Buncombe County Stays Mum On Gun Rights Resolution
(Henderson County, NC) -- Buncombe County is staying away from a resolution supporting gun rights for now. Commissioners took no vote last night after hearing from both those in favor of and against a largely symbolic measure backing the Second Amendment. Henderson County commissioners passed a Second Amendment Sanctuary resolution of its own on Monday night.
Earth Fare Files For Bankruptcy
(Fletcher, NC) -- An Asheville-based supermarket company is seeking bankruptcy protection. Earth Fare filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy yesterday in U.S. court. The news came just a day after the company said all of its stores were closing. Earth Fare has about a dozen locations in North Carolina, including two in Asheville
Heavy Rain Moving In To WNC
(Asheville, NC) -- Heavy rain is moving towards western North Carolina. A system is tracking through the southeast that is expected to start affecting the state today. The National Weather Service is predicting up to three inches of rain to fall by Thursday night. There is the potential for flooding and strong thunderstorms.
Asheville HS Field Named After Assistant Coach
(Asheville, NC) -- The football field at Asheville High School has a new name. The school board voted this week to name it after assistant coach Eugene Hammonds, who the Citizen-Times reports has been at the school since integration. Hammonds became the first African-American head football coach for a high school in western North Carolina when he served on an interim basis in 1984. The school's baseball field is also named after Hammonds.
Fourth Mills River Assault Suspect Arrested
(Henderson County, NC) -- Another suspect is facing charges in a Henderson County robbery and assault. WLOS-TV says Michael Sexton is the fourth suspect to be arrested in the case since the late January attack at a home in the Mills River area. The victim has been recovering at Mission Hospital. Three other suspects were arrested last week.
Enrollment Hits High At Western Carolina U.
(Cullowhee, NC) -- Student enrollment at Western Carolina University is at an all-time high. The school says more than eleven-thousand students are in classes this spring for the first time ever. They credit the growth with facility improvements and word-of-mouth. An undergraduate admissions official calls the growth a good problem to have.
Teens Arrested After Ballantyne Crime Spree
(Charlotte, NC) -- Two teens are being accused of an early Tuesday morning crime spree in Ballantyne. The CMPD says a 17-year-old was shot by a neighbor after he tried carjacking a woman on Myers Mill Lane. Investigators linked the teen to a car break-in several hours earlier in Ballantyne involving another suspect. The second suspect was later allegedly shot during an attempted armed robbery before crashing a stolen car in a police chase.
Chester County Voters Turn Down School Projects
(Chester County, SC) -- Chester County voters are again turning down a large school bond referendum. The final vote count yesterday was around a 65-to-35 margin against a 116-million-dollar plan, which included a new Chester High School, improvements to other schools and a new performing arts center. An approval would have resulted in a tax increase. Voters turned down a 38-million-dollar school bond referendum just two years ago.
Mural Honors Former Panther
(Charlotte, NC) -- A Carolina Panthers' great is being honored by local artists. NBC Charlotte says Matt Moore and Matt Hooker are teaming up to paint a mural of linebacker Luke Kuechly [[ kee-klee ]] on the outside of the South End bar, The Brickyard. Kuechly was selected to seven Pro Bowls in his eight seasons with the Panthers, before retiring last month. Moore says Kuechly came by to see the mural and was super impressed.
Suspect Arrested For Iredell County Murder
(Iredell County, NC) -- A suspect is in jail for an Iredell County murder. A woman was shot to death outside a home in Union Grove early Monday morning. Iredell County deputies say the suspect initially ran from the scene, but came back a short time later. Gerald Lunsford was arrested and placed in jail without bond.
Nearly 400 To Be Laid Off From Charlotte Call Center
(Charlotte, NC) -- Close to 400 employees at a Charlotte call center are losing their jobs. The Charlotte Business Journal is reporting Continuum Global Solutions is closing its Whitehall Park Drive location at the end of April. The company says it is attempting to relocate employees to other sites in the region.
International Soccer Coming Back To Bank Of America Stadium
(Charlotte, NC) -- Team Mexico is coming back to Bank of America Stadium. The first sporting event in the stadium this year is slated to be an international soccer friendly match between Mexico and the Czech Republic on March 26th. This marks the fifth time in a decade that the Mexican National Team has played in the Queen City. Charlotte's new Major League Soccer team is expected to begin play at Bank of America Stadium in 2021.
Raleigh City Council Approves Police Advisory Board
(Raleigh, NC) -- The Raleigh City Council is moving to set up a police advisory board. The Council on Tuesday approved the creation of a five-member board to oversee the police department's policies and procedures. A citizen oversight board has been debated for years and Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown has said a board wouldn't end conflicts between police and citizens and could interfere with officers doing their jobs. The chief released a statement Tuesday night pledging to work with the new board.
Durham County Commissioners Propose $493-Million For School Repairs, Renovation
(Durham, NC) -- Durham County Commissioners have a plan for nearly 500-million dollars for repairs and renovations in Durham Public Schools. On Tuesday, commissioners proposed a more than 493-million-dollar plan to begin addressing what school officials call critical needs to keep aging schools operating. The money would be provided over the next ten years. The commissioners will need to schedule a formal vote on the spending plan.
Ft. Bragg Soldier Has Surprise Reunion With Family During SOTU Speech
(Washington, DC) -- A Fort Bragg soldier surprised his wife and children when he joined them during President Trump's State of the Union address in Washington. Army Sergeant First Class Townsend Williams had been gone for seven months on his fourth deployment to the Middle East. The Trump administration brought Williams' wife Amy and the couple's young son and daughter to the speech last night. The President recognized Amy and the children, then surprised them by bringing in Sgt. Williams.
Duke Rallies To Down BC, 63-55 In Boston
(Boston, MA) -- Duke survived a cold-shooting night to knock off Boston College, 63-55. The number-8 Blue Devils shot less than 38-percent from the floor, including an ice-cold one-for-15 on three pointers. Duke trailed the Eagles by four when guard Tre Jones led a 13-2 run late. Jones led the Blue Devils with 18 points and freshman center Vernon Carey Junior put in 17 to go with 10 rebounds.
Blues Double Up 'Canes, 6-3
(St. Louis, MO) -- The Hurricanes fell to the Blues, 6-3 in St. Louis in a game that wasn't as close as the final score indicated. The Blues' Brayden Schenn and Zach Sanford each scored two goals as St. Louis skated out to leads of 3-0 and 6-1 last night. Brock McGinn and Martin Necas lit the lamp in the final 10 minutes to get Carolina closer. It's the fifth straight road loss for the 'Canes.
Molly Corbett, Thomas Martens To Get New Trial
(Lexington, NC) -- The father and daughter accused of killing a successful Irish businessman will get a new trial. Molly Corbett and Thomas Martens were each sentenced to up to 25 years in prison in 2017 for murdering Molly's husband, Jason Corbett. The North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled Corbett and Martens were unable to present a meaningful defense. The case now heads to the North Carolina Supreme Court.
Triad To Brace For Severe Weather
(Greensboro, NC) -- The Piedmont Triad is bracing for some potentially dangerous weather. The National Weather Service says a slow-moving cold front will bring scattered showers today, followed by severe weather tomorrow night. Forecasters say the storm could produce several inches of rain, flash-flooding, dangerous winds and isolated tornadoes. A Hazardous Weather Outlook is in effect.
Nearly 20 People Arrested In Human Trafficking Case
(Graham, NC) -- The Alamance County Sheriff's office is announcing nearly 20 arrests after an operation targeting human-trafficking and prostitution. Operation "Happy New Year" used undercover officers to target the suspects. Additional arrests are possible.
Police: Many Who Shot Painter Will Not Be Charged
(High Point, NC) -- High Point police say the man who mistakingly shot a painter will not be charged. It happened last Thursday at Chatham Woods Apartments on Lakecrest Avenue. Police say Byron Castillo was hired to make repairs to an apartment and was sent to the wrong unit. The resident, Greg Sims, tells police he shot the guy in the chest because he thought he was trying to break in. Castillo is in ICU at Wake Forest Baptist Center but is reportedly improving.
Macy's Announces Store Closures, Job Cuts
(Cincinnati, OH) -- Macy's announced it will close 125 stores over the next three years. The department store chain is closing stores in lower tier malls. There are Macy's locations in Hanes Mall in Winston-Salem, and in Friendly Center in Greensboro, but it's not yet clear if those ones are affected. The company also plans to slash around two-thousand corporate jobs in an attempt to cut costs.