Local and State Headlines for Tuesday, February 26th, 2019

DOT Targeting Friday For Partial I-40 Re-Opening

(Haywood County, NC) -- Road crews are working 24-hours-a-day to clean an I-40 rockslide in Haywood County. The interstate is closed for a 12-mile section going both ways. The DOT believes enough of one side will be clear so that single lanes can be used to travel east and westbound by Friday. Nine cars were damaged when the slide happened last Friday night.

Cooper Focuses On Education, Medicaid In State Of The State

(Raleigh, NC) -- Governor Roy Cooper is calling for a focus on education and Medicaid expansion. He laid out his agenda for state lawmakers last night in his second State of the State address from the capitol in Raleigh. Both Republicans and Democrats stood in applause to Cooper's comments on more teacher pay and school construction funding. He called the state determined as it moves forward from Hurricane Florence.

Teaching Assistant Charged For Hitting Student

(Marion, NC) -- A Marion woman is facing charges for allegedly hitting a disabled student at an elementary school earlier this month. Anjanette Myers has since been fired from her teaching assistant position at West Marion Elementary. The assault was on a nine-year-old student. Myers is expected to appear in court next month.

Suspected Musical Instrument Thief Arrested

(Asheville, NC) -- An Asheville man is being accused of stealing musical instruments from the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club. Eight pieces were stolen from the instrument closet in September of 2017. The executive director of the Asheville club told the Citizen-Times on Monday that they haven't been able to run the music program since. The suspect worked as a janitor there, and was finally arrested last Saturday.

Former Tryon Manager Receives Probation For Fraud

(Tryon, NC) -- A former Western North Carolina town manager is getting probation for fraud. Joe Davis was Tryon's manager and fire chief when he used the town's credit cards to help pay bills for a former council member three years ago. WLOS-TV reported yesterday that Davis will spend a year on probation and was ordered to pay a small fine. The council member was previously sentenced to more than three years in prison.

Grandfather Mountain Records Record-High Winds Again

(Linville, NC) -- High winds are blowing on Grandfather Mountain in record fashion. A three-second gust late Sunday night registered at 124-miles-per-hour. That speed eclipsed the previous record of just over 121 miles-per-hour, which was set around two weeks ago. High winds caused power outages for several thousand residents in western North Carolina over the weekend.

Charlotte Shooting Was Double Murder-Suicide

(Charlotte, NC) -- A south Charlotte shooting is being called a double murder-suicide. CMPD investigators say 23-year-old John Bocek [[ BOH-seck ]] shot a father, Matthew Chaplin, and a 15-year-old girl inside a home in the Providence Country Club before turning the gun on himself Sunday. Chaplin's daughter was inside the home during the shooting and survived. She told NBC Charlotte that Bocek beat her at the home last week after she refused to date him.

Protesters Speak Against ICE At Council Meeting

(Charlotte, NC) -- Protesters are pressuring the Charlotte City Council to oppose ICE raids. Dozens showed up at the council meeting last night, with some taking the microphone to urge the city to step it up. It comes after more than 200 people were arrested by ICE officers throughout North Carolina earlier this month. Mayor Vi Lyles has created a committee to go into each district to talk with immigrants.

Former Governor Decides Not To Run For Ninth District Seat

(Charlotte, NC) -- Former Governor Pat McCrory won't be a part of the new race for North Carolina's ninth congressional district. He said on his WBT-AM radio show yesterday that he's still considering running for governor again or possibly the U.S. Senate. The Republican said he's gotten a lot of calls about running for the District Nine seat ever since the Board of Elections called for a special election last week. McCrory served as mayor of Charlotte for 15 years before his term as governor.

Assault Victim Dies Four Months Later, Suspect Arrested

(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD says one man is facing charges for an October assault that has now ended in death. Deron Little reportedly died this month from injuries in the assault on Mulberry Pond Drive in west Charlotte. The suspect was arrested yesterday for involuntary manslaughter. Investigators haven't revealed exactly what happened in the assault.

Child Signs With Charlotte Hornets For A Day

(Charlotte, NC) -- An eleven-year-old with muscular dystrophy can say he was a Hornet for a day. The Charlotte Hornets signed William Childers to a one-day contract on Monday with the help of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The NBA fan was treated to courtside seats for the game against the Golden State Warriors last night and was able to meet some players as well. Childers appeared on court pregame to take on some ball-handling drills with All-Star Kemba Walker.

CIAA Tournament Begins In Charlotte

(Charlotte, NC) -- A college hoops tournament is underway in Charlotte. The CIAA opened up it's end-of-the-season conference tournament last night at the Bojangles Coliseum. Games Thursday through Saturday will be held at the Spectrum Center. The CIAA will move its tournament from Charlotte to Baltimore in 2021.

Charges Upgraded To Murder After Battered Baby Dies

(Raleigh, NC) -- A Raleigh man is facing murder charges for the death of a one-year-old girl he was supposed to be caring for. Thirty-one-year-old Ricky Walker was arrested this weekend after the child was brought to the hospital with a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain. She died and yesterday Raleigh police announced they were upgrading charges against him to first-degree murder. Walker is being held on 250-thousand-dollar bond.

Deputy Shot In Face Now Back On The Job

(Harnett Co., NC) -- A Harnett County deputy who was shot in the face is back at work. Deputies say more than ten-months ago, Corporal Eric Cook was shot in the face and chest by 16-year-old Mario Garza the Third. The sheriff said the bulletproof vest Cook was wearing saved his life. Cook was given a purple heart medal yesterday during his first day back on the job.

Wake County Paid $83K To Kyron Hinton Day Before He Died

(Wake Co., NC) -- The Wake County Sheriff's Department says they paid out a settlement to Kyron Hinton just before he died. Hinton was the center of a viral video, where several law enforcement officers could be seen beating him on Raleigh Boulevard. The sheriff's department said they paid Hinton 83-thousand-dollars on Friday to settle the lawsuit he filed against them for the incident, but he died on Saturday. His family says he struggled with mental illness.

Teen Accused Of Killing Dad Is Free On Unsecured Bond

(Durham, NC) -- A Durham teen accused of killing his dad is free on bond. Last week, 16-year-old Alexander Bishop was arrested for last year's death of Bill Bishop. His body was found in his home with ligature marks around the neck. Police say Alexander tried to say this was caused by a leashed dog, but they found a hypodermic needle and a clear liquid in the teen's room. The judge set a 250-thousand-dollar unsecured bond for Alexander Bishop, which means he was able to walk out of court yesterday without having to pay any money.

Woman In Raleigh Accused Of Trying To Bribe Cop

(Raleigh, NC) -- A Raleigh woman is accused of trying to bribe a police officer. Court papers say a Raleigh police officer was investigating a trespassing incident Friday on Plainview Drive when he caught a suspect trying to run away from him. The suspect was identified as 18-year-old Dominique Hodge, of Roselle Court, and the officer claims she offered him 400-dollars to not charge her. She was charged with offering bribes and resisting a public officer. Hodge is behind bars on 15-thousand-dollars bond.

Raleigh Man Faces Child Pornography Charges

(Raleigh, NC) -- A Raleigh man is facing child pornography charges. Deputies in Wake County say yesterday, 44-year-old Stephen Grimes admitted to receiving pornography on his computer after images were found depicting children between the ages of four and 12. He's accused of sexually exploiting a minor and is ordered to have no contact with the victim. Grimes is being held on a million-dollar bond.

Online Petition Calls For Removal Of Bennett College's Finance Director

(Greensboro, NC) -- An online petition seeks to oust one of Bennett College's top leaders. The petition demands the school remove Vice President of Business and Finance LeRoy Summers Junior by March 11th. It claims Summers' financial guidance has failed the school. Bennett College lost its accreditation this month due to a lack of sufficient funds. A judge reinstated it while the college moves forward with a lawsuit against the accreditation agency.

Former NC Governor Will Not Run For Congress

(Undated) -- Former North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory will not run for Congress. There was speculation he'd join the race for the 9th Congressional seat. McCrory announced on his radio show yesterday that he'd consider running for governor or U.S. Senate in the future. For right now, he says he feels like his teaching position at UNC Chapel Hill is making a positive impact.

Guilford Co. To Sell $40M In Bonds To Help Pay For Projects

(Guilford Co., NC) -- Guilford County officials say they're planning to sell up to 40-million dollars in bonds to help fund some much-needed projects. They include a new mental health facility, as well as emergency management and law enforcement facilities. The decision was made yesterday at the Board of Commission's annual retreat in High Point. Commissioners are hoping to more forward with the bond sale in May.

Four People Arrested In Alamance Co. Home Invasion, Assault

(Alamance Co., NC) -- Four people are under arrest in connection with a home invasion and robbery in Alamance County last November. Tiffany Ramsey, Christopher Featherstone, Raequan Shell and Kody King are charged with forcible sex offense, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon and robbery. Twenty-six-year-old Tevonshe Brown is still at large. Investigators say the motive behind the crime was sweepstakes money that was acquired by a relative of one of the victims.

Woman Homeless After Fire In Greensboro

(Greensboro, NC) -- An elderly woman is homeless after her Greensboro home caught fire. It happened early Monday morning near Elwell and Phillips avenues. "NBC 12" reports the woman was sleeping in her chair when the fire started. She as able to get out okay, but her home was destroyed. The cause of the fire is under investigation.


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content