Buncombe Commission Supports New Hospital, But Not HCA
(Buncombe County, NC) -- Buncombe County commissioners are pushing for more diversity in healthcare. The Citizen-Times says both AdventHealth and Mission Hospital are applying for a certificate of need for dozens of new patient beds this month. The board of commissioners is in support of adding a new hospital, but is not expected to support any new facility owned by HCA Healthcare. Mission was not-for-profit until HCA purchased the system a couple of years ago.
Asheville City Schools Reviewing Security Measures
(Asheville, NC) -- Asheville City Schools is studying ways to enhance safety on its campuses. School leaders have been on the lookout for security risks after the deadly shooting in Uvalde, Texas last month. In addition, more security checkpoints will be put in place for graduation ceremonies on Thursday.
ADA No Longer Working After Vocal Cords Comment
(Graham County, NC) -- An assistant district attorney is no longer working for Graham County after making an interesting suggestion in court. The owner of a Pyrenees was facing multiple noise ordinance violations in Robbinsville for alleged excessive barking. The A-D-A reportedly told the owner last week that the problem would be solved if the dog's vocal cords were removed. Graham County's district attorney reported to WLOS-TV the employee no longer works in the office.
Elections Board Bypasses Candidate Residency Challenge
(Buncombe County, NC) -- The residency for a Buncombe County sheriff's candidate shouldn't be cause for concern this election. Five voters recently mounted a challenge over the candidacy of Republican Jeff Worley, who they claim doesn't live at a local address. He refuted those allegations. Buncombe's board of elections voted yesterday not to pursue the challenge based on no probable cause.
Child Suffers Severe Head Injury At Asheville School
(Asheville, NC) -- A child who suffered a severe head injury while at an Asheville school is recovering at home. One parent told WLOS-TV that a fourth-grader at Lucy S. Herring Elementary School slammed another student's head into the floor on Monday. Some people are now allegedly calling for the principal's resignation due to lack of addressing behavioral issues at school.
Asheville Art Museum Recognized Nationally
(Asheville, NC) -- The Asheville Art Museum is receiving national recognition. The National Medal for Museum and Library Service is being presented to the museum next month. The high distinction only went to six museums across the country in 2022. The chairman for the museum's board of trustees calls it a real destination point.
Meck Commission Declares June As Gun Violence Awareness Month
(Mecklenburg County, NC) -- Mecklenburg County is bringing attention to gun violence. The county commission declared June as Gun Violence Awareness Month in a proclamation signed Tuesday. Commissioner Mark Jerrell said close to 13-hundred aggravated assaults in Mecklenburg County have involved the use of guns so far this year.
One Dead After Hickory Triple Shooting
(Hickory, NC) -- Hickory police are still looking for the suspect in what has now become a murder. Officers say three people were shot at the Hillside Garden Apartments last Thursday. Investigators said yesterday that one 18-year-old victim has since died from injuries. One of those people shot has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon.
Charlotte Homes Selling For Overvalued Prices
(Charlotte, NC) -- A new study shows home prices in Charlotte are drastically overvalued. Data collected by Florida Atlantic University traced 15 markets where home prices have jumped to at least 50-percent over their reported value. The Queen City comes in at 11th for the U.S. The Zillow home value index shows an average selling price of 372-thousand-dollars for a home valued at 240-thousand.
Gang Member Wanted For Gastonia Murder
(Gastonia, NC) -- U.S. Marshals are offering a reward in a Gastonia murder case. Investigators say Terry Lomick has been on the run since Garreth Bickham was shot to death around Rankin Avenue and North King Street close to two-weeks ago. Lomick is considered to be a Bloods gang member. The reward currently stands at five-thousand-dollars for information leading to an arrest an conviction.
Gun Found On CMS Campus
(Charlotte, NC) -- Guns are continuing to be a problem at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Police were called to Harding University High School after an unloaded gun was discovered in a student's backpack yesterday. A gun was also found on the campus of Coulwood STEM Academy on Monday.
Iredell-Statesville Schools Considering Lunch Price Hikes
(Iredell County, NC) -- The cost of lunches could be going up in Iredell-Statesville Schools. NBC Charlotte reports the price is likely to rise half-a-dollar to three-45 per lunch if free programs are extended in the upcoming academic year. The federal program for free meals runs up at the end of June. Both a state bill and a new federal bill are in the works for free meals, but nothing has been passed.
Panthers' Transgender Cheerleader Is First For NFL
(Charlotte, NC) -- The NFL's first transgender cheerleader is on the Carolina squad. Justine Lindsey joined the Panthers' group last month, calling it a moment she'll never forget. The Top Cats squad director says it was talent that landed Lindsey the gig.
Strong Storms Possible Later Today In Parts Of The Triangle
(Raleigh, NC) -- The National Weather Service has placed most of central North Carolina under a Level 1 marginal risk of severe storms developing today. The heaviest part of the storm system is expected to move across the area during the evening hours into to early Thursday morning. The main threat will be strong wind gusts, heavy rain and the possibility of hail.
Do Goods Foods To Build 100-Million Dollar Facility In Johnston County
(Johnston County, NC) -- More jobs are coming to the Triangle area. Do Goods Foods has announced plans to invest more than 100-million dollars to construct a new facility near Eastfield Crossing in the Selma town of Johnston County. Once completed, the company will employ about 100-workers. Do Goods converts surplus food from grocery stores into animal feed.
State Troopers Release Body Cam Video Of Fatal Shooting In Siler City
(Raleigh, NC) -- North Carolina State Troopers Tuesday, released a dash cam video of a deadly officer-involved shooting on May 30th, in which a Staley man was killed during a traffic stop in Siler City. The video confirms the initial incident report that 21-year old Mark Anthony Diaz pulled a gun on the Trooper before he was fatally shot. Still, friends and family members continue to call the shooting unjust.
Suspect Wanted In Hospital Shooting In Goldsboro Turns Himself In
(Goldsboro, NC) -- Police in Goldsboro say a man wanted in connection with a shooting at a hospital on Sunday, turned himself in yesterday. This, after an investigation determined the shooting was accidental and that the woman who was wounded was the shooter's sister. Alan Carmichael is still facing charges of illegal possession of a concealed weapon.
Blue Force Technologies To Build Aviation Facility In Wake Forest
(Wake Forest, NC) -- Aircraft manufacturer Blue Force Technologies has announced plans to invest 3-million dollars to build a new assembly plant in Wake Forest. In a statement released Tuesday, the company said the plant will be located at site of the old 3Phoenix facility on Capcorn Avenue. Blue Force designs and manufactures aircraft, defense and space systems for the military.
UNC To Play Arkansas In First Round Of Super Regionals On Saturday
(Chapel Hill, NC) -- Heading into this weekend's Super Regionals, the North Carolina Tar Heels are the Number 10 Seed as they prepare to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks in a best of three series. The winner of the Super Regionals will advance to the NCAA college baseball World Series. The first game starts at 11:am in Chapel Hill.
Use of Face Masks "Encouraged" in Winston-Salem
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- Winston-Salem's mayor is not making it mandatory but is encouraging people to wear face masks indoors. In a statement on Monday, Mayor Allen Joines said the current daily case count is over 140 per day. He notes that the city's target is fewer than per day. He says it's especially important for people to mask up when they're in large groups or in close settings.
CDC Ranks Several Triad-Area Counties on Worst COVID List
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- The federal Centers for Disease Control says 13 areas in North Carolina rank among counties with the highest COVID-19 levels in the country. Within the Piedmont Triad, the CDC reports the counties with "high" transmission are Alamance, Forsyth, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin counties. Guilford and Wilkes counties are ranked medium. Randolph and Rockingham counties are ranked low. The CDC determines the community level by counting the number of new COVID-19 cases, hospital admissions and hospital beds in use by COVID-19 patients.
Health Officials say COVID Outbreaks Increase at State Nursing Homes
(Raleigh, NC) -- A weekly update Tuesday from the state Department of Health and Human Resources shows an uptick in the number of nursing home COVID-19 cases. State officials say there were 232 outbreaks at nursing homes across the state. That's an increase of 19 percent from last week.
Elderly Woman Arrested for Embezzling from WS Church
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- A 72-year-old member of the Covenant Presbyterian Church has been arrested for allegedly embezzling thousands of dollars from the house of worship. Police say Jane Carol Davis embezzled over 156-thousand dollars from the church. The police department's fraud unit says the misappropriation of funds happened over a period of seven years when Davis served as the church's disbursing treasurer.
Former Greensboro Police Chief to Head UNC Police
(Greensboro, NC) -- Greensboro's former police chief isn't going to stay retired. A news release from the chancellor says as of July 1st, Brian James will become chief of police at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. In announcing his retirement from Greensboro in April, the 52-year-old had said he wanted to spend more time with his family. James retired from the city on May 31st.