Good morning. In breaking news, both the driver who ran a pickup truck over dozens of people in New Orleans and the likely driver of the Cybertruck with a load of bombs that exploded in Las Vegas served in the Army at Fort Liberty. Read more about it here. Meanwhile, the shuttered North Carolina Veterans Home in Fayetteville could be renovated and reopen. Government Accountability Reporter Evey Weisblat has the details.
In other news, this past year has been a big one for CityView. We grew our team, our audience and our partnerships with the North Carolina journalism network. Earlier this week, you heard from CityView’s reporters as they each shared the best of their work from 2024.
Today, I’d like to highlight five CityView stories from the year produced in partnership with The Assembly, an award-winning statewide digital magazine that became our new publisher last June.
In 2024, we were on the ground with Fort Liberty’s storm relief teams in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. We captured how PFAS-contaminated communities in the Cape Fear River basin are coping with a new industrial boom, and we told stories that explained the unique political fabric of Fayetteville in an important election cycle. We’ve made it our mission to provide you with the deeply reported stories that no one else is telling about Fayetteville. And we’ve got more to come in 2025.
Welcome to CityView Today. I hope you can grab a cup of coffee and sit down with a couple of these stories today. Let me know what you think of them. I’m grateful for your readership and support this year.
Thanks for reading,
Maydha Devarajan
Interim Editor-in-Chief
1 | The War Inside
Some of the worst brain injuries soldiers face come from their own weapons, and North Carolina is at the epicenter of this growing crisis.
2 | The Wrong Side of Forever
The state and federal government are getting tougher on so-called forever chemicals. Residents of areas already hit with PFAS contamination think it’s too little, too late — and a new industrial boom is already underway.
3 | How N.C. Republicans Learned to Stop Worrying and Start Loving Early Voting
GOP lawmakers predicted 25 years ago that Democrats would use early voting to steal elections in North Carolina. In 2024, they rallied voters to embrace it to secure victory for Donald Trump.
4 | On the Ground With Fort Liberty’s Storm Relief Teams
About 1,500 soldiers from the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions and the XVIII Airborne Corps helped western North Carolina settle into a new normal in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
5 | Both Parties Try to Rally the Troops as Election Looms
North Carolina was an important battleground state in the 2024 election. National and local candidates vied for the military vote, a bloc traditionally seen as conservative, in key districts.
CityView is looking for our new Editor-in-Chief
CityView is looking for an ambitious and visionary newsroom leader to oversee its team and plan for its growth. This is an exciting opportunity to spearhead and shape the newsroom and provide crucial coverage of the Fayetteville community. More details and how to apply here.
Events
NEW YEAR WELLNESS CELEBRATION
- Where: FACTS Wellness & Retreat Center, 8175 Cliffdale Road, Fayetteville
- When: noon-4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 4
- What: Get ready to kick off the new year with a bang at our New Year Wellness Celebration, a day filled with health, happiness, and good vibes!
SUPER SCIENCE SATURDAY
- Where: Fascinate-U Children’s Museum, 116 Green St., Fayetteville
- When: 1-3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 4
- What: Join us on the 3rd Saturday of every month during Super Science Saturday, where kids can explore the fascinating world of science with fun hands-on activities.
ART EXHIBITION: MATERIAL INTEGRATION II
- Where: Red Springs Artspace, 200 S. Main St., Red Springs
- When: 2-4 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 5
- What: Red Springs Artspace is hosting “Material Integration II”, a solo art exhibition by Ray Im. He blends traditional techniques of ceramics and photography to create a unique presentation in space.
Obituaries
Jerry Lane Clemmons
Jerry Lane Clemmons, 74 of Fayetteville, NC passed away on Monday, Dec.30.
Annette Barvais Smith
Annette Barvais Smith, 89, of Raeford, North Carolina, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 29.
Elisha Robin Smith Sr.
It is with profound sorrow that we announce the earthy transition of Elder Elisha Smith Sr.
