News – 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 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 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

20

2022

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By Matt Mercer

Pinehurst outdoor dining ban at odds with businesses

Business, Entertainment, News

PINEHURST – The Village of Pinehurst has enacted a ban on outdoor street dining, running counter to policy goals pushed by the General Assembly and Gov. Roy Cooper in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Expanded outdoor dining has been a rare area of bipartisan agreement between Republican legislative leaders and the Democratic governor, with outdoor options first executed by via executive order from Cooper and later codified into state law. A memo circulated during the Village of Pinehurst’s Jan. 11 work session following the regularly scheduled council meeting would end the ability of restaurants to serve food and alcohol…

Jan

19

2022

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By North State Journal Staff

Southern Pines considers development proposals, ordinance amendments

Business, Newsdevelopment, Real Estate, Southern Pines

SOUTHERN PINES – The Southern Pines town council meeting had a packed agenda and a packed room last week for the regular town business meeting. Mayor Carol Haney announced before the meeting kicked off that the council would be holding three quasi-judicial hearings as well as two legislative hearings. The quasi-judicial hearings included a multi-family residential development known as Patrick’s Pointe along U.S. Hwy 1 N., the Pinehurst Surgical Center location and a townhome development. After approximately seven hours of testimony at their December meeting on Patrick’s Pointe, the council heard an additional two hours of testimony last Tuesday before…

Jan

12

2022

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By North State Journal Staff

Moore County sees increase in Covid cases

Government, News, PoliticsCOVID

CARTHAGE — Covid cases have risen steadily in Moore County since mid-November. Through Sunday, January 9, the county experienced over 200 new cases per day. As of Monday, over 260 people have died with Covid in the county, according to public health officials. Over 90% of the deaths were in patients 50 years and older. No deaths have occurred in Moore County among residents under the age of 25. Over 91% of the county’s adult population has received at least one dose of the vaccine with 89.6% of residents over 65 being fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

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

12

2022

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By Matt Mercer

Two Republicans in race to succeed McNeill

News, Politics, StateAllen McNeill, NCGA

ASHEBORO — Republican State Rep. Allen McNeill’s (R-Randolph) announcement that he would not seek re-election in the N.C. House of Representatives in the 2022 election has drawn two candidates to succeed him in the state house seat covering much of Randolph and Moore counties. The 2021 redistricting session changed the boundaries of District 78, shedding some precincts in eastern Randolph County and adding much of western Moore County including the village of Pinehurst. Both candidates who have announced their intention to run are Moore County residents. Neal Jackson, pastor of Beulah Baptist Church in Bennett, had filed for the seat…

Jan

12

2022

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By North State Journal Staff

School board reinstates mask mandate, bids farewell to superintendent

Government, Newsschools

CARTHAGE — The Moore County School Board voted 3-2 to reinstate a mask mandate for students, teachers, staff and visitors at its regular business meeting Monday. The board also met for a work session Monday ahead of its business meeting with the search for a new superintendent topping that agenda. Superintendent Bob Grimesey announced his intention to retire in October of 2021 with January 31, 2022, as his final day. The board heard an update on the search for a new superintendent from Jim O’Rourke from the N.C. School Boards Association which has been retained by the board to conduct…