VOLUME 148 ISSUE 39 | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2025
CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM
THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
COURTESY
Puttering around Goldston resident Lynn Gaines, 68, won the Amateur Putters Association national championship in Fernandina Beach, Florida, on Oct. 24. Above, Gaines, right, poses with course owner Tom Miller. For the story, turn to page B1.
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BRIEF this week
Congress acts to force release of Epstein files, Trump agrees to sign bill Washington, D.C. Both the House and Senate have acted decisively to pass a bill to force the Justice Department to publicly release its files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. It’s a remarkable display of approval for an effort that had struggled for months to overcome opposition from President Donald Trump and Republican leadership. Trump now says he will sign the bill. Just hours after the House passed the bill, the Senate approved a motion to pass the bill with unanimous consent once it is sent to the Senate. For survivors of Epstein’s abuse, passage of the bill was a watershed moment in a yearslong quest for accountability.
Federal judges block Texas from using new U.S. House map in 2026 midterms A panel of three federal judges has blocked Texas from using a new congressional map that Republicans drew in hopes of picking up five U.S. House seats. The 2-1 ruling Tuesday was a blow to President Donald Trump’s efforts to have states draw more favorable maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections so the GOP can preserve its slim U.S. House majority. In Texas, civil rights groups have argued the new map is an illegal racial gerrymander. The judges blocked the map’s use pending further court review. Texas’ expected appeal would be directly to the U.S. Supreme Court.
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Pittsboro approves Chatham Park South Village small area plan The South Village constitutes just under 5,000 acres and could have up to 15,000 residential units By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record PITTSBORO — The Town of Pittsboro has given the green light for the Chatham Park South Village small area plan.
At the Town of Pittsboro Board of Commissioners’ Nov. 10 meeting, the board heard the item, discussing it at length. The small area plan is proposed to serve as a conceptu-
al guide for potential future growth in the South Village. The plan includes conceptual locations for things such as parks, schools, fire stations, transit stops and trailheads. Final locations, designs and improvements may vary and will ultimately be determined through the eventual section design plan process, as the
South Village is broken up into 16 sections. “The goal is to establish an early, coordinated framework for land use, transportation, utilities, open space and future public facilities,” said Assistant Planning Director Theresa Thompson. See PITTSBORO, page A7
Chapel Hill approves construction of new Verizon cell tower on Franklin Street The 199-foot tower will provide boosted service for the area By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record CHAPEL HILL — The Chapel Hill Town Council met Nov. 12 with an agenda con-
tinuing primarily zoning and development items. The council first approved a special use permit modification application for 1721 E. Franklin St. to allow for the construction of a new 199-foot, monopole, nonconcealed telecommunications tower for Verizon Wireless. The parcel, which is current-
ly zoned Office-Institutional, already has two 203-foot broadcast towers existing on the site as well as a dentist office. The project aims to improve service around a 1.5-mile radius from the tower. In addition, the tower will be able to support other carriers in the future as well. “For those living in the Chap-
Immigration crackdown in NC expands to Raleigh “And just be particularly kind to your neighbors today.” Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell
Border Patrol units were spotted in Durham, Raleigh and Cary By Gary D. Robertson and Tim Sullivan The Associated Press Federal agents expanded their North Carolina immigration crackdown to the area around the state capital of Raleigh on Tuesday, with fear spreading in at least one immigrant-heavy suburb where restaurants closed and many people stayed home. The North Carolina operation began over the weekend in the state’s largest city, Charlotte, where officials said
more than 130 people have been arrested. Speaking at a Raleigh City Council meeting, Mayor Janet Cowell said there had been “confirmed sightings” of Border Patrol officers operating in Wake County, which includes Raleigh, and nearby Durham County, which includes the city of Durham. She said earlier that she did not know how large the operation would be or how long agents would be present. She encouraged residents to call the police department if they felt unsafe and urged protesters to remain peaceful. “And just be particularly See ICE, page A7
el Hill area, but specifically those living in this location, those traveling 501, Franklin Street, Estes Drive and the whole shopping areas in this location, it will enhance wireless coverage, which includes voice, text and data coverage,” said attorney Tom Johnson, who See TOWER, page A3