Government

Hudson will seek Congressional seat that includes Randolph

Hudson will seek Congressional seat that includes Randolph

RALEIGH — After a three-judge panel redrew Congressional maps for North Carolina, a current U.S. House member who previously represented Randolph County has announced he will run in a new district that now includes Randolph. Rep. Richard Hudson (R-08) is in his fifth term in the U.S. House serving the N.C.'s eighth congressional district. Hudson represented Moore, Anson, Randolph, Scotland, Hoke and Cumberland in current and previous versions of the 8th District. All or part of those counties are not included in the new 9th District. Hudson represented the southwestern corner of Randolph County as part of the 8th District…
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Virtual Academy student wins Randolph County spelling bee

Virtual Academy student wins Randolph County spelling bee

Marcie Rudzinski of the Virtual Academy after spelling the final word “primordial” winning the Randolph County Schools Spelling Bee at Randleman Elementary school in Randleman on February 15th, 2022. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL RANDLEMAN — Maycie Rudzinski of The Virtual Academy at Randolph was the winner of Randolph County School System’s District Spelling Bell on Tuesday at Randleman Middle School. Rudzinski, a seventh-grader, emerged from a field of 25 entrants. She spelled “primordial” – meaning existing at or from the beginning of time -- correctly to clinch the victory. “I wasn’t expecting it,” Rudzinski said of winning and the opportunity…
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Toyota announces electric car parts production expansion

Toyota announces electric car parts production expansion

BUFFALO, W.Va. — Toyota Motor Corp. announced Friday that it will further expand production of electric vehicle parts at plants in West Virginia and Tennessee in a $90 million investment. The announcement comes three months after the Japanese automaker said it would invest $240 million to add a production line dedicated to hybrid powertrains at its facility in Buffalo, West Virginia. The latest upgrade involves spending $73 million at the plant to annually assemble an estimated 120,000 rear motor stators, a key component in electric motors. “Toyota is moving quickly toward an electrified future, and West Virginia will play a…
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Citizens make voices heard against vaccine mandates

Citizens make voices heard against vaccine mandates

PINEHURST — Citizen groups across the globe are protesting vaccine mandates as vaccine effectiveness against new variants of the COVID-19 virus has waned and Americans who are vaccinated are not showing high demand for boosters. On January 23, tens of thousands of people rallied on the National Mall to oppose government vaccine requirements. Mitch Lancaster, a Moore County resident and former Southern Pines councilman, was one of the attendees from across the country to attend the event. “I was thoroughly impressed with the doctors, their speeches and their commitment to the patient/doctor relationship. These men and women have taken a…
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Robin Sage set to begin Jan 22

Robin Sage set to begin Jan 22

In this Jan. 14, 2009 photo, Bob Snyder, also known as Pineland Bob, right, maps out a transportation plan with a soldier during the Special Forces' Robin Sage exercise in Ramseur, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) RALEIGH — Special Forces candidates will participate in a two-week training exercise across 25 North Carolina counties this week, a news release from the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School says. The participants are students at Fort Bragg. Robin Sage is the culmination exercise and has been the litmus test for Soldiers striving to earn the Green Beret for more than 40 years.…
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White House soft-launches COVID-19 test request website

White House soft-launches COVID-19 test request website

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Biden administration on Tuesday quietly launched its website for Americans to request free at-home COVID-19 tests, a day before the site was scheduled to officially go online. The website, COVIDTests.gov, now includes a link for Americans to access an order form run by the U.S. Postal Service. People can order four at-home tests per residential address, to be delivered by the Postal Service. It marks the latest step by President Joe Biden to address criticism of low inventory and long lines for testing during a nationwide surge in COVID-19 cases due to the omicron variant.  White…
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New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has COVID

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has COVID

WASHINGTON, D.C. — New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has tested positive for COVID-19 and “is experiencing symptoms and recovering at home,” her office said in a statement Sunday evening. The Democratic congresswoman’s office said Ocasio-Cortez received a booster shot last fall. With the nation dealing with another surge of the virus since the emergence of the highly contagious omicron variant, numerous members of Congress have reported breakthrough cases despite being fully vaccinated and boosted.
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Board of Elections meeting nixed for December

Board of Elections meeting nixed for December

ASHEBORO — This week’s meeting of the Randolph County Board of Elections was canceled after the recent rescheduling of 2022 primaries in the state. Melissa Johnson, who’s director of the Randolph County Board of Elections, sent a notice announcing the cancellation of Tuesday’s meeting. The next meeting of the board is set for 5 p.m. Jan. 11. Last week, the North Carolina Supreme Court suspended candidate filing for all offices for the 2022 primary election. This included municipal contests. In doing so, the North Carolina Supreme Court pushed back the date of the primary from March 8 to May 17.…
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McNeill won’t run for re-election

McNeill won’t run for re-election

ASHEBORO — Rep. Allen McNeill (R-Randolph) announced last week that he won’t seek re-election for another term in N.C. House in 2022. McNeill is in his fifth full term in the House after replacing long-time Randolph County representative and former Speaker of the House, Harold Brubaker. Neal Jackson, pastor of Beulah Baptist Church in Bennet, announced last week that he would run as a Republican to replace McNeill.
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General Assembly wraps up long session

General Assembly wraps up long session

RALEIGH — The North Carolina General Assembly wrapped up late Monday nearly all of its work for the calendar year, although vetoes, redistricting rulings or other items could bring lawmakers back to Raleigh for more activity within weeks. The session, which began the session in January, ended with votes on more than a dozen measures before members of the House and Senate left Raleigh.  One bill heading for Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s desk — that sources say he is likely to veto — would prohibit election boards and officials in counties from accepting private money to run elections, which happened…
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