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Michael Hewlett

@blackmuse.bsky.social

Reporter for The Assembly NC, covering criminal justice issues, movie enthusiast, music obsessor, pop culture consumer and poetry lover.

1,206 Followers  |  1,069 Following  |  534 Posts  |  Joined: 13.11.2024
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Posts by Michael Hewlett (@blackmuse.bsky.social)

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Taking ICE to Court A new federal lawsuit alleges immigration agents are making wrongful warrantless arrests, including a U.S. citizen who said agents stopped him twice and smashed his truck window.

Taking ICE to Court www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

25.02.2026 17:18 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Media Today: The Washington Post gave up on diversity well before layoffs. Since Donald Trump returned to the White House, staffers of color have been frustrated by supervisors’ lack of enthusiasmβ€”and the paper’s diminishing resourcesβ€”for their work.

The Media Today: The Washington Post gave up on diversity well before layoffs.! πŸ¦‹
www.cjr.org/the_media_to...

16.02.2026 17:18 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Accused of Using Racial Slurs, State Senate Candidate Sues for Defamation, Wiretapping Former Dare County Judge Jerry Tillett, now a candidate for state Senate, has denied using a racial slur in the audio recording.

Accused of Using Racial Slurs, State Senate Candidate Sues for Defamation, Wiretapping www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

09.02.2026 17:38 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Accused of Using Racial Slurs, State Senate Candidate Sues for Defamation, Wiretapping Former Dare County Judge Jerry Tillett, now a candidate for state Senate, has denied using a racial slur in the audio recording.

Accused of Using Racial Slurs, State Senate Candidate Sues for Defamation, Wiretapping www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

07.02.2026 14:52 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
The Blame Game A list of inmates released early under former Gov. Roy Cooper included DeCarlos Brown's identification number, even though Brown served his full term.

The Blame Game www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

06.02.2026 14:27 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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State Senate Candidate Accused of Using Racial Slur in Recorded Conversation A Dare County resident posted a recording that he said captures former Judge Jerry Tillett using the N-word, which Tillett denies.

State Senate Candidate Accused of Using Racial Slur in Recorded Conversation www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

25.01.2026 22:15 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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State Senate Candidate Accused of Using Racial Slur in Recorded Conversation A Dare County resident posted a recording that he said captures former Judge Jerry Tillett using the N-word, which Tillett denies.

State Senate Candidate Accused of Using Racial Slur in Recorded Conversation www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

23.01.2026 15:16 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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ICE arrested more than 3,300 people across NC during Trump’s first 9 months in office β€’ NC Newsline Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested more than 3,300 people in North Carolina during President Donald Trump’s first nine months in office, about double the number of people arrested in ...

ICE arrested more than 3,300 people across NC during Trump’s first 9 months in office ncnewsline.com/2026/01/20/i...

22.01.2026 15:42 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Lawsuit Accuses Former U.S. Senator of Stealing North Carolina Woman’s Husband The complaint says the former Arizona lawmaker wooed a married member of her security detail with Taylor Swift and U2 tickets.

Lawsuit Accuses Former U.S. Senator of Stealing North Carolina Woman’s Husband www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

15.01.2026 19:22 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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A High-Court Press A judge vacated the convictions of four men accused of killing Nathaniel Jones. Now, prosecutors want the state Supreme Court to step in.

A High-Court Press www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

10.01.2026 15:57 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Nice List: The Assembly's Favorite Stories of 2025 Here are our staff's favorite stories published throughout the year, which we are putting outside our paywall as a special gift to you.

The Nice List 2025 www.theassemblync.com/internal/the...

28.12.2025 18:16 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur How did the rapper, still omnipresent three decades after his death, come to rest in a Lumberton grave? Writer Jeff Pearlman finds out.

The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur www.theassemblync.com/news/culture...

19.12.2025 20:30 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Lawmakers Raise More eCourts Questions State lawmakers said court officials in their home districts have not seen the conveniences and cost-savings eCourts was supposed to bring.

Lawmakers Raise More eCourts Questions www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

19.12.2025 14:43 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Michele Morrow Launches Bid for U.S. Senate The former candidate for state superintendent of public instruction will face Michael Whatley in the GOP Senate primary.

Breaking: Michele Morrow Launches Bid for U.S. Senate www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

18.12.2025 17:12 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 2
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Their Charges Were Dismissed, But These Two Men Are Not Free A judge said two men incarcerated for 23 years didn’t kill the grandfather of NBA star Chris Paul. So why are they still in prison?

Their Charges Were Dismissed, But These Two Men Are Not Free www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

16.12.2025 18:51 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Their Charges Were Dismissed, But These Two Men Are Not Free A judge said two men incarcerated for 23 years didn’t kill the grandfather of NBA star Chris Paul. So why are they still in prison?

Must-read from Tori Newby:
Their Charges Were Dismissed, But These Two Men Are Not Free www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

15.12.2025 14:52 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Attorneys File State Bar Complaints Against Wake County Prosecutor Two attorneys filed State Bar complaints against a Wake County prosecutor who has been accused multiple times of violating discovery rules.

Attorneys File State Bar Complaints Against Wake County Prosecutor www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

09.12.2025 14:38 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Two Democrats Accuse 2026 Primary Candidate of Racist Remarks State Sen. Graig Meyer says former state Rep. Michael Wray in 2014 told him to β€œwatch out for the blacks.” Wray says it didn’t happen.

Two Democrats Accuse 2026 Primary Candidate of Racist Remarks www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

08.12.2025 20:28 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Another Shot at Freedom Two men exonerated in the murder of Chris Paul’s grandfather are still in prison. Their lawyer asked the N.C. Supreme Court to release them.

Another Shot at Freedom www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

05.12.2025 14:59 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Lawyers Who Kept Screwing Up A section of the N.C. DOJ repeatedly erred and antagonized federal judges–even in cases they seemed guaranteed to win.

The Lawyers Who Kept Screwing Up www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

03.12.2025 19:04 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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How Rural N.C. Lowered Overdose Deathsβ€”But Will Struggle to Keep Pace Rural North Carolina communities are finally reversing opioid overdose deaths. But funding cuts could undo progress.

How Rural N.C. Lowered Overdose Deathsβ€”But Will Struggle to Keep Pace www.theassemblync.com/news/health/...

01.12.2025 04:04 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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β€˜Where Are My Friends?’ Teachers Say Operation Charlotte’s Web Rattled Students Some parents and teachers say they expected better communication and more understanding from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools amid CBP presence.

β€˜Where Are My Friends?’ Teachers Say Operation Charlotte’s Web Rattled Students www.theassemblync.com/news/educati...

24.11.2025 14:35 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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The New Head of N.C.’s Prisons Tries to Unwind a Staffing Quagmire Leslie Cooley Dismukes wants to prioritize reentry and reduce recidivism. But she has to solve a staffing crisis in the prison system first.

The New Head of N.C.’s Prisons Tries to Unwind a Staffing QuagmireΒ  www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

21.11.2025 15:28 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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β€˜They basically just kidnapped me’: US citizen taken by Border Patrol in Cary β€’ NC Newsline As Border Patrol agents swept the Triangle area, a construction worker born in the U.S. was among those detained.

β€˜They basically just kidnapped me’: US citizen taken by Border Patrol in Cary ncnewsline.com/2025/11/20/t...

21.11.2025 14:38 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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N.C. Republicans Defend Gerrymandering Their Way to Victory North Carolina’s new congressional map had its first legal test Wednesday. The outcome will likely have ripple effects nationally as each party attempts to gerrymander its way to a U.S. House majority...

N.C. Republicans Defend Gerrymandering Their Way to Victory www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

21.11.2025 14:24 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Law and Orders Even for immigration lawyers, figuring out the Border Patrol’s opaque operation in North Carolina is nearly impossible.

Law and Orders www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

19.11.2025 16:29 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Immigration Agents Coming to Raleigh Tuesday, Sources Say Mayor: 'It is the city of Raleigh’s understanding that the Border Patrol and ICE are already in Raleigh and that they will be active tomorrow.'

Immigration Agents Coming to Raleigh Tuesday, Sources Say www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

18.11.2025 14:48 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Fear, Protest, and Preparation As 80+ Are Reportedly Detained in Charlotte As federal immigration officers descended on the Queen City, the city’s immigrant and activist communities braced for what’s to come.

Fear, Protest, and Preparation As 80+ Are Reportedly Detained in Charlotte www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

17.11.2025 14:51 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Inside Durham's Dependency Court A civil rights group’s lawsuit against Durham’s secretive child welfare court intends to shed light on proceedings which terminate parental rights.

Inside Durham's Dependency Court www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

14.11.2025 13:53 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Politics of an Arrest Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page’s oversight of his jail has become a key issue in his primary campaign against GOP Senate leader Phil Berger.

The Politics of an Arrest www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

14.11.2025 13:31 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0