VOLUME 149 ISSUE 22 | THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026
CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM
THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
COURTESY CATAWBA ATHLETICS
Game on Pittsboro’s Brandon Crabtree arrives safely at third during a game for Catawba last season. Crabtree was drafted by the Texas Rangers last week in the MLB Draft.
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BRIEF this week
Trump imposes 50% tariffs on Canadian goods, citing disputes over autos, alcohol, cheese President Donald Trump has imposed 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods, declaring that Canada has unfairly discriminated against American autos, alcohol and dairy products. The move, announced Monday, could unleash a new wave of economic chaos, with risks of higher inflation and further fraying of relations between two nations that had been closely woven together before Trump’s return to the White House. The administration official previewing the action said that Canada was one of the only nations other than China that retaliated against Trump’s previous tariffs and must be held accountable.
Trump opens investigation into Harvard’s aid to international students The Justice Department is investigating whether Harvard University is allowing Chinese donors to create scholarships that exclude American students. The inquiry adds to a barrage of federal probes the Trump administration has opened in its battle against the Ivy League campus. Justice Department officials announced the new review Monday, saying Harvard’s foreign funding disclosures “raised concerns” about possible discrimination against U.S. students. The agency did not specify which scholarship programs are being targeted and emphasized it “has not reached any conclusions.”
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Siler City commissioners nix event center proposal The proposed development would have been located on Old U.S. 421 South By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record SILER CITY — The Town of Siler City Board of Commissioners has rejected a proposal for a new event center space.
At the board’s July 20 meeting, it held a public hearing for a major modification to an existing Highway Commercial Conditional Zoning District for approximately four acres of proper-
ty located at 1311 Old U.S. 421 South. The surrounding property is all zoned as Agricultural Residential with single-family residential uses. The reason for the modification was to change the permitted uses to allow for an event venue and community center. The original zoning change was
approved back in 2002 in order for the property to be utilized for a trucking business, which is no longer there. The plan would be to utilize the space for a multifaceted event and cultural resource center with multiple buildings. The proposal stated that the construction would be carried out in three phases, eventually leading to the development of several facilities: • 1,200-square-foot restroom facility • Adaptive reuse of the already existing 3,600 square foot multipurpose building for See CENTER, page A3
US soldier killed in Iraq was 30-year-old from Fayetteville He leaves behind a wife, two young children and a legacy of selfless service By Allen G. Breed and Dave Collins The Associated Press RALEIGH — A U.S. soldier killed in Iraq during a controlled detonation of an Iranian drone
was a 30-year-old father from Fayetteville who had served for nearly a decade, according to a military statement Tuesday and his family. Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton will receive a Bronze
Star, Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge, and will be promoted to staff sergeant. The Army said it was investigating the circumstances of his death Sunday at an air base in Irbil. He leaves behind a 6-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter, his mother said. See SOLDIER, page A7
Graham says she will run for full term in brother’s South Carolina Senate seat “I know I’m a hard worker. I learned that from Lindsey. I feel like I can do it. I feel an inner peace about it. Will it be difficult? Yes.” Darline Graham, U.S. senator
The senator is transforming a temporary appointment into a campaign for the full term By Meg Kinnard The Associated Press COLUMBIA, S.C. — Sen. Darline Graham said Monday she’s running for a full term to replace her late brother Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat. “I’ve made a decision,” Darline Graham told Fox News
Channel host Sean Hannity, according to a clip released of an interview set to air later Monday. “I’m in.” The entrance of Darline Graham — sworn in last week to fulfill the remaining months of her late brother’s term, which expires in January — into the Republican scramble to select a new Senate nominee further complicates an already rushed process following Lindsey Graham’s death earlier this month. A weeklong filing period See GRAHAM, page A10
U.S. ARMY SPACE AND MISSILE DEFENSE COMMAND VIA AP
Army Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton