Local and State Headlines for Wednesday, February 13th, 2019

Deputy, Passenger Injured In Macon County Wreck

(Macon County, NC) -- State troopers say a Macon County deputy and his passenger were injured in a single-vehicle crash yesterday. The deputy reportedly lost control of a law enforcement van when it hydroplaned on U.S. 64 west of Franklin. The van flipped a few times. The deputy has since been released from the hospital, but the passenger remains in serious condition.

Suspect Arrested For Calling In School Bomb Threat

(Buncombe County, NC) -- A Lincoln County man is being accused of calling in a bomb threat to an Asheville elementary school. Classes at North Buncombe Elementary were delayed early Tuesday so deputies could sweep the buildings. Investigators were able to track down Kevin Lewis, who reportedly used his cell phone to make the threat. He now faces charges of false report of mass violence.

Beasley Named Next NC Chief Justice

(Raleigh, NC) -- The next chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court is Cheri Beasley. Governor Roy Cooper appointed Beasley to replace Mark Martin, who said last month that he was leaving to become dean of a law school in Virginia Beach. Beasley becomes the first African-American woman to serve as chief justice. Cooper must now pick a new Supreme Court judge to take Beasley's place.

Former NBA Star Back In Town To Coach Benefit Game

(Tryon, NC) -- A former NBA player who grew up in Tryon is making a return home this weekend. Harthorne Wingo will coach some local basketball players against the Harlem Wizards in a benefit game on Sunday at Landrum High School. The Tryon High School graduate played for the New York Knicks and the Harlem Wizards, who tout themselves on hoops and alley-oops.

Expect Gusty Winds In WNC Today

(Undated) -- Western North Carolina is in for some heavy winds today. The National Weather Service is calling for gusts up to 50 miles-an-hour along the foothills and mountains. The wind advisory lasts until 6 p.m. Winds around the Boone area could gust up to 65 miles-an-hour.

Best Bear Competition To Benefit Arts

(Asheville, NC) -- A new competition showcasing Asheville's best beards is going to benefit the local arts community. The Keep Asheville Beard Competition and Fundraiser is coming up February 24th at Biltmore Village's Hi-Wire Brewing. Winners will be chosen for both natural and groomed beards. The event is hosted by the business consulting group Xpand.

Suspect Accused Of Killing Pregnant Woman In Rock Hill

(Rock Hill, SC) -- A man accused of killing a pregnant woman and shooting two others yesterday in Rock Hill is in jail. CMPD officers caught Marques Heath on South Boulevard in Charlotte. York County sheriff's investigators say Heath murdered the pregnant woman and shot another at a home on Leach Road outside Rock Hill. He later allegedly showed up at another home a few minutes away and shot a third woman.

Teacher Suspended After Assault Allegations

(Charlotte, NC) -- A CMS teacher accused of assaulting a woman last month is suspended. Jordan Woods was arrested after allegedly strangling and throwing the victim to the ground. He teaches at Rocky River High School in Mint Hill. The school district says Woods was suspended with pay on February 1st.

Panthers' Armah Pins Down Man Trying To Break Into Car

(Charlotte, NC) -- A Charlotte Panther says he used a wrestling move to pin down someone trying to break into his car last week. A dashboard camera inside the car alerted fullback Alex Armah to something suspicious going on outside his apartment complex. The suspect allegedly told Armah he was just admiring the car. Armah said he used a move called an arm bar to hold the man until police arrived.

Schools To Dismiss Early For All-Star Weekend

(Charlotte, NC) -- The Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district is taking precautions ahead of the NBA All-Star Weekend by dismissing five schools early on Friday. Students at Chantilly, Elizabeth Traditional, First Ward, Irwin and Metro School will dismiss at 12:15. The decision was made to ensure that students have safe transportation in anticipation of some heavy traffic for the big weekend. Things kick off Friday night with the Celebrity Game at Bojangles Coliseum.

Windy Today In Charlotte

(Charlotte, NC) -- Gusty winds are expected to persist in the Queen City today. A strong storm system that drove through the area last night knocked down trees and caused a few thousand power outages. The National Weather Service is still calling for a steady wind today with gusts close to 25 miles-an-hour.

Spirit Airlines To Fly Out Of Charlotte

(Charlotte, NC) -- A new airline is coming to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport. Spirit Airlines will begin flying to and from four eastern cities this summer, with more possibly on the way. One official said Charlotte is right up there with Atlanta as far as big city airports go.

Three Fort Bragg Paratroopers Injured In Training Exercise

(Homestead, FL) -- Three Fort Bragg soldiers are in serious condition after a training operation went wrong. The soldiers were injured yesterday morning during an incident at Florida's Homestead Air Force Base. They were all part of the U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights, but their identities haven't been released. All training operations are suspended for now.

Glitter Bomb Mailed To Wake County Commissioner

(Wake Co., NC) -- The Wake County Sheriff's Department is investigating after a glitter bomb was sent to a county commissioner. The Board of Commissioners' Vice Chairman Greg Ford says earlier this month, his eight-year-old daughter opened a package she thought was a toy they ordered, but it was a message for him. It was a glitter bomb, and it went off loudly scaring the child and getting glitter in her mouth. The package included a message saying "make better decisions next time." Glitter bombs can be sent for about 20-dollars anonymously. Prosecutors say it wasn't meant to harm anyone and they aren't pursuing charges.

Raleigh Double Murder Trial Continues

(Raleigh, NC) -- A Raleigh double murder trial continues today. Thirty-year-old Seaga Gillard is accused of killing a pregnant prostitute and her boyfriend in 2016 at a hotel on Arrow Drive. Prosecutors say after the murder, Gillard went on his phone to search what the penalties for double homicides in North Carolina are. He's charged with capital murder, so it could be the death penalty.

Rolesville PD: Two Runaway Teens Likely In Raleigh

(Rolesville, NC) -- Police in Rolesville are asking for help finding two missing teens. They say that 16-year-old Alyssa McLeod and 15-year-old Taryn Walker ran away after school last week and haven't been heard from since. Alyssa is an average sized white girl with brown hair and Walker is a taller black girl. Both girls are believed to be in Raleigh and anyone with information is asked to call police.

Young Fayetteville Teen Faces Murder Charges

(Fayetteville, NC) -- A 15-year-old is facing murder charges in Fayetteville. Police say on Monday, the teen shot and killed 30-year-old Donovan Moon inside a vehicle on Vagabond Drive. Police say the 15-year-old and the victim knew each other, but they didn't say how. The teen is being held at a juvenile detention facility and there's no word as to whether they will be charged as an adult.

Winston-Salem Man Charged In Wave Of Phony School Bomb Threats

(Winston-Salem, NC) -- A Triad man is one of two computer hackers accused of making hundreds of phony bomb threats to schools in the U.S. and Great Britain. FBI agents arrested 20-year-old Timothy Vaughn of Winston-Salem this week for his alleged role in targeting schools and businesses in 2018. A federal indictment also names a 19-year-old British man who's already in prison in the U.K. The two face decades in federal prison if convicted on the multiple charges against them.

Man Charged After Head-On Crash With Bus In Davidson Co.

(Davidson Co., NC) -- State troopers are identifying the drunk driver who collided with a school bus in Davidson County. Twenty-eight-year-old Chad Kearney is charged with DWI, open container and careless and reckless driving, among other things. The accident happened Monday afternoon on Old U.S. 52 near Critcher Drive. Troopers say he crashed head-on into a school bus carrying students from Midway Elementary School. No one on the bus was hurt, but Kearney was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

Victim ID'd In Deadly Thomasville Shooting

(Thomasville, NC) -- Family members are identifying a man shot and killed outside a Thomasville convenience store. Twenty-seven-year-old Bradley Barnes was gunned down Monday afternoon in the parking lot of S&S Food Mart. He was rushed to a local hospital where he died of his injuries. Twenty-two-year-old Jeffery Gilbert was arrested on suspicion of murder, as well as drug charges.

Suspected Thomasville Bank Robber Under Arrest

(Thomasville, NC) -- A serial bank robbery is under arrest in Davidson County. Police say 56-year-old Stanley Rodgers robbed a Wells Fargo in Thomasville yesterday morning. They say he was arrested across the street just five minutes later. This is not the first time Rogers has been in jail for robbing a bank, as records show he was previously convicted of two bank robberies in Thomasville in 2010 and 2011.

Explosion Reported At R.J. Reynolds Tobacco

(Winston-Salem, NC) -- No one is seriously hurt after an explosion at R.J. Reynolds Tobacco in Winston-Salem. A HAZMAT team was called to the scene yesterday afternoon. Officials say a mixture of chemicals caused a pressure explosion in the laboratory. The floor was evacuated, and one person was hospitalized as a precaution.


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