🧵 In Today’s Edition

Morning, gang.

Happy Columbo Day to all who celebrate!


We hope you, like our staff, are taking the day today to trade out the linen, seersucker, and madras for corduroy, tweed, and sweaters because it’s finally starting to feel like fall out there.

Today, we’re bringing you our recent sit-down with Ed Kitchen, former Greensboro city manager and new president of the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation.

We’re also re-presenting our story on Rep. Cecil Brockman (D-Guilford), who is facing multiple sex charges and calls to resign. It’s been updated with new details from Brockman’s first hearing at the Guilford County Courthouse on Friday.

Over the weekend, the Guilford County Board of Elections concluded a recount in the Greensboro City Council at-large primary race requested by candidate Carla Franlin. The recount confirmed that candidate T. Dianne Bellamy-Small did indeed edge out Franklin by 50 votes, making her one of the six top vote-getters who move on to the general election.

Later this week, we’ll bring you coverage of the general election race for Greensboro City Council, which will go hard this month before election day on Nov. 4.

Let’s get into it.

— Joe Killian

Kitchen Named Bryan Foundation President

Ed Kitchen was named president of the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation last week, succeeding the late Jim Melvin after his death in August.

Melvin left quite a legacy in Greensboro. After a decade as mayor, from 1971-1981, he was a mentor to generations of local politicians and public servants. But his largest and most sustained impact may have been as president of the charitable foundation begun by Bryan, his good friend and a prominent insurance executive and philanthropist.

For years, many in Greensboro wondered if the foundation so synonymous with Melvin would survive beyond him. As his health declined in recent years, there was widespread speculation as to who might replace him.

“I think it’s safe to say no one is going to replace Jim Melvin,” Kitchen told The Assembly in an interview last week. “I don’t see myself as replacing Jim at all. I see myself as sort of taking the baton for the next leg of the journey on behalf of Mr. Bryan.”

Read the full story here.

— Joe Killian

Thanks for reading The Thread, a 3x week newsletter written by Greensboro editor Joe Killian and reporters Sayaka Matsuoka and Gale Melcher. Reach us with tips or ideas at greensboro@theassemblync.com.

Not a subscriber yet? Good journalism is expensive–and we need your support to do more of it. For just $6 a month or $60 a year, you’ll unlock full access to our archives and help us grow in 2025.

Already a subscriber? Consider giving the gift of The Assembly to a friend.

Subscribe To The Assembly

N.C. Rep. Cecil Brockman (D-Guilford) is facing bipartisan calls for his resignation after being charged with multiple sex crimes.

Brockman, 41, was arrested Wednesday by the State Bureau of Investigation and charged with two counts each of indecent liberties with a child and statutory rape. Arrest records show the alleged victim was between the ages of 13 and 15. The offenses are alleged to have taken place on August 15.

Read the full story here.

— Joe Killian

Joe Killian is The Assembly's Greensboro editor. He joined us from NC Newsline, where he was senior investigative reporter. He spent a decade at The News & Record covering cops and courts, higher education, and government.