VOLUME 10 ISSUE 34 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2025
NSJONLINE.COM
ALLISON JOYCE / AP PHOTO
Storm surge
A man takes a photo of a Buxton home in the aftermath of weekend storms Monday on the Outer Banks. Read more on the storms on A8.
Hall, Berger eye extra GOP seat in Congress
the
BRIEF this week
$6.5B in medical debt wiped out for 2.5M in N.C. Raleigh Officials say a North Carolina government initiative is eliminating over $6.5 billion in medical debt for more than 2.5 million residents. The totals released Monday exceed initial expectations for the effort announced last year. It offered hospitals extra Medicaid funds if they relieve low- and middle-income patients’ debt and implement policies to prevent future liabilities. Democratic Gov. Josh Stein said word of the debt relief is “life-changing news for so many families” often struggling with the financial weight of unexpected medical crises. Hospitals are already letting many patients know about their debt relief. A nonprofit group helping in the project is sending more than 250,000 notices this week.
Smith, Rouse join U.S. House races Raleigh Two Republicans have announced they are running for Congress. Adam Smith, a Green Beret veteran and self-described “Hurricane Helene Relief Leader,” has entered the 11th District race. That seat is currently held by Republican U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards. In the 1st District, Eric Rouse has joined the Republican field challenging incumbent Rep. Don Davis, a Democrat. Rouse, the vice chair of the Lenoir County Board of Commissioners, is the third Republican to announce their candidacy for the seat, joining Sen. Bobby Hanig (R-Currituck) and Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson.
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The General Assembly’s Republican leadership plans to call for votes to redraw U.S. House maps
Jackson, Marshall stop ‘fraudulent’ cancer charity Kars-R-Us.com only spent 0.28% of the $45 million it raised for cancer support By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson and Secretary of State Elaine Marshall announced they have shuttered a cancer charity they say used only
$126,815, or 0.28%, of the $45 million it raised for breast cancer support. “People gave their cars to this company because they wanted to help save the lives of women facing breast cancer,” Jackson said in a press release. “Secretary of State Marshall and I took them to court because you can’t lie to people about where their money or donations are going. I am grateful for her partnership See FRAUD, page A3
By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — North Carolina Speaker of the House Destin Hall (R-Granite Falls) and Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) announced they will take up congressional redistricting plans to “thwart blue state attempts to steal Congress.” According to Hall’s press release, legislative leaders have agreed to hold votes during the upcoming October session scheduled to start Monday, Oct. 20. “President (Donald) Trump earned a clear mandate from the voters of North Carolina and the rest of the country, and we intend to defend it by drawing an additional Republican Congressional seat,” said Hall. “Our state won’t stand by while Democrats like Gavin Newsom redraw dis-
State Rep. Brockman charged with sex crimes The Guilford County Democrat faces several charges, including statutory rape By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — North Carolina state Rep. Cecil Brockman (D-Guilford) was charged with multiple sex crimes last Wednesday, according to Guilford County jail records. Brockman is charged with two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child and two counts of statutory rape/sex offense of a 13- to 15-year-old by a defendant at least six years older than the victim.
According to the magistrate order in the case, the alleged victim is a 15-year-old only referred to by initials. Brockman was supposed to have his first court appearance last Thursday, however, notes on the case indicated Brockman was “in the hospital.” At the Friday hearing, Brockman appeared remotely from a hospital claiming to have suffered a “medical emergency.” During the hearing, District Attorney Avery Crump alleged Brockman had been having a relationship with a 15-year-old he met on a dating app in May. It was also alleged they lived together in Georgia for a time before moving to High Point together. See CRIMES, page A2
COURTESY GUILFORD COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Rep. Cecil Brockman
tricts to aid in their effort to obtain a majority in the U.S. House. We will not allow them to undermine the will of the voters and President Trump’s agenda.” “We are doing everything we can to protect President Trump’s agenda, which means safeguarding Republican control of Congress,” Berger said. “Picking up where Texas left off, we will hold votes in our October session to redraw North Carolina’s congressional map to ensure Gavin Newsom doesn’t decide the congressional majority.” Trump has pushed for redistricting in red states following California’s announcement it would add Democrat seats in the wake of Texas’ redistricting plans. Likely related to the push for redistricting is the push for a new census. In an April post on Truth Social, Trump said he had ordered the Department of Commerce to work on a new census, one that would exclude illegal immigrants See MAPS, page A2