VOLUME 149 ISSUE 16 | THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2026
CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM
THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
Glory restored The mural painted by Bynum’s Clyde Jones in downtown Pittsboro has been full restored, thanks to community donations and the work of local artist Thomas Begley. The town added an informational medallion, with a dedication to Jones who died in December, to the mural at 49 W. Salisbury St.
the
BRIEF this week
Social Security’s retirement trust fund faces funding shortfall 1 year earlier Washington, D.C. Social Security’s retirement trust fund is projected to face a funding shortfall in 2032, a year earlier than previously expected. That’s according to an annual report released Tuesday. Medicare’s hospital insurance trust fund will be unable to pay full benefits in 2033, unchanged from last year’s estimate. Rising health care costs and government spending contributed to the projected depletion dates. The programs will continue issuing benefits after those dates, but at reduced amounts. The trustees emphasize the urgency of changes, but political challenges remain. AARP’s CEO is urging Congress to act, highlighting the importance of the benefits for retirees.
OpenAI files confidential SEC paperwork for IPO, opening door to Wall Street debut OpenAI has filed preliminary paperwork to potentially become a publicly traded company. The company announced Monday it has submitted confidential documents to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. OpenAI says it hasn’t decided on timing yet, as there are advantages to staying private. The move follows Anthropic’s June announcement of its own IPO plans. Both companies are following SpaceX, which is also pursuing an IPO.
CCS honors board chair with facility renaming The Gary Leonard Gymnasium will be part of the Bennett School project By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record PITTSBORO — The Chatham County Schools Board of Education surprised Board Chair Gary Leonard with a special honor.
Staal takes over, Hurricanes even series with 5-3 Game 4 win The Carolina captain scored twice, including the game winner By Cory Lavalette Chatham News & Record LAS VEGAS — Jordan Staal made sure the Hurricanes re-
turned to Raleigh with the Stanley Cup final tied at two games apiece. Staal scored twice in Game 4, including the game-winning goal in the third period on a falling backhanded swipe, to lead Carolina to a 5-3 win in and force a best-of three showdown to crown the Stanley Cup cham-
pion. Game 5 is Thursday at 8 p.m. at Lenovo Center. “It’s a good time to get hot, there’s no question,” said Staal, who has scored five times in the series, including in all four games. “I’ll contribute any way I can. The puck’s going in for me, and I’ll take it.” Staal’s second goal to put the
Trump officials went after dozens of colleges; now rules for all of academia being rewritten “It gives us an opportunity to talk about where we might agree with the administration.” Ted Mitchell, American Council on Education president
$2.00
At the board’s June 1 meeting, the board voted to rename the Bennett School gymnasium the Gary Leonard Gymnasium. “Few individuals have dedicated such breadth and length
of service to Chatham County Schools,” said Superintendent Anthony Jackson. “Fewer still have done so with such consistency, humility, and commitment.” Leonard has a long history with Chatham County Schools, having served as a teacher, coach, athletic director at both Bennett School and Chatham
Federal rulemaking offers a durable strategy after court orders blocked targeted funding cuts By Collin Binkley The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — A year ago, the White House was unleashing a blitz on higher education. At one campus after another, Trump officials opened investigations and cut federal funding unless schools fell in line with the Republican president’s political agenda. Now, after a campaign that put dozens of universities under investigation, President
Donald Trump’s administration is taking a wider approach, moving to rewrite the federal rules that govern all of higher education. Demands that were being pressed on individual schools are being written into the fine print for thousands of U.S. universities. “We’re coming over the higher education system and course correcting,” Nicholas Kent, undersecretary for the Education Department, said in an Associated Press interview. Unlike investigations that target individual campuses, he said the new tactic has power “to affect 6,000 institutions.” See COLLEGES, page A10
Central High School, as well as multiple years on the Board of Education. “This is something that will last well beyond most of us, and I think it’s important that we celebrate certain things and certain people when we have the opportunity to do so,” Jackson said. “This is one I was not expecting and certainly don’t deserve,” Leonard said. “But thank you, and I appreciate it.” The board also approved two Teach Chatham Scholarship agreements. The program aims to increase the pipeline of teachers See FACILITY, page A7
Hurricanes ahead for good will likely go down as the most memorable of his career. With the game tied 3-3 in the third period, Staal pressured Shea Theodore behind the Vegas goal line, and the Golden Knights defenseman’s pass hit Staal and deflected in front of the net to Carolina right wing Seth Jarvis. Jarvis deked and tried to lift a backhand into the net, but Carter Hart (23 saves) made the stop. Jarvis retrieved the puck against four Vegas players and See CANES, page A2