News – Moore County Edition

Mar

25

2022

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By North State Journal Staff

Carson lays a cornerstone grounded in faith

News, PoliticsDr. Ben Carson

PINEHURST — A politician, a brain surgeon and a philanthropist walked into a room Friday night in Pinehurst and it was the same person. Dr. Ben Carson delivered a lecture as part of the Governor James E. Holshouser Jr. Lecture Series and the neurosurgeon turned presidential candidate did not disappoint the crowd of approximately 700 who attended the sold-out event. Carson was delayed in his arrival to Moore County due to flight cancellations commented during his lecture that he was leaving it up to God whether he wanted the 70-year-old former surgeon and his wife Candy to travel to the…

Mar

16

2022

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By Moore County Staff

State’s unemployment benefits failed to reach workers

Business, Government, News

RALEIGH — North Carolina's unemployment benefits office failed to distribute quickly enough $438 million in initial payments to displaced workers in 2020 and early 2021, state auditors said Monday while scrutinizing the agency's work during the pandemic. The audit blamed the claims process and poor monitoring for the delays among other issues. It's well-known that the Division of Employment Security struggled in 2020 to get payments out the door promptly. The division saw a record number of applicants for traditional unemployment programs and those created by the federal and state government during the lockdown and related business restrictions. The state…

Mar

16

2022

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By Moore County Staff

Hudson visits new district, talks Ukraine

Government, Nation, NewsRichard Hudson

ASHEBORO — Five-term U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson was making the rounds in both his official and political capacities on Friday, March 11, with a pair of stops in Randolph and Chatham counties as he gears up to run for a sixth term in Congress. Following the redrawing of the state’s political lines, Hudson’s new district starts in Randolph County and covers a nine-county region to the south and east, including all of Moore County and ending at Fort Bragg. The Russian war in Ukraine has sent thousands of U.S. troops to eastern Europe, including many from the Army base’s 82nd…

Mar

16

2022

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By A.P. Dillon

Moore County School Board keeps controversial “George” on the shelves

Government, NewsGeorge, library, Moore Schools

RALEIGH — On March 14, the Moore County Public Schools Board held its regular monthly meeting which included discussion on the state’s Pre-K through fifth grade reading initiative and a vote on whether to keep the controversial book “George” in the county’s public school libraries. The board revisited the recommendations made by the District Media and Technology Committee to keep the controversial book “George” in two of the district’s school libraries: McDeeds Creek Elementary and Union Pines High School. The book has been heavily criticized by parents for its sexual content and transgender storyline. The book, written by Alex Gino,…

Mar

16

2022

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By Ryan Henkel

Debates on short-term rentals continue in Pinehurst

Government, NewsAirBNB, Pinehurst

Board to transfer funds for fire engine repair PINEHURST –– The Village of Pinehurst Council met Tuesday with the ongoing debate on short-term rentals continuing to dominate the discussion. At the last meeting, the council proposed a series of goals for future policies to address concerns residents had with short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods. Village staff are still working on drafting the policies to be put forth before the council for a vote, but they should be ready by the next meeting. “We will be presenting policy options that we think strike an appropriate balance between property owners’ rights and…

Mar

16

2022

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By Ryan Henkel

Southern Pines to double prior goals for street resurfacing project

NewsSouthern Pines

Council takes first step toward amending municipal election structure SOUTHERN PINES – The Town of Southern Pines Council met Thursday to vote on the allocation of lands into the corporate limits of the town, as well as to vote on various items on its regular business agenda. To kick off the meeting, the council announced a change to their normal proceedings. Starting at the next meeting, the council will hear public comments at the start of the session so that citizens won’t have to wait through the entire meeting to speak. “Starting in April, public comments will be at the…

Mar

16

2022

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By Ryan Henkel

Beyond book controversy, school board takes other actions

Government, Newsschools

Calendars for upcoming school years set CARTHAGE – The Moore County Board of Education met Monday to address community concerns over the book “George” and to vote on calendar changes and funding. The debate over “George” has been an ongoing national topic that has found itself in Moore County. The county has ultimately decided to keep the book in the schools that it was already in by a final vote of 4-3. The book was in two county school libraries – Union Pines High School and McDeeds Creek Elementary – and had found itself in those libraries’ collections from bulk…

Mar

09

2022

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By Moore County Staff

School board moves on masks, book decision looms

Government, News

District committee recommended keeping the book “George” in school libraries CARTHAGE — After hearing from interim superintendent Tim Locklear on the status of COVID-19, the Moore County school board voted to make changes to the system’s COVID protocols. The county’s staff recommended the school system allow students to return faster from isolation in line with state guidance. Instead of a mandatory 10-day isolation, students and staff could return from isolation after 6 days if certain criteria were met. The board continued the policy of not requiring masks and expanded that policy to school buses after federal changes allowed the change.…

Mar

09

2022

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By Moore County Staff

2022 primary election ballots are set

Government, News, Politics

PINEHURST — Candidate filing for Moore County in the 2022 elections ended on Friday, March 4. Republicans will continue to hold countywide offices, as no Democrats filed for full-term county commission seats, clerk of court, register of deeds, sheriff, or two N.C. House seats. In addition, two district court seats did not have a Democrat file for office, and one seat did not see a Republican file. In the N.C. House, the seat being vacated by the retirement of Allen McNeill has three candidates running: Neal Jackson, David Ashley, and Cory Bortree. A primary will also take place between current…

Mar

09

2022

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By Moore County Staff

County GOP hosts full convention

News, Politics

PINEHURST — The Moore County Republican Party hosted its annual convention Saturday at the Pinehurst Village Hall. Moore County resident and prominent conservative attorney Cleta Mitchell was the keynote speaker. Mitchell, who is part of the Conservative Partnership Institute and the Election Integrity Network, spoke about election reforms and election integrity activities that are being implemented at local, state and national levels. Over 200 attendees were present for the convention, which included precinct meetings. Tom Beddow is the county chairman for the 2021-22 election cycle.