North State Journal Vol. 11, Issue 9

the BRIEF this week

Krzyzewski’s grandson charged with misdemeanor DWI in teen’s death

Durham

A grandson of retired Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski has been charged with misdemeanor driving while impaired in connection with a collision that killed a 15-year-old bicyclist. Joseph Savarino, 26, admitted to drinking before the incident Saturday night, and a Breathalyzer test measured his blood-alcohol concentration at 0.11%, according to Durham County court records. The legal limit is 0.08%. Savarino’s vehicle struck the boy, who was riding his bike in northwest Durham, police said. Savarino made his rst court appearance Monday, and a judge revoked his driver’s license before releasing him on a $100,000 secured bond.

Trump picks Duke grad to lead economic council Washington, D.C.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday nominated Duke graduate and University of Minnesota economist Christopher Phelan to be the next chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, a key position for conducting analyses of the economy and the administration’s policies. If con rmed by the Senate, Phelan — who has bachelor’s degrees in economics and computer science from Duke — would succeed Stephen Miran, a Harvard University-trained economist who worked at investment funds and joined the Federal Reserve Board of Governors last September. The council’s vice chairman, Pierre Yared, had served as acting leader after Trump shifted Miran to the Fed.

Lawmakers probe Medicaid fraud in NC

Attorney General Je Jackson and NCDHHS Secretary Devdutta Sangvai answered queries during the hearing

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — The House Select Committee on Oversight and Reform questioned North Carolina Attorney General Je Jackson and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

Secretary Devdutta Sangvai about Medicaid waste, abuse and fraud during a hearing held last Thursday.

The hearing lasted three hours and focused on Medicaid fraud and abuse detection.

Rep. Grant Campbell (R-Cabarrus), a physician, chaired and opened the meeting by highlighting the program’s unsustainable enrollment growth and the state being “dead last” nationally in eligibility veri cation; less than 1% of renewals required income veri cation.

Cooper holds big fundraising edge

The former governor brought in nearly three times more than Michael Whatley last quarter in their U.S. Senate race

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — First-quarter fundraising totals in the North Carolina U.S. Senate race show former Gov. Roy Cooper bringing in nearly triple the money raised by Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley.

Cooper’s campaign raised over $13.8 million in the rst quarter to Whatley’s $5 million. More than 95% of Cooper’s haul were donations of $100 or less and spanned all 100 counties in the state.

Since entering the race, Cooper has raised at least $36 million through his main campaign committee and joint/ victory fundraising committees. That’s more than double Whatley’s total fundraising for the race, which is approximately $16 million.

For cash on hand heading into the second quarter, Cooper has $18.5 million

Media outlets sue over withheld UNC-CH report

The university has refused to release the 400-page, $1.2 million independent investigation report of its School of Civic Life and Leadership

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — A group of North Carolina media outlets is suing over a report being withheld by UNC Chapel Hill involving its School of Civic Life and Leadership. The lawsuit concerns a 400 -page, $1.2 million independent investigation report prepared in early 2026 by the law rm K&L Gates that

was produced with assistance from UNC law professor Michael Gerhardt.

The report, paid for using public funds, is the result of an investigation into allegations surrounding the university’s School of Civic Life and Leadership (SCiLL), its founding and its leadership by Dean Jed Atkins, including hiring, governance and related policies.

UNC Chapel Hill received the results of an independent review of SCiLL last month but refused to release it for con dentiality reasons involving personnel matters, attorney-client privilege and protection of interviewees.

“The review has concluded,

“The failure ... to provide access to or copies of public records ‘as promptly as possible’ upon request pursuant to (state law) is tantamount to denial.”

Lawsuit led against UNC Chapel Hill

and Whatley has more than $2.5 million.

The Cook Political Report updated the status of the North Carolina Senate race from a “toss-up” to “Lean D” just a day ahead of the rst-quarter fundraising announcements.

“Roy Cooper is running because stu just costs too much, and Big Oil lobbyists and DC insiders like Michael Whatley are the problem,” Cooper for North Carolina Campaign Manager Je Allen said in a news release.

“North Carolinians know Roy will put them — not special interests or the well-connected — rst in the U.S. Senate,” Allen said. “This fundraising re ects the campaign’s growing momentum and as the most competitive race in the country, our team will work to earn every vote and make sure North Carolina has a senator who will ght for them.”

Whatley Communications Director DJ Gri n, in a statement on the campaign’s rst-quarter totals, said, “Today’s announcement demonstrates that Michael Whatley has the backing of North Car-

the word | The rst Christians

“And the disciples were called Christians rst in Antioch.”

Acts 11:26

The lives of the converts were so di erent from their unbelieving neighbors, that they were called Christians. It is supposed that the name was given them in mockery or contempt by the heathen people of Antioch. But the name stuck, and is now used universally to describe those who follow Christ. It may not be the very best of names. Perhaps disciple is better — disciples means learners, followers. We should all be disciples of Christ and should ever be learning of Him, growing in grace and likeness of Him as we follow Him.

Perhaps believer is a better name. It carries in itself the thought that we are saved by believing on Christ. It is faith which works the victories in this world. Perhaps follower would be better. To follow Christ is to receive Him as Master and to cling to Him in obedience and devotion wherever we may go.

But the word Christian, given at Antioch as a sneer, is now used everywhere. It is full of meaning. Those who are Christians should be like Christ — “little Christs.” They should represent Christ in the world. Those who see them should see the image of Christ in them. “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk,

even as he walked.” 1 John 2:6. Matthew Henry says, “Hitherto the followers of Christ were called disciples, that is, learners, scholars; but from that time they were called Christians. The proper meaning of this name is, a follower of Christ; it denotes one who, from serious thought, embraces the religion of Christ, believes His promises, and makes it his chief care to shape his life by Christ’s precepts and example. Hence it is plain that multitudes take the name of Christian — to whom it

Campbell stressed that “rooting out waste, fraud and abuse isn’t just a scal issue. It is a moral one.”

North Carolina’s Medicaid program exceeds $36 billion annually, with the state’s share at more than $6 billion. It now covers 3.1 million participants, an increase of 984,000 over pre-pandemic gures — the highest percentage growth (54%) in the country.

Sangvai acknowledged rapid growth between Medicaid expansion and increased enrollment during COVID-19, noting around 5% of bene ciaries fall o during redeterminations, with 67% handled via ex parte (data-driven) renewals and the rest requiring human review. Federal rules heavily inuence the process, according to Sangvai.

Campbell presented three example providers with unusually high per-bene ciary billing: Savin Grace 2 ($400,000), Creative Directions ($2.7 million) and Wilson’s Home Care ($12 million).

Campbell said the examples, with questionable expenses and boarded-up facilities, were not accused of fraud but warranted closer scrutiny.

Jackson tried to push back on the examples, saying what Campbell provided wouldn’t be good enough for court use.

“We can disagree on what’s fraud, we can disagree on what’s wasted,” Campbell responded. “But what we cannot agree to do is not look. Can we at least agree that that should get your interest?” Jackson responded, “Yes.”

Another case highlighted by Campbell involved a Charlotte activist named Cedric Dean, who was raided by the FBI last year and describes himself as a “thugologist” on LinkedIn. Dean allegedly billed more than $15 million in nine months via peer support services using homeless individuals’ IDs. Dean denies the allegations, per WNCN.

“We are looking into how Cedric Dean actually became a credentialed provider,” Sangvai told Campbell.

Both Jackson and Sangvai provided written testimony ahead of the hearing emphasizing collaboration between their o ces on the issue.

Sangvai said the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) received around 2,400 complaints in 2025, with 1,867

does not rightly belong! But the name without the reality — will only add to our guilt. While the bare profession will bestow neither pro t nor delight, the possession of it will give both the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”

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 an edited version.

coming from managed care organizations. Those complaints converted to 114 (10%) investigations and 126 referrals to the attorney general’s o ce.

Other metrics listed by Sangvai included investigations into 114,454 enrolled Medicaid providers and 228 credible provider allegations. Additionally, he said there were 158 credible member fraud allegations, adding 64 allegations were reported this year through Feb. 25. Jackson’s testimony discussed the Medicaid Investigations Division (MID), which he defended by saying it ranks fourth nationally in recoveries per federal dollar and described MID as “big-game hunters” targeting large cases.

“There is no acceptable level of fraud in North Carolina,” Jackson said in his testimony. “We must ght it aggressively, everywhere.”

He said $296 million was recovered between 2019 and 2025, a recovery rate he said is the eighth highest nationally. He also said $1.222 billion had been recovered since 1979.

The federal Medicaid program law was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on

“Rooting

Rep. Grant Campbell (R-Cabarrus)

July 30, 1965. North Carolina’s Medicaid program began operations Jan. 1, 1970. The state’s Medicaid expansion began Dec. 1, 2023. Jackson repeatedly underscored the need for a dedicated data-mining specialist to dig into fraud cases.

“This is clearly the future,” he said. “We are asking you in this session for one full-time data mining specialist.”

The committee expressed concern that lax veri cation and a “bias toward nding people eligible” leave the program vulnerable to improper enrollment. Rep. Je McNeely (R-Iredell) asked Sangvai if it was true more than 10% of noncitizens were on the state’s Medicaid bene ts.

“If only given the option for two answers, the answer is false,” Sangvai said. McNeely then asked, “How many non-U.S. citizens are receiving Medicaid in North Carolina, and what’s it costing the citizens of North Carolina?” Sangvai did not answer the question, instead describing the audit process for enrollees, and said strong audit scores indicated improper eligibility is “exceedingly low.” When pressed on whether any non-U.S. citizens are receiving bene ts, Sangvai replied, “To my knowledge, no.”

Rep. Charles Miller (R-Brunswick) focused on the source of fraud tips, asking Jackson if he knew the percentages of “regular people calling in tips versus referrals generated by DHHS’s own fraud detection work.”

“I don’t know the exact percentage, but I do know that, as a category, the biggest category of tips that we get is from private citizens,” Jackson said. “But that con ates two di erent groups of private citizens. One is members of the general public — we get lots of those — but the other is whistleblowers.”

Miller said data showed public tips dominated referrals. In 2025, private citizens made up 223 of the 345 referrals (65%) made to Jackson’s o ce. He also said NCDHHS’s “own proactive detection work” generated 22 referrals (6%).

“The public is doing 10 times more fraud detection than the state agency responsible for the program,” Miller said. “Does that concern you?”

“Well, I don’t think that’s an accurate statement,” said Jackson. “I think it is the case that we have a link on a website that is public facing, so it gets a lot of tra c.” Rep. Timothy Reeder (R-Pitt) brie y brought up NCDHHS’ 2025 Medicaid reimbursement rate cuts used by Gov. Josh Stein to pressure the General Assembly over Medicaid rebase funding and passing a budget.

Reeder asked Sangvai if he still thought the program would run out of money. Sangvai responded, “In the absence of an appropriation, we will run out of money.”

Reeder pressed for a date. Sangvai replied, “Right now, the forecast is in May.”

OpenAI, Anthropic leaders say at UNC conference that AI will shift from hype to balance sheet

The next phase will be measured in productivity, competition and global power

By Dan Reeves and A.P. Dillon North State Journal

CHAPEL HILL — Arti cial intelligence is moving out of the experimental phase and into the core of the economy. That was the message from industry leaders gathered at the University of North Carolina’s inaugural AI for Public Good Conference, where the conversation quickly turned from possibility to execution — and from theory to impact.

“We’re living in a moment,” said Ronnie Chatterji, chief economist at OpenAI, “when models are changing the way we work every day.”

For Chatterji, the key question is no longer whether AI will reshape the economy but how quickly businesses can translate that capability into measurable gains. So far, the labor market is holding.

“The unemployment rate right now in the United States is below 5%,” he said. “AI is changing work, but it hasn’t led to massive job loss yet.”

Chatterji’s observation is backed by a recent Gallup poll showing more than half of U.S. employees are using AI in some capacity at work.

From pilot programs to performance

After a year of experimentation, companies are beginning to operationalize AI — moving from internal pilots to enterprise-wide deployment.

“You’re going to see enterprises really start to unlock a lot of value from AI,” Chatterji said, pointing to a growing pipeline of companies shifting from testing to implementation.

That transition has taken longer than some expected, but not unusually so. Large organizations must navigate governance, risk and change management before scaling new technologies. Now, those barriers are beginning to fall.

The result is a familiar corporate dynamic: competitive pressure.

SENATE from page A1

olina and the momentum to defeat Roy Cooper this November.”

In a statement to North State Journal, Gri n said, “For decades North Carolina Democrats have been setting fundraising records just to lose in the general election.

“It turns out that all the money in the world cannot overcome a record of failure. Roy Cooper is no di erent. Coo-

LAWSUIT from page A1

and the University has unwavering con dence in the comprehensiveness, integrity and objectivity of that review,” Newton said in a statement at the time.

“The University is committed to taking all steps appropriate to ensure that any necessary corrective actions are taken.

“Among the issues under review were a series of allegations that implicate sensitive and con dential personnel information that is protected by state law and University policy. In accordance with applicable law and policy, the University does not plan to o er any further public statements about the details of the Review.”

Six media organizations led the lawsuit: The Daily Tar Heel, Capitol Broadcasting Co. Inc. (WRAL -TV), The McClatchy Co. (The News & Observer), States Newsroom (N.C. Newsline), North Carolina Longform Magazine Inc. (The Assem-

“There’s a real snowball effect,” said Marina Carreker, founder of Galleon Strategies and conference co-chair. “The more you hear about businesses doing this well, the more urgency builds.”

That urgency — driven by fear of falling behind — is accelerating adoption across sectors.

A productivity engine — and a labor question

For now, AI is augmenting workers more than replacing them.

Chatterji pointed to practical use cases already emerging inside companies — from data analysis to work ow automation — that compress hours of work into minutes.

In one example, he used AI tools to build datasets and run economic analysis “in just about a half an hour,” a task that would traditionally require signi cantly more time.

The implication is not just efciency, but cost structure. AI is beginning to reduce the price of knowledge work — a shift that could ripple through hiring, wages and organizational design.

“If you could use AI to gure out what people get paid for the same quali cations as you

$13.8M

Campaign funds raised by Roy Cooper last quarter

per is a career politician relying on elites from New York and California to bankroll his campaign, so he can do their

bly) and Carolina Public Press. UNC Chapel Hill’s General Counsel Paul Newton and Chancellor Lee Roberts are the named defendants in the lawsuit.

Filed April 10 in Orange County Superior Court, the plainti s are alleging the report is a presumptive public record paid for with public funds and that failing to release it despite media requests is a violation of state public record laws.

“The failure of a public records custodian to provide access to or copies of public records ‘as promptly as possible’ upon request pursuant to (state law) is tantamount to denial,” the complaint states.

The lawsuit seeks an immediate hearing and an in-camera court review of the full report. The outlets are also seeking redaction of any lawfully exempt portions of the report and an order compelling disclosure of the rest. Additionally, the complaint seeks to recoup any legal fees.

“You might pump on the gas now so that we have the privilege of pumping the brakes later.”

Thompson

Paine, Anthropic head of geopolitics

… you could bargain for a higher salary,” Chatterji said.

At the same time, those same tools could compress demand for certain roles.

The global competitive layer

Beyond the enterprise, AI is emerging as a geopolitical asset.

“There’s this awareness that this is going to be a technology … (that is) truly transformative on every part of the economy, society, politics and the world,” said Thompson Paine, head of geopolitics at Anthropic.

Countries are approaching that reality from very di erent positions. In parts of Asia, AI is viewed as a necessary economic multiplier, particularly in aging societies with shrinking workforces. In emerging markets, it

bidding. We look forward to history repeating itself this November.”

Outside groups are dropping big money into the race.

The Senate Leadership Fund, run by South Dakota Republican Sen. John Thune, announced earlier this month it will spend at least $71 million supporting Whatley and opposing Cooper. The $71 million is part of a $342 million national spend on various Sen-

is seen as a leapfrogging tool. Europe, meanwhile, is balancing innovation with regulation.

“They want to make sure that they regulate the risks,” Paine said.

For nations without leading AI companies, the concern is more fundamental.

“If this technology powers everything in your economy … you want to have access to it,” Paine said, describing the push for “sovereign AI.”

Underlying the discussion is a simple reality: The technology is still accelerating.

“We have not seen a ceiling … yet,” Paine said. That dynamic is driving massive investment and resetting expectations.

“The AI you are working on today that’s blowing your mind,” he said, “is the worst AI you’ll ever use for the rest of your life.”

For businesses, that creates both opportunity and pressure. What feels like a competitive advantage today may quickly become table stakes.

Policy, risk and the path forward

With that acceleration comes a growing policy challenge. For Chatterji, the economic side will

ate candidates and campaigns. Additionally, the Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity Action reported low-to-mid seven- gure independent expenditures ahead of the primary: roughly $2.6 million supporting Whatley and $264,000 opposing Cooper, primarily in media buys. Democratic-aligned outside support for Cooper has been much smaller, such as a yet-undisclosed portion of a $50 million campaign by the Campaign

likely mirror past disruptions, with government playing a stabilizing role.

“I think the role … is public policy,” he said. Paine framed the issue in strategic terms, particularly in the context of global competition.

“You might pump on the gas now so that we have the privilege of pumping on the brakes later,” he said.

At UNC, the takeaway was clear: AI is no longer a future-facing technology. It is an operating reality — one that companies, workers and governments are now being forced to navigate in real time.

Real-world and policy concerns

In a brief interview after the panel, Carreker addressed public concerns about AI, including data centers and energy use. She emphasized transparency and education as key to restoring trust.

“When people don’t feel like they’re calling the shots or understand what’s going on, that’s when a lot of fear sets in,” Carreker said. “There’s a real responsibility to give people a sense of agency in all this.”

She added that growing attention to infrastructure like data centers re ects broader anxiety tied to AI’s rapid rise.

“All of a sudden, people want to understand what this means for them,” she said.

Earlier in the day, U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.) offered a policy-focused perspective, highlighting both the promise and risks of AI.

“We must also put in place the necessary guardrails that protect our communities and maintain public trust,” Foushee said.

Congress has yet to pass comprehensive AI legislation. In March, President Donald Trump outlined a “National AI Legislative Framework” calling for a “minimally burdensome” federal standard while limiting con icting state laws.

The proposal aligns with broader industry e orts to address infrastructure demands tied to AI growth, including energy use tied to data centers.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein echoed those concerns, saying data centers should have options to generate their own power and that residential ratepayers should not bear the cost of increased demand.

Stein’s stance mirrors comments from state House Speaker Destin Hall, who said earlier this year that data centers “can a ord to pay their own way” without relying on taxpayer support.

for a Family Friendly Economy. Compared to the 2014 race when Republican Thom Tillis unseated incumbent Democrat Kay Hagan, roughly $121 million was spent in total, making it the most expensive race at that time. In 2020, Tillis defeated Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham, with total spending surpassing the 2014 race by reaching approximately $296 million.

THE CONVERSATION

Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill,

senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

What is on the other side of any problem political parties promise to fix?

“I’d like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony. And keep it company. That’s the real thing.”

MAX WEBER was a German economist and sociologist who described politics in 1919 as “the strong and slow boring of hard boards.”

Many times, the boards are very, very hard. Changing the minds and predilections of millions of people on major issues requires the patience of Job and the combined creative and charismatic skills of the very best leaders any nation can produce.

However, the question every voter needs to ask is, what is the vision of success promised by any politician or political party if they are elected — and is it believable?

The most vexing political policy solution to understand from the left is their xation on encouraging crime and disorder to advance their political goals. What is their solution to the hard board of crime on our streets and in our communities? They have none. Most Democrats are on record supporting the defunding of police departments and ICE.

Instead of saying they will work to protect innocent U.S. citizens from danger and attacks, they just bore holes through our national and local security systems, leaving nothing on the other side to protect innocent citizens so they can go about their lives in peace and with a hopeful future.

What is on the other side of their board if they succeed? Will America be a land of peace and love like the old Coca- Cola commercial: “I’d like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony. I’d like to buy the world a Coke. And keep it company. That’s the real thing.” If they really believe that supporting crime and ignoring the rule of law “is the real thing” that leads to peace and happiness, the hallucinogenic hangover from the 1960s really did have long-term negative e ects on mental health.

Americans want to see the hopeful, positive side of any political e ort. They will support the candidate and political party that paints such an outcome after enduring the long boring of the hard boards.

In 1980, Ronald Reagan led the Republicans to a sweeping victory to the White House and control of the U.S. Senate, vowing, “We can make America great again” with a strong military and restoring our free market economy. At his rst Cabinet meeting, Reagan reportedly kept things simple and

said something to the e ect of, “I hate communism, I hate big government and big taxes, and I want you members of the Cabinet to help me achieve all three goals.”

Within a decade, everyone could see the “other side” of what boring a hole through the hard board of Soviet Union communism meant in terms of freedom and prosperity to former Eastern European nations who su ered under communist oppression. Could we be witnessing a similar dawn of peace and prosperity in the Middle East and the world over in the aftermath of the successful completion of the war on Iranian terrorist leaders? Those are the hopes and dreams citizens want to see and hear painted from their leaders.

In 1980, the hard boards of everyday life were ridiculously high in ation and interest rates and economic recession under the Carter administration. Within four years, Americans were able to see and feel the promises of Reagan’s oft-ridiculed (by the left) policies ful lled in a booming economy that culminated in his landslide 1984 reelection, famously remembered as the “Morning Again in America” campaign.

What is on the other side of the hard board of any problem we see today? Which vision can any party or candidate cast to you as the voter that leads you to believe we will experience peace and prosperity if they are elected? If they have no vision of success that appeals to you, then you should think again about who to support.

Weber’s thoughts are worth reading. His full quote about “boring of hard boards” comes from a series of essays he wrote, “Politics As a Vocation.”

“Politics is a strong and slow boring of hard boards. It takes both passion and perspective. Certainly all historical experience con rms the truth — that man would not have attained the possible unless time and again he had reached out for the impossible. But to do that, a man must be a leader, and not only a leader but a hero as well, in a very sober sense of the word. And even those who are neither leaders nor heroes must arm themselves with that steadfastness of heart which can brave even the crumbling of all hopes. This is necessary right now, or else men will not be able to attain even that which is possible today.”

The courage of ordinary men

He put his life on the line and unquestionably saved countless lives that day.

FORTUNATELY, it’s fairly common these days to read stories of heroism about ordinary people who were just going about their day when something happened that prompted them to step in, take action and ultimately save the day.

April 7 was such a day in Pauls Valley, a small Oklahoma town of around 6,200 people that is about an hour’s drive from the state’s capital, Oklahoma City.

It was around 67 degrees and mostly sunny that afternoon when a former student, 20-year-old Victor Lee Hawkins, walked up to the front of Pauls Valley High School armed with two semiautomatic pistols, per local reports, both of which were loaded.

According to the a davit, Hawkins, who allegedly told investigators he was inspired by the 1999 Columbine mass shooting that killed 14 people, attempted to shoot two students in the foyer. The rst time, the gun did not re. Hawkins then attempted to x it and then shot at another student, who reportedly held his hands up and asked Hawkins not to shoot him.

He allowed the students to run away unharmed.

Although Hawkins wanted to shoot students and faculty as well as himself, he allegedly told investigators that his target was Pauls Valley High School principal Kirk Moore, 60. He told them he “did not like Principal Moore” and that he went there “to kill Moore.”

Soon after Moore heard the gun re, he left his o ce to see what was going on.

He saw Hawkins in the lobby with a gun and proceeded to run after him and tackle him onto a bench, armed with nothing more than his bare hands, covering him with his body, and managing to get him to drop the gun despite Hawkins shooting him in the leg moments earlier.

The assistant principal quickly kicked the gun out of reach and then took it into his possession while Moore stayed

on top of Hawkins until law enforcement arrived on the scene.

Moore was hospitalized for a time due to the injuries he sustained, and he issued a statement due to the outpouring of support that came after the release of the video that showed what happened, which went viral on social media.

“Like so many educators around the country, we prepare for these events through training and careful assessments of threats,” Moore wrote. “I am grateful that my instincts and training, as well as God’s hand, were available to come to me on Tuesday.”

“I look forward to returning to work as soon as possible so that I may continue my life’s work educating the next generation of Oklahoma leaders,” he also wrote, adding that, “Until then, my thoughts are with our outstanding students, safe today in the arms of their families and friends.”

While Moore’s phone has undoubtedly been ringing o the hook with thank-yous from students, family members, faculty and others in the community, as well as media requests for interviews, it was something that happened 10 days after the attempted mass shooting that made the story even better.

Moore was crowned prom king at the high school’s prom. Video shows Moore being cheered on by students and faculty as the crown was put on his head. The Nickelback song “Hero” played in the background as students danced and applauded.

Moore was no spring chicken, but he put his life on the line and unquestionably saved countless lives that day after making a split-second decision to confront the gunman head-on. The day could have ended di erently, but thanks to the extraordinary e orts of an ordinary man, along with God’s grace, everyone lived to see another day.

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.

Trump vs. the pope

The ponti might consider that Trump rst talked of attacking Iran when the regime was in the midst of slaughtering thousands of protesters in the streets.

AS FAR AS SHOWDOWNS between popes and secular leaders go, President Donald Trump versus Pope Leo hardly rates.

Pope Leo hasn’t forced Trump to come see him and stand for three days in the snow the way Pope Gregory VII did to Henry IV, the Holy Roman emperor, in 1077. Nor has he issued an interdict, a tactic favored by Pope Innocent III, against the United States.

On the other hand, Trump hasn’t sacked Rome and forced the pope to submit to his will, in a repeat of Emperor Charles V’s 16th-century gambit against Pope Clement VII.

It’s still been a remarkably testy exchange between Pope Leo and Trump over the Iran war. The president of the United States — stung by the ponti ’s criticisms of his decision to launch the war and his ensuing rhetoric — has denounced Pope Leo in his characteristic terms, all but saying that His Holiness “doesn’t have what it takes.”

It’s easy, meanwhile, to interpret Leo as taking veiled shots at Trump. “Enough with the idolatry of self and money!” is not an unusual sentiment for a Holy Father, but who can be certain he didn’t have our gilt president in mind when he said it in a homily the other day?

A pope who doesn’t rebuke a president of the United States for threatening to bring a foreign civilization to an end isn’t doing his job, yet it’s important to understand that the Bible is not an injunction for paci sm, and it doesn’t entail a condemnation of the Iran war.

The Bible presents a realistic view of the inevitability of human con ict. As Ecclesiastes says, there is “a time for war, and a time for peace.” In the books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel or Kings, it is often a time for war. The key question is whether a war is righteous — the di erence between Israel, say, prevailing in the Battle of Deborah, or seeing the Babylonians destroy Jerusalem.

On Palm Sunday, Pope Leo cited Isaiah 1:15 for the proposition that God doesn’t listen to the prayers of those who wage war:

COLUMN | JENNA ELLIS

“Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood.” The context of this verse, though, is the injustice and corruption of the people of Judah — in other words, their self-abasement.

It makes no sense, as a broader matter, to cite Isaiah as an injunction against waging war or evidence that God pays no heed to the prayers of those who ght. Later in the book, King Hezekiah of Judah prays for God’s help in stopping an Assyrian army threatening Jerusalem, and 185,000 Assyrian soldiers are struck down.

Jesus preaches love and mercy, of course, but that is not a warrant for paci sm. The great Christian thinkers St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas gave us just war theory, reconciling Christian ethics with the existence of evil in the world and the necessity of warfare. According to this view, which is embraced by the Catholic Church, a war can only be fought for a just cause and has to be waged in keeping with moral standards, minimizing harm to civilians.

Pope Leo has wrongly made it sound as though no war can possibly be just, and regardless, his opposition to the Iran war isn’t dispositive or binding on anyone else.

The ponti might consider that Trump rst talked of attacking Iran when the regime was in the midst of slaughtering thousands of protesters in the streets, and if the current government fell and gave way to one with more respect for the rights of its people, it would be a boon to Iranians and a large step toward a safer and more peaceful region.

Trump’s wild threats are understandably anathema to Pope Leo, but they don’t de ne the Iran war or change the fact that the Bible portrays warfare as a tragic fact of human existence. Yes, as Isaiah says, they shall beat their swords into plowshares, but not yet.

Rich Lowry is editor of the National Review. (Copyright 2026 by King Features Synd., Inc.)

Congress should decide birthright citizenship, not SCOTUS

Call it what it is: a form of unjust enrichment.

THE U.S. SUPREME COURT recently heard arguments in a case that could rede ne one of the most consequential questions in American law: Who is entitled to citizenship under the 14th Amendment?

The focus, predictably, has been on constitutional interpretation — what the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” means, how it has been applied historically and whether it extends to the children of those unlawfully present in the United States.

Those are important questions. But they are not the only ones — and arguably not even the most important.

Because the deeper issue exposed by this case is not merely what the Constitution permits. It is who gets to decide. By leaving this question rst to the executive order and then to the majority of the court, this case exposes what Congress has failed to do.

For decades, Congress has abdicated its responsibility to de ne and regulate the contours of citizenship in a manner consistent with both constitutional text and national sovereignty. Instead of legislating clearly and deliberately, it has allowed ambiguity to fester — leaving the courts to resolve disputes that are fundamentally legislative in nature.

That is not how our system is supposed to work.

The Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment was never intended to function as a blank check. Its central purpose, in the wake of the Civil War, was to guarantee citizenship to formerly enslaved persons — those who were unquestionably subject to the full jurisdiction of the United States and owed it complete allegiance.

It was not designed to incentivize the circumvention of immigration law or serve as a conduit for birther tourism.

Yet today, a growing and undeniable phenomenon exists: individuals entering or remaining in the country unlawfully and having children on U.S. soil in order to secure legal status for those children — and, in many cases, eventual derivative bene ts for themselves.

Call it what it is: a form of unjust enrichment.

Citizenship is not merely a bene t. It is the highest legal status our nation can confer. It carries with it not only important rights (including voting) but reciprocal obligations — allegiance, civic participation and a shared commitment to the American constitutional order.

To treat it as an automatic byproduct of unlawful presence is to diminish its meaning and undermine the rule of law.

And yet Congress has largely remained silent.

Under Section 5 of the 14th Amendment, Congress is explicitly empowered to enforce the amendment through appropriate legislation. That authority is not symbolic

— it is operative. It exists precisely so that elected representatives, accountable to the people, can de ne and implement the boundaries of citizenship in a way that re ects both constitutional principles and contemporary realities.

Instead, Congress has ceded that role to the judiciary, and depending on the outcome of this case, the executive.

This creates two profound problems. First, it distorts the role of the courts. The judiciary is forced into the position of making policy-laden determinations about immigration and national identity — questions that are far better suited to the legislative branch.

Second, it ensures that whatever the court decides will be perceived not as a durable resolution but as another ashpoint in an ongoing political battle. It will undermine judicial legitimacy. Majority opinions, by their nature, lack the representative and deliberative legitimacy and exibility that legislation can provide.

If Congress believes that birthright citizenship should extend to all persons born on U.S. soil regardless of their parents’ legal status, it should say so clearly — and defend that position to the American people.

If it believes, instead, that citizenship should be reserved for those born to individuals lawfully present and fully subject to U.S. jurisdiction, it has both the authority and the obligation to legislate accordingly.

What it cannot continue to do is nothing.

The United States is a sovereign nation. Sovereignty includes the right to de ne the terms of membership — to determine who is admitted not just physically but politically and legally into the national community.

That responsibility does not belong primarily to the courts. It belongs to Congress in our republican form of government.

The Supreme Court may soon provide an answer to the legal question before it. But even a de nitive ruling will not resolve the broader issue of political will.

Only Congress can do that.

And until it does, we will continue to see the meaning of citizenship contested not through the deliberative process the Constitution envisions — but through litigation, ambiguity and institutional drift. That is not a sustainable path for a constitutional republic.

Jenna Ellis is a senior policy adviser with AFA Action. She previously served as a senior legal adviser to President Donald Trump.

(Copyright Daily Caller News Foundation) COLUMN

Hey, socialists, we’ve already figured out the supermarket

THERE ARE AT LEAST 76,000 supermarkets in the United States. Most of us probably have a dozen within 10 miles of home. Nevertheless, leftists are constantly trying to convince us that we need government-run grocery stores. The latest person is New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has promised to open ve city-run markets to combat “out-of-control” prices by getting rid of the “pro t motive,” passing on the savings to consumers.

The rst glaring problem with Mamdani’s plan is that the “pro t motive” is the best device to create savings.

Mamdani says he looks “forward to the competition” from the private sector, and “may the most a ordable grocery store win.” It’s not really “competition” when a government o cial untethered from the “pro t motive” can use endless taxpayer subsidies to keep his business a oat.

The Mamdani Mart in Harlem, for instance, will be built on land already owned by the city, and it’s still going to cost $30 million, according to the mayor, if government estimates are right — a rarity.

In the real world, these exorbitant costs would be passed on to consumers. In the Mamdani world, the cost is tacked onto an already $5.4 billion budget de cit.

To put the cost into context, a new Aldi costs around $1.5 million to $3 million on average to construct, not including the cost of the land. Other chains might cost around $3 million to $5 million. Aldi keeps costs as low as possible because they are governed by the pro t motive.

An Aldi can be built in as quickly as six weeks. Mamdani’s supermarket won’t be open until 2029. Maybe.

New York City could hand over $30 million to any major chain and it would get at least three self-sustaining retail stores up and running within a year. Then again, Democrats could just stop placating their corrupt union donors by blocking Walmart from opening stores in the city; it would cost nothing.

When the state-run KC Sun Fresh supermarket opened in Kansas City, it was supposed to help alleviate the “food deserts.” At rst, it was run by private grocers. But without the pro t motive, they abandoned the project. By 2024, the supermarket was losing nearly $1 million a year, averaging around 4,000 shoppers, down from 14,000. Those who showed up were confronted with empty shelves, unchecked shoplifting and barely any healthy produce. It closed in 2025.

And when political considerations are your concern rather than pro t motives, you end up building retail establishments that aren’t needed.

Within a mile of the site of Mamdani’s new $30 million tax-funded supermarket in Harlem, there are, according to Google Maps, at least a dozen grocers, everything from an Aldi to a Whole Foods. It’s less than a nine-minute walk to a big supermarket from the proposed site and a three-minute walk to a fresh produce market. New Yorkers should demand their government work with the e ciency of a supermarket, not the other way around.

If Mamdani wants more supermarkets in Harlem, he should work to cut the bureaucratic hell that potential business owners are forced to traverse to open a store. New York City is already home to one of the highest corporate tax rates in the country, yet Mamdani supports an e ort to signi cantly increase them.

During the Cold War, the American supermarket was often held up as the model of prosperity. When the Soviet Union was petering out in 1989, Boris Yeltsin toured a Randalls in Houston, resulting in the famous pictures of the wide-eyed future Russian president perusing the wide variety of food available to average people living under capitalism.

Yeltsin said that “there would be a revolution” in the Soviet Union if people saw the availability. “Even the Politburo doesn’t have this choice,” he said. “Not even Mr. Gorbachev.”

Today, grocery chains are often depicted as predatory and monopolistic endeavors by Marxists like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren because it’s easy to rile up consumers who are agitated by in ation. Supermarkets have some of the lowest pro t margins of any business in the country, usually around 1% to 3%. Successful chains stay competitive by adapting quickly, leaning on high-volume, high-turnover sales, cost-cutting and intricate supply chains.

Government isn’t exactly nimble.

There’s no doubt that living in dense urban areas is expensive. Many in the media depict Mamdani’s plan as a harmless e ort to help poor people deal with the vagaries and inequities of capitalism with a few a ordable grocery stores. Whatever, the government subsidies will become more expensive, crowding out value-producing “competitors.”

It’s a shame that American leftists have to relearn the most basic and obvious lessons of history and economics.

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)

Murphy to Manteo Jones & Blount

Starlight, camera, action!

EAST

Former teacher sentenced to 28 years for sex crimes

County A McDowell County teacher was sentenced to more than 28 years in prison last week after pleading guilty to child sex crimes. According to a social media post from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, an investigation into Jessica Patrick Finley, 31, began in February 2024 following the parents of a 14-year-old showing school o cials texts between their daughter and Finley. Finley was a guidance counselor and volleyball coach at McDowell County High School. Search warrants from the SBI reported that Finley and the student engaged in a series of sexual conversations through cell phone texts, in addition to sexual acts occurring on multiple occasions in Finley’s guidance counselor’s o ce at McDowell High School. The warrants mentioned the teen thought she was in a dating relationship with Finley. Following an investigation, Finley was charged with multiple felony sex o enses involving a minor.

NSJ

Missing swimmer’s body pulled from Lake Norman

Iredell County A missing swimmer’s body was recovered from Lake Norman last Friday afternoon, emergency o cials con rmed. Iredell County o cials con rmed multiple agencies were dispatched to the lake. Sherrills Ford-Terrell Fire and Rescue con rmed its units were assisting in the search for a missing swimmer. The agency announced at 4 p.m. that crews found the body of the missing swimmer and pulled it from the lake. O cials haven’t yet identi ed the swimmer.

WXII

School system audit identi es multiple nancial issues

Forsyth County

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools released its 2024-25 nancial audit, which reinforces signi cant nancial issues revealed last year as the district reviews its budget for the upcoming year. The audit examined the scal year ending June 30, 2025, and identi ed several weaknesses in the district’s nances and processes, including the Board of Education spending more money than it had, failing to properly adjust the budget after overspending and not adequately tracking nancial accounts, with corrections made only months later.

NSJ

Zoo expansion opening held up by budget talks

Randolph County A major new expansion at the North Carolina Zoo is nished, but visitors can’t get in just yet. Zoo leaders say the long-awaited Asia Continent is ready, but it’s sitting idle because of a budget stalemate in North Carolina. Lawmakers are set to return to Raleigh this week for the 2026 legislative session, where the ongoing budget impasse is expected to be a key issue. The state has already invested more than $75 million into the 12.5-acre Asia Continent — the zoo’s rst major expansion since 1994. Zoo o cials say the new attraction is expected to give a signi cant boost to attendance, and they therefore need to hire about 70 full-time employees, including transportation, guest services and cleaning sta before the area can open. But without a nalized state budget, o cials said they can’t move forward with those hires and have o ered no timeline for when visitors will be able to explore the new exhibit.

WFMY

“Sensory Sunday” event o ers fun for autism community

Onslow County

“Sensory Sunday” brought an inclusive day of fun to Steed Park in Richlands, welcoming families from across Onslow County. The event featured various hands-on activities designed especially for individuals on the autism spectrum while remaining open and enjoyable for the entire community. Attendees took part in activities like “Touch A Truck,” bounce houses, face painting and interactive sensory stations. Organizers with Onslow County Parks and Recreation said the goal was to create a welcoming environment where everyone could participate and feel included.

WNCT

ECU community prepares for PirateFest Pitt County PirateFest returns to downtown Greenville this weekend, bringing a full day of family-friendly fun and entertainment. The 19th annual event is scheduled for Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Festivalgoers can enjoy live performances, various vendors, bounce houses and more throughout the day. Due to ongoing construction at Town Common, this year’s festivities will take place along First Street. Organizers said the event is expected to be one of the biggest PirateFests yet.

School district hosts Farm-to-School Week

Craven County Craven County’s school district is hosting several events for its Farm-toSchool Week. The district’s nutrition department has planned an event each day of the week, in addition to providing mostly North Carolinagrown and processed foods for the students. Middle school students will participate in a cheer competition to promote farming and healthy eating, performing for elementary students, while older students compete in a culinary competition utilizing only local ingredients for their dishes. Farmers will visit the local schools to talk about their products at a mock farmers market, and students will get to sample items from the local farms. Local o cials will also participate along with community partners in a luncheon to raise awareness of ways the community can serve students better by sourcing locally available options. On Friday, organizers will be judging elementary school door decorations celebrating the weeklong event.

NSJ

Tennessee to expand voucher program to 35K students

More than 56,000 families applied for the funds this year

By Lillian Avedian Nashville Banner

ONE YEAR after it launched a universal school voucher program, Tennessee will nearly double the program with 15,000 additional vouchers, directing about $260 million in public funds to private schools.

The Tennessee Senate voted 18-14 last Thursday to fund 35,000 vouchers for the 2026-27 academic year. The Senate bill conformed to its companion in the House, adopted earlier this week, which included 5,000 fewer vouchers than Gov. Bill Lee’s ask of 40,000. The bill passed by a similarly slim margin of 52-43 in the House.

In an hourlong discussion on the Senate oor last Thursday morning, legislators debated several last-minute changes to the program that could impact state funding for local public school districts, with criticisms raised by Democrats and some Republicans.

The bill includes an amendment that alters the hold-harmless provision of the voucher program. School districts that experience disenrollment will only be reimbursed for those students who leave public school to accept a voucher. That funding oor was put in place last year for all kinds of disenrollment to assure public school districts that they would not lose state funding to vouchers.

Under the amendment, school districts will also only be compensated for public school students who provided their Social Security numbers at the time of their enrollment.

Sen. Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald) said he’s “concerned about

North Korea again tests cluster munitions NATION & WORLD

Kim Jong Un and his daughter witnessed the launch

By Hyung-Jin Kim and Kim Tong-Hyung

The Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea said Monday it test-launched ballistic missiles with cluster bomb warheads in the second such test this month, likely underscoring its push to expand its capabilities to penetrate U.S. and South Korean defenses.

The report by the North’s o cial Korean Central News Agency appeared to refer to the multiple ballistic missile launches South Korea, Japan and the U.S. detected Sunday o North Korea’s east coast.

KCNA photos showed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his teenage daughter, both wearing black leather jackets, watching from a coastal observation point as a projectile soared over the water, trailing gray smoke. South Korea’s spy service recently assessed that the daughter, reportedly named Kim Ju Ae, could be considered Kim’s heir.

Kim oversaw the launches of ve upgraded surface-to-surface Hwasong-11 Ra ballistic missiles with cluster bomb warheads and fragmentation mine warheads, KCNA said.

The missiles struck an island target, and Kim expressed satisfaction over the launches, saying, “It is of weighty signi cance in military actions to boost the high-density striking capability,” according to KCNA.

In the earlier launch this month, North Korea tested Hwasong-11 Ka surface-to-surface ballistic missiles with

changing the funding oor, what that will do for our rural schools in the future.”

“The people should be able to depend on us doing what we say we’re going to do,” Hensley said.

Sen. Je Yarbro (D-Nashville) said this will ultimately phase out the hold-harmless provision altogether.

“Repeatedly this chamber has been asked to vote for something, and the year after it expands to something else,” Yarbro said.

Under federal law, schools cannot require students to share their Social Security numbers. When asked whether the amendment would require schools to collect this information, Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) said it would not, since “schools can ask for the Social Security number, but parents do not have to provide them.”

Johnson added that voucher recipients are already required

to provide their Social Security numbers. The amendment would use those numbers to follow students who move from public to private schools and document enrollment losses, he said.

Democrats argued that this raises privacy and safety concerns.

Sen. Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville) said that the amendment comes “after two unsuccessful e orts in this body to go after Plyler,” the Supreme Court precedent that held that all students have the right to attend a K-12 public school regardless of their immigration status.

She added that asking for students’ Social Security numbers would have a “chilling effect” on those who are undocumented.

“Parents will be afraid to enroll their children. We are also a ecting enrollment numbers by children who will not

be going to school. So the TISA funding will go down, further draining [districts],” she said, referring to the per-pupil funding formula.

Yarbro said that while this amendment doesn’t challenge Plyler, expecting schools to collect students’ Social Security numbers violates federal privacy laws.

“Some schools that used to collect this data stopped because they had data breaches,” he said. “So we’re adding a privacy risk as well.”

Democrats and some Republicans also argued against growing the program without evidence that students accepting vouchers have performed better academically in private schools. Sen. Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville) cited a report from the comptroller’s o ce that found that students in the state’s former voucher program have underperformed their public school peers.

“There’s not been an examination yet when you have the same students taking the same test that they even came close to performing at the level of the kids in the public schools,” Briggs said.

Republican leadership has repeatedly pointed to the number of applications to the voucher program as evidence of parent demand. This year, more than 56,000 families applied. Some legislators have argued that parent choice is a more important measure of success than other metrics used to evaluate schools, such as academic performance.

“We focus on test scores, we focus on TCAP, nationally normed assessment tests, and that’s ne,” Johnson said. “But if a parent who loves their child unconditionally does not believe that public school is meeting the needs of that child, we should satisfy our constitutional obligation and give them an option.”

Originally published by the Nashville Banner and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

cluster bomb warheads that it said “can reduce to ashes any target covering an area of 6.5 -7 hectares.”

North Korea has tested cluster bomb warheads before. But observers say the Iran war may have prompted North Korea to display it has cluster munitions and accelerate e orts to develop better ones. The destructiveness of cluster munitions has been highlighted in the ongoing war, with Israel accusing Iran of using such weapons to challenge the country’s stretched air defenses. The warheads burst open at high altitudes, scattering dozens of smaller bomblets across a wide area

that are di cult to intercept.

More than 120 countries have signed an international treaty banning the use of cluster munitions, but North Korea, Iran, Israel and the United States are not among them.

North Korea has been pushing to expand its nuclear arsenal and acquire an array of high-tech weapons since Kim’s nuclear diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump fell apart in 2019. Among them are multiwarhead nuclear missiles, hypersonic weapons and submarine-launched ballistic missiles, whose possession would sharply increase prospects for North Korea defeating U.S. and South Korean missile defenses.

LA woman arrested on Iranian arms tra cking charge

Los Angeles Federal prosecutors said a 44-year-old Los Angeles woman was arrested Saturday night at Los Angeles International Airport on suspicion of helping Iran tra c weapons to Sudan, which is in its fourth year of a bloody civil war. Shamim Ma will face charges that she brokered the sale of “drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition” between Iran and the Sudanese Armed Forces, First U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said Sunday on social media. Ma is an Iranian national who became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in 2016, Essayli said.

3 students, 2 others shot near University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

A shooting during a ght in a nightlife district near the University of Iowa campus wounded ve people early Sunday, including three students, police and university o cials said. Multiple victims were transported to hospitals for gunshot wounds, according to Iowa City police. One person was in critical condition while four others were stable, police said. O cers were responding to reports of a large ght in downtown Iowa City close to a pedestrian mall lled with bars and restaurants when they heard shots being red, police said. Videos shared on social media showed multiple ghts breaking out in front of an outdoor bar area, followed by a frightened crowd of dozens running away.

Mexico arrests one of Europe’s most wanted fugitives

Mexico City A suspected drug tra cker considered one of Europe’s most wanted fugitives has been arrested in Mexico, authorities said on Saturday. The suspect, identi ed as János Balla and also known as Dániel Takács, was captured in the southern state of Quintana Roo, according to Mexican Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch. Balla is wanted in Hungary over drug tra cking accusations and is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice, García said on X. State and federal authorities in a joint statement said Balla was located thanks to information shared by Hungarian security agencies, as well as intelligence and investigative work.

Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to restore diplomacy with Kim, and the North Korean leader has recently left open the door for dialogue with Trump but urged Washington to drop demands for the North’s nuclear disarmament as a precondition for talks.

Trump is to travel to Beijing for a rescheduled summit with Xi Jinping in May. Some observers believe North Korea’s recent testing activities were likely meant to increase its leverage in future dealings with the U.S., as the Trump -Xi meeting could provide a diplomatic opening with Pyongyang.

Mass shooting in Kyiv leaves 6 dead; gunman killed Kyiv, Ukraine A gunman wielding an automatic weapon killed six people and barricaded himself inside a supermarket with hostages in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Saturday, before he was shot and killed by police, authorities said. At least 14 people were wounded and taken to the hospital. The 58-year-old attacker was not named by police, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was born in Russia as authorities worked to piece together a motive for the violence.

CUMBERLAND

Notice to Creditors Ad

The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the estate of Frances Ann Gentilin, 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 24th day of July, 2026 (which 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 Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 23rd day of April, 2026 Leah Gentilin, Administrator/executor of the estate of Frances Ann Gentilin, deceased 439 Westwood Shopping Center, # 138 Fayetteville, NC 28314

Notice to Creditors

The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Richard Pataky, AKA Richard Anthony Pataky, deceased, late of Cumberland County, do hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 23rd day of July, 2026 (which date is 3 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 payments to the undersigned.

This 23rd day of April 2026

Executor: Janine Marie McLaughlin Address: 135 Bridgeport Drive Sneads Ferry, NC 28460 Of the Estate of Richard Pataky AKA Richard Anthony Pataky, Deceased Estate File # 26E000361-250

Notice to Creditors

The undersigned, having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Kenneth E. Martin, deceased, late of Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, who died on February 17, 2026, does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before July 23, 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. Administrator: Kim Martin 1912 Blake Street Fayetteville, NC 28301

NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE NO. 26E000580-250

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Nathan Davis, 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 July 23, 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 23rd day of April, 2026. Michael E. Davis, Executor of the Estate of Nathan Davis 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 ESTATE FILE #26E000611-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND

EXECUTOR’S NOTICE Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Peggy Imogene Gearhart, deceased, 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 present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 23rd 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 Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. Dated this 23rd day of April, 2026. Billy R. Meha ey, Jr., Executor of the Estate of Peggy Imogene Gearhart, deceased 646 Apelehama Place Diamondhead, MS 39525

NOTICE 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

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

Administrator’s/Executor’s Notice

Estate File # 26E000449-250

The undersigned,having quali ed as Administrator/Executor of the estate of Martha P.Branham,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 second day of July 2026, (which 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 debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. The second day of April 2026

Administrator/Executor-Wanda B Graham Address-622 Hermosa Ct City/State,zip-Fayetteville,N.C.28314 of the Estate of Martha P.Branham

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE CUMBERLAND COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION FILE NO. 26E000514250

ADMINISTRATOR’S NOTICE

The undersigned, having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Rochelle Byers, deceased, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, hereby noti es all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said decedent to present them to the undersigned on or before July 23, 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 23rd day of April, 2026. Danny M. Byers Administrator 11628 Sidney Crest Avenue Charlotte, NC 28213 Of the Estate of Rochelle Byers, Deceased Publish: April 23, 2026; April 30, 2026; May 7, 2026; May 14, 2026.

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

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

ADMINISTRATOR’S/EXECUTOR’S

NOTICE

The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Judy Whitaker Davis, 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, 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 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 # 26E000596-250 State Of North Carolina Cumberland County Administrator Notice. The undersigned having quali ed as administrator over the Estate of Karabeth Ann Sanderson Hammonds deceased 19th day of March,2026 of 2005 Iris Dr Hope Mills, NC Cumberland County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them on or before 23rd day of July, 2026, ( which date is three months after the day of rst publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 23rd of April,2026. Administrator of the Estate of Karabeth Ann Sanderson Hammonds Paul Kelley 2005 Iris Dr Hope Mills, NC 28348

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

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 In the

General Court of Justice County of Cumberland Superior Court

Division Estate File #______ Administrator’s/Executor’s Notice

The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Elsa Mahler Fleenor, 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 23 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 Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 16th day of April, 2026_. Maryann Fleenor Ford Administrator/Executor 2501 McFayden Rd Fayetteville, NC 28306 Of the Estate of Elsa Mahler Fleenor, Deceased

NOTICE

April 13, 2026

Estate of Sheila Louise Vannoy

The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Sheila Louise Vannoy, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby noti es all persons having claims against the estate to present them to the undersigned on or before July 23, 2026. Failure to do so will result in this notice being pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 23rd day of April, 2026. Administrator of the Estate of Sheila Louise Vannoy 218 Kristin Ave Spring Lake, N.C. 28390 (Daughter, Kathleen McNeill)

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

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, 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 Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payments to the undersigned. This the 2nd day of April, 2026. Lori H. Murphy Executor 1517 Marlborough Road

Fayetteville, NC 28304 Of the Estate of Clarence Stewart Hough, Deceased

Notice to Creditors

The undersigned having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Rachel Hubbard, 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 7-23-26 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. 516 Rosewood Drive Stedman, NC 28391 This is the 23rd of April, 2026 Administrator of the Estate of Rachel Hubbard

Administrator’s/Executor’s Notice Estate File # 26E000247-250

The undersigned, having quali ed as Administrator/Executor of the estate of Millie Ann Havemann, 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 twenty third day of July 2026. (which is 3 months after the day of the rst publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. The tenth day of April 2026 Katherine H. Bridgeman 7866 King Rd Fayetteville NC 28306 Administrator/Executor of the estate of Millie Ann Havemann

ADMINISTRATOR’S NOTICE

In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Estate File # 26E000457-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND

The undersigned having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Dale Patrick Ivey, Deceased, 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 16, 2026 at 1411 Maywood Street, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28305, 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 16th day of April, 2026

Carol Greiner Ivey, Administrator Estate of Dale Patrick Ivey, deceased c/o Gilliam Law Firm, PLLC Post O ce Box 53555 Fayetteville, NC 28305 (910) 485-8899 04/16/2026, 04/23/2026, 04/30/2026 and 05/07/2026

Notice To Creditors

The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Mary Claire Kosterman, 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 23rd 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 Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 23rd day of April, 2026. Mary Kosterman Hopkins Executor 509 Thorncli Drive Fayetteville NC 28303 Of the Estate of Mary Claire Kosterman, Deceased

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

NOTICE

or this notice will be pleaded in

of

recovery. Debtors of

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

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

COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND The undersigned having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Mary Olivia Spielmann, 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 336 Lakeview Drive, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28301, 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 Judith White Tomlinson, Administrator of the Estate of Mary Olivia Spielmann, deceased c/o Gilliam Law Firm, PLLC Post O ce Box 53555 Fayetteville, NC 28305 (910) 485-8899 04/02/2026, 04/09/2026, 04/16/2026 and 04/23/2026 NOTICE

In The General Court Of Justice. Superior Court Division. Estate # 26E000606-250. State of North Carolina. Cumberland County. Administrator’s Notice. The undersigned having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Dorothy Marie Hicks Taylor. deceased, late of Cumberland County. This is to notify all person’s having claims against said Estate to present them to the undersigned at 3712 Heatherbrooke Dr., Fayetteville, NC 28306 on or before the 23rd day of July 2026 (date being three months after the day of 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 23rd day of April 2026. Dorothy Amanda Eastridge Phone: 910-308-1283 Administrator of the Estate of Dorothy Marie Hicks Taylor

NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, having quali ed as Administrator of the ESTATE OF JOSHUA DALE HARTLEY (Estate File 26E000261280), Deceased, late of Davidson County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the Estate to exhibit them to the Administrator, David B. Hartley, at 104 Country Club Drive, Fort Mill, South Carolina 29715, on or before the 9th day of July, 2026, 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 above-named Administrator. This the 9th day of April, 2026. DAVID B. HARTLEY, ADMINISTRATOR ESTATE OF JOSHUA DALE HARTLEY

NEW HANOVER

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, MARISA BATUS LUCHSINGER, having quali ed as the Administrator of the Estate of MARY T BATUS, Deceased, hereby noti es all persons, rms or corporations having claims against the Decedent to exhibit 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, Andrea Galleo, having quali ed on the 30th day of March, 2026, as Administrator of the Estate of David Patrick Galleo (26E000396640), 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 20th 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 16th day of April 2026. Andrea Galleo Administrator ESTATE OF DAVID PATRICK GALLEO David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411

Publish: April 16, 2026 April 23, 2026 April 30, 2026 May 7, 2026

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 April 2026. Elizabeth C. Johnson Executor ESTATE OF JERRY W. JOHNSON

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

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

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

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Executor/ Administrator of the Estate of Catherine Yvonne Young, all creditors of the Estate of Catherine Yvonne Young, deceased, late of Wilmington, North Carolina in New Hanover County, who departed this life on March 19, 2026, are hereby noti ed to present their claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned at the address listed below on or before July 23, 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 15th day of April, 2026. Tschnavia Ross 275 Preston Lane Atlanta, GA 30315 Email: msshayj@yahoo.com

ONSLOW

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Veronica Ann Kocher, of Onslow 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 Andrew J. Weiner, 113 Worth Street, Asheboro, NC 27203 on or before July 16th 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 16th day of April 2026. Wayne Christopher Kocher, Executor Veronica Ann Kocher, Estate Andrew J. Weiner, Attorney Gavin & Cox 113 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 Telephone: 336-629-2600

ORANGE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Probate #26E000213-670

All persons, rm and corporations having claims against Naimeh M. Jernigan, late of Orange County, North Carolina are hereby noti ed to present them to Frederick A. Jernigan, as Executor of the decedent’s estate in care of Kendall H. Page, Attorney, 210 N Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 on or before the 23rd day of July, 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 above-named Executor. Kendall H. Page 210 N Columbia Street Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Bar # 14261 Notice to Run: 04/23/2026, 04/30/2026, 05/07/2026 & 05/14/2026

RANDOLPH

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Co-Administrators of the Estate of KEITH ROBERT CLAPP aka KEITH CLAPP aka KEITH R. CLAPP, 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 July 24, 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 23rd day of April 2026. HAYLEIGH ANN FAULKNER and JACOB DON CLAPP Co-Administrators of the Estate of KEITH ROBERT CLAPP aka KEITH CLAPP aka KEITH R. CLAPP

MARION “BETH” MCQUAID, Attorney

IVEY & EGGLESTON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW 111 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 (336) 625-3043

PUBL/DATES: 04/23/26, 04/30/26, 05/07/26, 05/14/26

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

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 Administrator of the Estate of BETTY DAVIS HUNT, 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 Administrator at the Law O ce of Andrew J. Weiner, 113 Worth Street, Asheboro, NC 27203 on or before July 9th 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 9th day of April 2026. Timothy Raeford Hunt BETTY DAVIS HUNT, Estate Andrew J. Weiner, Attorney Gavin & Cox 113 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 Telephone: 336-629-2600

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Co Administrators of the Estate of Donald Sherman Henley, Sr. 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 CoAdministrator at the Law O ce of Andrew J. Weiner, 113 Worth Street, Asheboro, NC 27203 on or before July 16th 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 16th day of April 2026. Donald Sherman Henley, Jr. CoAdministrator

David Brent Henley, Co-Administrator

Donald Sherman Henley, Sr. Estate

Andrew J. Weiner, Attorney Gavin & Cox 113 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 Telephone: 336-629-2600

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Richard James Stinson aka Richard J. Stinson, 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 July 20, 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 16th day of April, 2026

Terry Ann Stinson Administrator of the Estate of Richard James Stinson aka Richard J. Stinson Marion “Beth” McQuaid, Attorney IVEY & EGGLESTON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW 111 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 (336) 625-3043 PUBL/DATES:, 04/16/26, 04/23/26, 04/30/26, 05/06/26

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Marie Beeson Pugh 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 July 24th 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 23rd day of April 2026. Jan Pugh Dough Marie Beeson Pugh 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 Jeanie Lee Parrish a/k/a Jeannie Messick Parrish 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 Andrew J. Weiner, 113 Worth Street, Asheboro, NC 27203 on or before July 24th 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 23rd day of April 2026. Lisa Renee Parrish Jeanie Lee Parrish a/k/a Jeannie Messick Parrish Estate Andrew J. Weiner, 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 William Charles Norris, 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 July 16th 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 16th day of April 2026. Dahlia Gubalane Oldham a/k/a Dahlia Oldham Norris, Executor William Charles Norris, Estate Richard L. Cox, Attorney Gavin & Cox 113 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 Telephone: 336-629-2600

NOTICE Having quali ed as Co-Administrators

to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 16th day of April 2026. Kathy Jones Kelley Administrator of the Estate of Kenneth Robert Jones c/o Lisa M. Schreiner Attorney at Law P.O. Box 446 114 Raleigh Street Fuquay Varina, NC 27526 (For publication: 04/16, 04/23, 4/30, 5/7/2026)

Notice to Creditors

Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of LORENA B. MARTIN, late of Wake County, North Carolina (26E000770910), the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 5th day of July, 2026 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons,

TAKE NOTICE

the west edge of Rose Ave. in what is known as the G.F. Rogers Property in Kannapolis, North Carolina, No. 4 Township, a corner of the Cabarrus Lumber and Supply Co. and runs thence along the line of the Cabarrus Lumber and Supply Co. S. 80 W. 69.65 feet to an iron stake in the Cabarrus Lumber and Supply Co. line; thence N. 12 W. 95 feet to a stake, a new corner; thence N. 80 E. 62.75 feet to a stake in the West edge of Rose Ave., a new corner; thence S. 16 1⁄2 E. 95 feet along the West edge of Rose Ave. to the beginning. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 212 Lincoln Street, Kannapolis, North Carolina. The grantor herein, in addition hereto, does hereby deed and grant a street on the North side of the above described property and the F.H. Helms lot 20 feet wide for their use and for the use of the public extending from Rose Ave. to the street at the Fred Reece corner. 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 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

Hornets season ends, B4

rst-round

the Thursday SIDELINE REPORT

NCAA FOOTBALL

Prosecutors say makeup, wigs helped former Alabama tackle impersonate NFL players in $20M fraud

Former Alabama defensive tackle Luther Davis is accused of wearing makeup and wigs to impersonate NFL players in a fraud scheme that bilked investors of $20 million. Davis faces federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. According to a court ling, Davis is expected to plead guilty later this month. In a criminal complaint, prosecutors say Davis impersonated three separate NFL players.

OLYMPIC BASKETBALL

Schmidt, Basketball Hall of Famer from Brazil, dead at 68

São Paulo Oscar Schmidt, the Basketball Hall of Famer known to his Brazilian compatriots as the “Holy Hand,” died at 68. Schmidt’s family said in a statement that he fought a brain tumor for 15 years. Schmidt was on Brazil’s national team for 19 years. He also starred in a historic victory over the United States in the nal of the 1987 Pan American Games.

NFL

NFL not investigating Patriots coach Vrabel for behavior regarding reporter

The NFL is not investigating Mike Vrabel’s behavior after published photos of the New England Patriots coach and former Athletic reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort prompted her resignation and an internal investigation at the sports outlet. The New York Post last week published the photos of Vrabel and Russini at the Sedona hotel and said they were taken before the annual NFL meetings.

Martinook’s double-overtime goal gives Hurricanes wild Game 2 win

Carolina overcame unheard-of adversity to take a 2-0 series lead over the Senators

By Cory Lavalette North State Journal

RALEIGH — Jordan Mar-

tinook is the emotional leader of the Carolina Hurricanes, and in Monday’s Game 2 against the visiting Senators, he proved he can handle the highest of highs and lowest of lows.

Martinook’s goal at 13:53 of the second overtime gave the Hurricanes a 3-2 win Monday and a 2-0 series lead.

“You couldn’t have written it any better,” Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal said. “What a shot. The place was electric, so it was super fun. De nitely in the memory bank.”

The path to Carolina’s second

Carolina has plenty of exibility with the No. 19 pick

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

THE CAROLINA Panthers were aggressive in meeting their most pressing roster needs during NFL free agency. Now, that creates a problem for mock draft a cionados.

No one has a good idea what the Panthers might do with their picks. There are no obvious needs that must be addressed early in the draft, which starts Thursday night. That’s a welcome position for the team to be in — every team claims it will choose the best-available player, but Carolina could be the rare front o ce that actually gets to do it.

win in the series was anything but linear.

After the NHL’s Situation Room nulli ed Carolina center Mark Jankowski’s winning goal on a delayed penalty in the rst overtime, Martinook was awarded a penalty shot from the infraction that presented a second chance to win the game.

He did it — just 17 minutes later.

After Martinook was stopped by Linus Ullmark (43 saves) on the penalty shot attempt with 3:11 left in the rst overtime, he and the Hurricanes regrouped.

With just over six minutes left in the second overtime, Martinook collected a loose puck at the left sideboards, passed to defenseman K’Andre Miller and circled to the slot. Miller handed o the puck to Nikolaj Ehlers, who passed to Martinook.

“Hockey’s crazy. Sports are crazy ... Being able to score after that, I’ll tell my grandkids about that one, that’s for sure.” Jordan

His shot whizzed past a screen by Staal and Ottawa defenseman Thomas Chabot and behind Ullmark at 13:53 of double overtime to give the Hurricanes a roller-coaster win and control of the series.

“I didn’t feel very good about myself after that penalty shot,” Martinook said. “The intermission felt really long. That was cool though. I’m happy it worked out that way. It didn’t matter who scored, but it was going to be a long night if that

penalty shot came back to bite me.”

Instead, Carolina delivered a blow to the Senators, who rallied from a 2-0 de cit to tie the game in the second period and were inches from winning the game in the second overtime when Frederik Andersen (37 saves) got just enough of a piece of Michael Amadio’s 1-on1 chance to de ect the puck o the post.

“Every moment matters, and any situation, it’s right then and there,” Andersen said. “You just prepare like you would any other shot. And every time you make a save, you give the boys a new chance to score.”

On Monday — nearly Tuesday as the game stretched to more than four hours — the chance ended up on Martinook’s stick.

“I’d be lying if I said I picked

See CANES, page B4

“I think it opens us up to a lot of possibilities at pick 19,” GM Dan Morgan said of Carolina’s rst-round selection. “I think all positions are on the table. And like I said before, you never know who’s gonna fall down to us. “So I think we’re de nitely in the best-player-available mindset. I think what we did in free agency set us up to do that.”

With seven picks, the Panthers could also swing a trade to move up or down in the rst round in order to get the top name on their board.

While the draft is wide open for the Panthers, there are a few areas that will need to be addressed before the weekend is over. Carolina needs to add to its o ensive line. It will also look to upgrade at safety and corner, and pass catchers at receiver and tight end.

The Panthers have used their top pick on receivers each

of the last two drafts — Xavier Legette in 2024 and Tetairoa McMillen last year. But Morgan wouldn’t even rule out extending that streak. “We’re gonna take the best player,” he said. “So I wouldn’t hesitate to draft another wideout. I don’t think there’s a rule that says you can’t draft a receiver three years in a row. I’m not gonna box us in and say we’re not gonna draft one.” Based on mock drafts, it doesn’t appear that there is an o ensive lineman worthy of the 19th pick. That could mean the Panthers move to address that spot, or they look at other positions. The most common name

mentioned in mocks is Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq. USA Today, CBS Sports, the Ringer and Yahoo all had him coming to the Panthers. Sadiq set a combine speed record for the position in the 40 and also had an impressive vertical leap. He would be a playmaker the Panthers haven’t had at that position since Greg Olsen was making Pro Bowls, and he would also be an upgrade blocking in the run game over the current Panthers tight ends. Morgan seemed to throw shade on that pick, praising the

THURSDAY

4.23.26

TRENDING

Tim Ream

The Charlotte FC defender was substituted at the start of the second half of the team’s 2-1 win over New York. Ream is a projected starter on the U.S. World Cup team. “Tim felt something after about 30 minutes, just in his groin,” Coach Dean Smith said. “He managed to get through it, but we didn’t want to risk it in the second half.” Ream was questionable for Charlotte’s game Wednesday against Orlando City.

Manny Diaz:

The Duke football coach agreed to a contract extension through the 2031 season. Diaz led the Blue Devils to their rst outright ACC title in 63 years. Diaz is 18-9 in two seasons Durham, and Duke has won nine games in each of his two years. Diaz is also 6-0 against in-state ACC foes UNC, NC State and Wake Forest.

Noah Rogers:

The Rolesville native and former NC State wide receiver will miss the early part of Alabama’s regular season because of an injury sustained in the team’s annual spring game. Rogers was carted o the eld after attempting to catch a pass in the end zone. A fourth-year junior, Rogers caught 68 passes for 919 yards and three touchdowns over the last two seasons for the Wolfpack.

Beyond the box score

POTENT QUOTABLES

“You just strap on and go about your next day.”

Orioles manager, and former Durham Bull, Craig Albernaz, showing up for the game the day after getting hit by a foul ball and su ering seven cheek fractures.

“I’m de nitely making less with the Colts.”

Former Blue Devils quarterback Riley Leonard, who said in an interview that his contract with the Colts, which pays an average of $1 million a year, is about 40% less than he made in NIL money after transferring from Duke to Notre Dame.

PRIME NUMBER 3

Number of times the Charlotte Hornets appear in the list of three largest play-in tournament defeats in NBA history.

Charlotte’s 31-point loss to the Magic is the most lopsided play-in game ever, topping a 29-point loss to Atlanta in 2022 and a 27-point loss to Indiana in 2021.

NASCAR

Tyler Reddick became the fourth driver to win ve of the rst nine NASCAR Cup Series races in a season and the rst in nearly four decades. He passed Kyle Larson on the nal lap of overtime Sunday at Kansas Speedway. Chase Briscoe nished third, and Denny Hamlin, who co-owns Reddick’s car, nished fourth. Larson nished second as his winless streak reached 33 races.

After taking a position on Michael Malone’s sta at UNC and reportedly beginning work last week, former Providence head coach Kim English has changed his mind and will not take the job as Malone’s assistant with the Tar Heels. The 38-year-old did not give a public reason for his decision.

The No. 3 seed NC State’s women’s tennis team beat Virginia 4-0 to win the ACC Tournament. It was the second ACC title for Wolfpack women’s tennis and rst since 2023. The top-seeded Wake Forest men beat Virginia 4-2 to win their fourth ACC Tournament and rst since 2019.

The Cincinnati Bengals acquired three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence from the New York Giants for the 10th pick in the NFL draft. Cincinnati then signed the Wake Forest native to an extension that pays him an average of $28 million through the 2028 NFL season. Lawrence asked for a trade earlier this month because he wanted a new contract.

Conference Carolinas nishes historic women’s ag season in Durham

Wingate took the inaugural conference title over Ferrum Sunday.

By Asheebo Rojas North State Journal

DURHAM — A “celebratory” moment for women’s ag football took place in North Carolina this weekend.

Conference Carolinas, the rst NCAA Division I or II conference to sponsor women’s ag football at the varsity level, crowned its rst champion at Durham County Memorial Stadium on Sunday. After the end of a three-day tournament starting last Friday, No. 1 Wingate defeated No. 2 Ferrum 32-14 in the title game.

“It’s a lot of hard work that went into it,” Wingate coach and Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year Joe Schlager said. “It’s exciting to be able to be in this situation with this team and being able to ght through some of the adversity that we had this year with injuries and di erent things like that, being able to adapt and overcome those di erent things, but it’s really special.”

Freshman quarterback Jhenelle Francis was the engine behind Wingate’s o ense as she completed 23 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns. She also ran in two scores in the third quarter, and she snagged one of the Bulldogs’ three interceptions.

“I think the success came rst from our coach,” Francis said. “He’s amazing at play calling. It went all the way through each and every single one of our teammates.”

Freshman Addison Morgan was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. She notched two tackles and an interception in the championship game, and she nished the weekend with three interceptions in three games.

“I couldn’t do it without everybody’s support and with [Schlager],” Morgan said. “This is only my second year ever playing safety, and [Schlager]’s really helped me and the rest of my team.”

Wingate nished the season 11-2 overall and 8-1 in conference play. Sophomore Evonne Bruestle was named the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year after logging 81 tackles, 42 tackles for loss (35 sacks), eight pass de ections and two interceptions (both returned for touchdowns).

The makings of the inaugural season

Conference Carolinas rst announced its plans to add women’s ag football as a varsity sport in 2024.

There were 10 programs that elded teams this spring as nine began playing for the rst time. Emmanuel University was the exception as it started play on the varsity level last year and played mostly against NAIA opponents.

“We made that announcement in the summer of [2024],”

Conference Carolinas Commissioner Chris Colvin said. “Throughout that next year, our institutions hired those coaches and then really used last academic year, the 24-25 academic year, to recruit because then students arrived on campus.”

Coaches and players came from various backgrounds and experiences for the rst season.

Schlager came in with ve years of coaching experience, having made stops at Midland University and William Woods University.

Garrett Roth, a 24-year-old and one of the youngest coaches in the NCAA, established and coached the girls’ ag football program at Cordova High School in California before making the cross-country drive to coach Ferrum.

Then there’s Barton coach Jazz Vinson, who balances his services as the running backs coach for the school’s tackle football program.

“A lot of people ask me on campus, ‘How do you do it?’” Vinson said. “We literally worked out at 5:40 in the morning in the fall three days a week, and our girls showed up ready to get after it.”

As far as recruiting, Schlager

what happens when they turn their attention 100% to ag football?”

The future of women’s ag football

and Roth looked for players from all over the country. For Roth, it was about bringing in players who played “high levels of competition in high school,” and Schlager has always looked at “wherever the girls play.” Ferrum and Wingate were two examples of rosters made up mostly of players from states where the sport has been sanctioned for years, like California, Nevada and Colorado. Meanwhile, all but one player on Barton’s roster — including the conference O ensive Player of the Year, Sawyer Rigdon — is from North Carolina, which has piloted but not yet sanctioned the sport.

“North Carolina girls are slept on when it comes to ag football,” Vinson said. “They’re multisport athletes, you know what I mean? How I went about it was, OK, if they can do really good in these other sports, and we recruit them at home,

Women’s ag football at the collegiate level is growing, especially in the Carolinas. After the CIAA completed two sponsored seasons at the club level, the conference will elevate the sport to the varsity level for the 2026-27 academic school year.

At the high school level, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association could possibly sanction the sport for the 2026-27 school year.

“The NCHSAA Board during their spring meetings on May 5-6, there will be discussion about girls’ ag and then a vote on May 6,” Carolina Panthers Director of Community Relations Riley Fields said. “If approved, the ag subcommittee has made the recommendation that the season be fall based.”

With more local programs participating in women’s ag football, the Durham Sports Commission, which partnered with Conference Carolinas to host the tournament this year,

Concepcion could lead NC draft parade

The rst two rounds could be light on area connections

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

THE NFL DRAFT heads to Pittsburgh this week. There’s a chance that a familiar face to college football fans in North Carolina will be arriving at his new home.

KC Concepcion is expected to be taken in the rst round, and, as the fourth-rated wide receiver in the 2026 draft class, it’s possible he’ll be taken by the hometown Steelers. CBS Sports mocked the Texas A&M playmaker to Pittsburgh in its most recent simulation.

Concepcion, who started his college career at NC State and eventually developed into one of the country’s top pass catchers, has been slotted in the 20s in most rst-round simulations, although draft week rumors have him falling, perhaps out of the rst round, as other receivers rise up draft boards.

Regardless of his landing spot, odds are extremely good that Concepcion will be the rst player with North Carolina connections to hear his name called.

The second area player likely to be taken is another former Wolfpack player. Cornerback Brandon Cisse, who nished his college days at South Carolina, is expected to go in the second round, although a handful of mocks, including USA Today and Fox Sports, have him climbing into the bottom of the rst round.

Duke could supply the next familiar face to go o the board.

Center Brian Parker II is a pro -

DRAFT from page B1 talent of the tight ends currently on the roster — although that may be an attempt to create a smoke screen to hide his true intentions.

The Panthers may also opt for one of Sadiq’s Oregon teammates — safety Dillon Thieneman, another popular choice at No. 19 in mock drafts. The biggest hurdle for the Panthers may be the Vikings, who pick at No. 18 and are also thought to be seeking the Ducks’ defensive leader. If the Panthers are tempted to move up to pick Thieneman ahead of Minnesota, they

jected fourth-rounder, although his draft rating projects him as an eventual NFL starter. Also projected as fourthround picks and possible starters are NC State’s Justin Joly — the top-performing tight end at Senior Bowl week — Duke corner Chandler Rivers, who also raised eyebrows at the Senior Bowl practices, and former Gardner-Webb o ensive tackle Travis Burke, who developed into an NFL prospect af-

may also consider a bigger leap, trading into the top 10 to get Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. If Carolina does choose to address the o ensive line rst, the most likely candidates are Georgia tackle Monroe Freeling and Alabama tackle Kadyn Proctor. Utah’s Spencer Fano and Miami’s Francis Maugoa

Number of former NC State players who could get drafted in the rst round

ter transferring to FIU and then Memphis. The fth round is crowded with potential North Carolina draftees. Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne could nd himself landing there. So could o ensive tackle Kaegen Trost, who spent a year of his seven-season, four-school college career at Wake. Ole Miss offensive tackle Diego Pounds, who played for Raleigh’s Millbrook High and started his college journey at UNC, is slotted as a fth-rounder, as is Goldsboro native and Eastern Wayne product Nick Barrett, a defensive tackle at South Carolina.

Then we reach the NFL Draft’s bubble. Players mocked for the sixth or seventh round frequently nd themselves looking to catch on as an undrafted free agent, while players not expected to get selected click with

are expected to be gone by the time the Panthers choose. Carolina could also choose to wait until the second round, possibly trading back into the late rst again, to pick a lineman. Clemson’s Blake Miller or Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor would be strong candidates in that scenario.

wants Durham to continue being the sport’s championship hub.

“We want to host multiple ag football championship events here in Durham, especially here at this stadium, at every level,” Durham Sports Commission Executive Director Marcus Manning said. “We’ll de nitely be aggressive when it comes to that.”

As the sport makes its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles Games in 2028, there’s also an expectation for more international in uence, even in the United States. Not only does Ferrum have players with Olympic aspirations, but his program also just signed Lorena Sanchez, who played for the U-17 Spanish National Team. Ferrum defensive coordinator Mario Ruiz, who is also a sophomore safety on the Bulldogs’ football team, is from Barcelona and has coached some national teams in Spain, too.

“Really excited to continue opening up that pathway and just boosting our team through bringing in people from all different types of experiences and cultures and programs and seeing what we can do with it,” Roth said.

the right team in the predraft process and nd a front o ce and coach willing to take a yer on them.

The projected sixth-rounders who saw their football path take them through North Carolina include Southern Cal safety Bishop Fitzgerald, who played for NC State after starting his career in junior college, Duke edge rusher Wesley Williams, UNC cornerback Thaddeus Dixon, and former West Mecklenburg and NC Central running back J’Mari Taylor, who nished his college career at UVA.

Duke edge rusher Vincent Anthony Jr. is slotted for the seventh round, as is NC State defensive tackle Brandon Cleveland despite having an NFL Draft prospect rating higher than some projected fth-rounders.

There are some recognizable names currently expected to be available as undrafted free agents, including UNC corner Marcus Allen, NC State pass rusher Cian Slone, Duke defensive tackle Aaron Hall and former Blue Devil DT Gary Smith III, more recently of UCLA, UNC guard Daniel King, Wake o ensive tackle Fa’alili Fa’amoe and defensive tackle Jayden Loving could all be sweating out the nal picks of the last day of the draft, as could former App State quarterback Joey Aguilar, more recently of Tennessee.

ESPN actually took Morgan at his word and predicted that the Panthers would take a receiver — Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. — with pick 19. There has also been talk of the team’s interest in Texas A&M pass catcher KC Concepcion, a former NC State Wolfpack standout before transferring.

Charlotte Checkers prepared for eighth straight postseason appearance

The Checkers will look to avenge last year’s Calder Cup nal loss

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

THE 2026 CALDER Cup Playo s kicked o this week, with 23 American Hockey League teams aiming to be the last team standing.

One of those teams is situated right here in North Carolina in the Charlotte Checkers.

It’s Charlotte’s eighth consecutive postseason appearance and the sixth under coach Geordie Kinnear.

Last year, the Checkers made it all the way to the Calder Cup nal, ultimately losing in six games to the Abbotsford Canucks, but this year they’re hoping to take the crown.

The Checkers, who are a liated with the Florida Panthers, nished with the third-best record in the Atlantic Division and will face o against the Spring eld Thunderbirds in the rst round.

The way the Calder Cup playo s are set up, the rst round series will be played solely on the Checkers’ home ice at Bojangles Coliseum and will be a best-of-three series.

If Charlotte wins, it will advance to face the Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton Penguins.

It certainly wasn’t an easy year for the Checkers, who lost four of their top scorers from the previous year in the o season.

The team also had to weather a seemingly never-ending cycle of call-ups as their parent club, the Panthers, dealt with a

plethora of injuries throughout the year.

Despite that, Charlotte came together in the end and found its way into the playo s.

“I’m so proud of the group because it was a big leadership group change, but those guys really bought in and took it over probably three-quarters of the way through the season,” Kinnear told Checkers Director of Communications Nicholas Niedzielski after the nal regular season game. “I’m super proud of them.”

For the most part, it was a lot of the players from last year’s

group taking big steps in their development.

Ben Steeves led the Checkers both in goals (23) and points (45) this season, and the team’s top-four scorers were all returning players from last season (Jack Devine, Sandis Vilmanis, Wilmer Skoog).

The AHL is the NHL’s primary development league and the second highest level hockey league in North America, featuring many of the game’s up-and-coming prospects. But it’s also a league with a lot of internal turnover, especially by older players.

So you really need those young players developing if you want to see continued success.

And not only have the Checkers jelled as a group, they also now have myriad players with NHL experience. In total, 11 players on the Checkers’ roster played in the NHL this season, combining for 145 games of total experience.

Getting the chance to play in the best league in the world will almost certainly be helpful for those players and the team as the stakes ramp up here in the postseason.

“Having some extra bodies,

Hornets’ revival season ends in Orlando blowout

Charlotte improved from 19 last year to 44 wins this season

By Jesse Deal North State Journal

CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Hornets’ most exciting season in years came to a crushing halt Friday night in Orlando.

The 121-90 play-in tournament blowout loss at the hands of the Magic was as lopsided as the score suggests, a physical beating from the opening tip to the nal buzzer that shattered Charlotte’s hopes of snapping a 10-year playo drought.

However, as demoralizing as the winner-take-all loss was, it didn’t erase the franchise’s revival that has the rest of the Eastern Conference nally paying attention again.

Charlotte nished with a 44 -38 record, its best tally since the 2021-22 season and rst winning campaign since then. For a team that went 19-63 a year ago, the improvement was staggering, more than doubling its win total and far surpassing a preseason over-under of 27.5 wins.

“I think we had everything we needed in that locker room last night,” coach Charles Lee said of the loss to Orlando in hisnal press conference of the season. “We didn’t execute defensively the way we needed to. The emphasis of that game last night was, ‘How do we protect the paint?’ They started the game with their rst 10 points all in the paint. That can’t be the case in a win-or-go-home. I don’t think it was that we needed an-

from page B1

my head up and looked and picked the corner,” Martinook said. “At that point, you’re just trying to put as many pucks on net as you can. I felt we kind of had them on the run a little bit, and (Ehlers) made a great play in the middle, and I just got it and ripped it. Luckily it went in.” The Hurricanes appeared

other player or something else. We just needed to be better.” The loss was an abrupt end to a run that had given the franchise and its fans a genuine jolt of electricity. Charlotte entered the play-in as one of the better teams in the league since January — posting a 33-15 record in the second half of the season — and outlasted the Miami Heat 127-126 in overtime in its rst play-in game April 14. But last Friday, the Magic led by 22 after one quarter as Paolo Banchero and a sti ing Orlan-

to end the game with 3:11 left in overtime. After Staal set up Martinook for a chance, Ottawa’s Warren Foegele was called for hooking. Carolina brought on Sebastian Aho on the delayed penalty sequence. Staal then went o the ice for a line change, with Jankowski replacing him. Jankowski got the puck and passed to Seth Jarvis in the right circle. Jarvis’ shot hit Ullmark’s right pad

do defense dominated the paint, dismantling Charlotte’s rhythm on both ends.

LaMelo Ball, scoreless with two turnovers and three fouls, was benched with 7:10 left in the rst half. He nished with 23 points but acknowledged afterward that his scoring didn’t arrive soon enough.

“I feel like it was too late,” Ball said. “I should’ve been doing that from the jump. We were doing a lot of plays and stu , getting pushed around. I feel like I should’ve taken the ball

and kicked directly to Jankowski, who banged it in the net.

But the zone entry with Staal and Martinook was reviewed, and the NHL Situation ruled Staal did not have control of the puck upon crossing the blue line, nullifying the goal.

“I don’t know that rule,” Staal said. “I pick up the puck, I look up where (Martinook) is and apparently I lost control of it. And then I make a nice pass

there’s some internal competition and no one wants to lose their job,” said Jack Studnicka, one of the players with NHL experience. “It’s been fun to be a group of almost 30 guys competing.”

Charlotte has one Calder Cup title in its history, winning it back in 2018-19 when the Checkers were a liated with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Another AHL team with connections to N.C. in this year’s Calder Cup playo s is the Chicago Wolves, who are the Hurricanes’ current AHL a liate.

The Wolves, who are quite a young team, took a big step forward this season after a fairly hit-and-miss year last season.

The team improved both in goal, adding netminders Cayden Primeau and Amir Miftakhov, and the extra year of professional experience was good for a lot of the team’s young professionals.

They were led in scoring by top Hurricanes prospects Bradly Nadeau and Felix Unger Sorum, and the team also saw a lot of growth on the back end from players like Ronan Seeley, Charles Alexis Legault and Joel Nystrom.

“It’s been fun to be a part of that group,” Seeley said after earning an NHL call-up in Carolina’s nal regular season game.

“It’s been fun to take on a bigger role too. We have a really good group, a young group, and we’re meshing well. We’ve had our ups and downs this year, which is good for us. We’re growing and we’re going through growing pains, and just like the Canes, we’re looking forward to the second part of the season. It’s gonna be a blast.”

The Wolves will take on the Texas Stars in the Central Division semi nals, which will be a best-of- ve series. Chicago has won the Calder Cup three times in its history and once since being a liated with the Hurricanes (2021-22).

Ball had the best all-around season of his career, averaging 20.1 points and 7.1 assists and improving his defensive e ort. Brandon Miller continued his ascent as a player, while Miles Bridges provided reliable veteran production and Moussa Diabate gave the team its best center play in years.

Trade acquisition Coby White provided Charlotte with another true scoring threat as bench pieces like Sion James and Ryan Kalkbrenner added quality depth on the roster.

The story of the season, however, belongs to Kon Knueppel.

The fourth pick in the 2025 NBA Draft became the rst rookie in NBA history to lead all players in made 3-pointers. The former Duke Blue Devil’s accuracy faded late in the season, but an o season of rest and conditioning should prepare him for a larger role in Year 2.

General manager Je Peterson will have some decisions to make heading into the o season, as the Hornets are poised to end up with two draft picks between No. 13 and No. 18. White is the most notable free agent, though the expectation is he will return.

Peterson said the basketball culture in the Queen City has changed for the better.

from the beginning for real.”

The Hornets shot 5 for 20 with six turnovers in the rst quarter, and the team’s strengths of 3-point shooting, rebounding and low-foul defense were all absent in the most important game of the year.

Still, Friday’s loss doesn’t overshadow what Lee and his roster accomplished across the 2025-26 campaign. In his second season, Lee guided a team that sat at 11-23 after a Jan. 1 loss to a remarkable turnaround, going 33-15 the rest of the way.

to (Martinook) for a breakaway.

“I don’t really get it. To call back an overtime goal for that is …”

Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour could be seen rallying his team on the bench before the o cials announced that the goal had been overturned.

“I wasn’t surprised, I can tell you that,” Brind’Amour said with a grimace.

“It’s something I’m proud of, quite frankly, as it makes my job easier when we’re recruiting free agents or draft workouts,” he said. “Charlotte is a place they want to come to, they respect the team, respect the coaching sta .”

For the 10th consecutive year, the Hornets are not a part of the NBA playo s. But for the rst time in a long time, that absence has an extra sting because this group gave Charlotte a dose of hope to believe a di erent ending was coming.

Martinook added, “Try having a penalty shot after all that. You exhale, think it’s over, especially in overtime. It’s hard.”

Both teams — the goalies in particular — refocused, and redemption was on the menu for Martinook.

“Hockey’s crazy. Sports are crazy,” Martinook said. “Being able to score after that, I’ll tell my grandkids about that one, that’s for sure.”

Heapin’ helpin’

Siler City re ghters cooked up plenty of barbecue for the department’s annual BBQ Fundraiser last Wednesday.

the BRIEF this week

Supreme Court to hear from religious preschools challenging exclusion from taxpayer-funded program

The Supreme Court will hear from Catholic preschools that say it’s unconstitutional to exclude them from a state-funded program because they won’t admit kids from LGBTQ+ families. Colorado’s St. Mary Catholic Parish and the Archdiocese of Denver argue Colorado is violating their religious rights by barring them from the taxpayer-funded universal preschool program over their faith-based admission policies. The state says religious schools are welcome to participate but are required to follow nondiscrimination laws. The case will be heard in the fall.

About 25 arrested in clashes at beagle breeding facility

About 25 protesters were arrested as about 1,000 animal welfare activists tried to enter a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin. The protest on Saturday was the second attempt in two months to take beagles from Ridglan Farms. O cers red rubber bullets and pepper spray to disperse the crowd. The Dane County sheri ’s o ce reported a calmer protest on Sunday with about 200 people. Protesters previously took 30 dogs in March. Ridglan denies mistreating animals but agreed to give up its state breeding license by July 1 to avoid prosecution on animal mistreatment charges.

$2.00

Chapel Hill considering potential representation changes

The council will hold a public hearing on the mayoral term and council size

By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record

CHAPEL HILL — The Chap -

el Hill Town Council will hold a public hearing in order to have discussions on potential

changes to the town’s charter.

At the council’s April 15 meeting, the council voted to approve the holding of a public hearing for potential changes to both the mayor’s term (from two years to four years) and a re-

duction in the size of the town council (from eight members to six).

The item was originally on the consent agenda but was pulled for discussion by council member Theodore Nollert.

“For a fundamental restructuring of our town’s charter to be on the consent agenda, that really gave me pause,” said council member Paris Miller-Foushee.

However, Mayor Jessica Anderson reiterated the fact that everything had been done as set out by state law.

“I want to assure the public that this has been a procedurally sound and very transparent process,” Anderson said.

Redistricting battle narrows for US House as states seek partisan

Each party expects to gain up to 10 seats through redistricting e orts

By David A. Lieb The Associated Press

THE BATTLEFIELD is narrowing and the timeline is tightening in a congressional redistricting contest among states

edge in November

seeking a partisan advantage ahead of the November midterm elections.

Virginia voters on Tuesday approved a constitutional amendment authorizing a Democratic redistricting plan that could help

the party win several additional House seats in this year’s elections. Next up could be Florida, where lawmakers are to begin a special session April 28 for a Republican attempt at congressional redistricting.

Voting districts typically are redrawn once a decade, after each census. But President Donald Trump triggered an unusual

Federal jury nds Uber liable for actions of driver who grabbed passenger’s inner

“They picked all the criteria — this is the case that they picked, that they wanted to try. And the jury believed the plainti and they lost.”

Ellyn Hurd, plainti ’s lawyer

The Charlotte jury awarded the plainti $5,000

By Audrey McAvoy

The Associated Press

RIDESHARE GIANT Uber is liable for the behavior of a driver who grabbed the inner thigh of a passenger as she was leaving the front seat of his car and asked if he could “keep her” with him, a jury in Charlotte found Monday.

The federal jury awarded the plainti $5,000 in damages, said Ellyn Hurd, one of the plainti ’s lawyers.

The so-called bellwether case is part of a broader group of sexual assault lawsuits led against Uber in multiple jurisdictions around the country and is the third to go to trial.

In February, a federal jury in Arizona ordered Uber to pay $8.5 million to a woman who said one of its drivers raped her during a trip using the platform. Last year, a California jury found Uber not liable for the alleged assault of a rider. Uber, in an emailed statement, took note of the relatively small nancial judgment in the North Carolina case and

round of mid-decade redistricting last year when he urged Texas Republicans to redraw House districts to give the GOP an edge in the midterm elections. California Democrats reciprocated, and redistricting e orts soon cascaded across states. So far, Republicans believe

CRIME LOG

April 13

• Timothy Lamont Jones, 52, of Sanford, was arrested for driving while impaired and an open container after consuming alcohol.

April 14

• Paul William Eaves, 71, of Pittsboro, was arrested for obtaining property by false pretenses and exploitation of a disabled or elderly adult.

• David Gerardo Moreno Rodriguez, 23, of Siler City, was arrested for manufacturing, selling, delivering or possessing a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a controlled substance; and possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver marijuana, and other charges.

• Earvin Roger Martinez, 34, of Carthage, was arrested for assault on a female and domestic violence.

• Timothy Bruce Lee, 59, was arrested for obtaining property by false pretenses and identity theft.

• Jose Maria Salas Sanchez, 30, was arrested for driving while impaired.

April 15

• Connor Thomas McCeney, 34, of Pittsboro, was arrested for driving while impaired and failure to maintain lane control.

• William Earl Everwine, 65, of Scotland Neck, was arrested for driving on a revoked license and unsafe lane change.

• Micaleb Isaiah Campbell, 24, was arrested for driving while impaired.

April 17

• Darren Gerard Clay, 60, of Siler City, was arrested for simple possession of a controlled substance.

• Gwen Hill Higgins, 62, of Pittsboro, was arrested for identity theft, obtaining property by false pretenses and nancial card fraud, and other charges.

• Jose Luis Enamorado Flores, 22, of Chapel Hill, was arrested for attempted rst degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill in icting serious injury and discharging a rearm in a city, and other charges.

Water delivery

Silk Hope Volunteer Fire Department and Staley Fire, along with First Health of the Carolinas — joined by Siler City Fire Department’s Engine 912 — responded to a residential structure re north of Siler City. Crews deployed a hand line and were able to hold the re to the front carport and a portion of the attic.

Central 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.

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!

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Chatham County.

April 23

“How Housing Happens” Community Panel 4 p.m.

A panel of nonpro t and private housing developers explains how residential projects are conceived, nanced and built in Chatham County. The free public event requires no registration, though organizers encourage signing up at bit.ly/chathamhousing.

Chatham Agriculture and Conference Center 1192 U.S. Highway 64 Business

April 24

A

and camping on the 17-acre eco-industrial park campus. Roy Underhill of The Woodwright’s Shop headlines the event.

The Plant 220 Lorax Lane Pittsboro

April 25

Day of the Books / El Día de los Libros

10 a.m.

The Chatham County Partnership for Children hosts this bilingual family festival celebrating literacy, multiculturalism and early childhood education, with live arts performances, music, interactive crafts, free multicultural book giveaways and a take-home lunch for families. The event runs until 2 p.m.

Bray Park 700 Alston Bridge Road Siler City

Dogs of Chernobyl

1 p.m.

A special library presentation on the descendants of pets abandoned after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, exploring the ongoing scienti c and humanitarian work with the animals that still inhabit the exclusion zone.

Chatham Community Library 197 N.C. Highway 87 N. Pittsboro

US Navy seizes Iranian- agged ship near Strait of Hormuz; Tehran vows swift

The ship seizure jeopardizes fragile talks as the cease re nears expiration

By Michelle L. Price, Samy Magdy and Sam Metz The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States attacked and seized an Iranian- agged cargo ship it said had tried to evade its naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, and Iran’s joint military command vowed to respond, throwing a fragile cease re into question days before it expires.

It was the rst interception since the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports began last week. Iran’s joint military command called the armed boarding an act of piracy and a cease re violation, the state broadcaster said.

With the U.S.-Iran stando over the strait sharpening and the cease re expiring by Wednesday, it was not clear where President Donald Trump’s earlier announcement on new talks with Iran now stood. He had said U.S. negotiators would head to Pakistan on Monday.

The uncertainty sent oil prices rising again. One of the worst global energy crises in decades threatened to deepen.

Trump on social media said a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer in the Gulf of Oman warned the Iranian- agged ship, the Touska, to stop and then “stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engine room.” U.S. Marines had custody of the U.S.-sanctioned vessel and were “seeing what’s on board!”

It was not clear whether anyone was hurt. The U.S. Central Command, which didn’t answer questions, said the destroyer had issued “repeated warnings over a six-hour period.”

Iranian state media suggest new talks won’t take place

There was no comment from Iranian o cials directly addressing Trump’s announcement of talks. However, Iranian state media, without citing anyone beyond unnamed sources, issued brief reports suggesting that they would not happen.

Minutes after the ship seizure was announced, Iranian state media reported on President Masoud Pezeshkian’s phone conversation with Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, earlier Sunday. U.S. actions, including bullying and unreasonable behavior, have led to increased suspicion that the U.S. will repeat previous patterns and “betray diplomacy,” the reports cited Pezeshkian as saying.

Two previous attempts at talks — last June and earlier this year — were interrupt-

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 26 – Spencer Andrews May 3 – Eddie Ellison

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.

response

ed by Israeli and U.S. attacks.

On another phone call, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, that recent U.S. actions, rhetoric and contradictions were signs of “bad intentions and lack of seriousness in diplomacy,” Iran’s state broadcaster said. Pakistan did not con rm a second round of talks, but authorities had begun tightening security in Islamabad. A regional o cial involved in the e orts said mediators werenalizing preparations and U.S. advance security teams were on the ground. The o cial spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss preparations with the media.

The White House had said Vice President JD Vance, who led the rst round of historic face-to-face talks over 21 hours last weekend, would lead the U.S. delegation to Pakistan with envoys Steve Witko and Jared Kushner.

Iran on Saturday said it had received new proposals from the United States. While Iran’s chief negotiator, parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, late Saturday said “there will be no retreat in the eld of diplomacy,” he acknowledged a wide gap remained between the sides.

It was unclear whether either side had shifted stances on issues that derailed the last round of negotiations, including Iran’s nuclear enrichment program, its regional proxies and the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump’s announcement on talks repeated his threats against Iranian infrastructure that have drawn widespread criticism and warnings of war crimes. If Iran doesn’t agree to the U.S.-proposed deal, “the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran,” he wrote.

Iran wants to control strait until “war fully ends”

Iran early Monday warned it could keep up the global economic pain as ships remained unable to transit the strait, with hundreds of vessels waiting at each end for clearance.

Security of the strait is not free and “the choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of signi cant costs for everyone,” Mohammad Reza Aref, rst vice president of Iran, said in a social media post calling for a lasting end to military and economic pressure on Tehran.

Roughly one- fth of the world’s oil trade normally passes through the strait, along with critical supplies of fertilizer for the world’s farmers, natural gas and humanitarian supplies for places in dire need like Afghanistan and Sudan.

Iran had announced the strait’s reopening after a 10 - day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon took hold last Friday. But then Trump said the U.S. blockade “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the United States. Iran said it would again enforce restrictions it imposed early in the war. On Saturday, Iran red at ships trying to transit.

For the Islamic Republic, the strait’s closure is perhaps its most powerful weapon, in icting political pain on Trump. For the United States, the blockade squeezes Iran’s already weakened economy. Each side has accused the other of violating the cease re.

Since most supplies to U.S. military bases in the Gulf region come through the strait, “Iran is determined to maintain oversight and control over tra c through the strait until the war fully ends,” Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said late Saturday. That means Iran-designated routes, payment of fees and issuance of transit certi cates.

The council has recently acted as Iran’s de facto top decision-making body.

The war is now in its eighth week after the U.S. and Israel launched it on Feb. 28 during talks over Tehran’s nuclear program. At least 3,000 people have been killed in Iran, more than 2,290 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen

soldiers in

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

I Am Retiring From The Practice Of Law Effective April 23rd, 2026

THE CONVERSATION

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

Be like a sunflower

We will plant sun ower seeds. I imagine most people are moved by the beauty of these tall plants with sunshine faces.

MY CHURCH will celebrate Earth Day on Sunday with prayers for the health and well-being of our planet. We confess our sel shness, our shortsightedness and our lack of regard for the air and sea, the dirt beneath our feet and the living beings dependent upon an unpolluted world. We pledge our faithful action in promoting sustainable practices for the present and the future. We recommit ourselves with hearts and minds, our eyes open to the wonder around us and our actions dedicated to welfare of life in every corner of globe.

We will plant sun ower seeds. I imagine most people are moved by the beauty of these tall plants with sunshine faces. If you’ve ever watched a bee giddy in that ower, you quickly realize sun owers are excellent for pollinators.

But did you know that sun owers also take toxics out of the soil? Through the process called phytoremediation, sun owers can absorb heavy metals such as lead, arsenic and cadmium from the soil.

As I consider the dire situation of our polluted planet, the signs of climate change are obvious. Last week, we had record high temperatures and remain in a terrible drought. Yet, if anything, those who deny the science of climate change and the solutions regarding renewable energy seem to have more political power, which undermines e orts to

address the urgent environmental issues we face. It should be added that Christians have been unhelpful due to toxic misinterpretations of scripture, such as the verse in Genesis that is often translated as giving humans “dominion” over life on Earth (Genesis 1:28). So - called dominion theory is the claim that this biblical injunction justi es mistreatment of the ora and fauna and the planet itself. This interpretation contradicts the Genesis text where God explicitly creates all life and declares it “good.” Mistreating the Earth also de es common sense. I’m reminded of Art Cullen’s provocative title of his book about the damage of climate change, “Dear Marty, We Crapped in Our Nest.” We have soiled our land, skies and seas. People of faith must channel our energies into convincing our friends, neighbors and family of the truth. Sustainable solutions for our planet’s future are not going to occur without changing people’s hearts and minds. We must be part of the repair and restoration. Since I believe that all humans are created in the image of the Creator God, I’d even go as far as to claim that this detoxifying work is our calling.

Andrew Taylor-Troutman’s newest 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.

COLUMN

| BOB WACHS

Rain, rain, don’t stay away; come again real soon, I say

I could do without peanut butter for months, food in general, although I’d miss it.

WE’RE IN DRY times now. How dry, you might ask.

Well, the other day I saw a duck walking down the road carrying a pail of water. As it stands now, I think we could use a little rain. And then maybe some more. Funny thing about rain — and many other things — is that it often depends on your perspective. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve fussed at the TV weather people who present the evening forecast and then start moaning and whining about “all the great weather we’ve been having is going to come to an end with rain Friday night.”

Makes me wonder if they have any idea about the connection between rain and the food they eat. Reminds me of the time a few years ago I saw some testimony before a Congressional subcommittee from a “typical,” as she was called, American housewife about the price of food. Turned out she was from inner -New York City, and I’m not sure how “typical” that is, but the kicker to the whole thing was her heartfelt comment of, “Why should we worry about farmers when we’ve got grocery stores?”

There are, of course, many things in life we need but of them all, it likely is water that we need more than anything over the long haul. I could do without peanut butter for months, food in general, although I’d miss it for awhile, and shelter, heat and cool for some time. Even clothing, but that would not be a pretty sight. But water? Only a few days, the experts tell us.

Without water, of course, there’s no life. And for living organisms, the same thing can be said for blood. I’ve used those two items as sermon topics and truths

though the years, and it never ceases to amaze me at how simple and true that is.

I’ll always remember the simple truth my daddy taught me years ago about water when we raised hogs for the winter freezer to help him and Mama feed their growing brood of sons. “Pigs,” he told me more than once, “have to have water to drink and also to make a mud hole to lie around in.” I understood the drinking part, but when I asked him about the mud, he shared with the me the anatomical oddity that pigs do not sweat mainly because they can’t. So to keep their internal thermostat in order, you cool their outside.

To make that happen on the ol’ farmstead, he volunteered me to haul as many 5 -gallon buckets of water as necessary to make a big ol’ mudhole. Problem for me was that hole was about a hundred yards from the spigot, so not all the water in each bucket made it to the hole by the time I got there.

Still, I persevered because I like pork chops. Some years later, however, when I went o to college and Daddy was still in the swine business, I came home one weekend to discover he had purchased enough hose to reach from the water supply to the hog lot. When I inquired about this expenditure and asked him why he didn’t do such a thing while I was at home, he said to me, “I didn’t need to.” Tonight when you say your prayers, ask for rain … for me, the pollen, gardens all around and for pigs everywhere who need mud.

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

Life lessons, mice, and chocolate

The esteemed Dr. Google says mice love chocolate. I wanted the mouse out, so I went for the premium attractor.

CARNAGE!

Yes, carnage. It was as simple as opening my storage closet door and being stunned at the unexpected destruction. A good-sized bag of birdseed, gnawed at the bottom, spilling its considerable (and not inexpensive) contents all over the closet oor; several hot pepper suet bars, thoroughly masticated. And, oh God, no! My yearslong winter companion, an electric throw, displayed ragged holes in the fabric, itty-bitty chewed heating coils, and mice scat, galore. ’Twas mousy carnage of the highest order. I hate feeling powerless. Just hate it. I’d loved that throw! Mousy, you gotta go! But, Ms./Mr. Mousy, you will exit, fully alive, because I’m a very soft-hearted critter lover. This soft-hearted, but sorely aggravated, critter lover managed to hunt up her humane mouse trap. You know, the kind where the trapped mouse lives another day, but not in my house. There was, however, a missing necessary ingredient, so I sped to the store for a Hershey’s Chocolate Almond bar. A Hershey bar? C’mon! The esteemed Dr. Google says mice love chocolate. I wanted the mouse out, so I went for the premium attractor. Truly hoped a little chocolate sliver (containing an almond, of course) would be a su cient mousetrap attractant. Yours truly could then eat the rest of the chocolate bar. Not a fair exchange for residential mousy carnage, but relishing the remaining chocolate bar would have to do. Next morning — bingo! A little mouse was sitting in the humane trap and the chocolate had disappeared into a mousy tummy.

I threw on sweats, put the mousetrap in my car, and drove to an isolated gravel road two miles away. (Dr. Google always prescribes moving a trapped mouse quite a distance, so

How Biden’s DOJ went after pro-lifers

That’s not law enforcement. That’s a political operation.

WE NOW KNOW something the Biden administration spent years denying: It wasn’t merely enforcing the law around abortion clinics — it was allegedly partnering with abortion activists to identify, track and ultimately prosecute pro-life Americans.

Start with former President Barack Obama, who famously tried to force the Little Sisters of the Poor to violate their religious conscience.

According to reporting from The Daily Wire, Biden’s Department of Justice relied on intelligence gathered from radical pro-abortion groups to monitor peaceful pro-life activists — people who had not yet been charged with any federal crime — and then build cases that ended with FBI arrests.

The federal government was reportedly outsourcing its surveillance and investigative e orts to activist organizations that have a direct political and ideological stake in crushing the pro-life movement.

That’s not law enforcement. That’s a political operation.

The Daily Wire cites a DOJ report titled “The Biden Administration’s Weaponization of the FACE Act,” which examined more than 700,000 records. The FACE Act was originally intended to prevent physical obstruction of abortion clinic entrances. It was also meant to protect churches from disruption.

The records included dossiers on pro-life activists who had not been charged with federal crimes but who were nevertheless treated as threats, largely because abortion groups agged them as such.

And if that sounds familiar, it’s because it’s exactly the pattern we’ve seen repeatedly from the modern left: government agencies using ideological “cutout” organizations to do what the government isn’t supposed to do openly.

According to the report, much of the escalation traces back to former Attorney General Merrick Garland’s decision to resurrect the National Task Force on Violence Against Reproductive Health Care Providers in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade in June 2022.

That task force reportedly operated out of the DOJ Civil Rights Division under the direction of Sanjay Patel, who was red this week. Patel, according to the DOJ report, was in direct communication with the National Abortion Federation’s security team and regularly coordinating with Planned Parenthood and the Feminist Majority Foundation.

So we’re not talking about vague ideological sympathies here.

We’re talking about open coordination between the federal government and the activist wing of the abortion industry.

Daily Wire reporting compared sentencing requests and outcomes for pro-life defendants versus pro-abortion defendants. The Biden DOJ, they found, sought longer average sentences for pro-life activists — and the nal outcomes re ected that imbalance: Pro-life defendants received an average sentence of 14 months, while pro-choice defendants averaged three months.

Fourteen months versus three.

they won’t return.) Opened both ends of the trap and — nothing! The little critter wouldn’t budge. At all. Tried to gently prod the mouse with a stick. Nope, it was not leaving the mousetrap. I sat there, looking at the trees for four or ve minutes, really, really hoping the mouse would nd its courage and leave. Waited and waited, becoming really cranky. (I hadn’t eaten breakfast yet.)

l lost it. Picked up the humane trap and violently tried to shake the mouse out. The shaking dislodged the critter, and I felt terrible. The little mouse just plopped onto the grass and didn’t move. Not a bit. The other 3-4 mice I’ve trapped always scampered away once the trap was opened. Did I mortally injure the little critter? (Where’s a nearby veterinarian when a mouse is hurting and so is my heart?)

Feeling powerless and upset, I returned to the car and left. Kicked myself all the way home, and continued to do so once I reached the house.

Geez, as much as my impulsive behavior seemed to warrant emotionally beating myself up, my soul would be bruised. I’m fond of my soul, even when I crash and burn. (Self- agellation is not on my bucket list. Such a relief.)

Still, I sat in the living room, feeling sad, looking out the window. Soon, I began to hear a familiar song playing in my head. It was the late Otis Redding’s golden oldie, “Try a little tenderness.” Was Otis suggesting that this avowed critter lover, the one who had just blown it, try a little tenderness for herself? I think so. So I did …

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

The implosion of Eric Swalwell: What

was he thinking?

WHEN THEN-REP. Eric Swalwell (D - Calif.) announced his candidacy for governor of California, I was beyond surprised. Rumors of sexual misconduct, including allegations of blatant and serial in delity, had been circulating for years. Having run for this very o ce, I experienced rsthand the intense level of local, state and national scrutiny one receives when seeking the top job in the biggest state in the country.

The left-wing media treats liberal Democrat candidates di erent from how it treats conservative Republican candidates, but the media are not the problem if one’s candidacy starts to resonate. The heat comes from the same-party campaign rivals.

When I decided to run for governor of California, I sought the advice of several experienced strategists, politicians, pundits and some professors. They all said the same thing, only worded di erently: “Is there anything in your background that would be a problem?”

That is not “equal justice under law.” That is animus made policy.

Democrats have been weaponizing the administrative state for decades. This is not some brand-new Trump-era phenomenon, no matter how often the cable news panels pretend otherwise.

The Obama administration used the IRS to harass conservative and pro-life organizations. Clinton-era politics normalized the idea that federal power could be turned on political enemies. Biden’s DOJ, if these reports are accurate, simply continued the tradition — with a more aggressive posture and a more open contempt for religious dissent.

Imagine the scandal if the Trump administration had coordinated with pro-life organizations to build cases against abortion advocates.

But because the targets were pro-lifers, the story is treated like a niche controversy — something for conservative media to discuss, while the mainstream press quietly looks the other way.

That brings us to one of the most important questions of all: How were the people involved in this allowed to remain embedded inside the DOJ for so long?

Because it lends credibility to something the political class has mocked for years: the existence of a bureaucratic deep state — career o cials who outlast elections, ignore the will of voters and quietly advance an ideological agenda regardless of who sits in the Oval O ce.

This is what it looks like when a permanent governing class decides it is untouchable.

And it also illustrates why the ght to remove ideological holdovers inside federal agencies is not some paranoid fantasy. It’s a real, ongoing struggle — one that will de ne whether elections actually matter.

The bigger issue here isn’t just abortion politics — it’s the steady normalization of using government power to punish religious Americans.

The Democratic Party has shown, again and again, that it is willing to use the apparatus of the state to crush dissent from people of faith. Not because those people are violent. Not because they are criminals. But because their beliefs are inconvenient.

If Democrats ever gained full control of the judiciary, especially if they succeeded in stacking the Supreme Court — which you can be sure former Vice President Kamala Harris would have attempted to do if she had won in 2024 — this is exactly the direction they would push the country.

This is why the Biden administration may go down as the worst in modern American history — even worse than Obama’s.

Not because Obama didn’t do the same things.

But because Obama understood enough to keep it quiet.

Biden said the quiet part out loud.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law SchOol, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co-founder of Daily Wire+. He is a three-time New York Times bestselling author. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

These questions, they advised, include but are not limited to: Skeletons in your closet? What about your friends, associates and family members? Taxes? Sexual harassment or misconduct or assaults? Any present or past behavior that could be deemed scandalous? Dating history, marriage or divorce? Outstanding warrants? Tra c tickets? Unpaid tra c tickets? DUIs? Automobile accidents you caused or were involved in? Arrests? Misdemeanors? Felonies? Unpaid bills? Credit card debt? Lawsuits led by or lawsuits against you? Drug use and drug abuse? Alcoholism? Abuse of prescription drugs? Sketchy business dealings? Bankruptcy? Inappropriate internet activity, including porn sites, other illicit sites or sending “compromising pictures”? Social media posts that could come back to haunt you? 911 calls from your home? Your work history? To what church do you belong? Who is your pastor? Ever been red? If so, why? Is your campaign biography accurate, with no exaggerations or embellishments? Do your neighbors like you? And, for good measure, I was advised to hire a private detective to investigate myself. My experienced campaign manager took me on only after I addressed all those questions — and others — and obtained a report from a well-regarded private investigator. My campaign manager cautioned, “If you are accused of picking your feet in Poughkeepsie — especially if you did pick your feet in Poughkeepsie — it will come out.”

This brings us to Swalwell, who, according to a University of California, Berkeley poll conducted in March, was the leading Democrat in the primary. He was endorsed by Sen. Adam Schi (D - Calif.), who, like Swalwell, served as a prosecutor in an impeachment trial against President Donald Trump. According to Reuters, “A fth woman came forward to accuse Swalwell of unwanted sexual contact, saying the Democratic lawmaker drugged and raped her during an encounter in 2018.” Swalwell rst denied the accusations. He then dropped out of the race for governor, followed by his resignation from Congress.

Former House Speaker and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D - Calif.) claimed she knew nothing about the rumors against Swalwell. But Willie Brown, once a mentor to former Vice President Kamala Harris and a former mayor of San Francisco, and who for 15 years served as speaker of the California Assembly, said, “No, I’m not surprised frankly because there have been rumors after rumors after rumors, his colleagues in Washington pretty much said that. That’s what Adam Schi said, that’s what Nancy Pelosi said.”

But Swalwell’s problems are just beginning. The sheri of Los Angeles County has launched a criminal probe, as has the Manhattan District Attorney’s O ce. Civil lawsuits may follow. Then there are Swalwell’s nancial issues. Despite a combined income with his wife of over $400,000, he is deeply in debt. He owes $100,000 in student loans, borrowed against his retirement account to help fund his campaign and deferred paying income taxes to conserve cash ow. This is not exactly a good look for someone vying to be the chief executive of a state with a budget de cit and massive unfunded pension liabilities.

On top of everything, these scandals could cost the father of three children his marriage. After all, Swalwell set the standard. During the con rmation hearing of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Swalwell considered Kavanaugh un t due to allegations of sexual misconduct. Swalwell tweeted, “Support survivors. Believe survivors. We are with you.”

All of this raises a question: When Swalwell decided to run for governor, “What was he thinking?”

Larry Elder is a bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio talk-show host. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

obituaries

Coy Burke Caudle

March 3, 1946 –April 20, 2026

Coy Burke Caudle, 80, of Bear Creek, went to his Heavenly home Monday, April 20th, 2026, at his home surrounded by family.

Coy was born March 3rd, 1946, in Chatham County, to the late Andrew “Leroy” and Sallie Burke Caudle. He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Virginia Brady.

Coy was a 1964 graduate of Chatham Central High School, where he played basketball and was the senior class president. He was the Pepsi man for many years and then was an auditor for The Pantry and other convenience stores. Coy enjoyed coaching and o ciating rec league basketball and baseball. He was PTA president at Bonlee School and the Athletic Booster Club President at Chatham Central for many years. He was very involved in his community working with Meals on Wheels and driving buses for multiple sports teams. He took pride in his yard and always made sure it was well maintained. Coy was a very giving man and loved

helping those in need. He was a member of Goldston Baptist Church, where he was also a Deacon and Adult Sunday school teacher.

The family would like to send a special thank you to Coy’s special caregivers, Dana Vest and Buck Wiley, and the sta from Liberty Hospice for the love and care they provided.

Left to cherish Coy’s memory is his wife of 54 years, Karen Moon Caudle; his daughters, Laurie Caudle Paige and her husband, Shane of Bear Creek, and Kathryn Caudle Perry and her husband, Clint of Bear Creek; his grandchildren, Hasten Paige, Anderson Paige, Lane Perry, and Madison Perry; his sister, Jane Campbell and her husband, Jerry of Goldston; his brother, Howard Caudle and his wife Maude of Summerville; his brother-in-law, Ledford Brady of Bennett; numerous nieces and nephews; and his faithful canine companion, Tanner.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 23rd, 2026, at 3 pm, at Goldston Baptist Church with Reverend Bob Wachs and Pastor Bruce Macinnes o ciating the services.

A visitation will be held Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026, from 6-8 pm, at Smith & Buckner Funeral Home Chapel in Siler City.

Burial will follow the service Thursday at Sandy Branch Baptist Church Cemetery. Memorials can be made to Liberty Hospice, 401 E 3rd St, Siler City, NC 27344. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home will be assisting the Caudle family. Online condolences can be made at www.smithbucknerfh. com

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

Garret Anderson, talented out elder and Angels career hits leader, dead at 53

He led the Angels to their only World Series championship

By Greg Beacham The Associated Press

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Garret Anderson, the multitalented out elder who became the Los Angeles Angels’ career hits leader and led the team to its only World Series title, has died. He was 53.

The Angels announced Anderson’s death Friday morning without immediately disclosing the cause or location.

Anderson reached the majors with the then-California Angels in 1994 and played for the club until 2008, primarily as a left elder. Known for both his superb swing and his no-nonsense professionalism, Anderson was a xture in the heart of the Halos’ batting order for his entire tenure, becoming the franchise’s career leader in games played (2,013), hits (2,368), RBIs (1,292), total bases (3,743), extra-base hits (796), doubles (489) and grand slams (8).

“The Angels organization is mourning the loss of one of our franchise’s most beloved icons, Garret Anderson,” Angels owner Arte Moreno said in a statement. “Garret was a cornerstone of our organization throughout his 15 seasons, and his stoic presence in the out eld and our clubhouse elevated the Angels into an era of continued success, highlighted by the 2002 World Series championship. Garret will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Angels fans for his professionalism, class and loyalty throughout his career and beyond. His admiration and respect for the game was immeasurable.”

The Angels will wear a memorial patch this season bearing Anderson’s initials, the team announced. The club held a moment of silence for Anderson at Angel Stadium before its game against the San Diego Padres, and both teams lined up on the eld to watch a video of Anderson’s career highlights.

“Been talking to teammates that played with him this morning, and just hearing the great things they said about him,” three-time AL MVP Mike Trout said. “Seeing some of the numbers this morning, it was incredible what he brought. Nothing but great things people were saying about him. The baseball family lost a good one.”

Anderson was a three-time AL All-Star who nished as

Don Schlitz, country songwriter behind such hits as ‘The Gambler,’ dead at 73

He won two Grammy Awards and is in the Country Music Hall of Fame

By Maria Sherman The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Don Schlitz, the storied country music songwriter known for such hits as “The Gambler,” “On the Other Hand” and “Forever and Ever, Amen,” died last Thursday at a Nashville hospital. The North Carolina native was 73.

The cause of death was not immediately known. A press release from the Grand Ole Opry described it as a sudden illness.

The two-time Grammy Award winner was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwrit-

ers Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. “I will never be able to believe that I deserve this, unless I receive it as a representative of my family, my mentors, my collaborators, my promoters and my friends,” Schlitz said in 2017, when he learned of the Country Music Hall of Fame honor. “That’s the only way I can deal with this.”

Schlitz made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 2017 and was later inducted in 2022. He is the only non-artist to receive the honor in the Opry’s 100 years. The historic venue’s Saturday night show will be dedicated in his honor. He was named ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year for four consecutive years, from 1988 through 1991. He also wrote music and lyrics for “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” the 1999 Broadway musical.

Former Los Angeles Angels out elder Garret Anderson throws the ceremonial rst pitch after he was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame during ceremonies before a baseball game between the Angels and the New York Yankees in Anaheim, California in 2016.

“He did everything right. There was never anything ashy. Everything that he did was just professional.”

Kurt Suzuki, Angels Manager

high as fourth in the AL MVP balloting during his 17-year major league career. He won two Silver Slugger awards, and he memorably won both the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game MVP award in 2003 in Chicago. His 272 career homers are third in Angels history behind Trout and Tim Salmon. Only Trout has scored more runs in an Angels uniform than Anderson.

“He did everything right,” said Angels manager Kurt Suzuki, whose 16-year career as a major league catcher overlapped with the end of Anderson’s playing career. “There was never anything ashy. Everything that he did was just professional. When you have your kids playing the game, for me anyway, that’s who I want my kids to model themselves after. Just play the game right, do things right, never bring attention to yourself. And that’s the type of player he was. He was phenomenal at it, too.”

In 2002, Anderson batted .306 and drove in a team-leading 123 runs for the then-Ana-

He also wrote “You Can’t Make Old Friends” for Rogers and Dolly Parton; their rst duet since 1983’s “Islands in the Stream.”

“Don doesn’t just write songs. He writes careers.”

Kenny Rogers

Schlitz’s songs are widely considered some of the most unwavering in country music, and have been recorded by such hitmakers as Kenny Rogers (“The Gambler,” “The Greatest”), Randy Travis (“On the Other Hand,” “Forever and Ever, Amen”), The Judds (“I Know Where I’m Going”), The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (“I Love Only You,”) Tanya Tucker (“I Won’t Take Less Than Your Love,”) Mary Chapin Carpenter (“He Thinks He’ll Keep Her”) and many others.

Schlitz, a North Carolina native, was born in 1952 and raised in Durham before packing his bags and heading to Nashville. His rst recorded song, “The Gambler,” is perhaps his most enduring hit and the tent-pole of his legacy. The song, which was recorded by Rogers in 1978 and certi ed ve times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), opened doors for country music in the ‘70s, a track that was not only a huge genre hit but also a pop crossover one.

As Rogers said when he inducted Schlitz into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2012, “Don doesn’t just write songs. He writes careers.”

“We are heartbroken by the news of the passing of Don Schlitz. Don loved his family, his home state of North Carolina, and above all, songs and songwriters. He carried that love into every room, every

heim Angels, who won 99 games and earned a wild- card playo berth. The Halos stormed through the playo s to this franchise’s only championship, overcoming a 3-2 series decit to Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants to win the World Series.

Anderson was a key factor in the Fall Classic, batting 9 for 32 with six RBIs. He drove in the nal three runs of the series with a tiebreaking three-run double in the third inning of the Angels’ 4-1 victory over the Giants in Game 7.

Anderson’s other baseball accomplishments included a 10 -RBI game on Aug. 21, 2007. Anderson nished his career with Atlanta and the Los Angeles Dodgers before his retirement in 2011. He batted .293 with 2,529 hits, 287 homers and 1,365 RBIs in the majors. Anderson was inducted into the Angels’ Hall of Fame in 2016, and he had regularly worked for the team as a television broadcaster on its pregame and postgame shows over the ensuing decade. He lived in coastal Newport Beach with his family.

Anderson was born in Los Angeles on June 30, 1972. He attended Granada Hills High School in the suburban San Fernando Valley before the Angels drafted him in the fourth round in 1990.

The Angels said Anderson is survived by his wife, Teresa, daughters Brianne and Bailey, and son Garret “Trey” Anderson III.

stage and every lyric he ever wrote,” Sarah Trahern, Country Music Association CEO, wrote in a statement last Friday. “Not long ago, we shared a dinner, and as we were leaving, Don picked up a guitar and began to play. That is how I will always remember him, smiling and with a guitar in his hand. His legacy lives on through his music and the many artists and writers he inspired. He will be deeply missed.”

“Don Schlitz’s place as a songwriting great would be secure had he never written ‘The Gambler’ or had he only written ‘The Gambler,’” Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, wrote in a statement last Friday. “Nashville was richer for his presence and is lesser for his absence.”

Schlitz is survived by his wife Stacey, daughter Cory Dixon and her husband Matt Dixon, son Pete Schlitz and his wife Christian Webb Schlitz, grandchildren Roman, Gia, Isla and Lilah, brother Brad Schlitz and sister Kathy Hinkley.

UK police arrest 2 in connection with weekend arson attack on synagogue

Police suspect Iran is hiring local criminals to carry out the attacks

By Danica Kirka The Associated Press

LONDON — British police said Monday they arrested two teenagers in connection with an arson attack on a synagogue in northwest London over the weekend, as Jewish leaders express concern about a wave of incidents targeting their community.

Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes of London’s Metropolitan Police Service said o cers arrested two young men, aged 19 and 17, overnight in relation to the attack on the Kenton United Synagogue in the borough of Harrow. The department has made a total of 15 arrests related to six attacks on Jewish targets and a Persian-language media organization critical of Iran’s government that occurred over the past few weeks, he said in an interview with the BBC.

One “serious line of inquiry” is that Iran is hiring local criminals to carry out these attacks amid tensions in the Middle East, including the U.S.-Israeli war against the Islamic Republic, Jukes said.

“We’ve seen a pattern with other actors of thugs for hire,

people taking cash that looks like quick and easy money,” Jukes said. “This is part of the modern hybrid war fought by proxies.”

In the most recent incident, a bottle containing a ammable liquid was thrown through the window of the Harrow synagogue on Saturday night, causing smoke damage, police said.

Counterterrorism police are investigating the series of incidents, which began on March 23

when an arson attack destroyed four ambulances owned by a Jewish charity that serves people of all faiths in north London. No one has been injured in the incidents.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s o ce said he “shares the country’s shock at the recent antisemitic attacks.”

“He stands with the Jewish community and he is determined to do more to give them

the security they deserve,” his spokesman, Dave Pares, said Monday.

Police last Friday closed Kensington Gardens, a central London park visited by thousands of tourists and local residents every day, after a group that Israel has linked to Iran posted a video claiming Israel’s nearby London embassy was going to be attacked with drones carrying dangerous substances.

CHAPEL HILL from page A1

“This was about voting to even talk about it. This is an issue that we should absolutely have a debate about, and all of us care about doing things the right way and having processes that best serve the interest of the public.” Anderson also stated that the council was asked in advance if it was OK with the item being placed on the consent agenda, and there were no complaints received at that time.

While most council members did say they were looking to have more discussions on the ordinance at the public hearing, many made their initial positions known.

“I do see a lot of merit in the idea of a four-year term for the mayor,” Nollert said. “I don’t see, and haven’t been persuaded in my conversations yet, that there’s much merit in the idea of shrinking the council.”

Police said the embassy was not attacked, but the force shut the park as o cers examined discarded items including two jars containing powder. Police said nothing harmful was found.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said on Sunday that “a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum.”

“Thank God, no lives have been lost, but we cannot, and must not, wait for that to change before we understand just how dangerous this moment is for all of our society,” he said on X.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said police are aware that a group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia had claimed responsibility for most of the attacks in Britain. The same group has claimed responsibility for incidents in recent months at places of worship, business and nancial institutions across Europe, all of which appear to be linked to Jewish or Israeli interests, she said.

Israel’s government has described Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, whose name means the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right, as a recently founded group with suspected links to “an Iranian proxy.”

The U.K. has accused Iran of using criminal proxies to conduct attacks on European soil targeting opposition media outlets and the Jewish community. Britain’s MI5 domestic intelligence service says that more than 20 “potentially lethal” Iran-backed plots were disrupted in the year to October.

Council member Melissa McCullough and Mayor Pro Tem Camille Berry also both stated they felt the expanded council has allowed for, and achieved, increased representation.

“I think that’s more important than saving some money,” McCullough said.

Miller-Foushee was in opposition to both aspects of the ordinance.

Council members Amy Ryan, Elizabeth Sharp and Wes McMahon seemed to be the most in favor of the changes, as all three cited things such as redundancy, potential e ciency improvements and cost savings.

The public hearing will be held Wednesday, April 29 at 6 p.m. in the Council Chamber at Town Hall, with the item to then be considered at the council’s May 6 meeting.

The Chapel Hill Town Council’s next regular business meeting will be April 30.

Send your birth, death, marriage, graduation and other announcements to community@chathamnewsrecord.com.

THE TRUTH!

Bible Study: II Timothy 4:1-5 Church of Living Water; Preacher: James Mitchell.

God saved, God called, and God sent preachers will tell us what we need to hear. The other lying devils don’t really care about us. God offers all a choice: Heaven or hell, peace of mind or misery. God will forgive every sin if we acknowledge that we have sinned. Yes, all have sinned, but a loving, caring God has made the way for us. Repent, be willing to turn from sin, and believe Jesus died and arose for our sins. Then call on God, asking forgiveness for the way we have lived. Afterward, make a true vow to the Father that we will live for and by Him according to His Holy Word. Praise God for His mercy and His grace! Children of God, stay true to your vows! Love God and love one another. Don’t let fear and doubt hinder our faith. We don’t always understand the why’s in our lives, but God’s got it. A true God-sent preacher will need to rebuke us so we don’t miss the Father’s blessing. Don’t let pride stand in the way of admitting when we’re wrong. As God forgives us, we must forgive one another. Pope, Democrats, rhino Republicans, lying fake news media, stand illegals and criminals over American citizens? Why do you want citizens? Why don’t you want to ensure that only American citizens vote in our elections? Why do you want to transgender our children by mutilating their bodies? Why do you care more about the evil defeated; Hamas has been defeated! Thank God for President Democrats want open borders, bringing in illegals and criminals for their votes. To my Black, Brown, and White brothers and sisters, let’s stand united against the evil that’s trying to take over America. Radical Muslims, socialists, and communists have been gaining power. That’s why NATO and Europe are not standing with America. You shall reap what you sow! God will bring evil down. God and His people shall be victorious! Praise God!

REAL ESTATE

LEARN ABOUT LAND - Chatham Land Experts, www.learnaboutland.com - 919-3626999. JY2,tfnc

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POWELL SPRINGS APTS. Evergreen Construction introduces its newest independent living community for adults 55 years or older, 1 and 2 bedroom applications now being accepted. O ce hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 919533-6319 for more information, TDD #1800-735-2962, Equal housing opportunity, Handicapped accessible.

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ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS now for onebedroom apartments, adults 55 years or older. Water included, appliances furnished, on-site laundry, elevator, keyless entry. Section 8 accepted. No security deposit. Application fee $25 per adult. Call Braxton Manor, 919-663-1877. Handicap accessible. Equal Housing Opportunity. J14,tfnc

AUCTIONS

RICKY ELLINGTON AUCTIONEERSEquipment, business, liquidation, estates, land, houses, antiques, personal property, coins, furniture, consignments, bene ts, etc., NCAL #7706, 919-548-3684, 919-663-3556. Jy6,tfnc

SERVICES

RAINBOW WATER FILTERED VACUUMS, Alice Cox, Cox’s Distributing - Rainbow - Cell: 919548-4314, Sales, Services, Supplies. Serving public for 35 years. Rada Cutlery is also available. A26,tfnc

JUNK CARS PICKED UP Free of charge. Due to many months of low steel prices and unstable steel markets, we cannot pay for cars at this time. Cars, trucks, and machinery will be transported and environmentally correctly recycled at no charge. 919-5422803. A2,tfnc

LETT’S TREE SERVICE - tree removal, stump grinding, lot clearing. Visa & Master Card accepted. Timber. Free estimates. 919-2583594. N9,tfnc

FOR SALE

1975 Ford 4000 Diesel Tractor – (Needs Work), RC 200-72 Bush Hog, 72” cut, Runs Good and in Good Shape, and a Hay Pick. $1,800 for all three! Call 336-508-0356. 5tp

HAY FOR SALE - $25/ROLL CALL - 919-663-6056 3tp

YARD SALE

MOON’S CHAPEL MISSION YARD SALE

4217 OLD US 421 N, SILER CITY, NC FRI., APRIL 24TH, 7am - 5pm SAT., APRIL 25TH, 7am – 12pm Schwinn Recumbent Bike – used only 6 mos., Clothes, What-nots, Furniture And Collectibles.

All Proceeds go to fund our Mission Trip to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. 1tp

Chatham, Guilford and Surrounding Counties

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ESTATE OF DAVID MANSFIELD BUNNELL-FILE

NO.26E000166-180 ALL PERSONS, rms and corporations having claims against David Mans eld Bunnell, deceased, of Chatham County, NC, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before July 20, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 16th day of April, 2026.

Anne E. Bunnell, Executor c/o Whitaker & Hamer, PLLC 121 E. Main Street Clayton, NC 27520 Chatham News + Record 4/16, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 2026

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having quali ed as Personal Representative of the Estate of David Clement McCormick, deceased of Chatham County, North Carolina, on the 2nd day of April, 2026, the undersigned hereby noti es 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 18th day of July, 2026, or this Notice will be pled in bar of recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. Issued this 16th day of April, 2026. Barbara L. McCormick, Personal Representative, c/o Christina Goshaw Hinkle, Attorney for the Estate, 3211 Shannon Road, Suite 400, Durham, NC 27707. Chatham News & Record: 4/16, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7NOTICE

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

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

Notice to Creditors File Number: 26E000115-180

Having Quali ed as Executor of the Estate of John Alfred Gorman, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 16th 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. This the 3rd day of April, 2026. Executor for the Estate Lynn Elizabeth Williford 87603 Aycock Chapel Hill, NC 27517

NOTICE

ALL PERSONS, rms and corporations having claims against Cathy Blair Regan, deceased, of Chatham County, N.C., are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before July 23rd, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This 23rd day of April 2026. Kimberly Wallace, Executor Estate of Cathy Blair Regan c/o Roberson Law Firm 1829 E. Franklin St., Ste. 800C Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Run Dates: 4/23, 30, 5/7, 14

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

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#23E000651-180

The undersigned GEORGE DAVIS CATES, having quali ed on the 9TH Day of APRIL 2026 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of GEORGE DAVIS CATES, 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 16TH 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 16TH DAY OF APRIL 2026. VIRGINIA B. CATES, EXECUTOR 87 EASY ST. PITTSBORO, NC 27312 Run dates: A16,23,30,M7p

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CHATHAM IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE

SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION FILE NO: 25CV000297-180

linda harris, Plainti vs. SHIHEIM MONTRELL SUGGS, Defendant TO: SHIHEIM MONTRELL SUGGS

Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been led in the above Court in the aboveentitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is compensation for bodily injury arising from an automobile accident on 1/15/2023. You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than May 26, 2026, and upon your failure to do so, the parties seeking service against you will apply to the Court for the relief sought.

This 8th day of April, 2026. Eliot F. Smith FARRIS & THOMAS LAW, P.A.

Attorneys at Law P. O. Box 2848 Wilson, NC 27894-2848 Telephone: (252) 243-3000 PUBLISH DATES: 4/16/26, 4/23/26, 4/30/26

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

26E000193-180 The undersigned, having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Rachel O. Brooks, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, noti es all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned at her address, 1179 Charlie Brooks Road, Moncure, North Carolina, 27559, on or before the 16th 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.

This 10th day of April, 2026. Amy Jo Brooks 1179 Charlie Brooks Road Moncure, North Carolina 27559

GUNN & MESSICK, PLLC P. O. Box 880 Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312-0880 April 16, 23, 30, May 7 NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS

CHATHAM COUNTY

HAVING QUALIFIED as Executor of the Estate of Patricia Collins Perry 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 2nd day of July, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar 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 TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA

CHATHAM COUNTY

26E000189-180 ALL persons having claims against Joyce Ellis Clark, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before Jul 23 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 23rd day of April, 2026.

MELVIN ALAN CLARK C/O SIMPSON LAW FIRM, Executor C/O Simpson Law Firm 1188 Stonecrest Blvd, Suite #105 Fort Mill, SC 29708 A23, 30, 7 and 14

NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF Dora Elizabeth Bachtel Mathisen

All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Dora Elizabeth Bachtel Mathisen, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit them to Barbara Jean Ramsland as Executor of the decedent’s estate on or before July 18, 2026, c/o Janet B. Witchger, Attorney at Law, 1414 Raleigh Rd., Ste. 203, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, or be barred from their recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment to the above-named Executor. This the 16th day of April 2026. Barbara Jean Ramsland, Executor c/o Janet B. Witchger, Atty. TrustCounsel 1414 Raleigh Rd., Ste. 203 Chapel Hill, NC 27517

NOTICE

“All persons having claims against the estate of SALLY CHENEY MILLER of Chatham County, NC, who died on February 27, 2026, are noti ed to present them on or before Friday, July 17, 2026 to True Campbell, Executrix for the estate of Sally Cheney Miller, c/o Schupp & Hamilton, PLLC, 3013 Rippy Lane, Hillsborough, N.C. 27278, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery.” DATES: 04/16/2026, 04/23/2026, 04/30/2026, 05/07/2026

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

FILE#26E000175-180 The undersigned LATOYA FOX, having quali ed on the 30TH Day of MARCH 2026 as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of ALYEASE FOX, 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 23RD 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 23RD DAY OF APRIL 2026. LATOYA FOX, ADMINISTRATOR 97 RILEY LANE SILER CITY, NC 27344 Run dates: A23,30,M7,14p

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#26E000169-180

The undersigned JAY W. MARSHALL, having quali ed on the 9TH Day of APRIL 2026 as EXECUTOR of the Estate of JOANNE MARSHALL, 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 16TH 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 16TH DAY OF APRIL 2026. JAY W. MARSHALL, EXECUTOR 5696 SUGAR GROVE ROAD GREENS FORK, IN 47345 Run dates: A16,23,30,M7p

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

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

Brooks Energy, LLC

Project No. 6276-042

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF ENVIRONMENTAL

ASSESSMENT (April 14, 2026)

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (Commission or FERC) regulations, 18 C.F.R. Part 380, Commission sta reviewed Brooks Energy, LLC’s application to surrender its exemption from licensing for the Lockville Dam Hydroelectric Project No. 6276 and have prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the project.1

The exemptee has determined that the project is no longer economical and is requesting to surrender its exemption from licensing. The generating equipment has not operated since 2020 and the dam was breached in 2023. No modi cations to the existing dam, buildings, structures, or ground disturbing activities are proposed. After the surrender of the exemption, the dam is proposed to be removed by American Rivers and Resource Environmental Solutions as part of American Rivers’ Watershed Restoration of the Upper Cape Fear and Lower Deep Rivers Project, with funding and collaborative support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The project is located on the Deep River at a point where it forms the border between Chatham and Lee counties, North Carolina.

The EA contains Commission sta ’s analysis of the potential environmental e ects of the proposed surrender, alternatives to the proposed action, and concludes that the proposed surrender of the Lockvilee Dam’s exemption from licensing would not constitute a major federal action that would signi cantly a ect the quality of the human environment.

The EA may be viewed on the Commission’s website at http://www.ferc.gov using the “eLibrary” link. Enter the docket number (P-6276) in the docket number eld to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll-free at 1-866208-3676, or for TTY, (202) 502-8659. You may also register online at http://www.ferc. gov/docs- ling/esubscription.asp to be noti ed via email of new lings and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support. All comments must be led May 14, 2026, 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

The Commission strongly encourages electronic ling. Please le comments using the Commission’s eFiling system at http://www.ferc.gov/docs- ling/ e ling.asp. Commenters can submit brief comments up to 6,000 characters, without prior registration, using the eComment system at http://www.ferc.gov/ docs- ling/ecomment.asp. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support. In lieu of electronic ling, you may submit a paper copy. Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service must be addressed to: Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: DebbieAnne A. Reese, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852. The rst page of any ling should include docket number P-2082-074. For public inquiries and assistance with making lings such as interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, contact the O ce of Public Participation at (202) 502-6595 or OPP@ferc.gov. For further information, contact Rebecca Martin at 202-502-6012 or rebecca.martin@ferc.gov.

(Authority: 18 CFR 2.1)

Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary.

NOTICE

VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT

PUBLIC HEARING

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice is hereby given, as required Internal Revenue

Code Section 147 (f) the undersigned will hold public

hearing on May 4, 2026 at 6 PM at the location of the undersigned listed below to discuss its acquisition by lease purchase of 3 acres of improved land for future re station and Apparatus Purchase and nancial arrangements related thereto

Maximum amount of issue: $10,000,000 All interested persons are invited to attend IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand

O cial Seal at my o ce in Siler City this day of April 17th, 2026

Jonathan Robert Van Sickle

Corporate Secretary Silk Hope Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. 8110 Silk Hope Gum Springs Rd Siler City, NC, 27344

CREDITOR’S NOTICE

Having quali ed on the 17th day of April 2026, as Executor of the Estate of Benner Henry Stinson, Jr., 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 23rd day of July 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 20th day of April 2026. Margaret S, Stinson, Executor of the Estate of Benner Henry Stinson, Jr. 904 Delphus Stinson Road Goldston, NC 27252

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

Publish On: April 23, 30, and May 7, 14, 2026

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

NORTH CAROLINA, CHATHAM COUNTY 25 SP 000117-180

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Jared Spruill, Mortgagor(s), in the original amount of $197,150.00, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., (“MERS”) as bene ciary as nominee for AdvantageFirst Lending Inc. , Mortgagee, dated January 21st, 2023 and recorded on February 9th, 2023 in Book 2347, Page 0562, Chatham County Registry. Default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust

Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the e ective date of termination. 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 Substitute Trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy. Anchor Trustee Services, LLC Substitute Trustee By: David Neill, NCSB #23396 McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC Attorney for Anchor Trustee Services, LLC 3550 Engineering Drive, Suite 260 Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 404-474-7149 (phone) 404-745-8121 (fax) dneill@mtglaw.com 25-001620-01 PUBLIC NOTICE The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEAPart B, Public Law 108.446) Project is presently being amended. The Project describes the special education programs that Chatham Charter School proposes for Federal funding for the 2026-2027 School Year. Interested persons are encouraged to review amendments to the Project and make comments concerning the implementation of special education under this Federal Program. All comments will be considered prior to submission of the amended Project to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction in Raleigh, North Carolina. The IDEA-Part B Project is open to the public for review and comments during the days of May 14,15,18,19, 2026 2026 in the o ce of Julie Franklin located at 2200 Hamp Stone Rd, Siler City, NC 27344.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ALL PERSONS, rms and corporations having claims against THOMAS BRIEN NEFF, deceased, of Chatham County, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before, the 23rd day 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. This 23rd day of April, 2026. PAMELA STRAUB NEFF, Executrix

THOMAS BRIEN NEFF c/o Tillman, Whichard & Cagle, PLLC 501 Eastowne Drive, Suite 130 Chapel Hill, NC 27514

they could win up to nine additional seats in states where they have redrawn congressional districts while Democrats think they could gain up to 10 seats elsewhere because of redistricting. But that presumes past voting patterns hold in November. And that’s uncertain, especially since the party in power typically loses seats in the midterms and Trump faces negative approval ratings in polls.

Democrats need to gain just a few seats in November to wrest control of the House from Republicans, potentially allowing them to obstruct Trump’s agenda.

Next up on

redistricting: Florida

Current map: 8 Democrats, 20 Republicans

Proposed map: Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has called a special legislative session to begin April 28 on congressional redistricting. Republicans haven’t yet publicly released a speci c plan.

Challenges: The state constitution says districts cannot be drawn with intent to favor or disfavor a political party or incumbent.

Where new House districts were approved

New U.S. House districts have been adopted in seven states since last summer. Five took up redistricting voluntarily, one was required to by its state constitution and another did so under court order.

Texas

Current map: 13 Democrats, 25 Republicans

New map: Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a revised

House map into law last August that could help Republicans win ve additional seats.

Challenges: The U.S. Supreme Court in December cleared the way for the new districts to be used in this year’s elections. It put on hold a lower-court ruling that blocked the new map because it was “racially gerrymandered.”

California

Current map: 43 Democrats, 9 Republicans New map: Voters in November approved revised House districts drawn by the Democratic-led Legislature that could help Democrats win ve additional seats.

Challenges: The U.S. Supreme Court in February allowed the new districts to be used in this year’s elections. It denied an appeal from Republicans and the Department of Justice, which claimed the districts impermissibly favor Hispanic voters.

Missouri

Current map: 2 Democrats, 6

Republicans

New map: Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a revised House map into law last September that could help Republicans win an additional seat.

Challenges: A Cole County judge ruled the new map is in e ect as election o cials work to determine whether a referendum petition seeking a statewide vote complies with constitutional criteria and contains enough valid petition signatures. The Missouri Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit claiming mid-decade redistricting is illegal. It’s scheduled to hear arguments in May on claims the new districts violate compactness requirements and should be placed on hold pending the potential referendum.

North Carolina

Current map: 4 Democrats, 10 Republicans

New map: The Republican-led General Assembly gave nal approval in October to revised districts that could help Republicans win an additional seat.

Challenges: A federal court panel in November denied a request to block the revised districts from being used in the midterm elections.

Ohio

Current map: 5 Democrats, 10 Republicans

New map: A bipartisan panel composed primarily of Republicans voted in October to approve revised House districts that improve Republicans’ chances of winning two additional seats.

Challenges: None. The state constitution required new districts before the 2026 election, because Republicans had approved the prior map without su cient Democratic support after the last census.

Utah

Current map: no Democrats, 4 Republicans

New map: A judge in November imposed revised House districts that could help Democrats win a seat. The court ruled that lawmakers had circumvented anti-gerrymandering standards passed by voters when adopting the prior map.

Challenges: A federal court panel and the state Supreme Court, in February, each rejected Republican challenges to the judicial map selection.

Virginia

Current map: 6 Democrats, 5 Republicans

New map: Voters approved a constitutional amendment authorizing new U.S. House districts backed by Democrats that could help the party win up to four additional seats.

Challenges: The state Supreme Court allowed the referendum to proceed, but it has yet to rule whether the e ort is legal. The court is considering an appeal of a Tazewell County judge’s ruling that the amendment is invalid because lawmakers violated their own rules while passing it.

Where redistricting e orts were denied

Governors, lawmakers or partisan o cials pushed for congressional redistricting in numerous states. In at least ve states, those e orts gained some initial traction but ultimately fell short in either the legislature or court.

Maryland

Current map: 7 Democrats, 1 Republican

Proposed map: The Democratic-led House in February passed a redistricting plan backed by Democratic Gov. Wes Moore that could help Democrats win an additional seat.

Challenges: The legislative session ended in April without the Democratic-led Senate voting on the redistricting plan. The state Senate president said there were concerns it could back re on Democrats.

New York

Current map: 19 Democrats, 7 Republicans

Proposed map: A judge in January ordered a state commission to draw new boundaries for the only congressional district in New York City represented by a Republican, rul-

UBER from page A1

that the jury found that battery had occurred and not sexual assault.

“The jury’s award here should further bring these cases back to reality, as it represents a tiny fraction of previous demands,” the Uber statement said, adding that the company has strong grounds for appeal because it believes the jury was incorrectly instructed on the question of liability.

The AP does not typically name people who have said they were sexually abused unless they have given consent through their attorneys or come forward publicly.

Hurd said the verdict bodes well for other plainti s, saying that Uber, not the plainti s, selected the North Carolina case as a test case for the broader group of pending lawsuits.

“This was a case that they thought going in that they were going to win,” Hurd said. “They picked all the criteria — this is the case that they picked, that they wanted to try. And the jury believed the plainti and they lost.”

The lawsuits follow years of criticism of Uber’s safety record, including thousands of incidents of sexual assault reported by both passengers and drivers. Because Uber drivers are categorized as gig workers — working as contractors, rather than company employees — the platform has long maintained it’s not liable for their misconduct.

The judge presiding over

ing it unconstitutionally dilutes the votes of black and Hispanic residents.

Challenges: The U.S. Supreme Court in March granted Republicans’ request to halt the judge’s order, leaving the existing district lines in place for the 2026 election.

Indiana

Current map: 2 Democrats, 7

Republicans

Proposed map: The Republican-led House passed a redistricting plan in December that would have improved Republicans’ chances of winning two additional seats.

Challenges: Despite pressure from Trump to adopt the new map, the Republican-led Senate rejected it in a bipartisan vote on Dec. 11.

Kansas

Current map: 1 Democrat, 3 Republicans

Proposed map: Some Republican lawmakers mounted an attempt to take up congressional redistricting.

Challenges: Lawmakers dropped a petition drive for a special session on congressional redistricting in November, after failing to gain enough support.

Illinois

Current map: 14 Democrats, 3 Republicans Proposed map: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in October proposed a new U.S. House map that would improve Democrats’ chances of winning an additional seat.

Challenges: The Democratic-led General Assembly declined to take up redistricting, citing concerns about the e ect on representation for black residents.

the group of lawsuits, U.S. District Court Judge Charles R. Breyer, ruled that Uber was a “common carrier” under North Carolina law and was thus liable for the driver’s action. Breyer said Uber holds itself out to the public as a transportation provider through its advertising and the control it exerts over Uber rides and the safety of its passengers. North Carolina could have explicitly exempted Uber and other rideshare providers from its common carrier liability, as Florida and Texas have, but did not, he said.

Hurd said that means the North Carolina jury only had to decide whether the attack happened.

The driver denied touching the plainti , Uber said. The company said the plainti never reported the incident to law enforcement and it only learned of it when the lawsuit was led three years later.

Hurd said just because the plainti didn’t report it to law enforcement doesn’t mean it’s not true. During the trial, which started last Wednesday and wrapped up Monday, the jury heard testimony from the driver, the plainti and friends of the plainti who corroborated her story, Hurd said.

Breyer, who is based in San Francisco in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, is due to hear two more sexual assault test case trials against Uber. The next is scheduled for mid-September in San Francisco.

CHATHAM SPORTS

Willauer

job back there communicating and stu .”

Despite the loss, Fann found Friday’s showing to be the height of the Hawks’ up and down spring.

The short-handed Hawks couldn’t land a goal in the 1-0 loss

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

CARRBORO — Without its leading scorer in senior So a Viana, the Seaforth girls’ soccer team struggled to score in a 1-0 loss to Carrboro Friday.

when the opportunities came.

Carrboro sophomore Ali Stuntebeck assisted senior Quinn Benedick for the Jaguars’ lone score with 22 minutes left to play in the rst half. Numerous saves from Seaforth’s senior goalkeeper Katie Leonard and crucial defensive stands kept the Hawks within striking distance, but they couldn’t land goals

“I thought we controlled the game,” Seaforth coach Michael Fann said. “We had more shots on goal than they did. We made one mistake that cost us, and they scored.”

Seaforth was shut out for the fourth time this season, which is the most times in pro

gram history. Nevertheless, it was a much

better defensive game for the Hawks after giving up three goals to the Jaguars in a loss on April 15.

“I love what they do,” Fann said about his team’s defenders. “We’re a little bit more aggressive because most teams, like what we just played, play four defenders. We only play with three. So we’re a little bit more aggressive, and they do a great

“We played the whole 80 minutes,” Fann said. “We never stopped.” Said Fann, “We’ve been very inconsistent all season, but today, it was just top to bottom, it was the best game we played all season.”

Part of the Hawks maintaining a high level of play throughout the game was due to the bench.

“We didn’t have a drop o ,”

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

The Chargers were outscored 6-1 in the second half

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

CARRBORO — Carrboro scored six unanswered goals in the second half to defeat the Northwood boys’ lacrosse team 10-7 Friday. Senior Tyler Pease led the way for the Jaguars, notching a game-high six goals. With Carrboro trailing 6-4 at halftime, Pease sparked the game-changing run with a goal late in the third quarter and a game-tying score with seven minutes left in the fourth.

Less than two minutes later, junior Eli Beaven-Louey’s rst goal of the night gave the Jaguars the lead for the rst time since the beginning of the second quarter. Over the next minute, Carrboro landed three more scores from senior Nathan Pickles, junior Jake McGrath and Pease. The Chargers struggled to win face-o s during the run as face-o specialist Eli Minges did not play.

“We had a couple of boys

that were out tonight,” Northwood coach Randy Cox said.

“We come with who you have, and we play with the 10 that are on the eld, and their 10 at times were a little bit better than our 10.”

Northwood junior Malik El Yosef stopped the avalanche with his only goal of the night, but with three minutes left to play, the Chargers could not pull o a comeback.

“Our guys fought to the end,” Cox said. “A couple of things happen a little bit di erently, and maybe the margin isn’t what it is, 10-7. So I’m proud of the way they played.”

Northwood threw the rst punches and took a 2-0 lead after goals from seniors Grayson Cox and Jackson Glinksi in the rst quarter.

Carrboro quickly tied the game with consecutive goals from sophomore Adam McGrath and Pease. Glinski and Pease each stuck their second scores of the night to make it a 3-3 game at the end of the rst quarter.

Pease’s third goal a minute into the second quarter gave Carrboro its rst lead

Jax Young

Chatham Charter, baseball

Chatham Charter junior Jax Young earns athlete of the week honors for the week of April 13.

Young was a huge part of the Knights’ dominant run of three games last week. In the 19-0 win over Triangle Math and Science on April 13, Young pitched a no-hitter and struck out all 15 batters he faced. Against Southern Wake the next day, he went 3 for 4 from the plate, including a triple, with four RBIs and three of the Knights’ 31 runs.

As of Sunday, Young leads Chatham Charter in on-base percentage (0.593) and is second on the team in batting average (.500). On the mound, he’s logged a 2.51 ERA while striking out a career-high 46 batters.

Northwood honors Brice with jersey retirement

Brice played 14 seasons across the MLB and the minor leagues

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

PITTSBORO — Many numbers de ned Austin Brice’s impact on Northwood baseball in the late 2000s.

Some of them showed up on his uniform, while others, which were unforgettable gures thrown towards home plate, showed up on radars.

So which one will forever lie on Northwood’s baseball scoreboard? None.

Northwood retired Brice’s No. 20, which he wore as a soccer player, before its baseball game against Cornerstone Charter on April 15. Brice developed into a star pitcher in his four seasons with the Chargers, and less than a month after his senior year in 2010, he was selected by the Marlins in the ninth round of the MLB Draft. He played 14 seasons across the major and minor leagues, and now, his number is situated on the baseball scoreboard.

“I was actually kind of thrown o by it,” Brice said. “You think as a kid like, oh, you got your high school number retired, and you kind of like, ‘ah,’ you know? And then it happens, and you’re like, ‘Man, this is a really, really awesome situation, opportunity to have something like this.’”

Brice’s family, teammates and high school coach Rick Parks, who stood next to Brice alongside current Northwood coach Brent Haynes during the ceremony, attended his jersey retirement.

They shared memories of Brice’s rise from a “spindly” freshman to the rocket arm who threw a 97-mph pitch against South Granville as a senior.

“He’s probably 5-foot-11, 6 footish freshman year,” Parks said. “He’s 135, 145 pounds. And then by the time he’s a senior, you’re looking at him going, OK he’s (6 feet, 3 inches). He’s pushing 200 pounds, and it’s like holy cow. This kid couldn’t wear the same, that’s why he had four different jersey numbers, I think, over four years because he kept outgrowing them.”

Due to unfortunate circumstances at the beginning of his freshman year, Brice had to grow quickly.

The Chargers lost multiple starting in elders before the start of the 2007 season, leaving a green Brice to step up in

his rst varsity game against a top-ranked Fuquay-Varina team.

“I’m out there, and I’m just, you know, my eyes are the size of doughnuts,” Brice said. “I’m just like, ‘Man, I do not belong here right now.’”

After a few errors in that game, he was sent to junior varsity, but it was only for a few weeks. As a rst-year head coach in Parks was trying to nd his own footing and navigate a season plagued with injuries, Brice got more opportunities to start his development early.

“I always had a really good arm, but I could never quite put it together,” Brice said. “It just seemed like I was going through growing pains a lot. Like, I would gure something out and then the next thing I would struggle with, and I could never quite tie it together. And then all of sudden, my junior year rolls around.”

Said Brice, “I got some coordination about me and started evolving from there.”

Brice helped the Chargers to a 63-30 record in his four seasons.

As a senior, he struck out 76 batters and achieved a batting average of .442, earning conference player of the year and All-State honors. The speed at which he pitched that season caught the attention of MLB scouts. Parks recalled up to 15 scouts showing up to Northwood’s games at times, including those from the Angels and the Yankees.

“I had some heart palpitations to be honest with you, going into some of the games,” Brice said. “You would go to pitch, and you can see from the mound you’re looking dead into the crowd and all of a sudden, you see all these radar guns pop up. It was intimidating at rst, but it kind of was that reminder like, ‘Hey, this

is happening. Just take a deep breath and try to take it all in.’”

Brice initially committed to App State but instead decided to go pro after high school. He spent his rst six seasons in the minors before making his MLB debut with Miami against the White Sox on Aug. 12, 2016, becoming the rst Hong Kong-born player to appear in the majors. In that game, he struck out two batters in one inning.

“I wasn’t really nervous at all for my rst game,” Brice said. “I didn’t really get nervous until I realized that I was in the major leagues. And it took me a few outings to realize like, ‘Oh, I’m here now.’ And then, you start getting some butter ies going into games because you’re like, ‘There’s no more going up from here. All you can do is go down.’” In the majors, Brice also made stops in Cincinnati, Boston and Pittsburgh. His best season came with the Marlins in 2019 when he logged career bests of a 3.43 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 442⁄3 innings pitched.

Northwood inducted Brice into its Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021.

Despite all the numbers that told the story of his career on the diamond, including the numerous ones he wore at Northwood, Brice chose to be honored by the one that pays homage back. No. 20 was worn by his brother, and Brice donned it while leading the Chargers to a soccer state title appearance in 2009.

“I just wanted it to be a little tip of the hat to that,” Brice said. “I also just didn’t want to take a number from one of these (current baseball players). I don’t even know if anybody even wears the No. 20 in baseball. So, it was more so like a humble approach.”

Yardbirds make additions to 2026 roster

Chatham County will begin ONSL play May 23

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

AS OPENING DAY approaches, the Chatham County Yardbirds’ roster is taking shape.

Since the beginning of April, the Yardbirds have signed 12 players. All are from North Carolina, including some former Chatham County high school athletes.

The Yardbirds will open their season against Wake Forest at Flaherty Park on May 23 at 6:30 p.m.

Here’s a look at each signing.

Aidan Allred (William Peace, in elder)

Allred, the former Chatham Charter standout and a sophomore at William Peace, will return for his third season in the Old North State League.

While playing for the Randolph Ropin’ Roosters (now Chatham County) last summer, Allred logged a .297 bat-

LACROSSE from page B1

ting average, 19 hits, a home run and nine RBIs in 64 at-bats. He notched 23 putouts and eight double plays as a shortstop, earning an All-Star selection in the 2025 season.

Daniel White (Wake Tech, pitcher)

Former Seaforth pitcher and out elder Daniel White will return to Chatham County after his freshman season at Wake Tech.

White has appeared in two games for the Eagles as of Sunday. In high school, he helped lead Seaforth to back-to-back trips to the third round of the state playo s, including its rst playo win in program history.

Jackson Shaner (Guilford, in elder)

Shaner, the Northwood alum, will suit up for Chatham County after his junior season at Guilford.

In 2024, Shaner played for the Sanford Spinners. He’s recorded two hits in nine at-bats for the Quakers this spring.

of the game. However, three straight Northwood scores from junior Asher Savage, Cox and senior Braeden Spacek gave the Chargers another lead and the momentum going into halftime.

“Games are won and lost at the beginning of the second half, right?” Cox said. “We wanted them to come out red up, and we did, right? But, we didn’t score any in the third quarter.”

With the loss, Northwood fell to 8-6 overall and 3-2 in conference play. Carrboro, after improving to 9-5 overall, is now tied for second with the Chargers in the conference standings. After hosting rst-place Orange Monday, Northwood has two remaining conference games against Seaforth and Cedar Ridge. Both games will be at home, and Northwood defeated both in their rst meetings.

As of Sunday, the Chargers are in good standing for the state playo s as they rank 16th in the 1A-6A RPI rankings. They’ll get a chance to pick up some quality wins against Union Pines (third in the 1A-6A RPI standings) on April 29 and Pinecrest (10th in the 8A RPI standings) on May 7.

“I think we’re poised to do some great things,” Cox said. “We just got to get a couple of kids healthy.”

Said Cox, “I think their mindset is right. Every year, teams grow, and they develop, and this team has done that this year. And so, I think their con dence has grown.”

.369

Weston Rhem’s career batting average at Raleigh’s Broughton High School

Jace Young (Guilford, catcher)

Young, a senior at Chatham Charter, will play for the Yardbirds before heading to Guilford for his senior season.

This spring, Young has recorded career highs in batting average (.436), on-base percentage (.515), slugging percentage (,745), OPS (1.260), RBIs (31) and home runs (2). He’s logged 161 putouts with a .988 elding percentage.

Aidan McCandless (Guilford, utility)

McCandless, a Western Alamance alum, is a junior at Guilford. This season, he’s made six starts and logged a career-best .259 batting average, seven

hits and eight RBIs in 27 at-bats.

Camden McCandless (Guilford, pitcher)

McCandless is a freshman at Guilford. He graduated from Western Alamance and is the younger brother of Aidan McCandless.

Simon Schreiber (USC Sumter, out elder)

Schreiber, a Chapel Hill native, will play for Chatham County before his freshman season at USC Sumter.

Andrew Mullis (Mid-Atlantic Christian, pitcher)

Mullis is a redshirt sophomore at Mid-Atlantic Christian University. This spring, he’s struck out nine batters and holds a 9.92 ERA in 161⁄3 innings pitched. He’s a Raleigh native.

Jack Bolte (Kenyon College, in elder)

Bolte, a senior at Cardinal Gibbons, will spend the summer with the Yardbirds before

starting at Kenyon College. This spring, Bolte is batting at .240 with 12 hits and seven RBIs in 50 at-bats.

Darius Davis (Barber-Scotia, out elder)

Davis plays at Barber-Scotia college. He is a Northern Durham alum where he recorded a .254 batting average, 15 hits, 13 RBIs and 13 runs as a senior.

Weston Rhem (Belmont Abbey, out elder)

Rhem is an out elder at Broughton High School. Throughout his prep career, he’s logged a .369 batting average, 82 hits, 57 RBIs and 59 runs.

Andrew Riedel (Denison, catcher)

Riedel, a senior catcher at Cardinal Gibbons, is going for career-highs in batting average (.421) and hits (24) this spring. He’s also notched a .990 elding percentage as of Sunday. After high school, Riedel will play at Denison University.

SIDELINE REPORT

NFL

Panthers agree to terms with QB Grier

Charlotte Quarterback Will Grier is returning home to the team that drafted him. The Carolina Panthers announced Tuesday they’ve agreed to terms on a contract with Grier, their third-round draft pick (100th overall) in 2019 who played high school football in the Charlotte area. Grier gives the Panthers added depth at the position behind starter Bryce Young. He is expected to compete for the No. 2 spot with Kenny Pickett.

MARATHONS

Men caught competing in the women’s category of a prestigious South African marathon Johannesburg

Two male runners in South Africa were discovered fraudulently competing on behalf of female colleagues in a top marathon and disquali ed. They could face two-year bans from the event, along with the two women who swapped their bibs with the two men. The two men both nished within the top 10 in the women’s marathon at the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town. But marathon board member Stuart Mann said the deception was discovered, and the men were disquali ed from their seventh-and 10th-place nishes.

WNBA

Bird, Rapinoe announce break-up, will phase out podcast Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe are splitting up. The sports power couple announced they are ending their 10-year relationship and phasing out their popular podcast. They dropped the news together on the podcast. Bird is considered one of the greatest women’s basketball players in history. Rapinoe rose to fame as a member of the Women’s World Cup team in 2011, 2015 and 2019. Bird said they will host six more special episodes.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

Newly crowned UFC champ Ulberg says he lost title belt while celebrating win New York

Carlos Ulberg fought through an injured right knee to capture the light heavyweight title in UCF 327. He says he lost it hours later, literally. The 35-year-old from New Zealand defeated Jiri Prochazka in the main event at UFC 327 by knockout in Miami to become the new champion of the light heavyweight division. He told Fox Sports Australia he misplaced his golden title belt

United States enters World Cup with worries in goal, on defense

The host country hopes for its rst knockout win since 2002

By Ronald Blum The Associated Press

THE UNITED STATES heads into the World Cup hoping for its rst knockout-stage victory since 2002.

While the Americans enter with their weakest goalkeepers in four decades and only a few central defenders playing in a top league, they bene t from being seeded as a co-host in the expanded tournament, which could keep them from playing an elite opponent until the round of 16.

“It would be everything to win, and especially to do it in your home, in front of your friends, your families, the people that have supported you throughout your whole career that are closest to you,” mid elder Weston McKennie said.

The U.S. hopes to advance far in the tournament and show it is making progress in a sport that trails the NFL, MLB and NBA in popularity at home. The Americans are 1-7 in knockout World Cup matches, the only win over Mexico in 2002.

Since reaching the seminals of the rst World Cup in 1930, the furthest the U.S. has advanced was the 2002 quarter nals. While it has lost eight straight matches to European opponents since 2022, getting outscored 22-6, the Americans have a high level of con dence.

Coach Mauricio Pochettino,

hired in September 2024 after the U.S. was eliminated in the Copa America group stage, told players they can win the title.

“Why not us?” he said during a March training camp. “We need to really believe that we can be there. We need to dream.”

The Americans open against Paraguay on June 12 before facing Australia and Turkey in Group D.

Long line of top goalkeepers has ended

Goalkeeper used to be an American strength, with Tony Meola, Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel, Tim Howard and Brad Guzan all highly regarded.

Matt Turner, the U.S. starter in 2022, has been displaced as No. 1 by Matt Freese. The Americans are likely to head to the World Cup without a Europe-based keeper for the rst time since 1990.

“We had this goalkeeping thing gured out for a long time, didn’t we? Going all the way back,” Howard said. ”It just seems like we’ve had a little bit of a rut.”

Pulisic scoring drought a concern

Christian Pulisic, the top American player, hasn’t scored an international goal in eight games since November 2024.

He also headed into mid-April scoreless in 14 games with AC Milan since Dec. 28.

“He’s going to score because he has the quality,” Pochettino said. At 27 in his prime, Pulis-

ic is expected to carry the U.S. in the tournament as he did in 2022, when his goal in the group-stage nale against Iran advanced the Americans to the knockout stage.

“There’s pressure, I feel it. Yes, it’s there but it’s nothing that I can’t handle,” he said.

Options thin in central defense

Chris Richards is a rare American central defender playing in a top league, at 26 having an outstanding season at Crystal Palace. He missed the 2022 tournament because of a hamstring injury.

Tim Ream, the U.S. captain for much of World Cup lead-up under Pochettino, is 38 and left Fulham for Major League Soccer’s Charlotte after the 2023-24 season.

Auston Trusty, 27, has been a starter for Scotland’s Celtic since late October and Mark McKenzie, also 27, is a regular for Toulouse.

Pochettino has at times since

LIV Golf leader says show

will

last fall used a three central defender back line.

Injury worries

Right back Sergiño Dest, a starter in 2022, hopes to heal in time from a hamstring injury sustained playing for PSV Eindhoven on March 7. Central defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, another 2022 veteran, will miss the tournament because of an Achilles injury and John Tolkin, No. 3 on the left back depth chart behind Antonee Robinson and Max Arfsten, is uncertain because of a knee injury.

Son of Super Bowl winner

Defender Alex Freeman, is a son of Antonio Freeman, a former All-Pro wide receiver who won the 1997 Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers.

“Growing up I always got asked if football was the path, but when I was younger I always had a secret love for soccer,” Alex said.

go on amid reports of Saudi funding uncertainty

The tour’s CEO sent out a memo to address concerns

By Doug Ferguson The Associated Press

LIV GOLF CEO Scott O’Neil sought to quell speculation about the league’s nancial future with a memo to his sta that said the 2026 season will continue as planned without interruption and “at full throttle.”

The memo followed a long day of reports suggesting Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund was on the verge of cutting its nancial backing of the upstart league.

The newsletter Money in Sport reported in February that LIV Golf already had spent $5.3 billion and was projected to surpass $6 billion by the end of the year.

“I want to be crystal clear: Our season continues exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle,” O’Neil said. “While the media landscape is often lled with speculation, our reality is de ned by the work we do on the grass. We are heading into the heart of our 2026 schedule with the full energy of an organization that is bigger, louder, and more in uential than ever before.”

Left unclear was how long the funding would last for LIV Golf, which launched in June 2022 by paying roughly $1 billion in signing bonuses to some of the PGA Tour’s biggest names, such as Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson,

Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm.

Prize money for individuals and the 13 teams was raised to $30 million this year.

Koepka since has left LIV and was allowed to rejoin the PGA Tour this year with stipulations. Patrick Reed also left LIV and is playing a European tour schedule this year. He is virtually certain to be eligible to return to the PGA Tour in 2027 through the European tour points race.

Questions about LIV’s future funding were raised as the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia revealed a new ve-year investment strategy.

“The 2026-30 strategy marks a natural evolution as PIF moves from a period of rapid growth and acceleration to a new phase of sustained value creation, with a strengthened focus on maximizing impact, raising the e ciency of investments, and applying the highest standards of governance, transparency and institutional excel-

lence,” the PIF said in a release.

The plan was developed before the U.S.-Israel war against Iran. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the PIF governor who loves golf and was behind LIV Golf, told the London-based Financial Times, “Of course the war would add more pressure to reposition some priorities.”

LIV players at Chapultepec Golf Club for LIV Golf Mexico that starts Thursday did not have answers as speculation ran rampant throughout the day.

One player said Al-Rumayyan met with players the rst week of March in Hong Kong and said funding for LIV was set through 2032. The player also said O’Neil arrived in Mexico City and was to meet with the players.

LIV Golf promoted the Mexico event on social media with the message, “Slow news day? We are ON.”

LIV has played ve events this year, in Saudi Arabia, Aus-

tralia, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Africa. It celebrated an inspirational victory at its biggest event in Australia when Anthony Kim won after the American had been away for 12 years while battling drug and alcohol addiction.

DeChambeau won the last two events in playo s, and this week tries to become the rst LIV player to win three in a row. DeChambeau, a two-time U.S. Open champion, missed the cut in the Masters last week.

LIV’s focus has been on a global reach, with its rst U.S. tournament not scheduled until May 7-10 at Trump National in northern Virginia.

“The life of a startup movement is often de ned by these moments of pressure,” O’Neil said. “We signed up for this because we believe in disrupting the status quo. We have faced headwinds since the jump, and we’ve answered every time with resilience and grace. Now, we answer by doing what we do best: putting on the most compelling show in sports.”

He ended his note to the sta by saying, “We are pioneers, and while the road isn’t always smooth, the destination is worth every mile. Let’s go out and show the world why LIV Golf is the future of the game.”

LIV is in the second year of a Fox Sports television deal, with network putting it on various platforms like FS1. The opening round of the Mexico event has three hours on the Fox Sports app. The previous two years, its U.S. broadcast partner was the CW.

SOCCER from page B1

Fann said. “In the past we’ve had, when our starters come o , we’d have a drop o . Tonight, we didn’t do it. So everybody stepped up and played good tonight. They were really loose. They were having fun, and I think they enjoyed it a lot tonight.” Carrboro, which moved to 11-1-3 overall, took a stronger

hold of rst place in the Big Seven 4A/5A conference standings and moved two games ahead of second-place Seaforth, which fell to 7-4-1 overall. The Hawks’ two losses to the Jaguars were their rst conference defeats since their inaugural season in 2022, snapping a streak of 42 straight conference wins. The 2022 campaign was the last time Seaforth did not win the conference title.

Seaforth still has plenty of opportunities to make up ground and keep itself in contention for a conference crown. After rematches against Cedar Ridge and Durham School of the Arts (Seaforth defeated both by at least four goals), the Hawks will have three remaining conference games against the league’s bottom three teams in Webb, South Granville and Orange.

But even if the Hawks win out, they’ll need Carrboro to drop at least two conference games. No matter what happens in conference play, Seaforth is in position to make the state playo s. It sits at 17th in the 5A RPI standings as of Sunday. The Hawks also have remaining nonconference opportunities to improve their position. Following a home matchup against NCSSM-Durham (No. 1 in the 3A RPI standings) on Thursday, Seaforth will go on the road to face Apex Friendship (No. 11 in the 8A RPI standings) on Monday and host Holly Springs (No. 5 in the 7A RPI standings) on April 30.

“The big thing right now is just keep getting better,” Fann said. “We want to be our best when it comes (to) playo s. That’s our focus right now.”

Crowd scientist helping Boston Marathon manage growing eld of 30,000-plus runners

Changes in start times and positioning of aid stations could help alleviate crowding

By Jimmy Golen

The Associated Press

BOSTON — Running the Boston Marathon is tough enough without having to jostle your way from Hopkinton to Copley Square.

So race organizers this year turned to an expert in crowd science to help them manage the eld of more than 32,000 as it travels the 26.2 miles through eight Massachusetts cities and towns — some of it on narrow streets laid out during Colonial times.

“There are certain things that we can’t change — that we don’t want to change — because they make the Boston Marathon,” said Marcel Altenburg, a senior lecturer of crowd science at Manchester Metropolitan University in Britain. “Like, I’m a scientist, but I can’t be too science-y about the race. It should stay what it is because that’s what I love. That’s what the runners love.”

Organizers of the world’s oldest and most prestigious annual marathon would prefer a more pleasant experience for their

ROUNDUP from page B1

Northwood swept Southwestern Randolph, winning 5-4 on April 14 and 5-0 last Friday. Finn Sullivan smashed a grand slam, and Riley D’Angelo struck out 11 batters while allowing two hits on the mound. Conference standings as of Sunday (overall, conference)

* clinched conference title

Central Tar Heel 1A: T1. Chatham Charter (16-3, 6-0); T1. Clover Garden (11-7, 6-0); 3. River Mill (7-7, 2-4); T4. Central Carolina (0-7, 0-4); T4. Southern Wake (0-9, 0-6) Greater Triad 1A/2A: 1. South Stokes* (14-6, 10-1); 2. Bishop McGuinness (11-7, 6-4); 3. Chatham Central (9 -8, 5-5); 4. North Stokes (4-15, 4-7); 5. South Davidson (6-12, 1-9) Four Rivers 3A/4A: 1. Northwood (11-8, 7-1); 2. Uwharrie Charter (16-4, 5-2); 3. Eastern Randolph (10-11, 4-3); 4. Southwestern Randolph (12-6, 4-4); T5. North Moore (5-11, 1-6); T5. Jordan-Matthews (4-14, 1-6) Big Seven 4A/5A: 1. Cedar Ridge (14-4, 6-0); 2. South

runners, even as the eld has ballooned from 15 in 1897 to as many as 38,000.

As the race grew, it tested the limits of the narrow New England roads and the host cities and towns, which are eager to reopen their streets for regular commutes and commerce as quickly as possible.

“It would be kind of great someday to be able to grow the race a little bit more,” race director Dave McGillivray said. “The problem with this race

Granville (12-6, 7-1); 3. Seaforth (13-6, 4-2); 4. Orange (12-7, 5-3); T5. Webb (2-12, 0-3); T5. Durham School of the Arts (5-11, 0-6); T5. Carrboro (4-12, 0-7)

Power rankings (week of April 12): 1. Chatham Charter; 2. Seaforth; 3. Northwood; 4. Chatham Central; 5. Jordan-Matthews RPI standings as of Sunday (ranking): 1A: Chatham Charter (1), Chatham Central (15); 3A: Northwood (23); 4A: Jordan-Matthews (50); 5A: Seaforth (13) SOFTBALL

Chatham Central defeated South Stokes 2-0 on April 14 thanks to a home run from Lillie Poe and 10 strikeouts from Maddie Kaczmarczyk in the circle. A 5-3 loss to Southeast Alamance snapped the Bears’ eight-game win streak, but they bounced back with two home runs (Kaczmarczyk and Addison Goldston) and a one-hitter from Maeson Smith in a 17-0 win over South Davidson on Friday.

Seaforth pitcher Emma Grace Hill notched her 400th career strikeout and hit a home run in Seaforth’s 9-8 win

is that it’s about two things: time and space. We don’t have either. … So, we’re trying to be innovative.”

That’s where Altenburg comes in.

A former German army captain who runs ultra marathons himself, Altenburg has worked with all of the major races, other large sporting events, and airports and exhibitions that tend to attract large crowds on ways to keep things safe and owing smoothly.

over Cedar Ridge on April 14.

Blair Hill knocked home the go -ahead RBIs in the sixth inning. Alyssa Harris hit a home run to help the Hawks take down Apex 6-2 on April 15. Annika Johansson joined the home run party in a 16-6 victory over Durham School of the Arts Friday. Northwood fell to Southwestern Randolph twice, losing 10-1 on April 14 and 8-4 Friday. After an 8-5 loss to River Mill, Allie McLeod went 3 for 4 with three runs and two RBIs, and she struck out 12 batters in the circle to lead the Knights over Central Carolina 12-0 on April 14.

Conference standings as of Sunday (overall, conference)

* clinched conference title

Central Tar Heel 1A: 1. Clover Garden* (17-1, 10-0); 2. River Mill (9-6, 7-3); 3. Chatham Charter (9-6, 6-3); 4. Central Carolina (1-13, 1-9); 5. Ascend Leadership (0-11, 0-9)

Greater Triad 1A/2A: 1. Chatham Central (15-4, 6-1); 2. South Stokes (10-8, 7-2); 3. North Stokes (8-9, 2-4); 4. South Davidson (4-13, 0-8)

For the Boston Marathon, which draws hundreds of thousands of spectators in addition to the runners, his models allow him to run simulations that help him see how the race might play out under di erent conditions.

“We have simulated the Boston Marathon more than 100 times to run it once for real. That is the one that counts,” Altenburg said. “They gave me, pretty much, all creative freedom to simulate more waves, simulate more runners and — within the existing time window — they allowed me to change pretty much anything for the betterment of the running experience.

“And then we checked every aid station, every mile, the nish, every important point, (asking): Is the result better for the runner? Is that something that we should explore further?”

The most noticeable di erence on Monday will be that the runners are starting in six waves — groups organized by qualifying time — instead of four. The waves, which were rst used in Boston in 2011, help spread things out so that runners don’t have to walk after the start, when Main Street in Hopkinton squeezes to just 39 feet wide.

Other, less obvious changes involve the unloading of the

Four Rivers 3A/4A: 1. Southwestern Randolph (14 -3, 7-1); T2. Northwood (10-7, 5-3); T2. Uwharrie Charter (6 -8, 5-3); T4. Jordan-Matthews (9 -7, 3-5); T4. North Moore (6 -10, 3-5); 6. Eastern Randolph (2-13, 1-7)

Big Seven 4A/5A: 1. Seaforth (14-1, 8-0); T2. Cedar Ridge (11-5, 5-2); T2. Orange (6-9, 5-2); 4. South Granville (6-7, 4-3); 5. Webb (10-4, 3-4); 6. Carrboro (3-11, 1-6)

Power Rankings (week of April 6): 1. Chatham Central; 2. Seaforth; 3. Northwood; 5. Chatham Charter; 6. Jordan-Matthews

RPI standings as of Sunday (ranking): 1A: Chatham Central (3), Chatham Charter (15); 3A: Northwood (22); 4A: Jordan-Matthews (23); 5A: Seaforth (6)

TRACK AND FIELD

Local winners from Jordan-Matthews’ home meet on April 16 (school, event, time): Boys: Wyatt Webster (Northwood, 200, 23.30 seconds); Ezra Roebuck (Northwood, 400, 49.55); Zaire Ellis (Northwood, 800, 2:23.51); Jordan Wiley (Northwood,

buses at the start, the placement of the water and aid stations, and the nish line chutes, where runners get their medals, perhaps a mylar blanket or a banana, and any medical treatment they might need.

“For an event that’s as old as ours, 130 years, it allowed us to be a startup all over again,” said Lauren Proshan, the chief of race operations and production for the Boston Athletic Association.

“The change isn’t meant to be earth-shattering. It’s to be a smooth experience from start to nish,” she said. “It’s one of those things that you work really, really hard behind the scenes and hope that no one notices — a behind-the-curtain change that makes you feel as if you’re just oating and having a great day.”

Shorter porta potty lines would also be nice.

The BAA will look at the feedback over the next three years before deciding about expansion or other changes.

“Fingers crossed, hope for the best, but we’ll get feedback from the participants,” McGillivray said. “And they’ll let us know whether or not it worked or not.”

But keeping the course open longer isn’t an option. And the route isn’t going to change. So there’s only so much that crowd science can help with at one of the toughest tests in sports.

“I can talk. I’m a scientist. I just press a button and it’s going to be,” Altenburg said. “But the runners still have to do it.”

1,600, 5:43.71); Owen Becker (Northwood, 3,200, 12:54.43); Yadiel Zayas (Jordan-Matthews, 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles, 17.83 and 44.90); Jordan-Matthews (4x100, 46.23); Jordan-Matthews (4x200, 1:37.02); Tequone Moore, Ben Altenburg, Webster, Roebuck (Northwood, 4x400, 3:37.13); Leo Drust, Dylan Chavez-Hernandez, Liam Patterson, Austin Parenti (Northwood, 4x800, 10:35.31); Joshua Hayes (Chatham Charter, high jump, 5 feet, 8 inches); Altenburg (Northwood, long jump, 20-9); Kamarie Hadley (Jordan-Matthews, triple jump, 43-4); Jakari Blue (Jordan-Matthews, discus, 87-8); Jamison Brown (Northwood, shot put, 41-0) Girls: Athena Dispennette (Jordan-Matthews, 400 and 800, 1:10.53 and 2:52.59); Emily Scheidt (Chatham Charter 1,600, 6:38.82); Khamya Woods (Jordan-Matthews, 100 hurdles and long jump, 19:00 and 14-1); Jordan-Matthews (4x200, 2:03.35); Ashley Perry, Gabby Ghita, Taylor Perry, Ava Zawada (Northwood, 4x400, 5:02.26); Aaliyah Walden (Chatham Charter, high jump, 4-4); Amari Bullet (Northwood, discus and shot put, 77-10 and 30-8)

this week in history

Spanish-American War begins, Colonists land at Cape Henry, mutiny on HMS Bounty

The Associated Press

APRIL 23

1635: The Boston Latin School, the rst public school in what would become the United States, was established.

1898: Spain declared war on the United States; the U.S. responded in kind two days later after months of rising tensions tied to Cuba’s ght for independence.

1971: Hundreds of Vietnam War veterans opposed to the con ict protested by tossing their medals and ribbons over a wire fence erected in front of the U.S. Capitol.

APRIL 24

1800: President John Adams approved $5,000 for congressional books, e ectively establishing the Library of Congress.

1916: Irish republicans launched the Easter Rising against British rule; though it ended in six days, it paved the way for independence and the Irish Free State in 1922.

1960: Rioting erupted in Biloxi, Mississippi, after black protesters staging a “wade-in” at a whites-only beach were attacked by a crowd of white residents.

APRIL 25

1507: A world map by German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller used the name “America” for the rst time, honoring Amerigo Vespucci.

1859: Construction of the Suez Canal began in Egypt.

1898: Congress declared war on Spain; the 16-week conict ended in a U.S. victory and control of the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam.

APRIL 26

1607: English colonists went ashore at present-day Cape Henry, Virginia, beginning an expedition to establish the rst permanent English settlement in the Western Hemisphere.

1865: John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln, was surrounded by federal troops near Port Royal, Virginia, and killed.

1986: In the worst nuclear disaster in history, an explosion and re at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine sent radioactive fallout into the atmosphere, killing dozens immediately and thousands over time.

APRIL 27

1521: Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan was killed in the Battle of Mactan in the Philippines during an e ort to expand Spanish in uence in the region.

1813: U.S. forces defeated the British at the Battle of York in Upper Canada (now Ontario); Brig. Gen. Zebulon Pike and dozens of American soldiers were killed when retreating British troops detonated Fort York’s ammunition magazine.

1865: The steamer Sultana, carrying freed Union prisoners of war, exploded on the Mis-

Heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali speaks with his mother in Louisville from his Houston hotel room after refusing induction into the U.S. Armed Forces on April 28,

sissippi River near Memphis, killing as many as 1,800 in the deadliest maritime disaster in U.S. history.

APRIL 28

1789: Mutineers led by Fletcher Christian seized control of the HMS Bounty, setting Capt. William Bligh and 18 others adrift; they later reached Timor after a 3,600 -mile journey.

1945: Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and his mistress, Clara Petacci, were executed by partisans as they tried to ee the country.

1967: Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali was stripped of his WBA title after refusing induction into the U.S. Army.

APRIL 29

1862: A Union naval force led by Flag O cer David Farragut captured New Orleans, dealing a major blow to the Confederacy.

1916: The Easter Rising in Dublin ended as Irish nationalists surrendered to British forces.

1992: A jury in Simi Valley, California, acquitted four Los Angeles police o cers in the beating of Rodney King, sparking six days of riots that left more than 60 people dead.

New discovery solves Shakespeare’s London house location mystery

He died there in 1616 at the age of 52

By Jill Lawless The Associated Press

LONDON — Fans of Wil-

liam Shakespeare know that the great playwright came from Stratford-upon-Avon, the riverside English town where tourists still throng to see his childhood home.

But he made his name in London — though few traces of him remain in the British capital.

A newly discovered 17th-century map sheds new light on the Bard’s London life, pinpointing for the rst time the exact location of the only home Shakespeare bought in the city, and where he may have worked on his nal plays.

Shakespeare scholar Lucy Munro, who found the document, said that it supplies “extra bits of the jigsaw puzzle” of Shakespeare’s life. And as with

so many discoveries, it was partly due to luck.

“I came across it in the London Archives when I was looking for other things,” Munro said.

New evidence of the building’s location

Historians have long known that Shakespeare bought property in 1613 near the Blackfriars Theatre, but the exact location was a mystery. A plaque on a 19th-century building records only that the playwright had lodgings “near this site.”

A plan of the Blackfriars precinct found by Munro and disclosed Thursday by King’s College London shows in detail Shakespeare’s house, a substantial L-shaped dwelling carved from a former medieval monastery, including its gatehouse.

The 13th-century Dominican friary had been redeveloped for more secular uses after the dissolution of the monasteries by King Henry VIII in

“I came across it in the London Archives when I was looking for other things.”

Lucy Munro, Shakespeare scholar

the mid-16th century. Munro, professor of Shakespeare and early modern literature at King’s College London, said it was a desirable area moving slightly down-market –due to people like Shakespeare, who was a uent but associated with the slightly déclassé world of the stage.

“After the dissolution of the monasteries, a lot of the nobility, quite high-ranking courtiers, court o cials are living in the Blackfriars,” Munro said. By the time Shakespeare bought his property, “there are still a lot of important people living there, people who make

protests against the playhouses at various points, because they see the playhouses as a bit of a public nuisance.”

Shakespeare used the profits of his plays to build a ne family house, now demolished, in Stratford, about 100 miles northwest of London.

It’s not certain whether Shakespeare lived in his London property or just rented it out. But Munro said that the size of the house and its location a ve-minute walk from the Blackfriars Theatre suggest he may have spent more time in London toward the end of his life than is widely assumed.

Destroyed in the Great Fire

Shakespeare left the property to his daughter Susanna, and it remained in the family for another half-century. Munro also found two archival documents detailing its sale by the playwright’s granddaughter Elizabeth Hall Nash Barnard in 1665. A year later, the building burned to the ground in the Great Fire of London, which destroyed much of the medieval city.

Only a few remnants of Shakespeare’s London remain in the area, now part of the city’s nancial district, including a fragment of wall from the medieval friary. Nearby, the name Playhouse Yard is a reminder that a theater once stood here.

Mamdani still earning rap music royalties, tax lings show

The democratic socialist’s rap names were “Young Cardamom” and “Mr. Cardamom”

By Jake O enhartz

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is still making money from his short-lived career as a multilingual rapper, tax lings show.

But the 34-year-old Democrat’s meteoric rise as a celebrity politician has brought only a modest increase in hip-hop pro ts: he took home $1,643 in music royalties last year, up only slightly from $1,267 in 2024, according to the lings. Mamdani, who rapped under the monikers “Young Cardamom” and “Mr. Cardamom,” joked last Thursday that New Yorkers should “go to Spotify” if they want to help his bottom line. “A lot of people say they’re listening,” he added. “They’re not listening.”

Mamdani began rapping in high school, releasing socially conscious songs in his 20s on subjects ranging from Indian atbread to colonialism. He has described himself as a “C-list rapper” following in the footsteps of his childhood heroes, including the indie-rap group

“Go to Spotify. A lot of people say they’re listening; they’re not listening.”

Mayor Zohran Mamdani

Das Racist. The tax lings, shared with reporters Thursday, showed the bulk of Mamdani’s 2025 earnings came from his $131,296 salary as a state Assembly member. His wife netted an additional $10,010 for graphic design work. In total, they reported a joint income of roughly $145,000. As mayor, Mamdani is set to earn a salary of $258,750 this year. He’s not New York City’s rst mayor to take home entertainment royalties.

According to his redacted 2012 tax return, then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg received somewhere between $2,000 and $10,000 in residuals from prior appearances as himself on TV’s “Law & Order” franchise, the 2008 TV special “A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa” and the 2011 movie “The Adjustment Bureau,” which starred Matt Damon.

famous birthdays this week

Shirley MacLaine hits 92, Sheena Easton is 67, Jay Leno turns 76, Jerry Seinfeld turns 72

The Associated Press THESE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week.

APRIL 23

Actor Lee Majors is 87. Actor Blair Brown is 80. Actor Joyce DeWitt is 77. Filmmaker-author Michael Moore is 72. Actor Judy Davis is 71. Actor Valerie Bertinelli is 66. Actor-comedian George Lopez is 65. Actor-wrestler John Cena is 49.

APRIL 24

Actor Shirley MacLaine is 92.

Actor-singer- lmmaker Barbra Streisand is 84. Fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier is 74.

Actor Eric Bogosian is 73. Actor Michael O’Keefe is 71. Actor-comedian Cedric the Entertainer is 62.

APRIL 25

Actor Al Pacino is 86. Musician-producer Björn Ulvaeus (ABBA) is 81. Actor Talia Shire is 80. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is 64. Actor Hank Azaria is 62. Sportscaster Joe Buck is 57. Actor Renée Zellweger is 57. Actor Jason Lee is 56. Basketball Hall of Famer Tim Duncan is 50.

APRIL 26

Actor-comedian Carol Burnett is 93. Composer-producer Giorgio Moroder is 86. Olympic swimming gold medalist Donna de Varona is 79. Actor Giancarlo Esposito is 68. Actor Joan Chen is 65. Actor Jet Li is 63. First lady Melania Trump is 56.

APRIL 27

Singer Kate Pierson (The B-52’s) is 78. Republican Sen. Jim Justice of West Virginia is 75. Basketball Hall of Famer George Gervin is 74. Singer Sheena Easton is 67.

APRIL 28

Former Secretary of State

NBA legend Tim Duncan,

James A. Baker III is 96. Actor-singer Ann-Margret is 85. Chef Alice Waters is 82. TV host-comedian Jay Leno is 76. Actor Mary McDonnell is 74. Musician Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth) is 73. Golfer John Daly is 60.

APRIL 29

Musician Willie Nelson is 93. Baseball Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio is 92. Conductor Zubin Mehta is 90. Singer Tommy James is 80. Golf Hall of Famer Johnny Miller is 79. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld is 72. Actor Daniel Day-Lewis is 69. Actor Michelle Pfei er is 68. Actor Uma Thurman is 56.

the stream

Charlize Theron, ‘Marty Supreme,’ Kehlani, Kate Hudson, Lainey Wilson

A documentary about country singer Lainey Wilson comes to Net ix

The Associated Press

TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET

starring as a ping-pong master in “Marty Supreme” and a Netix comedy competition show hosted by Kevin Hart 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, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: Charlize Theron expanding her already robust action movie resume with “Apex,” Kate Hudson’s “Running Point” returning for Season 2 and a Net ix documentary on country star Lainey Wilson.

MOVIES TO STREAM

After nine Oscar nominations, $179 million in ticket sales and a few dings for opera and ballet along the way, “Marty Supreme” begins streaming Friday on HBO Max. A24’s biggest box-o ce hit ever stars Timothée Chalamet as a ping-pong striver in 1950s New York doing whatever it takes to reach greatness. Josh Safdie directs a cast including Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion and Kevin O’Leary. In her review, AP’s Jocelyn Noveck called it a “nerve-busting adrenaline jolt of a movie.”

Another highlight of 2025, the darkly comic Korean thriller “No Other Choice,” lands on Hulu on Friday. Park Chan-wook’s satire stars Lee Byung-hun as a family man laid o from a paper plant. After analyzing his prospects, he decides to murder his closest competition for a new job. In my review of the Golden Globe-nominated lm, I praised Park, the masterful lmmaker of “Oldboy” and “Decision to Leave,” for “archly and elegantly spinning a yarn about a murderous rampage that accumulates wider and wider reverberations.”

The latest Colleen Hoover hit adaptation, “Regretting You,” arrives Friday on Prime Video. In it, Allison Williams stars as a single mother moving on after the death of her husband (Scott Eastwood). Dave Franco co-stars as her new love interest. In her review, Noveck wrote that “the strange way the tears give way to smiles, quips and then

“Marty Supreme” is a nerve-busting adrenaline jolt of a movie.”

Jocelyn Noveck, AP lm writer

full-on rom-com corniness feels a little awkward — and then just weird and annoying.”

Charlize Theron expands her already robust action movie resume in “Apex,” a survivalist thriller about a grieving woman who heads into the Australian wilderness for outdoor adventure. But when a sadistic local (Taron Egerton) begins terrorizing her, a frantic chase ensues. Catch it on Net ix on Friday.

MUSIC TO STREAM

Noah Kahan’s 2022 single “Stick Season” turned the Vermont singer-songwriter into a household name; now, he’s at “The Great Divide.” That’s the title of his fourth studio album, out Friday. Come for folky ruminations on fame (“Porch Light”), stay for the plucky title track and what exists in between.

In the decade following her debut album, Meghan Trainor’s bright, cheery pop music has kept one central message: Stay

true to who you are and ignore the haters. That continues on her single “Still Don’t Care,” the rst tease of her seventh full-length album. And it is found on the whole of the release, titled “Toy with Me,” out Friday. In December, she told the AP to expect a few self-love bops, songs to anger through and lots of familial love. The singer-songwriter recently canceled a summer tour following the birth of her daughter, Mikey Moon. Musician documentaries are a dime a dozen these days; of-

ten, they function as promotional material with little editorial value. That is not the case with “Lainey Wilson: Keepin’ Country Cool,” available now on Net ix. The country superstar keeps her cool … and gets candid in this feature, which spans her personal and professional lives.

SERIES TO STREAM

A new Net ix competition show called “Funny AF with Kevin Hart” features Hart traveling to di erent comedy clubs

in the U.S. in search of the next great stand-up sensation. Hart is joined by Keegan-Michael Key, Tom Segura, Kumail Nanjiani, Chelsea Handler and Nikki Glaser, who serve as judges. The semi nal and nal episodes will stream live on Net ix, and the audience can vote in real-time. The winner will get their own Net ix stand-up special.

Prime Video has a new series about a di erent Kevin. “Kevin” is an animated series about a cat who moves into a local pet rescue after his owners split up. Jason Schwartzman voices Kevin and Aubrey Plaza, who co-created and co-wrote the series, also voices a character.

A new “Stranger Things” animated spino harks back to the Saturday morning cartoons of the 1980s, with stand-alone adventures each episode. “Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85” takes place during Seasons 2 and 3 of the original show and follows its core gang encountering mysteries and monsters from the Upside Down. They’re voiced by new actors, not the live-action cast. It debuts Thursday on Net ix.

Kate Hudson’s “Running Point” returns for Season 2 on Net ix on Thursday. Hudson plays Isla Gordon, whose family has owned the ctional Los Angeles Waves for years. Hudson takes over as the team’s president when her older brother (Justin Theroux) steps down. Her character is based on Jeanie Buss, the governor and former controlling owner (now minority owner) of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Richard Gadd, whose “Baby Reindeer” drew acclaim and a defamation lawsuit from the real-life woman it depicted, has created and written a new dark drama called “Half Man” where he co-stars with Jamie Bell. Gadd told the AP that he turned down numerous Hollywood offers after “Baby Reindeer” in favor of making “Half Man.” It premieres Thursday.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

Italian developer Luca Galante unleashed a surprise smash back in 2022 with his low-res indie shoot-’em-up Vampire Survivors. Fans have since gobbled up a half-dozen expansions, and now it’s time for a full- edged spino , Vampire Crawlers. It’s a “casual, turn-based deck builder” in which you explore dungeons and ght monsters by inging playing cards at them. Think something like Slay the Spire with, well, vampires — then throw in “turboturn,” which lets you pile up damage by slinging cards more quickly. It looks every bit as hectic and silly as the original, and you can take a bite now on PlayStation 5,

and

Duplin Journal

this week

VAD meeting canceled

Kenansville

The Duplin County Voluntary Agricultural District (VAD) program has canceled its April 28 meeting due to a scheduling con ict a ecting several members. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. in the Soil and Water conference room.

County in severe drought

Duplin County Duplin County is experiencing severe drought conditions, re ecting a broader trend across eastern North Carolina. According to the National Integrated Drought Information System, 2026 is among the driest starts to a year on record, with below-normal rainfall from January through March. The lack of precipitation is reducing soil moisture, lowering water levels in streams and ponds, and placing stress on crops and pastureland. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality also reports an increased wild re risk due to dry vegetation.

Coombs named NC Pork Council president

Clinton Pork producer Josh Coombs has been elected president of the North Carolina Pork Council, succeeding Jay Archer. Reggie Strickland of Mount Olive will serve as vice president, and Lorenda Overman continues as secretary/treasurer. The council also announced seven new board members: Garret Barwick, Chris Conser, Reid Cumbo, Blake Floars, Dean Hilton, Kaleb Sargent, and Mallory Strickland.

Authorities investigate fatal stabbing

Pink Hill

The Duplin County Sheri ’s O ce is investigating a fatal stabbing that occurred around 12:45 a.m. on Sunday in a roadway near 312 Broadway St. in Pink Hill, just inside Duplin County. The victim, identi ed as Jermaine Graham, was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities said Graham was with a female; she has been identi ed by law enforcement, but her name has not been released. No charges have been led, and the investigation is ongoing.

Livestock sector leads gains, speakers say at Pork Forward

State Sen. Brent Jackson, left, and Ray Starling, general counsel for the NC Chamber, speak after Starling’s presentation at Pork Forward on April 15 in Clinton. Turn to A3 for more.

Duplin’s Brown named to NC Pork Hall of Fame

Awards from the North Carolina Pork Council spotlight innovation and service

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

GREG BROWN, a longtime agricultural producer from Duplin County, was recently in-

ducted into the North Carolina Pork Hall of Fame — one of the highest distinctions in North Carolina’s pork industry.

Brown was recognized during the North Carolina Pork Coun-

cil’s annual conference for a career spanning decades in hog production, beginning on a small family farm and growing into leadership roles in both corporate and independent operations across Eastern North Carolina. His entry into the hog business came after the loss of his fa-

Ribbon cutting marks new era for ag education at HCA

A nearly 7,000-square-foot center o ers hands-on training in mechanics, welding and animal science

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

HARRELLS — The hum of future welders, mechanics and agricultural leaders is set to ll a new space at Harrells Christian Academy, which o cially

opened its Prestage Agricultural Education Center on April 15. The ribbon-cutting ceremony, held at the Cargill Agriculture Education Complex, marked the debut of a nearly 7,000-square-foot facility designed to expand hands-on learn-

ing for students in grades 6-12. Inside the new center, students will gain experience in welding, woodworking, small engine mechanics and animal science, guided by instructors Lindsay Matthews and Mark Stampe, with additional collaboration from the University of Mount Olive. School leaders dedicated the building in honor of William H. Prestage, recognizing his last-

Duplin Winery seeks town support for liquor permit

A liquor-by-the-drink approval could boost the weddings and events business for the company

By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal

ROSE HILL — Dave Fussell, president of Duplin Winery, appeared before the Rose Hill Board of Commissioners at its April 14 meeting to request that a letter be submitted by the town in support of the winery being granted a liquor-by-the-drink permit. Fussell said the permit is needed for the winery to be competitive with other venues that o er facilities and services for special events, especially weddings.

“We have a lot of competition in (that area),” Fussell said. “One of the reasons we’re not getting so much (wedding business) is because we’re not able to serve liquor by the drink, which is a cocktail. The alcohol content would be about the same as a glass of our wine.”

Angela Smith, Rose Hill town administrator, told the board that a letter had been drafted with the help of town attorney Kenn Thompson and could be signed by Mayor Davy Buckner and presented to the N.C. ABC Commission in support of the permit. The board voted to approve the request with one board member, Perry Tully, abstaining from voting on the issue.

“The alcohol content would be about the same as a glass of our wine.”

Dave Fussell, Duplin Winery president

ther when he was 12, later building a 15-sow operation with his family. By 1972 he had joined Carroll’s Foods, eventually becoming vice president of production operations. In 1991, he founded Browns of Carolina, expanding hog nishing operations throughout the region. The family’s agricultural business now includes nishing barns, poultry houses, cattle and cropland.

Family members say his in uence extends beyond agriculture.

“He’s left a legacy within our family, but he’s also left a legacy

ing impact on the agricultural community.

Attendees included members of the Prestage family, as well as representatives from the Golden LEAF Foundation, local o cials and supporters of the school’s agricultural program. Funding for the project came from a mix of grants, corporate support from Prestage Farms and private donations.

The facility’s opening represents the realization of a student-led idea rst proposed by HCA’s 2021-22 Future Farmers of America o cers. Less than a year after breaking ground,

Duplin Journal

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BROWN from page A1

within our community,” said his son, Bret Brown. “People who know him understand how hard he worked and that he’s done it the right way.”

Along with Brown’s induction, the Pork Council recognized ve additional individuals whose work supports di erent aspects of pork production in the state. Awards went to Curtis Barwick of Clinton for service to producers, Debbie Craig of Mount Olive for excellence in farming, Christina Phillips of Wallace for research and innovation with Smith eld Hog Production, Mary Battrell of Garland for veterinary contributions with Murphy Family Ventures, and Blake Floars of Goldsboro as an emerging industry leader with Carolina Swine Integrators.

“Every one of these recipients represents the best of our industry,” said Roy Lee Lindsey, CEO of the NC Pork Council. “Their dedication, integrity and commitment to doing things the right way are exactly what make North Carolina pork producers successful.”

HCA from page A1

that concept has become a permanent addition to campus — one school leaders say will help equip students with practical skills and open doors to careers in agriculture across southeastern North Carolina.

THURSDAY APRIL 23

FRIDAY APRIL 24

SATURDAY APRIL 25

SUNDAY APRIL 26

MONDAY APRIL 27

Beulaville man wins $100K on $30 scratch-o

Loyd Hall said he had to double-check the ticket before believing the prize

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

A BEULAVILLE MAN is celebrating a lottery win after turning a $30 scratch-o

lottery ticket

ticket into a $100,000 prize.

Loyd Hall said he initially struggled to believe the result, double-checking the ticket several times before sharing the news with his family.

“I told my son, and he thought I was joking,” Hall said. “My daughter is the only one who believed me.”

He purchased the win-

ning $100,000 Cash Payday ticket from J&N Grocery in Richlands.

Hall claimed the prize at state lottery headquarters and received $72,018 after taxes. He said the money will go toward bills and home improvement projects. The ticket is part of a newly released game.

Loyd Hall, center, holds a check with daughters Lori Hall, left, and Joan Forsythe.

Kenansville hospice closure part of broader eastern NC health care transition

ECU Health shifts services to Liberty Home Care and Hospice amid rural nancial pressures

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

KENANSVILLE — ECU

Health will permanently close its Home Health and Hospice o ce in Kenansville on May 1, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Noti cation (WARN) ling submitted April 7.

The closure is part of a broader transition tied to ECU Health’s planned sale of its home health and hospice division to Liberty Home Care and Hospice, an agreement rst announced in March and pending approval from the North Carolina Attorney General’s O ce.

Under the agreement, Liberty is expected to assume operations across multiple sites, including home health o ces in Kenansville, Greenville, Windsor and Washington; hospice o ces in Kenansville, Greenville and Ahoskie; and the Service League of Greenville Hospice House.

“We look forward to supporting a smooth transition and preserving access to these essential services for years to come.”

Donna Turlington

ECU Health o cials cited ongoing nancial pressures in rural health care — including shrinking reimbursement rates — as a key factor in the decision, stating the transition is intended to preserve access to essential home-based and end-of-life care.

“This decision was made with sustainability and continuation of services at the forefront,” said Brian Floyd, ECU Health chief operating ocer. “Liberty Home Care and Hospice brings the scale, expertise and mission driven focus needed to help ensure uninterrupted high quality home health and hospice care for patients and families who depend on these services.”

Leadership from both organizations indicated that pa-

tient services are expected to continue without interruption during the transition.

“We are deeply committed to ensuring patients and families continue to receive the compassionate, high quality home health and hospice services they rely on, delivered by care teams who understand this community,” said Donna Turlington, Liberty Home Care and Hospice president. “We look forward to supporting a smooth transition and preserving access to these essential services for years to come.”

The Kenansville closure is expected to a ect 37 employees, with additional workforce impacts reported in Beaufort, Bertie, Hertford and Pitt counties under the same WARN notice.

ECU Health stated that affected employees may have opportunities for reassignment or transition support, with resources being provided to assist sta through the change.

Both ECU Health and Liberty Home Care and Hospice report they are coordinating closely to ensure continuity in patient care, scheduling and communication throughout the transition process.

TUESDAY APRIL 28

WEDNESDAY APRIL 29

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Duplin County.

April 24

Choral Concert Celebration

6 p.m.

Trans guration of Jesus Catholic Church in Wallace will host a free choral concert celebrating music director Lara Capparuccia’s 20th anniversary. The program features classical and contemporary works, including selections by Vivaldi and Natalie Sleeth, along with original compositions. Refreshments will follow.

506 East Main St., Wallace

April 25

North Carolina Pickle Festival

9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The annual festival returns for its 40th year to celebrate the town’s famous industry. The festival features the popular Pickle Eating Contest, Cuke Patch 5K, Tour de Pickle, live entertainment, food and craft vendors, and free pickles.

Downtown Mount Olive

Firemen’s Day Parade

10 a.m.

The Greenevers Volunteer Fire Department will celebrate its annual Firemen’s Day. The day will kick o with a parade, followed by family fun activities, ra es and plate sales. Plates will feature grilled chicken and barbecue for $10. Sales will bene t the re department. Hargroves Drive, Greenevers

Rabies Clinic

TOWN OF KENANSVILLE PUBLIC HEARING

As per N.C.G.S. 160A-364, the Board of Commissioners of the Town of Kenansville has scheduled a public hearing on Tuesday, May 5th, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Town Hall located at 141 Routledge Road, Kenansville, N.C. 28349 to receive public comment on the following zoning matter:

The Town of Kenansville has received a request to consider extending the manufactured housing overlay to include the property on the right side of N Church Street beginning at the corner of Mallard and N Church Street and ending at the corner of Seminary and N Church Street. The request will include the following parcel numbers: 13-2078, 13-1195, 13-E061, 13-7, 13-559, 13-1657, 13-509, 13-4, 13-2, 13-3, 13-5, 13-6, 13-1996, 13-677, 13-488, 13-3102, 13-2651, 13-2653, 13-1763, 13-550, 13-1196, 13-1770, 13-1753, 13-555, 13-1629, 13-1655, 13-1095, 13-1727, 8925987

Anyone with comments or questions concerning this matter may attend the public hearing to speak on the matter. To obtain further information and view a copy of the map identifying the subject properties, you may do so by calling 910-296-0369 or visit the Kenansville Town Hall.

This 8th day of April 2026.

Anna West, Town Manager Town of Kenansville

Pork Forward highlights strength of animal agriculture

Industry leaders point to rising meat exports and express optimism for pork producers

By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal

LEADERS FROM the area’s animal agriculture industry gathered at the Sampson County Exposition Center in Clinton on April 15 for an event called Pork Forward.

In addition to numerous seminars and exhibitors showing their latest wares to serve farmers, attendees also heard addresses from N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler and Ray Starling, general counsel for the NC Chamber and president of the NC Chamber Legal Institute.

from page A1

Fussell said future plans for Duplin Winery may include a distillery.

The board delayed a nal vote on proposed repairs to sidewalks on Church Street and Main Street in the downtown area to allow for easier access to businesses and a church downtown, as well as to bring those sidewalks into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The bids received for the projects o ered options of one or two sets of steps with handrails to access the Church Street sidewalk. If the option of a second set of steps is chosen, it would mean the loss of a few parking spaces in front of the businesses.

The board decided to request feedback from downtown businesses and citizens on which op-

Starling displayed graphics during his presentation revealing some encouraging news for those in the pork industry. While his slides showed prices of corn and soybeans are down, meat products are performing well. Starling said that exports of meat and poultry have grown steadily since 2000, with 2025 being a record-breaking year as global exports exceeded $100 billion. Poultry and pork top the list of exports, with beef close behind.

In an interview with Duplin Journal, Starling said animal agriculture has an advantage right now over grain growers because the cost of production is lower.

“It’s our input costs that are eating us alive,” Starling said of grain prices. “It’s the cost of equipment, the cost of

tion they prefer before making a nal decision.

The board also voted to approve the bids of four contractors to reconstruct homes in town that were selected under a Community Development Block Grant program that awarded the town $950,000 to repair or reconstruct the homes of citizens in need in Rose Hill. The grant will also pay for rental housing for the residents whose homes are being rebuilt while construction is taking place.

Tammy Daniels of the Adams Company, administrator of the grant for the town, said there may be funds left over to possibly help another resident in need of home repairs who meets the requirements. In other business, the board agreed to hold two public hearings during the May 12 meet-

seed, the cost of pesticides and fertilizer.”

He added that the way to see the grain and meat industry being tied together is the fact that they need each other.

“When you look out in that eld or in that barn, and you see those animals, you should mentally think about little bags of corn and beans moving around,” Starling said. “That’s how we’re going to export corn and beans out of the U.S., through our meat.”

Duplin Journal spoke with state Sen. Brent Jackson (R-Sampson), who attended the event, and said he found Starling’s data, as well as comments from Troxler, to be good news.

“The Commissioner was right. Seventy- ve percent of our farm gate value comes from livestock,” Jackson

ing. One hearing will present the proposed town budget for the next scal year for public feedback. The other public hearing will be to consider a zoning request for a three-acre parcel of land on Brooks Quinn Road from industrial to residential. Smith told Duplin Journal that the property owners, Carlos Bonilla and Cindy Ferrel, want to build a house on the property.

During department reports, Rose Hill Fire Chief Billy Wilson Jr., who also serves as a town commissioner, reported that the department is now up to 36 volunteers, which is good news considering many volunteer re departments are struggling to maintain an adequate number of members. He reported that over the past month, the re department responded to an average of one call per day.

said. “That’s a huge number.”

He added this puts his district in a good position.

“That’s very encouraging, especially from Duplin County, where we’re based, as well as Sampson. Well, the whole region to be honest.”

Dexter Edwards, chairman of the Duplin County Commissioners, also attended Pork Forward and told Duplin Journal he also liked

what he heard at the event.

“I think it looks like a wonderful future,” Edwards said. “I mean, the bottom line is the world’s going to keep on eating, and we’re feeding the world. There are a lot of good things happening in the hog industry.”

The afternoon presentations included a variety of subjects ranging from farm safety and swine nutrition to irrigation and the use of drone technology.

Trip

Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

Why this graduation season means so much at JSCC

As we close out the semester, I’m reminded that May is a season of new beginnings.

GRADUATION SEASON is here at James Sprunt Community College, and our faculty and sta are working hard to make this moment truly special for the students we serve. As a rst-generation college student myself, I understand the signi cance of completing something that once felt di cult and unknown. For each of our graduates this May, this milestone represents a meaningful step toward the future they envision. For some, it means creating a new path for generations to follow. For others, it’s one step in a longer educational journey.

May 14 will be a particularly special day for the entire JSCC family, and for me personally, as it marks my rst graduation as a Spartan. Since arriving in Duplin County, I’ve felt incredibly welcomed by this community. Our students’ success is personal, and I look forward to celebrating alongside them and their families. It has also been a busy and rewarding spring on

COLUMN | LARRY ELDER

campus. We’ve welcomed student groups for specialized tours, o ering them a closer look at our programs and the opportunities available to them. These visits allow our faculty and sta to connect one on one with prospective students and help them envision their futures.

We’re also excited to host our biannual “Crayons on Campus” event, welcoming rst graders from across Duplin County. It’s a meaningful opportunity to introduce young students to higher education and begin building lasting connections.

As we close out the semester, I’m reminded that May is a season of new beginnings. I encourage everyone to re ect on the past year and take one more step toward a brighter future, perhaps even with us at JSCC.

Shannon Hair is the president of James Sprunt Community College.

The implosion of Eric Swalwell: What was he thinking?

Despite a combined income with his wife of over $400,000, he is deeply in debt.

WHEN THEN-REP. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) announced his candidacy for governor of California, I was beyond surprised. Rumors of sexual misconduct, including allegations of blatant and serial in delity, had been circulating for years. Having run for this very o ce, I experienced rsthand the intense level of local, state and national scrutiny one receives when seeking the top job in the biggest state in the country.

The left-wing media treats liberal Democrat candidates di erent from how it treats conservative Republican candidates, but the media are not the problem if one’s candidacy starts to resonate. The heat comes from the same-party campaign rivals.

When I decided to run for governor of California, I sought the advice of several experienced strategists, politicians, pundits and some professors. They all said the same thing, only worded di erently: “Is there anything in your background that would be a problem?”

These questions, they advised, include but are not limited to: Skeletons in your closet? What about your friends, associates and family members? Taxes? Sexual harassment or misconduct or assaults? Any present or past behavior that could be deemed scandalous? Dating history, marriage or divorce? Outstanding warrants? Tra c tickets? Unpaid tra c tickets? DUIs? Automobile accidents you caused or were involved in? Arrests? Misdemeanors? Felonies? Unpaid bills? Credit card debt? Lawsuits led by or lawsuits against you? Drug use and drug abuse? Alcoholism? Abuse of prescription drugs? Sketchy business dealings? Bankruptcy? Inappropriate internet activity, including porn sites, other illicit sites or sending “compromising pictures”? Social media posts that could come back to haunt you? 911 calls from your home? Your work history? To what church do you belong? Who is your pastor? Ever been red? If so, why? Is your campaign biography accurate, with no exaggerations or embellishments? Do your neighbors like you?

And, for good measure, I was advised to hire a private detective to investigate myself. My experienced campaign manager took me on only after I addressed all those questions — and others — and obtained a report from a well-regarded private investigator. My campaign manager cautioned, “If you are accused of picking your feet in Poughkeepsie — especially if you did pick your feet in Poughkeepsie — it will come out.”

This brings us to Swalwell, who, according to a University

of California, Berkeley poll conducted in March, was the leading Democrat in the primary. He was endorsed by Sen. Adam Schi (D-Calif.), who, like Swalwell, served as a prosecutor in an impeachment trial against President Donald Trump.

According to Reuters, “A fth woman came forward to accuse Swalwell of unwanted sexual contact, saying the Democratic lawmaker drugged and raped her during an encounter in 2018.” Swalwell rst denied the accusations. He then dropped out of the race for governor, followed by his resignation from Congress.

Former House Speaker and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) claimed she knew nothing about the rumors against Swalwell. But Willie Brown, once a mentor to former Vice President Kamala Harris and a former mayor of San Francisco, and who for 15 years served as speaker of the California Assembly, said, “No, I’m not surprised frankly because there have been rumors after rumors after rumors, his colleagues in Washington pretty much said that. That’s what Adam Schi said, that’s what Nancy Pelosi said.”

But Swalwell’s problems are just beginning. The sheri of Los Angeles County has launched a criminal probe, as has the Manhattan District Attorney’s O ce. Civil lawsuits may follow.

Then there are Swalwell’s nancial issues. Despite a combined income with his wife of over $400,000, he is deeply in debt. He owes $100,000 in student loans, borrowed against his retirement account to help fund his campaign and deferred paying income taxes to conserve cash ow. This is not exactly a good look for someone vying to be the chief executive of a state with a budget de cit and massive unfunded pension liabilities.

On top of everything, these scandals could cost the father of three children his marriage. After all, Swalwell set the standard. During the con rmation hearing of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Swalwell considered Kavanaugh un t due to allegations of sexual misconduct. Swalwell tweeted, “Support survivors. Believe survivors. We are with you.”

All of this raises a question: When Swalwell decided to run for governor, “What was he thinking?”

Larry Elder is a bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio talk-show host. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

School board recognizes student achievement, employee honors

O cials also heard a report on growth and future enrollment pressure

By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal

KENANSVILLE — Recognitions and presentations highlighting student achievement and regional growth were the focus of the Duplin County School Board meeting April 14.

Nicole Murray presented a U.S. Presidential Scholar Award to Edwardo Gonzalez of Wallace-Rose Hill High School.

“The purpose of the program,” Murray said, “is to recognize outstanding high school seniors and encourage their continued excellence. The program was established by President (Lyndon) Johnson in 1964 and has recognized over 8,000 students since.”

Murray was later honored as Duplin County Employee of the Quarter.

“Ms. Murray has made a meaningful impact in many capacities with unwavering commitment to excellence,” Chairman Brent Davis said.

Murray thanked Davis and others during her remarks.

“It has been a pleasure to serve this district for almost 20 years so far,” Murray said.

“It has been a pleasure to serve this district for almost 20 years so far.”

Nicole Murray

“I would be remiss if I did not express my appreciation for Dr. (Austin) Obasahan and his belief in me,” she said, also praising her “amazing team” for their support.

The Wallace Town Council presented information on residential and commercial growth expected to impact school capacity. They shared growth and construction plans surrounding the Tin City area expected to see more than 400 homes added to the area currently served by Wallace Elementary.

“We are one of the fastest growing areas,” the Wallace council said, explaining that they expect to see people coming from Wilmington to buy homes and settle in Duplin County.

“We will be feeling the pressure of this new growth on our school system within the next 2-3 years,” the Wallace council said. “Within 4-5 years, we will be stressing the system.”

The council did not ask the

board for any decisions or funding. Rather, it sought to inform the board about what was coming to “equip them with information” for future decisions.

Lynette Stokes recognized achievements in the Child Nutrition Department.

“This year marks our rst participation in the School Nutrition Association’s Culinary Arts Competition,” Stokes said. “We joined districts from all across the state. … This opportunity allowed them to showcase their talent and creativity on a larger stage and bring home some awards.”

Culinary sta from at least three schools participated, earning awards including rst place in lunch and entrée, second place in quick breads, second place in cupcakes and third place in whole grain side dish. Stokes also recognized community partners supporting the summer lunch program. Davis thanked Stokes, sta and partners for their e orts.

In other business

Duplin County will be hosting the State Board of Education’s May meeting May 5-7. As a result, the May board meeting was moved to May 12.

Garden Gala kicks o Strawberry Festival events

The Garden Gala, a preliminary event to the upcoming Carolina Strawberry Festival on May 1-2, was held at the Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina on Saturday. Attendees were treated to music, food, beverages, owers and a silent auction to bene t the festival.

Charley Farrior, Carolina Strawberry Festival president, told Duplin Journal at the event that the Garden Gala was one of several special events associated with the festival this year. “It’s our second event for the festival, with the beauty pageant being the rst,” Farrior said. “Then, the recipe contest is next week with the Strawberry Festival the week after that. We’re excited.”

Greenevers board addresses water dispute

The board suspended water shuto s as o cials review meter accuracy and billing concerns

By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal

GREENEVERS — Continued concerns about high water bills and potentially faulty meters took center stage at the start of the April 13 meeting in Greenevers. One resident, Jackie Wilson, addressed the board regarding a potential shuto for past-due bills. She said her meter gave a faulty reading during the billing period. The town replaced her meter and sent the old one o for inspection.

Wilson said she was still being held responsible for the disputed charges and late fees even while the meter’s accuracy was under review. Mayor Diane Brown, Town Clerk Emma Brinson and the commissioners discussed Wilson’s account, including how much of her balance had been paid and

what remained. Commissioner Timothy Murphy supported Wilson, arguing that late fees should not continue to accrue while the town investigates the meter’s accuracy.

Wilson said she would take the matter to court if required to pay what she believes are inaccurate charges. After discussion, the board agreed to suspend any shuto action against Wilson and apply all current payments to her ongoing usage.

The disputed charges will be billed as a lump sum, including late fees, if the meter is found to be accurate. If it is determined to be faulty, her bills will be adjusted accordingly.

Brinson provided updates on several ongoing projects.

The town’s waterline extension project continues, replacing aging lines and connecting to a new water main. The old well house has been demolished, and renovation work is moving forward.

A draft of the subdivision ordinance was provided to the board, but it could not be adopt-

ed. It has to go before the planning board rst. Brinson also reported that $10,000 in re hydrant repairs has been completed. The board discussed the color-coded system used on hydrant tops, which indicates water pressure levels. Additional hydrant repairs were approved, with funding allocated from the water and sewer fund.

Funding for additional projects was discussed, including grants for sewer improvements and improvements to the town’s community center. Because some of the grants would require the town to come up with a percentage of the cost in matching funds, the board approved pursuing only three of the ve proposed grants.

A 10-year contractual agreement with the Town of Wallace for water and sewer services was approved.

The board discussed rotating the mayor pro tempore position among commissioners, agreeing to rotate the position annually.

Brinson a rmed that the

Red Cross partnership to make the community center a disaster relief shelter did complete its on-site assessment. No further action has been taken to make the center a shelter at this time.

The re department’s shared use of the town’s lawn equipment was addressed concerning division of cost on repairs. After the lawn mower was used by the re department, there was an issue with the seat. The re department agreed to pay half of the cost to repair the seat, and they agreed to pay half of any future repairs as well.

Land for sale o Charity Road was discussed because it is near town hall and the owner o ered the town the opportunity to purchase it. The board agreed the property would be desirable but saw no practical use for it and voted against purchasing it.

The board began discussing objectives for the 2026-27 scal year budget. The board used a worksheet provided by the Local Government Asso -

ciation to help guide its discussion. Brinson explained the worksheet was to “keep in mind future items as well as current items.” The board agreed to allow additional time for further consideration and tabled the discussion for a later meeting.

Brinson also shared that the monthly budget for March included a net pro t of $16,000 in taxes and $10,000 in water and sewer revenue. She further shared that there was an increase in interest earnings since funds were moved. The board approved a budget amendment to move funds from the water and sewer fund.

The board approved a $15,000 quote for tree limb removal on an overgrown part of the town’s land. The work would restore the area to manageable conditions. Ditch drainage issues were also discussed. Brown asked the re department to ush the ditches to help maintain the town’s investment in ditch tiles. Fence and bridge repairs were also discussed, and the board approved $500 for bridge repairs. The meeting adjourned into closed session shortly thereafter.

Friday, May 1, 2026

9:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Lunch

CAROLINA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

DUPLIN SPORTS

MR. BASKETBALL 2025-26

Zamarion Smith averaged 15.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and was a tenacious

‘Z’ stamps his initial

on Tigers basketball

“He’s a competitor and a winner.”

JK head coach

Taylor Jones on Zamarion Smith

Zamarion Smith’s shooting, defense and all-around play made him the most consistent player in Duplin and gave JK star power

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

WARSAW — Zamari-

on Smith isn’t a vocal leader. So to hear his voice ring through a gymnasium was both a battle call and a warning to Rosewood. James Kenan’s loss to Wal-

lace-Rose Hill in the regular season nale sparked a rare emotional response from the normally reserved senior.

“He took that one hard,” said JK head coach Taylor Jones. “You could see our kids were angry, and it just didn’t feel right.” The Tigers had several

BOYS’ BASKETBALL COACH OF THE YEAR 2025-26

chances to beat WRH late but squandered it, 66-64.

“I told our guys to hold out that they’ll probably get another shot at Wallace in the conference tournament,” Jones said.

“Then I see us up on Rose 20-0 and 44-8 at halftime, and I say, ‘they’re ready,’ and we went out and played what was probably our best game of the year.”

JK, which played team basketball all winter, had extra inspiration from Smith and more vocal co-captain Jeremiah Hall, dominating every aspect of the game and never let the Bulldogs feel the least bit comfortable during a 71-65 demolition.

Smith, who was the most

ALL-DUPLIN BOYS’ BASKETBALL 2025-26

The undersized foursome ashed nifty footwork and were crafty nishers

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

WALLACE — While James Kenan’s Zamarion Smith was clearly the best all-around player in Duplin County, four of his teammates on the Journal’s all-county team shared at least one trait: the ability to score and rebound in the paint.

Wallace-Rose Hill’s Matthew Wells, North Duplin’s Jae’lyn Ingram and JK’s Kentrell Morrisey were undersized but didn’t let that stop them from being a force at the rim.

So was East Duplin’s Dominic Hall, a 6-foot-5 junior who became an imposing center who blocked, altered and prevented shots in his area.

Wells, a senior, was really a guard/forward or swing player, while sophomores Ingram and Morrisey are traditional small forwards.

Several second-team players just missed the cut, and worthy arguments can be presented for their absence, Zachary Ball and CJ Hill in particular.

Though Smith and Wells were the lone seniors on the rst squad, all ve second-team selections graduate in June, as do four of the six honorable mention recipients.

Matt Wells, WRH, Sr. Wells, who will play Division II basketball at Mount Olive, was the Bulldogs’ most

20.5

Scoring average for ND sophomore Jae’lyn Ingram this season

Jones taps into competitive mindset of Tigers athletes

Taylor Jones won his 200th career game late this season. He’s coached the past seven seasons at JK after being at Spring Creek for 12 years.

JK’s Taylor Jones has success by building up and not browbeating his team to an 18-win campaign

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

WARSAW — Math whiz and former 3-pointer specialist Taylor Jones had one of his best basketball winters in two decades.

In fact, James Kenan’s head coach was so busy enjoying the journey he didn’t know he posted

the 200th win of his career just before the end of the regular season via a win over Rosewood. He was too concerned about a loss to rival Wallace-Rose Hill three days previous, which was the Tigers’ lone two-game skid en route to an 18-6 campaign.

It was JK’s most wins since 2017 and the most by Jones, a former North Duplin long-range hoopster, since coming to the Tigers from Spring Creek in 2021.

Jones is 68-51 since then after going 135-157 in 12 seasons in Gator land where basket-

ball skills and talent were most often low.

So while he’s earned 203 wins, Jones has also taught the game to a large number of players and has had his teams shock bigger schools, such as Goldsboro. He went 20-8 in 2019, 22-7 in 2017 and 21-5 in 2015. Yet clearly, a lack of talent played a part in Jones’ 208 career losses.

But 18 wins for the Tigers last winter earned Jones Coach of the Year honors for Duplin

See JONES, page B6

consistent all-around player in the county, had countless step -up moments for the Tigers en route to becoming the Duplin Journal’s Mr. Basketball.

He averaged 15.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and was a tenacious defender.

“He can score on all three levels,” Jones said. “He can nish, score at the free-throw line and also from behind the 3-point line.

Defenders who slept on Smith paid the price.

“He has one of the quickest rst steps I’ve ever seen,” Jones said. “You can know he goes right rst 95% of the time, and he’ll still get around you. He’s a good kid with a great heart.”

Smith led a Tigers team that lived o hustle, second chances, grit and defense.

“He scored a lot, but a lot of times had to guard the other team’s best (o ensive) player,” Smith said. “Z and Jeremiah were always having a competition on who held down their man the most. It was a bragging rights thing. That competition and fun made us better on the oor and as a team.”

JK nished 18-6 with three losses to Goldsboro (21-5) with its nal setback coming via mega basketball power Farmville Central, which was unbeaten during its third-round matchup with the Tigers.

He was frequently the leading scorer. But he yielded to rst-team forward Kentrall Morrisey and second-team players CJ Hill and Eli Avent.

When he wasn’t the top gun, Smith displayed other parts of his game.

“He’s a competitor and a winner,” Jones said. “He competed at a high level every game.”

Smith played three seasons.

He was brought up and started as a freshman when JK had a rash of injuries. Jones said 11 of 13 players missed a month or more due to injuries.

The “bug” hit Smith the next

MR. BASKETBALL

2015: John Brooks, JK

2016: Johnnie Glaspie, WRH

2017: Darryl McCaster Jr., JK

2018: Darryl McCaster Jr., JK

2019: Darryl McCaster Jr., JK and Chase Ingram, ED

2020: No season (COVID-19)

2021: Kavel Donaldson, JK

2022: Jalen James, WRH

2023: Jalen James, WRH

2024: Dujuan Armwood, ND

2025: Donavan Armwood, ND

2026: Zamarion Smith, JK

season as an ACL injury kept him on the sidelines.

Smith had a solid junior season, though JK never found its rhythm and nished a disappointing 8-12 and lost several seniors who were two- and three-year starters.

“We competed every game and the chips never fell our way for some reason or another,” Jones said. “Yet through all this, Z and other guys went through success and failures, which are both great learning tools.”

Smith is the sixth Mr. Basketball from JK in the past 11 seasons and the latest winner since Kavell Donaldson in 2021.

Darryl McCaster Jr. shared the award in 2019 with East Duplin’s Chase Ingram and then wore the crown the next two seasons. The late John Brooks won the rst Mr. Basketball in 2015.

North Duplin’s Donavan Armwood took it home a year ago, and his older brother Dujuan won in 2024.

WRH’s Jalen James captured it in ’22 and ’23, and Bulldog Johnnie Glaspie in 2015.

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Rebels, Panthers in conference title mix as playo s approach

ND kept momentum by winning its fth straight, while ED won twice to end a four-game tailspin

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

CALYPSO — North Duplin continued to ride its winning wave.

East Duplin steered its way to a sweep of Clinton to snap its Easter losing streak.

Both schools will battle for conference titles and positioning in the state playo s in the next two weeks. First round affairs are slated for May 5.

Staying on the cloud of momentum

Last week, the Rebels (7-4, 6-3) captured wins over Union (30-0) and East Bladen (10-6), which was their fth-straight win after a 2-4 start.

“We took some early lumps, but our guys have responded with great play, and mentally we’re all on the same page,” said head coach Brad Rhodes. “It’s a fun group because the more you challenge them, the more they respond. We kept the momentum we had before the Easter break.”

ND has four of the top 11 hitters in Duplin County, led by the seemingly unstoppable bats of Garris Warren (.618) and Noah Price (.525), who are Nos. 1 and 2 in the charts.

But Cole Grady (.444) and Garrett Stevens (.424) have each banged out 10 hits in their past ve outings, while Noah Quintanilla (.421) is 6 of 7 in his last three games after going 6 of 10 during a three-game stretch earlier this month.

Rhodes also mentioned reliever Hayden Miller as a game-saver.

Miller has a pair of saves in six appearances. He got thenal three outs against East Bladen after the o ense set up ND for the win.

Price and Quintanilla each had three hits and combined to drive in ve runs. Stevens had two hits and three RBIs, while Warren added a run-scoring single, walk and two runs.

ND will have to be on its game this week during games against Carolina Conference-leading Hobbton (13-3, 7-1) and rival Rosewood (16 -2, 8-1), a 2A school that chose to play in the Swine Valley 3A rather than the CC.

ND’s last loss came to the Wildcats, a 3-1 verdict on March 19 in Newton Grove.

ND nishes the regular season against West Columbus (7-10, 4-5) and Lakewood (6-11, 3-6).

“We played well in the rst Hobbton game, and I told the kids if we keep doing that this whole thing would turn,” Rhodes said. “We’ve got two tough ones, that’s for sure.”

Panthers respond to Easter wake-up call

East Duplin (10-5, 6-0) got rattled by North Johnston, Rosewood, Charles B. Aycock and North Lenoir during

spring break but returned to sweep two games for ECC rival Clinton.

Gavin Holmes had a pair of singles, a triple and three RBIs in the 9-8 squeaker in Beulaville.

Jack Tuck, JP Murphy and Brayden Jones each whacked a pair of hits, and Luke Hall and Sawyer Marshburn had RBIs.

Colton Holmes lashed two hits, walked three times and scored a run. Eight players drove in runs three days later in Beulaville during a 15-0, mercy-rule triumph. Yet Jones may have been the biggest star since he held Clinton to two hits and two walks in ve frames and also had a pair of hits and three RBIs. Gavin Holmes, Silas Jarman, Brody Blizzard, Hayes Lanier, Braxton Bedding eld, Colton Holmes, Marshburn and Murphy all knocked in a run.

Jack Tuck didn’t, but he singled, doubled, walked and scored twice.

Marshburn (.463) and Gavin Holmes (.455) are sixth and seventh, respectively, among all Duplin hitters. Shortstop Tuck (.391) isn’t far o their pace.

The Panthers play a two-game set against Pender (2-15, 0-5) this week and with two wins can go for the ECC title when facing South Lenoir (12-2, 5-0) in the nal week of April. The Blue Devils also have losses to CBA and Rosewood.

Noah Rouse (.462, 13 RBIs), Gage Howard (.413, 15 RBIs), Braden Barnett (.389, 17 RBIs) are three of six South Lenoir players with at least 10 RBIs. SL is hitting .348 as a team while outscoring its foes by an average score of 11-4.

Bulldogs rally to topple Cougars

Wallace-Rose Hill scored all of its runs in the nal three innings during a 13-3 win over Goldsboro in six innings. The Cougars tallied three rst-inning runs and held onto

the lead until the four-run fourth. WRH added two more in the fth and blew o the lid with seven in the sixth.

Will Brooks ripped a pair of doubles and a single to account for three RBIs. Landon Smith added a two-run base knock. Luke Jackson had two hits in three trips and drove in two while scattering six hits and an earned run on the mound.

Two days later, Brooks, Hayden Lovette and Gray James accounted for WRH’s four hits during a 7-0 setback to Princeton (10-6, 6-2).

WRH (7-8, 3-5) needs an upset to be .500 by the state playo cuto , which will be di cult since Rosewood and Midway (16-6, 8-1) are on the docket in the next two weeks.

Can the Tigers nd their way to .500?

It’s quite possible that James Kenan will need to beat WRH on April 30 in Teachey to nish the regular season with a .500 mark.

JK (5-7) has been surviving via the bats of the Avent twins, Eli (.500, 7 doubles) and Cal (.484, 4 doubles), with help via Hansley McGee (.341) and Paxton Smith (.333), who have combined for ve doubles.

The Tigers were thrashed by Rosewood 14-3 and Midway 23-0 last week.

Strickland, Crusaders return to topple Knights

Reid Strickland drove in two runs as Harrells Christian Academy returned from an eight-day layo with a 6-3 win over Village Christian (12-7). Davis Rogers had two hits in three trips as HCA (10-5, 3-4) took a 5-3 lead in the third inning.

Strickland allowed one hit in ve innings, whi ng nine and allowing just one walk. Drake Smith, Peyton Gomez and Jesse Smith each had an RBI.

The Tigers and Bulldogs booters are bracing for a key rivalry match

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

BEULAVILLE — The team that’s played the most softball games in the Duplin Journal-area has the most wins and faces two regular-season- ending series that will decide its fate in the state playo s.

East Duplin (14-2, 5-1)

soared to three landslide victories last week and will face Pender (11-2, 4-2) in a two -game set this week before playing South Lenoir (11- 6, 5-1) as three teams grapple for the ECC title with two weeks to play.

The Panthers thrashed Clinton 10-0 and 20-0 and pushed past West Brunswick 10-4 in between league wins.

ED is seeking its rst title since going 12-0 in loop play in 2023.

In the win over the Scorpions, Lorena Rodriguez and Ansley Hunter each had three hits and three RBIs, while Ava Noble had two hits, a sacri ce and scored three times.

Leighton Davis and Sophia Jones each knocked in a run, and Zoe Turner tripled as part of the Panthers’ six extra-base hits.

A ve-run fth gave ED a 9-3 lead as Zoe Cavanaugh came in to relieve Karsyn Parker for the nal three frames.

Bulldogs win third straight

Seniors Sophie Sloan, Mattie Gavin and Angelina Cavallaro had run-scoring hits, and classmate Jansley Page scored three times as Wallace-Rose Hill needed just six innings to dust o Princeton 12-3 in Teachey.

The win came after a tougher-than-expected 5-2 win over Goldsboro.

Payton Tyndall limited the Johnston County squad to two hits while whi ng eight and walking one. WRH tacked up six runs for the senior in the rst inning.

Page and Gavin each had two hits and combined to score three times against the Cougars.

Tyndall went the distance, striking out 10 to tie her season high.

Sloan, Page, Gavin and Isabella Parker combined to drive in 11 runs when WRH (8-7, 6-2) slashed Northside-Jacksonville 18-0.

Rebels ex pop for eighth straight win

The dust of spring has settled, and it’s no surprise North Duplin is 10-1 and on the move.

The Rebels only had to ex half their muscles to beat Union 16-0 and 17-0 and then nearly pulled down the mercy rule on West Bladen with a 13-3 road win in Elizabethtown.

Lilly Fulghum had three

hits and three RBIs, and Marissa Bernal and Ady Spence each drove in a pair of runs.

Fulghum is hitting a crispy .581 this spring with nine extra-base hits and 21 RBIs. She hurled four innings in the circle. Gracie Higginbotham, who had two hits and scored twice, threw the other three frames.

The duo combined to whi 13 and walk three.

ND won its eight-straight game and is tied with East Columbus (14-5, 7-1) for the top spot in the Carolina Conference.

The two schools split two games this season, and barring an upset, neither will lose in league play the rest of the way. Losses to either EB (5-10, 3-3) or WC (4-8, 4-4) are unlikely for the Gators.

ND has the No. 4 RPI spot among all 2A schools in the state. Roxbury Community (12-2), which lost to Perquimans County in the East Region nal last season, is the top seed.

Unbeaten Raiders, Stonerock tame Tigers

Kaleigh Stonerock showed James Kenan how a dominant pitcher works in the circle, even if she is slightly o her game.

The Midway senior scattered six hits while striking out 10 to get around seven walks as the Raiders beat the Tigers 12-3 to all but clinch the Swine Valley Conference title.

JK (12-3, 7-2) fell to Midway 9-8 on March 18 in Dunn as Makenzie Odom threw for six innings and Stonerock one.

But unbeaten Midway (15 - 0, 9-0) has allowed just 20 runs in its 14 other games. Hoggard, a 7A school, scored seven times but lost to Midway 8-7. The Raiders have seven shutouts, and no other school has scored more than two runs against them. Midway is the state’s No. 1 3A school in RPI, while JK is 10th.

All three of JK’s runs came in the seventh.

Jovi Hall, Sadie Casteen, Shyulah Sloan, Ava Jones and Kenadi Gideons each had a hit for the Tigers, who will be favored in their nal ve games of the regular season.

The state playo s start May 5, though JK is likely to get a bye into the second round.

Crusaders bash Parrott

Makenzie Jackson drove in two runs, Breelyn Peed scored three times and nine runs were driven in by Crusaders as Harrells Christian bashed Parrott Academy 10-0 in a four-inning a air ended by the mercy rule.

HCA (6-7, 2-7) scored four times in the opening inning, added two more in the fourth and four in the fth to nish o the Patriots (2-9, 0-5).

SOCCER

Panthers in ECC’s driver’s seat

Anamarie Rodriguez scored

a goal in three East Duplin wins last week, the most important of which came during a 1-0 win over Clinton as the Panthers (10-6, 5-1) won for the seventh straight time following a 2-5 start.

A day later, the Panthers junior was also the trigger for a 1-0 win over Princeton.

She added two scores the following day as the Panthers stumped the Dark Horses 5-1 to earn the spot atop the ECC standings.

Melanie Reyes also added a pair of scores, while Reagan Campbell also had a cage ringer.

ED must whip Pender (4-7, 1-5) and South Lenoir (4 -10 -1) twice to capture the ECC ag for the second consecutive season and third in four years. Tigers, Bulldogs, Raiders scrambling for lead in

Swine Valley

James Kenan’s defense had not allowed a goal in its past four Swine Valley Conference matches.

Yet it took a goal by Yaneiudi Cruz, her eighth of the spring, to send the Tigers to a 1-0 win over Midway.

But goals came like raindrops during a 5-0 win over Rosewood earlier in the week.

Aleyah Wilson picked up her area-leading 20th, and Noilin Rodriguez, Labria McGowan, Arely Panito and Josselyn Gomez scored.

JK (10-4, 8-1) has big matches against Princeton (11-3-2, 7-1) and WRH (7-7, 6-2) in the next two weeks.

Goals by Kaylee Guzman and Bayleen Flores lifted the Bulldogs past Princeton last week and created a three-way race for the title.

JK hosts Princeton on April 28 and visits WRH two days later. Wilson scored two late goals March 31 when the Tigers beat the Bulldogs 2-0 in Warsaw.

East Bladen defense blankets Rebels

East Bladen’s defense near its goal was su ocating, and the Eagles were ying to win 50-50 balls.

Three second-half scores, two of which came o the feet of Gabriela Rebollar, propelled East Bladen to a 3-0 Carolina Conference win last week.

The loss dropped ND (9-2, 7-2) to a game o the pace of league leader Hobbton (9-4, 7-1), a school the Rebels beat 3-0 on March 19 in Newton Grove.

The two schools lock horns this week in Calypso.

ND avenged a 2-1 overtime loss to Union early last week by getting three goals from Tristen Stemmler, two from Carrly Strickland and one via Roselin Orozco. Strickland leads the Rebels with 16 goals. Stemmler has 11, Sasha Arguilo nine and four assists, and Orozco seven and three assists.

North Duplin, softball

Lilly Fulghum has failed to get a hit in one full game this spring, though North Duplin beat Topsail 10-6.

Last week, the senior was in her usual form and bashed three hits, scoring three times and driving in three runs during a 12-3 win over East Bladen.

Fulghum, an all-state player from a season ago and UNC Charlotte signee, is hitting .581 with six doubles, a triple, two homers and 21 RBIs while crossing home plate 18 times.

The right-hander is sharing the pitching duties with freshman Gracie Higginbotham and plays shortstop when not in the circle. Fulghum, a four-year starter, is a .612 career hitter with 25 doubles, nine triples and 17 home runs.

The once-beaten Rebels are the No. 4 RPI school in 2A.

consistent player the past two seasons.

WRH went 18-6 for its best nish since two-time state champ Steve Robinson guided the Bulldogs to an 18-8 mark in 2016.

Wells averaged 15.1 points, eight rebounds and three assists while having the basketball skills to handle the rock, knock down free throws and use hustle, toughness and his strong basketball IQ.

He hit 59% from 2-point range, 39% from beyond the 3-point line and 76% from the charity stripe, leading his team in all three categories.

Kentrell Morrisey, JK, So.

Morrisey could dominate a game. Doing it in the rst half often set the tone, and doing it in the second half started the previctory ceremony for fans.

Even the opposition could admire his skills in the corners, near the basket and in the open court, as the sophomore leveraged his way to 14.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.8 steals.

Morrisey might have the most talent of any returning player and was just beat out for Mr. Basketball by his teammate.

Look for him to become a better defender and develop a better outside shot. It’s hard to imagine him being more active close to the basket, yet more points and rebounds will follow.

He will team well with classmates Mari Graham and Tripp Phipps next season.

Jae’lyn Ingram, ND, So.

How good is Ingram? After one season, he’s more than halfway to a 1,000-point career. And he did it playing in head coach Je Byrd’s platoon system, where his minutes are less than what most starters from the opposition receive.

In the same mold as Mor-

risey, he averaged 20.5 points and 7.6 boards while connecting for 49% from the eld and 59% from the free-throw line.

He tossed in 28 when ND beat Triangle Math and Science in the second round of the 2A playo s. It was a total he matched two other times. His best e ort was a 33-point outburst against Hobbton.

He notched double gures in all but three games for ND, including the nal 13 to end the regular season. And also, like Morrisey, Ingram will be well served next season playing alongside classmate Missah Cooper (5.6 points per game).

Dominic Hall, ED, So.

Hall averaged 12.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and a county-high 2.6 blocks. He hit 45% from the eld and 55% from the line, numbers that are sure to increase next season, while he cuts down on turnovers.

He logged double-digits points 14 times, including hisnal six games. One big one during that stretch was a 13-point, sixboard performance that helped East Duplin beat Clinton for the ECC Tournament title.

24 SP 101 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

NORTH CAROLINA, DUPLIN COUNTY

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Shirley C. Underwood and Earnest E. Underwood to John M. Mercer, Trustee(s), which was dated September 13, 2006 and recorded on September 28, 2006 in Book 1565 at Page 110, Duplin County Registry, North Carolina. Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on April 27, 2026 at 12:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Duplin County, North Carolina, to wit: The following described property located in the northeast quarter of the Town of Wallace, Island Creek Township, Duplin County, State of North Carolina and being described with bearings relative to the North Carolina Grid Meridian (NAD 1983). Beginning at an iron pipe found at the intersection of the south line of Cavenaugh Street and the west line of Graham Street and being the northeast corner of Lot 25 in Block 31 of the S.B. Wilson Subdivision as recorded in Map Book 216, page 187 of the Duplin County Registry, and runs thence With the west line of Graham Street south 17 degrees 09 minutes 20 seconds east 146.47 feet to an iron pipe found, thence With the Earlie C. Sanderson line (Bk. 551, Pg 522) south 72 degrees 35 minutes 10 seconds west 125.32 feet to an iron pipe found in the line of Lot 20, thence With the line of Lot 20 north 17 degrees 00 minutes 10 seconds west 146.47 feet to an iron pipe found in the south line of Cavenaugh Street, thence With the south line of Cavenaugh Street north 72 degrees 35 minutes 00 seconds east 124.93 feet to the point of beginning, containing 0.42 acres more or less as surveyed by Brent H. Whit eld L-3589 on April 26, 1995. The above tract is a part of Lots 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 in Block 31 of the S. B Wilson Subdivision as recorded in Map Book 216, page 187 and also being that land described in a Deed in Daryl W. Ambrose and wife, Janice L. Ambrose as recorded in Book 904 page 608 of the Duplin County Registry. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 322 East Cavenaugh Street, Wallace, NC 28466. A certi ed check only (no personal checks) of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE

He went for 19 and six during a 62-52 win over North Pitt in the rst round of the 4A playo s.

Hall’s development opened up lanes of opportunities for Zachary Ball, Aaron Hall and DJ Davis as ED won ve of its nal seven games to nish at 12-12.

SECOND TEAM

Zachary Ball, ED, Sr.

Ball, who got better as the season progressed and took on an advanced leadership role, may have been the most improved player in Duplin.

He averaged 10.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.9 steals and canned 32 shots from behind the 3-point line.

CJ Hill, JK, Sr.

Hill is perhaps the most underrated player in Duplin and showed o his style after having healed from an injury that all but kept him o the gridiron in 2025.

He averaged 14.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and was a factor inside or on perimeter on both offense and defense.

RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.

Said property to be o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being o ered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are SHIRLEY C. UNDERWOOD.

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 the 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 no 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 [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. 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.

Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by the person conducting the sale, or their agent”.

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 trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

If the transaction is subject to the FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule (“RRE”) issued pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, necessary to comply with the RRE Rule must be obtained and provided to the Reporting Person, as de ned in the RRE Rule, prior to closing. Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 17-00587-FC03

He and Ball nearly made it to the rst team. Both made signi cant contributions in football and were rst-team picks.

Darrius McCrimmon, WRH, Sr.

McCrimmon hit for double gures in 13 of WRH’s rst 16 games, including the rst 10 as the Bulldogs roared to a 12-1 start. He averaged 12.0 points and 6.1 rebounds but was held under double gures four of his nal ve regular season games.

Jeremiah Hall, JK, Sr.

Hall left numbers in every statistic box, from scoring (6.6) and rebounds (5.1) to assists (5.2) and steals (4.1) as a selfless player. The Tigers followed his lead to go 18-6 with three losses coming to ECC champ Goldsboro.

Aaron Hall, ED, Sr. Hall averaged 9.9 points and 3.3 rebounds and 2.4 steals and scored a season-high 25 in a win over Trask. His 13 and six against Clinton helped ED capture an ECC Tournament title. He was the Panthers’ No. 2

NOTICES

NORTH CAROLINA DUPLIN COUNTY FILE#26E000120-300

running back last fall when ED won a league gridiron crown.

HONORABLE MENTION

Raquan McCrimmon, WRH, So. Darrius’ younger brother had a way of showing his stu on a veteran team. He averaged 9.2 points.

Eli Avent, JK, Sr. Avent (8.4 points, 4.2 boards, 2.1 assists) came o the bench or started and was the Tigers’ best 3-point shooter and an all-out hustler otherwise.

David Zeleya, JK, Sr. At 6 feet, he was the biggest defensive enforcer inside for the Tigers.

Kayden Keith, WRH, Fr. Averaged 7.6 points, 4.2 boards and looks like a star of the future.

Carell Phillips, ND, Sr. Phillips did the dirty work in the paint for the Rebels, averaging 5.1 points and 6.6 boards after returning for his nal season following a three-year stint as one of ND’s most accomplished running backs.

DJ Davis, ED, So. Davis averaged 8.2 points and 5.9 rebounds as the Panthers’ point guard while stepping into the circle for jump-ball situations.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

JOY KING PATE, ADMINISTRATOR 1171 FRIENDSHIP CHURCH ROAD FAISON, NC 28341 Run dates: A9,16,23,30p

DUPLIN COUNTY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

CLEARING & GRADING SERVICES

Duplin County will receive Bids from properly licensed and quali ed contractors for the Airpark Phase II Clearing and Grading Project at the Duplin County Economic Development O ce located at 260 Airport Road, Kenansville, NC 28349, until May 14, 2026 at 9:00AM, at which time and place all Bids received will be opened. Late bids will not be considered. The general scope of work includes clearing, grubbing, grading, and erosion control of approximately four (4) acres of forested land for the development of a future access road. Instructions for bidding and full details of the project scope can be found at the Duplin County website: www.duplinnc.gov, by clicking “News” and “Bid Opportunities”. Duplin County is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Duplin County reserves the right to waive any informalities or irregularities in or to reject any or all Bids and to award or refrain from awarding the Contract for the work, whichever the County deems to be in its best interest. Send questions to Hillary Crawford at hcrawford@parrishandpartners.com.

TOWN OF ROSE HILL PUBLIC HEARING

regular meeting of the Town Board, held for legislative purposes.

The Zoning Map Amendment Request is available for public inspection in the o ce of the Rose Hill Town Clerk, located in the Town Hall during normal business hours, Monday-Friday from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm.

Date:

Time:

Place:

Purpose: To hear and record public comments regarding the Zoning Map Amendment Request for a ± 3.09 acre portion of tax parcel 11-997 from I-1 to MU. This map amendment may be adopted after the public hearing at this

Written comments on this request will be accepted two (2) business days prior to May 12, 2026 to the Town Clerk, Mrs. Keren Parker.

Any person needing special accommodations, please contact 910-289-3159 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.

Angela Smith Town Administrator Run April 23rd and April 30th

obituaries

Mary DeBose

Jan. 11, 1947 – March 19, 2026

Mary Virginia Henry DeBose, 79, a strong and courageous lady, passed gracefully from her earthly life on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center following an eight-year battle with severe health issues. She kept the faith and the ght until the very end.

She was born on January 11, 1947, in Wilmington, the daughter of James Tate Henry and Lorena Wheeler Henry. In addition to her parents, Mary Virginia was preceded in death by her daughter, Gina DeBose.

Mary Virginia is survived by her daughter, Crystal “Crysti” DeBose; granddaughter, Ariana DeBose; sister, Joyce Waters; and many dear friends.

She retired from Southeastern Mental Health in Wilmington after working for many years.

Mary Virginia was a lady of many talents and interests. She enjoyed all kinds of crafts, silk ower arranging, and attending concerts as she loved good music, especially vocals by her faithful personal friend, Ronnie McDowell. Mary Virginia loved life, loved chatting, loved laughter and having a fun time with family and friends. Most of all, Mary Virginia loved her family and was especially proud of her granddaughter, Ariana. Her bright and sunny smile, talking and laughter will surely be missed.

The graveside service will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Woodcock Cemetery with the Rev. Merrell McKoy conducting the service.

Stephanie Stallings

March 13, 1962 – April 11, 2026

Stephanie Renee Glasper Stallings, 64, of Beulaville, NC, passed away April 11, 2026, in Greenville, NC. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at New Christian Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Rose Hill, NC.

Aug. 30, 1950 – April 11, 2026

Martha Jane Clinton, 75, of Pink Hill, NC, passed away April 11, 2026, in Wallace, NC.

The family will have a Celebration of Life Dinner at 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Kings Restaurant, 405 E. New Bern Road, in Kinston, NC (o Hwy 70), o ciated by Dr. Apostle Charles Peterson.

Frances Kaye Jackson

June 29, 1957 – April 5, 2026

Frances Kaye Jackson, beloved matriarch and cherished Aunt Kaye, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 5, 2026, at the age of 68, in Youngstown, Ohio. Born on June 29, 1957, in Clinton, North Carolina, the daughter of Bashie (Tatum) Butler and Willie Butler Jr., Frances lled her life with love, laughter, and an unwavering passion for family and friends.

A proud mother, Frances is survived by her children, Trocola (Rodney) Johnson, Victor (Shaquilla) Jackson and Anthony “Dante” Jackson. Frances was the beloved sister of Mary (Harold) Neil, Cynthia Pro t, Brenda Butler, Ronnie Butler, Pamela (Dennis) Atkinson and Pearline Atkinson. She will also be missed by her brother-inlaw, Wilbert Evans, and adoptive siblings, Lafawnda Evans, Latoya Evans and Wilbert Jr. Evans. Her legacy is carried on by an extensive family, including 15 grandchildren and 19 greatgrandchildren, each of whom knew her as a beacon of love and strength. Frances was preceded in death by her parents; siblings Bernice Butler, Thomas Butler, Anna Benton, Peggy B. Evans, Roy Butler, Billie Ray Butler and James “Toe-Joe” McNair, who, along with countless friends and family members, welcomed her into eternal peace. Frances Kaye Jackson will be remembered not only for her love of life but also for her extraordinary ability to bring people together. She truly lived life to the fullest, embracing every moment with grace and joy. As we celebrate her legacy, we invite all who knew her to join us in honoring a life well-lived, lled with tenderness, warmth, and an abundance of love.

The Celebration of Life will be on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 1 p.m. at J.B. Rhodes Jr. Memorial Chapel, 1701 Wayne Memorial Drive, Goldsboro, NC 27534. There will be a viewing from 12-12:50 p.m. She will be laid to rest at Tatum Cemetery, 8521 Hobbton Hwy., Clinton, NC 28328. Please remember her family during their time of bereavement.

Cynthia Neola Brunson

Oct. 17, 1958 – April 13, 2026

Goldsboro- Ms. Cynthia Neola Brunson, 67, completed her earthly journey and transitioned from labor to reward, Monday, April 13, 2026, at UNC Health Wayne. The Celebration of Life will be on Wednesday, April 22, at noon at J.B. Rhodes Jr. Memorial Chapel, 1701 Wayne Memorial Drive, Goldsboro, NC 27534. There will be a viewing from 11-11:50 a.m. She will be laid to rest at Wayne Memorial Park North, 1191 Old Grantham Road, Goldsboro, NC 27530. Please remember the family in prayer during their time of bereavement.

Robert Creech

Oct. 9, 1949 – April 10, 2026

Robert J. Creech, known to most as Zeke Creech, passed away Friday, April 10, 2026, at ECU Medical Center in Greenville.

Zeke, 76, was a life-long resident of the Scott’s Store area near Mount Olive.

Zeke was preceded in death by his parents, Carl L. and Sudie Kornegay Creech; his sister and brother-in-law, Minnie Pearl and O’berry Wilkins; three brothers, Bobby Creech, Wilbert Creech, and Kenneth Creech; and a little sister, Catherine Creech.

He is survived by several nieces and nephews to include Linda W. Williamson, Eva Wilkins, Lisa W. Stroud, Nancy W. Raynor, Jackie W. Herring, and Dennis Wilkins, along with their families; an aunt, Stella Wade of Maryland; and several cousins.

Zeke will be remembered as a local gure who “made his rounds” on a daily basis to the local stores. Always friendly, he was a simple man. While he had worked brie y at Carolina Turkeys and at Brock’s Septic Tank Service, he mostly assisted area farmers with farming duties.

Graveside funeral services were held Thursday, April 16, at 2 p.m. at the Pate Cemetery. O ciating was the Rev. Je Bartlett.

Ruby “Bunny” Tyndall Quinn

July 27, 1940 – April 14, 2026

Ruby “Bunny” Tyndall Quinn, 85, passed away on April 14, 2026, in ECU Health Duplin Hospital, Kenansville, NC

The funeral service is Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 6 p.m. followed by visitation at Community Funeral Home in Beulaville, NC.

A graveside service is Sunday, April 19, 2026, at 1 p.m. at East Duplin Memorial Gardens.

She is survived by sons Rodney Allen Quinn of Beulaville, NC, and Ronnie J. Quinn (Angie) of Potters Hill, NC; daughter Wanda Quinn Faircloth (George), Beulaville, NC; sister Naomi Garvey of Rose Hill, NC; grandchildren Chris Quinn (Leah), Jonathan Quinn (Erin), Blake Wilson (Bailey), Ronnie Quinn, Jr. (Kaley), Colten Quinn (Shana), Chasady Wudkwych (Brian) Brandy Lanier (Adrian), Ashley Edwards and Dylan Edwards; and great-grandchildren Ayden Allen Quinn, Raegan Quinn, Aubrie Quinn, Kinsley Edwards, Sebastian Quinn, Arabella Quinn, Norah Wudkwych, Wesley Wudkwych, Randyn Swinson, Carissa Shepard, Faythlyn Williams, Tyler Mathis and Fallon Lanier.

SPONSORED BY

QUINN MCGOWEN FUNERAL HOME

Edgar Warren

April 2, 1944 – April 14, 2026

Edgar Vann Warren, 82, passed peacefully from his earthly life on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. He was born April 2, 1944, in Sampson County, the son of Edgar Gibson Warren and Mabel Lewis Warren. In addition to his parents, Edgar was preceded in death by his brother, W. G. Warren, and sister, Doris Holloman.

Edgar is survived by his daughters, Terri Crumpler and her husband, Howard Crumpler, Jr., and Lora Warren Lucas; four grandchildren, Cameron, Corey, Jack and Jesse; and brother, Ernest Warren. Edgar was musically gifted and talented and loved sharing his talent. He wrote a song that was played at his daughter, Terri’s, wedding. Piano was his instrument of choice, which he played beautifully both by note and by ear. He was an animal lover and had many fur babies through the years. His last canine companion was Max. There will be a private family gathering at a later date.

Robert Franklin Taylor

March 14, 1944 –April 16, 2026

Robert Franklin Taylor, 82, passed away Thursday, April 16, 2026, at The Gardens of Rose Hill.

Robert was born March 14, 1944, in Duplin County, NC, to the late Eddie C. Taylor and Pearl Smith Taylor. A funeral service will be held at 7 p.m., Monday, April 20, 2026, in Community Funeral Home Chapel in Warsaw, with visitation following the service. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Devotional Gardens, Warsaw, NC.

Mr. Taylor is survived by his wife, Myra P. Taylor of Warsaw; sons Eddie Taylor and wife, Karon of Warsaw and Phillip Taylor of Clinton; daughter-in-law, Charity Taylor of Beulaville; fteen grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Taylor was preceded in death by sons, Rodney Taylor, Kent Taylor and Jonathan “John Boy” Ryan Taylor; brothers, John Taylor and Alvin Taylor and wife, Barbara; sisters, Eleanor Pope Stevens and Inez Taylor.

Leigh Beavers Best

Dec. 27. 1973 – April 12, 2026

Leigh Beavers Best, 52, passed away early Sunday morning, April 12, 2026, at her home.

A service to remember Leigh was held Friday, April 17, at 6:00 p.m. at the First Pentecostal Holiness Church of Mount Olive. O ciating were Pastors Je Dail and Terry Coates. The family greeted friends and relatives following the service in the church’s fellowship hall.

Leigh was a life-long resident of the Rones Chapel community near Mount Olive. She graduated from North Duplin High School with the class of 1992. Leigh had attended East Carolina University, the University of Mount Olive, and Cape Fear Community College. She had worked at Southern Produce, Southern Bank and Trust Company, had been a substitute schoolteacher, and had worked in the family business, M and B Towers. Her main goal in life was providing a loving and welcoming home for her family.

Leigh was a trooper, a real ghter, for her life brought about many hurdles, but she never gave up. At the age of eight, she was diagnosed with liver cancer, which through extensive treatment and God’s grace, she overcame. In her early 20’s, it was discovered that her cancer treatment had damaged her heart; therefore, in 2002, she underwent a heart transplant, which sustained her life for seven years. In 2009, she underwent a heart and kidney transplant which allowed her several more years to enjoy life and her family. While she recently faced a decline in health and multiple hospital stays at Duke, just weeks before her passing she was diagnosed with liver and pancreas cancer. She leaves behind her loving family which includes her husband, Kenneth Wade Best; her daughter, Alyssa Caroline Best; her parents, Roy and Rose King Beavers; her brother and sisterin-law, Andy and Billie Jo Beavers, all of the Rones Chapel area; several nieces and nephews who she loved very much; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins, along with many friends.

Her grandparents were the late Arthur and Rachel King, and Roy Bruce and Helen Beavers.

Leigh and her family were and are deeply indebted to the donor families who, through unsel sh giving, gave Leigh a life in which to love, be happy, and to make a di erence in the world. Therefore, they prefer that memorial gifts be made to Donate Life NC, 4750 Commercial Park Court, Clemmons, NC 27013, or to The Outlaw Foundation, PO Box 189, Newton Grove, NC 28366. For those who wish to send owers, the family prefers plants and small cut arrangements, items they can enjoy in their respective homes.

The Best and Beavers families extend a special note of deepest appreciation to ECU Hospice and Home Care, especially to Leigh Ann Underhill and Brandi Ivey for their exemplary care, love, and devotion.

Hog Wild Cooko draws crowd in Beulaville

The 2026 Hog Wild Cooko drew crowds Saturday for live music, vendor shopping and fresh pork barbecue. Cooks began preparing the hogs Friday night, and by noon more than 400 plates had been served to the public.

Vendors outside o ered a wide range of items, including shirts, jewelry, plants, custom drinks, handmade wooden furniture, cutting boards, barn quilts and custom-engraved boulders.

Activities for children included a pig-themed bounce house, cutout photo props and a blow-up ax-throwing station. Carl Newton’s Review provided classic rock covers throughout the day.

County. He shared it with Ervin Murray his rst season in Warsaw (2021).

JK has captured the top coach award six times in the past 11 seasons, joining former Tigers coaches Je Byrd (’16 and ’17) and Reggie Melvin (’18 and ’19) as a two-time winner.

Byrd, who nabbed the honor the previous two seasons at North Duplin, has four Duplin coaching cups.

Four of JK’s losses last winter came at the hands of Goldsboro (22-8). An early setback to Wayne Prep came as JK scrambled to get its players o the football eld after a trip to the East Region nals and onto the basketball court. JK’s nal setback was to then-unbeaten Farmville Central in the third round of the 3A playo s. And in a way, the Tigers were much like many teams

Jones coached at Spring Creek.

JK’s players were not 6-footplus.

“Our 5-6 players had to play 6-5,” Jones said.

Examining the stats also shows JK didn’t shoot the ball like a contender.

“I don’t think that would impress many people,” Jones said.

Yet the Tigers’ unity and oneness of focus were o the charts.

“They stuck to it and trusted us that it would work,” Jones said.

Yet just a few days removed from a tough football loss to Kinston, Jones had to transform and energize players.

“We talked about a tough, disappointing ending to football,” Jones said. “I reminded them that we’d have fun and be together for three great months. I had to make it fun. And I knew the competitive juices of our players. We used football as a fuel.”

JK’s rst setback came three games into the season, a 68-66

loss to Wayne Prep on a Saturday. Jones said the way his team reacted said everything.

“We were dead-legged and they walked o smiling, not mad or upset,” Jones said. “They had fun and knew they had three late chances to win the game. Even with all that didn’t go right, they knew and believed in themselves and how they could play as a team. That’s when I knew this team was di erent.”

JK improved to 7-1 before being tripped 68-66 in Goldsboro in the closest of three setbacks to the Cougars.

The Tigers ran o eight straight wins before falling to the Cougars and WRH, their only consecutive losses of the season.

Yet Jones was concerned about the season-ending setback to WRH.

JK made up for it with a totally dominating 75-61 conquest of the Bulldogs in the Swine Valley Conference Tournament semi -

nals. JK swarmed in front early by exerting its will on WRH.

JK’s nal loss was to a respectable foe that has tons of tradition, Farmville Central, especially during the last decade.

“We had problems playing teams with extreme length,” Jones said. “We couldn’t get o shots against Farmville, which was as good or better than any team I saw or watched on tape all year. And even though we couldn’t score as we wanted against Goldsboro, we held them down to o ensive numbers lower than usual.”

Jones frequently talks about his senior leaders, yet his coaching approach was also a key to JK’s success.

“If you had told me before the season that we’d win 15 games, I would have taken it,” Jones said. “But these guys did much more. They played so hard and so fast.”

And Jones believes the Tigers did so because of their love

TOWN OF WALLACE PUBLIC HEARING

TOWN OF WALLACE TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

May 14, 2026, after 6:00 PM

NOTICE IS HEARBY GIVEN that the Town Council of the Town of Wallace has called for a Public Hearing at the Wallace Women’s Club, located at 216 N. East Railroad Street, Wallace, NC 28466, on Thursday, May 14, 2026, after 6:00 PM for the following: The applicant is seeking to rezone 44.49 acres, Pin 331603115966 located on the

for one another and not the game.

“We loved every minute, including practice,” Jones said. “We had after-practice talks and nobody was running to the door. Our seniors set the perfect example, and it was a great thing for our younger guys to see. That’s how it works best.”

Early in his coaching career, Jones said he was rejuvenated and energized after a long conversation with Jim Larranaga, a longtime college coach who led George Mason (2006) and Miami (2023) to their rst Final Four appearances.

“As soon as I unbuckled my seat belt I questioned and listened to him for 30 minutes,” Jones said. “I think everyone was in shock that I did it. He told me I was doing the right things and that there is no magic formula. I was going through a down period as a coach, and I left that conversation with a new revelation and con dence.”

South side of S NC 41 Hwy just East of the Walmart and across from the water tower, from RA-20 (residential, agricultural, minimum lot size 20,000 sq. ft.); R-20MH (residential, minimum lot size 20,000 sq. ft.; HB (highway business) to Conditional. Persons wishing to speak on the issues are invited to attend and be heard at the scheduled public hearing.

Persons having questions may contact Rod Fritz, Planning Director at (910) 2854136 or rfritz@wallacenc.gov.

Stanly NewS Journal

THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Supreme Court to hear from religious preschools challenging exclusion from taxpayer-funded program

The Supreme Court will hear from Catholic preschools that say it’s unconstitutional to exclude them from a state-funded program because they won’t admit kids from LGBTQ+ families. Colorado’s St. Mary Catholic Parish and the Archdiocese of Denver argue Colorado is violating their religious rights by barring them from the taxpayerfunded universal preschool program over their faithbased admission policies. The state says religious schools are welcome to participate but are required to follow nondiscrimination laws. The case will be heard in the fall.

About 25 arrested in clashes at beagle breeding facility

About 25 protesters were arrested as about 1,000 animal welfare activists tried to enter a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin. The protest on Saturday was the second attempt in two months to take beagles from Ridglan Farms. O cers red rubber bullets and pepper spray to disperse the crowd. The Dane County sheri ’s o ce reported a calmer protest on Sunday with about 200 people. Protesters previously took 30 dogs in March. Ridglan denies mistreating animals but agreed to give up its state breeding license by July 1 to avoid prosecution on animal mistreatment charges.

Cher lus-McCormick of Florida resigns from Congress amid ethics investigation

Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Cher lus-McCormick has resigned before the House could sanction her in an ethics investigation. Members of the House Ethics Committee on Tuesday were set to weigh what punishment to recommend after they found she committed 25 violations of House rules and ethical standards. Republicans had already called for her expulsion. She also faces federal criminal charges accusing her of stealing $5 million in coronavirus disaster relief funds and using the money to buy items such as a 3-carat yellow diamond ring. Cher lus-McCormick has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges and says she is not guilty of ethics violations.

String thing

Stanly commissioners back resolution supporting local tax control

The measure pushes back on a General Assembly e ort to cap local tax exibility

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

ALBEMARLE — The Stanly County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution Monday opposing proposed changes at the state level that could limit local governments’ authority over property taxes. The resolution passed in a 6-1 vote, with Commission-

er Mike Barbee casting the lone dissent. The measure is aimed at e orts underway in the North Carolina General Assembly to restrict how counties and municipalities set property tax rates or levy taxes.

County Manager Andy Lucas, who presented the agenda item, said limiting that authority would signi cantly a ect the county’s ability to operate.

“Essentially, they’re taking the autonomy of counties and cities away. Fifty percent of our revenue is property tax

Liberty Tree planted in Albemarle to celebrate

Commissioner Patty Crump

revenue, and so if you start to limit that revenue, it really further constrains what we’re able to do.”

Lucas said the resolution is intended to signal the sup -

America’s 250th anniversary

The Liberty Garden ceremony marks one of 100 statewide plantings

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

ALBEMARLE — Local

leaders and o cials gathered at Liberty Garden in downtown Albemarle on Saturday afternoon to celebrate a Liberty Tree planting.

Dedicated by the America 250 NC Stanly County Committee during Living History Day, Stanly County now has its o cial Liberty Tree.

The newly planted white oak stands as an o cial landmark tree in North Carolina’s America 250 NC program, one of 100 planned plantings across the state.

Bain Jones, chairman of the America 250 NC Stanly County Committee, spoke during the ceremony.

“Today we have dedicated the Liberty Tree, which is part of the America 250 NC celebration,” Jones said. “Every county in North Carolina will hopefully be planting a tree to commemorate this celebration. This is in

port of local control over tax decisions.

“It is basically saying that we don’t want the General Assembly to further limit our autonomy when it comes to setting and generating property tax revenue.”

Under the current system, local governments can adjust property tax rates within state guidelines to meet local needs. Proposed legislative changes would restrict that authority, creating a ceiling on how much local revenue can

Five others wounded; authorities believe some injured were also involved in shooting

By Erik Verduzco The Associated Press

WINSTON-SALEM — A planned ght among young people escalated into a mass shooting at a North Carolina park Monday morning that left two teenage boys dead and ve other people injured, authorities said.

Winston-Salem police Capt. Kevin Burns said a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old died at the scene after being shot around

10 a.m. at Leinbach Park, near a middle school. Five others between the ages of 14 and 19 were shot and su ered injuries ranging from critical to minor, Burns said at a news conference. Four of those victims are female, o cials said. It was not immediately clear whether any of the victims were the gunmen. Winston-Salem police Chief William Penn said no one was in

custody but authorities believe some of those injured were also involved in the shooting.

“I feel like everyone else. I’m frustrated, I’m angry, I’m sad. This didn’t have to happen,” Penn said.

Winston-Salem police Assistant Chief Jason Swaim said two juveniles had agreed to meet at the park to ght and that a rearm was discharged during the ght.

Swaim said schools near the park were safe.

The shooting happened in a park in a suburban and residential area northwest of downtown Winston-Salem, a city of about 250,000 known for decades as the home of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Stanly County:

April 22

Friends of the Stanly County Public Library Spring Book

April 24 Oakboro

typically draws 350 to 500 vehicles. Admission is free and no preregistration is required.

Downtown Oakboro

April 25

Battle of Colson’s Mill Mural Unveiling 11 a.m.

Stanly County’s America250 committee will unveil a mural commemorating the July 21, 1780 Battle of Colson’s Mill, in which patriot forces clashed with loyalists at the con uence of the Pee Dee and Rocky rivers.

Downtown Norwood

THE CONVERSATION

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

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

How Biden’s DOJ went after pro-lifers

That’s not law enforcement. That’s a political operation.

WE NOW KNOW something the Biden administration spent years denying: It wasn’t merely enforcing the law around abortion clinics — it was allegedly partnering with abortion activists to identify, track and ultimately prosecute pro-life Americans.

Start with former President Barack Obama, who famously tried to force the Little Sisters of the Poor to violate their religious conscience.

According to reporting from The Daily Wire, Biden’s Department of Justice relied on intelligence gathered from radical pro -abortion groups to monitor peaceful pro-life activists — people who had not yet been charged with any federal crime — and then build cases that ended with FBI arrests.

The federal government was reportedly outsourcing its surveillance and investigative e orts to activist organizations that have a direct political and ideological stake in crushing the pro -life movement.

That’s not law enforcement. That’s a political operation.

The Daily Wire cites a DOJ report titled “The Biden Administration’s Weaponization of the FACE Act,” which examined more than 700,000 records. The FACE Act was originally intended to prevent physical obstruction of abortion clinic entrances. It was also meant to protect churches from disruption.

The records included dossiers on pro -life activists who had not been charged with federal crimes but who were nevertheless treated as threats, largely because abortion groups agged them as such.

And if that sounds familiar, it’s because it’s exactly the pattern we’ve seen repeatedly from the modern left: government agencies using ideological “cutout” organizations to do what the government isn’t supposed to do openly.

According to the report, much of the escalation traces back to former Attorney General Merrick Garland’s decision to resurrect the National Task Force on Violence Against Reproductive Health Care Providers in the wake of the Supreme

COLUMN | LARRY ELDER

Court overturning Roe v. Wade in June 2022.

That task force reportedly operated out of the DOJ Civil Rights Division under the direction of Sanjay Patel, who was red this week. Patel, according to the DOJ report, was in direct communication with the National Abortion Federation’s security team and regularly coordinating with Planned Parenthood and the Feminist Majority Foundation.

So we’re not talking about vague ideological sympathies here.

We’re talking about open coordination between the federal government and the activist wing of the abortion industry.

Daily Wire reporting compared sentencing requests and outcomes for pro-life defendants versus pro-abortion defendants. The Biden DOJ, they found, sought longer average sentences for pro -life activists — and the nal outcomes re ected that imbalance: Pro-life defendants received an average sentence of 14 months, while pro-choice defendants averaged three months.

Fourteen months versus three.

That is not “equal justice under law.” That is animus made policy.

Democrats have been weaponizing the administrative state for decades. This is not some brand-new Trump-era phenomenon, no matter how often the cable news panels pretend otherwise.

The Obama administration used the IRS to harass conservative and pro -life organizations. Clinton-era politics normalized the idea that federal power could be turned on political enemies. Biden’s DOJ, if these reports are accurate, simply continued the tradition — with a more aggressive posture and a more open contempt for religious dissent.

Imagine the scandal if the Trump administration had coordinated with pro -life organizations to build cases against abortion advocates.

But because the targets were pro-lifers, the story is treated like a niche controversy — something for conservative media to discuss, while the mainstream press quietly looks the other way.

That brings us to one of the most

important questions of all: How were the people involved in this allowed to remain embedded inside the DOJ for so long?

Because it lends credibility to something the political class has mocked for years: the existence of a bureaucratic deep state — career o cials who outlast elections, ignore the will of voters and quietly advance an ideological agenda regardless of who sits in the Oval O ce.

This is what it looks like when a permanent governing class decides it is untouchable.

And it also illustrates why the ght to remove ideological holdovers inside federal agencies is not some paranoid fantasy. It’s a real, ongoing struggle — one that will de ne whether elections actually matter.

The bigger issue here isn’t just abortion politics — it’s the steady normalization of using government power to punish religious Americans.

The Democratic Party has shown, again and again, that it is willing to use the apparatus of the state to crush dissent from people of faith. Not because those people are violent. Not because they are criminals. But because their beliefs are inconvenient.

If Democrats ever gained full control of the judiciary, especially if they succeeded in stacking the Supreme Court — which you can be sure former Vice President Kamala Harris would have attempted to do if she had won in 2024 — this is exactly the direction they would push the country.

This is why the Biden administration may go down as the worst in modern American history — even worse than Obama’s.

Not because Obama didn’t do the same things.

But because Obama understood enough to keep it quiet.

Biden said the quiet part out loud.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co -founder of Daily Wire+. He is a three-time New York Times bestselling author.

(Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

The implosion of Eric Swalwell: What was he thinking?

Despite a combined income with his wife of over $400,000, he is deeply in debt.

WHEN THEN-REP. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) announced his candidacy for governor of California, I was beyond surprised. Rumors of sexual misconduct, including allegations of blatant and serial in delity, had been circulating for years. Having run for this very o ce, I experienced rsthand the intense level of local, state and national scrutiny one receives when seeking the top job in the biggest state in the country.

The left-wing media treats liberal Democrat candidates di erent from how it treats conservative Republican candidates, but the media are not the problem if one’s candidacy starts to resonate. The heat comes from the same-party campaign rivals.

When I decided to run for governor of California, I sought the advice of several experienced strategists, politicians, pundits and some professors. They all said the same thing, only worded di erently: “Is there anything in your background that would be a problem?”

These questions, they advised, include but are not limited to: Skeletons in your closet? What about your friends, associates and family members? Taxes? Sexual harassment or misconduct or assaults? Any present or past behavior that could be deemed scandalous? Dating history, marriage or divorce? Outstanding warrants? Tra c tickets? Unpaid tra c tickets? DUIs? Automobile accidents you caused or were involved in? Arrests? Misdemeanors? Felonies? Unpaid bills? Credit card debt? Lawsuits led by or lawsuits against you? Drug use and drug abuse? Alcoholism? Abuse of prescription drugs? Sketchy business dealings? Bankruptcy? Inappropriate internet

activity, including porn sites, other illicit sites or sending “compromising pictures”? Social media posts that could come back to haunt you? 911 calls from your home? Your work history? To what church do you belong? Who is your pastor? Ever been red? If so, why? Is your campaign biography accurate, with no exaggerations or embellishments? Do your neighbors like you?

And, for good measure, I was advised to hire a private detective to investigate myself. My experienced campaign manager took me on only after I addressed all those questions — and others — and obtained a report from a well-regarded private investigator. My campaign manager cautioned, “If you are accused of picking your feet in Poughkeepsie — especially if you did pick your feet in Poughkeepsie — it will come out.”

This brings us to Swalwell, who, according to a University of California, Berkeley poll conducted in March, was the leading Democrat in the primary. He was endorsed by Sen. Adam Schi (D-Calif.), who, like Swalwell, served as a prosecutor in an impeachment trial against President Donald Trump.

According to Reuters, “A fth woman came forward to accuse Swalwell of unwanted sexual contact, saying the Democratic lawmaker drugged and raped her during an encounter in 2018.” Swalwell rst denied the accusations. He then dropped out of the race for governor, followed by his resignation from Congress.

Former House Speaker and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) claimed she knew nothing about the rumors against Swalwell. But Willie Brown, once a

mentor to former Vice President Kamala Harris and a former mayor of San Francisco, and who for 15 years served as speaker of the California Assembly, said, “No, I’m not surprised frankly because there have been rumors after rumors after rumors, his colleagues in Washington pretty much said that. That’s what Adam Schi said, that’s what Nancy Pelosi said.”

But Swalwell’s problems are just beginning. The sheri of Los Angeles County has launched a criminal probe, as has the Manhattan District Attorney’s O ce. Civil lawsuits may follow.

Then there are Swalwell’s nancial issues. Despite a combined income with his wife of over $400,000, he is deeply in debt. He owes $100,000 in student loans, borrowed against his retirement account to help fund his campaign and deferred paying income taxes to conserve cash ow. This is not exactly a good look for someone vying to be the chief executive of a state with a budget de cit and massive unfunded pension liabilities.

On top of everything, these scandals could cost the father of three children his marriage. After all, Swalwell set the standard. During the con rmation hearing of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Swalwell considered Kavanaugh un t due to allegations of sexual misconduct. Swalwell tweeted, “Support survivors. Believe survivors. We are with you.”

All of this raises a question: When Swalwell decided to run for governor, “What was he thinking?”

Larry Elder is a bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio talk-show host. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

The ship seizure jeopardizes fragile talks as the cease re nears expiration

By Michelle L. Price, Samy Magdy and Sam Metz

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. —

The United States attacked and seized an Iranian- agged cargo ship it said had tried to evade its naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, and Iran’s joint military command vowed to respond, throwing a fragile cease re into question days before it expires.

It was the rst interception since the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports began last week. Iran’s joint military command called the armed boarding an act of piracy and a cease re violation, the state broadcaster said.

With the U.S.-Iran stando over the strait sharpening and the cease re expiring by Wednesday, it was not clear where President Donald Trump’s earlier announcement on new talks with Iran now stood. He had said U.S. negotiators would head to Pakistan on Monday.

The uncertainty sent oil prices rising again. One of the worst global energy crises in decades threatened to deepen.

Trump on social media said a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer in the Gulf of Oman warned the Iranian- agged ship, the Touska, to stop and then “stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom.”

U.S. Marines had custody of the U.S.-sanctioned vessel and were “seeing what’s on board!”

It was not clear whether anyone was hurt. The U.S. Central Command, which didn’t answer questions, said the destroyer had issued “repeated warnings over a six-hour period.”

Iranian state media suggest new talks won’t take place

There was no comment from Iranian o cials directly addressing Trump’s announcement of talks. However, Iranian state media, without citing anyone beyond unnamed sources, issued brief reports suggesting that they would not happen.

Minutes after the ship seizure was announced, Iranian state media reported on President Masoud Pezeshkian’s phone conversation with Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, earlier Sunday. U.S. ac-

TAX from page A1

be generated through property taxes.

Opponents of the change warn that such limits could make it di cult to keep pace with rising costs tied to in ation, population growth and service demands.

“If you’re not sitting here having this conversation, it’s going to sound really good to everybody. ‘Nobody can levy the taxes and so we can have this lower rate,’” Commissioner Patty Crump said. “But we have a low rate here and it’s

tions, including bullying and unreasonable behavior, have led to increased suspicion that the U.S. will repeat previous patterns and “betray diplomacy,” the reports cited Pezeshkian as saying.

Two previous attempts at talks — last June and earlier this year — were interrupted by Israeli and U.S. attacks.

On another phone call, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, that recent U.S. actions, rhetoric and contradictions were signs of “bad intentions and lack of seriousness in diplomacy,” Iran’s state broadcaster said. Pakistan did not con rm a second round of talks, but authorities had begun tightening security in Islamabad. A regional o cial involved in the e orts said mediators werenalizing preparations and U.S. advance security teams were on the ground. The o cial spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss preparations with the media.

The White House had said Vice President JD Vance, who led the rst round of historic face-to-face talks over 21 hours last weekend, would lead the U.S. delegation to Pakistan with envoys Steve Witko and Jared Kushner.

Iran on Saturday said it had received new proposals from the United States. While Iran’s chief negotiator, parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, late Saturday said “there will be no retreat in the eld of diplomacy,” he acknowledged a wide gap remained between the sides. It was unclear whether either side had shifted stances on issues that derailed the last round of negotiations, including Iran’s nuclear enrichment program, its regional proxies and the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump’s announcement on talks repeated his threats against Iranian infrastructure that have drawn widespread criticism and warnings of war crimes. If Iran doesn’t agree to the U.S.-proposed deal, “the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran,” he wrote.

Iran wants to control strait until “war fully ends”

Iran early Monday warned it could keep up the global economic pain as ships remained unable to transit the strait, with hundreds of vessels waiting at each end for clearance.

Security of the strait is not free and “the choice is clear: ei-

advantageous. It bothers me that the General Assembly always seems to take this all-ornothing approach.”

Commissioner Billy Mills said the impact of any changes would vary across the state.

“All counties are not created equal, so some counties would be able to survive this a lot better than we would,” he said. Barbee, however, said he believed the resolution wasn’t yet necessary as lawmakers continue to workshop the proposal.

“I think this resolution is a little premature,” Barbee said. “I think they are still work-

A tanker sits anchored in the Strait of Hormuz o the coast of Qeshm Island, Iran, on Saturday.

“The choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of signi cant costs for everyone.”

Mohammad Reza Aref, Iran rst vice president

ther a free oil market for all, or the risk of signi cant costs for everyone,” Mohammad Reza Aref, rst vice president of Iran, said in a social media post calling for a lasting end to military and economic pressure on Tehran.

Roughly one- fth of the world’s oil trade normally passes through the strait, along with critical supplies of fertilizer for the world’s farmers, natural gas and humanitarian supplies for places in dire need like Afghanistan and Sudan.

Iran had announced the strait’s reopening after a 10 -day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon took hold last Friday. But then Trump said the U.S. blockade “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the United States. Iran said it would again enforce restrictions it imposed early in the war. On Saturday, Iran red at ships trying to transit. For the Islamic Republic, the strait’s closure is perhaps its most powerful weapon, in icting political pain on Trump. For the United States, the blockade squeezes Iran’s already weakened economy. Each side has accused the other of violating the cease re. Since most supplies to U.S. military bases in the Gulf region come through the strait, “Iran is determined to maintain oversight and control over tra c through the strait until the war fully ends,” Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said late Saturday. That means Iran-designated routes, payment of fees and issuance of transit certi cates.

The council has recently acted as Iran’s de facto top decision-making body.

The war is now in its eighth week after the U.S. and Israel launched it on Feb. 28 during talks over Tehran’s nuclear program. At least 3,000 people have been killed in Iran, more than 2,290 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 U.S. service members throughout the region have been killed.

ing and discussing this thing, and there’ll be more changes they’re going to make. … I just have a problem supporting anything that is going to cause us to maybe have higher property taxes. And even though I’m not 100% in agreement with what the legislature is doing right now, I am denitely not 100% in favor of this resolution.”

The Stanly County Board of Commissioners will hold its next regular meeting on May 11 at 6 p.m. in the Gene McIntyre Meeting Room at Stanly County Commons.

‘Out of many, one,’ says US national motto. What does that push for unity mean today?

America’s founding ideals clashed with centuries of exclusion and discrimination

By Deepti Hajela The Associated Press

NEW YORK — The aspirations cut a wide swath through American history since 1776 — from the “All men are created equal” of the Declaration of Independence and the “We the people” of the Constitution, to the “indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” of the Pledge of Allegiance.

One can nd it in the country’s name — the United States of America — and in the sentiment of the motto written in Latin on its coins and one-dollar bills: E Pluribus Unum, or “out of many, one.”

The e ort has been optimistic and unrealistic, successful and a failure, enduring as an American ideal during moments when citizens struggled — and struggle today — to practice it.

How has the notion of unity in American society evolved in 250 years and more? What does it mean — and what doesn’t it mean, particularly in fraught and troubled moments? “It’s a question,” says one scholar, “that every society has to answer.”

I. The beginnings of these “United” States

From the milestone moment of the nation’s beginning, the founders emphasized that unity would be a vital component of the new country, where government would be based not on a king and monarchy as in Europe but instead, as the Declaration says, “on the consent of the governed.”

“It is of in nite moment that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment to it … indignantly frowning upon the rst dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest,” George Washington said as he stepped down from two terms

remembrance of the actual Liberty Tree — an elm tree planted near Boston Common — that the Sons of Liberty used to communicate with one another during the colonial period of the Revolutionary War.”

as the rst American president.

At the start of the experiment, the fabric of a nation rst stitched together from 13 original colonies, de ning what unity meant was far from settled.

Even as the founders spoke of high-minded ideals, they put limits on who they allowed to take part, who had rights and freedom and who didn’t. All these years later, determining the meaning of unity can still be a challenge. Do we interpret that Latin motto to mean a blending of di erent perspectives to create a country that is greater than the sum of its parts, or does it mean there can only be one, that unity requires sameness?

Either way, here’s the thing about aspirations, as anyone who’s ever quit on a New Year’s resolution can tell you: They don’t turn into reality without e ort and commitment, or come out of just a sole moment, no matter how singular.

Our individual lives are built not just from the milestones but from the everydays in between. How could the life of a nation be any di erent?

II. Aspiration vs. reality

Even as unity has stood among the ideals, the on-the-ground experience of life in America for the last 2½ centuries has re ected the reality that in this created nation,

there’s never been just ONE America, where everyone lived in the same way or had the same access to power and prosperity. It wasn’t there at the country’s inception. And in the moment the U.S. is living now, it certainly isn’t either.

“I think the United States has had a more volatile history in terms of how it deals with questions of inclusion and exclusion, how it draws the line and polices the line of who’s in and who’s out,” says Daniel Immerwahr, a professor of history at Northwestern University.

“It’s a question that every society has to answer … who’s on the inside, who’s on the outside,” he says. “I would say that what’s interesting about the United States in this regard is how changeable and nonobvious some of the answers to those questions are.”

Sometimes the di erences have been straightforward — like geography (rural vs. urban, plains vs. mountains) and climate (heat vs. snow, wild res vs. ooding). Sometimes they were, and remain, cultural — people from di erent countries of origin, newcomers vs. generations deep, speaking di erent languages, following di erent denominations of Christianity or other religions entirely. And of course, the differences have been economic; rich and poor

“It’s a question that every society has to answer … who’s on the inside, who’s on the outside.”

Daniel Immerwahr, Northwestern University professor of history

have always lived di erently.

But sometimes, the di erences have been travesties — like enslaved Africans and their American-born descendants, forced to live under the lash as they worked in the elds and elsewhere for the bene t of white owners. Even after slavery was outlawed, they were subject to discrimination and worse under racism that was legalized in systemic ways into the 20th century and that echoes still.

The Indigenous tribes whose populations were decimated by death and disease as the American experiment moved westward and newly arrived settlers hankered after their tribal lands, and whose cultures were stripped from generations as the U.S. government tried to force “unity” through brutal efforts at assimilation.

Communities of people barred from possibility because of gender, sexual orientation or other characteristics.

There have also been persistent e orts across eras to create a country where the opportunities available to some — say, voting, economic growth, or access to education — would be made available to all. That came gradually through protest movements, legal action, and callbacks to those same American founding ideals and aspirations of unity and equality.

“It provided a language for the groups that were challenging these exclusions to draw on … invoking the ideals of the Revolution and the Declaration and saying, ‘Look, this is what the nation is supposed to be about,’” says Eileen Cheng, a professor of history at Sarah Lawrence College. “They could challenge the system and yet claim that they were being the true Americans.”

III. What could “unity” even look like?

One of the things about ideals, though, is that they can be somewhat abstract.

What does it mean for a country to be ‘united’? Does unity mean uniform? Is it, to borrow a reference from one of satirist Terry Pratchett’s books, that people are on the same side, or can they be on “di erent sides that happen to be side by side.” Is unity overall even a good thing in the context of a raucous democracy?

A look around the globe and through the history books shows there’s no single answer. There have been countries with a single o cial language, others that have recognized multiple languages, and some, like the United States, that for generations have never o cially designated any. At times, countries have chosen o cial religions. Nations have di erent standards and processes for naturalizing new citizens.

“There are always tensions between the unity and the separateness,” said Paul Wachtel, a psychology professor at the City College of New York. “There’s no society that is just one or just the other … what’s really most essential is that we learn how to negotiate those tensions.”

The United States experienced that rsthand in its infancy. The Constitution we live under is the second attempt at a framework for government. The rst, the Articles of Confederation, kept the federal government weaker and the individual states stronger. It quickly became clear that having such a weak central government — i.e., less unity — wasn’t e ective for the new country, leading to the Constitution.

For some countries, like many in Europe, those negotiations have taken place under the weight of centuries of history and geography, and other established backdrops like the existing form of government, which impacted the direction they decided to go. The U.S., from the founders’ perspective, was a new entity.

“This polarization, people talk about it like it’s a new thing. But I think it’s really a return back to the way that we were at the beginning of the country,” Cheng says. “It’s not like this kind of linear development where we’re growing more and more accepting of di erence. I think it’s up and down.”

Tree to indicate the British were coming to invade Boston.”

Albemarle Downtown assisted with providing space within Liberty Garden for the tree’s permanent home.

Christ the King Christian Academy is registering students for the school year through

Rooted in the history of the American Revolution, Liberty Trees served as gathering places and symbols of unity and resistance.

Jones described how the original tree was used during the war.

“They would put lanterns in the tree to signify what was going on or what needed to be done,” he said. “Paul Revere was taking his lantern to the Liberty

Along with the ceremonial planting, the program supports broader reforestation efforts across North Carolina, including areas impacted by the devastation of Hurricane Helene in 2024. As part of the initiative, funds are directed toward planting additional trees statewide.

state that was destroyed by Hurricane Helene. We are particularly grateful to Hank Culp and the Culp Lumber Company in regards to this project. We are also grateful to Uwharrie Bank for their overall support of the Stanly 250 celebration.”

Hot dogs, fixings, drink, and cookie available

The America 250 NC Stanly County Committee also donated funds to The American Chestnut Foundation to support ongoing reforestation work.

Located at 210 N. Ferry Rd, New London. Follow the signs.

“This is a wonderful project that the state has started,” Jones said. “In addition to planting the trees, $250 is given to purchase other trees to replenish the forest across the

For more information, call

The newly dedicated tree at Liberty Garden continues that tradition as part of a statewide initiative administered by the Buncombe County America 250 Committee, which aims to support more than 25,000 new trees across western North Carolina.

Christ the King Christian Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at this school. It does not discriminate based on race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school -administered programs.

Christ the King Christian Academy is registering students for the school year through

Christ the King Christian Academy is registering students for the school year through Hot dogs, fixings, drink, and cookie available

Christ the King Christian Academy is registering students for the school year through

Hot dogs, fixings, drink, and cookie available

Located at 210 N. Ferry Rd, New London. Follow the signs.

For more information, call

Hot dogs, fixings, drink, and cookie available

Located at 210 N. Ferry Rd, New London. Follow the signs.

Located at 210 N. Ferry Road, New London. Follow the signs. For more information call,

For more information, call

-administered programs.

Christ the King Christian Academy is registering students for the school

Christ the King Christian Academy is registering students for the school year

King Christian Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to

Christian Academy

Anita Hartsell Ammerman

Feb. 3, 1943 – April 14, 2026

Anita Hartsell Ammerman, 83, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones, on April 14, 2026, in Albemarle, NC. Born on February 3, 1943, Anita was a cherished gure in her community and family, known for her nurturing presence and artistic talents.

Anita spent her life dedicated to her family and her art. A selftaught artist since 1987, she specialized in watercolors, acrylics, copper repousse, and alcohol inks. Her inspiration stemmed largely from her own ower gardens and travels, capturing the beauty she found in the world. Anita was an active member of the Stanly Arts Guild for over 30 years and Falling Rivers Gallery for more than 10

Grady O’Neal Cook, Jr.

Dec. 14, 1931 – April 16, 2026

Grady O’Neal Cook Jr., 94, of Locust, North Carolina, passed away peacefully at his home on April 16, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family. His funeral service will be 12 Noon on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Burial will be at 3 PM on Saturday at Sunset Memory Gardens in Mint Hill. The family will receive friends on Friday evening from 6 until 8 PM at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Locust.

Grady was born December 14, 1931, in Mecklenburg County and was the beloved son of the late Grady O’Neal Cook Sr. and Lucy Joyner Cook. He was also proceeded in death by his loving wives, Sarah Starnes Cook and Dollie Barbee Hatley Cook, his son David O’Neal Cook, his brothers Dixon and Don Cook and his sister Jean Cook Partee. He retired with 22 years

OBITUARIES

years. Her work was showcased in various prestigious locations including the National Arboretum in Washington, DC, where she received Best of Show and First Place ribbons for her orchid paintings.

Beyond her artistic pursuits, Anita was deeply committed to her faith, actively participating in the community of Pine Grove United Methodist Church in Albemarle, NC. Her hobbies included gardening, photography, art, cooking, reading, and traveling.

Anita leaves behind her loving spouse, Bob Ammerman; children, Lisa Morrow, Chris Rosenkranz (Barbara), Greg Rosenkranz, and stepdaughter Rebecca Ammerman Ballard (Don); grandchildren, Bethany McVickers and Savannah Hinson; and ve great-grandchildren; brothers, Noel Hartsell, Lance Hartsell, and stepsisters, Linda Cook and Nancy Sasser. She was preceded in death by her stepson, Robert Ammerman and grandson, Brandon Harkey. A private celebration of Anita’s life will be held by the family. In lieu of owers, contributions can be made to Children International at children.org, an organization Anita passionately supported, sponsoring several children over the years. Her legacy of love, creativity, and generosity will continue to inspire all who knew her.

of service from Southern Railroad. He was known for his dependability and hard work. After retirement, he found a deep joy in the land - tending to his garden, raising cattle and goats, and doing the honest, good work that de ned his character. He was a generous provider, a faithful friend, and a man genuinely loved by everyone who crossed his path.

Grady was a devoted member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and anchored his life in the truth of scripture. His favorite passage, Philippians Chapter 4, was not merely words he admired, it was a standard he lived by each and every day. Those who knew him recognized in him the peace, the gentleness, and the gratitude that those verses describe. His family remembers him simply as the greatest - a good and godly man who loved the Lord, loved his family, and never wavered in either. He had a warm appreciation for music of all kinds and loved playing cards, speci cally spades, with his family. He was a lifelong Duke Blue Devils fan and loved watching college basketball.

Grady is survived by two children, Wayne Benson Cook (Barbara) and Cynthia Ann Cook (Darrell), both of Locust; ve grandchildren, Danielle Cook, Michelle Simmons (Bryan), Jesse Yandle (Sarah), Savannah Harpe (Chase), and Cody Yandle (Olivia); ten great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; his dear and special friend, Edna Tucker; and his lifelong childhood friend, Joe Taylor.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Stanly News Journal at obits@ stanlynewsjournal.com

GLENN CURTIS MABRY

FEB. 17, 1942 – APRIL 15, 2026

Glenn Curtis Mabry, 84, of Locust, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Novant Presbyterian Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family.

A funeral service will be held at 2:45 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Stanly Funeral Home Chapel in Locust, o ciated by Pastor James Almond. Burial will follow at Carolina Presbyterian Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1-2:30 p.m. prior to the service at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Locust.

Mr. Mabry was born February 17, 1942, in Stanly County to the late Hubert Mabry and Netta Tarlton.

He is lovingly survived by his wife of 63 years, Sharon Stein Mabry. He also leaves behind his children, Ron Mabry (Catherine) of Fort Mill, SC, and Randy Mabry (Amber) of Fort Mill, SC; daughter-in-law, SoonAe Mabry; grandchildren, Kirsten Magee (Ryan), Curtis Mabry (Victoria), Megan Pearl (Nathan), Sam Mabry, Hadley Mabry, Thomas Glenn Mabry, Lillian Mabry, Lauren Mabry, Lydia Mabry, and Landyn Mabry; and great-grandchildren, Alyssa, Amelia, Aiden, Eli, and Everlea. He is also survived by his stepbrother, John Tarlton, and stepsisters, Sue Helms and Linda Coble.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Russell Mabry (2022), and siblings, Elwood Mabry, Wilsie Fincher, and Garry Mabry.

Glenn proudly served his country in the United States Air Force. Glenn was a man of deep faith and dedication, actively involved with his church, where he faithfully served as an elder and Sunday School teacher. He was also deeply committed to his community, playing an instrumental role in the startup of the local senior center and remaining active there throughout the years. Glenn coached little league baseball and football, touching the lives of many young people. He was known for his kindness, leadership, and servant’s heart, and was loved by all who knew him.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the sta of Novant Presbyterian Medical Center for the compassionate care and support shown to Glenn during his declining health.

In lieu of owers, memorials may be made to Trinity Reformed Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 447, Locust, NC 28097 or West Stanly Community Center Foundation, PO Box 164, Locust, NC 28097

Glenn’s life was a testament to faith, family, and service. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

DIANNE SYLVIA MEDLIN

DEC. 31, 1949 – APRIL 15, 2026

Dianne Sylvia Medlin passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at her home surrounded by her family.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 20, 2026, in the Stanly Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Brandon King o ciating. Burial will follow at Stanly Gardens of Memory. There will be no formal visitation.

She was born on December 31, 1949, in Stanly County to the late Oliver Kipling and Lucille Rummage Story.

A woman of deep and enduring faith, Dianne’s love for the Lord was the guiding force in her life. She was a dedicated and long-standing member of First Baptist Church of New London, where she found great joy in her church family and in worship.

Dianne was known for her nurturing spirit, which she expressed through her many passions. Her kitchen was often the heart of her home, where she found joy in cooking for family and friends. She also had a talented green thumb, spending many happy hours gardening and appreciating the beauty of nature. Above all, her greatest love was her family, whom she cherished every moment with.

Professionally, she dedicated many years of service to the community, retiring from a career with the Stanly County Schools system. Additionally, alongside her husband, Doug Medlin, they ran Doug’s Maytag in Albemarle and Denton, showing a shared spirit of partnership in both life and work.

In addition to her parents, Dianne is preceded in death by her loving husband of 54 years, Doug Medlin. She is survived by her sons Craig (Rhonda) and Shannon Medlin; Grandchildren Nicole Siddiqi (Noah), Taylor Medlin, Skylar Brown (Jason), Spenser Medlin, Brock Medlin, Brooke Medlin, and Titus Medlin; and siblings Kaye O’Brien, Charles Story (Beverly), Joe Story (Ellen) and Sheila Hernandez (the late Curtis).

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the sta of Gentiva Hospice, Levine Cancer Institute and First Baptist Church of New London for the care and support provided to Dianne during her declining health.

In lieu of owers, and in honor of her memory, the family requests that donations be made to The Gideons International at gideons.org.

MONTIZE WHITLEY

OCT. 24, 1926 – APRIL 15, 2026

Mamie Montize Le er Shue Whitley, 99, of Norwood, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at South Stanly Baptist Church. Rev. Je ery Pope will o ciate, and interment will follow at Simpson Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday, April 17, 2026, from 6-8 p.m. at Edwards Funeral Home in Norwood.

Ms. Whitley was born on October 24, 1926, in Stanly County to the late George Preston and Eliza Dennis Le er. She was a founding charter member of South Stanly Baptist Church where she was a Sunday School teacher, sunbeam leader, and a member of the Women’s Missionary Union. She retired from Wiscassett Mills after 30 years of service.

To know her was to love her. She brought happiness and joy to all who knew her. Her biggest accomplishment was the relationship she had with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So much of her time was spent reading her Bible. She also enjoyed her favorite pastime, playing cards, working on puzzle books, and going on trips to the beach with her family. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She was very proud of her family and took every opportunity to let them know this. She was truly a blessing to all who knew her.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her rst husband, Craven Rayvon Shue; son: Craven Rayvon Shue Jr.; daughter: Brenda Shue Hinson, grandchildren: Ronnie Scott Culp, Douglas Coggin, Todd Coggin, Gale Hinson, and Wayne Tucker; second husband Lloyd A. Whitley; and sisters: Lula Shaver, Alberta Mauldin, Estelle Burr, Della Hudson, Flossie Turner, Ethel Connell and Mary Mason.

She is survived by her children: Dorothy Butler (Paul), Judy Coggin (Bill), Paulette Smith (Rick), William George Shue, Mabel Thompson, Donna Whitley Harvell (Leonard), and Mark Whitley (Terri); 16 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

WARREN “BUBBA” G. LITTLE JR. JULY 23, 1957 – APRIL 15, 2026

Warren G. Little Jr. ‘Bubba’, 68, of Norwood, passed away on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Atrium Health Stanly.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at Cottonville Baptist Church. Pastor JR Murr will o ciate, and interment will follow at the church cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

Bubba was born on July 23, 1957, in Stanly County to the late Warren G Sr. and Margaret Hill Little. He retired from the North Carolina Department of Transportation in 2008 after over 25 years of service. After retirement, he continued to work with Terry Blalock and Barry McSwain as a farm hand. He was a member of Cottonville Baptist Church.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers: Freddy Little and Don Little; and sister in law: Linda Little.

He is survived by his sister: Margaret Sorenson (Bill); sister in law: Darlene Little; nieces: Jennifer Nichols (David), Laura Harrington (Shane), Angela Day (Jon), Danielle Almond (Derrick), and Sara Faulkner (Mitchell); great nieces and nephews: Kaylyn, Drew, Zack, Lane, Elias, Charlotte, Whit, and Avery.

Memorials may be made to Cottonville Baptist Church: 8032 Cottonville Road, Norwood, NC 28128.

STANLY SPORTS

Gray Stone girls’ soccer shuts out North Stanly

The Knights are 8-6 this season

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

MISENHEIMER — Recov-

ering in stride from a 9-0 home loss to West Stanly, the Gray Stone girls’ soccer team got back in the win column Monday night with a 9-0 shutout victory over North Stanly in Misenheimer.

Sitting in second place in the Yadkin Valley Conference, the Knights (8-6, 6-1 YVC) have now won three of their past four matches, while the

sixth-place Comets (0-15-1, 0-7 YVC) are still in search of their rst win of the season.

Freshmen Averly Swaringen and Samantha Christlieb each had three goals for Gray Stone in the win, while senior Anna Morgan added a pair and freshman Payton Phillips notched one.

Gray Stone is coming o a 12-8 record in 2025, including a third-place 7-3 mark in the YVC; North Stanly has taken another step back from a 3-14 -1 season and a fth-place 2-7-1 conference nish.

The Knights are set to travel to Monroe on Wednesday to square o with the reigning conference champion Union

Academy Cardinals, who currently have a rst-place 7-0 record in league play. Meanwhile, the Comets will host South Stanly in New London on Wednesday as they aim to snap a 19-game winless streak that dates back to April 17, 2025.

West Stanly 7, Piedmont 1

Boosting their overall win total, the West Stanly Colts (11-2-2, 6-1-1 Rocky River) had a 7-1 nonconference home triumph over the Piedmont Panthers (4-12, 0-7 Southern Carolina) on Monday.

The Colts, now second in the RRC standings behind CATA,

played at Monroe on Tuesday and will return home to Red Cross to host Forest Hills on Thursday.

South Stanly 6, North Rowan 5

Although they had only a single victory in their past two campaigns combined, the South Stanly Rowdy Rebel Bulls (5-5, 4-3 YVC) have put together a .500 season so far with a third-place YVC record, most recently defeating North Rowan (5-7-1, 3-7 YVC) by one goal.

The Bulls played the Comets in New London on Wednes-

day. In the two teams’ match on March 30, South Stanly came away with a 3-1 home win.

Union Academy 9, Albemarle 0

The Albemarle Bulldogs (1-10, 1-6 YVC) su ered their fourth shutout loss in their past ve appearances Monday, getting blanked as the Union Academy Cardinals (8-9, 7-0 YVC) pulled out a 9-0 win. Last season, Albemarle was 5-8-1 with a fourth-place 3-6 -1 record in the YVC standings. The team is now in fth place as it hosts North Rowan on Wednesday.

Pfei er men, women secure USA South tournament bids

Both teams will play against Methodist on Friday

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

MISENHEIMER — While their regular-season schedules have already wrapped up, Pfei er’s two tennis programs are continuing the 2025-26 campaign.

Both the Falcons’ men’s and women’s tennis teams secured top-four nishes in the USA South Athletic Conference standings, earning bids to their respective conference tournaments, which begin on Friday.

Pfei er’s men’s team (15-3, 4-1 USA South) nished second in the regular-season standings, while the university’s women’s team (13-4, 3-2 USA South) placed third. N.C. Wesleyan claimed the top seed in both tournaments after going undefeated in conference play.

The USA South Tournaments feature the top four teams in each bracket, with semi nal matches scheduled for Friday and championship matches set for Saturday. All matches will be played on the campus of N.C. Wesleyan in Rocky Mount.

In the men’s bracket, Pfei er is seeded second and will face No. 3 Methodist in a seminal match at 2 p.m. Friday. Top-seeded N.C. Wesleyan will host No. 4 Southern Virginia at the same time. The winners will meet in the championship match at 2 p.m. Saturday.

On the women’s side, Pfei er enters as the No. 3 seed and will play No. 2 Methodist in a semi nal match at 10 a.m. Friday. N.C. Wesleyan, the top seed, will face No. 4 Southern Virginia at the same time.

The women’s championship match is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday.

The men’s nal seeding is led by N.C. Wesleyan (5-0), followed by Pfei er (4-1), Methodist (3-2) and Southern Virginia (2-3). Brevard (1-4) and William Peace (0-5) did not qualify for the tournament. Pfei er previously defeated Methodist 4-3 in Misenheimer on April 7, just three days before the Falcons su ered their only conference defeat of the season in a 7-0 loss at N.C. Wesleyan.

Final seeding for the women’s bracket includes N.C. Wesleyan (5-0), Methodist (4-1), Pfei er (3-2) and Southern Virginia (2-3), with Salem (1-4) and Meredith (0-5) falling outside the top four. Playing on their home court on April 8, the Falcons lost to Methodist 6-1 before losing at N.C. Wesleyan by that same score two days later.

Seeding for Pfei er’s men’s tennis team in the USA South Conference tournament

NFL Panthers agree to terms with QB Grier

Charlotte Quarterback Will Grier is returning home to the team that drafted him. The Carolina Panthers announced Tuesday they’ve agreed to terms on a contract with Grier, their third-round draft pick (100th overall) in 2019 who played high school football in the Charlotte area. Grier gives the Panthers added depth at the position behind starter Bryce Young. He is expected to compete for the No. 2 spot with Kenny Pickett.

MARATHONS

Men caught competing in the women’s category of a prestigious South African marathon

Johannesburg

Two male runners in South Africa were discovered fraudulently competing on behalf of female colleagues in a top marathon and disquali ed. They could face two -year bans from the event, along with the two women who swapped their bibs with the two men. The two men both nished within the top 10 in the women’s marathon at the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town. But marathon board member Stuart Mann said the deception was discovered, and the men were disquali ed from their seventh- and 10th-place nishes.

WNBA Bird, Rapinoe

announce break-up, will phase out podcast Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe are splitting up. The sports power couple announced they are ending their 10-year relationship and phasing out their popular podcast. They dropped the news together on the podcast. Bird is considered one of the greatest women’s basketball players in history. Rapinoe rose to fame as a member of the Women’s World Cup team in 2011, 2015 and 2019. Bird said they will host six more special episodes.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

Newly crowned UFC champ Ulberg says he lost title belt while celebrating win

New York Carlos Ulberg fought through an injured right knee to capture the light heavyweight title in UFC 327. He says he lost it hours later, literally. The 35-year-old from New Zealand defeated Jiri Prochazka in the main event at UFC 327 by knockout in Miami to become the new champion of the light heavyweight division. He told Fox Sports Australia he misplaced his golden title belt while celebrating his victory.

NFL

Likelihood of NFL replacement refs enters new stage with background checks, physicals

The NFL’s process of hiring replacement referees has reached another stage, according to a memo sent to teams. Several replacement o cials have completed hiring steps including background checks and will soon progress to undergoing physical exams per a memo sent to teams. Training sessions with NFL o ciating supervisors would then begin as early as next month. The league has undertaken these steps because negotiations with the referees’ union have been unsuccessful.

Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: community@stanlynewsjournal.com

Weekly deadline is Monday at noon

The 23XI driver has won ve of the rst nine races this season

By Dave Skretta

The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — NASCAR driver Tyler Reddick is riding the kind of Cup Series hot streak that Michael Jordan once enjoyed in his playing days.

Oh, you can bet the NBA Hall of Famer is enjoying this one, too.

Reddick roared by Kyle Larson on the nal lap of overtime to win at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, becoming the fourth driver to win ve of the rst nine races in NASCAR’s top series in a season. Chase Briscoe wound up third while Denny Hamlin, who co-owns 23XI Racing along with Jordan, had to watch from fourth as his driver reached victory lane yet again.

“This kid is on re. I don’t know what to say. I don’t think I can cool him down,” Jordan said. “When you win it’s always fun, and right now it’s fun for everybody at 23XI. Me being here and being able to see all the wins, I am so happy for the team.”

All four of the 23XI cars nished in the top 15 on a banner day for the team.

“Got to deliver for the boss man,” Reddick said of Jordan. “If he’s going to come hang out with us, we have to get him dubs.”

Sunday’s race had been

Tyler Reddick

caution-free except for stage breaks until Cody Ware spun as the white ag was about to y.

Hamlin was leading at that point, and it looked as if he was about to win his record-extending fth race at Kansas. Instead, all of the leaders had to pit, and even though Hamlin beat Reddick o pit road, the eld was bunched up for the overtime restart.

Larson, trying to end a 32 -race winless streak, lined up behind Hamlin on the inside, and he launched to the lead when the green ag ew.

Chaos ensued behind them as Christopher Bell bounced o Reddick and Hamlin and the No. 5 car began to pull away.

Reddick came charging down the backstretch on the nal lap, though, and he pulled alongside Larson as they went through the nal corners. The No. 45 edged ahead as the checkered ag ew, and Jordan began to pump his st in the pits in celebration.

The last driver to win ve of the rst nine Cup Series races was Dale Earnhardt in 1987.

“Just really blessed with the late caution,” Reddick said.

“Was that nuts or what? I couldn’t believe it.”

won again. But it came at his expense, and he was decidedly unhappy about that. Asked of his frustration level, Hamlin replied: “Obviously it’s not winning. It’s Cody Ware, six laps down, wrecking. I don’t know. Add it up.”

SPRING SPORTS ROUNDUPS

BASEBALL

SOUTH STANLY (12-9, 7-1 IN CONFERENCE)

• Won vs. Albemarle 9-1

• Won vs. Mount Pleasant 10-0

• Won at Albemarle 17-4

This week’s schedule

• Apr. 21 at Union Academy

• Apr. 22 vs. Carson

• Apr. 24 vs. Union Academy

WEST STANLY (19-1, 7-1 IN CONFERENCE)

• Won vs. Central Academy 13-0

• Won vs. Pinecrest 3-0

• Lost at Central Academy 5-2

This week’s schedule

• Apr. 21 vs. Mount Pleasant

• Apr. 22 at Hickory Ridge

• Apr. 24 at Mount Pleasant

NORTH STANLY (18-3, 7-1 IN CONFERENCE)

• Won at Southeast Guilford 6-0

• Won vs. Community School of Davidson 10-6

• Won vs. Gray Stone Day 19-1

• Won vs. Gray Stone Day 13-0

Upcoming schedule

• Apr. 22 at Reagan

• Apr. 23 at North Rowan (2)

ALBEMARLE (3-13, 1-7 IN CONFERENCE)

Upcoming schedule

• Apr. 22 vs. East Rowan

• Apr. 24 at Mount Pleasant

NORTH STANLY (6-12, 3-4 IN CONFERENCE)

• Won at Gray Stone Day 7-0

• Won at Concord 12-4

• Won vs. Gray Stone Day 14-0

No games scheduled this week

ALBEMARLE (0-5, 0-3 IN CONFERENCE)

No games scheduled last week or this week

GRAY STONE DAY (3-9, 0-6 IN CONFERENCE)

• Lost vs. North Stanly 7-0

• Lost at North Stanly 14-0

Upcoming schedule

• Apr. 21 vs. South Davidson

• Apr. 22 at Carson

GIRLS’ SOCCER

SOUTH STANLY (5-5, 4-3 IN CONFERENCE)

• Won vs. Albemarle 4-0

• Won vs. North Rowan 6-5

This week’s schedule

• Apr. 22 at North Stanly

• Apr. 27 vs. Union Academy

WEST STANLY (11-2-2, 6-1-1 IN CONFERENCE)

Larson, the defending race winner, said his car’s balance was o after taking two tires on the nal stop, leaving him on the podium for the third time without a win this season. Briscoe and Hamlin were followed across by another 23XI driver, Bubba Wallace.

“It was good execution for the restart there,” Larson said. “I got to the lead and I thought I could cruise right there to the checkered.”

Except that Reddick is the only one who seems to be doing that these days. Even when he doesn’t win, he’s had his Toyota running up front. He was fourth last week at Bristol and has been in the top 15 in every start this season.

He’s a big reason Toyota is the rst manufacturer since Chevrolet in 2007 to win seven of the rst nine races in a season.

“I just think the whole team all year has been really poised,” 23XI President Steve Lauletta said. “It’s not the rst time we’ve had any kind of adversity come at us, and they’ve continued to stay calm, keep each other grounded and know we have a fast car. And if you have a fast car, all you have to do is make sure you execute, and that’s what they’ve managed to do.” “Was

Hamlin was happy Reddick

• Lost at South Stanly 9-1

• Lost vs. South Stanly 17-4

• Lost vs. North Mecklenburg 15-7

Upcoming schedule

• Apr. 21 vs. Gray Stone Day

• Apr. 24 at Gray Stone Day

GRAY STONE DAY (5-8, 2-6 IN CONFERENCE)

• Lost at Ashbrook 11-10

• Lost at North Stanly 19-1

• Lost at North Stanly 13-0

Upcoming schedule

• Apr. 21 at Albemarle

• Apr. 23 at Central Davidson

• Apr. 24 vs. Albemarle

SOFTBALL

SOUTH STANLY (17-2, 5-0 IN CONFERENCE)

• Lost at East Rowan 5-4

• Won vs. West Stanly 7-6

This week’s schedule

• Apr. 21 at Union Academy

• Apr. 24 vs. Union Academy

WEST STANLY (18-4, 11-0 IN CONFERENCE)

• Won vs. Forest Hills 15-0

• Won vs. Forest Hills 15-0

• Lost at South Stanly 7-6

• Won at Mooresville 19-14

• Lost at Central Academy 6-0

• Tied vs. Parkwood 3-3

• Won at Gray Stone Day 9-0

• Won vs. Piedmont 7-1

This week’s schedule

• Apr. 21 at Monroe

• Apr. 23 vs. Forest Hills

• Apr. 27 vs. Montgomery

NORTH STANLY (0-15-1, 0-7 IN CONFERENCE)

• Lost at Union Academy 9-0

• Lost at Concord 6-1

• Lost at Gray Stone Day 9-0

Upcoming schedule

• Apr. 22 vs. South Stanly

• Apr. 27 at North Rowan

ALBEMARLE (1-10, 1-6 IN CONFERENCE)

• Lost at South Stanly 4-0

• Lost vs. Union Academy 9-0

Upcoming schedule

• Apr. 22 vs. North Rowan

• Apr. 27 at Gray Stone Day

GRAY STONE DAY (8-6, 6-1 IN CONFERENCE)

• Won at North Rowan 3-0

• Lost vs. West Stanly 9-0

• Won vs. North Stanly 9-0

Upcoming schedule

• Apr. 22 at Union Academy

• Apr. 27 vs. Albemarle

4

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ESTATE

Saturday,

2nd from 8:00 am

NOTICES

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, STANLY COUNTY

In the District Court Division MARIA OFELIA YAM YAM, Plainti Vs.

JESUS MARTINEZ VAZQUEZ, Defendant.

YARD SALE

price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.

Said property to be o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being o ered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Frank Rivers and Debra Anne Rivers.

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 the 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 no 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 [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. 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. Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by the person conducting the sale, or their

reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

If the transaction is subject to the FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule (“RRE”) issued pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, information necessary to comply with the RRE Rule must be obtained and provided to the Reporting Person, as de ned in the RRE Rule, prior to closing.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC

Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 25-21218-FC01

TO: JESUS MARTINEZ VAZQUEZ, DEFENDANT: TAKE NOTICE that a pleading seeking relief against you was led September 24, 2025 in Stanly County, North Carolina in the above-entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: COMPLAINT FOR CHILD CUSTODY AND ABSOLUTE DIVORCE (25CV001319-830

You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than May 26, 2026 to the Stanly County Clerk of Court, P.O. Box 668, Albemarle, NC 28002, Attn: Civil Division and upon your failure to do so, the party seeking service against you will apply to the Court for the relief sought.

This the 15th of April, 2026. PARNELL AND SCALES, PLLC Cameron S. Vick Attorney for Plainti P.O. Box 2300 Albemarle, NC 28002

PUBLISH: April 15, 2026, April 22, 2026 and April 29, 2026

April 10, 2026

NOTICE

The public will take notice that the council of the Town of Norwood has called a public hearing at 6:00 pm on Monday, May 4, 2026 at Norwood Town Hall, to consider a rezoning request from RFB Development LLC, M2/M1 to R-10. Tax record 3773, 139743, and 4290(partial), a total of 12.91 acres o Crawley Avenue.

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF STANLY IN THE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION

RUBEN MONGRAGON CASAS, Plainti , Vs. COURTNEY ANN LEDFORD, Defendant. TO: COURTNEY ANN LEDFORD, Defendant TAKE NOTICE that a pleading seeking relief against you was led September 30, 2025 in Stanly County, North Carolina in the above entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: MOTION TO MODIFY CUSTODY ORDER (24cv001958-830)

You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than May 26, 2026 to the Stanly County Clerk of Court, P.O. Box 668, Albemarle, NC 28002, Attn: Civil Division. Upon your failure to do so, the party seeking service against you will apply to the Court for the relief sought on the next hearing date of June 2, 2026 at 11:30 AM in Courtroom 403.

This the 15th day of April, 2026.

Brown & Senter, PLLC James L. Senter Attorney for Plainti PO Box 400 Albemarle, NC 28002

PUBLISH: April 15, 2026; April 22, 2026; and April 29, 2026

Public Notice

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NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having quali ed

Charlize Theron, ‘Marty Supreme,’ Kehlani, Kate Hudson, Lainey Wilson

A documentary about country singer Lainey Wilson comes to Net ix

The Associated Press

TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET

starring as a ping-pong master in “Marty Supreme” and a Netix comedy competition show hosted by Kevin Hart 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, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: Charlize Theron expanding her already robust action movie resume with “Apex,” Kate Hudson’s “Running Point” returning for Season 2 and a Net ix documentary on country star Lainey Wilson.

MOVIES TO STREAM

After nine Oscar nominations, $179 million in ticket sales and a few dings for opera and ballet along the way, “Marty Supreme” begins streaming Friday on HBO Max. A24’s biggest box-o ce hit ever stars Timothée Chalamet as a ping-pong striver in 1950s New York doing whatever it takes to reach greatness. Josh Safdie directs a cast including Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion and Kevin O’Leary. In her review, AP’s Jocelyn Noveck called it a “nerve-busting adrenaline jolt of a movie.”

Another highlight of 2025, the darkly comic Korean thriller “No Other Choice,” lands on Hulu on Friday. Park Chan-wook’s satire stars Lee Byung-hun as a family man laid

o from a paper plant. After analyzing his prospects, he decides to murder his closest competition for a new job. In my review of the Golden Globe-nominated lm, I praised Park, the masterful lmmaker of “Oldboy” and “Decision to Leave,” for “archly and elegantly spinning a yarn about a murderous rampage that accumulates wider and wider reverberations.”

The latest Colleen Hoover hit adaptation, “Regretting You,” arrives Friday on Prime Video. In it, Allison Williams stars as a single mother moving on after the death of her husband (Scott Eastwood). Dave Franco co -stars as her new love interest. In her review, Noveck wrote that “the strange way the tears give way to smiles, quips and then full-on rom-com corniness feels a little awkward — and then just weird and annoying.” Charlize Theron expands her already robust action movie resume in “Apex,” a surviv-

alist thriller about a grieving woman who heads into the Australian wilderness for outdoor adventure. But when a sadistic local (Taron Egerton) begins terrorizing her, a frantic chase ensues. Catch it on Net ix on Friday.

TO STREAM

MUSIC

Noah Kahan’s 2022 single “Stick Season” turned the Vermont singer-songwriter into a household name; now, he’s at “The Great Divide.” That’s the title of his fourth studio album, out Friday. Come for folky ruminations on fame (“Porch Light”), stay for the plucky title track and what exists in between. In the decade following her debut album, Meghan Trainor’s bright, cheery pop music has kept one central message: Stay true to who you are and ignore the haters. That continues on her single “Still Don’t Care,” the

rst tease of her seventh fulllength album. And it is found on the whole of the release, titled “Toy with Me,” out Friday. In December, she told the AP to expect a few self-love bops, songs to anger through and lots of familial love. The singer-songwriter recently canceled a summer tour following the birth of her daughter, Mikey Moon. Musician documentaries are a dime a dozen these days; often, they function as promotional material with little editorial value. That is not the case with “Lainey Wilson: Keepin’ Country Cool,” available now on Net ix. The country superstar keeps her cool … and gets candid in this feature, which spans her personal and professional lives.

SERIES TO STREAM

A new Net ix competition show called “Funny AF with Kevin Hart” features Hart traveling to di erent comedy clubs in the U.S. in search of the next great stand-up sensation. Hart is joined by Keegan-Michael Key, Tom Segura, Kumail Nanjiani, Chelsea Handler and Nikki Glaser, who serve as judges. The semi nal and nal episodes will stream live on Net ix, and the audience can vote in real-time. The winner will get their own Net ix stand-up special.

Prime Video has a new series about a di erent Kevin. “Kevin” is an animated series about a cat who moves into a local pet rescue after his owners split up. Jason Schwartzman voices Kevin and Aubrey Plaza, who co-created and co-wrote the series, also voices a character.

A new “Stranger Things” animated spino harks back to the

Saturday morning cartoons of the 1980s, with stand-alone adventures each episode. “Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85” takes place during Seasons 2 and 3 of the original show and follows its core gang encountering mysteries and monsters from the Upside Down. They’re voiced by new actors, not the live-action cast. It debuts Thursday on Net ix.

Kate Hudson’s “Running Point” returns for Season 2 on Net ix on Thursday. Hudson plays Isla Gordon, whose family has owned the ctional Los Angeles Waves for years. Hudson takes over as the team’s president when her older brother (Justin Theroux) steps down. Her character is based on Jeanie Buss, the governor and former controlling owner (now minority owner) of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Richard Gadd, whose “Baby Reindeer” drew acclaim and a defamation lawsuit from the real-life woman it depicted, has created and written a new dark drama called “Half Man” where he co-stars with Jamie Bell. Gadd told the AP that he turned down numerous Hollywood offers after “Baby Reindeer” in favor of making “Half Man.” It premieres Thursday.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

Italian developer Luca Galante unleashed a surprise smash back in 2022 with his low-res indie shoot-’em-up Vampire Survivors. Fans have since gobbled up a half-dozen expansions, and now it’s time for a full- edged spino , Vampire Crawlers. It’s a “casual, turn-based deck builder” in which you explore dungeons and ght monsters by inging playing cards at them. Think something like Slay the Spire with, well, vampires — then throw in “turboturn,” which lets you pile up damage by slinging cards more quickly. It looks every bit as hectic and silly as the original, and you can take a bite now on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.

Law enforcement o cers stand near the scene of a shooting at Leinbach Park on Monday in Winston-Salem.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Supreme Court to hear from religious preschools challenging exclusion from taxpayer-funded program

The Supreme Court will hear from Catholic preschools that say it’s unconstitutional to exclude them from a state-funded program because they won’t admit kids from LGBTQ+ families. Colorado’s St. Mary Catholic Parish and the Archdiocese of Denver argue Colorado is violating their religious rights by barring them from the taxpayer-funded universal preschool program over their faith-based admission policies. The state says religious schools are welcome to participate but are required to follow nondiscrimination laws. The case will be heard in the fall.

About 25 arrested in clashes at beagle breeding facility

About 25 protesters were arrested as about 1,000 animal welfare activists tried to enter a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin. The protest on Saturday was the second attempt in two months to take beagles from Ridglan Farms. O cers red rubber bullets and pepper spray to disperse the crowd. The Dane County sheri ’s o ce reported a calmer protest on Sunday with about 200 people. Protesters previously took 30 dogs in March. Ridglan denies mistreating animals but agreed to give up its state breeding license by July 1.

$2.00

Planned ght between teens escalates to shooting that kills 2 at Winston-Salem park

Five others wounded; authorities believe some injured were also involved in shooting

By Erik Verduzco

The Associated Press

WINSTON-SALEM — A planned fight among young people escalated into a mass shooting at a North Carolina park Monday morning that left two teenage boys dead and five other people injured, authorities said.

Winston-Salem police

Capt. Kevin Burns said a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old died at the scene after being shot about 10 a.m. at Leinbach Park, near a middle school. Five others between the ages of 14 and 19 were shot and suffered injuries ranging from critical to minor, Burns said at a news conference. Four of those victims are female, officials said. It was not immediately clear whether any of the victims were the gunmen.

Winston-Salem police Chief

“I’m frustrated, I’m angry, I’m sad. This didn’t have to happen.”

Police Chief William Penn

William Penn said no one was in custody but authorities believe some of those injured were also involved in the shooting.

“I feel like everyone else.

I’m frustrated, I’m angry, I’m

Commissioners postpone emergency vehicle up ts

In order to keep the sheri ’s o ce in budget, the county advised delaying the order by two months

By Ryan Henkel Twin City Herald

WINSTON-SALEM — The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners has postponed the up tting of several sheri ’s ofce vehicles.

In an e ort to help the department stay within its approved budget for the current scal year, the commissioners voted 4-2 in favor of postponing a purchase contract until next scal year, which would begin on July 1. The contract, which would be with Global Public Safety, would up t a total of 23 vehicles for an amount not to exceed $350,000.

“This would have an impact

$1.3M

The total amount spent on sheri ’s o ce vehicles this scal year.

on our vehicle status,” said Major Van Loveland. “The entire county eet, including the sheri ’s o ce, is in poor shape, and this would delay us getting vehicles on the road, which means we’re gonna have other vehicles with much higher mileage and mechanical problems that are having to stay on the road longer, which may possibly impact us being able to respond to calls.”

In the meantime, the county plans to do temporary up ts on the awaiting sheri ’s o ce vehicles.

“Our automotive services

manager does have an alternate up t that he could do in the meantime to get the vehicles on the road,” said County Manager Shontell Robinson.

“In the meantime, individuals would keep the vehicles that they have. If they have vehicles, these would just be replacement vehicles.”

According to Automotive Services Manager Jonathan Markle, the alternate up t involves utilizing smaller lightkits and installing them on the front dashboard.

“They would be able to use those vehicles, not as a response vehicle because it doesn’t have sirens or 360-degree lights, but it would be a dash light that an investigator or a member of administration that may not be responding to calls on a regular basis could potentially use in the meantime until we do the full up ts,” Markle said.

According to Robinson, with the postponement, the vehicles are expected to be ready in

sad. This didn’t have to happen,” Penn said. Winston-Salem police Assistant Chief Jason Swaim said two juveniles had agreed to meet at the park to fight and that a firearm was discharged during the fight.

Swaim said schools near the park were safe.

The shooting happened in a park in a suburban and residential area northwest of downtown Winston-Salem, a city of about 250,000 known for decades as the home of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

September as opposed to July. The county has spent approximately $1.3 million on sheri ’s o ce vehicles this scal year. Although the sheri ’s o ce has been communicated with about the temporary delay and alternative up t options, it still perceives there may be some potential hiccups.

“These are frontline vehicles, pursuit vehicles for our patrol o cers as far as the ones that are here right now that need to be up tted,” Loveland said. “So (with the alternate up t), it really can’t be a patrol-type vehicle or something of that nature. We’d have to give it to maybe somebody in admin, but then their vehicle is not usable out in the street as well because it doesn’t have the lights and sirens that a patrol vehicle would have.”

Commissioners Malishai Woodbury and Tonya McDaniel voted against the motion.

The board also tabled a $52,000 purchase order with Modern Chevrolet LLC for a 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe PPV.

The vehicle is intended to replace Sheri Bobby Kimbrough’s Dodge Durango, which has around 32,000 miles.

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will next meet May 7.

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Redistricting battle narrows for US House as states seek partisan edge in November elections

By David A. Lieb The Associated Press

THE BATTLEFIELD is narrowing and the timeline is tightening in a congressional redistricting contest among states seeking a partisan advantage ahead of the November midterm elections.

Virginia voters on Tuesday approved a constitutional amendment authorizing a Democratic redistricting plan that could help the party win several additional House seats in this year’s elections. Next up could be Florida, where lawmakers are to begin a special session April 28 for a Republican attempt at congressional redistricting.

Voting districts typically are redrawn once a decade, after each census. But President Donald Trump triggered an unusual round of mid-decade redistricting last year when he urged Texas Republicans to redraw House districts to give the GOP an edge in the midterm elections. California Democrats reciprocated, and redistricting e orts soon cascaded across states.

So far, Republicans believe they could win up to nine additional seats in states where they have redrawn congressional districts while Democrats think they could gain up to 10 seats elsewhere because of redistricting. But that presumes past voting patterns hold in November. And that’s uncertain, especially since the party in power typically loses seats in the midterms and Trump faces negative approval ratings in polls.

Democrats need to gain just a few seats in November to wrest control of the House from Republicans, potentially allowing them to obstruct Trump’s agenda.

Next up on

redistricting: Florida

Current map: 8 Democrats, 20 Republicans

Proposed map: Republican

Gov. Ron DeSantis has called a special legislative session to begin April 28 on congressional redistricting. Republicans haven’t yet publicly released a speci c plan.

Challenges: The state constitution says districts cannot be drawn with intent to favor or disfavor a political party or incumbent.

Where new House districts were approved

New U.S. House districts have been adopted in seven states since last summer. Five

took up redistricting voluntarily, one was required to by its state constitution and another did so under court order.

Texas

Current map: 13 Democrats, 25 Republicans New map: Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a revised House map into law last August that could help Republicans win ve additional seats.

Challenges: The U.S. Supreme Court in December cleared the way for the new districts to be used in this year’s elections. It put on hold a lower-court ruling that blocked the new map because it was “racially gerrymandered.”

California

Current map: 43 Democrats, 9 Republicans

New map: Voters in November approved revised House districts drawn by the Democratic-led Legislature that could help Democrats win ve additional seats.

Challenges: The U.S. Supreme Court in February allowed the new districts to be used in this year’s elections. It denied an appeal from Republicans and the Department of Justice, which claimed the districts impermissibly favor Hispanic voters.

Missouri

Current map: 2 Democrats, 6 Republicans New map: Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a revised House map into law last September that could help Republicans win an additional seat.

Challenges: A Cole County judge ruled the new map is in e ect as election o cials work to determine whether a referendum petition seeking a statewide vote complies with constitutional criteria and contains enough valid petition signatures. The Missouri Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit claiming mid-decade redistricting is illegal. It’s scheduled to hear arguments in May on claims the new districts violate compactness requirements and should be placed on hold pending the potential referendum.

North Carolina

Current map: 4 Democrats, 10 Republicans New map: The Republican-led General Assembly gave nal approval in October to revised districts that could help Republicans win an additional seat. Challenges: A federal court

panel in November denied a request to block the revised districts from being used in the midterm elections.

Ohio

Current map: 5 Democrats, 10 Republicans New map: A bipartisan panel composed primarily of Republicans voted in October to approve revised House districts that improve Republicans’ chances of winning two additional seats.

Challenges: None. The state constitution required new districts before the 2026 election, because Republicans had approved the prior map without su cient Democratic support after the last census.

Utah

Current map: no Democrats, 4 Republicans New map: A judge in November imposed revised House districts that could help Democrats win a seat. The court ruled that lawmakers had circumvented anti-gerrymandering standards passed by voters when adopting the prior map.

Challenges: A federal court panel and the state Supreme Court, in February, each rejected Republican challenges to the judicial map selection.

Virginia

Current map: 6 Democrats, 5 Republicans New map: Voters approved a constitutional amendment authorizing new U.S. House districts backed by Democrats that could help the party win up to four additional seats.

Challenges: The state Supreme Court allowed the referendum to proceed, but it has yet to rule whether the e ort is legal. The court is considering an appeal of a Tazewell County judge’s ruling that the amendment is invalid because lawmakers violated their own rules while passing it.

Where redistricting e orts were denied

Governors, lawmakers or partisan o cials pushed for congressional redistricting in numerous states. In at least ve states, those e orts gained some initial traction but ultimately fell short in either the legislature or court.

Maryland

Current map: 7 Democrats, 1 Republican Proposed map: The Democratic-led House in Febru-

ary passed a redistricting plan backed by Democratic Gov. Wes Moore that could help Democrats win an additional seat.

Challenges: The legislative session ended in April without the Democratic-led Senate voting on the redistricting plan. The state Senate president said there were concerns it could back re on Democrats.

New York

Current map: 19 Democrats, 7 Republicans Proposed map: A judge in January ordered a state commission to draw new boundaries for the only congressional district in New York City represented by a Republican, ruling it unconstitutionally dilutes the votes of black and Hispanic residents.

Challenges: The U.S. Supreme Court in March granted Republicans’ request to halt the judge’s order, leaving the existing district lines in place for the 2026 election.

Indiana

Current map: 2 Democrats, 7 Republicans Proposed map: The Republican-led House passed a redistricting plan in December that would have improved Republicans’ chances of winning two additional seats.

Challenges: Despite pressure from Trump to adopt the new map, the Republican-led Senate rejected it in a bipartisan vote on Dec. 11.

Kansas

Current map: 1 Democrat, 3 Republicans Proposed map: Some Republican lawmakers mounted an attempt to take up congressional redistricting.

Challenges: Lawmakers dropped a petition drive for a special session on congressional redistricting in November, after failing to gain enough support.

Illinois

Current map: 14 Democrats, 3 Republicans

Proposed map: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in October proposed a new U.S. House map that would improve Democrats’ chances of winning an additional seat.

Challenges: The Democratic-led General Assembly declined to take up redistricting, citing concerns about the e ect on representation for black residents.

An election worker tears o “I Voted” stickers during the Virginia redistricting referendum at Fairfax Government Center on Tuesday in Fairfax, Virginia.

THE CONVERSATION

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

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

How Biden’s DOJ went after pro-lifers

That’s not law enforcement.

That’s a political operation.

WE NOW KNOW something the Biden administration spent years denying: It wasn’t merely enforcing the law around abortion clinics — it was allegedly partnering with abortion activists to identify, track and ultimately prosecute pro-life Americans.

Start with former President Barack Obama, who famously tried to force the Little Sisters of the Poor to violate their religious conscience.

According to reporting from The Daily Wire, Biden’s Department of Justice relied on intelligence gathered from radical pro -abortion groups to monitor peaceful pro-life activists — people who had not yet been charged with any federal crime — and then build cases that ended with FBI arrests.

The federal government was reportedly outsourcing its surveillance and investigative e orts to activist organizations that have a direct political and ideological stake in crushing the pro -life movement.

That’s not law enforcement. That’s a political operation.

The Daily Wire cites a DOJ report titled “The Biden Administration’s Weaponization of the FACE Act,” which examined more than 700,000 records. The FACE Act was originally intended to prevent physical obstruction of abortion clinic entrances. It was also meant to protect churches from disruption.

The records included dossiers on pro -life activists who had not been charged with federal crimes but who were nevertheless treated as threats, largely because abortion groups agged them as such.

And if that sounds familiar, it’s because it’s exactly the pattern we’ve seen repeatedly from the modern left: government agencies using ideological “cutout” organizations to do what the government isn’t supposed to do openly.

According to the report, much of the escalation traces back to former Attorney General Merrick Garland’s decision to resurrect the National Task Force on Violence Against Reproductive Health Care Providers in the wake of the Supreme

COLUMN | LARRY ELDER

Court overturning Roe v. Wade in June 2022.

That task force reportedly operated out of the DOJ Civil Rights Division under the direction of Sanjay Patel, who was red this week. Patel, according to the DOJ report, was in direct communication with the National Abortion Federation’s security team and regularly coordinating with Planned Parenthood and the Feminist Majority Foundation.

So we’re not talking about vague ideological sympathies here.

We’re talking about open coordination between the federal government and the activist wing of the abortion industry.

Daily Wire reporting compared sentencing requests and outcomes for pro-life defendants versus pro-abortion defendants. The Biden DOJ, they found, sought longer average sentences for pro -life activists — and the nal outcomes re ected that imbalance: Pro-life defendants received an average sentence of 14 months, while pro-choice defendants averaged three months.

Fourteen months versus three.

That is not “equal justice under law.” That is animus made policy.

Democrats have been weaponizing the administrative state for decades. This is not some brand-new Trump-era phenomenon, no matter how often the cable news panels pretend otherwise.

The Obama administration used the IRS to harass conservative and pro -life organizations. Clinton-era politics normalized the idea that federal power could be turned on political enemies. Biden’s DOJ, if these reports are accurate, simply continued the tradition — with a more aggressive posture and a more open contempt for religious dissent.

Imagine the scandal if the Trump administration had coordinated with pro -life organizations to build cases against abortion advocates.

But because the targets were pro-lifers, the story is treated like a niche controversy — something for conservative media to discuss, while the mainstream press quietly looks the other way.

That brings us to one of the most

important questions of all: How were the people involved in this allowed to remain embedded inside the DOJ for so long?

Because it lends credibility to something the political class has mocked for years: the existence of a bureaucratic deep state — career o cials who outlast elections, ignore the will of voters and quietly advance an ideological agenda regardless of who sits in the Oval O ce.

This is what it looks like when a permanent governing class decides it is untouchable.

And it also illustrates why the ght to remove ideological holdovers inside federal agencies is not some paranoid fantasy. It’s a real, ongoing struggle — one that will de ne whether elections actually matter.

The bigger issue here isn’t just abortion politics — it’s the steady normalization of using government power to punish religious Americans.

The Democratic Party has shown, again and again, that it is willing to use the apparatus of the state to crush dissent from people of faith. Not because those people are violent. Not because they are criminals. But because their beliefs are inconvenient.

If Democrats ever gained full control of the judiciary, especially if they succeeded in stacking the Supreme Court — which you can be sure former Vice President Kamala Harris would have attempted to do if she had won in 2024 — this is exactly the direction they would push the country.

This is why the Biden administration may go down as the worst in modern American history — even worse than Obama’s.

Not because Obama didn’t do the same things.

But because Obama understood enough to keep it quiet.

Biden said the quiet part out loud.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co -founder of Daily Wire+. He is a three-time New York Times bestselling author.

(Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

The implosion of Eric Swalwell: What was he thinking?

Despite a combined income with his wife of over $400,000, he is deeply in debt.

WHEN THEN-REP. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) announced his candidacy for governor of California, I was beyond surprised. Rumors of sexual misconduct, including allegations of blatant and serial in delity, had been circulating for years. Having run for this very o ce, I experienced rsthand the intense level of local, state and national scrutiny one receives when seeking the top job in the biggest state in the country.

The left-wing media treats liberal Democrat candidates di erent from how it treats conservative Republican candidates, but the media are not the problem if one’s candidacy starts to resonate. The heat comes from the same-party campaign rivals.

When I decided to run for governor of California, I sought the advice of several experienced strategists, politicians, pundits and some professors. They all said the same thing, only worded di erently: “Is there anything in your background that would be a problem?” These questions, they advised, include but are not limited to: Skeletons in your closet? What about your friends, associates and family members? Taxes? Sexual harassment or misconduct or assaults? Any present or past behavior that could be deemed scandalous? Dating history, marriage or divorce? Outstanding warrants? Tra c tickets? Unpaid tra c tickets? DUIs? Automobile accidents you caused or were involved in? Arrests? Misdemeanors? Felonies? Unpaid bills? Credit card debt? Lawsuits led by or lawsuits against you? Drug use and drug abuse? Alcoholism? Abuse of prescription drugs? Sketchy business dealings? Bankruptcy? Inappropriate internet

activity, including porn sites, other illicit sites or sending “compromising pictures”? Social media posts that could come back to haunt you? 911 calls from your home? Your work history? To what church do you belong? Who is your pastor? Ever been red? If so, why? Is your campaign biography accurate, with no exaggerations or embellishments? Do your neighbors like you?

And, for good measure, I was advised to hire a private detective to investigate myself. My experienced campaign manager took me on only after I addressed all those questions — and others — and obtained a report from a well-regarded private investigator. My campaign manager cautioned, “If you are accused of picking your feet in Poughkeepsie — especially if you did pick your feet in Poughkeepsie — it will come out.”

This brings us to Swalwell, who, according to a University of California, Berkeley poll conducted in March, was the leading Democrat in the primary. He was endorsed by Sen. Adam Schi (D-Calif.), who, like Swalwell, served as a prosecutor in an impeachment trial against President Donald Trump.

According to Reuters, “A fth woman came forward to accuse Swalwell of unwanted sexual contact, saying the Democratic lawmaker drugged and raped her during an encounter in 2018.” Swalwell rst denied the accusations. He then dropped out of the race for governor, followed by his resignation from Congress.

Former House Speaker and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) claimed she knew nothing about the rumors against Swalwell. But Willie Brown, once a

mentor to former Vice President Kamala Harris and a former mayor of San Francisco, and who for 15 years served as speaker of the California Assembly, said, “No, I’m not surprised frankly because there have been rumors after rumors after rumors, his colleagues in Washington pretty much said that. That’s what Adam Schi said, that’s what Nancy Pelosi said.”

But Swalwell’s problems are just beginning. The sheri of Los Angeles County has launched a criminal probe, as has the Manhattan District Attorney’s O ce. Civil lawsuits may follow.

Then there are Swalwell’s nancial issues. Despite a combined income with his wife of over $400,000, he is deeply in debt. He owes $100,000 in student loans, borrowed against his retirement account to help fund his campaign and deferred paying income taxes to conserve cash ow. This is not exactly a good look for someone vying to be the chief executive of a state with a budget de cit and massive unfunded pension liabilities.

On top of everything, these scandals could cost the father of three children his marriage. After all, Swalwell set the standard. During the con rmation hearing of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Swalwell considered Kavanaugh un t due to allegations of sexual misconduct. Swalwell tweeted, “Support survivors. Believe survivors. We are with you.”

All of this raises a question: When Swalwell decided to run for governor, “What was he thinking?”

Larry Elder is a bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio talk-show host. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

US Navy seizes an Iranian- agged ship near Strait of Hormuz; Tehran vows swift response

Ship seizure jeopardizes fragile talks as cease re nears expiration

By Michelle L. Price, Samy Magdy and Sam Metz The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States attacked and seized an Iranian- agged cargo ship it said had tried to evade its naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, and Iran’s joint military command vowed to respond, throwing a fragile cease re into question days before it expires.

It was the rst interception since the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports began last week. Iran’s joint military command called the armed boarding an act of piracy and a cease re violation, the state broadcaster said.

With the U.S.-Iran stando over the strait sharpening and the cease re expiring by Wednesday, it was not clear where President Donald Trump’s earlier announcement on new talks with Iran now stood. He had said U.S. negotiators would head to Pakistan on Monday.

The uncertainty sent oil prices rising again. One of the worst global energy crises in decades threatened to deepen.

Trump on social media said a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer in the Gulf of Oman warned the Iranian- agged ship, the Touska, to stop and then “stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom.” U.S. Marines had custody of the U.S.-sanctioned vessel and were “seeing what’s on board!”

It was not clear whether anyone was hurt. The U.S. Central Command, which didn’t answer questions, said the destroyer had issued “repeated warnings over a six-hour period.”

Iranian state media suggest new talks won’t take place

There was no comment from Iranian o cials directly addressing Trump’s announcement of talks. However, Iranian state media, without citing anyone beyond unnamed sourc-

es, issued brief reports suggesting that they would not happen.

Minutes after the ship seizure was announced, Iranian state media reported on President Masoud Pezeshkian’s phone conversation with Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, earlier Sunday. U.S. actions, including bullying and unreasonable behavior, have led to increased suspicion that the U.S. will repeat previous patterns and “betray diplomacy,” the reports cited Pezeshkian as saying.

Two previous attempts at talks — last June and earlier this year — were interrupted by Israeli and U.S. attacks.

On another phone call, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, that recent U.S. actions, rhetoric and contradictions were signs of “bad intentions and lack of seriousness in diplomacy,” Iran’s state broadcaster said.

Pakistan did not con rm a second round of talks, but authorities had begun tightening security in Islamabad. A regional o cial involved in the

e orts said mediators werenalizing preparations and U.S. advance security teams were on the ground. The o cial spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss preparations with the media.

The White House had said Vice President JD Vance, who led the rst round of historic face-to-face talks over 21 hours last weekend, would lead the U.S. delegation to Pakistan with envoys Steve Witko and Jared Kushner.

Iran on Saturday said it had received new proposals from the United States. While Iran’s chief negotiator, parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, late Saturday said “there will be no retreat in the eld of diplomacy,” he acknowledged a wide gap remained between the sides. It was unclear whether either side had shifted stances on issues that derailed the last round of negotiations, including Iran’s nuclear enrichment program, its regional proxies and the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump’s announcement

on talks repeated his threats against Iranian infrastructure that have drawn widespread criticism and warnings of war crimes. If Iran doesn’t agree to the U.S.-proposed deal, “the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran,” he wrote.

Iran wants to control strait until “war fully ends”

Iran early Monday warned it could keep up the global economic pain as ships remained unable to transit the strait, with hundreds of vessels waiting at each end for clearance.

Security of the strait is not free and “the choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of signi cant costs for everyone,” Mohammad Reza Aref, rst vice president of Iran, said in a social media post calling for a lasting end to military and economic pressure on Tehran.

Roughly one- fth of the world’s oil trade normally passes through the strait, along with critical supplies of fer-

UK police arrest 2 in connection with weekend arson attack on synagogue

Police suspect Iran is hiring local criminals to carry out the attacks

By Danica Kirka The Associated Press

LONDON — British police said Monday they arrested two teenagers in connection with an arson attack on a synagogue in northwest London over the weekend, as Jewish leaders express concern about a wave of incidents targeting their community.

Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes of London’s Metropolitan Police Service said o cers arrested two young men, aged 19 and 17, overnight in relation to the attack on the Kenton United Synagogue in the borough of Harrow. The department has made a total of 15 arrests related to six attacks on Jewish targets and a Persian-language media organization critical of Iran’s government that occurred over the past few weeks, he said in an interview with the BBC.

One “serious line of inquiry” is that Iran is hiring local criminals to carry out these attacks amid tensions in the Middle East, including the U.S.-Israeli war against the Islamic Republic, Jukes said.

“We’ve seen a pattern with other actors of thugs for hire, people taking cash that looks like quick and easy money,” Jukes said. “This is part of the modern hybrid war fought by proxies.”

In the most recent incident,

a bottle containing a ammable liquid was thrown through the window of the Harrow synagogue on Saturday night, causing smoke damage, police said. Counterterrorism police are investigating the series of incidents, which began on March 23 when an arson attack destroyed four ambulances owned by a Jewish charity that serves people of all faiths in north London. No one has been injured in the incidents.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s

o ce said he “shares the country’s shock at the recent antisemitic attacks.”

“He stands with the Jewish community and he is determined to do more to give them the security they deserve,” his spokesman, Dave Pares, said Monday.

Police last Friday closed Kensington Gardens, a central London park visited by thousands of tourists and local residents every day, after a group that Israel has linked to Iran posted a video claiming Israel’s nearby Lon-

“The choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of signi cant costs for everyone.”

Mohammad Reza Aref, Iran’s rst vice president

tilizer for the world’s farmers, natural gas and humanitarian supplies for places in dire need like Afghanistan and Sudan.

Iran had announced the strait’s reopening after a 10 - day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon took hold last Friday. But then Trump said the U.S. blockade “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the United States. Iran said it would again enforce restrictions it imposed early in the war. On Saturday, Iran red at ships trying to transit.

For the Islamic Republic, the strait’s closure is perhaps its most powerful weapon, in icting political pain on Trump. For the United States, the blockade squeezes Iran’s already weakened economy. Each side has accused the other of violating the cease re.

Since most supplies to U.S. military bases in the Gulf region come through the strait, “Iran is determined to maintain oversight and control over tra c through the strait until the war fully ends,” Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said late Saturday. That means Iran-designated routes, payment of fees and issuance of transit certi cates.

The council has recently acted as Iran’s de facto top decision-making body.

The war is now in its eighth week after the U.S. and Israel launched it on Feb. 28 during talks over Tehran’s nuclear program. At least 3,000 people have been killed in Iran, more than 2,290 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 U.S. service members throughout the region have been killed.

“We’ve seen a pattern with other actors of thugs for hire, people taking cash that looks like quick and easy money. This is part of the modern hybrid war fought by proxies.”

Matt Jukes, Metropolitan Police Service Deputy commissioner

“Thank God, no lives have been lost, but we cannot, and must not, wait for that to change before we understand just how dangerous this moment is for all of our society,” he said on X.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said police are aware that a group calling itself

Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia had claimed responsibility for most of the attacks in Britain. The same group has claimed responsibility for incidents in recent months at places of worship, business and nancial institutions across Europe, all of which appear to be linked to Jewish or Israeli interests, she said.

don embassy was going to be attacked with drones carrying dangerous substances.

Police said the embassy was not attacked, but the force shut the park as o cers examined discarded items including two jars containing powder. Police said nothing harmful was found.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said on Sunday that “a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum.”

Israel’s government has described Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, whose name means the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right, as a recently founded group with suspected links to “an Iranian proxy.”

The U.K. has accused Iran of using criminal proxies to conduct attacks on European soil targeting opposition media outlets and the Jewish community. Britain’s MI5 domestic intelligence service says that more than 20 “potentially lethal” Iran-backed plots were disrupted in the year to October.

Forsyth SPORTS

Reddick passes Larson on nal lap of OT to win NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas

The 23XI driver has won ve of the rst nine races this season

By Dave Skretta The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — NASCAR driver Tyler Reddick is riding the kind of Cup Series hot streak that Michael Jordan once enjoyed in his playing days.

Oh, you can bet the NBA Hall of Famer is enjoying this one, too. Reddick roared by Kyle Larson on the nal lap of overtime to win at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, becoming the fourth driver to win ve of the rst nine races in NASCAR’s top series in a season. Chase Briscoe wound up third while Denny Hamlin, who co-owns 23XI Racing along with Jordan, had to watch from fourth as his driver reached victory lane yet again.

“This kid is on re. I don’t know what to say. I don’t think I can cool him down,” Jordan said. “When you win it’s always fun, and right now it’s fun for everybody at 23XI. Me being here and being able to see all the wins, I am so happy for the team.”

All four of the 23XI cars nished in the top 15 on a banner day for the team.

“Got to deliver for the boss man,” Reddick said of Jordan. “If he’s going to come hang out with us, we have to get him dubs.”

Sunday’s race had been caution-free except for stage breaks until Cody Ware spun as the white ag was about to y.

Hamlin was leading at that point, and it looked as if he was about to win his record-extending fth race at Kansas. Instead, all of the leaders had to pit, and even though Hamlin beat Reddick o pit road, the eld was bunched up for the overtime restart.

Larson, trying to end a 32-race winless streak, lined up behind Hamlin on the inside, and he

launched to the lead when the green ag ew. Chaos ensued behind them as Christopher Bell bounced o Reddick and Hamlin and the No. 5 car began to pull away.

Reddick came charging down the backstretch on the nal lap, though, and he pulled alongside Larson as they went through the nal corners. The No. 45 edged ahead as the checkered ag ew, and Jordan began to pump his st in the pits in celebration.

The last driver to win ve of the rst nine Cup Series races was Dale Earnhardt in 1987.

“Just really blessed with the late caution,” Reddick said. “Was that nuts or what? I couldn’t believe it.”

Hamlin was happy Reddick won again. But it came at his expense, and he was decidedly unhappy about that. Asked of his frustration level, Hamlin replied: “Obviously it’s not winning. It’s Cody Ware, six laps down, wrecking. I don’t know. Add it up.”

Larson, the defending race winner, said his car’s balance was o after taking two tires on thenal stop, leaving him on the po-

dium for the third time without a win this season. Briscoe and Hamlin were followed across by another 23XI driver, Bubba Wallace.

“It was good execution for the restart there,” Larson said. “I got to the lead and I thought I could cruise right there to the checkered.”

Except that Reddick is the only one who seems to be doing that these days. Even when he doesn’t win, he’s had his Toyota running up front. He was fourth last week at Bristol and has been in the top 15 in every start this season.

He’s a big reason Toyota is the rst manufacturer since Chevrolet in 2007 to win seven of the rst nine races in a season.

“I just think the whole team all year has been really poised,” 23XI President Steve Lauletta said. “It’s not the rst time we’ve had any kind of adversity come at us, and they’ve continued to stay calm, keep each other grounded and know we have a fast car. And if you have a fast car, all you have to do is make sure you execute, and that’s what they’ve managed to do.”

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Chloe Isaacs

Walkertown, softball

Chloe Isaacs is a junior on the Walkertown softball team. She has also played volleyball, basketball and been a member of the Wolfpack swim team. Walkertown is 17-5 and winners of six straight. Isaacs delivered some interesting stat lines in last week’s wins.

In a double-header sweep of Reidsville, she scored a total of six runs and drove in two despite having only one o cial at-bat. She walked three times and was hit twice. She doubled in her only time making contact. Isaacs also stole a base.

In a win over Phoenix Academy, they pitched to her, and she went 4 for 4 with ve RBIs and two runs scored. South Stokes managed to get her out, as she went 2 for 4 with two runs scored. She added an RBI double in a win over Bandys.

Crowd scientist helping Boston Marathon manage growing eld of 30,000-plus runners

Changes in start times and positioning of aid stations could help alleviate crowding

By Jimmy Golen

The Associated Press

BOSTON — Running the Boston Marathon is tough enough without having to jostle your way from Hopkinton to Copley Square.

So race organizers this year turned to an expert in crowd science to help them manage the eld of more than 32,000 as it travels the 26.2 miles through eight Massachusetts cities and towns — some of it on narrow streets laid out during Colonial times.

“There are certain things that we can’t change — that we don’t want to change — because they make the Boston Marathon,” said Marcel Altenburg, a senior lecturer of crowd science at Manchester Metropolitan University in Britain. “Like, I’m a scientist, but I can’t be too science-y about the race. It should stay what it is because that’s what I love. That’s what the runners love.”

Organizers of the world’s oldest and most prestigious annual marathon would prefer a more pleasant experience for their runners, even as the eld has ballooned from 15 in 1897 to as many as 38,000.

As the race grew, it tested the limits of the narrow New England roads and the host cities and towns, which are eager to reopen their streets for regular commutes and commerce as quickly as possible.

“It would be kind of great someday to be able to grow the race a little bit more,” race director Dave McGillivray said. “The problem with this race is that it’s about two things: time and space. We don’t have either. … So, we’re trying to be innovative.”

That’s where Altenburg comes in.

A former German army captain who runs ultra marathons himself, Altenburg has worked with all of the major races, other large sporting events, and airports and exhibitions that tend to attract large crowds on ways to keep things safe and owing smoothly. For the Boston Marathon,

“We

Marcel Altenburg, crowd scientist

which draws hundreds of thousands of spectators in addition to the runners, his models allow him to run simulations that help him see how the race might play out under di erent conditions.

“We have simulated the Boston Marathon more than 100 times to run it once for real. That is the one that counts,” Altenburg said. “They gave me, pretty much, all creative freedom to simulate more waves, simulate more runners and — within the existing time window — they allowed me to change pretty much anything for the betterment of the running experience.

“And then we checked every aid station, every mile, the nish, every important point, (asking): Is the result better for the runner? Is that something that we should explore further?”

The most noticeable di erence on Monday will be that the runners are starting in six waves

— groups organized by qualifying time — instead of four. The waves, which were rst used in Boston in 2011, help spread things out so that runners don’t have to walk after the start, when Main Street in Hopkinton squeezes to just 39 feet wide.

Other, less obvious changes involve the unloading of the buses at the start, the placement of the water and aid stations, and the nish line chutes, where runners get their medals, perhaps a mylar blanket or a banana, and any medical treatment they might need.

“For an event that’s as old as ours, 130 years, it allowed us to be a startup all over again,” said Lauren Proshan, the chief of race operations and production for the Boston Athletic Association.

“The change isn’t meant to be earth-shattering. It’s to be a smooth experience from start to nish,” she said. “It’s one of those things that you work really, really hard behind the scenes and hope that no one notices — a behind-the-curtain change that makes you feel as if you’re just oating and having a great day.”

Shorter porta potty lines would also be nice.

The BAA will look at the feedback over the next three years before deciding about expansion or other changes.

“Fingers crossed, hope for the best, but we’ll get feedback from the participants,” McGillivray said. “And they’ll let us know whether or not it worked or not.”

But keeping the course open longer isn’t an option. And the route isn’t going to change. So there’s only so much that crowd science can help with at one of the toughest tests in sports.

“I can talk. I’m a scientist. I just press a button and it’s going to be,” Altenburg said. “But the runners still have to do it.”

SIDELINE REPORT

NFL Panthers agree to terms with QB Grier

Charlotte Quarterback Will Grier is returning home to the team that drafted him. The Carolina Panthers announced Tuesday they’ve agreed to terms on a contract with Grier, their third-round draft pick (100th overall) in 2019 who played high school football in the Charlotte area. Grier gives the Panthers added depth at the position behind starter Bryce Young. He is expected to compete for the No. 2 spot with Kenny Pickett.

MARATHONS

Men caught competing in the women’s category of a prestigious South African marathon Johannesburg

Two male runners in South Africa were discovered fraudulently competing on behalf of female colleagues in a top marathon and disquali ed. They could face two-year bans from the event, along with the two women who swapped their bibs with the two men. The two men both nished within the top 10 in the women’s marathon at the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town. But marathon board member Stuart Mann said the deception was discovered, and the men were disquali ed from their seventh-and 10th-place nishes.

WNBA Bird, Rapinoe announce break-up, will phase out podcast Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe are splitting up. The sports power couple announced they are ending their 10-year relationship and phasing out their popular podcast. They dropped the news together on the podcast. Bird is considered one of the greatest women’s basketball players in history. Rapinoe rose to fame as a member of the Women’s World Cup team in 2011, 2015 and 2019. Bird said they will host six more special episodes.

MIXED

MARTIAL ARTS

Newly crowned UFC champ Ulberg says he lost title belt while celebrating win New York

Carlos Ulberg fought through an injured right knee to capture the light heavyweight title in UFC 327. He says he lost it hours later, literally. The 35-year-old from New Zealand defeated Jiri Prochazka in the main event at UFC 327 by knockout in Miami to become the new champion of the light heavyweight division. He told Fox Sports Australia he misplaced his golden title belt while celebrating his victory.

NFL

Likelihood of NFL replacement refs enters new stage with background checks, physicals

The NFL’s process of hiring replacement referees has reached another stage, according to a memo sent to teams. Several replacement o cials have completed hiring steps including background checks and will soon progress to undergoing physical exams per a memo sent to teams. Training sessions with NFL o ciating supervisors would then begin as early as next month. The league has undertaken these steps because negotiations with the referees’ union have been unsuccessful.

United States enters World Cup with worries in goal, on defense

The host country hopes for its rst knockout win since 2002

By Ronald Blum The Associated Press

THE UNITED STATES heads into the World Cup hoping for its rst knockout-stage victory since 2002.

While the Americans enter with their weakest goalkeepers in four decades and only a few central defenders playing in a top league, they bene t from being seeded as a co-host in the expanded tournament, which could keep them from playing an elite opponent until the round of 16.

“It would be everything to win, and especially to do it in your home, in front of your friends, your families, the people that have supported you throughout your whole career that are closest to you,” midelder Weston McKennie said.

The U.S. hopes to advance far in the tournament and show it is making progress in a sport that trails the NFL, MLB and NBA in popularity at home. The Americans are 1-7 in knockout World Cup matches, the only win over Mexico in 2002.

Since reaching the seminals of the rst World Cup in 1930, the furthest the U.S. has advanced was the 2002 quarter nals. While it has lost eight straight matches to European opponents since 2022, getting outscored 22-6, the Americans have a high level of con dence.

Coach Mauricio Pochettino, hired in September 2024 after the U.S. was eliminated in the Copa America group stage, told players they can win the title.

“Why not us?” he said during a March training camp. “We need to really believe that we can be there. We need to dream.”

The Americans open against Paraguay on June 12 before facing Australia and Turkey in Group D.

Long line of top goalkeepers has ended

Goalkeeper used to be an American strength, with Tony Meola, Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel, Tim Howard and Brad Guzan all highly regarded.

Matt Turner, the U.S. starter in 2022, has been displaced as No. 1 by Matt Freese. The Americans are likely to head to the World Cup without a Europe-based keeper for the rst time since 1990.

“We had this goalkeeping thing gured out for a long time, didn’t we? Going all the way back,” Howard said. ”It just seems like we’ve had a little bit of a rut.”

Pulisic scoring drought a concern

Christian Pulisic, the top American player, hasn’t scored an international goal in eight games since November 2024.

He also headed into mid-April scoreless in 14 games with AC Milan since Dec. 28.

“He’s going to score because

he has the quality,” Pochettino said.

At 27 in his prime, Pulisic is expected to carry the U.S. in the tournament as he did in 2022, when his goal in the group-stage nale against Iran advanced the Americans to the knockout stage.

“There’s pressure, I feel it. Yes, it’s there but it’s nothing that I can’t handle,” he said. Options thin in central defense

Chris Richards is a rare American central defender playing in a top league, at 26 having an outstanding season at Crystal Palace. He missed the 2022 tournament because of a hamstring injury.

Tim Ream, the U.S. captain for much of World Cup lead-up under Pochettino, is 38 and left Fulham for Major League Soccer’s Charlotte after the 2023-24 season. Auston Trusty, 27, has been a starter for Scotland’s Celtic since late October and Mark McKenzie, also 27, is a regular for Toulouse.

Pochettino has at times since last fall used a three central defender back line.

Injury worries

Right back Sergiño Dest, a starter in 2022, hopes to heal in time from a hamstring injury sustained playing for PSV Eindhoven on March 7.

Central defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, another 2022 veteran, will miss the tournament because of an Achilles injury and John Tolkin, No. 3 on the left back depth chart behind Antonee Robinson and Max Arfsten, is uncertain because of a knee injury.

Son of Super Bowl winner Defender Alex Freeman, is a son of Antonio Freeman, a former All-Pro wide receiver who won the 1997 Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers.

“Growing up I always got asked if football was the path, but when I was younger I always had a secret love for soccer,” Alex said.

LIV Golf leader says show will go on amid reports of Saudi funding uncertainty

The tour’s CEO sent out a memo to address concerns

By Doug Ferguson The Associated Press

LIV GOLF CEO Scott

O’Neil sought to quell speculation about the league’s nancial future with a memo to his sta that said the 2026 season will continue as planned without interruption and “at full throttle.”

The memo followed a long day of reports suggesting Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund was on the verge of cutting its nancial backing of the upstart league.

The newsletter Money in Sport reported in February that LIV Golf already had spent $5.3 billion and was projected to surpass $6 billion by the end of the year.

“I want to be crystal clear: Our season continues exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle,” O’Neil said. “While the media landscape is often lled with speculation, our reality is de ned by the work we do on the grass. We are heading into the heart of our 2026 schedule with the full energy of an organization that is bigger, louder, and more in uential than ever before.”

Left unclear was how long the funding would last for LIV Golf, which launched in June 2022 by paying roughly $1 billion in signing bonuses to some of the PGA Tour’s biggest names, such as Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm.

Prize money for individuals and the 13 teams was raised to $30 million this year.

Koepka since has left LIV and was allowed to rejoin the

PGA Tour this year with stipulations. Patrick Reed also left LIV and is playing a European tour schedule this year. He is virtually certain to be eligible to return to the PGA Tour in 2027 through the European tour points race.

Questions about LIV’s future funding were raised as the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia revealed a new ve-year investment strategy.

“The 2026-30 strategy marks a natural evolution as PIF moves from a period of rapid growth and acceleration to a new phase of sustained value creation, with a strengthened focus on maximizing impact, raising the e ciency of investments, and applying the highest standards of governance, transparency and institutional excellence,” the PIF said in a release.

The plan was developed before the U.S.-Israel war against Iran. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the PIF governor who loves golf

and was behind LIV Golf, told the London-based Financial Times, “Of course the war would add more pressure to reposition some priorities.”

LIV players at Chapultepec Golf Club for LIV Golf Mexico that starts Thursday did not have answers as speculation ran rampant throughout the day.

One player said Al-Rumayyan met with players the rst week of March in Hong Kong and said funding for LIV was set through 2032. The player also said O’Neil arrived in Mexico City and was to meet with the players.

LIV Golf promoted the Mexico event on social media with the message, “Slow news day? We are ON.”

LIV has played ve events this year, in Saudi Arabia, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Africa. It celebrated an inspirational victory at its biggest event in Australia when Anthony Kim won after

“I want to be crystal clear: Our season continues exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle.”

Scott O’Neil, LIV Golf CEO

the American had been away for 12 years while battling drug and alcohol addiction.

DeChambeau won the last two events in playo s, and this week tries to become the rst LIV player to win three in a row. DeChambeau, a two-time U.S. Open champion, missed the cut in the Masters last week.

LIV’s focus has been on a global reach, with its rst U.S. tournament not scheduled until May 7-10 at Trump National in northern Virginia.

“The life of a startup movement is often de ned by these moments of pressure,” O’Neil said. “We signed up for this because we believe in disrupting the status quo. We have faced headwinds since the jump, and we’ve answered every time with resilience and grace. Now, we answer by doing what we do best: putting on the most compelling show in sports.”

He ended his note to the sta by saying, “We are pioneers, and while the road isn’t always smooth, the destination is worth every mile. Let’s go out and show the world why LIV Golf is the future of the game.”

LIV is in the second year of a Fox Sports television deal, with network putting it on various platforms like FS1. The opening round of the Mexico event has three hours on the Fox Sports app. The previous two years, its U.S. broadcast partner was the CW.

the stream

Charlize Theron, ‘Marty Supreme,’

Kehlani,

A documentary about country singer Lainey Wilson comes to Net ix

The Associated Press

TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET

starring as a ping-pong master in “Marty Supreme” and a Netix comedy competition show hosted by Kevin Hart 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, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: Charlize Theron expanding her already robust action movie resume with “Apex,” Kate Hudson’s “Running Point” returning for Season 2 and a Net ix documentary on country star Lainey Wilson.

MOVIES TO STREAM

After nine Oscar nominations, $179 million in ticket sales and a few dings for opera and ballet along the way, “Marty Supreme” begins streaming Friday on HBO Max. A24’s biggest box-o ce hit ever stars Timothée Chalamet as a ping-pong striver in 1950s New York doing whatever it takes to reach greatness. Josh Safdie directs a cast including Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion and Kevin O’Leary. In her review, AP’s Jocelyn Noveck called it a “nerve-busting adrenaline jolt of a movie.”

Another highlight of 2025, the darkly comic Korean thriller “No Other Choice,” lands on Hulu on Friday. Park Chan-wook’s satire stars Lee Byung-hun as a family man laid o from a paper plant. After analyzing his prospects, he decides to murder his closest competition for a new job. In my review of the Golden Globe-nominated lm, I praised Park, the masterful lmmaker of “Oldboy” and “Decision to Leave,” for “archly and elegantly spinning a yarn about a murderous rampage that accumulates wider and wider reverberations.”

The latest Colleen Hoover hit adaptation, “Regretting You,” arrives Friday on Prime Video. In it, Allison Williams stars as a single mother moving on after the death of her husband (Scott Eastwood). Dave Franco co-stars as her new love interest. In her review, Noveck wrote that “the strange way the tears give way to smiles, quips and then

Kate Hudson, Lainey Wilson

“Marty Supreme” is a nerve-busting adrenaline jolt of a movie.”

Jocelyn Noveck, AP lm writer

full-on rom-com corniness feels a little awkward — and then just weird and annoying.”

Charlize Theron expands her already robust action movie resume in “Apex,” a survivalist thriller about a grieving woman who heads into the Australian wilderness for outdoor adventure. But when a sadistic local (Taron Egerton) begins terrorizing her, a frantic chase ensues. Catch it on Net ix on Friday.

MUSIC TO STREAM

Noah Kahan’s 2022 single “Stick Season” turned the Vermont singer-songwriter into a household name; now, he’s at “The Great Divide.” That’s the title of his fourth studio album, out Friday. Come for folky ruminations on fame (“Porch Light”), stay for the plucky title track and what exists in between.

In the decade following her debut album, Meghan Trainor’s bright, cheery pop music has kept one central message: Stay

true to who you are and ignore the haters. That continues on her single “Still Don’t Care,” the rst tease of her seventh full-length album. And it is found on the whole of the release, titled “Toy with Me,” out Friday. In December, she told the AP to expect a few self-love bops, songs to anger through and lots of familial love. The singer-songwriter recently canceled a summer tour following the birth of her daughter, Mikey Moon.

Musician documentaries are a dime a dozen these days; of-

ten, they function as promotional material with little editorial value. That is not the case with “Lainey Wilson: Keepin’ Country Cool,” available now on Net ix. The country superstar keeps her cool … and gets candid in this feature, which spans her personal and professional lives.

SERIES TO STREAM

A new Net ix competition show called “Funny AF with Kevin Hart” features Hart traveling to di erent comedy clubs

in the U.S. in search of the next great stand-up sensation. Hart is joined by Keegan-Michael Key, Tom Segura, Kumail Nanjiani, Chelsea Handler and Nikki Glaser, who serve as judges. The semi nal and nal episodes will stream live on Net ix, and the audience can vote in real-time. The winner will get their own Net ix stand-up special.

Prime Video has a new series about a di erent Kevin. “Kevin” is an animated series about a cat who moves into a local pet rescue after his owners split up. Jason Schwartzman voices Kevin and Aubrey Plaza, who co-created and co-wrote the series, also voices a character.

A new “Stranger Things” animated spino harks back to the Saturday morning cartoons of the 1980s, with stand-alone adventures each episode. “Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85” takes place during Seasons 2 and 3 of the original show and follows its core gang encountering mysteries and monsters from the Upside Down. They’re voiced by new actors, not the live-action cast. It debuts Thursday on Net ix.

Kate Hudson’s “Running Point” returns for Season 2 on Net ix on Thursday. Hudson plays Isla Gordon, whose family has owned the ctional Los Angeles Waves for years. Hudson takes over as the team’s president when her older brother (Justin Theroux) steps down. Her character is based on Jeanie Buss, the governor and former controlling owner (now minority owner) of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Richard Gadd, whose “Baby Reindeer” drew acclaim and a defamation lawsuit from the real-life woman it depicted, has created and written a new dark drama called “Half Man” where he co-stars with Jamie Bell. Gadd told the AP that he turned down numerous Hollywood offers after “Baby Reindeer” in favor of making “Half Man.” It premieres Thursday.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

Italian developer Luca Galante unleashed a surprise smash back in 2022 with his low-res indie shoot-’em-up Vampire Survivors. Fans have since gobbled up a half-dozen expansions, and now it’s time for a full- edged spino , Vampire Crawlers. It’s a “casual, turn-based deck builder” in which you explore dungeons and ght monsters by inging playing cards at them. Think something like Slay the Spire with, well, vampires — then throw in “turboturn,” which lets you pile up damage by slinging cards more quickly. It looks every bit as hectic and silly as the original, and you can take a bite now on PlayStation 5, Xbox

and

STATE & NATION

‘Out of many, one,’ says US national motto. What does that push for unity mean today?

America’s founding ideals clashed with centuries of exclusion and discrimination

By Deepti Hajela The Associated Press

NEW YORK — The aspira-

tions cut a wide swath through American history since 1776 — from the “All men are created equal” of the Declaration of Independence and the “We the people” of the Constitution, to the “indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” of the Pledge of Allegiance.

One can nd it in the country’s name — the United States of America — and in the sentiment of the motto written in Latin on its coins and one-dollar bills: E Pluribus Unum, or “out of many, one.”

The e ort has been optimistic and unrealistic, successful and a failure, enduring as an American ideal during moments when citizens struggled — and struggle today — to practice it.

How has the notion of unity in American society evolved in 250 years and more? What does it mean — and what doesn’t it mean, particularly in fraught and troubled moments? “It’s a question,” says one scholar, “that every society has to answer.”

I. The beginnings of these ‘United’ States

From the milestone moment of the nation’s beginning, the founders emphasized that unity would be a vital component of the new country, where government would be based not on a king and monarchy as in Europe but instead, as the Declaration says, “on the consent of the governed.”

“It is of in nite moment that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment to it … indignantly frowning upon the rst dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest,” George Washington said as he stepped down from two terms as the rst American president.

At the start of the experiment, the fabric of a nation rst stitched together from 13 original colonies, de ning what unity meant was far from settled.

Even as the founders spoke of high-minded ideals, they put limits on who they allowed to take part, who had rights and freedom and who didn’t. All these years later, determining the meaning of unity can still be a challenge. Do we interpret that Latin motto to mean a blending of di erent perspectives to create a country that is greater than the sum of its parts, or does it mean there can only be one, that unity requires sameness?

Either way, here’s the thing

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, speaks to thousands during his “I Have a Dream” speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on Aug. 28, 1963, in Washington, D.C.

about aspirations, as anyone who’s ever quit on a New Year’s resolution can tell you: They don’t turn into reality without e ort and commitment, or come out of just a sole moment, no matter how singular. Our individual lives are built not just from the milestones but from the everydays in between. How could the life of a nation be any di erent?

II. Aspiration vs. reality

Even as unity has stood among the ideals, the on-the-ground experience of life in America for the last 2½ centuries has re ected the reality that in this created nation, there’s never been just ONE America, where everyone lived in the same way or had the same access to power and prosperity.

It wasn’t there at the country’s inception. And in the moment the U.S. is living now, it certainly isn’t either.

“I think the United States has had a more volatile history in terms of how it deals with questions of inclusion and exclusion, how it draws the line and polices the line of who’s in and who’s out,” says Daniel Immerwahr, a professor of history at Northwestern University.

“It’s a question that every society has to answer … who’s on the inside, who’s on the outside,” he says. “I would say that what’s interesting about the United States in this regard is how changeable and nonobvious some of the answers to those questions are.”

Sometimes the di erences have been straightforward — like geography (rural vs. urban, plains vs. mountains) and climate (heat vs. snow, wild res vs. ooding). Sometimes they were, and remain, cultural — people from di erent countries of origin, newcomers vs. generations deep, speaking di erent languages, following di erent

“It’s

a question that every society has to answer … who’s on the inside, who’s on the outside.”

Daniel Immerwahr, Northwestern University professor of history

denominations of Christianity or other religions entirely. And of course, the di erences have been economic; rich and poor have always lived di erently.

But sometimes, the di erences have been travesties — like enslaved Africans and their American-born descendants, forced to live under the lash as they worked in the elds and elsewhere for the bene t of white owners. Even after slavery was outlawed, they were subject to discrimination and worse under racism that was legalized in systemic ways into the 20th century and that echoes still.

The Indigenous tribes whose populations were decimated by death and disease as the American experiment moved westward and newly arrived settlers hankered after their tribal lands, and whose cultures were stripped from generations as the U.S. government tried to force “unity” through brutal efforts at assimilation.

Communities of people barred from possibility because of gender, sexual orientation or other characteristics.

There have also been persistent e orts across eras to create a country where the opportunities available to some — say, voting, economic growth, or access to education — would be made available to all. That came gradually through protest movements, legal action, and callbacks to those same American founding ideals and aspirations of unity and equality.

“It provided a language for the groups that were challenging these exclusions to draw on … invoking the ideals of the Revolution and the Declaration and saying, ‘Look, this is what the nation is supposed to be about,’” says Eileen Cheng, a professor of history at Sarah Lawrence College. “They could challenge the system and yet claim that they were being the true Americans.”

III. What could ‘unity’ even look like?

One of the things about ideals, though, is that they can be somewhat abstract.

What does it mean for a country to be ‘united’? Does unity mean uniform? Is it, to borrow a reference from one of satirist Terry Pratchett’s books, that people are on the same side, or can they be on “di erent sides that happen to be side by side.” Is unity overall even a good thing in the context of a raucous democracy?

A look around the globe and through the history books shows there’s no single answer. There have been countries with a single o cial language, others that have recognized multiple languages, and some, like the United States, that for generations have never o cially designated any. At times, countries have chosen o cial religions. Nations have di erent standards and processes for naturalizing new citizens.

“There are always tensions between the unity and the separateness,” said Paul Wachtel, a psychology professor at the City College of New York. “There’s no society that is just one or just the other … what’s really most essential is that we learn how to negotiate those tensions.”

The United States experienced that rsthand in its infancy. The Constitution we live under is the second attempt at a

framework for government. The rst, the Articles of Confederation, kept the federal government weaker and the individual states stronger. It quickly became clear that having such a weak central government — i.e., less unity — wasn’t e ective for the new country, leading to the Constitution.

For some countries, like many in Europe, those negotiations have taken place under the weight of centuries of history and geography, and other established backdrops like the existing form of government, which impacted the direction they decided to go. The U.S., from the founders’ perspective, was a new entity.

“What it is to be of the United States is to adhere to a set of principles rather than to have a certain kind of lineage,” Immerwahr says. “Sometimes that makes the United States remarkably open, and then sometimes that gets the leaders of the United States in all kinds of weird contradictions as they try to explain why they’re doing some forms of inclusion and not others.”

The United States has a decidedly mixed history when it comes to dealing with those tensions. Things have uctuated. Take migration, for example. There have been eras when the in ux of people coming to these shores was seemingly a never-ending stream, but also times when much of the world was barred. In politics, the idea that there would be di erent factions represented by di erent parties was loathed by some, even as it became embedded in the political culture. Groups that were once looked down on are later brought into the fold, and vice versa.

“What have we learned over the last 250 years is that things change,” says Cindy Kam, professor of political science at Vanderbilt University. “We are inclined to be social animals, but what those groups are is culturally constructed. So political elites, social elites, cultural elites, they do that work in identifying what the groups are, who is part of ‘us’ and who is a part of the ‘other.’”

By no means is it settled; if anything, the demographic, technological, economic and other changes of the last several decades are making discussions about unity more relevant than ever. In recent years, Americans have lived in a country where polarization is rampant, and serious — sometimes dire — questions abound over what the future holds. That’s probably more in line with the country’s beginnings than people realize.

“This polarization, people talk about it like it’s a new thing. But I think it’s really a return back to the way that we were at the beginning of the country,” Cheng says. “It’s not like this kind of linear development where we’re growing more and more accepting of di erence. I think it’s up and down.”

Randolph record

This place is a zoo

Tens of millions of dollars have been spent on the North Carolina Zoo’s new 12.5-acre Asia exhibit, and it’s ready to open — except the state doesn’t have a budget, and the zoo is unable to hire the roughly 70 employees it needs to run the attraction. It’s hoped that a legislative session this week in Raleigh will pass a budget to allow the facility to gain the headcount it needs to get Asia — the rst major expansion in decades — up and running.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Supreme Court to hear from religious preschools challenging exclusion from taxpayer-funded program

The Supreme Court will hear from Catholic preschools that say it’s unconstitutional to exclude them from a state-funded program because they won’t admit kids from LGBTQ+ families. Colorado’s St. Mary Catholic Parish and the Archdiocese of Denver argue Colorado is violating their religious rights by barring them from the taxpayer-funded universal preschool program over their faith-based admission policies. The state says religious schools are welcome to participate but are required to follow nondiscrimination laws. The case will be heard in the fall.

About 25 arrested in clashes at beagle breeding facility

About 25 protesters were arrested as about 1,000 animal welfare activists tried to enter a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin. The protest on Saturday was the second attempt in two months to take beagles from Ridglan Farms. O cers red rubber bullets and pepper spray to disperse the crowd. The Dane County sheri ’s o ce reported a calmer protest on Sunday with about 200 people. Protesters previously took 30 dogs in March. Ridglan denies mistreating animals but agreed to give up its state breeding license by July 1 to avoid prosecution on animal mistreatment charges.

$2.00

Antiques festival winds down at longtime site

There will be a transition to new owners after this weekend’s event

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

STALEY — The nal Liber-

ty Antiques Festival at its longtime location will be held this week, but the event isn’t going away — just moving.

Founder Vito Sico is selling the operations after 3½ decades.

The event will be taken over by the owners of Windy Hill Farms, which has a 523-acre farm south of Ramseur. That will be the site for the festival in September.

“We knew it was time,” Sico said. “One of our primary goals was to nd someone who would not only continue what we’ve built but also expand upon it while keeping the

Items are on display during last September’s Liberty Antiques Festival. The nal festival at its Staley site will take place this week.

festival rooted in Randolph County.”

Michael Moss is owner of Windy Hill Farms. Sico endorsed the Moss family as

the ideal group to oversee the event moving forward.

“We are incredibly excited to see the festival’s future under their leadership,” said Sico,

Board of Education approves 2026-27 budget request

The proposed budget calls for an increase in local funding by approximately $2 million

By Ryan Henkel Randolph Record

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Schools Board of Education has approved the superintendent’s recommended 2026-27 budget request.

In total, the 2026-27 proposed budget is projected to be balanced at just under $31 million, an increase from last year’s approximately $29 million budget. The proposal calls for an increased local request of around $2 million from the county commissioners that mainly deals in three areas.

That request is broken down to approximately $1.2 million in continuation costs (insurance, retirement and salary increases, charter school payments, inationary costs), $690,000 to o set the low-wealth cuts from the state and $100,000 for capital outlay facility upgrades and repairs.

The district is feeling the impact of both state and federal funding cuts, most acutely the loss of low revenue funding from the state.

In total, Randolph County Schools is anticipating receiving around $2.5 million less in funding due to that cut.

“They took $2.5 million from us,” superintendent Stephen Gainey said.

“My

sta and I will work very hard to use all of our resources in an e ective and e cient manner.”

Stephen Gainey, RCSS superintendent

The district is also dealing with the county moving from a Tier 1 to a Tier 2 county, meaning it won’t be receiving as much focused and prioritized state funding and resources. “I nd it ironic that according to the state, we’re no longer a low-wealth county, but yet 24 of our 30 schools qualify for free lunch and breakfast thanks to our nutritional sta ,” board member Fred Burgess said.

80, who has run the event for 35 years. This week’s festival, located at 2855 Pike Farm Road in Staley, begins at 8 a.m. Friday. It ends at 4 p.m. Saturday.

“Hopefully, it will go well for Vito and his crew this week,” Moss said.

Moss intends to keep the dates for the festival — the last Friday and Saturday in both April and September.

“Our family is deeply honored to preserve this remarkable legacy and will continue to focus on authentic, original antiques and collectibles as we strive to signi cantly grow the festival in the years to come,” Moss said.

Sico’s ownership group included his wife, Mary, and Janet Hall.

The Moss family learned about the festival’s impending change of ownership by accident, Moss said.

Windy Hill Farms is adding a wedding venue to its site. Moss’ son and daughter-in-law were shopping for furniture for that venue and overheard discussions about the festival winding down under the cur-

ANTIQUES, page A2

The district has been working to reduce the budget for several years in order to deal with growing economic concerns despite decreasing government funding, with last year’s cuts having been more than $3 million.

Randolph County Schools Board of Education has already had to make tough decisions, including the shuttering of both the Virtual Academy and Uwharrie Ridge 6-12, and more could be on the horizon.

But as has been stated multiple times by the superintendent, the school system’s main focus with the cuts it is making is to try to preserve as many jobs as possible.

“My sta and I will work very hard to use all of our resources in an e ective and e cient manner,” Gainey said in a letter penned to the county commissioners. “In addition, our work will remain focused on continuous improvement and being a source of pride for our entire community.”

The Randolph County Schools Board of Education will next meet May 18.

THURSDAY 4.23.26

Trip Ho end,

More quakes recorded in northern part of county

April has been a busy month in terms of geological activity in the same area

Randolph Record sta RANDLEMAN — There were more mini-tremors in northern parts of Randolph County last week.

A 2.4-magnitude earthquake occurred near Randleman and Sophia on Friday morning. That’s the second-strongest quake recorded in North Carolina this year, according to gures from the U.S. Geological Survey.

A day earlier, an afternoon quake recorded a 1.9 magnitude northwest of Randleman. That was followed about ve hours

later less than a half-mile to the east of the rst one, registering at the same intensity.

No damage has been reported stemming from the earthquakes, which occurred during a span of less than 20 hours. There were two small earthquakes recorded April 5 in the same part of Randolph County between Randleman and Archdale.

Emergency crews rescue teen from fall into hole

The incident took place near the site of a former mill

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Randolph County.

April 24

Blackhawk in Concert

8 p.m.

Country music group Blackhawk performs at the Liberty Showcase Theater.

Liberty Showcase Theater 101 S. Fayetteville St. Liberty

Liberty Antiques Festival

8 a.m.

THURSDAY APRIL 23

FRIDAY APRIL 24

SATURDAY APRIL 25

SUNDAY APRIL 26

MONDAY APRIL 27

TUESDAY APRIL 28

WEDNESDAY APRIL 29

Randolph Record sta RANDLEMAN — A teenage boy fell into a hole while on a shing outing near Worthville Dam and needed to be transported to a hospital last week.

CRIME LOG

April 13

• Andrekes Lamont Brown, 41, of Ramseur, was arrested by RCSO for possession of a rearm by a felon, driving while impaired and felony eeing to elude arrest, and other charges.

• James Kobey Pegram, 22, of Greensboro, was arrested by Randleman PD for driving while impaired; no operator’s license; and ctitious or altered title, registration card or tag, and other charges.

• Ismael Armenta Ramirez, 46, of Kernersville, was arrested by Randleman PD for assault by strangulation.

• John Howard Washington, 46, of Sophia, was arrested by Asheboro PD for assault on a female, assault by pointing a gun and communicating threats.

• Lema Gilmore-Marshall, 60, of Ramseur, was arrested by RCSO for obtaining property by false pretense.

• Marcos Daniel Cuevas, 18, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for robbery with a dangerous weapon, assault by strangulation and felony conspiracy, and other charges.

• Channing Emmitt Glenn, 24, of Trinity, was arrested by RCSO for open container violation, driving on a revoked license and resisting a public o cer, and other charges.

• John Allen Harrington, 31, of Randleman, was arrested by NCHP for driving on a revoked license; ctitious or altered title, registration

ANTIQUES from page B1

rent ownership. That led to a few phone calls and inquiries before it reached this point.

“We knew the festival was well known for local folks and in the region,” Moss said. “It has a great reputation.”

Moss said his full-time job in Greensboro with Syngenta has involved putting on presentations throughout the country, so he hopes that experience can translate to the festival. His interest in antiques is a bonus, he said. The festival should be a

Initial reports said the youth was airlifted with life-threatening injuries.

Randolph County EMS said the individual fell into a shaft late in the afternoon of April 15 at what’s an abandoned mill site. That was the location of a 2024 re that destroyed the mill.

The youth’s fall has been estimated at about 30 feet. Reports from the Randleman Fire Department said responders were lowered into the hole to assist in hoisting the youth out.

Asheboro re ghters and AshRand Rescue also assisted at the scene.

card or tag; and operating a vehicle without insurance, and other charges.

• Dayvon Raynard McDowell, 37, of Charlotte, was arrested by RCSO for possession of a rearm by a felon, possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana and felony possession of marijuana.

• Gonzalo Pestana-Espinoza, 20, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for robbery with a dangerous weapon, felony conspiracy and assault by pointing a gun.

• Keontae Amir Phelps, 24, of Liberty, was arrested by Asheboro PD for robbery with a dangerous weapon and felony conspiracy.

April 14

• Brian Alan Bauer, 53, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for assault on a government o cial or employee, resisting a public o cer and being intoxicated and disruptive.

• Jaisiah Zy’han Gaines-Walden, 18, of Asheboro, was arrested by RCSO for eeing to elude arrest, driving on a revoked license and resisting a public o cer, and other charges.

• Roger Dale Julian, 56, of Asheboro, was arrested by RCSO for communicating threats and violation of a domestic violence protective order.

• Alice Octavia Sain, 55, of Asheboro, was arrested by NCHP for driving while impaired, reckless driving to endanger and driving on a revoked license, and other charges.

“The focus is to make this transition as easy as possible with those who’ve been so loyal.”

Michael Moss, future festival owner

good t for Windy Hill Farms, Moss said.

“It sits really well with our farm and helps diversify it,” he said. Members of the Moss fami-

• Brandon Wayne York, 39, of Asheboro, was arrested by RCSO for misdemeanor larceny and possession of stolen property.

April 15

• Jennifer Autumn Ferrell, 40, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for possession of a rearm by a felon, felony possession of a controlled substance and simple possession of a controlled substance, and other charges.

• Ashley Nichole Helms, 30, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro PD for possession of a rearm by a felon, felony possession of a controlled substance and simple possession of a controlled substance, and other charges.

• Coleda Kathleen Lee, 52, of Archdale, was arrested by RCSO for no operator’s license and failure to heed light or siren.

• Fannie Lou Jones, 52, of Asheboro, was arrested by RCSO for felony obstruction of justice.

• Jamie Ray Richardson, 54, of Trinity, was arrested by RCSO for felony eeing to elude arrest, felony larceny and conspiracy to commit felony larceny, and other charges.

• Bryan Ariel Valencia Melgar, 20, of Asheboro, was arrested by RCSO for second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

The 36th and nal Liberty Antiques Festival features 400 dealers from more than 25 states on a 100-acre farm, with 18th- to 20th-century furniture, pottery, glass, folk art, toys, quilts and advertising memorabilia. The event runs April 24-25; after this year, the festival relocates to Ramseur.

Pike Farm 2855 Pike Farm Road Staley

April 25

Archdale Litter Sweep

8 a.m.

Archdale’s biannual community litter sweep begins at City Hall with a complimentary breakfast available at 7:30 a.m. for early arrivals. The event is free and open to all volunteers.

Archdale City Hall Archdale

Ramseur Food Truck Festival

The third annual food truck festival brings food, crafts and vendors to downtown Ramseur. The event is free and open to the public.

Downtown Ramseur Main Street Ramseur

ZMAX Cars Tour

5:30-9:30 p.m.

ly will be on site for this week’s event to learn more about the operations. They’ve set up a “meet and greet” with vendors.

“So they get to know us and so we get to see some faces to go with the names that we’ve seen or heard,” Moss said. “…

The focus is to make this transition as easy as possible with those who’ve been so loyal.”

The new location beginning in September will be 15 miles away on Bu alo Ford Road in Ramseur.

But Moss said the festival will retain its name.

“There’s too much brand equity in the name,” he said.

Caraway Speedway hosts this race for late-model stock cars. The race track joined the NASCAR circuit in 1972 and hosts a weekly series. Tickets can be purchased at the gate. Admission is $30 for adults; $10 for kids 7-13, and there’s no charge for children 6 and under.

2518 Race Track Road Sophia

April 26

Coat of Many Colors: A Tribute to Dolly Parton

3 p.m.

A tribute show celebrating Dolly Parton’s music and legacy, featuring performers in Dolly-inspired attire and songs spanning her career. Sunset Theatre 234 Sunset Ave. Asheboro

THE CONVERSATION

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

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

How Biden’s DOJ went after pro-lifers

That’s not law enforcement.

That’s a political operation.

WE NOW KNOW something the Biden administration spent years denying: It wasn’t merely enforcing the law around abortion clinics — it was allegedly partnering with abortion activists to identify, track and ultimately prosecute pro-life Americans.

Start with former President Barack Obama, who famously tried to force the Little Sisters of the Poor to violate their religious conscience.

According to reporting from The Daily Wire, Biden’s Department of Justice relied on intelligence gathered from radical pro -abortion groups to monitor peaceful pro-life activists — people who had not yet been charged with any federal crime — and then build cases that ended with FBI arrests.

The federal government was reportedly outsourcing its surveillance and investigative e orts to activist organizations that have a direct political and ideological stake in crushing the pro -life movement.

That’s not law enforcement. That’s a political operation.

The Daily Wire cites a DOJ report titled “The Biden Administration’s Weaponization of the FACE Act,” which examined more than 700,000 records. The FACE Act was originally intended to prevent physical obstruction of abortion clinic entrances. It was also meant to protect churches from disruption.

The records included dossiers on pro -life activists who had not been charged with federal crimes but who were nevertheless treated as threats, largely because abortion groups agged them as such.

And if that sounds familiar, it’s because it’s exactly the pattern we’ve seen repeatedly from the modern left: government agencies using ideological “cutout” organizations to do what the government isn’t supposed to do openly.

According to the report, much of the escalation traces back to former Attorney General Merrick Garland’s decision to resurrect the National Task Force on Violence Against Reproductive Health Care Providers in the wake of the Supreme

COLUMN | LARRY ELDER

Court overturning Roe v. Wade in June 2022.

That task force reportedly operated out of the DOJ Civil Rights Division under the direction of Sanjay Patel, who was red this week. Patel, according to the DOJ report, was in direct communication with the National Abortion Federation’s security team and regularly coordinating with Planned Parenthood and the Feminist Majority Foundation.

So we’re not talking about vague ideological sympathies here.

We’re talking about open coordination between the federal government and the activist wing of the abortion industry.

Daily Wire reporting compared sentencing requests and outcomes for pro-life defendants versus pro-abortion defendants. The Biden DOJ, they found, sought longer average sentences for pro -life activists — and the nal outcomes re ected that imbalance: Pro-life defendants received an average sentence of 14 months, while pro-choice defendants averaged three months.

Fourteen months versus three.

That is not “equal justice under law.” That is animus made policy.

Democrats have been weaponizing the administrative state for decades. This is not some brand-new Trump-era phenomenon, no matter how often the cable news panels pretend otherwise.

The Obama administration used the IRS to harass conservative and pro -life organizations. Clinton-era politics normalized the idea that federal power could be turned on political enemies. Biden’s DOJ, if these reports are accurate, simply continued the tradition — with a more aggressive posture and a more open contempt for religious dissent.

Imagine the scandal if the Trump administration had coordinated with pro -life organizations to build cases against abortion advocates.

But because the targets were pro-lifers, the story is treated like a niche controversy — something for conservative media to discuss, while the mainstream press quietly looks the other way.

That brings us to one of the most

important questions of all: How were the people involved in this allowed to remain embedded inside the DOJ for so long?

Because it lends credibility to something the political class has mocked for years: the existence of a bureaucratic deep state — career o cials who outlast elections, ignore the will of voters and quietly advance an ideological agenda regardless of who sits in the Oval O ce.

This is what it looks like when a permanent governing class decides it is untouchable.

And it also illustrates why the ght to remove ideological holdovers inside federal agencies is not some paranoid fantasy. It’s a real, ongoing struggle — one that will de ne whether elections actually matter.

The bigger issue here isn’t just abortion politics — it’s the steady normalization of using government power to punish religious Americans.

The Democratic Party has shown, again and again, that it is willing to use the apparatus of the state to crush dissent from people of faith. Not because those people are violent. Not because they are criminals. But because their beliefs are inconvenient.

If Democrats ever gained full control of the judiciary, especially if they succeeded in stacking the Supreme Court — which you can be sure former Vice President Kamala Harris would have attempted to do if she had won in 2024 — this is exactly the direction they would push the country.

This is why the Biden administration may go down as the worst in modern American history — even worse than Obama’s.

Not because Obama didn’t do the same things.

But because Obama understood enough to keep it quiet.

Biden said the quiet part out loud.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co -founder of Daily Wire+. He is a three-time New York Times bestselling author. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

The implosion of Eric Swalwell: What was he thinking?

Despite a combined income with his wife of over $400,000, he is deeply in debt.

WHEN THEN-REP. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) announced his candidacy for governor of California, I was beyond surprised. Rumors of sexual misconduct, including allegations of blatant and serial in delity, had been circulating for years. Having run for this very o ce, I experienced rsthand the intense level of local, state and national scrutiny one receives when seeking the top job in the biggest state in the country.

The left-wing media treats liberal Democrat candidates di erent from how it treats conservative Republican candidates, but the media are not the problem if one’s candidacy starts to resonate. The heat comes from the same-party campaign rivals.

When I decided to run for governor of California, I sought the advice of several experienced strategists, politicians, pundits and some professors. They all said the same thing, only worded di erently: “Is there anything in your background that would be a problem?” These questions, they advised, include but are not limited to: Skeletons in your closet? What about your friends, associates and family members? Taxes? Sexual harassment or misconduct or assaults? Any present or past behavior that could be deemed scandalous? Dating history, marriage or divorce? Outstanding warrants? Tra c tickets? Unpaid tra c tickets? DUIs? Automobile accidents you caused or were involved in? Arrests? Misdemeanors? Felonies? Unpaid bills? Credit card debt? Lawsuits led by or lawsuits against you? Drug use and drug abuse? Alcoholism? Abuse of prescription drugs? Sketchy business dealings? Bankruptcy? Inappropriate internet

activity, including porn sites, other illicit sites or sending “compromising pictures”? Social media posts that could come back to haunt you? 911 calls from your home? Your work history? To what church do you belong? Who is your pastor? Ever been red? If so, why? Is your campaign biography accurate, with no exaggerations or embellishments? Do your neighbors like you?

And, for good measure, I was advised to hire a private detective to investigate myself. My experienced campaign manager took me on only after I addressed all those questions — and others — and obtained a report from a well-regarded private investigator. My campaign manager cautioned, “If you are accused of picking your feet in Poughkeepsie — especially if you did pick your feet in Poughkeepsie — it will come out.”

This brings us to Swalwell, who, according to a University of California, Berkeley poll conducted in March, was the leading Democrat in the primary. He was endorsed by Sen. Adam Schi (D-Calif.), who, like Swalwell, served as a prosecutor in an impeachment trial against President Donald Trump.

According to Reuters, “A fth woman came forward to accuse Swalwell of unwanted sexual contact, saying the Democratic lawmaker drugged and raped her during an encounter in 2018.” Swalwell rst denied the accusations. He then dropped out of the race for governor, followed by his resignation from Congress.

Former House Speaker and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) claimed she knew nothing about the rumors against Swalwell. But Willie Brown, once a

mentor to former Vice President Kamala Harris and a former mayor of San Francisco, and who for 15 years served as speaker of the California Assembly, said, “No, I’m not surprised frankly because there have been rumors after rumors after rumors, his colleagues in Washington pretty much said that. That’s what Adam Schi said, that’s what Nancy Pelosi said.”

But Swalwell’s problems are just beginning. The sheri of Los Angeles County has launched a criminal probe, as has the Manhattan District Attorney’s O ce. Civil lawsuits may follow.

Then there are Swalwell’s nancial issues. Despite a combined income with his wife of over $400,000, he is deeply in debt. He owes $100,000 in student loans, borrowed against his retirement account to help fund his campaign and deferred paying income taxes to conserve cash ow. This is not exactly a good look for someone vying to be the chief executive of a state with a budget de cit and massive unfunded pension liabilities.

On top of everything, these scandals could cost the father of three children his marriage. After all, Swalwell set the standard. During the con rmation hearing of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Swalwell considered Kavanaugh un t due to allegations of sexual misconduct. Swalwell tweeted, “Support survivors. Believe survivors. We are with you.”

All of this raises a question: When Swalwell decided to run for governor, “What was he thinking?”

Larry Elder is a bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio talk-show host. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

Robert “Bob” Charles Kern Sr.

Oct. 24, 1930 – April 15, 2026

Robert “Bob” Charles Kern Sr., age 95, of Whispering Pines, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2026, at First Health Hospice House of Westend, NC. He was born on October 24, 1930, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of the late Francis G. Kern and Maria Wick Kern. He is also preceded in death by his wife of 40 years, Maria “Theresa” Rein Kern; and a brother, Francis J. Kern. Bob lived a life marked by sel essness, generosity, and love. He honorably served his country in the United States Naval Reserves, spending time aboard numerous naval vessels. He began a lifelong career in the insurance industry, where he spent years as an agent helping others prepare for life’s events until his retirement. His work was not just a job but a vocation through which he extended care and security to countless families. A man of devout faith, Bob was devoted to Christian principles, demonstrating generosity, kindness, and compassion in all aspects of his life. His sel ess heart and gentle nature made him a cherished husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Those who knew Bob were touched by his wisdom and guidance, and his presence was a source of comfort and joy. He attended St. Anthony’s of Padua of Southern Pines, NC and St. Joseph’s in Rileyville, PA and was active in the Knights of Columbus. Bob had a profound love for nature, particularly expressed through his passion for plants and gardening. He found peace and beauty in growing orchids and was actively involved with the Whispering Pines Garden Club. Fishing provided him with another form of tranquility, where he could connect with nature and nd solace. His creativity shone through in the stained-glass pieces he lovingly crafted for all to enjoy. Above all, Bob’s greatest joy was his family. He was a dedicated and devoted family man, and his children were not only his pride but also some of his most treasured friends. His legacy of love and kindness will continue to inspire those who were fortunate enough to know him. Bob’s life was a testament to the power of faith, the importance of service, and the enduring strength of the bonds fostered throughout his life. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Left to cherish his memory are his devoted wife of 33 years, Patricia McBride ScheidelerKern; children, Maria “Terry” Kondyra, Eileen Stradley (Doug), Robert C. Kern Jr. (Mary), Rosemary Van Skoyk (Dan), Caroline Templeton, and Virginia Kern; step children, Peter Scheideler (Mary Ellen), Louis Scheideler (Christine), Mary Pat Schneider (Stephen), and Jill Nugent (John); grandchildren, Tara, Jeremy, Jenifer, Laura, Billy, Amanda, Nicholas, Lindsey, Jacinda, and Jeremiah; step grandchildren, Jennifer, William, Stephen, Louis, Allyson, Laura, Maggie, Christopher, Sean, Alyssa and Jake; great grandchildren, John, Brian, Kyle, Chase, Liam, Nicholas, Kayla, Cam, Eliana, Naomi, Ambrose, Bradley, Brynna, Cooper, Aubrey, and Tyler; step greatgrandchildren, Sienna, Mia, Ella, Jett, Lainey, Elena, Nora, and Stephen; two great greatgrandchildren, Chloe and Dani; and numerous other beloved family and friends.

The family will hold a celebration of life at a later date, where he will be laid to rest in Pennsylvania.

Linda Hill

Oct. 6, 1951 – April 17, 2026

Linda Gail Lambeth Hill, 74, of Asheboro, NC, died Friday, April 17, 2026, at her residence. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at Bethel Baptist Church, Asheboro, with Dr. Jody Harrison and Rev. Claudie Harrison o ciating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Born in Denton, NC, on October 6, 1951, Mrs. Hill is the daughter of the late James “Bug” Arthur Lambeth and Flarrie Cox Lambeth. She had retired from Energizer. “Nana,” as she was to everybody, was a very classy lady - simple but with a lot of “bling.” Her family was her whole life. She stayed involved in their lives and never missed their ball games and any activity that they were involved in. If it was important to them, it was important to her. She also loved cooking for everyone, considering it her love language. In fact, she was known as one of the best cooks in Randolph County.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Hill was preceded by her brothers, Jerry Lambeth, Dallas Lambeth, and Larry Lambeth. Mrs. Hill is survived by her husband and soulmate of 58 years, Johnny Hill; sons, Frank Hill (Randa), Brent Hill; brother, Roger Lambeth (Donna); forever daughter-in-law, Carol Hill; grandchildren, Chelsee Guinee (Megan), Hannah Hunt (Corey), Dylan Hill (Courtney), Kaylee Daniel (Reece), Hunter Hamby (Allison), Ashlyn McPherson (Brandon), Morgan Hamby (Hunter); great grandchildren, Wyatt, Wesson, Avery, Granger, Cooper, Hudson, Collins, Rhett, Crew, and Fynlee.

The family will receive friends from 1-2 p.m. at the church on Tuesday prior to the service.

Memorials may be made to Bethel Baptist Church, 4836 Robbins Circle, Asheboro, NC 27203.

Trent Alexander Phillips

Dec. 6, 1986 – April 11, 2026

Trent Alexander Phillips, 39, of Bear Creek, passed away on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at his home. The graveside service will be private. Joyce-Brady Chapel will be open on Friday, April 17, 2026, from 1-7 p.m. for friends to sign the register.

Trent was born in Moore County on December 6, 1986, to Terry and Sherrie Harper Phillips. He was a member of Tyson’s Creek Baptist Church. He was a master welder and also worked with his brother in residential construction. He enjoyed the Outer Banks, shing and hunting. Trent loved his children and his nieces and nephews. He adored his family and grandparents.

Trent was preceded in death by his grandparents, Billy Joe and Edna Phillips.

He is survived by his children, Madilyn Elizabeth Phillips and Levi Calvin Phillips, of the home; parents, Terry and Sherrie Phillips, of the home; sister, Cayley Phillips Kidd (Zach), of Bennett; brother, Travis Aaron Phillips (Amy), of Bear Creek; grandparents, J.C. and Marie Harper, of Bennett and a host of family and friends.

Cornelius “Neal” Gri n Jr.

Feb. 17, 1941 – April 12, 2026

A treasure among us. Neal Gri n faithfully served God, his wife, his family, his friends, his customers, and his neighbors. He was a giver, willing to help anyone with anything. He had a sharp mind and a quick wit. He adored his wife, Libby, whom he met before he was even a teenager. Neal and Libby did everything closely together throughout their lives.

Cornelius “Neal” Gri n Jr., 85, of Asheboro, passed away peacefully on April 12, 2026. Neal was born on February 17, 1941, in Wake Forest, NC, to Cornelius and Jessie Cone Gri n. He was a loving father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He was a member and a longtime servant at Sunset Avenue Church of God. Professionally, he was Operations Manager at Automatic Vending Service for over 50 years. Neal was gifted at problem-solving. He could repair almost any piece of equipment, specializing in small motors, electrical devices, and refrigeration, which he began learning as a teen at the Electric Motor Shop of Wake Forest. Being from Wake Forest. He was an avid, lifelong fan of Wake Forest University sports, particularly football and basketball. Neal lived an active 85 years, making the most of any situation, seeking to see everything and everyone through His Lord and Savior. Neal and Libby are together again, in eternity.

He is survived by his son, Cornelius “Neal” Gri n, III (Jennifer) of Asheboro, daughter, Elizabeth “Deanna” Clement (Matt) of Asheboro; sister, Renda Gwaltney (Bob) of Concord; sister, Dovie Feher (Dave) of Myrtle Beach; grandchildren, Christian O’Briant of Concord, Elizabeth O’Briant of Cameron, Lucy Gri n of Charlotte, Jessie Gri n of Charlotte, and Harrison Clement of Raleigh.

In addition to his parents, Neal was predeceased in death by his wife of almost 64 years, Libby Gri n; Son, Marty Gri n; Son, Chris Gri n (widow, Stacy); brother, Bill Gri n (Nellie), and sister, Lola Jarrell (Max).

Funeral services are scheduled for Sunday, April 19, 2026, at 2 p.m. at Sunset Avenue Church of God, with Rev. Boyd Byerly and Randy Lee presiding. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday, April 17, 2026, from 6-8 pm at Pugh Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions can be made payable to the “US Charitable Gift Trust” with “Neal and Libby Gri n charitable fund” in the memo line and mailed to 928 Sunset Avenue, Asheboro, NC 27203.

Neal’s family thanks his many personal caregivers and friends for all they have done.

Neomia Daisy Spencer

July 13, 1944 – April 13, 2026

Mrs. Neomia Daisy Spencer, formerly of Asheboro, NC, transitioned peacefully to her heavenly home on April 13, 2026, in her current home of Florida.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at Ridge Funeral Home Chapel. The burial will follow at Randolph Memorial Park. Neomia was born in Chatham County on July 13, 1944, and was the daughter of the late Percy and Claudia DeGra enreidt.

She was a God-fearing woman with a sweet spirit who loved serving as an usher and Sunday school teacher at Christian Covenant Church for many years. Praying for and serving others were natural gifts God gave her.

She was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother, sister and aunt with so much love in her heart for family.

The loving bond between her and our dad made her home always feel like a place of healing, with everything continuously neat and clean, giving an ambiance of peace and security when coming home to visit.

The love between them was a re ection of the joy and passion they had for one another.

Cooking, sewing, watching NBA, WBA and NFL while keeping score were her hobbies. Most of all, reading God’s word was her favorite pastime. It truly blessed her soul when family came together, as it always brought her great joy to spend time with her grandchildren, whom she took pleasure in helping nurture and spoil. She lived her last years in Florida, where she enjoyed sitting on the back porch watching the ducks, cranes, and gators swim in the pond, along with watching the boats sail out in the lake as she ate ice cream, her favorite dessert.

Neomia was an employee of Dixie Furniture for 10 years, learning the furniture trade, and Technimark Molding for 14 years, where she enhanced her knowledge of the plastic industry by taking classes at RCC.

She is survived by her daughters, Te any Shepard (Daniel) of Florida, Melissa Venable (Charles) of Charlotte, NC, sisters, Mary Brooks of Greensboro, NC, Elizabeth Walker of New Jersey, Louise Hand (Larry) of New Jersey and Lillian Neal of Detroit.

Grandchildren: Myra Brady of Asheboro, NC, Persephone McSwain of Charlotte, NC, Aaron Hammond (NaKeshia) of Charlotte, NC, Jasmine Hicks (Drekkerius) of Texas, Sean and Trevor Venable of Charlotte, NC: great grandchildren: Comaggio, Camilliyan, Charisma and Carmichael

Jabari, Tyler, Demetria, Stephanie, Christian, Niyah, Erin, Aamir, great-great-grandchild, Noree, and a host of nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Clyde T. Spencer; daughter, Bridget DeGra enreidt of Asheboro, NC; brother, James DeGra enreidt; and sister, Clatie Turner of New Jersey.

The family will receive friends at Ridge Funeral Home from 1011 a.m. prior to the service.

Carol Bullins

Dec. 15, 1942 – April 13, 2026

Marie Carol Tillman Bullins, age 83, passed away peacefully at Randolph Hospice House in Asheboro on Monday, April 13, 2026.

Carol was born on December 15, 1942, in Asheboro, North Carolina, to the late Horace Hubbard Tillman and Evelyn Lovell Tillman. She was predeceased in death by her brother, John S. Tillman, and her sister-in-law, Judy B. Morgan. At the center of Carol’s life was her devoted husband, Jerry Lee Bullins. Together for almost seven decades, they built a foundation of mutual support, shared history, and abiding love. Jerry will greatly miss her and the companionship they shared through every season of their life together.

Carol remained a loyal friend throughout her entire life. With her closest friends, there were thousands of experiences too numerous to mention, yet none were as grand as their yearly international traveling adventures that spanned over 20 years. These trips created countless stories shared widely, and others sworn to never be told again. Sharing a beach house on Ocean Isle with dear friends for many years also brought much joy and laughter to Carol.

For many years, she shared almost nightly phone calls with two childhood friends who had long since moved away, but whose bonds of friendship never faded. A proud graduate of Asheboro High School, Class of 1961, Carol took great joy in serving on the reunion committee, where her monthly luncheons weren’t just about planning events; they were about maintaining lifelong bonds. Her social calendar was further anchored by her cherished monthly birthday lunches, a tradition where her loyalty, spirit, and trademark dry sense of humor were always on full display.

A woman of quiet dedication and service, Carol was a longtime member of Asheboro Friends Meeting, where her family worshiped for many years. She served as treasurer, o ering her time to support the life of the congregation and its mission. While she lived fully in the present with her friends, genealogy remained her greatest hobby. Driven by a deep curiosity and a desire to nd the connections between people, she spent countless hours in archives and databases meticulously documenting her family’s story.

But by far, nothing meant more to her than being “Mims.” Her granddaughter, Evelyn Rose Duprey, was the absolute light of her life. Whether sharing family history or simply enjoying each other’s company, Mims poured a lifetime of love into Evelyn, ensuring that the newest branch of the family tree was the strongest one yet.

In addition to her husband, Jerry, Carol is survived by her children, Holly Bullins (John Archer) and Ginny Bullins (Brian Duprey); her granddaughter, Evelyn Rose Duprey; her sister, Joan Tillman Hacke (Harold Hacke), and her beloved nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 17, 2026, at 2 p.m. at Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Pat Thames o ciating. The family will receive friends following the service from 3-5 p.m. at Pinewood Country Club.

In lieu of owers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Randolph, 416 Vision Drive, Asheboro, NC 27203.

Laverne Bunting Hayes

Jan. 26, 1934 – April 10, 2026

Laverne Bunting Hayes, age 92, passed away peacefully on April 10, 2026, at Copper eld Health and Rehabilitation in Concord, North Carolina.

Laverne was born in Asheboro, North Carolina, on January 26, 1934, to Winfred Cox Bunting and Hazel Hill Bunting. She graduated from Asheboro High School in 1952. Laverne attended Norristown Business College in Pennsylvania and East Carolina University. She obtained her degree from the City Memorial Hospital School of Radiologic Technology. She worked as an X-ray technician for doctors and hospitals in Florida.

Laverne loved her family deeply and this was evident in that she spent over 40 years of her life doing something she dearly loved, which was researching her family’s history, origin and ancestry. She traced the Bunting family all the way from England to the United States and kept records of each family and all their children. She was a remarkable lady with many talents.

Laverne is survived by her daughter, Dana Camille Hayes Jones, and her husband, Thomas Craig Jones, of Charlotte, and her grandson, Keegan Hayes Jones, of Charlotte. Laverne was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Don Hayes, a son, Don Hayes Jr., a daughter, Kyra Hayes, and a brother, Michael Bunting. No formal services are planned currently. Interment will be private at Asheboro City Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest with her greatgrandparents, Solomon and Louisa Bunting, and her greatgreat-grandparents, William and Abigail Bunting.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Humane Society of Charlotte, 1348 Parker Drive, Charlotte, North Carolina 28208.

Johnny Lowe

Aug. 14, 1936 – April 14, 2026

John “Johnny” Sydney Lowe, 89, of Denton, died Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at his home.

A funeral service will be conducted at 3 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026, at Farmer Baptist Church, where he was a faithful member, with Pastor Daniel Delaney o ciating. Burial will follow at Farmer Methodist Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Randolph County Honor Guard.

Johnny was born on August 14, 1936, in Randolph County, the son of the late Doke and Dora Lowe. He was a graduate of Farmer High School, Class of 1954. Johnny honorably served in the United States Air Force. He was a member of the Cattleman Association and a charter member of the Farmer Civitans. Johnny loved the Threshers Reunion and participating in the Tractor Ride. Johnny will be remembered as a caring and helpful man for his community. He was always willing to lend a hand to anyone in need. Most importantly, Johnny was so proud of his family, especially his grandchildren and his greatgrandchild.

In addition to his parents, Johnny was preceded in death by his sisters, Pallie Morris, Vivian VonCannon, Rachel Ervin, Kathleen Hendricks, Joan Siler, and brother, Lawson Lowe.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Sue Moran Lowe of the home; sons, Page Lowe (Lorrie), Chris Lowe, Mitch Lowe (Melissa) all of Denton; grandchildren, Alley Grace Lowe, Kirsten Alexandra Lowe, Jordan Page Lowe (Megan); and greatgrandchild, Zoey Paige.

The family will receive friends from 1:30-2:30 p.m., Friday, at the church prior to the service.

In lieu of owers, memorials may be made to Farmer Baptist Church, 4566 Dunbar Bridge Road, Asheboro, NC 27205.

Hadley Mae Kurdian

Sept. 6, 2025 – April 11, 2026

Hadley Mae Kurdian, infant, of Asheboro, NC, passed away on April 11, 2026.

Hadley was born on September 6, 2025, in Asheboro, North Carolina, to Casey Colton Kurdian and Erica Renee Allmon.

Hadley was a beautiful and sweet baby who was always smiling. Her smile could light up any room, and she brought joy to everyone who met her. She was the light of her parents’ eyes and was deeply loved by her family and all who had the blessing of knowing her. Known a ectionately as a “chunky butt,” Hadley was always happy and full of life. She was often passed around and adored by everyone at church, a true re ection of how much she was loved.

She was preceded in death by her great-grandparents, Cecil and Agnes Smith, and James and Peggy Allmon; and her grandmother, Samanthia “Toy” Brabham.

Hadley is survived by her loving parents, Casey Kurdian and Erica Allmon; her twin brother, Hudson Miles Kurdian, and her big sister, Finnleigh Teagan Reece Brady; her grandparents, David and Teresa Allmon, and Greg Kurdian; her great-grandparents, Loretta Stephenson, William and Gayle Kurdian, Clarence and Freida Kurdian Turnage; her aunt, Deanna Allmon Rightmyer (Steven); great aunts and uncles, Barbara Ann Humphrey, Karen Shaw (Kenny), Danny Hodges, Steve Kurdian, Leni Mehlich; and cousins, Jackson and Noah; her aunt, Coty Hartsell; her great-aunt, Nita Smith (Andy) and cousins, Evan, Ayden, and Harper; her great-aunt, Todi Tew and cousins, Eric Heaton and Journey Heaton; Great Aunts Loretta East (Gerald), Carolyn White (Junior), Amanda Allmon, Lisa Jones (Jerry), and Great Uncle Jimmy Allman (Beverly) and many cousins who will forever cherish her memory.

A visitation will be held on April 20, 2026, at noon at Balfour Baptist Church. A funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. with pastor Mark Wilburn o ciating. Burial to follow at New Hope Memorial Gardens.

Memorials can be made out to Balfour Baptist Church.

Garrett Allen Byrd

March 21, 1947 –April 11, 2026

Garrett Allen Byrd went home to be with his Lord on April 11, 2026. Garrett was born on March 21, 1947, to Walter and Ruth Byrd. He proudly served his country as a United States Army veteran. Garrett spent many years working in maintenance and telecommunications, where he took great pride in his work and formed many lifelong friendships. Garrett and his wife, Mamie, treasured their church family at Forest Park Baptist Church, where they had been faithful members for many years.He was a devoted and loving husband to his wife of 56 years, Mamie Dunn Byrd. Garrett was also a wonderful father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. His life was a re ection of his strong faith in Jesus Christ, his dedication to hard work, his unconditional love for his family, and the values he lived by each day.

Garrett was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Ruth Byrd.

He is survived by his loving wife, Mamie Dunn Byrd; his sons, Mark Byrd (Amanda) of Denton and Jason Byrd of Asheboro; his grandchildren, Taylor Byrd Midgette (Chris) of Angier, Chase Byrd of Asheboro, and Braydon Byrd (Brianna) of Denton; and his great-grandchildren, Ava and Eli Midgette.

He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Betty Page (Billy); his niece, Jenny Page McManus (Ben); and his nephew, Jeremy Page (Jennifer).

Visitation will be held 12:30-2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at Forest Park Baptist Church, 123 Gum St., Randleman, NC 27317. The memorial service will follow at 2 p.m.

In lieu of owers, donations may be made to Wounded Warrior Project woundedwarriorproject. org or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital stjude.org.

Robert Lee Laughlin

March 5, 1936 –April 14, 2026

Robert Lee Laughlin passed away at his home, surrounded by his family, on April 14, 2026. He was born to Floyd and Ruby Routh Laughlin on March 5, 1936, in Randolph County. Robert was a good man, willing to help anyone who needed it. He would pull over on the side of the road to help someone who had broken down, putting his 60+ years of mechanics experience to use. He loved to sh, loved to go riding and loved to vacation in Cherokee and Maggie Valley with his wife of 59 years, Betty. He enjoyed getting a bucket of chicken and riding down to the Pisgah Covered Bridge. He liked to tell stories to his family, especially about little-known local history. Most of all, he loved his God. A good ol’ country boy, Robert will be missed deeply. In addition to his parents, Robert was preceded in death by his grandsons, Michael Laughlin and Brandon Laughlin. Robert is survived by his wife of 59 years, Betty Laughlin of the home, daughter Angela Wilcox of the home, son Bobby Lee Laughlin of the home, daughter Tammathy Dunlap of the home, his grandchildren; Christopher Wilcox (Kayla) of Randleman, Mia Wilcox of the home, Stephanie Wilcox of Franklin, Matthew Wilcox of the home, Jennifer Dunlap of Randleman, and Mason Dunlap of the home, his greatgrandchildren; Malasia, Natalee, Christopher, and Brentley, and his close friend Harvey Butcher. He is also survived by Fruitloop, his little dog, whom he loved deeply, and Orchid, his bird, whom he loved so much.

Garret Anderson, talented out elder and Angels career hits leader, dead at 53

He led the Angels to their only World Series championship

By Greg Beacham The Associated Press

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Randolph Record at obits@ randolphrecord.com

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Garret Anderson, the multitalented outelder who became the Los Angeles Angels’ career hits leader and led the team to its only World Series title, has died. He was 53.

The Angels announced Anderson’s death Friday morning without immediately disclosing the cause or location.

Anderson reached the majors with the then-California Angels in 1994 and played for the club until 2008, primarily as a left elder. Known for both his superb swing and his no-nonsense professionalism, Anderson was a xture in the heart of the Halos’ batting order for his entire tenure, becoming the franchise’s career leader in games played (2,013), hits (2,368), RBIs (1,292), total bases (3,743), extra-base hits (796), doubles (489) and grand slams (8).

“The Angels organization is mourning the loss of one of our franchise’s most beloved icons, Garret Anderson,” Angels owner Arte Moreno said in a statement.

“Garret was a cornerstone of our organization throughout his 15

seasons, and his stoic presence in the out eld and our clubhouse elevated the Angels into an era of continued success, highlighted by the 2002 World Series championship. Garret will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Angels fans for his professionalism, class and loyalty throughout his career and beyond. His admiration and respect for the game was immeasurable.”

The Angels will wear a memorial patch this season bearing Anderson’s initials, the team announced. The club held a moment of silence for Anderson at Angel Stadium before its game against the San Diego Padres, and both teams lined up on the eld to watch a video of Anderson’s career highlights.

“Been talking to teammates that played with him this morning, and just hearing the great things they said about him,” three-time AL MVP Mike Trout said. “Seeing some of the numbers this morning, it was incredible what he brought. Nothing but great things people were saying about him. The baseball family lost a good one.”

Anderson was a three-time AL All-Star who nished as high as fourth in the AL MVP balloting during his 17-year major league career. He won two Silver Slugger awards, and he memorably won both the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game MVP

“He did everything right. There was never anything ashy. Everything that he did was just professional.”

Kurt Suzuki, Angels Manager

award in 2003 in Chicago. His 272 career homers are third in Angels history behind Trout and Tim Salmon. Only Trout has scored more runs in an Angels uniform than Anderson.

“He did everything right,” said Angels manager Kurt Suzuki, whose 16-year career as a major league catcher overlapped with the end of Anderson’s playing career. “There was never anything ashy. Everything that he did was just professional. When you have your kids playing the game, for me anyway, that’s who I want my kids to model themselves after. Just play the game right, do things right, never bring attention to yourself. And that’s the type of player he was. He was phenomenal at it, too.”

In 2002, Anderson batted .306 and drove in a team-leading 123 runs for the then-Anaheim Angels, who won 99 games and earned a wild-card playo berth. The Halos stormed through the playo s to this franchise’s only

championship, overcoming a 3-2 series de cit to Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants to win the World Series. Anderson was a key factor in the Fall Classic, batting 9 for 32 with six RBIs. He drove in thenal three runs of the series with a tiebreaking three-run double in the third inning of the Angels’ 4-1 victory over the Giants in Game 7.

Anderson’s other baseball accomplishments included a 10RBI game on Aug. 21, 2007. Anderson nished his career with Atlanta and the Los Angeles Dodgers before his retirement in 2011. He batted .293 with 2,529 hits, 287 homers and 1,365 RBIs in the majors. Anderson was inducted into the Angels’ Hall of Fame in 2016, and he had regularly worked for the team as a television broadcaster on its pregame and postgame shows over the ensuing decade. He lived in coastal Newport Beach with his family. Anderson was born in Los Angeles on June 30, 1972. He attended Granada Hills High School in the suburban San Fernando Valley before the Angels drafted him in the fourth round in 1990. The Angels said Anderson is survived by his wife, Teresa, daughters Brianne and Bailey, and son Garret “Trey” Anderson III.

STATE & NATION

‘Out of many, one,’ says US national motto. What does that push for unity mean today?

America’s founding ideals clashed with centuries of exclusion and discrimination

By Deepti Hajela The Associated Press

NEW YORK — The aspirations cut a wide swath through American history since 1776 — from the “All men are created equal” of the Declaration of Independence and the “We the people” of the Constitution, to the “indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” of the Pledge of Allegiance.

One can nd it in the country’s name — the United States of America — and in the sentiment of the motto written in Latin on its coins and one-dollar bills: E Pluribus Unum, or “out of many, one.”

The e ort has been optimistic and unrealistic, successful and a failure, enduring as an American ideal during moments when citizens struggled — and struggle today — to practice it.

How has the notion of unity in American society evolved in 250 years and more? What does it mean — and what doesn’t it mean, particularly in fraught and troubled moments? “It’s a question,” says one scholar, “that every society has to answer.”

I. The beginnings of these ‘United’ States

From the milestone moment of the nation’s beginning, the founders emphasized that unity would be a vital component of the new country, where government would be based not on a king and monarchy as in Europe but instead, as the Declaration says, “on the consent of the governed.”

“It is of in nite moment that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment to it … indignantly frowning upon the rst dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest,” George Washington said as he stepped down from two terms as the rst American president.

At the start of the experiment, the fabric of a nation rst stitched together from 13 original colonies, de ning what unity meant was far from settled.

Even as the founders spoke of high-minded ideals, they put limits on who they allowed to take part, who had rights and freedom and who didn’t. All these years later, determining the meaning of unity can still be a challenge. Do we interpret that Latin motto to mean a blending of di erent perspectives to create a country that is greater than the sum of its parts, or does it mean there can only be one, that unity requires sameness?

Either way, here’s the thing

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, speaks to thousands during his “I Have a Dream” speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on Aug. 28, 1963, in Washington, D.C.

about aspirations, as anyone who’s ever quit on a New Year’s resolution can tell you: They don’t turn into reality without e ort and commitment, or come out of just a sole moment, no matter how singular.

Our individual lives are built not just from the milestones but from the everydays in between. How could the life of a nation be any di erent?

II. Aspiration vs. reality

Even as unity has stood among the ideals, the on-the-ground experience of life in America for the last 2½ centuries has re ected the reality that in this created nation, there’s never been just ONE America, where everyone lived in the same way or had the same access to power and prosperity.

It wasn’t there at the country’s inception. And in the moment the U.S. is living now, it certainly isn’t either.

“I think the United States has had a more volatile history in terms of how it deals with questions of inclusion and exclusion, how it draws the line and polices the line of who’s in and who’s out,” says Daniel Immerwahr, a professor of history at Northwestern University.

“It’s a question that every society has to answer … who’s on the inside, who’s on the outside,” he says. “I would say that what’s interesting about the United States in this regard is how changeable and nonobvious some of the answers to those questions are.”

Sometimes the di erences have been straightforward — like geography (rural vs. urban, plains vs. mountains) and climate (heat vs. snow, wild res vs. ooding). Sometimes they were, and remain, cultural — people from di erent countries of origin, newcomers vs. generations deep, speaking di erent languages, following di erent

“It’s a question that every society has to answer … who’s on the inside, who’s on the outside.”

Daniel Immerwahr, Northwestern University professor of history

denominations of Christianity or other religions entirely. And of course, the di erences have been economic; rich and poor have always lived di erently. But sometimes, the di erences have been travesties — like enslaved Africans and their American-born descendants, forced to live under the lash as they worked in the elds and elsewhere for the bene t of white owners. Even after slavery was outlawed, they were subject to discrimination and worse under racism that was legalized in systemic ways into the 20th century and that echoes still.

The Indigenous tribes whose populations were decimated by death and disease as the American experiment moved westward and newly arrived settlers hankered after their tribal lands, and whose cultures were stripped from generations as the U.S. government tried to force “unity” through brutal efforts at assimilation.

Communities of people barred from possibility because of gender, sexual orientation or other characteristics.

There have also been persistent e orts across eras to create a country where the opportunities available to some — say, voting, economic growth, or access to education — would be made available to all. That came gradually through protest movements, legal action, and callbacks to those same American founding ideals and aspirations of unity and equality.

“It provided a language for the groups that were challenging these exclusions to draw on … invoking the ideals of the Revolution and the Declaration and saying, ‘Look, this is what the nation is supposed to be about,’” says Eileen Cheng, a professor of history at Sarah Lawrence College. “They could challenge the system and yet claim that they were being the true Americans.”

III. What could ‘unity’ even look like?

One of the things about ideals, though, is that they can be somewhat abstract.

What does it mean for a country to be ‘united’? Does unity mean uniform? Is it, to borrow a reference from one of satirist Terry Pratchett’s books, that people are on the same side, or can they be on “di erent sides that happen to be side by side.” Is unity overall even a good thing in the context of a raucous democracy?

A look around the globe and through the history books shows there’s no single answer. There have been countries with a single o cial language, others that have recognized multiple languages, and some, like the United States, that for generations have never o cially designated any. At times, countries have chosen o cial religions. Nations have di erent standards and processes for naturalizing new citizens.

“There are always tensions between the unity and the separateness,” said Paul Wachtel, a psychology professor at the City College of New York. “There’s no society that is just one or just the other … what’s really most essential is that we learn how to negotiate those tensions.”

The United States experienced that rsthand in its infancy. The Constitution we live under is the second attempt at a

framework for government. The rst, the Articles of Confederation, kept the federal government weaker and the individual states stronger. It quickly became clear that having such a weak central government — i.e., less unity — wasn’t e ective for the new country, leading to the Constitution.

For some countries, like many in Europe, those negotiations have taken place under the weight of centuries of history and geography, and other established backdrops like the existing form of government, which impacted the direction they decided to go. The U.S., from the founders’ perspective, was a new entity.

“What it is to be of the United States is to adhere to a set of principles rather than to have a certain kind of lineage,” Immerwahr says. “Sometimes that makes the United States remarkably open, and then sometimes that gets the leaders of the United States in all kinds of weird contradictions as they try to explain why they’re doing some forms of inclusion and not others.”

The United States has a decidedly mixed history when it comes to dealing with those tensions. Things have uctuated. Take migration, for example. There have been eras when the in ux of people coming to these shores was seemingly a never-ending stream, but also times when much of the world was barred. In politics, the idea that there would be di erent factions represented by di erent parties was loathed by some, even as it became embedded in the political culture. Groups that were once looked down on are later brought into the fold, and vice versa.

“What have we learned over the last 250 years is that things change,” says Cindy Kam, professor of political science at Vanderbilt University. “We are inclined to be social animals, but what those groups are is culturally constructed. So political elites, social elites, cultural elites, they do that work in identifying what the groups are, who is part of ‘us’ and who is a part of the ‘other.’”

By no means is it settled; if anything, the demographic, technological, economic and other changes of the last several decades are making discussions about unity more relevant than ever. In recent years, Americans have lived in a country where polarization is rampant, and serious — sometimes dire — questions abound over what the future holds. That’s probably more in line with the country’s beginnings than people realize.

“This polarization, people talk about it like it’s a new thing. But I think it’s really a return back to the way that we were at the beginning of the country,” Cheng says. “It’s not like this kind of linear development where we’re growing more and more accepting of di erence. I think it’s up and down.”

RandolpH SPORTS

A Bolt of a coach for ZooKeepers

Former major league out elder Skye Bolt, right, will be the hitting coach for the Asheboro ZooKeepers this year, the collegiate summer league team announced last week. Bolt, 32, was a college standout at UNC. The ZooKeepers also announced that Asheboro baseball coach Jamey May will serve as the Coastal Plain League team’s pitching coach. The coaching sta under rst-year manager Mark Weidemaier also will include Mason Bell, who’s in his nal season as a college pitcher at Southern Indiana.

Randleman, Trinity stay in title hunts

There have been tight games between contending teams in conference races

Randolph Record sta

RANDLEMAN — Tate Andrews hit a grand slam and Randleman kept its Piedmont

Athletic Conference baseball title hopes alive by edging visiting Central Davidson 5-4 on Friday night.

That blast followed Jackson Hill’s bases-loaded walk in the third inning. John Kirkpatrick pitched ve innings for the victory, and Andrews notched the save.

Earlier in the week, Central

Davidson won 2-1 against the visiting Tigers despite Randleman’s Jake Riddle pitching a four-hitter with nine strikeouts.

Both teams have one conference loss.

two-run double when Trinity defeated host Southern Guilford 8-4. Cameron Hill was the winning pitcher.

The former Asheboro standout found a new team after entering the transfer portal

Randolph Record sta

FORMER ASHEBORO boys’ basketball standout Jerquarius Stanback has signed with Boise State, the school announced last week.

Stanback will be transferring from Alabama State, where he spent two seasons.

Jerquarius Stanback selected Boise State out of the transfer portal.

He only played during the recent season, when he was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Stanback, a 6-foot-9 player, led the SWAC with 65 blocked shots and also made 34 steals. He averaged 8.8 points and 5.8 rebounds.

Boise State is joining the newly constructed Pac-12 Conference for the next school year.

Stanback was the second transfer signing announced by Boise State this month. Dam-

West Davidson rolled in Friday’s rematch, winning 12-1 against rst-place Trinity. Going into the nal week of the season, Trinity held a one-game lead on Providence Grove.

Peyton Williams scored three runs, and Cohen Wolfe had a

• Lincoln Coble struck out nine in a ve-hitter, and Brody Little drove in both runs with a seventh-inning double as Trinity nipped host West Davidson 2-1 in the Central Carolina 3-A Conference.

• Chase Collins struck out 11 batters in ve innings when Providence Grove whipped host Wheatmore 11-1 in the Central 3-A Conference. Andrew Thomas had two doubles among his three hits and scored two runs. Thomas struck out 15 batters in Providence’s 10-0 home victory in the rematch. Thom-

See BASEBALL, page

Stanback transfers to Boise State NCHSAA selects venues for spring sports nals

ari Wheeler-Thomas, a guard, joined the Broncos after three seasons at North Dakota State.

Boise State nished with a 20-12 record in 2025-26. The Broncos didn’t play beyond the Mountain West Tournament, where they were ousted in a rst-round upset by San Jose State in Las Vegas.

Alabama State announced in late March that it was seeking a new coach to replace Tony Madlock, who had been in the position for four seasons.

The expanded number of classi cations has created changes with more state nals to be contested

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

THE NORTH CAROLINA High School Athletic Association announced the venues for spring championships last week. With the NCHSAA going from four to eight classi cations, it has doubled the number of teams and dates used for baseball and softball nals and some other sports. Here’s a rundown of those sites and dates.

• For boys’ tennis, individual nals May 8-9 for Class 3A and Class 4A will be at Burlington Tennis Center, while other classes will go to Cary Tennis Park, North Main Athletic Complex (formerly Ting Park) in Holly Springs or Mill-

brook Exchange Tennis Center in Raleigh. The dual team state nals are slated to be held May 15-16 and will remain at Burlington Tennis Center.

• The boys’ golf nals May 11-12 are set for Gates Four Golf and Country Club (Class 1A and 2A) in Fayetteville, Longleaf Golf and Family Club (Class 3A and 4A) in Southern Pines, Sapona Golf Club (Class 5A and 6A) in Lexington and Pinehurst No. 8 (Class 7A and 8A).

• The track and eld championships will remain at North Carolina A&T from May 13-16, with two classi cations on each of those days — Class 2A and Class 4A on May 13, Class 1A and Class 3A on May 14, Class 5A and 7A on May 15, and Class 6A and 8A on May 16.

• For baseball, championship series will be either May 27-28 or May 29-30, with those assignments to come later.

Jake Hunter

Uwharrie

Charter Academy, baseball

Hunter has been the Eagles’ ace for multiple seasons, pitching critical games since his freshman year. He’s in his senior season and excelling some more.

The right-hander has been UCA’s go-to pitcher and a key contributor to the o ense. He plays shortstop when he’s not on the mound.

UCA, which has won state championships in each of Hunter’s rst three seasons, entered the nal week of the regular season with a 16-4 record.

Hunter has signed to play college baseball for Western Carolina.

from page B1

Burlington Athletic Stadium and North Main Athletic Complex will each hold baseballnals for four classi cations for best-of-three series. Speci c assignments for the classi cations will be determined closer to the dates.

Both of those baseball venues have been used for state nals in recent years.

• For softball, best-of-three

nals also are slated for May 27-28 and May 29-30 with games at Duke and UNC Greensboro.

• Girls’ soccer championship games will be held at Durham Memorial Stadium from May 28-30, with speci c classications for each date to be determined later.

• Lacrosse nals for boys and girls are set for May 29-30 at Lenoir-Rhyne’s Moretz Stadium in Hickory.

Cougars work extra to keep rst place

The Southwestern Randolph team won a pair of conference matchups with second-place Northwood

Randolph Record sta

CHLOE EUDY and Alyssa Harris pitched in Southwestern Randolph’s 8-4 nine-inning escape at Northwood on Friday night, allowing the Cougars to retain sole possession of rst place in the Four Rivers Conference.

Nauttica Parrish scored three runs for Southwestern Randolph.

Earlier in the week, Southwestern Randolph’s Katelyn

West struck out seven batters in six innings and Harris knocked in three runs when the Cougars topped visiting Northwood 10-1.

• Meghan Peters drove in two runs and Aubrie Kaufman scored two runs as UCA defeated visiting Jordan-Matthews 5-2 in the Four Rivers Conference. Winning pitcher Mylee Fridberg struck out eight. The rematch had more drama as UCA tied the game with three seventh-inning runs and survived for a 9-7 eight-inning victory at Jordan-Matthews. Julia Nelson had two extra-base hits, and Aubrie Kaufman and Emory Johnson both drove in two runs.

• Providence Grove’s Cal-

Warriors trip Trinity in key league clash

Asheboro’s team put up big numbers in two conference victories

Randolph Record sta

TRINITY — Wheatmore moved into rst place in the Central Carolina 3-A Conference girls’ soccer standings by handing Trinity its rst loss of the season last week.

Jocelyn McDowell and Addelyn Hedrick had goals for Wheatmore in its 2-0 decision against host Trinity. Emmie Messner had an assist.

The teams, who were tied 1-1 at halftime, will meet again May 4 at Wheatmore to end the regular season. Also, McDowell scored three goals and Tatum Wagner had two goals in the Warriors’ 7-1 home victory against Providence Grove.

• Trinity defeated host West Davidson 4-2 on goals by Madison Hill, Gaby Lopez, Bryn Holden and Carolina Case.

• Asheboro’s Kimrey Watts, Alexis Bautista and Jaira Arellano all scored two goals in an 8-1 home victory against East-

lie Lambert had three hits, including a pair of doubles, and drove in six runs, and Liz Shoe homered in a 17-1 road romp past Trinity in the Central Carolina 3-A Conference.

Also in the league, Providence Grove won 7-6 at East Davidson on Campbell Ziemba’s complete game to go with three hits at the plate.

The Patriots stepped out of conference and Ziemba was the winning pitcher when they won 11-4 vs. visiting Eden Morehead. Lambert drove in three runs.

• Randleman’s 11-1 home victory against previously undefeated Clover Garden came with Kaylee Phillips knocking in seven runs, while Kinzie Ivey and Ella Rogers provided the pitching.

In the Piedmont Athletic Conference, Ivey pitched a no-hitter with nine strikeouts and one walk in Randleman’s 3-0 victory at Montgomery Central. Phillips tripled in a run.

• Eastern Guilford defeated visiting Asheboro 17-16 in the Triad Area Athletic Conference despite Shelle Culler driving in six runs.

ern Guilford in the rst of the Blue Comets’ two Triad Area Athletic Conference games last week.

In a 9-0 ripping of visiting Northeast Guilford, Watts posted four goals and Arellano scored twice. Annissa Goldston recorded four assists, while Gigi Flores had one goal and two assists.

• Kayla Hernandez scored three goals, Tallie Emerson had two goals on free kicks and Estephany Fiscal also scored in Southwestern Randolph’s 6-5 victory at Jordan-Matthews in the Four Rivers Conference.

• UCA drilled host Eastern Randolph 9-1 and won 5-2 at Jordan-Matthews in Four Rivers Conference games.

• Randleman defeated visiting Lexington 5-0 in the Piedmont Athletic Conference.

Randleman man posts strong nish in half-marathon

The runner nished the competition in less than two hours

Randolph Record sta

BELLEMONT — Damon Kramer of Randleman placed third in the half-marathon as part of the Cedarock Trail Run earlier this month at Cedarock Park.

Kramer, 47, nished in 1

BASEBALL from page B1

as also drove in two runs and scored two runs.

Providence Grove lost 12-5 to visiting Southern Alamance despite Thomas scoring two runs.

• Winning pitcher Daniel Jaimes drove in four runs in Asheboro’s 12-2 home victory vs. Northeast Guilford in the Triad Area Athletic Conference, keeping the Blue Comets within a game of co-leaders Northern Guilford and Southeast Guilford.

Asheboro’s 20-4 victory at Northeast Guilford came with Sam Gore going 4 for 4 with four runs batted in and four runs scored. Shane Immel notched three hits. Winning pitcher Price Kidd struck out eight.

• Brady Arm eld hit a three-run home run and drove in ve runs when Southwestern Randolph socked host East Davidson 13-1.

hour, 58 minutes, 15.1 seconds among 26 entrants who nished the April 11 race. Flevry Espinosa of Sanford was the champion in 1:52:11.94, with Gibsonville’s Jake Grondy (1:56:00.84) the runner-up. Mebane’s Lisa Hecker, the top female nisher, was fth overall in 2:04:28.44. In the 10-kilometer race, Zachary Ferguson of Southern Pines was the winner in

42:49.74 seconds among 52 nishers. Burlington’s Stanley Donahoo was runner-up in 43:09.9, and Erik Garcia of Liberty was third in 51:01.64. Raleigh’s Erin Day (54:44.24) was the rst female nisher and sixth overall. Michael Mugglie of Whitsett had a time of 24:26.67 topped a eld of 78 nishers in the 5K. Whitsett’s Jamie Reid, eighth overall, was the top female in 29:18.44.

10-0 Four Rivers Conference triumph. Rusty Wheless drove in four runs, Levi Mitchell hit a home run and McCauley scored two runs.

Strikeouts in ve innings by Providence Grove’s Chase Collins in an 11-1 win at Wheatmore

Southwestern Randolph lost twice in Four Rivers Conference games. First-place Northwood scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to beat Southwestern Randolph 5-4 despite Arm eld’s three-run home run. Logan Weidman pitched six innings in a no-decision for the Cougars. Northwood later won 5-0 at home against the Cougars. • Jake Hunter threw a ve-inning shutout as second-place Uwharrie Charter Academy defeated host Cornerstone Charter 13-0. Ty McCauley scored three runs. Keaton Hill’s one-hitter with 10 strikeouts tamed visiting Jordan-Matthews in a

UCA later rolled 11-1 at Jordan-Matthews with Jaxon Mabe’s three doubles driving in three runs and McCauley, the winning pitcher, knocking in three runs.

• Bryson Marley red a ve-inning perfect game with seven strikeouts when Eastern Randolph won 10-0 against visiting North Moore in the Four Rivers Conference. Carlos Cordero drove in three runs. In the rematch at North Moore, the Wildcats won 12-0 behind a combined two-hitter from Cade McCallum and Landon Albright. Cordero drove in four runs.

Eastern Randolph also won against visiting Faith Christian, with Cordero driving in four runs and Miles Cox knocking in three runs in the 12-2 outcome. Maddox Dunn pitched all ve innings for the Wildcats.

pen & paper pursuits

this week in history

Spanish-American War begins, colonists land at Cape Henry, mutiny on HMS Bounty

The Associated Press

APRIL 23

1635: The Boston Latin School, the rst public school in what would become the United States, was established.

1898: Spain declared war on the United States; the U.S. responded in kind two days later after months of rising tensions tied to Cuba’s ght for independence.

1971: Hundreds of Vietnam War veterans opposed to the con ict protested by tossing their medals and ribbons over a wire fence erected in front of the U.S. Capitol.

APRIL 24

1800: President John Adams approved $5,000 for congressional books, e ectively establishing the Library of Congress.

1916: Irish republicans launched the Easter Rising against British rule; though it ended in six days, it paved the way for independence and the Irish Free State in 1922.

1960: Rioting erupted in Biloxi, Mississippi, after black protesters staging a “wade-in” at a whites-only beach were attacked by a crowd of white residents.

APRIL 25

1507: A world map by German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller used the name “America” for the rst time, honoring Amerigo Vespucci.

1859: Construction of the Suez Canal began in Egypt.

1898: Congress declared war on Spain; the 16-week con ict ended in a U.S. victory and control of the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam.

The Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded after a reactor re on April 26, 1986, sending radioactive material into the atmosphere in Ukraine.

APRIL 26

1607: English colonists went ashore at present-day Cape Henry, Virginia, beginning an expedition to establish the rst permanent English settlement in the Western Hemisphere.

1865: John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln, was surrounded by federal troops near Port Royal, Virginia, and killed.

1986: In the worst nuclear disaster in history, an explosion and re at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine sent radioactive fallout into the atmosphere, killing dozens immediately and thousands over time.

APRIL 27

1521: Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan was killed in the Battle of Mactan in the Philippines during an e ort to expand Spanish in uence in the region.

1813: U.S. forces defeated the British at the Battle of York in Upper Canada (now Ontario); Brig. Gen. Zebulon Pike and dozens of American soldiers were killed when retreating British troops detonated Fort York’s ammunition magazine.

1865: The steamer Sultana, carrying freed Union pris-

Heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali speaks with his mother in Louisville from his Houston hotel room after refusing induction into the U.S. Armed Forces on April 28, 1967.

oners of war, exploded on the Mississippi River near Memphis, killing as many as 1,800 in the deadliest maritime disaster in U.S. history.

APRIL 28

1789: Mutineers led by Fletcher Christian seized control of the HMS Bounty, setting Capt. William Bligh and 18 others adrift; they later reached Timor after a 3,600 -mile journey.

1945: Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and his mistress, Clara Petacci, were executed by partisans as they tried to ee the country.

1967: Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali was stripped of his WBA title after refusing induction into the U.S. Army.

APRIL 29

1862: A Union naval force led by Flag O cer David Farragut captured New Orleans, dealing a major blow to the Confederacy.

1916: The Easter Rising in Dublin ended as Irish nationalists surrendered to British forces.

1992: A jury in Simi Valley, California, acquitted four Los Angeles police o cers in the beating of Rodney King, sparking six days of riots that left more than 60 people dead.

Phil Collins, Iron Maiden, Sade, Oasis, Wu-Tang, Luther Vandross get into Rock Hall

Warren Zevon was inducted last year

By Mark Kennedy

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Phil Collins, Iron Maiden, Billy Idol, Queen Latifah, Oasis, Sade and Joy Division/New Order will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, along with rst-time nominees Wu-Tang Clan and the late Luther Vandross.

The list was revealed on last Monday night’s airing of “American Idol.” Artists must have released their rst commercial recording at least 25 years before they’re eligible for induction. Nominees were voted on by more than 1,200 artists, historians and music industry professionals.

Soft rocker Collins, who already is in the hall as a member of Genesis, has had such solo hits as “In the Air Tonight” and “One More Night,” and has earned eight Grammys, including Album of the Year in 1985 for “No Jacket Required.” Collins got in the rst time he appeared on the ballot.

Soul-jazz vocalist Sade, also nominated in 2024, had such soft rock hits as “Smooth Operator” and “The Sweetest Taboo.”

The Wu-Tang Clan have been hailed as rap innovators since their game-changing 1993 debut album “Enter the Wu-Tang.”

Iron Maiden, nominated twice before, helped power the new wave of British heavy metal with iconic albums like “The Number of the Beast.” Vandross, who sold more than 25 million albums and had the hits “Here and Now” and “Any Love,” died in 2005 and inspired Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther.”

This year, the hall will open its arms to the sounds of Manchester, England, inducting post-punk pioneers Joy Division and New Order — which shared most of the same members — as well as Britpop’s recently reunited Oasis, made up of Noel and Liam Gallagher. Idol, also English, has brought a punky sneer to pop with songs like “White Wedding” and “Rebel Yell.”

The induction will be held Nov. 14 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. A TV presentation will air in December on ABC and Disney+. Next year, the ceremony will return to the hall’s home of Cleveland.

Those nominated this year but who came up short for the class of 2026 include Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, INXS, Melissa Etheridge, Je Buckley, Pink, New Edition and Shakira.

In addition to the performer category, inductees entering the hall can arrive under three special committee categories: early in uence, musical excellence and the Ahmet Ertegun Non-Performer Award.

The early in uence award this year will honor Queen Latifah, Cuban singer Celia Cruz, Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, rapper MC Lyte and country rocker Gram Parsons. The musical excellence will honor songwriter Linda Creed and producers Arif Mardin, Jimmy Miller and Rick Rubin.

More than 50 years after his death, Ed Sullivan, the legendary host of his self-titled appointment-viewing TV show, will go into the hall with the Ahmet Ertegun Non-Performer Award. It’s a recognition of how important his Sunday night stage became as a launchpad for nearly every musical icon of the 1950s and ’60s and of how his show helped break racial barriers in American entertainment.

Last year, Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Soundgarden, Joe Cocker, Salt-N-Pepa, The White Stripes, Carol Kaye, Nicky Hopkins, Lenny Waronker and Thom Bell were all inducted.

New discovery solves Shakespeare’s London house location mystery

He died there in 1616 at the age of 52

By Jill Lawless The Associated Press

LONDON — Fans of William Shakespeare know that the great playwright came from Stratford-upon-Avon, the riverside English town where tourists still throng to see his childhood home.

But he made his name in London — though few traces of him remain in the British capital.

A newly discovered 17th-century map sheds new light on the Bard’s London life, pinpointing for the rst time the exact location of the only home Shakespeare bought in the city, and where he may have worked on his nal plays.

Shakespeare scholar Lucy Munro, who found the document, said that it supplies “extra bits of the jigsaw puzzle” of Shakespeare’s life. And as with so many discoveries, it was partly due to luck.

“I came across it in the London Archives when I was looking for other things,” Munro said.

New evidence of the building’s location

Historians have long known that Shakespeare bought property in 1613 near the Blackfriars Theatre, but the exact location was a mystery. A plaque on a 19th-century building records only that the playwright had lodgings “near this site.”

A plan of the Blackfriars precinct found by Munro and disclosed Thursday by King’s College London shows in detail Shakespeare’s house, a substantial L-shaped dwelling carved from a former medieval monastery, including its gatehouse.

plaque

The 13th-century Dominican friary had been redeveloped for more secular uses after the dissolution of the monasteries by King Henry VIII in the mid-16th century.

Munro, professor of Shakespeare and early modern literature at King’s College London, said it was a desirable area moving slightly down-market – due to people like Shakespeare, who was a uent but associated with the slightly déclassé world of the stage.

“After the dissolution of the monasteries, a lot of the nobility, quite high-ranking courtiers, court o cials are living in the Blackfriars,” Munro said. By the time Shakespeare bought his property, “there are still a lot of important people living there, people who make protests against the playhouses at various points, because they see the playhouses as a bit of a public nuisance.”

Shakespeare used the profits of his plays to build a ne family house, now demolished, in Stratford, about 100 miles northwest of London.

It’s not certain whether

Shakespeare lived in his London property or just rented it out. But Munro said that the size of the house and its location a ve-minute walk from the Blackfriars Theatre suggest he may have spent more time in London toward the end of his life than is widely assumed.

Destroyed in the Great Fire Shakespeare left the property to his daughter Susanna, and it remained in the family for another half-century. Munro also found two archival documents detailing its sale by the playwright’s granddaughter Elizabeth Hall Nash Barnard in 1665. A year later, the building burned to the ground in the Great Fire of London, which destroyed much of the medieval city.

Only a few remnants of Shakespeare’s London remain in the area, now part of the city’s nancial district, including a fragment of wall from the medieval friary. Nearby, the name Playhouse Yard is a reminder that a theater once stood here.

famous birthdays this week

Shirley MacLaine hits 92, Sheena Easton is 67, Jay Leno turns 76, Jerry Seinfeld turns 72

The Associated Press THESE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week.

APRIL 23

Actor Lee Majors is 87. Actor Blair Brown is 80. Actor Joyce DeWitt is 77. Filmmaker-author Michael Moore is 72. Actor Judy Davis is 71. Actor Valerie Bertinelli is 66. Actor-comedian George Lopez is 65. Actor-wrestler John Cena is 49.

APRIL 24

Actor Shirley MacLaine is 92. Actor-singer- lmmaker Barbra Streisand is 84. Fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier is 74. Actor Eric Bogosian is 73. Actor Michael O’Keefe is 71. Actor-comedian Cedric the Entertainer is 62.

APRIL 25

Actor Al Pacino is 86. Musician-producer Björn Ulvaeus (ABBA) is 81. Actor Talia Shire is 80. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is 64. Actor Hank Azaria is 62. Sportscaster Joe Buck is 57. Actor Renée Zellweger is 57. Actor Jason Lee is 56. Basketball Hall of Famer Tim Duncan is 50.

APRIL 26

Actor-comedian Carol Burnett is 93. Composer-producer Giorgio Moroder is 86. Olympic swimming gold medalist Donna de Varona is 79. Actor Giancarlo Esposito is 68. Actor Joan Chen is 65. Actor Jet Li is 63. First lady Melania Trump is 56.

APRIL 27

Singer Kate Pierson (The B-52’s) is 78. Republican Sen. Jim Justice of West Virginia is 75. Basketball Hall of Famer George Gervin is 74. Singer Sheena Easton is 67.

APRIL 28

Former Secretary of State

APRIL 29

Musician Willie Nelson is

Baseball

Jerry Seinfeld is 72. Actor Daniel Day-Lewis is 69. Actor Michelle Pfei er is 68. Actor Uma Thurman is 56.

the stream

Charlize Theron, ‘Marty Supreme,’

Kehlani,

A documentary about country singer Lainey Wilson comes to Net ix

The Associated Press

TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET

starring as a ping-pong master in “Marty Supreme” and a Netix comedy competition show hosted by Kevin Hart 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, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: Charlize Theron expanding her already robust action movie resume with “Apex,” Kate Hudson’s “Running Point” returning for Season 2 and a Net ix documentary on country star Lainey Wilson.

MOVIES TO STREAM

After nine Oscar nominations, $179 million in ticket sales and a few dings for opera and ballet along the way, “Marty Supreme” begins streaming Friday on HBO Max. A24’s biggest box-o ce hit ever stars Timothée Chalamet as a ping-pong striver in 1950s New York doing whatever it takes to reach greatness. Josh Safdie directs a cast including Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion and Kevin O’Leary. In her review, AP’s Jocelyn Noveck called it a “nerve-busting adrenaline jolt of a movie.” Another highlight of 2025, the darkly comic Korean thriller “No Other Choice,” lands on Hulu on Friday. Park Chan-wook’s satire stars Lee Byung-hun as a family man laid o from a paper plant. After analyzing his prospects, he decides to murder his closest competition for a new job. In my review of the Golden Globe-nominated lm, I praised Park, the masterful lmmaker of “Oldboy” and “Decision to Leave,” for “archly and elegantly spinning a yarn about a murderous rampage that accumulates wider and wider reverberations.”

The latest Colleen Hoover hit adaptation, “Regretting You,” arrives Friday on Prime Video. In it, Allison Williams stars as a single mother moving on after the death of her husband (Scott Eastwood). Dave Franco co-stars as her new love interest. In her review, Noveck wrote that “the strange way the tears give way to smiles, quips and then

Kate Hudson, Lainey Wilson

“Marty Supreme” is a nerve-busting adrenaline jolt of a movie.”

Jocelyn Noveck, AP lm writer

full-on rom-com corniness feels a little awkward — and then just weird and annoying.”

Charlize Theron expands her already robust action movie resume in “Apex,” a survivalist thriller about a grieving woman who heads into the Australian wilderness for outdoor adventure. But when a sadistic local (Taron Egerton) begins terrorizing her, a frantic chase ensues. Catch it on Net ix on Friday.

MUSIC TO STREAM

Noah Kahan’s 2022 single “Stick Season” turned the Vermont singer-songwriter into a household name; now, he’s at “The Great Divide.” That’s the title of his fourth studio album, out Friday. Come for folky ruminations on fame (“Porch Light”), stay for the plucky title track and what exists in between.

In the decade following her debut album, Meghan Trainor’s bright, cheery pop music has kept one central message: Stay

true to who you are and ignore the haters. That continues on her single “Still Don’t Care,” the rst tease of her seventh full-length album. And it is found on the whole of the release, titled “Toy with Me,” out Friday. In December, she told the AP to expect a few self-love bops, songs to anger through and lots of familial love. The singer-songwriter recently canceled a summer tour following the birth of her daughter, Mikey Moon.

Musician documentaries are a dime a dozen these days; of-

ten, they function as promotional material with little editorial value. That is not the case with “Lainey Wilson: Keepin’ Country Cool,” available now on Net ix. The country superstar keeps her cool … and gets candid in this feature, which spans her personal and professional lives.

SERIES TO STREAM

A new Net ix competition show called “Funny AF with Kevin Hart” features Hart traveling to di erent comedy clubs

in the U.S. in search of the next great stand-up sensation. Hart is joined by Keegan-Michael Key, Tom Segura, Kumail Nanjiani, Chelsea Handler and Nikki Glaser, who serve as judges. The semi nal and nal episodes will stream live on Net ix, and the audience can vote in realtime. The winner will get their own Net ix stand-up special. Prime Video has a new series about a di erent Kevin. “Kevin” is an animated series about a cat who moves into a local pet rescue after his owners split up. Jason Schwartzman voices Kevin and Aubrey Plaza, who co-created and co-wrote the series, also voices a character.

A new “Stranger Things” animated spino harks back to the Saturday morning cartoons of the 1980s, with stand-alone adventures each episode. “Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85” takes place during Seasons 2 and 3 of the original show and follows its core gang encountering mysteries and monsters from the Upside Down. They’re voiced by new actors, not the live-action cast. It debuts Thursday on Net ix.

Kate Hudson’s “Running Point” returns for Season 2 on Net ix on Thursday. Hudson plays Isla Gordon, whose family has owned the ctional Los Angeles Waves for years. Hudson takes over as the team’s president when her older brother (Justin Theroux) steps down. Her character is based on Jeanie Buss, the governor and former controlling owner (now minority owner) of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Richard Gadd, whose “Baby Reindeer” drew acclaim and a defamation lawsuit from the real-life woman it depicted, has created and written a new dark drama called “Half Man” where he co-stars with Jamie Bell. Gadd told the AP that he turned down numerous Hollywood offers after “Baby Reindeer” in favor of making “Half Man.” It premieres Thursday.

VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

Italian developer Luca Galante unleashed a surprise smash back in 2022 with his low-res indie shoot-’em-up Vampire Survivors. Fans have since gobbled up a half-dozen expansions, and now it’s time for a full- edged spino , Vampire Crawlers. It’s a “casual, turn-based deck builder” in which you explore dungeons and ght monsters by inging playing cards at them. Think something like Slay the Spire with, well, vampires — then throw in “turboturn,” which lets you pile up damage by slinging cards more quickly. It looks every bit as hectic and silly as the original, and you can take a bite now on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.

HOKE COUNTY

Special delivery

All Veteran Group, a parachute team based in Hoke, descended into Raz Autry Stadium on Friday to entertain the hundreds attending the 2026 Hoke County Special Olympics.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Supreme Court to hear from religious preschools challenging exclusion from taxpayer-funded program

The Supreme Court will hear from Catholic preschools that say it’s unconstitutional to exclude them from a state-funded program because they won’t admit kids from LGBTQ+ families. Colorado’s St. Mary Catholic Parish and the Archdiocese of Denver argue Colorado is violating their religious rights by barring them from the taxpayer-funded universal preschool program over their faith-based admission policies. The state says religious schools are welcome to participate but are required to follow nondiscrimination laws. The case will be heard in the fall.

About 25 arrested in clashes at beagle breeding facility

About 25 protesters were arrested as about 1,000 animal welfare activists tried to enter a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin. The protest on Saturday was the second attempt in two months to take beagles from Ridglan Farms. O cers red rubber bullets and pepper spray to disperse the crowd. The Dane County sheri ’s o ce reported a calmer protest on Sunday with about 200 people. Protesters previously took 30 dogs in March. Ridglan denies mistreating animals but agreed to give up its state breeding license by July 1 to avoid prosecution on animal mistreatment charges.

Hoke receives unmodi ed opinion on audit report

The county is required to submit a written response to the LGC due to its late submission

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

RAEFORD — The Hoke County Board of Commissioners met April 20 for its regular business meeting.

The commissioners were presented with their 2025 audit — done by Martin, Starnes and Associates — and it came back with an unmodi ed statement on the county’s nancial statements, the

best statement you can get.

However, due to the board submitting a late audit, which occurred due to the federal shutdown, it will be required to submit a written response to the Local Government Commission within 60 days of the presentation.

“There was absolutely nothing we could do about it,” said Chairman James Leach.

“They do things to cause you to be late, and then they blame you for it.”

The board also approved the funding for the FY 2026-27 Hoke County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council programs.

“There was absolutely nothing we could do about it. They do things to cause you to be late, and then they blame you for it.”

Chairman James Leach

The JCPC aims to prevent and reduce juvenile crime by o ering community-based alternatives to incarceration.

“When children are involved, we get the best for our

children and fully fund what they need,” Leach said.

The JCPC has a budget of approximately $163,000 for the upcoming scal year, but only $10,000 of that is coming from the county.

“I’m certainly glad the state gives all but $10,000,” Leach said. “That’s a lot of money for only a $10,000 return.”

Finally, the board approved the sale of approximately 0.5 acres of surplus property located o Aggies Lane for a nal sale price of just over $3,000.

The Hoke County Board of Commissioners will next meet May 18.

Redistricting battle narrows for US House as states seek partisan edge in November elections

By David A. Lieb The Associated Press

THE BATTLEFIELD is narrowing and the timeline is tightening in a congressional redistricting contest among states seeking a partisan advantage ahead of the November midterm elections.

Virginia voters on Tuesday approved a constitutional amendment authorizing a Democratic redistricting plan that could help the party win several additional House seats in this year’s elections. Next up could be Florida, where lawmakers are to begin a special session April 28 for a Republican attempt at congressional redistricting.

Voting districts typically are redrawn once a decade, after each census. But President Donald Trump triggered an unusual round of mid- decade redistricting last year when he urged Texas Republicans to redraw House districts to give the GOP an edge

in the midterm elections. California Democrats reciprocated, and redistricting e orts soon cascaded across states.

So far, Republicans believe they could win up to nine additional seats in states where they have redrawn congressional districts while Democrats think they could gain up to 10 seats elsewhere because of redistricting. But that presumes past voting patterns hold in November. And that’s uncertain, especially since the party in power typically loses seats in the midterms and Trump faces negative approval ratings in polls.

Democrats need to gain just a few seats in November to wrest control of the House from Republicans, potentially allowing them to obstruct Trump’s agenda.

Next up on redistricting: Florida

Current map: 8 Democrats, 20 Republicans Proposed map: Republican

Gov. Ron DeSantis has called a special legislative session to begin April 28 on congressional redistricting. Republicans haven’t yet publicly released a speci c plan.

Challenges: The state constitution says districts cannot be drawn with intent to favor or disfavor a political party or incumbent.

Where new House districts were approved

New U.S. House districts have been adopted in seven states since last summer. Five took up redistricting voluntarily, one was required to by its state constitution and another did so under court order.

Texas

Current map: 13 Democrats, 25 Republicans

New map: Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a revised House map into law last August that could help Republi-

cans win ve additional seats.

Challenges: The U.S. Supreme Court in December cleared the way for the new districts to be used in this year’s elections. It put on hold a lower- court ruling that blocked the new map because it was “racially gerrymandered.”

California

Current map: 43 Democrats, 9 Republicans New map: Voters in November approved revised House districts drawn by the Democratic-led Legislature that could help Democrats win ve additional seats.

Challenges: The U.S. Supreme Court in February allowed the new districts to be used in this year’s elections. It denied an appeal from Republicans and the Department of Justice, which claimed the districts impermissibly favor Hispanic voters.

ELECTIONS from page A1

Missouri

Current map: 2 Democrats, 6 Republicans

New map: Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a revised House map into law last September that could help Republicans win an additional seat.

Challenges: A Cole County judge ruled the new map is in e ect as election o cials work to determine whether a referendum petition seeking a statewide vote complies with constitutional criteria and contains enough valid petition signatures. The Missouri Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit claiming mid- decade redistricting is illegal. It’s scheduled to hear arguments in May on claims the new districts violate compactness requirements and should be placed on hold pending the potential referendum.

North Carolina

Current map: 4 Democrats, 10 Republicans

New map: The Republican-led General Assembly gave nal approval in October to revised districts that could help Republicans win an additional seat.

Challenges: A federal court panel in November denied a request to block the revised districts from being used in the midterm elections.

Ohio

Current map: 5 Democrats, 10 Republicans

New map: A bipartisan panel composed primarily of Republicans voted in October to approve revised House districts that improve Republicans’ chances of winning two additional seats.

Challenges: None. The state constitution required new districts before the 2026 election, because Republicans had approved the prior map without su cient Democratic support after the last census.

Utah

Current map: no Democrats, 4 Republicans

New map: A judge in Novem-

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

24

Planned ght between teens escalates to shooting that kills 2 at Winston-Salem park

Five others wounded; authorities believe some injured were also involved in shooting

By Erik Verduzco The Associated Press

WINSTON-SALEM — A

planned ght among young people escalated into a mass shooting at a North Carolina park Monday morning that left two teenage boys dead and ve other people injured, authorities said.

Winston-Salem police Capt. Kevin Burns said a 16 -year-old and a 17-year-old died at the scene after being shot around 10 a.m. at Leinbach Park, near a middle school. Five others between the ages of 14 and 19 were shot and su ered injuries ranging from critical to minor, Burns said at a news conference. Four of those victims are female, o cials said. It was not immediately clear whether any of the victims were the gunmen. Winston-Salem police Chief William Penn said no one was in custody but authorities be-

ber imposed revised House districts that could help Democrats win a seat. The court ruled that lawmakers had circumvented anti-gerrymandering standards passed by voters when adopting the prior map.

Challenges: A federal court panel and the state Supreme Court, in February, each rejected Republican challenges to the judicial map selection.

Virginia

Current map: 6 Democrats, 5 Republicans New map: Voters approved a constitutional amendment authorizing new U.S. House districts backed by Democrats that could help the party win up to four additional seats.

Challenges: The state Supreme Court allowed the referendum to proceed, but it has yet to rule whether the e ort is legal. The court is considering an appeal of a Tazewell County judge’s ruling that the amendment is invalid because lawmakers violated their own rules while passing it.

Where redistricting e orts were denied

Governors, lawmakers or partisan o cials pushed for congressional redistricting in numerous states. In at least ve states, those e orts gained some initial traction but ultimately fell short in either the legislature or court.

Maryland

Current map: 7 Democrats, 1

Republican

Proposed map: The Democratic-led House in February passed a redistricting plan backed by Democratic Gov. Wes Moore that could help Democrats win an additional seat.

Challenges: The legislative session ended in April without the Democratic-led Senate voting on the redistricting plan. The state Senate president said there were concerns it could back re on Democrats.

New York

Current map: 19 Democrats, 7 Republicans

lieve some of those injured were also involved in the shooting. “I feel like everyone else. I’m frustrated, I’m angry, I’m sad. This didn’t have to happen,” Penn said.

Winston-Salem police As-

14

U.S. House seats for North Carolina, 10 of which are currently held by Republicans. Recent redistricting could give the GOP an additional seat in Congress.

Proposed map: A judge in January ordered a state commission to draw new boundaries for the only congressional district in New York City represented by a Republican, ruling it unconstitutionally dilutes the votes of black and Hispanic residents.

Challenges: The U.S. Supreme Court in March

sistant Chief Jason Swaim said two juveniles had agreed to meet at the park to ght and that a rearm was discharged during the ght. Swaim said schools near the park were safe.

granted Republicans’ request to halt the judge’s order, leaving the existing district lines in place for the 2026 election.

Indiana

Current map: 2 Democrats, 7

Republicans Proposed map: The Republican-led House passed a redistricting plan in December that would have improved Republicans’ chances of winning two additional seats.

Challenges: Despite pressure from Trump to adopt the new map, the Republican-led Senate rejected it in a bipartisan vote on Dec. 11.

Kansas

Current map: 1 Democrat, 3

Republicans Proposed map: Some Repub -

The shooting happened in a park in a suburban and residential area northwest of downtown Winston-Salem, a city of about 250,000 known for decades as the home of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

lican lawmakers mounted an attempt to take up congressional redistricting.

Challenges: Lawmakers dropped a petition drive for a special session on congressional redistricting in November, after failing to gain enough support.

Illinois

Current map: 14 Democrats, 3 Republicans Proposed map: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in October proposed a new U.S. House map that would improve Democrats’ chances of winning an additional seat.

Challenges: The Democratic-led General Assembly declined to take up redistricting, citing concerns about the e ect on representation for black residents.

THE CONVERSATION

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

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

How Biden’s DOJ went after pro-lifers

That’s not law enforcement.

That’s a political operation.

WE NOW KNOW something the Biden administration spent years denying: It wasn’t merely enforcing the law around abortion clinics — it was allegedly partnering with abortion activists to identify, track and ultimately prosecute pro -life Americans.

Start with former President Barack Obama, who famously tried to force the Little Sisters of the Poor to violate their religious conscience.

According to reporting from The Daily Wire, Biden’s Department of Justice relied on intelligence gathered from radical pro-abortion groups to monitor peaceful pro -life activists — people who had not yet been charged with any federal crime — and then build cases that ended with FBI arrests.

The federal government was reportedly outsourcing its surveillance and investigative e orts to activist organizations that have a direct political and ideological stake in crushing the pro-life movement. That’s not law enforcement. That’s a political operation.

The Daily Wire cites a DOJ report titled “The Biden Administration’s Weaponization of the FACE Act,” which examined more than 700,000 records. The FACE Act was originally intended to prevent physical obstruction of abortion clinic entrances. It was also meant to protect churches from disruption.

The records included dossiers on pro-life activists who had not been charged with federal crimes but who were nevertheless treated as threats, largely because abortion groups agged them as such.

And if that sounds familiar, it’s because it’s exactly the pattern we’ve seen repeatedly from the modern left: government agencies using ideological “cutout” organizations to do what the government isn’t supposed to do openly.

According to the report, much of the escalation traces back to former Attorney General Merrick Garland’s decision to resurrect the National Task Force on Violence Against Reproductive Health Care Providers in the wake of the Supreme

COLUMN | LARRY ELDER

Court overturning Roe v. Wade in June 2022.

That task force reportedly operated out of the DOJ Civil Rights Division under the direction of Sanjay Patel, who was red this week. Patel, according to the DOJ report, was in direct communication with the National Abortion Federation’s security team and regularly coordinating with Planned Parenthood and the Feminist Majority Foundation.

So we’re not talking about vague ideological sympathies here.

We’re talking about open coordination between the federal government and the activist wing of the abortion industry.

Daily Wire reporting compared sentencing requests and outcomes for pro -life defendants versus pro -abortion defendants. The Biden DOJ, they found, sought longer average sentences for pro-life activists — and the nal outcomes re ected that imbalance: Pro -life defendants received an average sentence of 14 months, while pro-choice defendants averaged three months.

Fourteen months versus three.

That is not “equal justice under law.” That is animus made policy.

Democrats have been weaponizing the administrative state for decades. This is not some brand-new Trump-era phenomenon, no matter how often the cable news panels pretend otherwise.

The Obama administration used the IRS to harass conservative and pro-life organizations. Clinton-era politics normalized the idea that federal power could be turned on political enemies. Biden’s DOJ, if these reports are accurate, simply continued the tradition — with a more aggressive posture and a more open contempt for religious dissent.

Imagine the scandal if the Trump administration had coordinated with pro-life organizations to build cases against abortion advocates.

But because the targets were pro -lifers, the story is treated like a niche controversy — something for conservative media to discuss, while the mainstream press quietly looks the other way.

That brings us to one of the most

important questions of all: How were the people involved in this allowed to remain embedded inside the DOJ for so long?

Because it lends credibility to something the political class has mocked for years: the existence of a bureaucratic deep state — career o cials who outlast elections, ignore the will of voters and quietly advance an ideological agenda regardless of who sits in the Oval O ce.

This is what it looks like when a permanent governing class decides it is untouchable.

And it also illustrates why the ght to remove ideological holdovers inside federal agencies is not some paranoid fantasy. It’s a real, ongoing struggle — one that will de ne whether elections actually matter.

The bigger issue here isn’t just abortion politics — it’s the steady normalization of using government power to punish religious Americans.

The Democratic Party has shown, again and again, that it is willing to use the apparatus of the state to crush dissent from people of faith. Not because those people are violent. Not because they are criminals. But because their beliefs are inconvenient.

If Democrats ever gained full control of the judiciary, especially if they succeeded in stacking the Supreme Court — which you can be sure former Vice President Kamala Harris would have attempted to do if she had won in 2024 — this is exactly the direction they would push the country.

This is why the Biden administration may go down as the worst in modern American history — even worse than Obama’s.

Not because Obama didn’t do the same things.

But because Obama understood enough to keep it quiet.

Biden said the quiet part out loud.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co -founder of Daily Wire+. He is a three-time New York Times bestselling author. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

The implosion of Eric Swalwell: What was he thinking?

Despite a combined income with his wife of over $400,000, he is deeply in debt.

WHEN THEN-REP. Eric Swalwell (D - Calif.) announced his candidacy for governor of California, I was beyond surprised. Rumors of sexual misconduct, including allegations of blatant and serial in delity, had been circulating for years. Having run for this very o ce, I experienced rsthand the intense level of local, state and national scrutiny one receives when seeking the top job in the biggest state in the country.

The left-wing media treats liberal Democrat candidates di erent from how it treats conservative Republican candidates, but the media are not the problem if one’s candidacy starts to resonate. The heat comes from the same-party campaign rivals.

When I decided to run for governor of California, I sought the advice of several experienced strategists, politicians, pundits and some professors. They all said the same thing, only worded di erently: “Is there anything in your background that would be a problem?” These questions, they advised, include but are not limited to: Skeletons in your closet? What about your friends, associates and family members? Taxes? Sexual harassment or misconduct or assaults? Any present or past behavior that could be deemed scandalous? Dating history, marriage or divorce? Outstanding warrants? Tra c tickets? Unpaid tra c tickets? DUIs? Automobile accidents you caused or were involved in? Arrests? Misdemeanors? Felonies? Unpaid bills? Credit card debt? Lawsuits led by or lawsuits against you? Drug use and drug abuse? Alcoholism? Abuse of prescription drugs? Sketchy business dealings? Bankruptcy? Inappropriate internet

activity, including porn sites, other illicit sites or sending “compromising pictures”? Social media posts that could come back to haunt you? 911 calls from your home? Your work history? To what church do you belong? Who is your pastor? Ever been red? If so, why? Is your campaign biography accurate, with no exaggerations or embellishments? Do your neighbors like you?

And, for good measure, I was advised to hire a private detective to investigate myself. My experienced campaign manager took me on only after I addressed all those questions — and others — and obtained a report from a well-regarded private investigator. My campaign manager cautioned, “If you are accused of picking your feet in Poughkeepsie — especially if you did pick your feet in Poughkeepsie — it will come out.”

This brings us to Swalwell, who, according to a University of California, Berkeley poll conducted in March, was the leading Democrat in the primary. He was endorsed by Sen. Adam Schi (D - Calif.), who, like Swalwell, served as a prosecutor in an impeachment trial against President Donald Trump.

According to Reuters, “A fth woman came forward to accuse Swalwell of unwanted sexual contact, saying the Democratic lawmaker drugged and raped her during an encounter in 2018.” Swalwell rst denied the accusations. He then dropped out of the race for governor, followed by his resignation from Congress.

Former House Speaker and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D - Calif.) claimed she knew nothing about the rumors against Swalwell. But Willie Brown, once a

mentor to former Vice President Kamala Harris and a former mayor of San Francisco, and who for 15 years served as speaker of the California Assembly, said, “No, I’m not surprised frankly because there have been rumors after rumors after rumors, his colleagues in Washington pretty much said that. That’s what Adam Schi said, that’s what Nancy Pelosi said.”

But Swalwell’s problems are just beginning. The sheri of Los Angeles County has launched a criminal probe, as has the Manhattan District Attorney’s O ce. Civil lawsuits may follow.

Then there are Swalwell’s nancial issues. Despite a combined income with his wife of over $400,000, he is deeply in debt. He owes $100,000 in student loans, borrowed against his retirement account to help fund his campaign and deferred paying income taxes to conserve cash ow. This is not exactly a good look for someone vying to be the chief executive of a state with a budget de cit and massive unfunded pension liabilities.

On top of everything, these scandals could cost the father of three children his marriage. After all, Swalwell set the standard. During the con rmation hearing of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Swalwell considered Kavanaugh un t due to allegations of sexual misconduct. Swalwell tweeted, “Support survivors. Believe survivors. We are with you.”

All of this raises a question: When Swalwell decided to run for governor, “What was he thinking?”

Larry Elder is a bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio talk-show host. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

US Navy seizes an Iranian- agged ship near Strait of Hormuz; Tehran vows swift response

The ship seizure jeopardizes fragile talks as the cease re nears expiration

By Michelle L. Price, Samy Magdy and Sam Metz

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. —

The United States attacked and seized an Iranian- agged cargo ship it said had tried to evade its naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, and Iran’s joint military command vowed to respond, throwing a fragile cease re into question days before it expires.

It was the rst interception since the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports began last week. Iran’s joint military command called the armed boarding an act of piracy and a cease re violation, the state broadcaster said. With the U.S.-Iran stando over the strait sharpening and the cease re expiring by Wednesday, it was not clear where President Donald Trump’s earlier announcement on new talks with Iran now stood. He had said U.S. negotiators would head to Pakistan on Monday.

The uncertainty sent oil prices rising again. One of the worst global energy crises in decades threatened to deepen.

Trump on social media said a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer in the Gulf of Oman warned the Iranian- agged ship, the Touska, to stop and then “stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom.” U.S. Marines

had custody of the U.S.-sanctioned vessel and were “seeing what’s on board!”

It was not clear whether anyone was hurt. The U.S. Central Command, which didn’t answer questions, said the destroyer had issued “repeated warnings over a six-hour period.”

Iranian state media suggest new talks won’t take place

There was no comment from Iranian o cials directly addressing Trump’s announcement of talks. However, Iranian state media, without citing anyone beyond unnamed sources, issued brief reports suggesting that they would not happen.

Minutes after the ship seizure was announced, Iranian state media reported on President Masoud Pezeshkian’s phone conversation with Paki-

UK police arrest 2 in connection with weekend arson

attack on synagogue

Police suspect Iran is hiring local criminals to carry out the attacks

By Danica Kirka The Associated Press

LONDON — British police said Monday they arrested two teenagers in connection with an arson attack on a synagogue in northwest London over the weekend, as Jewish leaders express concern about a wave of incidents targeting their community.

Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes of London’s Metropolitan Police Service said o cers arrested two young men, aged 19 and 17, overnight in relation to the attack on the Kenton United Synagogue in the borough of Harrow. The department has made a total of 15 arrests related to six attacks on Jewish targets and a Persian-language media organization critical of Iran’s government that occurred over the past few weeks, he said in an interview with the BBC.

One “serious line of inquiry” is that Iran is hiring local crim-

stan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, earlier Sunday. U.S. actions, including bullying and unreasonable behavior, have led to increased suspicion that the U.S. will repeat previous patterns and “betray diplomacy,” the reports cited Pezeshkian as saying.

Two previous attempts at talks — last June and earlier this year — were interrupted by Israeli and U.S. attacks.

On another phone call, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, that recent U.S. actions, rhetoric and contradictions were signs of “bad intentions and lack of seriousness in diplomacy,” Iran’s state broadcaster said. Pakistan did not con rm a second round of talks, but authorities had begun tightening security in Islamabad. A re-

inals to carry out these attacks amid tensions in the Middle East, including the U.S.-Israeli war against the Islamic Republic, Jukes said.

“We’ve seen a pattern with other actors of thugs for hire, people taking cash that looks like quick and easy money,” Jukes said. “This is part of the modern hybrid war fought by proxies.”

In the most recent incident, a bottle containing a ammable liquid was thrown through the window of the Harrow synagogue on Saturday night, causing smoke damage, police said.

Counterterrorism police are investigating the series of incidents, which began on March 23 when an arson attack destroyed four ambulances owned by a Jewish charity that serves people of all faiths in north London. No one has been injured in the incidents.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s o ce said he “shares the country’s shock at the recent antisemitic attacks.”

“He stands with the Jewish community and he is deter-

gional o cial involved in the e orts said mediators werenalizing preparations and U.S. advance security teams were on the ground. The o cial spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss preparations with the media.

The White House had said Vice President JD Vance, who led the rst round of historic face-to-face talks over 21 hours last weekend, would lead the U.S. delegation to Pakistan with envoys Steve Witko and Jared Kushner.

Iran on Saturday said it had received new proposals from the United States. While Iran’s chief negotiator, parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, late Saturday said “there will be no retreat in the eld of diplomacy,” he acknowledged a wide gap remained between the sides.

It was unclear whether either side had shifted stances on issues that derailed the last round of negotiations, including Iran’s nuclear enrichment program, its regional proxies and the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump’s announcement on talks repeated his threats against Iranian infrastructure that have drawn widespread criticism and warnings of war crimes. If Iran doesn’t agree to the U.S.-proposed deal, “the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran,” he wrote.

Iran wants to control strait until “war fully ends”

Iran early Monday warned it could keep up the global economic pain as ships remained unable to transit the strait, with hundreds of vessels waiting at each end for clearance.

Security of the strait is not free and “the choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of signi cant costs for everyone,” Mohammad Reza Aref, rst vice president of Iran, said in a social media post call-

mined to do more to give them the security they deserve,” his spokesman, Dave Pares, said Monday.

Police last Friday closed Kensington Gardens, a central London park visited by thousands of tourists and local residents every day, after a group that Israel has linked to Iran posted a video claiming Israel’s nearby London embassy was going to be attacked with drones carrying dangerous substances.

Police said the embassy was not attacked, but the force shut the park as o cers examined discarded items including two jars containing powder. Police said nothing harmful was found.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said on Sunday that “a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum.”

“Thank God, no lives have been lost, but we cannot, and must not, wait for that to change before we understand just how dangerous this moment is for all of our society,” he said on X.

ing for a lasting end to military and economic pressure on Tehran.

Roughly one- fth of the world’s oil trade normally passes through the strait, along with critical supplies of fertilizer for the world’s farmers, natural gas and humanitarian supplies for places in dire need like Afghanistan and Sudan.

Iran had announced the strait’s reopening after a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon took hold last Friday. But then Trump said the U.S. blockade “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the United States. Iran said it would again enforce restrictions it imposed early in the war. On Saturday, Iran red at ships trying to transit.

For the Islamic Republic, the strait’s closure is perhaps its most powerful weapon, in icting political pain on Trump. For the United States, the blockade squeezes Iran’s already weakened economy. Each side has accused the other of violating the cease re.

Since most supplies to U.S. military bases in the Gulf region come through the strait, “Iran is determined to maintain oversight and control over tra c through the strait until the war fully ends,” Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said late Saturday. That means Iran-designated routes, payment of fees and issuance of transit certi cates.

The council has recently acted as Iran’s de facto top decision-making body.

The war is now in its eighth week after the U.S. and Israel launched it on Feb. 28 during talks over Tehran’s nuclear program. At least 3,000 people have been killed in Iran, more than 2,290 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 U.S. service members throughout the region have been killed.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said police are aware that a group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia had claimed responsibility for most of the attacks in Britain. The same group has claimed responsibility for incidents in recent months at places of worship, business and nancial institutions across Europe, all of which appear to be linked to Jewish or Israeli interests, she said.

Israel’s government has described Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, whose name means the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right, as a recently founded group with suspected links to “an Iranian proxy.”

The U.K. has accused Iran of using criminal proxies to conduct attacks on European soil targeting opposition media outlets and the Jewish community. Britain’s MI5 domestic intelligence service says that more than 20 “potentially lethal” Iran-backed plots were disrupted in the year to October.

Employee of the Month Resident of the Month

Integrity Open Arms Residents of the Month

Kyeshia is a compassionate PCA who puts the resident’s needs before her own. She provides professional care and always meets the needs of the resident. Thank you for a job well done!

Deborah Muller

Robert General has been a resident at Open Arms since August 2021. He was born in South Carolina, relocated to Richmond Virginia and later moved to North Carolina. Robert enjoys BINGO, church and knitting. He is a joy to have here at Open Arms Retirement Center.

Mrs. Florence Herbert has been a resident here since May 2021. She moved to North Carolina from Pennsylvania to escape the bad weather. Florence enjoys word searches, BINGO, watching TV and spending time with her friends on the Special Care Unit at Integrity Open Arms.

Mrs. Betty Purcell is from Raeford, North Carolina. She moved into our assisted living this past June. Besides being the mother of two, she worked for many years at Burlington Mills. Betty enjoys church, watching youtube and doing word searches.

or

HOKE SPORTS

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Kierra Hollingsworth

Hoke County, softball

Kierra Hollingsworth is a sophomore on the Hoke County softball team. She also plays volleyball for the Bucks.

Hoke is 13-4, 5-1 in conference. In a win over Richmond, Hollingsworth had an RBI triple and scored to help spark a 9-1 win. She also walked and scored in a one-run game at Lumberton.

Crowd scientist helping Boston Marathon manage growing eld of 30,000-plus runners

Changes in start times and positioning of aid stations could help alleviate crowding

By Jimmy Golen

The Associated Press

BOSTON — Running the Boston Marathon is tough enough without having to jostle your way from Hopkinton to Copley Square.

So race organizers this year turned to an expert in crowd science to help them manage the eld of more than 32,000 as it travels the 26.2 miles through eight Massachusetts cities and towns — some of it on narrow streets laid out during Colonial times.

“There are certain things that we can’t change — that we don’t want to change — because they make the Boston Marathon,” said Marcel Altenburg, a senior lecturer of crowd science at Manchester Metropolitan University in Britain. “Like, I’m a scientist, but I can’t be too science-y about the race. It should stay what it is because that’s what I love. That’s what the runners love.”

Organizers of the world’s oldest and most prestigious annual marathon would prefer a more pleasant experience for their runners, even as the eld has ballooned from 15 in 1897 to as many as 38,000.

As the race grew, it tested the limits of the narrow New England roads and the host cities and towns, which are eager to reopen their streets for regular commutes and commerce as quickly as possible.

“It would be kind of great someday to be able to grow the race a little bit more,” race director Dave McGillivray said. “The problem with this race is that it’s about two things: time and

“We have simulated the Boston Marathon more than 100 times to run it once for real. That is the one that counts.”

Marcel Altenburg, crowd scientist

space. We don’t have either. So, we’re trying to be innovative.”

That’s where Altenburg comes in.

A former German army captain who runs ultra marathons himself, Altenburg has worked with all of the major races, other large sporting events, and airports and exhibitions that tend to attract large crowds on ways to keep things safe and owing smoothly.

For the Boston Marathon, which draws hundreds of thousands of spectators in addition to the runners, his models allow him to run simulations that help him see how the race might play out under di erent conditions.

“We have simulated the Boston Marathon more than 100 times to run it once for real. That is the one that counts,” Altenburg said. “They gave me, pretty much, all creative freedom to simulate more waves, simulate more runners and — within the existing time window — they allowed me to change pretty much anything for the betterment of the running experience.

“And then we checked every aid station, every mile, the nish, every important point, (asking): Is the result better for the runner? Is that something that we should explore further?”

The most noticeable di erence on Monday will be that the

runners are starting in six waves — groups organized by qualifying time — instead of four. The waves, which were rst used in Boston in 2011, help spread things out so that runners don’t have to walk after the start, when Main Street in Hopkinton squeezes to just 39 feet wide.

Other, less obvious changes involve the unloading of the buses at the start, the placement of the water and aid stations, and the nish line chutes, where runners get their medals, perhaps a mylar blanket or a banana, and any medical treatment they might need.

“For an event that’s as old as ours, 130 years, it allowed us to be a startup all over again,” said Lauren Proshan, the chief of race operations and production for the Boston Athletic Association.

“The change isn’t meant to be earth-shattering. It’s to be a smooth experience from start to nish,” she said. “It’s one of those things that you work really, really hard behind the scenes and hope that no one notices — a behind-the-curtain change that makes you feel as if you’re just oating and having a great day.”

Shorter porta potty lines would also be nice.

The BAA will look at the feedback over the next three years before deciding about expansion or other changes.

“Fingers crossed, hope for the best, but we’ll get feedback from the participants,” McGillivray said. “And they’ll let us know whether or not it worked or not.”

But keeping the course open longer isn’t an option. And the route isn’t going to change. So there’s only so much that crowd science can help with at one of the toughest tests in sports.

“I can talk. I’m a scientist. I just press a button and it’s going to be,” Altenburg said. “But the runners still have to do it.”

SPRING SPORTS ROUNDUP

Hoke County gets back up to speed after spring break

North State Journal Sta

THE SPRING SPORTS schedules hit the home stretch, with the baseball, softball and girls’ soccer teams all looking to nish with winning records, something that hasn’t happened at Hoke in well over a decade.

BASEBALL

The Bucks lost back-to-back games last week to fall below break even. They are 8-9 on the year, 5-6 in conference. Richmond swept the Bucks in a home and home, shutting the Bucks out at Hoke 4-0 and then winning 4-3 at Richmond. Hoke has a home and home with Pinecrest this week, as well as a game at Purnell Swett. After that, they’ll have two games left on the regular season schedule.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

Hoke is 7-5-4, 0-3-3 in conference after losing and tying

this week. The Bucks have not posted a win in April yet and are still looking for one more win to post their highest victory total since 2014. Hoke was shut out 2-0 at Pine Forest and then tied at Overhills, 1-1. Sophomore Aileen Ramos scored Hoke’s rst goal since March 30, on an assist from sophomore Marianna Cherney.

This week, Hoke hosts Pine Forest and Richmond, after which they’ll have four remaining regular season matches.

SOFTBALL

Hoke ran its winning streak to ve in a row before dropping back-to-back games to close the week. Hoke won at home against Richmond 9-1 and then lost 8-7 at Lumberton and 3-2 to Richmond. The Bucks are 13-4, 5-1 in conference play. The Bucks play half of their six remaining games this week — a home and home with Pinecrest and a game at Purnell Swett.

SIDELINE REPORT

NFL

Panthers agree to terms with QB Grier

Charlotte Quarterback Will Grier is returning home to the team that drafted him. The Carolina Panthers announced Tuesday they’ve agreed to terms on a contract with Grier, their third-round draft pick (100th overall) in 2019 who played high school football in the Charlotte area. Grier gives the Panthers added depth at the position behind starter Bryce Young. He is expected to compete for the No. 2 spot with Kenny Pickett.

MARATHONS

Men caught competing in the women’s category of a prestigious South African marathon

Johannesburg

Two male runners in South Africa were discovered fraudulently competing on behalf of female colleagues in a top marathon and disquali ed. They could face two-year bans from the event, along with the two women who swapped their bibs with the two men. The two men both nished within the top 10 in the women’s marathon at the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town. But marathon board member Stuart Mann said the deception was discovered, and the men were disquali ed from their seventhand 10th-place nishes.

WNBA

Bird, Rapinoe announce break-up, will phase out podcast Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe are splitting up. The sports power couple announced they are ending their 10-year relationship and phasing out their popular podcast. They dropped the news together on the podcast. Bird is considered one of the greatest women’s basketball players in history. Rapinoe rose to fame as a member of the Women’s World Cup team in 2011, 2015 and 2019. Bird said they will host six more special episodes.

United States enters World Cup with worries in goal, on defense

The host country hopes for its rst knockout win since 2002

By Ronald Blum The Associated Press

THE UNITED STATES heads into the World Cup hoping for its rst knockout-stage victory since 2002.

While the Americans enter with their weakest goalkeepers in four decades and only a few central defenders playing in a top league, they bene t from being seeded as a co-host in the expanded tournament, which could keep them from playing an elite opponent until the round of 16.

“It would be everything to win, and especially to do it in your home, in front of your friends, your families, the people that have supported you throughout your whole career that are closest to you,” mid elder Weston McKennie said.

The U.S. hopes to advance far in the tournament and show it is making progress in a sport that trails the NFL, MLB and NBA in popularity at home. The Americans are 1-7 in knockout World Cup matches, the only win over Mexico in 2002.

Since reaching the seminals of the rst World Cup in

1930, the furthest the U.S. has advanced was the 2002 quarter nals. While it has lost eight straight matches to European opponents since 2022, getting outscored 22-6, the Americans have a high level of con dence.

Coach Mauricio Pochettino, hired in September 2024 after the U.S. was eliminated in the Copa America group stage, told players they can win the title.

“Why not us?” he said during a March training camp. “We need to really believe that we can be there. We need to dream.”

The Americans open against Paraguay on June 12 before facing Australia and Turkey in Group D.

Long line of top goalkeepers has ended

Goalkeeper used to be an American strength, with Tony Meola, Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel, Tim Howard and Brad Guzan all highly regarded.

Matt Turner, the U.S. starter in 2022, has been displaced as No. 1 by Matt Freese. The Americans are likely to head to the World Cup without a Europe-based keeper for the rst time since 1990.

“We had this goalkeeping thing gured out for a long time, didn’t we? Going all the way back,” Howard said. ”It just

seems like we’ve had a little bit of a rut.”

Pulisic scoring drought a concern

Christian Pulisic, the top American player, hasn’t scored an international goal in eight games since November 2024. He also headed into mid-April scoreless in 14 games with AC Milan since Dec. 28.

“He’s going to score because he has the quality,” Pochettino said. At 27 in his prime, Pulisic is expected to carry the U.S. in the tournament as he did in 2022, when his goal in the group-stage nale against Iran advanced the Americans to the knockout stage.

“There’s pressure, I feel it. Yes, it’s there but it’s nothing that I can’t handle,” he said.

Options thin in central defense

Chris Richards is a rare American central defender playing in a top league, at 26 having an outstanding season at Crystal Palace. He missed the 2022 tournament because of a hamstring injury.

Tim Ream, the U.S. captain for much of World Cup lead-up under Pochettino, is 38 and left Fulham for Major League

Soccer’s Charlotte after the 2023-24 season.

Auston Trusty, 27, has been a starter for Scotland’s Celtic since late October and Mark McKenzie, also 27, is a regular for Toulouse.

Pochettino has at times since last fall used a three central defender back line.

Injury worries

Right back Sergiño Dest, a starter in 2022, hopes to heal in time from a hamstring injury sustained playing for PSV Eindhoven on March 7. Central defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, another 2022 veteran, will miss the tournament because of an Achilles injury and John Tolkin, No. 3 on the left back depth chart behind Antonee Robinson and Max Arfsten, is uncertain because of a knee injury.

Son of Super Bowl winner

Defender Alex Freeman, is a son of Antonio Freeman, a former All-Pro wide receiver who won the 1997 Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers.

“Growing up I always got asked if football was the path, but when I was younger I always had a secret love for soccer,” Alex said.

Megan Elizabeth Locklear

Oct. 27, 1984 – April 9, 2026

Ms. Megan Elizabeth Locklear, age 41 of Raeford, North Carolina, was born on October 27, 1984, to the late McKinnon Locklear Jr. and Vanessa Rose Locklear in Cumberland County, North Carolina. She departed this life on April 9, 2026, at Firsthealth Moore Regional, Pinehurst, North Carolina. Along with her father, she was preceded in death by a sister, Kennetta Kay Locklear, and by her paternal and maternal grandparents, McKinnon Locklear and Delphia Pevia Locklear, and Edward Joe Locklear and Betty Ruth Brooks Locklear.

Megan leaves to cherish her memories one son: Raygen Grayson Locklear, four daughters: Erin Elizabeth Rose Oxendine, Kaitlyn Alyssa Faith Locklear, Monnekea Kaye Locklear, Alexus Cardi Jones, mother: Vanessa Rose Locklear, two brothers: Edward McKeithan Locklear, Cruz Castillo Locklear, ve sisters: Kimberly Joyce Jones, Brenda Jones, Rebekah Ruth Locklear-Hall, Fallon Rose Locklear, Katherine Betty Locklear, along with a host of other relatives and friends.

obituaries

Diann McAllister

Jan. 23, 1957 – April 13, 2026

Ms. Diann McAllister, age 69, went home to be with her Heavenly Father on Monday, April 13, 2026. The Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 1 p.m. at the Pauline T. Buie Chapel.

Diann will be greatly missed.

Garret Anderson, talented out elder and Angels career hits leader, dead at 53

He led the Angels to their only World Series championship

By Greg Beacham The Associated Press

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Garret Anderson, the multitalented out elder who became the Los Angeles Angels’ career hits leader and led the team to its only World Series title, has died. He was 53.

The Angels announced Anderson’s death Friday morning without immediately disclosing the cause or location.

Anderson reached the majors with the then-California Angels in 1994 and played for the club until 2008, primarily as a left elder. Known for both his superb swing and his no-nonsense professionalism, Anderson was a xture in the heart of the Halos’ batting order for his entire tenure, becoming the franchise’s career leader in games played (2,013), hits (2,368), RBIs (1,292), total bases (3,743), extra-base hits (796), doubles (489) and grand slams (8).

“The Angels organization is mourning the loss of one of our franchise’s most beloved icons, Garret Anderson,” Angels owner Arte Moreno said in a statement. “Garret was a cornerstone of our organization throughout his 15 seasons, and his stoic presence in the out eld and our clubhouse elevated the Angels into an era of continued success, highlighted by the 2002 World Series championship. Garret will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Angels fans for his professionalism, class and loyalty throughout his career and beyond. His admiration and respect for the game was immeasurable.”

Former Los Angeles Angels out elder Garret Anderson throws the ceremonial rst pitch after he was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame during ceremonies before a baseball game between the Angels and the New York Yankees in Anaheim, California in 2016.

“He

did everything right. There was never anything ashy. Everything that he did was just professional.”

Kurt Suzuki,

Angels Manager

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at obits@northstatejournal.com

The Angels will wear a memorial patch this season bearing Anderson’s initials, the team announced. The club held a moment of silence for Anderson at Angel Stadium before its game against the San Diego Padres, and both teams lined up on the eld to watch a video of Anderson’s career highlights.

“Been talking to teammates that played with him this morning, and just hearing the great things they said about him,” three-time AL MVP Mike Trout said. “Seeing some of the numbers this morning, it was incredible what he brought. Nothing but great things people were saying about him. The base-

Don Schlitz, country songwriter behind such hits as ‘The Gambler,’ dead at 73

He won two Grammy Awards and is in the Country Music Hall of Fame

By Maria Sherman The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Don Schlitz, the storied country music songwriter known for such hits as “The Gambler,” “On the Other Hand” and “Forever and Ever, Amen,” died last Thursday at a Nashville hospital. The North Carolina native was 73.

The cause of death was not immediately known. A press release from the Grand Ole Opry described it as a sudden illness.

The two-time Grammy Award winner was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwrit-

ers Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. “I will never be able to believe that I deserve this, unless I receive it as a representative of my family, my mentors, my collaborators, my promoters and my friends,” Schlitz said in 2017, when he learned of the Country Music Hall of Fame honor. “That’s the only way I can deal with this.”

Schlitz made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 2017 and was later inducted in 2022. He is the only non-artist to receive the honor in the Opry’s 100 years.

The historic venue’s Saturday night show will be dedicated in his honor. He was named ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year for four consecutive years, from 1988 through 1991. He also wrote music and lyrics for “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” the

“Don doesn’t just write songs. He writes careers.”

Kenny Rogers

1999 Broadway musical. Schlitz’s songs are widely considered some of the most unwavering in country music, and have been recorded by such hitmakers as Kenny Rogers (“The Gambler,” “The Greatest”), Randy Travis (“On the Other Hand,” “Forever and Ever, Amen”), The Judds (“I Know Where I’m Going”), The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (“I Love Only You,”) Tanya Tucker (“I Won’t Take Less Than Your Love,”) Mary Chapin Carpenter (“He Thinks He’ll Keep Her”) and many others.

ball family lost a good one.” Anderson was a three-time AL All-Star who nished as high as fourth in the AL MVP balloting during his 17-year major league career. He won two Silver Slugger awards, and he memorably won both the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game MVP award in 2003 in Chicago. His 272 career homers are third in Angels history behind Trout and Tim Salmon. Only Trout has scored more runs in an Angels uniform than Anderson.

“He did everything right,” said Angels manager Kurt Suzuki, whose 16-year career as a major league catcher overlapped with the end of Anderson’s playing career. “There was never anything ashy. Everything that he did was just professional. When you have your kids playing the game, for me anyway, that’s who I want my kids to model themselves after. Just play the game right, do things right, never bring attention to yourself. And that’s the type of player he was. He was phenomenal at it, too.”

In 2002, Anderson batted .306 and drove in a team-lead-

He also wrote “You Can’t Make Old Friends” for Rogers and Dolly Parton; their rst duet since 1983’s “Islands in the Stream.”

Schlitz, a North Carolina native, was born in 1952 and raised in Durham before packing his bags and heading to Nashville. His rst recorded song, “The Gambler,” is perhaps his most enduring hit and the tent-pole of his legacy. The song, which was recorded by Rogers in 1978 and certi ed ve times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), opened doors for country music in the ‘70s, a track that was not only a huge genre hit but also a pop crossover one.

As Rogers said when he inducted Schlitz into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2012, “Don doesn’t just write songs. He writes careers.”

“We are heartbroken by the news of the passing of Don Schlitz. Don loved his family, his home state of North Carolina, and above all, songs and songwriters. He carried that love into every room, every

ing 123 runs for the then-Anaheim Angels, who won 99 games and earned a wild- card playo berth. The Halos stormed through the playo s to this franchise’s only championship, overcoming a 3-2 series de cit to Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants to win the World Series.

Anderson was a key factor in the Fall Classic, batting 9 for 32 with six RBIs. He drove in the nal three runs of the series with a tiebreaking three-run double in the third inning of the Angels’ 4-1 victory over the Giants in Game 7.

Anderson’s other baseball accomplishments included a 10-RBI game on Aug. 21, 2007. Anderson nished his career with Atlanta and the Los Angeles Dodgers before his retirement in 2011. He batted .293 with 2,529 hits, 287 homers and 1,365 RBIs in the majors. Anderson was inducted into the Angels’ Hall of Fame in 2016, and he had regularly worked for the team as a television broadcaster on its pregame and postgame shows over the ensuing decade. He lived in coastal Newport Beach with his family. Anderson was born in Los Angeles on June 30, 1972. He attended Granada Hills High School in the suburban San Fernando Valley before the Angels drafted him in the fourth round in 1990.

The Angels said Anderson is survived by his wife, Teresa, daughters Brianne and Bailey, and son Garret “Trey” Anderson III.

stage and every lyric he ever wrote,” Sarah Trahern, Country Music Association CEO, wrote in a statement last Friday. “Not long ago, we shared a dinner, and as we were leaving, Don picked up a guitar and began to play. That is how I will always remember him, smiling and with a guitar in his hand. His legacy lives on through his music and the many artists and writers he inspired. He will be deeply missed.”

“Don Schlitz’s place as a songwriting great would be secure had he never written ‘The Gambler’ or had he only written ‘The Gambler,’” Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, wrote in a statement last Friday. “Nashville was richer for his presence and is lesser for his absence.”

Schlitz is survived by his wife Stacey, daughter Cory Dixon and her husband Matt Dixon, son Pete Schlitz and his wife Christian Webb Schlitz, grandchildren Roman, Gia, Isla and Lilah, brother Brad Schlitz and sister Kathy Hinkley.

STATE & NATION

‘Out of many, one,’ says US national motto. What does that push for unity mean today?

America’s founding ideals clashed with centuries of exclusion and discrimination

By Deepti Hajela The Associated Press

NEW YORK — The aspira-

tions cut a wide swath through American history since 1776 — from the “All men are created equal” of the Declaration of Independence and the “We the people” of the Constitution, to the “indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” of the Pledge of Allegiance.

One can nd it in the country’s name — the United States of America — and in the sentiment of the motto written in Latin on its coins and one-dollar bills: E Pluribus Unum, or “out of many, one.”

The e ort has been optimistic and unrealistic, successful and a failure, enduring as an American ideal during moments when citizens struggled — and struggle today — to practice it.

How has the notion of unity in American society evolved in 250 years and more? What does it mean — and what doesn’t it mean, particularly in fraught and troubled moments? “It’s a question,” says one scholar, “that every society has to answer.”

I. The beginnings of these ‘United’ States

From the milestone moment of the nation’s beginning, the founders emphasized that unity would be a vital component of the new country, where government would be based not on a king and monarchy as in Europe but instead, as the Declaration says, “on the consent of the governed.”

“It is of in nite moment that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment to it … indignantly frowning upon the rst dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest,” George Washington said as he stepped down from two terms as the rst American president.

At the start of the experiment, the fabric of a nation rst stitched together from 13 original colonies, de ning what unity meant was far from settled.

Even as the founders spoke of high-minded ideals, they put limits on who they allowed to take part, who had rights and freedom and who didn’t. All these years later, determining the meaning of unity can still be a challenge. Do we interpret that Latin motto to mean a blending of di erent perspectives to create a country that is greater than the sum of its parts, or does it mean there can only be one, that unity requires sameness?

Either way, here’s the thing

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, speaks to thousands during his “I Have a Dream” speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on Aug. 28, 1963, in Washington, D.C.

about aspirations, as anyone who’s ever quit on a New Year’s resolution can tell you: They don’t turn into reality without e ort and commitment, or come out of just a sole moment, no matter how singular. Our individual lives are built not just from the milestones but from the everydays in between. How could the life of a nation be any di erent?

II. Aspiration vs. reality

Even as unity has stood among the ideals, the on-the-ground experience of life in America for the last 2½ centuries has re ected the reality that in this created nation, there’s never been just ONE America, where everyone lived in the same way or had the same access to power and prosperity.

It wasn’t there at the country’s inception. And in the moment the U.S. is living now, it certainly isn’t either.

“I think the United States has had a more volatile history in terms of how it deals with questions of inclusion and exclusion, how it draws the line and polices the line of who’s in and who’s out,” says Daniel Immerwahr, a professor of history at Northwestern University.

“It’s a question that every society has to answer … who’s on the inside, who’s on the outside,” he says. “I would say that what’s interesting about the United States in this regard is how changeable and nonobvious some of the answers to those questions are.”

Sometimes the di erences have been straightforward — like geography (rural vs. urban, plains vs. mountains) and climate (heat vs. snow, wild res vs. ooding). Sometimes they were, and remain, cultural — people from di erent countries of origin, newcomers vs. generations deep, speaking di erent languages, following di erent

“It’s

a question that every society has to answer … who’s on the inside, who’s on the outside.”

Daniel Immerwahr, Northwestern University professor of history

denominations of Christianity or other religions entirely. And of course, the di erences have been economic; rich and poor have always lived di erently.

But sometimes, the di erences have been travesties — like enslaved Africans and their American-born descendants, forced to live under the lash as they worked in the elds and elsewhere for the bene t of white owners. Even after slavery was outlawed, they were subject to discrimination and worse under racism that was legalized in systemic ways into the 20th century and that echoes still.

The Indigenous tribes whose populations were decimated by death and disease as the American experiment moved westward and newly arrived settlers hankered after their tribal lands, and whose cultures were stripped from generations as the U.S. government tried to force “unity” through brutal efforts at assimilation.

Communities of people barred from possibility because of gender, sexual orientation or other characteristics.

There have also been persistent e orts across eras to create a country where the opportunities available to some — say, voting, economic growth, or access to education — would be made available to all. That came gradually through protest movements, legal action, and callbacks to those same American founding ideals and aspirations of unity and equality.

“It provided a language for the groups that were challenging these exclusions to draw on … invoking the ideals of the Revolution and the Declaration and saying, ‘Look, this is what the nation is supposed to be about,’” says Eileen Cheng, a professor of history at Sarah Lawrence College. “They could challenge the system and yet claim that they were being the true Americans.”

III. What could ‘unity’ even look like?

One of the things about ideals, though, is that they can be somewhat abstract.

What does it mean for a country to be ‘united’? Does unity mean uniform? Is it, to borrow a reference from one of satirist Terry Pratchett’s books, that people are on the same side, or can they be on “di erent sides that happen to be side by side.” Is unity overall even a good thing in the context of a raucous democracy?

A look around the globe and through the history books shows there’s no single answer. There have been countries with a single o cial language, others that have recognized multiple languages, and some, like the United States, that for generations have never o cially designated any. At times, countries have chosen o cial religions. Nations have di erent standards and processes for naturalizing new citizens.

“There are always tensions between the unity and the separateness,” said Paul Wachtel, a psychology professor at the City College of New York. “There’s no society that is just one or just the other … what’s really most essential is that we learn how to negotiate those tensions.”

The United States experienced that rsthand in its infancy. The Constitution we live under is the second attempt at a

framework for government. The rst, the Articles of Confederation, kept the federal government weaker and the individual states stronger. It quickly became clear that having such a weak central government — i.e., less unity — wasn’t e ective for the new country, leading to the Constitution.

For some countries, like many in Europe, those negotiations have taken place under the weight of centuries of history and geography, and other established backdrops like the existing form of government, which impacted the direction they decided to go. The U.S., from the founders’ perspective, was a new entity.

“What it is to be of the United States is to adhere to a set of principles rather than to have a certain kind of lineage,” Immerwahr says. “Sometimes that makes the United States remarkably open, and then sometimes that gets the leaders of the United States in all kinds of weird contradictions as they try to explain why they’re doing some forms of inclusion and not others.”

The United States has a decidedly mixed history when it comes to dealing with those tensions. Things have uctuated. Take migration, for example. There have been eras when the in ux of people coming to these shores was seemingly a never-ending stream, but also times when much of the world was barred. In politics, the idea that there would be di erent factions represented by di erent parties was loathed by some, even as it became embedded in the political culture. Groups that were once looked down on are later brought into the fold, and vice versa.

“What have we learned over the last 250 years is that things change,” says Cindy Kam, professor of political science at Vanderbilt University. “We are inclined to be social animals, but what those groups are is culturally constructed. So political elites, social elites, cultural elites, they do that work in identifying what the groups are, who is part of ‘us’ and who is a part of the ‘other.’”

By no means is it settled; if anything, the demographic, technological, economic and other changes of the last several decades are making discussions about unity more relevant than ever. In recent years, Americans have lived in a country where polarization is rampant, and serious — sometimes dire — questions abound over what the future holds. That’s probably more in line with the country’s beginnings than people realize.

“This polarization, people talk about it like it’s a new thing. But I think it’s really a return back to the way that we were at the beginning of the country,” Cheng says. “It’s not like this kind of linear development where we’re growing more and more accepting of di erence. I think it’s up and down.”

MOORE COUNTY

A proper sendo

The Pinecrest varsity softball team honored its lone senior, Amaris Welch, on Monday at the team’s scheduled game

which ended up being canceled, though the celebration continued as planned.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Supreme Court to hear from religious preschools challenging exclusion from taxpayer-funded program

The Supreme Court will hear from Catholic preschools that say it’s unconstitutional to exclude them from a state-funded program because they won’t admit kids from LGBTQ+ families. Colorado’s St. Mary Catholic Parish and the Archdiocese of Denver argue Colorado is violating their religious rights by barring them from the taxpayer-funded universal preschool program over their faith-based admission policies. The state says religious schools are welcome to participate but are required to follow nondiscrimination laws. The case will be heard in the fall.

About 25 arrested in clashes at beagle breeding facility

About 25 protesters were arrested as about 1,000 animal welfare activists tried to enter a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin. The protest on Saturday was the second attempt in two months to take beagles from Ridglan Farms. O cers red rubber bullets and pepper spray to disperse the crowd. The Dane County sheri ’s o ce reported a calmer protest on Sunday with about 200 people. Protesters previously took 30 dogs in March. Ridglan denies mistreating animals but agreed to give up its state breeding license by July 1 to avoid prosecution on animal mistreatment charges.

Moore County says no plans to restrict water

Despite the drought, county o cials aren’t currently concerned about water availability

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

CARTHAGE — The Moore County Board of Commissioners met April 21 for its regular business meeting.

The board was presented with an update by Public Works Director Brian Patnode, who said although the county is in what’s being categorized as a “severe drought,” there are currently no plans for the implementation of water restrictions or anything of that nature.

The state has seen a drastic lack of rainfall in recent

months, with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality stating that precipitation totals are almost 10 inches below normal for many areas across the state.

Because of that, most of the state is currently categorized between a severe (D2) and extreme drought (D3).

However, Moore County ofcials aren’t currently worried about the county’s water supply in relation to the drought.

“We have been monitoring both our groundwater wells and our neighboring communities that we purchase from,” Patnode said. “We have not heard of any restrictions from any of those. Our aquifer has dropped a few feet, but that’s normal during a drought. So we don’t have any immediate concerns, but we will be mon-

“We don’t have any immediate concerns, but we will be monitoring it and praying for some rain over the next few weeks.”

Brian Patnode, Public Works director

itoring it and praying for some rain over the next few weeks.”

The board also held a public hearing for amendments to the uni ed development ordinance.

“The point of the amendment is to reduce the minimum front principal building setbacks from 40 feet to 30

Redistricting battle narrows for

feet in all residential zoning districts,” said Senior Planner Danielle Orlo . According to Orlo , the original distance was initially established to “preserve and maintain the character of development in the county and its neighborhoods.”

Following the hearing, the board approved the request.

The board then approved a contract with Utility Solutions and Automation for meter purchases.

“They are currently the distributor for Badger Meter, who we’ve been purchasing from for many years now and a lot of those meters are starting to die both themselves at their endpoints,” Patnode said.

The contract is for 1,600 meters for a price of approximately $650,000.

The board also approved an amendment to the contract between Moore County and Republic Services for North Carolina for an extension of ve years.

The county currently utilizes

US House as states seek partisan edge in November elections

By David A. Lieb The Associated Press

THE BATTLEFIELD is narrowing and the timeline is tightening in a congressional redistricting contest among states seeking a partisan advantage ahead of the November midterm elections. Virginia voters on Tuesday approved a constitutional amendment authorizing a Democratic redistricting plan that could help the party win several additional House seats in this year’s elections. Next up could be Florida, where lawmakers are to begin a special session April 28 for a Republican attempt at congressional redistricting.

Voting districts typically are redrawn once a decade, after each census. But President Donald Trump triggered an unusual round of mid- decade redistricting last year

when he urged Texas Republicans to redraw House districts to give the GOP an edge in the midterm elections. California Democrats reciprocated, and redistricting e orts soon cascaded across states.

So far, Republicans believe they could win up to nine additional seats in states where they have redrawn congressional districts while Democrats think they could gain up to 10 seats elsewhere because of redistricting. But that presumes past voting patterns hold in November. And that’s uncertain, especially since the party in power typically loses seats in the midterms and Trump faces negative approval ratings in polls. Democrats need to gain just a few seats in November to wrest control of the House from Republicans, potentially allowing them to obstruct Trump’s agenda.

Next up on redistricting: Florida

Current map: 8 Democrats, 20 Republicans

Proposed map: Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has called a special legislative session to begin April 28 on congressional redistricting. Republicans haven’t yet publicly released a speci c plan. Challenges: The state constitution says districts cannot be drawn with intent to favor or disfavor a political party or incumbent.

Where new House districts were approved

New U.S. House districts have been adopted in seven states since last summer. Five took up redistricting voluntarily, one was required to by its state constitution and another did so under court order.

Texas

Current map: 13 Democrats, 25 Republicans

New map: Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a revised House map into law last August that could help Republicans win ve additional seats. Challenges: The U.S. Supreme Court in December cleared the way for the new districts to be used in this year’s elections. It put on hold a lower- court ruling that blocked the new map because it was “racially gerrymandered.”

California

Current map: 43 Democrats, 9 Republicans

New map: Voters in November approved revised House districts drawn by the

4.23.26

THURSDAY

“Join the conversation”

CRIME LOG

April 13

• Pedro Elliott, 57, of Vass, was arrested by Whispering Pines PD for simple possession of a controlled substance.

• Jamie Chelle Horton, 42, of Aberdeen, was arrested by Whispering Pines PD for possession of a controlled substance, felony possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Charlie Ernesto Whitaker, 34, of Carthage, was arrested by MCSO for assault on a female, misdemeanor crime of domestic violence and resisting a public o cer.

• Mary Crystal Baker, 32, of Seagrove, was arrested by MCSO for second-degree trespass.

• Sanford Lee Caulder, 27, of Rockingham, was arrested by Southern Pines PD for possession of methamphetamine, possession of a stolen motor vehicle and shoplifting, and other charges.

• Mark Allen Knight, 63, of Robbins, was arrested by MCSO for assault on a female and misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

• Ashley Lynn McNally, 33, of Rockingham, was arrested by MCSO for shoplifting, possession of marijuana and misdemeanor larceny.

• Michael Daniel Tighe, 36, of Carthage, was arrested by MCSO for assault on a female, misdemeanor crime of domestic violence and communicating threats, and other charges.

April 14

• Chelsea Elaine Birner, 33, of Aberdeen, was arrested by Carthage PD for driving while impaired.

• Victoria Renee Parrish, 23, of Denton, was arrested by MCSO for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Wyner Araeli Perez Barahona, 34, of Raeford, was arrested by Fox re PD for violating a domestic violence protection order.

• Jammie Erwin Rouse, 53, of Carthage, was arrested by MCSO for second-degree trespass.

April 15

• Carlos Lopez Ramos, 35, of Rockwell, was arrested by MCSO for possessing or manufacturing fraudulent identi cation and resisting a public o cer.

ELECTIONS from page A1

Democratic-led Legislature that could help Democrats win ve additional seats.

Challenges: The U.S. Supreme Court in February allowed the new districts to be used in this year’s elections. It denied an appeal from Republicans and the Department of Justice, which claimed the districts impermissibly favor Hispanic voters.

Missouri

Current map: 2 Democrats, 6 Republicans

New map: Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a revised House map into law last September that could help Republicans win an additional seat.

Challenges: A Cole County judge ruled the new map is in e ect as election o cials work to determine whether a referendum petition seeking a statewide vote complies with constitutional criteria and contains enough valid petition signatures. The Missouri Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit claiming mid-decade redistricting is illegal. It’s scheduled to hear arguments in May on claims the new districts violate compactness requirements and should be placed on hold pending the potential referendum.

North Carolina

Current map: 4 Democrats, 10 Republicans New map: The Republican-led General Assembly gave nal approval in October to revised districts that could help Republicans win an additional seat.

Challenges: A federal court panel in November denied a request to block the revised districts from being used in the midterm elections.

Ohio

Current map: 5 Democrats, 10 Republicans

New map: A bipartisan panel composed primarily of Republicans voted in October to approve revised House districts that improve Republicans’ chances of winning two additional seats.

Challenges: None. The state constitution required new districts before the 2026 election,

because Republicans had approved the prior map without su cient Democratic support after the last census.

Utah

Current map: no Democrats, 4 Republicans

New map: A judge in November imposed revised House districts that could help Democrats win a seat. The court ruled that lawmakers had circumvented anti-gerrymandering standards passed by voters when adopting the prior map.

Challenges: A federal court panel and the state Supreme Court, in February, each rejected Republican challenges to the judicial map selection.

Virginia

Current map: 6 Democrats, 5 Republicans New map: Voters approved a constitutional amendment authorizing new U.S. House districts backed by Democrats that could help the party win up to four additional seats.

Challenges: The state Supreme Court allowed the referendum to proceed, but it has yet to rule whether the e ort is legal. The court is considering an appeal of a Tazewell County judge’s ruling that the amendment is invalid because lawmakers violated their own rules while passing it.

Where redistricting e orts were denied

Governors, lawmakers or partisan o cials pushed for congressional redistricting in numerous states. In at least ve states, those e orts gained some initial traction but ultimately fell short in either the legislature or court.

Maryland

Current map: 7 Democrats, 1 Republican Proposed map: The Democratic-led House in February passed a redistricting plan backed by Democratic Gov. Wes Moore that could help Democrats win an additional seat.

Challenges: The legislative session ended in April without the Democratic-led Senate voting on the redistricting plan.

The state Senate president said there were concerns it could back re on Democrats.

New York

Current map: 19 Democrats, 7 Republicans

Proposed map: A judge in January ordered a state commission to draw new boundaries for the only congressional district in New York City represented by a Republican, ruling it unconstitutionally dilutes the votes of black and Hispanic residents.

Challenges: The U.S. Supreme Court in March granted Republicans’ request to halt the judge’s order, leaving the existing district lines in place for the 2026 election.

Indiana

Current map: 2 Democrats, 7 Republicans Proposed map: The Republican-led House passed a redistricting plan in December that would have improved Republicans’ chances of winning two additional seats.

Challenges: Despite pressure from Trump to adopt the new map, the Republican-led Senate rejected it in a bipartisan vote on Dec. 11.

Kansas

Current map: 1 Democrat, 3 Republicans Proposed map: Some Republican lawmakers mounted an attempt to take up congressional redistricting.

Challenges: Lawmakers dropped a petition drive for a special session on congressional redistricting in November, after failing to gain enough support.

Illinois

Current map: 14 Democrats, 3 Republicans Proposed map: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in October proposed a new U.S. House map that would improve Democrats’ chances of winning an additional seat.

Challenges: The Democratic-led General Assembly declined to take up redistricting, citing concerns about the e ect on representation for black residents.

DROUGHT from page A1

Republic Services for the disposal of county waste and has been contracted with them since 1993, when the county closed its own land ll. The rate for services will be $41.15 per ton for the rst 6,000 tons per year and $44.48 per ton for any tonnage exceeding the 6,000-ton limit, which is a reduction

in cost from the previous agreement.

Finally, the board approved the submission of a letter to Trillium Health seeking an update on vacant properties in the Seven Lakes area.

“We continue to get inquiries from citizens in the Seven Lakes area wanting to know what is happening, especially the larger building that has now had its sign removed

and the weeds are growing,” said Chairman Nick Picerno. “It looks to be deteriorating, it’s not being used, doesn’t look to be upkeep. A little worried about out of sight, out of mind, so I thought this would be good for our board to send a little notice and ask them to give a response and update.”

The Moore County Board of Commissioners will next meet May 5.

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Moore County:

April 23

NC Symphony — Classical Favorites Celebrating America 250 7:30 p.m.

The North Carolina Symphony, conducted by Sophie Mok, performs classical favorites, including works by Bernstein as part of the America 250 sestercentennial celebration series. Tickets available through Ticketmaster. Owens Auditorium, Bradshaw Performing Arts Center 3395 Airport Road Pinehurst

April 25

Southern Pines SpringFest

10 a.m.

Free annual street festival organized by the Southern Pines Business Association features more than 150 vendors o ering handmade arts and crafts, food, live entertainment, and a Kids’ Block with rides and games across two closed blocks of Broad Street.

Downtown Southern Pines Broad Street Southern Pines

April 26

Community Awareness Event on Child Exploitation and Tra cking 5 p.m.

Changing Destinies Ministry and The Invictus Project host a free public awareness presentation by Whitney Miller on how predators increasingly target children online, with strategies for protecting vulnerable youth. Free admission; registration required due to limited capacity.

Bible Tabernacle 7612 N.C. Highway 22 Carthage

Habitat for Humanity Sandhills Gala 2026 — Kentucky Derby Night 6 p.m.

Habitat for Humanity of the NC Sandhills marks its 30th anniversary with a Kentucky Derby-themed gala featuring a three-course dinner, open bar, live DJ, and silent and live auctions supporting a ordable housing construction across Moore County. VIP Paddock Pass holders may enter at 5 p.m. Pinehurst Country Club 1 Carolina Vista Drive Pinehurst

THE CONVERSATION

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

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

How Biden’s DOJ went after pro-lifers

That’s not law enforcement.

That’s a political operation.

WE NOW KNOW something the Biden administration spent years denying: It wasn’t merely enforcing the law around abortion clinics — it was allegedly partnering with abortion activists to identify, track and ultimately prosecute pro -life Americans.

Start with former President Barack Obama, who famously tried to force the Little Sisters of the Poor to violate their religious conscience.

According to reporting from The Daily Wire, Biden’s Department of Justice relied on intelligence gathered from radical pro-abortion groups to monitor peaceful pro -life activists — people who had not yet been charged with any federal crime — and then build cases that ended with FBI arrests.

The federal government was reportedly outsourcing its surveillance and investigative e orts to activist organizations that have a direct political and ideological stake in crushing the pro-life movement. That’s not law enforcement. That’s a political operation.

The Daily Wire cites a DOJ report titled “The Biden Administration’s Weaponization of the FACE Act,” which examined more than 700,000 records. The FACE Act was originally intended to prevent physical obstruction of abortion clinic entrances. It was also meant to protect churches from disruption.

The records included dossiers on pro-life activists who had not been charged with federal crimes but who were nevertheless treated as threats, largely because abortion groups agged them as such.

And if that sounds familiar, it’s because it’s exactly the pattern we’ve seen repeatedly from the modern left: government agencies using ideological “cutout” organizations to do what the government isn’t supposed to do openly.

According to the report, much of the escalation traces back to former Attorney General Merrick Garland’s decision to resurrect the National Task Force on Violence Against Reproductive Health Care Providers in the wake of the Supreme

COLUMN | LARRY ELDER

Court overturning Roe v. Wade in June 2022.

That task force reportedly operated out of the DOJ Civil Rights Division under the direction of Sanjay Patel, who was red this week. Patel, according to the DOJ report, was in direct communication with the National Abortion Federation’s security team and regularly coordinating with Planned Parenthood and the Feminist Majority Foundation.

So we’re not talking about vague ideological sympathies here.

We’re talking about open coordination between the federal government and the activist wing of the abortion industry.

Daily Wire reporting compared sentencing requests and outcomes for pro -life defendants versus pro -abortion defendants. The Biden DOJ, they found, sought longer average sentences for pro-life activists — and the nal outcomes re ected that imbalance: Pro -life defendants received an average sentence of 14 months, while pro-choice defendants averaged three months.

Fourteen months versus three.

That is not “equal justice under law.” That is animus made policy.

Democrats have been weaponizing the administrative state for decades. This is not some brand-new Trump-era phenomenon, no matter how often the cable news panels pretend otherwise.

The Obama administration used the IRS to harass conservative and pro-life organizations. Clinton-era politics normalized the idea that federal power could be turned on political enemies. Biden’s DOJ, if these reports are accurate, simply continued the tradition — with a more aggressive posture and a more open contempt for religious dissent.

Imagine the scandal if the Trump administration had coordinated with pro-life organizations to build cases against abortion advocates.

But because the targets were pro -lifers, the story is treated like a niche controversy — something for conservative media to discuss, while the mainstream press quietly looks the other way.

That brings us to one of the most

important questions of all: How were the people involved in this allowed to remain embedded inside the DOJ for so long?

Because it lends credibility to something the political class has mocked for years: the existence of a bureaucratic deep state — career o cials who outlast elections, ignore the will of voters and quietly advance an ideological agenda regardless of who sits in the Oval O ce.

This is what it looks like when a permanent governing class decides it is untouchable.

And it also illustrates why the ght to remove ideological holdovers inside federal agencies is not some paranoid fantasy. It’s a real, ongoing struggle — one that will de ne whether elections actually matter.

The bigger issue here isn’t just abortion politics — it’s the steady normalization of using government power to punish religious Americans.

The Democratic Party has shown, again and again, that it is willing to use the apparatus of the state to crush dissent from people of faith. Not because those people are violent. Not because they are criminals. But because their beliefs are inconvenient.

If Democrats ever gained full control of the judiciary, especially if they succeeded in stacking the Supreme Court — which you can be sure former Vice President Kamala Harris would have attempted to do if she had won in 2024 — this is exactly the direction they would push the country.

This is why the Biden administration may go down as the worst in modern American history — even worse than Obama’s.

Not because Obama didn’t do the same things.

But because Obama understood enough to keep it quiet.

Biden said the quiet part out loud.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co -founder of Daily Wire+. He is a three-time New York Times bestselling author. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

The implosion of Eric Swalwell: What was he thinking?

Despite a combined income with his wife of over $400,000, he is deeply in debt.

WHEN THEN-REP. Eric Swalwell (D - Calif.) announced his candidacy for governor of California, I was beyond surprised. Rumors of sexual misconduct, including allegations of blatant and serial in delity, had been circulating for years. Having run for this very o ce, I experienced rsthand the intense level of local, state and national scrutiny one receives when seeking the top job in the biggest state in the country.

The left-wing media treats liberal Democrat candidates di erent from how it treats conservative Republican candidates, but the media are not the problem if one’s candidacy starts to resonate. The heat comes from the same-party campaign rivals.

When I decided to run for governor of California, I sought the advice of several experienced strategists, politicians, pundits and some professors. They all said the same thing, only worded di erently: “Is there anything in your background that would be a problem?” These questions, they advised, include but are not limited to: Skeletons in your closet? What about your friends, associates and family members? Taxes? Sexual harassment or misconduct or assaults? Any present or past behavior that could be deemed scandalous? Dating history, marriage or divorce? Outstanding warrants? Tra c tickets? Unpaid tra c tickets? DUIs? Automobile accidents you caused or were involved in? Arrests? Misdemeanors? Felonies? Unpaid bills? Credit card debt? Lawsuits led by or lawsuits against you? Drug use and drug abuse? Alcoholism? Abuse of prescription drugs? Sketchy business dealings? Bankruptcy? Inappropriate internet

activity, including porn sites, other illicit sites or sending “compromising pictures”? Social media posts that could come back to haunt you? 911 calls from your home? Your work history? To what church do you belong? Who is your pastor? Ever been red? If so, why? Is your campaign biography accurate, with no exaggerations or embellishments? Do your neighbors like you?

And, for good measure, I was advised to hire a private detective to investigate myself. My experienced campaign manager took me on only after I addressed all those questions — and others — and obtained a report from a well-regarded private investigator. My campaign manager cautioned, “If you are accused of picking your feet in Poughkeepsie — especially if you did pick your feet in Poughkeepsie — it will come out.”

This brings us to Swalwell, who, according to a University of California, Berkeley poll conducted in March, was the leading Democrat in the primary. He was endorsed by Sen. Adam Schi (D - Calif.), who, like Swalwell, served as a prosecutor in an impeachment trial against President Donald Trump.

According to Reuters, “A fth woman came forward to accuse Swalwell of unwanted sexual contact, saying the Democratic lawmaker drugged and raped her during an encounter in 2018.” Swalwell rst denied the accusations. He then dropped out of the race for governor, followed by his resignation from Congress.

Former House Speaker and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D - Calif.) claimed she knew nothing about the rumors against Swalwell. But Willie Brown, once a

mentor to former Vice President Kamala Harris and a former mayor of San Francisco, and who for 15 years served as speaker of the California Assembly, said, “No, I’m not surprised frankly because there have been rumors after rumors after rumors, his colleagues in Washington pretty much said that. That’s what Adam Schi said, that’s what Nancy Pelosi said.”

But Swalwell’s problems are just beginning. The sheri of Los Angeles County has launched a criminal probe, as has the Manhattan District Attorney’s O ce. Civil lawsuits may follow.

Then there are Swalwell’s nancial issues. Despite a combined income with his wife of over $400,000, he is deeply in debt. He owes $100,000 in student loans, borrowed against his retirement account to help fund his campaign and deferred paying income taxes to conserve cash ow. This is not exactly a good look for someone vying to be the chief executive of a state with a budget de cit and massive unfunded pension liabilities.

On top of everything, these scandals could cost the father of three children his marriage. After all, Swalwell set the standard. During the con rmation hearing of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Swalwell considered Kavanaugh un t due to allegations of sexual misconduct. Swalwell tweeted, “Support survivors. Believe survivors. We are with you.”

All of this raises a question: When Swalwell decided to run for governor, “What was he thinking?”

Larry Elder is a bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio talk-show host. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

US Navy seizes an Iranian- agged ship near Strait of Hormuz; Tehran vows swift response

Ship seizure jeopardizes fragile talks as cease re nears expiration

By Michelle L. Price, Samy Magdy and Sam Metz The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. —

The United States attacked and seized an Iranian- agged cargo ship it said had tried to evade its naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, and Iran’s joint military command vowed to respond, throwing a fragile cease re into question days before it expires.

It was the rst interception since the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports began last week. Iran’s joint military command called the armed boarding an act of piracy and a cease re violation, the state broadcaster said.

With the U.S.-Iran stando over the strait sharpening and the cease re expiring by Wednesday, it was not clear where President Donald Trump’s earlier announcement on new talks with Iran now stood. He had said U.S. negotiators would head to Pakistan on Monday. The uncertainty sent oil prices rising again. One of the worst global energy crises in decades threatened to deepen.

Trump on social media said a U.S. Navy guided missile de-

stroyer in the Gulf of Oman warned the Iranian- agged ship, the Touska, to stop and then “stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom.” U.S. Marines had custody of the U.S.-sanctioned vessel and were “seeing what’s on board!”

It was not clear whether anyone was hurt. The U.S. Central Command, which didn’t answer questions, said the destroyer had issued “repeated warnings over a six-hour period.”

Iranian state media suggest new talks won’t take place

There was no comment from Iranian o cials directly addressing Trump’s announcement of talks. However, Iranian state media, without citing anyone beyond unnamed sources, issued brief reports suggesting that they would not happen.

Minutes after the ship seizure was announced, Iranian state media reported on President Masoud Pezeshkian’s phone conversation with Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, earlier Sunday. U.S. actions, including bullying and unreasonable behavior, have led to increased suspicion that the U.S. will repeat previous patterns and “betray diplomacy,” the reports cited Pezeshkian as saying.

Two previous attempts at talks — last June and earlier this year

UK police arrest 2 in connection with weekend arson attack on synagogue

Police suspect Iran is hiring local criminals to carry out the attacks

By Danica Kirka The Associated Press

LONDON — British police said Monday they arrested two teenagers in connection with an arson attack on a synagogue in northwest London over the weekend, as Jewish leaders express concern about a wave of incidents targeting their community.

Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes of London’s Metropolitan Police Service said o cers ar-

rested two young men, aged 19 and 17, overnight in relation to the attack on the Kenton United Synagogue in the borough of Harrow. The department has made a total of 15 arrests related to six attacks on Jewish targets and a Persian-language media organization critical of Iran’s government that occurred over the past few weeks, he said in an interview with the BBC.

One “serious line of inquiry” is that Iran is hiring local criminals to carry out these attacks amid tensions in the Middle East, including the U.S.-Israeli war against the Islamic Republic, Jukes said.

“We’ve seen a pattern with

“The choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of signi cant costs for everyone.”

Mohammad Reza Aref, First Vice President of Iran

— were interrupted by Israeli and U.S. attacks.

On another phone call, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, that recent U.S. actions, rhetoric and contradictions were signs of “bad intentions and lack of seriousness in diplomacy,” Iran’s state broadcaster said.

Pakistan did not con rm a second round of talks, but authorities had begun tightening security in Islamabad. A regional o cial involved in the e orts said mediators were nalizing preparations and U.S. advance security teams were on the ground. The o cial spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss preparations with the media.

The White House had said Vice President JD Vance, who led the rst round of historic face-to-face talks over 21 hours last weekend, would lead the U.S. delegation to Pakistan with

other actors of thugs for hire, people taking cash that looks like quick and easy money,” Jukes said. “This is part of the modern hybrid war fought by proxies.”

In the most recent incident, a bottle containing a ammable liquid was thrown through the window of the Harrow synagogue on Saturday night, causing smoke damage, police said.

Counterterrorism police are investigating the series of incidents, which began on March 23 when an arson attack destroyed four ambulances owned by a Jewish charity that serves people of all faiths in north London. No one has been injured in the incidents.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s o ce said he “shares the country’s shock at the recent antisemitic attacks.”

“He stands with the Jewish community and he is determined to do more to give them the security they deserve,” his spokesman, Dave Pares, said Monday.

Police last Friday closed Kensington Gardens, a central London park visited by thousands of tourists and local residents every day, after a group that Israel has linked to Iran posted a vid-

envoys Steve Witko and Jared Kushner.

Iran on Saturday said it had received new proposals from the United States. While Iran’s chief negotiator, parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, late Saturday said “there will be no retreat in the eld of diplomacy,” he acknowledged a wide gap remained between the sides.

It was unclear whether either side had shifted stances on issues that derailed the last round of negotiations, including Iran’s nuclear enrichment program, its regional proxies and the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump’s announcement on talks repeated his threats against Iranian infrastructure that have drawn widespread criticism and warnings of war crimes. If Iran doesn’t agree to the U.S.-proposed deal, “the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran,” he wrote.

Iran wants to control strait until “war fully ends”

Iran early Monday warned it could keep up the global economic pain as ships remained unable to transit the strait, with hundreds of vessels waiting at each end for clearance.

Security of the strait is not free and “the choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of signi cant costs for everyone,” Mohammad Reza Aref, rst vice president of Iran, said in a social media post calling for a lasting end to military and economic pressure on Tehran.

Roughly one- fth of the world’s oil trade normally passes through the strait, along with critical supplies of fertilizer for the world’s farmers, natural gas and

“We’ve seen a pattern with other actors of thugs for hire, people taking cash that looks like quick and easy money. This is part of the modern hybrid war fought by proxies.”

Matt Jukes, Metropolitan Police Service deputy commissioner

eo claiming Israel’s nearby London embassy was going to be attacked with drones carrying dangerous substances.

Police said the embassy was not attacked, but the force shut the park as o cers examined discarded items including two jars containing powder. Police said nothing harmful was found.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said on Sunday that “a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum.”

“Thank God, no lives have been lost, but we cannot, and

humanitarian supplies for places in dire need like Afghanistan and Sudan.

Iran had announced the strait’s reopening after a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon took hold last Friday. But then Trump said the U.S. blockade “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the United States. Iran said it would again enforce restrictions it imposed early in the war. On Saturday, Iran red at ships trying to transit.

For the Islamic Republic, the strait’s closure is perhaps its most powerful weapon, in icting political pain on Trump. For the United States, the blockade squeezes Iran’s already weakened economy. Each side has accused the other of violating the cease re.

Since most supplies to U.S. military bases in the Gulf region come through the strait, “Iran is determined to maintain oversight and control over tra c through the strait until the war fully ends,” Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said late Saturday. That means Iran-designated routes, payment of fees and issuance of transit certi cates.

The council has recently acted as Iran’s de facto top decision-making body.

The war is now in its eighth week after the U.S. and Israel launched it on Feb. 28 during talks over Tehran’s nuclear program. At least 3,000 people have been killed in Iran, more than 2,290 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 U.S. service members throughout the region have been killed.

must not, wait for that to change before we understand just how dangerous this moment is for all of our society,” he said on X. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said police are aware that a group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia had claimed responsibility for most of the attacks in Britain. The same group has claimed responsibility for incidents in recent months at places of worship, business and nancial institutions across Europe, all of which appear to be linked to Jewish or Israeli interests, she said.

Israel’s government has described Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, whose name means the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right, as a recently founded group with suspected links to “an Iranian proxy.”

The U.K. has accused Iran of using criminal proxies to conduct attacks on European soil targeting opposition media outlets and the Jewish community. Britain’s MI5 domestic intelligence service says that more than 20 “potentially lethal” Iran-backed plots were disrupted in the year to October.

MOORE SPORTS

SPRING SPORTS ROUNDUP

Prep lacrosse success extends across county

North State Journal sta UNION PINES

The Vikings boys’ lacrosse team won two games last week to continue their unbeaten run.

Union Pines is 13-0, 7-0 in conference, after beating East Chapel Hill 11-9 and Cape Fear 20-0.

Junior Drew Chapin led the way with four goals on ve shots against East, adding an assist. Freshman Hudson Rombalski added three goals on four shots. Chapin leads the conference in assists, while Rombalski is second in goals. Asher Rombalski, a junior, is right behind him in third. Ryan Kimbrough and Rhys Blevins are 1-2 in the conference in takeaways, and Luis Marquez leads in goals against average.

The Vikings have a pair of

Pinecrest’s Eden Whit eld (white jersey) scores a running goal against East Chapel Hill to help keep the Patriots unbeaten.

home games, against Pinecrest and Terry Sanford, this week, and a trip to Cape Fear. All three are conference matches.

The Union Pines girls split two games last week and are 4-3, 4-1 in conference. The Vikings lost to Fuquay-Varina 15-10 and then rebounded with a 22-0 shutout of Cape Fear. Junior Anna Gaab had ve goals against Fuquay-Varina and another ve, in ve shots on goal, against Cape Fear, adding two assists. Gaab is second in the conference in goals and points, third in assists.

The Vikings nish their regular season schedule this week by hosting Pinecrest and Terry Sanford before playing a road game at Cape Fear.

PINECREST

The Pinecrest girls’ team

is also unbeaten, at 14-0, 6-0 in conference, after sweeping three home games last week. The Patriots beat Willow Spring 20-6, Jack Britt 23-2 and East Chapel Hill 21-11.

The Patriots have road games at Union Pines and Cape Fear this week, sandwiched around a home match against Chapel Hill.

The Pinecrest boys won two of three to improve to 10-3, 7-1 in conference. The Patriots beat Jack Britt at home 12-6, fell 9-6 at Chapel Hill and beat Gray’s Creek 16-6 at home.

Junior Ian Scott had three goals against Britt and two more against Chapel Hill. He is the conference leader in goals and points, while junior Dominic Hausauer is third in assists. This week, the Patriots had a pair of road games, at Union Pines and Cape Fear.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Dylan Benedict

Union Pines, baseball

Dylan Benedict is a junior on the Union Pines baseball team. He also plays football for the Vikings, where he is two-time all-conference and a team captain.

Union Pines swept a home-and-home series with Triton last week. In the road win, he struck out 11 in 52⁄3 innings to earn a win. He also doubled to help himself at the plate. He added another double in the victory at home.

Crowd scientist helping Boston Marathon manage growing eld of 30,000-plus runners

Changes in start times and positioning of aid stations could help alleviate crowding

By Jimmy Golen

The Associated Press

BOSTON — Running the Boston Marathon is tough enough without having to jostle your way from Hopkinton to Copley Square.

So race organizers this year turned to an expert in crowd science to help them manage the eld of more than 32,000 as it travels the 26.2 miles through eight Massachusetts cities and towns — some of it on narrow streets laid out during Colonial times.

“There are certain things that we can’t change — that we don’t want to change — because they make the Boston Marathon,” said Marcel Altenburg, a senior lecturer of crowd science at Manchester Metropolitan University in Britain. “Like, I’m a scientist, but I can’t be too science-y about the race. It should stay what it is because that’s what I love. That’s what the runners love.”

Organizers of the world’s oldest and most prestigious annual marathon would prefer a more pleasant experience for their runners, even as the eld has ballooned from 15 in 1897 to as many as 38,000.

As the race grew, it tested the limits of the narrow New England roads and the host cities and towns, which are eager to reopen their streets for regular commutes and commerce as quickly as possible.

“It would be kind of great someday to be able to grow the race a little bit more,” race director Dave McGillivray said. “The problem with this race is that it’s about two things: time and space. We don’t have either. … So, we’re trying to be innovative.”

That’s where Altenburg comes in.

A former German army captain who runs ultra marathons himself, Altenburg has worked with all of the major races, other large sporting events, and airports and exhibitions that tend to attract large crowds on ways to keep things safe and owing smoothly. For the Boston Marathon,

“We

simulated the

Marcel

which draws hundreds of thousands of spectators in addition to the runners, his models allow him to run simulations that help him see how the race might play out under di erent conditions.

“We have simulated the Boston Marathon more than 100 times to run it once for real. That is the one that counts,” Altenburg said. “They gave me, pretty much, all creative freedom to simulate more waves, simulate more runners and — within the existing time window — they allowed me to change pretty much anything for the betterment of the running experience.

“And then we checked every aid station, every mile, the nish, every important point, (asking): Is the result better for the runner? Is that something that we should explore further?”

The most noticeable di erence on Monday will be that the

runners are starting in six waves — groups organized by qualifying time — instead of four. The waves, which were rst used in Boston in 2011, help spread things out so that runners don’t have to walk after the start, when Main Street in Hopkinton squeezes to just 39 feet wide. Other, less obvious changes involve the unloading of the buses at the start, the placement of the water and aid stations, and the nish line chutes, where runners get their medals, perhaps a mylar blanket or a banana, and any medical treatment they might need.

“For an event that’s as old as ours, 130 years, it allowed us to be a startup all over again,” said Lauren Proshan, the chief of race operations and production for the Boston Athletic Association.

“The change isn’t meant to be earth-shattering. It’s to be a smooth experience from start to nish,” she said. “It’s one of those things that you work really, really hard behind the scenes and hope that no one notices — a behind-the-curtain change that makes you feel as if you’re just oating and having a great day.”

Shorter porta potty lines would also be nice.

The BAA will look at the feedback over the next three years before deciding about expansion or other changes.

“Fingers crossed, hope for the best, but we’ll get feedback from the participants,” McGillivray said. “And they’ll let us know whether or not it worked or not.”

But keeping the course open longer isn’t an option. And the route isn’t going to change. So there’s only so much that crowd science can help with at one of the toughest tests in sports.

“I can talk. I’m a scientist. I just press a button and it’s going to be,” Altenburg said. “But the runners still have to do it.”

SIDELINE REPORT

NFL Panthers agree to terms with QB Grier

Charlotte Quarterback Will Grier is returning home to the team that drafted him. The Carolina Panthers announced Tuesday they’ve agreed to terms on a contract with Grier, their third-round draft pick (100th overall) in 2019 who played high school football in the Charlotte area. Grier gives the Panthers added depth at the position behind starter Bryce Young. He is expected to compete for the No. 2 spot with Kenny Pickett.

MARATHONS

Men caught competing in the women’s category of a prestigious South African marathon Johannesburg

Two male runners in South Africa were discovered fraudulently competing on behalf of female colleagues in a top marathon and disquali ed. They could face two-year bans from the event, along with the two women who swapped their bibs with the two men. The two men both nished within the top 10 in the women’s marathon at the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town. But marathon board member Stuart Mann said the deception was discovered, and the men were disquali ed from their seventhand 10th-place nishes.

WNBA

Bird, Rapinoe announce break-up, will phase out podcast Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe are splitting up. The sports power couple announced they are ending their 10-year relationship and phasing out their popular podcast. They dropped the news together on the podcast. Bird is considered one of the greatest women’s basketball players in history. Rapinoe rose to fame as a member of the Women’s World Cup team in 2011, 2015 and 2019. Bird said they will host six more special episodes.

MIXED

MARTIAL ARTS

Newly crowned UFC champ Ulberg says he lost title belt while celebrating win New York Carlos Ulberg fought through an injured right knee to capture the light heavyweight title in UFC 327. He says he lost it hours later, literally. The 35-year-old from New Zealand defeated Jiri Prochazka in the main event at UFC 327 by knockout in Miami to become the new champion of the light heavyweight division. He told Fox Sports Australia he misplaced his golden title belt while celebrating his victory.

NFL

Likelihood of NFL replacement refs enters new stage with background checks, physicals

The NFL’s process of hiring replacement referees has reached another stage, according to a memo sent to teams. Several replacement o cials have completed hiring steps including background checks and will soon progress to undergoing physical exams per a memo sent to teams. Training sessions with NFL o ciating supervisors would then begin as early as next month. The league has undertaken these steps because negotiations with the referees’ union have been unsuccessful.

United States enters World Cup with worries in goal, on defense

The host country hopes for its rst knockout win since 2002

By Ronald Blum The Associated Press

THE UNITED STATES heads into the World Cup hoping for its rst knockout-stage victory since 2002.

While the Americans enter with their weakest goalkeepers in four decades and only a few central defenders playing in a top league, they bene t from being seeded as a co-host in the expanded tournament, which could keep them from playing an elite opponent until the round of 16.

“It would be everything to win, and especially to do it in your home, in front of your friends, your families, the people that have supported you throughout your whole career that are closest to you,” mid-

elder Weston McKennie said.

The U.S. hopes to advance far in the tournament and show it is making progress in a sport that trails the NFL, MLB and NBA in popularity at home. The Americans are 1-7 in knockout World Cup matches, the only win over Mexico in 2002.

Since reaching the seminals of the rst World Cup in 1930, the furthest the U.S. has advanced was the 2002 quarter nals. While it has lost eight straight matches to European opponents since 2022, getting outscored 22-6, the Americans have a high level of con dence.

Coach Mauricio Pochettino, hired in September 2024 after the U.S. was eliminated in the Copa America group stage, told players they can win the title.

“Why not us?” he said during a March training camp. “We need to really believe that we can be there. We need to dream.”

The Americans open against Paraguay on June 12 before facing Australia and Turkey in Group D.

Long line of top goalkeepers has ended

Goalkeeper used to be an American strength, with Tony Meola, Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel, Tim Howard and Brad Guzan all highly regarded.

Matt Turner, the U.S. starter in 2022, has been displaced as No. 1 by Matt Freese. The Americans are likely to head to the World Cup without a Europe-based keeper for the rst time since 1990.

“We had this goalkeeping thing gured out for a long time, didn’t we? Going all the way back,” Howard said. ”It just seems like we’ve had a little bit of a rut.”

Pulisic scoring drought a concern

Christian Pulisic, the top American player, hasn’t scored an international goal in eight games since November 2024.

He also headed into mid-April scoreless in 14 games with AC Milan since Dec. 28.

“He’s going to score because

he has the quality,” Pochettino said.

At 27 in his prime, Pulisic is expected to carry the U.S. in the tournament as he did in 2022, when his goal in the group-stage nale against Iran advanced the Americans to the knockout stage.

“There’s pressure, I feel it. Yes, it’s there but it’s nothing that I can’t handle,” he said. Options thin in central defense

Chris Richards is a rare American central defender playing in a top league, at 26 having an outstanding season at Crystal Palace. He missed the 2022 tournament because of a hamstring injury.

Tim Ream, the U.S. captain for much of World Cup lead-up under Pochettino, is 38 and left Fulham for Major League Soccer’s Charlotte after the 2023-24 season.

Auston Trusty, 27, has been a starter for Scotland’s Celtic since late October and Mark McKenzie, also 27, is a regular for Toulouse.

Pochettino has at times since last fall used a three central defender back line.

Injury worries

Right back Sergiño Dest, a starter in 2022, hopes to heal in time from a hamstring injury sustained playing for PSV Eindhoven on March 7. Central defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, another 2022 veteran, will miss the tournament because of an Achilles injury and John Tolkin, No. 3 on the left back depth chart behind Antonee Robinson and Max Arfsten, is uncertain because of a knee injury.

Son of Super Bowl winner

Defender Alex Freeman is a son of Antonio Freeman, a former All-Pro wide receiver who won the 1997 Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers.

“Growing up I always got asked if football was the path, but when I was younger I always had a secret love for soccer,” Alex said.

LIV Golf leader says show will go on amid reports of Saudi funding uncertainty

The tour’s CEO sent out a memo to address concerns

By Doug Ferguson The Associated Press

LIV GOLF CEO Scott

O’Neil sought to quell speculation about the league’s nancial future with a memo to his sta that said the 2026 season will continue as planned without interruption and “at full throttle.”

The memo followed a long day of reports suggesting Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund was on the verge of cutting its nancial backing of the upstart league.

The newsletter Money in Sport reported in February that LIV Golf already had spent $5.3 billion and was projected to surpass $6 billion by the end of the year.

“I want to be crystal clear: Our season continues exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle,” O’Neil said. “While the media landscape is often lled with speculation, our reality is de ned by the work we do on the grass. We are heading into the heart of our 2026 schedule with the full energy of an organization that is bigger, louder, and more in uential than ever before.”

Left unclear was how long the funding would last for LIV Golf, which launched in June 2022 by paying roughly $1 billion in signing bonuses to some of the PGA Tour’s biggest names, such as Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm.

Prize money for individuals and the 13 teams was raised to $30 million this year.

Koepka since has left LIV and was allowed to rejoin the

PGA Tour this year with stipulations. Patrick Reed also left LIV and is playing a European tour schedule this year. He is virtually certain to be eligible to return to the PGA Tour in 2027 through the European tour points race.

Questions about LIV’s future funding were raised as the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia revealed a new ve-year investment strategy.

“The 2026-30 strategy marks a natural evolution as PIF moves from a period of rapid growth and acceleration to a new phase of sustained value creation, with a strengthened focus on maximizing impact, raising the e ciency of investments, and applying the highest standards of governance, transparency and institutional excellence,” the PIF said in a release.

The plan was developed before the U.S.-Israel war against Iran. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the PIF governor who loves golf

and was behind LIV Golf, told the London-based Financial Times, “Of course the war would add more pressure to reposition some priorities.”

LIV players at Chapultepec Golf Club for LIV Golf Mexico that starts Thursday did not have answers as speculation ran rampant throughout the day.

One player said Al-Rumayyan met with players the rst week of March in Hong Kong and said funding for LIV was set through 2032. The player also said O’Neil arrived in Mexico City and was to meet with the players.

LIV Golf promoted the Mexico event on social media with the message, “Slow news day? We are ON.”

LIV has played ve events this year, in Saudi Arabia, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Africa. It celebrated an inspirational victory at its biggest event in Australia when Anthony Kim won after

“I

want to be crystal clear: Our season continues exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle.”

Scott O’Neil, LIV Golf CEO

the American had been away for 12 years while battling drug and alcohol addiction.

DeChambeau won the last two events in playo s, and this week tries to become the rst LIV player to win three in a row. DeChambeau, a two-time U.S. Open champion, missed the cut in the Masters last week.

LIV’s focus has been on a global reach, with its rst U.S. tournament not scheduled until May 7-10 at Trump National in northern Virginia.

“The life of a startup movement is often de ned by these moments of pressure,” O’Neil said. “We signed up for this because we believe in disrupting the status quo. We have faced headwinds since the jump, and we’ve answered every time with resilience and grace. Now, we answer by doing what we do best: putting on the most compelling show in sports.”

He ended his note to the sta by saying, “We are pioneers, and while the road isn’t always smooth, the destination is worth every mile. Let’s go out and show the world why LIV Golf is the future of the game.”

LIV is in the second year of a Fox Sports television deal, with the network putting it on various platforms like FS1. The opening round of the Mexico event has three hours on the Fox Sports app. The previous two years, its U.S. broadcast partner was the CW.

Richard Frank Baldwin

Nov. 7, 1943 – April 11, 2026

Richard Frank Baldwin, Air Force Fighter Pilot, Loving Husband and Father, and Proud Grandfather. He will be dearly missed.

Services at Arlington National Cemetery will be held at a later date.

Zona Haith Mayhue

Nov. 25, 1935 – April 18, 2026

Mrs. Zona Haith Mayhue, 90, of Pineblu , North Carolina (Addor Community) entered into eternal rest on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Clapp’s Convalescent Nursing in Asheboro, North Carolina. No services are planned. Please keep the family and friends of Mrs. Zona Haith Mayhue in your thoughts and prayers.

James “Jim” Buhaley

March 2, 1947 –April 12, 2026

James “Jim” Buhaley, age 79, passed away on Sunday, April 12, 2026.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Jim was the son of the late John and June Carr Buhaley. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his two sisters.

Jim was blessed to retire to Pinehurst, North Carolina, where he fully embraced retirement and enjoyed playing golf as often as he wished. He especially loved playing at his favorite course, Southern Pines Golf Club, and deeply treasured the time spent on the course with family and friends. Those moments brought him great joy and lasting memories.

Beyond golf, Jim had a passion for travel. He enjoyed visiting national parks and taking cruises, relishing the opportunity to explore new locations and experience the beauty of the world around him.

Prior to retirement, Jim was proud of his career as a logistics sales representative in the freight industry, a profession in which he built lasting relationships through dedication, integrity, and professionalism.

Jim is survived by his loving wife of 13 years, Vicki Buhaley of Pinehurst; his step son, Greg Ansbro; and his cherished cat, Tigger, who brought him constant companionship and comfort.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to all who o ered love, support, and kindness during this time. Jim will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

In lieu of owers, donations may be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation at t2t.org/ donate.

George Francis Brace

Aug. 8, 1938 – April 16, 2026

George Francis Brace of Sanford, North Carolina, joyfully entered the presence of his Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, on April 16, 2026.

Born on August 8, 1938, and raised in Spring eld, Massachusetts, George was the son of the late John Brace and Lillian Crenshaw. He graduated from Trade High School in 1956 and immediately began a career in the Armed Forces, joining the US Army. He began as a cook and later was an Army recruiter. He retired with the rank of Sta Sergeant in 1976. George proudly served two tours in Vietnam - he was rarely seen without a ball cap that read, “Vietnam Veteran.”

While stationed in Germany, he was smitten by a Japanese beauty from Hawai’i named Michiko Miyashiro, and after a whirlwind courtship, he whisked her away to Switzerland, where they were married. Their union was blessed with two children, Barry and Tisha.

After retiring from the military, George joined his family in Hawai’i, on the island of Kauai’, calling it home for the next 30 years. During that time, George worked as a Food Service Manager at various locations,

including Kaua’i Community College, Kapa’a High School on Kaua’i, and Kahi Mohala on O’ahu. George was an avid golfer and also an accomplished tennis player, at one point being the number one ranked player in Hawai’i in his age group.

After his retirement in the private sector, George and Michiko moved to Las Vegas, NV, to be nearer to family. While George enjoyed playing golf and tennis, he also loved serving veterans and the homeless through his church, often preparing meals for them. George and Michiko moved to Florida in 2018, where Michiko passed. They enjoyed 57 years together. In 2022, George followed his daughter Tisha’s family to North Carolina.

George had an engaging personality, and keen sense of humor. He was both hospitable and generous to friends and strangers alike. He also loved to share his faith in Jesus with others, wanting them to join him in heaven someday.

He dearly loved and took great pride in his family. “Grandpa” George thought nothing of driving halfway across the country to celebrate a grandchild’s birth, graduation, or wedding, and made such treks even well into his eighties. He prayed daily for his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

George is survived by his son, Barry (Heidi) Brace of Montevideo, MN, and daughter Tisha (Ronald) For a of Sanford, North Carolina; four loving grandchildren, Lindsey (Aaron) French, Jesse (Raelin) Brace, Emily Brace, Christopher For a; three great-grandchildren, Harlan, Arabella and Niecy. May his memory and legacy be blessed.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

STATE & NATION

‘Out of many, one,’ says US national motto. What does that push for unity mean today?

America’s founding ideals clashed with centuries of exclusion and discrimination

By Deepti Hajela The Associated Press

NEW YORK — The aspira-

tions cut a wide swath through American history since 1776 — from the “All men are created equal” of the Declaration of Independence and the “We the people” of the Constitution, to the “indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” of the Pledge of Allegiance.

One can nd it in the country’s name — the United States of America — and in the sentiment of the motto written in Latin on its coins and one-dollar bills: E Pluribus Unum, or “out of many, one.”

The e ort has been optimistic and unrealistic, successful and a failure, enduring as an American ideal during moments when citizens struggled — and struggle today — to practice it.

How has the notion of unity in American society evolved in 250 years and more? What does it mean — and what doesn’t it mean, particularly in fraught and troubled moments? “It’s a question,” says one scholar, “that every society has to answer.”

I. The beginnings of these ‘United’ States

From the milestone moment of the nation’s beginning, the founders emphasized that unity would be a vital component of the new country, where government would be based not on a king and monarchy as in Europe but instead, as the Declaration says, “on the consent of the governed.”

“It is of in nite moment that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment to it … indignantly frowning upon the rst dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest,” George Washington said as he stepped down from two terms as the rst American president.

At the start of the experiment, the fabric of a nation rst stitched together from 13 original colonies, de ning what unity meant was far from settled.

Even as the founders spoke of high-minded ideals, they put limits on who they allowed to take part, who had rights and freedom and who didn’t. All these years later, determining the meaning of unity can still be a challenge. Do we interpret that Latin motto to mean a blending of di erent perspectives to create a country that is greater than the sum of its parts, or does it mean there can only be one, that unity requires sameness?

Either way, here’s the thing

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, speaks to thousands during his “I Have a Dream” speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on Aug. 28, 1963, in Washington, D.C.

about aspirations, as anyone who’s ever quit on a New Year’s resolution can tell you: They don’t turn into reality without e ort and commitment, or come out of just a sole moment, no matter how singular. Our individual lives are built not just from the milestones but from the everydays in between. How could the life of a nation be any di erent?

II. Aspiration vs. reality

Even as unity has stood among the ideals, the on-the-ground experience of life in America for the last 2½ centuries has re ected the reality that in this created nation, there’s never been just ONE America, where everyone lived in the same way or had the same access to power and prosperity.

It wasn’t there at the country’s inception. And in the moment the U.S. is living now, it certainly isn’t either.

“I think the United States has had a more volatile history in terms of how it deals with questions of inclusion and exclusion, how it draws the line and polices the line of who’s in and who’s out,” says Daniel Immerwahr, a professor of history at Northwestern University.

“It’s a question that every society has to answer … who’s on the inside, who’s on the outside,” he says. “I would say that what’s interesting about the United States in this regard is how changeable and nonobvious some of the answers to those questions are.”

Sometimes the di erences have been straightforward — like geography (rural vs. urban, plains vs. mountains) and climate (heat vs. snow, wild res vs. ooding). Sometimes they were, and remain, cultural — people from di erent countries of origin, newcomers vs. generations deep, speaking di erent languages, following di erent

“It’s

a question that every society has to answer … who’s on the inside, who’s on the outside.”

Daniel Immerwahr, Northwestern University professor of history

denominations of Christianity or other religions entirely. And of course, the di erences have been economic; rich and poor have always lived di erently.

But sometimes, the di erences have been travesties — like enslaved Africans and their American-born descendants, forced to live under the lash as they worked in the elds and elsewhere for the bene t of white owners. Even after slavery was outlawed, they were subject to discrimination and worse under racism that was legalized in systemic ways into the 20th century and that echoes still.

The Indigenous tribes whose populations were decimated by death and disease as the American experiment moved westward and newly arrived settlers hankered after their tribal lands, and whose cultures were stripped from generations as the U.S. government tried to force “unity” through brutal efforts at assimilation.

Communities of people barred from possibility because of gender, sexual orientation or other characteristics.

There have also been persistent e orts across eras to create a country where the opportunities available to some — say, voting, economic growth, or access to education — would be made available to all. That came gradually through protest movements, legal action, and callbacks to those same American founding ideals and aspirations of unity and equality.

“It provided a language for the groups that were challenging these exclusions to draw on … invoking the ideals of the Revolution and the Declaration and saying, ‘Look, this is what the nation is supposed to be about,’” says Eileen Cheng, a professor of history at Sarah Lawrence College. “They could challenge the system and yet claim that they were being the true Americans.”

III. What could ‘unity’ even look like?

One of the things about ideals, though, is that they can be somewhat abstract.

What does it mean for a country to be ‘united’? Does unity mean uniform? Is it, to borrow a reference from one of satirist Terry Pratchett’s books, that people are on the same side, or can they be on “di erent sides that happen to be side by side.” Is unity overall even a good thing in the context of a raucous democracy?

A look around the globe and through the history books shows there’s no single answer. There have been countries with a single o cial language, others that have recognized multiple languages, and some, like the United States, that for generations have never o cially designated any. At times, countries have chosen o cial religions. Nations have di erent standards and processes for naturalizing new citizens.

“There are always tensions between the unity and the separateness,” said Paul Wachtel, a psychology professor at the City College of New York. “There’s no society that is just one or just the other … what’s really most essential is that we learn how to negotiate those tensions.”

The United States experienced that rsthand in its infancy. The Constitution we live under is the second attempt at a

framework for government. The rst, the Articles of Confederation, kept the federal government weaker and the individual states stronger. It quickly became clear that having such a weak central government — i.e., less unity — wasn’t e ective for the new country, leading to the Constitution.

For some countries, like many in Europe, those negotiations have taken place under the weight of centuries of history and geography, and other established backdrops like the existing form of government, which impacted the direction they decided to go. The U.S., from the founders’ perspective, was a new entity.

“What it is to be of the United States is to adhere to a set of principles rather than to have a certain kind of lineage,” Immerwahr says. “Sometimes that makes the United States remarkably open, and then sometimes that gets the leaders of the United States in all kinds of weird contradictions as they try to explain why they’re doing some forms of inclusion and not others.”

The United States has a decidedly mixed history when it comes to dealing with those tensions. Things have uctuated. Take migration, for example. There have been eras when the in ux of people coming to these shores was seemingly a never-ending stream, but also times when much of the world was barred. In politics, the idea that there would be di erent factions represented by di erent parties was loathed by some, even as it became embedded in the political culture. Groups that were once looked down on are later brought into the fold, and vice versa.

“What have we learned over the last 250 years is that things change,” says Cindy Kam, professor of political science at Vanderbilt University. “We are inclined to be social animals, but what those groups are is culturally constructed. So political elites, social elites, cultural elites, they do that work in identifying what the groups are, who is part of ‘us’ and who is a part of the ‘other.’”

By no means is it settled; if anything, the demographic, technological, economic and other changes of the last several decades are making discussions about unity more relevant than ever. In recent years, Americans have lived in a country where polarization is rampant, and serious — sometimes dire — questions abound over what the future holds. That’s probably more in line with the country’s beginnings than people realize.

“This polarization, people talk about it like it’s a new thing. But I think it’s really a return back to the way that we were at the beginning of the country,” Cheng says. “It’s not like this kind of linear development where we’re growing more and more accepting of di erence. I think it’s up and down.”