[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6506933,"mediaKeyId","5529040-73057c0f88253e74d456c8d21a9b0850","parentId",5529040,"title","Resident criticizes invocation practice, raises questions about elections support and LGBTQ services during public comment","audioSeconds",405,"startMs",529000,"endMs",934000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5529040-73057c0f88253e74d456c8d21a9b0850&start=529&end=934","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5529040-73057c0f88253e74d456c8d21a9b0850/thumbnail_529000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6506933/Onslow-County/North-Carolina/Resident-criticizes-invocation-practice-raises-questions-about-elections-support-and-LGBTQ-services-during-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6506933-b29e4eb24316a2577a919adacce42677/orig.mp4?Expires=1773614318&Signature=UAYV~AOTDO7oUDXU4CEYrWGOAIfkdSiA9~S8zm19RpGFzy3Wt7VxK-cOtoosCRpST19IJgaodhKSL19WPwzhJKktp7UoOIdiv64FCNLLGYMFRoPAY04s~CJboWSxJtmd5yAD5L9tX1n6HsvkDDY-WnR5Z5Rx-oUL2~lc3NE64L6W-bbK5X16pQxEIDOEqvp-YachZJQm7GO~GKx6ieSP8ybBX2AUyGcvsW~smvd-~n9nGX7h3dBn8-Cd~kb0S51007b2XIvp6YvRv0~cC9oqMyUloZ5Y9YU35SgKjfrtHw8FWeb0QA1p0EWpb-CCcddlee31sxLhs0zwmRcsiSmetA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Onslow County","date","2025-08-04T18:55:57.563Z","article","Ari Rakowitz used the public-comment period at the Aug. 4 Onslow County Board of Commissioners meeting to criticize the invocation and to ask a series of questions about election funding and county support for LGBTQIA+ residents and non-Christian faiths.

Rakowitz said the board’s repeated prayers risk privileging one religion and urged commissioners to pursue “unity, sustainability, kindness, inclusion, equity, empathy, diversity, critical thinking, and compersion.” He asked whether the board of elections will receive the funding and permission to hire additional staff and resources needed “to conduct the closest thing possible to a safe, free, and fair election” under state and federal guidelines. He also asked what measurable county-supported activities — for example, drag shows or pride festivals — exist to support the LGBTQIA+ community and whether there are government-supported safe spaces where LGBTQIA+ residents and people of non‑Christian faiths can access services without being proselytized.

“By refusing to acknowledge that we exist or to treat our existence as less valuable than yours, you choose the wrong side of history,” Rakowitz said. He asked the board for answers to six questions but the public‑comment time limit ended before he could finish; the board’s rules of procedure reserve responses for the commissioner comments portion of the meeting.

The transcript records no verbal response to Rakowitz during the public‑comment period. Commissioners later noted the board would schedule a workshop for the Board of Elections to present requests and needs; the transcript contains additional comments from commissioners during the commissioner-comment period but no direct, contemporaneous answers to all of Rakowitz’s questions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Onslow County Board of Commissioners' Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","A public commenter at the Aug. 4 Onslow County commissioners meeting criticized the invocation practice and asked whether the Board of Elections has sufficient funding and whether the county supports LGBTQIA+ services and safe spaces.","taxTitle","Onslow County, North Carolina","taxId",4261,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6506936,"Onslow County proclaims Farmers Market Week; county leaders and manager invite public to market day",250,284000,534000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5529040-73057c0f88253e74d456c8d21a9b0850&start=284&end=534","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5529040-73057c0f88253e74d456c8d21a9b0850/thumbnail_284000.jpg","/articles/6506936/Onslow-County/North-Carolina/Onslow-County-proclaims-Farmers-Market-Week-county-leaders-and-manager-invite-public-to-market-day","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6506936-5de7a9cb178ac5750af95554d30c1f03/orig.mp4?Expires=1773614318&Signature=ZsMlinOXK~k-OrfpP8r2-oMXBciXWtPgJUJ~x2K-8qIfdbW9FoD2QFr3jpsPS4CD6z-cEoOyjNmnCEeBFxxOiWEGvT2rURcNAHaJXAxoaAvvc3r-whGLWJwTAQ762uZe4fUldPnbcdnCI4~59G8e0xhfrMPx9d1WpCWWxtfaqqdtLRV7E2UvaEaF7OqbMsKzeBivlaRoBpbze8iRb9E2v3PGzXzjMYPWlrizyeGByKqEnuseZgWkMZH1R9xP~1R5xKZUN542KqTSfIN47-GWDMCGihd63z0jxaUnlKuFOJ5BCoR9GIVYTltp5UheTMTKNHLDkaxFrV5XsjMH4NfM9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Onslow County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 4 issued a proclamation recognizing Onslow County Farmers Market Week (Aug. 3–9, 2025) and encouraged residents to celebrate the market’s role in local agriculture.

The proclamation, read by County Manager David Smitherin, noted the market’s history — opening in 1997, finding a permanent site in 2004 and being among early markets to operate on a military installation and to use solar panels. The proclamation assigns the week in conjunction with National Farmers Market Week and asks citizens to observe it with appropriate activities.

Chairman Padgett, who presented the proclamation at the board’s request, said he was “on the board in ’97” when the market began and praised the market’s role in bringing local farmers back into business. “I’m very proud to be part of it,” Padgett said. Marie Schwannafus, the farmers market manager, accepted the proclamation and invited the board and residents to the market on Saturday, Aug. 9. \"I invite you out on Saturday, August 9 for Farmers Market Day,\" Schwannafus said.

The proclamation text presented to the board estimates broader economic contributions of farmers markets and emphasizes supporting next-generation farmers and local food access. The board did not take formal policy action beyond adopting the proclamation.

A public‑facing calendar event (Farmers Market Day) was announced; no budgetary appropriation or other follow-up items were recorded in the transcript.","The Onslow County Board of Commissioners issued a proclamation recognizing National Farmers Market Week and invited the public to Farmers Market Day on Aug. 9.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6506942,"Onslow County approves four rezonings, moves to re-advertise parcel sale and awards $6.35M Bear Creek fire station contract",173,3472000,3645000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5529040-73057c0f88253e74d456c8d21a9b0850&start=3472&end=3645","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5529040-73057c0f88253e74d456c8d21a9b0850/thumbnail_3472000.jpg","/articles/6506942/Onslow-County/North-Carolina/Onslow-County-approves-four-rezonings-moves-to-re-advertise-parcel-sale-and-awards-635M-Bear-Creek-fire-station-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6506942-3ab7fb4424a36608e17f7c844d19b919/orig.mp4?Expires=1773614318&Signature=gFBG8VbhAP6EnQ4Uvfzzmk3Vm1dbYg1bFEfnZLfJaBz2pBcEVudNstsWhjJOYVKK8DILDl4tjxUbwIVi~XK0~9BoQwKEO0IbcpyinOJcEdyp3NtSLx~v9YQswN0OnXA737AN3zxG4~P8KLCXHHhD9pa7mgNZC6UPas7PqnPkRgoKguUs0T5HtWabxJAboYI3DFIBbNVC7fgK1nDfNA8BWoPpNgXl1Ryhp0hENudQjseXtxA6A1w8GaHf0WPuG0pVXxzdk3~nTS~iJ8ZptuoIGKEeKPz~BBE~eA6JbjaCDQVAZhucMyPiogyw-PJR3lI~xWz92qnlI3dmEUwuK4p2Vw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On Aug. 4 the Onslow County Board of Commissioners approved four zoning map amendments, authorized re-advertising a county-owned parcel, approved an updated Piney Green Volunteer Fire Department ISO district map and awarded a $6,349,160 construction contract for the Bear Creek Fire Station.

The board voted on land-use and procurement items presented by planning and development and county staff. Planning staff presented the four rezoning requests; assistant county manager Ben Warren presented the fire-station construction contract; and director of emergency services Bradley Kinlaw presented the Piney Green district update.

Votes at a glance
- PREZ2025-11 (Double R Farm): Rezoned a 12.28-acre portion of a 241.52-acre parcel from Rural Agriculture (RA) to Residential 10 (R10). Planning staff reported the site is on Merle Hill Road, served by an 12","At its Aug. 4 meeting the Onslow County Board of Commissioners approved four zoning map amendments, authorized re-advertising a surplus parcel, updated a volunteer fire district map and awarded a $6,349,160 contract for the Bear Creek Fire Station; several votes had no roll-call tallies in the transcript.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident criticizes invocation practice, raises questions about elections support and LGBTQ services during public comment

Onslow County proclaims Farmers Market Week; county leaders and manager invite public to market day

Onslow County approves four rezonings, moves to re-advertise parcel sale and awards $6.35M Bear Creek fire station contract