Protesters Still Pushing For Re-Opening
(Raleigh, NC) -- Protesters are continuing to push for the re-opening of North Carolina despite recent relaxing on rules. The News and Observer says the ReOpen NC crowd grew to around 400 during a march around downtown Raleigh yesterday. The group argues that the state's phase one of re-opening, which started on Friday, is still not enough. There are over 15-thousand-600 coronavirus cases in North Carolina.
Coronavirus Cases Identified At Buncombe Care Facility
(Buncombe County, NC) -- There may be an outbreak of coronavirus at a Buncombe County long-term care facility. Commission chair Brownie Newman told the Citizen-Times yesterday that he believes multiple staff members of a residential care facility tested positive, but he wouldn't name the location due to privacy. Most COVID-19 cases and deaths in neighboring Henderson County have come from long-term homes.
DA: Deputies Justified In Deadly Courthouse Shooting
(Buncombe County, NC) -- Deputies are cleared in a deadly shooting outside the Buncombe County courthouse. Investigators originally reported that 29-year-old Shane Kent was killed by deputies after firing shots at law enforcement and refusing to comply with orders in the courthouse parking lot March 31st. Hendersonville district attorney Greg Newman concluded yesterday the deputies were justified in shooting Kent. Buncombe's district attorney took himself out of the investigations since he witnessed the incident.
Suspect Indicted For Asheville Murder
(Asheville, NC) -- A Candler man is being charged in an early April murder in Asheville. One man was shot to death at the Pisgah View Apartments. WLOS-TV reports Tyran Burton was indicted for first-degree murder this week. Two other suspects are also facing murder charges, but one is still at-large.
Boater Still Missing At Cherokee County Lake
(Cherokee County, NC) -- There's been no luck in the search for a missing boater in Cherokee County. Crews have been looking for a 33-year-old man since a boating accident on Hiwassee Lake near the Hanging Dog Recreational Area last Thursday. A 68-year-old man was found dead at the scene. The size of the search crew is being reduced since its been more than five days.
Crowds Manageable At Smoky Mountains
(Gatlinburg, TN) -- Visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains are mostly keeping a safe distance. The National Park re-opened last weekend for the first time since closing due to COVID-19. A park spokeswoman told the Citizen-Times the park was busy, but visitor use was spread out. Most trails are now re-open, while visitors centers are closed.
Coronavirus Curve Flattening In Meck
(Mecklenburg County, NC) -- The coronavirus curve is flattening a bit in Mecklenburg County. A new projection revealed by Atrium Health's CEO yesterday shows a local peak on July 24th, without a spike in bed capacity. The predicted peak date is ten days later than what was forecast a week ago by county health officials.
Fourth Suspect Arrested In Connection To Charlotte Death
(Charlotte, NC) -- Another suspect is facing charges in connection to the death of a 20-year-old woman in Charlotte. Three people were initially charged with murder after the body of Mary Collins was found in NoDa on April 4th. The fourth suspect turned herself in yesterday in Colorado on charges including concealing a death. She's awaiting extradition.
>CMS Graduation Plans Include Future In-Person Celebration
(Charlotte, NC) -- CMS is offering alternate graduation plans for its high school seniors. Superintendent Earnest Winston told the school board last night he was recommending a commencement celebration that combines several events. The recommendation includes a virtual graduation ceremony with a future in-person celebration. Diplomas would be mailed out.
Longtime Charlotte Company Moving To Stanly County
(Charlotte, NC) -- A longtime Charlotte company is relocating to Stanly County. WBTV says Charlotte Pipe and Foundry is investing 325-million-dollars into a new state of the art facility on nearly 430-acres. Carolina Panthers' owner David Tepper previously said Charlotte Pipe's current uptown location was a potential site for a new stadium. The company was founded more than 120-years ago.
Two Injured In Shooting, Pedestrian Struck
(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is investigating after two people were shot and a pedestrian was struck in southwest Charlotte. It all started after officers found a man injured in a yard on Crestridge Drive last night. A suspicious car near the scene fled from police and hit a pedestrian. Investigators say the car arrived at a Charlotte hospital, where one passenger was also treated for shooting injuries.
Charlotte Woman Wins Big In Lottery
(Charlotte, NC) -- A Charlotte woman is a big winner in the North Carolina lottery. Hadleigh Painter recently won the 25-thousand-dollars for life prize with an online ticket she bought for the Lucky for Life game. She took a lump sum payment of almost 400-thousand-dollars before taxes. The odds to win were about one in one-point-eight-million.
Cooper Not Budging On Decision To Keep Certain Businesses Closed
(Raleigh, NC) -- Fending off mounting criticism from both protesters outside his mansion in Raleigh and leaders of the General Assembly, Governor Roy Cooper said Tuesday that he didn't see a way for restaurants, salons and churches to reopen before the state moves into Phase Two. Phase Two is tentatively set to begin on May 22nd. Cooper said the decision about Phase Two will be based on whether indicators and benchmarks continue to move in a positive direction over a 14-day period that officially began last Friday.
Unemployment Claims In North Carolina Approaching 1-Million
(Raleigh, NC) -- The latest figures released by the North Carolina Division of Employment Security show that since mid-March, more than 861-thousand people have filed claims for unemployment benefits. However, only 494-thousand unemployed workers have received payments. The department also reports, more than one-point-seven-billion dollars has been paid out to claimants. Governor Cooper said there remains a backlog of over 361-thousand applications still waiting to be processed.
School District Waiting For The Go-Ahead To Hold Graduation Ceremonies
(Cumberland County, NC) -- School officials in the Cumberland County School District say there's still a possibility that this year's graduating class of 2020 could participate in official commencement exercises. Superintendent Dr. Marvin Connelly said Monday that the decision would be based on the direction Governor Roy Cooper takes. If allowed, graduating seniors would receive their diplomas during ceremonies held between July 15th and July 23rd.
Startling Number Of COVID-19 Prison Inmates Have Recovered
(Raleigh, NC) -- A new report, released by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, says the majority of state prison inmates who have tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered. In a statement released Tuesday, the Department said, of the more than 640 confirmed cases of the disease inside state prisons, more than 500 have recovered and can now be moved out of quarantine. Most of the positive cases of the disease have been detected at the Neuse Correctional Facility in Goldsboro. Officials say more than 90-percent of the roughly 430-infected prisoners at Neuse, are asymptomatic.
High Speed Chase Ends With Suspect Getting Away On Foot
(Raleigh, NC) -- Law enforcement officials continue to search for the driver of a car who led police on a high speed chase through four counties Tuesday, before finally abandoning the vehicle and escaping on foot. The incident began in Cumberland County when sheriff's deputies spotted the suspect, identified as 27-year-old Clarence Holley, who was wanted on several felony charges, including failure to appear. Refusing to pull over, Holley led police on a chase, at times reaching speeds of over 110-miles per hour down I-40, Highway 42 and Highway 70-in Clayton, before ditching the car in the Chastain neighborhood of east Raleigh.
Harris Teeter To Offer Free COVID-19 Testing
(Hugh Point, NC) -- Harris Teeter is offering free COVID-19 tests for people who qualify. Testing will begin this Friday at the City of High Point Parking Deck on West Commerce Avenue. It will be conducted Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays through May 30th, with the exception of Memorial Day. Folks interested in getting tested should fill out an application.
HPU To Resume In-Person Classes In July
(High Point, NC) -- High Point University students will be allowed to resume in-person classes this summer. HPU announced yesterday students will be able to return to campus in July. University officials say they based their decision on advice from the CDC, the state of North Carolina and the Guilford County Department of Public Health.
COVID-19 Cases In NC Reach Over 15,600
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- Coronavirus cases continue to rise in North Carolina. The state Department of Health and Human Services yesterday reported over 15-thousand-600 cases statewide. So far, about 600 people have died of COVID-19 in the state. Cases in the Piedmont Triad stand at about three-thousand-270 with 117 deaths.
Five Teens Arrested After High Point Police Pursuit
(High Point, NC) -- Five teenagers are under arrest, accused of leading High Point police on a chase in a stolen vehicle. Officers recognized the vehicle yesterday afternoon and tried to stop it. It eventually pulled over on Habersham Road, and all five teens got out and ran. They were caught and arrested on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle. The teens were between the ages of 13 and 16.
Shooting Victim ID'd As Piedmont HS Student
(Elkin, NC) - The teenager killed in a shooting in Wilkes County this past weekend is identified as an East Wilkes High School student. Seventeen-year-old Jonathan Watson was gunned down on Old Highway 21, north of Elkin, early Sunday morning. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Fifty-six-year-old Daniel Martin was arrested on suspicion of murder. An investigation is ongoing.