Trump endorses Paxton in Texas GOP primary, boosting challenge to incumbent Cornyn
President Donald Trump has endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, supercharging his e ort to oust incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in a Republican primary runo . Paxton and Cornyn quali ed for the May 26 runo after a March 3 primary, while Rep. Wesley Hunt nished third and did not advance. Although the four-term Cornyn has backed Trump’s agenda in Washington, Paxton pitched himself as a political warrior for the Make America Great Again movement. Trump’s endorsement Tuesday puts him at odds with his party’s establishment, which is convinced Cornyn is the better candidate for November’s general election.
Jackson says Supreme Court risks being seen as political after voting rights decision
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said Monday that the Supreme Court risks being seen as political in the wake of a major voting rights decision. She spoke after writing a solo dissent from the court’s decision allowing Louisiana to move quickly to use new maps after the court struck down a majority-black district and weakened the Voting Rights Act. At a time when public con dence in the court is low, she said the court must be careful to avoid being seen as political. Three of her conservative colleagues have said accusations of partisanship aren’t justi ed and the alternative was to hold an election under maps found to be unconstitutional.
OpenAI avoided costly court loss to Musk, but neither side unscathed Elon Musk lost his case against OpenAI and its top executives in a high-stakes trial that pitted billionaire against billionaire. But neither side emerged as too sympathetic. Americans’ opinion about arti cial intelligence is at a low point with worries over job losses and even humanity’s extinction. Online comments and signs outside the courtroom rooted for neither side. Critics say the real losers are people whose lives are being upended by an AI industry controlled by a few out-of-touch billionaires who can’t get along.
Albemarle council honors city’s SkillsUSA medalists
Four Albemarle High School students won medals in April
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — Four Albemarle High School students were recognized this week for earning medals at the 2026 SkillsUSA North Carolina State Leadership and Skills Conference in April.
At Monday night’s Albemarle City Council meeting, Mayor Ronnie Michael read and adopted a proclamation honoring the students, who were among 57 Stanly County
Juneberry Ridge concert series returns for sixth year
The rst of four festival nights is set for May 30
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
NORWOOD — Juneberry
Jams will return to Juneberry Ridge this month, launching four dates of live music and guest speakers in Norwood.
The sixth-annual summer concert series will be held at the 750-acre regenerative farm and corporate retreat at 40120 Old Cottonville Road.
This year’s events are scheduled for May 30, June 13, June 27 and Oct. 10.
“Experience the rhythm of the ridge and the bounty of summer at the sixth-annu-
al Juneberry Jams,” Juneberry Ridge announced in a promotional release. “Join us for four Saturdays of homegrown music, thoughtful conversation and locally farmed food.”
Each festival date will feature multiple musical acts, along with a reside chat with authors, teachers and other speakers connected to regenerative farming and related elds.
Juneberry Ridge, now North Carolina’s largest residential renewable energy system, features rainwater-harvesting technology, an organic greenhouse and stocked shing ponds.
The series is scheduled to
competitors at the statewide event in Greensboro.
As a workforce development organization, SkillsUSA o ers competitions in skilled trades, technical elds, leadership and career readiness.
Faith Moultrie earned gold at this year’s state competition, marking her third consecutive year medaling at the SkillsUSA state level. Ashley Rodriguez also medaled at the event.
Two students from Albemarle’s Fire Tech class, which competes in re ghting-focused SkillsUSA events, also earned recognition. Connor Fink took rst place in his state competition, while Matt Quinapallo earned a medal as well.
Albemarle Fire Chief Kenny Kendall, who has led the department since 2024, attended the meeting to o er his congratulations.
Black athletes generate hundreds of millions annually for universities in seven targeted states
By Matt Brown The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. —
The NAACP is calling on black athletes and fans to boycott the athletic programs of public universities in states that are taking steps that the nation’s oldest civil rights group says are restricting black voting rights. Launched on Tuesday, the “Out of Bounds” campaign urges prospective black athletes, their families, alumni and fans to “withhold athletic and nancial support” from major public universities in states that “have moved to limit, weaken or erase Black voting representation.”
If black athletes participate in the boycott, it could deplete rosters for powerhouse football and basketball programs across the Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference.
The NAACP is among groups responding to a wave of gerrymandering in the aftermath of a Supreme Court ruling that winnowed a key provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The boycott comes as civil rights activists have mobilized across the South to protest redistricting plans by Republican state legislatures that eliminate majority-black congressional
“Black
Derrick
Johnson, NAACP president
districts after the high court’s ruling. Activists have looked for pressure points to dissuade GOP-led states from redistricting maps, including calls for mass protests and economic boycotts.
“Across the South, Black athletes have helped build some of the most pro table college athletic programs in America,” NAACP President Derrick Johnson said in a press release. He noted that the programs “generate hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue, national television value, alumni donations, merchandising sales, ticket sales, and brand equity — much of it powered by Black football and basketball talent.”
The NAACP’s campaign calls out Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and South Carolina as states to boycott, arguing that the athletic programs of those states’ agship universities are especially reliant on black athletic talent and should protect black political interests.
“Black athletes should not be asked to generate wealth, prestige, and power for state insti-
tutions while those same states strip political power from Black communities,” said Johnson.
Black lawmakers themselves are also putting pressure on athletic leagues to take action against Republican-led states that may redistrict longtime black members of Congress.
The Congressional Black Caucus on Monday sent a letter to the commissioners of the SEC and ACC athletic conferences, as well as NCAA President Charlie Baker, that its members will oppose the SCORE Act, a bill to standardize athletes’ contracting rights across the country, unless conference leaders oppose GOP-led redistricting e orts in states that include major conference members.
“The Congressional Black Caucus believes institutions that pro t from Black talent and Black communities have a responsibility to stand with those communities when their fundamental rights are under attack,” the CBC said in a Monday statement. “Silence in the face of injustice is not neutrality — it is complicity.”
Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Stanly County.
May 21
Stanly Academy & SCoVE Graduation
3:30 p.m.
Stanly Academy and the SCoVE program hold a joint commencement ceremony for the Class of 2026 at the Agri-Civic Center.
Stanly County Agri-Civic Center 26032 Newt Road Albemarle
Stanly Early College Graduation
2 p.m.
May 22
Albemarle
Albemarle
THE CONVERSATION
Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
VISUAL VOICES
China: Our enemy, not our rival
China is not a competitor playing by the rules of commerce and diplomacy. It is an adversary playing for dominance.
CHINA IS NOT merely America’s geopolitical opponent. It is America’s geopolitical enemy — and has been since the establishment of the Chinese communist regime in 1949.
For decades, American leaders and elites indulged the fantasy that this reality could be softened or reversed. Richard Nixon opened relations with China in part to split Beijing from the Soviet Union. Later, economic globalists insisted that bringing China into global markets would moderate its politics. The theory was that free trade would lead to freer people.
It didn’t.
China never stopped being what it has always been: a communist surveillance state with an appetite for repression at home and in uence abroad. It is a historically mass-murdering regime and a government whose ambition is nothing less than the destruction of America’s global dominance.
And China plays the long game.
Unlike democratic nations that operate on election cycles, the Chinese Communist Party operates on decades. It can wait. It can plan. It can exploit. It has taken advantage of America’s openness — our markets, our universities, even our political institutions — to undermine us from within.
Whether it’s the theft of tens of billions of dollars in intellectual property, the in ltration of American universities or in uence campaigns aimed at shaping public discourse, China has treated the United States like an enemy — because it is.
That reality became impossible to ignore in 2020. China unleashed the Wuhan virus on the world while lying about the outbreak and downplaying evidence of human-to-human
COLUMN | DAVID HARSANYI
transmission. It misled the World Health Organization, which by that point had become so deferential to Beijing that it functioned more like a diplomatic arm of Chinese interests than an independent watchdog.
The pandemic was a wakeup call, but it should not have been the rst. For years, Americans have warned that the United States built supply chains through hostile territory. We outsourced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and strategic industries to a nation openly committed to replacing us.
Now the question is unavoidable: What should we do?
First, America must use its economic leverage to isolate China. That means cutting strong trade deals with reliable allies and strategic partners — Canada, Mexico, Europe and developing countries that may be tempted to drift into China’s orbit.
The goal should be simple: Force nations to choose. Countries should understand they can either have access to American markets and investment, or dependence on Chinese manufacturing and in uence. They should not be allowed to have both.
Second, America must cut o China’s sources of revenue and in uence. Much of President Donald Trump’s foreign policy has been aimed at this. Pressure against Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela was about oil revenue that strengthens China. The same is true with Iran, a major supplier of oil to Beijing. Even the war in Ukraine has implications, as Russia increasingly functions as a resource pipeline for China.
Third, America must strengthen itself. One of the most dangerous vulnerabilities we face is nancial dependency. China owns trillions of dollars in American debt. The implicit threat is
The left’s attack on courts is meant to destroy the
History has shown that one of the rst propositions of authoritarians is to destroy any judicial system that upholds the law.
THE STORY PLAYS out the same way virtually every time.
Democrats, egged on by the increasingly powerful progressive base, push some obviously unconstitutional scheme that they contend is needed to preserve “democracy.”
The courts inevitably knock down the ploy. Frustrated, Democrats ratchet up the anger, promising to “reform” the judiciary that stands in their way.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) recently argued on the House oor that the next Democratic White House “does not need a court reform commission like some college seminar. We need action. We need term limits for justices. We need to expand this morally bankrupt court from 9 to 13.”
Do we? Great, let’s do it today. Republicans run both houses and the White House, after all. They could pack the court right now. According to Khanna, there’s nothing procedurally or constitutionally improper about it. Indeed, it’s imperative. Surely, the congressman isn’t proposing that one party should be empowered to operate under a di erent set of rules than the other?
The contemporary leftist is a consequentialist with no limiting principles.
After the Virginia Supreme Court stopped the Democrats’ unconstitutional gerrymandering scheme, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), now the favorite 2028 Democratic Party presidential prospect in a number of polls, claimed that the court “didn’t overturn a map” but “overturned an election.”
“The power of the American people that should be the ultimate check on all three branches,” she declared.
In any other age, vocalizing illiterate nonsense
Constitution
about our system of governance might be an embarrassing career-ending ub. Today, it’s the norm among progressives.
At this point, I’m not even sure most of her audience understands why this crass majoritarian argument is un-American.
Then again, none of the left’s political objections to the court are grounded in anything resembling a legal argument.
Progressives grouse about “lawless judges” because they make no distinction between failing to get their way and criminality. Democrats never even bother to mention the Constitution in their critiques of the Supreme Court. Which is weird considering the court’s most vital responsibility is to uphold it.
After the court upheld the Voting Rights Act, ensuring that Louisiana could not create race-based districts as the law demands, Khanna claimed that the “moral light” of the court had been “extinguished.” Which is just gibberish.
The left’s case for “reform” centers around the specious idea that the court is failing because it doesn’t adhere to their political vision or the vision of the eeting majority.
History has shown that one of the rst propositions of authoritarians is to destroy any judicial system that upholds the law. Which is why Democrats want to overturn state constitutions as well.
“We’re going to have to explore judicial reform state by state and at the federal level,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Je ries recently said, proposing a nationwide takeover of the courts. “ ... Everything should be on the table as far as I’m concerned.”
They mean everything.
One of the ideas being thrown around by
always present: Beijing could dump U.S. bonds onto the market to destabilize our economy. China could absorb the pain. It does not fear public backlash the way democratic governments do.
This is what happens when a nation becomes bloated, complacent and addicted to spending. If the United States wishes to remain a world power, it cannot behave like a decadent welfare state. Debt is not just an economic problem — it is a national security threat.
Finally, America must close the doors China uses to steal, spy and in ltrate. One obvious step is also the most controversial: no more Chinese foreign exchange students. Zero.
Our universities have strong nancial incentives to bring them in, but national security cannot be treated like a revenue stream. We should not be importing students from hostile regimes to access American research and institutions, only for them to return home and strengthen systems that seek our destruction. Pretending geopolitical enemies will not exploit American openness is naive. They already have. The United States is still the most powerful country on Earth, but power is not permanent. It must be defended and strategically deployed. China is not a competitor playing by the rules of commerce and diplomacy. It is an adversary playing for dominance.
The steps needed to confront that reality are available — and necessary.
Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co-founder of Daily Wire+. He is a three-time New York Times bestselling author. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)
Democrats is to have the Virginia General Assembly lower the mandatory retirement age for Virginia’s Supreme Court from 75 to 54, the age of the youngest current justice, then replace the entire court with leftists who will rubber-stamp the most radical gerrymandering scheme in the history of the republic.
For decades, Democrats have made a mockery of con rmation hearings, smearing originalist justices as sexual predators and radicals to preemptively discredit their decisions.
For years, progressive activist groups propped up by wealthy activists have been cooking up imaginary scandals about justices and laundering them through faux journalistic operations.
No leftists have ever o ered a scintilla of genuine evidence that any of the “conservative” justices have altered their judicial philosophy or approach for any personal bene t. There is no “lawlessness.” There is an ideological disagreement.
If Democrats end up packing the court, it will devolve into another partisan branch as each party adds new justices until the institution is useless.
Term limits would immediately be struck down as unconstitutional: Article III bestows lifetime appointments on justices to shield the high court from the vagaries and eeting pressures of political debate — and from demagogues like Khanna.
Not every institution in American life needs to re ect eeting mainstream opinions (though progressives overestimate their popularity, anyway). Moreover, the court’s disposition should be conservative. Something needs to buttress against the recklessness of majoritarianism. The Founders were clear on this.
All this Democratic drama is just a transparent attempt to circumvent the constitutional order. And it is unlikely any Democrats care enough about the Constitution to stop it.
David Harsanyi is a senior writer at the Washington Examiner and author of ve books. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)
COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO
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Graduates booing pep talks on AI at college commencements
Students face anxiety about AI threatening their jobs in an uncertain market
By Heather Hollingsworth and Jocelyn Gecker The Associated Press
AS ARTIFICIAL intelli-
gence casts a shadow over career prospects, it is becoming an unwelcome subject at this season’s college commencements. At several campuses, graduates have interrupted speakers with stadium-wide boos when the topic turned to AI.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt faced repeated jeers over the weekend during his keynote address to about 10,000 University of Arizona graduates on the rise of AI.
“It will touch every profession, every classroom, every hospital, every laboratory, every person and every relationship you have,” Schmidt said, as booing began to build in the audience.
“I know what many of you are feeling about that. I can hear you,” Schmidt responded as the boos continued. “There is a fear in your generation that the future has already been written, that the machines are coming, that the jobs are evaporating … and I understand that fear.”
CONCERTS from page A1
open May 30 with singer-songwriter Evan Marker, who will serve as the opening performer for each of the four dates. Americana duo Backyard Revival and country rock act Ashes & Arrows will also perform that night.
The June 13 lineup features rock band Revelwood Mission and country pop duo The Young Fables, while the June 27 date will include indie folk duo Falllift and indie rock group Late Night Special.
The nal festival date, set for Oct. 10, will feature folk duo
Admiral Radio and Uncaged, a Zac Brown Band tribute act. Juneberry Jams will also continue its tradition of hosting guest speakers during each event. This year’s announced lineup includes Shannon Algiere, farm operations manager at Stone Barns Center; Callie Pfa , founding principal at landscape architecture rm Studio Campo; and Bryan Sharp, a biology instructor at Stanly Community College. A fourth speaker has not yet been announced.
Opening acts are scheduled for 5:45 p.m. each night, followed by guest speakers
To students, the topic felt tone deaf, said Olivia Malone, a 22-year-old University of Arizona graduate bound for law school.
“His speech was incredibly disrespectful to students,” said Malone. “We as students are discouraged from using it and penalized for using it. And then to have our speaker be the champion of AI is just like, ‘OK? Why?’”
Similar responses to keynote speakers who touched on AI at other universities highlight a pervasive sense of anxiety among today’s college students.
Polls show growing concern that AI will doom career plans
Across campuses and in a multitude of recent surveys, students say they are trying to gure out which skills, majors and jobs won’t be rendered useless by AI.
About 70% of college students see AI as a threat to their job prospects, according
at 6:15 p.m. Headlining performances are scheduled for 7:15 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Single-day early bird tickets are $25 and are available through the Wednesday before each event. General admission tickets are $30 and are available Thursday through the day of the event. Student tickets and youth tickets for ages 13-17 are $15, while children 12 and younger may attend for free. Series passes are also available, with a three-day pass for the May 30, June 13 and June 27 events priced at $60. A four-day pass, including the Oct. 10 date, is $75.
“There is a fear in your generation that the future has already been written, that the machines are coming, that the jobs are evaporating … and I understand that fear.”
Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO
to a 2025 poll by the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School.
A recent Gallup poll of Generation Z youth and adults, between ages 14 and 29, found increasingly negative attitudes toward AI. About half of Gen Z teens and adults say they use AI daily or weekly. But anger about the technology has increased since a year ago, while excitement and hopefulness about AI is declining.
Another speaker, real estate executive Gloria Caul eld, also faced boos when she highlighted the advent of arti cial intelligence during a keynote this month at the University of Central Florida.
“The rise of arti cial intelligence is the next industrial revolution,” Caul eld said, as boos erupted, to her surprise. She turned around to ask those behind her, “What happened?”
“OK, I struck a chord. May I nish?” said Caul eld, who is vice president of strategic alliances at the Tavistock Development Company in Orlando.
“Only a few years ago, AI was not a factor in our lives,” she said, prompting cheers.
“And now, AI capabilities are in the palm of our hand,” she said to more jeering.
Speakers have tried to stress positives
A similar response met music executive Scott Borchetta when he spoke to the graduating class of Middle Tennessee State University about how AI is shaping the music industry.
“AI is rewriting production as we sit here,” said Borchetta, the CEO of Big Machine Records, as the students in caps and gowns booed. “I know it. Deal with it. … Do something about it. It’s a tool. Make it work for you.”
Schmidt o ered a similar message to graduates: Their
fear is rational, but they have the power to shape how AI develops.
The advice didn’t land well with students like Malone, who said the former Google executive’s speech was more self-serving than inspirational.
“It felt like a big advertisement. It felt like the longest Gemini ad ever,” said Malone, noting that the choice of Schmidt as keynote speaker had also been controversial because his name appears in the Epstein les. “Everybody I was sitting by was really hooting and hollering about that, yelling, ‘Epstein les! Epstein les!’”
Grads already face tough job market
Part of the backlash from graduating students stems from the dismal job market they’re entering. The unemployment rate for college graduates ages 22 to 27 has reached its highest level in a dozen years.
Sami Wargo just graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee, where an AI expert was the undergraduate commencement speaker despite a student petition demanding that the school nd someone else.
“Given how AI has become an increasing threat towards our jobs, especially for our graduating class, we thought it was a little bit tone deaf,” said Wargo, who majored in digital media and minored in advertising.
Chris Du ey, an AI evangelist at Adobe who recently used AI to “co-author” a book titled “Superhuman Innovation: Transforming Business with Arti cial Intelligence,” took the stage anyway.
“Innovation,” he told the students, “will reveal what can be done, but only you can decide what should be done.”
Wargo said she joined other students around her in booing his message.
The 21-year-old has applied for around 30 jobs but hasn’t landed one yet. Many of the job descriptions say applicants must “collaborate with AI,” but “I don’t know what that means,” she said, noting that most of her classes banned her from using AI.
Having to be reminded of all the uncertainty at their graduation, she said, was another “little dent in what was supposed to be a celebratory day.”
PHOTO COURTESY JUNEBERRY RIDGE Musicians perform at a previous Juneberry Jams event.
EVAN AGOSTINI / AP PHOTO
Scott Borchetta arrives at
Police were searching for teens behind San Diego mosque shooting before bloodshed began
A security guard was killed attempting to stop the two shooters
By Julie Watson and Eugene Johnson
The Associated Press
SAN DIEGO — Hours before an attack at a San Diego mosque that killed three men, including a security guard being hailed as a hero, police were racing to nd the two teenagers who would ultimately be deemed responsible.
The search began after the mother of one of the teens reported that her son was suicidal and had run away, according to Police Chief Scott Wahl, who said weapons and her vehicle were missing from the family’s home.
Two hours later, the shooting started at the Islamic Center of San Diego, which also houses a school.
The suspects, ages 17 and 18, were found in a vehicle after killing themselves near the site of the shooting.
Authorities planned to execute search warrants Tuesday as they piece together how and why the attack happened. There was no speci c threat against the Islamic center, which is the largest mosque in San Diego, but authorities found that the suspects engaged in “generalized hate rhetoric,” Wahl said, adding that the attack is being investigated as a hate crime.
Among those killed was a security guard who police believe “played a pivotal role” in keeping the attack from being “much worse,” Wahl said.
“It’s fair to say his actions were heroic,” the chief said. “Undoubtedly he saved lives.”
The mosque hasn’t released the victims’ names. But a family friend identi ed the guard as Amin Abdullah, who was well known at the mosque and had worked there for more than a decade.
“He wanted to defend the innocent, so he decided to become a security guard,” said Shaykh Uthman Ibn Farooq, who spoke with Abdullah’s son.
The family could not immediately be reached for comment.
In a Facebook post, the mosque called him “a courageous man who put himself on the line of the safety of others, who even in his last moments did not stop protecting our community.”
The center wrote that those
SKILLSUSA from page A1
“On behalf of the re department in Albemarle, I want to congratulate the SkillsUSA team,” Kendall said. “The Fire Tech program is dear to my heart. Many years ago, myself and Chief Alan Beasley helped to start the program. He does a great job with this program and he is taking them to the level they are. We recruit reghters and have had several out of the program, and we hope to get many more.”
who died “were men who put themselves on the line for our masjid and our community,” using the Arabic word for mosque. “Men of courage, sacri ce, and faith. Their absence leaves a void that can never truly be lled.” It didn’t provide details about the actions of the other two victims, but the mosque described one as a foundation of the center who was dedicated to building the community from the beginning, and the other as a man whose “kindness, sincerity and wavering spirit touched everyone around him.”
The shooting was the latest in a string of attacks on houses
Mayor Pro Tem Martha Sue Hall said the competition reects a broader need to equip students with career aspirations alongside academic preparation.
“SkillsUSA provides marketable skills for our students,” Hall said. “In today’s society, we don’t just get youth out of school and send them to college. If we can get them out of school with a skill they can go to work with — and go to school, that’s great — but they’ve got to have a marketable skill.”
of worship and comes amid rising threats and hate crimes targeting the Muslim and Jewish communities since the beginning of war in the Middle East, forcing increases in security.
Just before the latest attack, the search for the missing teen intensi ed Monday morning as law enforcement began to gather more details. Police found he had dressed in camou age and was with an acquaintance. Ofcers used automated license plate readers to track the car and went to a mall. They also alerted a school where at least one of the teens was a student and interviewed the mother, Wahl said.
When reports of the shoot-
“On behalf of the re department in Albemarle, I want to congratulate the
Kenny Kendall, Albemarle re chief
Councilmember Benton Dry also praised the students for their achievements.
“I’m really glad to see programs like this in our high
ing came in, police responded within four minutes of being called. Three men were dead when they arrived, Wahl said.
The mosque sits in a neighborhood of homes, apartments and strip malls with Middle Eastern restaurants and markets. The center includes the Al Rashid School, which o ers courses in Arabic language, Islamic studies and the Quran for students ages 5 and up, according to its website.
The center, which said it was closed until further notice, typically holds ve daily prayers.
TV footage showed more than a dozen children holding hands and being walked out of the center’s parking lot as it was surrounded by police vehicles.
Imam Taha Hassane, the mosque’s director, called it “extremely outrageous to target a place of worship,” adding that the center focused on interfaith relations and community building.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, one of the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy groups in the U.S., condemned the shooting.
“No one should ever fear for their safety while attending prayers or studying at an elementary school,” CAIR- San Diego Executive Director Tazheen Nizam said in a statement.
President Donald Trump called the shooting a “terrible situation.”
school,” Dry said. “Back in the day when I went, you went to school, you played sports and then you went home. It’s wonderful that these young people are getting oriented into the community, what we do as a city to protect our people. All of our safety people are the greatest group of folks that we can have.”
The Albemarle City Council will hold its next regular meeting on June 1 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.
BIDS - GASTON COMMUNITY
GREGORY BULL / AP PHOTO
Two men embrace at the scene of a shooting outside the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday in San Diego.
GREGORY BULL / AP PHOTO
A body is covered with a tarp at the scene of a shooting outside the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday. Police say two teenagers killed themselves following the attack.
Samuel Leo Little Jr.
Dec. 29, 1952 – April 20, 2026
Samuel Leo Little Jr. passed away on April 20th, 2026. He was the son of the late Samuel Little Sr. and Hazel Louise Yow.
He retired from Little’s Sheetrock. He was born December 29th, 1952 in Stanly County.
There will be a Celebration of Life on May 30th, 2026 from 11-1 at the home of Jerry and Angela Parker. Address is 427 Brief Rd.Cast, Midland, NC 28107
OBITUARIES
IN MEMORY
Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Stanly News Journal at obits@ stanlynewsjournal.com
Mark Fuhrman, former LA police detective convicted of lying during O.J. Simpson murder trial, died at 74
Recordings of his own voice contradicted his testimony that he had never used racial slurs
By Rebecca Boone and Hallie Golden
The Associated Press
BOISE, Idaho — Former Los Angeles police detective Mark Fuhrman, who was convicted of lying during testimony at the O.J. Simpson murder trial, has died. He was 74.
Fuhrman was one of the rst two police detectives sent to investigate the 1994 killings of Simpson’s ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ronald Goldman, in Los Angeles. He reported nding a bloody glove at Simpson’s home, but his credibility came under attack during the trial as the defense raised the prospect of racial bias.
Under cross-examination, Fuhrman testi ed that he had never made anti-black racial slurs in the past decade, but a recording showed he had done so repeatedly.
Lynn Acebedo, the chief deputy coroner in Kootenai County, Idaho, said that Fuhrman died May 12. The county does not release the cause of death as a rule.
Alan Dershowitz, a prominent lawyer and law professor who was a legal strategist on Simpson’s defense “Dream Team,” said Fuhrman was a “much better detective than he was a witness.”
“He’s very smart, and you know, a very, very aggressive detective. Ultimately his actions helped us win the O.J. case because of his use of the ‘n’ word,” Dershowitz said Monday eve-
Los Angeles Police
Detective
Fuhrman
ning. “I got to know him later, after it was all over, and we had a cordial relationship.”
Fuhrman retired from the Los Angeles Police Department after Simpson’s 1995 acquittal. He subsequently moved to Idaho with his family and set up a 20-acre farm, raising chickens, goats, sheep and llamas.
In 1996, Fuhrman was charged with perjury and pleaded no contest. He later became a TV and radio commentator and wrote the book “Murder in Brentwood” about the killings.
A criminal-court jury found Simpson, a former star NFL running back and actor, not guilty of murder in 1995, but a separate civil trial jury found him liable in 1997 for the deaths and ordered him to pay $33.5 million to relatives of Brown and Goldman. He served nine years in prison on unrelated charges and died in Las Vegas of prostate cancer in 2024 at the age of 76.
Kato Kaelin, a friend of Brown who also testi ed in the murder trial, wrote in a post on X that he wanted to respectfully acknowledge Fuhrman’s death and that he hopes Fuhrman’s loved ones can nd peace.
“While we were never close personally, our lives were indelibly linked through our roles in the O.J. Simpson trial over thirty years ago. It was a deeply complex and painful chapter for everyone involved, but any loss of life is a time for re ection and solemnity,” Kaitlin wrote.
Fuhrman’s father left when he was 7 years old, and Fuhrman often cared for his younger brother while his mother worked. As an adult, he joined the Marines and then the Los Angeles Police Department.
DEWEY MELTON “DOC” SMITH
JAN. 19, 1942 – MAY 15, 2026
Dewey Melton “Doc” Smith, 84, of Stanly County, passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 2 PM on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at Red Cross Baptist Church with Pastor Jesse Herring and Pastor Garry Baker o ciating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends immediately following the burial in the church fellowship hall.
Born on January 19, 1942, in Stanly County, NC, he was the son of the late Claude Monroe Smith and Viola Williams Smith. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Lee Smith, Horace Smith, Bob Smith, Flave Smith, Bobby Kenneth Smith, Jimmy L. Smith, and Billy Ray Smith; and by his sisters, Gladys Eury and Mildred Shaver.
A faithful servant of God, devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, and respected member of his community, Doc leaves behind a legacy of hard work, kindness, and unwavering faith. Known to many simply as “Doc,” he was the longtime owner and operator of Doc’s Plumbing Company. Through decades of dedicated work, he earned the respect and friendship of countless people throughout the community. Beyond his profession, Doc was a man deeply rooted in his faith. He was a devoted member of Red Cross Baptist Church, where he faithfully served as a deacon since 1970. His quiet strength, servant’s heart, and steadfast Christian example touched many lives over the years.
Doc is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Mildred Brooks Smith. He is also survived by his daughters, Gina Williams and husband Harry Williams, and Freda Brattain and husband Kelly Brattain. He was a proud grandfather to Jordan Williams and wife Caroline, Tyler Williams and wife Rachel, Matthew Brattain and wife Wenonah, Andrew Brattain, and Daniel Brattain. He was also blessed with great-grandchildren, Lyric Brattain, Ellis Brattain, Silas Brattain, Colton Williams, Addison Brattain, and Josie Williams, all of whom brought him tremendous joy and pride.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate caregivers and sta of Atrium Health Hospice and Palliative Care Cabarrus, as well as Adoration Home Health, who faithfully cared for him over the past four years.
Memorials may be made to Red Cross Baptist Church.
Doc will be remembered for his steadfast faith, his dedication to his family and church, and the honest, hardworking life he lived every day. His presence will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
JIMMY FRANKLIN “JIM” HARRIS
MARCH 13, 1966 – MAY 15, 2026
Jimmy Franklin “Jim” Harris, of Albemarle, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Friday, May 15, 2026, at the age of 60.
Born on March 13, 1966, in Albemarle, NC. Jimmy was the son of the late Ray Blair Harris and the living Frankie Gale Hatley Harris. A lifelong resident of Albemarle, he was well known throughout the community for his kindness, hardworking spirit, and willingness to help others. Jimmy dedicated much of his life to public service and his community. He worked in various public positions with Stanly County Government, working with Animal Control, and as a Jailer with the Stanly County Sheri ’s o ce. He also delivered propane with Lee Oil and Gas. He retired from the Parks and Recreation Department with the city of Locust, NC. Jimmy had a compassionate heart and quietly helped many people throughout his life.
He is survived by his son, Jimmy Darrell Harris and wife Teri Lynn of Locust, his Mother Frankie H. Harris of Albemarle; his Sister Rayna H. Medlin and husband Kent of Albemarle; Maternal Grandmother Wilma W. Hatley of Albemarle and by a beloved niece and nephews Camden Jessup, Chandler Jessup and Jimi Raye Jessup. He was a ectionately known as “Uncle Jimmy” to his Aunt Joan’s children, grandchildren and great grandchild.
In addition to his father, Ray B. Harris, Jim was preceded in death by his grandfather, Frank E. Hatley, and Aunt Joan Lambert, and beloved cat “Buddy”.
A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Stanly Funeral & Cremation Care Chapel with Rev. Don Burleyson o ciating. Burial will follow at Bear Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 2:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the funeral home. The family asks memorials be made to Tillery Compassionate Care, 960 North First Street, Albemarle, NC 28001.
Jim will be remembered for his gentle nature, strong work ethic, love for his family, and the many quiet acts of kindness he extended to those around him. His memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.
RUBY CAUDLE FRALEY
OCT. 2, 1936 – MAY 15, 2026
Ruby Caudle Fraley, 89, of Rich eld, passed away peacefully at her home on May 15, 2026. Her funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 22, 2026, at New Mount Tabor United Methodist Church with Pastor Katie Linberger o ciating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care.
Born October 2, 1936, in Anson County, North Carolina, Ruby was the daughter of the late Thomas Hummie Caudle and Valda Huneycutt Caudle. A faithful member of New Mount Tabor United Methodist Church, she devoted much of her life to her church and community, faithfully serving in many roles throughout the years. She retired as Vice President of First Bank after a long and respected career.
Ruby will be remembered as a woman of strength, love, and unwavering devotion to her family and faith. Her family describes her as caring, feisty, patient, stern when she needed to be, trustworthy, competitive, and deeply loving — simply “the best.” She was known for her warm hospitality, her exceptional cooking and baking, and her joy in gathering family and friends around her table, especially on Sundays after church.
She found happiness in life’s simple blessings — working in her garden, sharing meals with those she loved, and spending time with her family. Her grandchildren fondly remember long afternoons snapping beans, shucking corn, and being lovingly chased through the yard with a hickory stick whenever they got out of line. Those memories, lled with laughter and love, will remain treasured for generations to come. She was always proud to remind her family that she completed 12 years of school with perfect attendance.
As a young woman, Ruby was an outstanding basketball player at Rich eld High School, earning AllCounty and All-Conference honors. Her strong spirit and determination stayed with her throughout her life. Her favorite hymn was “Because He Lives,” and her favorite Scripture was Matthew 25:23: “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Those words beautifully re ect the faithful and servant-hearted life she lived.
Ruby was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John Wayne Fraley, in 2024. She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Angela F. Ballard; brothers, James Caudle, Boyce Caudle, and Everett Caudle; sisters, Kathryn Ross and Edna Earnhardt; and son-in-law, Sidney Smith.
She is survived by her daughter, Debra Fraley Smith; her brother, Dewey Caudle (Doris) of Concord; her sister, Fran Watson of Gold Hill; her grandchildren, Titus Russell (Nicole), Brett Ballard, Brooke Brown (Shayne), Amie Hooks (Garrett), and Hannah Ballard; and her great-grandchildren, Gunnar Hooks, Alayna Russell, Jaxton Hooks, and Baby Brown, expected to arrive in just a few short weeks.
The family requests that memorials be made to Tillery Compassionate Care, 960 N. First Street, Albemarle, NC 28001; New Mount Tabor United Methodist Church, 40237 Millingport Road, Rich eld, NC 28137; or the Pfei er University O ce of Advancement for The Valda H. and T.H. Caudle Memorial Endowed Scholarship, P.O. Box 960, Misenheimer, NC 28109.
GEORGE THOMAS PERSER
DEC. 16, 1943 – MAY 18, 2026
George Thomas Perser, 82, of Albemarle, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, May 18, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 22, 2026, at the Stanly Funeral Home Chapel in Albemarle, o ciated by Bishop Henderson. Burial will follow at Oakboro Cemetery. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m.
George was born on December 16, 1943, in Texas to the late George and Shirley Perser. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend who treasured his family above all else.
He is lovingly survived by his wife of 64 years, Laurella Tuscany Perser of the home; daughter, Laura Ann Seabrooks; son, Thomas Jean Perser; grandchildren, Thomas Morales (Giovanna), Ashley Perser, Thomas Jean Perser II, Robert Sharkey (Caitlin), Rebecca Warner (Joseph), Thomas Seabrooks, and Jessica Huneycutt (Bobby); 14 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Michael Abbot.
In addition to his parents, George was preceded in death by his sister, Carol Ann Perser; stepfather, Floyd Abbot; and son-in-law, Robert Seabrooks.
George had a deep love for music and enjoyed singing in many choirs throughout his life. He was passionate about genealogy, loved shing, and never met a stranger. Known for his gift of conversation and warm personality, George enjoyed sharing stories and spending time with those around him. A hardworking man, he spent many years as a mechanic working in steel mills and the automotive industry, and even after retirement, he continued tinkering with cars; something he truly enjoyed.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the sta of Gentiva Hospice for the compassionate care and support shown to George during his declining health.
George will be remembered for his kind heart, strong work ethic, and the love he shared with his family and friends. His memory will live on in the lives of all who knew and loved him.
Mark
shows the jury in the O.J. Simpson double murder trial evidence during testimony March 10, 1995, in Los Angeles.
STANLY SPORTS
North Stanly boys nish as 3A track state runner-up
The Comets led the county’s overall showing
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — North Stanly’s boys’ track and eld team came within a half-point of a state title at the 2026 NCHSAA outdoor track and eld state championships, leading a strong Stanly County showing. The four-day meet was held May 13-16 at N.C. A&T’s Marcus
T. Johnson Track in Greensboro. Together, the county’s ve high schools combined for ve rst-place nishes — three individual state titles and two relay championships — and more than 20 top-10 nishes. North Stanly nished as the 3A boys’ state runner-up with 60.5 points, just behind Northwood’s 61. Jamar Crote also received a sportsmanship award for the Comets. The Comets were led by Justice Gramling, who won the 100-meter dash in 10.58 sec-
3
the number of 2026 individual state titles won by local track athletes
onds. North Stanly also captured state titles in the 4x100 relay and 4x200 relay, nishing the former in 42.76 sec-
onds and the latter in 1:28.68. North Stanly added several individual top-10 nishes. Crote placed third in the 200 and fth in the 100, while Ra’Cere Bruton was fourth in the 100. Blake Baldwin nished fourth in the 1,600, Malakhi Blackmon was seventh in the 200, Myles Culp placed fth in the high jump and Caleb Terhune was seventh in the shot put. On the girls’ side, North Stanly’s Kyla Jackson nished third in the discus, Trinity Robinson placed fth in the shot put and Reese Coble was eighth in the 400.
South Stanly also produced a state champion as Kenadie Baker won the 2A girls’ 3,200 in 11:08.10. Baker added a fth-place nish in the 1,600, helping the Bulls tie for 11th in
Tennis star Smith selected for Stanly Hall
He helped Albemarle win a 1966 championship
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — David Smith’s path to the Stanly County Sports Hall of Fame included a championship at Albemarle High School, a standout tennis career at Pfeiffer College and years of continued success on the court. The Albemarle resident is one of three members of the hall’s 2026 class who will be recognized June 16 during an induction ceremony at Pfeiffer University’s Stokes Student Center in Misenheimer.
In the 1960s, Smith made his mark in both basketball and tennis for the Bulldogs.
On the basketball court, he was part of Albemarle’s 1966 Western North Carolina High School Activities Association championship team. Smith earned all-conference honors that season while averaging 19 points per game, the second-best scoring mark in the conference.
Tennis singles wins Smith posted as a junior at Pfei er
He also led the league at the foul line, shooting 90% on free throws.
On the tennis court, he held the No. 1 singles spot for Albemarle during each of his three seasons with the program and earned all-conference recognition each year. By the end of his high school career, he had posted a 30-3 record.
Smith stayed close to home for college, continuing his tennis career at Pfeiffer College from 1966-69. He became one of the program’s top players, earning all-conference honors three times and all-district recognition twice. His college accomplishments included conference singles championships in 1967 and 1968. He also won an all-district doubles title
the 2A team standings with 14 points. West Stanly’s Ajah Carr won the 4A girls’ high jump with a mark of 5 feet, giving the Colts their own state champion. West Stanly’s girls tied for 17th in the 4A standings with 12 points. On the boys’ side, Jayden Bobo placed ninth in the 3,200. Gray Stone’s top nishers were Ella Cumming, who placed fourth in the 2A girls’ triple jump, and Layne Higgins, who placed fourth in the boys’ 3,200 and added an eighth-place nish in the 1,600. Nicholas Eppehimer nished 10th in the 400. Albemarle also had multiple top-10 nishers in the 2A meet. Jon-Pierre Browne placed fourth in the boys’ triple jump, Joneil Cabrera was seventh in the 200, and Tahj McClendon nished eighth in the shot put.
in 1968, helping him qualify for the NAIA Tennis Nationals. During his junior season, Smith recorded 23 singles victories while facing top regional and national competition. His playing career continued beyond Pfeiffer, as he remained active in tournaments across the state and region through the 1970s and 1980s. By 1983, he had reached a top-five ranking among North Carolina tennis players.
Smith later returned to Pfeiffer in an administrative and coaching capacity.
Beginning in 1996, he spent 12 years as the university’s vice president for enrollment and later coached both the men’s and women’s tennis teams for four years. His service to Pfeiffer has also included co-founding the Pfeiffer Athletic Advisory Council, a group created with the aim of supporting student athletes.
Smith was inducted into the Pfei er Sports Hall of Fame in 2019, four years before he received the university’s Outstanding Alumni Award in 2023. Away from athletics, he has held leadership roles with several local organizations, including the Stanly County Chamber of Commerce, Albemarle Rotary Club and Stanly County Economic Development Commission.
The North Stanly boys’ track and eld team poses with its 3A state title runner-up trophy.
STANLY
David Smith is a 2026 inductee for the Stanly County Sports Hall of Fame.
HORSE RACING
Napoleon Solo holds o Iron Honor by 1 ¼ lengths to win Preakness
Laurel, Md.
Napoleon Solo held o Iron Honor in the stretch to win the Preakness Stakes, rebounding from a pair of fth-place showings for his rst victory of the year. A wide-open eld of 14 horses contested the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. The Preakness was held at Laurel Park this year because Pimlico in Baltimore is being rebuilt. Taj Mahal was the top choice at 9-2 — the longest odds for a Preakness favorite since 1925. Napoleon Solo went o at 7-1.
NASCAR
Spurlock becomes 1st black woman to race in NASCAR national series, crashes in debut
Dover, Del.
Dystany Spurlock became the rst black woman to compete in one of NASCAR’s three national series, crashing on lap 39 in her debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Dover Motor Speedway. The 34-year-old drove the No. 69 MBM Motorsports Ford. Her truck became loose while coming around a turn and she tried to save it before crashing into the outside wall, which ended her race. She made her stock car racing debut in March, nishing seventh in the ARCA Menards Series East at Hickory Motor Speedway.
NBA
Gilgeous-Alexander repeats as NBA MVP
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named NBA MVP, becoming the 14th player to win the award in back-to-back years. He beat out Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets, a three-time MVP and the last back-to-back winner, and Spurs center Victor Wembanyama. It’s the fth consecutive season players born outside of the U.S. nished 1-2-3 in the MVP race. Golden State’s Stephen Curry was the last American-born player in the top three of the MVP balloting; he was third in 2021. James Harden was the last American to win it, in 2018.
NCAA FOOTBALL
ACC formally backs Big Ten’s push for College Football Playo to expand to 24 teams
The ACC is backing the Big Ten’s push for a 24-team playo . ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said coaches and athletic directors reached consensus this week on wanting to double the current College Football Playo model. Phillips said, “When you’re leaving national championship-contending teams and schools out of the playo , you don’t have the right number.” He pointed to Florida State getting snubbed from a four-team CFP eld in 2023 and Notre Dame getting left out of last year’s 12-team model.
NCAA BASEBALL
NCAA urges coaches to not cancel games to protect position for tournament
The NCAA issued an appeal to Division I baseball coaches to not cancel nonconference midweek games to protect their teams’ positioning for the national tournament. Scheduling hijinks allow teams to avoid no-win situations this time of year. So games against mid- or low-major opponents sometimes are called o because a win wouldn’t help the RPI and a loss would hurt it, perhaps badly.
Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements to be published in Stanly News Journal. community@stanlynewsjournal.com
Weekly deadline is Monday at noon
Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements to be published in Stanly News Journal. community@stanlynewsjournal.com
Weekly deadline is Monday at noon
South Stanly baseball saw its season end in the NCHSAA playo s with a loss to Corvian Community. The Rowdy Rebel Bulls ended their season at 17-11.
The team bids farewell to a senior class that included six members. The team’s top two batters — Carter Callicutt and Ayden Russell — depart, as does Naylen Hetland, who was third on the team in steals, and Mick Tucker, who was third in runs. Tripp Edwards, third on the team in RBIs, also leaves, along with out elder Chance Sasser. West Stanly’s loss to Lincoln Charter in the playo s also ended the season for the Colts. West nished with a 25-3 record. That means eight Colts seniors have played their last game on the diamond: Carter Yow, Drew Huneycutt, Canaan Carelock, Brodie Smith, Drew Hatley, Cade Hinson,
Cooper Crisco and Sam Carpenter. In girls’ soccer, West Stanly fell in the playo s, losing to Ledford and nishing with a 17-4-2 record. The Colts now move on without these seniors: striker Kennedy Foxx, third on the team in goals, mid elder Mallory Deaton, third in assists, goalkeeper Jacqueline Yarbrough, mid elder Stella Wayne and mid elder Colbey Hil. Albemarle ended its season at 4-14 after a playo loss to Gray Stone Day. The Bulldogs will lose two senior defenders in Karrington Baldwin and Betzy Alvarado.
Gray Stone Day then lost to Bishop McGuinness, ending its playo run. The Knights nished 12-10. The Knights lose senior captain and leading goal scorer Anna Morgan, the only senior on their roster.
Hamlin beats teammate Briscoe at Dover for 2nd NASCAR All-Star Race win
The million-dollar exhibition made its Delaware debut after two years in Rockingham
The Associated Press
DOVER, Del. — In the debut of the All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway, the Monster Mile lived up to its billing as one of NASCAR’s most treacherous tracks.
Even for winner Denny Hamlin, surviving Dover was a high-wire test for the $1 million prize.
Rebounding from a qualifying spin to start from the pole position, Hamlin steered clear of trouble Sunday for his second NASCAR All-Star Race victory. He led the nal 30 laps and outdueled Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe while avoiding the eight caution ags that involved 23 of 36 drivers in the eld, which was inverted after the rst 75-lap segment.
“It makes it a lot easier when you’ve got a car this fast,” said Hamlin, whose No. 11 Toyota led a race-high 103 of 200 laps in the last segment. “We strive to be No. 1, and we did it today. It really challenged us to have to go through tra c, but I denitely like the invert. Obvious-
ly, it caused some chaos there and took out some good cars, but overall, it’s a typical All-Star Race when that stu happens.”
Briscoe nished 0.887 seconds behind Hamlin with a No. 19 Toyota that was heavily damaged in a practice crash Saturday.
“It was obviously a really fast car,” Briscoe said after his career-best second in the All-Star Race. “I’m just proud of our group. I knocked the wall down
in practice, and we basically rebuilt the whole car. So for them to be able to just get the car back to where it was competitive, it says a lot about the guys.”
It’s the third consecutive win on the 1-mile oval for Hamlin, who won points races at Dover in 2024 and last year. He also started from the pole when he won the All-Star Race in 2015 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. At 45, Hamlin became the sec-
Denny Hamlin celebrates in Victory Lane after winning Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star race at Dover.
into the 200-lap dash for $1 million, but Chase Elliott and Ross Chastain still were eliminated because their cars could not be repaired, and backups weren’t allowed.
The eld was narrowed to 26 cars for the nal segment. Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Bubba Wallace and Christopher Bell started the last stage with cars that were damaged and slower than the rest.
Larson retired from the race with 60 laps remaining because of a power steering failure. By winning an online fan vote, Daniel Suarez advanced to thenal segment with a damaged car and nished four laps down.
Untimely exits
Elliott, voted eight times as the most popular driver in the Cup Series, was knocked out after his No. 9 Chevrolet was caught in two wrecks during the rst segment.
ond-oldest winner of the All-Star Race after Mark Martin (who was 46 in 2005).
Erik Jones, who was involved in a nine-car crash to end the rst segment, completed a top-three sweep by Toyota, followed by Austin Dillon and rookie Connor Zilisch.
Several crashes during the rst two 75-lap segments collected more than half the 36-car eld. There were 19 drivers locked
“It was pretty wild,” said Elliott, the 2020 Cup Series champion and 2020 All-Star Race winner. “I hate to get caught up in that. I knew better. I saw it getting crazy. I should have bailed.” Chastain was eliminated in a three-car crash on the sixth lap of the second segment.
“Bummer because we thought we executed that rst stage really well,” Chastain said. “We weren’t passing anybody, but we were able to maintain, which has not been the case for this downforce package. The car drove a lot better, so a lot to look forward to if we can take another step like that.”
DERIK HAMILTON / AP PHOTO
County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING all of Lot 227 Morgan Hills Map 2 as shown on that plat recorded in Plat Book 30, Pages 104-111 Stanly County Registry. Being the same property conveyed to the Borrower(s) herein by Deed recorded contemporaneously herewith. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 1242 Freeman View Dr, Albemarle, NC 28001. A Certi ed Check ONLY (no personal checks) of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty
Anderson
COMMUNITY YARD SALE
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Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being o ered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/ or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Jeron Chester. An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 4521.16A(b)(2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the e ective date of the termination. Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by the person conducting the sale, or their agent”. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the ling of a bankruptcy petition prior to the con rmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy. If the transaction is subject to the FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule (“RRE”) issued pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, information necessary to comply with the RRE Rule must be obtained and provided to the Reporting Person, as de ned in the RRE Rule, prior to closing. Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 25-21683-FC01
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000200-830
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having quali ed as Co-Executor of the estate of Ruby Lambert Brooks a/k/a Ruby L. Brooks deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Ruby Lambert Brooks a/k/a Ruby L. Brooks to present them to the undersigned on or before July 30, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 29th day of April 2026. Tommy Dewayne Rushing 13526 Brooks Road Stan eld, NC 28163
Co-Executor Tracy Howard Rushing PO Box 1023 Locust, NC 28097 Co-Executor
PUBLICHEARING
In accordance withNorth Carolina General Statutes, notice ishereby given thatthe Town ofRed Cross will conduct a Public Hearing during its regular Town Board meeting on June 8, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. The purpose ofthis hearing is to receive public comment, both for and against, regarding a proposed rezoning ofthe property located at 420 Peach Tree Road, owned by Teresa Curry. The applicant has requested thattheproperty berezoned from Rural Agriculture (RA) to R-20 Residential to permit the construction ofa single-family residence. Additional information is available at Red Cross Town Hall or by calling 704-4852002. This notice shall bepublished in a local newspaper on May 20, 2026, and May 27, 2026.
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000107-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having quali ed as Administratrix of the estate of Daniel Leroy Christian deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Daniel Leroy Christian to present them to the undersigned on or before August 14, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 13th day of May 2026. Charlie Bell Christian 132 Carpenter Avenue Albemarle, NC 28001 Administratrix
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000494-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having quali ed as Executrix of the estate of Donald Gordon Furr deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Donald Gordon Furr to present them to the undersigned on or before August 14, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 13th day of May 2026. Mary Jo Furr 25838 Lingerfelt Road Albemarle, NC 28001 Executrix
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA
STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000180-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having quali ed as Executor of the estate of Joann Rushing-Shelton deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Joann Rushing-Shelton to present them to the undersigned on or before August 7, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 5th day of May 2026. Foreman Rushing 16077 Liberty Hill Church Road Oakboro, NC 28129 Executor
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000201-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having quali ed as Executor of the estate of Reba Starnes Bowers deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Reba Starnes Bowers to present them to the undersigned on or before August 14, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 13th day of May 2026. Amanda Bowers Thompson 36827 Reba Drive Albemarle, NC 28001
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000219-830
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having quali ed as Administrator of the estate of Sylvia Austin Smith deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Sylvia Austin Smith to present them to the
NOTICE
NOTICE
John Krasinski, ‘Ladies First,’ Rod Stewart, Brooke Shields, ‘Lego Batman’ game
“Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody A air” lands on Peacock
The Associated Press
JOHN KRASINSKI returning as Jack Ryan in “Jack Ryan: Ghost War” for Prime Video and “Stranger Things” masterminds the Du er Brothers producing a Net ix show in which a retirement community teams up to battle monsters are some of the new television, lms, music and games headed to a device near you.
Also, among the streaming o erings worth your time this week: Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike starring in the gender satire “Ladies First,” “The Chi” returning for its eighth and nal season and an ambitious Lego Batman video game acting like a career retrospective for the Caped Crusader.
MOVIES TO STREAM
Four years after his series run in the Tom Clancy spy series ended, Krasinski returns as Jack Ryan in “Jack Ryan: Ghost War” (Prime Video). It’s the sixth lm and third reboot in the “Jack Ryan” franchise. Many series regulars return also, including Wendell Pierce, Michael Kelly and Betty Gabriel.
“Ladies First” (Net ix, Friday) stars Baron Cohen and Pike in a gender satire. Cohen plays a chauvinistic man who wakes up in a parallel world dominated by women. Co-starring in it are Charles Dance, Emily
Mortimer and Richard E. Grant.
An Oscar nominee for best animated feature, “Arco” (Hulu, Friday) is a rainbow-colored French time-traveling fantasy. A boy named Arco, living in the year 2932, accidentally travels to 2075. There, he’s found and befriended by a young girl whose future world includes robots that do most of the parenting and near-constant climate disaster. AP Film Writer Jake Coyle praised it as a cartoony and dreamy parable that “directly confronts ecological apocalypse and yet still nds a thrillingly optimistic note to end on.”
In December, Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill Vol. 1” and “Kill Bill Vol. 2” were fused into one movie. After a theatrical run, the conjoined whole “Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody A air” debuts Friday on Peacock. The connective tissue is a 7½-minute animated sequence cut from the original lm.
MUSIC TO STREAM
Less than a year before the Grammys migrate over to ABC for the next decade, CBS and the Recording Academy have teamed up once again for a two -hour television special. “Forever Young: A Grammy Salute to Rod Stewart Live” is out now. It’s part concert lm and interviews, full of archival footage and behind-the-scenes shots — an ideal viewing for the Stewart fan in your midst. Paramount+ Essential subscribers can stream along.
The keen English singer-songwriter Maisie Pe-
AMY HARRIS / INVISION / AP PHOTO
Rod Stewart performs during the rst weekend of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on April 26. “Forever Young: A Grammy Salute to Rod Stewart Live” is streaming now for Paramount+ Essential subscribers.
ters sharpens her storytelling skills on a new album, “Florescence,” out Friday. It’s an ideal soundtrack for those experiencing new love — or those who are not immune to her folk-pop charms.
In a previous life, Lowertown — the New York-via-Atlanta duo composed of Olivia Osby and Avsha Weinberg — were a promising bedroom pop band perhaps a little bit too indebted to the indie rock cult hero Alex G, signed to the 1975-related Dirty Hit Records. On Friday, they will release a new record, “Ugly Duckling Union,” out on Summer Shade Re -
cords, their strongest release to date. Scrappy earworms have become hookier (the addictive love song “I Like You A Lot”), folk-jazz explorations are written stream-of-consciousness style with harmonica and 12-string guitar (“Big Thumb”), narrative verses are handed o to one another for maximum emotionality (“Worst Friend.”) Lo- , indie rock fans, listen up — it is likely that this will be one of your favorites of the year.
SERIES TO STREAM
In “You’re Killing Me,” Brooke Shields plays a popular novelist who teams up with a true crime podcast host to solve a murder mystery. The six-episode series is available now on Acorn TV.
Emmy winner Tatiana Maslany stars in “Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed” as a down-on-her-luck divorcee who witnesses a crime unfold live on a webcam. Jake Johnson (“New Girl”) plays her ex-husband. The rst two episodes are streaming now on Apple TV.
The Du er Brothers have gone from creating a story centered around teens in “Stranger Things” to executive producing a series about a di erent demographic. Net ix’s “The Boroughs” debuts Thursday and follows residents of an idyllic retirement community who team up to battle monsters. Geena Davis, Bill Pullman, Alfred Molina, Alfre Woodard and Denis O’Hare star.
“The Chi” returns for its eighth and nal season Friday on Paramount+. Created by
Lena Waithe, the show is a coming-of-age story about residents of the South Side of Chicago as they try to rise above violence and systemic racism.
VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY
The Caped Crusader has always packed a punch, but Lego Batman really knows how to hit the bricks. “Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight” aims to provide a career retrospective, combining elements from decades of movies and TV shows. The Joker, the Penguin, Two -Face and Bane are up to their usual antics, and if you’re having trouble with all those villains, you can team up with a friend playing Robin, Batgirl or Catwoman. Answer the signal Friday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S or PC.
Cuddly dinosaur Yoshi may have been the breakout star of April’s “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” but he’s been a headliner on Nintendo consoles for decades. In “Yoshi and the Mysterious Book,” he stumbles across a talking encyclopedia named Mr. E, with each two -page spread opening up into a world for our hero to bounce around. As usual, Yoshi can attack enemies with his tongue — but he can also invite friendly creatures to ride on his back and share their skills. Turn the page Thursday on Switch 2. After stops in the United States, Europe, Australia and Mexico, Microsoft’s “Forza Horizon 6” racer is nally roaring into one of the hot spots of car culture: Japan. This country has everything, from seaside trails to mountain roads to the neon-lit streets of Tokyo. Besides a huge assortment of races, on-road and o , you can spend time mastering stunts, delivering food or collecting fast-food mascots. The starting ag ies on Xbox X/S and PC.
been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on June 2, 2026 at 11:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following
26SP000068-830 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, STANLY COUNTY
described property situated in Stanly County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING all of Lot 6, containing 1.06 acres, more or less, as shown on a plat entitled “Subdivision of Land for James A. Owens”, dated Jully 7, 1995, surveyed and platted by Rogell E. Hunsucker, RLSL, and recorded in Plat Book 17 at Page 7, Stanly County Registry, to which plat reference is hereby made for a more particular description of said lot by metes and bounds. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.
Said property is commonly known as 44192 Danville Road, New London, NC 28127.
A Certi ed Check ONLY (no personal checks) of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR
DEED.
Said property to be o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being o ered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/ or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Kristie Marie Meadows.
An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property
pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the e ective date of the termination.
Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by the person conducting the sale, or their agent”.
If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the ling of a bankruptcy petition prior to the con rmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.
If the transaction is subject to
Trustee Services
Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Brianna Kay Vanbuskirk and Asher Gabriel Street to Cynthia Porter eld, Trustee(s), which was dated April 1, 2021 and recorded on April 1, 2021 in Book 1736 at Page 1260, Stanly County Registry, North Carolina. Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on June 2, 2026 at 11:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Stanly County, North Carolina, to wit: Beginning at a set iron rod on the Northern margin of the right of way of North Carolina Highway 49, said set iron rod being the southeastern corner of the Jared Starnes Lands as shown in Record book 1023, page 996 Stanly County Registry, and said set iron rod being located N. 64-32-28E.258.10 feet from a found iron pipe on the right of way of North Carolina Highway 49; thence from said set iron rod and with the Starnes line N. 18-59-37 W (passing a found well core at 23.69 feet) for a total distance of 174.43 feet to a set iron rod; thence from said set iron rod N.64-04-54 E.264 .73 feet to a set iron rod; thence from said set iron rod S. 32-3632 E. 174.34 feet to a set railroad spike on the northern martin of the right of way of North Carolina Highway 49; thence from said set railroad pike and with the Northern margin of the right of way of North Carolina Highway 49, S. 64-04-54 W. 306.07 feet to set iron rod, the point and place of BEGINNNG. Said Lot or tract of land containing 1.134 acres, more or less, all as shown on a Boundary Survey of New Lot for Starkey Hill by Dennis Land Surveying, Inc., Terry M. Dennis, Jr., PLS, dated May 25,2006 Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.
A Certi ed Check ONLY (no personal checks) of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.
Said property is commonly known as 32891 NC 49 Hwy, New London, NC 28127.
Said property to be o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being o ered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/ or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Brianna Kay Vanbuskirk and husband Asher Gabriel Street.
An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the e ective date of the termination.
