Moore County Staff – Moore County Edition

Jan

26

2022

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By Mark Sherman, Associated Press

Justices to hear challenge to race in college admissions

Business, Government, Nation, NewsHarvard, SOCTUS, UNC Chapel Hill

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a challenge to the consideration of race in college admissions, adding affirmative action to major cases on abortion, guns, religion and COVID-19 already on the agenda. The court said it will take up lawsuits claiming that Harvard University, a private institution, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a state school, discriminate against Asian American applicants. A decision against the schools could mean the end of affirmative action in college admissions. Lower courts rejected the challenges, citing more than 40 years of high court rulings that…

Jan

25

2022

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By Moore County Staff

Annika Sorenstam contemplating a return to US Women’s Open

News, SportsPGA, Pine Needles, Pinehurst, Southern Pines, US Open, USGA

Annika Sorenstam, of Sweden, acknowledges the crowd after putting on the 18th green during the final round of the Tournament of Champions LPGA golf tournament, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) NEW YORK — After 13 years in retirement, Annika Sorenstam returned to competition last year. She made the cut in the Gainbridge LPGA, playing only because it was her home course of Lake Nona in Orlando, Florida. And then she won the U.S. Senior Women’s Open. That victory earned her a spot in the U.S. Women’s Open this year, which is being played at…

Jan

25

2022

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By Anne M. Peterson, The Associated Press

Young players highlight first USWNT camp of 2022

Sportssoccer

The next wave of U.S. soccer talent includes several players who are under 22 The new year has brought new faces to the U.S. women’s national team. The back-to-back World Cup champions opened their January camp in Austin, Texas, with 14 players who have fewer than 12 appearances for the United States. Coach Vlatko Andonovski is taking a look at the team’s next generation as it begins preparations for qualifying this summer for the 2023 tournament. Among them is Ashley Hatch, a 26-year-old forward who plays for the Washington Spirit of the National Women’s Soccer League and who won the…

Jan

25

2022

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By Jeffrey Collins, Associated Press

Prosecutor: Alex Murdaugh now faces 71 charges; $8.5M stolen

News

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A once-prominent South Carolina lawyer now faces 71 charges that he stole nearly $8.5 million in wrongful death and wreck settlements from more than a dozen people after another round of indictments against Alex Murdaugh were handed up Friday. The 23 new charges issued by the state grand jury covered new victims but similar schemes, prosecutors said. Murdaugh, 53, would negotiate settlement money for his clients without telling them what they earned, then deposit the checks meant to pay for their pain and suffering or the anguish of the death of a loved one into his own…

Jan

25

2022

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By Ronald Blum, The Associated Press

MLB negotiators meet in person for 1st time since Dec. 1

Sportsbaseball, MLB

Spring training is scheduled to start Feb. 16, but only if a new deal can be agreed upon NEW YORK — Negotiators for locked-out baseball players and management met in person Monday for the first time since Dec. 1, the day before the start of the sport’s first work stoppage since 1995. Veteran reliever Andrew Miller was the only player to attend the bargaining session. Colorado Rockies owner Dick Monfort, the chairman of baseball’s labor policy committee, was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem and executives Morgan Sword and Patrick Houlihan. The players’ association planned to make a counteroffer to…

Jan

25

2022

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By Steve Reed, The Associated Press

Dale Jr. joins father in NASCAR Hall of Fame

News, SportsDale Earnhardt, NASCAR

CHARLOTTE — Dale Earnhardt Jr. was voted NASCAR’s most popular driver a record 15 times. On Friday night, he was inducted into NASCAR’s 12th Hall of Fame class along with late-model driver Red Farmer and the late Mike Stefanik, a decorated modified driver who died in a plane crash in 2019. Ralph Seagraves was named as the recipient of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. The group was selected in 2020, but the induction ceremony was postponed more than a year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The younger Earnhardt joins his late father, seven-time Cup Series champion Dale…

Jan

25

2022

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By Dee-Ann Durbin, Associated Press

McDonald’s expanding test of McPlant burger in US stores

Businessfood, McDonald's

NEW YORK — McDonald's is expanding sales of its meatless McPlant burger to hundreds of locations. The company said the McPlant — which it co-developed with plant-based protein company Beyond Meat — will be sold at 600 stores in the San Francisco and Dallas areas starting Feb. 14. It's a major expansion for the McPlant, which was introduced last November at eight stores in Texas, Iowa, Louisiana and California. That test run helped the company determine how a plant-based option would alter its kitchen operations. McDonald's said the larger product offering will help it understand customer demand. The Chicago company…

Jan

21

2022

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By Moore County Staff

Robin Sage set to begin Jan 22

Business, Government

Special Forces candidates assigned to the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School patrol through a wooded area during the final phase of field training known as Robin Sage in central North Carolina, July 9, 2019. (Ken Kassens/U.S. Army via AP) 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…

Jan

12

2022

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By Moore County Staff

Pinehurst will pull double duty again in 2029

Business, News, SportsPGA, Pinehurst, US Open, USGA

RALEIGH — The U.S. Open and Women’s U.S. Open golf championships are both scheduled to return to the Sandhills over the next two years. But that’s not what’s creating the biggest buzz around “The cradle of American golf” these days. Anticipation is already growing for 2029, when the USGA has announced it wil bring its two signature events back to Pinehurst on consecutive weeks. It will mark just the second time ever that the U.S. Open and Women’s Open will be played on the same course back-to-back. The first time, in 2014, was also on Pinehurst’s famed No. 2 course…

Jan

10

2022

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By Moore County Staff

Asheboro fireman dies after long bout with COVID

NewsAsheboro Fire Department, Chris Hoover

ASHEBORO — A 24-year veteran of the Asheboro Fire Department died Saturday after suffering from COVID-19 and associated lung damage. Battalion Chief Chris Hoover, 47, had been at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill since November 24, 2021. “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Battalion Chief Chris Hoover after a hard-fought battle with COVID-19. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Hoover family,” said a statement from the fire department. Following his passing, Hoover was carried home to Randolph County in a procession of emergency and rescue vehicles from Chapel Hill. Local fire departments — including…