State Of Emergency Issued In NC Ahead Of Hurricane (Raleigh, NC)
State leaders are keeping a close eye on Hurricane Florence as it tracks closer to the East coast. Governor Roy Cooper has issued a state of emergency and has urged residents to start preparing for the storm. Latest predictions show that Florence could make landfall somewhere over the Carolinas as early as Thursday night. The National Weather Service says some impact is possible for Western North Carolina later in the week and into the weekend, although the effects are still uncertain at this point.
Suspect Arrested For Murphy Murder (Murphy, NC)
A Cherokee County man is being accused of a deadly shooting that forced sheriff's officials to cancel a football game Friday night. The suspect allegedly gunned down a man in the parking lot of a Murphy convenience store before running towards Bob Hendrix Memorial Stadium. The stadium was evacuated at halftime of the Murphy-North Georgia football game. The suspect was later caught at his home in Marble.
Eight Arrested At Silent Sam Protest (Chapel Hill, NC)
UNC police continue to deal with protests surrounding the Silent Sam statue in Chapel Hill, as eight people were arrested on Saturday. A pro-Silent Sam group and opponents allegedly yelled at each other around the site of the toppled statue. Those arrested say that the supporters of the statue had already left when police arrived, and accused the officers of breaking the peace. Charges ranged from resisting a public officer and disorderly conduct to assault on a government official.
World Equestrian Games Begin Tomorrow (Tryon, NC)
The World Equestrian Games kick off in Polk County tomorrow. The two-week event is expected to draw as many as 400-thousand people and athletes from 71 countries. Country music artist Hunter Hayes will headline a free opening ceremony concert Tuesday night at six. Interested attendees must sign up for the free ticket online at Tryon2018-dot-com.
Investigation Underway After Body Found In Truck (Yancey County, NC)
The SBI is investigating the death of a person found inside a truck in Yancey County. WLOS-TV says the truck was found off an embankment near the Toe River in the Green Mountain community early Saturday morning. The Yancey County Sheriff's Office said the death is connected to a vehicle fire. The official cause of death won't be determined until autopsy results come back.
Marion Holds Bigfoot Festival (Marion, NC)
The legend of Bigfoot has a stranglehold on one Western North Carolina city. Thousands came out to the first Bigfoot Festival in Marion on Saturday. Mayor Steve Little declared the famed sasquatch as the official animal of the city for the day. The festival was full of Bigfoot memorabilia and artwork, along with kids' activities and local food.