YES! Weekly — August 12, 2026

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After therecent name change, it could be said that this year’s event was the “second” INTERNATIONAL BLACK THEATRE FESTIVAL, but under any name it was a rousing success and a passionate celebration of Black theatre both past, present, and future.

4 As the 2026 movie season enters its final stretch, along comes “COOKIE QUEENS” to add another stellar alternative to the big-bang, big-budget blockbusters.

7 As an experienced science teacher in North Carolina, finding innovative, authentic resources to engage my students has never been easy. After all, math and English are the tested subjects, and SCHOOL FUNDING and professional development often follow the areas the public sees — and judges — first.

8 At the Aug. 3 meeting of Greensboro City Council, Mayor Marikay Abuzuaiter asked for a consensus on “crafting an ordinance for a YOUTH CURFEW” similar to what Winston-Salem enacted two months ago.

11 RiverRun International Film Festival is launching several new initiatives as it embarks on its 29TH FILM FESTIVAL slated to take place April 16 to 24, 2027.

12 Changes to FEDERAL FOOD AID, including new eligibility requirements, are driving more people to seek help — and straining nonprofits’ ability to provide that help, CEO of A Simple Gesture, Leslie Loyd said.

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visions

SEE IT!

Shining stars, great shows, and a glittering celebration

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iven that it didn’t officially change its name from the National Black Theatre Festival to the International Black Theatre Festival (IBTF) until Mark Burger 2024, it could be said that this year’s event was the Contributor “second” International Black Theatre Festival, but under any name it was a rousing success and a passionate celebration of Black theatre both past, present, and future.

The event, which ran July 27-Aug. 1, set a new standard for what is affectionately known as “Black Theatre Holy Ground,” welcoming tens of thousands of artists, educators, patrons, and supporters from around the world — all congregated in Winston-Salem for almost a week’s worth of special events, generating an estimated $14 million in economic impact for the city, giving a boost to local hotels, restaurants, retailers, transportation providers, and local businesses.

The festival was founded by the inimitable, indomitable Larry Leon Hamlin in 1989, a decade after he founded the North Carolina Black Repertory Company, the state’s first Black theater company. Like so many theater companies and festivals, the IBTF weathered its share of ups and downs over the years, including the death of Hamlin in 2007 at the age of 58, but has thrived and survived in the intervening years, forever dedicated to the mission Hamlin set forth.

This year’s festival, featuring celebrity co-chairs Angela Robinson and Peter Parros, boasted more than 120 performances presented by 30 professional Black theatre companies, highlighting the depth, diversity, and excellence of Black storytelling.

In addition to the live theatrical events, several of which were sell-outs or near sell-outs, the festival offered a wide variety of educational workshops, panel discussions, and professional development sessions that attracted strong participation from theater artists, WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

PHOTO BY BRUCE CHAPMAN

PHOTO BY C. STEPHEN HURST

Opening Night Gala students, educators, and patrons of all ages to learn from some of the industry’s most acclaimed and noteworthy talents.

Noted actress, director, and educator Phylicia Rashad received the festival’s 2026 Sidney Poitier Lifetime Achievement Award, then delivered a showstopping turn in the sold-out performance in Wynton Marsalis’ “A Fiddler’s Tale” in Salem College’s Hanes Auditorium on July 29.

The festival also presented the premiere of “Holy Ground: The Legacy of the National Black Theatre Festival,” a self-explanatory documentary feature co-directed by Jackie Alexander (the producing artistic director of N.C. Black Rep and the IBTF) and Ka’armuu Kush, featuring a star-studded line-up of interviews including Oprah Winfrey, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, Andre De Shields, Ted Lange, Louis Gossett Jr., and many others.

“The International Black Theatre Festival continues to demonstrate the extraordinary power of the arts to bring people together, strengthen communities, and celebrate the richness of Black storytelling,” said Brian McLaughlin, the festival’s media relations director. “The tremendous support from audiences, artists, volunteers, sponsors, and our entire Winston-Salem community made this year’s festival an unforgettable success. Together, we continue to honor the vision of our founder while building an even brighter future for Black theatre.”

The official North Carolina Black Repertory Company website is https:// ncblackrep.org/.

Celebrity Reception “OUT at the Movies” goes undercover for encore screening “OUT at the Movies” — WinstonSalem’s popular LGBTQ+ screening series and annual film festival — is gearing up for its 13th annual festival, scheduled for Sept. 24-27, but has a special screening event later this month.

“Plainclothes,” the critically acclaimed feature debut of writer/director/co-producer Carmen Emmi that won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Festival at last year’s “OUT” festival, will enjoy an encore screening at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21 at the ACE Exhibition Complex, 1640 Hollywood Blvd., Winston-Salem.

Tickets are $12 (general admission) and can be purchased here: https://outat-

themovies.org/plainclothes_monthlyscreening/.

The film, which also won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award and a nomination for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, stars Tom Blyth as an undercover cop whose task is to lure and arrest gay men, a task that weighs heavily on his conscience and then weighs heavily on his heart when he unexpectedly finds himself attracted to an older man (Russell Tovey), forcing him to confront — and wrestle with — his inner demons and desires.

When “Plainclothes” was screened at last year’s festival, “UNCSA’s School of Filmmaking dean Deborah LaVine was so taken by the film that she invited Carmen Emmi to return to UNCSA as a guest lecturer,” said Max Cullen, the festival’s director of marketing and operations.

“We were thrilled to deepen our partner-

ship with the school in this way.”

Filmmaker Emmi will virtually participate in a post-screening Q&A session discussing the making of the film, its reception, and his reasons for tackling so incendiary a topic for his debut feature.

“OUT at the Movies” will announce the full details for its 13th annual festival early next month, but Cullen is already excited about it.

“This year’s festival is shaping up to be our best yet — in terms of film quality, bold storytelling, and captivating onscreen performances,” he said. “We are planning to truly have something for everyone this year. People often ask me, ‘What exactly is LGBTQ+ cinema?’ [and] my answer is that LGBTQ+ cinema features characters and stories from our community, but more than that, it’s cinema that pushes the creative bounds of mainstream Hollywood — movies that tell stories that are outside of the norm and aren’t afraid to present fresh stories we haven’t seen before.”

In addition to the “Plainclothes” screening and the impending festival, “OUT at the Movies” is also in the final stages of presenting the live event “OUT at the Musicals — A Drag Show!” later this month. Details have not yet been finalized, but will be announced on the official website, which is updated regularly.

For more information, call 336-9180902 or visit the official “OUT at the Movies” website: https://outatthemovies.org/. !

See MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies.

AUGUST 12-18, 2026 YES! WEEKLY

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flicks

SCREEN IT!

All hail the ‘Queens!’

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s the 2026 movie season enters its final stretch, along comes “Cookie Queens” to add another stellar alMark Burger ternative to the bigbang, big-budget blockbusters. Yes, Contributor it’s a documentary, but an irresistible and heart-warming one that celebrates the human spirit, with a far-reaching appeal that encompasses all ages.

The film focuses on four young Girl Scouts as Girl Scout Cookie season approaches: Ara, Nikki, Olive, and Shannon Elizabeth. They hail from different parts of the country and have different backgrounds. Their common goal is to sell as many boxes of Girl Scout Cookies in the time allotted, thereby earning money and prizes. Each year, the cookie sales top off at approximately $800 million, making it a very profitable annual tradition.

The film honors and celebrates these industrious young ladies, not merely as salespeople, but as human beings.

Each girl comes across as enormously appealing, and writer/producer/director Alysa Nahmias does a marvelous job of capturing their individual lives and — since they don’t interact with each other — condensing their stories thoroughly and expediently.

Of the four, the two who tend to stand out are Ara, the youngest of the bunch, whose sales goal is a modest 55 boxes.

Ara is an aspiring (and talented) pianist, and she’s diabetic, which limits her intake of the very product she is selling, but the scenes of her lugging a wagon from house to house to sell the cookies are simply beautiful. Hers is perhaps the most inspirational story of the four, and her dogged determination is infectious.

Olive, who hails from Charlotte, is un-

AUGUST 12-18, 2026

doubtedly the most ambitious and, comparatively speaking, aggressive salesperson, with an initial goal of 6,000 boxes (!). A natural go-getter, she expresses her desire to become a Supreme Court justice (more power to her!) and also her concerns about the profit margin of selling Girl Scout cookies, going so far as to draft a missive to the powers-that-be about expanding said profit margin. But she’s self-aware enough to realize the pressures she puts upon herself, leading to moments of doubt and insecurity.

Nikki and Shannon Elizabeth definitely have their moments too, so they never fall by the wayside. The viewer really has an opportunity to get to know all the girls profiled here, and it’s a delight to make their acquaintance.

Augmented by a first-rate score by Amanda Delores Patricia Jones and a choice song selection, “Cookie Queens” is, not unlike Girl Scout Cookies, a morsel to be savored and enjoyed. It’s entertaining, illuminating, and even triumphant.

You go, girls! !

See MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies. © 2026, Mark Burger.

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[VIDEO VAULT]

BY MARK BURGER

“DEATH WARRANT” (MVD Entertainment Group): One of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s best early vehicle, this 1990 action blowout casts the “Muscles from Brussels” as an undercover cop — essentially a contemporary Canadian Mountie (!) — who infiltrates a prison to ascertain a series of inmate deaths and uncovers widespread corruption that eventually threatens his life. Deran Serafian’s no-nonsense direction and stylish cinematography by future Oscar winner Russell Carpenter up this a few notches, as does a sturdy cast that carries the narrative while allowing Van Damme to strut his martial-arts stuff, including scene-stealer Robert Guillaume (as Van Damme’s grizzled mentor), Cynthia Gibb, George Dickerson, Art LaFleur, Patrick Kilpatrick, Jack Bannon, Joshua Miller, Armin Shimerman, and Al Leong. This was also David S. Goyer’s first screenplay to be produced. The collector’s-edition “MVD Rewind Collection” 4K Ultra HD combo ($49.95 retail) includes audio commentary, collectible mini-poster, retrospective interviews, photo gallery, trailers, and more. Rated R. “EPiC: ELVIS PRESLEY IN CONCERT” (Neon): The title tells all in this PG-13rated concert documentary conceived by acclaimed filmmaker Baz Luhrmann, whose research when making the 2022 feature “Elvis” included unearthing and restoring audio and video footage of Elvis Presley’s concerts to fashion this tribute to The King, featuring such classic tunes as “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” “Hound Dog,” “Burning Love,” “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” “Always On My Mind,” “In the Ghetto,” “Suspicious Minds,” and others, available on DVD ($12.96 retail), Blu-ray ($24.99 retail), and 4K Ultra HD combo ($42.98 retail).

DVD PICK OF THE WEEK: “THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT” (Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment Group)

Perhaps the least likely — and most controversial — poster boy for the First Amendment, Larry Flint (1942-2021) was the publisher of Hustler magazine and a polarizing figure, to say the least.

Perennial provocateur, proud pornographer, shameless self-promoter, and born-again Christian (at least for a time) — Flynt was all those things, and it’s to the credit of screenwriters Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski (“Ed Wood,” “Man on the Moon”) that this 1996 film encompasses everything in such an entertaining package, one that combines satire and drama in equal measure, deftly balanced by director Milos Forman, who earned an Oscar nomination.

As befits the traditional bio-pic, the film traces Flynt’s rise to fame — and infamy — from his early days as a strip-club owner in Cincinatti to his unorthodox (ahem) publishing prowess. Having proved his versatility in “Natural Born Killers” two years before, Woody Harrelson cemented it here with a dazzling turn as Flynt that earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. Harrelson, himself an idiosyncratic actor, is right at home playing so idiosyncratic a character. You may not like or respect Larry Flynt, but you can’t ignore him, and there’s a vicarious enjoyment watching him thumb his nose at the Establishment, laying bare its hypocrisy at every possible turn.

Rock star Courtney Love scores big-time as Flynt’s adoring but self-destructive partner Althea Leasure. This remains her finest hour on the big screen. Edward Norton, fresh from his Oscar-nominated feature debut in “Primal Fear” (1996), plays Flynt’s attorney Alan Isaacman, who is often appalled by Flynt’s (mis)behavior but defends him from obscenity charges, and even takes a bullet during the 1978 assassination attempt that left Flynt a paraplegic.

Not surprisingly, there is some dramatic license (Isaacman was not the lawyer who was shot alongside Flynt), but there’s much to enjoy here, including an eclectic cast including Harrelson’s brother Brett (in his first major role) as Flynt’s brother Jimmy, James Cromwell as Flynt’s nemesis Charles Keating (later convicted in the savingsand-loan scandal), Donna Hanover (then married to Rudy Giuliani) as evangelist Ruth Carter Stapleton, Crispin Glover, Vincent Schiavelli, Miles Chapin, Democratic strategist James Carville (in his feature debut), Richard Paul (perfectly cast as Jerry Falwell), and even Norm Macdonald as a TV reporter.

The limited-edition two-disc 4K Ultra HD combo ($49.95 retail) includes audio commentaries, collectible booklet, retrospective and vintage interviews, vintage featurettes, deleted scenes, image galleries, theatrical trailer and TV spots, and more.

Rated R.

“FIUME O MORTE!” (Icarus Films Home Video): Writer/director Igor Bezinovic’s award-winning historical satire and docudrama explores the unlikely 1919 invasion of Rijeka (which the Italians call “Fiume”) by Italian poet/playwright/nobleman Gabriele D’Annunzio in the days following World War I, as recalled and reinterpreted by contemporary citizens of the region. In Croatian and Italian with English subtitles, available on DVD ($29.98 retail).

toplines Adam Scott as an American writer who travels to Ireland to scatter his parents’ ashes and complete his latest novel, only to encounter bizarre phenomena at the remote inn where his parents honeymooned years before, with Peter Coonan, David Wilmot, and Florence Ordish in support, available on DVD ($26.98 retail) and 4K Ultra HD combo ($42.99 retail), each boasting audio commentary, behind-the-scenes featurette, teaser, and trailer.

“HOKUM” (Neon): Writer/director Damien McCarthy’s R-rated shocker

“HUNGRY” (Decal Partners): Writer/ director James Nunn’s monster mash

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sees a group of tourists terrorized by a man-eating hippopotamus (!) during an eventful boating tour of the Louisiana Bayou. Plucky Madison Davenport plays the resident “final girl,” with Tracey Bonner, Michel Curiel, Samantha Coughlan, Olivia Bernstone, Jim Meskimen, Joe Azzopardi, River Codack, and Joaquim de Almeida rounding out the rapidly diminishing ensemble. Filmed in Malta (!), this is reasonably entertaining and boasts decent CGI effects but holds few surprises. The DVD ($26.98 retail) includes behind-the-scenes featurette.

Rated PG-13.

“MANON 70” (Kino Lorber Studio Classics): The Blu-ray bow ($29.95 retail) of co-screenwriter/director Jean Aurel’s 1968 adaptation of Antoine Francois Prevost’s 18th-century novel “Manon Lescaut,” updated to the swinging ‘60s and starring Catherine Deneuve as the titular character, a lusty libertine who loves sympathetic Sami Frey but takes on many lovers to sustain her lavish lifestyle, with Elsa Martinelli, Jean-Claude Brialy, Paul Hubschmid, and reliable Robert Webber in support. The gorgeous Deneuve is ideally cast but admitted in interviews the film missed the mark, although it’s got style to spare and offers a colorful glimpse into the era and a meditation on its morality. In French with English subtitles, bonus features include audio commentary. Rated R. “THE WAGES OF SIN” (Something Weird/Kino Classics): The Blu-ray bow ($29.95 retail) of director Herman E. Webber’s 1938 feature debut, a lowrent melodrama that “exposes” (read: “exploits”) the travails of hard-working launderette coerced into a life of prostitution by smooth-talking sleaze Willy Costello, who plies her with alcohol and drugs, which ultimately leads to dire consequences for all concerned. This marks the 18th selection in the ongoing series “Forbidden Fruit: The Golden Age of the Exploitation Film,” and includes such bonus features as audio commentary, the eight-minute abridged version of 1937’s “Assassin of Youth,” “Something Weird” roadshow shorts, and still gallery.

“YOUNG MOTHERS” (Music Box Films): Originally titled “Jeunes meres,” this award-winning drama from the acclaimed screenwriter/producer/director siblings Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardennes follows five teenaged mothers (played

by Lucie Laruelle, Elsa Houben, Janaina Halloy Fokan, and newcomers Babette Verbeek and Samia Hilmi) as they contend with various personal issues — including whether or not to give their children up for adoption — while convalescing in a Belgian maternity center. In French with English subtitles, available on DVD ($29.95 retail), replete with Q&A session, image gallery, and theatrical trailer. !

See MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies. © 2026, Mark Burger.

AUGUST 12-18, 2026 YES! WEEKLY

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leisure [WEEKLY SUDOKU]

[KING CROSSWORD] “OH, GO ON!”

ACROSS 1

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Classic candy with a white, gooey center “Don’t — step further!”

Subj. for U.S. citizensto-be What food is in a food fight First-aid plant Cyber-address More lethal Musical ensemble that likes taunting its audiences?

Brainstorming question IRS form info War horses Identify the star of “The Godfather”?

Taint Peripheral Pistol, in slang Speed of corporate employees?

Alexis I, e.g.

Move a little Think ahead Whale locale Two-ply cotton twill fabric?

Outfielder Judge French for “weapon” — -la-la Sacred vows Horse with color patches on one-fourth of its body?

Great delight German conjunction — polloi Ike’s inits.

Yasser of Palestine Popular crafts website

69 Publicity video made by 12th graders?

72 “Chiquitita” pop group 76 Pupils’ places 78 Galloped 79 Daiquiri liquor 81 Lil Durk or Lil Jon’s music 82 Brief, tight shorts 85 Marx brother with extreme views?

88 Mammal with striped legs 89 — Paulo 91 Apple core bit 92 Olympic prize 93 Beatles drummer participating in a bout?

97 Tell tall tales 99 Big shopping center 100 “— From Muskogee” 101 “Puffball” director Nicolas 102 Stringed instrument played by people in jail?

106 Water, in Vichy 107 — salts (bath supply) 109 Pewter metal 110 Moola earned by singer Jones?

115 Adds to a film, as music 118 Response to “Are you?”

121 Boa of South America 122 Small dance club?

125 Some chewy candies 126 RV hookup org.

127 Countertenor 128 Linear, briefly 129 Colorant 130 Many an heir 131 Most strict

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DOWN

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Antislip items

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 22 24 29 30 32 34 35 36 37 38 40 41 42 43 44 48 49 51 53 54

Bar brews Bank offering The, in Caen Egg capsule Middles, in London Compulsion Speed Gets clogged with icky stuff Celestial ball Without help Certain Dutch cheese Dakar’s land Uncover “Paper Lion” star Alan Outward appearance Honey wine Roughly Inside dope Former Laker Lamar Pianist Schnabel Small-time Beatrix Potter’s “The Tale of Mr. —” Not reflecting light Display boldly Units of capacitance Most weepy Sheriff Wyatt Fast-food pizza chain California mountain A Jackson 5 brother With a sharp image, briefly Pinkish-red Prefix with laryngology Club in a Barry Manilow hit, for short — degree Longish skirts Prefix with skeleton or spore Lab slide dye On — firma

61 Hobby with call letters 62 Into a state of conflict 66 Golfer Palmer, informally 68 Rebel like Abbie Hoff man or Jerry Rubin 70 Moniker of a loch monster 71 Paw parts 73 Of a wedding woman 74 Lauren of “The Fan” 75 Delphi deity 77 Parade ruiner 80 Roman 1,900 82 Drifting sort 83 “Enough, I get it!”

84 Cabbie’s car 85 Hitter Maris, for short 86 Toon pics 87 Macho sorts 90 Make furious 94 Fine- — wood 95 In the form of a circle 96 Photo — 98 Authorize 103 Dennis of hoops fame 104 “It’s my turn” 105 Remnant of a burned coal 106 Kingdom given to Esau 108 Some skin scars 110 Mexican treat 111 — even keel 112 Filly’s mother 113 Jack fish 114 Simplify 116 Comic thuds 117 “Shoo!”

118 Oahu, e.g.

119 Deeds 120 Irrelevant 123 Tic-tac-toe victory 124 Swimmer Thorpe

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What North Carolina’s new budget means for teachers like me

A

s an experienced science teacher in North Carolina, finding innovative, authentic resources to engage my students has never been easy.

Dorothy Holley, After all, math and Ph.D. English are the tested subjects, and school funding Contributor and professional development often follow the areas the public sees — and judges — first. The new state budget has made my job even harder.

On the surface, lawmakers say this budget improves educational outcomes for students. An EdNC headline announcing its passage highlights funding for “raises, literacy, and math.” But for teachers like me, the reality looks very different.

While my salary has increased by 5.4%, the cost of living has risen by more than 11%, meaning my purchasing power has continued to decline. Even more troubling, legislators have once again excluded teachers with 14 to 29 years of experience from any future salary increases, sending a clear message that experience — the very quality that research consistently links to improved student outcomes — is not a priority to be compensated. At the same time, resources I have relied on to teach effectively have been stripped away.

For the past 14 years, the North Carolina Office of Environmental Education has been one of those resources. It has provided professional learning, classroom lessons, innovative teaching strategies, and partnerships that have transformed both my teaching and my students’ learning.

When I was assigned to teach Environmental Science, I received the course — but no curriculum and few instructional resources. The Office of Environmental Education became my lifeboat. Through its workshops, field experiences, and network of experts, I gained the knowledge and confidence to make environmental science relevant, engaging, and authentic for my students.

Those experiences led to collaboraWWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

tions with educators, scientists, nonprofit organizations, and industry professionals.

They opened doors to field trips, guest speakers, internships, summer employment opportunities, and career pathways that many of my students had never imagined. The environmental education practices I learned also inspired research projects, presentations at national conferences, professional credentials, and graduate studies that strengthened my effectiveness as a teacher.

The impact extended beyond my Environmental Science classes. I incorporated environmental education best practices into Physical Science, where my students demonstrated higher achievement. I documented those results in a research study, “Using Environmental Education Best Practices to Teach Physical Science,” and shared the findings with educators at the National Science Teaching Association Conference so other teachers could make science learning more meaningful for their students.

The Office of Environmental Education has also strengthened North Carolina’s national reputation as a leader in environmental literacy. Educators from other states have pursued North Carolina’s Environmental Educator Certification to build their own teaching capacity.

By investing in teachers, our state has extended its influence well beyond its borders while enriching learning experiences for students here at home.

Although the office provides its resources free of charge, I chose to invest $50 of my own money 14 years ago to earn my Environmental Educator credential. That modest investment has paid dividends for more than 2,500 students who have benefited from the knowledge, experiences, partnerships, and opportunities the Office made possible. Few public investments can claim that kind of return.

Yet the new state budget effectively eliminates the Office of Environmental Education. It also gives experienced teachers a raise that fails to keep pace with inflation, followed by a decade with no additional salary increases for educators with 14 to 29 years of experience.

North Carolina cannot expect to improve student outcomes while simultaneously disinvesting in the teachers and programs that make those outcomes possible. At a time when our state should

be preparing students for an increasingly complex economy and the environmental challenges of the future, we are instead dismantling one of our most effective and affordable educational resources.

North Carolina can — and must — do better. We should invest in the teachers who stay, the programs that work, and the students whose futures depend on both. !

DOROTHY HOLLEY, Ph.D., teaches Chemistry and Forensics at West Johnston High School near Benson, N.C. In 2026, she was named the American Association of Chemistry Teachers’ Chemistry Teacher of the Year and completed the North Carolina Public School Forum’s Education Policy Fellowship to better connect classroom experience with education policy and improve student outcomes.

AUGUST 12-18, 2026 YES! WEEKLY

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Curfews in the Triad: Cities eye, adopt youth curfew

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t the Aug. 3 meeting of Greensboro City Council, Mayor Marikay Abuzuaiter asked for a consensus on “crafting an ordinance for Ian McDowell a youth curfew” similar to what Winston-Salem enacted Contributor two months ago.

Abuzuaiter stated she and City Manager Trey Davis were looking at ordinances passed by local cities. “This is not a reaction to what happened last week.”

She was referring to the shooting at the Royal Banquet Hall at 3831 W. Gate City Blvd., which occurred on Aug. 3 at 1:50 a.m. and injured nine people, including one 15-year-old and three 17-yearolds.

“I think it’s a healthy conversation to have,” said District 1’s Crystal Black, “and if this is a way to put something in motion to protect our youth, I think it’s a good thing.”

At-Large representative Irving Allen, District 2’s Cecile Crawford, District 3’s April Parker and District 4’s Adam Marshall expressed reservations.

“This is something I don’t initially support,” said Allen. “But I support the conversation around it, which I think is

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worth having. I definitely lean towards providing resources, as opposed to punitive measures.”

“I have to join Irv on this one,” said Crawford. “Curfew usually has a fairly negative connotation, so I need to understand how this works while protecting civil rights. I also have to question if we have the capacity to enforce a curfew. So I’m leaning on a no until I learn more.”

Parker cited Michelle Alexander’s “The New Jim Crow,” noting that “joblessness is often at the root of violent crimes.”

“We create hot spots where crime is most likely to happen. There’s a lot of ways we really have to roll up our sleeves, especially with the current rollbacks of having these kinds of dialogues, to not just do something so superficial. We’re responsible for keeping our children safe, not being kept safe from our children.”

Marshall agreed. “I’m all for protecting our youth, but we need to be careful not to overreach and start preventing folks’ ability to live their life and have their freedoms.”

At-Large Representative Hugh Holston acknowledged Winston-Salem’s curfew.

“That doesn’t mean we have to, but I think it’s prudent to at least have the conversation.”

District 5’s Tammi Thurm agreed. “I look forward to the discussion, but want to make sure that, as the city manager and city attorney look at this, we’re talking about the entire city, not picking and choosing neighborhoods or areas.

If we’re going to do this, it needs to be citywide.”

Mayor Pro Tem Denise Roth mentioned her son. “I want him to be able to have a good time. I want him to be safe. When I was city manager, we had flash mobs.

So there is some learning that we can take from that, and I appreciate that the folks that are on this council at this time will allow for balanced conversation to happen.”

Abuzuaiter then instructed Davis “to see what we can do, what other cities are doing, and how we can research that and see what would be best for our youth.”

Davis replied that “we do have the luxury of having a Community Safety Department, which is a non-police component in our repertoire of folks that help with public safety. I will work with them as well as our police chief, our attorney and staff to bring something back to you.”

The curfew ordinance that may become a model for Greensboro was suggested by Winston-Salem Police Chief William Penn. Winston-Salem’s City Council approved it at their June 22 session with a 5-3 vote.

Voting yes were Mayor Pro Tem Denise Adams (North Ward); Barbara Hanes Burke (Northeast Ward); Robert Clark (West Ward); Vivián Joyner (South Ward); and Annette Scippio (East Ward). Opposed were Scott Andree-Bowen (Southwest Ward); Regina Hall (Northwest Ward); and

James Taylor (Southeast Ward).

Under the city’s rules, Mayor Allen Joines can only vote to break a tie, but Joines made it clear he supported the curfew.

“Our officers are seeing more young people out late at night unsupervised, and unfortunately, that’s when we tend to see an increase in problems, whether it’s kids becoming victims themselves or getting involved in disorderly or unsafe behavior. This Youth Protection Ordinance is about stepping in early, keeping our youth safe, and giving families another layer of support.”

The Winston curfew bans minors 17 and under from public spaces between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The city’s official announcement called this “decisive action to address a growing pattern of late-night youth gatherings, ‘teen takeovers,’ and related disruptive behaviors that has [sic] increased across the city in 2026.”

Those who can be cited for violating it include not only minors, but their parents or guardians, as well as retail owners and employees who allow juveniles in establishments during curfew hours; anyone 18 or older who knowingly aids or abets a juvenile in violating the ordinance; and parents or guardians who refuse to retrieve a juvenile during restricted hours.

Juvenile violators may be referred to N.C. Juvenile Court. “However, the Winston-Salem Police Department will focus on alternatives such as transportWWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

ing youth home, issuing warnings, or referring families to the Youth Diversion Program.” Adults may face a misdemeanor charge and fines up to $500.

Joines told the media, “It’s not about punishing young people, it’s about preventing situations from escalating, reducing late-night disruptions, and making sure our community remains safe while still respecting the rights of our residents and the role of parents.”

The ordinance allows exceptions for juveniles accompanied by a parent, guardian, or authorized adult; traveling in a vehicle with permission; working or commuting to or from a job; responding to an emergency; attending or traveling to or from supervised school, religious, or recreational activities; exercising First Amendment rights; or enrolled in a college or university.

The ordinance is scheduled to remain in place through Oct. 12, 2026.

Opponents have voiced concerns that more emphasis should be placed on underlying causes of juvenile crime, including expanding youth programs and long-term prevention strategies.

The activist group Hate Out of Winston condemned the curfew by circulating the

WWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

Greensboro Mayor Marikay Abuzuaiter

Greensboro Mayor Pro Tem Denise Roth

following statement from the ACLU of North Carolina.

“Young people have constitutional rights, including the right to be in public spaces. Both Raleigh and Charlotte are considering new curfew restrictions targeting young people, raising serious concerns about over-policing and the rights of minors in N.C. communities.

Contact your city council members and urge them to vote NO!” Multiple studies over the past two decades have found youth curfews ineffec-

Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines

tive and that they can actually increase juvenile crime during curfew hours.

In the April 2016 article “Do Youth Curfews Reduce Crime,” Wall Street Journal reporter Brooke Anderson interviewed researcher Dr. Jennifer Doleac.

“There is no empirical evidence that curfews work, but voters and legislators have it in their mind that juveniles shouldn’t be out that late,” said Doleac, who stated that when Washington, D.C., enacted such a curfew, gun violence by minors immediately increased.

Winston-Salem Mayor Pro Tem Denise Adams

Asked why this was, Doleac responded: “Having people around helps deter crime by increasing the likelihood that an offender will get caught. Curfews incentivize law-abiding citizens to be at home instead of out on the streets. Also, enforcing the curfew distracts police from doing other things.” !

IAN MCDOWELL is an award-winning author and journalist whose book “I Ain’t Resisting: the City of Greensboro and the Killing of Marcus Smith” was published in September of 2023 by Scuppernong Editions.

AUGUST 12-18, 2026 YES! WEEKLY

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tunes

HEAR IT!

RiverRun International Film Festival announces bold

R

PRESS RELEASE

iverRun International Film Festival is launching several new initiatives as it embarks on its 29th film festival slated to take place April 16-24, 2027. The initiatives include a bold new vision for programming utilizing filmmakers, community leaders, and partners; a student-focused kick-off for September with acclaimed filmmaker Boots Riley; new accessible entry pricing; and the opportunity to submit films earlier.

“We’re helping build a creative ecosystem in Winston-Salem,” said Michael Morin, RiverRun’s executive director. “All of our new initiatives reflect our core mission of better serving and including our communities in the creation of the festival.”

RiverRun also recently welcomed two new team members: Ben Umstead as director of programming and artist relations and Katherine White as director of development and operations.

Umstead has worked for the Slamdance film festival for the last 10 years as a programmer and co-founding and managing the Indie Awards. In addition, they have produced a number of award-winning micro-budget films.

“Ben Umstead is a trusted friend and colleague whose guidance has been invaluable since I joined RiverRun last December, said Morin. “Ben stepped in on short notice as RiverRun’s Films With Class programmer and coordinator last year, further demonstrating their deep commitment to the festival and its mission. Ben brings an incredible depth of experience, sharp instincts, and a real love for independent film, but just as importantly, they bring thoughtfulness and joy to the work,” said Morin.

Katherine White has more than 30 years’ experience in nonprofit administration including serving as director of operations and fundraising for the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA), founding executive director for the New Winston Museum (now MUSE), and president of AIDS Care Service. She also worked with arts organizations such as the Oakland Symphony, the Monterey Museum of Art, and the Oakland Ballet Company.

“Ben and Katherine bring a wealth of experience to RiverRun,” said Morin. “I am thrilled to have them here in the sandbox alongside me as we build a bolder, more sustainable RiverRun for the years ahead.”

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As part of its new approach to film selection, RiverRun has created three new programming tracts leading up to its 2027 festival: a Curatorial Filmmaker Fellowship; a Community Programming initiative focused on regional arts leaders, local filmmakers, and cultural and community partners; and a program called Youth SELECT, which stands for Shaping Emerging Leaders in Exhibition and Curatorial Talent. Under Umstead’s leadership these three tracts will cover the entirety of programming, from feature films to shorts.

“Our new programming initiatives will pull back the curtain on the festival experience, offering filmmakers and audiences a clearer look at who watches submitted films, how programming decisions are made, and the values guiding RiverRun’s selections,” said Morin. “This next chapter strengthens RiverRun’s commitment to discovering exceptional work, championing artists, and creating meaningful access to cinema for the communities of the Piedmont Triad and beyond.”

The Curatorial Filmmaker Fellowship will be comprised of six filmmakers from both documentary and narrative cinema.

These filmmakers will bring their dynamic experiences as storytellers into the festival’s programming process and help provide unique workshops, talks, and events during the festival next April. In return, Fellows will receive a financial honorarium to support future filmmaking endeavors and living expenses.

“The Curatorial Filmmaker Fellowship represents connections with audiences, students, and filmmakers in a way that really nurtures the whole ecosystem,” said Morin. “These are the kinds of artists who remind us why independent cinema matters — and why authentic human storytelling will always prevail. The response from filmmakers to the fellowship has been so overwhelmingly positive that I’m hoping to gain additional funding to include another selection of filmmaker fellows later this year.”

The initial group of filmmakers participating in the Curatorial Filmmaker Fellowship for 2027 — along with their selected programming focus — are: Christalyn Hampton, director/producer with a focus in documentary shorts; Merawi Gerima, writer/director/activist with a focus on narrative features; Steve Way, actor/writer/ producer with a focus in narrative features

and LIMITLESS: Stories Without Restraint, presented by Easterseals PORT Health; Kristian Mercado, writer/director with a focus in narrative shorts; Avalon Fast, writer/ director/actor, with a focus in queer cinema; and Liz Sargent, writer/director with a focus in narrative and festival events.

The Community Programming panel will utilize the talent and experience of leaders and partners in the local community. Community Programmers for the 2027 festival include Brittany K. Giles-Jones, MPA, AEA, CEM (arts consultant), Jake Laystrom (a/perture cinema curator), Christopher Everett (artistic director of the Southern Documentary Fund), Max Cullen (director of operations & development of OUT at the movies), Taja Seafus (president of D.O.S.E Artist Collective and co-chair of Arts District Winston-Salem), and Tiffany Albright (founder and director of Queer Fear Film Festival).

“People are often surprised by the depth of artistic talent and the remarkable people who have chosen to make this region home.

Winston-Salem is a modest city with an extraordinary cultural pulse,” Morin said.

“The Piedmont Triad is full of creative energy and meaningful partnerships, and we are excited to bring together a range of demographics and interests to help with the programming for RiverRun.” The third programming initiative is Youth SELECT, which stands for Shaping Emerging Leaders in Exhibition and Curatorial Talent. RiverRun will be working with recent UNCSA film grads Emily McCann and M-Alain Bertoni on recruiting students and local filmmakers, ages 18–26. Each Youth SELECT programmer will be eligible for a stipend or course credit for their time spent helping to program RiverRun. “So often, young adults merely screen films for festivals and don’t have any final input in the selection of films,” said Umstead. “SELECT is unique in that our youth programmers will get to experience the full process of watching, reviewing, and deciding on a section of films collaboratively.

The goal is to grow this endeavor to include more schools and cities in North Carolina.

But for our inaugural year, we are focused on the community here in the Piedmont Triad. With time, we hope to become a goto place for young filmmakers to learn and study the art of programming, curation, and film exhibition.”

Those interested in applying for Youth

SELECT, should email youthselect@riverrunfilm.com.

New film submission deadlines have been established for the 29th RiverRun International Film Festival. “Starting submissions in August versus September is about easing the stress filmmakers are likely feeling in not only finishing their films but committing to expensive submission fees,” said Umstead. Submissions open today with accessible entry pricing of $33 for shorts and $44 for features. !

THE RIVERRUN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL is a nonprofit cultural organization dedicated to the role of cinema as a conduit of powerful ideas and diverse viewpoints. Founded in 1998, RiverRun is a competitive event that annually showcases new films from both established and emerging filmmakers around the world.

Each spring, RiverRun screens new narrative, documentary, short, student and animated films, offering both audience and jury prizes in competition categories.

WANNA go?

New film submission deadlines: Opening Date: Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026 Early Bird Deadline: Monday, Aug. 31, 2026 Regular Deadline: Monday, Sept. 28, 2026 Late: Monday, Nov.2, 2026 Final: Monday, Dec. 7, 2026 Notification: Week of Feb. 15, 2027 Festival Dates: April 16–24, 2027 To submit a film, please visit FilmFreeway.com/ riverrun.

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11

feature

SNAP changes push more North Carolina families to food pantries, food banks

I

n 2015, a group of concerned Guilford County residents decided to collect food from their neighborhood to help families in need.

That first year, 180 Jennifer Fernandez families signed up to give food. Today, North Carolina more than 4,500 Health News people donate once or twice a month to the nonprofit A Simple Gesture.

The nonprofit, working with dozens of other organizations and companies, has helped coordinate the collection and distribution of enough food to equal nearly 10 million child-size meals during the past 11 years.

Last year alone, A Simple Gesture and partners collected the equivalent of 2.6 million meals, CEO Leslie Loyd said. All of it went right out the door to families who needed it — reflecting a 25 percent increase in need over the previous year, she said.

And this year, demand is already 20 percent higher than it was at this time last year, she added.

Even as more people are seeking help, food pantries are working with less federal funding and lower output from farmers who are struggling with higher costs for gas and fertilizer, Loyd said. An extended drought has also hurt North Carolina farmers, some of whom had given surplus produce to the pantries in previous years.

Changes to federal food aid, including new eligibility requirements, are driving more people to seek help — and straining nonprofits’ ability to provide that help, Loyd said.

“What I used to tell people 10 years ago is food pantries are used, like, short term,” she said. “We’ll see families who might have lost a job and they need the help for an emergency period of time.”

That’s not what’s happening now.

“We’re seeing people who are working two or three jobs but don’t have any type

12 YES! WEEKLY AUGUST 12-18, 2026

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY A SIMPLE GESTURE

Volunteers unload bags of food for BackPack Beginnings. The green bag food collection is a core program of the Guilford County nonprofit A Simple Gesture.

The organization started in 2015 with 180 families filling bags. Today, more than 4,500 people donate once or twice a month. of safety … net at all,” she said. “So they get a flat tire. They’re at a pantry. They have an extra medical bill. They have to go to the food pantry.”

“The food pantries are being used as a backstop rather than an emergency,” Loyd continued. “We’re seeing a lot more people, and it’s getting increasingly more difficult to meet the need.”

FOOD INSECURITY

In Guilford County, the third most populous county in the state, an estimated 14.9 percent of residents are food insecure, according to Feeding America, the umbrella organization for many of the nation’s food banks and feeding programs.

And of the county’s children, 23 percent — almost one in four — don’t know where they’ll get their next meal.

Across the state, at least one in 10 residents experiences food insecurity, with rates as high as one in five in some counties, according to an analysis by the nonprofit, nonpartisan NC Budget and Tax Center.

Health insurance company UnitedHealthcare estimates North Carolina’s food insecurity is higher — closer to one in seven residents.

Studies show that people who struggle to access nutritious food have poorer long-term health outcomes than those who don’t. They’re more likely to have a poor diet and an increased risk of dietrelated diseases — from heart disease to diabetes to certain types of cancer.

For children, food insecurity is associated with developmental risk and other health issues. For example, food insecure children are 1.4 times more likely to have asthma than children who are food secure.

Hungry children are also more likely to struggle to concentrate at school or when doing homework, according to No Kid Hungry, a national campaign focused on ending childhood hunger.

CHANGES TO FEDERAL FOOD AID

Changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, outlined in the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act law reduced benefits and expanded work requirements to include adults up to age 65, and parents and other caregivers of children age 14 and older. Before the bill passed, families with children up to 18 years of age were eligible for SNAP. The changes

started rolling out in October 2025.

Advocates feared the changes would lead to families losing their benefits.

In North Carolina, more than 1.2 million low-income North Carolinians depend on SNAP to help put food on their tables. Current data on how many North Carolina children use SNAP was unavailable. However, historically, a little less than half of the state’s SNAP beneficiaries have been children.

According to state data, SNAP enrollment has dropped by 110,129 people since September 2025.

Nationally, SNAP participation has dropped by more than 4.5 million people since July 2025, according to an estimate by the national, nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Based on data from 19 states, researchers estimate that the number of children receiving SNAP nationwide has dropped by more than 1.5 million in that time frame.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said research has shown that work requirements cut many people off federal food aid without increasing their employment or earnings. With unemployment nationwide flat at about 4 percent for the past year, researchers at the nonprofit said it’s “very unlikely that reduced need is driving the decline in SNAP participation.”

In addition to the SNAP changes, Congress last year cut $1 billion in food aid that once flowed through food banks nationwide. That loss undermined food banks’ ability to help.

Danielle Moore, chief operations officer at Nourish Up, told NC Health News last year that the 50 percent cut to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina in the federal Emergency Food Assistance Program, commonly referred to as TEFAP, would amount to a million-dollar gap. That would mean fewer fruits, vegetables and frozen meats for the people who get sustenance from the network of food pantries.

In its recently passed budget, the North Carolina General Assembly took steps to address food insecurity.

Legislators directed $9.1 million in oneWWW.YESWEEKLY.COM

Leslie Loyd, CEO of A Simple Gesture, stands bread and other food items collected as part of the nonprofit’s food recovery program. Surplus food from businesses is collected by the nonprofit and shared with other organizations that serve people in need.

time funds to six food banks across the state for the 2026-27 fiscal year. In addition, smaller, one-time grants ranging from $25,000 to $5 million will provide funding for 13 food programs across the state.

‘JUST A BAND AID’

Guilford County’s A Simple Gesture has become a sort of clearinghouse — or hub that helps connect organizations in the county with available food.

Their “green bag” program, in which people fill a bag with donated food, has grown so large that the nonprofit upgraded to routing software used by UPS and Amazon drivers to plan routes for the more than 100 volunteers who pick up the food.

They also put refrigerators in middle and high schools to allow students to share unopened food with fellow students. The program has been copied across the state, Loyd said.

Their third program reclaims surplus food from grocery stores, restaurants, caterers, corporate cafeterias and schools, and redistributes it to organizations that can get it to people in need.

“We kind of know what all the differ-

SCAN HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

ent pantries are doing, when meals are being served across the community,” Loyd said. “It’s a lot of, like, logistics. But once you kind of know that, we can get food out really quickly, and most of it can be distributed the same day to families.”

Thanks to those connections, the nonprofit SimpleWays now has access to hundreds of milk cartons that had been going unused every week at nearby Hunter Elementary School.

One of SimpleWays’ programs focuses

on helping families eat healthier. They even have a dietitian on staff.

A Simple Gesture also helps SimpleWays by sending volunteers to pick up food at its distribution hub and deliver it to seniors, SimpleWays CEO Susan Cox said.

“They’re a fantastic organization,” she said. “They work well with all of their partners they have out in the community.”

SimpleWays focuses on helping people handle whatever crisis brought them in, then supports them in finding stability and creating resilience, Cox said.

People typically stay between nine and 12 months before graduating from their program.

In the past year, SimpleWays has seen people seeking help who had to adjust to reduced SNAP benefits, or who lost their benefits entirely, Cox said.

“So far, we have been able to absorb any increase,” she said. “One of the unique things about us, because we also graduate people out of our programs, we can also absorb people who are coming in.”

Advocates like Loyd are worried about the increased dependence on nonprofits. Most people don’t realize that the federal government covers 95 percent of the nation’s food safety net through programs like SNAP, she said.

“Every nonprofit and church and grandmother making sandwiches on the corner is only the last 5 percent,” Loyd said. “Now they’re trying to flip flop that, and it’s going to be devastating.”

Food nonprofits are important in building community and showing that people care. But they are “just a band aid,” she said.

“I think we need to have the political will to end hunger in our country,” Loyd said. !

NORTH CAROLINA HEALTH NEWS is an independent, non-partisan, not-for-profit, statewide news organization dedicated to covering all things health care in North Carolina. Visit NCHN at northcarolinahealthnews.org.

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13

last call

[TRIVIA TEST]

[SALOME’S STARS]

by Fifi Rodriguez

[1. U.S. STATES: Which two states do not observe Daylight Saving Time?

[2. ANATOMY: How many valves does the human heart have?

[3. MATH: What comes after a trillion?

[4. GEOGRAPHY: What is the longest

Week of August 17, 2026

[7. LITERATURE: Which children’s book features a character called Augustus Gloop?

[8. ART: Who painted the famous work titled “Guernica?”

[9. MOVIES: In which film does Sidney

river in Europe?

Poitier’s character say, “They call me Mr. Tibbs?”

[5. TELEVISION: What is the name of

[10. ASTRONOMY: What is the small-

the hospital in the sitcom “Scrubs?”

est planet in our solar system?

[6. HISTORY: Which empire did Genghis Khan rule?

answer

[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Despite your Arian penchant for wanting to tackle a problem head-on, you might want to take a little more time to see how a current situation develops. It could surprise you.

[TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Taking on the role of peacemaker in a disruptive environment is a challenge, but you can do it. Just continue to have the same faith in yourself that so many others have in you.

[GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Although your work schedule keeps you busy, you should make time to start preparing for an important upcoming family event that you’ll want to celebrate in a special way.

[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) An offer could have many good things attached to it that aren’t apparent at first glance, including a chance to move into another career area. You might want to check out its possibilities.

[LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) With responsibilities surging both in the workplace and in the home, it’s important to prioritize how you deal with them. Be patient.

Pressures will begin to ease starting early next week.

where the Moon Child wants to be early in the week. But by week’s end, a chance to travel raises your excitement level — and that of the lucky person who gets to go along.

[SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) A positive reaction to a suggestion could indicate that you’re on track for getting your message to the right people. Devote the weekend to catching up with the special people in your life.

[LEO (July 23 to August 22) Be careful not to be a copycat when dealing with someone who uses unfair or even unkind methods

[SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A new attitude from those in charge could make things difficult for you,

[CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Home is

1. Arizona and Hawaii.

2. Four.

3. Quadrillion.

4. The Volga River.

5. Sacred Heart Hospital.

6. The Mongol Empire.

7. “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”

8. Pablo Picasso.

9. “In the Heat of the Night.”

10. Mercury.

© 2026 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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unless you can accept the changes without feeling as if you’re being pressured into doing so.

[CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Family matters once again dominate much of the week. But don’t neglect your workplace duties while you deal with them. An offer to help could come from a surprising source.

[AQUARIUS (January 20 to February

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There’s also a more positive turn in domestic relationships.

[PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Don’t let yourself be rushed into making a decision about an intriguing financial arrangement. Asking questions and checking it out now could pay off in a big way later on.

[BORN THIS WEEK: You might have a tendency to be more than a bit judgmental, but others understand that it comes from a warm, loving heart. © 2026 by King Features Syndicate

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