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Back to the center of the 2026 political universe

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Tuesday, 10 March 2026

Written by Margaret Dickson

Well, folks, we have collectively survived the 2026 Democratic and Republican primaries, and love them or loathe them, we now have our candidates for this year’s mid-term elections.
Brace yourself.
North Carolina, once a longtime Democratic state that ceded control to Republican legislators in 2010, is now a brilliant shade of purple at the statewide level. And with an open US Senate seat and the clout that comes with it up for grabs, North Carolina is one of only two states with open Senate seats and is rated a toss-up by political observers. We are sitting on Ground Zero in a hot political war.
The party nominees are very different people.
Roy Cooper, the Democratic nominee, is a former legislator, a 4-term Attorney General, and 2-time Governor who has never lost an election. Michael Whatley, the Republican nominee, is a Trump-endorsed party operative who has never held any elective office in any area of government. The great leveler here may be Trump’s endorsement, which relieves his MAGA supporters from having to assess the candidates for themselves.
We voters, as well as those among us who choose not to exercise that civic responsibility, are already feeling the effects of this contest, still 8 months away. Talking heads are going at it, and paid advertising has begun on both traditional media and in social media posts. Stuffed mailboxes are only a matter of time.
While the US Senate race is clearly North Carolina’s marquee contest for 2026, other offices are up for grabs as well and have profound consequences for local communities and our state.
Legislators and those who serve in local positions make decisions that affect all of us daily and that are generally less partisan than decisions made in the US Senate. School funding, for example, should not be a partisan issue, although it has become that in recent years as the General Assembly has siphoned public money away from public schools into private institutions. I care about that. Environmental issues, including PFASs, commonly called “forever chemicals,” found in the Cape Fear River and nearby ground waters, affect hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians, and it matters how state and local governments deal with the problem. I care about that as well, along with other critical issues that will be addressed, or not, by elected officials closer to home than a U.S. senator.
As we go through the coming months, which might feel like years, leading to Nov. 3, pay attention to messages from candidates for the US Senate to legislators to local offices. Do you think they are presenting the truth both about themselves and about their political opponents? Do you think their messages are fair, or are they cleverly misleading? Is that person thinking for himself/herself, or is he/she following the directives of others? Based on their records, can they be trusted?
Pundits reliably assert that “this election” is the most important ever, and while there is no Presidential contest in 2026, this election is indeed important for both North Carolina and the United States. It will help determine the direction of the U.S. Senate and whether the NC General Assembly continues channeling public money to private, often religious, schools.
The choices we voters make in 2026 will prove yet again that elections do have consequences.

Publisher's Pen: Fayetteville Liberty opener a success! Now, what are we going to do about it?

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Tuesday, 10 March 2026

Written by Bill Bowman

Friday, March 6, at the Crown Arena was nothing short of electric. The Fayetteville Liberty tipped off their inaugural season in The Basketball League with a 93–86 victory over the Raleigh Firebirds, and the energy inside the building was undeniable. The Hoke County High School Marching Band set the tone early, filling the arena with excitement as fans, sponsors, city and county officials, and community leaders packed the stands to witness the arrival of professional basketball—done right—in Fayetteville.
For those who have lived here long enough, the story of local sports teams is familiar. Over the past 40 years, we’ve seen team after team come and go—basketball, hockey, indoor football, you name it. Even the Fayetteville Patriots, our NBA Development League team, came in with promise in 2001 and folded by 2006. And the reason was always the same: they never truly connected with the heart of this community: Its people.
Enter Robert Edwards.
In January 2025, I sat down with Robert Edwards, a 17-year U.S. military veteran who founded the Fayetteville Liberty in December 2024. I remember that conversation vividly. I laid out the history—the pitfalls, the rabbit holes, the mistakes that had doomed so many teams before. And Robert listened. Not because he was worried, but because he was committed.
From the beginning, Edwards made it clear he wasn’t just building a basketball team. He was building an organization rooted in community engagement, youth development, values, and opportunity—a franchise that reflects the identity and spirit of Fayetteville and Cumberland County.
And he has delivered.
Robert Edwards and his team have honored every commitment they made to this community. Now it’s our turn. Fayetteville and Cumberland County residents must step up and support the Liberty. Edwards has given us something of quality, something that reflects positively on our community across the country. It’s up to us to sustain it.
Community Leaders Agree
Cumberland County Commission Chairman Kirk deViere, seated courtside with his wife Jenny and son Greyson, summed it up perfectly.
“The Fayetteville Liberty opening game was bigger than basketball. When Robert Edwards brought the Liberty to Cumberland County, he gave this community something powerful: a reason to come together, cheer together, and believe in what we are building here together. This game was not just the start of a season. It was the start of something that belongs to all of us.”
Also seated courtside and weighing in on the Fayetteville Liberty’s inaugural debut, representing the Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce was George Breece, Director Emeritus of the Chamber Board of Directors.
“Our community is very fortunate to have this Liberty team ownership whose focus is not just great basketball but community outreach. A good team, great fans on opening night, a great venue in the Crown Arena with a very supportive Crown management and staff. Now that’s a recipe for success in our Can Do County,” he said.
George is right about the Crown team. The Crown Complex has always taken risks to support local sports, often losing money in the process, because they understand how important a successful sports venue is to a thriving community. Crown General Manager Seth Benalt is fully committed to the Liberty because he knows professional basketball fills a major gap in our local entertainment landscape.
So What Now? Everyone who attended the March 6 game will tell you the same thing: it was fun, exciting, and just the beginning. But for this team to thrive, we must do our part. Partner. Sponsor. Buy a ticket. Bring a friend. Bring a group or just show up! The next home game is March 21 against the DMV Soldiers (not the Dept. of Motor Vehicles), a first-year team representing Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, and coached by Maryland Terrapins National Champion Byron Mouton.
This is our moment, Fayetteville. Robert Edwards has done his part. The team is doing theirs. Seth Benalt and the Crown Complex are doing theirs. The stage is set. Now it’s up to us. Follow the Fayetteville Liberty all season long in Up & Coming Weekly—the official newspaper of the Fayetteville Liberty. We couldn’t be prouder to support the Liberty in this community.
Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

(Photo courtesy of Fayetteville Liberty)

Troy's Perspective: CCS needs to look to future

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Tuesday, 10 March 2026

Written by Troy Williams

Cumberland County school officials must confront significant challenges as they prepare for the 2026-27 school year. A critical decision lies in the $670.8 million budget request from the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, which includes a crucial $6.5 million increase for employee raises. This budget will directly affect the quality of education and community resources, making it essential for residents to understand its impact.
Cumberland County Schools proposes consolidating eight or more schools, including five elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools, to address over $800 million in facility repair needs and save an estimated $31 million to $36.5 million annually. This plan aims to strengthen our community's educational future together.
Closing aging schools is a sensitive issue, and school officials must adopt constructive approaches when communicating this information to the community. Emphasizing respect and understanding can help residents feel valued and reassure them that their concerns are acknowledged. While it may sound insensitive, some citizens believe that certain changes are necessary to provide students and staff with access to modern learning environments. The community should focus on a brighter future rather than dwelling on the past.
A significant concern for part of the community is the proposed closure of Anne Chestnutt Middle School. Anne Chestnutt has historical significance in Cumberland County, as it was one of only two high schools for African American students during segregation. The last high school graduating class at Chestnutt was in 1969, meaning the youngest alums are now likely in their mid 70s.
Alums of Anne Chestnutt are understandably opposed to the proposed school closure. Their resistance reflects a deep emotional connection, and the school represents much more to them than a building. It is a place where they formed lifelong relationships and cherished memories. Closing the school would erase a part of their personal history and the community's identity. Additionally, given the school's ties to segregation, its closure would further symbolize the loss of an important aspect of its history.
While the community may empathize with Anne Chestnutt's alumni, it is crucial to consider an alternative perspective. School officials report that Chestnutt has the lowest facility rating among the 13 middle schools in the county, having received an unsatisfactory rating. The school requires $6,604,825 in deferred maintenance. In contrast, the neighboring school, Lewis Chapel, built in 1950 and expanded in 1973 with a 34,000-square-foot addition, has a fair facility rating and only needs $1,164,079 in deferred maintenance. The decision to close Chestnutt was likely very difficult, and on the surface, it seems necessary.
In the Broadell subdivision off the Murchison Road corridor, there is a proposal to build a new E.E. Smith High School and a new Ferguson-Easley Elementary School at their respective locations. What may be seen as a loss for some could be considered a significant win for the Black community in Broadell.
Modern education is vastly different from what it was 40 to 60 years ago. Students now require technology-ready classrooms, STEM labs, media spaces, flexible learning areas, and appropriate lighting and acoustics. Older buildings were not designed to accommodate contemporary teaching methods.
It's time to start looking forward instead of looking back.

Truth matters: community involvement matters

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Tuesday, 03 March 2026

Written by Barbara Porter

I want to address something about the Republican Primary for House District 43. There seems to be some people who want to claim that Clarence Goins, Jr. is the person who will make things happen in our county and state. I wish to point out that in all the years he has been in Cumberland County, that would be all of his life, he has not done anything to help anyone except himself.
He has never volunteered to work with any civic organization to better the community. He has never joined any organization within the community that would give him the knowledge or experience to understand just what the community needs and the different ways that we as a community can accomplish those goals.
He can say that he is for conservative values but, without having ever done anything to help the community or the state to push for those values, the words are empty rhetoric.
I would like to ask everyone to do some research before deciding who is the best Republican Candidate to represent us in Raleigh. Look at the website “justfacts.votesmart.org” and compare what is on there about Clarence Goins and what is on there about Diane Wheatley.
I believe you will see a big difference and understand that while Clarence Goins talks about wanting to do things, Diane Wheatley actually goes out and does them.
https://justfacts.votesmart.org/.../92358/diane-wheatley
https://justfacts.votesmart.org/.../178289/clarence-goins-jr

Barbara Porter
Fayetteville, NC