Black Lives Matter Mural Painted In Asheville Soon
(Asheville, NC) -- A new Black Lives Matter mural is soon expected to be painted in downtown Asheville. Councilwoman Shaneika Smith told WLOS-TV the phrase is expected to be painted on the round surrounding the Vance Monument within a couple of weeks. A team of at least 20 volunteers is joining three lead artists to help complete the project in a 12-hour time span. Final details are expected to be settled at a meeting Wednesday.
Superintendent Apologizes For Post
(Haywood County, NC) -- A western North Carolina superintendent is apologizing over a controversial social media post. Bill Nolte of Haywood County Schools recently shared an image on Facebook that stated "poor children of every color picked cotton." The image contained what appears to be white children. Nolte told WLOS-TV last weekend he apologized to those who were offended by his post. He also followed up on Facebook, saying his white ancestors picked cotton because of income, not race.
Coronavirus Cases Continue High Climb
(Raleigh, NC) -- The number of new coronavirus cases continues to rise at a high rate in North Carolina. Public health officials reported more than 19-hundred new cases yesterday, bringing the total close to 86-thousand. The state reached another record high for COVID-19 hospitalizations on Saturday, but that number dropped slightly yesterday. Buncombe and Henderson counties continue to have the highest number of cases in the mountains.
Town Eliminates Confederate Imagery Use
(Sylva, NC) -- A western North Carolina town is trying to eliminate local use of Confederate imagery. A commissioner told WLOS-TV that the board in Sylva passed a measure last week that bans symbols on any town vehicle or property. That includes imagery of the town's courthouse hill. The land directly in front of the Jackson County Courthouse features a Confederate soldier statue.
Hiker Dies In Pisgah National Forest
(Transylvania County, NC) -- Transylvania County investigators are confirming the death of an upstate South Carolina man in the Pisgah National Forest. The 54-year-old man had a medical emergency on July 5th while hiking with a friend in the Balsam Grove area in the southwestern part of the county. It's believed the death was due to natural causes. A family got lost in the Pisgah National Forest a day later and were forced to spend the night in the woods. Crews located them safely the next day.
Cooper Gives School Update This Week
(Raleigh, NC) -- North Carolina's governor is expected to give an outlook on the re-opening of schools this week. Roy Cooper originally planned to release information in late June, but decided to wait due to the state's recent coronavirus trends. North Carolina's phase two re-opening plan was also extended until July 17th. The governor will provide an update on that executive order this week as well.
Inmate Dies At Meck Detention Center
(Mecklenburg County, NC) -- The SBI is looking into the death of an inmate at the Mecklenburg County jail. The sheriff's office says 51-year-old Michael Mangan was found unresponsive early Sunday morning, two days after being brought in. NBC Charlotte says its appears protesters threw red paint on the detention center later Sunday after the death was reported.
COVID-19 Cases Continue High Rise
(Charlotte, NC) -- The number of new coronavirus cases continues to rise at a high rate in North Carolina. Public health officials reported more than 19-hundred new cases yesterday, bringing the total close to 86-thousand. The state reached another record high for COVID-19 hospitalizations on Saturday, but that number dropped slightly yesterday. Total cases in Mecklenburg County are over 15-thousand.
Four Homicides Over Weekend In Charlotte
(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is investigating several homicides from the weekend. The latest happened Sunday night, where officers found a man shot inside a wrecked car at the Robinsdale Apartments in northeast Charlotte. A man was shot to death earlier in the afternoon at Cushman Street and Ridgedale Circle. There have been four homicides since Friday.
Father Charged In Infant's Death
(Gastonia, NC) -- A Gastonia man is being charged in the death of his infant son. Investigators say the man's son suffered injuries that led to a fractured skull sometime in mid-June. The man was arrested on Friday for first-degree murder and child abuse. The Gaston Gazette says he has been convicted of several crimes before, including attempted first-degree arson.
Two Dead In Chesterfield Triple Shooting
(Chesterfield County, SC) -- Police are investigating a deadly triple shooting in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. A man and woman were shot to death at the Dizzy Gillepsie Apartments in Cheraw early Sunday morning. A six-month-old survived a gun shot wound to the arm. Cheraw police say several people have been taken into custody, but no charges have been announced yet.
Pedestrians Struck By Car Expected To Be Okay
(Charlotte, NC) -- A number of pedestrians who were hit by a car in uptown are expected to be okay. The CMPD says a woman accidentally put her car in reverse while trying to leave a lot on Phifer Avenue yesterday. Seven people were hit, with four being treated for non-life-threatening injuries at the hospital. The driver had been in the area to help feed homeless people moments before the accident.
Coronavirus Cases Top 85-Thousand, Hospitalizations Drop
(Raleigh, NC) -- The latest figures from the health department show the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations slightly down for the first time in a week. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the number of patients who were being treated at hospitals Sunday was one-thousand-70, down by 23-the day before. The single day total for new coronavirus cases was 19-hundred-one, which brought the total number of infections to 85-thousand-701 since the outbreak first began. There have also been 15-hundred-three deaths.
Governor's Plan For School Reopening To Be Unveiled This Week
(Raleigh, NC) -- Local districts and parents are anxiously awaiting Governor Roy Cooper's recommendations for reopening North Carolina public schools. Cooper has promised to unveil his plan this week. At a news conference last week, the governor indicated he was in support of a model that would include a blended version of in-person classroom instruction and remote learning. However, at last report, Cooper was still working with health and education advisors on a final draft for reopening.
Separate Shootings In Fayetteville Claim The Lives Of Two People
(Fayetteville, NC) -- Authorities in Fayetteville are investigating two deadly shootings Sunday that happened just moments apart. The first was reported behind a dry cleaners on Hope Mills Road around 5:20 p.m. Police say a fight broke out after a man assaulted a woman. One man was shot and taken to the hospital where he later died. The woman's injuries were not life threatening. Another man was shot an killed inside a house on Teal Court when two suspects forced their way into the structure. No suspects have been arrested in either shooting.
Officials Order Confederate Monument Removed After Weekend Vandalism
(Sampson County, NC) -- A confederate monument that has stood in front of the Sampson County Courthouse for decades has been removed. The action came Sunday after the statue was vandalized and pulled down during the overnight hours of Saturday night. City leaders in Clinton say the decision to remove the monument was made in order to prevent anyone from being injured. The Sampson County Sheriff's Office has launched an investigation in an effort to find those who tore down the statue.
Car And Driver Believed To Have Plunged Into River Found Safe
(Cumberland County, NC) -- North Carolina State Troopers say a report of a two car collision on a bridge that landed both vehicles in a river, didn't exactly happen that way. A massive search and rescue effort was launched last Thursday after someone told authorities that two vehicles crashed on the I-95 South bridge near Fayetteville and plunged into the Cape Fear River below. On Sunday the Highway Patrol reported the driver and the car had been found safe. The Department gave no further explanation for the miscommunication.
Two Arrests Made After Weekend Protests In Graham
(Graham, NC) - At least two people are arrested after a protest and counter-protest near a Confederate statue in Graham. Hundreds of people gathered in Courthouse Square Saturday for the March for Justice and Community event. Organizers are calling for an end to racial oppression. A state of emergency issued by Mayor Jerry Peterman ahead of the protests has since been canceled. It's not clear what the two people were arrested for.
Officer Fired For Racist Comments Wants Job Back
(Wilmington, NC) -- One of three Wilmington police officers fired in June for making racist comments wants his job back. Former officer James Gilmore is arguing his comments are protected by the first amendment because they were based on religious belief instead of racism. In discussing the Black Lives Matter movement and protests, Gilmore referred to "white guys getting on their knees and chanting about worshiping blacks." He claims the comments reflected his religious stance against idolatry.
Winston-Salem's Bulky Items Collection Not Coming Back
(Winston-Salem, NC) - Winston-Salem's bulky items collection is canceled for the rest of the year. The city halted collections back in March due to the coronavirus outbreak. Officials say they will not resume because resources need to be shifted to other areas. The city is working its way through a significant amount of brush collections from the past several months.
Greensboro Man Hit, Killed By Car On U.S. Highway 29
(Rockingham, NC) - A bicyclist is dead after he was hit by a car on U.S. Highway 29 in Rockingham County. It happened yesterday morning near Cornelius Road. Troopers say a driver heading south on the highway collided with 64-year-old Donald Farrar, who was riding across the road. Farrar was rushed to a local hospital where he died. It's not clear whether the driver will face charges.
Hang Glider Crashes In Lexington
(Lexington, NC) - A man is badly hurt after crashing his hang-glider in Lexington. The accident happened Sunday evening on a golf course off Tussey Road. Air Care was called to the scene to transport the victim to the hospital. There's no word on his current condition.