Buncombe Commissioners Approve School Board Election Proposal
(Raleigh, NC) -- Buncombe County commissioners are taking a stand against a proposed bill changing school board elections locally. Members passed a resolution last night to officially oppose legislation which would require school board seats to be chosen by voters in each district. The Buncombe County school board is currently elected by all voters, no matter the district. Asheville City Schools board members are chosen by the city council.
Two Dead In Plane Crash Near Andrews
(Andrews, GA) -- Federal investigators are looking for details in a deadly western North Carolina plane crash. A single-engine aircraft went down shortly after leaving the Western Carolina Regional Airport in Andrews Sunday night. The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office says crews weren't able to locate the wreckage until yesterday. Two people were found dead.
Buncombe County Hires First Equity And Human Rights Officer
(Buncombe County, NC) -- Buncombe County's first chief equity and human rights officer is starting soon. WLOS-TV reports Rachel Edens was hired to serve in the role starting November 1st. Assistant County Manager DK Wesley said filling the role is a key step in moving equity and inclusion forward. Edens is tasked with pushing the county's equity strategy into organizational culture.
Three Arrested For Drugs At Asheville Hotel
(Asheville, NC) -- Three people are facing charges in connection to a drug bust at an Asheville hotel. Sheriff's investigators arrested the trio yesterday after they were found with methamphetamine, heroin and guns. The suspects were staying at the Ramada Inn, which is slated to become an emergency homeless shelter. One of the suspects was already wanted for breaking-and-entering and weapons charges.
COVID Cases Dropping In Buncombe
(Buncombe County, NC) -- COVID cases are continuing to drop in Buncombe County. Just over 200 new cases and six deaths were reported in the county over the last week. More than 27-hundred cases were part of Tuesday's statewide report. Public health director Stacie Saunders said this week that health officials are reaching out to schools to develop a strategy in anticipation of vaccine eligibility among younger children.
Asheville Lake Closed Due To Toxic Algae
(Asheville, NC) -- Visitors are being urged to avoid a north Asheville lake. Signs have been posted around Beaver Lake after health officials discovered a toxic algae in the water. The lake is shut down to boating and fishing until further notice.
Mecklenburg County Passes Non-Discrimination Ordinance
(Mecklenburg County, NC) -- A non-discrimination ordinance is taking effect in Mecklenburg County. Commissioners approved a measure last night which protects individuals from being discriminated against based on sexual orientation, gender identity and more. The city of Charlotte passed a similar ordinance, which took effect last Friday. The executive director of Equality North Carolina says measures like this will make the county a better place.
Homicide Investigated In University City
(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is investigating a homicide in University City. Officers found a person shot to death on Farmington Ridge Parkway late last night. Charlotte-Meck police have now investigated close to 75 homicides so far this year. No arrests have been made in Tuesday's shooting.
Shots Fired In Matthews Road Rage Incident
(Matthews, NC) -- Officers are looking for a person who opened fire on I-485 in Matthews. A driver told Matthews Police that someone fired shots into his vehicle on the outer loop at the Stallings Road bridge Tuesday morning. The suspected road rage driver fled in a gray car. The victim suffered a minor injury from shattered glass.
Two Injured In Charlotte Fire
(Charlotte, NC) -- The fire department is investigating a blaze in south Charlotte. One firefighter and a resident suffered minor injuries when flames spread through a home on Landen Drive on Tuesday afternoon. It caused major damage. It allegedly started due to an electrical issue at the back of the home.
Detention Officer Fired After Alleged Sex Act
(Mecklenburg County, NC) -- A Mecklenburg County detention officer is out of a job for inappropriate behavior. Karen Payton is accused of engaging in a sex act with an inmate. She was arrested yesterday. Sheriff Garry McFadden says there's no place for this type of behavior or conduct within the agency.
Union County Schools Extends Face Mask Policy
(Union County, NC) -- Union County school board members are standing behind the district's face mask policy. The board voted last night to keep masks optional as part of its monthly decision required by the state. Union County Schools recently agreed to implement close contact quarantines in COVID-19 cases after initially voting to end the process. Over five-thousand people have signed an online petition calling for the removal of board members because they reportedly oppose community health standards.
Three Adults Suspected Of Drug Overdoses Found Dead In Motel Room In Dunn
(Dunn, NC) -- An investigation is underway into the discovery of the bodies of three people inside a motel room near the Harnett County town of Dunn. The discoveries were first reported around noon Tuesday at the 7-Day Inn on Cumberland Street. Authorities suspect drug overdoses are to blame. A baby was also found inside the room unharmed. The victim's identities were not released.
Former Judge, Current City Council Member Two Top Vote Getters In Tuesday's Primary Election For Durham Mayor
(Durham, NC) -- Out of a field of seven, the two front runners in the race for Mayor of Durham came away with the most votes in Tuesday's primary elections. Former district judge Elaine O'Neal and city councilmember Javiera Caballero will face off again next month for the general election. Unofficial results show O'Neal receiving 68-percent of the votes, while Caballero got 25-percent. Both women cited violent crime as the number one issue of the general election campaign.
Wake County School Board Decides To Keep Mask Mandate
(Wake County, NC) -- The Wake County Board of Education has voted to keep its mandatory mask policy in place, at least for another month. At its regular meeting Tuesday, board members cited recent multiple COVID-19 clusters in schools as the reason. The state's largest school district will re-evaluate its face mask policy again next month, as required by law.
State Lawmakers To Begin Process Of Redrawing District Lines Today
(Raleigh, NC) -- The North Carolina General Assembly is set to begin its first in a series of redistricting meetings today. Lawmakers will start the process of redrawing new voting lines for the state legislature, as well as 14 congressional seats. The redistricting will be based on the results of the 2020 census. The meetings, which will be held in committee rooms, are open to the public. They will also be streamed online.
New Health Department Report Finds Over 10-Thousand North Carolinians Have Been Infected With COVID-19 Twice
(Raleigh, NC) -- A newly released report by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services found that there were more than 10-thousand-800 people in the state who were re-infected with COVID-19 between March 1st and September 20th of this year. The Department also said 200 of those re-infections were among people who had already been fully vaccinated. Researchers say an overwhelming majority of the re-infections were caused by the more highly contagious Delta variant. The report also said 40-percent of all re-infections have been among people between the ages 25-and-49.
Suspects Wanted In Greensboro Kidnapping
(Greensboro, NC) -- Greensboro Police are looking for three people believed to be involved in a kidnapping at a local gas station. It happened late Monday night at the Great Stops on West Market Street. The suspects stole a vehicle with an eleven-month-old baby inside. An AMBER Alert was issued, and the baby was found unharmed the following morning. Police are still looking for the three people seen in surveillance video at the gas station. Anyone with information is asked to come forward.
Two Juveniles Charged With Bringing Gun To School In Guilford Co.
(McLeansville, NC) -- Two juveniles are accused of bringing a stolen gun on the campus of a Guilford County high school. Officials at North East Guilford High School in McLeansville were alerted about the gun on Monday. The suspects were found in a vehicle in the school parking lot. Authorities say a stolen gun was found inside the vehicle. Both juveniles were charged with possession of a weapon on educational property and possession of a stolen firearm. No one was hurt.
Man Found Shot, Killed In Parking Lot In Winston-Salem
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- Winston-Salem Police are asking for the public's help identifying a man who was found dead in the parking lot of a local apartment complex. The body of 55-year-old Lacarnly Dixon Senior was discovered Monday night at Mill 800 Apartments. Police are calling it an isolated incident and are asking anyone with information to come forward.
High Point Considers Vaccine Bonus Program
(High Point, NC) -- High Point city leaders are considering a program that would pay employees 250 dollars to get vaccinated. There are about 14-hundred employees who work for the city, but it's not clear how many of them are vaccinated against COVID-19. Leaders want to pay vaccinated employees who get the shots by a certain date. Some of the cost would be covered by funds from the federal American Rescue Plan.
Police: One-Year-Old Shot In Winston-Salem
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- Police are investigating after a one-year-old was shot in Winston-Salem. Reports say when officers arrived at Brenner Children's Hospital Monday evening, a child was being treated for a gunshot wound to the hand. An investigation found that a parent of the young girl caused a gun in the home to accidentally go off. The victim is said to be in stable condition.