The Fayetteville Observer
Fayetteville MLK parade fallout raises questions
The city of Fayetteville and the Fayetteville Cumberland County MLK Committee have been partners for many years, most prominently over the MLK Park, which is in line for a dramatic expansion, eventually. But Fayetteville officials are scratching their...
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Secretary of Education visits Fayetteville
FAYETTEVILLE — Amid efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, a move its leader says would restore education decisions to the states, Education Secretary Linda McMahon made a stop in Fayetteville this week on a history tour. Dubbed the...
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Local businesses organize cleanup of Cape Fear River
A local business owner has partnered with Deep Creek Outfitters to highlight the Cape Fear River’s importance to Cumberland County by gathering volunteers for a cleanup in February. Aaron Sweat, who operates Bottom Feeders Fishing Club with his friend...
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FIGHTING THE CLIMATE
WAWANESA, Manitoba – When farmer Simon Ellis first drove his combine into his 2025 crop, he expected “catastrophic failure,” after a season of flooding followed by a long drought. But instead of shriveled kernels, plump seeds of wheat, oats and...
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AI frenzy driving supply chain crisis
An acute global shortage of memory chips is forcing artificial intelligence and consumer-electronics companies to fight for dwindling supplies, as prices soar for the unglamorous but essential components that allow devices to store data. Japanese...
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Fayetteville mainstay BJ’s Used Books has reopened
After more than a year away, BJ’s Used Books is back in business at a new location off Bragg Boulevard. Owner, Rudy Edwards, said Jan. 2 that the bookstore reopened Christmas Eve at 2636 Bragg Blvd. Suite 100, within the Eutaw Village Shopping Center....
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U.S. interventions differ in major ways
Gunfire in the streets of a Latin American capital. U.S. military troops swooping in by helicopter. A foreign leader, accused of drug trafficking, hauled off to America in handcuffs. The Trump administration’s Jan. 3 capture of Venezuelan President...
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RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR
A District New Year’s Eve Spectacular at downtown Fayetteville’s Festival Park on December 31.
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What’s next for the Lumbee tribe?
Nearly 140 years after first seeking federal recognition, an act of Congress has recognized the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. The Pembroke-based tribe says it has about 60,000 members and is the largest Native American tribe east of the Mississippi...
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‘Made in USA’ gets boost from tariffs
Forty-one years ago, when Sara Irvani’s grandfather launched a footwear company in Buford, Georgia, half the nation’s shoes were made in America. Today, the figure is down to 1%. “From the late 1890s through the 1970s or so, there had actually been...
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Toddler critical after mother dies from apartment fire
Authorities have identified the woman who died in a Yadkin Road apartment fire Dec. 29 and revealed that her 1-yearold daughter was critically injured. According to the Fayetteville Police Department, Porsha Quarles, 35, and her toddler were rescued...
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Big events on calendar for 2026
As a new year dawns, many Americans are reflecting on 2025, a year marked by historic events including the inauguration of a president, the appointment of the first American pope, and major pop culture moments like the release of “Wicked: For Good” and...
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AI to review Medicare claims in pilot program
A new Medicare program that uses artificial intelligence to review medical claims is set to launch in six states. Critics worry it will lead to patients being denied necessary care and more red tape for providers. The controversial new six-year pilot...
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‘The freedom to be unkind’
Alley Mills Bean approached the podium at a Los Angeles City Council meeting alongside council member Traci Park on a June day in 2024, Emmy in hand. She’d won it the previous year for her role as the hook-wielding serial killer Heather Webber on...
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Meet the missing person cases police investigator
The Fayetteville Police Department has created a new position in 2025, entrusting an experienced detective with overseeing missing person cases. Holly Vernon, 33, said she was promoted in May to a new role, allowing her oversight of all missing...
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‘DEEP CONNECTION’
The places Indigenous peoples call home have intertwined with their ways of life for millennia. Their stories, foodways and cultures relate directly to their homelands. Lands, waters, plants and animals, the creatures that inhabit the waters below and...
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‘Help’s farther away’
In the 1960s, doctors believed heart muscle died instantly during a heart attack, like throwing a light switch, according to the American Heart Association. Dr. Eugene Braunwald’s research proposed a heart attack was more like a dimmer – the damage...
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New Epstein files spotlight Trump
WASHINGTON – Former President Bill Clinton had his moment in the spotlight on Dec. 19 when the first batch of the Epstein files were released. On Dec. 23, it was sitting President Donald Trump’s turn. His name surfaced repeatedly in a new tranche of...
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A ‘strong work ethic and passion for students’
Kaitlyn Shepard is in her first year teaching first grade at Warrenwood Elementary School and has already been recognized with a Beginning Teacher Spotlight Award in Cumberland County Schools for the first quarter. This new teacher can say she...
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Turning Point USA gains ground on campuses
Apair of students stood in the Indiana University Indianapolis student center asking a simple legal question: “Is ‘hate speech’ protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution?” Students slowed to read the white board, and many shuffled toward...
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Inside how ICE operates in Trump’s America
KANSAS CITY, MO – Inside an U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters in a suburban office park hangs a printed-out text message that immigration officers feel is aimed at them: “Get a gun and shoot them in the streets.” It’s tacked on a...
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States take up conservation goals terminated by Trump
WASHINGTON – With a snappy title and a laudable goal, “30 by 30” was a landmark plan hatched to help save at least 30% of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030. Alongside this multinational push, the United States had its own trailblazing version of...
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‘Reminder to never let your guard down’
Overall, a bit slower than expected − and a lucky one for U.S. coastal residents. That pretty much sums up the 2025 hurricane season, which wrapped Nov. 30. While the somewhat uneven season eventually produced a pretty normal number of storms, and...
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Bondi suspect charged with 15 murders
SYDNEY – A man who allegedly opened fire on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s famed Bondi Beach has been charged with 59 offenses, including murder and terrorism, police said on Dec. 17. The alleged father-and-son perpetrators opened fire on...
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Justices could buck Trump on Fed
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative justices appear ready to endorse President Donald Trump’s power to fire a regulatory agency official despite job protections given by Congress. But they have signaled reluctance to give him similar...
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County finds short-term use for lot
Cumberland County officials plan to turn a former county parking lot, intended to be the site of the Crown Event Center, into a temporary green space until deciding long-term plans for the spot. The county broke ground for the Crown Event Center...
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‘I encourage us to be bold’
A consulting firm hired by Cumberland County Schools earlier this year to evaluate all of the district’s buildings is recommending multiple school closures and consolidations while building a few new schools and renovating E.E. Smith High...
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EPA rule could curb protections for wetlands
Following a trend that started in 2023 with a U.S. Supreme Court decision, it’s been a rough few years for North Carolina’s wetlands and their supporters. Now an announcement by the Trump administration that it could further water down federal...
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Private firms snap up mobile home parks
One of America’s most affordable paths to homeownership is slipping away. At manufactured home parks – sometimes called trailer parks or mobile home parks – rents are rapidly rising due to large-scale buyouts by private equity firms. Although private...
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Fayetteville State competing in HBCU Band of the Year
The Fayetteville State University marching band is preparing for its biggest performance in school history at the Red Lobster Band of the Year National Championship this month. The Marching Bronco Xpress is performing Dec. 12 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium...
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Defense tech firms face growing pains
SIMI VALLEY, CA – U.S. defense technology companies have roughly doubled their share of Pentagon contracts over the past year, but they face growing pains as they try to evolve from hot startups into heavyweights capable of building weapons at...
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Comparing Fayetteville’s vacancies to U.S. trends
Fayetteville’s vacancy rate for commercial buildings is below the national average, according to a fourth-quarter report released by the Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation. The report released Nov. 14 states that the retail...
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‘This is a historic day’
FORT BRAGG – The Army’s largest command, the U.S. Army Forces Command, concluded its service Dec. 5 at Fort Bragg to make room for the newly established Western Hemisphere Command. The last command to activate on Fort Bragg was in 2018, with the...
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Want to find a great steak in Fayetteville?
Luigi’s Italian Chophouse & Bar in Fayetteville, which has been around for nearly 75 years, has spent the past three decades serving steaks for every palate. Owner Nick Parrous said Dec. 4 that the restaurant wasn’t always known for its...
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Watchdog: Signal chats violated Pentagon policy
WASHINGTON – A Pentagon watchdog found that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth risked the safety of American troops and their mission when he discussed a covert military operation in Yemen over the commercial messaging app Signal, but that he had the right...
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Fayetteville Mayor talks unity in the city, council
They call it an inauguration these days. Fayetteville City Council members elected in November were officially sworn in Monday, Dec. 1, to start their two-year terms. They were joined by family members, friends, campaign supporters, their fellow...
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Centuries-old seashells tell history of habitats
During a day at the beach, it’s common to see people walking up and down the shore collecting seashells. As a paleontologist and marine ecologist, we look at shells a bit differently than the average beachcomber. Most people dig up shells in the sand...
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Fort Bragg considered for nuclear energy
FORT BRAGG — Fort Bragg is one of nine sites the Army is considering for a nuclear microreactor power plant, according to an announcement last month. According to a Nov. 18 Army news release, the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit is in the process of...
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‘This is where I’m from’
HOPE MILLS – A celebrity barber and influencer returned to his roots in Cumberland County the day before Thanksgiving to host a community event offering free clothing, food and haircuts. Vic Blends Thanksgiving Community Giveback, which Blends, whose...
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Cumberland County doesn’t want Fuquay-Varina to have its water
Multiple Cumberland County government agencies and other organizations are urging residents and elected officials to attend an upcoming meeting to speak against a request for the town of Fuquay-Varina to transfer water out of the Cape Fear River...
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Kirk death fuels revival and renewal at churches
The assassination of Charlie Kirk changed Danika Meyerson in a way that, at first, made her deeply uncomfortable. She wanted to develop a relationship with God. She couldn’t stop thinking about it. But Meyerson, a 45-year-old mom of two boys, wasn’t a...
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DICKENS DELIGHT
Fayetteville travels back to the Victorian era the day after Thanksgiving with the celebration of an annual downtown tradition. Now in its 26th year, A Dickens Holiday is returning with old favorites and introducing a new event. People attending the...
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING
There is no print edition of the paper today, but you can find today’s puzzles, comics, national news and sports here in the eNewspaper.
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Special Forces Celebrity Tactical Challenge returns
MAXTON — Gunshots rang out in Maxton on Nov. 20, as active duty Special Forces soldiers and veterans teamed up with celebrities for the annual Celebrity Green Beret Tactical Challenge. “Every single year we bring out celebrities … Some of the...
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Banned books being judged by their covers
Over the past decade, a growing movement to restrict access to books in public schools and libraries has spread across the country. Every year, there are hundreds of attempts to challenge or ban books, targeting thousands of titles. h According to the...
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What are the salaries of the town of Spring Lake’s top earners?
More than $3.8 million will be spent by the town of Spring Lake on the salaries of its 85 employees in 2025. Wages range from $5,671 for part-time positions to $140,000 for the town manager, according to data released recently by the town. The average...
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Judge: SNAP confusion of USDA’s ‘own making’
States that dispersed full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to recipients last weekend don’t have to try to get the money back, a federal judge ordered Nov. 10. A flurry of court rulings in the last several days have led to confusion...
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‘I’ve always liked giving’
For more than a decade, Phyllis McCroskey donned the Army uniform. These days, McCroskey is wearing a Habitat for Humanity T-shirt and conDunn, tinues her service helping others — one nail at a time. Just in time for Veterans Day, McCroskey’s own home...
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Officials: U.S. aid cuts curtail malaria fight
BOGO, Cameroon – Nine-month-old baby Mohamat burned with fever for three days before his family took him to the closest health center in northern Cameroon, but it was too late. He died of malaria that day. Mohamat’s death was part of a spike this year...
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‘THEY MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE FAMILY’
Fayetteville residents might not know it, but two of their favorite dive bars are owned by the same woman. Gayle Bedsole is the owner of Cheers Too, located at 2803 Raeford Road, and also coowns Louie’s Sports Pub, just a few streets away at 2417...
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Silicon Valley ‘warlord’ gets Pentagon’s attention
NEW YORK – “I’m a warlord now, (expletive)!” Steven Simoni, wearing a $4,000 Celine track suit unzipped to reveal a bare chest and a silver chain, was holding court at a recent film premiere in the East Village of Manhattan, joking with a reporter...
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How Spring Lake is changing Main Street
SPRING LAKE — The recent demolition of an old, abandoned building on Main Street marks the start of Spring Lake’s revitalization efforts outlined in the town’s strategic plan, Mayor Kia Anthony said. “Right now, our primary focus, outside of Main...
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Fayetteville voters reelect Mitch Colvin to fifth term
Mayor Mitch Colvin will retain his seat and serve a fifth term, according to unofficial voting results. According to unofficial results from the Nov. 4 election, Colvin received 12,515 votes or 60.04% and Kathy Jensen received 7,908 votes or 37.94%....
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Ant poses a triple threat to humans
They’re stealthy, travel in small groups or even alone, and can pretty much live anywhere in North Carolina. While not as big as other invasive insects or aggressive as the more wellknown and visible fire ant, this foreign invader from the other side...
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What to know on Election Day in Cumberland County
Today, Nov. 4, is Election Day for municipal races in Cumberland County. Voters in all nine Cumberland County municipalities, including Fayetteville, Hope Mills and Spring Lake, will head to the polls to cast ballots for mayor and board members. With...
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Federal drug prosecutions at lowest level in decades
WASHINGTON – The number of people charged with breaking federal drug laws dropped to the lowest level in decades this year after the Trump administration ordered enforcement agencies to focus on deporting immigrants, a Reuters review of nearly 2...
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SNAP benefits freeze
Even if the government somehow managed to fund SNAP at the last minute, Fayetteville organizations that combat food insecurity in the community have already seen increased traffic due to the federal government shutdown. The shutdown began Oct. 1, and...
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Trump targets filibuster rule to end shutdown
WASHINGTON – As the shutdown drags on, President Donald Trump is urging Senate Republicans to go around Democrats to break an impasse with growing ramifications, with millions of Americans poised to lose federal food assistance. Trump called for an...
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Lawmakers scramble to salvage SNAP benefits
WASHINGTON – As the government shutdown enters one month with no end in sight, federal lawmakers and state officials are scrambling to blunt the pain of missing services such as the first lapse Nov. 1 in food assistance since the program was...
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NEXT-LEVEL DEDICATION
The proof of Max Ellinger’s Costco fandom is his only tattoo, inked on his right arm. It’s the Kirkland Signature logo – the Costco house brand for everything from rotisserie chicken to laundry detergent. Ellinger got it in 2019 after a friend...
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BANDED VISITORS
They’re rolling in from South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee, attracted by the promise of a temperate and warming climate, vast tracts of diggable land, room to expand, and a nearly endless supply of fire ants − a delicacy for these banded...
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Cemeteries damaged in vandalism spree
Three Fayetteville cemeteries were vandalized this month, prompting police to increase patrols in those locations. Sgt. Alpha Caldwell said the incidents were reported to the Fayetteville Police Department between Oct. 10 and Oct. 13. According to an...
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BOTANICAL GARDEN HOLDS ANNUAL HALLOWEEN EVENT
Dan “The Popcorn Man” Johnson at Cape Fear Botanical Garden’s annual Halloween at the BOOtanical Garden
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Meet Mater
Anew furry officer has joined the law enforcement ranks in Cumberland County. Meet Mater, the Hope Mills Police Department’s newest K-9 officer. h The 11-month-old, 75pound, purebred bloodhound is getting to know the area since coming from a K-9...
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Persistent inflation is up again in September
Inflation rose again in September, revealing the persistence of rising prices as the job market showed signs of cooling and consumers begin to think about the holiday season. Consumer prices increased 3% from a year earlier, slightly up from 2.9% in...
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Jeff Jackson, city officials talk lawsuit and infrastructure
Some lawsuits are complicated, with lots of legal twists and turns. State Attorney General Jeff Jackson’s lawsuit against the Federal Emergency Management Agency does not strike me as one of those. Especially if we take the politics out. It’s simple....
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Birds bounce back
When I started bird-watching as a teenager, a few years after the first Earth Day in 1970, several species that once thrived in my region were nowhere to be found. Some, like the passenger pigeon, were extinct. Others had retreated to more remote, wild...
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Epstein accuser details alleged abuses
The new memoir from the late Virginia Giuffre, one of Jeffrey Epstein’s accusers, posthumously sheds light on the infamous financier’s abuses from the perspective of one of his most vocal victims. “She wanted all her suffering to have accomplished...
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‘It represents a whole new chapter’
A new School of Medicine near Cape Fear Valley Medical Center took another step toward reality Friday morning. The Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine received preliminary accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical...
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‘Bigger than politics’
Hundreds of protesters converged on downtown Fayetteville on Oct. 18, joining millions around the world with a message for the Trump administration: “No Kings in America.” The Oct. 18 protest, which was from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., was part of a national...
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MrBeast academic program stalled without any answers
The world’s most subscribed to YouTuber and the university chancellor are an odd pair on camera. MrBeast, the internet personality most famous for his videos documenting random acts of extreme charity, is in shorts, animatedly talking and gesturing...
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Civil servants caught up in ‘loyalty trap’
For many Americans, work is not just about earning a paycheck. It is a centerpiece of their lives, and they want their job to be meaningful. h Decades of research suggest this is true for most federal civil servants, who aim to serve not only their...
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‘CHEMICAL OF CONCERN’
Microplastics seem to be everywhere – in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat. They have turned up in human organs, blood, testicles, placentas and even brains. While the full health consequences of that exposure are not yet known,...
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REMEMBERING YOUNG LIVES
Funeral services have been set for the three E.E. Smith High School seniors killed in a car wreck last week. Visitation for Trevor Jayshawn Merritt, 17, is Thursday, Oct. 16, from 1-6 p.m. at Wiseman Mortuary, 431 Cumberland St. His funeral service is...
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Hamas fighters tighten grip in Gaza
CAIRO – Hamas fighters tightened their grip in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 14 after carrying out public executions, defying Israel’s assertion that war cannot end under President Donald Trump’s plan until the militants are disarmed. In a stark assertion of...
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