Hurricane Florence Coverage

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LIFESTYLE 9/19/26 1:00pm

Memories of cooking with family spark hands-on cooking class

By Evan Cooper

Every Thursday morning in Colombia, the Montoya Posada family would gather in their grandma’s house. Over 20 people spending their time together and most importantly, cooking lunch. She said those memories are what inspired her to start El Centro’s in-person cooking classes called “Vamos a la Cocina,” meaning “Let’s go to the kitchen.”

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LIFESTYLE 9/19/26 11:25am

More than one identity: What it means to be Latine in the South

By Lilly Molina

Senior Bella Espinoza is from Athens, Tennessee, has fair skin, red hair and talks with a southern twang. Most people, she says, when they meet her, don’t believe that she is half Mexican. Espinoza said she wanted to embrace her Mexican side, but she was raised not knowing a lot about her Latine heritage, and growing up in rural Tennessee made it even harder to find a community that could teach her more about it.

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NEWS 9/19/26 9:04am

New North Carolina laws extend immigration enforcement to public servants

By Abby Gravely

Two new laws are going into full effect Oct. 1 that add a new element to some public servants’ job descriptions: immigration enforcement. The North Carolina General Assembly passed House Bill 496 and Senate Bill 153 in April and June, respectively. Elements of each increase interactions between Immigration and Customs Enforcement and some government agencies — specifically, Medicare providers and law enforcement. But their full provisions aren’t enforced just yet. 

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LIFESTYLE 9/19/26 12:15am

Tibet to Elon: Sand mandala represents message of balance, compassion

By Lily Mosbacher

Elon University’s Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life welcomed a Tibetan Buddhist tradition to Elon this week through the Green Tara Sand Mandala, a three-day event focused on healing, compassion and learning about Buddhism. Tibetan Buddhist monk Geshe Sangpo crafted an intricate mandala from colorful sand in Numen Lumen Pavilion’s Sacred Space. Students, faculty and community members stopped by throughout the process to watch the design take shape. 

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NEWS 9/18/26 7:47pm

Town of Elon railroad crossings to close starting Sept. 21

By Evan Cooper

Four town of Elon railroad crossings will be closed starting at 7 a.m. on Sept. 21, according to the town of Elon. York Road, Oak Avenue, Williamson Avenue and Church Street will be closed to pedestrian and vehicle traffic. The crossings will remain closed for at least two or three days.

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SPORTS 9/18/26 12:00pm

‘Tough times don’t last’: Two-time football captain leads others to success

By Kathan Gandhi

On Oct. 9, graduate receiver William Lankford will reach 20 years around football. And as he enters his fifth and final season at Elon, he has found himself taking on a role that extends beyond what he does between the lines.

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NEWS 9/18/26 10:00am

Burlington City Council set to revisit ban on backyard chickens

By Lilly Molina

Burlington resident Frank Poppa would sing to one of his six hens, and she would sing back to him. Not only did his hens provide fresh eggs to the Poppa family of five, but he said they also felt like family. So in 2023, when the police showed up at his doorstep ordering him to get rid of his backyard chickens or risk being arrested, Poppa was shocked. Poppa’s encounter with the law came after a 3-2 vote back in the spring of 2021 where the Burlington City Council voted against a proposal that would have allowed chickens on people’s private property. 

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NEWS 9/17/26 6:45pm

Q&A: Elon University President Connie Book shares Elon-Queens merger updates, Slattery Center status

By Charlotte Pfabe

Elon University President Connie Book sat down with Elon News Network to discuss the Elon-Queens merger, the Boldly Elon initiatives and campus expansions.

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NEWS 9/17/26 5:09pm

How to vote while abroad

By Alice Morrissey

With the upcoming midterm elections on Nov. 3 right around the corner, figuring out how to vote from outside the United States can be one of the biggest obstacles for students who want to exercise their right while still enjoying time away from campus on their semester abroad trips. Elon University is known for its students’ participation in study abroad programs, with over 94% of students participating in study abroad programs at some point in their time at Elon,  according to a 2025 survey. While studying abroad offers students new experiences and adventures, it also comes with the challenge of navigating the election year from overseas. 

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SPORTS 9/17/26 10:51am

Phoenix football looks to accountability to take next step in 2026

By Kathan Gandhi

After two consecutive 6-6 seasons, a 4-4 conference record last season and ranking of third in the Coastal Athletic Association preseason poll, Elon football enters 2026 with a clear goal: improve and win the conference. But to do so, head coach Tony Trisciani believes the Phoenix need to develop the habits that have eluded them in the moments that mattered most.

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LIFESTYLE 9/17/26 8:00am

Elon Law School dean follows through on tattoo deal

By Addison Hinson

Zak Kramer, dean of the Elon University School of Law, joined the faculty in 2023 where he met the class of 2025 as the students began their year of law school. The class made a deal with Kramer: if at least 85% of the class passed the bar exam on their first attempt, he would get a tattoo. Elon Law’s class of 2025 had a 91.96% first-time pass rate on the February 2026 North Carolina Bar Exam.

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NEWS 9/16/26 11:24pm

Town of Elon railroad crossing closure to begin Sept. 17

By Mia Torres , Emma Perman and Lily Mosbacher

Three town of Elon railroad crossings will be closed starting at 7 a.m. on Sept. 17 according to the town of Elon and Elon Police Department. The Gilliam Road, York Road and tentatively Oak Avenue crossings will be closed. The Gilliam Road and York Road crossings both have road closure signage as of 10:45 p.m. on Sept. 16; the Oak Avenue crossing does not.

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SPORTS 9/16/26 11:15pm

Elon’s dynamic defender enters senior season with women’s soccer

By Abigail Hines

When Grace Gelhaus pushes downfield from her defensive position, it’s not about what she sees in front of her, but the people she knows are behind her. The senior finished last season as the Coastal Athletic Association’s 2025 Defender of the Year after racking up 1,293 minutes in Elon’s backline, which conceded the fewest goals in the CAA, registering eight shutouts. 

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LIFESTYLE 9/16/26 2:52pm

From student to senior minister: Elon alum returns to Elon Community Church

By Mia Torres

After nearly 15 years serving as a minister in Connecticut, the Rev. Jonathan Chapman is returning to Elon, this time as the senior minister of Elon Community Church. For Chapman, returning to Elon marks a chance to reconnect with the community that first shaped his path while beginning a new chapter of ministry.

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LIFESTYLE 9/15/26 11:58pm

Students dance into Hispanic Heritage Month at Elon

By Sara Alfonzo Betancourt

Tapping feet and swaying hips lined the bricks of Medallion Plaza at Elon University’s annual Hispanic Heritage Month kickoff. The kickoff is the first of many events to honor Latin American countries and their cultures. The event was hosted by El Centro and Elon’s Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education.

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SPORTS 9/15/26 11:58pm

Elon men’s soccer topples Radford in second-straight 3-0 victory

By Kathan Gandhi

Elon men’s soccer remains undefeated at home with a dominant 3-0 win against Radford University on Sept. 15. The Phoenix started early on the attack, with redshirt junior Dominik Renz’s first shot on goal coming within the first three minutes of the game. Renz followed up moments later, firing a shot that was deflected but found its way to senior Jahmir Flowers’ foot. Flowers finished the attack for his team-best fourth goal of the season. Before this year, the forward had only scored four goals in his entire career. 

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LIFESTYLE 9/15/26 11:05pm

High-tech magician Trigg Watson brings ‘Magic for the Future’ to Elon

By Joe Michaeli

High-tech magician Trigg Watson brought smartphones, technology and audience participation together for “Magic for the Future” in McCrary Theatre on Sept. 15. Watson’s performance blended traditional illusion with technology people interact with in their everyday lives. Throughout the show, audience members were invited on stage and incorporated into several of his tricks.

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NEWS 9/15/26 7:27pm

Elon senior earns national award for ADHD research

By Mia Torres

Research examining how college students with ADHD cope with time blindness has earned Elon University senior Ally Valentine national recognition through the Phi Kappa Phi Pioneer award. Valentine, a psychology major, was selected for the award over the summer. She said she initially applied without expecting to receive the honor and was surprised when she received an email notifying her of her selection. 

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SPORTS 9/14/26 9:03pm

Elon men’s tennis hires new head coach

By Kathan Gandhi

Elon men’s tennis announced Dennis Smith as its new head coach via social media Sept. 14. Smith comes to Elon after spending four years with North Carolina State University, first as a volunteer assistant in 2022 and then as an assistant coach in 2024. 

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LIFESTYLE 9/14/26 7:57pm

Upcoming Elon Performing Arts production highlights community, resilience after 9/11

By Karsyn Vann

Audiences will experience an untold story of hope, resilience and the power of community when the curtain rises on Elon University’s upcoming production of “Come From Away,” the fall musical of the 2026-27 season. “Come From Away” is a musical written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein that tells the true story of 7,000 airline passengers stranded in Gander, Newfoundland, after U.S. airspace closed on Sept. 11, 2001. The show will run in McCrary Theatre from Oct. 30 to Nov. 7. 

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