State Officials Testing Results In Fuel Mix-Up
(Arden, NC) -- State agriculture officials are evaluating results from an alleged fuel mix-up at a western North Carolina gas station. Customers at the Fastop in Arden started complaining about problems earlier this week. All of the pumps remain shut down as the investigation continues. A technician with High Country Fuel says it appears a delivery of diesel and unleaded fuel got mixed up. Affected customers are urged to avoid driving their vehicles.
Republicans And Governor Blame One Another Over Budget Impasse
(Raleigh, NC) -- North Carolina's Republican Senators are accusing Governor Cooper of holding the budget hostage over Medicaid expansion. It's another piece in the ongoing battle for budget approval as the third week of the new fiscal year comes to a close. Cooper blamed Republicans on Wednesday for holding up budget talks, so they fired back in a letter reversing the blame. The state House has seemingly come to a Medicaid expansion compromise, but the Senate has taken no action.
Hendersonville Bank Robbery Suspect Arrested In Oklahoma
(Hendersonville, NC) -- A Hendersonville bank robbery suspect is behind bars out-of-state. Officers tracked Jeffrey Devaughn to Oklahoma and arrested him this week. He's accused of walking into the TD Bank on July 12th and handing the teller a note before fleeing with an undisclosed amount of cash. Hendersonville police charged him with felony common law robbery.
NC Approved For Pilot Testing In Schools
(Washington, DC) -- North Carolina is set to take part in a pilot testing program in schools. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos approved a measure this week that will allow the state to use a model that rates a student's performance throughout the year, rather than on one large test. Students will take two assessments with a cluster of questions. DeVos says the pilot programs are more relevant and connected to the classroom.
Labor Department Fines Biltmore Estate
(Asheville, NC) -- The Biltmore Estate is being accused of violating federal labor laws. The U.S. Department of Labor said on Wednesday that Biltmore turned down a qualified applicant from the U.S. to hire a non-U.S. citizen. The Estate was forced to pay a 24-thousand-dollar civil penalty and pay nearly seven-thousand-dollars in back wages.
Vintage Shop Provides Wardrobe For "Stranger Things"
(Asheville, NC) -- Fans who watch the Netflix show "Stranger Things" can spot some vintage items straight out of Asheville. The owner of downtown's vintage store, called Honeypot, told WLOS-TV that about 300 pieces of clothing were purchased from her store to be used in the filming of season three, which was released this month for streaming. She says you can specifically check out a red polo with pinstriping that the Will character wears in episode seven. The show is set in the 1980s, so expect a lot of acid wash pants.
Steak 'N Shake Shooting Suspect In Jail After Hospital Release
(Charlotte, NC) -- The suspect in the deadly shooting at a Charlotte Steak 'N Shake is now in jail. The CMPD says Eddie Doh was released from the hospital yesterday and taken straight to Mecklenburg County jail. He's accused of killing an employee on July 9th during an attempted robbery at the South Boulevard restaurant. A Pineville police officer shot Doh at the scene.
Religious Leaders, CMPD Talk About Crime Solutions
(Charlotte, NC) -- Religious leaders are joining with the CMPD to combat a rise in crime. A group of people from different backgrounds of faith met with police last night at Johnson and Wales University to talk about solutions. Police Chief Kerr Putney has stressed the need to stop repeat offenders. He says the department is also teaming up with local judges, the district attorney and the sheriff to work together.
Three Still Missing After Alexander County Murders, Fire
(Alexander County, NC) -- Investigators are still looking for three missing people after two children were killed in connection to an Alexander County fire last month. Sheriff Chris Bowman told WBTV yesterday that a 13-year-old and 11-year-old were most likely killed execution-style. Firefighters found their bodies inside a burned home on Pine Meadows Lane. Their mother is missing and presumed to be dead, but the sheriff says her boyfriend and a friend are also missing. They've expanded their searches into Ashe and Wilkes counties.
Man Critically Injured In Salisbury Shooting
(Salisbury, NC) -- Salisbury police are looking for the suspect in a shooting last night. Officers found a man injured in the doorway of a duplex on North Long Street. He was flown to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center with critical injuries. Police used tear gas to try and weed out a suspect, but no one was found.
Amazon Series On Panthers Debuts
(Charlotte, NC) -- An Amazon Prime series that features the Carolina Panthers is now available to stream. The eight-episode series that gives viewers an up-close look of the team was filmed during last season. Many Panthers' players came out last night to attend the premier at uptown's Knight Theater. "All or Nothing: The Carolina Panthers" was scheduled for release tonight, but Amazon dropped it a day early.
Heat Index In Triple Digits
(Charlotte, NC) -- The heat index is pushing over 100 today in Charlotte. Around two-thirds of the U.S. is embracing a dangerous heat wave this weekend. The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous outlook through Wednesday for the Piedmont. High temps are expected to be in the mid-90s today and tomorrow in Charlotte, but it may feel closer to 105.
Heat Delaying Fayetteville Trash Pickup
(Fayetteville, NC) -- The excessive heat is taking a toll on Fayetteville's garbage trucks. Assistant City Manager Kristoff Bauer told ABC11 nearly half the city's truck fleet are down. That means home trash bins could be sitting at the curb longer than anyone would like. Bauer says yard waste pickup could be delayed a week or two.
Thunderstorms Knock Out Power For 2,300
(Raleigh, NC) -- Sudden thunderstorms knocked out power to more than two-thousand Wake County homes Thursday . Duke Energy says most were in downtown Raleigh. The News & Observer reports people in Johnston and Lee counties also lost power as the storms blew through.
Cooper Presses Trump Officials To Speed Up Disaster Relief Grants
(Washington, DC) -- Governor Roy Cooper is trying to get the Trump administration speed up flood disaster relief grants for the state. Cooper spent part of Thursday at the White House where he pressed administration officials over how long it's taking to get the grants. That money includes 168-million dollar package state officials have been hoping to get for more than a year as more than 600 roads remain closed. The state needs Washington to publish Federal Register notices allowing North Carolina to spend at least half a billion dollars in federal recovery money.
Highway Patrol Transfers Troopers As Cheating Investigation Continues
(Raleigh, NC) -- At least five Highway Patrol troopers are being transferred out of Wake County as an investigation into cheating on promotions testing goes forward. WRAL reports the investigation is focused on allegations of cheating during last month's promotions tests. Promotions are usually announced on July 1st each year but Highway Patrol Commander Colonel Glenn McNeill said in a letter late last month that promotions would be delayed indefinitely while the investigation continues.
Employee at Randolph County Zoo Dies in Workplace Accident
(Asheboro. NC) -- Franklin County Sheriff's Deputies are investigating the death of an employee at the North Carolina Zoo. Investigators say the employee, who was an arborist, fell almost 30 feet in an aerial rescue drill. The zoo was closed yesterday afternoon while the accident was being investigated. The identity of the employee has not been released.
BB&T, SunTrust Merger Clears Major Regulatory Hurdle
Winston-Salem, NC) -- The planned merger of BB&T and SunTrust has cleared another important regulatory hurdle. The North Carolina Commissioner of Banks has approved BB&T's 29-point-7 billion dollar purchase of SunTrust. It still needs approval from the Federal reserve Board and is expected to close by early October. The combined organization will be named Truist Bank. Several hundred local jobs are expected to relocate to the bank's new headquarters in Charlotte.
Motorcyclist Killed in Early Morning Hit-And-Run on McDonnell Road
(Greensboro, NC) -- Police in Greensboro continue to look for a motorist involved in a hit-and-run accident that killed a motorcyclist. Police say it happened about seven o'clock yesterday morning on McDonnell Road at South English Street. A motorist hit a motorcyclist and did not stop. The motorcyclist has been identified as 43-year-old Joseph Danny Brown. McDonnell Road was closed for several hours while police investigated the scene.
Interim Superintendent of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Will Retire Next Month
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- The interim superintendent of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, Kenneth Simington, says he will retire at the end of next month. The 58-year-old Simington took over as interim superintendent in February after former Superintendent Beverly Emory resigned to take a job with the state Board of Public Instruction. The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school board will conduct its final round of interviews for a permanent superintendent Monday.
Magnet School Delays Opening Because of Repairs
(Greensboro, NC) -- Students and staff at Brooks Global Studies School will have another two weeks added to their summer break. Guilford County School officials say more repairs need to be made to the floor joists that support the third, fourth and fifth grade classrooms. The first day of school at Brooks Global Studies is now set for August 26th. A meeting for parents to learn about the new construction plan is scheduled this Monday night at 6 o'clock at Grimsley High School cafeteria.