The Fayetteville Observer
U.S., Iran trade infrastructure attacks
DUBAI – The United States struck bridges and an airport in Iran on July 17 and Tehran responded by hitting a power and desalination plant in Kuwait, as the warring foes risked further escalation by expanding their targets to include infrastructure. In...
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Blanche grilled at AG confirmation
Todd Blanche faced a tough grilling from Democrats at his Senate confirmation hearing for attorney general, but it’s not clear they have the votes to block his nomination. The former personal lawyer to President Donald Trump was hit with accusations...
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Students seek guidance online instead of from schools
A second grader in Norway drew a YouTube logo when my colleagues and I asked what they wanted to be when they grow up. When we asked why, the child explained that YouTubers are famous and make lots of money. When we asked second graders in Wisconsin...
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Tiny homes, big mission for Fayetteville neighbors
What started with prayer walks in Fayetteville in 2023 will result in a groundbreaking next month for a 16cottage community that will provide permanent housing in Fayetteville for homeless veterans, representatives with Fayetteville Area Operation...
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Trump: U.S. aims to control Strait of Hormuz
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said the United States is reinstating a naval blockade on Iran and will seek operational control of the Strait of Hormuz after several days in which he declared the ceasefire over, and the United States and Iran...
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Newest affordable senior complex fills up fast
As the demand for affordable senior housing continues to grow in Fayetteville, a new development is adding options for the city’s older residents. Cliffmore Park, which held its grand opening in late June, will serve senior households earning 40%, 50%...
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Fayetteville’s skyline is empty compared to similar NC cities
Fayetteville, with a population of about 208,500, is the sixth-largest city in North Carolina. Why, then, is its skyline so flat compared with those of the state’s other major cities? There are mid-rise buildings in Fayetteville, but relatively few...
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Ceasefire falls apart as Iran buries slain leader
The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran appeared to have fallen apart over continued strife over the Strait of Hormuz as Iranians buried their supreme leader, killed by U.S.-Israel forces at the outset of the war. There were no new...
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Graham Platner exit leaves Dems in disarray
Democrats are racing for the reset button in the pivotal U.S. Senate battle in Maine after Graham Platner announced he will suspend his campaign, throwing the party into a frantic search for a replacement nominee to take on Republican incumbent Susan...
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Crossing guards urge city to fix school zones
Several school traffic safety concerns raised by Fayetteville traffic control officers last month have already prompted action from city officials, including the installation of a new stop sign near Max Abbott Middle School and plans to pursue school...
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Board faces vacancy as election season begins
The unexpected death of the chair of the Cumberland County Board of Education could result in a temporary appointment to one of three at-large seats up for election this year. Filing for the school board seats started July 6. Longtime educator and...
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Section of Raeford Road closing for repairs
A section of Raeford Road near Ireland Drive will close in both directions beginning July 13 so crews can replace a drainage pipe, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The closure comes after crews repairing a drainage near...
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Fayetteville’s luxury rentals come at a price
Fayetteville’s average rent is below the national average, but its most expensive apartments top the national rate by more than 65%, according to analyses released earlier this year. The NC Budget & Tax Center released the 2026 Economic County...
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Liberty
Division. Slavery. Civil War. All etched into the face of a man who spent his presidency fighting to hold together a nation that seemed determined to tear itself apart. Here, on a recent day at the Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park near...
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Rescuers scour rubble after attack in Kyiv
KYIV – Rescuers sifted through rubble in a search for survivors in Kyiv on July 3 as the Ukrainian capital observed a day of mourning, a day after a Russian missile and drone attack killed at least 30 people in the deadliest strike on the city this...
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THE MEANING OF REVOLUTION
Like Americans today, the people living in the United States in 1826 were preparing to celebrate a milestone for their country. July Fourth of that year marked the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. As what was known as the “Jubilee”...
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Recreational fishing outpaces estimates
One of the United States’ largest fisheries is hiding in plain sight. Recreational freshwater anglers in the lower 48 states catch – and keep – far more fish than any official body has estimated, according to new research from our team of North...
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BUILDING SKILLS
About 30 teens, ages 16 to 19, picked up hammers, drills and saws the week of June 22-26 to get a crash course in construction-related trades and home building. The Third Annual Construction Camp was hosted by the Fayetteville Area Habitat for...
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Meet the newest class of Fayetteville’s 40 Under 40
When we’re young, it’s easy to rack up the accolades. There’s no shortage of people — parents, teachers, coaches — cheering us on. Grades, certificates, winning scores and honor rolls offer feedback that lets kids know when they’re doing a good...
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‘Our history should be taught, not erased’
The push to revert Fort Bragg’s name back to Fort Liberty has again made it into the House Armed Services Committee’s draft of the defense budget for the next fiscal year. Democratic Rep. Marilyn Strickland, of Washington, pushed for an amendment last...
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‘NURTURE HOPE’
A teenager scrolls through their phone at the dinner table, barely looks up and answers questions with one-word replies. For many adults, that image has come to stand for a larger fear: that today’s young people are disconnected from others and may be...
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More vendors, a bigger drag show
This year’s Fayetteville PrideFest is growing in size and scope, with organizers vowing a stronger focus on families and ensuring the annual LGBTQ+ celebration feels welcoming to all. Set for June 27 at the Crown Expo Center, the free festival will...
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Former inmate awarded settlement in federal suit
Cumberland County has agreed to pay a former inmate $4,000 to settle a federal lawsuit in which he alleged he was denied due process while being held in the Cumberland County jail in 2024, according to the settlement agreement. In April 2025, Samuel...
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BUILDING A COMEBACK
Two residential development proposals in downtown Fayetteville have been submitted to the city’s Technical Review Committee. Separate developers have submitted plans for townhomes and an apartment complex located off North and South Cool Spring...
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Graduations grow contentious in U.S.
As graduation season in the United States draws to a close, the last few moments of school for some recent high school and college grads were marred by controversy. Graduation ceremonies around the country in recent weeks have made headlines for...
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Growth is coming to Bingham
Fans of Dairy Queen have a reason to be excited. A new one is happening. Land has now been cleared along a large block on Bingham Drive that has, for a while now, contained a small billboard that shows a combination Dairy Queen and Atkinson’s...
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‘Our goal is one consolidated’
State Sen. Val Applewhite says local leaders were blindsided June 16 by a bill in the North Carolina General Assembly that would give Cumberland County commissioners the power to create a joint 911 center with the city — a project nearly two decades in...
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LOWER CRIME RATES AT RISK
The United States is experiencing one of the steepest declines in violent crime in modern history, including a murder rate at its lowest point in more than a century. Homicides across 35 major American cities fell 21% in 2025, amounting to 922 fewer...
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PRESERVING A LEGACY
Juneteenth is a time of remembering. The national holiday, which commemorates the end of slavery two years after the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation, has always been a reminder of a formerly forgotten part of Black history. Not in opposition to the...
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Road projects aim to ease traffic and boost safety
Roadway improvements headed to Cumberland County are expected to make travel safer and easier for Cumberland County commuters, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Several major road projects are underway or in development in...
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Fayetteville honors America’s 250th anniversary with a mural
Earlier this month, Cumberland County unveiled a new mural to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. The county partnered with the America 250 Commission to develop artwork that signified the community’s impact on the country, according to Cumberland...
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Fayetteville mayor opposes proposed tax increase
As Fayetteville prepares to adopt the fiscal year 2027-28 budget, the City Council is weighing a proposed 3-cent property tax increase to support infrastructure and city services, though Mayor Mitch Colvin says he hopes to balance the budget without...
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Suits claim ‘poisoning’ by baby food brands
Parents are taking major baby food makers to task, accusing them of “systemic poisoning” that left their children disabled. More than 200 lawsuits have been filed against popular baby food brands since the beginning of 2026. In June alone, roughly 40...
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‘Measured by the lives saved’
In just a few weeks, the first-ever class of medical students for the new Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine will walk through its doors carrying their white coats with feelings of hope and uncertainty, the school’s dean...
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Views split on White House UFC event
It was 2001, and mixed martial arts fighting was on the ropes. Banned in 36 states, booted from cable operators, derided as “human cockfighting” – it was such an outcast sport that it traded hands for $2 million. A song. The new owners of Ultimate...
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CUMBERLAND COUNTY SCHOOLS COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES
Douglas Byrd High School graduating seniors walk into the Crown Coliseum on June 1 for their commencement ceremony. Cumberland County Schools held the bulk of its graduation ceremonies this week. See more photos at fayobserver.com.
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Health experts worry about World Cup
With millions of soccer fans and tourists set to travel to 11 U.S. cities hosting the World Cup in the coming weeks, public health officials are wary of potential risks from infectious diseases, such as the Ebola outbreak racing through Central...
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‘Retaliation and bias’ claims hit police
Two former and one current civilian employees of the Fayetteville Police Department have filed a federal lawsuit alleging city officials, police leadership and a civilian supervisor retaliated against them, fostered a hostile work environment, misused...
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Officials are flooding dams to help fish
Seeing locks and dams on the Cape Fear River submerged might normally raise some eyebrows and worries about massive flooding heading downstream toward Wilmington, say from historic rainfalls from hurricanes like Matthew and Florence. But officials...
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Forecast for D-Day changed history
To go or not to go? June 2026 marks 82 years since Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s chief meteorologist, Group Capt. James Martin Stagg, made one of the most important weather forecasts of all time. Defying his colleagues, he advised the general to...
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Who needs Paris?
Fashion Week is coming to Cumberland County. Organized by Spring Lake resident Sasha Koture, the multi-day Spring Lake Fashion Week includes a Sneaker Ball leading up to the main event, which will feature more than a dozen models, five designers and...
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AI partners could upend human relationships
When the movie “Her” debuted in 2013, its plot felt like science fiction. The protagonist, Theodore, is a jaded man with no vigor for life. He comes alive after talking daily with his artificial intelligence chatbot, Samantha, with whom he eventually...
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A place for pups and pints could be coming to Fayetteville
Dog owners in the area could soon have a place to take their pooches for indoor play, while the humans can relax with wine or beer. The Fayetteville Technical Review Committee, which ensures projects meet city code and standards, will review plans...
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School closures are just the start of district-wide moves
Two Cumberland County elementary schools have closed for good, but students at Manchester and J.W. Coon elementaries are not the only ones facing changes next school year. The Cumberland County Board of Education’s votes and recommendations on school...
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Transitional housing plan intends to offer hope
John Russell, a peer support specialist, told city leaders Tuesday he became involved with a new effort to create transitional housing near downtown after hearing about — and then seeing for himself — what was going on at the Headquarters Library...
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They stepped away
“When we were in the game, we were actually about to blow up.” “Don’t call it a comeback,” LL Cool J famously rapped, “I’ve been here for years.” h Well, for Fayetteville rap duo and sisters Zelda and Zoletta Taylor, you CAN call it a comeback. The...
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Cannabis legalization spurs innovation
Innovation in health care saves lives. But not all health innovations have enough evidence to actually benefit patients. Barriers to innovation are often higher in illicit or restricted markets, including cannabis, stem cells and cryptocurrencies....
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County looks to expand child care to city employees
Cumberland County is looking to expand its employee child care center enrollment to include city employees. Assistant County Manager Faith Phillips presented a proposal during a Fayetteville City Council-Cumberland County Board of Commissioners joint...
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Your input will make Fayetteville streets safer
When it comes to traffic accidents, what part of Fayetteville do you think is most dangerous? I guess it comes down to where you live and what you see every day in your daily drive. For me, it’s not close. I have seen the aftermath of many accidents...
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Fayetteville PWC report shows upgrades to remove PFAS
Fayetteville's Public Works Commission 2025 Water Quality Report found that Fayetteville's drinking water meets or surpasses all EPA and state standards for safety and quality, and upgrades are underway to reduce PFAS. PWC performs more than 150,000...
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Former parking lot could be hotel site
A former parking lot — once planned for the Crown Event Center — has sat vacant for more than a year in downtown Fayetteville. It could get a new life as an upscale hotel, commissioners learned this week. Cumberland County Commissioners received a...
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Facial recognition put to use in London
LONDON – Tourists, shoppers and office workers in a busy London street on an ordinary weekday found themselves part of a digital identity check as live facial recognition cameras scanned faces against a police watch list. The operation was an example...
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Stories behind Fort Bragg roads and buildings honoring fallen soldiers
At Fort Bragg, the nation’s most populated military installation, the legacy of fallen service members endures long after their sacrifice. h Each year, Gold Star families gather on Fort Bragg to honor the memory of their loved ones who gave their lives...
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Universities still hold Native remains, artifacts
Many universities and museums in the United States have long held Native American burial artifacts, other sacred objects and even human remains. Most of these collections were acquired in the late 19th and 20th centuries. They came from grave...
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Jan. 6 officers sue to block Trump’s $1.8B ‘slush fund’
WASHINGTON – Two police officers who defended the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, sued President Donald Trump and his administration in a bid to block the Justice Department’s new $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. The lawsuit, filed May 20 by...
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Cumberland County weighs data center moratorium
While Cumberland County currently has no regulations in place for data centers, officials recently took a first step that would pause data centers here until officials have time to put ordinances in place to govern the centers. A public hearing on a...
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RISING COSTS
Americans’ concerns about being able to afford electricity and home heating fuel have been elevated since the beginning of the Iran war. But recently released nationwide data shows that even before the war began, these concerns were widespread,...
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Cuba faces possible Trump ‘takeover’
federal government’s moves to indict former Cuban President Raúl Castro will ramp up pressure for regime change in Cuba and could be a prelude to a U.S. military operation, just as the Trump administration sent troops into Venezuela in January to...
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Trump leaves China with stalemate
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing may have produced modest results by the standards of U.S.-China summits but it highlighted a clear benefit for China: After the extremes of last year’s trade war, the countries have reverted to...
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Seniors struggle with housing, caregiving
SARASOTA, FL – Hurricane Milton had blown off the carport roof, damaged the lanai and broken several windows of his home in Sarasota, Florida. But that October 2024, L. Paul Laramee was reeling from an even greater shock. After months of troubling...
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Divided school board approves closures amid opposition
Following months of community outcry — and internal disagreement on the board — the Cumberland County Board of Education ultimately voted to close Manchester and J.W. Coon elementary schools during its May 12 regular meeting. Both motions passed 5-3....
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Fayetteville Goodyear plant could close by next year
Goodyear Tire & Rubber, one of Cumberland County’s largest employers, could shut its doors by the end of next year, according to a statement from the company. The closure would leave 1,700 people without a job. Spokesperson Kylie Ulanski released the...
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City eyes mixed-use project near downtown
The city of Fayetteville is seeking partners to help develop a 9.3-acre site just south of downtown into a mixed-use project featuring residential, retail and commercial development and open space. The city has issued a Request for Qualification...
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Could a new festival leverage Fayetteville’s cultural moment?
Hip-hop artist J. Cole organized Raleigh’s Dreamville Festival, which for five years was a smash success, attracting top-tier performers and bringing hundreds of millions of dollars to the Triangle and surrounding areas. Now, some folks in Jermaine...
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U.S. hybrid sales soar, along with gas prices
Many American car buyers are gravitating to hybrid vehicles to offset the recent surge in gas prices from the Iran war, according to fresh industry sales data and dealers. U.S. hybrid sales rose 37% in the two months since the Middle East conflict...
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Fort BrAss troops usins DronEs in IrAn
FORT BRAGG — Military leaders recently provided an update on the role of Fort Bragg troops deployed in support of operations in the Middle East. During a May 5 Pentagon briefing, Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, singled out the...
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Uncertainty remains in labor market
U.S. employers added 115,000 jobs in April, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated May 8, fueling some cautious optimism about hiring even as high oil prices tied to the Iran war and rising AI adoption pose risks to the labor market. The April...
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Charting his own path
It’s been nearly 1,000 years since King Henry IV stood barefoot in the Italian snow to beg forgiveness after clashes with Pope Gregory VII, and over two centuries since Napoleon imprisoned Pope Pius VII in France. Now, a battle is underway between a...
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Demographic dynamics upending the world
Government-shaking protests in Bangladesh, Iran, Nepal and Sri Lanka – to name a few – have all in recent years been linked to what demographers call a “youth bulge.” Meanwhile, the economic slowdown in China and ballooning public debt in the United...
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One historic stop at a time
Fayetteville’s connection to the American Revolution is more than just its namesake, the Marquis de LaFayette. The 250th anniversary of the country’s founding is a good time to remember this area’s deep revolutionary ties. Cumberland County fielded...
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Microplastics could be overestimated
It seems like every day a new study finds tiny plastic particles called microplastics where they should not be: in our bodies and our food, water and air. h Yet finding and identifying microplastics is extremely challenging, especially given their...
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Parents question speed of J.W. Coon closure
J.W. Coon Elementary staff and parents told Cumberland County Board of Education members April 29 that while they would like a new school, the board’s recommendation to close the school for the next school year feels rushed. In February, the board...
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Federal lawyers say oversight key to thwart fraud
Anthony Nel was surprised when his voter registration was revoked in Texas after he cast an early ballot for the November 2025 election. The Denton County resident was born in South Africa in 1996 and became a U.S. citizen in 2013 when his parents...
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Prediction markets see explosive rise
Though prediction markets have been legal in the United States for less than 18 months, they can’t stop making news and making money. On prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket, users can stake real money on just about anything, from the...
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Cape Fear Valley Health plans major expansion
Cape Fear Valley Health is embarking on another planned expansion — this time of its surgery and emergency departments — amid several years of development on the campus of the health system’s flagship hospital on Owen Drive. In January, Cape Fear...
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