VOLUME 148 ISSUE 22 | THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2025
CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM
THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Boating holiday N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission officers were training on Lake Tillery this week, with nearly a dozen boats spotted on the water Monday. Four NCWRC boats, along with a pontoon boat, cruised the lake on the hot summer day.
MY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE PHOTOGRAPHY FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
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BRIEF this week
Trump administration withdraws from UNESCO again United Nations The Trump administration has announced it will once again withdraw from the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO. The move Tuesday was expect and has the U.S. further retreating from international organizations. The decision comes two years after the Biden administration rejoined following a controversial, five-year absence that began during President Donald Trump’s first term. The White House cited similar concerns as it did in 2018, saying it believes U.S. involvement is not in its national interest and accusing the agency promoting anti-Israel speech. The UNESCO chief said she “deeply” regrets the U.S. decision but the agency “has prepared for it.” She denied accusations of anti-Israel bias.
Pentagon tightens medical waivers rules to join military Washington, D.C. The Pentagon says people with congestive heart failure, undergoing treatment for schizophrenia or who have a history of paraphilic disorders will no longer be eligible for a medical waiver to serve in the military. The guidance signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and issued Tuesday updates conditions that disqualify recruits from service. Waivers have long been granted for a long list of medical conditions. Hegseth says the change will help ensure the physical and mental capabilities of service members.
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Commissioners run into legal blockade on wastewater waiver The Sam’s Xpress Car Wash was assumed to have needed waiver approval by the commission By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record PITTSBORO — The Chatham County Board of Commissioners ran into a legal quandary at its July 21 for its regular business meeting.
The legal question arose in regard to the planned Sam’s Xpress Car Wash near Briar Chapel and its plans for wastewater treatment. The site had previously submitted a request for a waiver of section seven of the Waste
and Wastewater of the Compact Communities Ordinance (CCO) to allow for an industrial pump and haul option to dispose of wastewater that is not reused in the water reclamation system for the Briar Chapel development. Section seven states that “wastewater treatment shall occur at centralized wastewater treatment facilities either
on-site or at existing, previously permitted off-site facilities as permitted by [the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality].” “The original plan was that the wastewater was all going to be discharged and treated onsite by a commercial wastewater treatment plant operator loSee WAIVER, page A3
State of emergency declared in Chatham Gov. Josh Stein’s declaration means additional funds will be available to the county from the state and feds By Bob Sutton Chatham News & Record A STATE OF emergency was declared by Gov. Josh Stein in Chatham County, as well as a
dozen other central North Carolina counties following severe flooding and other effects from Tropical Storm Chantal. The release from the governor’s office said the state of emer-
gency was issued “to facilitate and support long-term recovery efforts from flooding caused by Tropical Storm Chantal.” A state of emergency is primarily a financial move, freeing up state and federal funds to cover additional costs, like overtime, for government agencies. “Tropical Storm Chantal cost
2026 Senate map tough for Democrats, Republicans have their own headaches All eyes are now on Lara Trump, the president’s daughterin-law, who is mulling whether to run in her home state as other potential candidates stand by.
Dems need to net four seats to retake the majority By Thomas Beaumont and Jill Colvin The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Republicans are encountering early headaches in Senate races viewed as pivotal to maintaining the party’s majority in next year’s midterm elections, with recruitment failures, open primaries, infighting and a president who has been sitting on the sidelines. Democrats still face an uphill battle. They need to net four seats to retake the major-
ity, and most of the 2026 contests are in states that Republican President Donald Trump easily won last November. But Democrats see reasons for hope in Republicans’ challenges. They include a nasty primary in Texas that could jeopardize a seat Republicans have held for decades. In North Carolina and Georgia, the GOP still lacks a clear field of candidates. Trump’s influence dials up the uncertainty as he decides whether to flex his influential endorsement to stave off intraparty fights. Republicans stress that it remains early in the election cycle and say there is still See SENATE, page A10
some of our neighbors their lives and others their livelihood and property. We must do everything we can to support them as they get back on their feet,” Stein said in the release. “This state of emergency will help get North Carolinians the support See EMERGENCY, page A2