John Drescher, Author at The Assembly NC https://www.theassemblync.com/author/john-drescher/ North Carolina's digital magazine on place and power Thu, 03 Jul 2025 19:17:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/cropped-TA_Mark_Black_Square-32x32.png John Drescher, Author at The Assembly NC https://www.theassemblync.com/author/john-drescher/ 32 32 210991526 An Inspirational Duke Professor’s Last Lesson https://www.theassemblync.com/education/higher-education/tony-brown-duke-professor-cancer/ Fri, 27 Jun 2025 11:00:00 +0000 https://www.theassemblync.com/?p=49476 Tony Brown challenged his students with hard questions on life. Now 82 and facing Stage 4 cancer, he’s still pushing them.]]>

Tony Brown challenged his students with hard questions on life. Now 82 and facing Stage 4 cancer, he’s still pushing them.

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He Helped Send Her to Prison. Now They’re Friends https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/courts/prosecutor-lawyer-unc-patel-capone/ Wed, 30 Apr 2025 11:00:00 +0000 https://www.theassemblync.com/?p=44283 Rashmi Airan was a rising star at UNC before going to prison for fraud. Now she and the prosecutor who investigated her case share their story.]]>

Rashmi Airan was a rising star at UNC before going to prison for fraud. Now she and the prosecutor who investigated her case share their story.

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UNC Men’s Basketball is Having a Kodak Moment–and Not in a Good Way https://www.theassemblync.com/culture/sports/unc-mens-basketball-kodak/ Fri, 28 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.theassemblync.com/?p=38783 hubert davis in a blazer with arms crossedKodak was among the most valuable brands in the world before its insular culture contributed to its demise. UNC men’s basketball could be making the same mistake. ]]> hubert davis in a blazer with arms crossed

Kodak was among the most valuable brands in the world before its insular culture contributed to its demise. UNC men’s basketball could be making the same mistake.

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These Moms Never Stopped Fighting For Their Sons https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/patsy-clarke-eloise-vaughn-jesse-helms/ Fri, 31 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.theassemblync.com/?p=36661 Eloise Vaughn and Patsy Clarke, who lost sons to AIDS and joined forces against Jesse Helms, both died recently. ]]>

Eloise Vaughn and Patsy Clarke, who lost sons to AIDS and joined forces against Jesse Helms, both died recently. 

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Decades After a Scandal, North Carolina Places a Big Bet https://www.theassemblync.com/culture/sports/basketball-carolina-sports-betting-march-madness/ Mon, 25 Mar 2024 12:37:38 +0000 https://www.theassemblync.com/?p=16294 UNC System President Bill Friday scaled back basketball after players shaved points. Now a gambling executive sits on the board.]]>

UNC System President Bill Friday scaled back basketball after players shaved points. Now a gambling executive sits on the board.

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A Newspaper Publisher’s Biggest Regret https://www.theassemblync.com/media/charlotte-observer-rolfe-neill/ Mon, 14 Aug 2023 13:08:30 +0000 https://www.theassemblync.com/?p=9072 The Charlotte Observer’s Rolfe Neill was among the last of the regional newspaper titans.]]>

The Charlotte Observer’s Rolfe Neill was among the last of the regional newspaper titans.

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Jesse Helms, Family Values, and His Gay Granddaughter https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/jesse-helms-gay-granddaughter/ Mon, 26 Jun 2023 12:45:53 +0000 https://www.theassemblync.com/?p=8276 The senator made harsh opposition to gay rights a signature issue. Now his granddaughter is ready to talk about coming out. ]]>

The senator made harsh opposition to gay rights a signature issue. Now his granddaughter is ready to talk about coming out. 

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Rise of the ‘Street Kids’ https://www.theassemblync.com/culture/religion/rise-of-the-street-kids/ Sun, 09 Apr 2023 15:20:24 +0000 https://www.theassemblync.com/?p=6613 How a North Carolina charity and a Rwandan woman created a new model of empowerment for orphaned children. ]]>

How a North Carolina charity and a Rwandan woman created a new model of empowerment for orphaned children.

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A Minister’s Protest at Midnight https://www.theassemblync.com/culture/religion/peter-storey-apartheid/ Thu, 26 Jan 2023 15:19:34 +0000 https://www.theassemblync.com/?p=5356 Before teaching at Duke, Peter Storey ministered to South Africa’s political prisoners. In a return visit, he urged leaders to emulate Nelson Mandela’s “far-sighted magnanimity.” ]]>

Before teaching at Duke, Peter Storey ministered to South Africa’s political prisoners. In a return visit, he urged leaders to emulate Nelson Mandela’s “far-sighted magnanimity.”

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The Paradox of Power https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/legislative-power-sharing/ Sun, 08 Jan 2023 16:06:11 +0000 https://www.theassemblync.com/?p=5212 As the U.S. House struggled to elect a speaker, some former N.C. legislators recalled a dramatic coalition that overthrew an entrenched leader and created a memorable moment of bipartisanship. ]]>

As the U.S. House struggled to elect a speaker, some former N.C. legislators recalled a dramatic coalition that overthrew an entrenched leader and created a memorable moment of bipartisanship.

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