VOLUME 148 ISSUE 7 | THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2025
CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM
PJ WARD-BROWN / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
The right of the people peaceably to assemble Protesters gathered at the Chatham County Justice Center in Pittsboro on Saturday as part of nationwide “Hands Off!” demonstrations against Trump administration policies.
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BRIEF this week
Judge restores AP’s access to White House events Washington, D.C. A federal judge has ordered the White House to restore The Associated Press’ access to cover presidential events, saying that the AP must be given comparable access to its peer wire services. U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden, an appointee of Donald Trump, ruled that the government can’t retaliate against the AP’s decision not to follow the president’s executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico. The judge said that his decision does not prohibit a government official from choosing which outlets to give interviews to, or choosing which journalists’ questions they choose to answer at a news conference.
CDC may end recommendation to add fluoride to water supplies New York U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he wants communities to stop fluoridating water and plans to tell the Centers for Disease Control to stop recommending fluoridation in municipal water supplies. He’s assembling a task force to study the issue. He can’t order communities to stop, as it’s a decision left up to states and localities, but many are already pulling back from the additive.
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High schoolers bring Revolutionary spirit to local oratory contest “What makes America great?” Homeschooled sophomore Jonathan Paul
Students compete with speeches on American history By Dan Reeves Chatham News & Record CHAPEL HILL — Seven area high school students delivered passionate speeches about America’s founding at the annual Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Oration Contest on March 27. Hosted by the Gen. Francis Nash chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution at Chapel Hill’s Governors Club, the event coincided with upcoming commemorations of the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Historian Lowell Hoffman served as master of ceremonies, introducing each speaker and providing his-
torical context between presentations. His commentary covered Revolutionary figures and events, including Dr. Joseph Warren, who warned of British troops marching to Concord, the Battle of Alamance and the Boston Tea Party. The audience included SAR members, parents and teachers who supported the students’ participation. Hoffman specifically recognized two educators: Northwood High School’s Jill Thomas, whom he called “a jewel of a committed teacher,” and Seaforth High School’s Riley Shaner, herself a former winner who placed second nationally six years ago. “We truly value her story of now becoming an English and speech teacher See CONTEST, page A3
Pittsboro may hold property tax rate steady for next year The property tax rate currently sits at $0.44 per $100 valuation By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record PITTSBORO — The Town of Pittsboro Board of Commissioners met March 31 for a special-called meeting related to preliminary budget discussions. Town staff laid out three goals for the upcoming budget: continuation and enhancement of current service levels, recruitment and retention of staff, and maintaining a responsible fund balance. While the board was not presented with a budgetary estimate — last year’s budget was approximately $194 million — town staff did discuss how See TAX, page A10
Feds terminating student visas over crime, activism Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week students are being targeted for involvement in protests along with others tied to “potential criminal activity.”
Some of the issues are misdemeanor crimes or traffic-related By Collin Binkley, Annie Ma and Makiya Seminera The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — A crackdown on foreign students is alarming college leaders, who say the Trump administration is using new tactics and vague justifications to push some students out of the country. College officials worry the new approach will keep foreigners from wanting to study in the U.S. Students stripped of their entry visas are receiving orders from the Department of Homeland Security to leave the country immediately — a break from
past practice that often permitted them to stay and complete their studies. Some students have been targeted over pro-Palestinian activism or criminal infractions — or even traffic violations. Others have been left wondering how they ran afoul of the government. At Minnesota State University in Mankato, President Edward Inch told the campus Wednesday that visas had been revoked for five international students for unclear reasons. He said school officials learned about the revocations when they ran a status check in a database of international students after the detention of a Turkish student at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. See STUDENTS, page A10