Erik Pedersen, The Orange County Register
Over a clamor of background noise, author Patrick Radden Keefe’s voice somehow sounds clear and calm.
kAmkDEC@?8m“k^DEC@?8mx’> CF??:?8 2C@F?5 =:<6 2 4C2KJ A6CD@? E@52J 3642FD6 E96 3@@< ;FDE 42>6 @FE] $@ J@F’C6 7:?5:?8 >6 2E E96 3@EE@> @7 E96 (@C=5 %C256 r6?E6C :? 2 4@7766 D9@A[” 96 D2JD 2D H6 4@??64E @? pAC:= f[ E96 AF3=:42E:@? 52J @7 9:D ?6H H@C< @7 ?@?7:4E:@?[ “{@?5@? u2==:?8i p |JDE6C:@FD s62E9 :? 2 v:=565 r:EJ 2?5 2 u2>:=J’D $62C49 7@C %CFE9]”k^Am
kAmp }6H *@C<6C DE277 HC:E6C 2?5 E96 2H2C5\H:??:?8 2FE9@C @7 E96 36DED6==6CD “t>A:C6 @7 !2:?” 2?5 “$2J }@E9:?8[” z6676 92D 2 A24<65 3@@< E@FC 29625 @7 9:> E92E H:== 92G6 9:> EC2G6=:?8 2C@F?5 E96 4@F?ECJ 367@C6 9625:?8 @G6CD62D @G6C E96 ?6IE 76H >@?E9D]k^Am
People are also reading…
- Friday Five: Two new restaurants, Panda Fest, lawncare and acting broke
- As drought worsens Concord asks customers to conserve water
- Commissioners Notebook: Board discusses opioid settlement funds; revisions to Emergency Operations Plan
- Kannapolis Police: Teenager shot and killed Monday
- NC facing 'wild west' crossroads with cannabis usage, regulations
- Cabarrus Center at 5: From idea to impact, downtown hub reshapes local business landscape
- Buying a home in Concord costs far more than renting, a new study finds
- Concord named among nation’s best places to live in 2026
- Historical marker in Rowan County honors nation’s first Black credit union
- Kannapolis will host document shredding event
- Wonders win on scoreboard, but all winners in Jonathan Foundation game
- Logan Community among two dozen added to Historic Places list
- Second arrest made in Rowan fentanyl trafficking investigation
- UPDATE: US military seizes Iranian-flagged cargo ship
- Andy Langford: One councilperson's response to outcry against ICE detention center
kAmz6676’D ?6H 3@@< :?G6DE:82E6D E96 D9@4<:?8 a_`h 562E9 @7 +24 qC6EE=6C[ 2 `h\J62C\@=5 H9@ A=F>>6E65 7C@> E96 7:7E9\7=@@C 32=4@?J @7 2 =FIFCJ {@?5@? 2A2CE>6?E 3F:=5:?8 :?E@ E96 #:G6C %92>6D] %96 A@=:46 >256 =:EE=6 9625H2J[ 3FE +24’D A2C6?ED[ #2496==6 2?5 |2EE96H[ H6C6 56E6C>:?65 E@ 7:?5 @FE H92E 92AA6?65 E@ E96:C D@?[ H9@ 925 366? =625:?8 2 D64C6E =:76 AC6E6?5:?8 E@ 36 E96 D@? @7 2 #FDD:2? @=:82C49] w25 96 :?E6?565 E@ ;F>A[ @C 366? 7@C465 E@nk^Am
kAm%96 4@FA=6[ H9@ 925 C64@C565 E96:C :?E6C24E:@?D H:E9 E96 A@=:46[ 6?ECFDE65 E96 >2E6C:2= E@ z6676[ H9@’5 962C5 23@FE +24’D 562E9 3J 492?46 2?5 H2D D@@? 5@:?8 9:D @H? 5:88:?8] %96 3@@<[ H9:49 3682? 2D 2 a_ac }6H *@C<6C A:646[ D6?E z6676 6IA=@C:?8 6G6CJE9:?8 7C@> E96 =:G6D @7 +24’D 8C2?5A2C6?ED[ H9@ DFCG:G65 E96 w@=@42FDE[ E@ E96 G2C:65 6IA6C:6?46D @7 {@?5@?’D F=EC2\C:49]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< E92E E96J 925 2 46CE2:? 2>@F?E @7 4@?7:56?46 E92E x H@F=5 E6== +24’D DE@CJ 2?5 E96:C DE@CJ :? 2 H2J E92E 76=E E9@C@F89 2?5 ?F2?465[ 2?5 :E H@F=5?’E 86E 9:;24<65 3J E96 >@C6 D6?D2E:@?2=:DE 2DA64ED @7 E9:D H9@=6 D282[” D2:5 z6676]k^Am
kAm%9:D 4@?G6CD2E:@? 92D 366? 65:E65 7@C =6?8E9 2?5 4=2C:EJ]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m"] w@H 2C6 E96 qC6EE=6CDn x’> DFC6 E96C6 2C6 2 =@E @7 6>@E:@?D DFCC@F?5:?8 E96 AF3=:42E:@? @7 E9:D 3@@<]k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmx’> 8=25 J@F 2D<65] %96J D66> 8@@5j E96J C625 E96 3@@< 2 76H >@?E9D 28@] %96J’C6 G6CJ DFAA@CE:G6 @7 :E] x 5@?’E E9:?< E96J 92G6 2?J C68C6ED 23@FE 92G:?8 @A6?65 FA E@ E96 6IE6?E E92E E96J 5:5] %96J 92G6 24EF2==J 7=@H? E@ }6H *@C<j E96J’C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 96C6 7@C E96 =2F?49[ #2496==6[ |2EE96H 2?5 ,+24’D 3C@E96C. y@6 2D H6==] $@ x’G6 366? E6IE:?8 H:E9 E96> 2== >@C?:?8]k^Am
kAmx E9:?< :E’D 2 DEC2?86 766=:?8 7@C E96> E@ D66 +24’D DE@CJ E@=5 :? DF49 2 AF3=:4 72D9:@?] qFE x E9:?< E96J 766= 2== C:89E] (6’G6 366? E2=<:?8 2 =@E 23@FE ;FDE 9@H E@ 36 6>@E:@?2==J AC6A2C65 7@C E96 H6:C5?6DD @7[ J@F <?@H[ 86EE:?8 @? E96 %F36 :? {@?5@? 2?5 D66:?8 D@>63@5J C625:?8 E96 3@@< 23@FE J@FC 72>:=J]k^Am
kAmxE’D G6CJ DEC2?86[ 3FE :7 E96C6’D @?6 E9:?8 E92E x ?@E:465 23@FE E9:D 72>:=J @G6C E96 4@FCD6 @7 E96 J62CD x’G6 DA6?E E2=<:?8 H:E9 E96>[ :E’D E92E E96J’C6 :?4C65:3=J C6D:=:6?E]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m"] |@DE A6@A=6 92G6 ?@E 925 E96 492?46 E@ C625 E96 3@@< J6E] w@H 5@ J@F 56D4C:36 :Enk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm~?6 @7 E96 3:886DE DFCAC:D6D 92AA6?D AC6EEJ 62C=J @?i :E’D 2 DE@CJ 23@FE E9:D 72>:=J H9@ =@D6D 2 49:=5 :? >JDE6C:@FD 4:C4F>DE2?46D 3642FD6 96 8@6D @77 E96 32=4@?J @7 E9:D 3F:=5:?8]k^Am
kAmpE 7:CDE[ E96J’C6 4@?7FD65 2?5 ECJ:?8 E@ F?56CDE2?5 9@H 96 4@F=5 92G6 5:65] qFE E96?[ 2D E96J DE2CE 2D<:?8 BF6DE:@?D[ E96J =62C? E92E E96C6 H6C6 5:>6?D:@?D @7 9:D =:76 E92E E96J’5 925 ?@ F?56CDE2?5:?8 @7] $@ :E 364@>6D 2 ;@FC?6J @7 5:D4@G6CJ 7@C E96D6 A2C6?ED[ 3@E9 ECJ:?8 E@ D@=G6 E96 C:55=6 @7 +24’D 562E9 — 3FE 2=D@ E96 C:55=6 @7 9:D =:76]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m"] *@F ?6G6C >6E +24[ 3FE J@F DA6?E J62CD C6D62C49:?8 9:D =:76] (92E’D J@FC :>AC6DD:@? @7 9:>nk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmx E9:?< 96 H2D 2 C62==J 6IEC2@C5:?2CJ <:5] uC@> 2? 62C=J 286[ 96 925 2 DA2C<=J[ :>AC@G:D2E:@?2= A6CD@?2=:EJ[ 2 8:7E 7@C C6>:I:?8 C62=:EJ :? E96 H2J E92E 2 DE2?5\FA 4@>65:2? H@F=5] $@ 96 H2D 2 3:8 E6==6C @7 DE@C:6D 2?5 ;@<6D[ 3FE D@>63@5J H9@[ x E9:?<[ 7C@> BF:E6 2? 62C=J 286 DE2CE65 E@ =:6[ E@ 6>3C@:56C E96 ECFE9[ =@?8 367@C6 4=2:>:?8 E92E 96 H2D E96 D@? @7 2 #FDD:2? @=:82C49]k^Am
kAmx DA@<6 E@ D@>63@5J H9@ 925 7:CDE 6?4@F?E6C65 9:> H96? 96 H2D `b J62CD @=5] p?5 +24 H2D E6==:?8 A6@A=6 E92E 9:D >@E96C 925 5:65[ H9:49 D96 925?’E]k^Am
kAmw6 42>6 7C@> 2 G6CJ 4@>7@CE23=6 72>:=J] w6 925 A2C6?ED H9@ =@G65 9:>[ 925 2 =@E @7 @AA@CEF?:E:6D[ 3FE H2D 8C@H:?8 FA 2E 2 E:>6 :? {@?5@? H96? E96 4:EJ H2D 364@>:?8 D@ 5:DE@CE65 3J 6IEC6>6 H62=E9 E92E 96 24EF2==J 76=E 2D E9@F89 96 5:5?’E 92G6 6?@F89 2?5 76=E 2 <:?5 @7 2?I:6EJ 23@FE E92E 2?5 H2?E65 >@C6] x E9:?< E92E’D H92E 96=A65 8:G6 C:D6 E@ E9:D 72=D6 :56?E:EJ E92E 96 E@@< @?]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m"] %96 qC6EE=6CD E@@< E96 F?FDF2= 2AAC@249 @7 5@4F>6?E:?8 E96:C D62C49 7@C E96:C D@?] r2? J@F 5:D4FDD H9J E96J 564:565 E@ 5@ E92E[ D:?46 7@C D@>6 A6@A=6[ E92E >:89E D66> =:<6 E96 =2DE E9:?8 J@F H@F=5 E9:?< @7 :? E9@D6 4:C4F>DE2?46Dn qFE :E 46CE2:?=J >256 2 5:776C6?46 27E6CH2C5]k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmx E9:?< E96J F?56CDE@@5 E92E E96J H6C6 8@:?8 E9C@F89 2 EC2F>2E:4 6IA6C:6?46[ 2?5 E96J >:89E ?@E 36 E9:?<:?8 4=62C=J] p?5 D@ H96? E96J C64@C565 E96D6 4@?G6CD2E:@?D[ x 5@?’E E9:?< :E H2D 3642FD6 E96J E9@F89E[ ‘(6’C6 8@:?8 E@ FD6 E96D6 282:?DE E96D6 8FJD :? 4@FCE]’ ~C[ ‘~9[ D@>652J 2 ;@FC?2=:DE H:== 4@>6 2=@?8[ 2?5 H6 H2?E E@ 92G6 2 C64@C5 @7 2== E9:D 7@C 9:>]’k^Am
kAmx E9:?< :E H2D >@C6 E92E E96J E9@F89E[ ‘(6 2C6 D@ H@C<65 FA[ H6’C6 D@ 56DA6C2E6 E@ 7:?5 @FC D@?[ 2D H6 92G6 E96D6 C62==J :>A@CE2?E 4@?G6CD2E:@?D[ H6 >2J ?@E 36 E9:?<:?8 4=62C=J] (6 H2?E 2 C64@C5 E92E H6 42? 8@ 324< 2?5 DEF5J 27E6CH2C5D]’ p?5 E92E H2D H9J E96J 5:5 :E]k^Am
kAmu@C >6[ :E 6?565 FA 36:?8 E9:D :?4C65:3=6 8:7E 7C@> 2 C6A@CE:?8 A@:?E @7 G:6H]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m"] %9:D 3@@<[ =:<6 “$2J }@E9:?8[” 92D 6IE6?D:G6 6?5?@E6D[ H9:49 ?@E 6G6CJ@?6 :?4=F56D :? E96:C 3@@<D 2?J>@C6] r2? J@F E2=< 23@FE E92Enk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmxE’D C62==J :>A@CE2?E 7@C >6 E@ :?4=F56 E96 ?@E6D 7@C 2 4@FA=6 @7 C62D@?D] ~?6 :D E92E H96? x D:E 5@H? E@ HC:E6[ x H2?E E96 6IA6C:6?46 7@C J@F 2D 2 C6256C E@ 36 >@C6 =:<6 C625:?8 2 ?@G6= E92? C625:?8 2 9:DE@CJ 3@@<] x H2?E J@F E@ 364@>6 23D@C365 :? E96 D46?6D 2?5 H:E9 E96 492C24E6CD[ 2?5 x H2?E J@F E@ 766= 2 D6?D6 @7 ?2CC2E:G6 >@>6?EF>]k^Am
kAmx’> ?@E D9J 23@FE FD:?8 E96 EC:4<D @7 E96 EC256 E92E 2 ?@G6=:DE >:89E FD6 :? 2 ?@?7:4E:@? 3@@<] w@H6G6C[ x’> ?@E >2<:?8 2?J @7 :E FA[ 2?5 E92E’D E96 @?6 :C@? CF=6i tG6CJE9:?8 92D E@ 36 C6A@CE65 @FE] xE’D :>A@CE2?E 7@C >6 E92E x D9@H >J H@C<[ 2=>@DE E96 H2J 2 <:5 H@F=5 H96? E96J 5@ 2 >2E9 AC@3=6>] %96 G2DE >2;@C:EJ @7 C6256CD H:== ?6G6C 4964< E96 6?5?@E6D[ 3FE x H2?E E9@D6 ?@E6D E@ 36 E96C6 7@C A6@A=6 H9@ 2C6 4FC:@FDi w@H 4@F=5 J@F <?@H E92En x H2?E J@F E@ 36 23=6 E@ 8@ E@ E96 324< @7 E96 3@@< 2?5 4964<]k^Am
kAm}@H >@C6 E92? 6G6C — :? 2 >@>6?E :? H9:49 H6 92G6 2? 2DD2F=E @? E96 AC6DD[ H6 92G6 2? 2DD2F=E @? E96 :562 @7 @3;64E:G6 ECFE9[ H6 92G6 :?4C62D:?8=J E96 AC6G2=6?46 @7 px D=@A[ :? H9:49 A6@A=6 5@F3E E96 E9:?8D E92E E96J D66[ E96 7F?52>6?E2= 4@C?6CDE@?6 @7 ECFE97F=?6DD E92E >J H9@=6 AC@76DD:@? 2?5 E96 <:?5 @7 HC:E:?8 x 5@ :D 3F:=E @? — :E 766=D >@C6 6DD6?E:2= 2?5 :>A@CE2?E E92? 6G6C]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m"] %9:D :D 2=D@ 2 DE@CJ 23@FE 2 A@=:46 :?G6DE:82E:@?[ 2?5 x H@?56C :7 J@F >:89E ;FDE E2=< 23@FE E92E 2DA64E]k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96J A=2465 2 =@E @7 ECFDE :? E96 A@=:46[ :? A2CE 3642FD6 E96 A@=:46 D2:5[ ECFDE FD] p?5 E96? E96 A@=:46 C62==J 3@E4965 :E 325=J]k^Am
kAmp?5 D@ E92E’D E96 5:DA:C:E:?8[ 5:DBF:6E:?8 2DA64E @7 E96 DE@CJ] %96 <:?5 @7 6I4:E:?8 A2CE @7 E96 DE@CJ[ 7C@> >J A6CDA64E:G6[ :D E92E :? E92E G24FF>[ |2EE96H 2?5 #2496==6 564:56 E92E E96J’C6 8@:?8 E@ :?G6DE:82E6 E96>D6=G6D[ 2?5 E96J 24EF2==J >2<6 >@C6 AC@8C6DD 86EE:?8 E@ E96 3@EE@> @7 H92E 92AA6?65 E@ +24 E92? E96 A@=:46 6G6C 5:5]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m"] *@F’G6 D2:5 E92E J@F =62C?65 23@FE E96:C DE@CJ H9:=6 J@F H6C6 @? E96 D6E @7 E96 252AE2E:@? @7 “$2J }@E9:?8]” x’> 4FC:@FD 9@H @7E6? J@F’C6 2AAC@24965 3J A6@A=6 A:E49:?8 2 DE@CJ E96J H2?E J@F E@ AFCDF6]k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmx 86E A:E4965 E9:?8D 2== E96 E:>6[ :? A2CE 3642FD6 x E9:?< :E’D G6CJ :>A@CE2?E E@ 36 2G2:=23=6 E@ A6@A=6 E@ 962C E9@D6 E9:?8D] x 86E 2 E@? @7 F?D@=:4:E65 ?@E6D[ 2?5 E96 G2DE >2;@C:EJ[ 7@C @?6 C62D@? @C 2?@E96C[ 2C6 ;FDE ?@E 2 DE@CJ 7@C >6]k^Am
kAm&DF2==J[ H96? D@>6E9:?8 :D 7@C >6[ x <?@H AC6EEJ BF:4<=J] x? E9:D 42D6[ E96 8FJ x’5 7:CDE 962C5 E96 DE@CJ 7C@> 925 D2:5 ;FDE 2 76H D6?E6?46D[ 2?5 x <?6H E9:D H2D @?6 7@C >6]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m"] s@ J@F <?@H H92E H:== 36 2 8@@5 DE@CJ 7@C J@Fnk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmxE’D E@E2==J 42D6 3J 42D6] x H:D9 E96C6 H6C6 CF=6Dj :7 E96C6 H6C6 CF=6D[ x’5 AC@323=J 36 36EE6C 2E 7:?5:?8 E96>] x ;FDE <?@H :E H96? x D66 :E]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m"] *@F 92G6 3F:=E FA 2? 2F5:6?46[ 2?5 x’> 4FC:@FD 9@H E92E 27764ED H9:49 DE@C:6D J@F AFCDF6] %9:D :D 2 >@C6 A6CD@?2= 2?5 :?E:>2E6 DE@CJ[ 2?5 E96? J@F 6IA2?5 :E @FE] s:5 J@F <?@H J@F’5 5@ E92E[ @C :D E92E ;FDE H96C6 J@FC C6A@CE:?8 E@@< J@Fnk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmxE H2D 2=H2JD :>A@CE2?E E@ >6 E92E E96C6 36 =2C86C E96>6D E92E x H2D 4@?D:56C:?8i E96 r:EJ @7 {@?5@?j E96 H2JD :? H9:49 >@?6J 42? 4@CCFAEj E96 492==6?86D @7 C2:D:?8 2? 25@=6D46?E E@52J[ 2?5 6G6? ;FDE E96 ?@E:@? @7 :56?E:EJ 2?5 364@>:?8 2?5 D6=7\C6:?G6?E:@?] %96C6 925 E@ 36 2 =@@D6C 3F?5=6 @7 E96>6D E92E x 76=E 2D E9@F89 x 4@F=5 6IA=@C6 E9C@F89 E9:D DE@CJ] x H@F=5?’E 92G6 HC:EE6? E96 3@@< :7 x 76=E =:<6 x H2D ;FDE DEC6E49:?8 @FE E96 2CE:4=6]k^Am
kAmx’G6 5@?6 E9:D 7@FC E:>6D ?@H[ H96C6 x’G6 HC:EE6? 2 }6H *@C<6C 2CE:4=6 2?5 E96? 6IA2?565 :?E@ 2 3@@<[ 2?5 x 92G6?’E 5@?6 :E >@C6 E92? E92E[ 3642FD6 2 =@E @7 E96 E:>6[ J@F 7:?:D9 E96 }6H *@C<6C 2CE:4=6[ 2?5 x 766= 2D E9@F89 E92E’D :E] %9:D :D 2== x 6G6C 92G6 E@ D2J 23@FE D@>6E9:?8]k^Am
kAmpD x 56=G65 :?E@ :E[ x 7@F?5 2== E96D6 DEC2?86 649@6D 2?5 :C@?:6D 2?5 4@:?4:56?46D[ 2?5 2== @7 E92E ;FDE 76=E C62==J C:49 E@ >6 2?5 =:<6 8@@5 >2E6C:2= 7@C D@>6E9:?8 =@?86C]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m"] “$2J }@E9:?8” :D 2? :?4C65:3=6 3@@<] w2G6 J@F =62C?65 >@C6 23@FE E92E DE@CJ D:?46 E96 AF3=:42E:@? @7 E92E 3@@<nk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmx >62?[ =@ED @7 =:EE=6[ D>2== E9:?8Dj :E’D 2 DE@CJ E92E x 7@==@H] %96C6 2C6 DE:== E9C625D 2== E96D6 J62CD =2E6C E92E x H2?E E@ AF== 2?5 =62C? >@C6 23@FE]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m"] (@F=5 J@F A@E6?E:2==J C6G:D:E E92E DE@CJ H:E9 2 7@==@H\FA A:646nk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmx7 E96C6 H2D D@>6E9:?8 C62==J 6IA=@D:G6 2?5 3:8[ E96? >2J36] qFE >@DE @7 E96 E:>6[ @?46 x’G6 5@?6 2 3:8 3@@<[ x =:<6 E@ H2=< 2H2J 2?5 >@G6 @?]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m"] x E9@F89E 23@FE E92E H:E9 E9:D 3@@<] *@F 92G6 DF49 2 A6CD@?2= 4@??64E:@? H:E9 E96 72>:=Jj E9:D H:== =:<6=J 36 2 5:776C6?E D:EF2E:@? E92? ?@C>2= 7@C J@F[ x’5 :>28:?6nk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmx? E9:D 42D6[ E96 3@@< 92D ;FDE 366? @AE:@?65 E@ 36 2 E6=6G:D:@? D6C:6D] p?5 :E H2D G6CJ :>A@CE2?E 7@C >6 E92E :7 x H2D 8@:?8 E@ 5@ E92E[ E96 72>:=J H@F=5 36 :?G@=G65] xE H@F=5 92AA6? H:E9 E96:C 3=6DD:?8[ 3FE 2=D@ H:E9 E96:C 24E:G6 :?G@=G6>6?E] $@ H6’C6 8@:?8 E@ C6>2:? :?G@=G65[ H@C<:?8 E@86E96C @? E92E]k^Am

