Asheville Arena Naming Rights Go To Harrah's
(Asheville, NC) -- The arena in downtown Asheville is changing names. The city council voted six-to-one yesterday to accept a bid from Harrah's Cherokee Casino that could be worth more than five-and-a-half-million-dollars over five years. The arena has been known as the U.S. Cellular Center for nearly a decade, but their bid was much lower. The name change will take affect at the beginning of 2020.
One Dead After Gas Tanker Crash On I-26
(Polk County, NC) -- The Highway Patrol is investigating a deadly accident that shut down I-26 in Polk County last night. Investigators say it involved a car and a gas tanker close to the South Carolina line. A hazmat team was called out to clean up the mess. One person died in the accident.
Concert To Benefit Families Of Wreck Victims
(Barnardsville, NC) -- A concert is planned in Buncombe County this Saturday to help benefit the families of the victims of an off-road wreck. Jonathan Laws, Dillon Akins and father Ronnie Akins died last weekend when their off-road vehicle went off a 100-foot embankment in Tennessee. Country musician Buddy Jewell will take the stage at The Barn at Paint Fork in Barnardsville, with all proceeds going to the families. Jonathan and Dillon recently graduated from North Buncombe High School.
Deaths Investigated In Asheville
(Asheville, NC) -- Investigators are still looking into the death of a woman found behind the Moog building near downtown Asheville Monday. An autopsy is expected today. Another woman was found dead inside a car on Haywood Road on the same day. WLOS-TV is reporting the cause of her death was an overdose.
Arden Man Sentenced For Attempted Murder
(Buncombe County, NC) -- An Arden man is heading to prison for the attempted murder of his estranged wife. Prosecutors say Paul Killian tried to run her off the road and fired several shots towards her near Mills River in late 2017. He ended up barricading himself inside his home in Arden for several hours before giving up. A judge sentenced Killian to more than 13 years in prison last Friday.
State Leaders To Honor Vets On D-Day Anniversary
(Raleigh, NC) -- A western North Carolina lawmaker is inviting the public to an event to honor D-Day veterans. State Senator Chuck Edwards and other state leaders will hold a special session at the Old Capitol in Raleigh to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day on June 6th. The day will feature military band performances, a wreath-laying ceremony and military reenacters. Edwards is inviting World War Two veterans who want to attend to call his office.
Witnesses Give Little Info In Pool Party Shooting
(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD isn't getting much help from witnesses at the scene of a pool party shooting. One person was injured when gunfire broke out at an apartment complex on Education Way just a few blocks from UNC Charlotte on Monday. Major Dave Robinson said yesterday that only a few witnesses came forward out of a crowd of around 200 people hanging out at the pool. Investigators believe as many as four weapons were fired into the group.
Suspicious Death Investigated In Lancaster County
(Lancaster County, SC) -- Lancaster County investigators are piecing together details of a suspicious death. Deputies found the body of a woman behind a vacant home in the Rich Hill community on Tuesday. It's unclear at this time how the woman died. Lancaster County's sheriff says the death is being investigated as a homicide as they await autopsy results.
City Council Approves Money For Airport Electric Buses
(Charlotte, NC) -- Electric buses are coming to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport. The city council approved a contract worth four-and-a-half-million-dollars last night to help start the transition to an all electric fleet. The money is expected to be enough for five new buses. WSOC-TV is reporting they're more expensive than diesel buses, but much cheaper to operate.
Temperatures Remain Hot In Charlotte
(Charlotte, NC) -- Near-record temperatures are continuing today in the Charlotte area. The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook, with heat index values topping out close to 100 degrees in upstate South Carolina and the North Carolina piedmont region. Highs are expected to reach the mid-90s again today and Thursday in Charlotte. There will be slight relief when temperatures start to drop a little on Friday.
Motorcyclist Dies In East Charlotte Wreck
(Charlotte, NC) -- One man is dead from injuries suffered in a motorcycle crash in East Charlotte. The CMPD believes the driver ran off Parkton Road and struck a concrete ditch. Emergency officials were unable to revive him at the scene. Officers believe speed may have been a factor in the wreck.
Crossing Guard Named School Hero
(Indian Trail, NC) -- An Indian Trail crossing guard is being rewarded for a job well done. The North Carolina Education Lottery named Jerome Sutton a School Hero yesterday. NBC Charlotte says he's worked as a crossing guard for almost 30 years and currently helps students outside Sun Valley Middle School. The Education Lottery awarded Sutton and the school ten-thousand-dollars each.
NC Senate GOP Proposes Education Funding Plan
(Raleigh, NC) -- North Carolina Senate Republicans want to make changes to education funding. The lawmakers yesterday revealed their spending plan for the next two years, which would include raises for teachers and support staff. They also mentioned "special provisions" that would affect North Carolina's one-point-five-million public school students. Two of these provisions would allot teachers 300-dollars to purchase classroom supplies and would require high schoolers to pass a personal finance class.
Search To Resume For Missing Quarry Diver
(Durham, NC) -- Rescue crews will resume their search this morning for a young man who jumped into the Eno River Rock Quarry and never resurfaced. A witness says the missing 18-year-old jumped off a cliff, flipped over too far, and landed face first into the water. The quarry is not open to the public for swimming, but authorities say they get frequent emergency calls from people who have become injured after jumping off the cliff.
Bystander Tackles Escaped Murder Suspect
(Raleigh, NC) -- A man wanted for murder in Virginia is back in custody thanks to a Raleigh bystander. George Knisley, of Westminster, Maryland, was arrested in Raleigh last weekend. He was on his way to the Wake County Detention Center on Monday when he complained his handcuffs were too tight. As the deputy loosened them, Knisley shoved him and took off. That's when John Martinez, Junior picked up the pursuit and was able to tackle Knisley to the ground until deputies arrived.
Raleigh Gets New Underground Waste Storage System
(Raleigh, NC) -- Downtown Raleigh is going below ground to stash its trash. Installation of a new waste management system began yesterday. The city says these new underground storage units will keep sidewalks free and clear of dumpsters while also saving time, space and money. Each new underground unit will hold about 20 blue carts' worth of garbage. Raleigh is the first city in the country to use this new method.
Abandoned Light Rail Project To Cost Almost 160-Million
(Raleigh, NC) -- The now-defunct light rail project is going to cost taxpayers millions. The Board of Trustees of GoTriangle abandoned the Durham-Orange Light Rail project back in March after the transit organization failed to secure land donations, private funding, and cooperative agreements by the deadline. Construction never even began and the project is still expected to cost North Carolina residents nearly 160-million dollars by the time the project is officially closed out in 2020.
Crews Continue Search For Body In Forsyth Co.
(Forsyth Co., NC) -- Crews are continuing their search for a body that may have been dumped in Forsyth County, near Kernersville. Investigators got word last week that a body may have been dumped near Teague Lane and Ogden School Road back in January or February. Crews responded on Friday to secure the scene, and yesterday, they took their search underground. It's not yet clear whose body they're looking for.
Former Guilford Co. Teacher Drowns Along Crystal Coast
(Pine Knoll Shores, NC) -- A former Guilford County teacher is dead after an accident along the Crystal Coast. Officials with the Town of Pine Knolls Shores say Earnest Forster Junior got caught in a rip current on Sunday and drowned. He grew up in Wilson County before taking a teaching position in Guilford County. The district says Foster taught science at Smith High School from January 2014 through March of this year.
Thousands Lose Power In Greensboro
(Greensboro, NC) -- Equipment failure is to blame for a widespread power outage in Greensboro. More than 26-hundred people were without power at the height of the outage yesterday afternoon. It stretched from the Lake Brandt area to Lake Jeanette. Duke Energy had power almost fully restored by that evening.
Police: Man Shot By Brother In Winston-Salem
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- A man is under arrest on suspicion of shooting his brother in Winston-Salem. The scene unfolded early Tuesday morning at Old Town Valley View Apartments on Yarbrough Avenue. Police say Damien Arts shot his brother, Deveon Arts, in the leg. He was later found and arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. The brother is expected to be okay.
Heatwave Continues In Triad
(Greensboro, NC) -- A scorching heatwave continues to spread across the Triad. Temperatures started going up late last week, with many cities reaching the low-to-mid 90s. That's about ten-to-15 degrees higher than normal for this time of year. The highs will drop back in the '80s on Friday.