Local News

The Daniels family and their newspaper dreams

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Tuesday, 06 May 2025

Written by D.G. Martin

In February, I wrote a column on Rob Christensen’s book about the Raleigh News and Observer, “Southern News, Southern Politics: How a Newspaper Defined a State for a Century.” I concentrated on Josephus Daniels, the paper’s founder and long-time owner.
Rob Christensen had tackled the difficult job of explaining how Daniels could be known as both a progressive and a racist while also a newspaper owner and editor.
Christensen then covered how Daniels’ son Jonathan and other members of the family built the N&O into one of the country’s most successful newspapers until changing times and the loss of large advertising revenues doomed it. During World War II and afterwards, Jonathan served directly under presidents Roosevelt and Truman. After the war’s ending he returned to run the paper and supported UNC former president Frank Porter Graham’s 1950 losing U.S. Senate campaign and Kerr Scott’s successful 1954 Senate race.
Christensen writes, “the defeat of Graham, the South's most visible liberal, marked the end of the era. For the rest of the 1950s, Jonathan and the paper fought a rear-guard action against a rising segregationist tide in the South.”
Both Daniels were successful book authors. Josephus (nine books) and Jonathan (twenty-one).
Jonathan’s brother, Frank Sr. “lacked his brother Jonathan's flamboyance, national profile, and politics. What he had was a capacity to run a growing business, an even temperament, and enough self-confidence that he could defer to Jonathan's large ego—although Jonathan never published his own name in the paper's masthead.
His son, Frank Jr., was, according to one of the paper’s editors, “one of the 15 people who owned and ran the state. It was a role that Josephus or Jonathan could have also claimed.”
In 1968, Claude Sitton succeeded Jonathan and became the first and only non-family member to edit the paper during the Daniels era.
Sitton led a hard-charging group of reporters and won the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for his columns.
Christensen writes, “Sitton attempted to make the paper more professional and less partisan, but for Republicans, it seemed like a barely discernible evolution. The paper did not endorse its first Republican candidate—a GOP judge candidate—until 1988.”
According to Christensen, “As the Sitton era neared an end in 1989, the paper underwent a period of introspection about its future.”
Following the recommendations was painful. The Daniels’ afternoon paper, The Raleigh Times, closure saved the company $850,291 (or $2.1 million in 2024 dollars). The withdrawal from much of rural eastern North Carolina was especially traumatic.
Summing up his story, Christensen writes, “Until it was purchased by a California chain in 1995, the News and Observer was dominated by the Daniels family. They not only were proprietors but also edited the paper for most of the 101 years they owned it, setting the editorial direction of the paper. There were few papers in the country where one family played such an all-encompassing, ink-stained role.
In 1996 a group including Frank Jr., Frank III, and his cousin David Woronoff purchased The Pilot, a community newspaper in Southern Pines that the owners have transformed into a valuable enterprise with a bookstore, business news publication, and other ventures.
Frank Jr. died June 30, 2022, full of pride for his family’s continuing service to North Carolina.

7 ways to honor active military and veterans

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Tuesday, 06 May 2025

Written by Staff Report

A major portion of the North American population is comprised of people who are actively serving in the Armed Forces or those who once did. USAFacts reports the military included 2,079,142 military personnel and 778,539 civilians as of September 2023. In 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated there were 15.8 million veterans in the U.S. In Canada, the 2021 Census of Population found that 97,625 Canadians were serving in the Canadian Armed Forces while 461,240 Canadians were characterized as veterans.
Military men and women work tirelessly and selflessly to defend their countries' ideals and freedoms. Too often military members do not get the attention and acclaim they deserve. The month of May, which celebrates Military Appreciation Month as well as Memorial Day, is a perfect time of year to honor those who have served in various ways.
• Improve the community. Veterans want the communities they call home to be the best they can be, and that can be achieved by community members pitching in to improve their towns and cities. Doing something honorable, like establishing a park in honor of veterans, can be a great way to improve a community and honor service personnel at the same time.
• Support veteran-friendly policies. By supporting policies and organizations that prioritize veterans' rights, individuals are showing veterans they care. Policies that ensure veterans have access to services they need warrant everyone's support.
• Donate to a nonprofit that supports veterans. Many charities do important work to bridge the gap in care or services needed by veterans or active military members. Using hard-earned dollars to fund these nonprofits is money well spent.
• Ask a veteran to be a keynote speaker. Schools or businesses can ask military members to come in and speak to groups about their experiences. Newspapers and other local publications can write about veterans and share their stories.
• Pay respects to the country. A simple way to honor veterans is to embrace and showcase national pride. Flying the country's flag in front of homes and businesses is a first step. Attending patriotic events, such as parades and memorials, also is a way to honor veterans and others.
• Keep cemeteries clean. Respect the hallowed land that is the final resting place for veterans by volunteering to tidy up around headstones and other markers. On key calendar dates, such as Memorial Day, help with the placement of flags on every veteran's grave as a token of thanks for their sacrifice.
• Volunteer at a VA hospital. Now more than ever VA hospitals may be short-staffed and have need of more volunteers to help with various services. Volunteer work can include visiting patients or running recreational activities, both of which can boost the spirits of veterans receiving care.
Honoring veterans and other military personnel doesn't have to be difficult. Beyond a simple "thank you," there are many steps people can take to show their gratitude to active military personnel and veterans.

A Unit Ministry Team, assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, share a moment before starting the stress shoot as part of the Best Unit Ministry Team competition held at Fort Bragg, April 24, 2025. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jose Segarra) 

Seed Exchange Library encourages growth in Fayetteville

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Tuesday, 06 May 2025

Written by Sheila D. Barker

Participating in the Seed Exchange Library is easy and works much like borrowing a book from the library. Patrons can browse the available seed stock, choose up to 5 seed packs per family, and 'borrow' them to grow in their gardens. After nurturing the plants throughout the season, gardeners are encouraged to return seeds harvested from their plants to the library.

Fayetteville charges ahead with electric bus launch

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Tuesday, 06 May 2025

Written by Jamie Bishop

Fayetteville has taken a bold step toward sustainability with the launch of its first battery electric buses, marking a major milestone in the city’s long-term commitment to clean energy and environmentally responsible public transportation.
On April 10, city leaders, transportation staff, and community members gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Transit and Solid Waste Administrative Building on Grove Street to celebrate the official rollout of two electric buses and the installation of three new electric vehicle charging stations. The event highlighted Fayetteville’s investment in sustainable transit and its ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
This initial rollout is part of the Fayetteville Area System of Transit’s Zero Emission Bus Deployment Project—an initiative designed to modernize the city’s public transportation infrastructure while improving air quality, lowering noise pollution, and promoting long-term environmental stewardship. The two BEBs are set to begin service in May, bringing a new level of comfort and sustainability to Fayetteville’s riders.
Each 40-foot electric bus, valued at approximately $1.2 million, offers a smoother and quieter ride compared to traditional diesel buses. Passengers will also benefit from onboard USB charging ports for mobile devices, helping to create a more convenient and commuter-friendly experience.
“This project reflects our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and creating a healthier environment for our residents,” said Tyffany Neal, Fayetteville’s Director of Public Services, in an official media release issued by the City of Fayetteville. “By reducing emissions and improving air quality, these buses mark a significant leap forward in how we serve our community.”
The adoption of electric buses represents more than just a technology change—it’s a significant shift in the way Fayetteville envisions its future. In recent years, the city has increasingly prioritized green initiatives, recognizing the critical role local governments play in addressing climate change and building resilient communities. The electric bus rollout serves as a key pillar in that vision.
Along with the arrival of these first two buses, two more BEBs are expected to join the fleet by the end of May, bringing the city’s total to four electric buses in 2025. Fayetteville has also announced plans to acquire four additional electric buses by 2027, signaling a steady expansion of clean transportation infrastructure over the next several years.
The three EV charging stations installed at FAST’s operations center will ensure that the fleet remains charged and operational, laying the groundwork for further development. This infrastructure is not only essential to the success of the current electric bus program but also a long-term investment that will support future electrification efforts across Fayetteville’s transit system.
The environmental benefits of electric buses are considerable. Unlike diesel-powered vehicles, BEBs produce zero tailpipe emissions, contributing to improved air quality and public health, particularly in areas with high traffic congestion. They also significantly reduce noise pollution, making them ideal for urban environments.
Financially, the investment in electric buses is expected to pay off over time. Although the initial cost per vehicle is higher than traditional buses, BEBs generally offer reduced maintenance needs and lower fuel costs throughout their service life. For cities like Fayetteville, this makes the transition both environmentally and economically strategic.
The introduction of electric buses also complements Fayetteville’s broader sustainability efforts. The city is currently developing a Sustainability Action Plan—a comprehensive roadmap to guide Fayetteville toward a low-carbon, climate-resilient future. This plan is built on community-driven solutions and focuses on multiple areas, including energy, transportation, waste reduction, and land use.
One of the central components of the plan is the “transportation and mobility” category, which encourages walking, cycling, public transportation, and the use of low-emission vehicles. The rollout of BEBs fits directly within this framework, representing a real-world application of the city’s sustainability goals.
As Fayetteville continues to expand its electric bus program, the city is positioning itself as a leader in sustainable urban transit. By combining cutting-edge technology with thoughtful planning, Fayetteville is not only modernizing its transportation system but also improving the daily lives of its residents.
The electric bus launch is a visible sign of progress—a reminder that even small shifts in city planning and policy can lead to meaningful change. It also reflects a broader national movement, as municipalities across the United States increasingly turn to electric transportation as a solution to environmental and economic challenges.
Fayetteville’s investment in green infrastructure underscores a growing recognition that a clean, accessible, and efficient transit system is essential to a thriving, future-ready city. With more electric buses on the way and a sustainability plan in motion, the city is paving a path toward cleaner air, quieter streets, and a stronger community.
The road to full electrification is just beginning, but Fayetteville’s first steps are already making a difference. Through strategic vision and a commitment to innovation, the city demonstrates what it means to lead by example toward a more sustainable tomorrow.

(Photo: Fayetteville's new electric buses will begin service around town in May. Two more buses will join the fleet in 2025, with four more planned before 2027. Photo courtesy of City of Fayetteville's Facebook page)