New District Maps Go To Judges
(Raleigh, NC) -- New district maps drawn up by North Carolina state lawmakers are now in the hands of a judges' panel. The House and Senate both approved each other's maps yesterday after a public hearing. The state was forced to redraw its legislative districts after a judge found current maps to be unconstitutional due to partisan gerrymandering. Three state judges and a Stanford University law professor will now review the maps to see if the problems have been resolved.
NC Suing Family That Owns Purdue Pharma
(Raleigh, NC) -- The state of North Carolina is suing the family that owns Purdue Pharma for its role in the opioid crisis. Attorney General Josh Stein said yesterday that the Sackler family helped create and fuel a problem that has torn apart families and communities. He claims the family purposefully deceived people and unfairly marketed the painkiller OxyContin. Purdue Pharma filed for Chapter Eleven bankruptcy on Sunday night.
Swannanoa Man Guilty Of Killing Friend
(Asheville, NC) -- A Swannanoa man is going to prison for shooting a friend to death. Investigators say Cameron McElrath shot 23-year-old Robert Stewart in the head during an argument inside a Swannonoa home in February 2018. The Buncombe County DA's office says McElrath was likely high on meth at the time of the shooting. He was sentenced to 20-to-25 years in prison on Monday after pleading guilty to second-degree murder.
Suspect Slashes Tires In One Neighborhood
(Asheville, NC) -- Asheville police are looking for whoever slashed the tires on nearly 30 cars in a neighborhood last week. WLOS-TV says it happened late Thursday night on Maxwell Street, and the suspect was caught on surveillance video. One resident said it felt personal after one car was found with an X carved into the hood. Patrols have since been increased in the area.
City Council Moves Meeting Into U.S. Cellular Center
(Asheville, NC) -- The Asheville City Council is moving its meeting next Tuesday to the U.S. Cellular Center to make way for an expected large crowd. A public hearing is planned on a possible moratorium on hotel construction. The council will also take public comments on a proposal to change back to at-large voting, rather than the district system imposed by state lawmakers last year. The meeting begins at 5 p.m. inside the second-floor banquet hall.
Pedal-Powered Tours May Hit Hendersonville
(Hendersonville, NC) -- A Hendersonville man says he hopes to begin a new way to tour the city's breweries and historic sites this fall. Fourteen passengers and a guide will embark on a journey in a pedal-powered vehicle that allows you to bring-your-own-beer. HVL Pedals and Brews owner Adam Justus told the Hendersonville Times-News the tours will showcase the city and breweries alike, while creating a partnership between the two. The city council will discuss the idea as early as October.
Man Assaults Jogger On Charlotte Greenway
(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is looking for a man who assaulted a jogger on a Charlotte greenway last weekend. The victim told police that the suspect tried dragging her into the bushes on a trail off David Taylor Drive in University City in broad daylight Sunday. She used pepper spray to escape after suffering bruises and scratches. No description of the suspect was given.
ATV Driver To Face Charges After Getting Hit By Train
(Charlotte, NC) -- The driver of an ATV who was hit by a train in South End is expected to face charges. The CMPD said yesterday the ATV drove around a car and the crossing gates before the light rail train struck him Monday night. He was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Speed and alcohol aren't considered factors in the crash.
Florida Murder Suspect Has Ties To Charlotte
(Charlotte, NC) -- A man allegedly connected to four murders in Florida has ties to Charlotte. Robert Hayes was arrested last weekend for the 2016 killing of a woman in Jupiter, Florida. Investigators believe he's responsible for the deaths of three other women in Daytona Beach in 2005 and 2006. WBTV is reporting Hayes' address was listed on Hathaway Hills Drive in west Charlotte five years ago, which would mean he lived in the Queen City between the time of the murders.
Medic To Hand Over Unpaid Bills To Tax Collector
(Charlotte, NC) -- Some Charlotte residents with unpaid medical bills could soon hear from Mecklenburg County's tax collector. The medical services agency is set to turn over any outstanding claims over 120 days old to the tax collector's office on October 1st. NBC Charlotte is reporting there were 28-million-dollars'-worth of unpaid claims in fiscal year 2019. Wages will be garnished in some cases.
Cam Uncertain For Sunday's Game
(Charlotte, NC) -- The status of Cam Newton is uncertain for Sunday's game against Arizona. The quarterback has been resting since re-aggravating a foot sprain last week and didn't practice yesterday. Carolina Panthers' coach Ron Rivera says the team will adjust the timetable for Newton's return as he undergoes treatment. Backup Kyle Allen would most likely make the start against the Cardinals if Newton sits out.
Granville County Sheriff Accused Of Urging Murder Of Former Deputy
(Oxford, NC) -- A grand jury indictment of Granville County Sheriff Brindell Wilkins accuses him of talking about the possible murder of a former deputy. SBI investigators say they have a recorded phone call of Wilkins talking about killing former Deputy Joshua Freeman because Freeman threatened to release a recording of the sheriff making racial slurs. The indictment says the recorded phone call reveals Wilkins telling another person to "take care of it" and that "the only way you gonna stop him is to kill him."
UNC Children's Hospital Cleared To Resume Complex Heart Surgeries
(Chapel Hill, NC) -- UNC Children's Hospital can resume performing complex heart surgeries. UNC Health Care announced Tuesday that an outside advisory board has cleared Children's Hospital to perform complex pediatric surgeries. But a report by the advisory board said UNC should consider whether to refer children with complex heart problems and other conditions to another hospital. UNC Children's Hospital stopped performing some operations in June after a New York Times story detailed high death rates and problems at the hospital in Chapel Hill.
Durham School Enrollment Jumps By 700
(Durham, NC) -- Enrollment in Durham Public Schools is up for the first time in five years. DPS officials announced Tuesday that almost 700 more students are enrolled this year, compared to the 2018-19 school year. As of yesterday, Durham Public Schools had more than 33-thousand students attending 53 schools. Officials were expecting enrollment to fall by nearly 170 students.
Giants Name Former Duke Star Jones Starting Quarterback
(New York, NY) -- Former Duke star Daniel Jones is now the starting quarterback for the New York Giants. The Giants announced Tuesday that the rookie first-round pick will take over for Eli Manning after the team's 0-2 start. New York coach Pat Shurmur said, "This move is more about Daniel moving forward than about Eli." Jones was impressive in three preseason wins, completing 25 of 30 passes for 369 yards, two TDs, and no interceptions.
Student Gravely Injured In Car Accident Near NC A&T
(Greensboro, NC) -- A biological engineering student at North Carolina A&T is fighting for her life after she was hit by a car near campus. It happened yesterday morning in the area of East Market and Laurel streets. Police say Onnr Grogan walked into oncoming traffic and was hit. She was rushed to a local hospital with "life-threatening injuries." An investigation is ongoing.
Person Killed At Winston-Salem Business ID'd
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- We're learning more details about a deadly workplace accident in Winston-Salem last week. It happened on September 10th at HP-FABRICS. A spokesperson for the state Department of Labor says employees were loading fabric rolls into a storage container when two workers were hit and pinned between a forklift and a pallet. One person died and the other one was taken to a local hospital with unknown injuries. OSHA is investigating.
Greensboro Holding Public Input Meetings Regarding New Chief Of Police
(Greensboro, NC) -- The City of Greensboro is starting the process of hiring a new chief of police, but it needs the public's help. A series of community meetings will be held the last week of September. A survey from Developmental Associates is also posted online to gather public input. The city is looking for a replacement for Police Chief Wayne Scott who announced his retirement, effective January 31st, 2020.
Historic High Point Hotel To Undergo Improvements
(High Point, NC) -- High Point's historic J.H. Adams Inn is getting a facelift. The hotel is undergoing a one-point-two-million-dollar renovation. They include parking lot improvements, interior upgrades and new furnishings, among other things. The work is expected to be completed sometime next year.
Person On Bike Hit, Killed By Car In High Point
(High Point, NC) -- High Point police are investigating a deadly wreck involving a bicyclist. It happened around 4:15 yesterday afternoon on South Main Street, near Furnitureland On Main. FOX 8 reports the female bike rider rode into oncoming traffic before she was hit. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her name has not been released.