Independent Tribune
I am a journalist who writes for The Cabarrus Compass, a Substack that I launched in April 2025. I was formerly with the Independent Tribune in Concord, North Carolina, where I worked from June 2023 to March 2025. I wrote more than 1,100 stories covering affordable housing, homelessness, transparency in local government and Cabarrus County Schools' ongoing struggles with capacity issues, among many other issues.
I previously spent 4.5 years at the Stanly News and Press in Albemarle, North Carolina (from January 2019 to May 2023), where I wrote more than 2,100 stories on a range of topics including the pandemic, the opioid epidemic and area growth.
I majored in political science from N.C. State and am a graduate of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland. I'm also a chronic cinephile, bibliophile & foodie.
Independent Tribune
Stanly News and Press
Capital News Service (part of the University of Maryland's Journalism program)
OCEAN CITY, Maryland-As the summer tourism season comes to a close in Ocean City, Maryland, many businesses fear they may soon lose much of their seasonal workforce if the Trump administration cancels the J-1 visa program. The White House may be considering reducing the J-1 visa exchange visitor program, which brings in more than 100,000 students from foreign countries to the U.S.
Story also appeared in Washington Post
COLLEGE PARK, Maryland - While reports circulate that the Trump administration is closer to resolving questions left after last week's immigration announcement, Maryland's undocumented residents are uncertain of what comes next.
Story also appeared in Washington Post, Seattle Times, US World News and Report.
LANGLEY PARK, Maryland-After President Donald Trump's decision in early September to phase out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, immigrants who need to reapply for DACA protections-in the form of two-year renewable work permits-are quickly running out of time. The government is not accepting new applications and will stop accepting renewal applications on Oct.
After President Donald Trump's decision in early September to phase out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, immigrants who need to reapply for DACA protections - in the form of two-year renewable work permits - are quickly running out of time.
ANNAPOLIS, Maryland - The percentage of Baltimore youths charged as adults and then transferred to juvenile court has more than doubled since 2014, according to data from the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services. This is partly the result of a 2013 Juvenile Services policy, which ended the practice of holding Baltimore youths charged as adults in adult facilities.
Story also appeared in Washington Post, US News and World Report, Lexington Herald Leader
ANNAPOLIS, Maryland - Twenty years ago this month, two intrepid young directors-including a Maryland native-and three little-known actors descended upon the state to film what they thought would be a small, low-budget film. It was low-budget, but anything but small.
Story also appeared in Seattle Times, The Kansas City Star, Charlotte Observer, Raleigh News & Observer, Chicago Tribune, Baltimore Sun, San Antonio Express-News, Miami Herald, Sacramento Bee.
ANNAPOLIS, Maryland-After President Donald Trump was elected in January, some Muslim women in Maryland decided to fight back - literally. About 75 percent of U.S. Muslims feel that there is discrimination against their religious group and 68 percent feel worried under Trump, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted from January to May of this year.
Story also appeared in LA Times, The Seattle Times and Chicago Tribune.
ANNAPOLIS, Maryland-Maryland is well-known for its crab cakes and the Chesapeake Bay. But that's not all. Just since 2000, 78 films and five television shows have been shot in Maryland, according to the Maryland State Archives.
Story also appeared in Washington Post, LA Times, Seattle Times, US News and World Report, Charlotte Observer, Raleigh News & Observer, Chicago Tribune and Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News, Sacramento Bee, Lexington Herald-Leader, New Haven Register.
ANNAPOLIS, Maryland-In the chaos of war, one thing doesn't change: People need food. And during the turmoil of the ongoing Syrian Civil War, making desserts represented stability for Mohamad Nour. "All other fields can be destroyed...other fields can be ruined, except when it comes to food," he said.
Story was also published in the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Charlotte Observer & Miami Herald, among others.
An uptick in violence In Belair-Edison, common types of crime have been larceny and house break-ins, said Christina Delgado, community outreach and marketing manager for Belair-Edison Neighborhoods Inc, a community-based nonprofit organization. But during the last six months, there has been an uptick in violent crimes, especially shootings.
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My AmeriCorps Experience
This is part of my AmeriCorps experience that helped inspire me to become a journalist.