Texas to try to prevent the Republican-led Legislature from redrawing the state’s congressional districts, it marked the latest episode in a long national history of gerrymandering.

The word “gerrymander” was coined in America more than 200 years ago as an un attering means of describing political manipulation in legislative map-making.

The word has stood the test of time, in part, because American politics has remained ercely competitive. Who is responsible for gerrymandering?

In many states, like Texas, the state legislature is responsible for drawing congressional districts, subject to the approval or veto of the governor. District maps must be redrawn every 10 years, after each census, to balance the population in districts.

But in some states, nothing prevents legislatures from conducting redistricting more often.

In an e ort to limit gerrymandering, some states have entrusted redistricting to special commissions composed of citizens or bipartisan panels of politicians. Democratic o cials in some states with commissions are now talking of trying to sidestep them to counter Republican redistricting in Texas.

How does a gerrymander work?

If a political party controls both the legislature and governor’s o ce — or has such a large legislative majority that it can override vetoes — it can e ectively draw districts to its advantage.

One common method of gerrymandering is for a majority party to draw maps that pack voters who support the opposing party into a few districts, thus allowing the majority party to win a greater number of surrounding districts. Another common method is for the majority party to dilute the power of an opposing party’s voters by spreading them among multiple districts.

Why is it called gerrymandering?

The term dates to 1812, when

Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry signed a bill redrawing state Senate districts to benet the Democratic-Republican Party. Some thought an oddly shaped district looked like a salamander. A newspaper illustration dubbed it “The Gerry-mander” — a term that later came to describe any district drawn for political advantage. Gerry lost reelection as governor in 1812 but won election that same year as vice president with President James Madison. Is political gerrymandering illegal?

Not under the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court, in a 2019 case originating from North Carolina, ruled that federal courts have no authority to decide whether partisan gerrymandering goes too far. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote: “The Constitution supplies no

objective measure for assessing whether a districting map treats a political party fairly.”

The Supreme Court noted that partisan gerrymandering claims could continue to be decided in state courts under their own constitutions and laws. But some state courts, including North Carolina’s highest court, have ruled that they also have no authority to decide partisan gerrymandering claims.

Are there any limits on redistricting?

Yes. Though it’s di cult to challenge legislative districts on political grounds, the Supreme Court has upheld challenges on racial grounds. In a 2023 case from Alabama, the high court said the congressional districts drawn by the state’s Republican-led Legislature likely violated the Voting Rights Act by

The term dates to 1812, when Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry signed a bill redrawing state Senate districts to bene t the Democratic-Republican Party. Some thought an oddly shaped district looked like a salamander.

diluting the voting strength of black residents. The court let a similar claim proceed in Louisiana. Both states subsequently redrew their districts.

What does data show about gerrymandering?

Statisticians and political scientists have developed a variety of ways to try to quantify the partisan advantage that may be attributable to gerrymandering.

Republicans, who control redistricting in more states than Democrats, used the 2010 census data to create a strong gerrymander. An Associated Press analysis of that decade’s redistricting found that Republicans enjoyed a greater political advantage in more states than either party had in the past 50 years. But Democrats responded to match Republican gerrymandering after the 2020 census. The adoption of redistricting commissions also limited gerrymandering in some states. An AP analysis of the 2022 elections — the rst under new maps — found that Republicans won just one more U.S. House seat than would have been expected based on the average share of the vote they received nationwide. That was one of the most politically balanced outcomes in years.

FAA may ease restrictions on drones traveling long distances

Drones delivering everything from food to medicine will soon be common

By Josh Funk The Associated Press

A NEW FEDERAL rule proposed Tuesday would make it easier for companies to use drones over longer distances out of the operator’s sight without having to go through a cumbersome waiver process.

The federal government had already approved 657 waivers to allow companies such as Amazon and major utilities to do this in certain circumstances, but the waiver process made it di cult.

“From drones delivering medicine to unmanned aircraft surveying crops, this technology will fundamentally change the way we interact with the world.”

Sean Du y, Transportation Secretary

ports, Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford said.

sued executive orders in June directing the Transportation Department to quickly get this rule out. The orders also included restrictions meant to help protect against terrorism, espionage and public safety threats.

“This draft rule is a critical step toward enabling drone operations that will enhance safety, transform commercial services, and strengthen public safety with drones as a force

The industry has long pressed for the rule because being able to operate drones out of sight opens up a multitude of possibilities for their use. Being able to do this enables more use of drones for deliveries, inspecting infrastructure like bridges and power lines, and other uses in agriculture over thousands of acres on large farms.

multiplier,” said Michael Robbins, president & CEO of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International trade group.

The rule spells out the circumstances drones can be used under while working to ensure they don’t disrupt aviation and cause problems around air-

“We are making the future of our aviation a reality and unleashing American drone dominance. From drones delivering medicine to unmanned aircraft surveying crops, this technology will fundamentally change the way we interact with the world,”

Transportation Secretary Sean Du y said.

President Donald Trump is-

Drones are already used in a variety of ways, including bolstering search-and-rescue operations, applying fertilizer, inspecting power lines and railroad bridges, and even delivering packages. But the war in Ukraine has highlighted how drones could be used in a military or terrorist attack — a concern as the World Cup and Olympics approach in the U.S. There also have been espionage cases where drones have been used to surveil sensitive sites. And White House o cials said drones are being used to smuggle drugs over the border, and there are concerns about the potential for a disastrous collision between a drone and an airliner around an airport.

JEFF ROBERSON / AP PHOTO

A drone hovers in airspace outside the safety perimeter surrounding the St. Louis Lambert International Airport in March.

ERIC GAY / AP PHOTO

A map of U.S Congressional Districts proposed plan is seen at a Texas legislators’ public hearing on congressional redistricting in Austin last week.

RandolpH SPORTS

Football is in the air

Asheboro head coach Calvin Brown, center, ips a ball to a football player during a drill last week as practices began around the state for fall sports. Assistant coach Scott Furr is at the left. Football teams will hold scrimmages beginning later this week in advance of Aug. 22 openers.

Post 45 builds o Willard’s energy

The in elder from Trinity has provided a spark at the plate and in the eld

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — Ethan Willard likes going full speed into everything he does, and that has made him a good t as a source of energy for Randolph County Post 45 in American Legion baseball.

Willard hopes to have that on display some more during this week’s Southeast Regional at McCrary Park.

“I used to play travel baseball, but I like playing a lot of games like this,” he said of the American Legion season. “It gives me a lot of reps, getting ready for college. This is a really good year for me, and I’m really excited where I’m at.”

Willard, a shortstop, is a 2025 Trinity graduate headed to play collegiately at Pfei er.

He has been a spark atop the Post 45 lineup and a clutch playmaker with his glove and arm in the eld.

Ethan Willard has been a key player for Randolph County Post 45 this season.

“Anything I can do to boost myself, help my team in any way.”

Ethan Willard, Post 45 shortstop

“I try to work at everything in my game — elding, running, hitting, throwing,” Willard said.

“Anything I can do to boost myself, help my team in any way. It’s doing the little things right over and over and over again.”

Willard’s passion is no surprise to those around him. Post 45 teammate Caleb Coggins played against Willard for rival Wheatmore before they reunited on the same team for the American Legion season.

“He’s de nitely got the right mindset about everything,” Coggins said. “It’s fun to watch.”

Coggins and Willard were together in middle school before they ended up at di erent high schools.

“We became pretty good

See POST 45, page B2

Southeast Regional

The double-elimination tournament began Wednesday and runs through Sunday at McCrary Park.

Asheville won the North Carolina state tournament last week in Cherryville, defeating Garner Post 232 by 12-6 in the nal of the double-elimination event.

Troy Post 70 is the reigning American Legion World Series champion. Richmond County defeated Florence for the South Carolina title, with both teams advancing to Asheboro.

The regional champion quali es for the American Legion World Series in Shelby.

Here are the teams in the Southeast Regional: Randolph County Post 45 Asheville Post 70 Richland County (S.C.) Post 6

• Florence (S.C.) Post 1

• Owensboro (Ky.) Post 9 Troy (Ala.) Post 70 Jacksonville (Fla.) Post 316 Puerto Rico

ZooKeepers fall short of reaching playo s

Asheboro’s summer collegiate team had a rough nal week in the CPL

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — The Asheboro ZooKeepers were left out of the Coastal Plain League playo s even with a revamped postseason structure for the summer collegiate baseball circuit.

A season-ending three-game losing streak doomed the ZooKeepers, who nished the season with a 24-24 record in CPL play.

That was good for fourth place in the eight-team West Division. The top three teams quali ed for the playo s. Asheboro nished two games behind the third-place Boone Bigfoots (26-22). The Forest City Owls won the division with a 31-15 record,

A demolition derby and related races were part of the track’s race card Randolph Record sta SOPHIA — Cody Gri n mostly cruised to victory in the Chargers division during racing Saturday night at Caraway Speedway.

Street Stocks also raced for 35 laps, with Je Melton topping the eld ahead of Kyle Lynch, David Thomas, Jimmy Nailer and Mike Cooper.

Brett Smith

Uwharrie Charter Academy, baseball

Smith, a pitcher, was a member of the Eagles for four seasons. UCA won Class 1A state championships the past four seasons.

Smith was a key member of the pitching sta the past three seasons as the Eagles. He was an All-Piedmont Athletic Conference selection as a junior and a senior. Smith, a right-hander, also has been a pitcher in American Legion baseball for Randolph County Post 45. During the summer, we recognize seniors from the past school year.

CARAWAY from page B1

In Modi eds, Steven Mendenhall claimed the Southern Ground Pounders feature, though Bobby Wallace took honors in the Sportsman side of that event. Behind Wallace were Lindsey Pond, David Hill and Mack Tatum.

The UCARs race came down to Jimmy Cooper edging Ron Mock, with points leader Jeremy Moose in third and Daniel Hughes and Tito Clapp in the next two spots.

In Crown Vics, Brandon Mock was tops ahead of Eric Sutton, Christian Morris, Dean Levi and TJ Gibson. Also, track operator Darren Hackett announced a $5,000 top prize in the Crown Vics race as part of the North-South Shootout in early November.

The Mini Stocks winner was Michael Tucker, who zipped past points leader Tyler Bush. Bush was the runner-up, followed by Brandon Crotts, Austin Long and Isaac Wright. Ben Hanks took the Enduro/ Any Car victory ahead of Darren Free, Tony Price, David Edwards and Dave Jarrell.

In the destruction part of the card, rst-time Demolition Derby entrant Jake Cline nabbed the top prize. TJ Gibson won the Figure 8, and Megan Sloan was the winner for Figure 8 Boat Race for women. Bowling with Cars winner was Moose, while the dual school bus races were won by Gene Kepley and Sammy Bullins. There’s an extended break in the track’s regular activity with the next big action scheduled for Aug. 23.

Who’s the top dog?

Wave-riding canines compete in the World Dog Sur ng Championships

By Audrey McAvoy

The Associated Press

CHARLIE THE 10-year-old yellow lab likes sur ng so much, he will grab his surfboard and run toward the water. His humans sometimes have to hide his board if they want to chat with friends on the beach.

Charlie joined about 15 to 20 other canine wave riders in Paci ca, 14 miles south of San Francisco, on Saturday at the World Dog Sur ng Championships, an annual contest that draws thousands of spectators to Paci ca State Beach.

Pooches competed against similarly sized peers for a chance to appear in the nals.

Additional heats featured multiple dogs sur ng tandem or riding with people.

Labs, terriers and spaniels in monogrammed life vests dog-paddled out into the Pacific. Once out on the waves, their owners helped them hop on colorful boards and hang ten as the crowd cheered from the beach.

Judges scrutinized how long the dogs remained on their

boards, how long they held their balance and whether they performed any tricks, like turning around while riding. Iza, a 5-year-old French bulldog, won the single surfer heat for medium-size dogs for the rst time this year, her owner David Fasoli said.

Fasoli found “pure joy” during the pandemic when he brought home a surfboard from his job at Costco and taught Iza to balance in the swimming pool. The two soon started swimming in the ocean and learning to ride waves as passersby at the beach watched in awe. Now their competitions are all about defying expectations.

“I have a disability — I only have one hand — so a nonsporting human combined with a nonsporting dog breed, we are kind of phenomenal, defying the odds of what people think we’re capable of doing,” Fasoli said after Saturday’s competition.

Charlie, who has his own Instagram page, entered the extra-large single surfer heat. He also rode tandem with two other dogs in what their humans called “The Dream Team.”

“He loves the crowd,” owner Maria Nieboer said.

Charlie and Nieboer’s husband, Je Nieboer, prepare for

waves together. When Je spots a good one, he turns the board around and tells Charlie to “get ready.”

He pushes the board forward, and Charlie scrunches down and rides the wave as long as he can. Charlie can even steer the board by leaning and surfs toward an awaiting Maria on shore.

He doesn’t have to be rewarded with treats for any of it.

“Charlie does what Charlie wants to do once we’re in the water,” Je said.

Contest winners received medals and bragging rights.

Charlie’s “Dream Team” compatriot, fellow yellow lab Rosie, was in four heats. The 4-yearold’s owner, Steve Drottar, said she is “stoked” after they go surfing, which they do four to ve times a week back home in Santa Cruz.

“It’s like, hey, we actually did something today, right? We did something together as a team,” Drottar said. “And the fact that you can do something as a team with your dog creates a di erent bond than you have when you just take your dog for a walk.”

He can tell Rosie feels a sense of accomplishment afterward because she is extra happy, wags her tail extra hard and snuggles even more than usual.

“It’s like we go home on the couch and it feels like she’s saying, ‘Thank you,’ ” Drottar said.

NFL

Cowboys owner dismisses Parsons’ trade request as negotiation talk

MLB

Wrigley Field chosen to host 2027 All-Star Game

Coconut is pushed through the breakers during the World Dog Sur ng Championships in Paci ca, California.

NBA Former NBA star Arenas, 5 others charged with running illegal poker games

Los Angeles Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas was arrested along with ve other people on suspicion of hosting illegal high-stakes poker games at a Los Angeles mansion owned by Arenas. The U.S. Attorney’s O ce said all six defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and one count of operating an illegal gambling business. The 43-year-old Arenas is also charged with making false statements to federal investigators. SIDELINE REPORT

Dallas Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones does not intend to trade Micah Parsons after the star defensive end said he wants to leave the team amid a breakdown in negotiating a contract extension. Parsons remains at training camp after writing on social media to request a trade. He has yet to practice because of a back injury. No stranger to public and prolonged disputes with standout players, Jones insisted the stando with Parsons is no di erent than past situations.

Chicago The Friendly Con nes are set to host The Midsummer Classic. Commissioner Rob Manfred announced the 2027 All-Star Game will be held at Wrigley Field. The announcement came during a news conference at home plate with Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts, Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson. Baseball’s second- oldest ballpark hasn’t hosted an All-Star Game since 1990. Manfred cited the “amazing transformation” of the ballpark and surrounding streets in the past decade as part of a massive renovation by the Ricketts family.

ization while on deck has been a factor in his success in the batter’s box.

friends,” Coggins said. “We came out here and built that relationship again.”

Willard, who’s batting around .450 for Post 45, has been a key contributor at the plate, particularly during the postseason.

“I’m having a really hot streak right now, and I’m just trying to keep it going,” he said during the Area 3 playo s.

“I try to stay within myself, put a good swing on and go from there,” he said, noting that he made a swing adjustment since last year. “I’m trying to be relaxed in the box and try to be a little smoother.”

Willard said he values paying attention to the mental and physical aspects. He said visual-

ZOOKEPERS from page B1

followed by the Lexington County Blow sh at 27-18.

The ZooKeepers lost four of ve games in the nal week of the season, beginning when they failed to protect an early ve-run lead in a 9-7 road loss to the Martinsville Mustangs despite Rylen Stockton’s two doubles and four runs batted in.

After a 3-2 triumph against the High Point-Thomasville HiToms, Asheboro couldn’t keep it going. The ZooKeepers scored all their runs on Davis Germann’s two-out double in the rst inning and Billy

Willard said he embraced baseball by the age of 4 and has always played. He became his focus in athletics. Now 5-foot-8, he said he’s looking for ways to make a dif-

Rozakis pitched six innings for the victory while allowing two runs. There was last Thursday night’s 7-6 loss at the Holly Springs Salamanders, when a 4-1 lead in the fourth inning wasn’t enough. Seojun Oh knocked in three runs and Ryan Albin scored three runs for Asheboro. The next night, the ZooKeepers dropped their home nale to Forest City by 3-2 despite an early two-run edge and starting pitcher Hiroyuki Yamada going seven innings and giving up two runs. The Owls broke a ninth-inning tie in a result that o cially bumped Ashe-

ference. He saw work in the weight room — something endorsed in the Trinity program — as a way to gain an edge.

“I knew I wasn’t going to be that tall, so I gured that would help out,” he said.

There’s more work ahead for Willard, who wants to continue to make an impact when he goes to Pfei er.

“In the o season, I kind of look back, re ect on the year and see what things I did do well, what I didn’t do well,” he said. “And work on those things.” POST 45 from page B1

boro out of playo contention. Then came Saturday night’s 11-5 setback to the HiToms at Finch Field. Asheboro scored three of its runs on Germann’s rst-inning home run. Krisitian Amaro later hit a solo homer in just his second game with the team. Across the season, Yariel Diaz batted .344 in 35 games and Jake Gri th checked in a .331 in 33 games to lead Asheboro’s batters. Oh’s 41 runs batted in were a top mark on the team. No pitcher picked up more than two victories.

A year ago, the ZooKeepers won their nal seven games to post a 27-20 CPL record.

COURTESY PHOTO

EAKIN HOWARD / AP PHOTO

pen & paper pursuits

this week in history

U.S. drops atom bomb on Nagasaki, Manson cult strikes, Ruth Bader Ginsburg sworn in, Mickey Mantle dies

The Associated Press

AUG. 7

1789: The U.S. Department of War was established by Congress.

1942: U.S. and other allied forces landed at Guadalcanal, marking the start of the rst major allied o ensive in the Paci c during World War II.

1974: Philippe Petit performed an unapproved tightrope walk between the World Trade Center towers, more than 1,300 feet up; it was featured in the Oscar-winning “Man on Wire.”

AUG. 8

1814: During the War of 1812, peace talks between the United States and Britain began in Ghent, Belgium.

1876: Thomas Edison received a patent for his electric pen — the forerunner of the mimeograph machine.

1908: Wilbur Wright made the Wright Brothers’ rst public ying demonstration at Le Mans racecourse in France.

1963: Britain’s “Great Train Robbery” took place as thieves made o with 2.6 million pounds in banknotes.

AUG. 9

1173: Construction began on the campanile of Pisa Cathedral—better known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

1854: Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden” was rst published.

1936: Jesse Owens won his fourth gold medal at the Berlin Olympics.

1945: Three days after Hi-

roshima, a U.S. B-29 dropped a nuclear device on Nagasaki, killing an estimated 74,000 people from the bombing and radiation.

1969: Actor Sharon Tate and four others were found murdered at her Los Angeles home; cult leader Charles Manson and his followers were later convicted.

AUG. 10

1792: During the French Revolution, mobs in Paris attacked the Tuileries Palace, where King Louis XVI resided.

1821: Missouri became the 24th state admitted to the Union.

1945: A day after the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Imperial Japan conveyed its willingness to surrender provided the status of Emperor Hirohito remained unchanged.

1969: Leno and Rosemary LaBianca were murdered in their Los Angeles home by members of Charles Manson’s cult, one day after actor Sharon Tate and four other people were slain.

1993: Ruth Bader Ginsburg was sworn in as the second female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

AUG. 11

1919: Germany’s Weimar Constitution was signed by President Friedrich Ebert.

1934: The rst federal prisoners arrived at Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay.

1956: Abstract painter Jackson Pollock died in an automobile accident at age 44.

1965: Rioting that claimed 34 lives and lasted six days broke out in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles.

2014: Academy Award-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams died at age 63.

AUG. 12

1898: Fighting in the Spanish-American War came to an end.

1909: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home to the Indianapolis 500, rst opened.

1953: The Soviet Union conducted a secret test of its rst hydrogen bomb.

1981: IBM introduced its rst personal computer, the model 5150, at a press conference in New York.

AUG. 13

1521: Spanish conqueror Hernando Cortez captured Tenochtitlan (present-day Mexico City) from the Aztecs.

1792: French revolutionaries arrested and imprisoned King Louis XVI; he would be executed by guillotine the following January.

1952: Big Mama Thornton rst recorded the song “Hound Dog,” four years before Elvis Presley’s famous version was released.

1995: Baseball Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle died at age 63.

AP PHOTO

Regarded by many as one of the greatest players and sluggers of all time, New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle died on Aug. 13, 1995.

AP PHOTO

On Aug. 11, 1934, the rst federal inmates arrived at Alcatraz, which held notorious gangsters like Al Capone and Whitey Bulger before closing in 1963.

Buddy Guy keeps blues alive through ‘Sinners,’ his music — but it hasn’t been easy

His new album, “Ain’t Done With the Blues,” features guitar legends Joe Walsh and Peter Frampton

By Maria Sherman

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — For Buddy Guy — a stalwart and staunch defender of the blues — there’s nothing more important than keeping his chosen genre at the forefront of conversation. It comes naturally: Guy is one of America’s greatest guitar players, a singular artist with a thick roster of A-list super fans — Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Gary Clark Jr. among them.

The list also includes innovative writer and director Ryan Coogler, who tapped Guy for his critically acclaimed lm “Sinners” earlier this year, and artists like Peter Frampton and the Eagles’ Joe Walsh, who feature on his new album “Ain’t Done with the Blues.” It was released last Wednesday, on Guy’s 89th birthday.

For the eight-time Grammy Award-winning musician, those recognitions aren’t priority. The longevity of the music that made his life is his primary concern. “Like I promised B.B. King, Muddy Waters and all of them,” he said, “I do the best I can to keep the blues alive.”

“Like

I promised B.B. King, Muddy Waters and all of them, I do the best I can to keep the blues alive.”

Buddy Guy

He’s concerned that radio stations no longer play the blues, and that the genre might miss out on connecting with younger listeners. It’s one of the reasons “Ain’t Done with the Blues” is a strong collection of classics that run the risk of being forgotten — like “Talk to Your Daughter,” a rendition of the J.B. Lenoir tune.

In Guy’s performance, there’s an undeniable universality.

“Blues is based on everyday life,” he said.

Or another way Guy explains it: “Music is like a bowl of real good gumbo. They got all kinds of meat in there. You got chicken in there; you got sausage in there. You got a seafood in it. ... When we play music, we put everything in there.”

It’s resonating. In its 2025 midyear report, Luminate, an industry data and analytics company, found that U.S. on-demand audio streams of blues music have climbed this year due to the success of “Sinners.”

Jaime Marconette, Luminate’s vice president of music insights and industry relations, describes the current moment as a “resurgence of the blues,” following “Sinners.”

“Several artists featured on the lm’s soundtrack, which includes works from real-life blues, folk and country musicians, saw spikes the week of the lm’s theatrical release,” he explains. “And they’re all enjoying a sustained rise in listenership even two-plus months following release.”

Guy has noticed the shift, too.

“I walk in the grocery store, or the drugstore and people recognize me. ‘Man, you know, I heard that ‘Sinners’ music, man. Man, it sounds good,’” he said.

That’s part of the reason why Guy decided to participate in the movie in the rst place.

“I hope this will give the blues a boost because my worry right now is, like I said, a young person don’t know how good a gumbo is — you’ve got to taste it,” he’s said. For now, he’s excited to see how people respond to his new album, “Ain’t Done with the Blues” — but he’s not listening to it.

“I listen to everything but Buddy Guy,” he said. “I already know Buddy Guy. I can’t learn anything from that.”

‘You Belong Here’ explores dangers of going home again

A woman returns to the town that once suspected her in a deadly hazing re

By Connie Panzariello

The Associated Press

MEGAN MIRANDA treads overly familiar territory in “You Belong Here,” the story of a woman forced to return to the town that once suspected her of involvement in a terrible crime — a plot that echoes too closely the themes of her previous novels.

Twenty years ago, Beckett Bowery’s college roommate lit a re that killed two young men during a hazing ritual and then seemingly vanished. Adalyn Vale’s whereabouts remain a mystery in Wyatt Valley; a town divided between those connected to the elite college and the locals who know little about life behind its gates. Beckett embodied that divide — her parents were professors at the school, but she grew up as a local until deciding to enroll herself. After the re, she was suspected of being an accomplice and forced to leave her home. Now, two decades later, her daughter, Delilah, enrolls at the school, drawing Beckett back into Wyatt Valley’s web. Miranda is an author who always writes to her strengths, but in this book, she is sticking too close to them. Her 2016 adult debut, “All the Missing Girls,” was a rewardingly twisty take on the genre that pulled o the story being told in reverse and provided a genuinely shocking conclusion. It also in-

troduced Miranda’s signature plot device: a woman haunted by tragedy, reluctantly returning to the scene of the crime, still the subject of small-town whispers and accusations. This book feels like a recycle of that plot, and one that fails to grasp the electric undercurrent of intense female friendship Miranda usually has a knack for.

The reader never feels the magnetism of Adalyn or the emotional weight of Beckett’s relationship with her, to the point where Beckett is still haunted by Adalyn’s absence two decades later. More time spent in the past with their friendship and its e ect on Beckett’s identity might explain why Adalyn’s hold remains so strong.

Miranda’s description of the

SOLUTIONS FOR THIS WEEK

Megan Miranda is the author of “All the

sinister-sounding hazing tradition called “the howling,” where co-eds are chased through the woods by their peers, adds a sense of creeping danger to both timelines of the book. However, Miranda fails to make the consequences of being caught explicit, leaving some confusion as to why Adalyn took such drastic action. If the implication is meant to be sexual violence, the story would be more powerful in addressing that and giving Adalyn’s act a purpose. Miranda’s ability to establish the settings of her novels as characters is present here and remains e ective. Her portrayal of icy tensions in close-knit mountain towns is comparable to Shirley Jackson’s grip on the eeriness of rigid New England villages. The novel also hits a peak when exploring Beckett’s anxiety over her daughter’s safety in Wyatt Valley, and her fear of Delilah being harmed in retribution for her own suspected guilt.

The revelations in the last third of the book are rushed, hollow attempts at twists and lessen the impact of an ending that struck a genuinely poignant, tragic note. Miranda is a genuinely compelling thriller writer, but my hope is she breaks her traditions and tries something new with the next book she writes.

NAM Y. HUH / AP PHOTO

MARYSUE RUCCI BOOKS VIA AP

Megan Miranda, author of “You Belong Here,” lives in Davidson.

Missing Girls”

Dustin Ho man is 88, Mark Knop er turns 76, Former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders celebrates 92

The Associated Press THESE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week.

AUG. 7

Actor John Glover (“Smallville”) is 81. Actor David Rasche (“Sledge Hammer!”) is 81. Actor Wayne Knight (“Seinfeld”) is 70. Actor David Duchovny (“Californication,” ″The X-Files”) is 65.

AUG. 8

Actor Dustin Ho man is 88. Actor Connie Stevens is 87. Actor Keith Carradine (“Madam Secretary”) is 76. Guitarist The Edge of U2 is 64.

AUG. 9

Actor Sam Elliott is 81. Actor Melanie Gri th is 68. Former “Today” co-host Hoda Kotb is 61. Actor Eric Bana (“Star Trek,” “The Hulk”) is 57.

AUG. 10

Singer Patti Austin is 75. Actor Rosanna Arquette is 66. Actor Antonio Banderas is 65. Former boxer Riddick Bowe is 58.

AUG.11

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is 75. Musician Joe Jackson is 71. Actor Viola Davis is 60. Actor-host Joe Rogan is 58.

AUG. 12

Singer-musician Mark Knoper (Dire Straits) is 76. Jazz guitarist Pat Metheny is

AUG.

the stream

Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson team up;

‘King of the Hill,’ ‘Wednesday’ return

“Outlander: Blood of My Blood” debuts on Starz

The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS legend Big Freedia returning with a new gospel album and the acting trio of Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson and Keke Palmer teaming up for the armored truck action comedy “The Pickup” are some of the new television, lms, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also, among the streaming o erings worth your time: The animated “King of the Hill” returns after a 15-year pause, the rst half of season two of “Wednesday” lands on Net ix, and the “Welcome to Wrexham” spino “NECAXA” premieres with Eva Longoria.

MOVIES TO STREAM

Murphy and Davidson are armored truck drivers coerced into a heist in the action-comedy “The Pickup.” Palmer plays the criminal mastermind who disrupts their routine drive. Longoria, Andrew Dice Clay and Marshawn Lynch co-star in the movie, which made headlines during its Atlanta production after several crew members were injured in a collision during the shoot. It’s streaming now on Prime Video.

Filmmaker Osgood Perkins’ latest horror “The Monkey” will be streaming on Hulu starting Thursday. The follow-up to his breakout hit “Longlegs” was inspired by a 1980 Stephen King story. Theo James plays twin brothers whose lives turn to chaos when a demonic toy monkey causes deaths around them. In her review for The Associated Press, Jocelyn Noveck wrote that it felt “uneven.” She added, “surely there will be an audience for the creatively rendered gore. The rest of us may feel left with a witty, visually arresting, highly inventive quasi-mess on our hands.”

If you haven’t had enough Pedro Pascal this year, he’s a key part of Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck’s “Freaky Tales,” streaming on HBO Max on Friday. The anthology action comedy follows four interconnected stories in Oakland, California, in 1987. Before the lm’s Sundance debut in 2024, Boden told the AP that “It’s a movie lover’s movie. … It has one foot in reality and then one foot just launches o into fantasy.”

Pedro Pascal appears in a scene from the late ’80s-set, anthology-style comedy “Freaky

“(“Freaky Tales”) is a movie lover’s movie. … It has one foot in reality and then one foot just launches o into fantasy.”

Anna Boden, “Freaky Tales” co-director

MUSIC TO STREAM

New Orleans legend Big Freedia, the queen of bounce music (and a notable Beyoncé collaborator, lest anyone forget the zeitgeist-shifting “Renaissance”), is back with a new album. But “Pressing Onward” is new territory for the artist. It’s her rst gospel album, and it still manages to induce as much booty-shaking as ever before. The di erence this time is that her vibrant sonic celebrations are all about faith. Start with “Holy Shu e” featuring Billy Porter or “Sunday Best” with Tamar Braxton. It’s good for the soul.

SERIES TO STREAM

Would you believe it’s been 15 years since “King of the Hill” went o the air? The animated comedy returns with a new 14th season on its new home, Hulu. All 10-episodes drop at once for bingeing. The show picks up give

or take 10 years after the events of season 13. Hank and Peggy are both retired after returning from Saudi Arabia, where Hank had been working. Their kids are now grown. Adjusting to life as retirees and in the current political climate in America presents challenges for the couple.

Another long wait comes to an end when the rst half of season two of “Wednesday” premieres on Net ix. The show follows teen Wednesday Addams (played by Jenna Ortega) as she studies at a boarding school called Nevermore Academy. Ortega’s deliciously deadpan delivery earned her an Emmy Award nomination for her work on Season 1. Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzmán play Wednesday’s parents, Morticia and Gomez. Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne proved that yes, men and women can be just friends in the rst season of their Apple TV+ comedy called “Platonic. “ The codependent buddies, Will and Syl-

via are back with a new season. We meet them again and Will is engaged to his boss — who doesn’t like Sylvia. And Sylvia is planning their wedding. Will is struggling to open his bar, and Sylvia’s event-planning business has yet to take o . More than two years ago, AMC Networks pulled the plug on its sci- comedy “Demascus “as a cost-cutting measure even though production was already completed. Tubi has rescued the show, starring Okieriete Onaodowan, and it premieres Thursday. It’s about a man who begins using an experimental technology that allows him to experience di erent timelines of his life. The “Outlander” prequel “Outlander: Blood of My Blood” debuts on Starz on Friday. It’s about the parents of Claire and Jamie from “Outlander.” Unlike its predecessor, “Blood of My Blood” does not have source material by author Diana Gabaldon, but its showrunner, Matthew B. Roberts, also works on “Outlander” and is very familiar with the lore. The cast is already lming a second season. It streams on the Starz App or through platforms like Hulu and Prime Video.

The “Welcome to Wrexham” spino “NECAXA” premieres Thursday on FX on Hulu. After

their success owning the Welsh soccer team Wrexham AFC, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney join Eva Longoria and buy a stake in a Mexican club, NECAXA, “It’s more than winning games. We’re gonna win hearts. We’re gonna inspire pride. We’re gonna empower the team,” Longoria says in the trailer.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

The Ma a series from 2K Games has moved from 1930s Chicago to 1940s New York to 1960s New Orleans, but now it’s going back in time and space. Ma a: The Old Country aims to deliver an origin story of sorts, traveling to 1900s Sicily. Enzo Favara is a young man who’s su ered a rough childhood, and he is hoping to improve his status by working for the Torrisi crime family. That means pulling o heists, punching out rivals and killing anyone who might threaten the Don. The cars may be slower and the weapons may not be as slick, but if you’re bummed out about having to wait for the next Grand Theft Auto, you might want to spend some time with the original gangsters. It arrives Friday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.

Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson star in the action-comedy “The Pickup.”

LIONSGATE VIA AP

Tales.”

HOKE COUNTY

“Law

is order, and good law is good order”

Attorney John H. Thompson shares knowledge of business law in a breakout session. It was one of three classes o ered at the Raeford Hoke Chamber of Commerce and Sandhills Community College’s Small Business Academy held July 31.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Violent crime in U.S. dropped 4.5% last year, FBI data shows Washington, D.C.

A new FBI report says violent crime in the United States fell 4.5% last year while property crime dropped 8% from the year before. The FBI statistics released Tuesday show murder and nonnegligent manslaughter in the U.S. fell nearly 15% in 2024, continuing a decline that’s been seen since a coronavirus pandemicera crime spike. Reported hate crimes decreased 1.5%. The FBI collects data through its Uniform Crime Reporting Program. Not all law enforcement agencies in the U.S. participate. The 2024 report is based on data from more than 16,000 agencies, or more than 86% of those agencies in the FBI’s program.

House committee subpoenas Epstein les, depositions with Clintons

Washington, D.C.

The House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed the Justice Department for les in the Je rey Epstein sex tra cking investigation and is seeking depositions with the Clintons and eight former top law enforcement o cials. Meanwhile, federal prosecutors are asking in court to unseal grand jury transcripts in the sex tra cking cases against Epstein and his ex-girlfriend but say there’s not much new in them.

Hoke commissioners approve loan funding for two local businesses

The two requests will be covered by the county’s revolving loan funds

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

RAEFORD — The Hoke County Board of Commissioners approved loan funding for two businesses at its Aug. 4 regular business meeting.

The board decided between three separate candidates who had each requested funding from the county’s revolving loan fund.

“This is money that the county received long ago, long before my time,” said Economic Development Executive Director Will Wright. “What the county has done traditionally is hand this

money out, typically, to small businesses that are looking to do expansion or have critical needs.”

According to Wright, the money is loaned out at 0% interest and there’s typically a ve-year payback plan, but it is always dependent on the wishes of the board or the needs of the county.

“What we have here is that we got more requests for money than we have money available,” Wright said. “We have a little over $229,000 available in the revolving loan fund. That money is coming in all the time and right now at about a rate of $6,000 a month, so we’re building up the balance that we can loan back out. But right now, we have three people who have asked for money, and they’re all deserving projects.”

NC US Senate race turns into battle for middle class

Cooper v. Whatley may turn on issues, rather than culture wars

By Thomas Beaumont and Gary D. Robertson

The Associated Press

RALEIGH — Democrats still in the dumps over last year’s elections have found cause for optimism in North Carolina, where former Gov. Roy Cooper jumped into the race for that state’s newly open seat with a vow to address voters’ persistent concerns about making ends meet. Even Republicans quietly note that Cooper’s candidacy makes their job of holding the seat more di cult and expensive. Cooper had raised $2.6 million for his campaign between his Monday launch and Tuesday, and more than

$900,000 toward allied groups. Republicans, meanwhile, are hardly ceding the economic populist ground. In announcing his candidacy for the Senate on Thursday, Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley credited President Donald Trump with ful lling campaign promises to working Americans and painted Cooper as a puppet of the left.

Still, Cooper’s opening message that he hears the worries of working families has given Democrats in North Carolina and beyond a sense that they can reclaim their place as the party that champions the middle class. They think it’s a message that could help them pick up a Senate seat, and possibly more, in next year’s midterm elections, which in recent years have typically favored the party out of power.

“I’m Roy Cooper. And I know

“We don’t have enough money for the three projects, but all three are vital to Hoke County and the City of Raeford and we support all three projects.”

Vice Chair Harry Southerland

The requests were for Northwest Water Supply, Greater Vision Counselling and the Page Trust Building. Northwest Water Supply, which serves around 500 customers in Hoke County, requested $150,000 to improve critical infrastructure.

that today, for too many Americans, the middle class feels like a distant dream,” the former governor said in a video announcing his candidacy.

“Meanwhile, the biggest corporations and the richest Americans have grabbed unimaginable wealth at your expense. It’s time for that to change.”

Cooper’s plainspoken appeal may represent just the latest e ort by Democrats to nd their way back to power, but it has some thinking they’ve nally found their footing after last year’s resounding losses.

“I think it would do us all a lot of good to take a close look at his example,” said Larry Grisolano, a Chicago-based Democratic media strategist and former adviser to President Barack Obama.

Whatley, a former North Carolina GOP chairman and close Trump ally, used his Thursday announcement that he was entering the race to hail the president as the true champion of the middle class. He said Trump had already fullled promises to end taxes on tips and overtime and said Cooper was out of step with North Carolinians.

“Six months in, it’s pretty clear to see, America is back,”

“We’ve received a lot of phone calls, including from our state representative, on how critical these needs are for Northwest,” said Commissioner Allen Thomas. “I don’t think there’s a reason to wait on this one. I know we don’t have enough for all of the requests, but this request is critical to the life of people and people’s ability to turn their water on.”

Greater Vision Counselling requested $64,000 to renovate and remodel a building they purchased at 632 West Prospect St.

“(Greater Vision Counselling) is constantly hiring people, they are a great employer in Hoke County and in order to make this building really

“We can attack Republicans all day long, but unless we have candidates who can really embody that message, we’re not going to be able to take back power.”

Pat Dennis, American Bridge 21st Century

Whatley said. “A healthy, robust economy, safe kids and communities and a strong America. These are the North Carolina values that I will champion if elected.”

Still, the decision by Cooper, who held statewide o ce for 24 years and has never lost an election, makes North Carolina a potential bright spot in a midterm election cycle when Democrats must net four seats to retake the majority — and when most of the 2026 Senate contests are in states Trump won comfortably last November. State Rep. Cynthia Ball

threw up a hand in excitement when asked Monday at the North Carolina Legislative Building about Cooper’s announcement.

“Everyone I’ve spoken to was really hoping that he was going to run,” said the Raleigh Democrat.

Democratic legislators hope having Cooper’s name at the top of the ballot will encourage higher turnout and help them in downballot races. While Republicans have controlled both General Assembly chambers since 2011, Democrats managed last fall to end the GOP’s veto-proof majority, if only by a single seat.

Republican strategists familiar with the national Senate landscape have said privately that Cooper poses a formidable threat.

The Senate Leadership Fund, a GOP super PAC afliated with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, wasted no time in challenging Cooper’s portrayal of a common-sense advocate for working people.

“Roy Cooper masquerades as a moderate,” the narrator in the 30-second spot says. “But he’s just another radical, D.C. liberal in disguise.”

Cooper, a former state legislator who served four terms as attorney general before he became governor, has never held an o ce in Washington. Still,

Whatley was quick to link Cooper to national progressive gures such as New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, former Vice President Kamala Harris and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Whatley accused Cooper of failing to address illegal immigration and of supporting liberal gender ideology. He echoed the themes raised in the Senate Leadership Fund ad, which noted Cooper’s vetoes in the Republican-led legislature of measures popular with conservatives, such as banning gender-a rming health care for minors and requiring county sheri s to cooperate with federal immigration o cials.

“Roy Cooper may pretend to be di erent than the radical extremists,” Whatley said. “But he is all-in on their agenda.”

Cooper rst won the gover-

norship in 2016, while Trump was carrying the state in his rst White House bid. Four years later, they both carried the state again.

Cooper, who grew up in a small town roughly 50 miles east of Raleigh, has long declined requests that he seek federal o ce. He “understands rural North Carolina,” veteran North Carolina strategist Thomas Mills said. “And while he’s not going to win it, he knows how to talk to those folks.”

As with most Democrats, Cooper’s winning coalition includes the state’s largest cities and suburbs. But he has long made enough inroads in other areas to win.

“He actually listens to what voters are trying to tell us, instead of us trying to explain to them how they should think

and feel,” said state Sen. Michael Garrett, a Greensboro Democrat.

In his video announcement, Cooper tried to turn the populist appeal Trump made to voters on checkbook issues against the party in power, casting himself as the Washington outsider. Senior Cooper strategist Morgan Jackson said the message represents a shift and will take work to drive home with voters.

“Part of the challenge Democrats had in 2024 is we were not addressing directly the issues people were concerned about today,” Jackson said. “We have to acknowledge what people are going through right now and what they are feeling, that he hears you and understands what you feel.”

Pat Dennis, president of American Bridge 21st Century, a group that conducts research for an initiative called the Working Class Project, said Cooper struck a tone that other Democrats should try to match.

“His focus on a ordability and his outsider status really hits a lot of the notes these folks are interested in,” Dennis said. “I do think it’s a model, especially his focus on a ordability.”

“We can attack Republicans all day long, but unless we have candidates who can really embody that message, we’re not going to be able to take back power.”

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

COLUMN | STEVE GOLD

Record trucking-related carnage is no accident

American truck drivers move more than 70% of all freight across the country.

AFTER A FATAL ACCIDENT caused by a non-English-speaking trucker with a commercial drivers’ license (CDL), President Donald Trump ordered the Department of Transportation to review the nondomiciled CDLs issued by each state over the past four years. This is a massive victory for highway safety — preventing further loss of American lives.

Just ve years ago, new truckers had to produce a birth certi cate, speak English and con rm state residency to even qualify for a CDL. If the driver couldn’t speak English, he couldn’t get a driver’s test. Today, any evidence of a work permit or foreign visa is enough to qualify for a nondomiciled CDL.

In 2022, the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA) set high, federal standard training requirements through the Entry Level Driver Training rules. The goal was to make highways safer, in conjunction with state commercial driver training laws that have been in place for decades. But these new rules have more exemptions than the federal tax code. Employers, municipalities and online video providers, posing as educators, now provide commercial driver training through unchecked “self-certi cation.”

Consider for a minute that almost every state requires 16-year-olds to attend a state licensed driver training program before they can get behind the wheel of an automobile. But, as Teamsters President Sean O’Brien just testi ed in the Senate Commerce Committee hearing, if you want to drive an 80,000-pound truck on our nation’s highways, there is no oversight or enforcement of the new FMCSA rules. Because of the lack of enforcement, the fraud and abuse are profound as the FMCSA has allowed unquali ed “CDL training providers” to recruit and train unquali ed truck drivers, who ultimately degrade the American truck driving workforce and put the unsuspecting general public at risk every day.

The results have been catastrophic.

According to the National Highway Safety Administration, 153,472 highway truck accidents resulted in 5,472 highway fatalities in 2023, a 40% increase from 2014. The 2024 data show similar fatality rates. The odds of getting killed by a truck driver is 20 times greater than dying while ying on a U.S. airline.

More than 30,000 commercial driving schools are now approved by the FMCSA, but only 2,100 are state licensed. As founder and CEO of one of the nation’s largest commercial truck driving schools, I know rsthand that the largest employers or truckers make up only 10% of the trucking industry. These employers are rumored to be rejecting nearly half of truck driver applicants as they have strict safety guidelines and driver evaluation criteria.

But the $1 trillion U.S. trucking industry is 90% comprised of companies with 10 drivers or less with thin margins. These employers lack compliance and safety departments, and are hiring individuals trained at unquali ed schools. These are the trucking companies you’ve never heard of that are in the news every day causing another fatality. Everyone wants cheaper prices, and no one wants burdensome regulations, but at what cost?

In a letter to the FMCSA, the American Trucking Association outlined the problem and lambasted the agency for being too “insu ciently robust to shield prospective drivers and the motoring public from fraudulent and non-compliant training entities that fast-track CDL applicants with minimal, if any, training.”

Some states aren’t waiting for the FMCSA to take action and are taking matters into their own hands. California, which was second in the nation in the most highway fatalities in 2023, unanimously passed a bill to eliminate

nefarious commercial-driving schools in the state. Florida and Colorado, among others, are sending cease-and-desist letters to unlicensed commercial training schools that assert they are exempt because of “new federal rules” and ignoring state laws.

Trump’s requested study, coupled with his executive order requiring commercial truck drivers to be pro cient in English, should disqualify many recently minted unquali ed commercial drivers, if properly enforced.

Substandard training providers who falsely attested in the Federal Training Provider Registry, should not only be removed from the program but also face the same explicit penalties as those who abused the Paycheck Protection Program after the pandemic. That alone would prevent unquali ed drivers from getting behind the wheel and putting us all at risk.

American truck drivers move more than 70% of all freight across the country. They keep supply chains running — from delivering food and medicine to stocking shelves and fueling factories. Their hard work, often behind the scenes, keeps America moving, and they deserve to be well-compensated.

The trucking industry applauds Trump and Secretary of Transportation Sean Du y for already doing so much to protect America’s truck drivers and our highways. We look forward to working alongside them to go a step farther and enforce the FMCSA rules and protect the American public by eliminating nefarious CDL training schools.

With approximately 3,000 accidents and 100 fatalities each week caused by heavy trucks, the trucking industry and general driving public can’t wait much longer.

Steve Gold is the founder and chief executive o cer of 160 Driving Academy and the Truckers Network Association. This article was originally published by Daily Caller News Foundation.

COLUMN | MICHAEL BARONE

Heading toward midterm elections, Democrats not up o the floor

It looks like the Democrats’ baggage, especially from the Biden years, is heavier than the loads Trump Republicans must juggle.

HERE’S A CLUE that the o -year elections in November 2026 may not go the way conventional wisdom suggests. That conventional wisdom is that the president’s party almost always loses the House and, slightly less often, Senate seats.

There are two structural reasons for this. One is that parties in power tend to do things or produce results that some voters dislike. The second reason is that out-party candidates can adapt to local terrain, focusing on issues on which the president’s party’s stands are unpopular. But that depends on the out party being an acceptable alternative.

Which leads to the clue referred to above.

Politico’s Andrew Howard reports that former Democrats Brian Bengs in South Dakota (Trump +29 in 2024) and Todd Achilles in Idaho (Trump +36) are joining former Democrat Dan Osborn of Nebraska (Trump +20) to run for senator as self-declared independents, with no credible Democrat in the race.

Osborn did so in 2024, scaring incumbent Republican Rep. Deb Fischer while losing by only six points. This was an improvement on Greg Orman’s 2014 independent candidacy in Kansas, where he lost by 11 points in a state that was +22 Republican for president two years before.

Why are these Democrats, some in states such as South Dakota and Nebraska that have reelected Democratic senators in recent years, shunning the Democratic label? Most likely because, in a country of increased straight-ticket voting, they believe the Democratic label is political poison.

After four years of the Biden administration, the Pew Research Center said the presidential electorate moved favoring Democrats by six points in 2020 to favoring Republicans by one point in 2024, with Republicans close to equal among under-30 voters. “For months now,” Republican pollster Patrick Ru ni notes, “we’ve observed a new trend in polling: The Democratic Party’s favorability ratings have fallen below the GOP’s. That’s hardly ever happened before.”

The Wall Street Journal’s July 16-20 poll shows that 63% of voters have negative feelings about the Democrats, the highest

since 1990. That poll also showed Republicans maintaining their 2024 lead in party identi cation, in sharp contrast to President Donald Trump’s rst term. And it showed pluralities of voters favored Republicans even on issues on which majorities disapproved of Trump’s most recent actions, including the economy, tari s, immigration, foreign policy and Ukraine.

It looks like the Democrats’ baggage, especially from the Biden years, is heavier than the loads Trump Republicans must juggle. Democrats’ credibility has been damaged as their arguments, one after another, have proven to be based on lies: the Russia collusion hoax, COVID-19 school closings, “transitory” in ation, the Hunter Biden laptop and open-borders immigration.

All of which suggests that Democrats’ hopes of overturning the Republicans’ 53-47 Senate majority may rest more on independents running in Trump-heavy states than on purple-state Democrats. And, despite conventional wisdom, there’s a cognizable chance that Republicans will not lose the narrow 220-215 majority they won in the House of Representatives in 2020.

Once upon a time, in the split-ticket voting era, Democrats maintained their large House majority in 1972 despite Richard Nixon’s 61% landslide by winning fully half the seats in House districts Nixon carried. Those days are gone. In 2024, voters in only 16 House districts split their ticket between president and congressman.

The Democrats’ problem is that Republicans are defending only three districts carried by former Vice President Kamala Harris, while Democrats are defending 13 seats won by Trump. That’s one of the reasons Steve Kornacki, to the dismay of his MSNBC audience, says Republicans could hold onto the House.

Meanwhile, Harry Enten dismays his CNN audience by pointing out that the narrow leads Democrats enjoy in House generic ballot polling leave them not nearly as well positioned for 2026 as they were at this point in 2005 and 2017 for their big gains in 2006 and 2018.

Core Democratic hatred of and obsession with Trump will certainly have them stomping

to the o -year polls, and Trump Republicans’ newly biracial and young male coalition may not be similarly motivated. But Republican gains are widespread, while Democratic gains are scarcely visible. As Bloomberg columnist Conor Sen writes, “It’s currently not possible to identify any cohort of potential rst-time Dem voters.”

As The New York Times’ brilliant graphics point out, Trump has gained a percentage over three elections in 1,433 counties with 42 million people, while his Democratic opponents gained three times in only 57 counties with 8 million people. “For years, the belief was Democrats have had demographic destiny on our side,” pollster Ben Tulchin said.

“Now, the inverse is true.”

Veteran liberal reporter Thomas Edsall portrays in his Times online column a “realignment (with) staying power” and fears. There is a “real possibility that discontent with the Democratic Party — its perceived failure to value work, its political correctness, the extremity of its social and cultural liberalism — might have become deeply embedded in the electorate.”

Meanwhile, the economic numbers are coming in more positively than those who predicted doom in April from Trump’s tari s (I called them “lunatic”), and as analyst Nate Silver writes, “There remains a strong case that voters are concerned about the economy and the cost of living, but that everything else is priced in.” As for the fuss over the Epstein tapes, Silver writes, “It looks like we’re back to the usual pattern: The overwhelming majority of voters either already hate Trump, or are happy to shrug o his scandals.”

“The country is moving toward Trump,” says Chris Matthews, onetime sta er for Jimmy Carter and Tip O’Neill. “They want a president who is a strong gure. And he’s got it. And half the country buys it.” Nothing’s inevitable in politics, but so far, the Democrats have not gotten up o the oor.

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.”

JORDAN GOLSON / NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Volvo trucks lined up outside the company’s assembly plant in Dublin, Virginia.

The popular new game-within-a-game is called “Grow a Garden.”

Millions are ocking to grow virtual gardens in viral Roblox game created by teenager

FarmVille meets Minecraft?

By Barbara Ortutay

The Associated Press

WHETHER IT serves as a chill escape from the onslaught of the real world or simply a way to beat vacation doldrums, a viral Roblox game about gardening has become the surprise hit of the summer.

Grow a Garden, created by a 16-year-old in a few days, has shattered records for the most concurrent players of any game in history, beating out video games that take years and millions of dollars to develop.

And there’s no one to shoot, ght or race. If your last attempt at cultivating vegetables was FarmVille in 2010, don’t worry — your tomatoes will grow even if you never water them.

Grow a Garden is as simple as its name suggests — players can ll a plot of land with plants and animals, harvest and sell, trade or steal each others’ bounty. The game is low stress, with an aesthetic reminiscent of Minecraft and a soundtrack of soothing

FUNDING from page A1

functional for them and to work well, they need some money,” Wright said. “They’ve invested a lot to purchase the building, but now they’d like to do some renovations to it.”

The nal request was for $120,000 to replace the win-

classical tunes such as Mozart’s Rondo Alla Turca playing in the background. Its popularity has further cemented Roblox’ place not just in the gaming world but in popular culture — for better or for worse, it’s where the kids hang out.

“The word I keep hearing used over and over to describe this particular game is that it’s chill, which is just such a nice alternative. I get a lot of sort of that Animal Crossing vibe from it. You know, like you can check in, you can check your gardens, you can get some new seeds, you can plant them,” said Betsy Bozdech, editorial director at the nonprofit Common Sense Media. “I have an 11-year-old son who (plays it) and he says to him the big di erence is that a lot of games have a big giant objective that you have to do, but in Grow a Garden, you can just kind of hang out and do what you want.”

Coincidence or not, Grow a Garden soared to popularity around the same time that TakeTwo Interactive announced it would delay the launch of its wildly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 until next year. In late June, the gardening game logged

dows in the Page Trust Building.

“They have several tenants in that building who are good employers and it would also make Main Street more beautiful, and that’s especially a priority with the new courthouse going up,” Wright said. “We want all of Main Street to look good, so that would be a bene t to the county.”

21.6 million concurrent players, surpassing Fortnite’s previous record of 15.2 million according to Roblox. Analysts who follow Roblox’s stock say Grow a Garden is helping boost the company’s revenue and will push the company’s quarterly earnings numbers above Wall Street’s expectations.

While it’s not clear if the GTA audience ocked to this simple gardening game to pass the time until then, the timing reignited the age-old debate about who gamers are and what titles are taken seriously by the video game establishment. It happened with Candy Crush, with puzzle games, with Animal Crossing. Are people who play cozy games true gamers? Or is the title reserved for the folks who shoot enemies in Call of Duty or drive around creating mayhem in GTA?

“There’s a huge percentage of gamers that play Roblox and the actual industry just views it as like this esoterically immature platform of weird gameplay habits,” said Janzen Madsen, the New Zealand-based CEO and founder of Splitting Point studios, which acquired the game

from its teenage creator. “Well, I actually think in ve years this is what player expectation is gonna be. And because you guys haven’t embraced it, like you’re not gonna know how to make games.”

To start growing your garden, you’ll need a Roblox account. The game will start you out with an empty plot and some money — sheckles — and a starter seed. From there, you can plant seeds, harvest and sell your crops and buy more seeds, animals or tools for your garden. While it is possible to play the game without spending real-world money, it will take longer. Once you sell enough crops, you earn money to buy more expensive seeds beyond basic carrots and blueberries.

“For me, I just, I really want to get all the rarest stu . I’m a completionist, so I want everything and that’s what’s fun for me,” said Leah Ashe, a YouTuber who plays Grow a Garden and other popular games to an audience of 5.3 million. “It’s really cool because you can come together because the seed shop is global, so everybody’s shop is the exact same. So you can work with other people and be like,

After hearing each, the board approved the requests of Northwest Water Supply and Greater Vision Counselling and established that the Page Trust Building will have priority once enough funding becomes available.

“One thing about this revolving loan is that every month, people pay back into it,” Sutherland said. “We don’t have enough money for the three projects, but all three are vital to Hoke County and the City of Raeford, and we support all three projects.”

‘Oh my gosh, the sugar apple is in stock. Get online!’ The seed shop updates every ve minutes, so there’s always something pulling you back into the game.”

For Roblox, which has faced a backlash for not doing enough to protect kids on its gaming service, Grow a Garden has served as something of a reprieve — along with new safety measures such as chat restrictions and privacy tools.

New players get help from more established peers who send them gifts and let them know when rare seeds become available in the seed shop.

Bozdech said that “if you have the right supervision and guidance,” Roblox can be a positive experience for kids, allowing them to create their own designs or practice coding, for instance.

“Something like Grow a Garden, particularly, is a nice opportunity maybe for parents and kids to play together,” she said.

And perhaps the slow cultivating of a magical garden can bene t parents too.

“It’s hitting a nerve, you know?” Bozdech said. “People need an escape from the world, I think we all do.”

“We have the money,” said Sheri Roderick Virgil. “We’d like to take the money for these two positions from our vehicle budget.”

The Hoke County Board of Commissioners will next meet Aug. 18.

The board also approved the addition of two new sheri ’s ofce positions — a captain and a lieutenant. The positions will cost around $196,000.

JANZEN MADSEN VIA AP

HOKE SPORTS

Let the Big Sweat begin

Football, volleyball and soccer teams started practicing with matches and scrimmages that begin next week

By Michael Jaenicke North State Journal

WALLACE — “Summer is over.”

Well, almost anyway, despite the slightly misleading protest yell from a parent exiting hernal youth baseball game of the summer.

Prep soccer and volleyball matches start in just over a week.

Football scrimmages are on the horizon and practices are ofcially underway.

It’s a new season, in part due to changes made via the realignment process that increases the classi cations from four (1A to 4A) to eight (1A to 8A).

OK, but there’s more.

New playo format allows more schools in postseason

The playo system was changed and approved by the NCHSAA Board of Directors.

Forty-eight schools in 1A to 7A will make the playo s, with the top 16 teams earning a

Hoke County makes its entrance before a game against 71st last year. All of Hoke’s fall sports teams will be making their entrances soon.

rst-round bye. There will still be six playo rounds, yet seeds will be rewarded slightly di erently.

First, conference champs won’t earn automatic bids and will second-place teams in conferences won’t necessarily be seeded below the conference champs.

The RPI system will determine seeds. The RPI formula bases its nal number on a team’s winning percentage (40%), the winning percentage of its opponents (40%) and the winning percentage of its opponents’ opponents (20%).

Fans will be asked to fork out more money to see the playo s as tickets for the rst two rounds and increases thereafter to $20 for a ticket for the state nals in football and basketball.

It also held its line not allowing cheaper tickets for students through presale programs.

Schools must also allow older adults and others without bank cards and computer skills to purchase tickets with cash.

Fans might also be leaving games earlier. The state reduced the numbers on its mercy rule.

In football, the clock can now run continuously after halftime when a team is ahead by 35 or more points. It was 42 last season.

In basketball, the mercy-rule

lead went from 40 to 35, which many feel is still too lenient for the eventual losing team.

Board votes down several talked-about proposals

Yet not everything on the board’s drawing board passed through to become new policy.

There was discussion about having the realignment process every two years instead of four years, which was sent back to the subcommittee level.

The N.C. Basketball Coaches Association suggestion to allow a pilot program for the shot clock was likewise voted down.

Flag football talks are o the table until at least December.

A nal gridiron note

Additionally, the white-hot subject of what is a legal hit and what is targeting remains a subject the NCHSAA and others consider a hot button, though it’s clearly not well de ned.

And nally, the NFHS, prep sport’s organizing and sanctioning body, has changed a longstanding rule. In 2025, a ball fumbled out of bounds will return to the line of scrimmage.

See ya at the yardsticks.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Tarique Thompson

Hoke County alum, basketball

Tarique Thompson is a 2013 graduate of Hoke County, where he was conference boys’ basketball player of the year as a junior and senior. Thompson was a two-time All-Cape Fear selection and was selected for the East-West AllStar Game and the North Carolina vs. South Carolina All-Star Game. He then went on to play college basketball at High Point, where he averaged 10 points and 5.2 rebounds as a senior. Thompson also played professionally in Germany. Thompson was named to the Hoke County High School Athletic Hall of Fame’s class of 2025. He will be inducted, with the rest of the class, in a Sept. 26 ceremony.

NFL’s kicko rule here to stay with tweak

Overtime, onside kicks and replay were changed

By Josh Dubow

The Associated Press

THE NFL’S one-year experiment with the new kicko rule becomes permanent this season with a new tweak that the league hopes will lead to a bigger increase in the rate of returns. The league also approved changes to the overtime rule, expanded replay assist and made a few other technical changes for this season. The NFL’s HawkEye virtual measuring also replaces the chains to determine rst downs.

There was no change in the tush push play that Philadelphia

used so successfully on the way to winning the Super Bowl last season.

Here’s an explanation of some of the new rules that will be in place.

What’s new with the kicko ?

The league was mostly pleased with the experimental kicko put in place for 2024 that led to the rate of kicko returns increasing from a record-low 21.8% in 2023 to 32.8% last season, while reducing the rate of injuries on what had been the game’s most dangerous play.

The rule made kicko s more like scrimmage plays by placing the coverage players and blockers close together to eliminate the high-speed collisions that

had contributed to so many injuries on the play. The league said the rate of concussions dropped 43% on returns, with a signi cant reduction as well in lower-body injuries.

By moving the touchback to the 35, the league projects that the return rate will rise to somewhere between 60% and 70%, with a similar increase in long returns, adding more excitement to the game.

How about onside kicks?

Teams will still need to declare their intention to try an onside kick because of the di erent formation. But a new change will allow trailing teams to try one before the start of the fourth quarter.

Coverage players will also be

allowed to line up one yard closer in hopes of increasing the rate of recovery from about 6% over the past three seasons to at least 10%.

How will overtime change?

The league approved a proposal to make the regular season overtime more like the postseason, with both teams getting a chance at a possession, even if the team that gets the ball rst scores a touchdown.

According to Sportradar, six of the 16 overtime games last season ended on an opening-drive touchdown for the most overtime games ended on the rst drive since the rule change went into e ect in 2010.

In all, teams that won the overtime toss won 75% of the time last season, according to

Sportradar, and have a .606 winning percentage in overtime since it was cut to 10 minutes.

The league kept the 10-minute overtime period instead of expanding it back to 15 minutes.

Replay assist

The NFL expanded its replay assist system to overturn objective calls if there was “clear and obvious” evidence that a foul didn’t occur. The calls could include facemask penalties, whether there was forcible contact to the head or neck area, horse-collar tackles and tripping. Replay also would be able to overturn a roughing-the-kicker or running-into-the-kicker penalty if video showed the defender made contact with the ball.

The Competition Committee says there’s no interest in allowing replay assists to call penalties on plays missed by o cials on the eld.

JASON JACKSON FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Who’s the top dog?

Wave-riding canines compete in the World Dog Sur ng Championships

By Audrey McAvoy

The Associated Press

CHARLIE THE 10-year- old yellow lab likes sur ng so much, he will grab his surfboard and run toward the water. His humans sometimes have to hide his board if they want to chat with friends on the beach.

Charlie joined about 15 to 20 other canine wave riders in Paci ca, 14 miles south of San Francisco, on Saturday at the World Dog Sur ng Championships, an annual contest that draws thousands of spectators to Paci ca State Beach.

Pooches competed against

similarly sized peers for a chance to appear in the nals. Additional heats featured multiple dogs sur ng tandem or riding with people. Labs, terriers and spaniels in monogrammed life vests dog-paddled out into the Paci c. Once out on the waves, their owners helped them hop on colorful boards and hang ten as the crowd cheered from the beach.

Judges scrutinized how long the dogs remained on their boards, how long they held their balance and whether they performed any tricks, like turning around while riding.

Iza, a 5-year-old French bulldog, won the single surfer heat for medium-size dogs for the rst time this year, her owner David Fasoli said.

Fasoli found “pure joy” during the pandemic when he brought home a surfboard from his job at Costco and taught Iza to balance in the swimming pool. The two soon started swimming in the ocean and learning to ride waves as passersby at the beach watched in awe. Now their competitions are all about defying expectations.

“I have a disability — I only have one hand — so a nonsporting human combined with a nonsporting dog breed, we are kind of phenomenal, defying the odds of what people think we’re capable of doing,” Fasoli said after Saturday’s competition.

Charlie, who has his own Instagram page, entered the extra-large single surfer heat. He also rode tandem with two oth-

“Charlie

Je

Nieboer, co-owner of dog surfer Charlie

er dogs in what their humans called “The Dream Team.”

“He loves the crowd,” owner Maria Nieboer said.

Charlie and Nieboer’s husband, Je Nieboer, prepare for waves together. When Je spots a good one, he turns the board around and tells Charlie to “get ready.”

He pushes the board forward, and Charlie scrunches down and rides the wave as long as he can. Charlie can even steer the board by leaning and surfs toward an awaiting Maria on shore.

He doesn’t have to be rewarded with treats for any of it.

“Charlie does what Charlie wants to do once we’re in the water,” Je said. Contest winners received medals and bragging rights.

Charlie’s “Dream Team” compatriot, fellow yellow lab Rosie, was in four heats. The 4-yearold’s owner, Steve Drottar, said she is “stoked” after they go sur ng, which they do four to ve times a week back home in Santa Cruz.

“It’s like, hey, we actually did something today, right? We did something together as a team,” Drottar said. “And the fact that you can do something as a team with your dog creates a di erent bond than you have when you just take your dog for a walk.”

He can tell Rosie feels a sense of accomplishment afterward because she is extra happy, wags her tail extra hard and snuggles even more than usual.

“It’s like we go home on the couch and it feels like she’s saying, ‘Thank you,’ ” Drottar said.

SIDELINE REPORT

NFL Cowboys owner dismisses Parsons’ trade request as negotiation talk

Dallas Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones does not intend to trade Micah Parsons after the star defensive end said he wants to leave the team amid a breakdown in negotiating a contract extension. Parsons remains at training camp after writing on social media to request a trade. He has yet to practice because of a back injury. No stranger to public and prolonged disputes with standout players, Jones insisted the stando with Parsons is no di erent than past situations.

MLB Wrigley Field chosen to host 2027 All-Star Game

Chicago The Friendly Con nes are set to host The Midsummer Classic. Commissioner Rob Manfred announced the 2027 All-Star Game will be held at Wrigley Field. The announcement came during a news conference at home plate with Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts, Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson. Baseball’s second- oldest ballpark hasn’t hosted an All-Star Game since 1990. Manfred cited the “amazing transformation” of the ballpark and surrounding streets in the past decade as part of a massive renovation by the Ricketts family.

NBA

Former NBA star Arenas, 5 others charged with running illegal poker games

Los Angeles

Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas was arrested along with ve other people on suspicion of hosting illegal high-stakes poker games at a Los Angeles mansion owned by Arenas. The U.S. Attorney’s O ce said all six defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and one count of operating an illegal gambling business. The 43-year-old Arenas is also charged with making false statements to federal investigators.

TRACK & FIELD

Sprinter Richardson arrested at Washington airport on domestic violence o ense

Seattle Reigning 100-meter world champion Sha’Carri Richardson was arrested for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend at Seattle Tacoma International Airport. A police report shows Richardson was arrested on a fourth-degree domestic violence o ense. She ran in the opening round of the women’s 100 meters at U.S. track and eld championships in Eugene, Oregon. She has an automatic bye to the world championships in September in Tokyo as the defending champion. USA Track and Field said it is aware of the situation.

Deborah D. Phillips

Oct. 2, 1951 – July 28, 2025

Mrs. Deborah Dunn Phillips, of Raeford, NC, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, July 28, 2025, at the age of 73.

She was born on October 02, 1951, to the late Otis and Mildred Dunn.

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Linda Lewis, and her brother, Otis Dunn Jr.

Deborah was a devoted wife, a great friend and a grandmother. She was a hard worker and, in her younger years, worked with children at daycare and after-school care. She will be remembered as a magnetic presence and for the laughter she created.

She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Charles Phillips Jr.; her daughter, Shannon Phillips and her husband, William Sherman; and her three grandchildren, Charleigh, Conner and Caleb.

She will be put to rest in the Raeford City Cemetery at a later date.

Online condolences may be made on the Crumpler Funeral Home Website

Helen Cunningham

Dec. 3, 1938 – July 28, 2025

Ms. Helen Cunningham, age 86, went home to rest with her Heavenly Father on July 28, 2025.

The Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, August 6, at noon, at the Pauline T. Buie Chapel.

Helen will be greatly missed.

Bonnie K. Bundy

July 5, 1952 – July 31, 2025

Bonnie passed away peacefully on July 31 at her home in Raeford, NC, surrounded by her loving husband of 54 years, Terry Bundy, and two children, Jason and Terilyn. She was born July 5, 1952, in NcNary, Arizona, to Hershel and Joella Kerr. Mrs. Bonnie was known as “Nanny” and dearly loved her 3 grandchildren, Codi, Sam, and Allie.

A strong Christian, Mrs. Bonnie dedicated her life to serving the Lord and her family. She could be found most Sunday mornings singing in the church choir or teaching Sunday School.

Either relaxing with a good book in the Blue Ridge mountains or on the coast of NC, she adored spending time with family and friends. From gardening to watching her favorite greenback hummingbirds, Mrs. Bonnie cherished the simple things in life, bringing beauty and love to all she touched.

Kindness, grace and compassion are the closest words to describe the genuine soul that has left us, but the thought of one day being reunited brings us peace and comfort as we move forward with the values and love she has forever imprinted in our lives.

A visitation will be held from 2-3 p.m. on Monday, August 4, 2025, at Crumpler Funeral Home, 131 Harris Avenue, Raeford, NC 28376.

A service will follow at 3 p.m. with Reverend Joann Carter O ciating. Burial will be held in the Raeford City Cemetery. She is Not Gone

Ease your grief, she is not gone, For in your heart, she lingers on. Her smile, her laugh, her special way, Will comfort you, from day to day.

You’ll feel her presence in the breeze, That dances gently, through the trees, And it’s her face that you shall see, When you’re in need of company.

At any time, you can recall, The love you shared... You saved it all, And in time, more than anything, You’ll nd peace in remembering.

We love you, Mama, and we will see you again one day.

Popular

Ronald “Ronnie” Eugene Williams Sr.

Oct. 5, 1948 – July 30, 2025

Mr. Ronald “Ronnie” Eugene Williams Sr., of Aberdeen, NC, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at the age of 76.

He was born in Moore County, NC, on October 5, 1948, to the late James and Lee Ila Williams.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Bobbit Williams; his brothers, Jay and Billie Williams; and his beloved dog, Peanut.

Ronnie worked for Coca-Cola for 43 years before retiring from the company in 2016. He enjoyed working on cars, drag racing and shing bass tournaments, where he won many awards.

He is survived by his sons, Ronnie Jr., Rodney (Heather), and Randy; his grandchildren, Nicole Collins (Mark), Trey Williams, Roman Williams, Haley Williams, and Landon Williams; and his great-grandchildren, Brody Collins and Zara Collins.

A celebration of life will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at Crumpler Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be made on the Crumpler Funeral Home Website.

James Ray

Feb. 18, 1949 – July 28, 2025

Mr. James F. Ray, age 76, went home to rest with his Heavenly Father on July 28, 2025.

A Memorial Service to honor his life and legacy will be held on Saturday, August 9, at 1 p.m. at the Pauline T. Buie Chapel.

James will be greatly missed.

1980s actor Loni Anderson of ‘WKRP in Cincinnati’ dead at 79

The show, about an Ohio radio station, aired from 1978 to 1982

By Christopher Weber The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Loni Anderson, who played a struggling radio station’s empowered receptionist on the hit TV come-

dy

“WKRP in Cincinnati,” died Sunday, just days before her 80th birthday. Anderson died at a Los Angeles hospital following a prolonged illness, said her longtime publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan.

“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother,” Anderson’s family said in a statement.

“WKRP in Cincinnati” aired from 1978 to 1982 and was set

in a agging Ohio radio station trying to reinvent itself with rock music. The cast included Gary Sandy, Tim Reid, Howard Hesseman, Frank Bonner and Jan Smithers, alongside Anderson as Jennifer Marlowe, whose good looks were

Denise Mackey Blanton

Jan. 21, 1971 – July 29, 2025

Mrs. Denise Mackey Blanton, of Raeford, NC, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at the age of 54. She was born in Cumberland County, NC, on January 21, 1971, to Winston H. Mackey and the late Martha Parker Mackey. Along with her mother, she was preceded in death by her sister, Cynthia “Cindy” Champagne.

Denise worked in the legal eld for several years before graduating with honors in 1999 from Fayetteville Technical Community College with an associate’s degree. She left the legal eld to work for The Venue Salon & Gift Shop in 2022.

Denise enjoyed antique shopping, gardening, taking care of her hummingbirds and going to the beach and mountains. She was fun, outgoing and loved her family and friends. She is survived by her loving husband of 34 years, Jack Blanton Jr.; her father, Winston H. Mackey (Maggie); her father and mother-in-law, Jack and Carolyn Blanton; her brother-inlaw, Todd Champagne (Teresa); her nephews, Christopher Champagne (Bethany), Samuel Coil Jr.; her great nephew, Calvin Champagne; her sister-in-law, Gail Spivey (James); her niece, Kasey Jimmerson (Noah); her two great nieces, Makenzie Jimmerson and Jocelyn Jimmerson; her best friend, Ann Champagne; her family at David and Company (David, Sean, Lili, Kaitlyn and Carly); and many special friends and extended family.

A visitation will be held from 1-2 p.m. on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at Crumpler Funeral Home, 131 Harris Avenue, Raeford, NC 28376.

A service will follow at 2 p.m. with Pastor John Murphy o ciating. Burial will be held in the Raeford City Cemetery. In lieu of owers, donations may be made to CJDFoundation. org. Online condolences may be made on the Crumpler Funeral Home Website.

Samantha Dora Jones Norton

June 1, 1987 – July 29, 2025

Miss Samantha Dora Jones Norton, age 38 of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was born on June 1, 1987, to her biological parents, Mr. Malcolm Jones and the late Ms. Patsy Jones, in Robeson County. She departed this life into eternity on July 29, 2025, at UNC Health Southeastern in Lumberton, North Carolina. In addition to her mother, she is preceded in death by her grandfather, Rev. Malcolm Jones, grandmother, Mary Jones, and uncle, Tommy Locklear. She leaves to cherish her memories her father, Malcolm Jones of Maxton, North Carolina; her adopted parents, Tommy and Crystal Norton of Lumberton, North Carolina. Three brothers, Malcolm “Stormy” Jones of Burlington, North Carolina; Phillip Maynor of Cary, North Carolina; Tommy (TJ) Norton Jr of Lumberton, North Carolina; three sisters, Chasity Jones of Maxton, North Carolina; Betty Jones of Burlington, North Carolina; Crystal Lacole Norton of Lumberton, North Carolina; Special friend, Phillip Atwood of Fayetteville, North Carolina. Two nieces, Nas Jones, Cairo Jones, Chief Jones, Kane Long, Two nieces, Raegan Blankemey. Raelynn Richardson and a host of other family and friends.

May 15, 1984 – July 30, 2025

Mr. Marcus Hailey, age 41, went home to be with his Heavenly Father on July 30, 2025.

A Visitation will be held on Friday, August 8, from 1-5 p.m. at the Pauline T. Buie Chapel. The Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 9, at 1 p.m. at the Cape Fear Conference B Headquarters. Marcus will be greatly missed.

matched by her intelligence.

As the station’s receptionist, the blonde and high-heeled Jennifer routinely de ected unwanted business calls for her boss, Mr. Carlson. Her e ciency often kept the station running in the face of others’ incompetence. The role earned Anderson two Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe nominations. Anderson starred on the big screen alongside Burt Reynold s in the 1983 comedy “Stroker Ace,” and the two later married and became tabloid xtures before their messy breakup in 1994. Their son, Quinton Reynolds, was “the best decision that we ever made in our entire relationship,” she said during the unveiling of a bronze bust at Reynolds’ Hollywood grave site in 2021.

“I think back to the beginning of our relationship, it was so, oh, gosh, tabloidy. We were just a spectacle all the time. And it was hard to have a relationship in that atmosphere. And somehow, we did it through many ups and downs,” Anderson told The Associated Press. Anderson detailed their tumultuous marriage in the 1995 autobiography, “My Life in High Heels,” which she said was about “the growth of a woman, a woman who survives.”

“I think if you’re going to write about yourself, you have to do it warts and all,” Anderson told the AP while promoting the book. “You may not even tell the nicest things about yourself because you’re telling the truth.”

She married four times, most recently to Bob Flick in 2008. Anderson was born Aug. 5, 1945, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her father was an environmental chemist, and her mother was a model. Her rst role as an actress was a small part in the 1966 lm “Nevada Smith,” starring Steve McQueen. Most of her career was spent on the small screen

with early guest parts in the 1970s on “S.W.A.T.” and “Police Woman.” After “WKRP,” Anderson starred in the short-lived comedy series “Easy Street” and appeared in made-for-TV movies, including “A Letter to Three Wives” and “White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd.”

In 2023, she co-starred in Lifetime’s “Ladies Of The 80s: A Divas Christmas” with Linda Gray, Donna Mills, Morgan Fairchild and Nicollette Sheridan.

“I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of the wonderful Loni Anderson!” Fairchild wrote on X. “The sweetest, most gracious lady! I’m just devastated to hear this.” Anderson is survived by Flick, her daughter Deidra and son-in law Charlie Ho man, son Quinton Anderson Reynolds, grandchildren McKenzie and Megan Ho man, stepson Adam Flick and wife Helene, and step-grandchildren Felix and Maximilian.

A private family service is planned at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Kagan said.

Marcus Hailey

RICHARD SHOTWELL / INVISION / AP

Loni Anderson arrives at the 22nd Annual Race To Erase MS Event in Los Angeles in 2015.

STATE & NATION

Texas dispute highlights nation’s long history of partisan gerrymandering

Gerrymandering is legal and very, very common

By David A. Lieb The Associated Press

WHEN DEMOCRATIC lawmakers left Texas to try to prevent the Republican-led Legislature from redrawing the state’s congressional districts, it marked the latest episode in a long national history of gerrymandering.

The word “gerrymander” was coined in America more than 200 years ago as an un attering means of describing political manipulation in legislative map-making.

The word has stood the test of time, in part, because American politics has remained ercely competitive. Who is responsible for gerrymandering?

In many states, like Texas, the state legislature is responsible for drawing congressional districts, subject to the approval or veto of the governor. District maps must be redrawn every 10 years, after each census, to balance the population in districts.

But in some states, nothing prevents legislatures from conducting redistricting more often.

In an e ort to limit gerrymandering, some states have entrusted redistricting to special commissions composed of citizens or bipartisan panels of politicians. Democratic o cials in some states with commissions are now talking of trying to sidestep them to counter Republican redistricting in Texas.

How does a gerrymander work?

If a political party controls both the legislature and governor’s o ce — or has such a large legislative majority that it can override vetoes — it can e ectively draw districts to its advantage.

One common method of gerrymandering is for a majority party to draw maps that pack voters who support the opposing party into a few districts, thus allowing the majority party to win a greater number of surrounding districts. Another common method is for the majority party to dilute the power of an opposing party’s voters by spreading them among multiple districts.

Why is it called gerrymandering?

The term dates to 1812, when

Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry signed a bill redrawing state Senate districts to benet the Democratic-Republican Party. Some thought an oddly shaped district looked like a salamander. A newspaper illustration dubbed it “The Gerry-mander” — a term that later came to describe any district drawn for political advantage. Gerry lost reelection as governor in 1812 but won election that same year as vice president with President James Madison. Is political gerrymandering illegal?

Not under the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court, in a 2019 case originating from North Carolina, ruled that federal courts have no authority to decide whether partisan gerrymandering goes too far. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote: “The Constitution supplies no

objective measure for assessing whether a districting map treats a political party fairly.”

The Supreme Court noted that partisan gerrymandering claims could continue to be decided in state courts under their own constitutions and laws. But some state courts, including North Carolina’s highest court, have ruled that they also have no authority to decide partisan gerrymandering claims.

Are there any limits on redistricting?

Yes. Though it’s di cult to challenge legislative districts on political grounds, the Supreme Court has upheld challenges on racial grounds. In a 2023 case from Alabama, the high court said the congressional districts drawn by the state’s Republican-led Legislature likely violated the Voting Rights Act by

The term dates to 1812, when Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry signed a bill redrawing state Senate districts to bene t the Democratic-Republican Party. Some thought an oddly shaped district looked like a salamander.

diluting the voting strength of black residents. The court let a similar claim proceed in Louisiana. Both states subsequently redrew their districts.

What does data show about gerrymandering?

Statisticians and political scientists have developed a variety of ways to try to quantify the partisan advantage that may be attributable to gerrymandering.

Republicans, who control redistricting in more states than Democrats, used the 2010 census data to create a strong gerrymander. An Associated Press analysis of that decade’s redistricting found that Republicans enjoyed a greater political advantage in more states than either party had in the past 50 years. But Democrats responded to match Republican gerrymandering after the 2020 census. The adoption of redistricting commissions also limited gerrymandering in some states. An AP analysis of the 2022 elections — the rst under new maps — found that Republicans won just one more U.S. House seat than would have been expected based on the average share of the vote they received nationwide. That was one of the most politically balanced outcomes in years.

FAA may ease restrictions on drones traveling long distances

Drones delivering everything from food to medicine will soon be common

By Josh Funk The Associated Press

A NEW FEDERAL rule proposed Tuesday would make it easier for companies to use drones over longer distances out of the operator’s sight without having to go through a cumbersome waiver process.

The federal government had already approved 657 waivers to allow companies such as Amazon and major utilities to do this in certain circumstances, but the waiver process made it di cult.

“From drones delivering medicine to unmanned aircraft surveying crops, this technology will fundamentally change the way we interact with the world.”

Sean Du y, Transportation Secretary

ports, Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford said.

sued executive orders in June directing the Transportation Department to quickly get this rule out. The orders also included restrictions meant to help protect against terrorism, espionage and public safety threats.

“This draft rule is a critical step toward enabling drone operations that will enhance safety, transform commercial services, and strengthen public safety with drones as a force

The industry has long pressed for the rule because being able to operate drones out of sight opens up a multitude of possibilities for their use. Being able to do this enables more use of drones for deliveries, inspecting infrastructure like bridges and power lines, and other uses in agriculture over thousands of acres on large farms.

multiplier,” said Michael Robbins, president & CEO of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International trade group.

The rule spells out the circumstances drones can be used under while working to ensure they don’t disrupt aviation and cause problems around air-

“We are making the future of our aviation a reality and unleashing American drone dominance. From drones delivering medicine to unmanned aircraft surveying crops, this technology will fundamentally change the way we interact with the world,”

Transportation Secretary Sean Du y said.

President Donald Trump is-

Drones are already used in a variety of ways, including bolstering search-and-rescue operations, applying fertilizer, inspecting power lines and railroad bridges, and even delivering packages. But the war in Ukraine has highlighted how drones could be used in a military or terrorist attack — a concern as the World Cup and Olympics approach in the U.S. There also have been espionage cases where drones have been used to surveil sensitive sites. And White House o cials said drones are being used to smuggle drugs over the border, and there are concerns about the potential for a disastrous collision between a drone and an airliner around an airport.

JEFF ROBERSON / AP PHOTO

A drone hovers in airspace outside the safety perimeter surrounding the St. Louis Lambert International Airport in March.

ERIC GAY / AP PHOTO

A map of U.S Congressional Districts proposed plan is seen at a Texas legislators’ public hearing on congressional redistricting in Austin last week.

MOORE COUNTY

Hi-Yo, Silver!

The 70th Farmers Day celebration in Robbins took place last week, with three days of food, fun and festivities culminating in a well-attended parade on a rainy Saturday morning.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Violent crime in U.S.

dropped 4.5% last year, FBI data shows Washington, D.C.

A new FBI report says violent crime in the United States fell 4.5% last year while property crime dropped 8% from the year before. The FBI statistics released Tuesday show murder and nonnegligent manslaughter in the U.S. fell nearly 15% in 2024, continuing a decline that’s been seen since a coronavirus pandemicera crime spike. Reported hate crimes decreased 1.5%. The FBI collects data through its Uniform Crime Reporting Program. Not all law enforcement agencies in the U.S. participate. The 2024 report is based on data from more than 16,000 agencies, or more than 86% of those agencies in the FBI’s program.

House committee subpoenas Epstein les, depositions with Clintons

Washington, D.C.

The House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed the Justice Department for les in the Je rey Epstein sex tra cking investigation and is seeking depositions with the Clintons and eight former top law enforcement o cials. Meanwhile, federal prosecutors are asking in court to unseal grand jury transcripts in the sex tra cking cases against Epstein and his ex-girlfriend but say there’s not much new in them.

Commissioners to send strong message to Trillium Health, state representatives

The Moore County Commissioners are fed up with the current state of mental health support in the region

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

CARTHAGE — The Moore County Board of Commissioners is looking to take a stand against Trillium Health.

At the board’s Aug. 5 regular business meeting, Vice Chair Nick Picerno voiced his growing displeasure with Trillium Health, speci cally his frustrations with the Advisory Board of which he had been a member.

“The Trillium Advisory Board, in my viewpoint, is a complete waste of time,” Picerno said. “The advisory board does

not advise anything. We’re simply told what they’re doing, we review what they’re doing, and then we adjourn the meeting, go home and do it again in a couple of months. We’re not engaged in improving the system. The system continues to fail our kids.”

Trillium Health is a tailored plan and managed care organization that manages serious mental health, substance use, traumatic brain injury and intellectual/developmental disability services in 46 counties in North Carolina.

Previously, the county and surrounding areas had been served by Sandhills Center, but that was dissolved by the state Department of Health and Human Services back in 2024 as part of statewide consolidation e orts.

Trillium has since taken over the support for the region, and

NC US Senate race turns into battle

for middle class

Cooper v. Whatley may turn on issues, rather than culture wars

By Thomas Beaumont and Gary D. Robertson

The Associated Press

RALEIGH — Democrats still in the dumps over last year’s elections have found cause for optimism in North Carolina, where former Gov. Roy Cooper jumped into the race for that state’s newly open seat with a vow to address voters’ persistent concerns about making ends meet.

Even Republicans quietly note that Cooper’s candidacy makes their job of holding the seat more di cult and expensive. Cooper had raised

$2.6 million for his campaign between his Monday launch and Tuesday, and more than $900,000 toward allied groups.

Republicans, meanwhile, are hardly ceding the economic populist ground. In announcing his candidacy for the Senate on Thursday, Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley credited President Donald Trump with fullling campaign promises to working Americans and painted Cooper as a puppet of the left. Still, Cooper’s opening message that he hears the worries of working families has given Democrats in North Carolina and beyond a sense that they can reclaim their place as the party that champions the mid-

“The system continues to fail our kids.”

Vice Chair Nick Picerno

the county commissioners have voiced many issues with the new system over the nearly two-year period.

“I have never quit anything, but after the last meeting, I expressed my disappointment, and I sent in my resignation from the board that day,” Picerno said. “I don’t mind serving the public and helping in any way I can, but I think the mission of the advisory board is way o base.”

The commissioners tasked sta with drafting a letter that will eventually be sent to local state representatives as well as the Trillium Govern-

dle class. They think it’s a message that could help them pick up a Senate seat, and possibly more, in next year’s midterm elections, which in recent years have typically favored the party out of power.

“I’m Roy Cooper. And I know that today, for too many Americans, the middle class feels like a distant dream,” the former governor said in a video announcing his candidacy.

“Meanwhile, the biggest corporations and the richest Americans have grabbed unimaginable wealth at your expense.

It’s time for that to change.”

Cooper’s plainspoken appeal may represent just the latest effort by Democrats to nd their way back to power, but it has some thinking they’ve nally found their footing after last year’s resounding losses.

“I think it would do us all a lot of good to take a close look at his example,” said Larry Grisolano, a Chicago-based Democratic media strategist and former adviser to President Barack Obama. Whatley, a former North Carolina GOP chairman and close Trump ally, used his

ing Board, voicing the county’s displeasures.

“This letter also needs to be BCC’d to all the state representatives and senators because I don’t think they’re aware of just how much waste, fraud and abuse is going on currently,” said Commissioner Jim Von Cannon.

“Our General Assembly truly needs to address the mental health crisis in North Carolina, and the system they have in place right now, in my opinion, which is limited because we get limited information, is not working so well,” Picerno said.

In terms of actions taken at the meeting, the board established a capital project ordinance for PFAS settlement funds.

“We entered into a lawsuit against companies regarding PFAS in the aqueous lm

“We can attack Republicans all day long, but unless we have candidates who can really embody that message, we’re not going to be able to take back power.”

Pat Dennis, American Bridge 21st Century

Thursday announcement that he was entering the race to hail the president as the true champion of the middle class. He said Trump had already fullled promises to end taxes on tips and overtime and said Cooper was out of step with North Carolinians.

“Six months in, it’s pretty clear to see, America is back,” Whatley said. “A healthy, robust economy, safe kids and communities and a strong America. These are the North Caro -

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SpaceX delivers 4 astronauts to ISS 15 hours after lifto

They’ll spend six months on the station

By Marcia Dunn The Associated Press

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.

— SpaceX delivered a fresh crew to the International Space Station on Saturday, making the trip in a quick 15 hours.

The four U.S., Russian and Japanese astronauts pulled up in their SpaceX capsule after launching from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. They will spend at least six months at the orbiting lab, swapping places with colleagues up there since March.

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CRIME LOG

July 28

Mark Alan Weston, 40, was arrested by MCSO for misdemeanor larceny.

July 29

Mica Janard McDonald, 47, was arrested by MCSO for possess drug paraphernalia.

• Dennis James DeFranco, 46, was arrested by MCSO for assault with a deadly weapon.

Allison Paige Aldrich, 49, was arrested by MCSO for defraud drug or alcohol test rst.

July 31

• Robert Michael Pulliam, 36, was arrested by Pinehurst PD for possess Schedule II controlled substance.

Nicholas Allen Hunt, 33, was arrested by Aberdeen PD for second degree trespass.

August 1

• Adean Camall Purcell, 18, was arrested by MCSO for breaking and entering.

Martin Roy Nieves, 32, was arrested by MCSO for driving while impaired.

Ethan Je ery Hu , 34, was arrested by MCSO for larceny of motor vehicle.

• Michael Andrew Harmon, 43, was arrested by MCSO for habitual larceny.

August 2

Brayan DominguezMandujano, 24, was arrested by Pineblu PD for possess drug paraphernalia.

Moving in are NASA’s Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan’s Kimiya Yui and Russia’s Oleg Platonov — each of whom had been originally assigned to other missions. “Hello, space station!” Fincke radioed as soon as the capsule docked high above the South Paci c. Cardman and another astronaut were pulled from a SpaceX ight last year to make room for NASA’s two stuck astronauts, Boeing Starliner test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, whose space station stay went from one week to more than nine months. Fincke and Yui had been training for the next Starliner mission. But with Starliner grounded by

thruster and other problems until 2026, the two switched to SpaceX. Platonov was bumped from the Soyuz launch lineup a couple of years ago because of an undisclosed illness.

Their arrival temporarily puts the space station population at 11.

“It was such an unbelievably beautiful sight to see the space station come into our view for the rst time,” Cardman said once on board. While their taxi ight was speedy by U.S. standards, the Russians hold the record for the fastest trip to the space station — a lightning-fast three hours.

moore happening

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Moore County:

Aug. 7-9

Moore County Historical Association: Shaw House and Property Tours

1-4 p.m.

The Moore County Historical Association’s Shaw House grounds and properties are open for tours on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday afternoons. Tours are free and open to all ages. Enjoy learning about the impressive history of Moore County.

Shaw House

110 Morganton Road Southern Pines

Aug. 8-9

Cosmic Bowling

6-11:55 p.m.

Sandhills Bowling Center presents an evening of Cosmic Bowling every Friday and Saturday night. Enjoy two hours of bowling for between $5.50 and $17 per person based on age. Free shoe rental.

Sandhills Bowling Center 1680 N.C. Highway 5 Aberdeen

BOARD from page A1

forming foam contamination,” said Public Works Director Charles Patbode. “That day has come where we’ve received our rst settlement check from 3M.”

The county received approximately $121,500 in settlement funding for FY 2025.

“We’re working hand in hand with the schools to test the water at all of our public schools, and I think this would really be money well spent if we consider, perhaps, seeing if schools may need ltration systems,” Von Cannon said. “This would be a great asset if needed.”

The board also awarded a $4 million contract to Metcon for the Carthage and Dowd Road Waterline Extension Project.

“This is an extension project for Moore County public utilities,” Patnode said. “We received a petition a few years ago on Carthage Road and Dow Road after we did the East

Moore Phase 4 Waterline Extension. We stopped at Buhla Hill Church Road, and some of those customers down Carthage Road asked if we were bringing that pipe any further to serve their houses.”

The project will construct 10 miles of pipeline

“It was a competitive bid,” Patnode said. “The next lowest one was only a few thousand dollars higher, so it was very tight.

“Metcon is familiar with the area. They installed the waterline on East Moore Phase 4 on Carthage Road, so they’ll be hooking to that and continuing on to the Seven Lakes area as a part of this project.”

The board also approved a $152,000 contract with The Davenport Group to buy 125 laptops for the county’s 26 precincts as electronic poll books.

“Buying the laptops would stop the recurring cost for the county, and the security of the laptops could be better main-

tained in-house than sending them to an outside source,” said Elections Director Towanna Dixon. In the previous few election cycles, the county was having to rent out laptops for voting, which cost the county a fair bit of money.

“Y’all have done a very good job,” Von Cannon said. “Just with this, you’re saving the county and the taxpayers money rather than borrowing something that’s at a great expense.”

Finally, the board approved the purchase of 1.8 acres of property located adjacent to the Senior Enrichment Center for $18,000.

“This property might give us an opportunity to add another entrance into the Senior Enrichment Center site and maybe a few additional parking spaces,” said County Manager Wayne Vest.

The Moore County Board of Commissioners will next meet Aug. 19.

Aug. 9

Moore County Farmers Market

8 a.m. to noon

A vast and varied selection of fresh produce, canned goods, including honey and fruit preserves and baked goods has earned this producers-only farmers market a reputation as one of the best in the region. Visitors are treated to musical performances and complimentary appetizers prepared by local chefs from fresh regional ingredients every Saturday in the summer.

156 SE Broad St. Southern Pines

U Pick Lavender at Lazy Fox Lavender Farm

11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Spend the day in the country exploring the farm and enjoy seeing chickens and sheep. Visitors enjoy the beauty and scent of fresh lavender, which can be cut and purchased by the bundle. A gift shop and an ice cream truck are also on the grounds. Admission is $5 each for adults and kids 2-plus.

272 Edgewood Road Cameron

SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule docked with the International Space Station

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

COLUMN | STEVE GOLD

Record trucking-related carnage is no accident

American truck drivers move more than 70% of all freight across the country.

AFTER A FATAL ACCIDENT caused by a non-English-speaking trucker with a commercial drivers’ license (CDL), President Donald Trump ordered the Department of Transportation to review the nondomiciled CDLs issued by each state over the past four years. This is a massive victory for highway safety — preventing further loss of American lives.

Just ve years ago, new truckers had to produce a birth certi cate, speak English and con rm state residency to even qualify for a CDL. If the driver couldn’t speak English, he couldn’t get a driver’s test. Today, any evidence of a work permit or foreign visa is enough to qualify for a nondomiciled CDL.

In 2022, the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA) set high, federal standard training requirements through the Entry Level Driver Training rules. The goal was to make highways safer, in conjunction with state commercial driver training laws that have been in place for decades. But these new rules have more exemptions than the federal tax code. Employers, municipalities and online video providers, posing as educators, now provide commercial driver training through unchecked “self-certi cation.”

Consider for a minute that almost every state requires 16-year-olds to attend a state licensed driver training program before they can get behind the wheel of an automobile. But, as Teamsters President Sean O’Brien just testi ed in the Senate Commerce Committee hearing, if you want to drive an 80,000-pound truck on our nation’s highways, there is no oversight or enforcement of the new FMCSA rules. Because of the lack of enforcement, the fraud and abuse are profound as the FMCSA has allowed unquali ed “CDL training providers” to recruit and train unquali ed truck drivers, who ultimately degrade the American truck driving workforce and put the unsuspecting general public at risk every day.

The results have been catastrophic.

According to the National Highway Safety Administration, 153,472 highway truck accidents resulted in 5,472 highway fatalities in 2023, a 40% increase from 2014. The 2024 data show similar fatality rates. The odds of getting killed by a truck driver is 20 times greater than dying while ying on a U.S. airline.

More than 30,000 commercial driving schools are now approved by the FMCSA, but only 2,100 are state licensed. As founder and CEO of one of the nation’s largest commercial truck driving schools, I know rsthand that the largest employers or truckers make up only 10% of the trucking industry. These employers are rumored to be rejecting nearly half of truck driver applicants as they have strict safety guidelines and driver evaluation criteria.

But the $1 trillion U.S. trucking industry is 90% comprised of companies with 10 drivers or less with thin margins. These employers lack compliance and safety departments, and are hiring individuals trained at unquali ed schools. These are the trucking companies you’ve never heard of that are in the news every day causing another fatality. Everyone wants cheaper prices, and no one wants burdensome regulations, but at what cost?

In a letter to the FMCSA, the American Trucking Association outlined the problem and lambasted the agency for being too “insu ciently robust to shield prospective drivers and the motoring public from fraudulent and non-compliant training entities that fast-track CDL applicants with minimal, if any, training.”

Some states aren’t waiting for the FMCSA to take action and are taking matters into their own hands. California, which was second in the nation in the most highway fatalities in 2023, unanimously passed a bill to eliminate

nefarious commercial-driving schools in the state. Florida and Colorado, among others, are sending cease-and-desist letters to unlicensed commercial training schools that assert they are exempt because of “new federal rules” and ignoring state laws.

Trump’s requested study, coupled with his executive order requiring commercial truck drivers to be pro cient in English, should disqualify many recently minted unquali ed commercial drivers, if properly enforced.

Substandard training providers who falsely attested in the Federal Training Provider Registry, should not only be removed from the program but also face the same explicit penalties as those who abused the Paycheck Protection Program after the pandemic. That alone would prevent unquali ed drivers from getting behind the wheel and putting us all at risk.

American truck drivers move more than 70% of all freight across the country. They keep supply chains running — from delivering food and medicine to stocking shelves and fueling factories. Their hard work, often behind the scenes, keeps America moving, and they deserve to be well-compensated.

The trucking industry applauds Trump and Secretary of Transportation Sean Du y for already doing so much to protect America’s truck drivers and our highways. We look forward to working alongside them to go a step farther and enforce the FMCSA rules and protect the American public by eliminating nefarious CDL training schools.

With approximately 3,000 accidents and 100 fatalities each week caused by heavy trucks, the trucking industry and general driving public can’t wait much longer.

Steve Gold is the founder and chief executive o cer of 160 Driving Academy and the Truckers Network Association. This article was originally published by Daily Caller News Foundation.

COLUMN | MICHAEL BARONE

Heading toward midterm elections, Democrats not up o the floor

It looks like the Democrats’ baggage, especially from the Biden years, is heavier than the loads Trump Republicans must juggle.

HERE’S A CLUE that the o -year elections in November 2026 may not go the way conventional wisdom suggests. That conventional wisdom is that the president’s party almost always loses the House and, slightly less often, Senate seats.

There are two structural reasons for this. One is that parties in power tend to do things or produce results that some voters dislike. The second reason is that out-party candidates can adapt to local terrain, focusing on issues on which the president’s party’s stands are unpopular. But that depends on the out party being an acceptable alternative.

Which leads to the clue referred to above.

Politico’s Andrew Howard reports that former Democrats Brian Bengs in South Dakota (Trump +29 in 2024) and Todd Achilles in Idaho (Trump +36) are joining former Democrat Dan Osborn of Nebraska (Trump +20) to run for senator as self-declared independents, with no credible Democrat in the race.

Osborn did so in 2024, scaring incumbent Republican Rep. Deb Fischer while losing by only six points. This was an improvement on Greg Orman’s 2014 independent candidacy in Kansas, where he lost by 11 points in a state that was +22 Republican for president two years before.

Why are these Democrats, some in states such as South Dakota and Nebraska that have reelected Democratic senators in recent years, shunning the Democratic label? Most likely because, in a country of increased straight-ticket voting, they believe the Democratic label is political poison.

After four years of the Biden administration, the Pew Research Center said the presidential electorate moved favoring Democrats by six points in 2020 to favoring Republicans by one point in 2024, with Republicans close to equal among under-30 voters. “For months now,” Republican pollster Patrick Ru ni notes, “we’ve observed a new trend in polling: The Democratic Party’s favorability ratings have fallen below the GOP’s. That’s hardly ever happened before.”

The Wall Street Journal’s July 16-20 poll shows that 63% of voters have negative feelings about the Democrats, the highest

since 1990. That poll also showed Republicans maintaining their 2024 lead in party identi cation, in sharp contrast to President Donald Trump’s rst term. And it showed pluralities of voters favored Republicans even on issues on which majorities disapproved of Trump’s most recent actions, including the economy, tari s, immigration, foreign policy and Ukraine.

It looks like the Democrats’ baggage, especially from the Biden years, is heavier than the loads Trump Republicans must juggle. Democrats’ credibility has been damaged as their arguments, one after another, have proven to be based on lies: the Russia collusion hoax, COVID-19 school closings, “transitory” in ation, the Hunter Biden laptop and open-borders immigration.

All of which suggests that Democrats’ hopes of overturning the Republicans’ 53-47 Senate majority may rest more on independents running in Trump-heavy states than on purple-state Democrats. And, despite conventional wisdom, there’s a cognizable chance that Republicans will not lose the narrow 220-215 majority they won in the House of Representatives in 2020.

Once upon a time, in the split-ticket voting era, Democrats maintained their large House majority in 1972 despite Richard Nixon’s 61% landslide by winning fully half the seats in House districts Nixon carried. Those days are gone. In 2024, voters in only 16 House districts split their ticket between president and congressman.

The Democrats’ problem is that Republicans are defending only three districts carried by former Vice President Kamala Harris, while Democrats are defending 13 seats won by Trump. That’s one of the reasons Steve Kornacki, to the dismay of his MSNBC audience, says Republicans could hold onto the House.

Meanwhile, Harry Enten dismays his CNN audience by pointing out that the narrow leads Democrats enjoy in House generic ballot polling leave them not nearly as well positioned for 2026 as they were at this point in 2005 and 2017 for their big gains in 2006 and 2018.

Core Democratic hatred of and obsession with Trump will certainly have them stomping

to the o -year polls, and Trump Republicans’ newly biracial and young male coalition may not be similarly motivated. But Republican gains are widespread, while Democratic gains are scarcely visible. As Bloomberg columnist Conor Sen writes, “It’s currently not possible to identify any cohort of potential rst-time Dem voters.”

As The New York Times’ brilliant graphics point out, Trump has gained a percentage over three elections in 1,433 counties with 42 million people, while his Democratic opponents gained three times in only 57 counties with 8 million people. “For years, the belief was Democrats have had demographic destiny on our side,” pollster Ben Tulchin said.

“Now, the inverse is true.”

Veteran liberal reporter Thomas Edsall portrays in his Times online column a “realignment (with) staying power” and fears. There is a “real possibility that discontent with the Democratic Party — its perceived failure to value work, its political correctness, the extremity of its social and cultural liberalism — might have become deeply embedded in the electorate.”

Meanwhile, the economic numbers are coming in more positively than those who predicted doom in April from Trump’s tari s (I called them “lunatic”), and as analyst Nate Silver writes, “There remains a strong case that voters are concerned about the economy and the cost of living, but that everything else is priced in.” As for the fuss over the Epstein tapes, Silver writes, “It looks like we’re back to the usual pattern: The overwhelming majority of voters either already hate Trump, or are happy to shrug o his scandals.”

“The country is moving toward Trump,” says Chris Matthews, onetime sta er for Jimmy Carter and Tip O’Neill. “They want a president who is a strong gure. And he’s got it. And half the country buys it.” Nothing’s inevitable in politics, but so far, the Democrats have not gotten up o the oor.

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.”

JORDAN GOLSON / NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Volvo trucks lined up outside the company’s assembly plant in Dublin, Virginia.

Republicans have control of D.C., but state houses o er a respite

By Bill Barrow The Associated Press

ATLANTA — Anderson

Clayton wanted a headline name to speak at North Carolina Democrats’ summer gala — but the state party chair bypassed familiar Capitol Hill gures, looking instead to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

She described him as “a real ghter” against President Donald Trump, someone who gets things done because he controls levers of government — unlike any Democrat in Washington.

“I wanted people to hear from one of the Democratic governors who has defended their state, who could look at the president and say, ‘I’m in a position of power right now just like you are, and I’m doing good things,’” Clayton said.

Indeed, some Democratic activists see the party’s 23 governors as their best answer to Trump’s second Republican presidency. Those statehouse chiefs provide proof voters will embrace alternatives — and could give them a roadmap for the 2026 midterms, when Democrats hope at least to reclaim a U.S. House majority. They also will likely be central to the party’s hopes in the 2028 presidential race.

There is no question Democrats are down at the federal level. Republicans control the White House, the House and the Senate, allowing Trump to pursue an aggressive agenda. The party lacks a singular leader, and

SENATE from page A1 lina values that I will champion if elected.”

Still, the decision by Cooper, who held statewide o ce for 24 years and has never lost an election, makes North Carolina a potential bright spot in a midterm election cycle when Democrats must net four seats to retake the majority — and when most of the 2026 Senate contests are in states Trump won comfortably last November.

State Rep. Cynthia Ball threw up a hand in excitement when asked Monday at the North Carolina Legislative Building about Cooper’s announcement.

“Everyone I’ve spoken to was really hoping that he was going to run,” said the Raleigh Democrat.

Democratic legislators hope having Cooper’s name at the top of the ballot will encourage higher turnout and help them in downballot races. While Republicans have controlled both

recent polling shows Democrats are deeply pessimistic about their party’s future.

Yet many governors reject the narrative that Democrats are reeling.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a 46-year-old rst-term executive, points to his work on economic development, job growth and reducing crime.

“Who was the leader of the Civil Rights Movement? I mean, there were multiple people who had leadership roles,” Moore said. “I mean, if you want to see ... the direction that people should be going, show me a place that’s delivering results.”

“You have to deliver for people”

U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, (D-N.J.) has been in congressional majorities and in the minority. Now she’s the Democratic nominee for governor in one of two 2025 governor’s races. Her former House colleague Abigail Spanberger is the Democratic nominee in Virginia.

“I can tell you what attracted me to run for governor is that there’s no ability to blame anything on anybody else,” Sherrill said. “You have a vision as governor, and you have to deliver for people.”

Emily’s List President Jessica Mackler, whose organization backs Democratic women for public o ce, praised Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a possible 2028 presidential contender, and Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, who is seeking reelection in 2026, for canceling some medical debts.

Pritzker secured a $15 per hour state minimum wage. In

General Assembly chambers since 2011, Democrats managed last fall to end the GOP’s veto-proof majority, if only by a single seat.

Republican strategists familiar with the national Senate landscape have said privately that Cooper poses a formidable threat.

The Senate Leadership Fund, a GOP super PAC a liated with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, wasted no time in challenging Cooper’s portrayal of a common-sense advocate for working people.

“Roy Cooper masquerades as a moderate,” the narrator in the 30-second spot says. “But he’s just another radical, D.C. liberal in disguise.”

Cooper, a former state legislator who served four terms as attorney general before he became governor, has never held an o ce in Washington. Still, Whatley was quick to link Cooper to national progressive gures such as New York Rep. Al-

“People

Anderson Clayton, NC Democrats

Kansas, Democratic Governors Association chair and two-term Gov. Laura Kelly worked with Republican legislative majorities to reduce and nally eliminate state sales taxes on groceries. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, who is running for the Senate, expanded Medicaid insurance coverage in states with Republican legislative majorities.

“Governors are so important because they are on the front lines,” Mackler said.

Democratic governors, she added, have shored up abortion access after the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision ended a national right to the procedure, and they’ve defended access to health care for transgender patients, even in conservative states. That includes Kentucky’s Beshear, elected twice in a state Trump carried three times.

It’s about more than Trump

Some governors stand out as aggressive Trump critics, including some possible 2028 contenders.

“Our democracy is on the line,” Pritzker said at the North Carolina event. “Are you ready to ght?”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom jousts with the Trump ad-

exandria Ocasio-Cortez, former Vice President Kamala Harris and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Whatley accused Cooper of failing to address illegal immigration and of supporting liberal gender ideology. He echoed the themes raised in the Senate Leadership Fund ad, which noted Cooper’s vetoes in the Republican-led legislature of measures popular with conservatives, such as banning gender-a rming health care for minors and requiring county sheri s to cooperate with federal immigration o cials.

“Roy Cooper may pretend to be di erent than the radical extremists,” Whatley said. “But he is all-in on their agenda.”

Cooper rst won the governorship in 2016, while Trump was carrying the state in his rst White House bid. Four years later, they both carried the state again.

Cooper, who grew up in a small town roughly 50 miles

ministration on social media, and he’s produced podcasts aimed at Trump voters. Newsom and Pritzker both have asserted themselves in the partisan battle over redistricting congressional district boundaries, a matter Trump is pushing as a way to help the GOP hold more House seats in 2026.

But Sherrill and others say being a Democratic governor is not simply about opposing Trump on a personal or partisan level.

“People are furious that a president who ran on a ordability is actually raising costs on everyone,” she said.

She cited Trump’s trade wars and the GOP’s tax cuts that are tilted to the wealthy while their safety net program cuts hit the poor and working class. Democrats, she said, must level attacks based on how policies affect voters, then o er plausible alternatives.

“I’m talking to thousands of New Jerseyans every day, and what I’m hearing is, ‘I just need somebody who’s going to go to Trenton and deliver for me,’” Sherrill said.

Republicans have defended their bill, saying it was crucial because there would’ve been a massive tax increase after December when tax breaks from Trump’s rst term would expire.

Bright spots for Democrats

Bradley Beychok, a Democratic consultant and co-founder of the American Bridge super political action committee, said the dynamics in Washington are frustrating.

“When you lose a presidential election and the House and the Senate, no one is happy,

east of Raleigh, has long declined requests that he seek federal o ce. He “understands rural North Carolina,” veteran North Carolina strategist Thomas Mills said. “And while he’s not going to win it, he knows how to talk to those folks.”

As with most Democrats, Cooper’s winning coalition includes the state’s largest cities and suburbs. But he has long made enough inroads in other areas to win.

“He actually listens to what voters are trying to tell us, instead of us trying to explain to them how they should think and feel,” said state Sen. Michael Garrett, a Greensboro Democrat.

In his video announcement, Cooper tried to turn the populist appeal Trump made to voters on checkbook issues against the party in power, casting himself as the Washington outsider.

Senior Cooper strategist Morgan Jackson said the message represents a shift and will take

and they shouldn’t be,” he said.

But, Beychok added, “the reality is we lost a close election” and had key down-ballot wins.

Republicans had the so-called Washington trifecta at the start of Trump’s rst term, and Democrats bottomed out then at just 15 out of 50 governors. But in succeeding years they ipped nine governors’ seats. Only one Democratic incumbent governor has lost since, and their current slate of 23 includes ve of seven presidential battlegrounds Trump swept in 2024.

“People are willing to split their ballots because they connect the results they see on the ground with their governors,” said Clayton, who celebrated a win in North Carolina by Democratic Gov. Josh Stein despite Trump carrying the state. “Now we just have to do a better job of localizing the federal elections the same way.”

A Spanberger win in Virginia would give Democrats 24 governors heading into 2026, when 36 executive seats will be on midterm ballots. New Jersey currently has a Democratic governor. Governors can swing the presidential pendulum

History suggests a base of state power bodes well for opposition parties in Washington.

Bill Clinton was a longtime governor in 1992 when he ended Republicans’ winning streak of three presidential election landslides. His successor, George W. Bush, was among the many Republicans governors elected in the GOP’s 1994 midterm sweep. Before Clinton and Bush, Republican Ronald Reagan and Democrat Jimmy Carter won the presidency as former governors.

Many current Democratic executives have visited early nominating states or, like Pritzker, general election battlegrounds. Most of them, Maryland’s Moore included, dismiss 2028 speculation.

work to drive home with voters.

“Part of the challenge Democrats had in 2024 is we were not addressing directly the issues people were concerned about today,”

Jackson said. “We have to acknowledge what people are going through right now and what they are feeling, that he hears you and understands what you feel.”

Pat Dennis, president of American Bridge 21st Century, a group that conducts research for an initiative called the Working Class Project, said Cooper struck a tone that other Democrats should try to match.

“His focus on a ordability and his outsider status really hits a lot of the notes these folks are interested in,” Dennis said. “I do think it’s a model, especially his focus on a ordability.”

“We can attack Republicans all day long, but unless we have candidates who can really embody that message, we’re not going to be able to take back power.”

MOORE SPORTS

Young golfers show skills at U.S. Kids World Championships

This past weekend’s tournament marked the

26th annual event

By Jesse Deal North State Journal

LOCUST — Two young golfers from Locust represented Stanly County at the 2025 U.S. Kids Golf World Championships in Pinehurst over the weekend.

The 26th annual event brought together over 1,500 children ages 5 to 12 from every U.S. state and over 50 countries to compete on an international level.

Maverick Craig and Jennings Kinard — both regulars at Locust’s Red Bridge Golf Course — each nished in the top half of their respective leaderboards.

In the 9-year-old boys division, Craig tied for 57th out of 123 competitors from 19 di erent countries, nishing as the second-best performer from North Carolina at Pinehurst Resort’s 18-hole Pinehurst No. 1 course.

He landed 14-over par with a three-round total of 230, posting rounds of 75 on Thursday, 78 on Friday and 77 on Saturday.

Sean Wilding, out of Bangkok, Thailand, won the division as he shot 7-under par with a three-round total of 209.

“Maverick’s coming home with a lot to be proud of: consistent scores, great memories, new friends from around the world, and a bunch of lessons to help him keep getting better,” said Nate Craig, Maverick’s father. “As parents, we couldn’t be more proud of Maverick watching him do what he loves. Qualifying for the 2026 championship is underway, and he’s excited to keep working hard for a shot in next year’s eld.”

In the 6-and-under boys division, Kinard nished 21st out of 77 competitors from 13 di erent countries at the nine-hole Midland Country Club, ranking as the top performer from North Carolina as he shot a 115 across

Stanly County 9-year-old Maverick Craig poses while competing at the U.S. Kids World Championships event in Pinehurst.

three rounds, nishing 7-over par.

He opened with a 40 on Thursday, then followed with a 36 on Friday and a 39 on Saturday to close out the tournament.

Trey DeSantis, from Henderson, Nevada, red a 12-under 96 to take rst place in the division.

“U.S. Kids Golf and the town of Pinehurst put on a wonderful event,” said Bo Kinard, Jennings’ father. “Jennings enjoyed playing in the tournament, as well as meeting other golfers his age from around the world. We are extremely proud of the way he played and the condence he is building on and o the course.”

Both golfers found out earlier in the year that they had quali ed for the championship event due to their strong performances in local tournaments throughout the state; they will now continue their gol ng journeys as they prepare to achieve a spot in the 2026 U.S. Kids World Championships.

Other NC golfers with impressive nishes at the event were:

• Alden Cermak, Brevard, tied 22nd boys’ 6U

Who’s the top dog?

Wave-riding canines compete in the World Dog Sur ng Championships

By Audrey McAvoy

The Associated Press

CHARLIE THE 10-year- old yellow lab likes sur ng so much, he will grab his surfboard and run toward the water. His humans sometimes have to hide his board if they want to chat with friends on the beach.

Charlie joined about 15 to 20 other canine wave riders in Paci ca, 14 miles south of San Francisco, on Saturday at the World Dog Sur ng Championships, an annual contest that draws thousands of spectators to Paci ca State Beach.

Pooches competed against similarly sized peers for a chance to appear in the nals. Additional heats featured multiple dogs sur ng tandem or riding with people.

Labs, terriers and spaniels in monogrammed life vests dog-paddled out into the Pacific. Once out on the waves, their owners helped them hop on colorful boards and hang ten as the crowd cheered from the beach.

Judges scrutinized how long the dogs remained on their boards, how long they held their balance and whether they performed any tricks, like turning around while riding.

Iza, a 5-year-old French bulldog, won the single surfer heat for medium-size dogs for the rst time this year, her owner David Fasoli said. Fasoli found “pure joy” during the pandemic when he brought home a surfboard from his job at Costco and taught Iza to balance in the swimming pool. The two soon started swimming in

“Charlie does what Charlie wants to do once we’re in the water.”

Je Nieboer, co-owner of dog surfer Charlie

the ocean and learning to ride waves as passersby at the beach watched in awe. Now their competitions are all about defying expectations.

“I have a disability — I only have one hand — so a nonsporting human combined with a nonsporting dog breed, we are kind of phenomenal, defying the odds of what people think we’re capable of doing,” Fasoli said after Saturday’s competition.

Charlie, who has his own Instagram page, entered the extra-large single surfer heat. He also rode tandem with two other dogs in what their humans called “The Dream Team.”

“He loves the crowd,” owner Maria Nieboer said.

Charlie and Nieboer’s husband, Je Nieboer, prepare for waves together. When Je spots a good one, he turns the board around and tells Charlie to “get ready.”

He pushes the board forward, and Charlie scrunches down and rides the wave as long as he can. Charlie can even steer the board by leaning and surfs toward an awaiting Maria on shore.

He doesn’t have to be rewarded with treats for any of it.

“Charlie does what Charlie wants to do once we’re in the water,” Je said.

Contest winners received medals and bragging rights.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Sam Creed

• Alekzander Emmanuel, Mooresville, 7th, boys’ 7

• EJ Honeycutt, Raleigh, 8th, boys’ 7

• Jaxon Callon, Charlotte, tied 8th, boys’ 8

• Luke Hermann, Charlotte, tied 8th, boys’ 8

• Miles Biber, Fuquay Varina, 3rd, boys’ 9

• Benjamin Doughty, Raleigh, 2nd, boys 10

• Parker Behrns, Charlotte, tied 25th, boys’ 11

• Noah Hollinger, Huntersville, tied 3rd, boys’ 12

• Luke Valkovics, Pinehurst, tied 6th, boys’ 12

• Simon Hall, Cary, tied 14th, boys’ 12

• Emma Corpuz, Spring Lake, tied 23rd, girls’ 9

• Minlin Ou, Shelby, tied 13th, girls’ 11

• Autumn Solesbee, Stanley, 4th, girls’ 12

• Kayla Jackson, Charlotte, tied 9th, girls’ 12

Pinecrest, football

Sam Creed is a rising senior on the Pinecrest football team. As a long snapper, Creed often goes under the radar, unless something goes wrong. However, he’s been a star on the summer football camp circuit. His speed and accuracy won him camp long snapper competitions at Duke, Western Carolina, Vanderbilt, Elon and ECU. He also made the nals in competitions at Clemson and Auburn. Creed will follow former Pinecrest punter Je Yurk to Elon after committing to the Phoenix last week.

Charlie’s “Dream Team” compatriot, fellow yellow lab Rosie, was in four heats. The 4-yearold’s owner, Steve

said she is “stoked” after they go sur ng, which they do four to ve times a week back home in Santa Cruz.

“It’s like, hey, we actually did something today, right? We did something together as a team,” Drottar said. “And the fact that you can do something as a team with your dog creates a di erent bond than you have when you just take your dog for a walk.”

can tell Rosie feels a sense of accomplishment afterward because she is extra happy, wags her tail extra hard and

“It’s like we go home on the couch and it feels like she’s saying, ‘Thank you,’ ”

COURTESY NATE CRAIG

Drottar,

He

snuggles even more than usual.

Drottar said.

EAKIN HOWARD / AP PHOTO Coconut is pushed through the breakers during the World Dog Sur ng Championships in Paci ca, California.

Billy Lee Lineberry

July 13, 1937 – July 31, 2025

Billy Lee Lineberry, age 88, of Carthage, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at FirstHealth Hospice House.

A lifelong resident and farmer of Carthage, Billy was the son of the late Everette and Ina Saunders Lineberry. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Kenneth Lineberry; brother, Bob Lineberry; and sister, Betty Fields.

Billy spent his life working the land, harvesting tobacco, pumpkins, watermelons and soybeans. He was known for planting a bountiful garden each year, sharing its harvest with family and friends, a true testament to his green thumb. When he wasn’t tending to the elds, Billy could often be found hunting or shing, enjoying the simple pleasures of the outdoors.

Billy’s legacy of hard work, love for the land, and devotion to family will be long remembered by all who knew him.

Billy is survived by his beloved wife of 70 years, Ruth Horne Lineberry, of Carthage, who passed shortly after Billy on Friday, August 1, 2025; daughter, Barbara Whitaker and her husband, Andy of Cameron; three grandchildren, Matthew Whitaker (Emily), Reid Whitaker (LeeAnn), and Adam Lineberry (Kelsi); and four amazing greatgrandchildren, Amelia, Andrew, Kara, and Grady.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, August 4, 2025, at Eureka Presbyterian Church with Reverend John Baker o ciating. The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. until service time at the church. A joint burial with Billy and Ruth will take place following the service at Eureka Presbyterian Church Cemetery. At all other times, the family will be receiving friends at the home of Barbara and Andy Whitaker, 1090 Bryant Road, Cameron, NC 28326.

In lieu of owers, donations may be made to Eureka Presbyterian Church Cemetery Fund, 2185 Farm Life School Road, Carthage, NC 28327.

Ruth Horne Lineberry

May 3, 1937 – Aug. 1, 2025

Ruth Horne Lineberry, 88, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 1, 2025, just a few short hours after her beloved husband, Billy Lineberry, at FirstHealth Hospice House.

A lifelong resident of Carthage, Ruth was the daughter of the late William Ernest and Margaret Wicker Horne. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Billy Lee Lineberry; son, Kenneth Lineberry; brothers, Bill, Glenn, and Wayne Horne; and sister, Louise Morrison. Ruth dedicated many years of service as a rural mail carrier for the United States Postal Service. She was a devoted member of Eureka Presbyterian Church, where she lovingly served as a Sunday School teacher, sharing her joy and patience with countless children over the years. A woman of many talents and a gentle spirit, Ruth enjoyed reading, sewing, and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who a ectionately called her “Belle.”

Her legacy of love, kindness, and faith will continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew her.

Ruth is survived by her daughter, Barbara Whitaker and her husband, Andy of Cameron; sister, Ann Douglas, of Carthage; three grandchildren, Matthew Whitaker (Emily), Reid Whitaker (LeeAnn), and Adam Lineberry (Kelsi); and four beautiful greatgrandchildren, Amelia, Andrew, Kara and Grady.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, August 4, 2025, at Eureka Presbyterian Church with Reverend John Baker o ciating. The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. until service time at the church.

A joint burial with Ruth and Billy will take place following the service at Eureka Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

At all other times, the family will be receiving friends at the home of Barbara and Andy Whitaker, 1090 Bryant Road, Cameron, NC 28326. In lieu of owers, donations may be made to Eureka Presbyterian Church Cemetery Fund, 2185 Farm Life School Road, Carthage, NC 28327.

The care of Ruth has been entrusted to Fry and Prickett Funeral Home.

Judy Harris

June 26, 1945 – July 29, 2025

Judy Harris, 80, of Raytown, MO, and formerly of North Carolina, passed away on July 29, 2025, at her home.

Born on June 26, 1945, in Hampton, Virginia, to the late Green Wesley Simpson and Bertha Beatrice Spivey Needham. Judy was a faithful member of Turning Point Worship Center for many years. She enjoyed quilting, working outdoors and watching for hummingbirds.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Edward “Ed” Harris; sister, Pamela Mantell; brother, Jimmy Simpson; and one great-granddaughter, Ky’Ona Williams.

She is survived by three children, Teresa McKerlie (James C. Lynch), Sabrina Witham (Walt), Charles “Anthony” Harris (Shannon); siblings, Joann Yaw, Roger Simpson, Elaine Cook, and Jean Yap; grandchildren, Craig Allen McKerlie Jr., Michael Ray McKerlie, Ashley Harris, Ashley Johnson, Dakota Witham, Michalla Harris, Kaylei Harris, Sierra Harris, Charles Jacob Harris, and Sarina Harris; also survived by many great grandchildren and other family and friends.

A private graveside service will be held for the family.

Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.

Debrah “Debbie” Thomas

May 18, 1960 – July 31, 2025

Debrah Thomas, of Jackson Springs, age 65, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at FirstHealth Hospice House.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, August 11, 2025, at Robert E. Lee Auditorium at Pinecrest High School, 250 Voit Gilmore Lane, Southern Pines, NC 28387. The family will be receiving friends from 12:30 p.m. until the service time in the auditorium. Burial will follow the service at Pinelawn Memorial Park in Southern Pines.

Faye Neighbors Stewart

May 18, 1932 – July 29, 2025

Faye Neighbors Stewart, age 93, of Robbins, NC, passed away on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at Brighton Gardens in Raleigh, NC, surrounded by her family.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, August 4, 2025, at the First Baptist Church of Robbins, conducted by Reverend Kenneth McNeil. A committal service will be held at Roselawn Cemetery in Benson.

A native of Johnston County, Faye was the daughter of the late Howard and Ruth Johnson Neighbors. She graduated from Benson High School. After her marriage, she lived in Gainesville, Florida and Japan with her husband, Larry Stewart, who served in the United States Army. They returned to Beulaville before moving to Robbins in 1965. Faye worked for the Department of Social Services for over twenty- ve years until her retirement. She was an active member of the Robbins community, serving on the Robbins Library Committee for many years and as a member of the Red Hat Club. She served the Lord in many ways at the First Baptist Church of Robbins.

Faye was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Larry, and her three siblings: Shelton Neighbors, Jenny Rabon and Dixie Flanigan. Faye is survived by her sons, Andy Stewart and wife Kathy of Raleigh and Maurice Stewart and wife Erin of Raleigh; grandchildren Michelle Stewart, Kimberly Stewart, Madison Thatch and husband John, Sam Stewart, Charlie Stewart; great grandson, Levi; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

The family will receive friends at Kennedy Funeral Home in Robbins from 6 –8 p.m. on Sunday, August 3, 2025.

Memorials may be made to: First Baptist Church of Robbins, P.O. Box 400, Robbins, NC 27325.

Kennedy Funeral Home is serving the Stewart family.

Jack E. Binning

Dec. 5, 1931 – July 31, 2025

Beloved Husband, Brother, Father, Grandfather, Engineer, and Community Volunteer

Jack E. Binning, a devoted husband, loving father, accomplished civil engineer, and generous community volunteer, passed away peacefully on July 31, 2025, at the age of 93, in Pinehurst, North Carolina. He was preceded in death by his cherished wife, Mary E. Binning, with whom he shared a lifetime of love and partnership.

Born with a passion for building and craftsmanship, Jack earned a B.S. and M.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Upon graduation, he went to work for Dravo Corporation in Pittsburgh, PA, where he worked for 40 years, rising to the executive leadership ranks as Senior Vice President. His career took him throughout the world, building steel mills and aluminum smelting plants for some of the world’s largest industrial companies.

Beyond his professional life, Jack had a remarkable gift for woodworking. He found great joy in designing and building furniture, and his handmade pieces-each crafted with care and precisionare treasured by family and friends alike.

Jack was deeply committed to giving back. An avid volunteer, he dedicated countless hours to supporting his community, always lending a hand where it was needed and inspiring others by example. Whether constructing the beautiful fountain at Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities in Southern Pines, building wheelchair ramps for the disabled, constructing dog wheelchairs, or helping to maintain his local church, The Community Presbyterian Church in Pinehurst, Jack was always volunteering his talents to serve the local community.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert E. and Leona Binning. He is survived by his brother Robert C. (d. Mary) and his sister Jean (d. Donald Anderson); two sons, David (Katie Voss) and Gary (Marianna); four grandchildren-Matthew and Heather, Greg and Robert-and ve great-grandchildren- Graham and Phoebe, and Alice, Lillian and Francis.

Jack’s life was de ned by quiet strength, deep integrity, and a profound sense of responsibility to his family, his work and the world around him. He will be dearly missed by all who had the privilege to know him.

A private service will be held by the family.

In lieu of owers, memorial contributions may be made to a local charity, including the Weymouth Center or the Community Presbyterian Church of Pinehurst, supporting community development or education causes Jack held close to his heart. Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Pinehurst.

Shelly Diane Pilson

June 8, 1961 – July 30, 2025

Shelly Diane Henderson Pilson, age 64, of Raeford, passed away on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at her home surrounded by family.

Shelly was born to Dorothy Stubbert and the late Bill Henderson on June 8, 1961, in Huntsville, Alabama.

She is survived by her husband, Michael Pilson, daughters, Shawna of Louisiana and Jamie of Colorado; brother, Bill “Junior” Henderson, and ve grandchildren. No services are planned.

Mark Adamson

June 14, 1961 – July 31, 2025

Mr. Mark Adamson, 64, of Aberdeen, North Carolina entered into eternal rest on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at UNC Healthcare in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Please keep the family and friends of Mr. Mark Adamson in your thoughts and prayers.

Arrangements are entrusted to McLeod Funeral Home of Southern Pines, North Carolina.

Joseph “Leroy” Cox

April 14, 1949 – Aug. 2, 2025

Joseph “Leroy” Cox, 76, of Cameron, North Carolina, passed away on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at Cox Memorial Funeral Home, 4888 US Hwy 1 Vass, NC from 5-7 p.m.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Good Shepherd Baptist Church, 246 Flynn McPherson Road, Cameron, NC. with Pastor Don Flynn o ciating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall.

Leroy was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina on April 14, 1949, to the late Willie Biven Cox and Lillie Odessa Cox. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Shirley Player, brother, Buddy Cox.

He was the beloved husband of Karen Cox for 38 years, father to, Elizabeth Correy, Earl L. Cox, Charlie Samuel Ward, papa to, Austin, Ralph, Joseph Correy, Joshua Cox, Deborah Ann Cox, Gwendolyn, Madison Rae Ward.

Leroy’s professional career included working at Burlington and Carolina ByProducts. He was a past president of the Red Devils motorcycle club and a ectionately called the president of the Refuel Hangout Club. He was a good friend to many. In lieu of owers, memorials may be made to Cameron Hill Outreach, P O Box 774, Vass, NC 28394 or Five N Two Food Pantry, P O Box 185, Olivia, NC 28368.

Cheryl Anne Wilgus DeNoble

April 6, 1957 – Aug. 1, 2025

Cheryl Anne Wilgus DeNoble, 68, of Wagram, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 1, 2025, at Moore Regional Hospital.

Born to the late Walter Stephen and Margaret Florence McCargo Wilgus, Cheryl built a life full of love, laughter and dedication to both her work and her family. As a newlywed, she embarked on her rst business venture as a dog groomer, where her attention to detail and professional service earned her over 350 loyal customers. Later, she found success as a real estate broker with KellerWilliams, where her passion for helping others nd their perfect home was evident to all who knew her. Family was the heart of Cheryl’s world. She especially cherished time spent with her beloved grandchildren, who brought her endless joy. She also enjoyed the companionship of dear friends and held a lifelong love for dogs. Cheryl’s kindness, devotion, and warm spirit will be deeply missed by all whose lives she touched.

Cheryl is survived by her husband of 45 years, Anthony DeNoble of Wagram, NC; daughter, Sarah Sullivan and her husband, Kevin of Sterling, VA; son, Benjamin DeNoble and his wife, Emily of Lewisville, NC; sister, Susan Kau mann and her husband, John of Knoxville, TN; brother, Stephen Wilgus and his wife, Janet of Newalla, OK; and beautiful grandchildren, Isabelle Sullivan and Joseph DeNoble.

A memorial mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pinehurst. An inurnment will take place following the mass at Pinelawn Memorial Park.

The care of Cheryl has been entrusted to Fry and Prickett Funeral Home.

Popular 1980s actor Loni Anderson of

‘WKRP in Cincinnati’ dead at 79

The show, about an Ohio radio station, aired from 1978 to 1982

By Christopher Weber

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Loni Anderson, who played a struggling radio station’s empowered receptionist on the hit TV comedy

“WKRP in Cincinnati,” died Sunday, just days before her 80th birthday. Anderson died at a Los Angeles hospital following a prolonged illness, said her longtime publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan.

“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother,” Anderson’s family said in a statement.

“WKRP in Cincinnati” aired from 1978 to 1982 and was set

RICHARD SHOTWELL / INVISION / AP

Loni Anderson arrives at the 22nd Annual Race To Erase MS Event in Los Angeles in 2015.

in a agging Ohio radio station trying to reinvent itself with rock music. The cast included Gary Sandy, Tim Reid, Howard Hesseman, Frank Bonner and Jan Smithers, alongside Anderson as Jennifer Marlowe, whose good looks were

matched by her intelligence.

As the station’s receptionist, the blonde and high-heeled Jennifer routinely de ected unwanted business calls for her boss, Mr. Carlson. Her e ciency often kept the station running in the face of others’ incompetence.

The role earned Anderson two Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe nominations.

Anderson starred on the big screen alongside Burt Reynold s in the 1983 comedy “Stroker Ace,” and the two later married and became tabloid xtures before their messy breakup in 1994.

Their son, Quinton Reynolds, was “the best decision that we ever made in our entire relationship,” she said during the unveiling of a bronze bust at Reynolds’ Hollywood grave site in 2021.

Dennis Charles Goodwin

July 19, 1973 – Aug. 1, 2025

Dennis Charles Goodwin, age 52, of Carthage, passed away on Friday, August 1, 2025 at his home, with his mother by his side.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at 1 p.m. at Open Arms Community Church with Pastor John Brown o ciating.

Dennis was born in Pennsylvania on July 19, 1973 to Susie Garner Jackson. In addition to his mother, he is survived by uncle, Carl Garner, aunts, Darlene and Annette of Pennsylvania and his furry friend Rolly Polloy. He was preceded in death by his father Richard Jackson, brother, Dana Allen Garner, uncles, Robert and Jimmy, aunt, Theresa, maternal grandparents, Bud Garner and Marguree Collins Garner. He loved to watch cartoons and play games and most of all spending time with his mother. He will be greatly missed.

Annie Siler

June 19, 1931 – Aug. 2, 2025

Mrs. Annie Doris (McPhatter) Siler, 94, of West End, North Carolina, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, August 2, 2025.

Please keep the family and friends of Mrs. Annie Doris (McPhatter) Siler in your thoughts and prayers.

Arrangements are entrusted to McLeod Funeral Home of Southern Pines, North Carolina.

“I think back to the beginning of our relationship, it was so, oh, gosh, tabloidy. We were just a spectacle all the time. And it was hard to have a relationship in that atmosphere. And somehow, we did it through many ups and downs,” Anderson told The Associated Press.

Anderson detailed their tumultuous marriage in the 1995 autobiography, “My Life in High Heels,” which she said was about “the growth of a woman, a woman who survives.”

“I think if you’re going to write about yourself, you have to do it warts and all,” Anderson told the AP while promoting the book. “You may not even tell the nicest things about yourself because you’re telling the truth.” She married four times, most recently to Bob Flick in 2008.

Anderson was born Aug. 5, 1945, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her father was an environmental chemist, and her mother was a model. Her rst role as an actress was a small part in the 1966 lm “Nevada Smith,” starring Steve McQueen. Most of her career was spent on the small screen

with early guest parts in the 1970s on “S.W.A.T.” and “Police Woman.” After “WKRP,” Anderson starred in the short-lived comedy series “Easy Street” and appeared in made-for-TV movies, including “A Letter to Three Wives” and “White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd.” In 2023, she co-starred in Lifetime’s “Ladies Of The 80s: A Divas Christmas” with Linda Gray, Donna Mills, Morgan Fairchild and Nicollette Sheridan.

“I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of the wonderful Loni Anderson!” Fairchild wrote on X. “The sweetest, most gracious lady! I’m just devastated to hear this.” Anderson is survived by Flick, her daughter Deidra and son-in law Charlie Ho man, son Quinton Anderson Reynolds, grandchildren McKenzie and Megan Ho man, stepson Adam Flick and wife Helene, and step-grandchildren Felix and Maximilian.

A private family service is planned at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Kagan said.

STATE & NATION

Texas dispute highlights nation’s long history of partisan gerrymandering

Gerrymandering is legal and very, very common

By David A. Lieb The Associated Press

WHEN DEMOCRATIC lawmakers left Texas to try to prevent the Republican-led Legislature from redrawing the state’s congressional districts, it marked the latest episode in a long national history of gerrymandering.

The word “gerrymander” was coined in America more than 200 years ago as an un attering means of describing political manipulation in legislative map-making.

The word has stood the test of time, in part, because American politics has remained ercely competitive. Who is responsible for gerrymandering?

In many states, like Texas, the state legislature is responsible for drawing congressional districts, subject to the approval or veto of the governor. District maps must be redrawn every 10 years, after each census, to balance the population in districts.

But in some states, nothing prevents legislatures from conducting redistricting more often.

In an e ort to limit gerrymandering, some states have entrusted redistricting to special commissions composed of citizens or bipartisan panels of politicians. Democratic o cials in some states with commissions are now talking of trying to sidestep them to counter Republican redistricting in Texas.

How does a gerrymander work?

If a political party controls both the legislature and governor’s o ce — or has such a large legislative majority that it can override vetoes — it can e ectively draw districts to its advantage.

One common method of gerrymandering is for a majority party to draw maps that pack voters who support the opposing party into a few districts, thus allowing the majority party to win a greater number of surrounding districts. Another common method is for the majority party to dilute the power of an opposing party’s voters by spreading them among multiple districts.

Why is it called gerrymandering?

The term dates to 1812, when

Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry signed a bill redrawing state Senate districts to benet the Democratic-Republican Party. Some thought an oddly shaped district looked like a salamander. A newspaper illustration dubbed it “The Gerry-mander” — a term that later came to describe any district drawn for political advantage. Gerry lost reelection as governor in 1812 but won election that same year as vice president with President James Madison. Is political gerrymandering illegal?

Not under the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court, in a 2019 case originating from North Carolina, ruled that federal courts have no authority to decide whether partisan gerrymandering goes too far. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote: “The Constitution supplies no

objective measure for assessing whether a districting map treats a political party fairly.”

The Supreme Court noted that partisan gerrymandering claims could continue to be decided in state courts under their own constitutions and laws. But some state courts, including North Carolina’s highest court, have ruled that they also have no authority to decide partisan gerrymandering claims.

Are there any limits on redistricting?

Yes. Though it’s di cult to challenge legislative districts on political grounds, the Supreme Court has upheld challenges on racial grounds. In a 2023 case from Alabama, the high court said the congressional districts drawn by the state’s Republican-led Legislature likely violated the Voting Rights Act by

The term dates to 1812, when Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry signed a bill redrawing state Senate districts to bene t the Democratic-Republican Party. Some thought an oddly shaped district looked like a salamander.

diluting the voting strength of black residents. The court let a similar claim proceed in Louisiana. Both states subsequently redrew their districts.

What does data show about gerrymandering?

Statisticians and political scientists have developed a variety of ways to try to quantify the partisan advantage that may be attributable to gerrymandering.

Republicans, who control redistricting in more states than Democrats, used the 2010 census data to create a strong gerrymander. An Associated Press analysis of that decade’s redistricting found that Republicans enjoyed a greater political advantage in more states than either party had in the past 50 years. But Democrats responded to match Republican gerrymandering after the 2020 census. The adoption of redistricting commissions also limited gerrymandering in some states. An AP analysis of the 2022 elections — the rst under new maps — found that Republicans won just one more U.S. House seat than would have been expected based on the average share of the vote they received nationwide. That was one of the most politically balanced outcomes in years.

FAA may ease restrictions on drones traveling long distances

Drones delivering everything from food to medicine will soon be common

By Josh Funk The Associated Press

A NEW FEDERAL rule proposed Tuesday would make it easier for companies to use drones over longer distances out of the operator’s sight without having to go through a cumbersome waiver process.

The federal government had already approved 657 waivers to allow companies such as Amazon and major utilities to do this in certain circumstances, but the waiver process made it di cult.

“From drones delivering medicine to unmanned aircraft surveying crops, this technology will fundamentally change the way we interact with the world.”

Sean Du y, Transportation Secretary

ports, Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford said.

sued executive orders in June directing the Transportation Department to quickly get this rule out. The orders also included restrictions meant to help protect against terrorism, espionage and public safety threats.

“This draft rule is a critical step toward enabling drone operations that will enhance safety, transform commercial services, and strengthen public safety with drones as a force

The industry has long pressed for the rule because being able to operate drones out of sight opens up a multitude of possibilities for their use. Being able to do this enables more use of drones for deliveries, inspecting infrastructure like bridges and power lines, and other uses in agriculture over thousands of acres on large farms.

multiplier,” said Michael Robbins, president & CEO of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International trade group.

The rule spells out the circumstances drones can be used under while working to ensure they don’t disrupt aviation and cause problems around air-

“We are making the future of our aviation a reality and unleashing American drone dominance. From drones delivering medicine to unmanned aircraft surveying crops, this technology will fundamentally change the way we interact with the world,”

Transportation Secretary Sean Du y said.

President Donald Trump is-

Drones are already used in a variety of ways, including bolstering search-and-rescue operations, applying fertilizer, inspecting power lines and railroad bridges, and even delivering packages. But the war in Ukraine has highlighted how drones could be used in a military or terrorist attack — a concern as the World Cup and Olympics approach in the U.S. There also have been espionage cases where drones have been used to surveil sensitive sites. And White House o cials said drones are being used to smuggle drugs over the border, and there are concerns about the potential for a disastrous collision between a drone and an airliner around an airport.

JEFF ROBERSON / AP PHOTO

A drone hovers in airspace outside the safety perimeter surrounding the St. Louis Lambert International Airport in March.

ERIC GAY / AP PHOTO

A map of U.S Congressional Districts proposed plan is seen at a Texas legislators’ public hearing on congressional redistricting in Austin last week.