VOLUME 10 ISSUE 52 | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2026
NSJONLINE.COM
MATT ROURKE / AP PHOTO
Thank you for your service President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One at Pope Army Airfield last Friday. Trump visited Fort Bragg and praised U.S. Special Forces for last month’s raid that removed Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro
Issues raised with property leased by Town of Plymouth
the
BRIEF this week
Rev. Jesse Jackson dead at 84 Chicago The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, a protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and two-time presidential candidate who led the Civil Rights Movement for decades after the revered leader’s assassination, died Tuesday. He was 84. Santita Jackson confirmed her father, who had a rare neurological disorder, died at home in Chicago, surrounded by family. Jackson led a lifetime of crusades in the United States and abroad, advocating for the poor, voting rights, job opportunities, education and health care. Through his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, he channeled cries for black pride and self-determination into corporate boardrooms, pressuring executives to make America a more open and equitable society.
3 dead, 3 wounded in R.I. youth hockey game shooting Pawtucket, R.I. A shooting during a Rhode Island youth hockey game left three people dead, including the shooter, and three more hospitalized Monday night in critical condition, authorities said. Pawtucket Police said someone helped bring a swift end to the violent scene Monday afternoon by intervening and trying to subdue the shooter, who was at an arena to watch a family member’s hockey game. The shooter died from an apparent self-inflicted gun wound. Goncalves identified the shooter as Robert Dorgan, who she said also went by the name Roberta Esposito and was born in 1969. The other two victims were only identified as adults.
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Staffer ‘no longer’ at NCSU after undercover video Jae Edwards boasted about “getting around” the DEI ban By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — An NC State staffer is no longer with the school following an undercover video by Accuracy In Media in which the employee boasted about getting around See NCSU, page A2
COURTESY NC STATE
Jae Edwards
The new mayor is at the center of a controversy tied to a nonprofit By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Citizens in Plymouth have raised concerns about conflicts of interest and self-dealing by town council members related to the lease of a town property to a nonprofit called Quality of Life ENC. Quality of Life ENC (QOL ENC) describes itself as an organization seeking to help individuals with addiction, mental health and other related issues. Plymouth is located in Washington County and has around 3,160 residents. In the past year, citizens in Plymouth have raised concerns regarding QOL ENC tied to allegations of conflicts of interest and ethical violations by town council mem-
Hall looks back on Year 1 as NC House speaker The Republican is eyeing property taxes in 2026 By A.P. Dillon North State Journal This is Part 1 of a two-part interview. RALEIGH — North State Journal sat down with North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Granite Falls) to talk about his first year as speaker, as well as priorities for the upcoming short session. Hall, 38, is the first millennial to have held a top leadership role as House Rules chair before making history again as the first of his generation to be
sworn in as House speaker last year — when he also welcomed his first child; his son Henry was born during session in April. “My speakership is only slightly older than Henry, our son. He was born during session on April 15, on tax day,” said Hall, calling being a father the “best thing” he’s ever done and “everybody should do it.” “We need more kids in this country — (it) gives you a better perspective on life,” said Hall. Hall said there were “no real surprises” in his first year as Speaker, citing his experience as preparing him for the role. “The good thing was I was See HALL, page A3
“When you spend enough time around this place, very little surprises you anymore.” N.C. House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Granite Falls)
bers, as well as procedural violations and selective enforcement in Plymouth’s town governance. Plymouth has had some transparency issues in the past, specifically a 2021 state audit that found the town had failed to maintain town council meeting minutes. North State Journal also found some meeting minutes missing, as well as links to video of town council meetings. The current Plymouth Town Council members include Mayor Crystal Davis, Donsenia Teel (mayor pro tempore, Ward I), Micah Weathersbee (Ward I), Jerry Rhodes (Ward II), Danny Wobbleton (Ward II) and Kim Williams (Ward III). Ward III Councilman Steven Brown abruptly resigned during the council’s Jan. 12 meeting. Other individuals present during town council meetings when QOL ENC See PLYMOUTH, page A2