The Carolinian Newspaper

NCICU Launches Statewide Transfer Pathways Platform in partnership with NCCCS to Streamline Degree Completion

The Carolinian — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 16:43:00 +0000

RALEIGH, NC – North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU), in partnership with the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS), today announced the official public launch of NCICU Transfer Pathways, a digital platform designed to streamline the transfer process for two-year college students pursuing four-year degrees at North Carolina’s private, non-profit colleges and universities.

"NCICU Transfer Pathways is a transformative leap forward in serving students across North Carolina," said NCICU President Dr. A. Hope Williams. "By aligning our Independent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (ICAA) with state-of-the-art technology, we are increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of transfer planning. Students can set their path to a four-year degree with full confidence that their hard-earned credits will count."

The multi-year initiative is supported by more than $2 million in philanthropic grant funding to build, launch, and sustain the platform across participating independent campuses. Major philanthropic supporters include The Cannon Foundation (funding year-one campus participation), The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations (AVDF), the Teagle Foundation, ECMC Foundation, the John M. Belk Endowment (JMBE), the Gates Foundation, and Ascendium Education Group. In addition, Lumina Foundation provided complementary funding to support the engagement of NCICU and NCCCS faculty and staff in the project.

"Every credit a student earns at one of our colleges should count toward where they're headed. When credits don't transfer, students pay for it with time and money they don't have," said Dr. Monty Sullivan, Acting President & CEO of the NC Community College System. "NCICU Transfer Pathways shows students the road before they start down it. That's two- and four-year schools working together for students."

Developed with technology partner, Acadeum, the NCICU Transfer Pathways platform directly addresses historic barriers in credit evaluation, transparency, and degree mapping. Following a soft launch on September 22, the platform is now fully accessible to students, academic advisors, and institutional administrators across North Carolina.

"We're honored to partner with NCICU and NCCCS to tackle one of the biggest barriers in higher education. Too often, transfer students do everything right and still find out, after they've enrolled, that their hard earned credits don't count,” said Acadeum CEO Richard Keaveny. “By bringing real-time equivalency mapping and degree tracking to the student level, NCICU Transfer Pathways ensures credit mobility from the start of a student’s journey. Learners at North Carolina's 58 community colleges can now see exactly how their courses apply at 28 independent four-year campuses before they ever apply. This work removes an unnecessary barrier and can keep students on track to finish from the start."

Key Features of the Platform

The NCICU Transfer Pathways platform offers interactive, student-centered features engineered to eliminate credit loss and improve completion rates:

Automated ICAA & Course-Equivalency Evaluation: Using a customized evaluation tool, the portal automatically maps completed coursework—including general education block transfers under the ICAA—against degree requirements at participating four-year institutions.

Multi-Institution Program Search & Comparison: Students can explore and compare academic programs, campus locations, distance-based search options, and degree requirements across participating independent institutions in real time.

Digital Credit Tracking: A centralized dashboard provides students and advisors with a visual representation of earned credits, degree progress, and remaining major requirements.

Direct Campus Connectivity: Students can save favorite programs, view institution profile details, and directly access application and financial aid portals.

A Statewide Network of Opportunity

The NCICU Transfer Pathways network spans all 58 NCCCS campuses across North Carolina and 29 NCICU campuses, including Louisburg College, NCICU’s two-year independent campus. Louisburg College and North Carolina’s 58 community colleges serve as the primary sending institutions, providing their students streamlined access to participating four-year NCICU campuses. Designed for maximum flexibility, the platform serves current traditional transfer students, early college graduates, and adult learners returning to finish their credentials with "some college, no degree.”

The following 28 four-year independent campuses have onboarded program catalogs, course inventories, and transfer equivalencies:

Barton College
Bennett College
Brevard College
Campbell University
Catawba College
Chowan University
Gardner-Webb University
Greensboro College
Guilford College
High Point University
Johnson C. Smith University
Lees-McRae College
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Livingstone College
Mars Hill University
Meredith College
Methodist University
Mid-Atlantic Christian University
Montreat College
NC Wesleyan University
Pfeiffer University
Queens University of Charlotte
Salem College
Shaw University
University of Mount Olive
Warren Wilson College
William Peace University
Wingate University

In addition to initial four-year degree mapping, NCICU and NCCCS are preparing to introduce Reverse Transfer workflows into the platform. This feature will allow students who transfer prior to completing their associate degree to apply four-year credits back toward earning their associate degree from their home two-year institution.

For more information or to access NCICU Transfer Pathways, visit https://ncicu.org/transfer-pathways/.

The Great Agitator: Golden Frinks’ Fight for Civil Rights

Jordan Meadows — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 12:58:00 +0000

By: Jordan Meadows

Staff Writer

Golden Asro Frinks spent decades challenging racial segregation, discriminatory public policies, and unequal treatment of African Americans throughout eastern North Carolina and beyond. Known for his forceful organizing style, commitment to nonviolent action, and willingness to face arrest, Frinks became a central figure in several civil rights campaigns that helped reshape public life in communities across the state during the 1960s and 1970s.

Frinks was born on August 15, 1920, in Wampee, South Carolina, to Mark and Kizzie Frinks. When he was about 9 years old, his family moved to Tabor City, North Carolina, where he spent much of his childhood. Accounts of Frinks' early life describe the influence of Fannie Lewis, the mayor's wife, who developed a close relationship with him and exposed him to aspects of the white community's social and civic life that were generally inaccessible to Black children under segregation.

Growing up in North Carolina during the Jim Crow era, Frinks witnessed a society in which racial discrimination affected education, public accommodations, employment, political participation, and access to public services. State and local practices restricted Black residents' access to institutions and opportunities available to white residents. Segregated schools frequently operated with unequal facilities and resources, while discriminatory practices and intimidation limited Black citizens' ability to exercise political power.

As a teenager, Frinks left Tabor City and headed toward Norfolk, Virginia, intending to enter military service. During his journey, he stopped in Edenton, the historic county seat of Chowan County, NC. He found work and remained in the community for several years.

During that period, he became involved in African American civic activities, including the Youth Improvement Society and the Junior Civic League, and developed connections within the local Black community. He also met Mildred Ruth Holley, whom he married in 1942.

Frinks served in the United States military during World War II, including service in the Army as a staff sergeant. His military experience exposed him to the inequalities that persisted between Black and white Americans. After the war, he faced the same racial restrictions that affected Black civilians in the South, including barriers to voting and equal treatment.

Following his military service, Frinks moved to Washington, D.C., where he studied photography at the Scurlock School of Photography using benefits associated with the GI Bill. He also encountered a more organized tradition of civil rights protest. During this period, he became familiar with the work of the NAACP and participated in efforts to challenge discriminatory business practices.

Frinks returned to Edenton in the 1950s and became increasingly active in local civil rights organizing. He worked with the Chowan County branch of the NAACP and served as its secretary. He attended meetings of the Edenton Town Council and the Chowan County commissioners, where he challenged discriminatory practices and called for equal access to public facilities. He also opposed local restrictions on picketing that resulted in arrests of African American demonstrators.

In March 1960, Frinks challenged local reluctance to support a campaign to desegregate a theater in Edenton. According to accounts of the movement, the local NAACP leadership was unwilling to endorse the proposed protest because of concerns about the financial consequences of confronting white business interests. Frinks resigned his position in the local organization and organized demonstrations with young people associated with the NAACP Youth Council.

The theater protest developed into what became known as the Edenton Movement, a series of demonstrations and boycotts aimed at ending segregation in public facilities and institutions. Frinks helped organize young demonstrators, many of them school-age children, who marched and picketed businesses and public spaces.

The movement also brought personal danger to Frinks and his family. Accounts of the period describe threatening telephone calls, racial intimidation, and a burning cross placed on the family's property. A dead rabbit accompanied by a threatening message was reportedly left on the doorstep as a warning against continuing the demonstrations.

The Frinks family home at 122 West Peterson Street in Edenton became known locally as Freedom House. The home hosted numerous civil rights figures, including William M. Kunstler, Diane Nash, James E. Orange, Wyatt Tee Walker, and Hosea L. Williams.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. also visited the Frinks home during his engagement with the North Carolina movement. On Dec. 20, 1962, King spoke at the North Carolina National Guard Armory in Edenton, toured local historic sites, and dined at the Frinks residence. He returned to Edenton on May 8, 1966, when Frinks again hosted him for dinner. The house's role in the movement was formally recognized in 2023, when Freedom House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Frinks’ frequent confrontations with law enforcement earned him the nickname "The Great Agitator".

Frinks continued to work in rural North Carolina after King's assassination.

In 1969, Frinks led two major marches to broaden public awareness of the Hyde County boycott. One march traveled from Swan Quarter toward Raleigh, while another, known as the Mountaintop to Valley March, traveled from Asheville toward the state capital. The effort culminated in a November 1969 referendum in which Hyde County voters approved funding needed to desegregate Mattamuskeet School.

The victory was followed by controversy. North Carolina Gov. Robert Scott called for an investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation into allegations that Frinks had misused money donated to support the boycott.

Frinks continued to advocate for communities facing discrimination beyond the immediate demands of school desegregation.

In April 1973, he assisted the Tuscarora Indians of Robeson County in a campaign for tribal recognition and federal assistance; He led a march to the North Carolina state capitol in Raleigh about the treatment of Native American communities in North Carolina; He participated in the Wilmington Movement of 1978.

Over the course of his career, Frinks received recognition from civil rights and community organizations for his activism. Honors included the Chowan County NAACP Achievement Award, the Edenton Movement Service Award, the Rosa Parks Award, the North Carolina Black Leadership Caucus Award, the Hyde County NAACP President's Award, and recognition from the SCLC. He also received a resolution from the Georgia General Assembly.

Frinks died in Edenton in 2004, at the age of 83.

Will AI Make Work Easier Or Workers Obsolete? A New NC Survey Looks At What Workers Think

The Carolinian — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 12:47:00 +0000

NC NEWSLINE - There have been many predictions about how artificial intelligence will impact the way in which people work, and a new report by Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future Center takes a deeper dive into how workers are adapting.

The national survey of 775 adults employed full- or part-time found that large majorities anticipate a future in which there are fewer jobs, inadequate wages and work becomes less satisfying.

Of those surveyed, 83% of adults expect AI to eliminate more jobs than it creates, and more than two-thirds (68%) believe most jobs will pay too little to afford a decent lifestyle.

Lee Rainie, director of Imagining the Digital Future Center, says while half of workers are highly confident that they can adapt their own skills to changing demands, they are concerned AI will “hollow out” the meaning of work and threaten people’s sense of purpose.

“If you ask an American who they are, in many cases, they’ll tell you what they do,” said Rainie. “And there’s a very interesting dynamic emerging now as people worry about becoming lazy. They worry about deferring too much to AI tools.”

Eighty-one percent of those surveyed said paid work is extremely important to their role in their family, while 70% of workers said paid work is very important to their personal sense of meaning and purpose.

And 65% of adults polled agree that if AI makes work less meaningful, people will lose their sense of dignity.

A majority of those currently using large language models like ChatGPT said these models and chatbots are already smarter than they are.

“We’ve never faced an entity that’s smarter than we are,” Rainie told NC Newsline. “There’s a sense that as we have to share this essential part of human nature, our intelligence, our social wits and wisdom, what are we going to be good for as we see these things march through our workplaces and even our personal lives?”

Rainie said the survey found having familiarity with AI somewhat softens that pessimistic outlook. Still, jobholders want more guardrails as employers are accelerating AI adoption. Fifty-two percent of respondents said training about AI’s limits would be beneficial, and knowing when human judgment should take priority.

“People have little faith that businesses, schools and communities will step up to effectively assist them in the AI transition, “said Janna Anderson, senior researcher at the ITDF Center.

Among workers surveyed, only 11% said they felt government agencies would provide support if AI significantly affects their jobs in the next few years.

North Carolina lawmakers dipped a toe into the debate in May as they questioned whether restrictions should be placed on AI’s use in insurance and medical billing.

Among those entering the working world, there’s a hunger for professional advice. Nearly half of those surveyed said they would appreciate advice about which professions will decline and which human skills will complement AI.

“One of the most interesting things about being a pollster in this area is that for years and years, young people have been the most enthusiastic about technology compared with others. That’s not the case with AI,” said Rainie. “Younger people, even if they’re using these systems, are very anxious about their futures, in part because of the implication for jobs.”

The findings will be presented Tuesday at the Tech Rising Summit in Charlotte.

‘Educate, Engage, Empower’: Johnston County NAACP Convenes Nonpartisan Candidate Forum in Smithfield

Jheri Hardaway — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 14:43:00 +0000

By Jheri Hardaway

Staff Writer

Smithfield, NC — As the countdown to the general election narrows to days, community members packed the Wood Building at Johnston Community College on Friday evening for a nonpartisan candidate forum organized by the Johnston County Branch of the NAACP. Convening under the banner of “Educate, Engage, Empower,” the October 9th gathering brought together candidates across federal, state, and county races from the U.S. Senate and Congress to the General Assembly, County Commission, Register of Deeds, Soil & Water Conservation, and the Clerk of Superior Court.

Moderated by Rev. Dr. Christopher Kornegay, President of the Johnston County NAACP, the evening offered voters a direct look at the contenders seeking to represent one of North Carolina’s fastest-growing counties. Dr. Kornegay opened the forum by outlining forum guidelines and by emphasizing that democracy functions best when elected officials are held accountable directly by the electorate. Throughout the evening, candidates fielded questions on equal service, government accessibility, environmental health, civil rights, and much more.

Dr. L’Bertrice Solomon, candidate for N.C. House of Representatives District 26, made an impassioned case for collaborative leadership that places listening ahead of top-down political agendas, “One does this, another does that. But if it does not touch the humanity of each and every one of us linked together, then it means absolutely nothing,” Dr. Solomon told the gathering. “I call myself a concerned person—I am on point, and I will never give up. Your conversations have helped shape my priorities by listening. I will ensure that I don’t take an agenda from Raleigh to you, but take your priorities to them.”

In post-event remarks, Dr. Solomon reflected on the necessity of the NAACP-sponsored forum: “Oftentimes this particular community is overlooked, and it’s time to engender the help. You do that by inviting them out, letting them see who you are, and hearing their needs. It allows us to see that leadership is a partnership—accountability, responsibility, and the reciprocity of leading.”

U.S. Senate candidate Michael Dublin, who stood out in the hall wearing a signature green shamrock blazer designed to fix his name in voters' memories, echoed the urgency of community mobilization as early voting approaches: “This event was well run, and it was excellent to engage with the people of Johnston County,” Dublin remarked following the discussion. “It was heartfelt and really powerful. With elections starting next week, we need this. I was impressed to see people that look like us getting involved and stressing how important it is to take part in this process. Malcolm X said in 1964, ‘the ballot or the bullet.’ I believe it’s the ballot and the bullet—and when I say the bullet, I’m talking about our collective organizing, our work, and our power.”

The forum spanned every tier of governance, giving voters a rare opportunity to hear localized debate on everyday community services:

First, Legislative Priorities. In the state legislative races, N.C. House candidate Kevin Thurman underscored grassroots transparency, proposing bi-annual town halls rotating through all 10 precincts of his district so transportation-insecure residents are not left out of the legislative process. 13th Congressional District Democratic nominee Paul Berringer highlighted cost-of-living relief, healthcare access, and anti-corruption measures, pledging consistent town halls across partisan lines.

The next focus was Courts and Constitutional Protections. Representatives for incumbent N.C. Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls urged voters to pay close attention to judicial races up and down the ballot, highlighting Earls' decades of civil rights advocacy and her perspective as the sole African American justice on the state's highest court. Johnston County Clerk of Superior Court Michelle Preach Ball addressed courtroom accessibility, highlighting electronic records improvements, translation and disability coordination, and her philosophy of servant leadership grounded in the biblical call to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly.”

Next, County Governance and Growth. Longtime Johnston County Register of Deeds Craig Olive pointed to his 24-year tenure serving all residents regardless of race, political affiliation, or background, pointing to initiatives such as the “Thank A Vet” discount program and returning $4.7 million in unexpended funds to the county. Johnston County Board of Commissioners candidates, including incumbent Patrick Harris and challenger Will Beard, wrestled with rapid suburban growth, rural water infrastructure, expanded Department of Social Services facilities, and healthcare expansion.

The final issues discussed were Conservation and Environmental Health. Local concerns over safe drinking water, soil protection, and agricultural preservation surfaced prominently during remarks from Soil & Water Conservation candidates and surrogates, including Joe Austin and a representative for candidate Gracie Chambers, who connected water contamination along the Neuse basin directly to cancer risks, developmental health, and rural equity.

Following the moderated questions, attendees had the opportunity to challenge candidates on specific issues including services for Vietnam-era military veterans and courthouse accommodations for persons with disabilities before breaking into an informal hour-long meet-and-greet reception.

With voter registration resources, election guides, and early voting information, and even copies of The Carolinian newspaper distributed throughout the evening, the NAACP branch drove home the broader civic stakes. As attendees departed the auditorium, the sentiment shared by organizers and candidates alike was clear: civic progress across Johnston County will not be determined in distant backrooms, but at the ballot box by informed voters demanding transparency, equity, and public service that works for everyone.

NC Legal Aid Groups Sue Over Lawmakers’ Redirection Of Millions In Funding

The Carolinian — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:40:00 +0000

NC HEALTH NEWS - Three North Carolina legal aid organizations are suing state legislative leaders over a budget provision that redirects millions of dollars from programs that provide low-income residents with free civil legal services to attorneys who represent people who cannot afford a lawyer in criminal cases.

“The $15 million per year that has been diverted from community legal aid is less than five one hundredths of one percent of the overall North Carolina state budget,” the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy wrote in a statement about the lawsuit. “But it means so much to veterans, survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, disaster victims, and others who have been the recipients of civil legal services from these funds, as ordered by the NC Supreme Court.”

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, Pisgah Legal Services and Legal Aid of North Carolina filed the lawsuit this past week against the state, House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Granite Falls), Senate leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) and others. They contend that the General Assembly overstepped its constitutional authority in redirecting the funds with its budget provision that changed how money that’s generated through the state’s Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts program, known as IOLTA, can be used.

The lawsuit also challenged restrictions that could prevent legal aid organizations from receiving remaining IOLTA funding based on advocacy or other work they perform or have performed in the past — even when they have used money from other sources. The organizations argue those provisions violate free speech protections under the U.S. and North Carolina constitutions.

The case is the latest development in a fight over a funding source that has supported underserved people’s ability to defend themselves in civil court in North Carolina for decades — and one that legal aid providers say has become particularly important in western North Carolina as residents recover two years after Hurricane Helene.

From civil legal aid to criminal defense

IOLTA doesn’t rely on state tax dollars. The program collects interest generated by certain client funds that attorneys are required to temporarily hold in trust accounts. For example, it includes interest accrued on the money held in escrow for clients while loans and liens are paid off, or during real estate transactions. The North Carolina Supreme Court first established the program on a voluntary basis in 1983 and made participation mandatory in 2007.

Under the program, the money has been distributed by the North Carolina State Bar’s IOLTA program to organizations that provide civil legal assistance and to other programs that support the administration of justice.

Lawmakers froze IOLTA grantmaking for the 2025-26 fiscal year amid concerns from Republican legislators about oversight of the program and the perceived political advocacy of some organizations receiving grants. The organizations and use of funds were the center of an investigative hearing held by the House Select Committee and Oversight and Reform in October 2025.

The budget passed this summer went further. In it, lawmakers redirected IOLTA revenue received beginning July 1, 2025, to the state’s Private Assigned Counsel Fund, which pays for private attorneys appointed to represent people who cannot afford attorneys in criminal cases.

Money IOLTA received before July 1, 2025, remains available for grants for programs designed to improve the administration of justice, subject to the legislature’s new eligibility restrictions. The program can distribute up to $2.5 million from that remaining pool each fiscal year until it is depleted. (The complaint outlines $2 million but a technical correction to the budget has updated the number to $2.5 million.)

The three organizations are among six that have received more than a million dollars in the past 10 years, according to a report given by Rep. Harry Warren to the House Select Committee on Oversight and Reform. With Legal Aid of North Carolina receiving $22,066,243, Pisgah Legal Services receiving $4,517,810 and Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy at $3,182,310 in that same time frame.

The lawsuit argues the General Assembly lacked the authority to make that change. The legal aid organizations contend that the regulation of attorneys falls within the judicial branch’s constitutional authority and that lawmakers effectively overrode the state Supreme Court’s 2007 order establishing the mandatory IOLTA program. They are asking the court to declare the budget provision unconstitutional and block its enforcement.

The lawsuit’s second claim challenges the restrictions placed on organizations seeking money from the remaining IOLTA pool. Those restrictions can make an organization ineligible based on its provision of certain immigration services, services related to gender-affirming care or forms of public advocacy. The legal aid organizations argue that the restrictions penalize them for constitutionally protected activities even when they use other money — not IOLTA funding — to perform that work.

North Carolina is the only state in the nation diverting IOLTA funds away from their intended use, according to the lawsuit.

Scrutiny before the funding shift

Lawmakers froze new grants from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, while the House Oversight committee examined the program. During the oversight hearing last October, Republican lawmakers questioned the IOLTA board’s grantmaking and raised concerns about organizations getting funding even as they were separately engaging in political advocacy.

Committee chair Warren (R-Salisbury) characterized some recipients as groups with “leftist ideologies” and said lawmakers wanted to examine how the IOLTA board selected organizations for funding.

Rep. Grant Campbell (R-Concord) questioned whether prohibiting IOLTA dollars themselves from funding lobbying went far enough. Because money is fungible, Campbell argued, funding an organization’s legal work could free up its other resources for political advocacy.

IOLTA Executive Director Mary Irvine told lawmakers that grant recipients are already prohibited from using IOLTA money for lobbying or political activity. Nevertheless, the North Carolina State Bar had considered additional restrictions on organizations engaged in grassroots lobbying, Peter Bolar, executive director of the North Carolina State Bar told lawmakers at the time.

During that hearing, lawmakers learned that IOLTA was not funded with taxpayer dollars and that the Supreme Court created the program using its authority to regulate the practice of law in North Carolina — an issue now at the center of the lawsuit’s separation of powers claim.

Some lawmakers also raised concerns about what the freeze was doing to certain legal services, such as domestic violence and human trafficking victim services. They questioned whether some money could be released for Legal Aid who provides aid in those two areas while continuing to investigate other grants.

An April 2026 audit commissioned by lawmakers, and completed by the office of Republican State Auditor Dave Boliek, found that IOLTA’s grants complied with eligibility requirements but faulted the program for inadequate oversight after the money was awarded. Auditors said IOLTA did not independently verify enough of grantees’ reported spending and outcomes to provide reasonable assurance that roughly $30.3 million was used as intended.

The State Bar noted in its response that the audit did not identify any instance of a grantee misappropriating or misusing funds. The auditor recommended stronger monitoring and independent verification of spending and outcomes.

The General Assembly seemed to ultimately choose a different course, redirecting the future IOLTA revenue entirely.

What the funding loss means for Helene recovery

For Pisgah Legal Services, which serves 18 western North Carolina counties, the funding change comes as the region continues its recovery from Hurricane Helene two years later.

The organization got more than $1.8 million in IOLTA funding during the last full grant cycle before the freeze, according to the lawsuit. That included a $700,000 special grant for legal needs created by Helene.

Jackie Kiger, executive director of Pisgah Legal Services, said IOLTA represented roughly 10 percent to 15 percent of the organization’s budget and supported work ranging from housing and public benefits appeals, to domestic violence and disaster recovery.

“Our budget is personnel. Essentially, it is the people,” Kiger said in an interview when the budget was passed in July.

Pisgah receives hundreds of calls every week from people seeking help across its service area, Kiger said. Losing IOLTA funding ultimately means fewer attorneys and advocates available to take those cases.

“It’s less people we can serve — that’s the truth of it. We have to maintain our staff, and we need our funding in order to do that,” Kiger said.

“Nonprofits face funding challenges frequently, and certainly, these last couple of years have been the hardest. But what I emphasize for Pisgah is that we have been through the hurricane. In addition to all the other challenges that you face as a nonprofit, we have really been a resource to our community,” she continued.

The lawsuit estimates Pisgah will serve at least 3,500 fewer people each year as a result of the IOLTA changes.

Kiger, who is an attorney and social worker, said she sees that loss of legal services as a public health issue.

IOLTA funding has supported work aimed at keeping people housed, helping survivors of intimate partner violence and child abuse, securing public benefits and protecting household income — problems often described as social determinants of health.

Those needs became even more acute after Helene. Some of the first sources of funding support for Hurricane Helene recovery came from the state’s IOLTA fund to Pisgah Legal Services and to Legal Aid of North Carolina, according to Kiger.

Pisgah has helped residents with FEMA claims and appeals, housing problems, insurance disputes, scams and other legal problems created or exacerbated by the storm.

Kiger said the organization handled “hundreds and hundreds” of FEMA appeals after Helene.

“We’ve met people who have yet to receive any assistance or know where the assistance was in the last couple of months, and that to me is very compelling. There’s a lot of folks that still haven’t been reached, and we need the funding and the people to be able to reach them,” Kiger said.

The problems have continued as western North Carolina rebuilds. Pisgah has encountered renters living with mold and water damage after temporary repairs, homeowners struggling with insurance claims and older adults targeted by scammers, Kiger said.

“Long-term recovery with people who’ve lost their homes, their resources, income, or who’ve been impacted in other ways from Helene — that is also at stake,” Kiger said.

Pisgah appealed directly to legislators representing western North Carolina in July, explaining those stakes in an email sent to what she said she believed was every member of the western North Carolina delegation. The email outlined Pisgah’s work and warned about the consequences of losing IOLTA.

“The people most affected would be your constituents,” Kiger wrote.

Kiger told NC Health News she heard back from some lawmakers, but not all. She did not say which legislators responded.

During floor debate over the budget, Sen. Julie Mayfield, (D-Asheville), raised similar concerns. She pointed specifically to the roughly $2 million Pisgah stood to lose and the $700,000 that had supported Helene recovery.

“Who is going to help those people now?” Mayfield asked.

That question may now be answered by the courts.

What’s at Stake, Wake Bond Referendum?

Jordan Meadows — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 21:00:00 +0000

By: Jordan Meadows

Staff Writer

Raleigh voters will decide this November whether the city can borrow up to $203 million in general obligation bonds for housing, education, and transportation, a package city officials say can be repaid without raising property taxes.

The city says it can borrow that much without a tax increase because of what it calls a "Steady State" financing model. Beginning with the fiscal year 2026 budget, Raleigh started setting aside money from property and sales taxes in a dedicated Debt Fund to pay for large capital projects. City finance staff estimate that fund can support $203 million in borrowing every four years without a tax hike, and officials expect to bring bond packages to voters at that interval if this one passes.

The city acknowledges a risk: property and sales tax collections generally rise but could fall, which would shrink the amount of debt the fund can support. If voters reject the bonds, City Council could fund the projects from other sources, but if no money is available, the projects would not move forward.

The housing bond would split its $101.5 million four ways. The largest share, $57.6 million, would go toward building new affordable housing and preserving existing affordable units. Another $21.5 million would be held in reserve for major redevelopments of city-owned sites, intended to create communities serving a range of income levels.

The bond would put $12 million toward homelessness response, funding Wake at Home, a public-private partnership coordinated by the Wake County Continuum of Care that supports decommissioning homeless encampments and connecting people to housing and services. The remaining $10.4 million would go to homebuyer assistance for buyers earning at or below 80% of the area median income, along with programs that help seniors stay in their homes as they age.

Past bond money has financed projects including the Milner Commons housing development in 2020 and the Atlantic Avenue roadway in 2017. The 2020 housing bond, an $80 million package, was approved by voters and, by the end of fiscal year 2024-25, about 79% of it had been committed to create or preserve roughly 1,800 affordable units.

The transportation bond would put $51.5 million toward three road projects: Marsh Creek Road and Trawick Road-West, Ebenezer Church Road, and general-purpose lanes along the Southern Bus Rapid Transit corridor that are not eligible for federal funding. Another $40 million would go to transportation plans the council has already adopted, including an expansion of walking and biking networks that calls for more than 5 miles of sidewalks and 50 miles of bikeways within five years under the city's Active Mobility Plan.

The money would also support the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, which uses data to recommend changes to traffic flow and infrastructure at busy intersections and near schools to reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries.

Raleigh's bonds are among several local questions on the back of the ballot in Wake County.

Countywide, voters will weigh bonds for the Wake County Public School System and Wake Technical Community College, and Knightdale voters will consider a $55 million parks bond for a new public park and community center, with an estimated cost of $35 per $100,000 of assessed property value per year.

The school system, which serves about 161,000 students across 204 schools, plans to use its bond, plus an additional $152.3 million cash commitment from Wake County, to build two new elementary schools in Wendell and Knightdale and design another in Zebulon. Nine existing elementary, middle and high schools in Raleigh, Cary, Garner and Wendell are slated for renovation or replacement, with construction funded for six and design for three.

Wake Tech's bond would cost an estimated 90 cents per $100,000 of assessed property value per year. It would put $41 million toward expanding programs in public safety, skilled trades, automotive and dental hygiene, $65 million toward renovating the Southern Wake campus, $20.4 million toward facilities updates across all seven campuses, and $22.7 million toward technology, vehicles and equipment.

The ballot language is set by the state legislature, and it carries wording that may surprise some voters. Each question says "additional taxes may be levied in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds."

Under the state's Bond Transparency Act, however, ballots must also disclose the total estimated cost over the life of the bond and the estimated property tax impact, and the city has filled in that figure as "$0 (zero dollars)."

Wake County voters have historically backed bonds by wide margins, with the 2024 library bond, the 2022 school and community college bonds and Raleigh's 2020 housing bond all passing easily. A notable exception came in 2024, when Cary voters rejected parks and housing bonds with a combined price tag of $560 million, after residents were already facing higher-than-expected tax bills following that year's property revaluation.

Bond referenda need a simple majority to pass.

Tornadoes and Storms from Hurricane Isaias Hit Central NC

Jordan Meadows — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 19:24:16 +0000

By: Jordan Meadows

Staff Writer

Residents in North Carolina spent Monday assessing damage, clearing debris and working to restore normal operations after a powerful round of storms swept across the state Sunday, producing at least five confirmed tornadoes.

The storms from Hurricane Isaias brought torrential rain, intense winds and tornado warnings across the region for roughly five hours. Emergency crews responded to overturned vehicles, damaged buildings, downed trees and power lines, and natural gas leaks.

City officials reported one injury in Fayetteville.

The National Weather Service office in Raleigh said it was reasonably confident that close to half a dozen tornadoes touched down in the area, with another three to six possible touchdowns elsewhere. Several dozen buildings were damaged or destroyed by the tornadoes.

Raleigh, Fayetteville and Clayton were among the hardest-hit communities. In northeast Raleigh, residents reported downed trees and damage to homes in neighborhoods along the Neuse River.

In Fayetteville, high winds overturned vehicles along the Skibo Road commercial corridor and damaged the roof of a four-story hotel. In Clayton, trees fell across neighborhoods and streets, damaging fences and other property. Despite the damage, local officials reported relatively limited power outages and said many affected businesses and roads were returning to operation by Monday.

The National Weather Service identified at least three tornadoes in Wake County: one on the western side of the county near Jordan Lake, another in northeast Raleigh, and a third that crossed into Johnston County. A tornado that developed near the Wake-Johnston County line struck Clayton near the Clayton Village Shopping Center along Clayton Boulevard.

The first confirmed tornado of the day in the Fayetteville area struck the Yadkin Acres neighborhood in northwest Fayetteville. Winds in the area were strong enough to move and overturn vehicles. Cumberland County emergency services, local fire departments, and emergency personnel from Fort Bragg also assisted while responding to storm damage in their respective areas.

Fayetteville Fire Chief Kevin Dove said the storm struck an area that was likely among the city's busiest and most heavily occupied at noon on a Sunday. He said the incident could have resulted in more serious consequences given the number of people and businesses in the affected area.

Additional damage was reported in Franklin County, west of Louisburg, where trees were knocked down along N.C. 56 near Peach Orchard Road.

A possible tornado was also indicated by radar near the Wake-Durham county line in the vicinity of Raleigh-Durham International Airport. No damage was reported in that area, but RDU initiated a ground stop while the radar-indicated tornado was nearby. Approximately 78 flight delays were reported across Sunday and Monday.

As communities across North Carolina work to recover from the latest round of severe weather, western North Carolina continues to face the longer-term consequences of Hurricane Helene, which devastated the region in September 2024. According to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, the storm caused an estimated $60 billion in damage and recovery needs, damaged or destroyed more than 73,000 homes and affected approximately 9,000 road locations. The state reported 107 storm-related deaths.

Black Voters Urged To “Use Your Power” In Midterms

The Carolinian — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 18:55:00 +0000

By Cash Michaels

Contributing Writer

With One Stop Early Voting/Same Day Registration officially beginning today across North Carolina (Oct. 15-31st), the common theme for this 2026 midterm election on Nov. 3rd is making a change in order to bring gasoline, food and other cost of living prices down, and choosing which political party in Congress and the NC General Assembly should be in the best position to do that going forward.

For African-Americans and other communities of color, voting in the midterms is considered critical, and many in Black leadership are sending the message that the Black community has power in its vote, and can help to change negative policies for the better.

“The 2026 midterm elections will shape the future of our communities, and it starts with a plan,” the national NAACP says on its website. “We, the People” are stronger when we show up together.”

As evidenced of that mantra, the website “Word in Black” published an article titled “The Fight for the Black Vote is Already Underway,” stating in part, “…some of the nation’s most influential Black political and civil rights organizations are pouring money, organizers and old-fashioned shoe leather into an unusually aggressive effort to turn out Black voters — particularly young people, rural residents and people who typically skip elections when the presidency isn’t on the ballot.”

The “Word in Black” article continued that part of that effort came recently when “…the Congressional Black Caucus Institute launched “SO VOTE,” a multimillion-dollar campaign aimed at turning out voters in some of the country’s most competitive congressional races.”

Another important effort to galvanize the Black vote has been launched by Bishop William Barber, former president of the NC NAACP.

Today, as president and senior lecturer of Repairer’s of the Breach, and co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign, Bishop Barber has launched “100 Days of Voter Mobilization,” a national campaign across the country, including North Carolina, designed to encourage a diversity of communities to “organize their households, streets, and organizations to ensure their voices are heard at the polls.”

During a recent stop in Ashville, Bishop Barber said “…some folks have let the bear sleep. The bear’s awake now,” meaning that people of color particularly realize that they have the power through their votes to make the necessary changes needed in public office to help end the corruption and negative policies.

Congressman Jim Clyburn, 86, longtime Democrat from South Carolina, warned African-Americans to focus on issues like affordability when they vote, and not to be “fooled” by President Donald Trump’s promises. He also chided the Republican-led Congress for trying to eliminate Black congressional representation through redistricting , including his own long held seat.

Some advocates say because it is crucial that all of the Black community be engaged for the 2026 midterm elections, they’re concerned that once again, the effort to make that happen has begun too late.

“For decades, Black voters have been among the most reliable constituencies in American politics, especially for Democrats. But reliability should not be confused with automatic enthusiasm, “ cautioned Rev. Aaron Phillips of the Cleveland Clergy Coalition for the website RealPower TV. “I continue to sound the alarm that voter advocacy groups and campaigns wait too late to engage Black Voters. This approach continues to risk turning a dependable base into an under-mobilized one.”

“Black voters are not a monolith,” Rev. Phillips continued. “Age, geography, gender, education, economic pressure, and trust in political institutions all shape how voters respond in elections. Since Obama, younger Black voters have been showing signs of impatience with traditional appeals based solely on party loyalty or historic civil rights symbolism.”

Rev. Phillips concluded, “In 2026, the message is simple: stop taking Black Voters for granted. Black voters should be courted, heard, and respected. Until this message is seriously received, we will continue to face low voter turnout in our community.”

‘Medicare for All’ Message Attracts Voters Buckling Under Medical Bills

The Carolinian — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:36:00 +0000

Christina Starks-Clay is an early childhood special education paraprofessional and small-business owner who attended Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s town hall in Lansing, Michigan, last month. Like many Americans, she likes the idea of “Medicare for All,” even if she’s unsure how it would work. It sounds like “something that works for everyone. All of us. People work too hard not to have the things that they need,” she says. (Kate Wells/KFF Health News)

LANSING, Mich. — Christina Starks-Clay doesn’t know how “Medicare for All” would work exactly, but she’s willing to bet it’d be better than what she has now.

Standing in line for U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s town hall in the state’s capital in September, she whipped out her phone to pull up a screenshot. It was of the $1,000 cashier’s check she’d picked up at the bank that day to pay down a chunk of her son’s dental bills. An early childhood special education paraprofessional, she still owed $389, even with good dental insurance. Her own cleaning a few weeks before cost $600.

She tried to talk herself down at the bank, to focus on being grateful for what she could afford.

“I’m like, ‘Tina, OK, you were in a position for this moment to do this,’” she said. “A lot of people couldn’t do what I had to do today. I couldn’t do it. But I did it. So I need to hear, how are you going to make this better for everyone?”

Many who waited in the hot sun that afternoon in a line stretching blocks through downtown Lansing shared similar anxieties. A man ahead of Starks-Clay talked about watching his brother rack up thousands of dollars in medical debt. A professor emeritus at nearby Michigan State University worried aloud about his grandkids’ medical care, because his adult kids were struggling to meet a $9,000 insurance deductible. Healthcare workers who’d turned up for the event described patients choosing between affording medication or food, or how they themselves had been financially devastated by a medical crisis.

They all knew Michigan Democrat El-Sayed’s rallying cry by heart, chanting it when the candidate took the stage: “Money out of politics! Money in your pocket! Medicare for All!”

Support for Medicare for All is at its highest in at least a decade, according to a new KFF poll. The survey found two-thirds of Americans now favor expanding the government health program that largely covers seniors (about half of whom are enrolled in private plans through Medicare Advantage).

But many people don’t actually know how to define Medicare for All. Traditionally, the idea has been to establish a single health insurance program, run by the federal government, that would guarantee coverage for Americans and minimize or even eliminate private insurance. How much people like the idea depends on what they’re told about it, pollsters have found.

Still, at a time when fewer than half of Americans say they can afford their healthcare, Medicare for All has become a progressive shorthand for radical, systemic change.

“Too many people don’t have health insurance, too many people who do have insurance can’t afford medical care, and many people are terrified about the costs of being sick,” said Jonathan Oberlander, a professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill who specializes in the politics of healthcare reform.

“And in an electorate that wants change, that is disenchanted with the status quo, Medicare for All is an important symbol,” he said.

That’s why Democrats running for Senate seats in the midterm elections in such states as Maine, Minnesota, and Florida tout their support for scrapping the current health insurance system in favor of broad Medicare coverage. But nowhere is the issue as central to a race as in Michigan, where Medicare for All has become synonymous with El-Sayed.

El-Sayed, who trained as a doctor and served as Detroit’s top public health official, has campaigned on Medicare for All since his unsuccessful bid for governor in 2018. To Starks-Clay, that means he has a plan and will “stick to it,” she said.

That’s appealing to voters right now, said Ashley Kirzinger, director of survey methodology at KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News. “When we ask people what do they want to hear from candidates in regards to healthcare, it’s a plan to bring down healthcare costs.”

N.C. A&T Alumnus Featured in Netflix Reboot of “A Different World”

The Carolinian — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 19:32:00 +0000

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Oct. 6, 2026) – Forever a North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Aggie and now a Hillman College Falcon, former Mister A&T Joshua Suiter ‘22 is starring in the Netflix reboot of the 1980s and 1990s hit sitcom “A Different World.”

The series, which debuted at No. 1 on Netflix in the U.S., has already been renewed for a second season. It builds on the cultural impact of the original series, which helped shape national perceptions of historically Black college and university (HBCU) life and inspired generations of students.

Following a new generation of students at the iconic fictional HBCU, Hillman College, the sequel explores the lives of today’s students while examining the legacy of those who came before them. The series’ writing team includes Ashley Laverne Jackson, daughter of late civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson ‘64.

Suiter portrays Andre, a fellow student and classmate of Deborah Wayne (Maleah Joi Moon), daughter of original characters Whitley (Jasmine Guy) and Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison). As Deborah begins her journey at Hillman, she works to establish her own identity beyond her parents’ legacy while experiencing the highs and challenges of campus life.

“Seeing all the love for Andre really hit home,” Suiter said. “He’s one of my favorite characters thus far, and we created him from scratch, so to know that the hard work is being received and folks want more encourages me to keep going.”

Suiter discovered his calling for acting and musical theater at 7, quickly realizing that hours spent studying lines and practicing techniques felt like minutes. That passion led him to N.C. A&T, where he earned a B.A. in professional theatre from the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

While at A&T, Suiter built a strong foundation in the performing arts, gaining experience both on stage and behind the scenes. One of his notable performances was in “Ain’t Misbehavin’” during the university’s first Town & Gown Gala in 2019, where he first met Guy, who reprises her role as Whitley in the reboot.

In addition to acting, Suiter worked as a theater technician and developed skills in the marketing and business aspects of performance and the entertainment industry. This versatility helped propel him into his professional career.

“I came in as a creative, but what A&T did between Alpha Phi Alpha, the classes, talking business with professors and serving as Mister A&T sharpened me on the business side,” said Suiter. “It sharpened my networking skills while showing me how to be authentic to who I am.”

As a talented and emerging actor who most recently appeared in the Hulu series “All’s Fair,” performing alongside prominent Hollywood actors, starring in “A Different World” represents a full-circle moment for Suiter as an HBCU alumnus, bringing him into a reimagined version of a series he grew up watching.

“When you talk about an HBCU experience, I’m putting mine up there with the best of them,” he said. “I have so many experiences to pull from with the run of this show, with the character Andre. Hillman even has a heartbeat of its own, so it’s been fun exploring what that feels like as a student there, while still carrying that Aggie Pride in my heart.”

Simone, Hughes & Their Forgotten Collaboration

The Carolinian — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 15:22:07 +0000

THE CONVERSATION—Many music fans know that Nina Simone’s 1965 hit “I Put a Spell on You” helped establish the 32-year-old singer as the “High Priestess of Soul.”

Few probably realize that it was Langston Hughes – the pioneering poet and face of the Harlem Renaissance – who had encouraged Simone to record it.

As a Langston Hughes scholar, I’ve spent the past six years documenting Hughes’ largely overlooked friendship with Simone. I explore the creative bond they shared in my newest book, “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood: Nina Simone, Langston Hughes, and the Birth of Black Power,” which details how the two supported and inspired each other.

The seeds of this relationship were planted in 1949, when Hughes delivered a lecture featuring his own poetry at Simone’s high school in Asheville, North Carolina. Simone – then known by her birth name, Eunice Waymon – was just 16 years old.

As part of the programming, Simone played the piano. Hughes was impressed. Even though she was just a teenager, Hughes saw her as a “somebody” – a budding talent who would one day join figures such as classical singer Marian Anderson in the pantheon of legendary Black performance artists. Simone’s performance that day went on to inspire his poem “To Be Somebody”:

Little girl
Dreaming of a baby grand piano
(Not knowing there’s a Steinway bigger, bigger)
Dreaming of a baby grand to play
Simone’s big booster

As Simone matured into adulthood, she and Hughes became close friends. Once she permanently moved to New York City in 1959, the two routinely visited each other’s homes.

Hughes’ relationship with Simone remained strictly professional. As far as scholars know, the poet did not harbor romantic feelings for her.

Simone performed at clubs across New York City, including the famous Village Gate in Greenwich Village. And her debut album, “Little Girl Blue,” was well received in 1959.

But Hughes also used his considerable fame to elevate the rising star. He secured her a spot at the 1960 Newport Jazz Festival, where she performed songs like “Trouble in Mind” and “Little Liza Jane.” Hughes himself wrote the final song of the festival, “Goodbye Newport Blues,” which Muddy Waters’ pianist, Otis Spann, sang. At the conclusion of the festival, Hughes and Simone slipped off to the nearby Rebel Festival, an “anti-festival” organized by jazz icons Charles Mingus and Max Roach. There, Simone joined Little Richard for an impromptu performance.

Later that year, Hughes published an article in the Black newspaper The Chicago Defender, headlined “Spotlight on Nina Simone.”

A regular columnist, Hughes rarely devoted an entire article to one artist. And with a cultural status in 1960 that rivaled that of Oprah Winfrey’s today, Hughes’ endorsement of Simone’s talent as a singer, performer and pianist carried exceptional weight.

The article was important for another reason. At the time, Simone couldn’t seem to shake comparisons to Billie Holiday, who had died in 1959. Like Holiday, Simone sang with a husky, blues-inflected voice. And like Holiday, she had covered a song from George and Ira Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess,” “I Loves You Porgy.”

Hughes put those comparisons to rest. In repeatedly highlighting Simone’s masterful piano playing – an instrument over which Holiday had no command – he was able to signal that Simone was completely unlike “Lady Day.”

Not only did quotes from the review appear on Carnegie Hall concert posters advertising Simone’s performances, but a revised version of the article also ended up being included as the liner notes on the back of Simone’s 1964 album, “Broadway-Blues-Ballads.”

A source of inspiration

Beyond using his considerable fame to elevate Simone, Hughes also inspired her songwriting.

Largely known as a poet, Hughes considered himself a songwriter as well. But he never achieved the same stature or success as a lyricist, which ended up being a source of some frustration. Still, roughly 60 of his songs were eventually recorded by a variety of artists, and he provided Simone with more than a dozen original lyrics of his own.

In 1964, Hughes suggested Simone consider singing the lyrics of an obscure song that his personal assistant, George Bass, uncovered while preparing archival material for his radio show broadcast. Bass went on to quietly copyright the unpublished folk song himself.

Simone performed the song, “See-Line Woman,” for the first time at a March 21, 1964, concert in Carnegie Hall, where Hughes was in attendance.

Often spelled various ways – “Sea-Lion,” “C-Line” or “She-Lyin’” – the tune describes sex workers who greet sailors as they arrive in port, with their different-colored dresses conveying the services they are willing to provide:

See-line woman (See-line)

Black dress on (See-line)

For a thousand dollars (See-line)

She wail and she moan (See-line)

The birth of the spellcaster

Sometime between November 1964 and January 1965, Hughes approached Simone in person with a new concept.

Buoyed by his success at pitching “See-Line Woman,” Hughes suggested what he called “Incantations for Nina Simone.” These were what Hughes titled “Songs of Enticement, Bewitchment, Voodoo, Hoodoo, Conjuration, Bedevilment” and, most importantly, “Spell Casting.”

In one song he’d written – which Hughes titled “You Cast a Spell on Me” – he imagined Simone as a witch riding a broomstick brewing magic potions. It included uninspired lyrics such as:

I’ll work my black and white magic

And the other color, too,

So come on, baby bunting,

Let me cast a spell on You.

It’s easy to see Hughes’ suggestions as an effort to typecast Simone as a hypnotic Black woman. And perhaps there was an element of that at play. But Simone accepted the concept, which she saw as a nod to Hoodoo, a set of African American folk-magic traditions that developed primarily in the American South. And she found a way around using Hughes’ verses, turning instead to “I Put a Spell on You,” which the eccentric R&B singer Screamin’ Jay Hawkins had recorded in 1956.

“I Put a Spell on You” ended up becoming the title track of Simone’s album, which she released in June 1965. It helped forge her identity as a sultry, mysterious singer and eventually served as the title of her 1991 autobiography.

Over the years, when Simone performed the song live, she would sometimes leave the stage, only to return in a trance, as if she possessed the hypnotic powers of a spiritual shaman.

Simone’s follow-up album, 1967’s “The High Priestess of Soul,” featured a startling cover that continued the Hoodoo theme: Simone appears as a sorceress smoking a pipe.

Fans and critics have been responding to her spellbinding performances ever since.

Keep on workin’

Simone may have passed on Hughes’ version of “You Cast a Spell on Me,” but the poet would get another chance a year later.

In 1966, Hughes gave a copy of a poem he had written to Simone. He wanted to know if she would be interested in performing it.

Simone agreed, and Hughes was in the audience at the Lincoln Center’s Philharmonic Hall on Nov. 22, 1966, when Simone performed “Backlash Blues” for likely the first time.

Simone received a standing ovation, and “Backlash Blues” became a staple of her performances. It was later featured in the 2021 Academy Award-winning documentary film “Summer of Soul.”

After Hughes died in May 1967, Simone added a new verse during her live performances of the song, paying homage to its author:

When Langston Hughes died, he told me many months before

“Nina, keep on workin’, till they open up the door.

One of these days, when the doors are open wide,

Make sure you tell ‘em where it’s at, so they’ll have no place to hide.”

The Rocky Road To More Manageable Healthcare Costs In NC

The Carolinian — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 12:14:00 +0000

NC NEWSLINE - As it seeks ways to make healthcare in North Carolina more affordable, a group of some of the state’s main decision-makers in medical care, payments, and policy highlighted the challenges of developing and agreeing on ideas that will lead to lower costs and better health.

In on the discussions are the state’s big insurers, including state Treasurer Brad Briner, who oversees the State Employee Health Plan; the CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield, the state’s largest insurer; the state Health and Human Services secretary, who runs Medicaid; and doctors, nurses, hospital administrators, and academics.

Gov. Josh Stein appointed the bipartisan Health Care Affordability Commission in June. The goal is to come up with suggestions for reducing the share of household income that state residents spend on healthcare while improving quality.

Legislators and state government officials are voting members. The advisory members represent healthcare providers, businesses, and nonprofits.

“We’re trying to move a large and complicated system in a different direction,” said Barak D. Richman, the commission facilitator, at the commission’s Friday meeting. ”We’re trying to change a lot of interlocking parts at once.”

The commission is considering how to invest in primary care as a way to lower overall patient cost and improve health. The idea is to keep people healthy or catch problems early before they become harder and more expensive to treat.

One option is setting annual spending targets for primary care for both public and private insurers. However, leaning more heavily on primary care is a challenge because the state doesn’t have enough doctors in rural counties.

“We just don’t have enough docs,” said Dr. Tunde Sotunde, Blue Cross North Carolina president and CEO. The state is short about 2,000 doctors, he said.

“At the end of the day, we have to solve for this,” Sotunde said. “Status quo is not going to work. We have to come up with creative solutions. The bottom line is that we are facing a significant access issue in our rural and underserved parts of the state.”

Dr. Karen Smith, an independent primary care doctor with an office in Raeford, likened talk of different ways of paying doctors to performing CPR on a patient that is bleeding to death.

“Right now, independent primary care practices are hemorrhaging,” she said, because they can’t afford to stay open.

Another suggestion that nurse practitioners be empowered to treat patients without supervision from doctors revealed the familiar fault lines between advanced practice nurses who want independence and doctors who oppose it.

“Advanced practice registered nurses have known for many, many years they could be doing more for the people of North Carolina, but have been restricted by a 1970s-era regulatory structure,” said Tina Gordon, CEO of the North Carolina Nurses Association.

“This has never been about what nurses want,” she said. “This is about what nurses can do, and what patients need.”

Steve Keene, CEO of the North Carolina Medical Society, representing the doctors, said physician supervision for advanced practice nurses is an important safety feature.

“I do not think we are in a position to say conclusively that it’s time to change,” Keene said.

Legislators have filed bills to allow advanced practice nurses to work without doctors’ supervision, but they have not become law. Last month, a nurse practitioner filed a lawsuit to overturn the requirement.

Expensive medical bills are stressing North Carolina households, recent polls have shown.

A poll from earlier this year found that 75% of respondents said they were concerned about costs, and 57% said their medical bills were too high but they paid anyway.

Old Hillside Bourbon Company Honors America’s First Black Generals

Jheri Hardaway — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 15:18:27 +0000

By Jheri Hardaway

Staff Writer

Celebrity culture has taken our world by storm and distracted local communities from the amazing people and things happening inside of our respective communities. The leaders, innovators, and tastemakers among us deserve way more celebration than untouchable folks who frame careers around selling concert and movie tickets and merchandise to people they do not respect or value past the purchase. Let’s take a moment to celebrate a group of men in our community working to provide the vibes and highlight history in North Carolina and far beyond.

For those out of the loop, Old Hillside Bourbon Company was founded in friendship more than six years ago. Bottled in Kentucky, the name "Old Hillside" pays homage to Durham, North Carolina's historic Hillside High School. As one of five historically Black high schools remaining active since desegregation, the institution carries a rich legacy. Building on that legacy, Brian Burton, Jesse Carpenter, Emmanuel Waters, and Courtney Tucker came together through their love of Bourbon and brotherhood to create an amazing product and an outlet to celebrate Black history and excellence. During the pandemic, Jesse leveraged Brian’s IT skills and natural curiosity, Courtney’s marketing strategy and communications, and Emmanuel’s ability to assist with contract negotiations and business development to birth Old Hillside Bourbon Company.

After years of success and growth nationwide, the team found themselves in Harlem at an event celebrating the Harlem Hellfighters. The Old Hillside special edition bottles brought for the function sold out, but the networking was plentiful, and they found themselves in conversation with the insightful and well-connected Doug Melville. Melville had recently published Invisible Generals, a powerful story that recounts his family’s extraordinary lived experience. It is the story of a father and son who always maintained their belief in the American dream no matter the obstacles. This is not your average family story. Understand, out of more than thirty million Americans who have donned a military uniform since the founding of the republic, only two families have ever produced both a father and a son who achieved the rank of general or admiral. One was the McCain dynasty of the United States Navy. The other was the Davis family, the first two Black generals in the United States Military.

Benjamin O. Davis Sr. rose to become the first Black Brigadier General in the United States Army. His son, Benjamin O. Davis Jr., commanded the world-renowned Tuskegee Airmen, weathered four years of isolation and total silence from his white peers at West Point, and eventually retired as a four-star Air Force General under President Bill Clinton. Beyond the battlefield, Davis Jr. helped architect foundational elements of modern American life, from standardizing the national 55 mph speed limit to shaping aviation safety policies, locked cockpit protocols, and what would become the Transportation Security Administration.

Despite their monumental impact across six presidential administrations, the full, unvarnished story remained largely hidden, even within their own home. Doug Melville’s father was raised as a Davis. "My dad didn't really want me to write the book. He didn't support it," the Invisible Generals author recalled. "He didn't even read it until it came out. He didn't even want to see it, because it’s trauma. Old people don’t want you to kill your career. The whole thing for him was: silence is safety. Once you start talking about it, people make you a target."

That instinct ran deep. The family's proximity to power had long been an everyday reality rather than an anomaly. Decades spent attending Thanksgiving dinners at the White House, lighting national Christmas trees, and working alongside icons, Doug’s father once clerked for Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall before becoming a judge. For this American family, their outstanding contributions were routine matters of survival and discretion, not things to boast about.

The gentlemen from Old Hillside Bourbon Company have consistently demonstrated great reverence for the United States Military, counting a U.S. Air Force Veteran and a government contractor as founding members of their team. The 2023, Old Hillside Bourbon Company's Purple Heart Rye is a limited-edition 104-proof straight rye whiskey dedicated to honoring Corporal Nathan Jakubisin, a Marine Corps veteran, and Sergeant Derek Drew, an Army veteran. Exhibiting a medium amber color with a bold aroma of rye spice and floral notes, the spirit offered a complex palate of caramel, vanilla, mint, and floral characteristics layered with a lingering spice, finishing with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon. Highly acclaimed, it earned a Gold medal at the 2024 San Francisco Spirits Competition and a Double Gold at the 2023 San Francisco Spirits Competition. A portion of the proceeds from each bottle sold is donated to Military Missions In Action, a non-profit supporting veterans in need.

This alignment, alongside the Harlem Hellfighters special edition bottle, inspired Old Hillside Bourbon to collaborate with Doug Melville on the Invisible Generals special set.

The Ben Davis Sr. Cognac Cask finish opens with rich caramel and toasted vanilla, complemented by dried apricot, golden raisins, dark cherry, and honey, alongside subtle aromas of leather, sweet tobacco, toasted oak, and warm baking spice. Full and velvety on the palate, it delivers layers of caramel, vanilla bean, dark fruit, brown sugar, toffee, roasted nuts, cinnamon, and cocoa, with the Cognac cask contributing a refined grape and dried-fruit character.

The finish is long, warm, and elegant, carrying lingering notes of dark fruit, vanilla, toasted oak, tobacco, and baking spice before concluding with a gentle, dry oak note.

The Ben Davis Jr. Madeira Cask finish leads with a nose of rich dark cherry, raisin, caramel, brown sugar, baked apple, orange peel, toasted almond, vanilla, and warm oak, offering a subtle wine-driven sweetness. Velvety and fruit-forward, the palate features caramel, vanilla, baked apple, fig, and dark cherry, accompanied by mid-palate notes of toffee, honey-roasted nuts, cinnamon, cocoa, and toasted oak that blend seamlessly with the Madeira’s sophisticated dried-fruit complexity. It concludes with a long, warm, and layered finish marked by lingering notes of fig, raisin, cocoa, toasted almond, and seasoned oak, ending in a refined balance of sweet fruit and dry oak. Both are 112-proof.

Available for purchase online October 25th, the first 100 sets will receive a signed copy of Invisible Generals for $250 in honor of America’s 250th celebration. The 10.25.65 Blend represents ten for October, the 25th Day of October, 65, the years representing the continuing legacy between Davis Sr.’s historic promotion in 1940 and Davis Jr.’s elevation to four-star recognition on the retired list in 1998. One father, one son, two generals.

Co-founder Emmanuel Waters emphasised, “We don’t let the bourbon create the story; we let the story create the bourbon.”

Old Hillside Bourbon is now carried across all 100 counties in North Carolina, Whole Foods, Total Wine & More, and is currently available for purchase on ReserverBar.com as well as their website OldHillsideBourbonCompany.com.

The Evolution Of Education In The Social Media Era

Jheri Hardaway — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 15:07:42 +0000

By Jheri Hardaway

Staff Writer

The North Carolina Department of Justice reported last week that Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, will pay up to $645 million, with a guaranteed minimum of $451 million, to North Carolina and make major child safety upgrades to its apps in a landmark settlement with Attorney General Jeff Jackson and 51 bipartisan attorneys general. Meta will pay up to $17.1 billion to the states – the second-largest state consumer protection settlement in history and the largest big tech settlement ever. “This is about protecting kids and empowering parents,” said Attorney General Jeff Jackson. “We know that this company built these apps to keep kids hooked and misled parents about what was happening. Today, Meta has to change those features and hand parents the controls.”

This is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, but has the damage already been done? As an educator in the higher education space, I am currently confronted with several realizations about the current class of college freshmen. This is the class that began 6th and 7th grade online during the pandemic. Many of them did not experience the maze of a middle school hallway, being asked to stand up and read in class, or the joys of having a locker in the same ways that many others did. I find I’m often facing the Gen Z stare, which has been defined as, “a blank, expressionless, and unblinking facial response that members of Generation Z often give during everyday social interactions, particularly in customer service or workplace settings when a verbal or enthusiastic reply is traditionally expected.” The Gen Z stare is not the only issue impacting educators and wider shared community spaces. There is also the phenomenon of the "screenager." Oxford English Dictionary defines this as, “a young person who spends a lot of time using digital devices like computers, smartphones, and video game consoles.” I would argue that this is not just young people but anyone dangerously addicted to their device.

What I’m also experiencing in the classroom and beyond is the inability of people to distinguish real-life experiences from what they see on the screen. I’ll often ask questions that a few years ago could induce a crowd response, yet these days I’m met with a “Gen Z stare” style glare from folks of all ages.

The final issue is what social media interactions have done to our collective mental resilience. A colleague shared with me that many students have faced rejection online in the comments, leading them to be even more reserved in person out of a fear of rejection. The front of a classroom is a lonely place to be as an educator when only one or two students will react out of the 20 or more in front of you.

So what do we do? How do we crack the shell of in-person social anxiety? My concerns reach beyond the classroom. Will these students advocate for themselves? Will they stand up for social causes when the time comes?

The solutions I’ve considered surround three keys that I hope North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson and the General Assembly will consider as they allocate the first $45M payment from the historic Meta settlement.

First, we’ve got to cope with where we are and process the facts. Young folks must be educated around the dangers of social media and the benefits of the policies. Under the new default terms, teenagers will face a strict two-hour daily limit on the applications, after which their main feeds will lock. Meta will also implement mandatory nighttime blocks, shutting down main feeds from midnight to 6 AM, and silencing all notifications between 10 PM. and 7 AM. To protect classroom focus, non-messenger notifications will be automatically disabled during standard school hours, from 8 AM. to 3 PM. on weekdays between August and June. The platforms will also introduce automated “scrolling pauses” at 15, 60, and 90 minutes of continuous use. In an effort to curb toxic social comparison, public “like” and reaction counts will be hidden by default on all teenage accounts.

Next, we have to provide more resources and access to alternatives to being on the phone. Right now, sports and extracurricular activities are unattainable for many due to transportation and rising costs of participation. This should be considered when it comes to fund allocations.

Finally, a strong support system. Imagine the amount of things young people are seeing for the first time online. Who can they ask questions to? How do they find clarification or develop methods to help them process ideas and information presented to them online? There must be a support system, a reference method outside of the internet; parents, educators, coaches, community where they feel safe and encouraged to ask questions.

Money will not save our future leaders from the dangers of increasingly online world, only true leadership and opportunity can guide us to a brighter more engaged future.

NC Receives First $45.2M Payout From Settlement

The Carolinian — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:57:00 +0000

NC NEWSLINE - North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson said Thursday the state has received its first $45.2 million payment from Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, as part of a multistate settlement over allegations that the company’s social media platforms harmed children.

The payout is the first installment of a settlement that could bring up to $645 million to the state by 2035. The state is guaranteed at least $451 million, with an additional $194 million available if other major social media companies, including YouTube and TikTok, agree to safety measures.

The state legislature will decide how to spend the money. Jackson has encouraged lawmakers to direct the money toward funding crisis helplines for children and funding after-school and summer programs.

He also suggested using the money to hire additional school health officials amid shortages of counselors, social workers and nurses in North Carolina’s school systems.

“This settlement is about holding Meta accountable and protecting children,” Jackson said. “Not only does it require Meta to make major safety changes to its platforms, but it brings hundreds of millions of dollars to our state.”

Jackson announced the settlement with Meta in August after North Carolina and 32 other states sued the company in 2023.

The states alleged that Meta designed Facebook and Instagram to increase the time children spent on their platforms while downplaying the risks and collecting data from minors without parental consent.

State officials also cited the company’s internal documents and raised concerns about features such as autoplay, push notifications and infinite scrolling, which they said were designed to increase engagement.

The settlement requires Meta to strengthen measures keeping children under 13 off Facebook and Instagram and give parents more control over teen accounts.

Jackson said teens can expect to see several changes to their accounts in the coming months:

Under the changes, teens will have a new default two-hour daily limit. Once they reach that limit, their accounts will time out, restricting access to their feeds and scrolling. Access to direct messages will still be allowed.

Meta will also implement an anti-scrolling feature that will pop up every 15 minutes to discourage continuous app usage.

Feeds will be blocked from midnight to 6 a.m. each night and notifications will be disabled from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Notifications will also automatically turn off on Facebook and Instagram during school hours on weekdays during the school year.

Like counts and post reactions will be turned off by default, and beauty filters will be removed on the platforms to limit potential harm to children’s self-esteem and self-image.

The remaining payments to the state will be made through the next decade, with installments scheduled each Jan. 15 beginning in 2027.

Freddie Jackson, R&B Legend Of ‘Rock Me Tonight,’ Dies At 70

The Carolinian — Sun, 11 Oct 2026 18:55:00 +0000

USA Today - Freddie Jackson, the R&B singer best known for the ‘80s hits “Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)” and “You Are My Lady,” died four days after his birthday, at 70.

Jackson’s death was announced by his family on his official Instagram Tuesday, Oct. 6.

“It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Freddie Jackson, who went home to rest last night,” the family captioned a photo of Jackson, soundtracked by his song “Complicated” released in 2023. “Freddie was more than a legendary voice. He was a kind, generous soul who loved his fans, his family, his friends, and his music with everything he had.”

The New York City-born singer got his start singing in church and New York clubs before a move to California, where he sang lead for the funk band Mystic Merlin. He later moved back to New York and returned to the nightclub scene, where he would sing background for Melba Moore. Working with his former childhood friend, producer and songwriter Paul Laurence, his demo tapes landed him a record deal with Capitol.

Jackson rose to prominence in the mid-to-late ‘80s, with his track “Rock Me Tonight” reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart (what the publication called its R&B chart at the time) for six weeks in 1985. His follow-up single, “You Are My Lady,” also topped the chart and reached No. 13 on the Hot 100 later that year.

His songs “He’ll Never Love You (Like I Do),” “Love Is Just a Touch Away,” “A Little Bit More” with Moore, “Have You Ever Loved Somebody,” “Jam Tonight,” “I Don’t Want to Lose Your Love” “Hey Lover,” “Nice and Slow” and “Crazy (For Me)” also had chart success.

He also started the 1990s strong, with R&B chart-topper “Do Me Again.” He later left Capitol, releasing the albums “Here It Is” and “Private Party” for other labels before going independent. His final album, “My First Love,” was released in 2023.

“For decades he gave us the songs that became the soundtrack to our love stories, our celebrations, and our most treasured memories. That gift will live on forever,” his family wrote. “To everyone who ever sang along, danced, or felt something when Freddie took the stage: thank you. You were family to him, and he carried your love with him always.”

His family asked for prayers for his loved ones, and said details regarding arrangements and how to honor his legacy would be shared at a later date. “Rest in peace, Freddie,” they wrote. “Your legacy and your voice will live on forever.”

Building Communities And Condominiums

The Carolinian — Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:50:00 +0000

Across America, affordable housing has become more than an economic issue. It is a community stability issue. Families are struggling to keep up with rising rents, home prices and utility costs, while seniors, veterans, working families and young adults increasingly find themselves priced out of neighborhoods they once called home.

In the middle of this crisis sits an institution with a unique combination of resources, relationships and community trust: the church.

For generations, churches have responded to the needs of their communities. They have operated food pantries, clothing closets, shelters, scholarship programs and emergency assistance ministries. Affordable housing represents another opportunity for the church to extend that mission — not simply by providing temporary assistance, but by helping create long-term stability.

One of the church’s greatest assets is land.

Many congregations own property that may include vacant lots, unused buildings, parking areas or facilities that are underutilized during much of the week. In communities where land costs make affordable housing development difficult, church-owned property could potentially become part of the solution.

A church does not have to become a traditional housing developer to make a difference. It can partner with nonprofit housing organizations, developers, local governments, community development financial institutions and housing authorities. Through partnerships, church property could potentially be used for affordable apartments, senior housing, transitional housing, workforce housing or homeownership opportunities.

The church also has something that cannot easily be measured in acres or dollars: relationships.

Churches know the people in their communities. Pastors and congregational leaders often encounter families facing eviction, seniors living on fixed incomes, single parents struggling with housing costs and young people who cannot afford to live where they grew up.

That proximity gives churches an important understanding of housing needs that may not appear in a government report.

Moving From Charity to Community Development

The traditional response to a housing crisis is often emergency assistance — helping someone pay a utility bill, rent or mortgage payment. Those efforts are important, but they address the immediate problem.

The larger opportunity is to address the underlying shortage of affordable housing.

Churches can become advocates for policies and investments that increase the supply of affordable homes. They can participate in community planning discussions, educate their congregations about housing issues and encourage residents to become involved in local decision-making.

They can also help change the conversation.

Affordable housing is sometimes discussed as though it benefits only people experiencing poverty. In reality, affordable housing affects teachers, nurses, police officers, firefighters, retail workers, childcare providers, veterans, seniors and young professionals.

A community cannot function when the people who work there cannot afford to live there.

Churches Can Help Build Wealth

Homeownership is another area where churches can make a meaningful difference.

For generations, owning a home has been one of the primary ways American families build and transfer wealth. Yet many families face barriers to homeownership, including down-payment requirements, credit challenges, high interest rates and a lack of financial knowledge.

Churches can partner with housing counselors and financial institutions to offer financial literacy programs, credit counseling, first-time homebuyer education and workshops on estate planning and generational wealth.

The goal should not simply be to help families find a place to live. It should be to help families build a foundation for financial stability.

A Special Opportunity for the Black Church

For the Black church, affordable housing carries an additional significance.

Historically, Black churches have been among the most important institutions in African American communities. They have helped establish schools, businesses, social organizations and civic movements. Today, housing can become another area where that institutional strength is put to work.

Black communities have experienced decades of discriminatory housing practices, including redlining, segregation and unequal access to mortgage credit. The effects of those policies continue to influence homeownership, neighborhood investment and generational wealth.

The church cannot reverse that history by itself. But it can help address some of its continuing consequences.

A congregation that develops affordable housing, supports homeownership education or helps preserve housing for seniors is doing more than providing shelter. It is helping preserve community.

Partnerships Are the Key

Perhaps the most important point is that churches do not have to do this alone.

A successful church-based housing initiative might involve a congregation providing land, a nonprofit providing development expertise, a local government providing incentives or financing, a bank providing construction or permanent financing and professional developers handling construction and management.

Such partnerships can turn a church’s existing assets into a community resource.

There are also federal, state and local programs designed to support affordable housing development. Churches and faith-based organizations willing to learn how these programs work can become valuable partners in bringing housing investments into their communities.

The Church’s Next Housing Ministry

The affordable housing crisis requires more than emergency assistance. It requires imagination, partnerships and a willingness to think about ministry in new ways.

The church has a unique position because it can bring together faith, land, relationships, volunteers, advocacy and community trust.

A church parking lot may be more than a parking lot. An unused building may be more than an empty building. A congregation may be more than a group of people who gather on Sunday.

Together, those assets can become part of a larger vision for community development.

The question is not whether every church should become a housing developer. It should not.

The question is whether churches should consider how their property, influence and relationships can help ensure that families, seniors, veterans and working people have a safe and affordable place to call home.

For a church committed to serving its community, affordable housing may be one of the most meaningful ministries it can undertake — because a stable home provides more than shelter.

It provides a foundation from which families can work, children can learn, seniors can age with dignity and communities can grow.

The church has always been called to serve the whole person. In today’s housing crisis, that mission may require opening not only the doors of the sanctuary, but also the doors to new possibilities for housing and community development.

Rocky Mount Launches New On-Demand Sunday Transit Service

Jordan Meadows — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 19:31:00 +0000

By Jordan Meadows

Staff Writer

Rocky Mount residents who rely on public transportation now have a new option for getting around on Sundays, filling a long-standing gap in the city’s public transit system.

Tar River Transit launched TRT2GO on Sunday, an on-demand transportation service designed to provide residents with a flexible and affordable way to travel when the city’s traditional fixed-route bus system is not operating.

For years, Tar River Transit has provided affordable fixed-route bus service throughout Rocky Mount from Monday through Saturday, but there was no regular public transportation service on Sundays. For residents without access to a vehicle, that meant a lack of reliable transportation for essential trips such as getting to work, attending medical appointments, buying groceries, attending church, or reaching other destinations across the city.

TRT2GO fills that gap by operating Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and costs $5 per ride.

Rather than requiring passengers to follow a predetermined bus route or schedule, riders can request a same-day trip using a cellphone app. The service is designed to work similarly to calling a taxi or using an app-based rideshare service such as Uber or Lyft.

The announcement was made shortly after the beginning of last Monday’s City Council meeting as part of a routine update. The council said TRT2GO will allow people to request rides to destinations throughout Tar River Transit’s service area, including UNC Health Nash, grocery stores, Downtown Rocky Mount, and other locations.

The new service uses a microtransit model rather than operating full-size city buses along fixed Sunday routes. Under the model, vehicles are dispatched when riders request transportation, allowing the transit system to respond to demand rather than running scheduled buses throughout the day regardless of how many people are riding. The approach is intended to make Sunday service more efficient while giving passengers greater flexibility in where and when they travel.

Instead of requiring riders to walk to a traditional bus stop, TRT2GO is designed to provide pickup and drop-off service within the designated service area.

A major focus of the new service is ensuring that residents can reach essential community destinations. TRT2GO provides access to UNC Health Nash, the area’s hospital, as well as surrounding medical offices. It also reaches major commercial areas, including shopping destinations along U.S. 301. Those destinations include Golden East Crossing Mall, Walmart, Sam’s Club, and multiple Food Lion grocery stores. The service also connects residents with Downtown Rocky Mount and residential areas throughout its broader service footprint.

The program was funded primarily through a $3 million grant from the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The funding comes through the NCDOT Integrated Mobility Division as part of the state’s “Mobility for Everyone, Everywhere in North Carolina” initiative, which supports efforts to expand transportation access. Funding is being used for the purchase and equipment of the microtransit vehicles, as well as expenses associated with operating the service, including driver wages, fuel, maintenance, and dispatch and routing technology. A portion of the funding also supports marketing and efforts to educate residents about the new service and how to use the app.

The microtransit vehicles are wheelchair accessible, and certified service animals are permitted to accompany passengers. Seating options are available to better accommodate elderly passengers and people with physical disabilities. The service also includes accommodations for riders with documented medical needs. Although eating, drinking, and vaping are generally restricted aboard the vehicles, exceptions are provided for passengers whose medical conditions require access to food, beverages or certain equipment while traveling.

At the launch of the service last Friday, Councilman Rueben Blackwell highlighted the years of work that have gone into strengthening Rocky Mount’s public transportation system.

“We have worked a long time together on building a transit system that benefits the communities that we know need transportation the most,” Blackwell said. “It takes a whole team to make something happen, and we have a phenomenal team,” he said.

Blackwell acknowledged that public transportation is not necessarily designed to generate a profit, but said its value should not be judged solely by its financial return.

“Transit doesn’t make money. But you can’t value everything according to a dollar,” Blackwell said.

The launch of TRT2GO also comes with recognition of longtime supporters of Tar River Transit, including Nash County Commissioner Fred Belfield. Belfield, 89, announced that he would step down at the end of his current term. He was recognized as a longtime supporter of the transit system who has been involved since its early years.

Tar River Transit has served as Rocky Mount’s public mass transportation provider since the 1990s, succeeding earlier municipal transit arrangements. The system has spent decades providing fixed-route transportation to residents throughout the city. The addition of TRT2GO represents an expansion of that system rather than a replacement for its existing services.

The traditional Tar River Transit buses will continue operating on their regular Monday-through-Saturday schedules, while TRT2GO provides a separate Sunday option.

Small Biz Admin Opens Nominations for National Small Business Week 2027

The Carolinian — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 16:11:00 +0000

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) opened nominations for its 2027 National Small Business Week Awards, which recognize exceptional small business owners from every state. National Small Business Week will take place May 2–8, 2027. Nominations must be submitted by 3:00 PM ET on December 7, 2026, at SBA.gov/nsbw.

“Thanks to President Trump, the golden age for small businesses is here, with record new business starts, rising employment and investment, and historically high small business optimism,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “We are proud to celebrate the entrepreneurs and hardworking business owners who are putting that renewed confidence to work across America—from our rural communities to revitalized industrial hubs. From generational businesses to innovative startups, National Small Business Week 2027 will honor the nation’s best small business leaders who are creating jobs, investing locally, and contributing to America’s historic economic comeback.”

SBA has recognized National Small Business Week since 1963. Each year, a business owner from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam is selected for State Small Business Person of the Year awards. These State award winners will compete for the 2027 National Small Business Person of the Year – SBA’s signature award and the agency’s highest small business honor. The agency is also accepting national nominations for specialty award categories recognizing small businesses that are excelling in specific areas that contribute to American strength, innovation, and resilience including the following categories:

Small Business Manufacturer of the Year
Small Business Exporter of the Year
Blue Collar Small Business of the Year
Rural Small Business of the Year
Veteran Small Business of the Year
Phoenix Award for Small Business Disaster Recovery

Small business owners may nominate themselves for an award, or they may be nominated by a third-party. Visit SBA.gov/nsbw for the full list of awards, eligibility requirements, guidelines, nomination forms, local area contacts and all related information. National award recipients will be recognized during a ceremony in Washington, D.C., next May as part of National Small Business Week. Last year, national award recipients were recognized by President Donald J. Trump at the White House during the National Small Business Week Small Business Summit.

Campbell Holds Off NC Central, 38-31

The Carolinian — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 14:00:00 +0000

NC Central vs Campbell at NCCU on 10-3-26.

By Steve Worthy

Photography

North Carolina Central University and Campbell University went back and forth in a competitive non-conference matchup on October 3 in Durham, with Campbell ultimately holding off the Eagles for a 38-31 victory.

NC Central quarterback Nelson Layne was active early, looking toward the end zone through the air while also making plays with his legs. Layne helped put points on the board for the Eagles when he dove into the end zone for a first-half touchdown.

Campbell quarterback Kamden Sixkiller answered for the Camels, reaching the end zone while facing pressure from NC Central linebacker Joshua Maxwell. Sixkiller remained a focal point of Campbell’s offense, but the Eagles’ defense found opportunities to disrupt him throughout the half.

NC Central defensive lineman Zarion Walters broke through the Campbell protection to sack Sixkiller, while defensive back Bubba Camp was in position to challenge for possession after Campbell wide receiver Jyron Waiters put the ball on the ground.

The Eagles also generated offense through wide receiver Tristan Stitt. Stitt made a catch against Campbell defender Jayvian Sickles before later beating the coverage again for a touchdown, helping NC Central stay within striking distance.

Both teams continued trading scoring opportunities as the game developed, with NC Central keeping pressure on Campbell throughout the contest. The Eagles received contributions from their offense and defense, but Campbell was able to withstand the challenge and preserve the lead.

When the final whistle sounded, the Camels walked away with a 38-31 win, ending a hard-fought afternoon in Durham with NC Central falling just one score short.

BCF Unveils The New 2026 State Of Black America Report

Jordan Meadows — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 18:39:00 +0000

By Jordan Meadows

Staff Writer

The Black Conservative Federation released its 2026 State of Black America Report on Wednesday afternoon, presenting what the organization's leaders described as an accounting of Black American life built entirely from federal, academic, and independently verified sources and data.

BCF President and founder Diante Johnson opened a press briefing on the report, a 72-page document produced through BCF's newly launched Center for American Opportunity & Excellence.

"This report tells the story, not the conservative story, not the Democratic story, but it tells the true story of what the state of Black America is," Johnson said.

Johnson walked reporters through what he called the report's good news:

Black poverty sits at a record low of 17.1%, down from 55% in 1959, and Black family wealth grew 61% from 2019 to 2022, the fastest growth of any group, according to the report.

"Black families are building wealth faster than anyone from a lower base," Johnson said.

He cited record-low Black unemployment, record prime-age employment, and more than a third of Black workers now holding management or professional jobs. Black-owned employer firms grew 29% to roughly 161,000 companies.

He highlighted the Black high school graduation rate, now at 81%, as one of his favorite statistics in the report.

"I know that many people say, ‘Is that something we should be celebrating’?" Johnson said. "But 81% of Black students graduating high school is a tremendous improvement."

He also pointed to two straight years of record declines in murder, a 33% drop in the Black imprisonment rate from 2013 to 2023, a roughly 75% decline in youth confinement, and a rise in the share of Black children living in two-parent households, from about 35% to 39%: "More fathers are in the home,” Johnson said.

Despite the record-low poverty rate, he called 17.1% "a number that is uncomfortable to us here at the Black Conservative Federation."

Black homeownership remains at 45.7%, with 52% of Black Americans still renting. Johnson stated that expanding ownership would be a major focus of the center's work going forward, including a push for first-time homeownership programs and HUD grants.

"Having property, being able to own something, having a deed—that's very important," Johnson said.

He also flagged a persistent gap in generational wealth, noting that roughly one in ten Black families report receiving an inheritance. "That's still not where we need to be," he said, "but thank God for Trump accounts”—a new tax-advantaged, hybrid investment and retirement account created for children under 18 that was authorized under the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ and launched in July.

Walter Blanks Jr., executive director of the Center for American Opportunity & Excellence, agreed:

“The fact that there are families across America who have made, never even talked about investing beforehand, are doing it, regardless of the account that they're using, is a massive plus," Blanks said regarding the Trump Accounts.

Blanks said the report was designed to give what he called a complete picture of Black America rather than a partisan one.

"It's not meant to be a celebration or an indictment in any kind of way," Blanks said. "It's really just meant to establish where we are currently, and what the Black Conservative Federation is doing over time to really address some of those issues."

He said the report's chapters are interconnected: education shapes earnings, earnings shape ownership, and family stability shapes the next generation. Blanks pointed to state-level school choice policies and the "success sequence" framework—graduating high school, finishing college, getting a job, and marrying before having children—as themes running through the report's education and family chapters.

BCF unveiled the report in Chicago on July 18 during its 10th anniversary celebration. Johnson said the timing was tied to that anniversary rather than the midterm elections, though he said the findings could help explain election outcomes afterward.

"There was no rush, there was no major strategy behind releasing it this week that's tied to the midterms," Johnson said. "But I do think that it helps us understand the outcomes of the midterms a lot better, post-election."

When asked what role lawmakers should play in closing the Black homeownership gap, Johnson said he believes government programs already exist but that community awareness, not new legislation, is the bigger barrier. He also said BCF plans to run homeownership-focused campaigns similar to political get-out-the-vote efforts.

Asked about the group's grassroots focus ahead of the midterms, Johnson acknowledged the toll of current economic pressures on families.

"Yes, the gas prices are extremely high. Yes, the food costs are high. Yes, we're experiencing an affordability issue," he said, adding that BCF is pushing financial literacy and multiple streams of income as near-term strategies.

Many of the gains BCF highlighted as positive—including HBCU enrollment growth, declining murder rates and improvements in Black maternal health—occurred during multiple political administrations.

Johnson said the report does not strip credit from either party.

"Yes, there were some wins in the Biden administration, and there were wins in the Trump first administration," Johnson said. "Both parties have a play in that.”

Do You Know ALICE? Chances Are You Do

The Carolinian — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 16:43:40 +0000

Dr. Joynicole Martinez

Rising Tide Capital

She opens her salon at 7 a.m., cuts hair until the last client leaves, and goes home to do the books at the kitchen table. She pays her taxes. She employs two stylists. And by the math of the federal government, she is not poor.

By the math of her rent, her child care bill, and the price of groceries, she is barely hanging on.

United Way has a name for her. She is ALICE.

Who is ALICE?

ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. The term describes households that earn more than the Federal Poverty Level but less than what it actually costs to live in their county, according to United For ALICE, the national research initiative that grew out of United Way. These are the cashiers, child care providers, home health aides, drivers, and small business owners who keep neighborhoods running.

The newest national figures are sobering. In 2024, 54.5 million of the country’s roughly 132 million households, or 41 percent, fell below the ALICE Threshold, the line that combines households in poverty with ALICE households, according to The State of ALICE in the United States 2026 Report. The number of ALICE households grew 23 percent between 2010 and 2024, faster than the 15 percent growth in total households, the same 2026 report found.

For Black America, the picture is sharper still. Of about 15.8 million Black households nationwide, 9.1 million, or 58 percent, lived below the ALICE Threshold in 2024, according to the national report. State reports tell the same story. In Michigan, 62 percent of Black households were below the threshold in 2023, compared to 38 percent of White households, the Michigan Association of United Ways reported.

These are not families who stopped working. That “E” in ALICE matters. These are families who are working and still falling behind.

The official poverty measure was built decades ago and does not reflect what a family pays today for rent, child care, and health insurance. ALICE fills that gap by pricing a bare-bones Household Survival Budget, county by county.

United For ALICE also tracks prices differently. Its ALICE Essentials Index follows only the basics: housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and basic technology. From 2021 to 2024, those essentials rose 5.6 percent per year, compared to 5.0 percent for the Consumer Price Index, according to United For ALICE. Between 2007 and 2024, rental housing costs rose 99 percent and food at home rose 38 percent, the Essentials Index shows.

In plain terms, the things our families cannot skip have gotten more expensive faster than everything else. The headline inflation number undercounts the pain.

Consider child care workers, many of them women of color. Their median hourly wage rose from $9.28 in 2010 to $15.41 in 2024. Yet a full-time worker earning that wage still fell $16,766 short of the ALICE Household Survival Budget in 2024, a bigger gap than in 2010, according to United For ALICE. A raise that does not keep up with rent is not a raise.

Why use ALICE? Economists can debate whether the national economy is strong. ALICE asks a simpler question: can a working family in this county pay for the basics this month?

That framing matters right now for three reasons.

First, it is honest. When 41 percent of households are below the threshold, as the 2026 report documents, hardship is not a fringe issue. It is the lived reality of a huge share of the workforce.

Second, it removes shame. ALICE tells the family in the next pew that they are not failing. The system around them has priced out the paycheck.

Third, it is practical. Because ALICE data is local, down to the county and often the town, it gives employers, lawmakers, lenders, and churches a shared map. United For ALICE describes its work as providing “a framework and language” for leaders to reassess public and corporate policies (United For ALICE).

Our community has always built its own doors when others were closed. From the barbershop to the corner store to the family catering business, entrepreneurship has been a path to dignity and wealth when wages alone would not do it.

ALICE data helps explain why. When a paycheck cannot cover the Household Survival Budget, many ALICE earners start a side business, drive for a platform, braid hair on weekends, or turn a talent into a trade. Many of the small business owners who employ ALICE workers are themselves one slow month away from joining them.

That is why the ALICE lens should shape how we support entrepreneurs. A business owner who is also ALICE does not need a pep talk. She needs:

· Affordable, patient capital, not predatory loans or high-fee cash advances.

· Practical training in pricing, bookkeeping, and cash flow so revenue actually becomes household income.

· Coaching and peer networks that last beyond a single workshop.

· Access to child care and benefits, because the entrepreneur is often the family’s caregiver too.

· Local procurement, so that hospitals, universities, and corporations buy from the businesses on our own blocks.

When a small business stabilizes, the benefit spreads. The owner moves above the threshold. The workers she hires get steadier hours. The dollars stay in the neighborhood longer.

The model works when it is built for people like ALICE. The nonprofit I lead, Rising Tide Capital, started in 2004 with 15 entrepreneurs a year. Today it has served more than 13,500 entrepreneurs in English and Spanish, working in more than 14 states.

The results line up with what ALICE families need most: more income at home. Among the entrepreneurs it serves, business sales grew 77 percent and household incomes grew 56 percent, and together they created more than 1,500 new jobs. More than 81 percent of entrepreneurs we serve are still running their businesses after five years. That is a key test, because many small businesses close within their first few years.

This work is the ALICE lesson in action. A family climbs above the threshold when the business does more than survive, and starts to support the household.

What can you do? Look up your own county. United For ALICE publishes local data at unitedforalice.org, and many local United Ways share state reports.

Bring the numbers to the table. Share them with your family, your friends, pastor, your city council member, your employer, and your chamber of commerce. Ask what they are doing for the 58 percent of Black households the national report says are struggling to afford the basics.

Buy Black, and buy local, on purpose. Every purchase from a neighborhood business is a vote for a family’s stability.

And if you are ALICE, know this: the struggle is not a verdict on your worth or your work ethic. It is a measure of an economy that has not yet caught up to you. The goal, for all of us, is to make sure it does.

Rising Underemployment Remains Unreported

Jheri Hardaway — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 15:04:03 +0000

By Jheri Hardaway

Staff Writer

The North Carolina Department of Commerce released August County and Area Unemployment figures on September 30th. We learned that unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 91 counties in August 2026 and remained unchanged in nine. Edgecombe County had the highest unemployment rate at 5.4 percent while Currituck County had the lowest at 2.7 percent. Twelve of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases, and three remained unchanged. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 4.8 percent while Asheville and Raleigh each had the lowest at 3.1 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.6 percent.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports unemployment at 4.1 percent, but that does not give us the entire picture. Their October 2nd update reads, “Both the unemployment rate, at 4.2 percent, and the number of unemployed people, at 7.1 million, changed little in September. The unemployment rate has remained in a narrow range of 4.1 percent to 4.3 percent since March. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for people who are Black 7.0 percent. The jobless rates for adult men 3.9 percent, adult women 3.6 percent, teenagers 14.5 percent, and people who are White 3.6 percent, Asian 2.9 percent, or Hispanic 4.7 percent showed little change over the month. The Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity reports the rate of unemployment at 24.9 percent as of July 2026. What is real? More so, what isn’t being reported?

The underemployment numbers are missing from the wider conversation. Many people are working but not full-time, despite seeking full-time employment. Some people get up and go to work every day, yet they still are not earning an actual living wage. According to experts, a living wage is $26,000 per year; at the current rate of inflation, this still puts hard-working people in a paycheck-to-paycheck cycle. Think about it: productive, hardworking Americans cannot sustain themselves despite maxing out their working hours. Underemployment is a major issue, reports indicate that there have been 140,000 evictions in Atlanta, Georgia. Minimum wage has been $7.25 since 2009. The eviction process is not easy. It takes time. People are truly struggling.

The NC Budget & Tax Center is a non-profit, non-partisan organization, their website indicates “We work to document and analyze fiscal and economic conditions in partnership with community leaders and North Carolinians with lived experience of poverty to advance systemic solutions through public policy that drive anti-racist outcomes.” Alex Campbell, a Public Policy Analyst with the organization, reports, “Young people who are just entering the labor force for the first time are struggling to find employment. People who lose their job are finding it increasingly difficult to find new ones. As a result, under-employment is rising, as workers are forced to take jobs that they are overqualified for or to take part-time jobs to pay for the essentials. Even in NC, which is relatively better situated than many states, 28 percent of workers who have lost their job and received unemployment benefits have not been able to find a job within a year after losing their job. Where do we go from here? Hopefully, to the polls to elect leaders with vision that can create opportunities for the people.

$80M Of Spending On Almost 170 AI‑Generated Political Ads

The Carolinian — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 22:18:00 +0000

THE CONVERSATION - The 2026 U.S. midterm campaigns are the first in which AI-generated political ads are regularly appearing on people’s televisions and social media feeds.

We are researchers who have been studying political advertising through the Wesleyan Media Project since 2010. This election cycle – using data from media reports, student coders and AdImpact, a firm that tracks political ad spending – we’ve tracked about US$80 million in spending on almost 170 unique ads that use AI.

What we found has surprised us: AI use spans from hyperrealistic deepfakes to subtle enhancements; Republican sponsors – both candidates and interest groups – are much more likely to use AI than are Democratic sponsors; and, thanks to a patchwork of state legislation, many of these ads do not disclose the use of AI at all.

From deepfakes to subtle edits

An assortment of politicians and watchdog groups have expressed concern about campaigns using generative AI to produce deepfakes – synthetic videos showing people doing things they did not do – that might deceive voters.

We’ve noticed several ads containing hyperrealistic deepfakes of famous politicians, including Donald Trump, Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama, Kamala Harris and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Ocasio-Cortez, in particular, is a favorite among Republican advertisers, appearing in at least five ads.

We’ve seen deepfakes in which a Republican Senate candidate from Louisiana drives a school bus full of undocumented immigrants, a Republican candidate for governor from South Carolina walks arm in arm with drag queens, and an ad in which Liz Cheney, Mitt Romney and Mike Pence are seen carrying pitchforks on the White House lawn.

People who are not politicians made appearances, too, including a fake Dr. Anthony Fauci, seen running around a state fair with a huge syringe, presumably eager to vaccinate everyone. We’ve also noticed several ads in which AI was used to generate crowds or constituents.

In several cases, AI was used to enhance visuals rather than generate something new. One ad from Chip Keating, a Republican candidate for governor in Oklahoma, includes an AI disclaimer, but it doesn’t specify exactly how AI was used. Ads that use AI to enhance visuals don’t necessarily look different from ads that were created in the pre-AI era, which makes it difficult for viewers to discern whether they depict something false.

A partisan gap

Republicans – both candidates and groups such as super PACs and 501(c) organizations – are much more likely to use AI in their ads than are Democrats, according to our research.

In fact, Republican candidates or pro-Republican groups were behind 80% of the ads we tracked and 83% of the spending.

We can only speculate as to why Republicans dominate the use of AI in political advertising in 2026. In general, Democrats tend to take on a regulatory mindset when it comes to political campaigns, favoring limits on campaign spending and required disclosures. In 2022, for instance, only Senate Democrats and two independents voted to advance the DISCLOSE Act that would have required additional campaign finance disclosures for super PACs, labor unions and corporations. Republicans, by contrast, tend to be more in favor of a free market approach.

These more general philosophies may be reflected in the parties’ use of generative AI for political advertising, something about which voters are worried. Polling shows broad support for more regulation, with 78% of registered voters favoring a ban on AI content that makes deceptive claims about candidates.

Disclaimers all over the map

Because regulation of AI in advertising depends on a patchwork of state legislation, many of these ads are not required to disclose the use of AI. This lack of disclaimers makes tracking AI use in ads challenging. Our team has relied on media coverage and trained student coders to flag ads that are potentially AI-generated.

Across 35 states, only 31% of the ads we tracked – representing 22% of the spending – disclosed the use of AI tools. The wording of these disclaimers was all over the map. For example, one Georgia ad included the disclaimer, “This video has been manipulated or generated with artificial intelligence,” while an Oklahoma ad said, “Political satire. AI-generated images do not depict actual events.” A North Carolina state Senate ad said, “You guessed it! AI was definitely used to generate these silly video clips.”

Laws don’t drive disclosure

Some advertisers voluntarily disclose the use of AI even when they are not required to do so. Sometimes, the opposite occurs – advertisers don’t include disclaimers even when state law requires them to. In fact, we’ve found that a state law that requires disclaimers on ads that use AI has very little relationship with the actual use of disclaimers.

In states without laws governing the use of AI in political ads, 32% of ads contained a disclaimer; by contrast, in states with laws governing the use of AI, 29% contained a disclaimer. This comparison, however, is not perfect, as some of the ads in our database aren’t covered by their state’s law. Some states, such as Colorado, have laws that apply only to candidate deepfakes and thus exclude other uses of AI. In other instances, such as in Louisiana, an AI law was enacted after the ad aired.

Minnesota law generally bans deepfakes in political ads, but an ad featuring synthetic video of Democratic Senate candidate Peggy Flanagan aired in May 2026 anyway. Whether it violated state law is uncertain, as the law requires that the media be “so realistic that a reasonable person would believe it depicts speech or conduct of an individual who did not in fact engage in such speech or conduct.”

Moving forward, the real policy challenge will revolve around transparency, the enforceability of existing laws and simply figuring out what type of disclosure would be helpful to voters.

With Election Pressure Mounting, States Move To Suspend Fuel Taxes

The Carolinian — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:16:00 +0000

NC NEWSLINE - With Election Day less than a month away, lawmakers in several states are suspending gas taxes or rolling back regulations on diesel fuel as voters grow increasingly frustrated with rising fuel costs amid President Donald Trump’s war with Iran.

On Tuesday, Trump issued an executive order to expand access to tax-free diesel fuel nationwide, following the lead of several governors who have taken the same step.

Trump signed the order at a Nebraska rally, promising U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts and Gov. Jim Pillen, both Republicans, that “this should absolutely ensure your election, I guarantee you that,” the Associated Press reported.

In at least four states — Georgia, Indiana, Ohio and Utah — leaders have moved to temporarily suspend or reduce the state tax on gasoline.

Ohio lawmakers voted last month to approve a 90-day gas tax holiday, a move called for by both the Democratic and Republican candidates for governor.

While many Democrats joined with Republicans to pass the bill, some Democratic leaders called the measure a last-ditch effort to salvage the GOP’s electoral prospects, the Ohio Capital Journal reported.

“If this had been so important, we would have acted (earlier this year), but we didn’t,” said Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio, a Democrat. “They said we have nothing more to take up until after the election, and then suddenly they got polling numbers, and the polling numbers told them they were behind.”

Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp suspended the state’s gas tax with an executive order, as did Indiana Republican Gov. Mike Braun.

And Utah lawmakers voted earlier this year to temporarily reduce the gas tax by 15%.

Meanwhile, 10 states had reduced restrictions on the use of tax-exempt diesel fuel prior to Trump’s order that loosened those restrictions nationwide.

That fuel, known as red-dyed diesel, is normally only allowed for off-highway agricultural, industrial and railroad use, according to the North Dakota Monitor. Some governors have issued executive orders expanding the use of red-dyed diesel, which is not taxed like regular diesel, in a bid to help farmers and truckers with transportation costs.

North Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, North Carolina and Indiana have all issued similar orders, according to the Associated Press.

“Texas agriculture and freight run on diesel,” Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement, according to the Texas Tribune. “Record prices put both industries at risk and raise costs for every Texas family.”

Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee also issued an order Tuesday allowing farmers and loggers to use red-dyed diesel on public roads, at the urging of state lawmakers.

In other states, leaders are facing pressure to take similar action.

Legislative leaders in North Carolina have called for a special session on fuel prices. Some lawmakers there have suggested that the state could use surplus revenue from state reserves to pay for road projects while temporarily suspending the gas tax.

The Iowa Corn Growers Association is urging lawmakers there to follow suit, while asking them to push the Trump administration to release oil from the U.S. Strategic Oil Reserve.

In Kentucky, Republican Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell has asked Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear to also roll back restrictions on untaxed diesel. And Connecticut Republicans have proposed a three-month holiday on fuel taxes, while Democrats have countered that they should focus on ending Trump’s war with Iran.

The Color of Education Summit

The Carolinian — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 14:33:00 +0000

The 2026 Color of Education Summit brought educators, students, researchers, policymakers, advocates and community leaders together at the McKimmon Conference & Training Center in Raleigh on Oct. 3 for a day focused on racial equity and educational justice in North Carolina’s public schools.

This year’s theme, “Justice Rising: Repairing, Restoring, Resisting,” centered on addressing systemic inequities while expanding access and opportunity for students across the state.

The full-day, in-person summit followed a virtual opening session held Oct. 2. Throughout the Oct. 3 program, participants took part in discussions examining the history of educational inequity, leadership, public policy, student opportunity and how education systems can prepare for the future.

Sessions also explored strategies for addressing persistent disparities and the roles educators, policymakers and communities can play in creating more equitable learning environments.

At the center of the summit was a call for collective action. Through its theme of repairing, restoring and resisting, the event emphasized addressing past harms, restoring opportunities for students and challenging policies and practices that continue to contribute to inequity in education.

Feds provide guidance on new federal K-12 scholarship tax credit program

The Carolinian — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 12:51:00 +0000

NC NEWSLINE - The U.S. Department of the Treasury released new guidance Thursday for participating states, scholarship-granting organizations and taxpayers as the federal scholarship tax credit program prepares to take effect in January.

Created through President Donald Trump’s massive tax and spending law in 2025, the Education Freedom Tax Credit program allows individuals to claim a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for donations to certain scholarship-granting organizations (known as SGOs) and taxpayers can contribute to an eligible organization regardless of where that taxpayer lives.

The $1,700 limit applies to the donor credit, not the scholarship amount, and married couples filing jointly can claim a combined $3,400 credit.

These contributions are meant to fund K-12 scholarships, primarily at private schools, though the scholarships can cover tutoring, books, supplies, extended-day programs and disability services for students who remain in public schools, and tutoring can take place during or after school.

So far, 30 states have agreed to join the program, according to the Internal Revenue Service. Officials also confirmed a deadline for states to opt in by Jan. 1 and to submit their SGO lists by Feb. 15. On a press call with reporters Wednesday, a Treasury official said that if an organization meets the federal statutory requirements, the state must include it on the list submitted to the IRS; states cannot pick and choose the SGOs they like.

States opting in so far include: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.

New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, has said that she plans to have her state participate, but wants to first review the federal rules before making a final decision.

Several Democratic governors, including those in Hawaii, Minnesota, New Mexico and Oregon, have said their states won’t participate.

In some states, Republican lawmakers and Democratic governors have had some disputes over the decision to opt in. Democratic governors in North Carolina and Kansas vetoed legislation requiring their states to opt in, but GOP-controlled legislatures overrode both vetoes.

The Democratic governors of Arizona and Wisconsin successfully vetoed GOP legislation that would have opted their states into the program.

Under the program, scholarships may be given to students whose household income is up to 300% of an area’s median income. During the press call, Treasury officials said approximately 95% of American children live in households meeting that threshold, while Department of Education officials said about 28 million children in the 30 participating states would be eligible.

States have limited authority on the rules they can impose on scholarship-granting organizations within their borders; federal rules don’t allow them to supersede limits by the federal government.

Under the federal rules, the organizations would be required to undergo annual financial and program audits and provide those reports to participating states. States could use the audits to identify problem organizations and remove groups that fail to meet federal requirements or to prevent fraud, including duplicate scholarship payments for the same student expense.

SGOs are required to be 501(c)(3) nonprofits that are not private foundations, and they must keep qualified contributions in separate accounts.

Under the law, SGOs must spend no less than 90% of their income on scholarships. Additionally, each scholarship-granting organization must serve at least 10 students who do not all attend the same school. They cannot earmark donations for a particular student and must verify household income and family size.

Federal statute also requires SGOs to prioritize students who received a scholarship the previous school year, then siblings of the recipients. Students who would otherwise be public school students could qualify for these scholarships.

The rules stipulate that homeschools will be treated as they are defined and categorized according to each state’s law.

According to new estimates provided by the Treasury, by 2030, there could be somewhere between 600 and 700 SGOs with contributions from more than 11 million taxpayers, nearly $26 billion in qualified contributions annually and as many as 2.2 million scholarships annually.

Americans Are Using Buy Now, Pay Later More Than Ever. Here’s What To Know

The Carolinian — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 21:42:00 +0000

NEW YORK (AP) — Americans spent more than $160 billion last year using buy now, pay later plans, according to research published by Federal Reserve economists.

Experts say they’re increasingly seeing people use the plans for everyday expenses like groceries, bills, transportation and, sometimes rent.

“It has been very hard out there for a lot of people,” said Sara Rathner, NerdWallet’s credit card expert. “It’s a tough job market, and it’s a rough economy, and the cost of the things that we buy every day has been going up, in some cases more than people’s incomes.”

Pay-in-four plans, which generally allow consumers to pay for purchases in four installments over six weeks, accounted for about half of the $160 billion in buy now, pay later spending last year, according to the study. Use of those plans has increased nearly 80% since 2023.

The rest of the plans were either longer- or shorter-term loans.

How consumers are using buy now pay later

When Elizabeth Brown first used buy now, pay later, she had just started living by herself and was earning a salary that made it hard to afford basic expenses. She would buy groceries and, once she got her paycheck, pay for them through buy now, pay later. Six years later, things haven’t changed much.

“I used buy now, pay later so I can have the furniture I need. I have groceries in my fridge because of it. I don’t necessarily feel shameful for using it because at the end it’s very beneficial to me at this point of my life,” said Brown, 26, of Columbia, South Carolina, who works as a clinical service member at an optical store.

Buy now, pay later products have evolved. Rent now, pay later services are one form, which break rent into multiple payments.

“It isn’t really just a convenience element anymore; it really is becoming a cash flow challenge,” said Mark Elliott, chief customer officer at Happen Bank, a financial services company formerly known as Lending Club.

Jordan Williams, 28, first used buy now, pay later to get concert tickets to Hozier. Then, when she experienced financial hardship after her daughter was born, she started leaning on it to pay for some of her groceries.

“There’s just not a lot of resources, and that makes me angry because this shouldn’t be something I have to do,” said Williams, a lecturer and content creator from Greensboro, North Carolina. “We should be able to just afford groceries. I feel angry and then I feel embarrassed.”

For a long time, Williams felt ashamed about having to use buy now, pay later for basic expenses. She now feels less alone after talking with other people who also have debt.

If you’re going to use buy now, pay later plans, here are some expert recommendations:

Read the fine print

The most well-known buy now, pay later product is pay-in-four, where you can pay back what you owe in four payments, one every two weeks, with a 0% annual percentage rate, or APR. However, not every buy now, pay later loan has the same terms. Before you commit to buying something using buy now, pay later, Ed deHaan, a professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, recommends that you read your contract carefully.

“So-called buy now, pay later products are popping up that are not good deals at all,” deHaan said. “Some of them charge hefty fees, both upfront and if you miss a payment.”

In general, if you miss a buy now, pay later payment, you can face fees, interest or the possibility of being banned from using the services in the future.

Know how it impacts your credit score

In the past, buy now, pay later loans didn’t impact your credit score, but that has changed. Buy now, pay later agencies now report credit lending activity to one of the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

“Entering into a buy now, pay later plan for now isn’t going to affect your credit in any way, but missing a payment can, so that’s where you really want to be careful,” Rathner said.

Credit reporting depends on the company and its policies. For example, both Affirm and Klarna report to Experian and TransUnion. Afterpay does not report to any credit bureau.

Only borrow what you can pay back

Before purchasing something with buy now, pay later, deHaan recommends pausing to consider whether it’s an amount you can pay back.

“The general advice for credit is that it’s very easy to spend and hard to pay off,” deHaan said. “And most of us, many of us, are not good at making good predictions about what we will be able to pay in the future.”

When using buy now, pay later, Brown set herself a limit of $100 a month across payments, and she avoids signing up for payments every two weeks and instead chooses the monthly payment options.

Avoid stacking plans

As with credit cards, you can sign up for multiple buy now, pay later plans. These loans can quickly balloon until they become unmanageable. If you don’t want to risk snowballing into debt, avoid stacking buy-now, pay later loans, said Carla Sanchez-Adams, senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center.

“Avoid multiple purchases because then it gets really hard to track, especially if they’re with different companies,” Sanchez-Adams said.

If you have to utilize multiple loans, make sure you keep track of the payment amounts and dates so you avoid late fees, she added.

Seek out additional resources

Looking into additional resources such as food banks, SNAP or hardship help programs in your area can be helpful, Rathner said.

“If you are stretched thin for affording food and going into debt to do so, it could be time to seek out additional help,” she said. “So this is hopefully less of a struggle for you and your family while you’re going through this difficult time.”

Seek help from a nonprofit credit counseling agency

If you’ve reached a point where you have too many buy now, pay later loans and maybe some credit card debt too, it might be time to seek help from a credit counseling agency. Two well-known resources for finding nonprofit credit counseling agencies are the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and the Financial Counseling Association of America. Both can help you connect with certified agencies and counselors.

“You have financial stress, you have work stress, you have family stress,” Rathner said. “Get help with the financial stress because that can help you feel more in control of this area of your life. And it can help take one step at a time toward paying down your debts and feeling more in control.”

Wake County Candidates Address Data Center Issues

The Carolinian — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 16:32:06 +0000

By Jordan Meadows

Staff Writer

Southeast Raleigh residents and local candidates gathered Saturday at the Garner Woman's Club for a People's Assembly and candidate forum on proposed data center development in the region, with nearly every candidate in attendance backing some form of moratorium ahead of the Raleigh City Council's vote Tuesday evening.

The event combined a community organizing fair, panel discussion and candidate forum focused on what organizers described as the broader stakes of rapid data center expansion for land, water, energy, public health, utility infrastructure and local decision-making across Raleigh, Wake County and North Carolina more broadly. Candidates for Raleigh City Council, Wake County commissioner and the Wake Soil and Water Conservation District weighed in on how long a moratorium the city and county should pursue, with positions ranging from six months to a permanent ban.

Raleigh City Council member Christina Jones, who represents District E, said she supports a moratorium but cautioned that its length should be tied to how quickly the city can answer outstanding questions about data centers' energy and water usage.

"I definitely support a moratorium," Jones said. "What I'm concerned with is, if it's a six-month moratorium versus a 36-month one—if we don't address those questions and answer them, we're never going to get your buy-in. I want there to be public meetings, back-and-forth public conversation, and I think we need to use this time to justify that to the public."

Raleigh City Council member Cory Branch, who represents District C, urged the crowd to distinguish between the longstanding history of data centers and the newer hyperscale facilities driving current concerns.

"Data centers have been around for a very long time. They built this region," Branch said, pointing to companies such as IBM and Lenovo that have relied on data infrastructure for decades.

"Let's be more specific when we talk about what is really impacting our environment, and that's the hyperscale data centers that are causing more impact right now on the environment than the legacy data centers. This gives us time to go in, tighten up our procedures, tighten up our rules, so that we can make sure that everybody is safe in Raleigh as well as our surrounding communities."

Jevon Smith-Cook, a nonpartisan candidate for Raleigh City Council District D, framed his support for a moratorium around workforce disruption, particularly in surrounding rural communities.

"The disruption that we see now is not the disruption that we're going to see in the future… Just because we don't have a data center in the city of Raleigh doesn't mean we won't have one in Chatham County, because the land here is so expensive," he said.

Wake County Commissioner At-Large Mona Singh, who said she comes from a technology background, argued the county simply lacks the capacity to absorb large-scale data center development.

"We have 66 people moving into the county every single day. We do not have the resources even to provide for those 66 people," Singh said. "Each AI data center would use resources that could actually help be used for 100,000 people. We just don't have it. Data centers should be in places where they have resources and no people, and that's not Wake County."

Samantha Kropp, who works professionally in water quality as a riverkeeper on the Neuse River, backed the longest moratorium discussed at the forum.

"I do support a 36-month moratorium. I support as long of a moratorium as we can feasibly pass, in order to gain the necessary time that we need to get the unanswered questions answered," Kropp said, noting other parts of Wake County have already passed moratoriums longer than six months.

She also warned against loopholes that would allow a wave of smaller data centers to collectively match a hyperscale facility's impact.

"If we're ushering in, let's say, 10, 20, 30 more smaller data centers, then what we end up with is the equivalent of the emissions and discharges of a hyperscale data center," she said.

Cece Grant, another candidate for the conservation district, said she has spent three years fighting data center development and rejected any moratorium as insufficient.

"I am not for a 36-month ban. I'm for a permanent ban," Grant said.

She cited three reasons for her opposition: 1) that data centers are disproportionately sited in low-income communities, 2) that developers often negotiate favorable deals with utility companies that shift costs onto ratepayers, and 3) that the facilities consume water needed by residents while discharging runoff into the same water supply.

"We have enough problems paying Duke Energy. We don't need to be paying for a data center," she said.

Terence Thomas, also running for the conservation district, said a six-month window isn't enough time to build public trust.

"There are two issues here: public safety and public trust. Six months does not give us enough time to communicate to the community about the impact and the effect of what the data center can do. When there is not enough communication, there is distrust in the community."

Less than an hour East of Wake County, the Wilson NAACP hosted its own candidate forum the same day, at Wilson Community College's DelMastro Auditorium.

Wake County Commissioners Sherry Lucas and JoAnne Daniels, the only commissioner candidates in attendance, both spoke against a ballot referendum to cap personal and property taxes, the Wilson Times reported.

"If we don't have the revenue, we will not be able to do the things in the county that we would like to do," Lucas said.

With the election approaching, more counties and candidates are expected to hold forums and address the issues most affecting their communities.

WSSU Professor Earns National Mental Health Award

The Carolinian — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 15:21:00 +0000

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Dr. Keisha Grayson Rogers, professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Counseling and chair of the Faculty Senate at Winston-Salem State University, has been named the 2026 Black Mental Health Educator of the Year by the Black Mental Health Symposium.

Rogers was recognized Sept. 11 during the Black Mental Health Symposium Awards Ceremony, held as part of the organization’s 10th annual conference, themed “Remember. Reset. Reclaim.”

The award recognizes a scholar or professor who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to training the next generation of culturally humble and socially conscious counselors while advancing excellence in Black mental health education.

Rogers was selected for her contributions to counselor education, mentorship and advocacy. Throughout her career, she has focused on preparing rehabilitation and clinical mental health counselors to provide culturally responsive, ethical and evidence-based services to people from diverse backgrounds. Her teaching emphasizes cultural humility, social justice, advocacy and reducing mental health disparities affecting historically underserved communities.

“I am deeply honored to receive the Black Mental Health Educator of the Year Award,” Rogers said. “This recognition affirms the importance of preparing counselors who lead with cultural humility, compassion and a commitment to social justice. I share this honor with my students, colleagues and the Winston-Salem State University community, whose dedication to excellence continues to inspire my work every day.”

At WSSU, Rogers has mentored graduate students, supported professional development opportunities and fostered leadership among future counseling professionals. Through her scholarship, externally funded initiatives, community engagement and service to the counseling profession, she has worked to strengthen the behavioral health workforce and expand access to high-quality mental health care for underserved populations.

As Faculty Senate chair, Rogers provides leadership in support of shared governance, academic excellence and initiatives that advance the university’s mission. Her work in teaching, mentorship and service continues to make an impact on students, colleagues and the counseling profession.

Rogers’ work supports WSSU’s We Are Rising 2030 strategic vision to strengthen academic excellence, prepare graduates for high-demand careers and deepen the university’s impact on the communities it serves.