Investigators Suspect Arson In Buncombe Barn Fires
(Buncombe County, NC) -- Investigators are looking for someone who may have set several fires in west Buncombe County. The SBI was called out yesterday after four barns in the Newfound Road, Leicester and Sandy Mush areas went up in flames. One department chief told WLOS-TV it may take a while to make sure the fires are out because firefighters will need to dig out haybales. No injuries have been reported.
State Lawmakers Close To Passing Redistricting Maps
(Raleigh, NC) -- The state's new district maps are close to passage. The News and Observer reports North Carolina lawmakers could finalize approval on new lines for the state House, state Senate and 14 Congressional districts as early as today. Greensboro Congresswoman Kathy Manning says the maps were created with the sole purpose of ensuring more Republican wins.
Buncombe School Board Discussing Mask Mandate
(Buncombe County, NC) -- School leaders in Buncombe County are taking up the district's face mask requirement today. A vote is coming on whether or not to extend the mandate until another vote next month. There have been just over 250 COVID cases in Buncombe over the last week. Elsewhere in western North Carolina, Macon County School reverted back to an optional policy last week.
New Hendersonville Police Department Opens
(Hendersonville, NC) -- The new home of the Hendersonville Police Department is open. City officials hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Ashe Street station yesterday. The nearly 12-million-dollar project is being paid for with a USDA Rural Development loan. It marks the first time a facility has been built specifically to house the police department.
Home Sales Down Slightly In September
(Buncombe County, NC) -- Home sales are down slightly in the Asheville region. Canopy M-L-S released a report yesterday which shows just over 12-hundred-50 homes were sold in September, which is roughly six-percent less than the same month a year ago. Close to two-thousand homes are currently listed for sale in the region. Home sales for the year are on pace to surpass totals from 2020.
Christmas Tree Raised At Biltmore
(Asheville, NC) -- A celebration of the holidays is underway at Biltmore. A virtual ceremony was held yesterday as workers raised a 35-foot Fraser Fir in the Banquet Hall of the Biltmore House. Christmas at Biltmore Daytime Celebration and Candlelight Christmas Evenings start tomorrow. More than 100 decorated trees and 100-thousand lights will be on display.
Mask Mandate Revisions Made In Mecklenburg County
(Mecklenburg County, NC) -- Mecklenburg County is changing the way its face mask mandate can be lifted. Commissioners voted yesterday to allow the mandate to be removed once the county has had a positivity rate of less-than-five-percent for seven-straight days. The rule previously required a time period of 30-straight days. The positivity rate has been five-point-six percent over the last two-weeks.
Two Guns Found At Huntersville High School
(Huntersville, NC) -- A CMS principal is asking parents to talk with kids about the consequences of bringing weapons to school. The message from Hopewell High School came after two-guns were found during the investigation of a fight yesterday. School officials say no threats were made using the guns. Five students were taken into custody.
Suspect Arrested After Teen Shot To Death
(Charlotte, NC) -- A man is facing charges in the deadly shooting of a teen in east Charlotte. The CMPD says a 17-year-old died after he was found a couple of blocks away from the scene of a possible larceny on McAlpine Glen Drive early Wednesday. Officers arrested a suspect on a charge of voluntary manslaughter.
Redistricting Close To Approval
(Raleigh, NC) -- The state's new district maps are close to passage. The News and Observer reports North Carolina lawmakers could finalize approval on new lines for the state House, state Senate and 14 Congressional districts as early as today. Greensboro Congresswoman Kathy Manning says the maps were created with the sole purpose of ensuring more Republican wins.
Mount Holly Team Banned From Playoffs
(Mount Holly, NC) -- A Mount Holly football team is being left out of the playoffs due to fighting on the field. Three players from Mountain Island Charter School were ejected, along with others from Carver High School, when the teams met in Winston-Salem on October 22nd. The ejections were enough to prohibit the nine-and-one Mountain Island team from participating in the playoffs. WBTV says some parents are upset because the school didn't appeal the ruling.
Freeze Watch Issued For Friday Morning
(Cabarrus, NC) -- Temperatures in the Charlotte region are expected to drop to their lowest point of the season tonight. The National Weather Service has issued a freeze watch for Friday morning for counties just to the north of Mecklenburg and throughout much of the western Piedmont. Residents are reminded to protect sensitive plants. Lows will remain in the 30s through the weekend.
Vote On Controversial New District Maps Will Be Cast In The General Assembly Today
(Raleigh, NC) -- Final votes on proposed new electoral district maps drawn to reflect the results of the 2020 census, are expected to be cast in the North Carolina General Assembly today. Lawmakers will decide on three different maps, including the House, Senate and 14-Congressional districts. All expected to favor Republican candidates in the upcoming 2022 elections. Democrats claim the maps have been purposely gerrymandered. The NAACP and other activists groups are reportedly already making preparations to file a lawsuit.
Durham Commission To Vote On Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Monday
(Durham County, NC) -- Durham County leaders are expected to take up a non-discrimination ordinance next week similar to the ones recently passed by the City of Raleigh and Wake County. If approved, the new law would ban discrimination in public places and employment, as well as for reasons based on race, age, disability, sexual orientation and religion. The vote is set for Monday.
Pfizer Vaccines For Younger Children Now Being Distributed In North Carolina
(Raleigh, NC) -- The State Department of Health and Human Services is reporting that the first doses of the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccines for younger children began arriving in North Carolina on Wednesday. Over the next few weeks, the State will receive more than 468-thousand doses for children ages 5-11. More than 200-health care providers across the state, including pediatricians, pharmacies, county health departments and mobile clinics will help administer the vaccines.
Elderly Angier Man Dies After Being Rescued From His Burning Home
(Angier, NC) -- An 81-year old man who was pulled from a burning house in the town of Angier Wednesday, has died from his injuries. The fire was first reported around 5:pm along the 6000-block of North Carolina Highway 55. A a woman inside the house was able to escape the blaze unharmed. The victim, identified as Lee Judge, was rushed to Central Harnett Hospital in Lillington where he later died. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Some WC Bus Drivers Returned To Work After Promise Of Bonus And Pay Raise
(Wake County, NC) -- More Wake County school bus drivers returned to their jobs on Wednesday, an indication that a system-wide strike may be nearing an end. The action comes after the Wake County Board of Education voted to approve a one time bonus of 12-hundred-50 dollars, plus a one percent overall pay raise for certified staff and school support personnel. The increase will bring all employee salaries to a minimum of 13-dollars an hour.
Freeze Watch in Effect Through Friday Morning for Part of Piedmont, Foothills
Winston-Salem, NC -- A Freeze Watch is in effect through Friday morning across the western region of the Piedmont Triad. Forecasters from the National Weather Service say sub-freezing temperatures are also called for in the Foothills. Locally, the advisory from impacts Caswell, Davie, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes and Yadkin counties. The sub-freezing temperatures as low as 30 degrees are possible from late Thursday evening through Friday morning.
Main Jailed After Being Found With 8 Pounds of Meth on I-40
(Graham, NC) -- Alamance County deputies say a man is facing multiple drug-related charges after being found with eight pounds of methamphetamine during a traffic stop on I-40. The 25-year-old was allegedly driving with the drugs and about 74-hundred dollars in cash late last week. Jose Ignacio Figueroa Anorve was charged and taken into police custody and is being held on a bond of a quarter million dollars.
NCDOT: Animal-related Crashes Down in 2020
(Raleigh, NC) -- Vehicle crashes involving animals decreased in 2020, according to data from the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The numbers show an eight and a half percent decrease last year as compared to 2019, but officials say part of that can be attributed to the pandemic and fewer cars being on the road. Overall, there were just about 18-thousand animal-related vehicle accidents in 2020. Officials say animal strikes account for seven-percent of all crashes in the state.
Traditions, Contemporary Issues for Native Americans Celebrated at UNCG
(Greensboro, NC) -- November is Native American Heritage Month and at officials at UNC Greensboro say they're celebrating with a variety of events on campus. Some of those include storytelling and stone carving workshops, lectures on dance and song, events to learn about indigenous foods and native medicine as well as musical performances. For more information, you can contact the office of the Native American Student Association on the UNCG campus.
Greensboro Man Wins $25,000 Every Year for Life
(Greensboro, NC) -- A Greensboro man has beat the odds of one in one-point-eight million to win a prize of 25-thousand dollars every year for life. State lottery officials say Kerry Peay played the Lucky for Life lottery using Online Play through the N.C. Education Lottery's website. His ticket matched all five white balls in Saturday's drawing. He chose to receive a lump sum of 390-thousand dollars. After federal and state tax withholdings, he took home a little over 276-thousand