Mark Meadows Won't Seek Re-Election
(Washington, DC) -- Western North Carolina's 11th Congressional District will have a new representative in 2021. Republican Mark Meadows announced Thursday he won't seek re-election once his term ends next year. He said he was still fully committed to staying in the fight with President Trump to deliver on his promises for years to come. Republican State Senator Jim Davis of Macon County filed to run for Meadows' seat yesterday. Haywood County GOP's vice chair Lynda Bennett also filed for the race.
Evangelical Magazine Calls For Trump's Removal
(Carol Stream, IL) -- An evangelical magazine founded by late preacher and North Carolina-native Billy Graham is taking a stance to remove the President from office. The editor-in-chief of Christianity Today released an editorial yesterday that claims Donald Trump's alleged coercion of a foreign leader was profoundly immoral. The article also criticized Trump's Twitter feed of being a near-perfect example of a human being who is morally lost. Graham's son, Franklin, is an outspoken supporter of Trump.
Asheville High Principal Resigns
(Asheville, NC) -- Asheville High's principal is out. School district officials said yesterday John Dingle is retiring effective December 31st. The announcement comes after Dingle was placed on administrative leave during an investigation over an alleged sex offense with an adult. Assistant Superintendent Mark Dickerson will continue to service as interim principal.
Man Killed In Caldwell County Standoff
(Caldwell County, NC) -- One man is dead after a standoff in Caldwell County. Kentrey Witherspoon allegedly fired shots at a Hudson police officer and Caldwell deputy during a traffic stop near First Baptist Church on Main Street early Thursday. He drove off and was spotted around noon at the Kincaid Furniture Plant nearby. Investigators say U.S. Marshals opened fire on Witherspoon after negotiations failed.
McDowell County Man Sentenced To Life For Child Sex Crimes
(McDowell County, NC) -- A McDowell County man will serve life in prison for child sex crimes. WLOS-TV is reporting Charles Herron entered guilty pleas to nearly 180 combined counts of sexual exploitation, statutory sex offense and statutory rape. Investigators say Herron allegedly had inappropriate contact with the female victim beginning when she was four-years-old. A judge sentenced him to three concurrent life sentences this week.
App State Heads To New Orleans For Bowl
(New Orleans, LA) -- Appalachian State is looking for its fifth straight bowl win tomorrow night. The Mountaineers take on UAB in the New Orleans Bowl inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Shawn Clark will make his head coaching debut for App State after Eliah [[ eli ]] Drinkwitz left to take the top job at Missouri. The Mountaineers are 12-and-1 on the year, with a number-20 College Football Playoff ranking.
Entertainment District Coming To Uptown
(Charlotte, NC) -- A new entertainment district is coming to the Queen City near Bank of America Stadium. The plan for the land in uptown's Third and Fourth Ward neighborhoods is still in the works, but city leaders confirm there will be a transportation hub. An Amtrak station is expected to be built at West Trade and Graham streets to replace another one on North Tryon Street. The announcement comes just as Charlotte was awarded with a Major League Soccer franchise this week.
Teen Father Charged With Attempted Murder
(Charlotte, NC) -- A 19-year-old father is being charged with the attempted murder of his infant daughter. The CMPD says the two-month-old girl was brought to the hospital around two weeks ago with life-threatening injuries. Felix Rivas was arrested yesterday on the attempted murder charge, as well as two counts of felony child abuse.
Lake Norman Home Destroyed By Fire
(Mooresville, NC) -- Fire officials are investigating the cause of a blaze that destroyed a Lake Norman home yesterday. Flames tore through the large Misty Meadows Court residence for around an hour-and-a-half, when firefighters were finally able to bring it all under control. No one was home at the time of the fire.
No Threat Found After Mooresville Walmart Evacuation
(Mooresville, NC) -- Mooresville police say there was no threat after a Walmart was evacuated yesterday. Customers and employees at the Norman Station Boulevard store just off I-77 were forced to leave due to a report of a suspicious package. Surrounding businesses were also evacuated. K9 units swept the store, but found there was no threat.
UNC Charlotte Playing In First Bowl Game
(Charlotte, NC) -- UNC Charlotte plays in its first-ever bowl game this afternoon. The 49ers are in Nassau for the Bahamas Bowl against the Buffalo Bulls. First-year head coach Will Healy led Charlotte to a seven-and-five record this year, marking the team's only winning record in its seven-year program history. Kickoff is at 2 p.m.
Duke Health System Restricts Visitors As State Reports 6th Flu Death
(Undated) -- The Duke University Health System is restricting visitors as state health officials report another flu death. Starting today, patients can't have more than two visitors at a time, children younger than 12 can't visit without prior approval, and visitors shouldn't have any flu-like symptoms. The NC Department of Health and Human Services said Thursday a sixth person died of flu-related illness last week. The department describes flu activity as widespread with more than 200 positive tests for flu last week.
RDU Says New Fence Near Umstead Park Needed To Keep Out Trespassers
(Morrisville, NC) -- Raleigh-Durham airport officials say the airport needs a fence near Umstead State Park to keep mountain bikers and hikers from building and using trails through airport property. RDU Chief Operating Officer Bill Sandifer told state officials Thursday the trails, bridges, jumps, and obstacles have degraded streams and raised their ariport's legal liability. Work on the fence will begin this winter on wooded areas near the park off Reedy Creek Road. RDU plans to put up 18 miles of fencing around the airport's entire perimeter eventually.
Number 3 Duke Routs Wofford, 79-73
(Durham, NC) -- Duke rang up its 10th win of the season as the Number-3 Blue Devils routed Wofford, 86-57 at Cameron Indoor Stadium Thursday night. Sophomore forward Joe Baker led Duke with 22 points off the bench while freshman center Vernon Carey Jr. missed only three shots on his way to 20 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman forward Matthew Hurt put in 12 points. The Blue Devils are off until next Saturday, December 28th, when they'll host Brown.
Two Arrests Made In Thomasville Disappearance
(Thomasville, NC) -- Thomasville police are announcing two arrests in connection with a disappearance and death this past weekend. Tessa McCormick and Kevin Ross are charged with concealment of death. McCormick is also facing several drug charges. Toby Linthicum vanished Saturday and was later found dead inside of his vehicle just outside of city limits. The Davidson County Sheriff's office joined the investigation and ruled the death suspicious.
High Point Teen Accused Of Making Shooting Threat
(High Point, NC) -- A 14-year-old High Point Central High student is accused of threatening to shoot another student. The threats were seen on social media, and the school's resource officer was contacted. An investigation found the teen created a fake social media account to make the threats. He later told police it was just a joke. Charges are pending.
Microsoft Expanding In Wake Co.
(Wake Co., NC) -- Microsoft is expanding its facility in Wake County. Governor Roy Cooper says the company is planning to invest just under 50-million dollars in the expansion -- a move that could create 500 new jobs. In October, Microsoft announced plans to expand its location in Charlotte. That move created roughly 430 jobs.
Historic Restaurant In Alamance Co. Destroyed In Fire
(Alamance Co., NC) -- An investigation is underway after a historic restaurant in Alamance County caught fire. It happened Wednesday afternoon at Ye Old Country Kitchen in Snow Camp. Fire officials say the roof collapsed. The owner, Brian Wilson, tells NBC 12 they plan to rebuild the restaurant. There's no word yet on what caused the blaze.