Local and State Headlines for Tuesday, April 9th 2019

Scooter Company Fined Ten-Thousand-Dollars

(Asheville, NC) -- A scooter company is being ordered to pay the city of Asheville a ten-thousand-dollar fine. The city filed suit against Bird after the company dropped off 200 electric scooters unannounced last fall. They were all confiscated before Asheville leaders decided to ban them from city streets a month later. A judge in Buncombe County Superior Court sided with the city last week.

School Media Center Drops Name Of Former Nonprofit CEO

(Buncombe County, NC) -- A media center at a Buncombe County school won't be named after a former non-profit CEO after all. It was just five months ago when Swannanoa's Community High School said its library would be named after Eblen Charities' director Bill Murdock. He stepped down from his position last month after news surfaced that he pleaded guilty to a sex crime against a teen more than 30 years ago. The school said last week that the media center will remain unnamed.

Asheville Dentist Pleads Guilty To Tax Evasion

(Asheville, NC) -- An Asheville dentist is admitting guilt for failing to pay taxes. The U.S. Attorney's office says James MacAlpine failed to pay taxes between 1996 to 2000, while evading the payment of his taxes since then. The U.S. District Court ruled that he owed nearly two-million-dollars a few years ago. MacAlpine will be sentenced at a later time.

Drivers Urged To Be Safe In Work Zones

(Undated) -- Drivers are urged to be extra careful around work zones in North Carolina this week. It's part of a nationwide campaign through the Department of Transportation during Work Zone Awareness Week. The DOT is reminding citizens to "drive like you work here." WLOS-TV reports that work is going on at the Brevard Road Exit on I-26, where speeding fines are increased.

Teen Charged With Indecent Liberties

(Burnsville, NC) -- A western North Carolina teen is being charged with taking indecent liberties with a child. Nineteen-year-old Jordan Laws of Burnsville was arrested recently on the charge, in addition to possessing a photo from a peeping incident. WLOS-TV says he was previously registered as a sex offender.

Tickets On Sale For New Asheville Culinary Festival

(Asheville, NC) -- Tickets are now on sale for a new culinary festival coming up this September in Asheville. Nationally-recognized chefs, breweries and local foodies are expected to gather in Pack Square Park for the first-ever Chow Chow festival. The event begins September 12th.

Father Charged In Murder Of Child

(Union County, NC) -- A father is being charged with the death of his toddler son in Union County. The boy was found unresponsive by his mother when she went to pick him up from his father's home in Indian Trail on Sunday. Initial autopsy results reveal that the two-year-old died from blunt force trauma. Alden Whitehead was arrested for murder and child abuse yesterday.

Huntersville Native Suffers Gruesome Gymnastics Injury

(Baton Rouge, LA) -- The gymnastics career of a Huntersville native is over due to a gruesome injury she suffered in competition last Friday. Samantha Cerio dislocated both her knees in a floor routine she was performing for Auburn University at the NCAA Regional Semifinals. Auburn's coach said he's never seen anything like it. Curio graduated from South Iredell High School.

Matthews Teacher Arrested For Sexual Exploitation

(Matthews, NC) -- A teacher in Matthews is being charged with sexual exploitation of a minor. Christopher Muggler was fired from his job at Covenant Day School after his arrest. School officials say he was taken to jail on March 26th and will now never be allowed to return to campus or Christ Covenant Church. The alleged acts were reportedly committed online and not with a student at Covenant Day.

Hamilton Returning To Charlotte

(Charlotte, NC) -- The smash-hit musical Hamilton is coming back to Charlotte. An official at Blumenthal Performing Arts told NBC Charlotte that Hamilton will make a return most likely in 2021. The musical completed a successful run at Blumenthal last October and November.

Trial Underway For Suspects In Debt Collecting Scam

(Charlotte, NC) -- A trial is now underway in Charlotte for suspects accused in a debt scam. WSOC-TV is reporting that they were in charge of a debt-collection company called Direct Processing. Prosecutors said they scammed millions out of victims across the country.

More Strong Storms Expected This Afternoon

(Charlotte, NC) -- Charlotte could see some strong storms again this afternoon. The National Weather Service says they may produce strong winds and hail. NBC Charlotte is reporting that yesterday's storms knocked down power lines and trees in Bessemer City. A driver smashed a car into a fallen tree in Huntersville and made it out of the car okay.

Man Convicted Of Triple Homicide, Faces Death Penalty

(Wake Co., NC) -- A Wake County man could be sentenced to die for a triple homicide. Yesterday, Jon Sander was convicted of killing three of his neighbors in 2016. After the judge told him to be careful about what he said, Sander asked just to be put to death, saying since he was framed that was what was going to happen anyway. The jury will decide if Sander will go to prison for life, or be sentenced to death.

Stormy Weather Expected Again Today In Raleigh

(Raleigh, NC) -- Stormy weather may not be over this week in Central North Carolina. The area was hit with thunderstorms yesterday, and forecasters say we aren't out of the woods yet. Thunderstorms are expected to come back again today as heavy rain, lightning, wind, hail and maybe even tornadoes are possible. Tomorrow is expected to be clear, so is the next day, but storms could be back again this week on Friday.

Elementary School Employee Charged With DUI, Hit And Run

(Durham, NC) -- A Durham school employee is accused of drunkenly causing a crash. Officials say on Sunday, 37-year-old Jeanna Joint crashed head-on with a car on Glenwood Avenue then tried to drive away. When police caught up with her, they charged her with hit-and-run, DUI and possession of marijuana. Joint is a treasurer for Holt Elementary School. She has been suspended with pay. Her bond was set at four-thousand-dollars.

Two Arrested For Racist UNC Vandalisms

(Chapel Hill, NC) -- UNC police say they've made a pair of arrests for racist vandalisms. The vandalisms were found more than a week ago on the Unsung Founders Memorial, and police say it contained hateful language. Yesterday, police said they arrested 50-year-old Nancy McCorkle, of South Carolina, and 31-year-old Ryan Barnett, of Sanford. They were both charged with vandalism and ethnic intimidation. They were released on bond and are due back in court at a later date.

Man Accused Of Trying To Kill Girlfriend

(Wake Co., NC) -- A Wake County man is accused of trying to drown his girlfriend. On Friday, 34-year-old Christopher Griggs was arrested and charged with kidnapping, attempted murder and resisting an officer. Deputies say Griggs tried to shoot his girlfriend in the face, then tried to drown her in a bathtub in Zebulon. They say he was upset about text messages she was getting. Griggs was jailed on more than 250-thousand-dollars bond.

Hazmat Situation At NCSU Lab

(Raleigh, NC) -- Fire officials in Raleigh are trying to figure out what caused a hazmat situation at North Carolina State University. They say two chemicals were mixed last night in a university lab. No one was injured and the building wasn't evacuated, folks were asked to shelter in place at the building. The exact chemicals mixed aren't known.

Bond Set At $1M For Greensboro Day School Worker

(Greensboro, NC) -- The Greensboro day school worker arrested last week on child pornography charges is behind bars on a one-million-dollar bond. Twenty-three-year-old Alyson Saunders made her first court appearance yesterday following her arrest this past Friday. She's accused of abusing and taking pictures of at least five toddlers at a day school run by Fellowship Presbyterian Church, and then sharing the pictures with a man in the U.K. Saunders is facing multiple felonies related to the crime and remains locked up in county jail.

Greensboro Teen Arrested In Connection With Shooting Near High School

(Greensboro, NC) -- A 16-year-old Greensboro boy is facing charges in connection with a shooting near Dudley High School. It happened on March 28th near Lincoln Street and Gate City Boulevard. Police say a male victim was found shot in the passenger seat of a vehicle. He was not identified. Police announced yesterday they've arrested Prince-Fruquan Allah on several charges, including assault with a deadly weapon.

Father Of Toddler Found Dead In Union Co. Arrested

(Union Co., NC) -- The father of a two-year-old boy who was found dead inside a home in Union County is under arrest. Thirty-year-old Alden Whitehead is charged with first-degree murder and felony child abuse in the death of his son, Louis. Sheriff's officials say the child was visiting Whitehead at his home in Indian Trail for the weekend. He was found unresponsive Sunday when his mom arrived to pick him up.

Winston-Salem Teen Accused Of Bringing Gun To School

(Winston-Salem, NC) -- A Winston-Salem teenager is accused of having a gun on school campus. Sixteen-year-old Tristian Hairston was arrested Friday after he posted a picture of the weapon on social media. Police say it was apparent he was at Carver High School at the time. Hairston was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm on educational property and possession of a handgun by a minor.


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