North Carolina
NC Republicans call on election officials to testify about treatment of third-party candidates
![NC Republicans call on election officials to testify about treatment of third-party candidates](https://images.wral.com/asset/news/state/nccapitol/2021/03/23/19590814/KBB_committee-DMID1-5qa92osov-640x480.jpg)
North Carolina elections officials are being called to testify before a legislative committee to talk about their treatment of third-party candidates.
The North Carolina State Elections Board on June 26 blocked requests by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Cornel West, and Constitution Party candidate Randall Terry to be listed as presidential candidates on the November ballot. Democrats who control the board said they want more time to review each candidate’s petition before making a final decision at a later date.
On Tuesday, leaders of North Carolina’s House Oversight and Reform Committee sent a letter to Alan Hirsch, chairman of the state elections board, asking him to testify before their committee on July 9. State Reps. Jake Johnson and Harry Warren, co-chairs of the committee, wrote to Hirsch:
“At the hearing, please be prepared to address this information, including:
- The grounds by which the Board denied the petitions of these political parties, even after timely submission.
- Anticipated schedule to resolve questions on the submitted petitions.
- Any communications the Board has had with third-party organizations concerning its decision to leave these political parties off the ballot.
- Any underlying or perceived political motivations the Board may have to exclude these names from the ballot.”
Johnson and Warren also invited other board members and Karen Brinson Bell, the board’s executive director. Paul Cox, the state board’s general counsel, told WRAL Wednesday that the hearing is still up in the air.
The state elections board plans to meet on July 9 and continue reviewing the third-party petitions, Cox said.
“My understanding is that the committee is looking to reschedule, because they weren’t aware that the State Board was planning to meet next Tuesday to consider petitions,” Cox said in an email. The board is scheduled to meet at 1:30 p.m. on July 9.
Staff for the legislative committee leaders didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
The legislators’ request comes a day after Republican members of Congress also inquired about the board’s decision. On Monday, Republican chairmen of the House Administration and House Judiciary committees asked the state elections board to provide them with documents and other information related to the board’s decision.
The committees “are concerned that the NCSBE’s decision was politically motivated and may have been done to influence the 2024 presidential election by limiting the candidates for which voters may cast their ballots,” Reps. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Bryan Steil, R-Wisconsin, wrote in a letter to the state elections board. Jordan chairs the judiciary committee and Steil chairs the administration committee.
The board intends to provide the committees with the documents they seek, Cox confirmed earlier this week. Many of them are already publicly available on the state board’s website.
North Carolina voters have signaled that they’d like to have options for president besides Republican Donald Trump and Democratic President Joe Biden. The board’s review of third-party candidates comes as Democrats have raised concerns about Biden’s ability to defeat Trump following his heavily-scrutinized performance in a recent debate.
The three candidates petitioning to get their names on North Carolina’s ballot are hoping to do so by having their political parties formally recognized by the elections board. Kennedy would represent the We The People Party, West would represent the Justice For All Party, and Terry would represent the Constitution Party.
Board members raised different issues with each petition.
Democrats on the state elections board expressed concern that Kennedy is using the We the People Party to circumvent state law — and that the proposed party doesn’t represent a group of voters with a specific set of policy beliefs.
In North Carolina, state law makes it harder for individual candidates to get ballot access than for new political parties. Board members asked We The People representatives about a script they provided to volunteers, which said the purpose of the petition was to create a new political party and get Kennedy’s name on the North Carolina ballot.
As for the Justice For All petition, board members said they worried that volunteers misled signatories about the purpose of the group, which espouses liberal ideals. West is a former honorary chair of the Democratic Socialists of America.
Italo Medelius, chair of Justice For All Party of North Carolina, told the board at its June 26 meeting that its petition materials may have been accessed by Trump supporters. The party’s petition, board members noted, should be signed by people who want to advocate for a common set of beliefs.
The Constitution Party’s petition, meanwhile, is hung up on a technical issue.
State law requires party petitions to include a legitimate address. The group’s petition listed the address of a former residence for Al Pisano, chair of the state party.
Pisano told board members that he wasn’t sure if he needed to change the address. The party was on North Carolina’s ballot in 2020. Its presidential nominee, Don Blankenship, received 7,549 votes of the 5.5 million cast.
Pisano said that he had previously reached out to elections board staff about the address issue and didn’t receive an answer. Board members delayed their decision on the Constitution Party to review records exchanged by Pisano and board staff.
Democratic board member Siobhan Millen said that, before the address issue came up, she had expected the party’s petition to be “probably a slam dunk.”
![](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/np-logo.png)
North Carolina
4-Star North Carolina Safety JaDon Blair commits to Notre Dame
![4-Star North Carolina Safety JaDon Blair commits to Notre Dame](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lJn7uRlsLgOcVikVYSONC95CS4E=/0x351:1290x1026/fit-in/1200x630/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25519435/unnamed__19_.jpg)
On Friday, 4-Star safety JaDon Blair gave his public commitment to Notre Dame Football ind its 2025 recruiting class.
BREAKING: Four-Star Safety JaDon Blair has Committed to Notre Dame, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’4 198 S from Winston Salem, NC chose the Fighting Irish over Michigan, Penn State, & South Carolina
“Got a point to prove, always had a chip on my shoulder!”… pic.twitter.com/ZFj4o5kIpt
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 5, 2024
The 6’4” 200 pounder from Mount Tabor High School in Winston-Salem North Carolina, chose the Irish over a long list of suitors that included the Michigan Wolverines, Penn State Nittany Lions, Florida State Seminoles, LSU Tigers, and more.
Even though Marcus Freeman was vacationing in Alaska with his family — he was absolutely dialed in to the announcement ceremony and Blair’s hat game.
Scouting report from 247:
Enormous safety prospect that can deliver crunching blows or wrap-and-lift as a tackler. Owns one of the more unique frames in the 2025 cycle having measured just over 6-foot-4, 195 pounds summer before senior season. Has operated primarily out of a two-deep posting at the prep level, but future might be as a box safety or nickel linebacker given the growth potential. Eyes and instincts allow him to charge forward and prevent YAC. Sinks into zone coverage with ease and does a commendable job of feeling out routes, but doesn’t have a ton of experience in man coverage. However, has the size and athleticism to match large tight ends and shrink windows. Must improve at getting off blocks and anticipating cuts on the perimeter, but projects as a potential impact defender at the Power Four level with his rare traits. Could be deployed in a variety of different ways and fit into a multitude of different schemes while earning his fair share of special teams work. Build likely to draw the attention of NFL scouts one day.
Scouting report from Irish Sports Daily:
Any safety with a frame like his is going to get compared to Kyle Hamilton, but I think that’s an unfair comparison for anyone. Hamilton was simply at a different level when it came to instincts, fluidity as an athlete, and ability to do just about everything at a high level.
I don’t think Blair can play as a single high safety or man up on slot receivers the same way Hamilton could. He is closer to Hamilton in the other areas of his game, though.
The player Blair reminds me of is former Florida State safety Hamsah Nasrildeen. He was a big body with a similar frame and was highly productive for the Seminoles (192 tackles as a sophomore and junior). He had double digit havoc plays in 2019 and was drafted by the New York Jets despite missing almost all of the 2020 season with an injury.
JaDon Blair is the 22nd commitment for Notre Dame’s 2025 recruiting class. The class is now represented by 14 states and is currently ranked #3 in the country according to the 247 Composite Team Rankings.
2025 Notre Dame Football Commits (22)
POSITION | PLAYER | STATE | HT | WT | RIVALS | ESPN | 247 SPORTS | 247 COMPOSITE | On3 | On3 Consensus | COMMIT DATE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
POSITION | PLAYER | STATE | HT | WT | RIVALS | ESPN | 247 SPORTS | 247 COMPOSITE | On3 | On3 Consensus | COMMIT DATE |
DL | Davion Dixon | FL | 6’2″ | 290 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 04/21/23 |
RB | Justin Thurman | FL | 6’0″ | 180 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 08/01/23 |
QB | Deuce Knight | MS | 6’5″ | 195 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 09/18/23 |
RB | Daniel Anderson | AR | 5’11” | 195 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 09/23/23 |
DL | Joseph Reiff | IL | 6’5″ | 230 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 09/24/23 |
TE | James Flanigan | WI | 6’5″ | 220 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 10/21/23 |
LB | Dominik Hulak | IL | 6’3″ | 225 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 11/10/23 |
CB | Cree Thomas | AZ | 6’1″ | 170 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 11/21/23 |
S | Ivan Taylor | FL | 6’0″ | 175 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 12/01/23 |
OL | Will Black | CT | 6’7″ | 295 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 12/10/23 |
EDGE | Christopher Burgess | IL | 6’4″ | 240 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 01/06/24 |
S | Ethan Long | CT | 6’2″ | 185 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 01/08/24 |
LB | Ko’o Kia | HI | 6’2″ | 210 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 01/15/24 |
OL | Owen Strebig | WI | 6’8″ | 295 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 02/08/24 |
WR | Elijah Burress | NJ | 6’1″ | 170 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 02/10/24 |
OL | Matty Augustine | CT | 6’7″ | 290 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 02/20/24 |
WR | Jerome Bettis Jr. | GA | 6’3″ | 185 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 03/17/24 |
LB | Anthony Sacca | PA | 6’4″ | 230 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 03/30/24 |
CB | Dallas Golden | FL | 6’0″ | 175 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 04/28/24 |
DL | Gordy Sulfsted | OH | 6’5″ | 235 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 05/19/24 |
CB | Mark Zachery | IN | 6’0″ | 160 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 05/25/24 |
S | JaDon Blair | NC | 6’4″ | 200 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 07/05/24 |
The Irish now have three safety commitments — just as they have done during the last two recruiting cycles.
2025 Notre Dame Football Scholarship Chart
Position / Year | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 5th/6th Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position / Year | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 5th/6th Year |
Quarterback | Deuce Knight | C.J. Carr | Kenny Minchey | Steve Angeli | – |
Running Back | Daniel Anderson, Justin Thurman | Aneyas Williams, Kedren Young | Jerimiyah Love | Jadarian Price, Gi’Bran Payne | – |
Tight End | James Flanigan | Jack Larsen | Cooper Flanagan | Eli Raridon | Mitchell Evans, Kevin Bauman, Davis Sherwood |
Wide Receiver | Elijah Burress, Jerome Bettis Jr. | Cam Williams, Micah Gilbert, Logan Saldate | Jaden Greathouse, Kaleb Smith, Jordan Faison | – | Deion Colzie |
Center | – | – | – | Ashton Craig | – |
Guard | – | – | Sam Pendleton, Joe Otting, Chris Terek | Billy Schrauth | Rocco Spindler, Pat Coogan |
Tackle | Will Black, Owen Strebig, Matty Augustine | Peter Jones, Anthonie Knapp, Styles Prescod, Guerby Lambert | Sullivan Absher, Charles Jagusah | Ty Chan, Aamil Wagner | – |
Defensive Tackle | Joseph Reiff, Davion Dixon | Sean Sevillano | Brenan Vernon, Devan Houstan | Tyson Ford, Donovan Hinish | Gabe Rubio, Jason Onye |
Defensive End | Christopher Burgess, Gordy Sulfsted | Cole Mullins, Bryce Young, Loghan Thomas | Boubacar Traore, Armel Mukam | Joshua Burnham, Aiden Gobaira, Junior Tuihalamaka | Kahanu Kia |
Linebacker | Dominik Hulak, Ko’o Kia, Anthony Sacca | Teddy Rezac, Bodie Kahoun, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa | Drayk Bowen, Preston Zinter, Jaiden Ausberry | Jaylen Sneed | – |
Safety | Ivan Taylor, Ethan Long, JaDon Blair | Kennedy Urlacher, Taebron Bennie-Powell, Brauntae Johnson | Adon Shuler, Ben Minich, Luke Talich | – | – |
Cornerback | Cree Thomas, Dallas Golden, Mark Zachery | Karson Hobbs, Leonard Moore | Christian Gray | Jayden Mickey, Benjamin Morrison | Chance Tucker |
Specialists | – | – | – | Bryce McFerson (P) | – |
Totals | 22/85 (22) | 35/85 (23) | 57/85 (22) | 74/85 (17) | 84/85 (10) |
This is a huge commitment for Notre Dame for its future — and its present. The Irish are loading up in the secondary which is only getting more and more important, and it’s also continuing a trend of beating other big Midwestern schools head-to-head for blue-chip talent out of the region.
WELCOME TO ND JaDON!
North Carolina
Fox attacks in Triad mark beginning of North Carolina rabies season; here’s what you should know
![Fox attacks in Triad mark beginning of North Carolina rabies season; here’s what you should know](https://www.wnct.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/99/2024/07/GettyImages-480245516.jpg)
North Carolina
North Carolina Central could play at Carolina Panthers' stadium in the future
![North Carolina Central could play at Carolina Panthers' stadium in the future](https://i0.wp.com/hbcusports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Central.jpg)
During North Carolina Central University’s board of trustees meeting late last month, an important item of interest regarding the football team’s future schedule was announced, concurrent with renovations set to take place for a local National Football League stadium.
Bank of America Stadium, longtime home of the Carolina Panthers, is set to receive upgrades following an agreement with Tepper Sports (the Panthers’ ownership group) and the city of Charlotte, meaning the Eagles will possibly play an HBCU Classic at the stadium as soon as 2028.
Because of the agreement, “Tepper Sport(s) has agreed to allow North Carolina Central to play in 2028 and 2029 in the HBCU Football Classic,” a speaker at the meeting stated.
In June, the Panthers and Charlotte agreed to an 800-million-dollar renovation project to keep the team in the Queen City for at least the next 20 years. As of publication, the potential HBCU Classic is unnamed, and no opponent has been identified for the Eagles.
This would mark North Carolina Central’s third and fourth such games at Bank of America, as the 2022 Aggie-Eagle Classic with North Carolina A&T was played at BOA and will take place there again in 2027.
-
News1 week ago
Toplines: June 2024 Times/Siena Poll of Registered Voters Nationwide
-
Politics1 week ago
The many faces of Donald Trump from past presidential debates
-
World1 week ago
Europe seeks solutions to remedy increase in space debris
-
World1 week ago
Tension and stand-offs as South Africa struggles to launch coalition gov’t
-
News6 days ago
Video: How Blast Waves Can Injure the Brain
-
Politics1 week ago
Supreme Court rules to allow emergency exceptions to Idaho's abortion ban
-
World1 week ago
Bolivia foils coup attempt: All you need to know
-
Fitness1 week ago
Exercise may lower the ALS risk for men — but not women: new study