More Than Half Of NC Coronavirus Patients Have Recovered
(Raleigh, NC) -- More than half of the patients with coronavirus in North Carolina have recovered. Health officials revealed yesterday over nine-thousand are believed to have recovered out of more than 15-thousand cases. Around 460 people remain hospitalized. Nearly 200-thousand tests have been administered.
Suspect Turns Herself In On Shooting Charges
(Asheville, NC) -- A suspect is facing charges for a shooting that injured a woman in Asheville on Saturday. Officers found the 21-year-old shot at the Pisgah View Apartments. She was last listed in critical condition, but appeared to be stable. The 20-year-old female suspect turned herself in to Asheville Police yesterday on assault charges.
Asheville Homeless Shelter Moving To Hotel
(Asheville, NC) -- The city of Asheville is moving its temporary homeless shelter to a local hotel. More than 30 people have been staying at the Harrah's Cherokee Center in downtown, which was set up to help keep the homeless population away from a potential coronavirus spread. FEMA funds are expected to cover the costs when the temporary shelter moves to the West Asheville Red Roof Inn. The council will discuss the plan at tonight's meeting.
Hendersonville Considers Closing Main Street To Allow More Restaurant Seating
(Hendersonville, NC) -- The city of Hendersonville is considering trying something different to help out its downtown businesses. City leaders are thinking about blocking off Main Street, which would allow restaurants to set up more outdoor seating and give retail shops more areas to set up. The current proposal would be in effect from Memorial Day weekend to November 1st.
Absentee Ballots Mailed For Congressional Runoff
(Asheville, NC) -- Absentee ballots are in the mail for the 11th District congressional runoff. Republicans Lynda Bennett and Madison Cawthorn are squaring off for the chance to move on to the November general election against Democrat Moe Davis. The only people eligible to cast votes in the runoff are Republicans or unaffiliated voters who voted in the primary. The primary is June 23rd.
Libraries To Offer Curbside Service
(Buncombe County, NC) -- Public libraries in Buncombe County are making plans to offer curbside services. Four locations will have spaces open for book drops beginning on Monday. Public libraries director Jim Blanton says the libraries will be rearranged to help maintain safety and distancing. It's unclear when the libraries will actually be open again for browsing, but visitors are encouraged to download books online.
More Than Half Of NC Coronavirus Patients Have Recovered
(Raleigh, NC) -- More than half of the patients with coronavirus in North Carolina have recovered. Health officials revealed yesterday over nine-thousand are believed to have recovered out of more than 15-thousand cases. Over 21-hundred of the positive cases have been in Mecklenburg County. Around 460 people remain hospitalized.
One Shot In Popeye's Parking Lot
(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is investigating a shooting outside an east Charlotte fast food restaurant. Officers say a man was allegedly shot twice in a car outside the Popeyes on Albemarle Road last night. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. No one's been arrested yet.
Pastor Facing More Child Sex Crime Charges
(Concord, NC) -- More child sexual assault charges are coming out against a Concord pastor. Brian Mahiques was initially arrested last week for allegations from around 15 years ago when he was youth pastor at the Refuge Church. WSOC-TV says two more victims came forward yesterday. Mahiques is pastor at Encounter Church in Concord, but remains in jail under a two-million-dollar bond.
County Manager Encourages Businesses To Require Face Masks
(Mecklenburg County, NC) -- Mecklenburg County's manager is pushing for businesses to turn away customers for not wearing face masks. The Charlotte Observer says Dena Diorio spoke with business leaders yesterday on the first phase of re-opening in the state. The county won't require wearing face masks for now, but Diorio is encouraging businesses to refuse customers who won't wear one. Retail shops have been allowed to re-open at 50 percent capacity.
Petition Grows For Graduation Alternate Plans
(Charlotte, NC) -- A large group of people want more options for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' graduation ceremonies. An advisory group recently came up with several options for high school seniors. Those include a drive-thru celebration at each school, mailing of diplomas, or a celebration at school when it's deemed safe. An online petition supporting alternate plans like a traditional graduation in the summer or a drive-thru option at Charlotte Motor Speedway had around 45-hundred signatures as of last night.
Multi-Use Development Planned For Ballantyne
(Charlotte, NC) -- Developers are planning a large multi-use project in Ballantyne. The Charlotte City Council is considering a proposal for a 500-acre development called the Ballantyne Reimagined Project. It includes a park, shopping, and apartments, including 260 affordable housing units. The city and county is being asked to provide 43-million-dollars combined.
New Grant Program Now Available For Raleigh Small Businesses
(Raleigh, NC) -- The City of Raleigh has partnered with the Carolina Small Business Development Fund to make grants available to small businesses that have been adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The online application portal opened Monday for businesses based in Raleigh. They can apply for up to ten-thousand dollars in grants to help with day to day operating expenses. Online applications are being accepted now through May 21st.
Moody's Predicts Durham Will Be Among First To Recover
(Durham, NC) -- A new report published by Moody's Analytics ranks the City of Durham among the top 100-metro areas in the country to make a speedy recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Low population density and educational attainment are listed as two of the main factors in its assessment. Durham is at the top of the list along with San Jose, California and Washington, D.C. The report lists New York, San Francisco and Las Vegas as being among the most vulnerable cities.
FEMA Agrees To Extend COVID-19 Sheltering Program In North Carolina
(Raleigh, NC) -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced it will extend its non-congregate sheltering program for COVID-19 in North Carolina through June 6th. The program provides housing alternatives, such as hotels and motels, for residents in unstable housing who may need to quarantine or are at high risk for becoming sick because of the coronavirus. FEMA says since the program first began in early April, it has housed around 600-people in North Carolina.
Police Continue To Search For Hooded Shooting Suspect
(Durham, NC) -- Police in Durham are looking for the suspect who shot and killed a man during an apparent robbery attempt at a Mini-Mart on South Austin Avenue Sunday night. The male suspect, captured on surveillance video in a black hoodie, can be seen getting into a violent confrontation with another man near a gray colored car. The man in hoodie shot the victim and ran away on foot. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital where he later died. Anyone with information is asked to contact Durham police.
NC Transit System To Require Masks
(High Point, NC) -- The North Carolina transit system is now requiring passengers to wear masks. The new rules went into effect yesterday. Passengers without a mask will be given a disposable one. High Point Transit will continue to operate fare-free until further notice, as long as passengers have an intended destination.
Two Scuba Divers Killed In Accident Off NC Coast
(Beaufort, NC) -- A man and a woman are dead after a scuba-diving accident off the North Carolina coast. It happened Sunday morning, about 25 miles offshore from Cape Lookout. The U.S. Coast Guard says a crew on a boat noticed bubbles from the divers' equipment stopped surfacing. They were brought aboard and CPR was administered, but they did not survive. No further information was released.
Great White Shark Spotted Swimming Off Bald Head Island
(Bald Head Island, NC) -- A 12-foot-long great white shark was spotted yesterday off Bald Head Island. That's according to the non-profit organization, Ocearch, which tracks great whites. The shark's name is Ironbound, and it weighs one-thousand pounds. Researchers believe the warmer weather is bringing them closer to the coast.
Eden Woman Accused Of Breaking Into Home, Assaulting Teen
(Rockingham, NC) -- An Eden woman is accused of breaking into a home in Rockingham County and assaulting a teenager who tried to stop her. It happened Saturday afternoon in the 100-block of Stoneybrook Drive. Police say the teen was inside the home when 48-year-old Darlene Harris broke in. He was hurt when the woman reportedly grabbed a kitchen knife and tried to cut him. Harris was arrested on multiple charges, including robbery with a dangerous weapon and felony breaking and entering.