<a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/north-carolina" target="_blank" rel="noopener">North Carolina</a> State Treasurer Dale Folwell called for the resignation of <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/blackrock" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BlackRock</a> CEO Larry Fink over his focus on the environmental, social, and governance movement, also known as <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/esg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESG</a>.
According to a letter sent on Friday and provided to The Daily Wire, the Tar Heel State’s public retirement system invests over $14 billion through the asset management company in a variety of passive and active funds. Folwell asserted that “ideological pressure” from Fink could lead to the use of ESG ratings against state and local governments, while initiatives related to <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change</a> and other causes imply that the firm is not solely focused on maximizing profits.
“As keeper of the public purse, my duty is to manage our investments to ensure that the best interests of those that teach, protect and serve, as well as of our retirees, are always paramount,” Folwell wrote. “Unfortunately, Larry Fink’s pursuit of a political agenda has gotten in the way of BlackRock’s same fiduciary duty. A focus on ESG is not a focus on returns and potentially could force us to violate our own fiduciary duty.”
The move from the state of North Carolina occurs one month after Bluebell Capital Management, a small hedge fund based in London, <a href="https://static.foxbusiness.com/foxbusiness.com/content/uploads/2022/12/Bluebell-Partners-letter-to-BlackRock-10-November-2022.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> for the ouster of Fink, arguing that his emphasis on ESG has &#8220;alienated clients and attracted an undesired level of negative publicity.”
BlackRock has taken “voting action on climate issues” against dozens of its portfolio companies, according to an investment stewardship <a href="https://www.blackrock.com/corporate/literature/publication/our-commitment-to-sustainability-full-report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> published two years ago. Folwell noted that Fink opposed the election of two board members at ExxonMobil in 2020 because of “insignificant progress” toward implementing renewable energy projects. The move, however, preceded record demand for fossil fuels that has made the sector one of the few to produce <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/virtue-signaling-isnt-free-how-woke-investing-fell-apart-once-the-economy-got-bad" target="_blank" rel="noopener">robust stock market returns</a> over the past year.
“There is no blue money or red money at the treasurer’s office, only green,” Folwell continued. “BlackRock needs to be totally focused on returns for their clients, not on the political effort to ‘transform’ the economy to your vision of carbon zero. Fossil fuels will be the engine that drives the world’s economy for the foreseeable future. The only way that I can see BlackRock refocusing on its fiduciary duty to its clients is for a change at the top.”
Folwell is the first Republican state treasurer to call for the resignation of Fink. Officials in states such as South Carolina, Louisiana, Missouri, West Virginia, and Florida have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/florida-pulling-2-billion-from-blackrock-as-company-pushes-social-engineering-with-taxpayer-dollars" target="_blank" rel="noopener">divested billions</a> from the asset management company, as well as other firms such as Vanguard and State Street. Lawmakers in the state of Texas <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/texas-subpoenas-schedules-hearing-for-blackrock-playing-politics-using-texans-hard-earned-money" target="_blank" rel="noopener">subpoenaed</a> BlackRock this week for documents related to the firm’s support of the ESG movement; a hearing with the three companies, as well as Institutional Shareholder Services, is scheduled for December 15.
When asked why he did not move to divest funds from BlackRock alongside other states, Folwell told The Daily Wire that the ouster of Fink would allow residents to “get the value that BlackRock index firms offer” without the executive’s “misguided focus on ESG.”
Skepticism of ESG from state officials and private funds has prompted asset management companies to amend their support of the movement. Vanguard <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/vanguard-drops-out-of-climate-initiative-as-reaction-against-woke-investing-continues" target="_blank" rel="noopener">severed ties</a> with the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative, under which firms commit to moving portfolio companies toward eliminating net carbon emissions by 2050, while BlackRock <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/blackrock-makes-major-change-after-backlash-against-woke-investing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that institutional clients will be able to vote their own shares rather than allow the company to act as a proxy.
Folwell, noting the existence of reforms at BlackRock permitting investors in certain pooled vehicles to “have some degree of control over their voting,” said in the letter that “the existence of the proxy voting program does not mitigate the need for a new direction at BlackRock.”

New York Times DealBook Summit Held In New York City

North Carolina State Treasurer Calls For The Resignation Of BlackRock’s Larry Fink

North Carolina State Treasurer Calls For The Resignation Of BlackRock's Larry Fink

BlackRock

Climate Change

Economy

North Carolina

U.S.

Wokeness

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/browns-qb-baker-mayfield-says-hell-kneel-and-doesnt-care-if-he-loses-any-fans/">Baker Mayfield</a>, the No. 1 overall pick in the quarterback-rich 2018 <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nfl-owner-jerry-jones-was-photographed-in-1957-65-years-later-ana-navarro-is-demanding-answers/">NFL draft</a>, has been cut by the Carolina Panthers.
The Oklahoma product was the NFL rookie of the year for Cleveland and led the team to the playoffs in his third year, but was traded to the Panthers after an injury-marred season last year. Although he was healthy and earned the starting job out of training camp, his woes continued when the season began.
“The Baker Mayfield experiment is over,” the team wrote on its official website. “The Panthers released the veteran quarterback Monday, ending a whirlwind season that didn&#8217;t go the way he or they anticipated.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Panthers expected to waive Baker Mayfield. (via <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RapSheet</a>) <a href="https://t.co/AAueXnEFNV">pic.twitter.com/AAueXnEFNV</a>
&mdash; NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1599794846092230656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The 4-8 Panthers are still in contention in the NFC South, but are not starting fellow 2018 first-round draft pick Sam Darnold under center. Darnold, who the Jets picked out of UCLA, has also been a disappointment from a draft that also included NFL superstar quarterbacks Josh Allen, of the Buffalo Bills, and Lamar Jackson, of the Baltimore Ravens.
<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus?utm_campaign=dwplus&amp;utm_medium=editorial&amp;utm_source=dwsite&amp;cid=dwplus&amp;mid=z&amp;xid=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus?utm_campaign=dwplus&amp;utm_medium=editorial&amp;utm_source=dwsite&amp;cid=dwplus&amp;mid=z&amp;xid=0" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">TIRED OF THE LEGACY MEDIA&#8217;S BIAS CONTROLLING THE NARRATIVE AND OBSCURING THE TRUTH? JOIN US AND SAVE 30%.</a>
It was Mayfield who was supposed to be the best of the class, coming off a Heisman trophy senior season. In his first season in Cleveland, he set a rookie record with 27 touchdown passes. Coaching turnover contributed to a subpar sophomore season. But in his third year, the 6-foot, 1-inch signal caller threw for 26 touchdowns and just eight interceptions while leading the Browns to an 11-5 record and a first-round playoff victory over the rival Pittsburgh Steelers under new coach Kevin Stefanski.
The charismatic quarterback, who once told reporters, &#8220;I woke up feeling dangerous&#8221; after a stellar performance, landed lucrative endorsements while in Cleveland.
But it fell apart for Mayfield in 2021, when he was injured early in the season while making a tackle after throwing an interception. He was never the same, and after the season ended, Cleveland moved on with the controversial $230 million signing of DeShaun Watson. They traded Mayfield to Carolina for a mere fifth-round draft pick.
The Panthers won just one of their first five games before Mayfield suffered a high ankle sprain that sidelined him. He started one other game and for the season has a career-low 57.8 completion percentage with six touchdown passes and six interceptions.
The Panthers waived Mayfield at his request, ESPN reported. He will now be available on waivers to the other 31 NFL teams, and if no one claims him by Tuesday afternoon, he will become an unrestricted free agent.
One team that could show interest is the San Francsico 49ers, who lost starter Jimmy Garoppolo for the season after he broke his foot Sunday. If that happens, Mayfield will be reunited with former Carolina superstar Christian McCaffrey, who the 49ers acquired earlier this year.

Carolina Panthers v Baltimore Ravens

Former Top NFL Draft Pick, Rookie Of The Year, Cut By Latest Team

Football

Sports

A reported attack on several electrical substations in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/north-carolina">North Carolina</a> has left over 40,000 customers without power in Moore County.
Local authorities are investigating the incident that began Saturday night — approximately 70 miles southwest of Raleigh — as a criminal act.
&#8220;Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields reports that the mass power outage across the county is being investigated as a criminal occurrence,&#8221; the Moore County Sheriff Department&#8217;s Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MCSheriffOffice/posts/pfbid0g5iWaV6DrimDxiMhb9oQ4qcNqUJsxsSKP9ycWDG84DxbXQnKhNUmHCKeMYCzypd1l">post</a> said.
&#8220;Just after 7 pm on Saturday evening, December 3, 2022, several different communities across Moore County began experiencing power outages,&#8221; it added. &#8220;As utility companies began responding to the different substations, evidence was discovered that indicated that intentional vandalism had occurred at multiple sites.&#8221;
<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus?utm_campaign=dwplus&amp;utm_medium=editorial&amp;utm_source=dwsite&amp;cid=dwplus&amp;mid=z&amp;xid=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus?utm_campaign=dwplus&amp;utm_medium=editorial&amp;utm_source=dwsite&amp;cid=dwplus&amp;mid=z&amp;xid=0" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-11242">TIRED OF THE LEGACY MEDIA&#8217;S BIAS CONTROLLING THE NARRATIVE AND OBSCURING THE TRUTH? JOIN US AND SAVE 30%.</a>
The number of people without power included 60% of the county, leading officials to declare a state of emergency. The county has also declared a 9 p.m. Eastern Time curfew. Schools are closed on Monday.
A press conference held on Sunday afternoon noted that firearms were used to shoot and damage equipment at two substations.
“The NC Department of Public Safety is working with our local and federal law enforcement partners and will provide the appropriate state resources needed to assist in this investigation,” North Caroline Department of Public Safety Secretary Eddie Buffaloe, Jr. said during the press conference, <a href="https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/intentional-vandalism-leaves-38000-customers-without-power-moore-county-sheriffs-office-says/SNCENVLP5NH5VCBOEI4G2G5CZY/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> WSOC-TV.
Gov. Roy Cooper (D) tweeted concerning the issue after talking with leaders at Duke Energy, the area&#8217;s power company.
&#8220;I appreciate the swift response from local and state emergency responders in Moore County to protect public safety and work with Duke Energy to restore power,&#8221; he wrote.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I appreciate the swift response from local and state emergency responders in Moore County to protect public safety and work with Duke Energy to restore power. (1/3)
&mdash; Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) <a href="https://twitter.com/NC_Governor/status/1599527753732489222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;An attack like this on critical infrastructure is a serious, intentional crime and I expect state and federal authorities to thoroughly investigate and bring those responsible to justice,&#8221; Cooper added. &#8220;Moore County has strong, vibrant communities and the state will continue to provide transportation and public safety assistance.&#8221;
Duke Energy spokesman Jeff Brooks said in a <a href="https://katv.com/news/nation-world/sheriff-criminal-vandalism-cuts-power-across-north-carolina-county-gunfire-gunshots-gun-vandal-power-outage-sabotage-electricity-moore-county-duke-energy-ronnie-fields-sheriff-southern-pines-mike-cameron#:~:text=Duke%20Energy%20spokesman%20Jeff%20Brooks,be%20restored%20by%20Sunday%20evening." target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> to KATV-TV that the company experienced “multiple equipment failures” at substations. The power company was “investigating signs of potential vandalism related to the outages,&#8221; according to the statement. Power may be out in some areas until at least Monday, according to the latest updates.
US Representative Richard Hudson (R-NC), whose district includes Moore County, released a <a href="https://hudson.house.gov/press-releases/hudson-releases-statement-on-moore-county-power-outage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> on Sunday regarding the attacks.
&#8220;Last night, unknown individuals vandalized at least two substations in Moore County with criminal intent,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;Motive for this crime remains unknown. Many Moore County residents remain without power. I want to thank Sheriff Ronnie Fields and all local law enforcement as well as the SBI and FBI for their quick action to respond to the incident. I have also been in contact with Duke Energy and know they are working on all options to restore power as quickly as possible.&#8221;
The congressman&#8217;s statement said the Southern Pines Police Department has opened its community room to the public for charging electronic devices.
The outage also impacted Moore Regional Hospital, forcing the facility to switch to generator power, <a href="https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article269579392.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The News &amp; Observer</a> reported.
“The Moore campus is safely operating on backup generator power and we have not experienced any issues or concerns,” spokesperson Gretchen Kelly said, according to the outlet.
A previous version of this story reported that the power outages occurred in Monroe County. The power outages affected Moore County.

power lines

Intentional Attack Takes Down Power For 40K People In North Carolina

Crime

Power

Republican Representative Ted Budd has won the North Carolina Senate race against Democratic candidate Cheri Beasley. 
The race was <a href="https://twitter.com/DecisionDeskHQ/status/1590200318071279616" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> by Decision Desk HQ on Tuesday night at 11:24pm EST.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Decision Desk HQ projects Ted Budd (R) wins election to the U.S. Senate in North Carolina.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DecisionMade?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DecisionMade</a>: 11:24pm EST
Follow more results here: <a href="https://t.co/ogd3AkeoyM">https://t.co/ogd3AkeoyM</a> <a href="https://t.co/leqQ7It2hQ">pic.twitter.com/leqQ7It2hQ</a>
&mdash; Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/DecisionDeskHQ/status/1590200318071279616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The seat was open after Republican Senator Richard Burr <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2022-election/north-carolina-senate-midterm-2022-ted-budd-wins-rcna54930" target="_blank" rel="noopener">retired</a>.
The race has been a close one, but Budd successfully garnered a win. On Election Day, FiveThirtyEight’s average <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/senate/2022/north-carolina/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">polling</a> had Budd up 4.3 points at 49.5% over Beasley’s 45.2%. However, Beasley was leading Budd in early results on Election Night.
In an acceptance speech, Budd <a href="https://www.cbs17.com/news/your-local-election-hq/north-carolina-voters-making-statement-in-budd-beasley-race-for-us-senate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, “I want to make the Old North State that much better again.&#8221;
Jonathan Felts, Budd&#8217;s campaign manager, <a href="https://abc11.com/vote-2022-midterm-elections-ted-budd-cheri-beasley/12431213/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> earlier in the day on Tuesday, &#8220;I think people are responding well to Ted Budd&#8217;s message of helping get America back to work again, helping to get the economy up and running again,&#8221; adding, &#8220;We&#8217;ve been in recession now thanks to (President) Joe Biden and we have to get folks to work.&#8221;
Budd recently discussed the economy on Fox News as voters prepared to head to the polls. 
“The problem is Joe Biden and his policies over the last two years have choked down supply,” Budd <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6315067353112" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “You’ve got to stop what Milton Friedman used to say is too much money chasing too few goods which inevitably leads to inflation.”
“We’ve got to deal with the goods. We’ve got to deal with American energy and getting back to energy independence again. We’ve got to get back to rolling back regulations which have stopped housing projects, and stopped building apartments, it’s made it hard on small businesses trying to meet the demand of the consumers out there,” he said. 
“We don’t even have enough truck drivers to get groceries to the grocery store nor enough diesel to get it there. So these are all self-inflicted problems by Joe Biden. So what we have to do in the next few years is press the brakes on his agenda and get this country back on the right track,” he added. 
“Everything that Joe Biden has done and Cheri Beasley, my opponent in this Senate race, would do, makes it harder on those in North Carolina and in our country,” he said. 
“Let’s stop all this excess money, starting back in April  2021 when Joe Biden pumped trillions more dollars into the economy,” he added, saying that Congress should be allowed to make these decisions. 
“Joe Biden’s ideology, the Democrats’ ideology doesn’t allow them to solve this problem,” he said. 
President Barack Obama recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/obama-endorses-north-carolina-senate-democratic-candidate">endorsed</a> Beasley in the Senate race.
“I don’t need to tell you these are challenging times. That’s why we need strong leaders to step forward. Leaders who will do what’s right instead of what’s easy. Leaders who will fight for you,” Obama said in a video endorsement.
“That’s why I’m supporting Cheri Beasley for U.S. Senate. Cheri was a public defender, a judge, and the first African American woman to serve as Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court,” he added.

8E1A874C-F4EC-4D15-A213-A82605328F50_1_201_a

Republican Ted Budd Wins North Carolina Senate Race

Republican Representative Ted Budd Wins North Carolina Senate Race

Elections

Politics

U.S. Senate

Federal law enforcement officials have launched a criminal investigation into gunshots that were fired late last month at the family home of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/north-carolina" target="_blank" rel="noopener">North Carolina</a> congressional candidate Pat Harrigan (R), a former Green Beret.
News of the shots that hit Harrigan&#8217;s parent&#8217;s home in Hickory, North Carolina, broke Thursday afternoon after the family disclosed the incident in an <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2022-11-03/shot-fired-at-family-home-of-n-carolina-us-house-candidate">interview</a> with The Associated Press.
Harrigan&#8217;s campaign said that Harrigan&#8217;s children were inside the home when the shooting happened and that a shot hit the home within a few feet of where the children were sleeping.
WBT News <a href="https://twitter.com/Brett_Jensen/status/1588234001218666498" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that the FBI was involved in the investigation and that other agencies may be involved.
Harrigan is running in the state’s new 14th Congressional District against state Sen. Jeff Jackson (D).
“Jeff Jackson’s brand of politics leads to runaway inflation, economic ruin, and rampant crime – including political violence. Voters literally cannot afford to have him in Congress,&#8221; Harrigan&#8217;s campaign said in a statement. “I’m focused on fixing the economy, lowering prices, and keeping our streets safe. And it’ll take more than a bullet and death threats to knock this Green Beret off that mission.”
In a letter to his Jackson last month, Harrigan said that he was disappointed in how Jackson had conducted himself while on the campaign trail, including filming a campaign ad in front of one of Harrigan&#8217;s homes in Hickory.
&#8220;On September 28th, you and your team shot a television ad outside one of my homes in Hickory, North Carolina,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Aside from the plainly false information in the ad, you crossed a red line&#8211;but not before showing your true character to the people of the 14th District. The ad went too far because targeting family domiciles crosses a line.&#8221;
&#8220;Family is stretched thin on campaigns&#8211;and you violated my family&#8217;s security,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;I have already received a credible death threat. I wear a low-profile bulletproof vest to every single major public event. As I travel, wherever my family is located, they are significantly less safe with me in this race. And they are even less safe now that you&#8217;ve shown one of my homes to the world.&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;m never going to film an ad in front of your home, violating the sanctity and security of your family- putting their lives at risk,&#8221; he later added. &#8220;It just doesn&#8217;t seem like the &#8216;honest and decent&#8217; thing to do. Quite frankly, it would be so dishonest and indecent that the thought has never crossed my mind. I&#8217;m sorry that it crossed yours.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
An open letter to Jeff Jackson.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ncpol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ncpol</a> <a href="https://t.co/wzoIKdFroq">pic.twitter.com/wzoIKdFroq</a>
&mdash; PatHarriganNC (@PatHarriganNC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PatHarriganNC/status/1585059442722508800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Pat Harrigan

Shots Fired At Family Home Of Republican Congressional Candidate While His Children Were Inside: Report

Guns

U.S. House of Representatives

Former President Barack <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/obama" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Obama</a> endorsed North Carolina Senate Democratic candidate Cheri Beasley on Tuesday as she faces Republican opponent Rep. Ted Budd. 
The former two-term Democratic president <a href="https://twitter.com/CheriBeasleyNC/status/1584879964763344898?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">endorsed</a> Beasley in a video she posted on social media. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
“Cheri works hard. She’s honest. And most importantly, she always puts the people first… This is going to be a close race, and we can’t afford to get it wrong.”
I’m honored to receive <a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BarackObama</a>’s endorsement for U.S. Senate. Let’s do this. <a href="https://t.co/CJ6hxrAZVj">pic.twitter.com/CJ6hxrAZVj</a>
&mdash; Cheri Beasley (@CheriBeasleyNC) <a href="https://twitter.com/CheriBeasleyNC/status/1584879964763344898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“I don’t need to tell you these are challenging times. That’s why we need strong leaders to step forward. Leaders who will do what’s right instead of what’s easy. Leaders who will fight for you,” Obama said in the video.
“That’s why I’m supporting Cheri Beasley for U.S. Senate. Cheri was a public defender, a judge, and the first African American woman to serve as Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court,” he added. 
“Cheri works hard. She’s honest. And most importantly, she always puts people first. In the Senate, Cheri will fight to make healthcare and prescription drugs more affordable and protect our fundamental rights, from the right to vote to a woman’s right to control her own body. This is going to be a close race and we can’t afford to get it wrong,” Obama concluded as he told voters to cast their ballots early or on November 8.
Beasley’s campaign has <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-endorses-beasley-north-carolina-senate-race/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> it is set to push Obama’s ad across the state in a six-figure ad buy. It is unclear if the former president plans to go to North Carolina to hit the campaign trail with Beasley, although he scheduled to stump for Democrats in Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Nevada as the midterm elections close in.
Obama’s involvement in the North Carolina Senate race could signify how Democrats feel about the prospects of Republicans taking the Senate and the House of Representatives. In recent weeks, the tide has shifted towards Republicans in polling data as the GOP focuses on economic issues such as record-high inflation. 
In FiveThirtyEight’s average <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/senate/2022/north-carolina/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">polling</a>, Budd is leading Beasley 46.7% to 44.1% and appears ahead in several polls collected by the outlet. Real Clear Politics’ <a href="https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2022/senate/NorthCarolina.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">average</a> also has Budd up 3.7 points. 
The race has been close over the election season, and political experts on both sides believe the end result will be decided by a couple of percentage points, according to <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/3699022-democrat-beasley-looks-to-close-gap-with-budd-in-north-carolina/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hill</a>. 
“North Carolina is a true purple state. Thirty percent of our voters are registered Republicans, 34 [percent] are registered as Democrats, 35 percent are registered as unaffiliated voters,” state Republican Chairman Michael Whatley told the outlet. “Fifty-two to 48 is a landslide in North Carolina.”

BDB4B282-871B-4C28-B67C-DF019442B6DA_1_201_a

Obama Endorses North Carolina Senate Democratic Candidate

Obama Endorses North Carolina Senate Democratic Candidate Cheri Beasley

Barack Obama

A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mom-blasts-school-board-over-drag-show-for-high-schoolers-while-wearing-the-same-outfit-the-drag-queen-wore" target="_blank" rel="noopener">school board</a> in North Carolina has voted to forfeit upcoming girls <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/girls-volleyball-team-banned-from-their-own-locker-room-over-complaint-about-transgender-student" target="_blank" rel="noopener">volleyball</a> games against a rival team after a biologically male <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transgender" target="_blank" rel="noopener">transgender</a> athlete severely injured a female player.
<div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
The Cherokee County Board of Education last month <a href="https://4.files.edl.io/6dc2/10/18/22/172550-b5054622-b488-4314-84f6-1fdf91564d37.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voted</a> 5-1 to forfeit all games against Highlands High School over &#8220;safety concerns.&#8221; A trans player on the Highlands team injured a Hiwassee Dam High player&#8217;s head and neck with a spike to the face, resulting in concussion-like symptoms and ongoing vision problems, <a href="https://www.edfirstnc.org/post/female-hs-volleyball-player-seriously-injured-by-alleged-trans-competitor-in-north-carolina" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Education First Alliance.
<div class="page" title="Page 3">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
&#8220;The County will not participate in any volleyball games, varsity or junior varsity, against Highlands due to safety concerns,&#8221; the board <a href="https://4.files.edl.io/6dc2/10/18/22/172550-b5054622-b488-4314-84f6-1fdf91564d37.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">decided</a>.
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Reported video of the incident shows a female player unable to get up and walk on her own for about one minute after being struck with a volleyball.
<div class="xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs">
&#8220;Female high school volleyball player injured by transgender biological male in North Carolina,&#8221; a Facebook community called Binary captioned the video.
<iframe loading="lazy" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=333&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fbinaryaus%2Fvideos%2F1225809434630551%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="333" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
“I’ll never put a child in a position to be seriously injured,” Cherokee County board member Joe Wood <a href="https://www.edfirstnc.org/post/female-hs-volleyball-player-seriously-injured-by-alleged-trans-competitor-in-north-carolina" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “I think the odds (of injury) in these non-contact sports aren’t high. But in particular, in this meeting, a coach of 40 years said they’d never seen a hit like this. That was really what sealed the decision, at least on my part.”
Vice chair Jeff Martin noted the &#8220;competitive advantage&#8221; at play, which he suggested was trumped by &#8220;safety concerns.&#8221;
“The competitive advantage issue certainly has to come up in any scenario with that type of transgender conversion, per se,” he said. “I can tell you that the board wasn’t searching out this kind of thing. It was brought to our attention based on safety concerns.&#8221;
“The biggest thing for us, especially after seeing the video of the injury, we felt very strongly that it was a safety concern,” board member Jeff Tatham said. “I think most of the board members also felt like there’s a competitive advantage issue.
<div class="AV62af35d851923c62777207b4">
<div id="aniBox">
<div id="aniplayer_AV62af35d851923c62777207b4-1666443483605">
<div id="aniplayer_AV62af35d851923c62777207b4-1666443483605gui">
<div id="av-container" class=" av-desktop hide-controls">
Cherokee County School Board member Arnold Mathews noted that the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) said, &#8220;It is the understanding of the NCHSAA that a local school system governs its athletic programs and at any time can determine for whatever reason that a school or team cannot play another school or team,&#8221; ABC 13 <a href="https://wlos.com/news/local/after-player-injury-cherokee-co-schools-forfeit-all-volleyball-games-against-1-school" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
&#8220;While we would prefer that schools or teams play all games it schedules, that latitude does exist,&#8221; the NCHSAA added.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/battle-of-good-vs-evil-read-matt-walshs-full-speech-delivered-at-the-rally-to-end-child-mutilation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘Battle Of Good Vs. Evil’: Read Matt Walsh’s Full Speech Delivered At The ‘Rally To End Child Mutilation’</a>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>

CLOSE UP: Unrecognizable athletic woman’s hands stretch over the volleyball net.

Trans Athlete Severely Injures Girls Volleyball Player With Spike — District Forfeits Games For Girls’ Safety

Trans Athlete Severely Injures Girls Volleyball Player With Spike To Face — District Cancels Games For Girls’ Safety 

Social Issues

Transgender

John Amanchukwu, a local pastor and father in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/north-carolina" target="_blank" rel="noopener">North Carolina</a>, erupted on a school board this week in a video that has since gone viral in which he criticized the district for prioritizing wokeness instead of focusing on the needs of students who are failing.
&#8220;Luke 17:2 says, &#8216;It is better for a person to have a millstone tied around their neck and to be thrown into the sea than for anyone to harm or damage a child,’” Amanchukwu said in his remarks to the Wake County School Board.
&#8220;And so the question today to the school board is: only you know whether or not your role, the policies, the curriculum, and the things you allow in this school system in Wake County, only you know whether or not a millstone is tied around your neck,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The reality is this: God is going to judge every last one of you for decisions that are made on behalf of children.&#8221;
Amanchukwu criticized the district&#8217;s spending priorities, noting that in the past year, &#8220;we spent $1 million on a ‘diversity office.’”
&#8220;How did that benefit black children? How did it benefit children in general?&#8221; he said. &#8220;Well, 78% of children in 3rd-8th grade, black students, are not proficient in math in Wake County.&#8221;
&#8220;We’re wasting taxpayer dollars putting money towards this diversity office that’s not benefitting those who need it the most,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;Sixty-six percent of 3rd-8th grade students are not proficient in reading. Black students, they&#8217;re not reading on grade-level, they&#8217;re not performing mathematically, and they&#8217;re not going to be able to get jobs in fields like STEM. But we&#8217;re wasting money on a diversity, equity, and inclusion office while we are failing black students in the name of diversity!&#8221;
&#8220;You know, in the Jim Crow era, black students were locked out of the public school system. But today they are trapped in and many of these students need options,&#8221; he concluded. &#8220;They need school choice, they need the opportunity to take their taxpayer dollars and take it to school systems that will benefit them and support them and educate them. And as we talk about inclusion and making sure that the trans student feels comfortable and the queer student feels comfortable, what does that have to do with reading, writing, and arithmetic? As we are teaching cultural Marxism and grooming children to be the next pervert, we are damaging our kids in this public school system and it needs to stop.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Black man leaves woke school board SHAKING after dismantling CRT to their FACES:
&quot;God is going to judge every last one of you&quot; 
 <a href="https://t.co/nKL7TYtWBH">pic.twitter.com/nKL7TYtWBH</a>
&mdash; Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/1583139603774861312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

John Amanchukwu

Dad Explodes On Local Woke School Board In Viral Video: ‘God Is Going To Judge Every Last One Of You’

North Carolina Dad Explodes On Local Woke School Board In Viral Video: 'God Is Going To Judge Every Last One Of You'

Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Education

Schools

A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/north-carolina" target="_blank" rel="noopener">North Carolina</a> Superior Court judge ordered a prospective juror to spend 24 hours in jail after he refused to wear a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/face-mask" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mask</a> in the courtroom.
Judge Charles Gilchrist is the only judge in the courthouse who enforces a mask mandate after North Carolina Democratic Governor Roy Cooper <a href="https://governor.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2021/05/14/following-new-cdc-guidance-face-coverings-governor-cooper-lifts-many-covid-19-restrictions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lifted</a> a statewide mask mandate for most indoor settings over a year ago. Gilchrist found 47-year-old Gregory Hahn of Harnett County in contempt of court for his refusal to follow the judge’s mask order, WRAL News <a href="https://www.wral.com/mask-dispute-lands-potential-harnett-county-juror-in-jail/20520640/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
“The irony of all this is the judge was talking to me without a mask,” said Hahn, a Navy veteran who <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/north-carolina-judge-sends-prospective-juror-jail-for-refusing-wear-mask-mask-optional-courthouse" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> served on the President&#8217;s Honor Guard at Arlington National Cemetery. “If safety was such a concern, I go to jail [with] no mask requirements with inmates.”
Clerk of Superior Court Renee Whittenton said in a statement that each of the prospective jurors were told of Gilchrist’s mask rule when they checked in, and the court provided them with masks if they did not have one, but Hahn said he was not made aware of the mandate, and it was not listed on Hahn’s court summons. The courthouse does not have any signs that state masks are required.
“You can go in any district courtroom without a mask, you can come into superior clerk court without a mask and the [district attorney’s] office without a mask, but with Judge Gilchrist he has a mandate that you must wear a mask,” she said.
A joint order by Harnett and Lee counties from March stated that masks are optional in hallways, foyers, restrooms, meeting rooms, and similar areas, but the order allowed presiding judges to decide whether they wanted a mask mandate in the courtroom.
The Navy veteran and single father said Gilchrist asked him twice if he was refusing to wear a mask, and Hahn said he was. The judge then reportedly ordered Hahn to spend 24 hours in jail, and he was handcuffed and taken away minutes later. Hahn said he asked Gilchrist if he could call his son who was at home, but the judge refused his request.
&#8220;I never thought this could happen in this country,&#8221; Hahn said.
&#8220;I&#8217;m jailed for doing my civic duty and not doing anything,&#8221; he added. &#8220;It&#8217;s mind-boggling.&#8221;

Gavel and Mask

A Navy Veteran Showed Up For Jury Duty. The Judge Sent Him To Jail For Not Wearing A Mask.

Judge Sends Prospective Juror To Jail For Not Wearing Mask

Court

Face Masks

Judge

Veterans

Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin said authorities “contained” a gunman who killed five people, including an off-duty police officer, and wounded two others Thursday in a neighborhood in North Carolina.
According to <a href="https://www.wltx.com/article/news/crime/reports-multiple-people-shot-in-raleigh-north-carolina/101-f83184b4-ef59-4a55-944b-900fe7af0d09" target="_blank" rel="noopener">local media</a>, Baldwin said law enforcement agencies assisted the city&#8217;s police department at the scene.
&#8220;All of us in Raleigh right now need to come together, we need to support those in our community who have suffered a terrible loss, the loss of a loved one,&#8221; Baldwin said.
According to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-north-carolina-raleigh-168acb4bc412772ea006326c6a234bfa?taid=6348b567c00532000161218e&amp;utm_campaign=TrueAnthem&amp;utm_medium=AP&amp;utm_source=Twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Associated Press</a>, Baldwin told reporters that the shooting happened on the Neuse River Greenway around 5 p.m.
Authorities said that officers arrested the suspect at a local residence at approximately 10 p.m.
In a tweet, Raleigh Police Department officials confirmed that &#8220;the suspect is now in custody.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The suspect is now in custody.
&mdash; Raleigh Police (@raleighpolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/raleighpolice/status/1580734549990215680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Before authorities detained the suspect, witnesses said they saw about two dozen marked and unmarked police cars race toward the residential area where the shooting occurred.
Brooke Medina, a witness, told The Associated Press that she and her husband reached out to surrounding neighbors to shelter in place while authorities searched for the suspect.
&#8220;We&#8217;re just going to hunker down for the rest of the night and be very vigilant. Keep all of our lights on, doors locked,&#8221; she said. &#8220;There&#8217;s a lot of places one could disappear.&#8221;
&#8220;We must stop this mindless violence in America, we must address gun violence,&#8221; the mayor <a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-north-carolina-raleigh-168acb4bc412772ea006326c6a234bfa?taid=6348b567c00532000161218e&amp;utm_campaign=TrueAnthem&amp;utm_medium=AP&amp;utm_source=Twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;We have much to do, and tonight we have much to mourn.&#8221;
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said in a tweet that he spoke with Mayor Baldwin and &#8220;instructed state law enforcement to provide assistance responding to the active shooter in East Raleigh. State and local officers are on the ground and working to stop the shooter and keep people safe.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I have spoken with Mayor Baldwin and instructed state law enforcement to provide assistance responding to the active shooter in East Raleigh. State and local officers are on the ground and working to stop the shooter and keep people safe. &#8211; RC
&mdash; Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) <a href="https://twitter.com/NC_Governor/status/1580693564899889152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
This is a developing story; check back for updates.

Close-Up Cordon Tape

5 Dead, 2 Injured In North Carolina Shooting; Suspect Arrested

Gun Violence

Mass Shooting

Murder

A 17-year-old has been arrested for allegedly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/murder">killing</a> two <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/north-carolina">North Carolina</a> teenagers in mid-September.
The suspect, who has not been named due to his age, was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/17-year-old-charged-after-two-north-carolina-teenagers-found-shot-dead">accused of killing</a> 14-year-old Lyric Woods and 18-year-old Devin Clark on September 17. Woods and Clark, who were friends, were separately reported missing by their families before being found shot to death near a power-line easement in Mebane, North Carolina.
&#8220;We hope this apprehension provides some relief to the families and friends of Devin and Lyric, who have experienced an excruciating loss. Obviously, the capture of the suspect does not restore their loved one to them. The grieving process is a long one, and we hope the community will continue to support them in their pain,&#8221; Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood said in <a href="https://www.ocsonc.com/press-releases">a statement</a> on Wednesday
Due to a law that went in effect on December 1, 2019, 16- and 17-year-olds who commit crimes in North Carolina are not automatically charged as an adult, but can be tried in the adult criminal justice for particularly abhorrent crimes, like first-degree murder.
Woods was a freshman at Cedar Ridge High School in Hillsborough, North Carolina. She was reported missing by her stepfather on September 17 after he realized she wasn’t in her room, the New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/09/20/17-year-old-wanted-for-murder-of-north-carolina-teenagers/">reported</a>. Police used a K-9 unit to track the teenager’s scent through the woods near her house. A neighbor also told police they saw Woods get into a car around 3 a.m. on the day her father reported her missing.
Woods played on the school’s travel volleyball team and teammates dedicated the game after her body was discovered to her.
“We will miss her bright smile and enthusiasm for the game. Our AIM VB family is truly saddened by this tragic situation,” AIM Volleyball Club Director Nancy Cates <a href="https://abc11.com/lyric-woods-orange-county-devin-clark-nc/12242820/">told</a> WTVD.
Clark was a senior and football player at Eastern Alamance High School in Mebane. His family reported him missing the day after Woods was reported missing, just hours before his body was found along with Woods.
Someone who lives near where the bodies were found allegedly told police they heard at least 15 gunshots the night of the murders, the Post reported.
“I want to thank the families of Devin Clark and Lyric Woods for trusting us and the investigative process during this excruciatingly painful time. I hope the imminent apprehension of this subject will bring them some comfort as they mourn their loved ones,” Sheriff Blackwood said in a statement late last month.

USA, New York State, New York City, Crime scene barrier tape

Teenager Arrested For Alleged Murder Of Two Other North Carolina Teens

Teenagers

More than 100 people have been confirmed dead in Florida as search and rescue crews continue their efforts following Hurricane Ian.
As of Tuesday, at least 102 people were reported as killed by the hurricane in Florida, with 55 in Lee County, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/04/us/hurricane-ian-florida-recovery-tuesday">according</a> to CNN.
“When you are walking around the ruins, it’s an apocalyptic scene,” Fort Myers Beach City Councilman Bill Veach told CNN. “You see a friend that you weren’t sure was alive or dead and that brings you joy. A joy that is so much more than the loss of property.&#8221;
Despite the tragic loss of life, the governor&#8217;s office has reported over 1,900 rescues as of Monday&#8217;s update by Governor Ron DeSantis (R). Many of the rescues included residents of Sanibel and Captiva Islands off the coast of Fort Myers involving residents who did not evacuate as the only bridge to the mainland was partially destroyed during the hurricane.
Tens of thousands of properties have been checked since the hurricane swept through central Florida, with over 45,000 properties noted in a Monday update.
&#8220;We&#8217;ve been to about every address. We believe that we have searched everything very quickly. Now we are going back for a second look,&#8221; Kevin Guthrie, director of Florida&#8217;s emergency management, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/florida-search-rescue-efforts-redoubled-aftermath-deadly-hurricane-ian-2022-10-03/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on Monday.
&#8220;I am not saying we are not going to find anybody else. We may find other people,&#8221; he added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Governor DeSantis Delivers an Update on Hurricane Ian in Cape Coral <a href="https://t.co/bghYBOWe6P">https://t.co/bghYBOWe6P</a>
&mdash; Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1577054072326467586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Over 2.5 million Florida homes were without power due to the hurricane. As of Tuesday, about 391,000 homes and businesses remained without power. All customers who can receive power to their homes hoping to have electricity returned by Sunday, <a href="https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1dRJZMwPQRwGB" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> Deanne Criswell, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Schools in 13 counties remained closed as of Monday. Officials expect to return to classrooms in all counties by the end of the week.
In addition to numerous deaths in Florida, four deaths were reported in North Carolina on Monday.
“The storm has passed, but many hazards remain with downed trees, downed power lines and power outages,” North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper (D) shared in a <a href="https://governor.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2022/10/01/storm-cleanup-and-power-restoration-underway-after-hurricane-ian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> on Monday. “We mourn with the families of those who have died and urge everyone to be cautious while cleaning up to avoid more deaths or injuries.”
The statement noted that the four deaths included two separate vehicle accidents related to Ian in Johnston County on Friday. Additionally, a 22-year-old in Martin County died Friday in a vehicle incident that led to drowning, while a 65-year-old in Johnston County died on Saturday after a generator was left running in a closed garage.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are expected to visit Florida on Wednesday to meet with state leaders and those impacted by Hurricane Ian.

Menu