Students Evacuated To Sheriff's Officer After Bomb Threat
(Madison County, NC) -- Madison County investigators are trying to find out who wrote a threat that caused the evacuation of two schools yesterday. A combined one-thousand students from Madison Middle and Brush Creek Elementary schools were taken to the sheriff's office after a written bomb threat was reported on a bathroom stall. Sheriff Buddy Harwood told the Citizen-Times that they made the decision to evacuate because the threat contained an actual time. Deputies and a team from the Asheville Police Department searched and found nothing.
Event Coming To Ag Center After Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak
(Fletcher, NC) -- The first big event is about to begin at the Western North Carolina Ag Center since last month's Legionnaires' outbreak. Around 140 people who fell ill from the disease attended the Mountain State Fair at the Ag Center. Health officials believe the airborne bacteria came from a hot tub display, but they now say the grounds are completely safe. The center opens its gates for the 34th annual Western North Carolina Fall Harvest Days tomorrow.
Black Mountain Pastor Prays Before Senate Session
(Washington, DC) -- A Black Mountain-based pastor who was released from captivity in Turkey one year ago says he's thankful for those who fought for his return. Andrew Brunson was invited to be a guest at the U.S. Senate yesterday by North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis. The pastor opened the session with a prayer and also thanked the senators. Tillis says Brunson went through things most of us can't imagine.
Asheville Police Still Seeking Attempted Murder Suspect
(Asheville, NC) -- An attempted murder suspect who crashed his car in Buncombe County last week is still on the run. Police chased Kenneth Barnett from Haywood County to the area of the Asheville School, where he wrecked and ran away on foot. He's wanted for allegedly stabbing someone around Travelers Rest last week. Investigators say he should be considered armed and dangerous.
Motorcyclist Dies After Asheville Wreck
(Asheville, NC) -- Asheville police are investigating what is now a deadly wreck on Patton Avenue. A car and motorcycle collided near the Sky Lanes Bowling Center on Sunday afternoon. WLOS-TV is reporting the driver of the motorcycle died after he was rushed to Mission Hospital with injuries. There's no word on potential charges at this time.
Widening Project Begins On I-26
(Asheville, NC) -- The I-26 Interstate widening project is underway. One lane heading eastbound will be closed overnight this week between the French Broad River and Long Shoals Road in Biltmore Park to remove reflective markers and stripes. It's the first step of a project that isn't expected to wrap up until 2024. The total cost of the widening is now at over half-a-billion-dollars.
Statesville Man Charged In Murder Of Toddler
(Statesville, NC) -- A man accused of killing a two-year-old in Statesville is in jail. The child was found unresponsive at a home on Alexander Street in early September. Statesville police charged Jordan Simmons with second-degree murder and child abuse yesterday after the month-long investigation wrapped up. He was arrested in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.
Early Voting Begins Today In Mecklenburg County
(Charlotte, NC) -- Early voting for the general election beings today in Mecklenburg County. Voters will decide a quarter-cent sales tax referendum that would raise 50-million-dollars for the arts, parks and education. Three at-large seats on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board are on the ballot as well. The Charlotte Observer is reporting three Charlotte city council races may be uphill battles for Republicans in areas that have been trending Democratic.
Five Students Charged After Stolen Gun Found On Campus
(Charlotte, NC) -- Five students are in trouble with the law for allegedly showing up on the North Mecklenburg High School campus with a stolen gun. The group was riding through the school parking lot during class on Monday and crashed into a locked gate after a school resource officer approached them. CMS says the teens are students in the school system, but don't attend North Mecklenburg. Officers found the stolen gun inside the car.
CMPD Investigates Deadly Motorcycle Wreck
(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is investigating a deadly motorcycle wreck in Steele Creek. South Tryon Street was completely shut down last night after the motorcycle and a car collided at the Westinghouse Boulevard intersection. The driver of the car told officers the motorcycle came out of nowhere. The motorcyclist died at the scene.
Residents Continue Opposition To Collection Plan For Unpaid Ambulance Bills
(Charlotte, NC) -- Some Mecklenburg County residents are still speaking out against a plan that would send unpaid ambulance bills to the tax collector's office. County officials said last month that Medic bills more than 120 days overdue would start going to the office in October, but commissioners held off after concerns were aired from the community. Some people came out again to last night's commission meeting to voice opposition to the proposal. Medic says more than two-million-dollars in bills are past due.
Charlotte Chef Competing On Food Network Show
(Charlotte, NC) -- A Charlotte chef will soon compete on a Food Network show. NBC Charlotte is reporting Jennifer Brule [[ broo-LAY ]] is vying for a 25-thousand-dollar prize in the new Ultimate Thanksgiving Challenge. Contestants were faced with creating innovative turkeys, side dishes and desserts during filming in August. The contest premieres on the network on November 2nd. Brule owns Davidson Ice House.
Wake County School Leaders Praise Student Who Exposed Online Racist Group Chat
(Cary, NC) -- Wake County school leaders are praising a student who exposed a racist online group chat. School board members and Superintendent Cathy Moore on Tuesday called East Wake High School freshman Cenayia Edwards courageous for publicly exposing a group chat where white students made racial slurs and talked about killing black people. The 14-year-old posed as a white student to gain access to the group chat involving two students from her school and five at Corinth Holders High in Johnston County. After commending Cenayia, Moore said, "Put simply, we have more work to do."
Durham Man Charged With Murder In Drive-By Shooting Of 9-Year-Old Z'Yon Person
(Durham, NC) -- A 24-year-old Durham man is charged with murder in the August drive-by shooting death of 9-year-old Z'Yon Person. Antonio Davenport was charged Tuesday morning at the Durham County Jail. Z'Yon was killed and an 8-year-old was injured when someone shot into a car as they and three other children were being driven to get snow cones the night of August 18th. Z'Yon's aunt said she heard another car's horn, then gunshots as she was getting ready to turn.
Survey: One-Third Of Female UNC Undergrads Report Sexual Assault
(Chapel Hill, NC) -- A new survey finds a third of female undergrads at UNC-Chapel Hill report being sexually assaulted during their time as students. Nearly six-thousand UNC students responded to the Association of American Universities survey released Tuesday. Interim Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz sent a letter to students and the campus community acknowledging that sexual assault and harassment are serious problems at UNC and campuses across the nation. The letter calls the data in the survey "very concerning."
Plastic JROTC Drill Replica, Triggers Lockdown At Northern High In Durham
(Durham, NC) -- A plastic drill replica that someone mistook for a gun led to a lockdown at Northern High School in Durham Tuesday evening. One of the school's JROTC students was carrying the vaguely rifle-shaped replica on his way to practice drills when someone saw him and called 911 to report a "man with a gun" on campus. School officials say security cameras helped police officers and sheriff's deputies determine there was no weapon and no threat to safety.
Canes Shut Out Kings, 2-0 In L.A.
(Los Angeles, CA) -- The Hurricanes continue their strong early-season play, shutting out the Kings, 2-0, in Los Angeles last night. Petr Mrazek had 31 saves in goal as the Canes won for the sixth time in seven games. Martin Necas lit the lamp at 4:16 of the second period and Sebastian Aho had an empty-netter with seven seconds to play in the third. The Canes have the best record in the NHL.
Two Deputies Hurt In Deadly Barricade Situation In High Point
(High Point, NC) -- A Guilford County sheriff's deputy is hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the jaw after a deadly barricade situation in High Point. Deputies responded to Victor Jarvis' home on Braddock Road Monday morning to execute a padlocking. He locked himself inside the residence for more than ten hours before a SERT team responded. Jarvis reportedly opened fire, hitting one deputy in the jaw and another in the arm. Deputies returned fire, and Jarvis was killed. An investigation is ongoing.
Dixie Classic Fair Could Become Carolina Classic Fair
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- A new name is chosen for the Dixie Classic Fair. A committee yesterday voted in favor of the Carolina Classic Fair. The name will be presented to the full City Council, as well as an estimated timeline for the change.
Third Legionnaires Death From Mountain State Fair
(Fletcher, NC) -- A third Mountain State fair-goer is dead after contracting Legionnaires' disease. Family members say 89-year-old Lula Johnson Hudson of Morganton died last Thursday of the bacterial pneumonia. Legionnaires' disease is contracted through water, mist or vapor in the air. State health officials say 140 cases of Legionnaires' disease, or Pontiac Fever, are linked to the fair, possibly from a hot tub exhibit there.
Homicide Under Investigation In Greensboro
(Greensboro, NC) -- A homicide investigation is underway in Greensboro. The body of 33-year-old Douglas Wheless was found yesterday morning near Gillespie and Hassall streets. Police say he was shot.
Job Fair Held In Greensboro Today
(Greensboro, NC) -- Amazon is one of the many companies that will be at a job fair today in Greensboro. Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina is putting on the event today at the Coliseum. It runs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. More than 800 people attended a job fair back in August that included Amazon.