VOLUME 146 ISSUE 48 | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2026 | STANLYNEWSJOURNAL.COM
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Stanly NewS Journal THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
WHAT’S HAPPENING 8 dead in B-52 bomber crash at U.S. Air Force base in California Los Angeles The U.S. Air Force says eight people aboard a B-52 bomber that crashed shortly after takeoff at a military base in Southern California’s Mojave Desert are dead. Officials said Monday that emergency crews responded after the aircraft went down around 11:20 a.m. at Edwards Air Force Base north of Los Angeles. The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range bomber that entered service in 1955. Designed to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons, it has been used in countless conflicts from Vietnam to Iran.
Newsom says Trump’s DOJ investigating him, his wife Sacramento, Calif. Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom says the Justice Department is investigating him and his wife, accusing the Trump administration of targeting him for political purposes as he weighs a presidential bid. The full scope of any investigations related to Newsom was not immediately clear. Newsom said in a video posted Monday on X that federal agents in recent days have knocked on the doors of his friends and former employees, and have asked for records. A person familiar with the matter confirmed there are multiple federal investigations into people around Newsom, including one related to his wife’s taxes.
FBI disrupts planned attack on White House UFC cage-fighting show Court papers say law enforcement officials disrupted a planned attack targeting the UFC cage-fighting show staged at the White House this past weekend. Papers unsealed Tuesday say plotters spoke of flying explosives-laden drones and shooting panicked crowd members as they fled. The documents reveal the FBI obtained encrypted text messages showing roughly 20 people sharing detailed maps of the area and discussing the need for a “safe house” and escape routes after the attack. It’s unclear from court records how close the would-be attackers came to being able to carry out their plan, which was thwarted last week. The FBI says among those arrested was a 19-year-old Ohio man.
JOHN LOCHER / AP PHOTO
Hurricane Stanley The Carolina Hurricanes clinched their first Stanley Cup in 20 years with a 3-0 Game 6 shutout in Las Vegas on Sunday, capping-off a dominant 16-3 playoff run. For much more, turn to NSJ Sports.
Albemarle advances Second Street sidewalk improvements The $2M project requires a $402K city match By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — The Albemarle City Council voted Monday night to move forward with a $2 million pedestrian improvement project along North Second Street despite questions about how the city will cover its share of the cost.
“I would recommend an enterprise fund type approach.” Darren Rhodes, city manager munity development director, presented an update on the North Second Street sidewalk project, which is included in the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s State
Make Music Day Stanly County lineup, workshops announced “We have a full day of activities … [and] a full range of genres of music.” Renee VanHorn, Stanly County Arts Council executive director
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In a 6-1 vote, the council opted to continue advancing the project, directing City Manager Darren Rhodes to develop a financing plan that would allow preliminary engineering work to begin. Councilmember Chris Bramlett cast the lone dissenting vote, saying he did not believe the project’s usefulness justified its cost to the city. Alysia Steadman, Albemarle’s planning and com-
Stanly County will join cities worldwide for annual celebration By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — Make Music Day Stanly County will return Sunday with a full slate of free performances, workshops and hands-on music activities across Albemarle, Locust and Norwood. The third annual local celebration is scheduled for 1-9 p.m., joining communities around the world in marking Make Music Day, an annu-
al event held on the summer solstice. Established in France in 1982, the celebration now takes place in more than 2,000 cities in 120 countries, including 154 U.S. cities this year. “We have a full day of activities, filled with music learning workshops and performances that include a full range of genres of music,” said Renee VanHorn, executive director of the Stanly County Arts Council and lead organizer for Make Music Day Stanly County. “There are still venues with open time See MUSIC, page A2
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Transportation Improvement Program. The project would add sidewalks, enhanced crosswalks, ADA-compliant curb ramps and other accessibility improvements along North Second Street from Park Ridge Road to Salisbury Avenue. “This project is part of the NCDOT statewide transportation investment program and is intended to improve See SIDEWALK, page A4
inside The UFC took over the South Lawn of the White House on Sunday in an epic spectacle of patriotism and hand-to-hand combat. See more on page A5.
MARK SCHIEFELBEIN / AP PHOTO