Abigail Hines

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Recent Articles

LIFESTYLE 1/20/26 1:57pm

Hundreds gather in Burlington for annual MLK Day celebration

By Abigail Hines

Dancers, singers, and guest speakers took the stage at the City of Burlington’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration Jan. 19. The event took place in the Mayco Bigelow Community Center and welcomed around 450 people. Recreation Center Supervisor for the North Park, Zion Cash, helped coordinate the day’s program. He said the main message from the day was unity, keeping the hope alive and knowing the work’s not done. 

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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 5/20/25 7:13am

North Carolina House pushes bill to restrict cell phone access in the classroom

By Abigail Hines

The members of the North Carolina House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted 114-3 in favor of House bill 87, or the Cell Phone-Free Education bill. As it stands, the bill would require all K-12 public schools in North Carolina to adopt a policy eliminating or severely limiting student access to cell phones in the classroom. This bill could make North Carolina the 16th state to ban or restrict cell phone use in classrooms. The bill itself does not specify how each school must implement its own policy.

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LIFESTYLE 5/2/25 3:32pm

Music at the Plaza kicks off 2025 season

By Abigail Hines

Music at the Plaza returns to the downtown Elon plaza for its 2025 season at 6 p.m. on May 2. The bimonthly event brings live music and a lively crowd to the plaza every first and third Friday of the month. The event runs throughout May and June and then returns from August to October. GreenHawk Corporation is a sponsor of the event, and downtown development director Jill Weston said the partnership provides them a larger budget. The first event of the series will feature The Fandinos, a pop-rock band based in North Carolina. 

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NEWS 4/28/25 9:01pm

New North Carolina legislation could ease concealed carry handgun rules

By Abigail Hines

A North Carolina bill that would allow people over the age of 18 to carry a concealed handgun without a permit was approved by the state Senate and is currently under review in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Senate Bill 50, which was approved by the state Senate on March 20, proposes several changes to the current permit process, allowing individuals to purchase and carry concealed handguns without a thorough background check by local law enforcement. It also lowers the age in which you can carry a concealed handgun from 21 to 18 years old. 

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LIFESTYLE 4/15/25 3:48pm

Special Olympics packs Elon University’s Schar Center for annual spring games

By Abigail Hines

Hundreds of athletes and volunteers filled Schar Center on April 10 for the 2025 Special Olympics Alamance County Spring Games. The athletes competed in a variety of events including softball throw, long jump and relay racing. Throughout the day, students and adults rotated through each event, and volunteers and guests cheered from the stands as they competed. At the end of each event, athletes were awarded a medal for their participation. Special Olympics Alamance County hosts weekly events for its athletes. Students interested in volunteering can visit the Kernodle Center or the Special Olympics Alamance County website. 

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LIFESTYLE 4/15/25 3:48pm

Special Olympics packs Elon University’s Schar Center for annual spring games

By Abigail Hines

Hundreds of athletes and volunteers filled Schar Center on April 10 for the 2025 Special Olympics Alamance County Spring Games. The athletes competed in a variety of events including softball throw, long jump and relay racing. Throughout the day, students and adults rotated through each event, and volunteers and guests cheered from the stands as they competed. At the end of each event, athletes were awarded a medal for their participation. Special Olympics Alamance County hosts weekly events for its athletes. Students interested in volunteering can visit the Kernodle Center or the Special Olympics Alamance County website. 

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LIFESTYLE 4/2/25 2:17am

Persnickety Books embraces change in its new location after leaving downtown Burlington

By Abigail Hines

When Persnickety Books packed up its shelves and moved to a new location co-owner Ian Baltutis wasn’t sure what the new space would hold for them. But after a month at its new location, Baltutis said the store has only grown from where it used to be. “It is a relief to know that as we took this change, took this risk of moving, we feel like we didn’t lose a stride, and we have a nice solid foundation to build from,” Baltutis said. 

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NEWS 3/12/25 1:27pm

Gerald Whittington awarded Elon Medallion, dedication of residence hall in his honor

By Abigail Hines

After receiving a call from Elon President Connie Book informing him the university would be dedicating a building in the Global Neighborhood to him, Senior Vice President Emeritus Gerald Whittington was at a loss for words. Whittington said he was further shocked to hear he would also receive the Elon Medallion, a testament to his dedication of advancing Elon as an institution throughout his 32-year career. The Elon Medallion is Elon’s highest award and is granted to faculty, staff, trustees or alums who have demonstrated meritorious service to the university.

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NEWS 3/1/25 1:52pm

Elon Relay for Life raises over $50,000 for American Cancer Society

By Abigail Hines

After 12 hours of relays, activities, performances, and guest speakers, the executive board for Relay for Life at Elon revealed the final number of money raised for the American Cancer Society, totaling $54,155.76. Leading up to the grand reveal, more than 700 participants relayed around the Phoenix Activities and Recreation Center and listened to members of the community talk about their personal experiences with cancer. Some of those speakers were familiar faces for Elon students.

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LIFESTYLE 2/18/25 1:34pm

Rising rent prices force Persnickety Books to relocate

By Abigail Hines

Persnickety Books is leaving downtown Burlington and moving into a new location due to an increase in rent cost, according to co-owner of Persnickety Books Ian Baltutis. Persnickety Books will be temporarily closing at the end of this week and plans to reopen by the beginning of March. Baltutis purchased Persnickety Books in 2019 from its former owners. The new store, located at 703 E Davis St., is “comparable” in size to the space they’re in now but has a much different layout. Baltutis said he’s excited to see how Persnickety will change with the new space. 

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NEWS 8/24/24 3:00pm

Elon University president discusses AI, campus election initiatives

By Abigail Hines

Elon University President Connie Book sat down with Elon News Network to discuss Elon’s new developments regarding AI and the 2024 election. 

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