VOLUME 146 ISSUE 47 | WEEKEND EDITION, JUNE 13-14, 2026 | STANLYNEWSJOURNAL.COM
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Truck time The monthly Food Truck Friday was a hit at City Lake Park in Albemarle last Friday, complete with an America 250 drone show and performance from the band Heart Breaker. The next event is scheduled for July 10, featuring The Groove Machine.
WHAT’S HAPPENING Trump plans to nominate U.S. attorney to be intelligence director Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump says he plans to nominate Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and a former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman, as director of national intelligence. Trump announced the nomination on social media Thursday amid pressure from Congress to name a permanent replacement for Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned last month. Trump faced intense pushback over his decision to name Bill Pulte, head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting director. The situation has led to a standoff in Congress as Democrats said they would refuse to renew a foreign intelligence powers unless Trump pulled Pulte’s nomination and named a permanent nominee.
Man pleads guilty to assassinating top Minnesota Democrat, husband A man charged with assassinating the top Democrat in the Minnesota House and her husband has pleaded guilty so that federal prosecutors would not seek the death penalty. Vance Boelter fatally shot Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman. He is also charged in the nonfatal shootings of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman.
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SCC announced as top‑10 finalist for $1M Aspen Prize The college advances to the final stage for the national honor By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — Stanly Community College has reached the final stage of consideration for the nation’s signature recognition for community colleges. The Aspen Institute announced Wednesday that SCC is one of 10 finalists for the 2027 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, placing the college among a select group chosen from more than 1,000 institutions nationwide. The prize recognizes community colleges with strong and improving student outcomes
in areas such as teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment, workforce success and access to college programs. SCC President John Enamait said the recognition marks a significant milestone for the college. “It’s a historic moment, and it’s one that we should be proud of,” Enamait said. “It belongs to our students, faculty, staff and our board members. It belongs to our community, and it’s been a long time coming.” The Aspen Prize selection process began in October 2025, when Aspen applied a formula assessing student outcomes to select 200 colleges and invite them to apply for the prize. Of the 170 colleges that applied, a 15-member independent selec-
“It’s a historic moment, and it’s one that we should be proud of.” John Enamait, SCC president tion committee chose 25 semifinalists and then narrowed the field to 10 finalists. Stanly Community College was listed by Aspen with a 49% completion rate, one of the outcomes that contributed to its finalist selection. Enamait said the national recognition reflects the progress SCC has made in helping students complete programs and move into the workforce. “It validates the increasing graduation rates that we’re
SCS announces hire for director of alternative learning Vera Woolard was previously an assistant principal at Albemarle Middle School By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — Stanly County Schools has hired Vera Woolard as its new director of alternative learning, a role that will oversee two of the district’s unique educational options. The district announced June 4 that Woolard will lead the Stanly Academy Learning Center (SALC) and Stanly County Virtual Education (SCoVE) during the upcoming 2026-27 academic year. Most recently, Woolard was
an assistant principal at Albemarle Middle School, where she helped advance student achievement and improvement efforts. “She brings a wealth of educational leadership experience to her new role, with a career focused on curriculum and instruction, student support services and innovative learning opportunities,” SCS said in a statement. Woolard said she is looking forward to helping expand learning options for students across the district. “I am excited about the endless possibilities this role presents to create meaningful, student-centered opportunities See SCS, page A8
“I am excited about the endless possibilities ... to create ... opportunities that empower learners to reach their full potential.” Vera Woolard
seeing, the increasing number of students who are walking across that stage every May, and the students who are getting jobs that lead to higher wages than they did before.” Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, noted the finalists represent colleges that have made meaningful changes to improve student success. “Student outcomes like those we see at the 10 finalists cannot be achieved without major reforms to programs of study, student advising systems and other college practices that we know make a difference,” Wyner said. “We’re excited to dive in and learn more about how these colleges accomplished these outcomes so that we can elevate their work and enable 1,000 community colleges nationally to achieve similar success.” In fall 2026, teams of experts will conduct in-depth site visits to each finalist institution and review additional data. The Aspen Prize winner will be selected by an independent Aspen Prize jury and announced in April 2027.