VOLUME 10 ISSUE 26 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2025
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AP PHOTOS
Four days apart, U.S. President Donald Trump, center, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, in Alaska last Friday and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, at the White House on Monday in an effort to broker peace between the two warring countries.
Trump attempts to broker peace in Ukraine
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BRIEF this week
New Wilmington vet hospital explodes after car hits gas line Wilmington A new veterinary hospital exploded Tuesday morning in North Carolina after a car crashed into a nearby gas meter, authorities said. About 20 minutes before the explosion in Wilmington, a car had run off the road and hit the gas lines that feed into the Eastern Carolina Veterinary Medical Center, which was still under construction, the Wilmington Police Department said. The driver fled the scene in their vehicle before police arrived, he said. The building had been quickly evacuated, and while firefighters were searching the building, it exploded, a Wilmington Fire Department spokesperson said. Three firefighters were injured and subsequently hospitalized — two with non-life-threatening injuries and another with severe burns to their hands and arms. No veterinary staff, construction crew members or pets were harmed in the explosion, Eastern Carolina Veterinary Referral said on social media. Police found the vehicle and the driver, who was taken into custody and under evaluation by the N.C. Highway Patrol after showing signs of impairment, officials said.
Charlotte FC trades for Inter Miami keeper Callender Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Charlotte FC acquired goalkeeper Drake Callender from Inter Miami, the clubs announced Tuesday. Inter Miami received $400,000 in general allocation money for 2025, and another $350,000 for 2026. Callender, 27, has barely played this season after suffering an injury while playing with the U.S. national team in January.
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The president met separately with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy and hopes to set up a face-to-face meeting The Associated Press
Labor Department discovers illegal mine in western NC A Superior Court judge granted an injunction By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — The North Carolina Department of Labor uncovered an illegal mining operation in Mitchell County, leading to state enforcement action against the unpermitted site operated by Horizon 30, LLC.
According to the North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL) press release, the agency discovered the illegal mine in Poplar after the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration requested the NCDOL to give miner safety training at the site. During that visit, an NCDOL official “identified multiple irregularities and questioned whether the site had the required
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump says he has begun arrangements for a face-to-face meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss a pathway to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The president made the announcement shortly after speaking by phone with Putin on Monday as he hosted Zelenskyy and top European leaders to discuss his push to end the brutal war. The talks came amid a significant measure of trepidation on the continent that Trump is pressing Ukraine to make concessions that will only further embolden Putin. “I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy,” Trump said in a social media post soon after lengthy talks with Zelenskyy and the European leaders ended. “After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself. Again, this was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years.” It was not clear if Putin has fully signed on to such talks.
See MINE, page A3
See SUMMIT, page A3
LGC approves $868.4M in projects at meeting Wake County will receive nearly $704 million for its schools By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — The Local Government Commission approved more than $868.4 million in financing requests at its Aug. 5 meeting to support various public projects across North Carolina. The largest approval was for Wake County, which received nearly $704 million in limited obligation bonds to fund the construction of a new Morrisville High School, a rebuild of Brentwood Elementary School and renovation of North Garner Middle School to accommodate growing student numbers with-
out requiring a tax increase. The Local Government Commission (LGC) approved $37 million in conduit revenue bonds for Pine Lake Preparatory in Mooresville to refinance bonds and fund capital projects, a move that will save approximately $690,000 annually in debt service. Montessori School of Raleigh, also located in Wake County, was approved for $5 million to refund prior bonds. Housing authorities in Raleigh, Wilmington and Durham received approvals for $32.5 million, $28 million, and $22.5 million, respectively, to finance low- to moderate-income multifamily housing developments. Other large approvals included Mooresville receiving See PROJECTS, page A2
Housing authorities in Raleigh, Wilmington and Durham received a combined $82M for housing projects.
“We’re going to let the president go over and talk to the president, and we’ll see how that works out.” President Donald Trump