Supreme Court to hear from religious preschools challenging exclusion from taxpayer-funded program
The Supreme Court will hear from Catholic preschools that say it’s unconstitutional to exclude them from a state-funded program because they won’t admit kids from LGBTQ+ families. Colorado’s St. Mary Catholic Parish and the Archdiocese of Denver argue Colorado is violating their religious rights by barring them from the taxpayerfunded universal preschool program over their faithbased admission policies. The state says religious schools are welcome to participate but are required to follow nondiscrimination laws. The case will be heard in the fall.
About 25 arrested in clashes at beagle breeding facility
About 25 protesters were arrested as about 1,000 animal welfare activists tried to enter a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin. The protest on Saturday was the second attempt in two months to take beagles from Ridglan Farms. O cers red rubber bullets and pepper spray to disperse the crowd. The Dane County sheri ’s o ce reported a calmer protest on Sunday with about 200 people. Protesters previously took 30 dogs in March. Ridglan denies mistreating animals but agreed to give up its state breeding license by July 1 to avoid prosecution on animal mistreatment charges.
Cher lus-McCormick of Florida resigns from Congress amid ethics investigation
Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Cher lus-McCormick has resigned before the House could sanction her in an ethics investigation. Members of the House Ethics Committee on Tuesday were set to weigh what punishment to recommend after they found she committed 25 violations of House rules and ethical standards. Republicans had already called for her expulsion. She also faces federal criminal charges accusing her of stealing $5 million in coronavirus disaster relief funds and using the money to buy items such as a 3-carat yellow diamond ring. Cher lus-McCormick has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges and says she is not guilty of ethics violations.
String thing
Stanly commissioners back resolution supporting local tax control
The measure pushes back on a General Assembly e ort to cap local tax exibility
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — The Stanly County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution Monday opposing proposed changes at the state level that could limit local governments’ authority over property taxes. The resolution passed in a 6-1 vote, with Commission-
er Mike Barbee casting the lone dissent. The measure is aimed at e orts underway in the North Carolina General Assembly to restrict how counties and municipalities set property tax rates or levy taxes.
County Manager Andy Lucas, who presented the agenda item, said limiting that authority would signi cantly a ect the county’s ability to operate.
“Essentially, they’re taking the autonomy of counties and cities away. Fifty percent of our revenue is property tax
Liberty Tree planted in Albemarle to celebrate
Commissioner Patty Crump
revenue, and so if you start to limit that revenue, it really further constrains what we’re able to do.”
Lucas said the resolution is intended to signal the sup -
America’s 250th anniversary
The Liberty Garden ceremony marks one of 100 statewide plantings
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — Local
leaders and o cials gathered at Liberty Garden in downtown Albemarle on Saturday afternoon to celebrate a Liberty Tree planting.
Dedicated by the America 250 NC Stanly County Committee during Living History Day, Stanly County now has its o cial Liberty Tree.
The newly planted white oak stands as an o cial landmark tree in North Carolina’s America 250 NC program, one of 100 planned plantings across the state.
Bain Jones, chairman of the America 250 NC Stanly County Committee, spoke during the ceremony.
“Today we have dedicated the Liberty Tree, which is part of the America 250 NC celebration,” Jones said. “Every county in North Carolina will hopefully be planting a tree to commemorate this celebration. This is in
port of local control over tax decisions.
“It is basically saying that we don’t want the General Assembly to further limit our autonomy when it comes to setting and generating property tax revenue.”
Under the current system, local governments can adjust property tax rates within state guidelines to meet local needs. Proposed legislative changes would restrict that authority, creating a ceiling on how much local revenue can
Five others wounded; authorities believe some injured were also involved in shooting
By Erik Verduzco The Associated Press
WINSTON-SALEM — A planned ght among young people escalated into a mass shooting at a North Carolina park Monday morning that left two teenage boys dead and ve other people injured, authorities said.
Winston-Salem police Capt. Kevin Burns said a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old died at the scene after being shot around
10 a.m. at Leinbach Park, near a middle school. Five others between the ages of 14 and 19 were shot and su ered injuries ranging from critical to minor, Burns said at a news conference. Four of those victims are female, o cials said. It was not immediately clear whether any of the victims were the gunmen. Winston-Salem police Chief William Penn said no one was in
custody but authorities believe some of those injured were also involved in the shooting.
“I feel like everyone else. I’m frustrated, I’m angry, I’m sad. This didn’t have to happen,” Penn said.
Winston-Salem police Assistant Chief Jason Swaim said two juveniles had agreed to meet at the park to ght and that a rearm was discharged during the ght.
Swaim said schools near the park were safe.
The shooting happened in a park in a suburban and residential area northwest of downtown Winston-Salem, a city of about 250,000 known for decades as the home of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.
Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Stanly County:
April 22
Friends of the Stanly County Public Library Spring Book
April 24 Oakboro
typically draws 350 to 500 vehicles. Admission is free and no preregistration is required.
Downtown Oakboro
April 25
Battle of Colson’s Mill Mural Unveiling 11 a.m.
Stanly County’s America250 committee will unveil a mural commemorating the July 21, 1780 Battle of Colson’s Mill, in which patriot forces clashed with loyalists at the con uence of the Pee Dee and Rocky rivers.
Downtown Norwood
THE CONVERSATION
Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO
How Biden’s DOJ went after pro-lifers
That’s not law enforcement. That’s a political operation.
WE NOW KNOW something the Biden administration spent years denying: It wasn’t merely enforcing the law around abortion clinics — it was allegedly partnering with abortion activists to identify, track and ultimately prosecute pro-life Americans.
Start with former President Barack Obama, who famously tried to force the Little Sisters of the Poor to violate their religious conscience.
According to reporting from The Daily Wire, Biden’s Department of Justice relied on intelligence gathered from radical pro -abortion groups to monitor peaceful pro-life activists — people who had not yet been charged with any federal crime — and then build cases that ended with FBI arrests.
The federal government was reportedly outsourcing its surveillance and investigative e orts to activist organizations that have a direct political and ideological stake in crushing the pro -life movement.
That’s not law enforcement. That’s a political operation.
The Daily Wire cites a DOJ report titled “The Biden Administration’s Weaponization of the FACE Act,” which examined more than 700,000 records. The FACE Act was originally intended to prevent physical obstruction of abortion clinic entrances. It was also meant to protect churches from disruption.
The records included dossiers on pro -life activists who had not been charged with federal crimes but who were nevertheless treated as threats, largely because abortion groups agged them as such.
And if that sounds familiar, it’s because it’s exactly the pattern we’ve seen repeatedly from the modern left: government agencies using ideological “cutout” organizations to do what the government isn’t supposed to do openly.
According to the report, much of the escalation traces back to former Attorney General Merrick Garland’s decision to resurrect the National Task Force on Violence Against Reproductive Health Care Providers in the wake of the Supreme
COLUMN | LARRY ELDER
Court overturning Roe v. Wade in June 2022.
That task force reportedly operated out of the DOJ Civil Rights Division under the direction of Sanjay Patel, who was red this week. Patel, according to the DOJ report, was in direct communication with the National Abortion Federation’s security team and regularly coordinating with Planned Parenthood and the Feminist Majority Foundation.
So we’re not talking about vague ideological sympathies here.
We’re talking about open coordination between the federal government and the activist wing of the abortion industry.
Daily Wire reporting compared sentencing requests and outcomes for pro-life defendants versus pro-abortion defendants. The Biden DOJ, they found, sought longer average sentences for pro -life activists — and the nal outcomes re ected that imbalance: Pro-life defendants received an average sentence of 14 months, while pro-choice defendants averaged three months.
Fourteen months versus three.
That is not “equal justice under law.” That is animus made policy.
Democrats have been weaponizing the administrative state for decades. This is not some brand-new Trump-era phenomenon, no matter how often the cable news panels pretend otherwise.
The Obama administration used the IRS to harass conservative and pro -life organizations. Clinton-era politics normalized the idea that federal power could be turned on political enemies. Biden’s DOJ, if these reports are accurate, simply continued the tradition — with a more aggressive posture and a more open contempt for religious dissent.
Imagine the scandal if the Trump administration had coordinated with pro -life organizations to build cases against abortion advocates.
But because the targets were pro-lifers, the story is treated like a niche controversy — something for conservative media to discuss, while the mainstream press quietly looks the other way.
That brings us to one of the most
important questions of all: How were the people involved in this allowed to remain embedded inside the DOJ for so long?
Because it lends credibility to something the political class has mocked for years: the existence of a bureaucratic deep state — career o cials who outlast elections, ignore the will of voters and quietly advance an ideological agenda regardless of who sits in the Oval O ce.
This is what it looks like when a permanent governing class decides it is untouchable.
And it also illustrates why the ght to remove ideological holdovers inside federal agencies is not some paranoid fantasy. It’s a real, ongoing struggle — one that will de ne whether elections actually matter.
The bigger issue here isn’t just abortion politics — it’s the steady normalization of using government power to punish religious Americans.
The Democratic Party has shown, again and again, that it is willing to use the apparatus of the state to crush dissent from people of faith. Not because those people are violent. Not because they are criminals. But because their beliefs are inconvenient.
If Democrats ever gained full control of the judiciary, especially if they succeeded in stacking the Supreme Court — which you can be sure former Vice President Kamala Harris would have attempted to do if she had won in 2024 — this is exactly the direction they would push the country.
This is why the Biden administration may go down as the worst in modern American history — even worse than Obama’s.
Not because Obama didn’t do the same things.
But because Obama understood enough to keep it quiet.
Biden said the quiet part out loud.
Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co -founder of Daily Wire+. He is a three-time New York Times bestselling author.
(Copyright 2026 Creators.com)
The implosion of Eric Swalwell: What was he thinking?
Despite a combined income with his wife of over $400,000, he is deeply in debt.
WHEN THEN-REP. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) announced his candidacy for governor of California, I was beyond surprised. Rumors of sexual misconduct, including allegations of blatant and serial in delity, had been circulating for years. Having run for this very o ce, I experienced rsthand the intense level of local, state and national scrutiny one receives when seeking the top job in the biggest state in the country.
The left-wing media treats liberal Democrat candidates di erent from how it treats conservative Republican candidates, but the media are not the problem if one’s candidacy starts to resonate. The heat comes from the same-party campaign rivals.
When I decided to run for governor of California, I sought the advice of several experienced strategists, politicians, pundits and some professors. They all said the same thing, only worded di erently: “Is there anything in your background that would be a problem?”
These questions, they advised, include but are not limited to: Skeletons in your closet? What about your friends, associates and family members? Taxes? Sexual harassment or misconduct or assaults? Any present or past behavior that could be deemed scandalous? Dating history, marriage or divorce? Outstanding warrants? Tra c tickets? Unpaid tra c tickets? DUIs? Automobile accidents you caused or were involved in? Arrests? Misdemeanors? Felonies? Unpaid bills? Credit card debt? Lawsuits led by or lawsuits against you? Drug use and drug abuse? Alcoholism? Abuse of prescription drugs? Sketchy business dealings? Bankruptcy? Inappropriate internet
activity, including porn sites, other illicit sites or sending “compromising pictures”? Social media posts that could come back to haunt you? 911 calls from your home? Your work history? To what church do you belong? Who is your pastor? Ever been red? If so, why? Is your campaign biography accurate, with no exaggerations or embellishments? Do your neighbors like you?
And, for good measure, I was advised to hire a private detective to investigate myself. My experienced campaign manager took me on only after I addressed all those questions — and others — and obtained a report from a well-regarded private investigator. My campaign manager cautioned, “If you are accused of picking your feet in Poughkeepsie — especially if you did pick your feet in Poughkeepsie — it will come out.”
This brings us to Swalwell, who, according to a University of California, Berkeley poll conducted in March, was the leading Democrat in the primary. He was endorsed by Sen. Adam Schi (D-Calif.), who, like Swalwell, served as a prosecutor in an impeachment trial against President Donald Trump.
According to Reuters, “A fth woman came forward to accuse Swalwell of unwanted sexual contact, saying the Democratic lawmaker drugged and raped her during an encounter in 2018.” Swalwell rst denied the accusations. He then dropped out of the race for governor, followed by his resignation from Congress.
Former House Speaker and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) claimed she knew nothing about the rumors against Swalwell. But Willie Brown, once a
mentor to former Vice President Kamala Harris and a former mayor of San Francisco, and who for 15 years served as speaker of the California Assembly, said, “No, I’m not surprised frankly because there have been rumors after rumors after rumors, his colleagues in Washington pretty much said that. That’s what Adam Schi said, that’s what Nancy Pelosi said.”
But Swalwell’s problems are just beginning. The sheri of Los Angeles County has launched a criminal probe, as has the Manhattan District Attorney’s O ce. Civil lawsuits may follow.
Then there are Swalwell’s nancial issues. Despite a combined income with his wife of over $400,000, he is deeply in debt. He owes $100,000 in student loans, borrowed against his retirement account to help fund his campaign and deferred paying income taxes to conserve cash ow. This is not exactly a good look for someone vying to be the chief executive of a state with a budget de cit and massive unfunded pension liabilities.
On top of everything, these scandals could cost the father of three children his marriage. After all, Swalwell set the standard. During the con rmation hearing of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Swalwell considered Kavanaugh un t due to allegations of sexual misconduct. Swalwell tweeted, “Support survivors. Believe survivors. We are with you.”
All of this raises a question: When Swalwell decided to run for governor, “What was he thinking?”
Larry Elder is a bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio talk-show host. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)
The ship seizure jeopardizes fragile talks as the cease re nears expiration
By Michelle L. Price, Samy Magdy and Sam Metz
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. —
The United States attacked and seized an Iranian- agged cargo ship it said had tried to evade its naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, and Iran’s joint military command vowed to respond, throwing a fragile cease re into question days before it expires.
It was the rst interception since the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports began last week. Iran’s joint military command called the armed boarding an act of piracy and a cease re violation, the state broadcaster said.
With the U.S.-Iran stando over the strait sharpening and the cease re expiring by Wednesday, it was not clear where President Donald Trump’s earlier announcement on new talks with Iran now stood. He had said U.S. negotiators would head to Pakistan on Monday.
The uncertainty sent oil prices rising again. One of the worst global energy crises in decades threatened to deepen.
Trump on social media said a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer in the Gulf of Oman warned the Iranian- agged ship, the Touska, to stop and then “stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom.”
U.S. Marines had custody of the U.S.-sanctioned vessel and were “seeing what’s on board!”
It was not clear whether anyone was hurt. The U.S. Central Command, which didn’t answer questions, said the destroyer had issued “repeated warnings over a six-hour period.”
Iranian state media suggest new talks won’t take place
There was no comment from Iranian o cials directly addressing Trump’s announcement of talks. However, Iranian state media, without citing anyone beyond unnamed sources, issued brief reports suggesting that they would not happen.
Minutes after the ship seizure was announced, Iranian state media reported on President Masoud Pezeshkian’s phone conversation with Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, earlier Sunday. U.S. ac-
TAX from page A1
be generated through property taxes.
Opponents of the change warn that such limits could make it di cult to keep pace with rising costs tied to in ation, population growth and service demands.
“If you’re not sitting here having this conversation, it’s going to sound really good to everybody. ‘Nobody can levy the taxes and so we can have this lower rate,’” Commissioner Patty Crump said. “But we have a low rate here and it’s
tions, including bullying and unreasonable behavior, have led to increased suspicion that the U.S. will repeat previous patterns and “betray diplomacy,” the reports cited Pezeshkian as saying.
Two previous attempts at talks — last June and earlier this year — were interrupted by Israeli and U.S. attacks.
On another phone call, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, that recent U.S. actions, rhetoric and contradictions were signs of “bad intentions and lack of seriousness in diplomacy,” Iran’s state broadcaster said. Pakistan did not con rm a second round of talks, but authorities had begun tightening security in Islamabad. A regional o cial involved in the e orts said mediators werenalizing preparations and U.S. advance security teams were on the ground. The o cial spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss preparations with the media.
The White House had said Vice President JD Vance, who led the rst round of historic face-to-face talks over 21 hours last weekend, would lead the U.S. delegation to Pakistan with envoys Steve Witko and Jared Kushner.
Iran on Saturday said it had received new proposals from the United States. While Iran’s chief negotiator, parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, late Saturday said “there will be no retreat in the eld of diplomacy,” he acknowledged a wide gap remained between the sides. It was unclear whether either side had shifted stances on issues that derailed the last round of negotiations, including Iran’s nuclear enrichment program, its regional proxies and the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump’s announcement on talks repeated his threats against Iranian infrastructure that have drawn widespread criticism and warnings of war crimes. If Iran doesn’t agree to the U.S.-proposed deal, “the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran,” he wrote.
Iran wants to control strait until “war fully ends”
Iran early Monday warned it could keep up the global economic pain as ships remained unable to transit the strait, with hundreds of vessels waiting at each end for clearance.
Security of the strait is not free and “the choice is clear: ei-
advantageous. It bothers me that the General Assembly always seems to take this all-ornothing approach.”
Commissioner Billy Mills said the impact of any changes would vary across the state.
“All counties are not created equal, so some counties would be able to survive this a lot better than we would,” he said. Barbee, however, said he believed the resolution wasn’t yet necessary as lawmakers continue to workshop the proposal.
“I think this resolution is a little premature,” Barbee said. “I think they are still work-
A tanker sits anchored in the Strait of Hormuz o the coast of Qeshm Island, Iran, on Saturday.
“The choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of signi cant costs for everyone.”
Mohammad Reza Aref, Iran rst vice president
ther a free oil market for all, or the risk of signi cant costs for everyone,” Mohammad Reza Aref, rst vice president of Iran, said in a social media post calling for a lasting end to military and economic pressure on Tehran.
Roughly one- fth of the world’s oil trade normally passes through the strait, along with critical supplies of fertilizer for the world’s farmers, natural gas and humanitarian supplies for places in dire need like Afghanistan and Sudan.
Iran had announced the strait’s reopening after a 10 -day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon took hold last Friday. But then Trump said the U.S. blockade “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the United States. Iran said it would again enforce restrictions it imposed early in the war. On Saturday, Iran red at ships trying to transit. For the Islamic Republic, the strait’s closure is perhaps its most powerful weapon, in icting political pain on Trump. For the United States, the blockade squeezes Iran’s already weakened economy. Each side has accused the other of violating the cease re. Since most supplies to U.S. military bases in the Gulf region come through the strait, “Iran is determined to maintain oversight and control over tra c through the strait until the war fully ends,” Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said late Saturday. That means Iran-designated routes, payment of fees and issuance of transit certi cates.
The council has recently acted as Iran’s de facto top decision-making body.
The war is now in its eighth week after the U.S. and Israel launched it on Feb. 28 during talks over Tehran’s nuclear program. At least 3,000 people have been killed in Iran, more than 2,290 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 U.S. service members throughout the region have been killed.
ing and discussing this thing, and there’ll be more changes they’re going to make. … I just have a problem supporting anything that is going to cause us to maybe have higher property taxes. And even though I’m not 100% in agreement with what the legislature is doing right now, I am denitely not 100% in favor of this resolution.”
The Stanly County Board of Commissioners will hold its next regular meeting on May 11 at 6 p.m. in the Gene McIntyre Meeting Room at Stanly County Commons.
ASGHAR BESHARATI / AP PHOTO
‘Out of many, one,’ says US national motto. What does that push for unity mean today?
America’s founding ideals clashed with centuries of exclusion and discrimination
By Deepti Hajela The Associated Press
NEW YORK — The aspirations cut a wide swath through American history since 1776 — from the “All men are created equal” of the Declaration of Independence and the “We the people” of the Constitution, to the “indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” of the Pledge of Allegiance.
One can nd it in the country’s name — the United States of America — and in the sentiment of the motto written in Latin on its coins and one-dollar bills: E Pluribus Unum, or “out of many, one.”
The e ort has been optimistic and unrealistic, successful and a failure, enduring as an American ideal during moments when citizens struggled — and struggle today — to practice it.
How has the notion of unity in American society evolved in 250 years and more? What does it mean — and what doesn’t it mean, particularly in fraught and troubled moments? “It’s a question,” says one scholar, “that every society has to answer.”
I. The beginnings of these “United” States
From the milestone moment of the nation’s beginning, the founders emphasized that unity would be a vital component of the new country, where government would be based not on a king and monarchy as in Europe but instead, as the Declaration says, “on the consent of the governed.”
“It is of in nite moment that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment to it … indignantly frowning upon the rst dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest,” George Washington said as he stepped down from two terms
remembrance of the actual Liberty Tree — an elm tree planted near Boston Common — that the Sons of Liberty used to communicate with one another during the colonial period of the Revolutionary War.”
as the rst American president.
At the start of the experiment, the fabric of a nation rst stitched together from 13 original colonies, de ning what unity meant was far from settled.
Even as the founders spoke of high-minded ideals, they put limits on who they allowed to take part, who had rights and freedom and who didn’t. All these years later, determining the meaning of unity can still be a challenge. Do we interpret that Latin motto to mean a blending of di erent perspectives to create a country that is greater than the sum of its parts, or does it mean there can only be one, that unity requires sameness?
Either way, here’s the thing about aspirations, as anyone who’s ever quit on a New Year’s resolution can tell you: They don’t turn into reality without e ort and commitment, or come out of just a sole moment, no matter how singular.
Our individual lives are built not just from the milestones but from the everydays in between. How could the life of a nation be any di erent?
II. Aspiration vs. reality
Even as unity has stood among the ideals, the on-the-ground experience of life in America for the last 2½ centuries has re ected the reality that in this created nation,
there’s never been just ONE America, where everyone lived in the same way or had the same access to power and prosperity. It wasn’t there at the country’s inception. And in the moment the U.S. is living now, it certainly isn’t either.
“I think the United States has had a more volatile history in terms of how it deals with questions of inclusion and exclusion, how it draws the line and polices the line of who’s in and who’s out,” says Daniel Immerwahr, a professor of history at Northwestern University.
“It’s a question that every society has to answer … who’s on the inside, who’s on the outside,” he says. “I would say that what’s interesting about the United States in this regard is how changeable and nonobvious some of the answers to those questions are.”
Sometimes the di erences have been straightforward — like geography (rural vs. urban, plains vs. mountains) and climate (heat vs. snow, wild res vs. ooding). Sometimes they were, and remain, cultural — people from di erent countries of origin, newcomers vs. generations deep, speaking di erent languages, following di erent denominations of Christianity or other religions entirely. And of course, the differences have been economic; rich and poor
“It’s a question that every society has to answer … who’s on the inside, who’s on the outside.”
Daniel Immerwahr, Northwestern University professor of history
have always lived di erently.
But sometimes, the di erences have been travesties — like enslaved Africans and their American-born descendants, forced to live under the lash as they worked in the elds and elsewhere for the bene t of white owners. Even after slavery was outlawed, they were subject to discrimination and worse under racism that was legalized in systemic ways into the 20th century and that echoes still.
The Indigenous tribes whose populations were decimated by death and disease as the American experiment moved westward and newly arrived settlers hankered after their tribal lands, and whose cultures were stripped from generations as the U.S. government tried to force “unity” through brutal efforts at assimilation.
Communities of people barred from possibility because of gender, sexual orientation or other characteristics.
There have also been persistent e orts across eras to create a country where the opportunities available to some — say, voting, economic growth, or access to education — would be made available to all. That came gradually through protest movements, legal action, and callbacks to those same American founding ideals and aspirations of unity and equality.
“It provided a language for the groups that were challenging these exclusions to draw on … invoking the ideals of the Revolution and the Declaration and saying, ‘Look, this is what the nation is supposed to be about,’” says Eileen Cheng, a professor of history at Sarah Lawrence College. “They could challenge the system and yet claim that they were being the true Americans.”
III. What could “unity” even look like?
One of the things about ideals, though, is that they can be somewhat abstract.
What does it mean for a country to be ‘united’? Does unity mean uniform? Is it, to borrow a reference from one of satirist Terry Pratchett’s books, that people are on the same side, or can they be on “di erent sides that happen to be side by side.” Is unity overall even a good thing in the context of a raucous democracy?
A look around the globe and through the history books shows there’s no single answer. There have been countries with a single o cial language, others that have recognized multiple languages, and some, like the United States, that for generations have never o cially designated any. At times, countries have chosen o cial religions. Nations have di erent standards and processes for naturalizing new citizens.
“There are always tensions between the unity and the separateness,” said Paul Wachtel, a psychology professor at the City College of New York. “There’s no society that is just one or just the other … what’s really most essential is that we learn how to negotiate those tensions.”
The United States experienced that rsthand in its infancy. The Constitution we live under is the second attempt at a framework for government. The rst, the Articles of Confederation, kept the federal government weaker and the individual states stronger. It quickly became clear that having such a weak central government — i.e., less unity — wasn’t e ective for the new country, leading to the Constitution.
For some countries, like many in Europe, those negotiations have taken place under the weight of centuries of history and geography, and other established backdrops like the existing form of government, which impacted the direction they decided to go. The U.S., from the founders’ perspective, was a new entity.
“This polarization, people talk about it like it’s a new thing. But I think it’s really a return back to the way that we were at the beginning of the country,” Cheng says. “It’s not like this kind of linear development where we’re growing more and more accepting of di erence. I think it’s up and down.”
Tree to indicate the British were coming to invade Boston.”
Albemarle Downtown assisted with providing space within Liberty Garden for the tree’s permanent home.
Christ the King Christian Academy is registering students for the school year through
Rooted in the history of the American Revolution, Liberty Trees served as gathering places and symbols of unity and resistance.
Jones described how the original tree was used during the war.
“They would put lanterns in the tree to signify what was going on or what needed to be done,” he said. “Paul Revere was taking his lantern to the Liberty
Along with the ceremonial planting, the program supports broader reforestation efforts across North Carolina, including areas impacted by the devastation of Hurricane Helene in 2024. As part of the initiative, funds are directed toward planting additional trees statewide.
state that was destroyed by Hurricane Helene. We are particularly grateful to Hank Culp and the Culp Lumber Company in regards to this project. We are also grateful to Uwharrie Bank for their overall support of the Stanly 250 celebration.”
Hot dogs, fixings, drink, and cookie available
The America 250 NC Stanly County Committee also donated funds to The American Chestnut Foundation to support ongoing reforestation work.
Located at 210 N. Ferry Rd, New London. Follow the signs.
“This is a wonderful project that the state has started,” Jones said. “In addition to planting the trees, $250 is given to purchase other trees to replenish the forest across the
For more information, call
The newly dedicated tree at Liberty Garden continues that tradition as part of a statewide initiative administered by the Buncombe County America 250 Committee, which aims to support more than 25,000 new trees across western North Carolina.
Christ the King Christian Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at this school. It does not discriminate based on race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school -administered programs.
Christ the King Christian Academy is registering students for the school year through
Christ the King Christian Academy is registering students for the school year through Hot dogs, fixings, drink, and cookie available
Christ the King Christian Academy is registering students for the school year through
Hot dogs, fixings, drink, and cookie available
Located at 210 N. Ferry Rd, New London. Follow the signs.
For more information, call
Hot dogs, fixings, drink, and cookie available
Located at 210 N. Ferry Rd, New London. Follow the signs.
Located at 210 N. Ferry Road, New London. Follow the signs. For more information call,
For more information, call
-administered programs.
Christ the King Christian Academy is registering students for the school
Christ the King Christian Academy is registering students for the school year
King Christian Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to
Christian Academy
TREE from page A1
COURTESY CITY OF ALBEMARLE Bain Jones, chairman of the America 250 NC Stanly County Committee, holds a plaque commemorating the o cial Liberty Tree of Stanly County located at Liberty Garden in downtown Albemarle.
AP PHOTO
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, speaks to thousands during his “I Have a Dream” speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on Aug. 28, 1963, in Washington, D.C.
Anita Hartsell Ammerman
Feb. 3, 1943 – April 14, 2026
Anita Hartsell Ammerman, 83, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones, on April 14, 2026, in Albemarle, NC. Born on February 3, 1943, Anita was a cherished gure in her community and family, known for her nurturing presence and artistic talents.
Anita spent her life dedicated to her family and her art. A selftaught artist since 1987, she specialized in watercolors, acrylics, copper repousse, and alcohol inks. Her inspiration stemmed largely from her own ower gardens and travels, capturing the beauty she found in the world. Anita was an active member of the Stanly Arts Guild for over 30 years and Falling Rivers Gallery for more than 10
Grady O’Neal Cook, Jr.
Dec. 14, 1931 – April 16, 2026
Grady O’Neal Cook Jr., 94, of Locust, North Carolina, passed away peacefully at his home on April 16, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family. His funeral service will be 12 Noon on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Burial will be at 3 PM on Saturday at Sunset Memory Gardens in Mint Hill. The family will receive friends on Friday evening from 6 until 8 PM at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Locust.
Grady was born December 14, 1931, in Mecklenburg County and was the beloved son of the late Grady O’Neal Cook Sr. and Lucy Joyner Cook. He was also proceeded in death by his loving wives, Sarah Starnes Cook and Dollie Barbee Hatley Cook, his son David O’Neal Cook, his brothers Dixon and Don Cook and his sister Jean Cook Partee. He retired with 22 years
OBITUARIES
years. Her work was showcased in various prestigious locations including the National Arboretum in Washington, DC, where she received Best of Show and First Place ribbons for her orchid paintings.
Beyond her artistic pursuits, Anita was deeply committed to her faith, actively participating in the community of Pine Grove United Methodist Church in Albemarle, NC. Her hobbies included gardening, photography, art, cooking, reading, and traveling.
Anita leaves behind her loving spouse, Bob Ammerman; children, Lisa Morrow, Chris Rosenkranz (Barbara), Greg Rosenkranz, and stepdaughter Rebecca Ammerman Ballard (Don); grandchildren, Bethany McVickers and Savannah Hinson; and ve great-grandchildren; brothers, Noel Hartsell, Lance Hartsell, and stepsisters, Linda Cook and Nancy Sasser. She was preceded in death by her stepson, Robert Ammerman and grandson, Brandon Harkey. A private celebration of Anita’s life will be held by the family. In lieu of owers, contributions can be made to Children International at children.org, an organization Anita passionately supported, sponsoring several children over the years. Her legacy of love, creativity, and generosity will continue to inspire all who knew her.
of service from Southern Railroad. He was known for his dependability and hard work. After retirement, he found a deep joy in the land - tending to his garden, raising cattle and goats, and doing the honest, good work that de ned his character. He was a generous provider, a faithful friend, and a man genuinely loved by everyone who crossed his path.
Grady was a devoted member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and anchored his life in the truth of scripture. His favorite passage, Philippians Chapter 4, was not merely words he admired, it was a standard he lived by each and every day. Those who knew him recognized in him the peace, the gentleness, and the gratitude that those verses describe. His family remembers him simply as the greatest - a good and godly man who loved the Lord, loved his family, and never wavered in either. He had a warm appreciation for music of all kinds and loved playing cards, speci cally spades, with his family. He was a lifelong Duke Blue Devils fan and loved watching college basketball.
Grady is survived by two children, Wayne Benson Cook (Barbara) and Cynthia Ann Cook (Darrell), both of Locust; ve grandchildren, Danielle Cook, Michelle Simmons (Bryan), Jesse Yandle (Sarah), Savannah Harpe (Chase), and Cody Yandle (Olivia); ten great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; his dear and special friend, Edna Tucker; and his lifelong childhood friend, Joe Taylor.
Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Stanly News Journal at obits@ stanlynewsjournal.com
GLENN CURTIS MABRY
FEB. 17, 1942 – APRIL 15, 2026
Glenn Curtis Mabry, 84, of Locust, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Novant Presbyterian Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family.
A funeral service will be held at 2:45 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Stanly Funeral Home Chapel in Locust, o ciated by Pastor James Almond. Burial will follow at Carolina Presbyterian Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1-2:30 p.m. prior to the service at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Locust.
Mr. Mabry was born February 17, 1942, in Stanly County to the late Hubert Mabry and Netta Tarlton.
He is lovingly survived by his wife of 63 years, Sharon Stein Mabry. He also leaves behind his children, Ron Mabry (Catherine) of Fort Mill, SC, and Randy Mabry (Amber) of Fort Mill, SC; daughter-in-law, SoonAe Mabry; grandchildren, Kirsten Magee (Ryan), Curtis Mabry (Victoria), Megan Pearl (Nathan), Sam Mabry, Hadley Mabry, Thomas Glenn Mabry, Lillian Mabry, Lauren Mabry, Lydia Mabry, and Landyn Mabry; and great-grandchildren, Alyssa, Amelia, Aiden, Eli, and Everlea. He is also survived by his stepbrother, John Tarlton, and stepsisters, Sue Helms and Linda Coble.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Russell Mabry (2022), and siblings, Elwood Mabry, Wilsie Fincher, and Garry Mabry.
Glenn proudly served his country in the United States Air Force. Glenn was a man of deep faith and dedication, actively involved with his church, where he faithfully served as an elder and Sunday School teacher. He was also deeply committed to his community, playing an instrumental role in the startup of the local senior center and remaining active there throughout the years. Glenn coached little league baseball and football, touching the lives of many young people. He was known for his kindness, leadership, and servant’s heart, and was loved by all who knew him.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the sta of Novant Presbyterian Medical Center for the compassionate care and support shown to Glenn during his declining health.
In lieu of owers, memorials may be made to Trinity Reformed Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 447, Locust, NC 28097 or West Stanly Community Center Foundation, PO Box 164, Locust, NC 28097
Glenn’s life was a testament to faith, family, and service. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
DIANNE SYLVIA MEDLIN
DEC. 31, 1949 – APRIL 15, 2026
Dianne Sylvia Medlin passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at her home surrounded by her family.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 20, 2026, in the Stanly Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Brandon King o ciating. Burial will follow at Stanly Gardens of Memory. There will be no formal visitation.
She was born on December 31, 1949, in Stanly County to the late Oliver Kipling and Lucille Rummage Story.
A woman of deep and enduring faith, Dianne’s love for the Lord was the guiding force in her life. She was a dedicated and long-standing member of First Baptist Church of New London, where she found great joy in her church family and in worship.
Dianne was known for her nurturing spirit, which she expressed through her many passions. Her kitchen was often the heart of her home, where she found joy in cooking for family and friends. She also had a talented green thumb, spending many happy hours gardening and appreciating the beauty of nature. Above all, her greatest love was her family, whom she cherished every moment with.
Professionally, she dedicated many years of service to the community, retiring from a career with the Stanly County Schools system. Additionally, alongside her husband, Doug Medlin, they ran Doug’s Maytag in Albemarle and Denton, showing a shared spirit of partnership in both life and work.
In addition to her parents, Dianne is preceded in death by her loving husband of 54 years, Doug Medlin. She is survived by her sons Craig (Rhonda) and Shannon Medlin; Grandchildren Nicole Siddiqi (Noah), Taylor Medlin, Skylar Brown (Jason), Spenser Medlin, Brock Medlin, Brooke Medlin, and Titus Medlin; and siblings Kaye O’Brien, Charles Story (Beverly), Joe Story (Ellen) and Sheila Hernandez (the late Curtis).
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the sta of Gentiva Hospice, Levine Cancer Institute and First Baptist Church of New London for the care and support provided to Dianne during her declining health.
In lieu of owers, and in honor of her memory, the family requests that donations be made to The Gideons International at gideons.org.
MONTIZE WHITLEY
OCT. 24, 1926 – APRIL 15, 2026
Mamie Montize Le er Shue Whitley, 99, of Norwood, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at South Stanly Baptist Church. Rev. Je ery Pope will o ciate, and interment will follow at Simpson Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday, April 17, 2026, from 6-8 p.m. at Edwards Funeral Home in Norwood.
Ms. Whitley was born on October 24, 1926, in Stanly County to the late George Preston and Eliza Dennis Le er. She was a founding charter member of South Stanly Baptist Church where she was a Sunday School teacher, sunbeam leader, and a member of the Women’s Missionary Union. She retired from Wiscassett Mills after 30 years of service.
To know her was to love her. She brought happiness and joy to all who knew her. Her biggest accomplishment was the relationship she had with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So much of her time was spent reading her Bible. She also enjoyed her favorite pastime, playing cards, working on puzzle books, and going on trips to the beach with her family. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She was very proud of her family and took every opportunity to let them know this. She was truly a blessing to all who knew her.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her rst husband, Craven Rayvon Shue; son: Craven Rayvon Shue Jr.; daughter: Brenda Shue Hinson, grandchildren: Ronnie Scott Culp, Douglas Coggin, Todd Coggin, Gale Hinson, and Wayne Tucker; second husband Lloyd A. Whitley; and sisters: Lula Shaver, Alberta Mauldin, Estelle Burr, Della Hudson, Flossie Turner, Ethel Connell and Mary Mason.
She is survived by her children: Dorothy Butler (Paul), Judy Coggin (Bill), Paulette Smith (Rick), William George Shue, Mabel Thompson, Donna Whitley Harvell (Leonard), and Mark Whitley (Terri); 16 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
WARREN “BUBBA” G. LITTLE JR. JULY 23, 1957 – APRIL 15, 2026
Warren G. Little Jr. ‘Bubba’, 68, of Norwood, passed away on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Atrium Health Stanly.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at Cottonville Baptist Church. Pastor JR Murr will o ciate, and interment will follow at the church cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.
Bubba was born on July 23, 1957, in Stanly County to the late Warren G Sr. and Margaret Hill Little. He retired from the North Carolina Department of Transportation in 2008 after over 25 years of service. After retirement, he continued to work with Terry Blalock and Barry McSwain as a farm hand. He was a member of Cottonville Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers: Freddy Little and Don Little; and sister in law: Linda Little.
He is survived by his sister: Margaret Sorenson (Bill); sister in law: Darlene Little; nieces: Jennifer Nichols (David), Laura Harrington (Shane), Angela Day (Jon), Danielle Almond (Derrick), and Sara Faulkner (Mitchell); great nieces and nephews: Kaylyn, Drew, Zack, Lane, Elias, Charlotte, Whit, and Avery.
Memorials may be made to Cottonville Baptist Church: 8032 Cottonville Road, Norwood, NC 28128.
STANLY SPORTS
Gray Stone girls’ soccer shuts out North Stanly
The Knights are 8-6 this season
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
MISENHEIMER — Recov-
ering in stride from a 9-0 home loss to West Stanly, the Gray Stone girls’ soccer team got back in the win column Monday night with a 9-0 shutout victory over North Stanly in Misenheimer.
Sitting in second place in the Yadkin Valley Conference, the Knights (8-6, 6-1 YVC) have now won three of their past four matches, while the
sixth-place Comets (0-15-1, 0-7 YVC) are still in search of their rst win of the season.
Freshmen Averly Swaringen and Samantha Christlieb each had three goals for Gray Stone in the win, while senior Anna Morgan added a pair and freshman Payton Phillips notched one.
Gray Stone is coming o a 12-8 record in 2025, including a third-place 7-3 mark in the YVC; North Stanly has taken another step back from a 3-14 -1 season and a fth-place 2-7-1 conference nish.
The Knights are set to travel to Monroe on Wednesday to square o with the reigning conference champion Union
Academy Cardinals, who currently have a rst-place 7-0 record in league play. Meanwhile, the Comets will host South Stanly in New London on Wednesday as they aim to snap a 19-game winless streak that dates back to April 17, 2025.
West Stanly 7, Piedmont 1
Boosting their overall win total, the West Stanly Colts (11-2-2, 6-1-1 Rocky River) had a 7-1 nonconference home triumph over the Piedmont Panthers (4-12, 0-7 Southern Carolina) on Monday.
The Colts, now second in the RRC standings behind CATA,
played at Monroe on Tuesday and will return home to Red Cross to host Forest Hills on Thursday.
South Stanly 6, North Rowan 5
Although they had only a single victory in their past two campaigns combined, the South Stanly Rowdy Rebel Bulls (5-5, 4-3 YVC) have put together a .500 season so far with a third-place YVC record, most recently defeating North Rowan (5-7-1, 3-7 YVC) by one goal.
The Bulls played the Comets in New London on Wednes-
day. In the two teams’ match on March 30, South Stanly came away with a 3-1 home win.
Union Academy 9, Albemarle 0
The Albemarle Bulldogs (1-10, 1-6 YVC) su ered their fourth shutout loss in their past ve appearances Monday, getting blanked as the Union Academy Cardinals (8-9, 7-0 YVC) pulled out a 9-0 win. Last season, Albemarle was 5-8-1 with a fourth-place 3-6 -1 record in the YVC standings. The team is now in fth place as it hosts North Rowan on Wednesday.
Pfei er men, women secure USA South tournament bids
Both teams will play against Methodist on Friday
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
MISENHEIMER — While their regular-season schedules have already wrapped up, Pfei er’s two tennis programs are continuing the 2025-26 campaign.
Both the Falcons’ men’s and women’s tennis teams secured top-four nishes in the USA South Athletic Conference standings, earning bids to their respective conference tournaments, which begin on Friday.
Pfei er’s men’s team (15-3, 4-1 USA South) nished second in the regular-season standings, while the university’s women’s team (13-4, 3-2 USA South) placed third. N.C. Wesleyan claimed the top seed in both tournaments after going undefeated in conference play.
The USA South Tournaments feature the top four teams in each bracket, with semi nal matches scheduled for Friday and championship matches set for Saturday. All matches will be played on the campus of N.C. Wesleyan in Rocky Mount.
In the men’s bracket, Pfei er is seeded second and will face No. 3 Methodist in a seminal match at 2 p.m. Friday. Top-seeded N.C. Wesleyan will host No. 4 Southern Virginia at the same time. The winners will meet in the championship match at 2 p.m. Saturday.
On the women’s side, Pfei er enters as the No. 3 seed and will play No. 2 Methodist in a semi nal match at 10 a.m. Friday. N.C. Wesleyan, the top seed, will face No. 4 Southern Virginia at the same time.
The women’s championship match is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday.
The men’s nal seeding is led by N.C. Wesleyan (5-0), followed by Pfei er (4-1), Methodist (3-2) and Southern Virginia (2-3). Brevard (1-4) and William Peace (0-5) did not qualify for the tournament. Pfei er previously defeated Methodist 4-3 in Misenheimer on April 7, just three days before the Falcons su ered their only conference defeat of the season in a 7-0 loss at N.C. Wesleyan.
Final seeding for the women’s bracket includes N.C. Wesleyan (5-0), Methodist (4-1), Pfei er (3-2) and Southern Virginia (2-3), with Salem (1-4) and Meredith (0-5) falling outside the top four. Playing on their home court on April 8, the Falcons lost to Methodist 6-1 before losing at N.C. Wesleyan by that same score two days later.
Seeding for Pfei er’s men’s tennis team in the USA South Conference tournament
COURTESY GRAY STONE ATHLETICS
The Gray Stone girls’ soccer team poses for a postgame photo following its 9-0 home win over North Stanly.
Pfei er’s Jayden Wellman goes up for a serve during a match this season.
NFL Panthers agree to terms with QB Grier
Charlotte Quarterback Will Grier is returning home to the team that drafted him. The Carolina Panthers announced Tuesday they’ve agreed to terms on a contract with Grier, their third-round draft pick (100th overall) in 2019 who played high school football in the Charlotte area. Grier gives the Panthers added depth at the position behind starter Bryce Young. He is expected to compete for the No. 2 spot with Kenny Pickett.
MARATHONS
Men caught competing in the women’s category of a prestigious South African marathon
Johannesburg
Two male runners in South Africa were discovered fraudulently competing on behalf of female colleagues in a top marathon and disquali ed. They could face two -year bans from the event, along with the two women who swapped their bibs with the two men. The two men both nished within the top 10 in the women’s marathon at the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town. But marathon board member Stuart Mann said the deception was discovered, and the men were disquali ed from their seventh- and 10th-place nishes.
WNBA Bird, Rapinoe
announce break-up, will phase out podcast Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe are splitting up. The sports power couple announced they are ending their 10-year relationship and phasing out their popular podcast. They dropped the news together on the podcast. Bird is considered one of the greatest women’s basketball players in history. Rapinoe rose to fame as a member of the Women’s World Cup team in 2011, 2015 and 2019. Bird said they will host six more special episodes.
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
Newly crowned UFC champ Ulberg says he lost title belt while celebrating win
New York Carlos Ulberg fought through an injured right knee to capture the light heavyweight title in UFC 327. He says he lost it hours later, literally. The 35-year-old from New Zealand defeated Jiri Prochazka in the main event at UFC 327 by knockout in Miami to become the new champion of the light heavyweight division. He told Fox Sports Australia he misplaced his golden title belt while celebrating his victory.
NFL
Likelihood of NFL replacement refs enters new stage with background checks, physicals
The NFL’s process of hiring replacement referees has reached another stage, according to a memo sent to teams. Several replacement o cials have completed hiring steps including background checks and will soon progress to undergoing physical exams per a memo sent to teams. Training sessions with NFL o ciating supervisors would then begin as early as next month. The league has undertaken these steps because negotiations with the referees’ union have been unsuccessful.
Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: community@stanlynewsjournal.com
Weekly deadline is Monday at noon
The 23XI driver has won ve of the rst nine races this season
By Dave Skretta
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — NASCAR driver Tyler Reddick is riding the kind of Cup Series hot streak that Michael Jordan once enjoyed in his playing days.
Oh, you can bet the NBA Hall of Famer is enjoying this one, too.
Reddick roared by Kyle Larson on the nal lap of overtime to win at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, becoming the fourth driver to win ve of the rst nine races in NASCAR’s top series in a season. Chase Briscoe wound up third while Denny Hamlin, who co-owns 23XI Racing along with Jordan, had to watch from fourth as his driver reached victory lane yet again.
“This kid is on re. I don’t know what to say. I don’t think I can cool him down,” Jordan said. “When you win it’s always fun, and right now it’s fun for everybody at 23XI. Me being here and being able to see all the wins, I am so happy for the team.”
All four of the 23XI cars nished in the top 15 on a banner day for the team.
“Got to deliver for the boss man,” Reddick said of Jordan. “If he’s going to come hang out with us, we have to get him dubs.”
Sunday’s race had been
Tyler Reddick
caution-free except for stage breaks until Cody Ware spun as the white ag was about to y.
Hamlin was leading at that point, and it looked as if he was about to win his record-extending fth race at Kansas. Instead, all of the leaders had to pit, and even though Hamlin beat Reddick o pit road, the eld was bunched up for the overtime restart.
Larson, trying to end a 32 -race winless streak, lined up behind Hamlin on the inside, and he launched to the lead when the green ag ew.
Chaos ensued behind them as Christopher Bell bounced o Reddick and Hamlin and the No. 5 car began to pull away.
Reddick came charging down the backstretch on the nal lap, though, and he pulled alongside Larson as they went through the nal corners. The No. 45 edged ahead as the checkered ag ew, and Jordan began to pump his st in the pits in celebration.
The last driver to win ve of the rst nine Cup Series races was Dale Earnhardt in 1987.
“Just really blessed with the late caution,” Reddick said.
“Was that nuts or what? I couldn’t believe it.”
won again. But it came at his expense, and he was decidedly unhappy about that. Asked of his frustration level, Hamlin replied: “Obviously it’s not winning. It’s Cody Ware, six laps down, wrecking. I don’t know. Add it up.”
SPRING SPORTS ROUNDUPS
BASEBALL
SOUTH STANLY (12-9, 7-1 IN CONFERENCE)
• Won vs. Albemarle 9-1
• Won vs. Mount Pleasant 10-0
• Won at Albemarle 17-4
This week’s schedule
• Apr. 21 at Union Academy
• Apr. 22 vs. Carson
• Apr. 24 vs. Union Academy
WEST STANLY (19-1, 7-1 IN CONFERENCE)
• Won vs. Central Academy 13-0
• Won vs. Pinecrest 3-0
• Lost at Central Academy 5-2
This week’s schedule
• Apr. 21 vs. Mount Pleasant
• Apr. 22 at Hickory Ridge
• Apr. 24 at Mount Pleasant
NORTH STANLY (18-3, 7-1 IN CONFERENCE)
• Won at Southeast Guilford 6-0
• Won vs. Community School of Davidson 10-6
• Won vs. Gray Stone Day 19-1
• Won vs. Gray Stone Day 13-0
Upcoming schedule
• Apr. 22 at Reagan
• Apr. 23 at North Rowan (2)
ALBEMARLE (3-13, 1-7 IN CONFERENCE)
Upcoming schedule
• Apr. 22 vs. East Rowan
• Apr. 24 at Mount Pleasant
NORTH STANLY (6-12, 3-4 IN CONFERENCE)
• Won at Gray Stone Day 7-0
• Won at Concord 12-4
• Won vs. Gray Stone Day 14-0
No games scheduled this week
ALBEMARLE (0-5, 0-3 IN CONFERENCE)
No games scheduled last week or this week
GRAY STONE DAY (3-9, 0-6 IN CONFERENCE)
• Lost vs. North Stanly 7-0
• Lost at North Stanly 14-0
Upcoming schedule
• Apr. 21 vs. South Davidson
• Apr. 22 at Carson
GIRLS’ SOCCER
SOUTH STANLY (5-5, 4-3 IN CONFERENCE)
• Won vs. Albemarle 4-0
• Won vs. North Rowan 6-5
This week’s schedule
• Apr. 22 at North Stanly
• Apr. 27 vs. Union Academy
WEST STANLY (11-2-2, 6-1-1 IN CONFERENCE)
Larson, the defending race winner, said his car’s balance was o after taking two tires on the nal stop, leaving him on the podium for the third time without a win this season. Briscoe and Hamlin were followed across by another 23XI driver, Bubba Wallace.
“It was good execution for the restart there,” Larson said. “I got to the lead and I thought I could cruise right there to the checkered.”
Except that Reddick is the only one who seems to be doing that these days. Even when he doesn’t win, he’s had his Toyota running up front. He was fourth last week at Bristol and has been in the top 15 in every start this season.
He’s a big reason Toyota is the rst manufacturer since Chevrolet in 2007 to win seven of the rst nine races in a season.
“I just think the whole team all year has been really poised,” 23XI President Steve Lauletta said. “It’s not the rst time we’ve had any kind of adversity come at us, and they’ve continued to stay calm, keep each other grounded and know we have a fast car. And if you have a fast car, all you have to do is make sure you execute, and that’s what they’ve managed to do.” “Was
Hamlin was happy Reddick
• Lost at South Stanly 9-1
• Lost vs. South Stanly 17-4
• Lost vs. North Mecklenburg 15-7
Upcoming schedule
• Apr. 21 vs. Gray Stone Day
• Apr. 24 at Gray Stone Day
GRAY STONE DAY (5-8, 2-6 IN CONFERENCE)
• Lost at Ashbrook 11-10
• Lost at North Stanly 19-1
• Lost at North Stanly 13-0
Upcoming schedule
• Apr. 21 at Albemarle
• Apr. 23 at Central Davidson
• Apr. 24 vs. Albemarle
SOFTBALL
SOUTH STANLY (17-2, 5-0 IN CONFERENCE)
• Lost at East Rowan 5-4
• Won vs. West Stanly 7-6
This week’s schedule
• Apr. 21 at Union Academy
• Apr. 24 vs. Union Academy
WEST STANLY (18-4, 11-0 IN CONFERENCE)
• Won vs. Forest Hills 15-0
• Won vs. Forest Hills 15-0
• Lost at South Stanly 7-6
• Won at Mooresville 19-14
• Lost at Central Academy 6-0
• Tied vs. Parkwood 3-3
• Won at Gray Stone Day 9-0
• Won vs. Piedmont 7-1
This week’s schedule
• Apr. 21 at Monroe
• Apr. 23 vs. Forest Hills
• Apr. 27 vs. Montgomery
NORTH STANLY (0-15-1, 0-7 IN CONFERENCE)
• Lost at Union Academy 9-0
• Lost at Concord 6-1
• Lost at Gray Stone Day 9-0
Upcoming schedule
• Apr. 22 vs. South Stanly
• Apr. 27 at North Rowan
ALBEMARLE (1-10, 1-6 IN CONFERENCE)
• Lost at South Stanly 4-0
• Lost vs. Union Academy 9-0
Upcoming schedule
• Apr. 22 vs. North Rowan
• Apr. 27 at Gray Stone Day
GRAY STONE DAY (8-6, 6-1 IN CONFERENCE)
• Won at North Rowan 3-0
• Lost vs. West Stanly 9-0
• Won vs. North Stanly 9-0
Upcoming schedule
• Apr. 22 at Union Academy
• Apr. 27 vs. Albemarle
Tyler Reddick celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway.
We are eager to welcome individuals who are dedicated to our mission and committed to enhancing our community. Interested candidates are invited to browse our open full and part time positions via the website below to nd out how to apply for one of our job openings at SCC.
ESTATE
Saturday,
2nd from 8:00 am
NOTICES
NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, STANLY COUNTY
In the District Court Division MARIA OFELIA YAM YAM, Plainti Vs.
JESUS MARTINEZ VAZQUEZ, Defendant.
YARD SALE
price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.
Said property to be o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being o ered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Frank Rivers and Debra Anne Rivers.
An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under
the rental agreement prorated to the e ective date of the termination. Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by the person conducting the sale, or their
reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.
If the transaction is subject to the FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule (“RRE”) issued pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, information necessary to comply with the RRE Rule must be obtained and provided to the Reporting Person, as de ned in the RRE Rule, prior to closing.
Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC
Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 25-21218-FC01
TO: JESUS MARTINEZ VAZQUEZ, DEFENDANT: TAKE NOTICE that a pleading seeking relief against you was led September 24, 2025 in Stanly County, North Carolina in the above-entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: COMPLAINT FOR CHILD CUSTODY AND ABSOLUTE DIVORCE (25CV001319-830
You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than May 26, 2026 to the Stanly County Clerk of Court, P.O. Box 668, Albemarle, NC 28002, Attn: Civil Division and upon your failure to do so, the party seeking service against you will apply to the Court for the relief sought.
This the 15th of April, 2026. PARNELL AND SCALES, PLLC Cameron S. Vick Attorney for Plainti P.O. Box 2300 Albemarle, NC 28002
PUBLISH: April 15, 2026, April 22, 2026 and April 29, 2026
April 10, 2026
NOTICE
The public will take notice that the council of the Town of Norwood has called a public hearing at 6:00 pm on Monday, May 4, 2026 at Norwood Town Hall, to consider a rezoning request from RFB Development LLC, M2/M1 to R-10. Tax record 3773, 139743, and 4290(partial), a total of 12.91 acres o Crawley Avenue.
NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF STANLY IN THE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION
RUBEN MONGRAGON CASAS, Plainti , Vs. COURTNEY ANN LEDFORD, Defendant. TO: COURTNEY ANN LEDFORD, Defendant TAKE NOTICE that a pleading seeking relief against you was led September 30, 2025 in Stanly County, North Carolina in the above entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: MOTION TO MODIFY CUSTODY ORDER (24cv001958-830)
You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than May 26, 2026 to the Stanly County Clerk of Court, P.O. Box 668, Albemarle, NC 28002, Attn: Civil Division. Upon your failure to do so, the party seeking service against you will apply to the Court for the relief sought on the next hearing date of June 2, 2026 at 11:30 AM in Courtroom 403.
This the 15th day of April, 2026.
Brown & Senter, PLLC James L. Senter Attorney for Plainti PO Box 400 Albemarle, NC 28002
PUBLISH: April 15, 2026; April 22, 2026; and April 29, 2026
Public Notice
As required by the constitution and by-laws of Aquadale Volunteer Fire Department, the annual meeting will be held May 12, 2026 at 7pm. The address of the re dept is 11578 NC Hwy 138, Norwood NC 28128. Taxpayers of voting age which reside in the Aquadale Fire District or property owners in the district are eligible to attend and vote.
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000033-830
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having quali ed as Administrator of the estate of Jeanette Victoria Banister deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Jeanette Victoria Banister to present them to the undersigned on or before July 26, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 26th day of April 2026. David Eric Kenimer 6515 Santa Claus Road Monroe, NC 28110 Administrator
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000173-830
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having quali ed
Charlize Theron, ‘Marty Supreme,’ Kehlani, Kate Hudson, Lainey Wilson
A documentary about country singer Lainey Wilson comes to Net ix
The Associated Press
TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET
starring as a ping-pong master in “Marty Supreme” and a Netix comedy competition show hosted by Kevin Hart are some of the new television, lms, music and games headed to a device near you.
Also, among the streaming o erings worth your time this week, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: Charlize Theron expanding her already robust action movie resume with “Apex,” Kate Hudson’s “Running Point” returning for Season 2 and a Net ix documentary on country star Lainey Wilson.
MOVIES TO STREAM
After nine Oscar nominations, $179 million in ticket sales and a few dings for opera and ballet along the way, “Marty Supreme” begins streaming Friday on HBO Max. A24’s biggest box-o ce hit ever stars Timothée Chalamet as a ping-pong striver in 1950s New York doing whatever it takes to reach greatness. Josh Safdie directs a cast including Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion and Kevin O’Leary. In her review, AP’s Jocelyn Noveck called it a “nerve-busting adrenaline jolt of a movie.”
Another highlight of 2025, the darkly comic Korean thriller “No Other Choice,” lands on Hulu on Friday. Park Chan-wook’s satire stars Lee Byung-hun as a family man laid
o from a paper plant. After analyzing his prospects, he decides to murder his closest competition for a new job. In my review of the Golden Globe-nominated lm, I praised Park, the masterful lmmaker of “Oldboy” and “Decision to Leave,” for “archly and elegantly spinning a yarn about a murderous rampage that accumulates wider and wider reverberations.”
The latest Colleen Hoover hit adaptation, “Regretting You,” arrives Friday on Prime Video. In it, Allison Williams stars as a single mother moving on after the death of her husband (Scott Eastwood). Dave Franco co -stars as her new love interest. In her review, Noveck wrote that “the strange way the tears give way to smiles, quips and then full-on rom-com corniness feels a little awkward — and then just weird and annoying.” Charlize Theron expands her already robust action movie resume in “Apex,” a surviv-
alist thriller about a grieving woman who heads into the Australian wilderness for outdoor adventure. But when a sadistic local (Taron Egerton) begins terrorizing her, a frantic chase ensues. Catch it on Net ix on Friday.
TO STREAM
MUSIC
Noah Kahan’s 2022 single “Stick Season” turned the Vermont singer-songwriter into a household name; now, he’s at “The Great Divide.” That’s the title of his fourth studio album, out Friday. Come for folky ruminations on fame (“Porch Light”), stay for the plucky title track and what exists in between. In the decade following her debut album, Meghan Trainor’s bright, cheery pop music has kept one central message: Stay true to who you are and ignore the haters. That continues on her single “Still Don’t Care,” the
rst tease of her seventh fulllength album. And it is found on the whole of the release, titled “Toy with Me,” out Friday. In December, she told the AP to expect a few self-love bops, songs to anger through and lots of familial love. The singer-songwriter recently canceled a summer tour following the birth of her daughter, Mikey Moon. Musician documentaries are a dime a dozen these days; often, they function as promotional material with little editorial value. That is not the case with “Lainey Wilson: Keepin’ Country Cool,” available now on Net ix. The country superstar keeps her cool … and gets candid in this feature, which spans her personal and professional lives.
SERIES TO STREAM
A new Net ix competition show called “Funny AF with Kevin Hart” features Hart traveling to di erent comedy clubs in the U.S. in search of the next great stand-up sensation. Hart is joined by Keegan-Michael Key, Tom Segura, Kumail Nanjiani, Chelsea Handler and Nikki Glaser, who serve as judges. The semi nal and nal episodes will stream live on Net ix, and the audience can vote in real-time. The winner will get their own Net ix stand-up special.
Prime Video has a new series about a di erent Kevin. “Kevin” is an animated series about a cat who moves into a local pet rescue after his owners split up. Jason Schwartzman voices Kevin and Aubrey Plaza, who co-created and co-wrote the series, also voices a character.
A new “Stranger Things” animated spino harks back to the
Saturday morning cartoons of the 1980s, with stand-alone adventures each episode. “Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85” takes place during Seasons 2 and 3 of the original show and follows its core gang encountering mysteries and monsters from the Upside Down. They’re voiced by new actors, not the live-action cast. It debuts Thursday on Net ix.
Kate Hudson’s “Running Point” returns for Season 2 on Net ix on Thursday. Hudson plays Isla Gordon, whose family has owned the ctional Los Angeles Waves for years. Hudson takes over as the team’s president when her older brother (Justin Theroux) steps down. Her character is based on Jeanie Buss, the governor and former controlling owner (now minority owner) of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Richard Gadd, whose “Baby Reindeer” drew acclaim and a defamation lawsuit from the real-life woman it depicted, has created and written a new dark drama called “Half Man” where he co-stars with Jamie Bell. Gadd told the AP that he turned down numerous Hollywood offers after “Baby Reindeer” in favor of making “Half Man.” It premieres Thursday.
VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY
Italian developer Luca Galante unleashed a surprise smash back in 2022 with his low-res indie shoot-’em-up Vampire Survivors. Fans have since gobbled up a half-dozen expansions, and now it’s time for a full- edged spino , Vampire Crawlers. It’s a “casual, turn-based deck builder” in which you explore dungeons and ght monsters by inging playing cards at them. Think something like Slay the Spire with, well, vampires — then throw in “turboturn,” which lets you pile up damage by slinging cards more quickly. It looks every bit as hectic and silly as the original, and you can take a bite now on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.
CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO
Meghan Trainor poses for a portrait in 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. The pop star’s new album “Toy with Me” drops Friday.
MICHEL EULER / AP PHOTO
Josh Safdie, left, and Timothée Chalamet attend the French premiere of “Marty Supreme” at the Grand Rex cinema in Paris on Feb. 3. The lm lands on HBO Max on Friday.
