VOLUME 11 ISSUE 12 | THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2026
DUPLINJOURNAL.COM
Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
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BRIEF this week
Kenan Park playground set for grand opening Kenansville The public is invited to attend the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new playground at Kenan Park on Sunday at 4 p.m. Guests can enjoy sweet treats and snacks while supplies last.
Youth Fishing Tournament returns Pink Hill The 17th annual Youth Fishing Tournament will be held Saturday at 8 a.m. at Cabin Lake County Park. Youth anglers will compete in age divisions 4-6, 7-9 and 10-14 for first-, secondand third-place prizes, along with an award for the tournament’s biggest fish. Final weigh-in begins at 11 a.m. Registration closes Thursday and is available by phone at 910-298-3648 or 910-296-2120.
Free community taco dinner Wallace Pet Friends of Duplin County will host its free “Paws and Gratitude” community dinner May 21 at 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Villeda’s Cocina. The taco bar dinner is being held to thank the community for supporting the local animal rescue organization. Admission is free.
Iran war hitting home as gas prices fuel inflation surge of 3.8% in U.S. U.S. consumer prices climbed sharply again last month as the 10-week war with Iran pushed energy prices higher. The Labor Department reported Tuesday that its consumer price index rose 3.8% from April 2025. On a month-to-month basis, April prices were up 0.6% from March as gasoline prices rose 5.4%. Excluding volatile food and energy costs, so-called consumer core prices were up 0.4% last month from March and 2.8% from April 2025, relatively modest readings that suggest the energy price burst isn’t yet spilling over much into other prices.
Trump FDA chief leaving after angering pharma CEOs, vaping lobbyists and anti-abortion groups Marty Makary is resigning as President Donald Trump’s Food and Drug Administration head, according to a White House official who was not authorized to speak before an official announcement and insisted on anonymity Tuesday. Makary’s tenure had drawn complaints from health industry executives, anti-abortion activists and other Trump allies. Makary was an outspoken critic of COVID-19 health measures during the pandemic, but at the FDA, Makary failed to win the staff’s confidence after mass layoffs, leadership changes and a series of controversies.
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MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Congressman Greg Murphy joins supporters of youth outdoor engagement U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.) speaks during the NC Outdoors Foundation fundraiser at River Landing on May 5. Turn to A3 for the story.
Wallace mayor pro tem tapped for statewide municipal role Francisco Rivas-Diaz said the position will help bring rural perspectives into policy conversations By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal WALLACE — As communities across North Carolina confront mounting infrastructure costs, rapid development and growing pressure on local governments, Wallace will now have a stronger voice in statewide mu-
nicipal discussions through the leadership of Wallace Mayor Pro Tem Francisco Rivas-Diaz. Rivas-Diaz was officially sworn in as District 3 representative for the North Carolina League of Municipalities (NCLM) during the City Vision 2026 conference in Raleigh, where municipal leaders from
across the state gathered to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing North Carolina’s cities and towns. The oath of office was administered by Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt. “To be elected by my peers to this position with N.C. League Municipalities and to be able to represent our communities at the state level is one the highest honors during my time as an elected official,” Rivas-Diaz told Duplin Journal.
He said the appointment is also deeply meaningful for his family, who have supported his public service throughout his time on the Wallace Town Council. “Prior to and throughout my time as a member of the Wallace Town Council, my family has always supported me and understood my dedication to serving the community,” he said. “The See WALLACE, page A3
Warsaw board clash centers on transparency, budget oversight, town hall concerns The town’s former deputy clerk accused town officials of ignoring misconduct concerns By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal WARSAW — The May 11 Warsaw Board of Commission-
ers meeting was marked by disputes over transparency, financial oversight, missing documentation and allegations of misconduct inside town hall.
The meeting opened with concerns regarding approval of previous meeting minutes. Commissioner Ebony Willis-Wells questioned missing closed-session minutes and inaccuracies in recorded discussions. Mayor Wesley Boykin said
Duplin County candidate exits commissioner race Jessica Thomas says she will continue pushing for government accountability outside of office By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal KENANSVILLE — A Duplin County commissioner candidate has withdrawn from the District 2 race, saying she believes she can fight more effectively for government accountability from outside the political system. Jessica Thomas announced her decision in a public statement that reflected on a year of civic involvement. “This community has watched me file records requests, ask incessant questions, sit through meetings, speak when it would’ve been
easier to stay quiet, and refuse to pretend that everything is fine when it clearly ain’t,” she said, adding that her efforts focused on accountability and transparency rather than pursuing elected office itself. “My goal was never a title,” Thomas wrote. “My goal was accountability and transparency via public pressure and making sure the regular people of Duplin County understand that their voices matter.” Thomas said she believes she could better challenge local leadership advocating from outside government. See THOMAS, page A2
“My goal was never a title. My goal was accountability and transparency via public pressure and making sure the regular people of Duplin County understand that their voices matter.” Jessica Thomas
major portions of previous meetings had been omitted or inaccurately summarized in the April 13 minutes and budget workshop records. He criticized the omission of substantive debate surrounding See WARSAW, page A2