Politics

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NEWS 9/15/25 10:07pm

Alamance County Commissioners approve ABSS grant applications, consider health department consolidation

By Miles Hayford

The Alamance County Board of Commissioners approved five applications for needs-based grants to the Alamance-Burlington School System and decided to move forward with a plan to consolidate the county’s health department. The grants, which ask for funding from the state, include one for a roofing project at Southern Alamance Middle School that would cost the county $700,000 because the county must match 25% in funding of the total project cost. The four other grants were for heating, ventilation and air conditioning repairs at Southern Alamance High School, Western Alamance High School, Graham Middle School and Eastern Alamance High School.

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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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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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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 9/7/25 1:33pm

North Carolina sues FEMA over freeze of $200 million infrastructure funding after severe storm season

By Alice Morrissey

Throughout the summer months, Elon students received more than 40 e alerts warning of power outages, severe weather and flood watches. North Carolina’s typical wet season was made even more tempestuous by storms such as Tropical Storm Chantal, which swept across the state. The storm raised concerns among North Carolina residents not only about damage but also about the freeze of federal disaster relief funds promised by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson filed a lawsuit against FEMA over its decision to cancel a program that provides more than $200 million to protect the state’s infrastructure. 

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NEWS 9/5/25 5:36pm

Elon University SGA announces priorities for the year in first meeting of semester

By Trista Panagakos

The Student Government Association held their first meeting of the semester, which brought the executive council, made up of Executive President Anya Bratić, Vice President Sammy Azúa, Vice President of Communications Kennedy Steiner, Vice President of Finance Ian Brecker and Speaker of the Senate Selma Maric in front of the senate to detail the five priorities they worked on over the summer. “In several years past with other execs, we’ve had really, really, wonderful priorities, but not one that necessarily been all cohesive and or surrounded around one another. That’s where we really succeeded. This year we decided that it was really important for us to all have a common goal.” 

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NEWS 9/4/25 8:07am

Sin una red: la ayuda federal en caso de desastre en Carolina del Norte se agota

By Miles Hayford

Mientras Carolina del Norte continúa recuperándose del Huracán Helene y ahora responde a la temporada de huracanes de 2025, la ayuda federal se ha convertido en un tema de conflicto entre las autoridades federales y estatales. Con tormentas como la Tormenta Tropical Chantal y el Huracán Erin causando más daños en el estado, el gobernador Josh Stein ha exigido más ayuda federal por desastres. Carolina del Norte ha tenido dificultades para obtener los fondos que desea del gobierno federal en la aftermath del Huracán Helene de 2024.

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NEWS 9/4/25 8:07am

Federal disaster relief in North Carolina dries up

By Miles Hayford

As North Carolina continues to recover from Hurricane Helene and now responds to the 2025 hurricane season, federal aid has become a point of contention between federal and state officials. With storms such as Tropical Storm Chantal and Hurricane Erin bringing further damage to the state, Gov. Josh Stein has demanded more federal disaster relief. North Carolina has struggled to get the funding it wants from the federal government in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in 2024. North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson recently joined 19 other states in a lawsuit against the Federal Emergency Management Administration. 

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NEWS 8/27/25 3:41pm

Legislatura de Carolina del Norte anula ocho vetos, aún no aprueba presupuesto estatal

By Miles Hayford

En los últimos meses, legisladores de Carolina del Norte aprobaron casi 70 proyectos de ley y le anularon ocho vetos al gobernador Josh Stein, pero todavía no han aprobado un nuevo presupuesto estatal. El nuevo año fiscal comenzó el 1 de julio y sin un presupuesto nuevo, los gastos se han mantenido en los niveles actuales. Tras un receso en verano, los legisladores se reunieron nuevamente el 26 de agosto, lo que inició el proceso de continuar las discusiones sobre el nuevo presupuesto. 

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NEWS 8/27/25 3:41pm

North Carolina legislature overrides 8 vetoes, yet to pass state budget

By Miles Hayford

Throughout the summer and the last several months, North Carolina legislators have enacted almost 70 bills, but have yet to pass a state budget despite the start of the new fiscal year on July 1. The House and the Senate have struggled to agree on a version of the two-year, $66 billion budget. The House’s version of the budget has higher raises for state employees and wants to slow future tax cuts. North Carolina is one of three states that have yet to enact a new budget for this fiscal year. 

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NEWS 8/27/25 11:44am

El Ayuntamiento de Elon analiza la revisión de riesgos del departamento de policía y actualiza a la comunidad sobre los proyectos.

By Miles Hayford

Durante su reunión del 25 de agosto, el Concejo Municipal de Elon discutió una evaluación de revisión de riesgos completada con éxito realizada por la Liga de Municipios de Carolina del Norte, que incluyó una revisión del departamento para asegurarse de que cumpliera con los estándares de la industria. El consultor indicó que aproximadamente 200 agencias del orden público en todo el estado se comprometieron a realizar esta evaluación de riesgos, pero Elon fue una de las nueve que si la realizaron.

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NEWS 8/25/25 8:00pm

Elon Town Council discusses police department risk review, updates community on projects

By Miles Hayford

The Elon Town Council discussed a police department risk assessment, awarded promotions to two police officers and gave updates on town projects. The council discussed the North Carolina League of Municipalities’s risk review assessment of the police department. According to a risk management consultant, Chet Effler, from the league, the assessment included a review of the department to make sure they adhered to industry standards and practices. Effler said roughly 200 law enforcement agencies across the state pledged to do this risk assessment, but Elon was one of only nine who ended up doing it.

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NEWS 8/24/25 12:34pm

North Carolina politicians begin vying for open Senate seat

By Miles Hayford

After longtime North Carolinian politician Thom Tillis announced that he would be retiring and not seek reelection to a third term as U.S. Senator on June 29, the race for the open seat has attracted significant interest from both parties. The 2026 midterm race is headlined by former Democratic governor Roy Cooper and chair of the Republican National Committee Michael Whatley. Tillis’ retirement came after President Trump publicly criticized him for voting against the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” earlier in the summer.

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NEWS 8/21/25 4:34pm

IRS decision allows some churches to endorse political candidates, remain tax exempt

By Kate Gray

The Johnson Amendment, added to the U.S. tax code in 1964, prohibits certain nonprofit organizations from endorsing or opposing political candidates until a group of religious nonprofits, including two churches, filed a lawsuit that claimed the Johnson Amendment violated their free speech and free exercise rights under the First Amendment. “This amendment protects the separation of church and state by making sure that houses of worship aren't corrupted by politics,” Alexandra Zaretsky, a litigation consultant for Americans United for Separation of Church and State said. 

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NEWS 7/28/25 7:17pm

N.C. House and Senate Republicans prepare to override Gov. Stein’s vetoes

By Abigail Hines

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein’s 14 vetoes from this year’s legislative session could  be overridden by the North Carolina House of Representatives and Senate when the legislative bodies reconvene on July 29. The Senate and House would need to obtain a three-fifths vote from present and voting members in order to successfully override Stein’s vetoes. Currently, Republicans hold a three-fifths majority in the Senate. House Republicans gained a supermajority in April 2023 when Rep. Tricia Cotham, elected as a Democrat, switched parties during her term.

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NEWS 7/2/25 6:52pm

SNAP cuts loom as Congress passes President Trump’s budget bill

By Miles Hayford

U.S. Senate and House Republicans have passed President Trump’s tax and spending cuts package, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, that could cut food assistance benefits from 1.4 million North Carolinians, and Republican leaders in the House of Representatives are looking to pass it before President Trump’s self-imposed July 4 deadline. The bill would cut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or Snap, which over 1.4 million North Carolinians rely on. Gov. Josh Stein also denounced the bill by writing to Congressional leadership, along with the 22 other Democratic governors, asking them to not cut SNAP.

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NEWS 6/20/25 8:51am

U.S. DOJ sues NC Board of Elections after contested, split-ticket 2024 election

By Miles Hayford

The 2024 election in North Carolina saw the pattern of split-ticket voting, or when a voter chooses candidates from different political parties for different races on the same ballot, continue as fewer people voted Democrat for president than attorney general. “North Carolina was never as democratic as the other southern states were in the past, and today we're not as Republican as the other southern states are,” Western Carolina University political science and public affairs professor Christopher Cooper said. “We're this odd mix of this purple state that sits in this very red region."

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NEWS 6/17/25 6:28pm

Alamance County Commissioners pass budget for 2025-26

By Nia Bedard

The Alamance County Board of Commissioners passed the budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year for the entire county during its meeting on June 16. The budget for the upcoming year, which was a modified plan proposed by Commissioner Steve Carter, will include a 2.5 cent property tax increase in the county. Despite the passing of the budget, the Alamance-Burlington School System will be challenging the budget following a meeting on June 17, alleging that the amount of money allocated by the county is inadequate. 

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NEWS 6/10/25 10:08pm

Elon Town Council approves budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year

By Nia Bedard

The Elon Town Council approved the 2025-26 fiscal year budget for the town of Elon during its meeting June 10. With the approval of the 2025-26 fiscal year budget the town of Elon’s property tax will stay at 35 cents for every 100 dollars of assessed property value. However, the water and sewer fees for the town will increase by 7%. “It wasn't an easy task,” Mayor Pro Tem Monti Allison said during the meeting. “No one wants their taxes to go up, everyone wants to make sure they get the same amenities and services year in, year out or more.”

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