VOLUME 148 ISSUE 30 | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2025
CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM
THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
COURTESY CHATHAM COUNTY
And they’re off Runners take off at the start of the Boone & Sean Good Samaritan Memorial 5K during Chatham County’s Recovery Celebration at Chatham Middle School in Siler City on Sept. 13. The substance abuse awareness event, which honored two students who died, featured races for both youth and adults, along with recovery resources, live music and free lunch for the community.
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Chatham County Schools presents BRIEF this week last year’s accountability data N.Y. judge tosses terrorism charges against Mangione, murder count stand A judge has dismissed terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione in New York state’s case over the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, but he kept the state’s second-degree murder charges against him. Judge Gregory Carro ruled Tuesday that although there is no doubt that the killing was not an ordinary street crime, New York law doesn’t consider something terrorism simply because it was motivated by ideology. The ruling came as Mangione made his first court appearance in the state case since February. The 27-year-old Ivy League graduate has attracted a cult following as a stand-in for frustrations with the health insurance industry after Thompson was fatally shot in December.
Trump deploys National Guard to Memphis, says it’s “replica” D.C. crackdown Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump has announced the deployment of the National Guard to Memphis to combat crime, testing the limits of presidential power by using military force in cities. Trump made Monday’s announcement with Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, calling it a “replica” of efforts in Washington, D.C. Last month, Trump deployed National Guard troops to the nation’s capital, claiming it reduced crime. Lee supports the deployment, while Memphis Mayor Paul Young opposes it.
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The district ranked first in the entire state in academic growth By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record PITTSBORO — Chatham County Schools has been enjoying steady academic growth.
At its Sept. 8 meeting, the board was presented with the district’s 2024-25 accountability results. The state provides districts with school performance grades, which are based on each school’s achievement score and academic growth. The breakdown within the district was 5.3% of schools re-
ceived an A-rating (8% is the state average), 52.6% received a B (21%), 36.8% received a C (40%) and 5.3% received a D (26%). Chatham County Schools (CCS) did not have an F-rated school this year, as Chatham Middle rose to a D-grade. Part of the state’s performance See SCHOOLS, page A3
“One-hundred percent of our schools met or exceeded growth, which is a fantastic celebration.” Darlene Reap-Klosty, director of accountability
Appeals court rules felony offenders can’t be prosecuted for voting unlawfully by mistake The law targeted black voters disproportionately, according to judges By Gary D. Robertson The Associated Press RALEIGH — A federal appeals court has ruled that a North Carolina law that made it
a crime for felony offenders who vote before they have completed their sentences without knowing they were breaking the law is unconstitutional. A panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last Friday unanimously upheld a trial judge’s decision that found the law was discriminatory and harmed black ex-defen-
dants disproportionately. At issue was a law against voting by felony offenders who were still serving sentences. In 2023, lawmakers updated the law so that, starting in January 2024, a person convicted of a felony had to know it was against the law to vote for it to be considered a crime. But the old law wasn’t re-
Stein requests $13.5B more from Congress for Hurricane Helene recovery The governor says additional help is needed from Washington The Associated Press FLAT ROCK — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein on Monday requested $13.5 billion more from Congress in recovery aid for Hurricane Helene almost a year after the historic storm, saying additional help is needed from Washington to address record amounts of damage and to get funds to the region quicker. The proposal also asks the
federal government to distribute an additional $9.4 billion in federal funds that the state has already requested or is expecting but first needs additional action from U.S. agencies. Stein’s administration says $5.2 billion in federal funds have already been allocated or obligated to western North Carolina for Helene relief, in contrast to the estimated $60 billion damage and costs incurred from the September 2024 storm and related flooding. Officials said there were more than 100 See RECOVERY, page A3
“We are grateful for every federal dollar that we have received because it brings us closer to recovery. But we need more help.” Gov. Josh Stein
pealed and became the focus of the lawsuit originally filed in 2020. The plaintiffs — groups representing poor residents and black union members — said people could still be subject to prosecution for voting before 2024 under the old rules. Melvin Montford, executive See VOTING, page A2