NAACP Lawsuit Puts Hold On Ballot Preparation (Raleigh, NC)
Preparation of the state's voting ballots is on hold due to a lawsuit filed by the NAACP. The North Carolina Supreme Court put a halt to the ballot after the group argued that ballot language on four proposed Constitutional amendments is misleading. Legislators were back in Raleigh this week to re-word two of those amendments. The hold may put a strain on elections officials to have absentee ballots prepared on time.
Women Injured By Boat Propeller (Swain County, NC)
Two women are recovering from injuries they suffered in a boating accident on Fontana Lake. State wildlife officials in Swain County say they were on the front of a rented pontoon boat and fell off the front when it hit a wake. Both women were struck by the propeller, which caused cuts on one and serious head injuries on another. The boat driver was not intoxicated and no charges are expected to be filed.
Baby Ejected During Crash Survives (Haywood County, NC)
A baby who was thrown from an SUV in a crash on I-40 is alive. State troopers said the nine-month old's mother lost control of the car trying to avoid debris from a blown tire in Haywood County. The baby was ejected while still in her child safety seat when the car rolled over. All three passengers are expected to be okay.
Massive Layoffs Announced In Lenoir (Lenoir, NC)
More than 700 employees at the Broyhill plants in Caldwell County will be laid off. The parent company Heritage Home Group has filed a bankruptcy petition in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The employees have reportedly received a 60-day advance notice of plant closings and layoffs. A Heritage Home spokesman said there have been active discussions with potential buyers.
Guns, Ammunition Seized From Home Of Felon (Burke County, NC)
Morganton probation officers say 39 guns were seized from the home of a convicted felon on Wednesday. The guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition were found during a residential check on Ford Road in Burke County. The man was in the midst of serving a 60-month supervised probation period for embezzlement. He was arrested for felony probation violation and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Asheville Approves Funding For Food Festival (Asheville, NC)
The city of Asheville is beginning to plan for a new food festival scheduled for next year. WLOS-TV says the city approved funds to hire an event director and to be used for branding purposes. The festival doesn't have a name yet, but is expected to include local farmers and chefs that will essentially tell the story of Asheville. A festival board member said they hope to hold the event in downtown's Pack Square.