In the News

SALISBURY — From helping President Donald Trump win re-election to creating a good, work-life balance, Rowan County’s elected leaders have a wide variety of New Year’s resolution.

Here are some of the resolutions from local elected officials:

U.S. Rep. Ted Budd, R-13, says he has a lot on his agenda in 2020. Budd says he plans to continue to get to know the people and needs of his redrawn 13th District in which he’s running for re-election. Democrat Scott Huffman is Budd’s lone challenger

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — More than 650 Fort Bragg paratroopers and equipment will be deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of operations in Iraq Wednesday as part of the Immediate Response Force.

Paratroopers from the 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division were activated and deployed in response to the increased threat levels to people and facilities from the U.S., according to the 82nd Airborne Division.

Legislation prompted by the plight of a Moore County Green Beret was signed into law Friday by President Donald Trump.

Named after Sgt. 1st Class Richard “Rich” Stayskal, the new law allows service members to sue the federal government for medical malpractice. Military personnel were previously prohibited from bringing lawsuits against the government by the Feres Doctrine, an obscure rule stemming from a 1950 Supreme Court decision.

The U.S. House passed the bipartisan conference report for the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) last week that includes pay raises for troops, a measure to address military housing, and military medical malpractice reform.

Last week’s NDAA provides a 3.1% pay raise for troops – the largest increase in a decade, according to U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08), Fort Bragg and Moore County Congressman.

Overall, the NDAA authorizes $738 billion in defense funding. It also: