Officer Investigated For Assault (Asheville, NC)
An Asheville police officer is facing assault charges. Ronnie Dodd has been accused of hitting a woman with a coat hanger and shoving her out the door last weekend while off duty. The department has placed Dodd on suspension during the investigation. He was arrested and later posted bond.
Body Found During Search For Hania Aguilar (Robeson County, NC)
Human remains have been found by law enforcement searching for a missing North Carolina teen. The FBI said last night that the body was found off Wire Grass Road in Robeson County. Thirteen-year-old Hania Aguilar was abducted more than three weeks ago outside her home in Lumberton by a man with a yellow bandanna over his face. The body hasn't been positively identified, but the FBI notified Aguilar's family out of an abundance of caution.
Trees Stolen By Grinch At WNC Farmers Market Recovered (Asheville, NC)
A vendor at the Western North Carolina Farmers Market looks like he'll be recovering some stolen Christmas trees. A man was allegedly caught on camera hauling around 100 trees off in a trailer Sunday night from the market. WLOS-TV says vendors there are calling the suspect the Grinch. The trailer was reportedly found last night in a grocery store parking lot off I-26 in South Carolina.
City Bans Electric Scooters (Asheville, NC)
Scooters are now banned from Asheville's streets and sidewalks. The council approved the measure last night until the city can figure out how to move forward with the possibility of bringing them back. The e-scooter company Bird dropped off a couple hundred scooters last month, but had no permission from Asheville.
State Senator Settles Campaign Finance Complaint (Mitchell County, NC)
A Mitchell County state senator is agreeing to settle a complaint over alleged campaign finance violations. Ralph Hise had been accused of repaying himself more than he loaned his campaign and failing to report donations from nine political action committees. The state Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement approved his payback of 45-hundred-dollars yesterday.
Wind Chills Dangerous This Morning (Undated)
Wind chills are expected to be at dangerously low levels this morning in parts of western North Carolina. Temperatures in higher elevations could feel as low as ten degrees below zero. The National Weather Service says residents in the Asheville area will experience temperatures that feel close to five degrees as they head out this morning. The wind should die down a bit by this afternoon.
Atrium Health Says Patients' Info Compromised In Hack (Charlotte, NC)
Charlotte-based Atrium Health says hackers may have accessed personal information of more than two-and-a-half-million of its patients. The company's billing vendor told Atrium that the breach happened in late September. Names, social security numbers and medical record numbers were among items that were compromised by the hackers. Anyone affected by the hack is being mailed a notice.
Elections Board Votes Against Certifying Ninth District Race (Raleigh, NC)
The state board of elections isn't certifying the results of the ninth district congressional race just yet. Republican Mark Harris defeated Democrat Dan McCready by around one-thousand votes out of more than 280-thousand ballots cast. The board voted unanimously yesterday to delay certification due to concerns over possible irregularities or fraud. Elections officials will meet again on Friday.
Teacher Accused of Sexually Assaulting Teen (Charlotte, NC)
A teacher is accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl at Charlotte-Meck's Sugar Creek Charter School. CMPD investigators say they were told it happened multiple times over a month-long span this fall. Vincent Littlejohn denied the actions in court yesterday. He previously taught science for a few years at Harding High School before starting this fall at Sugar Creek.
Panthers Fan Dies After Being Hit By SUV (Charlotte, NC)
A Carolina Panthers fan who was hit by an SUV during Sunday's game is dead. Diane Babinec was rushed to the hospital after the SUV hit her on West Morehead Street, but died a day later. She was a longtime member of the fan group The Carolina Pantherettes. The driver hasn't been charged.