Buncombe Deputy Investigated By SBI
(Buncombe County, NC) -- The SBI is investigating a Buncombe County chief deputy for an alleged theft. The sheriff's office says Don Eberharadt was placed on administrative leave during the investigation. WLOS-TV reports the district attorney requested a probe into an alleged theft at a local firearms store.
Lawmakers To Look At Buncombe Hotel Tax
(Raleigh, NC) -- State lawmakers may take up legislation this week aimed at helping Buncombe's tourism industry. Republican State Senator Chuck Edwards is proposing a measure to allow five-million-dollars in the county's hotel tax to go towards the affected businesses. Lawmakers are back in session on April 28th. The Tourism Development Authority recently said it would take a change in the law to redirect funds.
Coronavirus Cases Around 400 In WNC
(Raleigh, NC) -- The number of coronavirus cases is up to just over 400 in western North Carolina. The News and Observer reported last night that numbers statewide are at just under nine-thousand. Several counties in the mountains haven't reported any cases yet, but Swain did have its first three confirmations over the weekend. There have been 325 deaths in North Carolina.
HCA Healthcare Still Planning New Hospital, Behavioral Center
(Asheville, NC) -- HCA Healthcare is still moving forward with two new facilities in western North Carolina. A spokeswoman told the Citizen-Times that plans for a new hospital in Franklin and a behavioral center in Asheville haven't been derailed despite a turndown in the economy recently. The Franklin project should begin later this year. HCA received 700-million-dollars in federal relief.
Food Stamps Applications Nearly Triple In Madison
(Madison County, NC) -- Food stamps applications are up in Madison County. The social services director told the Citizen Times that the county received close to 150 applications as of April 22nd. That is up nearly three times the average of 50 in a typical month. The state has loosened restrictions for families who try to re-certify their benefits.
Polk County Trail Closed
(Polk County, NC) -- A trail in Polk County is temporarily closed to help stem the spread of COVID-19. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission says the Big Bradley Falls Trail is shut down until May 8th. The decision was implemented due to increased travel into the area, which made it more difficult to enforce social distancing.
One Dead, Four Injured In Salisbury Shooting
(Salisbury, NC) -- Salisbury police are investigating a quadruple shooting that killed one person yesterday. Gunfire erupted outside a home on East Lafayette Street. One victim died at the scene and one was seriously injured, while two others had non-life-threatening injuries. There was a separate shooting in the area on Friday, but investigators aren't sure if it's related. No one has been arrested.
No New Coronavirus Deaths Reported In Meck
(Mecklenburg County, NC) -- There are no new deaths from the coronavirus in Mecklenburg County. That was reported with numbers released for Sunday, which show total case numbers are up to nearly nine-thousand for the entire state. Almost 15-hundred of those are in Mecklenburg County. A total of 40 people locally have died from coronavirus.
Driver Arrested In Deadly Hit-And-Run
(Charlotte, NC) -- A driver is facing charges in a deadly hit and run in east Charlotte. The CMPD says a woman was struck and killed at East W.T. Harris Boulevard and Robinson Church Road early Sunday morning. Officers were able to track down the suspect's car in a nearby driveway by using debris from the scene. Charges include felony hit-and-run for the time being.
CMS Creates Task Force For Graduation
(Charlotte, NC) -- CMS is studying ways to honor its graduating seniors. Governor Cooper announced Friday that schools will be closed the rest of the academic year. The district has formed a task force made up of senior students, parents, teachers and staff to study exactly how the class of 2020 can be honored.
Shooting Kills One In Charlotte
(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is investigating a deadly shooting. Officers found one man shot to death in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Audrey Street Sunday morning. No arrests have been announced.
>>Panthers Pick Seven Defensive Players
(Charlotte, NC) -- The new NFL season will look much different on defense for the Panthers. Although it remains unclear who will start, Carolina will have its fair share of young players to choose from. The Panthers chose defensive players for each of their seven draft picks from Thursday through Saturday. It's the first time seven players have been drafted on that side of the ball by the same team since the AFL-NFL merger.
Storm System Creates Damaging Winds Across Triangle
(Raleigh, NC) -- Severe storms that produced strong straight line winds, knocked down trees and power lines and caused structural damage across parts of the Triangle Sunday night. The damaging winds also left thousands of Duke Energy customers without power. There were several reports of trees falling on homes in Durham and Wake Counties. EMA officials report the most significant wind damage was done in Wake Forest. There were no reports of injuries.
Police Investigate Series Of Unsolved Shootings At McDougald Terrace
(Durham, NC) -- Police in Durham are offering a cash reward for information leading to the persons responsible for a series of shootings at the McDougald Terrace Apartment Complex. The shootings come after residents were evacuated from their homes because of carbon monoxide contamination. Investigators are trying to solve shootings at McDougald that occurred Sunday afternoon on Lakeland Street, April 13th off Wabash Street and the shooting of a one-year old girl off Truman Street, as she was sitting in a car with her father on April 1st.
Two Children Die In Fiery Auto Crash In Durham
(Durham, NC) -- The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is investigating a fiery crash in Durham Saturday night that resulted in the deaths of two small children. It happened along Winkler Road and Russell Road. Details on the accident only reveal that the vehicle crashed and burst into flames. The children are described as a seven-year old boy and a five-year old girl who were siblings. No information has been released about the driver of the car, who survived.
>Protesters Set To Return To Raleigh Tomorrow For Start Of Session
(Raleigh, NC) -- More protesters are expected to crowd the streets of downtown Raleigh tomorrow as lawmakers return to the capitol for the first day of the North Carolina General Assembly. This, on the heels of Governor Roy Cooper announcing last week, that he would extend the statewide stay-at-home order through May 8th and keep schools closed for the remainder of the academic school year. Led by the group ReOpen NC, the protesters have vowed to hold rallies each Tuesday until the state's economy is put back to work.
Burlington Man Arrested For Kidnapping, Assault
(Burlington, NC) -- A Burlington man is under arrest on suspicion of kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon. Police say Rahyme Crisp held his girlfriend at knifepoint Saturday night, then chased after her vehicle when she tried to escape. Crisp is accused of repeatedly hitting the victims' car, causing her to crash it into a building on Webb Avenue. He also crashed his car into a pole on Elmira Street. Warrants were issued for Crisp's arrest, and he surrendered yesterday morning.
Two Arrested, Charged In Robbery & Assault Of Teen
(Mebane, NC) -- An 18-year-old man and a juvenile are under arrest on suspicion of robbing and assaulting a 14-year-old boy in Alamance County. Luz "Alex" Espana and a 17-year-old juvenile were taken into custody over the weekend. The victim tells sheriff's officials he was attacked off Dodson Road in Mebane by his friends. He also says the suspects took his cash, his iPhone and other personal property. Search warrants were issued, and the victim's items were retrieved.
Homicide Under Investigation In Greensboro
(Greensboro, NC) -- A homicide investigation is underway in Greensboro. The cops were called to a home on Haywood Street late Saturday night. A man who'd been shot was pronounced dead at the scene. He's identified as 50-year-old Dorian Patterson Senior. Police say it appears the victim got into a fight with a resident before shots were fired.
Guilford Co. Animal Services Nearly Out Of Animals
(Guilford Co., NC) -- Guilford County Animal Services is thanking the community for stepping up during the coronavirus pandemic. The agency announced on social media over the weekend that almost every animal at their shelter has been adopted. The heartfelt post was followed by two pictures of empty kennels and rooms.