Pedestrian Dead In Hendersonville Hit-And-Run
(Hendersonville, NC) -- Police are investigating a deadly hit-and-run in Hendersonville. Officers says a 64-year-old man was hit by a vehicle on Sunday night at the intersection of Four Seasons Boulevard and Linda Vista Drive. Investigators are on the lookout for a car with heavy front-end damage, but have no further description. A police captain told WLOS-TV that weather may have played a role.
Asheville Man Sentenced To Prison For Deadly Shooting
(Asheville, NC) -- An Asheville man is heading to prison for a deadly shooting two years ago. Kelby Swinton-Moore was gunned down in the parking lot of the Livingston Street Apartments complex. Witnesses say he and the suspect were in a heated argument before the shooting. The superior court judge sentenced Sharod Woods to at least 12 years in prison after he entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder yesterday.
Lawyer Appears In Court For Sex Crime Charges
(Asheville, NC) -- A Catawba County lawyer is facing charges for alleged sex crimes in Buncombe County court. Daniel Ray Green was arrested at Asheville's Baymont Inn in late March for allegedly engaging in sex acts with a 14-year-old. He was indicted a month ago on charges including felony statutory sexual offense with a child 15-years-or-younger. The Citizen-Times is reporting Green appeared in Buncombe County court yesterday, where his attorney was granted a new court date for November 4th. Green was named the Citizen Lawyer of the Year by the North Carolina Bar Association in 2018.
Two Democrats Join WNC Races For State House
(Undated) -- Two western North Carolina Democrats are jumping into two state House races. Sam Edney of Brevard announced yesterday that he is running in the election for District 113, which was previously held by Republican Cody Henson. Polk County commissioner Jake Johnson was chosen to replace Henson last week, after he resigned in July. Danae Aicher of Hendersonville will vie for the District 117 seat currently held by Republican Chuck McGrady, who isn't seeking re-election.
Bryson City Teen Wins Gold At PanAm Games
(Bryson City, NC) -- A Bryson City teen is continuing to impress the world with her kayaking skills. Fifteen-year-old Evy Leibfarth won the women's slalom kayak gold medal at last weekend's PanAm games in Peru. It's been a successful summer for Leibfarth, who also won a bronze medal for women's canoe at a World Cup event in Slovenia. She has her sights set to qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Fletcher Manufacturer Adding Jobs
(Fletcher, NC) -- A manufacturer in Fletcher is planning to add close to 70 jobs. Henderson County Commissioners approved half-a-million-dollars in incentives earlier this year for an expansion at Smartac Technology. The company announced yesterday that it will add the positions over the next five-years, with an average salary of 47-thousand-dollars-a-year. Smartac is a developer of radio-frequency identification tags.
Fire Rips Through Statesville Asphalt Plant
(Statesville, NC) -- Fire officials are investigating a blaze that tore through an asphalt plant in Statesville last night. More than a dozen agencies responded to Maymead Materials on Bostian Bridge Road. Firefighters say the flames broke out in an old plant on the property. Iredell Sheriff's investigators told NBC Charlotte that a gas line may have ruptured. No injuries were reported.
Mooresville High School Student Dies After Accident
(Mooresville, NC) -- The Mooresville community is mourning the loss of a high school student who died after an accident last weekend. The Lake Norman Fellowship of Christian Athletes says Gavin Sharpe fell from a truck while taking part in a service project on the Mooresville High School Magnolia Campus. Sharpe died on Monday. The school district says it will be offering counseling for students and staff as classes begin today for the new school year.
Suspect Arrested In SC For July 4th Murder In Charlotte
(Charlotte, NC) -- A suspect is facing charges for a July 4th murder in Charlotte. The CMPD said yesterday that Jerome Davis, Junior was arrested in Spartanburg and is awaiting extradition to Charlotte. He's accused of shooting Khira McKinley, who found was dead inside a car on Oakwinds Court the morning of July 4th. McKinley's brother was shot to death in Matthews just two weeks before.
Catawba County Lawyer Facing Sex Crime Charges
(Asheville, NC) -- A Catawba County lawyer is facing charges for alleged sex crimes. Daniel Ray Green was arrested at Asheville's Baymont Inn in late March for allegedly engaging in sex acts with a 14-year-old. He was indicted a month ago on charges including felony statutory sexual offense with a child 15-years-or-younger. The Citizen-Times is reporting Green appeared in Buncombe County court yesterday, where his attorney was granted a new court date for November 4th. Green was named the Citizen Lawyer of the Year by the North Carolina Bar Association in 2018.
Four Homes Hit By Gunfire
(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is investigating gunfire that broke out in northwest Charlotte early Monday morning. Four homes from Palm Breeze Lane to Windy Valley Drive were hit by bullets. Officers say a 15-year-old girl was shot in the leg while she was sleeping, but is expected to be okay.
New Mixed-Use Development Planned In Charlotte
(Charlotte, NC) -- A new mixed-use development is planned near University Research Park. Florida-based real estate firm Stiles announced yesterday that it will build a hotel, residential spaces and retail shops on a 16-acre tract at Senator Royall Drive and West Mallard Creek Church Road. The Charlotte Observer says Stiles has developed three shopping centers in the Queen City since 2012. Groundbreaking for the new development comes up in December.
Cooper Presses Lawmakers To Act On Bills To Prevent Mass Shootings
(Undated) -- Governor Roy Cooper is asking legislative leaders to stop blocking two bills that could prevent a mass shooting like the ones that killed more than 30 in Texas and Ohio. One bill would require a permit to buy any gun, ban high-capacity magazines, and ban sales of assault-style rifles to people younger than 21. The other would a allow a judge to temporarily take away guns from someone found to be an imminent danger to themselves or someone else. Twenty-two people were killed in a shooting at a Walmart on El Paso,Texas on Saturday and nine were killed when a gunman opened fire in a popular nightclub district in Dayton, Ohio early Sunday morning,
Police Hunt Bank Robber Who Said He Had Bomb
(Raleigh, NC) -- Raleigh police are asking for help finding a bank robber who said he had a bomb. The man held up the SunTrust Bank on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard shortly before 3 p.m. Monday. He handed a teller a note demanding money and put a grocery bag on the desk and said it held an explosive device. There's no word on how much money the man got and police are asking anyone with information to call or log on to raleighcrimestoppers.org.
Man Who Embezzled $5.8-Million From Cary Business Pleads Guilty
(Cary, NC) -- A man who admitted stealing nearly six-million dollars from a Cary business will spend more than eleven years in prison. Hugh Johnson the Second pleaded guilty Monday to using a company credit card to embezzle five-point-eight million dollars from BMG LabTech. Prosecutors say the 44-year-old former manager spent the money on a lavish lifestyle that included trips to Mexico, stays at upscale hotels, and a 25-thousand dollar birthday dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. Johnson treated himself and friends to the company's money from 2012 to 2017.
House Committee Approves Bill Protecting Virtual Public School Teachers From Layoffs
(Raleigh, NC) -- A bill moving through the legislature would protect North Carolina Virtual Public School teachers against layoffs. A House committee approved a bill Monday that includes an amendment exempting the virtual school from a state law requiring a break in service for the online program. More than 200 teachers learned last week they would be laid off for the fall semester. If the 220 teachers are laid off, it would mean more than seven-thousand students wouldn't be able to take advantage of the online school's courses until next year.
North Carolina Bans State Funds For Conversion Therapy
(Raleigh, NC) -- North Carolina is the first southern state to ban the use of state funds for conversion therapy for minors. Governor Roy Cooper signed an executive order that prevents state money from being used to try and change the sexual orientation or gender identity of a minor. Cooper said there are about 320-thousand adults in his state who identify as LGBTQ. He also noted that suicide rates are high among the nearly 700-thousand people nationwide who have undergone conversion therapy.
Randleman Teen Facing Charges In Machete Attack
(Randleman, NC) -- A Randleman teen is accused of attacking two people with a machete. The scene unfolded Sunday in the Torch Drive area. One victim told deputies he was chased through the woods and attacked with a machete. A second victim who'd also been cut was found nearby. Nineteen-year-old Ellijah Bailey was arrested on felony assault charges and booked on a 350-thousand-dollar bond. Deputies say the incident appears to be domestic-related.
Former Davidson Co. Teacher Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Student
(Davidson Co., NC) -- A former private school teacher in Davidson County is accused of repeatedly sexually abusing one of his students roughly 20 years ago. Sixty-eight-year-old Joe Potts was arrested in Marshall County, Oklahoma this past weekend on suspicion of statutory sex offense and indecent liberties with a child. He's accused of sexually assaulting the victim repeatedly in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Sheriff's officials say since there's no statute of limitations in North Carolina, it's never too late to report child sexual abuse.
High Point Man Accused Of Trying To Stab Two Women To Death
(High Point, NC) -- A Winston-Salem man is accused of trying to stab two women to death after they allegedly tried to sell him fake drugs. Officers responded to an area near English Road and Edgeworth Street Sunday afternoon. Two women were rushed to the hospital with stab wounds but are expected to be okay. Leon Ragland is wanted on two counts of attempted first-degree murder. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to call High Point PD.
North Carolina Bans State Funds For Conversion Therapy
(Raleigh, NC) -- North Carolina is the first southern state to ban the use of state funds for "conversion therapy" for minors. Governor Roy Cooper signed an executive order on Friday that prevents state money from being used to try and change the sexual orientation or gender identity of a minor. Cooper said there are about 320-thousand adults in his state who identify as LGBTQ. He also noted that suicide rates are high among the nearly 700-thousand people nationwide who have undergone conversion therapy.
Northbound U.S. Highway 421 In Winston-Salem Closed
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- State Department of Transportation officials are advising drivers about a closure on U.S. Highway 421 in Winston-Salem. The northbound on-ramp from Peace Haven Road west to Lewisville will be shut-down through Wednesday. The closure will allow crews to work on a ramp that's part of the new bridge on Peace Haven. Drivers should expect delays.