VOLUME 149 ISSUE 23 | THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2026
CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM
THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Left, Former Chatham County Sheriff Mike Roberson meets with his fellow county commissioners on July 16. Roberson was sworn in to the District 3 seat on the Chatham County Board of Commissioners on July 20. He had been Chatham County sheriff for more than 10 years and will appear unopposed on the ballot for his seat in the county election this fall.
GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
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BRIEF this week
Biden interviews with ghostwriter reveal him discussing sensitive information Newly released audio tapes appear to show Joe Biden sharing classified information with a biographer and sometimes claiming memory lapses during interviews that occurred before his election to the presidency in 2020. About three hours of audio and 117 pages of transcripts were released by the conservative Oversight Project, an arm of the Heritage Foundation. The audio and transcript feature frequent redactions. The conversations were released after Biden lost a prolonged legal fight to keep his talks with memoir ghostwriter Mark Lewis Zwonitzer private. In the sessions, Biden discusses a range of matters, shares notes from his vice presidency and appears to confirm to Zwonitzer that he retained some classified material.
Americans’ confidence in U.S. economy falls as Iran conflict sends gas prices higher Americans’ confidence in the economy fell this month as gas prices resumed their climb after the U.S. and Iran stepped up their fighting. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index fell to 90.8 in July from 92.2 in June. Consumers’ view of current business and labor market conditions fell by 3.6 points to 114.9, the third straight monthly decline. Consumer attitudes had improved modestly in June as gas prices came down.
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Roberson officially sworn in as commissioner The former sheriff will serve in the District 3 seat By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record PITTSBORO — The newest Chatham County commissioner has officially taken office. Mike Roberson was sworn
into his seat on the Chatham County Board of Commissioners on July 20, replacing outgoing Commissioner David Delaney, who forfeited his seat early due to the fact that he is moving. The lifelong Chatham County resident has more than 40 years of service to the county, having worked as a paramedic, firefighter and police officer and
most recently serving as sheriff for the past 10 years. “Don’t be scared literally to call me and let me know what needs to be said,” Roberson said following his swearing in. “If I’ve heard it before, I’ll still listen to you. I know there’s a lot of hot topics right now, and I’m listening to that, but I also need to know the things that aren’t hot
Trump pays respects to NC soldier, 3 others killed in Middle East He called the dignified transfer the toughest thing he does as president The Associated Press DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. — President Donald Trump last Wednesday honored the
lives of four U.S. service members who were killed in the Middle East and returned to their families at an air force base in Delaware.
The president saluted as four transfer cases carrying the service members’ remains were escorted off an airplane during the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base. The ritual is one of the most somber duties of a commander in chief. It was the third that Trump has attend-
Trump administration urges Supreme Court to allow order targeting mail-in voting Twenty-three states argue the president lacks constitutional authority to change mail-in voting rules By Lindsay Whitehurst The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Monday to clear the way for an executive order from President Donald Trump that could dramatically change mail-in voting ahead of November’s midterm elections. The Justice Department asked the justices to halt for now
lower court decisions blocking the sweeping changes in nearly half the country. The request comes shortly after Trump delivered a primetime address elevating his yearslong push to raise doubts about the legitimacy of elections, and could be one of several voting-related challenges before the court ahead of the high-stakes midterm contest. Trump ordered the government in March to create a “state citizenship list” of eligible voters and deliver mail ballots only to people on that list. Democratic officials in 23 See VOTING, page A7
“And hopefully there will be no mail-in ballots.” President Donald Trump
“Don’t be scared literally to call me and let me know what needs to be said.” Mike Roberson topics. The things that we can get right easier.” The former sheriff officially retired from law enforcement a day on July 15 in a celebration at Northwood High School, where Roberson is an alumnus. See ROBERSON, page A2
ed since he launched the war in Iran in February. Speaking at an event in Georgia hours later, Trump described the ritual as “the toughest thing I do.” “I’ve been there many times before,” he said of Dover. “This was, in particular, something very sad.” Earlier in the day, Trump said his message to families was simple: “We love you. We love your child,” Trump told reporters. Trump was accompanied at See SOLDIERS, page A7