Gov. Josh Stein is canceling Medicaid rate cuts he initiated two months ago. Stein and Health Secretary Dr. Dev Sangvai announced Wednesday that reimbursement rates for doctors and hospitals will be restored. Legal challenges have already forced some rates back to pre-October levels. Stein said the program still lacks enough funding. He blamed the legislature for not providing enough money, leading to the cuts. Republican lawmakers called Stein’s actions unnecessary and politically motivated. Medicaid serves more than 3 million people in North Carolina. The state is still without an enacted budget.
Musk says DOGE “somewhat successful,” wouldn’t do it again
Mega billionaire Elon Musk said his e orts leading the Department of Government E ciency were only “somewhat successful” and he would not do it over again. Musk made his remarks in a friendly interview with his aide and conservative in uencer Katie Miller, who is married to White House adviser Stephen Miller. Musk still broadly defended President Donald Trump’s controversial pop-up agency that Musk left in the spring before it shuttered o cially last month. But Musk acknowledged how di cult it is to remake the federal government quickly and how much his businesses su ered because of his DOGE work and its lack of popularity.
Ryan’s Place opens new day program in Albemarle
Sheri
’s o ce names
The facility is now open at 636 Highway 24/27
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — The Stanly County Chamber of Commerce hosted a grand opening and open house ceremony on Wednesday for Ryan’s Place, a new day program facility for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities or traumatic brain injuries.
Located at 636 Highway 24/27 in Suites 20 and 21 in Albemarle, the center expands services already o ered by the organization’s main program in Mint Hill.
The new site aims to bene t residents across Stanly County by providing personalized care
deputy, detention o cer of the year
Deputy Roddy White and Detention O cer Jessie Huneycutt were awarded
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — The Stanly County Sheri ’s O ce has announced its top law enforcement honors for 2025, recognizing two members for their outstanding service and dedication to the community.
On Dec. 5, the agency named Deputy Roddy White as Deputy of the Year and Detention O cer Jessie Huneycutt as Detention O cer of the Year.
“Please help us congratulate Roddy White, the 2025 Depu-
ty of the Year, and Jessie Huneycutt, the Detention O cer of the Year, from the Stanly County Sheri ’s O ce,” the SCSO said in a statement.
“Your dedication and hard work are truly commendable. Thank you for your service to our community!”
The annual awards recognize employees who exemplify professionalism, leadership and commitment to public safety throughout the year, selecting honorees who have earned the respect of their peers through consistent performance and dedication to duty.
Alongside the awards announcement, the sheri ’s ofce also recently shared its
“Your dedication and hard work are truly commendable.”
Stanly County Sheri ’s O ce
and opportunities for social growth, job preparation and community participation.
“Ryan’s Place, an organization dedicated to nurturing the potential of individuals with disabilities, is poised to make a huge impact on our community’s potential with this expansion,” the Stanly County Chamber said of its newest chamber member. “We thank everyone who came out to show their support for Ryan’s Place and help them further their essential mission.”
Founded in memory of Ryan Lanford, whose relationship with his caregiver inspired the organization’s philosophy, Ryan’s Place focuses on empowering individuals aged 16 and older with disabilities through individualized services and community integration.
Owner Luis Hernandez and president Laura Lee welcomed guests during the open house, o ering an inside look at the program’s operations and how it will serve the local community.
THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
COURTESY STANLY COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Ryan’s Place owner Luis Hernandez, left and president Laura Lee greeted guests at the new day program’s open house event on Wednesday.
Lumbee Tribe poised to gain federal recognition through Defense bill
President Donald Trump issued an executive order on the issue earlier this year
By Graham Lee Brewer The Associated Press
AFTER DECADES of political maneuvering through Congress and government agencies, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina may nally achieve federal recognition through the National Defense Authorization Act the House plans to vote on this week. If the legislation passes, the Senate could vote on nal passage as soon as next week.
The Lumbee’s e orts to gain federal recognition — which would come with federal funding, access to resources like the Indian Health Service and the ability to take land into trust — have been controversial for many years both in Indian Country and in Washington. But their cause has been championed by President Donald Trump, who promised on the campaign trail last year to acknowledge the Lumbee as a tribal nation.
The issue of federal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe has been batted around Congress for more than 30 years. But the political opportunity it represented in the last election could be what pushed it over the nish line, said Kevin Washburn, former assistant secretary of Indian A airs at the Interior Department and a professor at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.
“It comes up every four years because North Caroli-
“It
comes up every four years because North Carolina is a battleground state and the Lumbee represent tens of thousands of people.”
Kevin Washburn, former assistant secretary of Indian A airs
na is a battleground state and the Lumbee represent tens of thousands of people,” Washburn said.
The Lumbee Tribe has nearly 60,000 members, and both Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris promised the Lumbee federal recognition during the 2024 campaign. Trump won North Carolina by more than 3 points. Shortly after taking o ce, Trump issued an executive order directing the Interior Department to create a plan for federal recognition for the Lumbee.
It’s the rst time either the White House or the candidates for president have been so engaged in a federal recognition case, Washburn said.
Interior’s plan was sent to the White House in April. The administration has denied requests for its release but has said it advised the Lumbee to continue trying to gain federal recognition through Congress.
The Lumbee were recognized by Congress in 1956, but that legislation denied them access to the same federal resources as tribal nations. As a result, their application for recognition was denied for consideration in the 1980s, and the Lumbee Tribe has tried to get Congress to acknowledge them in the decades since. The O ce of Fed-
eral Acknowledgement is the federal agency that vets applications, although dozens of tribes have also gained recognition through legislation.
“Only Congress can for all time and for all purposes resolve this uncertainty,” Lumbee Tribal Chairman John Lowery testi ed last month before the Senate Committee for Indian A airs. “It is long past time to rectify the injustice it has in icted on our tribe and our people.”
But others, including several tribal leaders, argue that the Lumbee’s historic claims have shifted many times over the last century and that they have never been able to prove they descend from a tribal nation.
“A national defense bill is not the appropriate place to consider federal recognition, particularly for a group that has not met the historical and legal standards required of sovereign tribal nations,” said Michell Hicks, chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
The National Defense Authorization Act is usually a bipartisan bill that lays out the nation’s defense policies. But this year the vote has taken on a new political dynamic as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces mounting scrutiny over military strikes on boats o Venezuela’s coast.
Members of the Lumbee Tribe bow their heads in prayer during the BraveNation Powwow and Gather at UNC Pembroke in March.
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ALLISON JOYCE / AP PHOTO
THE CONVERSATION
Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
VISUAL VOICES
Random outrage
Why are the same people who call President Donald Trump a “dictator” simultaneously calling for “more gun control”?
I HEREBY APOLOGIZE to and seek forgiveness from the Los Angeles Times, the rest of the left-wing media and the Democratic Party for the sin of being a proud, no-excuse American.
I apologize for being raised by two hardworking, God-fearing parents who grew up in the Jim Crow South, who cared about education, who taught my brothers and me that we were the product of our choices, and who convinced us that we are not victims.
I apologize that my mother told me, “No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.”
I also hereby apologize that my father told me the following:
Hard work wins.
You get out of life what you put into it. You cannot control the outcome, but you are 100% in control of the e ort.
Before complaining, ask yourself, “What could I have done to change the outcome?”
And, nally, my father said, “Bad things happen. How you respond to those bad things will tell your mother and me if we raised a man.”
So please forgive me for learning, believing and living pursuant to those lessons.
My New Year’s resolution? I shall start thinking of myself as a victim.
Now then, are we good?
Sincerely,
The Black Face of White Supremacy
Where was the left when in ation averaged 5% per year during the Biden administration — and when the average family of four spent $1,000 per month more for the same goods and services as
that family spent when Biden took o ce?
Now that President Donald Trump is back in o ce, suddenly the left is concerned about Thanksgiving dinner “a ordability.”
Q: Why are the same people who call President Donald Trump a “dictator” simultaneously calling for “more gun control”?
A: Because they know it’s a disgusting lie that Trump, a democratically elected, termed-out president — who gets sued every time he shanks a golf ball — is a “dictator.” It’s a smear — and they know it.
Consider these quotes attributed to the Founding Fathers:
“The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the best and most natural defense of a free country.” — James Madison
“A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined ...” — George Washington
“What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms.” — Thomas Je erson
“To disarm the people ... is the most e ectual way to enslave them.” — George Mason
Note to NBC’s Kristen Welker:
When you interviewed Zohran Mamdani, and he reiterated he believes Trump is a “fascist,” why didn’t you follow up with, “If you believe this, why does your party want further restrictions on guns? Isn’t the Second Amendment designed to stop tyranny? Why aren’t you encouraging Americans to arm themselves to stop Trump?”
About socialism:
What do we do about China?
Neither political ank has articulated a coherent strategy for dealing with China.
THE UNITED STATES is confronting an existential threat — but not the kind de ned by ships on the horizon or missiles in the air. The danger instead stems from a waning sense of national purpose and a growing doubt about America’s global role. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the emerging geopolitical alignment linking China, Russia and Iran.
This threat does not imply that China is preparing a direct attack on the United States. Rather, it re ects what will happen as America retreats from the world stage. Russia will expand its in uence throughout Eastern Europe. China will widen its reach across the Far East, Africa, Asia and even South America. And with America no longer guaranteeing the freedom of the seas, its own network of economic alliances will weaken. A nation relegated to “secondary partner” status will inevitably face economic contraction and a turn inward.
Yet for some on the American right, the idea has taken hold that the United States should withdraw from the world, become an autarky, and redirect foreign or military spending toward domestic needs — as if global interconnectedness were an optional luxury. But the a ordable goods, e cient supply chains and economic dynamism Americans enjoy are possible only because of robust international trade backed by U.S. economic and military strength. Still, neither political ank has articulated a coherent strategy for dealing with China. On the left, there is a reluctance to acknowledge China as a serious threat. On the right, there is a resistance to the diplomatic, economic and
military commitments required to counter Beijing e ectively. Calls to slap tari s not just on China but on allied nations ignore the strategic importance of deepening — not weakening — ties with partners in Asia and beyond.
To meet the China challenge, the United States must strengthen trade and security relationships with nations surrounding China: Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and India. Better ties with these countries can help contain Beijing’s ambitions. If China insists on cheating or pursuing mercantilist policies, let it. History shows that autarky yields early gains but ultimately leads to ine ciency, stagnation and, often, expansionist aggression. Japan, South Korea and pre-WWII Germany all followed this pattern; Germany, in particular, turned to territorial conquest when its autarkic model collapsed. Free trade, by contrast, reduces the need for expansionism. It allows nations to exchange resources instead of ghting for them. Thus, containing China requires the United States to reinforce its global economic network — not dismantle it.
Part of that e ort involves Europe. The United States should pressure European nations — through targeted tari s, if necessary — to dismantle protectionist nontari barriers and pay their fair share, particularly in areas such as pharmaceutical costs. But ultimately American policy must emphasize freer trade and stronger alliances. As Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has argued, Washington needs both carrots and sticks for Beijing — but mostly carrots for its friends.
America must also diversify its supply
Without capitalists, socialism would be una ordable.
“If there was any system that could guarantee each person housing — whether you call it the abolition of private property or you call it a statewide housing guarantee — it is preferable to what is going on right now.” — Zohran Mamdani
“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.” — Winston Churchill
So, now the Trump-hating narrative is this: The National Guardswoman was killed and the Guardsman remains in critical condition because Trump sent them to “invade” cities.
Never mind the people in D.C. who are alive because of the decline in homicide since Trump’s deployment.
Blaming this lawful deployment is no di erent than, “Yes, I raped her, but she was provocatively dressed — so she asked for it.”
The same angry gun control advocates who, after a mass shooting, shout, “We’re tired of your prayers. We want action!” are angry at Trump for taking action against shootings by deploying the National Guard.
This didn’t wear well:
“I can absolutely assure you that no one is coming into the United States of America who has not been through a thorough screening and background check process ...” — Biden White House press secretary Jen Psaki, Sept. 1, 2021
If you’re capable of reading this, you did not attend public school in Chicago.
Larry Elder is a bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio talk-show host.
chains, reduce reliance on Chinese manufacturing, and cut o China’s allies where possible. Supporting nations targeted by Russian aggression is essential — not only to contain Moscow but because Russia and China increasingly coordinate their geopolitical strategies. Likewise, deepening trade and security ties with India can help pull New Delhi further from Beijing’s orbit, particularly given the longstanding border disputes between the two.
Yet Washington continues to send critical technologies — including advanced U.S.produced microchips — into China. Even if such transfers provide only marginal boosts to China’s capabilities, it is di cult to justify strengthening a geopolitical adversary already stealing intellectual property, violating trade rules, and pressuring its neighbors.
China, for all its size, is not an unstoppable juggernaut. It faces a shrinking population, massive debt and extensive misallocation of resources. Its gleaming megaprojects obscure the waste and failure typical of centralized economic systems. Capitalism is messy, but it more reliably directs investment toward good ideas; mercantilist systems simply mask their failures until they can’t.
The United States still has the tools to contain China and preserve a stable, free global order. The question — looming larger each year — is whether the United States still has the will to do it.
Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co-founder of Daily Wire+.
COLUMN | LARRY ELDER
COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO
IN MEMORY
MAYNFORD RALPH HENRY
FEB. 4, 1948 – DEC. 5, 2025
Maynford Ralph Henry, 77, of Midland, passed away Friday, December 5, 2025, at Atrium Health Cabarrus Hospital in Concord. He was born February 4, 1948, in West Virginia to the late Ralph Henry and the late Cora Zura Henry.
Maynford was a very active member of his church; he enjoyed singing in the choir.
Frank Gehry, most celebrated architect of his time, dead at 96
that attitude and follow his creative vision.
Barbara Jean (Taylor) Drye
Dwight Farmer
Mary Akin
Dec. 27, 1935 – Dec. 5, 2025
April 17, 1936 ~ January 14, 2023
January 24, 1939 ~ January 15, 2023
A Celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at Praising Place Church of God,5268 North Sharon Amity Rd, Charlotte, o ciated by Rev Roy Tucker Jr. and Sean Dees.
James Roseboro
June 23, 1967 ~ January 10, 2023
He designed the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain
John B. Kluttz
March 23, 1935 - January 9, 2023
Gehry would do just that for the rest of his life, working into his 90s to create buildings that doubled as stunning works of art.
Doris Jones Coleman
By John Rogers The Associated Press
Mary Akin, 89, of New London, passed away Friday, December 5, 2025, at her home.
Barbara Jean Taylor Drye, 86, of Oakboro, passed away Saturday, January 14, 2023 at her home.
Barbara was born April 17, 1936 in North Carolina to the late Robert Lee Taylor and the late Eva Belle Watts Taylor. She was also preceded in death by husband of 61 years, Keith Furr Drye, and brothers, Robert Lee Taylor, Jr. and George Kenneth Taylor.
Survivors include children, Debbie (Mike) Williams of Albemarle, Teresa (Tom) Curry of Oakboro, Douglas (Tammy) Drye of Oakboro; grandchildren, Melissa (Don) Parrish of Albemarle, Samantha (Destiny) Smith of Oakboro, Bradley Smith of Oakboro, Jonathan Stover of Peachland, and Jessie Stover of Lylesville; sisterin-law, Beatrice Goodman; many nieces and nephews; and her beloved cats, Bo and Gar eld.
Mary was born December 27, 1935, in Georgia to the late James Free and the late Ruby Free. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Charles Akin, sister, Ruth Tackett, brother, George Free, brother, Grady Free, and brother, James Free.
Mary loved spending time working in her yard, relaxing in her ower garden, and watching the birds. She was also an avid crafter, having painted many beautiful pieces for her family, friends, and craft shows in past years.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm, Saturday, December 13, 2025, at Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle. The funeral service will be on Saturday at 2:00 pm at Hartsell Funeral Home’s Le er Memorial Chapel in Albemarle o ciated by Kendell Cameron, Pastor for First Baptist Church of Albemarle. Burial will follow at the New London Cemetery at 331 Spring Street, New London.
Barbara was a member of Oakboro Baptist Church for over 60 years. She worked over 30 years at Stanly Knitting Mills. After just two years of retirement, she began managing the Oakboro Senior Center and did that for 18 years until this past week. Barbara was known for her good cooking and always taking care of others. She also loved going on day long shopping trips - she could out walk and out shop people half her age. She kept her mind and body active through gardening, word searches, and various other hobbies.
She is survived by her daughter, Pamela (Vone) Purser; her sister, Joyce Whisnant; her grandchildren, Lindsay Hanners and Ashley Bullin; and her greatgrandchildren, Addison Bullin and Jackson Bullin.
In lieu of owers, donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Albemarle NC. Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Akin family.
Online condolences may be made at www.hartsellfh.com
Dwight Britten Farmer Sr., 83, of Norwood died Sunday morning, January 15, 2023 at Forrest Oakes.
Survivors include wife, Sharon Henry; brother, Johnnie Henry; sisters, Judy (Luther) Goan and Helen Henry; brotherin-law, Corbett (Cindie) Rose; sister-in-law, Rita Morgan; and several nieces and nephews.
James Arthur Roseboro, 55, of Albemarle, passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at Anson Health and Rehab.
Dwight was born January 24, 1939 in Stanly County to the late Walter Virgil and Martha Adkins Farmer. He was a 1957 graduate of Norwood High School and was a United States Army Veteran.
EDNA CAUDLE EARNHARDT
MAY 11, 1934 – DEC. 7, 2025
He was a member of Cedar Grove United Methodist Church where he had served as church treasurer and choir member. He began his career with the Stanly County Sheri ’s Department moving to the Norwood Police Department and retiring as Chief of Police with the Town of Norwood after many years of service.
Edna Caudle Earnhardt, 91, of Rich eld, NC, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at Spring Arbor of Albemarle.
Mr. Roseboro was born on June 23, 1967 to the late Robert and Delena Shipp Roseboro. He graduated from South Stanly High School and was employed by Triangle Brick. He enjoyed watching football and basketball, especially the Carolina TarHeels and Miami.
A funeral service to honor her life will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, December 12, at Rich eld Baptist Church, o ciated by Rev. Dale Collingwood. Burial will follow in the Rich eld Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church prior to the service from 12:30–1:45 p.m.
In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by his brothers and sisters: Barbara Lee Roseboro, Dorothy Brown, Verna Roseboro, Henrietta Ingram, and Harold Roseboro.
Dwight was an avid gardener, bird watcher and Carolina fan.
Born on May 11, 1934, in Stanly County, Edna was the daughter of the late Thomas and Valda Caudle. She was a graduate of Rich eld High School and married the love of her life, Dewey Kenneth Earnhardt. You often didn’t see one without the other. They were happily married for 56 years until Dewey’s death in 2011. Edna worked various jobs throughout her life, but her energy was always with her family.
He is survived by his wife Hilda Whitley Farmer; one son D. Britten Farmer Jr. (Mary) of McLeansville, NC; one daughter Sharon Farmer Lowe (David) of Norwood; one sister Geraldine Dennis of Troy; two grandchildren, Dwight Britten “Dee” Farmer III and Whitley Rose Hui Lowe.
A dedicated member of Rich eld Baptist Church, she faithfully served as a Sunday school teacher and was active in the WMU.
He was preceded in death by his son Alex, brothers, Tommy and Jimmy, sisters, Nancy, Cornelia Annabell, Glennie Mae, and Betty. Memorials may be made to Cedar Grove United Methodist Church, Cemetery or Choir Fund c/o Pam Smith 36071 Rocky River Springs Road, Norwood, NC 28128.
Edna was devoted to her family and especially loved cheering on her children and grandchildren at their sporting events and activities. Edna’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her pride and joy. Family was truly the heart of her world. She was immensely proud of the generations she nurtured, and nothing brought her more joy than gathering everyone together. She led a life of faith, love and Duke Basketball. Her stories, traditions, and “sayings” will continue to guide us for many generations. She also enjoyed crafting and loved working with her hands and staying involved in creative projects.
He is survived by his sisters: Helen (James) Roseboro Edwards of Albemarle, Mary Roseboro of Washington DC, and Marion Morrison of Albemarle; brothers: Thomas D. Roseboro of Charlotte, Robert Roseboro (Patricia) of Norwood, and Van Horne; a special friend of over 40 years, Michelle McLendon of the home; special nieces: Nybrea Montague, Knya Little, and Laquanza Crump; special nephews: Robert Jr., Desmond Roseboro, and Marcus Lilly; and God daughter, Daphne Johnson; and special friends, Vetrella Johnson and Ben McLendon.
She is lovingly survived by her children, Tommy Earnhardt of North Myrtle Beach, Cheryl Turner (Greg) of Rich eld and David Earnhardt (Jenny) of Charlotte. Grandchildren, Jacob Earnhardt (Brittany Quick), Adam Earnhardt, Sydney Turner, Lucy Howell (Peyton), Halle Earnhardt, Rachel Earnhardt, and Sophie Earnhardt, and great-grandchildren, Bryleigh and Thea. She is also survived by her brother, Dewey Caudle (Doris), and sisters, Ruby Fraley and Fran Watson.
In addition to her parents and husband, Edna was preceded in death by her brothers James Caudle, Boyce Caudle, Everette Caudle and sister Kathryn Ross.
John grew up in the Millingport community where he drove a school bus and worked at the local gas station during his High School years. He graduated from Millingport High in 1954 and entered into service with the US Airforce immediately afterward. Upon return from the service, he and his high school sweetheart Julie were married in 1956. He graduated from Nashville Auto Diesel College later in 1959 and began his career as a diesel mechanic at Mitchell Distributing Company, moving his growing family to Charlotte where they lived until their retirement.
LOS ANGELES — Frank Gehry, who designed some of the most imaginative buildings ever constructed and achieved a level of worldwide acclaim seldom a orded any architect, has died. He was 96. Gehry died last Friday in his home in Santa Monica after a brief respiratory illness, said Meaghan Lloyd, chief of sta at Gehry Partners LLP. Gehry’s fascination with modern pop art led to the creation of distinctive, striking buildings. Among his many masterpieces are the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain; the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and Berlin’s DZ Bank Building.
When John purchased his rst Model A Ford at the age of 17, he said that he took the car to the community mechanic when he had a small problem.The mechanic told him that if he was going to keep the car, he needed to learn to work on it. This is when John’s passion for Model A Fords began and how he spent his happiest days with his best friends from around the globe for the rest of his life!
He also designed an expansion of Facebook’s Northern California headquarters at the insistence of the company’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg. Gehry was awarded every major prize architecture has to o er, including the eld’s top honor, the Pritzker Prize, for what has been described as “refreshingly original and totally American” work.
Other honors include the Royal Institute of British Architects gold medal, the Americans for the Arts lifetime achievement award, and his native country’s highest honor, the Companion of the Order of Canada.
At age 50, after years as a Detroit Diesel Mechanic he and Julie decided to take the plunge and open a full Model A Restoration Shop. They thrived at their shop in Cornelius, NC until their retirement in 1998 when they moved back to Cabarrus County. John once again set up shop in his back yard garage where he attracted a loyal group of friends who visited almost daily. While on the farm in Gold Hill, John also began a lifelong love with Alis Chalmers tractors after he restored his Dad’s tractor and began amassing his collection of tractors as well.
Start of career in architecture
Darrick Baldwin
January 7, 1973 ~ January 8, 2023
The family would like to thank the sta at Spring Arbor and Via Health Partners for caring for Edna with compassion and love. The family requests that, in lieu of owers, memorials be made to Rich eld Baptist Church, 402 S. Main St., Rich eld, NC 28137, or to VIA Health Partners, 7845 Little Ave., Charlotte, NC 28226.
Darrick Vashon Baldwin, age 50, entered eternal rest, Sunday, January 8, 2023, Albemarle, North Carolina. Born January 7, 1973, in Stanly County, North Carolina, Darrick was the son of Eddie James Baldwin Sr. and the late Phyllis Blue Baldwin. Darrick enjoyed life, always kept things lively and enjoyed making others smile. His presence is no longer in our midst, but his memory will forever live in our hearts.
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 Stanly News Journal at obits@stanlynewsjournal.com
He was educated in the Stanly County public schools and attended Albemarle Senior High School, Albemarle.
He was a great conversationalist and loved meeting people. Darrick never met a stranger and always showed love and compassion for his fellowman. He also loved his dog, Rocky.
He is survived by his father, Eddie J. Baldwin Sr.; sisters: Crystal (Eric) Jackson, LaFondra (Stoney) Medley, and Morgan Baldwin; brothers: Eddie Baldwin Jr., Anton Baldwin, and Lamont Baldwin; a host of other relatives and friends. A limb has fallen from our family tree. We will not grieve Darrick’s death; we will celebrate his life. We give thanksgiving for the many shared memories.
John restored many cars of his own and had the crowning achievement of winning the most prestigious award from MARC, The Henry for a restoration that garnered top points. He was also presented with the Ken Brady Service Awardthe highest award given to members at the national level.
After earning a degree in architecture from the University of Southern California in 1954 and serving in the Army, Gehry studied urban planning at Harvard University.
But his career got o to a slow start. He struggled for years to make ends meet, designing public housing projects, shopping centers and even driving a delivery truck for a time.
This is what John’s Model A Community had to say upon learning of his death: He was an active member of Wesley Chapel Methodist Church where he loved serving as greeter on Sunday mornings. He also belonged to the United Methodist Men.
Eventually, he got the chance to design a modern shopping mall overlooking the Santa Monica Pier. He was determined to play it safe and came up with drawings for an enclosed shopping mall that looked similar to others in the United States in the 1980s.
To celebrate its completion, the mall’s developer dropped by Gehry’s house and was stunned by what he saw: The architect had transformed a modest 1920s-era bungalow into an inventive abode by remodeling it with chain-link fencing, exposed wood and corrugated metal.
Asked why he hadn’t proposed something similar for the mall, Gehry replied, “Because I have to make a living.”
John is survived by his wife Julie Ussery Kluttz, for 66 years of the home. He is also survived by a son John David Kluttz (Kim) of Oakboro, NC; two daughters, Sally Simerson of Denver, CO and Betsy Tusa (John) of Lafayette, CO; three grandchildren, Bonnie Kluttz Sammons (Ben) of Rich eld, NC John Alexander McKinnon (Sarah) of Asheville, NC and Seth William McKinnon (Amanda) of Germany; ve great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Meredith, Grant, Victoria and Ronan. John is also preceded in death by his parents, J.S. Kluttz and Mary Wyatt Clayton Kluttz; a large and loving group of brothers and sisters, Jack Methias Kluttz, Annie Lou Kluttz Honeycutt, Jake Nelson Kluttz, Julius Kluttz, Mary Patricia Phillips and a grandson, Kevin Fowler Kluttz.
If he really wanted to make a statement as an architect, he was told, he should drop
As his acclaim grew, Gehry Partners LLP, the architectural rm he founded in 1962, grew with it, expanding to include more than 130 employees at one point. But as big as it got, Gehry insisted on personally overseeing every project it took on.
October 11, 1944 - January 10, 2023
Doris Elaine Jones Coleman, 78, went home into God’s presence on January 10 after a sudden illness and a valiant week-long ght in ICU. Doris was born on October 11, 1944, in the mountains of Marion, NC while her father was away ghting in the US Navy during World War II. Raymond Jones was so proud to return after the war and meet his little girl! Doris grew up in Durham, NC and graduated from Durham High School. She furthered her studies at Watts Hospital School of Nursing in Durham and graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1966.
The headquarters of the InterActiveCorp, known as the IAC Building, took the shape of a shimmering beehive when it was completed in New York City’s Chelsea district in 2007. The 76-story New York By Gehry building, once one of the world’s tallest residential structures, was a stunning addition to the lower Manhattan skyline when it opened in 2011. That same year, Gehry joined the faculty of his alma mater, the University of Southern California, as a professor of architecture. He also taught at Yale and Columbia University.
Imaginative designs drew criticism along with praise
Doris married Rev. Dr. Ted Coleman in 1966 and had two daughters Amy and Laura. Doris raised Amy and Laura in North Augusta, SC. Doris was an incredible neonatal intensive care nurse for most of her career, and this was her passion. The Augusta Chronicle did a feature on her in 1985. She was a clinical nurse manager in Augusta, Georgia at University Hospital NICU and worked there for 20 years. During this time, Doris mentored young nurses and assisted in saving the lives of so many babies. She also worked for Pediatrician Dr. William A. Wilkes in Augusta for several years prior to her NICU career. Doris retired from the mother/baby area at Atrium Stanly in 2007 after over 40 years of nursing.
Not everyone was a fan of Gehry’s work. Some naysayers dismissed it as not much more than gigantic, lopsided reincarnations of the little scrap-wood cities he said he spent hours building when he was growing up in the mining town of Timmins, Ontario. Princeton art critic Hal Foster dismissed many of his later e orts as “oppressive,” arguing they were designed primarily to be tourist attractions. Some denounced the Disney Hall as looking like a collection of cardboard boxes that had been left out in the rain.
Doris was a gentle and sweet spirit and loved her Lord. She never met a stranger, and she always left you feeling uplifted after talking with her. She would often claim that she had “adopted” friends into her immediate family, and honestly, she never made a distinction between the two. Positivity radiated from her like sunlight. She was sel ess, funny, smart, and sentimental. During her lifetime she was an active member of First Baptist Church of Durham, First Baptist Church of Augusta, Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Augusta, and Palestine United Methodist Church in Albemarle. She especially loved helping at church with older adults, youth, and children.
She was especially talented at sewing from a young age and made gifts for friends, Christmas ornaments, Halloween Costumes, doll clothes, pageant dresses, prom dresses, coats, tote bags, scarves, out ts for Amy and Laura, and Christening gowns for each of her grandchildren.
Other critics included Dwight D. Eisenhower’s family, who objected to Gehry’s bold proposal for a memorial to honor the nation’s 34th president. Although the family said it wanted a simple memorial and not the one Gehry had proposed, with its multiple statues and billowing metal tapestries depicting Eisenhower’s life, the architect declined to change his design signi cantly. If the words of his critics annoyed Gehry, he rarely let on. Indeed, he even sometimes played along. He appeared as himself in a 2005 episode of “The Simpsons” cartoon show, in which he agreed to design a concert hall that was later converted into a prison.
He came up with the idea for the design, which looked a lot like the Disney Hall, after crumpling Marge Simpson’s letter to him and throwing it on the ground. After taking a look at it, he declared, “Frank Gehry, you’ve done it again!” “Some people think I actually do that,” he would later tell the AP.
Doris was preceded in death by her father Arthur Raymond Jones, her mother Mary Ellen Cameron Jones, and her sister Maryanne Jones Brantley. Survivors include her two precious daughters: Amy Cameron Coleman (partner Dr. Edward Neal Chernault) of Albemarle, NC, and Laura Lindahl Coleman Oliverio (husband David) of Cincinnati, Ohio; seven grandchildren: Cameron David Oliverio, Stephanie Jae Dejak, Luca Beatty Oliverio, Coleman John Dejak, Carson Joseph Oliverio, Ryan Nicholas Dejak, and Jadon Richard Oliverio; and numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and loved ones.
HONORS from page A1
appreciation for Smith’s Home Furnishings, which hosted this year’s Shop with a Cop program. The annual community outreach event and holiday charity program pairs local law enforcement o cers with children from families in need of a Christmas shopping trip.
“Their support ensured that numerous children in Stanly County could enjoy a memorable shopping trip for gifts with a Stanly County deputy and other emergency personnel,” the SCSO said of Smith’s Home Furnishings. “It’s a wonderful way to build trust and create positive memories between our law enforcement and the local youth.”
Every year, children are selected through referrals from schools, social workers or community agencies based on nancial need or special circumstances. Each child shops alongside a SCSO employee for gifts, clothing and essentials, with funding provided by community donations and local sponsors.
A company has o ered $2.7 billion for two
By Je rey Collins The Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina’s stalled nuclear power project could nally nish construction as a private company has o ered to pay
$2.7 billion to the state-owned utility and a small share of the power if they can reach an agreement to get the two reactors up and running.
The half-built reactors ended up so far behind schedule that the project was abandoned in 2017. However, the potential deal is a long way from complete. There will be up to two years of negotiations between utility Santee Cooper and Brook eld Asset Management on the thousands and thousands of details.
The deal would also let Brook eld keep at least 75% of the power generated by the new plant that they could mostly sell to whom they want, such as energy-gobbling data centers. The exact amount of the rest that Santee Cooper receives would be determined on how much the private company has to spend to get the reactors running. Either side can pull out of the deal, although Brook eld did agree to pay Santee Cooper’s costs both for sorting through the more than 70 bids for the project and the talks as both sides hammer out thenal agreement.
Santee Cooper was a minority partner in the doomed plan to build two new nuclear reactors at the V.C. Summer site. The state-owned utility along with privately owned South Carolina Electric & Gas spent more than $9 billion trying to build the reactors.
The un nished, weathered concrete and metal tower of at least one plant sits not far from the working reactor that has been running since 1984 at the rural site about 20 miles up the Broad River from Columbia.
COURTESY STANLY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
The sheri ’s o ce has also announced the launch of a new “Frauds and Scam” section in its o cial mobile app, a feature designed to help residents stay informed and protected from fraudulent activity by having threats publicized on their smartphones. The feature provides scam alerts, educational materials and reporting resources for residents, particularly seniors and others vulnerable to -
nancial scams. O cials said the department frequently receives reports of phone and online schemes attempting to trick residents into revealing personal information or sending money.
The tool is available now for anyone using the free SCSO mobile app, which can be downloaded through major app stores. For additional information, contact the o ce at 704 -986-3714.
Four executives ended up in prison or home con nement for lying to regulators, shareholders, ratepayers and investigators and left millions of people paying for decades for a project that never produced electricity. Taxpayers and ratepayers ended up on the hook because of a state law that allowed the utilities to charge for costs before any power was generated.
If the $2.7 billion payment goes through, most of Santee Cooper’s debt from the nuclear debacle would be erased, utility CEO Jimmy Staton said at Monday’s board meeting where the proposal was unanimously approved.
“Our customers have been paying for these assets since 2017. It’s time they get some value out of that,” Staton said.
Interest in the project has grown as power demand in the U.S. surges with the increase in data centers as arti cial intelligence technology develops.
President Donald Trump’s administration wants the U.S. to quadruple the amount of power generated by nuclear plants over the next 25 years.
But watchdog groups said there are too many hurdles to put this project in the win column right now.
After eight years in the elements, all the equipment and the structure of the plant, which was less than halfway nished, will need to be carefully inspected before it can be used. The permits to build and the licenses to operate the nuclear plants will need to be renewed, likely starting from scratch, said Tom Clements, executive director of the nuclear watchdog group Savannah River Site Watch.
Also, the type of reactors proposed have seen massive cost overruns even when successfully built. Brook eld took over the assets of Westinghouse Electric Co., which had to declare bankruptcy because of di culties building them.
Two nuclear reactors built in a similar way in Georgia went $17 billion over budget before they were fully operational in 2023.
PROGRAM from page A1
“Ryan’s Place is thrilled to announce the opening of its second day program in Albemarle,” the organization said in a statement. “We look forward to all the new possibilities this program will bring and can’t wait to share more as we continue this journey.”
Ryan’s Place o ers both 1-to1 and 1-to-3 service ratios with experienced direct support professionals who assist clients with daily living activities, job readiness and personal development. Services include volunteer opportunities, social engagement and caregiver respite, along residential options such as group homes, supported living and alternative family living arrangements.
The Albemarle facility is licensed by the N.C. Division of Health Service Regulation and provides care under the N.C. Innovations Waiver, Long-Term Community Supports Services or private pay.
“We thank everyone who came out to show their support for Ryan’s Place and help them further their essential mission.”
Stanly County Chamber of Commerce
Ryan’s Place is also accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, signifying that it meets high external standards for quality and care.
“Our mission is to address the needs of individuals with disabilities by nurturing a community that respects their di erences and cultivates their potential to grow and reach their goals,” the organization said in its mission statement.
For more information about Ryan’s Place, call 980 -339 -5676 or email info@ ryansplaceclt.com.
Mem ber FDIC
Detention O cer Jessie Huneycutt, left, and Deputy Roddy White, center, were honored by Sheri Je Crisco.
JEFFREY COLLINS / AP PHOTO
Construction on the nuclear reactors in Jenkinsville, South Carolina, was underway as far back as April 2012.
the
Utilities across
country are looking to raise energy rates
By Je Amy The Associated Press
ATLANTA — With data centers ooding into Georgia, utility regulators face a big decision: Should they let Georgia Power Co. spend more than $15 billion to increase its electricity capacity by 50% over the next six years to serve computer complexes? Or could the utility overbuild and stick other ratepayers with the bill?
It would be one of the biggest build-outs in the U.S. to meet the insatiable electricity demand from developers of arti cial intelligence. The largest subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Co., Georgia Power said in testimony led last month that the build-out will boost the state’s economy and “allow Georgia to contribute to the nation’s focus on the global importance of arti cial intelligence and the digital economy.”
“Given the number of companies interested in doing business in Georgia and the amount of customer load with signed contracts or in advanced discussions, it is important to continue moving forward with support for this great growth opportunity,” company o cials said in testimony.
But electricity bills have emerged as a potent political issue in Georgia and nationwide, with grassroots opposition to data centers partly based on fears that other customers will subsidize the power demands of technology behemoths.
“I think what’s happening in Georgia is in some sense a perfect microcosm of what’s happening nationwide,” said Charles Hua, executive director of Powerlines, a nonpro t group that seeks to increase public involvement in utility regulation.
“You’re seeing electricity demand grow at the fastest rate in decades, and you’re seeing electricity prices rise at the fastest rate in decades.”
A growing political issue
Electricity costs were a key issue in last month’s elections for governor in New Jersey and Virginia, both data center hot spots. On Tuesday in North Carolina, Democratic Gov. Josh Stein cited concerns about data centers as one reason for opposing a 15% rate increase sought by Duke Energy for two utilities.
In Georgia, the ve elected Republicans on the Public Service Commission will decide on Georgia Power’s proposal weeks after voters delivered a stinging rebuke to GOP leadership,
ousting two incumbent Republicans on the panel in favor of Democrats by overwhelming margins. Those two Democrats won in campaigns that centered on six Georgia Power rate increases commissioners have allowed in recent years, even though the company agreed to a three-year rate freeze in July.
After hearings next week, commissioners are scheduled to take a nal vote Dec. 19. The two new Democrats won’t take o ce until January and current commissioners denied a request by opponents to postpone the decision until then.
Brionte McCorkle of Georgia Conservation Voters, a group that advocates for carbon-free energy and supported the Democrats, fears the vote will be one last gift from the all-Republican commission to Georgia Power.
“It would be a slap in the face for the commission to rush through this proposal, and give the power company everything it wants,” said McCorkle “It’s just not listening to what the people have said loud and clear.”
80% of new capacity for data centers
Georgia Power, with 2.8 million customers, projects the largest percentage increase in electricity demand over the next ve years of any region but Texas. That’s according to an analysis by power consultant Grid
Charles Hua, executive director of Powerlines
Strategies of forecasts led with federal o cials. The utility says it needs 10,000 megawatts of new capacity — enough to power 4 million Georgia homes — saying 80% of that would power data centers. That’s in addition to the 3,000 megawatts the commission approved in 2024 after an unusual mid-cycle request by Georgia Power.
Whether the forecast is accurate and who will pay the bill if data center customers don’t materialize is at the heart of the decision. Commissioners in January adopted rules meant to make sure data centers pay the costs of building new power plants and transmission lines they need. But if Georgia Power overbuilds and there are no data centers to pay, other customers could shoulder those costs.
“The whole argument is premised on the idea that if we get all these new customers, then
we can take costs and spread it out over more people and therefore put downward pressure on prices,” Hua said. “Well, if you don’t actually end up getting all those customers and you built all this new infrastructure, then you could see a scenario where you actually drive bills through the roof even more.”
The ultimate potential costs are unknown because Georgia Power’s estimates are partially a trade secret that the company won’t release. For example, the $15 billion price tag only covers construction costs for 80% of the current 10,000 megawatt request, and it doesn’t include any of the borrowing costs, which customers must also pay.
The price of the 3,000 megawatts approved in 2024 remains entirely secret. Because of the rate freeze, ultimate costs won’t become clear until 2028, the next time commissioners set electricity rates.
Will customers pay?
Public Service Commission sta members who have analyzed the request say Georgia Power will need $3.4 billion a year in additional revenue by 2031, which could equal out to $20 a month for a residential customer. The company replied that such a claim is “ atly incorrect.”
“These customers pay upfront the full costs of serving them,
commit to long-term contracts, and provide nancial guarantees,” said spokesperson Matthew Kent. “That means residential and small business customers are protected from cost increases tied to these projects.”
Sta members recommended that the commission allow Georgia Power to build capacity for new large customers only after they have signed contracts starting with 3,100 megawatts of capacity and up to 7,400 megawatts total for contracts signed by March 16. That recommendation would also allow the commission to avoid approving contracts for some new multibillion-dollar natural gasred power plants. Costs for such construction have risen sharply, partly because equipment manufacturers are having trouble meeting demand.
The company reacted sharply against that recommendation, saying “it would signi cantly inhibit” its ability to sign up new data centers, hurt economic development, and reduce the opportunity to lower rates.
The company and sta could negotiate a settlement before the Dec. 19 vote. McCorkle said any outcome should focus on protecting customers.
“What we don’t want is a form of corporate welfare, where individual citizens are paying for the bene t of big mega corporations like Meta and Amazon,” she said.
WTF? Embracing profanity is one thing both political parties seem to agree on
We’ve come a long way since Joe Biden’s “This is a big f---ing deal”
By Steven Sloan The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. —
As he shook President Barack Obama’s hand and pulled him in for what he thought was a private aside, Vice President Joe Biden delivered an explicit message: “This is a big f---ing deal.” The remark, overheard on live microphones at a 2010 ceremony for the A ordable Care Act, caused a sensation because open profanity from a national leader was unusual at the time.
More than 15 years later, vulgarity is now in vogue.
During a political rally Tuesday night in Pennsylvania that was intended to focus on tackling in ation, President Donald Trump used profanity at least four times. At one point, he even admitted to disparaging Haiti and African nations as “sh--hole countries ” during a private 2018 meeting, a comment he denied at the time. And before a bank of cameras during a lengthy Cabinet meeting last week, the Republican president referred to alleged drug smugglers as “sons of b----es.”
While the Biden incident was accidental, the frequency, sharpness and public nature of Trump’s comments are intentional. They build on his project to combat what he sees as pervasive political correctness. Leaders in both parties are seemingly in a race now to the verbal gutter.
Vice President JD Vance called a podcast host a “dips---t” in September. In Thanksgiving remarks before troops, Vance joked that anyone who said they liked turkey was “full of s---.” After one National Guard member was killed in a shooting in Washington, D.C., last month and a second was critically injured, top Trump aide Steven Cheung told a reporter on social media to “shut the f--- up” when she wrote that the deployment of troops in the nation’s capital was “for political show.” Among Democrats, former Vice President Kamala Harris earned a roar of approval from her audience in September when she condemned the Trump administration by saying “these motherf---ers are crazy.” After Trump called for the execution of several Democratic members of Congress last month, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said it was time for
people with in uence to “pick a f---ing side.” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said the administration cannot “f--- around” with the release of the Je rey Epstein les. Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett, who on Monday announced her Senate campaign in Texas, did not hold back earlier this year when asked what she would tell Elon Musk if given the chance: “F--- o .”
The volley of vulgarities underscore an ever-coarsening political environment that often plays out on social media or other digital platforms where the posts or video clips that evoke the strongest emotions are rewarded with the most engagement.
“If you want to be angry at someone, be angry at the social media companies,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, said Tuesday night at Washington National Cathedral, where he spoke at an event focused on political civility. “It’s not a fair ght. They’ve hijacked our brains. They understand these dopamine hits. Outrage sells.”
Cox, whose national pro le rose after calling for civility in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination in his state, approved an overhaul of social media laws meant to protect children. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the state law.
Tough political talk nothing new
Tough talk is nothing new in politics, but leaders long avoided aunting it.
President Donald Trump has used profane language on occasion, including calling drug smugglers “sons of b----es” during a cabinet meeting last week and a widely reported comment where he referred to “sh--hole countries” during a meeting in 2018.
Recordings from Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration, for instance, revealed a crude, profane side of his personality that was largely kept private. Republican Richard Nixon bemoaned the fact that the foul language he used in the Oval O ce was captured on tape. “Since neither I nor most other Presidents had ever used profanity in public, millions were shocked,” Nixon wrote in his book “In the Arena.”
“Politicians have always sworn, just behind closed doors,” said Benjamin Bergen, a professor at the University of California-San Diego’s Department of Cognitive Science
and the author of “What the F: What swearing reveals about our language, our brains, and ourselves.” “The big change is in the past 10 years or so, it’s been much more public.”
As both parties prepare for the 2026 midterm elections and the 2028 presidential campaign, the question is whether this language will become increasingly mainstream. Republicans who simply try to imitate Trump’s brash style do not always succeed with voters. Democrats who turn to vulgarities risk appearing inauthentic if their words feel forced.
For some politicians, it is just a distraction.
“It’s not necessary,” said GOP Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, who is retiring next year after winning ve elections in one of the most competitive House districts. “If that’s what it takes to get your point across, you’re not a good communicator.”
Risks of overusing profanity
There also is a risk that if such language becomes overused, its utility as a way to shock and connect with audiences could be dulled. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld has talked about this problem, noting that he used swear words in his early routines but dropped them as his career progressed because he felt profanity yielded only cheap laughs.
“I felt like well I just got a laugh because I said f--- in there,” he said in a 2020 interview with a fellow comedian on the “WTF with Marc Maron Podcast.” “You didn’t nd the gold.”
White House spokesperson Liz Huston said Trump “doesn’t care about being politically correct, he cares about Making America Great Again. The American people love how authentic, transparent, and e ective the President is.”
But for Trump, the words that have generated the most controversy are often less centered in traditional profanity than slurs that can be interpreted as hurtful. The nal weeks of his 2016 campaign were rocked when a tape emerged of him discussing grabbing women by their genitals, language he minimized as “locker room talk.” His “sh--hole” remark in 2018 was widely condemned as racist.
More recently, Trump called a female journalist “piggy,” comments that his press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, defended as evidence of a president who is “very frank and honest.” Trump’s use of a slur about disabled people prompted an Indiana Republican whose child has Down syndrome to come out in opposition to the president’s push to redraw the state’s congressional districts.
On rare occasions, politicians express contrition for their choice of words. In an interview with The Atlantic published last week, Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-Pa.) dismissed Harris’ depiction of him in her book about last year’s presidential campaign by saying she was “trying to sell books and cover her a--.” He seemed to catch himself quickly.
“I shouldn’t say ‘cover her a--,” he said. “I think that’s not appropriate.”
NASCAR settles bruising federal antitrust lawsuit
One of the teams is co-owned by NBA great Michael Jordan
By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press
CHARLOTTE — NASCAR reached a settlement Thursday of the bruising antitrust lawsuit led against the stock car series by two of its race teams, including one co-owned by NBA great Michael Jordan.
“Today’s a good day,” Jordan said as he waited in the gallery for attorneys to announce the deal. Details were not immediately released.
The settlement came on the ninth day of the trial before U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell, who set aside motions hearing for an hourlong sidebar. Jeffrey Kessler, attorney for 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, emerged from a conference room at the end of the hour to inform a court clerk “we’re ready.” Kessler then led Jordan and 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin, as well as Front Row owner Bob Jenkins, to another room for more talks.
23XI and Front Row led their lawsuit last year after refusing to sign agreements on the new charter o ers NASCAR presented in Septem-
ber 2024. Teams had until end of day to sign the 112-page document, which guarantees access to top-level Cup Series races and a revenue stream, and 13 of 15 organizations reluctantly agreed. Jordan and Jenkins sued instead and raced most of the 2025 season uncharted. Both teams said a loss in the case would have put them out of business. Bell told the jury that some-
times parties at trial have to see how the evidence unfolds to come to the wisdom of a settlement. “I wish we could’ve done this a few months ago,” Bell said in court. “I believe this is great for NASCAR. Great for the future of NASCAR. Great for the entity of NASCAR. Great for the teams and ultimately great for the fans.”
All teams felt the previ-
ous revenue-sharing agreement was unfair, and two-plus years of bitter negotiations led to NASCAR’s nal o er, which was described by the teams as “take-it-or-leave it.” The teams believed the new agreement lacked all four of their key demands, most importantly the charters becoming permanent instead of renewable.
The settlement followed eight days of testimony in which the
Florida-based France family, the founders and private owners of NASCAR, were shown to be in exible in making the charters permanent. When the defense began its case Wednesday it seemed focused more on mitigating damages than proving it did not act anticompetitively.
An economist earlier testi ed 23XI and Front Row were owed over $300 million in damages.
J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE / AP PHOTO
President Barack Obama signs the A ordable Care Act in the East Room of the White House in March 2010. Then-Vice President Joe Biden dropped a famous obscenity during a hot mic moment at the event.
ALEX BRANDON / AP PHOTO
JENNA FRYER / AP PHOTO
Left, Michael Jordan arrives at a federal courthouse to testify in his NASCAR antitrust case on Friday in Charlotte.
Right, NASCAR chairman Jim France enters federal court in Charlotte last Wednesday.
AP PHOTO
Student dies after stabbing at Winston-Salem high school
The incident at North Forsyth High School left one dead and another injured
The Associated Press
WINSTON-SALEM — A stabbing at a central North Carolina high school Tuesday left one student dead and another injured, authorities said.
Forsyth County Sheri Bobby Kimbrough said o cers at North Forsyth High School in Winston-Salem sought assistance shortly after 11 a.m.
“We responded to an altercation between two students,” Kimbrough said at a news conference, adding that “there was a loss of life.”
In an email to families and sta , Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools superintendent Don Phipps said one student died and another was injured.
Kimbrough said he wouldn’t take questions at the news conference, citing the ongoing investigation. Sheri ’s o ce spokesperson Krista Karcher said later that a stabbing had occurred and that the injured person was treated at a hospital and released.
No information about potential charges was discussed
Winston-Salem Police o cers and Forsyth County Sheri ’s deputies block the gate leading to North Forsyth High School after a fatal stabbing Tuesday in Winston-Salem.
at the news conference. Kimbrough said in a video posted later on social media that there was no threat to the community.
“There are no suspects that we’re looking for,” he said. “We have that part of the investigation under control.”
Gov. Josh Stein, in a message on the social media platform X, called what happened “shocking and horrible” and said he was praying for all
students and their loved ones.
Phipps, who started in his post just last week, said at the news conference that it was the “worst nightmare of any educator. We hurt when our students hurt, and this is the ultimate hurt that we can possibly feel.”
North Forsyth High School will be closed Wednesday, he said, and a crisis team will be in place for sta and when students return.
New Girl Scout cookie avor debuts for 2026 season
Rocky road-inspired Exploremores joins nationwide lineup next month
Stanly News Journal sta
GIRL SCOUTS will o er a new cookie avor when the 2026 cookie season begins next month.
Exploremores, a rocky road ice cream-inspired sandwich cookie, joins the nationwide lineup alongside favorites like Thin Mints and Caramel deLites. The cookie features chocolate, marshmallow and toasted almond- avored crème.
Girl Scout Cookie booths open across 40 counties in western and central North Carolina on Jan. 16. The cookies will be available both online and in person at local booths. Customers can visit girlscoutcookies.org to sign up for noti cations when cookies go on sale in their area.
Through the cookie program, Girl Scouts earn skill-building badges and learn goal-setting, money management and business ethics. All proceeds from
COURTESY GIRL SCOUTS
Exploremores, a rocky road ice cream-inspired sandwich cookie featuring chocolate, marshmallow and toasted almond- avored crème, joins the Girl Scout Cookie lineup for 2026.
cookie sales stay with local councils and troops to fund programs throughout the year. Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks
to Piedmont serves more than 4,900 girls and 3,900 adult volunteers across the region. For more information, visit girlscoutsp2p.org.
ALLISON LEE ISLEY / THE WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL VIA AP
STANLY SPORTS
2025 All-Stanly News Journal football team revealed
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
HERE ARE THE SELECTIONS for the 2025 All-Stanly News Journal Football Team.
2025 Coach of the Year: Chad Little (North Stanly)
2025 O ensive Player of the Year: QB Kaleb Richardson, senior (South Stanly)
2025 Defensive Player of the Year: DB Jayden Woods, senior (South Stanly)
OFFENSIVE STARS
QB: Dominik Danzy, junior (West Stanly)
RB: Shoddy Pergee, junior (Albemarle)
RB: RJ Brooks, freshman (North Stanly)
WR: Jasiah Holt, senior (South Stanly)
WR: Kylan Dockery, junior (North Stanly)
TE: Wyatt Crawford, senior (South Stanly)
OL: Brody Hudson, sophomore (West Stanly)
OL: Spencer Jones, junior (North Stanly)
OL: Nathaniel March, junior (South Stanly)
OL: Tahj McLendon, senior (Albemarle)
OL: Braylon Covington, sophomore (North Stanly)
HONORABLE MENTIONS
QB: Brady Lowder, junior (North Stanly)
RB: AJ Butler, sophomore (Albemarle)
WR: Javier Padilla, sophomore (West Stanly)
DEFENSIVE STARS
DL: Kamari Wright, senior (South Stanly)
DL: Jaden Little, junior (North Stanly)
DL: Kaleb Cullingford, senior (West Stanly)
DL: Kenneth Harper, sophomore (Albemarle)
LB: Juice Lilly, senior (North Stanly)
LB: Carter Callicutt, senior (South Stanly)
LB: Maddox Cody, junior (North Stanly)
DB: Nathan Helms, junior (North Stanly)
DB: Zay Dockery, senior (North Stanly)
DB: Treyvian Legrande, junior (Albemarle)
DB: Ikey Holt, senior (South Stanly)
COURTESY CALEB STEWART PHOTOGRAPHY
South Stanly quarterback Kaleb Richardson racked up 23 touchdown passes during the 2025 season.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
DL: Tripp Edwards, senior (South Stanly)
LB: Carter Yow, senior (West Stanly)
DB: Cam Brown, senior (North Stanly)
SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Russell Hinson, freshman (North Stanly)
P: Cooper Atwater, junior (North Stanly)
R: Racere Bruton, sophomore (North Stanly)
North Stanly boys move to 4-0 with win at West Stanly
The Comets defeated the Colts by 17 points on the road in West Stanly
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
OAKBORO — Playing on the road against a West Stanly team that was riding a three-game winning streak, the North Stanly boys’ basketball team kept its perfect record intact with a 59 - 42 victory Tuesday night.
The Comets (4-0) remained undefeated nearly a month into the 2025-26 season, while the Colts slipped to 3-3 following the 17-point loss.
Junior Hayden Moore led the Comets with a game-high 21 points, while fellow juniors Maddox Lowder and Ben Williamson brought in nine and eight points, respectively.
For the Colts, senior Cade Hinson paced the e ort with 13 points as senior Carter Yow added eight points.
North Stanly opened with an early eight-point lead and stretched its advantage to 22-12 midway through the second quarter. The Comets held a 27-18 halftime lead, then erupted in the third period with a 13-5 run to seize control.
West Stanly fought back in the fourth quarter, narrowing the margin to 48-40, but North Stanly closed strong with an 11-2 burst to secure the win. Through four wins since Nov. 19, the Comets have won their matchups by nearly 19 points per game.
North Stanly will host GCAA on Thursday before Uwharrie Charter Academy comes
to town on Friday. West Stanly will travel to Parkwood on Friday.
Anson 78, Albemarle 63
In their seventh contest this season, the Albemarle Bulldogs (2-5) lost their third in a row as the undefeated Anson Bearcats (6-0) won by 15 points at home on Dec. 5. The 78 points allowed by the Bulldogs tied the most they’d allowed in a game this season, matching a total that Forest Hills put up on Nov. 18. Albemarle will look to get its
rst win of December as it hosts Uwharrie Charter Academy on Tuesday.
Mount Pleasant 67, South Stanly 31
The South Stanly Rowdy Rebel Bulls (0-5) posted a season-low 31 points on Tuesday night as they lost 67-31 on the road to the Mount Pleasant Tigers (5-3). South Stanly’s shooting woes continued a gradual trend of fewer points in each of their four games this month, culminating in their 36-point
blowout loss to the Tigers. The Bulls’ next opportunity for their rst victory of the season will arrive on Friday as they host South Rowan.
Elevation Prep Academy 80, Gray Stone 40
Hosting Elevation Prep Academy on Dec. 6, Gray Stone suffered its largest loss of the season as the Knights (0-6) lost 80-40 to the Honey Badgers (2-3); the Knights were outscored 42-15 in the second half as the Badgers’ lead ballooned to 40.
6-16
Combined record of Stanly County’s ve
Gray Stone, now six games into the season, is still aiming for its rst win since Jan. 16, 2024. The Knights are scheduled to host Bethany Community on Monday.
COURTESY NFHS NETWORK North Stanly’s Maddox Lowder shoots a three-point shot during the fourth quarter of the Comets’ road game at West Stanly on Tuesday.
Italian swimmer
Gregorio Paltrinieri carries the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics torch in Rome as it begins its journey through Italy, a journey that will conclude in Milan in February.
Nearly half the tickets for
Milan Cortina
Olympics still unsold with 2 months to go
Just over 850,000 of the 1.5 million tickets have been sold
By Andrew Dampf The Associated Press
ROME — Construction on the main hockey arena is still not nished. Spectator and media areas at the controversial sliding venue also need to be completed.
And with exactly two months to go to the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, there is another major area that local organizers are concentrating on: only slightly more than half of the 1.5 million tickets for the games have been sold.
As the torch relay began in Rome on Saturday, just over 850,000 tickets had been sold.
While sales abroad are meeting expectations, interest among Italians remains low.
“That’s normal. The local fans get interested closer, and I think the beginning of the torch relay will be a very important moment for people realizing that,” local organizing committee CEO Andrea Varnier told The Associated Press moments before the relay began.
A Black Friday promotion last week included three days of 20% discounts on tickets. And purchasers of both Olympics and Paralympics tickets have the chance to get lift passes for eight euros ($9) valid at every ski area in Lombardy between Dec. 9-22.
This week, more tickets for the Feb. 6 opening ceremony at the San Siro stadium and the men’s hockey gold medal game on Feb. 22 in Milan were put on sale.
“We had some tickets on the market a couple of days ago, and they were sold out in just a couple of hours,” Varnier said. “So there is interest.”
If past precedence is any indicator, the atmosphere was memorable at the 2006 Turin Winter Games — the last time Italy hosted an Olympics.
Still, organizers would have hoped for more demand after the last Winter Games in Beijing in 2022 were held mostly without fans because of the coronavirus pandemic. Varnier pointed out that sales
“That’s normal. The local fans get interested closer” Andrea Varnier, Local organizing committee CEO
have been strong at the recently opened Milan Cortina store in front of the city’s cathedral, Piazza del Duomo.
“People are really going in and buying our merchandise, which is also a good sign,” he said. As for the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena — the new, 16,000-seat venue on the outskirts of Milan — the scheduled test event for next
Ex-SEC commissioner Kramer dead at 96
His ideas helped reshape college football
By Eddie Pells The Associated Press
PRETTY MUCH every debate over who should play for the national title, every argument about the staggering amounts of money, every tirade about how college football is nothing like what it used to be, traces back to a man who saw a lot of this coming, then made a lot of it happen — Roy Kramer.
Kramer, the onetime football coach who became an athletic director at Vanderbilt, then, eventually, commissioner of the Southeastern Conference where he set the template for the multibillion-dollar business college sports would become, died in Vonore, Tennessee, at 96.
The man who currently holds his former job, Greg Sankey, said Kramer “will be remembered for his resolve through challenging times, his willingness to innovate in an industry driven by tradition, and his unwavering belief in the value of student-athletes and education.”
Kramer helped transform his own conference from the home base for a regional pastime into the leader of a national movement during his tenure as commissioner from 1990 -2002.
It was during that time that he reshaped the entire sport of college football by dreaming up the precursor to today’s playo system — the Bowl Championship Series.
“He elevated this league and
set the foundation,” former Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley said. “Every decision he made was what he thought would elevate the SEC. It’s the thing that stands out most when I remember him: his passion and love for this league.”
Kramer was the rst to imagine a conference title game, which divided his newly expanded 12-team league into divisions, then pitted the two champs in a winner-take-all affair that generated millions in TV revenue.
“By any standard, Roy’s in uence has been mind-boggling.”
Mike Tranghese, former Big East commissioner
Southeastern Conference Commissioner Roy Kramer talks with reporters during the opening session of the SEC football media days in 2000.
week had to be pushed back to January.
“We knew about the delays of the hockey arena, and we are working with it, but now we are following the right pace,” Varnier said. “It has to be ready.”
Next week, the secondary hockey venue that has been set up in the Rho Fiera convention center will be tested by hosting under-20 world championship games.
These games will be held across a large swath of northern Italy, and athlete parades for the opening ceremony will also be held simultaneously in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno and Predazzo besides Milan.
“It is quite an e ort, it’s the rst time ever,” Varnier said. “It’s a very important message to have the athletes also staying in the mountain Villages to be able to participate in the ceremony. This was very well received by the NOCs (National Olympic Committees). … Also, the communities are very happy to have a piece of the ceremonies in their towns.”
mostly sleepy grouping of 10 teams headlined by Bear Bryant and Alabama whose provincial rivalries were punctuated by the Sugar Bowl every year where, often, the league’s best team would show what it could do against the guys up north.
Kentucky was the basketball power.
Not content with that role in the college landscape, one of Kramer’s rst moves was to bring Arkansas of the Southwestern Conference and independent South Carolina into the fold. That small expansion previewed a spasm of bigger reshufings that continue to overrun college sports some 35 years later.
Kramer sold the rights to televise his newly created league title game to ABC, then in 1996 added a deal with CBS worth a then-staggering sum of $100 million over ve years.
A look at some numbers tells the story that Kramer saw before most people:
debate and frustration for a large segment of the sport’s fans. Kramer, in an interview when he retired in 2002, said the BCS had been “blamed for everything from El Nino to the terrorist attacks.”
In his rst year as commissioner, the SEC distributed $16.3 million to its member schools.
• In his last, in 2002, the amount rose to $95.7 million.
• In 2023-24, it was $808.4 million.
The system in place from 1998 through 2013 relied on computerized formulas to determine which two teams should play in the top bowl game for the title. That system, vestiges of which are still around today, produced its predictable share of heated
The winner of the SEC title game often had an inside track to Kramer’s greatest creation, the BCS, which pivoted college football away from its longheld tradition of determining a champion via media and coaches’ polls.
But he didn’t apologize. The BCS got people talking about college football in a way they never had before, he said. And besides, was it so wrong to take a baby step toward the real tournament format that virtually every other major sport used?
A four-team playo replaced the BCS in 2014, and that was expanded to 12 teams starting last season.
Before Kramer was named commissioner, the SEC was a
“By any standard,” former Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese said in 2002, “Roy’s in uence has been mind-boggling.” Archie Manning, the great Ole Miss quarterback who is now chair of the National Football Foundation, said Kramer’s “vision, integrity, and steady leadership helped shape college football into what we know today.”
ANDREW MEDICHINI / AP PHOTO
DAVE MARTIN / AP PHOTO
North Stanly, girls’ basketball
Lexie Brown is a senior for the North Stanly girls basketball team. The Comets have opened the season 7-0, including two wins last week. Brown led the team in scoring both games, putting up a gamehigh 21 in a 62-58 win at West Stanly. In a 51-48 win over West Davidson, she had 17. For the season, Brown leads the team — and county — in scoring.
Moore’s arraignment scheduled following jailing after being red as Michigan’s football coach
By Larry Lage The Associated Press
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Sher-
rone Moore is scheduled for arraignment, less than 24 hours after he was red as Michigan’s football coach for what the university said was an inappropriate relationship with a sta member and subsequently arrested a couple of miles south of Michigan Stadium.
The Washtenaw County Jail con rmed Moore’s arraignment was scheduled, and court records showed he remained in custody. The jail did not provide information about why he was detained or details on his bond.
Pitts eld Township police issued a statement that said ocers were called to investigate an alleged assault Wednesday night and took a person into custody. The statement was in response to media inquiries about Moore, but didn’t mention anyone by name.
The person was jailed pending a review of charges by prosecutors.
“Given the nature of the allegations, the need to maintain the integrity of the investigation, and its current status at this time, we are prohibited from releasing additional details,” police said in the statement.
A message seeking comment was left by The Associated Press with Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit.
Michigan said it red Moore, 39, for cause as the coach of college football’s winningest program after nding evidence of his relationship with the sta er, ending an up-and-down, twoyear tenure that saw the Wolverines take a step back on the eld after winning the national championship and getting punished by the NCAA for a sign-stealing scandal.
“This conduct constitutes a clear violation of university pol-
icy, and UM maintains zero tolerance for such behavior,” athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement.
The announcement did not include details of the alleged relationship. Moore, who is married with three young daughters, did not return a message from the AP seeking comment.
He led the 18th-ranked Wolverines to a 9-3 record this year after going 8-5 in his debut season.
Moore signed a ve-year contract with a base annual salary of $5.5 million last year. According to the terms of his deal, the university will not have to buy out the remaining years of his contract because he was red for cause.
His ring leaves Michigan suddenly looking for a third coach in four years, shortly after
a busy cycle that included Lane Ki n leaving playo -bound Mississippi for LSU.
Moore, the team’s former offensive coordinator, was promoted to lead the Wolverines after they won the national title in January 2024. He succeeded Jim Harbaugh, who returned to the NFL to lead the Los Angeles Chargers.
Michigan is set to play No. 14 Texas on Dec. 31 in the Citrus Bowl. Bi Poggi, who lled in for Moore when he was suspended earlier this season in relation to the Harbaugh-era sign-stealing scandal, will serve as interim coach. Moore was suspended for two games as part of self-imposed sanctions for NCAA violations related to the scandal.
The NCAA added a third game to the suspension, which
would have kept Moore o the sideline for next year’s opener against Western Michigan.
Moore previously deleted an entire 52-message text thread with former sta er Connor Stalions, who was at the center of the team’s sign-stealing operation. The texts were later recovered and shared with the NCAA.
Just a few years ago, Moore was Harbaugh’s top assistant and regarded as a rising star.
Moore, who is from Derby, Kansas, didn’t start playing football until his junior year of high school. He played for Butler County Community College in Kansas and as an o ensive lineman for coach Bob Stoops at Oklahoma during the 2006 and 2007 seasons.
His coaching career began as a graduate assistant at Lou-
isville before moving on to Central Michigan, where he caught Harbaugh’s attention. Harbaugh hired him in 2018 as tight ends coach. Moore was promoted to offensive line coach and co-o ensive coordinator in 2021, when the Wolverines bounced back from a 2-4, pandemic-shortened season and began a threeyear run of excellence that culminated in the school’s rst national title in 26 years. He worked his way up within the Wolverines’ sta and lled in as interim coach for four games during the 2023 championship season while Harbaugh served two suspensions for potential NCAA rules violations. Moore also served a onegame suspension during that year related to a recruiting infractions NCAA case.
AL GOLDIS / AP PHOTO
Then-Michigan coach Sherrone Moore walks o the eld following a game earlier this season.
RON, KEITH & SETH BURRIS www.stanlymotors.net
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NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned, having quali ed as the Executrix of the Estate of Arthur Winston Sells, Jr. late of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the Estate to present such claims to the undersigned Administratrix on or before the 28th day of February, 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment. This the 12th day of November, 2025. Pamela S. McIntrye Executrix of the Estate of Arthur Winston Sells, Jr. 2504 Riverbend Road Jamestown, NC 27282 David A. Beaver Attorney for the Executrix 160 N. First Street (P.O. Box 1338) Albemarle, NC 28001 (28002) 704-982-4915
Dates of publication: November 22 and 29 and December 6 and 13, 2025
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The undersigned, having quali ed as the Administrator of the Estate of Kenneth M. Liles, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the Estate to present such claims to the undersigned Administratrix on or before the 20th day of March, 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment. This the 3rd day of December, 2025.
Dennis Liles Administrator of the Estate of Kenneth M. Liles 9408 Misson Church Road Locust, NC 28097 David A. Beaver Attorney for the Administrator P.O. Box 1338 Albemarle, NC 28002
704-982-4915
Dates of publication: December 13 / 14; 20 / 21; 27 / 28, 2025 & January 3 / 4, 2026.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned, having quali ed as the Administratrix of the Estate of Ida Annette Russell, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the Estate to present such claims to the undersigned Administratrix on or before the 20th day of March, 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment. This the 3rd day of December, 2025.
Donna Edenburn Administratrix of the Estate of Ida Annette Russell 44687 Gold Branch Road Rich eld, NC 28137 David A. Beaver Attorney for the Administratrix P.O. Box 1338 Albemarle, NC 28002
704-982-4915
Dates of publication: December 13 / 14; 20 / 21; 27 / 28, 2025 & January 3 / 4, 2026.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned has quali ed as Executor of the Estate of BRIAN ELLIS BROCKER, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina (Stanly County File Number 25E000623830). This is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said decedent or his estate to present the same duly itemized and veri ed to the undersigned Executor or her Attorney on or before the 9th day of March 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to the decedent or to his estate are hereby requested to pay the said indebtedness to the undersigned Executor or her attorney. This the 6th day of December 2025.
JUDITH J. THOMAS Executor ESTATE OF BRIAN ELLIS BROCKER 108 Dundin Place Matthews, NC 28104 CHARLES P. BROWN BROWN & SENTER, P.L.L.C. PO Box 400 Albemarle, North Carolina 280020400 Telephone: 704 982-2141 Facsimile: 704 982-0902 PUBLISH: December 7, 14, 21, 28, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000592-830 NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of the late, ROSA BURR PINKSTON AKA ROSA B. PINKSTON, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the Estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before February 21, 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 23rd day of November, 2025. Randy Thomas Pinkston 17018 Randalls Ferry Rd. Norwood, NC 28128 Scarborough Law, PLLC Whitney T. Scarborough 107 A East Wade Street Wadesboro, NC 28170 STANLY NEWS AND PRESS Please publish: 11:23,30; 12:7,14
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4, 2025 James A. Phillips, Jr. Attorney for the Estate P.O. Box 1162 117 W. North Street Albemarle, NC 28002-1162
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Having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Mary Catherine Cooke, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the decedent to present them to the undersigned on or before the 28th day of February, 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Jayme Miller, Administrator James M. Ellis,
AI may be scoring your college essay: Welcome to new era of admissions
It’s not just students exploring the brave new world of AI
By Jocelyn Gecker
The Associated Press
STUDENTS APPLYING
to college know they can’t — or at least shouldn’t — use AI chatbots to write their essays and personal statements. So it might come as a surprise that some schools are now using arti cial intelligence to read them.
AI tools are now being incorporated into how student applications are screened and analyzed, admissions directors say. It can be a delicate topic, and not all colleges are eager to talk about it, but higher education is among the many industries where arti cial intelligence is rapidly taking on tasks once reserved for humans.
In some cases, schools are quietly slipping AI into their evaluation process, experts say. Others are touting the technology’s potential to speed up their review of applications, cut processing times and even perform some tasks better than humans.
“Humans get tired; some days are better than others. The AI does not get tired. It doesn’t get grumpy. It doesn’t have a bad day. The AI is consistent,” says Juan Espinoza, vice provost for enrollment management at Virginia Tech.
This fall, Virginia Tech is debuting an AI-powered essay reader. The college expects it will be able to inform students of admissions decisions a month sooner than usual, in late January, because of the tool’s help sorting tens of thousands of applications.
Colleges stress they are not relying on AI to make admissions decisions, using it primarily to review transcripts and eliminate data-entry tasks. But arti cial intelligence also is playing a role in evaluating students. Some highly selective schools are adopting AI tools to vet the increasingly curated application packages that some students develop with the help of high-priced admissions consultants.
The California Institute of Technology is launching an AI tool this fall to look for “authenticity” in students who submit research projects with their applications, admissions director Ashley Pallie said. Students upload their research to an AI chatbot that interviews them about it on video, which is then reviewed by Caltech faculty.
“It’s a gauge of authenticity. Can you claim this research intellectually? Is there a level of joy around your project? That passion is important to us,” Pallie said.
The prevalence of AI usage is di cult to gauge because it is such a new trend, said Ruby Bhattacharya, chair of the admission practices committee at the National Association for College Admission Counseling. NACAC updated its ethics guide this fall to add a section on arti cial intelligence. It urges colleges to ensure the way they use it “aligns with our shared values of transparency, integrity, fairness and respect for student dignity.”
Some schools have faced blowback over using AI
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill faced a barrage of negative feedback from
applicants, parents and students after its student newspaper, The Daily Tar Heel, reported in January the school was using AI to evaluate the grammar and writing style of applicants’ essays. The university declined to comment for this article and referred to its admissions website, which it updated after the criticism. “UNC uses AI programs to provide data points about students’ common application essay and their school transcripts,” the website says. Every application “is evaluated comprehensively by extensively trained human application evaluators.”
At Virginia Tech, Espinoza said he has been contacted by several colleges that are interested in the new technology but wary of backlash. “The feedback from a lot of colleagues is, ‘You roll this out, we’re watching you, and we’ll see how everyone’s reacting,’” he said. He stressed the AI reader his school spent three years developing is being used only to con rm human readers’ essay scores.
Until this fall, each of the four short-answer essays Virginia Tech applicants submit was read and scored by two people. Under the new system, one of those readers is the AI model, which has been trained on past
Obtaining the Bidding Documents Prospective Bidders may examine the Bidding Documents as follows: The Issuing O ce and Owner’s O ce on Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 am and 4 pm. Dodge Construction (online) Construct Connect (online) North American Procurement Council, Inc. (online) Prospective Bidders may obtain Bidding Documents upon the submittal of the non-refundable fee, as listed below, to the attention of Ms. Jennifer Perry (jperry@thewootencompany.com) at the issuing o ce. With a request for Bidding Documents supply the following information: Company name, contact person with email, street address, and phone numbers; N. C. contractor’s license with limitation and classi cation; indicate if the rm will be a Bidder, Supplier or Sub-Contractor. Obtaining the Bidding Documents: Access to Website Download of PDF: Registration and access to the Issuing O ce Project Bidding site for Electronic download of Bidding Documents as PDF les for a fee in the amount of $50.00. This does not include printed copies. Access to Website and Printed Copies: Bidding Documents, including full size Drawings, will be shipped to the Bidder for a fee in the amount of $ 100 The Bidding Documents will be shipped UPS ground. This fee will include registration and access to the Issuing O ce Project Bidding site for electronic download of Bidding Documents as PDF Files. Partial sets of Bidding Documents will not be available from the Issuing O ce If Bidding Documents are obtained from a plan
applicant essays and the rubric for scoring, Espinoza said.
A second person will step in if the AI and human reader disagree by more than two points on a 12-point scoring scale.
Like many colleges, Virginia Tech has seen a huge increase in applications since making SATs optional. Last year, it received a record 57,622 applications for its 7,000-seat freshman class. Even with 200 essay readers, the school has struggled to keep up and found itself notifying students later and later.
The AI tool can scan about 250,000 essays in under an hour, compared with a human reader who averages two minutes per essay. Based on last year’s application pool, “We’re saving at least 8,000 hours,” Espinoza said.
Colleges see bene ts of AI tools for applicants
The messaging is sensitive for colleges, many of which now have students certify that they have not used AI unethically for essays and other parts of the application. But schools say AI tools can help admissions o ces eliminate errors in tasks like uploading transcripts and can simplify the process for students. Georgia Tech this fall is rolling
room or source other than the designated website in either electronic or paper format, Bidder must still be registered at the Bid Website. The designated website will be updated periodically with addenda, lists of registered plan holders, reports, and other information relevant to submitting a Bid for the Project. All o cial noti cations, addenda, and other Bidding Documents will be o ered only through the designated website. Neither Owner nor Engineer will be responsible for Bidding Documents, including addenda, if any, obtained from sources other than the designated website.
Pre-bid Conference A pre-bid conference for the Project will be held on January 6, 2026 at 10:00 am at The Commons, John J. Morton Jr. Conference Room 1000 N. First Street, Suite 10 Albemarle, NC 28001 . Attendance at the pre-bid conference is encouraged but not required. Instructions to Bidders.
out an AI tool to review the college transcripts of transfer students, replacing the need for sta to enter each course manually into a database. It will allow the school to inform applicants more quickly how many transfer credits they’ll receive, cutting down on uncertainty and wait times, said Richard Clark, the school’s executive director of enrollment management.
“It’s one more layer of delay and stress and inevitable errors. AI is going to kill that, which I’m so excited about,” Clark said. The school hopes to expand the service soon to all high school transcripts. Georgia Tech also is testing out AI tools for other uses, including one that would identify low-income students who are eligible for federal Pell Grants but may not have realized it.
Stony Brook University in New York is also using articial intelligence to review applicants’ transcripts and testing AI tools for a variety of tasks, like summarizing student essays and letters of recommendation to highlight things an admissions o cer should consider, said Richard Beatty, the school’s senior associate provost for enrollment management.
“Maybe a student was ghting a disease sophomore year. Or maybe a parent passed away, or they’re taking care of siblings at home. All these things matter, and it allows the counselors to look at the transcript di erently,” Beatty said.
Colleges are interested in AI summaries of transcripts, extracurricular activities and letters of recommendation that tell human readers the students’ story in a more digestible way, said Emily Pacheco, founder of NACAC’s special interest group for AI and admission.
“Humans and AI working together — that is the key right now. Every step along the way can be greatly improved: transcript reading, essay reviews, telling us things we might be missing about the students,” said Pacheco, a former assistant director of admission at Loyola University Chicago. “Ten years from now, all bets are o . I’m guessing AI will be admitting students.”
(jacevedo@thewootencompany.com) at the issuing o ce.
Bidders will be required to show evidence that they are licensed to perform the work in the Bidding Documents as required by North Carolina General Statute, Chapter 87 and the Instructions to Bidders. Bid Security in the amount of ve (5) percent of the Bid must accompany each Bid and shall be subject to the conditions provided in the Instructions to Bidders. The North Carolina Division of Water Infrastructure is providing funding for this project through the America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The USDA Rural Development Rural Utility Service (USDA RD-RUS) is also providing funding for this project. Bidders must comply with the provisions of the ARPA act as well as those imposed by USDA. The special provisions concerning BABA requirements as noted in the Instruction to Bidders and Supplementary Conditions shall be required for this contract. The Owner is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages bidding by small, minority and female contractors and does not discriminate on the basis of handicapped status. Bids from quali ed disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) are encouraged. For further requirements regarding bid submittal, quali cations, procedures, and contract award, refer to the Instructions to Bidders that are included in the Bidding Documents. The Owner reserves
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famous birthdays this week
Eugene Levy is 79, Keith Richards turns 82, Don Johnson turns 76, Billie Eilish is 24
THESE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week.
DEC. 14
Tennis Hall of Famer Stan Smith is 79. Actor Dee Wallace is 77. Rock musician Cli Williams (AC/DC) is 76. Baseball Hall of Famer Craig Biggio is 60. Actor and comedian Miranda Hart is 53. Actor Natascha McElhone is 54.
DEC. 15
Singer Cindy Birdsong (The Supremes) is 86. Rock musician Dave Clark (The Dave Clark Five) is 86. Baseball Hall of Fame manager Jim Leyland is 81. Actor Don Johnson is 76. Rock musician Paul Simonon (The Clash) is 70.
DEC. 16
Artist Edward Ruscha is 88. Actor Liv Ullmann is 87. CBS news correspondent Lesley Stahl is 84. Pop singer Benny Andersson (ABBA) is 79. Rock singer-musician Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) is 76. Actor Benjamin Bratt is 62.
DEC. 17
Actor Armin Mueller-Stahl is 95. Actor Ernie Hudson is 80. Political commentator Chris Matthews is 80. Comedian-actor Eugene Levy is 79. Actor Bill Pullman is 72. Filmmaker Peter Farrelly is 69. Rock musician Mike Mills (R.E.M.) is 67.
DEC. 18
Chef Jacques Pépin is 90. Rock musician Keith Richards is 82. Filmmaker Alan Rudolph is 82. Filmmaker Steven Spielberg is 79. Filmmaker Gillian Armstrong is 75. Actor Brad Pitt is 62. Actor Katie Holmes is 47. Singer Christina Aguilera is 45. Singer Billie Eilish is 24.
DEC. 19
Actor Tim Reid is 81. Singer Janie Fricke is 78. Actor Jennifer Beals is 62. Basketball Hall of Famer Arvydas Sabonis is 61. Actor Alyssa Milano is 53. Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp is 53. Actor Jake Gyllenhaal is 45.
KLAUS FRINGS /
Cindy Birdsong of The Supremes turns 86 on Monday.
SCOTT A. GARFITT / INVISION /
Actor Brad Pitt turns 62 on Thursday.
ANDY KROPA /
CBS News correspondent and “60 Minutes” host Lesley Stahl turns 84 on Tuesday.
DEC. 20
Rock drummer Peter Criss (Kiss) is 80. Producer Dick Wolf (“Law & Order”) is 79. Musician Alan Parsons is 77. Author Sandra Cisneros is 71. Rock singer Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes) is 59. Filmmaker Todd Phillips is 55. Actor Jonah Hill is 42.
‘Peter Hujar’s Day,’ ‘Train Dreams,’ ‘Sorry, Baby’ lead Spirit Award nominations
The program will take place on Feb. 15, nearly a month before the Oscars
By Lindsey Bahr
The Associated Press
IRA SACHS’ “Peter Hujar’s Day,” which recreates an interview with the 1970s photographer, led the Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations with ve nods, including best feature, director, as well as lead and supporting performances for Ben Whishaw and Rebecca Hall. The organization announced nominees for the 41st edition of the show last Wednesday. Several lms followed with four nominations, including best feature and best director, like Clint Bentley’s lyrical Denis Johnson adaptation “Train Dreams,” and Eva Victor’s “Sorry, Baby,” about life after an assault. First features receiving four nods were “Blue Sun Palace,” “One of Them Days” and “Lurker.” James Sweeney’s dark comedy “Twinless” and “The Plague,” which like “Train Dreams” also stars Joel Edgerton, were also nominated for best feature. Edgerton was among the 10
Monty Python’s Flying Circus musical ‘Spamalot’ hopes to spread silliness with US tour
The tour will travel to more than 30 cities in its rst year
By Mark Kennedy The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Eric Idle
sometime gazes up into the heavens and wonders about something if we ever contact aliens: Will they have a sense of humor?
“I think the answer must be yes because it’s about self-awareness,” said the founding member of the comedy group Monty Python’s Flying Circus. “It’s about laughing at yourself and your own death and your inevitable end, which you can do nothing about.”
Until there’s some intergalactic meeting, Idle’s mission on Earth has been to make us laugh, and he continues that crusade with a national touring version of his hit musical “Spamalot,” which began in Ohio last week.
“I think laughter is essential, and it’s both a relief and a corrective on how to look at life,” he said.
“Spamalot” is built on shenanigans that include a group of knights fond of shrubbery,
folks clicking coconuts to mimic the sound of horse hoofs, a singing and dancing plague victim, atulent Frenchmen and killer rabbits.
The stage tale is loosely based on the 1975 movie “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” which concerns King Arthur and his quest to corral some knights who’ll go o with him to nd the grail, the cup Jesus drank from at The Last Supper.
Idle recalls that the original movie cost $400,000 to make — funded in part by members of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson, looking for a tax write-o — and was lmed over ve weeks in Scotland. “It was cold and miserable, but it was funny,” Idle said.
The inspiration to turn it into a stage show came when Idle was working on a CD -ROM game based on “The Holy Grail.” “I suddenly went, ‘Wait a minute, if you could turn ‘The Holy Grail’ into a game, you can certainly turn it into a Broadway musical.”
Idle wrote the story and lyrics, and the music is by John Du Prez. Idle said the secret to the show’s success was tapping legendary director Mike Nichols.
“Mike knew everything about funny,” he said. It arrived on Broadway in 2005 and won the best new musical Tony Award.
A few years ago, Idle came across his long-forgotten diaries of the time, revealing the tense moments and behind-the-scenes struggles in making the musical. He’s published them as “The Spamalot Diaries.”
“It is a sort of how-to about making a musical,” he said.
Two of the show’s highlights are the Act II opening song “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,” which was borrowed from another Python lm, “Life of Brian,” and the rousing nal number — “Find Your Grail,” with the lyrics “Keep your eyes on the goal/Then the prize you won’t fail/That’s your grail.”
Idle says one of his favorite moments was watching patrons leaving the Broadway show singing “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” and clicking coconuts they bought at the merch kiosk.
“If you can just brighten people’s lives to be silly in the street immediately afterwards, I think you’ve done a great job,” he said. “Not many shows do that.”
The awards limit eligibility to productions with budgets less than $30 million.
best acting nominees, for “Train Dreams,” alongside the likes of Rose Byrne (“If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You”), Dylan O’Brien (“Twinless”), Keke Palmer (“One of Them Days”), Tessa Thompson (“Hedda”) and Whishaw, who was also nominated for the Net ix series “Black Doves.”
The organization switched to gender neutral acting categories in 2022.
Supporting performance nominees include Naomi Ackie (“Sorry, Baby”), Zoey Deutch ( “Nouvelle Vague” ), Kirsten Dunst (“Roofman”), Nina Hoss (“Hedda”), Jane Levy (“A Little Prayer”), Archie Madekwe (“Lurker”), Kali Reis (“Rebuilding”), Jacob Tremblay (“Sovereign”) and Haipeng Xu (“Blue Sun Palace”).
The Robert Altman Award, for one lm’s directing, ensemble and casting, went to the Stephen King adaptation “The
O’Brien, left, and James Sweeney star in the dark comedy “Twinless,” which was announced as a nominee for best feature at the upcoming Spirit Awards.
Long Walk,” with Mark Hamill, Cooper Ho man and David Jonsson. Among the international lm nominees were “Sirāt,””The Secret Agent” and “On Becoming a Guinea Fowl.” Documentaries recognized include “Come See Me in the Good Light,” “My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow,” “The Perfect Neighbor,” “The Tale of Silyan” and “Endless Cookie.” The Spirit Awards also hon-
or television shows, where “Adolescence,” “Forever” and “Mr Loverman” led with four nominations each. The organization said its nominees hailed from 18 di erent countries, with 41% identifying as women. Sometimes the Spirit Awards overlap signi cantly with major Oscar contenders and winners, as it did with “Anora,” and the “Everything Everywhere All at Once” year, and sometimes not. The awards limit el-
igibility to productions with budgets less than $30 million, meaning more expensive productions like “One Battle After Another” were not in the running. The 41st edition of the Spirit Awards will be leaving its longtime home near the Santa Monica Pier for the Hollywood Palladium. The show, which serves as a fundraiser for Film Independent’s year-round programs, will be held Feb. 15.
JOHN PHILLIPS / INVISION / AP PHOTO
Eric Idle, from left, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin and Terry Jones of the comedy troupe Monty Python appear in London in 2014. Their musical, “Spamalot,” has returned and will play more than 30 stages across the U.S.
ROADSIDE
Dylan
this week in history
Colonists dump 300 chests of tea in Boston Harbor, Wright Brothers take ight in Kitty Hawk
DEC. 14
1799: The rst president of the United States, George Washington, died at his Mount Vernon, Virginia, home at age 67.
1903: Wilbur Wright attempted to y the Wright Flyer on North Carolina’s Outer Banks but climbed too steeply, stalled and crashed into the sand. Three days later, on Dec. 17, his brother Orville made history with the rst successful controlled, powered ight.
1911: Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and his team reached the South Pole, becoming the rst to do so.
DEC. 15
1791: The Bill of Rights, the rst 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, took e ect after being rati ed by Virginia.
1890: Hunkpapa Lakota Chief Sitting Bull and 11 other tribe members were killed in Grand River, South Dakota, during a confrontation with Indian agency police.
1939: The Civil War epic “Gone with the Wind,” starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable, premiered in Atlanta.
DEC. 16
1773: The Boston Tea Party took place as American colonists boarded British ships in Boston Harbor and dumped more than 300 chests of tea to protest tea taxes.
1907: Sixteen U.S. Navy battleships, later known as the “Great White Fleet,” departed Hampton Roads, Virginia, on a 14-month, round-the-world voyage to demonstrate American sea power.
1944: The World War II Battle of the Bulge began as German forces launched a surprise attack on Allied troops
through the Ardennes Forest in Belgium and Luxembourg.
DEC. 17
1777: France became one of the rst nations to o cially recognize the independence of the United States.
1903: Wilbur and Orville Wright made the rst successful manned, powered airplane ights near Kitty Hawk using their experimental craft, the Wright Flyer.
1989: “The Simpsons” debuted on Fox television; it remains the longest-running animated U.S. TV series.
DEC. 18
1865: The 13th Amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery was declared in e ect by Secretary of State William H. Seward.
1892: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker” publicly premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia; although now considered a classic, it received a generally negative reception.
1916: The Battle of Verdun, World War I’s longest at 10 months, ended between French and German forces; it led to nearly 1 million casualties.
DEC. 19
1777: During the American Revolutionary War, Gen. George Washington led his army of more than 12,000 soldiers to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, to camp for the winter.
1907: Two hundred thirty-nine workers died in an explosion at the Darr coal mine near Van Meter, Pennsylvania.
1998: President Bill Clinton was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives for perjury and obstruction of justice. (He was subsequently acquitted by the Senate.)
DEC. 20
1803: The Louisiana Purchase was completed as ownership of the territory was formally transferred from France to the United States.
1860: South Carolina became the rst state to secede from the Union by a vote of delegates at a secession convention, emboldening other Southern states to follow suit and helping to trigger the American Civil War.
1946: The classic holiday lm “It’s a Wonderful Life” premiered at the Globe Theater in New York City.
AP PHOTO
The holiday classic “It’s a Wonderful Life,” starring James Stewart, premiered at the Globe Theatre in New York City on Dec. 20, 1946.
KURZ & ALLISON / CHICAGO - COWAN’S AUCTIONS VIA WIKIPEDIA
On Dec. 15, 1890, Hunkpapa Lakota leader Sitting Bull and 11 others were killed in South Dakota during a confrontation with Indian agency police.
