Buncombe County Supports Name Change At Clingmans Dome
(Asheville, NC) -- Buncombe County commissioners are throwing support behind an effort to rename Clingmans Dome. The Cherokee Tribal Council decided earlier this summer to have the mountain named Kuwahi, rather than after a former Confederate general. It's the highest point in the Smoky Mountains. Commissioners voted yesterday in favor of the name change.
State Offering Help For Crop Losses
(Cherokee County, NC) -- More relief funding is being offered to nearly a dozen counties in western North Carolina. The state's agricultural commissioner announced yesterday that a federal program will help cover losses of crops and livestock suffered as the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred tore through the region a year ago. More money is being offered to help those who suffered in a freeze in April 2021.
Investigation Underway Into Triple Homicide
(Yancey County, NC) -- The investigation into a triple homicide is continuing in Yancey County. The sheriff's office says three family members were shot to death at a home on Smith Johnson Road Monday. The alleged suspect was killed when he pulled out a gun on deputies. Little else has been released about the homicides.
Two Men Plead Guilty To Protest Gun Charges
(Asheville, NC) -- Two men are guilty of gun charges in an Asheville protest. WLOS-TV reports the suspects pleaded guilty this week. Investigators say they brought semi-automatic weapons to a Black Lives Matter protest in June 2020. Their sentencing comes this fall.
Thousands Of Verizon Customers Lose Signal In WNC
(Bryson City, NC) -- Verizon is bringing back service for thousands of people in western North Carolina. The police department in Bryson City says eight cell towers went down yesterday. It left more than ten-thousand people without service for hours. The problem is expected to be repaired as of this morning.
Rock Hill Wants Out Of Panthers' Lawsuit
(Rock Hill, SC) -- The city of Rock Hill is trying to be removed from a lawsuit over the Carolina Panthers' headquarters project. York County named the city in a legal battle, claiming millions of dollars were lost when Rock Hill failed to issue bonds. The city is claiming this week that it was never required to issue bonds for the Panthers' project. Companies of Panthers' owner David Tepper are also named in the lawsuit.
New Location Expected For Flea Market
(Charlotte, NC) -- A Charlotte flea market appears to have a new home. Vendors were kicked out of the former Eastland Mall site earlier this year due to new development plans, which are still up in the air. NBC Charlotte reports a new site will open on Galleria Boulevard in ten-days. City leaders will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at the old mall site today as future developments still remain in limbo.
Incentives Offered To Union County Teachers
(Union County, NC) -- Large incentives are being offered to some positions in the Union County school system. Teachers in certain subjects will be paid four-thousand additional dollars at several schools. The bonus is a way to help recruit and maintain educators. Anyone receiving the incentives must be hired before the end of this month.
Immunizations Offered Ahead Of School
(Mecklenburg County, NC) -- Mecklenburg County's health department is reminding the public that immunization appointments are available ahead of the school year. Vaccinations are required before a student's kindergarten, seventh and 12th grade year. Students must provide proof of immunization
Charlotte FC Match Re-Scheduled
(Charlotte, NC) -- A suspended match for Charlotte FC is being re-scheduled. Major League Soccer has slated Charlotte's match with Columbus to happen on October 5th. The match was called off due to weather delays at Bank of America Stadium last weekend. Charlotte hots Chicago this Saturday.
CLT Ranked In Top Ten For Most Delays
(Charlotte, NC) -- Charlotte Douglas International Airport is among the tops in the nation for most delays. Flight Aware ranks CLT at number-seven in the U.S. for arrival delays with nearly 30-percent so far this summer. Cancellations in the past two-months have risen above three-percent in Charlotte. That places the airport at eighth overall.
Heat Index Hitting Triple Digits
(Charlotte, NC) -- The heat is still bearing down on the Queen City this week. The National Weather Service is calling on temperatures to reach the mid-90s today. Despite that, the heat index is expected to climb into triple digits. Much of the same is being predicted for tomorrow.
Wounded Wayne County Sheriff's Deputy Dies After Being Shot
(Wayne County, NC) -- One of the three Wayne County Sheriff's Deputies who were shot Monday while attempting to serve an involuntary commitment warrant, has died of his injuries. Authorities confirmed that 38-year old Sergeant Mathew Fishman passed away yesterday at a hospital. The married father of two children was also the son of a Goldsboro pastor. Fishman had served with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office since 2010. One of the two wounded Deputies was discharged from the hospital Tuesday, while the other remains in stable condition. The suspect, identified as 23-year old Jourdan Hamilton, died from an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound.
Police Duties In Kenly Taken Over By The Johnston County Sheriff's Office
(Johnston County, NC) -- The Johnston County Sheriff's Office announced yesterday that it has officially taken over law enforcement responsibilities in the town of Kenly. This comes after the police chief and all full-time officers tendered their resignations last month, citing a hostile work environment created by newly appointed Town Manager Justine Jones. The eight resignations became effective on Tuesday.
Surviving Pilot Tells Federal Investigators Co-Pilot Jumped To His Death
(Fuquay-Varina, NC) -- Federal investigators looking into the death of a co-pilot who exited an airplane before it made an emergency landing at RDU Friday, examined the conversation between the surviving pilot and air traffic control yesterday. During the recording, the pilot can be heard saying the other man had jumped from the plane. The body of 23-year old Charles Crooks was later found in a forested area behind a home in Fuquay-Varina.
Unaffiliated Voters File Lawsuit To Be Represented On State Board Of Elections
(Raleigh, NC) -- A group representing unaffiliated voters in North Carolina, filed a lawsuit in federal court Tuesday, demanding to have a seat on the State Board of Elections. Currently, all of the positions on the Board are held by either Republicans or Democrats. The suit, filed by the activist group Common Cause and four individuals, argue they should have representation on the Board because unaffiliated voters in the state outnumber both Democrats and Republicans.
Wake County School Board Agrees To Give Students The Day Off On Election Day
(Wake County, NC) -- The Wake County Board of Education has voted to allow its students to have the day off on election day in November. The action comes after several parents and community leaders expressed concerns about student safety. Seventy-eight-Wake County school buildings have been designated as voting precincts for the General Election on November 8th.
Zebulon Native Makes The Final Cut For The Upcoming PGA Wyndham Championship
(Zebulon, NC) -- Zebulon native Blake McShea qualified for the Wyndham Championship Tuesday. By shooting a six-under-65 at Bermuda Run Country Club, McShea earned one of the final four spots on the PGA tour's last event of the regular season, which will take place this weekend at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro. A UNC Wilmington alum, McShea was named the CAA player of the year in 2021.
Fight at Junior Olympics Event Injures at Least 11
(Greensboro, NC) -- Officials at North Carolina A&T State University say eleven people have been injured during a fight at a sports event Tuesday afternoon. NCAT Police are investigating the incident, which happened during an NCAAU Junior Olympics competition. None of the people were seriously injured, though three were taken to the hospital. It's not clear what originally caused the fight. The meet was suspended until Wednesday.
Third Person Arrested in February Homicide
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- Winston-Salem police say a third person who allegedly took part in a homicide in February has been arrested. Ciera Ballard was taken into custody Monday by the Mebane Police Department for the death of Ray Pruitt. Officers had found him dead in his apartment. Winston-Salem police also arrested Michael Davis and Michael Thompson in the case in July. Thompson has been charged with murder while Davis and Ballard face armed robbery charges.
More NC Red Cross Workers Volunteers Sent to Help in Kentucky Recovery
(Greensboro, NC) -- Two more Red Cross workers from North Carolina are headed to Kentucky. They'll be supporting ongoing recovery efforts there after deadly flash flooding last week. Red Cross officials say Randy Carver, who serves out of the Piedmont Triad Chapter, will leave Wednesday to help distribute emergency supplies. Shelia Chapman left Tuesday afternoon from Asheville.
Forsyth County Health Department Prepares for Spread of Monkeypox
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- Even though Forsyth County has yet to report a case of the monkeypox, health officials say they'd like to be proactive for the time that might happen. Public Health Director Joshua Swift says the county is one of a select group to receive monkeypox vaccines from the federal government's supply. Swift says it got 460 doses in the first shipment and expects about 300 more later this week.
Fourth Inmate from Triad Area to be Granted Parole after Life Sentence
(Greensboro, NC) -- A man who was convicted to a life sentence in prison will be released under a new state program. Steven O. Alexander had been sentenced to life plus another 40 years after his conviction 28 years ago in Guilford County. The North Carolina Parole Commission says Alexander will be released in July of 2024 under its Mutual Agreement Parole Program, which is for criminals who were convicted before state law prohibited parole.