VOLUME 146 ISSUE 53 | WEEKEND EDITION, JULY 4-5, 2026 | STANLYNEWSJOURNAL.COM
SUBSCRIBE TODAY: 704-982-2121
Stanly NewS Journal THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
JULIO CORTEZ / AP PHOTO
Team America The United States soccer team embraces after beating Bosnia 2-0 in a World Cup match Wednesday in Santa Clara, Calif. The team will face Belgium in the round of 16 on Monday in Seattle.
WHAT’S HAPPENING US employers still reluctant to add jobs as hiring slows in June
Stanly foundation awards $54K to local nonprofits Grant funding will support 12 nonprofits
U.S. employers pulled back on hiring last month and added only 57,000 jobs, less than half the previous month’s total and a sign companies still have a cautious economic outlook. The Labor Department said Thursday that the unemployment rate declined to a low 4.2% from 4.3% in May, though the decline mostly occurred because many people out of work gave up looking and were no longer counted as unemployed. The figures suggest companies remain wary of the economy’s health, with inflation at a three-year high and consumer confidence near post-pandemic lows.
Trump Accounts launch, giving newborns $1,000 President Donald Trump launched Trump Accounts on July 4, aiming to boost financial independence for children born during his second term. Parents can open accounts for these children, receiving $1,000 from the government and potentially more from billionaires who’ve pledged to provide money. The funds are managed by private firms and are invested in the stock market. Children can access the money at age 18 for specific purposes like education or home buying. The program has faced criticism for not addressing kids’ immediate needs and potentially widening the wealth gap. Affluent families that can afford to put their own money in the accounts will realize the greatest benefits.
$2.00
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
COURTESY STANLY COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN MINISTRY
Volunteers working with Stanly Community Christian Ministry distribute food at a mobile food pantry event.
ALBEMARLE — A dozen nonprofits serving Stanly County are receiving a round of funding from the Stanly County Community Foundation’s annual grantmaking program. Announced on June 25, the $54,350 in awards will support local programs focused on education, arts, culture, housing, shelter, human services and youth development. “We congratulate these organizations for the meaningful impact they make across our community, and we are honored to play a role in supporting their important work,” See GRANTS, page A8
Stanly Arts Council reports turnout from Make Music Day Free performances and workshops drew over 900 attendees By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — The Stanly County Arts Council has released the participation numbers from last month’s Make Music Day Stanly County event. Held across Albemarle, Locust and Norwood, the June 21 celebration featured 20 free performances that drew over 900 people throughout
the day. Organizers also reported more than 150 participants of all ages at the event’s 10 free workshops. The third annual local event was part of Make Music Day, a worldwide celebration held each year on the summer solstice that began in 1982. “We are still on a musical high from all the ways Stanly County made music happen,” the Stanly County Arts Council said in a statement. “Thank you to the performers, workshop leaders, sponsors See MUSIC, page A5
the foundation said in a statement. “Stanly County Community Foundation remains committed to supporting nonprofits that are driving longterm change.” This year’s largest grants went to Stanly Community Christian Ministry, which received $10,000; Stanly Avengers, $8,000; Homes of Hope, $7,500; Esther House of Stanly, $5,000; and The Uwharrie Players, $5,000. Other recipients included ApSeed Early Childhood Education, which received $3,400; Legal Aid of North Carolina, $3,000; Stanly County Partnership for Children, $3,000; Aspire Youth & Family, $2,500; Cases For A Cause, $2,500; Least of These Carolinas, $2,400; and Stanly County Arts Council, $2,000. Cases For A Cause thanked the foundation for supporting its work in the county. “A huge thank you to the Stanly County Community Foundation for empowering our mission to bridge the gap
“This event takes more than a village to pull off — it takes a county.” Stanly County Arts Council