Search Continues After Haywood County Flooding
(Haywood County, NC) -- The search is continuing for a missing person after floods ravaged Haywood County last week. Five deaths have been confirmed so far due to flooding in the Cruso community. The county's emergency services director said yesterday hundreds of homes were damaged. He's asking residents to document damage so the state and FEMA can properly assist.
COVID ICU Patient Numbers Close To Pandemic High
(Raleigh, NC) -- COVID-19 metrics in North Carolina are continuing to grow closer to peak pandemic numbers. The Department of Health and Human Services reported yesterday that nearly 800 people were in ICUs, which is close to high of 880 in mid-January. Nearly 32-hundred people in total statewide are hospitalized due to COVID issues. Daily case averages have exploded to around 56-hundred.
Suspect Arrested After Toddler Dies In Hit-And-Run
(Hendersonville, NC) -- A Flat Rock man is accused of killing a toddler in a hit-and-run. The Henderson County Sheriff's Office says the driver allegedly struck the three-year-old while she was riding a tricycle on a street in Flat Rock early Saturday evening. A deputy caught and arrested the suspect on U.S. 25 near the South Carolina line. The man was charged with death by vehicle, hit-and-run and DWI.
Pardee Health Requiring COVID Vaccines
(Hendersonville, NC) -- Another North Carolina healthcare system is requiring COVID vaccines. Pardee UNC Health Care announced yesterday that all employees must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by mid-November. The decision came after the FDA gave its full approval to the Pfizer vaccine. Mission Health has not yet issued a vaccine requirement for its employees.
Officer Resignations Lessening At Asheville Police Department
(Asheville, NC) -- Fewer officers are leaving the Asheville Police Department this year. The Citizen-Times reports 90 officers decided to leave their jobs since the beginning of 2020, but only around 30 of those have been this year. Police Chief David Zack says things have stabilized. He also added there hasn't been a rise in violent crime, which has been the case in larger cities.
Mask Requirement Re-Instated In Haywood Schools
(Haywood County, NC) -- A mask requirement is back in place for Haywood County schools. The mandate was put into effect over the weekend after the superintendent says 200 students were asked to quarantine just after school started. Macon County school officials decided yesterday to keep its face mask requirement in place. Monday was the first day of class.
City Of Charlotte Offers Vaccine Incentive To Employee
(Charlotte, NC) -- A COVID-19 vaccination incentive is being offered to city of Charlotte employees. Mayor Vi Lyles announced yesterday that 250-dollars will go to employees who are vaccinated by the end of September. As an added bonus, an extra 250-bucks will be offered to employees if three-quarters of the workforce is vaccinated by that time. The incentives will be paid for with American Rescue Plan funding.
Over One-Thousand Students Quarantined In Lancaster County
(Lancaster County, SC) -- Lancaster County Schools is dealing with hundreds of quarantines. WBTV reports more than eleven-hundred people have had to isolate since the first day of class on August 16th. That includes nearly 140 positive COVID-19 cases.
Mecklenburg County Clarifies Mask Mandate
(Charlotte, NC) -- Clarifications are being made to Mecklenburg County's face mask mandate. The county published an amendment mandate yesterday which outlines the requirement for both public and private schools. The superintendent of Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools advised parents yesterday that masks will be required starting Wednesday.
Two Injured In Pineville Shooting
(Pineville, NC) -- A suspect is accused of opening fire outside a Pineville gas station. Investigators say two people were shot during an argument at Sam's Mart on Johnston Road at McMullen Creek Parkway Monday afternoon. Pineville Police said the injuries weren't considered life-threatening. One suspect was taken into custody.
One Dead In Southeast Charlotte Homicide
(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is investigating a homicide in southeast Charlotte. Officers found a 21-year-old man shot to death on Tartan Court early Monday morning. The department hasn't announced any arrests or suspects in the case.
Twenty-Percent Of Johnson B. Smith University Students Unvaccinated
(Charlotte, NC) -- Some students of a Charlotte HBCU are still not vaccinated against COVID-19, which is required by the school. The director of health services at Johnson C. Smith University told WBTV yesterday that roughly 20-percent of the student population is unvaccinated. The vaccine mandate can be waived if one gets approved for a religious or medical exemption. Classes started just over a week ago.
Orange County Leads All Other NC Counties In Terms Of Vaccinations
(Orange County, NC) -- Despite the statewide vaccination rate being relatively low in North Carolina, Orange County leads the entire state with more than 80-percent of adults at least partially vaccinated. Local leaders credit community outreach efforts for pushing the numbers upward. Across the Triangle, Wake County has a 60-percent vaccination rate and in Durham County, it's 59-percent. Harnett and Robeson counties have the lowest vaccination rates in the state, with around 34-percent each.
Durham Students Return For In-Person Classes Today Amid Threat Of Further COVID Spread
(Durham County, NC) -- Thousands of Durham County school students will return for in-person classes today. School leaders say in an attempt to avoid the spread of COVID, students will be socially distanced as much as possible. Also, fresh air will be circulated on both buses and in classrooms. Those who test positive, as well as people who've had close contact with them, will have to quarantine for 10 days. A mandatory face mask policy is also in effect for Durham Public Schools.
Delta Variant Pushes Daily COVID Surge Over 5K Again In North Carolina
(Raleigh, NC) -- Data released by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services showed there were five-thousand-184 new COVID-19 cases on Monday. Also, the number of people in the hospital increased by 50 yesterday to three-thousand-197. North Carolina's test positive rate remained at 13-point-one-percent. And, there were 61 additional coronavirus-related deaths.
State Court Issues Ruling In Lawsuit Restoring Voting Rights To Former Prisoners
(Raleigh, NC) -- A North Carolina Superior Court has moved to restore the voting rights of convicted felons who are either on parole, probation or supervised release. The action by the three-judge panel Monday came after plaintiffs in a hearing last week argued that the current 1973 law is unconstitutional. That was because it denies those who've completed their prison sentences the right to vote. The ruling is expected to impact around 55-thousand people.
DPAC To Require Proof Of Vaccinations Starting This Fall
(Durham, NC) -- The Durham Performing Arts Center has announced that starting this fall, anyone wanting to attend a concert must also show proof of COVID vaccination or a negative test result within 72-hours of an event date. The new requirement is set to go into effect on October 4th. Prior to October 4th, the theater will require masks be worn at all events.
UPDATE: Teenager Arrested In Death Of Winston-Salem Woman
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- A 15-year-old boy is under arrest in connection to the drive-by shooting death of a woman in Winston-Salem. The suspect was arrested yesterday and charged with murder. He's accused of shooting and killing 61-year-old Donna Blackmon, who was inside a home on East 14th Street, early Sunday morning. Police say the teenager was a part of a group of cars that were driving up and down the street, firing shots. An investigation is ongoing.
Davidson Co. Schools Mandate Masks
(Davidson Co., NC) -- Davidson County Schools will require masks indoors after several clusters of COVID-19 cases. District officials voted in favor of the mandate yesterday. As of last Friday, nearly 100 students and staff members had tested positive for the coronavirus, and more than 370 students were in quarantine. Officials will revisit the mandate in four weeks.
Woman Killed After Fall At Pilot Mountain State Park
(Surry Co., NC) -- A woman is dead after falling 90 feet at Pilot Mountain State Park. Surry County emergency officials say the 30-year-old Durham woman was climbing in the "Wall" area when she fell. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her identity has not yet been released.
Man Arrested For Hitting Bicyclist, Driving Carelessly
(Greensboro, NC) -- A man is accused of hitting and killing a bicyclist in Greensboro and driving carelessly. The accident happened Sunday evening on South English Street. Police say 26-year-old Justin Wisse was heading westbound on Apache Street when he hit 56-year-old Angela Evans, who was on a bike. Police say Wisse then drove across some yards and into a building. Evans died at the hospital. Wisse was arrested on multiple charges, including misdemeanor death by motor vehicle and reckless driving.
Greensboro Woman Charged With Murder
(High Point, NC) -- A Greensboro woman is accused of leaving a woman with cerebral palsy in a hot car for several hours, ultimately leading to her death. The 21-year-old victim was rushed to Wake Forest Baptist in High Point on August 10th with a temperature of 110 degrees. She was pronounced dead a short time later. After an investigation, her caretaker, 29-year-old Briea Askew, was arrested for second-degree murder and is being held in the Guilford County Jail on a 200-thousand-dollar bond.