Protest March Brings Out One-Thousand
(Asheville, NC) -- A weekend of peaceful protesting is over in Asheville. A group of more than one-thousand marched from the Asheville Police Department to Pack Square Park on Saturday, where the afternoon was dedicated to black lives lost to police violence. Demonstrators came back for an 8th straight day in the city yesterday. An estimated 400 people walked from the police department to the courthouse in Hendersonville on Saturday.
Administered COVID-19 Tests Hit Half-Million Mark In NC
(Raleigh, NC) -- New coronavirus cases continue to pour in as testing reached a milestone for North Carolina yesterday. Public health officials say over half-a-million tests have now been given statewide. The state reported nearly 23-hundred news cases on Saturday and Sunday combined, bringing the confirmed total closer to 36-thousand. Current hospitalizations are below 700.
Governor Vetoes Bill, Bars Stay Closed
(Raleigh, NC) -- A veto means North Carolina bars will remain closed for at least a few more weeks. Governor Roy Cooper struck down a bill on Friday that would've allowed bars to open outdoor seating at 50-percent. He said the bill would hamper leaders' ability to respond quickly to COVID-19. The North Carolina Bar and Tavern Association filed a lawsuit last week against the governor. Cooper's order requires bars to stay closed until at least June 26th.
Henderson County Armed Robbery Suspect Caught
(Henderson County, NC) -- A suspect is accused of robbing a Henderson County Mexican grocery store at gunpoint. Investigators say the armed man demanded money at El Charrito Tienda Mexicana in Dana on Sunday morning. The sheriff's office posted surveillance video from the scene on social media and made an arrest a few hours later. An East Flat Rock man was taken to jail on a charge of robbery with a dangerous weapon.
Asheville Closing City Pools For Summer
(Asheville, NC) -- The city of Asheville is keeping its public pools closed for the summer. Governor Roy Cooper's phase two re-opening orders allow pools to re-open at a 50-percent capacity and recommended social distancing. City officials say attempting to operate the pools won't be feasible due to safety and logistics. The decision affects three pools and Splashville in Pack Square Park.
U.S. Highway Partially Re-Opens In Madison County
(Madison County, NC) -- Traffic is moving again on a portion of U.S. 25-70 in Madison County that was affected by recent landslides. Crews spent last week repairing an area a half-mile south of U.S. 25 Business, while also stabilizing the roadside. Travel resumed on the once-closed portion yesterday. Drivers are urged to use caution, as a single-lane closure is still in effect.
Protests Stay Mostly Peaceful In Charlotte
(Charlotte, NC) -- A mostly peaceful weekend of protesting is over in Charlotte. A group gathered in uptown's Marshall Park last night to remember the life of George Floyd. A memorial service for Floyd was held in Hoke County on Saturday. Protesters also marched from Romare Bearden Park towards CMPD headquarters yesterday.
One Dead In Matthews Hotel Shooting
(Matthews, NC) -- Matthews Police are investigating a deadly hotel shooting. One man died and another was injured when shots were fired at the Holiday Inn Express on East Independence Boulevard early Sunday morning. It seems to be an isolated incident between the two men. No charges have been announced.
Two Arrested After Officer Allegedly Shoved During March
(Charlotte, NC) -- Two people may be facing charges in an alleged attack on a CMPD officer. The department said Captain Brad Koch was shoved while he marched with protesters on 4th Street last night. Other protesters reportedly went to the officer's aid to hold off the attack. A couple of people were arrested. A tweet by the CMPD read that Captain Koch walked more than a hundred miles with protesters over the last week.
Skydiver Falls To Death In Chester County
(Chester County, SC) -- A 20-year-old from Florida is the victim in a tragic skydiving accident in Chester County. Investigators said Justin Swaggerty missed the target landing area and hit the propeller of a plane on the ground at Skydive Carolina Saturday. One friend told NBC Charlotte Swaggerty planned to go to flight school somewhere in the Carolinas. A GoFundMe account has already raised over 20-thousand-dollars to help cover funeral expenses.
Boy Injured In West Charlotte Shooting
(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is looking for whoever shot an eleven-year-old boy in west Charlotte. The child was reportedly playing in the parking lot at the Little Rock Apartments on Leake Street when he was hit in the leg last night. Injuries didn't appear to be life-threatening. Investigators say they don't believe the boy was targeted.
High School's Spirit Rock Vandalized
(Charlotte, NC) -- Local high school students aren't letting the vandalism of their spirit rock stop the fight against police brutality. WSOC-TV reports "X"s were spray-painted over several phrases at the rock on the campus of Ardrey Kell High School over the weekend. One of those included the phrase "I can't breathe," which has been a message pouring out from nationwide protests in the killing of George Floyd. The principal of the south Charlotte school says he restored some of the messages, but students are expected to finish up tomorrow.
Marches And Rallies Against Racial Injustice Continued Over The Weekend
(Raleigh, NC) -- Hundreds of protesters returned to the Capitol grounds in downtown Raleigh Sunday for an eighth consecutive night of peaceful demonstrations demanding racial reforms inside law enforcement agencies. This came one day after thousands more gathered in Raeford for a memorial service to honor the life of George Floyd. Sunday's rally was organized by two complete strangers, a white man and a black man, who only met on social media last week. The mass event Sunday was joined by Wake County Commissioner Vickie Adamson and Sheriff Gerald Baker.
City Gives Artists Permission To Paint Large Anti-Racism Message On Street
(Raleigh, NC) -- Over the weekend, local artists painted in giant yellow letters 'END RACISM NOW' on Martin Street in downtown Raleigh across from the Contemporary Art Museum. The mural follows a route that leads to a confederate monument on Hillsboro Street. The artwork follows similar action was taken last week on a street in downtown Washington D.C. that read 'BLACK LIVES MATTER'. The painting was done with the permission of the City of Raleigh.
Spike In New Coronavirus Cases Comes Amid Mass Protest Rallies
(Raleigh, NC) -- The latest figures released by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services showed there were over 920-new cases of the coronavirus reported across the state on just Sunday alone. Of that number, nearly 700-patients were in the hospital. The Department also reports there have been 511-thousand people who have gotten tested for the illness. To date, over 35-thousand-620 people have tested positive for the virus and there have been more than one-thousand-30 deaths.
Many Citizens Now Defying Cooper's Social Distancing Order
(Raleigh, NC) -- Governor Roy Cooper is scheduled to hold a news conference this afternoon to discuss his recent veto of a bill passed by the General Assembly that would have allowed bars and gyms to reopen. This comes as more groups are defying his latest social distancing orders and protests rallies have become larger and more wide spread. More than two-thousand race fans gathered at the Ace Speedway in Alamance County Saturday night. Track management posted a sign outside the stands saying "This event is held in peaceful protest of injustice and inequality everywhere."
Mother Arrested After Viral Video Shows Her Beating A Child
(Cumberland County, NC) -- A Cumberland County mother was arrested Sunday after a video was posted on social media showing her assaulting a child inside a vehicle. Sheriff's deputies took into custody 19-year old Samaria Teyonna Harris-Sanders after several people notified authorities of woman hitting a young child repeatedly while she was in a car seat. Harris-Sanders was released on a one-thousand dollar unsecured bond. A court date has been set for August 8th.