TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2025

Good morning! On this day in 1771, Regulators armed with clubs and whips protested corruption in North Carolina's General Assembly in Hillsborough by packing the courthouse and asking to be jury members. The court ignored them, leading to additional protests and violence. That night, the judge fled town.

Today in Et Cetera we deliver some sad news about a beloved 125-year-old resident of the North Carolina Zoo who has moved on to greener—well, habitats. Meanwhile, we share some more uplifting news about the zoo in Around North Carolina.

We're sponsored today by the nonprofit World Concern, offering an opportunity to help people in need in the Congo.

Postal Workers Protest Privatization

Seven rallies took place across North Carolina on Sunday as part of protests organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) against the Trump administration's plan to privatize the U.S. Postal Service and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)'s proposal to cut 10,000 postal workers.

Western North Carolina protesters held a "Hell No to the Dismantling of the Postal Service" rally in downtown Asheville, with the regional NALC president stating, "We will not stand for it and we will not be quiet."

Around 70 people protested in front of Charlotte's Ballantyne Post Office, and an estimated 250 participated in a "Fight Like Hell" rally in downtown Raleigh.

The protests follow a request from U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy of Greensboro for DOGE to reform the USPS.

Western NC Wildfires Expand

Polk County wildfires that ignited last week have expanded to engulf nearly 5,000 acres in areas that include Black Cove, Deep Woods, and Fish Hook.

Evacuation orders issued Saturday by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety remained in effect Sunday for residents of Black Cove. Fish Hook evacuation orders were lifted Sunday after 50% of the 199-acre fire had been contained.

In Burke County, a 147-acre fire destroyed four mobile homes and nearly 500 vehicles, including cars, trucks, vans, buses, off-road utility vehicles, motorcycles, commercial trucks, trailers, tractors, and heavy excavating equipment.

The causes of the fires—which are fueled by low humidity, dry vegetation, and trees downed by Hurricane Helene—remain under investigation.

Man Shoots Amazon Vans, Collides with 3 Cars

A Charlotte man is in critical condition after shooting at three Amazon delivery vans just before driving his BMW in the wrong direction on N.C. 11 in Lenoir County and colliding with three vehicles—including one head-on.

Lonneil Cordarius Mason, 34, was airlifted to ECU Health in Greenville after the head-on collision with a vehicle containing two women who were also taken to ECU Health and are both in critical condition.

Mason—who served over a decade in prison for a 2007 second-degree murder and breaking and entering conviction—shot through the passenger door of one Amazon van, the back of another, and the driver's side of the third. None of the drivers were injured.

The Lenoir County Sheriff's Office seized two pistols and also found cocaine and fentanyl on Mason and in his vehicle.

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Crisis in DRC

A decades-long conflict in eastern Congo has gone from a simmer to a boil in recent months.

Last week, Rwanda-backed rebel group M23 ignored calls for a ceasefire, seizing a strategic town in Congo—one of the most poverty-stricken countries in the world. M23 is one of nearly 100 armed groups that have been vying for control of the mineral-rich area, and the resulting conflict has caught civilians (including many Christians) in the middle, creating one of the world's most significant humanitarian crises.

Last month, the U.N. Human Rights Council launched an investigation into allegations of atrocities, such as mass killings of civilians, by multiple groups.

An estimated 7 million people have been displaced, and more than 25 million people—approximately one in four Congolese—face acute food insecurity.

➤ Durham: Duke University Hospital recently launched a clinic to care for adults who have survived childhood spina bifida. (More)

➤ Asheboro: The North Carolina Zoo is No. 7 on USA Today's list of the country's 10 best zoos thanks to immersive landscapes that accommodate endangered animals and unique species. (More)

➤ Morrisville: A new diverging diamond interchange opened Monday on Airport Boulevard to provide easier access to I-40 by moving high volumes of traffic through the intersection without increasing the number of lanes and traffic signals. (More)

➤ Garner: A Tesla owner says a vandal etched the word "NAZI" on his vehicle, but a review of the footage produced by the car's sentry mode didn't reveal who was responsible. (More)

➤ Johnston County: Two people jumped from a pontoon boat into Holts Lake to rescue a dog on Saturday, and then had to be rescued by Smithfield Fire Department Water Rescue and Four Oaks Water Rescue teams. (More)

➤ Winston-Salem tied with Tucson, Ariz., for the seventh spot on a list of the 10 largest U.S. cities with the lowest salaries required to live comfortably. In Winston-Salem, the annual salary needed for a single adult to live comfortably is $86,736. (More)

➤ Both No. 2 seed NC State and No. 3 seed UNC advanced to the women's Sweet 16 on Monday with wins over No. 7 Michigan and No. 6 West Virginia, respectively. On Friday, NC State will face No. 3 seed LSU and UNC will take on No. 2 seed Duke. (See Bracket)

➤ No. 1 seed Duke men's basketball will face No. 4 seed Arizona in an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 matchup Thursday at 9:39 p.m. ET. (More)

➤ The Charlotte Hornets blew a 12-point second-quarter lead Sunday against the Miami Heat, resulting in a 122-105 loss. The Heat entered the game with 10 consecutive losses. (More)

➤ Want to stay up-to-date on everything related to name, image, and likeness in college sports? NIL Wire is just the place for you. Sign up here with one click!

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➤ The City of Charlotte is preparing a bid to bring the CIAA Tournament back to the Queen City after its run in Baltimore ends in 2026. Council members say the Spectrum Center is key to securing the bid, and a final decision is expected by June. (More)

➤ Wilmington's Cargo District has been steadily expanding, with the highly anticipated Cargo West Food Court nearing completion. Once finished, the container food court will include seven restaurants and a combined bar and arcade. (More)

➤ Charlotte-based Cato Corp. eliminated 40 corporate jobs and is warning that new tariffs could cause further cost reductions. The news follows a fourth-quarter drop in sales. (More)

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Join us in partnering with World Concern to help the most vulnerable in the Congo and in countries around the world where World Concern serves by providing life-sustaining nutrition, clean water, medication, and more with the love of Jesus. Every $27 dollars provides someone with these emergency essentials.

➤ Wake County deputy and country music singer Robert Hunter made another appearance on NBC's The Voice Monday night. (See Details and Show Bio)

➤ A middle-class salary in North Carolina, according to a SmartAsset analysis, ranges from $47,198 on the low end to $141,608 on the high end, while the median household income is $70,804. (More)

➤ The North Carolina Zoo announced the death of Maximus, an alligator snapping turtle believed to have been born in 1900. Staff called Maximus a "true marvel of nature." (See Details and Photos)

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