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Tag: Rocky Mount

  • Trump heads to Fort Bragg to cheer special forces members who ousted Venezuela’s Maduro

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    President Donald Trump is heading to North Carolina on Friday to celebrate members of the special forces who stormed into Venezuela on the third day of the New Year and whisked away that country’s leader, Nicolás Maduro, to face U.S. smuggling charges.First Lady Melania Trump will also be making the trip to Fort Bragg, one of the largest military bases in the world by population, to spend time with military families.Trump has been hitting the road more frequently to states that could play key roles in November’s midterm congressional elections, including a stop before Christmas in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. The White House has been trying to promote Trump’s economic policies, including attempts to bring down the cost of living at a time when many Americans are becoming increasingly frustrated with Trump’s efforts to improve affordability.The president spoke at Fort Bragg in June at an event meant to recognize the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. But that celebration was overshadowed by his partisan remarks describing protesters in Los Angeles as “animals” and his defense of deploying the military there.Trump has since deployed the National Guard to places like Washington and Memphis, Tennessee, as well as other federal law enforcement officials involved in his crackdown on immigration. Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, announced Thursday that the administration is ending the operations in Minnesota that led to the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens.This time, Trump’s visit is meant to toast service members involved in his administration’s dramatic ouster of Maduro, an operation he has described as requiring bravery and advanced weapons.His administration has since pushed for broad oversight of the South American country’s oil industry. Next month, he plans to convene a gathering of leaders from a number of Latin American countries in Florida, as the administration spotlights what it sees as concerning Chinese influence in the region.The March 7 gathering can give Trump a chance to further press a new and aggressive foreign policy which the president has proudly dubbed the “Donroe Doctrine,” a reference to 19th-century President James Monroe’s belief that the U.S. should dominate its sphere of influence.

    President Donald Trump is heading to North Carolina on Friday to celebrate members of the special forces who stormed into Venezuela on the third day of the New Year and whisked away that country’s leader, Nicolás Maduro, to face U.S. smuggling charges.

    First Lady Melania Trump will also be making the trip to Fort Bragg, one of the largest military bases in the world by population, to spend time with military families.

    Trump has been hitting the road more frequently to states that could play key roles in November’s midterm congressional elections, including a stop before Christmas in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. The White House has been trying to promote Trump’s economic policies, including attempts to bring down the cost of living at a time when many Americans are becoming increasingly frustrated with Trump’s efforts to improve affordability.

    The president spoke at Fort Bragg in June at an event meant to recognize the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. But that celebration was overshadowed by his partisan remarks describing protesters in Los Angeles as “animals” and his defense of deploying the military there.

    Trump has since deployed the National Guard to places like Washington and Memphis, Tennessee, as well as other federal law enforcement officials involved in his crackdown on immigration. Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, announced Thursday that the administration is ending the operations in Minnesota that led to the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens.

    This time, Trump’s visit is meant to toast service members involved in his administration’s dramatic ouster of Maduro, an operation he has described as requiring bravery and advanced weapons.

    His administration has since pushed for broad oversight of the South American country’s oil industry. Next month, he plans to convene a gathering of leaders from a number of Latin American countries in Florida, as the administration spotlights what it sees as concerning Chinese influence in the region.

    The March 7 gathering can give Trump a chance to further press a new and aggressive foreign policy which the president has proudly dubbed the “Donroe Doctrine,” a reference to 19th-century President James Monroe’s belief that the U.S. should dominate its sphere of influence.

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  • Donald Trump remembers NASCAR driver Greg Biffle at NC rally. ‘Great young man.’

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    In Rocky Mount Friday night, President Donald Trump remembered NASCAR driver Greg Biffle.

    Biffle died in a plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport Thursday along with his wife, their two children and three others.

    “I also want to express my condolences to the people of this state and the loved ones of NASCAR legend Greg Biffle, who perished yesterday, had a tragic plane crash with his family in Statesville,” Trump said at a rally.

    A fan visits Greg Biffle’s marker at the North Carolina Auto Racing Walk of Fame on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025.
    A fan visits Greg Biffle’s marker at the North Carolina Auto Racing Walk of Fame on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. KHADEJEH NIKOUYEH

    ‘Pay our condolences, our love’

    The president told the crowd he twice met Biffle, who lived on Lake Norman in Mooresville with his family.

    “He was a great young man, and what a tragedy that is with his whole family,” Trump said. “So I just want to pay our condolences, our love. North Carolina will never forget them.”

    On Friday, National Transportation Safety Board officials held a news conference providing preliminary information on the crash. Between 10:05 a.m. and 10:15 a.m., the plane left the airport about 45 miles north of Charlotte, returned for an unknown reason and crashed before the runway entrance, NTSB member Michael Graham said.

    Greg Biffle, center, is regarded as one of NASCAR’s top 75 drivers of all time. He and his family died on Dec. 18 after his plane crashed at Statesville Regional Airport, which is about 45 miles north of Charlotte.
    Greg Biffle, center, is regarded as one of NASCAR’s top 75 drivers of all time. He and his family died on Dec. 18 after his plane crashed at Statesville Regional Airport, which is about 45 miles north of Charlotte. Courtesy of Lake Norman Humane

    The 44-year-old Cessna 550 jet was in the air for about five minutes before it started to return, Investigator-In-Charge Dan Baker said. The jet left Statesville at about 10:05 a.m. It made a left turn toward the west followed by a left turn to the east, which led the aircraft back to the airport.

    The airplane made initial impact with a runaway light about 1,800 feet from the runway, Baker said. It later hit trees, two other lights and the airport perimeter fence short of the runway before coming to a stop on the runway, Baker said.

    The Cessna 550 jet was destroyed in the crash and subsequent fire, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

    Witnesses noted on social media the plane cut a path through a wooded area near the airport, and left a smoking trail carved in the grass before it came to a stop. Graham added that when the plane was returning to the airport, witnesses noted that it returned at a low height.

    The NTSB has scheduled another news conference regarding the crash for 11 a.m. Saturday.

    This story was originally published December 20, 2025 at 8:38 AM.

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    Joe Marusak

    The Charlotte Observer

    Joe Marusak has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1989 covering the people, municipalities and major news events of the region, and was a news bureau editor for the paper. He currently reports on breaking news.
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  • 83-year-old woman robbed, injured at an PNC Bank ATM in Rocky Mount: Police

    83-year-old woman robbed, injured at an PNC Bank ATM in Rocky Mount: Police

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    Monday, April 29, 2024 3:34AM

    Elderly woman robbed at ATM in Rocky Mount, police say

    Rocky Mount police say the robbery happened Friday afternoon outside a PNC Bank.

    ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. (WTVD) — The Rocky Mount Police Department is asking for help to identify a robbery suspect.

    At around 4 p.m. Friday, police responded to a report of a robbery at a PNC Bank ATM located at 1280 Benvenue Road.

    The victim was identified as 83-year-old Annie Powell.

    She was treated for minor injuries.

    If you know who this person is, RMRD is asking you to call 252-972-1411.

    Rocky Mount Police Department

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