VOLUME 146 ISSUE 22 | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2026 | STANLYNEWSJOURNAL.COM
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Stanly NewS Journal THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
WHAT’S HAPPENING Cuba’s latest blackout underscores deepening economic crisis; Rubio calls for new leadership U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is calling for “new people in charge” of Cuba as the Caribbean nation experienced its third islandwide blackout in four months. U.S. President Donald, who has called Cuba a “very weakened nation,” said on Monday he believes he’ll have the “honor of taking Cuba.” On Tuesday, Rubio — who is of Cuban heritage — said the current government is incapable of addressing the problems. The island’s government blames its woes on a U.S. energy blockade after Trump in January warned of tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to Cuba. The country’s aging grid has drastically eroded in recent years, leading to daily outages.
Trump postpones China trip to focus on Iran President Donald Trump is delaying a diplomatic trip to China that was planned for months but began to unravel as he pressured Beijing and other world powers to form a military coalition to protect the vital Strait of Hormuz. Trump said Tuesday while meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in the Oval Office that he would be going to China in five or six weeks’ time instead of at the end of the month. Trump’s visit to China is seen as an opportunity to build on a fragile trade truce between the two superpowers, but it became tangled in his effort to find an endgame to his war in Iran.
Israel says it killed 2 top Iranian officials in wartime blow to country’s leadership Israel says it has killed two senior Iranian security officials in overnight strikes in a major wartime blow to the country’s leadership. Iran, which did not confirm the killings, fired salvos of missiles and drones at its Gulf Arab neighbors and Israel. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the deaths of Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, and Gen. Gholam Reza Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guard’s all-volunteer Basij force. With Iran maintaining a tight grip on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump said he’s been rejected by NATO and most allies to join a mission to secure the waterway vital to the global oil market.
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Over the rainbow A rainbow peeks through the clouds as a cold front pushed through the area on Monday evening, bringing wind gusts exceeding 50 mph.
Locust police name West Stanly Fire Department 2025 Citizens of the Year The annual award was started by the police department in 2021 By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
COURTESY WEST STANLY FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Locust Police Department has awarded the West Stanly Fire Department as its 2025 Citizens of the Year.
LOCUST — The Locust Police Department traditionally presents its annual Citizen of the Year award to a single individual. However, during the March 12 meeting of the Locust City Council, Locust Police Chief Jeff Shew recognized the entire West Stanly Fire Department as the department’s 2025 Citizens of the Year.
“The Locust Police Department thanks the West Stanly Fire Department for their tremendous service and their partnership as the West Stanly public safety family. Congratulations on a very well-earned honor!” the police department said in a statement. Since 2021, the Citizen of the Year award has been presented to recognize a Locust resident or someone associated with the city who has performed exemplary deeds or services for the community while demonstrating a strong sense of selflessness, caring and responsibility. Locust Elementary School
LOCATIONS
• Albemarle-East/ Anderson Rd. • North Oakboro/ Red Cross Rd. • South Oakboro/ Rocky River Rd. • Mt. Pleasant • Biscoe • Locust
See AWARD, page A5
Celebration of the Arts inside returns to Stanly County Agri-Civic Center
Restaurants are trending toward smaller portion sizes as customers watch their wallets and waistlines. Turn to page A5 to read more.
“Since 2017, this free event showcases the best of the arts in Stanly County.” Kelly Dombrowski, Stanly County Arts Council chair
The free event is scheduled for Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — The Stanly County Arts Council will host a free event this weekend at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center where the public can explore and experience the local arts community. The annual Celebration of the Arts will take place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature live perfor-
mances, information tables, art displays and demonstrations, author sessions and an exhibition of student art from schools throughout the county. Multiple food trucks will also be available in the venue’s parking lot. “Since 2017, this free event showcases the best of the arts in Stanly County,” Kelly Dombrowski, chair of the Stanly County Arts Council, wrote in a statement. “Attendees can view over 200 pieces of student art with each school in the county sharing the best See ARTS, page A4
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student Autumn Huneycutt received the inaugural award in 2021 after selling many of her own toys at a yard sale to help raise money for a police charity event. The honor has been awarded to a single recipient each year since then. Walmart loss-prevention associate Travis McKinney and LPD Chaplain Mario Miller were selected in 2022 and 2023, respectively, while the 2024 award went to former Walmart general manager Mitchell Cagle. In announcing the 2025 honorees, the police department
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