New COVID-19 Cases Hit Single-Day High
(Raleigh, NC) -- The state's COVID-19 numbers have reached another high. Health officials reported the largest single-day total of new cases on Thursday with close to 29-hundred. The seven-day rolling average is now up to over 23-hundred cases-a-day in North Carolina. The percent-positive rate on tests is close to six-and-a-half-percent.
Thousands Without Power In WNC
(Rutherford County, NC) -- Thousands of people in western North Carolina are still without power. The effects from Zeta were felt hard in the region, with flooding and downed trees across multiple counties. Rutherford County declared a state of emergency. A wind advisory remains in effect in the mountains until noon.
Abduction Suspect Arrested In Asheville
(Asheville, NC) -- An Asheville man is accused of abducting a 12-year-old girl. The FBI contacted the Asheville Police Department after the child was taken in Oak Ridge, Tennessee on Wednesday. Investigators found the girl and her alleged abductor, 42-year-old Matthew Bajaj, at a home in west Asheville. She was reunited with her parents, while Bajaj remains in FBI custody.
Early Voting Ends Tomorrow In NC
(Raleigh, NC) -- Early voting is soon coming to a close in North Carolina. Registered voters can still head to an in-person polling location today or tomorrow. Over three-million people have cast ballots in early in-person voting, while nearly 900-thousand absentee ballots have been sent in. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Election Day.
Driver Charged In Fatal Hit-And-Run
(Rutherford County, NC) -- A driver is facing charges in a deadly Rutherford County hit-and-run. The state highway patrol says four people were hit by a pick-up truck while trying to clean storm debris from Pea Ridge Road on Thursday morning. One person was killed, while two were critically injured. The driver was found and arrested, but charges haven't been released.
Shooting Erupts Outside Asheville Apartments
(Asheville, NC) -- Asheville police are trying to figure out who fired shots at an apartment complex Wednesday night. Officers found three cars had been damaged by bullets outside the units on Bingham Road in west Asheville. There were no injuries. WLOS-TV reports the APD has responded to over 500 calls for guns discharging or shootings with injuries this year.
Thousands Without Power In Charlotte
(Charlotte, NC) -- Thousands of people in the Charlotte area are still without power this morning. Winds from Zeta knocked down power lines from fallen trees and debris on Thursday. Gusts hit 50-miles-an-hour in Mecklenburg County. A mail carrier survived when a tree slammed into a postal service truck in Statesville.
Two Trump Rally Attendees Test Positive For COVID-19
(Gaston County, NC) -- Gaston County health officials are confirming two COVID-19 cases in people that attended the Trump rally last week. More than 20-thousand people were at the Gaston Municipal Airport for the October 21st event. The health department said the positive cases don't mean there was a spread at the rally.
Twenty-Plus Charged In Lincoln County Drug Investigation
(Lincoln County, NC) -- A 16-month undercover drug investigation is complete in Lincoln County. More than 20 suspects were charged on dozens of counts ranging from possession to trafficking. Agents seized meth, opioids and heroin in the busts. Some of the suspects were charged thanks to calls made to a local drug tip line.
One Injured In NW Charlotte Shooting
(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is investigating a shooting in northwest Charlotte. Paramedics told NBC Charlotte one man was injured on Lightspun Lane last night. There's no word on any suspect information. The injury was considered to be life-threatening.
Panthers Fall To Falcons
(Charlotte, NC) -- The Panthers' losing streak is up to three games. Carolina fell to Atlanta 25-to-17 in Thursday night's matchup at Bank of America Stadium. A late drive into Falcons' territory ended when Terry Bridgewater threw an interception with a minute left in the game. Running back Christian McCaffrey didn't play in the game, despite being moved from the injured reserve list this week.
Recovery In Aftermath Of Zeta Continues Across NC Today
(Raleigh, NC) -- Cleanup efforts continue today in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Zeta, whose high winds ripped through parts of west and central North Carolina Thursday, knocking down trees and powerlines and causing widespread outages. Late Thursday night, there were just under 192-thousand customers without electricity. Most of the outages were concentrated in the western part of the state. Crews are working round the clock to restore service to those customers.
Night Of Uncertainty Tonight In Downtown Raleigh As Demonstrations Could Turn Violent
(Raleigh, NC) -- A number of businesses in downtown Raleigh have boarded up their windows and doors in advance of a protest march scheduled for tonight. The demonstration is in response to the fatal police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr. in Philadelphia, where marches and rallies have turned violent, and unrest has continued for the past several days. Details have been sketchy as to what group is responsible for organizing tonight's demonstration in Raleigh. One social media post features a black jack-o-lantern that calls for a 'Night of Mischief.'
Single-Day Coronavirus Cases Largest On Record In NC
(Raleigh, NC) -- Figures released by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Thursday showed the largest single-day increase in the number of new coronavirus cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The two-thousand-885 infections surpassed the previous record set nearly a week ago. North Carolina's positivity rate also dropped to six-point-four-percent yesterday. The Department reported there were one-thousand-181 people in the hospital. And, there were 38-additional deaths reported Thursday, which brought the total to 42-hundred-83.
Pence, Biden Campaigns Going All Out In North Carolina Tomorrow
(Raleigh, NC) -- As the polls continue to show President Trump and Joe Biden running neck and neck in the final days leading up to the election, Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to make two campaign stops in North Carolina tomorrow: one at the Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Airport and the other at the Elizabeth City Regional Airport. Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacy Abrams will campaign for Joe Biden with stops in Raleigh and Durham tomorrow. Biden's wife Jill will make stops in Charlotte and Greensboro tomorrow.
Zeta Wreaks Havoc Across Triad
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- Tens-of-thousands of North Carolinians are without power after Tropical Storm Zeta wreaked havoc across the state. Zeta brought heavy rain and damaging winds to the Piedmont Triad yesterday. Several tornado warnings were also in effect across the region, including in Guilford, Alamance, Caswell and Rockingham counties. Trees and power lines were knocked down, and rescue crews responded to several reports of motorists trapped in their vehicles due to falling trees. More than 340-thousand customers were without power during the brunt of the storm.
Toddler Shot While In Minivan
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- A 22-month-old child is recovering after he was shot in the abdomen in Winston-Salem. The scene unfolded around 3:45 Wednesday afternoon in the 500- block of Dunleith Avenue. Investigators say the toddler was in a minivan when he was shot. It's not yet clear whether a gun was discharged inside of the vehicle or whether the child was an innocent bystander. An investigation is ongoing.
Trump NC Rally Postponed Due To Bad Weather
(Fayetteville, NC) -- The Trump campaign is moving the President's planned rally in Fayetteville to Monday. The event, at the local airport, was planned for yesterday but was postponed due to bad weather. The rally is rescheduled for the day before Election Day. First Lady Melania Trump is also expected to attend.
Three People Shot In Lexington
(Lexington, NC) -- Lexington police are investigating a triple-shooting. It happened around 5 p.m. yesterday in the parking lot of Fairview Village Apartments. Two of the shooting victims were taken to the hospital, and one was treated at the scene. Police say they were all males. It's not yet clear what led to the shooting or who's responsible.