Rain, Snow Could Lead To Flooding In WNC (Buncombe Co., NC)
A Flood Watch takes effect this morning due to heavy rainfall and melting snow. Last weekend's massive storm dumped more than 20 inches of snow in the mountains, and rain is in the forecast through Sunday. The National Weather Service is expecting more than an inch-and-a-half of rainfall in some areas. The watch takes effect at 7 a.m. and lasts through 6 p.m. tomorrow.
Schools Delayed Due To Weather (Buncombe Co., NC)
Patchy black ice is still a threat on area roadways, and that's why several schools are starting later than normal today. Buncombe County Schools are on a two-hour delay, and buses will not be allowed on icy roads. The Blue Ridge District is closed today, and the Smokey Mountain District is open, but buses must stay off icy roads.
Bomb Threats Reported Across WNC (Asheville, NC)
Authorities say bomb threats made in Western North Carolina and throughout the nation yesterday appear to be a hoax. Asheville PD says it's investigating two threats; one was made in South Asheville, and the other was made downtown. Similar threats were also made in Hendersonville County and Boone. The threats are believed to have stemmed from a mass email where an unknown writer demanded bitcoin in exchange for safety.
ABC Preps For Possible Marijuana Legalization (Asheville, NC)
Alcohol regulators in Asheville say they're getting ready to sell recreational pot just in case it's legalized in the state. Officials with the Alcohol Beverage Control board spoke during a City Council meeting this week. Board chairman Lewis Isaac says the agency will likely oversee marijuana sales and distribution if the drug is legalized. He also says they recently built a multi-million-dollar warehouse that can accommodate marijuana products if needed.
Moog Inc. In Murphy To Add 20 Jobs (Murphy, NC)
A New York-based precision control manufacturer is announcing plans to invest nearly two-million dollars into its facility in Murphy. Governor Roy Cooper made the announcement yesterday. The Moog Inc. expansion is expected to create 20 jobs. Governor Cooper says the company will receive a 50-thousand-dollar performance-based grant to help with the project.
Report: North Carolina Sports Venues Among The Worst For Food Safety (Charlotte, NC)
North Carolina's pro sports venues are among the worst in the U.S. when it comes to food safety. According to a report by ESPN, the Spectrum Center in Charlotte is ranked last among 107 venues. The arena had 23 high-level violations in 25 inspections. The Carolina Panthers' Bank of America Stadium and Raleigh's PNC Arena also placed low on the list. Oracle Arena in Oakland, California was considered the nation's best pro sports venue for food safety.
Sex Offender Accused Of Killing And Burying An Elderly Woman (Kenly, NC)
A convicted sex offender is accused of killing and burying a missing Kenly woman. Seventy-one-year-old Kathy Thomas went missing a few weeks ago and her body was found in a shallow grave in Wilson. Investigators charged thrice convicted rapist Wayne Lamm with murder. Police believe he met the victim while she was volunteering at a food bank and they began texting. Her cause of death isn't known.
Police Looking For The Suspect In A Horrifying On Campus Rape (Durham, NC)
Duke police are looking for a rapist after an attack on-campus. They say yesterday morning a man entered a student campus apartment building and attacked the victim in a common room while she was sleeping. Police say he threatened her with a knife, put a condom on and forced himself on her. The victim described him as a white man, roughly 25-years-old with short brown hair that smells strongly of perfume. Anyone with information is asked to call police.
Woman Arrested In Connection With Hit-And-Run In Asheboro (Asheboro, NC)
A woman is under arrest in connection with a hit-and-run in Asheboro. Twenty-eight-year-old Brittany Ratley is accused of felony hit-and-run, reckless driving and failing to stop at a stop sign, among other things. Forty-nine-year-old Doyle Henderson of Asheboro was found lying in a ditch on North Fayetteville Street early Tuesday morning. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
Bennett College Hoping To Raise Money To Keep Accreditation (Greensboro, NC)
A Greensboro college that's been around for 145 years is in jeopardy of losing its accreditation. Bennett College has until February 1st to prove to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges that it is financially sound. That's why the private college has launched a campaign to try to raise five-million dollars. Bennett College leaders found out this week that the commission voted to end their accreditation.