WNC Prepares For Winter Weather Again
(Asheville, NC) -- Winter weather is threatening much of western North Carolina again today. The National Weather Service has issued a storm warning for seven counties bordering Tennessee, where up to six-inches of snow could fall through the early hours Friday. Asheville is under an advisory, with slick roads expected and the possibility of a little snow as well. Temperatures are expected to plummet into the teens tonight and Friday night.
Living Wage For Buncombe County Rises
(Buncombe County, NC) -- The livable wage is continuing to rise in Buncombe County. The organization Just Economics revealed yesterday that number has grown to 17-dollars-and-70-cents-an-hour for 2022. The rate factors in how much someone would need to make to afford a one-bedroom apartment locally. Federal minimum wage stands at seven-25-an-hour.
Toddler Accidentally Shoots Self In Mitchell County
(Mitchell County, NC) -- The accidental shooting of a toddler is being investigated in Mitchell County. A two-year-old allegedly shot himself in the leg after finding a gun in the nightstand of his parents' Spruce Pine home yesterday. The boy was rushed to the hospital for surgery, but his condition is unknown. The SBI is helping in the investigation.
Homeless Camps Being Addressed In Haywood County
(Haywood County, NC) -- Homeless camps are becoming an issue under Haywood County bridges. State Representative Mark Pless told WLOS-TV this week he's in contact with authorities to help clear out the areas. He added he wants the affected people to know about available help. Waynesville police chief says a fire under one bridge last year caused several-thousand-dollars in damage.
Forest City Man Arrested In Drug Bust
(Forest City, NC) -- A Forest City man is facing charges in a big meth bust. He was initially caught after attempting to drive off from a traffic stop on Monday. Investigators discovered a combined six-pounds of methamphetamine after searching the suspect's car, a home and a storage unit.
First-Dose Vaccinations Rise Slightly In Buncombe
(Buncombe County, NC) -- A slight increase in first-dose COVID vaccinations is being reported in Buncombe County. Health Director Stacie Saunders told WLOS-TV she's not sure yet if the rise has anything to do with the high number of cases being reported in the new year. The rate of cases in Buncombe over the last 14-days has gone up to over one-thousand-per-100-thousand residents.
FEMA Helping Meck EMS Amid Staff Shortage
(Charlotte, NC) -- FEMA is helping Mecklenburg County's EMS Agency amid staffing issues. MEDIC revealed Wednesday that the agency is providing four fully-staffed ambulances for at least two-weeks. Work shortages are rising as more employees isolate due to COVID-19. The extra crews are planning to concentrate on non-emergency transports.
Large Reward Offered In Mail Carrier Robbery
(Charlotte, NC) -- A large reward is being offered in the armed robbery of a Charlotte mail carrier. A man allegedly held the employee at gunpoint on Music Hall Way just over-two weeks ago. He got away with the woman's master keys, which would give him access to locked postal mailboxes. Up to 25-thousand-dollars is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
Child Electrocuted In Iredell County
(Mooresville, NC) -- A child is being treated for injuries after suffering electric shock in Iredell County. Emergency officials say the child touched a downed power line on property next to Mooresville Intermediate School yesterday afternoon. Medics rushed the child to CMC Main in Charlotte and was said to be conscious.
Davidson Requiring Vax Proof For Basketball Games
(Davidson, NC) -- A new vaccine policy is in place for Davidson College basketball games. Fans at least five-years-of-age must provide proof of a COVID vaccination to attend men's and women's games beginning Saturday. Those 12-and-up must be fully-vaccinated, while younger kids will need to have at least one dose for now. Face masks are also required.
Christmas Lights Blamed For Huntersville Fire
(Huntersville, NC) -- A Huntersville fire is being blamed on Christmas lights. Flames destroyed most of a home in the Tanner's Creek neighborhood early Wednesday morning. A husband and wife were able to escape safely. Over ten-thousand-dollars has already been raised on a GoFundMe campaign set up to help them recover.
Cabarrus School Officials Decide On Mask Guidelines Monday
(Cabarrus County, NC) -- Cabarrus County's board of education is making a decision soon on face masks in schools. WSOC-TV reports members will take a vote on whether or not to require masks inside at a Monday meeting. The positivity rate for COVID tests has risen to more than 25-percent in the county. The Cabarrus Health Alliance prefers a mandate, but the board chair would rather leave masks as an option.
Last Day Of Testimony Will Be Heard Today In Lawsuit Against North Carolina District Maps
(Raleigh, NC) -- Closing arguments are set to get underway today in a lawsuit filed to challenge the recently re-drawn North Carolina Congressional and legislative district maps. The combined suit before a three judge panel of the state Superior Court, argues the new district lines were intentionally drawn by Republicans to dilute black voting strength. This comes as a prominent House Republican, Representative Destin Hall, testified on Wednesday, that so-called "concept maps" were used as a template to draw parts of the new House district lines without the public's knowledge. State GOP leaders have maintained the entire redistricting process has been transparent. The Superior Court is expected to issue a ruling by next Tuesday.
Largest Single-Day Coronavirus Total In History Was Recorded Wednesday In North Carolina
(Raleigh, NC) -- Fueled by the highly contagious Omicron variant, there were nearly 21-thousand new COVID-19 cases in North Carolina Wednesday, an increase of over 10-thousand from the day before. According to HHS, the staggering single-day total also helped to push the state's test positive rate to 31-point-eight-percent, with the number of people in the hospital topping three-thousand. In addition, there were 48-coronavirus related deaths reported yesterday.
North Carolina Civil Rights Leader William Barber Tests Positive For COVID-19
(Goldsboro, NC) -- North Carolina civil rights activist the Reverend William Barber has revealed that he has tested positive for COCID-19. The former state President of the NAACP, who has been vaccinated and boosted, said on social media Wednesday, that his symptoms so-far have been mild. Barber also said he is following CDC guidelines and will isolate himself for five days. In addition, he said he has notified all those he has recently had close contact with to request that they get tested.
Fights Break Out At Wake County Testing Sites As Residents Grow Weary Of Long Lines And Wait Times
(Wake County, NC) -- Reports of tempers flaring amid frustrations over long lines and wait times at Wake County testing sites across the Triangle Wednesday. Wait times ranged from 45-minutes at some sites, to up to three hours for thousands of others wanting to learn of their COVID status. This, after most sites were forced to close on Tuesday because of the weather. In addition to the five county-run drive-thru sites in Wake County, five other clinics are being run by the private testing company Radeas across central North Carolina.
Seventeen North Carolinians Have Been Charged With Participating In U.S. Capitol Riot
(Washington, DC) -- As lawmakers gather in Washington today to mark the one-year anniversary of the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, records show that 17-of those who've been charged are from the state of North Carolina. At least one of the 17-will be sentenced tomorrow and another is scheduled to go on trial at the end of January. Meanwhile, security has been beefed up around the Capitol grounds today, to make sure another insurrection will never happen again.