Ben Pennington
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Articles by Ben Pennington
Bull riding at NC rodeo provides a ‘safe place’ to belong. Photos tell the story
Every Sunday at Shady Acres Rodeo in Hope Mills, riders and volunteers create a welcoming community that helps young people find a place and community, and supports those facing mental health challenges. The rodeo has become like family for many who come to test themselves against the bulls, or to cheer on the participants.
A place for the young and the lost: How an NC rodeo seeks to save lives
Editor’s note: This story contains references to suicide, which may be disturbing for some readers. As the sun fell below the trees, Tyler Gaines shouted to his fellow bull rider as he mounted a bull in the bucking chute. He was seconds from entering the ring. “Remember who you are!” Gaines yelled. “Remember why you started this!” As the gate crashed open, dirt launched in the air. Gaines watched the animal’s every move.
Bull riding at NC rodeo provides a ‘safe place’ to belong. Photos tell the story
Every Sunday at Shady Acres Rodeo in Hope Mills, riders and volunteers create a welcoming community that helps young people find a place and community, and supports those facing mental health challenges. The rodeo has become like family for many who come to test themselves against the bulls, or to cheer on the participants.
A place for the young and the lost: How an NC rodeo seeks to save lives
Editor’s note: This story contains references to suicide, which may be disturbing for some readers. As the sun fell below the trees, Tyler Gaines shouted to his fellow bull rider as he mounted a bull in the bucking chute. He was seconds from entering the ring. “Remember who you are!” Gaines yelled. “Remember why you started this!” As the gate crashed open, dirt launched in the air. Gaines watched the animal’s every move.
At Shady Acres Rodeo, riders test their limits — and find a place where 'it's okay to not be okay'
Every Sunday at Shady Acres Rodeo in Hope Mills, NC, is a game of organized chaos. It's also a place where riders and volunteers create a supportive community that helps young people facing mental health struggles.
At Shady Acres Rodeo, riders test their limits — and find a place where 'it's okay to not be okay'
Every Sunday at Shady Acres Rodeo in Hope Mills, NC, is a game of organized chaos. It's also a place where riders and volunteers create a supportive community that helps young people facing mental health struggles.
At Shady Acres Rodeo, riders test their limits — and find a place where 'it's okay to not be okay'
Every Sunday at Shady Acres Rodeo in Hope Mills, NC, is a game of organized chaos. It's also a place where riders and volunteers create a supportive community that helps young people facing mental health struggles.
A place for the young and the lost: How an NC rodeo seeks to save lives
Editor's note: This story contains references to suicide, which may be disturbing for some readers. As the sun fell below the trees, Tyler Gaines shouted to his fellow bull rider as he mounted a bull in the bucking chute. He was seconds from entering the ring. "Remember who you are!" Gaines yelled. "Remember why you started this!" As the gate crashed open, dirt launched in the air. Gaines watched the animal's every move.
Bull riding at NC rodeo provides a ‘safe place’ to belong. Photos tell the story
Every Sunday at Shady Acres Rodeo in Hope Mills, riders and volunteers create a welcoming community that helps young people find a place and community, and supports those facing mental health challenges. The rodeo has become like family for many who come to test themselves against the bulls, or to cheer on the participants.
Bull riding at NC rodeo provides a ‘safe place’ to belong. Photos tell the story
Every Sunday at Shady Acres Rodeo in Hope Mills, riders and volunteers create a welcoming community that helps young people find a place and community, and supports those facing mental health challenges. The rodeo has become like family for many who come to test themselves against the bulls, or to cheer on the participants.
Triple-digit heat wave underway continues. The Triangle has ‘extreme’ heat risk.
A heat advisory is in effect from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 2 for the Triangle. ben.pennington@newsobserver.com Key Takeaways AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom. Read our AI Policy. The Triangle is under a heat advisory Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Raleigh faces extreme heat risk through Friday with a heat index up to 107. Wake, Durham and Orange county libraries are open as cooling stations.
Two hot meals a week helped keep Southeast Raleigh youth fed this summer
Kenya Lawrence walked into Redeeming Love Missionary Baptist Church one Wednesday this summer with two of her children to pick up lunch. That day, they had ground beef and cheese with tortilla chips, vegetables and chocolate milk. The meals provided her children with a hot lunch twice a week during the summer, taking some of the load off Lawrence’s grocery budget. She receives SNAP benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and said she often has to make that money stretch.
Apex will move downtown fire crews. Residents fight to preserve Station 1
Apex has decided to move its fire engine and crew out of their longtime downtown fire station. Whether the building itself survives is another question. More than 150 people attended Tuesday’s Town Council meeting, with some standing at the back of the room. Many were there over the future of Fire Station 1. For some former firefighters and longtime residents, preserving the brick, downtown firehouse alone would not preserve what makes Station 1 important.
SC has 3 of the best sunset-watching spots in the US, survey says. Here’s where & why
South Carolina has one of the best sunset-watching spots in the country. Ben Pennington ben.pennington@newsobserver.com Nothing closes a day quite like a vibrant sunset. Even in the most worn-out places, the sun’s parting glow turns the ordinary into something precious. Yet, certain places have a way of making a beautiful sunset even grander. A Mission for Michael surveyed 3,042 people and asked them to identify the best free, public and city-based sunset spots across the country.
News & Observer photojournalists capture scenes from the Triangle, NC
Here’s a curated selection of from around the Triangle and beyond as captured through the lenses of News & Observer photojournalists. This feature can be seen in Sunday’s newspaper, as well as in our online Edition. See it at eedition.newsobserver.com. Noah Kahan took the stage at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh on Saturday, July 25, 2026, as a part of his 2026 “The Great Divide Tour.” The concert’s opening artists included Gigi Perez and Annabelle Dinda.
How much did NC State make from the Noah Kahan concert at Carter-Finley Stadium?
Singer-songwriter Noah Kahan played a sold out show at NC State University’s Carter-Finley Stadium last week, an event that sent Raleigh into a fervor. It was Kahan’s first time headlining a football stadium show. But how much money did the public university make from the event? Contract details between the entertainment company Live Nation and NC State obtained by The News & Observer help answer that question.
Celebrities, cosplay and characters: Scenes from GalaxyCon 2026 in Raleigh
GalaxyCon 2026 came to downtown Raleigh Convention Center July 23 to 26, for four days of a “festival of fandom.” It was a gathering for fans to cosplay as their favorite characters and celebrate pop culture, science fiction, anime, comic books, fantasy and gaming. They also could meet and hear from artists, writers, voice actors, entertainers and creators.
Concert review: Noah Kahan made a Raleigh football stadium feel like New England
Noah Kahan couldn’t have ordered better weather if he’d brought it down from New England himself. The thick gray clouds hanging over Carter-Finley Stadium muted the July sun. It was humid, but far from uncomfortably so, and the temps were unusually forgiving. By the end of the night, they had dipped into the 60s — not a heck of a lot warmer than it was at the same time back in Kahan’s hometown of Strafford, Vermont.
Heat-related hospital visits back to near-record high this summer, state reports
As North Carolina sweltered through an abnormally hot start to the summer, far more people visited the hospital with heat-related illnesses than usual, new data from the state’s Department of Health and Human Services shows. Experts say that’s driven by an intense heat wave that hit the state at the same time as a drought — a trend that wasn’t common a decade ago, but is quickly becoming a pattern.
Sunflowers at Dix Park and the heat: The week’s best photos from our photojournalists
Here’s a curated selection of from around the Triangle and beyond as captured through the lens of News & Observer photojournalist Ben Pennington. This feature can be seen in Sunday’s newspaper, as well as in our online Edition. See it at eedition.newsobserver.com. Bees swarmed the blooming sunflowers at the Dix Park Sunflower Field on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Raleigh.
Sunflowers at Dix Park and the heat: The week’s best photos from our photojournalists
Here’s a curated selection of from around the Triangle and beyond as captured through the lens of News & Observer photojournalist Ben Pennington. This feature can be seen in Sunday’s newspaper, as well as in our online Edition. See it at eedition.newsobserver.com.
Sunflowers at Dix Park and the heat: The week’s best photos from our photojournalists
Here's a curated selection of from around the Triangle and beyond as captured through the lens of News & Observer photojournalist Ben Pennington. This feature can be seen in Sunday's newspaper, as well as in our online Edition. See it at eedition.newsobserver.com. Bees swarmed the blooming sunflowers at the Dix Park Sunflower Field on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Raleigh. Visitors admired the blooming sunflowers at the Dix Park Sunflower Field on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Raleigh.
This week’s best photos from News & Observer photojournalists
Attendees viewed the Fourth of July fireworks spectacle from The Big Field at Dix Park on Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Raleigh.
This week’s best photos from News & Observer photojournalists
Check out photos from a hot week and July 4th celebrations across the Triangle and a World Cup loss.
NC Carolina Hurricanes fan makes Stanley Cup tattoo promise
Hear from Canes fan Bryson Karbley, who started tattooing his arm after promising to do so on social media during the Stanley Cup Finals. The wins kept coming and the tattoo kept getting bigger.
NC Carolina Hurricanes fan makes Stanley Cup tattoo promise
Hear from Canes fan Bryson Karbley, who started tattooing his arm after promising to do so on social media during the Stanley Cup Finals. The wins kept coming and the tattoo kept getting bigger.
NC Carolina Hurricanes fan makes Stanley Cup tattoo promise
Hear from Canes fan Bryson Karbley, who started tattooing his arm after promising to do so on social media during the Stanley Cup Finals. The wins kept coming and the tattoo kept getting bigger.
NC Carolina Hurricanes fan makes Stanley Cup tattoo promise
Hear from Canes fan Bryson Karbley, who started tattooing his arm after promising to do so on social media during the Stanley Cup Finals. The wins kept coming and the tattoo kept getting bigger.
See photos from Raleigh’s celebration of July Fourth and America’s 250th birthday
Follow See photos from Raleigh’s celebration of July Fourth and America’s 250th birthday America turned 250 on July 4, and revelers attended celebrations in Raleigh, despite the record heat. Celebrations kicked off Saturday with the First in Freedom Parade that made its way through downtown. U.S. Marine Corps Maj. James Caper was the grand marshal. He's a Vietnam War veteran who was recently awarded the Medal of Honor.
Organizers pay homage to community that ‘saved my life’ at Raleigh Pride event Original
Throughout the afternoon of Out! Raleigh Pride, a blond-haired street preacher stood atop the steps to the old Wake County Courthouse. He flipped through Bible pages with his left hand and warned through the mic in his right hand about a “gay communist agenda,” spreading homophobic stereotypes about gay couples and the indoctrination of children.
What the bleep? Why TV audio kept cutting out during Canes championship rally.
For many fans watching the championship rally from the comfort of their homes over the weekend, the rowdy exultations of Hurricanes players were punctuated by seconds of silence. Players on Saturday took turns yelling into a microphone in front of a boisterous crowd at City Plaza, firing up a sea of thousands with speeches sprinkled with f-bombs.
Canes debut Stanley Cup to massive Glenwood South crowds after returning to Raleigh
At 7:02 p.m., the siren was sounded by none other than Jordan Martinook, a veteran Carolina Hurricanes player. “Caniacs see you at teets at 10 tonight,” he posted on X from his own account. The post, calling fans to the Glenwood South bar, came as the new Stanley Cup winners landed at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, or pretty close to it. Then, it was on, and Glenwood South, which was filled with revelers Sunday night, became host to an even bigger Canes celebration.
Canes fans take to the streets of Raleigh to celebrate Stanley Cup Championship
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Meet the Canadian guys traveling the world — and Raleigh — for Canes’ Seth Jarvis
Ask any Hurricanes fan what they would do for Seth Jarvis, and the list would likely never end. But for one group of Canadians who’ve known the starting forward since childhood, that question yields some very real answers. Lucas Humble is running out of excuses to his boss for missing work. Sloan Tremblay flew back to Winnipeg, Canada mid-series to deliver a presentation for a final grade in a college course.
A heat wave, looming water restrictions and Canes fight for the Cup: Thursday's top stories Original
The News & Observer is tracking a triple-digit heat wave, worsening drought conditions and new water restrictions across the Triangle today. Here is a digest of the top stories from Thursday, June 11, 2026. Triple-digit heat wave begins: Temperatures in the Triangle could climb to 101 degrees Friday, with three days carrying a “major” heat risk and the heat index potentially hitting 105. • Read more: Triple-digit heat wave starts today.
Carolina Hurricanes tailgaters battle heat wave ahead of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Original
Inside the Lenovo Center Thursday afternoon, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights were preparing to battle it out for the series lead in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. Outside the arena, fans were facing a battle of their own — against the heat. Thursday marked the start of an early summer heat wave for the Triangle, with forecasted highs expected to hit triple digits through the weekend. It hit 100 degrees in Raleigh Thursdy, and the humidity made it feel even hotter.
Canes bring the action back to Raleigh for Stanley Cup Game 5. Here are photos
Carolina's William Carrier (28) checks Vegas' Brayden McNabb (3) into the bench in the first period of the Hurricanes’ game against the Golden Knights in the fifth game of the Stanley Cup Final at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, June 11, 2026. With a pivotal Game 5 in Raleigh, N.C., the Stanley Cup Final, Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour said it’s all hands on deck Thursday. The Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights are all square at 2-2.
Canes down Vegas in Game 5 Stanley Cup action. Here are photos
With a pivotal Game 5 in Raleigh, N.C., the Stanley Cup Final, Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour said it’s all hands on deck Thursday. The Carolina Hurricanes responded with a 4-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights to take a 3-2 lead in the series. The Canes travel back to Vegas for Game 6 Sunday. Check back during and after the game for more photos from the action and the hot watch parties around Raleigh.
ARIZONA MIDTERMS REVEALED CTC Morning Edition After Show
#Breaking #Arizona Abe's race is down to 19 votes different now. He just called me. Today Wednesday at 5pm is the deadline to ensure YOUR vote counted. Go to KariLake.com/cure. That's KariLake.com/cure. Click on your county to see if your vote was counted! IF NOT, immediately call the number to cure your ballot and resolve the discrepancy. This is VERY IMPORTANT. Some races are only 20 votes apart. Cure your ballot. Make sure your vote gets counted. Go to KariLake.com/cure
CTC- MORNING EDITION After Show
These were the words of Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, made less than two weeks after George Floyd died in Minneapolis police custody, setting off protests across the nation. The corporations we buy from, just like our government we pay for, have gone too far in supporting a WOKE agenda and walkking away from the majority of the values of the citizens and voters in America.
Why grit should matter in our education system
I have grown to see grit as a mixture of passion and perseverance—two traits in abundance in the recent elections. It is apparent that Kenyans are a mettlesome lot. I have witnessed that spirit among my students. It is motivating as an educator to see the effort and energy with which they approach their activities in and out of class. We not only predict their success but celebrate their impressive achievements, which don’t come easy but are a testament of grit.
09/06/22 Cut The Crap EARLY EDITION After Show
At The Stroke Of Midnight It Happened! The time went by with a whimper, but it effect on me was PROFOUND! Sleeping in is a rare thing for me, yet I slept for just under 14 hours straight this Saturday The sleep brought much-needed rest and led to a huge breakthrough of thought for me (more on that later). In the days leading up to this Labor Day weekend, my mind (and soul) pushed me into taking a long weekend off. Most days my day begins at 5 am and wraps at 10 pm. Daily, nonstop, 7-days-a-week.
Peer-Reviewed Articles Review: Spring (Part 3)
[The Middle East Studies Pedagogy Initiative (MESPI) brings you the eighth in a series of “Peer-Reviewed Article Reviews” in which we present a collection of journals and their articles concerned with the Middle East and Arab world. This series will be published seasonally.
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