Local News

NC court’s role in shaping future ‘political power’ looms large in Griffin case

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Tuesday, 21 January 2025

Written by Sarah Michels, Carolina Public Press

Before the sun rose on a chilly Tuesday, a group gathered in Raleigh’s Bicentennial Park to read 60,000 names. From 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., various speakers took turns at a podium, aptly facing away from the North Carolina Supreme Court. Members of the political Can’t Win Victory Fund made their way through lists of voters whose ballots are being protested by Republican Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin — the apparent runner-up in his race against Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs for a seat on the state’s highest court.
Griffin is asking courts to remove these voters from final election tallies in an attempt to flip the political race in his favor after two recounts have him behind by just 734 votes. In his protests, he argues that many of these people may be ineligible to vote, either because they improperly registered or because the State Board of Elections allowed them to cast their ballot in contradiction to North Carolina law.
The State Board, Riggs and other detractors argue that retroactively removing residents who cast their ballots would violate their right to vote and democracy itself.
Claudia Mixon, who attended the event with her mother and sister, said the length of the list should help put the extent of the protests in perspective and that Griffin and his fellow Republicans “should accept their loss.”
“It’s a lot of people’s votes that just are not gonna matter,” Mixon said. “It’s against democracy to vote and then have your vote just be thrown out because the other party lost.”
Political power play
Both supporters and critics of Griffin’s protests point to election integrity as their primary motivation to win the legal battle.
But often lost in the details is a more specific, political goal: to secure control of the state Supreme Court by 2030, when the next U.S. Census occurs. After that, the subsequent redistricting process begins.
The court’s Republicans now hold a 5-2 majority, with Riggs and fellow Democratic Justice Anita Earls making up the political party minority. If Griffin successfully throws out votes and flips the race, the GOP would hold an overwhelming 6-1 partisan advantage.
Often, North Carolina is home to redistricting and gerrymandering fights that make their way through the courts. The state Supreme Court may very well be the key decision maker in nearly inevitable redistricting lawsuits.
“We have a path to being able to get fair maps in North Carolina. The path goes directly through the state Supreme Court,” Can’t Win Victory Fund organizer Beth Kendall said. “We need to win this race. We need to win Anita Earl’s race in 2026 and then we need to flip the court back to Democratic control in 2028.”
How we got here
The State Board of Elections messed up. Griffin wants 60,000 voters to pay for it.
Griffin’s primary protest boils down to an issue with North Carolina’s voter registration form that went unchecked for years.
The form did not clarify that registrants must provide either a driver’s license or the last four digits of their social security number to properly register to vote. Registrants who lack both may check a box indicating so, and bring additional identifying documents the first time they cast a ballot.
Before the State Board caught its mistake, 225,000 voters were processed without one of the two requirements. A little more than 60,000 of them cast votes in the 2024 general election.
Griffin wants them out of the count.
He also wants smaller groups of voters removed — 267 who are U.S. citizens but have never lived in North Carolina and 5,509 from overseas who did not attach photo identification to their absentee ballots. Members of those groups have voted under the State Board’s interpretation of North Carolina law for years.
In the months preceding the election, Republicans sued the board over these issues. Those suits were dismissed or postponed until after the 2024 election. Griffin’s protests attempted to revive them.
The State Board of Elections dismissed Griffin’s protests on substantive and procedural grounds.
Griffin appealed that decision directly to the N.C. Supreme Court, asking to stop election certification in his race until a court could rule on the merits.
The court obliged. Pending a federal appellate court decision on whether the case should be heard in state or federal court, the state Supreme Court will decide whether any ballots should be removed from the count.
The latest
Griffin asked the court to focus on overseas voters who did not provide photo identification before addressing the other protests.
If the case ends up at the state Supreme Court, Riggs will recuse herself.
For Griffin to succeed, four of the remaining six justices would have to agree to grant Griffin’s wish to remove voters from the final election tally. In the case of a 3-3 deadlock, the lower decision stands — in this case, the State Board’s dismissal. The State Board would then likely certify the election as it stands, with Riggs winning re-election.
Earls and Republican Justice Richard Dietz dissented to the court’s temporary election certification stay and are likely to oppose Griffin’s motion. It’s unclear how the others may decide.
‘Moral decision’
Terry Mahaffey, an Apex Town Council member, has created an online tool that makes it easier for people to determine whether their vote is being challenged.
Common Cause North Carolina, a left-leaning grassroots organization, has shared that tool with the public, and is advertising on mobile billboards across Raleigh to spread awareness of Griffin’s protests.
Common Cause is also advertising on mobile billboards in other parts of Wake County and will continue to do so until Griffin concedes, campaigns manager Gino Nuzzolillo said. The billboards include a link, and several hundred people have added their names to a petition against Griffin’s protests since the campaign began.
The N.C. Supreme Court has a “moral decision” to make, Nuzzolillo said. Whoever wins this and upcoming Supreme Court races will “get to determine who has legislative majorities for the next decade and beyond.”
“So every single race, every single contest for that court, is about nothing less than who controls the future of political power in the state. And it’s not about Democrats or Republicans. It’s about the people of North Carolina. ... Every aspect of our daily lives can be shaped by this court, one way or another,” he said.

Editor's Note: This article has been edited for space. To read the article in full, visit https://bit.ly/40CO4dc

Fayetteville Technical Community College's Physical Therapist Assistant Program helps fill growing demand

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Tuesday, 14 January 2025

Written by Dr. Annette Webster

Physical Therapist Assistants work alongside a Physical Therapist to provide rehabilitative care and treatment to patients recovering from injuries, surgeries, or illnesses. PTAs help patients improve mobility, reduce pain, and prevent or manage physical disabilities through prescribed exercises, therapeutic techniques, and other interventions. Our duties include implementing treatment plans, monitoring patient progress, educating patients about exercises and proper body mechanics, and assisting with physical therapy equipment.
Outlook for the Next Ten Years. The demand for PTAs is expected to grow significantly over the next decade. This growth is driven by an aging population, increased awareness of the benefits of physical therapy, and a rise in chronic conditions such as arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity. Additionally, as more people seek non-invasive treatments, physical therapy becomes a preferred option over surgery or medication. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for PTAs will grow by about 19% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for other occupations.
Specialties within Physical Therapy. As PTAs, we are integral rehabilitation team members. We have diverse opportunities in a variety of specialty treatment areas and a strong employment outlook in the coming years.
Physical therapy encompasses various specialties, and PTAs can work in any of these fields, including:
1. Orthopedic Physical Therapy: Focuses on musculoskeletal injuries, such as fractures, strains, and post-surgical rehabilitation.
2. Neurological Physical Therapy: This type of therapy works with patients who have neurological disorders, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson’s disease, Traumatic Brain Injury.
3. Pediatric Physical Therapy: Deals with developmental and physical conditions in children, such as cerebral palsy or scoliosis.
4. Geriatric Physical Therapy: This field focuses on age-related issues such as arthritis, osteoporosis, and balance disorders in elderly patients.
5. Sports Physical Therapy: Specializes in sports-related injuries, including sprains, strains, and rehabilitation for athletes.
6. Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy: This therapy assists patients with heart and lung conditions, helping them regain strength and endurance after cardiac events or surgery.
7. Women’s Health Physical Therapy: Focuses on issues such as pregnancy-related pain, pelvic floor disorders, and post-partum rehabilitation.
The American Physical Therapy Association emphasizes the following core values that PTAs uphold in their work and actions:
1. Optimization of Human Movement: PTAs help patients achieve their fullest potential by enhancing mobility and overall function. This reflects the commitment to ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their limitations, have the opportunity to live life to its fullest.
2. Innovation in Healthcare: PTAs are key in adopting new technologies, treatment approaches, and evidence-based practices to improve patient care and outcomes. Their involvement helps drive forward-thinking methods to improve healthcare delivery.
3. Advancement in Education: Through their involvement in educational opportunities, PTAs contribute to the ongoing growth of their knowledge base. Whether through formal advanced proficiencies, continuing education, or mentorship, they participate in elevating the standards of practice for the profession.
4. Advocacy for Equal Access to Services: PTAs help ensure that physical therapy services are accessible to everyone, no matter their age or background. This includes advocating for equitable healthcare policies, reducing barriers to treatment, and working toward eliminating health disparities.
5. Vigilance in Protecting Patient Rights: PTAs work tirelessly to protect the rights of their patients and clients. This includes ensuring patient privacy, consent, and the ethical treatment of all individuals, regardless of their background.
6. Responsiveness to Patient, Client, and Member Needs: PTAs are responsive to the dynamic and evolving needs of the people they serve. Whether adjusting treatment plans, adapting to new healthcare requirements, or meeting patient concerns, they maintain flexibility and responsiveness to ensure optimal care.
7. Respect for Diversity: PTAs embrace and respect the diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences of patients, clients, and fellow healthcare professionals. They recognize the importance of cultural competence in delivering effective, individualized care.
By aligning with these values, PTAs play a critical role in advancing the physical therapy profession, advocating for patients, and making a meaningful impact in the communities they serve. Their efforts help shape the future of healthcare by ensuring that the profession remains inclusive, innovative, and patient-centered. We invite you to learn more about FTCC and the Physical Therapist Assistant program at faytechcc.edu or contact Dr. Annette Webster at webstera@faytechcc.edu.

Carter Wrenn’s new book: "Trail of the Serpent"

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Tuesday, 14 January 2025

Written by D.G. Martin

At last Carter Wrenn, the well-known conservative consultant, has written his book about his life in politics: “The Trail of the Serpent: From the Smoke-Filled Rooms of Politics.”
Wrenn first worked for Tom Ellis, a conservative North Carolina lawyer and early supporter of Jesse Helms.
Wrenn writes, “The year I turned twenty-two, in 1974, not meaning to, I landed in politics; a year later Ronald Reagan ran for president and a man I barely knew—Tom Ellis, Reagan’s North Carolina Chairman—told me, ‘Build the campaign.’ Politics is a vicious world. Proud, certain they hold power in their men in campaigns tell themselves, “I’m winning this election.”
“But as Gary Pearce, a Democrat I battled for years, told me after our hair turned gray: ‘When you’re in a campaign you’re really like a frog on a log floating down a river watching the banks roll by telling yourself, ‘I’ve really got this log rolling’—but it’s not you, it’s the river.’”
Wrenn’s first assignment was driving Helms to a campaign supper at a Christian school.
Arriving at the school, “Jesse ambled out of the car—a covey of old women wearing faded gingham dresses, faces wrinkled by the sun, bosoms heaving, hovered around him, becoming the soul of Southerncourtliness, half-bowing to the ladies, he fawned over the children, stood joking with the men.”
More than four decades later, Wrenn can still hear and experience the speech Helms gave that night “Rising, walking to the podium, he tapped the microphone, puffed his cheeks, frowned, shuffled papers, stared up at the ceiling, pursed his lips, made a popping sound with his mouth, told a joke about Ted Kennedy then got down to raw bare-knuckled politics talking about the night Ted Kennedy drove off the bridge at Chappaquiddick, about staring at Kennedy’s red face across the Senate, saying Kennedy didn’t get his rosy cheeks lying on the beach and, if he did, it was because the bottle lying on the sand beside him wasn’t suntan lotion.
“Mispronouncing Nelson Rockefeller’s name Jesse said he had no beef with ‘Rock-y-fella’ personally--he said Rock-y-fella’s problem was his womanizing; he said he knew a lot of people didn’t care about that kind of thing anymore but he was old fashioned. He’d been the only senator who voted against making Rock-y-fella vice president because his conscience wouldn’t let him vote for a man who’d stolen another man’s wife.
“The last time Jesse said Rockefeller’s name his eyebrows popped upwards into the center of his forehead, looking like an enraged owl.”
“His voice changed, becoming lower, richer, throbbing with emotion, talking about religion, telling a story about an eight-year-old boy, Jackie, dying of leukemia, who every morning at sunrise rolled his wheelchair down to the lake by his home to watch the wild swans rise into the sky—Jesse’s voice broke. You could have heard a pin drop.
Heaving a long sigh he told how one morning just after dawn his phone rang, and a friend said, ‘Senator, I thought you’d want to know Jackie passed on this morning.’”
Stopping, leaning down, hand shaking, Jesse fumbled with the water pitcher, poured himself a glass of water, drank, calmed himself, told how just before he died sitting by the lake at dawn in his wheelchair watching the wild swans rise into the sky the dying boy said, “Someday, I’m going to fly high in the sky like those swans.” The woman sitting across the table from me had a broad wrinkled face, matted gray hair, and tears streaming down her cheeks--you could have cut the emotion in the room with a knife.”
Wrenn remembers, “I looked at Jesse stunned, staring into a world I never knew existed. The moment he finished his speech Jesse made a beeline for the exit; striding through the shadows across the parking lot in the darkness he chuckled softly, nodded toward the gymnasium behind him.
‘I really had them with me tonight.’”
“The tears running down a woman’s cheeks were real, the world I stared into was real--but the man on the stage was an actor. I should have seen it as a warning...but didn’t.”
Wrenn tells how Helms used his power hold on his supporters to develop a fundraising organization that transformed North Carolina and American politics.
In later chapters that will be the subject of a future column, Wrenn tells more about how Helms, as an actor and politician gained and used real power.

Editor's note: D.G. Martin, a retired lawyer, served as UNC-System’s vice president for public affairs and hosted PBS-NC’s North Carolina Bookwatch. (Photo: Carter Wren's new book, "The Trail of the Serpent: Stories from the Smoke Filled Rooms of Politics," talks of his time working for Jesse Helms. The book is available now. Photo courtesy of D.G. Martin)

Discover Fayetteville's new flower shop: Floral Oasis

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Tuesday, 14 January 2025

Written by Sheila D. Barker

Downtown Fayetteville welcomed a new and vibrant addition with the opening of Floral Oasis at 312 Hay Street in November 2024. This new flower shop aims to be more than just a place to purchase flowers; it aspires to be a cornerstone of community engagement and creative expression.
Floral Oasis introduces a unique concept born from the need for more community spaces and activity-oriented socialization in Fayetteville. This shop offers a fresh and exciting experience for both newcomers and long-time residents, promising a touch of uniqueness in every visit.
Floral Oasis has been thoughtfully designed to serve as a sanctuary where individuals can gather, socialize, and express their creativity. The space is colorful and vibrant, offering a visual feast that complements the creative activities it hosts. It aims to be a welcoming and joyful place for everyone. The shop encourages visitors to build their own arrangements or bouquets by selecting each stem, thereby adding a personal touch to their floral creations.
Floral Oasis distinguishes itself by taking the mundaneness out of grocery store flowers and the isolation out of traditional floristry. Unlike typical floral shops, Floral Oasis offers a variety of floral supplies and stems that allow customers to create their own unique arrangements.
Additionally, the shop's mission is to provide a safe and joyful environment where people can come together, feel a sense of community, and experience the therapeutic benefits of working with fresh flowers. This commitment to community and creativity makes Floral Oasis a standout destination in Fayetteville.
Floral Oasis isn't just a flower shop; it's also a hub for creative events and workshops. The shop offers various workshops like the popular Christmas Centerpiece Workshop held in December. These events provide an opportunity for participants to learn new skills, meet new people, and have fun in a supportive environment.
In addition to workshops, Floral Oasis offers the option to rent the space for your own DIY flower events. Whether you're planning a birthday party, a special event, or just a gathering with friends, you can utilize the in-store floral supplies and choose from a selection of vessels and florals from their suppliers to make your event truly unique. If you are interested in using their space, you can inquire about availability and other details by emailing them at contactus@floraloasisfay.com.
If you're looking to add a personal touch to your next special occasion or simply want to brighten your day, visit Floral Oasis at 312 Hay Street. The shop offers handcrafted bouquets and arrangements that are perfect for any occasion, adding a heartfelt touch to your memorable moments.
Be sure to check their website at https://www.floraloasisfay.com/ regularly to see what the Flowers of the Week are and to stay updated on upcoming workshops and events. Come and discover the art of floral beauty and community at Floral Oasis—where every visit is a unique and joyful experience.

(Floral Oasis is downtown Fayetteville's newest shop. Photo courtesy of Floral Oasis Facebook page)