Open Enrollment Halted For MC Medicaid
(Raleigh, NC) -- The transition to a managed-care Medicaid system in North Carolina is stalling. The Department of Health and Human Services said yesterday that open enrollment for NC Medicaid has been suspended since a state budget hasn't been passed. Medicaid beneficiaries will continue to receive benefits under the current fee-for-service model. Governor Cooper vetoed the proposed state budget, but no further action was taken before lawmakers adjourned for the year.
Australian Company Acquiring New Belgium Brewing
(Asheville, NC) -- An Australian company is acquiring New Belgium Brewing. The transaction between Little Lion World Beverages and New Belgium is expected to close by the end of the year. New Belgium officials said Lion is committed to protecting them as a leader in craft beer. The Colorado-based brewery's only other location is in Asheville.
Kickback Contractor Settles With Buncombe County
(Asheville, NC) -- A contractor convicted in a kickback scheme is settling with Buncombe County. The Citizen-Times says county commissioners approved a settlement of 150-thousand-dollars with Joe Wiseman yesterday. He recently reported to a federal correctional complex in eastern North Carolina to begin a 37-month sentence. Wiseman was accused of bribing former county administrators with gifts in exchange for contracts.
Driver Charged In Deadly Jackson County Wreck
(Jackson County, NC) -- A Hendersonville man is facing charges in a deadly Jackson County wreck. Troopers say Daniel Laldee hit a guardrail and then traveled into the opposite lane of traffic on U.S. 74 Saturday morning. His car slammed into a second vehicle, which killed the driver and passenger. Multiple charges include misdemeanor death by vehicle.
Ribbon-Cutting Held For Affordable Housing Complex
(Asheville, NC) -- A new affordable housing complex is open in Asheville. City leaders held a ribbon-cutting yesterday for Eagle Market Place apartments, which includes more than 60 units for people making between 15-to-40-thousand-dollars per year. Mayor Esther Manheimer says there are multiple affordable housing projects on-going in Asheville.
Grant To Help Fight Opioid Addiction In Buncombe Jail
(Buncombe County, NC) -- A new program will help inmates in Buncombe County fight opioid addiction. WLOS-TV is reporting county commissioners announced a grant last night that will help develop treatment programs at the Buncombe County Detention Facility. The amount is just over 160-thousand-dollars. Commissioner Jasmine Beach-Ferrara previously said similar programs have worked in other counties' jails.
Mother Charged In Son's Death After Fall At Airport
(Charlotte, NC) -- A Charlotte mother is facing charges in the death of her toddler son, who fell at Charlotte Douglas International Airport nearly two months ago. Three-year-old Jaiden Cowart died three days after falling from an escalator while his mother was reportedly trying to arrange a ride home. The CMPD is charging Jiterria Lightner with misdemeanor child abuse. Lightner's attorney told WBTV that some provisions at the airport could have prevented the fall.
Man Suspected Of Human Trafficking Caught In Gaston County
(Gaston County, NC) -- A man pulled over on I-85 in Gaston County is facing possible human trafficking charges. A trooper found six people between the ages of 18 and 30 in the back of the man's SUV Tuesday afternoon. They all gave conflicting stories, leading the trooper to believe they may be victims of trafficking. The suspect ran away from the scene on foot, but was caught about two hours later.
BB&T, SunTrust Merger Nearing Completion
(Charlotte, NC) -- The 66-billion-dollar merger between BB&T and SunTrust is almost complete. Federal bank regulators gave their approval for the deal yesterday. The banks say the merger should be finished by early December. The new bank is called Truist and will be based in Charlotte.
Man Stabbed At Lowe's
(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is investigating a stabbing at a southwest Charlotte Lowe's. A man was injured inside the store at the Whitehall Commons Shopping Center on Tuesday morning. A witness told NBC Charlotte the suspect initially asked the victim for money outside the store. Twenty-four-year-old Justin Campbell was arrested for attempted murder and assault. The victim was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
Kindergarten Students Find Gun Outside Union County School
(Union County, NC) -- The Union County sheriff's office says kindergarteners found a gun outside their school yesterday. The students discovered the firearm while going on a nature walk in the woods outside Poplin Elementary School in Indian Trail. Chief Communications Officer Tony Underwood said the kids handled it correctly, by reporting it to teachers and leaving the gun untouched.
Big South Bringing Basketball Tournament To Charlotte
(Charlotte, NC) -- The Big South basketball tournament is coming to the Queen City. The league announced yesterday plans to hold its championship at Bojangles' Coliseum in March 2021. It will be the first time the Big South has held its basketball tournament in a neutral site since 2003. The league's commissioner credited Charlotte for being a world-class destination and centrally located for its fanbase's footprint.
Confederate Statute Removed From Chatham County Courthouse
(Pittsboro, NC) -- Crews in Pittsboro have spent the night working to remove the Confederate monument that's stood in front of the Chatham County courthouse for more than a century. People on both sides of the controversy watched quietly as workers set about removing the statue and pedestal. A statement by the county government said the monument will be taken to a safe location for storage until the United Daughters of the Confederacy finds a more appropriate location. A Superior Court judge lifted an injunction last week to allow the county to remove the statue that was placed in front of the historic courthouse in 1907.
Raleigh Renews Recycling Contract With No Rate Hike
(Raleigh, NC) -- Raleigh will continue to recycle and people who live in the city won't have to pay more for it. The City Council voted Tuesday to use General Fund Capital reserves to cover a one-point-five-million dollar six-month contract extension with SONOCO Recycling. The company notified the city in August that it's losing as much as 150-thousand dollars a month because of increases in contaminated materials and falling demand for recyclables.
Teachers, Supporters To Protest For Higher Pay Outside 7 Wake County Schools
(Raleigh, NC) -- Public school teachers and their supporters are planning protests outside seven Wake County schools this morning. The demonstrators are calling for more school funding, including a five-percent pay raise for all school staff. Protests are scheduled for Knightdale and Fuquay-Varina high schools, Turner Creek, Washington, and Cedar Forks elementary schools, Dillard Drive Middle School, and Raleigh Charter School. Wake NC Association of Educators members are set to demonstrate at 5 p.m. on Jones Street near the legislative building.
Tech Company Bringing 400 Jobs To Chapel Hill
(Chapel Hill, NC) -- A health technology and services startup is bringing 400 jobs to Chapel Hill. Governor Roy Cooper and local leaders announced Tuesday that Well Dot Inc. will locate its corporate headquarters in downtown Chapel Hill. The main offices will be in the former Carolina Ale House property on West Franklin Street. The company has employed about two-dozen people since launching earlier this year.
'Canes Double Up Blackhawks
(Chicago, IL) -- Nino Niederreiter [[ nee-duhr-RIGH-tuhr ]] contributed to a 3-0 run through the second period as the Hurricanes doubled up the Blackhawks 4-2 in Chicago last night. Martin Necas and Andrei Svechnikov also scored in the strong start as the 'Canes won their fourth straight. Sebastian Aho lit the lamp with 18 seconds left to cap off the night and Petr Mrazek stopped 30 shots in the win.
Lewisville Man Indicted On Child Sex Charges
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- A man who ran a rec-center in Winston-Salem is behind bars on multiple child sex charges. David Edge is accused of assaulting an eight-year-old child in August of 2018, while he was working as the director of the Miller Park Recreation Center. He was charged this past July and was formally indicted this week.
Woman Arrested In Death Of Elderly Mother
(Jamestown, NC) -- A woman is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of her elderly mother. Tina Heal is accused of killing her 85-year-old mom, Jean Oxley, before trying to kill herself. Sheriff's officials say the victim died from "obvious traumatic injuries." Heal was arrested yesterday after she was released from the hospital. She's being held in the Greensboro Jail without bail.
Teenager Wanted In Connection With Several Car Break-Ins
(Gibsonville, NC) -- Gibsonville police are looking for a teenager in connection with a series of car break-ins. They happened on Halloween morning in the areas of Cook Road, Wyrick Street and Smith Street. The suspect is identified as 18-year-old Edwin Daniel of Greensboro. He's wanted on 25 counts, including 15 counts of breaking and entering a motor vehicle.
Man Killed In Head-On Wreck In Wilkes Co.
(Wilkes Co., NC) -- A man is dead after a head-on wreck in Wilkes County. It happened around 4 p.m. yesterday on Greenhorn Road. Troopers say a small pickup truck crossed into oncoming traffic and hit an SUV head-on. The truck ran off the road, overturned and caught fire. The driver, 61-year-old Alvin Johnson, was killed. The driver and the passenger in the SUV were badly hurt but are expected to be okay.