VOLUME 149 ISSUE 14 | THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2026
CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM
THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Legendary American Legion Post 93 in Siler CIty is closing after 100 years in operation. On Memorial Day at a celebration of the post, attendees honored 100-year-old Albert McClain, the oldest veteran in Chatham County.
LEE MOODY FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
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BRIEF this week
Democrats feud over stock trading in effort to sharpen anti-corruption case against Trump Democrats are increasingly critiquing each other over their personal stock trades as the party looks to hone its anti-corruption message against President Donald Trump in the midterm elections. In primary races across the country, Democrats are critiquing individual stock trades and the personal wealth of their rivals in a bid to build credibility with voters. The debates have scrambled ideological lines inside the party, with some more moderate lawmakers attacking progressive rivals over past stock trades. Progressives express skepticism that Democrats who have recently highlighted the issue are offering genuine critiques about money in politics.
Trump: Everything checked out “perfectly” at his medical exam President Donald Trump had another medical exam on Tuesday, putting his health under renewed public scrutiny. The 79-year-old president spent more than three hours at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for what the White House described as preventive medical and dental checkups. It was Trump’s fourth publicly disclosed medical exam since he returned to office for a second term. In a social media post after the visit, Trump said that he had just finished his “6 month physical” and that “Everything checked out PERFECTLY.” Trump, turns 80 next month.
Recommended FY 27 budget to not include property tax increase The Chatham County budget is balanced at about $303 million By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record PITTSBORO — The Chatham County Board of Commissioners held a public hearing
growth and innovation, and continue building a stronger, more resilient Chatham County,” said County Manager Bryan Thompson. The budget also calls for the maintaining of the current property tax rate of $0.60 per $100 valuation. While Thompson described the budget as a “maintain bud-
get,” there are still steady increases in multiple areas of funding. Major features of the recommended budget include an additional $3.1 million increase in funding for Chatham County Schools, a $1.7 million increase in sheriff’s office funding See BUDGET, page A2
Chapel Hill approves incentive package for potential robotics company Blue Sky Robotics would bring around 150 new jobs to the town By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record CHAPEL HILL — The Chapel Hill Town Council met May 20 for its regular business meeting.
The board held a public hearing for an economic incentive agreement for a project entitled “Project Stark Tower.” “This is a priority industry for the town, it is a local business in fact, a high-impact project, and it also presents a high-growth opportunity, especially in our downtown central business district,” said Economic Develop-
ment Director David Putnam. The company, which Putnam revealed to be Blue Sky Robotics, is an advanced robotics and precision software company that designs, builds and deploys automated robot solutions for complex problems in fields such as logistics, manufacturing, healthcare and hospitality. The company is proposing to
NASCAR CEO O’Donnell tells Busch family ‘we got you’ before Coca-Cola 600 “When you think race car driver... Kyle Busch is probably one of the first that comes to your mind.” Joey Logano, Cup Series driver
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for the recommended FY 2027 budget at its May 18 meeting. The budget is balanced at about $303 million, an increase of around $15 million from the previous year. “As we move forward into the next fiscal year, I am confident this budget will enable us to address current challenges, seize opportunities for
Kyle Busch died last Thursday at 41 from pneumonia that progressed into sepsis By Steve Reed and Michael Marot The Associated Press CONCORD — NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell honored Kyle Busch’s widow, Samantha, and the couple’s children, Brexton and Lennix, before the start of the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday in an emotional speech.
Standing on the frontstretch at Charlotte Motor Speedway, O’Donnell looked directly at the Busch family and said, “Samantha, I want you to know that this sport stands with you, and that you and your children are NASCAR family forever. And Brexton and Lennix, your dad loved you with all his heart. Everyone gathered here, everyone behind you, everybody watching on TV, and all those people up in that grandstand are your family — and we’ve got you. ” See BUSCH, page A7
add 152 new jobs with an average wage of about $77,000 and invest around $1.5 million over the course of five years. The company is also proposing to headquarter at town property located downtown at 136 E Rosemary St. “They would take over a See COUNCIL, page A2