Kate Gray

Recent Articles

NEWS 5/22/26 6:45pm

Elon University College of Arts and Sciences, School of Education, School of Health Sciences graduates cross the stage

By Kate Gray

Seniors in the Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and School of Health Sciences graduated in Schar Center at Elon University’s 136th Undergraduate Commencement on May 22. The event was the second Elon commencement of the day, with students from the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business and the School of Communications graduating at 9 a.m.

NEWS 5/22/26 1:30pm

Elon University schools of business, communications graduates receive their diplomas

By Kate Gray

Graduating seniors from the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business and School of Communications crossed the stage in Schar Center at Elon University’s 136th Undergraduate Commencement on May 22. The ceremony for business and communications majors began at 9 a.m. and featured speeches from Elon University President Connie Book, student speaker Ruby Radis ‘26 and commencement speaker Patricia Walsh Chadwick. 

LIFESTYLE 5/21/26 8:35pm

Legacy Reception celebrates seniors related to Elon alumni

By Kate Gray

Over 30 graduates with family members who are Elon alumni were recognized at the Legacy Reception on May 21 in McKinnon Hall. For senior Chloe Prince, the event marked the close of a chapter at Elon that began in childhood. Her parents, Maggie Prince ‘97 and Chris Prince ‘97, introduced her to Elon through football games and described Elon as a second home.

LIFESTYLE 5/20/26 6:13pm

First-generation graduates recognized at stole ceremony

By Kate Gray

When Cici Salazar began her undergraduate education at Elon University in 2019, the school had just begun offering focused support services to first-generation students through the Center for Access and Success. Seven years later, Salazar is graduating with a Master of Arts in Higher Education and received her first-generation stole after planning the past two years’ ceremonies.

LIFESTYLE 5/8/26 11:39pm

Elon senior honored at ROTC commissioning ceremony

By Kate Gray

The North Carolina A&T State University Army ROTC program held its spring 2026 commissioning ceremony May 8. The program is commonly referred to as the Aggie Battalion and includes several colleges and universities in the Greensboro area, including Elon University. Elon senior Erin Hroncich was among twelve cadets who transitioned to second lieutenants in the United States Army.

LIFESTYLE 4/30/26 10:21am

CrossRoads organizes Denim Day dinner, fashion show

By Kate Gray

On April 29, over 200 attendees filled the Ramada Inn Convention Center for CrossRoads’ annual Denim Day dinner and fashion show. The event was primarily a fundraiser for CrossRoads Sexual Assault Response & Resource Center, with sponsors, raffles and on-site donations encouraged, but it also served to unite the Alamance area around sexual assault prevention.

NEWS 4/23/26 10:20am

Dismissal of Leandro case concerns public school advocates

By Kate Gray

The Leandro Comprehensive Remedial Plan, a 2021 proposed public school funding plan to ensure North Carolina meets its educational standards as outlined in the state constitution, called for $5.5 billion over eight years. In Alamance County, the plan would have allocated $56.7 million to the Alamance-Burlington School System — a 38% budget increase as of 2022 — and $15.7 million to early education programs by 2028.

NEWS 4/14/26 2:44pm

Town of Elon holds community meeting over proposed changes to RV policy

By Kate Gray

Around 20 people attended the Town of Elon’s community meeting April 13 to hear from residents and recreational vehicle owners on potential changes to the town’s RV regulations. An identical meeting is planned for April 23 at Beth Schmidt Park Community Center, and any policy changes are scheduled to be presented at the May 26 Elon Town Council meeting. 

NEWS 4/9/26 1:36pm

Mebane 2045 Comprehensive Plan guides growth management

By Kate Gray

The Mebane 2045 Comprehensive Plan, a 20-year vision guiding policy relating to infrastructure and land use for the city of Mebane, is influencing city council decisions just four months after its adoption. At a budget work session March 12, the Planning and Zoning department named specific goals to update the Cameron Lane Thoroughfare Plan, evaluate a circulator bus route piloted by Orange County and research amendments to the Mebane Unified Development Ordinance — all potential projects named in Mebane 2045.

NEWS 3/28/26 9:26pm

Crowds gather across North Carolina for third nationwide “No Kings” protests

By Kate Gray and Katrina Holtz

RALEIGH, N.C. — Thousands of people assembled around the North Carolina State Capitol Building at 1 p.m. on March 28 for the third nationwide “No Kings” protest.According to the No Kings website, there were more than 3,000 planned protests nationwide, with 79 in North Carolina alone.The demonstration was primarily organized by progressive advocacy groups Indivisible and the 50501 movement. They previously held the Hands Off protest in April 2025, and two No Kings protests in June and October 2025.

NEWS 2/25/26 1:07pm

Elon Votes sponsors State of the Union watch party

By Kate Gray

Around 15 students gathered in Moseley Center on Feb. 24 for the State of the Union watch party, hosted by Elon Votes. The broadcast was President Trump’s first State of the Union of his second term and lasted a record 108 minutes, according to AP News. The previous record for the longest presidential address to Congress was 100 minutes and was set by Trump last year.

NEWS 2/22/26 12:52pm

North Carolina remains in running for first 2028 presidential primary

By Kate Gray

North Carolina is one of 12 states vying for the first-in-the-nation Democratic primary in 2028, according to the Democratic National Committee. The DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee must select four to five states for the early nominating window of the 2028 presidential election, with at least one state from each of the DNC’s four regions: East, Midwest, South and West.

NEWS 2/3/26 6:46pm

NC College Democrats sue State Board of Elections over early voting access

By Kate Gray

The College Democrats of North Carolina and four college students sued the North Carolina State Board of Elections and several state and local election officials over the denial of on-campus early voting sites for the 2026 primary election. At their meeting Jan. 13, the NCSBE heard from 12 county boards of elections that had not come to unanimous decisions on their early voting plans.

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. 

NEWS 11/14/25 11:07am

Miembros electos del consejo municipal de Elon y alcalde reflexionan sobre las inquietudes de los votantes y planifican para el próximo mandato

By Kate Gray

El concejal Randy Orwig, que buscaba la reelección, y el recién llegado Steve Exum fueron elegidos para el consejo municipal de Elon, obteniendo el 31,97 % y el 39,88 % de los votos, respectivamente. Emily Sharpe, actual alcaldesa de Elon, ganó su reelección sin oposición con el 98,18 % de los votos. ”No es como una campaña en la que te presentas a un distrito y la mayoría de la gente no te conoce personalmente, solo han oído hablar de ti”, dijo Exum.

NEWS 11/14/25 10:56am

Elon town council member-elects, mayor reflect on voter concerns, plan for upcoming term

By Kate Gray

Incumbent Randy Orwig and newcomer Steve Exum were elected to the Elon town council, winning 31.97% and 39.88% of the vote, respectively and Emily Sharpe, current town of Elon mayor, won her unopposed reelection bid with 98.18% of the vote. “It’s not like a campaign where you’re running for a district and a majority of people don’t know you personally, they just know of you,” Exum said. “A lot of these people knew me, and I got a lot of good responses. I felt like it was a fun, celebratory unfolding of the day as a new friend would come up, or someone I had worked for or worked with. That small town vibe is pretty satisfying.”

NEWS 11/12/25 11:27pm

Elon SGA hosts fall town hall event, showcases individual actions, community transformation

By Kate Gray

The Elon University Student Government Association hosted their fall town hall. More than 80 people attended the event, which was cosponsored by CrossRoads Sexual Assault Response & Resource Center in Burlington and several on-campus organizations, including the Gender and LGBTQIA Center, Department of Health Promotion and Panhellenic Association. “Tonight I saw so many different students from so many different organizations, and that made me so happy to see just a full room of people that were all eager to be here and learn from people who have created such impactful changes in their communities,” SGA Executive President Anya Bratić said.

NEWS 10/9/25 1:06pm

Republican National Committee backs Michael Whatley for Senate ahead of primary

By Kate Gray

The Republican National Committee endorsed Michael Whatley as senator for North Carolina ahead of the midterm primary elections, sparking ethical concerns about early endorsements. The position opened in June, when current senator Thom Tillis announced he would not be running for reelection in the 2026 midterms, and Democrats now have the chance to flip the seat. Their endorsement of Whatley is unusual because both the RNC and the GOP typically refrain from endorsing candidates until they have been confirmed as the party nominee or are running unopposed, according to Christopher Cooper, professor of political science at Western Carolina University.

NEWS 10/9/25 1:06pm

El Comité Nacional Republicano respalda a Michael Whatley para el Senado antes de las primarias

By Kate Gray

El Comité Nacional Republicano (RNC) respaldó a Michael Whatley como senador por Carolina del Norte antes de las elecciones primarias de mitad de mandato, lo que generó inquietudes éticas sobre las recomendaciones anticipadas. El puesto se abrió en junio, cuando el actual senador Thom Tillis anunció que no se postularía a la reelección en las elecciones de mitad de mandato de 2026, y los demócratas ahora tienen la oportunidad de revertir el escaño. Su respaldo a Whatley es inusual, ya que tanto el RNC como el Partido Republicano suelen abstenerse de respaldar a candidatos hasta que hayan sido confirmados como candidatos del partido o se presenten sin oposición, según Christopher Cooper, profesor de ciencias políticas en la Universidad de Western Carolina.

More Articles by Kate Gray »

Recent Media

Gray_SOTU_Edited.jpg
Kohn.jpg
DiningPhoto.jpg
Data Nexus_4.JPG
Data Nexus DM.jpg
Data Nexus_3.JPG
Family Weekend Rain.jpg
Family Weekend Rain.jpg
Rain Family Weekend.jpg

More Media by Kate Gray »

Latest

NEWS 06/13/2026 11:10am
Dem. nominee Richard Ojeda addresses rising costs at town hall

Mayco Bigelow Community Center in Burlington opened its doors Friday, June 12, for a speech given by U.S. House of Representatives candidate Richard Ojeda. He and his team are making a series of visits throughout the district this summer called the Congressional Town Hall Tour.

Advertisement