Group Sues State Over Confederate Plates
(Raleigh, NC) -- A North Carolina group claims the state discriminated in a decision over the Confederate battle flag. The Department of Motor Vehicles will be offering new plates this year to anyone who has that style flag on their plate, which has caught the attention of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. The organization announced yesterday it was suing the DOT, claiming the battle flag is a symbol of heritage.
More Buncombe, Asheville Kids Back In Class
(Buncombe County, NC) -- More students are heading back into classrooms across Buncombe County. Asheville City Schools welcomed back K-through-2nd grade yesterday, with other grades to be phased in later. It's the first time kids have learned face-to-face in a year. Buncombe County kindergarteners through 3rd graders started a full-time classroom scheduled yesterday as well.
State To Allow Preferred Names On School Forms
(Raleigh, NC) -- North Carolina's public school students will soon be able to use a preferred name on most school forms. The Department of Instruction is adding a preferred name option in a system update this month, which will affect things like report cards and teacher grade books. A coordinator for the Campaign for Southern Equality told the News & Observer it helps protect the privacy of transgender students. Official state transcripts will still feature the legal name.
Most Henderson County School Employees Prefer Vaccination
(Henderson County, NC) -- Most school employees in Henderson County are interested in getting a COVID vaccine. The Hendersonville Times-News reported yesterday more than 12-hundred of the two-thousand district employees have made an appointment so far. The school system isn't quite prepared to return middle and high schoolers to plan A, which is full in-person instruction. The superintendent says those schools don't have adequate spacing for six-foot distancing.
WCU To Hold In-Person Commencement
(Cullowhee, NC) -- Western Carolina University has good news for its graduating class. The school announced yesterday that in-person commencement ceremonies are being planned between May 14th and 16th. Face masks will still be required for everyone at the event. Chancellor Kelli Brown said WCU will continue to coordinate plans in the weeks to come.
Assault On Mount Mitchell Canceled
(Mt, Mitchell, NC) -- COVID-19 is causing the cancellation of a popular bike race through western North Carolina. Organizers decided to cancel May's Assault on Mount Mitchell and Assault on Marion since the heavily-attended event won't be able to comply with health guidelines. Traditionally, bikers begin the 100-mile trek in Spartanburg and end either at Mount Mitchell or the city of Marion. Efforts now shift to next year.
Another Vaccine Site Opens
(Charlotte, NC) -- A new mass vaccination site is open in east Charlotte. Novant Health started to give out as many as three-thousand doses a day at the new 43-thousand-square-foot center yesterday. Another mass vaccination event is being held at Bank of America Stadium today through Thursday. Around 14-thousand people have appointments.
KKK Flyers Left At Iredell County Homes
(Statesville, NC) -- Dozens of KKK flyers are showing up around Iredell County. WSOC-TV is reporting around 70 flyers have been left at homes after the county voted this month to move the Conferederate monument from outside the courthouse in Statesville. The paper left at the homes reads "KKK, we see everything." The target of these flyers tends to be people who were in support of removing the monument.
CMS To Discuss Classroom Plan Again
(Charlotte, NC) -- CMS officials are expected to soon discuss a potential increase in face-to-face classes. The board of education may vote as early as tonight on a plan to raise the number of days per week students are currently attending. The state board approved of new safety guidelines last week, which require face masks and social distancing for elementary school-aged kids. Teachers and school staff have been eligible to receive COVID vaccines for two weeks.
Woman Accused Of Shooting Son-In-Law
(Chesterfield County, SC) -- Investigators are looking for a woman accused of shooting her son-in-law in Chesterfield County. Deputies say 54-year-old Jacqueline Puerifoy allegedly opened fire in the parking lot of Edwards Elementary School off Highway Nine yesterday. The victim suffered an injury to the hip. Puerifoy drove off in her black Kia SUV.
Fight Breaks Out At Gaston Trampoline Park
(Gaston County, NC) -- Gaston County police say a large fight broke out in a trampoline park. Several hundred people were running through the parking lots, while others were involved in several fights at the Altitude Trampoline Park in Lowell last Saturday night. A teen employee was taken to the hospital but should be okay. An adult was arrested, though charges are unknown.
Broadway Coming Back To Charlotte
(Charlotte, NC) -- Broadway is returning to the Queen City. The CEO of the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center told NBC Charlotte that shows there will return to the stage at the end of August, and he expects about every seat to be filled. There has been work done on the HVAC system to improve air quality in the center. The upcoming season's shows include Hamilton, Mean Girls, Rent and 1776.
Johnston County Fire Engine Overturns Injuring Two Crew Members
(Johnston County, NC) -- Two Johnston County firefighters had to be hospitalized Monday night after their tanker truck crashed and overturned while en route to an emergency call. The Corinth Holders crew members were on their way to assist Wake County firefighters in battling a blaze. It happened around 8 p.m. along State Highway 96 just north of NC 231. Officials say their injuries were not considered to be life-threatening.
NC Central Campus A Mass Vaccination Clinic Starting Today
(Durham, NC) -- North Carolina Central University has announced that starting today it will turn its campus in Durham into a COVID-19 vaccination site. In a statement released Monday, the University said it will vaccinate area residents on a first come first served basis. However, the vaccinations can only be administered to those in Groups 1, 2, and 3. Hours of operation will be from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. today through Thursday.
North Carolina Sees Dramatic Drop In COVID-19 Key Metrics
(Raleigh, NC) -- The COVID-19 key metrics in North Carolina on Monday were among the lowest since the start of the pandemic. Figures released by the Department of Health and Human Services showed there were two-thousand-730 new cases of the virus. At least 11-hundred-26 people were in the hospital. North Carolina's positivity rate remained at four-point-six-percent. And there were 33 additional deaths Monday, which brought the total to 11-thousand-535.
Wake County School District May Move 4th And 5th Graders To Plan A
(Wake County, NC) -- The Wake County Board of Education is scheduled to hold a special meeting today to consider a change to its current in-person learning model. The change, recommended by Superintendent Cathy Moore, would move 4th and 5th grade students to Plan A, which is everyday in-person classroom instruction along with expanding learning opportunities for 6th through 12th grade students. The students are now under a Plan B rotation model.
Roy Williams And Wife Donate Three Million To University
(Chapel Hill, NC) -- UNC head basketball coach Roy Williams and his wife Wanda have made a donation of three-million dollars to the University. The Williams' have stipulated that the funds be used to support Carolina Covenant Scholars, Chancellor's Science Scholars and athletic scholarships. Initially, the couple wanted their donation to remain anonymous, but chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz asked that they consider making it publicly in order to inspire other people to give.
Missing Children Found Safe
(Jacksonville, FL) -- A 12-year-old girl who disappeared from her home in Davidson County last week is safe. Ashlan Early was found in Jacksonville, Florida with a 15-year-old boy, who was also reported missing. Early and Shemo Tit [[ Shehm-OH Teet ]] were found yesterday morning. It's not clear where they were or why they were together. An investigation is ongoing.
NC General Assembly Approves COVID Aid Bill
(Raleigh, NC) -- The North Carolina General Assembly is giving the green light to a new COVID relief bill. The legislation would direct about one-point-seven-billion dollars in aid around the state. It includes funds for colleges and universities as well as K-through-12 schools. The bill also sets aside money to research the effects of long-term virtual schooling. It heads to governor Roy Cooper's desk for his approval.
MA Man Killed In Thomasville Wreck
(Thomasville, NC) -- A Massachusetts man is dead after hitting a concrete bridge overpass near Thomasville. The accident happened Sunday night on I-85, near mile-marker 101. State troopers say Jonathan Orander was heading north at a high rate of speed when he ran off the road and hit the underpass pier. They say his SUV overturned several times before coming to a stop on the left shoulder. Troopers say Orander was not wearing a seatbelt.
High Point Man Killed In Crash In Winston-Salem
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- An investigation is underway in Winston-Salem where a man ran his truck off the road and crashed down an embankment. The accident happened around 8:10 yesterday morning in the two-thousand-block of East Fifth Street. Police say it appears 34-year-old Jeremy Webb of High Point was heading northwest on East Fifth Street and, for an unknown reason, ran off the road. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Historic McCray School To Undergo Renovation
(Burlington, NC) -- Alamance-Burlington Schools is moving forward with its plans to renovate the century-old, one-room schoolhouse in northern Alamance County. The McCray School was built in 1915 for African American children. It will get a facelift with the help of the Alamance County African-American Cultural Arts and History Center. The cost to complete the work required for tours and community use is expected to be around 20-thousand dollars.