Restaurant Still Violating Governor's Order
(Asheville, NC) -- A restaurant in north Asheville is reportedly continuing to ignore the governor's stay-at-home orders. WLOS-TV reports the Rise 'N Shine Cafe on Merrimon Avenue served dine-in customers yesterday. This was after being issued a citation on Monday for ignoring a warning from the Asheville Police Department over the weekend. A neighboring business owner says he hopes they will comply or be closed.
Sheriffs Won't Charge For Stay-At-Home Violations
(Polk County, NC) -- Some western North Carolina law enforcement agencies aren't planning to punish anyone in violation of stay-at-home orders. The sheriff's in Polk and Graham counties have spoken out this week, saying they won't be issuing criminal charges against anyone in violation. Graham County Sheriff Joseph Jones said the decision to hold off enforcing the order is an effort to give citizens an opportunity to go inside restaurants and eat with family and friends. Polk County Sheriff Timothy Wright said the office isn't in the business of regulating private industry.
Employees Furloughed At NCDOT
(Raleigh, NC) -- The coronavirus pandemic is causing furloughs in the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The department is reportedly trying to recover 300-million-dollars in shortfalls since the start of the pandemic. Executive and senior leadership are those in the first wave of unpaid leave through the end of the month. Other employees will be furloughed after that time. Reports from the state auditor this week revealed the DOT spent 700-million-dollars over its 2019 fiscal year budget.
Heavy Rain Expected Today
(Polk County, NC) -- Heavy rainfall is threatening the mountain region today. The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for parts of western North Carolina, where a couple of inches of rain could fall by tomorrow morning. Rain already caused problems with washed out roads in Polk and Rutherford counties yesterday. U.S. Highway 64-784 Alternate caved in outside of Lake Lure.
APD Released Video With Stabbing Suspec
(Asheville, NC) -- The Asheville Police Department needs help in finding a stabbing suspect. Surveillance video was released yesterday on the department's social media pages. Investigators say one person was injured outside the French Broad Food Co-op on Biltmore Avenue in late April. The victim suffered serious injuries. The suspect in the video wore pointed toe, western-style boots.
Longtime Hendersonville Barber Closes Shop
(Hendersonville, NC) -- A nearly-century old business in downtown Hendersonville is closing. The owners of Skyland Barber Shop on North Main Street posted a sign at the business yesterday that read it was shutting down due to unprecedented times out of their control. The Hendersonville Times-News says the barber shop was visited by Carl Sandburg, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ronald Regean since opening in 1930.
Commissioner Plans To Keep Restaurant Open
(Lincoln County, NC) -- Lincoln County's commission chair has no plans to shut down the dining area of his restaurant. The sheriff issued Carroll Mitchem a citation on Monday for violating Governor Cooper's stay-at-home order after he opened Mitchem's Kitchen in Vale for full service. NBC Charlotte reports Mitchem now has the support of the group ReOpen NC, which has encouraged people to voice opposition to the sheriff's citation. Mitchem said yesterday as far as he was concerned, he's permanently open for business.
Murder Suspect Arrested In Teen's Shooting
(Charlotte, NC) -- A teen is in jail for a murder in east Charlotte. Investigators say they believe a 15-year-old was shot in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Briarhill Drive Monday. He reportedly crashed trying to drive himself to the hospital. An 18-year-old was arrested on charges of murder yesterday.
Davidson Leaders Vote Down Face Mask Requirement
(Davidson, NC) -- Davidson leaders aren't going to require wearing face masks out in public. Town commissioners voted down a mandate last night due to concerns over policing the issue and confusion from visitors. The board is leaving it up to business owners as to whether they'll require customers to wear face masks. Notices will need to be placed in front of or outside the business.
Flash Flood Watch Through Thursday Morning
(Charlotte, NC) -- Rain is continuing to threaten the Charlotte area today. The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for the region until Thursday morning. Local rain could reach up to several inches before the system moves out of the Piedmont tomorrow. Things could be a bit breezy tonight as well, with gusts hitting around 25-miles-an-hour.
Concord Police Seize Nearly 70-Pounds Of Marijuana
(Concord, NC) -- A suspect is facing charges connected to a huge pot bust in Concord. Officers allegedly seized nearly 70 pounds of marijuana in a raid at multiple locations Monday, including a Quarry View Court home. Another 220-thousand-dollars and nearly ten guns were also confiscated. The suspect is in jail on trafficking charges, with a bond of 700-thousand-dollars.
Meck Commissioners Form Recovery Task Force
(Mecklenburg County, NC) -- Mecklenburg County is starting a new recovery task force. The county commissioners voted last night to form the COVID-19 Re-opening and Recovery Task Force as a way to guide the community in recovering from the pandemic. Chairman George Dunlap and County Manager Dena Diorio both voiced that the county already had a lot of things going on, including several task forces connected to the coronavirus. It still passed by a six-three vote.
Restaurant, Bar Owners Expect Cooper To Announce Phase Two Today
(Raleigh, NC) -- On the heels of the state health officer saying coronavirus trends have been showing positive signs of stability, Governor Roy Cooper is expected to announce today that he will allow the state to move into Phase Two of reopening by Friday. The North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association confirmed Tuesday that it had already received a set of new safety guidelines for restaurants and bars to follow once dine-in services are allowed to resume this weekend. Dine-in services have been prohibited in North Carolina since March 17th.
Number Of New Coronavirus Cases Approached 700-On Tuesday
(Raleigh, NC) -- The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services recorded 677-new cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday. That brought the total number to 19-thousand-700, with 585-patients in the hospital. The Department also reported that, as of Tuesday, 691-people in the state had died from the illness, an increase of 30 from the day before.
Senate Republicans Introduce Spending Plan That Calls For Increased Funding For Education
(Raleigh, NC) -- Republicans in the North Carolina Senate Tuesday introduced a list of 20-items they say must be included in the budget for fiscal year 2021. Tops on the list are pay raises for state teachers and increased funding for K-12 schools as well as higher education. This as both House and Senate leaders have estimated a tax revenue shortfall by as much as four-billion dollars due to the effects of the coronavirus on the state's economy.
Wake County Schools Propose New Calendar Calling For In-Person Instruction
(Wake County, NC) -- Wake County Schools officials have released a tentative calendar for the upcoming 2021 school year. Under the plan, students would return to in-person classes during the week of August 17th. The planned calendar also calls for five remote learning days and five extra days to be added to the school year. Multi-track year round schools would begin the week of August 3rd. Fifteen minutes would also be added to each school day. The proposal is scheduled to be voted on by the full board of education on June 2nd.
Christian Group Calls On Congress To Investigate ICE Detention Facility
(Raleigh, NC) -- The North Carolina Council of Churches is calling on members of the state's congressional delegation to investigate allegations of abuse and mistreatment of immigrant detainees inside the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia. The faith-based organization sent out letters to the delegation Tuesday on behalf of 13-North Carolina families who have relatives housed inside the ICE facility. The letter also claims the facility has failed to offer any protection against the transmission of COVID-19.
North Carolina Now Has COVID Cases In All Counties
(Raleigh, NC) - Coronavirus has officially swept through all parts of North Carolina. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen said cases statewide are well over 19-thousand and deaths are approaching 700. Cohen also urged residents to practice the three W's: wear, wait, wash. In other words, wear a mask, wait six-feet apart and wash your hands often.
Arthur Heads Out To Sea
(Cape Hatteras, NC) - Tropical Storm Arthur is moving away from the North Carolina coast. Tropical storm watches and warnings are no longer in effect after the first named storm of the year skirted the coast with gusty winds and a few inches of rain. It's expected to dissipate by Thursday.
Triad Megasite Pitches To Tesla
(Fremont, CA) - The Greensboro-Randolph Megasite is delivering a striking message to Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The president of the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation, Kevin Franklin, made a direct pitch to the California-based company yesterday over its Bay Area headquarters. It performed an airplane flyover, pulling a banner that read "Tesla, come to NC. We want you @GRMegasite." Franklin says the megasite is located midway between New York and Miami and would provide easy access to over 170-million consumers.
Greensboro Man Arrested In Connection With Homicide
(Greensboro, NC) - A Greensboro man is under arrest for murder. Twenty-six-year-old Harold Sweeney is accused of killing 44-year-old Robert Phillips, who was found dead on April 17th. He's facing multiple charges, including first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a felon. Three other victims, two adults and one juvenile, suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
RJR Tobaccoville Employee Tests Positive For COVID-19
(Tobaccoville, NC) - An employee at RJR Tobaccoville has tested positive for coronavirus. The company says the worker is currently self-isolating at home and won't return to work until they meet all CDC protocols. RJR doesn't expect the incident to have an impact on business.