SUMMARY: Despite economic uncertainty, people are still spending on Mother’s Day, with an average of \$259 projected for gifts, up \$5 from last year, according to the National Retail Federation. Consumers are adjusting by opting for less expensive flower arrangements, such as fewer roses. Michael Castro, for example, purchased flowers and plans a family dinner. Local businesses like Fallon’s Flowers and The Dairy Chocolate are seeing steady sales, with The Dairy Chocolate hosting a market featuring small businesses. Despite rising costs due to tariffs, vendors are offering special treats like cocktail-inspired ganache for Mother’s Day.
A new report says people plan to spend an average of $259 on Mother’s Day gifts. That’s up $5 from last year.
SUMMARY: Father William Lego, a former classmate of Pope Leo XIV, reflects on their shared journey to priesthood. They met in 1966 and studied together at Saint Augustine’s Seminary, Villanova University, and the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Lego describes Robert Prévost, now Pope Leo XIV, as a capable and studious individual with a good sense of humor. While their paths diverged, with Prévost studying in Rome and Lego remaining in Chicago, Lego believes Pope Leo will carry forward the same qualities of respect and admiration for others that he exhibited during their seminary years.
Father William Lego of St. Turibius said he met Cardinal Robert Prevost in 1966. They spent the next two decades going to school, pursuing the path to priesthood.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-05-09 12:37:00
State Auditor Dave Boliek’s office discovered that 1,011 employees across 13 state agencies had out-of-state addresses listed on their W-2 forms. Many were outdated due to moves to North Carolina. Of these, 317 were located outside neighboring states like South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The auditor’s office helped agencies update employee information and recommended annual reminders for employees to verify and update their contact and tax details. The report emphasized the importance of proper documentation to determine state tax residency, as North Carolina requires residents to file income tax returns annually.
(The Center Square) – Having discovered an employee in his office not commuting to work and living outside of North Carolina, state Auditor Dave Boliek’s office checked state agencies and found 1,011 with out-of-state addresses on W-2 forms.
Many are simply outdated after moves to North Carolina.
The Rapid Response Division of the auditor’s office says 317 of those were not in bordering states South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. It did not give a number for the border state of Georgia. The total was within 13 state agencies.
A release from Boliek’s office says, “Multiple agencies reported back that employees had not properly updated the address on their W-2 form since relocating to North Carolina. OSA confirmed with the state agencies the employees were accounted for. Through proactive engagement, OSA assisted other agencies in properly updating the address on employee W-2 forms.”
The report concludes with the recommendation, “State agencies should annually remind all employees to update their contact information as well as tax information and annually verify said contact information and tax information is up-to-date and correct.”
Tax laws identify residents, part-time residents and nonresidents with respect to paying state income tax.
A nonresident “resides in North Carolina for a temporary or transitory purpose and is, in fact, a domiciliary resident of another state or country,” or “does not reside in North Carolina but has income from sources within North Carolina and is, in fact, a domiciliary resident of another state or country.”
Part-time means having moved in or out and having residency in another state during the tax year. The Filing Requirements Chart determines if there is need to file a state income tax return.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The content primarily reports on a factual event, detailing the discovery of out-of-state addresses on W-2 forms by the North Carolina Auditor’s office. It provides an explanation of the findings, offers an official recommendation for improved employee address verification, and clarifies tax residency rules. The tone and language are neutral and factual, without any discernible political or ideological bias. The article does not advocate for a particular political stance but instead focuses on reporting an issue and offering a corrective recommendation. As such, it adheres to a neutral, informational approach with no overt political positioning.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-05-09 10:27:00
Western Carolina University (WCU) is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights for alleged Title IX violations related to failing to ensure sex-separated intimate spaces. Credible reports claim a male was allowed to room in a female dorm and the university investigated a female who asked a male to leave a female locker room. Acting assistant secretary Craig Trainer condemned WCU’s alleged disregard for federal anti-discrimination laws and retaliation against female students. WCU asserts compliance with Title IX and will cooperate with the investigation. The inquiry follows a National Review report highlighting outdated policies since 2017.
(The Center Square) – Western Carolina University is under investigation for Title IX violations by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
The Cullowhee school, a member of the University of North Carolina System, faces accusations of failing to “ensure sex-separated intimate spaces in federally funded institutions of higher education,” a release from the Education Department says. It further says “credible reports” indicate Western let a male room with a female in a girls’ dormitory, and in another instance, the school investigated a female for asking a male to leave a female locker room.
Craig Trainer, acting assistant secretary for the Office of Civil Rights, said in the release, “WCU’s reported contempt for federal antidiscrimination laws and indifference to, and retaliation against, girls who have spoken up about males invading their intimate spaces is simply unacceptable. After fighting for years to secure Title IX protections, women must again fight hostile institutions to ensure their right to equal protection and opportunity in sports, living spaces, and intimate facilities is respected.
“The Trump-McMahon Department of Education will continue to deploy every lawful means to eradicate this wholly unnecessary and egregious violation of women and girls’ civil rights.”
In an email to The Center Square, the university through its communications office said, “Western Carolina University acknowledges that we have received a notice of investigation from the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. We believe that our campus policies and procedures are compliant with Title IX and all other federal and state laws. We will work with OCR to fully resolve this complaint.”
The Education Department’s link for “credible reporting” is to the outlet National Review, the 1955 creation of William F. Buckley Jr. and arguably among the most prominent of conservative national media organizations. It published a story Tuesday saying the school hasn’t updated Title IX policy since President Donald Trump took office and issued several executive orders; and it cited public records given to it by Speech First.
The story cites a Jan. 22 email from a compliance officer.
The incident involving the school initiating a probe against a female student for a locker room, or bathroom, incident is from 2024 and involves Payton McNabb. The Education Department says the investigation was dropped “but WCU continues to assert that it will not change its policies to comply with Title IX.”
The Center Square is seeking comment from the UNC System leadership through its media relations office.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Right
The article presents a factual report on an investigation into Western Carolina University by the U.S. Department of Education for Title IX violations. While the content is largely neutral in reporting on the investigation and the university’s response, the use of quotes from Craig Trainer, a figure associated with the Trump administration, and the citation of National Review, a prominent conservative media outlet, suggests a subtle right-leaning framing. The tone of the Department of Education’s statement, particularly the use of terms like “contempt” and “indifference,” echoes a more conservative perspective on the issue. This framing aligns with a conservative stance on gender and Title IX issues, emphasizing the protection of women’s spaces against perceived violations. However, the article refrains from explicitly offering an ideological viewpoint, focusing instead on the investigation and the facts as presented. Therefore, the bias is more evident in the sources and language used rather than in overt advocacy or opinion.
