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Tag: Sasha Strong

  • Ongoing water crisis in Yanceyville impacts Caswell County school calendar

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    YANCEYVILLE, N.C. — Caswell County Schools leaders are hopeful they can get back to a normal schedule next week.

    What You Need To Know

    • Caswell County Schools is preparing for children to return to in-person classes after canceling classes Friday and operating remotely Wednesday and Thursday due to their ongoing water crisis

    • The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction allows for five remote learning days, and Caswell County Schools used their other three during the winter storm 

    • Administrators in the district say water is back at all schools but with usage restrictions and quality concerns remain they are making plans to adjust their school calenders



    The district used its last two remote learning days Wednesday and Thursday after Yanceyville issued a Water Supply Emergency Declaration.

    Interim Superintendent Lance Stokes said water is back at all schools in the county, but usage restrictions and quality concerns forced the district to hold off on allowing students to return to classes Friday.

    “The information that we received from our Emergency Management System is that the systems need to flush and clear the line so we are looking to have clear water when we get those reports back,” Stokes said. 

    Caswell County Schools use the second-most amount of water in the county.

    “Some parents were questioning why not just send them to school with a bottle of water, but you have to understand there is a water shortage. Most of our systems operate off of boilers for the heat and the HVAC,” Stokes said.

    The state gives all school districts five days in the calendar year to operate remotely for unforeseen times like these.

    Stokes said Caswell County used two this week and the others during the winter storms.

    “We utilized three of our remote learning days during the inclement weather. It is very crippling when you have two systems coming back-to-back,” Stokes said. 

    Now that all the remote days are gone, Stokes said he will need to speak with the school board about ways to adjust their calendar.

    “We would have to either amend the school day or the calendar or the very unpopular one — we would have school during spring break. That isn’t an option that we’ve had to explore yet, but it could be a possibility looking to take some instructional days and put them into spring break if we have any more inclement weather,” Stokes said. 

    He said they are adhering to local guidelines, providing water and working with agencies across the county to make sure students return to safe schools.

    “When you have these types of crises, particularly in a rural area, you have to pull through it. We’re not one of the larger districts with more resources, so all of our agencies have to pull together and support our community,” Stokes said.

    Stokes said their goal is for students to return to class Monday.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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  • N.C. A&T students host first of several early voting events

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    GREENSBORO, N.C. — The first day of early voting kicked off with a march to the polls from N.C. A&T.

    What You Need To Know

    • N.C. A&T students walked to the polls after the State Board of Elections decided against early voting locations at their campus

    • All 10 early voting sites around Guilford County opened this week

    • The two closest to the university’s campus are the Old Guilford Court House and the Guilford AG Center, but both are more than a mile away

    • The event is the first of many voter turnout events students said they will be holding leading up to the primary election March 3



    The event comes after the State Board of Elections decided against adding early voting locations at the university along with UNC Greensboro and Elon University.

    Organizers said it is the first of many more voter turnout events they’re planning to help students navigate voting off campus.

    “Aggies do what is necessary for our rights, for our survival and for our people,” said N.C. A&T student Jae’lah Monet, who joined more than 60 other students and community members in a walk to the nearest polling site about 1.3 miles away from campus.

    She said the event helps students get to the election site safely while demonstrating to the State Board of Elections how important a polling site is on campus.

    “We will be there all day, and we will all get a chance to vote. Accessibility is truly, truly so important to all of us Aggies, because we understand not everyone has a car, not every student has money for Uber, so we work together to make sure that everybody has an equal chance, and that is what it means to be an Aggie,” Monet said.

    There are 10 early voting sites around Guilford County. The two closest to campus are the Old Guilford Court House and the Guilford AG Center, but both are more than a mile away.

    Charlie Collicutt, director of the Guilford County Board of Elections, said this is usual for this election, but the school will remain a voting location on election day.

    “There’s never been a midterm election, primary or general election that used any of our college campuses. We’ve only ever used them in presidential elections,” Collicutt said.  

    “We’re staffed up at all of our polling sites. Any voter going to any site should see a fairly efficient process,” he said as students began lining up in the registration and voting lines.

    Monet said they hope this walk changes that.

    “There are a lot of things in this country that people have never had, and that doesn’t make them right. That doesn’t mean that it’s always fair, and this country is not known for always being accessible. That is why the future matters so much. The goal is to have polling sites for every election cycle, on our college campuses,” she explained.

    Monet serves as a canvasser with the N.C A&T Chapter of the NAACP, where she’s trying to make sure more than 15,000 students are registered to vote.

    “Every day, I meet a new Aggie who is doing something in the community to encourage their peers. Campaign trailblazers want people who are out making an impact every single day,” she said while standing in line to vote. 

    Monet said more than 200 other student organizations are working together to help get students to the polls for the primary election.

    The final day to cast early in-person ballots is February 28. Primary election day is March 3.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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  • ‘Very disheartening’: Students react to early voting site cuts on campuses

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    GREENSBORO, N.C. — College students are reacting after the State Board of Elections decided against early voting locations at multiple campuses.

    What You Need To Know

    • The State Board of Elections voted not to have N.C. A&T, UNC-Greensboro, Elon and Western Carolina University serve as early voting sites in the upcoming primary election

    • UNC Greensboro and N.C. A&T will still serve as same-day primary election sites

    • Some students said reducing options could make it harder to vote



    Three of them are in the Triad.



    “It’s actually very disheartening,” N.C. A&T senior Nikkira McCall said.


    N.C. A&T, UNC-Greensboro, Elon and Western Carolina University will no longer serve as early voting sites but will remain as primary sites on election day.


    Students on the N.C. A&T campus believe this could make it harder for some to vote. 

    “It was very good to me to not have my car on campus and be able to vote,” junior Alauna Nelson said.



    Students said those are the barriers they are worried about for students eager to vote in the primaries, and the campus isn’t alone. 

    Students from the schools affected expressed those concerns to the State Board of Elections in person at a meeting Tuesday.



    “We’re all young. We’re the next generation. We’re voting for ourselves. So it’s just very inconvenient for everybody,” Nelson said.

    The board ultimately voted not to put early voting sites at those universities.

    Director of the Guilford County Board of Elections Charlie Collicutt said students can still vote at the various campus locations on election day and early vote at any of the other early voting sites in the county.

    “There’s still 10 other early voting sites throughout the county that any Guilford County resident can go to. It includes our building downtown. There’s some other buildings in sites that might be in proximity for those students,” Collicutt said.


    He said for every election, the Board of Elections sets early voting sites for that particular election.



    “We use a lot of sites, some years we consolidate and the board chose 10 locations,” Collicutt said.

    The state board Tuesday confirmed those 10 locations.

    “We have used some in elections in the past and some not. So it’s not so much necessarily a change from a pattern for this type of election, but it is a change from what we did in the 2024 elections,” Collicutt said.



    The board also voted not to approve Sunday early voting plans in six counties — Columbus, Craven, Greene, Wayne, Harnett and Brunswick.

    Greensboro Mayor Marikay Abuzuaiter also reacted to the news of the campus cuts.

    “We went through that during the municipal elections recently, and several of the early voting sites for the primary were not used anymore, ones that had primarily been used in the past. So it was kind of a gut punch that, you know, certain areas of town may not have appropriate access to the early voting sites,” Abuzuaiter said.



    In-person early voting begins Feb. 12 and primary election day will be March 3.

    It’s still unclear whether these cuts in early voting sites will apply during the general election in November.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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  • USDA removes ‘moderation’ from dietary guidelines on alcohol

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    GREENSBORO, N.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture updated dietary guidelines for Americans this week.

    What You Need To Know

    • According to a 2025 Gallup Poll alcohol use is at its lowest record ever at 54%

    • Previous alcohol suggested limiting intake to two drinks or less in a day for men and one drink or less in a day for women, while the update reads to “consume less alcohol for better overall health”

    • Dr. Beth Mayer-Davis, a former member of USDA Scientific Advisory Committee for dietary guidelines, said the language could send a confusing message



    One of the most notable changes involved removing language defining moderate alcohol consumption.

    “Alcohol is a social lubricant that brings people together in the best-case scenario. I don’t think you should drink alcohol, but it does allow people an excuse to bond and socialize,” said Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Dr. Mehmet Oz.

    From 2020 to 2025 the USDA guidelines recommended drinking in moderation.

    “Moderation” was defined as limiting intake to two drinks or less in a day for men and one drink or less in a day for women.

    The new guidelines simply reads “consume less alcohol for better overall health.”

    UNC Chapel Hill Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of Nutrition Medicine Dr. Beth Mayer-Davis served on the USDA’S Scientific Advisory Committee for the dietary guidelines in the past.

    She said the updated language is too vague. 

    “I think that it was a serious omission to not provide more information about what limiting alcohol intake looks like and why that’s important, especially with regard to risk for common cancers that people care about, like breast cancer and colon cancer. People care about those diseases. People worry about what might be contributing to risk for cancer,” the professor explained. 

    Mayers-Davis said the World Health Organization has long classified alcohol as a carcinogen, linking it to seven types of cancer. 

    “People need to have the information so that they can make informed decisions. And alcohol is not less of a worry. It’s more of a worry because the more we learn about alcohol, the more we learn that it is contributing to risk for cancer and other outcomes,” Mayers Davis said.

    The latest state Alcohol and Related Harms Data also shows North Carolina experienced more than 5,800 deaths, 66,000 emergency department visits, and a loss of $15 billion due to alcohol use in 2023.

    According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human services it was one of the highest on record.

    But since then the number of people drinking nationwide has been declining. 

    According to a recent Gallup poll, young people’s perception of alcohol being bad for health rose to a record high of 66% in 2025.

    And they are not the only ones calling it quits.

    The same poll showed that the overall number of people reporting to drink fell from 62% in 2023 to its lowest record ever at 54%.

    Bars on Spring Garden Street like Bites and Pints have long been a hub for college students, including longtime customer and new general manager Allan Leondro.

    “Throughout college I would go over to, you know, different places around, Spring Garden to grab drinks, grab food,” Leandro said. 

    He and his Operating Manager Ronny Real said they have seen the shift in the alcohol industry in real time.

    “I noticed throughout the years the Gen Z, or younger, crowd definitely has decreased. During this time, it’s became more about health awareness. Basically, you know, just trying to balance out your lifestyle,” Real explained. 

    The managers said they have new promotions and deals to help draw out more people.

    In the meantime they believe their customers will continue to drink responsibly no matter the guidelines.

    “People have to be have to have a good balance. And I think that’s something that we’re seeing nowadays. Gen Z and younger people are considering that a little bit more drink, drink socially every now and then. Make memories with it. Use that as a space for you to have minimal, meaningful conversations,” Leandro said.

    The new guidelines also advise people with a family history of alcoholism to be mindful of alcohol consumption and associated addictive behavior. 

    It advises  people who should completely avoid alcohol include: pregnant women, people recovering from alcohol use disorder, anyone unable to control the amount they drink, people taking medications and people with medical conditions that can interact with alcohol. 

    Read the USDA guidelines in full here.

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  • Restaurant celebrates New Year by offering traditional ‘lucky’ foods

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    CARY, N.C. — On the first day of the New Year, many brought in the holiday by eating foods they believe could bring them a little luck this year.

    What You Need To Know

    • People around the state celebrated New Year’s Day by eating foods some believe will help bring them prosperity this year

    • Some southern traditions include eating black eyed peas, collard greens, cornbread, pork, cakes and grapes 

    • Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen serves “good luck foods” like those every day, and every year they invite customers to enjoy “lucky“ New Year’s meals



    Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen in Cary invited the community to celebrate that tradition.

    Executive Chef Dan Hoskins has been preparing the New Year’s meals for more than 10 years.

    “It was a surprise how many people came after New Year’s, and now it’s just kind of a regular tradition now,“ Hoskins said.

    He said the New Year’s menu is curated to honor longtime holiday traditions.

    “The New Year’s tradition is that a lot of people eat pork because it’s moving forward, and then, black-eyed peas are for coins. Cornbread is for gold, and collard greens are also for paper money,” he explained.

    “We have ham with red-eye gravy, crispy black-eyed peas, collard greens and cornbread for gold,” Hoskins said.

    These holiday food traditions are an annual custom in the south.

    “Every culture has a tradition for New Year’s, and this is our culture,”  Hoskins said as the restaurant began to pack with people.

    Management said each item on the menu is also available year-round for customers who want a little extra luck.

    “Some of the best moments are made over a good meal, and so we remember that, and we know that it’s true in our culture, that we want to create experiences,” Lucky 32 General Manager Tiffany Maye said.

    Some believe to bring sweetness into your new year you should eat cakes and honey.

    People also traditionally eat grapes for a full year of fortune.

    Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen has locations in Cary and Greensboro.

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  • Duke Energy in early stages of expanding nuclear power to Stokes County

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    STOKES COUNTY, N.C. — Duke Energy is in the early stages of expanding its nuclear power operations in our state.

    What You Need To Know

    • Duke Energy operates the largest regulated nuclear fleet in the nation here in the Carolinas

    • The utility recently submitted an early site permit to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a potential small modular reactor in Stokes County

    • Duke Energy said it plans to add 600 megawatts of advanced nuclear by 2037 and expects the first small modular reactor to come online in 2036

    This week the company submitted an early site permit application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a potential nuclear power plant in Stokes County, just north of Belews Creek. 

    “We currently have the largest, regulated, nuclear fleet in the nation,” said Duke Energy spokesperson Bill Norton. 

    He said most people don’t realize how much of their power comes from nuclear energy. 

    “More than half of the power consumed by our Duke Energy customers here in North Carolina are from nuclear plants,” Norton said.

    The company operates 11 nuclear units at six sites across the Carolinas.

    Duke Energy first announced the possibility of a small module reactor nuclear plant in Stokes County in 2023. 

    Norton said for the past two years the utility has been studying the site, environmental and seismic conditions to make sure that the ground is safe. 

    “It’s really a risk mitigation step because building a nuclear plant takes about a decade. It’s a long-term proposition. So what we’ve done with this filing is give the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which is the federal regulators, our evaluation of the site,” Norton said. 

    Norton said the next step is for the commission to conduct its review, which will take about 18 months. 

    During that time the North Carolina Utilities Commission will host public input meetings this spring.

    If the plant moves forward, Norton said it will create jobs and help grow industries in the Triad. 

    “We are looking at eight times the growth rate for North Carolina, South Carolina we had for the past 15 years, whether an individual data center comes on online or not,” he said. “In fact, most jobs right now, most investment that’s happening in the state is for manufacturing, such as, you know, the aviation, and battery, plants that are booming there in the Triad area. That’s really what we’re building for.” 

    In the Stokes County town of Walnut Cove, some residents expressed concerns over Duke’s plans for a potential nuclear site. 

    Many are still upset with Duke over coal power operations in the area years ago that saw many need water filtration systems, which Duke Energy provided.

    Duke provided a statement in response to questions about water quality concerns.

    “Belews Lake was created by Duke Energy in the 1970s as a cooling water source for power plant generation — originally for the coal plant, and it would fulfill the same purpose if a future nuclear plant is built, allowing the existing plant to retire. There would be no adverse impact on local water supplies,” the company said.

    According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, a small module reactor is about a third of the size of a conventional nuclear reactor and can go in spaces where conventional reactors would not fit.

    They are also designed to be flexible while providing energy for a variety of different needs.

    In a statement released Tuesday, the company said in part, “While Duke energy has not yet made a decision to build new nuclear units, receiving an ESP (early site permit) provides future optionality for the company’s customers and the communities it serves.”

    The public input sessions are expected to be in spring. 

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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  • WS/FCS updates security measures after fatal stabbing at high school

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    WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — North Forsyth High School students returned to in-person classes Friday as the community is still grappling with the deadly stabbing.

    What You Need To Know

    • All middle and high schools in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth system will be required to perform at least one kind of metal detection screening per day

    • The school district uses a smart entry that requires the entire student body to go through a single entrance and randomized checks outside of a set of classrooms

    • District leaders say they are working to get more metal detectors, but the devices are just one part of ensuring school safety

    Winston-Salem/Forsyth Schools Superintendent Don Phipps said the students aren’t going back to the same school security policy that was in place before the killing.

    “What I’ve asked is that they are the devices that we have that are used every day,“ he said in an interview with Spectrum News 1 on Friday.

    The new policy requires that middle and high schools perform either a safe entry check or a randomized check every day.

    Right now, all the high schools have a pair of detectors, while middle schools rotate.

    Phipps said to provide OpenGate detectors to every middle school, they would need about $2 million.

    District leaders said they have been trying to get more OpenGate sensors for more than 2 years, but now they could come sooner rather than later.

    “I’ve also had a couple of folks in the community that have stepped up. They want to have a conversation, and I’m hoping that we’ll be able to find the opportunity to fund that,” Phipps said.

    Despite a budget deficit triggering a reduction in force, school leaders said the number of staff responsible for security hasn’t changed.

    But Phipps, who was a school psychologist in Cumberland County where he also led trauma outreach, said that metal detectors are just one piece to keeping students safe.

    “We have to know what their normal is and where they don’t seem to be normal. We have to know what resources exist within our community and encourage them to seek help in the community,” he said. “But I think it really is about caring for one another and making sure that they’re the best person they can be.”

    He said he is ready for the role and hopes his experience will make a difference for Forsyth County students.

    “My desire to be here is to help be a part of the solution,” he said. “For me, it’s about staff morale and the well-being of the folks that make up the school system. They’re operating under a really heavy cloud of just negative, and this is not any different.”

    “We’ve talked about changing the narrative and the things that I see when I go out and do school visits,” Phipps said. “I want the public to know about that.” 

    The surviving student involved in the fatal stabbing Tuesday will not face charges, the Forsyth County district attorney said Thursday.

    Crisis response teams will also be available for affected students as long as needed.

    Additionally, Phipps says that the district is taking a look at phone policies to see if any revisions are necessary.

    He said that they are working with many partners that have reached out in the aftermath to offer anti-violence programs for students.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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  • New furniture manufacturer taps community college for new hires

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    DAVIDSON COUNTY, N.C. —  North Carolina has one of the largest manufacturing workforces in the Southeast, which is why a new Lithuanian furniture company has chosen to open its first U.S. facility in Davidson County.

    What You Need To Know

    • North Carolina is home to the largest manufacturing workforce in the Southeast

    • A new Lithuanian furniture company in Mocksville says that’s one of the many factors that attracted them to open its first U.S. facility in Davidson County

    • SBA Home partnered with Davidson-Davie Community College to help fill positions

    Davidson-Davie Community College students Logan Walterman and Austin Blackburn practice powering DC and AC every Tuesday.   

    It’s one of the many basics they learn in their industrial system technology class, where Blackburn focuses on mechanics and Walterman focuses on electricity.

    “As a kid, you know, I liked to help my daddy, you know, work on his bikes, and that’s where it all started,” Walterman said. 

    Both students are getting paid to learn their skills through the Davidson-Davie apprenticeship consortium by working for its newest employer partner, SBA Home. 

    “In my town, Marksville, where I’m from, and, you know, the idea of like, finally learning how to be an electrician and especially getting to work on robots, like, that really interested me. So I immediately, like, took interest in the program and SBA,” he said. 

    Blackburn is also in the program

    “It’s a two-year degree across four years, since we’re working full-time, like I said, 32 hours at the plant and then eight hours here. So you get yourself a full pay check,” he explained. 

    The new Lithuanian furniture manufacturer opened its first U.S. facility in Mocksville this August and is estimated to create 250 jobs by the end of 2029.

    “We’re thrilled the community needs these students. They need workers in manufacturing, especially now. It’s more important now than ever. With the whole tariff thing going on and companies moving back to America,“ said Davidson-Davie Community Industrial Systems Technology Instructor Billy Willard. 

    This summer, Walterman and Blackburn became the first two apprentices SBA hired. 

    “It’s been a big help being able to be here to get hands-on experience without actually having to use the stress in the field,“ Blackburn said. 


    “It’s actually pretty cool how I’ve got to, like, use stuff in this class at work,” Walterman added.

    SBA Home is the 11th employer to join the Davidson-Davie apprenticeship consortium.


    CEO Jurgita Radzevice said they have been working to open the facility since 2023, before tariffs were put in place. Now, their new facility allows them to be even more financially competitive with companies that rely on imported goods.

    “We will stay much more competitive than others, let’s say, market players who will be importing goods from Europe or other countries. So, for us, it just brings much more competitiveness and will bring much more affordability for American people. So I will say this is a win-win,” Radzevice said.


    In addition to strategic partners, the company hosted community days to find workers for its first shift. 

    They will begin hiring for a second shift this spring.

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  • Despite shift to online shopping, many still head to stores for Black Friday

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    GREENSBORO, N.C. — Despite the national unemployment rate hitting its highest level in four years, 4.4%, shoppers are projected to set another record.

    What You Need To Know

    • Adobe Analytics shows overall online spending rose 5.3% year-over-year to $6.4 billion on Thanksgiving, and that’s just the start of a period that’s expected to be record breaking

    • According to the National Retail Federation, a record 189 million consumers will shop from Thursday through Cyber Monday

    • The federation reports that more people have shopped online than in person for more than 5 years, with online consumers outnumbering in-person shoppers by more than 5 million in 2024

    The National Retail Federation projects 189 million people will shop from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday. That would be an all-time high. 

    The federation also projects that most sales will be online. But many people still got up early Friday to take part in the customary Black Friday shopping experience.

    Connor Sexton joined a few dozen others waiting for Walmart’s doors to open at 6 a.m. 

    “Waking up at 5 a.m. and coming out, it’s just kind of unbeatable,” Sexton said while standing in line at the supercenter’s Wendover Road location. 

    The day is a family tradition, and over the years he said he has been able to score some great deals with his family.

    “I think there’s like an experience behind it, and I love it. As things shift towards online, I want to kind of keep a tradition of going in person, because I think it’s a different experience and one that people need,” he said.

    Across the street, on South 40 Drive, Daniel Collins visited the Best Buy in search for a deal on an Apple watch. 

    “I’ve come here before, just like to kind of people watch, but I never went inside because my parents were like, ‘Be careful. Don’t get run over,” Collins said.

    This year, Collins said there were no large crowds, and he was able to get in and out within just 15 minutes of it opening. 

    “If you come back here in 2010, we’d be still waiting in that line right there to go inside,” he said. 

    As more people choose to shop on the internet, employees said the once-overwhelming lines have died down. 

    According to the retail federation, online Black Friday shoppers outnumbered in-person shoppers by more than 5 million in 2024. 

    There are also many shoppers like Stephan Hamad who shop sales online and in person.

    “If there’s something that you didn’t get on Black Friday, there’s things that are specific that they didn’t sell in the store, you can still find it, still get a good deal on it,” he said. 

    Hamad bought his son a four-wheeler online earlier this week and a PS5 in person at Best Buy on Friday.

    Adobe Analytics is expecting global Black Friday sales to top $80 billion, with $11 billion of that projected to be online.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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  • Seagrove pottery weekend returns

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    SEAGROVE, N.C. — Seagrove Pottery Weekend kicked off Friday with one of the community’s most important events of the year, the 18th Annual Celebration of Seagrove Potters Gala, which helps support the Seagrove Area Potter’s Association.

    What You Need To Know

    • Nearly 5,000 people from across the state will visit Randolph County for two major events during Seagrove pottery weekend

    • The 18th Annual Celebration of Seagrove Potters Show and Studio Tour showcases work from 28 local pottery studios, the largest collection of Seagrove pottery in the United States

    • The 43rd Seagrove Pottery Festival features pottery from statewide and local artists



    Every year, over the weekend before Thanksgiving, potters in the area showcase their work at two weekend-long events: the 43rd Annual Seagrove Pottery Festival at Seagrove Elementary and the 18th celebration of Seagrove Potters Show and Studio Tour at the newly renovated Luck Comer Lail Center. 

    Seagrove Stoneware Pottery co-owner Alexa Modderno has been selling her art in the pottery capital of the U.S. for more than 20 years.

    Her co-owner, David Fernandez, is also a potter and serves as mayor of the town. 

    Modderno said they look forward to the weekend every year. 

    “I like it when everyone can get together and see each other, so I look forward to that part of this,” she explained while getting ready for the first night of the three-day event.

    She said pottery weekend also means a boost in traffic for local pottery studios.

    “For the potters here, it is an income for the rest of the winter. In the winter after Christmas, our tourist presentation here diminishes, and so a lot of this gets us through the rest of the year,” Modderno explained.

    So far this year, business has been steady, she said, but some costs of materials have risen.

    “Our clay has gone up a little bit. Some of what’s gone up the most are the ingredients in our glazes, the metals, some are imported so, they have gone up some this year,” Modderno explained.

    More than 100 potters live in the area and rely on the industry to put food on the table. 

    “We have an organization here called the SAPA organization, Seagrove Area Potters Association, and we try and look out for each other. So we started this potters relief group for if someone has health problems or has a disaster happen, then we have this fund. We have our potters’ relief booth, where several of the potters donate pieces to help in case potters run into hard times,” said fellow artist and Seagrove Pottery Association member Eck McCanless. 

    He said the whole town normally sees an increase over the weekend, and although more people are tightening their belts this year, they still expect a great turnout.

    “It’s interesting that sometimes the economy does not reflect what the customers are going to be buying. We tend to do OK because we’re a luxury item. You know, we tend to do OK even in tough times,” McCanless explained.

    The weekend will include live demonstrations, self-guided tours, a kids booth and a chance to interact with potters from across the state.

    Both events help support potters in North Carolina. 

    This year, the 43rd Annual Pottery Festival invited western Carolina artists to come at a discount, and for the first time 25% of the proceeds from the silent auction at Friday’s gala will go toward creating a scholarship fund for local high school seniors pursuing art programs.

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  • Samaritan’s Purse welcomes new 767, retires DC-8

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    After 217 aid trips, one of Samaritan’s Purse‘s busiest workers is saying goodbye.

    What You Need To Know

    • Samaritan’s Purse retired its DC-8 aircraft

    • Capt. Andrew Klischer  piloted Samaritan’s Purse’s DC-8 on missions around the world

    • Samaritan’s Purse is now turning to a new Boeing 767



    Friday, the aid organization retired its DC-8 aircraft.

    Capt. Andrew Klischer piloted Samaritan’s Purse’s DC-8 on missions around the world including Africa, Poland and Jamaica.

    “Some of the most memorable things, going into Beirut right after the silo exploded. Approaching Beirut and seeing a 25-kilometer circle around the harbor that had been affected by the shockwave from this huge explosion, and, you know, landing in Ethiopia in Mek’ele high up and seeing 25,000, 30,000 people outside the fence in the airport who were refugees looking for a safe haven,” Klischer reflected while aboard the DC-8, the aircraft a majority of his flights were taken on.

    The airplane can carry 76,000 pounds of cargo, along with 32 crew members. 

    “I just married my daughter. This is almost as bad. It’s very difficult to just think that, I might have one or two more trips on this thing, and that’s it. We carry 32 passengers, and we carry flight attendants. It’s the relationships, that’s going to be a thing that will be sorely missed,” Klischer said. 

    Samaritan’s Purse is now turning to a new Boeing 767. 

    It’s already made trips to Israel and Jamaica. 

    “It gives us an opportunity to increase our lift capability and not only lift capability but distance-wise. So we get to take a lot more humanitarian aid a longer distance,” Klischer said.

    The 767 can carry three times the cargo, including a full emergency field hospital.

    After flying professionally for nearly three decades, Klischer said it’s a blessing to be putting his skills in the cockpit to use for a good cause. 

    “We’re using big airplanes to do more than just go from A to B and take somebody from, you know, Phoenix to Charlotte. We use big airplanes for a purpose that has an impact on personal lives,” Klischer said.

    Samaritan’s Purse will use its new Boeing in its next trip to Jamaica on Sunday.

    The retired DC-8 has an uncertain future.

    It’ll either be sent for scrap or to Liberty University to serve as an aviation museum. 

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  • Lexington Barbecue Festival returns

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    LEXINGTON,N.C. — Lexington’s 41st Barbecue Festival gets underway Saturday. 

    The event attracts close to 200,000 people who come out every year to sample some of the sweetest, spiciest and most savory barbecue the region has to offer. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The Lexington Barbecue Festival features Lexington-style barbecue prepared by local restaurants, a vendor fair, live performances and games

    • Close to 200,000 people from across the country attend the annual event

    • Organizers say it is the community’s largest economic driver

    Lexington Tourism Authority executive director Morgan Brinkle said barbecue is built into the city’s traditions.

    “It is said that that’s how the judge was back in the late 1800s, early 1900s knew to break for lunch, just because he could smell the smoke coming from the barbecue pits back here,” she said while walking “Barbecue Alley.”

    Now, each year the city celebrates at the Lexington Barbecue Festival. The day has become the community’s largest event of the year.

    “Most of the people that do come to our barbecue festival come from out of town, and we get people from all over the United States. This is a huge economic driver for the city. We have historically had as many as 200,000 people come out to this festival,” Brinkle said.

    Brinkle said the town gets into in prep mode ahead of the event. 

    “We work all year long promoting the barbecue festival. As soon as one ends, we start on the next one to promote it,” she said. “The city, the sponsors, the festival managers, everyone who has anything to do with the festival is prepping, all the barbecue restaurants, of course.”

    The Barbecue Center has provided food for all 41 years of the festival and is one of the event’s longest-running participating restaurants. 

    Owner Cecil Conrad said the event helps bring in customers and visitors to the city all year long.

    “It’s over $10 million for a single day in Lexington. It’s great for us, great for our community. And it certainly helps us with our business, and it helps other people in town as well,” Conrad said.

    The festival is in Uptown Lexington.

    Exhibits start at 8:30 a.m. Saturday with barbecue tents opening at 10 a.m.

    Free parking and shuttles will operate from Childress Vineyards and Walmart Supercenter.

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  • Homecoming festivities return to N.C. A&T

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    GREENSBORO,N.C. — Reconnecting with old classmates on the yard, tailgating before the big game and enjoying the parade are some of the best parts of homecoming week, but there’s one more ingredient that helps N.C. A&T host the “Greatest Homecoming on Earth.”

    What You Need To Know

    • It’s homecoming week at N.C A&T

    • Leaders at the college say more than 130,000 people attend the weeklong celebration in Greensboro

    • A report released by the university shows collectively their homecoming events make a $33 million economic impact on the entire state



    “It’s the spirit of Aggie pride,“ former N.C. A&T president of the National Alumni Association Gerald Williams explained. 

    And to show off that school spirit, alumni like Sabrina Brooks make the campus bookstore their first stop. 

    “To be able to show school spirit is so important. Coming from Philadelphia you have to always rep where you went,” Brooks said. 

    Sixty thousand out-of-town visitors will make their way to the campus events over the week.

    College leaders said the boost in visitors translates to a surge in sales each year, and the royalties go toward funding financial aid for the current generation of students.

    But the bookstore is just one of many businesses that benefit from homecoming season. 

    “North Carolina A&T has an annual economic impact on this state, mostly concentrated in Guilford County, of $2.4 billion. A lot of that comes from visitors and events that we hold that draw people into this community, homecoming by far the large is one of those events,” N.C. A&T Associate Vice Chancellor Todd Simmons said.

    N.C. A&T Police Chief Robert Hassell said they partnered with local law enforcement to ensure safety and help direct traffic.

    “We want everyone, our students or alumni and all visitors to feel safe. Our homecoming event is one of the largest and one of the best experiences anyone could ask, so with that comes a lot of traffic, not only vehicle traffic but pedestrian traffic. So all those coming to our homecoming event need to expect some possible delays with redirection of traffic,” Hassell said. 

    Collectively more than 130,000 people attend the events every year, and the celebration creates a $33 million economic impact on the state.

    The festivities continue Friday night with the annual step show.

    Saturday will feature the homecoming parade, football game against South Carolina State and a concert starring GloRilla and A Boogie. The event ends Sunday with a gospel concert.

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  • The Carolina Classic Fair returns to the Triad

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    WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The Carolina Classic Fair kicked off Friday morning in Winston-Salem.

    What You Need To Know

    • The 143th Carolina Classic Fair welcomes visitors to Winston-Salem

    • Over the next week, 300,000 guests will enjoy thrills, sights, sounds and tastes of the fair season

    • This year features more than 100 attractions provided by vendors from across the state



    Over its 10 days the event is expected to draw in more than 300,000 people from across North Carolina.  

    This year marks the first time the QRC Ice Arena will be open for public skating during the fair, and it’s just one of several new additions. 

    With more than 100 attractions, rides and delicious food the Carolina Classic Fair offers something for everyone, and for longtime fair Director Cheryle Hartley that favorite attraction is Yesterday’s Village.

    “All of these buildings were donated to the fair, and we rebuilt them. It’s always been one of my favorite spots. It is where I come to de-stress,” Hartley said.

    Hartley has worked for more than 35 years to bring the fair to life, and in 2018, she became the first female fair director. 

    Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines honored her commitment as he announced her retirement at the opening ceremony. 

    “Cheryle on behalf of the hundreds of thousands and that’s no exaggeration, hundreds of thousands of families who have enjoyed the Carolina Classic Fair under your leadership, I want to thank you for your loyalty, wisdom and perseverance,” Joines told the crowd standing outside the main gate.

    Hartley said she and her team began planning the 143th Carolina Classic Fair last year, and they have been working to make this year her best one yet. 

    “If the weather stays like this, I’m hoping to break records. Pre-COVID attendance was around 300,000 to 350. We’re getting close to that 300,000 mark now,” Hartley explained.

    The Carolina Classic Fair, formerly the Dixie Classic Fair, is the second-largest agricultural fair in North Carolina, and contributes significantly to the $1 billion in tourism Forsyth County brings in each  year. 

    Hartley said seeing people experience all the fair has to offer is what she will miss most, and while she may not work the fair anymore after this year, she still plans to attend in the future. 

    “It’s bittersweet for me, so yes this is the last first day, but I’m looking forward to the nine more beautiful ones and coming back,” she said.

    In addition to new attractions there are also a few new policies. 

    The big one is the clear bag policy. If you don’t have one, there are some available.

    There are also lockers available for people to store their belongings.

    Another new policy asks anyone attending or participating in the event to be courteous and treat everyone with respect and fairness.

    The Carolina Classic Fair concludes October 12.

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  • N.C. furniture maker looks to ramp up production as tariffs are set to begin

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    HIGH POINT, N.C. — President Donald Trump this week laid out plans to impose tariffs on a range of strategic imports, including timber, wood products and furniture. 

    An executive order signed Monday includes tariffs of 25% on upholstered furniture and 10% on softwood timber and lumber that take effect Oct. 14, with exceptions for some trading partners, such as the United Kingdom.

    What You Need To Know

    • New tariffs are set to take effect this month on timber and wood products, including upholstered furniture

    • A furniture maker in High Point, North Carolina, says he is seeing a surge in demand from customers who are unsure how the tariffs will affect supply 

    • But the owner of Dominick’s Furniture says to meet higher demand, he will need special machinery and skilled workers who can operate it

    • The Catawba Valley Furniture Academy has been working to teach skills such as sewing, cutting, framing and upholstery

    Fourth-generation furniture maker Anthony Pennisi, who owns Dominick’s Furniture in High Point, North Carolina, said the move is already helping his business see a surge in demand.

    But to offer competitive prices, he said Dominick’s will need more skilled workers.

    “These customers who are getting, you know, 15, 20 containers a month for the big box stores are panicking. The uncertainty of whether they’ll be able to get it, and if the tariffs are going to continue to rise, is causing them to start looking to see about domestic manufacturing,” Pennisi said. “So we have been quoting nonstop.” 

    But Pennisi said that to meet that higher production rate, he needs specialized machinery.

    “Our labor cost is one of the things that is the highest part of making the product. So, when there’s going to be a need to ramp up and make the 100 sofa frames, we need to be able to have a CNC router that will cut all the plywood,” Pennisi said.

    Pennisi has 15 employees and said that he would need to hire more skilled workers to operate those machines and to handle upholstery.

    “If we could just get that back in schools to have future candidates and employees, that would be great because, you know, that’s what we need,” he said.

    The Catawba Valley Furniture Academy has been working to answer that call by teaching skills like sewing, cutting, framing and upholstery to students enrolled in its night-time program.

    “It’s critical to our region, and this is the furniture capital of the world. We can add High Point; there are two cities where the focal point is furniture, and so we need to be able to produce really good students so that they can go to work for our partners, and they can hit the ground running day one,” said executive dean of economic development and corporate education Gary Mullen.

    A new daytime course also offers the same opportunity to inmates.

    It has been life-changing for students like Eli Cobb, who will graduate in spring.

    “I thought it was a great opportunity for me to learn a new skill and to get a better pay increase. I’m planning on moving, maybe to this area also, and I know that this area will need skilled trainers,” Cobb said.

    Trump’s tariff on certain upholstered furniture is set to increase to 30% on Jan. 1.

    Pennisi said that higher rates could also impact American manufacturers importing electronic mechanisms for their products.

    “I was kind of excited about the tariffs because I think it’s going to bring us business,” he said. 

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  • Greensboro remembers civil rights activist Joseph McNeil

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    GREENSBORO, N.C. — One of North Carolina’s most influential civil rights activists died this week.

    Joseph McNeil was one of the Greensboro Four, a group of North Carolina A&T students who held sit-ins at Woolworth’s lunch counter. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Joseph McNeil died Thursday at the age of 83

    • McNeil was a pioneering activist, and part of the iconic Greensboro Four

    • The Greensboro Four were students from North Carolina Agriculture and Technology University who helped desegregate Woolworth’s lunch counter in a series of sit-ins beginning in 1960

    Those protests eventually led to the restaurant’s desegregation 65 years ago.

    John Swaine, the CEO of the International Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro, educates the public about the Greensboro Four and McNeil’s role in the civil rights movement.

    “After the sit-ins, he had entered the Air Force, he had become an Air Force general,” Swaine said, “He had established an institute, at his alma mater. He had become a mentor for many young men and women. And he inspired our co-founders to develop this institution.” 

    So when Swaine received the call from Joe McNeil Jr. on Thursday informing him of the activist’s death, Swaine said it was crushing.

    “It was a sharp hit because I understood what he meant to the world, to nonviolence and so much to this museum,” he said.

    McNeil visited the museum, located in the same building he helped desegregate, many times.

    This year he also visited N.C. A&T to celebrate 65 years since the first day of the sit-ins.

    “It was a great pleasure of mine just to hear him talk about what it was like being a freshman here on the campus in the 1960s. Being a freshman, he was not a sophomore or a senior. These were incoming students,” said Corey Torain, a professor of history at N.C. A&T.

    The professor said he remembers being a student at the school when they honored the Greensboro Four by placing a statue on campus. 

    He said McNeil’s legacy was personally motivating and will never be forgotten by the school, the community and people fighting for social justice and equality everywhere.

    “He inspired us and showed us what to do. So yes, it is a physical loss of having him away from us physically, but he will always be an Aggie, and once an Aggie, always Aggie,” Torain said.

    McNeil was 83 years old.

    Jibreel Khazan, formally known as Ezell Blair Jr., is now the only living member of the Greensboro Four.

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  • multiple job fairs planned for former WS/FCS employees

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    FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. — Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools is working to help staff impacted by its reduction in force plan find new jobs.

    What You Need To Know

    • According to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, Aug. 29 will mark the end of notifying more than 300 employees of their termination

    • Now the district is planning to help former employees find work in other districts by holding a reverse job fair

    • The event will be held at the WS/FCS Education building located at the Central office on Sept. 4, from 4 p.m. to 6 p .m. 



    “We are inviting other districts and community folks who have positions available to come to a fair that we will invite our staff to,” said interim Superintendent Catty Moore at the WS/FCS school board meeting Tuesday. 

    The event will be held at the WS/FCS Education building located at the central office on Sept. 4, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

    Forsyth Tech Community College is one of the many employers that plans to attend and hire former district workers. 

    “We have a mix of instructor and staff support positions. Lots of those would make great roles for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools employees. It’s a mix of part-time and full-time depending on what someone is looking for,” said Rachel Schroeder, the college’s chief human experience officer. 

    Schroeder said the move will allow students in their dual enrollment programs to reconnect with their teachers. 

    It also guarantees that those laid-off workers can keep their benefits.

    “We understand that what’s at stake for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools employees — benefits and retirement and things that they are used to. And so as community college system employees, we also have access to state benefits, and so that might make a transition a bit easier,” Schroeder said.

    Local groups are also helping out. 

    Galilee Missionary Baptist Church has already started helping former employees find jobs in the area. 

    “We had Dr. Roseboro from the Montgomery school system here, and some folks were able to get some help and get placed. So we’re excited about that,” Pastor Dr. Nathan Scovens said. 

    Scovens said the church will also host a job fair after he learned many members of his church were directly affected by the layoffs. 

    “I know this is a hard thing, but we see it as an opportunity to come together as a community and to help one another. So I’m appreciative of all of the surrounding communities. And I understand that people are angry, and they have a right to be angry, but after we finish expressing our anger, what are we going to do? And this is an opportunity for us to spread some cheer,” he said. 

    The last day for former employees is Sept. 12. 

    The job fair at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church will be held on Sept. 15.

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  • Expanding Greensboro manufacturer set to add 26 jobs

    Expanding Greensboro manufacturer set to add 26 jobs

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    GREENSBORO, N.C. — Core Technology Molding Corp., a manufacturer in Greensboro, says recent incentives from the city and Guilford County will help the company expand and create more jobs and revenue for the economy.

    What You Need To Know

    • The city of Greensboro and Guilford County provided incentives to keep a Black-owned manufacturer in Greensboro

    • Core Technology Molding Corp. will expand to a building nearly three times its current size

    • The expansion will increase revenue and create 26 jobs in Greensboro

    North Carolina state and city leaders recently granted more than $439 million of incentives to a Toyota battery plant in North Carolina and offered incentives for medical device company Nipro to build a headquarters in Greenville. 

    Core Technology employee Jeremiah Foster said the business was able to grow nearly 300% since the pandemic due to its work making medical necessities.

    “To know that you have the impact of potentially saving someone’s life is extremely rewarding,” Foster said.

    He said the growth has led to a need for more space.

    “We will be able to have warehousing, distribution, everything under one roof. We will triple in size the building and triple in size the revenue as well,” Foster said.

    CEO Geoff Foster said Greensboro and Guilford County both contributed to incentives to keep that revenue in North Carolina.

    “Greensboro and the county has awarded us over $1 million grant incentive to stay in this area,” he said. “South Carolina has been very aggressive in their incentives, and they would love for us to come there, but this is a great area with North Carolina A&T.” 

    The company finds interns and hires graduates of N.C. A&T, a historically Black university in Greensboro, Foster said. 

    Core Technology’s expanded Millstream Road location will open in 2025 and create 26 new jobs.

    This year CNBC ranked North Carolina No. 2 in the nation for business, and the state has consistently topped the list for the past five years.

    North Carolina is projected to add more than 445,000 jobs between now and 2030, according to a report from the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

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  • Greensboro Startup Week helps new Triad entrepreneurs

    Greensboro Startup Week helps new Triad entrepreneurs

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    GREENSBORO, N.C. — The first Greensboro Startup Week was a success, according to leaders of Launch Greensboro, a branch of the city’s Chamber of Commerce.

    What You Need To Know

    • Greensboro held its first startup week March 11-15, 2024

    • The initiative aims to assist new business owners in the Triad

    • The week included free information sessions, a pitch competition and networking events

    The week featured free information sessions from local business owners and networking events. 

    Joey Cheek, Greensboro Chamber of Commerce executive vice president of entrepreneurship, helped launch the new annual initiative. 

    “One of the things that matter most about starting a business is knowing what things not to do. So we wanted a whole week of programming, and they were kind enough to offer their services,“ Cheek said.

    New business owners around the Triad also competed for $10,000 in the Capital Connects pitch competition. 

    Business partners Hayley Figueroa and Irma Marrero, who launched a gardening subscription box business called Dig, said opportunities like these are what help new entrepreneurs blossom. 

    “It is hands-down something every entrepreneur in the area should do. It has been a great benefit to us. We met amazing people and had great opportunities,” Figueroa said.

    More than 172,000 businesses were created throughout the state in 2023.

    A report released by Wallet Hub ranked North Carolina the ninth-best state in the nation to launch a business. 

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  • Community college program aims to ease HVAC labor shortage

    Community college program aims to ease HVAC labor shortage

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    GREENSBORO, N.C. — As skilled labor shortages persist across the state, some community colleges are working to ease the problem. 

    What You Need To Know

    • HVAC professionals say a skill gap has contributed to a labor shortage in the industry

    • More than 700 HVAC positions are listed on indeed.com in North Carolina 

    • Guilford Technical Community College held a job fair last week connecting its HVAC program students with businesses 

    • About 90 students are enrolled in the school’s HVAC program

    Guilford Technical Community College held an HVAC job fair on Tuesday. 

    Students training in the school’s HAVC program got the opportunity to be hired by local employers. 

    GTCC student Candice Foreman said it’s one of the many ways the college helps with career development.

    “You have every opportunity out there to be successful, and this job fair is pretty much bringing that to light,” Foreman explained. 

    School officials say fewer people willing to learn a skilled trade is what led to the shortage, but that is something that is starting to shift.  

    “Companies are having to pay more to retain those employees. It is a highly skilled industry, and it is getting more technical,” said Jeff Underwood, director of GTCC’s HVAC program. 

    About 90 students are enrolled in the program.

    The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows North Carolina is among one of the states that employ the most HVAC workers. 

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