VOLUME 9 ISSUE 51 | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2025
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DOUG BENC / AP PHOTO
From Weddington to world champ
Eagles rookie running back Will Shipley celebrates during Sunday’s Super Bowl, which Philadelphia won by defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in New Orleans. Shipley, who attended Weddington High School before playing collegiately at Clemson, was a fourth-round pick of the Eagles in last year’s NFL Draft. See more on the Super Bowl on B4.
North Carolina Supreme Court race drags on
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BRIEF this week
Hegseth renames base Fort Bragg Washington, D.C. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed an order Monday restoring the name of a storied special operations forces base back to Fort Bragg. The North Carolina base was renamed Fort Liberty in 2023 as part of a national effort under the Biden administration to remove names that honored Confederate leaders. The base’s original namesake, Gen. Braxton Bragg, was a Confederate general from Warrenton who was known for owning slaves and losing key Civil War battles, contributing to the Confederacy’s downfall. But the Pentagon spokesman said Hegseth was renaming the base to honor Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, who he said was a World War II hero who earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his exceptional courage during the Battle of the Bulge. The choice of the World War II private first class got around a law prohibiting the military from naming a base after a Confederate leader.
Blowing Rock-born author Robbins dead at 92 New York Tom Robbins, the literary prankster-philosopher who charmed, enlightened and addled millions of readers with such adventures as “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues” and “Jitterbug Perfume,” has died. He was 92. The New York Times and NPR reported Robbins’ death Sunday. The Blowing Rock native published eight novels and a memoir and looked fondly upon his world of deadpan absurdity and zig-zag plots.
A Superior Court judge upheld a ruling that rejected challenger Jefferson Griffin’s challenge By Gary D. Robertson The Associated Press
Trump order calls for ‘grand celebration’ of America 250 The America 250 North Carolina grant deadline was extended to Feb. 28 By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — President Donald Trump issued an executive order last month outlining actions in prepara-
See CELEBRATE, page A3
Stein asks lawmakers for $1.07B in Helene funds “I appreciate what the General Assembly has done so far, but it’s time for us to step up and get them the money they need right now to rebuild.” Gov. Josh Stein
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tion for the 250th celebration of America’s independence on July 4, 2026. “It is the policy of the United States, and a purpose of this order, to provide a grand celebration worthy of the momentous occasion of the 250th anniversary of American Independence on July 4, 2026. It
RALEIGH — A state Superior Court judge on Friday upheld decisions by election officials to reject protests by challenger Jefferson Griffin in his very close race state Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs. In three one-page orders, Superior Court Judge William Pittman affirmed the December rulings of the State Board of Elections. Riggs, a Democrat, maintains a 734vote lead over Republican rival Griffin, who wants tens of thousands of contested ballots removed from the race tallies after more than 5.5 million ballots were cast and two recounts were held. Pittman entered the orders only a few hours after lis-
Also announced were $30M in additional public-private partnership grants for businesses By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein has asked lawmakers for more than $1.07 billion to cover immediate needs for western North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Helene. “The people of western North Carolina have suffered tremendously since Helene swept through,” Stein said in a press release. “I appreciate what the General Assembly has done so far, but it’s time for us to step up and get them the money they need right now to rebuild. We can’t forget western North Carolina
— and I will do everything in my power to ensure that the state shows up for them.” Stein’s proposal is for specific urgent needs through July 1. The funds would come from the Stabilization and Inflation Reserve ($846.7 million) and the Helene Disaster Recovery Fund ($225 million). Stein said in his proposal he will make additional Helene-related requests for the next fiscal year. He made his funding proposal announcement during a Feb. 3 press conference at MANNA Food Bank, a See FUNDS, page A8
tening to arguments by lawyers for Riggs, Griffin and the State Board of Elections. The hearing marked another step in a legal jumble regarding the race’s outcome, which is one of only a few unresolved nationwide from the Nov. 5 elections. Griffin, a state Court of Appeals judge, filed after the election written protests that now challenge about 66,000 ballots cast in the race. The state board dismissed those protests in December. Griffin’s attorneys argue the board didn’t follow state laws or the state constitution when three categories of voters were included in the race tallies. They want the board’s decision reversed and the ballots excluded — a move that they have said Griffin anticipates See RACE, page A2