An upbeat Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a forceful speech in Fayetteville on Thursday, even as President Joe Biden struggles to assuage concerns among Democrats about his fitness and ability to defeat Donald Trump in the fall election.
This marks the vice president’s 15th trip to North Carolina, a crucial battleground state where Democrats are intensifying efforts to win.
In her address to a crowd of several hundred at Westover High School, Harris laid out a stark choice for the nation’s future.
“The question we face is what kind of country do we want to live in,” Harris said. “Do we want to live in a country of freedom, compassion and rule of law? Or a country of chaos, fear and hate? We each have the power to answer this question.”
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Her visit came a day after President Biden tested positive for COVID-19. The White House said on Thursday that the president is experiencing mild symptoms.
At the rally, some expressed concern that it was too late to replace Biden, but after hearing her speech, many felt reassured that Harris could effectively step into his place if necessary.
“I think she could if she had to step in tomorrow, that she could do the job,” said Marvin Keller, a retired veteran and former school counselor. “But I am concerned because it’s so late in the political year, and the election is like 110 days away, that will make a big difference in trying to get whoever will replace President Biden get his face out there and to resonate with the public.”
Others echoed the same sentiment.
Franklin County resident Jesse Goslen, who is running for North Carolina House District 7, said Vice President Kamala Harris’ speech reassured him that she could take over if President Biden steps down as the Democratic nominee.
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“I think if he does decide to step aside, she’s the obvious person to take the reins,” said Goslen. “I kind of just wanted to see her in person and see how she does. I thought it was a good, I thought she did great, I think she could step up to the plate, if that’s what Biden decides.”
Harris’s speech in Fayetteville came as Trump prepared to deliver a speech Thursday at the Republican National Convention, formally accepting the party’s nomination.
In a statement, the GOP dismissed the Thursday event.
“Republicans from across the country stand united behind President Trump in Milwaukee, while Democrats in North Carolina don’t even know if Kamala Harris will be their party’s nominee for Vice President or President,” North Carolina GOP spokesman Matt Mercer said. “There should be lots of questions for her in Fayetteville today about her party’s effort to drive their sitting presidential nominee from the ballot.”
Harris used part of her talk to criticize GOP vice presidential nominee, Senator J.D. Vance, by linking him to the controversial Heritage Foundation agenda known as Project 2025. “He talked about his life story about growing up in southwest Ohio and it was compelling,” Harris said of Vance’s speech at the convention in Milwaukee.
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“What is very telling is what he did not talk about on that stage. He did not talk about Project 2025…[a] 900 Page blueprint for a second Trump term. He did not talk about it, because their plans are extreme, and they are divisive.”
Project 2025 proposes significant overhauls to the federal workforce, an expansion of presidential power, and a range of conservative policy priorities. These include plans for a mass deportation operation, widespread tariffs on imported goods, and revocation of FDA approval for mifepristone, an abortion medication.
Though the plan was crafted by a group that included numerous former staffers from his first administration, Trump recently denied any connection to Project 2025, writing on his social media platform Truth Social last week that he knows ‘nothing’ about the plan.
“I have no idea who is behind it,” Trump wrote. “I disagree with some of the things they’re saying and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal. Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them.”
The North Carolina Tar Heels have yet another new look to their roster heading into the 2026 season. Another offseason with 50 new additions, including roughly 30 true freshmen, makes the Tar Heels’ roster incredibly young, with a mix of veterans and transfers with inexperience on both sides of the ball.
As head coach Bill Belichick heads into his second season leading the program, the pressure is on to add more wins, and they’ll need some key players and transfers to step up and become major contributors early and throughout the season. Let’s look at some potential X-factors for North Carolina football heading into the summer break.
Sep 13, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Wisconsin wide receiver Trech Kekahuna (2) runs the ball and is pursued by Alabama defensive lineman James Smith (23) at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images | Gary Cosby-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
A dynamic pass-catcher from Wisconsin, Kekahuna has a chance to become a fascinating asset for offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. Kekahuna is incredibly versatile, with quickness, speed, and vision as a ball carrier, allowing him to create yards in space through traffic. His presence on the field will be one to watch this season, making him an important offensive factor.
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Defensive X-Factor — Jaylen Harvey, Edge Rusher
Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Jaylen Harvey (44) tackles Purdue Boilermakers running back Devin Mockobee (45) Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, during the NCAA football game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. Penn State Nittany Lions won 49-10. | Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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We’ve talked a lot about Harvey in recent weeks as a potential key contributor to the Tar Heels’ pass rush this season. The explosiveness and speed off the edge flashed at times during his time at Penn State, including against Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl this past season. If Harvey puts it together at Chapel Hill, he becomes a serious X-factor for Steve Belichick’s defense.
Offensive X-Factor — Jordan Washington, Tight End
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Sep 20, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns tight end Jordan Washington (84) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the first half against the Sam Houston Bearkats at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
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Jelani Thurman is the tight end I’m higher on in this room the most, but Washington’s size and athleticism make him an intriguing No. 2 option behind Thurman, who should be projected as the presumptive starter heading into the summer.
Washington has solid hands and movement skills to be a productive contributor, and if he puts it together, he quickly becomes an underrated aspect of the Tar Heels’ offense under Petrino.
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Defensive X-Factor — Coleman Bryson, Safety
Dec 29, 2022; Bronx, NY, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive back Coleman Bryson (16) is interviewed after being awarded the MVP trophy after defeating the Syracuse Orange the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The safety spot for North Carolina has a mixture of veteran presence and talent with Bryson and Greg Smith. The biggest question in this room is whether or not these two players reach their potential as backend playmakers in the Tar Heels’ secondary.
Bryson was the MVP of the Pinstripe Bowl with Minnesota a few years ago as a freshman. The talent and athleticism are there for him to become an impact contributor. If he puts it together, the veteran safety quickly becomes an X-factor in North Carolina’s secondary.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Drew Burress became Georgia Tech’s career leader in home runs, Alex Hernandez drove in four runs, and the Yellow Jackets defeated North Carolina 13-6 on Saturday to claim the ACC Baseball Championship for the 10th time.
The top-seeded and third-ranked Yellow Jackets won the tournament for the first time since 2014.
Burress led off the bottom of the third inning with his 58th career home run. The blast to left field set the tone for a five-run inning that also featured Hernandez’s three-run double.
North Carolina got two back in the fourth inning on a two-out single by Rom Kellis V and two more in the fifth on a home run by Owen Hull.
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Things got wild in the sixth inning when North Carolina scored an unearned run in the top half and Georgia Tech added three runs on three wild pitches by Matthew Matthijs in the bottom half, building an 11-6 lead.
Hernandez had three hits, four RBIs and a run scored and Burress had three hits, scored twice and drove in two runs for the Yellow Jackets (48-9). Vahn Lackey had three hits, scored twice and drove in a run.
Hull had two hits, scored twice and drove in three runs for the Tar Heels (45-11-1).
Georgia Tech used six pitchers, with the win going to Caden Gaudette (6-1), who shut down North Carolina’s fifth-inning rally.
North Carolina’s Folger Boaz (3-3) allowed six runs, all earned, in 2 2/3 innings.
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Second-seeded and No. 2 ranked North Carolina has nine ACC tournament championships and was the defending champion.
Up next
The NCAA Tournament field will be announced on Monday. Both teams are tournament regulars, with North Carolina having made 37 previous appearances and Georgia Tech 36.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — If you’ve been “hiss-terically” startled by central North Carolina snakes slithering across sidewalks, curling up near creeks, or making surprise appearances in backyards this week, experts say you’re not imagining things.
Thanks to our months-long drought, snakes are becoming a lot more “viper-active” across the Triangle — outdoors as well as indoors this weekend at the Repticon expo in Raleigh.
Cold-blooded creatures were caught on camera up close and personal as people took pictures of the stars of the show at Repticon.
And for some people and the snakes themselves, it was a little too close for comfort.
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“They’re either going to fight or flight,” snake lover Emily Pantoja said. “So, if you’re too close and they feel threatened, they could strike or they’ll rattle their tail to warn you. But most of the time, snakes are going to give you so many warnings before they strike you.”
Large snake removed from Greensboro car (Hannah Sprague/WGHP)
Rattlers and boas and ball pythons — oh my!
“They are a huge benefit to us,” reptile expert and Repticon vendor Kyle Smith said. “They kill rodents, which takes down the pest population, the flea and tick population.”
And while snakes at the expo are safely confined, experts say many people across central North Carolina are seeing more of the slitherers out in the wild and in neighborhoods — not looking for trouble, but simply trying to survive during the ongoing drought.
A snake that emerged from under the hood of a moving car in North Carolina in 2021.
“Snakes are like you and I, they want a good water source, they kind of migrate out to try to find better water,” said CBS 17 Meteorologist Matthew Huddleston. “Also, their natural prey is attracted to water sources. So, they’re trying to find them, too. So, as things have stayed dry over the past month plus, they have slowly, surely migrated out. But as things get wetter once again, they’ll likely start going back to creeks, rivers, and things like that.”
Wildlife officials say copperheads, rat snakes, king snakes, and water snakes are among the species most commonly spotted in the Triangle this time of year.
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A snake was seen hugging the stonework of the exterior of the McDonald’s in the Heritage area of Wake Forest on a Saturday night in 2016
“We provide captive-bred quality reptiles,” Smith said.
Meanwhile, during Repticon at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds, Memorial Day Weekend, the massive, family-friendly traveling expo brings together show animals, including lizards, amphibians, and just about every reptile imaginable from around the world.
Repticon breeders, educators, and enthusiasts participate in expert seminars and host live encounters with the creatures for visitors to safely interact with them and perhaps even purchase one or more of the exotic pets.
“We do New Caledonian geckos, Australian species of geckos and skinks, ball pythons and hard-nosed snakes,” Smith added.
The event organizers hope Repticon helps people separate snake facts from snake fiction.
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Experts say most snakes in North Carolina are nonvenomous and avoid humans whenever possible.
“So, if you see a snake outside most of the time, just leave it alone. It’s going to go and do its own thing. It doesn’t want to interact with you. It doesn’t want to hurt you. It’s not going to chase you. It’s not going to bite you,” Smith explained. “They want to do their own thing and go the opposite direction of you.”
Still, wildlife officers recommend you watch your step, avoiding tall grass, and never attempting to handle unfamiliar snakes.
Because one wrong move could leave you in very serious condition.
“Usually that’s what happens with copperheads, which is why so many copperhead bites happen,” Pantoja pointed out.
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In North Carolina, it’s illegal to kill, harm, or harass certain snake species that are listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern.
Doing so can result in a class 2 misdemeanor, fines, and jail time.
Repticon continues on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Protected Snakes in NC
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The following snakes are fully protected under state law and cannot be harmed or relocated without an endangered species permit:
Non-Venomous: Southern Hognose Snake, Pine Snake, Carolina Water Snake, Outer Banks Kingsnake, and Smooth Green Snake.
Unprotected Snakes
Any snake species not included on the protected list is largely unprotected. While you can legally kill common non-venomous snakes (like garter or rat snakes) or unprotected venomous snakes (like copperheads) if they pose an imminent threat to human health or safety, wildlife officials strongly advise against it. Most snake bites happen when people attempt to kill or corner the animal.
