Local and State Headlines for Tuesday, April 30th, 2019

Fire Out At American Zinc

(Rutherford County, NC) -- The fire is finally out at a recycling plant in Rutherford County. Fire Marshal Frankie Hamrick says all the flames at American Zinc in Mooresboro were extinguished Monday afternoon. Area residents were forced to evacuate their homes after the fire started Sunday night. The EPA has been monitoring air and water quality before residents return.

NC House Passes Bill To Tighten Sexual Assault Laws

(Raleigh, NC) -- The state House is fully supporting a bill that tightens North Carolina's sexual assault laws. The proposal makes it illegal to tamper with someone's drink. It also prohibits a person from having sex with someone incapacitated if that person has been using drugs or alcohol. The bill now heads to the state Senate.

Fire Burning At Linville Gorge

(Morganton, NC) -- U.S. Forestry officials believe a blaze in Linville Gorge started from an abandoned campfire. Firefighters discovered the flames in a remote area near Linville River at the end of the Brushy Ridge Trail on Sunday. It had burned around five acres by yesterday. Several trails are closed and visitors are asked to be careful.

Maine Police Still Seeking Boys Thought To Be In Carolinas

(Presque Isle, ME) -- Police in Maine are continuing to search for two missing brothers who could be somewhere in the Carolinas. Joel Strother is accused of taking his 10- and 12-year-old sons, which is a violation of a custody agreement. The Presque Isle Police Department said yesterday that investigators have contacted Strother by phone, but he's not cooperating. They may be in a metallic GMC Terrain with temporary plates or a tan Cadillac Escalade.

Alleged Heroin Dealer Arrested In Asheville

(Asheville, NC) -- An Asheville man is accused of dealing heroin out of his apartment. Asheville Police told the Citizen-Times that officers caught the man dealing drugs during an undercover investigation this month. Justus Sloan was allegedly found with close to 12 grams of heroin and 85-hundred-dollars in cash at the Pisgah View apartments last Friday. He's facing probation violation, in addition to several drug charges.

Agency Offering Relief To WNC Farmers

(Hendersonville, NC) -- The USDA's Farm Service Agency is giving relief for some farmers in Western North Carolina. The agency says emergency funds are now available for certain farms damaged by flooding in Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties. Farmers must have a Farm Service Agency rep inspect the damaged area. You must request assistance from the agency office in Hendersonville by May 15th.

CMPD Investigates Homicide In Southwest Charlotte

(Charlotte, NC) -- Another homicide is being investigated by the CMPD. One person died on South Boulevard near Archdale Drive last night. WSOC-TV is reporting that officers were investigating at the Lempira restaurant. No details on possible suspects have been released.

Two Murder Suspects Arrested In Separate Shootings

(Charlotte, NC) -- Two suspects are now in jail for two separate murders in Charlotte on Sunday. Anthony Walker is accused of shooting a man to death on Catherine Simmons Drive in east Charlotte. Gastonia Police also helped the CMPD arrest Reco Perry yesterday in a deadly shooting that happened at the Heritage Park Apartments near East W.T. Harris and Idlewild. A woman was arrested for being an accessory to the murder.

Congressional Candidate Sues NCGOP

(Wake County, NC) -- A Republican anti-Trump candidate in the 9th district congressional race is suing the state GOP for blocking him from candidate events. Party leaders criticized Chris Anglin last year when he switched from a Democratic ticket to Republican before running for a state Supreme Court seat. They say he took votes away from the Republican incumbent, which led to a victory by Democrat Anita Earls. Anglin said yesterday that the GOP is afraid of his message.

Driver Arrested For Deadly Hit-And-Run In Kannapolis

(Kannapolis, NC) -- A driver is facing charges in connection to a deadly hit-and-run in Kannapolis. Investigators say a man and his two dogs were run over early Monday morning while walking at Bethpage Road and Leonard Avenue. The suspect didn't stop. Officers found and arrested Lisa Jones for felony hit-and-run.

Fire Investigated At Statesville Warehouse

(Statesville, NC) -- Statesville fire officials are investigating the cause of a blaze at a warehouse. Firefighters from six agencies battled the fire at the FCX building on West Front Street yesterday afternoon. Investigators told NBC Charlotte that some people were seen running away from the building that have raised suspicions on how the fire started. As much as half of the factory was destroyed.

Groups Helping Provide Food On Day Of Teacher Rally

(Charlotte, NC) -- Local groups are lending a helping hand for kids who may need a meal while school is out tomorrow. That's when teachers are marching at a rally and some area school districts are closed. WBTV says the Latin American Coalition is one organization that's been packaging food for students who usually receive a free breakfast or lunch. The donations are being given out by A Child's Place and Communities in Schools.

House Introduces 2019 Spending Plan

(Raleigh, NC) -- The North Carolina House of Representatives has released its 2019 budget. Details include more spending on school safety measures, money to address North Carolina's untested rape kit backlog, and UNC System building upgrades, according to a report from The News and Observer. House budget leaders plan to talk more about the spending plan at a news conference this afternoon.

Missing Man Found Dead

(Hillsborough, NC) -- A missing man has been found dead in Orange County. Nathaniel Brookins of Jackson, Mississippi was found in Hillsboro on Monday, according to the county sheriff's office. Brookins, who was reportedly visiting family members, was last seen on Friday. The family of Brookins, who was said to have dementia, said he may have gotten confused and tried to return to Mississippi. An official cause of death has not yet been determined.

Details Provided On Officer-Involved Shooting In Apex

(Apex, NC) -- Apex Police Chief John Letteney commented yesterday on an officer-involved shooting from last week. Police were first called by Stanley Edward Thompson about loud music coming from near his home on Thursday night, and then received another call from someone who said his son had been attacked in the same area. Letteney said officers tracked down Thompson and that he aimed a shotgun and walked towards officers when he came out of his home. One officer has been placed on administrative duty.

Second Suspect Arrested In Connection To Fatal Durham Shooting

(Durham, NC) -- A second suspect in a fatal Durham shooting is under arrest. Antonio Johnson was picked up on Monday by members of the U.S. Marshals Service Joint Fugitive Task Force, according to the Durham Police Department. Police discovered Ricky Yates shot outside a gas station last December. The other suspect in Yates' death, Rashawn Deleon, was already in jail when he was charged in February.

State Investigating Durham Fire Department, Companies After Gas Explosion

(Durham, NC) -- The state Department of Labor is investigating the gas explosion in downtown Durham earlier this month which killed two people. The News and Observer reports the department is reviewing the actions of the Durham Fire Department and five companies associated with the April 10th explosion. A contractor who was laying fiber reportedly called 911 and said he hit a gas line before it happened.

Two Prison Guards Being Reviewed For "Feeling Cute" Posts

(Raleigh, NC) -- Two prison guards in North Carolina are reportedly being investigated for the posting of pictures on social media as part of the "feeling cute" trend. WTVD-TV reports one correctional officer at Central Prison in Raleigh posted in a Facebook group for officers with the caption, "hash-tag Feeling Cute Challenge, say one wrong thing, you going in cuffs". Another picture shows a correctional officer from Scotland Correctional Institute in Laurinburg with the caption, "Feeling cute, might spray ya baby daddy". A North Carolina Department of Public Safety spokesperson says the prison system's administration is reviewing and appropriate action will be taken.

Teachers Prep For May 1st Rally

(Raleigh, NC) -- Teachers in the Triad are headed to the state capital to rally for more staff and higher pay, among other things. Wednesday's event is expected to draw tens-of-thousands of teachers from around the state. A similar rally last year drew nearly 20-thousand people. Organizers say this year's event will be even bigger. School districts that will be closed tomorrow include Winston-Salem/Forsyth, Guilford and Davie counties.

Police: Man With Concussion Crashes Into Burlington Condo

(Burlington, NC) -- No one is badly hurt after an elderly man crashed his vehicle into a condo in Burlington. Police say the driver, 69-year-old Michael Brown, had suffered a concussion hours beforehand and was unconscious. The accident happened yesterday morning at Greystone Condominiums. Police say Brown crashed just feet from a gas line.

Winston-Salem Man Facing Child Abuse Charges In Raleigh

(Raleigh, NC) -- A Winston-Salem man is facing child abuse charges in Raleigh. Police say 28-year-old Clay Faulkner left his three-year-old child in the car while he was "intoxicated" and "belligerent" in a parking lot. He was arrested Sunday along Spring Forest Road in Raleigh. Police say the man was on his way to Lexington and would not find someone to pick up his child.

Wildfire Burns Five Acres In Nebo

(Nebo, NC) -- A wildfire in Burke County is believed to have been caused by an abandoned camp fire. It broke out over the weekend in the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area. The fire quickly burned five acres before crews got it under control yesterday morning. The U.S Forest Service closed several trails in the area while firefighters worked to contain the blaze.


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