Supreme Court justice, fire chief among State of the Union guests

(The Center Square) – Judge Anita Earls, a founder of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, is to be the guest of a North Carolina Democratic congresswoman Tuesday night at the State of the Union featuring second-term Republican Donald Trump. Earls, a Democrat, is up for reelection on a bench that is 5-2 Republican majority. She’s the guest of Rep. Deborah Ross, D-N.C. Known guests early Tuesday morning include Steve Freeman, chief of the Bat Cave Fire Department accompanying Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C.; Nathanael Simmons, a 17-year-old senior at Mattamuskeet High accompanying Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C.; Matt Van Swol, former nuclear scientist for the U.S. Department of Energy accompanying Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C.; and Billy Walkowiak, CEO of Collision Safety Consultants accompanying Rep. Tim Moore, R-N.C. Van Swol more recently has taken to social media to share insight on recovery from Hurricane Helene. Rep. Valerie Foushee, D-N.C., said Monday she will not attend. Her statement said in