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Publisher's Pen: Senator Tom McInnis on Fuquay-Varina’s interbasin Transfer Request

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Wednesday, 10 December 2025

Written by Bill Bowman

Make no mistake about where Senator Tom McInnis stands on Fuquay-Varina’s attempt to transfer millions of gallons of water from the Cape Fear River Basin into the Neuse River Basin. His letter to Environmental Management Commission Chairman John Solomon made his position clear, as did the dozens of elected officials and citizens from Fayetteville and Cumberland County who attended the DEQ public hearing on this issue at FTCC on Dec. 4. For those of us residing downstream from Sanford to Wilmington, this proposal is a non-starter. Logic should prevail.
However, I remain skeptical about the outcome because the next two public hearings are scheduled in Wake County, and we have no clear understanding of where the Environmental Management Commission’s 15-member board resides. It is doubtful that any of them were appointed from the areas that will be mostly and directly affected. It is my understanding that the EMC board is composed of highly qualified, reasonable citizens with expertise in medicine, agriculture, engineering, conservation, groundwater, air and water pollution control, and municipal government. With that level of intellectual expertise, one must question how this interbasin transfer request advanced to this stage. It is my hope—and that of tens of thousands of citizens across southeastern North Carolina—that the final decision will be based only on science, economics, and environmentally sound principles, rather than backroom partisan politics. I was among the dozens of speakers who voiced opposition to the IBT at FTCC. I have included my comments along with those of Senator McInnis. I urge all citizens to make their voices heard on this issue. Say NO to the IBT. Fayetteville and Cumberland County’s future depends on it.
Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.
— Bill Bowman, Publisher

Sen. Tom Mcinnis's letter to John Solomon, Environmental Management Commission Chairman 

Chairman Solomon,
I am writing this letter in my official capacity as the elected NC Senator for District 21, representing all of Moore County and most of Cumberland County, excluding the City of Fayetteville. It has come to my attention that the City of Fuquay-Varina is requesting a transfer of over 6 million gallons of water per day from the Cape Fear River and, after using said water, to return it to the Neuse River, which is a totally different basin.
I am totally against such a transfer due to the fact that said water would be taken from one basin and returned to a totally different basin. This will have a negative impact on the citizens and taxpayers who rely on the water flow of the Cape Fear River downstream from the taking location.
In the event that the removal, use, and return could be accompanied in the same river, I would certainly entertain a softening of my position.
As the current request is made, I remain fully opposed to such a transfer proposal. Regards,
Senator Tom Mclnnis
District 21: Cumberland and Moore Counties

Bill Bowman's remarks during the Dec. 4 hearing at FTCC
For over 30 years, Up & Coming Weekly has watched Fayetteville and Cumberland County transition into a vibrant, culturally rich community. We have celebrated milestones, honored traditions, and seen our citizens and leaders work tirelessly to improve the quality of life for families across this county.
Reality Check
But let’s be honest: despite our progress, Cumberland County still lags behind our neighboring counties in population growth, economic development, and overall quality of life. That is not a criticism of our leadership — in fact, we have strong, visionary County Commissioners and civic leaders in place today who are determined to close that gap. It is simply a reality we must acknowledge if we are serious about building a brighter future.
That is why the proposed interbasin transfer — moving million gallons of water per day from the Cape Fear River Basin to the Neuse River Basin — is so alarming.
Water is not just a resource; it is the lifeblood of growth, prosperity, and community well-being. Removing this volume of water from our basin threatens to undermine everything we have worked for.
This diversion could reduce clean drinking water for residents and businesses in the Cape Fear Basin, and weaken our ability to attract growth and compete with our neighbors. It will have a detrimental impact on the environment by disrupting water quality, river flows, and wildlife habitats from Sanford to Wilmington.
Besides, State rules require exploring options within the receiving basin first — to my knowledge, this hasn’t been done.
This is not just about water. It is about our future. It is about whether Cumberland County will have the tools it needs to finally catch up — and surpass — our neighbors in quality of life, economic opportunity, and community growth.
We cannot allow decisions made outside our county to jeopardize the progress we have fought so hard to achieve.
“This water transfer threatens our supply, our economy, our environment, and our future — Cumberland County cannot afford to give away its lifeblood.
So tonight, I want you to know that we stand united in the realization that if we lose control of our water, we lose control of our future. And Cumberland County’s future is far too important to give away. Thank you.

(Photo: Cumberland County Board of Commissioners Chair, Kirk deViere, was among those who spoke at a Dec. 4 hearing regarding an interbasin transfer request from Fuquay-Varina. All but one attendee at the hearing were vehemently opposed to the request. Photo courtesy of PWC's Facebook Page)

This, That, and the Other in North Carolina

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Tuesday, 02 December 2025

Written by Margaret Dickson

Here is some excellent news about some of our highest-achieving high school students. The state Board of Education heard just how well they are doing earlier this month. A record number of high schoolers are both taking and passing Advanced Placement exams, with an increase of more than 7 percent taking the rigorous tests and a whopping 21 percent increase in their passing rate. In a state that has fallen behind in educational achievement and funding, it is notable that North Carolina’s passing rate on AP exams, 72 percent, is 2 points above the national average.
Passing AP exams gives students a good chance of being accepted to the schools of their choice, along with providing earned college credits.
Said the proud director of the Office of Advanced Learning and Gift Education, “It’s a clear reflection when students are given an opportunity, they rise.”
The good news is widespread.
This school year, nearly 100 thousand North Carolina students have signed up to take Advanced Placement courses, a 33 percent increase in a decade. That growth has come in all 8 state education regions, including Western North Carolina, where many students are still contending with damage from Hurricane Helene a year ago.
As always, though, legislative danger lurks.
The General Assembly has been unable to approve a budget and has threatened to cut funding for students to take AP exams, limiting who is able to take the exams.
What on earth are legislators thinking?!?!!?
More thoughts on the education front.
With the skyrocketing cost of higher education, many families have urged their students to take a direction track—a community college trade program, an apprenticeship of some sort, or taking a well-paying job straight out of high school.
Not everyone wants to or should go to college or pursue a university degree. That said, it is important to remember and to factor into any educational decision the reality that college graduates will earn significantly more money over their careers than high school graduates.
Social Security Administration research finds that a man with a college degree will earn $900,000 more than his high school graduate counterpart. The numbers are lower for women (what else is new?), but they show a similar discrepancy. A woman with a bachelor's degree will earn $630,000 more over her lifetime than her high school graduate friend.
Graduate degrees for both men and women make an even larger difference, with men earning $1.5 million and women earning $1.1 million more than high school graduates.
Food for thought and for long-term planning.
Anyone who has set foot in Cape Fear Valley Medical Center knows that Cumberland County residents are hardly the only people seeking health care there. It and its level 3 trauma center draw patients from all over southeastern North Carolina.
Its ER is ranked the 18th busiest in the nation, ahead of Massachusetts General in Boston.
A main driver of this is the ongoing demise of small hospitals in rural areas, including eastern North Carolina. Since 2005, 11 rural NC hospitals have closed or significantly curtailed services, making us 3rd in the nation in this sad statistic. Financial pressures from declining and low-income/unemployed populations, fewer medical personnel in rural areas, and dependence on low reimbursement government health insurance programs are fueling the decline.
The coming Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine—whew!—is expected to ease the situation in our part of the state just as the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University has done in that region, but with the first class of medical students entering in 2026, it will be years before any of them hang out their shingles. Fingers crossed that many do so here and as soon as possible.

Clear traffic markings, litter control needed in city

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Tuesday, 02 December 2025

Written by Sheila Barker

I have not seen funds allocated for repainting the traffic lines on our city’s streets and roads—particularly along the “Gold Coast” section of Raeford Road. In certain areas, the lines are nearly invisible. On rainy nights, this becomes a dangerous situation.
It is unclear why this issue has not been addressed. The problem is obvious, and perhaps it has only been “talked about” at City Hall without action. Clear traffic markings make a real difference in the safety and desirability of living in or moving to Fayetteville.
In addition, our roadside litter problem is atrocious. What happened to the volunteer groups whose names once appeared on signs along the roadways? The city also needs to prioritize cleaning litter from Green Street, particularly in the historic Cross Creek area.
The neglect is unacceptable—at one point, someone even defecated behind a garbage container. Fayetteville deserves better. Clean streets, visible traffic lines, and maintained public spaces are not luxuries; they are necessities for a safe, welcoming, and livable community.

Carl R

Troy's Perspective: Election reforms should benefit all

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Tuesday, 02 December 2025

Written by Troy Williams

Understandably, the Cumberland County Board of Elections should operate in a nonpartisan manner because it directly impacts election fairness and public trust. Recognizing the need for transparency, it is crucial to examine whether it has ever operated without partisan influence, especially when Democrats dominated statewide politics for over a century, from the General Assembly to 100 statewide counties.
I have lived in Cumberland County since 1977 and began working as a deputy sheriff for Sheriff Ottis Jones, a prominent Democratic political figure, in 1979. During that era, Democrats reigned supreme, raising questions about how political influence may have shaped the operations of local election authorities and county government. Recognizing this history underscores the need for transparent, nonpartisan election oversight to protect election integrity and local governance, especially given the potential for political favoritism during Democratic dominance.
Having experienced the 70s, 80s, and 90s in Cumberland County, I find it difficult to overlook the hypocrisy of Democrats who complain about fairness. The political landscape has changed; Democrats lost their majority in the North Carolina legislature in 2010, even before Republicans drew any new legislative maps. Therefore, gerrymandering is not the real issue for Democrats. The problem lies within the party's platform, which has strayed too far from its base, particularly the working class. The party's heavy focus on identity politics and fringe issues has alienated significant portions of its core electorate, who now feel it is out of touch with the cultural mainstream. This shift underscores the outcry for change among all citizens.
Last fall, as Republicans maintained their legislative dominance in Raleigh, GOP-led lawmakers changed the process for appointing members of the county boards of elections and the State Board of Elections. These reforms highlight ongoing efforts to enhance election fairness and underscore the importance of nonpartisan oversight to safeguard election integrity against partisan influence.
When Republicans make legislative moves, many in the left-leaning media label their actions as power grabs. In contrast, they are simply exercising their legislative authority, just as Democrats did for 140 years before 2010.
In North Carolina, most voters are unaffiliated, but the state mainly functions within a two-party system dominated by the Democratic and Republican parties. While more voters are registering as unaffiliated or joining the Republican Party, the Democratic Party is experiencing a decline in membership, resulting in a loss of the significant influence it once held for decades.
Our local board of elections is not becoming more partisan; instead, it is becoming less Democratic, and the winds of change are a brutal awakening for some liberals to accept.