Local News
Three Confirmed Dead in Small Aircraft Crash Near Iotla Valley Elementary School in Macon County
FRANKLIN, N.C. (Macon County) — Authorities in Macon County confirmed that three people were killed Thursday afternoon when a small aircraft crashed near Iotla Valley Elementary School.
The incident occurred along Iotla Church Road, prompting road closures and a large emergency response.
The Macon County Sheriff’s Office issued a public update reassuring parents and guardians that all students and staff at Iotla Valley Elementary School are safe.
The school is located next to Macon County Airport, and officials said the crash took place on a neighboring property, not on school grounds.
“Parents can be assured that children at Iotla Valley Elementary are safe following an airplane accident on the neighboring property,” the sheriff’s office stated in a social media post.
The North Carolina Highway Patrol confirmed that it is leading the local investigation, while the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also been notified and is monitoring the situation.
Officials have not yet released details regarding the type of aircraft involved, the cause of the crash, or the identities of the deceased.
Emergency crews remain at the scene, and portions of Iotla Church Road are expected to stay closed as investigators work through the night.
Additional updates are expected once next-of-kin notifications are completed and federal authorities provide preliminary findings.
Local News
Suspended Dearborn Ford worker Thomas Sabula received more than $320K after Trump flips him off
DEARBORN, Mich. — A suspended Ford Motor Company employee has become the focus of national attention after a confrontation with former President Donald Trump during a visit to a Dearborn assembly plant, prompting an outpouring of public support that has raised more than $324,000 for his family through an online fundraiser.
The worker, Thomas “TJ” Sabula, a 40-year-old United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 600 member, was placed on suspension pending an internal investigation following an exchange that occurred while Trump was touring the facility.
According to video later obtained and published by TMZ, an off-camera voice can be heard shouting “pedophile protector” at the former president, an apparent reference to the administration’s handling of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
In the footage, Trump appears to mouth an expletive and make a hand gesture before walking away.
The Washington Post subsequently identified Sabula as the individual who made the remark.
In an interview with the newspaper, Sabula confirmed that he was suspended after the incident and said he believes the action amounts to political retaliation.
“As far as calling him out, definitely no regrets whatsoever,” Sabula told The Post. “But I am concerned about my job. I believe I’ve been targeted for political retribution for embarrassing him in front of his friends.”
Sabula, who describes himself as politically independent, said he has never voted for Trump, though he has supported Republican candidates in the past.
In the days following the incident, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to assist Sabula and his family during his suspension.
The campaign states that Sabula is “a father of two young children, a husband, and a proud UAW Local 600 line worker,” and that the funds will be used to help cover household and living expenses “during this time of uncertainty.” Donations quickly surged past $100,000, with notable contributions reportedly made by the rock band Dropkick Murphys.
Supporters have characterized Sabula’s actions as a form of protest and free expression, while others have questioned whether his conduct violated workplace policies.
Ford Motor Company and union representatives have not publicly released details regarding the status of the internal investigation or whether disciplinary action beyond the suspension is being considered.
Following his visit to the Dearborn plant, Trump went on to deliver remarks at the Detroit Economic Club, where he had last spoken in October 2024.
The incident continues to draw attention amid broader political debate, as questions remain about workplace discipline, free speech, and the role of political expression in employment settings.