Memorial Service Planned Sunday For UNC Charlotte Student
(Haywood County, NC) -- The memorial service for a UNC Charlotte student who died in Tuesday's shooting is being held Sunday in Lake Junaluska. Riley Howell has been called a hero for jumping on the shooter as he opened fire inside a campus building. His body was returned back to his hometown of Waynesville in a police escort yesterday morning. Sunday's memorial service begins at 5 p.m at the Stuart Auditorium.
House Endorses Budget Without Medicaid Expansion
(Raleigh, NC) -- The state House is endorsing a budget with no Medicaid expansion. Governor Roy Cooper has called expansion one of his top priorities, but it hasn't made it into the proposed budget or any other active bills being considered in Raleigh. Democratic lawmaker Darren Jackson says they need to find some kind of compromise. There's no word if the governor would veto the House-endorsed budget.
Former Airman Sentenced For Child Porn
(Asheville, NC) -- An ex-airman from Asheville is heading to prison for child pornography charges. The U.S. Attorney's office said yesterday that Paul Knoke was sentenced to 15 years. Investigators found out two years ago that he had been viewing child porn and sharing the pics with other offenders online. The Citizen-Times is reporting that the retired Air Force lieutenant colonel also admitted to sexually abusing eight minors.
Asheville Native Wins More Country Music Awards
(Asheville, NC) -- An Asheville native is continuing to rake in country music awards. Luke Combs was named Top Country Artist, Top Country Male Artist and had the Top Country Album at this week's Billboard Awards. His song Beautiful Crazy has been sitting at the top of Billboard's country charts for ten weeks. Combs attended A.C. Reynolds High School in Asheville.
Owen High Senior Named Female Athlete Of Year
(Chapel Hill, NC) -- A western North Carolina senior is the state's High School Athletic Association Female Athlete of the Year. Chesney Gardner, of Owen High in Buncombe County, was recognized at an awards ceremony yesterday in Chapel Hill. She was a three-sport star in basketball, volleyball and discus throw. Gardner plans to attend USC Aiken this fall.
Buncombe County Taproom Offering Star Wars Beer
(Arden, NC) -- A Buncombe County taproom is celebrating Star Wars day with a special edition beer. Craft Centric Taproom and Bottle Shop is releasing an IPA made by in-house brewery Fermented Nonsense called Skywalker's Banthanilla Milkshake. It's a play on Bantha Milk, made famous in the Star Wars universe. You can have a sip on Saturday afternoon beginning at two.
Accused UNC Charlotte Shooter Skips First Court Appearance
(Charlotte, NC) -- The former student accused in the shootings at UNC Charlotte has skipped his first court appearance. Trystan Terrell's court-appointed public defender appeared before the judge yesterday. Terrell is accused of killing two people and injuring four others when he opened fire inside the Kennedy building on Tuesday. A motive hasn't been released. A bond hearing is scheduled for May 15th.
March For Our Lives Rally Planned This Afternoon
(Charlotte, NC) -- A March for Our Lives rally is planned this afternoon on the West Quad at UNC Charlotte. Charlotte chapter member Margaret Murphy told WBTV that the event is about bringing people together and pushing for a solution to gun violence. March for Our Lives gained prominence nationwide after the deadly mass shooting in Parkland, Florida last year. Today's rally begins at two.
Deadly Shooting Investigated Outside Bank
(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is investigating a deadly shooting in north Charlotte. A man was found shot to death inside a car at the Wells Fargo on North Tryon Street early Thursday morning. Another man was taken to the hospital with injuries. Officers say they questioned a person of interest at the scene, but there's no word on an arrest.
Golfers At Quail Hollow Wear Green To Support UNCC
(Charlotte, NC) -- Golfers at the Wells Fargo Championship are showing their support of UNC Charlotte this week by wearing green ribbons. Defending champ Jason Day said during Thursday's opening round that it was shocking to hear about Tuesday's shooting. He goes into the second round two strokes off the lead at Quail Hollow. Two-time Wells Fargo champ Rory McIlroy was tied for the lead at five-under.
Charlotte Man Scammed Out Of Thousands Through App
(Charlotte, NC) -- A Charlotte man is the victim of a gaming app scam. WSOC-TV reported Thursday that the man shelled out 50-thousand-dollars to a woman he met while playing a multiplayer word game called Wordfeud. The CMPD says she convinced him to transfer money through the Zelle app to pay for medical bills and transportation to the U.S. The scam lasted for around five months.
Charlotte Woman Named Miss USA
(Reno, NV) -- This year's Miss USA is from Charlotte. Attorney Cheslie Kryst was crowned at the annual event in Reno, Nevada last night. She became the third woman from North Carolina named Miss USA. Kryst works at the Poyner Spruill law firm.
Health Officials: Durham Explosion May Have Exposed Folks To Asbestos
(Durham, NC) -- People in Durham may have been exposed to asbestos because of last month's deadly explosion downtown. State health officials just released tests showing that materials containing asbestos were found in the aftermath of the North Duke Street explosion. They say the potential for public exposure was minimal. Most people who become ill from asbestos work around it regularly, and symptoms don't usually show for decades. Anyone looking for more information can call the North Carolina Division of Public Health.
Police Charge Woman Who Brought Babies To Drug Deal
(Apex, NC) -- Wake County deputies have arrested a woman they say brought her children to a drug deal. They say last month, 22-year-old Ashley Forte went with a man to buy drugs in Apex. Apparently, the deal went south, and police say the man she was with shot and killed Michael Farrington. According to deputies, Forte was in a nearby car with a baby and a newborn at the time of the murder. She's now been charged with misdemeanor child abuse, and she's being held on five-thousand-dollars bond.
Police ID Fort Bragg Soldier Killed In Motorcycle Accident
(Raleigh, NC) -- Raleigh police are identifying a Fort Bragg soldier who died in a motorcycle accident. They say yesterday afternoon, 29-year-old Blake Tercero sideswiped another car on Glenwood Avenue, went off the road and hit a tree. Witnesses told police that he was going very fast, and had just completed a wheelie. Tercero was pronounced dead at the scene.
Cary Man Faces Child Pornography Charges
(Cary, NC) -- A Cary man is facing child pornography charges. Police say they arrested 51-year-old Paul Sullivan after finding sexually explicit pictures involving preteen children. They say the images are from over a decade ago, and some of the kids were as young as one. It isn't known if Sullivan knew the children. He's being held on three-million-dollars bond and is due in court this morning.
HPV Most Googled Disease in NC
(undated) -- HPV is the most googled disease in North Carolina. Term Life To Go compiled the google searches by each state and found that folks in North Carolina are trying to find out about the human papillomavirus more than any other disease. HPV is a common STD that is usually harmless, but can lead to certain types of cancer and genital warts. Other commonly searched for diseases in other states included heart disease, Lyme disease and COPD.
Deadly Car Crash Ruled Suicide
(Raleigh, NC) -- Police say a crash that killed a Cardinal Gibbons student was actually a suicide. In October, 16-year-old Madeline Shook died after her Jetta went off Possum Track Road and crashed into some trees going nearly 100-miles-per-hour. The medical examiner ruled this suicide by blunt force injury. The report says she left a suicide note in her room.
Davidson Co. Sheriff's Office Mourns Death Of Officer
(Davidson Co., NC) -- The Davidson County Sheriff's Office is mourning the death of one of its officers. Deputy Matt Higgins lost his battle with a rare form of bladder cancer this week. The sheriff's office said he "passed away in the arms of his wife, Tracy, which is exactly where he wanted to be." Higgins was 35-years-old. He had been with the sheriff's office for seven years.
Davidson Co. Moves Forward With Anti-Smoking Billboards
(Davidson Co., NC) -- Davidson County is moving forward with its anti-smoking campaign. The Board of Commissioners agreed yesterday to put up youth anti-smoking billboards across the county. A final vote is planned for May 14th. The state Department of Health and Human Services has given the county over 37-hundred dollars to put toward the cause.
Man Arrested In Connection With Armed Robberies In Kernersville
(Kernersville, NV) -- A man suspected of robbing two banks in Forsyth County last year is under arrest. Police say Tyrone Woods was armed with a handgun when he robbed Piedmont Federal Savings and PNC banks in Kernersville. He was arrested after an investigation by Kernersville PD and the FBI.
One Person Killed In Alamance Co. Crash
(Alamance Co., NC) -- One person is dead after a car crash in Alamance County. It happened last night on Altamahaw Racetrack Road near Mitchell Pasture Lane. State troopers say only one vehicle was involved. The identity of the victim has not been released. The cause is under investigation.