<div dir="ltr">This is not exactly Durham-related but <i>The Assembly,</i> one of the newer voices in online journalism, does a great job at covering North Carolina. They have an interesting article on the wood pellet industry in NC this week.<br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">The Assembly</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:info@theassemblync.com">info@theassemblync.com</a>></span><br>Date: Wed, Jan 25, 2023 at 3:05 PM<br>Subject: North Carolina Trees Are Feeding Europe’s ‘Clean Energy’ Revolution<br>To: <br></div><br><br><div class="msg-4555257928371518910"><u></u>
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A journey from NC to the EU
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<tr style="background-color:#ffffff"><td id="m_-6734802171808572616layout-row-margin5415" valign="top" style="padding:5px;background-color:#ffffff"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:initial!important;font-size:14px;min-width:100%"><tbody><tr id="m_-6734802171808572616layout-row5415" style="margin:0;padding:0"><td id="m_-6734802171808572616layout-row-padding5415" valign="top" style="padding:15px"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:14px;min-width:100%"><tbody><tr><td id="m_-6734802171808572616text_div5470" valign="top" align="left" width="560" style="line-height:140%;margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:12px;font-weight:inherit;line-height:1.4;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial"> <div style="line-height:140%;margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:16px;font-weight:inherit;line-height:1.4;text-decoration:inherit"><b style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;font-weight:normal"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">In 2009, the European Union committed to reducing its reliance on fossil fuels and increasing renewable energy to 20 percent by 2020. Biomass from trees has been key to meeting this goal; the EU considers it a carbon-neutral energy
source on par with wind and solar power.</span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">Since then, the EU’s consumption of wood pellets increased from </span><a href="https://theassemblync.bluelena.io/Prod/link-tracker?redirectUrl=aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZvbmxpbmVsaWJyYXJ5LndpbGV5LmNvbSUyRmRvaSUyRmFicyUyRjEwLjEwMDIlMkZiYmIuMjc3&sig=J8EZeimVRMewY8fbyDCDnt3ooMdqtKVCn3m3yfp9XwxT&iat=1674677067&a=%7C%7C225146293%7C%7C&account=theassemblync%2Eactivehosted%2Ecom&email=sh1QgkLd7NN2k2T3c5NsYDpxdzkQNl9LgdxZ9pnzLRY%3D&s=582b1b606858b0f970870ca7ece729fb&i=262A270A1A5338" style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:#f74046;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank"><span style="color:inherit;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">9.8 million metric tons</span></a><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal"> to </span><a href="https://theassemblync.bluelena.io/Prod/link-tracker?redirectUrl=aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZhcHBzLmZhcy51c2RhLmdvdiUyRm5ld2dhaW5hcGklMkZhcGklMkZSZXBvcnQlMkZEb3dubG9hZFJlcG9ydEJ5RmlsZU5hbWUlM0ZmaWxlTmFtZSUzREVVJTI1MjBXb29kJTI1MjBQZWxsZXQlMjUyMEFubnVhbF9UaGUlMjUyMEhhZ3VlX0V1cm9wZWFuJTI1MjBVbmlvbl9FNDIwMjItMDA0OS5wZGY=&sig=92THnL4EJbxqQmiPi6pPu6exe4w4pT7ARHA9gaDxP9JU&iat=1674677067&a=%7C%7C225146293%7C%7C&account=theassemblync%2Eactivehosted%2Ecom&email=sh1QgkLd7NN2k2T3c5NsYDpxdzkQNl9LgdxZ9pnzLRY%3D&s=582b1b606858b0f970870ca7ece729fb&i=262A270A1A5339" style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:#f74046;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank"><span style="color:inherit;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">23.1 million</span></a><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">. North Carolina’s ample privately-owned forests and generous economic development subsidies have made
it ground zero for this booming wood pellet industry. </span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">Maryland-based Enviva now operates 10 wood pellet facilities in the southeast. The four in North Carolina are permitted to process up to 2.3 million metric tons of pellets per year. But residents of the communities around the plants say air quality and noise concerns are making life miserable. </span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">Now, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality is considering a request to increase production at Enviva’s first U.S. wood processing plant, in Ahoskie. The plant opened in 2011 and processes over 400,000 metric tons of wood pellets per year; its </span><a href="https://theassemblync.bluelena.io/Prod/link-tracker?redirectUrl=aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZiaW9tYXNzbWFnYXppbmUuY29tJTJGYXJ0aWNsZXMlMkYxOTI0MyUyRmJ1aWxkaW5nLW91dC1jYXBhY2l0eQ==&sig=CbQQLpo9rhFERMoF8tzSS7wLfjxXGNoGDTP2Q5VoNnQu&iat=1674677067&a=%7C%7C225146293%7C%7C&account=theassemblync%2Eactivehosted%2Ecom&email=sh1QgkLd7NN2k2T3c5NsYDpxdzkQNl9LgdxZ9pnzLRY%3D&s=582b1b606858b0f970870ca7ece729fb&i=262A270A1A5340" style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:#f74046;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank"><span style="color:inherit;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">planned expansion</span></a><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal"> would increase production to 571,000 metric tons. </span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">The population of the
census tract where the Ahoskie plant is located is 69 percent Black, and environmentalists and activists say it’s a textbook case of environmental racism. And they say it’s creating not just local environmental harms, but isn’t delivering on global emissions reduction targets, either.</span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">For </span><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:italic">The Assembly</span><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">, reporter Melba Newsome followed the wood pellet industry from Sampson County to the United Kingdom. </span><br><br><div style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-weight:inherit;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-align:center"><a href="https://theassemblync.bluelena.io/Prod/link-tracker?redirectUrl=aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cudGhlYXNzZW1ibHluYy5jb20lMkZlbnZpcm9ubWVudCUyRndvb2QtcGVsbGV0cy1ub3J0aC1jYXJvbGluYSUyRg==&sig=FhGK54o6LzFnqa1HHpcvYYfywbD1AxestL4KVSSyiK73&iat=1674677067&a=%7C%7C225146293%7C%7C&account=theassemblync%2Eactivehosted%2Ecom&email=sh1QgkLd7NN2k2T3c5NsYDpxdzkQNl9LgdxZ9pnzLRY%3D&s=582b1b606858b0f970870ca7ece729fb&i=262A270A1A5348" style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:#ff584e;text-decoration:underline;font-size:16px;font-family:arial;font-weight:700;font-style:normal" target="_blank"><span style="color:#ff584e;font-size:inherit;font-weight:inherit;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit">North Carolina Trees Are Feeding Europe’s ‘Clean Energy’ Revolution </span></a></div>
<div style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-weight:inherit;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-align:center"><span style="color:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-weight:inherit;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-style:italic">Scientists and environmental activists have raised concerns about the carbon benefit of burning wood pellets for power. But the industry churning them out in North Carolina has continued to grow.<br></span></div>
<br><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial">The story takes us up in the air and across the sea to introduce some of the people fighting the wood pellet industry expansion.<br><br><div style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-weight:inherit;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-align:right"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:inherit;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-align:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:italic">— Kate Sheppard, Managing Editor</span></div>
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<span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">A football coach who wins two-thirds of the time doesn't often get pushed out of his job, but that’s </span><a href="https://theassemblync.bluelena.io/Prod/link-tracker?redirectUrl=aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cud2ZteW5ld3MyLmNvbSUyRmFydGljbGUlMkZzcG9ydHMlMkZmb290YmFsbCUyRm5jYXQtaGVhZC1mb290YmFsbC1jb2FjaC1zYW0td2FzaGluZ3Rvbi1vdXQlMkY4My0yNTM2MWM3NC0wZjllLTQxNjQtYTE5My0yZWM3ZWU0NzU3ZmE=&sig=H7maH64eNKDVF5KXKMtrpNdSt2UU98svuB57CFzEAuLo&iat=1674677067&a=%7C%7C225146293%7C%7C&account=theassemblync%2Eactivehosted%2Ecom&email=sh1QgkLd7NN2k2T3c5NsYDpxdzkQNl9LgdxZ9pnzLRY%3D&s=582b1b606858b0f970870ca7ece729fb&i=262A270A1A5341" style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:#f74046;text-decoration:underline;font-size:16px;font-weight:bold" target="_blank"><span style="color:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">what happened recently</span></a><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal"> to North Carolina A&T Coach Sam Washington. </span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">The Aggies finished 7-4 overall and 4-1 in the Big South Conference last season. And Washington, a former NFL player, had gone 31-15 as head coach since 2018. </span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">A&T Athletics Director Earl Hilton didn’t give a reason why A&T was parting ways with Washington when he announced it last December. </span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">But
</span><a href="https://theassemblync.bluelena.io/Prod/link-tracker?redirectUrl=aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cudGhlYXNzZW1ibHluYy5jb20lMkZjdWx0dXJlJTJGc3BvcnRzJTJGbmMtYXQtaGJjdS1mb290YmFsbCUyRg==&sig=7mNLC88NCNqEXvHNJaMoSaD6bbjp7p1jMJA8ZQJYtPUJ&iat=1674677067&a=%7C%7C225146293%7C%7C&account=theassemblync%2Eactivehosted%2Ecom&email=sh1QgkLd7NN2k2T3c5NsYDpxdzkQNl9LgdxZ9pnzLRY%3D&s=582b1b606858b0f970870ca7ece729fb&i=262A270A1A5342" style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:#f74046;text-decoration:underline;font-size:16px;font-weight:bold" target="_blank"><span style="color:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">in October</span></a><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">, Washington told reporter Dwayne Ballen he had reservations about the school leaving the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, an association of historically Black schools that it helped create, to join a
conference of historically white schools. The Aggies had won the MEAC championship in 2018 and 2019, as well as the HBCU national title.</span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">"As far as acceptance, sometimes you have no choice," Washington told us at the time. "I understand. I view it as a challenge."</span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">Washington worried about having the resources to compete in a new conference. "Don’t have me fight in a war with a bow-and-arrow, and they got guns," he said. "[Recruits] love things that are shiny, and right now our facilities are not shiny. The people that we’ll be playing against, their facilities are shiny."</span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">Ballen reported that some alums felt the university was turning its back on its history as an HBCU. To play in a new conference, A&T dropped many of its football rivals, such as Delaware State, Howard, and Morgan State. </span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">Read Ballen’s story:</span><br><br><div style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:16px;font-weight:bold;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-align:center"><a href="https://theassemblync.bluelena.io/Prod/link-tracker?redirectUrl=aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cudGhlYXNzZW1ibHluYy5jb20lMkZjdWx0dXJlJTJGc3BvcnRzJTJGbmMtYXQtaGJjdS1mb290YmFsbCUyRg==&sig=7mNLC88NCNqEXvHNJaMoSaD6bbjp7p1jMJA8ZQJYtPUJ&iat=1674677067&a=%7C%7C225146293%7C%7C&account=theassemblync%2Eactivehosted%2Ecom&email=sh1QgkLd7NN2k2T3c5NsYDpxdzkQNl9LgdxZ9pnzLRY%3D&s=582b1b606858b0f970870ca7ece729fb&i=262A270A1A5342" style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:#f74046;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank"><span style="color:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-weight:700;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">North Carolina A&T Aims for the Top</span></a></div>
<div style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:16px;font-weight:bold;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:inherit;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:italic">The Greensboro HBCU left its longtime sports conference in a quest to raise its profile, athletically and academically. Some alums wonder whether it’s lost part of its identity.</span></div>
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<tr style="background-color:#ffffff"><td id="m_-6734802171808572616layout-row-margin5419" valign="top" style="padding:0px;background-color:#ffffff"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:initial!important;font-size:14px;min-width:100%"><tbody><tr id="m_-6734802171808572616layout-row5419" style="margin:0;padding:0"><td id="m_-6734802171808572616layout-row-padding5419" valign="top" style="padding:15px"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:14px;min-width:100%"><tbody><tr><td id="m_-6734802171808572616text_div5474" valign="top" align="left" width="570" style="line-height:140%;margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:12px;font-weight:inherit;line-height:1.4;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial"> <div style="line-height:140%;margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-weight:inherit;line-height:1.4;text-decoration:inherit"> <div style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-weight:inherit;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit"><div style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-weight:inherit;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-align:center"><span style="color:inherit;font-size:25px;font-weight:700;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit">What We're Reading</span></div>
<span style="color:inherit;font-size:16px;font-weight:inherit;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit"><b style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;font-weight:normal"><br></b><b style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;font-weight:normal"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:700;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">State Your Case: </span><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">While we await the ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court case on affirmative action in admissions, EdNC’s Ferrel Guillory </span><a href="https://theassemblync.bluelena.io/Prod/link-tracker?redirectUrl=aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cuZWRuYy5vcmclMkZwZXJzcGVjdGl2ZS1jb2xsZWdlLWFkbWlzc2lvbnMtYW5kLXRoZS1wb3dlci1vZi10aGUtbnVkZ2UlMkYlM0Z1dG1fc291cmNlJTNERWROQyUyQlN1YnNjcmliZXJzJTI2dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduJTNEOGQ1ZWE5ODBmNy1FTUFJTF9DQU1QQUlHTl8yMDIwXzAyXzIzXzA1XzU0X0NPUFlfMDElMjZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtJTNEZW1haWwlMjZ1dG1fdGVybSUzRDBfMjY5NjM2NWQ5OS04ZDVlYTk4MGY3LTI3NTk1MDM1Nw==&sig=FD4rWubUjdWYu5T28XLrBwCpiX7m8Csfjfrdapb1FWQF&iat=1674677067&a=%7C%7C225146293%7C%7C&account=theassemblync%2Eactivehosted%2Ecom&email=sh1QgkLd7NN2k2T3c5NsYDpxdzkQNl9LgdxZ9pnzLRY%3D&s=582b1b606858b0f970870ca7ece729fb&i=262A270A1A5343" style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:#f74046;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank"><span style="color:inherit;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">highlighted a brief from 10 Southern governors</span></a><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal"> on the value diversity has to the state. Gov. Roy
Cooper as well as former governors Jim Hunt, Mike Easley, and Bev Perdue all signed on. </span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:700;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">No Cap: </span><a href="https://theassemblync.bluelena.io/Prod/link-tracker?redirectUrl=aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cud3JhbC5jb20lMkZhZnRlci0zMC15ZWFycy1vZi1zcGVjaWFsLWVkdWNhdGlvbi1mdW5kaW5nLWxpbWl0cy1uYy1wYXJlbnRzLXdhbnQtY2hhbmdlJTJGMjA2ODEyNzUlMkY=&sig=D1GWARyu6ECrMksqP1uAcjVGJtw6FKht4PeY6cR8bkf2&iat=1674677067&a=%7C%7C225146293%7C%7C&account=theassemblync%2Eactivehosted%2Ecom&email=sh1QgkLd7NN2k2T3c5NsYDpxdzkQNl9LgdxZ9pnzLRY%3D&s=582b1b606858b0f970870ca7ece729fb&i=262A270A1A5344" style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:#f74046;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank"><span style="color:inherit;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">WRAL investigated the impacts</span></a><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal"> of a 30-year-old limit on state spending for students with disabilities, finding it "limits how many students can be counted toward funding, regardless of how many children actually need it or what their disability is."</span><br><br><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:700;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">Am I The Drama? </span><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">State Auditor Beth Wood finally issued a </span><a href="https://theassemblync.bluelena.io/Prod/link-tracker?redirectUrl=aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cubmV3c29ic2VydmVyLmNvbSUyRm5ld3MlMkZwb2xpdGljcy1nb3Zlcm5tZW50JTJGYXJ0aWNsZTI3MTUxMzY0Mi5odG1s&sig=9YKyVGu3zRNmav4g3h7CMgKjCuLE2CSjx1g8mzAWVaWF&iat=1674677067&a=%7C%7C225146293%7C%7C&account=theassemblync%2Eactivehosted%2Ecom&email=sh1QgkLd7NN2k2T3c5NsYDpxdzkQNl9LgdxZ9pnzLRY%3D&s=582b1b606858b0f970870ca7ece729fb&i=262A270A1A5345" style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:#f74046;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank"><span><span style="color:inherit;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">statement to the </span><span style="color:inherit;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:italic">N&O</span></span></a><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal"> about the fact that she was charged last month with a hit-and-run after hitting a parked car and leaving the scene, and </span><a href="https://theassemblync.bluelena.io/Prod/link-tracker?redirectUrl=aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cud3JhbC5jb20lMkZnZXQtaGVyLW91dC1vZi1oZXJlLXZpZGVvLWFwcGVhcnMtdG8tc2hvdy1zdGF0ZS1hdWRpdG9yLWJldGgtd29vZC1iZWluZy11c2hlcmVkLWZyb20tc2NlbmUtb2YtY3Jhc2glMkYyMDY4NzA0MSUyRg==&sig=jXexp7Zs1ncEy7keeRKCNnbMHK6N5LiG9LXcDTfVvPE&iat=1674677067&a=%7C%7C225146293%7C%7C&account=theassemblync%2Eactivehosted%2Ecom&email=sh1QgkLd7NN2k2T3c5NsYDpxdzkQNl9LgdxZ9pnzLRY%3D&s=582b1b606858b0f970870ca7ece729fb&i=262A270A1A5346" style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:#f74046;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank"><span style="color:inherit;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">WRAL got video</span></a><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal"> of the incident. Meanwhile, her spokesperson </span><a href="https://theassemblync.bluelena.io/Prod/link-tracker?redirectUrl=aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cubmV3c29ic2VydmVyLmNvbSUyRm5ld3MlMkZwb2xpdGljcy1nb3Zlcm5tZW50JTJGYXJ0aWNsZTI3MTUxNzI1Mi5odG1s&sig=HLv44BfKBjaP6ocqBXm6ULJaBQrHj1WQUTDH9bRAe8ud&iat=1674677067&a=%7C%7C225146293%7C%7C&account=theassemblync%2Eactivehosted%2Ecom&email=sh1QgkLd7NN2k2T3c5NsYDpxdzkQNl9LgdxZ9pnzLRY%3D&s=582b1b606858b0f970870ca7ece729fb&i=262A270A1A5347" style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:#f74046;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank"><span style="color:inherit;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal">announced that he was quitting</span></a><span style="color:#000000;font-size:16px;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:normal"> — via a TikTok video. </span></b><br></span></div>
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<tr style="background-color:#ffffff"><td id="m_-6734802171808572616layout-row-margin5435" valign="top" style="padding:0px;background-color:#ffffff"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:initial!important;font-size:14px;min-width:100%"><tbody><tr id="m_-6734802171808572616layout-row5435" style="margin:0;padding:0;background-color:#f7e8e8"><td id="m_-6734802171808572616layout-row-padding5435" valign="top" style="background-color:#f7e8e8;padding:10px"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:14px;min-width:100%"><tbody><tr><td id="m_-6734802171808572616text_div5490" valign="top" align="left" width="580" style="line-height:140%;margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:12px;font-weight:inherit;line-height:1.4;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial"> <div style="line-height:140%;margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:16px;font-weight:inherit;line-height:1.4;text-decoration:inherit"> <span style="color:inherit;font-size:16px;font-weight:inherit;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit">In North Carolina, more than 1.4 million people live with a mental health disorder like depression and anxiety. That’s why we’re committed to making sure mental health support is available when it’s needed most through 24/7 telehealth services with licensed therapists. <br><br>By
treating the causes of inaccessible health care, we’re helping North Carolinians live happy, healthier lives.<br><br><a href="https://theassemblync.bluelena.io/Prod/link-tracker?redirectUrl=aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ0cmVhdHRoZWNvc3QuY29tJTJGaGVhbHRoaWVyLWNvbW11bml0aWVzJTJGJTNGY21waWQlM0RFTV83WjBVMUNRODUzTTdZSEZfJTIzdGVsZWhlYWx0aA==&sig=7CPcb5y5DpVWQe4HsNUz2yyeEC48r3cJ25jAH8kA8fwP&iat=1674677067&a=%7C%7C225146293%7C%7C&account=theassemblync%2Eactivehosted%2Ecom&email=sh1QgkLd7NN2k2T3c5NsYDpxdzkQNl9LgdxZ9pnzLRY%3D&s=582b1b606858b0f970870ca7ece729fb&i=262A270A1A5349" style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:#f74046;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank"><span>Learn more</span></a> about our efforts to improve access to mental health treatment. </span> </div>
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<a href="https://theassemblync.bluelena.io/Prod/link-tracker?redirectUrl=aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ0cmVhdHRoZWNvc3QuY29tJTJGaGVhbHRoaWVyLWNvbW11bml0aWVzJTJGJTNGY21waWQlM0RFTV83WjBVMUNRODUzTTdZSEZfJTIzdGVsZWhlYWx0aA==&sig=7CPcb5y5DpVWQe4HsNUz2yyeEC48r3cJ25jAH8kA8fwP&iat=1674677067&a=%7C%7C225146293%7C%7C&account=theassemblync%2Eactivehosted%2Ecom&email=sh1QgkLd7NN2k2T3c5NsYDpxdzkQNl9LgdxZ9pnzLRY%3D&s=582b1b606858b0f970870ca7ece729fb&i=262A270A1A5349" style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:16px;color:#ffffff;background:#1f1f1f;background-color:#1f1f1f;border-radius:40px;font-family:Arial;font-size:17px;display:inline-block;line-height:1.1;text-align:center;text-decoration:none" target="_blank"> <span style="color:#ffffff;font-family:Arial;font-size:17px"> Learn More → </span> </a> </div>
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<tr style="background-color:#ffffff"><td id="m_-6734802171808572616layout-row-margin5433" valign="top" style="padding:5px;background-color:#ffffff"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:initial!important;font-size:14px;min-width:100%"><tbody><tr id="m_-6734802171808572616layout-row5433" style="margin:0;padding:0"><td id="m_-6734802171808572616layout-row-padding5433" valign="top" style="padding:10px"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:14px;min-width:100%"><tbody><tr><td id="m_-6734802171808572616text_div5488" valign="top" align="left" width="570" style="line-height:140%;margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:12px;font-weight:inherit;line-height:1.4;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial"> <div style="line-height:140%;margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:25px;font-weight:inherit;line-height:1.4;text-decoration:inherit"> <div style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-weight:inherit;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-align:center"><span style="color:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-weight:bold;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-align:inherit">Our </span><span style="color:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-weight:bold;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-align:inherit">Recent</span><span style="color:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-weight:bold;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-align:inherit"> </span><span style="color:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-weight:bold;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-align:inherit">Stories</span></div>
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<tr style="background-color:#ffffff"><td id="m_-6734802171808572616layout-row-margin5430" valign="top" style="background-color:#ffffff"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:14px;min-width:100%"><tbody><tr id="m_-6734802171808572616layout-row5430" align="left"><td id="m_-6734802171808572616layout-row-padding5430" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:14px;min-width:100%"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top" width="600"><a href="https://theassemblync.bluelena.io/Prod/link-tracker?redirectUrl=aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cudGhlYXNzZW1ibHluYy5jb20lMkZwb2xpdGljcyUyRmpvc2gtc3RlaW4tZ292ZXJub3ItMjAyNCUyRg==&sig=EhvChRSX4o2RHFRwg1QTP2LdqHCmcxLuJD42fQau2txw&iat=1674677067&a=%7C%7C225146293%7C%7C&account=theassemblync%2Eactivehosted%2Ecom&email=sh1QgkLd7NN2k2T3c5NsYDpxdzkQNl9LgdxZ9pnzLRY%3D&s=582b1b606858b0f970870ca7ece729fb&i=262A270A1A5328" style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:#f74046;display:block;min-width:100%" target="_blank"><img src="https://content.app-us1.com/cdn-cgi/image/dpr=2,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,width=650/D0QVA/2023/01/18/d8022706-7ed0-4619-848a-b1be873181fe.png?r=408992888" width="600" style="border:none;display:block;outline:none;width:600px;opacity:1;max-width:100%"></a></td>
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<tr style="background-color:#ffffff"><td id="m_-6734802171808572616layout-row-margin5429" valign="top" style="padding:3px;background-color:#ffffff"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:initial!important;font-size:14px;min-width:100%"><tbody><tr id="m_-6734802171808572616layout-row5429" style="margin:0;padding:0"><td id="m_-6734802171808572616layout-row-padding5429" valign="top" style="padding:20px"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:14px;min-width:100%"><tbody><tr><td id="m_-6734802171808572616text_div5484" valign="top" align="left" width="554" style="line-height:140%;margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:12px;font-weight:inherit;line-height:1.4;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial"> <div style="line-height:140%;margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:16px;font-weight:inherit;line-height:1.4;text-decoration:inherit"><div style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-weight:inherit;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-align:center"><a href="https://theassemblync.bluelena.io/Prod/link-tracker?redirectUrl=aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cudGhlYXNzZW1ibHluYy5jb20lMkZwb2xpdGljcyUyRmpvc2gtc3RlaW4tZ292ZXJub3ItMjAyNCUyRg==&sig=EhvChRSX4o2RHFRwg1QTP2LdqHCmcxLuJD42fQau2txw&iat=1674677067&a=%7C%7C225146293%7C%7C&account=theassemblync%2Eactivehosted%2Ecom&email=sh1QgkLd7NN2k2T3c5NsYDpxdzkQNl9LgdxZ9pnzLRY%3D&s=582b1b606858b0f970870ca7ece729fb&i=262A270A1A5328" style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:#f74046;text-decoration:underline;font-size:16px;text-align:inherit;font-weight:bold" target="_blank"><span>Josh Stein Makes His Case</span></a></div>
<div style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:16px;font-weight:inherit;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-align:center"><span style="color:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-weight:inherit;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-style:italic;text-align:inherit">The N.C. Attorney General has long been the presumptive Democratic frontrunner for governor in 2024. Now he has to convince voters.<br></span></div>
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<tr style="background-color:#ffffff"><td id="m_-6734802171808572616layout-row-margin5425" valign="top" style="background-color:#ffffff"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:14px;min-width:100%"><tbody><tr id="m_-6734802171808572616layout-row5425" align="left"><td id="m_-6734802171808572616layout-row-padding5425" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:14px;min-width:100%"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top" width="600"><a href="https://theassemblync.bluelena.io/Prod/link-tracker?redirectUrl=aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cudGhlYXNzZW1ibHluYy5jb20lMkZlZHVjYXRpb24lMkZoaWdoZXItZWR1Y2F0aW9uJTJGbmlkby1xdWJlaW4taGlnaC1wb2ludC11bml2ZXJzaXR5JTJG&sig=EgBodXmQaQk5pwniKDBGdjUTQqa6mZRsd28Ptgm8AXrU&iat=1674677067&a=%7C%7C225146293%7C%7C&account=theassemblync%2Eactivehosted%2Ecom&email=sh1QgkLd7NN2k2T3c5NsYDpxdzkQNl9LgdxZ9pnzLRY%3D&s=582b1b606858b0f970870ca7ece729fb&i=262A270A1A5329" style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:#f74046;display:block;min-width:100%" target="_blank"><img src="https://content.app-us1.com/cdn-cgi/image/dpr=2,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,width=650/D0QVA/2023/01/05/b7532320-0938-4a10-ae18-323f0110e799.png?r=1864338202" width="600" style="border:none;display:block;outline:none;width:600px;opacity:1;max-width:100%"></a></td>
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<tr style="background-color:#ffffff"><td id="m_-6734802171808572616layout-row-margin5424" valign="top" style="padding:3px;background-color:#ffffff"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:initial!important;font-size:14px;min-width:100%"><tbody><tr id="m_-6734802171808572616layout-row5424" style="margin:0;padding:0"><td id="m_-6734802171808572616layout-row-padding5424" valign="top" style="padding:20px"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:14px;min-width:100%"><tbody><tr><td id="m_-6734802171808572616text_div5479" valign="top" align="left" width="554" style="line-height:140%;margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:12px;font-weight:inherit;line-height:1.4;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial"> <div style="line-height:140%;margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:16px;font-weight:inherit;line-height:1.4;text-decoration:inherit"><div style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:16px;font-weight:inherit;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-align:center"><a href="https://theassemblync.bluelena.io/Prod/link-tracker?redirectUrl=aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cudGhlYXNzZW1ibHluYy5jb20lMkZlZHVjYXRpb24lMkZoaWdoZXItZWR1Y2F0aW9uJTJGbmlkby1xdWJlaW4taGlnaC1wb2ludC11bml2ZXJzaXR5JTJG&sig=EgBodXmQaQk5pwniKDBGdjUTQqa6mZRsd28Ptgm8AXrU&iat=1674677067&a=%7C%7C225146293%7C%7C&account=theassemblync%2Eactivehosted%2Ecom&email=sh1QgkLd7NN2k2T3c5NsYDpxdzkQNl9LgdxZ9pnzLRY%3D&s=582b1b606858b0f970870ca7ece729fb&i=262A270A1A5329" style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:#f74046;text-decoration:underline;text-align:inherit;font-weight:bold" target="_blank"><span>How to Sell a University</span></a></div>
<div style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:16px;font-weight:inherit;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-align:center"><span style="color:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-weight:inherit;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-style:italic">President Nido Qubein remade High Point University from a struggling college to a booming campus known for "wow" amenities, flag-waving patriotism, and a "life skills" focus that reflects his philosophy. He’s not done yet.<br></span></div>
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<div style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:16px;font-weight:inherit;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-align:center"><a href="https://theassemblync.bluelena.io/Prod/link-tracker?redirectUrl=aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cudGhlYXNzZW1ibHluYy5jb20lMkZwb2xpdGljcyUyRm1hcmstbWFydGluLWhpZ2gtcG9pbnQtdW5pdmVyc2l0eSUyRg==&sig=7Ei34R8YEXmaks1B54T6Q3Cykzq3DeXKkktXnnw2QNoE&iat=1674677067&a=%7C%7C225146293%7C%7C&account=theassemblync%2Eactivehosted%2Ecom&email=sh1QgkLd7NN2k2T3c5NsYDpxdzkQNl9LgdxZ9pnzLRY%3D&s=582b1b606858b0f970870ca7ece729fb&i=262A270A1A5330" style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:#f74046;text-decoration:underline;font-weight:bold" target="_blank"><span>High Point’s Controversial New Law Dean Speaks (Sort Of)<br></span></a></div>
<div style="margin:0;outline:none;padding:0;color:inherit;font-size:16px;font-weight:inherit;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:inherit;font-weight:400;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;font-family:arial;font-style:italic">Critics have called for Mark Martin, a former N.C. Supreme Court chief justice, to account for his part in efforts to fight the 2020 election outcome.</span><br></div>
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