North Carolina
Newby transforms N.C. courts to playground to settle petty political feuds
CBC Editorial: Friday, Jan. 5, 2024; # 8897
The following is the opinion of Capitol Broadcasting Company
When North Carolina legislature this year extended the mandatory retirement age for appellate judges from 72 to 76, it was about politics to keep Chief Justice Paul Newby in office at least through the end of his 8-year term instead of being forced to retire in 2027. Susie Sharp, the first woman to serve as the state’s chief justice, was forced to leave the job in 1979, three years before her term ended. The politics hasn’t ended there.
Lest anyone seek proof, they need look no further than the events of this week.
Politics, not justice, is what motivates Newby. It doesn’t take a cartographer to map the political connections. Let’s see the route.
Appeals Court Chief Judge Donna Stroud was the senior judge on that court and its chief judge when she was reelected in 2022. This week Newby stealthily demoted Stroud from her leadership post, replacing her with junior Appeals Court judge Chris Dillon – who also was until this week the chair of the state Judicial Standards Commission.
In a similarly stealthy move, Newby named Appeals Court Judge Jeffrey Carpenter to replace Dillon as the leader of the Judicial Standards Commission.
That’s not all. This week Newby presided at the swearing in of Beth Freshwater Smith as a newly legislatively-appointed (as recommended by state Senate leader Phil Berger) special state Superior Court Judge.
It was Freshwater Smith who in 2020 challenged Stroud in the Republican primary with support from Berger and endorsements from state Supreme Court Justice Phil Berger Jr., the namesake son of powerful state Senate leader, and Judge Carpenter.
In May 2022, Justice Berger Jr., in an unusual action by a sitting judge or justice, directly and publicly worked to defeat Stroud. In a Facebook post, as reported by Business North Carolina, Berger Jr. revealed he opposed hiring Gene Soar as the Appeals Court’s clerk. Berger, disregarding matters of qualification wanted a Republican and not a candidate the court’s Democratic judges also backed for the job. He noted that one of the applicants was his former law clerk.
There were real questions about the appropriateness of sitting judges and justices being so directly involved in political campaigns, particularly when there was a likelihood that they might be called upon to adjudicate issues about those elections.
In March 2022 reported the N.C. Tribune, the state Judicial Standards Commission posted a note on its website leaving the quite distinct impression that candidate endorsements by sitting judges weren’t proper. “Endorsements should only be made when a judge is a bona fide candidate actively engaging in campaigning during his or her election cycle,” it stated. “Otherwise, the rule prohibiting endorsements … would be rendered meaningless except as to special superior court judges and other judges unable to run for re-election.”
A few days later the memo was revised with those sentences deleted. The update gave judges and justices broader latitude for endorsements and other forms of election campaign involvement. The executive director of the commission, Carolyn Dubay, resigned shortly after.
Traveling this trail to its origin – the 2020 elections – makes clear the events of this week are not about the administration of justice. Chief Justice Newby, Justice Berger Jr., Judge Dillion and Judge Carpenter – and who knows who else — manipulated our state’s judicial system to settle a political feud.
Such blatant patronage, reflexive partisanship, manipulation and fealty went out 235 years ago with the American Revolution and the adoption of the Constitution.
North Carolinians must have a judicial system – as well as those who lead it – that settles disputes openly and according to the law.
The latest actions by the leaders of our state courts are clearly to the contrary.
This latest judicial escapade, as this evidence clearly shows, is to the contrary and will only foster distrust and cynicism.
Newby is transforming the courts from a forum for justice into a political playground.
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Less than two weeks after losing its head coach to Duke University, a North Carolina high school football program has been promoted from within.
Kevin Reddick will become the new head coach at Rolesville High School, replacing Ranier Rackley, who became the Director of Player Development at Duke University.
News of the decision was first reported by High School OT.
Reddick was the defensive coordinator for the Rams for the past three seasons, helping the team win 25 games during that run. Last year, Rolesville allowed just under 15 points per game with Reddick in charge of the defense.
North Carolina High School Promotes Defensive Coordinator To Head Coach
Rolesville finished 9-4 last season under Rackley and Reddick.
Reddick is a graduate of New Bern High School, helping the Bears capture the 2007 Class 4AA North Carolina High School Athletic Association State Football championship. He was tabbed the most valuable player of that title game as a sophomore fullback after scoring two touchdowns in a 28-17 victory over Independence.
At New Bern, Reddick earned conference defensive player of the year honors and was all-state at lineback as a senior after recording 189 tackles, eight quarterback sacks, six forced fumbles and four blocked punts. He also ran for over 160 yards and scored six touchdowns.
Kevin Reddick Was College Standout, Had NFL Career Before Becoming Coach
Following his high school career, Reddick signed with North Carolina as a four-star prospect, earning first team all-ACC honors as a senior. He also had offers from North Carolina State, Virginia and Clemson.
With the Tar Heels, Reddick played in 50 games, recording 275 tackles, including 36 for loss, with 8.5 quarterback sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Reddick signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted rookie free agent, and also had stints with the San Diego Chargers, Carolina Panthers and Buffalo Bills.
Rolesville reached the North Carolina High School Athletic Association State Football championship game with Reddick on the coaching staff and the third round this past season.
Rolesville Returns Top Rusher, Several Other Key Players
The Rams will be replacing starting quarterback Kaleb Williams, who had almost 2,500 yards passing and 22 touchdowns, as freshman Chase Williams was 8-for-8 for 98 yards with a touchdown in three games.
They will have top running back Amir Brown back, as he ran for 1,374 yards with 22 touchdowns and six games of 100 yards rushing as a junior. He also had 13 receptions for 106 yards and another TD.
Anthony Roberts is another key player back, as he caught 35 passes for 656 yards and nine TDs. Top tacklers Jayden Broadie, Javon Campbell, Genesis Allen and Keonte Sutton are all set to return, as well.
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At least two people are dead and “several” others are injured after a “planned fight” at a North Carolina park escalated into a mass shooting, authorities said.
Police have identified several victims and suspects after Monday’s shooting at Leinbach Park near Jefferson Middle School, according to the Winston-Salem Police Department.
Authorities confirmed there were multiple victims in the shooting, but did not provide an exact number. The suspects were still at large over two hours later.
Officers were called to the park just before 10 a.m. after reports of a fight, which then escalated into multiple people shooting each other.
Area schools are not in lockdown, and classes are operating as normal, police said.
“Due to the number of people involved, efforts are ongoing to account for everyone. At this time, some of those involved in the incident are juveniles,” police said.
According to local news station WFMY, at least three people were taken to the hospital. Officials have not shared their conditions.
Police said the shooting was an isolated incident and remains under investigation.
This is a developing story
The NC Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Sunday, April 19, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 19 drawing
Day: 6-2-0, Fireball: 6
Evening: 4-1-7, Fireball: 5
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 19 drawing
Day: 7-6-9-4, Fireball: 4
Evening: 8-1-5-6, Fireball: 6
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 5 numbers from April 19 drawing
02-21-32-35-37
Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Double Play numbers from April 19 drawing
18-26-27-31-42
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 19 drawing
32-42-52-53-55, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All North Carolina Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.
For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at North Carolina Lottery Offices. By mail, send a prize claim form, your signed lottery ticket, copies of a government-issued photo ID and social security card to: North Carolina Education Lottery, P.O. Box 41606, Raleigh, NC 27629. Prize claims less than $600 do not require copies of photo ID or a social security card.
To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a prize claim form and deliver the form, along with your signed lottery ticket and government-issued photo ID and social security card to any of these locations:
- Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center: 16-G Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, 877-625-6886 press #1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center: 20A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, 877-625-6886 press #2. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Charlotte Regional Office & Claim Center: 5029-A West W. T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269-1861, 877-625-6886 press #3. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- NC Lottery Headquarters: Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office, 2728 Capital Blvd., Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604, 877-625-6886 press #4. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
- Greenville Regional Office & Claim Center: 2790 Dickinson Avenue, Suite A, Greenville, NC 27834, 877-625-6886 press #5. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Wilmington Regional Office & Claim Center: 123 North Cardinal Drive Extension, Suite 140, Wilmington, NC 28405, 877-625-6886 press #6. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://nclottery.com/.
When are the North Carolina Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
- Pick 3, 4: 3:00 p.m. and 11:22 p.m. daily.
- Cash 5: 11:22 p.m. daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Carolina Connect editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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