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For the fourth straight month Stanly County ranks first in the state in opioid overdoses, according to the latest figures released by N.C. Department Health and Human Services.
Nowhere is the state’s opioid epidemic more dire than in Stanly, which leads the state in the highest rate of opioid overdoses showing up in hospital emergency rooms. Cumberland, Robeson and Cabarrus counties trail Stanly. Nearby Gaston, Mecklenburg, Guilford and Forsyth counties also made the top 10.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Freed North Carolina pastor Andrew Brunson fell to one knee in the Oval Office and placed his hand on President Donald Trump’s shoulder in prayer before asking God to provide Trump “supernatural wisdom to accomplish all the plans you have for this country and for him.”
Trump welcomed Brunson to the White House on Saturday to celebrate Brunson’s release from nearly two years of confinement in Turkey, which had sparked a diplomatic crisis between the countries, now under the watchful eye of the world for its human rights policies.
While the news of Pastor Andrew Brunson’s release from Turkish imprisonment on Friday was warmly welcomed in Washington circles, nearly a dozen more American citizens remain jailed in Turkish prisons in what U.S. have officials have deemed acts of "political hostage-taking."
Congressman Richard Hudson made some remarks in honor of Judge William Hamby and Cabarrus County Sheriff Brad Riley during a recent retirement ceremony held at Hotel Concord.
Hudson submitted two Extension of Remarks for the Congressional Record, the official published account of the debates, proceedings and activities of the United States Congress.
ALIAGA, Turkey — A Turkish court on Friday convicted Montreat, N.C. pastor Andrew Brunson of terror charges but released him from house arrest and allowed him to leave Turkey, a move that’s likely to ease the tensions between Turkey and the United States.
The court near the western city of Izmir sentenced Andrew Brunson to 3 years, 1 month and 15 days in prison for the conviction, but since the evangelical pastor has already spent two years in detention he won’t serve more time.
The charge of espionage against him was dropped.
Republican lawmakers lauded President Donald Trump and his administration and Democrats offered words of support after Turkish officials released U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson from custody on Friday.
A Turkish court ruled Friday that American Pastor Andrew Brunson is free to return to the U.S., according to several media reports.
Mr. Brunson was sentenced just over three years in prison, but he was released for time served.
The decision will mark a step toward improved relations between the U.S. and Turkey. The two NATO allies were caught in an economic battle as tensions worsened because of Mr. Brunson’s imprisonment.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08), a member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission whose amendment to urge Pastor Andrew Brunson’s release was adopted as part of the Berlin Declaration at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly annual session, released the following statement after the Turkish court ordered Pastor Brunson be freed:
North Carolina pastor Andrew Brunson, held on terrorism charges in Turkey for more than two years, left the country Friday and was on his way to the United States.
Brunson, who is from Black Mountain, is expected to visit the Oval Office on Saturday, President Donald Trump said Friday evening.
Brunson, 50, started the Izmir Resurrection Church in western Turkey, where he has lived much of his life. Brunson was arrested in October 2016, months after a failed coup attempt in the country. He faced charges of espionage and aiding terrorist groups.