Author: Jheri Hardaway

Jheri Hardaway is a staff writer for The Carolinian whose reporting explores the intersection of activism, politics, and community life across North Carolina. Drawing on her own experience and history in political organizing and civic engagement, Hardaway focuses on political coverage that highlights grassroots movements, public policy, and the voices of communities often overlooked in traditional media. Through thoughtful storytelling and analysis, she brings attention to the people and issues shaping the region’s political and social landscape.

Federal Court Protects MS Majority-Black Voting District in Mississippi for Upcoming November Election

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[caption id="attachment_19511" align="alignnone" width="1024"] (Photo by Melissa Bender/NurPhoto via AP)[/caption] By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer DESOTO COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI - Black voters in DeSoto County, Mississippi, won a major legal victory after a federal judge rejected an attempt to eliminate a new, majority-Black judicial voting district ahead of the November election. The decision ensures that local Black residents will keep their fair chance to elect judges of their choice this fall.
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Severe Storms and 100 MPH Winds Knock Out Power Across Gary, Indiana

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Gary, Indiana - Perhaps you've seen folks in Gary, Indiana, on social media grilling outside and cleaning out spoiled food from their refrigerators. Widespread power outages across Gary and the greater Northwest Indiana stem from a devastating line of severe storms that brought hurricane-force wind gusts exceeding 100 mph, heavy rainfall, and intense lightning. The extreme weather caused catastrophic damage to the regional electric grid,
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The People’s Cookout: A Civic Gathering

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  By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer One thing we do well as a people is create a vibe. This past Saturday, The Triangle Collective successfully created a positive and prosperous vibe for leaders to connect, learn, and grow. In an era when grassroots organizing demands both conviction and connection, The People's Cookout stood out as a powerful demonstration of unity and civic strength. More than a gathering, the event served
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Bree Carroll’s All Things EPIC Delivers a Structural Blueprint for Purposeful Living

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Meet Bree Carroll, a Jersey native, proud North Carolina A&T State University Aggie, and structural engineer whose multidimensional identity spans the roles of wife, mother, entrepreneur, and intentional motivator. Navigating this current season through the intersection of deep-seated faith, structural creativity, and the unique rhythms of military life, her perspective is unapologetically defined by spiritual grounding, technical precision, and authentic cultural energy. In a self-help
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A Long Career of Caring: Congratulations, Dr. Mask

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer For years, I looked forward to the kind and welcoming medical advice on our local evening news. July 31st, 2026, marked the end of a more than three-decade career for the face of medical guidance and community health in Central North Carolina. Dr. Allen Mask has remained a single, steady, and reliable voice. As he enters a well-earned retirement, North Carolina marks the conclusion of
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What Could Happen in the Nolan Wells Case

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer The tragic circumstances surrounding the death of Nolan Wells have sparked intense public outcry and urgent demands for legal accountability. In commentary addressing the investigation, community advocates, including Dr. Umar Johnson, have emphasized that every individual involved, whether directly responsible for Nolan's death or active in subsequent attempts to obstruct investigation efforts, must face the full severity of state and federal law. If justice is
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A Legacy of Artistry: The Biennial Meeting of the International Black Theatre Festival

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Winston-Salem, NC - The landscape of American performing arts was forever changed when the "Marvtastic" Larry Leon Hamlin founded the North Carolina Black Repertory Company (NC Black Rep). As the first professional Black theatre company in the state, NC Black Rep established a vital platform for creative expression and cultural preservation. Central to its mission is a steadfast commitment to exposing diverse audiences to the
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Kratom and the Impacts 

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Sitting on display in local gas stations, smoke shops, and corner markets right next to energy drinks and candy bars, you'll find Kratom. National Institute on Drug Abuse has reported that people report using kratom to "alleviate pain, to address symptoms of mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, to help stop or reduce opioid or other substance use, and to manage withdrawal symptoms and
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The Unaffiliated Majority: North Carolina’s Independent Voters Rewrite the Political Playbook

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer For decades, North Carolina's political story was written in shades of deep red and classic blue. A traditional battleground defined by the push and pull between registered Democrats and Republicans. Today, the state's political map is being quietly reconfigured by a different group altogether: the unaffiliated voter. This voter is an unpredictable, often hard-to-read wild card. Representing nearly 40% of the state's total electorate, unaffiliated
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TBJ Corridors of Opportunity: How Harnett and Lee Counties Are Navigating Tech, Trade, and Transformation

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By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer SANFORD, NC - Business leaders, elected officials, and regional developers gathered last Thursday for the Triangle Business Journal's "Corridors of Opportunity" panel, focusing on the rapid transformation taking place in the Greater Triangle's southern frontier: Lee and Harnett Counties. Once defined primarily by manufacturing and agriculture, the region is rapidly transitioning into a high-tech and biomanufacturing hub. However, as escalating land prices and suburban spillover
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