VOLUME 11 ISSUE 6 | THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2026
NSJONLINE.COM
STEPHANIE SCARBROUGH / AP PHOTO
March sadness
Duke center Patrick Ngongba grapples with the Blue Devils’ stunning loss to UConn in their Elite Eight game Sunday in Washington, D.C. While Durham comes to grips with Duke’s exit, in Raleigh, the Wolfpack have their new coach after Will Wade’s shocking departure. See more in Sports.
the
Page: ‘I ran for the right reasons’
BRIEF this week
The Rockingham County sheriff says Senate Leader Phil Berger’s campaign “miscalculated”
Trump threatens Iran with widespread destruction if deal not struck Dubai, United Arab Emirates U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday threatened widespread destruction of Iran’s energy resources and other vital infrastructure, potentially including desalination plants that supply drinking water, if a deal to end the war is not reached “shortly.” Trump’s new threat came in a social media post. Earlier comments to the Financial Times suggested American troops could seize Iran’s Kharg Island oil export hub. Trump has repeatedly claimed to be making diplomatic progress — though Tehran denies negotiating directly — while ramping up his threats and sending thousands more U.S. troops to the Middle East.
Gas prices eclipse $4 per gallon in U.S. New York U.S. gas prices jumped past an average of $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022 on Tuesday as the Iran war pushes fuel prices to soar worldwide. According to motor club AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is now $4.02 — over a dollar more expensive than before the war began. The last time U.S. drivers were collectively paying this much at the pump was nearly four years ago, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The price is a national average, meaning drivers in some states have been paying well over $4 a gallon for a while.
By A.P. Dillon North State Journal
See VOTER ID, page A2
See PAGE, page A3
Judge upholds NC photo voter ID law The ruling was a win for Republicans By Gary D. Robertson The Associated Press RALEIGH — North Carolina’s photo voter identification law was upheld last Thursday, as a federal judge set aside arguments by civil rights groups that Republicans enacted the requirement with discriminatory intent against black and Latino voters. The decision by U.S. District Judge Loretta Biggs is a huge legal victory for Republican
America 250 NC holds March events; April features Greensboro stop “This celebration is part of the One Small Step Initiative.” Americans for Prosperity website on the Greensboro America 250 event
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legislative leaders who passed the law in late 2018 — weeks after more than 55% of voters approved a constitutional amendment backing the idea. “Finally. After seven years, we can put to rest any doubt that our state’s Voter I.D. law is constitutional,” Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) said in a press release. “This is a monumental win for the citizens of North Carolina and election integrity efforts.” Biggs had presided in spring 2024 over a nonjury trial in a lawsuit filed by the state
RALEIGH — Rockingham Sheriff Sam Page is one step closer to heading to the state Senate after his primary opponent, longtime Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden), conceded following partial hand recounts failing to change the 23 votes by which he was trailing. In an interview with North State Journal, Page said he was looking forward to getting to work. “I ran for the right reasons, and now I’m excited and looking forward to transitioning in January after the November election and helping the citizens of the district and also in North Carolina,” Page said. Page, a native of Rockingham County, has spent more than 40 years in law enforcement, including 28 years as the county’s sheriff. He also served as president of the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association (2010-11) and still sits on its executive committee. Now, with a win in the general election, he’s set to join the General Assembly. “This race was very contentious and it had a lot of negatives come through in it that I’ve never seen before,” said Page, adding that he knew it would be a “tough race” and acknowledging the millions spent against him during the contest.
Americans for Prosperity are holding an interactive event in Greensboro on April 25 By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Even without the General Assembly’s America 250 committee meeting in March, the state’s commemoration of the country’s 250th anniversary continued with a special focus by America 250 NC on Women’s History Month, highlighting the state’s revolutionary roots and
women who helped shape the nation. America 250 NC also sponsored the First in Freedom Festival, drawing thousands of visitors despite rainy weather. It featured hands-on crafts about North Carolina’s Revolutionary history, Battle of Moores Creek Bridge trivia and exhibits about the state’s “First in Freedom” heritage. Across the state, new America 250 exhibits opened at Tryon Palace and Battleship North Carolina, as well as the 1775 Edenton Tea Party, and sites in Martin, Alamance, See AMERICA250, page A3
“Their political instincts were as off as I’ve ever seen in politics in my life career.” Patrick Sebastian, Page campaign strategist