VOLUME 10 ISSUE 38 | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2025
NSJONLINE.COM
YUKI IWAMURA / AP PHOTO
Thankful for their service Participants raise an American flag during the Veterans Day parade Tuesday in New York.
NC delegation calls for National Guard in Charlotte
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BRIEF this week
Senate approves bill to end shutdown Washington, D.C. The Senate passed legislation Monday to reopen the government, bringing the longest shutdown in history closer to an end as a small group of Democrats ratified a deal with Republicans despite searing criticism from within their party. The 41-day shutdown could last a few more days as members of the House, which has been on recess since mid-September, return to Washington, D.C., to vote on the legislation. President Donald Trump has signaled support for the bill. The final Senate vote, 60-40, broke a grueling stalemate that lasted more than six weeks as Democrats demanded that Republicans negotiate with them to extend health care tax credits that expire Jan. 1. The Republicans never did, and five moderate Democrats eventually switched their votes as federal food aid was delayed, airport delays worsened and hundreds of thousands of federal workers continued to go unpaid.
Hospital police officer shot, killed in Garner emergency room Garner A police officer was shot and killed during a struggle in the emergency department lobby at a Garner hospital Saturday. The shooting happened around 9 a.m. at the WakeMed Garner Healthplex, killing WakeMed Campus Police Officer Roger Smith, according to a WakeMed statement. A “person of interest” in the shooting was in custody, said a Garner Police Department statement.
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Public input sought on election modernization The systems needing upgrades have been in use for more than two decades By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — The North Carolina State Board of Elections and the Office of the State Auditor are seeking public input on plans to modernize the state’s election management
system and campaign finance software, both of which have been in use for more than two decades. The State Board of Elections (NCSBE) and the Office of the State Auditor (OSA) specifically want the public’s input on what security and reporting features and capabilities should be part of a new system. “The new election system must be secure and easy to See ELECTIONS, page A3
Congressional Republicans urged Gov. Josh Stein to send troops to the city By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Three of North Carolina’s congressional delegation have sent a letter to Gov. Josh Stein urging him to grant a request by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police to send the National Guard into Charlotte. N.C. Congressman Mark Harris (R-Indian Trail) is leading the effort and letter, which is signed by Republican colleagues Chuck Edwards (R-Flat Rock) and Pat Harrigan (R-Hickory). “Governor Stein is deaf to the desperate pleas of Charlotte’s police and residents,” Harris said in a press release. “He refuses reinforcements
WS/FCS’s $3.4M debt to NCDPI ‘paid in full’ The school system has a $46 million deficit By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Officials with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools told a state board of education appeals panel that the district’s $3.4 million debt to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is “paid in full” during a hearing last Tuesday. The hearing was a follow-up to a Sept. 2 meeting, at which the appeals panel extended the grace period on the $3.4 million Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WS/FCS) owed to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI).
WS/FCS overall budget deficit was found to be more than $46 million, according to a state audit. The three-member panel was chaired by John Blackburn, who was joined by State Board Chair Eric Davis and board member Jill Camnitz. “As of Oct. 28, we have paid DPI in full,” said WS/FCS School Board Chair Deanna Kaplan. “The final $3.4 million payment was funded by the Winston-Salem Foundation’s Winston Salem-Forsyth County Schools Futures Fund.” The full repayment of the debt to NCDPI avoids the district having to pay 0.4% interest on any unpaid balance. See WS/FCS, page A3
“As of Oct. 28, we have paid DPI in full.” Deanna Kaplan, WS/FCS board chair
to crush the violent crime surge — exposing him and his party as pro-crime Democrats who coddle criminals while ignoring victims. That’s why my colleagues and I are fighting for millions of North Carolinians, demanding we reclaim the Queen City. Governor Stein: Stop stalling — send in the Guard now.” The letter cites Stein’s “consistent refusal” to grant the request by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police. “As you know, the situation in our state’s largest city has become increasingly dire,” wrote the lawmakers. “Recently, the city faced 8 homicides in 7 days. The murder rate in uptown Charlotte is now 200 percent higher than it was a year ago. “According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal See GUARD, page A2