Stanly News Journal Vol. 146, Issue 71 by North State Journal

VOLUME 146 ISSUE 71 | WEEKEND EDITION, SEPT. 5-6, 2026 | STANLYNEWSJOURNAL.COM

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Nothin’ but a G20 thang Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent addresses the press during the G20, a conference for international finance ministers and central bank presidents, in Asheville on Tuesday.

WHAT’S HAPPENING SEC sues LSU, alleging coordinated push to recruit ex-pro athletes The SEC has filed a federal lawsuit against LSU, accusing the school of recruiting professional athletes against league rules. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey testified in court, defending the league’s enforcement abilities. The lawsuit seeks to prevent LSU from violating the SEC’s rights by associating with conduct contrary to the conference’s mission. The case involves athletes like former NFL players hoping to join LSU under new NCAA rules allowing five years of competition. The SEC argues that member institutions must comply with its rules, proposing fines and suspensions for violations.

Trump claims U.S. has “virtually unlimited” munition stockpiles In a Truth Social post, the president insisted the U.S. has “virtually unlimited amounts of Mid to High Grade Ammunition,” for its war against Iran. Trump added, “In addition, we are producing Munitions at levels never seen before. We are stockpiling and preparing for any contingency that could happen.” Earlier this week, Trump in an exchange with reporters suggested the U.S. could find creative ways to deal with munition shortages if necessary. “But we can always take from other sources,” Trump told reporters Monday. “But I don’t think we’re going to need it because nobody’s going to mess with us. Nobody.”

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Oakboro school grant application approved amid board concerns The school board also approved a West Stanly Middle School proposal By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — The Stanly County Board of Education approved plans Tuesday night for two major school construction projects, including a renewed state grant application for a replacement Oakboro Choice STEM School and an addition at West Stanly Middle School. Ashley Dennis, managing principal for Moseley Architects, presented separate updates on the projects, beginning with the district’s application for the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund

grant through the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. Last September, Stanly County Schools applied for the grant but was not selected for funding, as announced in a December update from the school district. The continued request calls for construction of a new elementary school to replace Oakboro Choice STEM School while also accommodating students redistricted from Locust, Stanfield, Endy and Aquadale. The revised application removes pre-K programs from the proposed building while adding a multipurpose building and gymnasium renovation. The school would have capacity for 600 students, with core facilities designed to accommodate up to 700. Dennis said estimated con-

“There’s nothing of substance that has really changed overall for the project.” Dustin Lisk, board member struction costs have increased from $425 to $440 per square foot, in part because of higher steel prices. The overall project is estimated at approximately $78.9 million, with the application seeking a $42 million state grant and also requiring a 5% county match of roughly $2.1 million. “I’m not trying to rush anybody, but (I) want you to be aware that Oct. 2 is when the

School threats prompt precautions across Stanly County Authorities found no active danger in either incident By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — A series of unsubstantiated threats disrupted several Stanly County schools Monday and Tuesday, prompting law enforcement responses and precautionary security measures. On Monday afternoon, a bomb threat was reported involving Millingport Elementary School and Albemarle High

School. Both schools immediately implemented safety precautions and worked with law enforcement, according to Stanly County Schools. District officials later announced that law enforcement had determined the reported threat was a hoax and cleared both campuses, allowing students to return to their buildings and resume their normal classroom activities. Additionally, the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office said deputies investigated a bomb threat directed at See THREATS, page A8

“Any act or threat made against a school in Stanly County will result in charges and the full prosecution of the law.” Jeff Crisco, Stanly County sheriff

applications have to go in,” Dennis said. “These things are easy to edit, but we want to make sure that we’re really aware that that’s the deadline.” Board member Meghan Almond objected to the timing of the updated information, saying the changes and figures had not been provided to members far enough in advance. “I’m a little shocked to even see this. When was the rest of the board supposed to find out about this — tonight?” Almond said. “There’s been no conversation. I have not seen this one time.” Board chair Glenda Gibson and board member Dustin Lisk said members knew the grant application would return in September based on See GRANT, page A5

Stanly News Journal for Sunday, September 6, 2026

SUNDAY

9.6.26 #142

“Join the conversation”

North State Journal (USPS 518620) (ISSN 2471-1365) Trip Hoffend Publisher Jim Sills VP of Local Newspapers Cory Lavalette Senior Editor Jordan Golson Local News Editor Shawn Krest Sports Editor Dan Reeves Features Editor Lauren Rose Design Editor Jesse Deal Reporter PJ Ward-Brown Photographer ADVERTISING Kateland Treece Advertising Representative Published Wednesday and Sunday as part of North State Journal 1548 NC 24-27 BYP W Albemarle NC 28001 TO SUBSCRIBE OR PLACE LEGAL NOTICE: 704-982-2121 STANLYNEWSJOURNAL.COM

SENIOR NUTRITION MEALS | WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 7 Stanly County residents 60 and older can enjoy nutritionally balanced lunches at five locations Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to noon. First-time participants must register by calling 704-986-3773. Meals must be eaten on-site — no takeout is available. Donations are welcomed but not required. Sites also offer social activities including bingo, Bible study, crafts and music. Locations are the Niven Center in Albemarle, community centers in New London and Norwood, the Old Boy Scout Hut in Oakboro and the Locust Community Building.

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Appeals court: Judge lacked power to overturn Bergdahl’s military conviction Bowe Bergdahl’s case centered on a military judge’s failure to disclose a conflict of interest

By Michael Kunzelman The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — A federal judge had no authority to overturn former U.S. Army soldier Bowe Bergdahl’s military conviction for deserting his post in Afghanistan before Taliban-allied forces abducted him and held him captive for nearly five years, an appeals court has ruled. A three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Tuesday ordered the dismissal of Bergdahl’s claims

in district court. The panel said District Judge Reggie Walton in Washington, D.C., lacked the jurisdiction to vacate Bergdahl’s court-martial conviction and sentence in 2023. Bergdahl had sued in 2021, arguing that the punishment violated his Fifth Amendment due-process rights. Walton ruled that military judge Jeffrey Nance created a potential conflict of interest by failing to disclose his application for a position as an immigration judge in the Justice Department. But the appeals court concluded that only military tribunals have the authority to vacate a court-martial judgment. “Bergdahl’s claim thus conflicts with that longstanding limitation,” Circuit Judge Robert Wilkins wrote.

Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan and Circuit Judge Gregory Katsas also heard the appeal in Bergdahl’s case. Srinivasan and Wilkins were nominated by Democratic President Barack Obama. Katsas was nominated by Republican President Donald Trump. Eugene Fidell, one of Bergdahl’s lawyers, said they were weighing their legal options after Tuesday’s decision. “We’re certainly disappointed. It’s an important case that raises serious issues,” Fidell said. “The case has lasted a long time, but we are closely examining the available alternatives.” Bergdahl, then a 23-year‑old soldier from Hailey, Idaho, was stationed near Afghanistan’s Paktika Province in June 2009 when he left his post without

permission to hike to headquarters to complain about what he viewed as poor leadership in his unit. Bergdahl was captured by forces from the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani network and repeatedly tortured before his release from captivity in 2014 as part of a prisoner swap that was sharply criticized by Trump and others while he was running for his first term as president. Several U.S. service members were wounded during the search for Bergdahl, who was charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy after his release from captivity. He pleaded guilty to both charges in 2017 and was dishonorably discharged. Prosecutors at his court-martial had sought 14 years in prison.

• Wesley Lee Burgin, 23, was arrested for possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver methamphetamine; carrying a concealed weapon; and possession of drug paraphernalia, and other charges.

simple possession of a controlled substance, and other charges.

Aug. 29

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Aug. 24 • Camden Lane Stoker, 57, was arrested for driving while impaired; failure to use headlamps; and possessing an open container of alcohol after consuming, subsequent offense, and other charges. Aug. 25

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• Colton Tyler Lowder, 37, was arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance; possession of drug paraphernalia; and possession of marijuana, half ounce or less, and other charges. • Marie Susan Brown, 51, was arrested for identity theft; larceny by removing, destroying or deactivating a component; and misdemeanor larceny, and other charges. • Stanley Jackson, 61, was arrested for indecent exposure and intoxicated and disruptive.

Aug. 26 • Grady Alexander Johnson, 29, was arrested for driving while impaired, driving left of center and driving on a revoked license, and other charges. • Zytravion Omir Hall, 18, was arrested for statutory rape of a child. Aug. 27 • Brenna Nacole Meadows, 39, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of methamphetamine. • Jason Lee Springer, 36, was arrested for driving while impaired, possession of marijuana paraphernalia and

• John Clinton Dunbar, 51, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of methamphetamine and seconddegree trespass. Aug. 28 • Jessica Elaine Cassells, 37, was arrested for resisting a public officer. • Marcos Everaldo Muz Pu, 25, was arrested for driving while impaired; possessing an open container of alcohol after consuming, subsequent offense; and failure to maintain lane control, and other charges. • Michael Demario Little, 38, was arrested for driving while impaired. • Tory Lee Rushing, 20, was arrested for murder.

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• Anton Delrico Harris, 31, was arrested for breaking and entering a motor vehicle and breaking and entering a motor vehicle with intent to commit theft. • Kelli Marie Stewart, 57, was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. • Kenji Arkiya Sellers, 44, was arrested for possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine, felony possession of cocaine and maintaining a vehicle or dwelling for controlled substances. Aug. 30 • Jimmy Newton Daniels, 62, was arrested for giving fictitious information to an officer, driving on a revoked license and speeding. • Mali Lynn Love, 18, was arrested for communicating threats and injury to personal property.

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Stanly News Journal for Sunday, September 6, 2026

THE CONVERSATION Trip Hoffend, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE

Stop the Democrats’ scheme to pack the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is the institution that is the final check against runaway mob-rule democracy that can trample the rights of the minority.

DEMOCRATS are in a quandary over the Supreme Court. Every four years, they’ve warned their voters that electing a Republican president will lead to more conservative Supreme Court justices. And yet since Ronald Reagan’s election in 1980 through today, they’ve lost more presidential elections than they’ve won. Maybe the voters are telling Democrats something. Maybe Americans don’t want the court packed with Sonia Sotomayors who make up or rewrite the laws as they see fit. So now the left is angry over the tilt of the court, which has six conservatives and three liberals. Why? Because elections have consequences. Sorry, this is the price you pay for nominating Michael Dukakis, John Kerry, Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris. They aren’t exactly hanging around anywhere near the 50-yard line on political ideology. Now we have Democrats divided on what to do next. Many want Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or Elizabeth Warren to be their next presidential nominee. There’s no learning curve here. In the meantime, while Donald Trump is still president, they want urgent action.

On the one hand, the democratic socialists want to abolish the highest court of the land. What they want to replace it with is anyone’s guess. Other party leaders want to pack the court with four new liberal justices. Franklin Roosevelt tried this court‑packing scheme in 1937, and voters rebelled. But here they go again. On Sunday, Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) raised this possibility and disgracefully played the race card when asked about the Supreme Court’s recent decisions. He accused Republicans of taking “this country back ... to those rulings of Justice (Roger) Taney that said, ‘No Black man has any right that a white man must respect.’” Taney wrote the infamous 1857 Dred Scott opinion just before the Civil War. Does he even know that for 100 years after the Civil War, Democrats were the party of segregation? What’s deeply troubling about this war on the Supreme Court is that this is the institution that is the final check against runaway mob-rule democracy that can trample the rights of the minority. That minority could be blacks, Hispanics, gays, immigrants or disabled people. They don’t

seem to understand that pure majority‑rule democracy is, as the old saying goes, two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner. Pure democracy only goes your way until you no longer have 50% plus one voters on your side. Clyburn is right that there have been occasions, like the one from 1857 that he mentioned, when the court has made egregiously wrong decisions. But mostly, the court gets it right. It’s not clear how stacking the court — on the left or the right — could make for more just decisions. This is why Republicans are so wrong to try to abolish the filibusters in the Senate. We always want to make it harder, not easier, to pass new edicts that impair our freedoms. I, personally, would have no problem expanding the Supreme Court to 12 justices if it could be done in a fair, nonpartisan way. I also strongly support a mandatory retirement age of 75 for all future justices on the court. But to overly politicize — or, worse, do away with — the Supreme Court and allow Congress to have the last word on the constitutionality of new laws is a dangerous proposition. James Madison once famously described the judiciary as a “bulwark” of our liberties. Hopefully, we will never give up this most important check and balance on runaway government power. Stephen Moore is co-founder of Unleash Prosperity and a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

COLUMN | VICTOR JOECKS

The rarity of freedom Since 2019, Muslim terrorists have slaughtered more than 20,000 Nigerian Christians.

THIS WELL-KNOWN rhetorical flourish at the beginning of the Declaration of Independence needs closer consideration. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” it states. Look through history and you’ll find little evidence that most people experienced these self-evident truths. Until the West led the way in abolishing it, slavery was an accepted historical institution. Notre Dame professor Keith Bradley once estimated that “in Rome and Italy, in the four centuries between 200 B.C. and A.D. 200, perhaps a quarter or even a third of the population was made up of slaves.” Genghis Khan caused the deaths of around 40 million people. After the fall of Constantinople, the victorious Ottoman forces raped the city’s women and girls and sold tens of thousands as slaves. Travel the globe today, and these unalienable rights would be foreign to billions. The Chinese government uses facial recognition cameras and DNA collection to track and control its population. Since 2019, Muslim terrorists have slaughtered more than 20,000 Nigerian Christians. In Afghanistan, the Taliban requires women in public to be silent and completely cover themselves. Europeans have been arrested for political speech that authorities don’t approve of.

“ISIS enshrines a theology of rape,” The New York Times reported in 2015. “Claiming the Quran’s support, the Islamic State codifies sex slavery in conquered regions of Iraq and Syria and uses the practice as a recruiting tool.” This sobering reality should make you grateful to God to be an American — and aware of how rare liberty is. It’s easy to forget this because we’ve grown up in freedom. But since liberty is a historic anomaly, it behooves us to consider why we are free when others aren’t. It’s inadequate to attribute our freedom to our current military might and material wealth. Those are the results of liberty, not the cause. The Declaration of Independence wasn’t written by a powerful nation, but one hoping to survive. We began as a nation of settlers seeking religious liberty and opportunity. Another unique thing about America is how our Founding Fathers built on a foundation laid over the centuries by Cicero, William Blackstone and John Locke. You can trace a line from the Magna Carta to the founding of America. It wasn’t just a few dozen men in a Philadelphia Hall debating ideas either. The arguments in “Common Sense” — a 47‑page pamphlet — helped sway the public to back the American Revolution. In 1776, the U.S. population was 2.5 million. “Common Sense” sold around 500,000 copies. The country wasn’t just built on the ideas

of secular thinkers. America had such deep Christian roots that it’s hard for most modern Americans to even imagine it. The Bible was the book most frequently cited during the founding era. Pastors preached sermons using Bible passages to support the American Revolution. The widely read New England Primer taught students the ABCs with Biblical rhymes like “In Adam’s fall, we sinned all” and “Heaven to find, the Bible mind.” Massachusetts established public schools to thwart that “one chief project of that old deluder, Satan, to keep men from the knowledge of the Scriptures.” An appreciation of Western Civilization and Judeo-Christian values isn’t determined by skin color. But it should be obvious that many cultures around the world are incompatible with the beliefs that have produced our liberty. That reality should inform the country’s immigration policies, and it’s one reason why illegal immigration is such a serious issue. In too large a number, even legal immigrants who want to assimilate can cause the melting pot to boil over. Unchecked immigration isn’t the only threat to the foundations of America’s freedom — virtue also is necessary to maintain liberty. Victor Joecks is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review‑Journal. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

Stanly News Journal for Sunday, September 6, 2026

obituaries IN MEMORY

LILLIE DRYE TUCKER

MARY FRANCES BRYAN

JOHNNY WAYNE SLOOP

SEPT. 21, 1935 – AUG. 27, 2026

OCT. 7, 1932 – AUG. 30, 2026

DEC. 30, 1946 – AUG. 31, 2026

Lillie Drye Tucker of Stanfield passed away on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at Trinity Skilled Nursing Facility. Born September 21, 1935, in Stanly County, NC, she was the daughter of the late Charlie Spurgeon Drye and Esther Springer Drye. She was a member of New Life Church in Locust. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all of her nieces and nephews. Mrs. Tucker is survived by her son Ken Tucker (Denise) of Stanfield; brother Benny Drye (Denise) of Albemarle; sister Diana Furr (Richard) of Stanfield; three grandchildren, Kenny Tucker (Tiffany), Kevin Tucker (Lauren) and Larry Maner Jr.; 3 great-grandchildren Tyger, Talon and Ellie Tucker. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years Vaude Tucker; daughter Karen Tucker Maner; brothers Ralph, Bill, Mitchell, Richard, Leonard Drye; and sister Peggy Huneycutt. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to New Life Church Building Fund, PO Box 880, Locust, NC 28097. Arrangements are incomplete at this time.

Mary Frances Bryan, nee Saunders, entered eternal rest on August 30th at her home in Albemarle, surrounded by the comfort of her family. Fran was born on October 7, 1932, to Richard Gunther Saunders and Osia Bertha Slack Saunders in the family home at 1919 West Main Street in Albemarle, North Carolina. Her mother recalled that the doctor came and slept across the foot of the bed while waiting for Fran to be born. The home where Fran was born was part of the Lowder and later Slack family land, connecting her to generations of Stanly County history. Her greatgrandparents were Laban Elsevan Slack and Mary Adelaide Lowder Slack, and she was a direct descendant of Thomas and Elizabeth Lowder, early settlers in the area. William and Thomas Lowder were among the early pioneers in the mid-1700s who settled in what was to become Stanly County. She had a deep interest in her family history and took great pride in learning about and preserving the stories of those who came before her. Fran held family documents tracing land holdings as far back as a Royal Grant dated 1774. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). This affiliation reflected her appreciation for her family’s heritage and the history of those who helped shape the community she called home. Fran graduated from Albemarle Senior High School in 1951. On August 17, 1972, she married Gary Lee Bryan. Together, Gary and Fran blended their families and raised six children. They shared a life filled with family and adventure; they traveled extensively and enjoyed living in many different places and countries. The memories and experiences that they shared from their years together were a cherished part of her story. Fran had many careers throughout her life. She enjoyed the creative aspect of being a florist and was especially proud of working at Starnes Jeweler’s in Albemarle. At Starnes, she had the pleasure of seeing many old friends and familiar faces each day. She was a woman with a wonderful sense of style and an eye for beauty. She was a great cook who took pride in the things she created for her family and others. Fran was also known for her quick wit, wonderful sense of humor, and fun-loving spirit. She knew how to enjoy life and had a way of bringing laughter and warmth to those around her. These qualities, along with her love for her family, made her someone who will be deeply missed and fondly remembered. Fran leaves behind her beloved husband, Gary Lee Bryan; her children Nicola (Nicki) Summers Sullivan, Timothy Robert Summers, and Tammi Marie Summers Artley; Janet Elisabeth Bryan-Helm. She was preceded in death by her beloved son, Richard Gregory Summers, Gary Lee Bryan Jr., and her brother Hiram Wade Saunders. She leaves behind twelve grandchildren, twenty-two great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren, who will carry forward the family legacy she was so deeply connected to. Fran will be remembered and cherished by her family and friends for her quick wit, fun-loving spirit, love of family, and the many memories she created throughout her life. She was proud of the family she came from and deeply interested in the generations who came before her. Now, her own story becomes part of that family history, a story that will continue through her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and those who loved her. Her life was a part of a much larger family story, and her memory will remain a cherished part of it for generations to come. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Tillery Compassionate Care or to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Johnny Wayne Sloop, 79, of Locust, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 31, 2026, at his home, surrounded by the family he loved so dearly. A funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at First Baptist Church of Locust, with Rev. Dr. Tommy Ross, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2:00 until 2:45 p.m. at the church prior to the service. Johnny was born December 30, 1946, in Cabarrus County to the late Hubert and Leona Sloop. He is lovingly survived by his wife of 40 years, Wanda Coleman Sloop. Those also left to cherish his memory include his daughter, Joy Huber (Douglas); six grandchildren; sister, Brenda Jolly (Kenneth); and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends. In addition to his parents, Johnny was preceded in death by his special uncle, Carl Belcher. Johnny was deeply proud of his service to his country as a veteran of the United States Army. During the Vietnam War, he served in Qui Nhon with the 127th Military Police Company and served during the Tet Offensive. He had also previously served as a member of the 1st Infantry Division, “The Big Red One”. Although his military service was an important part of his life, he remained humble by the experience it gave him. A man of strong and abiding faith, Johnny was a devoted and active member of First Baptist Church of Locust, where he faithfully served in numerous leadership roles throughout the years. His faith was demonstrated not only through his involvement in the church, but also through his willingness to serve others. He was actively involved with North Carolina Baptists on Mission, generously giving his time and talents to assist communities following numerous disasters. Johnny also had a special place in his heart for young people and greatly enjoyed working with and encouraging youth. His church was more than a place he attended; it was a community he loved and help strengthen. He approached life with an unwavering trust in God’s plan and a deep commitment to living out his faith. Johnny was a talented woodworker who enjoyed creating things with his hands. He had a keen interest in computers and technology and enjoyed keeping up with the ever-changing world of computers. He also loved to travel and treasured the many places he was able to experience, with his trip to Australia holding a particularly special place among his memories. Above all, Johnny’s greatest joy was his family. The time he spent with those he loved was precious to him, and the relationships he shared with his wife, daughter, grandchildren, and extended family meant more to him than anything else. The words of Romans 8:38-39 (NKJV) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. This beautifully reflects the faith Johnny carried throughout his life: the assurance that nothing in life or death can separate God’s children from His everlasting love. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff of Tillery Compassionate Care for the kindness, compassion, and support shown to Johnny and his family during his declining health. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Locust Building Fund, P.O. Box 159, Locust, NC 28097, or Tillery Compassionate Care, 960 N. First Street, Albemarle, NC 28001. Johnny leaves behind a legacy of faith, service, devotion, and love. He faithfully served his country, his church, his community, and, most importantly, his family. While his presence will be deeply missed, those who loved him find comfort in the faith by which he lived and in the promise that the love of God, which sustained him throughout this life, now holds him eternally.

BETTY JEAN PAGE JUNE 2, 1934 – AUG. 29, 2026 Betty Jean Page, 92, of Midland, passed away Saturday, August 29, 2026, at home surrounded by family. Betty was born June 2, 1934, in North Carolina to the late George Banks Blake and the late Margie Mae Blake. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Daniel Webster Page; daughter, Patti Carter; grandson, Reggie Burnette; and five siblings. Betty leaves behind her greatest pride and joy, her family. She enjoyed singing Gospel music with her family, reading, fishing and cooking. The family will receive friends from 2:00 pm -2:45pm on Wednesday, September 2, 2026 at Mill Grove Church of Midland. The funeral service will be on Wednesday at 3:00 pm, officiated by Dr. John Lindsay. Burial will follow at the Mill Grove Church Cemetery at 13659 Hwy. 601 South, Midland. Survivors include daughter, Becky (Darrell) Hobbs; son, Danny (Sherri) Page; daughter, Robin (Lloyd) Ward; son, Rodney (Tara) Page; 15 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; sister, Sylvia Lingerfelt; and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to say a special Thank you to Atrium Hospice and her nurses Susan, Kim, Jen, Beth, and Adrian for the care given to Betty. In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be shared to Mill Grove Church of Midland.

CORNELIA DRYE BROWN DEC. 14, 1943 – AUG. 29, 2026 Cornelia Drye Brown, 82, of Albemarle, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at her home. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at the Stanly Funeral Home Chapel in Albemarle. Burial will follow at Palestine Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. prior to the service. Cornelia was born on December 14, 1943, in Stanly County to the late Floyd and Estelle Drye. She is lovingly survived by her children, son Chris Brown and daughter Teri Brown (Donald); grandchildren, Ayla Perkins, Oliver Perkins, Lydia Brown, and Allen Brown; siblings, Wendell Drye, Danny Drye (Joann), Kim Bartley, and David Drye; and sister-in-law, Betty Drye. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her longtime companion, Jerry Thompson, Sr., and her brother, Sherrill Drye. Cornelia was a devoted mother whose love and support for her family remained constant through every season of life. No matter the circumstances, her family could always count on her encouragement, understanding, and caring presence. While being a mother brought her great joy, she especially treasured her role as a grandmother and the time she shared with her grandchildren. Naturally caring and generous, Cornelia had a heart for helping others and faithfully supported many charitable organizations throughout her life. She also expressed her love for those around her through cooking. She enjoyed preparing meals for her family, experimenting with new recipes, and bringing everyone together around the table. For Cornelia, caring for others was not simply something she did; it was a reflection of who she was. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Cornelia will be remembered for the steadfast love she gave her family, her generous spirit, and the kindness she extended to others. Her greatest legacy will live on in the family she cherished so deeply and in the countless ways she made those around her feel loved and cared for. Though her place at the family table will be deeply missed, the love she poured into those gathered around it will remain for generations to come.

KATHERINE “KATHY” FRAZIER HILDRETH HOWARD JAN. 8, 1961 – SEPT. 1, 2026 Katherine “Kathy” Frazier Hildreth Howard, 65, of Albemarle, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. A memorial service to celebrate Kathy’s life will be at 2:00 pm on Friday, September 4, 2026, at New London United Methodist Church, with Rev. Jason Boggs and Rev. Jim Pyatt officiating. The family will greet friends in the church fellowship hall following the memorial service. Kathy was born January 8, 1961, in Davidson County, NC, the daughter of William Luke Hildreth Jr. and Jo Anne Frazier Hildreth. She was a devoted member of New London United Methodist Church and was retired from a career in child care, a vocation well suited to her kind and caring nature. Kathy lived her life with a quiet and gentle spirit. She was kind, easygoing, joyful, and always willing to lend a helping hand. Her Christian faith was an important part of her life, and she was faithful to her church and to the beliefs that guided her throughout the years. She especially enjoyed listening to Christian music. Kathy found happiness in the simple pleasures of everyday life. She enjoyed keeping up with friends and family through social media, going out to eat, and visiting with her neighbors. She was also a dependable sister who could always be counted on to help her family, including frequently caring for her brother’s cat. Those who knew Kathy will remember her gentle nature, her kindness toward others, and the quiet joy she brought to the lives of those around her. Kathy was preceded in death by her husband, Patrick Howard, who passed away in 2019. She is survived by her brother, Joseph Roger Hildreth and wife Marlene of Albemarle; and her niece, Jennifer Hildreth of Albemarle. Memorials may be made to New London United Methodist Church.

Stanly News Journal for Sunday, September 6, 2026

Trump promises to campaign for Republicans, says GOP has winning midterm message

GRANT from page A1 previous grant cycles and earlier board discussions. Lisk said the district has pursued the project for about two years and has previously discussed it with Oakboro officials. “This is just a continuation of the conversation and an update to the cost increases,” Lisk said. “There’s nothing of substance that has really changed overall for the project.” Board member Carla Poplin sided with Almond’s concerns, calling the process “disrespectful and irresponsible.” She said the updated information was not in the board packet as of 5 p.m. Tuesday and members should have been given more time to review a proposal requiring significant county funding. “There is a lot of discussion and a lot of questions that are supposed to come back to us prior to voting on this, and I really would have thought we would have had more than an hour to look at it and think about it,” Poplin said. When it came to a vote, the grant application passed 5-2, with Gibson, vice chair Robin

COURTESY STANLYTV

Ashley Dennis, left, managing principal for Moseley Architects, addresses the Stanly school board Tuesday. Whittaker and board members Bill Sorenson, Vicky Watson and Lisk voting in favor; Almond and Poplin voted against it. The board then unanimously approved an architectural proposal with Moseley for the West Stanly Middle School addition. As proposed, the $694,000 agreement covers design work

for new classrooms and labs, an expanded cafeteria and other improvements intended to increase the school’s capacity to 950 students. The Stanly County Board of Education’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Oct. 6 at 6:15 p.m. in the Gene McIntyre Meeting Room at Stanly County Commons.

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The president will stump in 35 races as Republicans face economic and foreign policy headwinds By Collin Binkley and Jonathan J. Cooper The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged Republican lawmakers facing tough reelection campaigns to run on his record in the White House despite his sagging popularity, and he pledged to campaign in all of the roughly three dozen contests that are likely to determine control of Congress. Voters’ dim views of the economy and the war in Iran have put Republicans in a tough spot as the midterm election season enters its final stretch. But during a dinner in the Rose Garden, one of the spaces he has controversially renovated since returning to office last year, the president told his party’s most vulnerable lawmakers that they had a triumphant story to tell voters. “All you have to do is talk about it, and you’re going to win and you’re going to win big,” Trump said a week before the party gathers in Dallas for an unusual midterm convention. The audience of Republican lawmakers listened quietly to Trump through his speech, occasionally offering applause as many sipped on cocktails ahead of their dinner. Menus checkered in yellow gingham called it an “end of summer BBQ” featuring cheeseburgers. Trump talked up economic investment in the United

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Stanly News Journal for Sunday, September 6, 2026

NYC, nation’s largest school system, bans AI for students through 8th grade High school students will receive AI literacy classes and participate in pilot AI programs By Anthony Izaguirre The Associated Press NEW YORK — New York City’s public schools will temporarily ban elementary and middle school students from using generative artificial intelligence tools during the upcoming school year, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Wednesday. The one-year moratorium — part of a broader assessment of how children in the nation’s largest school system interact with the technology — will apply to “all software that uses student-facing generative AI” for students through eighth grade, the mayor’s office said. It described the policy as the most expansive prohibition in the country. At the same time, the city will establish twice-yearly AI literacy classes for all public high school students. It will also launch pilot programs allowing some high school students to use a handful of AI platforms under an educator’s supervision. Companion chatbots will be prohibited across all grades, officials said. The approach comes as students, parents and schools

YUKI IWAMURA / AP PHOTO

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during the annual New York State Financial Control Board meeting last month in New York. across the country attempt to navigate the use of AI tools in the classroom and elsewhere. Schools are working to teach children how to incorporate the technology while preventing them from relying too heavily on it or using it to cheat. “Each day when our children come to school, we teach them to ask questions, to challenge assumptions, to interrogate the premise, to ask why. When it comes to AI in our schools, we hold an obligation to do the same,” Mamdani, a Demo-

crat, said at a news conference. The Los Angeles school district, where students returned to classrooms in mid-August, is temporarily blocking access to generative AI tools on student devices across all grades. The Los Angeles Unified School District said Wednesday that the ban will remain in place across the country’s second-largest school district as officials develop a student AI policy during the school year. In June, LAUSD became the first major school district to

eliminate the use of school-issued devices for its youngest students as part of a sweeping screen time policy. The policy banned devices before second grade, set screen time limits for all grades and blocked YouTube and other social media sites during the school day. In New York, the city will also recommend screen time limits for students, suggesting a daily cap of 30 minutes for students in grades three through five and 45 minutes for those in grades six through eight. Teachers will be allowed to use AI for instructional planning and operational tasks. At least 37 states have official AI guidance that schools can use as a blueprint, though there is no single definition of AI literacy or consensus on how it should be taught. New York state last year approved a ban on students’ use of cellphones in schools. City education officials will also conduct a broad review of all technology tools used in the school system and eliminate those deemed nonessential to learning. Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers in New York, praised the screen time limits but said the city’s AI policy “leaves many questions unanswered,” including how the Education Department “will be more aggressive in demanding the products it

“Each day when our children come to school, we teach them to ask questions, to challenge assumptions, to interrogate the premise, to ask why. When it comes to AI in our schools, we hold an obligation to do the same.” Zohran Mamdani, New York City mayor purchases have AI safeguards.” Josh Golin, executive director of the children’s advocacy group Fairplay, said he would have preferred a longer moratorium and more time between the announcement and the start of the school year. “A year to evaluate is not nearly enough time,” he said, adding that the onus should be on AI platforms “to demonstrate that their products are effective at teaching kids, that they’re safe, that they’re not displacing face-to-face interaction and that they’re not leading to rampant cheating.” New York City public school students are scheduled to return to classrooms next week.

Robotaxi service debuts on London’s busy streets as Europe weighs more self-driving vehicles A human safety driver will oversee each trip, marking Europe’s more cautious regulatory approach By Kelvin Chan The Associated Press LONDON — Uber and British tech company Wayve are launching London’s first self-driving taxi service on Thursday, giving residents a chance to use technology that’s already available in many U.S. cities and other parts of the world. The two companies said they’re starting with a small rollout of Ford Mustang Mach-E electric vehicles outfitted with Wayve’s autonomous vehicle technology.

Compared with the U.S. and China — countries where robotaxis operate autonomously in several cities, with no human driver — Europe has been taking a more cautious approach on self-driving cabs. In London, there will still be a person behind the wheel overseeing the trip who can grab the wheel or tap the brakes if there’s a problem. Under the U.K. government’s pilot framework, self-driving taxi operators like Uber and Wayve still need approval to operate without a human safety driver. “That process is still playing out,” and it’s not clear how long it will take, said Sarfraz Maredia, Uber’s head of autonomous mobility. Robotaxi companies have been testing their vehicles on London streets as Britain

moves to adopt national regulations. Waymo and Chinese tech company Baidu are also gearing up to offer commercial passenger service in London, which poses unique challenges to robotaxis because its narrow and famously convoluted roads are frequently congested with cars, buses, bicycles and electric rental bikes. Pedestrians also pose a bigger challenge in London because jaywalking is not against the law. Many countries in Europe are still in the testing phase. Uber said last month it launched its first European commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb, Croatia, in partnership with a local operator and China’s Pony.ai, but human safety drivers are still required. Meanwhile in the United

States, Waymo, owned by Google parent Alphabet, now operates fully autonomous taxi service in 14 cities, while Amazon’s Zoox and Tesla are catching up. In China, Baidu, WeRide and Pony.AI operate robotaxi services in multiple cities. They’ve also been expanding into the Middle East in partnerships with Uber or local fleet operators in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia. The deployment in London will start with under 20 vehicles and expand from there, Maredia said. Uber customers won’t be able to specifically request a robotaxi, but they could be matched with a Wayve vehicle when they hail a ride on the app, which they can accept or reject. Prices won’t be any different from

FRANK AUGSTEIN / AP PHOTO

A client orders an autonomous car on his mobile phone in London last Tuesday. a regular Uber ride. Passengers won’t be prompted to tip at the end of a robotaxi trip, the company said.

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Stanly News Journal for Sunday, September 6, 2026

Democrats promising big agenda; party members’ unity already being tested Hakeem Jeffries must manage a diverse Democratic caucus with razor-thin voting margins By Lisa Mascaro The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Beginning on Day One, House Democrats plan to “hold the crooks accountable.” That’s the promise House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has made, previewing an ambitious agenda with oversight of President Donald Trump’s administration and legislation to address the high costs of living, if Democrats seize majority control from Republicans in the midterm elections. But first, the Democratic leaders have to ensure they can keep their own politically diverse — and sometimes rebellious — big-tent caucus in line, which was tested this week. Two go-their-own-way Democrats bucked the party on a routine procedural vote, angering colleagues and raising a red flag about potential party divisions to come. “His greatest challenge will be governing,” Ashley Etienne, a former top aide to Nancy Pelosi during her historic tenure as House speaker, said of Jeffries. The House majority is expected to be decided by a handful of seats in a shrinking number of competitive districts, potentially creating a similar political dynamic to the past four years under GOP control, a chaotic new era in Congress. In the House, the size of the majority matters. When the majority is slim, any single lawmaker can become a kingmaker, determining whether a party’s agenda sinks or soars. House Speaker Mike Johnson is tested by his narrow majority almost daily, and his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, was the first in history to be booted from office, ousted by a small number of opponents from his own side. Jeffries, who is poised to become the House speaker if his

party wins power and would be the first Democrat to wield the gavel since Pelosi, faces a party at a crossroads. It has a new generation of candidates, some far-left from the Democratic Socialists of America, and they are eager for change. The Democratic leadership team responded swiftly to the slight from the two centrist lawmakers this week over the thwarted procedural vote, sending a message that they will not tolerate the kind of disruptions that have often left Republicans in disarray. But the damage was done. “It was disappointing,” said seasoned Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, the top Democrat on the Rules Committee. ”It makes us look as bad as them.” Routine procedural vote becomes anything but The procedural rule vote, which sets the terms for debate, was long a non-issue in the House. The party in power voted for it, the minority party voted against. But conservative Republicans have routinely bucked their own GOP majority on the votes, tanking the agenda. As the tally Tuesday was teetering, it appeared Johnson once again had a revolt on his hands. Then two Democrats, retiring Rep. Jared Golden of Maine and outsider Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, voted with the Republicans, salvaging the outcome and the week’s agenda. Golden was working to ensure passage of his bill on the lobster industry. Gluesenkamp, often an ally as a fellow Blue Dog Democrat in a Trump‑won congressional district, had joined. Democrats were livid. Some were eager for a reprimand. Others expressed the angst coming from voters who want the party to stick together to fight Trump. The Pelosi-ism, “Unity is our strength,” was revived. “The challenge is, that if you don’t have the numbers, all of a sudden a few people can be very

J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE / AP PHOTO

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) discusses the war with Iran and the cost of living as he speaks to reporters at the Capitol on Monday. decisive,” said Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) a former party leader who recently lost his own primary bid for reelection. “You can never ask people to vote against their own interest,” he said. ”But you also have to emphasize the camaraderie and concept of working together as a team.” Cautious Democratic leader faces new challenges Jeffries is known as a careful leader and, as he says himself, chooses calm over chaos at a time when many Democrats prefer a quicker, attention-grabbing reaction. The New York Democrat is singularly focused on winning back control of the House. In office since 2013, Jeffries is confronting the party’s quickly changing climate, as he works to hold together what is arguably the most diverse party caucus in U.S. history.

“It makes us look as bad as them.” Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) “We’re fighting to make healthcare affordable for every single American,” he said earlier in the week. “And we certainly will fight to hold the crooks accountable who have unleashed unprecedented corruption on the American people.” Two weeks ago, Jeffries ran into trouble with progressives after having accepted a meeting with Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, an outside adviser to the White House. The two New Yorkers had known each other and worked together on legislation during the first Trump administration. White House chief of staff Susie Wiles had suggested Kushner reach out. But liberals ques-

Will Federal Reserve hike rates later this month? Waller muddies outlook

“But if it reverses, then you know it’s time to pull the trigger and hike rates.” Christopher Waller, Federal Reserve governor

The Fed governor is urging patience while markets bet heavily on a September rate hike By Christopher Rugaber The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Federal Reserve governor Christopher Waller said Thursday that an inflation report next week will largely determine whether he supports an interest rate hike later this month or not. The government will release August inflation figures Sept. 11, and if that report shows inflation continues to cool, then Waller said he “would be inclined” to keep the Fed’s benchmark interest rate unchanged. “But if inflation comes in hot, I would consider a rate hike,” Waller said. Borrowing costs are only “slightly restricting” consumer and business demand, he added, “and it may not take much acceleration in inflation to nudge me into supporting” a rate hike. Waller is an outspoken member of the Fed’s seven-person governing board, and his remarks suggest that a rate hike later this month is not a done deal. Stock prices rose and bond yields fell in response. Several members of the Fed’s rate-setting committee have voiced concerns that price increases are still too high, suggesting that a rate hike may be needed. Yet others have said inflation is slowly cooling and higher borrowing costs aren’t necessary. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh said

tioned why Jeffries would even meet with those close to Trump. “He asked for a meeting, and I took it,” Jeffries said in a defiant video the next day. The Democrats have established five working groups to tackle affordability issues — in housing, healthcare, childcare, groceries and gas and utilities. The top Democrats on the Oversight and Judiciary committees are preparing to root out corruption. Jeffries also sketched out the pillars of a Democratic legislative agenda for the coming year: repealing Republican Medicaid cuts, restoring expanded tax credits under the Affordable Care Act, repealing Trump’s tariffs and ending the Iran war. “These are issues that we know unite Democrats,” Jeffries said. “But I don’t want to get out ahead of the caucus, because there are a whole host of things that need to be worked on.”

JULIA DEMAREE NIKHINSON / AP PHOTO

The Federal Reserve could again raise interest rates in September.

last week at the Fed’s annual economic symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, that inflation had not shown sufficient improvement and that the central bank might have “more work to do,” a sign he is weighing a rate increase at the Fed’s next meeting Sept. 15-16. Wall Street investors sharply increased their bets on a rate hike this month after Warsh’s speech. Some bond yields also moved higher on Warsh’s re-

marks, raising the stakes for the September meeting. Waller suggested he has been encouraged by signs that inflation had slowed over the past two months. According to the Fed’s preferred gauge, prices ticked down 0.1% from May to June and rose just 0.2% from June to July. At that pace, inflation would move much closer to the Fed’s 2% annual target. September’s meeting “is going to be knife edge and it’s go-

ing to come down to how the CPI data prints,” Joseph Purtell, portfolio manager at Neuberger, said, referring to the government’s primary measure of inflation, the consumer price index. Warsh has sought to cut back on the signals the Fed sends about its next moves, which he argues limit the central bank’s policy flexibility. As a result, there has been more uncertainty going into Fed meetings

about what policymakers will do than in the past. Purtell said Warsh could probably command a majority in favor of either keeping rates unchanged later this month or raising them. Last month, the government said inflation stayed at 3.7% on a yearly basis, according to the Fed’s measure. In an interview with Reuters following his remarks, Waller acknowledged he is heavily focused on one upcoming report. But he said looking at near-term data is necessary to pick up on any changes in trends. “I’m willing to sit and wait and be patient” to see if the next inflation report also shows it declining, Waller said. “But if it reverses, then you know it’s time to pull the trigger and hike rates.” On Wednesday, John Williams, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, said he has also been encouraged by recent inflation data but would like to see more evidence that it is declining, suggesting he would also be willing to keep rates steady this month. “I think that we have to wait and see,” Williams said in an interview on CNBC. “There’s no clear signs right now whether monetary policy currently is sufficient to make sure we bring inflation back to target in the next year or two, or whether you need to see further action to do that.”

Stanly News Journal for Sunday, September 6, 2026

Pair of spacecraft draw closer to Mercury after nearly decade-long voyage The spacecraft will map Mercury’s magnetic field, interior and surface geologic processes starting next spring By Marcia Dunn The Associated Press CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Two Mercury-bound spacecraft left their mother ship behind on Thursday and headed down the home stretch of their nearly decade-long voyage to the solar system’s smallest and closest-to-the-sun planet. The linked European and Japanese spacecraft separated as planned from their cruiser, but controllers had to wait two anxious hours to receive confirmation via radio signals. The crucial operation was broadcast from the European Space Agency’s control center in Germany, more than 124 million miles away. “It’s a brilliant moment,” said lead project scientist Geraint Jones. If all goes well, the conjoined spacecraft known as BepiColombo will enter orbit around Mercury in November and split from each other in December to map and study the entire planet from different altitudes. As of Thursday, the spacecraft still had 2 million miles to go before reaching its destination. Launched in 2018, the BepiColombo mission is named for the Italian mathematician who took part in NASA’s Mariner

ESA VIA AP

Close-up photos of Mercury’s north pole was captured by the European-Japanese spacecraft BepiColombo.

“How tiny Mercury is and still it holds some of the biggest mysteries of our solar system.” Santa Martinez, mission manager

10 mission to Mercury in the 1970s. Only one other spacecraft, NASA’s Messenger, has explored the puzzling, scorching planet that is just a little bigger than our moon. “How tiny Mercury is and still it holds some of the biggest mysteries of our solar system,” mission manager Santa Martinez said earlier this week. Added Jones: “There’s a huge amount still left to be learned.”

BepiColombo already has traveled more than 6 billion miles on its roundabout route, according to Martinez. It needed nine planetary flybys to reduce its energy enough to be caught in Mercury’s orbit. The last flyby, in January 2025, yielded stunning photos of Mercury’s impact craters and volcanic plains. Beginning next spring, a slew of science instruments on the European and Japanese spacecraft will study the magnetic field that envelops Mercury, the planet’s dense interior, and the geologic processes at the surface, including the hollows, or depressions, that scientists believe are being eaten away by minerals vaporizing from rocks. It’s a strange world of contrasts. On a planet where the temperature can top 800 degrees Fahrenheit, the poles are frigid with deep, permanently shadowed craters packed with ice. Given Mercury’s proximity to the sun, engineers had to design the spacecraft to withstand “extremely punishing” conditions, said the European Space Agency’s Ignacio Tanco, a mission operations chief. “It’s essentially equivalent to operating with a very hot pizza oven running right on your back,” he said. Science observations should begin next spring, with the European Space Agency covering most of the mission’s $2 billion cost.

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THREATS from page A1 the county courthouse Monday. Investigators traced the source and identified the person responsible, though no additional information about that individual or potential charges was released. Deputies found no danger at any of the locations. “The sheriff’s office deputies moved quickly to verify the reports and ensure all locations were safe,” Sheriff Jeff Crisco said. Another law enforcement response followed Tuesday at North Stanly High School after a reported threat of violence. The school was placed under a secure perimeter while deputies and investigators assessed the campus, and parents and guardians were initially asked not to come to the school. The secure perimeter was later lifted after authorities found no active threat or danger. Students and staff returned to their normal schedule, though all athletic practices and games scheduled at the school Tuesday were canceled as a precaution. The sheriff’s office said investigators identified a juvenile as the source of the threat and were seeking formal charges through the juvenile justice system.

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The Stanly County Sheriff’s Office has released multiple statements on recent threats at local schools. “Any act or threat made against a school in Stanly County will result in charges and the full prosecution of the law,” Crisco said. “The safety of our students, educators and community remains our absolute highest priority, and we will exhaust all resources to hold individuals accountable for making threats.” North Stanly later thanked law enforcement and school employees for their response, calling the incident an example of the efforts by the school, district and community partners to protect students and staff.

“We are incredibly grateful for the quick response, teamwork, and dedication of everyone involved,” the high school said in a statement. “This is what it means to take care of one another.” Tuesday’s incident came about two weeks after Albemarle High students spent a full day under a secure hold following threats involving violence at the school. The sheriff’s office has continued to encourage students, parents and community members to immediately report suspicious activity or threats to law enforcement.

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STANLY SPORTS

MELISSA TAMEZ / AP PHOTO

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Rhett Lowder throws during a game against the Cubs on Aug. 28 in Chicago.

Lowder finds his footing in Cincinnati rotation The former Comet had a 3-1 record in August By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — A strong August has helped former North Stanly pitcher Rhett Lowder steady his extended rookie season with the Cincinnati Reds. The right-hander closed August with a 3-1 record and 4.34 ERA across five starts, halting

a skid of six consecutive losing decisions from May through July. He threw at least 92 pitches in each August outing and has not been charged with a loss since July 18. On Aug. 28, Lowder earned a victory as Cincinnati outlasted the Chicago Cubs 10-8 at Wrigley Field. The 24-year-old Albemarle native worked five innings, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out five and issuing no walks. “They didn’t make it easy on me by any means from the

“He’s throwing his breaking ball a little differently at times.” Terry Francona, Reds manager jump,” Lowder said. “I did some things that didn’t help myself out, got behind some counts early. But credit to them, they were fouling off a ton of tough pitches and not swing-

ing at balls, so it made it tough.” The outing marked a better Wrigley experience for Lowder, whose previous appearance there this season preceded a monthlong stint on the injured list because of discomfort in his right shoulder. Lowder has completed at least five innings in seven consecutive starts. He is 3-1 with a 4.05 ERA during that span, recording 27 strikeouts and eight walks over 40 innings. Reds manager Terry Francona credited Lowder’s improved control after his Aug. 22 win at Arizona. “He made a couple mistakes that he paid for with the home runs. Other than that, I thought he did really well,” Francona said. “He walked the leadoff hitter here tonight on four pitches, but that’s not happening as much. He’s throwing his break-

ing ball a little differently at times. He’s not going to be a guy that throws 98, but if he works ahead and he starts to manipulate the ball, he’ll be just fine.” Through 112 innings this season, Lowder is 6-8 with a 5.14 ERA and 88 strikeouts. His six wins are tied for second on the team. The former Wake Forest standout, selected seventh overall in the 2023 MLB draft, made six starts after debuting Aug. 30, 2024. However, oblique and forearm injuries sidelined him for all of 2025. Lowder earned a rotation spot in spring training and opened this season 3-1 with a 3.18 ERA through six starts before struggling in May. He was scheduled to make his 22nd start Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park.

Pfeiffer women’s soccer team opens season with 5-0 shutout The Falcons began the 2026 campaign with a dominant road victory By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

COURTESY PFEIFFER ATHLETICS

Pfeiffer’s Sabrina McNeill was one of five Falcons to score in the team’s 5-0 victory at Averett on Sept. 1.

MISENHEIMER — The Pfeiffer women’s soccer team began its 2026 campaign with a strong statement Tuesday night, shutting out Averett 5-0 on the road in Danville, Virginia. The result provided an encouraging start for a Falcons program that managed just two wins during the entire 2025 season. Pfeiffer finished 2-12‑1 overall last year and landed in ninth place in the USA South with a 1-7-1 conference record. Under fourth-year coach Acasio Roche III, the Falcons (1-0) have been limited to three or fewer victories in each of the past five seasons, making Tuesday’s season-opening performance a notable early step in the right direction. The five-goal margin was Pfeiffer’s largest in a season opener since the program

Total wins Pfeiffer had in all of 2025

moved to NCAA Division III and marked its highest-scoring opening win since an 11-0 victory over Brooklyn in 2017. Five different Falcons found the net as Pfeiffer controlled the match from start to finish. The Falcons outshot Averett 35-2 and allowed the Cougars only one shot on goal. Senior forward Khamani Spencer opened the scoring in the 14th minute. Just five minutes later, sophomore midfielder Lily Bido doubled the lead with an unassisted goal. Pfeiffer carried a 3-0 advantage into halftime after junior midfielder Sabrina McNeill scored off an assist from Spencer in the 45th minute. The Falcons continued to apply pressure after the break.

Sophomore forward Macy Allred scored the first goal of her career in the 53rd minute, pushing the lead to 4-0 following a sequence of chances around the Averett goal. Freshman reserve Kendall Fortson completed the scoring in the 82nd minute with her first collegiate goal. Spencer finished with a team‑high three points after contributing a goal and two assists. Freshman goalkeeper Jerusalen Gonzalez recorded the shutout as Pfeiffer’s defense kept Averett from generating sustained chances. Pfeiffer continued its road swing Friday against Randolph, which entered the matchup 0-0-1. The Falcons will play their home opener Wednesday at 6 p.m. against Johnson & Wales at Lefko-Mills Field in Misenheimer. Looking ahead, Pfeiffer is scheduled to begin USA South play Sept. 20 at William Peace in Raleigh. The Falcons were picked to finish eighth in the conference’s recent preseason poll.

Stanly News Journal for Sunday, September 6, 2026

Curaçao wins its 2nd Little League World Series, beating Nevada 11-2 behind De Windt, De Lanoi The island nation claimed its first title in 22 years

Curaçao takes a victory lap after winning the Little League World Series Championship baseball game against Henderson, Nevada, on Sunday.

By Alex Harkins The Associated Press SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — For the last two weeks, Curaçao Little Leaguers were focused and disciplined about what they ate, when they slept and how they practiced for youth baseball’s biggest tournament. Now the champs can relax and enjoy a treat or two. Juriënsly De Windt and Shardijon De Lanoi each drove in three runs, and Curaçao won its second Little League World Series title, beating Nevada 11-2 in the championship game last Sunday. “Every kid (will eat) McDonald’s,” Curaçao coach Railison Gijsbertha said, smiling ear to ear alongside three beaming players who couldn’t wait to take the trophy home to their tiny island nation for the first time in 22 years. De Windt started on the mound and allowed two runs, one earned, in three innings. Giendry Ryan and Steven Felix were nearly flawless in relief with four strikeouts over the final three innings for the tiny island nation, which previously won the tournament in 2004. Curaçao had advanced to the finals by winning the international title in 2005, 2019, 2022 and 2023. This time, the group from Pariba Little League in Willemstad had enough firepower from the mound and at the plate to beat the U.S. champion. Curaçao went unbeaten in the double-elimination tournament before overcoming an ear-

GENE J. PUSKAR / AP PHOTO

ly two-run deficit to the team from Henderson, Nevada. Ryan fanned four in 21/3 innings. Felix forced Nevada’s final batter to pop out to Giendry in center field. Once the ball was safely in his glove, the celebrations began. Giendry tossed his glove in the air as his teammates swarmed him in the outfield. Curaçao’s infielders showered each other with water as a pack of fans tucked behind the third base dugout waved the Curaçao flag. Curaçao’s support grew beyond its native fans as the tournament wore on. Many fans from the United States be-

gan wearing its signature navy blue and yellow hat, some loaded with signatures that Curaçao players were happy to provide throughout the week. “When we went to the shop, we saw people from the States were buying our stuff,” Gijsbertha said. “Our team is a good team, a great team, and when they ask us to sign a ball, we do that.” They were quiet early as it looked like Nevada, the first U.S. team to advance to the championship without a home run, would finally crack Curaçao’s standout pitchers. Following a bunt from Nevada’s Michael Kleiner, Maddox

Bryan lined a single to center field, driving in two runs. Nevada fans along the first base line waved signs, including one featuring World War II icon Rosie the Riveter and dedicated to Carsynn Meyer, the first girl to play for the U.S. in the championship game. Meyer, who became the first girl to get a hit in the U.S. championship when Nevada beat Ohio on Saturday, went 0 for 2 against Curaçao. Curaçao tied it when De Lanoi lined a ball off the glove of a diving Kleiner at second base for a two-run single. The international champs took the lead for good on a

two‑run double by Jaymiëll Martina in the fourth. De Windt added a bases-clearing double in the fifth that brought the Curaçao fans to their feet. The Curaçao radio broadcast team, which led the crowd in the country’s national anthem before the game, began to exult. Nevada also was the runner-up last year, falling to Taiwan in the championship game. “When they look back and kind of realize what they’ve accomplished and what they’ve gained from here on out,” Nevada coach Cory Edwards said, “I hope they shoot me a text or give me a call and just remember that it was a hell of a ride.”

With Sinner out, Alcaraz just back, Sabalenka struggling, US Open feels truly open again The tournament is underway in New York By Brian Mahoney The Associated Press NEW YORK — Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner made last year’s U.S. Open feel like two weeks of killing time until the inevitable. They had separated themselves from everyone else in men’s tennis while meeting in the French Open and Wimbledon finals. It seemed a foregone conclusion they would make it three in a row, which is exactly what happened. With the No. 1-ranked Sinner sidelined, Alcaraz only returning now to defend his title after missing four months, and Novak Djokovic perhaps finally showing his age, the U.S. Open once again feels, well, open. Just don’t confuse that with meaning easier. “It’s the same conversation,” American player Frances Tiafoe said. “Still got to beat seven guys however way you slice it.” The women’s side has its own questions, with two-time defending U.S. Open champion Aryna Sabalenka losing in the fourth round at Wimbledon and both hard-court tournaments she played since, putting her hold on the No. 1 ranking in jeopardy. The top spot in the rankings could be in reach for multiple women, and so is the trophy at the final major tournament of the year, with No. 3 Jessica Pegula saying “there’s not one or two super dominant players where you feel like they have to lose in order for you to have a chance.” “It seems to me like maybe more open in a way, just because, I don’t know, there’s more chances,” added Pegula, who lost to Sabalenka in the 2024 final and last year’s semifinals. Alcaraz has been sidelined

YUKI IWAMURA / AP PHOTO

Aryna Sabalenka returns the ball during a mixed doubles match at the U.S. Open.

FRANK FRANKLIN II / AP PHOTO

Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Alexander Zverev during a practice at the U.S. Open tennis championships last Wednesday in New York. Djokovic lost in the first round. since April with a right wrist injury, deciding last week he was ready to return at the tournament where he has won two of his seven Grand Slam titles.

The most recent was at the Australian Open, but he went out not long after. Alexander Zverev won the French Open for his first major title, lost to

Sinner in the Wimbledon final, then became the No. 1 seed in Flushing Meadows when Sinner determined the knee injury that has kept him out since that victory wasn’t fully healed. “It’s been a couple of months now where it’s been pretty similar: a lot of uncertainty, some of the top players, they’re kind of injured or they’re not playing. This is a little bit of the same, so we have seen lot of different players stepping up and a lot of different opportunities being up for grabs,” said Alex de Minaur, the No. 6 seed from Australia. Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 U.S. Open champion, pointed at players such as Zverev and Arthur Fils, who beat Tiafoe for the Cincinnati Open title before coming to New York, as players who know there’s an opportunity they don’t want to waste. “For them, they’re probably thinking about it, not in a bad way, but they’re like, we have

a better chance without Jannik and maybe Carlos not 100% yet,” the No. 7-seeded Medvedev said. Djokovic exited the Cincinnati tournament in his first match and afterward mentioned an unspecified health problem that bothers him in the heat. He then lost in the first round to Mariano Navone after vomiting several times during the match. American men are still trying to end a Grand Slam drought that dates to Andy Roddick at the 2003 U.S. Open. Ben Shelton won in Montreal before Tiafoe’s runner-up finish in Cincinnati, and Taylor Fritz lost to Sinner in the 2024 final in New York. “I would say this is a golden opportunity,” ESPN commentator Patrick McEnroe said. “Obviously if Alcaraz comes back and gets through a few matches, looks good, he’ll quickly become the favorite. I mean, he’s the favorite right now, but he’d quickly become a bigger favorite. There’s no doubt the fact he hasn’t played since the spring, with Sinner out, this is a monster opportunity.” Elena Rybakina, who beat Sabalenka in the Australian Open final, Pegula and No. 4 Coco Gauff are all in pursuit of the No. 1 ranking. Sabalenka could, depending on other results, lose it even if she becomes the first player to win three straight U.S. Open titles since Serena Williams from 2012-14. “I’ll try to do my very best, and we’ll see what happens with the end of this tournament,” Sabalenka said. She may be vulnerable, but Alcaraz perhaps even more so. In 2025, it seemed only one man could beat him. This time, the list could be lengthy. “I mean, he’s always a guy we’re going to look at, but a lot of guys believe they can not only get him but win the event,” Tiafoe said. “It’s going to be an exciting U.S. Open.”

Stanly News Journal for Sunday, September 6, 2026

With London following Dublin as CFB host, will more Europeans see a kickoff? UNC made the trip to Ireland to open the college football season By Ken Maguire The Associated Press LONDON — College football abroad ain’t easy. Brian Dubiski knows. In 1988, he was a Texas Tech defensive back on a flight to Tokyo preparing to face Barry Sanders and Oklahoma State. Hours after winning the Heisman Trophy, Sanders rushed for four touchdowns and more than 300 yards in the Cowboys’ 45-42 victory. Dubiski is giving it another shot — this time as an executive — by bringing major college football to London for the first time in next month’s Union Jack Classic featuring a Big 12 Conference matchup of Arizona State against Kansas. “The NFL’s been there for two or three decades now,” Dubiski said. “The appetite is there.” College football has been played outside the U.S. for more than 100 years, with most of those early games relatively nearby in Canada or Cuba. The first postseason game outside the Americas happened in 1976, according to the NCAA, but of late more games have come early in the season instead of looking more like a nice vacation after the regular season. The challenge is educating local fans about the differences, like school spirit and marching bands — and getting them to buy tickets. Dublin offers a template. It’s turned into an annual event with a title sponsor and a travel company as co-organizer. Hordes of Americans arrive and find the Irish capital cozy and welcoming. “Our goal is to expand across

“There is cachet in playing in Ireland, having an international game.” Steve Newmark, UNC athletic director other European territories and even look at other sports,” Dubiski said, specifying college basketball. Europe isn’t new to Union Jack Classic organizers. Chief operating officer Thomas Hensey helped promote the World League of American Football, which later became NFL Europe. Wembley holds more than 86,000, but Dubiski is shooting for 60,000. An estimated 15,000 fans are coming from the U.S., he said, and organizers added ticket discounts on four‑packs. UNC beat TCU in the Dublin game, which has become a Week Zero staple. “There is cachet in playing in Ireland, having an international game,” UNC athletic director Steve Newmark told the AP. “It just draws intrigue, kind of curious onlookers to see Carolina blue and TCU purple playing in Dublin, and everything that goes with it.” Horned Frogs coach Sonny Dykes expressed concern, though, about schedule disruption. Despite enthusiasm for taking games abroad — like to Germany and Brazil — plans sometimes collapse. Michigan explored playing in Frankfurt against Western Michigan but kept the game in Ann Arbor. Virginia’s game last Saturday against ACC rival NC State was planned for Rio de Janeiro before being relocated back to Charlottesville.

“You need to have a sponsor,” ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips said. “There has to be some support in another country to be able to pull this game together.” Still, Phillips said, “the international piece is big. We’ve gone to Ireland several times. We want to go to a couple other places. We talked to the Holiday Bowl about maybe going to Saudi Arabia. To sprinkle the college game out internationally is great.” The 2027 matchup in Dublin is Pittsburgh vs. Wisconsin. London game organizer Dubiski says they are “overspending” this time to avoid hiccups. “We’ve rented out full properties for the teams. We could have just put them in a hotel like normal,” he said. “We’ve rented two triple-seven jumbo jets for each team.” Dubiski recalled the 1988 trip to Japan for the late-season Coca-Cola Classic as “an amazing experience.” To entice schools, organizers at a minimum need to replace the home teams’ revenues. The Dublin contract calls for the organizer to run a pep rally and pub tailgates. Hotel rooms and flights are provided with a minimum 300 seats plus 20,000 pounds of equipment. Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham said “it’s still about 18- to 22-year-olds and their experience in college and the memories they make,” and UNC officials noted the value of connections beyond football. Their packed itinerary away from the game includes a medical summit with Irish counterparts. Rick Wernoski, UNC’s associate vice chancellor for operational excellence, told The AP it’s an opportunity “to showcase Carolina on a global stage.” “It truly is much more than a game for us,” he said.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Maddox Cody North Stanly football, LB Maddox Cody is a senior linebacker for the North Stanly football team. He has also played baseball for the Comets. North Stanly is 2-0 this season and coming off of a 41-0 shutout of West Stanly. Cody helped lead a defense that throttled the Colts, totaling a game-high 22 tackles in the win, including 10 solo stops. He also added a quarterback hurry. That came NORTH STANLY BOOSTER CLUB / FACEBOOK off of a 19-tackle, 7-solo game to open the season. He also recovered a fumble in the opener. According to MaxPreps’ stats, Cody leads the state in tackles and ranks 11th in the nation.

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PETER MORRISON / AP PHOTO

UNC players run onto the field before the season opener against TCU in Dublin.

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NORTH CAROLINA – STANLY COUNTY 26E000379-830 The undersigned, having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Gilbert Walton Picklesimer, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to present them to the undersigned on or before November 23, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. Crystal Ann Snyder, Executor Estate of Gilbert Walton Picklesimer c/o Katherine C. Rabtoy, Esq. ROBBINS LAW FIRM, PLLC 19453 West Catawba Avenue, Suite E Cornelius, NC 28031

NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA, STANLY COUNTY. NOTICE TO CREDITORS In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division File No. 26-E-000382-830 Having qualified as Executrix of the Estate of RAYMOND EDWARD WILLIAMS, SR., Deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the decedent, or his estate, to exhibit them to the undersigned, or her attorney, on or before the 23rd day of November, 2026, or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate should make immediate payment to the Executrix. This the 19th day of August, 2026. Gale Stein Williams, Executrix Estate of Raymond Edward Williams, Sr. c/o Jeremy D. Griffin, Attorney PO Box 422 Locust, NC 28097 JEREMY D. GRIFFIN MORTON AND GRIFFIN LAW FIRM, PLLC Post Office Box 422 – 161 Ray Kennedy Drive Locust, North Carolina 28097 Telephone: 704-888-2311 STANLY NEWS JOURNAL Publish: August 23, 30, September 6 and 13, 2026

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Notice is hereby given that the Albemarle City Council will hold public hearings on Monday, September 21, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at Albemarle City Hall, 144 N. Second Street, Albemarle, NC 28001, to consider the following zoning map amendment petitions: ZMA 26-02 and AX 26-01 – Voluntary Annexation and Zoning Request: A petition has been submitted by the Harvey G. Carpenter and Julia P. Carpenter Revocable Living Trust requesting the voluntary annexation of one parcel totaling approximately 56.05 acres, located at the corner of NC Highway 24/27 Bypass West and St. Martin Street and identified as Tax Record 31834. In conjunction with the annexation, the applicant requests that the property be assigned City of Albemarle R-10 (General Residential District) zoning. The property is currently within Stanly County’s jurisdiction and is zoned RA (Residential Agricultural District) and R-20 (LowDensity Residential District). ZMA 26-03 – A request to rezone approximately 0.42 acres located at 1220 Poplar Street, identified as Tax Record 22671, from LID (Light Industrial District) to R-8 (General Residential District). ZMA 26-04 – A request to rezone approximately 0.43 acres located at the corner of Englewood Avenue and S. Second Street, identified as Tax Record 5168, from R-6 (General Residential District) to CBD (Central Business District). Interested persons are invited to attend and provide comments. The meeting agenda and supporting materials will be available at www.albemarlenc.gov/ government/city-council-meetings. Published: Sunday, September 6, 2026, and Sunday, September 13, 2026.

NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000333-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Executrix of the Estate of Ruby Caudle Fraley deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Ruby Caudle Fraley to present them to the undersigned on or before November 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 30th day of August 2026. Debra Fraley Smith 24543 Rogers Road Richfield, NC 28137 Executrix

NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000397-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Janet Ordille Hill deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Janet Ordille Hill to present them to the undersigned on or before November 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 30th day of August 2026. Cynthia Jane Hill PO Box 54 Norwood, NC 28128 Executor

NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA, IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE STANLY COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK 26E000360-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, having duly qualified as Administrator CTA of the Estate of Mickey Loyd Cauble, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, is hereby notifying all persons, firms, or corporations having claims against said decedent, or his estate, to present the same to the undersigned Administrator CTA, duly itemized and verified on or before the 23rd day of November, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the said decedent are hereby requested to pay the said indebtedness to the undersigned Administrator CTA. This the 14th day of August, 2026. John Michael Cauble Administrator CTA of the Estate of Mickey Loyd Cauble 3351 Keady Mill Loop Kannapolis, NC 28081 PUBLISH: August 23, 30, September 6, 13, 2026 James A. Phillips, Jr. Attorney for the Estate P.O. Box 1162 117 W. North Street Albemarle, NC 28002-1162

NOTICE

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NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000346-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Administratrix of the Estate of Julia Lee Clark Threadgill deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Julia Lee Clark Threadgill to present them to the undersigned on or before November 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 30th day of August 2026. Karen Crump 417 Lincoln Street Albemarle, NC 28001 Administratrix

NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000375-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Executrix of the Estate of Randy Edwin Isenhour deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Randy Edwin Isenhour to present them to the undersigned on or before November 17, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 16th day of August 2026. Joyce R. Isenhour 41798 Gurley Road New London, NC 28127 Executrix

NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000395-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Executrix of the Estate of Jimmie Price Morgan deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Jimmie Price Morgan to present them to the undersigned on or before November 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 30th day of August 2026. Donna Kay Lewellen 117 Lake Shore Drive Norwood, NC 28128 Executrix

Stanly News Journal for Sunday, September 6, 2026

Scientists find huge 10-sided wave pattern swirling in clouds over Saturn’s south pole The south pole formation is larger and more unstable than Saturn’s famous north pole hexagon By Marcia Dunn The Associated Press CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Scientists have discovered an enormous 10-sided wave pattern in the icy ammonia clouds over Saturn’s south pole. The spinning, meandering decagon appears to be even bigger and more unstable than the hexagon of clouds around Saturn’s north pole that was spied by NASA’s twin Voyagers in the 1980s, the Spanish-led team reported Wednesday. This new jet stream formation popped up in the Hubble Space Telescope’s sights in 2023 after earlier observations came up empty. The researchers suspect the bizarre atmospheric phenomenon may have formed between 2017 and 2023, when Saturn’s south pole was tilted away from Earth

and therefore out of view. It could still be evolving, with a single side of the decagon already exceeding 10,000 miles. The findings are significant because it shows “the ‘unique’ hexagon is not as extraordinary as we thought,” lead author Agustin Sanchez-Lavega with the University of the Basque Country said in an email. The findings were published in the journal Science Advances. Although all of the solar system’s planets with atmospheres have wave-spawning disturbances, only Saturn churns them out looking like polygons, geometric shapes bounded by straight lines. Both sit on jet streams, but the hexagon is practically stationary whereas the decagon migrates eastward at a tame 6 mph. “Saturn still has the ability to surprise us,” the University of Leicester’s Leigh Fletcher said in a statement. He measured the wind in the decagon as part of the study using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile.

By comparing these two formations on opposite ends of Saturn, scientists can learn more about the weather patterns of giant gas planets, according to Sanchez-Lavega. “This is a highly interesting phenomenon that appears to be unique to Saturn, and we want to know why,” he said. Sanchez-Lavega wonders whether they might be related to the cyclones on Jupiter that are arranged in polygonal shapes. Improving views of Saturn’s southern hemisphere over the next several years should allow astronomers to capture more details of the decagon and perhaps solve “this intriguing atmospheric mystery,” he said. It’s unclear whether the decagon will last as long as the hexagon, which has been visible by spacecraft for more than 40 years. That is longer than a Saturnian year, which is equivalent to 30 Earth years. “For the time being, all I can confirm is that the decagon is still there,” Sanchez-Lavega said.

NASA / ESA / A. SÁNCHEZ-LAVEGA, BASQUE COUNTRY UNIVERSITY, EHU, VIA AP

A pattern of clouds is pictured around Saturn’s south pole last Saturday.

Trial over Tupac’s murder ended with guilty verdict, but did conviction bring closure? After nearly 30 years, a jury convicted the only suspect in the historic 1996 killing

’90s. After Shakur’s death, Wallace appeared on a Bay Area radio program and said, “We’re not that powerful, yo.” Some listeners heard the last word as “yet,” Cook recalled, interpreting the remark as provocative. Years later, he listened again and heard it differently. “Tensions were so high, and there was so much angst in the air that we didn’t even hear him clearly,” he said.

By Jonathan Landrum Jr. The Associated Press

Keffe D’s own words caught up with him

LOS ANGELES — For nearly 30 years, the story of Tupac Shakur’s killing existed somewhere between an unsolved murder and hip-hop mythology. His death became intertwined with the killing of Christopher Wallace, better known as The Notorious B.I.G., six months later. Together, the deaths of two of rap’s biggest stars came to symbolize a combustible era commonly reduced to three words: East versus West. The mystery was compounded by reluctant witnesses, distrust of law enforcement and questions about why police in Las Vegas and Compton hadn’t pursued charges until now. Now, a Las Vegas jury has delivered something that seemed elusive for decades: a conviction. Duane “Keffe D” Davis was found guilty Monday of first-degree murder with use of a deadly weapon in Shakur’s 1996 killing. Jurors deliberated for less than three hours. Davis was the only person ever charged in the case. The verdict provides a legal answer to one of hip-hop’s most enduring mysteries. But after decades of books, documentaries and podcasts on theories about Shakur’s death, another question remains: Can a conviction bring closure — and if so, for whom? The emotion of that long wait was visible in the courtroom on Monday. Shakur’s sister, Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur, cried after the verdict was read and reached back toward someone sitting behind her. She and other members of Shakur’s family later embraced prosecutors. When Davis was charged in 2023, Shakur’s sister called the development “a pivotal moment,” while making clear that accountability remained the goal. “It’s important to me that the world, the country, the justice system and our people acknowledge the gravity of the passing of this man, my brother, my mother’s son, my father’s son,” she said at the time. Prosecutor Binu Palal echoed that distinction after Monday’s verdict. “To all of us, to me, Tupac Shakur was an icon or an idea,” Palal said. “But to the family, Tupac Shakur was a brother, a son, a cousin, a loved person ripped from them 30 years ago.”

Davis, 63, spent years publicly talking about a killing that was never prosecuted — and those words ultimately became central to the case against him. Prosecutors pointed to his accounts in interviews with investigators, documentaries, online appearances and his 2019 memoir, “Compton Street Legend.” His defense argued the stories were exaggerated or fabricated for money and notoriety. “The strength of our case was Mr. Davis … and his mouth,” Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said after the verdict. Charlamagne made a similar point while giving Davis “Donkey of the Day” on the popular radio show. “If you give a man enough microphones, he’ll create Exhibit A,” Charlamagne said. “There was a time when investigators had to interrogate suspects. Now all you gotta do is give a brother a podcast setup.” But Charlamagne saw a larger lesson in Davis’ decades of public storytelling. “Sometimes surviving consequences for too long convinces you that consequences no longer exist,” he said.

BIZUAYEHU TESFAYE / LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL VIA AP, POOL

Friends and family members of rapper Tupac Shakur, including his sister Sekyiwa Shakur, second left, line up to hug Chief Deputy District Attorney Binu Palal, right, after a jury found Duane Davis guilty of first-degree murder in his trial related to the 1996 killing of the legendary rapper at Clark County District Court Regional Justice Center on Monday in Las Vegas.

“Nothing brings your loved one back. All you think about is what his life would have been like the past 30 years, and you’re constantly reminded of him because he’s such an iconic figure. So you’ll never truly have, you know, peace.” Charlamagne tha God Can a verdict bring closure? Chuck Creekmur, co-founder of the hip-hop website AllHipHop, said he believes Shakur’s family may finally find some measure of closure, but he expects questions and theories surrounding the rapper’s death to persist. “I thought it was a closing chapter,” he said. “But now, I realize I’m pretty convinced it’s just opening another chapter.” For some, the verdict may provide a sense of resolution — or at least accountability — but closure might still be out of reach. On “The Breakfast Club” Tuesday, Charlamagne tha God also reflected on what the verdict could mean for Shakur’s family. “Nothing brings your loved one back,” he said. “All you think about is what his life would have

been like the past 30 years, and you’re constantly reminded of him because he’s such an iconic figure. So you’ll never truly have, you know, peace.” Never simply about East vs. West The prosecution’s case against Davis centered on an individual act of retaliation rather than a sweeping, coast-to-coast battle between gangs and their associated record labels. Hours before Shakur was shot on Sept. 7, 1996, he and members of his entourage were captured on surveillance video beating Davis’ nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, inside the MGM Grand after a Mike Tyson fight. Prosecutors said Davis then obtained a gun, gathered a group that included Anderson and went looking for Shakur and Death Row Records co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight. Davis was not accused of firing the fatal shots. Prosecutors argued he provided the weapon and helped orchestrate the attack. For Creekmur, the trial exposed how inadequate the familiar East-West label has always been. He pointed to fractured friendships, the gang affiliations, street politics, business interests and media amplification. “This trial really peeled back the layers on how deep this really goes, and how far from hip‑hop it really was,” he said.

“It just really wasn’t about hip‑hop at all.” Creekmur said that if the conflict had truly been about hip-hop, the rivalry would have played out through diss records rather than escalating into street violence. “If it was hip-hop, it would have ended with a few songs,” he said. “They just happened to be on two different coasts” For those who lived through the era, the reality was more complicated than the East-West label suggested. Shakur was born in New York, maintained friendships there and had close relationships that didn’t fit neatly along geographic lines. “That was Bad Boy and Death Row,” said veteran hip‑hop journalist Dave “Davey D” Cook, who wrote about Shakur during his years in Oakland. “They just happened to be on two different coasts.” The trial presented a collision of personal feuds, record-label allegiances and evolving street‑gang relationships. Shakur and Death Row had associations with Mob Piru, while Davis was a leader in the South Compton Crips. “I think the public missed the nuance and the accuracy of what was really going on,” he said. “It was being sensationalized on radio and in magazines.” He remembers how charged the atmosphere became in the

With verdict, what mysteries remain? Wallace’s 1997 killing remains unsolved, while speculation about who else might have been involved in Shakur’s killing persists, along with more outlandish theories questioning whether he died at all. For prosecutors, the verdict closes the case — at least for now. “At this point, we don’t believe we have sufficient evidence to charge anyone else with the death of Tupac Shakur,” Wolfson said. Creekmur expects it to be harder to put some larger questions to rest. “The fact that there were no convictions, it allowed conspiracy theories to fester,” he said, “just like an open wound.” Creekmur said the verdict may provide “a certain kind of closure,” though he doubts it will settle all of the questions surrounding Shakur’s death. Cook offered a similar assessment. “I think that’s one chapter in this larger narrative that has been closed,” he said.

Stanly News Journal for Sunday, September 6, 2026

famous birthdays this week

Britons get to read Arday’s story for themselves as memoir published in UK

Raleigh native Evan Rachel Wood is 39, José Feliciano hits 81, Mickey Hart is 83 The Associated Press

The 41-year-old professor took his life Aug. 14

THESE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week. SEPT. 6 Comedian JoAnne Worley is 89. Cartoonist Sergio Aragonés is 89. Rock singer-musician Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) is 83. Comedian-actor Jane Curtin is 79. Actor-comedian Jeff Foxworthy is 68. Actor Rosie Perez is 62.

By Danica Kirka The Associated Press EVAN AGOSTINI / INVISION VIA AP

Actor and Raleigh native Evan Rachel Wood turns 39 on Monday.

SEPT. 7 Singer Gloria Gaynor is 83. Actor Julie Kavner is 76. Rock singer Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders) is 75. Actor Corbin Bernsen is 72. Actor Michael Emerson is 72. Pianist-singer Michael Feinstein is 70. Singer/ songwriter Diane Warren is 70. Actor Evan Rachel Wood is 39. SEPT. 8 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), is 85. Civil rights activist Ruby Bridges is 72. Author Terry Tempest Williams is 71. Basketball Hall of Famer Maurice Cheeks is 70. Actor Heather Thomas is 69. Singer Aimee Mann is 66. Singer-songwriter Pink is 47.

MATT LICARI / INVISION VIA AP PHOTO

Singer Gloria Gaynor turns 83 on Monday.

SEPT. 9 Singer Dee Dee Sharp is 81. Former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann is 77. Actor Angela Cartwright is 74. Musician-producer Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) is 74. Actor Hugh Grant is 66. Actor Adam Sandler is 60. Pop-jazz singer Michael Bublé is 51. Actor Michelle Williams is 46. SEPT. 10 Scientist-author Jared Diamond is 89. Singer José Feliciano is 81. Former Canadian first lady Margaret Trudeau is 78. Rock musician Joe Perry (Aerosmith) is 76. Film director Chris Columbus is 68. Actor Colin Firth is 66. Director Guy Ritchie is 58. Actor Ryan Phillippe is 52. SEPT. 11 Composer Arvo Pärt is 91. Film director Brian De Palma is 86. Singer-actor-dancer Lola

LONDON — Britons who saw professor Jason Arday’s life and death dissected by weeks of headlines covering allegations about his academic qualifications and personal accomplishments can now read his version of the story. Simon & Schuster has published Arday’s memoir “Great and Unfortunate Things,” which tells the story of how an autistic boy who was nonverbal as a child and illiterate until his late teens grew up to be the youngest black professor in the history of Cambridge University. The book’s release came less than two weeks after Arday, 41, was found dead at his apartment in London following relentless media coverage about allegations that his academic work was bolstered by plagiarism and that he exaggerated his athletic and fundraising achievements. Simon & Schuster said it decided to publish the book in accordance with his family’s wishes. “To the very end, Jason was clear that he wanted his mem-

oir to be published, and it is only right that we honor his wishes,” the family said in a statement released by Simon & Schuster. “There has been so much that has been written and said about our beloved brother, son, father, partner and uncle, mostly by people who don’t know the truth of what he experienced, and we experienced as a family, or what an extraordinary person he was.” Arday’s death Aug. 14 has sparked recriminations over who was responsible. Cambridge has been criticized for elevating Arday too quickly in a rush to promote diversity despite red flags about his qualifications. The news media has been targeted for driving the professor to despair with a barrage of coverage that his supporters say was out of proportion to what a white scholar charged with similar mistakes would have faced. Scrutiny of the memoir increased following the controversy, with British newspapers noting that some of the running and fundraising accomplishments he previously touted had been left out of the book. For example, the book doesn’t mention his claim that he once ran 600 miles in six days to raise money for charity.

MANUEL BALCE CENETA / AP PHOTO

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) turns 85 on Tuesday. Falana is 84. Musician Mickey Hart is 83. Guitarist Leo Kottke is 81. Actor Amy Madigan is 76. Actor Virginia Madsen is 65. Musician-composer Moby is 61. SEPT. 12 Actor Linda Gray is 86. Singer Maria Muldaur is 83. Author Michael Ondaatje is 83. Actor Joe Pantoliano is 75. Photographer Nan Goldin is 73. Composer Hans Zimmer is 69. Actor Rachel Ward is 69. Actor-comedian Louis C.K. is 59.

FRANK AUGSTEIN / AP PHOTO

Former Cambridge Professor Jason Arday’s memoir, “Great and Unfortunate Things” was published in accordance with his family’s wishes.

Judge grants Lively $400K of $8M in legal fees in film fight with director Baldoni The “Gossip Girl” star will receive less than 5% of requested legal costs By Larry Neumeister The Associated Press NEW YORK — Blake Lively will get just over $400,000 of the $8 million she sought in legal costs from actor and director Justin Baldoni after they settled their fight over the production of their 2024 film “It Ends With Us,” a federal judge ruled last week. Acknowledging Lively and Baldoni had “waged fierce battle against each other in court,” the judge denied Lively the bulk of legal fees she sought, citing the limits of a California law designed to protect survivors of sexual harassment and discrimination from retaliatory lawsuits. The law meant to protect sex abuse survivors from legal actions designed to intimidate and silence victims could only be construed to let her be reimbursed for what she paid lawyers to defend against defamation claims rather than all claims Baldoni made against her, Liman wrote. Thus, the judge ruled, Lively is entitled to $363,245 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206 in costs. Attorney Bryan Freedman, representing Baldoni, called the ruling a “significant victory for

In an interview with the Times of London that was published July 31, Arday acknowledged that he had made mistakes, which he attributed to his autism and a lack of oversight early in his career. But he rejected accusations that he was “a liar and a fantasist and an academic fraud,” saying they were motivated by “racism and ableism.” Questions about his academic qualifications began attracting public attention in mid-July after British newspapers picked up plagiarism allegations published by a white researcher who has been critical of “diversity, equity and inclusion programs.” Cambridge initially stood by Arday, saying the plagiarism allegations had been investigated and determined to be unfounded. But on Aug. 5, the university announced that it had opened an investigation into Arday’s appointment after receiving “new information” about his qualifications and honorary appointments. News coverage of Arday’s story didn’t stop, and he died nine days later. “We are happy to allow the book to speak for itself and won’t comment further on its content,” the family said in their statement.

EVAN AGOSTINI / INVISION / AP PHOTO

Blake Lively arrives at The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating the opening of the “Costume Art” exhibition in May. my clients” that will leave Lively with less than 5% of what she requested in legal fees. Attorneys Esra Hudson and Michael Gottlieb, representing Lively, said in a statement that Liman’s decision was “historic” because it was the first time under the California law that money was awarded. They said

it showed “there are real consequences of bringing retaliatory lawsuits.” In her lawsuit, Lively asserted that she had been subjected to sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress and invasion of privacy.

Baldoni, who directed the dark romantic drama and starred in it with Lively, denied harassing her or orchestrating a smear campaign. He claimed the complaints about his behavior were made up by Lively as part of an effort to seize creative control of the movie. Weeks after Lively sued, Bal-

“There are real consequences of bringing retaliatory lawsuits.” Esra Hudson and Michael Gottlieb, attorneys for Blake Lively doni and Wayfarer asserted claims in a countersuit against Lively and her husband, “Deadpool” actor Ryan Reynolds, of civil extortion, defamation, invasion of privacy, breach of good faith and fair dealing and economic interference. In June 2025, Liman tossed out the countersuit Baldoni and Wayfarer had filed and nearly a year later rejected Lively’s sexual harassment claims on the grounds that she was an independent contractor rather than an employee when she worked on the film. In early May, two weeks before a scheduled trial, Lively and Baldoni reached a settlement, saying in a joint statement that Lively’s concerns “deserved to be heard” and that they “remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments.” Lively said in her lawsuit that during filming, Baldoni made inappropriate comments about her appearance, violated physical boundaries while filming a love scene, and pushed for nudity — against Lively’s wishes — during a scene in which her character was giving birth. Baldoni denied doing anything outside the realm of the normal creative process of making a movie.

Stanly News Journal for Sunday, September 6, 2026

this week in history Benedict Arnold betrays America, California joins the union, al-Qaida attacks U.S. on Sept. 11 The Associated Press SEPT. 6

SEPT. 7 1901: The Boxer Rebellion, an attempt to expel foreigners from China involving clashes with a multinational force that included troops from Japan, Russia, Britain and the U.S., ended with a protocol calling for reparations to the foreign powers. 1921: The first Miss America Pageant was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey. 1940: Nazi Germany began an intense bombing campaign of Britain during World War II with an air attack on London; known as The Blitz, the eight-month campaign resulted in more than 40,000 civilian deaths. SEPT. 8 1504: Michelangelo’s towering marble statue of David was unveiled to the public in Florence, Italy. 1935: U.S. Sen. Huey P. Long (D-La.), was fatally shot in the Louisiana State Capitol building. 1974: One month after taking office, President Gerald R. Ford granted a “full, free, and absolute pardon” to former President Richard Nixon for any crimes committed during Nixon’s presidency. 2022: Queen Elizabeth II, who spent more than seven decades on the British

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Michelangelo’s 16th-century statue of David is displayed at the Accademia Gallery in Florence, Italy.

1776: The second Continental Congress formally adopted the name “United States of America,” replacing the “United Colonies of North America.” 1850: California was admitted as the 31st U.S. state. 1948: The People’s Democratic Republic of Korea (North Korea) was declared.

U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. 1814: An American fleet scored a decisive victory over the British in the Battle of Lake Champlain in the War of 1812. 2001: Nearly 3,000 people were killed as 19 al-Qaida hijackers seized control of four jetliners, sending two of the planes into New York’s World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and the fourth into a field in western Pennsylvania. It remains the deadliest terror attack in history.

SEPT. 10

SEPT. 12

1608: John Smith was elected president of the Jamestown colony council in Virginia. 1991: The Senate Judiciary Committee opened hearings on Clarence Thomas’ Supreme Court nomination, which became a defining moment in the national debate over sexual harassment after Anita Hill accused him of misconduct. 2025: Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at an outdoor speaking engagement at a Utah university.

1857: The S.S. Central America (also known as the “Ship of Gold”) sank off the coast of South Carolina after sailing into a hurricane in one of the worst maritime disasters in American history. 1940: The Lascaux cave paintings, estimated to be 17,000 years old, were discovered in southwestern France. 1962: In a speech at Rice University in Houston, President John F. Kennedy reaffirmed his support for the manned space program, declaring: “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.”

throne, died at age 96; her then‑73‑year-old son became King Charles III. SEPT. 9

SEPT. 11 1789: Alexander Hamilton was appointed the first

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1522: The Victoria, commanded by Juan Sebastián de Elcano, arrived in Spain, completing the first circumnavigation of the globe. Elcano and 21 others survived the expedition launched by Ferdinand Magellan in 1519. 1781: British Brigadier General Benedict Arnold, a onetime American officer, ordered British forces to burn New London, Connecticut. 1901: President William McKinley was shot and mortally wounded by anarchist Leon Czolgosz at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York.

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Stanly News Journal for Sunday, September 6, 2026

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