The Fayetteville Observer
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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Spring Lake residents urge board to spare school
SPRING LAKE — Spring Lake’s mayor, a school cafeteria employee and an 80-year-old resident were among 13 speakers who lambasted the Cumberland County Board of Education during an April 27 meeting on the board’s recommendation to close Manchester...
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Nonprofit worker alleges bias toward group feeding homeless people
Fayetteville resident Katie Entrocaso said she found out about the work of the Ally Foundation on TikTok. She became interested in the Fayettevillebased nonprofit because of its direct, community-based approach to helping people, here and abroad, she...
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Has partisan push sidelined Cumberland’s elections chief ?
Is Angie Amaro, who is Cumberland County’s election director, still on the job? The five-member board’s three Republicans — Chair Linda Devore, Bree Eldridge and Ryan Eric Johnson — are trying to remove Amaro. They form the board’s majority. The two...
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Food aid doesn’t make people loafers
Millie Morales believes in hard work. h “I feel that as an American citizen, we all have a great opportunity to be able to improve our life,” the 58-year-old woman explained in an interview I conducted with her in 2025. “Are you willing to put in the...
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Remembering South Side High
I learned a while ago that Joann Adams is a real one when it comes to preserving history, in particular when it comes to Fayetteville’s Black communivice ty. She serves as church historian for downtown’s Second Missionary Baptist Church. In 2019, she...
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U.S. delegation to meet with Iranian officials
The United States is sending a delegation to Pakistan to meet with Iranian officials, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said April 24, resuming direct talks as both countries accuse each other of violating a ceasefire by seizing and blocking...
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Tensions escalating in Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump’s ceasefire with Iran remained in place April 23 as tensions in the Strait of Hormuz continued and negotiations between Lebanon and Israel were expected to resume in Washington. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Ambassador...
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World’s great fish migrations collapsing
Hidden beneath the surface of the world’s rivers, some of Earth’s great animal movements unfold – migrations that rival, in sheer biomass, the famous mass movements of zebra and wildebeest across the Serengeti. h For centuries, fish migrations were as...
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Latino vote shifting away from Trump, GOP
In the 2024 election, President Donald Trump dramatically improved his performance among nearly all groups of voters from four years earlier. Trump’s growth among Hispanic voters was especially notable, increasing by more than 10 points from 2020 to...
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A mentor’s advice shapes a life of care
Mayra Draughn teared up when she remembered the late mentor and nurse who encouraged her when she was a teenager. Mayra was working as a nursing assistant at a nursing home in Yadkin County as part of a high school internship. She had always wanted to...
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Experts: Rotavirus cases surge in U.S.
A highly contagious illness that can cause severe and even deadly vomiting and diarrhea is spreading at an alarmingly high rate across the United States, health experts warned. Cases of rotavirus usually increase during the typical cold and flu...
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‘The power of kindness’
Nearly five years ago, Dr. Scott Cameron pointed out a one-acre site near two abandoned homes, scrub oaks, pines and trash along Broadfoot Avenue and the corner of Branston Street in Fayetteville to fellow Fayetteville resident Connie Bubon. Cameron,...
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Snow drought presents climate stress test
Across much of the Western United States, winter 2026 was the year the snow never came. Many ski resorts got by with snowmaking but shut down their winter operations early. Fire officials and water supply managers are worried about summer. Where I...
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Group to Cumberland BOE: Slow down school closure process Residents feel voices ‘not being fully heard’
A civil rights organization is urging the Cumberland County Board of Education to slow the district’s school closure and consolidation process as community members affected by the board’s recommendations continue to voice their concerns. During the...
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Forge Food Hall is under construction in Fayetteville
A new food hall bringing together some of Fayetteville’s popular dining options is part of a project the developer says is designed to foster a sense of community similar to concepts seen elsewhere in the U.S. and Asia. The Forge Food Hall, with space...
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New Fayetteville Publix has unique addition
A Publix being built in Fayetteville, just outside the Hope Mills town limits, will have something no other Fayetteville-area grocery store has: A second level. Publix spokesman Jared Glover told The Fayetteville Observer in an April 8 email that the...
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Family says energy drink to blame for teen’s death
A family in Texas is suing the distributor of a popular energy drink, alleging their daughter died from an enlarged heart caused by drinking large amounts of caffeine. The family of 17-year-old Larissa Nicole Rodriguez, a high school student in...
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Prices
But that’s what’s happening, as the gasoline pump eats into the larger tax refunds that people are seeing from new tax breaks on tips, Social Security retirement payments, overtime pay, car loan interest, and state and local tax bills that were part of...
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Cameo Art House
Monday, I visited my old loft apartment on the second floor of the Cameo Art House Theatre in downtown Fayetteville. I lived there circa the late 2000s. People looked at me kind of funny when I said I lived “in” the theater, but the description mostly...
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The high cost of U.S. health care
In announcing its “Great Healthcare Plan” in January, the Trump administration became the latest in a long history of efforts by the U.S. government to rein in the soaring cost of health care. h As a physician and professor studying the intersection of...
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Residents say ‘no’ to data centers
When folks in Fayetteville and Cumberland County are given a chance to speak publicly about data centers, they show up strong and from all walks of life. And from what I’ve seen so far, they are unanimously against the idea of having more of these...
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Former N.C. Gov. Cooper speaks at Senate campaign event
RIGHT: U.S. Senate candidate Roy Cooper speaks to a small crowd during a campaign event in downtown Fayetteville on April 7. The Democratic former N.C. Gov. will face Republican Michael Whatley in November for the seat being vacated by Sen. Thom...
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Community approach aims to prevent violence
Gun and youth violence continue to resist a downward crime trend in Fayetteville. One way the city is trying to deal with violence is to stop it before it starts. “Violence interruption” is a common designation for this approach. And it is where The...
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TSA sharing data with ICE elicits concern
The deportation of a Guatemalan mother and daughter who were detained before boarding a flight raises new questions about how the Trump administration is using government databases for immigration enforcement. The Transportation Security...
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STUFFY SEASON
If you think 2026 has been a horrible allergy season so far, you aren’t alone. h Officials say a combination of weather events coupled with a changing climate have made this year’s pollen season, always a challenge in pine-heavy North Carolina,...
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‘This is going to be a jewel in their crown’
Local and state officials held a topping-off ceremony March 31 for the NC History Center on the Civil War, Emancipation & Reconstruction. This is an event where the builder, in this case Balfour Beatty Construction, places the final steel beam. People...
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SNAP-Ed saved money, helped Americans eat healthier
If the government had found a way to save $10 for every dollar it spent helping low-income people get healthier, wouldn’t it make sense for it to keep doing that? Well, that’s exactly what the U.S. government did when it piloted the SNAPEd program in...
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How to read conversion therapy ruling
How big of an impact will the U.S. Supreme Court’s March 31 ruling on speech-based conversion therapy have on the First Amendment? That will depend on how states across the nation have drafted their laws regulating the practice, legal experts say. In...
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