In the News

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WNCN) – The weight of the pandemic is on the shoulders of Dr. Jennifer Green.

The Cumberland County health director announced Wednesday she will rescind her mask order. Beginning Sunday, people will no longer be required to wear a mask indoors across Cumberland County.

“The ability for us to be able to effectively enforce the order remains a challenge,” Green said.

This decision came as students returned to class Wednesday and were no longer required to wear a mask.

The Cumberland County health director said Tuesday that she plans to rescind an order that requires masks in public indoor spaces.

Health Director Jennifer Green told the Board of Health that she expects to end the county’s public health abatement order Sunday.

Rescinding the order will effectively end a showdown between the county and the Board of Education, which voted 5-4 last week to make masks optional in school buildings. That policy went into effect Wednesday.

Green said that enforcing the abatement order was a challenge.

CONCORD — U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) met recently with Cabarrus and Stanly county students he has nominated to U.S. Service Academies. Ethan Lyon of Hickory Ridge High School, Ryan Bergsmith of Central Cabarrus High School, and Ruby Eason of South Stanly High School are among 13 students Hudson nominated from across the 8th District this year.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (WNCN) – U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson (R) released a statement Wednesday afternoon following President Joe Biden’s decision to send more than 2,000 Fort Bragg troops to Europe amid the Ukraine tension with Russia.

“The deployment of 2,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division and XVIII Airborne Corps to aid our NATO allies underscores the vital role America’s Immediate Response Force plays in the defense of our nation,” Hudson said. 

Hudson represents the 8th District, which includes Fort Bragg and stretches over to Concord.

Members of Congress are weighing in on the increasing military threat Russia poses to Ukraine, with some demanding sanctions to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin and others seeking information from the Biden administration or steps to secure the region.

Fort Bragg will see more than $27.2 million in military construction projects from the defense spending bill signed into law last week, a bill that also includes funding to cover changes to military sexual assault investigations and directs the Pentagon to investigate instances of UFOs.  

These past two years have brought to light a fact that has existed for too long: There are a number of disparities based on the color of one’s skin — including healthcare — and it’s time we finally close those gaps. While disease does not discriminate, there are undeniable inequities in our healthcare system. African Americans become afflicted with certain cancers at the same rate as their white counterparts, but they are more likely to die. This has been an ongoing problem and one a healthy nation cannot allow to remain unaddressed. In this regard, the N.C.

Three of North Carolina’s military bases can continue making upgrades and improvements because of funding provided by the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act.