North State Journal Vol. 5, Issue 49

VOLUME 5 ISSUE 49

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WWW.NSJONLINE.COM

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2021

the Wednesday

NEWS BRIEFING

NC parks report record 19.8 million visitors in 2020 RALEIGH — North Carolina state parks experienced a record number of visitors in 2020, according to the N.C. Dept. of Natural and Cultural Resources.

State parks and recreation areas welcomed 19.8 million visitors last year — 400,000 more than any other year on record and 1.2 million more visitors than in 2019.

“State Parks staff have done an extraordinary job welcoming guests, protecting natural resources, and ensuring public safety during the pandemic,” said NCDNCR Secretary Reid Wilson. “These outstanding public servants look forward to continuing to welcome and serve parks visitors in 2021.”

Among 41 state parks and recreation areas, 28 reported increases in visitation in 2020.

Jockeys Ridge State Park in Dare County reported the highest visitation at 1.9 million and was among seven state park units that welcomed more than a million visitors.

NSJ STAFF

Catawba tribe ink casino revenue agreement with NC CHARLOTTE — Gov. Roy Cooper signed a revenuesharing agreement with the Catawba Indian Nation that clears the way for Las Vegasstyle gaming to be offered at a planned resort in Kings Mountain.

Federal approval is still needed for the type of gaming agreed to by Cooper, but the agreement means construction on the site can start, according to the Catawba tribe, which is based in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

The Eastern Band of the Cherokees sued the Catawbas and the Interior Department in federal court last year to try to stop the new casino. The suit is still pending.

The Catawbas have said they have a right to the land for the casino based on a 1993 agreement that gave them federal recognition. But the Cherokees have called the Catawbas’ efforts “a modernday land grab.”

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

U.S. announces restoration of relations with Palestinians UNITED NATIONS — President Joe Biden’s administration announced Tuesday it was restoring relations with the Palestinians and renewing aid to Palestinian refugees, a reversal of the Trump administration’s cutoff and a key element of its new support for a two-state solution to the decades-old conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

Acting U.S. Ambassador to the UN Richard Mills made the announcement of Biden’s new approach to a high-level Security Council meeting, saying the new administration believes this “remains the best way to ensure Israel’s future as a democratic and Jewish state and the Palestinians’ legitimate aspirations for a state of their own and to live with dignity and security.”

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Trump opens postpresidency office WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Former President Donald Trump announced a new office, which will handle his correspondence, public statements, appearances, and official activities. The office of the former president will carry on the agenda of the Trump Administration through advocacy, organizing and public activism, according to a brief statement.

The release was sent from Palm Beach County, Florida, which is the location of Trump’s famous Mar-a-Lago Club.

NSJ STAFF

GERRY BROOME | AP PHOTO

North Carolina Lieutenant Gov. Mark Robinson gavels in the opening session of the North Carolina General Assembly in Raleigh.

NORTH

STATE

JOURNaL ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION

Legislature likely to look at Emergency Management Act changes

By Matt Mercer North State Journal

the order was enacted.

That led then-Lt. Gov. Dan Forest to criticize the manner RALEIGH — The North Car- in which the orders were initiolina General Assembly’s top ated, and he ultimately filed a leaders indicate legislation to lawsuit over the process Cooper amend the Emergency Man- used. That lawsuit was not sucagement Act could move during cessful, with Judge James Gale the long session, which began in saying he “has not demonstrated that he is likely to succeed on earnest on Jan. 26.

Gov. Roy Cooper first de- the merits of his claim that the clared a state of emergency on Governor has exceeded his statMarch 10, 2020, in response to utory authority when issuing the challenged Exthe coronavirus panecutive Orders in demic. At the time, he his discretion and said, “We are taking without the conthe necessary steps currence of a mato ensure that North “I am hopeful, Carolina is prepared since we have an jority of the Council of State.” and responding to A 2020 bill to this virus,” and the election behind clarify emergency provisions were sim- us and the powers was vetoed ilar to those enacted governor can’t

by Cooper after in a natural disaster. passing in the GenWithin a week, run again, that eral Assembly. The Cooper closed K-12 if people are in bill failed a veto schools and dine-in override vote, with service at restaurants favor of a bill some Democratand bars. when it comes ic legislators who The Emergenvoted for the meacy Management Act through the first sure changing their states that the gov- time, they’ll be minds and upholdernor or General Asing the veto. Rusembly may declare in favor of it mors were rampant a state of emergen- notwithstanding that Cooper and cy “if either finds that the governor’s his political team an emergency exists.” threatened some The act also says an position.” legislators if they area must be defined, did not stick with and the state of emer- Senate Leader Cooper’s decision. gency shall expire The bill would when it is rescinded Phil Berger have clarified the by the authority that meaning of a stateissued it.

Also included in the Emer- wide emergency and forced regency Management Act is a pro- authorization of the state of vision that gives the governor emergency every 30 days.

In a statement, Cooper said, additional powers with concurrence of the Council of State. “The Emergency Management At times, Cooper has asked for Act clearly provides the goverconcurrence on some issues nor with statutory authority to — but has also said it was not direct the state’s response to a public health emergency that something he needed.

The March order closing could affect the entire state’s restaurants and bars was one population… placing additionexample. Attorneys at the gov- al bureaucratic and administraernor’s office asked Council of tive obligations on the declaraState members for concurrence tion is a substantial change in just before a scheduled press the law and frustrates the execconference announcing the de- utive branch officials’ ability to cision. The Council of State quickly and efficiently respond.” members, notified via email, did not ultimately concur, yet See NCGA, page A2

Robinson: State Board of Education scheduled meeting knowing he couldn’t attend Vote on controversial changes set for same time as Senate session

By A.P. Dillon and David Larson North State Journal RALEIGH — A vote on controversial changes to North Carolina’s social studies standards by the State Board of Education has been scheduled for the same time that the state Senate is set to convene, creating a conflict for Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who pre-

sides over the Senate and is a voting member of the board.

“Our office tried to coordinate with the State Board to find a time that was agreeable, but were stonewalled,” Robinson told NSJ in a Jan. 25 email. “I am extremely disappointed that the board knowingly scheduled a meeting that prevents me from being able to carry out the duties that the people of North Carolina elected me to do.”

Robinson’s presence at the meeting, which will be held as a See ROBINSON, page A2

Opioid overdose deaths increase during pandemic, NC suicide statistics still unknown State ER visits for overdoses increased 23% from Nov. 2019 to Nov. 2020

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued a report stating that drug overdose deaths have accelerated to a record high during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In December 2020, the CDC reported overdose death rates were the highest ever recorded for a single 12-month period. Between May 2019 and May 2020, around 81,000 people in the United States died due to an overdose.

“The disruption to daily life due to the COVID-19 pandemic has hit those with substance use disorder hard,” said former CDC Director Robert Redfield. “As we continue the fight to end this pandemic, it’s important to not lose sight of different groups being affected in other ways. We need to take care of people suffering from unintended consequences.”

According to the December 2020 CDC report, “Synthetic opioids (primarily illicitly manufactured fentanyl) appear to be the primary driver of the increases in overdose deaths, increasing 38.4 percent from the 12-month period leading up to June 2019 compared with the 12-month period leading up to May 2020.”

During that same time, 37 of the 38 U.S. jurisdictions with available synthetic opioid data reported increases in synthetic opioid-involved overdose deaths, with 18 jurisdictions reporting increases greater than 50 percent.

Ten western states saw a morethan-98% increase in synthetic opioid-involved deaths.

Cocaine overdose deaths increased by 26.5%, with likely links

to co-use or contamination of cocaine with illicitly manufactured fentanyl or heroin. Psychostimulant overdose deaths, from drugs such as methamphetamines, also increased by 34.8%.

The CDC’s provisional data, which helps predict the death rate trends for such overdoses, lists North Carolina as one of See OPIOIDS, page A2

North State Journal for Wednesday, January 27, 2021

A2 WEDNESDAY

THE WORD: A FULL DAY’S WORK

1.27.21

The first day of creation illuminated a framework of existence with the words, “let there be light.” The big picture of God’s plan could then be seen. After God completed that first day, He then divided “the waters from the waters,” creating a firmament known as Heaven. Other translations of the Bible use the word “expanse.”

Regardless of how we interpret the physical separations created by God on the second day, the practical result is that He created a domain for humanity through this division. As people, we cannot see the entirety of existence or the domain of God. As we try to reconcile science and the Bible, the creation story reminds us that God’s capabilities are incomprehensible and often shielded from view. The light and the firmament established our domain while they also limited our viewpoint to a comprehensible universe.

#267

“Esse quam videri” Visit us online nsjonline.com

GENESIS 1:6-8

North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365) RENE ROSSIGNAUD | AP PHOTO

Neal Robbins Publisher Matt Mercer Editor in Chief Cory Lavalette Managing/Sports Editor

And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

6

In this file photo, the Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, appear in the sky over Bifrost, Western Iceland.

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

Published each Wednesday

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ROBINSON from page A1 conference call, is especially important because the board will be voting on new social studies standards for the state’s public schools. Robinson ran in part on ending “indoctrination” in North Carolina schools and specifically promised he would take the fight to the curriculum and standards put together by the state’s Board of Education.

“One of the things I want to examine the most is the curriculum,” Robinson told NSJ in a Nov. 16 interview. “I’ve been hearing a lot of chatter from folks about a lot of the things that the Department of Public Instruction is trying to put inside the curriculum.

And some of the stuff is not settling well with me, is not settling well with a lot of parents and, quite honestly, is not settling well with a lot of teachers. So, we want to take a good strong look at the

OPIOIDS from page A1 three states with a lower number of reported overdose deaths than were predicted. The state’s predicted overdose death rate for the 12-month period ending June 2020 was 2,374, but the reported rate by the state was 1,928.

As with most states, the data for North Carolina is labeled incomplete due to underreporting.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) maintains a centralized website for drug overdoses, including an Opioid Epidemic webpage and related data subpages. Some of the links on the N.C. Opioid Dashboard, such as data for prescription drug overdoses, appeared either to be down or non-functioning.

In an email response to North State Journal’s inquiry about suicide rates during the pandemic in North Carolina, NCDHHS said that the data on suicides in 2020 is still being finalized, and it “may take a while before we have that information complete.”

Opioid overdose death rates were not found among the data sets, but some emergency room visit data was available.

“The emergency department visits is the most current, as we can get that surveillance through NC DETECT in very timely manner,” wrote NCDHHS press as-

NCGA from page A1 Joseph Kyzer, House Speaker Tim Moore’s communications director, said strong support still exists for provisions in Senate Bill 105. He added that many members would like to see a time-limit provision pass.

“I think the most important aspect is the lack of time delineation. Many other states have ways for orders to be reconsidered — NC doesn’t have that. It ends when the body that issued it rescinds it,” Kyzer said.

“We think, just like in last session, there was a lot of support on the other side, and we’re hoping to turn the page. We hope the legislature can act independently. We need to work together as a body and not have the governor want to cling to unilateral control by having legislative Democrats line up behind him. We’re not trying to overturn what he’s done; we’re trying to have the governor follow the law,” added Kyzer.

curriculum and make sure that we’re teaching our students what they need to know in order to be successful, and we’re not promoting a bunch of social engineering.”

The changes in the standards include social and racial justice themes, such as gender identity and systemic racism. Critical Race Theory, a perspective that has caused controversy in schools across the country, is found in the eighth-grade standards on U.S. and North Carolina history and in other grade levels. The board’s principal adviser, Matt Bristow-Smith, calls the changes “the hard truths of our American narrative.”

Board member Jill Camnitz, a Gov. Roy Cooper appointee, led the committee to change the standards. She said that in August 2019 that the board adopted a new strategic plan with “equity” and the “whole child” as its guiding principles, and that those

whether in or out of government, who would have thought that it was possible for one person to shut the economy down or any segment of the economy.”

“The fact is there is great dis-

agreement as to whether or not the governor has the authority to do what he’s done through executive order or should have the authority to do what he is doing via executive order. So I do think that there will be discussion, possibly even legislation, to address that,” he continued.

Berger said any changes would depend on where the majorities were. He also pointed to some legislators who flipped their votes on last year’s bill.

“I am hopeful, since we have an election behind us and the governor can’t run again, if people are in favor of a bill when it comes through the first time, they’ll be in favor of it notwithstanding the governor’s position.

It strikes me as political expediency of a very questionable type for people to say they’re in favor of opening bars, but when the governor says, ‘No, they need to be closed,’ they won’t buck the governor on that. I think their constituents are not being wellserved.”

am not in favor of these standards at all,” Robinson said during the Jan. 6 meeting. “We are Americans and that’s what we should be teaching our children. A lot of this is being done for political purposes, and I simply do not like it,” Robinson said.

Board member James Ford, who was also appointed by Cooper, is a leading voice for the new standards and their deeper focus on race. Ford runs a nonprofit called the Center for Racial Equity in Education (CREED) which says its mission is to advance “institutional change” for minority students.

“I think we know there is no one universal American experience,” Ford said at the Jan. 6 meeting. Ford went on to say that “although we all share a national identity, our experience varies wildly according to our groups.”

Ford then made the argument that because the majority of the

state’s students are minorities, the proposed changes “did justice” to those students and were “more inclusive and diverse.”

“It harkens back to an African proverb that I heard, that until the lion tells its side of the story, tales of the hunt will always be made to glorify the hunter,” said Ford.

But Ford himself is a controversial figure for some, with social media posts on racial issues that many have found divisive and offensive. Last year, former state Superintendent Mark Johnson took issue with one of Ford’s tweets that equated being a swing or moderate voter to “white supremacy.”

Board member Olivia Oxendine also questioned how districts will design curriculum around the proposed new standards.

Pointing to one of the standards for fourth grade, Oxendine said such a task would be “exhaustive.”

PHOTO VIA DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY

N.C. Emergency Management director Mike Sprayberry (left) gestures to Gov. Roy Cooper during a briefing at the Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh.

Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) said in a January 2021 interview with North State Journal, “I don’t think in January of 2020 there was anyone in the state of North Carolina,

principles were applied to the proposed social studies revisions.

Camnitz said “blame and guilt are not what these new standards are about, but rather we are seeking to draw on the richness of the American historical experience as a gift to our children.”

Robinson opposes some of the social studies standards changes and was vocal about them at the first board meeting since he was sworn in as lieutenant governor, a role that makes him a de facto member of the board. Despite being the state’s first black lieutenant governor, he believes the board is politicizing the standards with “divisive language” rather than showing “our common experiences.” He said there are already lessons on marginalized groups, like Native Americans and Africans brought over as slaves, that don’t take such a critical eye.

“I want to go on record to say I

Med/Drug^ Overdose ED visits by Year: 2016-2020* Full year

YTD (Nov) +23%

13,063 12,500

+23%

12,012 -8%

12,163

2017

2018

2019*

10,735

-0.3%

10,000 7,500 5,000 2,500 0

2016

2020*

YTD: Year to Date *Provisional Data: 2019-2020 ED Visits Percent change: YTD total compared to YTD total of previous year sistant Catie Armstrong. “Deaths have quite a bit of lag, as they take time to be investigated.”

The most current data residing on the poisoning page is for

only one month of overdose statistics dating from November 2020; however, most of the data on the page is from 2018. Similarly, the county overdose slides all date

back to either 2018 or 2019.

One chart published in December 2020 contained a comparison of November 2019 emergency room overdose visits to that of

November 2020. That comparison showed a 23% increase in emergency department overdose numbers during that time.

A second available chart is a Heat Map comparing all opioid-overdose emergency-room visits in North Carolina from December 2019 to that of December 2020. The map shows 658 opioid overdose emergency room visits in December 2020 versus 579 in December 2019: a 13.6% increase.

The highest rates of visits (≥10 per 100,000 residents) included Burke (23.2), Randolph (16), Carteret (15.8), Craven (15.5) and Catawba (13.2) counties.

During the same comparison time frame, emergency room visits for heroin, other synthetic and unspecified narcotic overdose rose by 12.5%, from 447 in December 2019 to 503 in December 2020.

The highest incidence rates were the same as the opioid instances, including Burke (18.8), Randolph (14.4), Carteret (13.6), Craven (11.9) and Catawba (11.3) counties.

The N.C. Alcohol and Drug Council reports that they have provided almost 9,200 people with information and referrals for substance abuse disorder treatment in the last 12 months. Nationally, 40% of the 5,412 adults who completed a CDC web survey from June 24–30, 2020 reported struggling with mental health issues or substance use.

North State Journal for Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Senate filibuster fight cools for now, but battles ahead

By Lisa Mascaro The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Easing off a stalemate, the Senate moved forward Tuesday with a power-sharing agreement in the evenly split chamber after Republican leader Mitch McConnell backed off his demand that Senate Democrats preserve the procedural tool known as the filibuster.

The stand-off between McConnell and new Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had all but ground the Senate to a halt in the early days of the Democratic majority and threatened President Joe Biden’s agenda. Schumer refused to meet McConnell’s demands.

“I’m glad we’re finally able to get the Senate up and running,” Schumer said as he opened the chamber. “My only regret is it took so long because we have a great deal we need to accomplish.”

While the crisis appeared to have resolved, for now, the debate over the filibuster — the procedural tool that requires a 60-vote threshold to advance most legislation — is far from over.

Progressive Democrats see the tool as an outdated relic that can be used by the minority Republican Party under McConnell to derail Biden’s agenda, and they want to do away with it. They point to the way the filibuster was wielded during the 20th century to stall civil rights legislation, and warn of a repeat.

Democrats control 50 votes in the split chamber, with Vice President Kamala Harris as a tie-breaking vote, and Biden’s allies would typically need Re-

publican senators to reach the 60-vote threshold to advance Democratic priorities on COVID-19 relief, immigration or other issues.

Even as he dropped his demand, McConnell warned Tuesday of all the ways the Senate business could still be tied in knots if Democrats try to press on with plans to pursue changes to the filibuster.

“They would guarantee themselves immediate chaos,” McConnell warned.

“Destroying the filibuster would drain comity and consent from this body to a degree that would be unparalleled in living memory.”

Usually a routine matter, the organizing resolution for the chamber became a power play by McConnell once Democrats swept to control after the Jan. 5 special election in Georgia and the new senators took the oath of office after Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20.

McConnell had been holding up the organizing agreement, which divides up committee assignments and other resources, as he tried to extract a promise from Schumer of no changes to the filibuster.

Schumer would not meet the Republican leader’s demands, but McConnell said late Monday he had essentially accomplished his goal after two Democratic senators said they would not agree to end the filibuster. Without their votes, Schumer would be unable to change the rules.

“With these assurances, I look forward to moving ahead with a power-sharing agreement modeled on that

precedent,” McConnell said in a statement.

He was referring to West Virginia’s Joe Manchin and Arizona’s Kyrsten Sinema who have expressed reservations about doing away with the tool.

Schumer’s office said the Republican leader had no choice but to set aside his demands.

“We’re glad Sen. McConnell threw in the towel and gave up on his ridiculous demand,” said Justin Goodman, a spokesman for the Democratic leader. “We look forward to organizing the Senate under Democratic control and start getting big, bold things done for the American people.”

But the debate over the filibuster, which has increasingly become weaponized as a tool to thwart the opposite party’s agenda, is far from over.

A decade ago, then-Democratic majority leader Harry Reid ended the 60vote threshold to confirm some judicial and executive branch nominees during the Obama administration that were being blocked by Republicans.

Reid told The Associated Press recently that Biden should waste little time testing Republican’s willingness to work with him before eliminating the filibuster. He gave it three weeks.

McConnell during the last administration upped the ante, and did away with the 60-vote threshold to confirm President Donald Trump’s three nominees to the Supreme Court.

He wanted to prevent Schumer from taking it to the next level and ending the filibuster for legislation.

The details of the rest of the organizing resolution are expected to proceed largely as they did the last time the Senate was evenly divided, in 2001, with any immediate changes to the filibuster, at this stage, appearing to be off the table.

SUSAN WALSH | AP PHOTO

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky walks to speak on the Senate floor on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Monday, Jan. 25, 2021.

COVID-19 vaccination appointments canceled as state health officials announce ‘mass vaccination’ sites 11,000 scheduled appointments in Guilford were abruptly canceled

NSJ staff RALEIGH — People across the state who had made appointments for COVID-19 vaccination shots found their appointments canceled after state health officials decided vaccines should be redistributed to “mass vaccination” sites.

“The governor understands people’s frustration, especially those who lost appointments, but the reality is that there is not enough vaccine currently in the state for all eligible people and the state will continue to work to balance speed and equity of distribution,” said a spokesperson from Gov. Roy Cooper’s office.

Cooper visited a mass vaccination site on Jan. 19 and in a press release issued the same day, noted that the state would be hosting large-scale community-vaccination events. The release said nothing about canceling appointments that had been already scheduled.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) says, on its YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov website, that the supply is limited and “very few vaccine doses are available.”

Atrium Health, Tepper Sports and Entertainment, Honeywell and the Charlotte Motor Speedway have formed a public-private partnership with the goal of distributing a million doses by July 4.

The first mass vaccination site was set up at Charlotte Motor Speedway last weekend. An estimated 15,000 to 16,000 people were expected to have sought vaccinations at that location.

During the dates of Jan. 29-31, another mass vaccination event will be held at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

Organizers of that event hope to vaccinate around 30,000 people with their first doses. The Atrium website now lists that event status as “full,” and lists only one date, Feb. 26, for second dose deliveries at that same location.

The change in distribution is supposed to speed up vaccination efforts.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website, 1,246,600 doses have been distributed but only 676,037 have been administered in North Carolina as of Jan. 25.

The vaccination process, however, requires two doses. Of the doses administered, 589,436 North Carolinians have received their first dose, but only 86,064 have received the second one.

The mass vaccine events bring into question if the state is adhering to its own tiered vaccination plan. The vaccine website maintained by NCDHHS shows two of the five groups as actively being vaccinated. Those two groups are older adults, as well as healthcare workers, staff and residents of long-term care. Frontline essential workers, adults at high-risk for exposure and risk of severe illness, and the rest of the state’s citizens remain unvaccinated.

Officials in Greensboro and the Triad area expressed outrage last Friday when Cone Health suddenly canceled over 11,000 vaccination appointments for people signed up to get their first dose.

Guilford County Commissioner Justin Conrad fired off a public records request to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) over the shift to mass vaccination events.

The request asks for all documents pertaining to the shifting of vaccinations to Charlotte Motor Speedway and Panther

Stadium, including phone logs, texts and emails sent to or from NCDHHS employees and the hospital groups involved in the mass vaccination events.

Conrad said that his records request is looking for some transparency from the state and an explanation.

“Communication from the state has been non-existent on the plan. It’s been incoherent and certainly hasn’t been consistent,” Conrad told North State Journal.

The request also asks for similar documents from Cooper, NCDHHS secretary Mandy Cohen, Panthers Football owner David Tepper, Atrium Health’s Dr. Scott Rasmiller and Greg Walter, Charlotte Motor Speedway’s executive vice president and general manager.

Conrad says there was no warning from the state prior to the “last minute” cancelation of 11,000 scheduled appointments in Guilford County. He expressed frustration at the fact those canceled appointments were made through the system that the state had put into place.

“To all of the sudden have that rug pulled out from under them. It’s just a terrible situation,” said Conrad. He said that the way this happened is “patently unfair” and “extremely scary.”

“When does it become negligence on the state’s behalf?” Conrad asked.

Conrad said he does not have a problem with mass vaccination events, but that the state shouldn’t be canceling appointments already made. He said those appointments should have been honored first at a mass vaccination event instead of opening appointments to the public.

“Why in the world would you take new appointments over those already in the system? The state is not doing a very good job here,” said Conrad.

A.P. Dillon contributed to this report.

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PHOTO VIA N.C. DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY

Attorney General Josh Stein briefs media from the Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh.

NC’s Stein joins push by Democratic attorneys general for ban on Menthol cigarettes

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — North Carolina’s Attorney General Josh Stein has joined with 22 other Democratic attorneys general asking the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban Menthol cigarettes.

In a press release on Jan. 22, Stein announced such a ban “would benefit public health, decrease youth smoking, and help mitigate harm to communities of color.”

“Menthol cigarettes are designed to be easier to smoke,” said Stein in the release. “That means they make it easier to get hooked. What’s more, they’re marketed in ways that disproportionately harm young people and people of color. I urge the FDA to ban menthol cigarettes and help us prevent another generation of North Carolinians from become addicted to nicotine and suffering the consequences in years to come.”

In his press release, Stein cites 2019 data on the targeting of black smokers That data showed an “estimated 46.7% of middle and high school-aged smokers used menthol cigarettes, but menthol cigarette smoking is even higher among African American youth. Data also shows that 89% of all African American smokers smoke menthol cigarettes compared to 26% of white smokers.”

The letter says that Menthol cigarettes represent a major barrier to smoking cessation and the reduction of smoking-related health conditions.

Including the signature pages, the letter is 15 pages long and is signed by 23 Democratic attorneys general. In addition to North Carolina, other state attorneys general signing the letter include Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, Wisconsin and Vermont. Additional signers include the U.S. territories of the Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico.

The letter to the FDA states that “overwhelming scientific evidence not only supports the prohibition of menthol cigarettes to protect public health and save thousands of lives, but also indicates that a prohibition should be implemented urgently.”

One study cited is a report from 2011 by Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (“TPSAC”). That study concluded that menthol cigarettes increased the number of youths who start smoking, those who become addicted and that the use of menthol cigarettes by youth was “even higher among minority youth, in particular African-Americans.”

The attempt to ban Menthol cigarettes is not a new idea, but one that dates to 2009 during the Barack Obama administration. That year, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act was passed by Congress and was signed by the former president. The law banned flavor use in cigarettes, but lack of research at the time kept menthol off the ban list. Two years later in 2011, the FDA’s Advisory Committee reported taking menthol cigarettes off the market would “benefit public health in the United States.”

Stein’s action may see significant pushback considering that North Carolina is a leader in tobacco-growing nationally. The state is also the base of operations for two major tobacco companies, RJ Reynolds and ITG Brands.

ITG has not yet responded for a request for comment, but RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company released the following statement to North State Journal: “We share the Attorneys General and FDA concerns over youth smoking rates, and while youth smoking is currently at historic lows per latest NYTS data, we plan to continue working with those looking to find solutions to address youth usage of any nicotine products, and encourage FDA’s enforcement actions against illegally marketed tobacco products.

However, bans and prohibitions are not an effective strategy to address these concerns, because the consequence of prohibitions on adult choices to use tobacco products is a potential illicit market.

Moreover, the scientific evidence does not support regulating menthol cigarettes any differently than non-menthol cigarettes. As was true when the FDA first examined menthol in 2013, and as the published literature continues to demonstrate, there is no scientific basis to regulate menthol and non-menthol cigarettes differently. The scientific evidence does not show a difference in health risks between a menthol and a non-menthol cigarette. And the scientific evidence does not support the argument that menthol cigarettes adversely affect initiation, dependence or cessation.

Regulating menthol cigarettes differently than non-menthol cigarettes will likely result in numerous troubling unintended consequences such as a significant growth in contraband menthol cigarettes sold through an illegal, underground market that is already well known and widespread and that undermines efforts to reduce youth smoking.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, January 27, 2021

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North State Journal for Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Murphy to Manteo

And justice for all

Redistricting for congressional and legislative seats has seen its share of attention in the past 10 years, with lawsuits, special sessions and media attention on the once-a-decade process. Yet the state’s 35 judicial districts, set by the General Assembly, also divide counties.

Effective this year, the former 40 district for Hoke and Scotland counties, number 19, was 43 eliminated 43 42 (which is why you don’t see a 19th district on the map).

Hoke County was added to Moore County’s prosecutorial district, 1 9 number 29, and Scotland 1 9 17 2 10 County was added to 2 10 18 Richmond and Anson in 3 11 District 21.

3 11 20 4 12 Ten counties have 4 12 their own prosecutorial 21 5 13 district — mainly large 5 13 22 6 counties such as Guilford, 14 6 Mecklenburg and Wake.

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Caldwell County Dozens of health care workers have been treating coronavirus patients inside 11 massive white medical tents set up in the parking lot of Caldwell Memorial Hospital. The tents were set up earlier this month, provided by Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief charity led by evangelist Rev. Franklin Graham based in Boone. The 30-bed field hospital comprises four medical wards and a pharmacy for patients who have been discharged from the ICU and don’t need ventilators. Four other hospitals are also sending patients here, to use hospital beds for more serious cases.

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Former NC State wide receiver running for Congress Alleghany County Former NC State wide receiver Bo Hines announced his plan to run for Congress last week. Hines will run as a Republican for the Fifth District seat, representing parts of Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Burke, Caldwell, Cleveland, Gaston, Watauga, and Wilkes counties. Hines played for State until 2014, when he transferred to Yale before injuries cut his career short.

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Overdose deaths prompt warning from police Buncombe County Asheville police issued a warning for a dangerous batch of what’s believed to be fentanyl after five suspected overdose deaths in a 48-hour period. A statement from the Asheville Police Department said it’s seeking information from the public in connection with the five people who died of suspected overdoses between Jan. 14 and Jan. 16.

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NSJ staff RALEIGH — State Sen. Jeff Jackson announced on Tuesday, Jan. 26, he would enter the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by retiring Republican Sen. Richard Burr.

Jackson, who was first appointed to the General Assembly in 2014, has built a large social media following in his time in the legislature, which may be an asset during his campaign.

He is the third candidate to

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By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

NC natives to go on the big screen in ‘Elle Rose’ Lee County North Carolina native Jessica B. Smith will release “Elle Rose,” the first movie which she wrote, directed and starred in and which also features Hope Mills native Shaun McMillan.

McMillan said one of the reasons he wanted to be a part of the “Elle Rose” production was because it was all local. He’s an Army veteran who served from 1998 to 2016. He attended Elizabeth City State University. Smith was born in New Bern but was raised in Sanford and attended Campbell University. “Elle Rose,” which is rated PG-13, will premiere Jan. 30.

EAST

3 North Carolina catfish records were broken during pandemic Moore County The coronavirus pandemic has given some people more time to fish. And that may be why three catfish records were broken last year. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission announced the new records.

They involved three catfish species. Pinehurst resident John Stone caught a 23-pound, 5-ounce channel catfish in a private pond in Moore County in September. Joey Baird of Lawrenceville, Virginia, caught a 121-pound, 9-ounce blue catfish in Lake Gaston in July.

That same month, Tyler Barnes of Pikeville reeled in a 78-pound, 14-ounce flathead catfish from the Neuse River.

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Utility drops late fees due to delayed bills

Ex- officer charged with selling testosterone Johnston County Former Clayton Police Officer Owen Phillips, 40, once honored as his department’s “officer of the year,” has been charged with making and selling a steroid. He’s charged with possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver testosterone; and sale, delivery and manufacture of testosterone. Prosecutors said Phillips made and sold testosterone between April and July 2020. Phillips was named the Clayton Police Department’s Officer of the Year in 2015 and the Town of Clayton’s Employee of the Year in 2017. He resigned from the department in August, days before the investigation against him was opened.

Pitt County Greenville Utilities canceled late fees after finding that its customers were experiencing delays in getting their bills in the mail. It received reports of customers getting their bills several days after they were due, after being delayed in the mail. The utility sends out about 72,000 bills a month. It’s unclear how many customers received delayed bills but it started in December. The utility is adjusting its billing software so customers will not be charged late fees. Staffers are also working with individual customers who have received late fees in the past few weeks.

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Marshals offer $5K reward for arrests in fatal shooting

Plane returns to gate after being hit by bird during takeoff Wake County An RDU-bound flight had to return to the gate in Florida after it was struck by a bird during takeoff on Sunday. Delta flight 2084 from Tampa to Raleigh returned to the gate after being struck by the bird at Tampa International Airport, Delta said in a statement. The Airbus A319 had 40 customers and five crew members on board.

Because of damage to the plane’s engine, the passengers and crew had to transfer to another plane to continue the flight.

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Catawba County The U.S. Marshals Service has offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrests of two suspects accused of fatally shooting a woman last week. Marshals and the Hickory Police Department are searching for Tangela Parker, 49, and Eric Parker, 61, who are both wanted in the death of 51-yearold Phelifia Michele Marlow. Marlow was fatally shot in the head on Jan. 13 inside a furniture store. Tangela Parker is wanted for first-degree murder and Eric Parker for accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.

Police said the pair were considered armed and dangerous.

announce a run.

Jackson joins former state Sen. Erica Smith, who ran against 2020 Democratic nominee Cal Cunningham in that year’s primary.

On the Republican side, the only declared candidate is former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker, who announced a run December 2020. Often-rumored Republican candidates include Lara Trump, former President Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law and an N.C. native; former Gov. Pat McCrory; and former U.S. Rep. George Holding.

NC Bar Owners Assoc to Gov Cooper: Keeping us closed is ‘economic discrimination’

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Graham County The MANNA FoodBank opened a monthly drive-thru mobile food bank for needy Graham County residents. The location, offering free food to people struggling to afford groceries, opened in Robbinsville last Wednesday. MANNA FoodBank, an affiliate of Feeding America, has opened several distribution centers to support 16 counties in the western part of the state.

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Rev. Barber holds major role at inauguration service

Sailboat drifts into bridge after losing power Tyrrell County The Coast Guard, Tyrrell County Volunteer Fire Department and NC Wildlife Officers helped rescue two sailors who drifted into the Alligator River Bridge in Columbia after their sailboard lost power earlier this month. The two men were hoping to reach Florida, but rescuers towed the disabled boat to shore after finding it up against the bridge.

WAVY

Wayne County Rev. William Barber of Goldsboro held a major role in the traditional prayer service held in conjunction with the inauguration of the new president. Barber delivered the homily at the interfaith Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service, which was largely virtual this year due to the pandemic. The event was hosted by Washington National Cathedral and featured President Joe Biden and performances by Josh Groban and Patti LaBelle.

RALEIGH — The N.C. Bar Owners Association has issued a letter to Gov. Roy Cooper demanding that private bars and clubs be allowed to open, stating that “continuing to keep us closed is complete economic discrimination.”

“Enough is enough. Stop the unequal treatment and REOPEN Private Bars today,” the letter from NC Bar Owners Association (NCBOA) says.

NCBOA is already suing the governor over his executive orders, which have kept bars and clubs closed since midMarch of 2020. The letter, dated Jan. 22, also targets the governor for his uneven treatment of the bar and club industry.

“The North Carolina Bar Owners Association says enough is enough.

We 1063 Private Bar Owners have had enough of being the ONLY business in North Carolina that cannot allow customers inside,” the letter reads. “We have had enough of the other 6000 ABC permittees being able to operate, including the State-owned ABC stores, while we remain closed.”

The letter goes on to state bar owners are tired of being “blamed for spreading Covid-19 while we have not even been open. We have had enough of being told ‘science and data’ show that we should remain closed, while zero ‘science and data’ has been provided to evidence those claims. We have had enough of watching your administration destroy the lives of thousands of people.”

The letter cites other

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areas of the country where bars have been allowed to operate again, such as Chicago, where Mayor Lori Lightfoot pushed for bars to be opened immediately. Also noted in the letter is that the N.C. Department of Health and Human Service has indicated COVID-19 is being spread in homes and among family members.

“It is well past time to reopen us, Governor. Our pleas to grant us the opportunity to even discuss it has been and continue to be, ignored.

For months. Over 10 to be exact. We are capable and responsible business owners and citizens of NC,” NCBOA’s letter says, adding that they can enforce social distancing and mitigation strategies better than other businesses which are already allowed to operate.

The letter calls Cooper’s actions keeping them closed “blatant prejudice” and says that the governor has “refused to allow us to earn a living, provide for our families and contribute to the economy over the last 10+ months solely via your ‘Executive Order.’”

Earlier this month, bar owners discovered their permits had either been canceled or were approaching payment-due status with no notice from the Alcohol Beverage Commission.

NCBOA cried foul as clubs were still closed, arguing that the deferment for permits and fees passed by the legislature last year should still be still in place.

When asked about the cancelations, Jeff Strickland, public affairs director for the ABC, said that the canceled permits for the bars were being moved into “inactive status” and will be moved to active when the bars are ready to reopen. Strickland said they would work with the bars through the process as things progress.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, January 27, 2021

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

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

Censorship of conservatives is nothing new

The most troubling thing today is how elite liberal media editors use the freedom of the press guarantee in the First Amendment to pound out the free speech clause of the same amendment for others.

CONSERVATIVES gasped with horror when Twitter banned President Trump’s account and Google, Apple and Amazon banned Parler.

Why is anyone surprised? Media outlets have been censoring conservatives for decades in America.

Back in the days before iPhones and social media, the only way for politicians to communicate with the public — i.e. “voters” — was through old-fashioned, traditional means: like newspapers, television, radio and the US Postal Service.

In 1984, former Congressman Alex McMillan of Charlotte (R-NC9) won a squeaker of a race over Democrat D.G. Martin by the slimmest of margins, 321 votes out of over 225,000 votes cast.

To provide historical perspective for Millennials, Apple introduced the MacIntosh personal computer in 1984. A decade later, the internet was developed. Two decades later, along came social media. There were very limited avenues through which conservatives could communicate directly with their constituents without filters from editors and journalists who disagreed with them and essentially suppressed their free speech.

I was chief of staff to Congressman McMillan when his 1986 re-election race was the #1 targeted campaign in the country. In an attempt to build mutual trust with the Charlotte Observer, we allowed their quite capable political reporter, John Monk, full access to our office for four months to do an in-depth story about congressional life in general.

When the article came out in the Charlotte Observer, it painted McMillan in an unfavorable light right in the middle of a tight re-election campaign. After blowing out John for writing such a hatchet job, for which I had to apologize later, he sent me the full article as printed in the Augusta, Georgia, paper which was part of the same Knight-Ridder chain that owned the Charlotte Observer.

No one in Augusta, Georgia, voted for McMillan in Charlotte, North Carolina.

It was fair and balanced, just as John said it would be. But the Observer editors had selectively edited the story down about 30%, ostensibly for space concerns. It was blatantly obvious they did it to help D.G. Martin in his rematch against McMillan because they agreed with him on every issue, not McMillan.

We submitted numerous opinion pieces to the Observer over the next decade only to see most of them rejected. The Observer was owned and operated by staunch liberal Democrats who simply did not want to allow conservative Republicans a forum to air their political views and

philosophy.

As a privately owned company, they were entirely within their right to deny access to anyone they did not want to publish. It was just infuriating to conservatives to be constantly told the press is “fair, neutral and impartial,” when in actual practice, they are not.

We went around such editorial roadblocks by mailing out eight million newsletters, town hall meeting notices and congressional updates to 250,000 households at taxpayer expense via the congressional franking privilege. Not proud to have to admit such a wasteful government expense, but the franking privilege and about $1.5 million in campaign ads, an enormous amount in 1986, were the only two ways we could get past media censorship and biased reporting in North Carolina.

It worked; Alex McMillan won re-election by 4,221 votes, a virtual landslide compared to his 1984 win.

Not much has changed in the media world politically since then except for the rise of Fox News, which used to be the news outlet of choice for conservatives for 30 years. Subscriptions and circulation have plummeted at large newspapers, but they still are echo chambers for such partisan political narratives as “Russian Collusion” and “Moderate Joe Biden.”

The most troubling thing is how elite liberal media editors use the freedom of the press guarantee in the First Amendment to pound out the free speech clause of the same amendment for others. Be completely fair to all points of view or be honest enough to admit a specific bias so readers can make up their own minds about whether they agree with you or not.

Conservatives have to stop whining about the liberal bias of the media and start owning their own news outlets. Conservatives should figure out what is going to replace social media and get ahead of the curve, not be smashed by it.

There were thousands of newspapers and pamphlets, all of them partisan to the federalist or anti-federalist point of view at the beginning of the republic, many virulently so. America is going to be far better off as a country going forward with a cacophony of opposing views instead of the silence that follows dictatorial censorship of views that media chairmen, publishers or editors don’t like.

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

Biden administration violates their own federal mask mandate hours after inauguration

What Biden and Psaki did say was the quiet part out loud: There are special rules for Democrats that don’t apply to Republicans when it comes to wearing masks.

DEMOCRATS have spent the last nine months lecturing the American people about the importance of wearing a mask during the coronavirus pandemic. People — Republican political figures especially — who have been seen out in public or attending a gathering maskless have been subjected to public ridicule by reporters as well as mask-shaming by Democrats.

The mainstream media even once had a dedicated group that I dubbed the Mask Patrol. The Mask Patrol consisted of journalists who used their Twitter feeds and/or live TV segments to give up-to-the-minute updates on which Republicans in the Trump administration or Congress were and were not wearing a mask at any given point during the day.

This type of important update has slowed down considerably over the last week or so, and the reasons why are pretty obvious. We have a new sheriff in town — Joe Biden — and he also happens to be a Democrat.

Democrats, as I’ve previously documented, appear to be exempt from the same media mockery heaped on maskless Republicans. Whether it was House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on video walking around a salon maskless while getting highlights and a haircut or New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo giving press conferences without one, the party of mask-shamers and their media allies didn’t have much to say.

With all of that in mind, it should be no surprise that the first executive order Joe Biden signed after being sworn in as president revolved around mandating mask-wearing on federal property. Reporters swooned over the fact that Biden wore a mask in the Oval Office while signing the executive order. One from the Associated Press tweeted a photo of Biden along with the message, “President Biden wearing a mask in the Oval Office. Quite the change.”

Hours later, those same reporters had to be in a shock — though if they were, they were oddly quiet about it — over photos and videos that were taken of Biden and his family at the Lincoln Memorial (which is federal property) maskless at certain points. Biden didn’t wear his mask during an interview he gave there, and neither he nor his family members, including

first lady Jill Biden, wore masks at various points when family photos were taken.

Trump would have immediately been blasted by Democrats and the press, but Biden was given deference by the Mask Patrol for some reason.

The next day, Biden’s White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked about the maskless Bidens, not by any of the usual suspects who hounded Republicans incessantly about mask-wearing, but by a Fox News reporter, who was more interested in asking about the double standards on display than trying to mask shame.

“Why weren’t President Biden and all members of the Biden family masked at all times last night?” a masked Peter Doocy asked from the front row of the White House briefing room.

Psaki, who wasn’t wearing a mask at the podium, responded by saying Biden “was celebrating an evening, a historic day in our country.” After pointing out the COVID precautions the administration has in place, she told Doocy, “I don’t know that I have more for you on it than that.”

When he followed up with a similar question, Psaki again dismissed it by stating that “Yesterday was a historic moment in our history. [Biden] was inaugurated as president of the United States. He was surrounded by his family. We take a number of precautions, but I think we have bigger issues to worry about at this moment in time.”

What Biden and Psaki did say was the quiet part out loud: There are special rules for Democrats that don’t apply to Republicans when it comes to wearing masks. Predictably, most in the mainstream media, in particular the Mask Patrol, appear to agree.

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 27, 2021 GUEST OPINION | GREG BEHR

The rise (and death) of the Hypocritan Party

For these Rhetorical Rambos, the ultimate goal is not party dominance or power in government.

They thrive on a platform of proving that YOU (whoever you are) are not only wrong but that you are a hypocrite for your beliefs and arguments.

LIKE MILLIONS of news junkies, I am guilty of addictively breaking the cardinal rule of traversing the modern media landscape: Never read the comments section.

And while I am often discouraged that the strife on display represents a further polarization amongst our political parties, a closer review reveals that, at least amongst this surly sample, commonalities in attitude transcend party affiliation.

The two dominant political parties would like to believe they have an equal market share of fealty, but they are both beaten by an informal party that transcends either platform. I propose for consideration that the dominant party in American politics is the Hypocritan Party.

Members of the Hypocritan Party are agnostic to the actual issues. Even the most hot-button topics, such as abortion, gun rights, federal spending and immigration, don’t matter much to them.

They have a unique, remarkable, and infuriating ability to see, and even argue, both sides of an issue with ease.

For these Rhetorical Rambos, the ultimate goal is not party dominance or power in government. They thrive on a platform of proving that YOU (whoever you are) are not only wrong but that you are a hypocrite for your beliefs and arguments.

And while we’d like to hope that members only have the courage to wage their battles anonymously online, unfortunately, the party is multi-faceted and medium-integrated. It knows no bounds, and anyone who has dared to bring up politics in what you had assumed was polite company knows there is always a Hypocritan ready to instantly research anything you say or recall how you once felt differently on an issue 10 years ago.

So, do we choose to ignore the Hypocritan?

That question does yield the concern of whether ignoring them will create more partisan “echo chambers” and “bubbles.” The truth is that while they may masquerade as Republicans or Democrats

COLUMN | GUY MITCHELL and will demand our respect and a platform, they are not members of either party and do not deserve respect.

A Hypocritan has not earned our respect or even a voice or platform as their belief system is based on animus and cynicism. When an individual rejects the norms of conversation to instead embarrass and belittle their opponent, they have abandoned the merits and benefits of discourse. We shouldn’t offer them a platform or our engagement.

Ignoring them, whether in real life or online, is the only way for us to ensure they do not grow in number. Even the smallest engagement can lead you down a dark hole resulting in you inevitably being called a Nazi.

Similarly, while we must personally rebuff existing Hypocritans, the ultimate destruction of the party comes from an even greater inward strength.

We have to resist the urge to join.

Calling out hypocrisy to strike the satisfying death blow of someone admitting they are wrong now or before is alluring and, ultimately, addictive.

Instead, we must resist that urge and recognize that the satisfaction we seek in proving others wrong is fleeting and poisonous to our belief systems.

When we seek only to prove others wrong rather than to learn, we turn our back on the value of authentic discourse.

We must remain humble despite the Hypocritan rejection of humility, silence and reception.

And, while they falsely and foolishly rationalize their motives as serving larger purposes like justice or truth, they only serve themselves and their own egos.

These are the qualities that make us anxious to get together with friends and family and to share ideas or engage in honest debate. If it is true that our country is getting further divided, it is the Hypocritans that are the wedge.

Yet, there is hope in all of us. We all have the ability to be, as writer James Rebanks put it, “quietly smart.”

A quietly inquisitive populace is the antidote to the poison of the Hypocritan Party. Avoiding their pointless and draining traps, and not joining their ranks, reserves our strength to fight for truly worthy causes.

Greg Behr is a founder of GBW Strategies in Raleigh.

GUEST OPINION | ALLAURA OSBORNE

School choice has faces and stories North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship Program gave me and my family the chance to consider all our school options and select the school that best met my needs.

SOME GIFTS come in wrapped boxes tied up with frilly ribbons or bows. But one of the greatest gifts I ever received didn’t come in any fancy packaging — it came wrapped in a scholarship. The gift inside was school choice, and it changed my life.

It helped me not only to grow as a student but to discover my voice and my passion for giving back in the workforce.

Six years ago, North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship Program gave me and my family the chance to consider all our school options and select the school that best met my needs. Opportunity Scholarships provide up to $4,200 in tuition assistance for lower-income, working-class families in North Carolina to send their kids to the school of their choice. My own scholarship enabled my family to send me to North Raleigh Christian Academy.

My school’s rigorous academic curriculum empowered me to learn at my own pace. Maybe you won’t hear this from every student, but I hate easy classes. While my prior school didn’t challenge me, I have relished the opportunity school choice gave me to take tough classes at my new school.

Outside the classroom, my school of choice has paved the way for me to explore a wide array of extracurricular activities — from theater and track to community service. These opportunities come because the teachers and administrators at my new school encourage students to go beyond the minimum and give us the tools we need to succeed.

For instance, my principal has helped me host charity drives at my school to distribute clothing to needy families in Wake County.

But here is what has most profoundly changed my life: North Raleigh Christian Academy’s Youth and Government Program. Through it, I discovered my love of politics, public policy and the legislative process.

The Youth and Government Program has exposed me to mentors and leaders in the North

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Carolina General Assembly. It helped me conquer my fear of public speaking, such that I can now give extemporaneous speeches with ease. It has shifted my future career path and the way I view the community around me. All this progress came about in large part thanks to the Opportunity Scholarship Program — because the high school I would have attended does not offer Youth and Government.

The Youth and Government Program has taught me many things about how government works and how bills become law. But behind every bill and every law lies a story, a face and a future. I know — because I consider myself one of the faces of North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship Program.

An Opportunity Scholarship quite literally helped me to find my calling in life — and my voice.

In gratitude for the gift I have received, I want to give back by using that voice to ensure that other students like me can receive a similar gift. My peers might not want to go to a Christian academy, or might not have an interest in a program like Youth and Government. But each of them should have the chance to select the school and program that they and their parents believe will work best for them.

From Jan. 24 through 30, National School Choice Week celebrates the broad movement that has brought school choice to millions of American students just like me. We stand as living proof of what improved and personalized choice in education can do for families across our country.

Having received the gift of my school choice education, I will work my hardest — now, in college and beyond — to ensure the next generation of students has the same access to school choice.

School choice gave me the gift of a better future, and that’s a gift worth sharing far and wide.

Allaura Osbourne is a student at North Raleigh Christian Academy.

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.

What do the world’s scientists actually believe about global warming?

IN A PREVIOUS ARTICLE, I exposed the origins of the oft-repeated but untruthful claim that “97% of the world’s scientists believe that man has caused global warming.” This claim was first put forward in an unscientific 2013 study whose lead author John Cook, an Australian, is a former cartoonist and website developer who subsequently obtained a PhD in the “cognitive science of climate denial.”

Given the falsity of this claimed scientific “consensus,” what in fact do the world’s scientists actually believe about the hypothesis of manmade global warming (Anthropogenic Global Warming in scientific terms, or “AGW” for short)?

To answer this question, in June of 2017 I began to study the AGW position statements of some of the world’s major research universities and academic societies.

In Germany, the Helmholtz Association, the country’s largest scientific organization and a union of 18 research centers, stated that it would “initiate a German network of regional climate offices” to study the subject of AGW, “establish research projects” and “make scientific evidence understandable to the public.” Clearly, the Helmholtz Association had not reached any conclusions but planned to engage in a methodical, scientific study of the subject to develop facts and educate the public on the claims of AGW. The British Royal Society, the U.K.’s leading association of scientists, stated that “In order to discern the human influences on climate, scientists must consider many natural variations that affect temperature, precipitation, and other aspects of climate from local to global scale, on timescales from days to decades and longer.”

Like the Helmholtz Association, the Royal Society’s statement indicated no conclusion had been reached.

England’s Oxford University stated that the decision to try to limit global warming “is currently poorly served by the paucity of scientific analysis of the relative risks.” Oxford stated that more research on the subject of AGW needed to be undertaken.

The Russian Academy of Sciences rejected the AGW hypothesis that CO2 causes global warming: “A new scientific paper authored by seven scientists affiliated with the Russian Academy of Sciences dismisses both ‘greenhouse gases’ and variations in the Sun’s irradiance as significant climate drivers, and instead embraces cloud cover as a dominant contributor to climate change.” The Russians stated that the expected increase in cloud cover over the coming decades will result in global cooling of 0.7 C by 2060.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences stated that “the increasing of the global mean surface temperature was reduced from 1998-2013, known as the global warming hiatus or pause.”

The Chinese indicated their intention to try to determine why there was a pause in global warming.

The U.S. National Academy of Sciences made the following statement: “The U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the British Royal Society, the national science academy of the U.K., released a joint publication today that explains the clear evidence that humans are causing the climate to change.” This statement was in direct conflict with the position statement of the British Royal Society, as indicated above.

U.S. space agency NASA stated, “multiple studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals show that 97% or more of actively publishing climate scientists agree: climate warming trends over the past century are extremely likely due to human activities.

In addition, most of the leading scientific organizations world-wide have issued public statements endorsing this position.” The NASA statement parroted the false consensus reported by the former cartoonist John Cook.

The French Academy of Sciences strongly endorsed the AGW hypothesis, saying “there can be no doubt that global warming is taking place.” Given the Trump administration’s opposition to funding further AGW research, France’s new president, Emmanuel Macron, even offered U.S. climate scientists 1.5 million euros to emigrate to France to study climate change.

It is clear from the above statements that the British, Germans, Chinese and Russian institutions did not endorse the AGW hypothesis. In fact, the Chinese noted that there was a 15-year pause or hiatus in global warming, and they wanted to study that phenomenon. The Russians rejected the AGW hypothesis outright and predicted global cooling by 2060. Oddly, institutions in the United States and France reached the opposite conclusion.

What explanation is there for the seeming coordination of the U.S. and French scientific institutions in sounding the global warming alarm? It likely had everything to do with the political agendas of Presidents Obama and Macron. Science was about to be sacrificed on the altar of political opportunism.

Next in our series, we will explore the role of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in promoting the unproven hypothesis of man-made global warming.

This article is the third in a continuing series

by Guy K. Mitchell, Jr. Mr. Mitchell is the founder and chairman of Mitchell Industries, a diversified manufacturing company based in Birmingham, Alabama.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, January 27, 2021

NATION & WORLD In this file photo taken from a video distributed by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, a rocket launches from missile system as part of the drills, a ground-based intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from the Plesetsk facility in northwestern Russia.

RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY PRESS SERVICE VIA AP, FILE

Russia welcomes US proposal to extend nuclear treaty

By Vladimir Isachenkov The Associated Press MOSCOW — The Kremlin welcomed President Joe Biden’s proposal to extend the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty between the two countries, which is set to expire in less than two weeks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said that Russia stands for extending the pact and is waiting to see the details of the U.S. proposal.

The White House said Biden has proposed to Russia a five-year extension of the New START treaty.

“We can only welcome political will to extend the document,” Peskov said in a conference call with reporters. “But all will depend on the details of the proposal.”

The treaty, signed in 2010 by President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers, and envisages sweeping on-site inspections to verify compliance. It expires on

Feb. 5.

Russia has long proposed to prolong the pact without any conditions or changes, but former President Donald Trump’s administration waited until last year to start talks and made the extension contingent on a set of demands.

The talks stalled, and months of bargaining have failed to narrow differences.

“Certain conditions for the extension have been put forward, and some of them have been absolutely unacceptable for us, so let’s see first what the U.S. is offering,” Peskov said.

Mikhail Ulyanov, the Russian ambassador at the international organizations in Vienna, also hailed Biden’s proposal as an “encouraging step.”

“The extension will give the two sides more time to consider possible additional measures aimed at strengthening strategic stability and global security,” he tweeted.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the U.S. decision and Russia’s reiteration. He encouraged both countries “to work quickly to complete the necessary procedure for the New START’s extension before

“The extension will give the two sides more time to consider possible additional measures aimed at strengthening strategic stability and global security.”

Mikhail Ulyanov, Russian ambassador to the United Nations the Feb. 5 expiration and move as soon as possible to negotiations on new arms control measures,” U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

“A five-year extension would not only maintain verifiable caps on the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals but will also provide time to negotiate new nuclear arms control agreements to grapple with our increasingly complex international environment,” Dujarric said.

Biden indicated during the campaign that he favored the preservation of the New START treaty,

which was negotiated during his tenure as U.S. vice president.

The talks on the treaty’s extension also were clouded by tensions between Russia and the United States, which have been fueled by the Ukrainian crisis, Moscow’s meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and other irritants.

Despite the extension proposal, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden remains committed to holding Russia “to account for its reckless and adversarial actions,” such as its alleged involvement in the Solar Winds hacking event, 2020 election interference, and the chemical poisoning of opposition figure Alexei Navalny.

Asked to comment on Psaki’s statement, Peskov has reaffirmed Russia’s denial of involvement in any such activities.

After both Moscow and Washington withdrew from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019, New START is the only remaining nuclear arms control deal between the two countries.

Arms control advocates have strongly called for New START’s preservation, warning that its lapse would remove any checks on U.S. and Russian nuclear forces.

Last week, Russia also declared that it would follow the U.S. to pull out of the Open Skies Treaty allowing surveillance flights over military facilities to help build trust and transparency between Russia and the West.

While Russia always offered to extend New START for five years — a possibility envisaged by the pact — Trump asserted that it put the U.S. at a disadvantage and initially insisted that China be added to the treaty, an idea that Beijing flatly rejected. Trump’s administration then proposed to extend New START for just one year and also sought to expand it to include limits on battlefield nuclear weapons.

Moscow has said it remains open for new nuclear arms talks with the U.S. to negotiate future limits on prospective weapons, but emphasized that preserving New START is essential for global stability.

Russian diplomats have said that Russia’s prospective Sarmat heavy intercontinental ballistic missile and the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle could be counted along with other Russian nuclear weapons under the treaty.

The Sarmat is still under development, while the first missile unit armed with the Avangard became operational in December 2019.

The Russian military has said the Avangard is capable of flying 27 times faster than the speed of sound and could make sharp maneuvers on its way to a target to bypass missile defense systems. It has been fitted to the existing Soviet-built intercontinental ballistic missiles instead of older type warheads, and in the future could be fitted to the more powerful Sarmat.

Tentative start to Turkey-Greece talks after year of strife

By Andrew Wilks The Associated Press ANKARA, Turkey — The first high-level talks aimed at reducing tensions between Turkey and Greece in five years took place behind closed doors on Monday.

The summit of senior officials came after a year that saw the two NATO members come to the verge of conflict in the eastern Mediterranean — a crisis that pushed the European Union toward imposing sanctions on Ankara.

The exploratory talks at Istanbul’s Dolmabahce Palace were the 61st round of meetings between the frequent rivals since discussions were launched in 2002.

Ibrahim Kalin, the spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, attended the meeting and stressed Turkey’s commitment.

“Under the strong leadership of our president, it is possible to solve all problems, including the Aegean, and we have the will for this,” he tweeted. “Regional peace and stability is in everyone’s interests.”

Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency cited diplomatic sources as saying steps to address recent developments were discussed at the four-hour meeting.

However, Athens was more reserved in its remarks.

“These are not negotiations and do not have a binding effect,” Greek government spokesman Christos Tarantilis said Monday.

“The aim is to pick up the thread

STEPHANIE LECOCQ | AP PHOTO

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu gives a joint statement with European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell prior to their meeting in Brussels, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. from the point where contacts were interrupted in 2016 to see if there is a point of convergence in order to lead us to negotiations.”

He added that future talks would be limited to the demarcation of economic zones and the continental shelf in the Aegean and east Mediterranean.

Turkey has previously called for other issues, such as air space and the demilitarization of Greece’s Aegean islands, to be included.

Since the last round in March 2016, Turkey has encouraged thousands of migrants to cross the Greek border and sent gas exploration ships into waters claimed

by Greece and Cyprus.

Confrontation in the seas around Cyprus and the Greek island of Crete last summer saw warships shadowing one another, leading to a collision between Turkish and Greek vessels on one occasion.

As well as addressing ten-

sions between the frequent rivals, Ankara hopes the talks will smooth relations with the European Union and convince the new Biden administration in Washington of its reliability as an international partner.

Trust between Turkey, Europe and the U.S. has been eroded in recent years by issues including refugees, Ankara’s foreign policy, the purchase of Russian air defense missiles and human rights.

Turkey’s halt to its search for energy reserves in the eastern Mediterranean and an easing of the fiery rhetoric that had alarmed European leaders has paved the way for the Istanbul talks.

Last week, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu visited Brussels to meet EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell and to stress Ankara’s desire to reset relations. That message is one that’s been backed

by Erdogan, who has retreated from remarks such as those made in October in which he questioned the mental health of French President Emmanuel Macron.

Economic affairs also weigh heavily in Ankara’s thinking.

While the coronavirus pandemic has sowed deep financial problems, tensions between Turkey and the EU, its main trading partner, have also played a role.

Further U.S. sanctions — Washington imposed penalties last month over the purchase of Russian missiles — are another concern after Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Ankara of “not acting as an ally should.”

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2021

SPORTS

Remembering Hank Aaron, B4

KEITH SRAKOCIC | AP PHOTO

Duke guard DJ Steward is one of several freshmen trying to navigate life in the ACC while also being hindered by the restrictions of the pandemic.

ACC’s learning curve handcuffing young teams

the Wednesday SIDELINE REPORT NHL

4th Hurricanes game postponed, return planned Thursday Raleigh The NHL announced Monday that the Carolina Hurricanes’ home game Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning has been postponed, and the league rescheduled that game and three others that have previously been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak on the Hurricanes. Carolina returned to full practice Tuesday, and the team’s home game Thursday against the Lightning — now its home opener — is currently still on the schedule. Carolina has had six players on the league’s COVID-19 protocol list this season, starting with captain Jordan Staal before the team’s second game of the season on Jan. 16. Four more players — Warren Foegele, Jordan Martinook, Jaccob Slavin and Teuvo Teravainen — were placed in the NHL’s protocol ahead of the scheduled Jan. 19 game at Nashville. Jesper Fast was added to the list Saturday.

The NHL does not reveal which players have tested positive for the coronavirus, and players can also be placed in the protocol for having symptoms or contact tracing.

NFL

Bills GM Beane, an N.C. native, named Sporting News Exec of the Year Buffalo, N.Y. Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane was named Executive of the Year by Sporting News after returning the franchise to the top of the AFC East and into contention after years of mediocrity. Beane, 44, is a native of Stanly County and worked in the Carolina Panthers organization for 19 years before being named Bills GM in 2017. Beane rebuilt the Bills’ roster, including drafting quarterback Josh Allen, and the team has reached the playoffs in three of his four seasons in Buffalo. The Bills lost to Kansas City in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday after a 13-3 regular season.

The combination of large freshman classes and the pandemic’s limitations has led to inconsistency for the state’s traditional powers JULIO CORTEZ | AP PHOTO

Jennifer King became the first black woman to be named a full-time assistant coach when she was hired by Washington.

NFL trailblazing coach Jennifer King got her start in NC The Reidsville and Guilford College product became the first black woman to be a full-time coach in NFL

By Shawn Krest North State Journal GUILFORD COLLEGE women’s basketball coach Stephanie Flamini remembers the first time she saw Jennifer King display a football mentality.

“We did have a pickup football game in a parking lot one time,” Flamini recalled. “We were in Florida or somewhere like that, and sometimes, when we were bored, we’d do that.”

Normally, however, the Quakers’ basketball team didn’t have a player like King when they broke out the pigskin.

“She can play any sport she tries to play,” Flamini said of King’s performance in the game.

King, who earlier this week became the first black female fulltime coach in the NFL, grew up in Reidsville and starred in basketball and softball while at Guilford, also using her four years in college to hone her leadership abilities.

“She was a really hard worker,” Flamini said, “the hardest worker on the team. She did a lot of things above and beyond — watching extra film, film of herself, film of her opponent.”

And, yes, she had that football

mindset even then.

“She played through anything,” Flamini said. “If she was hurt, not feeling well, she played through anything. She was a leader on the court, a coach on the court and really dedicated, like more dedicated than your average Division III player.”

King piled up the honors while with the Quakers, winning Guilford’s highest athletic honor — the Nereus English Leadership Award.

She was also named the school’s top female athlete and, as a senior, won the Ideal Athlete prize.

Flamini helped her to prepare for what seemed like a natural fit for the future.

“For sure, she did everything a coach would do,” she said. “She was always vocal. She knew the next play before it would occur. You could see she was going to coach.

I got her into the WBCA’s ‘So you want to be a coach’ program her senior year. She went to our convention and learned how to become a coach.”

At the time, King’s future seemed to be in coaching basketball.

“I started coaching basketball because I thought that’s what you had to do,” King said in 2018 when she was a coaching intern with the Carolina Panthers. “Women didn’t coach football.”

Now, thanks to King’s efforts, they do.

See KING, page B3

By Shawn Krest North State Journal ON MONDAY morning, before their classes began, the Duke Blue Devils reported to the practice floor — to work on getting hit.

For the first time in 25 seasons, Duke is shooting fewer free throws than opponents. In more than four decades as head coach, Mike Krzyzewski is on the wrong end of a foul disparity for just the fourth time. In Duke’s threegame losing streak, the Blue Devils had been outscored by nine points a night at the free-throw line.

So Coach K brought his team in to practice driving to the basket and taking contact.

“We have not driven into resistance as strongly or as physically as we need to,” he explained.

“We’re working on it.”

It seems like an odd thing to practice, but these are odd times for college basketball’s blue bloods.

In addition to Duke’s struggles, UNC opened ACC play with backto-back losses and stood at 5-4, although the Tar Heels may have righted the ship with their recent streak of five wins in six games.

Outside of the league, Kentucky is a shocking 5-9, and even Kansas has struggled, splitting its first eight Big 12 conference games. Combined, the four perennial Final Four contenders were 30-24 over and 16-13 in their conferences entering Tuesday’s play.

Duke is off to its worst 10game mark since 1982-83 when Krzyzewski’s third team went 1117, and that team may shed some light on what’s happened so far this season.

The ’83 Blue Devils featured some of the biggest names in Duke history, including Johnny Dawkins, Mark Alarie, Jay Bilas and Dave Henderson. The problem? All four future superstars were freshmen. The four players combined for 10.5 turnovers a game and committed 12.1 fouls a night.

“None of these guys were playing with each other last year. ... We’re just trying to play a little bit of catch-up.”

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski

It’s no coincidence that each of the blue bloods is working in a larger-than-usual class of freshman this season. Duke and Carolina each have six rookies on their roster, and most of them are playing significant minutes. Kentucky has seven freshmen and Kansas four, although the Jayhawks are leaning on their newcomers far less than the other teams and have a 10-5 mark to show for it.

“The more they learn to play off one another, the better we’ll be,” Krzyzewski said. “There’s just a familiarity lacking there. None of these guys were playing with each other last year. Everything we’re doing is this year. It just adds up.

These guys are working hard. My coaching staff is working really hard. We’re just trying to play a little bit of catch-up.”

Obviously, this isn’t the first year teams have relied on freshmen. Specifically, Duke and Kentucky have made a living on teams build around one-and-done freshmen over the last decade.

With many of the top high school prospects having options to play in the pros, either overseas or in the G League, the other-worldly freshmen stars — the Zion Williamson, Anthony Davis and Jahlil Okafor types of players — aren’t there. Instead, there are the more classic freshmen players — the ones who need some seasoning to get up the steep learning curve.

“We don’t have anyone in this class that was rated as highly as Ty (Lawson), Wayne (Ellington) or Brandon (Wright, the three players who topped UNC’s 200607 freshman class) or Tyler Hansbrough’s (2005-06) class,” Roy Williams said.

Not only are a large number of freshmen seeing the floor, but they’re also playing at the position See ACC, page B3

North State Journal for Wednesday, January 27, 2021

B2 WEDNESDAY

1.27.21

TRENDING

Bobby Hurley: The Arizona State coach was reprimanded by the Pac-12 Conference for his comments about the officiating late in a close loss to rival Arizona.

Hurley, the former Duke point guard, was furious a foul wasn’t called on Azoulas Tubelis for hitting the arm of Arizona State guard Remy Martin with nine seconds left.

Tubelis was credited with a blocked shot and hit the winning shot at the buzzer on a tip-in.

Replays showed Tubelis did hit Martin on the arm, but the Pac‑12 prohibits coaches from making public derogatory comments about officiating.

Ryan Hilinski: The quarterback announced he is transferring from South Carolina to Northwestern. Hilinski threw for 2,357 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions as a freshman at South Carolina in 2019. He lost a competition for the starting job last season after Collin Hill joined the Gamecocks as a graduate transfer from Colorado State, and appeared in just two games.

Sean Ryan: The Panthers filled its biggest coaching vacancy, hiring Ryan as quarterbacks coach. The team also announced it has hired Tony Sparano Jr. as assistant offensive line coach and that defensive line coach Mike Phair will not return next season.

Ryan replaces coach Jake Peetz, who left to become the offensive coordinator at LSU. Sparano takes over for Marcus Satterfield, now the offensive coordinator at South Carolina. Ryan worked with Panthers head coach Matt Rhule with the Giants in 2012.

Beyond the box score POTENT QUOTABLES

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Veteran tight end Greg Olsen is retiring after 14 NFL seasons to become a Fox broadcaster. The first tight end with three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, Olsen played nine seasons with the Panthers, four with the Bears, and his final year with the Seahawks. Olsen, 35, made three Pro Bowls and one Super Bowl with the Panthers, totaling 524 catches, 6,463 yards and 39 touchdowns.

JACOB KUPFERMAN | AP PHOTO

“My boys are not freakin’ role players. They’re superstars!”

LaVar Ball to TMZ Sports on son LaMelo Ball coming off the bench for the Hornets.

JASON E. MICZEK | AP PHOTO

NBA

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

MATT LUDTKE | AP PHOTO

“It just didn’t work out.”

Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur on deciding to kick a field goal with just over two minutes remaining on fourth‑and‑goal from the 8 in an eventual 31-26 loss to Tampa Bay. PRIME NUMBER

2,562 Career 3-pointers for Golden State guard Stephen Curry after he made five on Saturday night, passing Reggie Miller to move the former Davidson sharpshooter into second place in NBA history. Ray Allen is first with 2,973 in 1,300 games over 18 NBA seasons. Curry, 32, has played in just 715 games and is in his 12th year in the league, all with the Warriors.

JEFF ROBERSON | AP PHOTO

North Carolina native Ryan Zimmerman isn’t ready to retire just yet. The Nationals’ longesttenured player, who opted out of the coronavirus-shortened 2020 season, agreed to a deal worth $1 million to return to Washington for a 16th season.

The 36-year-old helped the Nationals to a World Series title in 2019.

ETHAN HYMAN | THE NEWS & OBSERVER VIA AP

Louisville and NC State remained 1-2 in The Associated Press women’s basketball poll released Monday. The Wolfpack topped Virginia Tech Sunday in their first game since Jan. 3 to remain unbeaten and keep alive the chance of NC State and the Cardinals meeting next Monday in Louisville as the top two teams in the country.

NHL

NICK WASS | AP PHOTO

When the Carolina Hurricanes return to the Metropolitan Division in 2021-22, they won’t see 6-foot-3 center PierreLuc Dubois lining up across from them when they face the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Instead it will former 40‑goal sniper Patrik Laine, who the Blue Jackets acquired along with Columbus native Jack Roslovic in a blockbuster trade Saturday that sent Dubois to Winnipeg.

North State Journal for Wednesday, January 27, 2021

B3

Cary to host MLB Draft combine Major League Baseball and USA Baseball have teamed up to provide a showcase for prospects ahead of the July draft The Associated Press CARY — Major League Baseball and the U.S. Baseball Federation will hold a showcase for prospects ahead of the amateur draft, which has been pushed back to July 11-13 and will hold its first night in Atlanta.

The first MLB Draft combine will be held at the USA Baseball training complex in Cary from June 20-28.

The top 88 high school prospects will be invited to play eight games from June 20-26, ending in bronze and gold medal games. The event will include medical and performance assessments for invited players.

88 High school players that will be invited to the first MLB Draft combine in Cary Participants of the first MLB Draft League will be invited to attend assessments. The Draft League, announced in November, is a woodbat circuit in which each of five or six teams will play a 68-game regular season that includes an All-Star break coinciding with the draft. The founding members are located in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New Jersey: the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, the State College Spikes, the Trenton Thunder, the West Virginia Black Bears and the Williamsport Crosscutters.

MLB’s amateur draft started in 1965 and previously was held in June.

This year’s draft will be at least 20 rounds as part of an agreement last March between MLB and the players’ association, up from five rounds last June, down from 40 rounds in 2019.

The first night of the draft had been in Secaucus, New Jersey, from 2009-19, then was held virtually last year. This year’s draft will be held in conjunction with the major league All-Star Game.

The second Product Development Pipeline League for player development will run from July 22 to Aug. 1 and include the top 96 high school players eligible for the 2022 amateur draft, MLB said Monday. It will be used to identify players for the U.S. under-18 national team; the first PDP League was held in 2019, and the 2020 event was canceled due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

GERRY BROOME | AP PHOTO

Wake Forest freshman guard Carter Whitt graduated high school early and joined the Demon Deacons in late December.

Wake Forest’s Whitt makes midseason jump from high school hoops to ACC After graduating early from Raleigh’s Leesville Road High School, the state’s top-ranked point guard is already a contributor for the Demon Deacons

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal UNDER DIFFERENT circumstances, Carter Whitt would have suited up as a member of the Leesville Road High basketball team for its game against Southeast Raleigh on Jan. 20.

Instead, he was at North Carolina’s Smith Center, playing for Wake Forest against the Tar Heels in a game televised nationally on ESPN. It’s a quantum leap that still seems a bit surreal to the teenage point guard, who graduated high school early to get a jump start on his college basketball career.

“Sometimes I’ll just be sitting down wherever and I’ll think, like, (a few) weeks ago I was at home and now I’m really playing in these games on TV,” he said. “It’s crazy, but I haven’t had a chance to soak it all in.”

Whitt been too busy trying to make an already difficult transition without the benefit of a summer conditioning program, preseason camp or a full nonconference schedule to get starry-eyed over his new surroundings.

He arrived in Winston-Salem two days before Christmas and played in his first college game nine days later, contributing 11 points and four assists in 25 minutes of a 70-62 win against Division II Catawba.

He made his ACC debut at Georgia Tech on Jan. 3 before making his first start — against preseason conference favorite Virginia, no less — in the next game.

While his performances thus far have fluctuated between an eight-point, threesteal, three-assist effort against Duke to a seven-minute cameo in which he was held scoreless while committing five turnovers in that Jan. 20 game at UNC, Wake coach Steve Forbes said that Whitt’s transition has been nothing short of remarkable.

“I think Carter has been outstanding,” the first-year Deacons coach said. “He has flawlessly learned everything we’ve been trying to do offensively as far as learning the plays.

“There are some things in high school that you get away with that you’re not going to get away with against Virginia or somebody like that. But his attitude has been unbelievable. He’s really meshed with our players. He should be playing high school basketball right now, but he’s playing against grown men.”

A 6-foot-4 Raleigh native with enough flowing blond hair to

“He should be playing high school basketball right now, but he’s playing against grown men.”

Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes on freshman guard Carter Whitt

make Fabio jealous, Whitt averaged 22.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 8.3 assists as a junior while leading Leesville Road to a 21-8 record and the Cap 7 Conference championship.

He earned All-Star honors in each of his three prep seasons and was rated as the No. 1 point guard prospect in North Carolina.

His plan all along was to skip his final season of high school and enroll early at Wake — the school his father attended and which he rooted for as a youngster.

The idea, however, was that he would simply practice, watch and learn in preparation for the 2021-22 season. But everything changed thanks to two unintended consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.

The first was an NCAA ruling that allowed athletes to participate in winter sports with-

ACC from page B1

KING from page B1

where experience is most valuable — point guard. UNC has two freshmen — Caleb Love and RJ Davis — running the point this season. Duke freshmen DJ Steward and Jeremy Roach have both spent large amounts of time at point. Even NC State has had freshmen Cam Hayes and Shakeel Moore playing big minutes in the backcourt.

“Right now, we’re playing two freshmen a lotta, lotta minutes,” NC State coach Kevin Keatts said. “In this league, it’s tough to win with freshmen, to have a freshman point or shooting guard. You hope you could bring freshmen along a little bit slower. They’ve been thrown in the fire. They’ve had to play a lot of big-time minutes.”

That’s not to say the freshmen guards have been a disaster. Love, Davis, Steward and Moore have all won ACC Freshman of the Week honors this season. The problem is, while they have moments where they shine, there are also turnovers, bad shots and head-scratching decisions.

“You look at most programs playing a freshman point guard or freshman guards, they typically struggle,” Keatts said. “I think that’s part of our issue right now.”

In a year when preseason practice was cut short and exhibition games were called off, this season’s freshmen started even farther behind than normal.

“It takes more time,” Williams said.

“You’ve got to be much more meticulous about what we’re doing, take time, give them a little more instruction.”

The good news is freshmen usually start to figure things out as the year goes

She began her football journey as a player, first with the Carolina Phoenix in the Women’s Football Association. She’s a 12-year veteran of the WFA and has played quarterback, receiver and defensive back as a pro.

“I’ve been a quarterback in four different systems,” she said. “I’ve learned a lot of various offenses and, obviously, learned defenses as well. … I can draw from so many different areas. It’s helped me a lot, playing different positions.”

King continued the hard work that impressed Flamini at Guilford. While working with the Panthers as a coaching intern, she commuted to New York for practices and games with the WFA New York Sharks, where she was continuing to play.

“I don’t have a pet or any kids or anything,” she said at the time. “It’s my life. It’s what I do. I have really long days, but it’s all worth it to get this opportunity.”

That opportunity now has her cracking through the glass ceiling in NFL coaching. After a year as an offensive intern with the Washington Football Team — whose coach, Ron Rivera, was familiar with her from her stint with the Panthers — King has now been promoted to assistant running backs coach — a full-time job coaching NFL players.

“It’s great,” Flamini said. “We always talk about how men have more opportunities in coaching because they can coach women.

Women don’t have the opportunity to coach men. (In basketball) the game is the game, but football is a little different. There really hasn’t been the opportunity for women in football.

So it’s great to see that even in sports we don’t necessarily have on the women’s side, women can coach men.”

King has said she hopes to one day work her

CURTIS COMPTON | AP PHOTO

UNC has relied on guard Caleb Love along with other freshmen this season — and the Tar Heels have also had to go through the expected growing pains of a utilizing a young roster. on. UNC is already showing signs of having things click. Duke, State and even Kentucky could be the next to see things start to turn.

Until they do, it will be more early-morning crash courses — literally.

out using a year of eligibility. The second was the loss of graduate transfer guard Ian DuBose, who has been sidelined indefinitely because of complications from COVID-19.

While Whitt said that his unexpected entry into the college game has been less challenging than he expected — saying that “for the most part, I think it’s been a pretty good transition” — he understands things are likely to get more complicated once Wake’s spring semester begins next week and he’ll have to start juggling his academic work with his athletic education.

“Right now, since nobody’s here and we’re not in classes, it’s really just basketball camp.

That’s what it feels like,” he said.

“When school starts, I think that’s when more adjustments will need to be made.”

Whitt still has some adjusting to do on the court as well.

Through his first seven games, Whitt is averaging 4.0 points, 2.4 assists and 3.7 turnovers per game while shooting just 28.9% from the floor.

“Probably the biggest adjustment has just been the length, with a lot of the passes, adjusting to that,” he said. “I feel comfortable now. There’s times when it’s kind of iffy, especially the first Georgia Tech game. But Virginia and Duke, it’s been good. I feel like our team is getting better, and I’m getting better too.”

“There really hasn’t been the opportunity for women in football. So it’s great to see that even in sports we don’t necessarily have on the women’s side, women can coach men.”

Guilford College women’s basketball coach Stephanie Flamini on former player Jennifer King

way up to become an offensive coordinator, although Flamini has even loftier goals for her former player.

“I would like to see her be a head coach one day,” she said.

Regardless of where she eventually ends up, King is getting used to her current position as a role model.

“I do (realize it) now,” she said last season. “I didn’t start out in this journey to do that, but I’m constantly receiving messages from people that I am a role model. Eventually, I realized that I kind of am. I don’t take it lightly.”

King also knows the importance of letting people see that a black woman can excel in a position normally reserved for men.

“Know that you can do anything,” she said while with Panthers. “It’s so special to see someone in a position you never thought you could be in. I’m kind of like Black Panther.

There never was a black superhero, and now there is. It’s like, ‘Holy cow. That’s really cool to see.’ For little girls, what I want for them is to know that if that’s what they want to do, they can do it.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, January 27, 2021

B4 COLUMN | BRETT FRIEDLANDER

In 1970s Atlanta, Aaron was our hero — and he still is

It’s hard to imagine the pressure Aaron must have felt under such extreme circumstances.

But he never let it show. He always carried himself with incredible grace and poise.

GROWING UP in Atlanta, I spent a lot of warm summer nights during the 1970s going to the ballpark with my homeroom buddy Steve Fritts to watch the Braves play baseball.

Being a Braves fan wasn’t as much fun or as cool back then as it is now.

The team was terrible, losing 90 or more games five times during the decade. But tickets were cheap and plentiful, it only cost a quarter to ride the MARTA bus to the stadium, and teenagers were afforded much more freedom from their parents than they have today.

Even though those Braves were usually eliminated from pennant contention by Memorial Day, there were still two compelling reasons to go watch them play beyond the fact that it gave us something to do.

Phil Niekro and Hank Aaron.

The former was a workhorse pitcher whose baffling knuckleball gave the team a chance to win whenever he was on the mound. The latter was capable of making history every time he swung the bat as he chased Babe Ruth to become baseball’s all-time home run king.

Sadly, both heroes from my childhood — along with longtime Braves broadcaster and fellow Hall of Famer Don Sutton — have passed away over the past few weeks.

Aaron’s death last Friday was especially heartbreaking, I still have vivid memories of April 8, 1974, the night the man known as “The Hammer” passed Ruth by hitting his 715th career home run.

Most nights, my friends and I were able to sit anywhere we wanted in the nearly empty stadium because of low attendance. Usually that meant sitting directly behind home plate or strategically fanned out along one of the foul lines poised to chase foul balls.

This time, however, we were relegated to the highest reaches of the upper deck. That is until most of the 55,000 in attendance headed home shortly after Aaron broke the record.

Because we were sitting in left field and had a somewhat obstructed view, I didn’t actually see the ball go over the fence. But the roar of the crowd and the fireworks that went off as the great man circled the bases left no doubt as to what had happened.

Thankfully, I thought enough to keep the commemorative certificate they handed out as everyone was leaving the stadium.

As awe-inspiring an event as it was at the time, it wasn’t until years later — after Aaron began to publicly disclose the details of what he went through during his home run chase — that I fully understood the magnitude of his accomplishment and the courage it took for him to pursue it.

It also put a much different focus on another

HARRY HARRIS | AP PHOTO

Atlanta Braves slugger Hank Aaron eyes the flight of the ball after hitting his 715th career home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 8, 1974, in Atlanta. childhood memory of Aaron.

This one happened after a random game during the summer of 1973, a time in which it no longer seemed a matter of if he’d catch The Babe, but rather when it would happen.

One of our postgame rituals was to hang around the tunnel where the players left the stadium so we could get autographs of our favorites.

Aaron, of course, was the biggest prize.

The problem was that unlike the other players, the team’s brightest star would already be in a car as he left the stadium.

We thought he was simply being aloof. As it turns out, his efforts to avoid us were motivated by the constant stream of hate mail and death threats he and his family were receiving from racists upset that a black man was about to break one of the game’s most revered records. One set by an iconic white man.

Imagine then, the uneasiness Aaron must have felt the night my friend Steve — noticing who was sitting in the back seat — thrust the ball and pen

he was holding into a half-open window while the car was stopped to let a group of autograph seekers clear its path.

Steve eventually got the autograph, but not before running about 200 yards alongside the car as it began driving away.

That incident was benign compared to the sight of two fans charging onto the field to congratulate him a year later during his historic 715th home run trot.

It’s hard to imagine the pressure Aaron must have felt under such extreme circumstances. But he never let it show. He always carried himself with incredible grace and poise.

That was his nature.

Whether it was his play on the field, which was never truly appreciated until late in his career, his involvement with the civil rights movement, his groundbreaking work with the Braves front office, his performance as an ambassador to the game he loved or the way he reacted to Barry Bonds’ controversial breaking of his home run record, Aaron did it with class, humility and a quiet confidence that served as an example to all.

Especially a once-young baseball fan who now realizes how lucky he was to be a Braves fan growing up in Atlanta during the 1970s.

Unbeaten Wolfpack wrestling again aiming for national title NC State’s perfect season last year was stopped because of the coronavirus

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal RALEIGH — COVID-19 succeeded where everyone on NC State’s wrestling schedule failed in 2020.

It denied the Wolfpack a chance at victory.

Coach Pat Popolizio’s talented team went undefeated through its dual match season for the first time in school history, then swept to its second straight ACC Tournament championship.

It was all set to make a legitimate run at the national title, with eight wrestlers qualifying for the final meet in Minnesota last March, when the NCAA halted all athletic activities over coronavirus pandemic concerns.

The lost opportunity still stings.

But because everyone on the team is back for another season together, the disappointment has also become a powerful source of motivation.

“We have this thing called ‘Double Down,’” said 165-pounder Thomas Bullard, one of four seniors on State’s roster. “We missed last year, so this year counts for double. This team is ready to go.

We’re very fired up. The whole squad, top to bottom, we’re all in for this season.”

Although the Wolfpack’s toughest tests are still ahead, starting with Friday’s showdown against archrival North Carolina, Bullard and his teammates are off to a strong start.

Ranked No. 4 in the nation with 21 consecutive dual match victories, they’re off to a 4-0 start that includes a 27-6 drubbing of 12thranked Pittsburgh. Nine of their 10

“We missed last year, so this year counts for double.

This team is ready to go.

We’re very fired up. The whole squad, top to bottom, we’re all in for this season.”

Thomas Bullard, NC State wrestler

starters are listed among the nation’s top 18 in their weight classes, and three — brothers Hayden Hidlay (No. 2 at 157 pounds) and Trent Hidlay (No. 4 at 184), and Jakob Camacho (No. 4 at 125) — are among the top five.

The other ranked wrestlers are Jarrett Trombley at 133 (No. 14), Tariq Wilson at 141 (No. 11), Thomas Bullard at 165 (No. 15), his twin brother Daniel at 174 (No. 11), Isaac Trumble at 197 (No. 17) and Deonte Wilson at 285 (No. 18).

As good as the team was in 2020, this version has the potential to be even better.

Not only are the returning wrestlers a year more experienced and determined, but the lineup has been bolstered by one of the nation’s best recruiting classes. It’s a group headlined by true freshman Trumble, who scored a 6-1 upset of Pitt’s fifth-ranked Nino Bonaccorsi in his Wolfpack debut.

“We have everybody back from a year ago, so talent-wise we’re in a good spot,” Popolizio said. “We’ve upgraded some weight classes and added a lot of depth. We’re dangerous when we’re all on the same page.

“The hard part is that you want to build chemistry, and to do that, you have to be around each oth-

PHOTO COURTESY OF NC STATE ATHLETICS

NC State wrestling coach Pat Popolizio has built the Wolfpack into a national contender. er. With COVID going on, we’re talking on a computer half the time. It’s challenging.”

Challenging but not impossible thanks to a group of self-motivated athletes united by a common goal and leaders the likes of Hayden Hidlay.

“Starting out this summer, we needed to make sure we kept our heater rolling because we had such a great season last year,” the three-time ACC champion and All-American said. “We have a core group of guys that have been together, some of us for five years now. It was just a matter of how can we implement the culture into the new freshmen.”

The process started with a series of Zoom meetings, not all of which had to do with wrestling.

“We tried at least once a week to meet with the team, whether it was sharing a book someone was reading, talking about a podcast we’d

all listened to,” Hidlay said. “All of that helped us out because whenever we were able to come back to campus, we were able to hit the ground running and get back to work. We spent a lot of time making sure we didn’t miss a beat.”

It’s an attitude that has helped the team avoid complacency as it awaits the postseason opportunity it missed out on a year ago. But as prepared as the Wolfpack are to take on all comers, it can still be tripped up by a familiar obstacle that’s out of its control.

COVID-19 has already hit close to home with both State’s men’s and women’s basketball teams forced into prolonged pauses because of outbreaks among their ranks. While the wrestling team is taking every precaution it can — from isolating itself whenever possible and practicing in small groups to the sanitizing of mats between bouts during matches —

there’s no way to completely eliminate the threat of the virus.

That’s especially the case in a sport that involves so much close physical contact.

“One thing I trust is the discipline of our team,” Hayden Hidlay said. “In basketball, they have to go up against five guys at a time. In wrestling, it’s not as bad because you’re either practicing with the guy you live with or just one partner for the week.”

So far, the Wolfpack have managed to stay COVID-free since the start of competition. Staying that way, however, isn’t always in its control.

“I hope these (other) guys are doing the same things we are trying to stay safe,” Thomas Bullard said of his team’s opponents. “I could win, but if he infected me, that would be a loss. It would be heartbreaking if something like that were to happen.”

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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.

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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.

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The most 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 eventleast happens such as the to companies who will source half their GREENSBORO — Over the at course ofimportant the of past year pply and delivery they find in adversaries and keep pushing until they win or the because it U.S. tax credits to companies who will source at least half of theirproductionmeltdown 1986.

Some that event, not the S theyexperts hope tobelieve back infast thein United There approximately $120 food driveStates. throughs andisfast casual curbside to adversaries push back. be open or closed, wh production back in the United States. There is approximately $120 program of Reagan, led directly to the dissolution of the Sov billion worth of American plants and equipment knowmassive what in they go diningdirect have investment seen increases in popularisaster 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.ity in China. Chinese direct investment in the U.S. is about $65 billion during the coronavirus pandemic.

Yet even un- by don’t. half of their meltdown in 1986. Some experts believe that event, not the Star Wars oughtbetothose lock down fu der normal circumstances there will always 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 seen case fat regional fast food on joints that locals crave whenever An investment tax credit of 30% half of U.S. investment in China comparison.

Senators in Washington are already talking about the pos s and equipment in 1989. the number of they’re away.toHeadquartered in Greensboro, Biscuit- identifi today, or $60 billion, applied repatriated American manufacturing investment tax credit of 30% on half of U.S. investment in China of China forgiving $1.2 trillion in debt owe them as one w out $65 billion by Perhaps COVID-19An is China’s Chernobyl. ville Fresh Southern is certainly onewe of these places and the denominator investmentChina to the to U.S. would cost the U.S. Treasury $18 billion in today, or $60 billion, applied to repatriated American manufacturing “pay” for the damage they have caused the US. Don and the family-owned company has people becomehave wild-actually Senators in Washington are already talking about the possibility tax revenue spread over a few years. $18 billion in lost revenue is ly successful since first opening its doors as a pizza 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 in trillion+ Marshall are now restaurant 1966. In fact, USAPlan Today recentrevenue they spread over a few years. $18 billion in lost revenue is decimal dust representatives toback hold China accountable inwe tangible financ n manufacturing China to “pay” for tax the damage have caused the US. Don’t hold your of death, particularly undertaking to disaster. save ownBiscuitville economy, number not of defeated as in the ly our named seven inenemies its “10 Best 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 joints suggest the n Readers’ Choice” list of best regional fast-food past. to save ourinown economy, notways of defeated enemies as in the It is about time they arewinners, expected to operate as responsibl t revenue is representatives to undertaking hold China accountable tangible financial for many people are dyin 2020.

The top ten in order were: American Sheetz, China has been for cheating, stealing, pirating and pillaging Plan we are now this disaster. past. the world like any other modern nation.

Even more importa PDQ, Hamburgers, Pal’s Sudden Service, business now for the pastSchoop’s 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 Whataburger, Cook Out, Biscuitville, Hattie B’s Hot 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 Chicken, In-N-Out Burger, and Zippy’s. 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.

Furthermore, the fast-food industry as a whole laging American number of people wh intend to replace the U.S. as the premier superpower in the world and Among other gains, company is currently in the midst of what has been dubbed no secret that they replace the dollar as the reserve currency with their renminbi. names Kathie S. Niven new CEO “the chicken sandwich wars,” with at least 10 major in the world and U.S. chains including McDonald’s, Shake Shack and enminbi.

Jack in the Box introducing fried chicken sandwichEDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS es over the last four months. According to the Wall

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Business & Economy CES VISUAL VISUAL VOICES

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Business on the rise for hometown favorite Biscuitville

Street Journal, “the hottest item in the burger business is chicken” with some franchisees even calling the chicken sandwich “the future of eating out.”

EDITORIAL | FRA Biscuitville is a family-owned company serving auCOLUMN REP.sourced RICHARD HU EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL Southern food made from|locally inCOLUMNthentic | BEN SHAPIRO gredients. Known as the Home of the Biscuit Window Since 1966®, Biscuitville makes its award winning North State Journal for Wednesday, April 15, 2020 biscuits every 15 minutes. The company was founded

by Maurice Jennings who opened two pizza restaurants in Burlington, NC. Using a family recipe, he latCERTAIN; after this COVID-19 virus dissipates The cavalier manner in which China lied about the origin ofSTATES the WITH MOST either shelter-in-place or stay-at-homeONE er addedunder fresh-baked biscuits to the menu—which 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 The cavalier in which arounC orders thanks to local or state governments, majority ofmanner Americans proved so popular, the brandaevolved to become BisTHIS WEEK, 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 virus, covered up its spread t are having to adjust to what is being the “new normal.” cuitville.

Today, theycalled are perhaps best known for their 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. classic Southern breakfast.

Biscuitville employs over Some of these orders extend at least through the end of this month. In o ce orcan stay-at-home fallen to into place.

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I know that during 1,800 people and operates in North Carolina and Virthanks 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 ginia. 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 about 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 Here in North Democratic Gov.when Roycrisis Cooper stated during our 23 normal.” questions and when things can start getting back to The chain’s success dates back long before a globhave 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 with contempt. a recent coronavirus press briefing that “we just don’t know yet” if the China: 1957 “Asian flu,” 1968 “Hong Kong flu,” 1977 markets and outlets.

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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

Innovative solutions he student debt dilemma

directly to to China: flu,” 1968They’re “Hong orders Kong flu,” markets and financial If t Virginia’s stay-at-home orders go into June. treated as1977 though we as a society simplyoutlets. must acce state’s stay-at-home will extend 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 “Russian flu” and the 2002 SARS outbreak.

There is evidence that the currency, we would not be able PHOTO VIA BISCUITVILLE Perhaps WALTER E.decide WILLIAMS If he to extend questions beabout asked when as to the See BISCUITVILLE, pageshould B7 in North Carolina, Democratic Roy Cooper stated during question what theit, government tells us it’s massiv safe to toa nish flu”WALTER pandemic 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 inflationalso and currency pandemic.

COVID-19 1918 “Spanish flu” pandemic also had its origins in China. measures immediate fea for it. And the answers should not be vague ones like “we a recent press briefing that “we just don’t know yet” ifjustification the transparency process of returning back to normalcy.

COVID-19 greement, China, of that COVID-19 depreciation.

Theis know yet” outside if the of process returning back tocoronavirus normalcy.

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. 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 shop, travel and eat out, have led 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 to sharp spending cutbacks.

Revmust 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 and regulation of and fair trade.

Totalitarian are reliable.

— need to enue atiswe restaurants bars 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, I’ve gone along with what the state has asked and then plunged 21% what in 2020. 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 The loss ofthat so we many mandated do,jobs but has 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 atand 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 supply delivery they findthe in adversaries and keep meant hardship for millions of 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 American households.

In Decems.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 were ked and then with that give their believability. important because it determines whether certain nt happens such asThat the Chernobyl ber, employers cut 140,000 positheThe vaccine offers a light at the endthen By Christopher Rugaber this difficult Th To date, I’veUniversity gone along with what theexogenous state has asked and with that their statements most direct way 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 is tostatements offer they hope todetails That is, unless an event happens such 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 tions, the first loss since April and questions about We should all continue to do what we can keep our families, of the tunnel, we’re still far away The Associated Press 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 simply questioning the andfor asking when we can start getting back ISAs under its “Back a Boiler” plan.

The program is 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 the sixth straight month indata which fromstill a complete reopening of thefrom safe.

But we also continue more liberalized society that presumes wide sprea Sponsored by should the dissolution of the Soviet In thisled same spirit Sponsored

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Let’s first examine production back in the United States.

There is approximately $120 program of Reagan, directly t thewhat data.

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But we should also stil Sponsored by nue the United States.

There is approximately $120 program of Reagan, led directly to the dissolution of the Soviet to do, last I to normal as though they are conspiracy theorists or are people who being funded by the Purdue Research Foundation, diligence lending to 18-yearbit of remediation.

Let’s first examine what living in a free don’t. produ hiring has weakened.

The unemeconomy that could drive rehiring WASHINGTON, D.C. — reasonable The afterdown ourinown asked, there to of ask questions about the data, because while stay-at-home ought to lock further. mightisbe the root academic corruption, neighbors helping ne billion worth of American direct investment in plants and equipment 1989.

Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get asked, there is to ask questions about the data, because while reasonable st part of university’s endowment.

It’s afurther smallchecked. ers. And direct the fearinvestment of students in filing for and number might be therate root of academic corruption, otherwise don’t care if they merican inseeking 1989. ployment remained stuck atget a themselves or others sick. and stem layoffs.” of the Americans un- an billion bysociety the title were of aplants recent study,equipment ehernobyl. to treatsuggested those that measures areand understandable, they should also have expiration date.

We’ve seen rates — Concord, the number of Cd temporary In aexpi high in China.

Chinese direct investment in the U.S. is about $65 billion by case fatality Perhaps COVID-19 China’s program now but is already showing positive results. ydirect would ensure loans are small suggested by the title of a recent study, sometimes a disturbing tendency among some people to treat those measures are understandable, they also have an still-high 6.7%.

New viral infections have beSince when did questioning government at all should levels become aisbad employment benefits fell slightly investment in the U.S. is about $65 billion by Perhaps COVID-19 is China’s Chernobyl.

“Academic Grievance Studies and the in Chi North State Journal for Wednesday, April 15, 2020 start getting back This is all new to Americans, and it is not normal.

Not in any way, the number of identified COVID-19 cases — but b eady talking about supposed the possibility money to buyNot aare 3-D sacrifices are Purdue’s explains aand few of the of can Grievance Studies and theAmericans, comparison.

Senators Washington alr Yet are signs that theto gun to benefits slow after months oftalking re-“Academic last week to website 900,000, still a histhing?

That isThis what citizens living in a free were supposed simply questioning the data asking whenat we start getting backthere isfree all new andsociety it isin not normal. in a Corruption of Scholarship.”

The study was Senators in Washington are already about the possibility compa are people who shape, or form.

So while we should remain vigilant and stay safe, and the denominator are likely wrong.

We don’t k we owe as one way toand get analysistorically health$1.2 caretrillion workers $900 federal aidform. package ISAs: high lentless increases, though they hdebt a solution isthem politically unpopular.

Corruption of of Scholarship.”

The study was level that points to Happy 95th birthday An$1.2 investment tax credit ofowe 30% on half U.S. investment inwhile China of China forgiving in over. to do,billion last Ishape, checked. done by Areo, an opinion to do, last I to normal as though they are conspiracy theorists or are people who or So we should remain vigilant and stay ax credit of 30% on half of U.S. investment in China of China forgiving trillion in debt we them as one way to get An the same time we shouldn’t get comfortable with this remain so-called “new people have actually died coronavirus.

Some soi yick. have caused the US. Don’t hold your enacted latean last monthasand may have high and are averaging ongoing job cuts in apayment raging panThe standard period for theor Back onsiderably reduce the number of byMy Areo, opinion analysis today, $60 billion, applied done to repatriated American manufacturing China to of “pay” the damage digital magazine.

By American the way, Areo is short first concern we go along in all this, of course, isfor my family.

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The numdemic. today, number has been overestimated, given that classifi ee”totoborrow happen but ask your elected makingto it the U.S. would digital ble for college and would magazine.

Bythem the$18 way, Areo the is short 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 whenDepartment’s did questioning government atinall levels become alarge bad normal.”

U.S. would cost thein U.S. Treasury $18 partask thanks toelected $600 checks breath waiting forofrevenue adeaths Chinese “Jubilee” tofew happen but your ber the United States Thein Labor report 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 Company John Milton defense of free speech. tax spread over a years. $18 billion lost revenue is representatives to hold China acc suffering from the H1N1 virus flu) during the 2009 pandemic, being sent to most adults.

The govfrom the pandemic thatwere eruptunderscored that Pres- living thing?

ThatIn isaddition, whatrepresentatives free ina asix-month free society supposed Not one little bit.(swine over a few years.majoring $18 billion in lost revenue is to hold China accountable in tangible financial ways for terms. all citizens students receive disfavor students in soft but John Milton in defense of free speech.

Authors Helen Pluckrose, James A.Thursday sources suggest the number is dramatically under tax decimal dust compared to the $6 trillion+ Marshall Plan we are now this disaster.

I’ve been trying to take extra because all of this brings up rev ernment began distributing theprecautions, ed 10 months ago has surpassed Authors ident Joe hasthis inherited an before MT. —Peter Fans today can enjoy towe do, last IBiden checked. grace period post-graduation payments begin.

Lindsay and Boghossian say has that Helen Pluckrose, James A. pared tofamily. theOLIVE $6I’m trillion+ Marshall Plan are now e, is my Stacey Matthews also written under thedisaster. pseudonym Sister Toldjah many people are dying home. diplines. to operate as responsible citizens of decim undertaking to save our own economy, not of defeated enemies as in the It is at about timenot they expect payments the end of last month.

400,000. way and too at many memories ofsay a painful experience I’d prefer to are repeat. economy that faltered this winter a crisp Mt. Olive Pickle thanks to wrong something has gone drastically Once a recipient makes successful payments for e are solutions that can be implemented — Lindsay 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 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. the forward-thinking business under past. the world like any other modern Those payments have likely Economists say one factor that as virus cases spiked, cold weather But what alsodrastically makes mewrong lose sleep is how easily most everyone has in academia, especially the prescribed term of the contract, no additional s acrimonious political climate.within certain something has gone 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 thefederal worldreslike any otherincreased modern nation. helped drive anand increase in spendhas likely claims restricted dining and has beenjobless cheating, stealing, pirating pillaging American past. leaders of the North Carolina town fields within the humanities.

They payments required even if(swine theyChina have paid less solution has been referred to as “skin in call in academia, especially within of this brings upOlive back ofcertain identified suffering fromare the H1N1 virus the pandemic, ing They on debit and credit cards is-that theycases could be an order of magnitude in theflu) pastduring two weeks is2009 a governcue aid expired.

The government cheating, stealing, pirating and pillaging American of Mount in 1926. business now for the past 30 years. have made no secret these fields “grievance studies,” where Chin than amount of funding they received.

Suchnot a policy would call for institutions fields within the of humanities.

They call NealinRobbins, publisher | Frank Hill,coronavirus senior opinion sued

by Bank America, econorefer toThat’s repeat. ment financial aid the package thatthe said 5.1the million Americans are number of people who have had and n I’ve been trying to take extra precautions, because all of this brings up right: America’s favorite he past 30 years.

They have made no secret that they scholarship is not so much based upon intend to replace U.S. as premier superpower the world and busine Both ISAs and state skin in the game hare in the credit risk of every student fields “grievance studies,” where A Magical Night mists at the bank wrote last week. waspolicies signed would into law in late not De-these continuing to receive jobless ost everyone has pickle company isinstitution.

95 years old.In intothe finding truththe but upon attending way too many memories of abenefits. painful experience I’dasprefer tocurrency repeat. he as premier superpower world and replace the dollar the reserve their renminbi. have many down-stream Both would put outU.S. a loan tothe attend scholarship iswith not so much based upon intend Total card spending jumped 9.7% cember.

Among other things, it benefits, down from 5.2 million social grievances.

Grievance In the 1920s, several produce in Albemarle But what also makesThat meto lose sleep is how easily most federal everyone has as the reserve currency with their renminbi. pressure on universities keep tuition low and his means that universities would bescholars on finding truth butthat uponended attending to for the week Jan. 9 provided a $300-a-week replac in the previous week. sugbully students, administrators and other markets in town served a offset some of the artificial pressure on demand for or some part of student loan debt when social grievances.

Grievance scholars compared with a year earlier.

That unemployment benefit on top of gests that while some of the unMagic will be in the air at the departments into adhering wide agricultural region.

While to their higher education. would also alignstate universities’ efault. Such a policyThe would require action students, and other Albemarle was up from administrators a 2% year-over-year regular jobless aid. The newbully employed are finding They jobs, others worldview. worldview they promote is Jason Neighborhood Theater cucumbers grew well in the area, interests with those of students.

Universities would ss since student loans are disbursed by the increase before the stimulus paydepartments into adhering to their benefit, which runs through midare likely using up their state benneither scientific rigorous.

Grievance this weekend — literally. Magician there wasn’t muchnor market for them.

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS ments, Bank America said.

March, be encouraging moreworldview. efits transitioning to separate beand invested in student success, not just may increased ernment.

The of worldview they promote is studies of disciplines and illusionist Bryan Saint will Facedconsist with bumper crops ofsuch as extended-benefit programs.

Last week, nor Biden unveiled a Americans to apply for aid.

THEWS enrollment. Some universities would probably begin ther solution can be implemented locally. neither scientific rigorous.

Grievance sociology, anthropology, gender studies, EDITORIAL | STAC spend the evening in the public cucumbers rotting in the fields, $1.9 consist trillionof coronavirus planRICHARD Once become morestudies More than 10 million people to offer better guidance toare students whenvaccines they choose of institutions are already giving it critical a disciplines such as COLUMN | REP. HUDSON queer studies, sexuality and race power community amazing the group established a pickle that would provide, among distributed, economists ex-sociology, receiving from classes those extendmajors,aid choose and takewidely out loans. e Share Agreements (ISAs). ISAs are anthropology, genderothstudies, studies. company, reasoning that a new er things, $1,400 checks forcritical most race audiences with professional pect growth to accelerate in the ed programs, which now offer up These innovative solutions will do what “Free l agreements in which students receive queer studies, sexuality and In 2017 and 2018, authors Pluckrose, magic. All of his tricks are familymarket for area farmers would Americans, which, on top of the half of the year as Amer-studies. to College” 50 weekscannot: of benefits, or from a second and Boghossian started make students and universities funding Lindsay in exchange for a predetermined friendly, so this is a night out the benefit the local economy. They $600 checks already being disicans unleash pent-up demand new program that provides benesubmitting bogusover academic papers to behave more wisely and act together towards the post-graduation income a certain In 2017 and 2018, authors Pluckrose, whole family can enjoy. named the company for their to contractors and the self-em- for travel, dining out and visiting tributed, would bring the total to academic in cultural, queer, fitssame goal. That goal is to create educated, wise years. The percentjournals of income and number Lindsay and Boghossian started Saint won the popular network hometown. ployed. All told, nearly 16 million movie theaters and concert halls. $2,000 per adult. gender, fat and sexuality studies and were productive graduates. Only with spending smart policies n changerace, based uponin January a student’s major and people submitting bogus academic papers to TV show Penn & Teller: Fool Us Organized 1926 and The new plan would also make Such should, in theory, on unemployment in determine if they would pass peer student success can we ensure tential. to journals cultural, queer, with wiles including manipulating available $400 ainweek in federal hiring andthat start to regainacademic thethat weekincentivize that ended Jan. 2, the lat- boost formally incorporated a few “THIS IS THEfallen DAYinto the lord has made, let usthe r seriousness of the virus and the need review and be accepted forweeks publication.

WITH MOST STATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-home place.

I understand colleges truly provide value for students, parents, e a good deal for students because they race, gender, fat and sexuality studies a phone charging cord right in benefits for jobless Americans and the nearly 10 million jobs lost to est period for which data is availlaterpeople in February, Mt. Olive Pickle that Acceptance of dubious research inpeer it” (Psalm 118:24). y with who simply ask 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 a student who to determine if they would pass front of everyone’s eyes. He has extend a moratorium on evictions the pandemic. able.

Company started with $19,000 in editors found sympathetic to their I know that during this challenging time of soc n thingsjournal can start getting back to TATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-home fallen into place.

I understand the seriousness of the virus the need are having tothe adjust to what isreview being called theand “new normal.” questions about the data, and wh and be accepted for publication. the more traditional coin and and foreclosures through SeptemBut for now, economy is los“Unemployment claims conWIT capital and a 3,600 square foot intersectional or postmodern leftist vision working from home or his losing a job, it may becircle diffi withorcontempt.

Acceptance of dubious research that Some of these orders extend at least through the end of this month. normal are treated in some ber.

Biden’s proposal will require ing ground.

Retail sales have fallcal state governments, a majority of Americans tinue to show a job market unto take precautions, but I’m uneasy with how people who simply ask card tricks up sleeve too.

And building.

By year’s 37 local orders of the world wouldend, prove the problem of be glad” aswatching the Bible tellsis us to do. as However, as aasC a society simply must accept editors found sympathetic to their approval, and en for three straight months.

Re-journal able to progress further as long as Saint atreated performance Virginia’s orders gocongressional into June.

They’re though we st to what isacademic being called thewithout “new questions about the data,stay-at-home and when things can start getting back to some men and women – among them normal.” low standards. are haj and the Easter holiday has reminded me of congressional Republicans havedad, sders us about when it’s safe to begin the strictions on restaurants, bars COVID-19 remains in the drivintersectional or postmodern leftist vision in itself, because he’s also a voice Here in North Carolina, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper stated during question what the government tel merchants, physicians, prominent Several of the fake research papers extend at least through the end of this month. normal are treated in some circles with contempt.

Som already expressed reservations some coronavirus stores, along with a briefing re-of the er’s seat,” said Daniel Zhao, senior and world“we would prove the problem of have to be thankful and hopeful for,that even in the m alcy. were actor.

That all-knowing voice accepted for publication.

The Fat farmers, railroad men, and even a recent press that just don’t know yet” if the process of returning back to norm home orders go into June.

They’re treated as though weAmericans as a society simply must accept Virgin about its size.

EFF SENATOR luctance of most tolow economist at Glassdoor.

“While academic standards.

Lenten and without trailers and radio works pandemic.narrates movie us, and TARTE, we have theFORMER right to ask still those Studies journal published aNC hoaxSTATE paper one 23-year-old mechanic state’s stay-at-home orders will extend into May. No. The government for when did arolina,that Democratic Gov. Roy Cooperwas stated during Since question what the government tells us about Several when it’s safefake to begin thepapers of the research might Saint’s! the term bodybuilding For me, commercials? my faith is anIt important part ofstay-atmyHer da home orders are in place all over the livingargued at home – had invested in the Easter seasons If heback doesto decide to extend it, questions should be asked as to the questions.

Andbethe longer us press briefing that “we just don’t know yet” if the process of returning normalcy. questioning Saint is a native of nearby were accepted for publication.

The Fat exclusionary and should be replaced a recen fledgling firm. 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 e orders will extend into No. The government works for us, and we have journal the right to ask those with “fat bodybuilding, as a fat-inclusive In this Dec.government and reminds he’ll makeus theour Lord Studies published a hoax paper Charlotte, In the earliest days,May. employees state’s Corinthians 1:4, which “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 10, 2020, file of bodybuilding politicized performance.” short drive over to Stanly that argued the term was so engtofor extend it,oldquestions should be reviewer asked as to the questions. And the longer stay-at-home orders are message in place all over theaffliction, used coffee potsdemand to pourOne sweet If he that we may be able to comfort those their families, will photo, a “Now 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 “Ibrine thoroughly this like “we questioning County for his special Albemarle and should be replaced hope that we will pickle into jars.enjoyed At night And thesaid, answers should not bereading vague ones country, and the some themjobless get exclusionary in and states, such as Michigan, affliction, with the comfort which we ourselves ar justific arestricter being told to of remain atbodybuilding, home for an undetermined answers. article and believe it has an important Hiring” signbecome a performance.

Enjoy a night out with “fat as a fat-inclusive after supper, the directors of the once again enjoy government an should abundance caution.” the more people, sittingofat home feeling isolated and/or anxious aboutGod.”of cases hangs on the vels be as of forthcoming as they must d contribution to make to the field and this amount time why models predicting hundreds of thousands Leaders at the local and state le politicized performance.” One reviewer while supporting the community’s company, including the local bank thing?they can get back to providing for their front wallbad when sporting events, e explained in detail to the people of this state who families, will demand If you are celebrating the Easter season, I urge again, not vague answers, but answer journal.” at all levels It w are reliable. can be with those answers — and recently renovated Albemarle in Elderly persons with underlying conditions said, “I thoroughly enjoyed reading this ORMER president, state senator, have been asked wouldI go down to the ofplace. a Harbor “Ourand Struggle Is Myfor Struggle: Solidarity Thatanswers. is what emain jobless at the home an undetermined reflect message and be comforted, that ents believability. concerts, Neighborhood Theater, To for date, I’vetime, gone along with whatand the state has asked and thenon this with details that give theirso statem are be would be monitored by health teams some article believe itfamily has an important s what I plant would the stay-atto do glueregarding on jar labels.

Less become aa key Freight Tools Feminism as anfamilies, Intersectional Reply to 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 part of the town’s downtown 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, than 20 years later, in 1943, Mt. amoun store.

Neoliberal and Feminism,” was bad thing? this difficult time.

Through faith and by fe. on ButApril we should alsoChoice still continue revitalization plans.

It’s our almost toohelping can be with those answers — and again, not vague answers, but answer Led by our major health system leaders and journal.” res 29.

Olive implemented a profit sharing the data.

State Republican leaders have, too. ourselves, and communities are relos church services living in a free accepted for publication by Affilia, a good totobelieve —out just like Saint’s confident we will emerge of this pandemic ecause while reasonable stay-at-home the North Carolina Hospital Association, I would “Our Struggle Is My Struggle: Solidarity plan for employees, one of the first te senator recently said we are going to That 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 journal for social workers. The Tostrb d and an many more society wereprimary suppliers and a magic.spirit, The show begins at p.m.

Inthose this I continue to7be inspired the by yow should alsocompanies have 200 inin the country haveabout a master planWe with Feminism Intersectional Reply to same four things: whoan isexpiration sick, who not,questions tendency some people to treat measures are understandable, do, but paper along the way I’ve also had should allsometimes continue atodisturbing do what we can toamong keep as our families, consisted part of is adate. rewritten free citizens manda after our own Feminism,” and tickets are $15 for adults, to normal. dowho so. from That plan isIany still in place supposed forourselves, manufacturers N.C. to re-purpose Neoliberal and wasback een and has not. agree.

Public helping neighbors. d itsick is not Not in way, passage Mein Kampf.

Two other backup plan simply questioning the data asking when we can start neighbors getting This is all new to Americans, a publican leaders have, too. and in our communities safe.

But and we should alsoChoice still continue the da $10 for children.

Learn more at living in aSofree today. 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. while we shoul when certain types of questions get asked, there is to ask questions about the data, because while reasonable stay-at-home Unffa CHARLES KRUPA workers. | AP PHOTO The facebook.com/AlbemarleParks.

From thoseso-called humble, yet to take care of our own demands.

An ongoing needs feminist journal for social ore rules “Rape ease: sustained reductions in new Culture and Queer Performativity money to buy a 3-D printer and plastic to make mfortable with this “new sacrifices are society were otherwise don’t care ifshould they get themselves or others sick. the same time we shouldn’t get co rbing tendency among some people to treat those measures are understandable, they also have an expiration date. checked. visionary Olive paper consisted in part of a rewritten deaths, widespread testing, ample hospital at Urban beginnings, Dog Parks.”Mt. This paper’s subjectassessment would evaluate the re-purposing of health care workers out of his own home. somet Since when did questioning government at in allany levels become a bad normal.” over. supposed gndthe and asking when we candog start This is all to Americans, normal.

Not way, Pickle Company be the was dog-on-dog rape. the rapegetting hotels,back empty warehouses andnew university dorms and it is not passage from Mein Kampf.

Two other thedata ability to monitorgrew newtoBut patients and simply thing?

Thatwe is should what free citizens living in awere free society supposed Not one little bit. best-selling brandforced of pickles, paper eventually Boghossian, gh they are conspiracy theorists or are people who shape, or form.

So while remain vigilant and stay safe, atwere as emergency field hospitals in conjunction with hoax papers published, including contacts. to do, last I to nor tocare do, last I checked.

Pluckrose and Lindsay to prematurely peppers and relishes in the U.S. 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 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.

Wall Street Journal writerVirtual hospitals and direct primary Today theA company employs at Urban Parks.”

This is paper’s subject ation to make decisions to keep everyone questioning government at all levels become a bad normal.”

Sinc dState and Legal Insurrection. had figured what 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 1,200 people who packthey andany selltime every health dog-on-dog rape.

But the dog rape re not going back to out full normal t free citizens living in a free society were supposed Not one little bit. thing?

Some papers accepted for publication 230 million jars of product annually. 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. d. in academic journals citizens, advocated trainingRigorous statewide antibody testing to do, Mt. Olive continues the 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 men like dogs punishing whiteismale as we go along all this, course, my implemented family. I’m once Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah commitment toand the ideaof that 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 ourinbusinesses, now.

Since the Fed last met, in The conditions the Fed has laid strike a dovish tone at a news conThe Associated Press college for historical by acouple strong company makes for a slavery m catching thestudents virus, and I’m— worried I will.

After and is other a regular contributor tomakes RedState and Legal Insurrection.

In conjunction with regional governors had figured out what they were doing. lowing aasking of data models Fuller, worrie But what also me lose sleep is how easily most everyone has mid-December, there has been down before it would adopt any ference after the Fed’s latest polithem to sit in silenceon on the floor in strong community, focusing H1N1 virus (swine flu) during theexpected 2009 pandemic, cooperation with I would papers accepted publication d the CDC. The models project N.C. cases policy changes aren’tfor close to be- some good news. The distribution sufferi cy meeting ends Wednesday. HeSome WASHINGTON, D.C. the — White The House, chains during class and to be toand producing quality, innovative ensure N.C. a fair will allocation such aim to puncin academic advocated training ing met,journals so no new actions are ex- of an effective vaccine has begun I’ve be tween April 20 and May 5.because may,ofinitems particular, Federal this week take extra precautions, all ofpapers this bringsReserve up receives learn from the discomfort.

Other products and serving customers pected Still, white analysts ture speculation that the Fed likely underscore its commitment astoventilators from national stores to any ensure we men like dogsthis andweek. punishing male and a $900 billion relief package do the following: Imorbid would not extend obesity asdaprefer healthynot life mories ofcelebrated a painful experience I’ repeat. well.

In turn, 2020 was a record was enacted in late December. way to will scrutinize the Fed’s policy might soon curtail its aggressive to its low-interest rate policies, can address any peak scenario.

There would be a college students for historical slavery rder past April 29 without compelling and advocated treating privately akes mechoice loseforsleep is how easily most everyone haseconomy recovers fur- efforts to support the economy, statement and Powell’s commentsby President Joe Biden has since proBut year company giving: Mt. even as the standing directive for rapid response to enable the asking them to sit in silence on the floor in ng its necessity.

It masturbation is imperative as to akeep conducted form of Olive provided over $1.1 million in posed another financial support to reporters to gauge how Fed ofincluding its bond purchase prother from the devastation of the chains during class and to be expected to ygiene measures in place: suchwomen. as social sexual violence against Typically,use of FDA-approved drugs that are experimental in financial support and products arediscomfort. reacting to recent ecogram that aims to hold down longviral pandemic. academic journal editors sendtosubmitted relation to a pandemic virus. learn ficials from the Other papers , gathering limits, masks, hand washing, See FED, page B6 non-profits. nomicmorbid developments. term interest Chair Jerome is sure to demonstrate papers out to referees for review. In As long as aPowell business could therates. ability celebrated obesity as a healthy life acceptance for publication, to follow sound Covid-19 hygiene, they would be choice and advocated treating privately es to lift recommending and reduce or continue on-going reviewers gave these papers glowing allowed to re-enter the economy. I would lean into conducted masturbation as a form of s need tomany be determined using scientific praise. exercising a little common sense on what works and sexual violence against women. Typically, Suspending and, more concerning, scientist rights Zach Goldberg ran what is appropriate. Restrictions could be lessened as academic journal editors send submitted f individualPolitical constitutional are

Fixingn.c. college FAST corruption

FACTS

US jobless claims decline Fixing college to a still-high 900,000 corruption

A6

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n.c.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

north STA

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VISUAL VOICES

VISU

It’s okay to ask questions about when sk questions about when It’s okay The comfort and hope we begin to get back to normal

get back to normal

we begin

What would you do?

Fed will likely stress commitment to low rates amid pandemic

certain grievance studies concepts through

North State Journal for Wednesday, January 27, 2021

B6

ncdot CASH REPORT For the week ending 1/22 Total Cash & Bond Proceeds:

$1,982,910,536 Add Receipts:

$93,358,795 Less Disbursements:

$93,481,372 Reserved Cash:

$857,557,426 Unreserved Cash Balance Total:

$3,765,464,942 COURTNEY CROW | NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE VIA AP, FILE

In this Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, file photo provided by the New York Stock Exchange, trader Ashley Lara works on the floor, in New York.

Job losses from virus 4 times as bad as ‘09 financial crisis Geneva, Switz.

Four times as many jobs were lost last year due to the coronavirus pandemic as during the worst part of the global financial crisis in 2009, a U.N. report said Monday. The International Labor Organization estimated that the restrictions on businesses and public life destroyed 8.8% of all work hours around the world last year. That is equivalent to 255 million full-time jobs - quadruple the impact of the financial crisis over a decade ago. “This has been the most severe crisis for the world of work since The Great Depression of the 1930s. Its impact is far greater than that of the global financial crisis of 2009,” said ILO Director-General Guy Ryder. The fallout was almost equally split between reduced work hours and “unprecedented” job losses, he said. The United Nations agency noted that most people who lost work stopped looking for a job altogether, likely because of restrictions on businesses that hire in big numbers like restaurants, bars, stores, hotels and other services that depend on face-to-face interactions. The drop in work translates to a loss of $3.7 trillion in income globally — what Ryder called an “extraordinary figure” — with women and young people taking the biggest hits. The ILO report expects a bounce back in jobs in the second half of the year.

But that depends on a reduction in coronavirus infections and the rollout of vaccines.

Clock ticking for CEOs to grow profits again The Associated Press NEW YORK — Are better days ahead for corporate profits? They’d better be.

CEOs across America have begun telling shareholders how much profit their companies made during the last three months of 2020, just as the worsening pandemic sent death rates soaring. The general expectation is for nothing heroic. Earnings for the big companies in the S&P 500 likely fell 7% from a year earlier, according to FactSet. Over the long term, stock prices tend to track the path of corporate profits. And stock prices sometimes rise much faster than profits, particularly when interest rates are low, as they are now. But stocks surged to records in 2020 even as profits plunged due to the pandemic.

Investors will likely give CEOs

another pass if they do turn in a fourth-straight quarter of profit declines over the next few weeks.

That’s because Wall Street is focusing instead on the huge turnaround it sees beginning.

After getting blindsided by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the economy will hopefully right itself this year as more stimulus flows from Washington and as coronavirus vaccinations return daily life closer to normal. Analysts forecast S&P 500 earnings will grow in the first three months of 2021 by roughly 17%, before accelerating to 46% growth in the spring. For the full year, analysts expect profits for S&P 500 companies to jump 22.5%.

Companies better meet those lofty predictions. Otherwise, the U.S. stock market will look even more expensive than it does now.

Critics are already calling it a bubble that may be on a similar scale

as the dot-com boom or the financial orgy that preceded the Great Depression.

By several measures stocks are now valued at their most expensive since the dot-com bubble popped in 2000.

Some of the bubble talk could cool if things pull closer to normal, with earnings rising more than stock prices in 2021. That would temper some of the extreme valuations. And that’s exactly what much of Wall Street is forecasting for this year, with the S&P 500 likely rising much less than earnings.

That’s why, when CEOs report their companies’ results in upcoming weeks, investors will likely pay more attention to the forecasts they give for 2021 than the actual results.

Some CEOs have already made comments that bolster enthusiasm for a coming recovery.

While reporting the biggest annual loss in its history, Delta Air Lines said it expects to bring in as much cash as it spends by the spring. That’s a huge turnaround for a company that was burning through $12 million a day during the last three months of 2020 and $100 million daily at the end of March.

The airline said it expects conditions to remain rocky early in the year, but it’s looking for business to pick up as COVID-19 vaccinations become widespread, offices reopen and travelers start to feel more confident.

The crystal ball is also brightening at several big banks, who are no longer squirreling away as much money to cover loans that a long downturn could force to go bad. Bank of America said Tuesday that it’s freeing up $828 million, for example. Last week, JPMorgan Chase released $2.9 billion.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Janet Yellen wins Senate approval as treasury secretary Washington, D.C. The Senate on Monday approved President Joe Biden’s nomination of Janet Yellen to be the nation’s 78th treasury secretary, making her the first woman to hold the job in the department’s 232year history. Yellen, a former chair of the Federal Reserve, was approved by the Senate on a 84-15 vote, becoming the third member of Biden’s Cabinet to win confirmation. The 15 votes against her all came from Republicans.

She is expected to play a key role in gaining congressional approval of Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, which is running into stiff opposition from Republicans who believe the price tag is too high. Before the approval by the full Senate, Yellen had received unanimous backing from the Senate Finance Committee. Republicans on the panel said they had a number of policy disagreements with Yellen and the Biden administration in such areas as raising taxes on corporations and the wealthy, but believed it was important to allow Biden to assemble his economic team quickly. At her confirmation hearing before the Finance Committee last week, Yellen had argued that without prompt action the nation faced the threat of a “longer, more painful recession.”

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE | AP PHOTO

The Federal Reserve is seen in Washington, D.C., in this Nov. 16, 2020, file photo.

FED from page B5 plan — a $1.9 trillion package that is larger than many economists had expected and will require congressional approval.

In recent months, Powell had repeatedly urged Congress and the White House to provide such stimulus. But he will likely try to avoid sounding overly optimistic about the economy’s prospects for fear of encouraging speculation that the Fed will slow or withdraw its support earlier than expected.

“The emphasis will be on, ‘We’re not out of the woods yet,’ “ said Seth Carpenter, an economist at UBS and a former Fed economist.

Some central bank officials have suggested that they might consider withdrawing Fed stimulus later this year, earlier than investors generally expect, but Powell contradicted that view in a public appearance earlier this month. He will likely do so again

Wednesday.

Powell also said that the Fed would provide ample notice when it does conclude that it will slow its bond-buying program.

“We will communicate very clearly to the public,” he said, “and will do so, by the way, well in advance of active consideration of beginning a gradual taper of asset purchases.”

Most key economic data have recently been disappointing and show an economy faltering in the face of the still-raging viral pandemic. Since the Fed’s last meeting ended Dec. 16, the government has reported that employers shed jobs last month for the first time since April. And consumers also cut back on retail spending in December for a third straight month.

And yet the prospect of additional stimulus and ongoing vaccinations has raised concerns that as Americans eventually release pent-up demand for airline tickets, hotel rooms, new clothes

and other goods and services, the economy might accelerate and inflation could surge above 2%.

If many companies don’t initially have the capacity to meet that demand, prices would pick up. Yet most Fed officials appear unconcerned about those trends potentially igniting runaway price increases.

“It’s very difficult to imagine out-of-control inflation,” Charles Evans, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, said earlier this month. “I welcome above-2% inflation. Frankly, if we got 3% inflation, that would not be so bad.”

One reason the Fed isn’t expected to raise rates anytime soon is that it adopted a framework last year that calls for inflation to average 2% over time. Given that inflation has mostly languished below that level since the Fed adopted it as a target in 2012, policymakers would have to let inflation run above 2% for some time to make up for the years of be-

low-target price increases.

The Fed refers to this framework as “flexible.” It isn’t committing to a time period over which inflation will top 2%. The Fed prefers some inflation in order to guard against deflation, a destabilizing fall in wages and prices.

As a result, even if hiring picks up and unemployment tumbles later this year as the vaccines curb the virus, economists expect the Fed to stress that it won’t raise rates until inflation actually accelerates.

Jim O’Sullivan, an economist at TD Securities, said in a research note that Powell will likely drive that message home Wednesday.

“We expect him to emphasize that inflation will be key to when the Fed’s ‘exit’ (from low rates) begins,” O’Sullivan wrote, “and most Fed officials are skeptical that a few strong quarters for growth will suddenly lead to a meaningful pickup in the trend in inflation.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Biden to pause oil drilling on public lands

By Matthew Daly The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden is set to announce a wide-ranging moratorium on new oil and gas leasing on U.S. lands, as his administration moves quickly to reverse Trump administration policies on energy and the environment and address climate change.

Two people with knowledge of Biden’s plans outlined the proposed moratorium, which will be announced Wednesday. They asked not to be identified because the plan has not been made been public; some details remain in flux.

The move follows a 60-day suspension of new drilling permits for U.S. lands and waters announced last week and follows Biden’s campaign pledge to halt new drilling on federal lands and end the leasing of publicly owned energy reserves as part of his plan to address climate change.

The moratorium is intended to allow time for officials to review the impact of oil and gas drilling on the environment and climate.

Environmental groups hailed the expected moratorium as the kind of bold, urgent action needed to slow climate change.

“The fossil fuel industry has inflicted tremendous damage on the planet. The administration’s review, if done correctly, will show that filthy fracking and drilling must end for good, everywhere,’’ said Kierán Suckling, executive director at the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group that has pushed for the drilling pause.

Oil industry groups slammed the move, saying Biden had already eliminated thousands of oil and gas jobs by killing the Keystone XL oil pipeline on his first day in office.

“This is just the start. It will get worse,’’ said Brook Simmons, president of the Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma. “Meanwhile, the laws of physics, chemistry and supply and demand remain in effect. Oil and natural gas prices are going up, and so will home heating bills, consumer prices and fuel costs.’’

Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Western Energy Alliance, which represents oil and gas drillers in Western states, said the expected executive order is intended to delay drilling on federal lands to the point where it is no longer viable.

“The environmental left is leading the agenda at the White House when it comes to energy and environment issues,’’ she said, noting that the moratorium would be felt most acutely in Western states such as Utah, Wyoming and North Dakota. Biden lost all three states to former President Donald Trump.

The drilling moratorium is among several climate-related actions Biden will announce Wednesday. He also is likely to direct officials to conserve 30% of the country’s lands and ocean waters in the next 10 years, initiate a series of regulatory actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and issue a memorandum that elevates climate change to a national security priority. He also is expected to direct all U.S. agencies to use science and evidence-based decision-making in federal rule-making and announce a U.S.-hosted climate leaders summit on Earth Day, April 22.

The conservation plan would set aside millions of acres for recreation, wildlife and climate efforts by 2030, part of Biden’s campaign pledge for a $2 trillion program to slow global warming.

Under Trump, federal agen-

cies prioritized energy development and eased environmental rules to speed up drilling permits as part of the Republican’s goal to boost fossil fuel production.

Trump consistently downplayed the dangers of climate change, which Biden, a Democrat, has made a top priority.

On his first day in office last Wednesday, Biden signed a series of executive orders that underscored his different approach — rejoining the Paris Climate Accord, revoking approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada and telling agencies to immediately review dozens of Trump-era rules on science, the environment and public health.

A 60-day suspension order at the Interior Department did not limit existing oil and gas operations under valid leases, meaning activity would not come to a sudden halt on the millions of acres of lands in the West and offshore in the Gulf of Mexico where much drilling is concentrated.

The moratorium also is unlikely to affect existing leases. Its effect could be further blunted by companies that stockpiled enough drilling permits in Trump’s final months to allow them to keep pumping oil and gas for years.

The pause in drilling is limited to federal lands and does not affect drilling on private lands, which is largely regulated by states.

Oil and gas extracted from public lands and waters account for about a quarter of annual U.S. production. Extracting and burning those fuels generates the equivalent of almost 550 million tons (500 million metric tons) of greenhouse gases annually, the U.S. Geological Survey said in a 2018 study.

Under Trump, Interior officials approved almost 1,400 permits on federal lands, primarily in Wyoming and New Mexico, over a three-month period that included the election, according to an Associated Press analysis of government data. Those permits, which remain valid, will allow companies to continue drilling for years, potentially undercutting Biden’s climate agenda.

JERI CLAUSING | AP PHOTO

In this April 9, 2014, file photo, oil rigs stand in the Loco Hills field on U.S. Highway 82 in Eddy County near Artesia, N.M.

BISCUITVILLE from page B5 they recently announced that company president Kathie S. Niven will also become the company’s CEO. Burney Jennings, who was formerly Biscuitville’s chief executive officer, will become executive chair.

“Kathie has tremendous passion and a deep knowledge of Biscuitville and its culture, and she’s fully prepared to assume the role of chief executive officer,” Jennings said. “Biscuitville has thrived under Kathie’s leadership as president during the last several years, and I’m thrilled that she has accepted new responsibilities as chief executive officer.”

Nation’s Restaurant News, a leading food service industry magazine, included Niven in its list of “2018 New Top Restaurant Executives.” Under her leadership, Biscuitville has continued to grow and has renovated, remodeled, or rebuilt nearly all of its 62 restaurants. While the majority of the new locations have been within Biscuitville’s traditional footprint it also includes expansion into the Fayetteville and Charlotte markets. Niven credits the company’s people-first culture with its ongoing success. “Our commitment to diversity and accessibility begins with me, and as a female executive, my role reinforces our shared belief that we cannot limit our vision of what leadership may look like,” she says.

Prior to becoming president, Niven served as Biscuitville’s chief brand officer where she oversaw the creation of Biscuitville’s Fresh Southern® brand positioning, including a new logo, restaurant redesign, packaging, employee uniforms, and trademarking. She also created a department to main-

PHOTO VIA BISCUITVILLE

tain the company’s commitment to high quality, locally-sourced food and helped oversee the effort to launch the most successful promotional product in the chain’s history—the locally sourced Spicy Chicken and Honey Biscuit.

In a recent interview, Alon Vanterpool who oversees Biscuitville’s marketing offered a few more details about the company’s rich heritage, the secret to its success, and its future growth plans.

NSJ: Tell me more about the company’s history — what was the original pizza place called before becoming Biscuitville?

Alon Vanterpool: “Maurice Jennings founded the company in

1966 and originally sold just bread and pizza. Using a family recipe, he later added fresh-baked biscuits to the menu—which proved so popular, the brand evolved to become Biscuitville. This reaction made it clear to him that he needed to transition the core product from pizza to biscuits. Today Biscuitville Fresh Southern® remains family owned and local with its headquarters in Greensboro.

There are 63 locations, including one that opened in Concord just days ago on January 14.”

NSJ: How many employees total and how diverse is leadership and staff?

AV: “Restaurant staff at Biscuitville come from diverse demo-

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WAYNE PARRY | AP PHOTO

In this July 2, 2020 photo, a man plays a slot machine at the Golden Nugget casino in Atlantic City N.J.

Different types of gambling, media converging for growth

By Wayne Parry The Associated Press ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — The many different types of gambling are quickly coming together with each other and with media outlets — and Wall Street is taking notice.

Casino gambling, internet gambling, sports betting and daily fantasy sports are no longer separate silos with unique audiences: Gambling companies are increasingly combining them and partnering with media companies to expand the reach of gambling.

This expansion is leading Wall Street analysts to predict fast-growing revenue in the U.S. over the next five to 10 years. Morgan Stanley sees a $15 billion sports betting and internet gambling market by 2025, and Macquarie Research says that same market could be $30 billion by 2030.

“The once disparate categories of online gaming, media and sports are joining teams to create powerful partnerships that we believe will grow viewership, increase overall fan engagement, and drive significantly higher market values for all those connected,” Macquarie wrote in a report issued Tuesday.

It cited numerous examples of deals between sports betting and media companies last year, including Bally’s and Sinclair Broadcasting; Flutter Entertainment and FOX; PointsBet and NBC; William Hill and CBS; DraftKings and Caesars Entertainment partnering with ESPN; Penn National and Barstool Sports; BetMGM and Yahoo; and Turner Sports’ deals with FanDuel and DraftKings.

David Schwartz, a gambling historian with the University of Nevada Las Vegas, said combinations like these “seem to be the wave of the future.”

“With geographic expansion nearly complete in the U.S. — Tex-

as is the biggest unserved market still out there — casino companies are looking to grow their revenues by expanding into new forms of gambling, (and) online and sports betting are the most prominent,” he said. “Even daily fantasy sports is seen as a viable route, as seen by recent moves by Bally’s and Caesars. The media partners get more content and more eyes on their product.”

Bill Miller, president of the American Gaming Association, the gambling industry’s national trade association, said deals like these are “a logical extension” of the industry’s desire to keep pace with customer expectations.

“Responsibly growing these verticals will be essential to the industry’s continued success,” he said.

In a report last week, Morgan Stanley forecast a $15 billion market for sports betting and internet gambling by 2025, an increase of 27% over current levels. As much as $10 billion of that is likely to come from sports betting, the company said.

Most analysts expect at least half the country will have legal sports betting by the end of 2021, with continued expansion after that.

Morgan Stanley said sports betting and internet gambling revenue reached $3.1 billion in the U.S. last year, well outpacing its forecast of $2 billion. While some of the growth in online wagering was undoubtedly helped by months of casino closures during the coronavirus pandemic, Morgan Stanley says there’s a durable market taking shape in these industries.

“We see legalized U.S. sports betting and iGaming as a once-in-a-generation shift for what was a mature gaming industry,” Morgan Stanley wrote. “It is clear to us that Americans’ interest in sports and gambling should lead to higher revenue (per) adult than we previously expected.”

graphic backgrounds, with 67.4% being female, 47.8% being Black/ African American and 15.9% being Hispanic/Latino. Biscuitville believes diverse teams make better decisions and continue to strive for the advancement of females and ethnic minorities. Our restaurant management is extremely diverse, with 74.4 % being female. And nearly half (45.7%) of being ethnic minorities; 29.8% being Black/African-American, 11.2% being Latino/Hispanic, and 4.7% being Asian and Native American. Amongst restaurant operators, over 60% are female and 37.7% are ethnic minorities.

The leadership team is made up of seven individuals, 3 of which are female, one of these females being the President and CEO and one female who is Latino/Hispanic.

While these numbers are promising, the Biscuitville leadership team seeks to see them improve by increasing its’ commitment to create a workplace where everyone is equally supported and empowered to realize their full potential.”

AV: “We source flour from Sanford Mills in Henderson, country ham cured in Wilkesboro, eggs from Monroe, all-natural chicken from Mt. Airy, Georgia, and coffee roasted in Concord.”

NSJ: Please explain the process of making a Biscuitville biscuit.

NSJ: How have you responded to consumers’ pandemic habits?

AV: “Biscuitville sets itself apart from other restaurants by making scratch-made biscuits and baking them fresh every 15 minutes right in front of guests. Our biscuits are an original family recipe containing three main ingredients—flour, buttermilk and shortening— blended in perfect proportions, rolled out and baked by a team of master biscuit makers.”

AV: We’ve implemented curbside service options and created double and triple-lane drivethrus, and installed our first temperature controlled, covered drive-thru lane in Burlington. We are developing an online app and hope to launch this early in 2022.

To maintain control of food quality and costs, we made the decision not to partner with third party delivery providers. While we appreciate the value they add, we feel maintaining our quality is more important.”

NSJ: Where in the state do you source from and what do you get from these places?

NSJ: In addition to the Spicy Chicken and Honey Biscuit what are some of the most popular items you sell?

AV: “Our classic Bacon Egg and Cheese Biscuit which starts with one of our scratch-made biscuits with flour from Henderson and includes griddle-cooked bacon and a fresh-cracked egg from Monroe.

There is also our classic Sausage and Egg Biscuit that has sausage from Kodak, TN. In addition to biscuits, we also offer a variety of platters. One of which, is our hand poured, griddle cooked pancake platter. Our bakery items include favorites like our warm apple fritter drizzled with icing, our classic blueberry muffin or our seasonal muffin. Currently we are offering a French Toast muffin with cinnamon streusel.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, January 27, 2021

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2021 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison

PHOTOS COURTESY CHEVROLET

The mid-size pickup off-road champion Time to go exploring

By Jordan Golson North State Journal SAN DIEGO — Customizing our pickup trucks — with lift kits, bigger tires, fancy bumpers and the like — is as American as pickup trucks themselves.

Not only do we want a Big Truck that allows us to do Big Truck Things like hauling stuff from Home Depot or moving furniture, but we want our Big Truck to be Our Big Truck: a vehicle as unique as we are. Okay, thanks for bearing with me through that mass of cliches.

The key here is that Americans love trucks and a lot of Americans love them bigger and badder.

But, not everyone wants to have the work done by an aftermarket company. That’s why almost every truck maker has started to make pickups with all manner of addons. RAM makes the Power Wagon, Ford has the Raptor and the Tremor, and GMC has the AT4 variant across a number of its vehicles.

And Chevrolet has the 2021 Colorado ZR2 Bison, a mid-size truck with all manner of upgrades including skid plates, upgraded wheels and tires, replacement front and rear bumpers, larger wheel flares, and several cosmetic upgrades to make the Colorado an off-road beast — for an all-in price of $50,145 as tested.

Whether because they want the

factory warranty to cover all those extra toys or because they want to roll all that upfit cost into a regular new car loan, plenty of truck buyers are opting for these special offroad trims. Carmakers are only too willing to cash in, offering more features and even partnering with aftermarket modification companies like Chevy did with American Expedition Vehicles for the Bison.

The AEV logo is all over the Bison, including special embroidery on the headrests, stamps on the bum-

pers, and a special badge on the tailgate. This is a special truck, and Chevy wants you to know it.

Technically, it’s a fully-loaded ZR2 Colorado ($43,200) with a $5,750 Bison package added on.

That means it includes all manner of technical niceties on the inside like OnStar, an AT&T 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, and GM’s very nice touch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s a sizable bin at the front of the center console for your phone and oth-

er stuff, two large cupholders, and very comfortable seats. This is an American truck after all, and Chevrolet’s designers know what their customers need.

But the real excitement is on the outside. The Bison is incredibly aggressive looking, with custom equipment everywhere. The front end has a custom AEV bumper with large recovery hooks, massive skid plates, a blacked-out grille with fog lamps, and a place to install a winch (though not from the

factory, disappointingly).

AEV 17 x 8-inch wheels with wheel moldings and another custom AEV rear bumper complete the look, with skid plates underneath protecting the fuel tank, transfer case, and rear differential. Functional rock sliders along the sides complete the protection package. An AEV air snorkel is available as a third-party accessory (and featured in a number of the Chevy press materials), though that is not covered under the factory warranty. It also includes frontand rear-locking diffs, a 2-inch lift, and a 3.5-inch track widening in front and rear.

Just about the only thing I have an issue with is the 3.6-liter V6, putting out 308 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque. It’s just a little down on power given all the customization that’s been done to the truck. It’s a little slower than I’d like pulling away from red lights and you can feel the truck’s 4,671-pound curb weight. You also suffer a bit at the pump, with the truck making an estimated 16 city / 18 highway.

There is, however, a diesel variant. A 2.8-liter inline-four cylinder, making 186 horsepower and an impressive 369 lb-ft of torque at just 2,000 RPM. I didn’t get to try this out, but I’m curious if this would address my engine power concerns — I suspect it would.

It also ticks the MPG up to 18 city and 22 highway, if that’s something you’re concerned with.

Engine aside — and honestly, it’s not a make-or-break concern — I loved the Bison. For many, many buyers, the look of a truck is paramount and this thing looks awesome. It’s just an added bonus that all those looks are actually functional as well.

North State Journal for Wednesday, January 27, 2021

features

B9

Latest honor for Sidney Poitier: A film school in his name

By Jocelyn Novak The Associated Press NEW YORK — In 1963, Sidney Poitier made a film in Arizona, “Lilies of the Field.” The performance led to a huge milestone: He became the first Black winner of a lead-acting Oscar.

Now, Arizona is the site of another career milestone for the legendary actor and filmmaker — Arizona State University has named its new film school after him. The Sidney Poitier New American Film School was unveiled at a virtual ceremony on Monday.

The decision to name the school after Poitier, 93, is about much more than his achievements and legacy, but because he “embodies in his very person that which we strive to be — the matching of excellence and drive and passion with social purpose and social outcomes, all things that his career has really stood for,” said Michael M. Crow, president of the university.

“You’re looking for an icon, a person that embodies everything you stand for,” Crow said in an earlier interview. “With Sidney Poitier, it’s his creative energy, his dynamism, his drive, his ambition, the kinds of projects he worked on, the ways in which he advanced his life.”

“Look at his life: It’s a story of a person who found a way,” he said of the actor, who was born in Miami and raised in the Bahamas, the son of tomato farmers, before launching a career that went from small, hard-won theater parts to eventual Hollywood stardom.

“How do we help other young people find their way?”

The university, which is expanding its existing film program into its own school, says it has invested millions of dollars in technology to create what’s intended to be one of the largest, most accessible and most diverse film schools. Crow said that much like the broader university, the film school will measure success not by exclusivity but by inclusivity.

By expanding both its physical resources and flexible learning options like online study, it hopes to enroll thousands more students, teaching them skills that go far beyond traditional moviemaking.

The school will move in the fall of 2022 to a new facility in downtown Mesa, Arizona, 7 miles from the university’s Tempe Campus. It will also occupy the university’s new center in Los Angeles.

The university did not make Poitier, who has been out of the public eye for some time, available for an interview. His daughter

Actor Sidney Poitier arrives at the Oscars in Los Angeles on March 2, 2014.

PHOTO BY EVAN AGOSTINI | INVISION | AP, FILE

Singer-songwriter Luke Combs speaks in the press room after winning awards for male vocalist of the year and song of the year at the 53rd annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena, in this Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019, file photo.

NASCAR to hold pre-race Daytona 500 concert with Luke Combs Beverly Poitier-Henderson told The Associated Press her father was “doing well and enjoying his family,” and considered it an honor to be the namesake of the new film school.

Poitier-Henderson and two of Poitier’s other daughters described in interviews how the film school’s emphasis on inclusivity and access aligned with their father’s long-held ideals.

“If it has my Dad’s name on it, it has to be inclusive, because that’s the foundation of who he is and what he stands for,” said Anika Poitier, like her father a filmmaker. “And it’s important to not only have inclusion but to have diversity, and to give people the opportunity to tell their stories. I think it’s imperative to cast a wide net and allow anyone who’s called to tell their story to learn how to do that.”

Sydney Poitier Heartsong, the actor’s youngest daughter, noted that the two most important things to her father as she grew up were education and the arts.

“Those are the two tracks that run throughout his life, that define what he has contributed and defined what he felt was important to impart to his kids,” she said.

“The arts were also a form of education. He wanted to pass that on to all young people but specifically young people of color.”

Poitier Heartsong, who followed her father’s footsteps into acting, added that the new school had special resonance in a time

most influential country music stars over the last few years and his fan appeal is incredible. It’s a CHARLOTTE — NASCAR bonus, too, that he loves our sport.”

Born in Charlotte but raised will attempt some normalcy at the season-opening Daytona 500 in Asheville, Combs made NAwith a live pre-race concert — the SCAR races a weekly viewing staple alongside his grandfirst big performance at a father. track during the pandem“If you would’ve told ic — featuring country me back then that I’d music star Luke Combs.

“I can’t be performing at the Combs, who performed Daytona 500 one day, virtually for NASCAR’s wait to feel I wouldn’t have beseason finale in Novem- that energy lieved you,” said Combs, ber, has not done a live a longtime fan of Dale show since the COVID-19 again. Man, I Earnhardt Jr. pandemic began in miss it.”

The Billboard Music March. NASCAR, which Award-winning artist prides itself on its elabois eager for the opporrate pre-race pomp and country music tunity to perform live entertainment, has not singer Luke again as most musicians had a major live perfor- Combs have been sidelined to mance since PitBull and recording studios since Blake Shelton performed the pandemic began. in the final race before He said he’s missed the sports were halted.

“I can’t wait to feel that ener- crowd interaction and energy, as gy again. Man, I miss it,” Combs well as touring with his band.

“It’s the thing that allows the fan wrote in an email to The Associated Press. “It’s the first live show to be connected to the artist in a I’ve played since March of 2020, very intimate way, something that you can’t really explain. Live music and I’d say it’s pretty dang huge.”

The NASCAR season opens is a way for us to be able to disconFeb. 14 at Daytona International nect from everything else, and just Speedway, where the Daytona 500 be there in the moment,” Combs will conclude a week of racing. The said. “The pandemic has definite63rd running will be held in front ly hurt our industry as a whole, but of limited spectators, but officials I personally just really miss being wanted to continue some of the on stage every night with the guys traditions surrounding “The Great and the fans.

“It’s why I do what I do. When American Race.”

“The tradition of the Daytona I said ‘I miss the road, I miss my 500 pre-race show has been an band’ in my song ‘Six Feet Apart,’ incredibly popular hit with race I really meant it. It’s hard being fans,” track president Chip Wile away from (the fans) and I can’t said. “Luke has been one of the wait to get back out there.”

By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press

PHOTO BY DAN STEINBERG | INVISION | AP, FILE

when “we’ve come to recognize that from a socioeconomic standpoint, a lot of (elite) schools exclude people of color disproportionately — and people without the means to go to them. That is the antithesis of what my father would want to be a part of.”

And she noted that in Poitier’s heyday, when he won his Oscar, one of his biggest complaints was that “he was the only one up there, and he wanted others to be up there with him. Well, others can’t be up there with him if they don’t have access to these tools and these educations. Not the way the world works today. “ The ASU film production programs now enroll 700 students, said Steven Tepper, dean of the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts there, but that number is expected to double over three to five years.

“I just hope that the students at the Sidney Poitier Film School take up the mantle of responsibility the way our father took up the mantle when he was coming up in his career,” said Poitier-Henderson, “and tell their stories regardless of finances, which is easy for us to say. But you’ve got to be true to yourself. It’s a very powerful thing, and I’m looking forward to seeing who comes out of it.”

Appearing with a congratulatory message at the virtual unveiling was Poitier’s longtime friend, Harry Belafonte, who called Poitier “a dear human being and a wonderful American citizen.”

Budweiser joins Coke, Pepsi brands in sitting out Super Bowl The Associated Press NEW YORK — For the first time since 1983, when Anheuser-Busch used all of its ad time to introduce a beer called Bud Light, the beer giant isn’t advertising its iconic Budweiser brand during the Super Bowl. Instead, it’s donating the money it would have spent on the ad to coronavirus vaccination awareness efforts.

Anheuser-Busch still has four minutes of advertising during the game for its other brands including Bud Light, Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade, Michelob Ultra and Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer.

Those are some of its hottest sellers, particularly among younger viewers.

But the decision to not do an anthemic Budweiser ad — which over nearly four decades has made American icons of frogs chirping “Budweiser,” guys screaming “Whassup!”, and of course the Budweiser Clydesdales — showcases the caution with which some advertisers are approaching the first COVID-era Super Bowl.

“We have a pandemic that is casting a pall over just about everything,” said Paul Argenti, Dartmouth College professor of corporate communication. “It’s hard to feel the exuberance and excitement people normally would.”

The Anheuser-Busch move follows a similar announcement from PepsiCo., which won’t be advertising its biggest brand, Pepsi, in order to focus on its sponsor-

BUDWEISER VIA AP

This image provided by Budweiser shows two health care workers getting vaccinated in an advertisement Budweiser is running before the Super Bowl. ship of the the halftime show. (It will be advertising Mountain Dew and Frito-Lay products). Other veteran Super Bowl advertisers like Coke, Audi and Avocados from Mexico are sitting out the game altogether.

These big-brand absences are just one more way Super Bowl LV will look very different from previous years. Attendance at the game will be limited to 22,000 people, about a third of the more than 65,890 capacity of Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. And Super Bowl parties will

be more likely to be smaller affairs with pods or families.

“I think the advertisers are correctly picking up on this being a riskier year for the Super Bowl,” said Charles Taylor, marketing professor at Villanova University.

“With COVID and economic uncertainty, people aren’t necessarily in the best mood to begin with.

There’s a risk associated with messages that are potentially too light. ... At the same time, there’s risk associated with doing anything too somber.”

The pandemic has cut sharply

into sales for many Super Bowl advertisers. With pricey ads costing an estimated $5.5 million for 30 seconds during the Feb. 7 broadcast on CBS, some may have decided it’s not worth it this year.

Coca-Cola, for example, has been hard hit since half of its sales come from stadiums, movie theaters and other usually crowded places that have been closed during the pandemic. It announced layoffs in December, and said it said it wouldn’t advertise this year to ensure it’s “investing in the right resources during these unprecedented times.”

To fill the void, newcomers like the TikTok rival Triller, online freelance marketplace Fiverr and online car seller Vroom are rushing in to take their place. Returning brands include M&M’s, Pringles, Toyota and others.

Companies that are running ads this year face a number of challenges. Super Bowl ads are usually developed months in advance and shot in the fall, meaning that ads airing in two weeks were shot under costly pandemic conditions and without any idea how the presidential election would turn out. That further complicates the already delicate process of striking a tone that acknowledges what’s happening with the world, managing to either entertain or tug at viewer heartstrings, and finding a way to tie it all back to their brand.

“It’s a tough year to do an ad,” Argenti said. “It will be a good

year for creative companies who figure out how to thread that needle.”

Monica Rustgi, Budweiser’s vice president of marketing, said the brand is still calculating how much it will spend on vaccine awareness. But she said it will be a “multi-million dollar” commitment that includes donating airtime throughout this year for the nonprofit the Ad Council and COVID Collaborative’s COVID-19 Vaccine Education Initiative.

Budweiser will still have a marketing presence around the big game. Starting Monday, the brand will air an ad that celebrates resilience during the pandemic, including a socially distanced birthday parade and athletes in Black Lives Matter jerseys. The ad, narrated by actress and director Rashida Jones, ends with health care workers getting vaccinated and talks about Budweiser’s donation.

In the era of social media and digital advertising, brands aren’t limited to running ads during one event, since consumers can see them online, everywhere from Facebook and Twitter to YouTube, Budweiser’s Rustgi said. Budweiser’s Super Bowl step-back also won’t be long-term, she said.

“The Super Bowl is the most popular sports event, aside from the World Cup, that anybody is going to see,” added Dartmouth’s Argenti. “An event that draws that many people to the advertising is never going to go away.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, January 27, 2021

B10

MARTY LEDERHANDLER | AP PHOTO

In this Oct. 7, 1999 file photo, Donald Trump, right, is interviewed by Larry King during a taping of “Larry King Live,” in New York.

Larry King, broadcasting giant for half-century, dies at 87

By Andrew Dalton The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Larry King, the suspenders-sporting everyman whose broadcast interviews with world leaders, movie stars and ordinary Joes helped define American conversation for a half-century, died Saturday. He was 87.

King died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, his production company, Ora Media, tweeted. No cause of death was given, but a spokesperson said Jan. 4 that King had COVID-19, received supplemental oxygen and been moved out of intensive care.

A longtime nationally syndicated radio host, he also was a nightly fixture on CNN from 1985 through 2010 as the host of “Larry King Live.” He won many honors, including two Peabody awards, during the show’s 25-year run.

King set himself apart with the curiosity he brought to every interview, whether questioning the assault victim known as the Central Park jogger or billionaire industrialist Ross Perot, who in 1992 announced his presidential candidacy on King’s show.

King conducted an estimated 50,000 on-air interviews. In 1995, he presided over a Middle

East peace summit with Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat, King Hussein of Jordan and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. He welcomed everyone from the Dalai Lama to Elizabeth Taylor, from Mikhail Gorbachev to Barack Obama, Bill Gates to Lady Gaga.

Especially after he relocated to Los Angeles from Washington, “Larry King Live” frequently ended up in the thick of breaking celebrity news. The show featured Michael Jackson’s friends and family members talking about the singer’s death in 2009.

“I don’t pretend to know it all,” King said in a 1995 Associated Press interview. “Not, `What about Geneva or Cuba?’ I ask, `Mr. President, what don’t you like about this job?’ Or `What’s the biggest mistake you made?’ That’s fascinating.”

He was known for getting guests who were notoriously elusive. Frank Sinatra, an old friend, spoke to King in 1988 in what would be the crooner’s last major TV appearance. King had never met Marlon Brando when the actor asked to appear on his show in 1994.

After a gala week marking his 25th anniversary in 2010, he abruptly announced he was re-

tiring from CNN, telling viewers, “It’s time to hang up my nightly suspenders.”

Once the leader in cable TV news, King ranked third in his time slot with less than half the nightly audience than during his peak year, 1998, when “Larry King Live” drew 1.64 million viewers.

His approach to interviewing by then felt dated in an era of edgy questioning by other hosts.

He found a new sort of celebrity on Twitter, attracting over more than 2 million followers who mocked and loved him for his esoteric style.

“I’ve never been in a canoe. #Itsmy2cents,” he said in a typical

tweet in 2015.

King was born Lawrence Harvey Zeiger in 1933, a son of Jewish immigrants who ran a bar and grill in Brooklyn.

A fan of such radio stars as Arthur Godfrey and comedians Bob & Ray, King on reaching adulthood set his sights on a broadcasting career. He headed to Miami in 1957 and landed a job sweeping floors at a tiny AM radio station.

When a deejay abruptly quit, He was put on the air — and given the surname King by the station manager, who thought Zeiger sounded “too Jewish.”

By the early 1960s, King landed at a much larger Miami station, scored a newspaper column and become a local celebrity himself.

He accumulated debts, as well as his first broken marriages.

(During his life, King was married eight times to seven women.)

He became involved with a shady financier in a scheme to bankroll an investigation of President John Kennedy’s assassination. When King skimmed some of the cash to pay his overdue taxes, his partner sued him for grand larceny in 1971. The case was dropped, but King’s reputation appeared ruined.

The scandal had largely blown over by 1975, and a Miami station

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 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.

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 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 expressly are 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 their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

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.

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC.

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS

BY PUBLICATION 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:

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.

“I don’t pretend to know it all. Not, `What about Geneva or Cuba?’ I ask, `Mr. President, what don’t you like about this job?’

Or `What’s the biggest mistake you made?’ That’s fascinating.”

Larry King

gave him another chance. Regaining his local popularity, King was signed in 1978 to host radio’s first nationwide call-in show on the Mutual network. “The Larry King Show” was eventually heard on more than 300 stations.

A few years later, CNN founder Ted Turner offered King a slot on his young network. “Larry King Live” debuted in 1985, and became CNN’s highest-rated program. King’s salary of $100,000 a year eventually grew to more than $7 million.

He was just 18 when he married high school girlfriend Freda Miller in 1952. The marriage lasted less than a year. His last marriage, in 1997, was to Shawn Southwick, a country singer and actress 26 years King’s junior. The couple filed for divorce in 2010, rescinded the filing, then filed for divorce again in 2019.

The couple had two sons King’s fourth and fifth children - Chance and Cannon Edward.

In 2020, His two oldest children, Andy King and Chaia King, died before their father of unrelated health problems.

King continued to work into his late 80s, taking on online talk shows and infomercials.

“Work,” he once said. “It’s the easiest thing I do.”

TAKE NOTICE

CABARRUS NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 434

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Edward Long, Lydia Long a/k/a Lydia A. Long (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Edward Long and Lydia Long) to John B. Third, Trustee(s), dated October 26, 2017, and recorded in Book No. 12736, at Page 0343 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,

CUMBERLAND AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 652

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by James Smith and Gwendolyn Smith to Jeff Dunham, Trustee(s), dated the 10th day of June, 2006, and recorded in Book 7274, Page 038, and Re-recorded in Book 7342, Page 511, and Re-recorded in Book 7447, Page 830, and Additional Deed of Trust in Book 7247, Page 041, in Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the note thereby 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 of Cumberland County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the

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

or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on February 1, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Kannapolis in the County of Cabarrus, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Lying and being in the City of Kannapolis, No. Four (4) Township of Cabarrus County, North Carolina, at the Northwest intersection of Haley Street (formerly Long Street) and Pleasant Avenue (formerly Mountain Street), and being Lots Number 1, 2, 3 and 4 in Block “A” of the subdivision of LINCOLN HEIGHTS, a map of said property being on file in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Cabarrus County, North Carolina, in Map Book 4, Page 23, specific reference thereto being hereby made for a more complete description thereof by metes and bounds. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 520 Pleasant Avenue, Kannapolis, North Carolina.

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).

courthouse door in the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on February 1, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 10, in a subdivision known as Recombination and Zero Lot Line Subdivision for Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity and the same being duly recorded in Book of Plats 116, Page 165, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 428 Vanstory Street, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Property Address: 428 Street, Fayetteville, NC Parcel Identification No.: 0437-70-8204

Vanstory 28301

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in NCGS 45-21.23.

Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by NCGS 7A-308(a)(1).

The property to be offered pursuant to

XVIII Petitioner, vs.

Charles Scott Vest, III and Sue Ellen Vest Respondents.

TO: Charles Scott Vest, III

Formerly of

4821 Desert Ridge Road Parkton, NC 28371

This the 4th day of January, 2021.

HUTCHENS LAW FIRM JOHN A. MANDULAK

Attorney for Plaintiff

4317 Ramsey Street

Post Office Box 2505

Fayetteville, NC 28302

Telephone: (910) 864-6888

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: 3833 - 12776

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm LLP P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Case No: 1284471 (FC.FAY)

15-077245

North State Journal for Wednesday, January 27, 2021

B11

TAKE NOTICE

CUMBERLAND IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 19SP1323 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY TERRY J. CARREIA AND GWENDOLYN F. CARREIA DATED MARCH 20, 2003 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 6037 AT PAGE 064 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

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 15SP2005 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY MICHAEL P. WALKER AND NICOLE M. WALKER DATED JANUARY 2, 2013 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 9080 AT PAGE 586 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 the owner and holder of the secured debt, the undersigned substitute trustee will expose for sale at public auction

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 19sp1605 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY GLORIA J. BROWN AND MARK A. NELSON DATED JULY 18, 2003 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 6195 AT PAGE 68 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 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

17 SP 1145 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Ian Gamble and Maria L. O’Connor to The Real Estate Law Firm, Trustee(s), which was dated November 13, 2006 and recorded on November 16, 2006 in Book 7422 at Page 560, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will 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 February 3, 2021 at 01:30 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Cumberland County, North

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY 19 SP 119 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Robin Lee Lester Adams a/k/a Robin Lee Lester and Samuel Wayne Adams, in the original amount of $67,810.70, payable to CitiFinancial Services, Inc., dated February 19, 2004 and recorded on February 20, 2004 in Book 6433, Page 502, Cumberland County Registry.

Default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Anchor Trustee Services, LLC having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Cumberland County, North Carolina, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Cumberland County, North Carolina,

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY 20 SP 665 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Leroy Oreggio Hinton, in the original amount of $125,000.00, payable to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., solely as nominee for SunTrust Mortgage, Inc., dated August 29, 2005 and recorded on September 7, 2005 in Book 7001, Page 257, Cumberland County Registry.

Default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Anchor Trustee Services, LLC having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Cumberland County, North Carolina, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Cumberland County, North Carolina,

ONSLOW AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 19 SP 445

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Justin M. Abbott (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Justin M. Abbott) to Pamela S. Cox, Trustee(s), dated September 21, 2015, and recorded in Book No. 4360, at Page 570 in Onslow 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 Onslow 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 in Jacksonville, Onslow County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at

WAKE NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 1854

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Tracey Clark (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Tracey Clark, Heirs of Tracey Clark: Casey Brown a/k/a Casi Brown, Noah Davis) to Brock & Scott, PLLC, Trustee(s), dated October 31, 2005, and recorded in Book No. 11661, at Page 1030 in Wake County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Wake County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer

indebtedness and failure to perform the stipulation and agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of 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 10:30AM on February 8, 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 Terry J. Carreia and Gwendolyn F. Carreia, dated March 20, 2003 to secure the original principal amount of $78,260.00, and recorded in Book 6037 at Page 064 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: 512 Jennings Farm Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28314 Tax Parcel ID: 0407-35-0955 Present Record Owners: Gwendolyn F.

to the highest bidder for cash at the usual place of sale at the county courthouse of said county at 10:00AM on February 8, 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 Michael P. Walker and Nicole M. Walker, dated January 2, 2013 to secure the original principal amount of $173,298.00, and recorded in Book 9080 at Page 586 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: 1110 Legend Creek Dr, Hope Mills, NC 28348 Tax Parcel ID: 0403-74-8950Present Record Owners: Michael P Walker and Nicole Walker And Being more commonly known as: 1110 Legend Creek Dr, Hope Mills, NC 28348

at the county courthouse of said county at 10:30AM on February 8, 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 Gloria J. Brown and Mark A. Nelson, dated July 18, 2003 to secure the original principal amount of $61,175.00, and recorded in Book 6195 at Page 68 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: 1043 Revere St, Fayetteville, NC 28304 Tax Parcel ID: 0407-50-2185Present Record Owners: Gloria J. Brown And Being more commonly known as: 1043 Revere St, Fayetteville, NC 28304 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on

Carolina, to wit: Beginning at a point in the center of S.R. 2042 and in the first line of the tract of which this is a part and being located in said first line at a point N. 79° 30’ W., 719.7 feet from the second corner of the tract of which this is a part and runs thence N. 10° 30’ E., 420.0 feet to an iron stake; thence N. 79° 30’ W., 210.0 feet to an iron stake; thence S. 10° 30’ W., 420.0 feet to a point in the aforesaid center line of S.R. 2042 and being in the first line of the tract of which this is a part; thence as said center line, S. 79° 30’ E., 210.0 feet to the point of beginning, containing 2.0 acres, more or less, and being a part of the 210 acre tract which is designated as the “Second Tract” in that deed from R. D. Pugh and wife, Dealie M. Pugh to D.M. Pugh and wife, Annie Lee Pugh and R.C. Pugh and wife, Ruby Catherine Pugh, which deed is dated November 4, 1957, and which may be found of record in Deed Book 743, Page 256, Cumberland County Registry.

See also that deed to James Keith Pugh and wife, Linda McL. Pugh found of record in Deed Book 2050, Page 563, Cumberland County Registry.

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

at 2:00PM on February 9, 2021, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: All that certain parcel of land in the Rockfish Township, Cumberland County, State of North Carolina, as more fully described in Book 4538, Page 394, ID# 0413-94-9716, Being known and designated as Lot #69, “Cottonwood, Section 3”, filed in Plat Book 89, Page 60.

Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 5513 Ackley Lane, Hope Mills, NC 28348. Tax ID: 0413-94-9716 Third party purchasers must pay the excise tax, pursuant North Carolina General Statutes §105-228.30, in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) per each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof, and the Clerk of Courts fee, pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §7A-308, in the amount of Forty-five Cents (0.45) per each One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or fractional part thereof with a maximum amount of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). Adepositoffivepercent(5%)ofthebidorSeven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale and must be tendered in

at 2:00PM on February 9, 2021, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: Being all of Lot 1, Block “B” in subdivision known as revision of subdivision L.G. Carter, Jr., and the same being duly recorded in Book of Plats 66, at Page 73, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 865 Bladen Circle Fayetteville NC 28312. Tax ID: 0466-58-2643Third party purchasers must pay the excise tax, pursuant North Carolina General Statutes §105-228.30, in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) per each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof, and the Clerk of Courts fee, pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §7A-308, in the amount of Forty-five Cents (0.45) per each One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or fractional part thereof with a maximum amount of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). Adepositoffivepercent(5%)ofthebidorSeven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale and must be tendered in the form of certified funds. Following the expiration of the

10:00 AM on February 4, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Holly Ridge in the County of Onslow, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 255, neighborhoods of Holly Ridge, Phase Three, section four, as shown on map recorded in Map Book 60, Page 6 of the Onslow County Registry reference to which is hereby made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 326 Belvedere Drive, Holly Ridge, North Carolina.Subject to covenants, restrictions, and easements of record.

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

for sale at the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on February 1, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Knightdale in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 52, Phase IV, Part Three, Ashley Hills Subdivision, as shown on a map recorded in Book of Maps 1982, Page 345, Wake County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 304 Sandy Run, Knightdale, North Carolina.

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

Carreia And Being more commonly known as: 512 Jennings Farm Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28314 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Gwendolyn F. Carreia.

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 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

The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Michael P Walker and Nicole Walker.

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 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

the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Gloria J. Brown.

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 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

Said property is commonly known as 7789 Troy Fisher Road, Fayetteville, NC 28312.

A cash deposit (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be 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 Ian Gamble and Maria L. O’Connor.

($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.

under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is January 7, 2021.

LLG Trustee LLC Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 19-107439

Parkway,

Suite

400

Parkway,

Suite

400

Parkway,

Suite

400

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 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

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.

LLG Trustee LLC Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 15-077245

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 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 January 7, 2021.

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.

10130 Perimeter Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 19-108304

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 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 January 7, 2021.

LLG Trustee LLC Substitute Trustee

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be 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.

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.: 12-02285-FC04

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 discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may

the form of certified funds. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts will be immediately due and owing.

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, special assessments, land transfer taxes, if any, and encumbrances of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owners of the property is Robin Lee Lester Adams.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the Clerk of Superior Court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be 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 (North Carolina General Statutes §45-21.16A(b)(2)). Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of termination. If the Trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the 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 Substitute Trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts will be immediately due and owing.

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, special assessments, land transfer taxes, if any, and encumbrances of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owners of the property is Leroy Hinton.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the Clerk of Superior Court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be 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 (North Carolina General Statutes §45-21.16A(b)(2)). Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of termination. If the Trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the 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 Substitute Trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being 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.

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 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.

McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC Attorney for Anchor Trustee Services, LLC 3550 Engineering Drive, Suite 260 Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 404-474-7149 (phone) 404-745-8121 (fax) jtaylor@mtglaw.com

Anchor Trustee Services, LLC Substitute Trustee January N. Taylor, Bar #33512

Attorney for Anchor Trustee Services, LLC 3550 Engineering Drive, Suite 260 Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 404-474-7149 (phone) 404-745-8121 (fax) jtaylor@mtglaw.com

Anchor Trustee Services, LLC Substitute Trustee January N. Taylor, Bar #33512 McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC

4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 1273961 - 9876

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028

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: 1421 - 2446

B12

North State Journal for Wednesday, January 27, 2021

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VOLUME 4 ISSUE 17 | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2021 | STANLYJOURNAL.COM

Stanly County Journal

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ATRIUM HEALTH

A pit stop for COVID vaccine A line forms around the racing oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway as people await the opportunity to receive their COVID-19 vaccination during a mass vaccination event held at the speedway.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Mom, child injured after rear-ending logging truck Stanly County Brittany Mauldin, of Burgaw, was charged with DWI and misdemeanor child abuse after she rear ended a stopped logging truck near Norwood. Mauldin and her nine-year-old child were flown to a nearby hospital.

Two other children in the car were also taken to the hospital but will be okay. Mauldin and the three children were not wearing seatbelts. Mauldin was also charged with speeding and driving with a suspended license.

Officials may also charge her with felony child abuse.

WSOC

Gasoline spill worse than first reported Mecklenburg County A crack in the wall of a gasoline pipeline caused more than a million gallons to spill in a nature preserve, more than four times the size a company initially reported. In September, Michael Regan, then-secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, said 273,000 gallons of gasoline spilled in Mecklenburg County’s Oehler Nature Preserve near Huntersville. In August, the county had reported 63,000 gallons were spilled. But Colonial Pipeline reported to regulators Wednesday that the estimated amount of gasoline released from the underground pipeline was 1,119,982 gallons.

AP

Juvenile robbery suspects captured after crashing into train Mecklenburg County Two juvenile robbery suspects were captured after crashing a car into an Amtrak train while trying to flee police. CharlotteMecklenburg police received a call just before 10 p.m. Friday about a robbery on Mont Carmel Lane. Officers found the suspect vehicle and tried to pull it over, but the driver did not stop. A vehicle pursuit ended when the car hit the train. Amtrak officials said no one on the train was injured. The two juveniles are charged with armed robbery, felony conspiracy and possession of a firearm by a minor.

AP

Stanly health dept delays vaccinations due to shortage County adding more phone lines to handle COVID vaccine scheduling

By David Larson Stanly County Journal ALBEMARLE — Stanly County’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout is being hampered by three interrelated issues — overwhelming demand by residents, a lack of personnel to answer the phones and a shortage of vaccine provided by the state — leading the county’s health department to delay already scheduled appointments and to put a hold on new ones.

On Jan. 25, the Stanly County Health Department released a statement saying they are “experiencing a shortage of COVID-19 vaccine,” and they will be moving appointments that were scheduled for Jan. 27, 28 and 29 to exactly one week later.

“If you currently have a COVID-19 vaccination appointment on those days,” the statement said, “it is now scheduled to be on the same day and time of the following week.

The county was vaccinating around 225 people per day and

trying to work up to 300. But with the delays from the state, Stanly may not get the 1,000 to 1,300 vaccines per week they have been used to. The county’s health director, David Jenkins, told the Stanly County Board of Commissioners, at their Jan. 19 meeting, “it’s a little hazy” what will be provided by the state in the coming weeks. He said North Carolina was only going to receive 120,000 total doses per week, so many of the state’s other 99 counties with much larger populations may get priority.

But the issues are not just on the supply side; thousands of calls per week are pouring into the usually quiet health department office run

by Jenkins. To address this high demand, Jenkins told the commissioners his office is moving from two dedicated lines to as many as 12.

“We opened it up to four [lines] today. And we have two additional phones that are in place, so that gives us the capability to have six phones working simultaneously.”

Jenkins also said they are purchasing six mobile phones through Verizon to further assist with call volume.

“So that would give us a total capability of 12,” he said. “Now,

whether we’ll be able to get 12 warm bodies to assist with answering that, that’s something we’re working on. But that should certainly cut down on the wait times and allow us to schedule out well in advance, several months in advance as this vaccine becomes available.”

The lines, he said, also allow for callers to be queued up and kept on hold until a live person can answer to get them on the schedule.

“With the vaccination process, we are focusing on our 65-and-older populations, and based on our latest demographics I have, it’s about 11,000 to 12,000 people,” Jenkins said.

Regarding staff resources, a major challenge has been finding people who can not only answer the phone, but who are tech savvy enough to then fill the information into data software. County Manager Andy Lucas said they are trying to find people from other areas of county government to plug into these positions.

Lucas thanked Stanly Community College, saying it is sending volunteers to help with the calls.

But while this was helping, he said volunteers can only typically give an hour or two at a time, and they

NCGOP Chair speaks at Stanly GOP meeting

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal ALBEMARLE — Michael Whatley, chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party, addressed a packed crowd inside Jay’s Downtowner restaurant in Albemarle at Thursday night’s Stanly County Republican meeting, speaking on the current state of the party after November’s elections.

Whatley began his speech by discussing three contested races that resulted in the victories of three United States representatives: Madison Cawthorn (RNC-11), Dan Bishop (R-NC-9) and Richard Hudson (R-NC-8). He followed that up by talking about the significance of U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) winning over his Democratic opponent, Cal Cunningham, and locking up a 50th GOP vote in the Senate.

“I can’t tell you, on a couple levels, how important him [Tillis] winning this seat is,” Whatley said

to the crowd.

“It’s important for us here in North Carolina because of his service on the Armed Services Committee on Veterans’ Affairs as well as the Banking, Agriculture and Judiciary committees. Plus, him fighting the fight he’s going to have going forward on judges as well as what we just went through with Donald Trump getting 230-plus federal judges and three judges on the Supreme Court.”

According to Whatley, the success that Republicans had in November was due in part to the financial support and donations that were given to the NCGOP. The organization’s previous record for raising money was $2.5 million in a year — a record which was shattered by last year’s $4.7 million raised.

A portion of that money was used to ensure that a hired team of attorneys and observers were present in all 100 counties in the state to monitor the vote-counting process; Whatley speculat-

ed that if GOP organizations in states like Georgia and Arizona had copied the NCGOP’s model, their latest voting results in the presidential election might have been different.

Following his speech, the floor was opened to elected officials who wanted to address the crowd.

“I want to thank Stanly County for sending me back to the Senate,” state Sen. Carl Ford (R-Rowan) told the crowd. In November, Ford defeated Democrat Tarsha Ellis, taking over 70% of the 104,132 votes cast for the District 33 race.

“Everybody is right tonight — without President Trump, we wouldn’t have the votes that we had,” Ford said. “He’s the reason that we won, and it was an amazing turnout. People were fired up and people are still fired up, but for a different reason. I just hope we can get everyone to calm down. It’s been bad for the past few weeks, but people are already jumping out of the party; I don’t

really need to hire full-time workers who are there eight hours a day.

“I don’t know how many phone calls we answered today, but on Friday, we answered 625 calls with three people,” Lucas said. “The call volume is immense. So when people say, ‘I can’t get through,’ well, we have 11,000 people trying to make a phone call to get a vaccine.”

To add to the workload, after each vaccine is given, the data has to be added into a federal “Central Vaccine Management System,” so those managing the national rollout will know how much each state needs and states will know how much each county needs.

Lucas said some counties have given out thousands of doses but did not enter them into the CVMS, so they won’t be getting the resupply they expected.

“We don’t have vaccine just rolling up to the back of the building. It’s very coordinated — from the federal to the state all the way to the county level,” Lucas said. “I think it’s important for citizens to understand some of this; our folks are working extremely hard to try to make it better and to try to get these shots into arms as quickly as possible.”

As of Jan. 25, the county reported 99 new cases, 24 hospitalizations and 109 total deaths due to COVID-19 to date.

The Stanly County COVID-19 vaccine hotline number is 980323-0205, but due to the shortages, the health department has put a hold on new appointments until further notice.

understand that. This is when I double down instead of quitting or walking away.”

State Rep. Wayne Sasser (R-Dist. 67), who ran unopposed last year after garnering over 72% of the votes back in the 2018 election, addressed the crowd next.

“The Democrats were convinced that they were going to take over the House and Senate in North Carolina,” Sasser said.

“They were coming around our offices looking at which office they were going to get. We not only held our own, we made progress getting the supermajority which is really, really important. We got everything but the governor, but we did get all those judges. This is not a simple system; it starts at the ground level like Michael was talking about.”

While the dates haven’t been set as of yet, the Stanly County Republicans are working on plans to hold their 2021 Lincoln Day Dinner in February and county convention in March. Some names have been brought up as a possible guest speaker for the events, including newly elected Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson.

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WEEKLY CRIME LOG ♦ Mclain, Jack Allen (W /M/47) Arrest on chrg of 1) Trafficking In Methamphetamine (F), 2) Trafficking In Methamphetamine (F), 3) Pwimsd Methamphetamine (F), 4) Possess Marijuana Up To 1/2 Ounce (M), 5) Maintain Veh/dwell/place Cs (f) (F), 6) Sell/deliver Sch Ii Cs (F), and 7) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), at 333 N Cemetery St, Richfield, NC, on 1/25/2021 ♦ Xiong, Xee Nmn (A /F/33) Arrest on chrg of 1) Pwimsd Methamphetamine (F), 2) Maintain Veh/dwell/place Cs (f) (F), and 3) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), at 123 South Third St, Albemarle, NC, on 1/25/2021 ♦ Deese, Andy Joel (W /M/35) Arrest on chrg of 1) Attempted Larceny (m) (F) and 2) Felony Conspiracy (F), at 1607 E Main St, Albemarle, NC, on 1/25/2021 ♦ Farmer, Justin Ryan (B /M/33) Arrest on chrg of 1) Breaking And Or Entering (f) (F), 2) Larceny After Break/enter (F), 3) Larceny Of Motor Vehicle (f) (F), 4) Possess Stolen Motor Vehicle (F), 5) Poss Stolen Goods/ prop (m) (M), and 6) Altering Serial Numbers (F), at 29457 Community Rd, Albemarle, NC, on 1/25/2021

TUESDAY

FEB 1

JAN 31

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FEB 2

HI LO PRECIP

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DEATH NOTICES

Heroin (F), and 4) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), at SCJ Scj, Albemarle, NC, on 1/25/2021 ♦ Lewis, Lee Emerson (W /M/37) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at 126 S Third St, Albemarle, NC, on 1/25/2021 ♦ Lisk, Travis Edward (W /M/47) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assault On Female (M) and 2) Domestic Criminal Trespass (M), at 4496 Old Davis Rd, Norwood, NC, on 1/25/2021 ♦ Martinez, Beda Baza (W /F/32) Arrest on chrg of 1) Possess Methamphetamine (F), 2) Poss Marij >1/2 To 1 1/2 Oz (M), and 3) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), at Us 52 South/southside, Albemarle, NC, on 1/24/2021 ♦ Whitley, Dustin Randolph (W /M/39) Arrest on chrg of 1) Felony Possession Sch Ii Cs (F) and 2) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), at 24357 Nc Hwy 24-27, Albemarle, NC, on 1/24/2021 ♦ Almond, Laura Elizabeth (W /F/40) Arrest on chrg of Possess Methamphetamine (F), at Quick Check, Albemarle, NC, on 1/24/2021

♦ Dennis, Joseph Alexander (W /M/32) Arrest on chrg of Felony Larceny (F), at 29194 Sweet Home Church Rd, Albemarle, NC, on 1/25/2021

♦ Wheeler, Lonnie Scott (W /M/47) Arrest on chrg of 1) Pwisd Marijuana (F), 2) Maintain Veh/dwell/place Cs (m) (M), and 3) Possess Marij Paraphernalia (M), at 126 Soth Third Street, Albemarle, NC, on 1/24/2021

♦ Hammonds, David Keith (B /M/41) Arrest on chrg of 1) Fail Reprt New Address-sex Off (F) and 2) Parole Violation (F), at 1015 E Main St, Locust, NC, on 1/25/2021

♦ Duke, Jessica Michelle (W /F/38) Arrest on chrg of 1) Uttering Forged Instrument (F) and 2) Obtain Property False Pretense (F), at Norwood, NC, on 1/24/2021

♦ Williams, Jordan Dewitt (B /M/25) Arrest on chrg of 1) Pwimsd Sch Iii Cs (F), 2) Pwimsd Methamphetamine (F), 3) Trafficking,opium Or

♦ Braley, Brandon Carl (W /M/35) Arrest on chrg of 1) Attempted Felony Larceny (F), 2) Injury To Personal Property (M), and 3) Felony

Conspiracy (F), at 28461 Canton Rd, Albemarle, NC, on 1/23/2021

Stop 73, Albemarle, NC, on 1/20/2021 ♦ Lewis, Carlos Sylvester J (B M, 31) Arrest on chrg of Driving While Impaired (M), at137 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Dr/s Third St, Albemarle, on 01/17/2021

♦ Aplin, Amber Lynn (W /F/34) Arrest on chrg of Larceny Of Motor Vehicle (f) (F), at 448 Brown Ave,, Albemarle, NC, on 1/22/2021

♦ Eudy, Felicia Gail (W F, 29) Arrest on chrg of Breaking And Or Entering (f) (F), at113 Love St, Albemarle, on 01/17/2021

♦ Aplin, Amber Lynn (W /F/34) Arrest on chrg of 1) Pwimsd Methamphetamine (F), 2) Maintain Veh/dwell/ place Cs (f) (F), and 3) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), at 448 Brown Ave., Albemarle, NC, on 1/22/2021

♦ Fahy, Harry Michael (W M, 24) Arrest on chrg of Injury To Personal Property (M), at100 Leonard Av/e Main St, Albemarle, on 01/20/2021

♦ Richardson, Jimmie Earl (B /M/35) Arrest on chrg of 1) Trafficking In Cocaine (F), 2) Pwimsd Cocaine (F), 3) Maintain Veh/dwell/place Cs (f) (F), and 4) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), at 9689 Bishop Rd, Norwood, NC, on 1/22/2021

♦ Hedrick, Bruce Cameron (W M, 62) Arrest on chrg of Larceny Of Motor Vehicle (f)(F), at 115 Harwood St, Albemarle, on 01/21/2021

♦ Smith, Matthew William (W /M/36) Cited on Charge of Resisting Public Officer (202100064), at 40224 Mt Zion Church Rd, Norwood, on 1/22/2021 ♦ Perry, Billy Brian (W /M/45) Arrest on chrg of 1) Uttering Forged Instrument (F) and 2) Obtain Property False Pretense (F), at 25119 Millingport Rd, Locust, NC, on 1/21/2021

♦ Richardson, Gary Nmn (B M, 26) Arrest on chrg of Possession Of Stolen Firearm (F),at 905 Chimneys Ln, Albemarle, on 01/21/2021 ♦ Hernandez, Jose Manuel T (W M, 43) Arrest on chrg of Driving While Impaired (M),at 1421 Us 52 North, Albemarle, on 01/21/2021. ♦ Thompson, Johnny (B M, 27) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Govt Official/emply, M(M), at 16562 Us 52 Hwy S, Norwood, on 01/23/2021 ♦ Thompson, Johnny (B M, 27) Arrest on chrg of Second Degree Trespass, M (M), at126 S Third St, Albemarle, on 01/23/2021

♦ Harkey, Randy Eugene (W /M/53) Arrest on chrg of 1) Larceny Motor Vehicle Parts (F) and 2) Obtain Property False Pretense (F), at 275 Anson Ave, Norwood, NC, on 1/20/2021 ♦ Dunevant, Richard Thomas (W /M/39) Arrest on chrg of 1) Pwimsd Mda/mdma (F), 2) Pwimsd Methamphetamine (F), 3) Pwisd Marijuana (F), 4) Pwimsd Sch Ii Cs (F), 5) Maintain Veh/dwell/place Cs (f) (F), and 6) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), at Super

♦ Lindsey, Derrick Jervon (B M, 37) Arrest on chrg of True Bill Of Indictment (F), at126 S Third St, Albemarle, on 01/23/2021 ♦ Patterson, James Terry (W M, 32) Arrest on chrg of Breaking And Or Entering (f) (F),at 510 Concord Rd, Albemarle, on 01/24/2021

♦ Elizabeth Thomas Howard, 62, of Albemarle, passed away January 18. ♦ Tony Glenn Hatley, 63, of Oakboro, passed away January 18. ♦ Billy Walter Taylor, 85, of Oakboro, passed away January 18. ♦ Pauline Almond, 96, of Locust, passed away January 18. ♦ Michael Ernest Hatley, 67, of Stanfield, passed away January 18. ♦ Paul Junior Whitley, 74, of Albemarle, passed away January 19. ♦ Hettie Ruth Russell, 84, of Albemarle, passed away January 19. ♦ Edgar Wayne Cato, 79, of Stanfield, passed away January 20. ♦ Josephine Eakins Harbers, 92, of Albemarle, passed away January 20. ♦ John Shankle Miller, 72, of Norwood, passed away January 21. ♦ Trullie Furr Smith, 89, of Albemarle, passed away January 21. ♦ Joseph Lloyd Hatley, Sr., 90, of Albemarle, passed away January 21. ♦ David Mark Hooper, 66, of Locust, passed away January 22. ♦ Darrell Clinton Efird, 88, of Badin, passed away January 22. ♦ Robert Thorpe, 90, of Norwood, passed away January 22. ♦ Robert Raffaldt, 59, of Norwood, passed away January 23. ♦ Christine Kendall, 91, of Norwood, passed away January 23. ♦ Boyd Lee Paige, 85, of Albemarle, passed away January 24.

OBITUARIES

Billy Taylor BILLY WALTER TAYLOR, 85, of Oakboro passed away Monday, January 18, 2021 at Autumn Care in Marshville.

Billy was born March 8, 1935 in Anson County, NC to the late Lewis Wilson Taylor and Agnes Taylor. He was also preceded in death by first wife, Nancy Ann Taylor; his second wife, Ronnell Taylor; brothers, John and Donald Taylor; and sisters, Dot Smith, Betty Griffin, and Peggy Kiker.

Survivors include his sons, Walter Scott and Robbie William Taylor both of Oakboro; daughters, Lorrie (Doyle) Hatley of New London and Marci (John) Collins of Monroe; brother, Coy Taylor of Hamlet and Roy Taylor of Marshville; grandchildren, Allie, Tripp, Mac, and Brinley Collins, and Kayla Simpson, and Everett Hatley.

Billy loved planting a garden every Summer. He was better known for his ability to repair almost any appliance, and di so for over 50 years. His dry sense of humor along with his ability to recall many childhood stories and “poems” will be fondly remembered by his family and friends. His definition of Love was “Toleration”. Our Daddy and Grandpa will be “Tolerated” for a very long time.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Taylor family.

Hettie Russell HETTIE RUTH RUSSELL, 84, of Albemarle, passed away Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at her home. A funeral service will be held at 2PM on Friday, January 22 ,2021 at Union Chapel United Methodist Church officiated by Rev. Monty Clark. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Ruth was born September 3, 1936 in Stanly County, NC to the late Ola Simpson Russell and John Gaddy Russell. She loved crocheting and quilting. A lifetime member at Union Chapel United Methodist Church and a true servant. Ms. Russell was a very giving person and enjoyed spending time with all of her many friends. She was always doing for other people instead of for herself.

She is survived by sisters: Ola Mae Russell Matthews (Vann) of Mint Hill, NC, Linda Russell MacDonald of Albemarle, NC; and many nieces and nephews.

Ms. Russell is preceded in death by her maternal grandparents Hettie Jane Almond Simpson and William Lester Simpson, paternal grandparents R. Shellie Russell and Pattie Caudle Russell.

Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle is serving the Russell family.

Pauline Almond PAULINE ALMOND of Locust, NC passed away on January 19, 2021, the day before her 97th birthday. She was the daughter of Temple Whitley and Rozilla Burris Whitley. She is survived by two sons, Dale Almond of Locust, NC and Hoyt Almond (Kathy) of Asheville, NC. She has two grandsons, Grant Almond (Allison) of High Point, NC and Tyler Almond (Caroline) of Charleston, SC. She has a great granddaughter, Anna Reece Almond and a great grandson, John Warren Almond. She is survived by a sister, Edna Tucker and a brother Tommy Whitley.

Mrs. Almond was a member of the First Baptist Church of Locust where she taught Sunday School for over 63 years. She was Locust chapter president and District president of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary. She was the first woman to serve on the Locust City Council from 1979 to 1983. In 2013 she was recognized by the Locust City Council for her pioneering spirit and long-term contribution to the City of Locust.

She attended Appalachian State University where she played varsity basketball.

Mrs. Almond was married to the late Reece Almond with whom she owned and operated the Western Auto Store in Locust for over thirty years.

The family would like to thank the many family members, friends and caregivers that have supported her.

Paul Whitley

Edgar Cato

PAUL JUNIOR WHITLEY, 74, of Albemarle, passed away Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at First Health Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst.

Paul was born September 25, 1946 in Stanly County to the late Samuel Crowell Whitley and the late Mamie Jane Whitley. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Laurisdean Whitley; sisters, Rosettia Whitley, Beulah Eudy Thompson, Eva Jane Eudy, Annie Lee Morgan, Lottie Mageline Hudson, Daisy Frances Thompson, Lily Ansoline Whitley; brothers, Ramon Crowell Whitley and James Matthews Whitley.

A private burial will be at 1:00 PM, Monday, January 25, 2021at Stanly Gardens of Memory, 2001 East Main St., Albemarle, officiated

by Pastor Nathan Hamill.

He was also survived by sister, Ruby Whitley Randall; many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Hartsell Funeral Home, PO Box 7, Albemarle, NC 28002.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Whitley family.

EDGAR WAYNE CATO, 79, of Stanfield, NC, passed away Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at Atrium Health Cabarrus. His graveside service will be 2pm Friday, January 22, 2021 at Clarks Grove Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Stanfield, NC with Rev. Jimmy Bartley officiating.

Wayne was born February 19, 1941 in Lincoln County, NC, son of the late John Cato and Edna Faulkenbury Smith. He was a former truck driver with Piedmont Fuel in Albemarle.

He was a member of Harmony Baptist Church in Stanfield, NC. Wayne loved to sing and play country and gospel music.

Mr. Cato is survived by his wife Patty Morgan Cato of the home. other survivors include a son, Lenny Murphy of Mt. Pleasant, NC; daughter, Kelly Cato Foster (John) of WA; stepson, Donald Brooks, Jr. (Donna) of Locust, NC; stepdaughter, Donna Brooks Meynardie (Scott) of Stanfield, NC; sister, Jean Hathcock (Jim) of Stanfield, NC; two grandsons and two granddaughters and one great grandchildren.

Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Locust is serving the Cato family.

See OBITS, page 7

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, January 27, 2021

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

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

Get ready for 4 years of media sycophancy

Now we’ll return to the gaslighting of the Obama era, when members of the Obama team could openly admit to lying to the media, only to receive obsequious praise in return.

ON SUNDAY, Jan. 17, then Vice President-elect Kamala Harris sat down with Jane Pauley of CBS News “Sunday Morning.” Pauley treated Harris to a full-on journalistic massage. At no point was Harris asked a tough question; at no point was Harris treated as anything other than an idol worthy of worship. Perhaps the most awkward manifestation of this sycophancy came when Harris — an extraordinarily and transparently manipulative and mechanical politician — spouted a canned speech about relentlessness. “I was raised to not hear no — let me be clear about it,” said Harris. “I eat no for breakfast!”

This prompted a spasm of ecstasy from Pauley, who immediately reflected Harris’ bizarrely inappropriate laughter with an enormous grin of her own.

It will be four long years.

For four years, the media complained that outgoing President Donald Trump treated them as an enemy. They self-servingly claimed that they were actually the protectors of democracy and individual rights. It took all of one month after Trump’s inauguration for The Washington Post to add the slogan “Democracy Dies in Darkness” to its masthead. By October 2017, CNN began running ads explaining that it was all about “Facts First.”

Trump, for his part, attacked the media whether they deserved it or not: Every disparaging headline, true or not, became “fake news.” That was unjustified and wrong, obviously. But the media’s lack of credibility wasn’t solely attributable to Trump.

It resulted from their own journalistic malfeasance for years on end during former President Barack Obama’s administration — “his only scandal was wearing a tan suit!” — followed by their aggressive repetition of even the most thinly-sourced scandal regarding Trump.

Now we’ll return to the gaslighting of the Obama era, when members of the Obama team could openly admit to lying to the media, only to receive obsequious praise in return. Already, media outlets are praising the newfound veracity of Biden’s press

team — despite the fact that Jen Psaki, Biden’s choice for White House press secretary, was accused of openly and explicitly lying to the media in 2016. Media members are even admitting that the vacation has begun: CNN’s Jim Acosta — and, ladies, find you a man who loves you like Jim Acosta loves Jim Acosta — admitted that he’d be covering Biden differently, explaining, “If being at the White House is not an experience that might merit hazard pay ... then perhaps it is going to be approached differently.”

Of course, Acosta never needed hazard pay. He was too busy declaring himself a hero and preening for the cameras while pulling down a lucrative book contract. But now that the Biden administration is a reality, our media can go back to sleep.

And so, the controversies of the day will turn to the trite.

The big question won’t be governmental oversight but media self-policing: Last week, the media were consumed with the vital question of whether Vogue magazine’s cover of Harris is respectful enough, given that it shows her wearing her trademark Converse sneakers. Other major controversies to come will include just how cute Joe Biden’s dog is and whether the racial diversity of his Cabinet is merely important or super-important.

Meanwhile, the same media outlets that act as stenographers for the Democratic Party will insist that other outlets meet with social media censorship. After all, American needs unity! And that unity can only be provided by the same people who have wrecked all pretense of institutional objectivity in the pursuit of partisan outcomes.

People will continue to seek information from alternative sources, of course. But that will only provoke the media to seek new methods of repressing those alternatives. As it turns out, the commitment of many in our media isn’t to truth or facts. It’s to monopolistic control.

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.

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Thank you, President Trump

President Trump’s leadership on vaccines is just one of the many reasons I am thankful for his service to our country over the past four years.

In that time, we worked together to accomplish great victories for our community and country.

WHETHER YOU AGREE with the outcome or not, something remarkable happened last week: the peaceful transfer of power. I worked hard to help re-elect President Donald Trump, but I attended the inauguration of President Joe Biden as a symbol of my commitment to our Constitution. I believe the peaceful transfer of power is a core principle of our republic and I am glad that once again, our country demonstrated that we remain that beacon of democracy for the world.

I stand ready to work with President Biden on delivering vaccines, reopening schools, rebuilding our economy and restoring our way of life. However, if he wants to take the country backwards by destroying the economy with increased taxes and making us less safe with an appeasement foreign policy, then I will oppose him at every turn.

Washington is sharply divided. I will remain focused on the areas where we can work together and on the priorities of the American people. Rest assured that as long as I’m your representative, I will never stop listening to the voices of the previously forgotten men and women in our state and country, and will never stop fighting to grow our economy, protect the unborn and our Second Amendment, defend law enforcement, and support our troops, their families and our veterans.

President Biden gave a nice speech calling for moderation and unity, but his first actions as president have been radical and divisive. In his first 24 hours in office, he stopped construction of the border wall. He canceled the Keystone XL pipeline, destroying 11,000 jobs. Despite America leading the world in reducing carbon emissions in recent years, President Biden re-entered the Paris Climate Agreement, which will cause American energy prices to increase up to $20,000 for a family of four, while not holding polluters like China accountable. On immigration, he proposed a pause on deportations, blocking

border-security funding and granting citizenship to 11 million illegal immigrants. And now, President Biden claims he has a bold plan to deliver 100 million vaccines in his first 100 days.

That’s great. But the problem is that our country is already delivering 1 million vaccines a day — thanks to President Donald Trump.

Through Operation Warp Speed, President Trump laid the foundation to develop a vaccine in record time and set up distribution. Now President Biden should ramp up distribution to 2 or 3 million vaccines a day to end the pandemic by September. Republicans in Congress are ready to work with the president to reach this goal.

President Trump’s leadership on vaccines is just one of the many reasons I am thankful for his service to our country over the past four years. In that time, we worked together to accomplish great victories for our community and country.

These victories included Operation Warp Speed, tax cuts for the middle class, the Rich Stayskal Act to allow military members to pursue medical malpractice claims, troop pay raises, supporting veterans with the VA Mission Act, addressing pollution caused by GenX and PFAS chemicals, and battling the opioid addiction epidemic with the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act. These accomplishments have made our economy stronger, our communities safer, and America more respected around the world. I will work to ensure we now build on this progress — not take our country backwards.

As the new Biden administration begins, Renee and I join the country in praying for our leaders and ask God to continue to bless our nation. I would appreciate your prayers as well and know that together, we can continue to defend our values and achieve great things.

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Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, January 27, 2021

4

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT

USA Basketball reportedly eyeing 60 players in Olympic pool

LeBron James on if he’ll play in the rescheduled Olympics for Team USA

NBA

Sago, Schroeder part of NBA’s first ref crew with 2 women Orlando, Fla. Natalie Sago and Jenna Schroeder made up twothirds of the crew assigned to the Charlotte at Orlando game, the first time in NBA history that two women were assigned to work a regularseason contest together. Sean Wright was picked to be crew chief, Sago the referee and Schroeder the umpire. Sago and Schroeder have worked games together before; they were part of three-woman crews in the G League. The NBA has used 76 officials so far this season; seven are women, already the most to work games during any season in league history.

MLB

Cactus League asks MLB to delay spring training due to COVID Phoenix The Cactus League and Arizona community leaders have asked Major League Baseball to delay the start of spring training due to coronavirus concerns just over three weeks before pitchers and catchers are supposed to report. The Cactus League made the request in a letter to Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred obtained by The Associated Press on Monday. The letter was co-signed by the mayors of Mesa, Scottsdale, Surprise, Glendale, Goodyear and Peoria, as well as representatives from Phoenix and the Salt River PimaMaricopa Indian Community.

Zion Williamson is among the players now being considered to play in the Tokyo Games

By Tim Reynolds The Associated Press MIAMI — USA Basketball is casting a wider-than-usual net in its roster selection for this summer’s rescheduled Tokyo Olympics, two people with knowledge of the situation said Saturday.

Additions to the list in recent weeks include New Orleans’ Zion Williamson, Atlanta’s Trae Young, Memphis’ Ja Morant, Miami’s Duncan Robinson and Detroit’s Christian Wood.

The people told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the final list has not been revealed publicly.

The additions mean at least 60 players could be on the player-pool list that will be released

by USA Basketball in the coming weeks. Most of those are holdovers from the finalists list that was announced in February 2020 in anticipation of an Olympics last summer.

There were 44 players on that list and almost all of them, with the exception of injured Golden State guard Klay Thompson, are expected to remain in the pool this year.

ESPN first reported that USA

“It’s still possible. It’s not a 0% percent chance, I will say that.”

RICK BOWMER | AP PHTO

New Orleans Pelicans forward and former Duke star Zion Williamson is now among those being considered by USA Basketball to play in this summer's Tokyo Olympics.

Basketball has sent approximately 60 invitations to be part of the player pool. The U.S. men have won gold at the last three Olympics.

Most of the league’s biggest American stars — LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, James Harden, Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant among them — were part of the player pool last year as well.

James told AP last month he will consider playing in Tokyo and said that playing for Gregg Popovich — the San Antonio Spurs

coach who will lead the U.S. in these Olympics — was one reason why.

“It’s still possible,” James said.

“It’s not a 0% percent chance, I will say that. I love Coach Pop.” But it remains unclear how the NBA playoffs will affect the team-selection process. The NBA is planning that the latest possible date for the NBA Finals would be July 22, one day before the opening ceremony for the Tokyo Games. USA Basketball is planning a training camp and exhibition games. Camp, if past form holds, would start in early July.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said last month that this season’s schedule was slotted “to give our players the opportunity to participate in the Olympics should they choose to do so.”

“I see that very much as an individual decision,” Silver said.

“Clearly in the case of the United States, we have a deeper pool of talent than other countries. So I think it’s less likely — although it will impact the U.S. team, it affects them not as dramatically as it will some of these other teams, where if a particular player or two doesn’t participate, it could decimate a team.”

USA Basketball is not planning tryouts and instead is expected to pare the list to a 12-player Olympic team in the coming months, those decisions to be made by a selection committee and based in part on player availability and health.

The U.S. is one of eight teams to already have clinched a spot in the 12-team Olympic men’s field.

There are 24 teams left in the running for the four spots, those to be decided in qualifying tournaments that will end in early July.

FIBA is expected to hold the Olympic draw, to determine preliminary round groups for the Tokyo Games, on Feb. 2.

SOCCER

MLS to open season on April 3 New York Major League Soccer will open next season on April 3, a month later than normal, and conclude with the MLS Cup title game on Dec. 11.

Teams will be allowed to start preseason camps on Feb. 22. But the announcement Monday came amid ongoing uncertainty about the coronavirus pandemic and whether fans will be able to attend games, especially at the start of the season. The league has said it incurred an estimated $1 billion in losses last year, due in part to lost revenue as a result of the virus. As a result, the league has invoked the agreement’s “force majeure” clause to reopen negotiations with players on a collective bargaining agreement, setting a Jan. 29 deadline.

NFL

Lions looking into trading QB Stafford Detroit The Detroit Lions and quarterback Matthew Stafford are planning to part ways. The Lions and Stafford have mutually agreed to explore the possibilities of trading him, according to a person with direct knowledge of the situation. Stafford expressed an interest in being traded after the season ended and the team responded by tabling the idea until a new general manager and coach were hired, the person said.

Stafford was on a call with Lions general manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell earlier this week, according to the person, and they discussed moving on without each other.

MARK HUMPHREY | AP PHTO

With NBC planning to shut down its NBC Sports Network, coverage of NASCAR — along wth the NHL — will move to USA Network.

NBC to shut down NBC Sports Network at end of 2021 Coverage of NASCAR and the NHL will move to USA Network

By Joe Reedy The Associated Press The NBC Sports Network, which is best known for its coverage of the NHL and English Premier League, will be going away at the end of the year.

NBC Sports Chairman Pete Bevacqua announced the channel’s shutdown on Friday in an internal memo to staff.

“At the conclusion of 2021, we have decided that the best strategic next step for our Sports Group and the entire Company is to wind down NBCSN completely,” Bevacqua said in the memo.

NBCSN is available in 80.1 million homes, according to Nielsen’s latest estimate, which is less than ESPN (83.1 million) and FS1 (80.2 million).

The channel was launched

by Comcast in 1995 as the Outdoor Life Network. It was best known for carrying the Tour de France until it acquired the NHL in 2005. It changed its name to Versus in 2006 and then to NBC Sports Network six years later after Comcast bought NBC Universal in 2011.

Bevacqua said in the memo that Stanley Cup playoff games and NASCAR races would be moving to USA Network this year.

USA Network, which is available in 85.6 million homes, had already been airing early-round playoff games since 2012.

“This will make USA Network an extraordinarily powerful platform in the media marketplace, and gives our sports programming a significant audience boost,” Bevacqua said. “We believe that the power of this offering is the best long-term strategy for our Sports Group, our partners, and our Company.”

The news of NBCSN shutting down also comes during a time when many of NBC Sports Group’s most valuable sports properties are coming up for renewal. This is the last season of a 10-year deal with the NHL and negotiations for the EPL rights, beginning with the 2022-23 season, are ongoing.

Many have predicted that the next rights deal with the NHL will include multiple networks with former broadcast partners ESPN and Fox Sports expected to be in the mix. NBC’s current deal averages $200 million per season.

Premier League deals are usually for three years, but NBC secured a six-year package in 2015 by paying nearly $1 billion.

NASCAR, which has its races from July through November on NBC and NBCSN, has a deal through 2024.

IndyCar’s contract, which includes the Indianapolis 500 on NBC, expires at the end of this

year. The sanctioning body said in a statement that NBC “has always been a transparent partner, and we were aware of this upcoming strategy shift.”

Tag Garson, Wasserman’s senior vice president of properties, said TNT and TBS have already proved it’s possible to have a cable channel that does a good job of meshing entertainment programming with sports.

“NBC has done a great job with hockey and soccer that it would be hard for anyone to walk away from that,” he said. “How many windows can you fit sports programming into at USA? That’s where the internal discussions are going to be and understanding the right balance to have between sports and entertainment.”

NBC could also put additional events on its Peacock streaming service, which debuted last year.

There are 175 Premier League games airing on Peacock this season.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, January 27, 2021 HOMETOWN HARDWOOD

ALBEMARLE (1-1, 0-1 YVC) Jan. 28

North Stanly

6 p.m.

Jan. 29

at North Rowan

7:30 p.m.

Feb. 2

North Moore

7:30 p.m.

Jan. 19

at North Moore

L, 57-21

Jan. 22

Chatham Central

L, 61-21

Jan. 26

at Uwharrie Charter

After Press

Jan. 27

at North Stanly

7:30 p.m.

Jan. 29

at South Stanly

8 p.m.

Feb. 2

North Rowan

8 p.m.

Jan. 22

South Davidson

W, 67-28

Jan. 27

Gray Stone Day

7:30 p.m.

Jan. 28

at Albemarle

6 p.m.

Jan. 29

at North Moore

7:30 p.m.

Feb. 2

Chatham Central

7:30 p.m.

Jan. 19

at Uwharrie Charter

L, 67-56

Jan. 26

North Rowan

After Press

Jan. 29

Gray Stone Day

8 p.m.

Feb. 1

at North Moore

7:30 p.m.

Jan. 19

Montgomery Central

W, 74-47

Jan. 22

Anson

W, 69-37

Jan. 26

at Mount Pleasant

After Press

Jan. 29

at Forest Hills

7:30 p.m.

Feb. 2

CATA

7:30 p.m.

GRAY STONE DAY (0-2, 0-2 YVC)

NORTH STANLY (2-2, 2-0 YVC)

SOUTH STANLY (0-4, 0-2 YVC)

WEST STANLY (6-0, 4-0 RRC)

5

Undefeated West Stanly cruises to home win over Anson The Colts’ boys’ basketball team improved to 6-0 with Friday’s win

“We start five seniors, so we should be a little bit ahead of everybody at the start of the season — we just need to keep on working.”

By Jesse Deal The Associated Press

OAKBORO — With a blowout 71-37 home victory over Anson on Friday night, the West John Thompson, West Stanly Stanly boys’ varsity team stood boys’ basketball coach alone in first place in the Rocky River Conference as the regular season reached the halfway sive side of the ball) to go with four mark.

The undefeated Colts (6-0, 4-0 blocks and three steals.

As a team, West limited AnRRC) easily took care of the Bearcats (3-1, 3-1 RRC), who entered son to only 27% shooting from the the matchup also undefeated but field (16 of 60), resulting in a season-low 37 points. A third of the left with a 34-point loss.

“I thought our defense was re- Bearcats’ shots came from behind ally good all night,” West Stanly the 3-point arc, although they basketball coach John Thompson only converted three.

The Colts’ strong perimeter and said. “I was really proud, especially in the second half, where we interior defense generated a lopshared the ball and got much bet- sided assist-to-turnover ratio for ter offensive looks. We were really Anson — zero to 16.

Another area where West was good from the free-throw line and able to capitalize on was at the the middle of the court.”

West senior forward Jake Bar- free-throw line. The Colts hit 77% tell led his team with a career-high of their shots (17 of 22) while An22 points on 7-of-12 shooting and son was just 2-for-5 from the added five rebounds and three stripe.

The Colts were scheduled to steals.

“We need to keep improving play at Mount Pleasant (2-2, 1-2 because these other teams are still RRC) on Tuesday, while the Bearimproving,” Thompson said. “We cats will look to rebound from Fristart five seniors, so we should be a day’s loss with a scheduled matchlittle bit ahead of everybody at the up at Forest Hills (5-1, 3-1 RRC) start of the season — we just need against the Yellow Jackets.

With the Colts and Yellow to keep on working.”

Colt seniors Austin Medlin and Jackets appearing to be the two Trevor Kelly posted 17 points and front-runners in the Rocky Riv14 points, respectively, while ju- er Conference, their meeting this nior Jacob Lisk had eight points. Friday might be a deciding factor Medlin was a force on the Colts’ in the final regular season standdefense, notching a team-high ings. That game is set for a 7:30 ten rebounds (eight on the defen- p.m. tipoff in Marshville.

ROB CARR | AP PHOTO

The 2022 PGA Championship, originally scheduled for Trump National in New Jersey, will be played at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Southern Hills to replace Trump National for ’22 PGA The major tournament was pulled from the former president’s New Jersey course following the riots at the U.S. Capitol The Associated Press TULSA, Okla. — The PGA Championship is headed back to Southern Hills next year, the Oklahoma course that gets its eighth major championship earlier than expected after the PGA of America cut ties with former President Donald Trump.

The 2022 PGA Championship originally was to be played at Trump National in Bedminster, New Jersey. The PGA voted to ter-

minate that contract, signed in 2014, after the Trump-fueled riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 as Congress was certifying the election victory of President Joe Biden.

Southern Hills was not scheduled to host the PGA Championship until 2030.

The club was announced Monday as the 2021 host, which means it will get back-to-back big events starting with the Senior PGA Championship this May. That was one of the reasons it was appealing to move up Southern Hills in the PGA Championship rotation. The PGA of America already has a staff on site in Tulsa, Oklahoma, along with an operations blueprint that won’t need much work.

Kerry Haigh, the chief championships officer for the PGA of

America, said the contract with Southern Hills for 2022 replaces the one for 2030. He said Southern Hills would remain in the mix to also host in 2030. It is not unusual for the PGA Championship to return to a course in eight years or fewer.

“We have a Senior PGA Championship there this year. We also have a staff onsite for Southern Hills, who now will be able to stay on through for the PGA Championship,” Haigh said. “All of these are important factors when we’re less than 16 months away from playing. And we think Southern Hills is a wonderful golf course. It always has been.”

Southern Hills previously hosted the PGA Championship in 1970, 1982, 1994 and most recently in

2007, when Tiger Woods won his 13th major — and fourth PGA title — with a two-shot victory over Woody Austin. Woods finished at 8-under 272, one of only five players who finished under par.

The course recently went through a restoration project led by Gil Hanse, with greens and bunkering a big focus of his work on the original Perry Maxwell design. The club opened in 1935.

The insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, which led the House to impeach Trump for a second time, prompted the PGA of America board to review its contract and it ultimately voted to leave Trump National.

It was the second time since Trump entered politics that the PGA of America left one of his courses. They mutually agreed to

cancel the PGA Grand Slam of Golf at Trump National LA in 2015 after Trump announced his candidacy.

Since the decision to leave Trump National in 2022, Haigh said the PGA received invitations from about 30 golf clubs wanting to host the PGA Championship next year.

The temperature was in the low 100s Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) during the last PGA Championship at Southern Hills when it was held in August. That will no longer be an issue now that the century-old major has moved to May. Southern Hills previously hosted U.S. Opens in 1958, 1977 and in 2001.

The PGA Championship this year will be at Kiawah Island in South Carolina, which last hosted the major in 2012 when Rory McIlroy won by eight shots. After Southern Hills, it goes to Oak Hill in Rochester, New York.

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 27, 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 hospiforts to loosen concealed carry

By Lindsay Whitehurst Activist Earle Fisher, an Afri- ter and other items from t Their fears are echoed across ADRIAN SAINZ | AP PHOTO requirements are a frightening Associated Press can American Memphis pastor, A Lot to her car. She note country:The Governors, mayors trend for Shannon Watts, foundunderstands the anxiety. “This grocery store recently clos health experts in numerous This Friday, April 3, 2020 photo, shows Gateway Shopping Center SALT LAKE CITY — Repub- er of the gun control group Moms is an honest and reasonable con- her house and she already s are also researching and in Memphis, Tenn. lican lawmakers in several more Demand Action. cern and skepticism,” Fisher said. travel farther to get to Gate tructingstates makeshift medical “It is dangerous to allow people want to loosen gun restrictions by allowing people to carry to carry hidden, loaded handguns “When we do things “I think it’s par for the course for ities. possibly without a background concealed firearmsturnwithout Lee hav- has disclosed a few: the Mu- a Chinese restaurant and other black people to be righteously got to consider the people New York City, they’re ing to get a permit, continuing a check or any training,” she said, skeptical of governmental inter- neighborhood,” she said. “W o the Javits Center convention sic City Center in Nashville, the businesses. trend that gun control advocates adding that the annual rate of agvention that did not consult with need to make the neighb Locating a treatment center for Chattanooga Convention Center, in Chicago, the McCormick gravated assaults with a firearm call dangerous. worse than it already is.” the Knoxville Expo71% Center — since all coronavirus patients there pos- people on the ground first.” e Convention Center; in allow has increased in Alaska Fifteen statesand already U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, the state the firstneighto allow es two problems, residents say: carry without Doug McGowen, the city’s chief sites away frombecame residential dy, Utah,concealed the Mountain Amer-a permit, and lawmakers in nine othersborhoods. have concealed carry without a permit It could potentially expose them operating officer, said the Gate- phis Democrat, said the d xpo Center.

2003. proposed allowing or expanding The inGateway Shopping Cen- to the virus amid concerns that way site was being considered be- doesn’t make sense. he U.S. Army Corps of EngiThe proposal in Utah would althe practice. GOP governors are “I’m sure there are othe cause it could potentially accomter in the Nutbush neighborhood s has been scouting locations 21 and older blacks are contracting COVID-19 backing the changes in Utah and low any U.S. citizen RICKwould BOWMER |work, AP PHOTO that and they modate hundreds of beds.

He said at higher rates; and it could force of Memphis is different.

The cenennessee, and officials here Tennessee. Another bill expand- to carry a concealed weapon withhaveonused those rather t if itamendment were converted to at a treatment ofcarries the stores they rely onato ter features Save A Lotbackground grocery some compiled list of 35 possiout theanow-required ing apermitless carry in Montana A man his weapon during second gun rally Utah State Capitol Feb. 8, or weapons course.

The bill close. has passed state House.

2020, in Salt Lake City. site, it would hold only mildly ill into a residential neighbo Rent-A-Center, a Famibackup sites.

Theythe haven’t re- store, acheck does aallow gun owners want Most states people ly to do Nutbush resident and commu- coronavirus patients who could be Cohen said.

Dollar, beauty supplywho shop, d the whole list, butrequire Gov. Bill

6

States eye allowing concealed carry of guns without a permit

things like get weapons training to carry a concealed weapon out of and undergo a background check state to get a permit to do so afto get a permit to carry a gun hid- ter a background check and safeden by a jacket or inside a purse. ty course.

Newly elected GOP Gov. SpenGroups like the National Rifle Association and state lawmak- cer Cox has said he supports the ers who support gun rights argue idea, in contrast to his predecesthose requirements are ineffective sor and fellow Republican Gary and undermine Second Amend- Herbert, who vetoed a similar bill in 2013. ment protections.

Supporters of the change argue The proposed changes come after gun sales hit historic levels last that other state laws against such summer — reflected in FBI back- things as felons having guns and ground checks — amid uncertain- anyone carrying a firearm while ty and safety concerns about the intoxicated are enough to ensure coronavirus pandemic, the strug- guns are used safely. a sonthat of King Associated Press “I have right Salman, to protect gling economy and protestsbin overSalman, to the thedeal.

Constitution says we racial injustice. Since then, aassented vio- myself, the right.

Why are we mob stormed U.S. Capitol.

“I gohave with the consent, so putI UBAI, lent United Arab the Emirting a barrier for law-abiding Against that backdrop, the ef— OPEC, Russia and other agree,” the prince said, chuckling,cit-

PEC, oil nations agree o nearly 10M barrel cut

izens?” said Rep. Walt Brooks, the Republican lawmaker sponsoring the bill that got an early nod of approval from a House committee Friday. The software company president has represented rural southern Utah for about four years.

He pointed to a multistate study published in 2018 by the Journal of the American College of Surgeons that found loosening concealed carry permit laws didn’t lead to more homicides or violent crime. Utah does not require a permit for guns carried openly.

In Tennessee, Republican lawmakers are expected to push

again to allow most adults 21 and older to carry firearms — concealed or openly — without a license that now requires a background check and training.

GOP Gov. Bill Lee backed the idea last year, though the proposal and others were put on hold amid the pandemic.

The push in Tennessee came after the GOP-dominated General Assembly relaxed the state’s handgun law in 2020 by allowing people to obtain a concealed-carry-only handgun permit that didn’t require them to demonstrate the ability to fire a weapon.

In Montana, the House recently passed a bill to allow people to

carry concealed firearms without a permit in most places.

Similar bills that would allow or expand concealed carry without a permit have been introduced in Texas, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Alabama and Georgia.

In Texas, where the NRA plans to incorporate soon and where some lawmakers bring concealed handguns to work at the state Capitol, the GOP has listed the issue as one of just eight legislative priorities. The idea has failed to gain traction for years, though, and with the pandemic promising to be the predominant force in the upcoming session, its prospects are once again uncertain.

roducing nations on Sunday drawing a round of applause from ized an unprecedented pro- those on the video call.

But it had not been smiles and ion cut of nearly 10 million els, or a 10th of global supply, laughs for weeks after the soopes of boosting crashing pric- called OPEC+ group of OPEC mid the coronavirus pandemic members and other nations failed in March to reach an agreement a price war, officials said. his could be the largest re- on production cuts, sending pricion in production from OPEC es tumbling. Saudi Arabia sharply Herring said the proposal is supBy Denise Lavoie ported by numerous groups, inAssociated Press lon- criticized Russia days earlier over erhaps The a decade, maybe cluding the Virginia Bar Associsaid U.S. Energy Secretary what it described as comments ation and the Judicial Council of RICHMOND, Va. — A proposal Brouillette, who credited critical of the kingdom, which Virginia, a group of judges, lawto add four to six new judges to Virfinds itself trying to appease ident Donald Trump’s peryers and state lawmakers. She also ginia’s Court of Appeals is drawing Trump, a longtime OPEC critic. l involvement getting pointed out that most of the judgprotestsin and chargesduelof “court packEven U.S. senators had warned es who currently sit on the court parties to the table helping” from someand Republicans. were elected by Republican-conthe additional Saudi Arabia to find a way to to end a Democrats price war say between trolled legislatures. Virginia is one judges are needed to expand the inboost prices as American shale di Arabia and Russia. of only two states where the legislatermediate court’s jurisdiction and il pricesgive havecriminal collapsed as the firms face far-higher production ture elects judges. defendants and civcosts. navirus iland thean COVID-19 “I’m sorry they are making thisSAUDI a ENERGY litigants automatic right of ap- American troops had been deployed to the kingdom for the ss it causes largely political issue. This is about access peal, have something everyhaltother state in for everybody to our judicial sys- Minist the country now provides. lobal travel and slowed down first time since the Sept. 11, 2001, In this photo released by Saudi Energy Ministry, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud, Herring said.

Republicans, however, addover concerns of Irani- Energy of Saudi Arabia, third right, chairs a virtual summit tem,” r energy-chugging sectorssay attacks of the Group of 20 energy minister Democratic aSen. Scott Suroving four to six newIt judges an isretaliation amid regional ten- his office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, April 10, 2020, to coordinate as manufacturing. hasat once response to plummet ell, an attorney, said expanding a blatant attempt to appoint Demosions. stated crats the tooilchange industry in prices due to an oversupply in the market and a downturn in global demand due to the pandemi the jurisdiction of the Court of Apthe political make“They’ve spent over the last U.S., which now pumps more peals will improve oversight of lowup of the court and push a liberal month waging war on American e than any other country. er court judges. agenda.

“Judges are human beings and “What theyhave wantbeen to do isoil add praise. producers while we are defend- that Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the deal but its president, Andrés ut some producers they make mistakes. very left-wing, progressive, liberal “TheRight purenow, sizeif aof 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 judge makes a mistake in anything justices on what is currently a very he had agreed with precedented, but, then ag nd other nations on Sunday treat friends,” said Sen. Kevin cut another 2 million barrels of Friday that STEVE HELBER | AP PHOTO but divorce cases, it’s difficult to get reasonable Court of Appeals that the impact Trump that the U.S. will compenoil a day between them atop the Cramer, a Republican from North ed to allow Mexico to cut only that mistakeis corrected,” he said.the corona does a very good job. This is court In this March 5, 2020, file photo, House majority leader Del. Charniele Herring, D-Alexandria, having on believe demand,” sate whatatMexico cannot add deal. threeduring countries Dakota, before the OPEC+ 000 barrels a month, stickBut to some Republicans al- said M packing,” said Del.aJason Miyares, a composes herself as shedeal. delivers aOPEC+ speech on SallyThe Hemings the House session the Capitol in lowing the Democratic-controlled med Ghulam, an energy an Republican and former prosecutor Va.have already did not immediately acknowledge the proposed cuts.

U.S. Richmond, producers point for an accord initially add four to James. six judges who is running for attorney general.

“The big Oil Deal withlegislature OPEC toRaymond been reducing output. The Amer- the cut themselves, though Zanhed Friday after a marathon all at once is unfair.

The idea of adding judges to the But Ghulam and others w o conference between 23 na- ican Petroleum Institute laud- ganeh attended the video confer- Plus is done. This will save hunDel. Kirk Cox, a former House 11-judge court has been debated state’s highest court, the Supreme to hear the vast majority of appeals. announced his support for an exit may not be enough. dreds of thousands of energy jobs ence. ed Sunday’s global pact, saying it s. The nations together agreed since the court was formed in the Court of Virginia, to hear their ap- In 2019, it heard only about 3% of pansion of the Court of Appeals Speaker who is now seeking the “This at least a tempo in the United States,” Trump said Officials said other planned cuts will help get other nations’ stateut 9.7 million barrels a day nomination, the criminal appeals and about 12% last month, proposing a budget GOP gubernatorial is 1980s, said L. Steven Emmert, an peals. lief for the in a tweet.

“I would like to thank would stand in the deal, meaning owned oil production to follow the ughout May and June. addition-industry In all criminal cases, litigants of the civil appeals requested. The amendment of $5.1 million to add said he recognizes that energy appellate attorney and publisher be needed at the This i four new and supportPresident staff al capacity only8-million-barrel-per-day cases with an automatic right cut a requestthat for the the website the global economy. andjudges congratulate Pu- may lead ofmust U.S. file producers arecourt try-to an he groupofreached the“Virginia deal justAppellate Court of Appeals.

But in a stateto deal with hundreds of additionof appeal to the Supreme Court are hear an appeal.

But the court only News & Analysis.” is too big to be let to fail and tin of Russia and King Salman of s before Asian markets re- ing to adjust to plunging demand. from July through the end of the ment released by his campaign last al appeals expected to be filed each death sentences and attorney discihears a fraction of the cases it is Under current Virginia law, the liance showed responsibili Brouillette said the U.S. did not year and a 6-million-barrel cut for Saudi Arabia.” ed Monday and as internamonth, Cox said any new judges year. only cases granted automatic hear- asked to: In 2019, it only heard pline cases. this agreement,” said Per M Kremlin beginning in 2021. commitments of its own 16 months al benchmark crudecourtmake should be staggered over a period of HouseThe Majority Leader said Char- President “In the Virginia system, in al10%. ings with Brent the appeals are about Nysveen, head of ana Vladimir held a joint “This will enable rebalancproduction was to ed at just over $31 a domestic barrel issues, timecall and appointed by a the “nonpartihas Putin introduced a bill most all cases, you havethe to ask the niele Herring If a cuts, case isbut heard by able the Court those involving Rystad Energy.

“Even tho Trump and Saudi of the oiltake markets and show the obviousand —any that san Salmerit-based selection commitAmerican producers to addwith four new judges, while in theKing court, please the case.

In the the exof Appeals of plunging the litigants ing such shale as divorces and adoptions; ensureproduction this does not cuts become Senate, Democratic Sen. John Ed- tee lion’s share of cases,oftheprices court says dissatisfiedofwith ruling, they pected workers compensation claims;demand and arebecause are small man to express support of tothe rebound by $15 thethepandemggle. a partisan to remake wardsdeal. is sponsoring bill toPutin add sixspoke no,”barrel Emmertinsaid. can ask the Supreme Court hear per administrative law cases. In allicothwhat the marketour needed a It also asaid sep- attempt the short term,” said is expected to slash U.S. oil to prodeo aired by the Saudi-owned Court of Appeals.”

Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam new judges. er civil cases, people must ask the the case. But the high court declines the stock buildi the oil postpone a statement from Nigeria’s oil arately with Trump about well-respected 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

Bill to add Virginia appeals court judges draws GOP protests

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

460 Branchview Dr. NE P.O. Box 367 Concord, NC 28026 Phone 704-786-1161

13575 Broadway Ave. P.O. Box 100 Midland, NC 28107 Phone 704-888-5571

www.hartsellfh.com

12115 University City Blvd.

P.O. Box 219 Harrisburg, NC 28075 Phone 704-247-1722

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, January 27, 2021 Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, April 15, 2020

7

7

obituaries obituaries

Jason Efird Elizabeth ASON EUGENEHoward “GENE”

J

EFIRD, 94, went home to be with ELIZABETH THOMAS his Lord Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at his HOWARD, 62, of Albemarle, home inaway Stanfield. passed Monday, January 18, Gene was born October 9, 1925, in 2021 at Atrium Health Cabarrus.

Cabarrus County theDecember late Simeon Elizabeth was to born Jason Efird and the lateNC Sarah Ella 10, 1958 in Albemarle, to the Burris Efird.

In addition to his late Jesse Eugene Thomas and the parents, wasWilliams precededThomas. in death by late Onahe Mae hisShe wife, Jewell Efird;insisters, was alsoLittle preceded death Mary Fannie Almond, by herLambert, sister, Shelby Kimrey and Minnie Furr, Burleson and brother, LarryWilma Thomas.

Aileen Huskey; and brothers, Elizabeth worked for someHomer time Efird, Efird and Wayne Efird, in our Getus local Hospice organization.

Sr. left Hospice to be a caregiver She private funeral service will be forAher mother in her mother’s held on Saturday, Aprilcontinued 11, 2020 to later years.

Elizabeth at Love’s Grove United for Methodist volunteer for Hospice several Church Cemetery in Stanfield years. officiated

by Rev. Jimhusband, White. Burial Survivors include D.C. will follow at the Love’ s Grove United Howard of Albemarle, NC; brotherMethodist Church Cemetery, 4360 in-law, Richard “Dick” Kimrey; Polksister-in-laws: Ford Road, Stanfield. and Judy Thomas include sonShe Gerald andSurvivors Elizabeth Steuart. is also Wayne (Gail) ofand Albemarle; survived by 7Efird nieces nephews; Lisa Efird (Mark) Hartsell 9daughter great-nieces and nephews; 2 of Stanfield; granddaughters, great-great nephews; special Kelly Efird Barbee andKesselman, Lauren cousin, Mary Napier Hartsell (Justin) Crump; and greatand other numerous cousins, grandsons, Ianfriends Patrick- Simmons and relatives, and all of whom Elliot Jacob Simmons. she loved dearly.

Memorials may be made to Love’ She was affectionately known tos Grove United Methodist PO her family as Aunt Dizzy.Church, Elizabeth BoxDizzy) 276, Stanfield, NC 28163-0276. (or will be remembered by her family and friends as a loving caregiver who was always looking to do something for someone else - be it family member, friend, or neighbor.

Elizabeth loved holidays, as it was a time to see family. She loved Christmas as it was a time to celebrate Jesus, decorate, and give to others.

P

Tony Smith Trullie ONY MONROESmith SMITH, 72, of

T

Rockwell, FURR NC, went to be with TRULLIE SMITH, 89, of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Albemarle passed away Thursday, on Wednesday, April 8, 2020Manor. at January 21, 2021 in Stanly his home surrounded by family.

A Her funeral service will be 3 PM private family service will be held. on Sunday at Stanly Funeral and Online condolences can be made at Cremation Care of Albemarle with stanlyfuneralhome.com Rev. Rick Miller and Rev. Ray Tony was born August 11, 1947will Johnson officiating.

The family in Stanly Countyfrom to the late Pearlie receive friends 2 until 3 on Asbury Smith and Emmer Sunday prior to the serviceLee at the Smith. He was the son in lawfollow of Pat Funeral Home.

Burial will and Mick Cagle where he worked on Monday at 10 AM at Stanly at the fish house for many years until Gardens of Memory. he Born opened Anchor29, House January 1931Seafood in Stanly in Rockwell.

He and his Becky County, NC, she was thewife daughter owned andJohn operated Anchor of the late Henry Furr House and for 25 years before retiring 2009.

Sarah Cleonia Burris Furr.inShe Mr. Smith was a charter member was a member of Prospect Baptist and deacon Open from Door Dawson Baptist Church andatretired Church in Richfield.

He loved the Manufacturing.

Lord and his family abundantly.

Mrs. Smith was preceded in Tony was a wonderful husband, father, death by her husband Alvin Lee and grandfather and could fix anything Smith in 2007. Survivors include he put his hands on.Smith Faulkner daughters Carolyn Mr. Smith is survived byMcLester, his wife (William), Loretta Smith Becky Cagle Smith of the home, and Linda Smith McDaniel (Eddy) sons Smith2and Robbie all ofWalter Albemarle, sisters Hazel Smith; daughter Kayla Henderson Little of Locust and Jane Little (Brandon); grandchildren Albemarle, sisters-in-law Danielle, Grace Dustin, andFurr, Steeleand Smith, Keaton Furr, Autie Peggy Furr, and Ella Henderson; brother David 6 grandchildren Allen McLester, Smith;Faulkner, sisters KayTodd Kriechbaum, Bryan Faulkner, KarenMcDaniel Stevenson,II, Ruby Eudy,Myers and Eddy Jennifer Dorothy Smith (Nick). and Kevin Faulkner and 18 greatHe is preceded in was death by grandchildren.

She preceded brothers Joe Smith, Wayne Smith, in death by five brothers Floyd Claude Smith, Smith, Robert Furr, Joe Furr,Wade Leonard Furr, Tim Smith, and sisterFurr, Marytwo Morris.

Furr and Paulie sisters Memorial contributions canLiles, be Beatrice Barrow and Rachel made to Open Door Baptist Church son-in-law Larry McLester and at 44563 Hwy 52,Tyler Richfield, NC great-grandson McDaniel.

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, NC to the late John Richard Almond and Alice Ada Ann Lambert Almond.

She is survived by her three daughters, Gay Michel (Jack), Oak Island, NC; Pamela Rushing (Foreman), Oakboro, NC; Kathy Hunt (Marc), Albemarle, NC; her PEGGY MAE TROUTMAN, son, Chris Tucker (Chris Lear), 83, of Monroe passed away on Washington, DC. She beat greatly Saturday, January 23,will 2021 her missed by her five grandchildren, home. A graveside service will be Heather Rushing Chaney January (Shannon), held at 3PM on Tuesday, Michael Elizabeth 26, 2021Rushing, at Antioch BaptistMichel Church Hartzog (Craig), Jack Michel, Cemetery in Monroe, NC. Jr. (Jenn), and Woody as well17, as Peggy was born Hunt September seven great-grandchildren.

She also 1937 in Cabarrus County to the late leaves behind cherished nieces and Robert Morrison Fink and Ethel nephews.

Mae Furr Fink.

The family expresses its sincere Mrs. Troutman is survived by gratitude to the staff and sons: Jerry Clontz, Alan caregivers Clontz at Trinitydaughter: Place for the care they (Cathy); Wanda Frye provided Pauline.

(Reid; 3 grandchildren; 4 great A private graveside service will be grandchildren; brothers: Boyce, held on Monday, April 13, 2020.

Clarence, Ernie, and Tony Fink;A celebration of Pauline’ s life and legacy and sister Mary Brooks. will be held this summer.

She is preceded in death by lieuhusband of flowers, the family herIn first Dwight Charles requests donations be to the Clontz and her secondmade husband BrightFocus Foundation at brothers: www.

Herman Boyd Troutman; brightfocus.org.

Robert “Dub” and Clem Fink; and

Peggy Troutman

sister Rose Fink.

The family would like to give a special thanks to her caregiver and granddaughter Crystal Watkins.

Merle Helms Joseph Hatley ERLE LORRAINE AUSTIN

M

HELMS, 72, of Marshville, JOSEPH LLOYD HATLEY, passed away Wednesday, Aprilaway 8, SR., 90, of Albemarle passed 2020 at McWhorter Hospice House on Thursday evening, January 21, in Monroe.

2021 at Atrium Health Stanly. A Lorraine was born 28,at 1947 graveside service willApril be held in Monroe to the late Homer 2PM on Sunday, January 24,David 2021 Austin andHill Jewell Delphia-Jane at Liberty Primitive Baptist Austin. She was also preceded in Church in Oakboro. death brothers, A.D. Teddy He by was born May 15,and 1930 in Austin; and sister, Joy Austin.

Albemarle to the late Daniel Vance willHatley. receiveJoe friends andThe Idafamily Morton was from 6:00 pm 8:00 pm, Friday, a United States Navy Veteran Aprilserved 10, 2020 at Hartsell and in the KoreanFuneral War. Home of Albemarle. funeral Mr. Hatley retired inThe 1985 from service willMartin be at 11:00 am on Ga. Lockheed in Marietta, Saturday at Pleasant Hill Baptist Mr. Hatley is preceded in Church Marshville, death byinhis first wife,officiated Rachel

by Rev. John Miller and Rev. Leon Gilbert Hatley, daughter Deborah Whitley. She lie in state for 30 Holbrook, hiswill mother and father, minutes prior toHe theisservice.

She and 7 siblings. survived bywill his be laid towife restAda in the church cemetery. current Marcella Crook She isofsurvived by son her beloved Hatley the home, Joseph husband of 47 years, Paul Helms Lloyd Hatley, Jr., 5 grandchildren, of the son, Alex (Deanna) and 4 home; great-grandchildren.

Helms of Pageland; daughter, Paula (Cristin Brandt) Helms of Mint Hill; grandchildren, Mason, Grant, and Raegan Helms; brothers, Boyce, Royce, Tim Austin; and sisters, Patricia Mullis, and Angel Tarleton.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 4600 Park Rd., Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28209.

Baxter Lanier BAXTER RAY LANIER, 73, of Albemarle, passed away Monday, January, 24, 2021 at Atrium Health Main, Charlotte, NC. His memorial service will be 3pm on February 7, 2021 at Charity Baptist INDA TUCKER HATLEY, 69, of Church with Rev. Leslie Ray Lanier Albemarle, passed away Monday, officiating.

April 2020.was born July 4, 1947 Mr.13, Lanier Linda was born Stanly County, NC,September son of the 18, late 1950 inCiscaro Concord to theand lateFlora Jacob and Leslie Lanier ClarisHuneycutt Tucker. SheLanier. was also preceded Anita Baxter in death by her of brother, Terry Lee was a member Charity Baptist Tucker, and sister, Brenda Church.

He her wastwin a avid fisher, deer Tucker Strickland. know hunter, motorcycle We rider andBrenda he and Lindaloved are inhis Heaven watching especially family. over us and Baxter is laughing. survived by his wife Linda was a loving Kathy Laverne Burrismother, Lanier sister, of the and “Nana.” was a very giving home.

OtherShe survivors include two and loving Linda(Teresa) would sons, Leslieperson.

Ray Lanier always do anything she could Ray for of Norwood, NC and Steven others, of especially her family.

She Lanier Albemarle, NC; two enjoyed workingDerek at FastShop grandchildren, Lanier#5, and Locust. Linda be foreverand loved Amanda Lynnwill Vanderburg and greatly missed. Kayden great grandchildren, Survivors include son, Vanderburg, Kamyaher Vanderburg, AlanLanier, Hatley and wife,Lanier Angela, of Lexi Chance and Albemarle; brother, Ronnie Tucker Adaley Lanier. and wife, Linda, of Midland; Memorials may be made to, granddaughter, Hatley; 1 Charity Baptist Leslie Church, 26753 niece; and 2 nephews.

Burleson Road, Albemarle, NC The family will receive friends 28001. from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm, Thursday, April 16, 2020 at Hartsell Funeral Home in Albemarle. Linda will be laid to rest during a private committal service at Bethel United Methodist Church, Midland.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to Bethel UMC, 12700 Idlebrook Rd, Midland, NC 28107.

L

S

Shirley Haire David Hooper

HIRLEY MAE HAIRE, 73,66, DAVID MARK HOOPER, of Albemarle passed22, away onin passed away January 2021 April 11,NC. 2020 at Atrium Health Locust, Stanly.

The family hold a private David was bornwill Dec. 3, 1954 graveside service forson Mrs. in Burlington, NC, ofHaire. the Shirley was born December 12, late Lawrence and Doris Hooper 1946brother in Washington, DCLawrence to the and to the late late Charles Richard Hoskins Hooper, Jr. Bateman He was aand 1972 Elizabethof Mae Mulligan Bateman. graduate Walter Hines Page Shirley is survived byGreensboro, her husband Senior High School in of 30 years VaughnGuildford Smith of NC and attended Albemarle;Community sister SandraCollege.

Painter Technical of Gainesville, VA; half-brother David was well-loved in the Robertrural Bateman of Stevensville, small, community of Locust, MD;where step-children NC, he livedHeather for moreSmith than of Jacksonville, FL and 33 years and served as David council Smith of New NC; 4 member fromLondon, 1991 until 1995. step-grandchildren; Cyndi Mr. Hooper leavesnieces behind a Hentschel of Leesburg, VA and son, Todd Hooper, of Takatsuki, Cheryl Hardy of Aylett, Valerie VA; 16 grandJapan, two daughters, nieces and nephews; and Gus the Brame of Reidsville Marlene dog. Stanly andFL Cremation Brigham ofFuneral Pensacola, and Care grandchildren. of Albemarle is serving thealso nine Survivors Haire family. include a sister, Sanny Wroblewski of Beijing, China, a brother, Carter Hooper of Long Beach, CA and 8 nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held 2 pm, Monday, January25, 2021 at Hartsell Funeral Home, 522 North 2nd St., Albemarle, NC.

Danny Luther Dixie Kendall ANNY PAUL LUTHER,

D

65, of Norwood, passed away DIXIE HENRIETTA PINYAN unexpectedly Thursday, April KENDALL who was born in9, 2020 at Atrium Health Stanlyslipped in Georgia on March 23, 1934, Albemarle. away into the beloved arms of Luther was born23, March herMr. Savior on January 202127, at 1955 to the late Robert Fulton andin Bethany Woods Nursing Home Helen Tucker Luther.

Albemarle, NC. Danny was by his She grew upsurvived and raised herwife, Denisein Burleson of Norwood; family Derita Luther – the Nevins sons, Jeremy (Karen) Luther and Community.

It was there that she Jodyand Luther; step-sons, Bryan met married the love of her Whitley and Gregg (Anita) Whitley; life, her “soldier-boy”, Benjamin Grandchildren, Daniel Luther and Reuben Kendall, Jr. who preceded Hunter Zado,They as well as his brother, her in death. were married for Bobyears.

Luther Jr was (Lorena), uncle Jackby 62 She also preceded Luther and several other loved nieces, her parents, John Sherman Pinyan nephews and cousins.

Sr. and Lodie Sowers Pinyan, her Danny John recently retired Pinyan from brothers, Sherman Charlotte Pipe and Foundry after II, Pheanis (Chick) Pinyan, Earl a dedicated 37 years and worked Pinyan, Floyd Pinyan, and Patrick there with sons and several other Pinyan, herhis sisters, Ethel Pinyan friends and family members.

Wilson, Louise Pinyan Rich, and DannyPinyan loved spending Maxine Price andtime her at his lake house with his family and daughter, Alice Kendall Rollins. friends assurvived well as vacationing with his She is by her children, family.Kendall Danny and Denise Joyce Maxwell ofenjoyed Iron listeningDanny to beach music and loved to Station, Lee Kendall shag dance every chance they could (Maureen) of Kings Mountain, get. He was an amazing loving Timothy Bruce Kendallfather, (Tammy) grandfather friend to of Stanfield,and andgreat Jennifer many. HeKendall will never forgotten.

Rebecca of be Dallas, NC. 14 A celebration of life will be Grandchildren, Matthew Maxwell, announced once the current Robin Boone, Pamela Maxwell, COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

Christina Johnson, Tommy Hartsell Funeral Home of Rollins, April Kendall, Nathan Albemarle is serving the Luther Kendall, Amanda Kendall Hodge, family. Kendall, Spencer Kendall, Brandon Jonathan Kendall, Brian Kendall, Shannon Kendall and Michael Kendall. 18 Great Grandchildren and 7 Great-Great Grandchildren, her brothers, A.G. Pinyan, Otis (Buck) Pinyan, her sisters, Alma Pinyan Horne and Ann Pinyan Stone, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Linda Hatley

Jerry Fincher Darrell ERRY FINCHER Efird passed from

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this life on April 3, 2020 EFIRD, at 8:05 DARRELL CLINTON pm.

He was surrounded by his family 88, of Badin, passed away Friday, and holding the2021 handat ofTucker the love of January 22nd, his life. Jerry is preceded in death Hospice House.

by Darrell three siblings, twoJuly brothers, was born 20th,Billy 1932 Gilbert Fincher, LarryEfird Richard to the late Jamesand Henry and Fincher, andEfird. one sister, Barbra Joyce Lessie Dick He graduated Moore. from Endy High School in 1951 He is survived his wife, Eleanor and was a lifelongbyStanly County Kate Fincher of the home, daughter, resident.

Cindy Fincher of Wingate Darrell wasJacobs a United States Air NC., son and daughter in law, Tommy Force veteran and served in the (Tiffany) Fincher of New London Korean War. He retired from Alcoa NC.,was StepaChildren, (Lisa) and member Jimmy of the 25-year Lanier of Locust NC, Wanda (Bob) club. He enjoyed working many Krimminger ofCub Locust NC.,and Ericwas years with the Scouts of Charlotte NC., a(Sharon) faithfulLanier member of Lighthouse Grandchildren-Trey (Gera) Whitson Baptist Church. He was best known of Midland, for his kind Step-grandchildren, words, sweet smile, Zach (Brittney) Aaron and bear hugs. Washington, He was a loving (Kinsey) Washington, Caleb (Nayeli) husband, father, and Paw Paw Washington, Beth (Robbie) Setzer, to his grandchildren and great Matthew ( April ) Wallace, Step grandchildren. He was a man of great-grandchildren, Britlyn-Eve few words, Washington, Robertwere Setzer, George but those words worth (Sara) Setzer, Tracy (Rob) Setzer listening to.

Bumgardener, Underwood, Darrell wasKatie preceded in death by Andrew Underwood, StepKenneth great his parents and brother, great grandchild, Waylon George Efird.

Setzer and brotherby Donald Lewis He is survived his wife Fincher of Albemarle, NC. of 63 years, Shirley Blalock Jerry Fincher will beClinton laid to rest on Efird; Son, Reverend Wednesday April 8,2020 at 11:00 am Efird (Cindy), Daughter, Tonya at Canton Baptist Church.

Anyone Efird; 4 grandchildren, 9 great interested in attending, please RSVP grandchildren; Brothers, Larry at 704-796-2412.

Dr. Phil McCray Efird (Shirley) and Donnie Efird and Pastor Tommy Fincher will (Janice); and Sister-in-law, Bobbie officiate.

Neil Efird.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a private graveside service will be held for family. Reverend Gary Cox will officiate the service and burial will follow at Bear Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. The Efird Family will plan to celebrate Darrell’s life at a later time.

A special thank you to the staff at Bethany Woods for their care the last few years, and to Hospice of Cabarrus County.

Boyd Paige BOYD LEE PAIGE, 85, of Albemarle, passed away Sunday, January 24, 2021 at Forrest Oaks Healthcare Center in Albemarle.

Boyd was born October 25, 1935 in Stanly County to the late Fred Lee Page and the late Isabelle Huneycutt Page. He was also preceded in death by his beloved wife of 56 years, Betty Jean Hagans Paige, who passed away in 2017.

The family will receive friends from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Thursday, January 28, 2021 at Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle. The graveside service to celebrate his life will follow at 1:00 pm at Stanly Gardens of Memory, officiated by Rev. Delane Burris.

He is survived by his son, David Lee Paige; daughter, Penny Paige (James) Patrick; sister, Katie (Larry) Huneycutt; brother, Nathan (Deanne) Paige; and grandson, Jay (Shelby) Patrick.

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

Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com

Simple, Affordable, Convenient Available 24 Hours a Day

Southern Piedmont Cremation Services provides a basic cremation service for families who have experienced the loss of a loved one and do not desire a traditional funeral or farewell ceremony.

When your loved one passes simply call our office and our professional team will come as quickly as possible and bring your loved one into our care.

Phone: 704-985-4851

Fax: 704-550-5508

Email: care@spcremation.com

8

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, January 27, 2021

STATE & NATION

Mexican leader says Biden offers $4B in aid for Central America

By Mark Stevenson The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden’s first calls to foreign leaders went to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador at a strained moment for the U.S. relationship with its North American neighbors.

Mexico’s president said Saturday that Biden told him the U.S. would send $4 billion to help development in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala — nations whose hardships have spawned tides of migration through Mexico toward the United States.

López Obrador, who spoke Friday with Biden by phone, said the two discussed immigration and the need to address the root causes of why people migrate.

Mexico has stopped recent attempts by caravans of Central American migrants to cross Mexico.

Biden’s call to Trudeau came after the Canadian prime minister this week publicly expressed disappointment over Biden’s decision to issue an executive order halting construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. The longplanned project was projected to carry some 800,000 barrels of oil a day from the tar sands of Alberta to the Texas Gulf Coast, passing through Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma.

Biden told Trudeau that by issuing the order he was following through on a campaign pledge to stop construction of the pipeline, a senior Canadian government official told The Associated Press. The official spoke on condition of ano-

nymity to discuss the private conversation.

The White House said in a statement that Biden acknowledged Trudeau’s disappointment with his Keystone decision.

Biden’s call with López Obrador also came at a tense moment — days after the Mexican president accused the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration of fabricating drug trafficking charges against the country’s former defense secretary.

While Mexico continues to pledge to block mass movements of Central American migrants toward the U.S. border, there has been no shortage of potential flashpoints between the two countries.

Mexico demanded the return of former Defense Secretary Gen. Salvador Cienfuegos after he was arrested in Los Angeles in October, threatening to restrict U.S. agents in Mexico if he wasn’t returned. U.S. prosecutors agreed to drop charges and return Cienfuegos to Mexico.

But Mexico passed a law restricting foreign agents and removing their immunity anyway, and went on to publish the U.S. case file against Cienfuegos, whom Mexican prosecutors quickly cleared of any charges.

López Obrador said in a statement that the conversation with Biden was “friendly and respectful.”

The White House said Biden mentioned “reversing the previous administration’s draconian immigration policies.”

Trudeau told reporters before the call on that he wouldn’t allow his differences with Biden over the project to become a source of ten-

EVAN VUCCI | AP PHOTO

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the economy in the State Dining Room of the White House, Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, in Washington, D.C. sion in the U.S.-Canada relationship.

“It’s not always going to be perfect alignment with the United States,” Trudeau said. “That’s the case with any given president, but we’re in a situation where we are much more aligned on values and focus. I am very much looking forward to working with President Biden.”

Biden signed the executive order to halt construction of the pipeline just hours after he was sworn in.

“Leaving the Keystone XL pipeline permit in place would not be consistent with my Administration’s economic and climate imperatives,” Biden’s executive order said.

Proponents of the project say it would create thousands of jobs on both sides of the border.

The project was proposed in 2008, and the pipeline has be-

come emblematic of the tensions between economic development and curbing the fossil fuel emissions that some say are causing climate change. The Obama administration rejected it, but President Donald Trump revived it and was a strong supporter. Construction already started.

Biden and Trudeau also discussed the prospects of Canada being supplied with the COVID-19 vaccine from pharmaceutical giant Pfizer’s facility in Kalamazoo, Michigan, according to a second senior Canadian government official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe a private conversation.

Canada has been getting all its Pfizer doses from a Pfizer facility in Puurs, Belgium, but Pfizer has informed Canada it won’t get any doses next week and will get 50% less than expected over

the next three weeks. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has publicly asked Biden to share a million doses made at Pfizer’s Michigan facility.

The U.S. federal government has an agreement with Pfizer in which the first 100 million doses of the vaccine produced in the U.S. will be owned by the U.S. government and will be distributed in the U.S. Anita Anand, the Canadian federal procurement minister, has said the doses that are emerging from the Michigan plant are for distribution in the United States.

The two leaders also spoke broadly about trade, defense and climate issues. Trudeau also raised the cases of two Canadians imprisoned in China in apparent retaliation for the arrest of a top Huawei executive, who was apprehended in Canada on a U.S. extradition request, according to the prime minister’s office.

Austin wins Senate confirmation as 1st black Pentagon chief

By Robert Burns The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Lloyd J. Austin, a West Point graduate who rose to the Army’s elite ranks and marched through racial barriers in a 41-year career, won Senate confirmation to become the nation’s first black secretary of defense.

Austin was approved by a 93-2 vote.

President Joe Biden is looking for Austin to restore stability atop the Pentagon, which went through two Senate-confirmed secretaries of defense and four who held the post on an interim basis during the Trump administration. The only senators who voted against Austin were Republicans Mike Lee of Utah and Josh Hawley of Missouri.

Before heading to the Pentagon, Austin wrote on Twitter that he is especially proud to be the first black secretary of defense.

“Let’s get to work,” he wrote.

And a short time later he arrived at the Pentagon’s River Entrance, where he was greeted by holdover Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist, who has been the acting secretary since Wednesday, and Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

He was sworn in and was to receive an intelligence briefing, then confer with senior civilian and military officials on the COVID-19 crisis. He also planned to speak by phone with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and to receive briefings about China and the Middle East.

Some of the global problems on Austin’s plate are familiar to him, including one of the thorniest — Afghanistan. The White House said Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told his Afghan counterpart in a phone call last Friday that the new administration will “review” the February 2020 deal that the Trump administration struck with the Taliban that requires the U.S. to withdraw all of its troops by May. Trump ordered U.S. troops levels in Afghanistan cut to 2,500 just days before he left office, presenting Biden with decisions about

ALEX BRANDON | AP PHOTO

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, right, greets Deputy Secretary of Defense David Norquist as he arrives at the Pentagon, Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, in Washington, D.C. how to retain leverage against the Taliban in support of peace talks.

Austin’s confirmation was complicated by his status as a recently retired general. He required a waiver of a legal prohibition on a military officer serving as secretary of defense within seven years of retirement. Austin retired in 2016 after serving as the first black general to head U.S. Central Command. He was the first black vice chief of staff of the Army in 2012 and also served as director of the Joint Staff, a behind-thescenes job that gave him an intimate view of the Pentagon’s inner workings.

Austin, a large man with a booming voice and a tendency to shy from publicity, describes himself as the son of a postal worker and a homemaker from Thomas-

ville, Georgia. He has promised to speak his mind to Congress and to Biden.

During his nomination hearing Austin said he had not sought the nomination but was ready to lead the Pentagon without clinging to his military status and with full awareness that being a political appointee and Cabinet member requires “a different perspective and unique duties from a career in uniform.”

As vice president, Biden worked closely with Austin in 2010-11 to wind down U.S. military involvement in Iraq while Austin was the top U.S. commander in Baghdad.

American forces withdrew entirely, only to return in 2014 after the Islamic State extremist group captured large swaths of Iraqi territory. At Central Command, Aus-

tin was a key architect of the strategy to defeat IS in Iraq and Syria.

Only twice before has Congress waived the prohibition — in 1950 for George C. Marshall during the Korean War and in 2017 for Jim Mattis, the retired Marine general who served as President Donald Trump’s first Pentagon chief.

Austin has promised to surround himself with qualified civilians. And he made clear at his confirmation hearing that he embraces Biden’s early focus on combatting the coronavirus pandemic.

“I will quickly review the department’s contributions to coronavirus relief efforts, ensuring we are doing everything we can — and then some — to help distribute vaccines across the country and to vaccinate our troops

and preserve readiness,” he told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Under questioning by senators, Austin pledged to address white supremacy and violent extremism in the ranks of the military.

“The Defense Department’s job is to keep America safe from our enemies,” he said. “But we can’t do that if some of those enemies lie within our own ranks.”

Austin said he will insist that the leaders of every military service know that extremist behavior in their ranks is unacceptable.

He offered glimpses of other policy priorities, indicating that he embraces the view among many in Congress that China is the “pacing challenge,” or the leading national security problem for the U.S.

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 19 | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2021

Twin City Herald

NELL REDMOND | AP PHOTO

Wake Forest vs. Louisville Louisville guard Mykasa Robinson (5) and Wake Forest forward Ivana Raca battle for the ball in the third quarter of an NCAA women's college basketball game in Winston-Salem, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Consultants cite racism in fire department Racism exists inside the Winston-Salem Fire Department, but a consulting group looking into allegations of discrimination says it heard no complaints that the chief himself is racist.

The Charlotte-based WPR Consulting firm’s 42-page report, based on conversations with more than 100 department members, was submitted to city leaders in response to a series of grievances filed by the department’s black firefighters in October alleging racism.

The firefighters formed a group, Omnibus, that called for Chief William “Trey” Mayo to be fired for failing to discipline white firefighters who, they said, have created a hostile work environment.

AP

COVID-19 vaccination appointments online only due to phone issues After the Forsyth County Health Department’s phone lines were overwhelmed by calls to schedule appointments for a COVID-19 vaccine, the process has been moved to online only. The system took more than 50,000 calls in the first three-plus days. The department is now using an area call center to try to get a phone system that will be able to handle the volume, although there’s no estimated date for residents to be able to call for appointments once again.

MY FOX 8

5

20177 52016 $0.50

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North Carolina man arrested, charged in U.S. Capitol siege

By Tom Foreman Jr. The Associated Press WINSTON-SALEM — A North Carolina man who was among the rioters who stormed U.S. Capitol during the siege by supporters of President Donald Trump has been arrested, the FBI said Tuesday.

Authorities arrested Christopher Raphael Spencer, 40, without incident in Kernersville, the FBI said in a statement. Spencer, who is from Pilot Mountain, made his initial court appearance on Tuesday at the federal courthouse in Greensboro, a spokeswoman said.

According to a statement from a task force officer assigned to the

FBI, an informant told authorities that Spencer had livestreamed videos to Facebook from inside the U.S. Capitol. The informant suggested Spencer may have had a family member with him, one of whom was captured on the posted video, the statement said.

A search warrant turned up three livestream videos from Spencer’s Facebook account, and at different times, he showed himself, the officer said.

According to the FBI, the videos show Spencer in various places inside the U.S. Capitol, and he can be heard shouting obscenities.

Investigators said that Spencer at one point pulled down his neck

Former Make-A-Wish Iowa CEO charged with embezzling funds

By Ryan J. Foley The Associated Press IOWA CITY, Iowa — The former CEO of Make-A-Wish Iowa has been arrested on felony charges alleging she embezzled tens of thousands of dollars from the charity that supports sick children, the group confirmed Friday.

Jennifer Woodley, 40, turned herself in to authorities in Des Moines on Thursday to face two charges of first-degree theft and the unauthorized use of a credit card.

She was booked at the Polk County Jail and released after posting $30,000 bond.

Two months after becoming the group’s president and CEO, Woodley secretly awarded herself a $10,000 bonus in October 2019

that had not been approved by its board, according to criminal complaints unsealed Friday.

The bonus, which Woodley added to a list of legitimate bonuses earned by other employees, cost the organization $15,540 in all, police said.

Woodley also made 84 unauthorized purchases on an organization credit card that were for her personal use, totaling more than $23,000 over a 10-month span, the complaints state. Woodley allegedly did not reimburse the group for those expenses.

Based in the Des Moines suburb of Urbandale, the Iowa group is one of 60 chapters of Make-A-Wish America, which works to provide support and memorable experiences for children with critical illnesses

gaiter and said “Bro, they stormed the Capitol, bro … pushed the cops out of the way, everything … took it over.”

At another point, the video shows him walking into an office hallway as he says, “Where’s Nancy’s office?” in apparent reference to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the FBI said. As he walked through Statuary Hall, Spencer said, “Who would’ve knew the first time I ever come would be to storm,” according to officials.

Spencer was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; violent entry and disorderly con-

Jennifer Woodley, 40, turned herself in to authorities in Des Moines on Thursday to face two charges of first-degree theft and the unauthorized use of a credit card. and their families.

Dave Farnsworth, the board chairman for Make-A-Wish Iowa, said the organization swiftly dismissed Woodley and notified police after discovering financial irregularities during an internal compliance review last July. He said the organization was “deeply saddened and disappointed by the events” that led to charges against Woodley.

“We thank the Urbandale Police Department for its investigation into this breach of Make-A-Wish’s ethical standards and policies, and we will continue to cooperate with law enforcement,” he said. “We know that we have an obligation to safeguard every dollar given to us.”

Defense attorney Nick Sarcone confirmed Friday that he was repre-

duct on capitol grounds; and obstruction of justice.

Following the hearing, Spencer was released on the conditions that he stay away from Washington unless for court hearings or meetings with a probation officer.

He is prohibited from interfering or influencing anyone who may be a witness to the siege, and he must report for a virtual hearing on Jan. 25, according to the release conditions.

Spencer must cooperate in the collection of a DNA sample if one is authorized, and he must tell the court or any of its officials of any change of residence or telephone number, the order said.

The FBI’s statement did not say if he had an attorney who could comment.

Spencer is among more than 150 people arrested so far on charges related to the Jan. 6 violent insurrection in which a Capitol police officer and four others were killed.

senting Woodley.

“She maintains her innocence and we look forward to our day in court,” he said.

Each charge Woodley faces is a class C felony that carries up to 10 years in prison.

The group’s most recent tax filing shows that Woodley began leading the organization on Aug. 5, 2019, and succeeded Chris Voggesser, who was paid roughly $140,000 annually. Woodley’s salary was not disclosed.

Make-A-Wish Iowa says it has an annual budget of $4 million, a staff of 16 employees and is governed by a 17-member volunteer board.

During Woodley’s tenure, the 35-year-old chapter granted its 4,000th wish for a child and said it planned to grant about 170 wishes for children per year.

Jail records list Woodley’s new address as Winston Salem, North Carolina, where her husband, Matt Woodley, is an assistant basketball coach at Wake Forest.

The couple has had two daughters who have required brain surgery, and one of them received a trip to Walt Disney World through Make-A-Wish Iowa before Woodley was hired as CEO.

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, January 27, 2021

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♦ Barringer, Jackson Taylor (M/21) Arrest on chrg of 1) Misd Poss Controlled Substance (M), 2) Drugs-misd Poss (M), 3) Drug Paraphernalia (M), and 4) Ccw (M), at 1855 Lewisville-clemmons Rd, Clemmons, NC, on 1/24/2021 16:10. ♦ BASH, TIAYONNA DEVETTE was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 1694 DIGGS BV/S RESEARCH PW on 1/24/2021 ♦ Bohannon, Nicholas Mckenzie (M/29) Arrest on chrg of 1) Drugsposs Sched Vi (M) and 2) Misd Poss Controlled Substance (M), at 2498 Lewisville-clemmons Rd/stadium Dr, Clemmons, NC, on 1/24/2021 20:50.

ON SUNDAY, Jan. 17, then Vice President-elect Kamala Harris sat down with Jane Pauley of CBS News “Sunday Morning.”

Pauley treated Harris to a full-on journalistic massage. At no point was Harris asked a tough question; at no point was Harris treated as anything other than an idol worthy of worship. Perhaps the most awkward manifestation of this sycophancy came when Harris — an extraordinarily and transparently manipulative and mechanical politician — spouted a canned speech about relentlessness. “I was raised to not hear no — let me be clear about it,” said Harris. “I eat no for breakfast!”

This prompted a spasm of ecstasy from Pauley, who immediately reflected Harris’ bizarrely inappropriate laughter with an enormous grin of her own.

It will be four long years.

For four years, the media complained that outgoing President Donald Trump treated them as an enemy. They self-servingly claimed that they were actually the protectors of democracy and individual rights. It took all of one month after Trump’s inauguration for The Washington Post to add the slogan “Democracy Dies in Darkness” to its masthead. By October 2017, CNN began running ads explaining that it was all about “Facts First.”

Trump, for his part, attacked the media whether they deserved it or not: Every disparaging headline, true or not, became “fake news.” That was unjustified and wrong, obviously. But the media’s lack of credibility wasn’t solely attributable to Trump. It resulted from their own journalistic malfeasance for years on end during former President Barack Obama’s administration — “his only scandal was wearing a tan suit!” — followed by their aggressive repetition of even the most thinly-sourced scandal regarding Trump.

Now we’ll return to the gaslighting of the Obama era, when members of the Obama team could openly admit to lying to the media, only to receive obsequious praise in return. Already, media outlets are praising the newfound veracity of Biden’s press

08:55.

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♦ GLENN, MICHAEL RAYE was arrested on a charge of LARCENYFELONY - MV at 3450 HEALY DR on 1/22/2021

♦ PRIDDY, KRISTIN JEAN was arrested on a charge of B&EVEHICLE at 1990 HAMPTON INN CT on 1/22/2021

♦ GONZALEZ TORIBIO, KEVIN was arrested on a charge of INTERFERENCE W/ELECTRONIC MONITORING DEVICES at 201 N CHURCH ST on 1/22/2021 ♦ GONZALEZVARGAS, JUAN RAYMUNDO was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at WAKE FOREST RD/REYNOLDA RD on 1/24/2021 ♦ HANES, CLARK LINDSAY was arrested on a charge of OFA-FTASECOND DEGREE TRESPASS at 951 SILAS CREEK PW on 1/22/2021

♦ BONNER, MARVIN DARNELE was arrested on a charge of REC/POSS STOLE MV at 4785 LENNOX RD on 1/24/2021

♦ MATTHEWS, CHRISTOPHER RAY was arrested on a charge of BREAKING/LARC-FELONY at 729 N CHERRY ST on 1/25/2021

♦ Brooks, Iday Montrail (M/21) Arrest on chrg of Communicate Threats (M), at 4647 Gallant Ln, Winston-salem, NC, on 1/20/2021 20:30.

♦ MILLER, TERRENCE LEVON was arrested on a charge of RESISTING ARREST at 2800 PIEDMONT CR on 1/22/2021

♦ CREGER, CHADWICK ALLEN was arrested on a charge of B&EVEHICLE at 1990 HAMPTON INN CT on 1/22/2021 ♦ CREWS, PATRICK RENARD was arrested on a charge of P/W/I/S/D SCHED I at 1400 N CLEVELAND AV/E SEVENTEENTH ST on 1/22/2021 ♦ FERNANDEZPENA, JOSE EDUARDO was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 201 N CHURCH ST on 1/25/2021 ♦ Frost, Shawn Dewayne (M/49) Arrest on chrg of 2nd Degree Trespass, M (M), at 301 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 1/22/2021

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team — despite the fact that Jen Psaki, Biden’s choice for White House press secretary, was accused of openly and explicitly lying to the media in 2016. Media members are even admitting that the vacation has begun: CNN’s Jim Acosta — and, ladies, find you a man who loves you like Jim Acosta loves Jim Acosta — admitted that he’d be covering Biden differently, explaining, “If being at the White House is not an experience that might merit hazard pay ... then perhaps it is going to be approached differently.”

Of course, Acosta never needed hazard pay. He was too busy declaring himself a hero and preening for the cameras while pulling down a lucrative book contract. But now that the Biden administration is a reality, our media can go back to sleep.

And so, the controversies of the day will turn to the trite.

The big question won’t be governmental oversight but media self-policing: Last week, the media were consumed with the vital question of whether Vogue magazine’s cover of Harris is respectful enough, given that it shows her wearing her trademark Converse sneakers. Other major controversies to come will include just how cute Joe Biden’s dog is and whether the racial diversity of his Cabinet is merely important or super-important.

Meanwhile, the same media outlets that act as stenographers for the Democratic Party will insist that other outlets meet with social media censorship. After all, American needs unity! And that unity can only be provided by the same people who have wrecked all pretense of institutional objectivity in the pursuit of partisan outcomes.

People will continue to seek information from alternative sources, of course. But that will only provoke the media to seek new methods of repressing those alternatives. As it turns out, the commitment of many in our media isn’t to truth or facts. It’s to monopolistic control.

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.

DEATH NOTICES

♦ BONNER, MARVIN DARNELE was arrested on a charge of ROBBERY at 201 N CHURCH ST on 1/25/2021

♦ Camp, Brian Cecil (M/31) Arrest on chrg of 1) Hit & Run - Pd (M) and 2) Hit & Run - Pd (M), at 5951 Immanuel Rd, Clemmons, NC, on 1/23/2021 09:37.

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Get ready for 4 years of media sycophancy

♦ Johnson, Malik Rakewon (M/25) Arrest on chrg of 1) Rec/poss Stole Mv (F) and 2) Resisting Arrest (M), at 150 Bent Twig Cr, Winston-salem, NC, on 1/21/2021 09:47

♦ Caldwell, Kelly Burke (F/48) Arrest on chrg of 1) Adw - Inflict Injury (M), 2) Disch Fa/occ Dwell (F), 3) Discharging Firearms (M), 4) Disorderly Conduct (M), and 5) 2nd Degree Trespass (M), at 3571 Cottontail Ln, Winston-salem, NC, on 1/24/2021 00:10.

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OPINION | BEN SHAPIRO

WEEKLY CRIME LOG ♦ AGUILAR, APOLINAR GUTIERREZ was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 4019 KERNERSVILLE RD on 1/23/2021

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♦ RUSH, WALTER RAY was arrested on a charge of DRUGS-MAINTAIN at 299 N DUNLEITH AV/E THIRD ST on 1/22/2021 ♦ Russell, Javon Jamal (M/23) Arrest on chrg of Fugitive Arrest (magistrate`s Order) (F), at 201 N Chruch St, Winston Salem, NC, on 1/22/2021 11:30. ♦ SEAY, HARRY RONALD was arrested on a charge of COMMUNICATE THREATS at 2550 PETERS CREEK PW on 1/23/2021 ♦ SHIPP, DAMIEN KENNARD was arrested on a charge of DRUG TRAFFICKING at 201 N CHURCH ST on 1/22/2021 ♦ SMITH, ZYRAH RASHAAD was arrested on a charge of RESISTING ARREST at 2862 PIEDMONT CR on 1/22/2021 ♦ THOMAS, COMEKA YVETTE was arrested on a charge of ASSAULTSIMPLE at 1949 FAIRVIEW BV on 1/23/2021

♦ MIRANDA, CAMILO CARDOSO was arrested on a charge of OFA/ FTA-DWI at 2099 S MAIN ST/W ACADIA AV on 1/23/2021

♦ Truitt, Majestan Tushunn (M/25) Arrest on chrg of 1) 2nd Degree Trespass (M) and 2) 2nd Degree Trespass (M), at 201 N Church St, Winston Salem, NC, on 1/21/2021 14:50.

♦ MONTGOMERY, NATHAN TAYLOR was arrested on a charge of KIDNAPPING at 1913 BREWER RD on 1/24/2021

♦ TUTTLE, KIMBERLY LEIGH was arrested on a charge of B&EVEHICLE at 1990 HAMPTON INN CT on 1/22/2021

♦ MOORE, WALTER DARREY was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 300 S GLENN AV on 1/23/2021

♦ VALENTIN, CHRISTIAN MANECHE was arrested on a charge of POSS COCAINE FEL at 400 E FIFTEENTH ST on 1/22/2021

♦ Nicholson, Jamar Dominique (M/31) Arrest on chrg of 1) Vand-personal Prop (M), 2) Drug Paraphernalia (M), 3) Speeding To Elude Arrest (F), 4) Ndl - Suspended / Revoked (M), 5) Reckless Driving (M), 6) Stop Light Violation (M), and 7) Signal - Improper, Fail To When Start, Stop Or Turn (M), at 1712 Pleasant St, Winston-salem, NC, on 1/20/2021 16:15.

♦ WARREN, BLAKE LOUIS was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 1527 MAIDEN LN on 1/22/2021

♦ Orta, Jessica Markque (F/21) Arrest on chrg of 1) Rec/poss Stole Mv (F) and 2) Resisting Arrest (M), at 150 Bent Twig Cr, Winston-salem, NC, on 1/21/2021 08:45 ♦ PARKER, DAVID LEE was arrested on a charge of RESISTING ARREST at 5470 SHATTALON DR on

♦ WILLIAMS, AYSIA NICHOLE was arrested on a charge of CURFEW RESTRICTIONS at 4014 N CHERRY ST on 1/24/2021 ♦ WILLIAMS, JAMES PRESTON was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at CHANDLER ST/ WATERWORKS RD on 1/23/2021 ♦ WILSON, TAMEYIA CELESTE was arrested on a charge of ASSAULTSIMPLE at 1161 W ACADEMY ST on 1/23/2021

♦ Jacqueline “Jackie” Rebecca Speaks Barlow, 71, of Forsyth County, died January 23, 2021. ♦ Hayden Leigh-Ann Bennett, 35, died January 23, 2021. ♦ Robert Lee Bosley, 84, died January 21, 2021. ♦ Robert Marshall Bowden, 93, died January 24, 2021. ♦ Emily Carolyn Binkley Collins, 74, of Forsyth County, died January 20, 2021. ♦ Cheryl “Cheri” Christina Caldwell Crotts, 73, of Kernersville, died January 21, 2021. ♦ Doris Hartman Flowers, 87, died January 23, 2021. ♦ Betty Lou Walker Fulp, 86, of Winston-Salem, died January 22, 2021. ♦ Hubert “Bryce” Gentry Jr., 88, of Walnut Cove, died January 24, 2021. ♦ Nancy Jane Roberson Gross, 86, of Kernersville, died January 22, 2021. ♦ Chestley Julian “CJ” Hyatt, Jr., 94, died January 22, 2021.

♦ Janet Haynes Mathis, 76, of Lexington, died January 24, 2021. ♦ Edith Ilene Whicker Mayes, 88, of Forsyth County, died January 20, 2021. ♦ Vera Graham McAllister, 94, of Mocksville, died January 24, 2021. ♦ Duanna Arabelle Smith Nichols, 90, of Winston Salem, died January 25, 2021. ♦ Kent Shouse Shropshire, 77, died January 23, 2021. ♦ Margaret Eason Venable, 86, of Sharpsburg, died January 21, 2021. ♦ Andrew Payumo Vergara, 60, died January 20, 2021. ♦ Ross Durant Wall, 82, of Stokes County, died January 21, 2021. ♦ Paul Downer Watts, 73, of Winston-Salem, died January 22, 2021. ♦ Nancy Jean Lane Whicker, 84, of Forsyth County, died January 20, 2021.

♦ Opher Inman, Jr., 65, died January 21, 2021.

♦ Earnestine White, 83, of Winston-Salem, died January 21, 2021.

♦ Charlie Pledger Keaton, 80, of Forsyth County, died January 22, 2021.

♦ Virginia Greer Winfrey, 97, of Forsyth County, died January 21, 2021.

♦ William L. Kirkman, 75, of Kernersville, died January 20, 2021.

♦ Betty Bennett Womble, 88, of Pilot Mountain, died January 24, 2021.

♦ Marilyn Anna Turner Lang, 86, of Oak Ridge, died January 20, 2021.

♦ Dorothy “Dot” Lee Ring Yates, 80, of Pfafftown, died January 21, 2021.

♦ Luis Lora, 80, died January 23, 2021.

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, January 27, 2021

3

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT NBA

Sago, Schroeder part of NBA’s first ref crew with 2 women Orlando, Fla. Natalie Sago and Jenna Schroeder made up twothirds of the crew assigned to the Charlotte at Orlando game, the first time in NBA history that two women were assigned to work a regularseason contest together. Sean Wright was picked to be crew chief, Sago the referee and Schroeder the umpire. Sago and Schroeder have worked games together before; they were part of three-woman crews in the G League. The NBA has used 76 officials so far this season; seven are women, already the most to work games during any season in league history.

MLB

Cactus League asks MLB to delay spring training due to COVID Phoenix The Cactus League and Arizona community leaders have asked Major League Baseball to delay the start of spring training due to coronavirus concerns just over three weeks before pitchers and catchers are supposed to report. The Cactus League made the request in a letter to Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred obtained by The Associated Press on Monday. The letter was co-signed by the mayors of Mesa, Scottsdale, Surprise, Glendale, Goodyear and Peoria, as well as representatives from Phoenix and the Salt River PimaMaricopa Indian Community.

SPONSORED BY

USA Basketball reportedly eyeing 60 players in Olympic pool

LeBron James on if he’ll play in the rescheduled Olympics for Team USA

Zion Williamson is among the players now being considered to play in the Tokyo Games

By Tim Reynolds The Associated Press MIAMI — USA Basketball is casting a wider-than-usual net in its roster selection for this summer’s rescheduled Tokyo Olympics, two people with knowledge of the situation said Saturday.

Additions to the list in recent weeks include New Orleans’ Zion Williamson, Atlanta’s Trae Young, Memphis’ Ja Morant, Miami’s Duncan Robinson and Detroit’s Christian Wood.

The people told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the final list has not been revealed publicly.

The additions mean at least 60 players could be on the player-pool list that will be released

by USA Basketball in the coming weeks. Most of those are holdovers from the finalists list that was announced in February 2020 in anticipation of an Olympics last summer.

There were 44 players on that list and almost all of them, with the exception of injured Golden State guard Klay Thompson, are expected to remain in the pool this year.

ESPN first reported that USA

“It’s still possible. It’s not a 0% percent chance, I will say that.”

RICK BOWMER | AP PHTO

New Orleans Pelicans forward and former Duke star Zion Williamson is now among those being considered by USA Basketball to play in this summer's Tokyo Olympics.

Basketball has sent approximately 60 invitations to be part of the player pool. The U.S. men have won gold at the last three Olympics.

Most of the league’s biggest American stars — LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, James Harden, Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant among them — were part of the player pool last year as well.

James told AP last month he will consider playing in Tokyo and said that playing for Gregg Popovich — the San Antonio Spurs

coach who will lead the U.S. in these Olympics — was one reason why.

“It’s still possible,” James said.

“It’s not a 0% percent chance, I will say that. I love Coach Pop.” But it remains unclear how the NBA playoffs will affect the team-selection process. The NBA is planning that the latest possible date for the NBA Finals would be July 22, one day before the opening ceremony for the Tokyo Games. USA Basketball is planning a training camp and exhibition games. Camp, if past form holds, would start in early July.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said last month that this season’s schedule was slotted “to give our players the opportunity to participate in the Olympics should they choose to do so.”

“I see that very much as an individual decision,” Silver said.

“Clearly in the case of the United States, we have a deeper pool of talent than other countries. So I think it’s less likely — although it will impact the U.S. team, it affects them not as dramatically as it will some of these other teams, where if a particular player or two doesn’t participate, it could decimate a team.”

USA Basketball is not planning tryouts and instead is expected to pare the list to a 12-player Olympic team in the coming months, those decisions to be made by a selection committee and based in part on player availability and health.

The U.S. is one of eight teams to already have clinched a spot in the 12-team Olympic men’s field.

There are 24 teams left in the running for the four spots, those to be decided in qualifying tournaments that will end in early July.

FIBA is expected to hold the Olympic draw, to determine preliminary round groups for the Tokyo Games, on Feb. 2.

SOCCER

MLS to open season on April 3 New York Major League Soccer will open next season on April 3, a month later than normal, and conclude with the MLS Cup title game on Dec. 11.

Teams will be allowed to start preseason camps on Feb. 22. But the announcement Monday came amid ongoing uncertainty about the coronavirus pandemic and whether fans will be able to attend games, especially at the start of the season. The league has said it incurred an estimated $1 billion in losses last year, due in part to lost revenue as a result of the virus. As a result, the league has invoked the agreement’s “force majeure” clause to reopen negotiations with players on a collective bargaining agreement, setting a Jan. 29 deadline.

MARK HUMPHREY | AP PHTO

With NBC planning to shut down its NBC Sports Network, coverage of NASCAR — along wth the NHL — will move to USA Network.

NFL

Lions looking into trading QB Stafford Detroit The Detroit Lions and quarterback Matthew Stafford are planning to part ways. The Lions and Stafford have mutually agreed to explore the possibilities of trading him, according to a person with direct knowledge of the situation. Stafford expressed an interest in being traded after the season ended and the team responded by tabling the idea until a new general manager and coach were hired, the person said.

Stafford was on a call with Lions general manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell earlier this week, according to the person, and they discussed moving on without each other.

NBC to shut down NBC Sports Network at end of 2021 Coverage of NASCAR and the NHL will move to USA Network

By Joe Reedy The Associated Press The NBC Sports Network, which is best known for its coverage of the NHL and English Premier League, will be going away at the end of the year.

NBC Sports Chairman Pete Bevacqua announced the channel’s shutdown on Friday in an internal memo to staff.

“At the conclusion of 2021, we have decided that the best strategic next step for our Sports Group and the entire Company is to wind down NBCSN completely,” Bevacqua said in the memo.

NBCSN is available in 80.1 million homes, according to Nielsen’s latest estimate, which is less than ESPN (83.1 million) and FS1 (80.2 million).

The channel was launched

by Comcast in 1995 as the Outdoor Life Network. It was best known for carrying the Tour de France until it acquired the NHL in 2005. It changed its name to Versus in 2006 and then to NBC Sports Network six years later after Comcast bought NBC Universal in 2011.

Bevacqua said in the memo that Stanley Cup playoff games and NASCAR races would be moving to USA Network this year.

USA Network, which is available in 85.6 million homes, had already been airing early-round playoff games since 2012.

“This will make USA Network an extraordinarily powerful platform in the media marketplace, and gives our sports programming a significant audience boost,” Bevacqua said. “We believe that the power of this offering is the best long-term strategy for our Sports Group, our partners, and our Company.”

The news of NBCSN shutting down also comes during a time when many of NBC Sports Group’s most valuable sports properties are coming up for renewal. This is the last season of a 10-year deal with the NHL and negotiations for the EPL rights, beginning with the 2022-23 season, are ongoing.

Many have predicted that the next rights deal with the NHL will include multiple networks with former broadcast partners ESPN and Fox Sports expected to be in the mix. NBC’s current deal averages $200 million per season.

Premier League deals are usually for three years, but NBC secured a six-year package in 2015 by paying nearly $1 billion.

NASCAR, which has its races from July through November on NBC and NBCSN, has a deal through 2024.

IndyCar’s contract, which includes the Indianapolis 500 on NBC, expires at the end of this

year. The sanctioning body said in a statement that NBC “has always been a transparent partner, and we were aware of this upcoming strategy shift.”

Tag Garson, Wasserman’s senior vice president of properties, said TNT and TBS have already proved it’s possible to have a cable channel that does a good job of meshing entertainment programming with sports.

“NBC has done a great job with hockey and soccer that it would be hard for anyone to walk away from that,” he said. “How many windows can you fit sports programming into at USA? That’s where the internal discussions are going to be and understanding the right balance to have between sports and entertainment.”

NBC could also put additional events on its Peacock streaming service, which debuted last year.

There are 175 Premier League games airing on Peacock this season.

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Twin City Herald for Wednesday, January 27, 2021

STATE & NATION

Mexican leader says Biden offers $4B for Central America

By Mark Stevenson The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden’s first calls to foreign leaders went to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador at a strained moment for the U.S. relationship with its North American neighbors.

Mexico’s president said Saturday that Biden told him the U.S. would send $4 billion to help development in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala — nations whose hardships have spawned tides of migration through Mexico toward the United States.

López Obrador, who spoke Friday with Biden by phone, said the two discussed immigration and the need to address the root causes of why people migrate.

Mexico has stopped recent attempts by caravans of Central American migrants to cross Mexico.

Biden’s call to Trudeau came after the Canadian prime minister this week publicly expressed disappointment over Biden’s decision to issue an executive order halting construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. The long-planned project was projected to carry some 800,000 barrels of oil a day from the tar sands of Alberta to the Texas Gulf Coast, passing through Montana, South Dakota, Nebras-

ka, Kansas and Oklahoma.

Biden told Trudeau that by issuing the order he was following through on a campaign pledge to stop construction of the pipeline, a senior Canadian government official told The Associated Press. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private conversation.

The White House said in a statement that Biden acknowledged Trudeau’s disappointment with his Keystone decision.

Biden’s call with López Obrador also came at a tense moment — days after the Mexican president accused the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration of fabricating drug trafficking charges against the country’s former defense secretary.

While Mexico continues to pledge to block mass movements of Central American migrants toward the U.S. border, there has been no shortage of potential flashpoints between the two countries.

Mexico demanded the return of former Defense Secretary Gen. Salvador Cienfuegos after he was arrested in Los Angeles in October, threatening to restrict U.S. agents in Mexico if he wasn’t returned.

U.S. prosecutors agreed to drop charges and return Cienfuegos to Mexico.

But Mexico passed a law restricting foreign agents and removing their immunity anyway, and went on to publish the U.S. case file

EVAN VUCCI | AP PHOTO

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the economy in the State Dining Room of the White House, Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, in Washington, D.C. against Cienfuegos, whom Mexican prosecutors quickly cleared of any charges.

López Obrador said in a statement that the conversation with Biden was “friendly and respectful.”

The White House said Biden mentioned “reversing the previous administration’s draconian immigration policies.”

Trudeau told reporters before the call on that he wouldn’t allow his differences with Biden over the project to become a source of tension in the U.S.-Canada relationship.

“It’s not always going to be perfect alignment with the United

States,” Trudeau said. “That’s the case with any given president, but we’re in a situation where we are much more aligned on values and focus. I am very much looking forward to working with President Biden.”

Biden signed the executive order to halt construction of the pipeline just hours after he was sworn in.

“Leaving the Keystone XL pipeline permit in place would not be consistent with my Administration’s economic and climate imperatives,” Biden’s executive order said.

Proponents of the project say it would create thousands of jobs on both sides of the border.

Austin wins Senate confirmation as 1st black Pentagon chief

By Robert Burns The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Lloyd J. Austin, a West Point graduate who rose to the Army’s elite ranks and marched through racial barriers in a 41-year career, won Senate confirmation to become the nation’s first black secretary of defense.

Austin was approved by a 93-2 vote.

President Joe Biden is looking for Austin to restore stability atop the Pentagon, which went through two Senate-confirmed secretaries of defense and four who held the post on an interim basis during the Trump administration. The only senators who voted against Austin were Republicans Mike Lee of Utah and Josh Hawley of Missouri.

Before heading to the Pentagon, Austin wrote on Twitter that he is especially proud to be the first black secretary of defense. “Let’s get to work,” he wrote.

And a short time later he arrived at the Pentagon’s River Entrance, where he was greeted by holdover Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist, who has been the acting secretary since Wednesday, and Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

He was sworn in and was to receive an intelligence briefing, then

ALEX BRANDON | AP PHOTO

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, right, greets Deputy Secretary of Defense David Norquist as he arrives at the Pentagon, Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, in Washington, D.C. confer with senior civilian and military officials on the COVID-19 crisis. He also planned to speak by phone with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and to receive briefings about China and the Middle East.

Some of the global problems on Austin’s plate are familiar to him, including one of the thorniest — Afghanistan. The White House said Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told his Afghan counterpart in a phone call last Friday that the new administration will “review” the February

2020 deal that the Trump administration struck with the Taliban that requires the U.S. to withdraw all of its troops by May. Trump ordered U.S. troops levels in Afghanistan cut to 2,500 just days before he left office, presenting Biden with decisions about how to retain leverage against the Taliban in support of peace talks.

Austin’s confirmation was complicated by his status as a recently retired general. He required a waiver of a legal prohibition on a military officer serving as secretary of defense within seven years of re-

tirement. Austin retired in 2016 after serving as the first black general to head U.S. Central Command.

He was the first black vice chief of staff of the Army in 2012 and also served as director of the Joint Staff, a behind-the-scenes job that gave him an intimate view of the Pentagon’s inner workings.

Austin, a large man with a booming voice and a tendency to shy from publicity, describes himself as the son of a postal worker and a homemaker from Thomasville, Georgia. He has promised to speak his mind to Congress and to Biden.

During his nomination hearing Austin said he had not sought the nomination but was ready to lead the Pentagon without clinging to his military status and with full awareness that being a political appointee and Cabinet member requires “a different perspective and unique duties from a career in uniform.”

As vice president, Biden worked closely with Austin in 2010-11 to wind down U.S. military involvement in Iraq while Austin was the top U.S. commander in Baghdad.

American forces withdrew entirely, only to return in 2014 after the Islamic State extremist group captured large swaths of Iraqi territory. At Central Command, Austin was a key architect of the strategy

The project was proposed in 2008, and the pipeline has become emblematic of the tensions between economic development and curbing the fossil fuel emissions that some say are causing climate change. The Obama administration rejected it, but President Donald Trump revived it and was a strong supporter.

Construction already started.

Biden and Trudeau also discussed the prospects of Canada being supplied with the COVID-19 vaccine from pharmaceutical giant Pfizer’s facility in Kalamazoo, Michigan, according to a second senior Canadian government official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe a private conversation.

Canada has been getting all its Pfizer doses from a Pfizer facility in Puurs, Belgium, but Pfizer has informed Canada it won’t get any doses next week and will get 50% less than expected over the next three weeks. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has publicly asked Biden to share a million doses made at Pfizer’s Michigan facility.

The U.S. federal government has an agreement with Pfizer in which the first 100 million doses of the vaccine produced in the U.S. will be owned by the U.S. government and will be distributed in the U.S. Anita Anand, the Canadian federal procurement minister, has said the doses that are emerging from the Michigan plant are for distribution in the United States.

The two leaders also spoke broadly about trade, defense and climate issues. Trudeau also raised the cases of two Canadians imprisoned in China in apparent retaliation for the arrest of a top Huawei executive, who was apprehended in Canada on a U.S. extradition request, according to the prime minister’s office.

to defeat IS in Iraq and Syria.

Only twice before has Congress waived the prohibition — in 1950 for George C. Marshall during the Korean War and in 2017 for Jim Mattis, the retired Marine general who served as President Donald Trump’s first Pentagon chief.

Austin has promised to surround himself with qualified civilians. And he made clear at his confirmation hearing that he embraces Biden’s early focus on combatting the coronavirus pandemic.

“I will quickly review the department’s contributions to coronavirus relief efforts, ensuring we are doing everything we can — and then some — to help distribute vaccines across the country and to vaccinate our troops and preserve readiness,” he told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Under questioning by senators, Austin pledged to address white supremacy and violent extremism in the ranks of the military.

“The Defense Department’s job is to keep America safe from our enemies,” he said. “But we can’t do that if some of those enemies lie within our own ranks.”

Austin said he will insist that the leaders of every military service know that extremist behavior in their ranks is unacceptable.

He offered glimpses of other policy priorities, indicating that he embraces the view among many in Congress that China is the “pacing challenge,” or the leading national security problem for the U.S.