Computer Glitch Causes Grading Errors In NC Schools (Raleigh, NC)
A computer glitch is causing headaches for many school districts across North Carolina. The state Department of Public Institution says some report cards issued in the school year's first quarter may be wrong due to an error in a grading application called PowerSchool PowerTeacher Pro. The issue is affecting almost every district in the state, but not every student. The state and the vendor that runs the application have been in talks since mid-December about the problem.
Tillis Supporting Term-Limit Bill (Washington, DC)
A North Carolina Senator is pushing for term limits in Congress. Thom Tillis is co-sponsoring a bill with seven other Republicans that would limit senators to two terms and representatives to three terms. Term limit initiatives have been supported by Tillis since he served in the North Carolina General Assembly. He said this week that the legislation will bring long-needed accountability to Congress.
Attorneys Seek Delay In Murder Trial (Henderson County, NC)
Attorneys for a man charged with murder are seeking to push back his trial in Henderson County. Phillip Stroupe is accused of shooting Tommy Bryson to death near Mills River in July of 2017. The defense claims the government shutdown is preventing them from getting a key piece of evidence. Bryson's trial has already been pushed back from its original date last July, but is now expected to begin later this month.
Henderson County Sheriff Requesting Body Cameras (Hendersonville, NC)
Henderson County's sheriff wants his deputies wearing body cameras. WLOS-TV says Sheriff Lowell Griffin presented his budget request to commissioners this week. He says his deputies currently don't have basic digital evidence used by many other agencies. Lowell's proposal also included a request for more personnel at the sheriff's office.
Rain And Then Bitter Cold This Weekend (Asheville, NC)
Western North Carolina is in for some rain this weekend before temperatures plummet at the beginning of next week. The National Weather Service says it should rain for most of Saturday and Sunday. A strong cold front will then send temperatures into the single digits and teens overnight Sunday with wind chills dropping below zero. A flash freeze is possible.
Nonprofit Takes Over Fundraising For Woodfin Greenway Project (Woodfin, NC)
A nonprofit organization is now in charge of fundraising for a parks expansion project in a town north of Asheville. RiverLink finalized a deal on Wednesday to take over an 18-million-dollar initiative for a new park, greenway and a whitewater wave at Woodfin River Park. Voters in Woodfin approved a property tax increase in 2016 to fund over four-million-dollars in the project. The original completion date in 2020 has been pushed back about a year. .
McCready Says Harris Could Possibly End Up In Jail (Charlotte, NC)
Democrat Dan McCready believes his ninth district congressional opponent could end up in jail after an election fraud investigation wraps up. He told WBTV yesterday that Republican Mark Harris either knew about alleged missing absentee ballots or turned a blind eye to the whole thing. A political operative hired by Harris has been accused of tossing away absentee ballots in Bladen County. The Republican is expected to appear in Wake County court next week in hopes of being certified as winner.
School Bus Driver Charged In Assault Of Child (Salisbury, NC)
A school bus driver in Salisbury is being accused of assaulting a seven-year-old with autism. The child is a student at Overton Elementary School. Salisbury police investigators charged Grace King with two misdemeanor assault charges after checking out the bus camera footage and talking to a witness. She turned herself in yesterday.
Mistrial Declared After Juror Goes Into Labor (Charlotte, NC)
A mistrial is being declared in a Charlotte murder case. Lionel Octavius has been accused of gunning down Frederick Butler on Helms Road in northwest Charlotte in 2016. Prosecutors say a juror went into premature labor yesterday before deliberation talks were set to resume. State law prohibits a juror from being replaced once deliberations begin.
Inmate Escapes Alexander County Jail (Alexander County, NC)
Police are looking for an inmate who escaped from Alexander County jail last night. The sheriff's office said Jason Mullen was taking out the trash when he decided to bolt across the street and steal a 1987 Dodge Truck with a camper top. He is scheduled to appear in Iredell County court next week on drug and larceny charges.
Arson Suspect Taken In After Standoff (Pineville, NC)
The CMPD says an arson suspect is in custody following a standoff in Pineville Thursday afternoon. The man wouldn't let officers inside his Cone Avenue home when they came out to serve a warrant around 1:30 p.m. The SWAT team blocked traffic in the neighborhood until officers were finally able to get a hold of him. Investigators said the suspect was wanted in connection to an attempted arson at a handyman business near Bojangles Coliseum last month.
Car Pulled From Retention Pond (Charlotte, NC)
Charlotte-Mecklenburg investigators are trying to figure out how a car ended up in a retention pond this week. It was spotted in a body of water off Orr Road in east Charlotte yesterday. A dive crew with the Charlotte Fire Department helped pull the car out.
Missing Boy Found Dead In Guilford Co. (Guilford Co., NC)
An investigation is underway after a seven-year-old boy was found dead in Guilford County. The child was found in a body of water in the Kernersville area on Wednesday evening. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. The principal at Colfax Elementary School identified the boy as Logan Spruill and said he had autism.
Body Believed To Be Missing Man Found, Man Arrested For Murder (Stokes Co., NC)
A Winston-Salem man is charged with murder in the death of an 86-year-old man from King. Christian Willard is accused of killing Arzell Tuttle, who was reported missing last week. Investigators found what's believed to be Tuttle's body Wednesday night in Virginia. They say the two were acquaintances.
Man Wanted On Sex Offense Charges In Alamance Co. Arrested (Wilmington, NC)
A Hillsborough man accused of sexually assaulted a child over the course of three years is under arrest. Thirty-nine-year-old Floyd McCullough the Fourth was arrested Wednesday at a construction site in Wilmington. He's charged with multiple counts of statutory rape, statutory sex offense and indecent liberties with a child. Police say a second victim came forward during their investigation.
John Wesley Camp In High Point Turning Into The Heroes Center (High Point, NC)
High Point is getting a new facility to help young veterans transition into civilian life. The old Wesley Camp is being transformed into The Heroes Center. Its main building will be able to house about 18 veterans. The center hopes to have its first guests within the next few months.
Silver Alert Issued For Missing Greensboro Man (Greensboro, NC)
A Silver Alert is in effect for a missing 89-year-old man from Greensboro. James Troxler was last seen on Wednesday afternoon. He's described as five-foot-six, 160 pounds with brown eyes and gray hair. Police say he could be driving a newer-model Toyota Corolla with North Carolina plates, number CKN-5830. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to all Greensboro PD.