Tillis Free Of COVID-19 Symptoms
(Huntersville, NC) -- North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis is free of COVID-19 symptoms. That's the word from a spokesman yesterday, who said the Senator feels great and has regained his senses of taste and smell. Tillis will continue to self-isolate in his Huntersville home. President Trump was also released from the hospital yesterday following his COVID-19 diagnosis.
Asheville City Students Staying Remote For A Few More Weeks
(Asheville, NC) -- Students in Asheville City Schools are sticking with remote learning for at least a few more weeks. The superintendent said last night said he was not yet comfortable bringing students back into the classroom, but will revisit the idea in three to four weeks. Buncombe County Schools have already begun a phased-in approach for students.
Three Mountain Residents Named To Biden Council
(Asheville, NC) -- Three mountain residents are on a leadership council for presidential candidate Joe Biden. Buncombe County commission candidate Jasmine Beach-Fererra and Human Relations Commissioner Clay Eddleman of Hendersonville were just named to the LGBTQ-plus leadership council. Allison Scott of Asheville was named as a co-chair of the council. Scott is a trans-rights activist for the Campaign for Southern Equality.
Peak Fall Colors Coming Up In WNC
(Asheville, NC) -- The peak time to see fall colors is approaching in western North Carolina. WLOS-TV reports leaves will hit their prime colors in higher elevations like Grandfather Mountain and Mount Pisgah next week. The peak is expected to hit along the Blue Ridge Parkway in the second and third week of this month. The rest of the lower elevations will peak at the end of the month.
WNC Volunteer Fire Departments Receive Grants
(Rutherford County, NC) -- Some volunteer fire departments in western North Carolina are getting a financial boost. State Fire Marshal Mike Causey stopped by Rutherford and Polk counties yesterday to give out 200-thousand-dollars in grants. The visits coincide with Fire Prevention Week, which is being recognized across the country.
Weaverville Vintage RV Park Considered One Of Best
(Weaverville, NC) -- An Asheville-area vintage RV resort is in the running for one of America's best. JuneBug Resort in Weaverville is on a short list of best Vintage Trailer Hotel nominees by USA Today. Online votes are being taken through Monday. The JuneBug resort features ten campers from the 1950s on 50-acres just minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway.
One Dead In University City Homicide
(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is investigating a homicide in University City. Officers say one person died after being shot at the Arcadia Student Living complex last night. The apartments are just off-campus from UNC Charlotte. It's unclear if the CMPD has any suspects in custody.
COVID-19 Outbreak Confirmed At Wingate University
(Wingate, NC) -- An outbreak of COVID-19 is being reported at Wingate University. The school says 72 students have tested positive and have been in isolation. Around half remained on campus, while the remaining affected students traveled back to their hometowns. The students were encouraged to stay in isolation at Wingate to avoid spreading the virus back at home. Around 30 have since recovered.
Stanly County Teacher Dies Of COVID-19 Complications
(Stanly County, NC) -- The Stanly County community is mourning the loss of a teacher due to COVID-19. Julie Davis died Sunday morning after first experiencing symptoms on September 25th. The 49-year-old taught for two years at Norwood Elementary School. The interim superintendent said Davis had a well-earned reputation as an inspirational teacher.
Charlotte Company Creates App To Recognize Coronavirus Symptoms
(Charlotte, NC) -- A Charlotte-based company is helping provide a means to test employees for COVID-19 symptoms. NBC Charlotte says Vita Corpo developed an app that can test temperature and oxygen levels in real-time using a phone's Bluetooth capabilities. The results will enable an employee to avoid going into work with symptoms and causing a potential spread of COVID-19. The company's chief product officer says Vita Corpo designed the app after seeing employees gathered together for screenings before coming in to work.
Residents Petition Against Huntersville Development
(Huntersville, NC) -- A group of Huntersville residents are speaking out against a development proposed around downtown. A developer is planning to build apartments, townhomes and potential retail space on ten acres at Gilead Road and Highway 115. A group called Save Downtown Huntersville voiced concerns at a town meeting last night over traffic and possible school crowding. A decision will come next month on the project.
Biden's Wife Jill To Criss-Cross Triangle Today Campaigning For Her Husband
(Fayetteville, NC) -- The wife of Joe Biden, Dr. Jill Biden is scheduled to make campaign stops in central North Carolina today. Mrs. Biden will begin the day by attending a Get Out The Vote rally at Pitt Community College in Greenville. She will later travel to Fayetteville, where she plans to meet with veterans and military families. The former Second Lady will end the day by attending a second Get Out The Vote rally at a yet to be announced location.
Poll Says Cunningham Still Leading Tillis Despite Sexting Scandal
(Raleigh, NC) -- A new poll out indicates that recent developments during the campaigns of North Carolina Senate candidates Thom Tillis and Cal Cunningham have not influenced the way people plan to vote in the November general election. Tillis remains in isolation after being diagnosed with COVID-19 last week. And Cunningham is embroiled in a sexting scandal with a woman who was not his wife. The survey, conducted by Public Policy Polling, finds Cunningham still leading Tillis 48-percent to 42-percent.
Huge One-Day Spike In New Coronavirus Cases Blamed On Computer Glitch
(Raleigh, NC) -- Data released by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services showed there were 2-thousand-258 new cases of the coronavirus reported on Monday, an increase of more than 16-hundred from the day before. Officials blame the single-day surge on a technical glitch in the state's data reporting system over the weekend. The state's positivity rate was at 6-point-4 percent. And 971-people were in the hospital. There were also three additional deaths yesterday, which brought the total to 36-hundred-37.
Triangle Based Research Firm Leading The Charge To Develop Antibody Treatment
(Raleigh, NC) -- Raleigh based Wake Research is reported to be the leader in a clinical trial study of an experimental antibody drug, doctors are currently using to treat President Trump for COVID-19. The drug cocktail, which was developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, has been found to prevent infection of the coronavirus, or reduce the severity of the infection in some patients. It uses blood plasma taken from people who have already recovered from the disease to attack the virus.
DeVos Leading The Effort To Get More Participation In The School Choice Program
(Raleigh, NC) -- U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos was in Raleigh Monday talking up the advantages of the School Choice program during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. DeVos participated in a roundtable discussion hosted by the Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina. DeVos praised efforts in North Carolina designed to allow publicly funded school vouchers, be used to pay for students to attend private schools.
Speed Factor In Deadly Thomasville Crash
(Thomasville, NC) -- Thomasville police believe excessive speed led to a single-car crash that killed three young men. The accident happened early Sunday morning near Liberty and Cloniger drives. Police say a Jeep Cherokee was traveling north on Liberty when the driver lost control, did a one-80 and hit a tree. The victims are identified as 23-year-old Cesar Jaimes, 22-year-old Issac Jaimes and 22-year-old Karam Khan-Ali-Khan-Gul-Khan. An investigation is ongoing.
Man Charged With Murder In August Shooting
(Greensboro, NC) -- A Greensboro man is charged with murder in connection with a shooting over the summer. Forty-six-year-old Darnell Queen is being held in the Guilford County Jail with no bond allowed. The shooting happened on August 31st at the intersection of West Gate City Boulevard and Immanuel Road. Thirty-nine-year-old Tony Giltrap Junior had been hospitalized in critical condition. He died of his injuries this past weekend.
COVID-19 Cluster Reported At Davidson Co. High School
(Davidson Co., NC) -- Davidson County health officials are confirming a COVID-19 cluster at a local high school. They say at least five cases came from West Davidson High School. The cluster is linked to basketball workouts at the school. Health officials say anyone who's been in close contact with one of the students will have to stay away from the campus.
COVID-19 Exposure Shuts Down Rockingham Co. High School
(Rockingham Co., NC) -- A high school in Rockingham County is shut-down after a COVID-19 exposure. Morehead High School closed its doors for two weeks. It's set to reopen on Monday, October 19th. The school system said anyone who's been directly exposed to the virus has already been notified.