Buncombe's Face Mask Requirement Goes Into Effect
(Buncombe County, NC) -- A face mask requirement goes into effect today in Buncombe County. The commission passed a rule last week that mandates any employee or customer must wear a covering while inside a commercial business. They are not required outdoors. Commission chair Brownie Newman called it an additional layer of protection as the state enters phase two re-opening.
COVID-19 Recovery Numbers Climbing
(Raleigh, NC) -- Recovery numbers from COVID-19 are continuing to climb in North Carolina. Public health officials say about three-thousand people recovered last week alone, bringing the total number of recoveries to around 15-thousand. The total number of cases statewide rose to more than 24-thousand on Monday. There have been over 750 deaths.
ReOpen NC Rallies In Asheville
(Asheville, NC) -- Calls to get back to normal business are ringing out in Asheville. The group ReOpen NC held a freedom rally at City Plaza yesterday. The group of around 50 urged the governor to completely lift restrictions, which have recently been eased. Two business owners spoke at the event. One represented Rise 'N Shine Cafe on Merrimon Avenue, which was cited by Asheville Police last week for failing to comply with indoor dining restrictions.
Asheville Police Seek Attempted Armed Robbery Suspect
(Asheville, NC) -- The search is on for an attempted armed robbery suspect in Asheville. Officers responded to the Market Center on Sweeten Creek Road Sunday night. A police canine reportedly tracked the suspect to a nearby Walmart parking lot, but nothing turned up.
COVID-19 Testing Site Open In Henderson County Today
(Henderson County, NC) -- A large COVID-19 testing site is opening this afternoon in Henderson County. Health care workers will be administering tests at East Henderson High from noon to 4 p.m. High-risk individuals and frontline workers will be given first priority. The Henderson County Health Department and Blue Ridge Health are coordinating the event.
Trump Threatens To Move RNC Out Of Charlotte
(Charlotte, NC) -- President Trump wants the Republican National Convention to be moved out of Charlotte if there are restrictions on attendance. He vented on Twitter Monday about Governor Roy Cooper, who he says is still in shutdown mode and can't guarantee full attendance. The Spectrum Center is set to host the event in late August. Trump says he'll be forced to find another place to hold the convention if they can't be given an immediate answer.
Gastonia Speedway Reopens To Crowds
(Gastonia, NC) -- A Charlotte-area raceway is back to welcoming crowds. The Carolina Speedway in Gastonia hosted a Hot Laps race last night, where families were allowed to sit together and practice social distancing from other parties. Thousands of people packed the stands for another race at the Ace Speedway in Alamance County over the weekend. The sheriff there called the governor's orders unconstitutional and didn't plan to interfere.
Big Lottery-Winning Ticket Sold In Mount Holly
(Gaston County, NC) -- There's a big winner somewhere who purchased a lottery ticket in Mount Holly. North Carolina Lottery officials say someone struck it big by matching all five numbers in the Carolina Cash Five in Friday's drawing. The winning ticket was purchased at Lee's Quick Stop in Mount Holly. It's worth one-point-one-million-dollars.
Coronavirus Recovery Numbers Going Up
(Raleigh, NC) -- Recovery numbers from COVID-19 are continuing to climb in North Carolina. Public health officials say about three-thousand people recovered last week alone, bringing the total number of recoveries to around 15-thousand. The total number of cases statewide rose to more than 24-thousand on Monday. Nearly 34-hundred of those are in Mecklenburg County.
ReOpen NC Rallies In Charlotte
(Charlotte, NC) -- Calls to get back to normal business are ringing out in Charlotte. The group ReOpen NC held a small rally in the Queen City yesterday, and were joined by others across the state for Memorial Day. An organizer said being given 50-percent of our freedom isn't acceptable. Governor Roy Cooper's phase two re-opening plan allows businesses to operate at half-capacity. Places like gyms and entertainment venues are not yet allowed to open again.
Hornets' Practice Court Opening Today
(Charlotte, NC) -- The Hornets training center is reopening today. Players are allowed to resume play on the practice court at the Spectrum Center, but other areas like the weight room and locker rooms will remain closed. The court is limited to four players at a time, with one coach per player. Team medical personnel will also be checking for symptoms and temperature before anyone enters.
Decision To Allow RNC Convention Has Governor Weighing Risks
(Raleigh, NC) -- Governor Roy Cooper says he's now weighing the health risk of holding the Republican National Convention in Charlotte during the month of August. This comes after President Trump on Monday, threatened to move the convention to another state, unless Cooper immediately commits to allowing the event to take place at full capacity. Before the outbreak began, organizers had estimated at least 50-thousand people would attend the four day convention. In a statement released Sunday by Cooper's office, the governor said he and state health officials are continuing to work with RNC officials on ways to hold a safe convention, but did not make a commitment.
Increased Testing Turns Into Record Seven Straight Days Of COVID-19 Highs
(Raleigh, NC) -- State health officials reported there were over 740 new cases of the coronavirus in North Carolina on Monday. Amid an increase in testing, the Health Department said the state has been averaging about 700 new cases a day for the past seven days. As of Monday, there were also about 620 people in the hospital, up by 40 from Sunday. There have been more than 24-thousand confirmed cases in North Carolina since the pandemic first began. Over 750-people have died from the disease.
Raleigh Tourism Industry Devastated By Coronavirus Closures
(Raleigh, NC) -- According to the latest figures released by visitraleigh.com, since the outbreak of the coronavirus, the metro area has lost over 130-conventions and sporting events. Those events were projected to have brought more than 60-million dollars into the local economy, and attracted over 140-thousand visitors to the area. In addition, of the estimated 67-thousand people employed in the tourism industry, 80-percent are now out of work. Dennis Edwards, president and CEO of Visit Raleigh, is predicting a quick recovery, once more social distancing restrictions are lifted.
ReOpenNC Rallies Held Across The State On Memorial Day
(Raleigh, NC) -- Dozens of demonstrators gathered in front of the governor's mansion in downtown Raleigh Monday to demand that Roy Cooper fully reopen the state's economy. This after Cooper announced last week that Phase Two of his reopening plan would still keep bars, restaurants, gyms and entertainment venues closed. Led by the group, ReOpenNC, protests held in Raleigh and other cities across the state, were dubbed Freedom Day rallies. Similar events were also held in Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro and Wilmington.
School District Unveils New Innovative Plan To Hold In-Person Graduation Ceremonies
(Cumberland County, NC) -- The Cumberland County School District has announced plans to hold in-person high school graduation ceremonies within a few weeks. Officials have scheduled the events to be held between June 12th and 19th on the campuses of each high school in the District. The ceremonies will be conducted in shifts with small groups of graduates receiving their diplomas at scheduled times. Each student will be allowed to have up to four guests to attend the services. Additional details about the graduation ceremonies will be discussed this week.
Triad COVID-19 Cases Reach 5,600
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- Health and Human Service officials are reporting over 56-hundred positive coronavirus cases in the Piedmont Triad. Deaths stand at about 160 locally. Statewide, more than 24-thousand peopled tested positive for COVID-19, and over 750 have died from the virus.
Demonstrators Protest Stay-At-Home Order In Greensboro
(Greensboro, NC) -- Demonstrators in Greensboro are calling for a faster reopening process in North Carolina. A crowd of people gathered at the Phill G. McDonald Plaza yesterday for an event hosted by ReOpen-NC. It was one of four similar events held across the state. Organizers say the rally also served as a way to honor fallen service members. Police say a permit was secured for the demonstration and no citations were issued.
NC Gov Responds To Trump's Threat To Pull RNC From Charlotte
(Raleigh, NC) -- Governor Roy Cooper is weighing the risk of potentially holding the Republican National Convention in Charlotte. A statement from the Governor's office yesterday said the state's focus is protecting public health and safety. This comes after President Trump said the event "will be reluctantly forced" to find another site if full occupancy is not allowed in the arena.
String Of Fires Investigated At Lexington Tire Shop
(Lexington, NC) -- Officials in Lexington are investigating a string of fires at an abandoned tire shop. Three fires have been reported at the shop on Old U.S. Highway 52 since Saturday night. West Lexington Fire-Rescue Chief Zack Sears says they're considered suspicious. He says the property has been vacant for 15 years, and the owner is not a suspect.
Carolina Cash 5 Winning Ticket Bought In Gaston Co.
(Gaston Co., NC) -- Someone in North Carolina is a million-dollars richer. If you recently purchased a Carolina Cash 5 ticket in Gaston County, check your numbers. A winning ticket was purchased over the Memorial Day weekend at Lee's Quick Stop in Mount Holly. The numbers were 14, 15, 28, 31 and 40. The ticket is worth one-million-127-thousand dollars.