Hurricane Florence Coverage

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SPORTS 9/14/25 1:16pm

Elon men’s soccer wins physical match to remain unbeaten

By Benjamin Berfield

The Elon University men’s soccer team beat University of South Carolina Upstate 1-0 to win their fourth game of the season. It is the second consecutive year the Phoenix have opened the season unbeaten through the first five games. “You have to compete first,”head coach Marc Reeves. “I thought we did a really good job of that. They’re a very strong team with some really good players and I thought we dealt with it all well.” The Phoenix will host its next game against Davidson College at 7 p.m. Sept. 16 at Rudd Field. 

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SPORTS 9/14/25 7:38am

Elon men’s soccer regains key offensive piece for 2025 season

By Kathan Gandhi

As Elon University men’s soccer kicks off its 2025 campaign, it’ll be looking to deliver on promising developments from 2024, with contributions from new leaders and returners such as senior Colin Veltri, who is returning after an injury stalled his 2024 season. Despite his injury, Veltri is excited to return to the pitch this season. “I want to be a part of helping us get the win,” Veltri said. “If that means changing my role or doing more to help the offense, I’m willing to do that.” 

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LIFESTYLE 9/13/25 2:09pm

Elon University’s Black Student Union struts out for fashion show

By Harrison Narens

Elon University’s Black Student Union hosted their Art around the World fashion show on Sept. 12 in Alumni Gym in collaboration with Late Night Elon, taking the audience around the world without even hopping on a plane. “Truly, all of these students did amazing work. I’m so proud of our Elon community coming together especially as a student of color,” Elon freshman Ernesto Arellano-Perez said. “It's important that we have events like these to really show the diversity here at Elon.”

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SPORTS 9/13/25 9:11am

Elon football team looks to carry last season’s momentum after key offseason losses

By Miles Hayford

After starting the 2024-25 season 1-5 with four losses at home, the Elon University football team bounced back and won their last four games. Head coach Tony Trisciani said the team is hoping to carry that momentum into this season. “I expect us to be highly competitive,” Trisciani said at the Coastal Athletic Association Football Media Day on July 24. “We got a lot of juice, a lot of energy in our building, and these guys are ready to go.” 

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LIFESTYLE 9/12/25 7:15pm

Elon University Truitt Center destroys annual sand mandala

By Emma Luckman

The Sacred Space in Numen Lumen was filled with members of the Elon community and beyond as Tibetan Buddhist monks Geshe Sangpo and Geshe Tenzin from the Kadampa Center pushed the vibrant sand of the Green Tara sand mandala into the middle of a table to represent that nothing is permanent. Hillary Zaken, Director of Multifaith Programming and Engagement at Elon University, said starting the year off with a strong symbol of peace within the sacred space, is essential to harmonious academics. “The beginning of the year is hectic,” Zaken said. “Everyone's coming in from all kinds of different places. "

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LIFESTYLE 9/12/25 5:24pm

Eso! Jarabe Mexicano returns to perform at Elon

By Lilly Molina

On Sept. 11, Jarabe Mexicano played their Fiesta and Familia program in McCrary Theatre. This is Jarabe Mexicano’s second time on campus after performing last year. During Jarabe Mexicano’s last visit to Elon, they were in a rush to get back to the West Coast, according to Acoser. However, this time the band has time to check out the local community. “We often like to go out and visit your community and go see the sites or both,” Alcoser said. “Maybe visit the Hispanic community, the nearest Hispanic community.”

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SPORTS 9/12/25 3:23pm

Elon University dance team sets sights on maintaining team chemistry

By Benjamin Berfield

Going into her senior year for Elon University’s dance team, Olivia Ferranola said she would love to achieve a first-place finish in next year’s hip-hop and pom categories. However, she said that she doesn’t want competition to be the team’s only measure of success. She said she hopes everyone can show enough growth to the point where they will be able to make strong adjustments from last year. “If it does happen, that would mean the absolute world,” Ferranola said.

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NEWS 9/12/25 9:35am

Avid readers flock to Friends of the Alamance County Public Libraries’ fall book sale

By Miles Hayford

The crowded basement of May Memorial Library in downtown Burlington has been crawling with avid readers, resellers and Burlington residents on a mission to take full advantage of the Friends of the Alamance County Public Libraries' fall book sale. Christine Fisher, a Wilmington resident, has been coming to the book sale since 2016 and said she enjoys looking for authors she likes. "This thing is like a hunt," Fisher said. "It's like, 'Oh my gosh, what am I going to find this time?'

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SPORTS 9/11/25 9:34pm

Western Alamance High School strikes a pose, striking down McMichael in three sets

By Emma Citro

Wednesday night, Western Alamance High School's volleyball team's front line struck more than just volleyballs. Flashy or not, the Warriors' momentum was proven effective as they swept Dalton McMichael High School in three straight sets. Western opened strong with a 25-16 win, edged McMichael 25-22 in a fiery second set, and sealed the win 25-14 in the third behind consistent offense from junior Reese Walker. "Reese has been a dominant force for us,"Nadeau said. "One hit from her can change the whole momentum of our team."

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NEWS 9/11/25 7:31pm

“GOD BLESS CHARLIE KIRK”; a poster for the conservative activist appears on West Haggard

By Fiona McAllister

A poster with the words “GOD BLESS CHARLIE KIRK” appeared on the corner of West Haggard and North Williamson Avenue on Sept. 11 following the death of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10. Kirk died after being shot in the neck, according to a statement from Turning Point USA. In the evening the poster was covered by pieces of paper with statements including “Kirk said he doesn’t believe in empathy” and “Care like this when it’s a 3rd grade classroom”.

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LIFESTYLE 9/11/25 3:12pm

Elon University Truitt Center hopes to start year with community, compassion with annual sand mandala ceremony

By Nia Bedard

Elon University’s Truitt Center for Religious & Spiritual Life welcomed Tibetan Buddhist monks Geshe Sangpo and Geshe Tenzin from the Kadampa Center in Raleigh for the center’s twelfth annual Green Tara Sand Mandala Ceremony at Numen Lumen. “It is appropriate at the beginning of the school year to conduct, to sort of allow those feelings of compassion, peace and harmony to ripple throughout our space, throughout our campus, throughout our students,” multifaith second-year leadership intern at the Truitt Center Lizbeth Torres-Tomas said. 

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SPORTS 9/11/25 12:41pm

Elon University volleyball team enters season under new leadership

By Miles Hayford

The Elon University volleyball team is entering the 2025 season with a new face at the helm. Head coach Matt Troy is entering his first season as a coach for the Phoenix after coaching at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, where he led them to a 2019 NCAA Division III Championship amid a 151-17 record. Troy said the players immediately welcomed him in at Elon and he didn’t feel like a stranger. “There was already a solid culture coming in, the players are very connected with one another,” Troy said.

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NEWS 9/11/25 9:10am

Alamance County sheriff to seek 7th term, faces first potential opposition in GOP since 2002

By Nia Bedard

As Alamance County and the towns within prepare for municipal elections on Nov. 4, Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson sets his sights on his seventh term in the position, running for reelection in North Carolina primary elections March 3, 2026. As the 75-year-old incumbent prepares to run for his seventh term, he is potentially facing opposition from two candidates from his own party — a challenge he hasn’t faced since his very first election. Filing for the North Carolina primary elections will open on Dec. 1. 

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NEWS 9/11/25 9:03am

El Sheriff del condado de Alamance buscará su séptimo mandato, enfrentándose a su primera posible oposición en el Partido Republicano desde 2002

By Nia Bedard

A medida que el condado de Alamance y sus municipios se preparan para las elecciones municipales del 4 de noviembre, el sheriff Terry Johnson ya piensa en un reto mayor: buscar un séptimo mandato en el cargo, con las elecciones primarias de Carolina del Norte programadas para el 3 de marzo de 2026.  Johnson fue elegido por primera vez en 2002 y ha ocupado el puesto durante 23 años. Ahora, a sus 75 años, se prepara para otra campaña, aunque esta vez podría enfrentar oposición desde dentro de su propio partido, algo que no ha ocurrido desde su primera elección. 

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SPORTS 9/10/25 10:53pm

Historic defensive performance lifts Elon University women’s soccer over South Carolina State

By Benjamin Berfield

The Elon University women’s soccer team defeated South Carolina State 6-0 to win their sixth game of the season, pushing the Phoenix to its seventh straight shutout. After a first half that involved lots of defense, the Phoenix scored five goals in the second half to seal the victory. Head coach Neil Payne said the team takes lots of pride in their defense and team performance. “We celebrate defending as much as we celebrate goals,” Payne said. “Every single player helps out and it’s not just defending our goal."

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NEWS 9/10/25 8:41pm

Carolina Cowboys ride into Greensboro for professional bull riding

By Anjolina Fantaroni

The Carolina Cowboys are set to take over First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro this weekend as Professional Bull Riders Cowboy Days bucks into town. Jerome Davis, head coach of the Carolina Cowboys, said he’s excited for the Greensboro games, where the team has won its last two games at the Coliseum. “We've had some tough, tough runs at it, but our guys are starting to get back together and getting healthy, and it looks like we're gonna have a good year finishing it out,” Davis said. The Carolina Cowboys will be at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro from Sept. 12-14.

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NEWS 9/10/25 3:56pm

Conservative political activist Charlie Kirk dead after shooting at Utah Valley University

By Nia Bedard and Miles Hayford

Conservative political activist Charlie Kirk has died after being shot in the neck at an event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, according to a statement from Turning Point USA. According to a spokesperson from UVU, there is currently no suspect in custody. “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.  Kirk spoke alongside Vivek Ramaswamy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill while on the “You’re Being Brainwashed” Tour on Oct. 21, 2024. He also visited East Carolina University on Nov. 3, 2024. 

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NEWS 9/9/25 9:01pm

East Haggard Avenue to close for 9 days, per Elon Town Council

By Miles Hayford

During their meeting on Sept. 9, Elon Town Council discussed an annexation petition to expand the town’s corporate limits, a resolution to sell two police vehicles and updates on town projects such as the construction on East Haggard Avenue – which will be closed during the day for nine days. Construction will begin on Sept. 11 and end on Sept. 23. A portion of the road will be closed each day, but it will be open during evenings and weekends. Both lanes of traffic will be closed. 

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NEWS 9/9/25 7:44pm

Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation unveils historical stone at Elon University

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Elon University unveiled a stone honoring the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation and the Native American land the university is built on in a ceremony on Sept. 9. Vickie Jeffries, or Mihe Heyananhes Yattse, is a beader, basket weaver and Indigenous herbalist. She was born in Alamance County and is an enrolled citizen of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation. “You wouldn't think that it would actually happen, but it did, and all things are possible,” Jeffries said. “To know that people will finally see this stone, they can read it and read about the evolution.”

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NEWS 9/9/25 3:10pm

Burlington Animal Services installs pet microchip scanning systems across Alamance County

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Burlington Animal Services has installed 10 pet microchip scanning stations at fire departments and sheriff’s offices across the county, giving residents a quick tool to reunite stray animals with their families. Jessica Arias, animal services director at Burlington Animal Services, said the shelter has wanted to implement the scanning stations for several years because about 80% of lost pets are found within a mile of where they live. “We know that often, pet owners have their pets microchipped for good reason,” Arias said. 

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