North State Journal Vol. 10, Issue 28

Pack mentality

NC State running back Duke Scott carries the ball against East Carolina’s defense last Thursday in the Wolfpack’s 24-17 season-opening win in Raleigh. Read all about the opening week of the college football season in North Carolina in Sports.

Richmond County re ghter shot while responding to re call Ellerbe

A Richmond County re ghter was shot while responding to a call for a re alarm on Monday morning in Ellerbe, according to the Richmond County Sheri ’s O ce and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. One re truck and one re ghter in a personal vehicle responded to the scene, where they were met with gun re and a re ghter was hit. Deputies responded and took a suspect into custody. The injured re ghter was airlifted to a trauma center at UNC Chapel Hill. The suspect is charged with two counts of assault on emergency personnel with a rearm and one count of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or in ict serious injury.

Greensboro native representing self in Trump assassination attempt trial Fort Pierce, Fla.

A Greensboro native charged with trying to assassinate President Donald Trump last year in South Florida will represent himself in his trial. Jury selection is Monday in Fort Pierce federal court for the case against Ryan Routh. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon signed o on Routh’s request to represent himself in July but said court-appointed attorneys need to remain as standby counsel. The trial will begin nearly a year after prosecutors say a U.S. Secret Service agent thwarted Routh’s attempt to shoot Trump as he played golf. Routh, 59, has pleaded not guilty.

Surry elections board chair resigns following arrest

James Yokeley is accused of putting narcotics in the ice cream of his two granddaughters

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — The chairman of the Surry County Board of Elections resigned two days after he was arrested for allegedly putting the drug MDMA

into the ice cream of his two granddaughters.

A Facebook post by the Wilmington Police Department announced James Edwin Yokeley Jr.’s Aug. 26 arrest.

“On August 8, 2025, while on patrol, a Wilmington Police O cer was agged down by James Yokeley at the Sheetz gas station at 2517 Shipyard Blvd.,” the Wilmington Police post reads. “Mr. Yokeley informed

Former NC congressional candidate ID’d in ag burning

Jay Carey was charged with lighting an unauthorized re on federal property

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — A man who set re to an American ag in Washington, D.C., in protest of an executive order by President Donald Trump has been identi ed as Jay Carey, a failed former Democratic candidate for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, a seat currently held by Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards.

A video of Carey burning the ag shows Secret Service agents intervening and putting the re out with an extinguisher while other o ces detained Carey.

“No president can make a law period,” Carey said “No

State Board of Elections tables SAVE invitation

A new feature involves adding the last four digits of a Social Security number

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — The North Carolina State Board of Elections tabled the topic of participating in the Department of Homeland Security’s “Systematic Alien Veri cation for Entitlements,” often referred to as “SAVE,” program at its Aug. 27 meeting. The SAVE program, used by all levels of government, vets and veri es the immigration status of certain applicants seeking driver’s licens-

es and other occupational licenses, as well as various state and federal bene ts. The program doesn’t determine eligibility for licenses or bene ts; that’s up to the agencies involved to complete. SAVE is administered by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

The issue was tabled near the end of the meeting following the board’s return from a lengthy closed session.

“We are going to put that o for another day. We’re not dealing with that issue,” said NCSBE Board Member Francis De Luca. “We discussed some of the details in closed session and decided that we

“We are going to put that o for another day. We’re not dealing with that issue.”

Francis DeLuca, NCSBE board member

Congress shall make a law infringing on First Amendment rights.”

Carey also said he was “burning this ag as a protest to that illegal fascist president that sits in that house.”

“I served over 20 years in the United States Army. I fought for every single one of your rights to express yourself in however you feel that you may want to express yourself,” Carey said during the ag burning incident. “It is a First Amendment right to burn the American ag.” Secret Service said Carey was detained for “for igniting an object,” and U.S. Park Police later con rmed Carey was arrested for a violation of 36 CFR 2.13(a)(1), which prohibits unauthorized res on federal property.

Video later posted by the Instagram account @jolly_ good_ginger features Carey

STAN GILLILAND FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

the word | God in our common life

The judge ruled James “Jamie” Marsicano’s rights to due process were violated

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — Former UNC Law School student James “Jamie” Marsicano’s domestic terrorism charges stemming from an attack on the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center in 2023 were recently dismissed over “due process” delays by a judge in Dekalb County, Georgia.

“Considering all of the facts and arguments presented by both parties, the State’s delay in prosecuting this case has violated Defendant’s Due Process rights,” wrote Dekalb Superior Court Judge Gregory Adams in his Aug. 14 order, which allows re ling of the charges by the district attorney’s o ce if they choose.

Adams also wrote, “The Attorney General’s O ce appears

We sometimes forget that God has anything to do with the small events of our everyday lives. People seem to live unaware of God and unin uenced by Him. They follow their own judgment, make their own decisions and rarely sense divine intervention.

Yet nothing is truer than that God is always moving in our lives — in every life — even in the smallest a airs. He may not audibly tell us what to do. Yet He guides us in our choices, cooperates with us in carrying them out and in uences us often without our awareness.

We may plan a journey by one route and God leads us another way. Along the way we may meet someone who needs us, and a simple kindness changes our life — or theirs — forever. All of life is full of God. Christ’s teachings make this clear. He tells us that our heavenly Father feeds the birds. Two sparrows are sold for a penny, yet not one is forgotten by God. “You are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:31

“The very hairs of your head are all numbered.” This does not necessarily mean He counts our hairs, but that He is concerned with even the smallest circumstances of our lives. Nothing is too trivial for His notice.

In Second Kings, we he hear of Elisha’s servant who awoke and saw an enemy army surrounding the city. Alarmed, he cried, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” Elisha answered, “Fear not; for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” He prayed, and the servant’s eyes were opened.

“Behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of re round about Elisha.”

This was not a dream — it was a glimpse of reality. If we could see the invisible world, we would discover that every Godly life is divinely protected and every step divinely ordered. This is what we call divine providence. Around every life the angels encamp.

Not only is God with us — He works with us. We may think we have accomplished something, when in truth, God has done it through us. A man was driving a pair of horses while his young son proudly held the reins. The boy believed he was in control — until he

to have delayed this matter in order to gain a tactical advantage over the defense.”

Deputy Georgia Attorney General John Fowler reportedly denied the delay was about a “tactical advantage,” citing the vast amount of evidence in the case and giving the example of receiving millions of documents and more than 14 terabytes of data from the FBI.

Marsicano’s attorney had twice asked for a speedy trial — on March 1, 2024, and on May 1, 2025 — in the 2½ years since the arrest.

Last September, Fowler dropped 15 of the 18 anti-racketeering charges led in connection with the “Atlanta Solidarity Fund,” a bail fund tied to those arrested during the 2023 attack.

The three remaining RICO conspiracy charges led in neighboring Fulton County, Georgia, are still active for Marsicano and 60 others.

The Atlanta Public Safety Training Center was called “Cop City” by protesters and was un-

felt the reins pull rmly through his hands. His father’s hands had been guiding all along. “I thought I was driving, father — but I am not!” Just so, God’s hands are in back of ours.

We see this divine activity in Acts, when Philip was preaching in Samaria. Suddenly the Spirit directed him to a desert road. He did not question — “He arose and went.” Eventually, he saw a chariot and felt compelled to approach it. Inside was a man of high rank from Ethiopia reading Scripture. Philip asked if he understood what he read, and the man admitted he did not. Philip sat beside him and explained how it revealed Christ and the man was eventually baptized.

This meeting in the desert was not accidental — it was divinely arranged. Usually we do not see God’s hand so plainly, but He is always present. We may go out on a simple journey, thinking it is only for business or

pleasure, but God may have a purpose in it. There are no accidental meetings. God arranges that certain people cross our path at a speci c moment. They may be discouraged, and we can o er cheer. They may carry a burden — not one we can remove, but one we can help them bear. These are sacred errands. We are sent providentially to be present in the moment of need.

Before Jesus met the woman at the well, we are told He “must needs pass through Samaria.” Wearied, He sat down to rest. It seemed accidental. Then the woman came to draw water — God had sent her to One who could change her life. Jesus did not fail, though weary. He could have turned her away, but He saw it as a divine opportunity.

He might have said he was too tired to talk to this woman. That is what some Christian people say when, providentially, a human need meets them. “I have put on my house-coat and my slippers, and I cannot go out again tonight.” But we should never fail God when He brings some piece of love’s duty to our hand.

Life is full of God. Even on our lightest days, He gives us sacred tasks. We may ride with a stranger on a train or meet someone downtown — and the opportunity arises to say a word that changes a life. Even chance meetings are providential.

We do not begin to understand how full of God our lives are. The person beside you may need the very words on your lips — but idle words may crowd them out. You may never see them again. If sickness comes, you “must needs” pass through it. It is not an empty experience. In the sickroom are lessons, duties, and blessings. If sorrow comes, it too is sacred. Even death is a “must needs” path — divinely chosen, and full of God’s presence and love.

J. R. Miller (1840-1912) was a pastor and former editorial superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication from 1880 to 1911. His works are now in the public domain. This is an edited version of his original.

der construction at the time of the attack.

The March 5, 2023, a group of “violent agitators” rioted, according to Atlanta Police, using the peaceful protest at the center site as cover, changing into black clothing, entering the construction area and throwing rocks, bricks, Molotov cocktails and reworks at police o cers. Several construction equipment items were destroyed by the rioters.

Marsicano, who is transgender, was a UNC Law student at the time and, following the

arrest, was banned from the Chapel Hill campus.

In April 2023, UNC Law School students organized a walk-out over Marsicano being removed from the school following the arrest on the domestic terrorism charges. North State Journal obtained documents showing the decision to remove Marsicano rested with the university’s top leadership, including Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz.

Marsicano was allowed to complete his law degree through virtual classes at UNC Chap-

explaining he was held for four hours by U.S. Park Police and charged with lighting a re in a public place. Carey also said Secret Service was originally involved, but it was the park police who eventually arrested him.

“I did this in protest of what Donald Trump did with that executive order saying that it was illegal to burn an American Flag,” said Carey. “He can’t make orders, and I wanted to put it to the test. So I did. I’m not in jail for a year.”

While titled “Prosecuting Burning of the American Flag,” Trump’s executive order does not create a new law. It directs the U.S. Attorney General to prioritize enforcement of laws involving desecration of the American ag for reasons other than those “consistent with the First Amendment.”

Trump’s order also does not include speci c penalties or jail time for burning the ag. Trump’s order, while argu-

el Hill and courses on the Duke campus, graduating in May 2024. After passing the state Bar exam, Marsicano was not issued a law license by the North Carolina State Board of Law Examiners due to the pending domestic terrorism charges.

Marsicano’s father is Michael Marsicano, the former CEO of Foundation For The Carolinas for more than 20 years. In 2017, Charlotte magazine named him the city’s “most powerful person,” and in 2018 he was ranked in Business North Carolina’s Power 100 list at No. 61.

“(I am) burning this ag as a protest to

ably unenforceable, is consistent with the Supreme Court’s 1989 decision in Texas v. Johnson that said ag burning is legitimate political expression protected by the First Amendment. This is not Carey’s rst time making national news this year.

In March, a video went viral of Carey yelling obscenities at Edwards during a town hall event in Asheville. Like the claim he made during the ag burning, Carey only identi ed himself at the town hall as a “veteran.”

Both Carey and his wife, Leslie, are involved in the Henderson County Democratic Party. Leslie Carey is that county party’s chair.

PUBLIC DOMAIN

“The Baptism of the Eunuch” by Rembrandt (c. 1626) is a painting in the collection of St. Catherine’s Convent Museum in Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Monday.

1.2M immigrants gone from US labor force

President Donald Trump made a crackdown on illegal immigration a tent pole of his campaign

By Corey Williams The Associated Press

IT’S TOMATO SEASON, and Lidia is harvesting on farms in California’s Central Valley.

She is also anxious. Attention from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement could upend her life more than 23 years after she illegally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border as a teenager.

“The worry is they’ll pull you over when you’re driving and ask for your papers,” said Lidia, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition that only her rst name be used because of her fears of deportation. “We need to work. We need to feed our families and pay our rent.”

As parades and other events celebrating the contributions of workers in the U.S. were held Monday for the Labor Day holiday, experts say President Donald Trump’s stepped-up immigration policies are impacting the nation’s labor force.

More than 1.2 million immigrants disappeared from the labor force from January through the end of July, according to preliminary Census Bureau data analyzed by the Pew Research Center. That includes people who are in the country illegally as well as legal residents.

Immigrants make up almost 20% of the U.S. workforce, and that data shows 45% of workers in farming, shing and forestry are immigrants, according to Pew senior researcher Stephanie Kramer. About 30% of all construction workers and 24%

“The in ux across the border from what we can tell is essentially stopped.”

Pia Orrenius, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas labor economist

of service workers are immigrants, she added.

The loss in immigrant workers comes as the nation is seeing the rst decline in the overall immigrant population after the number of people in the U.S. illegally reached an all-time high of 14 million in 2023.

“It’s unclear how much of the decline we’ve seen since January is due to voluntary departures to pursue other opportunities or avoid deportation, removals, underreporting or other technical issues,” Kramer said. “However, we don’t believe that the preliminary numbers indicating net-negative migration are so far o that the decline isn’t real.”

weren’t ready to deal with that issue.”

An Aug. 21 email sent by Timothy Benz of USCIS’s Veri cation Division to the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) invited the state to participate in a “soft launch” of a new SAVE feature that uses the last four digits of a Social Security number “as an enumerator for case submission.”

“This soft launch is by invitation only — we are not announcing its availably [sic] for widespread use at this time,” wrote Benz. “SAVE needs to throttle the intake of these cases at the outset, as we know the demand will be high and want to ensure the program’s ability to meet the increased demand.

“We are prioritizing your state due to prior participation and engagements between our agencies.”

Benz’s email did not say how many other states received the invitation.

The SAVE program’s inclusion of Social Security numbers stems from President Donald Trump’s March 25 executive

the o cer that his two juvenile granddaughters had found two hard objects in the ice cream they had recently purchased at the Dairy Queen located at 5901 Oleander Dr.

“During the investigation, it was determined by video footage that Yokeley had been the one who placed the two pills into both victims’ ice cream.”

The post said medics examined the two girls and found they had not ingested any of the substances found in their ice cream.

Wilmington Police said the preliminary eld tests on the pills showed they were illegal narcotics and were sent to a lab. Testing later concluded the drugs were MDMA — also known as ecstasy or molly — and cocaine.

The lab conclusion was conrmed by the arrest warrant, which says Yokeley “unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously did intentionally in ict serious physical injury, placing blue pressed pill containing MDMA, cocaine

order to safeguard elections, including preventing noncitizens from voting. USCIS issued a press release in May outlining a partnership with the Social Security Administration and encouraged states to participate in the SAVE program.

According to USCIS, “approximately 1,200 agencies nationwide use SAVE to support their bene t eligibility and licensing determinations,” and more than 21.5 million veri cations were performed through SAVE in 2023.

Six state agencies use the program: N.C. Employment Security Commission (unemployment insurance); Department Health and Human Services (Medicaid, food stamps, energy assistance); N.C. Medical Board (occupational license, professional license); N.C. State Board of Dental Examiners (professional license); NCSBE (voter list maintenance); and NC Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (in-state tuition).

A separate search showed the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles uses the program for driver’s licenses and ID cards.

into blizzard drink being consumed by victim,” according to warrant documents.

Yokeley has been charged with felony child abuse, felony possession of a Schedule I controlled substance and two counts of contaminating food with a controlled substance.

He was issued a $100,000 secured bond and was released from the New Hanover County Detention Center. His next

Trump campaigned on a promise to deport millions of immigrants working in the U.S. illegally. He has said he is focusing deportation e orts on “dangerous criminals,” but most people detained by ICE have no criminal convictions. At the same time, the number of illegal border crossings has plunged under his policies.

Pia Orrenius, a labor economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, said immigrants normally contribute at least 50% of job growth in the U.S.

“The in ux across the border from what we can tell is essentially stopped, and that’s where we were getting millions and millions of migrants over the last four years,” she said. “That has had a huge impact on the ability to create jobs.”

“Crops did go to waste”

Just across the border from Mexico in McAllen, Texas, corn and cotton elds are about ready for harvesting. Elizabeth Rodriguez worries there won’t be

Migrant farmworkers pick vegetables on an early July morning in Fresno, California.

pletely dead,” Rodriguez said.

“We have a large labor force that is undocumented,” she said. “We’ve seen ICE particularly targeting construction sites and attempting to target mechanic and repair shops.”

The number of construction jobs are down in about half of U.S. metropolitan areas, according to an Associated General Contractors of America analysis of government employment data. The largest loss of 7,200 jobs was in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, California, area. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale area lost 6,200 jobs.

enough workers available for the gins and other machinery once the elds are cleared.

Immigration enforcement actions at farms, businesses and construction sites brought everything to a standstill, said Rodriguez, director of farmworker advocacy for the National Farmworker Ministry.

“In May, during the peak of our watermelon and cantaloupe season, it delayed it. A lot of crops did go to waste,” she said.

Lidia, the farmworker who spoke to the AP through an interpreter, said her biggest fear is being sent back to Mexico. Now 36, she is married with three school-age children who were born here.

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to bring my kids,” said Lidia. “I’m also very concerned I’d have to start from zero. My whole life has been in the United States.”

From construction to health care

Construction sites in and around McAllen also “are com-

In other business handled during the meeting, the NCSBE did not resolve its lawsuit led by the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) over missing driver’s license and the last four digits of Social Security numbers in state voter registrations.

A motion led by the USDOJ two days before the NCSBE met hinted that the board would be discussing the matter during its Aug. 27 meeting. The motion noted the two parties have been “negotiating in good faith” to come to a resolution and a consent order might be entered into.

“The State Board expects to review a proposed settlement in closed session at its

hearing is set for 9 a.m. on Sept. 11 at the New Hanover County Courthouse. Court records show Wilmington area attorney Eric J. Howland is representing Yokeley.

“The State Board of Elections and Surry County Board of Elections are aware of the charges against Mr. Yokeley, the chair of the Surry County Board of Elections,” the Surry County Board of Elections said in an Aug. 27 statement. “We will continue to collect information about the situation and will provide support to the Surry County board, as needed, to ensure it is able to continue serving the county’s voters.”

Yokeley, a registered Republican, was appointed as chair in 2023 and reappointed to the role by North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek this past May along with chairs for the state’s 99 other counties. In a statement issued the morning of Aug. 28, Boliek called on Yokeley to resign.

“The arrest and investigation of the Surry County Board of Elections Chair is very dis-

upcoming August 27, 2025 meeting,” the USDOJ’s motion states. “If approved, Plainti and Defendants intend to submit on or about August 28, 2025, a joint motion to this court requesting entry of a Consent Order.”

In response to the lawsuit, the NCSBE initiated the “Voter Repair Project,” which includes a website launched in July for citizens to x their registrations. In addition to the website, two mailings will go out to voters to notify them of corrective actions they need to take.

The NCSBE also issued a memo that contains guidance to local boards on “Provisional

“It was determined by video footage that Yokeley had been the one who placed the two pills into both victims’ ice cream.”

Wilmington Police Department

turbing,” Boliek said in a press release. “This matter distracts from election management in Surry County and must be addressed quickly and directly.

“Our o ce is built on holding individuals accountable. He needs to resign, and Surry County needs a new Board of Elections Chair. If he doesn’t resign, I’ll be requesting the State Board take action today to remove him as Chair.”

About 30 minutes after the auditor’s statement went out, Boliek issued a new statement saying Yokeley resigned at “approximately 11:44 a.m.”

“As I had called for, the Chair

“Construction employment has stalled or retreated in many areas for a variety of reasons,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “But contractors report they would hire more people if only they could nd more quali ed and willing workers, and tougher immigration enforcement wasn’t disrupting labor supplies.”

Kramer, with Pew, also warns about the potential impact on health care. She says immigrants make up about 43% of home health care aides.

The Service Employees International Union represents about 2 million workers in health care, the public sector and property services. An estimated half of long-term care workers who are members of SEIU 2015 in California are immigrants, said Arnulfo De La Cruz, the local’s president.

“What’s going to happen when millions of Americans can no longer nd a home care provider?” De La Cruz said. “What happens when immigrants aren’t in the eld to pick our crops? Who’s going to sta our hospitals and nursing homes.”

Voting for Registration Repair Voters.”

Early voting plans were also discussed, and three early voting sites in Cumberland County were approved.

The board split down party lines, 3-2, on Sunday voting to nix Sunday voting in Davidson and Union counties for the upcoming municipal elections. Union County did not have Sunday voting in the past, but Davidson County did.

The board’s two Democratic members, Je Carmon and Siobhan Miller, raised objections to cutting Sunday voting for the two counties.

“I think it’s critical that we set a precedent that makes voting easier, makes voting available,” Carmen said. “And I think we’re going down a dark path when we’re saying we’re taking away Sunday voting.”

Republican Stacy “Four” Eggers countered Carmon, stating, “North Carolina has probably the most accessible elections in the nation with 17 days and mail-in voting that folks can take advantage of, as well as Election Day.”

of the Surry County Board of Elections has resigned,” Boliek said. “With his resignation, the Surry County Board and State Board can now, without distraction, move forward with the process of appointing a replacement.”

The North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) had scheduled an emergency session for Thursday at 1 p.m. to address Yokeley’s arrest but canceled it following receipt of his resignation letter.

In the letter, which was addressed to Boliek, Yokeley wrote his resignation was e ective immediately and that “this decision has not been made lightly.”

“After much prayer, thoughtful re ection and consultation, I have concluded that it’s in the best interest of the State Board of Elections and Surry County Board of Elections, regarding my own falsely accused circumstances, to step down at this time,” Yokeley wrote. “Based on the truth and facts, I remain prayerfully con dent that I will be exonerated of all accusations levied against me.”

ARREST from page A1

SAVE from page A1

DAMIAN DOVARGANES / AP PHOTO

THE CONVERSATION

Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

Finding common ground in a hyperpartisan America

THERE’S A LOT OF PUBLIC conversation today about how to deal with crime. President Donald Trump’s decision to send National Guard troops into Washington, D.C., seems to have worked to arrest the rise of crime in one of our nation’s largest cities ― the Democratic mayor of Washington has publicly praised the action.

of racial justice and equality.

are multiplied, sometimes exponentially.

What are some other big issues everyone should be in full agreement or have been in recent memory?

But there has still been a lot of criticism of his action from the left.

It has made me try to remember the last time when there was universal agreement among Democrats and Republicans on what a particular public policy problem actually was, not just how to solve it. Times change and political positions evolve as both parties pick up or lose members.

Through the 1970s, curbing crime seemed to be generally supported by the majority of both Republicans and Democrats. Granted, many in the Democratic Party were Southern Democrats, who were generally far more conservative in their political outlook on social, scal and foreign policy issues than socialist progressives in the Democratic Party today. Many of them were not too far from the political views of most in the Republican Party, and many were in leadership positions in the Democratic Party for decades.

But even going beyond those parameters, most Americans have always wanted their streets and neighborhoods to be safe for them, their neighbors and their children.

When did this all seem to change. Perhaps with the election of President Barack Obama in 2008, far-leftist social progressives saw their chance to push for radical criminal justice reform as well as urge the new president to appoint far left liberal judges nationwide who would support the early release of dangerous criminals under the name

However, when video of mobs of people ransacking Walmarts in California and other department stores nationwide hit the news and social media, people of all stripes and backgrounds were horri ed by the lack of police protection and the failure of the judicial system to mete out any sort of reasonable punishment for people who willingly destroyed the property of other people without any fear of su ering any substantial punishment for their actions. Only then did a working majority of constituents seem to start to come together to demand their elected o cials take action to against such wanton violence.

After all, the people most a ected by the closing of grocery stores and pharmacies in downtown big cities are the very constituencies liberal Democrats always purported to say they were working for and trying to help. It makes no sense to encourage violence against anyone really, but certainly not against a political base one has to have to be elected and reelected.

Only now are we seeing the results of their anger in the actions taken by Trump to send National Guard troops into Washington, D.C., — and perhaps next, Chicago — to take the decisive action local authorities have not been able to force themselves to do for decades.

Aren’t there some very general values and attributes we can all agree upon that we want reinforced and supported by every elected o cial, regardless of political party or opportunity, in the next election? The very basic we should have all learned in kindergarten: Don’t take what is not yours; don’t hurt anyone physically or verbally. If you violate such basic values and rules, there will be a penalty to pay. In kindergarten, it may be no recess.

But in real life, those consequences

9/11 seemed to be the one big issue where everyone at least said they wanted to come together as Americans and support the decisions of the president and Congress. That all stayed pretty much together until President George W. Bush made the decision to invade Iraq and attack Saddam Hussein. Many on the left and the right thought it detracted muchneeded attention from taking out al-Qaida, the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks on the Pentagon and Twin Towers in New York City, which turned out being the case now looking back over the past two decades.

COVID-19 was another big issue which could have forced all Americans to come together, but massive disagreements over the e cacy of the vaccines as well as the decisions at the state and local levels to shut down businesses and schools pushed citizens back into their corners of the boxing ring where many to most people still reside.

As you go about your daily life, ask people around you if there are solutions to some massive, pressing issues they believe everyone can agree upon because it will help everyone and not just a few selected sectors of this country. It will be a sad day if and when America degenerates into a nation of embittered, fragmented sectors of angry people who cannot or will not ever see themselves as part of a nation of Americans dedicated to freedom, safety, prosperity and success for everyone.

Nations throughout history have torn themselves apart with internal strife, dissension and, ultimately, civil war if accommodations and compromises were not made by mature, sane and civil public leaders in government, business and civic life. Each of us can do our own individual part toward restoring civility to our common life together, no matter how large or small we might think our contribution might be.

It is something important to contemplate in the coming days, weeks and months.

On the left’s mockery of thoughts and prayers

Faithful Christians who pray regularly and understand the power of prayer don’t say things like they did last week. Most Americans have always wanted their streets and neighborhoods to be safe for them, their neighbors and their children.

AFTER A NATIONAL TRAGEDY, one of the rst things that comes to mind for many Americans is to express thoughts and prayers and o er other support where necessary.

That was certainly the case in the aftermath of the mass shooting that took place last Wednesday at the Annunciation K-8 Catholic School in Minneapolis.

Tragically, two children were killed, 15 more kids were injured — some seriously — and three elderly parishioners were also hurt.

Reportedly, the children were praying when the shooter, 23-year-old Robert “Robin” Westman, began shooting outside the school’s windows, something the left tried to use against conservative Christians who were o ering up their thoughts and prayers.

Democratic Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, for instance, said during a press conference, “And don’t just say this is about ‘thoughts and prayers,’ right now. These kids were literally praying! It was the rst week of school, they were in a church.”

On X, former Biden administration press secretary Jen Psaki wrote, “Prayer is not freaking enough. Prayers does not end school shootings. Prayers do not make parents feel safe sending their kids to school. Prayer does not bring these kids back. Enough with the thoughts and prayers.”

“These children were literally praying as they got shot at,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom, another Democrat, tweeted in

response to criticism from Trump White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Democrats slamming and mocking thoughts and prayers.

How Democrats can think that the line of attack that goes something like “let’s mock and pile on Christians and the importance of prayer in their daily lives on the same day a K-8 Catholic school was hit by a mass shooter” is a mystery to me.

But then again, the modern Democratic Party rarely makes sense to people who live in the real world anymore, so go gure.

Most of the Democrats who I noticed making this line of argument have previously stated they are Christians, which is interesting because faithful Christians who pray regularly and understand the power of prayer don’t say things like they did last week.

I’m not going to call anyone’s faith into question, but I will say that the math doesn’t add up here, if you catch my meaning.

As I’ve said before, it angers me when Democrats sneer at “thoughts and prayers,” in part because, like many people, I’ve experienced something pretty close to hopelessness before in my life more than once, and prayer and knowing that others were praying for me were the primary things that got me through those rough patches.

The power of faith and prayer was absolutely what carried my mom and me through everything we went through in 2022 and 2023,

between losing my dad, her being diagnosed with stage IIIB colon cancer and then her having to go through chemotherapy.

Those were two of the most challenging years of our lives, and prayers and our faith in God were then, and continue to be, our guiding force through all of life’s ups and downs.

Relatedly, it’s disingenuous to argue that thoughts and prayers are not a solution to gun violence, because, of course, Christians know that prayer doesn’t stop bad things from happening sometimes. Further, that’s not why they’re being o ered up in the rst place. They’re expressed as a way for those experiencing unimaginable heartbreak and grief to hopefully nd a peace that surpasses all understanding as they navigate through the di cult days ahead.

Mom often says that praying is the best thing a person can do for someone else who is going through tough times. It’s something to remember when you feel hopeless about a situation you or someone you love is going through.

My thoughts and prayers remain with the victims of the Annunciation Catholic School tragedy and their families.

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

Trump’s share-the-wealth retirement plan will help all Americans

The wealthy have long had access to many of the most lucrative investment funds.

THE ELIZABETH WARRENS of the world have long complained about how the rules in Washington and on Wall Street are rigged in favor of the rich.

Well, there is one federal policy that absolutely does bene t those with higher incomes over working-class Americans.

The wealthy have long had access to many of the most lucrative investment funds, including private equity, private credit, crypto assets and real estate investment trusts. These assets have been legally closed o to the middle-class and lower-income retirement accounts. This has enabled higher-income Americans and “accredited investors” to earn higher returns on their money.

Donald Trump has taken action to x this inequity.

In August, Trump signed an executive order called “Democratizing Access to Alternative Assets for 401(k) Investors.” This opens access to the $12 trillion market of private equity, private credit and digital assets to some 90 million Americans who rely on de ned contribution retirement plans, such as 401ks.

Hooray!

But there is still one remaining obstacle to implementing this order: trial lawyers. The Department of Labor will soon issue formal rulemaking under the 1974 Employee Retirement Income Security Act, and these rules must prevent predatory and abusive lawsuits, or employers won’t o er these expanded plans to their workers.

Democrat-aligned trial attorneys have spent years ling frivolous class action lawsuits against employers who try to innovate in retirement plan design. Their goal isn’t to protect workers. Rather, by gatekeeping regular workers from the highestreturn investments, these activist attorneys have weaponized the legal system and extracted multimillion-dollar settlements that line their own pockets. The trial lawyers get rich from these class action lawsuits, and the retirees get peanuts. These lawsuits have created a climate of

fear that discourages businesses from o ering diversi ed, high-return portfolios to their employees.

What a shame. From 2003-23, private equity returned an average of 15.2% annually, and the S&P 500 just 9.7%. That’s a massive gap, and it’s costing workers tens of thousands of dollars in lost retirement income.

White House economists estimate expanding access to private assets in 401(k)s could increase lifetime retirement income by up to thousands of dollars for younger workers and generate $35 billion in GDP gains. Why wouldn’t we do this?

There are clearly risks with private equity, but diversi ed portfolios for long-term investments lower these risks. Also, many of the investments the government has classi ed as “safe,” such as mortgage-backed securities, were precisely the investments that lost trillions of dollars in the 2008 housing crash. How was that safe?

The Department of Labor needs to write clear rules that protect companies from unfair lawsuits while still guarding against clear cases of fraud by unscrupulous employers. The rules should provide a safe harbor for employers who o er professionally managed funds and protect plan sponsors from abusive litigation. This will open the doors wider to higher retirement incomes for today’s workers.

The option Trump is providing would not allow workers to pick private equity funds entirely by themselves. Retirement funds will remain professionally managed. These structures already exist, and across companywide retirement funds, these investments are rendered even safer.

Americans want to have the best life they can with nancial security in their retirement years. The Trump plan opens these gates to sharing America’s wealth in ways to lift all retirement boats. Just put a muzzle on the trial lawyers, Mr. President.

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

President Donald Trump signs his signature bill of tax breaks and spending cuts at the White House on July 4 in Washington, D.C.

THIS OCTOBER, I will travel to our nation’s capital for the annual gathering of former U.S. attorneys from across the country. Those of us who served during the Reagan administration during the 1980s are now the senior members of this group, but the friendships forged in those years remain strong. I like to believe that through our work we left America a safer and better place, guided by a deep commitment to law enforcement and justice.

Sadly, America today is a very di erent country than the one we knew in 1980. It is less moral, less civil, less lawful — and overwhelmed by illegal immigration, much of it tied to violent crime. Under President Ronald Reagan, we truly believed America could again become that “shining city on a hill” he so often invoked. For a time, it seemed possible. Yet progress in politics is fragile, and even the best movements fade without vigilance.

The Bush presidencies attempted to rekindle Reagan’s optimism but fell short. Meanwhile, the nation experienced the cultural and moral erosion brought on by the Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden years. Those administrations accelerated the assault on traditional, Judeo-Christian values that once anchored our society. Which brings me to Washington today — now during the leadership of Donald Trump’s second term. On this upcoming trip, I hope to nd a capital that is safer and cleaner than when I last visited. Thanks to Trump, there is reason for hope.

The statistics are grim. Washington has become a national embarrassment. The nation’s capital has the fourth-highest homicide rate in the country — nearly six times higher than New York City, and worse than Atlanta or Chicago. It has the highest homicide rate in the nation if measured as a state. Carjackings are up 547% between 2018 and 2023. There are open-air drug markets run by gangs across too many neighborhoods. Crime data has been manipulated, with o cials “cooking the books” while residents grow too fearful to report crimes. Leadership has failed. The city’s police chief, Pamela A. Smith — heralded as a diversity hire — has shown no real grasp of policing. The mayor has fared no better. At some point, Congress will have to confront the collapse of Washington’s home-rule experiment. If not, the only alternative may be permanent National Guard patrols.

That is why Trump made the di cult but necessary choice to federalize the D.C. police force and deploy the Guard. The move was not political theater — it was about restoring order. The Guard’s presence brought immediate stability and reassured residents that the streets belong to law-abiding citizens, not gangs or repeat o enders protected by lenient politicians.

The results speak for themselves: Crime rates have plunged. Since Trump activated the National Guard on Aug. 11, there has been only one recorded murder.

Congress must act decisively to pass the SAVE

For years, concerns have simmered about noncitizens registering to vote.

Act

WITH THE 2026 CONGRESSIONAL midterms approaching, the question of election integrity still resonates. For years, concerns have simmered about noncitizens registering to vote — from millions crossing the border illegally to the distribution of voter registration forms without rigorous citizenship checks.

Americans overwhelmingly agree that only U.S. citizens should determine the nation’s direction. Yet left-wing activists argue that requiring documentary proof of citizenship to vote, a core provision in the federal Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act now before Congress, would somehow disenfranchise voters.

Tarheel voters have heard those baseless warnings before, when the state adopted strong voter ID laws. These local measures, popular across much of the country, have proven feasible and e ective, enhancing election integrity, and they have done so without any of the deleterious e ects predicted by their opponents, thereby undercutting forecasts of widespread disenfranchisement.

The SAVE Act seeks to enhance election integrity at a national level, requiring documentary proof of citizenship upon voter registration and granting states access to federal databases for veri cation.

This is not a partisan issue; an overwhelming 87% of Americans, according to a survey conducted for Tea Party Patriots Action — including large majorities of Republicans, Democrats and independents — support requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote. More than 80% say only U.S. citizens should decide who governs our country.

Public trust in the legitimacy of election outcomes hinges upon broad con dence that only eligible citizens are casting ballots.

Though the SAVE Act passed the House in April 2025 thanks to bipartisan sponsors, including several from North Carolina, the real challenge now lies in the Senate, where Senate Democrat opposition makes passage di cult. To overcome their opposition and become law, the SAVE Act must be attached to so-called “must-pass” legislation like defense or appropriations bills. Only through this process can it avoid an all-butcertain libuster and secure an up-or-down vote.

That’s why Tea Party Patriots Action is leading a nationwide grassroots e ort to rally support for the SAVE Act this summer, with a bus tour stopping in communities across the country — including a recent stop in Raleigh last Friday. At each stop, citizens who value secure and fair elections are invited to sign the petition supporting the SAVE Act, and are encouraged to call their U.S. senators immediately.

The message that we are sending to Congress is clear: Pass the SAVE Act this year, and do so in a way that ensures the voters’ will is not thwarted by Senate Democrats. And because Americans will stand for nothing less than secure, fair elections, it will not be enough to simply vote for it or even to push for a vote. The SAVE Act must be attached to “must-pass” legislation, guaranteeing that the integrity of our democratic process is not left vulnerable to partisan libuster or obstruction.

North Carolina, having demonstrated national leadership on voter ID, now has an opportunity to join a nationwide movement for election integrity. By urging the Senate to take decisive action, North Carolinians can help set a standard the entire country would do well to follow.

Jenny Beth Martin is honorary chairman of Tea Party Patriots Action. Cleta Mitchell is founder and chairman of the Election Integrity Network.

Public safety is not only the task of police, prosecutors and courts; it is woven into God’s design for human ourishing. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “the law is made … for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for murderers,” (1 Timothy 1:9.) Law restrains evil, protects the innocent and allows the righteous to live in peace.

The founders understood this.

John Adams famously reminded the Massachusetts militia in 1798: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

A republic rests on virtue. Without moral discipline and religious faith, citizens descend into chaos — and government is forced to expand its policing or deploy the military just to keep order.

Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Federalizing the police and calling in the Guard was not only justi ed — it was indispensable. Washington, D.C., demanded leadership. Trump delivered. Now it is up to the citizens of Washington to do their part. The Guard can patrol the streets, but only faith, virtue and civic responsibility can rebuild the moral foundation of the capital. America’s seat of government should be a symbol of law, order and hope — not a cesspool of crime and corruption.

Sam Currin, a former judge, law professor and United States attorney, lives in Raleigh. He holds degrees from Wake Forest University and UNC School of Law, and degrees from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Christian ethics, theology and education.

COLUMN | JENNY BETH MARTIN AND CLETA MITCHELL

EVAN VUCCI / AP PHOTO

Murphy to Manteo Jones & Blount

Fall produce is on the way!

PIEDMONT

N.C. A&T STEM program among best in nation for high schoolers

cials address major post-Helene I-40 reconstruction

Haywood County Nearly a year after Hurricane Helene ripped apart Interstate 40 through the Pigeon River Gorge, o cials with the NCDOT say the scale of the rebuild is unlike anything the state has ever attempted. Last week, NCDOT engineers led reporters deep into the ve-mile work zone to show the damage, progress and the long road ahead. Hurricane Helene washed away sections of up to two lanes between the Tennessee state line and mile marker 5 in Haywood County. To stabilize the corridor, crews have installed temporary soil nail walls, steel rods drilled deep into the mountainside anchored with grout, and coated with shotcrete to hold slopes in place. A temporary causeway has also been completed, which allows heavy equipment and workers access to the damaged highway. By harvesting stone from the site, NCDOT says costs have been reduced by about two-thirds, and construction time has been cut nearly in half.

NSJ

Guilford County The STEM Early College at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has once again ranked among the best high schools in North Carolina, holding the No. 2 spot in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best High Schools rankings. It marks the fourth consecutive year the school has earned that distinction out of 822 public high schools across the state, according to a news release by the university.

WFMY

Drug bust yields 64 pounds of drugs from multiple vape shops

Harnett County

EAST

NCDEQ collecting ounder carcasses for research, donations earn prize entry

Carteret County

Co ee truck explodes as students move into Wake Forest

Forsyth County Police say the investigation continues into a Winston-Salem co ee truck explosion that happened last week outside the Lawerance Joel Veteran Memorial Coliseum o University Parkway near Wake Forest University’s campus. According to the WinstonSalem Police Department, while Wake Forest University students were checking in on move-in day at the LJVM Coliseum, the Given Co ee Truck exploded. O cials say four truck employees su ered burns and were taken to the hospital, but no students were injured. Given Co ee Co. operates out of HopeCity, a church in WinstonSalem.

WXII

The Harnett County Sheri ’s O ce announced Friday a huge drug bust after receiving numerous tips that smoke shops were selling products to minors who were experiencing drug overdoses in the area. According to deputies, the two-week operation involved the Angier, Dunn and Lillington police departments. Deputies said search warrants were executed at nine smoke shops throughout Harnett County. A total of 64 pounds of THC and more than $49,000 in cash were seized during the raid. Police said the sale of the products was linked to medical emergency responses throughout the county, including at Harnett County schools. “Business owners and their employees will be held accountable for selling illegal products in the county,” deputies said. According to deputies, charges are forthcoming, and the investigation remains ongoing.

WGHP

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries will be collecting ounder carcasses from recreational shermen during the 2025 season from Sept. 1-14. The carcasses collected will be used for research purposes, according to o cials. Recreational anglers who donate their ounder carcass will be entered to win one of two rod-and-reel combinations, limited to one per person. Visit deq.nc.gov and search marine sheries division for freezer locations.

NSJ

Canadian charged for illegally voting in N.C.

Tourism numbers set record Down East

Onslow County Onslow County’s tourism is growing and generating record numbers, according to o cials. Visitors of Onslow County spent $415.26 million in 2024, setting a new record. The study, done by Visit North Carolina, aimed to showcase how the tourism industry is growing in North Carolina and contributes to the creation of jobs in the area. Onslow County tourism spending generated $14.75 million for local

New Hanover County A Canadian man was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of illegally voting in North Carolina, prosecutors said last week. According to the O ce of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, 69-year-old Denis Bouchard has lived in the U.S. since the 1960s but never became an American citizen. Bouchard is accused of voting in the 2022 congressional election and the 2024 presidential election after falsely claiming to have American citizenship on his registration, according to federal prosecutors. James C. Barnacle Jr., the FBI special agent in charge in North Carolina, said in a statement, “Every American deserves to exercise their right to vote without interference in the democratic process. We appreciate the North Carolina Board of Elections partnership and commitment to working together to ensure fair elections in our state.” NSJ

clear and dangerous message that the primary is already decided.” Davis apparently wrote the letter, which he and the other Democratic hopefuls — Zelda Briarwood, Chris Harjes and Paul Maddox — signed. The NC11Democratic Party organization responded by issuing a statement calling the selection of Ager as speaker a “misstep.”

“When Jamie Ager announced, it seemed that this was an answer. Some o cers agreed and some did not, we consulted with NCDP as well,” the statement said. “In retrospect this was not the impartial way to handle this task.” It was reported by the Sylva Herald that then-NC11 Democratic Party Chair Bill Baugh had asked the four candidates to pay $115 in order to speak at the gala, and the outlet con rmed that o er had occurred. Baugh stepped down amid the controversy Aug.

NATION & WORLD

Congress returns after monthlong August recess

Both sides of the aisle need to come to an agreement to avoid a government shutdown

The Associated Press

CONGRESSIONAL Repub -

licans scored a massive victory this summer when they passed President Donald Trump’s tax and spending cuts without a single Democratic vote. But as they return to Washington this fall after a monthlong August recess, they will have to nd a way to work with Democrats — or around them — as a government shutdown looms.

The annual spending battle will dominate the September agenda, along with a possible e ort by Senate Republicans to change their chamber’s rules to thwart Democratic stalling tactics on nominations. The Senate is also debating whether to move forward on legislation that would slap steep tari s on some of Russia’s trading partners as the U.S. presses Russian President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine.

In the House, Republicans will continue their investigations of former President Joe Biden, while Speaker Mike Johnson navigates a split in his conference over whether the Trump administration should release more les in the Je rey Epstein investigation.

The most urgent task for Congress is to avoid a government shutdown on Sept. 30, when federal funding runs out. And it’s so far unclear if Repub -

“Trump is rooting for a shutdown.”

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)

licans and Democrats will be able to agree on how to do that. Congress will have to pass a short-term spending measure to keep the government funded for a few weeks or months while they try to nish the full-year package. But Republicans will need Democratic votes to pass an extension, and Democrats will want signicant concessions. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer’s vote with Republicans to

avoid a shutdown in March prompted furious backlash within his party.

The Trump administration’s e orts to claw back previously approved spending could also complicate the negotiations. Republicans passed legislation this summer that rescinded about $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting funds, and Trump noti ed Congress again on Friday that he will block $4.9 billion in congressionally approved foreign aid.

Democrats have warned that such e orts could tank the broader negotiations. “Trump is rooting for a shutdown,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) posted on social media Friday.

Senators are expected to

be right where they left o in early August — ghting over Trump’s nominees.

Exasperated Republicans ed Washington for the month after making little headway with Senate Democrats over their nominations blockade, which has forced delays in conrmations and angered Trump as many of his administration’s positions remain un lled. Republican leaders called it quits after a rare Saturday session that ended with a breakdown in bipartisan negotiations and Trump posting on social media that Chuck Schumer could “GO TO HELL!”

Republicans now say they’re ready to try to change Senate rules to get around the Democratic delays, and they are expected to spend the next several weeks discussing how that might work.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of Trump’s closest congressional allies, has pushed the president for months to support his sweeping bipartisan sanctions bill that would impose steep tari s on countries that are fueling Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by buying its oil, gas, uranium and other exports. The legislation has the backing of 85 senators, but Trump has yet to endorse it, and Republican leaders have so far said they won’t move without him.

Graham has stepped up his calls after Trump met with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last month in hopes of a peace deal. Since then, Russia has continued to step up attacks on Ukraine.

“If we don’t have this thing moving in the right direction by the time we get back, then I think that plan B needs to kick in,” Graham said of his bill in an interview with The Associated Press last month.

Earthquake in eastern Afghanistan kills at least 800 people, 2,500 injured

The temblor caused extensive damage, destroying much of the village of Kunar

The Associated Press

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

— Desperate Afghans clawed through rubble in search of missing loved ones after a strong earthquake killed some 800 people and injured more than 2,500 in eastern Afghanistan, according to gures provided Monday by the Taliban government.

The 6.0 magnitude quake late Sunday hit towns in the province of Kunar, near the city of Jalalabad in neighboring Nangarhar province, causing extensive damage.

One resident in Nurgal district, one of the worst-a ected areas in Kunar, said nearly the entire village was destroyed.

“Children are under the rubble. The elderly are under the rubble. Young people are under the rubble,” said the villager, who did not give his name.

“We need help here,” he pleaded. “We need people to come here and join us. Let us pull out the people who are buried. There is no one who can come and remove dead bodies from under the rubble.”

The quake hit just before midnight and was centered 17 miles east-northeast of Jalalabad at a depth of 5 miles, the U.S. Geological Survey said. Shallower quakes tend to cause more damage. Several aftershocks followed.

Footage showed rescuers taking injured people on stretchers from collapsed buildings and into helicopters as people frantically dug through rubble with their hands.

The Taliban government’s chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said at a Monday

press conference that the death toll had risen to at least 800 with more than 2,500 injured. He said most of the casualties were in Kunar.

The quake was felt in parts of Pakistan, including the capital Islamabad. There were no reports of casualties or damage.

The quake has worsened communications in the mountainous, remote region. Blocked roads are forcing aid workers to walk four or ve hours to reach survivors. Dozens of ights have operated in and out of Nangarhar Airport, transporting the injured to hospitals.

Buildings in Afghanistan tend to be low-rise constructions, mostly of concrete and brick, with homes in rural and outlying areas made from mud bricks and wood. Many are poorly built.

Rescue operations were underway and medical teams from Kunar, Nangarhar and the

capital, Kabul, have arrived in the area, said Sharafat Zaman, a health ministry spokesman.

Zaman said many areas had not been able to report casualty gures and that “the numbers were expected to change” as deaths and injuries are reported.

The chief spokesman, Mujahid, said helicopters had reached some areas but road travel was di cult.

“There are some villages where the injured and dead haven’t been recovered from the rubble, so that’s why the numbers may increase,” he told journalists.

Sherine Ibrahim, the country director for the aid agency, said, “Although we have been able to act fast, we are profoundly fearful for the additional strain this will have on the overall humanitarian response in Afghanistan. Global funding cuts have dramatically hampered our abili-

Man found dead at Burning Man

Reno, Nevada

The death of a man found in a pool of blood is being investigated as a homicide at the annual Burning Man art and music festival in the northwestern Nevada desert, authorities said. Authorities were alerted about the man Saturday at the gathering in the Black Rock Desert about 110 miles north of Reno. Deputies along with rangers from the Bureau of Land Management responded and “found a single white adult male lying on the ground, obviously deceased,” the Pershing County Sheri ’s O ce said in a statement Sunday.

Mueller subpoena withdrawn in Epstein case

Washington, D.C.

A House committee investigating the Justice Department’s handling of the Je rey Epstein sex tra cking case has withdrawn a subpoena to former FBI Director Robert Mueller, citing the state of his health. Mueller had been directed last month to appear before the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday for a deposition, but the subpoena was withdrawn after the panel learned of unspeci ed health issues that precluded him from being able to testify, according to a committee statement. The New York Times reported Sunday night that Mueller had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the summer of 2021 and has had di culty speaking.

Man charged after driving into Russian consulate gate

Sydney

A man has been charged after an SUV hit the gates of the Russian consulate in Sydney, Australia on Monday, police said. Police were called at 8 a.m. to the property in the eastern suburb of Woollahra where an unauthorized vehicle was reported parked in the driveway. Police attempted to speak to the driver, but he drove the Toyota Kluger into the gates, a statement said. Two police o cers sustained minor injuries and were treated by paramedics. No one else was injured, police said. A 39-year-old man arrested on charges including damaging property, possession of a knife and possession of an unnamed restricted substance.

Former Czech PM attacked at rally

ty to respond to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.”

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in a statement that immediate needs include search and rescue support, emergency health care and medical supplies, food, clean water, and restoring road access to reach isolated communities.

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Afghanistan on Oct. 7, 2023, followed by strong aftershocks. The Taliban government estimated at least 4,000 people perished in that quake.

The U.N. gave a lower death toll of about 1,500. It was the deadliest natural disaster to strike Afghanistan in recent memory.

Sunday’s latest earthquake was likely to “dwarf the scale of the humanitarian needs” caused by the disaster of 2023, according to the International Rescue Committee.

Prague

Former Czech populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis was hospitalized Monday after he was attacked by a man with a walking stick at a rally ahead of next month’s parliamentary elections. The assault happened in the town of Dobra in eastern Czech Republic. Police said they immediately detained the assailant and were investigating the attack as hooliganism. Babis was taken to a hospital in the nearby town of Frydek-Mistek for a medical check, his centrist ANO (YES) movement said. It was not immediately clear if he was injured. Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Interior Minister Vit Rakusan condemned the attack, calling it unacceptable.

J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE / AP PHOTO

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), left, and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.), pictured in December 2023, face big decisions as Congress returns from a monthlong break.

WAHIDULLAH KAKAR / AP PHOTO

Local residents walk by a house destroyed by an earthquake that killed scores of people and destroyed villages in eastern Afghanistan on Monday.

catastrophe

questions about when normal

we begin to get back to normal

The 3 big questions

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

shelter-in-place or stay-at-home majority of Americans “new normal.” end of this month.

taxpayer at least $2.4 trillion in added Federal Reserve backup liquidity to the the U.S. dollar were not the reserve to fund any of these emergency fear of rampant in ation and currency aberrant ways and decisions through Diplomacy has obviously not worked world of 21st century health, hygiene communist regimes never take the blame remorse, because that is not what They take advantage of every weakness keep pushing until they win or the event happens such as the Chernobyl experts believe that event, not the Star Wars to the dissolution of the Soviet Union Chernobyl.

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

WALTER E. WILLIAMS

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

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

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

Perhaps COVID-19 is China’s Chernobyl.

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

n.c. FAST FACTS

Fixing college corruption

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

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

already talking about the possibility in debt we owe them as one way to get they have caused the US. Don’t hold your “Jubilee” to happen but ask your elected accountable in tangible nancial ways for expected to operate as responsible citizens of nation.

Epic seeks $205M in legal fees after Google antitrust win

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

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

Seafood from major grocery chains could contain a byproduct of nuclear reactions

By Jonel Aleccia The Associated Press

Not one little bit.

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

The cavalier manner virus, covered up its spread 3,341 related deaths has millions of Americans

business & economy How China will pay for this COVID-19 catastrophe

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SAN FRANCISCO — Epic Games, the Cary-based maker of “Fortnite” is asking a federal judge to award more than $205 million in legal fees after its landmark antitrust victory against Alphabet’s Google, marking other high-stakes turn in a yearslong legal ght that could reshape the mobile app marketplace.

Epic’s lawyers at Cravath, Swaine & Moore argued in a ling last week that the fee request is justi ed given the complexity of the case and the sweeping reforms their client secured. U.S. District Judge James Donato, who presided over the trial in San Francisco, has already ruled that Epic is entitled to recover its legal fees under federal antitrust law.

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

Epic rst sued Google in August 2020, accusing it of illegally monopolizing how Android users access apps and pay for in-app transactions. After a lengthy trial, a jury sided with Epic in December 2023, nding that Google had unlawfully suppressed competition in its Play Store.

MORE COMPANIES are recalling tens of thousands of packages of imported shrimp sold at Walmart, Kroger and other U.S. stores because they may contain radioactive contamination, according to federal notices.

AquaStar USA Corp. of Seattle is recalling more than 26,000 packages of refrigerated cocktail shrimp sold at Walmart stores in 27 states between July 31 and Aug. 16. The company is also recalling about 18,000 bags of Kroger-branded cooked, medium peeled, tail-o shrimp sold at stores in 17 states between July 24 and Aug. 11.

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

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

The ruling set the stage for Donato’s permanent injunction, issued on Oct. 7, 2024. The order requires Google to restore competition by allowing rival app stores to operate within Google Play and by making its app catalog available to competitors. Google sought to block the order, but Donato denied its request for a stay later that month.

written under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah RedState and Legal Insurrection.

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

The crisis has cost the debt plus trillions more markets and nancial outlets. currency, we would not measures without immediate depreciation.

In July 2025, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously upheld both the jury verdict and Donato’s injunction, dealing a major setback to Google. The company has said it will pursue further appeals, potentially taking the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Epic’s latest ling comes amid that ongoing appeal. The company said its base request of $170 million should be adjusted to $205 million to account for in ation. While it did not disclose attorney billing rates or how the work was divided among Cravath and other rms, including Faegre Drinker, Epic said the rms discounted their standard rates.

Court records show that Gary Bornstein, co-head of Cravath’s litigation department and one of Epic’s lead lawyers, logged more than 3,800 hours on the case. Epic’s legal team argued the hours and fees were reasonable, pointing to the complexity of antitrust litigation and the scale of the results achieved.

Google has denied any wrongdoing throughout the case and has not commented on Epic’s latest fee request. Epic also declined to comment.

More companies pull shrimp for potential radioactive contamination

Until China adopts rigorous veri able policing and regulation of their food safety and health protocols, American business has no other choice than to build redundant manufacturing plants elsewhere purely for national security and safety reasons as well as supply and delivery reliability concerns.

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

At the same time, H&N Group Inc., a wholesale seafood distributor in Vernon, California, is recalling more than 17,000 cases of frozen shrimp sold to grocery stores on the East Coast, according to a notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That recall began on Aug. 12. The products have been pulled because they may be contaminated with Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope that is a byproduct of nuclear reactions. The risk appears to be small, but the shrimp could

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

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

Political scientist Zach Goldberg ran certain grievance studies concepts through the Lexis/Nexis database, to see how often they appeared in our press over the years. He found huge increases in the usages of “white privilege,” “unconscious bias,” “critical race theory” and “whiteness.” All of this is being taught to college students, many of whom become primary and secondary school teachers who then indoctrinate our young people.

The outcome of the fee dispute could signi cantly add to Google’s costs as it navigates one of the most consequential antitrust rulings against a U.S. technology company in recent years.

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

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

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

Since when did questioning government at all levels become a bad thing? That is what free citizens

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

We need transparency and honesty from our scienti c experts — we need to know what they know, what they don’t and when they hope to know what they don’t.

The result: a reduction in expected hospitalization According to the University of Washington Metrics and Evaluation model most oft Trump administration, the expected need peak outbreak was revised down by over ventilators by nearly 13,000 and the number August by nearly 12,000.

The most direct way to make China “pay” for this disaster is to o er U.S. tax credits to companies who will source at least half of their production back in the United States. There is approximately $120 billion worth of American direct investment in plants and equipment in China. Chinese direct investment in the U.S. is about $65 billion by comparison.

“The

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

Nor

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

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

An investment tax credit of 30% on half of U.S. investment in China today, or $60 billion, applied to repatriated American manufacturing investment to the U.S. would cost the U.S. Treasury $18 billion in tax revenue spread over a few years. $18 billion in lost revenue is decimal dust compared to the $6 trillion+ Marshall Plan we are now undertaking to save our own economy, not of defeated enemies as in the past.

levels in the environment are super, super, super low right now and cannot explain what’s going on here.”

Steve Biegalski, Georgia Institute of Technology

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

tive contamination in shipping containers sent to U.S. ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Miami and Savannah, Georgia. Customs o cials alerted the FDA, which conducted tests of packaged shrimp and conrmed Cesium-137 in a single sample.

China has to pay for economic and nancial to bring China into the and fair trade. Totalitarian or express sincere regret totalitarian governments they nd in adversaries adversaries push back. That is, unless an exogenous meltdown in 1986. Some program of Reagan, led in 1989.

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

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

For me, making. As Corinthians a iction, a iction, God.” If you are re ect on God’s example this di cult con dent In this same neighbors In Concord, money to buy health care

north STA

pose a “potential health concern” for people exposed to low levels of Cesium-137 over time, FDA o cials said.

The FDA issued a safety alert this month warning consumers not to eat certain frozen shrimp imported from PT Bahari Makmur Sejati, an Indonesian company doing business as BMS Foods. Cesium-137 was detected in shipping containers from the company sent to U.S. ports and in a sample of frozen breaded shrimp.

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

for Wednesday, Apr il 15,

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

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

Experts in nuclear radiation agreed that the health risk is low but said it’s important to determine the source of the contamination and share that information with the public.

China has been cheating, stealing, pirating and pillaging American business now for the past 30 years. They have made no secret that they intend to replace the U.S. as the premier superpower in the world and replace the dollar as the reserve currency with their renminbi.

VISUAL VOICE S

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

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

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

The level of Cesium-137 detected in the frozen shrimp was about 68 becquerels per kilogram, a measure of radioactivity. That is far below the FDA’s level of 1,200 becquerels per kilogram that could trigger the need for health protections.

FDA has also added PT Bahari Makmur Sejati to a new import alert for chemical contamination to stop products from this rm from coming into the U.S. It remains unclear how the containers or the shrimp became contaminated. Federal o cials said they are investigating and declined to respond to detailed questions from The Associated Press about the source or extent of the contamination.

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON

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

The comfort and hope

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

It is unusual to see this concentration of Cesium-137 in shrimp, said Steve Biegalski, who chairs the Nuclear and Radiological Engineering and Medical Physics program at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Routine levels detected in shrimp from the Pacific Ocean are about 100 times lower than those found in the BMS shrimp, according to the American Nuclear Society.

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

None of the shrimp that triggered alerts or tested positive for Cesium-137 was released for sale, the FDA said. But other shipments sent to stores may have been manufactured under conditions that allowed the products to become contaminated, the agency said.

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

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

O cials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection rst detected the potential radioac-

Lenten and Easter seasons provide a message of hope that we will once again enjoy sporting events, concerts, family gatherings,

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

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

“We sometimes can see Cesium-137 from historic nuclear weapons fallout, nuclear accidents such as Fukushima or Chernobyl, but the levels in the environment are super, super, super low right now and cannot explain what’s going on here,” Biegalski said.

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

fallen into place. I understand to take precautions, but questions about the data, normal are treated in some They’re treated as though question what the government process of returning back No. The government questions. And the longer country, and the stricter the more people, sitting when they can get back answers.

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

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

Leaders at the local and can be with those answers with details that give their

If you are celebrating the Easter season, re ect on this message and be comforted, God’s example and comfort all those in this di cult time. Through faith and by con dent we will emerge out of this pandemic

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

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

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

In this same spirit, I continue to be inspired

In Concord, a high school senior named money to buy a 3-D printer and plastic health care workers out of his own home.

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

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

Not one little bit.

Stacey Matthews has also and is a regular contributor

AquaStar USA Corp. of Seattle has already recalled about 18,000 bags of Kroger-branded cooked, medium peeled, tail-o shrimp sold at stores in 17 states.

Jason

th State Journal

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senio

CUMBERLAND

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NUMBER:

25E001107-250 In the Matter of the Estate of: WILLIAM ELIJAH AUTRY Deceased. ))))) EXECUTOR’S NOTICE

The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of William Elijah Autry, 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 14, 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 14th day of August, 2025. William Craig Autry, Executor of the Estate of William Elijah Autry, Deceased c/o J. Thomas Neville Yarborough, Winters & Neville, P.A. P.O. Box 705 Fayetteville, NC 28302-0705 Publish: 08/14/2025, 08/21/2025, 08/28/2025 and 09/04/2025

NOTICE

In the general court of justice superior court division before the clerk estate le #25E001231-250 state of North Carolina Cumberland county administrator notice the undersigned having quali ed as the Executor of the Estate of Jonathan G. Hu , 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 4th of December , 2025 (which is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to Sarah Hu at 239 Bent Oak Ct Raeford, NC 28376. This is the 4th of September 2025.

NOTICE IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE#25E001335-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Frances Christine Popp, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned does herby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 12 Sand Creek Lane, Lillington, NC 27546, on or before December 4, 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 31st day of August 2025.

Debra L. Baker, Executor of the Estate of Frances Christine Popp

NOTICE

In the general court of justice superior court division estate le #25e001130250. State of North Carolina county of Cumberland. Administrator Notice Having quali ed as executor of the estate of Myrtle Autry Burrell, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms, and incorporations having claims against the estate of said decadent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 4516 nc 903 south, winterville, nc 28590 on or before 11/28/2025 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 08/28/2025. Mark Burrell, executor of the state of Myrtle Autry Burrell.

NOTICE

In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Before the Clerk Estate File # 23 E1963 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE

The undersigned having quali ed as executor of the estate of Lillie Mae Campbell, deceased, late of Cumberland County North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to present them to the undersigned on or before the 14th day of November, 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 14th day of August 2025. Maxine McNeill Johnson 1 634 Joye Street West Columbia SC 29169 Executor of the Estate of Lillie Mae Campbell

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA County of Cumberland In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Estate le#25E001243-250

The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Maria Luise Davis, deceased, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, hereby noti es all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 21st 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 15th day of August 2025 Daniel H. Davis III Executor of the Estate of Maria Luise Davis 2855 Linden Road Aberdeen, NC 28315

Notice to Creditors

The undersigned having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of, Nancy Ezzell, 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 November 28, 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 persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 25th day of August, 2025. Nancy Jo Bryan 7650 Sisk Culbreth Road Godwin, NC 28344

NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE NO. 25E001219-250

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND Having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Ronald Edward Gordy, 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 14, 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 14th day of August, 2025. Diana Vogel, Administrator of the Estate of Ronald Edward Gordy NICOLE A. CORLEY MURRAY & CORLEY, P.A. N.C. BAR NO. 56459 2517 RAEFORD ROAD FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28305 – 3007 (910) 483 – 4990 COUNSEL FOR ADMINISTRATOR

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA In The General Court of Justice County of Cumberland Superior Court Division Estate File #25e001303-250 Administrator’s/ Executor’s Notice

The undersigned having quali ed as the Administrator of the Estate of Phyllis Annell Girard, 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 4th day of December, 2025, which 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 4th day of September, 2025. Signed, Albert Nathaniel Love Administrator 118 Pennmark Place Fayetteville, North Carolina 28301 Of the Estate of Phyllis Annell Girard, Deceased

NOTICE

State of North Carolina In The General Court of Justice County of Cumberland Superior Court Division Estate File # 25E000601-250 Administrator’s/Executor’s Notice The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Lorease Murchison King, 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 28 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 to the estate are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 21st day of August, 2025. Sheila D. Spence, Executor PO Box 153 Spring Lake, NC 28390 Of the Estate of Lorease Murchison King, Deceased 08/28/2025 09/04/2025 09/11/2025 09/18/2025

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

In The General Court Of Justice County of Cumberland Superior Court Division Estate File # 25E000077-250 Administrator’s Notice The undersigned, having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Jerry Michael Idol, 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 21st 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 payments to the undersigned. This the 21st day of August, 2025. Christopher Michael Idol Administrator 2266 Dunn Road Eastover, NC 28312 Of the Estate of Jerry Michael Idol, Deceased

Notice to Creditors

Estate of Charles Taylor Huggins

Date of Birth June 19, 1960

Notice To Creditors: The decedent, Charles Taylor Huggins, who lived at 2910 Chicken Foot Rd, Hope Mills, North Carolina 28348. Died June 18, 2025. Creditors of the decedent are noti ed that all claims against the estate will be forever barred unless Presented to Michael Cox, named personal representative or proposed personal representative, at 3556 Belridge Drive, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28306, 9105743400 or to both the probate Court and the named/ proposed personal representative by December 1, 2025. This the 28th of August 2025 Michael cox, Personal Representative for the Estate 3556 Belridge Drive Fayetteville, North Carolina 28306 9105743400

EXECUTOR’S NOTICE

In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Estate File # 25E001278-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND

The undersigned having quali ed as

Executor of the Estate of Arthur J. Hu , 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 December 4, 2025 at 2505 Hunting Bow Drive, Hope Mills, North Carolina 28348, 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 4th day of September, 2025 Luther Wayne Hu , Executor of the Estate of Arthur J. Hu , deceased c/o Gilliam Law Firm, PLLC Post O ce Box 53555 Fayetteville, NC 28305 (910) 485-8899 09/04/2025, 09/11/2025, 09/18/2025 and 09/25/2025

NOTICE

State of North Carolina County of Cumberland

In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Estate File 25E001222-250

In the Matter of the Estate of Edward Keith Hairr Administrator’s Notice The undersigned, having quali ed as Administrator of the estate of Edward Keith Hairr, Eddie Hairr, 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 28th 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 persons indebted to said estate will please immediate payment to the undersigned. This 28th day of August, 2025 Bobby Ray Hairr 4428 Dunn Rd. Eastover, NC 28312 Administrator of the estate of Edward Keith Hairr, Eddie Hairr, Deceased

NOTICE

County of Cumberland. Superior Court Division Estate le. #25E001269-250 Administrators Notice The Undersigned having Quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Lucille Anne Newman, 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 29th of November 2025.(Which is three months after the rst publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All debetors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 22nd day of August 2025 Ronald Hardin Newman Administrator 1544 Rossmore Drive Fayetteville, NC 28314 Of the Estate of Lucille Anne Newman, Deceased

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE

SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE NO. 24E002857-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND

Having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Raymond Joseph Ortega, 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 14, 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 14th day of August, 2025. Gina Gentry, Administrator of the Estate of Raymond Joseph Ortega

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

COUNSEL FOR ADMINISTRATOR

EXECUTOR’S NOTICE

In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Estate File # 25E001102-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND

The undersigned having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Kathleen Louise Piecuch, 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 21, 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 21st day of August, 2025 J. Duane Gilliam, Jr., Executor of the Estate of Kathleen Louise Piecuch c/o Gilliam Law Firm, PLLC Post O ce Box 53555 Fayetteville, NC 28305 (910) 485-8899 08/21/2025, 08/28/2025, 09/04/2025 and 09/11/2025

NOTICE

In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Before the Clerk Estate File #25E001122-250 State of North Carolina Cumberland County Administrator Notice The undersigned having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Laura Pike, 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 28th 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 persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 25th day of August, 2025. Administrator of the Estate of Laura Pike Sara Whitaker 116 W Lakeridge Road Raeford, NC 28376

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ESTATE OF TOMMIE EDWARD PURSER, SR. CUMBERLAND County Estate File No. 25E001261-250 All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Tommie Edward Purser, Sr., deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are noti ed to present their claims to Tommie Edward Purser, Jr., Administrator, at 1809 Lakeshore Dr., Fayetteville, NC 28305, on or before the 29th 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 Executor/Administrator named above. This the 22nd day of August, 2025. Tommie Edward Purser, Jr. Administrator of the Estate of Tommie Edward Purser, Sr. Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: August 28, September 4, September 11 and September 18, 2025

NOTICE

State of North Carolina In The General Court of Justice County of Cumberland Superior Court Division Estate File # 25e001254-250 Administrators’s/Executor’s Notice The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the estate of David R. Sager, 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 Twenty First day of November, 2025, (which is three after the day of the rst publication of 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 eighteenth day of August, of 2025 Lennon Sager 812 Poplar Drive Fayetteville, NC 28304 Of the estate of Davd R, Sager, Deceased EXECUTOR’S NOTICE IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE 24E000258-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY

The undersigned, having quali ed as the Executor of the Estate of John Stuard Waller, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms or corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned at 690 Beard Road, Raeford, North Carolina 28376, on or before December 4, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 4th day of September, 2025. Ti any Cheryl Waller Executor of the Estate of John Stuard Waller, Deceased c/o Gilliam Law Firm, PLLC J. Duane Gilliam, Jr., Attorney PO Box 53555 Fayetteville, NC 28305 09/04/2025, 09/11/2025, 09/18/2025 and 09/25/2025

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

In the General Court of Justice County of Cumberland Superior Court Division Estate File # 25E000339-250 Administrator’s/Executor’s Notice The undersigned, having quali ed as administrator of the Estate of Mickey Charles Stoker, 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 21st 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 the 12th day of August, 2025. Meghann C. Stoker, administrator of the estate of Mickey Charles Stoker. 6233 Lakehaven Dr. Fayetteville, NC 28304.

Notice to Creditors

Having quali ed as Executor/ Administrator of the Estate of Lucy Marie Sharp deceased, late of Fayetteville North Carolina, Cumberland County File No. 25E000798-250 this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the said decedent to present the same to the undersigned on or before November 30, 2025, or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All people indebted to the Estate, please make immediate payment. This is the 28th day of August 2025. Candace Felecia Sharp 3308 Argyle Lane Greensboro, North Carolina 27406

NEW HANOVER

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA NEW HANOVER COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE UNDERSIGNED, Clay A. Collier, having quali ed on the 25th day of July, 2025, as Executor of the Estate of William J. Baggett (25E001996-640), 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 8th day of December, 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 4th day of September 2025. Clay A. Collier Executor ESTATE OF WILLIAM J. BAGGETT David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411 Publish: September 4, 2025 September 11, 2025 September 18, 2025 September 25. 2025

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER

NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned,RULDOLF ANTON BLESS AND RICHARD JOSEF BLESS, having quali ed as the Co-Executors of the Estate of MAGDALENA BLESS, Deceased, hereby noti es all persons, rms or corporations having claims against the Decedent to exhibit same to the said RULDOLF ANTON BLESS AND RICHARD JOSEF BLESS, at the address set out below, on or before December 12, 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 29th day of August, 2025.

RULDOLF ANTON BLESS AND RICHARD JOSEF BLESS Co-Executors of the Estate of MAGDALENA BLESS c/o ROBERT H. HOCHULI, JR. 219 RACINE DR., SUITE #A6 Wilmington, NC 28405

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER

NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned,MICHAEL A. GIGLIO, having quali ed as the Executor of the Estate of PAULINE MARIE GIGLIO, Deceased, hereby noti es all persons, rms or corporations having claims against the Decedent to exhibit same to the said MICHAEL A. GIGLIO, at the address set out below, on or before December 12, 2025, or this notice may

NOTICE STATE

NOTICE

GUTSIN,

out below.

This the 29th day of August, 2025. SUZETTE WEXLER GUTSIN Executor of the Estate of RICHARD ADAM GUTSIN c/o ROBERT H. HOCHULI, JR. 219 RACINE DR., SUITE #A6 Wilmington, NC 28405

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER

NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned,AMY LYNN ERNST, having quali ed as the Executor of the Estate of JACQUELINE S. WADE, Deceased, hereby noti es all persons, rms or corporations having claims against the Decedent to exhibit same to the said AMY LYNN ERNST, at the address set out below, on or before December 12, 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 29th day of August, 2025. AMY LYNN ERNST Executor of the Estate of JACQUELINE S. WADE c/o ROBERT H. HOCHULI, JR. 219 RACINE DR., SUITE #A6 Wilmington, NC 28405

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER

NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned,AMY LYNN ERNST, having quali ed as the Executor of the Estate of JAMES M WADE, Deceased, hereby noti es all persons, rms or corporations having claims against the Decedent to exhibit same to the said AMY LYNN ERNST, at the address set out below, on or before December 12, 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 29th day of August, 2025. AMY LYNN ERNST

NOTICE

NEW HANOVER

NORTH CAROLINA NEW HANOVER COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE UNDERSIGNED, Danse Dare Mulvihill, having quali ed on the 21st day of July, 2025, as Executor of the Estate of Greg Michael Mulvihill (25E001794640), 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 1st day of December, 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 28th day of August 2025. Danse Dare Mulvihill Executor ESTATE OF GREG MICHAEL MULVIHILL David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411 Publish: August 28, 2025 September 4, 2025 September 11, 2025 September 18, 2025 NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA NEW HANOVER COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE UNDERSIGNED, Malin Wrenn, having quali ed on the 23rd day of June, 2025, as Executor of the Estate of Per Ake Svensson (25E001815-640), 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 17th 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 14th day of August 2025. Malin Wrenn Executor ESTATE OF PER AKE SVENSSON

David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411 Publish: August 14, 2025 August 21, 2025 August 28, 2025 September 4, 2025

recorded in Book No. 11208, at Page 0609 in Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the O ce of the Register of Deeds Cumberland County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door in Fayetteville, Cumberland

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA RANDOLPH COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25SP214750 FOR THE ADOPTION OF A FEMALE MINOR TO: the biological father of Baby Girl Edwards, a female child, born on July 28, 2025 in Asheboro, North Carolina, to Tequira Isabel Edwards. Take notice that a Petition for Adoption was led with the Clerk of Superior Court for Randolph County, North Carolina in the above entitled special proceeding. The Petition relates to Baby Girl Edwards, a female child, born on July 28, 2025 in Asheboro, North Carolina, to Tequira Isabel Edwards. Ms. Edwards reports that there are two possible biological fathers; “Alex Unknown” and “Robert Unknown”. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that you are required to le a response to such pleading not later than 40 days from the rst day of publication of this notice, that date being August 21, 2025, and upon your failure to do so the Petitioner will apply to the Court for relief sought in the Petition. Any parental rights you may have will be terminated upon the entry of the decree of adoption. Kelly T. Dempsey, Attorney for Petitioners, 101 S Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28280.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Stephen Russell Headlee, late of Randolph 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 22, 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 21st day of August, 2025

ROBERT MICHAEL HEADLEE Administrator of the Estate of STEPHEN RUSSELL HEADLEE S. SCOTT EGGLESTON, Attorney IVEY & EGGLESTON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW 111 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 (336) 625-3043 PUBL/DATES: 08/21/25 08/28/25 09/04/25 09/11/25

County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Bridget Rock, dated November 12, 2022 to secure the original principal amount of $132,559.00, and recorded in Book 16289 at Page 3 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: 4849 Samuel Richard Street, Kannapolis, NC 28083

County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on September 8, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 1, in a subdivision known as Bone Creek, Section One, and the same being duly recorded in Plat Book 65, Page 53, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina, less and excepting the property described in Deed Book 5593, Page 249, Cumberland County, North Carolina Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 6901 Bone Creek Drive, Fayetteville, North Carolina. Parcel ID: 9487-77-7863 Property Address: 6901 Bone Creek Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28314

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

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Charles Carson Lewis, late of Randolph 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 December 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 28th day of August, 2025 Phillip Charles Lewis Executor of the Estate of Charles Carson Lewis S. SCOTT EGGLESTON, Attorney IVEY & EGGLESTON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW 111 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 (336) 625-3043

PUBL/DATES: 08/28/25 09/04/25 09/11/25 09/18/25

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Carolyn T. Phillips, of Randolph County, NC, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned Administrator at the Law O ce of Andrew J. Weiner, 113 Worth Street, Asheboro, NC 27203 on or before December 5th 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of heir recovery. All persons indebted to said estate please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 4th day of September 2025.

Lisa P. Justice, Administrator Carolyn T. Phillips, Estate Andrew J. Weiner, Attorney Gavin & Cox 113 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 Telephone: 336-629-2600

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Steven Robert Rhenow, late of Randolph 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 December 8, 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 4th day of September, 2025

Tracy S. Lane Executor of the Estate of Steven Robert Rhenow

Marion “Beth” McQuaid, Attorney IVEY & EGGLESTON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW 111 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 (336) 625-3043

PUBL/DATES: 09/04/25 09/11/25 09/18/25 09/25/25

Tax Parcel ID: 56334345430000 Present Record Owners: Bridget M. Rock The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Bridget M. Rock. 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

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

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Betty Virginia Crigger Rice aka Betty Crigger Rice aka Betty V. Rice, late of Randolph 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 TAYLOR B. CALLICUTT, ATTORNEY AT LAW, PO Box 2445, Asheboro, North Carolina 27204, on or before December 4, 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 4th day of September, 2025 Angela Beth Briggs, Executor of the Estate of Betty Virginia Crigger Rice aka Betty Crigger Rice aka Betty V. Rice

TAYLOR B. CALLICUTT ATTORNEY AT LAW PO Box 2445 Asheboro, NC 27204 (336) 953-4661

PUBL/DATES: 09/04/25 09/11/25 09/18/25 09/25/25

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Co-Executors of the Estate of Roger D. Stout a/k/a Roger Dean Stout, of Randolph County, NC, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned Co-Executors at the Law O ce of Richard L. Cox, 113 Worth Street, Asheboro, NC 27203 on or before December 5th 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of heir recovery. All persons indebted to said estate please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 4th day of September 2025. Celia Johnson Harris and Susan Stout Grose Co-Executors Roger D. Stout a/k/a Roger Dean Stout, Estate Richard L. Cox, Attorney Gavin & Cox 113 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 Telephone: 336-629-2600

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Patsy L. Thomas aka Patsy Anne Langley Thomas, late of Randolph 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 December 6, 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 4th day of September, 2025 Kimberly Ann Thomas Executor of the Estate of Patsy L. Thomas aka Patsy Anne Langley Thomas S. SCOTT EGGLESTON, Attorney IVEY & EGGLESTON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW 111 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 (336) 625-3043 PUBL/DATES: 09/04/25 09/11/25 09/18/25 09/25/25

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

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

RANDOLPH

NOTICE OF JUDICIAL SALE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND MidFirst Bank, Plainti ,

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 24SP001926-250

IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY REBEKAH T. WIENS AND EDWARD D. WIENS DATED NOVEMBER 18, 2020 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 10938 AT PAGE 111 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA

NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY 25 SP 658

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Louis A. Raspi, Mortgagor(s), in the original amount of $121,500.00, to Harvard Home Mortgage, Inc., Mortgagee, dated December 7th, 2011 and recorded on December 30th, 2011 in Book 8799, Page 270, as instrument number 43165, 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 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 September 9th, 2025, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit:

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Kirby Brooks and Sierra M. Mills, Mortgagor(s), in the original amount of $185,000.00, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., (“MERS”) as bene ciary, as nominee for Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC, Mortgagee, dated June 23rd, 2020 and recorded on June 24th, 2020 in Book 10801, Page 0446, as instrument number 21983, 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cumberland County courthouse at 10:30AM on September 8, 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 Rebekah T. Wiens and Edward D. Wiens, dated November 18, 2020 to secure the original principal amount of $796,000.00, and recorded in Book 10938 at Page 111 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: 325 Hay Street, Unit 403, Fayetteville, NC 28301 Tax Parcel ID: 0437-54-3472-403, 0437-54-3472-027, 0437-54-3472-028 Present Record Owners:

BEGINNING at a stake in the Northeastern margin of Newport Road Northwest 152.40 feet along said margin from the point at curvature therein where the same begins to curve to intersect the Northern margin of Wellington Drive and running thence with the dividing line between Lots 103 and 104 North 51 degrees 20 minutes East 160.30 feet to a stake; thence North 46 degrees 0 minutes West 80.66 feet to a stake; thence with the dividing line between Lots 102 and 103, South 51 degrees 20 minutes West 150 feet to a stake in the Northeastern margin of Newport Road; thence with said margin South 38 degrees 40 minutes East 180 feet to the point of beginning, being all of Lot 103, Section II of Montclair according to a plat of the same duly recorded in the Cumberland County Registry in Book of Plats 24, Page 5. SUBJECT, however, to Restrictive Covenants running with the Land and appearing of record in the Cumberland County Registry in Book 852, Page 195.

(ADDRESS REFERENCE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY) The improvements thereon being known as 769 Newport Road, Fayetteville, NC 28314. BEING all and the same lot of ground which by General Warranty Deed dated June 21, 1963, and recorded among the Land Records of Cumberland County, North Carolina, in Liber 994, Folio 319, was granted

note evidencing 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 September 16th, 2025, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: Being all of Lot 172 in a subdivision known as Scotts Mill South at Treyburn, Section One, Part B, and the same being duly recorded in Book 112, Page 179, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 1915 Tinman Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28314 Tax ID: 9477-51-2183 Third party purchasers must pay the recording costs of the trustee’s deed, any land transfer taxes, the excise tax, pursuant North Carolina General Statutes §105228.30, in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) per each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof, and the Clerk of Courts fee, pursuant to North Carolina

Rebekah T. Wiens and Edward D. Wiens

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Rebekah T. Wiens and Edward D. Wiens. 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

and conveyed by Montclair, Incorporated

unto Louis A. Raspi and wife, Nellie D. Raspi. (Louis A. Raspi is Surviving Spouse)

Tax Account No. 0417-32-4024

Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 769 Newport Road, Fayetteville, NC 28314

Tax ID: 0417-32-4024 Third party purchasers must pay the recording costs of the trustee’s deed, any land transfer taxes, the excise tax, pursuant North Carolina General Statutes §105228.30, in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) per each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof, and the Clerk of Courts fee, pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §7A-308, in the amount of Forty- 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.

General Statutes §7A-308, 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 undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Kirby Brooks and Sierra M. Mills.

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 undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are The Heirs of Louis A. Raspi. 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 §4521.16A(b)(2)). Upon termination of a rental

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 §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 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

25SP000724-250 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Patrick J. Cook (Deceased) and Galina Cook (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Patrick J. Cook and Galina Cook) to Michael Lyon, Trustee(s), dated August 19, 2010, and recorded in Book No. 08470, at Page 0866 in Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the O ce of the Register of Deeds Cumberland County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on September 15, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Wade in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Tax Id Number(s): 0590-05-7015Land Situated in the City of Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland in the State of NC BEING all of Lot 2 in a subdivision known as C.L. Tart Property and the same being duly recorded in Book of Plats 68, at Page 2, Cumberland County Registry, with reference made to said plat to provide a greater certainty of description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 5356 Wade Stedman Road, Wade, North Carolina. Commonly known as: 5356 Wade Stedman Road, Wade, NC 28395

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP000682-250 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Annemarie Nicole Tardie and Michael J. Tardie (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Michael James Tardie, Jr. and Annemarie Nicole Tardie) to Allan B. Polunsky, Trustee(s), dated May 22, 2020, and recorded in Book No. 10776, at Page 0214 in Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the O ce of the Register of Deeds Cumberland County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00

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

PM on September 8, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All that certain lot or parcel of land situated in or near the City of Fayetteville, Rock sh Township, Cumberland County, North Carolina and more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 71, in a subdivision, known as Beaver Creek, Section Two, according to a map of same duly recorded in Book of Plats 65, Page 4, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 5621 Goose Creek Lane, Fayetteville, North Carolina. Parcel #: 0406-60-5827 Also known as: 5621 Goose Creek Lane, Fayetteville, NC 28304 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

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

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

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 the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged

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 the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party,

What it was, was football, B4

the Thursday SIDELINE REPORT

TENNIS

Ostapenko apologizes on social media for comments to Townsend at U.S. Open

New York

Jelena Ostapenko has apologized on social media for telling Taylor Townsend she had “no education” after losing to her at the U.S. Open earlier in the week. Ostapenko wrote that she intended to call out Townsend for poor tennis etiquette. Ostapenko said in a post English is not her native language but understands how what she said to Townsend could have o ended people.

NFL

Jordan, helped Cowboys win rst Super Bowl title, dead at 84

Dallas Lee Roy Jordan, a linebacker on the rst Super Bowl-winning team for the Dallas Cowboys, died at 84. Jordan was a rst-round draft pick by Dallas in 1963 after a standout career at Alabama, where he played for the late Paul “Bear” Bryant. Jordan was a big part of the “Doomsday” defense that carried the Cowboys to a Super Bowl title during the 1971 season.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Arizona State fans miss most of 2nd half of victory due to ESPN transmission issue Bristol. Conn. ESPN blamed a transmission issue for fans missing most of the second half of No. 11 Arizona State’s game against Northern Arizona. The game, streamed on ESPN+, wasn’t the only one a ected but was the most high-pro le. Interruptions began early in the second half, with the feed mostly blank with choppy audio. Arizona State’s athletic director apologized. Upcoming games will be available on traditional TV channels.

NC State, ECU look for Week 2 wins at home

The Wolfpack and Pirates will look to put their season-opening lessons into action on Saturday

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

RALEIGH — NC State opened its 2025 season with a 24-17 win over East Carolina last Thursday night at Carter-Finley Stadium.

The game came down to the wire, and while there was quite a bit to like for both teams, there’s also still a lot that needs to be worked on. Now both teams are looking ahead and preparing for their Week 2 matchups on Saturday.

NC State vs. UVA

Saturday at noon

The Wolfpack will stay at

home this week as the Virginia Cavaliers come to town in what will actually be a noncon-

ference game between the two ACC schools.

“For me, when it’s not a con-

No miracles, just steady progress, expectation for 2025 Panthers

Bryce Young will have more o ensive weapons and the support of an improved defense

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

FOR THE FIRST time since 2021, the Carolina Panthers made it through a season with just one coach. Now Dave Canales will try to break an even longer-term drought and lead the team to a winning record — which would be its rst since 2017. There were some encouraging signs at the end of 2024. The Panthers won two of their last three to nish with ve wins, an increase of three over 2023. The team scored 80 points in the two wins, easily the best o ensive showing in recent memory. Bryce Young, the former No. 1 overall pick now entering his third season as Caroli-

na quarterback, also showed progress. After a benching earlier in the year, he returned to the eld a changed player. He topped 200 yards and 65% passing accuracy in three of the last four games

and nished the season with a three -game stretch where he threw eight touchdowns with no interceptions.

The Panthers, for all their false starts in building a winner, have invested in their

ference game, I like playing teams that have recruiting battles in them and that are regional, where our fans can get to those games or their fans can get to ours much more than going across the country to play a game where we don’t really have recruiting ties,” said NC State coach Dave Doeren. “This is my fourth game against UVA in 13 years, so it seemed like a natural t to try and get them on our schedule when we both had an opening.”

The Wolfpack have a 36 -21-1 record all-time against the Cavaliers, including a 17-9 home record. NC State has also won each of the last three meetings, dating back to 2018. Virginia is coming o of a dominant 48-7 win over Coastal Carolina, where the Cavaliers piled up 454 yards of total o ense and forced three turnovers against the Chanticleers.

“You can tell they worked really hard in recruiting and development,” Doeren said. “They have good weapons. We have a great challenge with that o ense. Defensively, you can tell they put a lot of time into the portal. They have a lot

See WINS, page B3

top pick. Last year, they rebuilt the o ensive line, turning a unit that had previous quarterbacks — and a rookie Young — running for their lives. The line was a bright spot for Carolina. Young was sacked 29 times, down from 62, and their blocking led running back Chuba Hubbard to an 1,100-yard season. This o season, the focus turned to providing Young with more playmakers to target. The team used its rst-round pick on receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who joins 2024 rst-rounder Xavier Leggette as pass catching options. The team added receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. later in the draft. They also bolstered the stable of running backs, adding another 1,000-yard rusher in former Cowboy Rico Dowdle and drafting Georgia ballcarrier Trevor Etienne. Young has a strong line, talented receivers, depth at running back and no excuses. It’s time to make a leap forward. Of course, everything isn’t rosy on that side of the ball. Tackle Ickey Ekwonu may miss time after an emergency appendectomy last week, and

MARIA LYSAKER / AP PHOTO

Panthers running back Trevor Etienne receives a punt during the preseason. The rookie will add depth to the running back unit.

STAN GILLILAND FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL NC State kicker Nick Konieczynski (91) boots a eld goal during the Wolfpack’s 24-17 opening game win over East Carolina last Thursday in Raleigh.

STAN GILLILAND FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

East Carolina’s Samuel Dankah (7) tells the fans at Carter-Finley to quiet down after making a stop against NC State. The Wolfpack and Pirates now have to move on from last week’s emotional meeting.

TRENDING

Bill Belichick: A week before making his college head coaching debut at UNC the 73-year-old found a buyer for his beach house in Nantucket The three-bedroom two-bath shorefront house was listed for just house was listed for $3 895 million Belichick, who won six Super Bowls in two decades in New England bought the house in 2014 for $2 45 million

Ickey Ek wonu: The Carolina Panthers’ starting left tackle and former -round pick out of NC State underwent an appendectomy last weekend, leaving his status for the Sept 7 opener against Jacksonville up in the air Panthers coach Dave Canales remains optimistic Ekwonu will be able to play but said he will be day-to-day leading up to the game

The former UNC golfer was chosen by U.S captain Keegan Bradley for the 2025 Ryder Cup team Former Wake Forest golfer Cameron Young was also chosen Both are Ryder Cup rookies Bradley s other captain s picks were Justin Thomas Collin Morikawa Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay, joining the six points leaders The Sept 26-28 matches against Europe will be at Bethpage Black on Long Island

Beyond the box score

POTENT QUOTABLES

“ Teams are going to reg ret not joining us ”

Michael Jordan, in a tex t to his business manager on his racing team’s suit against NASCAR His tex ts were released as par t of a hearing in the antitrust suit

“

This game wa sn’t about ECU This game wa s

about get ting

our

identit y back.”

NC State coach Dave Doeren after the season-opening win over the Pirates

NASCAR

Southern 500 for the second straight year and advance to the second round of the

Carolina Panthers re-signed w ide receiver Hunter Renfrow, just days training camp Renfrow replaces Jalen Coker, placed on injured reser ve Renfrow is tr y ing to make a comeback af ter sitting out last season w ith ulcerative colitis In 2021, Renfrow caught 103 passes

Tennessee wants to make sure R ick Barnes stays w ith the Volunteers as long as he wants The 7 1-year-old Hickor y native signed essentially a lifetime contract He last signed an ex tension in September 2023 taking him through 2027-28 This new deal automatically ex tends Barnes’ contract another year ever y April

Club-record w in streak for Charlotte FC, which is also unbeaten in the la st nine Rook ie Idan Tok lomati scored late in the second half Saturday to beat the New England Revolution 2-1 It wa s his eighth goal of the sea son and seventh goal contr ibution in his la st nine appearances

headgear pick on ESPN ’ s “College GameDay,” correctly choosing Br utus Buckeye and Ohio State to beat Texa s Corso, who turned 90 in Aug ust, ha s been par t of “GameDay ” since its star t in 1987 The show celebrated his career, including his enter taining pregame predictions Corso ha s ma scot headgear, w ith a 66 5% w inning rate

Mountaineers eye 2-0 start as 49ers brace for UNC

The Duke’s Mayo Classic was a lopsided a air

By Jesse Deal North State Journal

CHARLOTTE — Although the college football season is still in its infancy, two local teams could be diverging along di erent paths after the decisive Duke’s Mayo Classic.

The Appalachian State Mountaineers (1-0) cruised past Charlotte 34-11 in the squads’ season opener at Bank of America Stadium last Friday, piling up 586 total yards against the 49ers (0-1).

App State’s big win to kick o the season points to the hope of a 2-0 start as a favorable matchup in Week 2 awaits.

With quarterback AJ Swann passing for three touchdowns on 368 yards, wideout Jaden Barnes racking up 134 yards and running back Rashod Dubinion adding 111 on the ground, the Mountaineers showed they have some repower moving forward in coach Dowell Loggains’ rst year with the team.

“I’m excited to be 1-0, but there’s a lot to clean up from the tape from that game,” Loggains said. “But the good thing about winning a game is you can coach them a little bit harder. They’re more acceptable to hear criticism because they’ve had a little success now, and they see all their hard work paid o to get them to 1-0. We’re really ex-

cited about playing at home for the rst time.”

The Mountaineers will host the OVC-Big South’s Lindenwood Lions (0-1), who lost 35 -13 at St. Thomas-Minnesota last Thursday.

Loggains said he isn’t satised with what he saw last Friday, even after a 23-point win for a program bouncing back from its rst losing record in 11 years, warning his players that the intensity of practice would only increase going forward.

“I said, ‘Guys, this week I’m going to be hard,’ because we have to make the jump,” he said. “We have to clean up the things that hurt us. We have to clean up the things that got us o the eld on o ense and clean up the things that kept us on the eld on defense. There were enough of those things where there’s still a lot of improvement to be made.”

Over in Charlotte, the 49ers’ lopsided loss — one where the team trailed 27-3 before its only touchdown — o ered a collection of warning signs as a tough test against UNC looms for rst-year Charlotte coach Tim Albin, who acknowledged the challenges his team faced during the game.

“O ensively, we had no rhythm,” Albin said. “Through three quarters, we had nine series. I think on four or ve of those, we started with a penalty on the rst play of the drive. When we were o schedule, we struggled, and we just couldn’t get in any sort of ow.”

The Mountaineers controlled the game statistically, owning the ball for nearly 34 minutes and converting seven of 15 third downs. Seventeen second-quarter points gave App a cushion the 49ers couldn’t overcome.

Charlotte struggled to generate momentum, nishing with two turnovers and just 218 yards as former UNC quarterback Conner Harrell was limited to 142 passing yards. Albin was candid about the gap between his Niners and the Mountaineers in the trenches, where he said the game was decided.

“We have a lot of things that we’ve got to clean up,” he said. “But if we played clean and had zero turnovers and zero penalties, we’d probably still lose the game because up front there’s the O-line and D-line. But my guys fought, and their hearts

Making progressions: Duke’s Mensah keeps cool head

Early adversity didn’t cause the new starting quarterback to panic

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

DURHAM — Darian Mensah is used to keeping cool when things aren’t going well.

Late in the rst quarter of Duke’s season opener against Elon, those skills were tested.

The Blue Devils had already missed a eld goal and were still seeking the season’s rst points. They’d also been forced to punt on the previous drive when grad transfer receiver Cooper Barkate had a deep pass bounce o his hands.

Now, however, Mensah had Duke on the move. He’d hit Sahmir Hagans for 10 and Que’Sean Brown for 25. Approaching mid eld, he was ready for a big play. He faked a hando , then let y. Barkate did his part. He had his defender beaten by two steps and was streaking down the middle of the eld. Unfortunately, Mensah gave his throw a bit too much oomph, and it was out of reach, landing three yards ahead of Barkate. No problem, Mensah went back to work. Andrel Anthony got a pass. Jayden Moore got two. At the Elon 25, it was again time to strike. Mensah took the

WINS from page B1

of experienced players, some returners and some new. They’re a much better team than we played a couple of years ago up there.”

NC State will hope to keep building on the areas of success they showcased against the Pirates. For one, there was de nitive growth in stopping the run, something the team struggled with last season.

The biggest area the team will need to work on is secondary coverage, handling an up-tempo o ense and making kicks.

“I look forward to advancing

“If you get stuck on plays like that, it can a ect the future.”

Darian Mensah

snap, tucked and stepped in behind a lineman, looking for all the world like he was running it himself. Elon’s defense bit, allowing running back Peyton Jones to get behind a linebacker. All alone at the 4, Mensah’s pass hit him in the hands, then hit the ground. Duke would settle for a eld goal.

It was a frustrating drive, in a rst half that saw the Blue Devils play the outmanned Phoenix to a 10-all tie.

Mensah didn’t throw helmets or smash tablets on the sideline, though.

“If you get stuck on plays like that, it can a ect the future,” he said. “I told (Jones) to ush it out. … It was rst-game jitters for sure. I was glad to see some adversity.”

That’s because Mensah was born and raised in the briar patch. He’s in his element when rst options aren’t available.

“That’s probably what Darian’s best at,” Barkate said. “Being able to read progressions and not panic when its (mimics Mensah looking at each of his receivers) one … two … three,

from one week to the next,” Doeren said.

ECU vs. Campbell

(Saturday at 6 p.m.)

The Pirates will look to turn things around when they play host to Campbell on Saturday evening for their home opener at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The Camels come to town having lost 31-20 in their opener to Rhode Island, the No. 9-ranked team in FCS.

“Campbell’s a good football team,” said ECU coach Blake Harrell. “They were up on a ranked opponent Fri-

then kind of come back across the eld, which is important in a quarterback.”

Barkate said he had to learn not to cut o routes and come back with Mensah — a receiver skill where he needs to recognize when a quarterback is in trouble and needs to just get rid of the ball fast. Instead, he had to trust that Mensah had things under control and would be getting him the ball as planned.

Mensah’s patience would pay o . After that rst quarter drive with the miss and the drop, Mensah had just one more pass hit the turf the rest of the way. He completed 18 of his nal 19 passes, including a perfect 11- of-11 after halftime, when Duke scored on every drive on the way to a 45-17 blowout.

“It could have been 60 (points) without too much more hu ng and pu ng,” Duke coach Manny Diaz said, pointing to the early mis res. Diaz also praised Mensah’s patience, both within a play and throughout the game.

“In the third quarter, we were third-and-long,” Diaz said. “He hit Barkate on a curl. It was a big-time throw. They were in a coverage they hadn’t really shown us before. For him to go through all his progressions and hit Cooper was big time.”

Later in that drive, Mensah was forced to make a play on the move.

day night in the fourth quarter. Coach Braxton Harris is a second-year coach, on his third stop as a head coach, and done a really good job. … Excited about the opportunity. They’re a well- coached football team.”

The Pirates have an all-time record of 2-3 against the Camels but have only played them once (2022) since 1939, having won 49-10 in that meeting. It was a slow start for the Pirates on Thursday against the Wolfpack, but there was a lot to like about their passing game.

Pirates senior quarterback Katin Houser settled in toward

“I’m excited to be 1-0 but there’s a lot to clean up from the tape from that game.”

Dowell Loggains, Appalachian State coach

are hurting. When you invest as much as they do, there’s going to be disappointment. The sun’s going to come up, and it’s going to be our job as leaders and sta to get them through it.”

The Niners will now prepare to host rst-year head coach Bill Belichick and his Tar Heels, a matchup that promises to be a sti challenge.

Last season’s opener at Kenan Stadium marked the rst meeting between Charlotte and

UNC, with the Tar Heels taking a 38-20 victory.

In that game, the Niners showed ashes of competitiveness, including a pair of touchdown passes from Deshawn Purdie and a standout 118-yard receiving performance by Jairus Mack, but UNC’s balanced attack and stout defense ultimately proved too much for the 49ers.

With both teams sporting new coaching sta s and overhauled rosters, Saturday’s matchup at Richardson Stadium could o er another early glimpse of how the season might unfold for the Niners. As Charlotte braces for the possibility of an 0-2 start, Appalachian State heads home to a sold-out Kidd Brewer Stadium to take on Lindenwood, seeking its rst 2-0 start since 2019.

“In the red zone, he bought time in the pocket and hit Cooper inside the 10,” Diaz said. “When plays get o script, he can make a play with his feet.”

When the dust cleared, Duke had its highest-scoring opener in eight years, and Mensah had the most passing yards by a Blue Devils quarterback in his debut since Dave Brown in 1989. He also completed passes to

the end of the second quarter and nearly led his team to a comeback with 366 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. “Katin took care of the football, and that was a big goal going into this season,” Harrell said. “Just taking care of the football and doing a better job with that. He also set a career high in passing yardage.”

While pass protection was solid for the Pirates, who only allowed one sack, they still struggled with the run, totaling just 30 rushing yards in the opener.

“We have to learn from our

nine di erent receivers — Jones would have been the 10th.

“Once we settled down on offense, we have a lot of weapons,” Diaz said. “I’m impressed with the depth of our weapons. Look where the ball can go now! It’s exciting to have a lot of guys that can contribute.”

It’s also exciting to have a quarterback who doesn’t get too excited.

mistakes, and really that was just fundamental technique stu ,” Harrell said. “We have to get o to a better start, and some of that is just about our feet on both sides of the football. A lot of little things to clean up.

“It’s really about how we approach the week and how we do things, and it’s going to be like that every week. It doesn’t matter if it’s Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, we have to go and practice with purpose, intent and urgency. I just didn’t think we had enough urgency the other night, and that’s a big focus this week.”

NELL REDMOND / AP PHOTO

Appalachian State wide receiver Jaden Barnes carries the ball against Charlotte during last week’s opener.

BEN MCKEOWN / AP PHOTO

Duke’s Darian Mensah takes a snap during the rst half of last Thursday’s opener against Elon.

NC’s NFL futures betting trends for 2025 season

North Carolina believes in a big year for its Panthers

By Asheebo Rojas North State Journal

WITH THE NFL season

kicking o Thursday, North Carolinians are once again making bold predictions with their money.

North Carolina is entering its second football season with legal sports betting. Last year, the State Lottery Commission reported a more than $180 million increase in paid wagering revenue (the amount of wagers made by players) and a $6.5 million increase in estimated tax proceeds from the months of August to September.

DraftKings, a legal sportsbook in North Carolina, provided North State Journal insights of where its North Carolina customers have been placing their bets in di erent futures betting markets across the NFL. The data details the top ve wagers by handle (amount of money wagered) in various markets from the time they opened during last season’s playo s to Aug. 31. The markets include 2025 conference winners, Super Bowl champion and NFL MVP.

In the NFC winners’ market, North Carolinians believe their home team will make a Super Bowl appearance. The Carolina Panthers top the market’s handle share ahead of the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams, defending champion Philadel-

phia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers, in that order. Last year, local bettors put the most money on the Lions to win the conference, while the Panthers received the third-highest handle share. There’s a lot of excitement around Carolina this season after it nished last fall playing its best football of the year and winning two of its last three games. The Panthers added young, promising talent around quarterback Bryce Young, with Tetairoa McMillan and Jimmy Horn joining the receiving corps. They also added a veteran in receiver Hunter Renfrow. Rookie linebackers Princely Umanmielen and Nic Scourton are also expected to help improve the team’s pass rush.

For the AFC champion, local bettors believe in the Bu alo Bills to nally break through to the Super Bowl. Reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen and his Bills were one game away from their rst Super Bowl appearance since 1994 last year, but they still couldn’t get over the Kansas City Chiefs.

For the second straight year, the Chiefs, who have won three straight AFC titles, don’t hold the top handle share in the North Carolina market. After being second in last year’s futures insights, Kansas City landed fourth ahead of this season. Local bettors put the second-most money on the Cincinnati Bengals to win the conference, while the Baltimore Ravens came in third and the Pittsburgh Steelers came in fth.

+15,000

Odds for the Panthers to win the Super Bowl

North Carolinians no longer have much faith in last year’s pick to win the AFC, the Houston Texans. The Texans didn’t crack the top ve handle share, even after nishing 10-7 and winning a playo game in 2024. In the MVP market, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud also fell out of the North Carolina gaze. Local bettors spent the most money on him to win the 2024 MVP, but he’s not top ve for 2025.

What it was, was football: Week 1

A weekly look at North Carolina college football

By Shawn Krest

North State Journal

IN THE FIRST full-schedule week of college football for Division I and II, North Carolina teams went 9-16. We have one fewer team in the state with the closing of St. Andrews.

North Carolina’s record: 9-17 (10-17 overall)

Last week’s winners (ranked in order of impressiveness of the victory — a combination of opponent and performance):

• Johnson C. Smith: 45-9 over Morehouse in the Essence HBCU Classic

• NC State: 24-17 over ECU

• App State: 34-11 at Charlotte in the Duke’s Mayo Classic

• Gardner-Webb: 52-45 at Western Carolina

• Catawba: 45-13 over Ferrum

• Wingate: 30-21 over UNC Pembroke

• Chowan: 28-14 over Elizabeth City State

• Duke: 45-17 over Elon

• Wake Forest: 10-9 over Kennesaw State

Last week’s losers (ranked in order of impressiveness, despite the result):

PANTHERS from page B1

the Panthers dealt away leading receiver Adam Thielen after two solid seasons in Carolina. That could be an indication that Canales and the front o ce are skeptical of the team’s prospects — why pay a veteran in a lost season? Or it could be a vote of con dence that Leggette and McMillan are ready.

The defense has far more question marks. Long the strength of the team as the Panthers wandered the post-Cam

• ECU: 24-17 at NC State

• NC A&T: 24-21 at Tennessee State

• Winston-Salem State: 20-17 to Tuskegee in the Red Tails Classic

• Western Carolina: 52-45 to Gardner-Webb

• UNC Pembroke: 30-21 at Wingate

• Campbell: 31-20 at Rhode Island

• NC Central: 27-10 to New Hampshire

• Fayetteville State: 10-0 to Benedict in the Labor Day Classic

• Elizabeth City State: 28-14 at Chowan

• Lenoir-Rhyne: 48-21 at West Florida

• Elon: 45-17 at Duke

• Livingstone: 39-10 at Charleston

• Charlotte: 34-11 to App State

• Barton: 35-7 to Virginia State

• Davidson: 51-14 to Georgetown

• Shaw: 51-7 to Albany State

• UNC: 48-14 to TCU

Yet to play: NC Wesleyan, Mars Hill, Brevard, Greensboro, Guilford, Methodist

Winning records (9)

• NC State, App State,

Newton desert in search of a quarterback, the defense collapsed just as the o ense was seeing a glimmer of hope.

The defense got a great deal of o season attention. Linemen Tershawn Wharton, Bobby Brown III and Patrick Jones were signed, and they will team with Derrick Brown, one of the best linemen in the league. He returns after an injury that cost him nearly all of last year.

The run defense, which was worst in the NFL in 2024, should be better. So should a pass rush

Gardner-Webb, Duke, Wake Forest, Catawba, Chowan, Wingate, JC Smith all 1-0

At .500 (6)

• NC Central: 1-1

• NC Wesleyan, Brevard, Greensboro, Guilford, Mars Hill, Methodist: 0-0

Losing records (16)

• UNC, ECU, NC A&T, Western Carolina, Campbell, Elon, Charlotte, Barton, Davidson, Elizabeth City, Fayetteville State, UNC Pembroke, LenoirRhyne, Livingstone, WinstonSalem State, Shaw, all 0-1

State title standings

• Duke, NC State, App, Chowan, Wingate and G-W all got in-state wins

1-0: Duke, App State, Gardner-Webb, NC State, Chowan, Wingate

0-1: Elon, Charlotte, ECU, Western Carolina, Elizabeth City, UNC Pembroke

State title games this week

• Greensboro at Guilford in the Soup Bowl

• Western Carolina at Wake Forest

• UNC at Charlotte

• Campbell at ECU

• Davidson at Elon

that failed to reach the quarterback far too often. Carolina used its second- and third-round draft picks on edge rushers Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen. Both have potential, but Scourton missed time in the preseason with injury.

Josey Jewell was expected to be the leader at linebacker, but he was released in July after it became clear that he wasn’t going to be able to contribute due to concussion symptoms. Instead, the unit will lean on Christian Rozeboom, acquired to provide

North Carolinians like Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow to win his rst MVP, followed by Lamar Jackson at second, Jayden Daniels at fourth and Brock Purdy at fth. Burrow is coming o his best season, throwing for career-highs of 460 completions, 4,918 yards and 43 touchdowns (nine interceptions). He also recorded a career-high 108.5 passer rating.

Home team quarterback Young earned the third-highest handle share for MVP. Young ended the 2024 season with at least a 100.0 passer rating in three straight games (his only games with at least 100.0 passer rating last year). He also threw multiple touchdown passes in each of those three games, achieving consecutive games with at least two touchdown passes for the rst time of his career.

• Fayetteville State at UNC Pembroke

• Winston-Salem State at Mars Hill

Home openers: N.C. teams went 6-5 in home openers this week.

Winners: NC State, Duke, Wake Forest, Catawba, Chowan, Wingate

Losers: Western Carolina, Davidson, NC Central, Barton, UNC

Home openers scheduled for this week

App State (Lindenwood), Charlotte (UNC), ECU (Campbell), Elon (Davidson), UNC Pembroke (Fayetteville State), JC Smith (Valdosta State), Mars Hill (W-S State), Brevard (Kentucky Christian), Guilford (Greensboro), NC Wesleyan (Averett on Thursday)

Other Week 2 games (ranked by di culty level: most to least)

• Gardner-Webb travels to Georgia Tech

• NC A&T travels to UCF

• Duke hosts Illinois

• NC State hosts UVA in the rst nonconference game between the ACC rivals since Nov. 6, 1948

• Lenoir-Rhyne travels to Tusculum

• NC Central travels to Old Dominion

• Elizabeth City travels to Hampton

depth. He’ll instead step into a leading role. The unit appears to be the weak spot of the Carolina D.

The team added help for the secondary, signing former Raider Tre’von Moehrig at safety and drafting safety Luther Ransom. The team also hopes to keep oft-injured corner Jaycee Horn on the eld this year.

Special teams are not as secure as last season after the team jettisoned a pair of reliable vets in punter Johnny Hekker and kicker Eddy Piñeiro. Caro -

For the Super Bowl champion, North Carolina bettors put the most money on the Bills winning their rst title. Bu alo is tied with Baltimore for the best odds (+600) to win it all in DraftKings’ NFL futures table. The Eagles, who tied with the Chiefs as last year’s highest handle holders, came in second for North Carolina’s market. The Ravens and the Bengals followed behind in third and fourth respectively. Of course, excited Panthers fans couldn’t resist spending on their team’s chances to win it all. Carolina earned the fth-highest handle share despite not making the playo s since 2017. In fact, the Panthers have bottom ve odds of winning the Super Bowl (+15,000, tied with the Giants, Raiders and Colts) in DraftKings’ overall NFL futures market.

• Shaw travels to Ferrum

• Catawba travels to Emory and Henry

• Barton travels to West Virginia State

• Methodist travels to Shenandoah

• Livingstone travels to Allen

• Wingate hosts Blue eld State

• Chowan hosts West Alabama

All-state performances for Week 1

Quarterback: Darian Mensah, Duke, 27 for 34 for 389 yards, 3 TD

Running backs: Chris Mosley, NC Central, 106 yards for his second 100yard game of the season, Nate Hampton, G-W, 132 yards, 4 touchdowns

Receiver: Cooper Barkate, Duke, 5 catches for 117 yards, Jaden Barnes, App State, 6 catches for 134 yards, 1 TD Defensive line: Thomas Johnson, NC Central, 6 tackles, 3 solo, 1.5 sacks, 1.5 TFL, 1 QB hit, Vincent Anthony, Duke, 6 tackles, 3 solo, 1 sack, 2 TFL, 1 pass breakup

Linebacker: Dameon Wilson, ECU, 8 tackles, 4 solos, 2.5 TFL, Caden Fordham, NC State, 11 tackles, 5 solos, 1 sack, 2 TFL

Defensive back: D.J. Estes, NC Central , 7 tackles, 4 solo, 1 sack, 2.5 TFL, 1 pass breakup, Evan Simons, Catawba, 9 tackles, 5 solo, 1 sack, 4 TFL, 1 forced fumble

Special teams: Que’Sean Brown, Duke, 78-yard punt-return touchdown to go with 93 receiving yards.

lina brought in veteran punter Sam Martin but released experienced kicker Matthew Wright in nal cuts, opting instead for undrafted rookie free agent Ryan Fitzgerald. The Panthers are better on both sides of the ball and have created an environment to allow Young to continue to develop. If he becomes a breakout star, the team could compete for the division title in a weak NFC South. More reasonable is to hope to compete for a .500 record.

BRIAN WESTERHOLT / AP PHOTO

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow looks to throw against the Carolina Panthers last year. North Carolina bettors are high on both Burrow and Carolina this year.

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 September 10, 2025 at 01:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Randolph County, North Carolina, to wit:

BEING ALL of Lots Nos. 59 and 60 of White Horse Run, Section 2, as shown on Map of White Horse Run, Section 2 of said development, recorded in Plat Book 17, Page 12, O ce of the Register of Deeds of Randolph County, North Carolina.

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

Said property is commonly known as 1232 Appaloosa Trail, Asheboro, NC 27205. 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

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION RANDOLPH COUNTY 24sp000110-750 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JOHN W. SAFRIET AND SHERRI SAFRIET DATED SEPTEMBER 5, 2006 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 1989 AT PAGE 771 IN THE RANDOLPH COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Randolph County courthouse at 2:00PM on September 10, 2025, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Randolph County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed John W. Safriet and Sherri Safriet, dated September 5, 2006 to secure the original principal amount of $73,800.00, and recorded in Book 1989 at Page 771 of the Randolph 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: 4130 Pointer Ln, Sophia, NC 27350 Tax Parcel ID: 7736009901

25SP001197-770 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, ROBESON COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Gale Valencia Ray and Pervis Levelle Thomas to April Burkett, a Georgia Corporation, Trustee(s), which was dated July 11, 2024 and recorded on July 11, 2024 in Book 2469 at Page 168, Robeson 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 September 8, 2025 at 01:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Robeson County, North Carolina, to wit:

BEING all of Lot 40, in a subdivision known as Spell Estates, and the same being duly recorded in Plat Book 60, Page 147, Robeson County Registry, North Carolina.

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

Said property is commonly known as 35 Pointer Way #40, 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, 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

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 Jonathan Funderburk and Laura Featherston as joint tenants with right of survivorship.

Record Owners: John W. Safriet and Sherri Safriet The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are John W. Safriet and Sherri Safriet. 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

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

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 Pervis Levelle Thomas and Gale Valencia Ray, both unmarried persons as joint tenants with right of survivorship.

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

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

PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Union County, North Carolina, to wit: Being all of Lot Number 33 of Medlin Famrs Subdivision, Section I, as shown on that plat recorded in Plat Cabinet C, File 530, Union County Register of Deeds to which plat reference is hereby made for a more complete description.

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

Said property is commonly known as 7310 Medlin Road, Monroe, NC 28112.

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.

county courthouse for conducting the sale on September 9, 2025 at 12:30 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Union County, North Carolina, to wit:

BEING ALL OF LOT 40-B OF THE SUBDIVISION KNOWN AS HOLLY PARK, PHASE 2, MAP 2, AS SAME IS SHOWN ON MAP THEREOF RECORDED IN PLAT CABINET F AT FILE 938, UNION COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA.

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

Said property is commonly known as 2248 Shumard Cir, Indian Trail, NC 28079.

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

will o er for sale at the

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 September 8, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Fuquay Varina in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Lying and being in the City of Fuquay-Varina, Middle Creek Township, WAKE County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All of Lot 49 Southern Oaks Subdivision, Phase 2, as shown on a map thereof recorded in Book of Maps 2006, Pages 1236-1239(1239), Wake County Registry, to which map reference is hereby made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 228 Timber Meadow Lake Drive, Fuquay Varina, 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. Should the property be

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 Nicholas Andrew Bolmon and Jessica Nicole Reynolds.

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 Matthew J. Millenaar.

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor

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”.

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

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

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

WAKE UNION

ROBESON

Promotion day

Sheri Mike Roberson and the Chatham County Sheri ’s O ce held a pinning ceremony last Thursday, giving oaths of o ce, promotions and awards to deputies and sta .

the BRIEF this week

Trump says Space Command to move from Colorado to Alabama

U.S. Space Command will be located in Huntsville, Alabama, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday afternoon, reversing a Biden-era decision to keep it at its temporary headquarters in Colorado. Alabama and Colorado have long battled to claim Space Command because it has signi cant implications for the local economy. The site also has been a political prize, with elected o cials from both states asserting theirs as the better location.

Judge orders search shakeup in Google monopoly case, keeps hands o Chrome, default search deals

A federal judge ordered a shake-up of Google’s search business in an attempt to curb the corrosive power of an illegal monopoly, but rebu ed the U.S. government’s attempt to break up the company and impose other restraints. The 226-page decision made by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington, D.C., will likely ripple across the technological landscape at a time when the industry is being reshaped by arti cial intelligence breakthroughs — including conversational “answer engines” as companies like ChatGPT and Perplexity try to upend Google’s long-held position as the internet’s main gateway. Google will remain the default search engine on Apple’s iPhone and other devices, for example, in exchange for billions of dollars per year in payments.

Chatham schools, CCCC team up on teacher licensure program

The teams say they risk going out of business

By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE — The bit-

ter ght between NASCAR and two of its teams who have

led a federal antitrust lawsuit against the stock-racing giant spilled into public view last Thursday during an acrimonious hearing that included the disclosure of expletive-laden

The new program helps school employees become licensed teachers

Chatham News & Record sta PITTSBORO — Chatham County Schools and Central Carolina Community College have partnered to create a new pathway for nonlicensed elementary school employees to become certi ed teachers while continuing to work in the classroom. The program will allow

teacher assistants, substitute teachers and other school employees who already have bachelor’s degrees to earn their teaching licenses without having to quit their jobs or pursue traditional student teaching. O cials from both institutions signed an agreement Aug. 28, at CCCC’s Sanford campus to launch the Elementary Education Residency Licensure Certi cate Program. The agreement was signed by CCS Superintendent Anthony See SCHOOLS, page A7

emails and text messages from team owner Michael Jordan and other high-pro le litigants.

In one exchange, the retired NBA Hall of Famer and co-owner of the 23XI Racing Team used disparaging language about Joe Gibbs Racing and the 13 other teams that

NC native representing self in Trump assassination attempt trial

Jury selection begins Sept. 8 for Ryan Routh

By David Fischer The Associated Press

FORT PIERCE, Fla. — A

Greensboro native charged with trying to assassinate President Donald Trump last year in South Florida will represent himself in his trial.

Barring any delays, jury selection is scheduled to begin Sept. 8 in Fort Pierce federal court for the case against Ryan Routh. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon signed o on Routh’s request to represent himself in July but said court-appointed attorneys need

to remain as standby counsel.

The trial will begin nearly a year after prosecutors say a U.S. Secret Service agent thwarted Routh’s attempt to shoot Trump as he played golf. Routh, 59, has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal o cer and several rearm violations. Prosecutors have said Routh methodically plotted to kill Trump for weeks before aiming a ri e through the shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club. A Secret Service agent spotted Routh before Trump came into view. O cials

signed NASCAR’s new charter agreements last September.

“Teams are going to regret not joining us,” Jordan wrote in a text message to Curtis Polk, his business manager who, along with Jordan and

See NASCAR, page A3

THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

COURTESY CHATHAM COUNTY SCHOOLS

CCS Superintendent Anthony Jackson and CCCC President Lisa M. Chapman sign the agreement.

COURTESY SHERIFF MIKE ROBERSON

CRIME LOG

Aug. 24

• Tyler Owen Melville, 23, of Pittsboro, was arrested for larceny of motor vehicle.

Aug. 25

• Summer O’Neal Sanders, 36, of Siler City, was arrested for possession of marijuana, maintaining vehicle/dwelling/ place for controlled substances, and possession of marijuana paraphernalia.

• Ricky Dustin Oldham, 40, of Bear Creek, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Aug. 26

• Billy Farrell Kiser, 57, homeless, was arrested for second-degree trespass, littering, and resisting a public o cer.

Aug. 27

• Jacob Melaku Phillips, 24, of Chapel Hill, was arrested for driving while license revoked with impaired revocation and expired registration.

• Joshua Wayne Jordan, 40, of Ramseur, was arrested for assault in icting serious injury.

• Michael Patrick Gleason Jr., 42, of Beckley, West Virginia, was arrested for family o ense, domestic violence protective order violation, cyberstalking, communicating threats, and harassing phone calls.

• John Wayne Gerteisen, 73, of Sanford, was arrested for failure to register as sex o ender.

Aug. 29

• Alvaro Hernandez-Tepetia, 48, of Siler City, was arrested for child support violation.

Aug. 30

• Cedric Laval Vinson, 36, of Cary, was arrested for eeing or eluding arrest with motor vehicle, ctitious/altered title/ registration, reckless driving, driving while license revoked, speeding, injury to real property, resisting a public o cer, failure to maintain lane control, driving without two headlamps, failure to heed light or siren, and additional charges of eeing or eluding arrest with motor vehicle and driving while license revoked.

Chatham County to host second annual Healthy Aging Expo on Sept. 18

The free event features vendors, educational sessions and more

Chatham News & Record sta

PITTSBORO — Chatham County Aging Services will host its second annual Healthy Aging Expo on Thursday, Sept. 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Chatham County Agriculture and Conference Center at 1192 U.S. 64 Business West in Pittsboro.

The free event requires advance registration and will feature vendor booths, educational sessions and a keynote address by wellness facilitator Rhonda Mack. Last year’s inaugural expo drew a capacity crowd of older adults and aging professionals.

“We are excited to announce the return of our Healthy Aging Expo,” said Ashlyn Martin, Chatham County Aging Services director. “The desire and demand for this event was overwhelming in our inaugural year, and we are prepared

to take what we learned and apply it to a more streamlined experience in 2025.”

Martin said the expo aims to empower older adults with information to help them reach their individual goals. The event is also open to aging professionals.

The day begins at 8:30 a.m. with a 90-minute resource fair featuring vendor booths in the center’s main exhibit hall. Mack will deliver the keynote address at 10:15 a.m., followed by the rst of three

The expo aims to empower older adults with information to help them reach their individual goals.

45-minute educational sessions at 11:15 a.m.

Lunch will be served at noon, with additional time to visit vendor booths. Two more sessions are scheduled for 1:15 p.m. and 2:15 p.m.

Registration is available at the Pittsboro Center for Active Living at 365 Highway 87 North, and the Siler City Center for Active Living at 112 Village Lake Drive. Online registration is available at chathamcountync.gov/agingservices under the “Healthy Aging Expo” tab.

Registration is limited and will close once lled.

For more information, visit the website or the Chatham County Aging Services Facebook page.

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

Sept. 5

Moonlit Movie Series: “Avatar: The Way of the Water”

8:30-10:30 p.m.

Movie on the lawn with food and beverages available for purchase onsite. Pets are welcome. Tickets are free.

Philip H. Kohl MOSAIC Family Commons 457 Freedom Parkway Pittsboro

Sept. 6

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

Sanford Farmers Market

8:30 a.m. to noon

An ideal place for local food producers to build connections within the community while giving the public a place to sample and purchase foods and crafts made by their neighbors. Experience the ultimate in food, fun and fellowship in the Sandhills region.

115 Chatham St. Chatham

Sept. 10

Jazz Night at The Sycamore at Chatham Mills

6-9 p.m.

Every Wednesday night, The Sycamore hosts live Jazz Nights. The series features a rotating list of local musicians. Visitors can order their choice of appetizers from the Lounge Menu in the dining room each night. Reservations are highly recommended.

480 Hillsboro St. Suite 500 Pittsboro

Sept. 13

Mill Town Yarns at BFM –“Sing Me a Story” 7-8:30 p.m.

Live acoustic performances by a variety of local musicians. Admission is free; donations are welcome.

Porch,

PHOTOS BY SHAWN KREST / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Hayley Bales Steakhouse

o ers trip back in time

Fine dining, reasonable prices and that childhood vacation feel

By Shawn Krest Chatham News & Record

THE ONLY REASON Hayley Bales Steakhouse can’t be called a “diamond in the rough” is that the area around it isn’t all that bad. Still, the fancy big brother of sister restaurant Bestfood Cafeteria is a hidden gem tucked into a Siler City strip mall.

The pair of family-owned restaurants share the same Gift Gallery storefront. Visitors enter, exit and pay for their meal at gift shop that occupies most of the building’s square footage. It o ers everything from designer handbags to blue jeans to bottles of hot sauce. Think a classier South of the Border or a higher-quality Cracker Barrel.

Unlike Cracker Barrel, however, there won’t be any logo controversy at Hayley Bales. Save a sign out front, there’s little to no evidence there’s steakhouse on the premises, just a darkened doorway o to one side. Even the menus don’t have a logo, or even a name at the top. If you know, their business plan seems to have concluded, you know.

Hayley Bales makes high-quality food for a surprisingly reasonable price. Whether it’s a special occasion or a family dinner out, the steakhouse seems to be the place to go.

The restaurant is cleverly laid out, with seat locations and lighting making it seem like your table is the only one in the place. Diners passing our table with doggie bags on the way out were the only people we encountered who weren’t collecting a Haley Bales paycheck.

The restaurant boasts that it o ers seven meats and 10 veggies a day, including seafood, chicken, ribs, pork chops and, of course, steak, in a wide variety of cuts and sizes. The meat is cooked over an open ame and bursts with avor. The ribeyes range from Caleb’s cut (8 ounces) to PaPa’s (12). Not to accuse anyone of false advertising, but, having ordered from steakhouses large and small, around the country, either ev-

PHOTOS BY SHAWN KREST / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Hayley Bales is a throwback — a quirky, friendly place to get a ne meal without blowing your paycheck.

eryone else is lying or Hayley Bales gives you an ounce or two more than you ordered. Each steak comes with a side, which include many of those 10 veggies. The stu ed potato, which is a cheesy combination of a casserole and potato skin appetizer, is the one they recommended as their specialty. The meals also come with a house salad that is a meal upon itself. It reminds me of those 1980s restaurant salad bars that charged by the trip, so diners packed their plates with

heaping mountains of lettuce and a rainbow of side vegetables. It even had the packages of crackers that always seemed to wind up on the salad plate. The hearty salad was a suitable foreshadowing of what was to come.

It seems near impossible to leave Hayley Bales still hungry, or without leftovers. It’s generous portions of fresh, tasty high-end comfort food. And the price is lower than a night out at a far less ful lling chain place. We could stop and ll our gas tank on the way home and still spend less than we would at the Outback or Roadhouse.

Hayley Bales is a throwback — a quirky, friendly place to get a ne meal without blowing your paycheck. It reminded me of that rst “fancy dinner out” with mom and dad on a family vacation.

It’s de nitely a diamond, even if it’s not surrounded by much rough.

three -time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin own 23XI Racing. That organization and Front Row Motorsports were the only two teams that refused to sign extension agreements on charter agreements, the equivalent of franchises in other sports. The two teams then sued NASCAR, accusing it of being a bully and monopoly in a brawl that has played out all year and prompted both teams to say they risk going out of business if the series sells their charters out from under them.

Nothing, however, has been as explosive as the details that came to light for the rst time last Thursday as documents related to discovery were disclosed. NASCAR is privately owned by the Florida-based France family, with founder Bill France Sr.’s son, Jim, the current chairman. His granddaughter, Lesa France Kennedy, is the executive vice chair and was in court for the rst time since the case began.

Steve Lauletta, the president of 23XI, at one point wrote “Jim dying is probably the answer” to teams getting better terms on a charter agreement while, Hamlin said “my despise for the France family runs deep... (but) please let’s not sabotage our own business.”

In a partially redacted text conversation between Jordan and Polk, presumably about the price of charters, Jordan wrote, “I’m not selling even if they were for sale (redacted). What would we do?” Polk replies, “This is just a hobby!!!” and Jordan responds, “Only can play but so much golf.” In a second exchange, Jordan discusses with Polk the cost of signing a driver whose name is redacted.

“I have lost that in a casino. Lets do it,” Jordan replied.

NASCAR had its own expletive-laden email exchange among top executives disclosed. Commissioner Steve Phelps in one email wrote that talks had not been productive and argued an early charter proposal o ered “zero wins for the teams.” In another message, he wrote the charters “must re ect a middle position or we are dead in the water — they will sign them but we are (expletive) moving forward.”

Steve O’Donnell, the president of NASCAR, also didn’t like an early version because it would return NASCAR’s model to 1996 terms with an attitude of “(Expletive) the teams, dictatorship, motorsport, redneck, southern, tiny sport,” he wrote. Je rey Kessler, the attorney for 23XI and Front Row, contended that the NASCAR exchanges as well as contingency plans on how NASCAR could prevent rival competition prove NASCAR is monopolizing the stock car racing market.

NASCAR has maintained in legal lings that 23XI and

“I have lost that in a casino. Lets do it.”

Michael Jordan’s text on the price of signing a new driver

Front Row relinquished any rights they have to six combined charters when they refused to sign the extensions last September. The teams started the season recognized as chartered, which guarantees 36 chartered teams entry into the 40-car eld each week. Chartered teams also receive a substantially higher percentage of payouts.

The order that recognized the six cars as chartered has been overturned and they are currently competing as “open” teams. 23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick has a clause in his contract that says he can leave if his car is not chartered; Kessler indicated that Reddick and sponsors have given notice that 23XI is in breach.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell warned during the hearing that NASCAR’s charter system is at stake, depending on the outcome of the case. The arguments before Bell were focused on the teams’ urgent request to restore their status as chartered teams through the end of the season ahead of a trial scheduled for Dec. 1. NASCAR has indicated it plans to immediately begin selling o the charters. Bell asked NASCAR’s attorney that if there is indeed such an eager buyer, why couldn’t the series sell one of the four open slots and then gure out how to address it once the case is settled. NASCAR has maintained that it can’t be forced to do business with teams it does not want to work with.

The judge said he would rule on the request next week after the rst playo race of the season. Reddick and Bubba Wallace are in the playo eld for 23IX and so is Hamlin, who drives for JGR.

Outside court, Jordan said he has been open to a settlement but is willing to see the case go to trial. Kessler warned if 23XI and Front Row do not receive their charters back they will go out of business in 2026.

“Look, I’ve been a fan of the game for a long period of time,” Jordan said. “When we rst started this whole process, I’ve always said I want to ght for the betterment of the sport. Even though they tried to point out that we’ve made some money, we had a successful business. That’s not the point. The point is that the sport itself needs to continually change for the fans as well as for the teams.

“As well as as for NASCAR, too, if they understand that,” Jordan said. “I feel like we made a good statement today about that, and I look forward to going down with re. If I have to ght this to the end, for the betterment of the sport, I will do that.”

THE CONVERSATION

Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

Dear Donald

My desire for attention tells me that true humility is about reaching toward those less fortunate, not for reward or recognition.

Dear Donald,

PLEASE FORGIVE the audacity of addressing the president of the United States on a rst-name basis. I also realize that you are often known by your last name — Trump — that is so famous as to be its own brand.

Yet I address you by your rst, or Christian, name because I recently learned that you “want to try to get to heaven” but that you acknowledge you are “really at the bottom of the totem pole.” Your candor about existential questions of life after death made you more relatable to me.

As a pastor, I am often asked about the afterlife, including questions about who is going where. Someone’s eternal fate is not up to me — thank God! As Anne Lamott once said, if you think God condemns all the same people that you do, then you can be sure you’ve made God in your image or think you are a god.

What did Jesus say about the afterlife? He told a parable about a group of people who helped people at the bottom of the totem pole — the sick, hungry and poor; the immigrant and the incarcerated. These helpers are the people going to heaven: “You who are blessed by my Father, take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” (Matthew 25:34).

But Jesus told another parable to “some who were con dent of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else” (Luke 18:9). A Pharisee, a religious leader, went to the temple and recited his righteous resume before God: how he fasted, tithed and didn’t commit

| BOB WACHS

COLUMN

adultery, theft or any major sin. Then, a tax collector, who was despised by the religious community as a fraud and cheat, asked God for mercy. It was that sinner who was justi ed before God! Jesus delivers the punchline: “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14).

I confess, Donald, that, while I try and help the people at the bottom of the totem pole mentioned in the rst parable, I can also be self-righteous like the religious person in the second parable. My desire for attention tells me that true humility is about reaching toward those less fortunate, not for reward or recognition. Humility realizes, even embraces, the fact that we will never receive proper praise for our noblest work, and yet the e ort to be our best selves on behalf of others can make a di erence, if not noticeable in this world, then perhaps in the next one.

“Judge not,” taught Jesus, “lest ye be judged.” I hope that you will join in helping those less fortunate — not for praise or reward — but to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8).

Humbly, Andrew

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.

When did ‘labor’ become a bad word?

Part of what I’m feeling, I think, is the shift away from emphasizing work and the importance and value of it.

YEARS AGO, when I was a teenager and dinosaurs roamed the earth, I always moaned — inwardly, of course, for my health’s sake — when my parents or someone the age I am now would start a conversation or lecture with the immortal words, “When I was your age.”

Now I think I understand what they were trying to say. Let me say right up front, I’m not opposed to youth and young folks, although I do nd myself agreeing more and more with Mark Twain’s notion that “youth is wasted on the young.” The energy I once had, which never did lead the activity meter, has now given way to pacing myself and trying to leave something undone so there’ll be something to do tomorrow.

All of this deep philosophy and meditation comes about as I consider the recently observed Labor Day and the holiday that comes with it, and what it all means. For some folks, it’s the last hurrah of summer, one more chance to go to the beach or mountains or lake, or backyard. Nothing wrong with that. Vacations and leisure are good, and I’m going to try some sooner than later, I hope.

For others, the weekend is the start of the new school year or close to it, a time when new clothes are bought, old ones are dusted o , supplies are bought and buses start roaming the roads.

Part of what I’m feeling, I think, is the shift away from emphasizing work and the importance and value of it, not just in economic reward but also in personal growth and development. Our society places such an emphasis on leisure that work is coming to have a bad connotation, something even to be avoided if possible.

I know we still make some things in this country, but more and more of our employment is found in service industries. And, yes, the folks who do those things provide

a service and work while they’re doing it.

But I nd myself more and more longing for those days when the old folks did say, “When I was your age ...”

Lest you think me a cold, inconsiderate old fogey, let me say that one thing that has happened is that seemingly there are not as many jobs available today, not only for teens and youth but older folk, as well.

Fewer and fewer farmers, for instance, produce square bales of hay anymore, bales that need teenage boys to pick them up out of the elds. Instead, the growers make use of large round balers that produce bales that are transported by tractor. So which came rst — the round balers that one person could handle and that eliminated the need for labor, or the fact that teenage boys didn’t want to work in the hot sun anymore and farmers had to do something di erent?

Cigarettes and other tobacco products are taboo now, which, although perhaps healthier for us all, wiped out a large portion of summer labor opportunities. Fewer and fewer drug stores have soda fountains now, and instead of being soda jerks, we just become jerks.

You get the idea, I think, and I know it’s dangerous to generalize, but, again, as I become the person I once loathed, I see folks saying they’re bored or that life has no meaning or similar thoughts and ideas. When you add in that too often our government makes it easier not to work and get paid for it than to do something like “an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work.”

The old saying, “Hard work never killed anybody,” has been relegated to antiquity in favor of, “I’d rather somebody kill me than to have to work hard.”

Pity.

Bob Wachs is a native of Chatham County and emeritus editor at Chatham News & Record. He serves as pastor of Bear Creek Baptist Church.

COLUMN | ANDREW TAYLOR-TROUTMAN

It

came from where?

Those whisperings sounded like, just maybe, they were really, truly and authentically, her own voice, the one she’d been looking for all her life.

YOU LIKE TRANSFORMATION stories? Okey-doke, here we go! Once upon a time, there was a woman, who, from girlhood on, didn’t perceive herself as having the ability to write — anything. Writing was a bit like staring at a snake. “Run, run! Get outta here! Somebody else take care of that snake! I can’t.” This young woman felt so bereft of writing skills that she even talked a friend into helping her compose a graduate school application. (OMG, do you think there’s a statute of limitations on such graduate school heresy? Will they take away her degree? What if she promises never, ever, to sing Michigan’s ght song, “Hail to the Victors,” out of tune again?) ... So, where were we? Ah, yes, the aforementioned fearful human caught in her longtime prison of “I can’t write.” From other friends, who were more comfortable writers, she’d heard rumblings about having an inner authentic voice guiding them on the writing path. She assumed she didn’t have access to an authentic inner voice, nally making peace with that belief. Yeah, yeah, she had other gifts to share with the world, but still felt haunted by a felt incapacity to write.

COLUMN | SUSAN ESTRICH

Years passed (they do that) and she began hearing whisperings and stirrings within. Those whisperings sounded like, just maybe, they were really, truly and authentically, her own voice, the one she’d been looking for all her life. Oh, wow! But wait, the voice sounded so young at times! So youthful, full of “whoopees” and “wows.” An unrestrained joyful kid. Kind of embarrassing to have a voice within, one that feels so authentic, but sounding like a celebratory child. You know?

But, wow, could that young voice write! She wrote, owingly, from the heart with great humor, wisdom, re ecting deep aliveness. This now-woman felt captured by the life bursting out of this child-like inner voice, replete with wows, OMGs, and yays; language of which she was initially ashamed, since it sounded so childlike.

Yes, ’tis me …

Yours truly feels incredibly fortunate, as an adult, to have been captured by a spirited child whose voice of wisdom comes from god-knows-where. I’m listening … and writing.

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

How the White House takes power from Congress

The funds Trump canceled were largely intended for USAID.

RUSSELL VOUGHT IS the ultimate Trumper. The head of the O ce of Management and Budget just anointed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to wind down the U.S. Agency for International Development (“wind down” being one of his favorite words) had a new stunt to try out this week to subvert constitutional separation of powers. You remember — Congress has the power of the purse. It must be on the citizenship exam. The answer should have an asterisk for President Donald Trump.

Trump’s new trick this week is called the pocket rescission. The beauty of this one, unlike your usual rescission (of PBS funding, for instance) is that Congress doesn’t have to do anything. The president just asks for the money to be rescinded — which freezes it automatically for the next 45 days, and if that should coincide with the end of the scal year, the money goes poof! And Congress’ power of the purse is rendered a nullity.

So sayeth Mr. Vought: “Last night, President Trump CANCELLED $4.9 billion in America Last foreign aid using a pocket rescission,” the White House O ce of Management and Budget posted on X.

Even some Republicans spoke up. “Congress has the responsibility for the power of the purse,” Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), the Senate Appropriations chair, said in a statement. “Any e ort to rescind appropriated funds without congressional approval is a clear violation of the law.”

The funds Trump canceled were largely intended for USAID, a global peacekeeping and anti-poverty agency that Trump has done everything he can to destroy; so it continues.

This was the script for the second term, and it is being carried out in every quarter. Accumulate power in the executive. Use it aggressively. Make of it a veritable show.

BE IN TOUCH

Belittle and cast doubt on the courts and their authority. Undercut their esteem. Play chicken. And, of course, Congress. Play chicken and win.

Watching it, day by day, trick by trick, it is easy to miss the whole picture.

Is this what it looks like when a dictator moves in to take over?

Trump has been musing, aloud of course, about himself as dictator. “The line is that I’m a dictator, but I stop crime,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting, “So a lot of people say, ‘You know, if that’s the case, I’d rather have a dictator.’”

He later added: “Most people say ... if he stops crime, he can be whatever he wants.”

Not that Trump wants to be a dictator. He made that clear, sort of, the night before, albeit still fascinated with the idea that people might prefer dictators.

“’He’s a dictator. He’s a dictator,’” Trump said of his critics. “A lot of people are saying, ‘Maybe we’d like a dictator.’ I don’t like a dictator. I’m not a dictator.”

Really? Asking permission to rescind is all that it takes?

Vought, a self-described Christian nationalist, had this same job at the end of the rst Trump administration. He was a key contributor to Project 2025, which as you recall was all about this, and some of us didn’t want to believe it then, so here it is again. He said then that his nal goal of Project 2025 was to “bend or break the bureaucracy to the presidential will” and use it to send power from Washington, D.C., back to America’s families, churches, local governments and states. He has said that he wants to “traumatize” federal employees. He comes from the Heritage Foundation.

Just this week’s stunt. Just $5 billion in aid. I wouldn’t bet against him. And I can only imagine what’s next.

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

The left’s misdefinition of Americanism

THIS WEEK, AXIOS ran a fascinating piece about the supposed “rede nition” of Americanism under President Donald Trump. Titled “Inside Trump’s American identity project,” Axios posited that “President Trump is wielding government power to enforce a more rigid, exclusionary de nition of what it means to be American.” What would this new de nition entail?

“In MAGA’s telling, America is the heir to ancient European civilizations, built on a Judeo-Christian foundation of white identity, meritocracy, traditional gender roles and the nuclear family,” says Axios. “These tenets are cast as universal truths — and mantras such as ‘America is an idea’ or ‘diversity is our strength’ are dismissed as liberal ctions.”

First o , America is heir to ancient European civilizations — particularly with reference to private property, the common law system, traditions of free speech and freedom of religion, among others. Second, America is built on a Judeo-Christian foundation. Third, America is built on the meritocracy, which argues that the best and most productive ought to succeed in a free system. America is built on traditional gender roles and the nuclear family, as is every successful society in history. While America is an idea — or a set of ideas — those ideas must be rei ed in institutions and human behavior. And the notion that any nation can be built on a completely specious phrase like “diversity is our strength” is counterintuitive at best.

So what is Axios attempting to do? Axios is attempting to link actual traditional de nitions of Americanism with white supremacy. Never mind that all the ideas Axios cites as “traditional” fundamentally reject ethnic identitarianism: equality before law, for example, presumes racial indi erence; Judeo-Christian religion rejects racial classi cation; the meritocracy is de nitionally opposed to racial preferences; and traditional gender roles and the nuclear family are institutions held in common by people of all races. The goal is simple: a forced choice between “racism” and a leftwing de nition of Americanism that bears zero weight.

This, presumably, is the real drive behind the left’s opposition to much of Trump’s policy. The same Axios piece posits that the Trump administration’s decision to screen incoming immigrants for “anti-American” ideology ought to be seen as an outgrowth of nativism rather than common sense; that opposition to radical sexual politics in our nation’s military is a manifestation of bigotry rather than reason; that restoration of classicism in architecture represents a return to racial exclusivity rather than taste. As the authors write, “MAGA’s utopia looks a lot like America in the 1950s — before the sexual revolution, mass immigration, the Civil Rights Act and expanded LGBTQ rights reshaped the country’s culture and demographics.”

Well, actually, MAGA’s utopia looks mostly like what most Americans think of as the American dream: upward mobility, solid family structure, safety in the streets, decent education, and a vibrant social fabric complete with community and church. The fact that so many on the left — and in the media — nd this vision to be irredeemably “racist” demonstrates their utter disconnect with most Americans. And it’s why Trump is president for the second time.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show” and co -founder of Daily Wire+.

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

Contact a writer or columnist: connect@northstatejournal.com

obituaries

Martha Foster Fox

Oct. 6, 1938 – Aug. 15, 2025

Martha Foster Fox, 86 of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, passed away on Friday, August 15, 2025.

Martha was born on October 6, 1938, in Siler City, NC. She was a daughter of the late Myrtle Olivia (Williams) Foster and Samuel Floyd Foster. She graduated from Siler City High School in 1956 and attended Women’s College in Greensboro (UNC Greensboro).

She rst worked as a bookkeeper in Greensboro but later pursued her true passion utilizing her artistic skills. She went to work for a jeweler in Greensboro where she sketched the designs for custom jewelry. She then worked as a commercial artist for the Todd Company of Burroughs in Greensboro. There, she designed and created corporate logos, graphics and artwork on checks and other business forms. She had a natural talent for sketching, drawing and painting. Over the years, she created many family portraits and other paintings of nature scenes. She also enjoyed sewing from a young age where she sewed her own doll clothes. Later she sewed her own clothes as well as clothes for her children. She also enjoyed knitting, crocheting, playing piano and was an avid reader. She enjoyed traveling with her husband and family and was fortunate to have traveled to numerous places in Europe,

IN MEMORY

the Caribbean, Canada and Hawaii where she met and had her photo taken with Willie Nelson.

Martha was outgoing and could do anything she set her mind on. She enjoyed talking with friends; many of which were childhood friends who she had kept in touch with over the years up to her nal days. She was an incredible mother to her two children, a loving grandmother to two grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

At the time of her death, she lived in Mount Pleasant, SC and was a member of Isle of Palms First United Methodist Church. She was a previous member of The First United Methodist Church in Siler City, NC.

Martha is preceded in death by her parents, Samuel Floyd and Myrtle Olivia (Williams) Foster; husband, Frank Lee Fox. She is survived by her daughter, Susan Fox Cox (Vance); son, Lewis Je erson Fox II (Kelly); grandson, Evan Seely Wyco ; granddaughter, Kenleigh Olivia Wyco Edwards (Colby); and great granddaughters, Sawyer Olivia Brown and Lily Terese Edwards; sister, Sandra Foster Goldsby (Grier); niece, Pamela Teague Holloway (the late Paul); and nephew, Daniel Goldsby.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 2:00 pm at Rocky River Baptist Church in Siler City, North Carolina. Burial will follow immediately after the service.

In lieu of owers, memorial contributions may be made to Rocky River Baptist Church. https:// rockyriverbaptist.org 4436 Siler City-Snow Camp Rd., Siler City, NC 27344.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Smith & Buckner Funeral Home, 230 N. Second Ave, Siler City, NC 27344 (919)742-2151 https:// www.smithbucknerfh.com/ locations/smithbuckner

DONALD CARSON OLDHAM

AUG. 26, 2025

Donald Carson Oldham, age 88, of Goldston, passed away on Tuesday, August 26, 2025 at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill. He was born in Chatham County the son of the late John Carson Oldham and Gladys Martindale Oldham. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Mary Catherine Huguelet Oldham and son John Clinton Oldham. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned his degree and proudly played on the Tar Heel baseball team. His passion for the game continued beyond his playing days as he went on to serve as an assistant coach for the UNC baseball program. He was a devoted educator, administrator, and coach having served schools in Hamlet and Lee County. A man of deep faith and unwavering integrity, he dedicated his life to serving others—both in the classroom and on the athletic eld. Throughout his career, Mr. Oldham touched countless lives as a teacher, school administrator, coach, and mentor. His leadership was marked by a steady commitment to excellence and a genuine care for every student and athlete he encountered. He also enjoyed coaching American Legion Baseball, where he inspired young athletes, instilling in them the values of discipline, teamwork, and sportsmanship. He was a member of Carbonton Community Church where he was a devoted Sunday School teacher for many years. Mr. Oldham loved spending time with his grandsons, whether it was playing ball in the yard, working on math problems, playing checkers, or making grilled cheese sandwiches and soup for them. He enjoyed watching them grow up and was so proud of their accomplishments in the classroom, on the ball eld, and in life in general. He is survived by his children Catherine O. Hughes of Sanford, Donald C. Oldham, Jr. of Goldston and Marie O. Johnson of Sanford; sisters Nancy Upchurch of Lemon Springs and Brenda Harris and husband Clyde of Wilson and three grandchildren Hunter Johnson and wife Odalis, Colin, and Landon Johnson. He was blessed to have wonderful caregivers in his later years who truly loved him and became part of the family (Lori Spinks, Loretta McSwain, Anita Matthews, and Cozy Wilkie).

MARGARET “EVELYN” GARRETT MOODY

APRIL 23, 1926 – AUG. 31, 2025

Margaret “Evelyn” Garrett Moody, 99, of Siler City, went to her Heavenly home on Sunday, August 31st, 2025, at Siler City Center. Evelyn was born on April 23rd, 1926, in Alamance County, to the late William W. and Eula Holt Garrett. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Marley Joseph Moody; her sons, Larry Moody, Monte Moody, and Danny Moody; her brothers, Jack, James, Bobby, & Robert “Hoover” Garrett; her grandson, Andy Moody; and her great grandson, Austin Parnell. Evelyn worked in the cloth room as a mender at Collins & Aikman. She loved her family, and they were the most important to her, and she enjoyed spending time with her family and making memories. She loved to cook for her family Sunday dinner every Sunday. She loved to go shing and traveling to the mountains. She was always on the go. She was a member of Rives Chapel Baptist Church and loved her church family.

Charles Bierbauer, longtime CNN correspondent, dead at age 83

The former White House correspondent became USC communications dean

The Associated Press

CHAPIN, S.C. — Charles Bierbauer, former CNN correspondent and a past president of the White House Correspondents Association who later became dean of the University of South Carolina’s journalism program, has died. He was 83.

Bierbauer died last Friday at his home in Spruce Pine in Mitchell County, where he had been living in retirement, according to university spokesman Je Stensland. No direct cause was given, but the family’s obituary said “his generous heart gave out after a good, long life.”

Bierbauer’s journalism career began in his native Pennsylvania, where early on he was a weekend reporter for media outlet WKAP. After a year as a reporter for The Associated Press in Pittsburgh, Bierbauer worked for several other outlets, winning an Overseas Press Club Award in 1973 for his reporting on the Yom Kippur War. According to his family, Bierbauer was once detained in Moscow’s Red Square while lming an anti-Soviet demonstration. While covering Muhammed Ali’s 1978 travels in the Soviet Union, Bierbauer was denounced by the Soviet press for “asking impertinent questions.”

After four years with ABC News, Bierbauer began two decades at CNN, starting just a year after the network’s inception. Over the next 20 years, Bierbauer would cover the Pentagon, White House, the U.S. Supreme Court and an array of political stories and presidential campaigns. He also hosted the weekly current events show “Newsmaker Saturday” for a decade and regularly traveled with presidents across the country and to dozens of foreign nations.

Afterward, Bierbauer moved to South Carolina, where he became the rst dean of the state agship university’s College of Information and Communications, a merger of the mass communications and library science programs. Launching Cocky’s Reading Express, a childhood literacy initiative, Bierbauer also led a multimillion-dollar fundraising and renovation e ort that moved the school from the outdated Carolina Coliseum to a state-of-theart building on South Carolina’s historic Horseshoe.

While in academia, Bierbauer continued his passion for broadcasting by hosting a weekly current events program and moderating scores of debates among political candidates vying for ofces in the state, through a partnership with SCETV.

Jay Bender, a former attorney for the South Carolina Press Association and retired professor who served under Bierbauer, remembered him as a distinguished broadcaster and educator.

“His contributions to the USC Journalism School as dean were signi cant,” Bender said, speci cally mentioning the project that modernized the school and moved it to its current location.

Tom Reichert, who succeed-

ed Bierbauer as communications dean, echoed Bender’s sentiments, recalling his predecessor’s “profound impact on the program.”

“He is fondly remembered for many achievements, including fundraising and supporting students who went on to win Pulitzer Prizes,” Reichert said in a statement to The Associated Press. “He will be deeply missed.”

Bierbauer was married to Susanne Schafer, a longtime military a airs reporter for the AP. He earned degrees in journalism and Russian from Penn State University and is survived by Schafer, as well as four children, several grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

In a statement to the AP, a network spokesperson remembered Bierbauer as “a cherished member of the CNN family” and “tireless reporter and wonderful colleague.”

“Charles inspired me and helped me throughout my assignments at the Pentagon and the White House,” Wolf Blitzer, Bierbauer’s former CNN colleague, told the AP in a statement. “He was a good friend, colleague, and mentor, and I will certainly miss him.”

Angela Mortimer Barrett, former Wimbledon champ, dead at 93

Mortimer Barrett won three Grand Slam titles despite partial deafness

The Associated Press

LONDON — Angela Mortimer Barrett, who overcame partial deafness and an intestinal infection to win three Grand Slam singles titles including 1961 Wimbledon, died last Monday at age 93.

The All England Club made the announcement.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Angela Mortimer Barrett, Wimbledon’s oldest surviving ladies’ singles champion,” club chair Deborah Jevans said.

A late bloomer to tennis at 14, Mortimer Barrett was ready to play the Grand Slam events by 19 and won her rst major title at the 1955 French Championships, beating Dorothy Knode of the U.S. 2-6, 7-5, 10-8 in the nal. At 8-8 in the last set, she said she knew she was going to win when she heard Knode ask for a brandy.

By then, Mortimer Barrett’s hearing was failing. Being able to hear the ball coming o the strings is a major aid to most.

“I could hear the applause of the crowd but not much else,” Mortimer told the International Tennis Hall of Fame website. “It helped me concentrate, shutting out distractions. When I hear players say they need to hear the ball, I smile. I couldn’t.”

She returned to the French nal in 1956 but lost to Althea Gibson.

Former Wimbledon champions Angela Mortimer Barrett, left, of 1961, and Anne Jones, right, of 1969, ank a bust of fellow champion Virginia Wade at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in London in 2004.

Recurring bouts of illness were eventually diagnosed as entomoebic dysentry. She cured it with a three-week starvation diet but lost a lot of weight that made her weak.

Mortimer Barrett’s comeback included her only trip to Australia in 1958, when she won her second Grand Slam singles title, beating fellow Brit Lorraine Coghlan 6-3, 6-4 in the nal, and also reached the nals of the doubles and mixed doubles. Later that year, she got to her rst Wimbledon nal unseeded — only ve women have done so — but lost to Gibson. Against the odds, again, she advanced to the 1961 nal. She upset top-seeded Sandra

Reynolds of South Africa 119, 6-3 in the semi nals. In the rst all-British nal since 1914, Christine Truman led 6-4, 4-3 but fell and lost momentum. Mortimer Barrett ground out a 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory.

Two months later, she reached the semi nals of the U.S. Championships, her best nish at that event. It was the only year she reached No. 1.

She also won the 1955 Wimbledon doubles title with Anne Shilcock.

Mortimer Barrett was inducted into the International Hall of Fame in 1993, followed by her husband John Barrett in 2014. The only other married couple in the Hall is Ste Graf and Andre Agassi.

JEFFREY COLLINS / AP PHOTO

U.S. Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia, left, and Stephen Breyer, center, talk to moderator Charles Bierbauer, right, at a debate before the South Carolina Bar on Jan. 21, 2012, in Columbia, South Carolina.

DAVE CAULKIN / AP PHOTO

PBS, NPR stations struggle with Trump-fueled government funding cuts

Emergency fundraising e orts show

strong support from viewers

By David Bauder

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Coping with a sudden loss in federal funding, PBS a liate KSPS in Spokane, Washington, faced a surprise extra hurdle. Many of its contributing members — at one point almost half — lived in Canada, and they were withdrawing support out of anger at President Donald Trump’s desire to make the country the 51st member of the United States.

When Congress decided this summer to eliminate $1.1 billion allocated to public broadcasting, it left some 330 PBS and 246 NPR stations, each with unique issues related to their communities and history, to gure out what that means.

Many launched emergency fund drives and are heartened by the response. The national NPR and PBS networks are reducing expected dues payments, and a philanthropic effort focused on the hardest-hit stations is taking shape. No stations have shut down, but job and programming cuts are already beginning.

In Spokane, KSPS has al-

ways tried to keep its requests for member donations separate from appeals for public funding. Not anymore. Congress left the station with a $1.2 million hole to ll, about 18% of its budget, and the station is using that as a pretext to seek help from listeners.

“We have de nitely seen some attrition from our Canadian members,” said Skyler Reep, the station’s interim general manager.

Pleas for donations exceed expectations in many parts of country

Long suspicious of a liberal bent to public media news coverage, Republicans in Congress responded to President Donald Trump’s wishes in July and eliminated funding for the systems. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which distributes the funding, has taken steps to shut down.

In some parts of the country, the answer to pleas for help have exceeded expectations. Public radio station WHQR in Wilmington raised more than $200,000 in three days, lling a $174,000 hole and then some. It’s a small community growing fast with an in ux of retirees, many who depend on the station’s news to learn about their new home, said

general manager Kevin Crane. With $525,000 gone from its budget, Hawaii Public Radio has already raised $650,000 in an emergency fund drive. “It’s a validation that what you’re doing is essential to the community and is appreciated by the community,” said Meredith Artley, president and CEO. The 2023 wild res in Maui and their aftermath were covered steadily by Hawaii Public Radio news reporters.

“The initial response in terms of support for both stations and the NPR network has been extraordinary,” said Katherine Maher, NPR president. “People did a lot of work leading up to the vote, in actions and calls. When that did not prove convincing, they turned to direct support.”

Stations across the country have stories that make them smile: the youngster from Florida who collected money for public stations in Alaska, sending a note written in crayon; the regular $300 donor who came in to PBS SoCal with a $100,000 check, one of three six- gure donations the station has received.

Most stations aren’t in areas with so many wealthy donors. Most station managers are like Je Hanks of PBS’s LPTV in Lakeland, Minnesota. He lies

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nearly two dozen radio and television stations in the largest state, said he’ll be seeking money from this fund.

awake wondering where he will nd $1 million to pay for things like his station’s nightly newscast, a primary news source for central and northern Minnesota.

“These are extremely, extremely challenging times,” Hanks said.

He knows membership donations won’t make up for what is missing. Both PBS and NPR have taken steps to reduce the annual dues that stations pay for programming and other services. At PBS, it’s an average 15% reduction, but needy stations get more — in one case, more than half of next year’s dues will be forgiven, said PBS president Paula Kerger.

Adopting stations in poorer, more rural areas

NPR is encouraging donors in wealthier areas to adopt stations in poorer ones, perhaps in an area where a contributor has emotional ties.

Public media leaders are also working with a group of philanthropists led by the Knight and MacArthur foundations that is hoping to raise some $50 million to support stations in areas hardest hit be the cuts. Ed Ulman, president and CEO of Alaska Public Media, which represents

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Jackson and CCCC President Lisa M. Chapman. Participants can pursue state licensure while remaining in their current roles, combining academic coursework with their daily classroom experience counting toward certi cation requirements.

“This partnership re ects our commitment to grow and retain talent from within our own community,” Jackson said. “By investing in those already serving in our schools, we are ensuring that our students are taught by educators who are not only quali ed, but deeply connected to Chatham County’s values, culture, and future.”

The initiative comes as North Carolina faces a growing teacher shortage and represents part of a broader regional e ort that also includes Lee and Harnett county schools working with CCCC to

Ulman said he’s been buoyed by the response from Alaskans in their e ort to raise $15 million through various sources by October. The services their stations provide is free, and citizens see its value.

“I’ve never been worried about the future of public television or radio because our community needs us,” he said, “and what we’ve seen in Alaska is an outcry about that.”

Still, Alaska Public Media has suspended the weekly public a airs television show “Alaska Insight,” and the future of “Indie Alaska,” a weekly video series highlighting the lives of Alaskans, is also in danger.

Some stations are already making the di cult decisions of cutting sta , In Spokane, 12 of KSPS’s 35 sta members have either been laid o , had their hours reduced or seen their pay cut. Reep is also considering that future seasons of local shows like “Northwest Pro les” or the arts showcase “Inland Sessions” will have fewer episodes. Similar programming decisions are also being weighed on a national level. While several upcoming shows, like Ken Burns’ six-part miniseries “The American Revolution” scheduled for November, are completed, PBS will have to consider making shorter seasons of its series, Kerger said.

“We’re working very hard so that the public doesn’t feel that there’s a change,” Kerger said.

“This partnership re ects our commitment to grow and retain talent from within our own community.”

Anthony Jackson, Chatham County Schools superintendent

address the sta ng challenges through localized certi cation pathways.

To qualify for the program, candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.7 GPA, be employed or have a commitment of employment from a partnering school district, meet content requirements through coursework or passing scores on state-required exams, and complete required professional development.

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said Routh aimed his ri e at the agent, who opened re, causing Routh to drop his weapon and ee without ring a shot.

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Law enforcement obtained help from a witness who prosecutors said informed o cers that he saw a person eeing. The witness was then own in a police helicopter to a nearby interstate where Routh was arrested, and the witnesses con rmed it was the person he had seen, prosecutors have said. The judge last Tuesday unsealed prosecutor’s 33-page list of exhibits that could be introduced as evidence at the trial. It says prosecutors have photos of Routh holding the same model of semi-automatic ri e found at Trump’s club. The document also lists numerous electronic messages sent from a cellphone investigators found in Routh’s car. One message dated about two months before his arrest is described as Routh requesting a “missile launcher.”

It says that in August 2024, the month before his arrest, Routh sent messages seeking “help ensuring that (Trump) does not get elected” and offering to pay an unnamed person to use ight tracking apps to check the whereabouts of Trump’s airplane.

The exhibit list cites evidence from Routh’s phone of an electronic “chat about

sniper concealment” during President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. And it lists internet searches for how long gunpower residue stays on clothing and articles on U.S. Secret Service responses to assassination plots.

Routh was a North Carolina construction worker who in recent years had moved to Hawaii. A self-styled mercenary leader, Routh spoke out to anyone who would listen about his dangerous, sometimes violent plans to insert himself into con icts around the world, witnesses have told The Associated Press.

In the early days of the war in Ukraine, Routh tried to recruit soldiers from Afghanistan, Moldova and Taiwan to ght the Russians. In his native Greensboro, he had a 2002 arrest for eluding a tra c stop and barricading himself from o cers with a fully automatic machine gun and a “weapon of mass destruction,” which turned out to be an explosive with a 10-inch-long fuse.

In 2010, police searched a warehouse Routh owned and found more than 100 stolen items, from power tools and building supplies to kayaks and spa tubs. In both felony cases, judges gave Routh either probation or a suspended sentence.

In addition to the federal charges, Routh also has pleaded not guilty to state charges of terrorism and attempted murder.

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aspx?CatID=17, or companies may call 919-777-1122 for the quali cation requirements. Submittals are due by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 6, 2025.

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City of Sanford / TriRiver Water REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS Janitorial Services

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aspx?CatID=17, or companies may call 919-777-1122 for the quali cation requirements. Submittals are due by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 6, 2025.

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City of Sanford / TriRiver Water REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS Lawn Maintenance Services Advertisement

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NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION

CHATHAM COUNTY FILE NO. 15CvD000063-180 COUNTY OF CHATHAM Plainti , vs. ADA NOBLE a/k/a ADA NOBLES, et al Defendants.

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION

TO: The HEIRS, ASSIGNS, and DEVISEES of JOHNNY MCKINNEY a/k/a JOHN RAY MCKINNEY a/k/a JONNY MCKINNEY and spouse, if any, which may include JOHNNY MCKINNEY, JR. and spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder; The HEIRS, ASSIGNS, and DEVISEES of ERNEST MCKINNEY and spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder; The HEIRS, ASSIGNS, and DEVISEES of PATRICIA A. MCKINNEY and spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder; The HEIRS, ASSIGNS, and DEVISEES of JAMES THOMAS MCKINNEY and spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder; and The HEIRS, ASSIGNS, and DEVISEES of WILLIE DAVIS a/k/a DELORES DAVIS a/k/a DELORIS DAVIS and spouse, if any, which may include MALCOLM L. DAVIS and spouse, if any, and EBONY M. DAVIS and spouse, if any, or any other person or entity claiming thereunder

A pleading seeking relief against you has been led in the above-entitled action and notice of service of process by publication began on September 4, 2025. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: Foreclosure on tax parcel(s) more completely described in the Complaint, to collect delinquent ad valorem taxes (assessments). Plainti seeks to extinguish any and all claim or interest that you may have in said property.

You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than forty (40) days after the date of the rst publication of notice stated above, exclusive of such date, being forty (40) days after September 4, 2025, or by October 14, 2025, and upon your failure to do so, the party seeking service of process by publication will apply to the Court for relief sought. This the 26th day of August, 2025.

ZACCHAEUS LEGAL SERVICES

By: ____________________________________

Mark D. Bardill/Mark B. Bardill

Attorney for Plainti NC Bar #12852/56782

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The undersigned, having quali ed on the 13th day of August, 2025, as Co-Executors of the Estate of Elizabeth Fletcher, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 21st day of November, 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 21st day of August, 2025. Kathryn Bethune and Ramon Gomez, Co-Executors of the Estate of Elizabeth Fletcher c/o Candace B. Minjares, Kennon Craver, PLLC 4011 University Drive, Suite 300 Durham, North Carolina 27707

THE CHATHAM NEWS: 8/21, 8/28, 9/4, and 9/11/2025

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

NOTICE TO CREDITORS COUNTY OF CHATHAM

THE UNDERSIGNED, having quali ed on the 15th day of August, 2025, as Executor of the ESTATE OF JOHN HOYT KELLEY, Deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the November 22, 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 21st day of August 2025. Sandra Loen Kelley EXECUTOR ESTATE OF John Hoyt Kelley c/o Richard G. Long III, Attorney Walker Lambe, PLLC Post O ce Box 51549 Durham, North Carolina 27717

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

NOTICE TO CREDITORS COUNTY OF CHATHAM THE UNDERSIGNED, having quali ed on the 13th day of August, 2025, as Co-Executors of the ESTATE OF GRETCHEN R. BRUCE, Deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 29th day of 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 28th day of August, 2025. Christopher Bruce and Robin Bruce CO-EXECUTORS ESTATE OF GRETCHEN R. BRUCE c/o Richard G. Long III, Attorney Walker Lambe, PLLC Post O ce Box 51549 Durham, North Carolina 27717

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION CHATHAM COUNTY FILE NO. 11CvD000961-180

COUNTY OF CHATHAM Plainti , vs. GERRARD LEWIS GRADY, et al Defendants.

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION TO: GERRARD LEWIS GRADY and ANY HEIRS, ASSIGNS and DEVISEES of GERRARD LEWIS GRADY or any other person or entity claiming thereunder, and The HEIRS, ASSIGNS and DEVISEES of ED DEGGRAFFENDREIDT a/k/a EDDIE DEGRAFFENREAIDT and spouse, if any, which may include KATHERINE MARIE FOUSHEE and spouse, if any, COLUMBUS SHERMAN FOUSHEE and spouse, if any, and IRA FOUSHEE or any other person or entity claiming thereunder

A pleading seeking relief against you has been led in the above-entitled action and notice of service of process by publication began on September 4, 2025.

The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: Foreclosure on tax parcel(s) more completely described in the Complaint, to collect delinquent ad valorem taxes (assessments). Plainti seeks to extinguish any and all claim or interest that you may have in said property.

You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than forty (40) days after the date of the rst publication of notice stated above, exclusive of such date, being forty (40) days after September 4, 2025, or by October14, 2025, and upon your failure to do so, the party seeking service of process by publication will apply to the Court for relief sought.

This the 26th day of August, 2025.

ZACCHAEUS LEGAL SERVICES

By: ____________________________________ Mark D. Bardill/Mark B. Bardill

Attorney for Plainti NC Bar #12852/56782 310 W. Jones St. P. O. Box 25 Trenton, North Carolina 28585 Telephone: (252) 448-4541

Publication dates:

September 4, 2025 September 11, 2025 September 18, 2025

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS CHATHAM COUNTY

HAVING QUALIFIED as Executor of the Estate of Lewis Keith Kidd 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 27th day of November, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

This the 21st day of August, 2025. Kayla Kidd Humphries, Executor of the Estate of Lewis Keith Kidd 313 Sanctuary Way, Apt. 105 Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312 MOODY, WILLIAMS, ATWATER & LEE ATTORNEYS AT LAW BOX 629 SILER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27344 (919) 663-2850 4tp

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

TOWN OF PITTSBORO, NC

On Monday, September 8, 2025 at 6:00 pm, the Pittsboro Board of Commissioners will hold the following public hearing in person at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center at 1192 Hwy 64 Business West, Pittsboro, NC: A public hearing to receive comments on the proposed acquisition and nance plan of real property located at 274 Pittsboro Elementary School Road, Pittsboro, NC for the purpose of expanding municipal facilities. The proposed acquisition is anticipated to be nanced through installment nancing. The estimated maximum amount of nancing required is $1,050,000.00. The hearing will be held in person. The public can also watch the hearing live on the Town’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@townofpittsboronc/ streams. Members of the public must attend in person if they wish to speak at a hearing. Contact the Town Clerk, Carrie Bailey, by 4 pm on September 8, 2025 to sign up to speak at the hearing at cbailey@pittsboronc.gov, (984) 282-6647, or PO Box 759, Pittsboro, NC 27312.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

All persons having claims against Nanette Swift Melcher, of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to present them to Mathew Melcher, Executor of the Estate of Nanette Melcher, to Brittany N. Porter of NextGen Estate Solutions, 1340 Environ Way, Chapel Hill, NC 27517 or before November 28th, 2025. Failure to present a claim in timely fashion will result in this Notice being pleaded in bar of recovery against the estate, the Personal Representative, and the devisees of Nanette Melcher. Those indebted to Nanette Melcher are asked to make prompt payment to the Estate. Matthew Melcher, Executor of the Estate of Nannette Melcher Brittany N. Porter, Attorney NextGen Estate Solutions 1340 Environ Way, Chapel Hill, NC 27517

PUBLIC NOTICE

State of North Carolina County of Chatham The annual meeting of the North Chatham Volunteer Fire Department Inc., will be held at North Chatham Volunteer Fire Department Station #1, U.S. 15501 North, on Monday, September 8, 2025 at 7:00 PM for the purpose of electing (2) Directors of the Corporation and such other business as may properly come before the meeting. All residents of the North Chatham Fire Protection District eighteen (18) years of age or older and live in Chatham County are entitled to attend and vote at said meeting. The Directors are residents of the North Chatham Fire Protection District in Chatham County and shall fairly be representative of the geographic areas and populations served by the corporation.

This 26th day of August 2025.

Chuck Quinlan, President North Chatham Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of John Kevin Conlon aka John K. Conlon, 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 21st day of November, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment. This 21st day of August, 2025.

DONNA CONLON, EXECUTOR ESTATE OF JOHN KEVIN CONLON AKA JOHN K. CONLON

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS CHATHAM COUNTY

HAVING QUALIFIED as Executor of the Estate of Frankie C. Mueller 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 4th day of December, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

This the 28th day of August, 2025.

Je Mueller, Executor of the Estate Of Frankie C. Mueller 170 Dewitt Smith Road Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312

MOODY, WILLIAMS, ATWATER & LEE ATTORNEYS AT LAW BOX 629 SILER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27344 (919) 663-2850 4tp

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Louise Prudence Kessler

Having quali ed as Limited Personal Representative of the Estate of Louise Prudence Kessler, late of Chatham 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 100 Europa Drive, Suite 271, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27517, on or before the 23rd day of November 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms, corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This is the 21st day of August 2025. Michelle Calderone Widmann Limited Personal Representative of the Estate of Louise Prudence Kessler Timothy A. Nordgren Schell Bray PLLC Attorney for the Estate 100 Europa Drive, Suite 271 Chapel Hill, NC, 27517 FOR PUBLICATION: 8/21, 8/28, 9/04, 9/11, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA

CHATHAM COUNTY

25E000463-180

ALL persons having claims against John Charles Angelillo, Jr., deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before Dec 04 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This the 4th day of September, 2025.

JOSEPH A. ANGELILLO, Administrator

C/O Howard Stallings Law Firm PO Box 12347 Raleigh, NC 27605

S4, 11, 18 and 25

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

25E000415-180

ALL persons having claims against Patricia Byrne Terry, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before Dec 04 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 4th day of September, 2025. Christina T. Morris, Executor C/O Privette Legacy Planning 1400 Crescent Green, Suite G-100 Cary, NC 27518 S4, 11, 18 and 25

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Max Allen Maples, deceased, of Chatham County, N.C., the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said estate to exhibit them on or before the 21st day of November 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. Published on the 21st day of August 2025. Shanda Hardin, Administrator, 5216 Eastview Lane, Ramseur, NC 27316.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY 25E000267-180 ALL persons having claims against William Davis Brown, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned

Notice

of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 4th day of September, 2025. Christina T. Morris, Administrator CTA C/O Privette Legacy Planning 137 Highpointe Drive Pittsboro, NC 27312 S4, 11, 18 and 25

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#25E000342-180 The undersigned, KENNETH EUGENE POWELL, having quali ed on the 1ST Day of AUGUST, 2025 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of CAROLYN JEAN MILLER POWELL, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 21ST Day 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 21ST DAY OF AUGUST 2025. KENNETH EUGENE POWELL, ADMINISTRATOR 3933 HIGHLAND CREEK CT. PFAFFTOWN, NC 27040 Run dates: A21,28,S4,11p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#25E000455-180

The undersigned, KENNETH A HENDERSON, having quali ed on the 18TH Day of AUGUST, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of DEBRA LYNN HENDERSON, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 28TH 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 28TH DAY OF AUGUST 2025. KENNETH A HENDERSON, EXECUTOR 2294 US 64 BUSINESS W. PITTSBORO, NC 27312 Run dates: A28,S4,11,18p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA

CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#25E000470-180

The undersigned, CINDY S. STUYVESANT, having quali ed on the 25TH Day of AUGUST, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of GERALD K. STUYVESANT, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 4TH Day DECEMBER 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 4TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2025. CINDY S. STUYVESANT, EXECUTOR 6320 N KOLMAR AVE. CHICAGO, IL 60646 Run dates: S4,11,18,25p

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, September 4, 2025

Uwharrie Bigfoot Festival

TAKE NOTICE

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 24SP001120-180 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Jeremy K. Thompson and Lycrecia V. Thompson (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Jeremy K. Thompson) to David L. Brunk, Trustee(s), dated June 25, 2007, and recorded in Book No. 1344, at Page 638 in Chatham County Registry, North Carolina. The Deed of Trust was modi ed by the following: A Loan Modi cation recorded on February 27, 2024, in Book No. 2402, at Page 210, 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 Chatham 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 courthouse door in Pittsboro, Chatham County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on September 11, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Pittsboro in the County of Chatham, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All that certain property situated in the County of Chatham and state of North Carolina, being more fully described in a Deed dated 02/28/2001 and recorded 03/01/2001, among the land records of the County of State set forth above, in Deed Volume 856 and Page 136. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 220 Blakes Drive, Pittsboro, North Carolina.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Clockwise from top right:

A woman watches as festivalgoers ride a Sasquatch-themed monster truck at Denton Farmpark on Sunday at the inaugural Uwharrie Bigfoot Festival. Fall-themed crafts were for sale by several vendors during the three-day event. Denton Farmpark hosted the inaugural Uwharrie Bigfoot Festival last weekend.

Tax Map or Parcel ID NO.: 0062241

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

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#25E000416-180

The undersigned, DONALD WAYNE CHAMBERS, having quali ed on the 8TH Day of AUGUST, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of ROYCE DILLARD CHAMBERS 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 14TH 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 14TH DAY OF AUGUST 2025.

DONALD WAYNE CHAMBERS, EXECUTOR 111 POLKS LANDING RD. CHAPEL HILL, NC 27516 Run dates: A14,21,28,S4p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#25E00187-180

The undersigned, STEPHEN THOMAS WILLETT, having quali ed on the 18TH Day of AUGUST, 2025 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of STEPHEN LEROY WILLETT, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 28TH 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 28TH DAY OF AUGUST 2025.

STEPHEN THOMAS WILLETT, EXECUTOR

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 its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy. Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the e ective date of the termination.

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC.

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm LLP P.O. Box 1028 Fayetteville, NC 28302 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Phone No: (910)864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslaw rm.com Firm Case No: 7393 - 106520 TAKE NOTICE

CREDITOR’S NOTICE

Having quali ed on the 15th day of August, 2025, as Administrator CTA of the Estate of Frances Dowd Payne, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the decedent to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before the 28th day of November, 2025,

Attorneys: Law O ces of Doster & Brown, P.A. 206 Hawkins Avenue Sanford, NC 27330 Publish On: August 28th, September 4th, 11th and 18th 2025.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#25E000424-180 The undersigned, JAMES RAY HOLDER, JR., having quali ed on the 4TH Day of AUGUST, 2025 as ADMINISTRATOR, CTA of the Estate of THERESA E. HOLDER 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 21ST 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 21ST OF AUGUST 2025. JAMES RAY HOLDER, JR., ADMINISTRATOR CTA 462 DUBLIN DR. SANFORD, NC 27330 Run dates: A21,28,S4,11p

AVISO DE AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA

Sección 5311 (ADTAP), 5310, 5339, 5307 y nanciamiento estatal aplicable, o una combinación de las mismas.

Esto es para informar al público de que se hará una audiencia pública sobre

la solicitud de Compra de capital de servicio para el año scal 2027 para el Programa de transporte comunitario que se presentará al Departamento de Transporte de Carolina del Norte a más tardar el 3 de octubre de 2025.

La audiencia pública se hará el 15 de septiembre de 2025 a las 6 p. m. ante la Junta de Comisionados del condado de Chatham. Las personas interesadas en asistir a la audiencia pública y que necesiten ayudas y servicios auxiliares según la Ley de Americanos con Discapacidades (Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA) o un traductor deben comunicarse con Zach Deaton a más tardar el 12 de septiembre de 2025, llamando al número de teléfono 919-542-4512 o enviando un correo electrónico a zach.deaton@chathamcountync.gov. El Programa de transporte comunitario da ayuda para coordinar los programas existentes de transporte que operan en el condado de Chatham y opciones de transporte y servicios para las comunidades en esta área de servicio. Estos servicios se prestan actualmente mediante Chatham Transit Network. Cantidad total aproximada que se solicitará para el período del 1 de julio de 2026 al 30 de junio de 2027: NOTA: La cantidad de la parte local está sujeta a la disponibilidad de fondos estatales.

Esta solicitud podrá revisarse en www.chathamcountync.gov/ agingservices a partir del 2 de septiembre de 2025. Los comentarios por escrito deben enviarse a Jenifer Johnson antes del 12 de septiembre de 2025 a jenifer.johnson@chathamcountync.gov.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

Section 5311 (ADTAP), 5310, 5339, 5307 and applicable State funding, or combination thereof. This is to inform the public that a public hearing will be held on the proposed FY 2027 Capital Purchase of Service Community Transportation Program Application to be submitted to the North Carolina Department of Transportation no later than October 3, 2025. The public hearing will be held on September 15, 2025 at 6 p.m.

or via email at zach.deaton@chathamcountync.gov The Community Transportation Program provides assistance to coordinate existing transportation programs operating in Chatham County as well as provides transportation options and services for the communities within this service area. These services are currently provided using Chatham Transit Network. The total

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 general use rezoning by Lockley Holdings LLC dba Bear Creek Fabrication, to rezone Parcel 9390, located at 1656 Campbell Rd, Bear Creek, being approximately

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

25E000272-180 ALL persons having claims against Joan Covey Lawson, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before Nov 21 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 21st day of August, 2025. Patrick Lawson, Limited Personal Representative C/O Brady Boyette, PLLC 1025 Dresser Court Raleigh, NC 27609 A21, 28, 4 and 11

NOTICE

ALL PERSONS, rms and corporations holding claims against Stephanie Ramos, deceased, of Chatham County, NC are noti ed to exhibit same to the undersigned on or before December 7, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This 4th day of September 2025. Nilda Ramos, Admin., c/o Clarity Legal Group, PO Box 2207, Chapel Hill, NC 27515.

PHOTOS BY CORY LAVALETTE / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Festivalgoers visit a chainsaw art booth Sunday at the Uwharrie Bigfoot Festival in Davidson County.

CHATHAM SPORTS

Los Jets snap losing skid with

Humberto Vargas recorded a hat trick against the Patriots

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

SILER CITY — Sophomore

Humberto Vargas notched a hat trick to propel Jordan-Matthews’ boys’ soccer team to a 10-1 win over Providence Grove on Aug. 27.

Tied at one goal apiece early in the rst half, Vargas caught up to a cross from the left and knocked in the go-ahead score from close range. He scored twice more in the rst half, including a shot that was blocked up in the air and landed behind the goal line to put the Jets up 4-1 and an assist from Enrique Granados to give his team a four-goal lead.

“We have a lot of expectations for Humberto,” Jor -

“I think this team can do a lot of great things this season.”

Paul Cuadros

dan-Matthews coach Paul Cuadros said. “He’s very fast. He’s very quick. He’s got good vision, and we know he’s going to score goals for us this season, so we’re happy with it.”

Vargas wasn’t the only Jet having himself a night as six of his teammates found the back of the net. Jordan-Matthews kept the ball on its opponent’s side for the majority of the game and created scoring opportunities with ease.

The Jets’ 10 goals were the most they scored in a game since Feb. 11, 2021.

“They were playing back too

much,” Vargas said about Providence Grove’s defense. “So that gave us more of an advantage to play through balls, like over the air, so we could run in and nish.”

COURTESY LEE MOODY

Chatham Central defenders run in for a tackle against JordanMatthews on Aug. 29. The Jets’ rushing attack was led by Jakari Blue and Kamarie Hadley.

Providence Grove struck rst with a goal from sophomore Saul Cortes eight minutes into the game, but just over a minute later, senior Samuel Basilio started the Jets’ onslaught

JordanMatthews coach Paul

addresses his team after beating Providence Grove on Aug. 27.

J-M overpowers Chatham Central, moves to 2-0 for rst time since 2013

Kamarie Hadley threw ve touchdown passes in the win

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

BEAR CREEK — Old feelings were restored in another edition of west Chatham’s football rivalry Friday.

Jordan-Matthews (2-0) went on the road and put Chatham Central (1-1) away in the rst half of a 48-6 blowout win, earning the Jets

their rst 2-0 start since 2013.

Senior quarterback Kamarie Hadley threw ve touchdown passes and had 183 yards on 12 completions.

Sophomore receiver Nolan Mitchell caught three of those scores as part of his ve-reception, 119 -yard night, and senior running back Jakari Blue carried the rushing attack with two touchdowns and 102 yards on 12 carries.

“My line blocking gave me time to read the eld and throw the ball,” Hadley said. “They did good today.”

“Seeing the work we put in through practice work out on the eld, it’s amazing.”

Jakari Blue

Jordan-Matthews jumped out to a 34-6 lead by the end of the rst half. The Jets made a statement from the opening

of goals with a tying score. Following Vargas’ rst score, senior Andres Tepile gave Jordan-Matthews a 3-1 advantage

Dallas Brinton spoiled the Chargers’ rst home game with a big night

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

PITTSBORO — Junior quarterback Dallas Brinton rushed for 193 yards and three touchdowns to power Asheboro (2-0) to a 49-7 blowout road win over Northwood (0-2) on Aug. 28.

Averaging more than 17 yards per carry on 11 rushes, Brinton accumulated all his o ensive production in the rst half.

“He’s our leader on o ense,” Asheboro coach Calvin Brown said. “He gets our offense going from the quarterback position. People want to slow down DJ (Scott) and Connor (Brinton). They do. Dallas is a threat with his legs, so we feel like we’ve got a three-headed monster back there in the back eld.” And that monster roamed all over the Chargers’ eld. Scott, a junior, and sophomore Connor Brinton added a combined 132 yards and three scores (Connor Brinton scored twice) on the ground. Eight di erent Asheboro ball carriers combined for 409 yards, making it the second straight week Northwood allowed more than 250 yards rushing.

“Our o ensive line is the reason for all the yards today,” Dallas Brinton said. “They’re so improved from last year, and they’re just a great group.”

Asheboro’s defense also dominated the line of scrimmage, holding Northwood to under 50 yards rushing. The Blue Comets recorded 10 tackles for loss, including two

“They executed and ran it down us, and we couldn’t stop it.”

Dalton Brown

PHOTOS BY ASHEEBO ROJAS / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Andres Tepile (10) knocks in a goal in Jordan-Matthews’ win over Providence Grove on Aug. 27.

Cuadros

Kamarie Hadley

Jordan-Matthews, football

Jordan-Matthews’ senior quarterback Kamarie Hadley earns athlete of the week honors for the week of Aug. 25.

In the Jets’ blowout win over Chatham Central Friday, Hadley completed 12 passes for 183 yards and ve touchdowns. He also rushed for 84 yards, including a 48-yard run in the second quarter.

Hadley has played two games as a varsity quarterback and is improving week by week. In the season-opening win against Carrboro, Hadley threw his rst touchdown pass and rushed for 104 yards on 13 carries. He’s helped Jordan-Matthews reach a 2-0 record for the rst time since 2013. FALL

Woods Charter volleyball dominates in early conference play

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record Volleyball

SEAFORTH STARTED the week with a 3-1 win over Carrboro on Aug. 26 thanks to team highs of 21 kills from senior Josie Valgus and 39 assists from junior Abigail Valgus. Following that win, the Hawks lost back-to-back games to Chapel Hill, HighSchoolOT’s No. 10 team in the state, 3-1 (Aug. 27) and Cedar Ridge 3-1 (Aug. 28). Seaforth lost consecutive games for the rst time since 2022.

Woods Charter took down Eno River Academy (Aug. 25) and Ascend Leadership (Aug. 28) in straight sets. The Wolves have won four straight games in straight sets as of Monday.

Northwood earned its rst win of the season over Durham School of the Arts 3-0 on Aug. 25. Senior Shae Leighton logged a team-high eight kills, and senior Imani Henderson recorded a team-high 11 assists.

Chatham Central snapped a four-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory at North Stokes on Aug. 25. Sophomore Addison Goldston led the way with 12 kills. Conference standings as of Sunday (overall, conference):

Four Rivers 3A/4A: 1. North Moore (4-1, 0-0); 2. Uwharrie Charter Academy (8-3, 0-0); 3. Southwestern Randolph (4-5, 0-0); 4. Eastern Randolph (2-3, 0-0); 5. Jordan-Matthews (2-6, 0-0); 6. Northwood (1-7, 0-0)

Central Tar Heel 1A: 1. Woods Charter (6-1, 3-0); 2. Clover Garden School (5-1, 2-0); 3. River Mill (4-3, 2-1); 4. Chatham Charter (2-6, 1-1); 5. Ascend Leadership (1-3, 1-2); 6. Southern Wake Academy (1-4, 1-3); 7. Central Carolina Academy (0-4, 0-3)

Greater Triad 1A/2A: 1. Bishop McGuinness (5-2, 2-0); T2. Chatham Central (2-5, 1-0); T2. South Davidson (2-7, 1-0); T4. North Stokes (1-4, 1-1); T4. South Stokes (4-4, 1-1); T6. College Prep and Leadership (1-6, 0-2); T6. Winston-Salem Prep (1-6, 0-2) Big Seven 4A/5A: 1. Cedar Ridge (8-0, 2-0); 2. Durham School of the Arts (5-3, 1-0); T3. Seaforth (4-3, 1-1); T3. Carrboro (4-5, 1-1); 5. Orange (2-5, 0-1); 6. South Granville (1-7, 0-2); 7. J.F. Webb (4-3, 0-0)

Girls’ tennis

Seaforth extended its win streak to three with a 9-0 win over Cedar Ridge (Aug. 25) and a 5-4 win against Durham School

Boys’ soccer

of the Arts (Aug. 27) before falling to East Chapel Hill 9-0 on Aug. 28. After losing 8-1 to Providence Grove on Aug. 25, Jordan-Matthews defeated Chatham Central 6-3 on Aug. 27. Chatham Charter handed the Jets another 8-1 loss on Aug. 28. Conference standings as of Sunday (overall, conference): Four Rivers 3A/4A: 1. Southwestern Randolph (4-2, 0-0); 2. Jordan-Matthews (2-5, 0-0); 3. North Moore (0-3, 0-0); 4. Northwood (0-2, 0-0); 5. Uwharrie Charter (0-0, 0-0) Central Tar Heel 1A: 1. Chatham Charter (2-0, 0-0); 2. Clover Garden School (1-1, 0-0); 3. Southern Wake Academy (0-0, 0-0)

Greater Triad 1A/2A: 1. North Stokes (6-0, 0-0); 2. South Davidson (2-0, 0-0); 3. Bishop McGuinness (0-3, 0-0); 4. Chatham Central (0-2, 0-0); 5. South Stokes (0-5, 0-0)

Before getting vengeance on Providence Grove, Jordan-Matthews lost 1-0 to Currituck County on Saturday. The Knights scored the game’s only goal in the second half. Northwood tied with Graham 1-1 in its only game of the week. Seaforth snapped a three-game losing streak with back-to-back wins. The Hawks beat Eastern Alamance 6-0 on Aug. 25 and shut out Cummings 5-0 on Aug. 27. Conference standings as of Sunday (overall, conference): Four Rivers 3A/4A: 1. Uwharrie Charter (1-0, 0-0); 2. Southwestern Randolph (6-0, 0-0); 3. Northwood (2-1-1, 0-0); 4. North Moore (2-1-1, 0-0); 5. Eastern Randolph (1-1-1, 0-0); 6. Jordan-Matthews (2-3, 0-0) Big Seven 4A/5A: 1. J.F. Webb (2-0, 0-0); 2. South Granville (21-1, 0-0); 3. Cedar Ridge (2-2, 0-0); 4. Orange (3-3, 0-0); 5. Seaforth (2-3, 0-0); 6. Carrboro (1-3-1, 0-0); 7. Durham School of the Arts (0-3-1, 0-0) Girls’ golf

Chatham Central defeated Graham 176-178 on Aug. 26 at Siler City Country Club.

GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Assists by Seaforth’s Abigail Valgus against Carrboro

GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Woods Charter’s Cecilia Brignati sets up an assist during a game against Chatham Charter on Aug. 21.

CHATHAM COUNTY FOOTBALL ROUNDUP: WEEK 2

Seaforth, Northwood still looking for rst wins in Week 3

The Hawks lost big to Southeast Alamance Friday

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

Southeast Alamance 41, Seaforth 12

SEAFORTH’S BLOWOUT

loss against Southeast Alamance Friday boiled down to it not being able to establish the run.

The Hawks nished the night with minus 19 yards on the ground and didn’t nd the end zone until the fourth quarter.

Meanwhile, Southeast Alamance had itself a night with its all-around o ensive attack.

Sophomore quarterback Tyler Jackson went 11 for 13 with 156 yards and two passing touchdowns. Southeast Alamance rushed for 126 yards on 18 carries as a team with junior DJ Callis recording 89 of those yards and a score.

The Stallions put the game away in the rst half as they took a 28-0 lead before the break.

Week 3: Seaforth (0-2) at Princeton (1-1); Friday at 7 p.m.

Seaforth will look to earn its rst win of the season against 3A opponent Princeton. The Bulldogs are coming o a 42 -20 loss at East Duplin in which they ran for and gave up more than 300 yards rushing.

The Hawks’ defense should prepare for a physical game played mostly in the box. Teo McPhatter, Princeton’s sophomore running back, will be a key player to watch as he’s rushed for 264 yards and three touchdowns in two games.

The biggest point of focus for the Hawks will be their own o ensive production. The unit has struggled with execution and nding the end zone to start the season, especially on short elds. Friday night will be another opportunity for Seaforth to nd an o ensive identity and start playing more complementary football.

Jordan-Matthews

Week 3: Jordan-Matthews (2-0) vs. North Stokes (0-2); Friday at 7 p.m.

Jordan-Matthews has a chance to go 3-0 for the rst time since 2011 when it hosts 1A opponent North Stokes for its home opener Friday. The Vi-

kings are coming o a 39-12 loss to Elkin in which they gave up 321 yards and four scores in the run game. The Jets will have to prepare for a passing attack led by North Stokes’ senior quarterback Noah Bennett. Bennett threw for more than 200 yards and two scores Friday. One of Jordan-Matthews’ strengths is its defensive back eld, so it’ll be interesting to see if the Jets can force turnovers. On the o ensive side of things, Jordan-Matthews should have

no problems running the ball with seniors Jakari Blue and Kamarie Hadley leading the attack. North Stokes has yet to allow less than 300 rushing yards in a game this season.

Northwood

Week 3: Northwood (0-2) vs. Bartlett Yancey (1-1); Friday at 7 p.m. Northwood’s next game against a former Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference opponent is all about redemption.

The Chargers are o to an abysmal start after playing two 6A opponents to start the season, and Friday’s home game is a good chance to ip the script. Last year, Northwood handled the Buccaneers 40 -22 thanks to a solid passing attack led by quarterback Grayson Cox.

This season, Bartlett Yancey is looking to bounce back after a 54-46 three-overtime loss to American Leadership Academy-Johnston on Friday. The Buccaneers started the year

2

2024 rematches for Chatham County teams in Week 3

with a 44-0 win over Northern Durham.

Northwood will need a much improved o ensive showing, including little to no turnovers, to get a repeat of the 2024 meeting.

Chatham Central

Week 3: Chatham Central (1-1) vs. East Columbus (0-2); Friday at 7 p.m.

Chatham Central will get a chance to bounce back from its blowout loss to J-M with a home game against East Columbus Friday.

The Bears beat the Gators 24 -12 in an uno cial game last season. This year, East Columbus has once again struggled out of the gate with lopsided losses to Latta (South Carolina) and Heide Trask.

Chatham Central will have to key in on the Gators’ sophomore receiver Kevon Stackhouse. He’s a 6-foot-5 target who had four receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown in the season opener.

On both sides of the ball, the Bears simply need better execution and consistency to win this game. Chatham Central has already shown its capable of good football with periods of well-run plays and defensive stops in the rst two weeks, but now, it must keep that level of play throughout an entire game. Limiting turnovers and drive-killers, like bad snaps, will also be something of focus for the Bears.

Power rankings (after Week 2)

1. Jordan-Matthews 2. Chatham Central 3. Seaforth 4. Northwood

Week 3 score predictions

Jordan-Matthews 42, North Stokes 12 Chatham Central 27, East Columbus 12 Princeton 21, Seaforth 14 Northwood 28, Bartlett Yancey 21

COURTESY LEE MOODY

Chatham Central’s Tyler Congrove gets tackled in a loss to Jordan-Matthews on Aug. 29. The Bears will host East Columbus on Friday.

Former Charger to start pro basketball career in Ireland

Jalen McAfee-Marion will play for Gri th College Éanna next month

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

WHILE CELEBRATING

alongside his cousin Drake Powell as he was drafted in the rst round of the NBA Draft to the Brooklyn Nets, Jalen McAfee-Marion knew his time was coming, too.

Months later and ve hours ahead of the Eastern time zone, the time is now.

McAfee-Marion, the former Northwood basketball standout, will live out his pro basketball dreams in Dublin, Ireland, with Gri th College Éanna, the senior men’s team of the Éanna Basketball Club that competes in Ireland’s top national league, the Super League. While playing basketball, McAfee-Marion will pursue his master’s in business administration at Gri th College.

The season will begin Oct. 3.

“It doesn’t feel real because you dream of doing something, and then you nally get there,” McAfee-Marion said. “When I got over here, I was just like, ‘Man.’ This is what I’ve really spent 17, 18 years working to get.”

For McAfee-Marion, the road to becoming a pro was assisted with the generosity of the Powell family.

McAfee-Marion faced issues with stability growing up, experiencing couch sur ng and an eviction.

“The Powell family took me in like a son for real, even though

SOCCER from page B1

as he corralled a corner kick that bounced around to a few players and scored from close range.

After building a 5-1 lead in the rst half, Cuadros was able to let his second unit in on the action. Junior Cristian Avalos came o the bench and scored twice in the second half, including an impressive goal in which he corraled a free kick

ASHEBORO from page B1

sacks from senior defensive lineman Jewel Barrett. Barrett came up with a sack fumble late in the second quarter that was recovered by Asheboro and led to a 6-yard touchdown run by Scott. That score gave the Blue Comets a 35-7 lead right before halftime. Junior linebacker Shane Immel picked o Northwood quarterback Finn Sullivan in the fourth quarter.

“We struggled a little bit early on in the rst quarter,” Brown said. “Then it started clicking with them, and we started ying around, and we started making plays. We were physical. It started up front. Jewel, Zak (Blakwell), Boone (Hinsely), Jaavan (Andrews), those guys up front really carried us. And then our backers Cole (Trogdon), (Ayden) Letterlough and (Luke) Brumley were ying to the football.”

Northwood’s rst turnover of the night, a lost fumble in the rst quarter, led to a 25-yard touchdown run by Dallas Brinton and a 7-0 lead for Asheboro.

they’re my aunts, my cousins, my uncles,” McAfee-Marion said. “I stayed with them for a long time when I went to Northwood. Aunt Cherice and Uncle Dedric, they’ve done a lot for me. They’ve been very involved with my life.”

At Northwood, McAfee-Marion (class of 2020) helped the Chargers to two playo appearances, including a trip to the 3A Final Four in 2020. He averaged 12.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game as a senior. He played with Aaron Ross, another Charger who recently joined La Ceja, a professional team play-

out of the air and used a bicycle kick to knock the ball in the net.

“I saw no one around me,” Avalos said. “I was messing around yesterday trying to do it for fun, and I guess it just came naturally.”

Jordan-Matthews ended the game nearly three minutes early thanks to three late-game goals from Victor Velazquez, Granados and Joseph Barrera.

The Jets had good reason to

ing in the Elite Basketball Cup in Antioquia, Colombia.

McAfee-Marion went on to play four seasons of college basketball across three di erent schools. He played his rst two seasons at Cape Fear Community College and then transferred to St. Andrews.

McAfee-Marion sat out his rst season with the Knights, but he returned the next year and played his best college season, averaging 14.6 points per game, including a 37.8% 3-point shooting clip. He transferred for one last season at University of the Southwest, where

put on its best performance of the season.

At Providence Grove on Aug. 20, the Patriots edged out Jordan-Matthews 5-4, starting a three-game losing streak heading into last week. The Jets hadn’t given up ve goals since losing to Southeast Alamance on Oct. 16, 2024, and that was also the last time they scored at least three goals and still lost.

“To be honest, the rst game, we were not locked in,” Basil-

he averaged 8.1 points per game.

During his Cape Fear CC days, McAfee-Marion started planting seeds toward playing overseas. McAfee-Marion applied to the Rome City Institute, an opportunity to study abroad in Italy and receive professional basketball training, and in the process, he met his agent, Trent May eld.

Although McAfee-Marion stayed in the U.S. to play college basketball, May eld stayed in touch with McAfee-Marion from 2022 to this year.

“He called on me, checked on me, checked on my seasons,”

io said. “We were kind of focused on other things. We were playing around. I think wenally locked in today and realized that we need to beat these guys.”

Even with the big win, Jordan-Matthews is still nding itself after losing 11 seniors from the 2024 squad. Younger players are stepping into larger roles and others have moved around to nd what best ts, but Cuadros believes they can still

The Chargers responded with a fumble recovery on their own early in the second quarter, and senior quarterback Grayson Cox cashed that in by rolling out to his right and hitting a streaking Nick Armstrong down the sideline for a 46-yard game-tying score. But things went quickly downhill after that for Northwood.

J-M from page B1

kicko as a fumble by Chatham Central returner Nick Glover was recovered at the Bears’ 24 -yard line and later cashed in by Blue with a 7-yard touchdown run. From there, the Jets never stopped capitalizing on big defensive stops and Chatham Central mistakes. On the next drive, the Jets recovered a high snap (a recurring problem for the Bears all night) once again deep in Chatham Central territory, and Blue extended the lead to 12-0 with a 1-yard score. After Jordan-Matthews’ defense forced a turnover on downs on the following possession, Hadley threw to Mitchell on one of many wide receiver

“This is what I’ve really spent 17, 18 years working to get.”

Jalen McAfee-Marion

McAfee-Marion said. “After that last season at University of the Southwest, me and him got on that phone call, and he was like, ‘Is it time?’ And I was just like ‘Yeah, I kind of want to experience and see with it’s about now.’”

McAfee-Marion sent lm out to colleges and pro teams in late March, and after a quiet two months, he got a call from the new Éanna coach.

“He expressed to me how much he liked my game and the opportunities I had over here waiting for me if I wanted it,” McAfee-Marion said.

With another year of college in the U.S. still a possibility, McAfee-Marion had a decision to make. The day after an NBA Finals game in June, McAfee-Marion talked to NC Central coach LeVelle Moton and Éanna, and from there, he felt more “comfortable” with going to Ireland.

“I think it’s just the fact that I have a chance to go somewhere that I probably wouldn’t typically,” McAfee-Marion said. “I’m young. I’m 23. I’ve always had people tell me you’re about to do something that most people never get to do, no matter what age. I’ve never been over there. My parents telling me they’re proud. They’re telling me I’m showing them that it’s just always better out there if you keep going.”

have another successful season. “I think this team can do a lot of great things this season,” Cuadros said. “We want to look at our conference and look at trying to win that and then going and having a good run through the playo s. Everything has changed in high school athletics due to the new divisions, so we’re going to wait and see how that plays out, but I think we have some good potential.”

Asheboro’s Dallas Brinton rushed for 193 yards on 11 carries in the rst half against Northwood during a nonconference game at Northwood high school in Pittsboro on Aug. 28.

two games (14) since 2019 (16).

screens, and he took it 38 yards to the house.

“I just knew I had one man to beat,” Mitchell said. “My receiver, Lennox, he blocked for me, so I knew I was going to be open.”

The screen play created plenty more big plays for the Jets, including an 18-yard rst half score by junior Namir Wiley and a 3-yard touchdown from freshman Jaden Fisher late in the fourth quarter.

“We saw the open eld,” Hadley said. “We just saw green grass. We just said, ‘Run the screen pass and just go.’ It was working every time.”

Mitchell was also a problem down the eld as he caught two scores (12 and 28 yards) in similar spots in the right side of the end zone.

Junior receiver Garrison Cheek ran in the nal touchdown for Asheboro in the third quarter.

“You can’t run the ball, you don’t stop the run, you’re not go-

Asheboro ripped o touchdown runs of 43 yards (Connor Brinton), 27 yards (Dallas Brinton) and 61 yards (also Dallas Brinton) all in the same quarter. Junior defensive back Jackson Freeman came up with the brightest play for the Chargers in that period as he picked o Brinton in the end zone.

Defensively, the Jets’ constant pressure and stout run defense sti ed the Bears. Jordan-Matthews recorded four sacks, and only two Chatham Central rushes went for more than 10 yards.

“Just being a dog,” Blue, who also played linebacker, said. “Having a dog ght and just staying on top.”

At the end of the third quarter, Jordan-Matthews sophomore Matthew Victorino picked o Chatham Central quarterback Brooks Albright to end one of the few drives that made it to the Jets’ side of the eld.

The best play in a disastrous night for the Bears o ense was a 19-yard dot from Albright to junior Hance Rameriez for a touchdown in the second quar-

ing to win a lot of football games,” Northwood coach Dalton Brown said. “That’s what happened tonight. Asheboro, great plan on the ground. They executed and ran it down us, and we couldn’t stop it. And then vice versa, they stopped our run attack.”

Northwood’s o ense has struggled to nd its footing in the rst two games of the season, scoring the fewest points in its rst

ter. Albright dropped the ball right behind the defender, and Rameriez caught it at its low point near his hip.

For the Jets, Friday’s win was another sign that much has improved from the 2024 season.

Jordan-Matthews’ 42-point win was its largest margin of victory against Chatham Central since it beat the Bears 49-0 in 2014.

“It’s amazing,” Blue said. “Seeing the work we put in through practice work out on the eld, it’s amazing.”

The biggest di erence has been the versatility of the offense with Hadley at quarterback. He’s been getting more comfortable as a passer with only two starts under his belt, and he adds another rushing threat (88 yards on the ground

“I think we’re just trying to nd an identity,” Brown said. “We’re young up front, but we have playmakers in certain spots that might not be what they’re used to playing, and it might be best for the team. We’re just trying to nd our footing with new placement and a couple new guys — not new guys, but just the same guys in new places,” Brown said. On the bright side, the Chargers don’t have any more 6A opponents on their schedule while they gure things out. They host a familiar and fellow 3A opponent in Bartlett Yancey next week (formerly a Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference foe). The Buccaneers are 1-1 after a 54 -46 triple-overtime loss against American Leadership Academy-Johnston last Friday.

“I just want to see execution,” Brown said. “Execution and build on the positives and xing the mistakes.”

Said Brown, “One thing I just told our guys again, they don’t quit. This group, I don’t think I have to worry about that. They’re not stopping.”

Friday). Converting Wiley and Mitchell to receivers has also added size and speed down the eld.

Jordan-Matthews will look to win its third straight game at home against North Stokes Friday at 7 p.m.

Chatham Central will try to get back on track at home against East Columbus, a team they defeated last season in an extra game, Friday at 7 p.m.

“I told them it’s just like life,” Chatham Central coach Derrin Little said. “You’ve got to get up. You’re going to get knocked down from time to time. Adversity comes to all of us in all di erent shapes, forms and sizes, and you just got to get up.

“I think the biggest key is just staying true to ourself.”

PJ WARD-BROWN / NORTH STATE JOURNAL

COURTESY JALEN MCAFEE-MARION

Jalen McAfee-Marion drives on a defender while at the University of the Southwest last season.

SIDELINE

REPORT

NFL Parsons relishes fresh start in Green Bay Green Bay, Wisc. Micah Parsons says he just went through the hardest four months of his life as he feared his contract stalemate with the Dallas Cowboys would stretch into the season. The matter was settled with a trade to the Green Bay Packers. Now the superstar pass rusher wants to create a legacy be tting one of the league’s most storied franchises.

Parsons arrived in Green Bay one day after the Packers sent two rst-round picks and three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark to Dallas in exchange for him. The Packers are making Parsons the highest-paid non-quarterback in history.

NCAA FOOTBALL

Sanders has sideline bathroom at Colorado, sponsored by Depend Boulder, Col. Colorado introduced a branded sideline bathroom for Deion Sanders in its opening game against Georgia Tech. Friday night’s sponsor is Depend undergarment. Colorado coach Deion Sanders was recently diagnosed with bladder cancer and needs to frequently use the restroom. The portable privacy tent is right next to the Bu aloes’ bench. Sanders spent time away from the team this summer as he went through treatment for bladder cancer. His doctor said he was cured. It was also revealed that a section of his intestine was reconstructed to function as a bladder.

MLB Schwarber has 21st 4-homer game in MLB history, posts Phillies-record 9 RBIs Philadelphia Philadelphia slugger Kyle Schwarber hit four home runs against Atlanta to become the fourth Phillies player and 21st major leaguer to accomplish the feat. Schwarber was 4 for 6 with a Phillies-record nine RBIs in the 19-4 victory. He took the outright National League homer lead with a career-high 49. Schwarber leads the majors with a career-high 119 RBIs. Mike Schmidt was the last Philadelphia player to hit four homers in a game, in 1976. Schwarber had the third four-homer game of the season, following Eugenio Suárez and Nick Kurtz.

NBA

ESPN replaces Burke with Legler for NBA Finals coverage

Bristol, Conn. ESPN demoted basketball analyst Doris Burke from its NBA Finals broadcast team. ESPN announced that Tim Legler would join the lead team with Mike Breen, Richard Je erson and Lisa Salters. This team will cover the NBA Finals on ABC next season, along with other high-pro le games. ESPN also announced a multiyear contract extension for Burke, who will work alongside play-by-play voice Dave Pasch next season. Burke joined ESPN in 1990 and has been involved with the NBA Finals since 2009. She won the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Curt Gowdy Media Award in 2018.

Newmark makes shift from racing exec to UNC’s athletic director-in-waiting

The former racing team president will take over Tar Heel sports in 2026

By Aaron Beard The Associated Press

CHAPEL HILL — Steve Newmark has spent years working in a sport de ned by speed.

Maybe that will have the former NASCAR racing team president prepared for the rapidly shifting landscape of college sports as UNC’s designated next athletic director.

The school announced its succession plan in July, hiring Newmark away from RFK Racing for a transitionary position before becoming Bubba Cunningham’s successor in 2026. Newmark started working alongside Cunningham this month as an executive associate AD, giving him the better part of a year to study the intricacies and quirks of overseeing a power conference athletics program.

“We were joking,” Newmark said of Cunningham, “some of it is just me following Bubba around and learning the ropes here.”

And yet, Newmark’s status as an outsider is exactly why he’s here at this particular moment.

UNC has touted the Chapel Hill native’s experience in sponsorships, marketing and contract negotiations after his 15-year run as president of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing. That announcement came the same day as the ofcial start of revenue sharing following the $2.8 billion House antitrust settlement, clearing the way for schools to share up to about $20.5 million with their athletes in Year 1.

Starting a transition plan

Paying for all that — along with facing issues for the 28-sport program — will be Newmark’s responsibility by next summer.

Cunningham, UNC’s AD since late 2011, said the two had conversations going back to last summer about differing approaches to generating revenue between auto racing and college sports, particularly with things changing so quickly in the latter since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cunningham described it as “an ongoing conversation,” leading to Newmark working on an advisory committee in the hiring of Bill Belichick as football coach in December before ultimately being named Cunningham’s successor.

“He and I shared the pas-

“He’s a perfect t for us right now.”

Bubba Cunningham, UNC AD

sion for what we were doing and where it was headed,” Cunningham said. “And then thinking about, all right, I’ve got two years left on a contract, I’m ready to do something else, how do we make this transition work for Carolina?

“He’s a perfect t for us right now. There wasn’t anything too magical to it. It was just kind of taking time over a developing relationship between the two of us, and the thought of: ‘How do we continue to get better?’”

Added Newmark: “I don’t think when we started the discussions that that was the objective. I wasn’t looking to leave RFK Racing. I really enjoyed it there.”

Mulling new revenue streams

Rather, Newmark said, he looked at moving to UNC as an opportunity to use his own professional sports experience in a college world looking more pro-like by the day — or hour, for that matter.

Newmark said he’ll spend

the coming months looking at options for generating additional revenues in the long term. And it doesn’t take long to connect his history in auto racing — where sponsors turn cars into high-pro le advertising for their brand — to the possibilities. That’s of particular interest in Chapel Hill, where the school long refused to allow advertising in major athletics venues until roughly two decades ago. Yet now, UNC joins schools across the country in mulling options such as selling naming rights to venues, eld sponsorships or even jersey patches.

“I think it may have been something that would’ve been a shock to the system 20 years ago, but I think everybody has seen the evolution of sports,” Newmark said. “And collegiate athletics is clearly not on the leading edge of doing that. If you look at professional sports, they’ve been much more aggressive in integrating brands and properties.”

Still, Newmark stopped short of planning to replicate those ad-heavy racing looks in that trademark shade of light blue.

“Well, I have committed to several donors that I promise we won’t look like a NASCAR driver’s re suit,” he quipped.

Thielen relishes return home to Vikings after two-year family adventure with Panthers

The Minnesota native was traded after Carolina training camp

By Dave Campbell The Associated Press

EAGAN, Minn. — Adam Thielen naturally kept Minnesota as his family’s o season home after he joined the Carolina Panthers, surrounded by relatives and friends and the familiarity of his native state.

Earlier this summer, just like during the last one, Thielen was invited to join some throwing sessions in the Twin Cities area that included a new Vikings quarterback. How convenient. Those workouts wound up giving Thielen a jump start in his chemistry with J.J. McCarthy, seemingly foreshadowing a return for the 35-year-old wide receiver to his original team and beloved home.

What stood out to Thielen immediately was McCarthy’s work ethic, mindset and communications skill, even in an informal session involving players on di erent teams.

“When we were working out together, there was no thought of actually playing together,”

Thielen said last Thursday after his arrival at Vikings headquarters on the heels of the trade with the Panthers that reunited him with the only other team he’s played for. “But at the time, I had so much respect for him and how he approaches the game, even in the summer months when you don’t really have to do those things.”

Thielen, who was acquired with a conditional 2026 seventh-round draft pick and a 2027 fth-round pick from the Panthers for a 2026 fth-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick, has the third-most catches in Vikings history behind Cris Carter and Randy Moss, two Pro Football Hall of Fame members he grew up avidly rooting for.

“I just didn’t think that this was even a possibility. I thought the next time that I would be talking to you guys would be when I was signing a one-day contract and retiring, so this is pretty surreal,” Thielen said to reporters on the indoor practice eld. “I’m going to take advantage of every second I’m going to be back in this building.”

Thielen was careful to clarify he wasn’t looking to leave the Panthers, who went 7-27 over his two seasons. He raved

about the quality of the people he worked with, from quarterback Bryce Young to the kitchen sta at the practice facility. After being released by the Vikings for salary cap relief following the 2022 season, Thielen took his wife and three young children on a temporary relocation to North Carolina they won’t soon forget.

“We grew a lot closer as a family, having to kind of do this little adventure on our own,” Thielen said. “Our whole time in Minnesota, we had family, friends, loved ones right here.” As he bro-hugged his way through the building, Thielen

clearly had a couple of favorites in mind to nd in coach Kevin O’Connell and wide receiver Justin Je erson. He compared the reunion with Je erson to coming back from college and meeting up with a childhood friend.

“It’s like you never left, like it was yesterday. And that’s how I felt with Justin. It was like we’ve never been on a di erent team,” Thielen said. “I love that guy to death and have so much respect for him on and o the eld, and we have such a great relationship. It’s good to be back.”

When the regular season begins on Sept. 8 at Chicago, the Vikings won’t have Jordan Addison because of a three-game suspension. They aren’t sure yet whether Jalen Nailor will be healthy enough to play after injuring his hand in a joint practice with the New England Patriots. Tai Felton is a rookie. Thielen could well join Je erson in the starting lineup, sliding back into O’Connell’s system and catching passes from a kid he’s already worked with.

“I’m going to make sure this emotion doesn’t just fade away,” Thielen said. “It’s going to be hopefully something that lasts my entire time here, just how appreciative I am to be here.”

JACOB KUPFERMAN / AP PHOTO

Then-Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen warms up before a preseason game.

AARON BEARD / AP PHOTO

UNC executive associate athletic director Steve Newmark has been named the successor to current athletic director Bubba Cunningham.

Kitsch’s ‘The Terminal List’ character gets origin story in ‘The Terminal

Real military veterans worked as advisers on the series

By Alicia Rancilio

The Associated Press

TAYLOR KITSCH’S character ends up a villain in 2022’s Chris Pratt-led series, “The Terminal List,” and in a new series, viewers learn how he got that way.

“The Terminal List: Dark Wolf,” now streaming on Prime Video, is set about ve years before the original show. Kitsch plays Ben Edwards, a Navy SEAL deployed to Iraq who is assigned to train local soldiers. He feels a deep loyalty to his comrades but begins to question some of the decisions made above him.

“I take the utmost pride to be authentic and rooted in Ben,” Kitsch said in a recent interview, “but there’s a dark side to service.”

Prime Video is invested in “The Terminal List” universe. Production is underway on a second season starring Pratt, and there are plans for more “Dark Wolf” — and perhaps standalone lms. The franchise is based on novels by former SEAL Jack Carr, who is also a creator and executive producer on its shows.

“Hopefully we can keep swinging,” said Pratt, who describes Carr as “a workhorse” with “no shortage of source material.”

List: Dark Wolf’

“Anytime you get a call where it’s like, ‘Hey, we would love to do a full season and go way deeper into the psyche of the character you built, I mean of course, I was all ears.”

Taylor Kitsch

Kitsch was intrigued to dive back in when he heard Carr and “Terminal List” co-creator and showrunner David DiGilio wanted to do more with his character.

“Anytime you get a call where it’s like, ‘Hey, we would love to do a full season and go way deeper into the psyche of the character you built, I mean of course, I was all ears,” said Kitsch.

How to watch “The Terminal List: Dark Wolf”

The rst four episodes of “The Terminal List: Dark Wolf” are now streaming on Prime Video. A new episode will drop weekly on Wednesdays. The nale streams Sept. 24.

Where “Terminal List” got its start

In “The Terminal List,” Pratt plays James Reece, a Navy SEAL lieutenant command-

er who goes on a quest for vengeance after his platoon is ambushed.

“I love playing James Reese,” said Pratt. “But also I think James Reese is reaching that echelon of like a Jack Reacher or a Jack Ryan. There can be multiple iterations of this character over time. He now lives in the ethos of one of the greatest American badass heroes.”

Who else stars?

Besides Kitsch and Pratt, the show also features Luke Hemsworth and Tom Hopper.

“What’s so great about an origin story is we see the doors that these guys walk through and where it takes them,” said Hopper. “I think about that in my life, I look back on my life and go, ‘Oh, if I hadn’t walked through that door, then that would never have happened. I wouldn’t have met that person. It wouldn’t have led me there.’”

Real vets help make ‘Terminal List’

“The Terminal List” employed actual military veterans to work in roles like adviseers and as background actors. They were also employed for “Dark Wolf.” Hemsworth said their presence was an incentive to make something they would be proud of.

“Everyone, particularly us as actors, feel a great weight and responsibility to make sure that it’s done very well.”

Actor Taylor Kitsch stars as Navy SEAL Ben Edwards in “The Terminal List: Dark Wolf,” a prequel of the Chris Pratt-led “The Terminal List.”

this week in history

“On the Road” published, Ford pardons Nixon, Queen Elizabeth II dies

The Associated Press

SEPT. 4

1781: Los Angeles was founded by Spanish settlers under the leadership of Gov. Felipe de Neve.

1957: Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus ordered Arkansas National Guardsmen to prevent nine black students from entering all-white Central High School in Little Rock.

1972: The longest-running game show in U.S. history, “The Price is Right,” debuted on CBS.

SEPT. 5

1774: The rst Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia.

1905: The Treaty of Portsmouth was signed, ending the Russo-Japanese war; for mediating the peace negotiations, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt was awarded the Noble Peace Prize the following year.

1957: Jack Kerouac’s novel “On the Road” was published.

1975: President Gerald R. Ford survived an assassination attempt by Lynette “Squeaky”

Brittany Mahomes, NFL, Donald Trump among those praising Swift, Kelce’s engagement

Some well-wishers may come as a surprise

The Associated Press

TAYLOR SWIFT AND Travis Kelce’s engagement following a two-year romance was swiftly praised by stars from the entertainment and sports worlds, British royalty and even the U.S. president.

“Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” the couple announced in an Instagram post last Tuesday.

The couple took the spotlight after Kelce, a star tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs and Super Bowl champion, made a public appeal on his podcast, “New Heights,” two years ago, expressing a desire to meet the superstar singer.

The engagement post has amassed more than 14 million likes in just a couple hours, liked by scores of public gures, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, “Glee” star

Lea Michele, and actors Nikki Glaser and Molly Shannon. Jenny Han, the author behind “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” which notably relies on Swift’s music throughout the Amazon Prime show, also liked the post. Here are some celebrity reactions to the couple’s engagement.

Donald Trump

“I wish them a lot of luck. I think he’s a great player, and he’s a great guy, and I think she’s a terri c person,” Trump said when informed of the engagement during a multi-hour cabinet meeting. The president has at times been critical of Swift.

National Football League

“Congratulations to Travis and Taylor” — on X.

Iga Swiatek

Fromme, a disciple of Charles Manson.

1972: Palestinian militants attacked the Israeli Olympic team in Munich, killing two and taking nine hostages; all hostages and ve militants died.

SEPT. 6

1901: President William McKinley was shot and mortally wounded by anarchist Leon Czolgosz at the Pan-American Exposition in Bu alo, New York.

1975: Eighteen-year-old tennis star Martina Navratilova of Czechoslovakia requested political asylum in the United States.

1997: A public funeral was held for Princess Diana at Westminster Abbey in London.

SEPT. 7

1940: Nazi Germany began The Blitz, an eight-month bombing campaign on Britain that killed more than 40,000 civilians.

1921: The rst Miss America Pageant was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

1977: The Panama Canal Treaty, which called for the U.S. to turn over control of the waterway to Panama at the end of 1999, was signed.

1935: Sen. Huey P. Long (D-La.) was fatally shot in the Louisiana State Capitol building.

1974: One month after taking o ce, President Gerald R. Ford granted a “full, free, and absolute pardon” to former President Richard Nixon.

2022: Queen Elizabeth II, who spent more than seven decades on the British throne, died at age 96.

SEPT. 9

1776: The Second Continental Congress formally adopted the name “United States of America.”

1986: Bishop Desmond Tutu was installed as the rst black clergyman to lead the Anglican Church in southern Africa.

SEPT. 8

1504: Michelangelo’s towering marble statue of David was unveiled to the public in Florence, Italy.

1565: Spanish settlers founded St. Augustine, the rst permanent European settlement in North America, in modern day Florida.

1664: The Dutch surrendered New Amsterdam to the British, who renamed it New York.

1919: About 1,100 members of Boston’s 1,500-member police force went on strike.

1971: Prisoners seized control of the maximum-security Attica Correctional Facility in New York, taking 42 sta members hostage and demanding better treatment and living conditions.

SEPT. 10

1608: John Smith was elected president of the Jamestown colony council in Virginia.

1963: Twenty black students entered Alabama public schools following a stando between federal authorities and Gov. George C. Wallace.

Taylor Swift embraces Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce

The couple announced their engagement on last week.

“Obviously she had a lot of boyfriends, so we know all about that. So hopefully this one will, you know, stick forever. Travis seems like a great guy. She seems super happy, so I’m happy for her,” said Swiatek, a Swift fan, who commented right after winning her match Tuesday at the U.S Open.

Brittany Mahomes

solutions

Michael Danna

“Two of the most genuine people meet & fall in love. Just so happy for these two.” — on Instagram. Her husband, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, reposted Kelce and Swift’s announcement.

happy for them, Trav, Taylor. That’s a wonderful time in life, wonderful part of their joint journey,” Chiefs defensive end Michael Danna said during a talk with reporters.

“Great for them. You know, that’s a blessing, I mean, anytime you nd that type of joy, happiness and love, I think that’s a beautiful thing...I’m so

New Heights podcast

“NEW NEWS!!!!! Congrats to @tkelce and @taylorswift13” — on X.

NBC TELEVISION VIA WIKIPEDIA

On Sept. 4, 1972, the game show “The Price Is Right,” hosted by Bill Cullen, debuted on CBS.

JULIO CORTEZ / AP PHOTO

after Super Bowl 58 in 2024.

*Must set up Auto Draft for 2nd Month. Offer valid through February 1st 2024.

famous birthdays this week

Beyonce celebrates 44, Sonny Rollins hits 95, Gloria Gaynor turns 82, Bernie Sanders is 84

The Associated Press

THESE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week.

SEPT. 4

Golf Hall of Famer Raymond Floyd is 83. Golf Hall of Famer Tom Watson is 76. Actor Khandi Alexander is 68. Actor-comedian Damon Wayans Sr. is 65. Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Piazza is 57. Singer-actor Beyoncé is 44.

SEPT. 5

Actor Lucille Soong (“Fresh O the Boat”) is 90. Baseball Hall of Hamer Bill Mazeroski is 89. Actor William Devane is 86. Actor George Lazenby is 86. Film director Werner Herzog is 83. Singer Al Stewart is 80. “Cathy” cartoonist Cathy Guisewite is 75. Actor Michael Keaton is 74.

SEPT. 6

Comedian JoAnne Worley is 88. Country singer-songwriter David Allan Coe is 86. Rock singer-musician Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) is 82. Comedian-actor Jane Curtin is 78. Actor-comedian Je Foxworthy is 67. Actor Rosie Perez is 61.

Former

SEPT. 7

Jazz musician Sonny Rollins is 95. Singer Gloria Gaynor is 82. Actor Julie Kavner is 75. Rock singer Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders) is 74. Actor Corbin Bernsen is 71. Actor Michael Emerson is 71. Evan Rachel Wood is 38.

SEPT. 8

Sen. Bernie Sanders (IVt.), is 84. Civil rights activist Ruby Bridges is 71. Singer Aimee Mann is 65. Alternative country singer Neko Case is 55. TV-radio personality Kennedy is 53. Singer-songwriter Pink is 46.

SEPT. 9

Singer Dee Dee Sharp is 80. Former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann is 76. Actor Hugh Grant is 65. Actor Adam Sandler is 59. Pop-jazz singer Michael Bublé is 50. Actor Michelle Williams is 45.

SEPT. 10

Scientist-author Jared Diamond is 88. Singer José Feliciano is 80. Rock musician Joe Perry (Aerosmith) is 75. Film director Chris Columbus is 67. Rapper Big Daddy Kane is 57. Film director Guy Ritchie is 57. Actor Ryan Phillippe is 51.

STEPHANIE SCARBROUGH / AP PHOTO

Washington quarterback Joe Theismann acknowledges the crowd before an NFL game against the New York Giants in 2023. The Hall of Famer turns 76 on Tuesday.

CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO

Beyonce won the award for best country album to Beyonce for “Cowboy Carter” during the 67th annual Grammy Awards in 2025. The actor-singer turns 44 on Thursday.

“Lilo

‘Lilo & Stitch,’ ‘The Paper,’

MTV Video Music Awards, Hollow Knight sequel

David Byrne drops “Who Is the Sky”

The Associated Press

A FOLLOW-UP TV comedy of “The O ce” called “The Paper” and the buddy live action comedy “Lilo & Stitch” are some of the new television, lms, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also, among the streaming offerings worth your time: Mark Ru alo starring in the new cat-and-mouse thriller “Task,” a sequel to the indie legend video game Hollow Knight arrives and David Byrne releases a new album, “Who Is the Sky?”

MOVIES TO STREAM

“Friendship,” Andrew DeYoung’s auspicious debut feature, makes its streaming debut Saturday on HBO Max, a day after debuting on HBO. The movie tackles modern masculinity and male loneliness with biting satire and humor, taking detours into horror and the surreal. My review said we see Robinson at his awkward best and Rudd at his charismatic best in this quirky look at bromances.

The live-action “Lilo & Stitch,” which in just 17 days made more domestically than the live-action “The Little Mermaid” did in its entire run, is on Disney+. It’s the tale of a 6-year-old lonely Native girl in Hawaii who befriends an alien outcast. In my review, I was unhappy that the original 2002 animated story had been swamped by weird temporal portals, a Jet Ski chase and an overwrought conclusion. Audiences ocked to the movie, which is the year’s biggest hit with more than $1 billion earned at the box o ce.

MUSIC TO STREAM

Byrne, formerly the Talking Heads frontman, is in no way slowing down. On Friday, the 73-year-old idiosyncratic artist will release a new album, “Who Is the Sky?”, a collection of avant-garde pop for fans of his band and beyond. There’s a real joy here.

There are glam rock icons and then there is Marc Bolan, a pioneer of the ’70s movement with

his visionary band T. Rex, a larger-than-life gure now celebrated in a new documentary. “AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex” hits streaming on Friday. Expect rare footage and to be overwhelmed by a strong desire to purchase sequined pants. It is that time of year again: The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards are right around the corner. The three-hour show will broadcast live on CBS and available to stream on Paramount+ on Sundayat 8 p.m. live from UBS Arena just outside New York City. Lady Gaga leads the nominations, so get ready for some “Mayhem.”

SERIES TO STREAM

show picks up 10 years after de Pablo left “NCIS” with Tony and Ziva — or Tiva as fans call them — living in France and co-parenting their daughter. When they become the target of a conspiracy, the former agents go on the run. This is the sixth spino in the “NCIS” universe and a departure from the procedural format it is known for. “Tony & Ziva” is more of a mixed bag with action, drama, romance and comedy.

Ru alo and Tom Pelphrey star in a new cat-and-mouse thriller for HBO called “Task.” Ru alo plays an FBI agent in Pennsylvania assigned to lead a task force investigating violent robberies. The show is from the creator of the stellar “Mare of Easttown.” It premieres Thursday and streams on Max.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

Hollow Knight, a 2D exploration game that came out in 2017, has become an indie legend over the years, selling millions of copies and landing on plenty of best-games-ever lists.

Australian studio Team Cherry announced a sequel in 2019 — and after a long gestation period, Hollow Knight: Silksong has nally arrived. The essence remains the same: Making your way through a lush, vibrant landscape while ghting o the bugs and other nuisances that live there. The protagonist, a princess named Hornet, is more acrobatic than the original hero, but the developer is promising more of the challenging and tightly focused combat fans love. It arrived Thursday on PlayStation 5/4, Xbox X/S/One, Switch and PC.

“The O ce” follow-up called “The Paper” makes its anticipated debut on Peacock this week. On the show, the documentary crew that once lmed the sta of Dunder Mi in paper company in Scranton, Pa., has now begun following the sta of a small newspaper in Toledo, Ohio. To their surprise, one of the accountants who works on sta is none other than Oscar Martinez, a crossover character from ‘The O ce”

by Oscar Nunez.

in a new series about their “NCIS” characters called, “NCIS: Tony & Ziva,” now streaming on Paramount+. The

The developers at Bandai Namco Studios Singapore are known for their bruising work on ghters like Tekken and Soul Calibur, but their new game takes on a more delicate art: origami. Hirogami stars a master of folding named Hiro who can transform into creatures like a soaring bird, a barrier-smashing armadillo and a high-jumping frog. A soundtrack featuring traditional Japanese instruments creates a mellow vibe as Hiro defends his paper-crafted 3D world from “deadly digital invaders.” Know when to fold ‘em now on PlayStation 5 and PC.

played

Domhnall Gleeson (“The Patient”) and Sabrina Impacciatore (“White Lotus” season 2) also star. All 10 episodes are ready to watch.

Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo star

DISNEY VIA AP

The high-grossing live-action movie

& Stitch” is streaming on Disney+.

CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO

Tim Robinson, who won a 2022 Emmy for outstanding actor in a short form comedy or drama series for “I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson,” stars alongside Paul Rudd in the movie “Friendship.”

MATADOR RECORDS VIA AP

David Byrne, founder of the art-rock band Talking Heads, releases his solo album “Who Is the Sky” on Friday.

Duplin Journal

Wallace Police launch medical contact initiative

Duplin County

The Wallace Police Department has introduced the Medical Emergency Contact List initiative aimed at better protecting Duplin County’s most vulnerable residents, including those with medical conditions such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, autism, special needs and hearing impairments. This voluntary program allows residents to register an emergency contact with the police department, ensuring that crucial information is readily available to rst responders in case of an emergency. Participants will receive special alert stickers that can be placed on their front door or inside their vehicle, indicating that an individual inside may have a medical condition and might not respond to verbal commands. To register or learn more, call 910 -285-2126, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sheri ’s O ce invites residents to Community Day

Warsaw The Duplin County Sheri ’s O ce invites the public to join them for Community Day at the Warsaw Parks and Recreation on Sunday, Sept. 21 from 1-5 p.m.

The family-friendly event is a chance for residents to connect with local law enforcement, enjoy free food, music, games, a dunking booth, bouncy houses and information booths.

Free computer courses for seniors

Kenanasville

James Sprunt Community College is o ering a series of free computer courses starting in September, designed speci cally for seniors looking to improve their digital skills at the Duplin Senior Center. Whether you’re a complete beginner or just need help with basic tasks, there’s a class for you. Basic Computer Operations will be held on Tuesdays through Sept. 30, with two time slots available 10 a.m. to noon or 12:30-2 p.m. Computer Basics for seniors with no prior experience will run Fridays from Sept. 5 to Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to noon. An IT Support (Open Lab) session will follow from noon to 2 p.m. for seniors who need help with basic computer skills.

Wendell Murphy recognized for leadership in pork

industry

Surrounded by his family, Wendell Murphy, center, recently accepted the Larry Graham Pork Legacy Award in front of an audience of producers, stakeholders and fellow industry leaders during the 2025 National Pork Industry Conference at Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wisc. Turn to A2 for more.

Wastewater pours into Stewarts Creek, public left unwarned for days

Millions of gallons were released after the Warsaw treatment plant failed

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

WARSAW — A signi cant wastewater spill in Warsaw has raised environmental and public health concerns after several million gallons of wastewa-

ter were released into Stewarts Creek, a tributary of the Cape Fear River.

In an Aug. 27 press release on the town’s website, o cials announced that a disruption at Warsaw’s wastewater treatment plant — triggered by an

Mount Olive leaders say personnel changes and policy overhauls are the rst steps in rebuilding public trust

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

MOUNT OLIVE — Facing intense scrutiny after a damning report from the North Carolina O ce of the State Auditor, the town of Mount Olive is attempting to rebuild trust

$2.00

and demonstrate accountability through a series of swift administrative actions.

A recent media release from the town indicated that even before the audit ndings were made public, three employees were suspended and later terminated. This early action was

in ux of industrial wastewater — forced operators to shut down parts of the treatment process. As a result, the wastewater owing through the plant did not receive the required treatment before being discharged into Stewarts Creek, a waterway that feeds into a major regional watershed.

Documents obtained by Duplin Journal show that on Aug. 18, the plant operator informed the Wilmington Regional O ce of the Division of Water Resources (DWR-WiRO) of operational issues stemming from excessive biological material.

part of a broader e ort by Interim Town Manager Glenn Holland and town o cials to begin correcting internal failures and demonstrate a commitment to responsible governance.

In addition to personnel changes, the town has implemented several operational reforms. These include ending the “white card” fuel purchases at the municipal airport, an area agged in the report, and ap-

$1M hangar expansion gains momentum with site preparation

“This would give us something to work with and allow us to time the project to begin in the Spring using already procured funds while still working for the whole funding to begin construction.”

Joshua Raynor, Duplin County Airport director

Strategic

investments

aim to modernize the Duplin County Airport and boost the local economy

By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal

KENANSVILLE — With a focus on strategic growth and operational improvements, the Duplin County Airport Commission outlined ambitious plans on Aug. 26 to expand hangar capacity, upgrade facilities and secure funding.

Daniels and Daniels has started hauling out the 9,000 yards of dirt necessary to begin the new hangar project. S&ME presented an estimate of $47,000 to provide the required third-party inspections for the project. The

board approved moving forward with S&ME, with the stipulation that costs not exceed the $47,000 without returning to the board for further approval. Funding for the third-party inspections was already allocated in the approved budget.

Airport Director Joshua Raynor proposed using the remaining $1 million in unallocated funds for the hangar project. He suggested spending $500,000 to clear and prepare the rest of the ground between the new hangar and the Forestry Service. The remaining funds could be put toward the revitalization portion of the project.

“Long term, it would be a cost savings to do the clearing work now with just a change order versus a

“The high organic loading over the past month has resulted in increased sludge production,” the document stated. It noted that,

pointing a bonded nance ocer, as required by state law.

Looking ahead, Holland plans to recommend hiring a certi ed public accountant at the September town board meeting to reconcile bank statements and bring nancial records current from July 2024 through June 2025. Town o cials have asked for the public’s patience as they work through the remaining challenges.

O ce Phone: 910 463-1240

To place a legal ad: 919 663-3232; Fax: 919 663-4042

THURSDAY

4

Share with your community!

Send your birth, death, marriage, graduation and other announcements to community@ duplinjournal. com

Weekly deadline is Monday at noon.

FRIDAY

5

Wendell Murphy joins distinguished ranks of pork industry pioneers

The Larry Graham Pork Legacy Award highlights contributions to modernization, stewardship and growth

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

THE PORK INDUSTRY came together last week to recognize one of its most inuential leaders. Wendell Murphy was named the 2025 recipient of the Larry Graham Pork Legacy Award — a distinction reserved for those who have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement and sustainability of the pork industry. Presented at the 2025 National Pork Industry Conference in Wisconsin Dells, the award honors individuals whose leadership, innovation and dedication have helped guide the industry through its most transformative years. Named after the late Larry Graham, a legendary gure in pork production, the Pork Legacy Award recog-

nizes visionary leadership and a legacy of service, mentorship and progress. Recipients are celebrated not only for their achievements in driving modernization and sustainability, but also for the lasting impact they leave on the industry and its future generations.

AUGUST MARRIAGE LICENSES ISSUED

Anita Marie Savage, Duplin County Register of Deeds issued 29 marriage licenses for the month ending on August 31, 2025.

• Chloie Cheyenne Elliott, Mount Olive, and Sergio Lopez Jr, Mount Olive

• Elizabeth Marie Almaraz, Teachey, and Thomas Leonard Brown, Teachey

• Tyler Christian Humphries, Beulaville, and Landis Taylor Wells, Wallace

• Alfred Lamont Whitfield, Warsaw, and Indira Elizabeth Blackwell-Simmons, Warsaw

• Latisha Kamica Wood, Wallace, and Paul Allen Hall Jr., Maple Hill

• Tyler Glenn Davis, Rose Hill, and Robin Lee Dunbar, Rose Hill

• Brenda Elizabeth Stroud, Beulaville, and Christopher Ronald Turner, Beulaville

• Eden Adara Simpson, Wallace, and Porfirio Jahir Nieto Lara, Wallace

• Teran Stiles Hardison, Beulaville, and Nicholas Ray Beddingfield, Beulaville

• Coleton Warren Smith, Autryville, and Stephanie Brynn Smith, Autryville

• Joseph Edward Mcnair Jr, Magnolia, and Blanche Lipscomb Bailey, Teachey

• Zachary Alan Batts, Wallace, and Anna-Southerland Russ, Wallace

• Hunter Joseph Kopanski, Wallace, and Morgan Lynn Kupetz, Wallace

• Brodie Thomas Kornegay, Wallace, and Jessica Elizabeth-Marie Nelbach, Wallace

• Christian Aurianna Smith, Wallace, and Reyanna Jean Bowers, Wallace

• Vickie Lorian Mize, Beulaville, and William David Quinn, Kenansville

• Marco Antonio Izaguirre Escoto, Wallace, and Cintia Yulissa Posas Sandoval, Wallace

• Fabiola Jacqueline Funez, Rose Hill, and Juan Jose Toribio Garcia, Rose Hill

• Roy Thomas Horne, Warsaw, and Cathy Bowen Fitgerald, Warsaw

COURTESY OF MURPHY FAMILY VENTURES Wendell Murphy

• Jenna Ryan Jones, Kentucky, and Karan Kamar, Kentucky

• Aris Blackson, Fayetteville, and Marie Kerlyne Meus, Fayetteville

• Michael Turner, Rose Hill, and Brenda Annette Troublefield, Rose Hill

• Jonathon Ryan Sholar, Pink Hill, and Amanda Susan Royster, Richlands

• Blake Mitchell Clewis, Pink Hill, and Victoria Elizabeth Holt, Pink Hill

• Laure Kimiko Ross, California, and Richard Pete Semsem, Mt Olive

• Jose Daniel Borrego Sanchez, Roseboro, and Mirta Lucy Sandi Tamani, Roseboro

• Tom-Marie Davis, Teachey, and Nicholas Lynn Jerosimich, Teachey

• Brent Clark Horne, Beulaville, and Penny Sloan Thigpen, Chinquapin

• Shamira Ivonne Rodriguez Herrera, Clinton, and Aceli Donaldo Turcios Carcamos, Clinton

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming upin Duplin County:

Sept.

5

Tractors, Treasures and Testimonials

9 a.m.

Join Island Creek Baptist Church for a weekend lled with antique tractors, engines, and family fun. The event will feature vendors, concessions, and activities for all ages.

237 Pasture Branch Rd., Rose Hill

Sept. 13

Pet Day in the Park

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Join Pet Friends of Duplin County at Clement Park. Enjoy food trucks, kids’ activities, a dog costume contest, a visit from the Wallace re truck, the Fresh Start Rescue event trailer and more.

209 E. Clement St., Wallace

Rose Hill Grape Stomp Festival 1 to 5 p.m.

Don’t miss the annual Rose Hill Grape Stomp Festival at Duplin Winery. Celebrate nearly 50 years of vineyard hospitality with live music, delicious wine and food and nonstop fun. Join the crowd for the iconic Grape Stomp, where dancing, stomping and laughter take center stage.

505 N. Sycamore St., Rose Hill

Got a local event? Let us know and we’ll share it with the community here. Email our newsroom at community@ duplinjournal.com. Weekly deadline is Monday at noon.

Warsaw Police helps crack widespread, 10-state fraud ring

Two Warsaw retailers were among the victims in the multistate operation

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

WARSAW — The Warsaw Police Department announced last week that three individuals have been identi ed as key suspects in a widespread retail fraud scheme in a multijurisdictional investigation conducted across several states. Investigators report that the suspects, all from Flint, Michigan, targeted businesses throughout eastern North Carolina and at least nine oth-

er states. They employed deceptive tactics involving invalid gift cards to fraudulently obtain prepaid Visa cards and lottery tickets from retail stores. The primary suspect, Darious Delshawn Welch, 20, is currently in custody, facing a total of 31 charges. Welch was extradited to Duplin County on Aug. 26 and is being held in the Duplin County Jail under a $180,000 secured bond. Another suspect, Jalen Jamal Coleman, 19, is in custody in Michigan, facing charges related to similar fraud schemes. The Warsaw Police Department has issued a warrant for his extradition to North Carolina. Coleman has previously been

linked to fraud cases in Columbia, South Carolina.

Keaysha Warren, 22, has not yet been apprehended and was identi ed through forensic evidence, including the use of her EBT card at crime scenes. Arrest warrants and extradition requests have been issued, but her current whereabouts remain unknown and are under investigation.

On June 20-21, the group allegedly targeted multiple retailers during a two-day spree in Onslow and Duplin counties, including Sheetz and Best Mart in Warsaw. The suspects reportedly deceived store clerks into activating high-value cards by presenting nonfunction-

ing Cash App or YouTube gift cards, then ed the premises with the merchandise without making payment. According to law enforcement, losses per incident often exceeded $5,000.

Law enforcement reported that surveillance footage and license plate reader data captured images of the suspects and the white Volkswagen Tiguan used in these crimes.

The vehicle was registered to Avis Rental, and further investigation revealed connections to all three suspects.

Authorities believe the fraud ring had been operating for at least two years and may have targeted retailers across multiple states, includ-

ing North Carolina, South Carolina, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Delaware, Wisconsin, Virginia and Indiana.

The Warsaw Police Department noted that this case is part of an ongoing multijurisdictional e ort involving agencies such as the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force and local police departments in various states. Additional charges may arise as the investigation continues, and law enforcement is seeking public assistance in identifying any other individuals who may be involved.

Conley Nelson, right, embraces Wendell H. Murphy after presenting him with the Larry Graham Pork Legacy Award at the 2025 National Pork Industry Conference.

Wallace on ECU Health’s radar for future expansion

ECU Health seeks state funding to expand services in Duplin, citing rising demand

By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal

WALLACE — As Wallace and nearby communities prepare for a surge in residential and commercial development, one vital question looms large: Can the region’s health care infrastructure keep up?

With new neighborhoods rising and businesses opening their doors, local o cials and health care providers alike are turning their focus to ensuring that access to quality medical care grows alongside the community. ECU Health is among those taking notice — and taking action.

According to an email from Ashlin Elliott of ECU Health marketing and communications, the organization is seeking funding for the expansion.

“ECU Health submitted a budget request to the N.C. General Assembly to support expanded access to care in Duplin County,” Elliott said in the response. “While we don’t have speci c details to share at this time, we remain committed to advocating for priorities and policies that support the most vulnerable rural areas of the state, regions where access to care is severely limited and where there is signicant potential for state and federal investment to stabilize and strengthen local economies.”

ECU Health’s interest in expanding health care services in Duplin County was discussed in a recent meeting with local o cials in Wallace, according to Mayor Jason Wells.

“They had questions for the town about the future growth and how quickly it was going to

whole new project later,” Raynor explained.

The board discussed whether or not moving dirt would be advantageous right now, especially in light of projects underway across the road with the Economic Development Commission. Because moving dirt can account for approximately 10% of a project’s cost, the board asked Raynor to get numbers together with Daniels and Daniels that include consideration of the dirt needs of future nearby projects. The board authorized Raynor to negotiate up to $350,000 to grade the area and prepare it for an additional hangar in the future.

Raynor also received quotes for dehumidi ers and fans for the MRO hangar. The board approved a contract for $29,990 with Jackson and Son for two 5-ton dehumidi ers and fans. Funds for the upgrade to the maintenance building will come from already approved transportation and capital improvement funds.

Hunter Boniface gave an update about the taxiway connector project.

“The nal inspection was today with S.D. Wooten, and everything went well, but there

happen because they are looking at this area,” Wells told Duplin Journal. “Thinking about the future of health care, especially in a growing area such as the town of Wallace, they want to make sure they’re prepared for the growth.”

Wells expressed optimism regarding ECU Health’s potential expansion into the Wallace area.

“They have done an amazing job with the hospital in Kenansville since that became a part of ECU Health,” Wells said. “As we look ve years down the road or 10 years, I’m excited to know they are looking at these things and planning for it because it’s one of those things I call essential

keys to a growing community. You’ve got to have good health care.”

ECU Health is not the only provider that has noticed the need for services in the area.

Independent health care providers have also taken note.

The developer of Crossroads Town Center is responsible for the opening of a new urgent care service in the shopping center, meaning there are two such providers in Wallace now.

Wells noted that developers bringing new housing and businesses to the area are also interested in ensuring adequate health care services.

“They’re reaching out and talking to folks, whether it’s ECU Health or others, to real-

were a couple of items that needed cleaning up,” he said.

“The main item being that they seeded it on Aug. 6, and it did nothing but rain, so it washed the seed away, and they have to come back and reseed it.”

Raynor cast pictures from his phone to the projection screen to show the board the hangar project, dirt in question and the nished taxiway connector. Chairman Jack Alphin praised the taxiway project as being “one

ly make sure that we’ve got the health care services we need as we grow, and as we age, honestly,” he said.

Wells added it’s not just doctors and hospitals that are needed under the health care umbrella.

“It goes beyond that,” Wells said. “You are also looking at eye care and dermatologists, all the things we deal with when we get a little older.”

While Wilmington o ers a large variety of health care services, Wells says he hears frequently of the desire for those services to be closer to home.

“I also work in the pharmaceutical industry, in the health care industry, so it’s funny how my two worlds collide some -

of the best projects we’ve ever done” because everything came together right.

Raynor updated the funding for the fuel farm update.

“We’ve received $900,000 of the state aid, but we are still waiting on federal funds from the Division of Aviation,” he said. If federal funds are not received by mid-September, Raynor plans to submit a proposal to the board to initiate procurement of the fuel tanks.

“This would give us something to work with and allow us to time the project to begin in the spring using already procured funds while still working for the whole funding to begin construction,” Raynor said.

Further plans will be clari ed in the September meeting.

In one of the last orders of business, Raynor proposed that the board nominate him to represent the airport on transportation committees. Warsaw Mayor A.J. Connors — who has previously served on the committees — clari ed that the group meets quarterly and would bene t from airport representation.

“They work on a point system and decide what projects to put money towards in our area based on the points they award it,” Connors said.

“This would be a great oppor-

times,” he said. “I get the opportunity to speak with a lot of folks in the community. They want the health care, they need the health care, and they want to be able to come here and have all the services they need within a two- or threemile radius.”

“Wilmington is a great place, it’s growing, but the trafc; let’s be honest, it can be tough at times,” Wells added. ECU Health has stated that it is too early to provide specific details about where or what expanded health care services they might o er in the future. However, community leaders are pleased that the area is on ECU Health’s radar for future healthcare development.

tunity to put someone in there to help us grow,” Alphin added.

The board voted unanimously to have Raynor represent the airport at Transportation Committee meetings. Plans were discussed for a groundbreaking ceremony for the new hangar project. Invitations to county o cials will be sent out sometime in mid-September.

Lastly, Raynor explained the operations and fuel reports. He explained that the capital outlay includes the purchase of a new mower and the leasing of a Ford Explorer through Enterprise.

“The fuel report included 1,453 sales in AVGas and 13,665 in jet fuel with 328 operations,” Raynor said.

Two new full-time airport technicians will be hired to help maintain the site, and a part-time position is still open.

“I encourage you to think outside of the box,” Alphin said. “Every industry is having to do that. We are going to have to do it if we want to keep good people. … We’ve got to gure this out. We are in a di erent world when it comes to nding and retaining people, and we don’t want to get in a position of just hiring people; we want to hire good people.”

The board meeting adjourned shortly thereafter.

MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

The rapid growth in Duplin County has attracted the attention of health care providers, including this urgent care facility that opened recently in Crossroads Town Center.

AIRPORT from page A1

REBECCA WHITMAN COOKE FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

Members of the Duplin County Airport Commission board discuss a course for strategic expansion with new hangar construction, facility upgrades and long-term development plans at their monthly meeting on Aug. 26.

THE CONVERSATION

Trip Ho end,

publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

The

left’s misdefinition of Americanism

America is heir to ancient European civilizations.

THIS WEEK, AXIOS ran a fascinating piece about the supposed “rede nition” of Americanism under President Donald Trump. Titled “Inside Trump’s American identity project,” Axios posited that “President Trump is wielding government power to enforce a more rigid, exclusionary de nition of what it means to be American.” What would this new de nition entail? “In MAGA’s telling, America is the heir to ancient European civilizations, built on a Judeo-Christian foundation of white identity, meritocracy, traditional gender roles and the nuclear family,” says Axios. “These tenets are cast as universal truths — and mantras such as ‘America is an idea’ or ‘diversity is our strength’ are dismissed as liberal ctions.”

First o , America is heir to ancient European civilizations — particularly with reference to private property, the common law system, traditions of free speech and freedom of religion, among others. Second, America is built on a Judeo-Christian foundation. Third, America is built on the meritocracy, which argues that the best and most productive ought to succeed in a free system. America is built on traditional gender roles and the nuclear family, as is

COLUMN | JASON LEWIS

every successful society in history. While America is an idea — or a set of ideas — those ideas must be rei ed in institutions and human behavior. And the notion that any nation can be built on a completely specious phrase like “diversity is our strength” is counterintuitive at best.

So what is Axios attempting to do? Axios is attempting to link actual traditional de nitions of Americanism with white supremacy. Never mind that all the ideas Axios cites as “traditional” fundamentally reject ethnic identitarianism: equality before law, for example, presumes racial indi erence; Judeo-Christian religion rejects racial classi cation; the meritocracy is de nitionally opposed to racial preferences; and traditional gender roles and the nuclear family are institutions held in common by people of all races. The goal is simple: a forced choice between “racism” and a left-wing de nition of Americanism that bears zero weight.

This, presumably, is the real drive behind the left’s opposition to much of Trump’s policy. The same Axios piece posits that the Trump administration’s decision to screen incoming immigrants for “anti-American” ideology ought to be seen as an outgrowth

of nativism rather than common sense; that opposition to radical sexual politics in our nation’s military is a manifestation of bigotry rather than reason; that restoration of classicism in architecture represents a return to racial exclusivity rather than taste. As the authors write, “MAGA’s utopia looks a lot like America in the 1950s — before the sexual revolution, mass immigration, the Civil Rights Act and expanded LGBTQ rights reshaped the country’s culture and demographics.”

Well, actually, MAGA’s utopia looks mostly like what most Americans think of as the American dream: upward mobility, solid family structure, safety in the streets, decent education, and a vibrant social fabric complete with community and church. The fact that so many on the left — and in the media — nd this vision to be irredeemably “racist” demonstrates their utter disconnect with most Americans. And it’s why Trump is president for the second time.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show” and co-founder of Daily Wire+.

Illegal immigration kills more people

California is one of 19 states that issues licenses regardless of immigration status.

THE NATIONAL MEDIA silence over an illegal alien with a California commercial driver’s license (CDL) accused of killing three people while making an unlawful U-turn on Florida’s Turnpike is instructive on several fronts.

None of them good.

First, it continues the trend of open-border journalists — from The Wall Street Journal to CNN — to place global commerce and identity politics above the lives of Americans. Newsrooms have buried the story because they know how fundamentally disgraceful their editorial decisions really are.

Whether promoting “sanctuary cities” while criticizing attempts at restoring law and order or downplaying the deaths on our highways due to illegal immigrant drivers — these folks, along with the politicians they back, are the real culprits.

Second, the very notion of granting any driver’s license, let alone one for a semi, to someone who cannot read road signs in English is so demonstrably lunatic on its face that no sane person could possibly support it. And yet, California is one of 19 states that issues licenses regardless of immigration status and the ability to understand America’s tra c laws.

In fact, the alleged perpetrator in the Florida crash answered just two of 12 questions correctly when tested for English language pro ciency and could only identify one out of four highway signs shown to him, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

How Harjinder Singh was able to obtain a CDL in California, where applications are supposedly administered in English, is no more a mystery than welfare time limits — blue state outlaws ignore them.

In wacked-out Washington state, where Singh had another CDL, o cials allow tests to be taken in English, Spanish, Russian or Serbian-Croatian. All of which I’m sure you’ve seen on America’s road signs.

Worse, for a mere passenger car drivers license, it’s a free for all with almost every state administering exams in a multitude

of foreign languages. Multiculturalism is killing people. And so are the people who enable it.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the U.S. is pausing all issuance of visas for commercial truck drivers, something that probably should have been done the moment Trump signed an executive order requiring the enforcement of decades-old English-pro ciency rules for commercial drivers.

Singh rst entered the country illegally from India via Mexico (where else?) in 2018, but contrary to the usual lies from Gov. Gavin Newsom, “his work authorization was rejected under the Trump Administration on Sept. 14, 2020. It was later approved under the Biden Administration June 9, 2021.”

So you’ve got a situation where the state of California along with the Biden administration enabled an incompetent illegal alien to drive a semitrailer across the country. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, once Singh made the unlawful U-turn, a minivan in the adjacent lane crashed into the trailer, killing the three Americans.

To the grieving families who lost loved ones, now faced with trying to go on with their ruined lives, only justice matters. Why, then, are we not holding open-border politicians accountable for their abject failure to uphold the law in the precisely the same way a woke “defund the police” mob demanded we hold cops responsible? You might recall the Democrat-sponsored George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021 limiting “quali ed immunity as a defense to liability in a private civil action against a law enforcement o cer.”

Well, if that’s the standard, what to make of politicians who openly aunt the law by refusing their duty to uphold it? There is simply no getting around the fact that were it not for the complicity of a few Biden and Newsom o cials, three Americans would still be alive today.

If zombie-voters don’t want to do

anything about it, perhaps victims’ families will.

Notwithstanding the 11th Amendment proscribing lawsuits “against one of the United States by citizens of another state,” the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), passed in 1946, waives aspects of sovereign immunity and allows people to sue the federal government for things like car accidents caused by its employees.

It’s a shame federal taxpayers would have to cover for the dereliction of duty by the Biden administration, so waive its quali ed immunity too and go after a few of ’em personally.

If it’s good enough for Derek Chauvin …

As for California, precedent abounds when you consider the multitude of million-dollar settlements going to BLM in the wake of lawsuits brought against government o cials acting “under the color of law” following the death of George Floyd.

Did Newsom and his California cronies not ignore clearly established law or act in a way no reasonable person would — the usual threshold for the deprivation of civil rights under 42 U.S. Code § 1983?

Thanks to Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida’s political leadership, Singh will now be charged with vehicular homicide and manslaughter. ICE wants him once his criminal case is complete. But the question remains: Will we hold the politicians who have the blood of Floridians on their hands accountable?

Former Minnesota Congressman Jason Lewis writes at Substack and is the author of “Party Animal, The Truth About President Trump, Power Politics & the Partisan Press.” This column was rst published by Daily Caller News Foundation.

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

New subdivision to bring 209 homes to Teachey

The town aims to grow without losing its quiet charm

By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal

TEACHEY — The rapid growth in Wallace is a frequent topic of conversation in the area. Teachey, Wallace’s nearest neighbor, is also experiencing growth, but its mayor is advocating for a speci c kind of growth.

“Most of what we have now is residential (growth),” Teachey Mayor Bobby Jones said in an interview with Duplin Journal. “That’s where we are really hoping to build and draw upon.”

Jones says the residential growth in town is happening quickly.

“Within the last year, we approved a new subdivision that’s going to bring 209 homes to Teachey,” Jones said. “Also, there are two developers that are building eight homes on one plot and 16 on another one.”

The new subdivision is named Mill Creek Meadows. While Jones welcomes the residential growth, he wishes to avoid commercial development, fearing it could undermine the town’s community feel.

“Wallace is growing exponentially commercially. They have plans to continue that journey or path,” Jones said, adding that he wants Teachey to have a di erent approach.

“My vision is for us to continue to grow residentially, to keep more of that small town vibe and feel,” he said.

MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

With permits already issued for the construction of 233 new homes in the Teachey area, growth is coming quickly to Wallace’s immediate neighbor to the north. Teachey’s mayor hopes all the growth in town is residential.

Jones believes the business growth next door in Wallace helps Teachey stay a residential community because of how close access to commercial establishments is to the town.

“There’s a Dollar General a mile and a half from Teachey,” Jones said. “From the border line, it’s probably less than a mile. So from that point, I just don’t see us having something like that in Teachey because

you can drive just a mile and get some of the things you need. You can drive to the GoGas in two miles.”

While he acknowledged that Wallace still retains a small-town feel, Jones is concerned that commercial growth is changing the character of the town.

“The more commercially they grow, the more you get the industrial- or commercial-type

Rose Hill feed mill adds storage, speed to bene t farmers across 6 counties

The new high-tech addition helps prevent spoilage and streamlines grain intake

By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal

ROSE HILL — When people hear the term “high tech,” it’s unlikely that a grain storage facility is the rst thing that comes to mind. However, a recent addition to House of Raeford’s Rose Hill Feed Mill Complex incorporates advanced technology available in the industry.

According to Michael Newton, director of corporate feed mill operations for House of Raeford Farms, the technology being used in the new parts of the facility will substantially a ect the e ciency of the feed mill storage complex.

“The facility is fully automated with the latest Allen Bradley PLC technology,” Newton told Duplin Journal in an email exchange. “The use of VFDs (variable frequency drives) on critical equipment provides exibility throughout the operation. All equipment is rated for high-speed conveyance.”

VFDs enable the facility to adjust the speed of electric motors for optimal e ciency. The Allen Bradley PLC systems, developed by Rockwell Automation, support mill operations

with an advanced technical system that requires specialized training, according to the Rockwell Automation website.

This new addition at the Rose Hill facility is expected to impact farmers within a large radius, as Newton noted.

“We anticipate, at a minimum, reaching and impacting grain growers within a 50-mile radius of the facility,” Newton said. “This would include the counties of Wayne, Lenoir, Jones, Onslow, Pender and Sampson, as well as Duplin.”

Dave Witter, manager of corporate communications and sustainability for House of Raeford, highlighted another advantage for local farmers.

“The increased storage ca-

The expanding grain storage facility in Rose Hill is operated by House of Raeford Farms.

feel, even with tra c patterns,” he added.

Jones echoes the belief of other Duplin County town leaders that the growth is coming from south of the county, especially from people now interested in getting away from the Wilmington area.

“Wilmington is busting at the seams, and it has been for years,” Jones said. “I don’t know what their infrastructure plan

Swing

for

a

“I want a community where you don’t have transient people coming in and out of stores all the time, disrupting the tra c patterns, basically disrupting all the family atmosphere and community atmosphere.“

Teachey Mayor Bobby Jones

was, or how it was developed, but it should have been done a long time ago. Their new roads should have been there 10 or 15 years ago.”

Jones believes people are moving to the area who may keep working in New Hanover County.

“People are more willing to deal with a nice commute going 70 miles an hour for 45 minutes versus 10 miles an hour for 45 minutes,” he said.

As far as the long-term prospects for Teachey, Jones hopes all the growth will remain in the residential category.

“I still want that community feel and for people to have a good place to live where you still know your neighbors,” he said. “I want a community where you don’t have transient people coming in and out of stores all the time, disrupting the tra c patterns, basically disrupting all the family atmosphere and community atmosphere. I feel like that is my vision for Teachey.”

Cure aims to raise record funds for cancer research

Local women target more than $20,000 for ECU Health Cancer Center with a golf tournament and helicopter ball drop

Duplin Journal sta WALLACE — River Landing’s annual Swing for a Cure fundraiser is set to return next month with a goal of exceeding last year’s donation of $20,000 to ECU Health Cancer Center.

pacity in this region will allow them to get their crops out of the eld in a timely manner and prevent spoilage,” Witter remarked.

The new facility is located directly adjacent to the existing feed mill located on U.S. Highway 117 in Rose Hill.

Newton con rmed that the new addition is already operational.

“Phase One is fully operational,” Newton said. “Phase Two is currently under construction and will provide an additional one million bushels of storage. It is a very important addition to the feed mill operation and will provide reliable grain storage for many years.”

Organized by the River Landing Golf Association for Ladies (RLGALS), the multiday event will culminate in an 18-hole charity tournament on Oct. 18. One of the community’s favorite traditions, a dramatic helicopter golf ball drop o ering exciting prizes, will also take place. Leading up to the main tournament, RLGALS will host Putting for Pink on Oct. 8 and Oct. 11. The event invites residents and guests of all ages to participate in a ve-hole putting challenge for $10 per adult and $2 per child. Half of the proceeds will go directly to cancer research.

“Whether you play, volunteer, or simply attend, every contribution brings us closer

to a cure,” said Chris Rollins, event chair.

One of the most anticipated highlights will occur at 4 p.m. on tournament day when hundreds of numbered golf balls will be dropped from a helicopter. The three balls landing closest to the pin will divide the proceeds: 25% to the rst place, 15% to the second and 10% to the third. Helicopter ball drop tickets are available, priced at $20 for three balls or $100 for 25 balls. The deadline to purchase is Oct. 12 at noon. The entry fee for the tournament is $150, which includes a scramble-format round, snacks, beverages, lunch and a $100 donation. Nonmembers are welcome to participate for $170 per person. To purchase tickets, contact Elaine Frater at efrater@aol.com, Diane Brostowin at dianebrostowin@gmail. com, Terrie Fritz at momof3wv@gmail.com, or Margaret Overby at margaretcoverby@aol.com. Payments can be made by cash or check, payable to RLGALS. For more than two decades, Swing for a Cure has evolved from a single golf outing into a major fundraising initiative, fueled by volunteers and the generosity of the community.

COURTESY HOUSE OF RAEFORD FARMS

Spare change helps ll empty stomachs

Wallace businesses have joined forces to support Backpack Ministry’s mission of feeding the local children

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

WALLACE — With the 2025-26 school year underway, the downtown Wallace business community is stepping up to make a di erence beyond the classroom. While you’re browsing your favorite shops, you might notice something small with a big impact — donation jars for the interdenominational Backpack Ministry.

The jars, now found at local stores including Art of Hope, Blessings in Store, Evans Jewelry, Farriors Flooring, The

French Hen, Johnson Furniture, Mo’ Joe Co ee Shop, Pink Willow, The Rustic Chicken and Westside Creations, o er shoppers an easy way to support a vital cause — weekend meals for children facing food insecurity. According to a Backpack Ministry media release, the funds raised through these in-store jars supplement the ongoing support already provided by local churches, individuals, businesses, corporate grants and Duplin Christian Outreach Ministry — all united by a shared mission to care for the community’s youngest and most vulnerable. Every bit of spare change or extra dollar dropped into these jars helps provide kid-friendly, nutritious food for children who may otherwise go without when other meal programs are not available.

Eagle Scout project leaves lasting mark on Wallace Elementary

A 14-year-old turned an idea into a gift for future athletes

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

WALLACE — At just 14 years old, Hayes Skidmore is already making a signi cant impact in his community. A former student of Wallace Elementary School and dedicated baseball player, Hayes recognized an opportunity to create lasting change through teamwork and a visionary idea. For his Eagle Scout project, he focused on establishing a space where future athletes could build their con dence and develop their skills.

“I remember how hard it was to practice without (a batting cage),” said Skidmore. “I thought if I could give the kids a place to improve their skills and enjoy the game.”

Thanks to Skidmore’s efforts, Wallace Elementary has a new batting cage — a structure that will serve students for years, giving them a safe, dedicated space to practice and dream. Today, the cage serves as a reminder that anyone, regardless of age, can be a catalyst for change.

With help from local businesses, donors and his Scout troop, Skidmore raised the funds, coordinated logistics and oversaw the multiday build from start to nish. Throughout the process, he embodied the values of scouting — leadership, service and responsibility.

“We are so proud of Hayes and his dedication,” said Wallace Elementary School Principal Angelo Cavallaro. “This batting cage is more than just a structure — it’s a symbol of community, generosity and leadership.”

Skidmore’s message is displayed on a plaque near the cage, a simple but powerful re ection of his journey: “Scouting taught me to serve, baseball taught me to hustle — may this cage inspire both. In every swing and every step, may we remember to do a good turn daily, for in serving others, we serve Him.”

For Skidmore, the project was never just about baseball. It was about giving back to the community that helped raise him and showing other young

under normal circumstances, the plant generates between 80,000 and 100,000 gallons of sludge, but this month that gure surged to between 600,000 and 800,000 gallons.

“The excessive sludge production coupled with a few weeks of high rainfall strained the health of the system. To mitigate this, the ORC (operator) reduced aeration to keep solids from exiting the plant via Stewarts Creek.”

By Aug. 22, the plant had become unstable, prompting operators to shut down components of the system to initiate a restart — while still receiving more wastewater than the system could manage. The document indicated that partially treated wastewater would be discharged directly into Stewarts Creek during this process.

“Over the past few days, the plant has been receiving over 1 million gallons per day (MGD) of in uent whereas they are permitted for 0.915 MGD,” the report stated. “The next step is to pump out the aeration basins one by one and reseed the plant. Once a basin is taken o ine, treatment capacity drops drastically, resulting in a bypass.”

While the bypass was reported to regulators the public was not informed until ve days later. On Aug. 27, the town posted a press release on its website; however, it did not include any warnings for downstream users to avoid shing, swimming or recreational activities in the affected waters.

Stewarts Creek is not just any waterway; it is part of a network that supports shing, boating and aquatic life. The creek ows into Six Runs Creek, which then leads to the Black River and eventually reaches the Cape Fear River.

Commissioner Ebony Willis-Wells, who alerted the public of the spill, also raised concerns regarding sludge transported from the treatment plant that was being applied to local crops.

Duplin Journal contacted Town Manager Lea Turner to con rm whether the sludge being sprayed on crops has been tested for pathogens, ammonia and industrial contaminants. However, as of press time, Turner has not responded for comment.

It remains unclear when the wastewater treatment plant will be operational again. As of

the date of the press release, the town of Warsaw was “working to bring the plant back online.”

The ongoing wastewater treatment failures in Warsaw are part of a long-standing pattern of noncompliance, primarily due to persistent industrial overloading of the municipal treatment system from two major users: Villari Foods Group and C2NC.

For years, the plant has struggled to meet its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) e uent limits. Over the past two years, operators have reported repeated fail-

people that you don’t have to wait to make a di erence.

Skidmore expressed deep appreciation for everyone who contributed — whether by donating, helping with construction or o ering guidance.

“This project wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my community,” he said. “Working together showed me how much we can accomplish when we all pitch in, and I hope this cage helps the kids enjoy the game as much as I have.”

ures, including the discharge of dark-colored e uent and low dissolved oxygen levels.

Villari Foods, a large meat processing facility, has been discharging waste with concentrations far exceeding permitted levels. In some months, discharges surpassed biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) limits by nearly tenfold. Similarly, ammonia and nitrogen levels have consistently remained above allowed limits. The extreme organic and nutrient loads have overwhelmed the plant’s treatment capacity.

C2NC, a bioenergy facility handling agricultural waste, has been out of compliance since at least late 2024. Their ammonia and Total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) levels are alarmingly high — sometimes by a factor of 30 to 40. Equipment failures and high solids content have been cited as contributing factors. Like Villari, C2NC has missed self-imposed deadlines for achieving compliance and was formally ordered by the town to cease discharges in July 2025. However, a limited discharge of 100,000 gallons per day was conditionally approved while system modi cations are underway.

Duplin

COURTESY PHOTO

Hope Smith, owner of Art of Hope and co-chair of the Downtown Wallace Merchants Association, holds the Backpack Ministry’s donation jar her business is hosting.

COURTESY COMMISSIONER EBONY WILLIS-WELLS

COURTESY PHOTO

Principal Angelo Cavallaro, left, stands next to Hayes Skidmore in front of the new batting cage Skidmore built for Wallace Elementary as his Eagle Scout project and a gift to future athletes.

A D&J Hauling truck removes sludge at the Warsaw Wastewater Treatment Plant.

DUPLIN SPORTS

Bulldogs fall short on nal drive in tight loss to Vikings

WRH loses to Kinston in a game of contrasting styles

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

KINSTON — One of the best takeaways from a 26-24 loss to Kinston last Friday was how Wallace-Rose Hill reacted after both its failures and successes following each touchdown that was scored.

Winning the PAT and 2-point conversion wars not only kept the game closer, it showed the competitive spirit of the Bulldogs following their best and worst moments, said head coach Kevin Motsinger.

“Our kids fought their butts o , and our job as coaches is to teach them go work together, ght together, communicate and love as teammates and brothers,” said Motsinger, whose team fell to 0-2 but showed tons of potential and growth.

The Bulldogs thwarted three of Kinston’s four conversion attempts and turned three of their post-touchdown opportunities into six points.

“The 2-point plays were huge, and sometimes that’s when you tell what your players and team are made of,” Motsinger said.

“That’s what Wallace-Rose Hill kids are all about. But Kinston’s a good team, and they’ve built

up their program the right way.”

In fact, WRH did as much or more as Kinston to win the game, and it was more a matter of which team had the ball late — but not too late — in the game.

The Bulldogs defense held NCSU recruit Tyreek Cooper to six catches and 57 yards, though he did run in the game-winner with 2:31 left to play in a back-and-forth battle that featured the Vikings’ passing attack and the Bulldogs’ Wing-T running games between the tackles.

Forced to go to the air later, Kinston sacked quarterback Matthew Wells three times to seal the win. WRH used long drives for its scores. Kinston struck quicker.

Yet in the second half, Vikings running back Genesis Wiggins (15-123 running, 1-17 receiving and three TDs) was the di erence maker.

“Our defensive ends tried to do too much and got to chasing,” Motsinger said. “We didn’t set the edge. We had numbers inside the box. We felt we had to take Cooper out of the game, and I felt we did that.”

A back-and-forth marathon

Neither team had a lead of more than six points, and the game was stopped often

See BULLDOGS, page B3

WRH’s Jamarae Lamb ran for 168 yards, scored two touchdowns and ran for three 2-point conversions.

Revenge sweet for Holley as ED runs over Princeton

ED broke open a tight game with 36 second-half points to avenge three previous defeats

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

BEULAVILLE — Princeton was the only team to beat East Duplin during its 2022 state championship season. And the Bulldogs also have wins over the Panthers in 2021 and 2022.

East Duplin wrote a new chapter into the series with a dominating 42-20 win last Friday on Brian Aldridge Field.

Aaron Hall ran for three touchdowns, fullback Shawn Davis another and Branson Norris a red touchdown pass-

es as the Panthers beat a Bulldogs team for the second week in a row.

ED shutout the Bulldogs from Wallace-Rose Hill 21-0 to open its season. It is also the second of four steps on ED’s redemption tour.

The Panthers lost to both WRH the previous two seasons and to Princeton three times since 2001. They will face Richlands and James Kenan in the next two weeks, both of which tagged ED with losses during a 6-6 campaign in 2024.

“The defense played well and our o ense got better in the second half after not playing physical enough and having the kind of e ort we need,” said ED head coach Battle Holley. “To me, it was great be -

cause we responded to a challenge, and that’s what good teams do.”

The win was the rst for Holley over Bulldogs head coach Travis Gaster, whose father Jack Gaster (230-72-3) won three consecutive state titles, beating Battle’s father and Wallace-Rose Hill coach Jack Holley (412-96-9) in the 1A title game in 2001. Both legendary coaches have died and are in the NCHSAA Hall of Fame, and their sons have carried on their football legacy in North Carolina quite well.

Travis Gaster is 85-36 since taking over in Princeton, while Battle Holley has won more

Rebels run over Eagles for third straight in 52-year series

ND’s Carell Phillips ran for three touchdowns in a 39-19 win over Rosewood

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

GOLDSBORO — An Eagle was ejected three plays into the 57th football game between Rosewood and North Duplin when Carell Phillips ran for 21 yards and a rst down.

The Rebels didn’t react as head coach Hugh Martin pleaded to toss the punch-throwing.

North Duplin did its talking — and hitting — on the sod of Branch Pope Field via a 39-19 win.

It was the third straight triumph for the Rebels, who were

conference foes for the past two decades. ND leads the series 32-19, which started in 1973. The NCHSAA’s realignment and move from four to eight classes, made the Eagles to the lone 2A in the Swine Valley 3A/2A Conference, while the Rebels stayed in the Carolina Conference, which has all 2A teams, sans 1A East Columbus.

Carell Phillips ran for 141 yards and three touchdowns, and Vance Carter (14-79) and Jayden Pope (8-57) helped ND stockpile 301 rushing yard to move to 2-0 on the season.

Quan Stevens and Noa Quintanilla had short touchdown runs Garris Warren and Holden Williams had interceptions.

It was the fourth Rebels pick in two games as Ethan Turnage and Carter had swipes against Southside-Chocowinity on opening night.

Rebels set tone early

O ensively, ND (2-0) did what it does best: pound the football between the hash marks.

ND navigated its way to four rst downs before Carell scored from the 1 on fourth down.

But Carter, Quintanilla and Quan had quality runs during the 12-play, 72-yard march.

The Rebels even recovered from a personal foul

See REBELS, page B3

How

you?

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Aaron Hall ran for 112 yards and three touchdowns in ED’s 42-20 win over Princeton at Brian Aldridge Field last Friday night.

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

ND senior and UNC recruit Trashawn Ru n stops a Rosewood play shortly after it started.

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK SPONSORED BY BILL CARONE

Zachary Ball

East Duplin, football

Ball made 13 tackles and had an interception that led to a score in East Duplin’s 42-20 win over Princeton. The senior also caught a pass for 11 yards.

Panthers head coach Battle Holley says he has con dence Ball will make the right decision as both a split end and cornerback.

“He’s a weapon on both sides of the ball,” Holley said. “He’s one of our hardest workers and such a quiet guy. He just goes out and gets the job done. We have a marker machine, and he rates at the highest level and with the most intensity.”

The 6-foot-2, 167-pound senior caught six passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns in 2024 and made 2.2 tackles per game.

Ball averaged 6.1 points and 3.1 rebounds for the Panthers basketball team last winter.

Crusaders follow McKoy’s lead to shoot down Eagles

HCA’s playmaker led the way in a 34-14 win over Wayne Country Day

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

HARRELLS — Dashaun

McKoy is a player who can impact a game in many ways, and his style is entertaining to fans and motivating to his teammates.

McKoy made a leaping catch on a key third-and-long situation, returned a punt to the 1-yard line to set up a score, blocked a punt, logged a safety and made seven tackles to lead Harrells Christian Academy to a 34-14 win over Wayne Country Day last Friday at Murphy-Johnson Field.

“It was his show, and he didn’t disappoint us,” said HCA head coach Clayton Hall. “We ran the ball well, and I also felt we threw it well. Our o ensive line is struggling and growing.

“We’re 2-0 and happy, and we talked with our players about the that growth. But we know we have a test coming on Friday.”

Several Crusaders had spotlight performances.

Demetrius Jones ran the ball 17 times for 68 yards and

scored twice as the workhorse.

Jeremiah Davis picked up 39 yards on the ground and caught two passes for 60 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown strike.

Strickland, who was 5 of 10 for 60 yards, threw his third touchdown pass of the season.

The Crusaders scored three times in the rst half to take a 27-6 halftime lead.

HCA limited the Eagles to a touchdown in the rst and fourth quarters. One score came when DJ Deal (9-19, 77 yards) found Josiah McFarland for a 38-yard score. The other was a 51-yard run from Jamari Hill (11-123).

Chamani Newton and Noah

HCA’s Dashaun McKoy can turn the corner and lose defenders with his speed, cuts and footwork.

Tanner paced the Crusader defense with 11 tackles each.

Davis Bradshaw had eight stops and Amir Moore two sacks.

HCA hosts North Wake on Friday in what promises to be a close encounter. The Saints were 4-6 last season and beat Ravenscroft 32-25, while HCA fell to the Ravens 38-35.

HCA and Trinity Christian are the lone Big East Conference schools unbeaten after two weeks as North Raleigh Christian and Wake Christian are 1-1 and Ravenscroft 0-2. GRACE Christian is playing 8-man football and not in the conference this fall.

Vikings stymie Wildcats in second half as Smith, Pineda shine bright

Richlands took a 21-8 lead but couldn’t hold on in a road loss to White Oak

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

WHITE OAK — Beating

White Oak has been a challenge for the Richlands football team.

Last Friday, the Wildcats did all they could to accomplish that goal, though for just a half.

The Vikings defense slammed the lid on the Richlands in the second half en route to a 34-21 come-from-behind win against its former conference foe who this season is in the Big Carolina 6A/7A Conference.

Yet White Oak’s third straight loss brought back old memories for Richlands, which beat the Vikings in 2022 to snap a seven-game losing streak in the series between the Onslow County schools.

Josh Smith and Edrick Pineda each scored a pair of touchdowns as the Vikings rallied from a 21-16 halftime de cit.

White Oak held the Wildcats scoreless in the nal two quarters as both teams left with 1-1 records.

While the second half was all about the home team, the visitors had the edge in the rst 30 minutes and would have led by more if not for Smith’s 59-yard score just before halftime.

Wildcats quarterback CJ DiBenedetto slipped into the end zone via a sneak to give Richlands a 7-0 lead.

Montez Jimenez, who rushed for 81 yards on 15 car-

ries, then scored and added the 2-point conversion to give the Vikings a short-lived 8-7 lead. Eric Collins returned the kicko for a score as the Wildcats reclaimed a 14-8 lead.

DiBenedetto caught re by tossing a touchdown pass to Cale Wilges. Pineda scored in the third quarter and then early in the fourth to put White Oak in front 29-12.

White Oak captured the Coastal Conference championship last season by beating the Wildcats 34-14. Richlands was 8-0 before the setback. Both nished with

9-2 records after rst round playo losses. Richlands, who beat Southwest Onslow in its rst game, starts a three-game homestand on Friday against East Duplin (2-0). The Wildcats broke a 14-game losing streak to the Panthers with last season’s 19-0 win. It was the rst time ED has been shut out since 2015.

Richlands host South Brunswick (0-2) on Sept. 12 and the following week roll out the red carpet for Coastal 5A/6A Conference favorite Havelock, which is 0-2, with losses to West Craven and New Bern, both of which are 2-0.

MICHAEL JAENICKE/ DUPLIN JOURNAL

AIDEN TOKONITZ FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

Richlands quarterback CJ DiBenedetto threw a touchdown pass to Cale Wilges and scored on a short run in a 34-21 loss to White Oak.

ALICIA SUTTON FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

Bulldogs hold o pesky Princeton in 3 close sets

Wallace-Rose Hill remains unbeaten with a trip to powerhouse Midway on the agenda

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

PRINCETON — Wallace-Rose Hill volleyball coach Kevin Williams believes his Bulldogs volleyball team can go all the way.

And based on a 9-0 mark and the fact the Bulldogs have been and will continue to be pressured, he could have a valid point.

“We’re better as a team than last year, and I don’t know why,” he said after WRH beat Princeton in three close sets (25-23, 27-25, 25-23). “Our defense is better even though we still have some work to do in that area. But it’s pulled us through a lot so far.”

While the o ense centers around kills masters Angelina Cavallaro and Jansley Page, Sally Martinez and Isabella Parker have upped their respective games in the back for WRH.

“In some ways, this is what separates us from last year (when WRH went 21-3 and lost in the third round of the playo s),” Williams said. “Sally’s one of our quickest players and I’ve used her at libero, and Isabella is holding her own on the weak side. Our passing is so much better, and we’ve had fewer errors.”

Meanwhile, Cavallaro and Page have been tearing up the opposition. The seniors have combined for 295 kills, with

BULLDOGS from page B1

by injuries for both schools.

Kinston needed just four passes and a 26-yard jet sweep touchdown from Wiggins to go in front 6-0 during a drive that took just 1:20 o the clock.

The Vikings stopped WRH after 13 plays on fourth-and-11 from the Kinston 22 as running back Jamarae Lamb came up a yard short of the yardstick.

An Aspen Brown sack of Tyler Jones (13-18 for 138 yards) set up a 16-play, 80-yard march that ended with Wells scoring from the 3. Lamb (31-168) then made his rst of three conversion runs to put WRH on top 8-6.

Wells made a key rst down early in the drive, and fullbacks Montavious Hall (7-27) and Logan Marks (7-51) came through with quality runs as Darrius McCrimmon and Devon Sloan provided key blocks.

Jones completed ve passes during a six-play drive that ended with a 14-yard reception by Wiggins, leaving WRH with 3:23 to play before halftime.

Lamb took over. First converting on fourth-and-1 and then running for 23 yards to get the ball to the 11. He went over from the 1 on the 14th play of the march as the rst-half clock expired.

His conversion run gave WRH a 16-14 lead.

“That was (Lamb’s) best game here, regardless of how many yards he gained,” Motsinger said. “He made electric plays

Cavallaro, Ms. Volleyball in Duplin, having one more spike than her classmate.

And while WRH has yet to play more than four sets in a match, sets have been won by closer margins than one would expect from an unbeaten team.

“The rst one we lost was against Pender, and it humbled us,” Williams said. “And it also told us we need to bring it every night and for every set. We’re not invincible.”

The Bulldogs captured three sets in the same fashion against Princeton: by sweating them out and grinding out points.

Page had two kills and an ace as WRH went in front 5-2 in the rst set. Princeton rallied to make it 9-8 before Cavallaro and Page combined for two points apiece to go in front 13-9.

While Princeton stayed within reach behind smashes from sophomore Taylor Holmes, who has 63 kills this season after getting 289 as a sophomore.

“She can hit it and gave us ts most of the night,” Williams said.

A Holmes slam gave Princeton tied it at 20-20, but Gabby Debman had a winner, and Cavallaro a tip and nal kill that won the set at 25-23. Mattie Gavin had 32 assists during the match and has 267 for the season.

The next two sets were played with the same intensity from both Swine Valley Conference schools.

Midway (4-2, 3-0) and Rosewood (9-1, 3-0) are also o to great starts in a volleyball league with a handful of quality teams.

“It’s a very good conference for volleyball,” said Williams, who guided WRH to its rst league title since 1996. “We have a goal to win a state title, and I think it’s realistic. This is the best team in the 15 years I’ve been here.”

Panthers roll past Cardinals, Devilpups

Freshman Bennett Holley had 10 kills and seven assists, and Zoe Cavanaugh and Turner combined for 12 kills,

the 3 on the 13th play as WRH led 24 -20 with 6:26 to play.

Yet stopping Wiggins was almost impossible in the next series. He might have earned MVP honors for the game with his six crucial runs alone. His score from the 4 delivered the Vikings the two-point win.

WRH is 4-1 all-time against Kinston, which includes two routs and last season’s 14-13 squeaker.

Dark Horses next on the agenda

WRH might have played its best two nonconference foes, though they travel to Clinton (1-1) on Friday.

six aces, and 20 digs as East Duplin beat Jacksonville 3-0 (25 -13, 25-23, 25-21) last Tuesday on the Panthers’ home court.

Karsyn Parker added 13 digs and Kinsey Cave 20 assists. ED’s lone loss in six matches was to WRH.

Two days later, ED dusted o Lejeune in three sets (25 -23, 25-17, 25-14) as Cavanaugh, Turner and Holley combined for 14 kills. Cave dug up nine balls and had 10 of ED’s 19 assists.

The Panthers have rematches with the Cardinals and Devilpups this week. ECC play does not being until Sept. 11. Four days later, the Panthers and Bulldogs clash for the second time.

Rebels rally to win conference opener

North Duplin didn’t let a letdown in the rst set against East Columbus get under its skin.

Falling 25-17, the Rebels rallied to win sets at 25-23 and twice at 25-22 to claim its rst match in the new Carolina Conference.

Maggie Brown had eight kills, Abby Norris seven and Melany Sanchez ve. Lilly Fulghum pitched in with 21 assists and Marissa Bernal 19 digs. Bernal and Gracie Higginbotham each had four aces.

Two days later, Brown (10 kills), Fulghum (eight aces, 10 assists) and Bernal (15 digs) paced ND to a 3-0 win over Union, winning sets at 25-14 twice and 25-18 to close out the match.

Eagles, Raiders take down Tigers

Avery Ramsey had 14 of Rosewood’s 35 kills in a 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-16) win over James Kenan (4-5, 1-2) last Tuesday in Goldsboro.

Two days later Midway burned the court for 31 winners during a more lopsided 3-0 (25 -11, 25-11, 25-4) verdict as Kaedyn Moran delivered 10 kills and nine aces.

and said, ‘Feed me the ball.’ And he didn’t try to make things happen when they were not there. He was patient, knowing that even if we don’t score, we keep Kinston’s o ense o the eld.”

A controversial excessive force penalty on WRH gave Kinston new life on its rst possession of the second half. Wiggins’ score ve plays later made it 20-16 midway through the third.

The Bulldogs defense got its only three-and-out near the end of the quarter, and WRH’s offense went back to grinding the football down the eld.

Marks had two runs to start the march, and Wells had a rst down run on third-and-3, taking the ball for 10 yards to the 19 on the next play.

Lamb took it for 10 more yards to the 6 and scored from

“They’ll play similar to what we saw on Friday night, throwing and passing the ball,” Motsinger said. “They have new o ensive and defensive coordinators.

Mile McCallop (14-32 for 209 yards) threw for two scores and ran for another last Friday in the Dark Horses’ 55-39 loss to Swine Valley Conference foe Midway (2-0). This fall, Clinton plays in the ECC.

The Raiders, who play WRH on Oct. 10, ran for 300 yards against the Clinton defense.

Yet Motsinger still sees the Dark Horses as a dangerous foe.

“They have tons of transfers, big kids and very fast and explosive players,” he said.

According to longtime sports editor Bill Rollins, WRH has won the last two encounters, though Clinton has a 31-24 lead in the all-time series.

ag that took them from a rst-and-goal from the 9 to a second-and-goal spot from the 24. Carell’s nal three totes of the march took care of the 24 yards needed to make it 6-0.

Four plays later, Warren intercepted a pass to give the Rebels possession at the Rosewood 39.

Vance had two 4-yard runs and Phillips a 15-yard scamper before going into the end zone from the 7 on the sixth play to go in front 12-0.

Three plays later, Rosewood’s rst sign of life came when Bryson Hobbs sprinted down the right sideline for a 69-yard score, which might have been the lone rst-half highlight for the Eagles.

Two more scores put the margin at 26-6 by halftime.

ND chewed up almost nine minutes o the second-quarter clock with a 12-play, 65 -yard push. Carter and Pope had a pair of solid runs, and Quintanilla also had one before Phillips scored from the 2 with 37.4 second left until halftime. But Martin then ordered an onside kick that Warren recovered.

Carell zipped for a 32-yard gain on rst down and Carter and Pope got the pig to the 5. Carell’s score came with 1.3 seconds left on the clock.

Rosewood (0-2) survived two fumbles on the rst possession of the third quarter.

Timothy Je ries slipped past ND for a 50-yard score at the 7:19 mark to trail 26 -12.

Pope scored from the 8 four minutes later. Williams’ pick came on fourth-and-4.

ND continued its pace o ensively as four running backs touched the ball during a nal drive. Carell crashed the line for 7 yards on fourth-and-23, and Stevens followed the ND line into the end zone the next play.

Rosewood, who was 20-2 against CC foes from 2018 -22, scored a meaningless touchdown in the nal three minutes.

Gators, Trojans warmups for Lakewood

The Rebels host Spring Creek (0-2) on Friday at H.E. Grubbs Field.

The Gators last nonlosing season (6-6) was in 2005, The Gators have averaged 1.5 wins since 2006 and are 30 -171 in the past 20 seasons.

ND’s next foe, Jones Senior (0-2), has six wins in the past nine seasons and are 22109 the past 13 campaigns. The Trojans were 10-5 in 2011 and lost to Murphy in the 1A nals. Jones didn’t win a game during a four-season stretch from 2017 to 2020. It could have been worse since Jones only played one game during the COVID-19 season of ’20.

ND’s biggest game of the regular season follows with a trip to Lakewood (1-1) on Sept. 19.

Former Clinton defensive coordinator Travis Elliot is the Leopards’ rst-year coach.

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Angelina Cavallaro drilled 21 kills against Princeton and has 148 through eight games.

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL Carell Phillips ran for three touchdowns in ND’s 39-19 win over Rosewood.

REBELS from page B1

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

WRH’s Aspen Brown does what it takes to stop Vikings running back Genesis Wiggins in the rst half of Friday night’s game in the Kinston.

Bulldogs bomb Panthers for 6th-straight rivalry win

The Panthers pushed past the Tigers for their rst win as rain causes havoc with soccer schedules

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

TEACHEY — East Duplin has not beaten Wallace-Rose Hill on the soccer eld in almost three years.

Two goals by Felix Funez would have been enough for the Bulldogs, who also got scores from Jeremy Martinez and Christian Calderon last Tuesday during a 4-0 win.

The Bulldogs led 1-0 at the midway point before scoring four times in the second half as Martinez had two assists and Wilmer Flores one.

It was the fth straight win over ED for WRH. The Panthers last win in the rivalry series came on Sept. 28, 2022. It was the rst win for rst-year coach Aaron Murray, a former Bulldogs player.

WRH (1-1-1) and ED (1-3) will play again this week in what is now a nonconference match since the Bulldogs are in the Swine Valley 3A/2A Conference and the Panthers are in the ECC 3A/4A Conference.

PHOTOS BY EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

JK’s Kevin Jimenez, left, and ED’s Richard Reyes clashed often during the Panthers’ 2-1 win.

The Panthers (1-3) picked up their rst win two days earlier by thwarting James Kenan 2-1 as all-Duplin rst-team players Richard Reyes and Yoskar Canales scored.

Sophomore Dany Mendez had assists on both goals. All three scores came in the rst half.

JK (2-2-1) recovered to down North Johnston 5-0 and North Lenoir 3-1.

The Tigers, who are also in the Swine Valley, will also have a second clash with the Panthers this week as Duplin rivalries are extended.

Rain has played havoc with soccer elds across the state.

WRH’s Cristian Calderon airlifts the ball over ED’s Oscar Ramirez during the Bulldogs’ 4-0 win.

than 100 games at ED since 2011 and is 155-62 overall. Holley has also coached in ve region nals.

The other three ED-Princeton encounters were close affairs, with Princeton winning a 58-57 slugfest in 2022 and 36-30 and 22-15 thrillers in ’21 and ’20, respectively.

“We like to play them because they have good support, their kids play hard, and it’s really good for our kids to play physical teams,” said Holley.

Hall’s two scores in second half key win

Hall (13-112) ran for three second-half touchdowns when Princeton got within close range.

Gerell Bogle (16-139) scored from the 2 after a 67-yard run to trim the ED’s lead to 21-12. But on the fth play of ED’s next drive, Hall hit pay dirt from the 17. Davis ran for 25 yards on the previous play.

Princeton’s Teo McPhatter (32-139) scored from the 3 early in the fourth, and Devyne Maxwell added the 2-point conversion to trim the margin to one score — 28-20.

On the fth play of ED’s next drive, Hall scored from the 17 to up the margin to 34 -20. Davis had 26 yards on four totes during the march that was setup by a Zachary Ball interception.

Nickolas Davis’ interception and a 17-yard run by Dewayne Davis (4-32) ended the game with ED holding a 6-3 edge in touchdowns. Neither team dented the scoreboard in the opening quarter.

Nickolas Davis had the

rst score in the second quarter when he took a pass from Gavin Jarman to the house from mid eld.

McPhatter’s 1-yard plunge tied it at 6-6 as Princeton drove 53 yards in eight plays.

ED tacked on touchdowns by Shawn Davisa and Maddox Weis.

Shawn Davis’ 6-yard score early in the third quarter gave ED a lead it would not relinquish, though the game would tighten. He scored on the eighth play, and Norris found Ball for the 2-point conversion for a 14-6 lead.

The Panthers then stopped Princeton on fourth-and-4 from the ED 30. Shawn Davis (12-90) and Keeshon Mckinnie (4-67) had rst-down runs, and newcomer Weis shocked the Bulldogs and the stadium by going 37 yards for a score to up the ante to 21-6.

Revenge tour stop 3: Richlands

ED will be on the road the next two weeks, starting on Friday against Richlands, which slammed the Panthers 19-0 last season. It was ED’s rst shutout loss since falling 28-0 to James Kenan in 2015.

“We’ve done a real good job of taking care of the ball in our rst two games, and that will be important,” said Holley. “We’ve got to keep improving.” Richlands lost head coach Pat Byrd and most of the team that went 9-2 last fall but are 1-1 after beating Southwest Onslow and falling to White Oak.

The Panthers’ nal two nonconference games — James Kenan and Jacksonville — promise to be even bigger challenges.

SIDELINE REPORT

NFL

Parsons relishes fresh start in Green Bay after enduring ‘hardest four months of my life’

ED head coach Battle Holley said a halftime chat turned his o ense around against Princeton.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA DUPLIN COUNTY FILE#25E001250-300 The undersigned, DEBORAH PATE HORRELL, having quali ed on the 25TH DAY of JUNE, 2025, as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of BILLY RAY PATE, deceased, of DUPLIN County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 4TH Day of DECEMBER 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 4TH Day of SEPTEMBER 2025. DEBORAH PATE HORRELL, ADMINISTRATOR 134 SUMMER RIDGE DR. WALLACE, NC 28466 Run dates: S4,11,18,25p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA DUPLIN COUNTY

FILE#25E001295-300 The undersigned, LINDSAY ROUSE, having quali ed on the 30TH DAY of JULY, 2025, as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of LEIGH ANN SMITH, deceased, of DUPLIN County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 14TH Day of NOVEMEBER 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 14TH Day of AUGUST 2025. LINDSAY ROUSE, ADMINISTRATOR 3004 CONDOR CT DEEP RUN, NC 28525 Run dates: A14th, 21st,28th,S4p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA DUPLIN COUNTY

FILE#25E001323-300 The undersigned, GERRI SMITH DEBOSE, having quali ed on the 19TH DAY of AUGUST, 2025, as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of AUDREY WILLIAM SMITH, deceased, of DUPLIN County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 28TH Day of NOVEMEBER 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 28TH Day of AUGUST 2025. GERRI SMITH DEBOSE, ADMINISTRATOR 168 COTTLE LANE ROSE HILL, NC 28458 Run dates: A28th,S4,11,18p

Green Bay, Wisc. Micah Parsons says he just went through the hardest four months of his life as he feared his contract stalemate with the Dallas Cowboys would stretch into the season. The matter was settled with a trade to the Green Bay Packers. Now the superstar pass rusher wants to create a legacy be tting one of the league’s most storied franchises. Parsons arrived in Green Bay one day after the Packers sent two rst-round picks and three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark to Dallas in exchange for him. The Packers are making Parsons the highest-paid nonquarterback in history.

NCAA FOOTBALL

Sanders has sideline bathroom at Colorado, sponsored by Depend undergarment

Boulder, Col. Colorado introduced a branded sideline bathroom for Deion Sanders in its opening game against Georgia Tech. Friday night’s sponsor is Depend undergarment. Colorado coach Deion Sanders was recently diagnosed with bladder cancer and needs to frequently use the restroom. The portable privacy tent is right next to the Bu aloes bench. Sanders spent time away from the team this summer as he went through treatment for bladder cancer. His doctor said he was cured. It was also revealed that a section of his intestine was reconstructed to function as a bladder.

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

obituaries

Oscar R. Lambert

April 10, 1935 – Aug. 19, 2025

It was Tuesday afternoon, August 19, 2025, that Mr. Oscar R. Lambert left his pain-stricken earthly body to receive life eternal with his Saviour. Death came while he was in the loving embrace of his family and in the comforting care of Kitty Askins Hospice Center. Mr. Lambert, a long-time Mount Olive resident, was born in Calypso. He was the youngest of eleven children and was the last to survive. In his early years, he was a member of Mount Olive Rescue Squad and was the last surviving charter member at the time of his passing. Of this organization, he had served twice as captain and had served in various other capacities while in active membership, and he had been a member of the Mount Olive Jaycees.

He served faithfully in the North Carolina National Guard. His working career as an electrician began with employment with Clayton Summerlin Electric Company in Mount Olive. He would later join the faculty of James Sprunt Community College as an instructor in the electrical installation and maintenance program, retiring with 22 years of loyal service.

His particular interests were hunting, shing, and tending a vegetable garden at his home.

Lovingly called Papa by his family, Mr. Lambert is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Doug and Bonnie H. Lambert of Faison; a daughter and son-inlaw, Donna L. and Dean Holmes of Mount Olive; another son-in-law, Anthony Butts of Mount Olive, husband of deceased daughter, Rose L. Butts; ve beloved grandchildren, Jeremy Holmes of Goldsboro, Garrett Lambert and wife, Amanda, of Faison, Renee L. Medlin and husband, Jeremy, of Clinton, Jeanna B. Haley of Goldsboro, and Clay Butts of Bowdens; six much-loved greatgrandchildren, Emma Lambert, Savannah Lambert, Cason Medlin, Tucker Medlin, Emilia Rose Haley, and Everett Haley; and many nieces and nephews. He has now been received in heaven by his Saviour; his dear wife, Rosa Lee Goodson Lambert; his baby daughter, Rose Marie L. Butts; his parents, the Rev. Otis Lambert and Myrtie Wadsworth Lambert; brothers, Luther Lambert, the Rev. Ralph Lambert, Samuel Lambert, and Herbert Lambert; and sisters, Ruth L. Barwick, Hazel L. Powell, Ethel L. Davis, Fannie L. Fann, Christine L. Ridge, and Ella L. Watkins. The life of this good, humble, and Godly man was remembered on Friday, August 22, with funeral services at 2 p.m. at the Mount Olive First Pentecostal Holiness Church, where he was faithful in worship. O ciating was Pastor Je Dail. Burial followed in Maplewood Cemetery in Mount Olive. Memorial gifts may be made to Mount Olive First Pentecostal Holiness Church, 130 Ed Edmundson Road, Mount Olive, NC 28365.

Jameek Saveon Joyner

Nov. 4, 2004 – Aug. 19, 2025

Jameek Saveon Joyner, 20, of Clinton, NC, passed away August 19, 2025. Funeral service will be 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at Greater Six Runs Missionary Baptist Church in Turkey, NC. Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m. (one hour prior to the service). Interment following the service at Springvale Cemetery, located in Clinton, NC.

Jameek leaves behind a loving family who will forever cherish his memory. He is survived by his parents, Ebony Lamb and Russell Joyner; his siblings, Salim Joyner, Sabria Joyner, Serenity Joyner, Prince Joyner, and Aniya Dixon; his maternal grandparents, Donald Royal, and James and Carrie Lamb Brinson; his paternal grandparents, Margaret Joyner, Romie Brown, and Sharron Bowden; and his godparents, Ti any Lane and Shearon Wilson. He is also survived by his aunts and uncles: Nicole Wilson (Tyrone), Tameka Goldstone, Aretha Hill, TiNisha Joyner, Mirekal Brinson, Asia Jones, Ray Joyner, Dexter Joyner, Arnez Lamb, Tyrone Lamb, Dominique Brinson, James Brinson Jr., Micheal Bowden, Nate Bowden, Josh Bowden, Montero Jones, and Issac Hicks. Jameek will also be deeply missed by a host of cousins, teachers, coaches, coworkers, classmates, and friends. Special friends who will cherish his memory include Haley Boone, Tamyah Brown, and Daniyah Walker.

Jameek’s memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew him. He will be remembered for his kind spirit, his big smile, and the genuine love he shared with everyone. He will be deeply missed.

“You will forever remain a special place in our hearts Ja!

Kenneth Earl McFadden

Aug. 10, 1965 - Aug. 22, 2025

Mr. Kenneth Earl McFadden, age 60, of Raleigh, NC, passed away on Friday, August 22, 2025, at Duke University Hospital in Durham, NC. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at 11 a.m. at the Rose Hill Funeral Home Chapel in Rose Hill, NC. Left to cherish his precious memories are his son, Kenneth Sutton of New York; brother, Bobby R. McFadden of Rose Hill, NC; sisters: Jacqueline McFadden of Rose Hill, NC, Shelia M. Johnson (Leroy) of Beulaville, NC and Tamieka Williams of Wilmington, NC; four grandchildren; three aunts, one uncle; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends that will miss him dearly.

Family will receive friends at the home of his aunt, Mattie McFadden, at 108 East North St., in Warsaw, NC.

Ervin Ray Thompson

Feb. 10, 1950 – Aug. 19, 2025

Ervin Ray Thompson of Wilson, age 75, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at Wilson Medical Center. Ervin was raised in Beulaville, NC. He was preceded in death by his parents, Guy Albert and Naomi Hatchell Thompson, and brother Russell Thompson.

Mr. Thompson is survived by his wife of 55 years, Shirley M. Thompson; sisters, Reba T. Farrior and Geraldine T. Basden; many nephews and nieces; and one special niece, Pam F. Boos, for her support during a di cult time.

During this journey, the family made wonderful friends who prayed for them and with them. They would like to thank Wilson Radiation Oncology and Regional Medical Oncology for their exceptional care.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at 2 p.m. at East Duplin Memorial Gardens in Beulaville and will be o ciated by Roland Penny.

In lieu of owers, a memorial gift may be made to New River Church, 333 Wagon Ford Road, Beulaville, NC 28518.

Kathleen Ann Richards Antrican

May 24, 1954 – Aug. 28, 2025

Kathleen Ann Richards Antrican, 71, passed peacefully on Thursday, August 28, 2025, with lots of love showered upon her by family who were at her side, reminiscing about so many happy, blessed memories of her welllived life.

She was born on May 24, 1954, in Dayton, Ohio, the daughter of Carl Richards and Julia Thompson Richards. In addition to her parents, Kathleen was preceded in death by her grandson, Justin Antrican.

Kathleen is survived by her husband of 52 years, Alan Antrican; her son, Greg Antrican and his wife, Brenda Rowe-Antrican; grandchildren, Cheyenne Antrican, Justin Rowe (Emily), and Jennifer Rowe; great grandchildren, Elliot Rowe and Isla Rowe; brothers, Bob Richards and Carl Richards; sister, Tina Crist; very special sister-in-law, Priscilla Price; brother-in-law, Jerry Antrican; several nieces and nephews.

Kathleen was an exceptionally strong lady, both physically, spiritually, and emotionally. She could and did tackle most any project with vim and vigor and saw it to completion. She had a big heart and was always thoughtful and caring about others. For many years, she volunteered at St. Joseph The Worker Catholic Church Food Bank. She was a faithful member of the Red Hat Club and was a ectionately known as “Katherine the Great” in the group. First and foremost, family was Kathleen’s everything as her earthly life totally revolved around her family. She lived life with love, with gusto, and sharing. Her presence in our family and in her beloved neighborhood family will surely be missed.

The memorial service will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at Quinn-McGowen Burgaw Chapel with Rev. William Hill Pearsall conducting the service. The family will receive friends at the funeral home following the memorial service.

Hazel Belle Lawson

Jan. 31, 1950 – Aug. 20, 2025

Kinston- It is with deepest sympathy that we announce the passing of Ms. Hazel Belle Lawson, age 75, who completed her earthly journey and entered into eternal peace on August 20, 2025, at UNC Lenoir Hospital in Kinston, North Carolina. There will be a Celebration of Life held on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at 2 p.m. at the Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 311 East St., Kinston, NC. The viewing will be one hour prior to the Celebration of Life. We extend our deepest condolences to the family, and please keep the family lifted in your prayers during their time of bereavement.

Jane Raynor English

Jan. 22, 1940 – Aug. 27, 2025

Jane Jones English, 85, of Eastover, North Carolina, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, August 27, 2025.

She was born Gloria Jane Raynor in Pender County, North Carolina, on January 22, 1940, the daughter of the late Robert James and Louise Piner Raynor. Jane was also preceded in death by her husband, James C. English, and sisters Patricia Manley, LaVern Blanton, and Suzanne Soder.

Jane was a life-long member of Lebanon Baptist Church. Surviving are her sons, Bradley W. Jones Sr. and Kendal K. Jones and his wife Donna of Eastover, NC; grandchildren Brad Jones Jr., Allison Jones, Casie Dowd and Taylor Turner; great grandchildren Brayden and Carson Dowd; sisters Barbara Brinkley, Glenda Smith and Yvonne Long and her husband Ron; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends that loved Jane dearly. Jane was a loving mother, grandmother and sister. She was a woman of uncommon character, beauty and grace; and to those who knew her, “an instrument of God’s love on this earth.” Jane was a friend to all, a strong yet gentle presence who looked for and encouraged the best in everyone. She was a shoulder upon whom many found comfort and support. Jane enjoyed working in her yard tending to her owers. Jane was a true servant of the Lord. Her interest and compassion for young people made a great impact on many young lives she served throughout her life. Jane was a Proverb 31 woman. She took great care of her family, her home and served wherever she was needed. She loved to tell others about Jesus and His love. Jane has now nished her race and is at the feet of Jesus. Her family is grateful to God for the legacy of love and example of Christ she has left behind. A family graveside service will be held on Friday, August 29, 2025, at Riverview Memorial Park with Pastor Tommy Knight o ciating. In lieu of owers, Jane requested that memorial gifts be made to Baptist Children’s Home of North Carolina, 204 Idol St, Thomasville, NC 27360 or to Falcon Children’s Home, 7569 N West St, Falcon, NC 28342.

Lottie Rae Debose Squires

Sept. 2, 1931 – Aug. 23, 2025

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of Lottie Rae Debose Squires, who left us on August 23, 2025, at the age of 93.

Lottie was born on September 2, 1931, the daughter of the late James Lee DeBose and Etha Gertrude Woodcock DeBose. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert Harvey Squires, brothers: Aurthur, Robert, Bernice, Fitgerald, Morris, Linwood, Roy, and Lewis Thomas; and sisters, Ellen, Ruby, Zara, and Dorthy.

Lottie is survived by her son Alexander “Alex” Squires, daughter Rebecca Squires, spouse Kim Stutts, and grandson Harvey Squires II.

Lottie was the twelfth of thirteen children, born on the Debose family farm in Ivanhoe, NC. She had a deep love for animals, often sharing fond memories of the dogs and cats and other creatures on the farm. Her mother passed down to her incredible cooking skills, and she generously shared her homemade cakes, pies, and cookies with many friends and family over the years. Lottie began her distinguished career as a nurse after attending nursing school at James Walker Hospital School of Nursing in Wilmington, later becoming a well-respected emergency room nurse among doctors and her fellow nurses. She married Robert Harvey Squires on August 31, 1957, and together they built a life lled with care and community. An active member of First Baptist Church in Wallace, Lottie continued to show her caring nature by running the church daycare on Sundays, and other volunteer opportunities. Her kindness and compassionate spirit touched countless lives throughout her remarkable life.

Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at Poston Baptist Church with Pastor Chris Jarman o ciating.

The family will receive friends from 1-2 p.m., one hour prior to the funeral service at the church. Entombment will follow the service at Rock sh Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of owers, memorial donations may be made in memory of Lottie D. Squires to the Children’s Home Society of NC, PO Box 14060, Greensboro, NC 27415, or to the Alzheimer’s Association, 5171 Glenwood Avenue #101, Raleigh, NC 27612.

William Franklin Matthews

Sept. 17, 1942 – Aug. 23, 2025

William Franklin Matthews, 82, of Teachey, NC, peacefully passed away on August 23, 2025. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at First Baptist Church in Teachey, NC. Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. (one hour prior to the service). Interment following the service at First Baptist Church Cemetery.

Josephine Rosemarie Contrevo

March 19, 1940 – Aug. 27, 2025

Goldsboro- It is with heartfelt sympathy that we announce the passing of Ms. Josephine Rosemarie Contrevo, age 85, who transitioned from this life to eternal peace on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at Goldsboro Assisted Living in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Though Ms. Contrevo is no longer with us in body, her spirit remains forever in all who knew her. The arrangements are incomplete at this time. Please keep the family in your prayers during their time of bereavement.

Brenda Kay Grady Higgins

Aug. 17, 1941 – Aug. 28, 2025

Kenansville- Brenda Kay Grady Higgins, 84, of Kenansville, passed away on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at the Gardens of Rose Hill. Brenda was born in Duplin County, August 17, 1941, to the late Charles Grady and Hazel Brown Grady.

Brenda graduated from James Kenan and continued her education at Hardbargers . She retired from the Hancock County Board of Education in Weirton, West Virginia. After retirement, Brenda returned to Duplin County.

A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at the Devotional Gardens in Warsaw.

Left to cherish her memory are her sister, Marie Grady Miller, and husband, Richard of Beulaville, nieces and nephews, Kimberly Grady Quinn, Kevin Grady, Charles “Chuck” Grady, III, James Anthony Grady, Michelle Pinson, Stuart Miller, and Autumn Grady.

In addition to her parents, Brenda was preceded in death by her brothers, Charles Grady Jr., and Michael Lee Grady.

The family would like to express a heartfelt thanks to the sta of The Gardens of Rose Hill for their loving care of Brenda.

David John Price Jr.

March 18, 1952 – Aug. 24, 2025

David John Price Jr., 73, longtime resident of Mount Olive, passed away Sunday morning, August 24, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Kitty Askins Hospice Center after a courageous battle with a longterm illness.

Mr. Price was born March 18, 1952, in Wayne County to the late David John Price Sr. and Margaret King Price. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Joyce Price Cottle of Faison, and a son-inlaw, Randy Lynn Parker of Mount Olive.

His survivors include his wife, Teresa Price; daughter, Renee Price Parker; son and daughterin-law, David Ray Price and Susan Price; step-daughters, Alexis Brown and Megan Brown; step-son, Dillon Brown; eight grandchildren; ve greatgrandchildren; two sisters, Lois Price Reeve, and Connie Price Westbrook and husband, Charles Glenn Westbrook.

Mr. Price bequeathed his body to the Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology. No services are planned.

Marvin Alfred Legg

Feb. 22, 1959 – Aug. 20, 2025

Marvin Alfred Legg, age 66, passed from his earthly life on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

He was born February 22, 1959, in Cameron, Missouri, the son of Marvin Clarence Legg and Doris Waldron Legg. In addition to his parents, Marvin was preceded in death by his brother, Robert Legg.

Marvin is survived by his loving family, including six children, two sisters, and several nieces and nephews.

Marvin served his country honorably in the US Army, serving part of his tour of duty in Korea. He attended church in Burgaw, NC, was an ordained minister with a strong Christian faith, and for the past 20 years, enjoyed sharing the word of Jesus with others.

In his younger years, Marvin enjoyed motorcycle riding, playing his guitar, singing and excelling in woodworking projects.

In the fall of the year, Marvin’s cremated remains will be scattered in a eld of wild owers on the family farm in Missouri.

Marilyn Diane Kenan

April 3, 1955 – Aug. 23, 2025

Marilyn Diane Kenan, 70, of Teachey, NC, passed away August 23, 2025, at ECU Health Duplin Hospital in Kenansville, NC. Funeral service is at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Wallace, NC. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Saturday, August 30, 2025, at Hawes Funeral Home in Warsaw, NC. Interment following the funeral service at Iron Mine Cemetery in Wallace, NC.

James Minor Person

Sept. 2, 1943 – Aug. 25, 2025

Goldsboro- Mr. James Minor Person, 81, completed his earthly journey and transitioned from labor to reward on Monday, August 25, 2025, at Goldsboro Health and Rehabilitation. Please remember the family in prayer as they prepare to lay their loved one to rest. A Graveside Service will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Golden Gate Memorial Gardens 4734 Hwy. 117 North, Pikeville, NC.

Lynn G. “Bud” King

April 1, 1947 – Aug. 29, 2025

Lynn G. “Bud” King departed this life on August 29, 2025. He was born in Harrells, NC, the youngest child and only son of George W. King and Edna J. King. He graduated from Union High School in 1965 and pursued a career in construction, owning Lynn G. King and Son Cement Company.

“Bud” is preceded in death by his parents, son Darren King, and sisters Joyce Short (Bob), Louise Jones (Red), and Eleanor Jarrell (Paul).

Left to cherish his memory are his daughter Tammy K. Kennedy (Frank) of Willard, NC; grandson R.J. Henderson (Dana) and great grandsons Finley and Crue Henderson of Watha, NC. He is also survived by daughter-in-law Nancy Prevatte King of Watha and nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Lynn was quick-witted, loved to hunt and sh, and enjoyed country and gospel music. He sang in the choir at Siloam Baptist Church in Harrells as a teenager. He was also a member of a gospel music group, singing bass for many years.

Per his request, no service will be held. In lieu of owers, please consider donations to the Shriners Hospital or to the charity of one’s choice. The family is being served by Padgett Funeral Home.

James Dove Jr.

Nov. 14, 1959 – Aug. 28, 2025

Dudley- It is with profound sadness that the family of Mr. James Dove Jr., age 65, announces his passing on August 28, 2025, at his residence, surrounded by his loving family. Though his time with us will not be forgotten, his impact was immeasurable, and his memory will be cherished forever. There will be a public visitation on Friday, August 29, 2025, at the JB Rhodes Jr. Memorial Chapel and a Celebration of Life on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at 1 p.m. at Jerusalem FWB Church, Seven Springs, NC. We extend our deepest condolences to the family, and please continue to keep the family in your prayers during their time of bereavement.

Sylvia Marian Butler

Jan. 5, 1939 – Aug. 26, 2025

Sylvia Marian Butler, 86, of Burgaw, passed away on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at The Laurels of Pender in Burgaw. She was born on January 5, 1939, in Sumter, SC, to the late Harvey Lyles and the late Orie McCall Lyles.

Sylvia enjoyed the simple things in life. She had a special love for dogs and shared a bond with everyone she met. Feeding the birds was a daily joy. Her home was full of house plants, each one carefully cared for. One of her favorite places to visit was the Casino.

Sylvia is survived by her daughters, Mona Strahin (Walter), Carol Gibbs; her granddaughter, Staci Grant (Brandon); her sister, Peggy Grooms (Bubba); her best friend who was like a sister, Marie Johnston, and Marie’s daughter, Joni McGee; her cousin Cheryl Brown; and numerous other nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Sylvia was also preceded in death by her beloved husband of 42 years, James Butler, and seven siblings. Shared memories and condolences may be sent to the family by selecting the Tribute Wall above. Quinn McGowen Funeral Home of Wilmington is serving the family.

Crystal Beth Holbrook-Smith

March 8, 1979 – Aug. 29, 2025

Crystal Beth HolbrookSmith, 46, passed away on Friday, August 29, 2025, in the Lower Cape Fear Life Center, Wilmington, NC. She is preceded in death by her father, James Allen Foy, and her grandparents, Velvin and Ozell Foy. A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Bethany Baptist Church in Richlands, NC. Visitation will follow the service. She is survived by her mother, Bobbie Jane Marshburn of Maple Hill, NC; grandmother, Mavis Jane of Williams, SC; sons, Hunter Smith of Wilmington, NC, and Harrison Smith, Richlands, NC; daughter, Madeline “Maddie” Smith of Wilmington, NC; sisters, Brittany Foy of CT, Kelsey Foy of Richlands, NC, and Lauren Johnson of PA; several special aunts and uncles, two special nephews and one niece. In lieu of owers, donations may be made to Lower Cape Fear Life Care. 1414 Physicians Dr., Wilmington, NC 28401. Community Funeral Home of Beulaville is honored to serve the Smith family.

Joyce Marie Kornegay

Sept. 22, 1960 – Aug. 26, 2025

Warsaw - Joyce Marie Kornegay, 64, of Warsaw, passed away at her home on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Ms. Kornegay was born on September 22, 1960, in Duplin County to the late Major Kornegay and Clare Mae Foss Kornegay.

Left to cherish her memory are son, Bradley Whaley and wife Jessica of Warsaw; grandchildren, William Bladen Whaley and Bradley Myles Whaley; brothers, Melvin Kornegay of Clinton, Johnny Kornegay of Warsaw, Ronnie Kornegay and Leon Joseoph Kornegay both of Magnolia; sisters, Clara Lee Brown of Warsaw, Annie Ruth “Pee Wee” of Rose Hill and Teresa Kornegay of New York.

In addition to her parents, Ms. Kornegay was preceded in death by son, Billy Whaley; brothers, Major “Bud” Kornegay, William Kornegay, Roy Lee Kornegay, and David Ray Kornegay; and sister Lucille Harrell. No services are planned at this time.

Mary Ann Green eld

Aug. 28, 1929 – Aug. 22, 2025

Goldsboro- Ms. Mary Ann Green eld, 95, completed her earthly journey and transitioned from labor to reward, Friday, August 22, 2025, at Kitty Askins Hospice Center, surrounded by her loved ones. Please remember the family in prayer as they navigate through this time of bereavement. There will be a Celebration of Life held on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at noon at the Goldsboro Chapel FWB Church, 1314 Ben Brewington Court, Goldsboro, NC. She will be laid to rest at the Wayne Memorial Park Cemetery on US Hwy 117 South. In lieu of owers, memorials may be made in Mother Green eld’s memory to the Kitty Askins Hospice Center, 107 Handley Pak Court, Goldsboro, NC 27534.

Crystal Lanier Cannady

Aug. 6, 1981 – Aug. 29, 2025

Crystal Lanier Cannady, 44, passed away on Friday, August 29, 2025, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete at this time. She is survived by her husband, Robert Cannady of Beulaville, NC; daughter Erin Novak of Beulaville, NC; and sister, Angie Conn (Jeremiah) of Holly Ridge, NC. Community Funeral Home of Beulaville is honored to serve the Cannady family.

Stanly NewS Journal

The

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Trump says Space Command to move from Colorado to Alabama

U.S. Space Command will be located in Huntsville, Alabama, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday afternoon, reversing a Bidenera decision to keep it at its temporary headquarters in Colorado. Alabama and Colorado have long battled to claim Space Command because it has signi cant implications for the local economy. The site also has been a political prize, with elected o cials from both states asserting theirs as the better location.

Pentagon authorizes up to 600 military lawyers to serve as temporary immigration judges

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has approved sending up to 600 military lawyers to the Justice Department to serve as temporary immigration judges, according to a memo. The military will begin sending groups of 150 attorneys — both military and civilians — to the Justice Department “as soon as practicable.”

Giuliani leaves hospital after being injured in N.H. car crash

Rudy Giuliani has been released from the hospital after being injured in a car crash in New Hampshire. A spokesman said that Giuliani is progressing well. The former New York City mayor was injured Saturday when his vehicle was struck from behind on a highway by another car. He su ered a fractured vertebra and other injuries.

Dancing With the Stars charity fundraiser returns

The event has raised over $1.2 million since 2012

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

ALBEMARLE — For the 13th time, Stanly County’s annual Dancing With the Stars event will soon light up the stage, pairing together community volunteers in support of a local charity.

The upcoming fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center in Albemarle, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.

Since its debut in 2012, the event has raised more than $1.2 million for the Buttery House Children’s Advocacy Center, a program of Atrium Health Stanly. Donors in 2024 generated approximately $129,993 to support the work of the Butter y House.

The center provides a safe,

A prior federal o ender faces multiple drug charges

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

ALBEMARLE — An Albemarle tra c stop last week led to a methamphetamine bust and the arrest of a man already on federal probation.

On Aug. 26, deputies with the Stanly County Sheri ’s O ce stopped a vehicle operated by Douglas Wayne Mauldin in Albemarle. Investigators said Mauldin, a prior federal o ender currently on

child-friendly setting for the investigation of suspected abuse while coordinating advocacy services, forensic interviews and medical examinations.

“Our community has made an incredible investment in the approximately 200 children that are served each year by the Butter y House,” event

probation, was found in possession of more than 44 grams of methamphetamine.

“The responsible actions of the investigators not only removed dangerous substances from our streets but also helped enhance community safety,” the SCSO said in a release.

Mauldin, 55, was charged with possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance, two counts of trafcking in methamphetamine, maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for controlled

presenter Stanly Health Foundation said in a statement.

“These dollars will ensure they receive the highest level of care possible close to home in a safe environment.”

Designed to follow the format of the national television show, Stanly County Dancing With the Stars brings together

“We will continue to work diligently to combat drug distribution, and we encourage residents to report any suspicious activities.”

local participants to perform choreographed routines across a variety of styles as contestants vie for top honors and viewer votes.

Over the years, the fundraiser has become one of the county’s signature events. All proceeds stay local, supporting the Butter y House’s work with law enforcement, child welfare professionals and medical teams to help children and families navigate di cult circumstances.

This year’s competition will feature 10 dance teams made up of 20 total participants.

Team B&B pairs mortgage specialist and baseball coach Brittany Begert with Bren Hipp, a health care professional returning after completing his master’s degree in nursing. Team Dirt Road Dancers features anesthesia professional Lorie Lisenby alongside educator and real estate agent Josh Smith.

Team Double Trouble will pair husband-and-wife duo Dr. Mindy Turner, a pediatric dentist and Stanly Health Foundation board member, and Trent Turner, a technical services manager at Charlotte Pipe. Team Let’s Go Girls is made up

THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

one less traveled by

This deserted ribbon of asphalt made for a peaceful Labor Day at Morrow Mountain State Park on Monday.

Sheri Je Crisco

COURTESY STANLY HEALTH FOUNDATION

fundraising amount following

Stanly County Dancing With the Stars event.

Having no winner since May has led to the prize reaching historic levels

The Associated Press DES MOINES, Iowa — The Powerball jackpot rose to an estimated $1.3 billion Monday night after the winning numbers failed to appear.

The numbers drawn were 8, 23, 25, 40, 53 with the Powerball 5. No one has matched all six numbers since May 31, allowing the jackpot to swell to $1.3 billion, which would be the fth-largest prize in the game’s history if there is a winner in the drawing Wednesday night.

As ticket sales climbed during the past week, game o cials raised the estimated Monday night jackpot to $1.1 billion before taxes.

Although there was no lucky jackpot winner, two ticket holders in Montana and North Carolina each won $2 million. Payments for a jackpot would be spread over 30 years. A winner also can choose an immediate lump sum in

Aug. 26

getting struck by lightning are far greater. But with so many people putting down money for a chance at life-changing wealth, someone eventually wins.

Sept. 9

cash before taxes, which now stands at $589 million.

The odds of matching all six numbers are astronomical: 1 in 292.2 million. The odds of

• Douglas Wayne Mauldin, 55, was arrested for possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or distribute Schedule II controlled substance, two counts of tra cking in methamphetamine, maintaining a vehicle/ dwelling/place for controlled substances, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Aug. 27

• Timothy Dewayne Parker, 44, was arrested for rearm possession by felon. Larry Mills, 52, was arrested for nancial card fraud and nancial card theft.

Powerball, which costs $2 per ticket, is played in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are held each week on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights.

Sept.

Albemarle

10

Sept. 11

Aug. 28

• Connie Louise Snapp, 32, was arrested on a civil order for arrest for child support.

• Martavious Russel Parks, 33, was arrested for rearm possession by felon, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Aug. 29

• Travis James Bennett, 32, was arrested for drug paraphernalia possession, felony cocaine possession, felony Schedule II possession, and injury to personal property.

to mark the occasion.

124 W. Main St. Albemarle

THE CONVERSATION

Trip

Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

The left’s misdefinition of Americanism

America is heir to ancient European civilizations.

THIS WEEK, AXIOS ran a fascinating piece about the supposed “rede nition” of Americanism under President Donald Trump. Titled “Inside Trump’s American identity project,” Axios posited that “President Trump is wielding government power to enforce a more rigid, exclusionary de nition of what it means to be American.” What would this new de nition entail? “In MAGA’s telling, America is the heir to ancient European civilizations, built on a Judeo-Christian foundation of white identity, meritocracy, traditional gender roles and the nuclear family,” says Axios. “These tenets are cast as universal truths — and mantras such as ‘America is an idea’ or ‘diversity is our strength’ are dismissed as liberal ctions.” First o , America is heir to ancient European civilizations — particularly with reference to private property, the common law system, traditions of free speech and freedom of religion, among others. Second, America is built on a Judeo-Christian foundation. Third, America is built on the meritocracy, which argues that the best and most productive ought to succeed in a free system. America is built on traditional gender roles and the nuclear family, as is

COLUMN | JASON LEWIS

every successful society in history. While America is an idea — or a set of ideas — those ideas must be rei ed in institutions and human behavior. And the notion that any nation can be built on a completely specious phrase like “diversity is our strength” is counterintuitive at best.

So what is Axios attempting to do? Axios is attempting to link actual traditional de nitions of Americanism with white supremacy. Never mind that all the ideas Axios cites as “traditional” fundamentally reject ethnic identitarianism: equality before law, for example, presumes racial indi erence; Judeo-Christian religion rejects racial classi cation; the meritocracy is de nitionally opposed to racial preferences; and traditional gender roles and the nuclear family are institutions held in common by people of all races. The goal is simple: a forced choice between “racism” and a left-wing de nition of Americanism that bears zero weight.

This, presumably, is the real drive behind the left’s opposition to much of Trump’s policy. The same Axios piece posits that the Trump administration’s decision to screen incoming immigrants for “anti-American” ideology ought to be seen as an outgrowth

of nativism rather than common sense; that opposition to radical sexual politics in our nation’s military is a manifestation of bigotry rather than reason; that restoration of classicism in architecture represents a return to racial exclusivity rather than taste. As the authors write, “MAGA’s utopia looks a lot like America in the 1950s — before the sexual revolution, mass immigration, the Civil Rights Act and expanded LGBTQ rights reshaped the country’s culture and demographics.”

Well, actually, MAGA’s utopia looks mostly like what most Americans think of as the American dream: upward mobility, solid family structure, safety in the streets, decent education, and a vibrant social fabric complete with community and church. The fact that so many on the left — and in the media — nd this vision to be irredeemably “racist” demonstrates their utter disconnect with most Americans. And it’s why Trump is president for the second time.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show” and co-founder of Daily Wire+.

Illegal immigration kills more people

California is one of 19 states that issues licenses regardless of immigration status.

THE NATIONAL MEDIA silence over an illegal alien with a California commercial driver’s license (CDL) accused of killing three people while making an unlawful U-turn on Florida’s Turnpike is instructive on several fronts.

None of them good.

First, it continues the trend of open-border journalists — from The Wall Street Journal to CNN — to place global commerce and identity politics above the lives of Americans. Newsrooms have buried the story because they know how fundamentally disgraceful their editorial decisions really are.

Whether promoting “sanctuary cities” while criticizing attempts at restoring law and order or downplaying the deaths on our highways due to illegal immigrant drivers — these folks, along with the politicians they back, are the real culprits.

Second, the very notion of granting any driver’s license, let alone one for a semi, to someone who cannot read road signs in English is so demonstrably lunatic on its face that no sane person could possibly support it. And yet, California is one of 19 states that issues licenses regardless of immigration status and the ability to understand America’s tra c laws.

In fact, the alleged perpetrator in the Florida crash answered just two of 12 questions correctly when tested for English language pro ciency and could only identify one out of four highway signs shown to him, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

How Harjinder Singh was able to obtain a CDL in California, where applications are supposedly administered in English, is no more a mystery than welfare time limits — blue state outlaws ignore them.

In wacked-out Washington state, where Singh had another CDL, o cials allow tests to be taken in English, Spanish, Russian or Serbian-Croatian. All of which I’m sure you’ve seen on America’s road signs.

Worse, for a mere passenger car drivers license, it’s a free for all with almost every state administering exams in a multitude

of foreign languages. Multiculturalism is killing people. And so are the people who enable it.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the U.S. is pausing all issuance of visas for commercial truck drivers, something that probably should have been done the moment Trump signed an executive order requiring the enforcement of decades-old English-pro ciency rules for commercial drivers.

Singh rst entered the country illegally from India via Mexico (where else?) in 2018, but contrary to the usual lies from Gov. Gavin Newsom, “his work authorization was rejected under the Trump Administration on Sept. 14, 2020. It was later approved under the Biden Administration June 9, 2021.”

So you’ve got a situation where the state of California along with the Biden administration enabled an incompetent illegal alien to drive a semitrailer across the country. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, once Singh made the unlawful U-turn, a minivan in the adjacent lane crashed into the trailer, killing the three Americans.

To the grieving families who lost loved ones, now faced with trying to go on with their ruined lives, only justice matters. Why, then, are we not holding open-border politicians accountable for their abject failure to uphold the law in the precisely the same way a woke “defund the police” mob demanded we hold cops responsible? You might recall the Democrat-sponsored George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021 limiting “quali ed immunity as a defense to liability in a private civil action against a law enforcement o cer.”

Well, if that’s the standard, what to make of politicians who openly aunt the law by refusing their duty to uphold it? There is simply no getting around the fact that were it not for the complicity of a few Biden and Newsom o cials, three Americans would still be alive today.

If zombie-voters don’t want to do

anything about it, perhaps victims’ families will.

Notwithstanding the 11th Amendment proscribing lawsuits “against one of the United States by citizens of another state,” the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), passed in 1946, waives aspects of sovereign immunity and allows people to sue the federal government for things like car accidents caused by its employees.

It’s a shame federal taxpayers would have to cover for the dereliction of duty by the Biden administration, so waive its quali ed immunity too and go after a few of ’em personally.

If it’s good enough for Derek Chauvin …

As for California, precedent abounds when you consider the multitude of million-dollar settlements going to BLM in the wake of lawsuits brought against government o cials acting “under the color of law” following the death of George Floyd.

Did Newsom and his California cronies not ignore clearly established law or act in a way no reasonable person would — the usual threshold for the deprivation of civil rights under 42 U.S. Code § 1983?

Thanks to Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida’s political leadership, Singh will now be charged with vehicular homicide and manslaughter. ICE wants him once his criminal case is complete. But the question remains: Will we hold the politicians who have the blood of Floridians on their hands accountable?

Former Minnesota Congressman Jason Lewis writes at Substack and is the author of “Party Animal, The Truth About President Trump, Power Politics & the Partisan Press.” This column was rst published by Daily Caller News Foundation.

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

The Deep Shallow Band adds new co-lead singer to lineup

The local band will headline the fall festival at Lowing Crow Distillery

By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal

STANLY HAS previously enjoyed the strains of one band with local members, but a second lead singer has taken the group to another level of performance as the band works on a follow-up album and prepares for an in-county appearance.

The Deep Shallow Band, featuring members from Stanly County, will return Sept. 27 to Loping Crow Distillery for its fall festival event.

The band features Albemarle’s Mike Vanhoy, who has been playing guitar for various bands for 40 years. Vanhoy and the group with whom he has played have opened for many top-level acts, including the Marshall Tucker Band, Mickey Thomas, Confederate Railroad, Starship and more.

Lead singer, guitarist and songwriter Rusty Stevens, a Fayetteville native, founded an acoustic duo with Vanhoy, with the two later becoming charter members of The Deep Shallow Band.

The newest addition to the band is Jackie Fallar, who provided some background vocals on the band’s 2022 album. Fallar has sung up and down the East Coast and Canada in various acts, including an acoustic act, Jaxx and Jacks, and the bands Action Jaxxon and Chunky Daddy.

Stevens said when the band was working on the rst album, Fallar just “blew the roof o ” with her harmonies, adding the rest of the band “didn’t even know she was going to be involved.”

He added, “when we were cutting the album, the produc -

sometimes “girls don’t just want to hear a guy sing all the time.” Stevens said Fallar gives the band more range, adding, “I’ve got a good voice. She’s got a great voice. She can get bigger.” Fallar said she learned to match others’ voices after growing up singing karaoke with her mother, trying to copy pop stars of the 1990s like Christina Aguilera and Celine Dion.

“Rusty’s vibrato and my vibrato are kind of already the same, and our tones are pretty similar,” Fallar said. “It was a lot of fun learning a new singing style.”

Now as an o cial member of the band, along with guitarist Chip Cooper, bassist Rob Conrad and drummer Trey Walker, Fallar said she is used to being the only female in groups.

“I prefer working with guys because they are a lot more laid back than women, no o ense to any women,” Fallar said. “It just seems like I can be myself. I don’t have to compete with anybody.”

Regarding the other members of the band, Fallar said, “Everybody in the band is so talented. Even if I don’t talk about myself as highly as everyone else, I know I deserve to be on stage with top-tier musicians.”

“I was like, ‘This is awesome.’ ... I felt like I found my place.”

Jackie Fallar, new member of The Deep Shallow Band

ers were like, ‘We hear female vocals all over this.’”

After two weeks of not hearing from her, Fallar’s boyfriend suggested she call Stevens back having known him for a long time.

“Many people were coming up to me after gigs, and say, “I

want you to sing on my record,’ or ‘I want you to come into the studio,’” Fallar said.

She would ask them to call her back, but those folks never did, but Stevens called and texted.

After some discussions, Stevens sent her some tracks to see what she could do with them.

“I was like, ‘This is awesome,’” Fallar said. “I loved the sound of it. I found the harmonies almost immediately. I felt like I found my place.”

Studio session work, she added, is hard to come by, and often you don’t know with whom you will work or where you voice work will end up.

NC native representing self in Trump assassination attempt trial

Jury selection begins Sept. 8 for Ryan Routh

By David Fischer The Associated Press

FORT PIERCE, Fla. — A Greensboro native charged with trying to assassinate President Donald Trump last year in South Florida will represent himself in his trial.

Barring any delays, jury selection is scheduled to begin Sept. 8 in Fort Pierce federal court for the case against Ryan Routh. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon signed o on Routh’s request to represent himself in July but said court-appointed attorneys need to remain as standby counsel.

The trial will begin nearly a year after prosecutors say a U.S.

Secret Service agent thwarted Routh’s attempt to shoot Trump as he played golf. Routh, 59, has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal o cer and several rearm violations.

Prosecutors have said Routh methodically plotted to kill Trump for weeks before aiming a ri e through the shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club. A Secret Service agent spotted Routh before Trump came into view. O cials said Routh aimed his ri e at the agent, who opened re, causing Routh to drop his weapon and ee without ring a shot.

Law enforcement obtained help from a witness who prosecutors said informed o cers that he saw a person eeing. The

Prosecutors have said Routh methodically plotted to kill Trump for weeks before aiming a ri e through the shrubbery as Trump played golf.

witness was then own in a police helicopter to a nearby interstate where Routh was arrested, and the witnesses con rmed it was the person he had seen, prosecutors have said.

The judge last Tuesday unsealed prosecutor’s 33-page list of exhibits that could be introduced as evidence at the trial. It says prosecutors have photos of

“I said, ‘Let me give this guy a chance,’” Fallar said, referring to Stevens. “He’s well known in the music industry in Charlotte. I was like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’ And it was awesome.” Fallar said she was raised on the blues and jazz music, which has in uenced her singing style while also bringing her female point of view to the work.

“When you add a little bit of air from a woman, you’re adding that sultry, bluesy feel. You’re adding a bit more avor,” Fallar said. Fallar said adding her also helps the band’s fan demographics, doubling the band’s potential listeners because

Routh holding the same model of semi-automatic ri e found at Trump’s club.

The document also lists numerous electronic messages sent from a cellphone investigators found in Routh’s car. One message dated about two months before his arrest is described as Routh requesting a “missile launcher.” It says that in August 2024, the month before his arrest, Routh sent messages seeking “help ensuring that (Trump) does not get elected” and o ering to pay an unnamed person to use ight tracking apps to check the whereabouts of Trump’s airplane.

The exhibit list cites evidence from Routh’s phone of an electronic “chat about sniper concealment” during President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. And it lists internet searches for how long gunpower residue stays on clothing and articles on U.S. Secret Service responses to assassination plots.

Routh was a North Carolina construction worker who in recent years had moved to Hawaii. A self-styled mercenary

The band is collaboratively writing new songs for the second album but has released two new singles with live performances posted on YouTube with all six members of the band. The singles “Andrea” and “Finding My Way” are on the band’s YouTube channel.

“I’ve wanted to sing with a female singer my entire career,” Stevens said.

“I’ve been playing music in bands for 35 years, and I could never nd the right mix. When I found her, everything worked, and she has been amazing.”

He added that the most fun for him has been the creative process of working with Fallar and the band in their collaborative process.

After the band’s nal two appearances on their current tour, Stevens said the band is heading into the studio to record its second album.

leader, Routh spoke out to anyone who would listen about his dangerous, sometimes violent plans to insert himself into conicts around the world, witnesses have told The Associated Press.

In the early days of the war in Ukraine, Routh tried to recruit soldiers from Afghanistan, Moldova and Taiwan to ght the Russians. In his native Greensboro, he had a 2002 arrest for eluding a trafc stop and barricading himself from o cers with a fully automatic machine gun and a “weapon of mass destruction,” which turned out to be an explosive with a 10-inch-long fuse.

In 2010, police searched a warehouse Routh owned and found more than 100 stolen items, from power tools and building supplies to kayaks and spa tubs. In both felony cases, judges gave Routh either probation or a suspended sentence. In addition to the federal charges, Routh also has pleaded not guilty to state charges of terrorism and attempted murder.

COURTESY THE DEEP SHALLOW BAND

The Deep Shallow Band is, left to right, Rob Conrad (bass, vocals), Rusty Stevens (lead songwriter/vocalist and guitarist), Jackie Fallar (vocals), Chip Cooper (lead guitar), Mike Vanhoy (guitar) and Trey Walker (drums).

Uwharrie Bigfoot Festival

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 Noon

DRUGS from page A1

substances and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to court records.

His bond was set at $500,000.

“We will continue to work diligently to combat drug distribution, and we encourage residents to report any suspicious activities,” Sheri Je Crisco added.

The SCSO advises anyone with information about drug

activity to contact the o ce at 704-986-3714 or submit a tip online at stanlysheri .us/ submitatip.

Three years ago, Mauldin was sentenced in federal court to 14 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to transporting stolen motor vehicles and goods, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. In that case, Mauldin was charged with one count of un-

of real estate agent Christy Tietgens and mortgage specialist Deanna Davis.

Team Moore Money includes sonographer Sara Moore and her husband, Marshville Police O cer Adam Moore, while Team 2 Left Feet showcases the married dance partner duo of Whitney and Kyle Crayton. Also competing are Team Honky Tonk Hatleys featuring longtime Stanly residents Jill and Mike Hatley. Team Boots & Bling features rst-time participant Shantel Smith and returning

lawfully transporting stolen motor vehicles, one count of unlawfully transporting stolen goods in excess of $5,000 and one count of knowingly possessing stolen motor vehicles, as well as one count of knowingly possessing, concealing and storing stolen goods.

Prosecutors said he and another man were involved in the theft and interstate transport of construction vehicles taken from North Carolina to South Carolina.

Clockwise from top right:

Denton Farmpark hosted the inaugural Uwharrie Bigfoot Festival last weekend.

A woman watches as festivalgoers ride a Sasquatch-themed monster truck at Denton Farmpark on Sunday at the inaugural Uwharrie Bigfoot Festival.

The Handy Dandy Railroad waits for its next set of passengers. Fall-themed crafts were for sale by several vendors during the three-day event.

Festivalgoers visit a chainsaw art booth Sunday at the Uwharrie Bigfoot Festival in Davidson County.

dancer Corey-Beth Travaglini.

“Our community has made an incredible investment in the approximately 200 children that are served each year by the Butter y House.” Event presenter Stanly Health Foundation

Rounding out the lineup, Team E.D. Emergency Dancers introduces the Atrium Health Stanly duo of Eli Hatley and Kinlin Charcut, while Team Southside brings together Carolina Eye Associates employee Danielle Cole and Albemarle police Capt. Doug Hicks of the Albemarle Police Department. Tickets are on sale for $30 and can be purchased online or at the door; the show will also be streamed live on YouTube. Attendees who purchase tickets online must bring their email receipt for entry. More details, including a link to the livestream, are available at stanlydancing.com.

At the time, federal authorities said the case highlighted the coordinated e ort between local investigators and the FBI to curb organized thefts of high-value equipment, commending the assistance of the Norwood Police Department, Pageland Police Department and the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles License and Theft Bureau.

Mauldin was released under federal supervision in 2023.

CHARITY from page A1

COURTESY

Douglas Wayne Mauldin

CORY LAVALETTE / STANLY NEWS JOURNAL

Roger Gene Hudson

June 2, 1953 –Aug. 29, 2025

Roger Gene Hudson, 72, of Albemarle, NC, passed away on August 29, 2025, when the only thing bigger than his personality-his heart- nally gave out. True to form, he left us with one nal punchlineafter years of telling us he wasn’t going to make it to the next holiday, he nally proved himself right.

Born June 2, 1953, to Krone “Wrendy” Hudson and Cannie Bell Hudson, Roger entered this world with a boisterous personality that never left.

He was known early on for riding his motorcycle through the halls of Albemarle High School and for not being “good enough” (according to the teachers) to date Darlene Biles. Luckily, she ignored the advice, and in 1973 Roger used her teaching paycheck to buy a backhoe-laying the foundation (literally) for a family business that grew into one of the largest pool companies and wholesale suppliers on the East Coast. Even after stepping away from his formal role, Roger could be found daily at his company, Hudson Pool Distributors, making sure everyone on the clock was actually working. Everyone in town seems to have a “Roger Hudson” story, and Roger himself was the master storyteller of them all. His larger-than-life personality lled every room he entered. The only things he loved more than work were his children not spending money. He was known to generations of children as “Santa Claus,” to his grandkids as “Big Daddy,” and to his employees and community as a generous giver. His life motto was simple: “Work hard. Be decent.” He did-and he was. Roger was happiest on

OBITUARIES

a backhoe, sharp-tongued when needed, but always with a big heart for his family and community. His generosity was legendary: once taking an entire state-championship football team, their coaches, and cheerleaders on a cruise to the Bahamas just because he believed in showing people that they were bigger than their circumstances.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Darlene Biles Hudson; his children Matthew (Melanie) Hudson, Allison (Lenny) Mingle, and Suzanne (Justin) Carter; and his adored grandchildren Gavin, Cooper & Brody Hudson, Charlotte & Ryan Mingle, and Noah, Bronx, Cash and Grace Carter; siblings Joyce Lambert, Elaine Foreman, Harvey Hudson, and Paul Hudson. He also leaves behind countless nieces and nephews and his best friend Blair Lambert (Melinda). Roger was preceded in death by his parents, his son Will, and his sister Judy.

He will be remembered for his sharp wit, his big personality, and the lessons he instilled in generations of youth-sometimes with words, sometimes with deeds, and sometimes by example.

On Saturday, September 6th, at Hill Top Farm on Old Whitney Road, from 3:00-5:00 PM, the family will host a Receiving of Friends - a casual gathering and opportunity to share stories and memories of Roger. This will be an informal time to celebrate his life together.

Roger will lie in state Sunday, September 7th, from 1:30-2:00 PM at West Albemarle Baptist Church, followed immediately by the funeral service at 2pm. A time of fellowship will follow the service.

Roger wouldn’t want you to waste money on owers but he’d be happy for you to make a donation to Will’s Place, https:// www.willsplacenc.org/donate-1 the nonpro t started in memory of his son.

His heart may have given out, but not before it gave all it had to his family, his community, and anyone lucky enough to cross his path. Roger left us with enough stories to last several lifetimes-and if you knew him, you know he’d want you to tell them, again and again.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Hudson family.

Online condolences may be made at www.hartsellfh.com

JAMES LEE WILLIAMS

JAN. 16, 1962 – AUG. 24, 2025

James Lee Williams, 63, of Oakboro, passed away on Sunday, August 24, 2025.

Born January 16, 1962, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, he was the son of the late Henry Preston Williams and Mitchelene Beatrice Whitley Williams. He was a retired welder with Chicago Tube and Iron.

He is survived by a son, Michael Ray Williams of Oakboro, a brother, Robbie Dale Williams of Locust, a sister, Tanika Snyder of Locust, a goddaughter, Kelly Fraychineaud of Midland, and a Godson, Frank Sealy of Oakboro. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Billy Williams.

SHIRLEY HINSON EFIRD

NOV. 26, 1935 – AUG. 28, 2025

Shirley Hinson E rd, 89, of Locust, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 28, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. A private memorial service will be held at a later date to honor her life.

Born on November 26, 1935, in Stanly County, Shirley was the daughter of the late Paul and Verna Hinson. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Lawrence E rd, in 2018, as well as her brothers, Wayne Hinson and Paul Jackson Hinson Jr.

Shirley is lovingly survived by her sister, Kathy Smith; her stepdaughters, Darlene Huntley and Amy Russell; and her four cherished step-grandchildren, two granddaughters and two grandsons, who brought great joy to her life.

A woman of grace and dignity, Shirley will be remembered for her elegance, her serious nature, and her love for tradition. She was a talented pianist who taught herself to play by ear, a gift she lovingly shared with her church, Dulin’s Grove Advent Christian Church, where she faithfully attended and served by playing the piano.

Shirley had a particular joy for directing weddings, where her attention to detail and appreciation for ceremony shone brightly. Her sense of poise and propriety were hallmarks of her personality, and she brought these qualities into every aspect of her life.

The family extends their deepest gratitude to Shirley’s compassionate caregiver, a ectionately known as “The Other Shirley” — Shirley E rd, for the exceptional care and companionship provided during her nal years. Heartfelt thanks are also given to the dedicated sta at Cabarrus Hospice for their support and kindness.

Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Locust is serving the E rd family.

Larry Edward Mills

Aug. 23, 1954 – Aug. 16, 2025

Larry Edward Mills, 70, of Albemarle, NC, passed away at his home on Saturday, August 16, 2025.

Born in Stanly County on August 23, 1954, he was the son of the late Grover Edward Mills and Dorothy Le er Mills. Larry retired from Phillip Morris, where he served for many years as a xer. He also was an auctioneer and a former Eagle Scout with Troop 29. A member of Anderson Grove Baptist Church, Larry will be remembered as a people person who loved his family, his friends, and his community deeply.

Larry was well known throughout Stanly and Montgomery counties as a passionate restaurant connoisseur and dedicated customer of many local establishments. He loved spending time at Morrow Mountain, enjoyed watching westerns, and was admired for his kindness, humor, and warm personality.

He is survived by his ancée, Drusilla Mounkes of Daytona Beach, FL; his brother, Billy Mills (Robin) of Albemarle, NC; his niece, Beth Mills Wyatt (Wayne) of Mt. Gilead, NC; and great nephews, Oren Wyatt and Roman Bridges.

A memorial service to celebrate Larry’s life will be held on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at 3 p.m. at Stanly Funeral & Cremation Care Chapel with Rev. Dale Collingwood and Rev. Mike Burnette o ciating. Burial will follow at Anderson Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will not hold a formal visitation.

Arrangements by Stanly Funeral & Cremation Care.

John Baxter “Skip” Pope

Oct. 6, 1955 – Aug. 17, 2025

John Baxter “Skip” Pope, 69, of Charlotte, NC, passed away Sunday, August 17, 2025, at Atrium Health Cabarrus in Concord, NC.

Skip was born on October 6, 1955, in Newport News, VA, the son of the late John Baxter Pope and Vera Brite Trull Pope. He was a graduate of West Stanly High School, Class of 1974, and later worked as a professional painter with Service Master until his retirement.

Skip was known for his great sense of humor. A natural jokester, he loved talking with anyone and never met a stranger.

He’s survived by his brothers, Bill Pope (Linda) of Locust, NC, David Pope (Tammy Goins) of Point Harbor, NC, Tommy Pope (Teresa) of New Salem, NC. Also surviving are his sisters, Connie E rd (Martin) of Lake Tilley, NC, Judy Gilbert (Gary), of Mt. Gilead, NC, Deborah Pope of Brunswick, ME, and Elizabeth Pope of Beaufort, NC, numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, September 6, 2025, from 6-8 p.m. at Stanly Funeral & Cremation Care, Locust, NC.

In lieu of owers, the family asks for donations to any humane society of the donor’s choice.

Annette Whitley Hatley

Oct. 27, 1936 –Aug. 28, 2025

Annette Whitley Hatley, 88, of Albemarle, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 28, 2025, surrounded by her loved ones. She was born on October 27, 1936, to the late Curtis Joseph and Nola Belle Barbee Whitley. She was preceded in death by her brother, Kenneth Eldridge Whitley and his wife, Carrol Hudson Whitley.

Annette was a lifelong member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, where she served as the pianist for the Primary Children’s Department for over 30 years. She had a passion for music and taught many children piano lessons in her home over the years. Annette had a strong faith in God and drew strength and comfort from it.

Annette will be fondly remembered for her gentle spirit, her kindness, and the love she had for everyone. She never met a stranger and enjoyed conversing and connecting with everyone around her.

Annette is survived by her husband, Edward Ernest Hatley of 69 years, a sister-in-law, Diane Harris (Joe), niece, Kim H. Burris, (Fiancé Je J. Kahn), great nephew Corey L. Almond,( Fiancé, Alicia E. Austin) great nephew, Cavin C. Almond, nephew, Mark S. Whitley (Nancy S. Whitley), great niece, Mary Beth Lipscomb, (Charles), their children Presley and Jack, great nephew, Chris Whitley (Jessie) and their children Carsyn and Madisyn.

A graveside service will be at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, on September 8, at 2:00 pm with Reverend Tab Whitley o ciating. The family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall immediately after the service.

BILLY MITCHELL BARRINGER

MARCH 15, 1957 – AUG. 28, 2025

Billy Mitchell Barringer, 68, of New London, passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, August 28, 2025. His graveside service will be held at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at Simpson Cemetery, with Rev. Jay Smith o ciating.

Born on March 15, 1957, in Stanly County, NC, Billy was the beloved son of Millie Ann Sides Barringer of Rich eld and the late Floyd Mitchell Barringer. A man of many talents and a generous spirit, he was the proud owner and operator of Pro Services, where his dedication and work ethic earned him the trust and respect of many.

Billy’s family and friends describe him as remarkable—a man of faith, great character, and endless kindness. To those who knew him best, he was reliable, honorable, hardworking, and generous, always putting others before himself. To his grandchildren, he was a ectionately known as “Big Cat,” a nickname that brought smiles and laughter to family gatherings.

A lifelong baseball enthusiast, Billy found immense joy both on and o the eld. He loved the game and dedicated countless hours to coaching both Recreation league and American Legion baseball, shaping not just players’ skills but also their character. Many young athletes remember him as a mentor who taught valuable lessons about teamwork, perseverance, and sportsmanship.

Music was another of Billy’s greatest passions. An exceptional bass player, he loved to play and listen to music any chance he had. He enjoyed watching the news and weather updates, going on cruises, and spending time by the ocean, where he found peace and joy. Above all, he adored his four-legged fur babies, who were constant companions and a source of comfort.

Billy is survived by his loving wife, Lisa Huneycutt Barringer; his two sons, Derek Barringer and wife Tasha of Albemarle, and Aaron Barringer and wife Laura of Rich eld; two brothers; two sisters; and his twelve treasured grandchildren: Garret, Austin, Bailey, Emma, Madison, Aiden, Jaxon, Riley, Blakeleigh, Aniken, Kamden, and Harper.

Billy will be remembered for his kind heart, unwavering faith, and joyful spirit. His legacy lives on through the love he gave, the music he played, the players he coached, and the countless lives he touched.

The family wishes to express their thanks to Tillery Compassionate Care for their kindness and excellent care of Mr. Barringer.

In lieu of owers, the family requests you consider a memorial to: Tillery Compassionate Care, 960 N First Street Albemarle, NC 28001 or Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 17236 Frog Pond Rd. Oakboro, NC 28129 Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Hatley family.

STANLY SPORTS

Football roundup: North beats West

Albemarle continues its best start in a generation

Albemarle huddles during preseason practice. The Bulldogs are o to a 2-0 start, their best in more than a decade.

Albemarle 49, North Wake 0

Albemarle overwhelmed the North Wake Saints 49-0 to move to 2-0 on the year, the Bulldogs’ best start to a season since opening 2012 at 3-0. It’s the rst time Albemarle has been at least two games over .500 at any point in the season since the end of the 11-4 campaign in 2013. Entering this year, the Bulldogs had only had a winning record at any point of the season once since then — Nov. 3, 2023, when they improved to 6-5 before nishing 6-6. The Bulldogs did it primarily on the ground. Quarterback

Ray Blakeney completed just ve passes for 27 yards. Albemarle more than made up for it by gaining 287 yards on the ground and rushing for seven scores.

AJ Butler, the leading rusher in the 2A/3A Yadkin Valley Conference through two weeks, led the way with 88 yards and two touchdowns, on runs of 19 and 41 yards. Nine di erent Bulldogs carried the ball, and six reached the end zone, with Joneil Cabrera Arroyo, Skyler Potts, Treyvian Legrande, Blakeney and Stephen Strausser joining Butler in hitting pay dirt. Albemarle will look to match last season’s win total this week against West Stanly.

2013

The last time Albemarle was two games over .500 at any point in the season

North Stanly 21, West Stanly 14

The Comets opened 2-0 for the third year in a row, notching their fourth consecutive win over West in their rivalry series. West, which opens with all three county rivals, is 0-2 for the second straight year and has now lost ve straight

to the other schools in Stanly County. Dominik Danzy, who played corner and receiver in the opener, was called up to start at quarterback for West. He was 7-of-15 passing for 63 yards and rushed for 61 and a score.

Maverick Scott, who went most of the way at quarterback in Week 1, was one of three West defenders with interceptions. The Colts had a defensive score to keep it close, but Lorquis Lilly’s 15-yard touchdown run with under four minutes remaining was the decisive score. Kylan Dockery’s 19 yard catch of a Brady Lowder pass and Jaden Little’s 8-yard run provided the rest of North’s scoring.

Piedmont 33, South Stanly 27

The Rowdy Rebel Bulls fell to 1-1 on the season with a loss in their home opener. South led by 14 with 3:30 to go before giving up a pair of scores in a late rally by the Panthers, who then won in overtime.

Kaleb Richardson completed 14 of 23 passes for South for 270 yards. He also rushed for 24. Carter Callicutt added 59 passing yards and a team-high 48 on the ground. Jasiah Holt led the receiving corps with 225 yards and a touchdown. Holt (2 interceptions) and Callicutt (20 tackles, 2 for loss) also came up big on defense.

Albemarle set to host West Stanly

The Bulldogs and Comets are aiming for 3-0 records

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

ALBEMARLE — As Week 3

of the high school football season begins, two Stanly County teams remain undefeated, one is 1-1 and another is still chasing its rst win.

This weekend features an intracounty showdown with a pair of Stanly squads set to face each other, marking the third consecutive week that local teams will meet in a nonconference, head-to-head showdown.

West Stanly at Albemarle

After outscoring its rst two opponents 97-14, Albemarle (2 - 0) will host winless West Stanly (0-2) on Friday as the Bulldogs chase their rst 3-0 start since 2012. The Colts will try to snap a six-game losing streak dating back to last season.

Albemarle notched a 49-0 home shutout over the North Wake Saints over the weekend, while the Colts came up short in a 21-14 home loss to North Stanly. In their matchup, the Bulldogs racked up nearly 300 rushing yards, averaging more than 10 yards per carry as the team put together seven unanswered rushing touchdowns.

In last season’s meeting between Albemarle and West Stanly, the Bulldogs came away from the Colts’ home eld with a 33-14 win.

North Stanly at Montgomery Central

On Friday, North Stanly

(2 - 0) is set to travel to Troy to take on Montgomery Central (1-1), who defeated Anson by a score of 38-16 last weekend.

The Comets have now opened the season with back-to-back one-score victories, knocking o Community School of Davidson by six points and West Stanly by seven. North’s rushing game powered the team against the Colts as four Comets combined for 178 ground yards and two scores.

A potential 3-0 start to the season would be North’s rst since 2020, but rst the Comets will have to overcome a Montgomery Central team that totaled more than 400 yards of o ense in its recent performance.

Anson at South Stanly

South Stanly (1-1) is hoping to bounce back from a 33 -27 home loss to Piedmont after the Bulls had previously shut out West in the season opener. Anson (0-2), which suffered a 38-16 defeat at home against Montgomery Central in Week 2, will travel to Norwood to face South as the Bearcats hope to come away with their rst win of the season.

This past weekend, Bulls quarterback Kaleb Richardson and wide receiver Jasiah Holt locked to lead South’s attack through the air. Holt totaled 225 yards on nine catches. Anson will look to limit that threat as it applies pressure to Richardson and attempts to disrupt the rhythm that South’s two top o ensive weapons have developed.

Stanly News Journal sta

West Stanly’s Dominik Danzy will lead the Colts against unbeaten Albemarle this week.

Briscoe wins 2nd straight Southern 500, advances to 2nd round of Cup Series playo s

The Gibbs driver became the rst repeat Darlington winner in 19 years

By Pete Iacobelli

The Associated Press

DARLINGTON, S.C. — Chase Briscoe shared some history with his second straight Southern 500 victory at Darlington Raceway on Sunday. He hopes to make a bit more this season as he goes after his rst NASCAR Cup Series title.

Briscoe held o Tyler Reddick on the nal lap to become just the eighth driver in stock racing history with consecutive wins at the track “Too Tough To Tame.” The list includes Hall of Famers and greats like Dale Earnhardt, Cale Yarborough, Je Gordon and Bobby Allison.

“The expectation was to go and contend for wins,” Briscoe said about his rst season with Joe Gibbs Racing. “It de nitely took more time than I expected, but tonight I feel like we showed what we’re capable of.”

Briscoe took the lead early, won both stages and led 309 of 367 laps. Not only did he advance into the round of 12, he became the rst driver with consecutive wins in Darlinton’s legendary race since Greg Bi e in 2005 and 2006.

“It’s so cool to win two Southern 500s in a row,” the 30-year- old Indiana driver said. “This is my favorite race of the year.”

A year ago, when the race was the last of the regular season, Briscoe used a late, four-wide pass to move in front and win his way into the playo s. This time, he had the baddest machine on the block throughout.

“I de nitely like I’m holding up my end of the bargain,” Briscoe said.

Briscoe moved in front early and cruised through most of the event on NASCAR’s oldest superspeedway. After Reddick swept past him on the restart for the nal segment, Briscoe got back in front a lap later and easily moved into the lead after each of his nal three pit stops.

Reddick went low and got to Briscoe’s door on the nal lap but could not nish the pass. Briscoe held on to win for the second second time this season and fourth time in his career.

“That was way harder than it needed to be,” said Briscoe, also the winner at Pocono in June.

“Tonight I feel like we showed what we’re capable of.”

Chase Briscoe

Briscoe’s owner, Joe Gibbs, recalled greeting the driver in Victory Lane here last year when he was nishing up racing for now defunct Stewart-Haas Racing. Soon enough, Briscoe was picked to succeed retiring JGR champion Martin Truex Jr.

Gibbs was amazed how quickly Briscoe, crew chief James Smalls had the car challenging for wins as it had in the past.

“Certainly, this wasn’t something we expected,” Gibbs said.

Two-time Southern 500 winner Erik Jones was third, followed by John Hunter Nemechek and AJ Allmendinger. Playo racers Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin, Briscoe’s JGR teammate, were next.

Playo problems

It was a not a great night for most of the playo eld as several contenders struggled. Only four playo racers were in the top 10.

Josh Berry, who was already below the 12-man cuto line entering Darlington, spun out moments after the race began and had to go into the garage. It was the rst Cup Series playo run for Berry, who drives for the Wood Brothers. Berry returned to the track midway through the second stage, 119 laps o the lead.

Alex Bowman was among just two playo drivers without a win this year and needed a strong showing at Darlington to move up from 16th.

Bowman pitted several times to nd speed and instead found problems, including a malfunctioning air hose that kept him on pit road about 30 seconds.

Penske driver Ryan Blaney, who won a Cup Series title two years ago and took Daytona last week, was one of the circuit’s hottest drivers with six straight top-10 nishes. But spun out on Lap 209 while 13th to slide down the playo standings. The four drivers below the cut line are defending champion Joey Logano in 13th, then Austin Dillon, Bowman and Berry.

“It was not what we were expecting,” Logano said about his 20th-place nish.

South Stanly soccer, West volleyball o to strong starts

Stanly News Journal sta South Stanly volleyball, 2-6

Last week’s scores Lost to West Stanly 3-0 Lost to Anson 3-1

This week’s schedule Sept. 2 at Albemarle Sept. 4 at North Rowan Sept. 9 vs. North Stanly

The Rowdy Rebel Bulls look to snap a three-game losing streak, but with two road matches and a pair of cross-county rivals on the schedule, it will be a ght.

South Stanly boys’ soccer, 2-0

Last week’s scores Beat South Davidson 4-1

This week’s schedule Sept. 8 at South Davidson

Sophomore Oswaldo Jaimes (2), junior Abram Wayne, senior Axel Villegas and sophomore Blessings Byamunga scored Colts goals last week. Villegas and junior Abram Wayne tallied assists.

North Stanly volleyball, 1-6

Last week’s scores No games

This week’s schedule Sept. 2 at Union Academy Sept. 4 vs. Gray Stone Day Sept. 9 at South Stanly

A 12-day break between games gives the Comets time to collect themselves after a rough start. They’ll look to snap a two -game skid.

North Stanly boys’ soccer, 2-2

Last week’s scores Lost to West Davidson 5-0 Won at Anson 2-0

The team traveled to Averett on Wednesday

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

MISENHEIMER — The Pfei er men’s soccer team kicked o its 2025 season on a positive note last Friday as the Falcons pulled out a 2-1 season-opening victory over Guilford at the Arm eld Athletic Center in Greensboro.

The decisive goal from sophomore forward Wesley Hooker’s in the 59th minute gave Pfei er (1-0) a 2-0 lead that proved to be a valuble insurance goal after the Quakers (1-1) got a tally from Chris Hercules 13 minutes later to make it a one - score game.

The Falcons wasted little time getting on the board early in the matchup as junior defender Alex Michael scored just ve minutes in to give the Falcons a quick advantage.

In his rst starting action with the Falcons, sophomore goalkeeper Seth Limbert recorded three saves, including

two in the rst half. Hooker paced Pfei er’s o ensive attack with four shots on goal, while junior mid elder Drew Garro added two. Pfei er nished with a 10-9 edge in total shots and a 7-4 advantage on goal while also holding a 5-1 margin in corner kicks.

The Falcons are set to continue nonconference play on Wednesday with a 7 p.m. road match at Averett University, a former USA South foe now competing in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

From there, Pfei er has home matchups at LefkoMills Field against Piedmont (Sept. 9), Shaw (Sept. 12), Randolph (Sept. 17) and Carolina Christian (Sept. 20) before heading back out on the

road to face Virginia State (Sept. 24).

USA South play is set to begin at conference preseason favorite N.C. Wesleyan on Sept. 27.

Pfei er enters the 2025 season aiming to climb the USA South standings after being picked sixth in the preseason coaches poll. Ninth-year head coach Tony Faticoni is continuing his pursuit of the program’s rst USA South title, having yet to capture the crown in seven previous tries.

The Falcons nished 4-8 -3 overall last fall, including a 1-5-1 league record that placed them seventh, marking the program’s lowest winning percentage (.333) in a season since 2012.

Pfei er is still chasing the standard it set a decade ago, when the Falcons captured the 2015 NCAA Division II national championship with a perfect 25-0 mark under former coach Bob Reasso.

Now in NCAA Division III, the Pfei er men’s soccer program is hoping to get back on track and establish more consistency.

The Rowdy Rebel Bulls have won their rst two for the rst time in three years and are already one win away from matching last season’s victory total.

West Stanly volleyball, 7-1, 3-0 in conference

Last week’s scores Won at West Stanly 3-0 Won vs. CATA 3-0 Won at Parkwood 3-0

This week’s schedule Sept. 2 vs. Monroe Sept. 4 at Forest Hills Sept. 9 vs. Mount Pleasant

The Colts are o to their best start since going 13-1 in 2020 -21. They’ve won three straight and lead the Rocky River 4A/5A Conference.

West Stanly boys’ soccer, 2-3

Last week’s scores Lost at East Rowan 4-2 Beat South Rowan 2-1

This week’s schedule Sept. 3 at Parkwood Sept. 4 at Montgomery Central Sept. 8 at Mount Pleasant

This week’s schedule Sept. 2 at Wheatmore Sept. 2 at South Davidson Sept. 8 at West Davidson

The Comets have already matched last season’s win total. Another victory will match the most for the team since 2018.

Albemarle volleyball, 2-0

Last week’s scores No games

This week’s schedule Sept. 2 vs. South Stanly Sept. 4 at Union Academy

The Bulldogs end a 19-day break between games.

Albemarle boys’ soccer, 2-4

Last week’s scores Won at South Davidson 8-1 Lost to GCAA 9-0

This week’s schedule Sept. 8 vs. TMASACCC

Moi Carrillo (3 goals), Nick Yang (2), Joshua Ramos

and Jayden Olayo provided the scoring for the Bulldogs.

| Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon

Pfei er’s edge over Guilford in shots on goal

(2)

COURTESY PFEIFFER ATHLETICS

Pfei er junior defender Alex Michael celebrates after scoring against Guilford on Aug. 29.

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NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Lisa A. L. Deese, Sherrill D. Lowder, Jr. and Sally M. Lowder have quali ed as Co-Executors of the Estate of Shirley Jo Lowder a/k/a Shirley D. Lowder a/k/a Shirley Di ee Lowder, deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, and do hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to present them to the undersigned in care of Crisp Cherry McCraw PLLC, Attn: C. Michael Crisp, 615 S. College Street, Suite 1430, Charlotte, NC 28202, on or before the 13th 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 13th day of August, 2025.

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Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of the said Marie Josephine L. Tucker, to present them to the undersigned or her attorney on or before the 1st day of December, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 27th day of August, 2025. Administrator: Gina Douglas 20167 Tucker Road Oakboro, NC 28129 Attorney for Estate: Connie E. Mosher 239 N. First Street Albemarle, NC 28001 704-983-0086 Dates of publication: August 27, September 3, 10 and 17

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION COUNTY OF STANLY. BEFORE THE CLERK File No. 25E000451-830 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JASPER TURNER Deceased. NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of JASPER TURNER, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of the said JASPER TURNER to present them to the undersigned or his attorney on or before November 12, 2025 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 13th day of August, 2025.

Executor: Bobby Turner 231 Poplin Street Norwood, NC 28128 Attorney for Estate: Connie Edwards Mosher 239 N. First Street Albemarle, NC 28001 704-983-0086 Publication dates: August 13, August 20, August 27, September 3

Lisa A. L. Deese Sherrill D. Lowder, Jr. Sally M. Lowder c/o Crisp Cherry McCraw PLLC 615 S. College Street, Suite 1430 Charlotte, NC 28202 (704) 332.0203

NOTICE IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE No. 25E000424-830 NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having quali ed as EXECUTRIX of the estate of RICHARD C. LEONARD, deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said RICHARD C. LEONARD to present them to the undersigned on or before December 3, 2025, or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 3rd day of September, 2025. Executrix: Millicent Leonard 2033 Sprucewood Street Albemarle, NC 28001 Erin L. Basinger Attorney at Law PO Box 65 Albemarle, NC 28002 (704) 322-2800

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

Melinda Donna Kimrey Hatley Thompson, having quali ed as Administratrix of the Estate of Jerry Ray Kimrey, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, gives this notice to all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said estate and asks that they present such claims, duly veri ed, to the Administratrix in care of: Je Williams-Tracy, Esq. Fletcher, Tydings, et. al. 100 Queens Road, Suite 250 Charlotte, NC 28204-3199 on or before the 1st day of December 2025, or this Notice will be pled in bar of recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to said estate will please make immediate settlement with the estate. This, the 27th day of August 2025 Court File #: 25E000465-830

NOTICE

The undersigned, having quali ed as Co-Administrators of the Estate of Nila Lyn Elliott late of Stanly County, North Carolina, hereby noti es to all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before November 20, 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 20th day of August, 2025. Ashley Grace Elliott Co-Administrator 102 Windmill Road Salisbury, North Carolina 28147 Alyvia Maurine Elliott Co-Administrator 208 Dauntly Street Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 Emily G. Thompson, Esq. Attorney for Co-Administrators Reed & Thompson, PLLC 204 Branchview Dr SE Concord, NC 28025 Estate File No.: 25E000290-830

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000291-830 Having quali ed as Co-Executors of the estate of Glenna Collett Kirk, deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina. This is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Glenna Collett Kirk to present them to the undersigned on or before November 20, 2025, or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This 20th day of August, 2025 Ronald James Kirk 44009 Cat sh Road New London, NC 28127 Co-Executor Sandra Lee Kirk P.O. Box 451 New London, NC 28127 Co-Executor

Notice to Creditors Having quali ed as Ancillary Administrator of the Estate of Lee Ernest Eiss deceased in Stanly County, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to present them, duly veri ed, to the undersigned at 8013 Ladys Secret Drive, Indian Trail, NC 28079 on or before the 20th day of November, 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

‘Lilo

& Stitch,’ ‘The Paper,’ MTV Video Music Awards, Hollow Knight sequel

David Byrne drops “Who Is the Sky”

The Associated Press

A FOLLOW-UP TV come -

dy of “The O ce” called “The Paper” and the buddy live action comedy “Lilo & Stitch” 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: Mark Ru alo starring in the new cat-and-mouse thriller “Task,” a sequel to the indie legend video game Hollow Knight arrives and David Byrne releases a new album, “Who Is the Sky?”

MOVIES TO STREAM

“Friendship,” Andrew DeYoung’s auspicious debut feature, makes its streaming debut Saturday on HBO Max, a day after debuting on HBO. The movie tackles modern masculinity and male loneliness with biting satire and humor, taking detours into horror and the surreal. My review said we see Robinson at his awkward best and Rudd at his charismatic best in this quirky look at bromances.

The live-action “Lilo & Stitch,” which in just 17 days made more domestically than the live-action “The Little Mermaid” did in its entire run, is on Disney+. It’s the tale of a 6-year-old lonely Native girl in Hawaii who befriends an alien outcast. In my review, I was unhappy that the original 2002 animated story had been swamped by weird temporal portals, a Jet Ski chase and an overwrought conclusion. Audiences ocked to the movie, which is the year’s biggest hit with more than $1 billion earned at the box o ce.

NOTICES

MUSIC TO STREAM

Byrne, formerly the Talking Heads frontman, is in no way slowing down. On Friday, the 73-year-old idiosyncratic artist will release a new album, “Who Is the Sky?”, a collection of avant-garde pop for fans of his band and beyond. There’s a real joy here. There are glam rock icons and then there is Marc Bolan, a pioneer of the ’70s movement with his visionary band T. Rex, a larger-than-life gure now celebrated in a new documentary. “AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex” hits streaming on Friday. Expect rare footage and to be overwhelmed by a strong desire to purchase sequined pants. It is that time of year again: The 2025 MTV Video Music

Awards are right around the corner. The three-hour show will broadcast live on CBS and available to stream on Paramount+ on Sundayat 8 p.m. live from UBS Arena just outside New York City. Lady Gaga leads the nominations, so get ready for some “Mayhem.”

SERIES TO STREAM

“The O ce” follow-up called “The Paper” makes its anticipated debut on Peacock this week. On the show, the documentary crew that once lmed the sta of Dunder Mi in paper company in Scranton, Pa., has now begun following the sta of a small newspaper in Toledo, Ohio. To their surprise, one of the accountants who works on sta is none other than Oscar Martinez, a crossover character

from ‘The O ce” played by Oscar Nunez. Domhnall Gleeson (“The Patient”) and Sabrina Impacciatore (“White Lotus” season 2) also star. All 10 episodes are ready to watch. Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo star in a new series about their “NCIS” characters called, “NCIS: Tony & Ziva,” now streaming on Paramount+. The show picks up 10 years after de Pablo left “NCIS” with Tony and Ziva — or Tiva as fans call them — living in France and co-parenting their daughter. When they become the target of a conspiracy, the former agents go on the run. This is the sixth spino in the “NCIS” universe and a departure from the procedural format it is known for. “Tony & Ziva” is more of a mixed bag with action, drama, romance and comedy.

Ru alo and Tom Pelphrey star in a new cat-and-mouse thriller for HBO called “Task.” Ru alo plays an FBI agent in Pennsylvania assigned to lead a task force investigating violent robberies. The show is from the creator of the stellar “Mare of Easttown.” It premieres Thursday and streams on Max.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

Hollow Knight, a 2D exploration game that came out in 2017, has become an indie legend over the years, selling millions of copies and landing on plenty of best-games-ever lists. Australian studio Team Cherry announced a sequel in 2019 — and after a long gestation period, Hollow Knight: Silksong has nally arrived. The essence remains the same: Making your way through a lush, vibrant landscape while ghting o the bugs and other nuisances that live there. The protagonist, a princess named Hornet, is more acrobatic than the original hero, but the developer is promising more of the challenging and tightly focused combat fans love. It arrived Thursday on PlayStation 5/4, Xbox X/S/One, Switch and PC. The developers at Bandai Namco Studios Singapore are known for their bruising work on ghters like Tekken and Soul Calibur, but their new game takes on a more delicate art: origami. Hirogami stars a master of folding named Hiro who can transform into creatures like a soaring bird, a barrier-smashing armadillo and a high-jumping frog. A soundtrack featuring traditional Japanese instruments creates a mellow vibe as Hiro defends his paper-crafted 3D world from “deadly digital invaders.” Know when to fold ‘em now on PlayStation 5 and PC.

DISNEY VIA AP

The high-grossing live-action movie “Lilo & Stitch” is streaming on Disney+.

CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO

Tim Robinson, who won a 2022 Emmy for outstanding actor in a short form comedy or drama series for “I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson,” stars alongside Paul Rudd in the movie “Friendship.”

Solution to last week’s puzzle

Solution to this week’s puzzles

Deacon debut

Wake Forest and Kennesaw State play through the sunset in the home opener for the Demon Deacons. Wake won a closer-than-expected 10-9 decision to open 1-0 in new coach Jake Dickert’s rst game leading the program.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Trump says Space Command to move from Colorado to Alabama

U.S. Space Command will be located in Huntsville, Alabama, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday afternoon, reversing a Biden-era decision to keep it at its temporary headquarters in Colorado. Alabama and Colorado have long battled to claim Space Command because it has signi cant implications for the local economy. The site also has been a political prize, with elected o cials from both states asserting theirs as the better location.

Pentagon authorizes up to 600 military lawyers to serve as temporary immigration judges

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has approved sending up to 600 military lawyers to the Justice Department to serve as temporary immigration judges, according to a memo. The military will begin sending groups of 150 attorneys — both military and civilians — to the Justice Department “as soon as practicable.”

Giuliani leaves hospital after being injured in N.H. car crash

Rudy Giuliani has been released from the hospital after being injured in a car crash in New Hampshire. A spokesman said that Giuliani is progressing well. The former New York City mayor was injured Saturday when his vehicle was struck from behind on a highway by another car. He su ered a fractured vertebra and other injuries.

$2.00

Commissioners urge delay on pipeline expansion project

The Southeast Supply Enhancement Project would expand natural gas pipelines in Forsyth and surrounding counties

By Ryan Henkel Twin City Herald

WINSTON-SALEM — The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners is taking a stand against the potential expansion of a natural gas pipeline within the county.

At its Aug. 28 meeting, the board approved a resolution urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) to not only address safety and environmental concerns regarding the Southeast Supply En-

hancement Project but also to deny approval of it until certain criteria are met.

The Southeast Supply Enhancement Project was applied for in late 2024 by the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company (Transco) for the expansion of pipeline infrastructure.

The project would expand Transco’s existing network of high-pressure, natural gas pipelines through the construction of additional pipelines in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. This expansion includes the construction of pipelines in Forsyth County.

The current plan proposes the construction of approximately 24 miles of 42-inch pipeline through Guilford, Rockingham, Forsyth and Davidson counties, which would deliver an additional 1.6 million dekat-

“This pipeline enhancement project raises a range of concerns for citizens.”

Commissioner Dan Besse

herms per day of natural gas.

Opponents of the pipeline claim the construction and operation of it will have adverse e ects on both water and air quality.

“This pipeline enhancement project raises a range of concerns for citizens, including, but not limited to, public safety risks, water resource impacts, environmental degradation, increased electric rates and economic risks,” said Commissioner Dan Besse.

NC native representing self in Trump assassination attempt trial

Jury selection begins Sept. 8 for Ryan Routh

By David Fischer The Associated Press

FORT PIERCE, Fla. — A Greensboro native charged with trying to assassinate President Donald Trump last year in South Florida will represent himself in his trial.

Barring any delays, jury selection is scheduled to begin Sept. 8 in Fort Pierce federal court for the case against Ryan Routh. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon signed o on Routh’s request to represent himself in July but said court-appointed attorneys need to remain as standby counsel.

The trial will begin nearly a year after prosecutors say a U.S. Secret Service agent

The resolution states the the board wants the FERC and NCDEQ to fully consider the “health, safety, environmental, economic and quality-of-life concerns raised by Forsyth County residents and other affected stakeholders,” require a comprehensive environmental assessment that evaluates all potential risks, ensure impacted communities are meaningfully consulted, and require that Transco submit plans for immediate noti cation of emergency events to a ected residents and local emergency management agencies.

Until these criteria are met, the board urges that both agencies deny approval of the project and the issuance of water and air quality permits.

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will next meet Sept. 11.

federal o cer and several rearm violations. Prosecutors have said Routh methodically plotted to kill Trump for weeks before aiming a ri e through the shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club. A Secret Service agent spotted Routh before Trump came into view.

O cials said Routh aimed his ri e at the agent, who opened re, causing Routh to drop his weapon and ee without ring a shot.

Law enforcement obtained help from a witness who prosecutors said informed o cers that he saw a person eeing. The witness was then own in a police helicopter to a nearby interstate where Routh was arrested, and the witnesses conrmed it was the person he had seen, prosecutors have said. The judge last Tuesday unsealed prosecutor’s 33-page list of exhibits that could be introduced as evidence at the trial. It says prosecutors have photos of Routh holding the same model of semiautomatic

See TRIAL, page A2

SHAFFER BROUGHTON FOR TWIN CITY HERALD

Routh’s

MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE VIA AP

enforcement

arrest

Routh, the man suspected in the apparent assassination attempt of Donald Trump, in September 2024.

Trip

Uwharrie Bigfoot Festival

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Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon

ri e found at Trump’s club.

The document also lists numerous electronic messages sent from a cellphone investigators found in Routh’s car. One message dated about two months before his arrest is described as Routh requesting a “missile launcher.” It says that in August 2024, the month before his arrest, Routh sent messages seeking “help ensuring that (Trump) does not get elected” and o ering to pay an unnamed person to use

ight tracking apps to check the whereabouts of Trump’s airplane. The exhibit list cites evidence from Routh’s phone of an electronic “chat about sniper concealment” during President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. And it lists internet searches for how long gunpower residue stays on clothing and articles on U.S. Secret Service responses to assassination plots. Routh was a North Carolina construction worker who in recent years had moved to Hawaii. A self-styled mercenary

leader, Routh spoke out to anyone who would listen about his dangerous, sometimes violent plans to insert himself into conicts around the world, witnesses have told The Associated Press. In the early days of the war in Ukraine, Routh tried to recruit soldiers from Afghanistan, Moldova and Taiwan to ght the Russians. In his native Greensboro, he had a 2002 arrest for eluding a tra c stop and barricading himself from o cers with a fully automatic machine gun and a “weapon of mass

destruction,” which turned out to be an explosive with a 10-inch-long fuse.

In 2010, police searched a warehouse Routh owned and found more than 100 stolen items, from power tools and building supplies to kayaks and spa tubs. In both felony cases, judges gave Routh either probation or a suspended sentence.

In addition to the federal charges, Routh also has pleaded not guilty to state charges of terrorism and attempted murder.

THE CONVERSATION

Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

The left’s misdefinition of

America is heir to ancient European civilizations.

THIS WEEK, AXIOS ran a fascinating piece about the supposed “rede nition” of Americanism under President Donald Trump. Titled “Inside Trump’s American identity project,” Axios posited that “President Trump is wielding government power to enforce a more rigid, exclusionary de nition of what it means to be American.” What would this new de nition entail? “In MAGA’s telling, America is the heir to ancient European civilizations, built on a Judeo-Christian foundation of white identity, meritocracy, traditional gender roles and the nuclear family,” says Axios. “These tenets are cast as universal truths — and mantras such as ‘America is an idea’ or ‘diversity is our strength’ are dismissed as liberal ctions.” First o , America is heir to ancient European civilizations — particularly with reference to private property, the common law system, traditions of free speech and freedom of religion, among others. Second, America is built on a Judeo-Christian foundation. Third, America is built on the meritocracy, which argues that the best and most productive ought to succeed in a free system. America is built on traditional gender roles and the nuclear family, as is

COLUMN | JASON LEWIS

Americanism

every successful society in history. While America is an idea — or a set of ideas — those ideas must be rei ed in institutions and human behavior. And the notion that any nation can be built on a completely specious phrase like “diversity is our strength” is counterintuitive at best.

So what is Axios attempting to do? Axios is attempting to link actual traditional de nitions of Americanism with white supremacy. Never mind that all the ideas Axios cites as “traditional” fundamentally reject ethnic identitarianism: equality before law, for example, presumes racial indi erence; Judeo-Christian religion rejects racial classi cation; the meritocracy is de nitionally opposed to racial preferences; and traditional gender roles and the nuclear family are institutions held in common by people of all races. The goal is simple: a forced choice between “racism” and a left-wing de nition of Americanism that bears zero weight.

This, presumably, is the real drive behind the left’s opposition to much of Trump’s policy. The same Axios piece posits that the Trump administration’s decision to screen incoming immigrants for “anti-American” ideology ought to be seen as an outgrowth

of nativism rather than common sense; that opposition to radical sexual politics in our nation’s military is a manifestation of bigotry rather than reason; that restoration of classicism in architecture represents a return to racial exclusivity rather than taste. As the authors write, “MAGA’s utopia looks a lot like America in the 1950s — before the sexual revolution, mass immigration, the Civil Rights Act and expanded LGBTQ rights reshaped the country’s culture and demographics.”

Well, actually, MAGA’s utopia looks mostly like what most Americans think of as the American dream: upward mobility, solid family structure, safety in the streets, decent education, and a vibrant social fabric complete with community and church. The fact that so many on the left — and in the media — nd this vision to be irredeemably “racist” demonstrates their utter disconnect with most Americans. And it’s why Trump is president for the second time.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show” and co-founder of Daily Wire+.

Illegal immigration kills more people

California is one of 19 states that issues licenses regardless of immigration status.

THE NATIONAL MEDIA silence over an illegal alien with a California commercial driver’s license (CDL) accused of killing three people while making an unlawful U-turn on Florida’s Turnpike is instructive on several fronts.

None of them good.

First, it continues the trend of open-border journalists — from The Wall Street Journal to CNN — to place global commerce and identity politics above the lives of Americans. Newsrooms have buried the story because they know how fundamentally disgraceful their editorial decisions really are.

Whether promoting “sanctuary cities” while criticizing attempts at restoring law and order or downplaying the deaths on our highways due to illegal immigrant drivers — these folks, along with the politicians they back, are the real culprits.

Second, the very notion of granting any driver’s license, let alone one for a semi, to someone who cannot read road signs in English is so demonstrably lunatic on its face that no sane person could possibly support it. And yet, California is one of 19 states that issues licenses regardless of immigration status and the ability to understand America’s tra c laws.

In fact, the alleged perpetrator in the Florida crash answered just two of 12 questions correctly when tested for English language pro ciency and could only identify one out of four highway signs shown to him, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

How Harjinder Singh was able to obtain a CDL in California, where applications are supposedly administered in English, is no more a mystery than welfare time limits — blue state outlaws ignore them.

In wacked-out Washington state, where Singh had another CDL, o cials allow tests to be taken in English, Spanish, Russian or Serbian-Croatian. All of which I’m sure you’ve seen on America’s road signs.

Worse, for a mere passenger car drivers license, it’s a free for all with almost every state administering exams in a multitude

of foreign languages. Multiculturalism is killing people. And so are the people who enable it.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the U.S. is pausing all issuance of visas for commercial truck drivers, something that probably should have been done the moment Trump signed an executive order requiring the enforcement of decades-old English-pro ciency rules for commercial drivers.

Singh rst entered the country illegally from India via Mexico (where else?) in 2018, but contrary to the usual lies from Gov. Gavin Newsom, “his work authorization was rejected under the Trump Administration on Sept. 14, 2020. It was later approved under the Biden Administration June 9, 2021.”

So you’ve got a situation where the state of California along with the Biden administration enabled an incompetent illegal alien to drive a semitrailer across the country. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, once Singh made the unlawful U-turn, a minivan in the adjacent lane crashed into the trailer, killing the three Americans.

To the grieving families who lost loved ones, now faced with trying to go on with their ruined lives, only justice matters. Why, then, are we not holding open-border politicians accountable for their abject failure to uphold the law in the precisely the same way a woke “defund the police” mob demanded we hold cops responsible? You might recall the Democrat-sponsored George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021 limiting “quali ed immunity as a defense to liability in a private civil action against a law enforcement o cer.”

Well, if that’s the standard, what to make of politicians who openly aunt the law by refusing their duty to uphold it? There is simply no getting around the fact that were it not for the complicity of a few Biden and Newsom o cials, three Americans would still be alive today.

If zombie-voters don’t want to do

anything about it, perhaps victims’ families will.

Notwithstanding the 11th Amendment proscribing lawsuits “against one of the United States by citizens of another state,” the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), passed in 1946, waives aspects of sovereign immunity and allows people to sue the federal government for things like car accidents caused by its employees.

It’s a shame federal taxpayers would have to cover for the dereliction of duty by the Biden administration, so waive its quali ed immunity too and go after a few of ’em personally.

If it’s good enough for Derek Chauvin …

As for California, precedent abounds when you consider the multitude of million-dollar settlements going to BLM in the wake of lawsuits brought against government o cials acting “under the color of law” following the death of George Floyd.

Did Newsom and his California cronies not ignore clearly established law or act in a way no reasonable person would — the usual threshold for the deprivation of civil rights under 42 U.S. Code § 1983?

Thanks to Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida’s political leadership, Singh will now be charged with vehicular homicide and manslaughter. ICE wants him once his criminal case is complete. But the question remains: Will we hold the politicians who have the blood of Floridians on their hands accountable?

Former Minnesota Congressman Jason Lewis writes at Substack and is the author of “Party Animal, The Truth About President Trump, Power Politics & the Partisan Press.” This column was rst published by Daily Caller News Foundation.

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

Successful test of SpaceX’s Starship deploys dummy Starlink satellites, splashes down in Indian Ocean

The company’s rapid trial-and-error development approach continues

By Christina Larson

The Associated Press

SPACEX LAUNCHED the latest test of its mega rocket Starship last Tuesday night and completed the rst deployment of a test payload — eight dummy satellites — into space. After just over an hour coasting through space, Starship splashed down as planned in the Indian Ocean.

Starship blasted o from Starbase, SpaceX’s launch site in south Texas, just after 6:30 p.m. It was the 10th test for the world’s biggest and most powerful rocket, which SpaceX and NASA hope to use to get astronauts back on the moon.

NASA has ordered two Starships to land astronauts on the moon later this decade, and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s ultimate goal is Mars.

No crew members were aboard the demo launch.

The test also included the successful return of the craft’s Super Heavy Booster, which splashed down in the Gulf after testing a new landing-burn engine sequence.

The Starship itself continued to orbit the Earth — passing from daylight in Texas through night and back into daytime again — ahead of the planned splashdown. Before the craft hit the waves, its engines red, ip-

ping its position so it entered the water upright with its nose pointed upward, right on target. SpaceX had a buoy with cameras located in the middle of the ocean, and its on-stream commentators said that if you saw the buoy-cam, you’d know they landed in the right place. SpaceX uses a rapid development approach for Starship that’s unusual in aerospace — engineers build prototypes quickly, test them until something breaks, then use what they learned to build a better version.

This di ers from traditional spacecraft development, where companies spend years perfecting designs on computers before building anything.

Think of it like a chef perfecting a recipe by making it multiple times and trying new things, rather than planning every ingredient in advance. When a Starship prototype explodes or fails, SpaceX engineers treat it as valuable data, not a setback.

Back-to-back tests in January and March ended in “rapid unscheduled disassembly” or RUD,

SpaceX uses a rapid development approach for Starship that’s unusual in aerospace — engineers build prototypes quickly, test them until something breaks, then use what they learned to build a better version.

just minutes after lifto , raining wreckage into the ocean. The most recent test in May — the ninth — ended when the space-

craft tumbled and eventually broke apart on reentry.

SpaceX later redesigned the Super Heavy booster with larger and stronger ns for greater stability, and redesigned fuel components on the Starship itself to address the issues.

The company has built an enormous factory at its Texas facility to mass-produce the craft and is hoping to send thousands to Mars over the next decade. The next version of Starship, version 3, could head to Mars as soon as next year on uncrewed test ights.

Stanly News Journal’s Jordan Golson contributed to this report.

Fiery texts from 23XI’s Jordan, NASCAR executives disclosed in ongoing NASCAR antitrust court battle

The teams say they risk going out of business

By Jenna Fryer

The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE — The bitter ght between NASCAR and two of its teams who have led a federal antitrust lawsuit against the stock-racing giant spilled into public view last Thursday during an acrimonious hearing that included the disclosure of expletive-laden emails and text messages from team owner Michael Jordan and other high-pro le litigants.

In one exchange, the retired NBA Hall of Famer and co-owner of the 23XI Racing Team used disparaging language about Joe Gibbs Racing and the 13 other teams that signed NASCAR’s new charter agreements last September.

“Teams are going to regret not joining us,” Jordan wrote in a text message to Curtis Polk, his business manager who, along with Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin own 23XI Racing.

That organization and Front Row Motorsports were the only two teams that refused to sign extension agreements on charter agreements, the equivalent of franchises in other sports. The two teams then sued NASCAR, accusing it of being a bully and monopoly in a brawl that has played out all year and prompted both teams to say they risk going out of business if the series sells their charters out from under them.

Nothing, however, has been as explosive as the details that came to light for the rst time last Thursday as documents related to discovery were disclosed.

NASCAR is privately owned by the Florida-based France family, with founder Bill France Sr.’s son, Jim, the current chairman. His granddaughter, Lesa France Kennedy, is the executive vice chair and was in court for the rst time since the case began.

Steve Lauletta, the president of 23XI, at one point wrote “Jim dying is probably the answer” to teams getting better terms on a charter agreement while, Hamlin said “my despise for the France family runs deep... (but)

please let’s not sabotage our own business.”

In a partially redacted text conversation between Jordan and Polk, presumably about the price of charters, Jordan wrote, “I’m not selling even if they were for sale (redacted). What would we do?” Polk replies, “This is just a hobby!!!” and Jordan responds, “Only can play but so much golf.”

In a second exchange, Jordan discusses with Polk the cost of signing a driver whose name is redacted.

“I have lost that in a casino. Lets do it,” Jordan replied.

NASCAR had its own expletive-laden email exchange among top executives disclosed.

Commissioner Steve Phelps in one email wrote that talks had not been productive and argued an early charter proposal o ered “zero wins for the teams.” In another message, he wrote the charters “must reect a middle position or we are dead in the water — they will sign them but we are (expletive) moving forward.”

Steve O’Donnell, the pres-

ident of NASCAR, also didn’t like an early version because it would return NASCAR’s model to 1996 terms with an attitude of “(Expletive) the teams, dictatorship, motorsport, redneck, southern, tiny sport,” he wrote.

Je rey Kessler, the attorney for 23XI and Front Row, contended that the NASCAR exchanges as well as contingency plans on how NASCAR could prevent rival competition prove NASCAR is monopolizing the stock car racing market.

NASCAR has maintained in legal lings that 23XI and Front Row relinquished any rights they have to six combined charters when they refused to sign the extensions last September. The teams started the season recognized as chartered, which guarantees 36 chartered teams entry into the 40-car eld each week. Chartered teams also receive a substantially higher percentage of payouts.

The order that recognized the six cars as chartered has been overturned and they are currently competing as “open” teams. 23XI Racing driver

Tyler Reddick has a clause in his contract that says he can leave if his car is not chartered; Kessler indicated that Reddick and sponsors have given notice that 23XI is in breach.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell warned during the hearing that NASCAR’s charter system is at stake, depending on the outcome of the case. The arguments before Bell were focused on the teams’ urgent request to restore their status as chartered teams through the end of the season ahead of a trial scheduled for Dec. 1.

NASCAR has indicated it plans to immediately begin selling o the charters. Bell asked NASCAR’s attorney that if there is indeed such an eager buyer, why couldn’t the series sell one of the four open slots and then gure out how to address it once the case is settled.

NASCAR has maintained that it can’t be forced to do business with teams it does not want to work with.

The judge said he would rule on the request next week after the rst playo race of the sea-

Bob Jenkins, owner of Front Row Motorsports and Co-Owner Michael Jordan, of 23XI Racing, pose before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Talladega Superspeedway last October.

son. Reddick and Bubba Wallace are in the playo eld for 23IX and so is Hamlin, who drives for JGR. Outside court, Jordan said he has been open to a settlement but is willing to see the case go to trial. Kessler warned if 23XI and Front Row do not receive their charters back they will go out of business in 2026.

“Look, I’ve been a fan of the game for a long period of time,” Jordan said. “When we rst started this whole process, I’ve always said I want to ght for the betterment of the sport. Even though they tried to point out that we’ve made some money, we had a successful business. That’s not the point. The point is that the sport itself needs to continually change for the fans as well as for the teams.

“As well as as for NASCAR, too, if they understand that,” Jordan said. “I feel like we made a good statement today about that, and I look forward to going down with re. If I have to ght this to the end, for the betterment of the sport, I will do that.”

BUTCH DILL / AP PHOTO

ERIC GAY / AP PHOTO

SpaceX’s mega rocket Starship makes a test ight from Starbase, Texas, last Tuesday.

Forsyth SPORTS

Tennis’ unwritten rules — and why postmatch handshakes sometimes go awry at US Open

This year’s tournament has seen plenty of postmatch drama

By Howard Fendrich

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — There’s been a lot of talk about the unwritten rules of tennis during Week 1 of this U.S. Open, whether it’s the necessity of a “sorry, not sorry” raised hand after a let cord or the proper way to warm up with an opponent or the legitimacy of an underarm serve.

Another part of the game drawing attention — thanks to players’ complaints about each of the above — is the postmatch greeting at the net, which usually involves shaking hands and, sometimes, a hug or kisses on the cheek. It would seem to be a simple act of sportsmanship, but every so often, it ends up going awry.

Not every contest in every sport displays that sort of civility, but it is an entrenched ritual in tennis, from kids starting out to the pros, even if the word “handshake” never appears in the 61-page Grand Slam rule book.

“You do it in the juniors. You do it your whole life. It’s part of the fabric of our sport,” said Brad Gilbert, a former player and coach who is part of ESPN’s cast in New York.

“You’ve got to win with class,” he said, “and lose with dignity.”

Townsend-Ostapenko back-and-forth at U.S. Open drew scrutiny

Chris Evert, who won 18 majors in the 1970s and ’80s, said: “I never had a bad mo -

ment at the net with anyone.”

That’s hardly the case for everyone — as a few episodes at the U.S. Open showed.

Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion from Latvia, got into a dustup with Taylor Townsend, the No. 1-ranked doubles player from the U.S., after clasping hands following Townsend’s victory.

Instead of going their separate ways, the athletes exchanged words, with Ostapenko pointing a nger at Townsend and saying she has “no education” — something Ostapenko apologized for Saturday via social media, explaining she meant to accuse Townsend of poor tennis etiquette. Ostapenko was upset Townsend didn’t apologize after a ball hit the net tape and went over (that’s not actually a rule) and started their warmup with volleys instead of groundstrokes (not a rule, either).

“It was,” Venus Williams said, ”a lot of drama.”

U.S. Open handshake between Tsitsipas, Altmaier didn’t go well

Last Thursday, another net encounter went badly when the loser, two-time Slam nalist Stefanos Tsitsipas, let the winner, Daniel Altmaier, know he hadn’t appreciated an underarm serve — which is allowed.

Rather than engage, Altmaier turned his back on Tsitsipas.

Then, on Saturday, two players — Jaume Munar and Zizou Bergs — got into a postmatch set-to over grunting.

“In the heat of the moment, you can stay stu which you (wouldn’t) normally ... say (and) you regret afterward,” Altmaier

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Joel Hayes

said, adding that he’s not a fan of “discussions at the net.”

Neither is 20th-seeded Jiri Lehecka, who thinks con icts are better resolved “in the locker room, behind closed doors,” instead of in front of a crowd and TV audience.

No one wants to eliminate tennis handshakes after to - dos at U.S. Open

No one wants to see this tradition go away, although two -time major semi nalist

Maria Sakkari knows there are “going to be incidents where people don’t like each other.”

“We are ... from di erent countries, di erent cultures,” Sakkari said. “It’s normal that two people are going to fall out.”

And not only after a match.

Gilbert nearly came to blows during what he called “a big ti ” with David Wheaton at the 1990 Grand Slam Cup before an ocial separated them. Wheaton was upset about an overrule; things escalated from there.

“Got pretty heated,” Gilbert said, “but afterward, we still shook hands.”

Glenn, football

Joel Hayes is a senior running back on the Glenn football team.

The Bobcats fell to 0-2 on the season with a 33-26 loss to R.J. Reynolds, but it wasn’t due to lack of e ort on Hayes’ part.

He carried the ball 29 times for 192 yards, scoring once. He also led the team in receiving yards with 65 on six catches. Two weeks in, he leads the Piedmont Triad 5A/6A conference in both rushing and receiving.

Briscoe wins 2nd straight Southern 500 to advance to 2nd round of Cup playo s

The Gibbs driver became the rst repeat Darlington winner in 19 years

By Pete Iacobelli

The Associated Press

DARLINGTON, S.C. —

Chase Briscoe shared some history with his second straight Southern 500 victory at Darlington Raceway on Sunday. He hopes to make a bit more this season as he goes after his rst NASCAR Cup Series title.

Briscoe held o Tyler Reddick on the nal lap to become just the eighth driver in stock racing history with consecutive wins at the track “Too Tough To Tame.” The list includes Hall of Famers and greats like Dale Earnhardt, Cale Yarborough, Je Gordon and Bobby Allison.

“The expectation was to go and contend for wins,” Briscoe said about his rst season with

Joe Gibbs Racing. “It de nitely took more time than I expected, but tonight I feel like we showed what we’re capable of.”

Briscoe took the lead early, won both stages and led 309 of 367 laps. Not only did he advance into the round of 12, he became the rst driver with consecutive wins in Darlinton’s legendary race since Greg Bi e in 2005 and 2006.

“It’s so cool to win two Southern 500s in a row,” the 30-year- old Indiana driver said. “This is my favorite race of the year.”

A year ago, when the race was the last of the regular season, Briscoe used a late, four-wide pass to move in front and win his way into the playo s. This time, he had the baddest machine on the block throughout.

“I de nitely like I’m holding up my end of the bargain,” Briscoe said.

Briscoe moved in front ear-

“Tonight I feel like we showed what we’re capable of.”

Chase Briscoe

ly and cruised through most of the event on NASCAR’s oldest superspeedway. After Reddick swept past him on the restart for the nal segment, Briscoe got back in front a lap later and easily moved into the lead after each of his nal three pit stops.

Reddick went low and got to Briscoe’s door on the nal lap but could not nish the pass. Briscoe held on to win for the second second time this season and fourth time in his career.

“That was way harder than it needed to be,” said Briscoe, also the winner at Pocono in June.

Briscoe’s owner, Joe Gibbs, recalled greeting the driver

in Victory Lane here last year when he was nishing up racing for now defunct Stewart-Haas Racing. Soon enough, Briscoe was picked to succeed retiring JGR champion Martin Truex Jr.

Gibbs was amazed how quickly Briscoe, crew chief James Smalls had the car challenging for wins as it had in the past.

“Certainly, this wasn’t something we expected,” Gibbs said.

Two-time Southern 500 winner Erik Jones was third, followed by John Hunter Nemechek and AJ Allmendinger.

Playo racers Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin, Briscoe’s JGR teammate, were next.

Playo problems

It was a not a great night for most of the playo eld as several contenders struggled. Only four playo racers were in the top 10. Josh Berry, who was already

below the 12-man cuto line entering Darlington, spun out moments after the race began and had to go into the garage. It was the rst Cup Series playo run for Berry, who drives for the Wood Brothers. Berry returned to the track midway through the second stage, 119 laps o the lead.

Alex Bowman was among just two playo drivers without a win this year and needed a strong showing at Darlington to move up from 16th. Bowman pitted several times to nd speed and instead found problems, including a malfunctioning air hose that kept him on pit road about 30 seconds.

Penske driver Ryan Blaney, who won a Cup Series title two years ago and took Daytona last week, was one of the circuit’s hottest drivers with six straight top-10 nishes. But spun out on Lap 209 while 13th to slide down the playo standings.

The four drivers below the cut line are defending champion Joey Logano in 13th, then Austin Dillon, Bowman and Berry.

“It was not what we were expecting,” Logano said about his 20th-place nish.

FRANK FRANKLIN II / AP PHOTO

Coco Gau , right, and Ajla Tomljanovic, left, embrace across the net after Gau won their match during the rst round of the U.S. Open.

MATT KELLEY / AP PHOTO

Chase Briscoe steers through Turn 2 during Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington.

SIDELINE

REPORT

NFL Parsons relishes fresh start in Green Bay Green Bay, Wisc. Micah Parsons says he just went through the hardest four months of his life as he feared his contract stalemate with the Dallas Cowboys would stretch into the season. The matter was settled with a trade to the Green Bay Packers. Now the superstar pass rusher wants to create a legacy be tting one of the league’s most storied franchises.

Parsons arrived in Green Bay one day after the Packers sent two rst-round picks and three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark to Dallas in exchange for him. The Packers are making Parsons the highest-paid non-quarterback in history.

NCAA FOOTBALL

Sanders has sideline bathroom at Colorado, sponsored by Depend Boulder, Col. Colorado introduced a branded sideline bathroom for Deion Sanders in its opening game against Georgia Tech. Friday night’s sponsor is Depend undergarment. Colorado coach Deion Sanders was recently diagnosed with bladder cancer and needs to frequently use the restroom. The portable privacy tent is right next to the Bu aloes’ bench. Sanders spent time away from the team this summer as he went through treatment for bladder cancer. His doctor said he was cured. It was also revealed that a section of his intestine was reconstructed to function as a bladder.

MLB Schwarber has 21st 4-homer game in MLB history, posts Phillies-record 9 RBIs Philadelphia Philadelphia slugger Kyle Schwarber hit four home runs against Atlanta to become the fourth Phillies player and 21st major leaguer to accomplish the feat. Schwarber was 4 for 6 with a Phillies-record nine RBIs in the 19-4 victory. He took the outright National League homer lead with a career-high 49. Schwarber leads the majors with a career-high 119 RBIs. Mike Schmidt was the last Philadelphia player to hit four homers in a game, in 1976. Schwarber had the third four-homer game of the season, following Eugenio Suárez and Nick Kurtz.

NBA

ESPN replaces Burke with Legler for NBA Finals coverage

Bristol, Conn. ESPN demoted basketball analyst Doris Burke from its NBA Finals broadcast team. ESPN announced that Tim Legler would join the lead team with Mike Breen, Richard Je erson and Lisa Salters. This team will cover the NBA Finals on ABC next season, along with other high-pro le games. ESPN also announced a multiyear contract extension for Burke, who will work alongside play-by-play voice Dave Pasch next season. Burke joined ESPN in 1990 and has been involved with the NBA Finals since 2009. She won the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Curt Gowdy Media Award in 2018.

Newmark makes shift from racing exec to UNC’s athletic director-in-waiting

The former racing team president will take over Tar Heel sports in 2026

By Aaron Beard The Associated Press

CHAPEL HILL — Steve Newmark has spent years working in a sport de ned by speed.

Maybe that will have the former NASCAR racing team president prepared for the rapidly shifting landscape of college sports as UNC’s designated next athletic director.

The school announced its succession plan in July, hiring Newmark away from RFK Racing for a transitionary position before becoming Bubba Cunningham’s successor in 2026. Newmark started working alongside Cunningham this month as an executive associate AD, giving him the better part of a year to study the intricacies and quirks of overseeing a power conference athletics program.

“We were joking,” Newmark said of Cunningham, “some of it is just me following Bubba around and learning the ropes here.”

And yet, Newmark’s status as an outsider is exactly why he’s here at this particular moment.

UNC has touted the Chapel Hill native’s experience in sponsorships, marketing and contract negotiations after his 15-year run as president of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing. That announcement came the same day as the ofcial start of revenue sharing following the $2.8 billion House antitrust settlement, clearing the way for schools to share up to about $20.5 million with their athletes in Year 1.

Starting a transition plan

Paying for all that — along with facing issues for the 28-sport program — will be Newmark’s responsibility by next summer.

Cunningham, UNC’s AD since late 2011, said the two had conversations going back to last summer about differing approaches to generating revenue between auto racing and college sports, particularly with things changing so quickly in the latter since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cunningham described it as “an ongoing conversation,” leading to Newmark working on an advisory committee in the hiring of Bill Belichick as football coach in December before ultimately being named Cunningham’s successor.

“He and I shared the pas-

“He’s a perfect t for us right now.”

Bubba Cunningham, UNC AD

sion for what we were doing and where it was headed,” Cunningham said. “And then thinking about, all right, I’ve got two years left on a contract, I’m ready to do something else, how do we make this transition work for Carolina?

“He’s a perfect t for us right now. There wasn’t anything too magical to it. It was just kind of taking time over a developing relationship between the two of us, and the thought of: ‘How do we continue to get better?’”

Added Newmark: “I don’t think when we started the discussions that that was the objective. I wasn’t looking to leave RFK Racing. I really enjoyed it there.”

Mulling new revenue streams

Rather, Newmark said, he looked at moving to UNC as an opportunity to use his own professional sports experience in a college world looking more pro-like by the day — or hour, for that matter.

Newmark said he’ll spend

the coming months looking at options for generating additional revenues in the long term. And it doesn’t take long to connect his history in auto racing — where sponsors turn cars into high-pro le advertising for their brand — to the possibilities. That’s of particular interest in Chapel Hill, where the school long refused to allow advertising in major athletics venues until roughly two decades ago. Yet now, UNC joins schools across the country in mulling options such as selling naming rights to venues, eld sponsorships or even jersey patches.

“I think it may have been something that would’ve been a shock to the system 20 years ago, but I think everybody has seen the evolution of sports,” Newmark said. “And collegiate athletics is clearly not on the leading edge of doing that. If you look at professional sports, they’ve been much more aggressive in integrating brands and properties.”

Still, Newmark stopped short of planning to replicate those ad-heavy racing looks in that trademark shade of light blue.

“Well, I have committed to several donors that I promise we won’t look like a NASCAR driver’s re suit,” he quipped.

Thielen relishes return home to Vikings after two-year family adventure with Panthers

The Minnesota native was traded after Carolina training camp

By Dave Campbell The Associated Press

EAGAN, Minn. — Adam Thielen naturally kept Minnesota as his family’s o season home after he joined the Carolina Panthers, surrounded by relatives and friends and the familiarity of his native state.

Earlier this summer, just like during the last one, Thielen was invited to join some throwing sessions in the Twin Cities area that included a new Vikings quarterback. How convenient. Those workouts wound up giving Thielen a jump start in his chemistry with J.J. McCarthy, seemingly foreshadowing a return for the 35-year-old wide receiver to his original team and beloved home. What stood out to Thielen immediately was McCarthy’s work ethic, mindset and communications skill, even in an informal session involving players on di erent teams.

“When we were working out together, there was no thought of actually playing together,”

Thielen said last Thursday after his arrival at Vikings headquarters on the heels of the trade with the Panthers that reunited him with the only other team he’s played for. “But at the time, I had so much respect for him and how he approaches the game, even in the summer months when you don’t really have to do those things.”

Thielen, who was acquired with a conditional 2026 seventh-round draft pick and a 2027 fth-round pick from the Panthers for a 2026 fth-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick, has the third-most catches in Vikings history behind Cris Carter and Randy Moss, two Pro Football Hall of Fame members he grew up avidly rooting for.

“I just didn’t think that this was even a possibility. I thought the next time that I would be talking to you guys would be when I was signing a one-day contract and retiring, so this is pretty surreal,” Thielen said to reporters on the indoor practice eld. “I’m going to take advantage of every second I’m going to be back in this building.”

Thielen was careful to clarify he wasn’t looking to leave the Panthers, who went 7-27 over his two seasons. He raved

about the quality of the people he worked with, from quarterback Bryce Young to the kitchen sta at the practice facility. After being released by the Vikings for salary cap relief following the 2022 season, Thielen took his wife and three young children on a temporary relocation to North Carolina they won’t soon forget.

“We grew a lot closer as a family, having to kind of do this little adventure on our own,” Thielen said. “Our whole time in Minnesota, we had family, friends, loved ones right here.” As he bro-hugged his way through the building, Thielen

clearly had a couple of favorites in mind to nd in coach Kevin O’Connell and wide receiver Justin Je erson. He compared the reunion with Je erson to coming back from college and meeting up with a childhood friend.

“It’s like you never left, like it was yesterday. And that’s how I felt with Justin. It was like we’ve never been on a di erent team,” Thielen said. “I love that guy to death and have so much respect for him on and o the eld, and we have such a great relationship. It’s good to be back.”

When the regular season begins on Sept. 8 at Chicago, the Vikings won’t have Jordan Addison because of a three-game suspension. They aren’t sure yet whether Jalen Nailor will be healthy enough to play after injuring his hand in a joint practice with the New England Patriots. Tai Felton is a rookie. Thielen could well join Je erson in the starting lineup, sliding back into O’Connell’s system and catching passes from a kid he’s already worked with.

“I’m going to make sure this emotion doesn’t just fade away,” Thielen said. “It’s going to be hopefully something that lasts my entire time here, just how appreciative I am to be here.”

JACOB KUPFERMAN / AP PHOTO

Then-Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen warms up before a preseason game.

UNC executive associate athletic director Steve Newmark has been named the successor to current athletic director Bubba Cunningham.

the stream

“Lilo

‘Lilo & Stitch,’ ‘The Paper,’

MTV Video Music Awards, Hollow Knight sequel

David Byrne drops “Who Is the Sky”

Associated Press

The

A FOLLOW-UP TV comedy of “The O ce” called “The Paper” and the buddy live action comedy “Lilo & Stitch” are some of the new television, lms, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also, among the streaming offerings worth your time: Mark Ru alo starring in the new cat-and-mouse thriller “Task,” a sequel to the indie legend video game Hollow Knight arrives and David Byrne releases a new album, “Who Is the Sky?”

MOVIES TO STREAM

“Friendship,” Andrew DeYoung’s auspicious debut feature, makes its streaming debut Saturday on HBO Max, a day after debuting on HBO. The movie tackles modern masculinity and male loneliness with biting satire and humor, taking detours into horror and the surreal. My review said we see Robinson at his awkward best and Rudd at his charismatic best in this quirky look at bromances.

The live-action “Lilo & Stitch,” which in just 17 days made more domestically than the live-action “The Little Mermaid” did in its entire run, is on Disney+. It’s the tale of a 6-year-old lonely Native girl in Hawaii who befriends an alien outcast. In my review, I was unhappy that the original 2002 animated story had been swamped by weird temporal portals, a Jet Ski chase and an overwrought conclusion. Audiences ocked to the movie, which is the year’s biggest hit with more than $1 billion earned at the box o ce.

MUSIC TO STREAM

Byrne, formerly the Talking Heads frontman, is in no way slowing down. On Friday, the 73-year-old idiosyncratic artist will release a new album, “Who Is the Sky?”, a collection of avant-garde pop for fans of his band and beyond. There’s a real joy here.

There are glam rock icons and then there is Marc Bolan, a pioneer of the ’70s movement with

his visionary band T. Rex, a larger-than-life gure now celebrated in a new documentary. “AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex” hits streaming on Friday. Expect rare footage and to be overwhelmed by a strong desire to purchase sequined pants. It is that time of year again: The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards are right around the corner. The three-hour show will broadcast live on CBS and available to stream on Paramount+ on Sundayat 8 p.m. live from UBS Arena just outside New York City. Lady Gaga leads the nominations, so get ready for some “Mayhem.”

SERIES TO STREAM

“The O ce” follow-up called “The Paper” makes its anticipated debut on Peacock this week. On the show, the documentary crew that once lmed the sta of Dunder Mi in paper company in Scranton, Pa., has now begun following the sta of a small newspaper in Toledo, Ohio. To their surprise, one of the accountants who works on sta is none other than Oscar Martinez, a crossover character from ‘The O ce” played by Oscar Nunez.

new series about their “NCIS” characters called, “NCIS: Tony & Ziva,” now streaming on Paramount+. The

show picks up 10 years after de Pablo left “NCIS” with Tony and Ziva — or Tiva as fans call them — living in France and co-parenting their daughter. When they become the target of a conspiracy, the former agents go on the run. This is the sixth spino in the “NCIS” universe and a departure from the procedural format it is known for. “Tony & Ziva” is more of a mixed bag with action, drama, romance and comedy.

Ru alo and Tom Pelphrey star in a new cat-and-mouse thriller for HBO called “Task.” Ru alo plays an FBI agent in Pennsylvania assigned to lead a task force investigating violent robberies. The show is from the creator of the stellar “Mare of Easttown.” It premieres Thursday and streams on Max.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

Hollow Knight, a 2D exploration game that came out in 2017, has become an indie legend over the years, selling millions of copies and landing on plenty of best-games-ever lists. Australian studio Team Cherry announced a sequel in 2019 — and after a long gestation period, Hollow Knight: Silksong has nally arrived. The essence remains the same: Making your way through a lush, vibrant landscape while ghting o the bugs and other nuisances that live there. The protagonist, a princess named Hornet, is more acrobatic than the original hero, but the developer is promising more of the challenging and tightly focused combat fans love. It arrived Thursday on PlayStation 5/4, Xbox X/S/One, Switch and PC.

The developers at Bandai Namco Studios Singapore are known for their bruising work on ghters like Tekken and Soul Calibur, but their new game takes on a more delicate art: origami. Hirogami stars a master of folding named Hiro who can transform into creatures like a soaring bird, a barrier-smashing armadillo and a high-jumping frog. A soundtrack featuring traditional Japanese instruments creates a mellow vibe as Hiro defends his paper-crafted 3D world from “deadly digital invaders.” Know when to fold ‘em now on PlayStation 5 and PC.

Domhnall Gleeson (“The Patient”) and Sabrina Impacciatore (“White Lotus” season 2) also star. All 10 episodes are ready to watch.

Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo star in a

DISNEY VIA AP The high-grossing live-action movie

& Stitch” is streaming on Disney+.

CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO

Tim Robinson, who won a 2022 Emmy for outstanding actor in a short form comedy or drama series for “I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson,” stars alongside Paul Rudd in the movie “Friendship.”

MATADOR RECORDS VIA AP

David Byrne, founder of the art-rock band Talking Heads, releases his solo album “Who Is the Sky” on Friday.

STATE & NATION

PBS, NPR stations struggle with Trump-fueled government funding cuts

Emergency fundraising e orts show strong support from viewers

By David Bauder

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Coping with a sudden loss in federal funding, PBS a liate KSPS in Spokane, Washington, faced a surprise extra hurdle. Many of its contributing members — at one point almost half — lived in Canada, and they were withdrawing support out of anger at President Donald Trump’s desire to make the country the 51st member of the United States.

When Congress decided this summer to eliminate $1.1 billion allocated to public broadcasting, it left some 330 PBS and 246 NPR stations, each with unique issues related to their communities and history, to gure out what that means.

Many launched emergency fund drives and are heartened by the response. The national NPR and PBS networks are reducing expected dues payments, and a philanthropic effort focused on the hardest-hit stations is taking shape. No stations have shut down, but job and programming cuts are already beginning.

In Spokane, KSPS has always tried to keep its requests for member donations separate from appeals for public funding. Not anymore. Congress left the station with a $1.2 million hole to ll, about 18% of its budget, and the station is using that as a pretext to seek help from listeners.

“We have de nitely seen some attrition from our Canadian members,” said Skyler Reep, the station’s interim general manager.

Pleas for donations exceed expectations in many parts of country

Long suspicious of a liberal bent to public media news coverage, Republicans in Congress responded to President Donald Trump’s wishes in July and eliminated funding for the systems. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which distributes the funding, has taken steps to shut down.

In some parts of the country, the answer to pleas for help have exceeded expectations.

Public radio station WHQR in Wilmington raised more than $200,000 in three days, lling a $174,000 hole and then some. It’s a small community growing fast with an in ux of retirees, many who depend on the station’s news to learn about their new home, said general manager Kevin Crane.

With $525,000 gone from its budget, Hawaii Public Radio has already raised $650,000 in an emergency fund drive. “It’s a validation that what you’re doing is essential to the community and is appreciated by the community,” said Meredith Artley, president and CEO. The 2023 wildres in Maui and their aftermath were covered steadily by Hawaii Public Radio news reporters.

“The initial response in terms of support for both stations and the NPR network has been extraordinary,” said Katherine Maher, NPR president. “People did a lot of work leading up to the vote, in actions and calls. When that did not prove convincing, they turned to direct support.”

Stations across the country have stories that make them smile: the youngster from Florida who collected money for public stations in Alaska, sending a note written in crayon; the reg-

ular $300 donor who came in to PBS SoCal with a $100,000 check, one of three six- gure donations the station has received.

Most stations aren’t in areas with so many wealthy donors. Most station managers are like Je Hanks of PBS’s LPTV in Lakeland, Minnesota. He lies awake wondering where he will nd $1 million to pay for things like his station’s nightly newscast, a primary news source for central and northern Minnesota.

“These are extremely, extremely challenging times,” Hanks said. “We’re ghting hard every way we can.”

He knows membership donations won’t make up for what is missing. Both PBS and NPR have taken steps to reduce the annual dues that stations pay for programming and other services. At PBS, it’s an average 15% reduction, but needy stations get more — in one case, more than half of next year’s dues will be forgiven, said PBS president Paula Kerger.

Adopting stations in poorer, more rural areas

NPR is encouraging donors in wealthier areas to adopt stations in poorer ones, perhaps in an area where a contributor has emotional ties.

Public media leaders are also working with a group of philanthropists led by the Knight and MacArthur foundations that is hoping to raise some $50 million to support stations in areas hardest hit be the cuts. Ed Ulman, president and CEO of Alaska Public Media, which represents nearly two dozen radio and television stations in the largest state, said he’ll be seeking money from this fund.

Ulman said he’s been buoyed

“The initial response in terms of support for both stations and the NPR network has been extraordinary.”

Katherine Maher, NPR president

by the response from Alaskans in their e ort to raise $15 million through various sources by October. The services their stations provide is free, and citizens see its value.

“I’ve never been worried about the future of public television or radio because our community needs us,” he said, “and what we’ve seen in Alaska is an outcry about that.”

Still, Alaska Public Media has suspended the weekly public affairs television show “Alaska Insight,” which isn’t returning after a summer hiatus. The future of “Indie Alaska,” a weekly video series highlighting the lives of Alaskans, is also in danger.

Some stations are already making the di cult decisions of cutting sta , In Spokane, for example, 12 of KSPS’s 35 sta members have either been laid o , had their hours reduced or seen their pay cut. Reep is also considering that future seasons of local shows like “Northwest Pro les” or the arts showcase “Inland Sessions” will have fewer episodes. Similar programming decisions are also being weighed on a national level. While several upcoming shows, like Ken Burns’ six-part miniseries “The American Revolution” scheduled for November, are completed, PBS will have to consider making shorter seasons of its series, Kerger said.

“We’re working very hard so that the public doesn’t feel that there’s a change,” Kerger said. Looking for ways to share services

Between an increase in donations and “rainy day” resources set aside, the initial impact of the government action may be minimized. But that brings its own worries: It’s unlikely public media will be able to count on sympathy donors to the same extent in the future. And there’s a risk that some politicians will feel the response proves that public support isn’t necessary.

The bigger reckoning may come a year from now, Kerger said. “I am a realist,” she said. “I have to believe that there are some vulnerable stations that are not going to make it.”

The crisis is forcing some public stations to work together, searching for ways to share services in areas not before contemplated, in things likenances, management and programming, said Andy Russell, president and CEO of PBS SoCal. Public stations in Washington are meeting to see if they can get state nancing. In Los Angeles, PBS SoCal has shared some of its templates for fundraising appeals with other stations. Several celebrities — people like Kerry Washington, Jack Black, Ziggy Marley, John Lithgow and John Leguizamo — have volunteered to lm pitches, and the station is making them available nationwide too, said Maura Daly Phinney, senior vice president for membership engagement and strategy.

“We’re going to make it,” Phinney said. “The system is going to be di erent. But we’re going to make it.”

Activist investor takes $4B stake in ailing PepsiCo

Elliott hopes to revitalize the company’s business

By Michelle Chapman

The Associated Press

ACTIVIST INVESTOR El-

liott Investment Management is taking a $4 billion stake in PepsiCo saying there’s an opportunity to revive the snack and drinks company.

Years of double-digit price increases from PepsiCo and changing customer preferences has weakened demand for its drinks and snacks, the company said in February. In July PepsiCo said that it is trying to combat perceptions that its products are too expensive by expanding distribution of value brands like Chester’s and Santitas.

Stubborn in ation has had an

impact on consumer behavior, and many people have cut back on the discretionary purchases that they make.

PepsiCo lowered its full-year earnings expectations in April, citing increased costs from

tari s and a pullback in consumer spending. The company rea rmed that guidance three months later. Its tari costs have risen since then. In June, the Trump administration hiked the tari on import-

ed aluminum from 25% to 50%.

In a letter to PepsiCo’s board, Elliott said that the company is being hurt by a lack of strategic clarity, decelerating growth and eroding pro tability in its North American food and beverage businesses. But the rm still believes in PepsiCo’s potential, particularly noting its growing international business.

“While unfortunate, this disappointing trajectory has created a historic opportunity: With the right mindset and an appropriately ambitious turnaround plan, PepsiCo today represents a rare chance to revitalize a leading global enterprise and unlock signi cant shareholder value,” Elliott said.

Shares of PepsiCo climbed 2% Tuesday. The stock is down nearly 10% over the past 12 months, according to FactSet,

but it is up almost 12% over the past month as Elliott has purchased shares.

Elliott said that it wants to work with PepsiCo’s board and management on ways to improve performance.

“Elliott’s goals at PepsiCo are straightforward: help the company sharpen focus, drive innovation, become more ecient and unlock the value that its leading brands, unmatched scale and world-class employees deserve,” it said. “The path back to winning is clear and achievable.”

PepsiCo will review Elliott’s recommendations.

“PepsiCo maintains an active and productive dialogue with our shareholders and values constructive input on delivering long-term shareholder value,” it said in a statement Tuesday.

SETH PERLMAN / AP PHOTO Pepsi is one of the biggest beverage brands in the country.

Going Squatchin’

Festivalgoers visit a chainsaw art booth Sunday on the nal day of

WHAT’S HAPPENING Man dies from shooting in Asheboro parking lot

Trump says Space Command to move from Colorado to Alabama

U.S. Space Command will be located in Huntsville, Alabama, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday afternoon, reversing a Bidenera decision to keep it at its temporary headquarters in Colorado. Alabama and Colorado have long battled to claim Space Command because it has signi cant implications for the local economy. The site also has been a political prize, with elected o cials from both states asserting theirs as the better location.

Pentagon authorizes up to 600 military lawyers to serve as temporary immigration judges

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has approved sending up to 600 military lawyers to the Justice Department to serve as temporary immigration judges, according to a memo. The military will begin sending groups of 150 attorneys — both military and civilians — to the Justice Department “as soon as practicable.”

Giuliani leaves hospital after being injured in N.H. car crash

Rudy Giuliani has been released from the hospital after being injured in a car crash in New Hampshire. A spokesman said that Giuliani is progressing well. The former New York City mayor was injured Saturday when his vehicle was struck from behind on a highway by another car. He su ered a fractured vertebra and other injuries.

The incident stemmed from an argument and involved two men with rearms

Randolph Record sta ASHEBORO — A 23-year-old man died at the scene of an Asheboro shooting during the weekend.

Alexander Benitez-Hernandez su ered from a gunshot wound to the upper-chest area, according to a police report. Asheboro Police o cers arriving o ered aid until medical personnel arrived, but Benitez-Hernandez didn’t survive.

Shortly after 7 p.m. Saturday, police responded to shots red in a parking lot at 1418 East Dixie Drive.

Police report that a person ed in a red Ford F-250.

That vehicle was located traveling at a high rate of speed on East Salisbury Street. O cers stopped the vehicle, and the driver had su ered a gunshot wound to the leg.

O cers administered aid before the driver was taken to an out-of-county hospital.

Information from Asheboro Police said that Benitez-Hernandez and the unidenti ed man were involved in an altercation at an Asheboro business,

and the disagreement escalated in the parking lot. Police said that both men had rearms and shot each other.

No chargers were initially led. The investigation is continuing as Asheboro Police seek witnesses to the incident.

The weekend shooting marked the second shooting in slightly more than two weeks that drew considerable police attention in Asheboro.

Charges led in previous shooting

On Aug. 15, o cers responded to a late-night shooting in the area of Watkins Street.

In that case, a gunshot victim sustained wounds to his upper arm and neck. O cers located the victim at the intersection of Elm and Salisbury streets, where medical treatment was administered.

The victim, Jaylen Curtis, 21, was transported to an out-of-county medical facility.

Dwayne Emilio Rivera, 22, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, in icting serious bodily injury, discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle and discharging a rearm in city limits.

The charges stemmed from an investigation by detectives with Asheboro Police. At what was labeled a crime scene on Watkins Street, shell casings were consistent with the multiple bullet holes on the victim’s vehicle.

Police have since reported that Curtis’ condition improved from critical condition and that he’s expected to survive.

Joseph Sand Pottery hosts summer kiln

opening rst 2 weekends in September

The sale o ers a mix of functional and sculptural pottery

By Melinda Burris Randolph Record

RANDLEMAN — Joseph

Sand Pottery will host its annual summer kiln opening the rst two weekends in September, open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1-5 p.m. The event marks the 45th ring at the site at 2555 George York Road.

Collectors will nd a variety of traditionally thrown utilitarian wares — co ee mugs, plates, platters and vases — along with functional and decorative sculptural pieces.

“For the summer opening, I usually end up doing more sculptural work,” Sand said.

“But I still have plenty of thrown pieces that I’ve made for the opening. We’ve got a bunch of big ones, big sculptural pieces for outdoors. And there will be several 21⁄2-foot pieces for the replace or entry of the home.”

Alongside Sand’s work, pottery by his apprentice Ben Peregrin, fellow potter Felipe Vasquez and Sand’s 12-year-old

“For the summer opening, I end up usually doing more sculptural work. But I still have plenty of thrown pieces that I’ve made for the opening.”

Joseph Sand

son, Owen, will also be available.

Sand said Owen has already built a following among collectors.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he isn’t doing some of this, whether it be full time or part time, along with his other occupation, in the future,” he said.

A trained sculptor, Sand never envisioned becoming a potter until he traveled to Italy where he was introduced to the craft. He later studied in England and eventually sought an apprenticeship with renowned English potter Mark Hewitt, who established his own pottery in Pittsboro, North Carolina in 1983. Sand worked with Hewitt for 31⁄2 years. Today, every pot Sand makes

is crafted with clay from his property.

“I absolutely put my heart and all of my being into the property that we bought here,” he said. Sand graduated high school in 2001 at the height of the graphic arts boom and brie y studied graphic design before realiz-

ing he needed a more hands-on art form. He then pursued studio arts at the University of Minnesota Duluth, eventually nding pottery as a medium that combined art, craft and home. Known for his sleek,

THE RANDOLPH COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

the inaugural Uwharrie Bigfoot Festival at Denton FarmPark.

PHOTO COURTESY DAN ROUTH PHOTOGRAPHY

A sculptural piece handmade by Joseph Sand is on display at Joseph Sand Pottery in Randleman.

CORY LAVALETTE / RANDOLPH RECORD

THURSDAY 9.4.25

North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365)

RCC board membership evolves

The community college has had veteran leadership among its trustees for years

Randolph Record sta

ASHEBORO — Longstanding Randolph Community College trustee Andy Sykes was sworn in for another term, marking his 34th year of service to the board.

The oath of o ce was administered last month in the Martha Luck Comer Foundation Conference Center.

RCC president/CEO Shah Ardalan praised Sykes’ decades of leadership.

“Andy’s dedication to Randolph Community College is unmatched,” Ardalan said.

“His thoughtful guidance has strengthened our institution for more than three decades, and we are especially grateful for his work in representing and supporting our Liberty community. We deeply appreciate his continued service.”

Board chair Reynolds Lisk said that board service demands substantial time and dedication, and few are willing to shoulder that responsibility so consistently.

“Andy has a great wealth of knowledge, and we are proud to have him as part of what we do,” he said.

The meeting also marked the end of Bob Morrison’s two terms as a trustee. He was presented with his o cial portrait as a gesture of gratitude for his service.

“The board is a better board because of Bob Morrison,” Ardalan said.

New trustees welcomed

Two new members — Allen McNeill and Grant Hollowell — also took oaths of o ce

“Allen and Grant bring a wealth of professional experience, a history of servant leadership, and a shared dedication to our community,” Ar-

SAND from page A1

glazes, Sand said, “I make a really beautiful blue glaze. It’s just a really pretty blue that sort of breaks, and it does a lot of interesting things when I add other glazes to it. So that I’m very fond of.”

He recently developed a black basalt glaze with a sparkly nish.

“It looks great on larger sculptures,” he said. “That’s been very popular. It’s kind of a more sleek, modern line that ts into homes quite nicely.”

The two glazes complement one another, making them favorites among collectors who display multiple pieces.

The summer kiln opening is one of three annual sales at Joseph Sand Pottery. The spring event is held the rst two weekends in May, the summer opening at the end of August or beginning of September, and the winter opening the rst weekend in December.

dalan said. “Their insights will be invaluable as we continue advancing RCC’s mission to provide accessible, high-quality education and training for all.”

A lifelong resident of Asheboro, McNeill began his law enforcement career in 1977 with the Randolph County Sheri ’s O ce. During the next three decades, he rose through the ranks, serving 19 years as chief deputy.

In 2012, McNeill was elected to the N.C. House of Representatives, representing District 78 (Randolph/Moore counties), where he served multiple terms until 2022. During his time in the legislature, he held leadership roles on committees, including co - chair of the Community College Committee.

McNeill said he grew up less than a mile from the RCC campus in Asheboro.

Hollowell, a Caldwell native, earned his undergradu-

ate degree in biological and agricultural engineering from NC State in 2009. Following graduation, he became a licensed nursing home administrator, beginning his career managing a Fayetteville facility for ve years.

In 2016, Hollowell and his wife, Danielle — also a licensed nursing home administrator, relocated to Pleasant Garden to manage Clapp’s Nursing Center. Their leadership expanded in 2019 to include Clapp’s Nursing Home and Clapp’s Mountain Top Living in Asheboro. In 2023, they purchased the facilities, solidifying their commitment to elder care in the region.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how I can help RCC be even more a part of the community, especially in the healthcare space,” Hollowell said. “I like the fact that community colleges focus not just on education, but on careers.”

Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: community@randolphrecord.com

Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon

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

Sept. 6-7

Joseph Sand Kiln Opening

Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, 1-5 p.m.

Traditional functional and decorative, sculptural pottery will be on sale by Joseph Sand. Wares will also be available for purchase by fellow potters Ben Peregrin, Felipe Vasquez and Owen Sand.

2555 George York Road Randleman

Sept. 6, 9 & 11

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

Sept. 8 & 10

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

Sept. 10-12

Zoograss

7 p.m.

This three-night bluegrass festival features bands Authentic Unlimited, Darin and Brook Aldridge and Lonesome River Band. Tickets are available for individual nights or you can purchase a three-night pass. Tickets are $25 per night or $70 for the three-night pass.

Sunset Theater 234 Sunset Ave. Asheboro

Sept. 11

Books and Banter (YA Club)

4:30-5:30 p.m.

Teens ages 13-16 meet each Thursday to talk about books and more. Every fourth Thursday, the group discusses the same book, which can be picked up ahead of time at the library.

Seagrove Public Library 530 Old Plank Road Seagrove

RCC PHOTO

Former Randolph Community College board member Bob Morrison, center, receives a portrait from Board of Trustees chair Reynolds Lisk, left, and president/CEO Shah Ardalan during August’s board meeting.

PHOTO COURTESY DAN ROUTH PHOTOGRAPHY

thrown, glazed and red vase is one of many pieces created by potter Joseph Sand.

THE CONVERSATION

Trip

Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

The left’s misdefinition of Americanism

America is heir to ancient European civilizations.

THIS WEEK, AXIOS ran a fascinating piece about the supposed “rede nition” of Americanism under President Donald Trump. Titled “Inside Trump’s American identity project,” Axios posited that “President Trump is wielding government power to enforce a more rigid, exclusionary de nition of what it means to be American.” What would this new de nition entail? “In MAGA’s telling, America is the heir to ancient European civilizations, built on a Judeo-Christian foundation of white identity, meritocracy, traditional gender roles and the nuclear family,” says Axios. “These tenets are cast as universal truths — and mantras such as ‘America is an idea’ or ‘diversity is our strength’ are dismissed as liberal ctions.”

First o , America is heir to ancient European civilizations — particularly with reference to private property, the common law system, traditions of free speech and freedom of religion, among others. Second, America is built on a Judeo-Christian foundation. Third, America is built on the meritocracy, which argues that the best and most productive ought to succeed in a free system. America is built on traditional gender roles and the nuclear family, as is

COLUMN | JASON LEWIS

every successful society in history. While America is an idea — or a set of ideas — those ideas must be rei ed in institutions and human behavior. And the notion that any nation can be built on a completely specious phrase like “diversity is our strength” is counterintuitive at best.

So what is Axios attempting to do? Axios is attempting to link actual traditional de nitions of Americanism with white supremacy. Never mind that all the ideas Axios cites as “traditional” fundamentally reject ethnic identitarianism: equality before law, for example, presumes racial indi erence; Judeo-Christian religion rejects racial classi cation; the meritocracy is de nitionally opposed to racial preferences; and traditional gender roles and the nuclear family are institutions held in common by people of all races. The goal is simple: a forced choice between “racism” and a left-wing de nition of Americanism that bears zero weight.

This, presumably, is the real drive behind the left’s opposition to much of Trump’s policy. The same Axios piece posits that the Trump administration’s decision to screen incoming immigrants for “anti-American” ideology ought to be seen as an outgrowth

of nativism rather than common sense; that opposition to radical sexual politics in our nation’s military is a manifestation of bigotry rather than reason; that restoration of classicism in architecture represents a return to racial exclusivity rather than taste. As the authors write, “MAGA’s utopia looks a lot like America in the 1950s — before the sexual revolution, mass immigration, the Civil Rights Act and expanded LGBTQ rights reshaped the country’s culture and demographics.”

Well, actually, MAGA’s utopia looks mostly like what most Americans think of as the American dream: upward mobility, solid family structure, safety in the streets, decent education, and a vibrant social fabric complete with community and church. The fact that so many on the left — and in the media — nd this vision to be irredeemably “racist” demonstrates their utter disconnect with most Americans. And it’s why Trump is president for the second time.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show” and co-founder of Daily Wire+.

Illegal immigration kills more people

California is one of 19 states that issues licenses regardless of immigration status.

THE NATIONAL MEDIA silence over an illegal alien with a California commercial driver’s license (CDL) accused of killing three people while making an unlawful U-turn on Florida’s Turnpike is instructive on several fronts.

None of them good.

First, it continues the trend of open-border journalists — from The Wall Street Journal to CNN — to place global commerce and identity politics above the lives of Americans. Newsrooms have buried the story because they know how fundamentally disgraceful their editorial decisions really are.

Whether promoting “sanctuary cities” while criticizing attempts at restoring law and order or downplaying the deaths on our highways due to illegal immigrant drivers — these folks, along with the politicians they back, are the real culprits.

Second, the very notion of granting any driver’s license, let alone one for a semi, to someone who cannot read road signs in English is so demonstrably lunatic on its face that no sane person could possibly support it. And yet, California is one of 19 states that issues licenses regardless of immigration status and the ability to understand America’s tra c laws.

In fact, the alleged perpetrator in the Florida crash answered just two of 12 questions correctly when tested for English language pro ciency and could only identify one out of four highway signs shown to him, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

How Harjinder Singh was able to obtain a CDL in California, where applications are supposedly administered in English, is no more a mystery than welfare time limits — blue state outlaws ignore them.

In wacked-out Washington state, where Singh had another CDL, o cials allow tests to be taken in English, Spanish, Russian or Serbian-Croatian. All of which I’m sure you’ve seen on America’s road signs.

Worse, for a mere passenger car drivers license, it’s a free for all with almost every state administering exams in a multitude

of foreign languages. Multiculturalism is killing people. And so are the people who enable it.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the U.S. is pausing all issuance of visas for commercial truck drivers, something that probably should have been done the moment Trump signed an executive order requiring the enforcement of decades-old English-pro ciency rules for commercial drivers.

Singh rst entered the country illegally from India via Mexico (where else?) in 2018, but contrary to the usual lies from Gov. Gavin Newsom, “his work authorization was rejected under the Trump Administration on Sept. 14, 2020. It was later approved under the Biden Administration June 9, 2021.”

So you’ve got a situation where the state of California along with the Biden administration enabled an incompetent illegal alien to drive a semitrailer across the country. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, once Singh made the unlawful U-turn, a minivan in the adjacent lane crashed into the trailer, killing the three Americans.

To the grieving families who lost loved ones, now faced with trying to go on with their ruined lives, only justice matters. Why, then, are we not holding open-border politicians accountable for their abject failure to uphold the law in the precisely the same way a woke “defund the police” mob demanded we hold cops responsible? You might recall the Democrat-sponsored George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021 limiting “quali ed immunity as a defense to liability in a private civil action against a law enforcement o cer.”

Well, if that’s the standard, what to make of politicians who openly aunt the law by refusing their duty to uphold it? There is simply no getting around the fact that were it not for the complicity of a few Biden and Newsom o cials, three Americans would still be alive today.

If zombie-voters don’t want to do

anything about it, perhaps victims’ families will.

Notwithstanding the 11th Amendment proscribing lawsuits “against one of the United States by citizens of another state,” the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), passed in 1946, waives aspects of sovereign immunity and allows people to sue the federal government for things like car accidents caused by its employees.

It’s a shame federal taxpayers would have to cover for the dereliction of duty by the Biden administration, so waive its quali ed immunity too and go after a few of ’em personally.

If it’s good enough for Derek Chauvin …

As for California, precedent abounds when you consider the multitude of million-dollar settlements going to BLM in the wake of lawsuits brought against government o cials acting “under the color of law” following the death of George Floyd.

Did Newsom and his California cronies not ignore clearly established law or act in a way no reasonable person would — the usual threshold for the deprivation of civil rights under 42 U.S. Code § 1983?

Thanks to Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida’s political leadership, Singh will now be charged with vehicular homicide and manslaughter. ICE wants him once his criminal case is complete. But the question remains: Will we hold the politicians who have the blood of Floridians on their hands accountable?

Former Minnesota Congressman Jason Lewis writes at Substack and is the author of “Party Animal, The Truth About President Trump, Power Politics & the Partisan Press.” This column was rst published by Daily Caller News Foundation.

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

Michael “Mickey” Eugene Pugh

Dec. 17, 1950 – Aug. 28, 2025

Michael “Mickey” Eugene Pugh, 74, of Swansboro, NC, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at the Crystal Coast Hospice House in Newport, NC. Mickey was born on December 17, 1950, and grew up in Randleman, NC, with his early teenage years spent in Kansas City, MO, before returning to his hometown. Mickey graduated from Randleman High School in 1969 and, in 1972, proudly joined the United States Army.

After completing basic training, Mickey was accepted into the prestigious Warrant O cer Candidate School (WOCS), followed by Warrant O cer Flight Training (WOFT), where he earned his wings as a helicopter pilot. His rst assignment took him to Fort Ord, California, and later to Korea, where he served with distinction ying Chinook helicopters. He left the Army in 1979 after 7 years

Sarah Walker Roberts

Jan. 1, 1930 – Aug. 26, 2025

Sarah Lucille Walker Roberts, age 95, of Asheboro, passed away peacefully on August 26, 2025, and is now reunited with her family in Heaven. She was born January 1, 1930, in Randolph County, North Carolina, the daughter of the late Ira Mayburn Walker and Ollie Cox Walker. She is also preceded in death by her beloved husband, Willard Roberts; son, Tommy Robbins; sister, Virginia Walker Garner; and brother, Charles Mayburn Walker.

Lucille was raised with the values of faith, family and community at Neighbors Grove Wesleyan Church. She attended Balfour School in Randolph County, North Carolina. Following her education, Lucille worked in the textile and furniture industry and was a dedicated supervisor at Klaussner Furniture Industries until her retirement. She found ful llment and joy in the simple pleasures of life. Lucille possessed an incredible talent for growing beautiful owers and took great pride in keeping her yard picturesque.

Lucille enjoyed Friday lunches to eat pizza and spend time with her nieces. She loved trips to the beach and watching NASCAR races with her husband on Sundays. She had a direct and spunky personality with an outgoing and kind spirit, allowing her to never meet a stranger. Most of all, Lucille cherished family and the wonderful memories that were made throughout her life, and she loved sharing those sweet memories with anyone who would listen.

Left to cherish her memory are several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The family will hold a private celebration of life at a later date, where she will be laid to rest beside her husband at Oaklawn Cemetery in Asheboro, North Carolina.

obituaries

of honorable service.

While serving and in the years that followed, Mickey’s love for aviation only grew, ultimately earning his bachelor’s degree from Campbell University in 1979. Mickey later embarked on a professional ying career with Britt Airways and Piedmont CCAir, eventually transitioning to the role that brought him the greatest joy.... serving as Richard Petty’s private pilot. For many years, Mickey ew a variety of aircraft, though his favorite was the Westwind Jet.

In 2015, Mickey accepted the role of Director of Operations at the Koury Aviation FBO and Jet Charter, a position he held until his retirement in 2018. After retiring, he and his beloved wife, Andie, settled in Swansboro, NC, to enjoy the coastal life together.

A proud Carolina Tar Heels fan and loyal Kansas City Chiefs supporter, Mickey lived life with enthusiasm and generosity. He served as a trustee of the Moose Lodge in Swansboro, a member of the VFW in Jacksonville and a member of the American Legion. His giving spirit extended far and wide as he contributed to numerous charities including the Shriners, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, SPCA, Wounded Warrior Project and the Audubon Society.

Mickey is preceded in death by his father Eugene “Gene” Pugh (Nancy), his mother Jane Robbins Corey (Walt) and his daughter, Julie Michelle Pugh. He is survived by his loving wife Andrea “Andie”, his sons Shane Pugh (Alisha), Lane Pugh (Brianna), their mother, and rst wife Pat Goley

Dennis Ray Rash

May 7, 1961 – Aug. 27, 2025

Dennis Ray Rash, born on May 7, 1961, in Virginia Beach, VA, passed away peacefully on August 27, 2025, at the age of 64, at Randolph Hospice House.

Dennis was a remarkable automotive mechanic, renowned for his exceptional ability to repair anything with a motor. He was also the retired co-owner of NAPA Auto Parts in Liberty, NC. His passion extended beyond his profession, as he had a deep love for motorcycles—particularly Harleys—and fast cars. Those who knew Dennis appreciated his enthusiasm and expertise in all things automotive.

A devoted husband, Dennis is survived by his loving wife of 14 years, Arey Rufty Rash. He also leaves behind his cherished daughter, Megan Lineberry of Cary; stepson, Joseph Pugh, and wife Alyssa of Franklinville, grandchildren, Addilyn and Beckett, his sister-in-law, Debbie Rash of Greensboro; and not to be forgotten, his beloved dogs Luca and Phil, along with his cat Saylor.

Dennis was a man who lived life with a quiet generosity, always helping others “behind the scenes.” To his friends, he was the kind of companion one could always rely on—steadfast, loyal, and caring. If you were his friend, you couldn’t ask for a better one.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Raymond and Vivian Brown Rash, and his brother, Tommy Rash.

The family will hold private services of remembrance at a later date. They extend special thanks to Dennis’s buddies at Red Cross Store and his great friends—you know who you are— for their unwavering support and the shared laughter throughout the years.

Dennis will be dearly missed by all who knew him, but his spirit will live on in the hearts of his loved ones and the memories they shared.

Osborne (Jim). He is also survived by his stepdaughter, Caroline Presnell Lopez (Russell), sisters Kathy Pugh Sinning, Beaufort, NC, Carla Corey Sta ord, Kansas City, MO, and Mark Corey (Russell), Santa Fe, NM. 2 brothers, David “Buddy” Pugh and Todd Pugh. Mickey is also survived by three grandchildren: Jamison and Ty Michael Pugh and Zoey Isham. He is also survived by his adorable nieces and nephews and his “adopted” granddaughter Vivian Platt.

Funeral services for Michael “Mickey” Pugh will be held Thursday, September 4, at 2 p.m. in the Pugh Funeral Home - “Eddie Pugh” Memorial Chapel, Randleman, NC, with the Rev. Mark Hall conducting the service. Burial will follow the service at Randolph Memorial Park, Asheboro, NC. Visitation will precede the service from 1-1:50 p.m.

In lieu of owers, the family asks that donations be made to Crystal Coast Hospice House, 100 Big Rock Way, PO Box 640, Newport, NC, 28570, in gratitude for the compassionate care Mickey received in his nal days, or to Victory Junction, 4500 Adams Way, Randleman, NC, 27317.

Mickey will be remembered for his adventurous spirit, unwavering loyalty and his deep love for his family and friends. His life was a testament to passion, service, generosity and his legacy will forever soar in the hearts of those who knew him.

Pugh Funeral Home Randleman has the honor of serving the Pugh Funeral.

Betty Cox Gunter

Oct. 11, 1940 – Aug. 28, 2025

Betty Jean Cox Gunter, 84, of Asheboro, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at Randolph Hospice House in Asheboro.

Betty was born on October 11, 1940, in Randolph County, the daughter of the late Pearlie Hayworth Cox and Sarah Ethel Hicks Cox. She worked at Bossong Hosiery and General Electric in her younger years and then worked at Ruby McDowell’s Beauty Salon for over 20 years where she served her patrons. She was, also, a homemaker and enjoyed taking care of her family. She loved her family very much.

In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by husband Tommy Trogdon; sisters, Kathleen Swaney, Ruby McDowell, Ruth Hollingsworth, and Beulah Mae Moran; brothers, Wade Cox and Leon Cox; and grandchild Tina Ritter. Betty is survived by her husband, David Gunter of the home; sons, Tim Trogdon (Terrisa) of Asheboro, Randy Gunter (Tara) of Asheboro; grandchildren, Olivia Warner (Steven) of Chapel Hill, Hayden Gunter of Asheboro; greatgrandchild, Emma Warner; sister Hilda Swaney of Asheboro; grand dogs Louie and Sammy.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Ave., Asheboro, followed by a 2 p.m. graveside service at Oaklawn Cemetery, Asheboro, NC, with Dr. Brent Tysinger o ciating.

The family would like to recognize and thank the sta at Alpine Health and Rehabilitation, Terra Bella, and Randolph Hospice House. Each of you has a special place in our hearts for the care and love that you showed mom during this past year and, especially, during her last days with us.

Pugh Funeral Home, Asheboro, is proudly serving the Gunter family.

Robert Edward Schweigert

Jan.16, 1945 – Aug. 25, 2025

Robert Edward Schweigert, age 80, of Asheboro, passed away on August 25, 2025, at White Oak Manor in Charlotte.

Mr. Schweigert was born in Sta ord, VA, on January 16, 1945. On June 29, 1955, Robert was adopted by Ralph and Grace Schliebe Schweigert, who preceded him in death. He was baptized in Spencer, NC.

Robert served his country in the U.S. Army, retiring after 18 years. His proudest moments while serving were receiving the Bronze Star in 1966 and a Purple Heart in 1967, along with many other commendations.

Robert loved working puzzles, especially 5,000 pieces or more, and was awarded VA medals for his puzzle skills. He was a grandfather and a greatgrandfather.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Macie Blackmon Schweigert; Robert Schweigert Jr. and Ralph Andrew Schweigert; twin sister, Rosalee Ellen Roseberry; and a large extended family.

Inurnment will be held at a later date at the Salisbury National Cemetery.

Pugh Funeral Home in Asheboro is honored to serve the Schweigert family.

Sharon Walker Stevens

July 19, 1952 – Aug. 31, 2025

Sharon Walker Stevens, 70, of Ramseur, passed away on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at Randolph Hospice House in Asheboro.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at Ramseur Church of God of Prophecy in Ramseur with Pastor Jason Bowser o ciating. Burial will follow at Randolph Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends for a time of visitation from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at Lo in Funeral Home in Ramseur. Sharon was a native and lifelong resident of Randolph County. She was a graduate of Randleman High School and received her Associate’s Degree from Randolph Community College. Sharon enjoyed her job and retired from Village Printing in Asheboro after thirtyplus years. Sharon loved the Lord and was a faithful member of Ramseur Church of God of Prophecy. She enjoyed spending time with her grandkids, reading books and putting puzzles together. Sharon was preceded in death by her husband, Larry J. Stevens as well as her parents, Banks and Joanne Nelson Walker.

Sharon is survived by her daughter, Amanda Macon and husband Justin, of Asheboro, grandchildren, T.J. Anderson of Ramseur and Kala Macon, of Asheboro, her sister Joyce Shaw and husband Kelly, of Asheboro, her niece, Brandi McNeill and husband Aaron, of Asheboro, and her great-niece Nora Grace McNeill.

Maura Diaz Flores

Dec. 18, 1974 – Aug. 26, 2025

Maura Diaz Flores, age 50, of Asheboro, NC, passed away peacefully on August 26, 2025, at Randolph Hospice House.

Maura was born on December 18, 1974, in Mexico, to Mauro Diaz and Victoria Flores. She was a beautiful woman whose radiant smile could brighten any room. A devoted mother, partner, and grandmother, she always made sure family came rst and worked hard to bring everyone together.

She was a fantastic cook whose meals were unmatched, and she lled her home with warmth, laughter, and the smells of her kitchen. A woman of deep faith, Maura loved tending to her garden, keeping everything clean and neat, and attending her grandchildren’s sporting events to cheer them on. She was known for her loving heart, her tireless work ethic, and her strength— ghting bravely until the very end.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Ramon Diaz.

Maura is survived by her children, Jesus Diaz, Paola Diaz, Larisa Diaz, and Yoselin Diaz; her partner, Mariano Ramirez; her grandchildren, Anthony, Alexander, and Kehlani; and her siblings, Alfonso Diaz, Tereso Diaz, Isabel Diaz, and Francisca Diaz.

Her love, faith, and joy for life will forever live on in the hearts of her family and friends.

Funeral Service will be on August 28 at 6 p.m. at Iglesia Evangelica El Nazareno, 1809 N Fayetteville St., with Pastor Ruben Almeida Dominguez o ciating. Burial will be on August 29 at 10 a.m. at New Hope Memorial Gardens, 3448 New Hope Church Road.

Kay Butcher

May 21, 1977 – Aug. 24, 2025

Ms. Kay Butcher, 48, of Asheboro, passed away suddenly on Sunday, August 24, 2025, at her home. No services are planned.

Pugh Funeral Home, Asheboro, is serving the Butcher family.

July 28, 1956 – Aug. 26, 2025

James “Jim” John Poupalos Jr. of Troy, NC, passed away suddenly at his home on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. He is survived by his wife, Susan Poupalos, of the home; his parents, James Poupalos Sr. and Dorothy Poupalos of Anderson, S.C. No services are planned. Pugh Troy Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of James Poupalos.

James “Jim” John Poupalos

Kathy Hunt Surratt

Oct. 4, 1954 – Aug. 27, 2025

Kathy Louise Hunt Surratt, 70, of Asheboro, passed away on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at Hinkle Hospice House in Lexington.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m., Saturday, August 30, 2025, at Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, Asheboro, with Assistant Pastor James Ben eld and Assistant Pastor Adam Frisby o ciating. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery.

Born on October 4, 1954, in Randolph County, NC, Kathy was the daughter of the late Arch Ray Hunt Jr. and Sadie Lois Ritter Hunt. Kathy attended Community Baptist Church in Hillsville. She enjoyed singing and feeding her animals, Bella, Yellow, and Baby.

In addition to her parents, Kathy was preceded in death by her husband, Bobby Surratt; sister, Deborah Tysinger; and brothers-in-law, Marlin Lovingood, George Saunders, Tommy Maness and Johnny Tysinger.

Surviving are her sisters, Emma Lou Lovingood of Thomasville, Patty Ben eld (James) of Asheboro, Patricia Maness of Franklinville, Rhonda Saunders of Asheboro; brothers, Jackie Hunt (Cindy) of Farmer, Billy Hunt (Belinda) of Asheboro, David Hunt (Pat) of Asheboro, Richard Hunt of Asheboro, Dale Hunt of Asheboro; brother-inlaw, Gary Surratt (Norma) of Asheboro; and several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 12:30-1:45 p.m., Saturday, August 30, 2025, at Ridge Funeral Home prior to the service.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Davidson County, 200 Hospice Way, Lexington, NC 27292.

Gary “Trigger” Randall Matney

July 19, 1952 – Aug. 24, 2025

Gary “Trigger” Randall Matney Sr., 73, of Randleman, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on August 24, 2025.

He was born July 19, 1952, in Buchanan County, Virginia, the son of the late Thelma Ratli and preceded in death by his son, Fletcher Grant.

Gary retired from Sapona Manufacturing after over 30 years of dedicated service.

He is also preceded in death by his uncle, best friend and partner in crime Buford Matney. They enjoyed hunting and shing trips, and going to the races. He also enjoyed watching NASCAR and football, where he and his wife Linda would place bets on who would win.

Gary was a member of Pleasant Cross Christian Church. He and Linda could be found worshiping the Lord every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening.

He loved all of his many grandchildren, who loved and adored him back.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 18 years, Linda Matney; children, Chris Matney and wife Jen, Gary Matney Jr and wife Teri, Betty Connor, and Angie Foust and husband Travis; eleven grandchildren; fteen great grandchildren; brother, Cli ord Ratli and wife Teri; sisters, Tabitha McMasters and husband Bobby and Tammy Toomes; and numerous other beloved family and friends.

A visitation service will be held at 2 p.m. with a funeral service following at 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 6, at Pleasant Cross Christian Church, 124 Pleasant Cross Road, Asheboro.

Michael Charles Hoke

June 14, 1950 – Aug. 24, 2025

Michael Charles Hoke, age 75, of Asheboro, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, August 24, 2025, at his home. He was born June 14, 1950, in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, the son of the late George Hoke and Patricia Price Hoke. Also preceding him in death are his brothers, Kevin Hoke and Ricky Hoke.

Michael’s journey through life was marked by his unwavering dedication to his family, his country, and the simple joys that brought him peace. He graduated from Tulpehocken High School in Pennsylvania. Later, he went on to serve proudly for nine years in the National Guard, a testament to his commitment to protecting and serving others. Michael found his calling as a truck driver, embarking on countless journeys both long haul and in town, always returning to the embrace of his loved ones. His heart belonged to the great outdoors, where he found solace and happiness on the water. Whether boating or shing, the lake was his sanctuary, a place where he gathered with family and friends, creating memories that would last a lifetime. He was an avid fan of NASCAR and NHRA drag racing, where the thrill of the race mirrored his own passion for life, fueling his spirit with excitement and joy. Despite the challenges he faced in his later years, particularly his battle with dementia, his devoted wife and son stood by his side, caring for him with love and compassion. He found peace and solace when spending time with Caroline and Rusty his canine companions, the two miniature schnauzers. Michael was a man of quiet strength. As he now resides in Heaven, reunited with those who have gone before, his spirit lives on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.

Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife, Deborah Kay O’Neal Hoke; children, Amy Swartz and husband John, Nicole Rhoads and husband Kenneth, and Paul Carter (Ivy Lawson); grandchildren, Amber, Kim (Justin), Skylar, Brittany, Megan, Hailey, and Kendall; great grandchildren, Jaelyn, Justin Jr, Leon, Asher, Aspen, Avien, Lillium, Athena, Amari, Adiel and Maddox; brothers, Gary Hoke and wife Bonnie and Davey Hoke and wife Sharon; and numerous other beloved family and friends.

The family will hold a private celebration of life with an inurnment in Grandview Memorial Park in Pennsylvania.

Larry Allen Kearns

March 2, 1945 – Aug. 29, 2025

Larry Allen Kearns, 80, of Asheboro, North Carolina, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones. He was born on March 2, 1945, in Asheboro, NC, and spent his life rooted in faith, family and fellowship.

Larry leaves behind his devoted companion of 33 years, Barbara Jo Gallimore. He is also survived by his son, David Eric Kearns of Asheboro, NC; Phillip A. Kearns of New Mexico, along with Phillip’s daughter, Megan Kearns and grandson Easton; and by Barbara’s son, Shawn Gallimore of Greensboro, NC, and Shawn’s wife, Laura, along with their three children, Madison, Brianna, and Ethan. Larry cherished every moment spent with his family and loved ones.

A man of strong faith, Larry loved Jesus and never missed an opportunity to share his love for Christ with those around him. He found great joy in connecting with others and uplifting their spirits through conversation and testimony.

Larry was an avid sherman who delighted in time spent on his boat at Badin Lake. He also enjoyed sharing good meals with family and friends, always treasuring the fellowship around the table. For more than 30 years, Larry brought smiles and holiday cheer to countless children and families as he portrayed Santa Claus at Energizer, local churches, and family homes. His dedication to spreading the joy of Christmas will be fondly remembered.

Larry will be remembered as a man of faith, joy, and generosity whose love for Jesus and for people left a lasting impact on all who knew him. His family takes comfort in knowing that his spirit lives on through the legacy of faith, laughter, and love he shared.

The family will receive friends on Friday, September 5, 2025, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Ave. in Asheboro. Funeral services will follow at 1:30 p.m. at the Glenn “Mac” Pugh Chapel. Burial will take place at Randolph Memorial Park Cemetery.

Charles Bierbauer, longtime CNN correspondent, dead at age 83

The former White House correspondent became USC communications dean

The Associated Press

CHAPIN, S.C. — Charles Bierbauer, former CNN correspondent and a past president of the White House Correspondents Association who later became dean of the University of South Carolina’s journalism program, has died. He was 83.

Bierbauer died last Friday at his home in Spruce Pine in Mitchell County, where he had been living in retirement, according to university spokesman Je Stensland. No direct cause was given, but the family’s obituary said “his generous heart gave out after a good, long life.”

Bierbauer’s journalism career began in his native Pennsylvania, where early on he was a weekend reporter for media outlet WKAP.

After a year as a reporter for The Associated Press in Pittsburgh, Bierbauer worked for several other outlets, winning an Overseas Press Club Award in 1973 for his reporting on the Yom Kippur War. According to his family, Bierbauer was once detained in Mos-

a multimillion-dollar fundraising and renovation e ort that moved the school from the outdated Carolina Coliseum to a state-ofthe-art building on South Carolina’s historic Horseshoe.

While in academia, Bierbauer continued his passion for broadcasting by hosting a weekly current events program and moderating scores of debates among political candidates vying for ofces in the state, through a partnership with SCETV.

Jay Bender, a former attorney for the South Carolina Press Association and retired professor who served under Bierbauer, remembered him as a distinguished broadcaster and educator.

“His contributions to the USC Journalism School as dean were signi cant.” Jay Bender, former attorney for South Carolina Press Association

cow’s Red Square while lming an anti-Soviet demonstration. While covering Muhammed Ali’s 1978 travels in the Soviet Union, Bierbauer was denounced by the Soviet press for “asking impertinent questions.”

After four years with ABC News, Bierbauer began two decades at CNN, starting just a year after the network’s inception. Over the next 20 years, Bierbauer would cover the Pentagon, White House, the U.S. Supreme Court and an array of political stories and presidential campaigns. He

also hosted the weekly current events show “Newsmaker Saturday” for a decade and regularly traveled with presidents across the country and to dozens of foreign nations. Afterward, Bierbauer moved to South Carolina, where he became the rst dean of the state agship university’s College of Information and Communications, a merger of the mass communications and library science programs. Launching Cocky’s Reading Express, a childhood literacy initiative, Bierbauer also led

“His contributions to the USC Journalism School as dean were signi cant,” Bender said, speci cally mentioning the project that modernized the school and moved it to its current location.

Tom Reichert, who succeeded Bierbauer as communications dean, echoed Bender’s sentiments, recalling his predecessor’s “profound impact on the program.”

“He is fondly remembered for many achievements, including fundraising and supporting students who went on to win Pulitzer Prizes,” Reichert said in

a statement to The Associated Press. “He will be deeply missed.” Bierbauer was married to Susanne Schafer, a longtime military a airs reporter for the AP. He earned degrees in journalism and Russian from Penn State University and is survived by Schafer, as well as four children, several grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

In a statement to the AP, a network spokesperson remembered Bierbauer as “a cherished member of the CNN family” and “tireless reporter and wonderful colleague.”

“Charles inspired me and helped me throughout my assignments at the Pentagon and the White House,” Wolf Blitzer, Bierbauer’s former CNN colleague, told the AP in a statement. “He was a good friend, colleague, and mentor, and I will certainly miss him.”

JEFFREY COLLINS / AP PHOTO

U.S. Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia, left, and Stephen Breyer, center, talk to moderator Charles Bierbauer, right, at a debate before the South Carolina Bar on Jan. 21, 2012, in Columbia, South Carolina.

STATE & NATION

PBS, NPR stations struggle with Trump-fueled government funding cuts

Emergency fundraising e orts show strong support from viewers

By David Bauder

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Coping with a sudden loss in federal funding, PBS a liate KSPS in Spokane, Washington, faced a surprise extra hurdle. Many of its contributing members — at one point almost half — lived in Canada, and they were withdrawing support out of anger at President Donald Trump’s desire to make the country the 51st member of the United States.

When Congress decided this summer to eliminate $1.1 billion allocated to public broadcasting, it left some 330 PBS and 246 NPR stations, each with unique issues related to their communities and history, to gure out what that means.

Many launched emergency fund drives and are heartened by the response. The national NPR and PBS networks are reducing expected dues payments, and a philanthropic effort focused on the hardest-hit stations is taking shape. No stations have shut down, but job and programming cuts are already beginning.

In Spokane, KSPS has always tried to keep its requests for member donations separate from appeals for public funding. Not anymore. Congress left the station with a $1.2 million hole to ll, about 18% of its budget, and the station is using that as a pretext to seek help from listeners.

“We have de nitely seen some attrition from our Canadian members,” said Skyler Reep, the station’s interim general manager.

Pleas for donations exceed expectations in many parts of country

Long suspicious of a liberal bent to public media news coverage, Republicans in Congress responded to President Donald Trump’s wishes in July and eliminated funding for the systems. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which distributes the funding, has taken steps to shut down.

In some parts of the country, the answer to pleas for help have exceeded expectations.

Public radio station WHQR in Wilmington raised more than $200,000 in three days, lling a $174,000 hole and then some. It’s a small community growing fast with an in ux of retirees, many who depend on the station’s news to learn about their new home, said general manager Kevin Crane.

With $525,000 gone from its budget, Hawaii Public Radio has already raised $650,000 in an emergency fund drive. “It’s a validation that what you’re doing is essential to the community and is appreciated by the community,” said Meredith Artley, president and CEO. The 2023 wildres in Maui and their aftermath were covered steadily by Hawaii Public Radio news reporters.

“The initial response in terms of support for both stations and the NPR network has been extraordinary,” said Katherine Maher, NPR president. “People did a lot of work leading up to the vote, in actions and calls. When that did not prove convincing, they turned to direct support.”

Stations across the country have stories that make them smile: the youngster from Florida who collected money for public stations in Alaska, sending a note written in crayon; the reg-

ular $300 donor who came in to PBS SoCal with a $100,000 check, one of three six- gure donations the station has received.

Most stations aren’t in areas with so many wealthy donors. Most station managers are like Je Hanks of PBS’s LPTV in Lakeland, Minnesota. He lies awake wondering where he will nd $1 million to pay for things like his station’s nightly newscast, a primary news source for central and northern Minnesota.

“These are extremely, extremely challenging times,” Hanks said. “We’re ghting hard every way we can.”

He knows membership donations won’t make up for what is missing. Both PBS and NPR have taken steps to reduce the annual dues that stations pay for programming and other services. At PBS, it’s an average 15% reduction, but needy stations get more — in one case, more than half of next year’s dues will be forgiven, said PBS president Paula Kerger.

Adopting stations in poorer, more rural areas

NPR is encouraging donors in wealthier areas to adopt stations in poorer ones, perhaps in an area where a contributor has emotional ties.

Public media leaders are also working with a group of philanthropists led by the Knight and MacArthur foundations that is hoping to raise some $50 million to support stations in areas hardest hit be the cuts. Ed Ulman, president and CEO of Alaska Public Media, which represents nearly two dozen radio and television stations in the largest state, said he’ll be seeking money from this fund.

Ulman said he’s been buoyed

“The initial response in terms of support for both stations and the NPR network has been extraordinary.”

Katherine Maher, NPR president

by the response from Alaskans in their e ort to raise $15 million through various sources by October. The services their stations provide is free, and citizens see its value.

“I’ve never been worried about the future of public television or radio because our community needs us,” he said, “and what we’ve seen in Alaska is an outcry about that.”

Still, Alaska Public Media has suspended the weekly public affairs television show “Alaska Insight,” which isn’t returning after a summer hiatus. The future of “Indie Alaska,” a weekly video series highlighting the lives of Alaskans, is also in danger.

Some stations are already making the di cult decisions of cutting sta , In Spokane, for example, 12 of KSPS’s 35 sta members have either been laid o , had their hours reduced or seen their pay cut. Reep is also considering that future seasons of local shows like “Northwest Pro les” or the arts showcase “Inland Sessions” will have fewer episodes. Similar programming decisions are also being weighed on a national level. While several upcoming shows, like Ken Burns’ six-part miniseries “The American Revolution” scheduled for November, are completed, PBS will have to consider making shorter seasons of its series, Kerger said.

“We’re working very hard so that the public doesn’t feel that there’s a change,” Kerger said.

Looking for ways to share services

Between an increase in donations and “rainy day” resources set aside, the initial impact of the government action may be minimized. But that brings its own worries: It’s unlikely public media will be able to count on sympathy donors to the same extent in the future. And there’s a risk that some politicians will feel the response proves that public support isn’t necessary.

The bigger reckoning may come a year from now, Kerger said. “I am a realist,” she said. “I have to believe that there are some vulnerable stations that are not going to make it.”

The crisis is forcing some public stations to work together, searching for ways to share services in areas not before contemplated, in things likenances, management and programming, said Andy Russell, president and CEO of PBS SoCal. Public stations in Washington are meeting to see if they can get state nancing. In Los Angeles, PBS SoCal has shared some of its templates for fundraising appeals with other stations. Several celebrities — people like Kerry Washington, Jack Black, Ziggy Marley, John Lithgow and John Leguizamo — have volunteered to lm pitches, and the station is making them available nationwide too, said Maura Daly Phinney, senior vice president for membership engagement and strategy.

“We’re going to make it,” Phinney said. “The system is going to be di erent. But we’re going to make it.”

Activist investor takes $4B stake in ailing PepsiCo

Elliott hopes to revitalize the company’s business

By Michelle Chapman

The Associated Press

ACTIVIST INVESTOR El-

liott Investment Management is taking a $4 billion stake in PepsiCo saying there’s an opportunity to revive the snack and drinks company.

Years of double-digit price increases from PepsiCo and changing customer preferences has weakened demand for its drinks and snacks, the company said in February. In July PepsiCo said that it is trying to combat perceptions that its products are too expensive by expanding distribution of value brands like Chester’s and Santitas.

Stubborn in ation has had an

impact on consumer behavior, and many people have cut back on the discretionary purchases that they make.

PepsiCo lowered its full-year earnings expectations in April, citing increased costs from

tari s and a pullback in con-

sumer spending. The company rea rmed that guidance three months later. Its tari costs have risen since then. In June, the Trump administration hiked the tari on import-

ed aluminum from 25% to 50%.

In a letter to PepsiCo’s board, Elliott said that the company is being hurt by a lack of strategic clarity, decelerating growth and eroding pro tability in its North American food and beverage businesses. But the rm still believes in PepsiCo’s potential, particularly noting its growing international business.

“While unfortunate, this disappointing trajectory has created a historic opportunity: With the right mindset and an appropriately ambitious turnaround plan, PepsiCo today represents a rare chance to revitalize a leading global enterprise and unlock signi cant shareholder value,” Elliott said.

Shares of PepsiCo climbed 2% Tuesday. The stock is down nearly 10% over the past 12 months, according to FactSet,

but it is up almost 12% over the past month as Elliott has purchased shares.

Elliott said that it wants to work with PepsiCo’s board and management on ways to improve performance.

“Elliott’s goals at PepsiCo are straightforward: help the company sharpen focus, drive innovation, become more ecient and unlock the value that its leading brands, unmatched scale and world-class employees deserve,” it said. “The path back to winning is clear and achievable.”

PepsiCo will review Elliott’s recommendations.

“PepsiCo maintains an active and productive dialogue with our shareholders and values constructive input on delivering long-term shareholder value,” it said in a statement Tuesday.

SETH PERLMAN / AP PHOTO Pepsi is one of the biggest beverage brands in the country.

RandolpH SPORTS

Volleyball teams collect variety of victories

sists and three aces before using Adalynn Scherer’s 15 kills in a three-set home success past Jordan-Matthews.

Randolph Record sta

IT WAS MOSTLY a big stretch of success for Randolph County teams last week.

• Randleman wiped out two opponents in beginning Piedmont Athletic Conference play. The Tigers downed visiting High Point Andrews and host Lexington in three-set matches.

Randleman also fell to Cor-

nerstone Charter in three sets.

• Asheboro lost the rst set before claiming the next three to defeat host Trinity behind Lia George’s 10 kills and 15 digs, Emma Little’s 21 digs, Emma Kate Forester’s 15 kills and Adalynn Scherer’s 13 kills.

The Blue Comets also upended visiting Eastern Randolph in three sets with Eva Vuncannon supplying 15 as-

That put Asheboro at 7-0 entering September.

• Southwestern Randolph swept home matches against Oak Grove and Pinecrest to produce a three-match winning streak.

• Providence Grove had three three-set home sweeps, defeating Eastern Randolph despite Callie Craven’s 13 digs and 11 service points. Providence Grove bene ted from Lara Wiseman’s

Eastern Randolph powers past rival Randleman again

Southwestern Randolph rolled in an intracounty matchup with Trinity

Randolph Record sta

RAMSEUR — Chance Holdaway and Kobe Walker each scored two touchdowns as Eastern Randolph defeated visiting Randleman 35-14 in a much-anticipated clash between former conference rivals Friday night.

Cade McCallum threw a pair of touchdown passes for the Wildcats (2-0). Walker gained 128 yards on 14 carries.

Eastern Randolph broke a 7-7 tie with a touchdown with 55 seconds left before halftime when Holdaway recovered McCallum’s fumble in the end zone.

The Wildcats expanded the margin by scoring on their rst sec-

ond-half possession when McCallum threw 15 yards to Holdaway. The advantage ballooned to 28-7 in the fourth quarter on Walker’s 7-yard run. McCallum hooked up with Cainin Glover for a 42-yard touchdown play. Randleman committed three turnovers, including one on the opening possession that set up Walker’s 3-yard touchdown run for the game’s rst points.

Eastern Randolph’s James Combs racked up 82 yards on the ground on nine attempts.

Randleman (1-1) was limited to 7 rushing yards. Yet Kayden Saunders’ 2-yard run helped the Tigers pull even after Randleman’s initial touchdown.

Backup quarterback Reid Herring threw a 25-yard pass to Nazir Staton for the other Randleman touchdown.

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Randleman at Asheboro

Providence Grove at Southwestern Randolph

• Eastern Randolph at Union Pines

Trinity at South Rowan

Wheatmore at South Davidson

John Kirkpatrick was 12 for 21 for 139 passing yards for the Tigers. Eastern Randolph has won ve in a row in the series. The past three years, they met in regular-season nales with at least a portion of the Piedmont

See FOOTBALL, page B2

15 kills and Callie Hodges’ 18 digs against Jordan-Matthews.

The Patriots strolled past Chatham Charter as Cheyenne Collins posted 20 assists, and Hodges had 24 digs.

• Uwharrie Charter Academy swept three foes, taking down host Wheatmore, visiting Richmond County and visiting Southeast Guilford. In the Southeast Guilford match, Caroline Way’s 15 kills and 15 digs, Carly Rush’s nine kills and 13 digs, and Emory Johnson’s 20 assists were among the top marks.

Randolph County teams played in several high-scoring games

Randolph Record sta

SOUTHWESTERN RANDOLPh upped its boys’ soccer record to 6-0 record with two road victories last week.

Southwestern Randolph toppled Gray Stone Day School 6-0 with Chris Betancourt’s two goals and Fernando Hernandez’s one goal and two assists topping the production.

The Cougars controlled host Southwest Guilford in a 3-0 victory on goals by Aaron Avina, Hernandez and Yael Rebollar-Ortiz.

• Asheboro’s Ozmar Martinez and Carlos Gonzalez both scored two goals in a 4-3 home victory against for-

Carly Rush recorded 16 service points and Sadie Upchurch delivered 11 services points against Wheatmore.

• Trinity stopped visiting North Moore in four sets early in the week for its rst victory of the season with boosts from Hayli Cox’s 16 kills and Avalynn Johnson’s 28 assists. Following the loss to Asheboro, the Bulldogs went down in three sets to visiting North Stanly.

• Wheatmore had a ve-set triumph against visiting Chatham Central.

mer conference rival Ledford. Asheboro fell 4-2 at Mooresville with Martinez and Micah Garcia scoring one goal each.

• Carter Queen and Easton Dewitt both scored two goals as Wheatmore whipped visiting South Davidson 9-0. Queen had three assists and Dewitt notched two assists.

• Randleman tied visiting Trinity 2-2 on goals by Owen Leonard and Mitchell Carranza and rang up an 8-2 romp past visiting West Stokes before falling 5-0 at Forbush.

• Seth Johnson recorded all ve goals for Providence Grove in a 5-5 draw against visiting Eastern Randolph. Johnson also scored two goals in a 5-5 draw at Southeast Guilford. The Patriots then drubbed host Jordan-Matthews 10-1.

• Eastern Randolph nipped visiting Eastern Guilford 4-3.

PJ WARD-BROWN / RANDOLPH RECORD

Trinity’s Hayli Cox spikes the ball against North Moore’s Adrianna Patterson in last week’s match.

Randleman became the rst county team to enter conference competition, and that came with success

Lara Wiseman

Providence Grove, volleyball

Wiseman was among the leaders as Providence Grove went 3-0 last week.

Wiseman, a senior hitter, is the team leader in kills. She had the top mark in that category as the Patriots produced sweeps of Eastern Randolph, Jordan-Matthews and Chatham Charter.

Those results pushed Providence Grove to a 5-3 record entering September, putting the Patriots within two victories of last season’s total.

Next week, the Patriots begin play in the new Central Carolina 3-A Conference.

Wiseman is also a softball standout, earning all-conference honors in the spring in that sport in the former Piedmont Athletic Conference.

FOOTBALL from page B1

Athletic Conference title at stake, with Eastern Randolph winning each time. The past two seasons those were one-point victories.

Southwestern Randolph 49, Trinity 7: At Trinity, Brody Sheppard rushed for three touchdowns, and Levi Dalke threw for three touchdowns to Davonte Dukes in the road victory.

Sheppard’s 103 rushing yards came on 17 rst-half carries. Dukes racked up 123 receiving yards on four catches.

TJ Costello also ran for a touchdown for the Cougars (20), who scored 49 points against the Bulldogs for the second year in a row. Southwestern Randolph has won nine of the last 10 meetings.

Khadn Fuller led Trinity (0-2) with 83 rushing yards on 14 attempts. Providence Grove 23, Eden Morehead 0: At Climax, An-

drew Thomas returned a punt for a touchdown, and the host Patriots scored in a variety of ways as rst-year coach Cody Moran picked up his rst victory.

The Patriots (1-1) also scored on Connor Haithcock’s 28-yard return of a fumble for a touchdown. Jackson Lawver threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to Holden Swift for Providence Grove’s other touchdown.

Thomas was the game’s top rusher with 86 yards on 11 carries.

Eden Morehead is 0-2.

Forbush 32, Wheatmore 19: At Trinity, the visiting Falcons scored on a third-quarter interception return and went on to the victory, spoiling the home opener for Wheatmore (0-2).

Forbush (1-1) pulled away with a 13-point third quarter to build a 25-7 lead. Wheatmore scored the next two touchdowns before a late touchdown for Forbush put the game away.

Blue Comets begin 2-0 for rst time in nine years

Asheboro had four players score at least one touchdown in the romp

Randolph Record sta

PITTSBORO — Quarterback Dallas Brinton ran for three touchdowns in visiting

Asheboro’s 49-7 victory against Northwood last Thursday night. The Blue Comets are 2-0 for the rst time since 2016.

Asheboro scored the last 42 points of the game, beginning early in the second quarter.

Connor Brinton scored on runs of 43 and 6 yards.

DJ Scott and Garrison Cheek also scored on runs.

Northwood (0-2) was charted with 101 yards of total o ense.

Brinton gained 189 rushing yards on nine carries. He had the rst points of the game on a 25-yard run and later provided scoring runs of 27 yards and 61 yards.

Thielen relishes return home to Vikings after two-year family adventure with Panthers

The Minnesota native was traded after Carolina training camp

By Dave Campbell

The Associated Press

EAGAN, Minn. — Adam

Thielen naturally kept Minnesota as his family’s o season home after he joined the Carolina Panthers, surrounded by relatives and friends and the familiarity of his native state.

Earlier this summer, just like during the last one, Thielen was invited to join some throwing sessions in the Twin Cities area that included a new Vikings quarterback.

How convenient. Those workouts wound up giving Thielen a jump start in his chemistry with J.J. McCarthy, seemingly foreshadowing a return for the 35-year-old wide receiver to his original team and beloved home.

What stood out to Thielen immediately was McCarthy’s work ethic, mindset and communications skill, even in an informal session involving players on di erent teams.

“When we were working out together, there was no thought of actually playing together,” Thielen said last Thursday after his arrival at Vikings headquarters on the heels of the trade with the Panthers that reunited him with the only other team he’s played for. “But at the time, I had so much respect for him and how he approaches the game, even in the summer months when you don’t really have to do those things.”

Thielen, who was acquired with a conditional 2026 seventh-round draft pick and a 2027 fth-round pick from the Panthers for a 2026 fth-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick, has the third-most catches in Vikings history behind Cris Carter and Randy Moss, two Pro Football Hall of Fame members he grew up avidly rooting for.

“I just didn’t think that this was even a possibility. I thought the next time that I would be talking to you guys would be when I was signing a one-day contract and retiring, so this is pretty surreal,” Thielen said to reporters on the indoor practice eld. “I’m going to take advantage of every second I’m go-

ing to be back in this building.”

Thielen was careful to clarify he wasn’t looking to leave the Panthers, who went 7-27 over his two seasons. He raved about the quality of the people he worked with, from quarterback Bryce Young to the kitchen sta at the practice facility. After being released by the Vikings for salary cap relief following the 2022 season, Thielen took his wife and three young children on a temporary relocation to North Carolina they won’t soon forget.

“We grew a lot closer as a family, having to kind of do this little adventure on our own,” Thielen said. “Our whole time in Minnesota, we had family, friends, loved ones right here.”

As he bro-hugged his way through the building, Thielen clearly had a couple of favorites in mind to nd in coach Kevin O’Connell and wide receiver Justin Je erson. He compared the reunion with Je erson to coming back from college and meeting up with a childhood friend.

“It’s like you never left, like it was yesterday. And that’s how I felt with Justin. It was like we’ve never been on a di erent team,” Thielen said. “I love that guy to death and have so much respect for him on and o the eld, and we have such a great relationship. It’s good to be back.” When the regular season begins on Sept. 8 at Chicago, the Vikings won’t have Jordan Addison because of a three-game suspension. They aren’t sure yet whether Jalen Nailor will be healthy enough to play after injuring his hand in a joint practice with the New England Patriots. Tai Felton is a rookie. Thielen could well join Jefferson in the starting lineup, sliding back into O’Connell’s system and catching passes from a kid he’s already worked with.

“I’m going to make sure this emotion doesn’t just fade away,” Thielen said. “It’s going to be hopefully something that lasts my entire time here, just how appreciative I am to be here.”

PJ WARD-BROWN / RANDOLPH RECORD

PJ WARD-BROWN / RANDOLPH RECORD

Asheboro’s Ayden Letterlough, left, and Dallas Brinton make the stop on Northwood’s Grayson Cox during last Thursday night’s football game in Pittsboro.

JACOB KUPFERMAN / AP PHOTO

Then-Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen warms up before a preseason game.

pen & paper pursuits

this week in history

“On the Road” published, Ford pardons Nixon, Queen Elizabeth II dies

The Associated Press

SEPT. 4

1781: Los Angeles was founded by Spanish settlers under the leadership of Gov. Felipe de Neve.

1957: Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus ordered Arkansas National Guardsmen to prevent nine black students from entering all-white Central High School in Little Rock.

1972: The longest-running game show in U.S. history, “The Price is Right,” debuted on CBS.

SEPT. 5

1774: The rst Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia.

1905: The Treaty of Portsmouth was signed, ending the Russo-Japanese war; for mediating the peace negotiations, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt was awarded the Noble Peace Prize the following year.

1957: Jack Kerouac’s novel

“On the Road” was published.

1975: President Gerald R. Ford survived an assassination attempt by Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a disciple of Charles Manson.

1972: Palestinian militants attacked the Israeli Olympic team in Munich, killing two and taking nine hostages; all hostages and ve militants died.

SEPT. 6

1901: President William McKinley was shot and mortally wounded by anarchist Leon Czolgosz at the Pan-American Exposition in Bu alo, New York.

1975: Eighteen-year-old tennis star Martina Navratilova of Czechoslovakia requested political asylum in the United States.

1997: A public funeral was held for Princess Diana at Westminster Abbey in London.

SEPT. 7

1940: Nazi Germany began The Blitz, an eight-month bombing campaign on Britain that killed more than 40,000 civilians.

1921: The rst Miss America Pageant was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

1977: The Panama Canal Treaty, which called for the U.S. to turn over control of the waterway to Panama at the end of 1999, was signed.

1986: Bishop Desmond Tutu was installed as the rst black clergyman to lead the Anglican Church in southern Africa.

SEPT. 8

1504: Michelangelo’s towering marble statue of David was unveiled to the public in Florence, Italy.

1565: Spanish settlers founded St. Augustine, the rst permanent European set-

tlement in North America, in modern day Florida.

1664: The Dutch surrendered New Amsterdam to the British, who renamed it New York.

1935: Sen. Huey P. Long (D-La.) was fatally shot in the Louisiana State Capitol building.

1974: One month after taking o ce, President Gerald R. Ford granted a “full, free, and absolute pardon” to former President Richard Nixon.

2022: Queen Elizabeth II, who spent more than seven decades on the British throne, died at age 96.

SEPT. 9

1776: The Second Continental Congress formally adopted the name “United States of America.”

1850: California was admitted as the 31st U.S. state.

1919: About 1,100 members of Boston’s 1,500-member police force went on strike.

1948: The People’s Democratic Republic of Korea (North Korea) was declared.

1971: Prisoners seized control of the maximum-security Attica Correctional Facility in New York, taking 42 sta members hostage and demanding better treatment and living conditions.

SEPT. 10

1608: John Smith was elected president of the Jamestown colony council in Virginia.

1963: Twenty black students entered Alabama public schools following a stando between federal authorities and Gov. George C. Wallace.

1991: The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Clarence Thomas’ Supreme Court nomination, becoming a watershed moment when law professor Anita Hill accused him of sexual harassment.

NBC TELEVISION VIA WIKIPEDIA

On Sept. 4, 1972, the game show “The Price Is Right,” hosted by Bill Cullen, debuted on CBS.

AP PHOTO

Inmates of Attica Correctional Facility negotiate with state Prisons Commissioner Russell Oswald in Attica, New York, on Sept. 9, 1971, amid riots that became one of the deadliest prison uprisings in U.S. history.

Kitsch’s ‘The Terminal List’ character gets origin story in ‘The Terminal List: Dark Wolf’

Real military veterans worked as advisers on the series

By Alicia Rancilio

The Associated Press

TAYLOR KITSCH’S character ends up a villain in 2022’s Chris Pratt-led series, “The Terminal List,” and in a new series, viewers learn how he got that way.

“The Terminal List: Dark Wolf,” now streaming on Prime Video, is set about ve years before the original show. Kitsch plays Ben Edwards, a Navy SEAL deployed to Iraq who is assigned to train local soldiers. He feels a deep loyalty to his comrades but begins to question some of the decisions made above him.

“I take the utmost pride to be authentic and rooted in Ben,” Kitsch said in a recent interview, “but there’s a dark side to service.”

Prime Video is invested in “The Terminal List” universe. Production is underway on a second season starring Pratt, and there are plans for more “Dark Wolf” — and perhaps standalone lms. The franchise is based on novels by former SEAL Jack Carr, who is also a creator and executive producer on its shows.

“Hopefully we can keep swinging,” said Pratt, who describes Carr as “a workhorse” with “no shortage of source material.”

Kitsch was intrigued to dive back in when he heard Carr and “Terminal List” co-creator and showrunner David DiGilio wanted to do more with his character.

“Anytime you get a call where it’s like, ‘Hey, we would love to do a full season and go way deeper into the psyche of the character you built, I mean of course, I was all ears,” said Kitsch.

How to watch “The Terminal List: Dark Wolf”

The rst four episodes of

BOOK REVIEW

“Anytime you get a call where it’s like, ‘Hey, we would love to do a full season and go way deeper into the psyche of the character you built, I mean of course, I was all ears.”

Taylor Kitsch

“The Terminal List: Dark Wolf” are now streaming on Prime Video. A new episode will drop weekly on Wednesdays. Thenale streams Sept. 24.

Where “Terminal List” got its start

In “The Terminal List,” Pratt plays James Reece, a Navy SEAL lieutenant commander who goes on a quest for vengeance after his platoon is ambushed. “I love playing James Reese,” said Pratt. “But also I think James Reese is reaching that echelon of like a Jack Reacher or a Jack Ryan. There can be multiple iterations of this char-

acter over time. He now lives in the ethos of one of the greatest American badass heroes.”

Who else stars?

Besides Kitsch and Pratt, the show also features Luke Hemsworth and Tom Hopper.

“What’s so great about an origin story is we see the doors that these guys walk through and where it takes them,” said Hopper. “I think about that in my life, I look back on my life and go, ‘Oh, if I hadn’t walked through that door, then that would never have happened. I wouldn’t have met that person. It wouldn’t have led me there.’”

Real vets help make ‘Terminal List’

“The Terminal List” employed actual military veterans to work in roles like adviseers and as background actors. They were also employed for “Dark Wolf.” Hemsworth said their presence was an incentive to make something they would be proud of.

“Everyone, particularly us as actors, feel a great weight and responsibility to make sure that it’s done very well.”

Renaissance scholar illuminates life of poet Christopher Marlowe

Stephen Greenblatt is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “The Swerve”

By Ann Levin The Associated Press

THE ENGLISH POET and playwright Christopher Marlowe was born in 1564, the same year as his frenemy William Shakespeare. Yet unless you majored in English in college, it is quite possible you never heard of him. Except you have.

Marlowe was the guy who wrote about Helen of Troy: “Was this the face that launched a thousand ships” (“Doctor Faustus”). Who penned the much-imitated line “Come live with me and be my love” (“The Passionate Shepherd to His Love”). Who virtually invented Elizabethan theater by writing his rst play for the London stage, “Tamburlaine,” in unrhymed blank verse.

In his riveting new biography, “Dark Renaissance: The Dangerous Times and Fatal Genius of Shakespeare’s Greatest Rival,” Harvard scholar Stephen Greenblatt explores Marlowe’s short, subversive life and argues that it was he, even more than Shakespeare, who “awakened the genius of the English Renaissance.”

Born to a poor cobbler in Canterbury, “Kit” Marlowe was a prodigy from the start. He won a scholarship to a private secondary school, where he was rst exposed to Greek and Latin poetry, and “a whole world opened up.” From there, it was on to Cambridge, again

NORTON VIA AP

“Dark Renaissance: The Dangerous Times and Fatal Genius of Shakespeare’s Greatest Rival” by Stephen Greenblatt explores the life and work of poet Christpher Marlowe.

on a scholarship, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Under ordinary circumstances, a boy from his humble background could have looked forward to a career in the church. But nothing about Marlowe was ordinary. Indeed, Greenblatt argues that during the years he was pursuing his master’s degree, Marlowe was likely recruited as a spy for the royal court, tasked with hunting down Catholic subversives plotting to overthrow the Protestant monarch. Then, at age 29, he was killed in a bar ght for reasons that are not entirely clear, though Greenblatt suggests he had run afoul of authorities

“Everything changed, with one remarkable gure embodying the ferocious energy and daring of the era. That gure wasn’t Shakespeare, it was Marlowe.” Stephen Greenblatt

because of his “transgressive” personality, including being an atheist and queer.

In previous books including “Will in the World,” his best-selling biography of Shakespeare, and the Pulitzer Prize-winning “The Swerve,” Greenblatt emphasized the importance of cultural context in understanding literature, the so-called “new historicism.” In “Dark Renaissance,” he does so with dazzling effects, evoking England circa 1580 as an almost dystopian backwater.

“Narrow lanes were lled with excrement and o al. On London Bridge… severed heads of convicted traitors were stuck up on spikes.” The queen was paraded “like a weird religious icon,” “her face painted a ghastly white… her teeth turning black.” Then, Greenblatt writes, “not instantly but with startling rapidity,” everything changed, with one “remarkable gure” embodying the “ferocious energy and daring” of the era. That gure wasn’t Shakespeare, it was Marlowe.

SOLUTIONS FOR THIS WEEK

MATT LICARI / INVISION / AP PHOTO

Actor Taylor Kitsch stars as Navy SEAL Ben Edwards in “The Terminal List: Dark Wolf,” a prequel of the Chris Pratt-led “The Terminal List.”

famous birthdays this week

Beyonce celebrates 44, Sonny Rollins hits 95, Gloria Gaynor turns 82, Bernie Sanders is 84

The Associated Press THESE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week.

SEPT. 4

Golf Hall of Famer Raymond Floyd is 83. Golf Hall of Famer Tom Watson is 76. Actor Khandi Alexander is 68. Actor-comedian Damon Wayans Sr. is 65. Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Piazza is 57. Singer-actor Beyoncé is 44.

SEPT. 5

Actor Lucille Soong (“Fresh O the Boat”) is 90. Baseball Hall of Hamer Bill Mazeroski is 89. Actor William Devane is 86. Actor George Lazenby is 86. Film director Werner Herzog is 83. Singer Al Stewart is 80. “Cathy” cartoonist Cathy Guisewite is 75. Actor Michael Keaton is 74.

SEPT. 6

Comedian JoAnne Worley is 88. Country singer-songwriter David Allan Coe is 86. Rock singer-musician Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) is 82. Comedian-actor Jane Curtin is 78. Ac-

tor-comedian Je Foxworthy is 67. Actor Rosie Perez is 61.

SEPT. 7

Jazz musician Sonny Rollins is 95. Singer Gloria Gaynor is 82. Actor Julie Kavner is 75. Rock singer Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders) is 74. Actor Corbin Bernsen is 71. Actor Michael Emerson is 71. Evan Rachel Wood is 38.

SEPT. 8

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), is 84. Civil rights activist Ruby Bridges is 71. Singer Aimee Mann is 65. Alternative country singer Neko Case is 55. TV-radio personality Kennedy is 53. Singer-songwriter Pink is 46.

SEPT. 9

Singer Dee Dee Sharp is 80. Former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann is 76. Actor Hugh Grant is 65. Actor Adam Sandler is 59. Pop-jazz singer Michael Bublé is 50. Actor Michelle Williams is 45.

SEPT. 10

Scientist-author Jared Diamond is 88. Singer José Feliciano is 80. Rock musician Joe Perry (Aerosmith) is 75. Film director Chris Columbus is 67. Rapper Big Daddy Kane is 57. Film director Guy Ritchie is 57. Actor Ryan Phillippe is 51.

the stream

“Lilo

‘Lilo & Stitch,’ ‘The Paper,’

MTV Video Music Awards, Hollow Knight sequel

David Byrne drops “Who Is the Sky”

The Associated Press

A FOLLOW-UP TV comedy of “The O ce” called “The Paper” and the buddy live action comedy “Lilo & Stitch” are some of the new television, lms, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also, among the streaming offerings worth your time: Mark Ru alo starring in the new cat-and-mouse thriller “Task,” a sequel to the indie legend video game Hollow Knight arrives and David Byrne releases a new album, “Who Is the Sky?”

MOVIES TO STREAM

“Friendship,” Andrew DeYoung’s auspicious debut feature, makes its streaming debut Saturday on HBO Max, a day after debuting on HBO. The movie tackles modern masculinity and male loneliness with biting satire and humor, taking detours into horror and the surreal. My review said we see Robinson at his awkward best and Rudd at his charismatic best in this quirky look at bromances.

The live-action “Lilo & Stitch,” which in just 17 days made more domestically than the live-action “The Little Mermaid” did in its entire run, is on Disney+. It’s the tale of a 6-year-old lonely Native girl in Hawaii who befriends an alien outcast. In my review, I was unhappy that the original 2002 animated story had been swamped by weird temporal portals, a Jet Ski chase and an overwrought conclusion. Audiences ocked to the movie, which is the year’s biggest hit with more than $1 billion earned at the box o ce.

MUSIC TO STREAM

Byrne, formerly the Talking Heads frontman, is in no way slowing down. On Friday, the 73-year-old idiosyncratic artist will release a new album, “Who Is the Sky?”, a collection of avant-garde pop for fans of his band and beyond. There’s a real joy here.

There are glam rock icons and then there is Marc Bolan, a pioneer of the ’70s movement with

his visionary band T. Rex, a larger-than-life gure now celebrated in a new documentary. “AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex” hits streaming on Friday. Expect rare footage and to be overwhelmed by a strong desire to purchase sequined pants. It is that time of year again: The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards are right around the corner. The three-hour show will broadcast live on CBS and available to stream on Paramount+ on Sundayat 8 p.m. live from UBS Arena just outside New York City. Lady Gaga leads the nominations, so get ready for some “Mayhem.”

SERIES TO STREAM

“The O ce” follow-up called “The Paper” makes its anticipated debut on Peacock this week. On the show, the documentary crew that once lmed the sta of Dunder Mi in paper company in Scranton, Pa., has now begun following the sta of a small newspaper in Toledo, Ohio. To their surprise, one of the accountants who works on sta is none other than Oscar Martinez, a crossover character from ‘The O ce” played by Oscar

series about their “NCIS” characters called, “NCIS: Tony & Ziva,” now streaming on Paramount+. The

show picks up 10 years after de Pablo left “NCIS” with Tony and Ziva — or Tiva as fans call them — living in France and co-parenting their daughter. When they become the target of a conspiracy, the former agents go on the run. This is the sixth spino in the “NCIS” universe and a departure from the procedural format it is known for. “Tony & Ziva” is more of a mixed bag with action, drama, romance and comedy.

Ru alo and Tom Pelphrey star in a new cat-and-mouse thriller for HBO called “Task.” Ru alo plays an FBI agent in Pennsylvania assigned to lead a task force investigating violent robberies. The show is from the creator of the stellar “Mare of Easttown.” It premieres Thursday and streams on Max.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

Hollow Knight, a 2D exploration game that came out in 2017, has become an indie legend over the years, selling millions of copies and landing on plenty of best-games-ever lists. Australian studio Team Cherry announced a sequel in 2019 — and after a long gestation period, Hollow Knight: Silksong has nally arrived. The essence remains the same: Making your way through a lush, vibrant landscape while ghting o the bugs and other nuisances that live there. The protagonist, a princess named Hornet, is more acrobatic than the original hero, but the developer is promising more of the challenging and tightly focused combat fans love. It arrived Thursday on PlayStation 5/4, Xbox X/S/One, Switch and PC.

The developers at Bandai Namco Studios Singapore are known for their bruising work on ghters like Tekken and Soul Calibur, but their new game takes on a more delicate art: origami. Hirogami stars a master of folding named Hiro who can transform into creatures like a soaring bird, a barrier-smashing armadillo and a high-jumping frog. A soundtrack featuring traditional Japanese instruments creates a mellow vibe as Hiro defends his paper-crafted 3D world from “deadly digital invaders.” Know when to fold ‘em now on PlayStation 5 and PC.

Nunez.

Domhnall Gleeson (“The Patient”) and Sabrina Impacciatore (“White Lotus” season 2) also star. All 10 episodes are ready to watch.

Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo star in a new

DISNEY VIA AP The high-grossing live-action movie

& Stitch” is streaming on Disney+.

CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO

Tim Robinson, who won a 2022 Emmy for outstanding actor in a short form comedy or drama series for “I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson,” stars alongside Paul Rudd in the movie “Friendship.”

MATADOR RECORDS VIA AP

David Byrne, founder of the art-rock band Talking Heads, releases his solo album “Who Is the Sky” on Friday.

HOKE COUNTY

Growth coming to Hoke

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Trump says Space Command to move from Colorado to Alabama

U.S. Space Command will be located in Huntsville, Alabama, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday afternoon, reversing a Biden- era decision to keep it at its temporary headquarters in Colorado. Alabama and Colorado have long battled to claim Space Command because it has signi cant implications for the local economy. The site also has been a political prize, with elected o cials from both states asserting theirs as the better location.

Pentagon authorizes up to 600 military lawyers to serve as temporary immigration judges

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has approved sending up to 600 military lawyers to the Justice Department to serve as temporary immigration judges, according to a memo. The military will begin sending groups of 150 attorneys — both military and civilians — to the Justice Department “as soon as practicable.”

Giuliani leaves hospital after being injured in N.H. car crash

Rudy Giuliani has been released from the hospital after being injured in a car crash in New Hampshire. A spokesman said that Giuliani is progressing well. The former New York City mayor was injured Saturday when his vehicle was struck from behind on a highway by another car. He su ered a fractured vertebra and other injuries.

District attorney issues cease and desist to County Commissioners

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Mike Hardin has issued a cease and desist to the Hoke County Board of Commissioners over local ordinances related to electronic gaming machines.

In a letter addressed to the Commission on Aug. 27, Hardin stated that the county was in violation of multiple state statutes.

“It has come to my attention that the Hoke County Board of Commissioners has sanctioned and passed several local ordinances and amendments to local ordinances that con ict with North Carolina State Law,” Hardin wrote.

Hardin referenced a vote by the Board of Commissioners to amend local ordinances allowing business to engage in the selling of alcohol to operate electronic gaming machines, which violates North Carolina General Statue 14-306.2 and 18D-1005.

At its Aug. 4 meeting, the Hoke County Commissioners had approved a text amendment to zoning ordinance 5.8.5, which had previously stated that “businesses engaged in electronic gaming operations may not simultaneously hold a license issued by the N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC) for the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages on the premises.”

The amendment removed

the restriction on the sale of alcohol where electronic gaming operations are held, only forbidding the consumption of alcohol on the premises.

“We’re trying to make a distinction of on-site consumption versus on-site sales,” said Hoke County Attorney Grady Hunt at the Aug. 4 meeting.

“We have some now that have ABC permits and machines, and what this does is allow that to continue as long as there is no on-site consumption.

“The Hoke County Board of Commissioners has sanctioned and passed several local ordinances and amendments to local ordinances that con ict with North Carolina State Law.” Mike Hardin, district attorney

“The bottom line is, if we say you can’t have alcohol sales and machines, a lot of places are out of compliance. All we’re trying to do is bring those into compliance but make sure that no place that has consumption also has machines. The idea is to make sure that there is no machines at any place that allows consumption also.” Hardin also stated that the county was in violation of state law in regard to Hoke County Zoning Ordinance 5.8.3, which sets a $500 fee for the acquisi-

NC native representing self in Trump assassination attempt trial

Jury selection begins Sept. 8 for Ryan Routh

By David Fischer The Associated Press

FORT PIERCE, Fla. — A Greensboro native charged with trying to assassinate President Donald Trump last year in South Florida will represent himself in his trial.

Barring any delays, jury selection is scheduled to begin Sept. 8 in Fort Pierce federal court for the case against Ryan Routh. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon signed o on Routh’s request to represent himself in July but said court-appointed attorneys need to remain as standby counsel.

The trial will begin nearly a year after prosecutors say a U.S. Secret Service agent thwarted Routh’s attempt to

methodically plotted to kill Trump for weeks before aiming a ri e through the shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club. A Secret Service agent spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Ocials said Routh aimed his rie at the agent, who opened re, causing Routh to drop his weapon and ee without ring a shot.

Law enforcement obtained help from a witness who prosecutors said informed o cers that he saw a person eeing. The witness was then own in a police helicopter to a nearby interstate where Routh was arrested, and the witnesses conrmed it was the person he had seen, prosecutors have said.

The judge last Tuesday unsealed prosecutor’s 33-page list of exhibits that could be introduced as evidence at the trial. It says prosecutors have photos of Routh holding the same model of semiautomatic ri e found at Trump’s club.

The document also lists numerous electronic messages sent from a cellphone investigators

THE HOKE COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

ELAINA J. MARTIN FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

The Raeford-Hoke Chamber of Commerce held its annual Business Outlook Dinner at Robert A. Wright Hoke County Agricultural Center on Aug. 28. The buzzword of the night was “growth.” Whether it’s the job market, the housing sector or the health care industry in Hoke County, opportunities are expanding. Chamber board members pictured above, left to right: Front row: Cindy Kilpatrick, Anastasia Cantillo, Sonja McLendon, Stephanie Hendrix, Greg Shroeder, John Wright. Back row: Kirk Lowery, Anne McDonald.

The DA has come down on Hoke County due to local ordinances related to electronic gaming operations

MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE VIA AP

Law enforcement o cers arrest Ryan Routh, the man suspected in the apparent assassination attempt of Donald Trump, in September 2024.

DA from page A1

tion of a permit sticker for “each machine, terminal, computer or other device used for electronic gaming.”

According to Hardin, this violates North Carolina General Statute 14-307, which states “there shall be no State, County, or municipal tax levied for the privilege of operation of machines or devices the operation of which is prohibited by G.S. 14-304 through 14 -309.”

Violations of these statutes can result in criminal penalties.

“Although I believe the state of the law in North Carolina is abundantly clear, I am intending this letter to serve as direct notice to the Hoke County Board of Commissioners,”

TRIAL from page A1

found in Routh’s car. One message dated about two months before his arrest is described as Routh requesting a “missile launcher.”

It says that in August 2024, the month before his arrest, Routh sent messages seeking “help ensuring that (Trump) does not get elected” and o ering to pay an unnamed person to use ight tracking apps to check the whereabouts of Trump’s airplane.

The exhibit list cites evidence from Routh’s phone of

Hardin wrote. “I am requesting that the Hoke County Board of Commissioners immediately repeal the current local ordinances that violate North Carolina State Law involving electronic gaming machines and cease and desist issuing permits and collecting fees for businesses operating these machines. I would also suggestthat all current permits be revoked, and all permit holders be noti ed immediately.”

In response to this, the Hoke County Sheri ’s O ce released a statement Aug. 26.

“Recently, there has been confusion about the legalities of Video Gaming Machines in Hoke County,” the statement read. “At this time, it is NOT legal to operate these types of establishments.”

an electronic “chat about sniper concealment” during President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. And it lists internet searches for how long gunpower residue stays on clothing and articles on U.S. Secret Service responses to assassination plots.

Routh was a North Carolina construction worker who in recent years had moved to Hawaii. A self-styled mercenary leader, Routh spoke out to anyone who would listen about his dangerous, sometimes vio -

lent plans to insert himself into con icts around the world, witnesses have told The Associated Press.

In the early days of the war in Ukraine, Routh tried to recruit soldiers from Afghanistan, Moldova and Taiwan to ght the Russians. In his native Greensboro, he had a 2002 arrest for eluding a trafc stop and barricading himself from o cers with a fully automatic machine gun and a “weapon of mass destruction,” which turned out to be an ex-

plosive with a 10-inch-long fuse.

In 2010, police searched a warehouse Routh owned and found more than 100 stolen items, from power tools and building supplies to kayaks and spa tubs. In both felony cases, judges gave Routh either probation or a suspended sentence.

In addition to the federal charges, Routh also has pleaded not guilty to state charges of terrorism and attempted murder.

THE CONVERSATION

Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

The left’s misdefinition of

America is heir to ancient European civilizations.

THIS WEEK, AXIOS ran a fascinating piece about the supposed “rede nition” of Americanism under President Donald Trump. Titled “Inside Trump’s American identity project,” Axios posited that “President Trump is wielding government power to enforce a more rigid, exclusionary de nition of what it means to be American.” What would this new de nition entail? “In MAGA’s telling, America is the heir to ancient European civilizations, built on a Judeo-Christian foundation of white identity, meritocracy, traditional gender roles and the nuclear family,” says Axios. “These tenets are cast as universal truths — and mantras such as ‘America is an idea’ or ‘diversity is our strength’ are dismissed as liberal ctions.” First o , America is heir to ancient European civilizations — particularly with reference to private property, the common law system, traditions of free speech and freedom of religion, among others. Second, America is built on a Judeo-Christian foundation. Third, America is built on the meritocracy, which argues that the best and most productive ought to succeed in a free system. America is built on traditional gender roles and the nuclear family, as is

COLUMN | JASON LEWIS

Americanism

every successful society in history. While America is an idea — or a set of ideas — those ideas must be rei ed in institutions and human behavior. And the notion that any nation can be built on a completely specious phrase like “diversity is our strength” is counterintuitive at best.

So what is Axios attempting to do? Axios is attempting to link actual traditional de nitions of Americanism with white supremacy. Never mind that all the ideas Axios cites as “traditional” fundamentally reject ethnic identitarianism: equality before law, for example, presumes racial indi erence; Judeo-Christian religion rejects racial classi cation; the meritocracy is de nitionally opposed to racial preferences; and traditional gender roles and the nuclear family are institutions held in common by people of all races. The goal is simple: a forced choice between “racism” and a left-wing de nition of Americanism that bears zero weight.

This, presumably, is the real drive behind the left’s opposition to much of Trump’s policy. The same Axios piece posits that the Trump administration’s decision to screen incoming immigrants for “anti-American” ideology ought to be seen as an outgrowth

of nativism rather than common sense; that opposition to radical sexual politics in our nation’s military is a manifestation of bigotry rather than reason; that restoration of classicism in architecture represents a return to racial exclusivity rather than taste. As the authors write, “MAGA’s utopia looks a lot like America in the 1950s — before the sexual revolution, mass immigration, the Civil Rights Act and expanded LGBTQ rights reshaped the country’s culture and demographics.”

Well, actually, MAGA’s utopia looks mostly like what most Americans think of as the American dream: upward mobility, solid family structure, safety in the streets, decent education, and a vibrant social fabric complete with community and church. The fact that so many on the left — and in the media — nd this vision to be irredeemably “racist” demonstrates their utter disconnect with most Americans. And it’s why Trump is president for the second time.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show” and co-founder of Daily Wire+.

Illegal immigration kills more people

California is one of 19 states that issues licenses regardless of immigration status.

THE NATIONAL MEDIA silence over an illegal alien with a California commercial driver’s license (CDL) accused of killing three people while making an unlawful U-turn on Florida’s Turnpike is instructive on several fronts.

None of them good.

First, it continues the trend of open-border journalists — from The Wall Street Journal to CNN — to place global commerce and identity politics above the lives of Americans. Newsrooms have buried the story because they know how fundamentally disgraceful their editorial decisions really are.

Whether promoting “sanctuary cities” while criticizing attempts at restoring law and order or downplaying the deaths on our highways due to illegal immigrant drivers — these folks, along with the politicians they back, are the real culprits.

Second, the very notion of granting any driver’s license, let alone one for a semi, to someone who cannot read road signs in English is so demonstrably lunatic on its face that no sane person could possibly support it. And yet, California is one of 19 states that issues licenses regardless of immigration status and the ability to understand America’s tra c laws.

In fact, the alleged perpetrator in the Florida crash answered just two of 12 questions correctly when tested for English language pro ciency and could only identify one out of four highway signs shown to him, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

How Harjinder Singh was able to obtain a CDL in California, where applications are supposedly administered in English, is no more a mystery than welfare time limits — blue state outlaws ignore them.

In wacked-out Washington state, where Singh had another CDL, o cials allow tests to be taken in English, Spanish, Russian or Serbian-Croatian. All of which I’m sure you’ve seen on America’s road signs.

Worse, for a mere passenger car drivers license, it’s a free for all with almost every state administering exams in a multitude

of foreign languages. Multiculturalism is killing people. And so are the people who enable it.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the U.S. is pausing all issuance of visas for commercial truck drivers, something that probably should have been done the moment Trump signed an executive order requiring the enforcement of decades-old English-pro ciency rules for commercial drivers.

Singh rst entered the country illegally from India via Mexico (where else?) in 2018, but contrary to the usual lies from Gov. Gavin Newsom, “his work authorization was rejected under the Trump Administration on Sept. 14, 2020. It was later approved under the Biden Administration June 9, 2021.”

So you’ve got a situation where the state of California along with the Biden administration enabled an incompetent illegal alien to drive a semitrailer across the country. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, once Singh made the unlawful U-turn, a minivan in the adjacent lane crashed into the trailer, killing the three Americans.

To the grieving families who lost loved ones, now faced with trying to go on with their ruined lives, only justice matters. Why, then, are we not holding open-border politicians accountable for their abject failure to uphold the law in the precisely the same way a woke “defund the police” mob demanded we hold cops responsible? You might recall the Democrat-sponsored George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021 limiting “quali ed immunity as a defense to liability in a private civil action against a law enforcement o cer.”

Well, if that’s the standard, what to make of politicians who openly aunt the law by refusing their duty to uphold it? There is simply no getting around the fact that were it not for the complicity of a few Biden and Newsom o cials, three Americans would still be alive today.

If zombie-voters don’t want to do

anything about it, perhaps victims’ families will.

Notwithstanding the 11th Amendment proscribing lawsuits “against one of the United States by citizens of another state,” the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), passed in 1946, waives aspects of sovereign immunity and allows people to sue the federal government for things like car accidents caused by its employees.

It’s a shame federal taxpayers would have to cover for the dereliction of duty by the Biden administration, so waive its quali ed immunity too and go after a few of ’em personally.

If it’s good enough for Derek Chauvin …

As for California, precedent abounds when you consider the multitude of million-dollar settlements going to BLM in the wake of lawsuits brought against government o cials acting “under the color of law” following the death of George Floyd.

Did Newsom and his California cronies not ignore clearly established law or act in a way no reasonable person would — the usual threshold for the deprivation of civil rights under 42 U.S. Code § 1983?

Thanks to Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida’s political leadership, Singh will now be charged with vehicular homicide and manslaughter. ICE wants him once his criminal case is complete. But the question remains: Will we hold the politicians who have the blood of Floridians on their hands accountable?

Former Minnesota Congressman Jason Lewis writes at Substack and is the author of “Party Animal, The Truth About President Trump, Power Politics & the Partisan Press.” This column was rst published by Daily Caller News Foundation.

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

Successful test of SpaceX’s Starship deploys dummy Starlink satellites, splashes down in Indian Ocean

The company’s rapid trial-and-error development approach continues

By Christina Larson The Associated Press

SPACEX LAUNCHED the latest test of its mega rocket Starship last Tuesday night and completed the rst deployment of a test payload — eight dummy satellites — into space. After just over an hour coasting through space, Starship splashed down as planned in the Indian Ocean.

Starship blasted o from Starbase, SpaceX’s launch site in south Texas, just after 6:30 p.m. It was the 10th test for the world’s biggest and most powerful rocket, which SpaceX and NASA hope to use to get astronauts back on the moon.

NASA has ordered two Starships to land astronauts on the moon later this decade, and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s ultimate goal is Mars.

No crew members were aboard the demo launch.

The test also included the successful return of the craft’s Super Heavy Booster, which splashed down in the Gulf after

testing a new landing-burn engine sequence. The Starship itself continued to orbit the Earth — passing

from daylight in Texas through night and back into daytime again — ahead of the planned splashdown. Before the craft hit

SpaceX uses a rapid development approach for Starship that’s unusual in aerospace — engineers build prototypes quickly, test them until something breaks, then use what they learned to build a better version.

the waves, its engines red, ipping its position so it entered the water upright with its nose pointed upward, right on target. SpaceX had a buoy with cameras located in the middle of the ocean, and its on-stream commentators said that if you saw the buoy-cam, you’d know they landed in the right place.

SpaceX uses a rapid development approach for Starship that’s unusual in aerospace — engineers build prototypes quickly, test them until something breaks, then use what they learned to build a better version. This di ers from traditional spacecraft development, where companies spend years

perfecting designs on computers before building anything.

Think of it like a chef perfecting a recipe by making it multiple times and trying new things, rather than planning every ingredient in advance. When a Starship prototype explodes or fails, SpaceX engineers treat it as valuable data, not a setback.

Back-to-back tests in January and March ended in “rapid unscheduled disassembly” or RUD, just minutes after lifto , raining wreckage into the ocean. The most recent test in May — the ninth — ended when the spacecraft tumbled and eventually broke apart on reentry.

SpaceX later redesigned the Super Heavy booster with larger and stronger ns for greater stability, and redesigned fuel components on the Starship itself to address the issues.

The company has built an enormous factory at its Texas facility to mass-produce the craft and is hoping to send thousands to Mars over the next decade. The next version of Starship, version 3, could head to Mars as soon as next year on uncrewed test ights.

North State Journal’s Jordan Golson contributed to this report.

The teams say they risk going out of business

By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE — The bitter ght between NASCAR and two of its teams who have led a federal antitrust lawsuit against the stock-racing giant spilled into public view last Thursday during an acrimonious hearing that included the disclosure of expletive-laden emails and text messages from team owner Michael Jordan and other high-prole litigants.

In one exchange, the retired NBA Hall of Famer and co-owner of the 23XI Racing Team used disparaging language about Joe Gibbs Racing and the 13 other teams that signed NASCAR’s new charter agreements last September.

“Teams are going to regret not joining us,” Jordan wrote in a text message to Curtis Polk, his business manager who, along with Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin own 23XI Racing.

That organization and Front Row Motorsports were the only two teams that refused to sign extension agreements on char-

of franchises in other sports. The two teams then sued NASCAR, accusing it of being a bully and monopoly in a brawl that has played out all year and prompted both teams to say they risk going out of business if the series sells their charters out from under them.

Nothing, however, has been as explosive as the details that came to light for the rst time last Thursday as documents related to discovery were disclosed.

NASCAR is privately owned by the Florida-based France family, with founder Bill France Sr.’s son, Jim, the current chairman. His granddaughter, Lesa France Kennedy, is the executive vice chair and was in court for the rst time since the case began.

Steve Lauletta, the president of 23XI, at one point wrote “Jim dying is probably the answer” to teams getting better terms on a charter agreement while, Hamlin said “my despise for the France family runs deep... (but) please let’s not sabotage our own business.”

In a partially redacted text conversation between Jordan and Polk, presumably about the price of charters, Jordan wrote, “I’m not selling even if they were for sale (redacted). What would we do?” Polk replies, “This is just

“Only can play but so much golf.”

In a second exchange, Jordan discusses with Polk the cost of signing a driver whose name is redacted.

“I have lost that in a casino. Lets do it,” Jordan replied.

NASCAR had its own expletive-laden email exchange among top executives disclosed. Commissioner Steve Phelps in one email wrote that talks had not been productive and argued an early charter proposal o ered “zero wins for the teams.” In another message, he wrote the charters “must re ect a middle position or we are dead in the water — they will sign them but we are (expletive) moving forward.”

Steve O’Donnell, the president of NASCAR, also didn’t like an early version because it would return NASCAR’s model to 1996 terms with an attitude of “(Expletive) the teams, dictatorship, motorsport, redneck, southern, tiny sport,” he wrote.

Je rey Kessler, the attorney for 23XI and Front Row, contended that the NASCAR exchanges as well as contingency plans on how NASCAR could prevent rival competition prove NASCAR is monopolizing the stock car racing market.

NASCAR has maintained in legal lings that 23XI and Front Row relinquished any rights

Integrity Open Arms Residents of the Month

Gwenda Sealy

Robert General has been a resident at Open Arms since August 2021. He was born in South Carolina, relocated to Richmond Virginia and later moved to North Carolina. Robert enjoys BINGO, church and knitting. He is a joy to have here at Open Arms Retirement Center.

they have to six combined charters when they refused to sign the extensions last September. The teams started the season recognized as chartered, which guarantees 36 chartered teams entry into the 40-car eld each week.

Chartered teams also receive a substantially higher percentage of payouts.

The order that recognized the six cars as chartered has been overturned and they are currently competing as “open” teams. 23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick has a clause in his contract that says he can leave if his car is not chartered; Kessler indicated that Reddick and sponsors have given notice that 23XI is in breach.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell warned during the hearing that NASCAR’s charter system is at stake, depending on the outcome of the case. The arguments before Bell were focused on the teams’ urgent request to restore their status as chartered teams through the end of the season ahead of a trial scheduled for Dec. 1.

NASCAR has indicated it plans to immediately begin selling o the charters. Bell asked NASCAR’s attorney that if there is indeed such an eager buyer, why couldn’t the series sell one of the four open slots and then g-

ure out how to address it once the case is settled. NASCAR has maintained that it can’t be forced to do business with teams it does not want to work with.

The judge said he would rule on the request next week after the rst playo race of the season. Reddick and Bubba Wallace are in the playo eld for 23IX and so is Hamlin, who drives for JGR. Outside court, Jordan said he has been open to a settlement but is willing to see the case go to trial. Kessler warned if 23XI and Front Row do not receive their charters back they will go out of business in 2026.

“Look, I’ve been a fan of the game for a long period of time,” Jordan said. “When we rst started this whole process, I’ve always said I want to ght for the betterment of the sport. Even though they tried to point out that we’ve made some money, we had a successful business. That’s not the point. The point is that the sport itself needs to continually change for the fans as well as for the teams.

“As well as as for NASCAR, too, if they understand that,” Jordan said. “I feel like we made a good statement today about that, and I look forward to going down with re. If I have to ght this to the end, for the betterment of the sport, I will do that.”

Gwenda is a Medical Tech that has been with us for a short period of time that residents have come to love. Since May 2025, Mrs. Gwenda has been one of our Head Medical Techs and Supervisor. During her time off she enjoys being with her family and being a beautician.

Mrs. Florence Herbert has been a resident here since May 2021. She moved to North Carolina from Pennsylvania to escape the bad weather. Florence enjoys word searches, BINGO, watching TV and spending time with her friends on the Special Care Unit at Integrity Open Arms.

Mrs. Betty Purcell is from Raeford, North Carolina. She moved into our assisted living this past June. Besides being the mother of two, she worked for many years at Burlington Mills. Betty enjoys church, watching youtube and doing word searches.

We want to say a BIG THANK YOU to her for a job well done!

to

ERIC GAY / AP PHOTO

SpaceX’s mega rocket Starship makes a test ight from Starbase, Texas, last Tuesday.

HOKE SPORTS

A comeback for the ages

Hoke County got its rst football win of the year with a dramatic 21-15 victory over South View. Trailing 15-0 at the half, the Bucks rallied to tie the score on rushing touchdowns by Favor Anab and Peyton Price. The defense then got two stops to set up one last-gasp play.

With 1.7 seconds on the clock and the ball at the South View 48-yard line, Price threw deep down the right side. William Leak (8) jumped and came down with the buzzer-beating touchdown. That ignited a raucous celebration for players, coaches and fans.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Peyton Price

Hoke County, football

Peyton Price is a sophomore quarterback on the Hoke County football team.

Price received the game ball in the most dramatic football win by the Bucks in recent memory.

Price scored the game-tying touchdown on a fourth quarter run, then threw a buzzer-beater, passing with 1.7 seconds left and nding William Leak in the end zone for the game winner over South View.

Tennis’ unwritten rules can fuel ery postmatch handshakes

This year’s tournament has seen plenty of postmatch drama

By Howard Fendrich

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — There’s been a lot of talk about the unwritten rules of tennis during Week 1 of this U.S. Open, whether it’s the necessity of a “sorry, not sorry” raised hand after a let cord or the proper way to warm up with an opponent or the legitimacy of an underarm serve.

Another part of the game drawing attention — thanks to players’ complaints about each of the above — is the postmatch greeting at the net, which usually involves shaking hands and, sometimes, a hug or kisses on the cheek. It would seem to be a simple act of sportsmanship, but every so often, it ends up going awry. Not every contest in every

sport displays that sort of civility, but it is an entrenched ritual in tennis, from kids starting out to the pros, even if the word “handshake” never appears in the 61page Grand Slam rule book.

“You do it in the juniors. You do it your whole life. It’s part of the fabric of our sport,” said Brad Gilbert, a former player and coach who is part of ESPN’s cast in New York.

“You’ve got to win with class,” he said, “and lose with dignity.” Townsend-Ostapenko back-and-forth at U.S. Open drew scrutiny

Chris Evert, who won 18 majors in the 1970s and ’80s, said: “I never had a bad moment at the net with anyone.”

That’s hardly the case for everyone — as a few episodes at the U.S. Open showed.

Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion from Latvia, got into a dust-

“You’ve got to win with class, and lose with dignity.”

Brad Gilbert

up with Taylor Townsend, the No. 1-ranked doubles player from the U.S., after clasping hands following Townsend’s victory.

Instead of going their separate ways, the athletes exchanged words, with Ostapenko pointing a nger at Townsend and saying she has “no education” — something Ostapenko apologized for Saturday via social media, explaining she meant to accuse Townsend of poor tennis etiquette. Ostapenko was upset Townsend didn’t apologize after a ball hit the net tape and went over (that’s not actually a rule) and started their warmup with volleys instead of groundstrokes (not a rule, either).

“It was,” Venus Williams said, ”a lot of drama.”

U.S. Open handshake between Tsitsipas, Altmaier didn’t go well

Last Thursday, another net encounter went badly when the loser, two-time Slam nalist Stefanos Tsitsipas, let the winner, Daniel Altmaier, know he hadn’t appreciated an underarm serve — which is allowed.

Rather than engage, Altmaier turned his back on Tsitsipas.

Then, on Saturday, two players — Jaume Munar and Zizou Bergs — got into a postmatch set-to over grunting.

“In the heat of the moment, you can stay stu which you (wouldn’t) normally ... say (and) you regret afterward,” Altmaier said, adding that he’s not a fan of “discussions at the net.”

Neither is 20th-seeded Jiri Lehecka, who thinks con icts are better resolved “in the locker

room, behind closed doors,” instead of in front of a crowd and TV audience.

No one wants to eliminate tennis handshakes after to - dos at U.S. Open

No one wants to see this tradition go away, although two-time major semi nalist Maria Sakkari knows there are “going to be incidents where people don’t like each other.”

“We are ... from di erent countries, di erent cultures,” Sakkari said. “It’s normal that two people are going to fall out.”

And not only after a match.

Gilbert nearly came to blows during what he called “a big ti ” with David Wheaton at the 1990 Grand Slam Cup before an ofcial separated them. Wheaton was upset about an overrule; things escalated from there.

“Got pretty heated,” Gilbert said, “but afterward, we still shook hands.”

HAL NUNN FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

SIDELINE

REPORT

NFL Parsons relishes fresh start in Green Bay Green Bay, Wisc. Micah Parsons says he just went through the hardest four months of his life as he feared his contract stalemate with the Dallas Cowboys would stretch into the season. The matter was settled with a trade to the Green Bay Packers. Now the superstar pass rusher wants to create a legacy be tting one of the league’s most storied franchises.

Parsons arrived in Green Bay one day after the Packers sent two rst-round picks and three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark to Dallas in exchange for him. The Packers are making Parsons the highest-paid non-quarterback in history.

NCAA FOOTBALL

Sanders has sideline bathroom at Colorado, sponsored by Depend Boulder, Col. Colorado introduced a branded sideline bathroom for Deion Sanders in its opening game against Georgia Tech. Friday night’s sponsor is Depend undergarment. Colorado coach Deion Sanders was recently diagnosed with bladder cancer and needs to frequently use the restroom. The portable privacy tent is right next to the Bu aloes’ bench. Sanders spent time away from the team this summer as he went through treatment for bladder cancer. His doctor said he was cured. It was also revealed that a section of his intestine was reconstructed to function as a bladder.

MLB Schwarber has 21st 4-homer game in MLB history, posts Phillies-record 9 RBIs Philadelphia Philadelphia slugger Kyle Schwarber hit four home runs against Atlanta to become the fourth Phillies player and 21st major leaguer to accomplish the feat. Schwarber was 4 for 6 with a Phillies-record nine RBIs in the 19-4 victory. He took the outright National League homer lead with a career-high 49. Schwarber leads the majors with a career-high 119 RBIs. Mike Schmidt was the last Philadelphia player to hit four homers in a game, in 1976. Schwarber had the third four-homer game of the season, following Eugenio Suárez and Nick Kurtz.

NBA

ESPN replaces Burke with Legler for NBA Finals coverage

Bristol, Conn.

ESPN demoted basketball analyst Doris Burke from its NBA Finals broadcast team. ESPN announced that Tim Legler would join the lead team with Mike Breen, Richard Je erson and Lisa Salters. This team will cover the NBA Finals on ABC next season, along with other high-pro le games. ESPN also announced a multiyear contract extension for Burke, who will work alongside play-by-play voice Dave Pasch next season. Burke joined ESPN in 1990 and has been involved with the NBA Finals since 2009. She won the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Curt Gowdy Media Award in 2018.

Newmark makes shift from racing exec to UNC’s athletic director-in-waiting

The former racing team president will take over Tar Heel sports in 2026

By Aaron Beard The Associated Press

CHAPEL HILL — Steve Newmark has spent years working in a sport de ned by speed.

Maybe that will have the former NASCAR racing team president prepared for the rapidly shifting landscape of college sports as UNC’s designated next athletic director.

The school announced its succession plan in July, hiring Newmark away from RFK Racing for a transitionary position before becoming Bubba Cunningham’s successor in 2026. Newmark started working alongside Cunningham this month as an executive associate AD, giving him the better part of a year to study the intricacies and quirks of overseeing a power conference athletics program.

“We were joking,” Newmark said of Cunningham, “some of it is just me following Bubba around and learning the ropes here.”

And yet, Newmark’s status as an outsider is exactly why he’s here at this particular moment.

UNC has touted the Chapel Hill native’s experience in sponsorships, marketing and contract negotiations after his 15-year run as president of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing. That announcement came the same day as the ofcial start of revenue sharing following the $2.8 billion House antitrust settlement, clearing the way for schools to share up to about $20.5 million with their athletes in Year 1.

Starting a transition plan

Paying for all that — along with facing issues for the 28-sport program — will be Newmark’s responsibility by next summer.

Cunningham, UNC’s AD since late 2011, said the two had conversations going back to last summer about differing approaches to generating revenue between auto racing and college sports, particularly with things changing so quickly in the latter since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cunningham described it as “an ongoing conversation,” leading to Newmark working on an advisory committee in the hiring of Bill Belichick as football coach in December before ultimately being named Cunningham’s successor.

“He and I shared the pas-

“He’s a perfect t for us right now.”

Bubba

Cunningham, UNC AD

sion for what we were doing and where it was headed,” Cunningham said. “And then thinking about, all right, I’ve got two years left on a contract, I’m ready to do something else, how do we make this transition work for Carolina?

“He’s a perfect t for us right now. There wasn’t anything too magical to it. It was just kind of taking time over a developing relationship between the two of us, and the thought of: ‘How do we continue to get better?’”

Added Newmark: “I don’t think when we started the discussions that that was the objective. I wasn’t looking to leave RFK Racing. I really enjoyed it there.”

Mulling new revenue streams

Rather, Newmark said, he looked at moving to UNC as an opportunity to use his own professional sports experience in a college world looking more pro-like by the day — or hour, for that matter.

Newmark said he’ll spend

the coming months looking at options for generating additional revenues in the long term. And it doesn’t take long to connect his history in auto racing — where sponsors turn cars into high-pro le advertising for their brand — to the possibilities. That’s of particular interest in Chapel Hill, where the school long refused to allow advertising in major athletics venues until roughly two decades ago. Yet now, UNC joins schools across the country in mulling options such as selling naming rights to venues, eld sponsorships or even jersey patches.

“I think it may have been something that would’ve been a shock to the system 20 years ago, but I think everybody has seen the evolution of sports,” Newmark said. “And collegiate athletics is clearly not on the leading edge of doing that. If you look at professional sports, they’ve been much more aggressive in integrating brands and properties.”

Still, Newmark stopped short of planning to replicate those ad-heavy racing looks in that trademark shade of light blue.

“Well, I have committed to several donors that I promise we won’t look like a NASCAR driver’s re suit,” he quipped.

Thielen relishes return home to Vikings after two-year family adventure with Panthers

The Minnesota native was traded after Carolina training camp

By Dave Campbell The Associated Press

EAGAN, Minn. — Adam Thielen naturally kept Minnesota as his family’s o season home after he joined the Carolina Panthers, surrounded by relatives and friends and the familiarity of his native state.

Earlier this summer, just like during the last one, Thielen was invited to join some throwing sessions in the Twin Cities area that included a new Vikings quarterback. How convenient. Those workouts wound up giving Thielen a jump start in his chemistry with J.J. McCarthy, seemingly foreshadowing a return for the 35-year-old wide receiver to his original team and beloved home. What stood out to Thielen immediately was McCarthy’s work ethic, mindset and communications skill, even in an informal session involving players on di erent teams.

“When we were working out together, there was no thought of actually playing together,”

Thielen said last Thursday after his arrival at Vikings headquarters on the heels of the trade with the Panthers that reunited him with the only other team he’s played for. “But at the time, I had so much respect for him and how he approaches the game, even in the summer months when you don’t really have to do those things.”

Thielen, who was acquired with a conditional 2026 seventh-round draft pick and a 2027 fth-round pick from the Panthers for a 2026 fth-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick, has the third-most catches in Vikings history behind Cris Carter and Randy Moss, two Pro Football Hall of Fame members he grew up avidly rooting for.

“I just didn’t think that this was even a possibility. I thought the next time that I would be talking to you guys would be when I was signing a one-day contract and retiring, so this is pretty surreal,” Thielen said to reporters on the indoor practice eld. “I’m going to take advantage of every second I’m going to be back in this building.”

Thielen was careful to clarify he wasn’t looking to leave the Panthers, who went 7-27 over his two seasons. He raved

about the quality of the people he worked with, from quarterback Bryce Young to the kitchen sta at the practice facility. After being released by the Vikings for salary cap relief following the 2022 season, Thielen took his wife and three young children on a temporary relocation to North Carolina they won’t soon forget.

“We grew a lot closer as a family, having to kind of do this little adventure on our own,” Thielen said. “Our whole time in Minnesota, we had family, friends, loved ones right here.” As he bro-hugged his way through the building, Thielen

clearly had a couple of favorites in mind to nd in coach Kevin O’Connell and wide receiver Justin Je erson. He compared the reunion with Je erson to coming back from college and meeting up with a childhood friend.

“It’s like you never left, like it was yesterday. And that’s how I felt with Justin. It was like we’ve never been on a di erent team,” Thielen said. “I love that guy to death and have so much respect for him on and o the eld, and we have such a great relationship. It’s good to be back.”

When the regular season begins on Sept. 8 at Chicago, the Vikings won’t have Jordan Addison because of a three-game suspension. They aren’t sure yet whether Jalen Nailor will be healthy enough to play after injuring his hand in a joint practice with the New England Patriots. Tai Felton is a rookie. Thielen could well join Je erson in the starting lineup, sliding back into O’Connell’s system and catching passes from a kid he’s already worked with.

“I’m going to make sure this emotion doesn’t just fade away,” Thielen said. “It’s going to be hopefully something that lasts my entire time here, just how appreciative I am to be here.”

JACOB KUPFERMAN / AP PHOTO

Then-Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen warms up before a preseason game.

UNC executive associate athletic director Steve Newmark has been named the successor to current athletic director Bubba Cunningham.

obituaries

Angela Mortimer Barrett, former Wimbledon champ, dead at 93

Mortimer Barrett won three Grand Slam titles despite partial deafness

The Associated Press

LONDON — Angela Mortimer Barrett, who overcame partial deafness and an intestinal infection to win three Grand Slam singles titles including 1961 Wimbledon, died last Monday at age 93.

The All England Club made the announcement.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Angela Mortimer Barrett, Wimbledon’s oldest surviving ladies’ singles champion,” club chair Deborah Jevans said.

A late bloomer to tennis at 14, Mortimer Barrett was ready to play the Grand Slam events by 19 and won her rst major title at the 1955 French Championships, beating Dorothy Knode of the U.S. 2-6, 7-5, 10-8 in the nal. At 8-8 in the last set, she said she knew she was going to win when she heard Knode ask for a brandy.

By then, Mortimer Barrett’s hearing was failing. Being able to hear the ball coming o the strings is a major aid to most.

“I could hear the applause of the crowd but not much else,” Mortimer told the International Tennis Hall of Fame website. “It helped me concentrate, shutting out distractions. When I hear players say they need to hear the ball, I smile. I couldn’t.”

She returned to the French nal in 1956 but lost to Althea Gibson.

Recurring bouts of illness were eventually diagnosed as entomoebic dysentry. She cured it with a three-week starvation diet but lost a lot of

“It

helped me concentrate, shutting out distractions. When I hear players say they need to hear the ball, I smile. I couldn’t.”

Angela Mortimer Barrett

weight that made her weak.

Mortimer Barrett’s comeback included her only trip to Australia in 1958, when she won her second Grand Slam singles title, beating fellow Brit Lorraine Coghlan 6-3, 6-4 in the nal, and also reached the nals of the doubles and mixed doubles.

Later that year, she got to her rst Wimbledon nal unseeded — only ve women have done so — but lost to Gibson.

Against the odds, again, she advanced to the 1961nal. She upset top-seeded Sandra Reynolds of South Africa 11-9, 6-3 in the seminals. In the rst all-Britishnal since 1914, Christine Truman led 6-4, 4-3 but fell and lost momentum. Mortimer Barrett ground out a 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory.

Two months later, she reached the semi nals of the U.S. Championships, her best nish at that event. It was the only year she reached No. 1. She also won the 1955 Wimbledon doubles title with Anne Shilcock.

Mortimer Barrett was inducted into the International Hall of Fame in 1993, followed by her husband John Barrett in 2014. The only other married couple in the Hall is Ste Graf and Andre Agassi.

Tish Reon Maynor

April 20, 1979 – Aug. 21, 2025

Tish Reon Maynor, age 46 of Red Springs, North Carolina, was born April 20, 1979, and she departed this life on August 21, 2025.

Tish leaves to cherish her memories, her husband, William McPhaul. She was a dedicated mother to her daughter, Sariya Julian McPhaul, and her grandson, Nakoya Markus Maynor, II, whose lives are now forever changed. She was also survived by her parents, Ronald and Patricia Maynor, her sister, Stacy Maynor Godwin (Cory), her mother-in-law, Cynthia Chatman, sister-in-law, Lisa Jordan, and brother-in-law, Coray McPhaul. She will be deeply missed by a host of nieces and nephews (Jashon, Jaleesa, Jaidon, Laniyah, Kaylin, Kaliyah, Jace, and Olivia) that she loved dearly. She was preceded in death by her only son, Nakoya Markus Maynor.

Tish graduated from Hoke County High School in 1997 and from Robeson Community College with an associate degree in 2006. She worked for the Department of Social Services in Hoke County for many years and most recently worked in tax preparation. Those who knew Tish will remember her for making others smile and laugh, leaving an impact on many who crossed her path.

The family will accept friends for visitation on Monday, August 25, 2025, from 6-8 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Dundarrach Baptist Church.

Donald Ray Locklear

June 17, 1962 – Aug. 20, 2025

Mr. Donald Ray Locklear, age 63 of Parkton, North Carolina, was born on June 17, 1962, to the late Willie Faye Locklear Eason in Robeson County, North Carolina. Ray departed this life on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at UNC Health Southeastern, Lumberton, North Carolina. Along with his mother, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Kenny Ray Locklear, Henry Clayton Eason, and Bobby Allen Eason.

Mr. Donald leaves to cherish his memories three brothers: David M. Eason, Jim P. Phillips both of Parkton, North Carolina, Paul R. Phillips of Bethany, North Carolina, two sisters: Ann T. Walters (Phillip) and Wanda Yergeau (Jay) all of Falcon, North Carolina, along with a host of other relatives and friends.

Pamela Aldridge Crumpler

June 30, 1939 – Aug. 24, 2025

Pamela Aldridge Crumpler, age 86, of Southern Pines, North Carolina, passed away on Sunday, August 24, 2025. Services will be announced at a later date.

Samantha Locklear

July 7, 1966 – Aug. 27, 2025

Samantha Locklear, age 59, of Maxton, North Carolina, passed away on August 27, 2025. She was born on July 7, 1966, to the late Mae Wes Jacobs. She is survived by her husband, Marshall Locklear Jr of Maxton, North Carolina, son, Victor Locklear, and daughterin-law, Sonya Locklear, of Lumberton, North Carolina; ve grandchildren, Izabella, Raniya, Ariella, Mason, and Dalton Jeremy Locklear; one brother, James Jacobs of Maxton; and two sisters, Gloria Jacobs of Laurinburg and Adlean Jacobs of Maxton. Samantha will be remembered for the love she had for her family and the warmth she shared with those around her. Her memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

Dorothy Ann Register

June 30, 1933 – Aug. 21, 2025

A visitation will be held on Thursday, August 28, 2025, from 1:30-3 p.m. at Galatia Presbyterian Church, 8800 Galatia Church Road, Fayetteville, NC 28304. A memorial service will follow at 3 p.m. with Reverend Brett Johnson O ciating. The Sandhills Nurse Honor Guard will be present to respectfully pay tribute to Mrs. Register for her years of service.

Annie Carolyn McMillian

Jan. 2, 1949 – Aug. 25, 2025

Mrs. Annie McMillan, age 76, went home to rest with her Heavenly Father on August 25, 2025.

The Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, August 31, at 3 p.m. at J.W. Turlington School. Annie will be greatly missed.

Marilyn Bullard

Sept. 6, 1962 – Aug. 26, 2025

Ms. Marilyn Bullard, age 62, of Pembroke, North Carolina, was born on September 6, 1962, in Robeson County to the late Mr. Daniel Webster “Whitehead” Bullard and the late Mrs. Bessie Jones Bullard. On August 26, 2025, Marilyn peacefully transitioned into eternal rest, leaving behind a legacy of love, generosity, and strength.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Wallace Bullard and Carlos Bullard; two sisters, Betty Lois Bullard and Joyce Bullard; and one beloved grandson, Leonidas Bullard.

Marilyn was a devoted mother to her only son, Eric Bullard, of Pembroke, North Carolina. Eric was her heart, her greatest pride, her joy, and the center of her world. The love between them was deep and undeniable. She also deeply cherished her grandchildren, Landon Simpson and London Bullard, who brought laughter, purpose, and warmth to her days.

Marilyn had a heart that embraced everyone. She never met a stranger and welcomed all with a smile, a kind word, or a thoughtful gesture. If you ever visited her, you were sure to be o ered something, whether a drink, a snack, or simply her time. She was the kind of person who would give you the shirt o her back without hesitation. And before any phone call ended, you could always count on hearing her say, “I love you.” She meant it every single time.

Even through life’s storms, Marilyn never forgot who Jesus was or all He had done for her. Her faith remained a steady part of her journey, guiding her, comforting her, and giving her strength when she needed it most.

Many will also remember Marilyn for proudly competing in the Senior Ms. Lumbee Pageant, an experience she embraced wholeheartedly. She was excited and honored to represent her Lumbee people, and her participation re ected the pride she carried for her heritage and community.

She is survived by two brothers, Ronald Bullard and Jerry Bullard, both of Pembroke, North Carolina; and four sisters, Daris Hunt of Clinton, North Carolina, Deloris Johnson of Bladenboro, North Carolina, Evelyn Goins, and Diane Locklear, both of Pembroke, North Carolina. A host of nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends also remain to celebrate and honor her life.

Marilyn will be remembered for her giving spirit, her erce love for her family, her kindness, and her strength. Her love lives on in every life she touched, and her memory will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.

DAVE CAULKIN / AP PHOTO

Former Wimbledon champions Angela Mortimer Barrett, left, of 1961, and Anne Jones, right, of 1969, ank a bust of fellow champion Virginia Wade at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in London in 2004.

STATE & NATION

PBS, NPR stations struggle with Trump-fueled government funding cuts

Emergency fundraising e orts show strong support from viewers

By David Bauder

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Coping with a sudden loss in federal funding, PBS a liate KSPS in Spokane, Washington, faced a surprise extra hurdle. Many of its contributing members — at one point almost half — lived in Canada, and they were withdrawing support out of anger at President Donald Trump’s desire to make the country the 51st member of the United States.

When Congress decided this summer to eliminate $1.1 billion allocated to public broadcasting, it left some 330 PBS and 246 NPR stations, each with unique issues related to their communities and history, to gure out what that means.

Many launched emergency fund drives and are heartened by the response. The national NPR and PBS networks are reducing expected dues payments, and a philanthropic effort focused on the hardest-hit stations is taking shape. No stations have shut down, but job and programming cuts are already beginning.

In Spokane, KSPS has always tried to keep its requests for member donations separate from appeals for public funding. Not anymore. Congress left the station with a $1.2 million hole to ll, about 18% of its budget, and the station is using that as a pretext to seek help from listeners.

“We have de nitely seen some attrition from our Canadi-

an members,” said Skyler Reep, the station’s interim general manager.

Pleas for donations exceed expectations in many parts of country

Long suspicious of a liberal bent to public media news coverage, Republicans in Congress responded to President Donald Trump’s wishes in July and eliminated funding for the systems. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which distributes the funding, has taken steps to shut down.

In some parts of the country, the answer to pleas for help have exceeded expectations. Public radio station WHQR in Wilmington raised more than $200,000 in three days, lling a $174,000 hole and then some. It’s a small community growing fast with an in ux of retirees, many who depend on the station’s news to learn about their new home, said general manager Kevin Crane.

With $525,000 gone from its budget, Hawaii Public Radio has already raised $650,000 in an emergency fund drive. “It’s a validation that what you’re doing is essential to the community and is appreciated by the community,” said Meredith Artley, president and CEO. The 2023 wild res in Maui and their aftermath were covered steadily by Hawaii Public Radio news reporters.

“The initial response in terms of support for both stations and the NPR network has been extraordinary,” said Katherine Maher, NPR president. “People did a lot of work leading up to the vote, in actions and calls.

When that did not prove convincing, they turned to direct support.”

Stations across the country have stories that make them smile: the youngster from Florida who collected money for public stations in Alaska, sending a note written in crayon; the regular $300 donor who came in to PBS SoCal with a $100,000 check, one of three six- gure donations the station has received.

Most stations aren’t in areas with so many wealthy donors. Most station managers are like Je Hanks of PBS’s LPTV in Lakeland, Minnesota. He lies awake wondering where he will nd $1 million to pay for things like his station’s nightly newscast, a primary news source for central and northern Minnesota.

“These are extremely, extremely challenging times,” Hanks said.

He knows membership donations won’t make up for what is missing. Both PBS and NPR have taken steps to reduce the annual dues that stations pay for programming and other services. At PBS, it’s an average 15% reduction, but needy stations get more — in one case, more than half of next year’s dues will be forgiven, said PBS president Paula Kerger.

Adopting stations in poorer, more rural areas

NPR is encouraging donors in wealthier areas to adopt stations in poorer ones, perhaps in an area where a contributor has emotional ties.

Public media leaders are also working with a group of philanthropists led by the Knight and

“The initial response in terms of support for both stations and the NPR network has been extraordinary.”

Katherine Maher, NPR president

MacArthur foundations that is hoping to raise some $50 million to support stations in areas hardest hit be the cuts. Ed Ulman, president and CEO of Alaska Public Media, which represents nearly two dozen radio and television stations in the largest state, said he’ll be seeking money from this fund.

Ulman said he’s been buoyed by the response from Alaskans in their e ort to raise $15 million through various sources by October. The services their stations provide is free, and citizens see its value.

“I’ve never been worried about the future of public television or radio because our community needs us,” he said, “and what we’ve seen in Alaska is an outcry about that.”

Still, Alaska Public Media has suspended the weekly public a airs television show “Alaska Insight,” and the future of “Indie Alaska,” a weekly video series highlighting the lives of Alaskans, is also in danger.

Some stations are already making the di cult decisions of cutting sta , In Spokane, 12 of KSPS’s 35 sta members have either been laid o , had their hours reduced or seen their pay cut. Reep is also considering that future seasons of local shows like “Northwest Pro les” or the

arts showcase “Inland Sessions” will have fewer episodes.

Similar programming decisions are also being weighed on a national level. While several upcoming shows, like Ken Burns’ six-part miniseries “The American Revolution” scheduled for November, are completed, PBS will have to consider making shorter seasons of its series, Kerger said.

“We’re working very hard so that the public doesn’t feel that there’s a change,” Kerger said. Looking for ways to share services

Between an increase in donations and “rainy day” resources set aside, the initial impact of the government action may be minimized. But that brings its own worries: It’s unlikely public media will be able to count on sympathy donors to the same extent in the future. And there’s a risk that some politicians will feel the response proves that public support isn’t necessary.

The bigger reckoning may come a year from now, Kerger said. “I am a realist,” she said. “I have to believe that there are some vulnerable stations that are not going to make it.”

In Los Angeles, PBS SoCal has shared some of its templates for fundraising appeals with other stations. Several celebrities have volunteered to lm pitches, and the station is making them available nationwide too, said Maura Daly Phinney, senior vice president for membership engagement and strategy.

“We’re going to make it,” Phinney said. “The system is going to be di erent. But we’re going to make it.”

Activist investor takes $4B stake in ailing PepsiCo

Elliott hopes to revitalize the company’s business

By Michelle Chapman

The Associated Press

Activist investor Elliott Investment Management is taking a $4 billion stake in PepsiCo saying there’s an opportunity to revive the snack and drinks company.

Years of double-digit price increases from PepsiCo and changing customer preferences has weakened demand for its drinks and snacks, the company said in February. In July PepsiCo said that it is trying to combat perceptions that its products are too expensive by expanding distribution of value brands like Chester’s and Santitas.

Stubborn in ation has had an impact on consumer behavior, and many people have cut back on the discretionary purchases that they make. PepsiCo lowered its fullyear earnings expectations in April, citing increased costs from tari s and a pullback in consumer spending. The company rea rmed that guidance three months later. Its tari costs have risen since then.

“With the right mindset and an appropriately ambitious turnaround plan, PepsiCo today represents a rare chance to revitalize a leading global enterprise.”

Elliott letter to the PepsiCo board

growing international business.

“While unfortunate, this disappointing trajectory has created a historic opportunity: With the right mindset and an appropriately ambitious turnaround plan, PepsiCo today represents a rare chance to revitalize a leading global enterprise and unlock signi cant shareholder value,” Elliott said.

management on ways to improve performance.

“Elliott’s goals at PepsiCo are straightforward: help the company sharpen focus, drive innovation, become more e cient and unlock the value that its leading brands, unmatched scale and world-class employees deserve,” it said. “The path back to winning is clear and achievable.”

In a letter to PepsiCo’s board, Elliott said that the company is being hurt by a lack of strategic clarity, decelerating growth and eroding pro tability in its North American food and beverage businesses. But the rm still believes in PepsiCo’s potential, particularly noting its

In June, the Trump administration hiked the tari on imported aluminum from 25% to 50%.

Shares of PepsiCo climbed 2% Tuesday. The stock is down nearly 10% over the past 12 months, according to FactSet, but it is up almost 12% over the past month as Elliott has purchased shares.

Elliott said that it wants to work with PepsiCo’s board and

PepsiCo will review Elliott’s recommendations.

“PepsiCo maintains an active and productive dialogue with our shareholders and values constructive input on delivering long-term shareholder value,” it said in a statement Tuesday.

SETH PERLMAN / AP PHOTO Pepsi is one of the biggest beverage brands in the country.

MOORE COUNTY

Going Squatchin’

Festivalgoers visit a chainsaw

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Trump says Space Command to move from Colorado to Alabama

U.S. Space Command will be located in Huntsville, Alabama, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday afternoon, reversing a Biden- era decision to keep it at its temporary headquarters in Colorado. Alabama and Colorado have long battled to claim Space Command because it has signi cant implications for the local economy. The site also has been a political prize, with elected o cials from both states asserting theirs as the better location.

Pentagon authorizes up to 600 military lawyers to serve as temporary immigration judges

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has approved sending up to 600 military lawyers to the Justice Department to serve as temporary immigration judges, according to a memo. The military will begin sending groups of 150 attorneys — both military and civilians — to the Justice Department “as soon as practicable.”

Giuliani leaves hospital after being injured in N.H. car crash

Rudy Giuliani has been released from the hospital after being injured in a car crash in New Hampshire. A spokesman said that Giuliani is progressing well. The former New York City mayor was injured Saturday when his vehicle was struck from behind on a highway by another car. He su ered a fractured vertebra and other injuries.

Commissioners approve emergency service purchases

The board OK’d buying two trucks and leasing tasers

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

CARTHAGE — The Moore County Board of Commissioners approved the nances for multiple items requested by both the county re departments and Sheri ’s O ce at its Sept. 2 meeting.

The board approved a ve-year, $531,000 lease agreement with Axon Enterprises for the procurement of tasers for the Sheri ’s O ce.

“The Sheri ’s O ce has employed the use of tasers for about 20 years now,” said Chief Deputy Sheri Andy Conway. “Taser was

its own company, and we purchased from them. They started with the X26 and went on to the X26P, which we have now. The company was purchased by Axon, and their business model is a little di erent. Their business model is as such that it is cheaper to lease the items from them.”

According to Conway, Axon will no longer be supporting the X26P starting next year, so the department has been left with little choice but to enter into a new agreement.

“We kicked it down the road as far as we could before we got to this particular point, but at the end of the year, they’re not going to support it, and we cannot get parts, pieces, batteries and things like that,” Conway said. “This is the standard and above. Axon tends to purchase

“I

don’t think there’s been one person up here who’s not said they’re going to support our law enforcement or rst responders.”

Kurt Cook, board chair

all the other companies as well.

I’m not saying they’re a monopoly, but there are very few choices out there.

“It’s still a lot of money regardless, but having a less lethal option for our deputies is imperative for them to carry.”

The board also approved two

NC native representing self in Trump assassination attempt trial

Jury selection begins Sept. 8 for Ryan Routh

By David Fischer The Associated Press

FORT PIERCE, Fla. — A Greensboro native charged with trying to assassinate President Donald Trump last year in South Florida will represent himself in his trial.

Barring any delays, jury selection is scheduled to begin Sept. 8 in Fort Pierce federal court for the case against Ryan Routh. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon signed o on Routh’s request to represent himself in July but said court-appointed attorneys need to remain as standby counsel.

The trial will begin nearly a year after prosecutors say a U.S. Secret Service agent thwarted Routh’s attempt to shoot Trump as he played golf. Routh, 59, has

re departments purchases, including the purchase of a brush truck for the High Falls Fire Department to be used at their Glendon Substation.

“This will be a new purchase for that station,” said Public Safety Director Bryan Phillips. “They took over the ownership of providing re services out there and they do not have a brush truck at their other station or this one to replace out there.”

The second purchase was for a 2026 HINO XL7 service truck for the Eagle Springs Fire Department.

“Eagle Springs was slated this year to purchase an engine,” Phillips said. “That purchase has been moved. The service truck needed replacement before the

a ri e through the shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club. A Secret Service agent spotted Routh before Trump came into view. O cials said Routh aimed his ri e at the agent, who opened re, causing Routh to drop his weapon and ee without ring a shot.

Law enforcement obtained help from a witness who prosecutors said informed o cers that he saw a person eeing. The witness was then own in a police helicopter to a nearby interstate where Routh was arrested, and the witnesses conrmed it was the person he had seen, prosecutors have said.

The judge last Tuesday unsealed prosecutor’s 33-page list of exhibits that could be introduced as evidence at the trial. It says prosecutors have photos of Routh holding the same model of semiautomatic ri e found at Trump’s club.

The document also lists numerous electronic messages sent from a cellphone investigators found in Routh’s car. One message dated about two months

and

MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE VIA AP

Law enforcement o cers arrest Ryan Routh, the man suspected in the apparent assassination attempt of Donald Trump, in September 2024.

art booth Sunday at the inaugural Uwharrie Bigfoot Festival at Denton

CORY LAVALETTE / NORTH STATE JOURNAL

THURSDAY 9.4.25

WEEKLY FORECAST

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Jim Sills, VP of Local Newspapers

Cory Lavalette, Senior Editor

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Shawn Krest, Sports Editor

Dan Reeves, Features Editor

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Uwharrie Bigfoot Festival

We stand corrected

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CRIME LOG

Aug. 25

• Latoya Devon Belk, 38, was arrested by MCSO for assault with a deadly weapon.

Aug. 27

• Nicholus Isaiah Lewis, 25, was arrested by Southern Pines PD for possess stolen goods or property.

• Scott Burch Jones, 44, was arrested by MCSO for driving while impaired.

• Christopher Perez Gonzalez, 19, was arrested by Southern Pines PD for possess stolen goods or property.

• Rodney Scott Collins, 54, was arrested by MCSO for break or enter motor vehicle.

Aug. 28

• Mikal Xavier Troy, 23, was arrested by MCSO for carrying concealed weapon.

• Sarah Rhea Kinz, 47, was arrested by MCSO for attempted rst degree murder.

• Alex Clay Jones, 31, was arrested by Aberdeen PD for possess stolen motor vehicle.

• Oscar Lorenzo Hammond, 38, was arrested by MCSO for alter, steal or destroy criminal evidence.

• Kane Eli Avonce, 29, was arrested by MCSO for possess schedule II controlled substance.

Aug. 29

• Timothy William Oglesbee, 36, was arrested by MCSO for felony larceny.

• Jason Godden, 44, was arrested by MCSO for breaking and entering.

TRIAL from page A1

before his arrest is described as Routh requesting a “missile launcher.” It says that in August 2024, the month before his arrest, Routh sent messages seeking “help ensuring that (Trump) does not get elected” and o ering to pay an unnamed person to use ight tracking apps to check the whereabouts of Trump’s airplane. The exhibit list cites evidence from Routh’s phone of an electronic “chat about sniper concealment” during President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. And it lists internet searches for how long gunpower residue stays on cloth-

PURCHASES from page A1

engine. At that point in time, they decided they could extend the life of the engine for a little bit of time.”

The new truck will replace a 2000 GMC Model Isuzu Engine Box Truck with 104,000 miles which has a blown head gasket and smokes badly to be sold for scrap.

“The truck that we’re currently replacing, it’s got a blown head gasket and has now for the past year,” said Eagle Springs Fire Chief Mike St. Onge. “We’re still driving it until it falls apart, but that is what this

Several vendors sold fall-themed crafts during the three-day event. A woman watches as attendees ride a Sasquatch-themed monster truck.

ing and articles on U.S. Secret Service responses to assassination plots.

Routh was a North Carolina construction worker who in recent years had moved to Hawaii. A self-styled mercenary leader, Routh spoke out to anyone who would listen about his dangerous, sometimes violent plans to insert himself into conicts around the world, witnesses have told The Associated Press.

In the early days of the war in Ukraine, Routh tried to recruit soldiers from Afghanistan, Moldova and Taiwan to ght the Russians. In his native Greensboro, he had a 2002 arrest for eluding a traf-

will replace. As far as the engine is concerned, we can still get a couple of years of life out of the engine, so we’re pushing it out so we don’t have to replace that.”

According to St. Onge, the department will be building the truck themselves in order to keep costs down.

“Instead of going through re truck manufacturers, we’re going through the dealer and the up tter and basically doing the truck ourselves,” St. Onge said. “Having the body mounted, putting the lights on it, the stickering and all that. We’re doing that ourselves to try and save some

c stop and barricading himself from o cers with a fully automatic machine gun and a “weapon of mass destruction,” which turned out to be an explosive with a 10-inch-long fuse.

In 2010, police searched a warehouse Routh owned and found more than 100 stolen items, from power tools and building supplies to kayaks and spa tubs. In both felony cases, judges gave Routh either probation or a suspended sentence.

In addition to the federal charges, Routh also has pleaded not guilty to state charges of terrorism and attempted murder.

money on it within the budget.”

In total, the two re department purchases total just under $300,000.

“Since the beginning of Moore County, I don’t think there’s been one person up here who’s not said they’re going to support our law enforcement or rst responders,” said Board Chair Kurt Cook. “That will always be that way. They deserve the best because they are the ones picking us up, taking us to the hospital, on weekends and holidays and at night.”

The Moore County Board of Commissioners will next meet Sept. 16.

moore happening

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Moore County:

Sept.

5

First Friday Free Concert on the Lawn 5-9 p.m.

Family-friendly event featuring musical performance by John “Papa” Gros. Food and beverages are available on-site. Free admission.

Sunrise Theater 250 NW Broad St. Southern Pines

Sept.

6

Moore County Farmers Market

8 a.m. to noon

A vast and varied selection of fresh produce and 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 using fresh, regional ingredients every Saturday throughout 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. (Children under the age of two are admitted for free.)

272 Edgewood Road Cameron

Sept. 10

Dementia Caregiver Support Group

10:30 a.m.

Caregivers receive education and support along with strategies for caring for family members and other loved ones su ering from dementia. The group is led by Pat Soler and Dale Krech, certi ed facilitators through the Dementia Alliance of NC. Contact Kelly Pritchard at 910-715-4224 for more information.

Shadowlawn Room

Clara McLean House 20 First Village Drive Pinehurst

Clockwise from top: Denton Farmpark hosted the inaugural Uwharrie Bigfoot Festival last weekend.

THE CONVERSATION

Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

The left’s misdefinition of

America is heir to ancient European civilizations.

THIS WEEK, AXIOS ran a fascinating piece about the supposed “rede nition” of Americanism under President Donald Trump. Titled “Inside Trump’s American identity project,” Axios posited that “President Trump is wielding government power to enforce a more rigid, exclusionary de nition of what it means to be American.” What would this new de nition entail? “In MAGA’s telling, America is the heir to ancient European civilizations, built on a Judeo-Christian foundation of white identity, meritocracy, traditional gender roles and the nuclear family,” says Axios. “These tenets are cast as universal truths — and mantras such as ‘America is an idea’ or ‘diversity is our strength’ are dismissed as liberal ctions.” First o , America is heir to ancient European civilizations — particularly with reference to private property, the common law system, traditions of free speech and freedom of religion, among others. Second, America is built on a Judeo-Christian foundation. Third, America is built on the meritocracy, which argues that the best and most productive ought to succeed in a free system. America is built on traditional gender roles and the nuclear family, as is

COLUMN | JASON LEWIS

Americanism

every successful society in history. While America is an idea — or a set of ideas — those ideas must be rei ed in institutions and human behavior. And the notion that any nation can be built on a completely specious phrase like “diversity is our strength” is counterintuitive at best.

So what is Axios attempting to do? Axios is attempting to link actual traditional de nitions of Americanism with white supremacy. Never mind that all the ideas Axios cites as “traditional” fundamentally reject ethnic identitarianism: equality before law, for example, presumes racial indi erence; Judeo-Christian religion rejects racial classi cation; the meritocracy is de nitionally opposed to racial preferences; and traditional gender roles and the nuclear family are institutions held in common by people of all races. The goal is simple: a forced choice between “racism” and a left-wing de nition of Americanism that bears zero weight.

This, presumably, is the real drive behind the left’s opposition to much of Trump’s policy. The same Axios piece posits that the Trump administration’s decision to screen incoming immigrants for “anti-American” ideology ought to be seen as an outgrowth

of nativism rather than common sense; that opposition to radical sexual politics in our nation’s military is a manifestation of bigotry rather than reason; that restoration of classicism in architecture represents a return to racial exclusivity rather than taste. As the authors write, “MAGA’s utopia looks a lot like America in the 1950s — before the sexual revolution, mass immigration, the Civil Rights Act and expanded LGBTQ rights reshaped the country’s culture and demographics.”

Well, actually, MAGA’s utopia looks mostly like what most Americans think of as the American dream: upward mobility, solid family structure, safety in the streets, decent education, and a vibrant social fabric complete with community and church. The fact that so many on the left — and in the media — nd this vision to be irredeemably “racist” demonstrates their utter disconnect with most Americans. And it’s why Trump is president for the second time.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show” and co-founder of Daily Wire+.

Illegal immigration kills more people

California is one of 19 states that issues licenses regardless of immigration status.

THE NATIONAL MEDIA silence over an illegal alien with a California commercial driver’s license (CDL) accused of killing three people while making an unlawful U-turn on Florida’s Turnpike is instructive on several fronts.

None of them good.

First, it continues the trend of open-border journalists — from The Wall Street Journal to CNN — to place global commerce and identity politics above the lives of Americans. Newsrooms have buried the story because they know how fundamentally disgraceful their editorial decisions really are.

Whether promoting “sanctuary cities” while criticizing attempts at restoring law and order or downplaying the deaths on our highways due to illegal immigrant drivers — these folks, along with the politicians they back, are the real culprits.

Second, the very notion of granting any driver’s license, let alone one for a semi, to someone who cannot read road signs in English is so demonstrably lunatic on its face that no sane person could possibly support it. And yet, California is one of 19 states that issues licenses regardless of immigration status and the ability to understand America’s tra c laws.

In fact, the alleged perpetrator in the Florida crash answered just two of 12 questions correctly when tested for English language pro ciency and could only identify one out of four highway signs shown to him, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

How Harjinder Singh was able to obtain a CDL in California, where applications are supposedly administered in English, is no more a mystery than welfare time limits — blue state outlaws ignore them.

In wacked-out Washington state, where Singh had another CDL, o cials allow tests to be taken in English, Spanish, Russian or Serbian-Croatian. All of which I’m sure you’ve seen on America’s road signs.

Worse, for a mere passenger car drivers license, it’s a free for all with almost every state administering exams in a multitude

of foreign languages. Multiculturalism is killing people. And so are the people who enable it.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the U.S. is pausing all issuance of visas for commercial truck drivers, something that probably should have been done the moment Trump signed an executive order requiring the enforcement of decades-old English-pro ciency rules for commercial drivers.

Singh rst entered the country illegally from India via Mexico (where else?) in 2018, but contrary to the usual lies from Gov. Gavin Newsom, “his work authorization was rejected under the Trump Administration on Sept. 14, 2020. It was later approved under the Biden Administration June 9, 2021.”

So you’ve got a situation where the state of California along with the Biden administration enabled an incompetent illegal alien to drive a semitrailer across the country. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, once Singh made the unlawful U-turn, a minivan in the adjacent lane crashed into the trailer, killing the three Americans.

To the grieving families who lost loved ones, now faced with trying to go on with their ruined lives, only justice matters. Why, then, are we not holding open-border politicians accountable for their abject failure to uphold the law in the precisely the same way a woke “defund the police” mob demanded we hold cops responsible? You might recall the Democrat-sponsored George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021 limiting “quali ed immunity as a defense to liability in a private civil action against a law enforcement o cer.”

Well, if that’s the standard, what to make of politicians who openly aunt the law by refusing their duty to uphold it? There is simply no getting around the fact that were it not for the complicity of a few Biden and Newsom o cials, three Americans would still be alive today.

If zombie-voters don’t want to do

anything about it, perhaps victims’ families will.

Notwithstanding the 11th Amendment proscribing lawsuits “against one of the United States by citizens of another state,” the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), passed in 1946, waives aspects of sovereign immunity and allows people to sue the federal government for things like car accidents caused by its employees.

It’s a shame federal taxpayers would have to cover for the dereliction of duty by the Biden administration, so waive its quali ed immunity too and go after a few of ’em personally.

If it’s good enough for Derek Chauvin …

As for California, precedent abounds when you consider the multitude of million-dollar settlements going to BLM in the wake of lawsuits brought against government o cials acting “under the color of law” following the death of George Floyd.

Did Newsom and his California cronies not ignore clearly established law or act in a way no reasonable person would — the usual threshold for the deprivation of civil rights under 42 U.S. Code § 1983?

Thanks to Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida’s political leadership, Singh will now be charged with vehicular homicide and manslaughter. ICE wants him once his criminal case is complete. But the question remains: Will we hold the politicians who have the blood of Floridians on their hands accountable?

Former Minnesota Congressman Jason Lewis writes at Substack and is the author of “Party Animal, The Truth About President Trump, Power Politics & the Partisan Press.” This column was rst published by Daily Caller News Foundation.

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

Successful test of SpaceX’s Starship deploys dummy Starlink satellites, splashes down in Indian Ocean

The company’s rapid trial-and-error development approach continues

By Christina Larson The Associated Press

SPACEX LAUNCHED the latest test of its mega rocket Starship last Tuesday night and completed the rst deployment of a test payload — eight dummy satellites — into space. After just over an hour coasting through space, Starship splashed down as planned in the Indian Ocean.

Starship blasted o from Starbase, SpaceX’s launch site in south Texas, just after 6:30 p.m. It was the 10th test for the world’s biggest and most powerful rocket, which SpaceX and NASA hope to use to get astronauts back on the moon.

NASA has ordered two Starships to land astronauts on the moon later this decade, and

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s ultimate goal is Mars. No crew members were aboard the demo launch.

The test also included the successful return of the craft’s Super Heavy Booster, which splashed down in the Gulf after testing a new landing-burn engine sequence.

The Starship itself continued to orbit the Earth — passing from daylight in Texas through night and back into daytime again — ahead of the planned splashdown. Before the craft hit the waves, its engines red, ipping its position so it entered the water upright with its nose pointed upward, right on target. SpaceX had a buoy with cameras located in the middle of the ocean, and its on-stream commentators said that if you saw the buoy-cam, you’d know they landed in the right place.

SpaceX uses a rapid development approach for Starship that’s unusual in aerospace — engineers build prototypes

quickly, test them until something breaks, then use what they learned to build a better version. This di ers from traditional spacecraft development, where companies spend years perfecting designs on comput-

ers before building anything.

Think of it like a chef perfecting a recipe by making it multiple times and trying new things, rather than planning every ingredient in advance. When a Starship prototype explodes or

fails, SpaceX engineers treat it as valuable data, not a setback.

Back-to-back tests in January and March ended in “rapid unscheduled disassembly” or RUD, just minutes after lifto , raining wreckage into the ocean. The most recent test in May — the ninth — ended when the spacecraft tumbled and eventually broke apart on reentry.

SpaceX later redesigned the Super Heavy booster with larger and stronger ns for greater stability, and redesigned fuel components on the Starship itself to address the issues.

The company has built an enormous factory at its Texas facility to mass-produce the craft and is hoping to send thousands to Mars over the next decade. The next version of Starship, version 3, could head to Mars as soon as next year on uncrewed test ights.

North State Journal’s Jordan Golson contributed to this report.

The teams say they risk going out of business

By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE — The bitter ght between NASCAR and two of its teams who have led a federal antitrust lawsuit against the stock-racing giant spilled into public view last Thursday during an acrimonious hearing that included the disclosure of expletive-laden emails and text messages from team owner Michael Jordan and other high-pro le litigants.

In one exchange, the retired NBA Hall of Famer and co-owner of the 23XI Racing Team used disparaging language about Joe Gibbs Racing and the 13 other teams that signed NASCAR’s new charter agreements last September.

“Teams are going to regret not joining us,” Jordan wrote in a text message to Curtis Polk, his business manager who, along with Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin own 23XI Racing.

That organization and Front Row Motorsports were the only two teams that refused to sign extension agreements on charter agreements, the equivalent of franchises in other sports. The two teams then sued NASCAR,

accusing it of being a bully and monopoly in a brawl that has played out all year and prompted both teams to say they risk going out of business if the series sells their charters out from under them.

Nothing, however, has been as explosive as the details that came to light for the rst time last Thursday as documents related to discovery were disclosed.

NASCAR is privately owned by the Florida-based France family, with founder Bill France Sr.’s son, Jim, the current chairman. His granddaughter, Lesa France Kennedy, is the executive vice chair and was in court for the rst time since the case began.

Steve Lauletta, the president of 23XI, at one point wrote “Jim dying is probably the answer” to teams getting better terms on a charter agreement while, Hamlin said “my despise for the France family runs deep... (but) please let’s not sabotage our own business.”

In a partially redacted text conversation between Jordan and Polk, presumably about the

price of charters, Jordan wrote, “I’m not selling even if they were for sale (redacted). What would we do?” Polk replies, “This is just a hobby!!!” and Jordan responds, “Only can play but so much golf.”

In a second exchange, Jordan discusses with Polk the cost of signing a driver whose name is redacted.

“I have lost that in a casino. Lets do it,” Jordan replied.

NASCAR had its own expletive-laden email exchange among top executives disclosed. Commissioner Steve Phelps in one email wrote that talks had not been productive and argued an early charter proposal o ered “zero wins for the teams.” In another message, he wrote the charters “must re ect a middle position or we are dead in the water — they will sign them but we are (expletive) moving forward.”

Steve O’Donnell, the president of NASCAR, also didn’t like an early version because it would return NASCAR’s model to 1996 terms with an attitude of “(Expletive) the teams, dictatorship, motorsport, redneck, southern, tiny sport,” he wrote.

Je rey Kessler, the attorney for 23XI and Front Row, contended that the NASCAR exchanges as well as contingency plans on how NASCAR could prevent rival competition prove NASCAR is monopolizing the stock car racing market.

NASCAR has maintained in legal lings that 23XI and Front Row relinquished any rights they have to six combined charters when they refused to sign the extensions last September. The teams started the season recognized as chartered, which guarantees 36 chartered teams entry into the 40-car eld each week. Chartered teams also receive a substantially higher percentage of payouts.

The order that recognized the six cars as chartered has been overturned and they are currently competing as “open” teams. 23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick has a clause in his contract that says he can leave if his car is not chartered; Kessler indicated that Reddick and sponsors have given notice that 23XI is in breach.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell warned during the hearing that NASCAR’s charter system is at stake, depending on the outcome of the case. The arguments before Bell were focused on the teams’ urgent request to restore their status as chartered teams through the end of the season ahead of a trial scheduled for Dec. 1.

NASCAR has indicated it plans to immediately begin selling o the charters. Bell asked NASCAR’s attorney that if there is indeed such an eager buyer, why couldn’t the series sell one of

the four open slots and then gure out how to address it once the case is settled. NASCAR has maintained that it can’t be forced to do business with teams it does not want to work with.

The judge said he would rule on the request next week after the rst playo race of the season. Reddick and Bubba Wallace are in the playo eld for 23IX and so is Hamlin, who drives for JGR. Outside court, Jordan said he has been open to a settlement but is willing to see the case go to trial. Kessler warned if 23XI and Front Row do not receive their charters back they will go out of business in 2026.

“Look, I’ve been a fan of the game for a long period of time,” Jordan said. “When we rst started this whole process, I’ve always said I want to ght for the betterment of the sport. Even though they tried to point out that we’ve made some money, we had a successful business. That’s not the point. The point is that the sport itself needs to continually change for the fans as well as for the teams.

“As well as as for NASCAR, too, if they understand that,” Jordan said. “I feel like we made a good statement today about that, and I look forward to going down with re. If I have to ght this to the end, for the betterment of the sport, I will do that.”

ERIC GAY / AP PHOTO

SpaceX’s mega rocket Starship makes a test ight from Starbase, Texas, last Tuesday.

MOORE SPORTS

Pinecrest survives in Battle of the Pines

Union Pines just misses the rst win over its rival in nearly two decades

North State Journal sta

IT WAS A HOTLY contested Battle of the Pines with the tightest nish since Union Pines and Pinecrest began playing regularly in 2019. Since then, the Patriots had won all ve games in the series by an average score of 51-6. Overall, Pinecrest had a ninegame win streak over Union Pines dating back to 2006.

This year, however, the Vikings wouldn’t go away, falling by a 21-16 score. The game was tied at seven at halftime after Union Pines responded to a Pinecrest touchdown run by Chris Najm with a trick-play touchdown pass at mid eld that saw Hayne Tobias hit John Erguiza for the score.

Union Pines couldn’t overcome mistakes in the second half, however. The Vikings fumbled the second half kicko to set up another Najm scoring run. A botched onside kick set up an RJ Williams scoring run for Pinecrest. Pinecrest also ended a pair of Union Pines drives in the second half with interceptions by Corben Dallas and Zaiden Pratt. The latter came in the nal minute, ending an attempted game-winning drive for the Vikings.

Union Pines

The Vikings are now 1-1 on the year and will try to get back in the win column with a home game against Eastern Randolph. The Wildcats are 2- 0 with wins over Southern Alamance and Randleman, both by double digits.

The Vikings opened the season with a 28-6 road win over Westover. It’s the second year in a row Union Pines has started 1-0. It was the rst win for the Vikings over Westover since 2015 and just the second time since

with a last-minute interception.

then the two schools have met.

Senior quarterback Ian Hicks completed 14 of 19 passes for 129 yards and one touchdown, to Kaeden Sovey, who had three catches for 48 yards. Talik Graham added four for 40 yards.

Junior Adrian Colon was the leading rusher with 102 yards on 21 carries. He scored once, while Hayne Tobias reached the end zone on both of his carries.

Union Pines has its home opener this week, against crosstown rival Pinecrest.

North Moore

The Mustangs evened their record at 1-1 with a home win over Wake Prep Academy. North Moore salted away a razor-thin 22-21 win over the Guardians in a game where two-point conversions were the di erence.

North Moore threw one pass in the game, an incompletion, but gained 366 yards on the ground. Joseph Dunn gained 106 yards and scored all three Mustangs touchdowns. Brady Atkinson added 93, Stryker Murray 84 and Micah Morrison 76.

The Mustangs will try to get over .500 with a road game at

West Davidson on Friday. The Dragons are 1-1 and coming o of a 43-20 home win over Bishop McGuinness.

Pinecrest

Najm led the way with 79 rushing yards on 12 carries.

Dayton Knight added 58 and Tyler Johnson 47. Najee Gillis passed for 116 yards. Williams led the way with 47 receiving yards to go with his game-winning touchdown on his only rush.

The Patriots are 1-1. This week, they head to Davie County. The War Eagles are 1-1 and coming o a road win over West Rowan.

Moore County Week 3 high school schedule

Friday Sept. 5, 7 p.m., Pinecrest Patriots (1-1) at Davie County War Eagles (1-1, 3-7 in 2024)

Friday Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m., North Moore Mustangs (1-1) at West Davidson Dragons (1-1, 6 -5 in 2024)

Friday Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m., Union Pines Vikings (1-1) home vs. Eastern Randolph Wildcats (2- 0, 12-1 in 2024)

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Zaiden Pratt

Pinecrest, football

Zaiden Pratt is a junior defensive back on the Pinecrest football team.

The Patriots won the annual Battle of the Pines over crosstown rival Union Pines, but not until Pratt saved the day. The Vikings trailed by ve and were driving for a possible game-winning touchdown when Pratt picked o an Ian Hicks pass with less than 30 seconds remaining to preserve the win.

Briscoe wins 2nd straight Southern 500 to advance to 2nd round of Cup playo s

The Gibbs driver became the rst repeat Darlington winner in 19 years

By Pete Iacobelli

The Associated Press

DARLINGTON, S.C. —

Chase Briscoe shared some history with his second straight Southern 500 victory at Darlington Raceway on Sunday. He hopes to make a bit more this season as he goes after his rst NASCAR Cup Series title.

Briscoe held o Tyler Reddick on the nal lap to become just the eighth driver in stock racing history with consecutive wins at the track “Too Tough To Tame.” The list includes Hall of Famers and greats like Dale Earnhardt, Cale Yarborough, Je Gordon and Bobby Allison.

“The expectation was to go and contend for wins,” Briscoe said about his rst season with

Joe Gibbs Racing. “It de nitely took more time than I expected, but tonight I feel like we showed what we’re capable of.”

Briscoe took the lead early, won both stages and led 309 of 367 laps. Not only did he advance into the round of 12, he became the rst driver with consecutive wins in Darlinton’s legendary race since Greg Bi e in 2005 and 2006.

“It’s so cool to win two Southern 500s in a row,” the 30 -year-old Indiana driver said. “This is my favorite race of the year.”

A year ago, when the race was the last of the regular season, Briscoe used a late, four-wide pass to move in front and win his way into the playo s. This time, he had the baddest machine on the block throughout.

“I de nitely like I’m holding up my end of the bargain,” Briscoe said.

Briscoe moved in front ear-

“Tonight I feel like we showed what we’re capable of.”

Chase Briscoe

ly and cruised through most of the event on NASCAR’s oldest superspeedway. After Reddick swept past him on the restart for the nal segment, Briscoe got back in front a lap later and easily moved into the lead after each of his nal three pit stops.

Reddick went low and got to Briscoe’s door on the nal lap but could not nish the pass. Briscoe held on to win for the second second time this season and fourth time in his career.

“That was way harder than it needed to be,” said Briscoe, also the winner at Pocono in June.

Briscoe’s owner, Joe Gibbs, recalled greeting the driver

in Victory Lane here last year when he was nishing up racing for now defunct Stewart-Haas Racing. Soon enough, Briscoe was picked to succeed retiring JGR champion Martin Truex Jr.

Gibbs was amazed how quickly Briscoe, crew chief James Smalls had the car challenging for wins as it had in the past.

“Certainly, this wasn’t something we expected,” Gibbs said.

Two -time Southern 500 winner Erik Jones was third, followed by John Hunter Nemechek and AJ Allmendinger. Playo racers Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin, Briscoe’s JGR teammate, were next.

Playo problems

It was a not a great night for most of the playo eld as several contenders struggled. Only four playo racers were in the top 10. Josh Berry, who was already

below the 12-man cuto line entering Darlington, spun out moments after the race began and had to go into the garage. It was the rst Cup Series playo run for Berry, who drives for the Wood Brothers. Berry returned to the track midway through the second stage, 119 laps o the lead.

Alex Bowman was among just two playo drivers without a win this year and needed a strong showing at Darlington to move up from 16th. Bowman pitted several times to nd speed and instead found problems, including a malfunctioning air hose that kept him on pit road about 30 seconds.

Penske driver Ryan Blaney, who won a Cup Series title two years ago and took Daytona last week, was one of the circuit’s hottest drivers with six straight top -10 nishes. But spun out on Lap 209 while 13th to slide down the playo standings.

The four drivers below the cut line are defending champion Joey Logano in 13th, then Austin Dillon, Bowman and Berry.

“It was not what we were expecting,” Logano said about his 20th-place nish.

DAVID SINCLAIR FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

DAVID SINCLAIR FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Pinecrest’s Zaiden Pratt comes o the eld after saving a win in the Battle of the Pines

MATT KELLEY / AP PHOTO

Chase Briscoe steers through Turn 2 during Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington.

Cassandra Ledford Milstead

March 13, 1945 – Aug. 29, 2025

Cassandra Ledford Milstead, age 80, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 29, 2025, at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital.

Born in Buncombe County, North Carolina, Cassandra was the daughter of the late Thomas and Marjorie Blake Ledford. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Mark and Thomas Ledford.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 47 years, Horace Milstead of Southern Pines; her son, Jason Milstead and wife Janelle of Bluemont, VA; her daughter, Maria Fontenoy and husband Richard of Caumont-surDurance, Provence, France; and her stepson, Michael “Shawn” Milstead and wife Tina of Etowah, NC. Cassandra was a proud and loving grandmother to Titan Milstead, Frankie Fontenoy, Jaydan Milstead, and Maddan Milstead.

Cassandra was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother, elegant and kind in every way. She will be remembered for the love she shared with her family and the grace with which she lived her life.

Edward McKoy Jr.

Nov. 2, 1940 – Aug. 29, 2025

Mr. Edward McKoy Jr., 84, of Sanford, North Carolina, entered into eternal rest on Friday, August 29, 2025, at West eld Rehabilitation & Health Center, Sanford, North Carolina.

Please keep the family and friends of Mr. Edward McKoy Jr. in your thoughts and prayers.

Arrangements are entrusted to McLeod Funeral Home of Sanford, North Carolina.

obituaries

Beverly Ruth (Corley) Bell

Dec. 13, 1936 – Aug. 22, 2025

Beverly Ruth (Corley) Bell passed away peacefully on August 22, 2025, at the age of 88, following a brief illness. Born in Andalusia, Alabama, Beverly was the beloved daughter of Alton Julian and Mildred Lorene (Burke) Corley. She spent her early years in Andalusia before making her home in Pensacola, Florida.

A devoted mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother, wife, and friend, Beverly’s life was centered around the people she loved. Her greatest joy came from being surrounded by family-her home always open, her heart always full, and her kitchen always ready with mimosas, wine, and warm hospitality. She found delight in cooking, entertaining, doting on her dogs, and creating a space where everyone felt welcome. Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Darlene Corley, and her son-in-law Alan Dretel. She is survived by her loving husband, Tommy Bell of Montgomery, Alabama, and her six children: Rhonda Dretel; Sheri and Michael Snow; Ron and Maria Nursey; Je Nursey; Robert and DeeDee Nursey; and Jonathan Bell. She was a proud grandmother to nine and a greatgrandmother to fourteen, each of whom brought her immense pride and joy.

In keeping with her wishes, Beverly was cremated and will be laid to rest at Evergreen Memorial Park in Columbus, Georgia, beside her mother.

A celebration of her life will be announced at a later date, where family and friends will gather to honor the beautiful legacy she leaves behind.

To honor Beverly’s lifelong love of dogs, the family kindly requests that donations be made in her memory to Best Friends Animal Society, The Humane Society, or a local dog rescue organization of your choice. Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.

Harold “Hal” Paul Krebs

May 6, 1938 – Aug. 24, 2025

Harold Paul Krebs, 87, of Southern Pines and formerly Annapolis, MD, passed peacefully at Peak Resources in Carthage on Sunday, August 24, 2025.

Born in The Bronx, May 6, 1938, he was the son of the late Emanuel and Thelma Becker Krebs. After graduating from high school, Hal signed up and served in the U.S. Army Reserves. He and his rst wife raised two children in Brooklyn while working in the family furniture store. Hal moved to New Jersey in the early 1980s, starting a career as a sales manager, and worked his way up to VP of Sales.

In the mid-1990s, Hal met Mary Ellen Ley while on vacation in Mexico. The couple settled in Annapolis, MD, in 1995, where they worked and enjoyed boating and hiking. They had many adventures cruising the Chesapeake Bay, Intracoastal Waterway, and the Bahamas. After retirement, he took a parttime job driving a limousine, sharing stories and entertaining his passengers. Hal and Mary Ellen retired to Moore County in 2017, with Hal becoming an avid Pickleballer. He was a man with a great sense of humor and a knack for making people laugh, but his true love and pride was his family. Hal was the husband of Mary Ellen Ley. He was the father of Cheryl Sherbal, husband Barry and the late Scott Krebs. Hal is also survived by his grandchildren Jack and Julia. In addition to his son and parents, Hal is preceded in death by his sister Rosalind Carmiris. Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.

Sept. 17, 1940 – Aug. 25, 2025

William H. Norris, 84, of Carthage, N.C., passed away at his home on Monday, August 25, 2025.

Robert McLeod Jr.

Nov. 11, 1949 – Aug. 25, 2025

Mr. Robert McLeod Jr. 75, of Jackson Springs, North Carolina, entered into eternal rest on Monday, August 25, 2025, at First Health Moore Regional, Pinehurst, North Carolina. Please keep the family and friends of Mr. Robert McLeod Jr. in your thoughts and prayers.

Arrangements are entrusted to McLeod Funeral Home of Southern Pines, North Carolina.

Sybil Hunsucker Tyndall

March 23, 1941 – Aug. 30, 2025

Sybil Hunsucker Tyndall, age 84, of Aberdeen, passed away on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at FirstHealth Hospice House, surrounded by family.

Sybil was born in Hoke County on March 23, 1941, to the late Edward Hunsucker and Mary Sessoms McInnis. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Kathy Ann Bosworth, son, Michael Baker, granddaughter, Bridget Nelms, and sister, Jean Koch. She enjoyed reading her Bible and spending time with family. She was a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and friend and will be forever remembered.

She is survived by her husband of 37 years, Larry Tyndall; children, Pam Stancell of Carthage, Randy Baker of Aberdeen, Debbie Alston of Nashville, NC; grandchildren, Raymond Walker, Chris Roberts, Ti any Baker, Ashley Alston, Samantha Alston, Clifton Alston, Michael Green, Jennifer Baker, and Taylor Bosworth.

Services will be posted when available.

Carl E. Anders Jr.

Jan. 29, 1944 – Aug. 31, 2025

Carl Eugene Anders Jr., passed away on Sunday, August 31, 2025. He was the husband of Nancy L. Anders. He was a U.S. Army veteran. A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Friday, September 5, 2025, at Pinehurst United Methodist Church. Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home.

Marie Louise Hollendorfer

March 27, 1948 –Aug. 30, 2025

Marie Louise Hollendorfer passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 30, 2025. She was born on March 27, 1948, in Akron, Ohio. A selfproclaimed city girl, Marie took time to warm up to her smalltown life. It was the friendships she made those rst few years that truly made North Carolina feel like home and the perfect place to raise her family.

Marie is survived by her husband of 54 years, Frank Hollendorfer of West End; her children, Christine Marie Hollendorfer of Greenville, North Carolina, and Paul Garth Hollendorfer and his wife, Mia, of Locust, North Carolina.

Marie and her family are members of Our Savior Lutheran Church located in Southern Pines.

Marie loved the beach, Las Vegas, and her travels with her best friend, Lois Harvey of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. In lieu of owers, please consider a donation in her memory to First Health Hospice and Palliative Care, 150 Applecross Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374.

William H. Norris

Judith Boles

June 7, 1943 – Aug. 22, 2025

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Judith Boles who passed away peacefully on August 22, 2025. Born on June 7, 1943 in Marblehead, Massachusetts to Robert Arnold and Helen Breed Arnold, Judy lived a life full of passion, strength and dignity. She graduated from Smith College in 1965 with a degree in Psychology and went on to help children in that eld. After college, Judy worked with at-risk youth in TX, OH, and in MI, where she was named Volunteer of the Year from the State of Michigan in 1970 for her service at the Children’s Psychiatric Hospital.

Judy married her beloved husband John in 1965. This December was to be their 60th wedding anniversary. In addition to TX, OH, and MI the couple lived in NC and CO. Judy continued her work with at-risk youth right up until having children of her own. In 1977 Judy moved back to the town grew up in, Niskayuna NY. It was here that Judy embraced her husband’s lifelong passion for cars and developed her own strong a nity for Porsches in particular. Judy was active on the National Board of the Porsche Club of America, the largest car club in the world. She held the title of Treasurer and Secretary before becoming the rst woman President of the Porsche Club of America. This marked the rst woman to ever hold this o ce across all international branches

Horace Franklin Russell

April 12, 1942 – Aug. 28, 2025

Horace Franklin Russell, age 83, passed peacefully in his home in West End, NC, on August 28, 2025. Born April 12, 1942, he was a man of many talents, which he shared with his community and his family. All who knew him remember his feisty, erce spirit, and his kindness and compulsion to tirelessly lend his talents to his friends and family. He painted cars, buildings, homes, and his grandkids’ bedrooms. He taught many how to play the game of golf and played golf himself. Horace xed cars for everyone and restored them as a hobby, and helped out doing odds and ends work for whoever called on him. He is loved and missed by many.

Horace, also called “Papa” by his grandkids, is survived by his Wife, Glendora; his Son, Rodney (Missy); Daughter, Karen (John); grandkids Joshua, Jenna, Sara (Tim) and Molly; great grandkids, Ellie and Theo; his brother Reece, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents Floyd and Pauline, brothers Roger, Gene, and Jackie.

There will be a graveside burial service at Taylor Memorial Baptist Church on September 13, 2025, at 4 p.m.

In lieu of owers or food, please consider making a donation either to The First Tee of the Sandhills, 135 W Vermont Ave., Southern Pines, NC 28387, in memory of Papa’s passion for golf and teaching it to those he loved, or to FirstHealth Hospice & Palliative Care, 251 Campground Road, West End, NC 27376, in honor of the excellent support and care they provided to Papa and the family.

of the organization. The role was an honor and source of pride for Judy, leading to countless appearances and encounters throughout the country and in Germany where Judy was honored by Peter Porsche himself.

When she moved to CT in 1986, Judy embraced the chance to learn a new career. Drawing from her keen business sense and the love of real estate she developed from re-locating so many times, Judy became a successful realtor, practicing and holding her real estate license in CT and later in IN.

Judy’s zest for life and drive and determination to live life to the fullest continued after retirement. Judy continued to travel, voyaging abroad on numerous occasions. Judy also stayed active as a member of the Porsche Club, Pinehurst Golf Club, many social groups including reading, knitting, tness, and playing cards (Judy’s favorite pastimes). She cherished the countless friendships she made within these groups.

Judy was known for her boundless energy and witty sense of humor, paired with her uncanny ability to befriend everyone she met. Judy loved to talk and cherished daily conversations with her countless friends and beloved family. We will miss Judy’s outgoing nature and her ability to make us laugh until we cried.

She is survived by her husband John, her younger daughter Kristin and her adoring grandchildren, Tabitha, Michaela, Dylan and Esther. She was preceded in death by her beloved older daughter, Stephanie.

A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at Boles Funeral Home in Southern Pines on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 1 p.m.

Judy will be deeply missed, and we are forever grateful for the time we had with her and the love she gave us.

Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Pinehurst.

Delois Jean Moore

July 13, 1949 – Aug. 25, 2025

Delois Jean Phillips Moore, wife and mother of two sons, was born July 13, 1949, in Moore County to Jesse Phillips and Flossie Burns Phillips. Delois passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at FirstHealth Hospice in West End on Monday, August 25, 2025. Delois is preceded in death by her father, Jesse Phillips, and mother, Flossie Burns Phillips; brothers, Edward Phillips and Darrell Phillips. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Jerry Everette Moore, of Robbins, NC, sons: Je rey Alan Moore and wife Kathy, of Asheboro, NC, and Jonathan Mark Moore and wife Jennifer, of West End, NC; grandchildren: Jessica Moore Qualls (Andrew) and Jennifer Moore Harmon (Je rey; three great grandchildren: Logan Qualls, Jabe Harmon, and Jubilee Harmon; brother Charles Phillips; many friends.

Delois was a natural caregiver, caring for her family and friends in times of need. She always put others rst. This is why the family is so thankful for all those who cared for her, allowing Jerry to keep Delois at home for the past several years, as well as the entire sta at FirstHealth Hospice for the amazing care they provided to her, as well as the family.

Funeral service will be at 2 p.m., on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at Bright Light Baptist Church, with Reverend Sammy McNeill and Reverend Michael Poindexter o ciating. Burial will follow in Pine Rest Cemetery. The family will receive friends prior to the service, beginning at 1 p.m. In Lieu of owers, the family asks that contributions be made to FirstHealth Hospice Palliative Care at FirstHealth Hospice Foundation, 150 Applecross Road, Pinehurst, NC 28274. Kennedy Funeral Home is serving the Moore family.

Charles Bierbauer, longtime CNN correspondent, dead at age 83

The former White House correspondent became USC communications dean

The Associated Press

CHAPIN, S.C. — Charles Bierbauer, former CNN correspondent and a past president of the White House Correspondents Association who later became dean of the University of South Carolina’s journalism program, has died. He was 83.

Bierbauer died last Friday at his home in Spruce Pine in Mitchell County, where he had been living in retirement, according to university spokesman Je Stensland. No direct cause was given, but the family’s obituary said “his generous heart gave out after a good, long life.”

Bierbauer’s journalism career began in his native Pennsylvania, where early on he was a weekend reporter for media outlet WKAP. After a year as a reporter for The Associated Press in Pittsburgh, Bierbauer worked for several other outlets, winning an Overseas Press Club Award in 1973 for his reporting on the Yom Kippur War.

According to his family, Bierbauer was once detained in Moscow’s Red Square while lming an anti-Soviet demonstration. While covering Muhammed Ali’s 1978 travels in the Soviet Union, Bierbauer was denounced by the Soviet press for “asking impertinent questions.”

After four years with ABC News, Bierbauer began two decades at CNN, starting just a year after the network’s inception. Over the next 20 years, Bierbauer would cover the Pentagon, White House, the U.S. Supreme Court and an array of political stories and presidential campaigns. He also hosted the weekly current events show “Newsmaker Saturday” for a decade and regularly traveled with presidents across the country and to dozens of foreign nations.

Afterward, Bierbauer moved to South Carolina, where he became the rst dean of the state agship university’s College of Information and Communications, a merger of the mass communications and library science programs. Launching Cocky’s Reading Express, a childhood literacy initiative, Bierbauer also led a multimillion-dollar fundraising and renovation effort that moved the school from the outdated Carolina Coliseum to a state-of-the-art building on South Carolina’s historic Horseshoe.

While in academia, Bierbauer continued his passion for broadcasting by hosting a weekly current events program and moderating scores of debates among political candidates vying for ofces in the state, through a partnership with SCETV. Jay Bender, a former attorney for the South Carolina Press Association and retired professor who served under Bierbauer, remembered him as a distinguished broadcaster and educator.

“His contributions to the USC Journalism School as dean were signi cant,” Bender said, speci cally mentioning the project that modernized the school and moved it to its current location.

Tom Reichert, who succeeded Bierbauer as communications dean, echoed Bender’s sentiments, recalling his predecessor’s “profound impact on the program.”

“He is fondly remembered for many achievements, including fundraising and supporting students who went on to win Pulitzer Prizes,” Reichert said in a statement to The Associated Press. “He will be deeply missed.”

Bierbauer was married to Susanne Schafer, a longtime military a airs reporter for the AP. He earned degrees in journalism and Russian from Penn State University and is survived by Schafer, as well as four children, several grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

In a statement to the AP, a network spokesperson remembered Bierbauer as “a cherished member of the CNN family” and “tireless reporter and wonderful colleague.”

“Charles inspired me and helped me throughout my assignments at the Pentagon and the White House,” Wolf Blitzer, Bierbauer’s former CNN colleague, told the AP in a statement. “He was a good friend, colleague, and mentor, and I will certainly miss him.”

Angela Mortimer Barrett, former Wimbledon champ, dead at 93

Mortimer Barrett won three Grand Slam titles despite partial deafness

The Associated Press

LONDON — Angela Mortimer Barrett, who overcame partial deafness and an intestinal infection to win three Grand Slam singles titles including 1961 Wimbledon, died last Monday at age 93.

The All England Club made the announcement.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Angela Mortimer Barrett, Wimbledon’s oldest surviving ladies’ singles champion,” club chair Deborah Jevans said.

A late bloomer to tennis at 14, Mortimer Barrett was ready to play the Grand Slam events by 19 and won her rst major title at the 1955 French Championships, beating Dorothy Knode of the U.S. 2-6, 7-5, 10-8 in the nal. At 8-8 in the last set, she said she knew she was going to win when she heard Knode ask for a brandy.

By then, Mortimer Barrett’s hearing was failing. Being able to hear the ball coming o the strings is a major aid to most.

“I could hear the applause of the crowd but not much else,” Mortimer told the International Tennis Hall of Fame website. “It helped me concentrate, shutting out distractions. When I hear players say they need to hear the ball, I smile. I couldn’t.”

She returned to the French nal in 1956 but lost to Althea Gibson.

Recurring bouts of illness were eventually diagnosed as entomoebic dysentry. She cured it with a three -week starvation diet but lost a lot of weight that made her weak. Mortimer Barrett’s comeback included her only trip to Australia in 1958, when she won her second Grand Slam singles title, beating fellow Brit Lorraine Coghlan 6 -3, 6 - 4 in the nal, and also reached the nals of the doubles and mixed doubles.

Later that year, she got to her rst Wimbledon nal unseeded — only ve women have done so — but lost to Gibson. Against the odds, again, she advanced to the 1961nal. She upset top -seeded San-

dra Reynolds of South Africa 11-9, 6 -3 in the semi nals. In the rst all-British nal since 1914, Christine Truman led 6 - 4, 4 -3 but fell and lost momentum. Mortimer Barrett ground out a 4 - 6, 6 - 4, 7-5 victory. Two months later, she reached the semi nals of the U.S. Championships, her best nish at that event. It was the only year she reached No. 1. She also won the 1955 Wimbledon doubles title with Anne Shilcock.

Mortimer Barrett was inducted into the International Hall of Fame in 1993, followed by her husband John Barrett in 2014. The only other married couple in the Hall is Ste Graf and Andre Agassi.

JEFFREY COLLINS / AP PHOTO

U.S. Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia, left, and Stephen Breyer, center, talk to moderator Charles Bierbauer, right, at a debate before the South Carolina Bar on Jan. 21, 2012, in Columbia, South Carolina.

DAVE CAULKIN / AP PHOTO

Former Wimbledon champions Angela Mortimer Barrett, left, of 1961, and Anne Jones, right, of 1969, ank a bust of fellow champion Virginia Wade at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in London in 2004.

STATE & NATION

PBS, NPR stations struggle with Trump-fueled government funding cuts

Emergency fundraising e orts show strong support from viewers

By David Bauder The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Coping with a sudden loss in federal funding, PBS a liate KSPS in Spokane, Washington, faced a surprise extra hurdle. Many of its contributing members — at one point almost half — lived in Canada, and they were withdrawing support out of anger at President Donald Trump’s desire to make the country the 51st member of the United States.

When Congress decided this summer to eliminate $1.1 billion allocated to public broadcasting, it left some 330 PBS and 246 NPR stations, each with unique issues related to their communities and history, to gure out what that means.

Many launched emergency fund drives and are heartened by the response. The national NPR and PBS networks are reducing expected dues payments, and a philanthropic effort focused on the hardest-hit stations is taking shape. No stations have shut down, but job and programming cuts are already beginning.

In Spokane, KSPS has always tried to keep its requests for member donations separate from appeals for public funding. Not anymore. Congress left the station with a $1.2 million hole to ll, about 18% of its budget, and the station is using that as a pretext to seek help from listeners.

“We have de nitely seen some attrition from our Canadian members,” said Skyler Reep, the station’s interim general manager.

Pleas for donations exceed expectations in many parts of country

Long suspicious of a liberal bent to public media news coverage, Republicans in Congress responded to President Donald Trump’s wishes in July and eliminated funding for the systems. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which distributes the funding, has taken steps to shut down.

In some parts of the country, the answer to pleas for help have exceeded expectations.

Public radio station WHQR in Wilmington raised more than $200,000 in three days, lling a $174,000 hole and then some.

It’s a small community growing fast with an in ux of retirees, many who depend on the station’s news to learn about their new home, said general manager Kevin Crane.

With $525,000 gone from its budget, Hawaii Public Radio has already raised $650,000 in an emergency fund drive. “It’s a validation that what you’re doing is essential to the community and is appreciated by the community,” said Meredith Artley, president and CEO. The 2023 wildres in Maui and their aftermath were covered steadily by Hawaii Public Radio news reporters.

“The initial response in terms of support for both stations and the NPR network has been extraordinary,” said Katherine Maher, NPR president. “People did a lot of work leading up to the vote, in actions and calls. When that did not prove convincing, they turned to direct support.”

Stations across the country have stories that make them smile: the youngster from Florida who collected money for public stations in Alaska, sending a note written in crayon; the reg-

ular $300 donor who came in to PBS SoCal with a $100,000 check, one of three six- gure donations the station has received.

Most stations aren’t in areas with so many wealthy donors. Most station managers are like Je Hanks of PBS’s LPTV in Lakeland, Minnesota. He lies awake wondering where he will nd $1 million to pay for things like his station’s nightly newscast, a primary news source for central and northern Minnesota.

“These are extremely, extremely challenging times,” Hanks said. “We’re ghting hard every way we can.”

He knows membership donations won’t make up for what is missing. Both PBS and NPR have taken steps to reduce the annual dues that stations pay for programming and other services. At PBS, it’s an average 15% reduction, but needy stations get more — in one case, more than half of next year’s dues will be forgiven, said PBS president Paula Kerger.

Adopting stations in poorer, more rural areas

NPR is encouraging donors in wealthier areas to adopt stations in poorer ones, perhaps in an area where a contributor has emotional ties.

Public media leaders are also working with a group of philanthropists led by the Knight and MacArthur foundations that is hoping to raise some $50 million to support stations in areas hardest hit be the cuts. Ed Ulman, president and CEO of Alaska Public Media, which represents nearly two dozen radio and television stations in the largest state, said he’ll be seeking money from this fund.

Ulman said he’s been buoyed

“The initial response in terms of support for both stations and the NPR network has been extraordinary.”

Katherine Maher, NPR president

by the response from Alaskans in their e ort to raise $15 million through various sources by October. The services their stations provide is free, and citizens see its value.

“I’ve never been worried about the future of public television or radio because our community needs us,” he said, “and what we’ve seen in Alaska is an outcry about that.”

Still, Alaska Public Media has suspended the weekly public affairs television show “Alaska Insight,” which isn’t returning after a summer hiatus. The future of “Indie Alaska,” a weekly video series highlighting the lives of Alaskans, is also in danger.

Some stations are already making the di cult decisions of cutting sta , In Spokane, for example, 12 of KSPS’s 35 sta members have either been laid o , had their hours reduced or seen their pay cut. Reep is also considering that future seasons of local shows like “Northwest Pro les” or the arts showcase “Inland Sessions” will have fewer episodes. Similar programming decisions are also being weighed on a national level. While several upcoming shows, like Ken Burns’ six-part miniseries “The American Revolution” scheduled for November, are completed, PBS will have to consider making shorter seasons of its series, Kerger said.

“We’re working very hard so that the public doesn’t feel that there’s a change,” Kerger said.

Looking for ways to share services

Between an increase in donations and “rainy day” resources set aside, the initial impact of the government action may be minimized. But that brings its own worries: It’s unlikely public media will be able to count on sympathy donors to the same extent in the future. And there’s a risk that some politicians will feel the response proves that public support isn’t necessary.

The bigger reckoning may come a year from now, Kerger said. “I am a realist,” she said. “I have to believe that there are some vulnerable stations that are not going to make it.”

The crisis is forcing some public stations to work together, searching for ways to share services in areas not before contemplated, in things likenances, management and programming, said Andy Russell, president and CEO of PBS SoCal. Public stations in Washington are meeting to see if they can get state nancing.

In Los Angeles, PBS SoCal has shared some of its templates for fundraising appeals with other stations. Several celebrities — people like Kerry Washington, Jack Black, Ziggy Marley, John Lithgow and John Leguizamo — have volunteered to lm pitches, and the station is making them available nationwide too, said Maura Daly Phinney, senior vice president for membership engagement and strategy.

“We’re going to make it,” Phinney said. “The system is going to be di erent. But we’re going to make it.”

Activist investor takes $4B stake in ailing PepsiCo

Elliott hopes to revitalize the company’s business

By Michelle Chapman

The Associated Press

ACTIVIST INVESTOR El-

liott Investment Management is taking a $4 billion stake in PepsiCo saying there’s an opportunity to revive the snack and drinks company.

Years of double-digit price increases from PepsiCo and changing customer preferences has weakened demand for its drinks and snacks, the company said in February. In July PepsiCo said that it is trying to combat perceptions that its products are too expensive by expanding distribution of value brands like Chester’s and Santitas.

Stubborn in ation has had an

impact on consumer behavior, and many people have cut back on the discretionary purchases that they make.

PepsiCo lowered its full-year earnings expectations in April, citing increased costs from

tari s and a pullback in consumer spending. The company rea rmed that guidance three months later. Its tari costs have risen since then. In June, the Trump administration hiked the tari on import-

ed aluminum from 25% to 50%.

In a letter to PepsiCo’s board, Elliott said that the company is being hurt by a lack of strategic clarity, decelerating growth and eroding pro tability in its North American food and beverage businesses. But the rm still believes in PepsiCo’s potential, particularly noting its growing international business.

“While unfortunate, this disappointing trajectory has created a historic opportunity: With the right mindset and an appropriately ambitious turnaround plan, PepsiCo today represents a rare chance to revitalize a leading global enterprise and unlock signi cant shareholder value,” Elliott said.

Shares of PepsiCo climbed 2% Tuesday. The stock is down nearly 10% over the past 12 months, according to FactSet,

but it is up almost 12% over the past month as Elliott has purchased shares.

Elliott said that it wants to work with PepsiCo’s board and management on ways to improve performance.

“Elliott’s goals at PepsiCo are straightforward: help the company sharpen focus, drive innovation, become more ecient and unlock the value that its leading brands, unmatched scale and world-class employees deserve,” it said.

“The path back to winning is clear and achievable.”

PepsiCo will review Elliott’s recommendations.

“PepsiCo maintains an active and productive dialogue with our shareholders and values constructive input on delivering long-term shareholder value,” it said in a statement Tuesday.

SETH PERLMAN / AP PHOTO Pepsi is one of the biggest beverage brands in the country.