Griffin Concedes as GOP Selects BOE Officers

Republican Jefferson Griffin conceded to Democrat Allison Riggs in the North Carolina Supreme Court race Wednesday, dropping his challenge against thousands of ballots he claimed were ineligible.

Initially, Griffin contested more than 65,000 ballots, but the North Carolina Supreme Court reduced that number to between 1,675 and 5,700 ballots cast by overseas military and civilian voters who did not provide photo ID, as well as some misclassified as “never residents.”

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Richard Myers ordered the North Carolina State Board of Elections (BOE) to certify appointed incumbent Riggs, who holds a 734-vote lead, as the winner. Riggs will serve an eight-year term.

Meanwhile, the newly GOP-controlled elections board was sworn in on Wednesday and quickly moved to elect Francis X. De Luca as chairman, Stacy “Four” Eggers IV as secretary, and Sam Hayes as executive director.

NC Man Pleads Guilty to $20M Ponzi Scheme

William Lamar Rhew, III of Guilford County pleaded guilty Tuesday to wire fraud, money laundering, securities fraud, tax evasion, and failure to file tax returns in connection with a $20 million Ponzi scheme.

The Summerfield man defrauded at least 117 investors between November 2017 and December 2023 through his company, Chadley Capital LLC, by falsely promising profits from discounted accounts receivable. He then allegedly used victims’ money to buy a boat, beach house, and luxury cars. He also used the funds to make “interest” and “withdrawal” payments to other investors.

Rhew also failed to report nearly $9 million in income to the IRS.

Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 22, and he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He has agreed to pay nearly $15 million in restitution to the victims and over $3 million to the IRS.

Bill Helps Prevent Coastal House Collapses

U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy, M.D., R-NC, and U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-ME, introduced a bipartisan bill last week that would authorize homeowners insured by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to receive payouts before a flooded house falls into the ocean instead of after, which is how the program is currently set up.

If the bill passes, qualifying insured homeowners would be able to receive NFIP payouts for structures condemned due to chronic erosion or unusual flooding, as well as advance payouts for demolition or relocation for up to 40% of the home’s value up to $250,000.

In a May 1 Coastal Review commentary, Murphy cited seven homes that swept out to sea in Rodanthe last year and said “proactive solutions” are needed to prevent these kinds of losses.

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➤ NC Schools: Hackers sent threatening emails to around 50 Department of Public Instruction employees and 20 local education agencies demanding cryptocurrency in exchange for not leaking data stolen in the December PowerSchool breach. (More)

➤ Cabarrus County deputies allowed WSOC-TV to join an undercover operation that led to the arrests of nine men accused of soliciting children online. Investigators also recovered guns, drugs, condoms, and gifts intended for the children. (Watch Report)

➤ Richmond County: State Treasurer Brad Briner and Controller Nels Roseland asked the State Supreme Court to block a lower court ruling allowing Richmond County schools to pursue a $272,000 decade-old judgment against the state. (More)

➤ Garner: Miguel Angel Duran-Duran told the FBI he and his sister Paola—two of three charged with kidnapping a mother and her 13-month-old baby last week—agreed to help the third suspect, Eleodoro Estrada-Hernandez, “with a job for $100,000.” (More)

➤ RDU Airport: A viral video led to the termination of several third-party Frontier Airlines workers who refused to let a man check in for his flight even after he agreed to pay a $25 fee for missing the airline’s check-in window. (Watch Video)

➤ Western NC: Country singer Eric Church confirmed the purchase of two properties on which his nonprofit plans to build at least 200 homes for victims of Hurricane Helene. Church’s first development for victims, Blue Haven in Avery County, has already sold out. (More)

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➤ The Carolina Hurricanes fell 3–1 to the Capitals on Thursday night, struggling offensively as Washington tied the series at 1–1 heading into Game 3 in Raleigh. (More) 

➤ NC State has agreed to play a home-and-home basketball series with VCU starting next season. Current Wolfpack coach Will Wade coached at VCU from 2015-17. (More)

➤ The Carolina Panthers were named one of the most improved teams this offseason by Pro Football Focus after bolstering last year’s shaky defense and adding pass-catching weapons on offense. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: MLB | NBA | NHL | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | PGA | LPGA

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➤ Johnson & Wales University is addressing a “budgetary deficit and structural imbalance” by cutting 91 positions across its online, Charlotte, and Providence campuses. (More)

➤ Breeze Airways announced new routes from Wilmington International Airport to Long Island-Islip, N.Y., and Tampa, Fla., beginning Oct. 2; and to Akron-Canton, Ohio, and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., beginning Nov. 7. (See Details)

➤ DICK’S House of Sport will move into the old Sears store in Raleigh’s Crabtree Valley Mall. An opening date for the multisport experiential store, which has 22 locations nationwide, has not been announced. (More)

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➤ The City of Wilmington and the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust have partnered to maintain and enhance the Stanley Rehder Carnivorous Plant Garden in honor of George Stanley Rehder, who was known around town as “The Flytrap Man.” (More)

➤ WRAL created a list of 16 free and low-cost splashpads and spraygrounds opening across the Triangle as summer weather approaches. (See List)

➤ Duke University is taking a new approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts by establishing an “inclusive excellence working group” focused on ensuring programs are “open to all” with exceptions only in cases permitted by law. (More)

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Should Jefferson Griffin have conceded the North Carolina Supreme Court race?

1. Yes, it was time
2. No, keep fighting
3. Just glad it’s over!
4. Who’s Jefferson Griffin?

Yesterday’s Results:

How concerned are you about PFAS chemicals?

1. Very: 37%
2. What are PFAS? 26%
3. Haven’t hurt me yet: 19%
4. Not at all: 18%

Where in North Carolina can Venus flytraps be found?

Show me the answer