Two Bodies Found In Macon County
(Macon County, NC) -- The SBI is joining in on an investigation of two deaths in Macon County. Two people were found dead during a welfare check at a Mack Branch Road home on Monday. There's no word on a suspected cause for the deaths. The sheriff says they're in the preliminary stages of the investigation.
Asheville Council Passes Plastic Bag Ban
(Asheville, NC) -- Asheville's city council is eliminating the use of plastic bags for curbside litter collection. Members passed an ordinance last night, but implementation of the measure won't take effect until at least December. The initiative also calls for an engagement process into the future elimination of plastic bags in places like restaurants and grocery stores.
Arden Pawn Shop Investigated For Thefts
(Arden, NC) -- An organized retail theft organization is being investigated in western North Carolina. WLOS-TV reports Buncombe County deputies issued a search warrant yesterday at Denny's Jewelry and Pawn in Arden. Law enforcement searched the business, but it's unclear if any arrests were made.
Weaverville Man Missing
(Asheville, NC) -- A Weaverville man is missing. The Buncombe County Sheriff's Office says Freddy Padilla disappeared eleven-days ago. He was last seen leaving a Swannanoa church.
Waynesville Rec Center Trying To Up Attendance
(Waynesville, NC) -- The Waynesville Recreation center is looking for new ways to raise attendance. The center's interim director told WLOS-TV this week that daily attendance has dropped to around 200 after an average of 400 before the beginning of the COVID pandemic. More fitness classes and an after-school program are now being offered to entice more people back in. Efforts are also underway to boost the center's social media presence.
Career Expo Held At Ag Center
(Buncombe County, NC) -- Dozens of businesses around the mountains are looking for employees. WLOS-TV reports over 100 businesses took part in yesterday's Career Expo at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center in Fletcher. There weren't as many people as normal seeking jobs at the expo, though. The region's unemployment rate remains around three-percent.
Pineville Council Member Could Be Censured
(Pineville, NC) -- The Pineville town council is expected to take a vote on a possible censure of one of its members. An investigation by an independent company has revealed Les Gladden intervened and influenced the police department in multiple investigations. A vote to censure Gladden would require him to be supervised by the town manager if he visits the police department.
Charlotte Child Stabbed On School Bus
(Charlotte, NC) -- A Charlotte student is recovering from injuries suffered in a stabbing. The 12-year-old was allegedly assaulted by a fellow student while riding a school bus last Friday. He is now back at home after being treated with 30 stitches. The suspect was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill.
Residents Speak Against Union County Wastewater Plant
(Union County, NC) -- Some residents are fighting against a wastewater treatment plant in Union County. The planning board took comment Monday night for a proposal off Ridge Road. WSOC-TV reports some neighbors are concerned over foul odors and their quality of life.
Northeast Charlotte Fire Kills One
(Charlotte, NC) -- A deadly fire is being investigated in northeast Charlotte. WSOC-TV reports a military veteran with Parkinson's disease was killed when flames tore through his home on Eastbrook Drive late Monday night. Three others were taken to the hospital with injuries. Investigators are searching for the cause.
Atrium Health Cleared After Suspicious Package
(Charlotte, NC) -- No problems are being reported after a report of a suspicious package at Atrium Health's corporate office. The location in west Charlotte was evacuated yesterday so the CMPD could investigate. Officers confirmed around 20 minutes after arrival that everything was okay.
Speed Limits Possibly Going Down In Rock Hill
(Rock Hill, SC) -- The speed limit could soon change on a number of streets in Rock Hill. The city's traffic commission completed a study recently that shows drivers are averaging close to 40-miles-an-hour on streets with a limit of 45. The council is now dropping the limit to 30 on more than two-dozen streets and five neighborhoods. The measure passed on first reading this week.
Ball Injured In Preseason Game
(Charlotte, NC) -- Hornets' guard LaMelo Ball may miss the season opener. The team confirmed yesterday Ball suffered an ankle sprain in Monday's preseason action against the Wizards. He was unable to make the trip to the Hornets' final preseason game tonight in Philadelphia. Charlotte opens the regular season next week in San Antonio.
Pedestrian Dies After Being Struck By A Train In Durham Tuesday
(Durham, NC) -- Police in Durham are investigating after a pedestrian was struck and killed by a train Tuesday. It happened around 1:30 p.m. at the intersection of West Ramseur and South Corcoran Streets. The victim, described as an adult male, was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident had traffic tied up downtown for several hours.
WalletHub Survey Lists Raleigh At Number One On National List Of Best Places To Drive
(Raleigh, NC) -- A new WalletHub survey ranks the City of Raleigh number one in the country on a list of Best Places to Drive. The 2022 survey based its rankings on several factors, including safety, cost of vehicle ownership, commute times and quality of roads. The ranking also comes as the North Carolina Department of Transportation reports there were more than 17-hundred traffic fatalities across the state last year, the most in five decades.
City Of Spring Lake Hires Justine Jones As Its New Town Manager
(Spring Lake, NC) -- Embattled former Kenly Town Manager Justice Jones has been offered a similar administrative position with the Cumberland County city of Spring Lake. The announcement comes after the Board of Aldermen voted 3-2 Monday to hire Jones, who was fired from her job in Kenly, amid allegations of creating a toxic work environment. Jones is scheduled to begin her new post on Monday, October 24th.
North Carolina Mutual Receives Final Court Approval To Liquidate
(Durham, NC) -- North Carolina Mutual, once the oldest and largest Black owned insurance company in the country, received approval from a judge Tuesday to move forward with its final phases of liquidation. The company, which was established in 1898, had already been declared insolvent by the North Carolina Insurance Commission. The State Attorney General's Office reported that during its final days, the company's liabilities had exceeded its assets by at least 78-million dollars.
New Drone Company Announces Plans To Expand Into North Carolina
(Beaufort County, NC) -- Virginia based drone research company Xelevate has announced plans to expand its operations into North Carolina. In a written statement, the company said it will establish a drone smart airport and training school for pilots at the Washington-Warren Airport in Beaufort County. The news comes as the airport was recently awarded a 20-million dollar grant from the state for infrastructure improvements.
Carolina Hurricanes Announces Inaugural Class Of Inductees For Its New Hall Of Fame
(Raleigh, NC) -- With the Carolina Hurricanes set to launch their regular season opener tonight at PNC Arena, the NHL franchise has also announced the establishment of a Hall of Fame. The purpose is to recognize past players and others who have had a positive impact on the team over the past 25-years. Included in the inaugural class of inductees will be Rod Brind' Amour, Ron Francis and Glen Westley. They will be formally recognized during the Canes Inaugural Hall of Fame Game on February 16th against Montreal.