KEEPING IT 100

This weekend, I got to do something I haven’t done in a long time: travel. Not just anywhere — to the nation’s capital, to watch the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Washington Commanders  live and in person. It wasn’t just a game. It was a moment. A reminder that God’s favor doesn’t care what people say about you . I want to thank Les Lipford , who blessed me with the tickets — no hesitation, no judgment, just love. And Makeba Harper , who drove every mile with patience, grac

KINSTON, NC  — In a city where opportunities for youth are often scarce, one woman decided to flip the script — and she did it in pajamas. Nikisha Williams , a Kinston native, pulled off a free Christmas event  that brought laughter, light, and internet personality Shamar  to the halls of Kinston High School . The event, styled as a community pajama party , was open to local kids and families, offering a safe space to celebrate, connect, and be seen. “In a place like Kinston,

Royal Oak, MI  — Every night at 8 p.m., something magical happens outside Corewell Health Children’s Hospital in Metro Detroit. Volunteers gather in the cold, gripping flashlights and pointing them skyward — not for themselves, but for the children watching from hospital windows above. It’s called Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams , a beloved tradition that began in 2017  and has returned this December to bring light, hope, and connection to pediatric patients spending the holidays

Several animal shelters across Eastern North Carolina have been hit with thousands of dollars in civil penalties after state inspectors documented widespread violations of the North Carolina Animal Welfare Act , including failures in veterinary care, sanitation, and access to basic necessities like water. The fines were issued by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS)  following formal complaints and on‑site inspections. Greene County Ani

Goldsboro, N.C.  — A 13‑year‑old girl was shot and killed Sunday afternoon in Goldsboro, prompting a swift investigation that led to the arrest of three teenage boys now charged with first‑degree murder. The victim, identified by family members as Jaleeyah “LeeLee” Tune , was found suffering from a gunshot wound around 4:35 p.m.  in the 200 block of North Alpha Court , near the Alpha Arms Apartments. Goldsboro Police officers responded after receiving a report of shots fired

What It Is The Holiday Booze It & Lose It  campaign is a statewide impaired‑driving enforcement initiative run by the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program . Its purpose is to prevent drunk and drug‑impaired driving during the high‑risk Christmas and New Year travel period  through: Increased patrols Sobriety checkpoints Public awareness efforts Law enforcement in all 100 counties  participates, stepping up enforcement to remove impaired drivers before crashes occu

Kinston PD’s Vanishing Grant Announcement Raises Red Flags By Quarla Blackwell | Investigative Writer & Public Advocate The Kinston Police Department received a grant. Then they received silence. In a city where transparency is already on life support, KPD’s decision to quietly delete its own Facebook post announcing a law enforcement grant is more than suspicious—it’s a digital middle finger to public accountability. The original post, which briefly celebrated the award, van

North Carolina is seeing a sharp rise in flu cases, forcing some schools and daycares to go remote. Health officials warn that the current strain (Influenza A H3N2 subclade K) is spreading quickly, and prevention plus early treatment are key to protecting families 📰 Current Situation in North Carolina Flu surge:  The NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) reported nine flu-related deaths so far this season , already higher than last year at this point. School im

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on December 18, 2025  to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug to Schedule III  under the Controlled Substances Act. This is the biggest federal cannabis policy shift in decades, but it does not  make marijuana fully legal nationwide 📰 What Changed Rescheduling:  Marijuana moves from Schedule I (same category as heroin and LSD) to Schedule III (alongside drugs like Tylenol with codeine, steroids, and ketamine). Medical R

Kinston Mayor Don Hardy has officially launched his campaign for the North Carolina House of Representatives, challenging incumbent Chris Humphrey for the District 12 seat — reigniting a political rivalry rooted in years of local tension and contrasting leadership styles. On December 18, 2025, Mayor Don Hardy announced his candidacy for the District 12 seat in the North Carolina House of Representatives, currently held by Republican Chris Humphrey. Hardy, a Democrat and two-t

It began with a smell. Drivers in the South know the difference between a fuel leak, a forgotten fast‑food bag, and something more sinister. But when one Knoxville man popped the hood of his SUV after days of foul odor, he didn’t find a mechanical problem. He found a python — coiled neatly on the battery, soaking up the warmth. That bizarre discovery made headlines, but it’s not just a one‑off oddity. It’s a warning. Snake season is here, and the line between wild habitat and

💥 My Case: When the System Fails, People Pay I, Quarla Blackwell , received two felony charges  directly tied to the Board’s inaccurate voter rolls. The damage didn’t stop there — I was publicly defamed by local police and news outlets , in which the Police Dept. later issued apologies after admitting the post were based on false information. Despite this, I was denied the right to be heard on three separate election protests , a direct violation of state laws and statutory

🔎 The Truth Behind the Headlines Rumors keep flying that R. Kelly has walked free. Let’s be clear: he has not been released.  The singer remains incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner, North Carolina , serving a 30‑year federal sentence  for racketeering and sex trafficking. 📜 Timeline of Convictions 2021:  Convicted in New York of racketeering and sex trafficking. 2022:  Sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. Chicago Case:  Additional charges stac

“Tonight, I want to talk about something that hits close to home. Alcohol. It’s legal. It’s everywhere. And it’s undefeated. It brings out the worst in people. I’ve seen it. I’ve lived it. And now I’m watching it destroy lives. My homeboy—someone I never thought was capable—is now locked up for something I can’t even wrap my mind around. Enticing an 11-year-old. And I’m telling you, I don’t believe for a second he would’ve done that sober. But alcohol doesn’t care who you are

Here is a heartbreaking story out of St. Louis. Two people lost their lives while trying to change a flat tire on Interstate 55. Police say a woman driving a Kia pulled over around midnight when her front tire went flat. She stood outside the car while a man she knew worked on the tire. A Dodge Ram struck both of them before hitting a guardrail. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The man was rushed to the hospital, but later died from his injuries. The driver of the

Good evening, Kinston. Tonight, heavy rain showers are moving through our area. Winds are gusting near twenty miles per hour. Temperatures will drop sharply once the skies clear. By early morning, we’ll be down near eighteen degrees. That means slick roads. Wet pavement tonight will freeze into black ice by dawn. Here’s how to prepare: Bundle up. Wind chills will feel like single digits. Protect your pipes. Cover outdoor faucets. Bring pets inside. Drive carefully tomorrow mo

“Greenville police say 30‑year‑old Kendell Rascoe Jr. is once again facing serious charges — this time for first‑degree rape and first‑degree kidnapping. The charges stem from an incident reported on December 11, 2025, where investigators say the victim was forcibly restrained and sexually assaulted. Rascoe Jr. was arrested and booked into the Pitt County Detention Center, where he remains in custody. This case comes just months after Rascoe Jr. was charged in July with child

“After serving most of his life in prison, Domekio Blackwell returned home to Kinston with no home plan, no guidance, and no support from the system that confined him. He tried to rebuild his life the best he could. But on October 18, 2025, he was charged with a felony. By November 4, less than three weeks later, he was sentenced in Superior Court and sent back to prison. The sentence handed down was 15 to 27 months. What makes this case even more troubling is the speed of hi

“An Enfield man is facing one of the largest criminal case loads Halifax County has ever seen. Authorities say Travell Scott has been charged with 83 counts tied to a string of break-ins, thefts, and property crimes that span several years and affect at least 39 confirmed victims. Investigators say Scott repeatedly evaded arrest, slipping out through back doors or disappearing into wooded areas when officers closed in. But after a lengthy investigation, Enfield Police execute

Dominick Connelley, the man accused of killing his grandmother and stabbing a sheriff’s deputy, has been captured alive after nearly six weeks on the run. Deputies found him yesterday inside an abandoned cabin near Muddy Lane in Vanceboro, ending one of the most intense manhunts Eastern North Carolina has seen in years. Authorities say Connelley murdered 72-year-old Patricia Lopedote in Havelock on October 25, then set her house on fire. Just four days later, he allegedly sta