Wake Forest: embezzlement allegations censored from internet | Socialists protest Raleigh pregnancy resource center
No. 83 — Jul. 28-Aug. 3, 2024
Alleged embezzler Liz Simpers gets accusations removed from internet
Why I erased an article - Wake Forest Gazette
Carol Pelosi, the publisher of the Wake Forest Gazette, has removed an article published last month containing allegations that former Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce President Liz Simpers embezzled tens of thousands of dollars. Simpers previously served one term on the Wake Forest Board of Commissioners (2018-2021).
As Pelosi explained in an article on the takedown, the Gazette is a small operation focused on Wake Forest news and has never been profitable; in the face of legal threats from Simpers' attorneys, she made the decision to sign a letter agreeing to remove the article from her website.
However, as Pelosi clarified, the "removal of the article is not a retraction or other disavowal of the article".
As an independent journalist myself, I certainly understand the struggle when a lack of resources gets in the way of the ideal journalistic outcome; I'd like to invite anyone interested in defending a free and independent press to join me in donating to the fundraiser which Pelosi's husband has set up for her legal costs: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-carol-pelosi-protect-local-journalism
For the sake of transparency, this is the text of the article which Liz Simpers is attempting to censor, which was graciously provided by a reader of this publication:
Chamber president embezzled thousands
Former Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce President Liz Simpers has reportedly admitted to embezzling a possible $40,000 or more from the chamber and is repaying the full amount in installments.This is a sad story because everyone liked Liz. It is pieced together from the rumors and gossip throughout downtown Wake Forest and from a person familiar with the situation.
Simpers graduated from the NC State University School of Design in 1998 and
thereafter worked for local design firms, including Kimley Horn. At some point Simpers was hired by the YMCA of the Triangle and became the associate branch director.She also became more active in Wake Forest, volunteering for different projects and
attending church here. She bought a house in Wake Forest in 2014. And in 2017 she
was elected a Wake Forest commissioner, serving four years and then losing her
reelection bid in 2021.In February of 2020 she was hired by the Wake Forest Chamber as the director of
community outreach for the chamber’s foundation, and in May of 2022 was elected
president after Ann Welton retired.On April 26, 2024, Simpers was allowed to resign following a discovery that she had
been using the chamber president’s credit card to pay for overseas vacations for her
family — a wife and two children — and a new pool at her house. It is not known how the embezzling came to light, by an audit or just a curious chamber official asking
questions.Facebook users were not surprised. One told the editor he began to wonder how much Simpers was paid by the chamber when he saw her family take such expensive vacations so frequently.
Chamber officials said she resigned for “personal reasons” and have refused to
elaborate. It is widely known that, when Simpers was elected president, she agreed not to be involved in the chamber’s finances because the officials were aware that Simpers had embezzled an unknown amount from the YMCA.The YMCA funds were repaid in full in a lump sum from her father, who is assumed to be the source for the chamber repayments in installments.
Joe Kimray, the board of directors then chair, has been named as president. It is not
known if a search is underway for a new president.Archived: July 17, 2024 5:51 PM
ICYMI:
Socialists protest pregnancy support center in Raleigh
Activists Picket Against Gateway Women's Care, a Fake Abortion Clinic Next to NC State - Durham Dispatch
Two chapters of the Democratic Socialists of America (Triangle DSA and NC State Young DSA) have begun protesting at the anti-abortion Gateway Women’s Care (GWC) in Raleigh, with the explicit goal of getting the [organization's]() lease cancelled.
The protesters repeat a common accusation by pro-abortion movement, alleging that GWC "intentionally lies to students and other vulnerable people".
I will say that reviewing GWC's website, which advertises "free, confidential pregnancy and sexual health services", one would likely come away with a very different impression than reading their mission statement on the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability's (ECFA) website:
Gateway Women's Care is a Christ centered ministry, which believes that every unborn child is a precious life worth saving. Gateway Women's Care serves the community and helps save lives by providing services that promote Biblical perspective on sexuality, pregnancy and the value of human life.
For example, although the Abortion page does include a disclaimer at the bottom that "Gateway does not offer abortion services or abortion referrals", the page "Gateway vs Planned Parenthood" makes no mention of the main difference between the two organizations: that Planned Parenthood executes abortions, and GWC does not. Instead, the page highlights that GWC "will empower you to make your own decision — no pressure here", and that GWC can "save[] you money" because "as many as 25% of pregnancies end in miscarriage and may resolve naturally, not requiring any treatment."
For their own explanation of what their three pregnancy resource centers in the Triangle do, GWC's Wendy Bonano and Melinda Delahoyde joined NC Family Policy Matters radio last year for an interview.
However, I believe the fundamental base of these protesters' complaint is quite clear. In their own words, they are frustrated by the fact that organizations like GWC are "intercepting and stopping pregnant people from receiving abortion care"; and they are particularly offended that theirs is one of the "sexually broken and abortion-minded communities" GWC minsters to, because these socialists "want abortion as a free right of the people on demand without apology".
The protesters tell the Durham Dispatch they will return monthly until their demands are met.
ICYMI: Special master returns report in UNC public records lawsuit (COVID-19 origins)
The 3rd party "special master" assigned by the judge to review the documents at issue in the lawsuit U.S. Right to Know (USRTK) brought against UNC-Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), ruling that at least 250 of the documents the university withheld were, in fact, public records.
USRTK filed the lawsuit in 2022 over 50k+ pages of documents which which UNC-CH refused to provide in response to multiple records requests made by USRTK as part of it's investigation into the origins of COVID-19, including Dr. Ralph Baric and his associations with the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
Previous coverage:
Public Records Lawsuit Against UNC by Medical Watchdog Group Investigating COVID-19 Origins Advances (Original Article — Nov. 6, 2023)
UNC claims "research project collaborations" are exempt from public records statute in COVID-19 origins investigation lawsuit (No. 57 — Feb. 3, 2024)
U.S. Right to Know public records lawsuit reveals efforts to evade transparency (No. 58 — Feb. 10, 2024)
Coronavirus Pandemic Subcommittee alleges FBI interest in UNC/COVID origins public records requests (No. 59 — Feb. 17, 2024)
UNC COVID-19 Origins Public Records Lawsuit: what does "proprietary mean"? (No. 61 — Mar. 2, 2024)
"Stop Gain of Function" rally at UNC-Chapel Hill (No. 62 — Mar. 9, 2024)
UNC-linked coronavirus researcher accused of "discrepancies in testimony" (No. 66 — Apr. 6, 2024)
UNC coronavirologist Ralph Baric: "can't rule out" lab leak origin of COVID-19 (No. 70 — May 4, 2024)
Misc. Reading
UNC virologist raises awareness of potential bird flu infections after rise in cases in Colorado - WRAL
Autopsy: Apex woman found dead at Jordan Lake was shot; husband charged with murder - WRAL
Chapel Hill Struggles to Redevelop a Toxic Coal Ash Mound - INDY
Man arrested in Lowe's attack: Shoplifter hit employee with sledgehammer in Durham - WRAL
Glitter, Glamour, and Stepping Out Onto Raleigh Burlesque’s Pink Carpet As Conservatives Aggressively Roll Back Rights - INDY
Pro-Palestinian protesters from UNC appear in court, plea deals offered - WRAL
Defendants in UNC pro-Palestinian protest cases offered plea deals. Will they accept? - N&O
Wilson police arrested 8 men, aged 18 to 22, in alleged gang-related shootings - NC Beat
Nearly 100 more Triangle schools covered by Title IX rules injuction:
Chapel Hill/Carrboro, Carrboro High
Chapel Hill/Carrboro, Chapel Hill High
Chapel Hill/Carrboro, McDougle Middle
Chatham, Bennett School
Chatham, Bonlee School
Chatham, Chatham Central High
Chatham, Chatham Charter
Chatham, Chatham Early College
Chatham, Chatham Grove Elementary
Chatham, George M Horton Middle
Chatham, Margaret B Pollard Middle
Chatham, North Chatham Elementary
Chatham, Northwood High
Chatham, Perry W Harrison Elementary
Chatham, Seaforth High
Chatham, Siler City Elementary
Chatham, Silk Hope School
Chatham, Willow Oak Montessori
Durham, Discovery Charter
Granville, Butner Stem Elementary
Granville, Butner Stem Middle
Granville, C G Credle Elementary
Granville, G C Hawley Middle
Granville, G. C. Hawley Middle
Granville, Granville Academy
Granville, Granville Central High
Granville, Granville Early College High
Granville, J F Webb High
Granville, Northern Granville Middle
Granville, South Granville High
Granville, Stovall Shaw Elementary
Granville, Tar River Elementary
Harnett, Harnett Central High
Johnston, American Leadership Academy
Johnston, Corinth Holders High
Johnston, Polenta Elementary
Lee, Ascend Leadership Academy
Lee, Central Carolina Academy
Orange, A L Stanback Middle
Orange, Cedar Ridge High
Orange, Central Elementary
Orange, Grady Brown Elementary
Orange, Gravelly Hill Middle
Orange, Hillsborough Elementary
Orange, New Hope Elementary
Orange, Orange High
Orange, Orange Middle
Orange, River Park Elementary
Wake, Adams Elementary
Wake, Alston Ridge Middle
Wake, Apex Friendship High
Wake, Apex High
Wake, Athens Drive High
Wake, Briarcliff Elementary
Wake, Bryan Road Elementary
Wake, Cary High
Wake, Combs Elementary
Wake, Davis Drive Middle
Wake, Fuquay Varina High
Wake, Green Hope High
Wake, Green Level High
Wake, Herbert Akins Rd
Wake, Heritage High
Wake, Heritage Middle
Wake, Holly Grove Middle
Wake, Holly Ridge Elementary
Wake, Holly Springs High
Wake, Hortons Creek Elementary
Wake, Jeffreys Grove Elementary
Wake, Kingswood Elementary
Wake, Knightdale High
Wake, Lacy Elementary
Wake, Laurel Park Elementary
Wake, Leesville Road High
Wake, Ligon Middle
Wake, Lincoln Heights Elementary
Wake, Lynn Road Elementary
Wake, Martin Middle
Wake, Middle Creek High
Wake, Millbrook Elementary
Wake, Mills Park Elementary
Wake, Needham Broughton High
Wake, Oak Grove Elementary
Wake, Oakview Elementary
Wake, Parkside Elementary
Wake, Partnership Elementary
Wake, Pine Springs Preparatory
Wake, Reedy Creek Middle
Wake, Rolesville Middle
Wake, Salem Middle
Wake, Southeast Raleigh High
Wake, Stough Elementary
Wake, Union Prep Academy
Wake, Wake Preparatory Academy
Wake, Wake STEM Early College
Wake, Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy
Wake, Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy
Wake, Weatherstone Elementary
Wake, West Millbrook Middle
Wake, Willow Spring High
Wake, Willow Springs Elementary
Wake, Zebulon Elementary
Wilson, James Hunt High