Hurricane Florence Coverage

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LIFESTYLE 12/31/25 8:34am

The Blend Burlington celebrates Hispanic roots, culture

By Gaby Maldonado

When Lucero Marti first walked into The Blend seven years ago, she quickly fell in love with the space. “I asked God, ‘I’d really love for this place to be mine one day,’” Marti said. And through her involvement with the local Rotary Club, a global nonprofit humanitarian organization, Marti’s connection to The Blend deepened. The Rotarians began holding their meetings at the shop, giving her the chance to build a friendship with the former owner. When the former owner found himself unable to continue running the business after getting married, he approached Marti about taking it over.

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LIFESTYLE 12/27/25 9:06am

Not just a label: Elon University first-generation students get involved on campus

By Trista Panagakos

Elon senior Carlos Gomez Lopez was first introduced to Elon University in ninth grade, when his teachers encouraged him to apply for Elon Academy, a college access program offered to Alamance County high schoolers. Students stay on Elon’s campus for three weeks during the summer, living in residence halls, eating in dining halls and meeting members of Elon’s staff. Gomez Lopez said the program helped him become familiar with the school and was one of the reasons he chose to be a student at Elon. 

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LIFESTYLE 12/22/25 2:52pm

United Way del Condado de Alamance brinda recursos para todas las comunidades

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Shereá Burnett lleva 10 años trabajando con United Way del condado de Alamance, redactando solicitudes de subvenciones y realizando trabajo voluntario. Desde hace poco más de un mes, ocupa el cargo de presidenta de la organización y ya tiene una visión de lo que depara el futuro. "Hemos tenido la oportunidad de colaborar de muchas maneras diferentes durante el último mes, y estamos planeando cosas maravillosas para 2026 que, creo, serán las primeras de su tipo en esta región", declaró Burnett.

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LIFESTYLE 12/22/25 2:49pm

United Way of Alamance County provides resources for all communities

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Shereá Burnett has been working with United Way of Alamance County for 10 years, writing grant applications and volunteering. But for just over a month, she has served as the organization’s president and already has an idea of what the future holds. “We’ve had the opportunity to partner in a lot of different ways in the last month, and we’re planning some wonderful things for 2026 that I think will be the first time some of those things are done here,” Burnett said. 

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LIFESTYLE 12/20/25 12:34pm

La clínica de atención médica local ofrece una ayuda vital a los residentes sin seguro del condado de Alamance

By Miles Hayford

Valerie Epperson, residente del condado de Alamance, afirmó que no cree que estaría viva si no fuera por la Clínica Open Door del condado de Alamance, una clínica que brinda atención médica gratuita a personas sin seguro médico. “Cuando empecé a ir a la clínica, mi diabetes estaba descontrolada y comía lo que quería. Simplemente no me importaba”, dijo Epperson. “Cuando tienes a alguien que te ayuda, te mantiene alerta y te recuerda constantemente: ‘Tienes que hacer esto. Tienes que dejar de hacer aquello’”.

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NEWS 12/17/25 3:18pm

North Carolinians rate public schools poorly in new Elon Poll

By Nia Bedard

As K-12 students across North Carolina prepare for their winter break, the Elon University Poll released poll data on Dec. 17 finding that most North Carolinians gave mediocre or poor grades to public schools across the state. “The states have always had deep authority on education, but there has been more federal involvement in various years,” Director of the Elon University Poll Jason Husser said. “So we thought, well, this is the time for us to really look in depth about what do people think about North Carolina schools.”

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LIFESTYLE 12/16/25 10:30am

Grief, loss support group provides comfort for Elon faculty, staff

By Kate Gray

Elon University associate chaplain Rev. Julie Tonnesen said loss and grief are universal emotions, but found that they can be difficult for faculty and staff to process while continuing their usual routines. “Even when we show up to work, that doesn’t mean that we get to put the rest of our lives on the back burner,” Tonnesen said. “Our grief comes with us. It’s not something we can just keep on a shelf at home.” In collaboration with Counseling Services, the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, began offering a monthly group for faculty and staff to support those affected by loss. 

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LIFESTYLE 12/14/25 11:03am

‘Hemos olvidado la conversación’: el VIH/SIDA todavía afecta al Sur a medida que disminuye la conciencia

By Nia Bedard

45 años después de los primeros casos de VIH/SIDA reportados en Estados Unidos, la lucha contra esta enfermedad está lejos de terminar, especialmente en el sur del país. Según los datos más recientes de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades, el sur representó el 52% de todos los diagnósticos de VIH en Estados Unidos en 2023. "Sabemos que el VIH/SIDA ha afectado de manera desproporcionada a las personas de color y a las personas LGBTQ+ de color en este país", afirmó Jeff Bennett, profesor de estudios de comunicación en la Universidad de Vanderbilt. "Hay muchas personas que viven en zonas rurales, existe desconfianza hacia los profesionales de la salud y persiste el estigma social".

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LIFESTYLE 12/14/25 11:03am

‘We've forgotten about the conversation’: HIV/AIDS still hits the South as awareness fades

By Nia Bedard

45 years after the first reported cases of HIV/AIDS in the U.S., the fight against this disease is far from over, especially in the South. According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the South accounted for 52% of all HIV diagnoses in the U.S. in 2023. "We know that HIV/AIDS has had a disproportionate effect on people of color or queer people of color in this country," Professor of communication studies at Vanderbilt University Jeff Bennett said. "You have many people living in rural areas. You might have distrust of medical providers, you have the social stigma.”

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NEWS 12/12/25 12:25pm

Elon University students prepare for internship, job searches

By Elissa Leka

From freshmen starting to navigate the professional world to seniors preparing for post-graduate opportunities, understanding how to navigate the application process can make all the difference in landing an internship. “That doesn’t mean they need to start seeking out an internship right away,” Amber Moser, director of internships in the School of Communications, said. “Planning for it and researching and putting the pieces in place to be successful in your first year is really beneficial, particularly if students are double majoring, depending on the kind of double major they have.”

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NEWS 12/11/25 2:48pm

‘Definitivamente no queremos que nadie pase hambre’: ABSS gestiona comidas gratuitas, aumento de la deuda en almuerzos

By Anjolina Fantaroni

A las 10:32 a. m., el sonido de las bandejas resuena en la Escuela Primaria Harvey R. Newlin mientras los trabajadores del comedor se apresuran a preparar el almuerzo para el primer grupo de estudiantes. En esta escuela, la mayoru00eda de los alumnos comen gratis: sin formularios, sin pagos y sin preguntas. Para muchos, esta puede ser la comida mu00e1s segura que reciben en todo el du00eda. El Distrito Escolar de Alamance-Burlington cuenta con 28 escuelas que participan en el Programa de Elegibilidad Comunitaria (CEP), como la Escuela Primaria Harvey R. Newlin. El CEP es un programa que permite a las escuelas de zonas de bajos ingresos ofrecer desayuno y almuerzo gratuitos a todos los estudiantes sin necesidad de solicitar comidas gratuitas o a precio reducido.

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NEWS 12/11/25 2:45pm

‘We definitely don’t want anybody to feel hungry’: ABSS navigates free meals, rising lunch debt

By Anjolina Fantaroni

At 10:32 a.m., trays clatter at Harvey R. Newlin Elementary School as cafeteria workers rush to prepare the first wave of students for lunch. At this school, most students eat for free — no forms, no payment and no questions. For many, this may be the most reliable meal they get all day. The Alamance-Burlington School System has 28 Community Eligibility Provision schools, like Harvey R. Newlin Elementary School. CEP is a program that allows low-income area schools to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students without requiring applications for free and reduced-price meals. 

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NEWS 12/10/25 9:53pm

Elon University, Roberts Academy hosts first ‘Discovering Dyslexia’ session

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Elon University hosted its first “Discovering Dyslexia” session Dec. 10 in Johnston Hall, giving parents and community members an overview of dyslexia and introducing the new Roberts Academy at Elon University — a private school for children with dyslexia. Interested parent Tora Taylor-Glover said her son was diagnosed with dyslexia at six years old. “We've seen just some struggles that he was having, and he has been receiving tutoring, but we feel like just kind of continuing that and making sure that he has a curriculum that helps him learn in a way that he wants to learn,” Taylor-Glover said.

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NEWS 12/10/25 3:34pm

Defensores en contra de la pena de muerte reaccionan a ‘La Ley de Iryna,’ posibles implicaciones

By Miles Hayford

Ante la posibilidad de que la "Ley de Iryna" reintroduzca la pena de muerte en Carolina del Norte, los defensores de la abolición de la pena capital están reaccionando a esta nueva legislación. "Es un despropósito, es perjudicial, y nos opondremos a ella con todas nuestras fuerzas, junto con nuestros colaboradores, e intentaremos contrarrestar las consecuencias negativas que ya han comenzado a manifestarse a raíz de esta ley", declaró Noel Nickle, director ejecutivo de la Coalición de Carolina del Norte para Alternativas a la Pena de Muerte.

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NEWS 12/10/25 8:06am

Advocates against the death penalty react to ‘Iryna’s Law,’ potential implications

By Miles Hayford

As ‘Iryna’s Law’ potentially brings back the death penalty to North Carolina, anti-death penalty advocates are reacting to this new legislation. “It's a mess, and it's harmful, and we will stand against it as best we can with all of our partners and try to defeat the negative ramifications that have already started to take place because of it,” said Noel Nickle, the executive director of the North Carolina Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. 

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NEWS 12/9/25 10:41pm

Elon Town Council swears in recently elected members

By Alannah Klingsporn

Elon Town Council swore in new member Steve Exum during their meeting on Dec. 9. Returning council member Randy Orwig and Mayor Emily Sharpe were resworn into their current positions, with Monti Allison being resworn in as Mayor Pro Tem. Steve Exum thanked his family for their support and talked about what he is looking forward to accomplishing as a member of the town council. “I do want to be a bridge builder, a teammate, a lister,” Exum said towards the end of the meeting. “I want to help Elon grow wisely, with opportunity for all and with heart.”

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NEWS 12/9/25 2:10pm

Elon University establishes Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

By Miles Hayford

Elon University is launching a new Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program starting in the fall of 2026. Students will have the option to choose between taking the program either at Elon’s main campus or at the university’s Charlotte campus. The program will have a hybrid model where students complete their first year of coursework in person and then complete online coursework while they have in-person clinical placements in the second year. The second year will include a 600-hour internship requirement. It will be a 60-credit program.

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SPORTS 12/8/25 12:41pm

Elon University punter outlines path for NFL Draft

By Benjamin Berfield

Elon University redshirt senior punter Jeff Yurk announced on Nov. 28 that he was declaring for the NFL Draft, but he said the decision was brewing for almost a year. Yurk said he knew there was an opportunity to declare for the draft with the season he had. Entering his final season, he said if he was going to make a decision, this would be the time to do so. “I knew all along after having a good year last season,” Yurk said. “Since I was running out of eligibility this season, I felt that it was a good idea to declare for the draft.”

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LIFESTYLE 12/4/25 10:53pm

Elon University’s campus glows as Festival of Lights and Luminaries expands cultural celebration

By Mia Torres

Elon University’s Festival of Lights and Luminaries took place on Dec. 4 and was hosted by the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life. Luminaries lit up Elon’s campus as students walked around and enjoyed the night. The festival started incorporating themes in 2020 with each year being a new theme. This year it was, “Many Lights on One Night.” “This year the festival is bigger than ever, so the theme represents how all the small lights that each of us bring create one larger light on campus,” Hillary Zaken, the director of multifaith programming and engagement for the Truitt Center said. 

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SPORTS 12/4/25 12:09am

Strong start not enough in Elon University men’s basketball loss to Furman University

By Trevor Brader-Araje

The energy in Schar Center was palpable as the Phoenix built an early 18 point lead. However, the Phoenix couldn’t sustain momentum as Furman University surged in the second half to hand Elon a home defeat on Dec. 3. Head coach Billy Taylor said the Phoenix simply didn’t respond well when Furman started to take control. While there were encouraging moments during the game, Taylor stressed the importance of maintaining that level. “When they punched back, we didn’t respond the right way,” Taylor said. “We need more of those moments strung together over the course of 40 minutes.”

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