Sovereignty reigns in 151st Kentucky Derby, outdueling favorite Journalism in the slop

Sovereignty reigns in 151st Kentucky Derby, outdueling favorite Journalism in the slop

By BETH HARRIS AP Racing Writer

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Sovereignty gave trainer Bill Mott a second Kentucky Derby victory. This time there was no doubt about it and no asterisk.

The 3-year-old colt outdueled 3-1 favorite Journalism down the stretch to win the 151st Derby in the slop on Saturday, snapping an 0 for 13 skid by owner Godolphin.

Mott won his first Derby in 2019, also run on a sloppy track, when Country House was elevated to first after Maximum Security crossed the finish line first and was disqualified during a 22-minute delay.

It took a few minutes for Saturday’s results to be made official while the stewards sorted out a photo for second and reviewed the chaotic start.

Mott knew all the while who earned the garland of red roses.

“This one got there the right way,” the Hall of Fame trainer said. “I mean, he’s done well, he’s a great horse, he comes from a great organization and I can’t say enough about the horse and the organization that started him out and made this happen.”

Godolphin is the racing stable of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

It was quite a weekend for the sheikh. His filly, Good Cheer, won the Kentucky Oaks on Friday and earlier Saturday, Ruling Court — a son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify — won the 2,000 Guineas in Britain.

Sovereignty, also bred by the sheikh, splashed through 1 1/4 miles in 2:02.31 and paid $17.96 to win at 7-1 odds. He’s the record 20th horse with a name starting with `S’ to win.

“It’s great,” Mott said. “I think it will take a little while to sink in.”

Journalism didn’t have the cleanest of trips in the 19-horse field, but rallied to stay in the fight. He found trouble in the first turn and jockey Umberto Rispoli swung him outside to get him in the clear. Sovereignty and jockey Junior Alvarado followed them.

“He was saying to me, ‘Listen, I’m ready,’ so from there I started picking up,” Alvarado said.

The two colts hooked up at the eighth pole for a thrilling battle before Sovereignty pulled away.

Alvarado won his first Derby in six tries. He and Sovereignty were reunited after Alvarado had missed the colt’s last start in the Florida Derby because he was injured.

“It’s more than a dream come true,” the 38-year-old Venezuelan said. “I thought I had a great chance. I was confident the whole week.”

Baeza — who got into the race on Thursday after another horse was scratched — took third. Final Gambit was fourth and Owen Almighty finished fifth.

Citizen Bull, the lone entry for six-time Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert, set the pace. Baffert was back on the first Saturday in May having serving a three-year suspension by Churchill Downs after his Medina Spirit crossed the finish line first in 2021 and failed a postrace drug test.

D. Wayne Lukas, the 89-year-old four-time Derby winner, saw his colt American Promise finish right behind Baffert in 15th.

Rain made for a soggy day, with the Churchill Downs dirt strip listed as sloppy and fans protecting their fancy hats and clothing with clear plastic ponchos.

Burnham Square was sixth, followed by Sandman, East Avenue, Chunk of Gold, Tiztastic, Coal Battle, Neoequos, Publisher, Citizen Bull, American Promise, Render Judgment, Flying Mohawk and Admire Daytona.

As Trump sets his sights on public broadcasting, a decades-old institution frets about the future

As Trump sets his sights on public broadcasting, a decades-old institution frets about the future

By DAVID BAUDER AP Media Writer

The nation’s public broadcasting system — decades-long home to Big Bird, Ken Burns documentaries and “All Things Considered” — faces the biggest crisis in its nearly 60-year history with President Donald Trump’s order to slash federal subsidies.

A court fight seems inevitable, with the heads of PBS, NPR and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting all suggesting Friday that Trump’s order is illegal.

“We will vigorously defend our right to provide essential news, information and life-saving services to the American public,” said Katherine Maher, NPR’s president and CEO. “We will challenge this executive order using all means available.” Her counterpart at PBS, Paula Kerger, said Trump’s order was blatantly unlawful.

The public broadcasting system dates back to the late 1960s, devised as an educational and public service-oriented alternative to commercial broadcasters available at the time. In his order, Trump said the system has become politically biased and time has passed it by.

“Today the media landscape is filled with abundant, diverse and innovative news options,” the president said in his order, issued just before midnight Thursday. “Government funding of news media in this environment is not only outdated and unnecessary, but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence.”

The focus is on news, but there could be other casualties

Trump’s order concentrates on news, and between PBS’ “NewsHour” and a robust reporting corps at NPR, that’s an important part of their operations. But public broadcasting also has entertainment programming, educational children’s shows and Burns’ historical documentaries.

PBS and NPR get about a half-billion dollars a year in public funding funneled through the private Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Roughly 70% of that goes directly to the 330 local PBS outlets and 246 NPR stations.

On average, PBS says 15% of its stations’ budgets come from public funding. But there are wide variations; stations in larger markets usually get more money through philanthropy and fund drives, while smaller stations depend much more on the government.

Besides Trump’s order, Congress has been considering future funding levels for the public broadcasters, and the Federal Communications Commission is questioning public broadcasting efforts at corporate underwriting, said Josh Shepperd, author of the 2023 book “Shadow of the New Deal: The Victory of Public Broadcasting.”

“It’s a three-pronged effort that is frankly very smart in its institutional understanding,” Shepperd said. “They’re not just going after programs that they don’t like. They’re going after the operations and the infrastructure that makes it possible to even air the programming.”

A ripple effect is possible, and could be local

Trump’s order instructs the CPB and other government agencies to “cease Federal funding” for PBS and National Public Radio and further requires that they work to root out indirect sources of public financing. Separate from the CPB grant, for example, PBS gets a grant from the U.S. Department of Education for programming that helps build the reading, math and science skills for children age 2 to 8, particularly in poor areas.

The administration’s plan might not threaten your favorite program — Burns gets plenty of corporate and philanthropic support — but it may impact local programming and potential growth, Shepperd said.

Congressional Republicans aired some of their grievances about public broadcasting to Kerger and Maher at a public hearing in March. Such complaints have been common over the years, but the broadcasters have avoided funding cuts, in large part because members of Congress don’t want to be seen as responsible if a station in their district shuts down. Who wants to be the public official who killed “Sesame Street”?

Also, public pressure from constituents is minimized because most Republicans don’t watch PBS or listen to NPR, said Tim Graham, director of media analysis at the conservative Media Research Center. “I have this morning habit of listening to NPR on my commute,” Graham said. “I yell at the radio.”

For years, Graham’s group has issued reports with examples of what it says is bias against conservatives. For example, during an 18-month period that ended last November, his researchers counted 162 examples of PBS journalists or contributors making reference labeling some politicians “far right” or some variation, with only six called “far left.”

He said he’s not trying to shut down these stations, but resists them receiving public money.

“Let the people who listen to it do the funding,” Graham said.

Bias concerns are taken seriously, officials say

At a board meeting Friday, CPB president and CEO Pat Harrison said her agency has taken bias concerns seriously. It has increased investments in fact-based local journalism, and provided a grant to NPR to make changes in its newsroom to address issues of bias.

The court fight over public broadcasting has already begun. The president earlier this week said he was firing three of the five remaining CPB board members — threatening its ability to do any work — and was immediately sued by the CPB to stop it.

The executive order is also the latest move by Trump and his administration to utilize federal powers to control or hamstring institutions whose actions or viewpoints he disagrees with — particularly those related to media.

Since taking office in January for a second term, Trump has ousted leaders, placed staff on administrative leave and cut off hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to artists, libraries, museums, theaters and others, through takeovers of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Trump has also pushed to withhold federal research and education funds from universities and punish law firms unless they agree to eliminate diversity programs and other measures he has found objectionable.

The move against PBS and NPR comes as Trump’s administration works to dismantle the U.S. Agency for Global Media, including Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which were designed to model independent news gathering globally in societies that restrict the press.

Those efforts have faced pushback from federal courts, which have ruled in some cases that the Trump administration may have overstepped its authority in holding back funds appropriated to the outlets by Congress.

___

AP Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report. David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social

North Carolina auditor names elections board members after judges let law stand during appeal

North Carolina auditor names elections board members after judges let law stand during appeal

By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s Republican state auditor made appointments to a new State Board of Elections on Thursday, the day after an appeals court agreed a law shifting that power otherwise held by the Democratic governor could still be enforced while the measure’s constitutionality is appealed.

Auditor Dave Boliek announced three members — all proposed by the state Republican Party chairman — to the five-member board.

Two remain reserved for choices from the state Democratic Party, but Boliek said he had not received a slate of candidates from the Democratic chair. That is not surprising because Democrats and Stein are strongly opposed to the law finalized in December by the Republican-controlled General Assembly. Stein sued to overturn the law and stop its enforcement. Trial judges just last week sided with Stein and declared that stripping him of the board appointment authority was unconstitutional.

But Boliek, who was elected last fall to the post, went ahead with appointments after the intermediate-level Court of Appeals on Wednesday said the appointment switch could be carried out while broader legal questions are reviewed on appeal.

Stein asked the state Supreme Court late Wednesday to suspend the unanimous ruling of the three Court of Appeals judges and keep blocking the law. The justices had not ruled on that matter as of midday Thursday.

The appointments if upheld could mark a dramatic change in election administration in the battleground state. For over a century, the governor has picked the five board members, three of whom are traditionally members of the governor’s party. With Boliek the auditor, Republicans would now assume a majority on the board, whose duties include carrying out campaign finance laws, certifying election results and setting rules on voting administration details.

The law containing the board appointment changes said the terms of the five most recent members, which were otherwise supposed to continue until 2027, expired Wednesday and that new members would be appointed to four-year terms that would begin Thursday.

Boliek’s appointments are a political victory for the GOP, which since late 2016 has sought to erode or eliminate a governor’s authority to appoint the board. Four previous laws targeting then-Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper were blocked by courts. Voters in 2018 also rejected a constitutional amendment that would have forced the governor to pick members recommended by legislative leaders.

Republicans have complained that a governor has too much control over elections, resulting in one-party decision-making and a lack of voter confidence. But Democrats say the laws are a GOP power grab designed to give Republicans an unfair advantage in elections.

The board’s importance has been apparent in the still-unresolved November election for a state Supreme Court seat between Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs and Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin, himself a Court of Appeals judge.

Stein said Wednesday after the Court of Appeals ruling that he feared the appointment changes would help Republicans succeed at helping Griffin win the seat. The current tally has Riggs slightly ahead.

Boliek appointed on Thursday Stacy “Four” Eggers, who served on the most recent board; former state Sen. Bob Rucho; and Francis De Luca, former president of a conservative think tank.

“We need full confidence in our elections, and I’d like to thank these individuals for their willingness to serve,” Boliek said in a press release.

Lawyers for Stein argue the appointment transfer unlawfully interfered with the governor’s responsibility in the state constitution to take care that laws were “faithfully executed.” Two of three trial judges hearing the lawsuit sided April 23 with Stein. Their order also blocked a power transfer that would direct Boliek in June to choose the chairs of county election boards. But the appeals court decision set aside that judgment.

Legislative leaders said the appointments transfer was lawful, arguing the state constitution allows the General Assembly to disperse executive branch powers to carry out laws to other statewide elected officials like the auditor.

The Court of Appeals ruling favoring Republican lawmakers neither provided reasons for the judges’ ruling nor identified the judges who ruled. In such matters, the court releases their names after 90 days.

Trump national security adviser Waltz is out in a major staff shake-up after his Signal chat blunder

Trump national security adviser Waltz is out in a major staff shake-up after his Signal chat blunder

By ZEKE MILLER, AAMER MADHANI and SEUNG MIN KIM Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — White House national security adviser Mike Waltz is leaving the administration just weeks after it was revealed he added a journalist to a Signal chat being used to discuss military plans, according to two people familiar with the matter Thursday, marking the first major staff shake-up of President Donald Trump’s second term.

Waltz came under searing scrutiny in March after revelations that he added journalist Jeffrey Goldberg to a private text chain on the encrypted messaging app Signal, which was used to discuss planning for a sensitive March 15 military operation against Houthi militants in Yemen. A far-right ally of the president, Laura Loomer, has also targeted Waltz, telling Trump in a recent Oval Office conversation that he needs to purge aides who she believes are insufficiently loyal to the “Make America Great Again” agenda.

Waltz’s deputy, Alex Wong, is also expected to depart, according to the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a personnel move not yet made public. The National Security Council did not respond do a request for comment.

Waltz, who served in the House representing Florida for three terms before his elevation to the White House, is the most prominent senior administration official to depart since Trump returned to the White House. In his second term, the Republican president had been looking to avoid the tumult of his first four years in office, during which he cycled through four national security advisers, four White House chiefs of staff and two secretaries of state.

The Signal chain also showed that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth provided the exact timings of warplane launches and when bombs would drop. Waltz had previously taken “full responsibility” for building the message chain and administration officials described the episode as a “mistake” but one that caused Americans no harm. Waltz maintained that he was not sure how Goldberg ended up in the messaging chain, and insisted he did not know the journalist.

Trump and the White House — which insisted that no classified information was shared on the text chain — have stood by Waltz publicly throughout the episode. But the embattled national security adviser was also under siege from personalities such as Loomer, who had been complaining to administration officials that she had been excluded from the vetting process for National Security Council aides. In her view, Waltz relied too much on “neocons” — referring to hawkish neoconservatives within the Republican Party — as well as others who Loomer argued were “not-MAGA-enough” types.

Waltz was on television as late as Thursday morning, promoting the administration’s agreement with Kyiv that would allow the U.S. to access Ukraine’s critical minerals and other natural resources. As reports began to circulate that Waltz could be leaving the administration, Loomer appeared to take credit in a post on the social media site X, writing: “SCALP.”

“Hopefully, the rest of the people who were set to be fired but were given promotions at the NSC under Waltz also depart,” Loomer wrote in another post.

Loomer had taken a similar victory lap when several other NSC officials were dismissed last month one day after she met with Trump. Those firings included Brian Walsh, a director for intelligence; Thomas Boodry, a senior director for legislative affairs; and David Feith, a senior director for technology and national security, as well as other lower-ranking aides.

Waltz’s resignation comes as questions are swirling around Hegseth and his role in the Signal chat.

While Waltz set it up, Hegseth posted times for aircraft launches and bomb drops into the unsecured app and shared the same information with dozens of people in a second chat, including his wife and brother.

The Associated Press reported that Hegseth also bypassed Pentagon security protocols to set up an unsecured line for a personal computer in his office –- beside terminals where he was receiving classified information. That raises the possibility that sensitive information could have been put at risk of potential hacking or surveillance.

The Pentagon inspector general is investigating Hegseth’s use of Signal, and he has faced criticism from Democrats and even some Republicans. It has added to the turmoil at the Pentagon at a time when Hegseth has dismissed or transferred multiple close advisers. Nonetheless, Trump has maintained public confidence in Hegseth.

—-

Associated Press writer Tara Copp contributed to this report.

Italian Beef Meatball Sandwich Rolls

Italian Beef Meatball Sandwich Rolls

Italian Beef Meatball Sandwich Rolls

Photo Courtesy of BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com

Italian Beef Meatball Sandwich Rolls Recipe from Beef It’s What’s For Dinner

Prep time: 25 minutes

Cooking time: 50 minutes

Serving size: 12 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 recipe Italian-Style Beef Sausage
  • 2 eggs, divided
  • 1/4 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs
  • 12 cherry-sized mozzarella balls (about 6 ounces)
  • 12 ounces refrigerated pizza dough
  • 2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese

Garnish

  • Marinara sauce
  • Chopped basil leaves (optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Combine Italian-Style Beef Sausage mixture, 1 egg and bread crumbs in large bowl; mixing thoroughly. Shape into 12, 2-inch meatballs. Place a mozzarella ball in the middle of each meatball, making sure the mozzarella ball is completely covered with the beef mixture. Place meatballs on aluminum-foiled lined broiler rack coated with cooking spray. Bake in 400°F oven 24 to 27 minutes.
  2. Cut dough into 12  pieces, about 1 ounce each. Stretch each piece to cover 1 meatball, pinching the edges to seal. Place on parchment-lines shallow-rimmed baking sheet, seam-side down. Place remaining 1 egg in small bowl, beat with a fork. Brush rolls with egg; top with Parmesan cheese.
  3. Bake rolls in 400°F oven 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with marinara sauce and basil, as desired.

Cook’s Tip: Italian-Style Beef Sausage: Combine 1 pound Ground Beef (93% lean or leaner), 1 teaspoon fennel seed, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon paprika, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper in large bowl, mixing lightly, but thoroughly.

KIX Kitties and K9s: Meet Graciela!

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UNC’s Belichick defends Hudson as ‘doing her job’ after interjecting during CBS interview

UNC’s Belichick defends Hudson as ‘doing her job’ after interjecting during CBS interview

By AARON BEARD AP Sports Writer

North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick defended girlfriend Jordon Hudson for interjecting during a CBS interviewer’s questions about their relationship and said she was “simply doing her job.”

The six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach and first-time college coach at UNC issued a statement through the school Wednesday, which followed an appearance on “CBS News Sunday Morning” to promote his upcoming book on his coaching life. In the interview, Hudson objected to a question about how the two had met while Tony Dokoupil referred to her during the segment as being a “constant presence” in the interview.

“The final eight-minute segment does not reflect the productive 35-minute conversation which we had, which covered a wide range of topics related to my career,” Belichick said in his statement. “Instead, it presents selectively edited clips and stills from just a few minutes of the interview to suggest a false narrative — that Jordon was attempting to control the conversation — which is simply not true.”

Belichick also said he told his publicist with book publisher Simon & Schuster that any promotional interviews would “agree to focus solely on the contents of the book.” But CBS News pushed back in its own statement Wednesday.

“When we agreed to speak with Mr. Belichick, it was for a wide-ranging interview,” the statement said. “There were no preconditions or limitations to this conversation. This was confirmed repeatedly with his publisher before the interview took place and after it was completed.”

The awkward interview added to the attention and curiosity that has followed the 73-year-old Belichick, hired as the Tar Heels’ head coach in December after his ultra-successful run with the New England Patriots, and the 24-year-old Hudson, who has frequently posted glimpses into their relationship with social media photos. That has included her role in Belichick’s transition to college coaching, such as a March public records report by The Assembly about Belichick’s request for an athletic official at UNC to copy in Hudson on emails sent to him.

In his Wednesday statement, Belichick said he shares “both a personal and professional relationship” with Hudson and that he expected the interview would focus solely on the book release instead of his personal life. He said Hudson had “stepped in to reiterate that point to help refocus the discussion” in an effort to “ensure the interview stayed on track.”

He also said the couple has “been open about the fact that Jordon and I met on a flight to Palm Beach in 2021.”

During the CBS interview, Belichick shrugged off attention on his relationship with Hudson, saying: “Never been too worried about what everybody else thinks, just try to do what I feel like is best for me and what’s right.”

When Dokoupil asked how they met, Hudson — sitting at a nearby table — said flatly: “We’re not talking about this.”

In a statement Tuesday, InkWell Management — a literary agency working with Belichick on his upcoming book — said the interview “veered” into a discussion of Belichick’s personal life and resulted “in a raft of hostile social media posts about his personal life.”

“Bill has written an authoritative and entertaining book about success that should be judged by its contents, not by the clicks generated by the segment,” the agency said.

AAA highlights smartphone feature that could reduce distracted driving

AAA highlights smartphone feature that could reduce distracted driving

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – Distracted driving remains a leading factor in crashes across the country, despite laws and awareness efforts aimed at reducing it.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 9% of fatal crashes involve distracted driving, though many researchers believe the actual number is even higher. Despite texting bans in nearly all 50 states, distraction behind the wheel remains a consistent issue—particularly among younger drivers.

Though smartphones are often cited as a source of distraction, they may also offer a solution. Many smartphones come equipped with a “Do Not Disturb While Driving” feature that can block notifications automatically when driving is detected. This tool is built into most devices, but many drivers remain unaware of it or choose not to use it. Tiffany Wright of AAA Carolinas said that even when distraction is a known factor in a crash, it’s not always admitted.

“So a lot of people won’t readily admit that they were distracted,” said Wright. “You see it more and more, and at least at AAA, what we’ve seen over the last 10-15 years is more and more single car collisions, and that’s from people being distracted but they won’t readily admit it.”

According to DoSomething.org, sending or reading a text at highway speeds means a driver may travel the length of a football field without looking at the road. Still, research shows that younger drivers—especially those aged 18 to 24—are among the most likely to be familiar with the Do Not Disturb feature, even though usage remains inconsistent across age groups.

“It’s surprising how many people don’t know that their smartphone has a ‘do-not-disturb’ feature,” said Wright.

Surveys show that about half of people didn’t know their phones had the feature, 85% didn’t know how to use it, and 65% didn’t realize it could be activated automatically when the phone detects driving. Wright said that after a structured training process, 100% of participants not only understood how to use the feature—but also demonstrated a 40% reduction in phone use while driving.

According to HONK Technologies, using a mobile phone while driving increases the risk of a crash by up to 400%. Still, even with awareness growing, reluctance remains.

“They have FOMO, fear of missing out, they’re confused about the functionality of it, they think that it’s going to limit their access to their music or navigation systems,” said Wright. “By doing this study we were able to uncover some reasons why people are not using this feature.”

According to Groth Law, it takes just three seconds of looking away from the road for a crash to occur. AAA emphasizes that their campaign isn’t about emergencies where someone needs to break through to reach a driver—in most cases, drivers are simply commuting or running errands, and the urge to check a phone is tied more to routine distraction than urgent need.

“We’re constantly putting out campaigns…so we constantly send out messaging. We support the handheld band legislation that’s currently out there right now. Those are just some of the things that we’ve been doing,” said Wright.

Even with the proven benefits of the Do Not Disturb feature, Wright acknowledged that some people still resist using it—not because of technical barriers, but because they don’t want to miss anything.

AAA Carolinas continues to advocate for increased use of the feature because, according to the organization, it has a measurable impact.

“Us at Triple A want people to use it because we know it saves lives,” said Wright.

According to DoSomething.org, 34% of crashes happen within one minute of phone use or another distraction. Safety experts recommend that drivers visit TSA.gov or their phone settings to explore how Do Not Disturb can be used to limit distractions and prevent accidents.

Longtime North Carolina House member Sarah Stevens plans to run for state Supreme Court

Longtime North Carolina House member Sarah Stevens plans to run for state Supreme Court

MOUNT AIRY, N.C. (AP) — A veteran North Carolina Republican legislator announced Wednesday that she will run next year for the state Supreme Court, seeking the seat currently held by Democratic Associate Justice Anita Earls, who is already preparing for a reelection bid.

Rep. Sarah Stevens of Surry County said in a news release posted on social media that if elected she would “be a conservative voice for justice and families” on the court.

Stevens, 65, has served in the state House since 2009 and became a leader on judicial matters. She’s currently serving as the chairwoman of judiciary and election law committees. Stevens also served eight years as House speaker pro tempore — a title for the No. 2 elected leader in the chamber — through 2024.

“My experience as a family law attorney and a state legislator has prepared me to be a voice for those who cannot advocate for themselves,” Stevens said.

Earls’ seat is the only one of the seven on the state’s highest court currently up for election next year. Candidate filing for November 2026 elections doesn’t start until this December, with any party primaries scheduled for next March.

Earls, one of two Democrats on the Supreme Court, is a longtime civil rights lawyer. She was elected to an eight-year term in 2018, unseating GOP incumbent Barbara Jackson.

Republicans have held a majority on the state’s highest court since early 2023. Associate Justice Allison Riggs, the other Democrat on the court, remains embroiled in litigation involving her unresolved November 2024 election with Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin.

Stevens disclosed in early 2024 that she was recovering from a breast cancer diagnosis. Her treatment has since been completed.

Stevens’ decision would otherwise open her 90th House District seat in the 2026 elections.

North Carolina court says stripping governor of election board appointments can go ahead for now

North Carolina court says stripping governor of election board appointments can go ahead for now

By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina appeals court ruled Wednesday that a law stripping the governor’s authority to appoint State Board of Elections members can take effect for now, even though trial judges struck it down as unconstitutional just last week.

Three judges on the intermediate-level Court of Appeals unanimously granted the request of Republican legislative leaders to suspend enforcement of that ruling. If left intact, the decision means provisions otherwise slated to take effect Thursday would shift the appointment duties from new Democratic Gov. Josh Stein to GOP State Auditor Dave Boliek, at least temporarily.

Barring a contrary ruling by the state Supreme Court, the decision means Boliek could imminently appoint the board’s five members from slates of candidates provided by the state Democratic and Republican parties. Stein’s lawyers asked the Supreme Court late Wednesday to halt temporarily the Court of Appeals decision.

For over a century, the governor has picked the five board members, three of whom are traditionally members of the governor’s party. Under the new law, the expectation is that Republicans would assume a majority on the board.

Wednesday’s order provided neither an explanation for the decision nor the names of the three Court of Appeals judges who ruled — the court releases the names after 90 days. The court has 15 judges — 12 registered Republicans and three Democrats.

Stein and gubernatorial predecessor Roy Cooper sued over the law finalized by the GOP-dominated General Assembly in December, saying the appointment transfer in part unlawfully interfered with the governor’s responsibility in the state constitution to take care that laws were “faithfully executed.”

Legislative leaders contend that the constitution allows the General Assembly to disperse executive branch powers to several other statewide elected officials, including the auditor.

Republicans have complained that a governor has too much control over elections, resulting in one-party decision-making and a lack of voter confidence. The board’s duties include carrying out campaign finance laws, certifying election results and setting rules on a host of voting administration details.

But Democrats say the laws are a GOP power grab designed to give Republicans an unfair advantage in elections in the battleground state. The board’s importance has been apparent in the still-unresolved election for a state Supreme Court seat. It’s unclear how a new board would affect pending litigation in the race between Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs and Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin, himself a Court of Appeals judge.

Stein mentioned that election in criticizing the Court of Appeals decision Wednesday, saying on the social platform X that the order “poses a threat to our democracy and the rule of law. The Supreme Court should not allow it to stand.”

In a 2-1 decision on April 23, a panel of trial judges hearing the lawsuit sided with Stein and permanently blocked the power transfer and other provisions, including one that would have directed Boliek to choose the chairs of election boards in all 100 counties.

The dissenting judge would have upheld the law, saying the General Assembly had the final, constitutional authority to assign new powers to the state auditor.

Attorneys for House Speaker Destin Hall, Senate leader Phil Berger and Boliek quickly asked the Court of Appeals to allow the challenged law to take effect as planned while the court hears further arguments over the trial judges’ ruling.

The legislative leaders’ lawyers wrote that the two judges making up the majority — one registered Republican and one Democrat — got their legal conclusions wrong.

Bergrer said in a statement Wednesday that the Court of Appeals “rightly affirmed what we all know: the Governor is not the sole elected executive officer in North Carolina’s government.”

But Stein’s attorneys said in a legal brief earlier Wednesday that the lawmakers’ demand to permit the law’s implementation failed to justify “overturning more than a century of historical precedent and practice, numerous binding Supreme Court decisions, and last week’s presumptively correct ruling.” Terms for the current five board members otherwise would have expired in 2027.

Boliek said earlier this week he was prepared to take on the appointments transfer.

Since late 2016, the Republican-dominated legislature has sought to erode or eliminate a governor’s authority to appoint the board that administers elections in the ninth-largest state.

Four previous laws targeting Cooper were blocked by courts. Voters in 2018 also rejected a constitutional amendment that would have forced the governor to pick members recommended by legislative leaders.

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