High School Senior Dies In Drowning
(Clay County, NC) -- A western North Carolina high school senior is dead just a week before graduation. Clay County sheriff's investigators say 17-year-old Steven Plummer drowned at Lake Chatuge [[ chah-TOOG ]] on Monday afternoon. He was visiting the lake with friends from school when he reportedly went under trying to swim from the shore to a pontoon boat. Plummer played on the football and baseball teams at Hayesville High School.
Lawmakers Pass Bill To Benefit Craft Breweries
(Raleigh, NC) -- A new bill that would allow small breweries to self-distribute more beer is at Governor Cooper's desk. Craft breweries are currently only allowed to sell up to 25-thousand barrels of beer per year. Anything over that must be distributed by a wholesaler. Legislation passed by the North Carolina Senate on Monday pushes that limit up to 50-thousand barrels.
Buncombe Fire Chiefs Looking For More In Budget
(Buncombe County, NC) -- Fire chiefs in Buncombe County are asking for more money in the budget. WLOS-TV says six fire districts requested tax increases anywhere from one-to-three cents in a meeting with county commissioners yesterday. The increases would help fund new positions and salary increases to stay competitive. The public has a chance to weigh in on the budget in June.
Weaverville Man Dies Two Days After Wreck
(Weaverville, NC) -- Police say a man has died two days after he was involved in a wreck in Weaverville. Officers told WLOS-TV that they were clearing the scene of a three-car accident on Main Street last Friday when an elderly man drove off down an embankment. He died at Mission Hospital on Sunday. The Weaverville Police Department is continuing to investigate what happened.
Asheville Airport Eager To Expand
(Buncombe County, NC) -- The Asheville Regional Airport is looking at ways to accommodate its growing number of passengers. The airport's executive director told Buncombe County commissioners yesterday that Asheville Regional has about half the space it needs to properly serve its passengers. Last year was the first time over one-million passengers flew out of the airport. They're starting expansion with an additional parking lot.
Hot Memorial Day Weekend In Store
(Asheville, NC) -- Some record heat could be hitting western North Carolina this weekend. Temperatures are expected to reach close to 90-degrees through the weekend and into Memorial Day. The record high for May 26th was set 30 years ago at 88-degrees. Holiday weekend temps will be about ten degrees above normal.
Protesters Clash Over Abortion In Charlotte
(Charlotte, NC) -- Protesters are at-odds on abortion in the Queen City. Abortion rights advocates rallied around the country yesterday to fight the rising number of bans. NBC Charlotte is reporting groups of pro-life and pro-choice protesters clashed outside the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center yesterday. The state House is scheduled to vote on a bill today that will require a doctor to preserve the life of a baby born alive during an abortion attempt.
Petition Gains Traction Over American Flag Fight In Statesville
(Statesville, NC) -- The fight over an American flag in Statesville is gaining huge support online. The city of Statesville is imposing a 50-dollar-per day fine retroactive to last October because the flag flying at Camping World off I-77 is larger than the local ordinance allows. The flag at the business is close to twice the city's limit within 100 feet of a highway, but they refuse to take it down. More than 125-thousand people had signed a petition on Change-dot-org last night in support of Camping World.
Vice President In Charlotte Today
(Charlotte, NC) -- The vice president is in Charlotte today. Mike Pence is expected to attend a host committee event for the 2020 Republican National Convention, which will be held in the Queen City in August 2020. He'll also tour the textile company Parkdale Mills to discuss the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. A Trump Victory fundraiser is coming up tonight in Greensboro.
Teen Jailed For Violent Threats At School
(Gaston County, NC) -- A local teenager is being accused of threatening mass violence in Gaston County. Investigators say they found a knife and brass knuckles in the car of 18-year-old Jacob Rhyne on Monday after he allegedly made threats to several students at North Gaston High School. He was last reported to be in jail under a one-million-dollar bond. Police also charged Rhyne with possession of weapons on state property.
Suspects Accused Of Theft Ring At Matthews' Lowes
(Matthews, NC) -- More than a dozen suspects are facing charges for allegedly operating a theft ring through the Lowes in Matthews. Police started investigating a string of high-end thefts at the Matthews Township Parkway store in mid-April. Some officers went undercover to catch the suspected thieves in the act. Almost six-thousand-dollars in stolen property was recovered by the end of the sting last Friday.
CMPD Cracking Down On Cars Parked In Bike Lanes
(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is trying to crack down on cars parking in bike lanes. A police captain told WBTV that the department is working with the city to figure out proper language in the ordinance that would better define what's legal in the lanes. Parking spots used to be located in the new uptown cycle track lanes on 5th and 6th streets.
Orange County Teacher Charged With Threatening To Shoot Up School
(Hillsborough, NC) -- A teacher in Orange County is accused of threatening to shoot up the school where she worked until last week. The Orange County Sheriff's office says Kristen Thompson abruptly resigned her position at Pathways Elementary School on Friday. After Thompson resigned, other teachers told authorities she had made threats to shoot up the school in Hillsborough. Thompson was arrested Tuesday and charged with communicating a threat of mass violence.
Harnett County Woman, Daughter Killed In Head-On Crash
(Lillington, NC) -- A Harnett County woman and one of her eleven-year-old twin daughters are dead after a head-on crash. It happened early Tuesday morning on U.S. 421. The Highway Patrol says Venita Vandergriff and one of her daughters were killed when their car crossed the centerline and slammed into a semi. The other eleven-year-old girl was taken to a hospital. The truck driver was treated and released.
Raleigh To Allow Some Short-Term Rentals
(Raleigh, NC) -- Raleigh will allow homeowners to rent out part of their homes to travelers. The City Council voted Tuesday to allow people to rent out one or two rooms but not entire homes within the Raleigh city limits. For years, people have been renting out rooms to travelers who did not know they were technically breaking local laws.
Dress Barn Closing All Stores, Including 20 In North Carolina
(Undated) -- Longtime women's clothing company Dress Barn is closing all its stores, including 20 in North Carolina. The company announced Tuesday it's started what it calls a wind down of all 650 Dress Barn stores across the U.S. There's no word yet on when Carolina Dress Barns, including the one in Durham's Northgate Shopping Mall, will shut down for good. For now, it's business as usual for returns, refunds and gift cards.
Duke Downs Notre Dame, 10-6 In ACC Tournament
(Durham, NC) -- Duke is one win away from the ACC Baseball Tournament semifinals. The Blue Devils took down Notre Dame, 10-6 Tuesday night. A big worry for Duke going forward is whether shortstop Ethan Murray will be able to play. Murray took a pitch to the face in the fourth inning. The freshman who's batting .316 walked off the field on his own and was taken to Duke University Hospital for treatment.
Fourth Victim Killed In Surry Co. Fire
(Surry Co., NC) -- A fourth victim is dead after a massive fire tore through an apartment complex in Surry County. Taylor Chipman died after being taken to ICU. Her boyfriend, Ryan Gwyn, was also killed in the fire Monday at College Place Apartments. The other victims are identified as Makaila Moses and Katherine Woods. There's no world yet on what caused the blaze.
Animal Cruelty Charges Dropped Against Man Accused Of Shooting Horses
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- Forsyth County prosecutors are dropping all animal cruelty charges against a man accused of shooting horses. Prosecutors say there isn't enough evidence to pursue charges against Alonzo Cross. He's accused of shooting several horses last year at the Muddy Creek Greenway, leaving one horse dead and two others injured. Prosecutors kept a single charge against Cross of possession of a stolen firearm.
Property Tax Hike Proposed In Greensboro
(Greensboro, NC) -- Greensboro's city manger wants to raise the property tax rate for the first time in over a decade. The city manager is calling for a hike of three cents per 100 dollars of assessed value. It's part of a 566-million-dollar proposed budget discussed at last night's City Council meeting. Council members will vote to adopt the budget on June 18th.
Protests Held Against Abortion Restrictions
(Greensboro, NC) -- Pro-choice activists are taking a stand at events nationwide. Tens of thousands of people gathered in demonstrations across the country yesterday against new abortion laws in Alabama and other states. In the Piedmont Triad, rallies were held in Winston-Salem and Greensboro. So far, over a dozen states have passed or attempted to pass stricter abortion laws this year.
Man Arrested In Connection With Box Cutter Fight In Staley
(Staley, NC) -- A worker in Randolph County is accused of hurting a fellow worker with a box cutter. The scene unfolded yesterday at Discount Box and Pallet in Staley. Police say two employees were fighting when one of them picked up a box cutter and slashed the other one. Justin Locklear was arrested on suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon and other charges. There's no word on how bad the victim was hurt.