North Carolina
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. honors the legacy and fortitude of N.C. civil rights leader Dr. Willa Cofield
At the nexus of Black History Month and Women’s History Month, North Carolina educator and civil rights leader Dr. Willa Cofield was recently honored for her ongoing impact through activism.
The Enfield-Roanoke Rapids Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. recognized Dr. Cofield’s impact on March 2. The ceremony, hosted at First Baptist Church in Enfield, consisted of a voter awareness initiative, documentary screening, and march to Dr. Cofield’s new historic marker.
Delta Sigma Theta’s political awareness and involvement
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (DST) is a private, nonprofit organization with over 1,000 collegiate and alumnae chapters throughout the world. It is one of nine organizations that is part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, also referred to as the “Divine Nine.” The sisterhood was founded on Jan. 13, 1913 by 22 women on the campus of Howard University. Deltas commit to a lifetime of public service, the first action dating back to the Women’s Suffrage March of 1913.
Since its establishment in 1975, the Enfield-Roanoke Rapids Alumnae (ERRA) chapter has specifically served Halifax and Northampton counties in North Carolina. Their recent event in Enfield focused on “political awareness and involvement,” one of the sorority’s national initiatives that are collectively termed the “Five Programmatic Thrusts.”
Ahead of the final days before the primary elections in North Carolina, ERRA extended an open invitation for candidates to attend, offered presentations to spread voter awareness, and discussed critical legislative issues at local, state, and national levels. In addition, family, friends, sorority sisters, and former students all recognized Dr. Cofield for her contributions as an educator and activist from the community.
A victory for both civil rights and academic freedom
Several major cities across the south have been identified as landmarks in the civil rights movement, particularly during the mid-through-late 1900s. Dr. Cofield continues to amplify the history and work that transpired in rural regions like Eastern North Carolina in the fight for social justice.
The Halifax County native transitioned to Virginia to pursue higher education at Hampton Institute, now Hampton University. It was there that her journey as a Delta took root as one of 37 women to charter the Gamma Iota chapter of the sorority.
In the years following, Dr. Cofield became an educator, teaching English at the all-Black Thomas S. Inborden High in Enfield. She was terminated because of her leadership in mobilizing her students through voter rights education during her time in the classroom. These kinds of actions are what contributed to the displacement of Black educators during that period.
According to the N.C. African American Heritage Commission (NC AAHC), in 1964, the larger Halifax Voters’ Movement successfully raised Black voter registration in the county, in addition to executing other non-violent demonstrations such as economic boycotts of white-owned businesses that discriminated against Black patrons.
Compounded by Dr. Cofield’s and her family’s deep civil rights and political engagement, they became targets for hatred and intimidation tactics from local law enforcement and the Klu Klux Klan. At the ceremony, Dr. Cofield shared her vivid recollection of a burning cross that the Klan planted in her front yard.
Despite the threats on her life, with the support of the National Education Association (NEA), Southern Conference Educational Fund (SCEF), and other advocates, Dr. Cofield filed a lawsuit against the Halifax County School Board and the State of North Carolina. The NCAAHC states that the ruling for the Johnson vs. Branch case ultimately impacted 100,000 teachers in the American South, adding that, “A victory for Johnson would mean protection for those current educators and future generations of Black teachers who would protest and demonstrate for the cause of civil rights.”
In August 1966, the Southern Patriot newspaper quoted John Salter, then a SCEF organizer, who described Dr. Cofield as “one of the very few teachers in that whole northeast section of the state who took a positive public stand on civil rights.” The court case decision was “a tremendous victory for both civil rights and academic freedom,” he added.
Rodney Pierce is a middle school social studies teacher at Gaston Stem Leadership Academy with Northhampton County Schools. Having learned of the history in Enfield, he submitted the application for the NCAAHC N.C. Civil Rights Trail for a Johnson vs. Branch historical marker to be placed in Enfield.
In celebration, Dr. Cofield led the march on March 2 from First Baptist Church to the location where a piece of her legacy is now publicly engraved.
‘Where were you when the whistle blew?’
Dr. Cofield eventually moved to New Jersey, where she received her doctorate in urban planning at Rutgers University. At the age of 95, Dr. Cofield continues her work as an activist and educator.
She has held roles with various organizations and programs over the decades, some of which include the North Carolina Fund, Livingstone College, the New Jersey Department of Education, and the SEED Project. Dr. Cofield also co-founded the NJ Black Women’s History Conference, a nonprofit whose mission statement is “to educate its members and the larger community regarding the historical achievements and contemporary concerns of Black women.”
Dr. Cofield has further explored storytelling through film in recent years. In 2011, she produced a documentary titled, “The Brick School Legacy.” Having been raised in Enfield, she grew up just a few miles away from what is now the Franklinton Center at Bricks. The Brick School, founded by Thomas Sewell Inborden in 1895, provided education for Black students in Eastern North Carolina and was the school that Dr. Cofield’s mother, Mae Cofield, graduated from. This documentary is the first of two produced by Dr. Cofield, capturing the oral history of the school and the land located in Whitakers, North Carolina.
Dr. Cofield’s second documentary, “The 9 O’Clock Whistle,” was co-produced by Karen Riley and Gail Cruise-Roberson. A screening was provided at the ceremony, where she shared that the title refers to a whistle that blew throughout the town once the clock struck 9 p.m. The documentary explains that the sound signaled that all of the Black people had to go home — a representation of segregation and injustice that rang throughout the south.
“The 9 O’Clock Whistle” official website provides the following description of the documentary’s contents:
“Set in the 1960s in Enfield, North Carolina, a small segregated town in northeastern North Carolina, the story unfolds through the memories of participants, some of whom were only fourteen and fifteen years old when the events took place. These brave souls stood up to mental and physical intimidation tactics and fought back, along with their adult counterparts. It was a Black Lives Matter movement that was 58 years ahead of its time.”
The narratives shared in “The 9 O’Clock Whistle” are also captured in a book format. For more information on how to request a screening of the documentary, visit the 9whistle website.
North Carolina
North Carolina (NCHSAA) High School Softball 2026 State Playoff Brackets, Matchups, Schedule – May 11
The 2026 North Carolina high school softball state playoff brackets are out, and High School On SI has all eight brackets with matchups and schedules for every team.
The first round begins on May 5, and the playoffs will culminate with the NCHSAA state championships being played May 27-30 at Duke University in Durham.
2026 North Carolina High School Baseball State Tournament Schedule
May 5: First Round
May 8: Second Round
May 12: Third Round
May 15: Fourth Round
May 19-23: Regionals
May 27-30: State Championships
North Carolina (NCHSAA) High School Softball 2026 State Playoff Brackets, Matchups, Schedule – May 11
CLASS 1A BRACKET (select to view full bracket details)
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 Bear Grass Charter vs. No. 5 Vance Charter
No. 3 East Columbus vs. No. 2 Northside – Pinetown
No. 1 Robbinsville vs. No. 5 Falls Lake Academy
No. 6 Bethany Community vs. No. 2 Oxford Preperatory
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 North Duplin vs. No. 8 Camden County
No. 5 Rosewood vs. No. 4 East Carteret
No. 3 Perquimans vs. No. 11 Pamlico County
No. 10 Franklin Academy vs. No. 2 Manteo
No. 1 South Stanly vs. No. 9 East Wilkes
No. 5 South Stokes vs. No. 4 Starmount
No. 3 Swain County vs. No. 6 Murphy
No. 7 Highland Tech vs. No. 2 Roxboro Community
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 Midway vs. No. 9 Providence
No. 12 Wallace-Rose Hill vs. No. 4 Heide Trask
No. 3 Farmville Central vs. No. 11 Ayden – Grifton
No. 10 Northwood vs. No. 2 McMichael
No. 1 West Lincoln vs. No. 8 Union Academy
No. 5 Draughn vs No. 4 Pine Lake Preperatory
No. 3 West Davidson vs. No. 11 East Surry
No. 7 Walkertown vs. No. 2 West Wilkes
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 Randleman vs. No. 9 Nash Central
No. 5 Bunn vs. No. 4 East Duplin
No. 3 Southwest Onslow vs. No. 6 Roanoke Rapids
No. 7 Ledford Senior vs. No. 2 Central Davidson
No. 1 West Stokes vs. No. 8 Forbush
No. 5 Pisgah vs. No. 4 West Stanly
No. 19 North Surry vs. No. 11 Foard
No. 10 Mount Pleasant vs. No, 2 Bunker Hill
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 Southeast Alamance vs. No. 8 C.B. Aycock
No. 5 Seaforth vs. No. 4 Rockingham County
No. 3 Eastern Alamance vs. No. 6 West Carteret
No. 7 South Brunswick vs. No. 2 Southern Nash
No. 1 Enka vs. No. 9 Oak Grove
No. 5 Crest vs. No. 13 West Rowan
No. 3 North Davidson vs. No. 6 Franklin
No. 10 East Rowan vs. No. 2 North Lincoln
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 Union Pines vs. No. 9 South Johnston
No. 5 South View vs. No. 4 Gray’s Creek
No. 3 J.H. Rose vs. No. 6 Harnett Central
No. 7 Triton vs. No. 2 West Brunswick
No. 1 Kings Mountain vs. No. 8 Charlotte Catholic
No. 5 Alexander vs. No. 13 T.C. Roberson
No. 3 Piedmont vs. No. 6 Central Cabarrus
No. 10 A.C. Reynolds vs. No. 2 South Caldwell
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 D.H. Conley vs. No. 8 Wake Forest
No. 5 Purnell Sweet vs. No. 4 Cleveland
No. 3 Heritage vs. No. 6 Topsail
No. 7 South Central vs. No. 2 New Bern
No. 1 Weddington vs. No. 8 Mooresville
No. 5 A.L. Brown vs. No. 4 Hickory Ridge
No. 3 East Forsyth vs. No. 11 Porter Ridge
No. 7 Ronald Reagan vs. No. 2 South Iredell
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 Willow Spring vs. No. 4 Hoggard
No. 3 E.A. Laney vs. No. 2 Cornith Holders
No. 1 Providence vs. No. 4 Hough
No. 3 West Forsyth vs. No. 2 Apex Friendship
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North Carolina
Perspective | What North Carolina gets right about workforce: Progress beyond politics
Across the country, workforce development is often framed as a policy challenge. In North Carolina, we’ve come to understand it as something more fundamental: a shared responsibility between educators and employers that works best when it rises above politics. It is a nonpartisan priority with bipartisan support — and a clear focus on outcomes.
North Carolina’s approach to workforce and talent development offers a different model — one grounded in collaboration, consistency, data, and a relentless focus on student and employer needs.
Over the past several years, our state has aligned around an ambitious goal: ensuring that 2 million North Carolinians ages 25-44 hold a high-quality credential or postsecondary degree by 2030. myFutureNC is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, led by a bipartisan Board of Directors, that was created to champion this work.
This goal is not owned by a single administration or political party. It is the state’s attainment goal — codified in law with bipartisan support and signed by the governor — to ensure North Carolina remains economically competitive now and into the future. The work is guided by leaders across business, education, policymakers, and philanthropy.
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This kind of alignment doesn’t happen by accident. It requires trust, discipline, and a willingness to prioritize long-term impact over short-term wins — placing the needs of students and employers above the silos that often define education and workforce systems.
North Carolina’s leaders don’t agree on everything, and unanimity is not what makes this work. There is broad agreement on a set of essential truths: Talent is the top driver of economic development. Education fuels economic prosperity, public safety, and healthier communities. Having a robust educational system and an educated population is one of our state’s greatest assets. Economic mobility matters. And preparing people for meaningful work benefits everyone.
This alignment is delivering results. North Carolina has been named the No. 1 state for business three out of the past four years and ranks No. 1 for workforce — reinforcing what’s possible when leaders stay focused on shared priorities.
This strong foundation has enabled progress in areas that often stall in partisan debate. Through strategic policy and philanthropic investments, the state has expanded pathways into high-demand careers, strengthened connections between education and industry, and increased access to work-based learning opportunities, including apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships.
That same foundation is shaping how policy is developed in real time. The proposed Workforce Act of 2026 reflects North Carolina’s cross-sector approach — bringing together business and education leaders, policymakers, and philanthropists to strengthen pathways into high-demand careers and expand access to work-based learning. Rather than introducing a new direction, this Act builds on what is already working, demonstrating how alignment can translate into coordinated action.
The bipartisan-led Governor’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships puts this approach into practice. Building on the state’s existing foundation, the council brings together leaders from industry, education, and government to strengthen coordination across the workforce system. Its value lies not in setting a new direction, but in reinforcing and accelerating a shared one.
This is what it looks like to build systems designed to last. Workforce development is not a one-year initiative or a single funding cycle — it is a long-term investment in people, communities, employers, and the educational infrastructure that supports them. North Carolina’s progress is rooted in structures that bring partners together consistently, align efforts across sectors, and create continuity beyond political cycles.
By embedding collaboration into how the work gets done — not just what gets prioritized — the state has created a model that can evolve over time while staying focused on its goals.
Work remains to be done. Gaps in attainment persist, and ensuring opportunity reaches every corner of the state will require continued focus and innovation. But North Carolina’s significant progress and continued success being No. 1 nationally in many related categories demonstrates what is possible when leaders choose partnership over partisanship.
At a time when it’s easy to focus on what divides us, North Carolina offers a reminder: Some of the most important work we do — preparing people for the future of work and ensuring employers have access to skilled talent — is our north star and unifying force.
And in our shared goal of 2 million by 2030, we are not just building a stronger workforce. We are building a stronger state — for today and for generations to come.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — (AP/WNCN) — The remains of a U.S. Army soldier with ties to North Carolina who went missing during military exercises in Morocco a week ago have been recovered in the Atlantic Ocean, the U.S. military said Sunday. Military teams are still searching for a second missing soldier.
The remains found are those of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a 14A Air Defense Artillery officer, who was one of two U.S. soldiers who fell off a cliff during a recreational hike in Morocco while off duty.
Key, 27, from Richmond, Virginia, was a graduate of Methodist University in Fayetteville.
The two were reported missing on May 2 after participating in African Lion, annual multinational military exercises held in Morocco.
Key earned a Bachelor of Science in marketing from Methodist University in Fayetteville, with minors in international business, entrepreneurship, and business administration.
“A Moroccan military search team found the Soldier in the water along the shoreline at approximately 8:55 a.m. local time May 9, within roughly one mile of where both Soldiers reportedly entered the ocean,” U.S Army Europe and Africa said in a statement.
The two went missing around 9 p.m. near the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan-Tan, a terrain characterized by mountains, desert and semidesert plains, according to the Moroccan military.
Their disappearance triggered a search-and-rescue operation involving more than 600 personnel from the United States, Morocco and other military partners. The operation deployed frigates, vessels, helicopters and drones.
Search efforts will continue for the missing second soldier, a U.S. defense official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as they were not allowed to speak publicly on the issue.
The official said a U.S. contingent remained in Morocco after the multinational war games ended Friday to provide command and control and to continue search and rescue operations.
Key was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, U.S Army Europe and Africa said.
He entered military service in 2023 as an officer candidate and earned his commission through Officer Candidate School in 2024 as an Air Defense Artillery officer. He later completed the Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, according to the statement.
Key is survived by his father, Kendrick Key Sr.; his mother, Jihan Key; his sister, Dakota Debose-Hill; and his brother-in-law, U.S. Army Spc. James Brown.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY NEWS
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The search-and-rescue operation, now in its ninth day, has covered more than 12,000 square kilometers of sea and littoral zone, currently adding around 3,000 square kilometers per day.
The soldiers had been taking part in African Lion 26, a U.S.-led exercise launched in April across four countries – Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal – with more than 7,000 personnel from over 30 nations. Since 2004, it has been the largest U.S. joint military exercise in Africa.
In 2012, two U.S. Marines were killed and two others injured during a helicopter crash in Morocco’s southern city of Agadir while taking part in the exercises.
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