North State Journal Vol. 5, Issue 47 by North State Journal

VOLUME 5 ISSUE 48

WWW.NSJONLINE.COM

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2021

the Wednesday

NEWS BRIEFING

U.S. House impeachment vote set for Wednesday WASHINGTON, D.C. — Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats are going forward with plans to oust President Donald Trump from office. Trump faces a single charge — “incitement of insurrection” — after the deadly Capitol protest. “President Trump gravely endangered the security of the United States and its institutions of Government,” reads the four-page impeachment bill. “He will remain a threat to national security, democracy, and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office,” it reads. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Study: NC’s publicly owned airports contribute $61 billion to the state’s economy, support 373,000 jobs RALEIGH — A new report from the N.C. Dept. of Transportation says that the state’s publicly owned airports contribute $61 billion to the state’s economy and support 373,000 jobs. Airports and aviation-related jobs also provide $15 billion in personal income and contribute $2.5 billion in state and local tax revenues every year, based on 2019 data. “Despite the challenges of 2020, our network of 72 publicly owned airports, and the aviation and aerospace assets that rely on them, still help move our economy forward by creating jobs, supporting business growth and connecting people and companies to markets around the globe,” said Bobby Walston, director of NCDOT’s Division of Aviation. NSJ STAFF

Trump hits Cuba with new terrorism sanctions in waning days WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump administration redesignated Cuba as a “state sponsor of terrorism,” hitting the country with new sanctions that could hamstring Presidentelect Joe Biden’s promise to renew relations with the communist-governed island. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the step, citing in particular Cuba’s continued harboring of U.S. fugitives, its refusal to extradite a coterie of Colombian guerrilla commanders as well as its support for Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Removing Cuba from the blacklist had been one of former President Barack Obama’s main foreign policy achievements as he sought to normalize relations with the island. In addition to attacking Cuba for its support of Maduro, the administration has also suggested that Cuba may have been behind sonic attacks that left dozens of U.S. diplomats in Havana with brain injuries starting in late 2016. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ex-Rep. Batch heading to NC Senate; mayor joining House RALEIGH — A recently defeated state legislator and a small-town mayor have been chosen to fill vacancies at the General Assembly just before the new session convenes. Wake County Democratic activists meeting over the weekend picked former Rep. Sydney Batch and Knightdale Mayor James Roberson to fill seat vacancies. Batch will succeed state Sen. Sam Searcy. Searcy resigned last week after announcing the previous week his decision to step down before the twoyear session begins. Batch had served one term in the House before losing her re-election bid in November to Republican Erin Pare. Roberson will fill a House vacancy created when Rep. Darren Jackson was appointed to the N.C. Court of Appeals by Gov. Roy Cooper. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHOTO BY KATE MEDLEY

Gov. Roy Cooper sworn in to second term North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper takes the oath of office to be sworn in for his second term on Saturday morning. The ceremony had limited in-person attendance due to COVID-19.

NORTH

STATE

JOURNaL ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION

NC legislature returns with some new faces, other familiar ones Jan. 13 marks beginning of session for both state House and Senate By David Larson North State Journal

ent representing districts across the state. But despite the massive amount of money poured into the General Assembly races, much of it by groups hoping to flip one or both chambers blue, the majority of seats remained in the same party’s hands, if not with the same member. Starting at the top, the leadership of both chambers remains the same, with President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Eden) atop the

Phil Berger has a lot left to accomplish

RALEIGH — North Carolina’s legislature returns Wednesday, Jan. 13 for the first official day of session in the 2020-21 biennium, and, as is the case after any major election year, many new faces are pres-

Senate leader discusses session priorities with NSJ

Recent ruling bolsters NC State Treasurer’s Clear Pricing Project

November sounded alarms over funding, ultimately driving Gov. Roy Cooper and the General Assembly to make a deal for those grants to be funded to continBy Matt Mercer ue to build out the state’s broadNorth State Journal band capacity. The state budget process beRALEIGH — The second floor of the Legislative Build- gins on the Senate side this year, ing in Raleigh is one of the most something Berger indicated powerful places in the state the chamber is already talking of North Carolina. It is where about. Berger said Sens. Bent House and Senate leaders work Jackson, Kathy Harrington and and where legislative priorities Ralph Hise, the three incoming co-chairs of the Senate are determined. At the Appropriations Comcorner of the building mittee, are already in is where much of that the process of working power is concentrat“If you’re on budget items. ed. Legislators, lobbyA topic Berger imists and anyone else at a point mediately addressed who wants to get somewhere was a recent infrastructhing done in North ture report from the Carolina must go to you look Transportation Overthis corner office and around and sight Committee. He see Senate Leader Phil said they would look at Berger. The same can don’t see the recommendations, be said for his House problems agreeing that there is a counterpart, Speaker that need funding shortfall relatTim Moore (R-Kings ed to transportation. Mountain). to be “I suspect there Berger, a lawyer addressed, will continue to be from Eden, is entersome discussion about ing his 12th term in the then I whether a bond is chamber and will start question something which will his 10th year as presineed to be taken care dent pro tempore when whether of,” Berger said. he is formally elected to you’re The report Berglead the Senate again looking very er references was auon Wednesday. He is thored by the N.C. entering the 2021 long seriously.” FIRST Commission, session with the chalwhich was established lenges of COVID-19, a Senate Leader in March of 2019 to adgovernor he is often at vise the state’s Transodds with, and probPhil Berger portation secretary on lems he wants to help a strategy for sustainsolve. able long-range transOne of the first orders of business will be to deter- portation investment. The state’s fiscal standing is mine what to do with the allocation of money included in the one of the main reasons Bergfederal COVID omnibus pack- er and Republicans took over age. Berger said legislative lead- the chamber in 2011. In that ers had begun conversations year, the state faced a $2.6 bilwith the executive branch to get lion budget gap. Since that time, recommendations. He said the the state turned a shortfall into goal would be to have the federal a surplus of billions — putting portion done some time in Feb- over $1 billion into the state’s Savings Reserve Fund in addiruary. Legislators also struck an tion to other savings. Yet the coronavirus pandemic agreement on rural broadband funding, with the General As- has Berger and other state leadsembly set to allocate $30 mil- ers cautious in this year’s seslion to the GREAT Grant program. Service providers in See BERGER, page A2

American Hospital Association and NC Hospitals Association both say transparent pricing won’t help consumers By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — A court ruling upholding a Trump administration executive order for increased transparency in healthcare pricing may further bolster State Treasurer Dale Folwell’s pricing transparency program, known as the Clear Pricing Project. The court ruling upheld a Trump administration’s executive order requiring hospitals treating Medicare patients to disclose the rates for services negotiated between the hospital and the insurance companies. The goal of the order is to make health care costs transparent, which in turn is expected to lower costs through increased competition. “This court decision gives us a real path forward to getting rid of secret contracts and pushing the power down to the consumer to make informed decisions when purchasing health care,” Folwell said in a statement. “Health care is the only thing in your life that you purchase that you really don’t know its cost or value. Having clear pricing will go a long way toward decreasing the cost of medical services in this country.” Announced in 2018, the Clear Pricing Project’s (CPP) transparency is like that sought by the Trump order. Folwell’s release says the CPP was created to shift away from a commercial-based payment model to a reference-based, transparent pricing model tied to Medicare rates. “We’re still getting boycotted by the healthcare cartel,” Folwell told North State Journal, referring to the North Carolina Hospitals Association (NCHA). The NCHA pushed back on the CPP and were behind a graffiti cam-

See NCGA, page A2

paign on sidewalks outside the N.C. General Assembly in July of 2019. The graffiti messages were chalk stencils that read, “720,000 voters want you to protect their healthcare. PassHB184.com.” The website address redirected to the NCHA, which claimed responsibility for the messages. The bill mentioned, H.B. 184, sought to stop the CPP but died in the Rules and Operations Committee of the Senate. State Health Plan (SHP) memSee PRICING, page A2

North State Journal for Wednesday, January 13, 2021

A2 WEDNESDAY

THE WORD: WEAKNESS CAN STRENGTHEN LEADERS

1.13.21

Moses was an unlikely leader. Abandoned at birth, he had a speech impediment later in life and disobeyed God. Yet, Moses is a leader for all time, and many other leaders of nations are compared to him. Many eulogies of George Washington called him “America’s Moses.” The first proposal for the Great Seal of the United States — designed by John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin — included a scene of Moses leading the Israelites to freedom with the words “Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God” inscribed around it. Moses was a leader and a lawgiver. He led the Israelites out of the bondage of Egypt and delivered the Ten Commandments at Mount Sanai. The laws delivered by Moses influenced the laws of America and leaders since the Revolutionary War. The Liberty Bell is inscribed with the words of Moses from Leviticus 25. The story of Moses shows us that leadership, and leaders, can arise from humble beginnings, bad circumstances or after oppression. The story of Moses shows that God’s power and blessings can resolve issues that seem to exceed our capabilities or understanding.

#265

“Esse quam videri” Visit us online nsjonline.com North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365) Neal Robbins Publisher Matt Mercer Editor in Chief Cory Lavalette Managing/Sports Editor

LEVITICUS 25:10 PUBLIC DOMAIN

“Moses Smashing the Tablets of the Law” (1659) is a painting by Rembrandt which is part of the Collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin.

And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.

Frank Hill Senior Opinion Editor Emily Roberson Business/Features Editor David Larson Associate Editor Lauren Rose Design Editor

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NCGA from page A1 Senate and Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain) leading the N.C. House. Berger and Moore were able to maintain their positions after Republicans only lost one seat in the Senate, giving them a 28-22 advantage, and gained four in the House, now at a 69-51 GOP advantage. But while only five net seats changed hands, there are many more than five new faces — including those filling seats left open by retirements, primary battles which took out incumbents and even former members retaking their prior seats. On the Senate side, Sen. Sarah Crawford (D-Wake) and Sen. DeAndrea Salvador (D-Mecklenburg), both of whom operate non-profit organizations, flipped their suburban districts blue. SD-39, which Salvador won, had been the district of now-U.S. Congressman Dan Bishop (R-NC9). Despite these wins, the loss of the Wilmington area’s Senate District 9 to Republican Michael Lee gave Democrats only one net gain in the chamber. After retaking his seat from Sen.

PRICING from page A1 bers have been encouraged to use CPP providers, and the SHP’s Board of Trustees has approved SHP design changes for 2021 that the treasurer’s office says will “highlight CPP providers as those who support transparency and affordable health care.” Around 26,000 health care professionals are taking part in the new network so far, and Folwell said 1,000 new providers were added during the recent open enrollment. The SHP overall covers a wide array of around 750,000 state employees, including active and retired state employees, and their dependents. “These providers who have signed up for clear pricing are going to be in the right side of history,” Folwell said. “Being able to drive patients to

BERGER from page A1 sion. Berger said that in addition to federal money the state is expected to receive, finances within the state are also uncertain. “We still are being told by our nonpartisan staff that they don’t feel comfortable giving us a revenue projection from our state resources,” Berger said, referring to the General Assembly’s Fiscal Research Division. However, Berger did say the budget process would move forward and that he expected any other resources that enter the state would be “additional.” Next, Berger talked about his relationship with the executive branch and Cooper, who was sworn into his second term as governor on Saturday, Jan. 9. “You know, we had an election. A good number of the issues the governor treated as priorities were front and center in those elections. In the most competitive and contested areas, our candidates ran on their record, to the extent they were incumbents, and the ones who weren’t incumbents were accused, with Democratic advertising, of supporting everything that we had done. And yet in those races, our candidates came out ahead,” Berger said. Berger further stated that he didn’t want to let some policy disagreements stymie the entire

budgeting process the way it did in 2019 and said there has been more direct communication with the executive branch. “So I think there’s a need for us to concentrate, in terms of the budget, on those things where we can find common ground.” He opened the door to the possibility of the “mini budget” process, in which certain areas of government received funding, saying it was a way to deliver on consensus items to receive funding. “I think there are some things that got left undone. We actually passed raises for teachers, but unfortunately, that got caught up in politics in ways that it shouldn’t have. But I think there should be a high degree of confidence and comfort that we did not allow politics to stop the ordinary functioning of state government.” he said. In 10 years as Senate leader, Berger has ushered in many large changes, like comprehensive tax reform, reforming spending, making changes to education and a host of others. He also made clear he doesn’t plan on going anywhere. “If you’re at a point where you look around and don’t see problems that need to be addressed then I question whether you’re looking very seriously,” Berger stated emphatically. “So there are still things that need to be done. Our tax system is much better

than it was in January 2011, but there are still things that need to be improved. I think the regulatory climate is much better than it was 10 years ago, but there are still some things that need to be done to enhance the private sector.” One of the most politically fraught topics, and one Berger said a lot work still needs to be done in, is education. He said the fact that many children are unable to read by the time they finish third grade shows the system has failed many children. “I’m just going to say it; it’s a failure of the state to live up to what our constitution requires as far as educating our children. I think we need to do more.” Berger said that could mean revamping the Read to Achieve program. He said they tried to do this but were met with a veto by Cooper. “I don’t think it was a disagreement over policy; I think it was politics” he said. Berger also said he thinks there’s room to give parents more say in how the state funded education is delivered to their children. “I don’t care how strong an individual is as an advocate for ‘education.’ They cannot take the place, in my opinion, of a parent in terms of understanding what’s best for that parent’s child or understanding whether or not they are actually receiving the oppor-

tunity to get a good education.” Berger said that he didn’t see the biggest issue in education to be monetary, citing the increases in the past several budgets in education spending. “I know that there are some folks out there who are pushing for more dollars to be spent in education. We’ll look at where the needs are, and I think you’ll find that this General Assembly will provide adequate funding for those real needs. The bigger problem we have in education has to do with the fact that we’ve had kids out of school [during the pandemic] and that we are going to be dealing with the adverse consequences of the lockdowns, as far as schools are concerned, for a long time,” Berger said. “While it’s bad for the state, it’s even worse for many of these students, particularly those students who are in the early part of their education. We already had a problem of kids not learning how to read, which in my opinion is the key to a child’s success. I think the failure to have children, particularly in the early grades, in the classroom was so unnecessary,” he added. Berger finished by saying that continuing to keep schools shut down is “a terrible mistake that is not going to be borne by the adults in the system, but going to be borne by the children who are not getting what we have an obligation to provide them.”

Harper Peterson (D-New Hanover) in a rematch, Lee said, “To those who voted for my opponent, and those who supported my campaign, I offer the same commitment: I will be honest, ethical and fair-minded, and I will use my best efforts and judgment to support every citizen of New Hanover County. You have placed your trust in me to represent you in the N.C. Senate, and I will earn that trust every day.” Another new face in the Senate, although one that is familiar in the halls of the legislature, is Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Macon). Corbin had been a state House member for the same area, but with the retirement of Sen. Jim Davis (R-Macon), Corbin was able to move to the upper chamber. Republican Lisa Stone Barnes of District 11 also moved from the House to a secure Republican seat in the Senate. Many other seats stayed with their party but with changed members. Attorney Amy Galey, for example, will replace retiring Republican Sen. Rick Gunn of District 24, known for his pro-alcohol bills like the “Brunch Bill.” Democrat Ernestine Bazemore of District 3, Republican Michael Lazzara of District 6,

Republican Steve Jarvis of District 29 and Democrat Julie Mayfield of District 49 are all new members who also replaced outgoing members of their own party. A late addition in the group of new Senate faces is Sen. Sydney Batch (D-Wake). Sen. Sam Searcy resigned unexpectedly after securing re-election to the District 17 seat. Batch, who had lost her House seat in November, was then selected by local activists to complete Searcy’s not-yet-started term. Searcy said he had “another opportunity to serve the people of North Carolina” and thought it would be less disruptive to leave before his term began in earnest. On the House side, Republicans gained six seats and lost two, for a net gain of four seats. GOP gains include HD-43, the Fayetteville area seat of Rep. Elmer Floyd (D-Cumberland), who lost his primary to Kimberly Hardy. Hardy then lost the seat 52% to 48% to Republican Dianne Wheatley. Republican now-Rep. Ben Moss of Richmond County not only flipped House District 66 red, but did it by a convincing 20-point margin. Moss is a railroad work-

er from Rockingham and was able to win the rural district by running on conservative values. Like many rural areas, District 66 voters are traditionally Democrat but see the modern party as too far left. The Democrats knew it would be hard to hold on to the seat, but Moss showed the area is likely out of their grasp for the near future. While rural areas continued their shift away from Democrats, suburbs and smaller cities maintained their status as the battleground. Four suburban or smaller city seats that flipped blue in 2018 — HD-37 in Wake County, HD98 in Mecklenburg County, HD93 south of Asheville and HD-119 in Boone — flipped back. Two seats in suburban or small city districts — HD-9 in the Greenville area and NC-63 in the growing suburban county of Alamance, sandwiched between the Piedmont Triad to its west and Research Triangle to its east — flipped from red to blue. Those two seats were won by young millennial Democrats: Rep. Brian Farkas, a 33-year-old who has served in a number of political and non-profit roles; and Rep. Ricky Hurtado, a 32-year-old UNC

Chapel Hill instructor and community activist. Just like on the Senate side, there are also many other House members who filled seats vacated by their party. These include Republican Reps. Steve Tyson of District 3, Matthew Winslow of District 7, Charles Miller of District 19, David Willis of District 68, Jeff Zenger of District 74, Sam Watford of District 80, Dudley Greene of District 85, Grey Mills Jr of District 95, Mark Pless of District 118 and Karl Gillespie of District 120. For the Democrats, new members who held onto empty seats for their party include Reps. Abraham Jones of District 38, Amber Baker of District 72 and Terry Brown Jr of District 92. Three Republican House members — Reps. John Bradford III, Mike Clampitt and Tim Moffitt — are not entirely new but are returning to the chamber. Bradford defeated Rep. Christy Clark in a rematch, after she won his seat in 2018; Clampitt won a fifth rematch against Joe Sam Queen, which has seen them passing the seat back and forth; and Moffitt won an adjacent seat to one he lost in 2014.

people who don’t want anything to do with secret contracts anymore is a value to the provider, it’s a value to the patient and it’s a value to the State Health Plan.” According to the press release by Folwell’s office, members will be able to visit a CPP Primary Care Provider for a $0 copay versus the current copay of up to $45. Additionally, CPP specialist rates may be as low as $40 instead of the current $80 to $94. The move towards medical pricing transparency by the Trump administration was legally challenged by the American Hospital Association (AHA), alleging the rule was outside statutory provisions of the Affordable Care Act, and it also constituted a violation of the First Amendment. AHA lost the case in June 2020 in federal court, and in

late December, a federal appeals court upheld the ruling after an appeal was filed by AHA. The AHA has also filed an emergency stay motion to stop the new pricing rules, which when into effect on Jan. 1. Regarding the lawsuit, Folwell said it was “sad” because “we shouldn’t need a law or executive order to tell us what’s right and what’s wrong.” In a statement, AHA’s general counsel Melinda Hatton said, “The AHA continues to believe that the disclosure of privately negotiated rates does nothing to help patients understand what they will actually pay for treatment and will create widespread confusion for them.” Hatton also said such disclosure “will accelerate anticompetitive behavior among commercial health insurers and hinder innovations in

value-based care delivery.” Cynthia Charles, vice president of communications and public relations for NCHA, said their organization agreed with the AHA’s statement. “We agree with the AHA’s statement on the new rule, which creates another unfunded burden on providers with little return to our patients,” Charles wrote in an email to North State Journal. “The data is already available in a similar format on the State’s transparency website, yet receives little traffic.” Charles said that regardless of the new rule, it is most efficient for patients to contact hospitals directly to get information needed to make informed decisions about care, and that “we are happy to help them.” Charles said that “compiling and displaying negotiated rates for each

health plan with which the hospital contracts is burdensome to hospitals,” especially during COVID-19. “No other industry has been expected to divulge negotiated rates between the business and the vendor, including those who provide other, non-healthcare services to government entities,” said Charles in the email. “Some elected officials who point to our costs are ignoring their own role in the rising price to consumers.” Charles continued, “Adequately paying for the populations they have chosen to insure through Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Health Plan, plus providing avenues for others to receive care either through Medicaid expansion or job growth, would be a better role for the government than meddling in the negotiations of private entities.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, January 13, 2021

New study on COVID transmission in NC schools shows no reported child-toadult transmission By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

CAROLYN KASTER | AP PHOTO

President-elect Joe Biden introduces his nominee for secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona, at The Queen Theater in Wilmington, Del., Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020.

Future uncertain for Trump order expanding education choices during pandemic By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — With the incoming Biden administration signaling it will be more hostile to school choice initiatives, the future may be uncertain for an executive order issued on Dec. 28, 2020, by President Donald Trump expanding school choice options to counter school closures during the pandemic. “The prolonged deprivation of in-person learning opportunities has produced undeniably dire consequences for the children of this country,” the order reads. The executive order would allow states to use Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds to grant “emergency learning scholarships” to disadvantaged families. The order follows the passage of a new $900 billion coronavirus relief package signed by President Trump. The scholarships can be used for tuition and fees for a private or parochial school, or be used for homeschooling, micro-school or learning-pod costs. Tutoring and remedial education costs also apply. Perhaps most importantly, the scholarships can also be used by students with special education needs for services and therapy. “Unfortunately, more than 50% of all public-school students in the United States began school remotely this fall,” says the order. “These children, including those with special needs, are being underserved due to the public education system’s failure to provide in-person learning options.” The CSBG’s are funded up to $775 million for fiscal year 2021 and are typically used for various programs that benefit or aid low-income communities such as nutrition, health care, and housing needs but the funds can be also used for education purposes. The CSBG funds are usually administered by state health and human services departments. In

“The prolonged deprivation of in-person learning opportunities has produced undeniably dire consequences for the children of this country.” President Donald Trump in an executive order North Carolina, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) administers the funds. In an email, North State Journal asked NCDHHS about the order but has not yet received a response. President-elect Joe Biden’s public statements in the realm of education indicate he will seek to dismantle school choice options involving charters and vouchers promoted by the Trump administration. At a December 2019 education forum held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Biden told attendees “And so, the point is, if I’m president, [Education Secretary] Betsy DeVos’ whole notion from charter schools to this are gone.” Earlier in 2020 at an endorsement event by the National Education Association (NEA), Biden said “No privately funded charter school — or private charter school — would receive a penny of federal money.” At a July 2020 NEA event, Biden seemed to indicate unions were in the driver’s seat in his administration. “When we win this election, we’re going to get the support you need and the respect you deserve,” Biden said. “You don’t just have a partner in the White House, you’ll have an NEA member in the White House.” At the same event, Biden seemed to suggest that teachers,

not students, were the priority, stating that his administration “is going to be a teacher-oriented Department of Education.” Biden selected Connecticut’s education Commissioner Miguel Cardona as his education secretary nominee. The choice was praised by the presidents of the nation’s two largest teachers’ unions. In his remarks after being selected, Cardona said, “It should not take a pandemic for us to realize how important teachers are this country. We must embrace the opportunity to reimagine education — and build it back better.” Biden has vowed to reopen most schools in “the first 100 days” of his administration although the incoming president does not possess that authority. Biden says he will reopen schools by sending more funding for school districts to implement COVID-19 safety protocols. Biden has not indicated how much funding that might be. K-12 education has already received nearly $68 billion additional funding between the CARES Act and the passage of the most recent COVID-19 relief package. Passed in March of 2020, the $2 trillion CARES Act allotted $13.5 billion in relief money specifically for K-12 education and another $3 billion for governors to use as they saw fit for K-12 and higher education via the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund. North Carolina received around $431 billion in CARES Act funds for education. In August, Gov. Roy Cooper allocated $95.6 million from GEER to aid K-12 and post-secondary education due to the pandemic. The $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill, passed in late December and signed by Trump, includes $54.3 billion for K-12 schools. Higher education will receive around $22.7 billion. Another $4 billion will go to the GEER Fund, $2.7 billion of which goes to private schools.

RALEIGH — A pre-publication release of a study to be published in the Journal of American Pediatrics looks at COVID-19 transmission in schools in North Carolina. The findings may help answer the question of whether K-12 schools can be fully reopened in the second semester for in-person instruction using the current safety measures. The study, titled Incidence and Secondary Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Schools, was produced by 13 doctoral and medical professionals associated with a number of medical organizations in the Triangle area. Organizations involved include Duke “In the first Clinical Research Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Duke’s De- 9 weeks of partment of Pediatrics and Department of in-person Population Health Sciences, the ABC Science Collaborative, Frank Porter Graham instruction in NC Child Development Institute, the Univer- schools, we found sity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and extremely limited Chapel Hill’s School of Medicine. The study spanned 11 school districts within-school and nearly 100,000 students and staff that secondary were open for nine weeks of in-person instruction. The researchers tracked sec- transmission of ondary transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the SARS-CoV-2, as cause of COVID-19, and found that “within-school infections were extremely rare.” determined by “In the first 9 weeks of in-person in- contact tracing.” struction in NC schools, we found extremely limited within-school secondary transmission of SARS-CoV-2, as deter- Journal of American mined by contact tracing,” the study’s con- Pediatrics study clusion states. The study also found “No instances of child-to adult transmission of SARS-CoV-2 were reported within schools.” Gov. Roy Cooper closed all K–12 public schools to in-person instruction on March 14, 2020. Schools remained closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. In mid-July of last year, Cooper made the announcement that schools could open under the state’s Plan B, which is a mix of remote and in-person instruction. He also left it up to the districts if they wished to remain on Plan C, which is remote instruction only. The impact of the closures on students has been concerning to many. At the final meeting of the legislature’s committee dealing with COVID-19 education issues, officials with the State Board of Education and Department of Public Instruction revealed 19% of students had not regularly been attending classes. Additionally, attendance data indicated the statewide average daily membership (ADM) had fallen by over 27,000 public school students. At the end of December, state education officials estimated about 10,000 to 15,000 public school students cannot be accounted for this school year. In August 2020, 56 of the state’s 115 school districts partnered with the ABC Science Collaborative, a joint project of Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The goal of the partnership was to implement the appropriate mitigation measures to prevent transmission of the virus and then share what was being learned. Out of the 56 participating districts, 11 were open for in-person instruction for all nine weeks of the first quarter. Superintendents in those districts agreed to report on primary and secondary cases collected each week from schools over the fall quarter, spanning Aug. 15 through Oct. 23. The results from that quarter showed 773 community-acquired infections documented by molecular testing out of the more than 90,000 students and staff. Using contact tracing methods, health departments found an additional 32 infections were acquired within schools. N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) state health director and chief medical officer Dr. Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson told the N.C. State Board of Education last fall that “we are not seeing schools as a big driver of cases,” and that children “have relatively low rates of infection and are not driving our increases.” More recently, at the January meeting of the N.C. State Board of Education, a presentation by NCDHHS Chief Deputy Secretary Susan Gale-Perry noted that DHHS did expect the number of COVID-19 cases to keep rising, calling it a “post-Christmas spike,” but that the number of clusters in K-12 schools was “relatively low.”

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North State Journal for Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Murphy to Manteo

Jones & Blount

Blood donation across NC

Andrew Heath appointed as director of NC Administrative Office of the Courts

January is National Blood Donor Month. While the month is intended to celebrate volunteer donors and raise awareness of the need for blood donations, it also comes during a time of need for blood banks. With holiday scheduling keeping donors busy, January is always a time when organizations like the American Red Cross push for new donors. About 36,000 units of red blood cells and 7,000 units of platelets are needed each day in the U.S. To locate a donor location, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800RED CROSS.

NSJ staff RALEIGH — Andrew Heath, a Wake County Superior Court judge, was tapped by Chief Justice Paul Newby to serve as the director of the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts. His role will be to manage and oversee the administrative services provided to the state judicial branch’s more than 6,400 employees and hundreds of courthouses and facilities in all 100 counties. Heath began in the role on Friday, Jan. 8. “His broad experience and in-depth wisdom gained in the Judicial Branch and throughout state government make him an excellent choice for this important work,” said Newby. “Judge Heath stands ready to work with courts statewide to assist and equip them with the resources and equipment they need to administer equal justice for all.” Heath previously served as the N.C.

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WEST

Internet outage closes schools

Veteran breaks record for ‘Pitchell’ race in Asheville Buncombe County Kyle Curtin, a 34-year-old Army veteran, thought a holiday trip to Asheville to see his folks would be nicely wrapped with a 62-mile run to the highest peak in the eastern United States. On Dec. 21, the winter solstice, Curtin not only ran Pitchell — the ultra-trail marathon from the summits of Mount Pisgah to Mount Mitchell along the Mountains-to-Sea Trail — but he smashed the record for the route, finishing in 11 hours, 47 minutes and 18 seconds, more than 32 minutes faster than the record and the first time someone finished in under 12 hours. AP

Man faces charges from Capitol attack Clay County Cleveland Grover Meredith has been charged in connection to last week’s invasion of the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. Meredith faces weapons charges after claiming in a text message to a friend that he was headed to D.C. with armor-piercing ammunition. He also faces federal charges for threatening House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after saying in a text that he planned on “putting a bullet in (Pelosi’s) noggin on live TV.” WSB ATLANTA

Haywood County Haywood County Schools were forced to close last Thursday due to an internet outage. School officials said that a fire damaged a fiber connection in the county that knocked out service to many residents in the district. The fire took place at an offcampus location, officials said. The school still served lunches to students who needed them. WLOS

Skier dies in fall on slopes Avery County A dentist from Bristol, Tennessee, died after falling while skiing at Beech Mountain Resort in Avery County last month. Dr. Dale Willis suffered a head injury in the skiing accident. He was taken by air ambulance to a hospital in Johnson City, Tennessee, where he later died. The resort issued a statement offering condolences to Dr. Willis’ family. WYFF

PIEDMONT Furniture company investing $5.4 million in area Caswell County Riverside Furniture Corporation, a furniture and home furnishings manufacturer, will create 50 new jobs with a $5.4 million investment for a warehouse and distribution center in Caswell County. New positions will include shipping and receiving staff, forklift operators and supervisors. Annual salary for the positions is expected to average $39,260, creating a payroll impact of more than $1.9 million per year for the surrounding community. Caswell County’s overall average annual wage is $36,427. NSJ

Andrew Heath will servce as director of the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts.

EAST

Apex seeks to revitalize its downtown area Wake County Apex has created a plan to revitalize the town’s downtown area by repurposing parking lots and beatifying a street in order to attract visitors and investments. The project also calls for new businesses, apartments and a hotel. The changes are set to be completed by 2023. Town officials have wanted to use empty alleyways and parking lots for outdoor dining and walking. The plan’s goals include repurposing existing parking spaces, adding others and building 100 new housing units. Officials also want to add artwork and seating to alleyways. Approximately $3.75 million will be spent on the project. AP

UNC-Chapel Hill sets three-week delay for in-person learning Orange County The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is delaying the start of inperson undergraduate classes for the spring semester, citing record numbers for COVID-19 and hospitalizations. While classes will begin on Jan. 19 as scheduled, the start of in-person undergraduate classes is delayed for three weeks. Students can return to campus residence halls beginning Jan. 13, but students have the option to delay their move-in date until Feb. 7, the day before classes are to begin. All students will be in single-occupancy rooms, and housing fees will be prorated according to when students choose to move in. AP

Industrial Commission chairman and was state budget director under former-Gov. Pat McCrory. The N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts provides centralized administration and budgeting services for the state’s courts, including budgeting, equipment and supply purchasing, printing, computer applications development and legal support. “It is an honor to be of service in this capacity to the Judicial Branch and this great state,” said Heath. “I look forward to working with the courts and our many stakeholders as we continue to work through the pandemic.” Heath received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management at UNC Asheville and his law degree from Indiana University’s Robert H. McKinney School of Law. He and his wife, Kristen, live in Raleigh and have two children.

Woman seriously hurt in fall at Pilot Mountain State Park Stokes County A woman who fell from a considerable height at Pilot Mountain State Park is being treated for her injuries at a hospital. The woman in her 60s from the Charlotte area slipped and fell “a considerable distance” while hiking Sunday. The woman had a pulse when she was taken to the hospital but her condition was unknown. The fall happened around noon on the Ledge Spring Trail. The state parks website describes the trail as “very challenging” and says it runs “along the foot of the cliffs and ledges.” AP

State is probing death of inmate

Man shot, killed in standoff with deputies Robeson County Matthew Oxendine, 46, was shot and killed during a standoff with SWAT officers after he lit a fire in his vehicle and pointed a weapon at the officers. The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 hang-up call in Pembroke, where Oxendine set a fire in the vehicle he was still inside. Oxendine made threats and had served prison time before for shooting at law enforcement. As SWAT officers approached the vehicle, Oxendine pointed a firearm at them. Oxendine was then shot and killed. The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave pending a probe.

Pamlico County Authorities are investigating the death of inmate Johnny Autry, 44, at the Pamlico Correctional Institution. Autry was being held in medium custody and was serving a sentence as a habitual felon and for drug possession. Authorities said he was in a paranoid state Saturday, and staff were unable to calm him after talking to him for an hour. He entered into medical distress and became unresponsive. Staff members performed CPR and paramedics arrived and continued lifesaving measures. But Autry was declared deceased shortly after 9 p.m. He was due for release in December 2021. AP

FILE PHOTO

Berger: State COVID vaccine schedule has inequities

ATF: Virginia teen killed by grenade likely sold at store Brunswick County A hand grenade that killed a Virginia teenager may be one of the many explosives that were unknowingly sold at a Shallotte antique mall. The deadly explosion happened in Abingdon, Virginia, two days before Christmas. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives did not release the identity of the teen, but they said the grenade may have been purchased at Fancy Flea Antique Mall. Authorities do not know how many grenades were sold or who purchased them since cash transactions are common at the store. AP

Police: Killing of deer in residential area was ‘dangerous’

By Matt Mercer North State Journal

Dare County Police in the Outer Banks are investigating after someone shot and killed a deer with an arrow inside the town’s limits. The Town of Southern Shores police department said in a statement that the deer was found dead on Saturday morning. The town code prohibits the shooting or discharging of arrows within the town’s corporate limits. The offense is classified as a class three misdemeanor. Police said the killing of the deer with an arrow “is extremely dangerous in a residential community, especially in common areas where people recreate. It is not safe, and it is unacceptable.”

RALEIGH — Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) told NSJ on Monday that he sees inequities with the state’s COVID-19 vaccination plan. “I look at the fact that a 64 year old who is otherwise healthy is actually slated to get vaccinated after a 21-yearold prisoner in our prison system. And you just ask yourself how and when something like that makes sense,” Berger told NSJ on Monday. Berger said his understanding is that state health officials are using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines exclusively as the vaccine plan. The Senate leader said he had no issue with the first couple of groups, Phases 1A and 1B, according to NCDHHS.

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“The data tells us those most at risk, generally speaking, are older. So after we take care of the front-line health workers and those 75 and above, I think a better system would be primarily based on age,” said Berger. “I think a fairly simple age program of 65 to 75, 60 to 65, 50 to 60, and then maybe everyone else.” Berger said an age-based system would be straightforward to police with a driver’s license or other identification. “Going by age group, you’d get the vaccine to the folks most at risk of taxing health resources or dying if you prioritize that way,” he said. One of the main issues Berger sees in the state’s vaccine plan is the definition of essential workers. “I think the public can look at the way the current plan is and walk away scratching their heads,” Berger added.

North State Journal for Wednesday, January 13, 2021

north STATEment Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

Violence is our common domestic enemy

Violence is the problem, not our different political positions.

OVER 330 MILLION peace-loving, law-abiding Americans, regardless of political affiliation, have a common enemy we can, and should unite against: violence in the public square. Over 330 million Americans have not participated in any protest ever. They go about their daily lives trying to make a living every year. They watch the news and see tens of thousands of concerned citizens participating in various protests — which is great, as long as they were peaceful protests. Our First Amendment freedoms prevent the government from denying “the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances”. The right to peaceably assemble to protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of a policeman in Minneapolis was entirely appropriate and legal. The right to peacefully assemble to protest the outcome of the election was also entirely appropriate and legal. Several hundred people nationwide, however, perhaps a thousand total, decided to take it upon themselves to use violence instead of peacefully protesting. BLM leaders say their protests were “mostly peaceful,” but fringe members, possibly antifa, caused the violence. Trump supporters say their Capitol Hill protest was “mostly peaceful,” but fringe members caused the violence. Regardless of who started it, any type of physical violence against an innocent person or their property is wrong. No one participating in any sort of peaceful assembly to petition the government for a redress of their grievances has any personal right or privilege to pick up a brick to break windows, torch businesses or storm the US Capitol. They certainly have no right to harm or kill other human beings. When any damage or physical harm is caused, the perpetrators should be arrested and prosecuted under equal application of the law. Our hope is that the guilty parties who stormed the Capitol will be swiftly arrested, prosecuted and sentenced to prison. Such a strict standard would set the bar for any prosecution of guilty parties in any future protest. The law has to be equally and equitably applied or else we will continue to see the violence of the past continue unabated. People on both sides try to calibrate acts of violence by degrees of severity and acceptability depending on their point of view. Such arguments violate any sensibility of logic. An innocent bystander shot dead during a violent

protest does not have the luxury of telling the rest of us they died for a “just” cause or not. Innocent bystanders who have their businesses and personal property destroyed by violent protestors did not get to vote on whether their property should be sacrificed for the cause, whatever it may be. Violence is the problem, not our different political positions. We, as Americans who love freedom and peace, have to come together across the ideological divide and collectively condemn violence as a whole, or else America will degenerate into an unwitting acceptance of violence forever on situational-ethics grounds. The next time someone takes to the streets to protest any perceived grievance with which you agree, ask yourself if you would put a sign in your front yard and invite them to come destroy your property, break out your windows, torch your personal belongings and put your family at risk of physical bodily harm or even death. Better yet, cancel all insurance so you can’t hide behind the “Oh well. It is just property. My insurance company will pay for it” argument. If you are willing to put your life and your property at risk for a cause, God bless you. But don’t act like it is an academic exercise to debate in a dorm room or salon parlor when innocent people you do not know are put at risk. That is not fair to them. Is America at a time in our nation’s history similar to the early days of our republic, when violent demonstrations against direct taxation, led by Daniel Shays (1786-87), John Fries (1799) and James McFarland (Whiskey Rebellion, 1791-94), had to be vanquished by armed force? We certainly hope not. But 99.999% of our nation’s 330 million+ citizens deserve to be protected from the capricious acts of a few hundred violent protestors nationwide who seek to do physical harm to the rest of us. We can’t function as a free nation without peace enforced by force.

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

Democrats finally figure out riots are wrong — or have they?

Over the summer, Democrats and media figures insisted on calling the violent crowds “peaceful protesters.”

The storming of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. last Wednesday and the violence and chaos that followed as Congress prepared to convene to count Electoral College votes will be a day that will live in infamy for the United States for decades to come. Within minutes of reports hitting social media about what was taking place as a small group splintered off from a nearby pro-Trump rally and began breaking windows and forcing their way into the building, condemnations poured in from political figures on the left and right and in between. Republicans and Democrats, as we all know, don’t often find common ground on the issues, but on this one, there was universal outrage, with the consensus being that things like this should never happen in the United States of America. After all, we’re supposed to resolve our political differences peaceably, not by way of the use of force and violence. Four people died that day, including a woman who was shot by a Capitol Police officer. The next day, a Capitol Police officer died, reportedly due to injuries sustained during the riots. The day after the Capitol was breached, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris — who will soon be sworn in respectively as America’s next president and vice president — gave speeches condemning the violence, inadvertently throwing gasoline on the fire with some of the comments they made in response to what happened. Biden proclaimed that “No one can tell me that if it had been a group of Black Lives Matter protesting yesterday, they wouldn’t have been treated very, very differently than the mob of thugs that stormed the Capitol.” Harris declared that “We witnessed two systems of justice when we saw one that let extremists storm the United States Capitol and another that released tear gas on peaceful protesters last summer.” In reality, in most instances, the radicals in Black Lives Matter and Antifa, who conducted near-nightly riots in Democrat-run cities across America last year for months on end, were allowed to get away with their heinous actions, even being treated as heroes by the press and Democrats — some of whom, like Harris and the Biden campaign, promoted their bail funds. Just days after the Minneapolis riots, which saw a police precinct

burned to the ground and an entire city block looking like a scene out of the movie “Apocalypse Now,” Harris encouraged people to contribute to a bail fund for “protesters” who were arrested in the aftermath. “If you’re able to, chip in now to the @MNFreedomFund to help post bail for those protesting on the ground in Minnesota,” Harris tweeted June 1, 2020. Reuters filed a report that same week with the headline, “Biden staff donate to group that pays bail in riot-torn Minneapolis.” Over the summer, as Antifa/BLM rioters wreaked havoc in major American cities, terrorizing neighborhoods, taking over police precincts and entire city blocks, burning buildings, and throwing incendiary devices at law enforcement officers and federal courthouses, Democrats and media figures insisted on calling the violent crowds “peaceful protesters.” In some media reports, this description was used even while reporters were standing right in front of rioting crowds and fires raging in the distance. Democrats and the media coddled Antifa/BLM rioters at a time when taking a stand loudly against them might have made a difference. They only began condemning them once they learned that not doing so was hurting their polling numbers in a crucial election year. On the other hand, Republicans not only repeatedly condemned last year’s looting and riots but did the same with the Capitol Hill violence that happened last week. That’s something people need to remember next time any leader on the left or in the media tries pretending they have any moral high ground here. They don’t. Media analyst Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah and is a regular contributor to RedState and Legal Insurrection.

North State Journal for Wednesday, January 13, 2021

COLUMN | GUY K. MITCHELL

Do 97% of the world’s scientists believe that man has caused global warming? What this survey found was that 66.4% of the 11,944 abstracts in fact expressed no position whatsoever on man-made global warming.

IN A PREVIOUS ARTICLE, I had related the story of having been put on the spot during a dinner party — challenged, actually — to deny that man-made global warming presents an existential threat to human existence. My dinner partner delivered what he believed to be the coup-de-grace by asking me how I could possibly disagree with the world’s brightest scientific minds, then stating the oft-repeated claim that “97% of the world’s scientists believe that man has caused global warming.” As I sat mute, he glanced around the table with knowing selfsatisfaction. In any conversation on the subject of anthropogenic global warming (man-made global warming, or “AGW”), proponents of the AGW hypothesis cite this supposed “97% consensus” as fact. When questioned, however, few are able to explain how this “fact” was determined. The story behind the origin of this statement demonstrates how readily people accept as fact something they either want to believe is true or feel they don’t have the background to question. So, how was this 97% “consensus” actually determined? Shockingly, its unscientific origins are found in a 2013 article put forward by a former Australian cartoonist and web developer who subsequently obtained a PhD in the “cognitive science of climate denial.” I did not know such a degree existed. The lead author, John Cook, posted the article on his website, SkepticalScience.com — a website dedicated to promoting the hypothesis of manmade global warming. For those who’d like to read Cook’s article, it can still be found on the SkepticalScience.com website: “Quantifying the consensus on anthropogenic global warming in the scientific literature,” John Cook et al 2013 Environ. Res. Lett. 8 024024. Cook’s article documented his survey of some 11,944 climate abstracts from 1991 to 2011 matching the topics “global climate change” or “global warming.” This survey was conducted in an effort to determine — presumptively — the evolution of the “consensus” on man-made global warming. What this survey found was that 66.4% of the 11,944 abstracts in fact expressed no position whatsoever on man-made global warming. Of the remaining 33.6% that did express a position on global warming, Cook found that 97.1% of these endorsed the hypothesis that global warming is

the result of human activity. When I first read the Abstract of Cook’s article, I thought that I had misread his conclusions — they made no sense. Clearly, the survey results showed that the great majority of the 11,944 research papers on topics involving “global climate change” or “global warming” — fully 66.4% of these papers — expressed “no position” on the question of whether global warming could be the result of human activity. If this was “settled science,” how could so many scientistauthors fail to take a position one way or another on arguably the most important and urgent question in the history of climate science? In calculating this supposed 97% scientific consensus on the “fact” of man-made global warming, Cook disregarded the 66.4% of the research papers he surveyed that expressed “no position” on that question. If these papers are properly taken into account, the percentage of scientist-authors who support the hypothesis of man-made global warming (based upon Cook’s survey) is actually 32.6% — hardly a “consensus”! Since it appears that the Cook article was not subject to prior scientific peer review, and the authors had an obvious bias, I understand that they would try to skew the results. However, the level of intellectual dishonesty in the calculations is breathtaking. How is it that intelligent people can be fooled by such chicanery? On May 16, 2013, one day after the Cook publication, President Obama tweeted: “Ninetyseven percent of scientists agree: #climate change is real, man-made and dangerous.” President Obama thus added a conclusion that even Cook did not reach. It is often said that a lie repeated often enough creates an illusion of truth. With Obama’s presidential endorsement, Cook’s statement has been cited ever since as an established “fact”, used to mislead unquestioning people about man-made global warming, and to shame those who do dare to question the hypothesis. In our next article, I will examine what the world’s scientists actually do believe about the hypothesis of man-made global warming. This article is the second in a planned series by Guy K. Mitchell, Jr. Mr. Mitchell is the founder and chairman of Mitchell Industries, a diversified manufacturing company based in Birmingham, Alabama.

GUEST OPINION | MARK STRAND

The Senate filibuster and the ‘nuclear option’

Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and California Sen. Diane Feinstein have already announced that they would oppose eliminating the filibuster on legislation.

NOW THAT DEMOCRATS have unified control of our federal government in Washington for the first time in a decade, some on the left would like to eliminate the legislative filibuster to let loose a flurry of progressive legislation. High-profile Democrats endorsed the idea earlier this year. Presidential-elect, and former senator and vice-president, Joe Biden said, “If there’s no way to move other than getting rid of the filibuster, that’s what we’ll do.” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York has said “nothing is off the table” to move legislation. Former President Barack Obama called for eliminating the filibuster in his funeral eulogy for the late Congressman John Lewis. If they do this, they will regret it, since they won’t be in the majority forever, and perhaps not for very long — especially if they let loose a geyser of liberal laws and voters kick them out in two years. There’s no doubt that both parties dislike the filibuster whenever they are in the majority. The current practice of the minority party filibustering just about everything has made the Senate the most dysfunctional branch of government. Traditionally, getting rid of the filibuster was once nearly impossible. For one thing, to change the rules, it requires a super-majority vote of two-thirds (67) of the number of senators in office (present or not), to overcome, ironically, a filibuster of the rules change. But over the last few years, the Senate has done an end-run around its own rules to change aspects of the filibuster. The Senate majority, when each party has been in control, has used the “nuclear option” to make changes to the filibuster. The “nuclear option” is not a change in the rules, but a change in the way the rules are interpreted. Normally, a filibuster can be overcome by invoking cloture, which requires three-fifths of the Senate, or 60 votes. Former Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid changed the interpretation of the rules by using a simple procedural motion, so that — regardless of what the words on parchment said — only a simple majority would be needed to invoke cloture and end a filibuster. In effect, Sen. Reid unilaterally just ignored over two centuries of Senate precedent. In 2013, Reid invoked the nuclear option to eliminate the filibuster for most judicial nominations except to the Supreme Court. In 2017, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican,

returned the favor to eliminate the filibuster for nominations to the Supreme Court. Additionally, in April 2019, McConnell used the nuclear option to shorten post-cloture debate time on nominations for District Court positions and sub-Cabinet level appointees. The concern today is, of course, that soon-to-be Majority Leader Chuck Schumer could decide to ignore filibuster rules on legislative items such as packing the Supreme Court, passing the Green New Deal and giving statehood to Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. By using the nuclear option, it is definitely possible that Leader Schumer could change the precedents of the Senate to essentially neuter the filibuster without actually changing the rules. You can see why the nuclear option generates such concern — essentially, the Senate has no rules anymore except what a majority says. This flies in the face of the traditional role of the Senate to protect the rights of the political minority. However, practically speaking, Schumer will need a bigger majority than 50-50 with Vice-President Kamala Harris as the tie breaker, to make such a radical change. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Sen. Diane Feinstein of California, both Democrats, have already announced that they would oppose eliminating the filibuster on legislation. Still, the next election is two years away, and if the Democrats were to pick up 3-4 new seats, they might be able to make that change — and then, legislatively speaking, Katie bar the door. Given all of this, perhaps the best answer is not to get rid of the filibuster, but to reform it. They can make senators actually conduct filibusters on the floor rather than allow them to exist silently in their Senate office while the body switches to other, less controversial, business. If senators had to actually stand on their feet to conduct a filibuster, they would still take place, but senators would be far more discerning of the bills they filibuster, and more concerned about the time demands they place on their colleagues. The Senate has long been heralded as the world’s Greatest Deliberative Body. Currently, it is perhaps one of the free world’s most dysfunctional legislatures. By returning to the centuries-old tradition of compromise and respect for the institution, the Senate can go a long way towards recovering its tarnished reputation. Mark Strand is the President of the Congressional Institute and Timothy Lang is the Institute’s research director. The Sausage Factory blog is a Congressional Institute project dedicated to explaining parliamentary procedure, Congressional politics, and other issues pertaining to the legislative branch.

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

How bureaucracy killed hundreds of thousands of Americans OVER THE COURSE of the COVID-19 pandemic, the media have spilled barrels of ink over mistakes by the federal government. We’ve heard endlessly about the failure to quickly ramp up testing, the confusion over mask-wearing and the debates over proper lockdown policy. But when the history of this time is written, the fundamental mistake made by the United States government won’t be rhetorical excesses by the president or conflicting public health advice. It will be the same mistake the government always makes: trusting the bureaucracy. We now know that the miraculous Moderna vaccine for COVID-19 had been designed by Jan. 13, 2020. That was just two days after the sequencing of the virus had been made public. As David Wallace-Wells writes for New York magazine, “the Moderna vaccine design took all of one weekend. ... By the time the first American death was announced a month later, the vaccine had already been manufactured and shipped to the National Institutes of Health for the beginning of its Phase I clinical trial.” Meanwhile, for six weeks, Dr. Anthony Fauci assured Americans that there was little to worry about with COVID-19. Fast-forward to the end of 2020. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have died. Tens of thousands of Americans continue to die every week. The Food and Drug Administration has still not cleared the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, which costs a fraction of the other vaccines (about $4 per dose, as opposed to $15 to $25 per dose for Moderna’s vaccine or $20 per dose for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine). The FDA approval process cost us critical months, with thousands of Americans dying each day. As Dr. Marty Makary of Johns Hopkins University told me this week, “Safety is their eternal excuse. They are entirely a broken federal bureaucracy ... Why did we not have a combined Phase I-Phase II clinical trial for these vaccines?” This is an excellent question, of course. Phase I trials involve small numbers of participants, who are then monitored. Phase II trials involve larger numbers. Huge numbers of Americans would have volunteered for a combined Phase I-Phase II trial. And even after we knew the vaccines were effective, the FDA delayed. Data was collected by late October that suggested Phase II/III trials had been successful. The FDA quickly requested more results, which it did not receive until November. It then took until Dec. 11 for the FDA to issue emergency use authorization for the Pfizer vaccine. The Moderna vaccine wasn’t cleared until Dec. 18, nearly a year after it had first been produced. The disgrace continues. The government continues to hold back secondary doses of the vaccine, despite the fact that the first doses provide a significant effect. As Makary says, “We’re in a war. The first dose gives immunity that may be as high as 80 to 90 percent protection, and we can probably give half the dose, as Dr. Moncef Slaoui suggested ... We can quadruple our supply overnight.” Meanwhile, states continue to be confused by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance on how to tranche out the vaccines. It took until nine days after the FDA authorized the Pfizer vaccine for the CDC to release its recommendations. Those recommendations were still complex and confusing and often rife with self-defeating standards — even though it was perfectly obvious from the start that the solution ought to be based on age. Americans have relied on the government — a government supposedly comprised of well-meaning experts — to get us through a pandemic. The government not only failed with conflicting information and incoherent lockdown policy but also actively obstructed the chief mechanism for ending the pandemic thanks to bureaucratic bloat. If Americans’ takeaway from the COVID-19 pandemic is that centralized government is the all-purpose solution, they’re taking precisely the lesson most likely to end in mass death in the future. Ben Shapiro, 36, is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show” and editor-in-chief of DailyWire.com.

BE IN TOUCH

Letters addressed to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline.com or 3101 Industrial Dr. Suite 105. Raleigh, N.C. 27609. 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.

North State Journal for Wednesday, January 13, 2021

NATION & WORLD

The Biden Cabinet shapes up President-elect Joe Biden has appointed what his transition advisors say is “the most diverse Cabinet” in history, following his victory in the 2020 general election. In addition, Biden’s vice president, Kamala Harris, will be the first woman to serve in that role as well.

The Biden Cabinet shapes up CABINET POSITIONS Secretary of State

Treasury Secretary

Defense Secretary

Attorney General

Interior Secretary

Agriculture Secretary

Commerce Secretary

Labor Secretary

Pompeo voids restrictions on diplomatic contacts with Taiwan By Kevin Freking The Associated Press

Antony Blinken Fmr. national security adviser

Janet Yellen Fmr. Federal Reserve chair

Lloyd Austin Fmr. U.S. Army general

Merrick Garland Federal judge

Rep. Deb Haaland D-N.M.

Tom Vilsack Fmr. agriculture secretary

HHS Secretary

HUD Secretary

Transportation Secretary

Energy Secretary

Education Secretary

Xavier Becerra California attorney general

Rep. Marcia Fudge D-Ohio

Pete Buttigieg Fmr. South Bend, Ind. mayor

Jennifer Granholm Fmr. Michigan governor

Miguel Cardona Conn. education commissioner

Gina Raimondo Rhode Island governor

Veterans Affairs Secretary

Marty Walsh Boston mayor

Homeland Security Secretary

Denis McDonough Alejandro Mayorkas Fmr. White House Fmr. DHS deputy chief of staff secretary

CABINET RANK POSITIONS White House Chief of Staff

Dir. of National Intelligence

EPA Administrator

OMB Director

Ron Klain Fmr. VP chief of staff

Avril Haines Fmr. deputy CIA director

Michael Regan N.C. state environmental regulator

Neera Tanden Center for American Progress

U.S. Trade Representative

Katherine Tai House committee counsel

U.N. Ambassador

Small Business Administrator

Linda ThomasGreenfield Fmr. ambassador

Isabel Guzman Calif. business advocate

GOP leaders seek election integrity changes “We’d like to tighten it up as soon as we can.” Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward

By Christine A. Cassidy The Associated Press ATLANTA — Changes to the way millions of Americans voted this year may have contributed to record turnout, but that’s no guarantee the measures making it easier for some to cast ballots will stick around for future elections. Republicans in key states that voted for President-elect Joe Biden already are pushing for new measures, especially to absentee voting. It’s an option many states expanded amid the coronavirus outbreak. An estimated 108 million people voted before Election Day, either through early in-person voting or by mailing or dropping off absentee ballots. That represented nearly 70% of all votes cast, after states took steps to make it easier to avoid the potential of crowded polling places during the pandemic. A few states sent ballots to every registered voter while others dropped requirements that voters needed a specific excuse to cast an absentee ballot. Many states added drop boxes and expanded early voting options. Republicans in Georgia have proposed adding a photo ID requirement when voting absentee, a ban on drop boxes and possibly a return to requiring an excuse for mail voting, such as illness or traveling for work on Election Day. Early supporters of the ID requirement include Gov. Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, Republicans who were criticized relentlessly by Trump for failing to back his fraud claims after losing in Georgia. A top deputy for Raffensperger has said the ID requirement would boost public confidence and refute any future claims of fraud. In Pennsylvania, Republican lawmakers have been writing legislation to address what they claim are problems with the 2020 election and mail voting in particular, even though courts and elections officials have found no evidence of widespread problems. “We’d like to tighten it up as soon as we can,” said Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward. Republicans hold majorities in both legislative chambers, and

MATT SLOCUM | AP PHOTO

In this Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, file photo, Chester County workers transport mail-in and absentee ballots to be processed at West Chester University in West Chester, Pa. their support was instrumental in a year-old state law that expanded mail voting to all registered voters. One bill being discussed would go so far as to repeal that law and force voters to state an excuse to receive a ballot in the mail. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, said lawmakers should look to the high turnout for the presidential election as a guide to improving what worked and then make changes sought by elections officials, such as providing more time for clerks to process mail ballots. Michigan does not allow that work to begin until the day before Election Day. Lisa Schaefer, executive director of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, said her organization also would like to see lawmakers focus on reducing the strain facing local election officials. “The more time that we spend in debating other issues, the less time that we have to do something good with changes to the election code,” Schaefer said. Democrats and left-leaning groups have already begun pushing back, saying Republicans should be focused on protecting voter access to the polls. They say ID requirements accomplish little, but have a high cost. “It’s a solution in search of a

problem,” said California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, a Democrat who was recently tapped to fill the U.S. Senate seat of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. “It will undoubtedly have the net effect of disenfranchising a lot of people without necessarily improving election security.” Padilla supports sending registered voters a ballot in the mail. Not all Republicans are seeking to add restrictions, though. In Ohio, Secretary of State Frank LaRose said his legislative priorities are to expand early voting locations, increase oversight of election vendors, add an online option for requesting absentee ballots and address confusion over drop boxes. “Ohio’s got a good thing going, but we don’t want to rest on our laurels,” said LaRose, who wants his priorities approved by the Republican-dominated legislature. Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams said the pandemic forced the state to implement early voting, which proved popular among voters of both major parties. The Republican said he thinks it’s likely state lawmakers will create an early voting policy for subsequent elections and has heard of no opposition to that in the GOP-controlled legislature. “It just makes voting easier,” he said.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the State Department is voiding longstanding restrictions on how U.S. diplomats and others have contact with their counterparts in Taiwan, another move that is expected to upset China as the Trump administration winds to an end. The Trump administration has sought to strengthen bilateral relations with Taiwan. It announced Thursday that U.N Ambassador Kelly Craft would go to Taiwan, a move that sparked sharp criticism from Beijing and a warning that the U.S. would pay a heavy price. In August, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar became the first Cabinet member to visit Taiwan since 2014. Pompeo said that the State Department has created complex restrictions when it comes to contacts between the two parties. He said those actions were taken to appease the Communist regime in Beijing. “No more,” Pompeo declared in a statement. “Today I am announcing that I am lifting all of these self-imposed restrictions.” Kelly Craft will visit Taipei, the island’s capital, on Jan. 13-15. The U.S. Mission to the United Nations said the visit would “reinforce the U.S. government’s strong and ongoing support for Taiwan’s international space.” The Chinese government maintains that mainland China and Taiwan are parts of “one China.” China has been stepping up its threats to bring the self-governing island by military force with frequent war games and aerial patrols. It has been using its diplomatic clout to stop Taiwan from joining any organizations that require statehood for membership. Pompeo said the U.S. maintains relationships with unofficial partners around the world, and Taiwan is no exception. “Our two democracies share common values of individual freedom, the rule of law, and a respect for human dignity,” Pompeo said. “Today’s statement recognizes that the U.S.-Taiwan relationship need not, and should not, be shackled by self-imposed restrictions of our permanent bureaucracy.” Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu welcomed the move. “I’m grateful to @SecPompeo & @StateDept for lifting restrictions unnecessarily limiting our engagements these past years,” Wu said in a retweet of a Pompeo tweet about the announcement. “The closer partnership between #Taiwan & the #US is firmly based on our shared values, common interests & unshakeable belief in freedom & democracy,” he wrote, drawing a distinction with China’s authoritarian one-party state. The trip is a “symbol of the solid friendship between Taiwan and the U.S, and will positively help and deepen the U.S.-Taiwan partnership,” the spokesperson said. In announcing the trip, Pompeo said he was sending Craft to show “what a free China could achieve.” Taiwan’s official title is the Republic of China, the name of Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist Party government that he moved to Taiwan in 1949 as Mao Zedong’s Communists swept to power on mainland China. China continues to regard Taiwan as part of its territory to be recovered by force if necessary. The visit is yet another move from the Trump administration to step up interactions with the island despite their lacking formal diplomatic ties since Washington switched recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979. The U.S. outreach to Taiwan has exacerbated tensions between Washington and Beijing that are already running high over the COVID-19 pandemic, trade, Hong Kong and the South China Sea. Craft was appointed by President Donald Trump to the position in 2019, and is due to be replaced by career diplomat Linda Thomas-Greenfield after Biden takes office. In defiance of China’s warnings, Congress and the Trump administration have pushed for more visits by sitting government officials, along with arms sales and political support. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar visited in August, followed the next month by Under Secretary of State Keith Krach. China stepped up its angry rhetoric and flew fighter jets near the island in a display of force during both visits. Heightened tensions with China present a diplomatic challenge for Biden, who is expected to maintain many of Trump’s policies toward Beijing while seeking to put relations on a more predictable, less confrontational track. While Beijing has called for improved relations, it refuses to back down on issues such as Taiwan that it considers to be among its “core interests.” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on Friday said a “handful of anti-China politicians within the Trump administration, to be clear, such as Pompeo, have been staging a show of madness as their days at the reins are numbered, stopping at nothing to deliberately sabotage China-U.S. relations for selfish political interests.” “China will take all necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and security interests,” Hua told reporters at a daily briefing. “If the U.S. insists on going its own way, it will definitely pay a heavy price for its erroneous actions.”

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2021

SPORTS

Hurricanes’ season preview, B4

BRETT FRIEDLANDER | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Cary forward Mike Crisp is guarded by Riverside junior Idris Bowling during the Imps’ 63-60 win last Thursday in Durham.

Prep basketball makes changes, plays through pandemic

the Wednesday SIDELINE REPORT NFL

Rough playoff weekend for quarterbacks with ties to N.C. There were plenty of quarterbacks with ties to North Carolina in the opening weekend of the NFL playoffs, and none of them had particularly memorable games. The Colts’ Philip Rivers, Seahawks’ Russell Wilson, Bears’ Mitch Trubisky and Washington’s Taylor Heinicke all lost their first-round games, while the Rams’ John Wolford — filling in for Jared Goff — was injured and taken to the hospital as a precaution early in Los Angeles’ win over Seattle. Rivers and Wilson both played at NC State, while Trubisky went to UNC and Wolford to Wake Forest. Heinicke played for the Panthers in 2018, appearing in six games and starting one.

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Former Tar Heels lineman Barton voted into College HOF Atlanta Former UNC offensive tackle Harris Barton was among the 13 players and coaches voted into the next class for the College Football Hall of Fame. Barton, a four-year starter for the Tar Heels in the mid-1980s, was a first-round pick of the 49ers and played all 10 of his NFL seasons in San Francisco, winning three Super Bowls. Joining Barton are: Heisman Trophy‑winning quarterback Carson Palmer of USC; running backs Darren Sproles of Kansas State and C.J. Spiller of Clemson; offensive tackle Aaron Taylor of Notre Dame; defensive stars David Fulcher of Arizona State, Dan Morgan of Miami; Kenneth Sims of Texas; Andre Tippett of Iowa and Al Wilson of Tennessee. Former Eastern Illinois quarterback and current CBS NFL analyst Tony Romo was also selected for induction along with former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops and former Florida A&M coach Rudy Hubbard.

GARY LANDERS | AP PHOTO

Davidson men’s basketball coach Bob McKillop earned his 600th win — all with the Wildcats — last Tuesday at Duquesne.

Don’t ask McKillop about 600 wins The Davidson coach hit another milestone but is more concerned about the Wildcats’ next game By Shawn Krest North State Journal BOB MCKILLOP remembers his first win at Davidson. At the time, there weren’t that many wins to confuse it with. “As I left Belk Arena that night, I’m certain I was just relieved we had one win,” he said. It came in the fourth game of the 1989-90 season by one point against Erskine, which wasn’t a Division I school. That didn’t matter to McKillop, though. “I don’t care if it was against North Mecklenburg High School. We had a win, and it was in the books, finally. So I did not forecast beyond one win.” Davidson would lose its next 10. The team would end up beating just one Division I team that year and finish 4-24 overall. The Wildcats joined a conference the next year and improved to 10-19. Then came an 11-17 mark in 1992, which is the last time Davidson — or McKillop — had a losing record. Thirty years and one month after getting past Erskine, McKillop took Davidson on the road and beat Duquesne for the 600th win in his coaching career. “I’m just thrilled we got a victory,” he said afterward. “That is it. It’s just the thrill of victory that’s got me excited right now.” But what about the milestone? “I don’t know,” he scoffed. “It

“We’ve got to get ready. We can’t sleep on anybody. It’s too competitive a world.” Bob McKillop, Davidson coach happened 10 minutes ago. I have no idea. I just know we’re 2-1 in conference, and we’ve had two road victories.” Three decades later, the 70-yearold McKillop is still just happy that his team got a win. The more things change… To be fair, it’s tough for a coach to look back in the middle of a season. The good feelings from a win last until about the end of the postgame speech in the locker room. Then it’s time to look ahead because, as McKillop learned that first season, you never know when the next win is coming. “That’s what you’ve got to do,” he said. “We have Dayton on Friday. We’d better be ready because they’re good.” Sure enough, the Flyers knocked off Davidson at Belk Arena. The good feelings from win 600 didn’t even make it to the weekend. “There’s such a fine line between greatness and good and mediocrity,” McKillop said, reprising his postgame message to the team following the Duquesne win. “Look at where we are right now, and look at where Texas is right now.” Davidson played Texas dead even for 39 minutes in the first game See MCKILLOP, page B3

Mandated masks, no jump balls and social distancing are just some of the rules high schools are following to play this season By Brett Friedlander North State Journal CARY — As the tallest player on the Cary High School basketball team, Mike Crisp would normally have lined up for a jump ball to start last week’s game against Durham Riverside. Instead, he and his teammates went straight into a defensive position while the opposition prepared to inbound the ball at halfcourt. The elimination of the jump ball is one of several rules adjustments enacted by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association for the COVID-delayed 2020-21 season that began on Jan. 4. But it’s hardly the most dramatic. To make the games as safe as possible during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the state governing body has also mandated that all participants — players, coaches and even officials — must wear a mask during play. It’s not an ideal situation, especially for young athletes exerting themselves at such a high level. But as far as Crisp is concerned, the inconvenience still beats the alternative. “It’s different,” the 6-foot‑6 Imps center said. “You can’t breathe like you want to. But I’d rather play with a mask on than not, because for us seniors, we don’t have that other year to play like juniors and sophomores. So we’ve got to go get it.” Among the other protocols that have been adopted to help mitigate the risk of COVID-19 include the elimination of pregame and postgame handshakes, socially distanced benches, the sanitizing of game balls during every timeout and quarter break, and the use of whistle guards by officials. The NCHSAA has taken steps

“I was worried that we weren’t going to be able to get anything in. So for our kids, especially our seniors, we’re willing to do whatever it takes.” Scott Walton, Cary High School boys’ basketball coach

to help players adjust to wearing masks during games by mandating 60-second officials’ timeouts at the midway point of each quarter to allow them to catch their breath and hydrate. Once play resumes, however, the mask rule is being strictly enforced. Anyone whose mask slips below his or her nose must immediately come out of the game. Similar precautions were also in place for cross-country and volleyball, the first two NCHSAA-sanctioned sports to return to action in North Carolina. “It takes some getting used to,” Keyon Webb, a junior at Durham’s Riverside High School, said. “We try to practice hard with masks on, keeping it above your nose. But other than that, it’s really just about how much heart you’ve got. You just want to stay safe at the end of the day.” According to Webb, a 6-foot-2 guard who scored a game-high 31 points in the Pirates’ recent 63-60 loss at Cary, the lack of preparation time with his teammates has been a bigger adjustment than the wearing a face covering during the games. Between the cancellation of offseason training programs, classes being held virtually rather than on campuses around the state, and time off for the holidays, teams have had limited opportunities to work together leading up to last week’s season openers. “We didn’t get a chance to pracSee PREP, page B3

North State Journal for Wednesday, January 13, 2021

B2 WEDNESDAY

1.13.21

TRENDING

John Isner: The 25th-ranked tennis player in the world says he’ll skip the Australian Open because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Isner disclosed his decision Monday night after losing to fellow American Sebastian Korda in the quarterfinals of the Delray Beach Open. Isner, a 35-year-old Greensboro native, has two young children and said going to Australia this year would have meant too much time away from his family. Doug Pederson: The Eagles fired their coach three years after he led the team to the franchise’s only Super Bowl title. Pederson was 42-37-1 in five seasons, winning two division championships and three playoff appearances before going 4-11-1 in 2020. The regression of Carson Wentz and Pederson’s deteriorating relationship with the quarterback contributed to the decision. Wentz begins a four-year, $128 million contract next season. Kyrie Irving: The Brooklyn point guard’s return to the Nets’ lineup remains unknown, with coach Steve Nash saying Monday he had no update on Irving’s status. Tuesday’s game against Denver was the fourth straight he has missed for personal reasons. Nash has said it’s a private matter and has refused to discuss Irving’s absence in detail. Nash did say that he believed Irving was tested for the coronavirus on Sunday, though he wasn’t sure about Monday. Whether Irving has continued to be tested during his time away could determine how quickly he would be eligible to play upon his return.

Beyond the box score POTENT QUOTABLES

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Alabama rolled past Ohio State 52-24 Monday night for its first college football championship since the 2017 season and the seventh for coach Nick Saban, six of which have come with the Crimson Tide. The title broke Saban’s tie with another Alabama coaching icon, Paul “Bear” Bryant, for the most in the modern era. Saban also led LSU to a title in 2003.

ROBERT FRANKLIN | AP PHOTO

“It’s good to be back.” Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski following Duke’s win Saturday over Wake Forest after completing a 10-day quarantine that caused him to miss one game.

CHRIS O’MEARA | AP PHOTO

PGA

NFL

JOHN MINCHILLO | AP PHOTO

“The magnitude of the loss starts with a B.” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, in a call with the media Monday, on the amount of money — in the billions — the league will lose by playing a 2021 season.

MANUEL BALCE CENETA | AP PHOTO

The PGA of America cut ties to President Donald Trump when it voted Sunday to take the 2022 PGA Championship event away from his Trump National course in Bedminster, New Jersey. It marks the second time in five years the golf governing body removed one of its events from a Trump course.

SCOTT EKLUND | AP PHOTO

Quarterback John Wolford started the Rams’ playoff win Saturday, but the former Wake Forest starter was hurt early in the game on a hit by Seattle’s Jamal Adams and left the stadium in an ambulance. Wolford returned for the postgame celebration and is expected to be available for next week’s game at Green Bay.

PRIME NUMBER

80+ Percentage of people in two media polls taken in Japan who say the Summer Olympics in Tokyo should be delayed or canceled, or believe they should not take place. Organizers are still planning for the Games, already delayed one year due to the coronavirus pandemic, to open July 23.

NBA

JACOB KUPFERMAN | AP PHOTO

Rookie point guard LaMelo Ball became the youngest player in NBA history to register a triple-double, scoring 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists Saturday night in helping the Charlotte Hornets beat the Atlanta Hawks. The performance came two nights after Ball’s 12-point, 10-rebound and nine-assist effort in a win over New Orleans and older brother Lonzo.

North State Journal for Wednesday, January 13, 2021

After threat of lawsuit, ECU reinstates women’s swimming, tennis The athletic department, which faced a budget shortfall due to the coronavirus pandemic, had eliminated four teams last May By Brett Friedlander North State Journal EIGHT MONTHS AFTER eliminating four sports as a cost-cutting measure, East Carolina has reinstated its women’s swimming and women’s tennis programs. The move, which was announced last Thursday, comes as part of a settlement designed to prevent a class action Title IX lawsuit in the process of being filed by a group of the school’s female athletes. In addition to bringing back the two sports, ECU has agreed to pay the litigants’ legal fees and develop a gender equity plan that will bring the school’s athletic department into full Title IX compliance by Dec. 31, 2021. “COVID has affected all aspects of university finance, including athletics, and in May decisions had to be made using information that we had at that time,” ECU interim chancellor Ron Mitchelson said during a Zoom conference with the media. “Some things have changed since May. While challenges remain, we are steadfast in our commitment to gender equity in our institution.” Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination at any educational institution receiving federal funds. It requires schools to provide “intercollegiate level participation opportunities for male and female students in numbers substantially proportionate to their respective enrollments.” According to a letter sent to ECU’s administration by Arthur Bryant, the lawyer representing the athletes’ potential class action, the recent athletic cuts — which also included the men’s swimming and tennis programs — left the school well below the percentages needed to be in compliance with the law. ECU’s undergraduate enrollment is 56.57% female, but only 50.43% of its athletic opportunities are available to females. Even with the return of the women’s swimming and tennis teams, the university will still fall short of the 70 women’s roster spots that would be needed to reach gender equity. It’s a situation administrators hoped might be addressed through “roster management.” But according to athletic director Jon Gilbert, unforeseen factors — including the NCAA granting athletes an extra year of eligibility because of the coronavirus pandemic — prevented that from happening. “I approached the chancellor and board of trustees in May with multiple recommendations to stabilize our department financially,” Gilbert said, adding that the decision to eliminate sports was difficult and gut-wrenching. “As part of those recommendations, we had a plan to move forward over the next year to ensure our Title IX compliance. That plan has been accelerated and modified for various reasons. “While we were able to partially address the unprecedented financial challenges faced by the department by announcing the cuts of the four teams in the spring, we knew then as we know now that compliance with

“No one else is going to force your college to bring its athletic program into compliance with the law. I’m glad I stood up for myself and all female athletes at ECU and hope that women around the country will hold their schools accountable, too.” Victoria Dixon, ECU women’s tennis SEAN RAYFORD | AP PHOTO

Title IX and, more importantly, meeting our commitment to our female athletes would require more action.” It’s uncertain when or even if that further action might have taken place had ECU athletes Victoria Dixon, Meghan French, Chelsea Marstellar, Anna Otto and Randi Palandro not sought counsel and threatened legal action. “One of the most important things I learned through this entire process is that it is up to the female student-athletes to hold colleges accountable for Title IX violations,” women’s tennis player Dixon said in a statement. “No one else is going to force your college to bring its athletic program into compliance with the law. I’m glad I stood up for myself and all female athletes at ECU and hope that women around the country will hold their schools accountable, too.” Former ECU swimmer Lindsay Takkunen praised the efforts of the plaintiffs, saying that “they showed a lot of courage by stepping up and fighting for their right to participate in sport.” She said that their efforts have made her prouder than ever to be a Pirate. But while she added that “a win is a win, and I’m not going to try to put a negative spin on this,” she also expressed regret that the men’s program — which won the American Athletic Conference championship last season — won’t be coming back. Takkunen has been the driving force behind a fundraising effort to bring back both swimming and diving teams. It’s an effort she said will continue even though Gilbert indicated that ECU has no plans to add any more sports to its athletic program. While it is still to be determined when the two reinstated programs will return to action, Gilbert said the process of hiring coaches and recruiting athletes will begin immediately. He said those previously associated with the teams before they were cut will be invited to return. Despite the $200,000 in legal fees the settlement will cost the university and the expense involved with bringing back the two sports, Gilbert said that the athletic department is still in better financial shape now than it was previously. “We have done an extremely good job, I think, with our staff and coaches of savings between all decisions made in the month of May — salary reductions, furloughs, operational budget savings,” he said. “I believe today we have saved north of $9 million in athletics, significant savings, but still need to generate revenue, and that is where the issue is. But I am hopeful that will be coming in the near future.”

PREP from page B1 tice or do anything,” Webb said. “We were kind of just sitting at home working out. But you don’t have anybody in front of you guarding you. By the time you come out here, that’s something you have to adjust to.” As difficult as it’s been for the players to get ready for a season that started a month later than originally scheduled, it’s been even more of a challenge for their coaches. “I have only two returning players, so with no spring or summer workouts and very limited fall workouts, it’s been a rush to put everything together,” Cary’s Scott Walton said. “But as a coach, we’re just happy to be playing basketball. “I was worried that we weren’t going to be able to get anything in. So for our kids, especially our seniors, we’re willing to do whatever it takes.” Some circumstances, however, are out of anybody’s control. After playing its opener against Scotland last week, Fayetteville’s Jack Britt had its second scheduled game postponed when its opponent Lumberton was forced into quarantine because of COVID-19 issues. “As an educator and a teacher, once you get started teaching it’s difficult to do what you need to do when there are interruptions,” Britt coach Isaiah Walker Jr. said.

Point guard Raina Perez and the Wolfpack were 10-0, including 5-0 in the ACC, when their season was put on hold due to the coronavirus.

Contact tracing at NC State has showdown against No. 2 Louisville in jeopardy The third-ranked Wolfpack women last played on Jan. 3 and had Thursday’s game against Virginia postponed By Brett Friedlander North State Journal THE MOST anticipated game of the ACC women’s basketball regular season is scheduled for Sunday. It’s anybody’s guess, however, if it will be played as scheduled. The showdown between the league’s 2019-20 regular season and tournament champions — No. 2 Louisville and No. 3 NC State — was put into doubt when the Wolfpack was placed under COVID-19 protocols following a positive test last week. The game’s status remains up in the air after the ACC announced on Tuesday that the Wolfpack’s game against Virginia on Thursday has been postponed because of continued coronavirus concerns. It was one of four games the conference put on hold, with Florida State, Syracuse and Virginia also dealing with quarantines and contact tracing. According to team spokesperson Matti Smith, it’s still too early to know if coach Wes Moore’s team will be ready in time to travel to Louisville on Sunday. Even if it is, the game could still be moved to a later date in the name of competitive balance, considering that State will have gone more than two weeks since its most recent action. Although the Wolfpack is not in an official teamwide pause, its workouts have been limited to smaller groups among the players that are available.

“Just because of the nature of our surroundings, it’s so far beyond what’s normal because of the stop and go. “We’ve tried to take things one step at a time and not pile things on them too quick when it comes to getting in shape. My kids have been very resilient.” They’ve had to be. After getting in 10 practices to start the preseason, the Buccaneers’ preparations came to a screeching halt when Cumberland County announced a shutdown on Dec. 18. Practice resumed on Jan. 2, giving the team only three days to get ready for its first game. The circumstances surrounding this unusual season have helped alter the perspective of everyone involved. Regardless of the numbers on the scoreboard, Walker said it’s a win anytime a team is able to get on the court and play the game. “One of the things I talk to my guys about is how lost time is never found again,” the veteran coach said. “Where you are in this moment, you have to maximize it, because you don’t get this moment again. “I’m 54 years old and I still remember everything about the last high school basketball game I got to play. The experience of being able to play is the most important thing.” Even if it means wearing a mask to do so.

The disruption couldn’t have come at a more inopportune time for State (10-0, 5-0), which was playing its best basketball of the disjointed season when the pandemic hit home two days after a 76-57 rout of Boston College at Reynolds Coliseum on Jan. 3. Junior center Elissa Cunane, who was named to the Wooden Award’s midseason top 25 as one of the nation’s best players, led the way against the Eagles by going 9 of 9 from the floor on the way to a season-high 24 points. She also had eight rebounds a career-high three steals and two blocks. Graduate transfer point guard Raina Perez had her most productive game since joining the Wolfpack with 16 points and nine assists. Sophomore wing Jada Boyd, meanwhile, was named the ACC’s Player of the Week after averaging 18 points and nine rebounds in wins against BC and Georgia Tech. Despite the setback off the court, Cunane’s comments following the BC game suggest that she and her teammates are confident they’ll be able to pick up where they left off once they’re allowed to resume playing. “We’ve just stayed level-headed,” she said. “If we’re going to play the next day or not, we’re still going to practice hard and still going to work on ourselves so that when it comes time to play, we’ll be ready. Whoever it is, even if we don’t have (scouting reports), we’ll have the fundamentals.” Cunane said that one of the team’s greatest strengths is the bond it has developed in the face of the challenges associated with the coronavirus pandemic. “We’re just handling it together,” she said. “We have each

MCKILLOP from page B1 of this season’s Maui Invitational in Asheville. The Longhorns pulled ahead 78-76, and a 3-point attempt by the Wildcats’ Sam Mennenga in the final seconds was off the mark. “We had a shot,” McKillop said. “Conceivably, there could have been a foul called on that shot. Sam could’ve gotten three free throws, and we could’ve won that game against Texas.” Instead, the Longhorns survived, won the Maui Invitational and are now 10-1, winners of six straight and ranked No. 4 in the country. “If we won, would Texas have followed that path to No. 4?” McKillop asked his players. “If we won, where would we be right now? That’s how fine this line is. We’ve got to get ready (for the next game). We can’t sleep on anybody. It’s too competitive a world. There are too many ebbs and flows in the emotions of players.” McKillop’s discussions of coaching focus more on the mental state of his team than on X’s and O’s. He credits his 600th win, during which Davidson shot 27% in the first half and fell behind by 12, to a halftime message that essentially boiled down to “have fun.” “Everyone is skilled at this level,” he said. “A guy could get hot because, just emotionally, he’s uplifted. A guy could get cold because he’s downtrodden. All of a sudden, you get a loss. All of a sudden, you get a win. I reflected with our team that fine line. Had we beaten Texas, where would they be right now? One play could have turned that game. So we have

“If we’re going to play the next day or not, we’re still going to practice hard and still going to work on ourselves so that when it comes time to play, we’ll be ready. ” Elissa Cunane, NC State center

other’s backs, which has showed in the way we’ve played.” The resolve shown by the Wolfpack is in direct contrast to the approach taken by ACC rival Duke, which decided to opt-out for the remainder of the season over health and safety concerns. Moore, in an interview shortly before the Blue Devils’ decision in December, addressed those concerns and difficulties involved with playing during a worldwide pandemic. “I think we’re doing a lot of things to make sure we’re staying as safe as possible,” he said. “I mean, these kids, they’re not going to sit in their room 24 hours a day. It just isn’t going to happen. Whether they’re here or at home, they’re going out, whether it’s going to get something to eat or hang out or whatever. Again, we preach every day about trying to stay safe. When you’re eating, try to stay 6 feet away from someone. “I think a lot of people are getting it wherever they are and, obviously, we want to try and avoid it the best we can. But I think we’re doing a pretty good job. They’re being tested a lot, and we’re trying to encourage them to stay safe as much as we can.”

to live in the present.” While McKillop doesn’t want to talk about the past, 600 wins is a lofty height for a college coach to reach. Only 40 coaches in Division I history have reached that milestone, and McKillop is the 15th active coach to hit the mark. He’s in an even more exclusive club — with Mike Krzyzewski (Duke), Jim Boeheim (Syracuse), Dean Smith (UNC), Adolph Rupp (Kentucky), Edgar Diddle (Western Kentucky), Ray Meyer (DePaul), Don Haskins (UTEP), Denny Crum (Louisville), Tom Izzo (Michigan State) and Mark Few (Gonzaga) — as the only 600-win coaches to spend their entire career at one Division I school. Everyone except the two newest members, Few and McKillop, is in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. “I don’t know many coaches in America can have the fortune I’ve been given,” McKillop said in a rare moment of reflection. “The fortune of being at one school for so long, the fortune of having so many players and coaches do everything possible to advance our program, to commit themselves so thoroughly, to care so much, to be able to trust them to do that. You add your family to that situation, and you realize how that is the rock-solid foundation. “They moved down here from New York to give me the opportunity. It’s been a very special experience for any human being. You’ve got your family, your basketball family and your Davidson family — my goodness gracious. That’s the trifecta.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, January 13, 2021

B4 NHL SEASON PREVIEW

Familiarity, young stars have Hurricanes hopeful With most of the roster back and some of hockey’s best emerging talent, coach Rod Brind’Amour and his team have their eyes set on winning a Stanley Cup

“There’s that common familiarity with the group, and so we’re very businesslike, which is good.”

By Cory Lavalette North State Journal RALEIGH — Coming into every season — be it college, pros, high school or beer league; baseball, basketball, football or hockey — there’s always a prevailing theme for a team. Maybe there’s a hotshot newcomer that will put the team over the top. Perhaps a new coach or strategy will improve the overall results. Or it’s a rebuilding year that will eventually lead to bigger and better things. Heading into the 2020-21 NHL season, the Carolina Hurricanes’ theme is clear: The gang is back and ready to take the next step forward. There are some changes to the Hurricanes’ roster — most notably, the retirement of Justin Williams — but the team’s young forwards on the cusp of superstardom and a defense that matches up favorably with any other in the league have Carolina in a position to compete for a Stanley Cup. “I think for the last couple of years we’ve been trying to build the consistency of a winner,” alternate captain Jordan Martinook said last week at the start of training camp. “And I think we’ve accomplished that to a point, but obviously we haven’t gotten to the end goal which is winning a Stanley Cup. … It’s all about us going out and proving that they made the right decision keeping this group together.” With consecutive playoff appearances for the first time since the turn of the century, the Hurricanes, led by third-year coach Rod Brind’Amour, are banking on the team’s familiarity paying off in a shortened season where a slow start or prolonged slump could spell doom for a team’s playoff chances. “It’s nice to have a group that you’re familiar with,” Brind’Amour said last Wednesday, “and there’s not a lot of new faces. … There’s that common familiarity with the group, and so we’re very business-

Rod Brind’Amour, Hurricanes coach

GERRY BROOME | AP PHOTO

Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho scored a career-best 38 goals last season despite Carolina playing just 68 games due to the stoppage caused by the coronavirus pandemic. like, which is good.” While there is familiarity, there are still players who have played fewer than 20 games with their new team like center Vincent Trocheck and defenseman Brady Skjei, along with winger Jesper Fast — the team’s most notable offseason addition. “(Skjei and Trocheck), who are fairly new guys, I like where they’re at. Skjei especially — I think he looks really comfortable.” Skjei has seen time in training camp alongside Brett Pesce, who is back from a shoulder injury suffered Feb. 22 and surgery that cost him the balance of the 2019-20 season. If the Pesce-Skjei pairing can click, Carolina’s stout defense will be even more formidable. “We played some events in the past together,” Pesce said of the two playing together in the USA Hockey system as teenagers. “He’s just such a dynamic skater. That’s

his best asset, and his gaps are so good. And when you have a D-man like that, it kind of makes everything easier for you.” And then there’s Trocheck, the former 30-goal center who has scored just 21 in his past 117 regular season games with Florida and Carolina. If he can regain his scoring touch, the Hurricanes will have a potent 1-2 punch down the middle along with him and Sebastian Aho. “I thought Trocheck looked really good this year,” defenseman Jake Gardiner said when asked who has stood out in camp. “(He) just looks fast looks confident, and I think he’s gonna have a big year for us.” While Carolina is looking for Trocheck and Skjei to deliver on their promise and Fast to seamlessly fit in the top nine, it’s the growth of the team’s emerging stars like Aho, Andrei Svechnikov

and Martin Necas coupled with the consistent play of Teuvo Teravainen, Jaccob Slavin and Dougie Hamilton that will most likely determine how far the Hurricanes can go. Svechnikov is a favorite of pundits around the league to emerge as a bona fide star this season after he scored 44 goals in his first two seasons — including two lacrosse goals that punctuated his status as one of the top young players in hockey. “His willingness to get better is why he’s gonna continue to keep getting better,” Brind’Amour said of the 20-year-old winger. “This guy’s working out, getting stronger. All his skills are there, and then now you add the strength and, to me, the confidence that he’s gained, he’s just gonna continue to grow.” Both Aho and Teravainen should be point-per-game play-

ers, while Slavin will continue to be the defense’s foundation and Necas has the potential to be a 20-goal scorer this year even in a 56-game season — especially if partnering with Svechnikov on the second line works. “If we can get those guys together and it works, it’s huge,” Brind’Amour said. As for Hamilton, he’s in the final year of his contract and coming off a season that, if not for injury, would have had him in consideration for the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman. There is mutual interest in the sides agreeing on an extension, but the salary cap crunch and falling revenue caused by the coronavirus pandemic further complicates an already pivotal negotiation. If those talks should break down, Hamilton’s status could be a distraction ahead of the April 12 trade deadline. And then there’s goaltending. Carolina returns both Petr Mrazek and James Reimer, a tandem that helped the Hurricanes allow 2.84 goals per game a year ago, good for 11th in the NHL. Still, many called for Carolina to upgrade its goaltending during the offseason. With each in the final year of their respective contracts, Mrazek and Reimer will get one more opportunity to show one or both of them can lead Carolina to the top of the NHL. If the Hurricanes can take advantage of their familiarity, see further growth from their young stars and get serviceable goaltending, the “end goal” of a Stanley Cup is near. “I think it’s right now,” Pesce said. “And I think we’ve proven the past few years that we’re a threat to any team in the league, and we’re only getting better. … I think it’s no secret anymore that we’re a good team.”

Changes to divisions, playoffs, rosters will make this NHL season unlike any before From a shortened schedule with fewer opponents to masked coaches, the league is trying to navigate another season in the midst of a pandemic By Cory Lavalette North State Journal RALEIGH — Hockey’s back, but even for the most knowledgeable fans who track player movement, keep tabs on which coaches land where, analyze and fret over the draft, and scour the salary cap for loopholes that can benefit their favorite team, the 2020-21 season will require a bit of a learning curve. Much like last year’s return-toplay procedures that added fivegame play-in series and took place in two bubbles, there again won’t be fans in most arenas when the season opens Wednesday. But there are a lot of other tweaks the NHL and NHLPA have implemented to try and have a successful, albeit shortened, season. The schedule The league will play just over 68% of the regular season games it would normally, going from the standard 82-game schedule to an abbreviated 56-game slate. There are also reconfigured divisions to minimize travel and accommodate Canadian teams who cannot shuttle across the border over and over. The Hurricanes are in the Central Division for this season along with Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Florida, Nashville and defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay. Teams will only play against the other teams in their di-

4-6 Number of players each team will have on its taxi squads for the 2020-21 season

vision during the regular season. In the Central, that means Carolina will play eight games each against its seven Central opponents, totaling 56 games. The Hurricanes planned outdoor game at NC State’s Carter-Finley Stadium has been pushed into the future due to the ongoing pandemic. As of now, all games at PNC Arena will be played without fans. The playoffs Despite the fewer divisions, the same number of teams will receive playoff berths, but how they will be awarded and the structure of the Stanley Cup Playoffs will change. Normally, the top-three teams in each division would earn a playoff spot with the two remaining teams in each conference with the most points earning a wild card. This season, each division will yield four playoff teams (no wild cards), and those four teams will play each other (top seed vs. fourth; second seed vs. third) in the first round of the playoffs. Then, the two remaining teams from each division would play in the second round to reach the semifinals. Final four opponents will not be determined by conference — the team remaining with

the most regular season points will face the team with the fewest points, and the other spot in the Stanley Cup Final will be determined by a matchup between the two remaining teams with the second- and third-most points. Taxi squads Don’t understand how the NHL’s waiver system works? Well, things just got even more confusing. The NHL, in an effort to have more players available to teams without further disrupting its cap system and to avoid potential issues with COVID-19, will allow its teams to have a taxi squad of AHL players that live and practice in the NHL city but still be mostly regarded as AHL players. The taxi squads will be between four and six players, and players who would require waivers to be sent to the AHL (for example, Joakim Ryan needs to pass through waivers, Jake Bean does not) would need to do so to be placed on the taxi squad. Unless a team has three goalies on its NHL roster, each taxi squad must have at least one goalie, and he is the only player who will be required to travel with his NHL team on the road since there will be no emergency goalies (sorry, David Ayres) in arenas this season. The rest of the taxi squad may travel with the team but isn’t required. The taxi squad players will earn the same salary they would if they were with the organization’s AHL team and count the same against the salary cap as if they were assigned to the AHL. Decisions on who will make up a taxi squad should be interesting, as NHL teams will want their best players available as fill-ins

GERRY BROOME | AP PHOTO

Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour and his staff, along with those around the NHL, will be required to wear masks during games this season. for their roster in case of injury or COVID-19 protocols but also not minimize the game action of developing players. If a team wishes to add a player from its AHL team to its taxi squad, the player must quarantine for seven days. The three Canadian teams whose AHL affiliates are in the United States (Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver) would have to wait 14 days due to Canadian mandates on border crossing. More rules There is one on-ice rule change for the 2020-21 season. The offside rule that required a player to have one skate touching the blue line or outside the zone is gone, and players will now just be required to have broken the plane of the blue line to stay onside. The league says 14 goals last season were wiped out

because of the old rule. Salary bonuses will be prorated — both in benchmarks and payouts — and any rookie who plays seven games, rather than the usual 10, will burn one year of their entry-level contract. COVID-19 rules will be everywhere. You’ll have to imagine Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour and new Washington coach Peter Laviolette chomping on their gum this season because all coaches will be required to wear masks. Players, coaches and staffs will be pretty much confined to their hotel rooms on the road, and each player will receive their own room even if they haven’t reached the CBA’s threshold for seniority. And team-building will certainly be difficult as the NHL is encouraging teams to hold as many virtual meetings as possible and players to avoid contact with each other.

orth STATEment

irus dissipates l pay for this

The cavalier manner in which China liedcan about thetheir origin of theto the United States over state and local go worldwide pandemics trace source The crisiscan hastrace costtheir the U.S. taxpayer atand least $2.4 trillion i worldwide pandemics source to the United States over virus, covered up its spread and tried to tell the world there were only the curve in the nove our 231-year history. At least four in the 20th century alone can be debt plus trillions more in Federal Reserve backup liquidity our 231-year history. At least four in the 20th century alone can be 3,341 related deaths has led to worldwide panic, economic collapse and — after all,the tre directly traced to China: 1957 “Asian flu,” 1968 “Hong Kong flu,” 1977 markets and financial outlets. If the U.S.muted dollarflu,” were not directly traced to China: 1957 “Asian flu,” 1968 “Hong Kong 1977 ective, zero millions of Americans needlessly being thrown out of work. have abided by recom “Russian flu” and the we 2002 SARS outbreak. There is any evidence thatemergen the “Russian flu” and the 2002 SARS outbreak. There is evidence that the currency, would not be able to fund of these nited States over Perhaps The crisis has cost the U.S. taxpayer at least $2.4 trillion in addedPerhaps to stay at home; they massive 1918 “Spanish flu” pandemic also had its origins in China. massive 1918 “Spanish flu” pandemic also had its origins in China. measures without immediate fear of rampant inflation and c Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor y alone can be COVID-19 debt plus trillions more in Federal Reserve backup liquidity to the COVID-19 they’ve donned mask There is depreciation. 100% agreement, outside of China, that COVID-19 There is 100% agreement, outside of China, that COVID-19 We need g Kong flu,” 1977 is China’s markets and financial outlets. If the U.S. dollar were not the reserveis China’s The result: a reduc originated inChina Wuhanhas Province the completely originated Province from the completely to pay probably fortransparency their from aberrant ways and decisions thr evidence that the currency, we would not be ableintoWuhan fund any of these probably emergency According to the Uni Neal Robbins, Chernobyl. unregulated and unsanitary wet markets. Some believe it came out of a Chernobyl. and wet markets. Some believe it came out of a economic and financial means. has obviously not ins in China. measures without unregulated immediate fear of unsanitary rampant inflation and currency Metrics and Evaluati and honesty Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, Diplomacy senior editor biowarfare lab run by the communist Chinese army.opinion biowarfare lab run by the communist Chinese army. to bring China into the civilized world ofTrump 21st century health OVID-19 depreciation. administratio from our rigorous verifiable policing andregimes regulation of take th Until adopts verifiable policing and regulation of Until China andadopts fair trade. Totalitarian communist never mpletely China has to pay for theirChina aberrant waysrigorous and decisions through peakhas outbreak was re their food safety and health protocols, American business no other scientific experts ve it came out of a economic and financial Diplomacy has obviously notAmerican worked business has no other their means. food safety and health protocols, or express sincere regret and remorse, because thatby is nearly not wh ventilators choice than to build redundant manufacturing elsewhere purely — wedo. need to plants to bring China intochoice the civilized 21st century health, hygieneplants elsewhere purely than toworld buildofredundant manufacturing August by nearly 12,0 They take advantage of every w for nationaltotalitarian security andgovernments safety reasons as well as supply and delivery know what they regulation of and fair trade. Totalitarian communist regimes never take the blame Here’s the problem for national security and safety reasons as well as supply and delivery they find in adversaries and keep pushing until they win or t reliability concerns. ness has no other or express sincere reliability regret and concerns. remorse, because that is not what know, what they questions will al push back. The mostadversaries direct way to make China “pay” for this disaster is tothat offer s elsewhere purely totalitarian governments do. They take advantage of every weakness First, what is theCh tr don’t and when The most direct way to make China “pay” for this disaster is to U.S. offertax credits That is, unless an exogenous event happens to companies who will source at least half ofsuch theiras the pply and delivery they find in adversaries and keep pushing until they win or the important because it U.S. tax credits to companies who will source at least half of theirproductionmeltdown 1986. States. Some that event, theyexperts hope to back in theinUnited There isbelieve approximately $120not the S adversaries push back. be open or of closed, wh production back in the United States. There is approximately $120 program of Reagan, led directly to the dissolution the Sov billion worth of American direct investment plants and equipment know what in they isaster is to offer That is, unless an exogenous event happens such as the Chernobyl more liberalized soci billion worth of American direct investment in plants and equipment in 1989.direct investment in China. Chinese in the U.S. is about $65 billion by don’t. half of their meltdown in 1986. Some experts believe that event, not the Star Wars ought to lock down fu comparison. in China. Chinese direct investment in the U.S. is about $65 billion by Perhaps COVID-19 is China’s Chernobyl. ximately $120 program of Reagan, led directly to the dissolution of the Soviet Union We’ve in seen case fat An investment tax credit of 30% on half U.S. investment China comparison. Senators in Washington are of already talking about the pos s and equipment in 1989. the number of identifi today, or $60 billion,forgiving applied to$1.2 repatriated American manufacturing investment tax credit of 30% on half of U.S. investment in China of China trillion in debt we owe them as one w out $65 billion by Perhaps COVID-19An is China’s Chernobyl. and the denominator investmentChina to the to U.S. would U.S. Treasury billionthe in US. Don today, orare $60 billion, applied to repatriated American manufacturing “pay” forcost the the damage they have$18 caused Senators in Washington already talking about the possibility people have actually tax revenue spread over a few years. $18 billion in lost revenue is would cost Treasury $18 billion in breath waiting for a Chinese “Jubilee” to number happen has but been ask you vestment in China of China forgivinginvestment $1.2 trillion to in the debtU.S. we owe them as the oneU.S. way to get ove compared to the $6 trillion+ Planinwe are nowfinanc revenue they spread over a few years. $18 billion in lost revenue is decimal dust representatives to hold China Marshall accountable tangible n manufacturing China to “pay” for tax the damage have caused the US. Don’t hold your of death, particularly undertaking to disaster. save our own economy, not of defeated enemies as in the compared to the $6ask trillion+ Marshall Plan we are now this $18 billion in breath waiting for decimal a Chinesedust “Jubilee” to happen but your elected sources suggest the n past. to save ourinown economy, notways of defeated enemies as in the It is about time they are expected to operate as responsibl t revenue is representatives to undertaking hold China accountable tangible financial for many American people are dyin China has been cheating, stealing, pirating and pillaging Plan we are now this disaster. past. the world like any other modern nation. Even more importa business now for the past 30 years. They have made no secret that they d enemies as in the It is about time they are expected to operate as responsible citizens of actually have coronav China has been cheating, stealing, pirating and pillaging American intend to replace the U.S. as the premier superpower in the world and the world like any business other modern nation. of identified cases co now for the past 30 years. They have made no secret thatreplace they the dollar as the reserve currency with their renminbi. laging American number of people wh intend to replace the U.S. as the premier superpower in the world and no secret that they replace the dollar as the reserve currency with their renminbi. in the world and enminbi. EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

OP north STATEmen

Business & Economy CES VISUAL VISUAL VOICES

VISUAL VOICES

It’s okay to ask questions about It’s okay to ask questions about when will pay for this COVID-19 catastrophe How Chi we begin to get back to normal s about when A7 How China will payThe A7 strophe The comfort a for this COVID-19 catas 3 big questions nob normalwe begin to get back to normal EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

EDITORIAL | FRA

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HU COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

North State Journal for Wednesday, April 15, 2020

CERTAIN; after this COVID-19 virus dissipates The cavalier manner in which China lied about the origin ofSTATES the WITH MOST under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-homeONE OBINSON hina theStates, origin of the will pay for this nd inlied theabout United China virus, covered upONE its spread and to tell after the world there were only THING IStried CERTAIN; this COVID-19 virus dissipates cavalierofmanner in which arounC orders thanks to local or state governments,The a majority Americans THIS WEEK, virus, according to members ofTHE theand fede iedor toanother. tell the world there were only “THIS IS DA ay 3,341 related deaths to worldwide panic, economic collapse and aroundhas theled globe and in the United States, China will pay for this covered up its spread t are having to adjust to what is being called the “new normal.” catast and state and local governments, Americans have rldwide economic collapse and in it” (Psalm 118:24). WITH either shelter-in-place stay-at-home fallen into place. I understand the seriousness of the virus an catastrophe one waybeing or or another. 3,341 related deaths has led to wo he crisispanic, caused by China in perspective, zero MOST STATES millionsunder of Americans needlessly thrown out of work. Some of these orders extend at least through the end of this month. In o ce orcan stay-at-home fallen to into place. Iorders understand theto seriousness of the virus the the curve inI’m the uneasy novel coronavirus outbreak. The e being thrown of work. I know that during thanks localThe or state governments, aneed majority of at Americans to precautions, with how people who sim Inand order to puttaxpayer the crisis caused by China in take perspective, zero millions of Americans needlessly mics traceout their source the United States over crisis has cost the U.S. leastVirginia’s $2.4 trillion in added stay-at-home orders gobut into June. worldw ty of Americans to take precautions, but I’m uneasy with how people who simply ask muted — after all, trends can easily reverse — but ayer leastfour $2.4in trillion in added working from home worldwide pandemics can trace their source to the United States The has coststart the U.S. taxp are having to what is being called the “new normal.” questions the over data, and things can getting ry. Atatleast the 20th century alone can be to adjustdebt plus trillions more in Federal Reserve backup liquidity toCarolina, the about Here in North Democratic Gov.when Roycrisis Cooper stated during our 23 normal.” questions and when things can start getting back to have abided by recommendations and orders. The Reserve backup liquidity to the about the data, be glad” as the Bible our 231-year history. At least four in the 20th century alone can be debt plus trillions more in Federa Some of these orders extend atfinancial least through the end of this month. normal are treated in some circles a recent coronavirus press briefing that “we justwith don’tcontempt. know yet” if the China: 1957 “Asian flu,” 1968 “Hong Kong flu,” 1977 markets and outlets. If the U.S. dollar were not the reserve direct nd of this month. are treated in some circles with contempt. to flu,” stay 1977 at home; they’ve practiced socialthe distancin he U.S. dollar were notnormal the reserve dad, Easter directly to to China: flu,” 1968They’re “Hong orders Kong markets andand financial outlets. If t Virginia’s stay-at-home orders go into June. treated asextend though we as a society simply must acce state’s stay-at-home will into May. he 2002 SARS outbreak. There is evidence thatwe theas a society currency, wemust would nottraced be able fund1957 any “Asian of these emergency Since when did “Russi Perhaps They’re treated as though simply accept without they’ve donned masks. fund any of these emergency have to be thankful MORRY GASH | AP PHOTO “Russian flu” and the 2002 SARS outbreak. There is evidence that the currency, we would not be able Perhaps WALTER E.decide WILLIAMS If he to extend questions should beabout asked when as to the in North Carolina, Democratic Roy Cooper stated during question what theit, government tells us it’s massiv safe to toa nish flu”WALTER pandemic also its origins inHere China. measures without of rampant inflation and currency Wedoes need E. had WILLIAMS questioning per stated during question what the government tells us about when it’s massive safeimmediate toGov. begin thefear The result: a reduction inwithout expected hospitalizat Lenten and of rampant inflation and currency pandemic. COVID-19 1918 “Spanish flu” pandemic also had its origins in China. measures immediate fea forSupply it. And the answers should not beplant vague like “we Boxes containing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19COVID-19 vaccine are moved to that a loading dockdon’t for shipping at the Pfizer Global manufacturing inones Portage, a recent press briefing “we just know yet” ifjustification the transparency process of Kalamazoo returning back to normalcy. greement, outside of process China, that COVID-19 Theis know yet” if the of returning back tocoronavirus normalcy.depreciation. According to the University of Washington Institu For me, my faith Easter seasons government There is May. 100% agreement, outside of do China, thatof COVID-19 depreciation. Mich., Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020. must this out an abundance of caution.” is China’s state’s stay-at-home orders will extend into No. The government works for us, and we have the right to an Province probably from the completely China has to pay for their aberrant ways and decisions through is China’s Since when did No. The government works for us, and we have the right to ask those Metrics and Evaluation model most oft cited by m origin ant ways and decisions through making. As I celebra and honesty originatedshould in at Wuhan Province probably from the completely China has to pay for their aberr provide a all levels It will need to be explained in detail to the people of this state who If he does decide to extend it, questions be asked as to the questions. And the longer stay-at-home orders are in 1:4, place a nsanitary wet markets. believe itlonger came out of but aChernobyl. financial means. Diplomacywet hasmarkets. obviously notbelieve worked Chernobyl. asked to the questions. And theis stay-at-home orders in place all over the unsanitary administration, theand expected need for hosp plomacy has obviously notSome worked unreg Corinthians whi graduates iseconomic only ableare toand find low-paying work. ned in as two past articles that student debt questioning unregulated and it Trump came out of at a home economic financial means. D fromSome our are being told to remain jobless and for an undetermined message of become a justification for it. And the answers should not be vague ones like “we country, and the stricter some of them get in states, such as M by the communist Chinese army. to bring China into the civilized world of 21st century health, hygiene gue ones like “we country, and the stricter some of them get in states, such as Michigan, peak outbreak was revised down by over 120,000, orld of 21st health, hygiene Under an ISA agreement, he would owe an agreedlem and thatcentury universities have encouraged affliction, that wew biowa biowarfare lab run by the communist Chinese army. to we bring China into the civilized scientific experts amount of the time why models predicting hundreds of thousands ofso cases government hope that will must do this out of an abundance of caution.” more people, sitting at home feeling isolated and/or anxi bad thing? the more people, sitting at home feeling isolated and/or anxious about pts rigorous verifiable policing and regulation of and fair trade. Totalitarian communist regimes never take the blame ventilators by nearly 13,000 and the number of ov upon percentage of his income — the actual dollar their own irresponsible behavior. With unist regimes never take the blame affliction, withcomm the co Unt Until China adopts rigorous verifiable policing and regulation of and fair trade. Totalitarian are reliable. —iswe need to again enjoyforsincere atnot all levels It amount will need to be in detail to the people this state who when they can getnoback to providing their families, will d would be very low. With a traditional loan, of this stateprotocols, who when theyfinancial can get back tonoproviding for their families, will demand erse, graduates facing uncertain August byonce nearly 12,000. nd health American business has other orexplained express sincere regret and remorse, because that not what because that isan what God.” That isofwhat their f their food safety and health protocols, American business has other or express regret and rem To know date, what I’ve gone along with what the state has asked and then they he would owe the same amount regardless of his t’s particularly important to find solutions ndetermined answers. are being told to remain jobless and at home for an undetermined answers. Here’s the problem: We still don’t know the ans sporting events, advantage of become every weakness dtake redundant manufacturing If you are celebrat They take advantage of every weakness a plants elsewhere purely totalitarian governments choice than do. tofree build redundant manufacturing plants elsewhere purely totalitarian governments do. The choice citizens mandated that we do, but along the way I’ve also had questions about income. Even with income-based repayment on his So,and what’s to cases be done? housands of Leaders the local state levels should be in as forthcoming assecurity they know, what they questions that state will allow economy tothis reopen. amount of time why models predicting hundreds of thousands of cases theleaders localconcerts, and levels should beon as forthcom pushing until they win or the reflect messa ty safety reasons as well asatsupply andand delivery they find adversaries and keep pushing until they win orLeaders the family for national and safety reasons as well as supplyatand delivery they findthe in adversaries and keep for nat the data. State Republican have, too. bad thing? living in a free loan, he would likely make interest-only payments as dical proposals, like completely can be with those answers — and again, not vague answers, but answer First, what is the true coronavirus fatality rate?c God’s example and are reliable. can be with those answers — and again, not vague answers, don’t and when s.student loans adversaries push back. reliability concerns. adversaries push back. gatherings, Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get asked, there is reliabi AMERICA’S COLLEGES are rife withthe principal continued to mount. and making them subject AMERICA’S COLLEGES are rife with is details what society ked and then with that give their important because it determines whether certain nt happens such asThat the Chernobyl this difficult Th To I’veUniversity gonebelievability. along with what theexogenous statedirect has asked and then with that their statements The most waywere to make China “pay” for this disaster isgive to offer That is, believability. unless an exogenous ev way to make China “pay” for work. this disaster isdate, tostatements offer hope todetails That is, unless an event happens suchthey asThe the Chernobyl corruption. The financial squeeze resulting sometimes afinancial disturbing tendency among some people to treat thosetime. church services The Purdue istoalready experimenting with ptcy protection, would certainly corruption. squeeze resulting questions about We should all continue to do what we can keep our families, ple to the vaccine, and we don’t By Elizabeth Lincicome be open or closed, whether we ought to pursue — believe that event, not the Staropportunities Wars confident we will em supposed free citizens from COVID-19 offers for a mandated that we do, but along the way I’ve also had questions about We should all continue to do what we can to keep our fam U.S. tax credits to companies who will source at least half of their meltdown in 1986. Some experts companies who will source at least half of their meltdown in 1986. Some experts believe that event, not the Star Wars know what they questioning the data andfor asking when we can start getting back ISAsState under its “Back a Boiler” plan. The program is of peoplefromsimply ders who put their ownourselves, money onand the our line communities COVID-19 offers opportunities a many U.S. ta and more Sponsored by Union want to have long lines North Journal safe. But we also still continue more liberalized society presumes wide sprea Sponsored by should the dissolution of the Soviet In thisled same spirit Sponsored by Union bit ofbefore remediation. Let’s first examine production back into the United There is approximately $120 program of are Reagan, directly thewhat data. State Republican leaders have, too. ourselves, and our communities safe.that But we should also stilt Sponsored by nue the United States. There is approximately $120 of Research Reagan, led directly the of theas Soviet to the do, last I dissolution toremediation. normal though they are conspiracy theorists or people who being funded byprogram the Purdue Foundation, diligence lending to 18-yearbitStates. of Let’s first examine what living in a free don’t. produ “This vaccine won’t wrapped around building to afterdown ourinown asked, there to of ask questions about the data, because while reasonable stay-at-home ought to lock further. mightisbe the root academic corruption, neighbors helping st ne billion worth of American direct investment inof plants and equipment when certain types of questions get asked, there isbe the root to ask questions about the data, because while reasonable part of the AMERICANS university’s endowment. It’s a small ers. And direct the fearinvestment of students in filing for and Unfortunately, might academic corruption, otherwise don’t care if they get themselves or1989. others sick. merican in 1989. administer thedate. vaccine. The othAS MORE line checked. billion suggested bysociety the title were of aplants recent study,equipment administer itself. The ehernobyl. to treat those measures are understandable, they should also have an expiration We’ve seen case fatality rates — Concord, the number of Cd temporary In a high in China. Chinese direct investment in the U.S. is about $65 billion by Perhaps COVID-19 is China’s program now but is already showing positive results. ydirect wouldinvestment ensure that loans are small and suggested by the title of a recent study, sometimes abydisturbing tendency among some to measures are understandable, they also have an expi er challenge in people getting thetreat vac- thoseSince when did questioning government at all should levels become a bad up billion to receive their first doses ofCOVID-19 in the U.S. $65 Perhaps is China’s Chernobyl. “Academic Studies and to the Chib North State Journal Wednesday, April 15, 2020 starttalking getting backGrievance This is is allabout new Americans, and it isexplains not normal. Not in way, the offor identified COVID-19 cases —in but eady about the possibility money to buy aare 3-D bottom line? Iwhat don’t sacrifices are supposed Purdue’s website aand few of the benefits of “Academic Grievance Studies andnumber the comparison. Senators in Washington alra cine outany faster is that people have the COVID-19 vaccine, adata number thing? That isThis free citizens living in a free society were supposed simply questioning the asking when we can start getting back is all new to Americans, and it is not normal. Not in Corruption of Scholarship.” The study was Senators in Washington are already talking about the possibility compa A6 are people who shape, or form. So while we should remain vigilant and stay safe, at and the denominator are likely wrong. We don’t k we owe them as one way to get health care workers ISAs: to be observed for 15 minutes afhdebt a solution is politically unpopular. Corruption of Scholarship.” The study was of questions remain about why An investment tax credit of 30% on half of U.S. investment in China of China forgiving $1.2 trillion in over. think will be able to to do,we last Ishape, checked. done bygrowing Areo, an opinion andinvestment analysis to do, last I to normal ascomfortable though they areforgiving conspiracy theorists or debt are people who or form. So while we should remain vigilant and stay ax credit of 30% on half of U.S. in China of China $1.2 trillion in we owe them as one way to get Fast digital An i ick. the same time we shouldn’t get with this so-called “new people have actually died of coronavirus. Some so y have caused the US. Don’t hold your get the billion, shot.” applied done certain of thepayment country are Theparts standard periodter forthey theor Back onsiderably reduce the number of byMy Areo, an opinionasand analysis today, $60 to repatriated American manufacturing China to “pay”isfor the damage digital magazine. By American the way, Areo is short first concern we go along in all this, of course, my family. I’m the otherwise don’t care if they get themselves or others sick. the same time we shouldn’t get comfortable with this so-call surmount the challenges on, applied to repatriated manufacturing China to “pay” for the damage they have caused the US. Don’t hold your checked. s become a bad Cohen also cites reporting isnormal.” so far behind in vaccine distritoday, number has been overestimated, given that classifi ee”totoborrow happen but askexpands your elected makingto it the U.S. would digital ble for college and would magazine. Bythem the$18 way, Areo the is short pharmacy for Areopagitica, a speech delivered by a Boiler-ISA Fund is about 10 years, investment cost the U.S.about Treasury billion in breath waiting Ifor a Chinese worried catching virus, and I’m worried will. After “Jub Since did questioning government atlocal all“Jubilee” levels athat bad normal.” U.S. would cost thein U.S. Treasury $18 inwhen breath waiting for revenue aatChinese happen but your elected sues the level. become Into rebution, planning, and execution. lie ask ahead in a timely y were supposed Not one little bit.billion of death, among elderly patients, can competitive with most Federal Plus and private loan ionately affect low-income students. It for Areopagitica, a in speech delivered by particularly invest untable in tangible financial ways for John Milton defense of free speech. tax spread over a few years. $18 billion lost revenue is representatives to hold China acc sufferingfinancial from theone H1N1 virus (swine flu) during the 2009 pandemic, into NCmajoring sponse she says will begin counts in North Carolina thing? That what free citizens in asix-month freeDHHS society were supposed Not little bit. over a few years. $18 billion in lost revenue is representatives to hold China accountable in tangible ways for terms. Inisaddition, all studentsliving receive a disfavor students in soft but John Milton in defense of free speech. Authors Helen Pluckrose, James A.Case sources suggest the number is dramatically under tax manner. By May perhaps decimal dust compared to the $6 trillion+ Marshall Plan we are now this disaster. I’ve been trying to take extra precautions, because all of this brings up rev rewarding facilities for accurate Authors continue rise and Governor towe do, last Itochecked. grace period post-graduation before payments begin. Lindsay and Boghossian say has that Helen Pluckrose, James A. pared tofamily. the as $6I’m trillion+ Marshall are now e, is my this disaster. Stacey Matthews also written under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah many people are dying home. diplines. to operate responsible citizens of RALEIGH — Peter Medly Pharmacy, aPlan decim undertaking to save our own economy, not of defeated enemies as in the It is at about timenot they expect we will to 30% of theofsay and management,Lindsay way tooget many memories a painful experience I’d prefer to are repeat. Cooper recently extended the recording something has gone drastically wrong Once a recipient makes successful payments for e are solutions that can be implemented — and Peter Boghossian that My first concern as we go along in all this, of course, is my family. I’m Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym Sist ied I will. After and is a regular contributor to RedState and Legal Insurrection. Even more importantly, we have no clue how mn full-service, digital pharmacy that e our own economy, not of defeated enemies as in the It is about time they are expected to operate as responsible citizens of ation. under past. the world like any other modern while indirectly punishing othstate’s modified Stay At Home But what alsodrastically makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone has in academia, especially within certain population vaccinated. By the prescribed term of the contract, no additional s acrimonious political climate. something has gone wrong offers free same-day prescription 2009 pandemic, worried about them catching the virus, and I’m worried I will. After and is a regular contributor to RedState and Legal Insurrec actually have coronavirus. Some scientists sugges the world like otherhas modern nation. ers. According to Amanda FullOrder while Department of any been cheating, stealing, pirating and pillaging American past. fields within the humanities. They payments are even if(swine theyChina have less solution has been to as in call in academia, especially within delivery, hasreferred announced its“skin September, perhaps 60%, of this brings up ofcertain identified cases could be an order of magnitude suffering from therequired H1N1 virus flu)paid during the 2009 pandemic, Moore, a pharmacist in30 the Health and Human Services Sec- er cheating, stealing, pirating and pillaging American business now for the past years. They have made no secret that they these fields “grievance studies,” where Chin thanDr. theMandy amount of funding received. Suchnot a policy would for institutions fields within the humanities. They call expansion intocall the Raleigh market. NealinRobbins, publisher | Frank Hill,coronavirus senior opinion Galore state’s public healththe department, refer to years. repeat. retary Cohen issued precautions, athey number of Whirligigs people who have had and n I’ve been trying to take extra because all of this brings up maybe approaching herd he past 30 They have made no secret that they scholarship is not so much based upon intend to replace U.S. as the premier superpower the world and busine Both ISAsagainst and skin in the game would hare in the credit risk of every student fields “grievance studies,” where This expansion marks the policies state will allocate supplynot tothese new residents ost everyone haspremier finding truththe butinstitution. upon attending toway toowarning many memories of abenefits. painful experience I’dasprefer tocurrency repeat. iswith he as superpower world and for replace the dollar the reserve their renminbi. immunity. But 100%? have many down-stream Both would put outU.S. a loan tothe attend scholarship not so much based upon in Wilson intend Medly’s sixth market, already In in the those facilities who are in need leaving home any reason othsocial grievances. Grievance But what also makes exercise, metolose sleep is how easily most everyone hastruth as the reserve currency with their renminbi. pressure on universities keep tuition low and his means that universities would bescholars on finding but2022 upon attending to servicing New York City, New because they are effectively adreplac er than work, school, I think early is a A spectacular sight greets bully students, administrators and other

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offset some of the artificial pressure on demand for or some part of student loan debt when social grievances. Grievance scholars Jersey, Philadelphia, Miami, departments into adhering to their healthcare needs or groceries. ministering vaccines. She says realistic goal…and it may visitors approaching the Vollis higher education. They would also align universities’ efault. Such a policy would require action bully students, administrators and other Simpson that the CDC may also considCompounding an already deteand Baltimore. worldview. The worldview they promote is JasonWhirligig Park in the only get as high as 80% if interests with those of students. ss since student loans arenor disbursed the riorating into adhering to their this data inwould determining howdepartments situation, North Caro- erUniversities Medly’s tech-enabled neither scientific rigorous.by Grievance public power community of Wilson. EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS to allocate constrained supply toworldview. vaccination rate is severebe invested in student success, not just increased ernment. The worldview they promote is pharmacy platform offers freesuch as lina’s studies consist of disciplines we’re lucky, even then..” Giant pinwheels spin and turn the various states. “So, any loca-neither scientific nor rigorous. Grievance ly enrollment. lagging to the pointuniversities that Gov. would THEWS Some probably begin ther solution can be implemented locally. same-day prescription delivery sociology, anthropology, gender studies, EDITORIAL with the breeze — look closer, and | STAC tion’swhen failure to choose provide accuratestudies consist Cooper called inguidance the statetoNato offer better students they of institutions are already giving it critical a of disciplines such RICHARD as through a mobile application COLUMN | REP. HUDSON queer studies, sexuality and race you realize the eccentric details of Dr. Robert Handfield, NCSU complete data can impactsociology, tional Guard to help administer majors, choose classes and takeand out loans. e Share Agreements (ISAs).toISAs are anthropology, gender studies, each piece of folk art. Together, the that allows patients manage studies. thedovaccine supply to the entirequeer shotsThese more quickly. Thesolutions six per- will Poole College of Management prescription status, chat with innovative what “Free l agreements in which students receive studies, sexuality and critical race cheery array of colorful structures In 2017 and 2018, authors Pluckrose, state.” son “immunization strike teams” and Boghossian started pharmacists, andatrack deliveries College” cannot: make students and universities funding Lindsay in exchange for predetermined studies. creates the fantastical chaos of a Unfortunately, travelling thewisely state and submitting bogus academic papers to arebehave up to when the medication more andworkact together towards thesince the pan- In 2017 and 2018, authors Pluckrose, carnival, right in the heart of the post-graduation income over a certain demic first set in and Operation ing at various vaccine sites. academic journals in cultural, queer, reaches their In addition same goal. That goal is to create educated, wise years. The percent ofdoorstep. income and number Lindsay and Boghossian started Wilson County town. The Centers for Disease Con- Warp Speed was put into mo- kets, pointed to several hiccups gender, fat and sexuality studies tobased same-day Medly offers productive graduates. Only with smart policies n changerace, upondelivery, a student’s major and trolandshows submitting bogus academic papers to Farm machinery repairman and bottlenecks that are leading tion, experts have been warnthat North Carodetermine if theyincluding would pass peer a range of services, that incentivize student success canofwepotential ensure that tential. to academic journals in cultural, queer, and Wilson native Simpson to the lag in vaccine distribution. ing problems based linians are receiving their first “THIS IS THE DAY theVollis lord has made, let usthe r of the virus and the review be accepted for need publication. WITH MOST STATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-home fallen into place. I understand automatic refills and medication colleges truly provide value for students, parents, eseriousness a good deal forand students because they race, gender, fat and sexuality studies began making the massive kinetic These include national security on the global supply chain and dose of the vaccine at a slower Acceptance of dubious research that inpeer it” (Psalm 118:24). y with people whoasimply ask synchronization. orders thanks to local or state governments, a majority of Americans to take precautions, but I’m unea taxpayers and society. ky thanhow loans. Imagine student who to determine if they would pass rate than much of the rest of the concerns about vaccine delivery issues including theft, sabotage sculptures at his family farm when editors found sympathetic to their Iofknow that during this challenging time of soc n thingsjournal can start getting back to Company officials said in TATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-home fallen into place. understand the seriousness of the virus need areI having toIn adjust to what isreview being called theand “newthe normal.” about the wh and be accepted for publication. and counterfeiting, shortage and storage. December the country (N.C.’s rate of 966 vache wasquestions nearing retirement age.data, andWIT intersectional postmodern leftist vision working from home or losing a job, it may be diffi withorcontempt. a press releaseor that Medly’s Acceptance of dubious research that Some of these orders extend at least through the end of this month. normal are treated in some circle personnel and supplies, lack of Supply Resource Chain Coopcal state governments, a majority of Americans cinations per 100,000 people is to take precautions, but I’m uneasy with how people who simply ask He kept making his whirligigs — orders of the world would prove the problem of expansion to the Raleigh market is be glad” asnow thethe Bible tells us toofdo. However, as aasC a society simply must accept editors found sympathetic to their limited capacity, erative in NC State’s Poole Col-journal the sixth lowest inquestions the nation.) Virginia’s stay-at-home orders gocoordination, into June. They’re treated as though we official folk art North st to what being called thewithout “new normal.” about the data, and when things can start getting back to lowisacademic standards. are haj an when important step to in the company and dad, the Easter holiday has reminded me of vaccineGov. damage, gaps forstated rural sders us about it’s safe begin the lege of Management called on Dr. Cohen recently told media intersectional or postmodern leftist vision Carolina — until about six months Here in North Carolina, Democratic Roy Cooper during question what the government tel Several of the fake research papers extend at least through the end of this month. normal are treated in some circles with contempt. Som journey, using their recent $100 areas, and misinformation about of thecoronavirus country’s leading supoutlets that some of the state’s two of the world would prove the problem of have to be thankful and of hopeful for, even in the m alcy. were before his death at age 94. His accepted for publication. The Fat a recent press briefing that “we just don’t know yet” if the process returning back to norm home orders go into They’re treated as though wetoasexplain a society simply must accept million BJune. funding round, Virgin vaccines and tracking. EFF ply chain experts inlow healthSENATOR departments and hospiacademic standards. Lenten and without pandemic.work is renowned us, and TARTE, we haveseries theFORMER right to ask those ingovernment the art Studies journal published aNC hoaxSTATE paper state’s stay-at-home orders will extend into May. No. The works for arolina,that Democratic Roy Cooperwas stated during what detail the government tells us about when safefake to begin thepapers co-led by Greycroft and Volition In ait’s recent update to his De- me, community potential problems and Several tals have usedSince all question ofwhen their did vacof the research argued the Gov. term bodybuilding piece Wilson isand an aimportant part ofstay-atmyHer da home orders are in place all over the Easter seasons If heback does decide to extend it, questions should be asked asFor to the my faith questions. Andofthe longer cember discussion, Handfield challenges. One month later, it cine allocation, while others are Capital, as a springboard to us press briefing that “we just don’t know yet” if the process of returning to normalcy. questioning were accepted for publication. The Fat exclusionary and should be replaced a recen County history. making. As I celebrated Easter with my family, hem get in states, such as Michigan, justification for it. And the answers should not be vague ones like “we country, and the stricter some ofI provide a says journal vaccine delays arethose to seems theyworks were largely grappling with issues enter the North Carolina market. e orders will“fat extend into May. No.ranging The government for us,correct. and we have the right to ask with bodybuilding, as a fat-inclusive Studies published agoing hoax paper While community events state’s government Corinthians 1:4, which reminds us our Lord “com eeling isolated and/or anxious about Since when did must do this out of an abundance of caution.” the more people, sitting at home f continue and says there are still Dr. Robert Handfield, PhD is from data entry to information Officials also said that the One of bodybuilding politicized performance.” that argued the term was so continue to go virtual, simply engtofor extend it, questions should be reviewer askedtechnology as to the issues to questions. Andthe theBank longer stay-at-home orders are message in place all over the If he affliction, that we may be able to comfort those their families, will demand severe bottlenecks in cold chain of America University not having at all levels It will need to be explained in detail to the people of this state who when they can get back to provid company has hired dozens of “I thoroughly this like “we questioning and should be replaced hope that we will visiting the one-of-a-kind Whirligig And thesaid, answers shouldenjoyed not bereading vague ones country, and the some them get exclusionary in and states, such as Michigan, affliction, with the comfort which we ourselves ar capabilities. “Using data from Distinguished Professor of jobless Supactually adminisjustific employees and planitto increase arestricter being told to of remain atbodybuilding, home for an undetermined answers. article and believe has an importantenough staff tobecome a with “fat as a fat-inclusive Park is a fun event. All outdoors once again enjoy government an should abundance of caution.” the more people, sitting at home isolated anxious aboutGod.”of cases the and/or Homeland Infrastructure ply Chainof Management at NCSU ter vaccine. vels forthcoming must d staffbe asas they grow throughout the and this contribution to make to as thethey field amount time whyfeeling models predicting hundreds of thousands Leaders at the local and state le politicized performance.” Onewhat reviewer and spread over two acres, the site bad when thing? Foundation, weevents, identified the Executive Directorfor of the DeAnne Brooks, chief they phar-canand sporting e explained in detail to the people of this state who get back to providing their families, will demand If you are celebrating the Easter season, I urge again, not vague answers, but answer Triangle region. journal.” at all levels It w are reliable. can be with those answers — and in place. persons with conditions “I thoroughly enjoyed reading this features 30 of Simpson’s whirligigs. ORMER state senator, I have been asked macy the public refrigerated wareSupply Chain Resource Coopera-said, officerElderly for Cone in underlying “Our Struggle Ishave Myfor Struggle: Solidarity “Recent studies That is Health what emain jobless and at home an undetermined answers. reflect message and comforted, that ents believability. concerts, ToHe, date, I’vewith gone along with what the state has asked and thenon this with details that theirso statem are be Benches, tables, andbe chairs invite would be said monitored by health teams for some time, article and believe itfamily has an important s what I would do regarding the stay-atbecome a give house map actually looks like. tive. along Dr. Daniel J. Greensboro in a recent inFeminism anfamilies, Intersectional Reply to shown thatas close to 100 God’s example and comfort all those in need arou we can to keep our hy models predicting hundreds of thousands of cases Leaders at the local and state levels should be as forthcoming as they picnicking, reading or just enjoying free citizens mandated that we do, but along the way I’ve also had questions about We should all continue to do w leveraging telemedicine and virtual hospitals. contribution to make to the field and this ratin North Carolina. The current SAH gatherings, amoun Neoliberal and Feminism,” wasterview that another problem Finkenstadt, PhD, assistant pro- Major urban centers, especially million residents in the United bad thing? this difficult time. Through faith and by helping fe. on ButApril we should alsoChoice still continue art and nature — or playing a family can be with those answers — and again, not vague answers, but answer Led by our major health system leaders and journal.” res 29. the data. State Republican leaders have, too. ourselves, and our communities the Northeast and Midwest, are fessor in the Graduate School of she was seeing was with delivare relos church services living in a free accepted for publication by Affilia, a States could be lacking adequate confident we will emerge this pandemic ecause while reasonable stay-at-home game oftofreeze tagout or “Iof Spy.” With the North Carolina Hospital Association, I would “Our Struggle Is My Struggle: Solidarity te senator recently said we are going to in pretty good shape. But then Defense Management at the Naery and the need to monitor paThat is what e along with what the state has asked and then with details that give their statements believability. Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get asked, there is ask questions about the data, feminist for social Tostrb d andthis many more access tojournal a pharmacy, and workers. The society were free admission andare open daily you haveas huge gap intothe cenInthose this spirit, I continue to be inspired the by val Postgraduate with exyow should also have date. tients for longer periods. “Most haveabout a master planWe with primary suppliers and aSchool Feminism anfamilies, Intersectional Reply to same four things: whoan isexpiration sick, who is not,questions sometimes a disturbing tendency among some people treat measures understandable, do, but paper along the way I’ve also had should all continue to do what we can to keep our consisted in part of a rewritten free citizens manda COVID-19 has only exacerbated after our own 5helping a.m.–midnight, ter of the country – the Dakotas, in contractcan take the vaccine pertise supposed backupwe plan for manufacturers in N.C. to government re-purpose Neoliberal and Choice Feminism,” wasback een and whofrom has not. Iany agree. Public neighbors neighbors. d itsick is not normal. Not in way, passage Mein Kampf. Two othervaccines, simply questioning the data and asking when we can start getting This is it’s allalways new toa Americans, a publican leaders have, too. ourselves, and ing, our communities safe. But we should also still continue that growing problem. The impact the da market intelligence and to the people. This is a vaccine good time to visit. Learn at living in amore free facilities to produce ventilators and PPE necessary accepted for publication by Affilia, a erts are coalescing around benchmarks to temporary In Concord, a high school senior named Tanne d remain vigilant and stay safe, at hoax papers were published, including to do, last I to normal as though they are conspiracy theorists or are people who shape, or form. So while we shoul of the pandemic has resultedget asked, when certain types of questions there iscaretoofbring to ask about the data, because while reasonable stay-at-home Unffa to government marSee VACCINES, page B6workers. thequestions peo- business wilsonwhirligigpark.org. to we takeneed our own demands. An ongoing needs feminist journal for social The ore rules “Rape ease: sustained reductions in new that Culture and Queer Performativity money to buy a 3-D printer and plastic to make mfortable this so-called “new sacrifices are society were otherwise don’t care ifshould they get themselves or others sick. the same time we shouldn’t get co inwith more patients, specifically rbing tendency among some people to treat those measures are understandable, they also have an expiration date. checked. paper consisted in part of a rewritten deaths, widespread testing, hospital at Urban Dog Parks.”ample This paper’s subjectassessment would evaluate the re-purposing of health care workers out of his own home. somet seniors asking and those with chronic Since when did questioning government at in allany levels become a bad normal.” over. supposed gndthe when wethe candog start back This is all new to Americans, and it is not normal. Not way, wasand dog-on-dog rape. But rapegetting hotels, empty warehouses and university dorms passage from Mein Kampf. Two other thedata ability to monitor new patients and simply health conditions, opting to thing? Thatwe is should what free citizens living in awere free society were supposed Not one little bit. paper eventually forced Boghossian, gh they are conspiracy theorists or are people who shape, or form. So while remain vigilant and stay safe, at as emergency field hospitals in conjunction with hoax papers published, including contacts. to do, last I to nor remain at home and have their tocare do, last I checked. Pluckrose and Lindsay to prematurely deployment strategies for health professionals. “Rape Culture and Queer Performativity re reasonable data points that should serve out if they get themselves or others sick. the same time we shouldn’t get comfortable with this so-called “new otherw goods delivered – especially under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah checked. Mycare firstoptions concern as we go along in allDog this, of course, my family. I’m Stacey Matthews has also written themselves. A Wall Street Journal writerVirtual hospitals and direct primary at Urban Parks.” This is paper’s subject ation to make decisions to keep everyone questioning government at all levels become a bad normal.” prescriptions,» said Dr. Marg Sinc dState and Insurrection. hadLegal figured out what theyany were doing. would be made available through worried about them catchingwas the virus, and I’m worried I will. After and is a regular contributor to Re every health dog-on-dog rape. But the dog rape re not going back toand fullin normal time Patel, CEO co-founder of t free citizens living a free society were supposed Not one little bit. thing? Some papers accepted for publication suffering from the H1N1 virus (swine flu) during the 2009 pandemic, paper eventually forced Boghossian, re not reopening everything tomorrow. We system. Ongoing testing would be implemented. Medly. d. in academic journals citizens, advocated trainingRigorous statewide antibody testing to do, I’ve been trying precautions, this bringsout up would be to take extra Pluckrose andbecause Lindsayall to of prematurely care of our most vulnerable and “I’m excited to welcome Medly, men like dogs and punishing whiteismale as we go along inbusinesses, all this, ofnow. course, my implemented family. I’m once Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah My available. themselves. A Wall Street Journal writer way too many memories of a painful experience I’ d prefer not to repeat. egin to reopen our venture called BrightDrop will be the year with 500 going to FedEx, ident of global innovation. “One By Tom Krisher a next-generation healthcare college students for historical slavery by m catching the virus, and I’m worried I will. After and is a regular contributor to RedState and Legal Insurrection. In conjunction with other regional governors had figured out what they were doing. lowing aasking couple of data models — Fuller, worrie But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone has thing we are not is a logistics comthe company’s first customer. an electric-powered wheeled palThe Associated Press innovator andtopharmacy, to my them sit in silence on the floor in H1N1 virus (swine flu) during theexpected 2009 pandemic, would papers accepted for offer publication d the CDC. The models project N.C. cases also will soft- pany,” she said, adding that GM is sufferi let that Iwill take goods from theSomeBrightDrop district,” said State Senator Jay chains during class and to be toand cooperation with the White House, a fair allocation of itemstosuch in academic journals advocated training ware and operational support for working with many companies I’ve be tween April 20 andthe May 5. trucks and from DETROIT The market for warehouse take extra precautions, becauseOther all ofpapers this ensure brings N.C. up —receives Chaudhuri. “Their announcement learn from discomfort. delivery suchwhite as locatrucks to destinations. 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North State Journal for Wednesday, January 13, 2021

ncdot CASH REPORT For the week ending 1/8 Total Cash & Bond Proceeds:

$2,015,962,698 Add Receipts:

$76,041,001 Less Disbursements:

$97,024,558 Reserved Cash:

$883,594,335 Unreserved Cash Balance Total:

$3,737,606,072 RICHARD DREW | AP PHOTO

In this Feb. 8, 2019, file photo, the logo for Citigroup appears above a trading post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

Carnival expects 2021 loss but says 2022 bookings are strong Miami, Fla. Carnival Corp. said this week its 2022 cruise bookings are running ahead of 2019 numbers, a good sign that guests will return once the pandemic has eased. The coronavirus has been devastating for the cruise industry, which had expected to welcome 30 million passengers worldwide in 2020. Instead, Carnival and others halted sailings in March 2020 after numerous ships reported outbreaks on board. Carnival resumed a limited amount of cruising in Italy in September and Germany in October, with lower passenger capacity and other safety restrictions. But operations were suspended in late October as coronavirus cases spiked across Europe. Carnival’s Costa brand, which operates in Italy, is scheduled to restart operations on Jan. 31. Aida Cruises, the company’s German brand, has extended its pause through the end of February. Miami-based Carnival said it is working on resuming cruises in Asia, Australia and the U.S. over the course of this year. Carnival Cruise Line, the company’s biggest brand, has cancelled all U.S. sailings through March 31. The company is confident customers will return as it slowly ramps up business. As of Dec. 20, bookings for the second half of 2021 were within historical ranges despite minimal advertising and marketing, Carnival said. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Job openings down in most industries, while layoffs spike Washington, D.C. Layoffs spiked in November compared with the previous month and the number of job openings slipped, signaling that the job market has stalled as the resurgent coronavirus has brought about another wave shutdowns of restaurants and bars and hobbled consumer spending. While the layoffs were concentrated among restaurants, bars and hotels, the slowdown in job postings was widespread across most industries, showing a reluctance by businesses to hire more people amid a pandemic fueled recession. On Friday, the Labor Department said employers cut 140,000 jobs in December, the first time the nation has shed jobs since April when U.S. infections began to surge. The unemployment rate was stuck at a still-high 6.7%, the first time it hasn’t declined since April. Jobs lost according to that report were also highly concentrated in fields like educational services and film production, as well as already suffering restaurants and hotels. Tuesday’s report, known as the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, or JOLTS, adds more details about hiring and firing by businesses and government agencies. The data on open jobs provides insights into whether companies expect business to improve enough in coming months to justify additional hiring. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Business grows skittish about Trump and GOP after riots The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Corporate America is quickly distancing itself from President Donald Trump and his Republican allies, with many of the biggest names in business — Goldman Sachs, Coca-Cola, Ford and Comcast — suspending political donations after a Trump-inspired mob ransacked the U.S. Capitol in a deadly and violent spree last Wednesday. For now, the move is about affirming the rule of law and the clear results of an election that will elevate Democrat Joe Biden to the presidency. But it also signals that companies are growing skittish about lawmakers who backed Trump’s claims of election fraud, possibly depriving Republicans of public backing from business groups who until recently were the heart of the GOP’s political brand. “This is spreading like wildfire,” said Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a professor at Yale University’s management school who consults with CEOs. “The U.S. business community has interests fully in alignment with the American public and not with Trump’s autocratic bigoted wing of the GOP.” Yet the pausing of donations announced by many companies — including Marriott, American Express, AT&T, JPMorgan Chase, Dow, American Airlines and others — was unlikely to deliver a serious blow to Republicans in Congress who voted to overturn Biden’s win. “These are symbolic pledges,” said Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan group that traces the role money plays in politics. “This is just one source of revenue and for some it’s vanishingly small, particularly in the Senate.” Corporate-sponsored political action committees are limited to donating $5,000 per candidate each year. In races that often cost incumbents millions of dollars, such contributions account for just a small fraction of the overall fundraising picture. Take Sen. Josh Hawley. The Missouri Republican has drawn

widespread scorn, including from longtime supporters and Senate Republican leadership, for becoming the first senator to announce he would oppose the certification of Biden’s victory. Since 2017, when he launched his Senate bid, only about $754,000 of the $11.8 million he raised came from corporate PACs and trade groups. That accounts for about 15% of his total fundraising haul, according to an analysis of campaign finance disclosures. What’s more, Hawley wasn’t the biggest spender in his race. Outside conservative groups, including those affiliated with Republican leadership, were the ones who dropped the lion’s share of money that helped him oust former Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill. Such groups are largely insulated from the corporate donation pause. Still, greeting card maker Hallmark went a step further than most companies. The Kansas City-based company has asked both Hawley and recently elected Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall to return its contributions because of their votes opposing Biden’s win. “Hallmark believes the peaceful transition of power is part of the bedrock of our democratic system, and we abhor violence of any kind,” Hallmark spokeswoman JiaoJiao Shen said in a statement. A PAC for the company has donated $7,000 to Marshall, FEC records show. The company says it has also donated $5,000 to Hawley. In many cases, though, most companies are only suspending their giving for several months, leaving ample time to ramp up donations before the 2022 elections. “They are going into hiding until the news cycle moves on,” said Erik Gordon, a law and business professor at the University of Michigan. “They will be back with their checkbooks, and politicians who already are gearing up for the 2022 congressional contests are waiting at the back door.” But after the riots at the Capitol last week, technology com-

GERALD HERBERT | AP PHOTO

President Donald Trump walks to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, in Washington, D.C. panies have since denied the use of services to Trump’s political operation. The payments firm Stripe has stopped processing donations for Trump campaign committees, according to a person familiar with the matter who requested anonymity because the decision hasn’t been made public. The move could cut off Trump’s fundraising arm from what has been a steady stream of small-dollar donations that are often solicited through emails and text messages. Stripe’s decision was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. Shopify, an e-commerce platform for merchants to sell goods, shut down the Trump campaign’s merchandise website as well, as other tech companies including Twitter, Facebook and Amazon are putting new restrictions on Trump’s movement because of the violence. Leading business groups such as the National Association of Manufacturers, the Business Roundtable and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce all condemned the insurrection. Yet these same groups also worked in support of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts and will face a Biden administration that wants to increase corporate tax-

VACCINES from page B5

KALE WILK | THE TIMES VIA AP

Walgreens pharmacist Mindy Keeton delivers a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine shot

Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, parts of West Texas – where there isn’t a lot of cold storage capacity.” He also mentions bottlenecks once the vaccines do reach N.C. “A recent article posted by Dan Stanton and Phil Palin note that several causes are implicated: lack of funding, Christmas distractions, fatigue among public health professionals, health care providers being seriously overextended, stockpiling for rollout to long-term care facilities, lagging throughput data, and much more,” said Handfield. “This makes a lot of sense. If you think about it, states and healthcare providers are already overwhelmed, and turnover among healthcare workers have never been greater,” he noted. Finkenstadt sees problems with data tracking and information sharing as two of the leading concerns. “Bottom line, we still

es, a sign that they may not fully align with one political party. What surprised some ethics watchdogs was how quickly companies reacted by suspending their donations. “It looks like it is sincere for many of the corporations,” said Craig Holman, a campaign finance expert with Public Citizen, a liberal consumer advocacy organization. “There was no big public push or pressure to get Marriott and others to announce they would no longer make campaign contributions. They did it on their own — they shocked everyone in the campaign finance community.” The response has not been uniform by corporations. Dow, the chemical company, said it would suspend contributions for the next two years to any member of Congress who objected to the certification of the electoral college. Airbnb said it would also withhold support to those lawmakers. Some companies are trying to avoid politics completely in the aftermath of last week’s riots. Citigroup confirmed Sunday that it is pausing all federal political donations for the first three months of the year, including those to Democratic lawmakers.

have disjointed information sharing in the process. Information is the critical commodity during this emergency. What we don’t know can and will hurt us. Make no mistake, this is a huge logistical challenge and one that is riddled with litigious landmines. Individual medical data is very sensitive and highly protected in America as it should be. But, when we are all after a common good (vaccine) that has far fewer supply allocations that need points, we may have to get creative and take personal liberty risks for public safety gains.” That sentiment, however, while shared by many academics and public health officials, could be another deterrent in vaccine compliance, as national polls, as well as numbers in some European countries such as France and Spain, indicate that sharing personal data seems to be a leading cause for hesitation among citizens.

North State Journal for Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Oil companies lock in drilling, challenging Biden on climate The Associated Press BILLINGS, Mont. — In the closing months of the Trump administration, energy companies stockpiled enough drilling permits for western public lands to keep pumping oil for years and undercut President-elect Joe Biden’s plans to curb new drilling because of climate change, according to public records and industry analysts. An Associated Press analysis of government data shows the permit stockpiling has centered on oil-rich federal lands in New Mexico and Wyoming. It accelerated during the fall as Biden was cementing his lead over President Donald Trump and peaked in December, aided by speedier permitting approvals since Trump took office. The goal for companies is to lock in drilling rights on oil and gas leases on vast public lands where they make royalty payments on any resources extracted. Biden wants to end new drilling on those same lands as part of his overhaul of how Americans get energy, with the goal of making the nation carbon neutral by 2050. Companies submitted more than 3,000 drilling permit applications in a three-month period that included the election, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Officials approved almost 1,400 drilling applications during that time amidst the pandemic. That’s the highest number of approvals during Trump’s four-year term, according to AP’s analysis. In Colorado, a dozen permits are approved or pending to drill in Pawnee National Grassland, a birding destination where wildflowers and cactuses bloom below the buttes. In Wyoming’s Thunder Basin National Grassland, a prairie expanse that abounds with wildlife and offers hiking, fishing and hunting, oil companies EOG Resources and Devon Energy — which amassed the most federal permits this year — have permission to drill three dozen wells among fields of sage brush. The administration issued more than 4,700 drilling permits in 2020 — comparable to approval numbers from early last decade when oil topped $100 a barrel, roughly twice the current price. Invitation to drill Making it easier to drill was a centerpiece of Trump’s effort to boost American energy production in part by enticing companies onto lands and offshore areas run by the U.S. departments of Interior and Agriculture. Under Trump, crude production from federal and tribal lands and waters increased sharply, topping

vestors conference. Oklahoma-based Devon Energy collected the second-highest number this year. As the presidential campaign wore on this summer, Devon executives assured investors that the company was amassing permits. By October, Vice President David Harris said the company had enough “federal drilling permits in hand that essentially cover all of our desired activity over the next presidential term.” Devon’s more than 500 permits secured this year resulted from a long-term business strategy, not a political calculation, said spokeswoman Lisa Adams. “It was something in the works for years,” Adams said. Potential moratorium

SUSAN WALSH | AP PHOTO

President-elect Joe Biden speaks during an event at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del., Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, to announce key administration posts. a billion barrels in 2019. That was up by almost a third from the last year of the Obama administration. But this year the coronavirus pandemic and crashing oil prices caused many companies to curtail their activity. With markets still in flux and oil producers slashing budgets, major companies nevertheless have been acquiring enough permits to keep pumping through Biden’s upcoming term. The government approved about 500 new drilling permits in September, more than double the same month in 2019. The oil industry’s fear is that Biden will follow through on campaign pledges and make it impossible or much harder to drill on public lands. “You go from having a champion in the White House, who steers the entire federal apparatus to wanting you to be successful, to someone who is hostile to the industry,” said Tom Pyle, a former Republican aide on Capitol Hill who now leads the industry group American Energy Alliance. For Biden supporters, the stockpiling threatens parts of an ambitious climate agenda before the Democrat can get into the White House. Oil and gas extracted from public lands and waters generates the equivalent of almost 550 million tons (500 metric tons) of greenhouse gases annually, the U.S. Geological Survey said in a 2018 study. Trump administration critics say officials enabled the industry to reach its goals, noting that Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and others have boasted how speedily permits were processed. Bureau of Land Management spokesman Chris Tollefson said the agency had streamlined permitting while still following environmental laws.

“Markets, not the BLM, determine how oil and gas developers decide to acquire and develop leases,” he said. Processing times for completed applications to the BLM have dropped from almost 140 days on average in the last year of Obama’s administration to 44 days in fiscal year 2019, according to congressional testimony by Interior officials. In 2020, some companies had permits awarded in a little over a month, AP found. Other permits took longer but an average could not be determined. Years worth of permits To undo the late-term awarding of so many permits, a former senior Interior Department official said the Biden administration could be forced to pay millions of dollars to companies to get them to relinquish drilling rights. Such a scenario played out in pristine areas of Montana where officials spent decades trying to buy out companies with drilling leases near Glacier National Park. “This is classic, end of administration stuff, but for the Trump administration it’s on steroids,” said Jim Lyons, deputy assistant secretary of Interior under Obama. Houston-based EOG Resources amassed the most permits this year — 1,024 — including 549 since September, according to AP’s analysis. In total, EOG has about 2,500 federal permits approved or in progress. “If he (Biden) tries to impose some regulations on how new federal permits are issued, we certainly already have an inventory, a large inventory, of existing federal permits that will sustain activity for several years,” company CEO Lloyd Helms told a November in-

Biden is nominating New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland as interior secretary. And Haaland, who co-sponsored the Green New Deal by liberal Democrats, has said she opposes fracking and drilling on public land. Even if Biden doesn’t immediately ban new permits, he could place a moratorium on them to study the situation in more detail, said Leo Mariani, managing director of equity research at KeyBank Capital Markets. Most companies have up to two years to act on federal permits, so a one-year moratorium wouldn’t have much impact on oil supply and they could shift production to private or state-owned land, Mariani said. But such a shift would come at a cost, because royalty rates on private or state-owned land can be twice as much as federal land. “Because the break-evens are so much lower, you’re not going to see every dollar re-allocated to other places,” said Parker Fawcett, analyst for S&P Global Platts Analytics. With a ban on new federal drilling permits, U.S. production could fall by about 1 million barrels per day, or about 10%, by 2024, Fawcett estimates. “You will have a supply impact.” Producers started talking about mitigating their risks about a year ago after Democratic presidential candidate and Sen. Elizabeth Warren said she would ban fracking on federal lands, said Artem Abramov, partner and head of shale research at Rystad Energy. Then companies began amassing federal drilling permits at more than $10,000 apiece. More than 60% of the permit applications filed over the past year were in New Mexico, where about a quarter of the state budget comes from oil and gas revenues. And 20% of the permit applications were filed in Wyoming, where Gov. Mark Gordon says the state budget has taken a one-third revenue hit mainly because of the oil downturn. “I definitely wouldn’t expect the New Mexican state government to support radical moves,” Abramov said. “They would push Biden toward a more gradual approach” to the oil and gas industry.

In this April 24, 2015, file photo, pumpjacks work in a field near Lovington, N.M.

MATT ROURKE | AP PHOTO

This April 26, 2017, file photo shows the Twitter app icon on a mobile phone in Philadelphia.

Twitter without Trump tumbles along with other tech shares The Associated Press SHARES OF SOCIAL MEDIA and other tech companies slid Monday, hit by fallout from the siege on the U.S. Capitol by supporter of President Donald Trump. Twitter’s stock ended the day down 6.4% after the company on Friday permanently shut down Trump’s account, @realDonaldTrump, which had 89 million followers. The social network cited concerns the president would use it for “further incitement of violence.” Trump retorted that he’d be “building out our own platform in the near future. We will not be SILENCED!” There is a growing risk for tech companies, especially those in social media, that Congress will attempt to collar them after last week’s rampage in Washington, D.C. Some of the attack on the Capitol was discussed and planned on social media, giving new life to debate over legal protections given to companies like Twitter and Facebook. Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act shields companies that can host trillions of messages from being sued by anyone who feels wronged by something someone else has posted — whether the complaint is legitimate or not. Shares in Facebook, which suspended Trump’s account through Jan. 20 and possibly indefinitely, ended Monday down 4%. There was a protest outside of Twitter’s headquarters building in San Francisco, but it was lightly attended. The building itself is largely empty because executives and employees have been working remotely for almost a year due to the pandemic. Parler, known as a far-right friendly platform and cited for connections to last week’s siege on the Capitol, was removed from the app stores of Google and Apple. Amazon booted it off its web hosting service just after midnight Pacific time early Monday. Shares of Apple, Amazon, and Alphabet, parent company of Google, all shed more than 2% on Monday. Trump supporters have argued that the actions of the technology companies is a violation of free speech and Trump has long tried to repeal Section 230. Though Trump’s tenure ends in nine days, power in the Senate has flipped to the Democrats who have long begrudged the oversized influence of social media.

Trump retorted that he’d be “building out our own platform in the near future. We will not be SILENCED!” CHARLIE RIEDEL | AP PHOTO

GM from page B5 businesses. “We really need to leverage our electrification expertise to other industries,” she said. Showing Wall Street’s fascination with electric vehicles, GM shares rose to their highest intraday price since the company left bankruptcy protection in 2010. Shares were up 7.3% to $48.25 in midday trading Tuesday. Fletcher wouldn’t comment on whether BrightDrop products would be sold through existing GM dealerships or directly by the company. But spokesman Stuart Fowle the company is working with its independent dealers on a separate BrightDrop sales network, with details to come later. On a webcast, Fletcher said the EP1 pallet can travel up to 3 mph, carrying up to 23 cubic feet of cargo weighing up to 200 pounds.

The pallets can reduce the strain on workers but would not operate autonomously, at least to start. They’re already being tested with FedEx, allowing workers to transport 25% more packages per day, GM said in a statement. The EV600 van will have a range of up to 250 miles when fully charged, Fletcher said. As BrightDrop evolves, it will offer more electric-powered products including a medium-distance vehicle that can carry multiple pallets, the company said. GM CEO Mary Barra announced BrightDrop in a keynote address address as part of the virtual CES gadget show on Tuesday. She said some countries have set limits on petroleum-powered delivery vehicles to fight pollution at a time when the coronavirus has brought dramatic increases in packages. “The pandemic has

only accelerated those challenges as this sector became our lifeline to goods and services we could no longer access in person,” she said. During its CES presentation, GM even showed a video a four-rotor autonomous flying Cadillac pod concept vehicle. Fletcher said she expects BrightDrop to contribute to GM’s bottom line very quickly after its products go on sale. Last year, Ford Motor Co., GM’s main U.S. competitor, announced plans for an electric commercial van that will go on sale late in 2021. GM has pledged to roll out 30 new electric vehicles globally and spend $27 billion developing them by 2025. New vehicles coming out this year include the electric GMC Hummer pickup, a Chevrolet Bolt electric utility vehicle and the Cadillac Lyriq luxury SUV.

GENERAL MOTORS VIA AP

This photo provided by General Motors shows EP1 electric pallet.

North State Journal for Wednesday, January 13, 2021

2020 Hyundai Kona Electric One of my favorite crossovers goes green Companies besides Tesla make electric cars, too By Jordan Golson North State Journal SAN DIEGO — When you ask most “regular” people about electric cars, they’ll inevitably mention Tesla. And with good reason; Elon Musk (currently the world’s wealthiest person) has done more for the electric vehicle (EV) movement than anyone and Tesla cars are what comes to mind for just about everyone when the topic of EVs comes up. Of course, electric cars still make up just a fraction of total sales even if Tesla produced a half-million cars worldwide in 2020. But most carmakers are making “battery electric vehicles” that don’t take any traditional fuel at all these days, including my review car this week: the Hyundai Kona Electric. Hyundai is absolutely killing it these days, making well-built cars that are handsome inside and out and with a 10-year/100k-mile powertrain warranty on all their vehicles — on top of a 5-year/60k bumper-to-bumper warranty. That’s way more than you get from Honda or Toyota, which is a big deal for a budget-conscious buyer. I reviewed the regular Hyundai Kona last year and loved it — it’s the Korean carmaker’s remarkably well-equipped subcompact crossover and it also comes in an electric version which is totally different in powertrain and yet the basically the same everywhere else. The Kona Electric swaps the

PHOTOS COURTESY HYUNDAI

1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder for a 201-horsepower all-electric powertrain with a 64-kilowatt hour battery pack that’s good for an EPA-estimated range of 258 miles. The EPA-range on EVs tends to be a pretty fair guess in my experience, and it was with the Kona, too. If you get one (as with any electric car), you’ll want to get what’s called a Level 2 charging station in your garage from a company like ChargePoint or Clipper Creek. It takes way too long to charge off a regular 110-volt home power outlet and it’s not good for safety to do that regularly either, so call your electrician. You should be able to

get one installed for under $1,000 depending on local permitting requirements and your home. But once you do, that Level 2 home charger should be able to fill the Kona Electric up from empty in about nine hours — in other words, charge it at night and you’ll always be ready to go. It also has a high-speed “DC Fast Charging” system on board with an SAE Combo port that would let you charge up really quickly if you’re on a road trip. Like everything, there are some format wars in electric vehicles too and if you buy one, you’ll start to become familiar with them. Still, there are

plentiful apps to help you locate chargers and a properly equipped DC fast charger should fill the battery up to 80 percent in 30 minutes or so. Even better, the fast charging networks are growing incredibly rapidly and it’s not nearly as difficult to charge on the go as it used to be. Many are located on major interstate routes, including all over North Carolina. EV tech aside, the Kona is remarkably like a regular vehicle. It doesn’t look weird (aside from the solid front end because of the lack of a radiator and that’s where the charging port is), and it’s just like

a normal car on the inside. It’s literally the regular gas-powered Kona, but with an electric motor swapped in. This is a nice thing, actually. Many EVs look weird or operate weird or don’t have an on/off switch or because they want to showcase how futuristic they are. That’s all well and good, but many people just want a car where they can get in, start it, and drive off without having to think too much about it. The only thing you need to know about the Kona Electric to drive it is that there’s a paddle on the left side of the steering wheel to adjust the regenerative brake level. Electric cars can recharge the battery under braking (it’s why they’re so efficient), and you can use that paddle on the wheel to change how much the car slows itself down when you let off the accelerator. If you put it on its most intense level, you can effectively drive with one foot — on the accelerator to go or take your foot off to slow down to a stop. It becomes second nature pretty quickly, but if you want it to act like a more “traditional” car, it’ll do that too — which is particularly nice if you’re loaning the car to someone not so familiar with EVs. As a day-to-day car, the Kona Electric is near-perfect, aside from the as-tested price of $46,430. It is eligible for a $7,500 federal tax incentive and it can use North Carolina HOV lanes regardless of the number of occupants. A similarly equipped gas-powered version can be had for less than $30,000. But if you want a car that’s better for the environment, or just want to impress your friends with something they probably haven’t seen before, the Hyundai Kona Electric is well worth a look.

North State Journal for Wednesday, January 13, 2021

features

PHOTO COURTESY SAMARITAN’S PURSE

Samaritan’s Purse has opened an Emergency Field Hospital in western North Carolina after the coronavirus pandemic has overwhelmed the region’s medical infrastructure.

Relief is on the way to overwhelmed western NC hospitals NSJ staff BOONE – International Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse announced last week the opening of a 30-bed emergency field hospital in Lenoir, N.C. As the coronavirus pandemic has overwhelmed the region’s medical infrastructure, hospitals are reportedly over capacity. The field hospital, specialized as a respiratory care unit, is designed to relieve

the burden from five local healthcare systems. The Boone-based outfit is wellknown for its disaster intervention efforts, which its website says “responds in Jesus’ Name to the physical and spiritual needs of individuals in crisis situations—especially in locations where few others are working.” The organization works in more than 100 countries “to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine and per-

secution.” Samaritan’s Purse transported the emergency field hospital from its warehouse in North Wilkesboro, N.C. on Friday. It is adjacent to Caldwell Memorial Hospital in Lenoir, with a team of more than 46 disaster response specialists, including 24 medical professionals, who are working around the clock. “These hospitals have come to us for help because they are full, and case numbers continue to rise,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “This is our home state, and we appreciate the frontline workers battling COVID day in and day out. We are glad that we can be there to help lift the load. Our medical team is going to help provide professional, compassionate, and quality care to every patient who is sent to us.”

“This is our home state, and we appreciate the frontline workers battling COVID day in and day out. We are glad that we can be there to help lift the load.” Samaritan’s Purse president and CEO, Franklin Graham For this effort, Samaritan’s Purse is joining five western North Carolina health care systems in the fight against COVID-19, seeking to meet the critical needs of neighboring communities, organization officials say. The partner hospitals will determine which patients are

transported to the field hospital. “This battle against COVID is really a community-wide and region-wide effort. Now, with the arrival of Samaritan’s Purse and the personnel that they are bringing, it is a national effort. It takes all of us working together,” said Laura Easton, president and CEO of Caldwell UNC Health Care. “My hope is that we get through this surge and have taken outstanding care of every citizen who has a need.” In 2020, Samaritan’s Purse deployed three Emergency Field Hospitals to Italy, New York City, and the Bahamas in response to the coronavirus pandemic—treating more than 680 patients at similar respiratory care units. This is only the second time the mobile hospital has been deployed domestically, ready to provide critical aid to coronavirus patients.

Cohen seeks to dismantle Trump legacy, one podcast at a time By Jim Mustian The Associated Press NEW YORK — The rehabilitation of Michael Cohen has reached a surreal new stage: Quizzing the actor Ben Stiller about his approach to impersonating him on “Saturday Night Live.” Since September, President Donald Trump’s former lawyer and fixer has been producing a podcast from the Park Avenue apartment where he is serving the remainder of his prison sentence for lying to Congress, evading taxes and facilitating campaign finance crimes. The show, “Mea Culpa,” has been downloaded nearly 3 million times and is available in 37 countries, Cohen said. Before Stiller, featured in an episode released Friday, guests have included Rosie O’Donnell, the magician and former “Celebrity Apprentice” star Penn Jillette, political journalists, and current and former operatives from both parties, including James Carville and Anthony Scaramucci. The topic of every show so far? Blistering criticism of the president’s every move. Cohen, who once famously claimed he would take a bullet for Trump, said he has made it part of his penance to dismantle Trump’s legacy and “return this nation to a place of sanity,” though he categorizes his show as “a news commentary program” instead of an “anti-Trump program.”

MICHAEL COHEN | AP PHOTO

In this video frame grab provided by Michael Cohen, Cohen, left, interviews actor Ben Stiller for his podcast “Mea Culpa”, in New York. He said he plans to continue his podcast throughout the Biden administration. “We cannot fool ourselves into believing that Trump will just disappear,” he told The Associated Press. “Accordingly, he will continue to remain a topic of discussion.” The launch of the podcast followed Cohen’s publication over the summer of a tell-all memoir about his conversion from Trump acolyte to avowed enemy. In his interview with Stiller, Cohen likened Trump’s signature scowl to the visage of Derek Zoolander, Stiller’s pouty male model persona. Stiller, for his part, said he recognized in Cohen the “di-

“We cannot fool ourselves into believing that Trump will just disappear. Accordingly, he will continue to remain a topic of discussion.” former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen chotomy” of fear and a killer instinct. “I felt like there was a humanity in there that I was trying to connect with,” Stiller said, adding he

didn’t want his SNL impression “to be this scathing, mean thing.” Cohen, on the other hand, seems to be going for the jugular, while satisfying his own addiction to the limelight. He rails breathlessly in every show against the “idiot in chief.” In one recent episode of “Mea Culpa,” he complained that the presidential pardon process had “devolved into a corrupt and transactional circus, with Trump as its ringmaster.” Trump cutting short his recent Florida vacation and returning to Washington to double down on his challenge to the election results “sent my blood pressure through the roof!” Cohen told listeners in his Long Island cadence. Cohen, despite years of introspection, has remained at a loss to explain his unswerving allegiance to a businessman he feels abandoned him at the most vulnerable point in his life. He has likened his fealty to Trump to a mental illness and said he thought of himself as acting like a drug user in need of an intervention. Cohen, 54, had been scheduled to remain in prison until November 2021 but was released in May to serve the remainder of his sentence at home as part of an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus in federal prisons. He was further emboldened to speak out after briefly returning to prison last year in what a federal judge ruled was government retaliation for Cohen balking at a

proposed provision of home confinement that would have severely restricted his public communications. Reception to the show, like to Cohen himself, has been across the board. So far, Cohen said, “the show is profitable” for its production company, the Los Angeles-based startup AudioUp. The success or failure of “Mea Culpa” could serve as a litmus test for the viability of the disbarred attorney and other erstwhile Trump loyalists after the president leaves office. “It’s probably going to wane and be relegated into some dark, niche corner of the culture, where Cohen himself belongs,” said Nick Quah, the founder of Hot Pod, a wellread newsletter about podcasts. In the foreword to his bestselling memoir, “Disloyal,” Cohen acknowledged critics consider him “the least reliable narrator on the planet.” The White House, for its part, has dismissed Cohen’s criticism as “fan fiction” and said it’s “unfortunate that the media is exploiting this sad and desperate man to attack President Trump.” Asked whether he thought Trump has tuned in, Cohen said: “I don’t believe he has, as his attention span is limited to under 3 minutes and my episodes last longer than an hour.” “Rest assured though,” he added, “Trump has others listening to ‘Mea Culpa’ and reporting back to him on the content.”

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North State Journal for Wednesday, January 13, 2021

entertainment PBS’ ‘Masterpiece’ marks 50th year with challenges ahead By Lynn Elber The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — As PBS’ “Masterpiece” marked its 50th anniversary Sunday, the drama and mystery showcase could rest on its reputation built with acclaimed programs including “I, Claudius” and “Elizabeth R” and polished anew by surprising pop-culture hits “Sherlock” and “Downton Abbey.” But “Masterpiece” executive producer Susanne Simpson says it’s positioned to thrive as it addresses the challenges posed by a changing media industry and increased calls for diversity. “’Masterpiece’ is important to the PBS system. Our viewers expect us to keep finding the best” in TV, Simpson said, even as competition from commercial platforms increases. With more streaming services and other outlets gobbling up programs, including the British-made dramas that are a “Masterpiece” staple, the public TV program is becoming more aggressive in the marketplace, Simpson said. She joined the series nearly 14 years ago and became its executive

producer in 2019, only the fourth since “Masterpiece” debuted Jan. 10, 1971, with the miniseries “The First Churchills.” “We are investing earlier and we’re co-producing earlier on projects, so we’re in a position to be able to put development money into scripts,” Simpson said. “I have probably 15 projects sitting in my inbox, and I’m going to have to make a decision quickly on one of those because there is so much competition for those projects.” When “Masterpiece” was under executive producer Rebecca Eaton in the mid-1980s, she “used to be able to sit back” and mull her choice of U.K.-produced shows, Simpson said. As unlikely as it seems in the age of Netflix’s celebrated “The Crown” and its new multiethnic sensation “Bridgerton,” U.S. networks used to avoid British drama “because the general feeling was nobody could understand the accent,” Eaton recalled. Worse yet, they thought it sounded too highbrow for Americans. But in 1985, there was suddenly “somebody else in the game” besides PBS and the A&E channel, said Eaton, now executive produc-

er at large for “Masterpiece.” “HBO pounced on doing ‘Elizabeth I’ with Helen Mirren, which was a very rude shock because we considered rather comfortably that we owned Elizabeth I,” she said. “Masterpiece” had aired “Elizabeth R,” the 1972 miniseries with Glenda Jackson as the monarch, a perceived stake that HBO blithely ignored. “Masterpiece” can’t compete with Netflix- or HBO-sized budgets, Simpson said, relying on corporate sponsors Viking and Raymond James and big and small viewer donations (specific figures were not provided). But she said it makes the most of its relationships with producers such as Colin Callender, whose “All Creatures Great and Small” reboot kicked off the new “Masterpiece” season this week. The Public Broadcasting Service also ensures that its programming is reaching viewers, especially younger ones, where and how they watch TV, which increasingly is anywhere but on a stuck-tothe-wall screen. While PBS may be viewed primarily as a traditional broadcaster, its programs (and educational initiatives) are avail-

able online. “Masterpiece” streams on PBS. org and the PBS Video app to an audience that skews younger than its broadcast viewership, with nearly 40 percent under the age of 55, according to PBS. The showcase also is responding to the growing call for inclusivity in Hollywood screen projects, Simpson said. That would seem daunting when it comes to ethnic diversity, given that the series’ period dramas traditionally skew white, but she said it can and is being done. That requires the cooperation of British TV producers, whose industry has faced its own sharp criticism for long minimizing people of color as actors and creators. “I’ve had some terrific, serious conversations in which it’s clear to me that our U.K. producers are as committed as we are” to adding diversity across the board, including in writing, directing and acting, Simpson said. Callender said the call for change is being heeded, even with “All Creatures Great and Small,” which is based on semiautobiographical books by a veterinarian practicing in a rural English com-

munity in the late 1930s. “The thrust of diversity meant several things,” Callender said, including making the female characters fully dimensional, casting actors with physical challenges and creating a character inspired by the family history of Black actor Clea Sylvestre, who plays the role. “Masterpiece” is doing its own work, Simpson said. That includes taking an active role in fostering diversity in projects as they’re being developed, she said, and discovering authentic ways to reflect inclusivity in period dramas, among them 2019’s “Les Miserables” miniseries. David Oyelowo, the English-born Black actor who starred as the obsessed police inspector Javert, felt comfortable taking the role after he looked into 19th-century French history and found that there were Black police officers, Simpson recounted. “What I learned from him is that it’s really our obligation as the writers and the producers to look more deeply at history in terms of what people of color were authentically, and to take more effort to find those stories,” she said. This image released by PBS shows the cast of “All Creatures Great and Small on Masterpiece,” from left, Samuel West, Nicholas Ralph, Callum Woodhouse and Anna Madeley. The seven-part series based on James Herriot’s adventures as a veterinarian in 1930’s Yorkshire premiered on Sunday.

MATT SQUIRE | PLAYGROUND TELEVISION AND PBS VIA AP

Fox News shuffles daytime lineup; CNN makes changes By David Bauder The Associated Press NEW YORK — Fox News Channel is shuffling its daytime lineup and adding a new hourlong opinion show at 7 p.m. Eastern to replace that hour’s current anchor, Martha MacCallum. Both Fox and CNN announced lineup changes Monday, as is often the case for news organizations with a new president about to take power. CNN’s Jake Tapper and Fox’s John Roberts are among those taking on new roles. Starting next Monday, Fox’s 7 p.m. hour will be led by a rotating group of opinion hosts, with a permanent host to be named later. For years, first with Shepard Smith and then with MacCallum, Fox has stressed news instead of opinion in that hour. Yet MacCallum, who had been comfortably ahead in the ratings, has slipped behind both MSNBC and CNN at 7 p.m. since the election, the Nielsen company said. That’s also when Newsmax has seen its greatest success with a strongly pro-Trump show hosted by Greg Kelly. In fact, Newsmax issued a statement that its improved daytime and 7 p.m. ratings since the election has triggered changes at Fox. “The Fox is on the run,” Newsmax said. Fox denied that Newsmax had anything to do with its moves, and pointed to a quote from an October article that said sched-

AP PHOTO

This combination photo shows Fox News senior national correspondent John Roberts at the CBS News Republican presidential debate in Greenville, S.C. on Feb. 13, 2016, left, and CNN news anchor Jake Tapper at the WarnerMedia Upfront in New York on May 15, 2019. ule changes were being considered. While Newsmax has sharply increased its audience since the election, with viewers spurred on by President Donald Trump, Fox routinely has more than triple Newsmax’s viewers. “Chris Ruddy is irrelevant,”

Fox said in a statement, referencing Newsmax’s CEO. Still, there’s been a dramatic change in Fox’s daytime position. During the first three months of 2020, Fox’s average of 2.1 million viewers during the 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekday hours was essen-

tially equal to CNN and MSNBC combined, Nielsen said. Since the election, CNN has averaged 1.92 million viewers in those daytime hours, with Fox and MSNBC both at 1.53 million. Roberts, Fox’s White House correspondent during the Trump

administration, will co-anchor a daily news show from 1 to 3 p.m. Eastern, with Sandra Smith starting Monday, Fox said. Bill Hemmer is moving back to mornings, co-hosting a twohour “America’s Newsroom” with Dana Perino at 9 a.m. MacCallum is taking over the 3 p.m. Eastern hour from Hemmer, while Harris Faulkner’s daily hour shifts from 1 p.m. to 11 a.m. and changes its name to “The Faulkner Focus.” At CNN, Tapper’s daily news show will increase an hour, running from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern, taking an hour from Wolf Blitzer’s “Situation Room.” Tapper will also be CNN’s lead anchor for all Washington-based events, the network said. Tapper will keep his Sunday “State of the Union” show but time-share with new co-anchor Dana Bash. Both will anchor two Sundays a month. Abby Phillip, a rising star at CNN, will host the Sunday morning show “Inside Politics” and has been named senior political correspondent. John King will continue to host “Inside Politics” on weekdays. Jim Acosta, who became well known for his run-ins with Trump at the White House, is moving off that beat with the incoming Biden administration. He’ll become a weekend anchor and chief domestic correspondent. Kaitlan Collins is replacing him as head of the White House team. CNN says Pamela Brown will anchor a three-hour news program each Saturday and Sunday evening.

North State Journal for Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Sheldon Adelson, casino mogul and GOP power broker, dies By Kimberly Pierceall The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire mogul and power broker who built a casino empire spanning from Las Vegas to China and became a singular force in domestic and international politics has died after a long illness. Adelson died at 87 from complications related to treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Las Vegas Sands announced Tuesday. He was the son of Jewish immigrants, raised with two siblings in a Boston tenement, who over the second half of his life became one of the world’s richest men. The chairman and CEO of the Las Vegas Sands Corp. brought singing gondoliers to the Vegas Strip and foresaw correctly that Asia would be an even bigger market. In 2018, Forbes ranked him No. 15 in the U.S., worth an estimated $35.5 billion. “If you do things differently, success will follow you like a shadow,” he said during a 2014 talk to the gambling industry in Las Vegas. Blunt yet secretive, the squatly-built Adelson resembled an old-fashioned political boss and stood apart from most American Jews, who for decades have supported Democrats by wide margins. Adelson was considered the nation’s most influential GOP donor over the final years of his life and he set records for individual contributions during past election cycles. In 2012, Politico called him “the dominant pioneer of the super PAC era.” Adelson regularly hosted the party’s top strategists and most ambitious candidates at his modest office, wedged among the casinos on the Strip. Throughout, he helped ensure that uncritical support of Israel became a pillar of the GOP platform, never more visibly than when the Trump administration relocated the U.S. embassy

from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2018. The inflammatory move had been adamantly opposed by Palestinians and was long a priority for Adelson, who had even offered to help pay for it, and for the Republican Jewish Coalition, of which he was the primary benefactor. Adelson and his wife, Miriam, were front and center at the ceremony in Jerusalem. More recently, he reportedly purchased the U.S. ambassador’s official residence near Tel Aviv for some $67 million in a maneuver that appeared to prevent the embassy from relocating back to Tel Aviv after Trump leaves office. Just weeks ago, Adelson provided a private plane for Jonathan Pollard, a former U.S. intelligence analyst who spent 30 years in prison for spying for Israel, to move to Israel after his parole ended. When asked at a gambling conference what he hoped his legacy would be, Adelson said it wasn’t his glitzy casinos or hotels, it was his impact in Israel. He donated $25 million, a record sum for a private citizen, to Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial. He established a think tank in Jerusalem. He was closely aligned with the conservative Likud party and funded a widely-read free daily newspaper called “Israel Hayom,” or “Israel Today,” so supportive of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that some Israelis nicknamed it “Bibi-ton.” In the U.S., Adelson helped underwrite congressional trips to Israel, helped build a new headquarters for the lobbying group the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and later was a top supporter of the Israeli-American Council, whose conferences have attracted top Republicans (Vice President Mike Pence) and Democrats (House Speaker Nancy Pelosi). He sponsored “Birthright” trips to Israel for young Jewish adults that were criticized by some participants as intolerant of opposing views. His attachment to Israel was life-

long and so deep that he once said he wished his military service had been in an Israeli uniform instead of an American one. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Adelson “will forever be remembered” for his work strengthening ties between the U.S. and Israel. Sheldon Garry Adelson was born in 1933, in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston. His father was a taxi driver, his mother the manager of a knitting store. A natural entrepreneur, he was selling newspapers by age 12 and running a vending machine business at 16. After dropping out of City College of New York and serving in the Army, he attempted to start dozens of businesses, from toiletries to de-icing windshields. Adelson, who said he disdained email, began to amass his fortune with a technology trade show, starting computer convention COMDEX in 1979 with partners before selling his stake in 1995 for more than $800 million. Adelson was a late bloomer in business and in politics. He didn’t become a casino owner, or a Republican, until well into middle age. Through the 1990s and after his wealth soared and his engagement in politics intensified. He was a supporter of President George W. Bush and backed Republican Rudolph Giuliani for the 2008 presidential race, before turning to the eventual candidate, Sen. John McCain, who lost to Barack Obama. “Sheldon battled his way out of a tough Boston neighborhood to build a successful enterprise that loyally employed tens of thousands - and entertained millions,” said Bush in a prepared statement Tuesday. “He was an American patriot and a strong supporter of Israel.” Adelson’s leverage grew considerably in 2010 after the Supreme Court’s “Citizens United” decision lifted many restrictions on individual campaign contributions. He and his wife spent more than $90 million on the 2012 election, funding presidential candidate Newt Gingrich and later Mitt Romney, who also lost to Obama. “I’m against very wealthy people attempting to or influencing elections,” he told Forbes magazine in 2012. “But as long as it’s doable I’m going to do it.”

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JOE KOHEN | AP PHOTO

In this Wednesday, April 23, 2003 file photo, a pair of Dr. Martens 1460 workboots, as interpreted by designers Michael & Hushi, are part of an exhibition of Dr. Martens boots in New York.

Chunky bootmaker Dr. Martens to sell shares to public The Associated Press LONDON — The maker of Dr. Martens boots, the chunky-soled footwear once championed by rebellious young people but now favored by celebrities like Rihanna, plans to sell shares to the public as the existing owners seek to profit from growth of the iconic brand. Dr. Martens Ltd. said Monday that current investors plan to sell at least 25% of their stake in an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange. Permira Funds, a London-based private equity investor, bought Dr. Martens for 300 million pounds (currently worth $400 million) in 2014. Private equity firms seek to buy undervalued companies then restructure their operations and cut costs before selling at a profit. Dr. Martens Chief Executive Kenny Wilson said the IPO underscored the brand’s “global growth potential” after revenue increased by 39% over the past two financial years to an annual 672.2 million pounds ($900 million). The company is expanding online sales to complement revenue from 130 shops in 60 countries. “Our iconic brand appeals to a diverse range of consumers around the world who wear our footwear to express their individual style,’’ Wilson said in a statement to the stock exchange. “We have invested massively to ensure that we deliver the best digital and store experiences to connect with our wearers.”

TAKE NOTICE

CABARRUS NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 286 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Beverly C. Gray, Robert H. Cannon (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Beverly C. Gray and Robert H. Cannon) to Trste, Inc., Trustee(s), dated December 15, 2008, and recorded in Book No. 08533, at Page 0337 in Cabarrus County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Cabarrus County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Concord, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on January 25, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Concord

CUMBERLAND IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 20 SP 737 NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 19SP149 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY KATAYA R. BALDWIN AKA KATAYA BALDWIN AND VIRGINIA BALDWIN DATED OCTOBER 25, 2005 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 7049 AT PAGE 427 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 the payment of the secured indebtedness and failure to perform the stipulation and agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 18sp578 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY KEVIN W. HEATH AND ANNE J. HEATH DATED MARCH 7, 2007 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 7529 AT PAGE 127 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 the payment of the secured indebtedness and failure to perform the stipulation and agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of

WAKE 20 SP 1540 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by June Spence to First American Title Insurance Company, Trustee(s), which was dated January 22, 2003 and recorded on February 3, 2003 in Book 009888 at Page 00075, Wake County Registry, North Carolina. Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note

in the County of Cabarrus, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All that certain property situated in the City of Concord, in the County of Cabarrus and state of North Carolina and being described in a deed dated 03/29/2001 and recorded 03/29/2001 in Book 3168, Page 27 among the land records of the county and state set forth above and referenced as follows: Lying and being in Number Eleven (11) Township, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, on the east side of Tilley Road, bounded on the north by Frank Wishart Neal, on the east by Willie Blackwelder Walters, and the south by Walter O. Wentz, and being more particularly described as follows: Beginning at an iron in Tilley Road, a corner of Neal, and runs thence with the line of Neal S. 8204-00 E. 387.08 feet to an existing iron, thence continuing with the line of Neal and Walters, S. 52-02-52 E. (Passing an iron at 60.07 feet) for a total distance of 99.81 feet to an existing iron, thence with the line of Walters, S. 42.51.11 E. 54.97 feet to an existing, a rear corner of Wentz; thence with the line of Wentz, S. 20-09-34 W. (Passing an iron at 15.00 feet) for a total distance of 296.37 feet to a bolt in the centerline of Tilley Road, thence with the centerline of Tilley Road, N. 43-56-18 W. 20.33 feet to a point, thence continuing with the centerline of Tilley Road as it curves at a radius of 1637.02 feet for an arc distance of 227.92 feet to a point, thence continuing with the centerline of said road, N. 36-40-36 W. 66.31 feet to a point, thence continuing with the centerline of said road as it curves at a radius of 654.81

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION IN THE MATTER OF: Determination of Ownership of Surplus Funds Paid to the Clerk of Court in Civil Matter, 16 CVD 8392 ------------------------------------------------------U.S. Bank National Association, not in its individual capacity, but solely as trustee of NRZ Pass-Through Trust XVIII Petitioner,

the owner and holder of the secured debt, the undersigned substitute trustee will expose for sale at public auction to the highest bidder for cash at the usual place of sale at the county courthouse of said county at 10:00AM on January 26, 2021 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Kataya R. Baldwin aka Kataya Baldwin and Virginia Baldwin, dated October 25, 2005 to secure the original principal amount of $99,000.00, and recorded in Book 7049 at Page 427 of the Cumberland County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended. Address of property: 519 Longview Dr, Fayetteville, NC 28311 Tax Parcel ID: 0439-86-6270-

the owner and holder of the secured debt, the undersigned substitute trustee will expose for sale at public auction to the highest bidder for cash at the usual place of sale at the county courthouse of said county at 10:00AM on January 25, 2021 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Kevin W. Heath and Anne J. Heath, dated March 7, 2007 to secure the original principal amount of $45,000.00, and recorded in Book 7529 at Page 127 of the Cumberland County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended. Address of property: 4 Cottonwood Dr, Fayetteville, NC 28304 Tax Parcel ID: 0416-27-9474

evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on January 27, 2021 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Wake County, North Carolina, to wit:

feet for an arc distance of 260.43 feet to a point, thence continuing with the centerline of said road, N. 58-36-21 W. 7.71 feet to a point; thence N. 8-37-00 E. 10.70 feet to the point of beginning, containing 2.040 acres, more or less, as surveyed and platted by James T. West, R.L.S. dated March 27, 2001. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 2395 Tilley Road, Concord, North Carolina. The Deed of Trust was modified by the following: A Loan Modification recorded on November 21, 2018, in Book No. 13275, at Page 0022. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23. Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1). The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or

vs. Charles Scott Vest, III and Sue Ellen Vest Respondents. TO: Charles Scott Vest, III Formerly of 4821 Desert Ridge Road Parkton, NC 28371 Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the above entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows:

Present Record Owners: Baldwin

K a t a y a

And Being more commonly known as: 519 Longview Dr, Fayetteville, NC 28311 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Kataya Baldwin. The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is made subject to all prior liens and encumbrances, and unpaid taxes and

Present Record Owners: Heath and Anne J. Heath

Kevin

And Being more commonly known as: Cottonwood Dr, Fayetteville, NC 28304

4814

The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Kevin W. Heath and Anne J. Heath. The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition

($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.

Said property is commonly known as 111 Old Meadowbrook Dr, Garner, NC 27529.

Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, 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 All Lawful Heirs of June Carol Spence.

A cash deposit (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars

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

BEING ALL OF LOT 19, LEGEND HILLS SUBDIVISION, ACCORDING TO MAP THEREOF RECORDED IN BOOK OF MAPS 1968, PAGE 196, VOLUME 2, WAKE COUNTY REGISTRY. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in 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 effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The Plaintiff in the above entitled action has filed on October 5, 2020, a Petition for Payment of Surplus Funds, Affidavit and Affidavit of Title for surplus funds. You are required to make defense to such pleading no later than February 22, 2021, or 40 days from January 13, 2021, said date being the date of first publication notice and upon your failure to do so the party

seeking service against you will apply to the Court for the relief sought.

assessments including but not limited to any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. Following the expiration of the statutory upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

may terminate the rental agreement upon written notice to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time notice of termination is provided. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS: If you are a tenant residing in the property, be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you

expressly are disclaimed. This sale is made subject to all prior liens and encumbrances, and unpaid taxes and assessments including but not limited to any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. Following the expiration of the statutory upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing. SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS: If you are a tenant residing in the property, be advised that

against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b) (2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the 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 filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 3463 - 8978

This the 4th day of January, 2021. HUTCHENS LAW FIRM BY: JOHN A. MANDULAK Attorney for Plaintiff 4317 Ramsey Street Post Office Box 2505 Fayetteville, NC 28302 Telephone: (910) 864-6888

The date of this Notice is November 30, 2020. Grady I. Ingle or Elizabeth B. Ells Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 16-082106

Suite

400

an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon written notice to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time notice of termination is provided. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination. The date of this Notice is December 23, 2020. LLG Trustee, LLC Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 18-098958

Parkway,

Suite

400

discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy. Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 20-01152-FC01

B12

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Stanly County Journal

PHOTO PROVIDED BY STANLY COUNTY SCHOOLS

Outgoing school board Chair Melvin Poole, center, is honored at the Jan. 5, 2021, Stanly County Board of Education meeting. Poole is joined by Stanly Schools Superintendent Dr. Jarrod Dennis (left) and new board Chair Jeff Chance (right).

WHAT’S HAPPENING Couple returns home with son after traffic stop custody issue

Melvin Poole honored by Stanly school board for 22 years of service Poole led board as chair until December

Montgomery County Raymond Cheley Sykes and Kaila Boulware of Manchester, New Jersey, returned home at the end of December after being reunited with their infant son but not yet awarded custody. The couple was stopped on their way to Florida in a traffic stop for a taillight violation in Troy. Officers reportedly hit Sykes with a baton and took custody of the couple’s 9-month-old son. After a three-week fight to get him back, the case was transferred to New Jersey, who will continue the investigation. NJ.COM

Shooting at bowling alley injures one Mecklenburg County One person was injured in a shooting in a Charlotte bowling alley on Saturday. The incident occurred at about 6:30 p.m. at AMF Centennial Lanes on South Boulevard. The victim, whose name wasn’t released, was hospitalized with non-lifethreatening injuries. Police did not say if they had a suspect in custody or release any information about what led to the shooting. WBTV

Salon owner convicted of forced labor Davidson County Federal prosecutors say a nail salon owner was convicted of forcing labor from one of her workers. Thuy Tien Luong, 37, was convicted of forced labor of a nail technician at her Davidson salon, which is a felony. Evidence showed Luong forced labor from the victim from 2016 to 2018 through assaults, threats to ruin her reputation and claiming the victim owed her a debt of $180,000. The victim feared Luong but finally reported her after a particularly violent beating in 2018. Luong faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. AP

By David Larson Stanly County Journal ALBEMARLE — At the Jan. 5 Stanly County Board of Education meeting, new Superintendent Jarrod Dennis and new board Chair Jeff Chance presented a plaque, nameplate and certificate to outgoing chairman of the school board Melvin Poole. Poole had served on the board for 22 years and was a fixture of the institution, helping craft education policy in the district for a generation. At the beginning of the meeting, Chance and Dennis stood at the podium, called Poole up, and Chance said, “Mr. Poole, on behalf of the Stanly County Board of Education, for your many years of dedicated service to education in Stanly County, we’d like to present you with this plaque, engraved with your years of service, a total of 22 years.” “We also want to leave you with a little memento,” Dennis said, as Chance handed Poole the nameplate he’d used during meetings. “It’s been up there for a long time. And

we want to thank you for everything you’ve done for the students, everything you’ve done for the staff and the community, and we greatly appreciate all your contributions and your dedication.” “My pleasure,” Poole said, fist-bumping Dennis and Chance, avoiding the conventional handshakes. Then, as he turned around to have his picture taken, those in attendance gave him a standing ovation. Chance turned to Poole and said, “Sir, knowing you, as I have the past many years, I’m sure you’d like to say a few words.” Poole then addressed the board, saying, “To say I don’t miss being here a little bit, I’d be telling a fib, but the good thing about tonight’s meeting is I get to go home early and you guys have to endure.” He said even though he was leaving because of a lost election, having been defeated in the March primary by Rufus Lefler, it was a good time for him to be leaving the board anyway because of health issues that he needs to focus on. “And I’ll tell you guys, you guys have got a job on your hands right now,” Poole said. “This thing that

“Mr. Poole has worked tirelessly to lead Stanly County School district through many changes to ensure our students have an environment that promotes excellence in education. Thank you for all you have accomplished and continue to do for our community! We appreciate your leadership. Well done!” A statement by Stanly County Schools started last March and on into now is, in my book, something right out of the pits of hell. And I just wish you all the best in dealing with this and hope the public can be patient with you until this whole thing is resolved. And I wish all of you well.” Poole said they’d still have some interaction because he will remain on the community college board, so

Bill Lawhon talks with SCJ about new role as county commission chair By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal ALBEMARLE — It’s been a little over one month since the Stanly County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to name Bill Lawhon as its chairman. Now in his seventh year on the board, and his 59th year as a resident of the county, Lawhon says he has a clear view of what he considers his personal mission as county chairman: the promotion of fiscal responsibility. “What we do is try to sufficiently fund our county government and the departments; but my goal is to have it funded without increasing our property taxes on our citizens,” Lawhon told SCJ on Jan. 8. “My main objective as a commissioner and chairman is to work for all of our citizens in Stanly County.” Lawhon, who spent his forma-

tive years growing up in Albemarle, worked for an automobile financing business called American Credit Company for the first seven years of his professional career. From 1979 until his retirement in 2015, Lawhon served in the banking industry, a career that required him to move often throughout various southeastern states of the country. “In my early adult life, my family moved away for 10 years; five of those were in the North Carolina mountains, two were in Winston Salem, and the remaining time were in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia,” Lawhon said. “Every place we lived, we enjoyed the great people. The reason we moved so often is because I was transferred and it seemed like every time I needed an increase in wages, I was offered a transfer.” But as fate would have it, Law-

hon found himself with an opportunity to return to his hometown — a decision he now calls “the best move he’s ever made.” “Stanly County is in the heart of the Piedmont in the middle of North Carolina — the best state in the nation — where we are three hours from the mountains and three hours from the coast,” Lawhon said. “However, what makes Stanly County great are the people that live here.” As one of the seven members of the board of commissioners, Lawhon says that while it isn’t very common for the board to be sharply divided on particular issues, each commissioner has their own ideas and skill sets. His view is that the differing backgrounds of the seven commissioners is a strength of the board — not a weakness. Ultimately, Lawhon says he hopes that his board’s

there will be some issues they will need to collaborate on at times. He also said he remains on the local Red Cross board. “So, I’ve not dropped out of the picture completely,” Poole said. “I’m sort of a political junkie, and I’ll continue to be involved.” He said he’ll be as supportive of the school board’s work as he could because he knows there are a lot of people who criticize the board and its decisions but “have no clue what you guys have to go through.” Poole closed by saying, “I treasure my years as much as anything, right up with my military service. I put it right next to that. I just encourage you to keep your customers first — that’s the students and the parents — and do the best you can by them, and I know you’ll do a good job. Thank you.” A statement by the district on its Facebook page said, “Mr. Poole has worked tirelessly to lead Stanly County School district through many changes to ensure our students have an environment that promotes excellence in education. Thank you for all you have accomplished and continue to do for our community! We appreciate your leadership. Well done!”

Every time we make a decision, we’re spending taxpayer dollars, and we need to be very mindful of how we spend them. We’re like anyone else — we need to live within our budget.” Bill Lawhon, new chair Stanly County Board of Commissioners meetings in 2021 will be more opportunities for the commissioners to make responsible decisions regarding the handling of county funding. “Every time we make a decision, we’re spending taxpayer dollars, and we need to be very mindful of how we spend them. We’re like anyone else — we need to live within our budget,” he said. The next Stanly County Board of Commissioners meeting is set to take place on Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. in Albemarle.

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DEATH NOTICES ♦ Guy Hammill, 90, of Richfield, passed away Jan. 1. ♦ José Alberto MataHernandez, 61, of Albemarle, passed away Jan. 1. ♦ Gertie Estelle Beachum, 82, of Albemarle, passed away Jan. 2 ♦ Danny Harold Wilson, 68, of Norwood, passed away Jan. 3. ♦ John Robert Bell, 82, of Albemarle, passed away Jan. 3. ♦ Phyllis Turnage Furr, 63, of Stanfield, passed away Jan. 3. ♦ Sheila Harris Hatley, 71, of Albemarle, passed away Jan. 5. ♦ Donald Allen Bartlett, 62, passed away Jan. 5. ♦ Ralph Junior Thompson, 83, of Albemarle, passed away Jan. 5 ♦ Margie Bowers Smith, 88, of Albemarle, passed away Jan. 6. ♦ Jan Ballard Forte, 66, of Albemarle, passed away on Jan. 6. ♦ William Adam Hoesman, 86, passed away Jan. 7. ♦ Michael “Cool” Furr, 48, of Albemarle, passed away Jan. 8. ♦ Kirk Alan Aten, 58, of Locust, passed away Jan. 8. ♦ Bobby C. Efird, 73, of Oakboro, passed away Jan. 9. ♦ Mary Rosalene Schreppel, 88, of Albemarle, passed away Jan. 9.

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Harris team says it was blindsided by VP-elect’s Vogue cover By Darlene Superville The Associated Press WILMINGTON, Del. — Vice President-elect Kamala Harris has landed on the cover of the February issue of Vogue magazine, but her team says there’s a problem: the shot of the country’s soon-to-be No. 2 leader isn’t what both sides had agreed upon, her team says. Instead of the powder blue power suit Harris wore for her cover shoot, the first African American woman elected vice president is instead seen in more casual attire and wearing Converse Chuck Taylor sneakers, which she sometimes wore on the campaign trail. Harris’ team was unaware that the cover photo had been switched until images leaked late Saturday, according to a person involved in the negotiations over how Harris would be featured on the cover. Harris’ office declined comment and the person spoke Sunday on condition of anonymity. In a statement, Vogue said it went with the more informal image of Harris for the cover because the photo captured her “authentic, approachable nature, which we feel is one of the hallmarks of the Biden-Harris administration.” But the magazine said it released both images as digital magazine covers to “respond to the seriousness of this moment in history, and the role she has to play leading our country forward.”

TYLER MITCHELL | VOGUE VIA AP

This combination of photos released by Vogue shows images of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on the cover of their February digital and print issues. Vogue’s February 2021 issue is available on newsstands nationwide on January 26. Harris, who is of Jamaican and Indian descent, posed in the light blue suit in front of a gold backdrop for the magazine’s cover. She also posed, more casually dressed in slacks, a blazer and sneakers in front of a pink and green background, for photos that were planned for inside the magazine, the person said. Pink and green

are the colors of Harris’ college sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha. Vogue has released both images online, but the photo of a sneaker-clad Harris is the one that will grace the cover of the fashion bible’s print edition. The person with knowledge of the negotiations said Harris’ team has expressed to Vogue its disap-

pointment over the magazine’s decision. The cover also generated outrage on social media as posters expressed disappointment in how the magazine decided to present the nation’s first female vice president on its cover. Harris is set to be sworn in as vice president on Jan. 20.

♦ Duncan, Melinda (B /F/59) Arrest on chrg of Driving While Impaired, M (M), at 52/ riverview, Norwood, NC, on 1/10/2021

Arrest on chrg of 1) Death By Distribution (F) and 2) Second Deg Murder Dist Drug (F), at 136 S Third Street, Albemarle, NC, on 1/6/2021

/M/41) Arrest on chrg of Sell Cocaine (F), at 126 Third St, Albemarle, NC, on 1/5/2021

Arrest on chrg of Misuse Of 911 System (M), at 117Summit Av, Albemarle, on 01/04/2021

♦ Boone, Jesse Rockett (W /M/20) Arrest on chrg of 1) Simple Possess Sch Ii Cs (M), 2) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), 3) Carrying Concealed Gun (m) (M), and 4) Fta - Criminal Summons Or Citation (M), at Business 52/ South Side, Albemarle, NC, on 1/9/2021

♦ Hathcock, Rickey Eugene (W /M/58) Arrest on chrg of Felony Possession Of Cocaine (F), at 542 Fork Road, Albemarle, NC, on 1/6/2021

♦ Allen, Landon Cole (W /M/23) Arrest on chrg of 1) Pwimsd Cocaine (F), 2) Pwimsd Methamphetamine (F), 3) Maintain Veh/dwell/ place Cs (f) (F), and 4) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), at 200 Henson St, Albemarle, NC, on 1/5/2021

♦ Jones, Jennifer Ann (W F, 38) Arrest on chrg of Possess Methamphetamine (F), at 781Leonard Av, Albemarle, on 01/04/202

WEEKLY CRIME LOG

♦ Dunevant, Richard Thomas (W /M/39) Arrest on chrg of 1) Pwimsd Mda/mdma (F), 2) Pwimsd Methamphetamine (F), 3) Pwimsd Sch I Cs (F), 4) Pwimsd Sch Iv Cs (F), 5) Maintain Veh/dwell/place Cs (f) (F), and 6) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), at 24847 Odell Dr, Albemarle, NC, on 1/9/2021 ♦ Honeycutt, Jamie Brandon (W /M/33) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assault On Female (M), 2) Maintain Veh/dwell/place Cs (f) (F), 3) Possess Marijuana Up To 1/2 Ounce (M), 4) Pwimsd Heroin (F), 5) Pwimsd Methamphetamine (F), and 6) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), at 300 Freedom Drive, Albemarle, NC, on 1/8/2021 ♦ Thompson, Jennifer Leah (W /F/44) Arrest on chrg of Simple Assault (M), at 126 S Third St, Albemarle, NC, on 1/8/2021 ♦ Gentile, Nicole Melissa (W /F/23) Arrest on chrg of 1) Driving While Impaired (M) and 2) Reckless Drvg-wanton Disregard (M), at 5516 Colonial Gardendrive, Huntersville, NC, on 1/7/2021

♦ Vester J. ‘Krip’ Sanders, 74, of Albemarle, passed away Jan. 10.

♦ Stokes, Darrell Wayne (W /M/53) Arrest on chrg of Larc Merchant Exch Stolen Prop (F), at 126 S Third St, Albemarle, NC, on 1/6/2021

See OBITS, page 7

♦ Lundy, Charlie Lee (B /M/49)

♦ Meggs, Kyndal Nicole (W /F/26) Arrest on chrg of 1) Maintain Veh/dwell/place Cs (f) (F), 2) Pwimsd Sch Iii Cs (F), 3) Pwimsd Methamphetamine (F), 4) Pwisd Cocaine (F), 5) Pwimsd Marijuana (F), and 6) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), at 24-27@frog Pond Rd., Albemarle, NC, on 1/6/2021 ♦ Morgan, Justin Paul (W /M/30) Arrest on chrg of 1) Pwimsd Methamphetamine (F), 2) Pwisd Cocaine (F), 3) Pwisd Marijuana (F), 4) Maintain Veh/dwell/place Cs (f) (F), 5) Pwimsd Sch Iii Cs (F), and 6) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), at 24/27/ Frog Pond Road, Albemarle, NC, on 1/6/2021 ♦ Allmon, Timothy Alvin (W /M/57) Arrest on chrg of 1) Pwimsd Sch Vi Cs (F) and 2) Possess Marij Paraphernalia (M), at 24791 C Nc 24/27, Albemarle, NC, on 1/6/2021 ♦ Mcmahan, Heather Leila Ball (W /F/28) Arrest on chrg of Driving While Impaired (M), at 625 Nchwy 24/27, Albemarle, NC, on 1/6/2021 ♦ Martinez, Samantha (U /F/26) Arrest on chrg of Communicate Threats, M (M), at S Main St / College St, Norwood, NC, on 1/5/2021 ♦ Sasser, Jeremy Clifford (W /M/39) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at M & R Retread, Norwood, NC, on 1/5/2021 Garlin, Marlon Dewayne (B

♦ Stack, Travis Benjamin (W /M/36) Arrest on chrg of Possession Of Firearm By Felon (F), at 126 South 3rd Street, Albemarle, NC, on 1/5/2021 ♦ Curtis, Paul Steffon (W /M/29) Arrest on chrg of 1) Trafficking,opium Or Heroin (F) and 2) Pwimsd Sch Ii Cs (F), at 123 South Third St, Albemarle, NC, on 1/5/2021 ♦ Springer, Lloyd David (W /M/54) Arrest on chrg of Poss Pseudo/prior Meth Conv (F), at Nicholas Road, NC, on 1/5/2021 ♦ Medlin, Joseph Tyler (W /M/27) Arrest on chrg of 1) Breaking Or Entering (m) (M), 2) Injury To Real Property (M), and 3) Domestic Criminal Trespass (M), at 126 S Third St, Albemarle, NC, on 1/5/2021 ♦ Smith-christian, Miranda A`shayla (B /F/21) Cited on Charge of Child Abuse (m) (202100010), at 651 S Main St/ crawley Av, Norwood, NC, on 1/5/2021. ♦ Lee, Yvette Denise (B F, 54) Arrest on chrg of Assault With Deadly Weapon (m) (M),at 1200 Lennox St/arey Av, Albemarle, on 01/04/202 ♦ Taylor, Alton Demetrice (B M, 52) Arrest on chrg of Injury To Personal Property (M),at 1200 Lennox St/arey Av, Albemarle, on 01/04/202 ♦ Stutler, Jana Glyn (W F, 53)

♦ Gravitte, Britney Nicole (W F, 29) Arrest on chrg of First Deg Tresp Enter/remain, M(M), at 641 Nc 24-27 Bypass E, Albemarle, on 01/06/202 ♦ Scott, Matthew Adam (W M, 35) Arrest on chrg of Felony Larceny, F (F), at 781Leonard Av, Albemarle, on 01/06/202 ♦ Polson, Steven Allen (W M, 34) Arrest on chrg of Felony Larceny (F), at 781 LeonardAv, Albemarle, on 01/06/2021 ♦ Baggett, Aleshia Michelle (W F, 32) Arrest on chrg of Felony Larceny (F), at 781Leonard Av, Albemarle, on 01/06/2021 ♦ Arndt, Mark Castyle (W M, 35) Arrest on chrg of Breaking And Or Entering (f) (F), at229 S Morrow Av, Albemarle, on 01/07/202 ♦ Little, David Levander (B M, 34) Arrest on chrg of Assault By Pointing A Gun, M(M), at 126 S Third St, Albemarle, on 01/07/202 ♦ Robinson, Michael Todd (B M, 50) Arrest on chrg of Driving While Impaired (F), at202 Arey Av/pou St, Albemarle, on 01/07/2021 ♦ Robinson, Michael Todd (B M, 50) Arrest on chrg of Possession Of Stolen Firearm(F), at 202 Arey Av/pou St, Albemarle, on 01/07/202

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, January 13, 2021

OPINION Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | NEWT GINGRICH

Americans should be committed to stopping all the violence

There have been riots burning buildings, looting stores, and in some cases killing people in a number of other American cities. It must stop.

AS A FORMER SPEAKER of the U.S. House of Representatives and 20-year veteran of serving in that body, let me begin by condemning unequivocally and vehemently every person who illegally entered the Capitol. The trespassers and invaders should be tried and punished. Those who confronted the police should be charged with felonies. There is no room in America for the kind of mob violence we saw on Capitol Hill. It is clear that there are 74 million-plus voters for President Donald Trump — and thousands of strong supporters who peacefully protested yesterday. They should not be tarred with the stain of the anti-American, unpatriotic minority who broke the law and assaulted the Capitol. We have every right to condemn the violent minority while protecting the First Amendment rights of the vast majority. I must take a moment to speak about the heroic, disciplined efforts of the U.S. Capitol Police. When I was speaker, we tragically lost Officer Jacob Chestnut and Det. John Gibson when a mentally ill man came into the building and killed them at the checkpoint. They were brave men who lost their lives defending the United States Capitol, the center of freedom. We all saw the courage of the Capitol Police on June 14, 2017, when they protected Republican Whip Steve Scalise after he was shot and seriously injured by a leftwing activist. Two of the police, Officers David Bailey and Crystal Griner, were injured, while two other baseball players were also wounded. Given this history, it was no surprise to me that the Capitol Police, even though severely outnumbered, stood up to the mob and minimized damage to people and property while avoiding the kind of reaction which could have ended more lives. However, the real prize for courage yesterday went to Vice President Mike Pence. He had been the brunt of a number of public comments from President Trump trying to push him into doing something he did not think was constitutional. A weaker person might have buckled and given in. Vice President Pence’s leadership qualities came through when the joint session resumed after the rioters had been brought under control. What he said was so common sense and so calming in a potentially disastrous situation that I think it is worth sharing: “I want to thank the federal, state and local law enforcement. The violence was quelled. The Capitol is secured, and the people’s work

continues. We condemn the violence that took place here in the strongest possible terms. We grieve the loss of life in these hallowed halls, as well as the injuries suffered by those who defended our Capitol today. And we will always be grateful to the men and women who stayed at their posts to defend this historic place. To those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today, you did not win. Violence never wins. Freedom wins, and this is still the people’s house. With those calming words, Vice President Pence got his colleagues back to work on the peaceful transfer of power under our constitutional system. Last week’s violence in the Capitol was horrible, and we have to condemn it — and every person who engaged in it. It was an assault on the basic framework of law which is at the heart of the American constitutional republic. However, we must go a step further and make a firm commitment to stop all the violence. There have been more than 200 days of Antifa-led violence in Portland, Oregon. It must stop. There have been riots burning buildings, looting stores, and in some cases killing people in a number of other American cities. It must stop. There is a new generation of radical prosecutors who want to protect guilty criminals and sacrifice innocent victims. It must stop. There have been demonstrators going to the homes of public officials and trying to intimidate them and their families. It must stop. There are real types of violence and threats of violence which are undermining the very fabric of our civilization. We need a deep and thorough examination of the depths of physical, social and governmental pressures which have led tens of millions of Americans to fear for their future. My columns and podcasts will explore the threats Americans find themselves having to defend against. Every American — regardless of political leanings — must give this our full attention and effort, so we can end it. Yesterday was bad, painful, and entirely unacceptable. If we don’t get a grip on stopping this radical violence throughout our society, our shared American future will become much worse. To read, hear, and watch more of Newt’s commentary, visit Gingrich360.com.

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Healing our nation

For the same reason I condemn the actions of the mob, it was also my duty to object to certifying the Electoral College votes of certain states that violated their own election laws, contrary to Article II of the Constitution.

It’s been an unprecedented week in our nation’s capital. Let me first say I am sickened and heartbroken by what unfolded at the U.S. Capitol Wednesday afternoon. The violence, vandalism and loss of American lives — including a U.S. Capitol Police officer — are shocking and go against everything we stand for as a people and a nation. I condemn this violence and anyone on the right or the left who resorts to violence to achieve a political end. This nation was founded on the principle that all men and women are created equal and endowed with certain rights by our Creator. I have often said, I may have sharp disagreements with someone from another party on any given issue. But, at the end of the day, we are both Americans. And the values and heritage we share are greater than the political differences of the day. As we come to grips with what transpired, we must find a way to move forward. I pray we will work together to make sure the thugs who stormed the Capitol are prosecuted to the full extent of the law and that we do what is necessary so this never happens again. I also believe we cannot move forward if we choose to assign blame to extract political points or accept the violence we witnessed this summer in cities across the nation and this week in the Capitol as the new normal for resolving our differences. We must pledge to come together, condemn violence of any kind, and heal this nation. I received many messages from constituents, friends and family on Wednesday which meant so much to me. One message I received was from a constituent in Fayetteville. After checking on my safety, she told me she was in tears — totally devastated by the violence in the Capitol. She said her husband gave his life fighting for this country to protect our citizens from this kind of violence and lawlessness. We owe it to her husband and all those incredible patriots who put on the uniform of this nation and made the ultimate sacrifice to do better. To be better. We must work together in a way that honors their sacrifice and brings this nation together. This does not mean I will shrink from the hard work, from vigorously representing the interests of my constituents, or from passionately defending our shared values. One of those values is respect for the rule of law. For the same

reason I condemn the actions of the mob, it was also my duty to object to certifying the Electoral College votes of certain states that violated their own election laws, contrary to Article II of the Constitution. I believe these issues deserved a serious debate in the House and the Senate, just as Democrats did following the 2004 and 2016 presidential elections. In fact, now-Speaker Nancy Pelosi said during the debate in 2005 that the objections then were “democracy at work” and “fundamental to our democracy.” I agree. These issues are more important than one party, one candidate or one election outcome. While I knew my objection would not be successful, it was my hope that through open debate, we could raise these legitimate concerns and identify common sense solutions to safeguard our election integrity. While this process was eventually able to be completed, the point I hoped to make was overshadowed by the inexcusable and unAmerican violence and division we witnessed on Wednesday. As we begin this new year and new Congress, I will recommit myself to something that has always been a priority for me and a hallmark of my time in Congress. Namely, to work across the aisle; to view my political opponent as someone who equally loves our country. I pledge to continue to put the long-term interests of our nation ahead of any short-term political interest. I also pledge to continue to be guided by the simple appeal in Psalm 16:1, “Preserve me, O Lord, for in thee do I put my trust.” As your representative, I look forward to all we can accomplish this year and am so honored and humbled to continue serving our community in this new Congress. I am also proud to now represent a majority of Lee and Harnett counties. For those of you new to the Eighth District, I welcome you to visit my website at Hudson.house. gov or call my office at 202-225-3715. My office will always be open to you to help with a federal agency, answer questions or simply hear your concerns. I am confident we can move forward and bring our country together. Like President Reagan, I always believe our best days lie ahead of us. And working together, we can ensure America will always be that shinning city on a hill and the last great hope for mankind.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, January 13, 2021

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT NFL

Belichick won’t accept Presidential Medal of Freedom Foxboro, Mass. New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick announced Monday night that he will not accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The sixtime Super Bowl-winning coach did not say explicitly that he had turned down the offer from President Donald Trump, whom he has called a friend. Instead, Belichick explained, “the decision has been made not to move forward with the award” in the wake of last week’s deadly siege on the U.S. Capitol. Trump had announced Saturday, three days after the riots, that he would be awarding Belichick the nation’s highest civilian honor.

NHL

NHL to host 2 outdoor games in Lake Tahoe Stateline, Nev. The NHL announced Monday it will hold two games on an outdoor rink set up at Edgewood Golf Course on Lake Tahoe in Stateline, Nevada. Vegas will play Colorado on Feb. 20 and Boston faces Philadelphia on Feb. 21 on a temporary rink set up on the 18th hole at Edgewood, site of the annual American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament. The league’s originally scheduled outdoor games for the season — including the Hurricanes hosting one at NC State’s Carter-Finley Stadium — have been pushed back because of the coronavirus pandemic.

NCAA holds off on athlete compensation, transfers The Division I Council delayed a planned vote and did not announce when it will decide on the drastic changes By Eric Olson The Associated Press The NCAA delayed votes on legislation that would permit college athletes to cash in on their popularity for the first time and to transfer to another school without having to sit out one year. The issues, originally scheduled to be voted on by the Division I Council on Monday, were expected to be the main storylines of this week’s NCAA annual convention. There was no announcement on when a vote might be taken. “The Council remains fully committed to modernizing Division I rules in ways that benefit all student-athletes,” said Council chairwoman M. Grace Calhoun, athletics director at Pennsylvania. “Unfortunately, external factors require this pause, and the Council will use this time to enhance the proposals.” NCAA President Mark Emmert told The Associated Press on Saturday he recommended to the association’s two top governing bodies to put off votes on name, image and likeness and the transfer proposals because of a letter he received from the Department of

MARTA LAVANDIER | AP PHTO

Top college sports talent like UNC quarterback Sam Howell could benefit from new rules that would allow players to make money off their likeness, but the NCAA has delayed a planned vote that could have permitted endorsements and other reenue streams. Justice about potential antitrust violations. Under the NCAA’s current proposal, schools could block athletes from entering sponsorship agreements that conflict with their schools’ deals. For example, an athlete at a school associated with Nike could be prevented from entering an agreement with another shoe or apparel company. Also, athletes would not be permitted to endorse products or companies such as alcohol or gambling that conflict with NCAA values. Makan Delrahim, assistant attorney general of the DOJ’s antitrust division, wrote the name, im-

age and likeness proposal and the restrictions it put on athletes’ ability to access the free market could be problematic. Delrahim said the NCAA’s transfer rules could also be in conflict with antitrust laws. A proposal that would loosen restrictions on transferring athletes in high-profile sports such as football and basketball was expected to be passed. In addition to the DOJ letter, the Supreme Court’s agreement last month to hear an antitrust case involving the NCAA later this year prompted a number of college sports leaders to recommend holding off on a vote.

Another factor is that the turnover in Congress could slow the process of passing federal legislation the NCAA is seeking to create uniformity in NIL rules. A federal law would override differing state laws that go into effect as soon as this summer and provide protection from legal challenges. The NCAA’s proposed NIL legislation would allow athletes to strike financial deals with third parties to do things like endorse or sponsor products, make personal appearances or be an online influencer. Schools would not be involved in the compensation. Six states have passed bills allowing college athletes to cash in on their names, images and likenesses. Florida’s law is scheduled to go into effect in July. The hope has been for athletes to begin participating in NIL compensation in August. Ramogi Huma, executive director of the National College Players Association, called the delay a “slap in the face to college athletes.” “College athletes deserve fair treatment now, and they need lawmakers to grant them these freedoms once and for all,” Huma said. The proposed one-time transfer rule would allow football players in the Bowl Subdivision and athletes in men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and men’s ice hockey to play immediately rather than sit out for a year the first time they move to another school.

SOCCER

Former UNC player, assistant Parlow Cone unopposed to remain USSF president Chicago Cindy Parlow Cone is unopposed for an additional one-year term as U.S. Soccer Federation president running until February 2022. Parlow Cone, a former national team midfielder who played at UNC and was later an assistant with the Tar Heels, became president March 11 last year when Carlos Cordeiro quit following a backlash. The federation had claimed in a gender discrimination lawsuit that women players had less physical ability and responsibility than their male counterparts. Parlow Cone had been elected vice president in February 2019 and was given a four-year term in February 2020, then moved up to president until the next annual general meeting.

BASEBALL

Pawtucket sues PawSox owners over alleged stadium repairs Pawtucket, R.I. The city of Pawtucket is suing the owners of the Pawtucket Red Sox for allegedly failing to repair and maintain the baseball stadium where the team played as they were obligated to do under a contract. In a lawsuit filed Jan. 7, the city sued the owners of the PawSox for failing to maintain the cityowned McCoy Stadium, though the suit did not name a specific amount of damages sought, The Providence Journal reported. The PawSox are moving to Worcester, Massachusetts, and are scheduled to start playing there later this year.

PAUL BEATY | AP PHTO

Coach Rick Carlisle and the Mavericks had Monday’s game against New Orleans postponed due to contract tracing with players on their roster, including Josh Richardson.

More NBA games off as virus issues grow Positive tests and contract tracing are ravaging rosters throughout the league By Tim Reynolds The Associated Press THE NBA CALLED off two more games because of COVID-related and contact-tracing issues on Monday, and the Miami Heat were preparing to be without eight players — including All-Stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo — for several days because of possible exposure to the coronavirus. Monday’s game in Dallas between the Mavericks and the New Orleans Pelicans was postponed by the league, as well as Tuesday’s matchup in Chicago between the Bulls and the Boston Celtics. The league’s general managers met Monday to discuss the virus situation, with involvement from the National Basketball Players Association. The NBA’s board of governors was set to meet Tuesday.

The latest postponements came one day after Miami’s game in Boston was called off because of contact-tracing issues within the Heat. The Celtics would have been without seven players for virus-related issues for that game. Miami’s Avery Bradley, who did not play in the NBA’s restart bubble last season out of concern about exposure to the virus, was also ruled out of that game because of the protocols. “We’re in uncharted waters,” Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers said. Seven Heat players were added to the list following contact tracing. That does not mean any tested positive, but that tracing showed they may have been exposed to a positive person. Some may be back in time for Miami’s home game Saturday against Detroit. Another three Heat players are on the injury list, raising the question if they will have the eight required players to start games. NBA GMs, according to a person familiar with the discussion who spoke

“We’re in uncharted waters.” Doc Rivers, Philadelphia 76ers coach with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the conversations were private, talked about increasing roster sizes Monday, along with stiffening protocols about player interaction such as postgame handshakes and hugs — as well as even more of a commitment to social distancing and mask wearing. Rivers said he’s not in favor of adding to the roster size but suggested a nine-player minimum instead of the current eight might be a prudent change “to have a healthy chance of playing an NBA game.” The Heat were flying from Boston to Philadelphia on Monday night in advance of a game there Tuesday, while another flight was

bringing those who needed to be quarantined back to Miami, said a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to AP on condition of anonymity because those details were not publicly released. “I think the general sentiment is that everyone wants to play but also everyone wants to be safe first,” Heat guard Duncan Robinson said during an appearance on Reddit. Dallas — which was without starters Josh Richardson and Dorian Finney-Smith and backup Jalen Brunson on Saturday because of virus issues — did not have enough players cleared to play Monday because the contact-tracing process was still ongoing, said a person with knowledge of that situation who spoke with AP on condition of anonymity because it had not been disclosed publicly. The first game postponed this season was the Dec. 23 matchup between Oklahoma City and Houston. The NBA said Sunday night that the league anticipated there would be issues and has no plans to pause the season because of the current issues some teams are facing.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, January 13, 2021

5 HOMETOWN HARDWOOD

Senior Jordan Manshack sets up the West Stanly offense during the Colts’ 73-49 win at South Stanly on Monday in Norwood.

ALBEMARLE (1-0, 0-0 YVC) Jan. 7 at Covenant Classical

W, 78-41

Jan. 15 at Uwharrie Charter

7:30 p.m.

Jan. 19 South Davidson

7:30 p.m.

GRAY STONE DAY (0-0, 0-0 YVC)

JESSE DEAL | STANLY COUNTY JOURNAL

West Stanly routs South Stanly in decisive road victory “I challenged them at halftime because we have to build everything from the defensive end.” John Thompson, West Stanly basketball coach

Senior Austin Medlin led the Colts with 21 points By Jesse Deal The Associated Press NORWOOD —The West Stanly Colts got off to an early 8-0 lead and never trailed for the rest of the game in what became a blowout 73-49 road win at cross-county foe South Stanly. Colts senior Austin Medlin recorded a team-high 21 points, followed closely by fellow senior Trevor Kelly, who garnered 15 of his 17 points from behind the 3-point arc. Senior Jake Bartell added 13 for the Colts (2-0, 0-0 RRC), while junior Jacob Lisk notched seven points off the bench. “We got off to a slow start on defense, where we were scoring but just not playing hard on defense

as far as rebounding and giving up too much penetration,” West Stanly basketball coach John Thompson said. “I challenged them at halftime because we have to build everything from the defensive end.” The Colts responded by only allowing the Bulls (0-2, 0-0 YVC) to score seven points in the third quarter. Much of West’s game plan involved shooting 3-pointers throughout the entire matchup; the Colts converted nine of them while the Bulls only made three. “We can shoot it but we rely on the three too much sometimes, so we need to start inside-out,” Thompson said. “If we can penetrate or get the ball to our post, and then kick the ball to our threes — attack the basket first and then knock down the three.” Leading the Bulls in scoring was

forward Carson Lowder and his team-high 20 points — the junior was the only player on his team to reach double-digit scoring. Junior Collin Smith had eight points while senior Brandon Teller had six points. Rocky River Conference play will officially begin for West on Jan. 13 when the Forest Hills Yellow Jackets (2-0, 0-0 RRC) travel to Oakboro. Two days later, the Colts are scheduled for a road game at Central Academy of Technology and Arts (0-2, 0-1 RRC). “We have to get better defensively and with our shot selection, which was shaky at times tonight,” Thompson said. “But if we clear these things up, our senior-heavy team with guys who work hard has a really good chance.” Meanwhile, South will look for its first win of the season when the Bulls’ Yadkin Valley Conference campaign begins with a home game versus Chatham Central (10, 0-0 YVC) on Jan. 15. That contest will be followed by the Bulls’ first conference road test of the year, a trip to Uwharrie Charter Academy (1-0, 0-0 YVC) on Jan. 19.

Jan. 13 South Davidson

TBA

Jan. 15 at North Stanly

7:30 p.m.

Jan. 19 at North Moore

8 p.m.

NORTH STANLY (0-2, 0-0 YVC) Jan. 5 at West Stanly

L, 61-52

Jan. 7 Forest Hills

L, 41-40

Jan. 12 at North Rowan

After Press

Jan. 15 Gray Stone Day

7:30 p.m.

SOUTH STANLY (0-2, 0-0 YVC) Jan. 6 Montgomery Central

L, 62-31

Jan. 11 West Stanly

L, 73-49

Jan. 15 Chatham Central

7:30 p.m.

Jan. 19 at Uwharrie Charter

7:30 p.m.

WEST STANLY (2-0, 0-0 RRC) Jan. 5 North Stanly

W, 61-52

Jan. 8 at South Stanly

W, 73-49

Jan. 13 Forest Hills

7:30 p.m.

Jan. 15 at CATA

7:30 p.m.

Jan. 19 Montgomery Central 7 p.m.

CHRIS O’MEARA | AP PHOTO

Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith led Alabama to the national championship Monday, making 12 catches for 215 yards and three touchdowns in the first half before injuring his hand to earn MVP honors.

Perfect Alabama finishes No. 1 in AP Top 25 for 11th time Four ACC teams, including UNC at No. 18, finished the season ranked By Ralph D. Russo The Associated Press MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Alabama finished the season No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the 11th time, extending its record by completing the program’s first perfect season since 2009. The Crimson Tide was a unanimous No. 1 in the final poll, getting 61 first-place votes, after beating Ohio State 52-24 in the College Football Playoff championship game Monday night. Alabama was preseason No. 3,

but when it started playing this strange season in a pandemic in late September was No. 2. The Tide jumped to No. 1 in early November and finished as major college football’s only undefeated team. “We set this as a goal, to potentially be the greatest team to ever play,” Tide quarterback Mac Jones said. “I think we made a valid statement in winning the national championship tonight.” The Buckeyes were second, followed by Clemson at No. 3. Texas A&M was fourth, finally passing Notre Dame for the Aggies’ best finish in the AP poll since they won the national title in 1939. The Fighting Irish made the playoff but slipped to No. 5 after losing to Ala-

bama in the semifinals. For the Crimson Tide, it is the sixth national title under coach Nick Saban in the last 12 seasons. No other team has won more than two during that time. With 11 AP titles overall — Paul “Bear” Bryant was coach for the other five — Alabama has three more than Notre Dame in second with eight. Big 12 champion Oklahoma finished No. 6, Georgia seventh and Cincinnati was eighth. The Tide, Aggies and Bulldogs give the Southeastern Conference three teams in the top seven. The SEC finished 7-2 in the bowls, counting Alabama’s national championship victory. Iowa State was No. 9, its best final ranking and only the third

time the Cyclones have finished the season ranked. Northwestern finished 10th, the Wildcats best final showing since they went to the Rose Bowl in 1995 and were eighth in the last poll. The Big 12 finished with a perfect record in five bowl games. Oklahoma and Iowa State were joined by No. 19 Texas and No. 20 Oklahoma State in the final rankings from that conference. The ACC’s postseason was a dud at 0-6. Clemson, Notre Dame, No. 18 North Carolina and No. 22 Miami gave the ACC four ranked teams. The odd season in a pandemic put a spotlight on teams outside the Power Five conferences as never before and the final poll treated

the upstarts well. Cincinnati, the American Athletic Conference champ, was one of eight non-Power Five teams to land in the Top 25. Independent BYU finished No. 11, the Cougars’ best final ranking since they finished the 1995 season fifth. Sun Belt rivals Coastal Carolina and Louisiana-Lafayette were Nos. 14 and 15, respectively. That conference had never finished with two ranked teams. Liberty, another independent, was 17th. Rounding out the bottom of the poll was No. 23 Ball State, the Mid-American Conference champ, No. 24 San Jose, the champ of the Mountain West, and No. 25 Buffalo, another MAC school.

For Nutbush residents He also cited a widespread fear the threat of overburdened of being unnecessarily exposed to fear of contracting the v itals, states across the country matched with the worry th the virus. onverting convention centers, could lose stores that are “All around, people are scared,” ts facilities and performance Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, January 13, 2021 the neighborhood. Offici he said. es into backup treatment sites Their fears are not unfounded. ven’t said if stores would oronavirus patients. In this majority-black city along the Gateway facility was hat some Memphis, Tenthe Mississippi River, lawmakers If they did, shopping wo e, residents don’t get is why in and community leaders have been come more difficult for re city, a shopping center in the sounding the alarm over what they especially for those who ar dle of a predominantly black, see as a disturbing trend of the vi- have no means of transpo income residential neighborrus killing African Americans at a to stores located farther aw d has been chosen. “For people who don’t higher rate. ty and state officials are conNutbush resident Patricia Har- car, what do they do?” ask ed that an influx of patients ris wondered aloud if city officials ris, who spoke to The Ass Memphis, as well as nearby were “trying to contaminate” the Press while lugging a bottl issippi, Arkansas and rural tergent, a package of bott neighborhood. Tennessee, will strain hospisingle gold star representing NaBy Emily Wagsteracross Activist Earle Fisher, an Afri- ter and other items from t Their fears are echoed ADRIAN SAINZ | AP PHOTO tive Americans. The gold star is Associated Press can American Memphis pastor, A Lot to her car. She note country:The Governors, mayors made of diamond shapes that are understands the anxiety. “This grocery store recently clos health experts in numerous This Friday, April 3, 2020 photo, shows Gateway Shopping Center JACKSON, Miss. — Missis- significant to the Choctaw culis an honest and reasonable con- her house and she already s are also researching and in Memphis, Tenn. sippi Gov. Tate Reeves signed a ture. The flag also has gold stripes cern and skepticism,” Fisher said. travel farther to get to Gate tructingbillmakeshift Monday thatmedical gives the state a representing the artistic herinew flag that no longer carries the tage of state that has produced “When we do things “I think it’s par for the course for ities. blues great B.B. Kingthe andMuNobel a Chinese restaurant and other black people to be righteously got to consider the people Confederate battle turnemblem. Lee has disclosed a few: New York City, they’re The bill signing happened just Prize-winning novelist William skeptical of governmental inter- neighborhood,” she said. “W o the Javits Center convention sic City Center in Nashville, the businesses. over six months after legislators Faulkner. vention that did not consult with need to make the neighb Locating a treatment center for Chattanooga Convention Center, in Chicago, the McCormick The law retiring the old flag retired the last state flag in the worse than it already is.” Expothat Center — all coronavirus patients there pos- people on the ground first.” e Convention Center; also specified the commisU.S. that includedand the in rebel the sym-Knoxville U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, sion’sfrom proposed new flag neighwould go es two problems, residents say: Doug McGowen, the city’s chief residential dy, Utah,bol. the Mountain Amer- sites away on the Nov. 3 ballot for a yes-or- It could potentially expose them operating officer, said the Gate- phis Democrat, said the d During a signing ceremony, borhoods. xpo Center. vote. The magnolia design was to the virus amid concerns that way site was being considered be- doesn’t make sense. Reeves Corps said the flag was The “a no Gateway Shopping Cenhe U.S. Army ofold Engithe only flag proposal on the balprominent roadblock to unity.” “I’m sure there are othe cause it could potentially accomter in the Nutbush neighborhood s has beenThe scouting locations lot, and more than 71% of people blacks are contracting COVID-19 new flag has a magnothat would work, and they modate hundreds of beds. He said at higher rates; and it could force of Memphis is different. The cenennessee, and officials here lia and the phrase, “In God We who voted that day said yes. ROGELIO V. SOLIS | AP PHOTO ter features a Save A Lot compiled a list of 35 possiPutting it into law grocery is the fi- some of the stores they rely on to if it were converted to a treatment have used those rather t Trust.” Reeves called it “one small nalRent-A-Center, step in making the effort They to unify, but itreis done in a Members of the Mississippi Highway Safety Honor Guard prepare raise into the new Mississippi neighbo a residential site,Patrol it would hold only mildlyto ill store, a magnolia Fami- close. backup sites. haven’t flag an official state symbol. The State good faith.” flag at resident the Capitol in Jackson, Jan. 11, 2021. coronavirus patients who could be Cohen said. Nutbush and commu-Monday, a beauty supply shop, d the whole list, but Gov. Bill ly Dollar,

Mississippi governor signs law for flag without rebel sign

Momentum to change the Mississippi flag built quickly in June as protests against racial injustice were happening across the nation. Legislators created a commission to design a new flag, specifying that the banner could not include Confederate imagery and that it must include “In God We Trust.” The public submitted more than 3,000 proposals, and the commission chose the design that has a magnolia blossom encircled by white stars representing Mississippi as the 20th state, plus a

state House and Senate last week passed the bill that Reeves signed Monday. The Confederate battle emblem — a red field topped by a blue X with 13 white stars — was put on the upper left corner of the Mississippi flag in 1894 by state legislators. The flag was part of the backlash against political power that black people had attained during Reconstruction. Critics had long said the flag was a racist symbol that failed to represent a state with the largest percentage

PEC, oil nations agree o nearly 10M barrel cut

of black residents in the nation. The Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups have waved the Confederate battle flag for decades. Georgia put the battle emblem prominently on its state flag in 1956, during a backlash to the civil rights movement. That state removed the symbol from its banner in 2001. Mississippi voters chose to keep the Confederate-themed flag during a 2001 election, but all of

the state’s public universities and several cities and counties stopped flying it in recent years. Several took it down after the June 2015 slayings of nine black worshippers at a church in Charleston, South Carolina. The white man charged in the shooting deaths had previously posed, in photos published online, holding the Confederate battle flag. Supporters of the Confederate-themed Mississippi flag are

starting an initiative that seeks to put four flag designs on the statewide ballot for another vote — the 1894 flag, the magnolia flag, one designed by a Jackson artist as an alternative to the 1894 flag and one designed for the state’s 2017 bicentennial. Getting that on the ballot is a long shot, though, because of the signature-gathering process that is made more challenging by the coronavirus pandemic.

bin Salman, a son of King Salman, assented to the deal. “I go with the consent, so I UBAI, United Arab Emir— OPEC, Russia and other agree,” the prince said, chuckling, soldiers on active duty to protect roducing nations on Sunday drawing a round of applause from state properties since last sumized an unprecedented pro- those on the video call. mer, when protesters smashed But it had not been smiles and ion cut of nearly 10 million windows and set a fire at state public safety headquarters in AtDavid A. Liebsupply, laughs for weeks after the soels, or a By 10th of global lanta. The Associated Presspric- called OPEC+ group of OPEC opes of boosting crashing Georgia House Speaker Damid the coronavirus pandemic members and other nations failed vid Ralston, another Republican, STATE CAPITOLS across the in March to reach an agreement a price war, officials said. said he had “full confidence” that nation stepped up security, deon production cuts, sending prichis could be the largestGuard re- units, authorities would be “ready to do ploying National es oftumbling. Saudi Arabia sharply ion in production from whatever needs to be done to proSWAT teams and OPEC extra police tect the members, staff, the public, as several legislatures conRussia days earlier over erhaps aficers decade, maybe lon- criticized the media, and all the people that vened amid Secretary heightened what safe- it described as comments said U.S. Energy have to be here.” ty concerns following last week’s Brouillette, who credited critical of the kingdom, which Inslee activated 750 members of protests at the U.S. Capitol. finds itself trying to appease ident Donald the National Guard. On the same Hours Trump’s after theperprotections Trump, a longtime OPEC critic. l involvement duel-bulletins day as the deadly riot in Washingbegan, in thegetting FBI issued Even U.S. senators had warned ton, D.C., a group of armed peoparties to the table and for helpwarning of plans armed prople broke down a gate outside the at all 50 between state capitalsSaudi and Arabia to find a way to to end atests price war governor’s mansion in Olympia, in Washington ahead of Presiboost prices as American shale di Arabia and Russia. Washington, and made it to the dent-elect Joe Biden’s Jan. 20 inil prices auguration. have collapsed as the firms face far-higher production porch and front yard before being navirus and the COVID-19 convinced to leave by police. SAUDI ENERGY Washington state Gov. Jaycosts. Ins- American troops had been deployed to the kingdom for the ss it causes have largely halt“It’s a sad day for our country, lee activated hundreds of National isn’t it, where you have to have that Minist Guard troops to help state police first time since the Sept. 11, 2001, In this photo released by Saudi Energy Ministry, Prince Abdulaziz lobal travel and slowed down bin Salman Al-Saud, of Group security of around the peokeep order at the sectors state Capitolattacks and over concerns of Irani- Energy of Saudi Arabia, third right, chairs a virtual summit kind r energy-chugging of the 20 energy minister ple who were elected to represent defend security fencing. At least as manufacturing. It has an retaliation amid regional ten- his office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, April 10, 2020, to coordinate a response to plummet you,” Democratic Sen. Patty Kudtwo people were arrested Monday, TED S. WARREN | AP PHOTO in global demand due to the pandemi sions. stated including the oil aindustry in accordprices due to an oversupply in the market and a downturn erer said. “Unfortunately, we live woman who, “They’ve spent over the last U.S., which now pumps in troubling times, and I do believe ing to state police,more used a recreA Washington State Patrol trooper talks with members of the Washington National Guard inside a month fence waging war on the American e than any other country. we’re going to get through it, but ational vehicle to block a roadway surrounding Capitol in anticipation of protests Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, in Olympia, Wash. it’s going to take a lot of time and a refused tohave comply with orders praise. oil producers while we are defend- that Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the deal but its president, Andrés ut some and producers been lot of effort.” to move. “The pure size of the cu Manuel López Obrador, had said the United Arab Emirates would tant to ease supply. The car- ing theirs. This is not how friends House Majority Leader Pat SulLater, about 20 people gath- many state capitols had already the Idaho House gallery despite normal state of living,” Thorne nd other nations on Sunday treat friends,” said Sen. Kevin cut another 2 million barrels of Friday that he had agreed with precedented, but, then ag ered outside the security fenc- adopted procedures to curb the COVID-19 restrictions limiting said. He did not think the group livan said that both the pandemthe that the U.S. will compenday between atop Cramer, a Republican North ed to allow ic protocols,isplus theimpact security the con- corona wouldTrump cause trouble. thea number of peoplethem allowed in. the for large from crowds, includ- oil ing, Mexico includingtoa cut manonly who tried to potential having on demand,” sate iswhat Mexico cannot add to deal. ThePeople’s three Rights countries “This Dakota, the OPEC+ deal. to OPEC+ 000 barrels month, a stickwill make lawmakers’ work said M Idaho. We’re all cerns, The group called ingbefore arranging for lawmakers walk apast authorities as lawmakhe saidan that respectful medbut Ghulam, energy an wasnot founded by Bundy and oppos- gun-carrying, the proposed cuts.Republi- more difficult, remotely. Those great- did were to begin their session. immediately acknowledge U.S. meet producers have steps already point forersan accord initially on James. us to pass cans,” he“The said. big Oil Deal with “people es the Its leaders wereZanly reducedoutput. the number of people the He was taken into custody been after reducing Raymond OPECare counting cutrestrictions. themselves, though The Amerhed Friday after a marathon budgets help them Idaho This Rep. will Chadsave urgingattended members tothe show up Monwho are actually workinglaudin cap- ganeh shouting, “I have23every to Petroleum Butthat Ghulam and others w Plus is done. hun- and laws video confer- Republican ican Institute o conference between na- right Christensen said he brought a bul- in their daily life.” day at the Capitol. itol buildings. witness this.” it may not be enough. dreds of thousands of energy jobs ence. ed Sunday’s global pact, saying it s. The nations together agreed Some of the anti-government Glen Thorne of Buhl, Ida- letproof vest. In Idaho, doors to the House At the Georgia Capitol, a state “Thisin is at leasttoa tempo thethings United Trump said accused Officials otherdrive planned other nations’ stateut 9.7 million barrels a day extremists a plot I feel are States,” going to get about a said two-hour to thecuts “If in andget Senate chambers were locked ho, patrol SWAT team walkedwill the help lief for the energy industry in a tweet. “I would like to thank would stand in the deal, meaning owned oil production to follow the ughout May and June. perimeter wearing fatigues and Monday morning, and two Idaho southeast of Boise, wore a hand- heightened up, I may put it on,” kidnap Democratic Gov. GretchWhitmer attended the This i said and Christensen, who alsoPresident car- en Pugun8-million-barrel-per-day in a holster on his right hip cut troopers were whilejust lawmakers thehad global economy. congratulate lead of state U.S. producers thatstationed are try- at an he groupcarrying reachedrifles the deal lockdown ried atin .45-caliber handgun on hisSalman Monday the Capitol. Openly each entrance. In past years, the from for the of ato adjust is too big Prosecutors to be let to fail and of Russia and King of protests. Julyatthrough the end of the to plunging demand. s beforegathered Asian inside markets re-starting say the accused ringleader initialbelt, which is standard procedure carrying weapons in the building doors were propped open while an two-year term. liance showed responsibili Brouillette said the U.S. did not year and a 6-million-barrel cut for Saudi Arabia.” ed Monday and as internaly talked of recruiting 200 men to for him. In Michigan, a state commis- unarmed statehouse staff member is legal. this agreement,” said Per M The Kremlin said President 16 months beginning in 2021. make commitments of its own al benchmark Brent crude In Georgia, Republican Gov. storm the building, take hostages Thorne said he wanted to make sion voted Monday to ban the controlled access. a joint “This will enable cuts,a but wassession able to ed at just over $31 of a weapons barrel inproduction and call “executeNysveen, tyrants.” the head of ana Kemp andPutin other held officials Republican Gov. the BradrebalancLittle BrianVladimir During special last sure open carrying the Rystad Energy.lock“Even tho withconstruction Trump andof Saudi of the markets obvious — that plunging secondary plan involved American shale producers show the approved a fenceKingASal“knows thatoil we’re here.” and the exAugust, a group of people including Capitol building. setting the statearound the Capitol last year after ing “We rebound want to end stateby of $15 anti-government activist Am- pected Legislatures convened in demand more ingbecause production cuts are small man to express support of exits the and of the prices of the pandemggle. house on fire, according to court racialdeal. injustice protests. has emergency forthe Idaho. It’sterm,” ridicu-said mon Bundy forcedU.S. theiroil way past per than half Saudi-owned a dozen states. Because what the market needed a It also saidKemp Putin spoke sepbarrel in short ic is expected to slash prodeo aired by the of concerns about the coronavirus, overwhelmed troopers and filled lous. We all want to go back to a kept a group of National Guard documents. a statement from Nigeria’s oil arately with Trump about the oil postpone the stock buildi lite channel Al-Arabiya duction. straints problem, the wors market and other issues. Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zan- ministry. wed the moment that Saudi Analysts offered cautious now avoided.” Mexico had initially blocked gy Minister Prince Abdulaziz ganeh also told state television

Associated Press

State capitols step up security amid new safety concerns

& CREMATORY 522 North 2nd St. P.O. Box 7 Albemarle, NC 28002 Phone 704-983-1188

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www.hartsellfh.com

12115 University City Blvd. P.O. Box 219 Harrisburg, NC 28075 Phone 704-247-1722

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, January 13, 2021 Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, April 15, 2020

obituaries obituaries

Jason Efird ASONJohn EUGENEBell “GENE”

EFIRD,(JACK) 94, went home toBELL be with JOHN ROBERT his Lord Tuesday, April 7, 2020, DIED peacefully in his sleep on at his home in 3, Stanfield. January 2021. Born August 7, Gene was born October 1925, 1938 in Beaver Falls, PA, he9, was thein Cabarrus County toHenry the lateBell Simeon son of the late John and JasonWise EfirdBell. and He thewas late aSarah Ella Shyrl devoted Burris Efird. In addition to his husband to Elizabeth Breckenridge parents, he was preceded in death Bell for over 62 years. He was a by his wife, Jewell Little Efird; sisters, loving father to his three sons John Mary Lambert, Fannie Almond, M. (Cindy) of Texas, Christopher Minnie Furr, Wilma Burleson and (Deanna) of Richfield, and Scott Aileen Huskey; and brothers, Homer (Dina) of Louisiana. In addition to Efird, Getus Efirdhe and Wayne Efird, his wife and sons, is survived by Sr. grandchildren and three great eight A private funeral service will be grandchildren. He was preceded in held on April 2020 death bySaturday, his parents, his11, half-sister at Love’sBell Grove United Beverly Runkle andMethodist his halfChurch Cemetery in brother Patrick ReedStanfield Bell. officiated by aRev. White. John was firmJim believer in Burial giving will follow at the Love’ s Grove United back to his community, including Methodistwork. Church Cemetery, 4360 volunteer While in Colorado, Polk Ford Road,with Stanfield. he first worked the youth Survivors include son Gerald group Junior Achievement. Later, Wayne (Gail) Efird of Albemarle; he volunteered for seven years as daughter (Mark)Police Hartsell an officer Lisa withEfird the Aurora of Stanfield; granddaughters, Department. He worked with Kelly Efird Barbee Lauren United Airlines for and 28 years and Hartsell (Justin) Crump; and greatlater as a computer consultant. He grandsons, Ian Patrick and was an election judge inSimmons Albemarle Elliot Jacob Simmons. and Colorado for over 9 years. Most Memorials may be made to Love’s people from Albemarle, however, Grovehim United Methodist Church, know from working at HarrisPO Box 276, Stanfield, NC 28163-0276. Teeter. Stanly Funeral Home is assisting the family. Arrangements have not been made at this time.

Tony Smith Phyllis ONY MONROE Furr SMITH, 72, of

Rockwell, NC,JANUARY went to be with ON SUNDAY, 3RD, his Lord and Savior 2021 Phyllis TurnageJesus Furr,Christ a loving on Wednesday, April 8, 2020 at wife, mother, and grandmother his home surrounded A passed away at the ageby offamily. 63. Funeral private family service will be held. services will be held Friday, Jan. 8th Online canHome be made 2021 at condolences Stanly Funeral in at stanlyfuneralhome.com Albemarle. Visitation will follow the Tony Due was born Augustrestrictions, 11, 1947 service. to Covid-19 in Stanly County to the late Pearlie please practice social distancing and Asbury Smithorand Emmer Lee wear a mask other face covering. Smith. was the sonin in1957, law ofPhyllis Pat Born inHe Killeen, Texas and Mick Cagle where he worked is the daughter to Vernon and Nellat the fish house for many yearsNC. until (Brown) Turnage of Linden, he opened House Seafood Phyllis laterAnchor received her Associates in Rockwell. He and his wife Becky degree in Information Technologies owned and operated Anchor House from Stanly Community College for 25 years before retiring 2009. and was an employee of FedinEx. Mr. Smith was a charter member Phyllis was passionate about her and deacon at Openmotorcycles, Door Baptist family and friends, and Church in Richfield. Hewas loved the her beloved felines. She known Lord his wit, family abundantly. for herand quick infectious smile,Tony was compassionate a wonderful husband, father, and heart. She hadand grandfather and could fix anything a special gift with flowers and could he putbe his hands on. often found gardening outside Smith is survived his wife herMr. home. Along with herby mother, Becky Cagle Smith of the home, Nell, she is survived by her husband sons Walter and Robbie Lane Furr, ofSmith Stanfield; her son, Smith; daughter Kayla Henderson Christopher Hart; her daughters, (Brandon); grandchildren Danielle, Kristi (Justin) Eudy of Stanfield, NC Dustin, and(David) Steele Smith, and Brooke BrownKeaton of Troy, and Ella Henderson; brother Davidof NC; her sister, Pam (Gary) Pitman Smith; sisters Calabash, NC;Kay her Kriechbaum, brother, Charles Karen Stevenson, Eudy, (Mary) Turnage ofRuby Linden, NC;and and Dorothy Smith (Nick). 9 grandchildren. She is proceeded in He by is preceded death by death her father,inVernon Turnage. brothers Joe Smith, Wayne In lieu of flowers, the familySmith, requests Claude Smith, Wade Smith, Robert that donations be made to the Smith, and sister of Mary Morris. Humane Society Stanly County. Memorial contributions can be made to Open Door Baptist Church at 44563 Hwy 52, Richfield, NC 28137 or to Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County at 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081.

Pauline Tucker

AULINE ELIZABETH ALMOND TUCKER, 98, passed away peacefully at Trinity Place, Albemarle, NC on April 11, 2020. Pauline was born on March 22, 1922 in Cabarrus County,58, NC to the KIRK ALAN ATEN, OF late John Richard Almond and Alice LOCUST, passed away Friday, Ada Ann8,Lambert Almond. January 2021 at his home. She iswas survived by her 5, three Kirk born March 1962 in daughters, Gay Michel Johnson City, New York(Jack), to the late Oak Island, NC; Pamela Rushing Alfred Calvin Aten and the late Ethel (Foreman), Louise Aten.Oakboro, NC; Kathy Hunt her The(Marc), family Albemarle, will receive NC; friends son, Chris Tucker (Chris Lear), from 1:00pm -2:00pm, Saturday, Washington, DC.atShe will be greatly January 16, 2021 New Life missed by her five grandchildren, Church, 157 Browns Hill Rd, Locust, Heather Rushing Chaney (Shannon), NC 28097. The funeral service Michael Rushing, Elizabeth will follow with Pastor Kody Michel Aten Hartzog (Craig), Jack Michel, Jr. officiating. (Jenn), and Woody wellAten as Survivors includeHunt wife,as Julia seven great-grandchildren. She also of Locust; daughter Leah (Matt) leaves behind cherished Litaker of Hickory; sons,nieces Bryantand nephews. and Ryan Morrissette, Morrissette The both of family Locust,expresses and Kodyits sincere gratitude to theofstaff and caregivers (Lindsey) Aten Massachusetts; at Trinity PlaceFenton for theLitaker, care theyKarter grandchildren provided Pauline. Aten, Harlan Litaker, and Greyson A private service will be Aten; sisters,graveside Bonnie Utter of Locust, held on Monday, April 13, 2020. Terrie (Tim) Smacher of Myrtle A celebration ofFuller Pauline’ life andand legacy Beach, Linda ofsLocust will be held summer. Wilma (Ed)this Whitaker of Locust; and In lieu of flowers, the family many nieces and nephews. requests donations be made to the BrightFocus Foundation at www. brightfocus.org.

Kirk Aten

Merle Helms Sheila Hatley ERLE LORRAINE AUSTIN

HELMS, 72, of Marshville, SHEILA HARRIS HATLEY, 71, passed away Wednesday, April 8, OF Albemarle passed away Tuesday, 2020 at McWhorter Hospice House January 5, 2021 in Atrium Health in Monroe. Stanly. Her funeral will be graveside was born January April 28,7th, 1947 at 2Lorraine PM on Thursday, in Monroe the late Homer David 2021 in theto Union Chapel United Austin andChurch Jewell Delphia-Jane Methodist Cemetery with Austin. She Clark was also preceded in Rev. Monty officiating. No death by brothers, and Teddy formal visitation isA.D. planned. Austin; Joyin Austin. Born and Julysister, 12, 1949 Stanly The family will receive friends County, NC she was the daughter from 6:00 pm 8:00 pm, Friday, of the late Royal and Mecie April 10,Harris. 2020 at Hartsell Funeral Blalock She was a retired Home ofwith Albemarle. The funeral teacher the Stanly County service will be at 11:00 amSchools. on and Montgomery County Saturday Pleasant Hill Baptist Sheila wasatan active member of ChurchChapel in Marshville, officiated Union United Methodist by Rev. John and Rev. Leon Church whereMiller she has served as willTeacher, lie in state for 30 aWhitley. SundayShe School Choir minutes prior to the service. She will Member, Children’ s Sermon Leader, be laid toCommittee rest in the church cemetery. Finance Chairman, She is survived by her beloved United Methodist Women Leader husband of 47 years, Paul and member of the PrayerHelms Shawl of the home; Alex (Deanna) Ministry. Sheson, loved to read, crochet, Helms of Pageland; daughter, and travel and was an active Paula (Cristin Brandt) HelmsShop of Mint Hill; volunteer at the Cheer at the grandchildren, Mason, Grant, local hospital. She also loved toand spend Raegan Helms; brothers, Boyce, time with her grandson Carter, Royce, Tim Austin; with and sisters, especially shopping him and Patricia Mullis, and Angel Tarleton. trips to the beach. Memorials may to the Sheila is survivedbebymade her husband Alzheimer’ Association, 4600 Park of 51 years,sGerald M. Hatley, Rd., SuiteJenny 250, Charlotte, NC 28209. daughter McConnell and husband Bryan of Mt. Pleasant, and grandson Carter McConnell. A brother preceded her in death, Lanny Harris.

L Pamela Cagle Shirley PAMELA LOWDER CAGLE, 57, of New London, passed away Haire Sunday, January 10, 2021 at her

home. A private funeral service HIRLEY MAE HAIRE, 73, willofbeAlbemarle held for Pamela. passed The awayfamily on will friends on Wednesday, Aprilreceive 11, 2020 at Atrium Health January 13 from 5pm at Stanly. The family willuntil hold7pm a private Stanly Funeral and Care graveside service forCremation Mrs. Haire. of Albemarle. Shirley was born December 12, Mrs. was born 31, 1963 1946 in Cagle Washington, DCMay to the in Stanly County, NCBateman and was the late Charles Richard and daughter Judy Griffin Watkins and Elizabethof Mae Mulligan Bateman. theShirley late William Caldwell Lowder. is survived by her husband She a Nurse andSmith formerly of 30was years Vaughn of worked at Bethany Woods, Forrest Albemarle; sister Sandra Painter Oaks and Britthaven Nursing Home. of Gainesville, VA; half-brother Pamela loved her of jobStevensville, in nursing and Robert Bateman loved helping othersHeather and sheSmith loved MD; step-children her grandchildren. of Jacksonville, FL and David Pamela is survived her4 Smith of New London,byNC; husband, John Patrick Cagle of step-grandchildren; nieces Cyndi the home. She is also survived Hentschel of Leesburg, VA andby two daughters, Cagle Cheryl Hardy ofBrittney Aylett, VA; 16of grandAlabama Ashley and Halstead of nieces andand nephews; Gus the New London, NC; two dog. Stanly Funeral andbrothers, Cremation Tony Lowder of Locust, NC and Care of Albemarle is serving the Joe Lowder Haire family.of Albemarle, NC; six grandchildren, Grayson Eli Lowder, Jacob Johnson, Emmalin Halstead, Katlyn Halstead, Berry Halstead, III and Trevor Halstead. Mrs. Cagle is also preceded in death by a son, Casey Shawn Lowder and a brother Mitchell Lee Lowder.

Linda Hatley

INDA TUCKER HATLEY, 69, of Albemarle, passed away Monday, April 13, 2020. Linda was born September 18, 1950 in Concord to the late Jacob and Claris Tucker. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Terry Lee JAN BALLARD FORTE Tucker, and her twin sister, Brenda PASSED AWAY on January 6, 2021. Tucker We24, know Brenda She wasStrickland. born January 1954 to and Linda are in Heaven watching Alfred L. Ballard and Mae Rose over us and laughing. Russell Ballard of Albemarle. Linda was a loving by mother, sister, She is predeceased her parents, andprecious “Nana.” son, She Amos was a very giving her Russell Forte, and father lovingin person. Linda would and law, Richard “Dick” always do anything she could for Forte. others, family. She She isespecially survivedher by the love of her enjoyed working at FastShop life, Russell Forte of the home,#5, her Locust. Linda will beher forever loved sister, Amy Brinson, mother in and Doris greatlyForte, missed. law, and her special Survivors includeRosey, her son, canine companion, who Alan Hatley stayed by herand sidewife, untilAngela, the end.ofShe Albemarle; brother, Ronnie Tucker is also survived by many special and wife, Linda, of Midland; cousins, a niece and nephew, and granddaughter,and Leslie Hatley; 1 great-nephews a great-niece. niece; and 2 nephews. She was an educator with Stanly The family will County Schools forreceive over 30friends years. She from 4:00 - 6:00 Thursday, touched thepm lives of sopm, many students Apriltheir 16, 2020 at Hartsell Funeral and families. Many times, Home in Albemarle. Linda will former students and families would be laidand to rest during private come speak withaher and she committalthose service at Bethel United treasured times. She quickly Methodist Church,ofMidland. gained the respect her students, lieuwould of flowers, a andInthey knowplease what consider she memorial donation to Bethel UMC, expected of them in the classroom. 12700 Rd, Midland, Jan Idlebrook actively attended the NC 28107. Community Church of Mt. Pleasant.

Jan Forte

Danny Luther Ralph Thompson ANNY PAUL LUTHER,

Jerry Fincher Margie ERRY FINCHERSmith passed from

65, of Norwood, away RALPH JUNIORpassed THOMPSON, unexpectedly Thursday, April 83, OF Albemarle, went home9, to be 2020the at Atrium Stanly in 5, with Lord onHealth Tuesday, January Albemarle. 2021 at his home in Albemarle. Mr. Luther was born March Ralph was born February 14,27, 1955 in to the latelate Robert Fulton and 1937 to the Cletus Aupus Helen Tucker Luther. Thompson and Mary Lucy Danny was survived by his wife, Huneycutt Thompson. Denise Burleson Luther of He was also preceded inNorwood; death by sons, Jeremy (Karen) Luther andhis his brother Carl Thompson and Jody Luther; step-sons,Hughes. Bryan sister Joyce Thompson Whitley and include Gregg (Anita) Whitley; Survivors wife, Gaynelle Grandchildren, Daniel Luther and Thompson of Albemarle, NC, and Hunter Zado, well as his brother, brother, WalterasThomas Thompson Bob Luther JrNC; (Lorena), uncle Jack of Albemarle, his children, Luther(Charlie) and several other loved nieces, Penny Efrid, Susan (Ricky) nephews and cousins. Beachum, Tommy Thompson, and Danny recently retired from Donny Thompson; 3 grandchildren; Charlotte Pipe and Foundry after and 5 great-grandchildren. a dedicated years and worked He was a37 loving husband and there with his sons and several other great grandfather and greatfriends and family grandfather. Ralphmembers. loved his cat Danny loved spending time at Bonnie. his lake house with his family and friends as well as vacationing with his family. Danny and Denise enjoyed listening to beach music and loved to shag dance every chance they could get. He was an amazing father, loving grandfather and great friend to many. He will never be forgotten. A celebration of life will be announced once the current COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Luther family.

this life onBOWERS April 3, 2020 at 8:05 MARGIE SMITH, pm. He was surrounded by his family 88, of Albemarle, passed away on and holding the hand6,of2021. the love of Wednesday, January hisMargie life. Jerry is born preceded was July in 14,death 1932 by three siblings, two brothers, in North Carolina to the late Billy GilbertHouston Fincher,Bowers and Larry Travis andRichard Ollie Fincher, and one sister, Barbra Joyce Hunsucker Bowers. Moore. She was also preceded in death by is survived his wife, Eleanor herHe husband, Royby Allen Smith, her Kate Fincher of the home, daughter, brothers, Clifton, Fred, and Walter, Cindy Fincher Jacobs of Wingate and sister, Helen. NC., son and daughter in law, Tommy Survivors include daughter, Vicki (Tiffany) Fincher of New London (Kenneth) Lambert; grandsons, NC., Step Children, Jimmy (Lisa) Christopher (Meredith) Smith, Lanier of Locust NC, Wanda (Bob) Jeremy (Elizabeth) Smith; greatKrimminger ofSawyer, Locust NC., grandchildren, Reid,Eric Roy, (Sharon)and Lanier of Charlotte Rakya, Samuel Smith. NC., Grandchildren-Trey (Gera) Whitson Margie retired from Stanly of Midland, Step-grandchildren, Knitting Mills as a seamstress. She Zach (Brittney) Washington, Aaron strived for perfection in everything (Kinsey) Washington, Caleb (Nayeli) she did; from her cooking to her yard Washington, Beth (Robbie) Setzer, to her everyday appearance. She also Matthew ( April ) Wallace, Step leaves behind her beloved cat, Jazzie. great-grandchildren, Britlyn-Eve Washington, Robert Setzer, George (Sara) Setzer, Tracy (Rob) Setzer Bumgardener, Katie Underwood, Andrew Underwood, Step great great grandchild, Waylon George Setzer and brother Donald Lewis Fincher of Albemarle, NC. Jerry Fincher will be laid to rest on Wednesday April 8,2020 at 11:00 am at Canton Baptist Church. Anyone interested in attending, please RSVP at 704-796-2412. Dr. Phil McCray and Pastor Tommy Fincher will officiate.

Mary Schreppel

Carlton Holt

MARY ROSALENE SCHREPPEL, 88, OF Albemarle, passed away Saturday, January 9, 2021 at Atrium Health Cabarrus in Concord. She was born August 9, 1932 to the late Burch Elam Burris and the late Annie Huneycutt Burris. She was also preceded in death by husband, Roy Glenn Schreppel; daughters, Vickie Honeycutt and Rita Hathcock; brother, Joe Lee Burris; and sister, Monzell Coley. Mary retired from Wiscassett Mills. Mary and her husband, Roy owned and operated a Small Engine Repair business after their retirement. The family will receive friends from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Thursday, January 14, 2021 at Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle. The funeral service will be at 1:00 PM, Friday, January 15, 2021 at Immanuel Baptist Church, Albemarle. Burial will follow at the Stanly Gardens of Memory, 2001 East Main St., Albemarle. Survivors include daughter, Linda (Timothy) Springer of Albemarle and Mary Lou (Rodney) Blalock; and sisters, Susie Bowers and Ruby Hudson. Mary was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church. She was previously a dedicated volunteer with the American Red Cross Disaster Service and a member of the Singing Americans of Stanly County.

CARLTON BERNARD “BERNIE” HOLT, Jr., 65, of New London passed away on Friday, January 8, 2021 at Atrium Health Stanly. Due to Covid-19, no public services are being held at this time, but one is planned for May 1, 2021. Bernie was born May 1, 1955 in Stanly County to the late Carlton Bernard Holt, Sr. and Betty Jean Thompson Holt. Bernie attended Oak Hill Academy in Mouth if Wilson, Virginia, Albemarle Senior High School, and Appalachian State University where he was one of the first members of the newly formed Watauga College. He made many friends there and other places. Some friendships are more than fifty years old. Mr. Holt is survived by his sister Constance Holt Rose of Manteo, NC; his beloved nephew, Holt Chappell Rose of Murfreesboro, NC, his cherished niece, O’Anna Nicholson Rose of Manteo, NC, his girlfriend, Nancy Bot, and many friends whom he loved dearly. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to National Wild Turkey Federation earmarked ‘Sawtooth’ (Matt Barringer, 14850 Hwy 49, Gold Hill, Nc 28071) This organization provides opportunities for disabled hunters to participate in hunts once a year. Other donations may be sent to Grace Place, 132 Church Street, Albemarle, NC or to a charity of choice. Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle is serving the Holt family.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com

Jan was a very special person who put the needs of others above her own. She was a wonderful wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend.

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Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, January 13, 2021

STATE & NATION

Biden gets 2nd dose of vaccine as team readies COVID-19 plan By Will Weissert The Associated Press NEWARK, Del. — President-elect Joe Biden received his second dose of the coronavirus vaccine on Monday, three weeks after getting his first one with television cameras rolling in an attempt to reassure the American public that the inoculations are safe. Biden took off his sport jacket and said, “Ready, set, go.” Chief Nurse Executive Ric Cumin administered the Pfizer vaccine at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware, close to the president-elect’s home. Scenes of the procedure aired on cable news moments after it occurred. Biden got his first shot on Dec. 21. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine requires a second shot about three weeks after the first vaccination. Another vaccine, this one produced by Moderna, requires a second shot about four weeks afterward. Oneshot vaccines are still undergoing testing. In comments to reporters after his shot, Biden said he has confidence in his COVID-19 medical team to hit ambitious vaccination rate targets after he takes office on Jan. 20. He also called the current rate of thousands of people dying daily because of the pandemic “beyond the pale.” “The No. 1 priority is getting vaccines in people’s arms as rapidly as we can,” Biden said. Biden said he has a virtual meet-

ing later Monday with his virus team and planned to outline more of his pandemic response plan on Thursday. His transition team has vowed to release as many vaccine doses as possible, rather than continuing the Trump administration policy of holding back millions of doses to ensure there would be enough supply to allow those getting the first shot to get a second one. Biden’s goal is to protect more people, more quickly, his team announced last week. The plan would not involve cutting two-dose vaccines in half, a strategy that top government scientists recommend against. Instead, it would accelerate shipment of the first doses and use the levers of government power to provide required second doses in a timely manner. Like Biden, Vice President Mike Pence and other national leaders got pre-Christmas, first rounds of vaccinations. Biden’s team also revealed the theme of the upcoming inauguration, “America United.” In an announcement shared first with The Associated Press, the Presidential Inaugural Committee said that the theme “reflects the beginning of a new national journey that restores the soul of America, brings the country together, and creates a path to a brighter future. In keeping with the theme of unity, the committee also announced that after Biden is officially inaugurated, he, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and their spouses will lay a wreath at

SUSAN WALSH | AP PHOTO

President-elect Joe Biden receives his second dose of the coronavirus vaccine at ChristianaCare Christiana Hospital in Newark, Del., Monday, Jan. 11, 2021.

“The No. 1 priority is getting vaccines in people’s arms as rapidly as we can” President-elect Joe Biden the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery and will be joined there by former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton and their wives. It will be one of Biden’s first acts as president, a show of bipartisanship at a time when the national divide is on stark display. The focus on unity has characterized Biden’s presidential run from the start, and he’s said repeatedly since winning the White House that he sees unifying the country as one of his top priorities as president.

Security will be tight. The National Park Service announced Monday that it would shut down public access to the Washington Monument until Jan. 24, citing threats surrounding the inauguration. Biden didn’t express concern about his own personal security at the inauguration. “I’m not afraid of taking the oath outside,” he told reporters. “It is critically important that there’ll be a real serious focus on holding those folks who engaged in sedition and threatening the lives, defacing public property, caused great damage -- that they be held accountable.” “This inauguration marks a new chapter for the American people — one of healing, of unifying, of coming together, of an America united,” said Presidential Inaugural Committee CEO Dr. Tony Allen. “It is time to turn the page on this

era of division. The inaugural activities will reflect our shared values and serve as a reminder that we are stronger together than we are apart, just as our motto ‘e pluribus unum’ reminds us -- out of many, one.” The committee also announced plans for a major public art display spanning multiple blocks of the National Mall that will feature 191,500 U.S. flags and 56 pillars of light, to represent every U.S. state and territory. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Biden asked Americans to stay home for his inauguration. It’s not the only COVID-19-era change to the festivities. In keeping with crowd size restrictions to slow the spread of the virus, Biden will have a significantly pared-down inauguration, with traditional activities like the parade and the inaugural balls moving to a virtual format.

MICHAEL HOLAHAN | THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE VIA AP

Emily Murdock votes in Georgia’s U.S. Senate runoff election in Evans, Ga., Tuesday morning, Jan. 5, 2021.

Dems’ Georgia alliance is diverse and broad. Is it durable? By Bill Barrow The Associated Press ATLANTA — President Donald Trump came to the north Georgia mountains the night before the state’s twin U.S. Senate runoffs to gin up turnout in conservative strongholds and stave off the Democratic challengers who threatened the GOP’s Senate majority in two runoff elections. It didn’t work. Black and young voters, suburbanites and the many recent arrivals to the state showed up a second time in two months to back Democrats, handing Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock narrow victories over Republicans David Perdue and Sen. Kelly Loeffler. Across Georgia, a fast-growing, diversifying Deep South state, Tuesday’s election returns told the same story: Record runoff turnout -- more than 4.4 million -- didn’t match the 5 million ballots cast in November, but Democrats consistently came closer than their rivals to replicating their November vote totals, even in the large towns where Trump rallied.

It was true in north Georgia’s Whitfield County, Trump territory, where Perdue and Loeffler got 89% of the votes that Perdue won in the general election, when he led all Senate candidates in the first round of voting. That would be an impressive showing in most runoffs, which almost invariably see a turnout drop. But Ossoff and Warnock managed slightly more than 90% of their November totals. And it was true across the Atlanta suburbs, both the northern, whiter enclaves that have for two decades assured statewide victories for Republicans and the southern ring of communities where black voters tilt the ledger to Democrats. Democrats also outperformed Republicans in metro Atlanta, the center of an ever-expanding footprint that has remade the Georgia economy and, now, its politics. Behind the Democrats’ victories — two months after Biden became the first Democrat since 1992 to win the state’s presidential electoral votes — are a mix of factors: The double runoffs and their national consequences brought bottomless

resources to a party infrastructure that had been expanding for years. “We’ve been building a multiracial, multiethnic, multigenerational statewide coalition — truly a statewide coalition for years,” said Lauren Groh-Wargo, who managed Abrams’ 2018 campaign and has been at the center of organizing work conducted by a range of groups on the left. According to AP VoteCast, Democrats were competitive with the help of small but mighty groups in the diversifying state. Black voters — 32% of the electorate in the runoff, according to the survey — supported Ossoff and Warnock almost universally. VoteCast showed Black voters were 29% of the November electorate. That slight uptick could by itself account for tipping statewide results in a close Georgia election. Republicans bemoaned those losses in places that once solidified GOP victories statewide. “Suburbs, my friends, the suburbs,” wrote Josh Holmes, a former top aide to outgoing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, on Twitter. “I feel like a one

trick pony but here we are again. We went from talking about jobs and the economy to ... election conspiracies in 4 short years and — as it turns out — they were listening!” By about 2 to 1, moderate voters favored Ossoff and Warnock, according to VoteCast. Democrats have been mining Georgia’s suburbs for support for years and effectively capitalized on expanded mail and early voting opportunities this election season. About 6 in 10 Georgia voters say they were contacted on behalf of Democratic candidates, compared with about half for Republican candidates, according to VoteCast. Democratic voters were roughly twice as likely as Republican voters to say they responded to the contact by receiving help with registering, planning when to vote or voting absentee. The evidence showed up in the results. Cherokee County, with its fast-growing suburbs and exurbs north of Atlanta, remains a deep trove of Republican votes, even as Democrats have upped their per-

formance in years. But Loeffler and Perdue managed just 90% of Perdue’s November high mark of nearly 100,000 — a net loss of more than 9,000 votes. Ossoff managed 94% of his November total, with Warnock a percentage point higher. South of Atlanta is Clayton County, which has the highest proportion of Democratic votes in the metro area. Democrats’ raw vote totals there are often comparable to Republicans’ in Cherokee. On Tuesday, Ossoff and Warnock managed 96% of Democrats’ November total, losing only 3,500 votes. The Republicans matched less than 80%. Groh-Wargo, the Democratic strategist and organizer, said the population growth and Democrats’ efforts across the state will intensify, not wane, after the victories. “The party that is reaching out and expanding across demographics, geography, figuring out how to connect with all voters,” she said, “the party that’s doing that is going to be the ascendant party in Georgia and any diverse state.”

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 17 | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2021

Twin City Herald

J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE | AP PHOTO

Dawn breaks at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., Monday, Jan. 11, 2021.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Swim coach accused of sexual assault on minor Forsyth & Guilford Counties A swim club coach was accused of sexually assaulting a minor over what investigators say is a span of years. The High Point Police Department said Aaron Philip Key, 27, of Raleigh, is charged with 12 counts of statutory sex offense with a child by an adult and six counts of indecent liberties with a child. A juvenile reported in November being sexually assaulted over multiple years by their swim club coach. An investigation led to Key’s arrest. Key was arrested on Tuesday and is in the Guilford County jail on a $250,000 secured bond. AP

Two charged in death after home invasion Forsyth County Two men are charged with murder in connection with a home invasion in December, police said. Winston-Salem police said Danien Daeron Jordan, 19, was taken into custody on Thursday by members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force. Police had already charged Dejunte Dequan Moore, 21, with murder, burglary and robbery with a dangerous weapon. Investigators learned that several people forced their way into a home and held the occupants at gunpoint on Dec. 27 with intentions of robbing them. Police said Robert Pedro Singletary, 41, who lived nearby, was shot and killed. AP

20177 52016 $0.50

Prosecutor: Veteran embezzled nearly $1M in benefits The Associated Press WINSTON-SALEM — A North Carolina Vietnam veteran embezzled nearly $1 million in health care benefits from the government that helped support a lifestyle that included dancing, playing basketball and buying a beach condo, according to feder-

al prosecutors. Federal prosecutors based in Winston-Salem said in a news release that 73-year-old Willie Dosher Cain of Fayetteville had pleaded guilty in 2020 to one count of embezzlement and was sentenced on Jan. 5 of this year to five years of probation. Cain must also perform 250 hours of

community service. United States District Judge Thomas D. Schroeder said that Cain’s age and the COVID-19 pandemic influenced his sentencing decision, as was his previous military service. Cain was also ordered to pay $900,000 in restitution and forfeit more than $150,000 in cash, a 2018 Toyota Sienna van and a mobility scooter. He forfeited his Carolina Beach condo in a related action, prosecutors say. Court documents say that Cain, a U.S. Army veteran and former Fayetteville police officer, told the Department of Veterans Affairs that shrapnel wounds suffered in Vietnam in 1965 caused him to lose the use of his legs and that he was dependent on a wheelchair or scooter. He also claimed

he suffered loss of bowel and ladder control and was unable to dress or bathe himself without assistance. However, authorities say that Cain had an active lifestyle during the time that included playing basketball, dancing and working as a firearms instructor. He also lived on the third floor of a beach condominium that did not have an elevator. As a result of his false claims, CAIN received hundreds of thousands of dollars of VA benefits to which he was not entitled, in the form of direct payments for aid and attendance, modifications to his home, and the purchase and adaptation of vehicles. TCH staff contributed to this report.

Out-of-state residents can get COVID vaccine in N. Carolina By Bryan Anderson The Associated Press RALEIGH — Residents of neighboring states are able to come into North Carolina to get a coronavirus vaccine, according to the state’s Department of Health and Human Services. Demand has greatly outpaced supply during North Carolina’s sluggish start to administering doses to hospital workers and people 75 years or older. The lack of strict residency requirements makes it possible for somebody from South Carolina or other neighboring states in that profession or age group to get doses that the federal government has allocated for North Carolina residents. “A provider cannot refuse to vaccinate someone that presents for vaccination if they fall into the open prioritization phase and do not have a vaccine contradiction, so a resident of another state could be vaccinated here if they fall into the appropriate open prioritization phase,” the department said in a statement to The Associated Press. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this week ranked North Carolina as the

PHOTO COURTESY NC DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY

Secretary of NCDHHS Dr. Mandy Cohen answers questions about COVID-19 cases in the state during a press conference. sixth slowest in the country per capita in administering doses it has received from the federal government. The state is still working to vaccinate some remaining hospital workers and started vaccinating people at least 75 years old in several counties this week. North Carolina officials reported on Friday that nearly 152,000 people have been given their first doses, while more than 9,000

have also gotten their second dose. Nearly 650,000 have been distributed to the state, according to the CDC. Mandy Cohen, the state’s top public health official, said at a Friday news conference that North Carolina residents do not need to get vaccinated in their county of residence, though they are encouraged to contact their local health department.

Cohen warned that a variant of the coronavirus that circulated in Britain is “likely” already in North Carolina, though the mutation of the virus has not yet been detected. “It is possible that that variant is here,” Cohen said. “In fact, it is likely. We are operating as if it was here. Now, it has not been identified here. ... We need to realize that this virus was contagious before, and now is even more contagious as we go forward.” That and the variant seen in South Africa are causing global concern because they appear to spread more easily, though the extent of the increased spread is not yet known. A Pfizer study suggests the vaccine works against the two more-contagious variants of the coronavirus. For the second day in a row, North Carolina on Friday reported a single-day increase of over 10,000 cases and 100 deaths. The state had not previously eclipsed the 10,000 daily case mark or seen back-to-back days of triple-digit deaths. Nearly 4,000 people are currently hospitalized due to the virus, which has stretched staffing and intensive care unit capacity thin.

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, January 13, 2021

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“Join the conversation” Twin City Herald Publisher Neal Robbins

Editor Shawn Krest

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Senior Opinion Editor Frank Hill

Design Editor Lauren Rose Published each Wednesday as part of the North State Journal. 3101 Industrial Dr., Suite 105 Raleigh, N.C. 27609 (704) 269-8461 INFO@TWINCITYHERALD.COM TWINCITYHERALD.COM

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♦ BAKER, XAIVER KIJANA was arrested on a charge of POSSESSION MARIJUANA at NB 52/N LIBERTY ST on 1/10/2021 ♦ BAKER, ZACHERY CECIL was arrested on a charge of B&EVEHICLE at 1395 CHESTNUT PLAINS CT on 1/10/2021 ♦ Bare, Brian Kermit (M/51) Arrest on chrg of Probation Violation, M (M), at 1622 Harper Springs Dr, Clemmons, NC, on 1/6/2021 10:00. ♦ Boswell, Dalton James (M/29) Arrest on chrg of 1) Drugs-poss Sched Ii (F), 2) Poss Heroin (F), 3) Drug Paraphernalia (M), and 4) Impaired Driving Dwi (M), at Old Hollow Rd/ Old 66 Circle, Walkertown, NC, on 1/9/2021 02:28 ♦ BROWN, DARREN LAMONT was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 1158 E FIFTEENTH ST on 1/11/2021 ♦ BYERS, BRAD DAVID was arrested on a charge of RESISTING ARREST at 414 N CHERRY ST on 1/8/2021 ♦ CAVE, MATTHEW BRADY was arrested on a charge of DRUGSPOSS GLUE at 1005 HANES MALL BV on 1/9/2021 ♦ DOMINGUEZ, ANTONIO NOYOLA was arrested on a charge of RESISTING ARREST at 1399 PETERS CREEK PW/LINK RD on 1/9/2021 ♦ Donnison, Brad Allen (M/33) Arrest on chrg of 1) Breaking/ enter-misd (F), 2) Larceny-felony (F), 3) Larceny After B&e (F), 4) Vand-personal Prop (M), 5) Vand-personal Prop (M), and 6) 1st Degree Trespass (M), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 1/9/2021 09:30. ♦ ESCOTOSAUCEDA,

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OPINION | NEWT GINGRICH

Americans should be committed to stopping all the violence AS A FORMER SPEAKER of the U.S. House of Representatives and 20-year veteran of serving in that body, let me begin by condemning unequivocally and vehemently every person who illegally entered the Capitol. The trespassers and invaders should be tried and punished. Those who confronted the police should be charged with felonies. There is no room in America for the kind of mob violence we saw on Capitol Hill. It is clear that there are 74 million-plus voters for President Donald Trump — and thousands of strong supporters who peacefully protested yesterday. They should not be tarred with the stain of the antiAmerican, unpatriotic minority who broke the law and assaulted the Capitol. We have every right to condemn the violent minority while protecting the First Amendment rights of the vast majority. I must take a moment to speak about the heroic, disciplined efforts of the U.S. Capitol Police. When I was speaker, we tragically lost Officer Jacob Chestnut and Det. John Gibson when a mentally ill man came into the building and killed them at the checkpoint. They were brave men who lost their lives defending the United States Capitol, the center of freedom. We all saw the courage of the Capitol Police on June 14, 2017, when they protected Republican Whip Steve Scalise after he was shot and seriously injured by a leftwing activist. Two of the police, Officers David Bailey and Crystal Griner, were injured, while two other baseball players were also wounded. Given this history, it was no surprise to me that the Capitol Police, even though severely outnumbered, stood up to the mob and minimized damage to people and property while avoiding the kind of reaction which could have ended more lives. However, the real prize for courage yesterday went to Vice President Mike Pence. He had been the brunt of a number of public comments from President Trump trying to push him into doing something he did not think was constitutional. A weaker person might have buckled and given in. Vice President Pence’s leadership qualities came through when the joint session resumed after the rioters had been brought under control. What he said was so common sense and so calming in a potentially disastrous situation that I think it is worth sharing: “I want to thank the federal, state and local law enforcement. The violence was quelled. The Capitol is secured, and the people’s work

DEATH NOTICES

WEEKLY CRIME LOG ♦ BAKER, XAIVER KIJANA was arrested on a charge of CCW at NB 52/N LIBERTY ST on 1/10/2021

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HUMBERTO EMILIO was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at NB 52/E CLEMMONSVILLE RD_NB 52 RA on 1/9/2021 ♦ Gilbert, Marshall Eugene (M/37) Arrest on chrg of 1) Drugs-mfg Sched I (F) and 2) Drugs-mfg Sched Ii (F), at 4550 Effie Ln, Walkertown, NC, on 1/6/2021 16:00. ♦ Gilbert, Marshall Eugene (M/37) Arrest on chrg of 1) Misd. Poss. Of Stolen Goods (M), 2) Drugs-poss Sched Ii (F), 3) Drugs-poss Sched Ii (F), 4) Poss Marijuana Misd (M), and 5) Drug Paraphernalia (M), at 4550 Effie Ln, Walkertown, NC, on 1/6/2021 17:45. ♦ HAITHCOCK, PHILLIP ANDREW was arrested on a charge of BREAK COIN MACHINE at 201 N CHURCH ST on 1/9/2021 ♦ HAITHCOCK, PHILLIP ANDREW was arrested on a charge of VAND-COIN MACHINES at 295 AKRON DR on 1/9/2021 ♦ HAITHCOCK, MATTHEW GROVER was arrested on a charge of BREAK COIN MACHINE at 5300 SHATTALON DR on 1/8/2021 ♦ HATTON, MEREDITH ADRYAN was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT-SIMPLE at 201 N CHURCH ST on 1/11/2021 ♦ HENDERSON, TARYAN JOSEF was arrested on a charge of LARCENY-FELONY at 2900 GRIFFITH RD on 1/8/2021

POINT LN on 1/9/2021 ♦ Mabe, Larry Andrew (M/30) Arrest on chrg of 1) Order For Arrest (M), 2) Probation Violation (M), 3) Probation Violation (M), 4) Probation Violation (M), and 5) Probation Violation (M), at 4326 Fox Meadow Ln, Winston-salem, NC, on 1/10/2021 11:10. ♦ Meadows, James William (M/49) Arrest on chrg of 1) Fail To Appear/compl (F), 2) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 3) Fail To Appear/compl (M), and 4) Resisting Arrest (M), at 1622 Harper Rd, Clemmons, NC, on 1/6/2021 10:15. ♦ MILLER, KEVIN DWIGHT was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 840 N JACKSON AV on 1/10/2021 ♦ MOSES, SHERMAINE CORTEZ was arrested on a charge of WEAP-POSS BY FELON at 2499 DELLABROOK RD on 1/10/2021 ♦ MUELLER, ROBERT LOUIS was arrested on a charge of CONTRIB DELINQ MINOR at 320 E HANES MILL RD on 1/9/2021 ♦ NWANNEKA, KHADIJIA ELIZABETHMADEN was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT-SIMPLE at 512 GRANVILLE DR on 1/10/2021 ♦ Roberts, Richard Evans (M/51) Arrest on chrg of 1) Poss Cocaine Fel (F) and 2) Drug Paraphernalia (M), at 2405 Lewisville-clemmons Rd, Clemmons, NC, on 1/10/2021 02:55.

(M), and 3) Probation Violation (M), at 201 N Church St, Winstonsalem, NC, on 1/11/2021 14:55. ♦ Smith, Joseph Christopher (M/38) Arrest on chrg of Fugitive Arrest (magistrate`s Order), F (F), at 2397 Lewisville-clemmons Rd, Clemmons, NC, on 1/8/2021 18:00. ♦ Speaks, Daryl Sean (M/32) Arrest on chrg of 1) Adw - Inflict Injury (M), 2) Larceny-felony (F), 3) Hit & Run (M), 4) Hit & Run (M), and 5) Hit & Run (M), at 1995 Hampton Inn Ct, Winston-salem, NC, on 1/11/2021 10:34. ♦ SWAIM, JENNIFER MARIE was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 2410 LEWISVILLE-CLEMMONS RD/ RAMADA DR on 1/9/2021 ♦ THOMAS, JADE MATTHEW was arrested on a charge of RESISTING ARREST at 5309 SHATTALON DR/VISTA CR on 1/8/2021 ♦ WALKER, LINC BERNARD was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 1119 WACHOVIA ST/SPAUGH ST on 1/9/2021 ♦ White, Benell Dewayne (M/49) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at 5450 Roburton Rd, Kernersville, NC, on 1/6/2021 23:55. ♦ WILLIAMSON, ANDRE RENARD was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 201 N CHURCH ST on 1/11/2021

♦ ROTEN, MICHAEL WAYNE was arrested on a charge of DRUGS-POSS SCHED II at 3810 N PATTERSON AV on 1/10/2021

♦ Withers, Joshua Jamal (M/24) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at 6595 Reidsville Rd, Belews Creek, NC, on 1/10/2021 23:50.

♦ JORDAN, DAMIEN DAERON was arrested on a charge of MURDER-FIRST DEG at 725 N CHERRY ST on 1/8/2021

♦ Sanford, Derrick Francis (M/42) Arrest on chrg of Probation Violation (F), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 1/7/2021 17:53.

♦ Wright, Mark Anthony (M/44) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at 1075 Longreen Dr, Kernersville, NC, on 1/8/2021 01:33.

♦ LONG, JUSTIN MICHAEL was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 235 SUMMIT

♦ Sloan, Shafeeg Dondree (M/40) Arrest on chrg of 1) Fail To Appear/ compl (M), 2) Probation Violation

♦ Holt, Kayla Ann (F/30) Arrest on chrg of 1) Breaking/enter-misd (M) and 2) Resisting Arrest (M), at 5748 Merry Dale Dr, Winstonsalem, NC, on 1/6/2021 00:30.

♦ Dr. James Dale Ball, 78, of Salemtowne, died January 8, 2021. ♦ Rosanelle “Tootie” Lawrence Barbour, 90, of Forsyth County, died January 7, 2021. ♦ Kimberly Ann Cascio Burch, 55, of Kernersville, died January 6, 2021. ♦ Dienette Elaine Butler, 65, died January 9, 2021. ♦ Bernice Hege Clinard, 89, of Winston-Salem, died January 7, 2021. ♦ Deborah Nelson Curtis, 65, of Kernersville, died January 9, 2021. ♦ William H. (Bill) Hunter, 90, of Winston-Salem, died January 9, 2021. ♦ Lori Alane Ivester, 56, died January 8, 2021. ♦ Manuel Flores-Machuca, 83, of Kernersvile, died January 7, 2021. ♦ Patricia Mayfield, 76, of High Point, died January 8, 2021. ♦ Thomas Allen Phelps, 56, died January 8, 2021. ♦ Dr. Gregory Nolan Pinkerton, 70, of WinstonSalem, died January 6, 2021. ♦ Karen Marie Kiger Starling, 75, of Forsyth County, died January 6, 2021. ♦ Jeanette Cartner Turner, 83, of Iredell County, died January 7, 2021. ♦ John Forest Van Schaik, Jr., 56, of Winston-Salem, died January 8, 2021. ♦ Sarah Wrenn Warfford Knopf, 74, of WinstonSalem, died January 6, 2021. ♦ Roger Harris Woosley, 84, of Clemmons, died January 7, 2021. ♦ Paul Robert Yontz, Jr. “Robbie”, 71, of Davidson County, died January 9, 2021.

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, January 13, 2021

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