VOLUME 148 ISSUE 6 | THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2025
CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM
COURTESY C-SPAN / U.S. SENATE
Going the distance
New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker held the Senate floor with a marathon speech that lasted more than 25 hours, breaking a record set 68 years ago by then-Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina to filibuster the Civil Rights Act in 1957. Booker said he was showing resistance to President Donald Trump’s sweeping actions.
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BRIEF this week
Combat roles remain open to women, standards equalized Washington, D.C. The military will keep combat roles open to men and women, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth declared in a post on X Monday. But physical fitness standards will be made equal for applicants from both sexes. “No standards will be lowered AND all combat roles will only have sex-neutral standards. Common sense,” said the post. He had previously ordered a review of fitness standards in a memo in early March.
Seagrove Fiddlers States sue Convention celebrates 70 Trump admin years of mountain music over $11B in COVID funds
Nearly half of the competition categories are devoted to youth, ensuring traditional music and dance continue to be instilled in future generations.
Tennessee Valley Authority appoints new CEO Nashville, Tenn. The Tennessee Valley Authority has promoted one of its top executives to CEO as President Donald Trump has begun turning his attention back to the nation’s largest public utility. The utility announced Monday that its board picked Don Moul as president and chief executive. He replaces Jeff Lyash, who is retiring. Moul has served as TVA’s executive vice president and chief operating officer since 2021. He starts in the new role April 9. The move comes days after Trump removed one of the TVA board members appointed under then-President Joe Biden. Tennessee’s two Republican U.S. senators have criticized the board, saying it’s bogging down a proposed small modular nuclear reactor.
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The annual competition draws musicians and dancers from across North Carolina to celebrate traditional bluegrass By Melinda Burris Chatham News & Record
the convention, extending even to those in administrative roles. This year’s three-judge panel showcased this tradition: Trent Callicutt, a former banjoist who played with Kenny and Amanda Smith and has performed on the Grand Ole Opry stage with Dailey & Vincent; Nathan Aldridge, a fiddler with the regional band IIIrd Tyme Out, who will appear with the Dan Tyminski Band this summer; and local musician Racy Maness. Big T Lassiter, another well-known musician from the area, served as the event’s emcee. The 2025 competition featured winners in both
THE 70TH Annual Seagrove Fiddlers Convention brought together bluegrass performers from across North Carolina on March 15 at Seagrove Elementary School. The event is one of the premier fiddlers and bluegrass festivals held in rural communities throughout the Tarheel State. Chairperson Maxton Byrd and his 17-member committee organized the event. Sandy Hatley and her husband, Gary, were among those who helped make the popular competition possible, drawing contestants and audience members from across the state. Musical talent defines See FIDDLERS, page A10
N.C. joined the complaint over mental health and addiction money By Devna Bose and Lindsey Whitehurst The Associated Press RALEIGH — A coalition of state attorneys general sued the Trump administration on Tuesday over its decision to claw back $11 billion in federal funds that go toward COVID-19 initiatives and various public health projects across the country. Attorneys general from 23 states filed the suit in federal court in Rhode Island. They include New York Attorney General Letitia James, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as well as attorneys general in California, Minnesota and Wisconsin, as well as the District of Columbia. The lawsuit argues the cuts are illegal, and that the federal government did not provide “rational basis” or facts to support the cuts. The attorneys general say it will result in “serious harm to public health”
Chapel Hill faces significant budget cuts “Our revenue growth is not keeping up with our expenditure growth.” Amy Oland, business management director
Town officials grapple with a $6.5 million gap between projected revenue and expenses By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record CHAPEL HILL — The Town of Chapel Hill faces difficult financial decisions as officials begin preparing next year’s budget amid significant economic constraints. At its March 26 work session, the town council discussed concerns surrounding its preliminary budget, which currently shows a $6.5 million gap between projected revenues ($87 million) and projected expenses ($93.5 million). “We are, this week, in the
middle of talking to every department about their budget needs,” said interim town manager Mary Jane Nirdberger. “We received a presentation from every department where they developed all of their needs.” Business Management Director Amy Oland outlined several factors contributing to the shortfall. “Our revenue growth is not keeping up with our expenditure growth,” Oland said. “We’ve talked about that for a long time. I will say, what we’re seeing this year is that if it can go wrong, it’s going wrong.” The town faces decreases in sales tax growth, permitting revenue and lapsed salary savings, along with uncertainty in See BUDGET, page A7
See LAWSUIT, page A3