In a controversial move, Randolph County, North Carolina, commissioners voted to dissolve the entire library board. This decision followed the board’s refusal to ban the children’s book *Call Me Max*, which explores a young transgender boy’s journey. The vote was spurred by community members concerned about the book’s presence in the children’s section, despite the board’s adherence to existing policies. Commissioners expressed personal concerns, leading to a 3-2 vote to abolish the board, leaving the future of the library board uncertain.
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On Thursday, a plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina resulted in multiple fatalities. Flight records indicate a Cessna 550 took off from the airport shortly before crashing around 10:15 a.m. The FAA confirmed six people were on board the plane, although the exact number of fatalities and the presence of survivors are still unknown. Friends and family have identified retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family as being on the plane, which is owned by a private North Carolina company affiliated with Biffle. The airport is closed while the FAA and NTSB investigate the cause of the crash.
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Toyota opens US battery plant, confirms $10 billion investment plan, and the ripples of this announcement are already being felt, even if the plant itself is still relatively new. I can see the impact already, with the influx of construction, and the inevitable housing developments cropping up, changing the landscape. This massive investment promises to transform the local economy and create a significant number of jobs, estimated to reach around 5,000, which is fantastic news for the area.
This is a pretty big deal, and it’s exciting to think about the kind of economic boom this can trigger. It’s a reminder of what the Toyota plant in West Virginia did for that region.… Continue reading
North Carolina Republicans have successfully implemented a new congressional map, solidifying their electoral advantage by eliminating the state’s only competitive district. This controversial map, approved by a party-line vote in the state legislature, is expected to result in the GOP gaining an additional seat in the upcoming midterm elections. Despite protests from Democrats and public outcry, the plan will go into effect, potentially shifting the state’s congressional representation significantly. This move aligns with a broader push by Republicans, at the urging of Donald Trump, to redraw district lines across several states to maintain power.
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NC Rep. Cecil Brockman arrested, faces charges of multiple sex crimes with minor. It’s hard to avoid the stark reality of this situation: a sitting state representative, Cecil Brockman, is facing serious accusations. The charges involve multiple counts of sex crimes with a minor, a reality that is both disturbing and demands a thorough legal process. The allegations, if proven true, paint a picture of betrayal and exploitation, and as the general sentiment seems to be, there’s no place for such actions.
NC Rep. Cecil Brockman arrested, faces charges of multiple sex crimes with minor. The immediate response from many, and it’s echoed throughout these comments, is one of condemnation.… Continue reading
3 dead, 8 injured after shooter in boat opens fire on NC waterfront bar: Official. Right now, it’s hard not to feel a profound sense of sadness. This is another incident of gun violence in a place that, for many, might have seemed like a haven of peace – a waterfront bar in North Carolina. The news reports detail a horrific scene: a shooter in a boat opened fire, leaving three people dead and eight others injured. It’s a tragedy, no matter how you look at it, and the fact that it happened in a relatively small town like Southport, with its tight-knit community, makes it even more devastating.… Continue reading
Enid Rodriguez, a North Carolina resident, highlights the critical impact Medicaid expansion has had on her health and access to care. The article then explains that proposed cuts to Medicaid in the “One Big Beautiful Bill” threaten coverage for millions, including North Carolinians like Rodriguez. Republican efforts to downsize Medicaid, despite its popularity, could lead to significant coverage losses and negatively impact healthcare providers, particularly in rural areas. While some Republicans have expressed concerns, the potential cuts could still be substantial and could have a wide-reaching impact.
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Following a tip, High Point, North Carolina police located a 15-year-old girl missing from Reading, Pennsylvania since June 2024, at the North Carolina home of 32-year-old Joseph A. Rossomando. A subsequent search warrant uncovered child sexual abuse material, leading to Rossomando’s arrest. He faces multiple felony charges, including kidnapping, human trafficking, statutory rape, and sexual exploitation of a minor. The discovery shocked neighbors, highlighting concerns about community safety.
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Republican Judge Jefferson Griffin conceded his challenge to North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs’s election victory, declining to appeal a federal court ruling. Griffin’s six-month-long legal battle, involving multiple unsuccessful appeals, aimed to disqualify legally cast ballots. This case, criticized by various groups for potentially setting a harmful precedent, ultimately tested the limits of post-election litigation and raised concerns about future election challenges. A federal judge, ultimately rejecting Griffin’s attempt at retroactive ballot invalidation, cited due process violations.
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Federal Judge Richard Myers decisively rejected a Republican candidate’s attempt to overturn a North Carolina Supreme Court election, deeming the effort a violation of voters’ constitutional rights. The attempt involved retroactively disqualifying thousands of legally cast ballots, primarily targeting voters in Democratic-leaning counties. This action was deemed a brazen attempt at election subversion, and the ruling is highly unlikely to be reversed on appeal. The case highlights the vulnerability of elections to partisan judicial manipulation and sets a dangerous precedent for future election disputes.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood