North State Journal Vol. 11, Issue 7

Historic moonshot

Astronaut and Artemis II

windows, looking back

Everett, 2024

Miss N.C., dead at 22 after cancer battle

Dunn

Carrie Everett, the 2024 Miss North Carolina, died Sunday after a battle with stomach cancer, according to her family. She was 22. Everett, a student at North Carolina Central University, was Miss Johnston County when she won the statewide pageant and competed for 2024 Miss America.

Everett was diagnosed with metastatic signet ring cell carcinoma last July and underwent treatment in her home city of Seattle following her diagnosis. “Her untimely passing silences a strong voice for social justice but her impact will continue to live on in the lives she touched,” the Miss North Carolina organization said in a statement.

American journalist kidnapped in Iraq released

Baghdad

An American journalist who was kidnapped from a Baghdad street corner last week has been released, an Iraqi o cial with direct knowledge of the situation said Tuesday. Shelly Kittleson, 49, was freed in the afternoon, said the o cial, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly. He did not share her current whereabouts but said that before her release, she had been held in Baghdad. The powerful Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah said in a statement earlier in the day it had decided to free Kittleson, who was abducted on March 31.

Halifax Resolves returning to NC the BRIEF this week

Legislators hear Helene recovery progress, struggles

State lawmakers were given an update by state o cials

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — North Carolina lawmakers received a detailed brie ng last week on the state’s ongoing recovery from Hurricane Helene, with ocials from two agencies outlining progress, funding gaps and

obstacles that continue to slow the e ort.

The Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations Subcommittee on Hurricane Response and Recovery, co-chaired by Sen. Brent Jackson (R-Sampson) and Rep. Brenden Jones (R-Columbus), heard presentations from Matt Calabria, director of the Governor’s Recovery O ce for Western

HELENE, page A8

Ruling ends long-running Leandro case

The case, lasting 32 years, was dismissed with prejudice by the state Supreme Court

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — The North Carolina Supreme Court reached a 4-3 decision last Thursday in the long-running Leandro education lawsuit. The case was vacated and dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be brought again.

The new ruling, issued by Chief Justice Paul Newby, essentially boils down to two key issues: case jurisdiction and who controls appropriations in the state under the North Carolina Constitution.

The ruling says the trial court lost its jurisdiction to hear the case when it stopped being about the original narrow claims involving Hoke County and four other low-wealth districts and became a sprawling statewide lawsuit.

The court also said the lawsuit was never properly amended to make that new claim and wasn’t led for hearing by a special three-judge panel that the law requires for statewide constitutional challenges.

The ruling says anything the trial court or the Supreme Court did after July 2017 is essentially void. That includes the court’s own 2022 pro-plainti ruling (Hoke III) in the Leandro case that tried to force major changes, including funding, when the high court had a Democratic majority.

“By 24 July 2017, the remaining participants in the litigation and the trial court o cially transformed this case into one addressing matters never pled,” wrote Newby. “Speci cally, the trial court worked with the remaining parties in this case — while excluding the General Assembly — to enforce a statewide plan that overhauled the legislatively enacted educational system.

The independence document will be in the state for the rst time in 250 years

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — The Halifax Resolves, the rst known formal call by state representatives for independence from Great Britain, is coming back to North Carolina as part of the America 250 celebrations. The Resolves, issued April 12, 1776, by the North Carolina Assembly, authorized delegates attending a meeting of the Fourth Provincial Congress to vote for independence. The document put their resolutions to paper in the minutes of that meeting.

For the past 250 years, the Resolves have been a permanent resident of the National Archives because it’s the only copy known to exist, but the document is returning home in commemoration of America’s semiquincentennial anniversary.

The Resolves will be on exhibit at the Halifax State Historic Site’s new visitor center from April 10 through Oct. 6. The initial viewing will coincide with the Halifax Resolves Days from April 10-12.

“North Carolina played a signi cant role in winning America’s independence,” Gov. Josh Stein said in a statement announcing the exhibition. “The creation and adop-

“The opportunity to view this 250-year-old document in the place where it was created is a truly oncein-a-lifetime experience.”

Pamela B. Cashwell, N.C. Department of Natural and

Cultural Resources secretary

the word | A living Christ

It has been suggested that one of the faults of much evangelical preaching is the too exclusive presentation of a su ering, dying, dead, and buried Christ — rather than of a risen, living, ever-sympathizing, ever-helping Christ. This fault results from the desire to hold forth “Christ cruci ed” as the one and only ground of salvation. But the consequence too often is, that the only conception of the Savior produced in the minds of the people, is that of One who su ered and died. They are led to trust for salvation to the one past act of redemption — rather than to the power of an ever-present Savior. Their eyes are turned back to the cross — rather than up to the throne.

A little re ection will satisfy anyone that the conception of a living Christ is not a vivid and powerful one in the minds of the mass of Christians. They think of Jesus very much as of a dear friend they have lost, or as one who lived centuries ago a noble life of self-sacri ce — but who lives no longer.

Now the Scriptures are at great pains to present Christ as a living Savior. The in nite importance of his death is everywhere recognized; but mark how all the New Testament writers labor to remove every shadow of doubt from the fact that he rose again, and how his resurrection is held forth as the most important fact in his history, the very foundation of all gospel truth and of all Christian hope.

A vivid realization of Christ as living — is essential to noble Christian life. How easy it is to go to the throne of grace when we feel that

House Committee calls school superintendent back for hearing

Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools’ Rodney Trice will testify April 23

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — The House Oversight Committee is calling Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Superintendent Rodney Trice back to testify on April 23 to explain why certain books are in the district’s elementary libraries in violation of the Parents’ Bill of Rights law.

Rep. Brenden Jones (R-Columbus) posted the letter to Trice on social media.

“Due to their continued deance of the Parents’ Bill of Rights, we have called back Superintendent Rodney Trice to explain why there are 155 books currently in their elementary libraries in direct violation of state law,” wrote Jones.

Jones’ call to bring Trice back follows a previous post on March 25, with images of books in CHCCS depicting “BDSM men kissing and drag-shows.”

“My team is actively reviewing their entire library system,” Jones wrote.

The letter is signed by all three House Oversight co - chairs, which include Jones and Reps. Jake Johnson (R-Polk) and Harry Warren (R-Rowan).

“As the Superintendent of Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (‘CHCCS’), you are uniquely quali ed to discuss books currently on the shelves and otherwise available in CHCCS elementary school libraries,” the lawmakers wrote. “As your own Digital Learning & Library Services Department states, ‘[t]he objective of the library media center is to make available to faculty and students a collection of materials that

on that throne sits that same Jesus whose tender and beautiful life is delineated on the gospel pages. He is there as our advocate to manage all our a airs for us; he is there to prepare a place for us, and to receive us when we go home. It is a comforting thought when things seem to go wrong with you — that it is the Jesus of Bethany and Calvary who presides over the a airs of providence.

Then there is still a further blessing which springs out of the faith that realizes a living Christ. It is the consciousness of that Savior’s presence with each believer all the time. There is no promise of the Scriptures repeated over and over again so often as this: “I will be with you — I am with you always.” Jesus

tion of the Halifax Resolves on April 12, 1776, was the rst ocial action by any colony calling for independence from Great Britain, forever cementing North Carolina’s place in history as ‘First in Freedom.’”

North Carolina’s State Archives keeps the journal copy of the Resolves, which will be displayed in Halifax in the fall.

will enrich and support the curriculum and meet the needs of the students and faculty served.’”

The letter reminds Trice of a portion of the Parents’ Bill of Rights law that states “curriculum includes the standard course of study and support materials, locally developed curriculum, supplemental instruction, and textbooks and other supplementary materials,” before telling Trice, “We implore you to familiarize yourself with the attached list of one hundred and fty- ve (155) books currently embedded across your elementary schools, in direct con ict with the Parents’ Bill of Rights (“S49”).”

The section of the Parents’ Bill of Rights law referenced in the letter outlines “age-appropriate instruction for grades kindergarten through fourth grade” and states, “Instruction on gender identity, sexual activity, or sexuality shall not be included in the curriculum provided in grades kindergarten through fourth grade, regardless of whether the information is provided by school personnel or third parties.”

Curriculum is de ned in the law as the state’s “standard course of study and support materials, locally developed curriculum, supplemental instruction, and textbooks and other supplementary materials, but does not include responses to student-initiated questions.”

Trice and CHCCS’ Board Chair George Gri n were grilled by House Oversight Committee members in December 2025 over the district’s failure to follow the state’s Parents’ Bill of Rights law. Gri n had made statements during public meetings held by the board in opposition to following the law, including stating, “We’re not going to do it this way.”

“The opportunity to view this 250-year-old document in the place where it was created is a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Pamela B. Cashwell. “The Halifax Re -

has not left the earth. He never will leave it for a moment until his last redeemed one has reached the heavenly Father’s home. The tempted, fainting believer can nd, not promises of strength merely — but the same living, mighty hand that Peter found when he began to sink in the waves. The lost sinner, crying out, nds not merely the assurance of pardon and life — but he nds himself lifted up by the Good Shepherd and borne gently along to the fold.

J. R. Miller was a pastor and former editorial superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication from 1880 to 1911. His works are now in the public domain. This passage is a condensed version of the original.

solves is one of the most important pieces of our state’s story — its date is emblazoned on our state ag — and we’re so excited for North Carolinians to see it in person.”

The state will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Halifax Resolves with “Prelude to Revolution: Halifax Resolves Days,” described as an “immersive three - day event featuring living history vignettes, lectures, live colonial music and Tryon Palace Fife and Drum Corps performances, historic trades and weapons demonstrations, a military parade, tours, and more.”

The Historic Halifax site is administered by the North Car-

olina Division of State Historic Sites under the state’s Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The department has a dedicated website for America 250 events, exhibits and resources at America250.nc.gov. A full schedule of events will be taking place at Historic Halifax at tinyurl.com/NSJ-Halifax. Maps and daily programming can also be picked up at the Halifax Visitor Center at 25 St. David St. Additional information about North Carolina’s America 250 celebrations and events can be viewed on the General Assembly’s semiquincentennial committee website at tinyurl. com/NSJ-NC250.

RALEIGH - The N.C. Department of Transportation is hosting a public meeting to discuss the proposal to replace the bridges on Forestville Road over Harris Creek and over Hodges Mill Creek. The purpose of this meeting is to provide interested citizens with information on the project and gather public input on the proposed design.

Project details and maps can be found on NCDOT’s project input website at publicinput.com/forestvillerd-bridges. The information will be available at the meeting allowing for one-on-one discussions with NCDOT staff, but there will be no formal presentation.

The meeting will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on April 21 at Wake Cross Baptist Church, 3328 Forestville Road, in Raleigh.

People may also submit comments by phone at 984-205-6615 project code 1863, email forestvillerd-bridges@publicinput.com, or mail at the address shown below by May 5, 2026.

By Mail: Lisa Bullard-Gilchrist, EI

NCDOT Highway Division 5 – Bridge Program

Manager

2612 N. Duke Street Durham, NC 27704

NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled people who wish to participate in this meeting. Anyone requiring special services should contact Tony Gallagher, Environmental Analysis Unit, at 1598 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1598, 919-707-6069 or magallagher@ ncdot.gov as early as possible so arrangements can be made.

Those

NCSBE head re ects on rst year, modernization

Sam Hayes discussed the Voter Repair Project, the HAVA settlement and replacing the 30-year-old elections management system

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

This is Part 1 of a two-part interview.

RALEIGH — Sam Hayes, executive director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, re ected on his rst 10 months in the role during a March interview with North State Journal, describing the period as “busy” with much accomplished.

Hayes was sworn in as executive director in early May 2025 after being appointed to the role by North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek. Hayes replaced former Gov. Roy Cooper’s pick of Karen Brinson Bell.

In legislation passed in 2024, Boliek’s position was given the power over the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE).

Looking ahead to this November’s upcoming general election, Hayes expressed con dence.

“I think that we can expect

a smooth general election just as we saw in the primary,” said Hayes. “I have full con dence in our directors and all 100 counties, their sta , those boards — they have all done a fantastic job.”

He praised county election o cials across North Carolina, characterizing them as “dedicated professionals.”

Hayes prioritized compliance with federal law under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), launching a Voter Registration Repair Project to collect missing driver’s license numbers or partial Social Security information from roughly 88,000 to 100,000 voters. The e ort, which included internal reviews with counties and direct outreach via letters, has repaired more than around 30% of the a ected registrations to date.

Hayes explained the settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice in the HAVA litigation resulted in a consent judgment backing the NCSBE’s approach and includes ongoing monitoring and reporting requirements.

“A lot of the agenda that I laid out when I rst came into ofce, I think the biggest ones being the settlement with the United States Department of Justice over the HAVA litigation there and the initiation of our registration repair project,” Hayes said.

A.P. DILLON / NORTH STATE JOURNAL

North Carolina State Board of Elections Sam Hayes re ected on his time in the role as he approaches the rst anniversary of his hiring.

“This is not about purging our voter rolls. It’s about complying with federal law and collecting the information that, quite frankly, we have been required to collect since HAVA and have not always been very e ective at.”

Hayes gave the example of a recent discovery and correction of 16 provisional ballots across 10 counties that had not been counted in federal races during the March 3 primary, in line with the National Voter Registration Act.

“None of it was outcome determinative for any of these races,” Hayes said of the 16 ballots.

“But the point is that this is what the law commands. We want voters to be con dent that their votes are going to count.”

A major focus has turned to modernizing the state’s aging election infrastructure. The Statewide Election Information Management System (SEIMS), built in the late 1990s using outdated code, is undergoing a modernization that Hayes said “needs to be upgraded, and it needs to be upgraded quickly.”

“We call it the ‘lift and shift,’ moving it to a new language that is supported, adding some security features and other utility features,” said Hayes. “And we expect that process to play out over the next two years.

Hayes said modules will be “delivered on a rolling basis,” and the nal one will roll out in January 2028 ahead of the next presidential election that November.

“We were very fortunate,” Hayes said of the SEIMS modernization project. “We were one of the few agencies that received a mini budget in the long session. The agency was given $15 million for that purpose.”

The contract was awarded to ReFrame Solutions following a competitive RFP process, with the rst kicko meeting held recently. Hayes said the NCSBE had its rst meeting with ReFrame Solutions in mid-March.

Hayes also discussed plans for a more comprehensive replacement of the election management system, which is under review by the Modernization of Election Data System Commission (MEDS). The 22-member MEDS Commission

Rocky Mount faces possible nancial takeover

The Local Government Commission warned the city about its budget issues

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — The state’s Local Government Commission delivered a warning to the city of Rocky Mount during its monthly meeting last week, putting its elected leaders on notice that any further budget missteps could trigger a rare state takeover of the city’s nances.

The Local Government Commission (LGC), which oversees scal health for more than 1,100 local governments across the state, has grown increasingly frustrated with Rocky Mount’s pattern of overly optimistic revenue forecasts, overspending and weak oversight.

After months of letters and closed-door meetings, the LGC noted that recent actions by the Rocky Mount City Council have narrowly averted an immediate crisis. Budget cuts expected to save $1.8 million by June 30, utility rate hikes for residents, and slightly improved revenue projections should keep the city solvent through the end of 2026, but only by a thin margin.

Should those numbers slip again, the LGC said it will exercise its statutory power to seize

LEANDRO from page A1

“What began as modest, as-applied challenges to the allocation of educational resources in the named school districts became a full-scale, facial assault on the entire educational system enacted by the General Assembly.”

Republican lawmakers who intervened in the case had argued the state constitution does not give the courts the power to make such appropriations as the 2022 Supreme Court had tried to do.

The now-majority Republican Supreme Court agreed, saying in last week’s ruling that judges lack authority to order the legislature to appropriate speci c funds.

The funds in question go back to the WestEd Comprehensive Remedial Plan, a multibillion-dollar outline of an educational overhaul that was more than 300 pages long plus appendices.

WestEd’s plan had $8.29 billion in new state-level spending

control of Rocky Mount’s books. With a population of 54,541, the Edgecombe-Nash county city would dwarf all previous municipalities the LGC has ever taken control of, which has occurred only 12 times in state history.

Treasurer Brad Briner, who leads the LGC, was direct about the situation.

“The actions and inactions of the Rocky Mount City Council are nothing short of nancial malpractice,” Briner said in a press release. “It’s been over 80 years since a city, county or special district has defaulted on a bond obligation in North Carolina. That long-standing record is going to remain intact while I am

on schools over an eight-year period, with an expectation that the federal government would supply another $3.87 billion per year. Among the spending items was $400,000 per year for a state “O ce of Equity A airs.”

In 2023, the total was “recalculated” down to $677.8 million. That adjustment took into consideration funds already put into education by legislative budgets.

Of the $2 million total paid for WestEd to produce the report, $1.5 million came from two agencies reporting to former Gov. Roy Cooper, as well as from several left-leaning groups, according to a 2021 report by WRAL.

Democratic Associate Justices Anita Earls and Allison Riggs dissented, along with Republican Associate Justice Richard Dietz. Earls argued in her more than 75-page dissent that the case has always been “about the nature of the constitutional right recognized three decades ago in Leandro v. State

at the helm of the Local Government Commission.”

He added that while city leaders have made some progress on the de cit, they continue to avoid tough decisions about overspending.

“It is not sustainable to ask citizens to shoulder the burden of budget mismanagement,” he said.

The warning arrives just weeks after State Auditor Dave Boliek released a performance audit characterizing the town as being on the brink of collapse. Boliek is also a member of the LGC.

The audit report documented a 78% drop in the city’s cash and investment balances — from

(Leandro I): that the State has a duty to guard and maintain the right of every North Carolina school child to access a sound basic education. … The Court today betrays these constitutional commitments.”

Riggs wrote, “Under the guise of a narrow subject matter jurisdiction question, the majority voids a decision from a prior composition of this Court with which it disagrees, undermines decades of precedent.”

In his dissent, Dietz wrote, “There is an incongruity in this case that is too obvious to ignore,” adding he disagreed “there are fatal jurisdictional defects in this case.”

The original plainti s were ve low-wealth, mostly rural county school districts. Led by Robb Leandro, the lawsuit’s namesake and a former Hoke County student, the original lawsuit led in 1994 alleged that the state’s funding system left them unable to provide adequate educational opportunities due to low property wealth despite raising local tax levels.

“I think that we can expect a smooth general election just as we saw in the primary.”

Sam Hayes, NCSBE executive director

was created by Boliek in February. Hayes said they want the comprehensive replacement to be a “Cadillac system that we hope will be a model for the nation,” adding the cost is “more on the order of a $50-plus million-dollar e ort.” He said the General Assembly will receive the funding request in the upcoming short session.

“We still operate on paper,” Hayes said of the current system’s issues. “We get these things emailed in or sent in by the mail, then they have to be scanned, the signatures have to be veried before they’re uploaded to our system, and hence the delay.”

Hayes noted they are looking at what other states and entities are using along with other options.

“We believe that there is an o -the-shelf product out there that we can avail ourselves of, but we’re going to use part of that $15 million that we received for the SEIMS modernization to pay for the new campaign nance software,” said Hayes. “But since we had the MEDS Commission e ort ongoing, the auditor wanted to incorporate that as part of the process so we could hear from those stakeholders.”

of nancing requests with little debate.

roughly $100 million in August 2023 to $21.8 million in August 2025 — driven by unchecked spending.

Employee compensation had jumped 27% and capital purchases soared 153% in scal 2024, even as revenues fell 2%.

The audit blamed poor personnel decisions, including the hiring and oversight of a former city manager, and a revolving door in the nance department that saw ve directors in quick succession.

Compounding the city’s problems are chronic delays in required nancial reporting. The scal 2024 audit, due Oct. 31, 2024, was not submitted until May 6, 2025. The scal 2025 audit, due Dec. 31, 2025, has arrived only in draft form, and those preliminary statements show the General Fund is already in the negative.

In a separate action, the LGC issued an o cial warning to Littleton in Halifax County. The town of around 550 residents has failed to submit required annual audit reports for the past ve years.

Under the LGC’s resolution, Littleton must deliver its scal-year 2021 audit that was originally due Oct. 31, 2021, by the close of business May 4 or face the same potential takeover threat as Rocky Mount.

Elsewhere on the agenda, the commission approved dozens

In addition to Hoke County, the other four school districts were Cumberland, Halifax, Robeson and Vance.

Early in the case, several larger and wealthier urban districts joined the case as plainti -intervenors. They argued that the funding system also failed to adequately support at-risk students in their districts, even if the districts had higher overall wealth.

The case continued to wind its way through the court, and after 2017, the trial court and the parties turned the case into a statewide facial challenge that demanded an overhaul of the state education funding system for every district and school.

The General Assembly did not intervene initially, but that quickly changed after the 2022 Supreme Court ruling and subsequent trial court order for millions in funding — which legislators argued was in violation of the state constitution giving the legislature appropriations authority.

“Today’s decision rightly rec-

Among the larger items, the City of Charlotte received approval for $650 million in special obligation bonds to upgrade Bank of America Stadium to NFL standards, plus $109 million in certificates of participation for general government projects and $6.2 million in refunding certi cates.

The North Carolina Medical Care Commission sought $619.1 million in conduit revenue bonds for Wake Forest Baptist Health’s new tower in Winston-Salem and $61.2 million for Plantation Village’s Porter’s Neck project in Wilmington.

The City of Durham secured $218 million in revenue bonds to refund prior debt at a savings and $136 million in limited obligation bonds for solid-waste projects. Buncombe County obtained $68 million for county facility improvements, $58 million for school renovations and $15.2 million in refunding bonds.

Other approvals included $73.5 million for Wilmington, $43.1 million in state revolving fund loans for Lexington’s sewer upgrades, $21 million for Wake County buildings, and smaller loans and bonds for Franklin County, Ashe County, Surf City, Brunswick County, Marshville, Washington, Troutman and Mebane.

The commission also green-lit more than $58 million in grants from the state’s Viable Utility Reserve for water, wastewater, asset assessment and merger studies bene ting more than two dozen towns and counties.

ognizes the constitutional role of the North Carolina General Assembly, since the state Constitution entrusts sole appropriations authority to the legislature,” Demi Dowdy, spokesperson for N.C. House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Granite Falls), said in a statement after last week’s ruling.

Phil Berger (R-Eden), the outgoing state Senate leader, also weighed in.

“For decades, liberal education special interests have improperly tried to hijack North Carolina’s constitutional funding process in order to impose their policy preferences via judicial at,” Berger said. “Today’s decision con rms that the proper pathway for policymaking is the legislative process.”

Gov. Josh Stein said the four justices in the majority “are wrong.”

“Education opens doors of opportunity for children, but today the Court slammed them in the face of students who deserve the right to a sound basic public education,” Stein said.

THE CONVERSATION

Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

Singing the praises of the unsung heroes

The only equality that matters in such lifeand-death situations is the equal ability to perform under extreme pressure and stress.

AS I WAS writing a rst draft for this week, I just about reached the end of an argument on a decidedly political matter when news broke about the daring rescue of the American F-15A pilot in Iran.

Then a dear friend whose son is a pilot texted to say he was safe. Soon after arriving at church for the glorious Easter service, a friend warmly embraced a young man and said, “I am so glad you are home!”

He had just arrived four hours earlier from deployment in the Middle East, where he was a medic. All of a sudden, commenting on base American politics as usual just didn’t seem as important or appropriate by comparison.

Besides being thankful for the successful search and rescue of the downed pilot from the top of a frigid mountaintop in Iran by the Navy SEAL Team 6 rescue team, my thoughts raced to a number of extremely talented people I met in Washington, D.C. Those people played a part in developing our military training process and will never be properly thanked or credited with contributing to Saturday’s amazing and daring successful mission.

What is so special about the Air Force pilot that allowed him to survive in such terrible weather without food or water for 48 hours despite being badly wounded? What is it about the SEAL Team 6 members who put themselves in mortal danger to save the pilot?

This sort of bravery does not come naturally or else everyone would do it, correct? The strategy and method of rescuing this pilot were not just made up at the Pentagon the day before like a

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

backyard quarterback drawing up plays by scratching his nger in the playground dirt.

One of the rst people who popped into mind had specialized in establishing advanced tests and protocols to determine the psychological and emotional makeup of new applicants to the American military. The thinking was to limit the number who wouldn’t make it through basic training and wash out — thereby wasting millions of taxpayer dollars and valuable military resources and time. More importantly, applicants could be evaluated in a comprehensive, quantitative manner to determine if they possessed the necessary mental and emotional constitutions to become specialized military o cers such as F-15 pilots or SEAL Team 6 members.

Close to 50 years ago, he basically said the days of randomly asking soldiers to step forward to volunteer for a dangerous mission could be replaced by having a perfectly trained force to do precisely what was needed as the world saw Saturday. There are the thousands of drill sergeants, trainers, instructors, mechanics, engineers and other military personnel who contribute to the training of each pilot and soldier every day without a lot of recognition or accolades from the general public. When it comes to speci c character, mental, emotional or psychological attributes, nothing demands excellence in performance more than being an F-15 pilot or SEAL Team 6 member. The only equality that matters in such life-anddeath situations is the ability to perform under extreme pressure and stress. There is

no margin for error. The psychological tests established by my friend long ago helped nd the men who became the pilot and the soldiers who saved him.

Is there any greater satisfaction in life than being part of a mission so noble and successful?

Can anyone imagine being the stranded pilot waiting, hoping and praying someone would arrive to rescue him before Iranian soldiers found him or he died of exposure? All he wanted was to be rescued in the shortest possible time, and the only way to do it would be with the most highly quali ed and trained personnel.

There’s already talk on cable news about how this story might be turned into a major motion picture — which, in and of itself, is an indication of how far we have gotten o the path of doing the right things for the right reasons. Nothing could be worse than to give an impression that any part of this heroic e ort could be ctionalized or dramatized for the paying American public.

This rescue operation epitomizes the commitment to excellence by the thousands of civil servants and military personnel over many years, all of whom do it for the following reason: “They understand and believe in the mission, and that the military men and women matter.” They could certainly do other jobs for more pay, but they are not motivated by money. They are motivated by a meaningful mission that cannot be found in any other jobs.

They deserve to be recognized as much as the military o cials who ordered the rescue mission to commence.

There should be nothing o ensive about Iryna Zarutska murals

Democrats in Rhode Island are afraid of the uncomfortable conversations murals like these tend to spark about their soft-on crime policies.

WHEN 23-YEAR-OLD Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was murdered in Charlotte in August 2025, no one had any idea that outrage over her senseless death would go national and international. Many were sickened not just over the fact that she was stabbed to death as she attempted to go home from her job, but that her alleged killer, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., was a violent repeat o ender whose own mother has said in so many words that he should not have been on the streets. Laws were changed here in North Carolina. Congressional hearings were held over her death. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance also talked about her killing, with Trump vowing justice to Iryna’s mother, Anna, during his February State of the Union address to the nation, which Mrs. Zarutska attended as a guest of the president.

Tribute videos to Iryna were put together and posted on social media websites like YouTube and Instagram. Poems were written about her life. Vigils were held in cities near and far from Charlotte. Her case struck a chord with a lot of people, in part because every bit of the horri c crime was caught on video. Murals even began to go up in some parts of the country to the extent that, at some point, X CEO Elon Musk donated $1 million to help fund them.

One city where a mural was supposed to be painted was Providence, Rhode Island. The owners of the Dark Lady LGBTQ club agreed to let one be painted on the side of their uptown building, not to make a political statement but because they believed her memory should be honored. Though the club owners were lifelong Democrats, outrage commenced in the Democrat-run city to the extent that the owners didn’t even want to do media interviews to address the backlash. They even had to put out a statement assuring the locals that they weren’t fans of Trump, but they thought her life should be remembered.

Incredibly, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, a Democrat, called the mural — which was halfway complete at the time — “divisive,” while stating, “This has not brought us closer together as a community; in fact, it has been quite divisive and even a little bit ugly.”

Left out of his remarks, of course, is that the divisiveness started thanks to supposedly tolerant Democrats in Rhode Island like Smiley, who were perfectly OK with murals of leftist icons like George Floyd but not a woman who was stabbed to death after she came to America from war-torn Ukraine in hopes of making a better life.

Making matters worse was Democratic state Rep. David Morales, who proclaimed,

“Ultimately, we want to make sure that every community member who calls Providence home feels safe,” while not explaining how a literal piece of artwork could make anyone feel unsafe and also leaving out whether he believed women like Iryna Zarutska also had a right to feel safe.

“We can both agree that this mural behind us does not re ect Providence’s values, nor does it re ect the creativity that we would want to see in our city,” Morales added without elaborating as to what about it went against Rhode Island’s purported values.

This is one of those things that should transcend politics. But it won’t because apparently Democrats in Rhode Island are afraid of the uncomfortable conversations murals like these tend to spark about their soft-on-crime policies, policies that lead to more innocent people like Iryna Zarutska being victimized.

Though the mural at the LGBTQ club is coming down thanks to the mayor-led outrage mob, it reportedly will be going up elsewhere in the city. The question that remains, though, is why it even had to come to this in the rst place.

North Carolina native Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah and is a media analyst and regular contributor to RedState and Legal Insurrection.

Fungibility

Dollars earned or dollars found are actually indistinguishable from each other.

AS A CHILD of the 1980s, I have always been a fan of video games. The release of the Nintendo when I was about 9 years old led to months of begging my parents for the system — but it didn’t arrive until a couple of years later. My parents didn’t have a whole lot of extra money and couldn’t see the value in a gaming system in our home. As a parent today, I can certainly see where they were coming from. While I waited for a Nintendo, I was occasionally able to go to Chuck E. Cheese for birthday parties where I could play all the games I wanted for an hour or two until my tokens ran out. Then we would watch the animatronic show, which I found (and still nd) pretty creepy. If you have ever seen “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” that movie makes my mid-’80s nightmares come alive!

I digress. One time at a Chuck E. Cheese birthday party, just as I had spent my last token playing Skee-Ball, I found a $10 bill on the oor of the arcade. After looking around to see if I could nd the person who lost it, I had a choice to make. I had a lot of little jobs from a young age and was always focused on saving that money, but this money was “free.” Found money was somehow di erent in my mind than what I earned, so I headed right for the token machine and spent it all. Which brings me to a fundamental principle in nancial matters that young me didn’t understand — fungibility. It’s a funny

COLUMN | DAVID HARSANYI

word for a powerful concept. Essentially, fungibility means that money is money. Dollars earned and dollars found are actually indistinguishable from each other and completely interchangeable. But that’s not the way most people think about money. Just like me at Chuck E. Cheese, somehow found money we can be careless with, but earned money we hold tight.

People use all sorts of expressions to justify this — one I hear all the time in the investment business is “playing with house money.” This is when you make money on an investment or a bet, sell or return your original investment and keep speculating with the remaining pro ts — as if somehow the money you made counts di erently or is valued di erently than the money you put into the investment. This is a great way to lose the pro ts you made. In fact, the expression itself devalues the pro ts you made by making you think you can be frivolous with it.

But we all know that you shouldn’t be. It is obviously important to nd joy in life and to spend money reasonably to support living a full life, but I encourage you to embrace the principle of fungibility. Don’t waste money, no matter what the source. And save yourself some nightmares and pass on the opportunity to watch “Five Nights at Freddy’s”!

Brad Briner is state treasurer of North Carolina.

Everyone knows what the Democrats’ AIPAC obsession is really about

It’s become di cult to function within leftwing politics without condemning the bogeymen of AIPAC and Israel.

CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL

candidate Tom Steyer says that the American Israel Public A airs Committee, or AIPAC, “is a dark money organization that should have no place in our politics.”

In other words, Steyer believes supporters of the Israel-United States alliance, which includes many Jewish Americans, should be barred from participating in electoral politics like everyone else in America.

Steyer, who spent $345 million on his failed presidential campaign in 2020 and has already dropped $38 million on his gubernatorial race, is a longtime major funder of leftist “dark money” groups himself. Yet the billionaire doesn’t believe Americans less fortunate than he should be permitted to pool their money and ght for issues important to them.

The Democrats’ new AIPAC obsession is just a convenient way to tap into some ugly conspiracies and fearmongering about Jewish money and its alleged control over our politics. Democrats are increasingly, as The New York Times might put it, “J-pilled.”

There are, of course, wholly legitimate criticisms of American foreign policy. But Jew-baiting progressives such as Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) don’t merely argue that AIPAC sits on the wrong side of a foreign policy issue but that it wants to steal constituents’ health care and child care to enrich war pro teers and genocidal maniacs.

Our aid to Israel, incidentally, constitutes somewhere in the vicinity of 0.06% of the federal budget. Meanwhile, Israeli tech and commercial interests operating within the United States generate billions in economic activity here and create thousands of high-wage jobs.

Yet it’s become di cult to function within left-wing politics, increasingly dominated by the Green-Red alliance of socialists and pro -Islamists, without condemning the bogeymen of AIPAC and Israel.

Take Gov. JB Pritzker (D-Ill.), a one-time donor to the group, who now justi es his opposition to the PAC by claiming the group only supports “Donald Trump and people who follow Donald Trump.”

As far as I can tell, AIPAC has given Trump zero dollars. The group is far more inclined to get involved in primary races, many of which neither candidate supports Trump but feature unhinged antisemitic communist conspiracists such as Jamaal Bowman or Cori Bush.

AIPAC is going to have a lot more on its plate moving forward. As of now, though you’d never know it, AIPAC is a minor player in American politics. In 2024, it spent around $50 million on all races. There was $2.68 billion spent by PACs in that cycle, and yet AIPAC is surely mentioned far more by liberals than all other PACs combined.

AIPAC’s lobbying expenditures, somewhere

around $3.3 million to $3.8 million a year, rank them somewhere in the 200s on the list of spenders. To put that in perspective, Eileen Gu was reportedly paid around twice as much to ski for China at the last Olympics as AIPAC spends in a year lobbying.

Moreover, AIPAC accounts for every dollar it spends. It’s not a foreign entity. It’s an American organization funded by American citizens. Whether liberals and isolationists like it or not, the U.S. government engages in foreign policy. Foreign policy includes decisions made by politicians on which countries we ally with. Americans have every right to nance organizations that lobby for an alliance with the Jewish state. That right is literally protected in the Constitution.

Indeed, if you could buy administrations, the U.S. government would have turned on Israel long ago.

In 2025, Saudi Arabia spent $69 million lobbying our government. Turkey spent $55 million. Since 2016, China has spent $534,317,884 on lobbying the U.S. Saudi Arabia spent $391,367,687. Qatar spent $266,715,096. The United Arab Emirates spent $262,511,999.

All these countries, plus Japan, Liberia, South Korea, the Marshall Islands and the Bahamas, have outspent Israel over that time in lobbying.

That’s just FARA-reported spending. The sheikdom of Qatar, a country of 360,000 citizens, pumps billions into American institutions to spread its authoritarian ideas. We have no clue how much the Chinese Communist Party spends on propaganda e orts.

Yet most of the AIPAC howlers have nothing to say about Gulf states that are as gung-ho for war against Iran as anyone. There probably wasn’t a single sign held up at any “No Kings” rally anywhere in the country lamenting the Saudi or Qatar in uence in the U.S.

Then again, most “anti-Zionists” just don’t have the guts to say “Jews.” At least, not yet.

Despite being a strong supporter of the Israel-U.S. alliance, I’ve never much cared for AIPAC in the past. Ironically, the risk-averse organization was milquetoast and ine ective, more concerned with putting on splashy bipartisan Washington, D.C., conferences with big-name guests than working in the trenches.

Then again, before the pro-Hamas left-wing and (increasingly the isolationist right) gained footholds in their parties, having a bene cial two-way partnership with a con dent and morally and ideologically compatible ally wasn’t controversial for good reasons.

For the rst time, however, AIPAC is actually needed.

David Harsanyi is a senior writer at the Washington Examiner. Harsanyi is a nationally syndicated columnist and author of ve books. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

How to help young men

SOCIETY HAS DONE a terrible job guiding teenage boys as they grow into men.

Local communities and society more broadly have something important to o er teenagers — guidance. A 15-year-old has never been 35 or 45. Swamped with hormones and a still-developing brain, he has a poor understanding of what he’ll want in the future.

Society is failing to successfully shepherd young men to adulthood.

This is why societies have long pushed young people toward desirable long-term outcomes. It helps both the individual and the broader community. This arrangement even bene ts those who don’t follow the norms. They better understand what the trade-o s will be for leaving the prescribed path. Keep this in mind as you consider the plight of young men. They’re struggling. In 1950, the labor force participation rate among men ages 25 to 34 was 96%. In February, it was just 85.3%. More than 19% of men in that age range lived at home in 2025. That’s up from 13.7% in 1983. Suicide rates for men ages 25 to 34 are up 30% since 2010. Male drug overdose deaths were higher in 2024 than in 2014.

In 1980, the median age for a man’s rst marriage was around 25. Now, it’s over 30. The average age of rst-time fathers has gone from under 28 in 1980 to over 31 today. Homeownership is increasingly out of reach.

Two things can be true at once. Every man is responsible for his own decisions, and these statistics show society is failing to successfully shepherd young men to adulthood. It starts with the breakdown of the family. Marriage keeps moms and dads together, and dads are vital for boys. But for decades, backed by the welfare state, society has undermined this bedrock institution.

The next problem is the belief that di erences between boys and girls come from societal conditioning, not biological di erences. Young boys mature later than girls. Yet they generally both start kindergarten at the same age. Classrooms involve a lot of sitting. Not great for rambunctious boys. Instead of extra recess, boys receive Ritalin. Boys are around twice as likely as girls to be told they have ADHD. Fatherless boys are less likely to have male teachers than in the past.

Look at the messages boys receive both in school and society. Boys’ inclination toward math isn’t celebrated and nurtured. It’s viewed as further proof of the power of the patriarchy. The education blob celebrates girls in STEM. “The future is female” is a popular slogan. Masculinity, however, is smeared as toxic.

Little wonder that many young men have withdrawn. Pornography has replaced dating and marriage. Online gambling o ers easily accessible thrills. The manosphere provides a super cial community and a cartoonish version of masculinity. Society can x this, but it won’t be easy. The root of this poisoned fruit is modern feminism. This worldview must be weeded out of institution after institution.

Marriage should be held up as the ideal, not penalized. If a man gets a woman pregnant, society should expect him to marry the mother. Allowing men to avoid the obvious responsibility that accompanies premarital sex has been a disaster for millions of children.

Some boys should start school later. Boys need three recesses a day, not one. They need male-only organizations, like the Boy Scouts, not Scouting America. Boys should learn that their natural aggression and competitiveness are gifts to harness, not ailments to cure. Put young men on a mission. Tell them that their country, local communities and future families need their strength and determination to build and create. Help teen boys by eliminating their access to pornography and online betting. These ideas may seem radical, but they’re not new. Society once used them to successfully help boys become good men. It’s time to do it again.

Victor Joecks is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and host of the “Sharpening Arrows” podcast. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

2026 Azalea Festival

Murphy to Manteo Jones & Blount

Community mourns beloved longtime radio host

and

needs in the

According to a news release, the county is

with

rms that

housing studies and strategic plans for communities across North Carolina. The county says the a ordable housing e ort is part of its ongoing work through the University of North Carolina School of Government’s NCIMPACT program, Carolina Across 100 and the Our State, Our Homes Program. The program focuses on building local capacity to address housing challenges. While analyzing the county’s housing needs, o cials will also engage residents, stakeholders and service providers. According to the release, the analysis ndings will help guide practical strategies to increase housing options, support renovation e orts and promote sustainable community development. Consultants will lead the project through quantitative analysis, policy review and stakeholder engagement.

NSJ

Guilford County Veteran radio personality Renee Vaughn, known for her passion for broadcasting and her deep connection with listeners, died over the weekend, according to a statement from 97.1 QMG. The station extended condolences to Vaughn’s family, describing her as a consummate professional whose dedication to radio and the community left a lasting impact. Vaughn was widely recognized for her commitment to her audience and her on-air work, earning respect from colleagues and listeners alike. The details of Vaughn’s death were unavailable.

NSJ

Siemens plant to employ 500 in Lexington

Davidson County

By A.P. Dillon

Journal

Quakes shake Triad on Easter Sunday

Randolph County A pair of earthquakes rattled North Carolina just miles and minutes apart on Easter Sunday. The rst quake struck at 4:15 p.m. right o I-74 near Banner Whitehead Road in Randolph County. The second was recorded at 4:46 p.m., less than two miles away o Edgar Road near the Holly Ridge Golf Links, each estimated around 2.3 magnitude. Earthquakes of such low magnitude normally do not cause any damage but can be strong enough to be felt.

WFMY

A new manufacturing plant in Lexington is expected to create 500 jobs and generate more than $1.2 billion. Siemens Manufacturing has o cially opened its plant that will build Amtrak railcars. During the announcement last week, the plant provided a rst close-up view of the whole process, from the warehouse full of di erent parts and how the steel is welded together into a train car to how they are tested before the cars are nally put out on the tracks. Siemens currently employs more than 300 people, and hiring is ongoing. These are skilled jobs in engineering and welding that Siemens leadership says North Carolina’s community colleges are ready to produce. Lexington Mayor Jason Hayes told local outlets that once the site is fully sta ed, it will be a huge bene t to the region. Gov. Josh Stein attended the announcement and said North Carolina remains a front-runner in industry, especially transportation, and that the demand for train travel is a big part of the future.

NSJ

EAST

1 dead after boat capsizes in Ocracoke Inlet

Dare County One person died after a commercial boat capsized near Ocracoke Inlet Sunday morning, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. O cials say they received the call reporting a 25-foot vessel had overturned with four people in the water. Before Coast Guard crews were able to respond, a Good Samaritan boater stepped in and pulled all four people from the water. One person was pronounced dead by EMS at the pier, while the other three were reportedly unharmed. The incident is under investigation.

WNCT

2 adult sea turtles rescued near Morehead

Carteret County

Two sea turtles were rescued Saturday on the Crystal Coast, according to the Emerald Isle Sea Turtle Patrol. The rst rescue was a live green sea turtle that was found stranded on Bear Island by rangers. It was then taken to the Center for Marine Sciences and Technology (CMAST) in Morehead City, where veterinarians were waiting to triage the turtle. A short time later, the team also treated a sea turtle that had swallowed a hook, according to the organization.

WITN

Fugitive arrested after months on run Hoke County A Goldsboro man on the run from law enforcement for months was caught last week in Hoke County, the Goldsboro Police Department said. According to a news release, Daktari Harris was taken into custody following a chase on foot on Jan. 11, 2025, near downtown Goldsboro. The o cers who arrested him found he had a rearm, the department said, and he was indicted on a federal weapons charge as a prior felon but released on bond. He had been on the run despite multiple law enforcement agencies searching for him. Harris was taken into custody again last week by a joint force consisting of members of the U.S. Marshals Service, ATF and the Hoke County Sheri ’s O ce. The arrest happened in the 100 block of Franklin Road following a “brief stando ,” Goldsboro Police said. Harris was found to have six more rearms in his possession, including two that “were modi ed to be fully automatic,” prompting further weapons charges. NSJ

Party Chair Anderson Clayton congratulated Garson in a post on X, and said she was “grateful to the senatorial committee members from Orange, Person, and Caswell counties who played a role in this process.”

Given the district leans heavily Democratic, Garson will likely defeat Republican Laura Pichardo in November to retain the seat.

In his bid for Meyer’s spot, Garson’s platform focused on progressive Democrat causes like gun control, climate/ environmental justice, Medicaid for All, LGBTQ causes, education funding and restoring a “progressive income tax system” in North Carolina.

“Thank you, friends. I am honored and humbled and thrilled to be our Senator-select(?!) for Caswell, Orange, and Person Counties.”

Jonah Garson

On the “rule of law,” Garson’s platform includes both abolishing ICE and ending local law enforcement cooperation with that agency, as well as a desire to “free our NC boards of election from hyper-partisan MAGA control.” His platform also states he wants to raise the minimum wage to “over $15 per hour” while expanding unemployment bene ts. Meyer announced March 9 he would be resigning to take the role of executive director at the left-leaning North Carolina Justice Center. Nine days later, on March 18, Garson announced his bid for the

NATION & WORLD

Trump seeks $1.5T in defense spending in 2027 budget

The ask also includes cuts in domestic programs

By Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. —

President Donald Trump has proposed boosting defense spending to $1.5 trillion in his 2027 budget released last week, the largest such request in decades, re ecting his emphasis on U.S. military investments over domestic programs.

The sizable increase for the Pentagon, some 44%, had been telegraphed by the Republican president even before the U.S.led war against Iran. The president’s plan would also reduce spending on nondefense programs by 10%.

“President Trump promised to reinvest in America’s national security infrastructure, to make sure our nation is safe in a dangerous world,” wrote Budget Director Russell Vought.

The president’s annual bud-

get is considered a re ection of the administration’s values and does not carry the force of law.

The massive document typically highlights an administration’s priorities, but Congress, which handles federal spending issues, is free to reject it and often does.

This year’s White House document is intended to provide a road map from the pres-

President Donald Trump arrives from the Blue Room to speak about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House last Wednesday.

ident to Congress as lawmakers build their own budgets and annual appropriations bills to keep the government funded. Vought spoke to House GOP lawmakers on a private call last Thursday.

Trump signaled the military is his priority, setting up a clash ahead in Congress.

“We’re ghting wars. We can’t

take care of day care,” Trump said at a private White House event last Wednesday.

“It’s not possible for us to take care of day care, Medicaid, Medicare — all these individual things,” he said. “They can do it on a state basis. You can’t do it on a federal.”

The White House is touting cuts of what it calls “woke programs” that often direct federal investments toward low-income communities. The budget used the word “woke” 34 times.

For example, the administration is looking to cut Community Services Block Grants, which fund activities such as nancial and job counseling and helping people obtain adequate housing. The administration says its cuts would target grants “hijacked by radicals” to promote equity-building and green energy initiatives.

The president also seeks to cut $106 million in funding from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, which it says has “pushed radical gender ideology onto children.”

The top Democrat on the House Budget Committee, Rep. Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania, said the president was demanding a massive increase in defense while cutting billions from health care, housing and more.

“This budget represents ‘America Last,’” Boyle said.

Pope Leo urges peace in rst Easter Mass

The American ponti spoke to approximately 50,000 people in St. Peter’s Square

By Colleen Barry and Paolo Santalucia

The Associated Press

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV celebrated his rst Easter Mass as ponti with a call Sunday to lay down arms and seek peace in global con icts through dialogue, but he departed from a tradition of listing the world’s woes by name in the Urbi et Orbi blessing from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Leo, the rst U.S.-born pope, emphasized Easter’s message of hope as a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection after being cruci ed.

“Let us allow our hearts to be transformed by his immense love for us! Let those who have weapons lay them down! Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force,

HELENE from page A1

North Carolina (GROW NC), and Stephanie McGarrah, deputy secretary for the Division of Community Revitalization at the NC Department of Commerce, last Wednesday.

McGarrah’s presentation focused on Renew NC, the state’s primary housing recovery program funded through a $1.4 billion HUD block grant. The money is divided, with $807 million going toward single-family housing, $191 million for multifamily housing, $53 million for workforce homeownership, $194 million for community infrastructure and $111 million for commercial district revitalization.

As of late March, the program had received 7,924 total applications. Of those, 3,704 are active, 4,220 have been deemed inactive or ineligible, and another 2,176 are still in progress but not yet formally submitted.

McGarrah presented a funding gap projection for construction costs that drew the attention of lawmakers.

At the current weighted average construction cost of $276,285 per home, serving all 3,676 active applicants would require roughly $1.02 billion. The construction budget, however, is $722 mil-

but through dialogue! Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them!” the pope implored.

With the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran in its second month and Russia’s ongoing campaign in Ukraine, Leo acknowledged a sense of indi erence “to the deaths of thousands of people ... to the repercussions of hatred and division that conicts sow … to the economic and social consequences they produce.”

Without mentioning the wars by name, Leo quoted his predecessor, Pope Francis, who during his last public appearance from the same loggia last Easter reminded the faithful of the “great thirst for death, for killing, we witness each day.” Francis, weakened by a long illness, died the next day on Easter Monday.

The Urbi et Orbi blessing, Latin for “to the city and the world,” has traditionally included a litany of the world’s woes. Leo followed that formula during his Christmas bless-

lion. That leaves a gap of approximately $300 million before accounting for in ation or any increase in reconstruction-heavy caseloads.

Reconstruction projects, which average $365,400 each, make up about 65% of current cases. Rehabilitation projects average $32,100, while replacements average $190,700.

McGarrah referred to using weighted average costs but said the cost will rise when more reconstructions start, adding that in ation and construction costs are increasing.

“I anticipate that ($276,000 per home cost) going up,” she said.

To date, 30 single-family homes have been fully completed, with 138 more in the construction pipeline, McGarrah told lawmakers. Reaching even this stage required extensive outreach — more than 62 community events, 56,000 doors knocked, 23,000 phone calls and nearly 2,000 site visits.

Both McGarrah and Calabria underscored the single-family housing program as moving faster than most states in similar disasters, but more federal help is essential.

One of the clearest friction points in the housing program is the lack of temporary housing for applicants whose

ing. There was no immediate explanation for the shift.

Earlier, Leo addressed some 50,000 faithful from an open-air altar in St. Peter’s Square anked with white roses, while the steps leading down to the piazza where the faithful gathered were lled with spring perennials, symbolically resonating with the pope’s words.

He implored the faithful in

homes need to be reconstructed or rehabilitated.

McGarrah described it as a signi cant chokepoint between the preconstruction and construction phases.

“If we were to solve the temporary relocation issue, would it speed up the process quite a bit?” Sen. Tim Mo tt (R-Henderson) asked McGarrah, who said it would help.

McGarrah said she had talked to many applicants who were living in a damaged home because they had no way to pay for temporary housing.

To address the issue, the Division of Community Revitalization is proposing a $60 million Temporary Relocation Assistance program that would provide short-term housing for an estimated 2,200 applicants who earn less than 80% of the area median income and can demonstrate nancial hardship. Under the proposal, builders would manage the housing arrangements, and the state would reimburse them at the state hotel nightly rate plus taxes and overhead, up to a set number of nights depending on the project type.

In his presentation, Calabria restated that Hurricane Helene did an estimated $59.6 billion in damages across North Carolina and only approximately

2nd man arrested in Brooklyn drive-by shooting death

New York

A second suspect in the stray-bullet killing of a 7-month-old baby on a Brooklyn street was arrested last Friday, police said, two days after a shooting the police commissioner called “a tragedy that truly shocks the conscience.” Matthew Rodriguez, 18, was apprehended in Pennsylvania by New York Police Department detectives working with U.S. Marshals, the NYPD said. The suspected shooter, 21-year-old Amuri Greene, was arrested shortly after the drive-by gun re that killed Kaori Patterson-Moore. Greene pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges at an arraignment last Friday night and was held without bail.

Pope Leo XIV sprinkles holy water with a bunch of hyssop sprigs as he presides over Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Easter Sunday.

his homily to keep their hope in the face of death, which lurks “in the abuses that crush the weakest among us because of the idolatry of pro t that plunders the earth’s resources, because of the violence of war that kills and destroys.”

Speaking from the loggia, the pope announced a prayer vigil for peace April 11 in the basilica.

30% of those needs are currently funded through any source. State appropriations for Helene total $2.5 billion, including $700 million set aside for the state-federal match requirement. An additional $1.9 billion has been redirected from existing agency budgets toward recovery work, including $1.3 billion from the N.C. Department of Transportation.

On the federal side, more than $7 billion has been awarded or allocated, with FEMA providing more than $5.3 billion plus $564.2 million in grants to survivors to directly help families recover. The next two largest sources include $1.9 billion through the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief program and $1.4 billion in HUD Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery.

Private sources add another layer with roughly $5 billion in insurance payouts and at least $1.4 billion in philanthropic contributions and private donations.

Even combining all those streams, Calabria said the state faces a substantial shortfall. Gov. Josh Stein has already submitted a $13.5 billion request to Congress for additional funding to close the gaps, with a focus on housing and economic

Crews battle fast-growing Calif. wild re Riverside, Calif. Crews battled a smoky and fast-growing wild re in windy Southern California that forced some residents to evacuate and a community college to temporarily close its doors. The Springs Fire broke out around 11 a.m. last Friday and by the evening had grown to about 6.5 square miles. The cause of the re east of Moreno Valley in Riverside County is under investigation. It was not immediately known how many households were under evacuation warnings or orders. With hundreds of people battling the blaze — using helicopters, engines and water tenders — crews started to contain the blaze by Friday night.

recovery, stabilizing local government nances, highway repairs and water infrastructure.

Calabria said delays in FEMA’s Public Assistance reimbursement program are a persistent obstacle. Of 4,105 total projects submitted, 56% have been obligated.

FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program has also been slow. Of 602 voluntary home acquisition applications submitted, 80% are still awaiting FEMA approval. The state secured its rst acquisition approval in January.

Sen. Warren Daniel (R-Burke) questioned the rising cost estimate for I-40 repairs, now projected at $2 billion, nearly double the initial estimate.

Calabria said the Federal Highway Administration normally covers 90% on interstates, so the state’s share is only 10%. He said Stein is pushing Congress for 100% federal coverage.

Daniel also asked about the $1 billion in DOT funds redirected to Helene repairs. Calabria said speci c project impacts would need to come from the Transportation Department but that dedicated Helene appropriations are being drawn down to protect other statewide priorities.

IFB Solutions builds jobs for blind, visually impaired

A recent initiative focuses on remote opportunities

By Dan Reeves North State Journal

WINSTON-SALEM — For nearly nine decades, a Winston-Salem nonpro t has quietly built a business model around a simple idea: Blindness should not prevent someone from having a job.

IFB Solutions — with manufacturing operations in Asheville and Winston-Salem, where it is headquartered — employs roughly 700 people and operates programs that extend across 22 states. The organization’s mission is centered on creating employment opportunities for adults who are blind or visually impaired.

Founded in 1936 as Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind, the organization is approaching its 90th anniversary while expanding its workforce initiatives beyond its traditional manufacturing base.

“We exist to provide jobs and opportunities for blind adults,” said Ged Doughton, IFB Solutions’ director of development. “Just because someone lost their sight doesn’t mean they’ve lost their vision.”

Many adults who lose their eyesight face sudden employment barriers, Doughton said. Because blindness a ects a relatively small portion of the population, most workplaces are not structured to accommodate it without specialized training or adaptive tools.

“The good news is blindness isn’t very prevalent,” Doughton said. “The bad news is if you lose your eyesight, it’s 100%. Many industries just aren’t designed with that in mind.”

IFB Solutions operates under the umbrella of National Industries for the Blind, a network of about 60 agencies nationwide that provide employment for blind Americans through federal procurement programs.

Much of the organization’s revenue comes through federal contracts — particularly with the Department of Defense — producing textile products such as military clothing and protective suits used by personnel fueling aircraft.

The nonpro t has also diversi ed its operations in recent years. IFB Solutions runs base

“Just because someone lost their sight doesn’t mean they’ve lost their vision.”

Ged Doughton, IFB Solutions director of development

supply centers on military installations and in federal buildings, employing blind workers in retail-style operations. It also operates an Amazon-based e-commerce business that sells products online.

Still, leadership sees workforce diversi cation as essential to long-term stability, especially because reliance on federal contracts can leave operations vulnerable during government shutdowns or funding delays.

One of the organization’s newest initiatives focuses on remote employment.

Through a Workforce Services Division, IFB Solutions is training blind or vision-impaired employees for call center and customer service roles that can be performed from home using assistive technology.

The program is supported by a $4 million fundrais-

ing campaign launched in late 2022. The e ort aims to train and employ 300 blind workers nationwide in remote service positions.

Training each worker costs about $13,000, Doughton said. The campaign includes a $1 million challenge commitment from a major donor, with IFB raising the remaining $3 million through foundations, corporate support and individual gifts.

“The biggest issue for blind adults is nding a job,” Doughton said, noting that roughly 70% of blind adults are not currently in the workforce. “The second biggest issue is transportation. Remote work helps solve both.”

As part of its outreach efforts, IFB Solutions is hosting an informational event Tuesday, April 14, from 6-8 p.m. at the Carolina Country Club in Raleigh. The evening will feature remarks from CEO Dan Kelly and Doughton about the organization’s mission and its e orts to expand employment opportunities for blind adults. The gathering will include refreshments and an opportunity for guests to learn more about the organization’s work.

The organization’s leader-

ship re ects the mission as well. Kelly, who has been blind since childhood, has spent nearly two decades working his way through IFB Solutions before becoming its chief executive.

As IFB approaches its milestone anniversary, Doughton said the goal remains the same as when the organization be-

gan in the 1930s: proving that opportunity, training and the right accommodations can unlock potential that often goes overlooked.

“When people visit our facilities and see the work being done,” he said, “they usually leave asking one question — ‘How can I help?’”

CUMBERLAND

NORTH CAROLINA

CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NUMBER: 26E000438-250 In the Matter of the Estate of: HARLEY WYMAN FISHER Deceased.

EXECUTOR’S NOTICE

The undersigned, having quali ed as CoExecutors of the Estate of Harley Wyman Fisher, deceased, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before July 2, 2026 (which is three (3) months after the day of the rst publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. THIS the 2nd day of April, 2026. Laurie Ann Dukic and Harley Wyman Fisher, Jr. Co-Executors of the Estate of Harley Wyman Fisher, Deceased c/o J. Thomas Neville Yarborough, Winters & Neville, P.A. P.O. Box 705 Fayetteville, NC 28302-0705 Publish: 04/02/2026, 04/09/2026, 04/16/2026 and 04/23/2026

NOTICE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA In The General Court of Justice County of Cumberland Superior Court Division Estate File # 26E000448-250 Administrator’s/Executor’s Notice

The undersigned, having quali ed as Carol L. Wild of the Estate of Eugenia W. Felder , deceased , late of Cumberland County, hereby noti es all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the

This is the 25th day of March, 2026. Ti any Quinn Davis 3484 Wilmington Hwy. Fayetteville, NC 28306 Of the Estate of Judy Whitaker Davis, Deceased NOTICE In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Before the Clerk Estate File #26E000530-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY ADMINISTRATION NOTICE

The undersigned having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Melree H. Tart, deceased, late of Cumberland County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 10th day of July, 2026 (which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 9th day of April, 2026. Administrator of the Estate of Melree H. Tart Rebekah T. Wiens 234 Courtyard Lane Fayetteville, NC 28303 NOTICE IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE #25E001163-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND

Having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Jennifer Selby Doyle, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 1717 Blu side Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28312, on or before June 19, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to the said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. Dated this 19th day March, 2026.

Matthew S. Doyle, Administrator of the Estate of Jennifer Selby Doyle 1717 Blu side Drive Fayetteville, NC, 28312 (910) 364-7860

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NUMBER: 26E000341-250 In the Matter of the Estate of: EUGENE HENRY MADDOX Deceased.

EXECUTOR’S NOTICE

The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Eugene Henry Maddox deceased, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before July 9, 2026 (which is three (3) months after the day of the rst publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

THIS the 9th day of April, 2026.

Eugene Henry Maddox, Jr. Executor of the Estate of Eugene Henry Maddox, Deceased

c/o J. Thomas Neville Yarborough, Winters & Neville, P.A. P.O. Box 705 Fayetteville, NC 28302-0705 Publish: 04/09/2026, 04/16/2026, 04/23/2026 and 04/30/2026

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY

ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE

The undersigned having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Stachis K. Alers, deceased, late of Cumberland County, This is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 9th day of July 2026, (Which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 9th day of April 2026.

Adlai Alers, Executor of the Estate of Stachis K. Alers Adlai Alers 6701 Agnes Scott Ct, Fayetteville, NC 28311 First day of publication 9 Apr 2026

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Thomas Michael Lecka a/k/a Thomas M. Lecka a/k/a T. Michael Lecka Cumberland County Estate File No. 26E000432-250 All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Thomas Michael Lecka a/k/a Thomas M. Lecka a/k/a T. Michael Lecka, Deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are noti ed to present their claims to Rob Williford McCauley, Administrator of the Estate of Thomas Michael Lecka a/k/a Thomas M. Lecka a/k/a T. Michael Lecka, at P.O. Box 53606, Fayetteville, NC 28305, or 235 Green Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301, on or before the 3rd day of July, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of Thomas Michael Lecka a/k/a Thomas M. Lecka a/k/a T. Michael Lecka are requested to make immediate payment to the Administrator named above.

This the 2nd day of April, 2026.

Rob Williford McCauley, Administrator of the Estate of Thomas Michael Lecka a/k/a Thomas M. Lecka a/k/a T. Michael Lecka

Williford McCauley - Attorney for the Estate of Thomas Michael Lecka a/k/a Thomas M. Lecka a/k/a T. Michael Lecka

Mailing address: P. O. Box 53606 Fayetteville, NC 28305 Physical address: 235 Green Street Fayetteville, NC 28301

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Robin L. Cox a/k/a Robin Lynn Cox Cumberland County Estate File No. 26E000192-250 All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Robin L. Cox a/k/a Robin Lynn Cox, Deceased, of Washington County, Pennsylvania, are noti ed to present their claims to one or both of the following: (1) Robert R. Cox, Ancillary Executor of the Estate of Robin L. Cox a/k/a Robin Lynn Cox, 410 Ridge Avenue, Canonsburg, PA 15317, or (2) Rob Williford McCauley, Resident Process Agent for the Estate of Robin L. Cox a/k/a Robin Lynn Cox, at P.O. Box 53606, Fayetteville, NC 28305, or 235 Green Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301, on or before the 3rd day of July, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of Robin L. Cox a/k/a Robin Lynn Cox are requested to make immediate payment to the Ancillary Executor or Resident Process Agent named above.

This the 2nd day of April, 2026. Robert R. Cox, Ancillary Executor of the Estate of Robin L. Cox a/k/a Robin Lynn Cox

Williford McCauley - Attorney for the Estate of Robin L. Cox a/k/a Robin Lynn Cox

Mailing address: P. O. Box 53606 Fayetteville, NC 28305 Physical address: 235 Green Street Fayetteville, NC 28301

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Mary Harrison Hall a/k/a Mary H. Hall Cumberland County Estate File No. 26E000421-250 All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Mary Harrison Hall a/k/a Mary H. Hall, Deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are noti ed to present their claims to Sarah Harrison Hall Beasley, Executor of the Estate of Mary Harrison Hall a/k/a Mary H. Hall, at 406 Park Avenue, Fayetteville, NC 28305, on or before the 3rd day of July, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of Mary Harrison Hall a/k/a Mary H. Hall are requested to make immediate payment to the Executor named above. This the 2nd day of April, 2026. Sarah Harrison Hall Beasley, Executor of the Estate of Mary Harrison Hall a/k/a Mary H. Hall

Williford McCauley - Attorney for the Estate of Mary Harrison Hall a/k/a Mary H. Hall Mailing address: P. O. Box 53606 Fayetteville, NC 28305 Physical address: 235 Green Street Fayetteville, NC 28301

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Robin L. Cox a/k/a Robin Lynn Cox Cumberland County Estate File No.

26E000192-250 All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Robin L. Cox a/k/a Robin Lynn Cox, Deceased, of Washington County, Pennsylvania, are noti ed to present their claims to one or both of the following: (1) Robert R. Cox, Ancillary Executor of the Estate of Robin L. Cox a/k/a Robin Lynn Cox, 410 Ridge Avenue, Canonsburg, PA 15317, or (2) Rob Williford McCauley, Resident Process Agent for the Estate of Robin L. Cox a/k/a Robin Lynn Cox, at P.O. Box 53606, Fayetteville, NC 28305, or 235 Green Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301, on or before the 3rd day of July, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of Robin L. Cox a/k/a Robin Lynn Cox are requested to make immediate payment to the Ancillary Executor or Resident Process Agent named above. This the 2nd day of April, 2026. Robert R. Cox, Ancillary Executor of the Estate of Robin L. Cox a/k/a Robin Lynn Cox Williford McCauley - Attorney for the Estate of Robin L. Cox a/k/a Robin Lynn Cox

Mailing address: P. O. Box 53606 Fayetteville, NC 28305 Physical address: 235 Green Street Fayetteville, NC 28301

Notice to Creditors

The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Mary Reist Mathews AKA Mary Kristine Mathews, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 9th day July, 2026, (which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in the bar of their recovery. All Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 9th day of April, 2026. Executor: Kristina April Addis Address: 6400 West Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27410 Of the Estate of Mary Reist Mathews AKA Mary Kristine Mathews, Deceased Estate File #: 26E000535-250

NOTICE

State of North Carolina County of Cumberland In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Estate File 25E001740-250Of: Yvonne A Horne Administrators Notice

The undersigned having quali ed as Administrator of the estate of Yvonne A Horne, deceased, late of Cumberland County, this is to notify all persons, rms an corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 2nd day of July 2026 which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery .All persons indebted to said estate will please make payment to the undersigned Cherita Horne 2717 Preston Woods Ln #11 Fayetteville NC 28304 Administrator of the estate of Yvonne A Horne, deceased

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ESTATE OF GENEVA MCNEIL CUMBERLAND County Estate File No. 24E002935-250 All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Geneva McNeil, deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are noti ed to present their claims to the Public Administrator, Davis W. Puryear, 4317 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28311 on or before the 20th day of June, 2026 (which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of the Decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the Administrator named above. This the 12th day of March, 2026. Davis W. Puryear Public Administrator of the Estate of Geneva McNeil Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: March 19, March 26, April 2, and April 9, 2026 NOTICE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA In The General Court Of Justice County of Cumberland Superior Court Division Estate File # 26E000475-250 Executor’s Notice The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Clarence Stewart Hough, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby noti es all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 2nd day of July,

the Estate of: FREDDIE ROCCO NAVARRA Administrator’s Notice The undersigned having quali ed as Administrator of the estate of FREDDIE ROCCO NAVARRA, deceased, late of Cumberland County, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 2nd day of July2026, (which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 2nd day of April 2026. SALLY NAVARRA ZUFELT 316 CARTWRIGHT DRIVE FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28303 Administrator of the estate of FREDDIE ROCCO NAVARRA. 23Mar26

NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE NO. 26E000338-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Barbara McPherson, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 2517 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC 28305, on or before June 19, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to the said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. Dated this 19th day of March, 2026. Michael McPherson, Executor of the Estate of Barbara McPherson NICOLE A. CORLEY MURRAY & CORLEY, P.A. N.C. BAR NO. 56459 2517 RAEFORD ROAD FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28305 – 3007 (910) 483 – 4990 COUNSEL FOR EXECUTOR

NOTICE

In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Before the Clerk Estate File # 26E000452-250 State of North Carolina Cumberland County Administrator Notice The undersigned having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of, Timmy Dall Mullis, deceased, late of Cumberland County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned at 4169 Maxwell Road, Autryville, North Carolina 28318 on or before the 9th of July 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 29th day of March 2026. Gina Miller, Executor of the Estate of Timmy Dall Mullis

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ESTATE OF MARGARET OLIVIA PETTIFORD CUMBERLAND County Estate File No. 26E000008-250 All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Margaret Olivia Pettiford, deceased, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are noti ed to present their claims to the Executor, Brenda Crawley, 102 Cypress Lake Cir., Hope Mills, NC 28348 on or before the 5th day of July, 2026 (which date is three months after the day of the rst publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of the Decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the Executor named above. This the 26th day of March, 2026. Brenda Crawley Executor of the Estate of Margaret Pettiford Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: April 2, April 9, April 16 and April 23, 2026

NOTICE TO CREDITORS STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Leslie Keith Owens File No. 26E000399-250 The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Leslie Keith Owens, deceased, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address listed below on or before June 26, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 26th day of March 2026. Briata J. Owens Executor 757 Brower Rd. Siler City, NC 27344

EXECUTOR’S NOTICE In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Estate File # 26E000186-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND The undersigned having quali ed as Co-Executors of the Estate of Rosina R. Newton aka Rosina Rauer Newton, Deceased late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before July 2, 2026 at 2614 Fashion Lane, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28304, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 2nd day of April, 2026 Christa W. Engle, Co-Executor and Willie R. Newton, Co-Executor of the Estate of Rosina R.

same to the said MARISA BATUS LUCHSINGER, at the address set out below, on or before July 6, 2026, or this notice may be pleaded in bar of any payment or recovery of same. All persons indebted to said Decedent will please make immediate payment to the undersigned at the address set out below. This the 26th day of March, 2026. MARISA BATUS LUCHSINGER Administrator OF ESTATE OF MARY T BATUS c/o ROBERT H. HOCHULI, JR. 219 RACINE DR., SUITE #A6 Wilmington, NC 28405

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA NEW HANOVER COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE UNDERSIGNED, Elizabeth C. Johnson, having quali ed on the 20th day of March, 2026, as Executor of the Estate of Jerry W. Johnson (26E000320640), deceased, does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said Estate that they must present them to the undersigned at DAVID E. ANDERSON, PLLC, 9111 Market Street, Suite A, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28411, on or before the 6th day of July, 2026, or the claims will be forever barred thereafter, and this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make prompt payment to the undersigned at the above address. This 2nd day of

NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA NEW HANOVER COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE UNDERSIGNED, Marc Pritsky, having quali ed on the 23rd day of March, 2026, as Executor of the Estate of Hilda Pritsky aka Debi Pritsky (26E000348640), deceased, does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said Estate that they must present them to the undersigned at DAVID E. ANDERSON, PLLC, 9111 Market Street, Suite A, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28411, on or before the 6th day of July, 2026, or the claims will be forever barred thereafter, and this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make prompt payment to the undersigned at the above address.

This 2nd day of April 2026. Marc Pritsky

Executor ESTATE OF HILDA PRITSKY AKA DEBI

PRITSKY

David Anderson

Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411

Publish: April 2, 2026 April 9, 2026 April 16, 2026 April 23, 2026

RANDOLPH

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Co-Executors of the Estate of Charles G. Dixon aka Charles George Dixon, late of Randolph County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of the decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the o ce of Ivey & Eggleston, Attorneys at Law, 111 Worth Street, Asheboro, North Carolina 27203, on or before June 22, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms or corporations indebted to said estate should make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 19th day of March, 2026

Nathan Charles Dixon and Samantha Dixon Co-Executors of the Estate of Charles G. Dixon aka Charles George Dixon

Marion “Beth” McQuaid, Attorney IVEY & EGGLESTON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW 111 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 (336) 625-3043

PUBL/DATES: 03/19/26 03/26/26 04/02/26 04/09/26

NORTH CAROLINA NEW HANOVER COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE UNDERSIGNED, Nancy K. Lievre, having quali ed on the 25th day of March, 2026, as Limited Personal Representative of the Estate of Daryl H. Lowenstein (26E000333-640), deceased, does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said Estate that they must present them to the undersigned at DAVID E. ANDERSON, PLLC, 9111 Market Street, Suite A, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28411, on or before the 6th day of July, 2026, or the claims will be forever barred thereafter, and this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make prompt payment to the undersigned at the above address.

This 2nd day of April 2026. Nancy K. Lievre Limited Personal Representative ESTATE OF DARYL H. LOWENSTEIN David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411 Publish: April 2, 2026 April 9, 2026 April 16, 2026 April 23, 2026

NOTICE

Having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Wanda Kay Allred Feather, late of Randolph County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of the decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the o ce of TAYLOR B. CALLICUTT, ATTORNEY AT LAW, PO Box 2445, Asheboro, North Carolina 27204, on or before July 6, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms or corporations indebted to said estate should make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 2nd day of April, 2026

Amanda Goss, Administrator of the Estate of Wanda Kay Allred Feather, deceased

TAYLOR B. CALLICUTT ATTORNEY AT LAW PO Box 2445 Asheboro, NC 27204 (336) 953-4661

PUBL/DATES: 04/02/26 04/09/26 04/16/26 04/23/26

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP000524-120

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Bent Oaks LLC, a North Carolina Limited Liability Company (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Bent Oaks LLC, a North Carolina Limited Liability Company) to 24 Hour Title, LLC, Trustee(s), dated June 15, 2022, and recorded in Book No. 16075, at Page 0057 in Cabarrus County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the O ce of the Register of Deeds Cabarrus County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door in Concord, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on April 20, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real

estate situated in Kannapolis in the County of Cabarrus, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being a part of Lot Nos. 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 as shown on the plat of BLOCK 11, DIXIE PARK, No. 4 TOWNSHIP, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, said plat being recorded in Map Book 8, Page 46 and being more particularly described as follows: COMMENCING at an iron pin in the northeasterly intersection of Ontario Drive and East First Street (formerly Lake Shore Drive, said commencing point being the northwest corner of Lot No. 37; thence with the south side of East First Street and the north line of Lot No. 37 S. 81-05 E. 207.56 feet to an iron pin, a new corner in the north line of Lot No. 36, said corner being the TRUE POINT OF BEGINNING, thence continuing with the south side of East First Street S. 81-05 E. 152.44 feet to a new corner in the north line of Lot No. 30; thence a new line S. 12-12 W. 45.00 feet to a new corner in the interior of Lot No. 30; thence a new line N. 88-52 W. 75.70 feet to a new corner in the interior of Lot No. 33 and the back property line of John L. Lynch; thence with Lynch’s line N. 44-41 W. 93.00 feet to the true point of BEGINNING. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 1402 East Martin Luther King Junior Avenue, Kannapolis, North Carolina. Property Address: 1402 East Martin Luther

NOTICE

Having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of HILDA COLE GRAHAM, late of Randolph County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of the decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the o ce of TAYLOR B. CALLICUTT, ATTORNEY AT LAW, PO Box 2445, Asheboro, North Carolina 27204, on or before July 10, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms or corporations indebted to said estate should make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 9th day of April, 2026

Dawn Graham Cox, Administrator of the Estate of Hilda Cole Graham, deceased

TAYLOR B. CALLICUTT

ATTORNEY AT LAW PO Box 2445 Asheboro, NC 27204 (336) 953-4661

PUBL/DATES:

04/09/26 04/16/26 04/23/26 04/30/26

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Margaret Poteat Griehsbach of Randolph County, NC, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned Executor at the Law O ce of Richard L. Cox, 113 Worth Street, Asheboro, NC 27203 on or before June 22nd 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of heir recovery. All persons indebted to said estate please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 19th day of March 2026. Barbara Jean McLeod Margaret Poteat Griehsbach Estate Richard L. Cox, Attorney Gavin & Cox 113 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 Telephone: 336-629-2600

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Viola Kidd Lambert, of Randolph County, NC, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned Executor at the Law O ce of Richard L. Cox, 113 Worth Street, Asheboro, NC 27203 on or before June 28th 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of heir recovery. All persons indebted to said estate please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 26th day of March 2026. Gerald Clyde Lambert Viola Kidd Lambert, Estate Richard L. Cox, Attorney Gavin & Cox 113 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 Telephone: 336-629-2600

NOTICE Having quali ed as Co-Administrators of the Estate of Nancy Laughlin Lanier, late of Randolph County, North Carolina, the undersigned do hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of the decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the o ce of TAYLOR B. CALLICUTT, ATTORNEY AT LAW, PO Box 2445, Asheboro, North Carolina 27204, on or before July 6, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms or corporations indebted to said estate should make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 2nd day of April, 2026

Michael Ray Lanier and Suzanne Lanier Sidden, Co-Administrators of the Estate of Nancy Laughlin Lanier, deceased

TAYLOR B. CALLICUTT

ATTORNEY AT LAW PO Box 2445 Asheboro, NC 27204 (336) 953-4661

PUBL/DATES:

04/02/26 04/09/26 04/16/26 04/23/26

King Jr Avenue, Kannapolis, NC, 28083

Parcel ID: 56233616270000

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to three hours as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23. Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1). Should the property be purchased by a third party, 31 CFR 1031.320 requires certain qualifying residential real estate transactions to be reported to the federal government. If you are the successful bidder in this proceeding, you may be required to provide all applicable identifying information about yourself and, if applicable, any entity or trust purchasing the property. The property to be o ered pursuant to this notice of sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance

“AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the o cers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of J C NICHOLS, late of Randolph County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of the decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the o ce of Ivey & Eggleston, Attorneys at Law, 111 Worth Street, Asheboro, North Carolina 27203, on or before June 19, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms or corporations indebted to said estate should make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 19th day of March 2026.

HAROLD HARRISON WILLIAMSON Executor of the Estate of J C NICHOLS MARION “BETH” MCQUAID, Attorney IVEY & EGGLESTON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW 111 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 (336) 625-3043

PUBL/DATES: 03/19/26 03/26/26 04/02/26 04/19/26

NOTICE

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of J. Truman Stout aka Joseph Truman Stout, late of Randolph County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of the decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the o ce of TAYLOR B. CALLICUTT, ATTORNEY AT LAW, PO Box 2445, Asheboro, North Carolina 27204, on or before July 10, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms or corporations indebted to said estate should make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 9th day of April, 2026 Evanna V. LaPrade, Executor of the Estate of J. Truman Stout aka Joseph Truman Stout, deceased TAYLOR B. CALLICUTT ATTORNEY AT LAW PO Box 2445 Asheboro, NC 27204 (336) 308-0354

PUBL/DATES: 04/09/26 04/16/26 04/23/26 04/30/26

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Larry Bryant Walker of Randolph County, NC, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned Executor at the Law O ce of Richard L. Cox, 113 Worth Street, Asheboro, NC 27203 on or before June 28th 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of heir recovery. All persons indebted to said estate please

physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being o ered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A deposit of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certi ed funds at the time of the sale. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the ling of a bankruptcy petition prior to the con rmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the

NC golfers to watch at the Masters, B4

the Thursday SIDELINE REPORT

NCAA BASKETBALL

Michigan muscles way to program’s 2nd national title, beating UConn 69-63

Indianapolis Michigan had to get down and dirty to dig out the national title, making only two 3-pointers all night but still muscling its way to a 69-63 victory over UConn on Monday. Elliot Cadeau led the Wolverines with 19 points, including the team’s rst 3, which came 7:04 into the second half. Alex Karaban scored 17 points for UConn, which was denied in its bid for a third title in four seasons.

MLS Westwood, Zaha score goals, Charlotte beats Union 2-1

Ashley Westwood and Wilfried Zaha each scored a goal to help Charlotte FC beat the Philadelphia Union 2-1 on a rain-soaked Saturday. The Union (0-6-0) — the 2025 MLS Supporters’ Shield winners — are o to the worst start in franchise history. Zaha, on the counter-attack, side-footed a volley o an arcing cross from Pep Biel that capped the scoring in the 80th minute.

MLB Adell robs 3 homers in one of greatest defensive games ever Anaheim, Calif.

Los Angeles Angels’ right elder Jo Adell made three homerrobbing catches, the last a spectacular leaping grab against J.P. Crawford while crashing into the seats near the righteld foul pole in a 1-0 victory Saturday over the Seattle Mariners. Adell leaped high above the yellow line on the wall in

to deny Cal Raleigh

Bussi, Hall earn Hurricanes awards

The rst-year goalie was picked as team MVP, while the former Hart Trophy winner received two honors

By Cory Lavalette North State Journal

RALEIGH — Brandon Bussi was a mostly unknown entity when the Hurricanes claimed him o waivers four days before the start of the NHL season.

Just over six months later, the undrafted goalie who had spent three-plus seasons in the Bruins’ system before signing last o season with Florida entered Tuesday’s regular season home nale with a 29-6-1 record and the possibility of being the starting goalie for Carolina when the Stanley Cup playo s start in two weeks.

The Hurricanes’ unlikely

nd can add another accolade to his remarkable rst NHL season: team MVP.

The Carolina chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association voted Bussi the team’s most valuable player for the season, joining Frederik Andersen (2022) and Arturs Irbe (2001) as the only goalies to be named the team’s top player by the media.

“I don’t know where we’d be without (him), really, if you think about it,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said of Bussi after Tuesday’s morning skate. “So it was a pleasant surprise. Obviously, it’s the most important position, so you’ve got to have it.”

Bussi has broken several records during his rst season, including becoming the fastest goalie in league history to 10 wins and winning 18 of his rst 22 career starts.

The Hurricanes claimed

UNC will go it Malone

The NBA veteran is a surprising pick to be the next Tar Heels coach

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

COMPARED to the other coaches on UNC’s rumored big board of coaching candidates, Michael Malone was not the most intriguing name. Heck, as far as names go, he wasn’t even the most intriguing Malone in the NBA. Thanks to Karl, Moses and Je , he’d be hard-pressed to make the podium. Throw in Post, Sam and Buggsy, and he’s outside of the top ve best-known Malones. And he’s certainly not the most intriguing Michael associated with the Tar Heels basketball program. Michael Malone doesn’t have the name brand of the other coaches UNC was calling, but the fact he is now associated with the basketball program is huge news. He becomes the rst basketball coach UNC has hired from the “outside” since Frank

McGuire arrived in 1952. Malone’s daughter, Bridget, plays for UNC’s volleyball team, but as far as basketball connections, he has moved in di erent circles from the vaunted UNC family throughout his quarter century in the NBA.

A total of 120 di erent players suited up for Malone during his dozen years as an NBA head coach. Three were Duke products. There were one each from NC State and Wake Forest. Eleven other ACC schools sent players to Malone, as did about 70 other programs from Division I. But not one former Tar Heel played for him. None of the two dozen assistant coaches he employed were from the Carolina Family either.

Hiring an outsider was already a tough pill for the Tar Heels fanbase to swallow. However, the perception that Malone was a lower tier pick, after the program had been shunned by its top choices, had UNC social media channels choked with outrage.

The Heels had targeted Final Four coaches Tommy Lloyd and Dusty May. Lloyd signed

Bussi as insurance when they placed expected No. 3 goalie Cayden Primeau on waivers for assignment to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, and a perfect storm gave him his rst NHL opportunity.

Primeau was claimed by the Maple Leafs, while Pyotr Kochetkov su ered an injury that made him unavailable for the start of the season. Bussi made his rst career start Oct. 14 in San Jose, making 16 saves in a 5-1 win. He continued to stack wins as No. 1 goaltender Frederik Andersen struggled to start the season, and the 27-year-old wrested the starting job from the veteran.

“It put such a stress on that position,” Brind’Amour said of Kochetkov’s injury, “and he stepped in there and lled that void.”

The PHWA Carolina chapter also announced that Taylor Hall was voted the team’s

“I don’t know where we’d be without (him), really, if you think about it.”

Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour

nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy, which honors sportsmanship, perseverance and dedication to hockey, and the Josef Vasicek Award recognizing cooperation with the local media.

Considered an afterthought by many when Carolina acquired him in the blockbuster three-team trade for Mikko Rantanen last season, Hall has become a vital cog in the Hurricanes’ attack. In his 16th season, the former Hart Trophy winner has teamed with a pair

See CANES, page B3

an extension to stay with Arizona over the weekend, however, and May removed his name from consideration. Other top targets, including Alabama’s Nate Oats, were also extended. There was a second tier of candidates from college programs, as well as current Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan, but the Heels pulled the trigger on Malone, who had barely been mentioned in the ood of speculation on who was being considered for the job. Malone was available, hav-

ing been red with three games to go in the 2024-25 season despite leading Denver to a 4-seed in the West. That meant that Carolina wouldn’t have to pay a buyout to poach a coach from someone else — adding the perception of “low-cost choice” to Malone’s sins in the eyes of the fans. Malone is a coaching veteran with more than 500 wins in 900 NBA games, as well as an NBA title in 2022-23. He

THURSDAY 4.9.26

TRENDING

Brent Burns:

The Avalanche defenseman became the second player in NHL history to appear in 1,000 consecutive games. Burns, 41, has been in the lineup for every game since Nov. 21, 2013, with San Jose. He has also played for Minnesota and was a Carolina Hurricane from 2022 to 2025. Phil Kessel holds the all-time ironman streak 1,064 regular-season games from 2009-23.

Stephon Gilmore:

The two-time All-Pro cornerback and 2019 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year announced his retirement. Gilmore, 35, last played in t2024 and was a member of the Carolina Panthers in 2021. Gilmore had a league-leading six interceptions in 2019 with New England and was an All-Pro during the Patriots’ 2018 Super Bowl championship season.

Chelsea Banbury:

The High Point women’s basketball coach left the school to take the same job at Virginia Commonwealth. Banbury coached at High Point for seven seasons, winning four Big South regular season titles, three conference tournaments and earning three bids to March Madness, including the past two seasons. She had a 140-79 record and twice was Big South coach of the year.

Beyond the box score

POTENT QUOTABLES

“Simply put — the institution now has di erent priorities.”

John Andrzejek, announcing his resignation as Campbell basketball coach. He accused the school of shifting its commitment away from the sport.

“You

guys have to move. Go over to

Nashville.”

LeBron James on a podcast complaining about having nothing to do “in Memphis on a (expletive) random (expletive) Thursday.”

PRIME NUMBER

$415M

The size of MLB players’ “war chest” in preparation for collective bargaining. That’s up from $284 million at the start of 2025. The union executive board has withheld 100% of licensing money due players for 2024 and 2025. The current labor contract expires on Dec. 1. That money could be disbursed to players during a work stoppage.

NCAA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Gabriela Jaquez scored 21 points, Lauren Betts added 16 and UCLA routed South Carolina 79-51 to win its rst NCAA championship in women’s basketball. The Bruins ran through their opponents this season with their only loss coming in November, to Texas. UCLA (37-1) was led by Betts and Jaquez — who played all four years with the Bruins. Jaquez also had 10 rebounds and ve assists.

Former NC State assistant Joel Justus is leaving Ohio State to join the basketball sta at Vanderbilt. Justus, a UNC Wilmington team captain, was an Elon assistant from 2004 to 2008 and coached Davidson Day High from 2012-2014. He was an assistant on Kevin Keatts’ last two Wolfpack teams.

Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso has left his role after the national team failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. Italy’s chances of reaching this year’s tournament in North America ended on a penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a qualifying playo .

The Big South Conference will be the rst league in Division I sponsoring women’s ag football as its 19th sport starting with the 2027-28 year. Big South Commissioner Sherika A. Montgomery says the sport had been approved by the league’s council of chief executive o cers. The NCAA added ag football to its emerging sports for women program in January.

Gainey back with Wolfpack hoops

The new men’s basketball coach played for NC State from 1996-2000

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

IT DIDN’T TAKE the NC State Wolfpack long to move on following Will Wade’s departure to LSU, hiring former player Justin Gainey a week later as the 22nd head coach in the men’s basketball program’s history.

“Coach Gainey is a veteran coach with 20 years of experience at the highest level,” said NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan. “Since his time as a player, he’s coached with some of the great coaches and he’s gained a wealth of experience. He’s been a part of big games, he knows what it takes to win at the highest level and he’s recruited at the highest level.”

Gainey, 49, played four years at NC State from 1996-2000 and also served on Sidney Lowe’s sta from 2006-09.

“This is surreal,” Gainey said. “It’s a surreal moment for me. It’s like a dream come true that still hasn’t fully set in. I’m just so excited to be here, to be in front of you. It’s home. I’m excited to be back home.”

As Corrigan put it, Gainey’s “blood is in the bricks” at NC State.

In fact, Gainey was literally on the oor for the team’s rst game at the then-Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena and scored the nal basket in that game, a 67-63 win over Georgia.

NC State coach Justin

the

“This is a special place with a proud tradition,” Gainey said. “I don’t take any of this lightly. I don’t take any of these responsibilities lightly. I know what comes with it. I was born here in North Carolina, played here at NC State. I understand what being on Tobacco Road is all about.”

In Gainey, NC State is hoping to not only bring in an up -and- coming gure in the college basketball world but also one who will be loyal and committed to the program, something that proved to be

Hornets remain in thick of playo race entering nal games

Charlotte aims to avoid the play-in as the Eastern Conference race tightens

By Jesse Deal North State Journal

CHARLOTTE

— In a re-

markable turnaround, the Charlotte Hornets’ late-season surge has ipped what once appeared to be a lost year into one of the NBA’s most improbable playo pushes.

Winners of four straight and eight of their last 10, the Hornets (43-36) have climbed back into contention in a tightly packed Eastern Conference race entering the nal week of the regular season.

Charlotte was 11 games below .500 entering 2026 but has gone 32-14 since the start of the calendar year, fueled by improved health, perimeter shooting and steady growth under second-year coach Charles Lee.

The Hornets extended their winning streak to four games Sunday with a 122-108 road victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves behind 35 points from LaMelo Ball. Charlotte trailed by ve at halftime before taking control with a dominant third quarter.

“We stepped up our defense. I thought the focus, attention to detail and coverage execution was really good,” Lee said. “I think that the team is making a ton of growth. One of the areas tonight playing (the Timberwolves), you have to be able

CANES from page B1

of second-year players — Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake — to form what Brind’Amour has frequently cited as Carolina’s best line.

A franchise cornerstone player earlier in his career who was selected rst overall in the 2010 NHL Draft by Edmonton, Hall has embraced taking on any duties given to him since coming to Raleigh, starting the season

to play through physicality, and I thought we did it on both ends of the oor. We handled it like a really mature group.”

Ball added to his standout season, nishing 7 for 14 from 3-point range for his league-leading eighth game with at least seven made 3s. It also marked his 20th game this season with at least ve 3-pointers. Miles Bridges contributed 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while Coby White added 17 points as Charlotte shot 48.9% from the eld.

The Hornets have leaned heavily on their perimeter attack, leading the NBA in 3-pointers made this season — a key factor in their emergence as a nightly threat regardless of opponent.

Last week, that o ensive repower was commemorated in a 127-107 win over the Phoenix Suns when star rookie Kon Knueppel scored 20 points and set the franchise’s single-season 3-point record, surpassing Kemba Walker.

“Especially with the team success, it’s been really fun to enjoy some of that individual success as well,” Knueppel said.

“Turning this thing around and having the season we’re having — really feeling the love from the fans — has been great. It has encouraged us and helped us to play better basketball.”

Another key contributor has been seventh-year guard Coby White, acquired in a Feb. 4 trade with the Chicago Bulls.

The former UNC standout is averaging more than 15 points in

on the fourth line before establishing himself in the top nine in his rst full season with the Hurricanes. At 34, Hall’s explosiveness has returned after su ering a season-ending knee injury in 2023, and he’s added valuable secondary scoring to a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.

“I love it here,” Hall said Tuesday. “I love the group. I love everything that they’ve built. And I’ve tried to come in and just be

lacking in the school’s last hire.

“You gotta have a certain type of toughness to be here, and if you look at my career, my path, I was never the tallest guy, never the fastest, I wouldn’t say I always shot the ball the best, but the one thing that I prided myself on was toughness and I tried to bring that every day,” Gainey said. “And as long as I’m head coach, you can count on that every single day. I’m gonna bring that toughness, and all my teams, my sta and everybody that’s in contact with us will have that toughness.”

This will be the rst college head coaching gig for the former point guard, although he’s served under a couple of big-name coaches and programs. Gainey has been on the sta s of Herb Sendek, Sean Miller and Rick Barnes, and he has worked at Santa Clara, Arizona, Marquette and Tennessee.

The High Point native also started out his coaching career as an assistant at both Elon and Appalachian State, so he’s been quite prevalent in the local scene.

He’s been well prepared for this opportunity, but time will tell how ready he actually is. In terms of roster construction, Gainey and Corrigan were pretty clear on the kind of team they’re wanting to build, as the main theme both mentioned throughout the introductory presser was toughness and compete.

“Coach Gainey’s teams will be built on the basics,” Corrigan said. “We’ll score the ball, we’ll defend at a high level, we will rebound, we will dive for loose balls, we will get steals, we will show toughness every step of the way because that is who NC State is.”

“At the end of the day, we’re in this to win big and to win championships, and the only way that happens is by competing at the highest level in everything we do,” Gainey said. “We’re gonna compete in the classroom, we’re gonna compete in study hall, we’re gonna compete in practice and we’re gonna compete in the games. Everything is gonna be competitive.”

Even though recruitment and retention in the world of college sports has changed drastically with the rise of NIL and the transfer portal, Gainey stated that he feels condent in his ability to put together a team that embodies those characteristics while also being one that is capable of winning.

Gainey’s deal is a ve-year, $14 million contract, a bit less than Wade’s six-year, $17 million deal that was signed last year. The contract also comes with a $5 million buyout before April 1, 2027; however, that total decreases by $1 million every year through 2030.

“I think that the team is making a ton of growth.”

Charles Lee, Hornets coach

just under 20 minutes per game with Charlotte.

For the Hornets, this level of on-court talent, team chemistry, national attention and renewed fan optimism has been absent in the Queen City for years. Charlotte has not reached the playo s in 10 years and has missed the play-in tournament each of the past four seasons. Now the team nds itself with a legitimate chance not only to return to the postseason, but potentially avoid the play-in altogether.

With three games remain-

a part of that. I feel like as the year has gone on, this year, I’ve gotten a bigger and bigger role, and it’s been a lot of fun.”

Hall said the opportunity to play alongside two second-year players, Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake, has been the most rewarding part of his rst full season in Raleigh.

“Everyone has a role, everyone has a part in it,” Hall said. “But we feel like we’re maybe that hidden element as we go

ing, Charlotte sits eighth in the Eastern Conference standings, trailing No. 6 Toronto by 1.5 games and No. 7 Philadelphia by one game. The Hornets are also narrowly ahead of No. 9 Orlando and No. 10 Miami, creating a volatile race for both automatic playo berths and play-in positioning.

Charlotte’s remaining schedule includes a road matchup at Boston followed by a home game against Detroit and a regular-season nale Sunday at New York. With so little separation in the standings, each result — both for the Hornets and their competitors — could signi cantly reshape the playo picture.

“We came into their place and beat them, then they came to our place and beat us,” Bridges said of Boston after Sunday’s win in Minnesota. “Now we want to return the favor

forward in the playo s here for us.” Hall has also proven to be thoughtful and thorough in his conversations with the media, leading to his selection as the Vasicek winner. Vasicek, who was a fourth round pick of the Hurricanes in 1998 and played parts of six seasons with the Hurricanes, including on their 2006 Stanley Cup-winning team, died in a 2011 plane crash that claimed the lives of all but

and start getting ready for the playo s.”

The NBA’s playo format creates a clear divide in the standings, with the top six teams in each conference earning automatic postseason berths while teams seeded seventh through 10th are sent to the play-in tournament.

Charlotte’s most realistic landing spots appear to range from sixth to eighth; moving up to sixth would allow the Hornets to bypass the play-in tournament, though it would likely require a strong nish and help from teams ahead of them.

Regardless of where they land, the Hornets’ late-season surge has already reshaped expectations. With a group of Eastern Conference squads separated by just a few games, the nal days of the regular season have e ectively become a multiteam playo series of its own.

one of the 45 people on the Kontinental Hockey League ight in Russia.

“I think the media and the fans are a huge part of the game, and everyone’s on their phone these days looking at what people are saying and what the articles are, and that’s all you guys,” Hall said when informed he had won the award.

“So I have a lot of respect for that, and I’ll always be able to talk about hockey.”

Locals to watch in 2026 Masters

Cameron Young, making his fth appearance, ranks second in the FedEx Cup standings

By Asheebo Rojas North State Journal

THE WAIT for golf’s most anticipated event is no longer.

The 90th edition of the Masters will begin Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club. There will be 91 golfers looking to put on the Green Jacket this weekend, and in that eld, seven have connections to North Carolina.

Four North Carolina locals will make their rst Masters start, and all will look to etch their name in history for the rst time. Mark O’Meara, who was born in Goldsboro, was the last golfer with North Carolina ties to win the tournament in 1998.

Here’s a look at those with ties to the state, from natives to former college golfers.

Cameron Young

Cameron Young, 28, will compete in the Masters for the fth time. Young went to Wake Forest, earning honorable mention All-American honors and winning the U.S. Collegiate Championship and the Warrior Princeville Makai Invitational as a freshman.

Young’s best showing at the Masters was in 2023 when he tied for seventh. In last year’s tournament, he missed the cut.

This year, Young, who ranks second in the FedEx Cup standings, took home The Players Championship title in March, shooting 13 under par. He also nished third at the Arnold

Palmer Invitational and seventh in the Genesis Invitational, earning top-10 nishes in his last three tournaments.

Akshay Bhatia

Akshay Bhatia, 24, will make his third start at the Masters. He moved to Wake Forest as a child and turned pro in 2019 without playing in college.

Bhatia’s best Masters tournament was in 2024 when he tied for 35th. Last year, he tied for 42nd. In March, Bhatia won the playo hole against Daniel Berger to take home the Arnold Palmer Invitational title. He earned two more top-10 nishes this year (WM Phoenix Open and AT&T Pebble Beach Pro -Am) and ranks fourth in the FedEx Cup standings.

Max Greyserman

Max Greyserman, 30, is making his second Masters start. Greyserman attended Duke from 2013-17, winning the NJSGA Amateur Championship in 2015. He turned pro in 2017.

In his rst Masters last year, Greyserman tied for 32nd, shooting one over par. Although he has yet to win on the PGA Tour, Greyserman has come close numerous times. In 2025, he nished second in the Baycurrent Classic after falling one stroke short of champion Xander Schau ele.

Then in 2024, Greyserman posted back-to-back runner-up nishes in the 3M Open and the Wyndham Championship.

Greyserman also posted some high nishes on the Korn Ferry Tour from 2019-24, including two runners-up in The As-

MATT SLOCUM / AP PHOTO

Akshay Bhatia smiles as he holds the championship trophy after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill last month.

cendant and the Pinnacle Bank Championship in 2023.

Michael Brennan

Michael Brennan, 24, is making his rst Masters. He attended Wake Forest, where he earned multiple All-American honors and tied for third in program history with eight individual titles. Brennan also holds the fourth-best career stroke average in Wake Forest history (71.46).

Prior to turning pro in 2024, Brennan competed in the 2023 U.S. Open as an amateur and represented the United States in the Arnold Palmer Cup.

In 2025, Brennan won three events on PGA Tour Americas and won the tour’s points race. He earned his rst PGA Tour win as well, nishing rst in the Bank of Utah Championship in October. This year, Brennan’s best outing was the Puerto Rico

Open in March, when he tied for 26th.

Ryan Gerard

Raleigh native and Ravenscroft graduate Ryan Gerard, 26, is making his rst Masters. Gerard went to UNC, where he was a two-time All-American, made four NCAA Championship appearances and nished fourth in program history in career stroke average (71.65). He turned pro in 2022, beginning his PGA Tour career in that year’s U.S. Open. That same year, Gerard won the Quebec Open on the PGA Tour Canada. In 2023, he earned two PGA Tour top- ve nishes at the Honda Classic and the Barracuda Championship. The next year, Gerard took home the BMW Charity Pro-Am title on the Korn Ferry Tour. Gerard won the Barracuda Championship in 2025, and he has started 2026 with two PGA

Tour runner-up nishes in the Sony Open and The American Express. He ranks 18th in the FedEx Cup standings.

Ben Gri n

Chapel Hill native and East Chapel Hill graduate Ben Grifn, 29, is making his rst Masters start. Gri n earned multiple honorable mention All-America nods at UNC and as a freshman, achieved the lowest stroke average in a season (71.06) by a Tar Heel at the time since the program rst recorded stats in 1979.

After turning pro in 2018, Gri n has found some success on the PGA Tour. He won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans alongside teammate Andrew Novak, the Charles Schwab Challenge and the World Wide Technology Championship in 2025. That same year, Gri n also earned two runner-up results, seven top- ve placements and 12 top-10 nishes.

In 2024, Gri n nished in the top ve twice and in the top 10 ve times. His highest placement that season was a runner-up result in the RBC Canadian Open, in which he was one stroke away from champion Robert MacIntyre.

This year, Gri n has yet to crack the top 10.

Andrew Novak

Andrew Novak, the 31-year-old who was born in Raleigh, is making his rst Masters start. On the PGA Tour, Novak has earned a top-10 nish this year after tying for seventh in the Farmers Insurance Open in January. He had a solid 2025, earning second place in the RBC Heritage and third in the Farmers Insurance Open and the Valero Texas Open on top of his win in the Zurich Classic alongside Gri n.

Minor league teams continue to shu e in NC 1973

The state still has nine a liated teams, although one has relocated

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

FOR THE SECOND year in a row, North Carolina has a minor league team on the move. Last year, Kinston’s franchise moved to the Spartanburg, South Carolina, area. This year, the state lost another longtime xture in the Carolina Mudcats.

This time around, the team stayed within the borders, and it is rechristened as the Wilson Warbirds. That leaves the state with nine a liated minor league teams, as well as several independent and summer college teams, including the Zebulon Devil Dogz, who will keep baseball alive in the Mudcats’ former home park — Five County Stadium.

Here’s a look at the state’s afliated teams, starting with the newcomer — who is actually a returnee.

Wilson Warbirds

Wilson has gone more than a half-century without a liated minor league ball, since the Wilson Tobs (short for Tobacconists) nished a 35-year run in the city in 1973. Now, with the Milwaukee Brewers’ Class A team moving from Zebulon, Wilson is back in the game at Wilson Stadium, a brand-new downtown ballpark with a capacity of 4,500. The Mudcats had the second-best record in the Carolina League last season, but many of the prospects that helped produce that are on the

MALONE from page B1 worked on college sta s at Oakland, Providence, Manhattan and UVA in the late 1990s before moving to the pros in 2001. As an NBA assistant with the Knicks, Cavs, Hornets (in New Orleans) and Warriors, Malone was generally put in charge of defense and gained a reputation on that side of the oor. That changed when he became a head coach, particularly when

ROSS D. FRANKLIN / AP PHOTO

Chicago White Sox pitching prospects Duncan Davitt, left, and Noah Schultz, right, walk with Jedixson Paez to a bullpen session during spring training. Charlotte Knights Davitt and Schultz are a phone call away from joining Paez in Chicago.

move as well, getting promoted in the Milwaukee organization.

At the start of the season, the top-rated prospect wearing Warbirds gear is expected to be shortstop Brady Ebel. The rst-round draft pick in 2025 got a taste of pro ball last summer in Zebulon and is the No. 15 prospect in the Brewers system.

Pitcher Josh Knoth, who missed all of last year after Tommy John surgery, should be back with Wilson at some point soon.

Fayetteville Woodpeckers

The Astros’ Class A team nished a game behind the Mudcats in the Carolina League last year. The team should be a powerhouse this year, as it features the top two prospects in the Houston system in Kevin Alvarez, a

he arrived in Denver in 2015 — the same year as Nikola Jokic. The combination of Malone and the MVP center produced a revolutionary NBA o ense that featured creative sets and positionless big men. However, Malone won’t be bringing Jokic with him to play center for the Tar Heels, and his o ense hasn’t been tested without the versatile post player and excellent passer. Malone will also need to transition to a

19-year-old Cuban out elder, and Xavier Neyens, an 18-year-old inelder who was a rst-round pick last July. The Woodpeckers also start the year with right-hander Ethan Pecko (Houston’s No. 7 prospect), out elder Anthony Huezo (No. 18) and pitcher Gabel Pentecost (No. 29).

Hickory Crawdads

The Texas Rangers’ Class A a liate matched Fayetteville’s record in the Carolina League last year. This year, the team could feature two-way prospect Josh Owens. The shortstop/ right-handed pitcher is the No. 6 minor leaguer in the Texas system. He’ll join right-hander AJ Russell (No. 3), in elder Yolfran Castillo (No. 8) and out elder Paulino Santana (No. 22).

college game that has changed dramatically since he was last on campus. He’s reportedly planning to retain at least one member of last year’s UNC sta , and he’ll likely add someone with college head coaching experience — a standard move by most rst-time college coaches. He’ll have to learn on the y. The transfer portal opened the day after he was identi ed as UNC’s choice, and four Tar Heels are already reported to

Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

The White Sox’s Class A team nished last in the Carolina League South Division. Better things could be on the horizon this season. The Cannon Ballers feature the No. 5 prospect in the Sox system in 19-year-old shortstop Billy Carlson, as well as the No. 7 prospect, out elder Jaden Fauske, another 19-year-old. Inelder Javier Mogollon — No. 13 in the system — is also on the team.

Greensboro Grasshoppers

The Pirates’ High-A team had the best record in the South Atlantic League last season. The Hoppers swept their season-opening series in 2026. The Pirates have plenty of young talent, and they have stocked Greensboro with plenty more. No. 3 prospect Edward Florentino will join the Hoppers when his spring ankle injury heals. Until then, the team will have to settle for shortstops Wyatt Sanford and Sammy Stafura (Nos. 7 and 11 in the system), catchers Easton Carmichael and Axiel Plaz (17 and 20), middle inelder Yordany De Los Santos (19) and rst baseman Tony Blanco Jr. (28).

Winston-Salem Dash

The White Sox’s High-A team nished second to last in the South Atlantic South Division last year. This year, the team features prospects Caleb Bonemer (No. 3 in the system), shortstop Kyle Lodise (10), out elder George Wolkow (14) and Ryan Burrowes.

be entering — Jonathan Powell, Jaydon Young, Derek Dixon, Isaiah Denis. Powell and Young were transfers to UNC prior to last season, while Dixon and Denis were two-thirds of last year’s freshman class. The third member — Caleb Wilson — is leaving for the NBA Draft. Dylan Mingo, a ve-star freshman recruit, also decommitted from UNC on the day Malone’s hiring was rst announced, leaving the Heels

The last year that Wilson had a team in a liated minor leagues

Asheville Tourists

Houston’s High-A a liate nished with the worst record in the South Atlantic League last year. The Astros sent some high-quality prospects to help restock things in the western part of the state, including No. 3 overall minor leaguer Ethan Frey, an out elder. The team will also feature right-handers Cole Hertzler and Parker Smith and out elder Caden Powell.

Durham Bulls

Tampa’s Triple-A team nished 21 games over .500 but missed the playo s and opened this season with a league-worst 2-7 mark. Right-handed starter Brody Hopkins is the No. 2 prospect in the system, and outelder Jacob Melton is right behind him. The Bulls also feature pitcher Ty Johnson, rst baseman Tre’ Morgan, catcher Dom Keegan and out elder Homer Bush Jr.

Charlotte Knights

The White Sox’s Triple-A team was 20 games below .500 last year. They could have one of the best pitching sta s in the minors with three of Chicago’s top six prospects in southpaws Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith, as well as Tanner McDougal. Right-handers David Sandlin and Duncan Davitt are also highly rated, as is lefty Tyler Schweitzer.

with two incoming prospects. Malone will need to identify which of those potential losses he’d like to try to retain as well as ward o any further defections. He’ll also need to work the portal and any remaining high school recruits to try to ll out the roster. It’s not the big name anyone expected, but Michael Malone will be taking the Tar Heels on their rst new path in a long time.

the BRIEF this week

Paul faces protective order hearing in Utah after “Bachelorette” cancellation

A Utah judge is expected to hear arguments on a protective order sought by a former partner against Taylor Frankie Paul, star of Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” Paul and Dakota Mortensen were expected to participate remotely Tuesday while their lawyers appear in person. Mortensen is the father of Paul’s 2-year-old son. He is asking the court to extend a protective order. About three weeks ago, ABC opted not to air a new season of “The Bachelorette” with Paul at its center. Production has also been paused on her Hulu series. It often featured Paul and Mortensen’s tumultuous relationship.

Ford recalls more than 422K trucks, SUVs because windshield wipers can fail

Ford Motor Co. is recalling 422,613 vehicles because the windshield wiper arms can break, causing reduced visibility and increasing the risk of a crash. The recall covers 2021-23 Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators and a range of F series Super Duty trucks, model years 20222023. Letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed on April 13. Once a remedy is determined, additional letters will be mailed. Dealerships will eventually inspect and replace the wiper arms free of charge.

Siler City approves new panhandling ordinance

Violations of the ordinance can range all the way up to a Class 2 misdemeanor

By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record

SILER CITY — The Town of Siler City has passed a new ordinance to try and address pan-

The development will have 60 lots across nearly 124 acres

By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record

PITTSBORO — The Chatham County Board of Com-

handling within its corporate limits.

At the Town of Siler City Board of Commissioners April 6 meeting, the board approved a new ordinance for the town to establish regulations for panhandling, begging and solicitation in certain locations to protect public safety, pedestrian access and tra c ow.

“This has been about a year in the making,” said Chief of Police Brian Regan. “We did a lot of research into this to make sure we didn’t violate anyone’s rst amendment right of free speech.” According to Regan, the Siler City Police Department has received nearly 150 calls over the last 12 months related to tres-

passing associated with some form of solicitation or begging.

“We have seen an increase in the last couple of years of solicitation in public access places and roadways and so forth, which has always been a concern,” Regan said. “The main focus of this is the public safety piece. It’s the public safety of the person soliciting and also the person that’s being solicited. We want to make sure that was the main message behind this.”

The ordinance most directly addresses what is de ned as “aggressive solicitation,” which encompasses threatening or intimidating language or actions.

mind, the applicant has self-imposed a 50-foot bu er beyond the 100-year oodplain or the 100-foot riparian bu er, whichever is wider.”

The lots will utilize individual septic systems for wastewater and TriRiver for their water needs.

“We’re trying to push this stu forward as fast as possible.” Markwayne

Mullin, Homeland Security Secretary

missioners met March 24 for its regular business meeting.

The board approved a rst plat review for a subdivision, Bramblewood, consisting of approximately 124 acres of property located o U.S. Highway 64 West.

The plat calls for 60 lots of single-family homes, with an

The new DHS secretary removes red tape and pledges faster aid to North Carolina

By Rebecca Santana and Gabriela Aoun Angueira

The Associated Press

CHIMNEY ROCK — Homeland Security Secretary

Markwayne Mullin on Tuesday

toured North Carolina areas

devastated by Hurricane Helene in 2024, revealing plans to prioritize relief to disaster-impacted communities on his rst o cial trip since replac-

average lot size of 1.6 acres and lots ranging between 0.9 acres and 9.0 acres.

“The lots on the oodplain are by far the biggest lots in the subdivision, and that was consciously and intentionally done,” said attorney Nicolas Robinson, who was representing the applicant. “The other thing to keep in

ing Kristi Noem, whose leadership cast uncertainty over federal disaster response.

While the trip focused on emergency management, Mullin also weighed in on immigration enforcement, a centerpiece policy of the Trump administration, which his department also oversees. He suggested he might halt customs processing at airports serving cities whose local governments resist the administration’s immigration policies, a move that would align with his predecessor’s hardline approach.

While some nearby property owners raised concerns on the development and potential stormwater, ooding and runo issues, the board’s hands were pretty much tied on the decision.

THURSDAY 4.9.26

Bannon wins Supreme Court order likely to lead to dismissal of contempt of Congress conviction

He already served four months in prison for the contempt charge

By Mark Sherman The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Steve Bannon, a longtime ally of President Donald Trump, on Monday won a Supreme Court order that is expected to lead to the dismissal of his criminal conviction for refusing to testify to Congress.

Prodded by the Trump administration, the justices threw out an appellate ruling upholding Bannon’s conviction for defying a subpoena from the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack by a mob of Trump supporters on the U.S. Capitol.

The move frees a trial judge

to act on the Republican administration’s pending request to dismiss Bannon’s conviction and indictment “in the interests of justice.”

The dismissal would be largely symbolic. Bannon served a four-month prison term after a jury convicted him of contempt of Congress in 2022. A federal appeals court in Washington had upheld the conviction.

The justices also issued a similar order in the case of former Cincinnati Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld, who was pardoned by Trump last year.

Sittenfeld had served 16 months in federal prison after a jury convicted him of bribery and attempted extortion in 2022. The high court order allows a lower court to consider dismissing his indictment.

The Justice Department brought the case against Ban-

non during Democrat Joe Biden’s presidency, but it changed course after Trump took o ce again last year.

Bannon had initially argued that his testimony was protected by Trump’s claim of executive privilege. But the House panel and the Justice Department contended such a claim was dubious because Trump had red Bannon from the White House in 2017 and Bannon was thus a private citizen when he was consulting with the then-president in the run-up to the Capitol riot.

Bannon separately has pleaded guilty in a New York state court to defrauding donors to a private e ort to build a wall on the U.S. southern border, as part of a plea deal that allowed him to avoid jail time. That conviction is unaffected by the Supreme Court action.

Steve Bannon speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas on March 27.

CRIME LOG

March 30

• Tony Ronald McIntosh, 63, was arrested for felony possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Adrian Lamont Turner, 41, was arrested for possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

March 31

• Aaron Scott Chrisco, 34, was arrested for felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana up to 1/2 ounce, possession of marijuana paraphernalia and two counts of carrying a concealed gun.

• Harry Christian Kai Rattelman, 30, was arrested for communicating threats.

April 1

• Carlos Manuel Tula Pena, 23, was arrested for assault on a female and second-degree trespass.

April 2

• Zhari Zhane Goins, 31, was arrested for misdemeanor child abuse, reckless driving to endanger, driving or allowing a motor vehicle with no registration, operating a vehicle with no insurance, aggravated level 1 driving while impaired, driving while license revoked (nonimpaired revocation), failure to wear a seat belt (driver), failure to secure a passenger under 16 and child not in rear seat.

• Kelly Gene Headen, 40, was arrested for violation of parole.

• Kaleb Clay Dixon, 23, was arrested for carrying a concealed gun and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Pedro Mendoza Mendez, 22, was arrested for larceny of a motor vehicle and misdemeanor larceny.

April 3

• Adom Scott Silberman, 35, was arrested for driving while impaired and reckless driving with wanton disregard.

April 4

• Mathivanan Pothiyappan, 49, was arrested for assault on a female, communicating threats and misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

April 5

• Stephanie Cotton Rogers, 71, was arrested for simple assault and crime of domestic violence.

ORDINANCE from page A1

Those actions can result in a Class 2 misdemeanor, which carries a maximum penalty of 60 days in jail and/or a $1,000 ne. The ordinance also establishes reasonable time, place and manner regulations for soliciting, which attempt to prevent the impeding of streets, sidewalks, businesses and oth-

Central

er public spaces, with violations only going up to Class 3 misdemeanor.

“Some are generally seeking assistance, and we don’t want to stop anyone that wants to help someone in that case, but at the same time, we want to ensure the safety of everybody,” Regan said. According to Regan, the department will start out by educating the public by notify-

ing them of the new ordinance and utilizing a 30-day period where only warnings will be issued.

“The information aspect, the education piece is important,” Regan said. “In my opinion, we shouldn’t implement something and go straight into the enforcement aspect.”

The Town of Siler City Board of Commissioners will next meet May 4.

Electric providing grants to local educators to fund innovative projects

Teachers, are you looking for new opportunities to fund projects for your classroom?

Central Electric is awarding up to $15,000 in Bright Ideas education grants to local educators in K-12 classrooms for the 2026-27 school year. Educators in K-12 classrooms with creative ideas for learning projects are encouraged to apply for a grant up to $2,000.

Grant applications will be accepted through Sept. 15. However, it pays to apply early.

CHATHAM happening

April

All teachers who submit their applications by the early bird deadline of Aug. 15 will be entered into a drawing for one of ve $100 Visa gi cards. Scan the QR code or visit NCBrightIdeas.com for more information or to apply!

April 11

Pittsboro

VFW Steak & Bon re Night 5 p.m.

The local VFW post hosts an evening fundraiser featuring a steak dinner with sides, a bon re, and cigars; BYOB. Joe Wagner VFW Post 7313 Pittsboro

April 13

Chatham County Partnership for Children: State of the Child

8:30 a.m.

The Chatham County Partnership for Children hosts its annual breakfast gathering where community members connect, review progress on the Early Childhood Action Plan, and plan next steps to support young children and families. Free; registration was required by April 4.

Chatham Community Library, Holmes Family Meeting Room 197 N.C. Highway 87 Pittsboro

Artemis II breaks Apollo 13’s distance record with daring moon

yby that included solar eclipse

The astronauts broke Apollo 13’s distance record during the historic moon yby

By Marcia Dunn

The Associated Press

HOUSTON — After traveling deeper into space than any other humans, the Artemis II astronauts pointed their moonship toward home Monday night, wrapping up a lunar cruise that revealed views of the far side never beheld by eyes until now.

Their yby of the moon — NASA’s rst return since the Apollo era — even included some celestial sightseeing besides yielding rich science. It was a signi cant step toward landing boot prints near the moon’s south pole in just two years.

A total solar eclipse greeted the three Americans and one Canadian as the moon temporarily blocked the sun from their perspective. Mercury, Venus, Mars and Saturn nodded at them from the black void.

The landing sites of Apollo 12 and 14 also were visible, poignant reminders of NASA’s rst age of exploration more than half a century ago.

In an especially riveting retro throwback, Artemis II shattered the distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. NASA’s Orion capsule reached a maximum distance of 252,756 miles from Earth before hanging a U-turn behind the moon, 4,101 miles farther than Apollo 13.

“It is blowing my mind what you can see with the naked eye from the moon right now. It is just unbelievable,” Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen radioed. He challenged “this generation and the next to make sure this record is not long-lived.”

Artemis II astronauts get Apollo wake-up message

Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell wished the crew well in a recording made two months before his death last August. Mission Control beamed up his message to commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Hansen, before their y-around began.

“Welcome to my old neighborhood,” said Lovell, who also ew on Apollo 8, humanity’s rst lunar visit. “It’s a historic day and I know how busy you’ll be, but don’t forget to enjoy the view.”

The Artemis II astronauts carried up with them the Apollo 8 silk patch that accompanied Lovell to the moon. “It’s just a real honor to have that on board with us,” Wiseman said.

Artemis II is using the same maneuver that Apollo 13 did after its “Houston, we’ve had a problem” oxygen tank explosion wiped out any hope of a moon landing.

Known as a free-return lunar trajectory, this no-stoppingto-land route takes advantage of Earth and the moon’s gravity, reducing the need for fuel.

It’s a celestial gure-eight that put the astronauts on course for home once they emerged from behind the moon Monday evening.

Astronauts lock in on lunar observations

Artemis II’s lunar y-around and intense observation period lasted seven hours, by far the highlight of the nearly 10 - day test ight that will end with a splashdown in the Paci c on Friday.

Venturing as close as 4,067 miles to the gray dusty surface, the astronauts zipped through a list of more than two dozen targets, using powerful Nikon cameras as well as their iPhones to zoom in on impact craters and other intriguing lunar features.

Before getting started, they requested permission to name two bright, freshly carved craters. They suggested Integrity, the name of their capsule, and Carroll, commander Wiseman’s wife, who died of cancer in 2020.

Wiseman wept as Hansen put in the request to Mission Control, and all four astronauts embraced in tears.

“Such a majestic view out here,” Wiseman radioed once he regained his composure and started picture-taking. The astronauts called down that they managed to capture the moon and Earth in the same shot, and they provided a running commentary to scientists back in Houston on what they were seeing.

At one point, Koch reported an overwhelming sensation of emotion for a second or two while zooming in on the moon.

“Something just drew me in suddenly to the lunar landscape and it became real,” she said.

The Artemis II astronauts made their closest approach to the moon and reached their maximum distance from Earth while they were out of contact. Their speed at closest approach: 3,139 mph. The spacecraft accelerated as it appeared from behind the moon and the planned communications blackout and made tracks for Earth.

An Earthrise came into view showing Asia, Africa and Oceania as Mission Control called

out: “We are Earthbound and ready to bring you home.” Flight controllers in Houston ipped their mission patches over to signify the return leg.

President Donald Trump phoned the astronauts following the yby, calling them “modern-day pioneers.”

“Today you’ve made history and made all America really proud, incredibly proud,” the president said, adding that more lunar traveling is coming and ultimately “the whole big trip to Mars.”

Wiseman and his crew spent years studying lunar geography to prepare for the big event, adding solar eclipses to their repertoire during the past few weeks. By launching last Wednesday, they ensured themselves of a total solar eclipse from their vantage point behind the moon, courtesy of the cosmos.

Topping their science target list: Orientale Basin, a sprawling impact basin with three concentric rings, the outermost of which stretches nearly 600 miles across.

Their moon mentor, NASA geologist Kelsey Young, expects thousands of pictures.

Artemis II is NASA’s rst astronaut moonshot since Apollo 17 in 1972. It sets the stage for next year’s Artemis III, which will see another Orion crew practice docking with lunar landers in orbit around Earth. The culminating moon landing by two astronauts near the moon’s south pole will follow on Artemis IV in 2028.

While Artemis II may be taking Apollo 13’s path, it’s most reminiscent of Apollo 8 and humanity’s rst lunar visitors who orbited the moon on Christmas Eve 1968 and read from the Book of Genesis.

Glover said ying to the moon during Christianity’s Holy Week brought home for him “the beauty of creation.” Earth is an oasis amid “a whole bunch of nothing, this thing we call the universe” where humanity exists as one, he observed over the weekend.

“This is an opportunity for us to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing and that we’ve got to get through this together,” Glover said, clasping hands with his crewmates.

Church News

OAKLEY BAPTIST CHURCH

As Oakley Baptist Church (2300 Siler City-Glendon Road, Siler City) seeks to begin its next chapter, we are enjoying hearing a word from the Lord from various old and new friends. Our service begins at 10:30 a.m., but we also have Sunday School classes for every member of the family at 9:30 a.m. We would be blessed if you joined us for any and all of these speakers in the coming weeks.

April 12 – Jason Golden

April 19 – Gary McCollough

April 26 – Spencer Andrews

We look forward to meeting you at any of these services and in the future, and invite you to pray with us as we seek a new pastor. To learn more, go to oakleybaptist. org or email us at oakleybaptistchurch@gmail.com.

Horton High School Alumni Association 2026 Scholarship Application

Applications are being accepted for Horton High School Alumni Association 2026-2027 Scholarship

Descendent of Horton High School alumnus or attendee of Horton High School may apply.

• Apply on website: www.hortonhighalumni.com

• CLICK: “Scholarship”

Deadline for application: June 1, 2026

SATURDAY, APRIL 18TH, 2026 CONTACT - JIM SIZEMORE 919-545-5006

DEMONIC SPIRITS TAKING OVER!

Bible Study: Matthew 7:12-29 Church of Living Water; Preacher: James Mitchell.

To all our brothers and sisters, be steadfast in faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! We must hold on and not allow evil doers to move us away from our faith in the Cross of Christ. We must continue sharing God’s Word! God’s Word tells us there are many false teachers. After that other woke Pope, I had hoped my Catholic brothers and sisters would have a truly God-called leader. Pope Leo doesn’t stand with Israel or America. Also, stop calling the Pope “holy father.” If you’re truly a born-again Christian, our Holy Father is Almighty God! Matthew 23:9. God has anointed President Trump and Israel to stop Hamas from killing our Jewish citizens. Now President Trump and Israel are united in destroying the evil empire in Iran. Look at what our military, with Israel’s help, has accomplished in 4 weeks. America, stop complaining about our troops on the ground and rising fuel prices. You fake/lying news media that support illegal criminals over American citizens, shame on you! Democrats, your minds have been taken over by evil spirits. Those who vote for these evil doers have also been taken over by demonic spirits. NATO and European countries, you’re no friends of America or Israel. Radical Muslims are taking over your countries! Obama, Biden, Democrats, and the fake lying news media did has opened the minds of American citizens! Praise God for President Trump, Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, and all our soldiers who are removing evil. I pray for all the families who have

THE CONVERSATION

Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

Heaven, here and now

No path smells exactly the same twice. It’s like a river, always changing.

THIS IS RAMONA, lling in for Andrew, who worked hard all last week. Something about it being Holy Week. I spent the afternoons in the backyard, enjoying the sunshine and birdsong. You tell me who worshipped! But last week was not all naps and chew toys. Andrew told me that his friend had lost his dog. No one consulted me before the little ceremony, but I’d have wanted to sni out the best spot. It would probably be a corner of the old boy’s yard that gets the morning sun and afternoon shade, a resting spot within view of the back gate to see when his loved ones return. Humans sometimes talk about heaven, and I understand that all dogs go there. Others say that cats have nine lives. I only know that I love life in this world. Truthfully, I doubt a celestial realm of

light in the air would top the scents, sounds and sights on the earth.

On our walks, Andrew’s mind is often elsewhere, maybe back at the church. I try to bring him back to the moment by yanking on the leash toward a rascal squirrel. I’m not sni ng for a perfect spot in the grass to do my business; I’m taking in the free gifts that are as close as my snout.

Here’s an idea for you to sni : Maybe heaven is here and now. Perhaps heaven is a playful romp in the grass, followed by a satisfying scratch behind the ears. Heaven could be in a bowl of cool water. Heaven could be family movie night when the kids let you snuggle on the couch. Whether we’re human or canine, we can realize heaven in every patch of clover or soft rug we roll around and rest upon.

You might say I’m a lucky dog and that not everyone has it so easy. Fair enough. However, I think we are at our best when we rub up against what we love, rather than what raises our hackles.

As I understand it, Jesus was raised into this world, and shortly after he came back, he met his friends for a cooked breakfast on the beach. That will preach! I say there’s nothing more holy than the sun on my full belly after breakfast.

Love, Ramona

Ramona’s owner’s latest book is “This Is the Day.” He serves as pastor of Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church as well as a writer, pizza maker, co ee drinker and student of joy.

It’s still her birthday — no matter how long ago

She was good at “sticking her nose in my business.”

MY MAMA WOULD be 108 years old if she were still with me.

Her birthday was this week — Monday, April 6 — to be exact but she wasn’t around to celebrate it with us.

I thought about her, partly because I do that fairly often and partly because my older brother often mentions her to me. Some years ago, when he was still on earth, Paul “Bear” Bryant, the late, great University of Alabama football coach, starred in a television commercial for some phone company — AT&T, I think — in which he said at the end of the spot, “Pick up the phone. Call your mama.” My brother was fond of reminding me of that when we could do it.

I did that fairly often in the years after I left home, even and especially after she spent the last ve years of her life in a care facility.

Brother often talked about her kitchen skills, and we wondered if any of her recipes were oating around our place. There are a few here and there; his grown daughter has a number of them; and still others are with me, mainly around my waist, where mama put them years ago.

Mama could cook. She had to be able to in an e ort to feed three bottomless-pit sons and a hard-working husband, as well as herself, as well as the crowd of relatives who dropped by often, as well as the

neighbors who came over, as well as the friends we boys brought home from high school and college, as well as the families she fed when their luck got down or there was a death in their family.

That, of course, was not all she did. She was good at “sticking her nose in my business,” which was how I looked at it when I was 16 and 23 and even 30 -plus. It wasn’t until I had some birthdays and my own experiences at parenthood that I realized the truth of her words I often heard in such times — “nobody has your welfare at heart any more than me.”

That never stopped.

She was good at doing the “mama” things, which was the word I called her until her rst-born grandchild declared that she was “Ma” and we all fell in line. There was never a doubt we (my brothers and I) were high on her priority list.

She cooked (I mentioned that, didn’t I?)

She washed my nasty clothes.

She ironed my shirts.

She kept the house going, when it was clean and when it needed cleaning.

She made me pick up rocks as she tilled the garden.

She made me do my homework and go to church and learn some manners and respect for folks, regardless of the color of their skin or their station in life. “Sir” and “ma’am” weren’t optional.

She left a big imprint on my life; I miss her.

Sometimes in my quieter moments, I wonder what she would think today … and of today. Days when folks across the board aren’t all that “nice.” About her brood of grand- and great-grandchildren. About how her sons turned out. About this and about that …

Funny thing, she — who was so sharp, who became a licensed nurse after her brood became somewhat self-su cient and independent, who always wanted to “paddle her own canoe” — became a bit confused in the last few months of her life. She began to tell us she was born in a di erent year from when she was. And the last time I spoke with her, she told me from her nursing home bed that “if you see Bob, tell him to come see me.”

I assured her that “if I see that sorry rascal, I’ll tell him.”

Today isn’t “Mother’s Day” on the calendar, but if you’ve still got yours, it is. Tell her so, even if you don’t think she’s all that great.

Without her, you wouldn’t be here. How would you like that?

Bob Wachs is a native of Chatham County and emeritus editor at Chatham News & Record. He serves as pastor of Bear Creek Baptist Church.

Letters to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline.com or mailed to 1201 Edwards Mill Rd., Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27607. Letters must be signed; include the writer’s phone number, city and state; and be no longer than 300 words. Letters may be edited for style, length or clarity when necessary. Ideas for op-eds should be sent to opinion@nsjonline.com.

From reactivity to chocolate chip cookies

You’d think all my years of adulting, therapy and reading spiritually profound books would have completely stayed my reactivity.

YOURS TRULY (that would be me) is very emotionally reactive. Sad to say, my automatic reactions, when triggered, tend toward decimating bridges rather than laying them across chasms of di erences. Not terribly nifty for a self- declared bridge-builder, is it?

Blessed with such emotional reactivity, you can imagine how I react when triggered by con ict, di erences of opinion and opposing beliefs of others. It’s not pretty.

C’mon, where the heck did my automatic reactions to torch bridges, in times of stress, originate? Me! My little ol’ brain, that is. My little ol’ human brain, and to be honest, yours too. Our universal penchant for Grrrr(!) is derived from prehistoric reactivity and our desire to keep predators at bay. None of us gets a pass.

You’d think all my years of adulting, therapy and reading spiritually profound books would have completely stayed my reactivity. Sigh. This human is who she is. A work in progress for the rest of my lifetime. (You plan on joining me?)

So hard on myself! I truly need a little diet Dr Pepper and some intensely avorful dark chocolate to help my size 91⁄2 feet nd the ground. It seems my lifelong desire for doing con ict transformation work is

COLUMN | MICHAEL BARONE

not my bag, after all. We can dream, right?

I did dream, and the universe wasn’t having it. Ah, but the universe sent me through a totally unexpected doorway. Totally. A path that didn’t entail reactivity to putative predators in my life. Such a relief, I cannot tell you.

You ready? Well, I’m not sure I am. It’s a bit embarrassing to share a path that seems so innocuous. But, hey, I’m pulling on my big girl pants and plan to share anyway.

Here ’tis. The big reveal …

Sharing “thanks” and “thank-you’s,” for just about anything, with all you humans on my daily path. That’s it! No, no, please don’t write this (or me) o . Small acts, like sharing thanks, can have enormous ripple e ects.

From those ne social scientist folks at the University of Texas:

“When in doubt, make the phone call, o er up the last chocolate chip cookie or let the stressed- out person cut in line. It means a lot more than you think.”

So there. My reactivity conundrum led me, instead, to becoming an ongoing scatterer of thank you confetti. Thanks, universe …

Jan Hutton, a resident of Chatham County and retired hospice social worker, lives life with heart and humor.

The sudden political star of Trump II: Marco Rubio

Rubio, in his two ostensibly nonpolitical jobs, has obviously made a favorable impression on the public.

“WHITE HOUSE deploys Marco Rubio to clarify messaging about Iran con ict.” So reads the headline on the front page of the Washington Examiner’s website in the early hours of April 1, the third month of U.S. military operations against Iran, which have been taking place since Feb. 28.

That prominence was overtaken as it was announced that President Donald Trump would address the nation on the war Wednesday night. But it’s still worth noting and could turn out to be more signi cant as the end of the second Trump term comes into view.

Rubio’s video making the case for the Iran o ensive is only two minutes long, straight to the camera, with a dark background relieved only by the red and white stripes of the ag. Succinctly, he made a case for military action now.

“Under no circumstances,” Rubio said, “can a country run by radical Shia clerics with an apocalyptic vision of the future ever possess nuclear weapons, and under no circumstances can they be allowed to hide and protect that program and their ambitions behind a shield of missiles and drones that no one can do anything about.”

At greater length but in a similar fashion, he made the same case that day in a television interview on Al Jazeera, in terms pitched to its audience not just in the United States but also in the Gulf.

Only one other person before has held the o ces of secretary of state and national security adviser: Henry Kissinger, from 1973 to 1975. In that capacity, Kissinger conducted high-level diplomacy in the Middle East and left no distance in his public statements between his views and those of the president he served, although behind the scenes, as later revealed, there were di erences.

Similarly, Rubio obviously speaks carefully to leave no distance between his statements and those of the president he serves, to whom he refers in respectful terms. But he’s able to do this and to appeal to others, including inveterate Trump haters, all at the same time.

That was apparent in his Feb. 14 speech at the Munich Security Conference where he earned standing applause from his predominantly European audience even as he repeated, diplomatically phrased, the same criticisms of what Donald Rumsfeld called “Old Europe” voiced numerous times by Trump and, at the same conference a year before, to a very di erent reaction, Vice President JD Vance.

There are many di erences between the two men who were secretary of state and national security adviser. Kissinger was a dazzling scholar who impressed everyone at Harvard University. Rubio rst went to college on a football scholarship then earned degrees from the University of Florida and the University of Miami Law School. Kissinger, in his prime, dated movie stars. Rubio is a longtime family man.

Once in America, Kissinger always lived in the Northeast Corridor (Manhattan, Cambridge and Washington, D.C.), Rubio in semitropical Miami and ra sh Las Vegas. Kissinger never ran for public o ce. Rubio was elected to the West Miami Council at 27 and to the term-limited Florida legislature at 29 (winning a primary runo by 64 votes), and he got his colleagues to elect him as speaker six years later.

But the biggest political di erence is that Kissinger, born a citizen of Weimar

MICHEL EULER / AP PHOTO

Marco Rubio met with other G7 Foreign Ministers near Paris at the end of March.

Germany, was ineligible to run for president. Rubio not only ran for president in 2016 but might conceivably have won in the absence of Trump’s candidacy and the millions spent against him by backers of his former mentor, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

And Rubio might conceivably run and win in 2028, though he says he will support Vance, and Vance says that Rubio is “my closest friend in the administration.” There are obviously some di erences between them on foreign policy: Rubio plainly favors the Iran attacks. Vance seems dubious.

Despite speculation that MAGA opposes Trump on Iran, Rubio, in his two ostensibly nonpolitical jobs, has obviously made a favorable impression on the public. At the recent Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine, Texas, Vance once again won the straw poll for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination. But his 53% was down from 61% last year, while Rubio zoomed up from 3% in 2025 to 35% this year.

CPAC, abounding these days with MAGA loving young men, has not always been a reliable guide to wider opinion. But national pollsters, which began 2028 polling two weeks after the 2024 election, cast a wider net. In 17 polls conducted over the rst full year since Trump’s inauguration, Rubio averaged 9%, behind not only Vance at 46% but also his fellow Floridian, Gov. Ron DeSantis, who averaged 10%.

In seven polls taken since Rubio’s Munich speech, Vance was unchanged, averaging 45%, and so was DeSantis, who averaged 8%. But Rubio did signi cantly better, averaging 16%. That’s not the jump he saw at CPAC, but it’s also pretty clear evidence that Rubio is making some impression on a public that usually pays little attention to secretaries of state or national security advisers.

But I do feel sure that Rubio, who showed impressive raw political talent in his rise to one of Florida’s U.S. Senate seats in the rst decade of this century and who made a serious presidential run in the second decade, has now shown impressive skills as a national leader in the third decade. Is there more ahead in the fourth?

Michael Barone is a senior political analyst for the Washington Examiner and longtime co-author of “The Almanac of American Politics.” (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

COLUMN | BEN

In today’s NBA, beliefs can be a firing o ense

THERE ARE PLENTY of things an NBA player can do and still keep his job.

League history is littered with examples: players involved in o - court scandals, arrests, even allegations of serious violence. Time and again, teams and the league have found ways to look past behavior that, in most professions, would be career- ending.

But there appears to be one line that cannot be crossed — especially during Holy Week.

That line, it seems, is expressing a traditional religious belief.

Enter Jaden Ivey.

The former Purdue standout was the fth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, a rising young guard who averaged 16 points and ve assists as a rookie with the Detroit Pistons. By his third season, he was approaching 18 points per game before an injury derailed his momentum. Eventually, he landed with the Chicago Bulls. By all accounts, Ivey was a productive player still on the rise.

Then came an Instagram video.

In it, Ivey — now a newly converted Christian — criticized the NBA’s celebration of Pride Month. His comments re ected a conventional religious viewpoint: that pride, as celebrated in this context, con icts with Christian teachings on sin.

“They proclaim Pride Month,” Ivey said. “They say, ‘Come join us ... to celebrate unrighteousness.’”

That was enough.

The Bulls waived him, citing “conduct detrimental to the team.”

The phrase raises an obvious question: What exactly was the conduct?

Ivey did not skip practice. He did not clash with teammates. He did not violate the law. By his own account — and by the absence of any evidence to the contrary — he remained a good teammate and a committed player.

His o ense was speech.

On Instagram Live, Ivey pushed back on the decision.

“How is it conduct detrimental to the team? What did I do to the team?” he asked. It’s a fair question — and one the Bulls have not clearly answered.

Even head coach Billy Donovan o ered only a muted response, emphasizing “certain standards” while declining to directly address Ivey’s comments. There was no forceful condemnation, no claim of locker room disruption — just a vague appeal to team values.

Contrast that with other professional sports leagues. UFC president Dana White has repeatedly defended ghters’ rights to speak freely, even when he strongly disagrees with them. The principle is simple: Disagreement does not justify punishment.

The NBA appears to be operating under a di erent standard.

If Ivey had expressed support for Pride Month — or made a personal announcement aligning with it — it’s di cult to imagine a similar outcome. More than likely, he would have been celebrated. Instead, he was dismissed.

This is what makes the situation so striking. The league has tolerated, and at times quietly managed, far more serious controversies. There was even a prolonged debate over whether to host an event tied to a strip club in Atlanta — an issue that required league intervention after weeks of public scrutiny.

Yet a religious objection to Pride Month draws an immediate and decisive response.

That disparity is hard to ignore.

It also raises broader questions about the NBA’s relationship with its audience. Millions of fans — many of them religious — hold views similar to those Ivey expressed. They may not agree with the league’s messaging, but they have continued to watch, support and engage with the sport.

Decisions like this risk sending a di erent message: that certain beliefs are not merely unpopular but unacceptable.

For a league that seeks to expand its reach, that’s a curious strategy.

Timing only adds to the tension. The incident unfolded during Holy Week, one of the most sacred periods on the Christian calendar — a moment when questions of faith and conviction are especially prominent.

None of this requires agreement with Ivey’s views. Reasonable people can and do disagree on these issues.

But there is a di erence between disagreement and exclusion.

If the standard for remaining in the NBA now includes alignment with speci c cultural or ideological positions, then the league is entering new territory — one where speech, not conduct, becomes the deciding factor in a player’s career.

Ivey may yet nd another team willing to give him a second chance.

But the larger issue will remain: In today’s NBA, it’s not just how you play the game that matters — it’s what you’re allowed to say o the court.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co-founder of Daily Wire+. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

obituaries

IN MEMORY

DONALD WAYNE “HODGE” HODGES

MAY 8, 1962 – MARCH 31, 2026

Donald Wayne “Hodge” Hodges, 63, of Bennett, passed away on Monday, March 31, 2026 at FirstHealth Moore Regional. Services will be held at a later date.

Donald was born in on May 8, 1962. He was a truck driver for Caviness Farms. He enjoyed NASCAR, playing golf and anything outdoors. He loved his family and spending time with his grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Donald was preceded in death by one brother and two sisters.

He is survived by his children, Daniel Hodges (Ti any), of Carthage and Lyndon Hodges, of Eastwood; grandchildren, Dawson Hodges and Gracelynn Hodges; brother Mike Hodges (Cathy), of Asheboro and a host of family and friends.

WALTER LEWIS (BUSTER) SCOTT

APRIL 2, 2026

Walter Lewis (Buster) Scott, age 97, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 2, 2026 at his home surrounded by his family.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, April 6, 2026 at Rock Hill Friends Church, where he was a member, with Pastor David Roudabush o ciating.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service beginning at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Needham’s Grove Baptist Church cemetery.

In addition to his parents, Claude and Ella Moore Scott, he was preceded in death by his infant grandson, Austin Tanner Scott; his daughter-in-law, Cindy Scott and sisters, Kathleen Abdo, Betsy Hussey, Geneva Dunlap and Juanita Maness.

He is survived by the love of his life for 72 years, Betty “Muriel” Scott, of the home; daughter, Gayle Maness (Garry); sons, Brantley Scott and Bradley Scott (Tina); sister, Judy Burns; 12 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Margaret and Neda for their kind and compassionate care.

RENA LEE PURVIS KISER

FEB. 13, 1940 – APRIL 6, 2026

Rena Lee Purvis Kiser, 86, of Bennett, passed away on Monday, April 6, 2026, at her daughter’s home surrounded by her loving family.

The funeral will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at Fall Creek Baptist Church with Dr. John Williamson, Pastor Edwin Moore, Sammy Brewer and Kristy Staley presiding.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Following the interment, the family will return to the fellowship hall. At other times, the family will be at the home of Walter and Kristy Staley.

Rena Lee was born on February 13, 1940, to James Wiley Purvis and Maggie Myrtle Brewer Purvis. She was a lifelong member of Fall Creek Baptist Church. She owned and operated Kiser’s Florist & Gifts for over 50 years. She enjoyed traveling, sewing, cooking, making wedding cakes and Christmas candy. She adored her family and loved spending time with her grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Kiser.

Rena Lee is survived by her children, Kirsty Staley (Walter), of Bennett and Rhonda Frye (Terry), of Robbins; grandchildren, Jamie, Jana, Josh and Haley; greatgrandchildren, Caleb, Maggie, Dalton, Lacey, Sadie, Mason and Carson; special cousin, Nancy Needham; her “boys”, Delmar and Je Gatlin and a host of family and friends.

Dr. Jimmy Horton

May 28, 1944 – April 1, 2026

James Horton, (Uncle Jimmy), was born in Alamance County May 28, 1944 and was selected to go home on April 1, 2026.

He is survived by his wife, Hazel Marie (Newby) Horton, of Siler City, NC; son, Chris Horton and (Keith Olson), of Portsmouth, VA; daughter, Angela She eld (Horton) and (Gary), of Siler City; brother, Jackie Horton and (Sedalia), of Greensboro, NC; along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, plus great nieces and nephews.

We offer an on-site crematory with many options of Celebration of Life services, Traditional, and Green Burials. Call us to set an appointment to come by and learn more.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Alma (Crutch eld) Horton; six brothers, June, Bill, Grady, Bobby, Fred, Tyree and two sisters, Ruth Price (Horton) and Mary Joyce Headen (Horton).

James was a proud, retired US Air Force Master Seargent, serving from 1964 to 1984, as a Jet Engine Mechanic. He and his family lived in several states; Hampton, Virginia, Grand Forks, North Dakota, Ft. Walton Beach, Florida and Las Vegas, Nevada. They lived overseas in The Philippines. After 20 years of honorable service, he returned to his hometown of Siler City.

Mr. Horton was a member Of Wesley Chapel Christian

Fellowship Church for over 35 years. He worked until his retirement from Townsend Chicken Plant and then decided to drive a school bus for Sage Academy for several years. Mr. Horton was a dedicated man to any endeavor he encountered. He was a devoted husband, father and loving father and faithful friend to many. A visitation will be held 6-8:00PM, Friday, April 10, 2026 at Smith and Buckner Funeral Home at 230 North Second Avenue, Siler City, NC 27344. A Going Home Service will be held 11:00AM, Saturday April 11, 2026 at Wesley Chapel Christian Fellowship Church - 11449 Hwy 64, Siler City, NC 27344. Burial will immediately follow in the church cemetery.

Dr. James Moore will o ciate the service. Smith and Buckner is honored to serve the family of Mr. James Edward Horton.

Chang Ung, North Korean ex-IOC member who brokered Olympic joint marches with South, dead

The former basketball player negotiated talks between rival Koreas

By Hyung-Jin Kim The Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea — Chang Ung, a former North Korean member of the International Olympic Committee who once led sports exchanges with rival South Korea, including joint marches of their athletes at the Olympics, has died, the IOC announced Wednesday. He was 87.

The IOC said on its website that it had learned with “extreme sadness” of Chang’s death on Sunday. It said the Olympic ag will be own at half-mast for three days at the Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The IOC statement didn’t describe the cause of Chang’s death. North Korea’s state media has not reported on his death.

Born in 1938, Chang was originally a basketball player who captained the North Korean national team. After retiring from the sport, he became an athletics administrator, serving as a vice sports minister, a vice chairman of North Korea’s national Olympic Committee and a vice president of the Olympic Council of Asia.

In 1996, Chang was elected to the IOC. As North Korea’s only-ever IOC member, he represented his country on international sports elds and headed numerous — if often rocky — talks with South Korea to promote sports exchange and cooperation programs between the rivals.

The most notable results of this diplomacy came at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, when athletes of the two Koreas marched together under a “uni cation ag” depicting their peninsula during

the opening and closing ceremonies, the rst joint parade since their division in 1945. Athletes of the Koreas walked together at following Olympic Games and major international sports events, including the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics in South Korea. After watching a joint march in Pyeongchang’s opening ceremony, Chang told reporters that he was deeply moved.

Chang played a key role in earlier reconciliation talks with South Korea, which led to the two countries sending their rst uni ed male and female teams to the 1991 world table tennis championships in Chiba, Japan.

In Pyeongchang, the two Koreas elded their rst combined Olympic team for women’s ice hockey.

In a 2004 interview with South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo newspaper, Chang said that organizing the 2000 joint march was “really a tough” job. He also said he strongly sup-

ported Pyeongchang’s earlier, failed bid to host the Winter Olympics.

South Korean Uni cation Minister Chung Dong-young expressed condolences over Chang’s death. In a Facebook post Wednesday, Chung, a staunch advocate of rapprochement with North Korea, recalled his 2007 meeting with Chang on taekwondo exchange programs and said he honors Chang’s “noble dedication to (Korean) unity and peace.”

Sports ties between North and South Korea have su ered as political relations frayed.

There have been no sports or other exchange programs between the countries for years. North Korea has shunned talks with South Korea and the U.S. since its leader Kim Jong Un’s broader nuclear diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019. Kim also branded South Korea as a permanent enemy and rejected the idea of future uni cation.

The IOC said Chang’s contributions helped advance sports participation, cultural exchanges and the role of sport in society.

“His e orts to promote cooperation on the Korean Peninsula demonstrated the power of sport to build bridges and inspire hope,” IOC President Kirsty Coventry said.

The IOC said Chang served on several commissions, including Sport for All and the International Olympic Truce Foundation.

North Korea’s o cial news agency, KCNA, last mentioned Chang in 2023, when he was awarded the Olympic Order, an award given to those who have made extraordinary contributions to the Olympics, during an IOC session in Mumbai, India. Chang, then an honorary IOC member, joined the ceremony by video.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Chatham News & Record at obits@chathamnewsrecord.com

MULLIN from page A1

At his con rmation hearing last month, Mullin tried to project a softer tone on immigration enforcement, after a backlash over high-pro le operations and the deaths of two Americans at the hands of federal ocers. Mullin also signaled a different approach to the Federal Emergency Management Agency following criticism of Noem’s policies.

At a roundtable discussion Tuesday, Mullin said FEMA was focused on catching up on past disaster work and clearing a backlog of needs that stacked up during his predecessor’s tenure ahead of the Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1.

“Disasters are happening constantly,” Mullin said, adding that he would brief President Donald Trump Tuesday on the 22 still pending major disaster declaration requests from states and tribes across the U.S. “We’re trying to push this stu forward as fast as possible.”

Mullin also said he “may have identi ed” a candidate for permanent administrator of FEMA, which is on its third temporary leader since Trump took o ce, but declined to name them.

Asked if eliminating FEMA — which Trump has threatened to do — was still on the table, Mullin said “reforming FEMA would be a better term.”

Mullin’s visit comes less than a week after he ended Noem’s directive that all DHS expenditures over $100,000 be personally approved by the secretary’s o ce, a rule that critics said bottlenecked FEMA reimbursements and compromised

CBP o cers check all incoming travelers into the country as well as the billions of dollars of trade that enters through land crossings and airports.

The Trump administration has already threatened to withdraw funding to Democratic cities and states that it says do not cooperate with immigration enforcement.

Few disaster-hit areas experienced the impacts of FEMA’s recent tumult as acutely as North Carolina, where about $1.6 billion in FEMA public assistance dollars has been obligated so far and where roughly 2,000 projects are still in some stage of FEMA approval, according to a letter North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein sent Mullin after his swearing in.

disaster response and recovery.

While Mullin has already made strides on disaster response, he has yet to set forth a clear vision for immigration enforcement, although he is expected to align with the president’s vision. That was apparent in his comments about removing Customs and Border Protection o cers from airports in socalled “sanctuary cities.”

“If they’re not enforcing immigration laws, then why would I be processing immigration in their city?” Mullin said, adding that the idea was still under consideration. He suggested he would raise the idea in his briefing to Trump.

Mullin gave no further details. But withdrawing CBP ocers from airports could disrupt international travel and trade.

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis excoriated Noem for delays in reimbursements to his state just days before her ring, telling her at a Senate hearing she had “failed” at FEMA.

Mullin said at the roundtable that Trump had told him he wanted North Carolina to be his rst stop and had told Mullin “he wanted North Carolina to love him.”

North Carolina carries outsize political signi cance this year. Tillis, one of the state’s Republican senators, is retiring, raising Democratic hopes of a pickup this fall. The race is sure to attract hundreds of millions in campaign spending and pits Democrat Roy Cooper, the state’s former governor, against Michael Whatley, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Helene, a 350-mile-wide hurricane, ravaged multiple south-

eastern states in September 2024.

The storm caused 108 deaths in North Carolina and $60 billion in damages. It destroyed homes, businesses and utility infrastructure. Entire communities were cut o , prompting helicopter rescues after roads and bridges washed away.

Hurricane damage is still visible, with cars and remnants of homes washed up on banks, remains of knocked-out bridges and piles of thick trees and branches that rushed down the river when it swelled to a torrent of water.

Rep. Chuck Edwards, a Republican representing some of the impacted areas who lost one of his own businesses in the storm, said Tuesday he also grew frustrated with what he called FEMA’s “bureaucracy” and the di culties local communities faced in receiving payments.

“Still plenty of bureaucracy there,” said Edwards, who praised Mullin’s removal of the $100,000 rule.

FEMA’s presence in North Carolina had a tense start as distrust grew among some impacted residents, fueled in part by then-candidate Trump’s own misinformation about the Biden administration and FEMA’s response in the swing state.

Edwards found himself debunking FEMA-related misinformation shortly after the storm, issuing a statement to his constituents that FEMA was not diverting donations to the border or seizing property, among other claims.

After an armed man was arrested in Lake Lure for making threats toward FEMA workers,

the agency temporarily suspended door-to-door home visits in the a ected areas.

Stein, a Democrat, welcomed Mullin’s visit. “It is encouraging that Secretary Mullin is getting down to business,” he told The Associated Press in a statement Tuesday.

On Monday, FEMA approved $26 million in buyouts of damaged and destroyed North Carolina homes, saying in a statement that Mullin encouraged the agency to “redouble its efforts” to help survivors.

Mullin’s remarks drew a sharp contrast from his predecessor Noem, who repeatedly called for FEMA to be eliminated “as it exists today.” Trump oated the idea of eliminating FEMA altogether on a North Carolina visit just days into his second term, calling the agency a “very big disappointment.”

Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to push more responsibility for disasters down to states, and a presidentially appointed FEMA Review Council is expected to soon release a report recommending sweeping reforms of how and to what extent the federal government supports disaster-impacted communities.

While most FEMA sta are still being paid during the record-long partial government shutdown, many o ces were ordered to slow or stop work shortly after the shutdown began on Feb. 14.

Meanwhile, the agency’s Disaster Relief Fund is running low, with about $3.6 billion remaining. The DHS appropriations bill would replenish the fund with over $26 billion.

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CREDITOR’S NOTICE

Having quali ed on the 26th day of September 2025, as Administrator CTA DBN of the Estate of Henry Roderick Alston, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the decedent to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before the 19th day of June, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to the estate should make immediate payment. This is the 10th day of March 2026. Woods Doster, Administrator CTA DBN of the Estate of Henry Roderick Alston 206 Hawkins Avenue Sanford, NC 27330

Attorneys: Law O ces of Doster & Brown, P.A. 206 Hawkins Avenue Sanford, NC 27330

Publish On: March 19th, 26th April 2nd and 9th 2026.

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS COUNTY OF CHATHAM

THE UNDERSIGNED, having quali ed on the 30th day of March 2026, as Executor of the ESTATE OF ABNER GRISWOLD BEVIN, AKA ABNER GRISWOLD BEVIN JR., Deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 10th day of July 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This, the 9th day of April 2026. CHRISTOPHER MARSHALL BEVIN SR., EXECUTOR ESTATE OF ABNER GRISWOLD BEVIN c/o Shirley M. Diefenbach, Attorney Walker Lambe, PLLC Post O ce Box 51549 Durham, North Carolina 27717

NOTE: For publication in The Chatham News on the following dates: April 9, 16, 23, and 30, 2026. Please send the Statement and Proof of Publication to Walker Lambe, PLLC, Post O ce Box 51549, Durham, North Carolina 27717-1549. 4933-9682-7549, v. 1

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The undersigned, having quali ed on the 26th day of March, 2026, as Co-Executors of the Estate of Evelyn Barrow, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 2nd day of July, 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 2nd day of April, 2026. Peter Barrow and Nancy Serrurier, Co-Executors of the Estate of Evelyn Barrow c/o Gwendolyn C. Brooks, Kennon Craver, PLLC

4011 University Drive, Suite 300 Durham, North Carolina 27707 THE CHATHAM NEWS: 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, and 4/23/2026

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA

CHATHAM COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The undersigned, having quali ed on the 20th day of March 2026, as Executor of the Estate of Jody Lynn Kulick, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 26th day of June 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

On this 26th day of March 2026 George Charles Kulick, Jr Executor of the Estate of Jody Lynn Kulick

Gwendolyn C. Brooks, Esquire Kennon Craver, PLLC 4011 University Drive, Suite 300 Durham, North Carolina 27707 3/26, 4/2, 4/9 and 4/16 The Chatham News

NOTICE TO CREDITORS:

Chatham County, North Carolina

RE: THE ESTATE OF DOMENIC MAROTTA–

26E000068-180

Having quali ed as EXECUTOR of the Estate of DOMENIC MAROTTA deceased, CHATHAM County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 1st day of July, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. This the 2nd day of APRIL, 2026.

ALFONSO MAROTTA, EXECUTOR DSR Legal, PLLC PO Box 51596 Durham, NC 27717

NOTICE TO CREDITORS ALL PERSONS, rms and corporations having claims against MARIELLE SHINE aka MARIELLE EMILIA SHINE, deceased, of Chatham County, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before, the 19th day of June, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the Estate will please make immediate payment. This 19th day of March, 2026.

BRENDA SHINE, Executrix ESTATE OF MARIELLE SHINE aka MARIELLE EMILIA SHINE c/o Tillman, Whichard & Cagle, PLLC 501 Eastowne Drive, Suite 130 Chapel Hill, NC 27514

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS

CHATHAM COUNTY

HAVING QUALIFIED as Administrator of the Estate of Peggy Alice Cockman late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned on or before the 18th day of June, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. This the 10th day of March, 2026. Kimberly Rose Cockman, Administrator Of the Estate of Peggy Alice Cockman 1034 Stage Coach Road Siler City, North Carolina 27344 MOODY, WILLIAMS, ATWATER & LEE ATTORNEYS AT LAW BOX 629 SILER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27344 (919) 663-2850 4tp

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS

CHATHAM COUNTY

HAVING QUALIFIED as Executor

of their recovery.

This the 26th day of March, 2026. Ronald P. Collins, Executor Of the Estate of Patricia Collins Perry 117 West Raleigh Street Siler City, North Carolina 27344

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS

CHATHAM COUNTY HAVING QUALIFIED as Administrator of the Estate of

Patricia Ann Campbell a/k/a Ann Lindley Campbell a/k/a Anne Lindley Campbell late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned on or before the 18th day of June, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. This the 11th day of March, 2026. Casey Anne Campbell Administrator Of the Estate of Patricia Ann Campbell a/k/a Ann Lindley Campbell a/k/a Anne Lindley Campbell 255 Bob Clark Road Snow Camp, North Carolina 27349 MOODY, WILLIAMS, ATWATER & LEE

ATTORNEYS AT LAW BOX 629 SILER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27344 (919) 663-2850 4tp

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

COUNTY OF CHATHAM

PUBLIC NOTICE HEARING ON INTENT

TO PERMANENTLY CLOSE A PORTION OF NC HWY 902 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Chatham County Board of Commissioners has scheduled a public hearing to consider the closing of a portion of NC HWY 902. The public hearing has been scheduled for April 20, 2026, at 6:00 o’clock p.m. at the Superior Court Courtroom, Historic Chatham County Courthouse, Pittsboro, North Carolina at 9 Hillsboro Street, Pittsboro NC 27312. The hearing is being held pursuant to the provisions of NCGS §153A-241 and the Resolution of Intent to Permanently Close a portion of NC HWY 902 that was approved and adopted by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners on February 16, 2026 upon Petition led by Gavin Mekemson, Maura McKeon and Triple A Homes, Inc. (“Petitioner”). This the 16th day of February, 2026. Chatham County Board of Commissioners

ATTEST: Clerk to the Board Chatham County Board of Commissioners

Notice to Creditors

All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Anthony Michael Hayes, Deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina are noti ed to present their claims to the below-named Administrator on or before June 26, 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 26th day of March, 2026. Marsha L. Henthorn, Administrator c/o Thomas R. Crawford Attorney at Law Crawford Law Firm P.O. Box 300 Sylva, NC 28779-0300

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

26E000075-180

ALL persons having claims against Carol A. Moore, a/k/a Carol P. Moore, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before Jun 19 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This the 19th day of March, 2026. Leslie A. Argenta C/O Christopher S. Morden, Limited Personal Representative C/O Monroe, Wallace, Morden & Sherrill, PLLC 3225 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 117 Raleigh, NC 27612 M19, 26, 2 and 9

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

26E000128-180 ALL persons having claims against Linda Kay Betulius, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before Jun 26 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This the 26th day of March, 2026. Gregory Gary Duell, Executor C/O Huston Law Firm, PLLC 2501 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 M26, 2, 9 and 16

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#26E000168-180 The undersigned CARLA REIL, having quali ed on the 27TH Day of MARCH 2026 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of BARBARA FARRELL, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them on or before the 9TH Day OF JULY 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This, the 9TH DAY OF APRIL 2026.

CARLA REIL, EXECUTOR 1270 MARTHAS CHAPEL ROAD APEX, NC 27523 Run dates: A9,16,23,30p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#26E000181-180 The undersigned HELEN FAYE MARKHAM, having quali ed on the 1ST Day of APRIL 2026 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of PHILLIP LAWRENCE MARKHAM, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them on or before the 9TH Day OF JULY 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This, the 9TH DAY OF APRIL 2026.

HELEN FAYE MARKHAM, ADMINISTRATOR 4090 NC HWY.751 APEX, NC 27523 Run dates: A9,16,23,30p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#26E000040-180 The undersigned SARAH ELIZABETH WILSON, having quali ed on the 16TH Day of JANUARY 2026 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of CALVIN MARTIN WILSON deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them on or before the 19TH Day OF JUNE 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This, the 19TH DAY OF MARCH 2026.

SARAH ELIZABETH WILSON, ADMINISTRATOR 1764 GLOVERS CHURCH ROAD

BENNETT, NC 27208 Run dates: M19,26,A2,9p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#26E000130-180

The undersigned WALTER RICHARD O’CONNELL, JR., having quali ed on the 9TH Day of MARCH 2026 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of NANCY WRIGHT BEACH deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them on or before the 2ND Day OF JULY 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This, the 2ND DAY OF APRIL 2026. WALTER RICHARD O’CONNELL, JR., ADMINISTRATOR 740 PENINSULA FOREST PLACE CARY, NC 27519 Run dates: A2,9,16,23p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA

CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#26E000156-180

The undersigned TRACI B. NUNN, having quali ed on the 18TH Day of MARCH 2026 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of MARY H. BROWN deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them on or before the 26TH Day OF JUNE 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This, the 26TH DAY OF MARCH 2026. TRACI B. NUNN, ADMINISTRATOR 90 JOHNSON FARM ROAD NEW HILL, NC 27562 Run dates: M26,A2,9,16p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA

CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#26E000153-180

The undersigned JEANNE P. MAXWELL, having quali ed on the 17TH Day of MARCH 2026 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of MARGARET ANGELA GILSENAN deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them on or before the 26TH Day OF JUNE 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This, the 26TH DAY OF MARCH 2026.

JEANNE P. MAXWELL, EXECUTOR PO BOX 3052/27515

CHAPEL HILL, NC 27515

Run dates: M26,A2,9,16p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA

CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#26E000148-180

The undersigned PAMELA HOWARD SCHAECHER,

having quali ed on the 17TH Day of MARCH 2026 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of ROBERT FRANCIS

SCHAECHER deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them on or before the 26TH Day OF JUNE 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This, the 26TH DAY OF MARCH 2026.

PAMELA HOWARD SCHAECHER, EXECUTOR 4624 FORSYTH PITTSBORO, NC 27312 Run dates: M26,A2,9,16p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Personal Representative of the Estate of Gerald Stephen Koermer, deceased of Chatham County, North Carolina, on the 19th day of March, 2026, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said estate to exhibit them to the undersigned at the o ce of the attorney for the estate on or before the 28th day of June, 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 26th day of March 2026 Scott C. Koermer, Personal Representative, c/o Larry H. Rocamora, Attorney for the estate, McPherson, Rocamora, Nicholson & Hinkle, PLLC, 3211 Shannon Road, Suite 400, Durham, NC 27707. March 26, April 2, 9, 16 2026

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#26E000141-180 The undersigned JAMES TUCKER COWARD, having quali ed on the 12TH Day of MARCH 2026 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of JAMES THOMAS COWARD deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them on or before the 19TH Day OF JUNE 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This, the 19TH DAY OF MARCH 2026. JAMES TUCKER COWARD, ADMINISTRATOR 6448 BUFFALO FORD ROAD RAMSEUR, NC 27316 Run dates: M19,26,A2,9p

Resolution of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners

Declaring Property Surplus and Authorizing Sale of Said Property WHEREAS, Chatham County has identi ed property listed in the attached document Addendum A/ Catalog they no longer needed or used; and WHEREAS, by authority of N.C.G.S. 160A-270 (public auction) requires the Board of Commissioners to adopt a resolution authorizing an appropriate County o cial to dispose of the property at public; and WHEREAS, Chatham County has identi ed the property to be sold and has set a date starting on April 20, 2026, and ending on April 27, 2026; and WHEREAS, Chatham County had identi ed the property to be sold through a public auction to be held online; and WHEREAS, the surplus property is located at the surplus lot on Renaissance Drive, Pittsboro, NC 27312. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of the County of Chatham: Section 1: The property identi ed in the attached document listed as Addendum A/Catalog is declared surplus. Section 2: The Board of Commissioners agrees to dispose of the identi ed property in Addendum A/ Catalog at public auction from April 1, 2026, and ending on April 9, 2026. Adopted, this the 16th day of March 2026. Amanda Robertson, Chair Chatham County Board of Commissioners

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

TOWN OF PITTSBORO, NC On Monday, April 13, 2026 at 6:00 pm, the Pittsboro Board of Commissioners will hold the following eight public hearings in person at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center at 1192 Hwy 64 Business West, Pittsboro, NC: ZTA-2026-01. A legislative request by Town Sta to amend the De nitions found in the UDO Section 12.12. ZTA-2026-02. A legislative request by Town

Scandinavian cruise sparks realization about downsizing possessions

I’ve realized I will be content with an eighth of the stu I now own because this stu also owns me.

Surprising freedom found in smaller spaces

By Erika Ho man For Chatham News & Record

MY HUSBAND and I embarked on a Scandinavian cruise a few years ago. How young we felt when we scanned the dining room and witnessed fellow passengers clutching canes with a death grip or snuggled incognito in wheelchairs. Some faces we saw only at mealtimes and never on the excursions.

Many trips ashore were physically taxing. Inside the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, you walk miles and miles while elbowed right and left by hordes of tourists from other continents where it’s culturally acceptable to push one’s way through. It was a knock-down drag-out ght to glimpse a picture by Leonardo.

In Lithuania, we drove out to a national forest where the Soviets had hidden their missiles in silos. We descended into those now-vacated bunkers and stood on a grated oor gazing down the deep well of a silo that once hosted a missile aimed at a European country during the Cold War. This excursion wasn’t for the acrophobic, the claustrophobic or anyone in a wheelchair. Most eld trips were strenuous while highly educational.

Of the fascinating things I discovered from this cruise with ports-of-call such as Gdansk, Helsinki or Tallinn was something unexpected I discovered aboard the sailing yacht: My husband and I could make do in a tiny cabin.

What a revelation for me! We two live in a large, sprawling home lled with furniture. We have stu handed down from his parents, my parents, an uncle and grandparents. Messes collected by our four kids remain which they forgot to take with them when they ew the nest. I have accumulated souvenirs and bric-a-brac from everywhere we’ve ever been and delightful memorabilia from places we’ve not been to but that have been bequeathed to us.

On the ship, I liked eating in the dining room with meals prepared by cooks. I enjoyed the public areas where one could sit and chat or listen to a band or play a trivia game with other voyagers. I found it fun to mix with strangers and share their stories.

I didn’t miss my kitchen. I didn’t miss my car. I didn’t miss my disorganized study. I didn’t miss my wardrobe or possessions. I was content in our cubicle with a TV that didn’t work most days and Wi-Fi that was promised but never delivered. I was OK with limited space, fewer things and less privacy.

At home, I’m somewhat of a recluse and don’t seek out new people. I watch the same programs on television and shop at the same stores and socialize with the same people. Living on a ship was a change.

What I found remarkable is how easily we both adapted to this di erent lifestyle. True, if we downsize when we retire, we won’t have servants fetching our lunch or drinks like at sea. Nonetheless, I found I can be happy in a small room and reside among folks in large communal spaces.

This is good to know. I’m not planning to go to assisted living anytime soon, nor am I giving away our possessions, but I’ve realized I will be content with an eighth of the stu I now own because this stu also owns me.

When we returned from our adventure, my husband and I decided to give his mom’s dining room suite to one of our kids. Why have them wait until we downsize? Then we started going through our house and recognizing things we like but don’t need.

I picked up the phone and called my kids: What do you want and when can you pick it up? No need to wait for my demise.

I’ve determined I can be happy with fewer belongings. Many fewer. All a soul needs is decent food, a comfortable bed and cheerful fellowship. And a feeling of gratitude. Always that.

So, adios antiques! Farewell furniture! Auf Wiedersehen knickknacks! Au revoir unneeded clothing! Arrivederci Encyclopedia Britannica, Funk & Wagnalls and Compton’s. My new mantra? “Less is more.”

Cast o what anchors you to set sail for serenity.

NOTICE

Date

Description Record

Address

Deed

Dated:

any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. A cash deposit of 5% of the purchase price will be required at the time of the sale. Remote bidding will not be accepted pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes Section 45-21.25 (a). Credit bids on behalf of the Noteholder will be accepted. Any successful bidder shall be required to tender the full balance of the purchase price so bid in cash or certi ed check at the time the Substitute Trustee tenders to him a deed for the property or attempts to tender such deed, and should said successful bidder fail to pay the full balance purchase price so bid at that time, he shall remain liable on his bid as provided for in North Carolina General Statutes Section 45-21.30 (d) and (e). This sale will be held open ten (10) days for upset bids as required by law. Residential real property with less than 15 rental units, including single-family residential real property: an order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S.

in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the e ective date of the termination.

Dated: 2/10/2026 Philip A. Glass, Substitute Trustee Nodell, Glass & Haskell, L.L.P. Posted on 2/10/2026 Exhibit A ALL THAT CERTAIN LOT, PARCEL OF LAND OR CONDOMINIUM UNIT

SITUATED IN THE CITY OF CHAPEL HILL, CHATHAM COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEING ALL OF LOT 4, CHATHAM ONE SUBDIVISION, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT AND SURVEY THEREOF RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 31, PAGE 48, CHATHAM COUNTY REGISTRY. THIS BEING THE SAME PROPERTY CONVEYED TO SCOTT CARL KLEIST, DATED 07/29/2021 AND RECORDED ON 07/29/2021 IN BOOK 2234, PAGE 252, IN THE CHATHAM COUNTY RECORDERS OFFICE. Subject to easements, restrictions and rights of way of record, and utility lines and rights of way in existence over, under or upon the above-described property. PIN: 978600575613 Property Address: 134 Woodside Trail, Chapel Hill, NC 27517

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY Special Proceedings No. 25SP000217180

Substitute Trustee: Philip A. GlassNOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

Date of Sale: April 14, 2026 Time of Sale: 2:30 p.m. Place of Sale: Chatham County Courthouse Description of Property: See Attached Description Record Owners: LaShawn LaFranque Address of Property: 324 Arrowhead Loop Pittsboro, NC 27312 Deed of Trust: Book : 1577 Page: 280 Dated: August 8, 2011 Grantors: LaShawn LaFranque Original Bene ciary: State Employees’ Credit Union CONDITIONS OF SALE: This sale is made subject to all unpaid taxes and superior liens or encumbrances of record and assessments, if any, against the said property, and any recorded leases. This sale is also subject to any applicable county land transfer tax, and the successful third party bidder shall be required to make payment for

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

A public hearing will be held by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners on Monday, April 20, 2026, beginning at 6:00 p.m. The public hearing will be held in the courtroom of the Historic Courthouse in Pittsboro, North Carolina at 9 Hillsboro Street, Pittsboro NC 27312.

“This is an administrative decision,” said county attorney Emily Meeker. “There’s no room for policy choices, discretion. There are objective standards for rst plat, and if the applicant meets those standards, then the applicant is entitled to the subdivision. If the county doesn’t approve it, a court can order the county to do so.”

“The houses are as far away from the adjoining property owners in almost all cases as well,” Robinson said in response to some of the concerns.

“Our county values the land,” said Commissioner David Delaney. “I have rst-hand experience and dozens of neighbors who have experienced water problems from development that either wasn’t scrupulously planned out and updated in a methodical way or was just poorly done. So my encouragement is simply to ask the developer and the teams who are bringing us

(a). Credit bids on behalf of the Noteholder will be accepted. Any successful bidder shall be required to tender the full balance of the purchase price so bid in cash or certi ed check at the time the Substitute Trustee tenders to him a deed for the property or attempts to tender such deed, and should said successful bidder fail to pay the full balance purchase price so bid at that time, he shall remain liable on his bid as provided for in North Carolina General Statutes Section 45-21.30 (d) and (e). This sale will be held open ten (10) days for upset bids as required by law. Residential real property with less than 15 rental units, including single-family residential real property: an order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the e ective date of the termination.

Dated: 3/10/26

Philip A. Glass, Substitute Trustee Nodell, Glass & Haskell, L.L.P. Posted on 3/10/26 Exhibit A BEING ALL OF Lot 73, Bobcat Point Subdivision, containing 2.812 acres, more or less, and Lot 73A, containing 0.455 acres, more or less, as per plat and survey entitled “Survey for BOBCAT POINT SUBDIVISION PHASE III (Lots 60-74) and Revision of Lot 57 and Lot 59,” prepared by Van R. Finch - Land Surveys, P.A., recorded in Plat Slide 2001-442, Chatham County Registry, reference to which is hereby made for a more particular description. Subject to easements, restrictions and rights of way of record, and utility lines and rights of way in existence over, under or upon the above-described property. PIN: 972400040904 Property Address: 324 Arrowhead Loop, Pittsboro, NC 27312

homes — which we do need in the county for a lot of di erent reasons — to make sure they are scrupulously working with the planning team to meet the very high standards that the county has.”

The board also approved a variety of items recommended by the Climate Change Advisory Committee, including a joint letter to be sent to the North Carolina Utilities Commission regarding the Duke Energy carbon plan and integrated resource plan.

“Duke used to submit an integrated resource plan every so often just describing how they were planning on producing electricity into the future,” said Environment Quality Director Kevin Lindley. “Now, there was a state law passed several years ago that required all electricity in North Carolina to be carbon neutral by 2050.”

The main requests in the letter include a call for greater transparency of the load forecasting methodology, a re-

concerning

discrimination at the local level. If any citizen experiences discrimination in housing because of race, color, sex, religion, handicap, familial status, or national origin, they may contact the Town Manager at (919) 7268627. Complaints will be reviewed and forwarded to the North Carolina Human Relations Commission in Raleigh (Phone: 984-236-1919; or Relay North Carolina TTY#800/735-2962) for further review and conciliation. Complaints concerning discriminatory housing practices can also be forwarded directly to the North Carolina Human Relations Commission, 1318 Mail Service Center. Raleigh, NC 27699-1318 (mail) or 1711 New Hope Church Road, Raleigh, NC 27516 (physical address). This information is available in Spanish or any other language upon request. Please contact Jack Meadows, Town Manager, at (919) 726-8627, or at the Siler City Town Manager’s O ce, 311 N. Second Avenue, Room 302, Siler City, NC for accommodations for this request. Esta información está disponible en Español o en cualquier otro idioma bajo petición. Por favor, póngase en contacto con Jack Meadows, Town Manager, al (919) 726-8627, o en Siler City Town Manager’s O ce, 311 N. Second Avenue, Room 302, Siler City, NC de alojamiento

quest for a reliable and resilient energy system, encourage creation of viable, cost-e ective clean energy procurement pathway, direct to fully value energy e ciency and protect existing ratepayers from disproportionate cost burdens associated with new large loads.

The letter is signed by multiple governments throughout North Carolina.

The board also approved a request for proposals for services necessary to develop a climate action plan for Chatham County.

“We have a lot of knowledgeable sta , but we really don’t have sta that can put this plan together in a timely manner,” Lindley said.

Finally, the board approved a resolution calling for the acceleration of North Carolina’s transition to a ordable, resilient and carbon-free energy and for the resolution to be sent to Gov. Josh Stein.

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners will next meet April 20.

CHATHAM SPORTS

addresses his team after a loss to Eastern Randolph on April 2.

Bears’ bats struggle in 8-1 loss to Eastern Randolph

Chatham Central logged one hit

By Asheebo Rojas

Chatham News & Record

RAMSEUR — Chatham

Central’s bats went cold in an 8-1 nonconference loss to Eastern Randolph on April 2.

Eastern Randolph junior

Cade McCallum pitched a one-hitter in ve innings, allowing the Bears’ only hit of the game on his nal pitch in the top of the sixth inning.

“We knew that regardless of what they had, we would see a quality arm tonight,” Chatham Central coach Brett Walden said. “And we did. I thought we had competitive at-bats, but we didn’t get a lot of guys on base.”

Junior Chance Holdaway led the Wildcats at the plate, going 2 for 2 with two runs. Sophomore Maddox Dunn went 1 for 2 with two runs and an RBI. Eastern Randolph scored four runs on Chatham Central’s passed balls.

“We had a couple errors that extended innings that were problematic for us,” Walden said.

GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Ben Porter (51) gets ready to snap the ball in a 2024 matchup against Jordan-Matthews.

Porter commits to Mercer

The senior becomes next in line of Division I Northwood specialists

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News

&

Record

NORTHWOOD IS sending another specialist to Division I football. Senior long snapper Ben Porter announced his commitment to Mercer on March 30. Porter, who will join the Bears this fall, is set to become the third Division I specialist out of the program since 2020,

“I’ve got the potential to start as a true freshman.”

Ben Porter

following kicker Aidan Laros, who played at Charlotte, UT Martin and Kentucky, and Jake Mann, who played at Oklahoma, App State and NC State.

“It’s de nitely great,” Porter said. “It’s been a long time coming. I de nitely took longer than I’d hoped. I had a cou-

ple other schools I had o ers from, but after I got down to Mercer a couple of weeks ago, I just knew it was the right t for me.” Porter chose Mercer over other o ers from Towson, Richmond, Memphis and Jacksonville State. Mercer hired former West Georgia coach Joel Taylor to lead the program in December. Brandon Taylor coaches the special teams.

“Great academics, great campus,” Porter said about

See PORTER, page B5

“We knew that regardless of what they had, we would see a quality arm tonight.”

The top of the Wildcats’ lineup set the tone with three straight hits in the bottom of the rst inning. After a single from senior Bryson Marley and a double from McCallum, Dunn batted in the game’s rst run with a double to center eld.

In the next at-bat, Chatham Central’s rst defensive mis-

cue of the night, a passed ball, allowed Dunn to reach third. A dropped third strike shortly after led to Dunn giv ing the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.

Brett Walden 6

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record Baseball

Northwood made a trip out east and fell to North Brunswick 5-2 on March 30, snapping its four-game win streak. The Chargers led 2-0 until North Brunswick scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Northwood nished the night with three hits and was held scoreless in the nal four innings.

The Chargers bounced back the next day with a 5-1 win over West Brunswick. Junior Finn Sullivan and senior Owen Zsuppan combined to allow zero earned runs and three hits on the mound. Sophomore Riley D’Angelo went 2 for 2 with a run and an RBI, notching a double in the top of the third inning.

Chatham Charter’s six-game win streak ended with a 5-3 loss to Southwestern Randolph on April 1. The Knights held a 3-0 lead until the Cougars scored all ve runs in the bottom of the fth inning with the help of a three-run homer from senior Lane Pool. Garrison Clark batted in the only run Chatham Charter needed to beat East Wake 1-0 Friday. Clark was also stellar on

Junior Carlos Cordero extended Eastern Randolph’s lead to three runs in the second inning with an RBI single, sending sophomore Miles Cox home. Another passed ball and an error on the Bears’ attempt to retire Dunn in a pickle led to two more Eastern Randolph runs in the fourth inning.

Eastern Randolph scored its nal two runs in a similar fashion in the fth inning. Cox reached home on a passed ball

Game winning streak for Chatham Charter snapped by Southwestern Randolph

the mound, striking out 10 batters and allowing three hits in ve innings.

Conference standings as of Sunday (overall, conference) Central Tar Heel 1A: T1. Chatham Charter (10-3, 4-0); T1. Clover Garden (6-6, 2-0); 3. River Mill (6-5, 2-2); T4. Central Carolina (0-4, 0-2); T4. Southern Wake (0-6, 0-4) Greater Triad 1A/2A: 1. South Stokes (10-4, 7-1); 2. Bishop McGuinness (9-6, 5-3); 3. Chatham Central (5-6, 4-4); 4. North Stokes (3-10, 3-4); 5. South Davidson (5-10, 0-7) Four Rivers 3A/4A: 1. Northwood (9-5, 5-1); T2. Uwharrie Charter (11-3, 4-2); T2. Southwestern Randolph (9-3, 4-2); 4. Eastern Randolph (6-9, 3-3); T5. North Moore (4 -7, 1-5); T5. Jordan-Matthews (3-9, 1-5)

page

Garrison Clark

Chatham Charter, baseball

Chatham Charter’s Garrison Clark earns athlete of the week honors for the week of March 30.

In the Knights’ 1-0 win over East Wake on Friday, Clark knocked home Bryson Green for the only run of the game with a single in the top of the rst inning.

To keep East Wake at bay, Clark struck out 10 batters while giving up zero earned runs and three hits in ve innings on the mound.

As of Sunday, Clark has built a 5-0 record as a pitcher, and he has yet to give up an earned run. At the plate, Clark leads the Knights with 16 hits, and he holds a .444 batting average (second on the team).

College check-in: Spring 2026

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

BASEBALL

Aidan Allred (William Peace University, Chatham Charter)

Sophomore Aidan Allred has logged a .247 batting average, 19 hits, 12 runs and nine RBIs in 21 starts. The former Chatham Charter standout most recently went 2 for 3 in Saturday’s loss to Mary Baldwin. His best game of the season so far was a 3-for- 4, three-run, three-RBI performance in a win over Rhode Island College on March 7.

Zach Cartrette (Guilford Tech, Chatham Charter)

Freshman Zach Cartrette has made 10 appearances on the mound this season, including eight starts. He’s recorded 23 strikeouts, a 1.96 WHIP, a 9.72 ERA and a 1-4 record. His best performance came in a win over Robeson CC on Feb. 8 in which he struck out a season-high eight batters and allowed two earned runs in ve innings.

Jackson Shaner (Guilford, Northwood)

Junior Jackson Shaner is seeing the eld a lot more than his rst two seasons, playing in a career-best 12 games, including his rst collegiate start Feb. 24. He notched his rst double of the season (second hit of the year) and went 1 for 1 at the plate in a loss to Shenandoah on Saturday. Shaner is batting .333 with six at-bats on the year.

SOFTBALL

Caleigh Warf (North Carolina Wesleyan, Chatham Central)

Freshman Caleigh Warf has made 15 starts and is batting .275 with 11 hits, 13 runs and four RBIs this season. Warf contributed to a win at Southern Virginia Saturday, going 1 for 3 with a run. Her best game was a 3-for-4, one-run, two-RBI night in a loss at Averett on March 13.

Logan Gunter (Furman, Jordan-Matthews)

Sophomore Logan Gunter has made six starts in her season back from injury, logging a .316 batting average, six hits and two runs. In a win over UNC Greensboro on Saturday, the former Jordan-Matthews

standout went 1 for 2, smash-

ing a double as her only hit.

Jaylee Williams (Maryland, Chatham Central)

Junior Jaylee Williams has played in 22 games and made ve starts in her rst season at Maryland. Over the weekend, Williams had a solid series against Penn State as she went 2 for 3 with a season-high two RBIs in Friday’s loss, and she went 1 for 3, including a triple, in Saturday’s loss. The former Chatham Central Bear had arguably her best showing against George Washington on March 18, going 2 for 2 with a run. This season, Williams has recorded a .261 batting average with six hits and six runs.

Delana Lo in (Blue eld University, Chatham Charter)

Sophomore Delana Lo in has made 32 starts and has improved on her freshman season, recording career highs in batting average (.252), hits (26), doubles (four), slugging percentage (.291) and on-base percentage (.282). Lo in leads her team with nine stolen bases. She went 2 for 3 with a run in a win over Spartanburg Methodist on Friday.

TRACK AND FIELD

Lucas Smith (UNC Wilmington, Chatham Charter)

Sophomore Lucas Smith set a new personal best in the men’s 200, clocking in at 21.68 seconds at the UNCW Seahawk Invitational in March.

Will Cuicchi (Charlotte, Seaforth)

Freshman Will Cuicchi opened his outdoor career with a time of 3:59.19 in the men’s

1,500 at the Charlotte 49er Classic in March. He placed fth in the USC Invite men’s 800 with a time of 1:53.09 in February.

Sebastian Calderon (Campbell, Seaforth)

Freshman Sebastian Calderon started his outdoor season with a time of 11.38 in the Charlotte 49er Classic men’s 100 and a time of 51.24 in the Bill Carson Invitational 400 (10th place).

Juana Silva Jimenez (Meredith College, Seaforth)

Freshman Juana Silva Jimenez clocked her best women’s collegiate 3,000 (indoor or outdoor) at the Phoenix Invitational in March, nishing with a time of 10:53.45. She also ran a personal best in the 1,500 with a time of 5:04.11 at the Trojan Challenge on March 28 (fourth place).

Anna Peeler (Catawba College, Woods Charter)

Freshman Anna Peeler ran her best collegiate mile (indoor and outdoor) at the Davidson Relays in March, clocking in at 5:20.12. She’s also run a 2:29.65 800 and a 4:50.99 1,500 this outdoor season.

Rachael Woods (NC Central, Jordan-Matthews)

Freshman Rachael Woods set an indoor women’s long jump personal best of 15 feet, 8.5 inches at the Dick Taylor Carolina Challenge in January.

Jack Anstrom (NC State, Seaforth)

Freshman Jack Anstrom nished fourth in the Liberty Open mile run with a time of 4:08.59 during the indoor season in January.

Powell dunks against the Sacramento Kings.

Big Seven 4A/5A: T1. South Granville (10-3, 6-0); T1. Cedar Ridge (9-4, 4-0); 3. Seaforth (9-4, 4-2); 4. Orange (8-6, 2-2); T5. Durham School of the Arts (3-7, 0-4); T5. Webb (2-9, 0-2); T5. Carrboro (2-10, 0-6)

Power Rankings (week of March 30): 1. Seaforth; 2. Chatham Charter; 3. Northwood; 4. Chatham Central; 5. Jordan-Matthews Softball

Conference standings as of Sunday (overall, conference)

Central Tar Heel

1A: 1. Clover Garden (14-0, 8-0); 2. Chatham Charter (6-5, 4-2); 3. River Mill (6-5, 5-3); 4. Central Carolina (1-10, 1-7); 5. Ascend Leadership (0-8, 0-6) Greater Triad 1A/2A: 1.

South Stokes (8-4, 6-1); 2. Chatham Central (10-3, 4-1); 3. North Stokes (5-7, 1-3); 4. South Davidson (4-10, 0-6) Four Rivers 3A/4A: T1. Southwestern Randolph (9-3, 5-1); T1. Northwood (9-3, 5-1); T3. Uwharrie Charter (4-8, 3-3); T3. Jordan-Matthews (8-3, 3-3); 5. North Moore (4-9, 1-5); 6. Eastern Randolph (2-10, 1-5) Big Seven 4A/5A: 1. Seaforth (9-0, 5-0); T2. Cedar Ridge (8-3, 4-1); T2. Orange (4-6, 4-1); 4. South Granville (5-6, 3-3); 5. Webb (9-3, 2-3); 6. Carrboro (2-9, 1-4); 7. Durham School of the Arts (0-11, 0-7)

Track and eld

Chatham Charter junior Torris Price nished second in the boys’ 1,600 at the App State High School Meet on Saturday, clocking in with a time of 4 minutes, 28.93 seconds.

Powell’s scoring rises in March

The former Northwood star logged ve double-digit performances last month

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

THE BEST OF former Northwood star Drake Powell’s rookie NBA season came in March.

In 11 starts last month, the Nets’ wing averaged a season-best eight points while shooting 34.8% from 3, which was his best monthly 3-point shooting split since December (35%). Powell logged a monthly season-high of ve games in double-digit scoring, notching more performances of at least 10 points than he did in his 15 games in January. The pinnacle of Powell’s March came in a 116-99 win over Sacramento on March 29. Powell matched his career high of 16 points while shooting 6 for 8 from the oor (4 for 6 from 3) to

6.5

Points per game for Powell in his rookie season

help Brooklyn snap its 10-game losing streak.

“Just trusting my work,” Powell said following the win over the Kings. “Obviously, just trusting my teammates as well. They made some great passes. And then, just trusting my coaches too.”

With Nets’ veterans Day’Ron Sharpe and Michael Porter Jr. out for the season and Terance Mann dealing with a lingering lower-body injury, Powell has seen an increase in opportunity. He averaged 25.6 minutes in March, the most of any month this season. He also averaged a season-high of 7.2 shot attempts per game. Rookies Egor Demin and Danny Wolf were also shut

down for the year, which may create more chances for Powell to develop his game in the last month of the season.

Overall, Powell’s rookie campaign has been up and down, especially as a shooter. He’s still looking to become a more consistent o ensive weapon, but that part of his game has shown signs of improvement as of late. A 13-point performance in the Nets’ win over Washington Sunday marked Powell’s fourth double-digit scoring output in his last six games.

“I think he’s done a good job,” Nets coach Jordi Fernández said after the win over the Kings. “He always tries to do everything we ask him to do. Obviously, there’s struggles, there’s positives today. It was a little bit of up and down again but ended up being very positive. The shot went in, which is ne. And then at one point, he was more physical and aggressive defensively, and I want that physicality to be sustained for whatever minutes he plays.”

Swing, Splash & Socialize

Whether you’re learning the game, mastering your doubles strategy, racing down the water slide, or soaking up the sun, there’s something here for everyone. Perfect for beginners and seasoned players alike—for movers and relaxers. But don’t just take our word for it—come see for yourself!

2 Membership Levels Now Available— Full & Pickleball-Only!

Memberships are available to Chatham Park residents and non-residents.

SIDELINE REPORT

NHL

Islanders re coach Roy after losing 4 straight, name DeBoer as replacement

New York Patrick Roy was red Sunday as coach of the New York Islanders. First-year general manager Mathieu Darche announced the decision after the team lost four in a row and seven of its past 10 games. The Islanders were comfortably in a playo spot until their late-season tailspin put their chances in danger with four games left to play. Peter DeBoer was named as Roy’s replacement and not just on an interim basis. He has taken two teams to the Stanley Cup nal and most recently coached the Dallas Stars.

NBA Rivers, Few, Parker set for Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement

Phoenix Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw and the 1996 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team will be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The class was unveiled at halftime of the UConn-South Carolina game during the women’s Final Four. Also included were Amar’e Stoudemire and Mike D’Antoni. They will be joined by longtime NBA o cial Joey Crawford, NBA coach Doc Rivers and Gonzaga coach Mark Few. The enshrinement ceremony will take place in August at the Hall of Fame in Spring eld, Massachusetts.

NFL Rams’ Nacua went to rehab before being sued for assault, battery by woman

Los Angeles Los Angeles Rams All-Pro wide receiver Puka Nacua was in rehab before he was sued for assault and battery by a woman who says he made an antisemitic statement and bit her on the shoulder. Nacua issued an apology last December after performing a gesture that plays upon antisemitic tropes while appearing on an internet livestream. Nacua has been one of the most productive receivers in NFL history over his rst three seasons with the Rams, who drafted him in the fth round out of BYU in 2023.

NBA Mavs rookie Flagg

scores 51 points, becomes rst teen to reach 50 in NBA game

Dallas Cooper Flagg scored 51 points last Friday to become the rst teenager to reach the 50-point mark in an NBA game. The rookie No. 1 pick of the Dallas Mavericks scored 24 points in the fourth quarter of a 138-127 loss to the Orlando Magic. Flagg’s fourth-quarter urry came after coach Jason Kidd and teammate Naji Marshall were ejected over what they thought was a no - call when Flagg was fouled by Desmond Bane. Flagg’s previous career high was 49.

Pioneering female NFL o cial sues league over her treatment, ring

Robin DeLorenzo is one of three women to o ciate in the NFL

By Larry Neumeister

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — In a new lawsuit, one of the rst three women to o ciate an NFL game describes her three years at the pinnacle of her profession as a descent into the grip of a sexist institution unable to treat a woman as an equal.

Robin DeLorenzo cited gender-based scrutiny, humiliation and open hostility among the indignities she su ered from 2022 to 2025 as a league o cial.

The lawsuit in Manhattan federal court, led last Friday, sought reinstatement along with unspeci ed damages.

Brian McCarthy, an NFL spokesperson, said in an email that DeLorenzo was terminated after three seasons of documented underperformance.

“The allegations in this lawsuit are baseless, and we will vigorously defend against them in court,” he said.

A message seeking comment from the NFL Referees Association was not immediately returned.

In a 2023 interview with NFL.com, DeLorenzo described her thrill at progressing at her father’s urging through the ranks of o ciating at the high school and college levels until the NFL’s senior vice president of o ciating allowed her father to deliver the news to her that she had been promoted to the NFL.

“Once he gave me the news, my dad and I just stared at each other crying for about ve minutes,” she told NFL. com. “It was the most magical night.”

The lawsuit, though, suggested that the magic quickly ended when the longtime New Jersey resident reported for duty after being sent man-sized clothing to wear and being told to let her ponytail show out the hole in the back of her hat, apparent-

“Once he gave me the news, my dad and I just stared at each other crying for about ve minutes. It was the most magical night.”

Robin DeLorenzo on getting promoted to the NFL

ly to make clear a woman was on the eld. It said repeated references to her hair eventually made her want to cut it o . The lawsuit asserted that an NFL o cials’ crew chief told then-Pittsburgh Steelers’ Coach Mike Tomlin one day during training camp that she should be made to sing in front of everyone, like rookie football players, because she was a new o cial.

As a result, she said, she “put on an utterly humiliating singing performance” in front of the Steelers’ players, all the men on her o ciating crew and her boss, who she said had promised not to record her but did so anyway, according to the lawsuit.

In the following weeks, she was repeatedly shamed, harassed and subjected to profanity-laced trash talk by her crew chief, a man who had recently been accused of mistreating another female employee, the lawsuit said. By the end of the season, the crew chief would not even speak to her, it added. In 2024, DeLorenzo was forced to attend “an alleged training opportunity,” over her union’s objection, that catered to lower-level college o cials learning the trade — something no male o cial had ever been required to do, the lawsuit said.

“It was a male power play that served its purpose of humiliating plainti , shatter-

ing her con dence, and signi cantly hindering her NFL career,” the lawsuit said.

DeLorenzo was red on Feb. 18, 2025.

“She worked her way through two decades of o ciating — breaking barriers, making history, and outperforming expectations at every level — only to be met with hostility, retaliation, and systemic inequality the moment she stepped into a league that claims to champion opportunities for women,” the lawsuit said.

“Instead of supporting one of the only women on its ociating sta , the NFL exposed her to unchecked harassment, denied her the resources given to men, manipulated her training and grading opportunities, and ultimately ended her career based on tainted evaluations created by the very people who discriminated against her,” it said.

The lawsuit said the harm to her career was irreversible and the emotional and reputational damage was immense.

US players on World Cup roster bubble have soccer’s ultimate Fear Of Missing Out

There are 26 spots available and 12 players who are locks for the roster

By Ronald Blum The Associated Press

ATLANTA — Now comes the wait, soccer’s ultimate FOMO.

American players across the United States and Europe will count down the eight weeks until coach Mauricio Pochettino picks his 26 World Cup players. Those bypassed won’t get a phone call.

“It’s going to be painful,” Pochettino said. “In that process, always you create links, no, emotional links, but it’s going to be di cult to pick 26 from 35, 40 players.”

Twenty-four players were used during the 5-2 loss to Belgium and 2-0 defeat to Portugal in the last two friendlies before Pochettino announces his roster on May 26 at an event in New York. A total of 38 players have appeared in the last eight matches dating to September.

Twelve players appear to be locks if healthy: goalkeepers Matt Freese and Matt Turner; right back Sergiño Dest; central defenders Tim Ream and Chris Richards; left back Antonee Robinson; mid elders Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman; attackers Christian Pulisic and Timothy Weah; and forward Folarin Balogun. About two dozen others are possible: goalkeepers Chris Brady, Patrick Schulte and

week.

Jonathan Klinsmann; central defenders Mark McKenzie, Miles Robinson and Auston Trusty; outside backs Max Arfsten, Alex Freeman, Joe Scally and John Tolkin; mid elders Brenden Aaronson, Sebastian Berhalter, Johnny Cardoso, Diego Luna, Jack McGlynn, Aiden Morris, Gio Reyna, Cristian Roldan and Tanner Tessmann; and forwards Patrick Agyemang, Ricardo Pepi, Haji Wright and Alejandro Zendejas.

Players will be concentrating on their club careers and as May 26 approaches will try not to dwell on their World Cup chances.

“Hopefully that time when with Celtic we’re playing (the Scottish) Cup nal. That’s the only thing I’ll be focusing on,” defender Trusty said.

Failure to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup and pro-visiting team crowds in the U.S.

amped up anxiety among fans and the former-player pundit class throughout the summer, but ending the year with a ve-game unbeaten streak boosted belief.

This month’s losses sent skepticism soaring.

“I think we’re heading in the right direction. I think obviously it’s hard to say that we’re where we want to be with results like this, but I think that we take a lot of positives away from the games that we played,” McKennie said. “We see that we can keep up. I think we just need to gure out how to be able to stay in the game if we don’t nish chances that we have early on.”

Pulisic hasn’t scored in a career-high eight straight national team games and also is scoreless in 12 matches for AC Milan since Dec. 28.

“He just needs one to go in, get back on that wave,” U.S.

career scoring co-leader Clint Dempsey said. “Everybody goes through a little bit of a slump.”

Pochettino cautioned that U.S. players are not as good as some American fans think they are, pointing to the latest results.

“We are USA and we are competing against Belgium, Portugal,” he said. “I think for sure Belgium and Portugal have in the top 100 players few or some players playing in that top 100. I think we don’t have.” Portugal coach Roberto Martínez cautioned not to overanalyze the friendlies.

“I’ve been 10 years now in international football, and what you learn is that you should never assess teams in March,” he said. “The mindset is the players are some of them to try to be in the squad, others just not to get injured because they got important games with the clubs. I think what I’ve seen with the United States is a very well-worked teams.”

Pochettino pointed out his World Cup roster will have three weeks of training ahead of the Americans’ World Cup opener against Australia on June 12 and can work out issues such as getting caught up eld by counters and leaving opponents unmarked on corner kicks.

“I am more positive now than before because, seeing the team compete, we are not far away,” he said. “Is only details that we need to improve. When we match the opponent in the areas that we need to match, of course we are going to have the possibility to beat them.”

AP national player of the year Boozer recovering physically, emotionally following UConn loss

The Duke freshman is recovering from fractures around his eye socket

By Aaron Beard The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — Duke star freshman and top NBA prospect Cameron Boozer is still healing, both emotionally after the Blue Devils’ devastating March Madness loss to UConn and physically after su ering a facial injury in that game.

The 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward said Sunday he sustained “a couple of fractures” during the Blue Devils’ loss in the Elite Eight.

Boozer, who last Friday became only the fth freshman named as The Associated Press men’s national player of the year, was hurt in the rst half last Sunday when he went up for a shot against 7-foot-1 center Eric Reibe. Reibe’s left elbow struck Boozer near his right eye as Reibe contested the shot, leading to signi cant swelling around and under the eye.

The swelling around his right eye was down Sunday, though the white part was still bright red. Boozer said he opted against having surgery in favor of giving it time to heal.

“I have a couple of fractures, but I’m all good,” Boozer said during Sunday’s award presentation for winning the AP national honor, along with another from the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. “Just going through the healing process.”

BASEBALL from page B1

during Holdaway’s at-bat, allowing freshman Levi Stalker, who stole second base, to reach third. Stalker then scored on a passed ball in Marley’s at-bat, and a elding error on Marley’s ground ball sent Holdaway home for an 8-0 advantage.

Chatham Central avoided the no-hitter with a sin-

PORTER from page B1

Mercer. “Obviously, one of the best FCS teams every year.”

Said Porter, “Coach Taylor, the special teams coach, and head coach Coach Taylor just made me seem like I was a priority, and it de nitely felt like the right t for me. And the possibility of contributing really early. I’ve got the potential to start as a true freshman, so that’d be awesome.”

Porter said it’s also “awesome” to play for a successful program

Boozer fought through the injury the rest of the way and nished with 27 points, including a tough spinning basket into the paint against tra c with Duke leading by just one in thenal minute. It was one of multiple examples this season of

gle from junior Reid Caviness in the sixth inning. Prior to that hit, junior Brett Phillips reached rst after the Wildcats dropped his y ball. Senior Westley Brower batted Phillips home to avoid a shut out with a ground ball. With the win, Eastern Randolph snapped a two-game skid and improved to 6-9.

Chatham Central fell to 5-6,

like Mercer, which won the last two SoCon titles and reached the FCS playo s the last three seasons.

“It’s just great to be able to join a championship contender team every single year,” Porter said.

Becoming a long snapper didn’t become a possibility until Porter’s freshman year. After beginning his football journey in middle school, Porter realized that he wouldn’t have the best chance of playing in college as a lineman at his size.

So in Porter’s rst year of high

Boozer playing through bumps, blows and hard fouls, such as a late-season win at NC State in which Boozer had gnarly long scratches near his right shoulder after being gouged by a Wolfpack defender. The Huskies went on to win

moving to 3-3 in its last six games.

The Bears are on pace to pass last year’s win total of eight, and they sit at 17th in the 1A RPI standings as of Sunday.

After the two-game series with North Moore, Chatham Central will have seven regular season games left.

The Bears will get four conference rematches against South

school, former Northwood assistant coach Fred Dale gave him a chance to handle arguably the most important job on special teams.

“He kind of just threw me in there,” Porter said. “And then, I gured, ‘Oh, if I can get good at this, I could turn it into a career.’ Especially since a couple of years ago, we had Jake Mann, the long snapper who went to Oklahoma. So just trying to follow in his footsteps.”

Porter recalled not being able to throw the ball 10 yards or

on Braylon Mullins’ last-second 3-pointer to complete a stunning comeback from 19 down. Boozer’s twin brother, Cayden, received torrents of online abuse after committing Duke’s last turnover before Mullins’ winner.

Stokes, South Davidson, Bishop McGuinness and North Stokes alongside a two-game series with Southern Wake and a tough nonconference matchup with Southeast Alamance. Considering the Bears are o to a better start than last season, Walden believes his team has the pieces to improve their play down the stretch, but they just have to do it.

in a spiral when he rst started. Becoming a Division I-level specialist was a “process” that included training with a Georgia snapping coach, who also trained other high-level specialists, and a few lessons with Mann when he was at NC State.

All the work showed up on the eld at Northwood.

Porter and senior kicker Leo Mortimer led a special teams unit that came up huge for the Chargers. The two combined for 21 kicking points, including 12 PATs and three eld goals. Por-

“Just going through the healing process.”

Cameron Boozer

Cameron pointed out that “that one play isn’t the reason we lost.”

“There’s not really that much I can say to make him feel better,” Boozer said. “We’re all hurting as a team, but we’re going to get through it together. We’re a super-connected group.

“It’s de nitely a hard moment. But he’s a tough guy. We’re all tough, it’s going to make us so much better going forward. It’s something you’ve got to take on the chin and learn and grow from.”

UConn went on to beat Illinois in Saturday’s national semi nal but lost 69-63 in Monday’s national championship game to Michigan. Duke, the NCAA Tournament’s No. 1 overall seed, was one of three teams to beat Michigan all year.

Boozer’s award presentation came on the same stage where UConn and Michigan were holding news conferences ahead of playing Monday for the national title.

“It’s a lot of emotions going into it,” Boozer said of being at Lucas Oil Stadium. “But yeah, it’s de nitely tough being here for sure.”

“I think the biggest thing is if we pitch it better, throw more strikes,” Walden said. “Strike percentage as a team I think is around 58, 59%. We shoot for 65% as a team. If we’re around 65% strike percentage, we are usually in the game and usually win it. O ensively, got to score more than one run. You’re not going to beat anybody scoring one run.”

ter also helped facilitate four PATs and a eld goal for Campbell Parks in the win by Northwood as Parks lled in for an injured Mortimer.

“I know it de nitely helps in recruiting when you have some time to run down the eld on a good punt,” Porter said. “So we de nitely loved having (Mortimer) and just being able to make like 48-, 45-yard eld goals consistently.”

On top of football, Porter plans on studying business logistics at Mercer.

this week in history

Lee surrenders at Appomattox, Johnson signs Civil Rights Act, Titanic sinks

The Associated Press

APRIL 9

1865: Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia, e ectively ending the Civil War. Remaining Confederate forces elsewhere surrendered by early June.

1939: After being barred from Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution, singer Marian Anderson performed before a large crowd at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

1940: Germany invaded Denmark and Norway during World War II.

APRIL 10

1866: Henry Bergh founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in New York.

1912: The British liner RMS Titanic departed Southampton, England, on its ill-fated maiden voyage to New York.

1919: Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata was assassinated by forces loyal to President Venustiano Carranza.

APRIL 11

1814: Napoleon Bonaparte abdicated as emperor of France and was exiled to the island of Elba. (He would brie y return to power in 1815 before his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo.)

1951: President Harry S.

AP PHOTO

Sidney Poitier poses with his Oscar for best actor for “Lilies of the Field” at the 36th Academy Awards in Santa Monica, California, on April 13, 1964. Poitier became the rst black actor to win the Academy Award for best actor.

Truman dismissed Gen. Douglas MacArthur from command of U.S. forces in the Korean War after the general publicly challenged administration policy.

1968: President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968, including the Fair Housing Act and Indian Civil Rights Act, one week after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

APRIL 12

1861: The Civil War began when Confederate forces opened re on Fort Sumter in South Carolina.

1954: Bill Haley and His Comets recorded “Rock Around the Clock,” later propelled into the mainstream by the 1955 lm “The Blackboard Jungle.”

1955: The Jonas Salk polio

vaccine was declared safe and e ective after nearly a year of trials involving about 1.8 million U.S. children known as “polio pioneers.”

APRIL 13

1743: Thomas Je erson, the third president of the United States, was born in Shadwell in the Virginia Colony.

1964: Sidney Poitier became the rst black actor to win the Academy Award for best actor for his role in Lilies of the Field.

1997: Tiger Woods, 21, became the youngest golfer to win the Masters in Augusta, Georgia, nishing a record 12 strokes ahead of Tom Kite.

APRIL 14

1828: The rst edition of Noah Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language was published.

1865: President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth during a performance of “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. Lincoln died the following morning.

APRIL 15

1912: The British liner RMS Titanic struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic and began sinking; more than 1,500 people died while about 710 survived.

1947: Jackie Robinson made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field, becoming the rst black player of the modern major leagues.

1955: Ray Kroc opened the rst franchised McDonald’s restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois.

On April 15, 1912, the British luxury liner RMS Titanic sank in the North Atlantic o Newfoundland after striking an iceberg on its maiden voyage. More than 1,500 people died while about 710 survived.

Ye attempts comeback with sold-out LA-area concert, support from Hill

He closed last Friday night’s show with his hit “Runaway”

By Ryan Pearson The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — The art-

ist formerly and possibly again known as Kanye West reveled in support from one of his musical idols, Lauryn Hill, as he staged a sold-out Southern California concert meant to mark a comeback from years of controversy.

Eleven months after releasing a song titled “Heil Hitler” and just over two months after publishing an apology letter for his antisemitism, Ye let two decades of hits — and 70,000 screaming loyal fans — speak the loudest last Friday night at SoFi Stadium.

“I want to thank y’all for sticking by me all these years. Through the hard times, through the low times,” he told the crowd. “I love you for that.” Hill joined Ye on a stage for the rst time for an energetic rendition of his 2004 hit “All Falls Down,” which original-

ly sampled her voice. Ye left the stage as she performed “Lost Ones” and “Doo Wop (That Thing)” before rejoining for his 2021 “Doo Wop”-sampling song “Believe What I Say.” They hugged as she exited.

Travis Scott, CeeLo Green and Ye’s tween daughter North West also strapped on safety harnesses to join Ye high above the stadium oor atop a striking half-orb stage, which alternately depicted a moon, a rotating Earth and a smoking sphere throughout the two hours-plus livestreamed performance.

A loud singalong of “Heartless” midway through the more than 40-song Good Friday show seemed to boost Ye’s spirits: “That’s what 80,000 people sound like, ladies and gentlemen. … They said I’d never be back in the States. Two sold- out concerts, baby!”

The rst SoFi show last Wednesday, his rst major U.S. performance in nearly ve years, turned out to be more of a warm-up as Ye was tentative in his rapping and drew attention to technical mishaps.

Fans at that show said they

NH governor’s detail rescues

‘Bob’s

Burgers’ actor Eugene Mirman from ery crash

Gov. Kelly Ayotte herself secured a re extinguisher to assist

The Associated Press

BEDFORD, N.H. — “Bob’s Burgers” voice actor and comedian Eugene Mirman su ered serious injuries after crashing his car into a toll plaza and being pulled from the ery wreckage by a state trooper assigned to protect the governor of New Hampshire.

The crash happened just before noon last Tuesday when a northbound electric vehicle struck the Bedford Toll Plaza and caught re, New Hampshire State Police said. Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte and her security detail came upon the crash soon after, and a trooper and two others pulled Mirman from the burning car through a window, said State Police Col. Mark Hall. The governor, who left her vehicle and retrieved a re extinguisher, was not in any danger, he said.

“Eugene was in a very scary

“Without hesitation, they put themselves in danger to render aid to someone who was in need of it.”

N.H. State Police Col. Mark Hall

car accident,” Mirman’s agent Jay Glassner con rmed in a statement last Wednesday. “He wants to thank the bystanders, state police, rst responders and hospital sta who saved him. He is grateful to be on the mend. At this time, we kindly ask for privacy for Eugene and his family as he focuses on recovering from his injuries.” Hall called the actions of the rescuers “heroic.”

“Without hesitation, they put themselves in danger to render aid to someone who was in need of it,” Hall said. State police identi ed the driver as Yevgeny Mirman, 51, of Massachusetts. Mirman, who was born in Moscow and grew up in Massachusetts, is known

for voicing musical middle child Gene Belcher in more than 300 episodes of the animated comedy “Bob’s Burgers” and its movie, in addition to roles on “Flight of the Conchords,” “Delocated” and “Archer.” He has built a loyal following with his o beat delivery, sharp observational humor and delightfully absurd storytelling. Mirman emerged from the Boston and New York comedy scenes in the early 2000s, developing a style that blends dry wit with surreal punchlines. A frequent presence on comedy stages and festivals, he is also known for inventive stand-up specials and recordings that lean into playful experimentation and unexpected comedic turns.

Ayotte said she and her husband were praying for the driver’s recovery.

“I want to thank the Trooper on my security detail and the bystanders who stepped up to help at the scene of the crash for their brave lifesaving e orts,” she said in a statement.

The crash remains under investigation. No charges have been led.

ASHLEY LANDIS / AP PHOTO

Kanye West, known as Ye, watches an NBA game between the Wizards and the Lakers in 2022 in Los Angeles. The controversial rapper performed to 70,000 fans at SoFi Stadium Friday night.

separated the 48-year-old performer’s personal beliefs and public statements from his music — and were ready to forgive after his January apology letter.

“You gotta back your family no matter what,” said Vince Da Prince, a rapper from Downey,

California. “He’s a part of our fam since we were little kids.”

Added fan Yovani Contreras: “I don’t really bring into politics or the way someone’s personal opinion are. I’m into the music artistry. … Like, I just, to me, Ye is always gonna be Ye. Kanye is always gonna be Kanye.”

Luis Velasquez said he’d been a longtime fan and had been put o by controversies in recent years but felt the apology was sincere. “Yeah, he did apologize,” he said. “He’s taking the medication I think is what he mentioned. … For me as a fan that’s, like, respect, right? Like I think that’s cool enough to bridge that gap.”

Ye released his latest album, “Bully,” under both the names Ye and Kanye West, at the end of March. He dominated hip-hop and pop charts in the 2000s and early 2010s, winning 24 Grammy Awards despite public outbursts and a polarizing personality. He lost nearly all his major business partnerships and many fans after a string of controversies in the last several years.

famous birthdays this week

Tom Lehrer celebrates 98, Dennis Quaid turns 72, Ed O’Neill is 80, Claire Danes hits 47

THESE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week.

APRIL 9

Satirist-musician Tom Lehrer is 98. Actor Michael Learned is 87. Drummer Steve Gadd is 81. Actor Dennis Quaid is 72. Fashion designer Marc Jacobs is 63. Model-actor Paulina Porizkova is 61. Actor Cynthia Nixon is 60.

APRIL 10

Labor leader-activist Dolores Huerta is 96. Football Hall of Famer Mel Blount is 78. Author Anne Lamott is 72. Singer-producer Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds is 67. Musician Brian Setzer is 67. Singer Kenny Lattimore is 56. Rapper-producer Q-Tip (A Tribe Called Quest) is 56.

APRIL 11

Actor Joel Grey is 94. Actor Louise Lasser is 87. Actor Peter Riegert is 79. Actor Bill Irwin is 76. Former MLB catcher Jason Varitek is 54. Actor Jennifer Esposito is 53.

APRIL 12

Musician Herbie Hancock is 86. Musician John Kay (Steppenwolf) is 82. Actor Ed O’Neill is 80. TV host David Letterman is 79. Author Scott Turow is 77. Actor Andy Garcia is 70. Country musician Vince Gill is 69. Actor Claire Danes is 47.

APRIL 13

Singer Al Green is 80. Actor Ron Perlman is 76. Singer Peabo Bryson is 75. Bandleader-drummer Max Weinberg is 75. Chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov is 63. Golf Hall of Famer Davis Love III is 62. Actor-comedian Caroline Rhea is 62. Actor Rick Schroder is 56.

APRIL 14

Former NYPD detective Frank Serpico is 90. Actor Julie Christie is 86. Rock musician Ritchie Blackmore is 81. Golf Hall of Famer Meg Mallon is 63. Baseball Hall of Famer Greg Maddux is 60. Actor

Michael Hall is 58. APRIL 15

Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Cooper is 70. Olympic track and eld gold medalist Evelyn Ashford is 69. Actor-screenwriter Emma Thompson is 67. Singer Samantha Fox is 60. Olympic swimming gold medalist Dara Torres is 59. Country singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton is 48.

Sydney Sweeney, ‘Malcolm in the Middle,’ Jonah Hill, ‘Hacks’ nale, Ella Langley

The fth and nal season of “The Boys” lands on Prime Video

The Associated Press

SYDNEY SWEENEY starring as real-life boxing legend Christy Martin in the movie “Christy” and “Hacks” launching its fth and nal season on HBO are some of the new television, lms, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also, among the streaming o erings worth your time this week: Country hitmaker Ella Langley releasing her sophomore album, Nintendo dropping the monster combat game Pokémon Champions and “Malcolm in the Middle” fans getting a four-episode revival with Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek.

MOVIES TO STREAM

Sweeney stars as real-life boxing legend Christy Martin in David Michôd’s “Christy” (HBO Max, Friday). The lm, which Sweeney also produced, drew some of her best reviews. Her distinctly unglamorous performance spans Martin’s small-town West Virginia beginnings to a professional career shadowed by her abusive manager-turned-husband (Ben Foster). In her review, AP’s Jocelyn Noveck wrote that Sweeney “imbues her no-holds-barred portrayal of Martin with both sweetness and rage, with brio and real vulnerability.”

One of the highlights of last year, Akinola Davies Jr.’s tender father-son drama, “My Father’s Shadow,” begins streaming Friday on MUBI. The lm, penned by Davis and his brother, Wale, is loosely autobiographical. Their father died when they were young. But in “My Father’s Shadow,” two Nigerian boys have unexpected day with their father (Sope Dìrísù) in Lagos at a pivotal time for the country. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr called it “a gem, a deeply felt memory piece and vibrant portrait of Nigeria in 1993.” Jonah Hill made his directorial debut with the coming-of-age skate lm “Mid90s.”

He returns to directing in “Outcome,” a Hollywood satire star-

ring Keanu Reeves as a movie star named Reef Hawk who fears a video could destroy his reputation. Hill, who co-wrote the movie, also co-stars as Reef’s crisis-management lawyer. It debuts Friday on Apple TV.

MUSIC TO STREAM

A chart-topping country hitmaker preps her sophomore album: Langley — known for such radio mainstays as the throwback “You Look Like You Love Me” with Riley Green and the George Strait-referencing No. 1 “Choosin’ Texas,” co-written with Miranda Lambert — will release a new record Friday. If the whole of “Dandelion” is anything like those songs, she’s got a long career ahead of her.

The English disco-pop singer Jessie Ware will release “Superbloom,” also Friday. She’s as ready to soundtrack a late night on the dance oor as she’s ever been — like on the single “Ride,” which interpolates the theme from the 1966 spaghetti Western lm “The Good, the Bad

and the Ugly” and melts into her sequined synths. “Come be my cowboy, baby, come, let’s ride,” she sings, more discotheque than honky-tonk. “You know I want you, I need you tonight, tonight.”

SERIES TO STREAM

“The Boys” launches its fth and nal season on Prime Video. The critically acclaimed series is based on comic books and follows villainous superheroes and the crew trying to thwart them. Series regulars Jack Quaid, Karl Urban, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty and Jessie T. Usher and Chace Crawford are all returning, as are more recent additions played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Jensen Ackles. “Hamilton” star Daveed Diggs also joins the cast.

Hulu’s sequel to “The Handmaid’s Tale,” called “The Testaments,” is streaming now. Ann Dowd reprises her Aunt Lydia character from the original and is now in charge of a school for girls that basically prepares them for adulthood, marriage and babies. These young

women have never known anything other than Gilead. It stars Chase In niti and Lucy Halliday and is also based on a novel by Margaret Atwood. Elizabeth Banks and Matthew Macfadyen lead a new sci- comedy, “The Miniature Wife,” for Peacock. They play a couple working on their marriage when their lives are further complicated after an unusual accident. It premieres Thursday. Another series launching its fth and nal season is “Hacks” on HBO. The show, debuting Thursday, follows the love-hate relationship between a legendary comedian (Jean Smart) and a talented writer played by Hannah Einbinder. The series has racked up a lot of hardware, including an Emmy for outstanding comedy series. Smart has won four consecutive Emmys for the show, while Einbinder has taken home one.

Do you ever wonder how your favorite former TV stars would fare in the present day? “Malcolm in the Middle” fans are getting their wish. Twenty years after their show went o

“Sweeney imbues her no-holds-barred portrayal of Martin with both sweetness and rage, with brio and real vulnerability.”

Jocelyn Noveck, AP Film Writer

the air, Muniz, Cranston and Kaczmarek return to TV for a revival where Muniz’s character is now a dad to a teenage girl. The four episodes of “Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair” premiere Friday on both Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

Nintendo is pulling out all the stops to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Pokémon. Just a month after releasing the cozy community-builder Pokémon Pokopia, it’s dropping the considerably less comfortable Pokémon Champions. This time it’s all about the combat, as you recruit and train monsters before pushing them into the arena to ght other trainers’ creatures. You can compete in ranked events with players from around the world or enjoy casual or private battles that won’t a ect your ranking. It’s a free-to -start challenge, but you may want to set some cash aside for in-app purchases. The ght club is open on Switch and Switch 2, with iOS and Android versions coming later in 2026.

Annapurna Interactive’s People of Note tells the tale of a pop singer named Cadence who decides she wants to start a band. That means she’ll need to trek across the world of Note, where each city is de ned by its own style of music. In her travels, though, Cadence learns that a Harmonic Convergence is disrupting music itself, and she and her bandmates will have to solve puzzles, explore dungeons and ght tone-deaf villains to stop Note from going silent. Los Angeles-based Iridium Studios promises that “each battle is an interactive musical performance,” and you can pump up the volume on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.

Duplin Journal

BRIEF this

week

Road Closure

Rose Hill

J.B. Stroud Road over I-40 near Tracy Brown Road is closed for bridge deck repairs until 5 p.m. May 8, weather permitting. Drivers can detour via Tracy Brown Road, N.C. 903, and Leonard Rich Road.

Economic Development Commission

Appointments

Duplin County Charley Farrior and Carrie Shields were recently reappointed to the Duplin County Economic Development Commission for a threeyear term (July 1, 2026 –June 30, 2029). Shannon Hair was appointed to complete Jay Carraway’s unexpired term through June 30, 2026, and reappointed for a threeyear term starting July 1, 2026.

University of Mount Olive Plant Sale

Mount Olive

The University of Mount Olive will hold its annual Plant Sale on April 10, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the campus greenhouse, 205 Bert Martin Drive. A rain date is set for April 11. Most items are priced $2–$12, with proceeds supporting student education.

Trans guration Church to Host 20th Anniversary Concert

Wallace

The Trans guration of Jesus Catholic Church will host a special choral concert on April 24 at 6 p.m. in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Lara Capparuccia serving as music director.

Deed dispute, tensions dominate Mount Olive meeting the

The program will feature a selection of sacred choral anthems, including works by Antonio Vivaldi such as “All Earth Rejoice with a Gladsome Voice,” as well as pieces by American composer Natalie Sleeth, including selections from “Sing a New Song to the Lord.”

Original compositions by Capparuccia and her daughter, Marquita Someliana-Lauer, will also be performed.

The concert is free and open to the public. Following the performance, attendees are invited to enjoy co ee and cookies in the church’s Founders Hall.

Knowles recognized for decades of service with governor’s award

The county retired four long-serving employees, approved surplus sales and updated policies

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

KENANSVILLE — Duplin

County o cials celebrated decades of volunteer service, honored retiring employees, and discussed rapid growth and major infrastructure projects during the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Monday night.

Harvey Knowles was named Duplin County’s recipient of the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award and will also receive the Governor’s Medallion Award for

Volunteer Service at a statewide ceremony in May in Raleigh.

Knowles, 95, has volunteered for decades in Wallace, providing support to veterans, rst responders, local schools, and community organizations. He has raised funds to equip emergency vehicles with automated external de brillators for the Wallace Police Department, Wallace Volunteer Fire Department, and Wallace Parks and Recreation.

A strong advocate for veterans, the retired U.S. Army major regularly participates in Memorial Day and Veterans Day events. He also visits nursing homes, where he plays hymns on his harmonica for residents, and he regularly organizes meals for rst responders during training events.

Knowles has coordinated do-

The board hired a new town manager and recalled a deed, citing con ict of interest concerns

By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal

MOUNT OLIVE — Tempers ared at Monday night’s Mount Olive Board of Commissioners meeting. Once again, the

source of contention was Mayor Jerome Newton’s signing of a deed for the former Carver High School building that has been the home of two nonpro t organizations under an agreement with the town.

nations of more than 100 bicycles for children and has organized food drives for local pantries. He has also contributed to disaster relief e orts, school projects, and fundraising for community programs.

In addition to larger e orts, Knowles is known for smaller, consistent acts of outreach. He maintains contact lists across multiple organizations and regularly calls or visits individuals to o er birthday wishes and encouragement, particularly to older residents.

County o cials said Knowles’ volunteer work is sustained, personal, and impacts residents of all ages, making him a notable example of long-term community service.

The county also honored four

long-serving public employees for their retirement. Katherine “Kay” Mitchell retired after 27 years with the Health Department, where she began as a maternal outreach worker and later worked as a WIC processing assistant. Dr. Elizabeth Gri n, a pediatrician, served from May 2009 through August 2025, providing annual child health physicals and bilingual care. Simone Vann retired after 30 years, assisting in maternal outreach, health check coordination, telehealth programs, and disaster response, including Hurricanes Florence, Matthew, and Dorian, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. Van received the State of the Long Leaf Pine Award.

the deed is relinquished back to the town if the nonpro t, or another nonpro t, no longer occupies the building or is dissolved.

At a previous meeting, the board had asked the town attorney, Carroll Turner, to work with an attorney for one of the nonpro ts, ALDA, Inc., to provide a deed for their occupation of a portion of the building. Under state law, any deed for a building originally owned by the state and turned over to a local government must contain a clause that

Butterball worker red during cancer treatment sparks federal lawsuit

The EEOC alleges the employee was unlawfully terminated after missing work to undergo chemotherapy

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

$2.00

A FEDERAL DISABILITY discrimination lawsuit led by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on April 1 is putting Butterball, LLC’s Mount Olive operations under scrutiny, alleging the company failed to accommodate an employee undergoing cancer treatment and unlawfully terminated

her in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

According to the EEOC, the case involves a longtime employee who was diagnosed with breast cancer and requested intermittent leave to undergo chemotherapy treatments and recovery. The lawsuit alleges that the employee informed Butterball of her medical condition and need for leave but was redirected to a third-party bene ts administrator. However, the leave was never approved, and the employee began receiving attendance violations under the company’s policy

The other nonpro t in the building, the Carver High School Alumni and Friends Association, has Newton serving as its president. Therefore, not only did the mayor not have the permission of the board to sign a separate deed speci cally for that organization, but his action also resulted in claims of a con ict of interest by some board members.

As occurred during a special meeting on March 12, Mayor Pro

Ena

Patsy Teachey Advertising

Loretta Carey

O ce Manager

CONTACT US

O ce Phone: 910 463-1240

To place a legal ad: 919 663-3232; Fax: 919 663-4042

NEW BUSINESS

A total of nine assumed business names were recorded with the Duplin County Register of Deeds O ce for the month ending March 31, according to o cial lings.

The newly registered businesses and their associated owners or entities include:

WCM Industrial Solutions — William Christopher Miller and William C. Miller

• The Traveling Gypsy — Nichole A. Ramey

Dee’s Unlimited — Delores Newkirk Hall

KRS A ordable Tree Service

— Kenneth R. Simmons

• JCO Campground at Lee

Baysden Pond — Juniper Creek Out tters, LLC and Contessa Jones

B and E Electric — Brandon Sutton

C2 Biogas (also listed as C2 Biogas NC and Carbon Cycle Biogas) — Carbon Cycle North Carolina LLC

• Down 2 Earth Sheds — Curtis M. Jones and Curtis Jones

Warsaw Hardware Store

— Carlos Eduardo Isaula Hernandez and Carlos Isaula

In addition, two assumed business name withdrawals were recorded during the same period:

• Duplin Quality Masonry and Roo ng — Jasmin Reyes Cruz

C2E Renewables NC — Carbon Cycle North Carolina LLC

Editor’s Note: Assumed business name lings allow individuals or entities to operate under a name di erent from their legal name and are maintained as part of public record by the county.

THURSDAY APRIL 9

FRIDAY APRIL 10

SATURDAY APRIL 11

SUNDAY APRIL 12

MONDAY APRIL 13

Industrial expansion gains momentum

Economic Development Commission eyes long-term gains as AirPark and SouthPark projects take shape

By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal

A LINE MADE popular in the 1989 Field of Dreams starring Kevin Costner, “If you build it, they will come,” appears to be an accurate description of shell buildings being constructed in Duplin County industrial parks by the Duplin County Economic Development Commission.

During the Duplin County Economic Development board meeting on April 2, moved from the normal meeting time on Fridays due to the Easter weekend, Economic Development Director Scotty Summerlin said interest is growing in the shell buildings nearing completion in the SouthPark and AirPark industrial complexes.

Summerlin said the commission is receiving calls asking about the purchase or lease prices of the buildings. The board discussed a beginning price for purchasing the 50,000-square-foot shell buildings, but held short on recommending a lease price until more research is done on what leases are running on comparable buildings in nearby counties.

The shell building in SouthPark Industrial Center near Wallace is rapidly nearing completion with a second one in the AirPark expected to be completed soon. An additional 50,000-square-foot shell building in AirPark will begin construction soon, and another 30,000-square-foot building was approved during a recent board meeting after learning there would be funds remaining in the existing grant from the state to build yet another one. The board quickly moved to approve the

DUPLIN happening

new project after learning any funds remaining in the grant at the end of June would have to be returned to the state. The third AirPark shell building was approved at this meeting with a recommendation that the bid be awarded to Daniels & Daniels Construction. Final approval will come from the Duplin County Commissioners.

In addition to the shell buildings being constructed under the grant, several short-term housing units will be built in the AirPark, and infrastructure improvements were made to build roads, add electrical service, as well as water and sewer service to the new shell buildings and housing locations. The shell buildings are not the only projects going up at the Duplin County Airport and AirPark. A new corporate hangar is under construction at the airport and the N.C. Forest Service has begun clearing land in the AirPark for construction of its new regional headquarters.

In other business, the board approved Summerlin’s request to allocate up to $500,000 to be paid to Tri-County EMC for the electrical service installation throughout the AirPark property. In addition to electrical service, the fund will be

used to place lighting throughout the complex.

The board also voted to request that the Duplin County Commissioners approve a contract with RiteLite Signs for constructing four new entranceway signs at each of the county’s industrial parks. A lively discussion occurred near the end of the meeting when it was suggested that pro ts from any sale of the shell buildings could possibly be placed in the county’s general fund by the county commissioners. Several Economic Development Board members said that action would be “short-sighted” on the part of the commissioners because keeping the funds within Economic Development would mean the ability to construct more shell buildings and projects that could greatly enhance the tax base for the county, making that approach more economically attractive for the county in the long term. The board welcomed a new member, Shannon Hair, president of James Sprunt Community College, who replaced Jay Carroway, who left the board after his retirement from JSCC. The board also approved the renewal of all existing board members for a continued term.

BUTTERBALL from page A1

for absences that were directly related to her cancer treatment. She was ultimately red under the company’s attendance policy. The EEOC argues that this conduct is unlawful under the ADA, which requires employers to provide “reasonable accommodations” to employees with disabilities, unless doing so would cause undue hardship to the business. Under the law, employees with serious medical conditions may be entitled to reasonable accommodations,

such as modi ed schedules or intermittent leave for medical treatment.

The agency also emphasized that employers cannot avoid responsibility by outsourcing leave management; they remain legally accountable for ensuring compliance with anti-discrimination laws.

The lawsuit was led in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina after attempts to resolve the issue through the EEOC’s conciliation process failed. Through this legal action, the EEOC seeks to hold Butterball

accountable and reinforce the principle that employees with serious health conditions are entitled to fair treatment and necessary workplace accommodations under federal law.

“Even when an employer hires a third-party bene ts administrator, the employer remains responsible for complying with anti-discrimination law,” the agency stated in announcing the lawsuit.

Butterball, when reached for comment, told Duplin Journal through a representative that the company does not comment on ongoing legal matters.

April 11

ecoBLAST Green & Wild

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Cowan Museum of History and Science along with the North Carolina Science Festival are teaming up to bring ecoBLAST: Green & Wild to Duplin County.

411 S. Main St., Kenansville

Free Childbirth Class

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

ECU Health Duplin Hospital will o er a free childbirth class for expectant mothers between 28–35 weeks. The session provides hands-on guidance and education on labor and delivery.

401 N. Main St., Kenansville

2026 Miss Jabberwock Cotillion

6 p.m.

The Duplin County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. presents the 2026 Miss Jabberwock Cotillion at The River Landing Clubhouse. Doors open at 5 p.m. Free entry. The event celebrates young women exemplifying grace and leadership.

109 Paddlewheel Drive, Wallace

April 15

Pork Forward

Smith eld Foods will host Pork Forward at the Sampson County Exposition Center. The event will bring together industry professionals for educational sessions, exhibits, networking and demonstrations focused on innovation in the pork industry.

414 Warsaw Road, Clinton

April 18

Garden Gala

1 p.m.

Southeastern Gardens of NC at Johnson Nursery hosts the Garden Gala, kicking o festival season. The event features lunch by The Mad Boar, drinks, live music by Mark Da er, garden tours, a silent auction and an afterparty at The Mad Boar. 985 Johnson Nursery Road, Willard

Faison board makes key appointments

O cials approved new hires, raises and projects during the April meeting

By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal

FAISON — Mayor Billy Ward thanked Town Clerk Sharon Lee for 19 years of service to the town at the start of Wednesday night’s board meeting. He wished Lee, who was present in the audience, a happy retirement.

The board discussed the layout of activities and events for the 250th celebration scheduled for June 27. The event is set to be held at the Stewart Precythe Soccer Complex at 184 Park Circle in Faison. During the board meeting, the board approved adding a foam party to the activities at the event. A billboard designed by Faison Improvement Group (FIG) will advertise the event along the highway for nearly a month from the end of May until the event.

REBECCA WHITMAN COOKE FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

Executive Administrator Jimmy Tyndall, right, administers the oath of o ce to Mayor Billy Ward as he takes on the additional role of nance o cer.

The board approved the addition of a trophy case for the Dixie Youth at the Recreation Center. Parks and Recreation Director Matthew Scott said that the addition would be a point of community pride that allows the teams to show

o their accomplishments.

“Right now the trophies are just sitting in people’s houses waiting for a place to go,” Scott said. The Dixie Youth have volunteered to build the case themselves to the board specications of stained wood, glass shelves and a tempered glass

front. No funds were requested to complete the project.

In other news, the board accepted resignation letters from two town employees, Blair Cox and Debbie Benson, and approved two new hires at Parks and Recreation, Jan Best and Kylie Pickleton. A public hearing for the 2026-27 budget was set for the May 6 board meeting at 7 p.m. Budget amendments were approved to move funds to straighten out the Powell Bill. Ward swore in Kelly Parks as the new town clerk, and she was added to the town’s accounts with Southern Bank and N.C. Capital Management Trust. The board also approved 5% raises — 3% based on merit evaluations and 2% cost-of-living increases for town employees. Ward presented the issue and options again for the town’s need for a nance o cer. The board voted unanimously to appoint Ward as the town’s Finance O cer, and Executive Administrator Jimmy Tyndall swore him in. Mayor Ward will

serve as nance o cer on paper only; the board approved contracting with CPA Beverly Stroud to do the actual work. In the commissioner reports, Commissioner Christy Allen asked the board to approve adding Sarah Henderson to the Cemetery Committee, and the board approved the request.

Commissioner Sandy McCarty shared that the Faison Fire Department has responded to 86 calls so far this year. In February, they responded to 24 medical calls, ve structure res, seven motor vehicle crashes, three outside res, one re alarm, ve safety calls and one good-intent call.

Commissioner Carolyn Kenyon shared that there were few law enforcement calls to report; some warrants were served and a few “ im am” scams were reported. Mayor Ward shared that the highway patrol has been present in town almost daily, watching tra c and ticketing speeders. The meeting adjourned shortly thereafter.

Multiple projects advance at Duplin County Airport

Leaders outlined the expansion e orts during the county manager’s visit

By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal

KENANSVILLE — Interim

County Manager Lisa Hughes was welcomed to the Duplin County Airport Board meeting March 24, as o cials showcased progress on major projects and emphasized the airport’s role in the county’s growth.

“We are proud of our airport here. We think this is one of the gems of Duplin County, and it is our desire that this is an airport that shines light favorably on Duplin County. We work hard to see that happens,” said Board Chairman Jack Alphin, as he welcomed Hughes. “I am proud of the board we have and the work they do outside of this meeting

DISPUTE from page A1

Tem Delreese Simmons made a motion for Newton to be recused from the meeting when the issue of the deed appeared on the agenda. It was at the March 12 meeting that the board passed a resolution stripping the mayor of privileges ranging from signing any checks on behalf of the town to limiting his access to town hall except between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and noon, Monday through Friday. The resolution also prohibits Newton from signing or negotiating any documents on behalf of the town without the approval of the commissioners.

Newton challenged Simmons’

to get support. We take our job seriously.”

After Hughes gave a brief introduction about her background, o cials detailed ongoing improvements and future plans.

Airport Director Joshua Raynor provided an update on the hangar project.

“All the doors and lights are up. They are painting exposed metal, polishing the oors, framing the o ce space, and starting on drywall. Next week they will put in windows and start pouring concrete,” Raynor said. Raynor explained how the new apron would be constructed to match the existing one and detailed the rehabilitation work on the hangars.

“Hangar 1 is almost done, and Hangar 2 will start on Thursday,” he said. “Once they nish the community hangar, they will start reskinning the old T-hangars,” he said. Old metal re-

discussion, which led to occasional outbursts from audience members.

Commissioner C.J. Weaver asked the mayor questions on two di erent occasions, rst regarding his actions in signing the deed that had not been approved by the commissioners. Later, Weaver asked Newton if he had, during his rst term, looked at sealed records of a town employee. Newton said that he had.

In a vote of 3-2, the board voted to recall the deed with the Carver High School Alumni and Friends Association signed by the mayor so that a new, approved deed could be created.

The vice president of the organi-

moved during the project will be scrapped for the county.

Hunter Boniface updated the board on closing out funding for the completed taxiway connector project.

“We made some progress on closing that one out,” Boniface said. “Today, our contact with the state approved it, so it will go on to one more level of review. We are hopeful we can take it o the list (have it paid) before next month.”

Boniface also con rmed that the fuel farm is “on pace” to start construction the rst week of April and is expected to be completed in about three months. Raynor added that a fuel truck will be used to keep the airport running smoothly while the fuel farm is in transition.

Greg VanderMolen gave an update on the life-cycle cost analysis for the apron rehabilitation project.

“DOA has approved our life cycle cost analysis that concrete is an acceptable way to go,” VanderMolen said. “They have not funded it yet, but we are hoping to complete (90% funding documentation) and hopefully get more good news shortly thereafter,” VanderMolen said. “We at least got them past that rst step of saying concrete is OK — that’s a big step.”

The airport’s nance plans were discussed, outlining how the county and airport will cover the airport’s portion of the apron rehabilitation project.

“It could get funded this year, but may be built next year (depending on the weather),” Raynor said. He also provided an update on the airport maintenance building.

“Preliminary soil testing has been done to be sure the area is ready for a prefabricated build-

ing. In a later agenda item, the board voted 3-2 against extending Newton’s hours of access to town hall.

In other business, the board approved a contract with a new town manager. Octavus Murphy, who replaces interim town manager Glenn Holland, who will return to his original position overseeing the town’s troubled water and sewer system. Murphy comes to the position after serving as assistant to the city man-

Octavus Murphy, right, is sworn in as Mount Olive’s new town manager by town clerk Sherry Davis, left. Murphy’s wife held the Bible during the ceremony.

ager in Goldsboro, where he will continue to serve as the town’s strategic and community initiatives manager.

In an interview after the meeting with Duplin Journal, Murphy said he was born and raised in Duplin and Wayne counties. He mentioned what he considers to be his rst priorities as town manager.

“Just building relationships,” Murphy said. “I think it’s important that I become an e ec-

ing,” Raynor said. “Our next step is to put in a request for proposals to get a building.”

The board discussed access to the area during construction and potential building materials.

The proposed 2026-27 budget was presented, with Raynor explaining adjustments based on expected needs. Board members reviewed the operating budget for fuel sales and explored ways to attract and increase transient tra c. In March, the airport recorded 395 operations, sold 1,242 gallons of avgas and 15,000 gallons of jet fuel.

The board discussed sources of funding, potential growth for the county, and how commerce can bene t from ight access in the area. Alphin challenged everyone to embrace “out-of-the-box” thinking to “not miss opportunities” that are coming. The meeting adjourned shortly thereafter.

tive communicator. I think it’s important that I understand the priorities of the mayor and board of commissioners.”

The board also approved a new contract with longtime town attorney Carroll Turner.

A public hearing was also held on changing the mayor’s and commissioners’ term lengths from two-year to four-year staggered terms. The issue brought several comments from the audience both pro and con. However, when the audience was asked to show by raising their hands whether they supported a fouryear staggered term or a twoyear staggered term, the show of hands supported keeping the current two-year term system. During closing comments from Newton, he encouraged the town to begin to work together to solve problems, adding that the town could become the target of a state takeover if town ocials do not resolve issues among themselves.

THE CONVERSATION

Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

In today’s NBA, beliefs can be a firing o ense

THERE ARE PLENTY of things an

NBA player can do and still keep his job.

League history is littered with examples: players involved in o -court scandals, arrests, even allegations of serious violence. Time and again, teams and the league have found ways to look past behavior that, in most professions, would be career-ending.

But there appears to be one line that cannot be crossed — especially during Holy Week.

That line, it seems, is expressing a traditional religious belief.

Enter Jaden Ivey.

The former Purdue standout was the fth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, a rising young guard who averaged 16 points and ve assists as a rookie with the Detroit Pistons. By his third season, he was approaching 18 points per game before an injury derailed his momentum. Eventually, he landed with the Chicago Bulls.

By all accounts, Ivey was a productive player still on the rise.

Then came an Instagram video.

In it, Ivey — now a newly converted Christian — criticized the NBA’s celebration of Pride Month. His comments re ected a conventional religious viewpoint: that pride, as celebrated in this context, con icts with Christian teachings on sin.

“They proclaim Pride Month,” Ivey said. “They say, ‘Come join us ... to celebrate unrighteousness.’”

That was enough.

The Bulls waived him, citing “conduct detrimental to the team.”

The phrase raises an obvious question: What exactly was the conduct?

Ivey did not skip practice. He did not clash with teammates. He did not violate the law. By his own account — and by the absence of any evidence to the contrary

COLUMN | MICHAEL BARONE

— he remained a good teammate and a committed player.

His o ense was speech.

On Instagram Live, Ivey pushed back on the decision.

“How is it conduct detrimental to the team? What did I do to the team?” he asked.

It’s a fair question — and one the Bulls have not clearly answered.

Even head coach Billy Donovan o ered only a muted response, emphasizing “certain standards” while declining to directly address Ivey’s comments. There was no forceful condemnation, no claim of locker room disruption — just a vague appeal to team values.

Contrast that with other professional sports leagues. UFC president Dana White has repeatedly defended ghters’ rights to speak freely, even when he strongly disagrees with them. The principle is simple: Disagreement does not justify punishment.

The NBA appears to be operating under a di erent standard.

If Ivey had expressed support for Pride Month — or made a personal announcement aligning with it — it’s di cult to imagine a similar outcome. More than likely, he would have been celebrated.

Instead, he was dismissed.

This is what makes the situation so striking. The league has tolerated, and at times quietly managed, far more serious controversies. There was even a prolonged debate over whether to host an event tied to a strip club in Atlanta — an issue that required league intervention after weeks of public scrutiny.

Yet a religious objection to Pride Month draws an immediate and decisive response.

That disparity is hard to ignore.

It also raises broader questions about the NBA’s relationship with its audience. Millions of fans — many of them religious — hold views similar to those Ivey expressed. They may not agree with the league’s messaging, but they have continued to watch, support and engage with the sport.

Decisions like this risk sending a di erent message: that certain beliefs are not merely unpopular but unacceptable.

For a league that seeks to expand its reach, that’s a curious strategy.

Timing only adds to the tension. The incident unfolded during Holy Week, one of the most sacred periods on the Christian calendar — a moment when questions of faith and conviction are especially prominent.

None of this requires agreement with Ivey’s views. Reasonable people can and do disagree on these issues.

But there is a di erence between disagreement and exclusion.

If the standard for remaining in the NBA now includes alignment with speci c cultural or ideological positions, then the league is entering new territory — one where speech, not conduct, becomes the deciding factor in a player’s career.

Ivey may yet nd another team willing to give him a second chance.

But the larger issue will remain: In today’s NBA, it’s not just how you play the game that matters — it’s what you’re allowed to say o the court.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co -founder of Daily Wire+. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

The sudden political star of Trump II: Marco Rubio

Rubio, in his two ostensibly nonpolitical jobs, has obviously made a favorable impression on the public.

“WHITE HOUSE DEPLOYS Marco

Rubio to clarify messaging about Iran con ict.” So reads the headline on the front page of the Washington Examiner’s website in the early hours of April 1, the third month of U.S. military operations against Iran, which have been taking place since Feb. 28.

That prominence was overtaken as it was announced that President Donald Trump would address the nation on the war Wednesday night. But it’s still worth noting and could turn out to be more signi cant as the end of the second Trump term comes into view.

Rubio’s video making the case for the Iran o ensive is only two minutes long, straight to the camera, with a dark background relieved only by the red and white stripes of the ag. Succinctly, he made a case for military action now.

“Under no circumstances,” Rubio said, “can a country run by radical Shia clerics with an apocalyptic vision of the future ever possess nuclear weapons, and under no circumstances can they be allowed to hide and protect that program and their ambitions behind a shield of missiles and drones that no one can do anything about.”

At greater length but in a similar fashion, he made the same case that day in a television interview on Al Jazeera, in terms pitched to its audience not just in the United States but also in the Gulf.

Only one other person before has held the o ces of secretary of state and national security adviser: Henry Kissinger, from 1973 to 1975. In that capacity, Kissinger conducted high-level diplomacy in the Middle East and left no distance in his public statements between his views and those of the president he served, although behind the scenes, as later revealed, there were di erences.

Similarly, Rubio obviously speaks carefully to leave no distance between his statements and those of the president he serves, to whom he refers in respectful terms. But he’s able to do this and to

appeal to others, including inveterate Trump haters, all at the same time.

That was apparent in his Feb. 14 speech at the Munich Security Conference where he earned standing applause from his predominantly European audience even as he repeated, diplomatically phrased, the same criticisms of what Donald Rumsfeld called “Old Europe” voiced numerous times by Trump and, at the same conference a year before, to a very di erent reaction, Vice President JD Vance.

There are many di erences between the two men who were secretary of state and national security adviser. Kissinger was a dazzling scholar who impressed everyone at Harvard University. Rubio rst went to college on a football scholarship then earned degrees from the University of Florida and the University of Miami Law School. Kissinger, in his prime, dated movie stars. Rubio is a longtime family man.

Once in America, Kissinger always lived in the Northeast Corridor (Manhattan, Cambridge and Washington, D.C.), Rubio in semitropical Miami and ra sh Las Vegas. Kissinger never ran for public o ce. Rubio was elected to the West Miami Council at 27 and to the term-limited Florida legislature at 29 (winning a primary runo by 64 votes), and he got his colleagues to elect him as speaker six years later.

But the biggest political di erence is that Kissinger, born a citizen of Weimar Germany, was ineligible to run for president. Rubio not only ran for president in 2016 but might conceivably have won in the absence of Trump’s candidacy and the millions spent against him by backers of his former mentor, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

And Rubio might conceivably run and win in 2028, though he says he will support Vance, and Vance says that Rubio is “my closest friend in the administration.” There are obviously some di erences between them on foreign policy: Rubio

plainly favors the Iran attacks. Vance seems dubious.

Despite speculation that MAGA opposes Trump on Iran, Rubio, in his two ostensibly nonpolitical jobs, has obviously made a favorable impression on the public. At the recent Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine, Texas, Vance once again won the straw poll for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination. But his 53% was down from 61% last year, while Rubio zoomed up from 3% in 2025 to 35% this year.

CPAC, abounding these days with MAGA-loving young men, has not always been a reliable guide to wider opinion.

But national pollsters, which began 2028 polling two weeks after the 2024 election, cast a wider net. In 17 polls conducted over the rst full year since Trump’s inauguration, Rubio averaged 9%, behind not only Vance at 46% but also his fellow Floridian, Gov. Ron DeSantis, who averaged 10%.

In seven polls taken since Rubio’s Munich speech, Vance was unchanged, averaging 45%, and so was DeSantis, who averaged 8%. But Rubio did signi cantly better, averaging 16%. That’s not the jump he saw at CPAC, but it’s also pretty clear evidence that Rubio is making some impression on a public that usually pays little attention to secretaries of state or national security advisers.

But I do feel sure that Rubio, who showed impressive raw political talent in his rise to one of Florida’s U.S. Senate seats in the rst decade of this century and who made a serious presidential run in the second decade, has now shown impressive skills as a national leader in the third decade. Is there more ahead in the fourth?

Michael Barone is a senior political analyst for the Washington Examiner and longtime co-author of “The Almanac of American Politics.”

(Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

Springtime fun at Warsaw Easter Egg Hunt

KNOWLES from page A1

Gwenda Swann retired after 25 years with Social Services, working in economic services and as a public information o cer; she received both a county retirement plaque and the Old North State Award from the governor.

Wallace Council Member Glenn Price presented information on rapid residential growth in Wallace, noting more than 1,000 potential homes and expanding commercial development. Price said growth re ects a strong economy and regional job opportunities but emphasized that early planning with county o cials is needed to meet future enrollment and infrastructure demands.

“We have a duty as a council to make sure that the board is aware of what’s going on in Wallace and the magnitude of growth that we expect to see,” said Price. County o cials also reported on a $1.5 million river and creek cleanup initiative funded through 2028 by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. According to David Whaley, soil & water director, the cleanup has improved ow along the Northeast Cape Fear River and tributaries. Despite progress, some areas still require attention. Muddy Creek, particularly between Lyman Road and Quinn Store Road, was identi ed as a major problem area. Additionally, Little Limestone Creek near Church Road was highlighted as severely obstructed. Plans include revisiting these locations if funding allows, along with continued maintenance of previously improved creeks. O cials said remaining funds will continue upstream cleanup and support smaller streams.

In other business:

The board approved purchasing ve replacement vehicles due to high mileage and maintenance costs on existing units.

Holland Construction Company was awarded contracts to rebuild homes at 186 Willie Best Road and 455 Carter Thigpen Road under the 2024 Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery program. Economic development initiatives: A $661,151 contract was awarded to RiverWild Commercial LLC to build ve short-term housing units for workforce and visitors. The county also approved a third industrial shell building with Daniels and Daniels Construction Company and $354,693 for new signage across multiple industrial parks to improve visibility and branding.

O cials said these e orts aim to expand opportunities, attract businesses, and build on recent economic momentum.

The board approved three modernized, stand-alone pol-

icies governing Purchasing Cards (P-Cards), Con ict of Interest and Ethics, and Purchasing and Procurement. These updates were designed to strengthen internal controls, promote transparency, and ensure compliance with state and federal statutes.

Three 12,000-gallon fuel tanks at the county airport were declared surplus and the board approved selling them privately for $10,000. Some commissioners expressed concern that $10,000 for three large-capacity tanks seemed low. Comparisons were made to the high cost of new tanks, estimated around $500,000, as well as the total storage capacity being sold.

A key discussion point was whether the county should publicly advertise the tanks to potentially receive higher bids. While advertising could increase competition, sta noted it would also extend the timeline and create logistical challenges, including the need to move and store the tanks during the bidding process. The sale is closely tied to the construction timeline of a new fuel farm project. The buyer has agreed to coordinate tank removal with the project schedule, eliminating the need for temporary storage or additional equipment. O cials stressed that this coordination is a major advantage of proceeding with the private sale.

After weighing the options, o cials concluded that the guaranteed sale, combined with avoided costs and simpli ed logistics, made this the most practical decision.

Interim County Manager Lisa Hughes outlined 2026–27 budget priorities. She emphasized employees, economic development, schools, and community college as top concerns. The general fund budget is currently just over $81 million, with approximately 51.5% dedicated to personnel costs.

Hughes highlighted a keynancial goal is reducing the county’s dependence on its $7.8 million fund balance to cover recurring expenses. She also noted that around $1.5 million is tied to one-time capital expenses. Hughes aims to signi cantly reduce this reliance in the next budget cycle. To achieve that goal, county leadership will work with department heads to identify ways to cut or better manage recurring operational costs. This includes reviewing departmental budgets, identifying e ciencies, and potentially scaling back expenditures. The e ort is focused speci cally on the general fund, where most operational spending occurs.

“My pledge to you and the citizens of this county is to bring you a budget that does not include any hint of any tax rate increase,” said Hughes.

CAROLINA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

First weekend in May In Historic Downtown Wallace

The Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina April 18th, 1–6pm

DUPLIN SPORTS

Fayetteville State back eld bext stop for Tigers’ Hall

James Kenan head coach

Tim Grady said Jeremiah Hall

“changed the culture”

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

WARSAW — Jeremiah Hall leaves James Kenan as one of the school’s most consummate team players.

“He’s the picture of what labor, effort and determination can do,” said football coach Tim Grady. “I’ll say this, when we lined all the freshmen up back then, he wasn’t the one anyone would pick as our guy moving to the next level.”

Hall is now as he signed a letter of intent to play football at Fayetteville State next fall.

“None of our players can ever say

he took a day o or a rep o ,” Grady said. “And he never got junk yards, willing to grind it out against the tall trees, Wallace-Rose Hill and East Duplin. He changed the culture here.”

Hall was the top running back on consecutive 12-2 seasons, going for 2,060 yards and 27 touchdowns last fall and 1,150 yards and 13 scores in 2024.

His best friend in Tigers land is two-way lineman Cal Avent, another key to the team’s return to glory.

“I’m with him all the time,” said Avent, who also works with Hall at the Clifton Seed Company. “He’s a good as it gets. The work ethic. How respectful he is. We’re brothers. I play basketball for him, and he plays baseball for me. I’m not much of a basketball player, and he’s

playing baseball as a pinch runner.”

“They’re together 24-7,” said Avent’s twin brother, Eli, who plays quarterback in the fall, basketball and baseball. “He’s got that ght-to -the-end thing. And he’s a grinder in the weight room.”

And decent in the classroom as well.

“He’s over 4.0 and broke two single-season school records (11.3 yards per carry and 29 touchdowns),” Grady said. “But even as important is that he is such a team player. In all my years I’ve not coached a ner young man. I never heard him yell, ‘Give me the ball.’”

While Hall was without a doubt “the man” in the Tigers’ back eld, he was every teammate’s friend on the

Shylah Sloan, Jourdan Joe and Ava Jones provide spark as JK ended nine-game skid against WRH

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

WARSAW — Shylah Sloan wanted to make amends to her teammates for her pitching performance against East Duplin that ended with a 10-0 loss.

The James Kenan senior scattered ve hits and then put the nishing touches on an 8-2 win over Wallace-Rose Hill with a two-run homer in a battle for second place behind Midway in the Swine Valley Conference.

“She was so frustrated about East Duplin and apologized to her teammates,” said Tigers coach Brian Casteen. “She’s pitched in some big games and had a great season, and tonight may have been her best in the circle.”

The win snapped a nine-game drought against the Bulldogs. JK’s last win came in ’21, and WRH has had a 25-2 edge in the rivalry since 2012.

“Shylah is one of our three seniors (along with Jourdan Joe and Ava Jones) who had never beaten Wallace,” said Casteen, JK’s rst-year coach. “I’m very happy with for them, and this was a great win because we beat a very good pitcher (Payton Tyndall).”

JK (9-2, 6-1) trailed 1-0 until going in front 3-1 in the fourth. The ve-run outburst in the

JK’s Aleyah Wilson’s 18 goals are the most in Duplin County.

JK moved into sole possession of rst place in the Swine Valley Conference

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

WARSAW — The di erence

between Wallace-Rose Hill and James Kenan on the soccer eld came down to the energized play of Aleyah Wilson.

Keeping track of her for 80 minutes proved impossible, but the Bulldogs held strong until late in a scoreless match.

With 12 minutes to play, the junior kicked a ball just past

the WRH goalie, retrieving it and then scoring from close range.

“We had our chances,” said WRH rst-year coach Dennis Ly. “It went back and forth, and we made a little mistake and she made us pay.

Wilson second score came o a steal.

“It was a heck of a shot,” Ly said. “That girl was tough to handle, and we had to go to a box-and-one on her.”

A long pass from Yaneidi Cruz set up the rst goal.

“We controlled a lot of the game, but in soccer you have to put it in the back of the net,” said JK coach Kenny Williams.

Williams said having the wind at the Tigers’ backs in the second half was key.

“The wind kind of took it out of them,” he said. “Any win in a rivalry game is big, even if it’s 1-0. You can throw out the record books and style di erences. These two teams are going to give you all they have.

Williams said Cruz, who has six goals and 10 assists, is engineering the Tigers’ o ensive attack.

“She’s able to get possession and control the ball to get us into the attack mode,” he said. “She’s become, to use a football

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

SPONSORED BY BILL CARONE

Makenzie Jackson

Harrells Christian Academy, softball

Makenzie Jackson is an o ensive spark plug and so much more for Harrells Christian Academy.

The freshman in elder is fourth in the area in hitting (.556) while leading the Crusaders in runs (18), on-base percentage (.619), slugging (.788) and OPS (1.397).

Yet she’s no stranger to prime time.

Jackson hit .419 and .426 as a seventh and eighth grader, respectively, on the HCA varsity squad, and she’s made just six errors to date.

She laced four hits as a high-water mark this season and four times had three hits. She’s had either a hit or scored a run in all but three games this spring.

HCA is 5-7 and looking for a spot in the NCISAA’s 2A playo s.

Panthers, Rebels softball capture signi cant wins before Easter break

Sophia Jones and a 10-hit attack help ED down 7A Topsail, while Marissa Bernal and Gracie Higginbotham sparked the Rebels to a revenge win over East Columbus

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

HAMPSTEAD — East Duplin scored runs in the rst four innings and rode the pitching of Sophia Jones to beat 7A Topsail 5-2.

Zoe Turner singled, doubled, tripled, scored and drove in a run.

Ava Noble, Karsyn Parker and Jones each had two hits and knocked in a run.

Jones, a sophomore right-hander, scattered ve hits and two runs for her fourth circle win.

She struck out three, giving up a homer, though not walking any Pirates. ED made just one error while scoring twice in the rst and notching single runs in the next three frames.

Emma Rose smacked a solo homer and Mae Rimel a run-scoring double for Topsail (12-5).

Later in the day, freshman Ansley Hunter lashed three of the Panthers’ four hits during a 9-1 loss to 7A D.H. Conley (12-0).

Noble singled in the lone ED run in the third inning. But at that point, the Vikings were in front 5-1.

Thirteen hits and a three -run fth sealed the verdict for D.H. Conley, which recently vaulted to No. 1 in the state among all classications. Five Vikings recently signed to play college softball.

ED (11-2, 3-1) is o until hosting ECC rival Clinton (1-10, 0-4) on April 14.

Head coach Greg Jenkins’ gang will face unbeaten Pender (11-0, 4-0) and South Lenoir (9-5, 3-1) in pivotal two-game league series the nal two weeks of the month.

SOCCER from page B1

analogy, our quarterback on the eld.’

Defensively, sweeper Allison Duenas is running the show.

“She keeps the back end clean, while Gabi (Outlaw) is learning in the goal,” Williams said.

“We’re just more con dent with her, and she keeps things away from the goal area.”

JK (8-3, 6-1) and WRH (5 - 6, 4-2) will have a rematch April 30 in Teachey.

“I’m sure they’ll have something for us,” Williams said. “It’s going to be tough to play there.”

Wilson had a hat trick during a 5-0 conquest of Spring Creek later in the week. She had 19 scores this spring.

Noilin Rodriguez and Josselyn Gomez added scores, and Angie Irula had two assists.

JK travels to face Southwest Onslow in its lone game this week. Weather permitting,

Rebels rally from 3-0 de cit to top Gators

North Duplin, which also scored a big win over Topsail earlier this spring, got a somewhat more important 5-3 win over East Columbus, avenging the Gators’ 14-2 March 10 win in Lake Waccamaw. The Rebels cut the lead to 3-2 in the third and scored single runs in each of the next three frames.

Gracie Higginbotham threw three innings of hitless ball while adding a single, triple and drove in a run.

Marissa Bernal added a two-run homer, while Ady Spence and Kaydynce Locklear added an RBI single and double, respectively.

Sara Coleman hit a three-run

the Tigers have a three-match week following spring break. WRH isn’t slated to play for seven days (April 14).

Do Panthers have mojo back?

Don’t look at East Duplin’s record (7-6, 3-1). Watch the Panthers play before making a scouting report.

Head coach Joey Jones might now be able to see that his team is capable of making a late-season rush.

Anamarie Rodriguez scored three goals last week during a 3-1 win over Charles B. Aycock in Pikeville.

She gave ED a 1-0 halftime lead as the Panthers beat the 5A Golden Falcons (5-5) for the second time this season and fourth win in a row to set up an ECC showdown April 14 with Clinton (10-3 -1, 4-0).

ED also avenged an earlier loss by stumping North Brunswick 3-1.

shot for the Gators (10-4, 6-1).

MacKenzie Clemmons added a pair of doubles.

Only one of ND’s last seven opponents (Pender) has a winning record.

The Rebels’ RPI is No. 5 in 2A among all schools and No. 2 to Roxbury Community (8-2) in the East.

A day earlier, Lilly Fulghum homered twice to knock in ve runs as ND routed Lakewood 14-0 in a three-inning a air as the Rebels posted nine runs on the board in the opening inning.

Abigeal Norris also went yard for a grand slam, and Higginbotham legged out a triple and single in two plate appearances. Spence picked up her rst win of the season in the circle.

The Panthers face quality competition in theirnal next nine matches as they have all season, facing unbeaten Pender and Swine Valley leader Princeton (11-1-2) twice. And when the playo s begin May 8, the Panthers could be a team no one wants to face early in the 4A bracket.

Stemmler, Orozco log hat tricks in Rebels’ win

Tristen Stemmler and Roslin Orozco each had a hat trick, and Ivet Campos added another score as North Duplin downed Lakewood 7-0 in a Carolina Conference match in Calypso.

It was the fourth consecutive win for the second-place Rebels (7-1, 5-1), who trail CC frontrunner Hobbton (8-4, 6-1) by a game. The Wildcats fell to ND 3-0 on March 19. ND hosts third-place Union (8-3, 5-2) when it returns from spring break.

sixth featured Sloan’s shot to left-center and RBI hits by Joe, Jones and Kinzley Sloan.

“Payton is an excellent pitcher, and we made her work in the hopes of wearing her down a little,” Casteen said.

Sloan (4-2) struck out six and allowed just one walk with her 79-pitch complete game in lowering her ERA to 1.95. WRH (5-7, 4-2) hit .214 against her.

She set the side down in order in the rst and fth, and the Tigers ended the sixth and seventh innings with double plays.

WRH’s Keyonn Thomas punched a run-scoring single that plated Maggie Boone for the rst run of the game. Sadie Casteen knocked in two in the home half of the fourth and scored on a throwing error by the Bulldogs’ catcher.

JK left the bases loaded to end the fth. The bottom of

the order started the rush in the sixth as Jovie Hall walked and Landyn Boone singled.

Later in the week, Casteen and Kenadi Gideons each drove in three runs and Kinzley Sloan two during a 18-1 rout of Spring Creek.

JK whacked 12 hits and had 13 credited RBIs, eight walks and 16 stolen bases.

The Tigers travel to 4A Southwest Onslow (4-6) as their lone game this week. They face SWO again after hooking up against Rosewood (7-4, 4-3) and nish o a tough four-game stretch by host Midway (12-0, 7-0).

“It’s our biggest week of the year,” Casteen said, whose club fell to the Raiders 9-8 on March 18.

JK and WRH collide on April 30 in Teachey in the regular season nale for both schools.

The Bulldogs have a more favorable slate leading up to the

rematch. WRH has beaten ve of its next ve foes — Northside-Jacksonville, Goldsboro, Princeton, Rosewood, Spring Creek of its next six foes leading up to the rematch. Crusaders drop pair of heartbreakers

Breelyn Peed had three hits and scored twice and Mackenzie Jackson had two hits and touched home plate twice, but Harrell Christian Academy fell 5-4 to Rocky Mount Academy, which score twice in the seventh for the comeback win.

Two days later, the Eagles rallied for four runs in the sixth for a 4-2 triumph.

HCA (5-7) went up 1-0 in the third and 2-0 in the top of the sixth.

Peed and Savannah Stevens punched the lone Crusader hits. It was the fth nail-biting loss this spring for HCA.

BASEBALL STATS

doubles, 11 runs, 6 RBIs

Garrett Stevens (ND) .393 12 RBIs

Hayes Lanier (ED) .360 9 RBIs

Cooper Torrence (Rich) .355 6 RBIs

Luke Jackson (WRH) .343 3 doubles, 1 triple, 13 RBIs

Jack Tuck (ED) .314 12 runs, 9 RBIs

Noa Quintanilla (ND) .308 7 RBIs

Will Brooks (WRH) .294 2 doubles, 6 RBIs

Luke Hall (ED) .286 3 doubles, 7 RBIs

Paxton Smith (JK) .310 1 double, 6 runs

Ben Kelly (ND) .308 5 RBIs

Luke Weeks (HCA) .290 5 doubles, 8 RBIs

basketball court where he lled all the boxes — 6.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 4.6 steals for 18-6 JK.

Fayetteville State, a Division II program, went 6-4 last fall.

Four Broncos — Caden Davis, Shawn Robinson, Matthew Leach and Kahilil Ashley-Diarrah — were selected to compete in the Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl, a premier postseason all-star showcase featuring the nation’s top NFL draft-eligible players from historically black colleges and universities. Twelve players earned all-CIAA postseason honors following a 6-1 conference mark in the 11-school league.

Avent and all my brothers for pushing me hard,” Hall said.

Grady said Hall was paramount to JK’s state playo runs.

“I want to thank coach Grady and Coach John (Bert)

“We don’t get to the fourth round or region nal or win the Swine Valley Conference without him,” he said. “He became a mighty tree, but it all started with his fertile foundation soil.”

NHL Islanders re coach Roy after losing 4 straight, name DeBoer as replacement

New York

Patrick Roy was red Sunday as coach of the New York Islanders. First-year general manager Mathieu Darche announced the decision after the team lost four in a row and seven of its past 10 games. The Islanders were comfortably in a playo spot until their late-season tailspin put their chances in danger with four games left to play. Peter DeBoer was named as Roy’s replacement and not just on an interim basis. He has taken two teams to the Stanley Cup nal and most recently coached the Dallas Stars.

NBA Rivers, Few, Parker set for Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement

Phoenix Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw and the 1996 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team will be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The class was unveiled at halftime of the UConnSouth Carolina game during the women’s Final Four. Also included were Amar’e Stoudemire and Mike D’Antoni. They will be joined by longtime NBA o cial Joey Crawford, NBA coach Doc Rivers and Gonzaga coach Mark Few. The enshrinement ceremony will take place in August at the Hall of Fame in Spring eld, Massachusetts.

Davis Rogers (HCA) .280 6 RBIs

Colten Holmes (ED) .259 8 runs

Peyton Gomez (HCA) .257 2 doubles, 12 runs

Reid Strickland (HCA) .241 8 RBIs

SOFTBALL STATS

Ava Noble (ED) .609 6 doubles, 5 triples, 2 HRs, 18 RBIs Lilly Fulghum (ND) .591 5 doubles, triple, 2 HRs, 15 RBIs Gracie Higginbotham (ND) .591 3 doubles, 4 triples, 15 runs, 9 RBIs

Carmen Cubas (Rich) .562 10 runs

Makenzie Jackson (HCA) .556 4 extra-base hits, 18 runs

Kendai Gideons (JK) .553 7 doubles, 2 triples, 17 RBIs Kinzley Sloan (JK) .535 8

(JK) .444 2 doubles, 9 RBIs

Scarlett Deluca

.303 9 RBIs

Leighton Davis (ED) .279 9 doubles, 7 RBIs

Sadie Casteen (JK) .448 3 doubles, 13 RBIs

Sophia Jones (ED) .500 6 doubles, 2 triples, 17 RBIs

Jourdan Joe (JK) .500 6 doubles, 1 triple, HR, 13 RBIs

Jansley Page (WRH) .431 11 runs

Maggie Boone (WRH) .455 3 doubles, triple, 13 runs

Shylah Sloan (JK) .412 6 doubles, triple, 3 HRs, 20 runs, 17 RBIs

Wyllow Holmes (ND) .407 15 runs

Lorena Rodrigues (ED) .351

Karsyn Parker (ED) .312 14 runs

Marissa Bernal (ND) .308 3 doubles, 3 triples, 11 runs, 7 RBIs

Landry Singletary (HCA) .303 9 RBIs

Sophie Sloan (WRH) .286

NFL

Rams’ Nacua went to rehab before being sued for assault, battery by woman

Los Angeles Los Angeles Rams All-Pro wide receiver

Puka Nacua was in rehab before he was sued for assault and battery by a woman who says he made an antisemitic statement and bit her on the shoulder. Nacua issued an apology last December after performing a gesture that plays upon antisemitic tropes while appearing on an internet livestream. Nacua has been one of the most productive receivers in NFL history over his rst three seasons with the Rams, who drafted him in the fth round out of BYU in 2023.

NBA

Mavs rookie Flagg scores 51 points, becomes rst teen to reach 50 in NBA game

Dallas Cooper Flagg scored 51 points last Friday to become the rst teenager to reach the 50-point mark in an NBA game. The rookie No. 1 pick of the Dallas Mavericks scored 24 points in the fourth quarter of a 138-127 loss to the Orlando Magic. Flagg’s fourth-quarter urry came after coach Jason Kidd and teammate Naji Marshall were ejected over what they thought was a no - call when Flagg was fouled by Desmond Bane. Flagg’s previous career high was 49.

Rebels, Tigers look for strong second-half surges

ND had three wins before Easter, while JK won consecutive games for the rst time this spring

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

CALYPSO — North Duplin baseball coach Brad Rhodes thinks his Rebels can make a run in the second half of the season.

ND, which won two of its rst ve to start the season, has since won three Carolina Conference games in a row before this spring break.

“We got o to a bumpy start but have had some really good weeks of practice, and I felt like we’ve turned the corner,” said Rhodes, a longtime football assistant and rst-year baseball coach. “We’re de nitely playing a better brand of baseball. Outside of the Rosewood game (a 10-1 loss on opening day to the 12-2 Eagles) we’ve played pretty well but were a break or two away from winning. We’re playing tough-nosed baseball and creating our own luck.”

The Rebels (5-4, 4-3) scored three times in the sixth inning last week to rally past East Columbus 8-6 in Calypso, which was sweet revenge after falling to the Gators 14-13 in eight innings on March 10 in Lake Waccamaw.

Garris Warren singled, doubled twice, drove in two runs and scored. He also threw 32⁄3 innings before being relieved Ben Kelly for 21⁄3 frames. Hayden Miller pitched a hitless seventh.

Cole Grady had a pair of hits and drove in two. Garrett Stevens, Noa Quintanilla and Henry Pope both drove in a run and scored a run.

ND’s three runs in the sixth broke a 5-5 deadlock.

There was far more breathing room during an 11-5 win over Lakewood in which Noah Price had an outstanding 101-pitch performance.

The sophomore scattered seven hits, a walk and four strikeouts over 61⁄3 innings. Miller secured the nal two outs.

Price and Grady each lashed a pair of hits and combined to drive in three runs.

Pope and Stevens added run-scoring hits.

ND stumped West Columbus 11-0 to start its winning streak.

“That’s the game I felt we were moving forward and not looking back in the mirror,” Rhodes said.

“We got back on track against Lakewood and beat East Columbus after one got away from us the rst time.”

Rhodes said the Rebels pitching sta has many arms, including starters Warren, Price, Ben Kelly and Holden Williams, who recently returned to the lineup.

Miller’s worked mostly in relief so far.

“Holden’s been battling some discomfort, and I think we’ll have him back and ready when we return,” Rhodes said.

ND has six games left on its schedule and each is important.

The Rebels entered this week as the No. 24 RPI team in the state in 2A play.

Tigers beat ’Dawgs for rst time since 2023

Hunter Grady tripled in three runs in the sixth as James Kenan beat Wallace-Rose Hill 6-3, its rst win over the Bulldogs since 2023.

WRH has a 27-5 advantage in the rivalry series since 2008.

Tripp Phipps, Paxton Smith and Hunter Whitman reached base to set up Grady for a hit into the gap.

Luke Jackson and Hayden Lovette knocked in two of WRH’s three early runs as the Bulldogs went up 3-0 in the third.

But hits by Eli Avent and Hansley McGee and a run-scoring singles by Cal Avent and Smith and an RBI ground out by Brantley Pike tied it at 3-3.

Both schools followed the game with wins. It was rst two-game winning streak of the season of JK, who blasted Spring Creek 20 -7.

WRH destroyed Wayne Prep Academy 13-2.

Will Brooks had three hits in four at-bats, driving in two runs.

Christian Smith was 3 of 4 and Jacob Davis 2 of 3 with two RBIs.

Lovette’s 84 pitches earned him the win. He yielded one hit,

while whi ng nine and walking one.

Marshburn extends hitting streak to 10 games

East Duplin catcher Sawyer Marshburn’s hitting streak has reached 10 games.

That’s the most positive news out of the Panther camp last week as ED lost to North Johnston (6-1) and Rosewood (13-3) at the Pittman Agner Easter Tournament at Grainger Stadium in Kinston.

The senior, who is hitting .467, has 21 hits during his streak.

He ripped a single against North Johnston and had two hits against the Eagles.

During the streak he lashed ve hits against WRH and three in two separate outings against Trask.

ED’s lone run against North Johnston came in the sixth when Brayden Jones singled and scored on a Gavin Holmes at-bat. Holmes leads the Panthers in hitting (.516).

Reid Willoughby had three hits for the winners and struck out nine Panthers on the hill.

Colton Holmes and Hayes Lanier knocked in runs against Rosewood.

ED (7-4) plays two games during the Easter break before having a week o . The Panthers host Clinton (7-5) on April 14.

Crusaders rally for win, fall to Eagles in 10 innings

Avery Hall had three hits in three plate appearances, and Drake Smith knocked in three runs to lead Harrells Christian Academy to a 9-7 win over Rocky Mount.

Peyton Gomez and Davis Rogers added run-scoring hits. HCA rallied from a 6-1 de cit, scoring three times in the third and sixth innings and two in the fth.

The Eagles (4-5) scored an 8-7 walk-o win in 10 innings two days later.

The Crusaders (7-4) led 7-5 in the eighth, but Rocky Mount scored the nal three runs.

Drake Smith had four hits and Luke Weeks and Rogers two apiece.

MARRIAGE LICENSES

A total of 27 marriage licenses were issued by Duplin County Register of Deeds Anita Marie Savage for the month ending March 31, according to o cial records.

The couples receiving marriage licenses include:

• Wilson Ivan Rodriguez Torres of Seven Springs and Jasmin Reyes Cruz of Seven Springs

Allison Grace Higgins of Wallace and Caleb Dakota Levan of Wallace

• Ti any Michelle Williams of Faison and Allen Ray Thompson of Faison

• Jamie Medardo Sanchez Velasquez of Teachey and Ixi Johana Mancia Serrano of Teachey

Valentina Espinoza of Wallace and Karon Montre Williams of Warsaw

• Devian Anthony Taylor of Wallace and Riley Bree Reynolds of Oregon

Sarah Pearl Farrior of Wallace and William Chase Cavenaugh of Wallace

• Kylie Layne Minton Norris of Beulaville and Steven Sauceda of Beulaville

• Robert Deante’ Hicks of Warsaw and Shaketia Laverne Sellers of Warsaw Valeria Palomo Rios of Faison and Matthew Dylan Casper of Grantsboro

• Michael William Martin Jr. of Pink Hill and Jessica Houston Maready of Albertson

• Jeison Pabel Diaz Aguilar of Clinton and Keila Patricia Herrera Meza of Clinton Zechariah Ezekiel Schroeder of Kenansville and Yuridbia

M. Santibanez Garcia of Magnolia

Alayna Faith Drinkwater of Beulaville and Tyler Buck Pierce of Beulaville

• Cornelius Antonio Glaspie of Turkey and Brittney Nicole McClamb of Turkey

• Hayley Mia Jones of Faison and Bobby Brooks Tucker of Faison

Malinda Grace Houston of Albertson and Jonathan Richard Williams Jr. of Albertson

• Eufemia Miranda Jaimes of Mount Olive and Benito Yanez Perez of Mount Olive

Dyshaun Laquan Tolson of Wallace and Ruth Ellen Vonnee Garcia of Wallace

• William Patrick Naas Lyon of Hampstead and Kendra Leight Sholar of Hampstead

• Victor Rojas Ramirez of Turkey and Kacey Cheyenne Moxley of Pink Hill

Lynn Jones Letchworth of Stantonsburg and Jason Lavon Stevens of Stantonsburg

• Corey Levon Pigford of Beulaville and Jessica Denise Walters Alexander of Beulaville

Allicia Marie McCracken of Trenton and Mickey Shaun Hunter of Trenton

• Jose David Yanez Fernandez of Teachey and Gelen Patricia Meraz Hernandez of Teachey

• Travis Ree Barksdale of Rose Hill and Sandi McArthur Bryant of Rose Hill

Kimberly Hope Radford of Pink Hill and Jared Scott Hill of Pink Hill

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA DUPLIN COUNTY

FILE#26E000120-300

TOWN OF TEACHEY NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

FOR CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTING TOWN HOME ORDINANCE AND APPROVING TOWN HOME OVERLAY ZONE

The public will take notice that the Board of Commissioners of the Town of Teachey has called a public hearing at 6:00 p.m. on April 13, 2026 at the Town Hall for the purpose of considering to adopt the Town Home Ordinance and approving a Town Home Overlay Zone of Parcel #09-5554-, Book 2110 Pg 1-2. Also known as: Located in Island Creek Township, Duplin County, North Carolina.

Being all of Tract B containing 9.770 acres as shown on map entitled “Type A Expedited Minor Subdivision for Relentless Ventures, LLC of Duplin County Parcel # 09-5554” recorded in Map Book 36 Page 366 of the Duplin County Registry. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter you can contact The Teachey Town Hall by phone 910-285-7564 or by mail at P.O. Box 145 Teachey NC 28464.

Morgan Jacobs – Town Clerk Town of Teachey, N.C.

NOTICE

pm

The Board expects to adjourn on May 21, 2026. In the event of earlier or later adjournment, notice to that e ect will be published in this newspaper. Gary M. Rose Clerk to the Board of E&R

obituaries

Deborah Lynn Mobley

Nov. 19, 1971 –March 27, 2026

Deborah Lynn Mobley, age 54, of Willard, left this earthly life after a long battle with cancer on Friday, March 27, 2026, and is now in the arms of her loving Savior, Jesus Christ. She was born on November 19, 1971, in Pender County, the daughter of Faye Sholar Mobley of Wallace and the late Larry Mobley.

Deborah graduated from high school and continued her education at Appalachian State University, where she earned 2 Batchlor degrees and a Master’s degree. Later, she and Patrick started what she loved most, an entertainment business that reached out to children and teens through games and activities. She and Patrick faithfully attended Wallace Pentecostal Holiness Church as her health permitted.

Deborah, in addition to her mother, is survived by her best friend and husband of 20 years, Patrick Pistner; her sister Beverely Mott and husband Gregg of Harrells; brother Larry Mobley and wife Tammy of Lafayette, Louisiana; niece Kristen Mott; nephews Austin Mott and Adrian Mott; numerous extended family and friends who loved Deborah and were loved in return. Deborah was a devoted wife and caring daughter, sister. She was a simple lady who enjoyed the simple things in life. Deborah was an entertainer. She served many years as counselor at youth camps where she would help children and teens learn about Jesus thru games and fun activities. She traveled to eight di erent countries hiring internationals to come work as camp counselors. She acquired many friends from all over the world that are special to her to this day. Deborah loved children of all ages. Her touch and example demonstrated her love no matter where she was. Deborah was a mentor, con dant, counselor and friend to so many people. She loved Patrick with every ber of her being. They had a very special relationship based on Biblical principles. As one, they did everything together, including her entertainment business. Deborah was a ghter. She fought hard during her journey with cancer and never gave up. She would entertain children and adults with games and activities even when she was not physically up to it. She loved going on road trips and many times would push herself to go when she was not feeling well. Again, Deborah was a ghter. Beautiful inside and out, she was always loving, compassionate and very devoted to Jesus and His work. She was loved so much by so many and will surely be missed. Her legacy will continue to live on because of her love for Jesus through the 100’s and 100’s of lives she touched all around the world. Deborah was truly a gift from God.

Funeral service will be held at 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Wallace Pentecostal Holiness Church with her brotherin-law, Reverend Gregg Mott, o ciating.

The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. to noon, one hour prior to the service at the church.

Burial will follow the service at Mobley Cemetery on Rivenbark Town Road, Wallace, NC.

In lieu of owers, the family asks that donations be made to Falcon Youth Camp, PO Box 59. Falcon, NC 28642.

Robert Obenour

Sept. 2, 1944 –March 30, 2026

Robert J. Obenour, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away on March 30, 2026, at the age of 81.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Robert carried his roots with pride throughout his life, remaining a loyal and passionate Steelers fan to the very end. His early years were marked by both hardship and resilience, having lost his father at a young age—a loss that helped shape the grit, independence, and strength of character that de ned him.

Robert was married for 60 years to the love of his life and best friend, Dorothy Obenour. Together, they built a life centered on devotion, partnership, and shared adventure. His career in sales took them across the country and around the world through achievement clubs, creating lasting memories and experiences they treasured deeply.

He was the proud father of three daughters: Laura (Randy) Davis, Amy and Gail, whom he loved ercely and supported wholeheartedly.

Robert also found great joy in his grandchildren, Cole Davis and Audrie Davis, who brought him immense pride and happiness.

Known for his warm smile, unmistakable determination, and willingness to help in any situation, Robert was a man who spoke his mind and stood his ground. Beneath that tough exterior, however, was a deep well of loyalty, humor, and care for those he loved.

Robert found peace and satisfaction in the simple, meaningful rhythms of life. He loved birds, owers, and maintaining a beautiful yard, taking pride in every home he and Dorothy shared—each one marked by a workbench he built with his own hands. He also had a special fondness for his three Labrador retrievers over the years.

A man of many interests, Robert was a good golfer, an avid reader, a skilled card player, a sharp and intuitive picker of winning NFL teams, and an enthusiastic participant in family vacations. He dedicated his time to coaching his daughters in softball and leading them in Indian Princesses, leaving a lasting impact on their lives and the lives of others.

In his retirement years, Robert also gave back to his community through volunteer work with the Duplin County Department of Social Services and Novant Hospital, quietly o ering his time and energy in service to others.

He will be remembered for his strength, his steadfast love for his family, his enduring partnership with Dorothy, and the legacy of resilience and devotion he leaves behind. Robert’s life was one of determination, loyalty, and deep connection—a life well lived and one that will be remembered and cherished.

Sandra “Sandee” Smith DiDomenico

Dec. 23, 1939 – April 1, 2026

Sandra “Sandee” Smith

DiDomenico of Wallace, NC, passed from her earthly life on Wednesday evening, April 1, 2026, peacefully at home surrounded by family and friends.

Born in the Bronx, NY, on December 23, 1939, she is the daughter of the late George Grady Smith Jr. from Black Creek, NC, and Edith Joan Thompson Smith. Also preceding her death are siblings Carol Donato, George Smith and John Smith.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Louis Michael DiDomenico; children, Sandra (spouse Bonnie) from Delray Beach, FL, Andrew (spouse Sirimanas) from Little Ferry, NJ, and Mark (spouse Beth, Grandson Thomas) from Elmont, NY. Siblings, Robert Smith (brother) of Monroe Township, NJ & (sister) Emily of Piscataway, Nj with her two cats Romeo and Leo.

Sandee’s Love of life didn’t end with her love for family. In her early years she attended PS 61 and PS 64 in the East Village of Manhattan aka, Alphabet City aspiring to be an actress and singer with quite a voice. By the time she hit 15 -16 she was a pin-up girl making all the boys swoon and was already working at Birdland Jazz Club in Midtown as a hat check girl while her sister Carol sold cigarettes.

Sandee loved her books, and reading was her favorite pastime, along with watching her TMC classic movies, listening to 50s jazz & also country music. Attending Broadway shows and ne Italian restaurants were her go to things to do. She was also quite the shopper, always looking for a good deal with antiques fueling that passion.

Her Love for books led her to a career as a Senior Library Clerk in Mineola and Garden City, Long Island. She loved to help people nd the information they were looking for and was a master at doing so, no matter the subject.

Some of her favorite things were Animals, especially Pigs, Kaleidoscopes, Butter y’s, Travel, Baking, Cross Stitching and doll collecting. She embraced her southern heritage and will be remembered as one of the Kindest, Warmest, Bravest and Generous women to all who knew her. Although she sometimes ran out of patience, exclaiming, “This Is Ridiculous!” she made those around her laugh uncontrollably.

Until we meet again, may God bless you always, and may the happiness of being with your parents transcend to all of us, as we remember the incredible person you were and always will be.

The family will greet friends at a wake on Monday, April 6, 2026, 4-8 p.m. at Padgett Funeral Home. Services will be on Tuesday, April 7, at 11 a.m. in the Wallace Presbyterian Church. In lieu of owers, please consider a contribution to Farm Sanctuary farmsanctuary.org/honor-andmemory.

CDR William “Bill” Ivey Taylor III, USN (Ret.)

June 6, 1942 – April 3, 2026

CDR William Ivey Taylor III, USN (Ret.), age 83, passed peacefully on April 3, 2026, and has found eternal rest with his Heavenly Father. He was born on June 6, 1942, in Wilmington, North Carolina, to Dr. William Ivey Taylor Jr. and Nancy Young Taylor of Burgaw, North Carolina. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Joseph Knox Taylor, and Joseph’s wife, Sandra.

“Bill” is survived by his beloved wife, Ruth Lewis Taylor; his daughter, Roberta LaSure, and her husband, Bruce; and his son, John William Taylor. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Taylor LaSure and his wife, Caitlin; Kristen Gillentine and her husband, Zachery; Cypress Bergan and her husband, Joe; Alarin Taylor; Moss Taylor; and Alix Weevil and her husband, Matt; as well as two greatgrandchildren. He is additionally survived by his brother, Michael Taylor, and his wife, Alicia, along with nieces and nephews. Bill graduated from Burgaw High School and Campbell College. He was commissioned as an o cer in the United States Navy in 1965 and went on to serve a distinguished career spanning several decades. He was a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War and U.S. military operations in Grenada, and Lebanon. Over the course of his naval service, he received twentyone decorations, including three Meritorious Service Medals, awards for combat with valor accompanied by four Bronze Stars, and the Purple Heart. He also served as a Company O cer at the United States Naval Academy, attended the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, and commanded the USS Fort Snelling from 1981 to 1984.

Bill was an avid reader with a curious and disciplined mind and could often be found immersed in a good book. He also had a deep love for woodworking, hunting, and shing. He was happiest when he had a project underway and was rarely idle, spending countless hours tinkering in his workshop. Whether he was carefully crafting something useful, xing something that needed repair, or simply making something for the joy of it, Bill found great satisfaction in working with his hands and bringing his ideas to life. He especially loved helping family members with repair projects, always ready to lend his skills, tools, and time. These hours of creation and problem-solving re ected his patience, ingenuity, and steady, generous nature.

Fishing in particular held a special place in his heart, especially when it meant time spent with his grandchildren. He took great pride in teaching them how to sh as they grew up, sharing both practical skills and meaningful time together. Surf-casting and shing from his boat remain some of his grandchildren’s most cherished memories of him.

Bertha Whitley Baker

Sept. 25, 1939 – April 6, 2026

Goldsboro- Mrs. Bertha Whitley Baker, age 86, a vibrant spirit and true pillar of her family, completed her earthly journey on Monday, April 6, 2026, at Willow Creek Nursing and Rehabilitation in Goldsboro, North Carolina. The arrangements are currently incomplete at this time. The Sta of J. B. Rhodes Funeral Home and Cremation would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family, and please continue to keep the family in your prayers.

James Herring Jr.

Oct. 11, 1967 –March 29, 2026

Mr. James Herring Jr., age 58, of Warsaw, NC, passed away on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at his home.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, from noon to 1 p.m., at the Rose Hill Funeral Home Chapel in Rose Hill, NC, followed immediately by the funeral service at 1 pm. Burial will take place immediately after the service, at Rose Hill Funeral Home Cemetery in Magnolia, NC. Left to cherish his precious memories are one daughter, Turkenya Herring of Washington, DC; mother, Shirley Herring of Warsaw, NC; three sisters: Claudette Steele (Reginald), Beverly Herring and Delphine Herring, all of Washington, DC; two aunts: Edith Ann Perry and Ileatha Jones; several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends that will miss him dearly.

In keeping with Robert’s wishes, there will be no formal funeral service. His family will gather privately to honor and celebrate his life. In lieu of owers, the family kindly asks that donations be made in his memory to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Mae Bell Jackson.

Above all else, Bill’s greatest joy came from his wife, children, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren. His family was always his rst love, followed closely by his unwavering devotion to his country.

In accordance with his wishes, no funeral service or visitation is planned. A Celebration of Life for family and close friends will be held at the family home at a time to be announced. Flowers are welcome and those wishing to make a memorial gift in Bill’s memory may do so to the Wounded Warrior Project or to Lower Cape Fear Hospice of Wilmington.

April 12, 1933 –March 29, 2026

La Grange- With deep sorrow, we announce that Ms. Mae Bell Jackson, age 92, was called home to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at her residence, surrounded by her loving family. Her unwavering faith was an inspiration to all, and we nd peace knowing she is resting in the arms of the Savior. The arrangements are currently incomplete. On behalf of the Sta of J. B. Rhodes Funeral Home & Cremation, Inc., we extend our deepest condolences to the Jackson’s family, and please keep the family in your prayers during their time of bereavement.

William Henry Hodges

Sept. 20, 1928 –March 31, 2026

Goldsboro - It is with great sadness and sincere hearts that we announce the passing of Mr. William Henry Hodges on March 31, 2026, at UNC Wayne Hospital.

Mr. Hodges was a man of faith, honor, distinction and intellect. He led a life worth mirroring. He was a great bricklaying instructor at North Lenoir High School and served in the United States Army. Mr. Hodges was a mentor to many troubled youth even after his retirement from teaching. Mr. Hodges leaves a legacy that will never be forgotten and always highly spoken of. The Sta of J.B. Rhodes Funeral Home and Cremations, Inc. are praying for the family as they make arrangements to celebrate a life well lived and the many friends who were dear to him. There will be a Celebration of Life on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at noon at the Goldsboro-Raleigh District Assembly on 211 West Hooks River Road, Goldsboro, NC. He will be laid to rest at Wayne Memorial Park North, 1191 Old Grantham Road, Goldsboro, NC. Please keep this family in prayer.

Zandra Holmes

Dec. 14, 1956 – April 3, 2026

Zandra Katherine Smith Holmes, age 69, of Duplin County, passed away on April 3, 2026, in Kenansville, NC.

She was born on December 14, 1956, in Lenoir County to William C. Smith & Nina Mae Go . Zandra Katherine Holmes was known for her sassy and vocal personality. She was a big animal lover - It didn’t matter whether cats or dogs, if she found an animal, she was going to take it home & take care of it.

Zandra is survived by her loving husband of 30 years, Perry. Zandra is also survived by her sons, Donald & James Korzeniewski (Cheryl) of Greenville, sister, Debbie Shivar (Dustin) of Lenoir County, brother, Garland Smith (Cindy) of Wilmington, NC, grandchildren, Melody Korzeniewski, Lily Korzeniewski, & Jacob Korzeniewski, and one greatgrandchild, Olivia Vargas. In addition to her parents, Zandra was preceded in death by her infant son, Matthew, a brother, Pete, & her dogs, PJ & Bear.

A visitation will be held on April 7, 2026, at noon at Community Funeral Home of Beulaville. Service will follow at 1 p.m. Zandra Holmes will be deeply missed and forever remembered by her family.

Deborah “Debbie” Lynn Anderson

June 14, 1965 – April 1, 2026

Deborah “Debbie” Lynn Anderson, 60, passed peacefully from her earthly life on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare in Wilmington, surrounded with love by family.

She was born June 14, 1965, in Charleston, South Carolina, the daughter of Harold Lee Hamilton Jr. and Brenda Annette Rochelle Corbell. In addition to her parents, Debbie was preceded in death by her son, Christian Scot Anderson.

Debbie is survived by her husband of 28 years, David Justin Anderson; sons, Garnet Anderson, Andrew Anderson, and David Justin Anderson II; daughters, Deborah Adelle Fields and Christal Ann Fields; three grandchildren; sisters, Teresa Bailey (Guy), Sharon Hamilton, Tina Hamilton, and Virginia Hamilton; many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Debbie was employed with Pizza Hut in Southport for several years, a job she truly loved.

Debbie was a loving and caring wife, mother, sister, and friend. Her family was the joy and center of her life. Debbie was loved and will be forever remembered.

The memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Rileys Creek Baptist Church with Pastor Art Sauer conducting the service.

Leo Cromity

Sept. 3, 1945 –March 27, 2026

Leo Cromity, 80, of Atkinson, NC, passed away on March 27, 2026, in Wilmington, NC. Funeral service will be 1 p.m. on Friday, April 3, 2026, at Hawes Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Atkinson, NC. Public viewing will be from noon to 1 p.m. (one hour prior to the service). Interment following the service at Corbett Cemetery in Atkinson.

Robert Brock McCoy

Oct. 17, 1939 – April 1, 2026

Goldsboro- Mr. Robert Brock McCoy, 86, completed his earthly journey and transitioned from labor to reward, Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at UNC Health Wayne. The arrangements are currently incomplete. Please remember his family in prayer as they navigate through this di cult time.

Frank Lewis Baker III

Sept. 23, 1962 –March 27, 2026

Frank Lewis Baker III, 63, of Cameron, NC, passed away on Friday, March 27, 2026, at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare in Wilmington. He was born on September 23, 1962, in Raleigh, NC, to the late Frank Lewis Baker Jr. and the late Martha (Pennington) Shuford. Frank was the former owner of Frank Baker Inc., a wholesale car dealership. He was an alumnus of Samaritan Colony in Rockingham and sponsored 100’s of men through AA. Frank was a very respected member of the AA community and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Frank is survived by his daughter, Clarissa Tracy; life companion, Jewels Harris; brother, Gary Fincher (Kathy); sister, Beverly Baker; step-father, Bob Shuford; grandchildren, John Cheatham III, Paul Richard Tracy III, Scarlett Dianne Elizabeth Tracy; nephews, BJ Potts (Yvette), Greg Fincher (Rachel), Je Smith; niece, Ti any Potts; great nephews, Jonathan Spears, Brandon Potts; great niece, Brooklyn Spears; and a host of other family and friends. In lieu of owers, memorial donations may be made in Frank’s honor to Samaritan Colony. Services to be announced.

Stanly NewS Journal

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Paul faces protective order hearing in Utah after “Bachelorette” cancellation

A Utah judge is expected to hear arguments on a protective order sought by a former partner against Taylor Frankie Paul, star of Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” Paul and Dakota Mortensen were expected to participate remotely Tuesday while their lawyers appear in person. Mortensen is the father of Paul’s 2-year-old son. He is asking the court to extend a protective order. About three weeks ago, ABC opted not to air a new season of “The Bachelorette” with Paul at its center. Production has also been paused on her Hulu series. It often featured Paul and Mortensen’s tumultuous relationship.

Ford recalls more than 422K trucks, SUVs because windshield wipers can fail

Ford Motor Co. is recalling 422,613 vehicles because the windshield wiper arms can break, causing reduced visibility and increasing the risk of a crash. The recall covers 2021-23 Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators and a range of F series Super Duty trucks, model years 2022-2023. Letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed on April 13. Once a remedy is determined, additional letters will be mailed. Dealerships will eventually inspect and replace the wiper arms free of charge.

Former Australian soldier charged with committing 5 war crime murders in Afghanistan

Australia’s most decorated living veteran, Ben Roberts- Smith, faces war crime charges on allegations that he killed ve unarmed Afghans while serving in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2012. Police have not con rmed the name of the 47-year-old former soldier who was arrested on Tuesday. But he was been widely reported in the media as the former Special Air Service Regiment corporal who was awarded both the Victoria Cross and Medal of Gallantry for his service in Afghanistan. Police says he will remain in custody overnight and will make his rst court appearance on Wednesday. Roberts-Smith is only the second Australian veteran of the Afghanistan campaign to be charged with a war crime.

Albemarle outlines development overhaul, ordinance updates

A uni ed development ordinance is expected

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

ALBEMARLE — As the city continues to grow, Albemarle o cials are moving forward with a series of development updates aimed at aligning future growth with the vision outlined in its comprehensive plan.

At Monday night’s Albemarle City Council meeting, the council received an administrative report from Planning and Development Director Alysia Steadman, who presented a department update centered

on ordinance changes and a broader regulatory overhaul.

“What we’re doing is really about aligning the community that we want to see with our toolbox, and how to implement the things that we want to see,” Steadman said. “Many of those things are outlined in our comprehensive plan, which you adopted in December. After extensive community engagement and internal work on that document, we now have a blueprint for how we want to grow and develop.”

Albemarle’s comprehensive land use plan, Envision Albemarle 2045, is designed to

Stanly commissioners approve incentive grant for Michelin plant upgrades

The project is expected to create 30 new jobs

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

ALBEMARLE — An expansion to the Michelin North America aircraft tire plant in Norwood has gained nancial backing from the local county government.

At its meeting Monday night, the Stanly County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an economic development incentive grant equal to 75% of new taxes generated by the project over a 10-year period.

Operating under the planning name “Project NORRAD,” the company plans to invest $4.4 million in real property improvements and $25.7 million in machinery and equipment, totaling $30.1 million. The project is expected to create 30 new jobs over the next three years with an average annual salary of $50,083.

Elizabeth Kazimir, director of the Stanly County Economic Development Commission, presented the request following a required public hearing that drew no comments.

The health department is urging vaccination and early testing

Stanly News Journal sta THE STANLY COUNTY

Health Department announced April 3 that cases of whooping cough have been con rmed in the county, urging residents to be aware of the highly contagious respiratory illness.

“This highly contagious respiratory illness poses serious risks, especially to infants and the immunocompromised,” the health department said in a press release.

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a bacterial infection that develops 5 to 21 days after exposure. Early symptoms resemble a common cold, but the cough worsens over time and can persist for weeks. Other symptoms include trouble breathing,

March 30

• Jessica Renee Nesmith, 42, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Tommy Lopez Chambers, 47, was arrested for assault on a female, misdemeanor crime of domestic violence and interfering with emergency communication.

• Marcus Armondo Allen, 33, was arrested for second-degree trespass.

• Kinard Keshawyn Huggins, 27, was arrested for misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, carrying a concealed gun, possession of a rearm by a felon, possession of marijuana (more than one-half to one and one-half ounces), assault in icting serious injury in the presence of a minor, possession of marijuana paraphernalia and assault on a female.

• Ricky Dean Mullis, 62, was arrested for accessory after the fact.

Stanly County Health Department

vomiting after coughing and extreme tiredness.

The disease spreads easily through respiratory droplets when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes. Infants are at the highest risk of severe complications, including hospitalization, pneumonia, brain damage or death.

The health department recommends that anyone who is sick or suspected of having whooping cough wash their hands frequently, wear a mask, cover coughs, stay home and avoid close contact with

March 31

• Noah Anthony Crouch, 37, was arrested for misdemeanor stalking.

• Deshawn Anthony Jackson, 31, was arrested for intentional child abuse in icting serious physical injury and felony assault on an individual with a disability.

• Tito Fernando Harris, 31, was arrested for misdemeanor larceny.

April 1

• Deshawndre De’Once Leak, 25, was arrested for simple possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance and driving on a revoked license (not impaired revocation).

• Sean Wesley Kennedy, 33, was arrested for larceny of a motor vehicle, assault by strangulation, misdemeanor crime of domestic violence and assault on a female.

• John Anthony Rowe, 60, was arrested for maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled

infants and pregnant women. Early testing allows for antibiotic treatment, which can reduce the severity and duration of the illness and help prevent further spread.

Whooping cough is vaccine-preventable. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services recommends a ve-dose vaccination series for infants and children, a booster for youth ages 11–12, a dose during the third trimester of each pregnancy and a booster every 10 years for adults over 18. Unvaccinated individuals who develop symptoms should seek early testing and stay home. Preventive antibiotics may be recommended for close contacts, particularly infants, pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions.

For questions, contact a health care provider or the Stanly County Health Department at 704-982-9171.

substance, possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Christina Marie Hernandez, 24, was arrested for simple possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance and loitering.

• Bradley Matthew Olsen, 40, was arrested for assault on a female.

April 2

• Robert Anderson, 22, was arrested for maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance and possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana.

• Jesse Houston Bullock, 39, was arrested for larceny after breaking and entering and misdemeanor larceny.

• Michael Benjamin Stoval, 34, was arrested for being intoxicated and disruptive and possession of an alcoholic beverage.

• Richard Lee Scott Kuchenbrod, 39, was arrested for misdemeanor larceny.

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Stanly County:

April 9

Community Kids and STEM Festival

4 p.m.

A free family event featuring hands-on STEM activities, community resource tables, local vendors and information about college programs, geared toward children and families.

Stanly Community College 141 College Drive Albemarle

April 12

Stanly County Concert Association — Salisbury Symphony Brass

4 p.m.

The Salisbury Symphony Brass, a quintet of musicians from the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra, performs “Brass Favorites: from Renaissance to Modern and Pops to Gospel” as part of the Concert Association’s 2025-2026 season. Tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for students. Stanly County Agri-Civic Center 26032 Newt Road Albemarle

THE CONVERSATION

Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

In today’s NBA, beliefs can be a firing o ense

THERE ARE PLENTY of things an

NBA player can do and still keep his job.

League history is littered with examples: players involved in o -court scandals, arrests, even allegations of serious violence. Time and again, teams and the league have found ways to look past behavior that, in most professions, would be career-ending.

But there appears to be one line that cannot be crossed — especially during Holy Week.

That line, it seems, is expressing a traditional religious belief.

Enter Jaden Ivey.

The former Purdue standout was the fth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, a rising young guard who averaged 16 points and ve assists as a rookie with the Detroit Pistons. By his third season, he was approaching 18 points per game before an injury derailed his momentum. Eventually, he landed with the Chicago Bulls.

By all accounts, Ivey was a productive player still on the rise.

Then came an Instagram video.

In it, Ivey — now a newly converted Christian — criticized the NBA’s celebration of Pride Month. His comments re ected a conventional religious viewpoint: that pride, as celebrated in this context, con icts with Christian teachings on sin.

“They proclaim Pride Month,” Ivey said. “They say, ‘Come join us ... to celebrate unrighteousness.’”

That was enough.

The Bulls waived him, citing “conduct detrimental to the team.”

The phrase raises an obvious question: What exactly was the conduct?

Ivey did not skip practice. He did not clash with teammates. He did not violate the law. By his own account — and by the absence of any evidence to the contrary

COLUMN | MICHAEL BARONE

— he remained a good teammate and a committed player.

His o ense was speech.

On Instagram Live, Ivey pushed back on the decision.

“How is it conduct detrimental to the team? What did I do to the team?” he asked.

It’s a fair question — and one the Bulls have not clearly answered.

Even head coach Billy Donovan o ered only a muted response, emphasizing “certain standards” while declining to directly address Ivey’s comments. There was no forceful condemnation, no claim of locker room disruption — just a vague appeal to team values.

Contrast that with other professional sports leagues. UFC president Dana White has repeatedly defended ghters’ rights to speak freely, even when he strongly disagrees with them. The principle is simple: Disagreement does not justify punishment.

The NBA appears to be operating under a di erent standard.

If Ivey had expressed support for Pride Month — or made a personal announcement aligning with it — it’s di cult to imagine a similar outcome. More than likely, he would have been celebrated.

Instead, he was dismissed.

This is what makes the situation so striking. The league has tolerated, and at times quietly managed, far more serious controversies. There was even a prolonged debate over whether to host an event tied to a strip club in Atlanta — an issue that required league intervention after weeks of public scrutiny.

Yet a religious objection to Pride Month draws an immediate and decisive response.

That disparity is hard to ignore.

It also raises broader questions about the NBA’s relationship with its audience. Millions of fans — many of them religious — hold views similar to those Ivey expressed. They may not agree with the league’s messaging, but they have continued to watch, support and engage with the sport.

Decisions like this risk sending a di erent message: that certain beliefs are not merely unpopular but unacceptable.

For a league that seeks to expand its reach, that’s a curious strategy.

Timing only adds to the tension. The incident unfolded during Holy Week, one of the most sacred periods on the Christian calendar — a moment when questions of faith and conviction are especially prominent.

None of this requires agreement with Ivey’s views. Reasonable people can and do disagree on these issues.

But there is a di erence between disagreement and exclusion.

If the standard for remaining in the NBA now includes alignment with speci c cultural or ideological positions, then the league is entering new territory — one where speech, not conduct, becomes the deciding factor in a player’s career.

Ivey may yet nd another team willing to give him a second chance.

But the larger issue will remain: In today’s NBA, it’s not just how you play the game that matters — it’s what you’re allowed to say o the court.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co-founder of Daily Wire+. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

The sudden political star of Trump II: Marco Rubio

Rubio, in his two ostensibly nonpolitical jobs, has obviously made a favorable impression on the public.

“WHITE HOUSE DEPLOYS Marco

Rubio to clarify messaging about Iran con ict.” So reads the headline on the front page of the Washington Examiner’s website in the early hours of April 1, the third month of U.S. military operations against Iran, which have been taking place since Feb. 28.

That prominence was overtaken as it was announced that President Donald Trump would address the nation on the war Wednesday night. But it’s still worth noting and could turn out to be more signi cant as the end of the second Trump term comes into view.

Rubio’s video making the case for the Iran o ensive is only two minutes long, straight to the camera, with a dark background relieved only by the red and white stripes of the ag. Succinctly, he made a case for military action now.

“Under no circumstances,” Rubio said, “can a country run by radical Shia clerics with an apocalyptic vision of the future ever possess nuclear weapons, and under no circumstances can they be allowed to hide and protect that program and their ambitions behind a shield of missiles and drones that no one can do anything about.”

At greater length but in a similar fashion, he made the same case that day in a television interview on Al Jazeera, in terms pitched to its audience not just in the United States but also in the Gulf.

Only one other person before has held the o ces of secretary of state and national security adviser: Henry Kissinger, from 1973 to 1975. In that capacity, Kissinger conducted high-level diplomacy in the Middle East and left no distance in his public statements between his views and those of the president he served, although behind the scenes, as later revealed, there were di erences.

Similarly, Rubio obviously speaks carefully to leave no distance between his statements and those of the president he serves, to whom he refers in respectful terms. But he’s able to do this and to

appeal to others, including inveterate Trump haters, all at the same time.

That was apparent in his Feb. 14 speech at the Munich Security Conference where he earned standing applause from his predominantly European audience even as he repeated, diplomatically phrased, the same criticisms of what Donald Rumsfeld called “Old Europe” voiced numerous times by Trump and, at the same conference a year before, to a very di erent reaction, Vice President JD Vance.

There are many di erences between the two men who were secretary of state and national security adviser. Kissinger was a dazzling scholar who impressed everyone at Harvard University. Rubio rst went to college on a football scholarship then earned degrees from the University of Florida and the University of Miami Law School. Kissinger, in his prime, dated movie stars. Rubio is a longtime family man.

Once in America, Kissinger always lived in the Northeast Corridor (Manhattan, Cambridge and Washington, D.C.), Rubio in semitropical Miami and ra sh Las Vegas. Kissinger never ran for public o ce. Rubio was elected to the West Miami Council at 27 and to the term-limited Florida legislature at 29 (winning a primary runo by 64 votes), and he got his colleagues to elect him as speaker six years later.

But the biggest political di erence is that Kissinger, born a citizen of Weimar Germany, was ineligible to run for president. Rubio not only ran for president in 2016 but might conceivably have won in the absence of Trump’s candidacy and the millions spent against him by backers of his former mentor, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

And Rubio might conceivably run and win in 2028, though he says he will support Vance, and Vance says that Rubio is “my closest friend in the administration.” There are obviously some di erences between them on foreign policy: Rubio

plainly favors the Iran attacks. Vance seems dubious.

Despite speculation that MAGA opposes Trump on Iran, Rubio, in his two ostensibly nonpolitical jobs, has obviously made a favorable impression on the public. At the recent Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine, Texas, Vance once again won the straw poll for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination. But his 53% was down from 61% last year, while Rubio zoomed up from 3% in 2025 to 35% this year.

CPAC, abounding these days with MAGA-loving young men, has not always been a reliable guide to wider opinion.

But national pollsters, which began 2028 polling two weeks after the 2024 election, cast a wider net. In 17 polls conducted over the rst full year since Trump’s inauguration, Rubio averaged 9%, behind not only Vance at 46% but also his fellow Floridian, Gov. Ron DeSantis, who averaged 10%.

In seven polls taken since Rubio’s Munich speech, Vance was unchanged, averaging 45%, and so was DeSantis, who averaged 8%. But Rubio did signi cantly better, averaging 16%. That’s not the jump he saw at CPAC, but it’s also pretty clear evidence that Rubio is making some impression on a public that usually pays little attention to secretaries of state or national security advisers.

But I do feel sure that Rubio, who showed impressive raw political talent in his rise to one of Florida’s U.S. Senate seats in the rst decade of this century and who made a serious presidential run in the second decade, has now shown impressive skills as a national leader in the third decade. Is there more ahead in the fourth?

Michael Barone is a senior political analyst for the Washington Examiner and longtime co-author of “The Almanac of American Politics.” (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

CIA deception aided the rescue of two airmen from hostile Iranian territory

By Seung Min Kim, Matthew Lee and Samy Magdy The Associated Press

THE UNITED STATES pulled o a daring rescue of two aviators whose ghter jet was shot down by Iran, plucking the pilot from behind enemy lines before setting o a complicated extraction of the second service member who hid deep in the mountains as Tehran called for Iranians to help capture him.

The CIA looked to throw o Iran’s government before the crew member was found, launching a deception campaign to spread word inside the Islamic Republic that the U.S. had already located him.

Even as President Donald Trump and other U.S. o cials described an almost cinematic mission, rescuers faced major obstacles, including two Black Hawk helicopters coming under re and problems with two transport planes that forced the U.S. military to blow them up.

“This is the rst time in military memory that two U.S. Pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in Enemy Territory,” Trump wrote early Sunday on his Truth Social platform. “WE WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AMERICAN WARFIGHTER BEHIND!”

U.S. o cials stayed silent as operation played out

In a pair of social media posts, Trump said the operation over the weekend required the U.S. to remain completely silent to avoid jeopardizing the e ort, even as the president and top members of his administration continuously monitored the airman’s location.

The White House and the Pentagon refused to publicly discuss details about the downed ghter jet for well over 24 hours after the initial crash, particularly about the rst crew member rescued from the F-15E Strike Eagle — an e ort that Trump later said took seven hours in broad daylight over Iran.

The United States and Iran’s government then were both racing to nd the second crew member, a weapons systems o cer whose location neither side knew.

The CIA spread word in Iran that the U.S. had found him and were moving him by ground to get him out of the country, according to a senior Trump administration o cial who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet made public.

The confusion allowed the CIA time to uncover the location of the service member, who was hiding in a mountain crevice, the o cial said.

He had climbed 7,000 feet despite being injured, said Sen. Dave McCormick, a Pennsylvania Republican who told

“Fox News Sunday” that he was briefed by a senior administration o cial involved in the operation.

The intelligence agency sent the aviator’s coordinates to the Pentagon and the White House, where Trump ordered a rescue operation.

Iran urged public to look for “enemy pilot”

Meanwhile, an anchor on a channel a liated with Iranian state television had been urging residents in the mountainous region of southwest Iran where the ghter jet went down to hand over any “enemy pilot” to police and promised a reward for anyone who did.

Trump said the American aviator was being “hunted down” by enemies who were “getting closer and closer by the hour.” The United States was monitoring his location continuously, he said.

At the right moment, Trump said, he directed the military to send dozens of heavily armed aircraft to rescue the crew member, who the president said is “seriously wounded” but will recover.

Iranian state media reported that airstrikes in southwestern Iran on Saturday killed at least three people and wounded others, in the same area where the missing American crew member was believed to be.

U.S. rescuers faced obstacles with aircraft during operation

The American rescue mission ran into major challenges behind enemy lines. Iran’s joint military command claimed it struck two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters taking part in the operation.

A person familiar with the situation said the two helicopters were able to navigate to safe airspace, although it’s unclear if they landed or if crew members were injured. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive information.

Then, the U.S. military was

forced to bring in additional aircraft to complete the rescue of the second service member due to a technical malfunction, according to a regional intelligence o cial briefed on the mission. The U.S. blew up two transport planes it was forced to leave behind because of the mishap, said the o cial, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the covert mission.

Iran’s state television on Sunday aired a video showing what it claimed were parts of a U.S. aircraft shot down by Iranian forces, along with a photo of thick, black smoke rising. The broadcaster said Iran had shot down a transport plane and two helicopters that were part of the rescue operation.

Iran’s joint military command said the destroyed aircraft included two C-130 military transport aircraft and two Black Hawk helicopters in the province of Isfahan, where the rescue took place.

“The fact that we were able to pull o both of these operations, without a SINGLE American killed, or even wounded, just proves once again, that we have achieved overwhelming Air Dominance and Superiority over the Iranian skies,” Trump said on social media.

Second U.S. military jet also downed

Trump, however, did not mention that a second military jet also went down the same day as the F-15E. Iranian state media said Friday that a U.S. A-10 attack aircraft crashed after being struck by Iran’s defense forces.

A U.S. o cial, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive military situation, con rmed a second Air Force combat aircraft went down in the Middle East on Friday.

An additional U.S. pilot was rescued, but details were not available given the security concerns, another person familiar with the situation said. Neither provided more information, including whether it was the A-10.

Artemis II breaks Apollo 13’s distance record with daring moon yby that included solar eclipse

The astronauts broke Apollo 13’s distance record during the historic moon yby

By Marcia Dunn

The Associated Press

HOUSTON — After traveling deeper into space than any other humans, the Artemis II astronauts pointed their moonship toward home Monday night, wrapping up a lunar cruise that revealed views of the far side never beheld by eyes until now.

Their yby of the moon — NASA’s rst return since the Apollo era — even included some celestial sightseeing besides yielding rich science. It was a signi cant step toward landing boot prints near the moon’s south pole in just two years.

A total solar eclipse greeted the three Americans and one Canadian as the moon temporarily blocked the sun from their perspective. Mercury, Venus, Mars and Saturn nodded at them from the black void. The landing sites of Apollo 12 and 14 also were visible, poignant reminders of NASA’s rst age of exploration more than half a century ago.

In an especially riveting retro throwback, Artemis II shattered the distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. NASA’s Orion capsule reached a maximum distance of 252,756 miles from Earth before hanging a U-turn behind the moon, 4,101 miles farther than Apollo 13.

“It is blowing my mind what you can see with the naked eye from the moon right now. It is just unbelievable,” Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen radioed. He challenged “this generation and the next to make sure this record is not long-lived.”

PLANT from page A1

“The grant request is 75% for 10 years for a business that is expanding its operations in the town of Norwood with an additional manufacturing line,” Kazimir said. “This project speci cally will create 30 additional new jobs with salaries above the county average and will result in new taxable investment of an estimated

ALBEMARLE from page A1 guide development, infrastructure and investment decisions over the next two decades.

Steadman said the city is now working to translate that vision into actionable policy.

“I don’t have to tell you all how quickly Albemarle is growing and changing,” she said. “We have a unique opportunity to shape the future of the community. We have voices at the table. People are interested in development and investing in the community.”

The e ort will move forward in two phases.

Artemis II astronauts get Apollo wake-up message

Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell wished the crew well in a recording made two months before his death last August. Mission Control beamed up his message to commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Hansen, before their y-around began.

“Welcome to my old neighborhood,” said Lovell, who also ew on Apollo 8, humanity’s rst lunar visit. “It’s a historic day and I know how busy you’ll be, but don’t forget to enjoy the view.”

The Artemis II astronauts carried up with them the Apollo 8 silk patch that accompanied Lovell to the moon. “It’s just a real honor to have that on board with us,” Wiseman said.

Artemis II is using the same maneuver that Apollo 13 did after its “Houston, we’ve had a problem” oxygen tank explosion wiped out any hope of a moon landing.

$28.164 million in machinery and equipment over the next ve years.”

Vice Chairman Bill Lawhon asked how the projected wages will compare to the county average.

“The current Stanly County average wage for 2026 is $43,248, and for this project, the average salary will be $50,083,” Kazimir said.

Following that item, com-

The rst focuses on addressing immediate needs through a resubmission of Text Amendment 24-03, which includes changes to lot shape consistency, bu er and yard requirements, street tree placement, sidewalks on both sides of residential streets and standards for improvements on paper streets.

Additional updates include establishing a development review schedule, requiring community meetings for rezonings and expanding the radius for public noti cations. The proposed amendment also includes re nements to cluster development standards, an area

Known as a free-return lunar trajectory, this no-stoppingto-land route takes advantage of Earth and the moon’s gravity, reducing the need for fuel. It’s a celestial gure-eight that put the astronauts on course for home once they emerged from behind the moon Monday evening.

Astronauts lock in on lunar observations

Artemis II’s lunar y-around and intense observation period lasted seven hours, by far the highlight of the nearly 10 - day test ight that will end with a splashdown in the Paci c on Friday.

Venturing as close as 4,067 miles to the gray dusty surface, the astronauts zipped through a list of more than two dozen targets, using powerful Nikon cameras as well as their iPhones to zoom in on impact craters and other intriguing lunar features. Before getting started, they

missioners also unanimously approved a resolution supporting the company’s application for a Building Reuse grant through the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Rural Infrastructure Authority.

“Should you choose to support this resolution and Project NORRAD’s application, the RIA will review this application on April 16 this year,”

that has drawn concerns about consistency and design quality.

City sta plans to bring the revised amendment back to council for potential adoption April 20.

The second phase involves a broader regulatory assessment that could lead to the creation of a uni ed development ordinance (UDO), which would consolidate existing regulations into a single, modernized framework.

The initial assessment is expected to cost about $14,500, with a full UDO projected between $100,000 and $125,000, according to Steadman.

requested permission to name two bright, freshly carved craters. They suggested Integrity, the name of their capsule, and Carroll, commander Wiseman’s wife, who died of cancer in 2020.

Wiseman wept as Hansen put in the request to Mission Control, and all four astronauts embraced in tears.

“Such a majestic view out here,” Wiseman radioed once he regained his composure and started picture-taking. The astronauts called down that they managed to capture the moon and Earth in the same shot, and they provided a running commentary to scientists back in Houston on what they were seeing. At one point, Koch reported an overwhelming sensation of emotion for a second or two while zooming in on the moon.

“Something just drew me in suddenly to the lunar landscape and it became real,” she said.

The Artemis II astronauts made their closest approach to the moon and reached their maximum distance from Earth while they were out of contact. Their speed at closest approach: 3,139 mph. The spacecraft accelerated as it appeared from behind the moon and the planned communications blackout and made tracks for Earth.

An Earthrise came into view showing Asia, Africa and Oceania as Mission Control called out: “We are Earthbound and ready to bring you home.” Flight controllers in Houston ipped their mission patches over to signify the return leg.

President Donald Trump phoned the astronauts following the yby, calling them “modern-day pioneers.”

“Today you’ve made history and made all America really proud, incredibly proud,” the president said, adding that more

Kazimir said. “The Department of Commerce requires a local match for companies to apply for this building reuse program. It’s very common, standard practice for us, and we’ve done several of these in the past.”

As part of the resolution, the county agreed to provide a local cash match of $11,250 to support administration of the project.

Mayor Pro Tem Martha Sue Hall questioned how the additional work would build on the city’s recent investment in its comprehensive plan.

“We’ve spent a lot of time and a lot of money,” Hall said. “A study is a study unless you use it to lead the way. I guess I need to hear if we’re talking about more money and more time, how is this going to work, hand in hand, or completely opposite about what we just spent all this other time and money?”

“Is it going to cost more money? Is it going to take more time? I’ll be honest, yes and yes,”

lunar traveling is coming and ultimately “the whole big trip to Mars.”

Wiseman and his crew spent years studying lunar geography to prepare for the big event, adding solar eclipses to their repertoire during the past few weeks. By launching last Wednesday, they ensured themselves of a total solar eclipse from their vantage point behind the moon, courtesy of the cosmos.

Topping their science target list: Orientale Basin, a sprawling impact basin with three concentric rings, the outermost of which stretches nearly 600 miles across.

Their moon mentor, NASA geologist Kelsey Young, expects thousands of pictures.

Artemis II is NASA’s rst astronaut moonshot since Apollo 17 in 1972. It sets the stage for next year’s Artemis III, which will see another Orion crew practice docking with lunar landers in orbit around Earth. The culminating moon landing by two astronauts near the moon’s south pole will follow on Artemis IV in 2028.

While Artemis II may be taking Apollo 13’s path, it’s most reminiscent of Apollo 8 and humanity’s rst lunar visitors who orbited the moon on Christmas Eve 1968 and read from the Book of Genesis.

Glover said ying to the moon during Christianity’s Holy Week brought home for him “the beauty of creation.” Earth is an oasis amid “a whole bunch of nothing, this thing we call the universe” where humanity exists as one, he observed over the weekend.

“This is an opportunity for us to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing and that we’ve got to get through this together,” Glover said, clasping hands with his crewmates.

Opened in 1991, Michelin’s Norwood plant manufactures aircraft tires for commercial and military aviation, serving as a key Stanly County employer and a specialized link to the global aerospace industry.

The Stanly County Board of Commissioners will hold its next regular meeting April 20 at 6 p.m. in the Gene McIntyre Meeting Room at Stanly County Commons.

Steadman answered. “However, we’re not starting from scratch. All that engagement and all the work that we did in a comprehensive plan is the foundation. It’s the blueprint.” The assessment process, expected to begin in May and take two to four months, will include a site visit, technical review of existing ordinances and stakeholder interviews. Findings and recommendations will be presented to council and other local partners upon completion.

The Albemarle City Council will hold its next regular meeting April 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.

Theodore (Ted) Calvin Hatley

March 31, 1945 –April 4, 2026

Theodore (Ted) Calvin Hatley born 03/31/1945, passed away 04/04/2026 surrounded by his daughters Tonya and Trina. Ted loved camping, shing and hunting.

Ted was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Attie Hatley; his father, Luke Hatley; and his daughter, Tina Hatley Faulkner.

He leaves behind his loving daughters, Tonya Hatley Tuohenmaa (Aki) and Trina Hatley Poc, Grandchildren Jacob Co el (Kristyn), Jared Co el (Zoe) Jennie Dewitt (Teddy) and Nathan Holloman. Great grandchildren Tucker Dewitt and Cole Co el also his fur baby Nick.

Ted will be remembered for the love he gave, the lessons he taught, and the lasting impact he made on those fortunate enough to know him. His memory will live on through the family he loved so deeply.

Services will be Saturday April 11,2026 3:00pm at Cole Baptist Church 12168 Coyle Rd, Stan eld, NC

Frances Carpenter Bailey

July 18, 1943 –March 31, 2026

Frances Carpenter Bailey, 82, of Fair eld, California died on March 31, 2026, after a period of declining health.

Fran was born in Cumberland, North Carolina, on July 18, 1943, to parents Lyndall Rose Love Carpenter and Burns Craig Carpenter. Her mother died when she was nine years old, and with her brothers Larry and Greg Carpenter, she went to live with her maternal grandparents Hugh and Ollie Love. She went to school in Stan eld and then trained and practiced as a beautician for several years. She married James Kennedy in 1962 and initially lived in Locust, later moving to Charlotte. They had two sons, Ashley York Kennedy and Byron Delane Kennedy. They divorced in 1981. She worked for many years at Consolidated Engravers, a textile engraving rm in Charlotte, where she eventually ran the art department, which she loved. After her divorce, she met Douglas Bailey, whom she married in 1996. They lived together in Charlotte and then moved to Fair eld, California in 2013 for Doug’s work and to be closer to her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, art, movies, music, animals (especially cats), and celebrating good times with her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Larry, and survived by her beloved husband Doug, her sons York and Byron and their wives Susie Falk and Sung Makawatsakul, and her grandchildren Pippa, Zoe, Tristan, and Ainsley Kennedy. A graveside service will be held at Love’s Chapel Cemetery on Saturday, April 11 at 11am. Donations can be made to Love’s Chapel Methodist Church.

OBITUARIES

Paula Marie Case

Jan. 27, 1952 – April 1, 2026

Paula Marie Case of Albemarle, NC, was born on January 27, 1952, and peacefully passed away into the arms of her Lord and Savior on April 1, 2026. She is the daughter of the late Douglas D. Case and Mary Frances Gamewell Case formerly of Valley Drive, Albemarle, NC.

Paula was a lifelong member of Badin United Methodist Church.

Ms. Case was a 1970 graduate of North Stanly High School; 1972 graduate of Wingate College A.S. degree; 1974 graduate of UNC-Charlotte B.C.A. in Music; 1982 graduate of Stanly Technical College A.S. degree in Respiratory Therapy; and 1990 graduate of Pfei er College B.A. degree in Early Childhood Education K-6. On August 21, 1971, Ms. Case was crowned Miss Stanly County and participated in the Miss North Carolina Pageant. Paula worked with Eastern Airlines as a Flight Attendant from 1974 - 1979. Paula began her teaching career at Millingport Elementary School in Stanly County in 1990. She moved to Candor Elementary School in Montgomery County 1991-1997.

Ms. Case returned to Stanly County from 1997-2013 to teach at Norwood Elementary School. She retired in 2013. Paula was initiated on November 8, 2018 into Alpha Delta Kappa NC Xi Chapter which is an International Honorary Sorority for Women Educators.

Ms. Case is survived by her son, Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Brian T. Wilson; Kristi Wilson (daughter-in-law); Riley (19) and Kaleb (15) (grandchildren of Yorktown, VA); Pamela Case Shaw (sister; Larry; Rock Hill, SC); Patrice Case Burleson (sister; Je deceased; Rock Hill, SC); Philip D. Case (brother; Albemarle, NC); Jessica Burleson and Sarah Burleson, nieces; Annaleigh Garvin, great niece; Caden Howard, Cole Howard, and Camden Burleson, great nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Badin United Methodist Church on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 1 pm for family and friends.

Rev. Wes Judy, Associate Pastor of Congregation Care at Forest United Hill Methodist Church in Concord, NC, and Pastor Evan Hill of Badin United Methodist Church and New London United Methodist Church, will share Paula’s journey to Heaven through scripture and song.

The family will have an Inurnment Service on Monday, April 13, 2026 at 11 am at Grandview Memorial Park at Hollis Lakes Road, Rock Hill, SC 29732. Pastor Roger Brown of Calvary Baptist Church will conduct the service.

In lieu of owers, please give a donation in honor of Paula Marie Case to the Levine Cancer Institute, Albemarle, NC.

Jimmy Rowland Davis

Jan. 16, 1940 – April 3, 2026

Jimmy Rowland Davis of Albemarle, NC, passed away Friday, April 3, 2026, at Atrium Health Main in Charlotte, NC.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at 2:00 PM at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle Chapel.

The service will be o ciated by Rev. Ken McRae and Rev. Shad Hicks. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 12:00 PM until 1:45 PM.

In accordance with his wishes, his cremains will be scattered o the coast of Southport, NC. Mr. Davis was born January 16, 1940, in Stanly County to the late William Alexander Davis and Ruth Helms Davis.

Jimmy worked two jobs most of his life. He worked in the well business his father started from the time he was a young boy until about 20 years ago. He also retired from Collins & Aikman after 36 years of service.

He was a faithful member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, of Oakboro, NC, and proudly served his country in the Army National Guard in Albemarle.

Jimmy enjoyed the simple pleasures of life and was especially fond of rabbit hunting, crappie shing, and gardening. He will be remembered for his strong work ethic, love for the outdoors, and devotion to his family.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Emily Angeline Davis, who passed away on January 15, 2025, and sister, Patsy Speight.

He is survived by two sons, Barry Davis (Darla) of Albemarle, NC, and Eric Davis (Amy) of Myrtle Beach, SC; one brother, Laverne Davis (Ethel) of Oakboro, NC; one sister, Elaine Harris (Larry) of Granite Falls, NC; four grandchildren, Whitney Morton, Nicholas Davis, Michael Lentz, and Marshall Hervey; and six great-grandchildren, Maxton Morton, Adelaide Hervey, Roland Hervey, Beatrice Hervey, Maysie Lentz, and Blakely Lentz.

Memorials may be made to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 17236 Frog Pond Road, Oakboro, NC 28129.

Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle is serving the Davis family.

OPAL ROSE

AUG. 19, 1933 – APRIL 1, 2026

Opal Catherine Paynter Rose, 92, of Midland, NC, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

Opal was born August 19, 1933, in Hanover, West Virginia, to the late Lorenzo Dow Paynter Sr., and the late Martha L. Paynter. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Calvin Corbett Rose; son, Jerry Rose; son-in-law, Maynford Henry; sonin-law, Eddie Morgan; as well as several brothers and sisters. Survivors include son, Corbett Rose of Statesville, NC; daughter, Sharon Henry of Midland, NC; daughter, Rita Morgan of North Spring, WV; grandchildren, Kevin, Wendy, Misty, Heather, Cassie, and Derek; seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, April 11, at 11:30 a.m. at The Praising Place Church of God, 5268 N. Sharon Amity Road, Charlotte, NC, o ciated by Rev. Roy Tucker Jr. and Rev. Sean Dees.

In lieu of owers, please consider a memorial donation in Opal’s memory to The Praising Place Church of God, 5268 N. Sharon Amity Rd., Charlotte, NC 28215.

ELVIS QUENTIN SMITH

SEPT. 12, 1975 – APRIL 1, 2026

Elvis Quentin Smith left this earthly home on April 1, 2026, for his heavenly home. He was 50 years old and was a beloved father, brother, son, grandson, nephew, cousin, uncle and friend. He leaves a 17-year-old son, Jordan Kyle Smith (of Albemarle), a half-brother, Westley Thomas Beachum (of Norwood), and 4 step-siblings: Benjamin (Angie) Beachum, Debra Beachum, Joy Beachum, and James Beachum. He also leaves six aunts and two uncles, many cousins, nieces and nephews. Also left is his beloved pet dog “Brody”(his mother’s pet until her passing in 2022). He always said that he loved Brody so much because Brody was a part he had left of his Mom.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Dale Smith Beachum (Dec. 2022), his grandmother, Faye Smith (July 2004), three aunts, and a twin brother who died during childbirth. He was born on September 12, 1975, at (then) Charlotte Memorial Hospital, and was a twin, but his twin brother died during a premature and complicated childbirth.

After high school at South Stanly, he later worked 15 years at Atrium Health Stanly Memorial Hospital in Albemarle beginning in the Dietary Department, and then as an Xray Transporter. His co-workers always commented on how friendly and pleasant he was to work with and how much they loved him. More recently, he worked as an Amazon delivery driver and as a delivery driver for Walmart. He was saved and baptized as a young boy, and was covered by the Blood of Jesus, God’s Love, and God’s Tender Mercy. Elvis’s (Quentin’s) family is grateful for all the thoughts, prayers, phone calls and condolences. Thank you for the care and kindness to his family and friends.

A memorial is planned for a later date and will be announced.

JIMMY ROWLAND DAVIS

JAN. 16, 1940 – APRIL 3, 2026

Jimmy Rowland Davis of Albemarle, NC, passed away Friday, April 3, 2026, at Atrium Health Main in Charlotte, NC.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at 2 p.m. at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle Chapel. The service will be o ciated by Rev. Ken McRae and Rev. Shad Hicks. The family will receive friends prior to the service from noon until 1:45 .p.m. In accordance with his wishes, his cremains will be scattered o the coast of Southport, NC.

Mr. Davis was born January 16, 1940, in Stanly County to the late William Alexander Davis and Ruth Helms Davis. Jimmy worked two jobs most of his life. He worked in the well business his father started from the time he was a young boy until about 20 years ago. He also retired from Collins & Aikman after 36 years of service. He was a faithful member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, of Oakboro, NC, and proudly served his country in the Army National Guard in Albemarle.

Jimmy enjoyed the simple pleasures of life and was especially fond of rabbit hunting, crappie shing, and gardening. He will be remembered for his strong work ethic, love for the outdoors, and devotion to his family.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Emily Angeline Davis, who passed away on January 15, 2025, and sister, Patsy Speight.

He is survived by two sons, Barry Davis (Darla) of Albemarle, NC, and Eric Davis (Amy) of Myrtle Beach, SC; one brother, Laverne Davis (Ethel) of Oakboro, NC; one sister, Elaine Harris (Larry) of Granite Falls, NC; four grandchildren, Whitney Morton, Nicholas Davis, Michael Lentz, and Marshall Hervey; and six great-grandchildren, Maxton Morton, Adelaide Hervey, Roland Hervey, Beatrice Hervey, Maysie Lentz and Blakely Lentz. Memorials may be made to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 17236 Frog Pond Road, Oakboro, NC 28129.

BARBARA JEAN BULLINS

DEC. 20, 1953 – APRIL 3, 2026

Barbara Jean Pickler Bullins, 72, of Albemarle, passed away Friday, April 3, 2026, at her home.

A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Norwood Cemetery. Pastor Gary Cox will o ciate. The family will receive friends on Monday, April 6, 2026, from 6-8 p.m. at Edwards Funeral Home in Norwood.

Barbara was born on December 20, 1953, in Stanly County to the late Clyde Allen Pickler and Alice Talbert Pickler, who survives. In addition to her mother, Alice Pickler, she is survived by her daughters, Linda Lambert and Donna Whitaker; brother: Paul Pickler (Deborah); sisters: Mary Jane Whitaker, Joanne Pro tt, and Betty Pickler; grandchildren: Michael Paul Whitaker, Erik D’Shane Whitaker, Savannah Raine Whitaker, Jordan Allen James Pannell, Jacob Eugene Thompson, Andrew Eugene Thompson; and great-grandchildren: Ezra Thompson, Ivy Thompson, Jace Whitaker, Baby Pannell and Baby Boy Thonpson.

STANLY SPORTS

West Stanly golfer Shaw records hole-in-one

The junior recorded his rst career ace during the Colts’ win over Mount Pleasant

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

LOCUST — West Stanly golfer Carter Shaw recorded the rst hole-in-one of his career during the Colts’ recent win over Mount Pleasant at Red Bridge Golf Club.

The Colts (4-1 Rocky River Conference) defeated the Tigers (3-3 RRC) 166-175 in the March 24 matchup, highlighted by Shaw’s ace on the par-3 ninth hole.

The junior used an 8-iron from 140 yards in challenging conditions, with the wind and pin placement both factoring into the shot.

“It was playing dead into the wind, so I knew I needed to club up,” Shaw said. “The pin was in a tough spot sitting in the front of the green. I wanted to be short of the hill and let it work back to the hole. I just had to be con dent and put a good swing on it. This is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

West Stanly coach Matt Jones and Shaw’s parents were positioned near the green and witnessed the shot rsthand.

“The hole was in the front of the green, and it was playing into the wind, so he had to club up a little bit,” Jones said. “It was a very challenging shot because most of the shots that land short or in a di cult spot on that green end up actually rolling past the hole and o the green. So he threw a shot just to the back of the pin, a little bit right of it, and played the hill to funnel it back down into the back of the hole.”

Shaw also turned in a team-best score of 40 in the match, continuing what Jones described as steady improvement since joining the team last season.

“It was de nitely an incredible experience for not only him but myself as well because in my 12 years of coaching, it’s the rst one I’ve witnessed from one of my own team players,” Jones said.

West Stanly sits in second place in the Rocky River Conference standings midway through league play, trailing Parkwood (6-0 RRC), which handed the Colts their only conference loss this season.

The Mount Pleasant match marked the end of the rst round of conference play, with teams set to face each other again in the second half of the schedule.

The Rocky River Conference tournament is scheduled for April 27 at Stonebridge Golf Club in Monroe.

Lowder delivers 6 scoreless innings in Reds’ win over Texas

The rookie right-hander continues his historic start in Cincinnati

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

ALBEMARLE — Former North Stanly pitcher Rhett Lowder is making an early impression on the mound for the Cincinnati Reds, delivering one of the most dominant starts to a career in both franchise and league history.

On Saturday night, the

24-year-old Albemarle native, who still quali es as a rookie this season, made his second start of the 2026 campaign and the eighth of his major league career.

The right-hander allowed three hits over six scoreless innings on 82 pitches as the Reds defeated the Texas Rangers 2-0, earning his rst win since 2024 after missing the entire 2025 season with a right forearm strain and left oblique strain.

After surrendering back-toback singles with two outs in the rst inning, Lowder set-

“I just want to keep going and keep winning,” Rhett Lowder

tled in and did not allow another Rangers baserunner to reach second base. He nished with four strikeouts and two leado walks.

“Honestly, it was a grind,” Lowder said after the win. “I feel like I never got into a rhythm. It was fun and I’m happy with

it for sure, but it wasn’t easy.” Through his rst eight major league starts, Lowder has posted a 1.30 ERA — the lowest mark by a Reds pitcher at that stage since 1913. The consistency and command displayed by the young right-hander have quickly positioned him as a key piece of Cincinnati’s rotation.

His performance also stands out on a broader historical scale. His career ERA ranks as the fth-lowest by any Major League Baseball pitcher through their rst eight starts since 1961.

In addition to limiting runs, Lowder has proven di cult to score against altogether. He has recorded ve scoreless starts of at least ve innings, tied for the most such outings by any pitcher through their rst eight career starts since 1900. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando

Valenzuela is the only other player to match that total over that span.

“Oh really? No, I didn’t know that — that’s pretty cool,” Lowder said when informed of the milestone. “I just want to keep going and keep winning.”

Saturday’s outing marked an improvement from his rst start of the season on March 29 against Boston, when he allowed two runs on three hits with two walks and ve strikeouts over ve innings on 86 pitches.

The seventh overall pick out of Wake Forest in the 2023 MLB Draft made his big league debut late in the 2024 season, going 2-2 with a 1.17 ERA in six starts.

Lowder is scheduled to make his next start Thursday afternoon on the road against the Miami Marlins.

NHL Islanders re coach Roy after losing 4 straight, name DeBoer as replacement

New York Patrick Roy was red Sunday as coach of the New York Islanders. First-year general manager Mathieu Darche announced the decision after the team lost four in a row and seven of its past 10 games. The Islanders were comfortably in a playo spot until their late-season tailspin put their chances in danger with four games left to play. Peter DeBoer was named as Roy’s replacement and not just on an interim basis. He has taken two teams to the Stanley Cup nal and most recently coached the Dallas Stars.

NBA Rivers, Few, Parker set for Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement

Phoenix Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw and the 1996 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team will be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The class was unveiled at halftime of the UConn-South Carolina game during the women’s Final Four. Also included were Amar’e Stoudemire and Mike D’Antoni. They will be joined by longtime NBA o cial Joey Crawford, NBA coach Doc Rivers and Gonzaga coach Mark Few. The enshrinement ceremony will take place in August at the Hall of Fame in Spring eld, Massachusetts.

NFL Rams’ Nacua went to rehab before being sued for assault, battery by woman

Los Angeles Los Angeles Rams All-Pro wide receiver Puka Nacua was in rehab before he was sued for assault and battery by a woman who says he made an antisemitic statement and bit her on the shoulder. Nacua issued an apology last December after performing a gesture that plays upon antisemitic tropes while appearing on an internet livestream. Nacua has been one of the most productive receivers in NFL history over his rst three seasons with the Rams, who drafted him in the fth round out of BYU in 2023.

NBA Mavs rookie Flagg scores 51 points, becomes rst teen to reach 50 in NBA game

Dallas Cooper Flagg scored 51 points last Friday to become the rst teenager to reach the 50-point mark in an NBA game. The rookie No. 1 pick of the Dallas Mavericks scored 24 points in the fourth quarter of a 138-127 loss to the Orlando Magic. Flagg’s fourth-quarter urry came after coach Jason Kidd and teammate Naji Marshall were ejected over what they thought was a no - call when Flagg was fouled by Desmond Bane. Flagg’s previous career high was 49.

NHL

Bu alo Sabres clinch playo spot to end longest drought in NHL history

Bu alo, N.Y.

Bring on postseason hockey in Bu alo. The Sabres’ playo drought is nally over. Following an NHL-record 14 seasons of futility during which the team nished no better than 19th in the league standings, the Sabres clinched a berth when the New York Rangers defeated the Detroit Red Wings in regulation. Bu alo’s playo drought was among the four North American sports’ longest active streaks, ranking second behind the NFL’s New York Jets, who last quali ed in 2010.

Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: community@stanlynewsjournal.com

Weekly deadline is Monday at noon

The Duke freshman is recovering from fractures around his eye socket

By Aaron Beard

The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — Duke

star freshman and top NBA prospect Cameron Boozer is still healing, both emotionally after the Blue Devils’ devastating March Madness loss to UConn and physically after su ering a facial injury in that game.

The 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward said Sunday he sustained “a couple of fractures” during the Blue Devils’ loss in the Elite Eight.

Boozer, who last Friday became only the fth freshman named as The Associated Press men’s national player of the year, was hurt in the rst half last Sunday when he went up for a shot against 7-foot-1 center Eric Reibe. Reibe’s left elbow struck Boozer near his right eye as Reibe contested the shot, leading to signi cant swelling around and under the eye.

The swelling around his right eye was down Sunday, though the white part was still bright red. Boozer said he opted against having surgery in favor of giving it time to heal.

“I have a couple of fractures, but I’m all good,” Boozer said during Sunday’s award presentation for winning the AP national honor, along with another from the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. “Just going through the healing process.”

Boozer fought through the injury the rest of the way and nished with 27 points, including a tough spinning basket into the paint against tra c with Duke leading by just one in the nal minute. It was one of multiple examples this season of Boozer playing through bumps, blows and hard fouls, such as a late-season win at NC State in which Boozer had gnarly long scratches near his right shoulder after being gouged by a Wolfpack defender.

The Huskies went on to win on Braylon Mullins’ last-second 3-pointer to complete a stunning comeback from 19 down. Boozer’s twin brother, Cayden, received torrents of online abuse after committing Duke’s last turnover before Mullins’ winner.

Cameron pointed out that “that one play isn’t the reason we lost.”

“There’s not really that much I can say to make him feel better,” Boozer said. “We’re all hurting as a team, but we’re going to get through it together. We’re

a super-connected group. “It’s de nitely a hard moment. But he’s a tough guy. We’re all tough, it’s going to make us so much better going forward. It’s something you’ve got to take on the chin and learn and grow from.”

UConn went on to beat Illinois in Saturday’s national semi nal but lost 69-63 in Monday’s national championship game to Michigan. Duke, the NCAA Tournament’s

SOUTH STANLY (8-8, 5-1 IN CONFERENCE)

• Won at North Stanly 5-2

• Lost vs. North Stanly 15-5

• Lost at West Brunswick 13-3

This week’s schedule

• April 7 vs. Southern Nash

WEST STANLY (15-0, 6-0 IN CONFERENCE)

• Won at Parkwood 7-0

• Won vs. Parkwood 12-2

• Won at Randleman 9-3

This week’s schedule

• April 7 vs. East Bladen

NORTH STANLY (10-3, 5-1 IN CONFERENCE)

• Lost vs. South Stanly 5-2

• Won at South Stanly 15-5

Upcoming schedule

• April 7 vs. Wellsville

• April 8 vs. Tyler

• April 9 vs. Chester

• April 10 vs. Sherman

ALBEMARLE (2-7, 1-5 IN CONFERENCE)

• Lost vs. Union Academy 13-1

• Lost at Union Academy 21-0

Upcoming schedule

• April 8 at Phillip O. Berry Academy

• April 9 at Forest Hills

GRAY STONE DAY (5-5, 2-4 IN CONFERENCE)

• Won vs. North Rowan 13-0

• Won at North Rowan 16-4

No games scheduled this week

SOFTBALL

SOUTH STANLY (14-0, 4-0 IN CONFERENCE)

• Won at North Stanly 18-2

• Won vs. North Stanly 11-1

• Won vs. Crest 5-0

This week’s schedule

• April 7 vs. McMichael

• April 8 Beach Diamond Invitational

No. 1 overall seed, was one of three teams to beat Michigan all year. Boozer’s award presentation came on the same stage where UConn and Michigan were holding news conferences ahead of playing Monday for the national title.

“It’s a lot of emotions going into it,” Boozer said of being at Lucas Oil Stadium. “But yeah, it’s de nitely tough being here for sure.”

WEST STANLY (14-2, 9-0 IN CONFERENCE)

• Won vs. Parkwood 4-0

• Lost vs. Piedmont 9-2

• Won vs. East Bladen 10-0

Upcoming schedule

• April 7 Beach Diamond Invitational

• April 8 Beach Diamond Invitational

NORTH STANLY (3-9, 1-4 IN CONFERENCE)

• Lost vs. South Stanly 18-2

• Lost at South Stanly 11-1

Upcoming schedule

• April 7 at Providence Grove

• April 8 vs. High Point Christian Academy

• April 9 at Randleman

ALBEMARLE (0-4, 0-2 IN CONFERENCE)

• Lost at Union Academy 1-0

No games scheduled this week

GRAY STONE DAY (3-7, 0-4 IN CONFERENCE)

• No games last week

No games scheduled this week

GIRLS’ SOCCER

SOUTH STANLY (3-4, 2-2 IN CONFERENCE)

Won at Union Academy 9-0

This week’s schedule

• April 13 vs. Gray Stone Day

WEST STANLY (9-1-1, 6-0 IN CONFERENCE)

• Won vs. Mount Pleasant 3-2

No games scheduled this week

NORTH STANLY (0-11-1, 0-4 IN CONFERENCE)

• Lost vs. North Rowan 1-0

Upcoming schedule

• April 13 at Albemarle

ALBEMARLE (0-8, 0-4 IN CONFERENCE)

• Lost vs. Gray Stone Day 4-0

Upcoming schedule

• April 13 vs. North Stanly

GRAY STONE DAY (5-5, 3-1 IN CONFERENCE)

• Won at Albemarle 4-0

• Lost vs. Mount Pleasant 3-1

Upcoming schedule

• April 13 at South Stanly

Let’s Work Together

• Coordinator, CCR Student Success & Pathways Navigator

• Instructor, Plumbing (12-months)

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We are eager to welcome individuals who are dedicated to our mission and committed to enhancing our community. Interested candidates are invited to browse our open full and part time positions via the website below to nd out how to apply for one of our job openings at SCC.

FOR SALE

4 piece Solid Cherry Bedroom suite made by YoungHinkle, good condition, $1,200.00 Call 704-438-5132.

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NOTICES

NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000237-830

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Administrator of the estate of Kevin Bernard Almond deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Kevin Bernard Almond to present them to the undersigned on or before June 27, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment.

This the 25th day of March 2026. John Thomas Almond 24806 Bost Road Albemarle, NC 28001 Administrator

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

STANLY COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA 26E000134-830.

The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the estate of SHARON HUNEYCUTT WADE AKA SHARON H WADE, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, hereby noti es all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the decedent to present to the undersigned on or before June 30, 2026 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. Jennifer Clemmer aka Jennifer Lynne Wade c/o Paula J. Yost PO Box 1385 Mt. Pleasant NC 28124.

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE STANLY COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000151-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Ronald Craig Whitley, deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Ronald Craig Whitley to present them to the undersigned on or before July 2, 2026, or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 1st day of April, 2026. Derek Shaun Whitley 1025 Speight Road Albemarle, NC 28001 Administrator Information John W Webster 146 North 4th Street Albemarle, NC 28001 Attorney Information

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000155-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having

the stream

Sydney Sweeney, ‘Malcolm in the Middle,’ Jonah Hill, ‘Hacks’ nale, Ella Langley

The fth and nal season of “The Boys” lands on Prime Video

The Associated Press

SYDNEY SWEENEY starring as real-life boxing legend Christy Martin in the movie “Christy” and “Hacks” launching its fth and nal season on HBO are some of the new television, lms, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also, among the streaming o erings worth your time this week: Country hitmaker Ella Langley releasing her sophomore album, Nintendo dropping the monster combat game Pokémon Champions and “Malcolm in the Middle” fans getting a four-episode revival with Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek.

MOVIES TO STREAM

Sweeney stars as real-life boxing legend Christy Martin in David Michôd’s “Christy” (HBO Max, Friday). The lm, which Sweeney also produced, drew some of her best reviews. Her distinctly unglamorous performance spans Martin’s small-town West Virginia beginnings to a professional career shadowed by her abusive manager-turned-husband (Ben Foster). In her review, AP’s Jocelyn Noveck wrote that Sweeney “imbues her no-holds-barred portrayal of Martin with both sweetness and rage, with brio and real vulnerability.”

One of the highlights of last year, Akinola Davies Jr.’s tender father-son drama, “My Father’s Shadow,” begins streaming Friday on MUBI. The lm, penned by Davies and his brother, Wale, is loosely autobiographical. Their father died when they were young. But in “My Father’s Shadow,” two Nigerian boys have unexpected day with their father (Sope Dìrísù) in Lagos at a pivotal time for the country. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr called it “a gem, a deeply felt memory piece and vibrant portrait of Nigeria in 1993.” Jonah Hill made his directorial debut with the coming-of-age skate lm “Mid90s.”

He returns to directing in “Outcome,” a Hollywood satire star-

ring Keanu Reeves as a movie star named Reef Hawk who fears a video could destroy his reputation. Hill, who co-wrote the movie, also co-stars as Reef’s crisis-management lawyer. It debuts Friday on Apple TV.

MUSIC TO STREAM

A chart-topping country hitmaker preps her sophomore album: Langley — known for such radio mainstays as the throwback “You Look Like You Love Me” with Riley Green and the George Strait-referencing No. 1 “Choosin’ Texas,” co-written with Miranda Lambert — will release a new record Friday. If the whole of “Dandelion” is anything like those songs, she’s got a long career ahead of her.

The English disco-pop singer Jessie Ware will release “Superbloom,” also Friday. She’s as ready to soundtrack a late night on the dance oor as she’s ever been — like on the single “Ride,” which interpolates the theme from the 1966 spaghetti Western lm “The Good, the Bad

and the Ugly” and melts into her sequined synths. “Come be my cowboy, baby, come, let’s ride,” she sings, more discotheque than honky-tonk. “You know I want you, I need you tonight, tonight.”

SERIES TO STREAM

“The Boys” launches its fth and nal season on Prime Video. The critically acclaimed series is based on comic books and follows villainous superheroes and the crew trying to thwart them. Series regulars Jack Quaid, Karl Urban, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty and Jessie T. Usher and Chace Crawford are all returning, as are more recent additions played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Jensen Ackles. “Hamilton” star Daveed Diggs also joins the cast.

Hulu’s sequel to “The Handmaid’s Tale,” called “The Testaments,” is streaming now. Ann Dowd reprises her Aunt Lydia character from the original and is now in charge of a school for girls that basically prepares them for adulthood, marriage and babies. These young

women have never known anything other than Gilead. It stars Chase In niti and Lucy Halliday and is also based on a novel by Margaret Atwood. Elizabeth Banks and Matthew Macfadyen lead a new sci- comedy, “The Miniature Wife,” for Peacock. They play a couple working on their marriage when their lives are further complicated after an unusual accident. It premieres Thursday.

Another series launching its fth and nal season is “Hacks” on HBO. The show, debuting Thursday, follows the love-hate relationship between a legendary comedian (Jean Smart) and a talented writer played by Hannah Einbinder. The series has racked up a lot of hardware, including an Emmy for outstanding comedy series. Smart has won four consecutive Emmys for the show, while Einbinder has taken home one.

Do you ever wonder how your favorite former TV stars would fare in the present day? “Malcolm in the Middle” fans are getting their wish. Twenty years after their show went o

“Sweeney imbues her no-holds-barred portrayal of Martin with both sweetness and rage, with brio and real vulnerability.”

Jocelyn Noveck, AP Film Writer

the air, Muniz, Cranston and Kaczmarek return to TV for a revival where Muniz’s character is now a dad to a teenage girl.

The four episodes of “Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair” premiere Friday on both Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

Nintendo is pulling out all the stops to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Pokémon. Just a month after releasing the cozy community-builder Pokémon Pokopia, it’s dropping the considerably less comfortable Pokémon Champions. This time it’s all about the combat, as you recruit and train monsters before pushing them into the arena to ght other trainers’ creatures. You can compete in ranked events with players from around the world or enjoy casual or private battles that won’t a ect your ranking. It’s a free-to -start challenge, but you may want to set some cash aside for in-app purchases. The ght club is open on Switch and Switch 2, with iOS and Android versions coming later in 2026.

Annapurna Interactive’s People of Note tells the tale of a pop singer named Cadence who decides she wants to start a band. That means she’ll need to trek across the world of Note, where each city is de ned by its own style of music. In her travels, though, Cadence learns that a Harmonic Convergence is disrupting music itself, and she and her bandmates will have to solve puzzles, explore dungeons and ght tone-deaf villains to stop Note from going silent. Los Angeles-based Iridium Studios promises that “each battle is an interactive musical performance,” and you can pump up the volume on PlayStation

and PC.

Earthset

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Paul faces protective order hearing in Utah after “Bachelorette” cancellation

A Utah judge is expected to hear arguments on a protective order sought by a former partner against Taylor Frankie Paul, star of Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” Paul and Dakota Mortensen were expected to participate remotely Tuesday while their lawyers appear in person. Mortensen is the father of Paul’s 2-year-old son. He is asking the court to extend a protective order. About three weeks ago, ABC opted not to air a new season of “The Bachelorette” with Paul at its center. Production has also been paused on her Hulu series. It often featured Paul and Mortensen’s tumultuous relationship.

Ford recalls more than 422K trucks, SUVs because windshield wipers can fail Ford Motor Co. is recalling 422,613 vehicles because the windshield wiper arms can break, causing reduced visibility and increasing the risk of a crash. The recall covers 2021-23 Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators and a range of F series Super Duty trucks, model years 2022-2023. Letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed on April 13. Once a remedy is determined, additional letters will be mailed. Dealerships will eventually inspect and replace the wiper arms free of charge.

$2.00

Commissioners approve rezoning for special events center

The site will utilize existing buildings but will add additional parking

By Ryan Henkel Twin City Herald

WINSTON-SALEM — The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners met April 2 with a variety of land matters on the agenda.

The board held three public hearings, all of which pertained to rezoning requests.

The rst hearing was a request to rezone 43 acres of property located east of the intersection of Hampton Road and Bent Ridge Lane from RS9 to RS20 –Special Use for the purpose of a special events center.

The site plan calls for the repurposing of the three existing buildings on the site, all totaling

just over 19,000 square feet, the addition of 86 parking spaces and the utilization of a 40-foot bu er along the southern property line and a 10-foot bu er along Hampton Road.

“The request would preserve the rural character and open space on a parcel outside the serviceable land area and within a protected watershed,” said Planning Director Chris Murphy. “It would also allow a low-intensity commercial use as a transition between rural and suburban development.”

The second hearing was for ve acres of property located on the west side of Ebert Road, south of West Clemmonsville Road and north of Evans Road to go from General Business (GB-S) to Residential (RS9).

“About 18 months ago, the property owners rezoned the property from RS9 to GB-S for

“It would also allow a low-intensity commercial use as a transition between rural and suburban development.”

Chris Murphy, planning

director

the use of general storage rental,” Murphy said. “I believe through some further investigation, they have determined that that is not feasible on this property, so they simply want to turn it back to its preexisting zoning.” Murphy pointed to a lack of accessibility to water and sewer as the primary barrier. The nal hearing was for around 13 acres of property located along the west side of

Drive, south of Yadkinville Road and north of Peaceful Glen Drive to go from Agricultural to Residential (RS40).

“This is a general use request,” Murphy said. “So we haven’t seen any type of design for this property.”

Per the county’s UDO, both the existing zoning and the proposed RS40 zoning require a minimum lot size of 40,000 square feet, but the only real difference is that the RS40 zoning district allows for a minimum lot width of 100 feet as opposed to 150 feet.

Based on that, the site can support up to 14 potential single-family homes. Following the hearings, the commissioners approved all three requests.

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will next meet April 16.

Mullin pledges progress on disaster relief during rst o cial trip as DHS secretary

The new DHS secretary removes red tape and pledges faster aid to

North Carolina

By Rebecca Santana and Gabriela Aoun Angueira

The Associated Press

CHIMNEY ROCK — Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Tuesday toured North Carolina areas devastated by Hurricane Helene in 2024, revealing plans to prioritize relief to disaster-impacted communities on his rst o cial trip since replacing Kristi Noem, whose leadership cast uncertainty over federal disaster response. While the trip focused on emergency management, Mullin also weighed in on immi-

gration enforcement, a centerpiece policy of the Trump administration, which his department also oversees. He suggested he might halt customs processing at airports serving cities whose local governments resist the administration’s immigration policies, a move that would align with his predecessor’s hardline approach.

At his con rmation hearing last month, Mullin tried to project a softer tone on immigration enforcement, after a backlash over high-prole operations and the deaths of two Americans at the hands of federal o cers. Mullin also signaled a di erent approach to the Federal Emergency Management Agency following

See MULLIN, page A2

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criticism of Noem’s policies.

At a roundtable discussion Tuesday, Mullin said FEMA was focused on catching up on past disaster work and clearing a backlog of needs that stacked up during his predecessor’s tenure ahead of the Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1.

“Disasters are happening constantly,” Mullin said, adding that he would brief President Donald Trump Tuesday on the 22 still pending major disaster declaration requests from states and tribes across the U.S. “We’re trying to push this stu forward as fast as possible.”

Mullin also said he “may have identi ed” a candidate for permanent administrator of FEMA, which is on its third temporary leader since Trump took o ce, but declined to name them.

Asked if eliminating FEMA — which Trump has threatened to do — was still on the table, Mullin said “reforming FEMA would be a better term.”

Mullin’s visit comes less than a week after he ended Noem’s directive that all DHS expenditures over $100,000 be personally approved by the secretary’s o ce, a rule that critics said bottlenecked FEMA reimbursements and compromised disaster response and recovery.

While Mullin has already made strides on disaster response, he has yet to set forth

THURSDAY

NC’s electoral future may hinge on rural black voters who feel ignored by Democrats

By Bill Barrow and Maya Sweedler The Associated Press

NASHVILLE — Ricky Brinkley has lived in rural North Carolina nearly all of his 65 years, and he likes it “out in the county,” past the street lights and bustle of the small towns that carpet the landscape.

But the former truck driver can feel left out when elections roll around in this battleground state.

“People don’t come out like they should and ask you how you feel about things,” Brinkley said while he manned the counter at his daughter’s beauty supply store down the street from the Nashville courthouse.

“You want somebody to vote, but you don’t want to do nothing to get the vote. No, it don’t work that way.”

Brinkley is among the rural black residents who Democrats have often failed to mobilize as they try to dent Republican advantages here. It’s an urgent demographic puzzle for the party, which is normally strong with black voters but tends to fall short in rural areas.

Success could help former Gov. Roy Cooper win a hotly contested U.S. Senate race this year and tilt the balance of power in Washington. It could also reshape presidential elections, providing Democrats with a wider path to the White House.

“People want to look at the word ‘rural’ in North Carolina and equate it to the word ‘white,’” said state party chair Anderson Clayton, a 28-year- old who won her job three years ago promising to expand the party beyond cities.

“In my vision of a Democratic Party, when you talk about reaching out to rural voters, you are talking about rural black voters.”

The Rev. James Gailliard, a former state lawmaker who leads a large black congregation in Rocky Mount, put it even more bluntly.

a clear vision for immigration enforcement, although he is expected to align with the president’s vision. That was apparent in his comments about removing Customs and Border Protection o cers from airports in so-called “sanctuary cities.”

“If they’re not enforcing immigration laws, then why would I be processing immigration in their city?” Mullin said, adding that the idea was still under consideration. He suggested he would raise the idea in his briefing to Trump.

Mullin gave no further details. But withdrawing CBP ocers from airports could disrupt international travel and trade. CBP o cers check all incoming travelers into the country as well as the billions of dollars of trade that enters through land crossings and airports.

The Trump administration has already threatened to withdraw funding to Democratic cities and states that it says do not cooperate with immigration enforcement.

Few disaster-hit areas experienced the impacts of FEMA’s recent tumult as acutely as North Carolina, where about $1.6 billion in FEMA public assistance dollars has been obligated so far and where roughly 2,000 projects are still in some stage of FEMA approval, according to a letter North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein sent Mullin after his swearing in.

“You don’t win this state in Durham,” Gailliard said. “You win it in the east.”

It’s about more than Cooper’s Senate bid

North Carolina is known for the university-heavy Research Triangle that includes Durham, Raleigh and Chapel Hill, along with Charlotte’s banking hub. But it also includes large swaths of small towns and rural areas where Democrats have lost ground in recent decades.

That’s not just because of white voters realigning with Republicans. It’s also because black voters who lean Democratic don’t vote as often as their urban counterparts. Those rural black voters are concentrated east of the triangle, extending along winding state highways through small towns, atlands and farmland toward the Atlantic coastline. Cooper, 68, won two terms as governor and four terms as state attorney general. However, Republicans control the state courts and the legislature, and they’ve redrawn the congressional map to expand their advantage in the U.S. House. Donald Trump carried the state for Republicans all three times he ran for the White House.

A native of rural Nash County, Cooper already in recent months held roundtable sessions with black farmers, business owners and civic leaders in eastern North Carolina, along with students from North Carolina A&T University, a historically black school that draws students from across the state. His campaign promises a statewide organizing e ort before November.

Gailliard wants a more intentional e ort

But Gailliard wants more.

The founding pastor at Word Tabernacle Church, Gailliard was among the black state law-

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis excoriated Noem for delays in reimbursements to his state just days before her ring, telling her at a Senate hearing she had “failed” at FEMA.

Mullin said at the roundtable that Trump had told him he wanted North Carolina to be his rst stop and had told Mullin “he wanted North Carolina to love him.”

North Carolina carries outsize political signi cance this year. Tillis, one of the state’s Republican senators, is retiring, raising Democratic hopes of a pickup this fall. The race is sure to attract hundreds of millions in campaign spending and pits Democrat Roy Cooper, the state’s former governor, against Michael Whatley, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Helene, a 350-mile-wide hurricane, ravaged multiple southeastern states in September 2024.

The storm caused 108 deaths in North Carolina and $60 billion in damages. It destroyed homes, businesses and utility infrastructure. Entire communities were cut o , prompting helicopter rescues after roads and bridges washed away.

Hurricane damage is still visible, with cars and remnants of homes washed up on banks, remains of knocked- out bridges and piles of thick trees and

makers who lost seats after Republican-led redistricting. He said regaining ground will require neighborhood-level organizing and investment from national Democrats, something he struggled to get from Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign.

“I couldn’t get any traction,” Gailliard recalled. “I begged them to bring her to Rocky Mount. I said, ‘Listen, Rocky Mount is the gateway to the East. If we crack Rocky Mount, we’ve cracked the East.’ Could not convince them to come. Two weeks later, guess who’s in Rocky Mount? Donald Trump.”

The Harris campaign sent former President Bill Clinton to the area instead.

Gailliard said Cooper needs people like him to get elected.

“Roy is a great friend, and I’m gonna run my butt o to help him in every way, but I’m not banking on his coattails,” Gailliard said. “I’m going to do the opposite. I’m going to grow coattails for him.”

The state party tries to ll gaps

Clayton, the state party chair, said the national party and its donors haven’t prioritized North Carolina early enough in recent cycles.

She said she’s relied mostly on local money to nance 25 full-time sta ers, more than three times what the state party had heading into the 2022 midterms.

Bertie County Democratic chairwoman Camille Taylor, whose hometown of Powellsville has fewer than 200 residents, said she’s felt the shift.

She speaks regularly with a eld organizer in nearby Greenville, the city closest to the northeastern counties with large proportions of black residents. But she said it’s especially di cult to persuade rural voters to care about voting beyond the presidency, even though she tells them “these are the races and the people that you’re

branches that rushed down the river when it swelled to a torrent of water.

Rep. Chuck Edwards, a Republican representing some of the impacted areas who lost one of his own businesses in the storm, said Tuesday he also grew frustrated with what he called FEMA’s “bureaucracy” and the di culties local communities faced in receiving payments.

“Still plenty of bureaucracy there,” said Edwards, who praised Mullin’s removal of the $100,000 rule.

FEMA’s presence in North Carolina had a tense start as distrust grew among some impacted residents, fueled in part by then-candidate Trump’s own misinformation about the Biden administration and FEMA’s response in the swing state.

Edwards found himself debunking FEMA-related misinformation shortly after the storm, issuing a statement to his constituents that FEMA was not diverting donations to the border or seizing property, among other claims.

After an armed man was arrested in Lake Lure for making threats toward FEMA workers, the agency temporarily suspended door-to-door home visits in the a ected areas.

Stein, a Democrat, welcomed Mullin’s visit. “It is encouraging that Secretary Mullin is getting down to business,” he told The

going to interact with more.” Democrats have recruited candidates in all 170 legislative districts — two are Democratic-aligned independents — and every U.S. House district. State Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls, a noted civil rights attorney and black woman, is running statewide for reelection.

Gailliard said he’s identied a few hundred nonprofits, neighborhood associations and other groups that can do issue-oriented work in his district as the election approaches. He wants to match each of them to speci c precincts, routing money for them to reach voters and persuade them to vote.

He wants volunteers to get training from Democratic and left-leaning organizations rather than have the outsiders themselves knocking on rural black voters’ doors.

“We can’t have 21-year-old recent college graduates from Utah knocking doors at $22 an hour in the hood,” Gailliard said. “That just does not work. They’re not a trusted messenger.”

An old Cooper schoolmate just wants to be asked

Gailliard said Democrats cannot underestimate how much it means for someone to simply get asked for their vote.

“Black and rural voters are not transactional,” he said. “They are relational.”

Back in Nashville at the beauty supply store, Brinkley agreed.

“You get to be a big wheel, and you can forget where you came from,” Brinkley said. “I ain’t gonna say Roy forgot. He’s a hometown guy, so to speak, but I don’t expect to see him out here walking.”

Brinkley made it clear that if he votes, it would be for Cooper and other Democrats — but only if he votes.

“I could. I could. I may vote,” he said. “There’s just so much going on.”

Associated Press in a statement Tuesday.

On Monday, FEMA approved $26 million in buyouts of damaged and destroyed North Carolina homes, saying in a statement that Mullin encouraged the agency to “redouble its efforts” to help survivors.

Mullin’s remarks drew a sharp contrast from his predecessor Noem, who repeatedly called for FEMA to be eliminated “as it exists today.” Trump oated the idea of eliminating FEMA altogether on a North Carolina visit just days into his second term, calling the agency a “very big disappointment.”

Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to push more responsibility for disasters down to states, and a presidentially appointed FEMA Review Council is expected to soon release a report recommending sweeping reforms of how and to what extent the federal government supports disaster-impacted communities.

While most FEMA sta are still being paid during the record-long partial government shutdown, many o ces were ordered to slow or stop work shortly after the shutdown began on Feb. 14.

Meanwhile, the agency’s Disaster Relief Fund is running low, with about $3.6 billion remaining. The DHS appropriations bill would replenish the fund with over $26 billion.

THE CONVERSATION

Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

In today’s NBA, beliefs can be a firing o ense

THERE ARE PLENTY of things an

NBA player can do and still keep his job.

League history is littered with examples: players involved in o -court scandals, arrests, even allegations of serious violence. Time and again, teams and the league have found ways to look past behavior that, in most professions, would be career-ending.

But there appears to be one line that cannot be crossed — especially during Holy Week.

That line, it seems, is expressing a traditional religious belief.

Enter Jaden Ivey.

The former Purdue standout was the fth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, a rising young guard who averaged 16 points and ve assists as a rookie with the Detroit Pistons. By his third season, he was approaching 18 points per game before an injury derailed his momentum. Eventually, he landed with the Chicago Bulls.

By all accounts, Ivey was a productive player still on the rise.

Then came an Instagram video.

In it, Ivey — now a newly converted Christian — criticized the NBA’s celebration of Pride Month. His comments re ected a conventional religious viewpoint: that pride, as celebrated in this context, con icts with Christian teachings on sin.

“They proclaim Pride Month,” Ivey said. “They say, ‘Come join us ... to celebrate unrighteousness.’”

That was enough.

The Bulls waived him, citing “conduct detrimental to the team.”

The phrase raises an obvious question: What exactly was the conduct?

Ivey did not skip practice. He did not clash with teammates. He did not violate the law. By his own account — and by the absence of any evidence to the contrary

COLUMN | MICHAEL BARONE

— he remained a good teammate and a committed player.

His o ense was speech.

On Instagram Live, Ivey pushed back on the decision.

“How is it conduct detrimental to the team? What did I do to the team?” he asked.

It’s a fair question — and one the Bulls have not clearly answered.

Even head coach Billy Donovan o ered only a muted response, emphasizing “certain standards” while declining to directly address Ivey’s comments. There was no forceful condemnation, no claim of locker room disruption — just a vague appeal to team values.

Contrast that with other professional sports leagues. UFC president Dana White has repeatedly defended ghters’ rights to speak freely, even when he strongly disagrees with them. The principle is simple: Disagreement does not justify punishment.

The NBA appears to be operating under a di erent standard.

If Ivey had expressed support for Pride Month — or made a personal announcement aligning with it — it’s di cult to imagine a similar outcome. More than likely, he would have been celebrated.

Instead, he was dismissed.

This is what makes the situation so striking. The league has tolerated, and at times quietly managed, far more serious controversies. There was even a prolonged debate over whether to host an event tied to a strip club in Atlanta — an issue that required league intervention after weeks of public scrutiny.

Yet a religious objection to Pride Month draws an immediate and decisive response.

That disparity is hard to ignore.

It also raises broader questions about the NBA’s relationship with its audience. Millions of fans — many of them religious — hold views similar to those Ivey expressed. They may not agree with the league’s messaging, but they have continued to watch, support and engage with the sport.

Decisions like this risk sending a di erent message: that certain beliefs are not merely unpopular but unacceptable.

For a league that seeks to expand its reach, that’s a curious strategy.

Timing only adds to the tension. The incident unfolded during Holy Week, one of the most sacred periods on the Christian calendar — a moment when questions of faith and conviction are especially prominent.

None of this requires agreement with Ivey’s views. Reasonable people can and do disagree on these issues.

But there is a di erence between disagreement and exclusion.

If the standard for remaining in the NBA now includes alignment with speci c cultural or ideological positions, then the league is entering new territory — one where speech, not conduct, becomes the deciding factor in a player’s career.

Ivey may yet nd another team willing to give him a second chance.

But the larger issue will remain: In today’s NBA, it’s not just how you play the game that matters — it’s what you’re allowed to say o the court.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co-founder of Daily Wire+. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

The sudden political star of Trump II: Marco Rubio

Rubio, in his two ostensibly nonpolitical jobs, has obviously made a favorable impression on the public.

“WHITE HOUSE DEPLOYS Marco

Rubio to clarify messaging about Iran con ict.” So reads the headline on the front page of the Washington Examiner’s website in the early hours of April 1, the third month of U.S. military operations against Iran, which have been taking place since Feb. 28.

That prominence was overtaken as it was announced that President Donald Trump would address the nation on the war Wednesday night. But it’s still worth noting and could turn out to be more signi cant as the end of the second Trump term comes into view.

Rubio’s video making the case for the Iran o ensive is only two minutes long, straight to the camera, with a dark background relieved only by the red and white stripes of the ag. Succinctly, he made a case for military action now.

“Under no circumstances,” Rubio said, “can a country run by radical Shia clerics with an apocalyptic vision of the future ever possess nuclear weapons, and under no circumstances can they be allowed to hide and protect that program and their ambitions behind a shield of missiles and drones that no one can do anything about.”

At greater length but in a similar fashion, he made the same case that day in a television interview on Al Jazeera, in terms pitched to its audience not just in the United States but also in the Gulf.

Only one other person before has held the o ces of secretary of state and national security adviser: Henry Kissinger, from 1973 to 1975. In that capacity, Kissinger conducted high-level diplomacy in the Middle East and left no distance in his public statements between his views and those of the president he served, although behind the scenes, as later revealed, there were di erences.

Similarly, Rubio obviously speaks carefully to leave no distance between his statements and those of the president he serves, to whom he refers in respectful terms. But he’s able to do this and to

appeal to others, including inveterate Trump haters, all at the same time.

That was apparent in his Feb. 14 speech at the Munich Security Conference where he earned standing applause from his predominantly European audience even as he repeated, diplomatically phrased, the same criticisms of what Donald Rumsfeld called “Old Europe” voiced numerous times by Trump and, at the same conference a year before, to a very di erent reaction, Vice President JD Vance.

There are many di erences between the two men who were secretary of state and national security adviser. Kissinger was a dazzling scholar who impressed everyone at Harvard University. Rubio rst went to college on a football scholarship then earned degrees from the University of Florida and the University of Miami Law School. Kissinger, in his prime, dated movie stars. Rubio is a longtime family man.

Once in America, Kissinger always lived in the Northeast Corridor (Manhattan, Cambridge and Washington, D.C.), Rubio in semitropical Miami and ra sh Las Vegas. Kissinger never ran for public o ce. Rubio was elected to the West Miami Council at 27 and to the term-limited Florida legislature at 29 (winning a primary runo by 64 votes), and he got his colleagues to elect him as speaker six years later.

But the biggest political di erence is that Kissinger, born a citizen of Weimar Germany, was ineligible to run for president. Rubio not only ran for president in 2016 but might conceivably have won in the absence of Trump’s candidacy and the millions spent against him by backers of his former mentor, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

And Rubio might conceivably run and win in 2028, though he says he will support Vance, and Vance says that Rubio is “my closest friend in the administration.” There are obviously some di erences between them on foreign policy: Rubio

plainly favors the Iran attacks. Vance seems dubious.

Despite speculation that MAGA opposes Trump on Iran, Rubio, in his two ostensibly nonpolitical jobs, has obviously made a favorable impression on the public. At the recent Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine, Texas, Vance once again won the straw poll for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination. But his 53% was down from 61% last year, while Rubio zoomed up from 3% in 2025 to 35% this year.

CPAC, abounding these days with MAGA-loving young men, has not always been a reliable guide to wider opinion.

But national pollsters, which began 2028 polling two weeks after the 2024 election, cast a wider net. In 17 polls conducted over the rst full year since Trump’s inauguration, Rubio averaged 9%, behind not only Vance at 46% but also his fellow Floridian, Gov. Ron DeSantis, who averaged 10%.

In seven polls taken since Rubio’s Munich speech, Vance was unchanged, averaging 45%, and so was DeSantis, who averaged 8%. But Rubio did signi cantly better, averaging 16%. That’s not the jump he saw at CPAC, but it’s also pretty clear evidence that Rubio is making some impression on a public that usually pays little attention to secretaries of state or national security advisers.

But I do feel sure that Rubio, who showed impressive raw political talent in his rise to one of Florida’s U.S. Senate seats in the rst decade of this century and who made a serious presidential run in the second decade, has now shown impressive skills as a national leader in the third decade. Is there more ahead in the fourth?

Michael Barone is a senior political analyst for the Washington Examiner and longtime co-author of “The Almanac of American Politics.”

(Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

A mountain hideout and aircraft under re: US carries out daring rescue of service member in Iran

CIA deception aided the rescue of two airmen from hostile Iranian territory

By Seung Min Kim, Matthew Lee and Samy Magdy The Associated Press

THE UNITED STATES pulled o a daring rescue of two aviators whose ghter jet was shot down by Iran, plucking the pilot from behind enemy lines before setting o a complicated extraction of the second service member who hid deep in the mountains as Tehran called for Iranians to help capture him.

The CIA looked to throw o Iran’s government before the crew member was found, launching a deception campaign to spread word inside the Islamic Republic that the U.S. had already located him.

Even as President Donald Trump and other U.S. o cials described an almost cinematic mission, rescuers faced major obstacles, including two Black Hawk helicopters coming under re and problems with two transport planes that forced the U.S. military to blow them up.

“This is the rst time in military memory that two U.S. Pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in Enemy Territory,” Trump wrote early Sunday on his Truth Social platform. “WE WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AMERICAN WARFIGHTER BEHIND!”

U.S. o cials stayed silent as operation played out

In a pair of social media posts, Trump said the operation over the weekend required the U.S. to remain completely silent to avoid jeopardizing the e ort, even as the president and top members of his administration continuously monitored the airman’s location.

The White House and the Pentagon refused to publicly discuss details about the downed ghter jet for well over 24 hours after the initial crash, particularly about the rst crew member rescued from the F-15E Strike Eagle — an e ort that Trump later said took seven hours in broad daylight over Iran.

The United States and Iran’s government then were both racing to nd the second crew member, a weapons systems o cer whose location neither side knew.

The CIA spread word in Iran that the U.S. had found him and were moving him by ground to get him out of the country, according to a senior Trump administration o cial who spoke on condition of an-

onymity to discuss details not yet made public.

The confusion allowed the CIA time to uncover the location of the service member, who was hiding in a mountain crevice, the o cial said.

He had climbed 7,000 feet despite being injured, said Sen. Dave McCormick, a Pennsylvania Republican who told “Fox News Sunday” that he was briefed by a senior administration o cial involved in the operation.

The intelligence agency sent the aviator’s coordinates to the Pentagon and the White House, where Trump ordered a rescue operation.

Iran urged public to look for “enemy pilot”

Meanwhile, an anchor on a channel a liated with Iranian state television had been urging residents in the mountainous region of southwest Iran where the ghter jet went down to hand over any “enemy pilot” to police and promised a reward for anyone who did.

Trump said the American aviator was being “hunted down” by enemies who were “getting closer and closer by the hour.” The United States was

“We will never leave an American war ghter behind.”

President Donald Trump on Truth Social

monitoring his location continuously, he said.

At the right moment, Trump said, he directed the military to send dozens of heavily armed aircraft to rescue the crew member, who the president said is “seriously wounded” but will recover.

Iranian state media reported that airstrikes in southwestern Iran on Saturday killed at least three people and wounded others, in the same area where the missing American crew member was believed to be.

U.S. rescuers faced obstacles with aircraft during operation

The American rescue mission ran into major challenges behind enemy lines. Iran’s joint military command claimed it struck two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters taking part in the operation.

A person familiar with the situation said the two helicopters were able to navigate to safe airspace, although it’s unclear if they landed or if crew members were injured. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive information.

Then, the U.S. military was forced to bring in additional aircraft to complete the rescue of the second service member due to a technical malfunction, according to a regional intelligence o cial briefed on the mission. The U.S. blew up two transport planes it was forced to leave behind because of the mishap, said the o cial, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the covert mission.

Iran’s state television on Sunday aired a video showing what it claimed were parts of a U.S. aircraft shot down by Iranian forces, along with a photo of thick, black smoke rising. The broadcaster said Iran had shot down a transport plane and two helicopters that were part of the rescue operation.

Iran’s joint military command said the destroyed aircraft included two C-130 military transport aircraft and two Black Hawk helicopters in the

province of Isfahan, where the rescue took place.

“The fact that we were able to pull o both of these operations, without a SINGLE American killed, or even wounded, just proves once again, that we have achieved overwhelming Air Dominance and Superiority over the Iranian skies,” Trump said on social media.

Second U.S. military jet also downed

Trump, however, did not mention that a second military jet also went down the same day as the F-15E.

Iranian state media said last Friday that a U.S. A-10 attack aircraft crashed after being struck by Iran’s defense forces.

A U.S. o cial, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive military situation, con rmed a second Air Force combat aircraft went down in the Middle East last Friday.

An additional U.S. pilot was rescued, but details were not available given the security concerns, another person familiar with the situation said. Neither provided more information, including whether it was the A-10.

United States revokes green cards, visas of several Iranian nationals connected to Tehran government

slain Iranian general were among those arrested

By Matthew Lee The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has revoked the green cards or U.S. visas of at least four Iranian nationals connected to the current or former Iranian government, including two who have been detained by immigration authorities and are to be deported.

The latest actions were taken just this week when Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined they were no longer eligible for either lawful permanent resident status, or to enter the United States. The steps follow a move late last year in which the visas of several diplomats and sta ers at Iran’s mission to the United Nations were also revoked.

In a statement on Saturday, the State Department said the niece and grand-niece of former Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Qassem Soleimani,

who was killed in a U.S. airstrike near the Baghdad airport in 2020, had been arrested late Friday by immigration agents after Rubio revoked their green cards.

“Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter are now in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” the statement said, adding that Afshar’s husband has also been banned from entering the United States.

Afshar and her daughter had been living a “lavish lifestyle” in Los Angeles for many years while publicly supporting the Iranian government and anti-American attacks, according to the statement.

She is “an outspoken supporter of the Iranian regime who celebrated attacks on Americans and referred to our country as the “Great Satan,” Rubio said in a post on X. “The Trump administration will not allow our country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti-American terrorist regimes.”

The Iranian mission to the U.N. had no comment Saturday. Afshar and her daughter are just the latest Iranians to have

their legal status in the U.S. rescinded by Rubio, who recently revoked the visas of Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, an academic and the daughter of Iran’s former national security adviser Ali Larijani who was killed in a U.S.-Israel airstrike last month. Her husband, Seyed Kalantar Motamedi, also had his visa revoked, the State Department said. Neither are still in the U.S. In early December, well before the surge of anti-government protests in Iran and the start of the war, the State Department revoked or declined to renew visas of several Iranian diplomats, including the deputy ambassador, and staers at Iran’s mission to the United Nations.

The department said Friday that action had been taken on Dec. 4 but declined to comment further “for privacy and security reasons” except to note that it was unrelated to either the protests or the war.

Forsyth SPORTS

Rays eager to return to Tropicana Field for rst game since Hurricane Milton damaged roof

Tampa last played at the Trop in October 2024

By Rob Maaddi The Associated Press

A SELLOUT CROWD welcomed the Tampa Bay Rays back to renovated Tropicana Field last Monday for the rst time in 181⁄2 months.

The quirky stadium with the tilted roof and unique catwalks underwent major repairs after Hurricane Milton swept through downtown St. Petersburg on Oct. 9, 2024, and caused extensive damage.

High wind ripped sections of the original roof, allowing rain to fall into the stadium bowl for months. Water caused mold and damage to electrical, sound and broadcast systems.

There was thought initially the Rays would never play another game at the only ballpark they had called home since the franchise’s debut in 1998. Instead, nearly $60 million was spent to replace the roof and rebuild the Trop.

While the Rays played their 2025 home games across the bay in Tampa at Steinbrenner Field — the spring training home of the New York Yankees — their stadium got a makeover.

The new roof was installed last August, and the nal panel was put in place Nov. 21. Luxury suites and the stadium video board were upgraded. The stadium has new arti cial turf, home-plate club seats, clubhouse carpet and lockers, and new ooring on the out eld deck.

“I think guys are excited, and rightfully so,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said about the

team’s return home. “Our organization has worked incredibly hard and the city and the county, to get it back up to speed. I brie y walked through there, couldn’t be more impressed with the way it looks, and excited to see our fans. I think our guys are going to appreciate just having our fans in the building, cheering us on for our opening day.”

It’ll be the 20th consecutive season the Rays have sold out their home opener, excluding 2020 when fans weren’t allowed inside the stadium because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’m just really excited to get back in the Trop,” said reliever Gri n Jax, who joined the team last July. “I always enjoy going there as a visitor. It’ll be cool to see all the new renovations and upgrades they made along the way. We’ve seen it a handful of times walking through and seeing pictures and stu . It looks great. It’ll be good to be back in our home.”

After spending a season playing in a minor league ballpark,

the Rays are looking forward to going back to big league amenities.

“It was di cult,” Jax said about playing at Steinbrenner Field. “I don’t think anybody expects to play in a situation like that. It’s just one of those things you have to make any adjustment you can and get ready to play because there is still baseball to be played that night. The situation isn’t great. The environment wasn’t awesome, but it’s still baseball. You just have to roll with it. I was only there for two months. Shout out to all these guys who were there for an entire year because it was not ideal.”

Tropicana Field may not be home for the Rays for much longer. The Rays are under lease to play there through at least the 2028 season, but the team’s new ownership group is pursuing a new ballpark that would be built in Tampa, in the shadows of the Yankees’ spring training complex and across the street from Raymond James Stadium, home to the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Macy Miller

Walkertown, softball

Macy Miller is a sophomore on the Walkertown softball team. She also plays volleyball for the Wolfpack. Walkertown is on a seven-game winning streak, including four wins last week. Against North Stokes, Miller struck out eight in 61⁄3 innings, allowing just one run to pick up the win. She also doubled twice, scored a run and drove one in. In the rematch, she struck out 10 in 61⁄3 to get another win. She also doubled, homered and drove in three. She had another double, two runs and two RBIs to help beat Bartlett Yancy. In the rematch with Bartlett Yancy, she went the distance, striking out 13 in a no-hitter to win. She also became the school’s career strikeout leader, recording her 225th K last week.

AP national player of the year Boozer recovering physically, emotionally following

The Duke freshman is recovering from fractures around his eye socket

By Aaron Beard The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — Duke star freshman and top NBA prospect Cameron Boozer is still healing, both emotionally after the Blue Devils’ devastating March Madness loss to UConn and physically after su ering a facial injury in that game.

The 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward said Sunday he sustained “a couple of fractures” during the Blue Devils’ loss in the Elite Eight.

Boozer, who last Friday became only the fth freshman named as The Associated Press men’s national player of the year, was hurt in the rst half last Sunday when he went up for a shot against 7-foot-1 center Eric Reibe. Reibe’s left elbow struck Boozer near his right eye as Reibe contested the shot, leading to signi cant swelling around and under the eye.

The swelling around his right eye was down Sunday, though the white part was still bright red. Boozer said he opted against having surgery in favor of giving it time to heal.

“I have a couple of fractures, but I’m all good,” Boozer said during Sunday’s award presentation for winning the AP national honor, along with another from the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.

“Just going through the healing process.”

Boozer fought through the injury the rest of the way and nished with 27 points, including a tough spinning basket into the paint against tra c with Duke leading by just one in thenal minute. It was one of multiple examples this season of

UConn loss

“Just going through the healing process.”

Cameron Boozer

Boozer playing through bumps, blows and hard fouls, such as a late-season win at NC State in which Boozer had gnarly long scratches near his right shoulder after being gouged by a Wolfpack defender. The Huskies went on to win

on Braylon Mullins’ last-second 3-pointer to complete a stunning comeback from 19 down. Boozer’s twin brother, Cayden, received torrents of online abuse after committing Duke’s last turnover before Mullins’ winner.

Cameron pointed out that “that one play isn’t the reason we lost.”

“There’s not really that much I can say to make him feel better,” Boozer said. “We’re all hurting as a team, but we’re

going to get through it together. We’re a super-connected group. “It’s de nitely a hard moment. But he’s a tough guy. We’re all tough, it’s going to make us so much better going forward. It’s something you’ve got to take on the chin and learn and grow from.”

UConn went on to beat Illinois in Saturday’s national semi nal but lost 69-63 in Monday’s national championship game to Michigan.

Duke, the NCAA Tournament’s No. 1 overall seed, was one of three teams to beat Michigan all year.

Boozer’s award presentation came on the same stage where UConn and Michigan were holding news conferences ahead of playing Monday for the national title.

“It’s a lot of emotions going into it,” Boozer said of being at Lucas Oil Stadium. “But yeah, it’s de nitely tough being here for sure.”

SIDELINE REPORT

NHL

Islanders re coach Roy after losing 4 straight, name DeBoer as replacement

New York

Patrick Roy was red Sunday as coach of the New York Islanders. First-year general manager Mathieu Darche announced the decision after the team lost four in a row and seven of its past 10 games. The Islanders were comfortably in a playo spot until their late-season tailspin put their chances in danger with four games left to play. Peter DeBoer was named as Roy’s replacement and not just on an interim basis. He has taken two teams to the Stanley Cup nal and most recently coached the Dallas Stars.

NBA Rivers, Few, Parker set for Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement

Phoenix Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw and the 1996 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team will be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The class was unveiled at halftime of the UConn-South Carolina game during the women’s Final Four. Also included were Amar’e Stoudemire and Mike D’Antoni. They will be joined by longtime NBA o cial Joey Crawford, NBA coach Doc Rivers and Gonzaga coach Mark Few. The enshrinement ceremony will take place in August at the Hall of Fame in Spring eld, Massachusetts.

NFL Rams’ Nacua went to rehab before being sued for assault, battery by woman

Los Angeles Los Angeles Rams All-Pro wide receiver Puka Nacua was in rehab before he was sued for assault and battery by a woman who says he made an antisemitic statement and bit her on the shoulder. Nacua issued an apology last December after performing a gesture that plays upon antisemitic tropes while appearing on an internet livestream. Nacua has been one of the most productive receivers in NFL history over his rst three seasons with the Rams, who drafted him in the fth round out of BYU in 2023.

NBA Mavs rookie Flagg scores 51 points, becomes rst teen to reach 50 in NBA game

Dallas Cooper Flagg scored 51 points last Friday to become the rst teenager to reach the 50-point mark in an NBA game. The rookie No. 1 pick of the Dallas Mavericks scored 24 points in the fourth quarter of a 138-127 loss to the Orlando Magic. Flagg’s fourth-quarter urry came after coach Jason Kidd and teammate Naji Marshall were ejected over what they thought was a no - call when Flagg was fouled by Desmond Bane. Flagg’s previous career high was 49.

Pioneering female NFL o cial sues league over her treatment, ring

Robin DeLorenzo is one of three women to o ciate in the NFL

By Larry Neumeister

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — In a new lawsuit, one of the rst three women to o ciate an NFL game describes her three years at the pinnacle of her profession as a descent into the grip of a sexist institution unable to treat a woman as an equal.

Robin DeLorenzo cited gender-based scrutiny, humiliation and open hostility among the indignities she su ered from 2022 to 2025 as a league o cial.

The lawsuit in Manhattan federal court, led last Friday, sought reinstatement along with unspeci ed damages.

Brian McCarthy, an NFL spokesperson, said in an email that DeLorenzo was terminated after three seasons of documented underperformance.

“The allegations in this lawsuit are baseless, and we will vigorously defend against them in court,” he said.

A message seeking comment from the NFL Referees Association was not immediately returned.

In a 2023 interview with NFL.com, DeLorenzo described her thrill at progressing at her father’s urging through the ranks of o ciating at the high school and college levels until the NFL’s senior vice president of o ciating allowed her father to deliver the news to her that she had been promoted to the NFL.

“Once he gave me the news, my dad and I just stared at each other crying for about ve minutes,” she told NFL. com. “It was the most magical night.”

The lawsuit, though, suggested that the magic quickly ended when the longtime New Jersey resident reported for duty after being sent man-sized clothing to wear and being told to let her ponytail show out the hole in the back of her hat, apparent-

“Once he gave me the news, my dad and I just stared at each other crying for about ve minutes. It was the most magical night.”

Robin DeLorenzo on getting promoted to the NFL

ly to make clear a woman was on the eld. It said repeated references to her hair eventually made her want to cut it o . The lawsuit asserted that an NFL o cials’ crew chief told then-Pittsburgh Steelers’ Coach Mike Tomlin one day during training camp that she should be made to sing in front of everyone, like rookie football players, because she was a new o cial.

As a result, she said, she “put on an utterly humiliating singing performance” in front of the Steelers’ players, all the men on her o ciating crew and her boss, who she said had promised not to record her but did so anyway, according to the lawsuit.

In the following weeks, she was repeatedly shamed, harassed and subjected to profanity-laced trash talk by her crew chief, a man who had recently been accused of mistreating another female employee, the lawsuit said. By the end of the season, the crew chief would not even speak to her, it added.

In 2024, DeLorenzo was forced to attend “an alleged training opportunity,” over her union’s objection, that catered to lower-level college o cials learning the trade — something no male o cial had ever been required to do, the lawsuit said.

“It was a male power play that served its purpose of humiliating plainti , shatter-

ing her con dence, and signi cantly hindering her NFL career,” the lawsuit said.

DeLorenzo was red on Feb. 18, 2025.

“She worked her way through two decades of o ciating — breaking barriers, making history, and outperforming expectations at every level — only to be met with hostility, retaliation, and systemic inequality the moment she stepped into a league that claims to champion opportunities for women,” the lawsuit said.

“Instead of supporting one of the only women on its ociating sta , the NFL exposed her to unchecked harassment, denied her the resources given to men, manipulated her training and grading opportunities, and ultimately ended her career based on tainted evaluations created by the very people who discriminated against her,” it said.

The lawsuit said the harm to her career was irreversible and the emotional and reputational damage was immense.

US players on World Cup roster bubble have soccer’s ultimate Fear Of Missing Out

There are 26 spots available and 12 players who are locks for the roster

By Ronald Blum The Associated Press

ATLANTA — Now comes the wait, soccer’s ultimate FOMO.

American players across the United States and Europe will count down the eight weeks until coach Mauricio Pochettino picks his 26 World Cup players.

Those bypassed won’t get a phone call.

“It’s going to be painful,” Pochettino said. “In that process, always you create links, no, emotional links, but it’s going to be di cult to pick 26 from 35, 40 players.”

Twenty-four players were used during the 5-2 loss to Belgium and 2-0 defeat to Portugal in the last two friendlies before Pochettino announces his roster on May 26 at an event in New York. A total of 38 players have appeared in the last eight matches dating to September.

Twelve players appear to be locks if healthy: goalkeepers Matt Freese and Matt Turner; right back Sergiño Dest; central defenders Tim Ream and Chris Richards; left back Antonee Robinson; mid elders Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman; attackers Christian Pulisic and Timothy Weah; and forward Folarin Balogun. About two dozen others are possible: goalkeepers Chris Brady, Patrick Schulte and

week.

Jonathan Klinsmann; central defenders Mark McKenzie, Miles Robinson and Auston Trusty; outside backs Max Arfsten, Alex Freeman, Joe Scally and John Tolkin; midelders Brenden Aaronson, Sebastian Berhalter, Johnny Cardoso, Diego Luna, Jack McGlynn, Aiden Morris, Gio Reyna, Cristian Roldan and Tanner Tessmann; and forwards Patrick Agyemang, Ricardo Pepi, Haji Wright and Alejandro Zendejas.

Players will be concentrating on their club careers and as May 26 approaches will try not to dwell on their World Cup chances.

“Hopefully that time when with Celtic we’re playing (the Scottish) Cup nal. That’s the only thing I’ll be focusing on,” defender Trusty said.

Failure to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup and pro-visiting team crowds in the U.S.

amped up anxiety among fans and the former-player pundit class throughout the summer, but ending the year with a ve-game unbeaten streak boosted belief.

This month’s losses sent skepticism soaring.

“I think we’re heading in the right direction. I think obviously it’s hard to say that we’re where we want to be with results like this, but I think that we take a lot of positives away from the games that we played,” McKennie said. “We see that we can keep up. I think we just need to gure out how to be able to stay in the game if we don’t nish chances that we have early on.”

Pulisic hasn’t scored in a career-high eight straight national team games and also is scoreless in 12 matches for AC Milan since Dec. 28.

“He just needs one to go in, get back on that wave,” U.S.

career scoring co-leader Clint Dempsey said. “Everybody goes through a little bit of a slump.”

Pochettino cautioned that U.S. players are not as good as some American fans think they are, pointing to the latest results.

“We are USA and we are competing against Belgium, Portugal,” he said. “I think for sure Belgium and Portugal have in the top 100 players few or some players playing in that top 100. I think we don’t have.” Portugal coach Roberto Martínez cautioned not to overanalyze the friendlies.

“I’ve been 10 years now in international football, and what you learn is that you should never assess teams in March,” he said. “The mindset is the players are some of them to try to be in the squad, others just not to get injured because they got important games with the clubs. I think what I’ve seen with the United States is a very well-worked teams.”

Pochettino pointed out his World Cup roster will have three weeks of training ahead of the Americans’ World Cup opener against Australia on June 12 and can work out issues such as getting caught up eld by counters and leaving opponents unmarked on corner kicks.

“I am more positive now than before because, seeing the team compete, we are not far away,” he said. “Is only details that we need to improve. When we match the opponent in the areas that we need to match, of course we are going to have the possibility to beat them.”

the stream

Sydney Sweeney, ‘Malcolm in the Middle,’ Jonah Hill, ‘Hacks’ nale, Ella Langley

The fth and nal season of “The Boys” lands on Prime Video

The Associated Press

SYDNEY SWEENEY starring as real-life boxing legend Christy Martin in the movie “Christy” and “Hacks” launching its fth and nal season on HBO are some of the new television, lms, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also, among the streaming o erings worth your time this week: Country hitmaker Ella Langley releasing her sophomore album, Nintendo dropping the monster combat game Pokémon Champions and “Malcolm in the Middle” fans getting a four-episode revival with Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek.

MOVIES TO STREAM

Sweeney stars as real-life boxing legend Christy Martin in David Michôd’s “Christy” (HBO Max, Friday). The lm, which Sweeney also produced, drew some of her best reviews. Her distinctly unglamorous performance spans Martin’s small-town West Virginia beginnings to a professional career shadowed by her abusive manager-turned-husband (Ben Foster). In her review, AP’s Jocelyn Noveck wrote that Sweeney “imbues her no-holds-barred portrayal of Martin with both sweetness and rage, with brio and real vulnerability.”

One of the highlights of last year, Akinola Davies Jr.’s tender father-son drama, “My Father’s Shadow,” begins streaming Friday on MUBI. The lm, penned by Davies and his brother, Wale, is loosely autobiographical. Their father died when they were young. But in “My Father’s Shadow,” two Nigerian boys have unexpected day with their father (Sope Dìrísù) in Lagos at a pivotal time for the country. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr called it “a gem, a deeply felt memory piece and vibrant portrait of Nigeria in 1993.” Jonah Hill made his directorial debut with the coming-of-age skate lm “Mid90s.”

He returns to directing in “Outcome,” a Hollywood satire star-

ring Keanu Reeves as a movie star named Reef Hawk who fears a video could destroy his reputation. Hill, who co-wrote the movie, also co-stars as Reef’s crisis-management lawyer. It debuts Friday on Apple TV.

MUSIC TO STREAM

A chart-topping country hitmaker preps her sophomore album: Langley — known for such radio mainstays like the throwback “You Look Like You Love Me” with Riley Green and the George Strait-referencing No. 1 “Choosin’ Texas,” co-written with Miranda Lambert — will release a new record Friday. If the whole of “Dandelion” is anything like those songs, she’s got a long career ahead of her.

The English disco-pop singer Jessie Ware will release “Superbloom,” also Friday. She’s as ready to soundtrack a late night on the dance oor as she’s ever been — like on the single “Ride,” which interpolates the theme from the 1966 spaghetti Western lm “The Good, the Bad

and the Ugly” and melts into her sequined synths. “Come be my cowboy, baby, come, let’s ride,” she sings, more discotheque than honky-tonk. “You know I want you, I need you tonight, tonight.”

SERIES TO STREAM

“The Boys” launches its fth and nal season on Prime Video. The critically acclaimed series is based on comic books and follows villainous superheroes and the crew trying to thwart them. Series regulars Jack Quaid, Karl Urban, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty and Jessie T. Usher and Chace Crawford are all returning, as are more recent additions played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Jensen Ackles. “Hamilton” star Daveed Diggs also joins the cast.

Hulu’s sequel to “The Handmaid’s Tale,” called “The Testaments,” is streaming now. Ann Dowd reprises her Aunt Lydia character from the original and is now in charge of a school for girls that basically prepares them for adulthood, marriage and babies. These young

women have never known anything other than Gilead. It stars Chase In niti and Lucy Halliday and is also based on a novel by Margaret Atwood. Elizabeth Banks and Matthew Macfadyen lead a new sci- comedy, “The Miniature Wife,” for Peacock. They play a couple working on their marriage when their lives are further complicated after an unusual accident. It premieres Thursday. Another series launching its fth and nal season is “Hacks” on HBO. The show, debuting Thursday, follows the love-hate relationship between a legendary comedian (Jean Smart) and a talented writer played by Hannah Einbinder. The series has racked up a lot of hardware, including an Emmy for outstanding comedy series. Smart has won four consecutive Emmys for the show, while Einbinder has taken home one.

Do you ever wonder how your favorite former TV stars would fare in the present day? “Malcolm in the Middle” fans are getting their wish. Twenty years after their show went o

“Sweeney imbues her no-holds-barred portrayal of Martin with both sweetness and rage, with brio and real vulnerability.”

Jocelyn Noveck, AP Film Writer

the air, Muniz, Cranston and Kaczmarek return to TV for a revival where Muniz’s character is now a dad to a teenage girl. The four episodes of “Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair” premiere Friday on both Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

Nintendo is pulling out all the stops to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Pokémon. Just a month after releasing the cozy community-builder Pokémon Pokopia, it’s dropping the considerably less comfortable Pokémon Champions. This time it’s all about the combat, as you recruit and train monsters before pushing them into the arena to ght other trainers’ creatures. You can compete in ranked events with players from around the world or enjoy casual or private battles that won’t a ect your ranking. It’s a free-to -start challenge, but you may want to set some cash aside for in-app purchases. The ght club is open on Switch and Switch 2, with iOS and Android versions coming later in 2026.

Annapurna Interactive’s People of Note tells the tale of a pop singer named Cadence who decides she wants to start a band. That means she’ll need to trek across the world of Note, where each city is de ned by its own style of music. In her travels, though, Cadence learns that a Harmonic Convergence is disrupting music itself, and she and her bandmates will have to solve puzzles, explore dungeons and ght tone-deaf villains to stop Note from going silent. Los Angeles-based Iridium Studios promises that “each battle is an interactive musical performance,” and you can pump up the volume on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.

STATE & NATION

Artemis II breaks Apollo 13’s distance record with daring moon yby that included solar eclipse

The astronauts broke Apollo 13’s distance record during the historic moon yby

By Marcia Dunn

The Associated Press

HOUSTON — After traveling deeper into space than any other humans, the Artemis II astronauts pointed their moonship toward home Monday night, wrapping up a lunar cruise that revealed views of the far side never beheld by eyes until now.

Their yby of the moon — NASA’s rst return since the Apollo era — even included some celestial sightseeing besides yielding rich science. It was a signi cant step toward landing boot prints near the moon’s south pole in just two years.

A total solar eclipse greeted the three Americans and one Canadian as the moon temporarily blocked the sun from their perspective. Mercury, Venus, Mars and Saturn nodded at them from the black void.

The landing sites of Apollo 12 and 14 also were visible, poignant reminders of NASA’s rst age of exploration more than half a century ago.

In an especially riveting retro throwback, Artemis II shattered the distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. NASA’s Orion capsule reached a maximum distance of 252,756 miles from Earth before hanging a U-turn behind the moon, 4,101 miles farther than Apollo 13.

“It is blowing my mind what you can see with the naked eye from the moon right now. It is just unbelievable,” Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen radioed. He challenged “this generation and the next to make sure this record is not long-lived.”

Artemis II astronauts get Apollo wake-up message

Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell wished the crew well in a recording made two months before his death last August.

Mission Control beamed up his message to commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Hansen, before their y-around began.

“Welcome to my old neighborhood,” said Lovell, who also ew on Apollo 8, humanity’s rst lunar visit. “It’s a historic day and I know how busy you’ll be, but don’t forget to enjoy the view.”

The Artemis II astronauts carried up with them the Apollo 8 silk patch that accompanied Lovell to the moon. “It’s just a real honor to have that on board with us,” Wiseman said.

Artemis II is using the same maneuver that Apollo 13 did after its “Houston, we’ve had a problem” oxygen tank explosion wiped out any hope of a moon landing.

Known as a free-return lunar trajectory, this no-stoppingto-land route takes advantage of Earth and the moon’s gravity, reducing the need for fuel. It’s a celestial gure-eight that put the astronauts on course for home once they emerged from behind the moon Monday evening.

Astronauts lock in on lunar observations

Artemis II’s lunar y-around and intense observation period lasted seven hours, by far the highlight of the nearly 10 - day test ight that will end with a splashdown in the Paci c on Friday.

Venturing as close as 4,067 miles to the gray dusty surface, the astronauts zipped through a list of more than two dozen targets, using powerful Nikon cameras as well as their iPhones to zoom in on impact craters and other intriguing lunar features.

Before getting started, they

requested permission to name two bright, freshly carved craters. They suggested Integrity, the name of their capsule, and Carroll, commander Wiseman’s wife, who died of cancer in 2020.

Wiseman wept as Hansen put in the request to Mission Control, and all four astronauts embraced in tears.

“Such a majestic view out here,” Wiseman radioed once he regained his composure and started picture-taking. The astronauts called down that they managed to capture the moon and Earth in the same shot, and they provided a running commentary to scientists back in Houston on what they were seeing.

At one point, Koch reported an overwhelming sensation of emotion for a second or two while zooming in on the moon.

“Something just drew me in suddenly to the lunar landscape and it became real,” she said.

The Artemis II astronauts made their closest approach to the moon and reached their maximum distance from Earth while they were out of contact. Their speed at closest approach: 3,139 mph. The spacecraft accelerated as it appeared from behind the moon and the planned communications blackout and made tracks for Earth.

An Earthrise came into view showing Asia, Africa and Oceania as Mission Control called out: “We are Earthbound and ready to bring you home.” Flight controllers in Houston ipped their mission patches over to signify the return leg.

President Donald Trump phoned the astronauts following the yby, calling them “modern-day pioneers.”

“Today you’ve made history and made all America really proud, incredibly proud,” the president said, adding that more

lunar traveling is coming and ultimately “the whole big trip to Mars.”

Wiseman and his crew spent years studying lunar geography to prepare for the big event, adding solar eclipses to their repertoire during the past few weeks. By launching last Wednesday, they ensured themselves of a total solar eclipse from their vantage point behind the moon, courtesy of the cosmos.

Topping their science target list: Orientale Basin, a sprawling impact basin with three concentric rings, the outermost of which stretches nearly 600 miles across.

Their moon mentor, NASA geologist Kelsey Young, expects thousands of pictures.

Artemis II is NASA’s rst astronaut moonshot since Apollo 17 in 1972. It sets the stage for next year’s Artemis III, which will see another Orion crew practice docking with lunar landers in orbit around Earth. The culminating moon landing by two astronauts near the moon’s south pole will follow on Artemis IV in 2028.

While Artemis II may be taking Apollo 13’s path, it’s most reminiscent of Apollo 8 and humanity’s rst lunar visitors who orbited the moon on Christmas Eve 1968 and read from the Book of Genesis.

Glover said ying to the moon during Christianity’s Holy Week brought home for him “the beauty of creation.” Earth is an oasis amid “a whole bunch of nothing, this thing we call the universe” where humanity exists as one, he observed over the weekend.

“This is an opportunity for us to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing and that we’ve got to get through this together,” Glover said, clasping hands with his crewmates.

Randolph record

Earthset

The Artemis II crew captured this view of an Earthset on Monday as they ew around the moon. The image is reminiscent of the iconic Earthrise image taken by astronaut Bill Anders 58 years earlier as the Apollo 8 crew ew around the moon. See page A6 for more.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Paul faces protective order hearing in Utah after “Bachelorette” cancellation

A Utah judge is expected to hear arguments on a protective order sought by a former partner against Taylor Frankie Paul, star of Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” Paul and Dakota Mortensen were expected to participate remotely Tuesday while their lawyers appear in person. Mortensen is the father of Paul’s 2-year-old son. He is asking the court to extend a protective order. About three weeks ago, ABC opted not to air a new season of “The Bachelorette” with Paul at its center. Production has also been paused on her Hulu series. It often featured Paul and Mortensen’s tumultuous relationship.

Ford recalls more than 422K trucks, SUVs because windshield wipers can fail Ford Motor Co. is recalling 422,613 vehicles because the windshield wiper arms can break, causing reduced visibility and increasing the risk of a crash. The recall covers 2021-23 Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators and a range of F series Super Duty trucks, model years 2022-2023. Letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed on April 13. Once a remedy is determined, additional letters will be mailed. Dealerships will eventually inspect and replace the wiper arms free of charge.

Commissioners approve new round of funding from opioid settlement

The county will allocate nearly $2 million toward opioid recovery practices

By Ryan Henkel Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Board of Commissioners has approved another round of opioid settlement funding.

At its April 6 meeting, the board approved the allocation of $1.95 million in opioid settlement funding to nine di erent entities.

“In 2023, the board approved the county’s rst round of opioid settlement fund applications with the funding allocated for three years,” said Assistant County Manager William Johnson. “The expectation was to accept a new round of funding applications in 2026, so here we are.”

Those receiving funding include:

• Adult Day Reporting ($150,000)

• Bloom Therapeutics ($150,000)

• Juvenile Day Reporting

($150,000)

• Keaton’s Place ($450,000)

• Path of Hope ($150,000)

• Randolph County Detention Center ($450,000)

• Randolph County Emergency Services ($150,000)

• Community Hope Alliance ($150,000)

• Randolph County Public Libraries ($150,000)

The funding will be utilized for things such as diversion, intervention and recovery programs, naloxone and recovery housing.

The source for the funding comes from a $1.4 billion settlement paid out to the state by pharmaceutical companies for their role in the opioid epidemic. Randolph County’s portion is about $10 million and will be paid out over 18 years. The money must be used for opioid-recovery related items.

“These are reimbursements and these nonpro ts are also audited,” Frye said.

According to Johnson, since 2023, 911 calls involving opioid

$1.95M

Amount of opioid settlement allocation money approved by the Randolph County Board of Commissioners

issues have reduced by 50%, and overdose deaths in the county have been reduced by 75%.

The board also approved a resolution in support of the Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority.

“There’s been a regional effort recently, especially to promote wastewater treatment as a region which gives more control, more spread, is less costly and is likely to generate more funds from state/federal government as well,” said Chairman Darrell Frye.

In addition, the board approved an interlocal agreement with the City of Asheboro for the strengthening of water and sewer infrastructure utilizing state-appropriated funding.

Speci cally, the agreement assigns responsibility for public water to be connected to east-

Man sentenced to death in 2021 Asheboro murder

A Randolph County court found Branson Lambert guilty in the rst-degree murder of Dillion Wirt

Randolph Record sta

ASHEBORO — An Asheboro man was sentenced to death by a Randolph County jury last week.

Branson Lambert received that sentence following a tri-

al that found him guilty in the 2021 killing of Dillion Wirt. Lambert, now 26, was convicted of rst-degree murder, with the jury recommending the death penalty. The shooting took place in the overnight hours Feb. 7, 2021, in Asheboro. Police reports say that the shooting occurred at a Farr Street address.

Wirt’s body was located in Moore County at the former

ern Randolph County via new and upsized water lines, and for public water and sewer systems in the Seagrove area to be made more sustainable with infrastructure investments and management oversight.

“These are investments to improve access to and the capacity of water and sewer systems, and to strengthen our municipal partners’ water and sewer utilities,” said County Manager Zeb Holden. “The agreement realizes a partnership and establishes responsibilities for Randolph County and the City of Asheboro.”

Finally, the board approved the purchase of a replacement ambulance for approximately $260,000 to replace a totaled ambulance that was lost back in January.

According to Special Operations O cer Lt. Larry Hicks Jr., the insurance on the vehicle paid out just $1,000 less than the cost for the replacement. Hicks also stated that the vehicle should be ready to go within a month and that it will bring the emergency services ambulance eet back up to seven. The Randolph County Board of Commissioners will next meet May 4.

Glendon Pyrophyllite Rock Quarry. He was 23 years old. Lambert was arrested later that day in Virginia. Court records show he was 21 years old at the time of his arrest. Lambert will be held on death row at the state penitentiary in Raleigh. Experts said death-penalty cases often last for years before any execution takes place. The last execution in North Carolina came in 2006. Lambert is a former Uwharrie Charter Academy wrestler. There’s more to be resolved regarding Wirt’s death. Jessica Lynn Lo in was charged with accessory after the fact, and that’s a pending case.

Small quakes hit Randolph County

tivity really wasn’t much of an event as they weren’t strong enough for many residents to notice. Damage from the earthquakes hadn’t been reported. Based on information from the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquakes measured at 2.3 magnitude and occurred 36 minutes apart

March 30

• Nicholas Charles Gettig, 36, of Randleman, was arrested by RCSO for communicating threats and misdemeanor stalking.

• Shannon Lee Mahan, 39, of Archdale, was arrested by RCSO for possession of methamphetamine, felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Nikolas Romeo Medina-Portillo, 33, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for assault with a deadly weapon, misdemeanor crime of domestic violence and assault with a deadly weapon with a minor present.

• Eric Andrew Thompson, 41, of Archdale, was arrested by RCSO for resisting a public o cer.

March 31

• Kaitlin Dawn-Elizabeth Bradley, 29, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for assault and battery.

• Skyler Braxton King, 30, of Archdale, was arrested by RCSO for injury to or tampering with a vehicle.

• Julie Danielle Lawhorn, 38, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for felony possession of cocaine and second-degree trespass.

• August Rose Lockhart, 34, of Asheboro, was arrested by RCSO for resisting a public o cer and forgery of instrument.

• Jose Daniel Vargas, 43, of Asheboro, was arrested by RCSO for failure to heed light or siren, injury to personal property, resisting a public o cer, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance on prison or jail premises.

April 1

• Danny Ray Atkins, 32, of Randleman, was arrested by Asheboro PD for possession of fentanyl, simple possession of a Schedule III controlled substance and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Jerson Nimrod Barrera, 49, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for felony conspiracy and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.

between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

The rst quake was near Randleman not far from I-74. The second one was detected near Archdale close to what was formerly U.S. 311.

Based on reports, these were the rst earthquakes detected in North Carolina this year outside of the mountains.

• Ana Cecilia Guzman, 48, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for abduction of children, felony conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile and resisting a public o cer.

• Billy Ernest Jones, 36, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Jeremy Lee Jones, 35, of Thomasville, was arrested by RCSO for nancial card theft and two counts of nancial card fraud.

• Malik Nychelle Little, 31, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for resisting a public o cer and possession of drug paraphernalia.

April 2

• Tony Roger Ward, 56, of Ramseur, was arrested by RCSO for possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Matthew Ryan Ferree, 32, of Randleman, was arrested by Asheboro PD for habitual larceny, possession of stolen goods or property and injury to personal property.

Guide

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Randolph County:

April 10

Cruise Against Cancer

4 p.m.

The 3rd Annual Cruise Against Cancer fundraiser features a car show, BBQ sandwiches, sides and drinks, with all donations bene ting the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life program.

Sunset Avenue Church of God 900 Sunset Ave. Asheboro

Liberty Farmers Market — Season Opening

Fridays 3-6 p.m.

Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Liberty Farmers Market opens for the 2026 season, running Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 14. The market features local produce, vendors, and community goods.

Liberty Farmers Market 423 West Swannanoa Ave. Liberty

April 11

Common Ground Festival

10 a.m.

The free community festival hosted by the Randolph County Agricultural Center, Cooperative Extension, and Soil and Water Conservation features live animal demonstrations, equipment rental displays, a community yard sale, vendors, giveaways, hands-on learning activities, and self-guided facility tours.

Randolph County Agricultural Center 1880 U.S. Highway 64 E. Asheboro

Wade Hayes

7 p.m.

A successful recording artist in his own right, Hayes, an Oklahoma Country Music Hall of Famer, presents “Old Country Still Rocks,” a set of covers from country music legends including Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Bob Wills, Merle Haggard and others. Tickets range from $24-$44.

The Liberty Showcase Theater 101 S. Fayetteville St. Liberty

Now through April 19

Seagrove Celebration of Pottery Tour

Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visit the local potteries and see new pottery being made. Downtown Seagrove

THE CONVERSATION

Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

In today’s NBA, beliefs can be a firing o ense

THERE ARE PLENTY of things an

NBA player can do and still keep his job.

League history is littered with examples: players involved in o -court scandals, arrests, even allegations of serious violence. Time and again, teams and the league have found ways to look past behavior that, in most professions, would be career-ending.

But there appears to be one line that cannot be crossed — especially during Holy Week.

That line, it seems, is expressing a traditional religious belief.

Enter Jaden Ivey.

The former Purdue standout was the fth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, a rising young guard who averaged 16 points and ve assists as a rookie with the Detroit Pistons. By his third season, he was approaching 18 points per game before an injury derailed his momentum. Eventually, he landed with the Chicago Bulls.

By all accounts, Ivey was a productive player still on the rise.

Then came an Instagram video.

In it, Ivey — now a newly converted Christian — criticized the NBA’s celebration of Pride Month. His comments re ected a conventional religious viewpoint: that pride, as celebrated in this context, con icts with Christian teachings on sin.

“They proclaim Pride Month,” Ivey said. “They say, ‘Come join us ... to celebrate unrighteousness.’”

That was enough.

The Bulls waived him, citing “conduct detrimental to the team.”

The phrase raises an obvious question: What exactly was the conduct?

Ivey did not skip practice. He did not clash with teammates. He did not violate the law. By his own account — and by the absence of any evidence to the contrary

COLUMN | MICHAEL BARONE

— he remained a good teammate and a committed player.

His o ense was speech.

On Instagram Live, Ivey pushed back on the decision.

“How is it conduct detrimental to the team? What did I do to the team?” he asked.

It’s a fair question — and one the Bulls have not clearly answered.

Even head coach Billy Donovan o ered only a muted response, emphasizing “certain standards” while declining to directly address Ivey’s comments. There was no forceful condemnation, no claim of locker room disruption — just a vague appeal to team values.

Contrast that with other professional sports leagues. UFC president Dana White has repeatedly defended ghters’ rights to speak freely, even when he strongly disagrees with them. The principle is simple: Disagreement does not justify punishment.

The NBA appears to be operating under a di erent standard.

If Ivey had expressed support for Pride Month — or made a personal announcement aligning with it — it’s di cult to imagine a similar outcome. More than likely, he would have been celebrated.

Instead, he was dismissed.

This is what makes the situation so striking. The league has tolerated, and at times quietly managed, far more serious controversies. There was even a prolonged debate over whether to host an event tied to a strip club in Atlanta — an issue that required league intervention after weeks of public scrutiny.

Yet a religious objection to Pride Month draws an immediate and decisive response.

That disparity is hard to ignore.

It also raises broader questions about the NBA’s relationship with its audience. Millions of fans — many of them religious — hold views similar to those Ivey expressed. They may not agree with the league’s messaging, but they have continued to watch, support and engage with the sport.

Decisions like this risk sending a di erent message: that certain beliefs are not merely unpopular but unacceptable.

For a league that seeks to expand its reach, that’s a curious strategy.

Timing only adds to the tension. The incident unfolded during Holy Week, one of the most sacred periods on the Christian calendar — a moment when questions of faith and conviction are especially prominent.

None of this requires agreement with Ivey’s views. Reasonable people can and do disagree on these issues.

But there is a di erence between disagreement and exclusion.

If the standard for remaining in the NBA now includes alignment with speci c cultural or ideological positions, then the league is entering new territory — one where speech, not conduct, becomes the deciding factor in a player’s career.

Ivey may yet nd another team willing to give him a second chance.

But the larger issue will remain: In today’s NBA, it’s not just how you play the game that matters — it’s what you’re allowed to say o the court.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co-founder of Daily Wire+. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

The sudden political star of Trump II: Marco Rubio

Rubio, in his two ostensibly nonpolitical jobs, has obviously made a favorable impression on the public.

“WHITE HOUSE DEPLOYS Marco

Rubio to clarify messaging about Iran con ict.” So reads the headline on the front page of the Washington Examiner’s website in the early hours of April 1, the third month of U.S. military operations against Iran, which have been taking place since Feb. 28.

That prominence was overtaken as it was announced that President Donald Trump would address the nation on the war Wednesday night. But it’s still worth noting and could turn out to be more signi cant as the end of the second Trump term comes into view.

Rubio’s video making the case for the Iran o ensive is only two minutes long, straight to the camera, with a dark background relieved only by the red and white stripes of the ag. Succinctly, he made a case for military action now.

“Under no circumstances,” Rubio said, “can a country run by radical Shia clerics with an apocalyptic vision of the future ever possess nuclear weapons, and under no circumstances can they be allowed to hide and protect that program and their ambitions behind a shield of missiles and drones that no one can do anything about.”

At greater length but in a similar fashion, he made the same case that day in a television interview on Al Jazeera, in terms pitched to its audience not just in the United States but also in the Gulf.

Only one other person before has held the o ces of secretary of state and national security adviser: Henry Kissinger, from 1973 to 1975. In that capacity, Kissinger conducted high-level diplomacy in the Middle East and left no distance in his public statements between his views and those of the president he served, although behind the scenes, as later revealed, there were di erences.

Similarly, Rubio obviously speaks carefully to leave no distance between his statements and those of the president he serves, to whom he refers in respectful terms. But he’s able to do this and to

appeal to others, including inveterate Trump haters, all at the same time.

That was apparent in his Feb. 14 speech at the Munich Security Conference where he earned standing applause from his predominantly European audience even as he repeated, diplomatically phrased, the same criticisms of what Donald Rumsfeld called “Old Europe” voiced numerous times by Trump and, at the same conference a year before, to a very di erent reaction, Vice President JD Vance.

There are many di erences between the two men who were secretary of state and national security adviser. Kissinger was a dazzling scholar who impressed everyone at Harvard University. Rubio rst went to college on a football scholarship then earned degrees from the University of Florida and the University of Miami Law School. Kissinger, in his prime, dated movie stars. Rubio is a longtime family man.

Once in America, Kissinger always lived in the Northeast Corridor (Manhattan, Cambridge and Washington, D.C.), Rubio in semitropical Miami and ra sh Las Vegas. Kissinger never ran for public o ce. Rubio was elected to the West Miami Council at 27 and to the term-limited Florida legislature at 29 (winning a primary runo by 64 votes), and he got his colleagues to elect him as speaker six years later.

But the biggest political di erence is that Kissinger, born a citizen of Weimar Germany, was ineligible to run for president. Rubio not only ran for president in 2016 but might conceivably have won in the absence of Trump’s candidacy and the millions spent against him by backers of his former mentor, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

And Rubio might conceivably run and win in 2028, though he says he will support Vance, and Vance says that Rubio is “my closest friend in the administration.” There are obviously some di erences between them on foreign policy: Rubio

plainly favors the Iran attacks. Vance seems dubious.

Despite speculation that MAGA opposes Trump on Iran, Rubio, in his two ostensibly nonpolitical jobs, has obviously made a favorable impression on the public. At the recent Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine, Texas, Vance once again won the straw poll for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination. But his 53% was down from 61% last year, while Rubio zoomed up from 3% in 2025 to 35% this year.

CPAC, abounding these days with MAGA-loving young men, has not always been a reliable guide to wider opinion.

But national pollsters, which began 2028 polling two weeks after the 2024 election, cast a wider net. In 17 polls conducted over the rst full year since Trump’s inauguration, Rubio averaged 9%, behind not only Vance at 46% but also his fellow Floridian, Gov. Ron DeSantis, who averaged 10%.

In seven polls taken since Rubio’s Munich speech, Vance was unchanged, averaging 45%, and so was DeSantis, who averaged 8%. But Rubio did signi cantly better, averaging 16%. That’s not the jump he saw at CPAC, but it’s also pretty clear evidence that Rubio is making some impression on a public that usually pays little attention to secretaries of state or national security advisers.

But I do feel sure that Rubio, who showed impressive raw political talent in his rise to one of Florida’s U.S. Senate seats in the rst decade of this century and who made a serious presidential run in the second decade, has now shown impressive skills as a national leader in the third decade. Is there more ahead in the fourth?

Michael Barone is a senior political analyst for the Washington Examiner and longtime co-author of “The Almanac of American Politics.”

(Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

Ralph Hinson Cooper Sr.

June 2, 1949 –March 30, 2026

Ralph Hinson Cooper Sr., 76, of Asheboro, died Monday, March 30, 2026, at his residence.

A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at his home, 549 Tall Pine Street Ext., Asheboro.

Born in Guilford Co., NC, on June 2, 1949, Mr. Cooper was the son of the late Fenley Randolph Cooper and Ora Gladys Taylor Cooper. He had retired as an upholsterer from Carolina Custom. Working in the yard and his garden, along with shing and doing puzzles, were some of his favorite pastimes. But the most important thing in his life was his family, whom he loved dearly.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Cooper was preceded in death by his brothers, Jim Phillips and Ronnie Phillips.

He is survived by his wife, Hilda Cooper; sons, Ralph Cooper Jr. (Tracy), Shawn Cooper, Michael Cooper (Angie); brother, Robert Phillips; grandchildren, Megan Cooper, Ryan Cooper (Josephine), Sarah Cooper, Ashley Cooper, Seth Cooper; great grandchildren, Christian Cooper, Elijah Coleman, Rose Hannah, Aylin Cooper, Arabella Cooper, Amelia Cooper, Amaya Cooper and Jeremiah Cooper.

Evelyn Cora Kivett

Nov. 7, 1949 – April 2, 2026

Evelyn Cora Kivett, 76, of Asheboro, passed away Thursday, April 2, 2026, at The Randolph Hospice House in Asheboro.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m., Sunday, April 12, 2026, at Liberty Road Baptist Church, where she was a faithful member for 45 years, with Rev. Don Ashley Jr. o ciating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Evelyn was born on November 7, 1949, in Randolph County, the daughter of the late James Brown and Linnie Belle Brown. Evelyn possessed a natural green thumb and loved working in her yard, taking care of her ower beds. She was passionate about her work and enjoyed the perks of her seeing the sta and children grow at Uwharrie Ridge 6-12. Evelyn’s family meant the world to her, she enjoyed spending time with them, especially her grandkids and her fur baby, “Maggie”. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading a good book or watching the Hallmark Channel.

She is survived by her husband, Darrell Kivett of the home; daughter, Melinda Williamson (Donnie); stepchildren, Amy Kivett (Don), Je Kivett (Kim); siblings, Orvel Brown (Sharon), Debra Wood, Tim Brown; grandchildren, Rebecca Poplin (Bobby), Amanda Shelton, Bradley Williamson (Alicia), Kara Haithcock (Rodney), Mia Ashley; great grandchildren, Luke, Kamron, Jordan, Branson, Camden, Lani, and Emma.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m., on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Liberty Road Baptist Church.

Cora Alline Wright

March 3, 1939 –March 30, 2026

Cora Alline Wright, age 87, of Asheboro, went to be with her Lord and Savior on March 30, 2026, at Meadowbrook Health & Rehabilitation in Salisbury.

Alline was born in Randolph County on March 3, 1939, to William and Isabell Pritchard Wright. She was a longtime member of Bailey’s Grove Baptist Church and enjoyed driving the church van on visitation and singing with her sister Jessie Weaver and Junior Leonard at nursing homes. Alline had a designated parking space for her “Lime Green” Kia at the church. Alline was a hardworking lady who often held two jobs a day. She loved picking blackberries in the summer and weed eating and mowing her yard. She loved to bake Honey Bun cakes and persimmon puddings.

She is survived by her daughters, Vickie Kaminski of Asheboro and Carol Houck (Terry) of Salisbury; grandson, Ryan Beckham (Courtney); grand-daughters, Jamie Tuttle (Justin) and Cynthia Kaminski (Chris); two step-grandchildren, Josh and Chris Meeks and three great-granddaughters, Madelynn and Kennedy Beckham and Kynlee Tuttle.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, April 5, 2026, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue in Asheboro. Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 6, 2026, at 2 p.m. at the Glenn “Mac” Pugh Chapel with Pastor Jon Shook and Pastor Sean Cook o ciating. Entombment will follow at Randolph Memorial Park.

Rena Kiser

Feb.13, 1940 – April 6, 2026

Rena Lee Purvis Kiser, 86, of Bennett, passed away on Monday, April 6, 2026, at her daughter’s home, surrounded by her loving family. The funeral will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at Fall Creek Baptist Church with Dr. John Williamson, Pastor Edwin Moore, Sammy Brewer and Kristy Staley presiding. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Following the interment, they family will return to the fellowship hall. At other times, the family will be at the home of Walter and Kristy Staley.

Rena Lee was born on February 13, 1940, to James Wiley Purvis and Maggie Myrtle Brewer Purvis. She was a lifelong member of Fall Creek Baptist Church. She owned and operated Kiser’s Florist & Gifts for over 50 years. She enjoyed traveling, sewing, cooking, making wedding cakes and Christmas candy. She adored her family and loved spending time with her grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Kiser.

Rena Lee is survived by her children, Kirsty Staley (Walter), of Bennett and Rhonda Frye (Terry), of Robbins; grandchildren, Jamie, Jana, Josh and Haley; great-grandchildren, Caleb, Maggie, Dalton, Lacey, Sadie, Mason and Carson; special cousin, Nancy Needham; her “boys”, Delmar and Je Gatlin and a host of family and friends.

Kirby Ray Burroughs

Aug. 29, 1949 –March 30, 2026

Kirby Ray Burroughs, 76, of Star, died Monday, March 30, 2026, at FirstHealth Hospice & Palliative Care in West End.

Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m., Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at Asbury Baptist Church, Seagrove, where he was a member. Private burial will be at Tucker Freeman Cemetery in Star.

Born on August 29, 1949, in Montgomery County, NC, Kirby was the son of the late Reid Washington Burroughs and Mary Hall Burroughs. Kirby loved taking care of his garden and yard. He was extremely proud of his motorcycle. He also enjoyed watching Westerns on TV. He will surely be missed by his family.

In addition to his parents, Kirby was preceded in death by his brother, Bob Burroughs and his sister, Joyce Latham.

Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Brenda Freeman Burroughs of the home; daughter, Karen Lester (Paul) of Pleasant Garden; sons, Ken Burroughs (Donna) of Asheboro, Kevin Burroughs (Shauna) of Asheboro; sister, Betty Trantham of Star; grandchildren, Caroline Burroughs, Jace Burroughs, P.J. Lester, Austin Burroughs, Kurstin Burroughs, Chevy Burroughs, Kamdyn Therrell; and great grandchildren, Lyrik Owenby and Paisley Burroughs.

The family will receive friends from 2-3 p.m., Wednesday, prior to the service at Asbury Baptist Church, Seagrove.

Dennis Wayne York

April 28, 1950 – April 5, 2026

Dennis Wayne York, 75, of Sophia, NC, died Sunday, April 5, 2026. at his home.

Graveside services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Thursday, April 9, 2026, at South Plain eld Friends Meeting, Sophia, with Pastor Alvin Battle and Pastor Steve Pruitt o ciating. Burial will follow in the Meeting’s Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Randolph County Honor Guard.

A native of Surry Co., NC, Mr. York was born April 28, 1950, the son of the late Ralph and Vera Smith York. He retired as a driver for Voncanon Trucking for over 30 years, who was known by his CB handle name “Bouncey.” He proudly served in the US Marines during the Vietnam War.

Being the Remote King of the TV, he was always able to watch shows that he enjoyed like Walker, Texas Ranger, In The Heat of The Night, and other old westerns. He also enjoyed his calming, quiet time watching the birds, squirrels, and the sun rise every morning that he was able to sit on the porch. Most of all, Mr. York loved his family.

In addition to his parents, Mr. York was preceded in death by his brothers, Kenneth York, and Michael “Tadpole” York.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Sheryl York; daughter, Lockett Suitt (Larry); sons, Brandon York (Amanda), Zachary York (Katie); sisters, Pat Davis (Randy), Janice Pell (Reid); grandchildren, Madison, Zoe, Vanessa, Elizabeth, Brodie, Maxie, Sarah; great grandchild, Mla, and his best friend since serving in Vietnam, Benji Stitt.

The family will receive friends from 12:45-1:45 p.m. at the church on Thursday, prior to the graveside services.

James Michael Stidham

Aug. 15, 1962 –March 27, 2026

James Michael Stidham, born August 15, 1962, in Kentucky, passed away on March 27, 2026, in West End, North Carolina, at the age of 63. Known for his dedication and hard work, James spent a signi cant portion of his career as a hosier with Clayson’s Knitting, where he worked diligently on the machinery. He later dedicated many years to the Purdue Chicken Plant, where he remained until his retirement.

James found joy in spending time outdoors, particularly tending to his yard, and cherished the moments he spent with his son, Michael. His life was rich with the simple pleasures of family and nature. He is preceded in death by his grandparents, James and Glady’s Dunsmore Stidham; his parents, James Stidham and Nella Mae Stidham Davis; his stepfather, Wayne Davis; his infant sister, Rhonda Kay Stidham; and his infant granddaughter Addison Marie Stidham and his nephew Brady Lee Hopkins. Left to honor his memory are his sons, Michael Lee Stidham, Christopher James Stidham, and James Travis Stidham; his daughter, Amanda Stidham Wright, his three daughters; his sister, Brenda Karen Stidham; his stepsister, Patricia Lawson; his stepbrother, Michael Davis; and his beloved dogs, Bootsie and BJ.

Though no services are scheduled at this time, James’s family expresses their heartfelt gratitude to Moore Regional Hospital and Hospice House for the care and compassion shown to him.

James Michael Stidham will be deeply missed by his family and all who knew him.

James Michael Stidham will be deeply missed by his family and all who had the privilege of knowing him. Your generous donations will help o set the nancial burden of funeral expenses and loss of income for the family during this di cult time.

Richard Hornback

April 5, 1962 –March 30, 2026

Richard M. Hornback, 63, of Randleman, passed away Monday, March 30, 2026, at his home.

Richard was born on April 5, 1962, in Columbus, IN, the son of the late Milburn and Reyburn Heath Hornback. He retired from the United States Postal Service. He found great enjoyment in xing things and learning how things work. Mr. Hornback was an avid baseball fan, always cheering for his favorite team, the Cincinnati Reds.

Richard is survived by his wife, Cyndy Hornback; daughter, Stephanie Hornback; son, Bradley Hornback (Krutika); sisters, Teresa Kercher (Kenny), Bonnie Banks, Tonya Keathley; brother, Milburn Eugene Hornback (Dana); and grandchild, Evelyn Hornback. Memorials may be made to Whynot Wesleyan Church, 1402 NC Highway 705 East, Seagrove, NC 27341.

Charles Rondell Linder

April 25, 1957 –March 31, 2026

Charles Rondell Linder, born April 25, 1957, in South Carolina, passed away peacefully on March 31, 2026, in Asheboro, North Carolina, at the age of 68. Charles devoted much of his life to the furniture industry, where he worked diligently as a sprayer. Beyond his professional endeavors, he was an ardent fan of NASCAR and a loyal supporter of the Eagles football team. Charles found great joy in spending time with his beloved grandbabies, cherishing every moment with them.

A man of faith, Charles attended the North Asheboro Church of God, where he was a valued member of the community.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Treva Johnson. Charles leaves behind a loving family, including his devoted wife of 46 years, Joan Linder; his daughters, Tammy Sue Carrico and her husband Randy, and Rhonda Hoover and her husband David. He will be fondly remembered by his grandchildren, Joshua Bowland his ancé Carla, Brandon Bowland and his wife Amber, and Jesse Neeley, as well as his greatgrandchildren, Sylaina Bowland, Ayden Bowland, and Landon Bowland. Additionally, his loving grand puppy, Mocha, will miss him dearly.

A celebration of Charles’s life will be held on Saturday April 11, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. located at the North Asheboro Church of God (1373 Randolph Tabernacle Road, Asheboro, NC 27203).

Charles’s warmth, dedication and love for his family and interests will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Donald Wayne “Hodge” Hodges

May 8, 1962 – March 31, 2026

Donald Wayne “Hodge” Hodges, 63, of Bennett, passed away on Monday, March 31, 2026, at FirstHealth Moore Regional. Services will be held at a later date.

Donald was born on May 8, 1962. He was a truck driver for Caviness Farms. He enjoyed NASCAR, playing golf and anything outdoors. He loved his family and spending time with his grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Donald was preceded in death by one brother and two sisters.

He is survived by his children, Daniel Hodges (Ti any), of Carthage and Lyndon Hodges, of Eastwood; grandchildren, Dawson Hodges and Gracelynn Hodges; brother Mike Hodges (Cathy), of Asheboro and a host of family and friends.

Charles Woodrow Smith

Sept. 3, 1940 – April 1, 2026

Charles Woodrow Smith, age 85, passed away peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of love, service, and dedication to his family.

Charles was born on September 3, 1940, in Montgomery, West Virginia, to the late Ivan Smith and Frances (Tolliver) Smith.

He proudly served his country in the United States Army from November 1959 until March 1968, where he worked as a nuclear weapons specialist. Following his military service, Charles worked for many years with Staley Plumbing and Heating, retiring in 2005.

Janet Pauline Price McFadden

Sept. 22, 1932 – April 3, 2026

Janet Pauline Price McFadden went to be with her Lord on April 3, 2026, at Cross Road Retirement Community. She is survived by her husband of 70 years Kenneth Edgar McFadden of the home, her son Kenneth Alan McFadden (Pam) of High Point, her daughter Robin M. Coggins (Chris) of High Point, her three grandsons Stephen Coggins (Jessica), Andrew Coggins (Rebecka), and Jonathan Coggins (Anna), her granddaughter Sydney McFadden, and her ve great grandchildren (all under two and a half years old!).

In addition to her parents, Janet was predeceased by her brother Fred Avery Price Jr., sister-in-law Flowe Price, and her infant son Paul Jonathan McFadden.

Janet was born to Fred Avery and Opal Inez Price on September 22, 1932. She graduated from Women’s College (now UNCG) in 1953. She married Ken on August 28, 1955, a marriage that would last for over 70 years. She worked tirelessly in social work, placing children in foster homes, teaching families how to incorporate foster and adopted children, and has volunteered for the Randolph Pregnancy Care Center since January of 1997. Janet has been a faithful member of First Presbyterian Church of Asheboro for many years. She found peace in God’s creation, loving to travel to both the beach and mountains, loving the outdoors and taking long walks in nature. Janet was creative at heart, when not spending time with her family, or walking through nature, she could be found painting.

Janet will be remembered for her love of God, her faith and her family. One of her greatest joys was being known as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and sister. She will be dearly missed by all.

Janet’s funeral service will be on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 2:00PM in the Pugh Funeral Home Glenn “Mac” Pugh Chapel, 437 Sunset Ave., Asheboro, NC 27203 with burial to follow at Oaklawn Cemetery, 737 Albemarle Rd, Asheboro, NC 27203. The visitation will be at Pugh Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 1:00PM. In lieu of owers memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church.

Charles enjoyed life’s simple pleasures, including gol ng and hunting, and was a devoted fan of Duke athletics, especially football and basketball. In his later years, he became well known in the community for selling what many considered the best tomatoes in town.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Charles David-Lee Smith.

Charles is survived by his loving wife, Priscilla Ann Smith; his daughter, Terry (Gordon) Rushia, of Russell, Pennsylvania; his stepdaughters, Annette (Kenny) Taylor, of Whitsett, North Carolina, Terrie (David) Stackhouse, of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, and Connie Harris, of Seagrove, North Carolina; his siblings, Joyce (Jack) Henson, of Hurricane, West Virginia, Mary (Beldon) Henson, of Waverly, Ohio, Sandra (Paul) Saunders, of Kingston, Ohio, and Garrett (Jeannie) Smith, of Asheboro, North Carolina; as well as many nieces, nephews, and step-grandchildren who will cherish his memory. A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 9, 2026, from 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. at Pugh Funeral Home. A graveside service will follow at 2 p.m. at Randolph Memorial Park.

Barbara Anne Barger Hill

March 25, 1935 –April 1, 2026

Barbara Anne Barger Hill, age 91, of Asheboro, passed away on April 1, 2026, at Clapp’s Convalescent Nursing Home. Barbara was born in Hickory, NC on March 25, 1935 to Albert Thomas and Frances Crockett Barger. Barbara was a graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne University and completed her graduate work at UNC-Chapel Hill. She started teaching at Asheboro High School in 1957 and was a former librarian at Randolph Community College. She was the o ce manager for her husband, Earlie’s, chiropractic practice for over 40 years. Barbara was a member of First United Methodist Church, where she was a member of the Christian Love Sunday School class and the Circle 5. She was a charter member of both the Randolph Arts Guild and Pinewood Country Club. Barbara enjoyed her Bridge club, spending time at Badin Lake, and loved working in the yard, trimming bushes. She was an avid NASCAR fan and loved line dancing. Barbara was a very independent lady who never met a stranger and loved to meet and talk to new people.

In addition to her parents, Barbara was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Dr. Earlie R. Hill, whom she married in Hickory on August 10, 1958. She is survived by her daughter, Linda Hill Wilkes (Wesley) of Greensboro; son, Lee T. Hill (Tacey) of Asheboro; grandchildren, Ashley A. Wilkes of Baltimore, MD and Jordan T. Hill (Marbely) of Asheboro; and brother-in-law, James Hill of Ohio.

The family would like to express a special thank you to her special and dear friends, church family and ministers at First United Methodist Church, 4 Generations of Caring sta , the sta and nurses at Clapp’s Convalescent Nursing Home, and the nurses with Hospice of Randolph, for the love and care they provided for Barb. She loved you all dearly.

A graveside memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at 2 p.m. at Oaklawn Cemetery with Rev. Lynda Ferguson and Rev. Jaidy Smith o ciating. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 224 N. Fayetteville Street, Asheboro, NC 27203.

Walter Lewis “Buster” Scott

Oct. 26, 1928 – April 2, 2026

Walter Lewis “Buster” Scott, age 97, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at his home, surrounded by his family.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, April 6, 2026, at Rock Hill Friends Church, where he was a member, with Pastor David Roudabush o ciating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service, beginning at 1 p.m. Interment will follow at Needham’s Grove Baptist Church cemetery.

Mr. Scott was a native of Moore County, born to Claude and Ella Moore Scott on October 26, 1928. He attended Westmoore School. He later served in the US Army stationed in Germany. He retired from Mansion Homes in Robbins after 28 years. After retirement, he worked part-time for Moore County Waste Management for 15 years. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. He loved the Lord and was a blessing to all who knew him. He loved and cherished his wife and children. He loved his family deeply and enjoyed sharing memories of his life with his grandchildren. He loved to talk about his time spent in the Army with everyone he met. He loved to hunt, sh, watch old western movies and NASCAR races. He loved a good meal with his favorite soda, Dr. Pepper.

In addition to his parents, Claude and Ella Moore Scott, he was preceded in death by his infant grandson, Austin Tanner Scott; his daughter-in-law, Cindy Scott and sisters, Kathleen Abdo, Betsy Hussey, Geneva Dunlap and Juanita Maness.

He is survived by the love of his life for 72 years, Betty “Muriel” Scott, of the home; daughter, Gayle Maness (Garry); sons, Brantley Scott and Bradley Scott (Tina); sister, Judy Burns; 12 grandchildren; 18 greatgrandchildren; four great-greatgrandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Margaret and Neda for their kind and compassionate care.

The family will be meeting at the home.

In lieu of owers, memorials may be made to Rock Hill Friends Church, 148 Rock Hill Church Road, Eagle Spring, NC 27242 or to FirstHealth Hospice, 150 Applecross Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374.

Charles Franklin York Sr.

Oct. 23, 1945 –March 27, 2026

Charles Franklin York Sr., age 80, of Seagrove, passed away March 27, 2026, at his home. He was born on October 23, 1945, in Randolph County, North Carolina, the son of the late Charles Worth York and Mary Beck York. He is also preceded in death by his son, Charles Franklin York Jr.; sister, Rachel Robinson; and two grandchildren, Tony Ray York Jr. and Cody Hicks.

Frank honorably served his country in the United States Air Force from 1963 to 1967, participating bravely in the Vietnam War. His primary job was a parachute packer, ensuring the safety of others. Following his service, Frank applied his skills and work ethic to a successful career in HVAC, contributing to the comfort of countless homes and businesses before enjoying a well-deserved retirement. Beyond his professional life, Frank was a man of diverse interests and talents. His love for classic cars was evident in his impressive collection and his joy in driving them, always eager for any automotive adventures. Frank’s work travels allowed him to explore most states and several countries, fueling his love for new experiences and the freedom of seeing the world. An adept marksman, Frank excelled in shooting competitions and took pride in collecting and repairing rearms for himself and friends. His skill with a ri e was matched only by his enthusiasm for horseback riding, where he found a special connection with Tennessee Walker horses. Frank’s curiosity extended to the ground beneath his feet, as he enjoyed panning for gold and seeking out Native American artifacts, embracing the history and stories they carried.

Left to cherish his memory are his devoted wife of 42 years, Rhonda York; son, Tony York; daughters, Shonda York and Bobbie King; grandchildren, Preston, Caleb, MaKayla, Alex, Brittany, Ashley, and Bradley; six great-grandchildren; sister, Irene Hill; and numerous other beloved family and friends.

The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. on Friday, April 3, 2026, at Community Independence Baptist Church, 3228 Brower Mill Road, Seagrove, NC. A memorial service will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the church with Pastor Ernest Beck o ciating.

Flowers are welcome and may be delivered to Midstate Cremation & Funeral Service, 304 Lanier Ave., Asheboro, NC 27203, for the service date at the church.

Hilda Strider Smith

Feb. 9, 1941 – March 31, 2026

Hilda Strider Smith, a devoted mother, pioneering entrepreneur, and lifelong bridge enthusiast, passed away peacefully on March 31, 2026, at the age of 85.

The family will be gathering to celebrate Hilda at the Flying Pig in Asheboro on Friday, April 3, from 2-4 p.m. Please feel welcome to attend.

Born in 1941, Hilda lived a life de ned by her commitment to her family, enduring friendships and boundless energy. Hilda was a trailblazer in her community. Alongside her mother, Zada, and her sister, Phyllis, she cofounded Pleasingly Plump, a boutique clothing store that they successfully operated for over 20 years. As a female entrepreneur in an era when such roles weren’t the norm, their boutique served as a space that empowered women and was a staple of the local business community.

Beyond her work, many of Hilda’s treasured memories were the summers spent on Lake Tillery. It was a backdrop for her to enjoy her family and the many lake friends that were made. A lifelong resident of Asheboro, she spent many decades learning and playing Bridge with an amazing group of friends, who remained an important part of her life through to the end. She was a proud Red Hat Society member which added to her active social calendar. Hilda loved going places and was never satis ed being idle. She could frequently be seen around town in one of her many hats - she never went out without one.

During Hilda’s sickness, she maintained a positive outlook and in good spirits. Her legacy of love and strength lives on through her family; her children, Todd Smith (Amy) and Elizabeth Olig (Cameron); grandchildren, Derick, Rebekah, Zachary, Zada, and Henry; and great-grandchild, Mackenzie. The family wishes to acknowledge Betty Starrette, an amazing caregiver to Hilda during the past year. Because of her, our Mom was able to continue living her best life even when she could no longer live independently.

Hilda was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Zada Strider, her husband, Douglas Q. Smith, and her sister and best friend, Phyllis Williams.

The family requests, in lieu of owers, that donations be made to the Asheboro Public Library Foundation, 201 Worth Street, Asheboro, NC 27203.

STATE & NATION

Artemis II breaks Apollo 13’s distance record with daring moon yby that included solar eclipse

The astronauts broke Apollo 13’s distance record during the historic moon yby

By Marcia Dunn

The Associated Press

HOUSTON — After traveling deeper into space than any other humans, the Artemis II astronauts pointed their moonship toward home Monday night, wrapping up a lunar cruise that revealed views of the far side never beheld by eyes until now.

Their yby of the moon — NASA’s rst return since the Apollo era — even included some celestial sightseeing besides yielding rich science. It was a signi cant step toward landing boot prints near the moon’s south pole in just two years.

A total solar eclipse greeted the three Americans and one Canadian as the moon temporarily blocked the sun from their perspective. Mercury, Venus, Mars and Saturn nodded at them from the black void.

The landing sites of Apollo 12 and 14 also were visible, poignant reminders of NASA’s rst age of exploration more than half a century ago.

In an especially riveting retro throwback, Artemis II shattered the distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. NASA’s Orion capsule reached a maximum distance of 252,756 miles from Earth before hanging a U-turn behind the moon, 4,101 miles farther than Apollo 13.

“It is blowing my mind what you can see with the naked eye from the moon right now. It is just unbelievable,” Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen radioed. He challenged “this generation and the next to make sure this record is not long-lived.”

Artemis II astronauts get Apollo wake-up message

Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell wished the crew well in a recording made two months before his death last August.

Mission Control beamed up his message to commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Hansen, before their y-around began.

“Welcome to my old neighborhood,” said Lovell, who also ew on Apollo 8, humanity’s rst lunar visit. “It’s a historic day and I know how busy you’ll be, but don’t forget to enjoy the view.”

The Artemis II astronauts carried up with them the Apollo 8 silk patch that accompanied Lovell to the moon. “It’s just a real honor to have that on board with us,” Wiseman said.

Artemis II is using the same maneuver that Apollo 13 did after its “Houston, we’ve had a problem” oxygen tank explosion wiped out any hope of a moon landing.

Known as a free-return lunar trajectory, this no-stoppingto-land route takes advantage of Earth and the moon’s gravity, reducing the need for fuel. It’s a celestial gure-eight that put the astronauts on course for home once they emerged from behind the moon Monday evening.

Astronauts lock in on lunar observations

Artemis II’s lunar y-around and intense observation period lasted seven hours, by far the highlight of the nearly 10 - day test ight that will end with a splashdown in the Paci c on Friday.

Venturing as close as 4,067 miles to the gray dusty surface, the astronauts zipped through a list of more than two dozen targets, using powerful Nikon cameras as well as their iPhones to zoom in on impact craters and other intriguing lunar features.

Before getting started, they

requested permission to name two bright, freshly carved craters. They suggested Integrity, the name of their capsule, and Carroll, commander Wiseman’s wife, who died of cancer in 2020.

Wiseman wept as Hansen put in the request to Mission Control, and all four astronauts embraced in tears.

“Such a majestic view out here,” Wiseman radioed once he regained his composure and started picture-taking. The astronauts called down that they managed to capture the moon and Earth in the same shot, and they provided a running commentary to scientists back in Houston on what they were seeing.

At one point, Koch reported an overwhelming sensation of emotion for a second or two while zooming in on the moon.

“Something just drew me in suddenly to the lunar landscape and it became real,” she said.

The Artemis II astronauts made their closest approach to the moon and reached their maximum distance from Earth while they were out of contact. Their speed at closest approach: 3,139 mph. The spacecraft accelerated as it appeared from behind the moon and the planned communications blackout and made tracks for Earth.

An Earthrise came into view showing Asia, Africa and Oceania as Mission Control called out: “We are Earthbound and ready to bring you home.” Flight controllers in Houston ipped their mission patches over to signify the return leg.

President Donald Trump phoned the astronauts following the yby, calling them “modern-day pioneers.”

“Today you’ve made history and made all America really proud, incredibly proud,” the president said, adding that more

lunar traveling is coming and ultimately “the whole big trip to Mars.”

Wiseman and his crew spent years studying lunar geography to prepare for the big event, adding solar eclipses to their repertoire during the past few weeks. By launching last Wednesday, they ensured themselves of a total solar eclipse from their vantage point behind the moon, courtesy of the cosmos.

Topping their science target list: Orientale Basin, a sprawling impact basin with three concentric rings, the outermost of which stretches nearly 600 miles across.

Their moon mentor, NASA geologist Kelsey Young, expects thousands of pictures.

Artemis II is NASA’s rst astronaut moonshot since Apollo 17 in 1972. It sets the stage for next year’s Artemis III, which will see another Orion crew practice docking with lunar landers in orbit around Earth. The culminating moon landing by two astronauts near the moon’s south pole will follow on Artemis IV in 2028.

While Artemis II may be taking Apollo 13’s path, it’s most reminiscent of Apollo 8 and humanity’s rst lunar visitors who orbited the moon on Christmas Eve 1968 and read from the Book of Genesis.

Glover said ying to the moon during Christianity’s Holy Week brought home for him “the beauty of creation.” Earth is an oasis amid “a whole bunch of nothing, this thing we call the universe” where humanity exists as one, he observed over the weekend.

“This is an opportunity for us to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing and that we’ve got to get through this together,” Glover said, clasping hands with his crewmates.

RandolpH SPORTS

Tag play

Southwestern Randolph in elder Matthew Blankenship applies a tag on Randleman’s Jake Riddle during last week’s baseball game at Randleman. Southwestern Randolph won the game, handing the Tigers their rst loss of the season. For more information, see Page B2.

Tigers keep ticking toward more good times

The Randleman softball team has built strong credentials heading toward the latter half of the season

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

RANDLEMAN — There have been changes involving Randleman’s softball team, but the winning ways from

late last spring have continued.

The Tigers are more than halfway through their schedule with considerable success. They have their eyes on bigger prizes.

“Bonding with the team and staying together and doing our jobs with what we need to do and taking care of our roles as a team is really keeping us together.”

Kinzie Ivey, Randleman player

Josh Ashby has taken over as interim coach of the team af-

“Expectations stay the same. We’re still going at it as hard as we can,” pitcher Kinzie Ivey said. “… We’re not necessarily worrying about the wins, but we’re worrying about how we’re winning and what we’re doing to get there. It’s all building up for state playo s and hopefully a state championship.”

Assistant coach takes coaching job with reigning state champs

Southwestern Randolph’s soccer team will have a familiar man in charge

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — Je Tyl had an up-close view of Southwestern Randolph’s state championship in boys’ soccer last year.

Now Tyl moves up from an assistant coach to head coach of the Cougars.

“I’ve been coaching these kids since they were 3 years old,” he said. “I coached a majority of those kids prior to them getting to (Southwestern Randolph).”

Tyl lls a vacancy created with the retirement of Jimmy Walker, who was in his third stint as the team’s coach.

It’s a natural progression for Tyl, who also has been coaching the district’s middle school team for several years. He also has been involved with youth travel teams. So his connections to many of the players run deep.

“It felt right to continue that,” he said. “I’ve been teaching them soccer-wise since a very early age.”

Walker, who earlier in his career founded the program at the school, coached the past four

seasons. It culminated in the Class 2A state title with a 27-1 record.

For four seasons, Tyl served as an assistant coach, though at the beginning he had work commitments that prevented him from attending every practice.

Brandon Tyl, one of the new coach’s three sons, was a key member of the 2025 championship team as a senior. His younger brothers Holt Tyl ( nishing 10th grade) and Levi Tyl ( nishing sixth grade) are soccer players as well. There will be a new core of players making impacts for Southwestern Randolph with the next team because there

were 13 seniors on the championship squad. Yet Southwestern Randolph’s junior varsity team su ered only one loss in each of the past two seasons.

“JV would give varsity a run for their money,” Je Tyl said of last year’s practices. “We’re going to challenge some people. … It’s a mindset and a buy-in.”

There’s plenty of interest in soccer. Tyl said there were 41 players trying out for the middle school team this spring.

Tyl said maintaining the momentum for the Cougars will be the goal, and he gures he’ll have plenty of support.

“The community has always been so positive,” he said.

ter serving as an assistant coach. Otherwise, the makeup of the dugout looks familiar from 2025.

“Entire team is back,” Ashby said. “We’ve got seven freshmen (who) can absolutely play. That’s the biggest thing I see is our depth.” Ashby was put in charge of the team after coach Je Webster was replaced as he deals with legal issues unrelated to the softball team.

The Tigers haven’t missed a beat.

See SOFTBALL, page B2

McClain sets App State homer record

Former Providence Grove softball players have notched special accomplishments

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

A PAIR OF former Providence Grove softball players have been putting together special college seasons. Makayla McClain has set an Appalachian State record. Her home run last Thursday against host Marshall gave her a single-season team record 18th homer of the season. The blast came on a full-count pitch in the rst inning of Appalachian State’s 3-1 loss in the Sun Belt Conference game in Huntington, West Virginia.

The record of 17 homers set by Katie Boyd had stood since 2009. McClain is a senior in elder who spent her rst two college seasons with Campbell. She was named to the All-Sun Belt Conference rst team last year with Appalachian State when she homered 14 times. The Mountaineers were swept in three games by Marshall, so their record dipped to 23-13.

Mazzarone claims ACC honors

Pitcher Emma Mazzarone of Virginia Tech’s nationally ranked softball team received honors in back-to-back weeks as Pitcher of the Week in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Mazzarone, a junior left-hander, threw a two-hitter in the Hokies’ 11-0 victory at Boston College, tying her career high with 10 strikeouts in ve innings.

The next day she threw two hitless innings against Boston College, with strikeouts of three of the six batters she faced.

The previous week, Mazzarone struck out 17 batters across 11 innings in two games against visiting NC State.

Mazzarone also has batted above .300 with three home runs this season.

Kinsley Phillips

Trinity, girls’ soccer

Phillips is one of the few seniors on the Trinity team, which is unbeaten through 11 games (7-0-4).

Phillips has provided production on the o ensive end with goals and assists.

Going into spring break this week, the Bulldogs had outscored opponents by a total of 41-10 this season. Among upcoming games when play resumes next week will be Wednesday’s Central Carolina 3A Conference game vs. rival Wheatmore.

It’s shaping up as a breakthrough season for Trinity, which hasn’t produced a winning record since 2019.

Asheboro tops Cougars

Trinity kept its undefeated status by tying Providence Grove in a league matchup

Randolph Record sta

ASHEBORO — Jaira Arellano scored two goals and Kimrey Watts had the other goal in Asheboro’s 3-1 home victory against Southwestern Randolph in girls’ soccer last week.

Alaina Kidd scored on a penalty kick for the Cougars.

• Asheboro fell 5-1 to visiting Mount Tabor despite Alexis Bautista’s goal.

• Undefeated Trinity and host Providence Grove tied 2-2 in a Central Carolina 3A Conference game. Sarah Hendricks and Hayley Banks scored for Providence Grove, which has only one loss.

Providence Grove edged visiting East Davidson 1-0. Madison Hill scored two goals when Trinity trounced visiting Thomasville 5-0.

Gaby Lopez, Bryn Holden and Carolina Case had the other goals as the Bulldogs took a 7-0-4 overall record into this week’s spring break.

• Wheatmore defeated host East Davidson 3-0 with goals from Jocelyn McDowell, Tatum Wagner and Kaitlyn Vasquez in the Central Carolina 3A Conference. In the Warriors’ 2-0 home triumph vs. West Davidson, McDowell and Tatum Wagner had the goals.

• Randleman and host Central Davidson played to a 3-3 draw in the Piedmont Athletic Conference. Randleman then topped visiting Montgomery Central 2-1 in another league game.

Southwestern Randolph, Trinity notch notable victories

Providence Grove joined Trinity’s team with success in conference play

Randolph Record sta

SOUTHWESTERN Randolph and Trinity were among the big winners in high school baseball last week.

Southwestern Randolph handed Randleman its rst loss of the season in a 6-2 road outcome as Logan Weidman was the winning pitcher and combined with Lane Poole to get the job done from the mound.

Lincoln Lawson had a double and scored two runs for Randleman, which entered the game with a 12-0 record.

Southwestern Randolph has won one game against Randleman in consecutive seasons after going at least 15 years without defeating the Tigers.

Also, Southwestern Randolph’s Lane Poole drilled a three-run home run in a 5-3 victory against visiting Chatham Charter. Winning pitcher Matthew Blankenship provided two hits at the plate.

• Trinity won three games, including a showdown

SOFTBALL from page B1

Randleman took a 13-1 record into this week. The lone loss came by 4-3 at West Forsyth on Feb. 27.

Ivey said there’s a cohesiveness among the players.

“Bonding with the team and staying together and doing our jobs with what we need to do and taking care of our roles as a team is really keeping us together,” she said. There was another breakthrough with last week’s 12-4 home victory against Southwestern Randolph. Elsie Prince drove in four runs, Kaylee Phillips knocked in three runs, and Kadie Green, Olivia Ashby and Ivey all scored two runs. Ivey pitched a complete game.

The outcome was signi cant because Randleman hadn’t defeated Southwestern Randolph since before the pandemic, marking a span of nine consecutive losses to the Cougars.

Ashby said it was a good barometer.

“We played them for years,” he said. “They’re a good ball club. It’s going to really set the needle on where we’re at as a team — mentally and physically.”

SIDELINE REPORT

with visiting Uwharrie Charter Academy.

Peyton Williams homered twice and Indiana Hill also hit a long ball in Trinity’s 8-3 home victory against UCA on Friday.

Winning pitcher Lincoln Coble worked six innings. Williams also scored three runs.

Jake Hunter had two hits for UCA, which fell to 11-3 with the result.

Also, Williams and Brody Little homered in Trinity’s 17-1 blistering of visiting Thomasville in Central Carolina 3A Conference.

Williams and Nick Soles each scored three runs in the Bulldogs’ 17-2 rout at Thomasville in the rematch. Trinity is 6-0 in league play and ended last week at 13-3 overall.

• Providence Grove also won in the Central Carolina 3A Conference with 5-3 and 4-2 decisions against East Davidson.

Andrew Thomas had a triple and a double in the rst meeting, with Trevor Kirkman the winning pitcher. Thomas’ three hits and three runs scored combined with his pitching boosted the Patriots in the rematch.

• UCA won twice earlier last

Randleman’s depth is a bonus because Ivey is no longer counted on for as many innings as a pitcher. Addyson Dees has been a strong pitcher as well, and freshman Ella Rogers has done good work in the circle.

The Tigers made a mark in the 2025 postseason by reaching the Class 2A West Regional nals.

“We try not to focus on how far we made it last year,” Ashby said. “We celebrated that. Now we’re just preparing for playo s. Each game is just preparation for the playo s.”

There’s understandable confidence brewing among the Tigers.

“I think we have all the parts and more,” Ivey said. “Everybody knows their roles. We have plenty of girls to step up and do the part the next few years, too.”

Other results

Phillips hit a game-ending home run in Randleman’s dramatic 10-9 home victory against Reagan to end play last week. Dees drove in two runs and scored three runs.

Earlier last week, Randleman’s 13-5 victory at Western

NBA Rivers, Few, Parker set for Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement

Phoenix Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw and the 1996 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team will be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The class was unveiled at halftime of the UConn-South Carolina game during the women’s Final Four. Also included were Amar’e Stoudemire and Mike D’Antoni. They will be joined by longtime NBA o cial Joey Crawford, NBA coach Doc Rivers and Gonzaga coach Mark Few. The enshrinement ceremony will take place in August at the Hall of Fame in Spring eld, Massachusetts.

NFL

Rams’ Nacua went to rehab before being sued for assault, battery by woman Los Angeles Los Angeles Rams All-Pro wide receiver Puka Nacua was in rehab before he was sued for assault and battery by a woman who says he made an antisemitic statement and bit her on the shoulder. Nacua issued an apology last December after performing a gesture that plays upon antisemitic tropes while appearing on an internet livestream. Nacua has been one of the most productive receivers in NFL history over his rst three seasons with the Rams, who drafted him in the fth round out of BYU in 2023.

week, with Keaton Hill throwing a complete game and Levi Mitchell scoring four runs when the Eagles toppled visiting Asheboro 12-2. Hunter and Brody Engle both drove in two runs. UCA won the rst matchup with the Blue Comets by capturing a 7-4 decision at Asheboro with Hunter logging 10 strikeouts and driving in two runs. Hill scored two runs. Asheboro’s Reid Sudduth had three hits.

• Eastern Randolph’s 8-1 home victory against Chatham Central came with Cade McCallum striking out 10 batters in ve innings. Chance Holdaway, Maddox Dunn and Miles Cox all scored two runs.

This came a day after Eastern Randolph’s 2-1 setback at Clover Garden. Eastern Randolph fell 8-0 at Southern Alamance at the beginning of the week.

• Randleman lost its second game of the season with a 4-3 outcome to visiting West Forsyth after building a 3-0 lead. Riddle had three this for the Tigers, while John Kirkpatrick su ered the pitching loss.

• Southern Alamance’s Camden Whittemore homered in a 3-2 victory at Asheboro, which received complete-game pitching from Daniel Jaimes.

Alamance came with Phillips and Ivey smacking home runs and Green driving in three runs. Dees and Rogers handled the pitching.

• Southwestern Randolph dropped a 3-2 decision at McMichael. Losing pitcher Katelyn West struck out nine.

• Ruby Caudle drove in four runs and Adi Johnson provided two triples in Providence Grove’s 14-0 victory at Eastern Randolph. Campbell Ziemba threw the ve-inning shutout. The Patriots also pounded visiting Thomasville 16-0 with pitcher Lara Wiseman not allowing a base runner in the three-inning game. Johnson and Caudle each drove in two runs in the Central Carolina 3A Conference game. Providence Grove ran into trouble with a 6-3 home loss to rst-place West Davidson despite Callie Lambert’s home run. Ziemba struck out seven.

• Wheatmore’s Makenna Lawrence scored two runs in a 7-6 road loss to Gray Stone Day School. The Warriors bounced back to drill host Trinity 11-1 with Skylar Pittmas driving in three runs and Lawrence scoring two runs.

NBA

Mavs rookie Flagg scores 51 points, becomes rst teen to reach 50 in NBA game

Dallas Cooper Flagg scored 51 points last Friday to become the rst teenager to reach the 50-point mark in an NBA game. The rookie No. 1 pick of the Dallas Mavericks scored 24 points in the fourth quarter of a 138-127 loss to the Orlando Magic. Flagg’s fourth-quarter urry came after coach Jason Kidd and teammate Naji Marshall were ejected over what they thought was a no - call when Flagg was fouled by Desmond Bane. Flagg’s previous career high was 49.

NHL

Bu alo Sabres clinch playo spot to end longest drought in NHL history

Bu alo, N.Y. Bring on postseason hockey in Bu alo. The Sabres’ playo drought is nally over. Following an NHL-record 14 seasons of futility during which the team nished no better than 19th in the league standings, the Sabres clinched a berth when the New York Rangers defeated the Detroit Red Wings in regulation. Bu alo’s playo drought was among the four North American sports’ longest active streaks, ranking second behind the NFL’s New York Jets, who last quali ed in 2010.

pen & paper pursuits

this week in history

Lee surrenders at Appomattox, Johnson signs Civil Rights Act, Titanic sinks

The Associated Press

APRIL 9

1865: Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia, e ectively ending the Civil War. Remaining Confederate forces elsewhere surrendered by early June.

1939: After being barred from Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution, singer Marian Anderson performed before a large crowd at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

1940: Germany invaded Denmark and Norway during World War II.

APRIL 10

1866: Henry Bergh founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in New York.

1912: The British liner RMS Titanic departed Southampton, England, on its ill-fated maiden voyage to New York.

1919: Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata was assassinated by forces loyal to President Venustiano Carranza.

APRIL 11

1814: Napoleon Bonaparte abdicated as emperor of France and was exiled to the island of Elba. (He would brie y return to power in 1815 before his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo.)

1951: President Harry

Sidney Poitier poses with his Oscar for best actor for “Lilies of the Field” at the 36th Academy Awards in Santa Monica, California, on April 13, 1964. Poitier became the rst black actor to win the Academy Award for best actor.

S. Truman dismissed Gen. Douglas MacArthur from command of U.S. forces in the Korean War after the general publicly challenged administration policy.

1968: President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968, including the Fair Housing Act and Indian Civil Rights Act, one week after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

APRIL 12

1861: The Civil War began when Confederate forces opened re on Fort Sumter in South Carolina.

1954: Bill Haley and His Comets recorded “Rock Around the Clock,” later propelled into the mainstream by the 1955 lm “The Blackboard Jungle.”

1955: The Jonas Salk polio

vaccine was declared safe and e ective after nearly a year of trials involving about 1.8 million U.S. children known as “polio pioneers.”

APRIL 13

1743: Thomas Je erson, the third president of the United States, was born in Shadwell in the Virginia Colony.

1964: Sidney Poitier became the rst black actor to win the Academy Award for best actor for his role in Lilies of the Field.

1997: Tiger Woods, 21, became the youngest golfer to win the Masters in Augusta, Georgia, nishing a record 12 strokes ahead of Tom Kite.

APRIL 14

1828: The rst edition of Noah Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language was published.

1865: President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth during a performance of “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. Lincoln died the following morning.

APRIL 15

1912: The British liner RMS Titanic struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic and began sinking; more than 1,500 people died while about 710 survived.

1947: Jackie Robinson made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field, becoming the rst black player of the modern major leagues.

1955: Ray Kroc opened the rst franchised McDonald’s restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois.

Ye attempts comeback with sold-out LA-area concert, support from Fugees’ Hill

He closed last Friday night’s show with his hit “Runaway”

By Ryan Pearson

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — The artist formerly and possibly again known as Kanye West reveled in support from one of his musical idols, Lauryn Hill, as he staged a sold-out Southern California concert meant to mark a comeback from years of controversy.

Eleven months after releasing a song titled “Heil Hitler” and just over two months after publishing an apology letter for his antisemitism, Ye let two decades of hits — and 70,000 screaming loyal fans — speak the loudest last Friday night at SoFi Stadium.

“I want to thank y’all for sticking by me all these years. Through the hard times, through the low times,” he told the crowd. “I love you for that.”

Hill joined Ye on a stage for the rst time for an energetic rendition of his 2004 hit “All Falls Down,” which originally sampled her voice. Ye left the stage as she performed “Lost Ones” and “Doo Wop (That Thing)” before rejoining for his 2021 “Doo Wop”-sampling song “Believe What I Say.” They hugged as she exited.

Travis Scott, CeeLo Green and Ye’s tween daughter North West also strapped on safety harnesses to join Ye high above the stadium oor atop a striking half-orb stage, which alternately depicted a moon, a rotating Earth and a smoking sphere throughout the two hours-plus livestreamed performance.

A loud singalong of “Heartless” midway through the more than 40-song Good Friday

Kanye West, known as Ye, watches an NBA game between the Wizards and the Lakers in 2022 in Los Angeles. The controversial rapper performed to 70,000 fans

show seemed to boost Ye’s spirits: “That’s what 80,000 people sound like, ladies and gentlemen. … They said I’d never be back in the States. Two sold-out concerts, baby!”

The rst SoFi show last Wednesday, his rst major U.S. performance in nearly ve years, turned out to be more of a warm-up as Ye was tentative in his rapping and drew attention to technical mishaps.

Fans at that show said they separated the 48-year-old performer’s personal beliefs and public statements from his music — and were ready to forgive after his January apology letter.

“You gotta back your family no matter what,” said Vince Da Prince, a rapper from Downey, California. “He’s a part of our fam since we were little kids.”

Added fan Yovani Contreras: “I don’t really bring into politics or the way someone’s personal opinion are. I’m into

the music artistry. … Like, I just, to me, Ye is always gonna be Ye. Kanye is always gonna be Kanye.”

Luis Velasquez said he’d been a longtime fan and had been put o by controversies in recent years but felt the apology was sincere.

“Yeah, he did apologize,” he said. “He’s taking the medication I think is what he mentioned. … For me as a fan that’s, like, respect, right? Like I think that’s cool enough to bridge that gap.”

Ye released his latest album, “Bully,” under both the names Ye and Kanye West, at the end of March. He dominated hip-hop and pop charts in the 2000s and early 2010s, winning 24 Grammy Awards despite public outbursts and a polarizing personality. He lost nearly all his major business partnerships and many fans after a string of controversies in the last several years.

Vance’s new book about religious faith, ‘Communion,’ coming out in late spring

His wife, Usha, is pregnant with their fourth child, due in July

By Hillel Italie

The Associated Press

VICE PRESIDENT JD Vance has a new book coming out that will explore his religious faith and his conversion to Catholicism as an adult.

“Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith” comes out June 16, the HarperCollins Publishers imprint Harper told The Associated Press last Tuesday. HarperCollins also released “Hillbilly Elegy,” the million-selling memoir from 2016 that helped make Vance a national gure.

“The story of how I regained my faith, of course, only happened because I had lost it to begin with,” Vance, 41, said in a statement.

“The interesting question that hangs over this book, and over my mind, is why I ever strayed from the path. Why the Christian faith of my youth failed to properly take root,” he wrote.

The announcement last week is likely to ramp up speculation that Vance will seek the presidency in 2028 — a possibility the Republican vice president has said he’s not focused on right now, indicating he’d wait until after the 2026 midterm elections to decide on a campaign.

Presidential hopefuls often, though not always, release books before launching a campaign, giving them a moment in the spotlight before new audiences and a chance to crystallize their message embarking on a campaign. Al-

HARPERCOLLINS VIA AP

“Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith” is Vice President JD Vance’s second book.

ready, potential 2028 candidates on the Democratic side have published books or are planning to roll them out this year, including Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris.

Vance wrote the 304-page “Communion” himself, according to his publisher, working on it o and on since 2019, and it will include material on his time in politics. Vice presidents from Walter Mondale to Mike Pence have published books, but Vance would be the rst in recent memory to do so while in o ce.

In 2022, HarperCollins told the AP that Vance had set aside a planned religious memoir. Some of “Communion” is drawn from that project.

SOLUTIONS FOR THIS WEEK

“The story of how I regained my faith, of course, only happened because I had lost it to begin with.”

Vice President JD Vance

Vance has said he evolved from Christianity to atheism to Catholicism. He converted in 2019 and credits his new faith with giving him a sense of purpose he didn’t get through his education at Yale University or working in thenancial industry.

“Hillbilly Elegy,” Vance’s memoir about his rural roots, was widely read upon its publication and only grew in popularity after Republican Donald Trump’s stunning presidential victory in 2016, when Democrats sought out the book as a way of understanding Trump’s appeal. Ron Howard adapted “Hillbilly Elegy” into a 2020 movie starring Glenn Close and Amy Adams. Vance initially was a critic of Trump but became a close ally. He was elected to the Senate as a Republican from Ohio in 2022 and was chosen two years later by Trump as his running mate, becoming the youngest vice president since Richard Nixon served under President Dwight Eisenhower in the 1950s. The news about Vance’s book followed last week’s announcement by his wife, Usha Vance, that she has started a podcast called “Storytime with the Second Lady” to promote reading among children.

famous birthdays this week

Tom Lehrer celebrates 98, Dennis Quaid turns 72, Ed O’Neill is 80, Claire Danes hits 47

THESE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week.

APRIL 9

Satirist-musician Tom Lehrer is 98. Actor Michael Learned is 87. Drummer Steve Gadd is 81. Actor Dennis Quaid is 72. Fashion designer Marc Jacobs is 63. Model-actor Paulina Porizkova is 61. Actor Cynthia Nixon is 60.

APRIL 10

Labor leader-activist Dolores Huerta is 96. Football Hall of Famer Mel Blount is 78. Author Anne Lamott is 72. Singer-producer Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds is 67. Musician Brian Setzer is 67. Singer Kenny Lattimore is 56. Rapper-producer Q-Tip (A Tribe Called Quest) is 56.

APRIL 11

Actor Joel Grey is 94. Actor Louise Lasser is 87. Actor Peter Riegert is 79. Actor Bill Irwin is 76. Former MLB catcher Jason Varitek is 54. Actor Jennifer Esposito is 53.

APRIL 12

Musician Herbie Hancock is 86. Musician John Kay (Steppenwolf) is 82. Actor Ed O’Neill is 80. TV host David Letterman is 79. Author Scott Turow is 77. Actor Andy Garcia is 70. Country musician Vince Gill is 69. Actor Claire Danes is 47.

APRIL 13

Singer Al Green is 80. Actor Ron Perlman is 76. Singer Peabo Bryson is 75. Bandleader-drummer Max Weinberg is 75. Chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov is 63. Golf Hall of Famer Davis Love III is 62. Actor-comedian Caroline Rhea is 62. Actor Rick Schroder is 56.

APRIL 14

Former NYPD detective Frank Serpico is 90. Actor Julie Christie is 86. Rock musician Ritchie Blackmore is 81. Golf

APRIL 15

Basketball Hall of Famer Michael

the stream

Sydney Sweeney, ‘Malcolm in the Middle,’ Jonah Hill, ‘Hacks’ nale, Ella Langley

The fth and nal season of “The Boys” lands on Prime Video

The Associated Press

SYDNEY SWEENEY starring as real-life boxing legend Christy Martin in the movie “Christy” and “Hacks” launching its fth and nal season on HBO are some of the new television, lms, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also, among the streaming o erings worth your time this week: Country hitmaker Ella Langley releasing her sophomore album, Nintendo dropping the monster combat game Pokémon Champions and “Malcolm in the Middle” fans getting a four-episode revival with Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek.

MOVIES TO STREAM

Sweeney stars as real-life boxing legend Christy Martin in David Michôd’s “Christy” (HBO Max, Friday). The lm, which Sweeney also produced, drew some of her best reviews. Her distinctly unglamorous performance spans Martin’s small-town West Virginia beginnings to a professional career shadowed by her abusive manager-turned-husband (Ben Foster). In her review, AP’s Jocelyn Noveck wrote that Sweeney “imbues her no-holds-barred portrayal of Martin with both sweetness and rage, with brio and real vulnerability.”

One of the highlights of last year, Akinola Davies Jr.’s tender father-son drama, “My Father’s Shadow,” begins streaming Friday on MUBI. The lm, penned by Davis and his brother, Wale, is loosely autobiographical. Their father died when they were young. But in “My Father’s Shadow,” two Nigerian boys have unexpected day with their father (Sope Dìrísù) in Lagos at a pivotal time for the country. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr called it “a gem, a deeply felt memory piece and vibrant portrait of Nigeria in 1993.” Jonah Hill made his directorial debut with the coming-of-age skate lm “Mid90s.” He returns to directing in “Outcome,” a Hollywood satire star-

ring Keanu Reeves as a movie star named Reef Hawk who fears a video could destroy his reputation. Hill, who co-wrote the movie, also co-stars as Reef’s crisis-management lawyer. It debuts Friday on Apple TV.

MUSIC TO STREAM

A chart-topping country hitmaker preps her sophomore album: Langley — known for such radio mainstays like the throwback “You Look Like You Love Me” with Riley Green and the George Strait-referencing No. 1 “Choosin’ Texas,” co-written with Miranda Lambert — will release a new record Friday. If the whole of “Dandelion” is anything like those songs, she’s got a long career ahead of her.

The English disco-pop singer Jessie Ware will release “Superbloom,” also Friday. She’s as ready to soundtrack a late night on the dance oor as she’s ever been — like on the single “Ride,” which interpolates the theme from the 1966 spaghetti Western lm “The Good, the Bad

and the Ugly” and melts into her sequined synths. “Come be my cowboy, baby, come, let’s ride,” she sings, more discotheque than honky-tonk. “You know I want you, I need you tonight, tonight.”

SERIES TO STREAM

“The Boys” launches its fth and nal season on Prime Video. The critically acclaimed series is based on comic books and follows villainous superheroes and the crew trying to thwart them. Series regulars Jack Quaid, Karl Urban, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty and Jessie T. Usher and Chace Crawford are all returning, as are more recent additions played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Jensen Ackles. “Hamilton” star Daveed Diggs also joins the cast.

Hulu’s sequel to “The Handmaid’s Tale,” called “The Testaments,” is streaming now. Ann Dowd reprises her Aunt Lydia character from the original and is now in charge of a school for girls that basically prepares them for adulthood, marriage and babies. These young

women have never known anything other than Gilead. It stars Chase In niti and Lucy Halliday and is also based on a novel by Margaret Atwood. Elizabeth Banks and Matthew Macfadyen lead a new sci- comedy, “The Miniature Wife,” for Peacock. They play a couple working on their marriage when their lives are further complicated after an unusual accident. It premieres Thursday. Another series launching its fth and nal season is “Hacks” on HBO. The show, debuting Thursday, follows the love-hate relationship between a legendary comedian (Jean Smart) and a talented writer played by Hannah Einbinder. The series has racked up a lot of hardware, including an Emmy for outstanding comedy series. Smart has won four consecutive Emmys for the show, while Einbinder has taken home one.

Do you ever wonder how your favorite former TV stars would fare in the present day?

“Malcolm in the Middle” fans are getting their wish. Twenty years after their show went o

“Sweeney imbues her no-holds-barred portrayal of Martin with both sweetness and rage, with brio and real vulnerability.”

Jocelyn Noveck, AP Film Writer

the air, Muniz, Cranston and Kaczmarek return to TV for a revival where Muniz’s character is now a dad to a teenage girl. The four episodes of “Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair” premiere Friday on both Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

Nintendo is pulling out all the stops to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Pokémon. Just a month after releasing the cozy community-builder Pokémon Pokopia, it’s dropping the considerably less comfortable Pokémon Champions. This time it’s all about the combat, as you recruit and train monsters before pushing them into the arena to ght other trainers’ creatures. You can compete in ranked events with players from around the world or enjoy casual or private battles that won’t a ect your ranking. It’s a free-to -start challenge, but you may want to set some cash aside for in-app purchases. The ght club is open on Switch and Switch 2, with iOS and Android versions coming later in 2026.

Annapurna Interactive’s People of Note tells the tale of a pop singer named Cadence who decides she wants to start a band. That means she’ll need to trek across the world of Note, where each city is de ned by its own style of music. In her travels, though, Cadence learns that a Harmonic Convergence is disrupting music itself, and she and her bandmates will have to solve puzzles, explore dungeons and ght tone-deaf villains to stop Note from going silent. Los Angeles-based Iridium Studios promises that “each battle is an interactive musical performance,” and you can pump up the volume on PlayStation 5,

and PC.

HOKE COUNTY

Earthset

The Artemis II crew captured this view of an Earthset on Monday as they ew around the moon. The image is reminiscent of the iconic Earthrise image taken by astronaut Bill Anders 58 years earlier as the Apollo 8 crew ew around the

See page B4 for more.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Commissioners approve budget reallocations

Paul faces protective order hearing in Utah after “Bachelorette” cancellation

A Utah judge is expected to hear arguments on a protective order sought by a former partner against Taylor Frankie Paul, star of Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” Paul and Dakota Mortensen were expected to participate remotely Tuesday while their lawyers appear in person. Mortensen is the father of Paul’s 2-year-old son. He is asking the court to extend a protective order. About three weeks ago, ABC opted not to air a new season of “The Bachelorette” with Paul at its center. Production has also been paused on her Hulu series. It often featured Paul and Mortensen’s tumultuous relationship.

Ford recalls more than 422K trucks, SUVs because windshield wipers can fail

Ford Motor Co. is recalling 422,613 vehicles because the windshield wiper arms can break, causing reduced visibility and increasing the risk of a crash. The recall covers 2021-23 Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators and a range of F series Super Duty trucks, model years 2022-2023. Letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed on April 13. Once a remedy is determined, additional letters will be mailed. Dealerships will eventually inspect and replace the wiper arms free of charge.

The adjustments will help law enforcement cover overbudgeting concerns

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

RAEFORD — The Hoke County Board of Commissioners met April 6 for a very short agenda. The board rst approved two amendments related to law enforcement budgets in order

to reallocate funding for each.

The rst request was for the Hoke County Sheri ’s O ce.

“We’re requesting a transfer of funds from lapsed hospitalization funds and also dues and subscriptions to prevent our overtime, medical supplies and fuel costs from being overbudgeted,” said Major Alan Sanchez.

The reallocation totals just under $440,000.

The board also approved a reallocation of funding for the

$783K

Hoke County Jail budget, taking $95,000 from contract housing and food and provisions to medical costs, and $248,000 from hospitaliza-

tion to the overtime budget.

The board then approved the advertising of an o er to purchase around 0.5 acres of surplus property located at 223 McLean Loop Road for $5,000.

Upon the publishing of the advertisement, there will be a 10-day period when individuals may bid more for the property.

Finally, the board approved the appointment of Vance McGougan to the Hoke County Board of Health to serve as the professional engineer member.

The Hoke County Board of Commissioners will next meet for its regular business meeting on April 20, however, they will also meet the morning of April 14 for a preliminary budgetary hearing in preparation for the recommended 2026-27 operating budget.

Mullin pledges progress on disaster relief during rst o cial trip as DHS secretary

The new DHS secretary removes red tape and pledges faster aid to North Carolina

By Rebecca Santana and Gabriela Aoun Angueira The Associated Press

CHIMNEY ROCK — Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Tuesday toured North Carolina areas devastated by Hurricane Helene in 2024, revealing plans to prioritize relief to disaster-impacted communities on his rst o cial trip since replacing Kristi Noem, whose leadership cast uncertainty over federal disaster response. While the trip focused on emergency management, Mullin also weighed in on immigration enforcement, a centerpiece policy of the Trump administration, which his department also oversees. He suggested he might halt customs processing at airports serving cities whose local governments resist the administration’s immigration policies, a move that would align with his predecessor’s hardline approach.

At his con rmation hearing

dent Donald Trump Tuesday on the 22 still pending major disaster declaration requests from states and tribes across the U.S. “We’re trying to push this stu forward as fast as possible.”

Mullin also said he “may have identi ed” a candidate for permanent administrator of FEMA, which is on its third temporary leader since Trump took o ce, but declined to name them.

Asked if eliminating FEMA — which Trump has threatened to do — was still on the table, Mullin said “reforming FEMA would be a better term.”

last month, Mullin tried to project a softer tone on immigration enforcement, after a backlash over high-pro le operations and the deaths of two Americans at the hands of federal ocers. Mullin also signaled a different approach to the Federal Emergency Management Agency following criticism of Noem’s policies.

At a roundtable discussion Tuesday, Mullin said FEMA was focused on catching up on past disaster work and clearing a backlog of needs that stacked up during his predecessor’s tenure ahead of the Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1. “Disasters are happening constantly,” Mullin said, adding that he would brief Presi-

Mullin’s visit comes less than a week after he ended Noem’s directive that all DHS expenditures over $100,000 be personally approved by the secretary’s o ce, a rule that critics said bottlenecked FEMA reimbursements and compromised disaster response and recovery.

While Mullin has already made strides on disaster response, he has yet to set forth a clear vision for immigration enforcement, although he is expected to align with the president’s vision. That was apparent in his comments about

(USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365) Trip

MULLIN from page A1

removing Customs and Border Protection o cers from airports in so-called “sanctuary cities.”

“If they’re not enforcing immigration laws, then why would I be processing immigration in their city?” Mullin said, adding that the idea was still under consideration. He suggested he would raise the idea in his briefing to Trump.

Mullin gave no further details. But withdrawing CBP ofcers from airports could disrupt international travel and trade. CBP o cers check all incoming travelers into the country as well as the billions of dollars of trade that enters through land crossings and airports.

The Trump administration has already threatened to withdraw funding to Democratic cities and states that it says do not cooperate with immigration enforcement.

Few disaster-hit areas experienced the impacts of FEMA’s recent tumult as acutely as North Carolina, where about $1.6 billion in FEMA public assistance dollars has been obligated so far and where roughly 2,000 projects are still in some stage of FEMA approval, according to a letter North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein sent Mullin after his swearing in.

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis excoriated Noem for delays in reimbursements to his state just days before her ring,

telling her at a Senate hearing she had “failed” at FEMA.

Mullin said at the roundtable that Trump had told him he wanted North Carolina to be his rst stop and had told Mullin “he wanted North Carolina to love him.”

North Carolina carries outsize political signi cance this year. Tillis, one of the state’s Republican senators, is retiring, raising Democratic hopes of a pickup this fall. The race is sure to attract hundreds of millions in campaign spending and pits Democrat Roy Cooper, the state’s former governor, against Michael Whatley, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Helene, a 350-mile-wide hurricane, ravaged multiple southeastern states in September 2024.

The storm caused 108 deaths in North Carolina and $60 billion in damages. It destroyed homes, businesses and utility infrastructure. Entire communities were cut o , prompting helicopter rescues after roads and bridges washed away.

Hurricane damage is still visible, with cars and remnants of homes washed up on banks, remains of knocked-out bridges and piles of thick trees and branches that rushed down the river when it swelled to a torrent of water.

Rep. Chuck Edwards, a Republican representing some of the impacted areas who lost one of his own businesses in the

“We’re trying to push this stu forward as fast as possible.”

Markwayne Mullin, Homeland Security secretary

storm, said Tuesday he also grew frustrated with what he called FEMA’s “bureaucracy” and the di culties local communities faced in receiving payments.

“Still plenty of bureaucracy there,” said Edwards, who praised Mullin’s removal of the $100,000 rule.

FEMA’s presence in North Carolina had a tense start as distrust grew among some impacted residents, fueled in part by then-candidate Trump’s own misinformation about the Biden administration and FEMA’s response in the swing state.

Edwards found himself debunking FEMA-related misinformation shortly after the storm, issuing a statement to his constituents that FEMA was not diverting donations to the border or seizing property, among other claims.

After an armed man was arrested in Lake Lure for making threats toward FEMA workers, the agency temporarily suspended door-to-door home visits in the a ected areas.

Stein, a Democrat, welcomed Mullin’s visit. “It is encouraging

that Secretary Mullin is getting down to business,” he told The Associated Press in a statement Tuesday.

On Monday, FEMA approved $26 million in buyouts of damaged and destroyed North Carolina homes, saying in a statement that Mullin encouraged the agency to “redouble its e orts” to help survivors.

Mullin’s remarks drew a sharp contrast from his predecessor Noem, who repeatedly called for FEMA to be eliminated “as it exists today.” Trump oated the idea of eliminating FEMA altogether on a North Carolina visit just days into his second term, calling the agency a “very big disappointment.”

Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to push more responsibility for disasters down to states, and a presidentially appointed FEMA Review Council is expected to soon release a report recommending sweeping reforms of how and to what extent the federal government supports disaster-impacted communities.

While most FEMA sta are still being paid during the record-long partial government shutdown, many o ces were ordered to slow or stop work shortly after the shutdown began on Feb. 14. Meanwhile, the agency’s Disaster Relief Fund is running low, with about $3.6 billion remaining. The DHS appropriations bill would replenish the fund with over $26 billion.

On April 4, the Raeford-Hoke Museum held its second annual Community Bazaar. Vendors and community organizations set up tents and tables on the lawn from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. for local citizens to explore.

Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: hokecommunity@northstatejournal.com

Weekly deadline is Monday at noon

THE CONVERSATION

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

In today’s NBA, beliefs can be a firing o ense

THERE ARE PLENTY of things an

NBA player can do and still keep his job.

League history is littered with examples: players involved in o -court scandals, arrests, even allegations of serious violence. Time and again, teams and the league have found ways to look past behavior that, in most professions, would be career-ending.

But there appears to be one line that cannot be crossed — especially during Holy Week.

That line, it seems, is expressing a traditional religious belief.

Enter Jaden Ivey.

The former Purdue standout was the fth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, a rising young guard who averaged 16 points and ve assists as a rookie with the Detroit Pistons. By his third season, he was approaching 18 points per game before an injury derailed his momentum. Eventually, he landed with the Chicago Bulls.

By all accounts, Ivey was a productive player still on the rise.

Then came an Instagram video.

In it, Ivey — now a newly converted Christian — criticized the NBA’s celebration of Pride Month. His comments re ected a conventional religious viewpoint: that pride, as celebrated in this context, con icts with Christian teachings on sin.

“They proclaim Pride Month,” Ivey said. “They say, ‘Come join us ... to celebrate unrighteousness.’”

That was enough.

The Bulls waived him, citing “conduct detrimental to the team.”

The phrase raises an obvious question: What exactly was the conduct?

Ivey did not skip practice. He did not clash with teammates. He did not violate the law. By his own account — and by the absence of any evidence to the contrary

COLUMN | MICHAEL BARONE

— he remained a good teammate and a committed player.

His o ense was speech.

On Instagram Live, Ivey pushed back on the decision.

“How is it conduct detrimental to the team? What did I do to the team?” he asked.

It’s a fair question — and one the Bulls have not clearly answered.

Even head coach Billy Donovan o ered only a muted response, emphasizing “certain standards” while declining to directly address Ivey’s comments. There was no forceful condemnation, no claim of locker room disruption — just a vague appeal to team values.

Contrast that with other professional sports leagues. UFC president Dana White has repeatedly defended ghters’ rights to speak freely, even when he strongly disagrees with them. The principle is simple: Disagreement does not justify punishment.

The NBA appears to be operating under a di erent standard.

If Ivey had expressed support for Pride Month — or made a personal announcement aligning with it — it’s di cult to imagine a similar outcome. More than likely, he would have been celebrated.

Instead, he was dismissed.

This is what makes the situation so striking. The league has tolerated, and at times quietly managed, far more serious controversies. There was even a prolonged debate over whether to host an event tied to a strip club in Atlanta — an issue that required league intervention after weeks of public scrutiny.

Yet a religious objection to Pride Month draws an immediate and decisive response.

That disparity is hard to ignore.

It also raises broader questions about the NBA’s relationship with its audience. Millions of fans — many of them religious — hold views similar to those Ivey expressed. They may not agree with the league’s messaging, but they have continued to watch, support and engage with the sport.

Decisions like this risk sending a di erent message: that certain beliefs are not merely unpopular but unacceptable.

For a league that seeks to expand its reach, that’s a curious strategy.

Timing only adds to the tension. The incident unfolded during Holy Week, one of the most sacred periods on the Christian calendar — a moment when questions of faith and conviction are especially prominent.

None of this requires agreement with Ivey’s views. Reasonable people can and do disagree on these issues.

But there is a di erence between disagreement and exclusion.

If the standard for remaining in the NBA now includes alignment with speci c cultural or ideological positions, then the league is entering new territory — one where speech, not conduct, becomes the deciding factor in a player’s career.

Ivey may yet nd another team willing to give him a second chance.

But the larger issue will remain: In today’s NBA, it’s not just how you play the game that matters — it’s what you’re allowed to say o the court.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co-founder of Daily Wire+. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

The sudden political star of Trump II: Marco Rubio

Rubio, in his two ostensibly nonpolitical jobs, has obviously made a favorable impression on the public.

“WHITE HOUSE DEPLOYS Marco

Rubio to clarify messaging about Iran con ict.” So reads the headline on the front page of the Washington Examiner’s website in the early hours of April 1, the third month of U.S. military operations against Iran, which have been taking place since Feb. 28.

That prominence was overtaken as it was announced that President Donald Trump would address the nation on the war Wednesday night. But it’s still worth noting and could turn out to be more signi cant as the end of the second Trump term comes into view.

Rubio’s video making the case for the Iran o ensive is only two minutes long, straight to the camera, with a dark background relieved only by the red and white stripes of the ag. Succinctly, he made a case for military action now.

“Under no circumstances,” Rubio said, “can a country run by radical Shia clerics with an apocalyptic vision of the future ever possess nuclear weapons, and under no circumstances can they be allowed to hide and protect that program and their ambitions behind a shield of missiles and drones that no one can do anything about.”

At greater length but in a similar fashion, he made the same case that day in a television interview on Al Jazeera, in terms pitched to its audience not just in the United States but also in the Gulf.

Only one other person before has held the o ces of secretary of state and national security adviser: Henry Kissinger, from 1973 to 1975. In that capacity, Kissinger conducted high-level diplomacy in the Middle East and left no distance in his public statements between his views and those of the president he served, although behind the scenes, as later revealed, there were di erences.

Similarly, Rubio obviously speaks carefully to leave no distance between his statements and those of the president he serves, to whom he refers in respectful terms. But he’s able to do this and to

appeal to others, including inveterate Trump haters, all at the same time.

That was apparent in his Feb. 14 speech at the Munich Security Conference where he earned standing applause from his predominantly European audience even as he repeated, diplomatically phrased, the same criticisms of what Donald Rumsfeld called “Old Europe” voiced numerous times by Trump and, at the same conference a year before, to a very di erent reaction, Vice President JD Vance.

There are many di erences between the two men who were secretary of state and national security adviser. Kissinger was a dazzling scholar who impressed everyone at Harvard University. Rubio rst went to college on a football scholarship then earned degrees from the University of Florida and the University of Miami Law School. Kissinger, in his prime, dated movie stars. Rubio is a longtime family man.

Once in America, Kissinger always lived in the Northeast Corridor (Manhattan, Cambridge and Washington, D.C.), Rubio in semitropical Miami and ra sh Las Vegas. Kissinger never ran for public o ce. Rubio was elected to the West Miami Council at 27 and to the term-limited Florida legislature at 29 (winning a primary runo by 64 votes), and he got his colleagues to elect him as speaker six years later.

But the biggest political di erence is that Kissinger, born a citizen of Weimar Germany, was ineligible to run for president. Rubio not only ran for president in 2016 but might conceivably have won in the absence of Trump’s candidacy and the millions spent against him by backers of his former mentor, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

And Rubio might conceivably run and win in 2028, though he says he will support Vance, and Vance says that Rubio is “my closest friend in the administration.” There are obviously some di erences between them on foreign policy: Rubio

plainly favors the Iran attacks. Vance seems dubious.

Despite speculation that MAGA opposes Trump on Iran, Rubio, in his two ostensibly nonpolitical jobs, has obviously made a favorable impression on the public. At the recent Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine, Texas, Vance once again won the straw poll for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination. But his 53% was down from 61% last year, while Rubio zoomed up from 3% in 2025 to 35% this year.

CPAC, abounding these days with MAGA-loving young men, has not always been a reliable guide to wider opinion.

But national pollsters, which began 2028 polling two weeks after the 2024 election, cast a wider net. In 17 polls conducted over the rst full year since Trump’s inauguration, Rubio averaged 9%, behind not only Vance at 46% but also his fellow Floridian, Gov. Ron DeSantis, who averaged 10%.

In seven polls taken since Rubio’s Munich speech, Vance was unchanged, averaging 45%, and so was DeSantis, who averaged 8%. But Rubio did signi cantly better, averaging 16%. That’s not the jump he saw at CPAC, but it’s also pretty clear evidence that Rubio is making some impression on a public that usually pays little attention to secretaries of state or national security advisers.

But I do feel sure that Rubio, who showed impressive raw political talent in his rise to one of Florida’s U.S. Senate seats in the rst decade of this century and who made a serious presidential run in the second decade, has now shown impressive skills as a national leader in the third decade. Is there more ahead in the fourth?

Michael Barone is a senior political analyst for the Washington Examiner and longtime co-author of “The Almanac of American Politics.”

(Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

A mountain hideout and aircraft under re: US carries out daring rescue of service member in Iran

CIA deception aided the rescue of two airmen from hostile Iranian territory

By Seung Min Kim, Matthew Lee and Samy Magdy

Associated Press

The

THE UNITED STATES pulled o a daring rescue of two aviators whose ghter jet was shot down by Iran, plucking the pilot from behind enemy lines before setting o a complicated extraction of the second service member who hid deep in the mountains as Tehran called for Iranians to help capture him.

The CIA looked to throw o Iran’s government before the crew member was found, launching a deception campaign to spread word inside the Islamic Republic that the U.S. had already located him.

Even as President Donald Trump and other U.S. o cials described an almost cinematic mission, rescuers faced major obstacles, including two Black Hawk helicopters coming under re and problems with two transport planes that forced the U.S. military to blow them up.

“This is the rst time in military memory that two U.S. Pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in Enemy Territory,” Trump wrote early Sunday on his Truth Social platform. “WE WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AMERICAN WARFIGHTER BEHIND!”

U.S. o cials stayed silent as operation played out

In a pair of social media posts, Trump said the operation over the weekend required the U.S. to remain completely silent to avoid jeopardizing the e ort, even as the president and top members of his administration continuously monitored the airman’s location.

The White House and the Pentagon refused to publicly discuss details about the downed ghter jet for well over 24 hours after the initial crash, particularly about the rst crew member rescued from the F-15E Strike Eagle — an e ort that Trump later said took seven hours in broad daylight over Iran.

The United States and Iran’s government then were both racing to nd the second crew member, a weapons systems ofcer whose location neither side knew.

The CIA spread word in Iran that the U.S. had found him and were moving him by ground to get him out of the country, according to a senior Trump administration o cial who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet made public.

The confusion allowed the CIA time to uncover the location of the service member, who was hiding in a mountain crevice, the o cial said.

He had climbed 7,000 feet despite being injured, said Sen. Dave McCormick, a Pennsylvania Republican who told “Fox News Sunday” that he was briefed by a senior administration o cial involved in the operation.

The intelligence agency sent the aviator’s coordinates to the Pentagon and the White House, where Trump ordered a rescue operation.

Iran urged public to look for “enemy pilot”

Meanwhile, an anchor on a channel a liated with Iranian state television had been urg-

Shawn Palocka

Shawn Palocka is a pca worker that has been with us for over a year that does a great job he enjoys video games on his for all his hard work. Integrity Open Arms would like to thank you for a job well done.

ing residents in the mountainous region of southwest Iran where the ghter jet went down to hand over any “enemy pilot” to police and promised a reward for anyone who did.

Trump said the American aviator was being “hunted down” by enemies who were “getting closer and closer by the hour.” The United States was monitoring his location continuously, he said.

At the right moment, Trump said, he directed the military to send dozens of heavily armed aircraft to rescue the crew member, who the president said is “seriously wounded” but will recover.

Iranian state media reported that airstrikes in southwestern Iran on Saturday killed at least three people and wounded others, in the same area where the missing American crew member was believed to be.

U.S. rescuers faced obstacles with aircraft during operation

The American rescue mission ran into major challenges behind enemy lines. Iran’s joint military command claimed it struck two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters taking part in the operation.

A person familiar with the situation said the two helicopters were able to navigate to safe airspace, although it’s unclear if they landed or if crew members were injured. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive information.

Then, the U.S. military was forced to bring in additional aircraft to complete the rescue of the second service member due to a technical malfunction, according to a regional intelligence o cial briefed on the mission. The U.S. blew up two transport planes it was forced to leave behind because of the mishap, said the o cial, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the covert mission.

Iran’s state television on Sunday aired a video showing what it claimed were parts of a U.S. aircraft shot down by Iranian forces, along with a photo of thick, black smoke rising. The

broadcaster said Iran had shot down a transport plane and two helicopters that were part of the rescue operation. Iran’s joint military command said the destroyed aircraft included two C-130 military transport aircraft and two Black Hawk helicopters in the province of Isfahan, where the rescue took place.

“The fact that we were able to pull o both of these operations, without a SINGLE American killed, or even wounded, just proves once again, that we have achieved overwhelming Air Dominance and Superiority over the Iranian skies,” Trump said on social media.

Second U.S. military jet also downed Trump, however, did not mention that a second military jet also went down the same day as the F-15E.

Iranian state media said last Friday that a U.S. A-10 attack aircraft crashed after being struck by Iran’s defense forces.

A U.S. o cial, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive military situation, con rmed a second Air Force combat aircraft went down in the Middle East last Friday.

An additional U.S. pilot was rescued, but details were not available given the security concerns, another person familiar with the situation said.

Neither provided more information, including whether it was the A-10.

Mrs. Betty Purcell is from Raeford, North Carolina. She moved into our

living this

Besides being the mother of two, she worked for many years at Burlington Mills. Betty enjoys church, watching youtube and doing word searches.

HOKE SPORTS

Sawalich wins at Rockingham

William Sawalich (18) earned his rst win on the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, leading the last 79 laps to take the NC Education Lottery 250 at Rockingham.

The 19-year-old made history, becoming the youngest driver to win any of NASCAR’s top three circuits at the Rock. He nished ahead of teammate Brandon Jones, with Justin Allgaier and Rajah Caruth rounding out the top four.

Here’s a look at the action from this weekend at the Rock.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

James Tatum

Hoke County, baseball

James Tatum is a junior on the Hoke County baseball team. He also plays football for the Bucks.

Hoke has won four in a row to move over .500 on the season. In the three wins last week, Tatum played a big role. He struck out seven in six innings to earn a win against Pine Forest. At the plate, he went 2 for 4 with two runs, two RBIs and two doubles, with a pair of stolen bases. In the rematch, he went 2 for 3 with a double, two runs and two RBIs, stealing two more bases. In a win over Scotland, he scored a run and swiped three more bags.

For the season, Tatum is third in the conference in steals and 12th in Class 8A in pitching wins. He also leads the team in doubles.

SIDELINE REPORT

NHL Islanders re coach Roy after losing 4 straight, name DeBoer as replacement

New York

Patrick Roy was red Sunday as coach of the New York Islanders. First-year general manager Mathieu Darche announced the decision after the team lost four in a row and seven of its past 10 games. The Islanders were comfortably in a playo spot until their late-season tailspin put their chances in danger with four games left to play. Peter DeBoer was named as Roy’s replacement and not just on an interim basis. He has taken two teams to the Stanley Cup nal and most recently coached the Dallas Stars.

NBA Rivers, Few, Parker set for Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement

Phoenix Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw and the 1996 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team will be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The class was unveiled at halftime of the UConnSouth Carolina game during the women’s Final Four. Also included were Amar’e Stoudemire and Mike D’Antoni. They will be joined by longtime NBA o cial Joey Crawford, NBA coach Doc Rivers and Gonzaga coach Mark Few. The enshrinement ceremony will take place in August at the Hall of Fame in Spring eld, Massachusetts.

NFL Rams’ Nacua went to rehab before being sued for assault, battery by woman

Los Angeles Los Angeles Rams All-Pro wide receiver Puka Nacua was in rehab before he was sued for assault and battery by a woman who says he made an antisemitic statement and bit her on the shoulder. Nacua issued an apology last December after performing a gesture that plays upon antisemitic tropes while appearing on an internet livestream. Nacua has been one of the most productive receivers in NFL history over his rst three seasons with the Rams, who drafted him in the fth round out of BYU in 2023.

Pioneering female NFL o cial sues league over her treatment, ring

By Larry Neumeister The Associated Press

NEW YORK — In a new lawsuit, one of the rst three women to o ciate an NFL game describes her three years at the pinnacle of her profession as a descent into the grip of a sexist institution unable to treat a woman as an equal.

Robin DeLorenzo cited gender-based scrutiny, humiliation and open hostility among the indignities she suffered from 2022 to 2025 as a league o cial.

The lawsuit in Manhattan federal court, led last Friday, sought reinstatement along with unspeci ed damages.

Brian McCarthy, an NFL spokesperson, said in an email that DeLorenzo was terminated after three seasons of documented underperformance.

“The allegations in this lawsuit are baseless, and we will vigorously defend against them in court,” he said.

A message seeking comment from the NFL Referees Association was not immediately returned.

In a 2023 interview with

“Once he gave me the news, my dad and I just stared at each other crying for about ve minutes. It was the most magical night.” Robin DeLorenzo on getting promoted to the NFL

NFL.com, DeLorenzo described her thrill at progressing at her father’s urging through the ranks of o ciating at the high school and college levels until the NFL’s senior vice president of ociating allowed her father to deliver the news to her that she had been promoted to the NFL.

“Once he gave me the news, my dad and I just stared at each other crying for about ve minutes,” she told NFL. com. “It was the most magical night.”

The lawsuit, though, suggested that the magic quickly ended when the longtime New Jersey resident reported for duty after being sent man- sized clothing to wear and being told to let her ponytail show out the hole in the back of her hat, apparently to make clear a woman was on the eld. It said repeated references to her hair eventually made her want to cut it o .

The lawsuit asserted that

an NFL o cials’ crew chief told then-Pittsburgh Steelers’ Coach Mike Tomlin one day during training camp that she should be made to sing in front of everyone, like rookie football players, because she was a new o cial.

As a result, she said, she “put on an utterly humiliating singing performance” in front of the Steelers’ players, all the men on her o ciating crew and her boss, who she said had promised not to record her but did so anyway, according to the lawsuit.

In the following weeks, she was repeatedly shamed, harassed and subjected to profanity-laced trash talk by her crew chief, a man who had recently been accused of mistreating another female employee, the lawsuit said. By the end of the season, the crew chief would not even speak to her, it added. In 2024, DeLorenzo was forced to attend “an alleged training opportunity,” over her union’s objection, that ca-

tered to lower-level college ofcials learning the trade — something no male o cial had ever been required to do, the lawsuit said.

“It was a male power play that served its purpose of humiliating plainti , shattering her con dence, and signicantly hindering her NFL career,” the lawsuit said.

DeLorenzo was red on Feb. 18, 2025.

“She worked her way through two decades of ociating — breaking barriers, making history, and outperforming expectations at every level — only to be met with hostility, retaliation, and systemic inequality the moment she stepped into a league that claims to champion opportunities for women,” the lawsuit said.

“Instead of supporting one of the only women on its ociating sta , the NFL exposed her to unchecked harassment, denied her the resources given to men, manipulated her training and grading opportunities, and ultimately ended her career based on tainted evaluations created by the very people who discriminated against her,” it said.

The lawsuit said the harm to her career was irreversible and the emotional and reputational damage was immense.

Vina Clark

Aug. 30, 1946 –March 25, 2026

Mrs. Vina Clark, age 79, went home to rest with her Heavenly Father on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

The Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 4, at noon at Mt. Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church.

The family of our beloved Rev. Vina Clark will be receiving family and friends from Monday, March 30, through Friday, April 3, from 4-8 p.m.

Everyone who loved our mother, family, friends, and all whose lives she touched is welcome. She loved deeply and was loved by many.

This will be a time not only for grief, but for fellowship, worship, praise, and coming together in love, because tomorrow is not promised.

Location: 5865 Phillippi Church Rd, Raeford, NC 28376.

Joe Lewis Moore

March 15, 1961 – April 2, 2026

Mr. Joe Lewis Moore, age 65, went home to be with his Heavenly Father on Thursday, April 2, 2026.

The Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, April 9, at 1 p.m. at the Cape Fear Conference B Headquarters. Joe will be greatly missed.

Sarah Jannie Saunders

April 7, 1948 –March 27, 2026

Ms. Sarah Jannie Saunders of Raeford, NC, passed peacefully into the presence of her Lord and Savior on Friday, March 27, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born on April 7, 1948, in Scotland County, NC, to the late Orian and Letha Martin.

In addition to her parents, Sarah was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 44 years, James Robert Saunders; her sisters, Lucy Cartwright, Anne Martin, Mable Thompkins, Margaret Nobles, and Joan Martin; her brothers, Tracy and Wesley Martin; her half-sisters, Nellie, Dott, and Myrtle Martin Pearson; and her half-brother, Lendal Martin.

Sarah was a devoted member of the Pentecostal Holiness faith and attended Pittman Grove Baptist Church. She will be remembered as a joyful and caring woman—always smiling, full of laughter, and ready to lend a helping hand. She found great happiness in life’s simple pleasures, including camping, baking, word puzzles, thrifting, and, most importantly, spending time with her family.

Sarah was a dedicated mother who worked hard to provide a loving and beautiful life for her children. Her children and grandchildren were the center of her world and her greatest source of pride and joy.

She leaves to cherish her memory her sons: Robert (“Matt”) Saunders of Raeford, NC; James (“Jimmy”) Saunders of Laurinburg, NC; and Lendal (“Drake”) Saunders and his wife, Julie, of Raeford, NC; grandchildren: Christian Barnes (Heath), Joshua Lupo, Christopher Saunders (Savannah), Taylor Saunders, Johnathan Spencer (Schani), and Justin Spencer (Brittany); great-grandchildren: Melanie Lupo, So a Lupo, Ava Lyn Spencer, Jesse Spencer, Elleione Stuivent, Hadilyn Barnes, Cecilia Barnes, James Lupo, Jaden Spencer, Liam Barnes, June Spencer, Trenton Saunders, and Vivianne Saber; along with several nieces and nephews; and sisters-in-law, Cathy Johnson of Bennettsville, SC, and Sadie Martin; and her caregiver, Rhonda Fritch.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 2, 2026, from noon to 1 p.m. at Pittman Grove Baptist Church, 4921 Pittman Grove Church Road, Raeford, NC 28376, with a service following at 1 p.m. In lieu of owers, memorial contributions may be made to Pittman Grove Baptist Church.

Emily Bell

Aug. 18, 1986 –March 28, 2026

Emily Carol Locklear Bell of 43 Shelton Circle, Lumberton, North Carolina, was born on August 18, 1986, and departed this life on March 28, 2026. She is preceded in death by her mother, Rita Carol Jones Locklear (Connie), a sister, Tera D. Charlton and a brother, Terry S. Locklear Jr., (Little Terry).

Emily leaves to cherish her memory: her father, Terry Sanford Locklear, her stepmother, Dale Locklear, four daughters, Jayda Bell, Camiya Godwin, Candrya Godwin and Tekerya Godwin, her one son, David Jr. Godwin, all of the home. Emily’s brothers and sisters, Timothy Jones (Lilly), Lekisha Locklear (Quinn), Sabrina Graham, (RS), Valen Rogers, Allen Bowen and Ebony Bell.

Emily also leaves behind the special love she shared with her nieces, nephews and goddaughter, Destiny McMillian. Also, her ancé, David Godwin and a special friend, Brandan Bell and a host of relatives and friends.

Rose Chavis

June 20, 1959 – April 4, 2026

Mrs. Rose Marie Chavis, age 66 of Shannon, was born on Saturday, June 20, 1959. Rose was the daughter of the late Sam Brooks and Kathleen Jones and was born into eternity on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at her home.

She was a devoted wife to her late husband, Ronnie Chavis, to whom she was married for 50 years. A hard worker throughout her life, Rose dedicated 18 years to brickwork before beginning a meaningful career as a housekeeper at Red Springs Assisted Living, where she served for 12 years.

She leaves to cherish her memory:

• Her Children: One son, Ronnie Chavis Jr. (Frankie); and three daughters, Amy Pevia (Tim), April Chavis (Steven), and Jayda Jones.

• Her Siblings: One brother, Tommy Jones; and ve sisters, Geraline Oxendine, Flora Jane Hunt, Ana Mae Hunt, Carolyn Owens, and Patricia McKenzie (Joe).

• Her Legacy: She is also survived by Grandchildren: Johnnie Chavis, Diana Chavis, Destiny Chavis, Landon Pevia, Ronnie Chavis III, Dariana Chavis, Nakoya Maynor, Mohonna Hicks

Great Grandchildren: Josiah Mendez, Paisley Chavis, Nathan Mendez

Special friends: James Chavis (bro-in law), Martha Lewis, Gail Locklear.

Michael Douglas Newman

Sept. 21, 1946 –March 29, 2026

Michael Douglas Newman, of Lumber Bridge, NC, passed into eternity on March 29, 2026, in his home, surrounded by his family. He was born in Haralson, Georgia, on September 21, 1946, to the late Herman and Gladys Newman.

Michael was a physician’s assistant for over 40 years. He retired from the United States Army, and served in the Vietnam War. He received many medals

and awards during his time in the military.

Michael worked at Womack Army Medical Center and Clarke Clinic for over 20 years.

After retiring, he became a master gardener and was very proud of his garden. He loved growing Hostas, speci cally, and had many sitting areas throughout his garden to enjoy.

Michael was a master gardener for the Fayetteville Extension Center.

He enjoyed art, pottery, statues, his 8 cats, and his many pet birds (speci cally his bird, Polly), geese, and ducks.

Michael was a giving, loving, caring and respectful man. He was a great friend, and a wonderful husband and grandfather.

He is survived by his loving wife, Melissa Ann Isley; his stepchildren, Madeline, Timothy (Keyshonia), and Samantha (Adrian); his grandchildren, Amaris, Trinity, Timothy, Timothy Jr. 3, and Kendrick; his siblings, his niece and nephew; and many friends.

He will be put to rest with full military honors by the United States Army.

Chang Ung, North Korean ex-IOC member who brokered Olympic joint marches with South, dead

The former basketball player negotiated talks between rival Koreas

By Hyung-Jin Kim

The Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea — Chang Ung, a former North Korean member of the International Olympic Committee who once led sports exchanges with rival South Korea, including joint marches of their athletes at the Olympics, has died, the IOC announced Wednesday. He was 87.

The IOC said on its website that it had learned with “extreme sadness” of Chang’s death on Sunday. It said the Olympic ag will be own at half-mast for three days at the Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland. The IOC statement didn’t describe the cause of Chang’s death. North Korea’s state media has not reported on his death.

Born in 1938, Chang was originally a basketball player who captained the North Korean national team. After retiring from the sport, he became an athletics administrator, serving as a vice sports minister, a vice chairman of North Korea’s national Olympic Committee and a vice president of the Olympic Council of Asia.

In 1996, Chang was elected to the IOC. As North Korea’s only-ever IOC member, he represented his country on international sports elds and headed numerous — if often rocky — talks with South Korea to promote sports exchange and cooperation programs between the rivals.

The most notable results of this diplomacy came at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, when athletes of the two Koreas marched together under a “uni cation ag” depicting their peninsula during the opening and closing ceremonies, the rst joint parade since their division in 1945.

Athletes of the Koreas walked together at following Olympic Games and major international sports events, including the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics in South Korea. After watching a joint march in Pyeongchang’s opening ceremony, Chang told reporters that he was deeply moved.

Chang played a key role in earlier reconciliation talks

with South Korea, which led to the two countries sending their rst uni ed male and female teams to the 1991 world table tennis championships in Chiba, Japan. In Pyeongchang, the two Koreas elded their rst combined Olympic team for women’s ice hockey. In a 2004 interview with South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo newspaper, Chang said that organizing the 2000 joint march was “really a tough” job. He also said he strongly supported Pyeongchang’s earlier, failed bid to host the Winter Olympics.

South Korean Uni cation Minister Chung Dong-young expressed condolences over Chang’s death. In a Facebook post Wednesday, Chung, a staunch advocate of rapprochement with North Korea, recalled his 2007 meeting with Chang on taekwondo exchange programs and said he honors Chang’s “noble dedication to (Korean) unity and peace.”

Sports ties between North and South Korea have su ered as political relations frayed.

There have been no sports or other exchange programs between the countries for years. North Korea has shunned talks with South Korea and the U.S. since its leader Kim Jong Un’s broader nuclear diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019. Kim also branded South Korea as a permanent enemy and rejected the idea of future uni cation.

The IOC said Chang’s contributions helped advance sports participation, cultural exchanges and the role of sport in society.

“His e orts to promote cooperation on the Korean Peninsula demonstrated the power of sport to build bridges and inspire hope,” IOC President Kirsty Coventry said.

The IOC said Chang served on several commissions, including Sport for All and the International Olympic Truce Foundation.

North Korea’s o cial news agency, KCNA, last mentioned Chang in 2023, when he was awarded the Olympic Order, an award given to those who have made extraordinary contributions to the Olympics, during an IOC session in Mumbai, India. Chang, then an honorary IOC member, joined the ceremony by video.

STATE & NATION

Artemis II breaks Apollo 13’s distance record with daring moon yby that included solar eclipse

The astronauts broke Apollo 13’s distance record during the historic moon yby

By Marcia Dunn

The Associated Press

HOUSTON — After traveling deeper into space than any other humans, the Artemis II astronauts pointed their moonship toward home Monday night, wrapping up a lunar cruise that revealed views of the far side never beheld by eyes until now.

Their yby of the moon — NASA’s rst return since the Apollo era — even included some celestial sightseeing besides yielding rich science. It was a signi cant step toward landing boot prints near the moon’s south pole in just two years.

A total solar eclipse greeted the three Americans and one Canadian as the moon temporarily blocked the sun from their perspective. Mercury, Venus, Mars and Saturn nodded at them from the black void.

The landing sites of Apollo 12 and 14 also were visible, poignant reminders of NASA’s rst age of exploration more than half a century ago.

In an especially riveting retro throwback, Artemis II shattered the distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. NASA’s Orion capsule reached a maximum distance of 252,756 miles from Earth before hanging a U-turn behind the moon, 4,101 miles farther than Apollo 13.

“It is blowing my mind what you can see with the naked eye from the moon right now. It is just unbelievable,” Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen radioed. He challenged “this generation and the next to make sure this record is not long-lived.”

Artemis II astronauts get Apollo wake-up message

Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell wished the crew well in a recording made two months before his death last August.

Mission Control beamed up his message to commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Hansen, before their y-around began.

“Welcome to my old neighborhood,” said Lovell, who also ew on Apollo 8, humanity’s rst lunar visit. “It’s a historic day and I know how busy you’ll be, but don’t forget to enjoy the view.”

The Artemis II astronauts carried up with them the Apollo 8 silk patch that accompanied Lovell to the moon. “It’s just a real honor to have that on board with us,” Wiseman said.

Artemis II is using the same maneuver that Apollo 13 did after its “Houston, we’ve had a problem” oxygen tank explosion wiped out any hope of a moon landing.

Known as a free-return lunar trajectory, this no-stoppingto-land route takes advantage of Earth and the moon’s gravity, reducing the need for fuel. It’s a celestial gure-eight that put the astronauts on course for home once they emerged from behind the moon Monday evening.

Astronauts lock in on lunar observations

Artemis II’s lunar y-around and intense observation period lasted seven hours, by far the highlight of the nearly 10 - day test ight that will end with a splashdown in the Paci c on Friday.

Venturing as close as 4,067 miles to the gray dusty surface, the astronauts zipped through a list of more than two dozen targets, using powerful Nikon cameras as well as their iPhones to zoom in on impact craters and other intriguing lunar features.

Before getting started, they

requested permission to name two bright, freshly carved craters. They suggested Integrity, the name of their capsule, and Carroll, commander Wiseman’s wife, who died of cancer in 2020.

Wiseman wept as Hansen put in the request to Mission Control, and all four astronauts embraced in tears.

“Such a majestic view out here,” Wiseman radioed once he regained his composure and started picture-taking. The astronauts called down that they managed to capture the moon and Earth in the same shot, and they provided a running commentary to scientists back in Houston on what they were seeing.

At one point, Koch reported an overwhelming sensation of emotion for a second or two while zooming in on the moon.

“Something just drew me in suddenly to the lunar landscape and it became real,” she said.

The Artemis II astronauts made their closest approach to the moon and reached their maximum distance from Earth while they were out of contact. Their speed at closest approach: 3,139 mph. The spacecraft accelerated as it appeared from behind the moon and the planned communications blackout and made tracks for Earth.

An Earthrise came into view showing Asia, Africa and Oceania as Mission Control called out: “We are Earthbound and ready to bring you home.” Flight controllers in Houston ipped their mission patches over to signify the return leg.

President Donald Trump phoned the astronauts following the yby, calling them “modern-day pioneers.”

“Today you’ve made history and made all America really proud, incredibly proud,” the president said, adding that more

lunar traveling is coming and ultimately “the whole big trip to Mars.”

Wiseman and his crew spent years studying lunar geography to prepare for the big event, adding solar eclipses to their repertoire during the past few weeks. By launching last Wednesday, they ensured themselves of a total solar eclipse from their vantage point behind the moon, courtesy of the cosmos.

Topping their science target list: Orientale Basin, a sprawling impact basin with three concentric rings, the outermost of which stretches nearly 600 miles across.

Their moon mentor, NASA geologist Kelsey Young, expects thousands of pictures.

Artemis II is NASA’s rst astronaut moonshot since Apollo 17 in 1972. It sets the stage for next year’s Artemis III, which will see another Orion crew practice docking with lunar landers in orbit around Earth. The culminating moon landing by two astronauts near the moon’s south pole will follow on Artemis IV in 2028.

While Artemis II may be taking Apollo 13’s path, it’s most reminiscent of Apollo 8 and humanity’s rst lunar visitors who orbited the moon on Christmas Eve 1968 and read from the Book of Genesis.

Glover said ying to the moon during Christianity’s Holy Week brought home for him “the beauty of creation.” Earth is an oasis amid “a whole bunch of nothing, this thing we call the universe” where humanity exists as one, he observed over the weekend.

“This is an opportunity for us to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing and that we’ve got to get through this together,” Glover said, clasping hands with his crewmates.

Earthset

WHAT’S HAPPENING Commissioners approve $600K allocation to Pinecrest High School for athletics

Paul faces protective order hearing in Utah after “Bachelorette” cancellation

A Utah judge is expected to hear arguments on a protective order sought by a former partner against Taylor Frankie Paul, star of Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” Paul and Dakota Mortensen were expected to participate remotely Tuesday while their lawyers appear in person. Mortensen is the father of Paul’s 2-year-old son. He is asking the court to extend a protective order. About three weeks ago, ABC opted not to air a new season of “The Bachelorette” with Paul at its center. Production has also been paused on her Hulu series. It often featured Paul and Mortensen’s tumultuous relationship.

Ford recalls more than 422K trucks, SUVs because windshield wipers can fail

Ford Motor Co. is recalling 422,613 vehicles because the windshield wiper arms can break, causing reduced visibility and increasing the risk of a crash. The recall covers 2021-23 Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators and a range of F series Super Duty trucks, model years 2022-2023. Letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed on April 13. Once a remedy is determined, additional letters will be mailed. Dealerships will eventually inspect and replace the wiper arms free of charge.

$2.00

All projects must rst be approved by the board of commissioners

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

CARTHAGE — The Moore County Board of Commissioners met April 7 for its regular business meeting.

The board rst approved a $600,000 allocation to Pinecrest High School for athletic projects.

In addition, the board also approved allowing North Moore High School to utilize their funding for higher priority athletic projects other than arti cial turf.

“On July 15, the commissioners approved a $600,000 allocation to Union Pines High School and North Moore High School,” said County Manager Wayne Vest. “Those allocations

were originally for arti cial turf. Union Pines is moving forward, but at North Moore, arti cial turf may not be the best use for the $600,000 there.”

The projects covered by the allocations must rst be approved by the board, and as Chairman Nick Picerno stated, “must be used to reduce further expenditures down the road.”

“I made a big boo-boo when I just made it $600,000 pots of money,” Picerno said on the corrective action. “The reasoning behind it was to help us to control expenses of ongoing maintenance, but it was never the intent to just give them a $600,000 pot of money.”

The board also approved a lease agreement between the County of Moore EMS and the Town of Aberdeen for the sole purpose of operating an EMS base and the storage

“It was never the intent to just give them a $600,000 pot of money.”

Chairman Nick Picerno on the funding allocations to the high schools

of a special operations trailer.

“We’ve been operating out of that base since 1991, and the facility supports our operational needs and continues to be a great partnership between the Town of Aberdeen and the County of Moore,” said Public Safety Director Bryan Phillips.

The lease will be for 10 years and at a monthly cost of $750 ($9,000 annually), an approximately 17% increase from the previous rate of $625 per month ($7,500 annually).

The board also approved an

The new DHS secretary removes red tape and pledges faster aid to North Carolina

By Rebecca Santana and Gabriela Aoun Angueira The Associated Press

CHIMNEY ROCK —

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Tuesday toured North Carolina areas devastated by Hurricane Helene in 2024, revealing plans to prioritize relief to disaster-impacted communities on his rst o cial trip since replacing Kristi Noem, whose leadership cast uncertainty over federal disaster response. While the trip focused on emergency management, Mullin also weighed in on immi-

additional opioid settlement with the six remnant defendants that will see an expected allocation of around $72,000 come to the county.

Finally, the board approved a pair of resolutions to be sent to the North Carolina General Assembly.

The rst resolution was a request to make all state and local elections held on even-numbered years and to be partisan elections. The second resolution was a request to revise the funding formula for teacher allotments to provide local boards of education the funding and exibility to meet state mandates and pay for currently enrolled enhancement teachers or to allot additional funds to public schools specically to support funding for enhancement teachers.

The Moore County Board of Commissioners will next meet April 21.

gration enforcement, a centerpiece policy of the Trump administration, which his department also oversees. He suggested he might halt customs processing at airports serving cities whose local governments resist the administration’s immigration policies, a move that would align with his predecessor’s hardline approach.

At his con rmation hearing last month, Mullin tried to project a softer tone on immigration enforcement, after a backlash over high-prole operations and the deaths of two Americans at the hands of federal o cers. Mullin also signaled a di erent approach to the Federal Emergency Management Agency following

MULLIN, page A2

4.9.26

THURSDAY

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Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon

March 30

• Collin Michael Borgus, 34, of West End, was arrested by MCSO for felony possession of cocaine, simple possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, simple possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana paraphernalia.

• Aaron Lamar Drakeford, 22, of Southern Pines, was arrested by Southern Pines PD for assault on a government o cial or employee, resisting a public o cer and injury to personal property.

• Jerry Locklear, 68, of Maxton, was arrested by Pinehurst PD for violating a domestic violence protection order.

March 31

• James Caney Spence, 60, of Aberdeen, was arrested by Aberdeen PD for assault on a female, false imprisonment and misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

April 1

• Dylan Michael Garner, 31, of Aberdeen, was arrested by

FRIDAY APRIL 10

MULLINS from page A1

criticism of Noem’s policies.

At a roundtable discussion Tuesday, Mullin said FEMA was focused on catching up on past disaster work and clearing a backlog of needs that stacked up during his predecessor’s tenure ahead of the Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1.

“Disasters are happening constantly,” Mullin said, adding that he would brief President Donald Trump Tuesday on the 22 still pending major disaster declaration requests from states and tribes across the U.S. “We’re trying to push this stu forward as fast as possible.”

Mullin also said he “may have identi ed” a candidate for permanent administrator of FEMA, which is on its third temporary leader since Trump took o ce, but declined to name them.

Asked if eliminating FEMA — which Trump has threatened to do — was still on the table, Mullin said “reforming FEMA would be a better term.”

Mullin’s visit comes less than a week after he ended Noem’s directive that all DHS expenditures over $100,000 be personally approved by the secretary’s o ce, a rule that critics said bottlenecked FEMA reimbursements and compromised disaster response and recovery.

While Mullin has already made strides on disaster response, he has yet to set forth a clear vision for immigration enforcement, although he is expected to align with the president’s vision. That was apparent in his comments about removing Customs and Border Protection o cers from airports in so-called “sanctuary cities.”

“If they’re not enforcing immigration laws, then why would I be processing immigration in their city?” Mullin said, adding that the idea was still under consideration. He suggested he would raise the idea in his brie ng to Trump.

Mullin gave no further details. But withdrawing CBP ofcers from airports could disrupt international travel and trade. CBP o cers check all incoming travelers into the country as well as the billions of dollars of trade that enters through land crossings and airports.

Aberdeen PD for breaking and entering a law enforcement motor vehicle, resisting a public o cer, carrying a concealed weapon and disorderly conduct.

• D’Dric Fiaui Rogers, 21, of Aberdeen, was arrested by MCSO for misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, assault in icting serious injury and assault on a female.

April 2

• William Donnell Arnold, 43, of Aberdeen, was arrested by Aberdeen PD for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana up to 1/2 oz.

• Alexus Antionette Michelle Bristow, 30, of Carthage, was arrested by MCSO for resisting a public o cer and misdemeanor larceny.

• Mark Allen Knight, 63, of Robbins, was arrested by MCSO for assault on a female and misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

• Elizabeth Anne Richardson, 32, of Robbins, was arrested by MCSO for possession of methamphetamine, possession of a Schedule II controlled

SUNDAY APRIL 12

The Trump administration has already threatened to withdraw funding to Democratic cities and states that it says do not cooperate with immigration enforcement.

Few disaster-hit areas experienced the impacts of FEMA’s recent tumult as acutely as North Carolina, where about $1.6 billion in FEMA public assistance dollars has been obligated so far and where roughly 2,000 projects are still in some stage of FEMA approval, according to a letter North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein sent Mullin after his swearing in.

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis excoriated Noem for delays in reimbursements to his state just days before her ring, telling her at a Senate hearing she had “failed” at FEMA.

Mullin said at the roundtable that Trump had told him he wanted North Carolina to be his rst stop and had told Mullin “he wanted North Carolina to love him.”

North Carolina carries outsize political signi cance this year. Tillis, one of the state’s Republican senators, is retiring, raising Democratic hopes of a pickup this fall. The race is sure to attract hundreds of millions in campaign spending and pits Democrat Roy Cooper, the state’s former governor, against Michael Whatley, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Helene, a 350-mile-wide hurricane, ravaged multiple southeastern states in September 2024.

The storm caused 108 deaths in North Carolina and $60 billion in damages. It destroyed homes, businesses and utility infrastructure. Entire communities were cut o , prompting helicopter rescues after roads and bridges washed away.

Hurricane damage is still visible, with cars and remnants of homes washed up on banks, remains of knocked- out bridges and piles of thick trees and branches that rushed down the river when it swelled to a torrent of water.

Rep. Chuck Edwards, a Republican representing some of the impacted areas who lost one of his own businesses in the storm, said Tuesday he also grew frustrated with what he called FEMA’s “bureaucracy” and the di culties local communities faced in receiving payments.

substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

• Anderson Stewart Townsend, 19, of Robbins, was arrested by Robbins PD for eeing/eluding arrest with a motor vehicle, driving while license revoked (not impaired revocation), failure to heed light or siren, reckless driving to endanger, speeding, possession of drug paraphernalia, unsafe movement, unsafe passing on a yellow line and license plate frame/cover violation.

April 3

• Khiry Jamol McNeill, 35, of Fayetteville, was arrested by Aberdeen PD for possession of a rearm by a felon, possession of marijuana up to 1/2 oz., possession of marijuana paraphernalia, driving while license revoked (not impaired revocation), resisting a public o cer, failure to stop at a stop sign or ashing red light, possession of an open container/ consuming alcohol in the passenger area and failure to notify DMV of address change.

“Still plenty of bureaucracy there,” said Edwards, who praised Mullin’s removal of the $100,000 rule.

FEMA’s presence in North Carolina had a tense start as distrust grew among some impacted residents, fueled in part by then-candidate Trump’s own misinformation about the Biden administration and FEMA’s response in the swing state.

Edwards found himself debunking FEMA-related misinformation shortly after the storm, issuing a statement to his constituents that FEMA was not diverting donations to the border or seizing property, among other claims.

After an armed man was arrested in Lake Lure for making threats toward FEMA workers, the agency temporarily suspended door-to-door home visits in the a ected areas.

Stein, a Democrat, welcomed Mullin’s visit. “It is encouraging that Secretary Mullin is getting down to business,” he told The Associated Press in a statement Tuesday.

On Monday, FEMA approved $26 million in buyouts of damaged and destroyed North Carolina homes, saying in a statement that Mullin encouraged the agency to “redouble its e orts” to help survivors.

Mullin’s remarks drew a sharp contrast from his predecessor Noem, who repeatedly called for FEMA to be eliminated “as it exists today.”

Trump oated the idea of eliminating FEMA altogether on a North Carolina visit just days into his second term, calling the agency a “very big disappointment.”

Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to push more responsibility for disasters down to states, and a presidentially appointed FEMA Review Council is expected to soon release a report recommending sweeping reforms of how and to what extent the federal government supports disaster-impacted communities.

While most FEMA sta are still being paid during the record-long partial government shutdown, many o ces were ordered to slow or stop work shortly after the shutdown began on Feb. 14. Meanwhile, the agency’s Disaster Relief Fund is running low, with about $3.6 billion remaining. The DHS appropriations bill would replenish the fund with over $26 billion.

April 4

• Sarah Beth Mandel, 43, of Aberdeen, was arrested by Aberdeen PD for misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

• Dashawn Maurice Armstrong, 32, of Carthage, was arrested by MCSO for misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, misdemeanor larceny, assault in icting serious injury and child support.

• Cheyenne Dakota Depew, 27, of Eagle Springs, was arrested by MCSO for misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

• Bryant Cli ord German, 37, of Lillington, was arrested by Aberdeen PD for simple assault.

April 5

• William Justin-Bryant Romero, 43, of Cameron, was arrested by Vass PD for breaking and/or entering, larceny after breaking and entering, injury to real property and assault on a female.

moore happening

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Moore County:

April 10

Movies in the Pines: “Inside Out 2” 7:45 p.m.

Southern Pines Parks and Recreation hosts a free outdoor screening of “Inside Out 2” at Downtown Park. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs; concessions available for purchase. Rain date is April 11.

Downtown Park 145 SE Broad St. Southern Pines

Priscilla Presley: An Evening of Magic, Memories, and Truth 7 p.m.

Priscilla Presley shares her story of life with Elvis through private lm clips — including wedding footage and home movies — and takes audience questions in this hour-plus ticketed stage presentation.

Owens Auditorium at Bradshaw Performing Arts Center 3395 Airport Road Pinehurst

April 11

Pinehurst Spring Matinee Races 1 p.m.

The Pinehurst Driving Club hosts six harness races featuring the debut of 30 2-year-olds, with gates opening at 11 a.m. Admission is $5; ages 12 and under are free, with food and picnic baskets welcome.

Pinehurst Harness Track 200 Beulah Hill Road South Pinehurst

Pinehurst Triathlon Festival 8:15 a.m.

Round 2 of the NC Triathlon Series features sprint and international-distance events on Lake Pinehurst, with individual, relay and aquabike divisions. The festival has been held since 1997.

Pinehurst Marina 1 Denichilo Court Pinehurst

THE CONVERSATION

Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

In today’s NBA, beliefs can be a firing o ense

THERE ARE PLENTY of things an

NBA player can do and still keep his job.

League history is littered with examples: players involved in o -court scandals, arrests, even allegations of serious violence. Time and again, teams and the league have found ways to look past behavior that, in most professions, would be career-ending.

But there appears to be one line that cannot be crossed — especially during Holy Week.

That line, it seems, is expressing a traditional religious belief.

Enter Jaden Ivey.

The former Purdue standout was the fth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, a rising young guard who averaged 16 points and ve assists as a rookie with the Detroit Pistons. By his third season, he was approaching 18 points per game before an injury derailed his momentum. Eventually, he landed with the Chicago Bulls.

By all accounts, Ivey was a productive player still on the rise.

Then came an Instagram video.

In it, Ivey — now a newly converted Christian — criticized the NBA’s celebration of Pride Month. His comments re ected a conventional religious viewpoint: that pride, as celebrated in this context, con icts with Christian teachings on sin.

“They proclaim Pride Month,” Ivey said. “They say, ‘Come join us ... to celebrate unrighteousness.’”

That was enough.

The Bulls waived him, citing “conduct detrimental to the team.”

The phrase raises an obvious question: What exactly was the conduct?

Ivey did not skip practice. He did not clash with teammates. He did not violate the law. By his own account — and by the absence of any evidence to the contrary

COLUMN | MICHAEL BARONE

— he remained a good teammate and a committed player.

His o ense was speech.

On Instagram Live, Ivey pushed back on the decision.

“How is it conduct detrimental to the team? What did I do to the team?” he asked.

It’s a fair question — and one the Bulls have not clearly answered.

Even head coach Billy Donovan o ered only a muted response, emphasizing “certain standards” while declining to directly address Ivey’s comments. There was no forceful condemnation, no claim of locker room disruption — just a vague appeal to team values.

Contrast that with other professional sports leagues. UFC president Dana White has repeatedly defended ghters’ rights to speak freely, even when he strongly disagrees with them. The principle is simple: Disagreement does not justify punishment.

The NBA appears to be operating under a di erent standard.

If Ivey had expressed support for Pride Month — or made a personal announcement aligning with it — it’s di cult to imagine a similar outcome. More than likely, he would have been celebrated.

Instead, he was dismissed.

This is what makes the situation so striking. The league has tolerated, and at times quietly managed, far more serious controversies. There was even a prolonged debate over whether to host an event tied to a strip club in Atlanta — an issue that required league intervention after weeks of public scrutiny.

Yet a religious objection to Pride Month draws an immediate and decisive response.

That disparity is hard to ignore.

It also raises broader questions about the NBA’s relationship with its audience. Millions of fans — many of them religious — hold views similar to those Ivey expressed. They may not agree with the league’s messaging, but they have continued to watch, support and engage with the sport.

Decisions like this risk sending a di erent message: that certain beliefs are not merely unpopular but unacceptable.

For a league that seeks to expand its reach, that’s a curious strategy.

Timing only adds to the tension. The incident unfolded during Holy Week, one of the most sacred periods on the Christian calendar — a moment when questions of faith and conviction are especially prominent.

None of this requires agreement with Ivey’s views. Reasonable people can and do disagree on these issues.

But there is a di erence between disagreement and exclusion.

If the standard for remaining in the NBA now includes alignment with speci c cultural or ideological positions, then the league is entering new territory — one where speech, not conduct, becomes the deciding factor in a player’s career.

Ivey may yet nd another team willing to give him a second chance.

But the larger issue will remain: In today’s NBA, it’s not just how you play the game that matters — it’s what you’re allowed to say o the court.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co-founder of Daily Wire+. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

The sudden political star of Trump II: Marco Rubio

Rubio, in his two ostensibly nonpolitical jobs, has obviously made a favorable impression on the public.

“WHITE HOUSE DEPLOYS Marco

Rubio to clarify messaging about Iran con ict.” So reads the headline on the front page of the Washington Examiner’s website in the early hours of April 1, the third month of U.S. military operations against Iran, which have been taking place since Feb. 28.

That prominence was overtaken as it was announced that President Donald Trump would address the nation on the war Wednesday night. But it’s still worth noting and could turn out to be more signi cant as the end of the second Trump term comes into view.

Rubio’s video making the case for the Iran o ensive is only two minutes long, straight to the camera, with a dark background relieved only by the red and white stripes of the ag. Succinctly, he made a case for military action now.

“Under no circumstances,” Rubio said, “can a country run by radical Shia clerics with an apocalyptic vision of the future ever possess nuclear weapons, and under no circumstances can they be allowed to hide and protect that program and their ambitions behind a shield of missiles and drones that no one can do anything about.”

At greater length but in a similar fashion, he made the same case that day in a television interview on Al Jazeera, in terms pitched to its audience not just in the United States but also in the Gulf.

Only one other person before has held the o ces of secretary of state and national security adviser: Henry Kissinger, from 1973 to 1975. In that capacity, Kissinger conducted high-level diplomacy in the Middle East and left no distance in his public statements between his views and those of the president he served, although behind the scenes, as later revealed, there were di erences.

Similarly, Rubio obviously speaks carefully to leave no distance between his statements and those of the president he serves, to whom he refers in respectful terms. But he’s able to do this and to

appeal to others, including inveterate Trump haters, all at the same time.

That was apparent in his Feb. 14 speech at the Munich Security Conference where he earned standing applause from his predominantly European audience even as he repeated, diplomatically phrased, the same criticisms of what Donald Rumsfeld called “Old Europe” voiced numerous times by Trump and, at the same conference a year before, to a very di erent reaction, Vice President JD Vance.

There are many di erences between the two men who were secretary of state and national security adviser. Kissinger was a dazzling scholar who impressed everyone at Harvard University. Rubio rst went to college on a football scholarship then earned degrees from the University of Florida and the University of Miami Law School. Kissinger, in his prime, dated movie stars. Rubio is a longtime family man.

Once in America, Kissinger always lived in the Northeast Corridor (Manhattan, Cambridge and Washington, D.C.), Rubio in semitropical Miami and ra sh Las Vegas. Kissinger never ran for public o ce. Rubio was elected to the West Miami Council at 27 and to the term-limited Florida legislature at 29 (winning a primary runo by 64 votes), and he got his colleagues to elect him as speaker six years later.

But the biggest political di erence is that Kissinger, born a citizen of Weimar Germany, was ineligible to run for president. Rubio not only ran for president in 2016 but might conceivably have won in the absence of Trump’s candidacy and the millions spent against him by backers of his former mentor, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

And Rubio might conceivably run and win in 2028, though he says he will support Vance, and Vance says that Rubio is “my closest friend in the administration.” There are obviously some di erences between them on foreign policy: Rubio

plainly favors the Iran attacks. Vance seems dubious.

Despite speculation that MAGA opposes Trump on Iran, Rubio, in his two ostensibly nonpolitical jobs, has obviously made a favorable impression on the public. At the recent Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine, Texas, Vance once again won the straw poll for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination. But his 53% was down from 61% last year, while Rubio zoomed up from 3% in 2025 to 35% this year.

CPAC, abounding these days with MAGA-loving young men, has not always been a reliable guide to wider opinion.

But national pollsters, which began 2028 polling two weeks after the 2024 election, cast a wider net. In 17 polls conducted over the rst full year since Trump’s inauguration, Rubio averaged 9%, behind not only Vance at 46% but also his fellow Floridian, Gov. Ron DeSantis, who averaged 10%.

In seven polls taken since Rubio’s Munich speech, Vance was unchanged, averaging 45%, and so was DeSantis, who averaged 8%. But Rubio did signi cantly better, averaging 16%. That’s not the jump he saw at CPAC, but it’s also pretty clear evidence that Rubio is making some impression on a public that usually pays little attention to secretaries of state or national security advisers.

But I do feel sure that Rubio, who showed impressive raw political talent in his rise to one of Florida’s U.S. Senate seats in the rst decade of this century and who made a serious presidential run in the second decade, has now shown impressive skills as a national leader in the third decade. Is there more ahead in the fourth?

Michael Barone is a senior political analyst for the Washington Examiner and longtime co-author of “The Almanac of American Politics.”

(Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

A mountain hideout and aircraft under re: US carries out daring rescue of service member in Iran

CIA deception aided the rescue of two airmen from hostile Iranian territory

By Seung Min Kim, Matthew Lee and Samy Magdy The Associated Press

THE UNITED STATES pulled o a daring rescue of two aviators whose ghter jet was shot down by Iran, plucking the pilot from behind enemy lines before setting o a complicated extraction of the second service member who hid deep in the mountains as Tehran called for Iranians to help capture him.

The CIA looked to throw o Iran’s government before the crew member was found, launching a deception campaign to spread word inside the Islamic Republic that the U.S. had already located him.

Even as President Donald Trump and other U.S. o cials described an almost cinematic mission, rescuers faced major obstacles, including two Black Hawk helicopters coming under re and problems with two transport planes that forced the U.S. military to blow them up.

“This is the rst time in military memory that two U.S. Pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in Enemy Territory,” Trump wrote early Sunday on his Truth Social platform. “WE WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AMERICAN WARFIGHTER BEHIND!”

U.S. o cials stayed silent as operation played out

In a pair of social media posts, Trump said the operation over the weekend required the U.S. to remain completely silent to avoid jeopardizing the e ort, even as the president and top members of his administration continuously monitored the airman’s location.

The White House and the Pentagon refused to publicly discuss details about the downed ghter jet for well over 24 hours after the initial crash, particularly about the rst crew member rescued from the F-15E Strike Eagle — an e ort that Trump later said took seven hours in broad daylight over Iran.

The United States and Iran’s government then were both racing to nd the second crew member, a weapons systems o cer whose location neither side knew.

The CIA spread word in Iran that the U.S. had found him and were moving him by ground to get him out of the country, according to a senior Trump administration o cial who spoke on condition of an-

onymity to discuss details not yet made public.

The confusion allowed the CIA time to uncover the location of the service member, who was hiding in a mountain crevice, the o cial said.

He had climbed 7,000 feet despite being injured, said Sen. Dave McCormick, a Pennsylvania Republican who told “Fox News Sunday” that he was briefed by a senior administration o cial involved in the operation.

The intelligence agency sent the aviator’s coordinates to the Pentagon and the White House, where Trump ordered a rescue operation.

Iran urged public to look for “enemy pilot”

Meanwhile, an anchor on a channel a liated with Iranian state television had been urging residents in the mountainous region of southwest Iran where the ghter jet went down to hand over any “enemy pilot” to police and promised a reward for anyone who did.

Trump said the American aviator was being “hunted down” by enemies who were “getting closer and closer by the hour.” The United States was

“We will never leave an American war ghter behind.”

President Donald Trump on Truth Social

monitoring his location continuously, he said. At the right moment, Trump said, he directed the military to send dozens of heavily armed aircraft to rescue the crew member, who the president said is “seriously wounded” but will recover.

Iranian state media reported that airstrikes in southwestern Iran on Saturday killed at least three people and wounded others, in the same area where the missing American crew member was believed to be.

U.S. rescuers faced obstacles with aircraft during operation

The American rescue mission ran into major challenges behind enemy lines. Iran’s joint military command claimed it struck two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters taking part in the operation.

A person familiar with the situation said the two helicopters were able to navigate to safe airspace, although it’s unclear if they landed or if crew members were injured. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive information.

Then, the U.S. military was forced to bring in additional aircraft to complete the rescue of the second service member due to a technical malfunction, according to a regional intelligence o cial briefed on the mission. The U.S. blew up two transport planes it was forced to leave behind because of the mishap, said the o cial, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the covert mission.

Iran’s state television on Sunday aired a video showing what it claimed were parts of a U.S. aircraft shot down by Iranian forces, along with a photo of thick, black smoke rising. The broadcaster said Iran had shot down a transport plane and two helicopters that were part of the rescue operation.

Iran’s joint military command said the destroyed aircraft included two C-130 military transport aircraft and two Black Hawk helicopters in the

province of Isfahan, where the rescue took place.

“The fact that we were able to pull o both of these operations, without a SINGLE American killed, or even wounded, just proves once again, that we have achieved overwhelming Air Dominance and Superiority over the Iranian skies,” Trump said on social media.

Second U.S. military jet also downed Trump, however, did not mention that a second military jet also went down the same day as the F-15E.

Iranian state media said last Friday that a U.S. A-10 attack aircraft crashed after being struck by Iran’s defense forces.

A U.S. o cial, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive military situation, con rmed a second Air Force combat aircraft went down in the Middle East last Friday.

An additional U.S. pilot was rescued, but details were not available given the security concerns, another person familiar with the situation said. Neither provided more information, including whether it was the A-10.

MOORE SPORTS

SPRING SPORTS ROUNDUP

Pinecrest girls’ soccer remains unbeaten

North State Journal sta

Baseball

Pinecrest won three straight games last week to improve to 12-3, 8-1 in conference. The Patriots swept a home and home with Overhills by twin 11-0 scores. They closed the week with an 11-1 win at Uwharrie Charter. Bohdi Robertson went 6 for 8 with eight RBIs, three doubles and a home run. He also picked up a win on the mound.

This week, Pinecrest has games against Pine Lake Prep and Princess Anne.

Union Pines is riding a four-game winning streak, thanks to three victories last week. The Vikings swept a home and home with Western Harnett, 8-2 at home and 5-2 on the road. They nished the week with a 7-4 win at Southern Alamance.

The Vikings are 12-5 on the year, 7-3 in conference. This week, Union Pines plays Uwharrie Charter and Providence Grove.

North Moore’s losing streak extended to six in a row after a 12-1 home loss to Chatham Central. Michael Swarms had a two-hit day and scored the only run. He also stole a base. The Mustangs are 4-8, 1-5 in conference. This week, they have a rematch on the road against the Bears.

Girls’ soccer

Pinecrest won two games last week to remain unbeaten at 11- 0-2, 5-0 in conference. The Patriots shut out Hoke 2-0 on the road and then blanked Richmond 5-0 at home. They now haven’t allowed a goal in three straight games.

The Patriots enjoy spring break before taking the pitch again against Cape Fear on April 14.

Union Pines swept a home and home with Western Harnett last week, winning by 9-0 scores in both matches. They’re now 9-4-1 on the season, 7-0 in conference. Maddie Huttmann had hat tricks in both games, while Kylie DiMayo had a six-assist game.

Union Pines doesn’t have a match scheduled until April 14 against Triton.

North Moore lost its only match last week, falling to 5-3-1 on the year, 0-1 in conference. The Mustangs were shut out 2-0 at Ascend Leadership Academy. North Moore plays next on April 15 at Eastern Randolph.

Softball

Pinecrest dropped back-toback games last week and has now lost ve straight. The Pa-

triots were swept in a home and home by Overhills, 15-14 on the road and 19-17 at home. They are now 6-6 on the year, 1-3 in conference.

This week, the Patriots take on Montgomery.

Union Pines won twice last week to remain unbeaten at 16 - 0, 10-0 in conference. The Vikings swept a home and home with Western Harnett, 16-4 at home and 8-1 on the road.

This week, the Vikings have a spring break before returning to action on April 14.

North Moore dropped two games last week and have now lost six straight. The Mustangs are 4-9 on the year, 1-7 in conference after being swept at Western Harnett, 5-4 and 7-3.

North Moore is now o until April 14.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Anna Gaab

Union Pines, girls’ lacrosse

Anna Gaab is a junior on the Union Pines girls’ lacrosse team.

The defending state champions are 3-2 on the year, 3-1 in conference and ended March with a 22-4 win over Terry Sanford. Gaab scored four goals in the game on six shots and also added two assists. She also won three draws.

For the season, Anna is second in the conference in goals and points and third in assists. She leads the team in goals, assists, points, shots, ground balls and turnovers caused.

AP national player of the year Boozer recovering physically, emotionally following UConn loss

The Duke freshman is recovering from fractures around his eye socket

By Aaron Beard

The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — Duke star freshman and top NBA prospect Cameron Boozer is still healing, both emotionally after the Blue Devils’ devastating March Madness loss to UConn and physically after su ering a facial injury in that game.

The 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward said Sunday he sustained “a couple of fractures” during the Blue Devils’ loss in the Elite Eight.

Boozer, who last Friday became only the fth freshman named as The Associated Press men’s national player of the year, was hurt in the rst half last Sunday when he went up for a shot against 7-foot-1 center Eric Reibe. Reibe’s left elbow struck Boozer near his right eye as Reibe contested the shot, leading to signi cant swelling around and under the eye.

The swelling around his right eye was down Sunday, though the white part was still bright red. Boozer said he opted against having surgery in favor of giving it time to heal.

“I have a couple of fractures, but I’m all good,” Boozer said during Sunday’s award presentation for winning the AP national honor, along with another from the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. “Just going through the healing process.”

Boozer fought through the injury the rest of the way and nished with 27 points, including a tough spinning basket into the paint against tra c with Duke leading by just one in thenal minute. It was one of multiple examples this season of

“Just

going through the healing process.”

Cameron Boozer

Boozer playing through bumps, blows and hard fouls, such as a late-season win at NC State in which Boozer had gnarly long scratches near his right shoulder after being gouged by a Wolfpack defender. The Huskies went on to win

on Braylon Mullins’ last-second 3-pointer to complete a stunning comeback from 19 down.

Boozer’s twin brother, Cayden, received torrents of online abuse after committing Duke’s last turnover before Mullins’ winner.

Cameron pointed out that “that one play isn’t the reason we lost.”

“There’s not really that much I can say to make him feel better,” Boozer said. “We’re all hurting as a team, but we’re

going to get through it together. We’re a super-connected group.

“It’s de nitely a hard moment. But he’s a tough guy. We’re all tough, it’s going to make us so much better going forward. It’s something you’ve got to take on the chin and learn and grow from.”

UConn went on to beat Illinois in Saturday’s national semi nal but lost 69-63 in Monday’s national championship game to Michigan.

Duke, the NCAA Tournament’s No. 1 overall seed, was one of three teams to beat Michigan all year.

Boozer’s award presentation came on the same stage where UConn and Michigan were holding news conferences ahead of playing Monday for the national title.

“It’s a lot of emotions going into it,” Boozer said of being at Lucas Oil Stadium. “But yeah, it’s de nitely tough being here for sure.”

Joseph William Kristek

March 17, 1944 –March 26, 2026

Joseph William Kristek, 82, of Seven Lakes, NC, passed unexpectedly on Thursday, March 26, 2026.

Born in Binghamton, NY, on Saint Patrick’s Day 1944, he was the son of the late Joseph Anthony and Mary Jindra Kristek. He was predeceased by his son, Jonathan Kristek. Joe grew up in Triple Cities, NY, and after graduation, he went on to Augusta Military Academy in Virginia. He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, honorably discharged as SGT in 1968.

In 1969, Joe married his wife of 57 years, Ms. Shirley Kosik. The couple later settled in Campville, NY, where they raised their children.

Often referred to as “Kenny Rogers,” Joe worked for IBM and Lockheed Martin in Owego, NY culminating to 41 years of a successful career and nally retiring in 2001. Always a spokesperson for U.S. veterans, Joe dedicated the second half of his life to supporting and serving those that served. He was a former president of the Vietnam Veterans Association (VVA), chapters 480 in Owego, NY, chapter 966 in West End, NC, and held senior positions at state/ national VVA levels.

Joe was a dedicated steward of his community, from playing football as a youth to coaching several teams as an adult, competing in triathlons, and becoming a handball champion.

His passion for volunteering in 4H led him to raise several ocks of pheasants and multiple dogs for The Guiding Eyes for the Blind programs.

Joe is survived by his loving wife Shirley Kristek, sons Joe Jr., Mike ( ancé Ryan Ann), Tim, Scott ( ancé Yaravi), grandchildren, Alyssa, Katie, Ashley, Jonathan and great granddaughter Filomena.

A celebration of his life will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at the Boles Funeral, 221 MacDougal Drive, West End, NC. The family will receive friends at the funeral home prior to the ceremony from 1-3 p.m.

In lieu of owers, donations may be made to West End Fire Department, 4203 NC-73, West End, NC 27376.

Terry Louis Kouns

March 4, 1937 –March 27, 2026

Terry Louis Kouns, 89, departed this life peacefully with family by his side at First Health Hospice House on Friday, March 27, 2026.

A celebration of Terry’s life will be held Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 1 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Southern Pines, o ciated by Rev. Carolyn Helms.

Terry was born in Ashland, KY, the son of William Louis (Joner) Kouns and Mary Louise Remmele Kouns and was a graduate of Marshall University.

Terry lived a rich and wonderful life that included a successful career in the footwear industry that spanned over 50 years and a lifelong love of golf and tennis. In his later years he loved to spend time at the driving range at CCNC where he was a ectionately known as the Mayor.

Terry was a devoted husband to his wife of 61 years and love of his life, Susan Quarles Kouns who preceded him in death in 2019. He is survived by his daughter, Sarah Dawn Kouns, and son, Todd Louis Kouns, three grandchildren, Maria Kristina, Rachel Ann, and Nathan Charles Kouns, and four greatgrandchildren, Kaili Valentina, Kash Louis, Hosea Westin, and Vivienne Dolly Susan, as well as the mother of his grandchildren, Luzviminda Kouns. Terry’s love and compassion for his family and friends will remain with all of us.

The family wishes to express their love and gratitude to Cherelle Spencer, Jasmine Ingram and Tammy Gillis for their devoted and loving care of Terry these past months. We also wish to thank the wonderful and compassionate nurses and sta of First Health Hospice.

The family respectfully requests that, in lieu of owers, remembrances be made to First Health Hospice and Palliative Care, 150 Applecross Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374.

Berniece Leona (Robertson) Cummings

Oct. 19, 1942 –March 28, 2026

Mrs. Berniece Leona (Robertson) Cummings, 82, of Sanford, North Carolina, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at her residence.

Berniece Leona (Robertson) Cummings was born on October 19, 1942, in Bostwick, GA, to the late Washington and Magnolia Brown Robertson Sr. She was home with her family on March 28, 2026, when she went to be home with her Heavenly Father.

Berniece or Neicy was lovingly called that name by many family and friends. Berniece graduated from Burlington High School. She got married to Edward Alexander Cummings in May 1962. To which they had two daughters, Kelly and Karmen. She worked at Howard Johnson’s in New Jersey for many years. She worked at Conwed in NJ for many years. She later moved to North Carolina in 1996, where she worked at the Red Cross in Sanford, NC, Skill creations in Sanford, NC, St Joseph’s, in Southern Pines, NC and nally a CNA in Sanford, NC. Berniece loved singing and cooking.

Berniece was preceded in death by her parents, brothers; Robert Benjamin Robertson, VA, Larry Andrew Robertson, sister: Bertha Rochelle Holmes, greatgrandson Zayn Michael SilviaMartin of Sanford, NC.

Berniece leaves to cherish her memory two daughters: Kelly Cummings Martin (Freddie Martin) of Sanford, NC, and Karmen Cummings Boone of Cinnaminson, NJ. four grandchildren; William Edward Martin of Carthage, NC, Phillip M Maxwell Martin (Davion Silvia) of Sanford, NC, Kandyce Nicole Martin of Sanford, NC, Peri Jane Boone of Cinnaminson, NJ. four great-grandchildren; Alexander Riley Branham of Sanford, NC, Amoura Reign MartinSilvia of Sanford, NC, Gunnar Allen Branham of Sanford, NC, as well as two special great grandchildren Arriyanna Clark of Fayetteville, NC and Quinnton Clark of Fayetteville, NC, three brothers; Washington Robertson of Burlington, NJ, William Wayne Robertson Sr (Delphine Robertson) of Vincentown, NJ, Milton Gary Robertson, ( Patricia Robertson)of Burlington, NC, one sister; Althea Alexander (William Alexander) of Newport News, VA, two special friends; Jannie Allen of Sanford, NC, Annie Nelson of Sanford, NC. She will be missed by a host of many other family and friends.

A special thank you to Gentiva Hospice who helped with her transition.

Gloria Lea

Dec. 11, 1936 –March 28, 2026

Gloria Pollard Lea, age 89, of Aberdeen, passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at St Joseph of the Pines Nursing Home, surrounded by her family. Gloria was born in Oklahoma on December 11, 1936, to the late Clyde Jolli and Mary Jane Florea Jolli . She is survived by her sons, Jack W. Jolli of California, Michael W. Jolli of Iowa and James L. Jolli of Cameron. No services are planned.

Gladys Allbrooks

Oct. 29, 1929 –March 31, 2026

Gladys Allbrooks, 96, of Gibson, departed this life on March 31, 2026. A funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 4, 2026, at The Kenneth M. Purcell Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow in the Pinecrest Cemetery, Gibson. Services are entrusted to Purcell Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Shirley Swann

April 29, 1940 – April 2, 2026

Ms. Shirley Swann, 85, of Sanford, North Carolina, entered into eternal rest on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at UNC REX Hospital, Raleigh, North Carolina.

Please keep the family and friends of Ms. Shirley Swann in your thoughts and prayers.

The family of Ms. Swann will start receiving visitors on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, and Wednesday, April 8, 2026, from 4-7 p.m. daily at 3327 Truelove Street, Sanford, North Carolina.

Peter Norman Hanly

Aug. 30, 1936 – April 2, 2026

Peter Norman Hanly, age 89, passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, April 2, 2026. Peter was born in Calgary, Canada, to the late Henry Norman and Doris Abinet Hanly. The family moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, where he spent the rst 31 years of his life. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandson, Justin VanHalteran, and his brother, Terry Hanly. Peter was a graduate of the University of British Columbia with postgraduate degrees from the University of Toronto. Early in his career, he was recruited by Kinsman Clubs of Canada and moved to Toronto, where he served as Executive Director for 22 years. As a part of his duties, he headed an international group of men’s service clubs and directed many charitable projects around the world. In 1977, on the 25th Anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, he was awarded a medal for his service to the Commonwealth. Following his time with Kinsman, Peter became Executive Director of Kiwanis International in Chicago. He concluded his distinguished career with the Air Movement and Control Association, an international association of manufacturers, where he served as Executive Vice President for 20 years. Upon retirement, as avid golfers, the Hanly’s made their way to Pinehurst where they embraced the areas beautiful golf courses and active community life. He served as President of the Hacker’s men’s golf group, President of the Newcomers group, helping new residence to Moore County feel welcome, and President of the Southern Pines Men’s Gardening Club for many years. Peter was also an avid reader and had a massive collection of beloved books. He will be remembered for his leadership, kindness, welcoming spirit and the many friendships he formed throughout his life. He loved Pinehurst and worked diligently to create a beautiful garden at his home.

Peter is survived by his wife of 26 years, Bonnie Hanly of Pinehurst; two daughters, Kathy Mckinnon (Murray) of Vernon, British Columbia and Seana Mills (Jamie) of Naperville, Illinois; and David Hanly of Vancouver, Canada; ve grandchildren, Savannah Somolik, Shane, Somolik, Ryan VanHalteran, Brittany Hanly and Caitlyn Hanly; and four great grandchildren, Justin, Rayleigh, Kennedy and Josephine.

In lieu of owers, donations may be made to Foundation of FirstHealth, 150 Applecross Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374.

George Ray Johnson

April 20, 1938 –March 29, 2026

George Ray Johnson, Age 87, of Cameron, passed away on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at FirstHealth Hospice House, with family by his side.

George was born in Surry County on April 20, 1938, to the late George Levi Johnson and Thelma Arrington Rickard.

He dedicated his life to his country. George served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1958, in the Army Security Agency in Hawaii. He retired after working for the Department of the Army for thirty-three and a half years. Before declining health prevented his participation, he was an avid golfer and loved to hunt and sh. He was a dedicated Christian supporter of Tramway Baptist Church and a thirty-second degree Mason and a former Master of Fort Bragg Lodge 667.

He is survived by his wife, Emily Holt Johnson; son, Conrad Ray Johnson (Jan) of Chapel Hill; brothers, Joe Bill Johnson of Pittsboro, Roger Allen Johnson (Claudia) of South Carolina and much loved cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the FirstHealth Hospice Foundation and Palliative Care for their support in his nal days. At his request, no service will be held. In lieu of owers, memorials may be made to Baptist Children’s Home of North Carolina, P. O. Box 338, Thomasville, NC 27316.

Richard Wayne Smith

July 25, 1946 – April 1, 2026

Richard Wayne Smith, age 79, of Ho man, NC, passed away at home surrounded by his family on April 1, 2026. Richard was born in Montgomery County, NC, to Walter Jonas Smith and Lura Luther Smith. Richard found great joy in the outdoors, whether that be hunting, shing, or simply tending to the land he loved so deeply. He took pride in planting owers and trees. A proud veteran of the United States Army who served during the Vietnam War, he carried a deep sense of honor for his service throughout his life. Above all else, he cherished his role as a grandfather, and his love for his grandson, Tyler, was unwavering and evident to all who knew him.

Richard is survived by his wife of 57 years, Pamela Kay Woods Smith; daughter, Angela Crouch (Shane); grandson, Tyler Crabtree (Lexus); greatgrandchildren, Kasen and Kaine Crabtree; sisters, Rowena Arthurs and Fannie Moore; nieces, Jacqueline, Sherrie and Sirena; nephew, Larry and Walter and Brooke Amoroso, who was like a daughter to him. Richard was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Jasper “JP” Smith, and nephew Garry. A celebration of life service will be held at his residence.

Joan Lillian Kiernan

June 25, 1936 –March 28, 2026

Joan Lillian Kiernan was 89 years old when she passed away at home on March 28, 2026. Joan was born on June 25, 1936, in New York, NY, to Charles Tritsch and Margaret Dailey.

Joan was married to her loving husband John Kiernan for just shy of 52 years! She enjoyed her share of scary movies, snacks and spicy food. She loved her family more than one can put into words. She had an unforgettable smile and wit about her. To know her was to love her. She was an incredible wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother that will be missed each day.

Joan is survived by her three children: John (Stacey), Debbie (Jessie) and Theresa (Christopher), ve grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband, John & and a great-granddaughter, Lillian. Family will receive friends on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, from noon to 1 p.m. at Boles Funeral Home, Southern Pines. A graveside service will follow at Pinelawn Memorial Park.

Barbara Burgess

Aug. 18, 1947 – April 1, 2026

Barbara Burgess, 78, of Laurinburg, departed this life on April 1, 2026. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Joseph Temple A.M.E Church. Interment will follow in the Hillside Memorial Park. A viewing will be held from 1-5 p.m. on Friday, April 10, 2026, at Purcell Funeral Home.

Chang Ung, North Korean ex-IOC member who brokered Olympic joint marches with South, dead at 87

The former basketball player negotiated talks between rival Koreas

By Hyung-Jin Kim The Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea —

Chang Ung, a former North Korean member of the International Olympic Committee who once led sports exchanges with rival South Korea, including joint marches of their athletes at the Olympics, has died, the IOC announced Wednesday. He was 87.

The IOC said on its website that it had learned with “extreme sadness” of Chang’s death on Sunday. It said the Olympic ag will be own at half-mast for three days at the Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The IOC statement didn’t describe the cause of Chang’s death. North Korea’s state media has not reported on his death.

Born in 1938, Chang was originally a basketball player who captained the North Korean national team. After retiring from the sport, he became an athletics administrator, serving as a vice sports minister, a vice chairman of North Korea’s national Olympic Committee and a vice president of the Olympic Council of Asia.

In 1996, Chang was elected to the IOC. As North Korea’s only-ever IOC member, he represented his country on international sports elds and headed numerous — if often rocky — talks with South Korea to promote sports exchange and cooperation programs between the rivals.

The most notable results of this diplomacy came at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, when athletes of the two Koreas marched together under a “unication ag” depicting their peninsula during the opening and closing ceremonies, the rst joint parade since their division in 1945.

earlier reconciliation talks with South Korea, which led to the two countries sending their rst uni ed male and female teams to the 1991 world table tennis championships in Chiba, Japan. In Pyeongchang, the two Koreas elded their rst combined Olympic team for women’s ice hockey.

In a 2004 interview with South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo newspaper, Chang said that organizing the 2000 joint march was “really a tough” job. He also said he strongly supported Pyeongchang’s earlier, failed bid to host the Winter Olympics.

South Korean Uni cation Minister Chung Dong-young expressed condolences over Chang’s death. In a Facebook post Wednesday, Chung, a staunch advocate of rapprochement with North Korea, recalled his 2007 meeting with Chang on taekwondo exchange programs and said he honors Chang’s “noble dedication to (Korean) unity and peace.”

Sports ties between North and South Korea have su ered as political relations frayed.

There have been no sports or other exchange programs between the countries for years. North Korea has shunned talks with South Korea and the U.S. since its leader Kim Jong Un’s broader nuclear diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019. Kim also branded South Korea as a permanent enemy and rejected the idea of future uni cation.

The IOC said Chang’s contributions helped advance sports participation, cultural exchanges and the role of sport in society.

“His e orts to promote cooperation on the Korean Peninsula demonstrated the power of sport to build bridges and inspire hope,” IOC President Kirsty Coventry said.

The IOC said Chang served on several commissions, including Sport for All and the International Olympic Truce Foundation.

Craig Reedie, Olympic politics veteran who led WADA during Russian doping scandal, dead at 84

He championed clean sport despite a con ict with the IOC over Russia

By Graham Dunbar

The Associated Press

GENEVA — Craig Reedie, the former World Anti-Doping Agency president whose position on the Russian doping scandal a decade ago brought him into con ict with the IOC where he was a vice president, has died. He was 84.

The International Olympic Committee con rmed his death on Monday without stating the cause.

Reedie played key roles in London’s unexpected win in bidding to host the 2012 Olympics and in getting his own sport badminton onto the Olympic program for the 1992 Barcelona Games.

“Craig was my mentor, wise counsel, passionate advisor, and great friend,” said Sebastian Coe, who worked alongside Reedie in bidding for and organizing the London Summer Games.

“He was the distinguished elder statesman with a reservoir

“He was equal parts opinionated, wise, canny, and, most of all, loyal to those who legitimately wanted to serve sport.”

Sebastian Coe, World Athletics president

of Olympic knowledge and experience which he shared willingly and to great e ect,” Coe wrote in a social media post on Monday.

Reedie’s standing in Olympic politics helped to elevate him to lead the global anti-doping watchdog in 2013, when the presidential nomination was e ectively the turn of the IOC to decide.

Three years later, the lead-in to the Rio de Janeiro Summer Games was dominated by the scandal of learning the scale of Russia’s state-backed doping program at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games.

The push by Reedie’s WADA to remove the entire Russian team from Rio was ercely resisted by the IOC and its pres-

ident Thomas Bach. Both men sat on the IOC’s 15-member executive board that ultimately decided to let governing bodies of Olympic sports decide their entry policy for Russian athletes.

The public pressure put on Reedie by in uential Olympic gures continued for months until he and Bach met to clear the air. Since Rio, no Russian team has competed at an Olympics with its own country name, ag and anthem.

Current IOC president Kirsty Coventry said Monday that Reedie’s contribution “to the Olympic Games, to clean sport and to the development of athletes worldwide will endure for generations to come.”

“He was a steadfast guardian of integrity, guiding the global sporting community through some of its most challenging moments with dignity and resolve,” Coventry added in an IOC statement.

Coe described Reedie, a Scotsman who was knighted in 2006, as the “epitome of a gentleman.”

“He was equal parts opinionated, wise, canny, and, most of all, loyal to those who legitimately wanted to serve sport,” the World Athletics president said. “He certainly did not suffer fools gladly, was authentic, and would speak his mind.”

Reedie was elected as an IOC member in 1994 and became an honorary member in 2021.

The IOC said its ag would y at half-sta for three days at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Athletes of the Koreas walked together at following Olympic Games and major international sports events, including the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics in South Korea. After watching a joint march in Pyeongchang’s opening ceremony, Chang told reporters that he was deeply moved. Chang played a key role in

North Korea’s o cial news agency, KCNA, last mentioned Chang in 2023, when he was awarded the Olympic Order, an award given to those who have made extraordinary contributions to the Olympics, during an IOC session in Mumbai, India. Chang, then an honorary IOC member, joined the ceremony by video.

STATE & NATION

Artemis II breaks Apollo 13’s distance record with daring moon yby that included solar eclipse

The astronauts broke Apollo 13’s distance record during the historic moon yby

By Marcia Dunn

The Associated Press

HOUSTON — After traveling deeper into space than any other humans, the Artemis II astronauts pointed their moonship toward home Monday night, wrapping up a lunar cruise that revealed views of the far side never beheld by eyes until now.

Their yby of the moon — NASA’s rst return since the Apollo era — even included some celestial sightseeing besides yielding rich science. It was a signi cant step toward landing boot prints near the moon’s south pole in just two years.

A total solar eclipse greeted the three Americans and one Canadian as the moon temporarily blocked the sun from their perspective. Mercury, Venus, Mars and Saturn nodded at them from the black void.

The landing sites of Apollo 12 and 14 also were visible, poignant reminders of NASA’s rst age of exploration more than half a century ago.

In an especially riveting retro throwback, Artemis II shattered the distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. NASA’s Orion capsule reached a maximum distance of 252,756 miles from Earth before hanging a U-turn behind the moon, 4,101 miles farther than Apollo 13.

“It is blowing my mind what you can see with the naked eye from the moon right now. It is just unbelievable,” Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen radioed. He challenged “this generation and the next to make sure this record is not long-lived.”

Artemis II astronauts get Apollo wake-up message

Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell wished the crew well in a recording made two months before his death last August.

Mission Control beamed up his message to commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Hansen, before their y-around began.

“Welcome to my old neighborhood,” said Lovell, who also ew on Apollo 8, humanity’s rst lunar visit. “It’s a historic day and I know how busy you’ll be, but don’t forget to enjoy the view.”

The Artemis II astronauts carried up with them the Apollo 8 silk patch that accompanied Lovell to the moon. “It’s just a real honor to have that on board with us,” Wiseman said.

Artemis II is using the same maneuver that Apollo 13 did after its “Houston, we’ve had a problem” oxygen tank explosion wiped out any hope of a moon landing.

Known as a free-return lunar trajectory, this no-stoppingto-land route takes advantage of Earth and the moon’s gravity, reducing the need for fuel. It’s a celestial gure-eight that put the astronauts on course for home once they emerged from behind the moon Monday evening.

Astronauts lock in on lunar observations

Artemis II’s lunar y-around and intense observation period lasted seven hours, by far the highlight of the nearly 10 - day test ight that will end with a splashdown in the Paci c on Friday.

Venturing as close as 4,067 miles to the gray dusty surface, the astronauts zipped through a list of more than two dozen targets, using powerful Nikon cameras as well as their iPhones to zoom in on impact craters and other intriguing lunar features.

Before getting started, they

requested permission to name two bright, freshly carved craters. They suggested Integrity, the name of their capsule, and Carroll, commander Wiseman’s wife, who died of cancer in 2020.

Wiseman wept as Hansen put in the request to Mission Control, and all four astronauts embraced in tears.

“Such a majestic view out here,” Wiseman radioed once he regained his composure and started picture-taking. The astronauts called down that they managed to capture the moon and Earth in the same shot, and they provided a running commentary to scientists back in Houston on what they were seeing.

At one point, Koch reported an overwhelming sensation of emotion for a second or two while zooming in on the moon.

“Something just drew me in suddenly to the lunar landscape and it became real,” she said.

The Artemis II astronauts made their closest approach to the moon and reached their maximum distance from Earth while they were out of contact. Their speed at closest approach: 3,139 mph. The spacecraft accelerated as it appeared from behind the moon and the planned communications blackout and made tracks for Earth.

An Earthrise came into view showing Asia, Africa and Oceania as Mission Control called out: “We are Earthbound and ready to bring you home.” Flight controllers in Houston ipped their mission patches over to signify the return leg.

President Donald Trump phoned the astronauts following the yby, calling them “modern-day pioneers.”

“Today you’ve made history and made all America really proud, incredibly proud,” the president said, adding that more

lunar traveling is coming and ultimately “the whole big trip to Mars.”

Wiseman and his crew spent years studying lunar geography to prepare for the big event, adding solar eclipses to their repertoire during the past few weeks. By launching last Wednesday, they ensured themselves of a total solar eclipse from their vantage point behind the moon, courtesy of the cosmos.

Topping their science target list: Orientale Basin, a sprawling impact basin with three concentric rings, the outermost of which stretches nearly 600 miles across.

Their moon mentor, NASA geologist Kelsey Young, expects thousands of pictures.

Artemis II is NASA’s rst astronaut moonshot since Apollo 17 in 1972. It sets the stage for next year’s Artemis III, which will see another Orion crew practice docking with lunar landers in orbit around Earth. The culminating moon landing by two astronauts near the moon’s south pole will follow on Artemis IV in 2028.

While Artemis II may be taking Apollo 13’s path, it’s most reminiscent of Apollo 8 and humanity’s rst lunar visitors who orbited the moon on Christmas Eve 1968 and read from the Book of Genesis.

Glover said ying to the moon during Christianity’s Holy Week brought home for him “the beauty of creation.” Earth is an oasis amid “a whole bunch of nothing, this thing we call the universe” where humanity exists as one, he observed over the weekend.

“This is an opportunity for us to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing and that we’ve got to get through this together,” Glover said, clasping hands with his crewmates.