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If you live in Wilson, Greene, or Wayne County, there’s a good chance you’ll see this race on your ballot: NC State Senate District 4 And one of the names on it is Jessica “Jess” Rivera. She’s a Marine veteran. A barber. A small-business owner. A Wilson resident. And now she’s challenging an incumbent state senator in a race that has attracted attention from several statewide and national political organizations. So who is Jess Rivera? Why are outside groups paying attention

Okay, be honest. When you think about the November election, you’re probably thinking about candidates. Who’s running for Congress? Who’s running for sheriff? Who’s running for school board? But then you get toward the bottom of your ballot and suddenly you see something that looks like it came straight out of a law-school textbook: CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. And now you’re standing there thinking: “Wait… what am I voting on?” That’s exactly why we’re breaking this down. Becau

Nearly 17 years of experience, a commitment to Wilson County, and a vision for leading the Sheriff's Office. What happens when someone who's spent nearly 17 years working within the Wilson County Sheriff's Office decides he wants to lead it? For Brandon Barbrey, the decision isn't just about pursuing a new position. He says it's about taking responsibility for an agency and community he's dedicated much of his career to serving. But here's what I wanted to know: What would he

From fighting crime to rebuilding community trust and changing how the animal shelter operates, here's what Knight says he would prioritize if elected. When you think about the sheriff, you probably think about deputies, arrests, and the county jail. But did you know the Wilson County Sheriff's Office is also responsible for the animal shelter? Yep! And that's just one of the responsibilities that makes this local election worth understanding.On November 3, Wilson County vote

When you think about somebody running for school board, you might automatically think: Teacher. Principal. Educator. But Jennifer Bennington is coming to this race from a different angle. She’s an attorney. A former social worker. A parent. A small-business owner. Someone who works with Wilson County DSS and families. And now she wants to bring that experience to the Wilson County Board of Education, District 7. So who is Jennifer Bennington? And what does she believe her bac

Early voting starts Thursday, October 15 And before everybody gets on Facebook asking: “Where do I vote?”“Do I need ID?”“What if I forgot to register?”“Can I vote anywhere?” Let’s put everything you need in one place. Because voting should not feel like a scavenger hunt. First: When Is Early Voting? North Carolina’s in-person early voting period for the 2026 general election runs: Thursday, October 15 through Saturday, October 31 at 3 p.m. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.

Tekicey Jones has spent more than two decades inside classrooms. Now she wants a seat at the table where some of the decisions affecting those classrooms are made. Jones is running for the Wilson County Board of Education, District 3, the seat currently held by Dr. Christine Fitch. Wilson County Schools says Fitch was first appointed to the board in 1989 and that her current term expires in December 2026. District 3 includes schools such as Hearne, Vick, Darden, Forest Hills,

Okay… so we already talked about the constitutional amendments. We already talked about the judges. But if you’ve pulled up your sample ballot, you probably noticed something: There is a WHOLE lot more on there. U.S. Senate. Congress. NC Senate. NC House. District Attorney. Sheriff. County commissioners. School board. Judges. Referenda. And depending on where you live, you may have even more local races. So if you’ve ever looked at your ballot and thought: “Okay… I know who t

Okay… be honest. You get to the judicial races on your ballot and suddenly you see a bunch of names under: NC SUPREME COURT NC COURT OF APPEALS …and you’re sitting there like: “Okayyyyy… but what do these people actually DO Because judicial races usually don’t get the same attention as president, governor, Congress, sheriff, school board, or county commissioners. But these judges can serve eight-year terms. So before we even talk about the people running, we need to understa

During COVID, we called people essential. We clapped for them. We thanked them. We depended on them. But now? Most of those same people are still dealing with the stress, the burnout, and the long-term effects… and a lot of the support they had is gone. So the real question is: What actually changed… and what didn’t? Lately, I’ve been talking to essential workers right here in our community: nurses, teachers, truck drivers, and more. Not just surface-level conversations eit

Many residents in Nash County have been asking why their electricity bills keep increasing and whether they have a chance to speak up about it. After looking into the current rate case involving Duke Energy Progress, here’s what residents should know. The decision about whether Duke Energy can raise rates is made by the North Carolina Utilities Commission. When a rate increase is proposed, the commission holds public hearings where customers can share how higher utility costs

In the past few days, many people in Wilson have been talking about a City Council discussion involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Social media quickly filled with rumors, concerns, and strong opinions including claims that Wilson might become a “sanctuary city.” But after reading the full report from The Wilson Times and looking at what was actually said during the meeting, it’s clear the situation is more complicated than the headlines suggest. As some

Every time you hear “there’s no funding,” there’s usually more to the story. Enter: County Commissioners. What Do County Commissioners Do? County commissioners are often the gatekeepers of money. They influence: School funding levels Health and social services Infrastructure and maintenance Emergency services Local taxes and budgets They decide what gets funded, what gets delayed, and what gets labeled “not a priority.” Why This Role Deserves More Attention Budgets are

It’s Time We Talk About Who’s in Charge of Our Babies We trust a small group of people to make decisions about our schools, our teachers, and our children’s futures. But when was the last time we really looked at who those people are? Across the country, school boards quietly shape what happens in classrooms every single day often without much public attention. And if we’re being honest, most of us weren’t taught to pay attention to them at all. That’s a problem. Because acco

A breakdown of the local roles shaping our schools, safety, and everyday life. Who’s Really in Charge of Public Safety? When people think “public safety,” they usually think laws passed in Washington or something they see on the news. But the truth is, public safety is shaped much closer to home by someone most people only think about once every four years, if that. The sheriff. What Does a Sheriff Actually Do? The sheriff isn’t just another law enforcement title. This role

Most people are taught that democracy happens on Election Day. That’s convenient and incomplete. We’re told to vote, post an “I voted” sticker, and move on. But in reality, the most important decisions in politics happen before anyone votes and long after the cameras leave. Filing deadlines.Court rulings.Board appointments.Procedural changes. These moments quietly shape outcomes long before ballots are cast. Real power doesn’t live on ballots alone: it lives in engagement

How one vote, one decision, or one filing can change your entire neighborhood. When people think about politics, their minds usually go straight to Washington, D.C. the White House, Congress, the President. But the truth is, the decisions that affect your everyday life most often aren’t made on Capitol Hill. They’re made right here at home. Local politics shape your schools, your streets, your housing costs, and even how safe your community feels. And sometimes, all it takes

When you hear grassroots , you might think about the grass in your yard 🌱 but in politics, it means something powerful: change driven by everyday people . ✨ What It Means Grassroots movements are built from the ground up. They aren’t led by billionaires or corporations they’re fueled by neighbors, families, and communities working together. Think of it as the people’s power . 📖 A Little History Some of the biggest moments in American history started as grassroots moveme

Let’s get real about something I hear way too often “ Black folks are supposed to vote Democrat .” “ Republicans only care about white people . ” 👀 Sound familiar? It’s a myth that’s been floating around in barbershops, cookouts, and even church pews but let’s be clear: it’s not that simple, and it never was. Quick history check: Did you know that the Republican Party was once seen as the party of freedom and progress for Black Americans? Abraham Lincoln? Republican .

Let’s talk about the uncomfortable truth nobody wants to say out loud: When too many people run for the same seat especially from the same political circle or community we end up dividing the vote and handing power to the opposition. It’s happening right now in Wilson. What Is Vote-Splitting? Vote-splitting is when two or more candidates with similar platforms or values run in the same race, and instead of one of them winning, they split the support between them , allowing