Two NC Men Arrested In Human Trafficking Case
(Weaverville, NC) -- Two North Carolina men are facing charges in a human trafficking investigation. Nearly a dozen men were recently arrested in eastern Tennessee for allegedly searching out sex from minors. Suspects from Weaverville and Boone were included in those charged with solicitation. Both were given a bond of 50-thousand-dollars.
Work Begins On Replacement Bridge In Buncombe County
(Buncombe County, NC) -- Bridge work on I-26 in Buncombe County is underway. WLOS-TV reports crews began work yesterday on the overpass at Reems Creek in northern Buncombe County, which is expected to be complete in 2027. Two lanes of traffic are scheduled to be open for the duration of the work. The new bridge will be constructed west of the existing bridge before traffic is shifted.
Gas Prices Rise Significantly In North Carolina
(Asheville, NC) -- Gas prices in North Carolina are continuing to surge higher. Triple-A reports the average price for a gallon of regular stands at three-25 today. That's 12-cents higher than a week ago, and roughly the same price as one month ago. Prices in Asheville are running around the same as the statewide average.
Lawmaker Trying To Save Early Education Funds
(Burke County, NC) -- A Buncombe County lawmaker is attempting to keep early education dollars funded through the state. Eric Ager is a sponsor of legislation that would provide 300-million-dollars in non-recurring funds for child stabilization grants in the next two-years. The program is slated to end in December otherwise. Close to 50-million-dollars invested in western North Carolina would be included.
Henderson County School Employee Arrested For Assault
(Henderson County, NC) -- A school employee with Henderson County is facing assault charges. WLOS-TV reports a teacher with Apple Valley Middle School was arrested last week for a crime against a female. The school district says the incident did not involve anyone on campus. The employee has been placed on administrative leave with pay as the investigation continues.
Temperatures Drop In Mountains
(Asheville, NC) -- Temperatures are plummeting in the mountains. The National Weather Service is calling for the thermostat to drop into the low 20s tonight, with much of the same expected tonight. There is a slight chance of snow before noon in western North Carolina. Wind gusts today may reach up to 30-miles-an-hour, which will make temperatures seem much colder.
Missing Texas Teen Found In Davidson County
(Davidson County, NC) -- A missing teen has been reunited with her family after investigators found her in Davidson County. The 13-year-old was reportedly found Friday in a locked shed outside a home on Lynwood Southmont Road. The FBI says she had been chatting with her alleged abductor on social media from her home in Texas. The suspect was arrested on charges including abduction, trafficking, rape and indecent liberties.
Charlotte Council Discusses Staggered Terms
(Charlotte, NC) -- The city of Charlotte is continuing forward with a measure over future council member terms. A public hearing was held last night for the first time since the board approved an initiative to create staggered four-year terms and a new district. Mecklenburg County's Republican Party vice chair was the only person to speak, saying it's just the start of creating the council into a long-term position. The ultimate decision will be up to voters.
Charlotte Under Freeze Warning
(Charlotte, NC) -- Temperatures are well below normal in Charlotte. The National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning for the Queen City until late this morning, as the temperature drops into the 20s. Another warning is already in effect for later tonight. Temperatures are finally climbing back into the 60s for the afternoon by Thursday.
Police Search For Bank Robbery Suspect
(Lenoir, NC) -- The suspect in a Lenoir bank robbery is at-large. The suspect allegedly handed a threatening note to a teller at the Truist Bank on Mulberry Street Monday morning. He escaped with an undisclosed amount of money.
CATS Rail Cars Need Repairing
(Charlotte, NC) -- The Charlotte Area Transit System is in the process of repairing some rail cars. The CEO of the agency told the city council last night that more than 40 cars were damaged due to faulty equipment during a derailment in May 2022. The cost to repair 20 of the cars is currently contracted out to be about 12-million-dollars. The council will consider expedited repairs at an April meeting.
Darnold Leaves Panthers
(Charlotte, NC) -- A quarterback is moving on from his time with the Panthers. Sam Darnold reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers yesterday. The 25-year-old was a free agent with Carolina. He passed for over 36-hundred yards in 18-games over the past two-seasons for the Panthers.
Jobless Rate In North Carolina Remains Low At 3.8 Percent
(Raleigh, NC) -- New figures released by the North Carolina Department of Commerce, show the state's unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8 percent between the months of December and January. This, as the national jobless rate fell by one percent during the same period down to 3.4 percent. According to the NCDC, industries posting the highest gains were Leisure and Hospitality, Construction, Government, Education, Health and Information Technology. The actual number of jobs in North Carolina, increased by more than 10-thousand.
Cooper Signs Executive Order Instructing State Agencies To Hire More People Without College Degrees
(Raleigh, NC) -- Governor Roy Cooper on Monday, issued an executive order designed to make it easier for people without college degrees to apply for state jobs. Specifically, Executive Order 278 instructs the North Carolina Department of Human Resources to prioritize work experience over a four year degree for certain state government positions. Records show there are currently 1400 state jobs available across North Carolina. Over 75-percent of state jobs to not require a higher education degree.
Thirteen Year Old Texas Girl Persuaded To Leave Her Home By A Man From North Carolina
(Davidson County, NC) -- A 13-year old Dallas girl, who was lured from her home by a Davidson County man, was found locked in a shed near Lexington over the weekend. Investigators say 34-year old Jorge Camacho enticed the child through social media and video games. He then drove to Texas and brought her back to North Carolina. Camacho was arrested on Friday and charges will multiple sex crimes, including felony abduction of a child, felonious restraint, statutory rape, and indecent liberties with a child. Bond was set at one million dollars.
Twelve Year Old Durham Girl Injured In A Drive-By Shooting Expected To Survive
(Durham, NC) -- The condition of a 12-year old Durham girl who was shot and wounded on Sunday, is reported to be improving. Authorities say the child was injured by gunfire, as she and a group of teens were leaving a convenience store along the 200-block of West Enterprise and South Streets. Police are still searching for suspects.
Debate On A Medicaid Expansion Bill Set To Begin In North Carolina Senate Today
(Raleigh, NC) -- A Medicaid expansion bill that would provide health insurance coverage for an additional 600-thousand working North Carolinians, is scheduled to be taken up by the state Senate today. The bipartisan measure, which was approved on a 96-23 vote in the House last month, is expected to clear the Senate by the end of the week. Governor Roy Cooper has indicated he will sign the bill into law once it reaches his desk.
Medicaid Could Expire for 300,000 State Residents
(Raleigh, NC) -- Officials with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will begin a recertification of benefits for Medicaid users soon. If state lawmakers don't expand Medicaid care by the end of the month, the officials say some 300-thousand state residents could lose their coverage because the national measures put in place during the COVID epidemic will expire. The residents would be stuck in limbo between the end of one program and the adoption of another. That's if legislators approve to approve State. Rep. Donny Lambeth's bill. The Republican Winston-Salem lawmaker hopes vote will happen by Wednesday.
Man Dies in Interstate 75 Ramp Crash
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- Police have released the name of the person who died in a one-car crash in Winston-Salem early Monday morning. Dennis Alsup was from Pennington Gap, Virginia. Police say he was traveling westbound on Interstate 40 and lost control on the curve as he exited to go eastbound on Interstate 74. He ran off the left side of the ramp and hit a tree. Alsup was 40.
Officials: Girl Found in Locked Building Had Been Kidnapped from Texas
(Davidson County NC) -- Officials from the Davidson County sheriff's office say they've found a teen who was allegedly abducted from Dallas, Texas. Officials accused Jorge Santos Camacho from Davidson County of taking the 13-year-old girl and bringing her to North Carolina. Detectives say she was found in an outbuilding that had been locked from the outside. Arrest warrants allege that the girl was kept where Camacho was staying, with the intent that she was being held as a sex slave. They believe other girls may also be involved.
School Board Gets One More Meeting to Open Seat
(Greensboro, NC) -- There will be at least one more meeting for members of the Guilford County Board of Education to consider how to fill an open seat. If they can't do that, the state will step in to decide. A stalemate's been in place in District Three since November. Board members have voted three times but have declined to seat teacher Michael Logan, who was nominated by the Republican members from District 3 to fill out Patrick Tillman's term. The school board is scheduled again to consider the vote Tuesday night.
Lineup Set For Duke, NC State NCAA Games
(Greensboro, NC) -- We now know when Duke and NC State University will play in the NCAA Division One Men's Basketball Tournament. The Blue Devils are the fifth-seed in the East Region and will play Oral Roberts in the first round of competition in Orlando Thursday. North Carolina State is the 11-seed in the South region and the Wolfpack will play Creighton in the first round in Denver Friday. There will still be lots of basketball action going on in this area, however. Greensboro will host the first and second rounds of tournament action for other teams on Friday and Sunday. Six games will be played at the Coliseum, separated into three sessions. Tickets are still available as of Monday night.