VOLUME 145 ISSUE 73 | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2025 | STANLYNEWSJOURNAL.COM
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Stanly NewS Journal THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
MY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE PHOTOGRAPHY FOR STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
Gothic glow Central Methodist Church’s distinctive copper-green spire and Gothic Revival towers stand against a painted sky last week in Albemarle.
WHAT’S HAPPENING New York judge tosses terrorism charges against Mangione, lets murder count stand A judge has dismissed terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione in New York state’s case over the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, but he kept the state’s second-degree murder charges against him. Judge Gregory Carro ruled Tuesday that although there is no doubt that the killing was not an ordinary street crime, New York law doesn’t consider something terrorism simply because it was motivated by ideology. The ruling came as Mangione made his first court appearance in the state case since February. The 27-yearold Ivy League graduate has attracted a cult following as a stand-in for frustrations with the health insurance industry after Thompson was fatally shot in December.
Trump deploys National Guard to Memphis, says it’s “replica” D.C. crackdown Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump has announced the deployment of the National Guard to Memphis to combat crime, testing the limits of presidential power by using military force in cities. Trump made Monday’s announcement with Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, calling it a “replica” of efforts in Washington, D.C. Last month, Trump deployed National Guard troops to the nation’s capital, claiming it reduced crime. Lee supports the deployment, while Memphis Mayor Paul Young opposes it.
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Multiple people hurt in explosion at New London manufacturing plant Four Fiberon workers were treated for nonlife-threatening injuries
“The incident remains under investigation.” Stanly County Fire Marshal’s Office
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal NEW LONDON — Four people were injured Friday evening in an explosion at the Fiberon manufacturing facility in New London, according to local officials. Stanly County Emergency Services treated the victims at the scene for non-life-threatening injuries before two were taken to Atrium Health Stanly in Albemarle and two others were transported to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. Around 5:58 p.m. on Friday, Stanly County Communications received several 911 calls reporting an explosion at the composite decking plant on 181 Random Drive. The New London Volunteer
STANLY NEWS JOURNAL STAFF
Fire officials and ambulances responded to emergency calls at the Fiberon manufacturing facility in New London on Friday night. Fire Department led the initial response and was joined by the Bethany, Albemarle and Richfield-Misenheimer fire departments.
When crews arrived, they confirmed the explosion and worked to evacuate employees, locate all staff and eliminate any remaining fire hazards. As
Albemarle High School principal shares test scores to city council Many of the high school’s scores are on the rise By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — Albemarle High School Principal Beverly Pennington presented encouraging academic results to the Albemarle City Council on Monday night, highlighting improvements in state accountability measures and other performance indicators. “I think that you will be very pleased with the results
that came out by the state of North Carolina the week before last,” Pennington told council members. “This is the result of a lot of hard work, a lot of determination and a lot of buy-in from our students, staff and parents.” Pennington reported that the school earned a C grade on the state’s 2024-25 report card, up from a D, and met state growth expectations for the first time since accountability measures began in 2013. She revealed that the school’s overall growth score is See SCORES, page A5
“I think that you will be very pleased with the results that came out by the state of North Carolina the week before last.” Albemarle High School Principal Beverly Pennington
firefighters remained on scene into the night, additional assistance came from the Oakboro and Monroe fire departments. “The incident remains under investigation,” Stanly County Fire Marshal’s Office said in a statement. “Fire investigators from the Stanly County Fire Marshal’s Office, North Carolina Office of the State Fire Marshal, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, North Carolina Department of Insurance and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation are working to determine the cause. The North Carolina Office of the State Fire Marshal See EXPLOSION, page A2