North Carolina Sues Trump Administration Over Environmental Rollback
(Washington, DC) -- North Carolina is joining 21 other states in suing the Trump Administration over its proposal to kill the Clean Power Plan. The federal suit filed in Washington, DC this week claims the EPA is violating its duty to reduce power plant emissions by repealing the Obama-era rule that required cutting greenhouse gas emissions 35-percent by 2030. Former coal industry lobbyist and EPA chief Andrew Wheeler wants to replace that with a plan that reduces emissions only by about one-percent.
Ex-Buncombe Administrator Asks For No Prison Time In Bribery Scheme
(Asheville, NC) -- A former Buncombe County assistant manager is asking for no prison time in a bribery scheme. The attorney for Jon Creighton filed documents in court on Tuesday that point to the ways the former administrator helped federal agents in their investigation of a kickback scheme involving a contractor. Creighton, along with former county managers Wanda Greene and Mandy Stone have all pleaded guilty to corruption charges. His attorney is asking for a sentence of three years probation and 400 hours of community service. Sentencing is scheduled for August 28th.
Woman Charged After Allegedly Trying To Take Child
(Asheville, NC) -- A woman who allegedly tried to take a child in Asheville last week is facing charges. Witnesses told Asheville police that the suspect assaulted two parents as she tried taking away the child from the mother's arms in Pack Square Park. WLOS-TV is reporting she was charged for simple assault and assault on a child under 12. Kidnapping charges were not filed.
Former Firefighter Indicted For Burning Car
(Asheville, NC) -- A former Asheville firefighter is being charged for allegedly setting fire to a car earlier this year. The Citizen-Times says John Eldreth was indicted on August 5th. He's been accused of setting fire to a car owned by local activist and former city council candidate Jonathan Christopher Wainscott. The city fired him ten days after his arrest. Fire Chief Scott Burnette says Eldreth had searched how to make a Molotov cocktail on Google before the fire.
Advance Tickets On Sale For Mountain State Fair
(Fletcher, NC) -- Advance tickets are now available for the upcoming North Carolina Mountain State Fair. The annual event featuring rides, food and entertainment begins September 5th at the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher. Fair manager Matt Buchanan says you can save on the gate admission price and ride tickets by purchasing in advance. Tickets are on sale at area Ingles, the Ag Center and the Western North Carolina Farmers Market in Asheville.
Allegiant Adds Stop To West Palm Beach
(Asheville, NC) -- Asheville travelers will soon have a non-stop route to fly to West Palm Beach, Florida. Allegiant airlines announced yesterday that it will start flying there twice weekly beginning November 25th. The executive director of the airport authority says the same route was popular when it was offered a few years ago, and hopes it does well again. Tickets are available for as low as 54-dollars.
Homicide Suspect Still On Run, Kids Found Safe
(Charlotte, NC) -- Police are still looking for the man who allegedly killed a pregnant woman in southeast Charlotte Monday. Investigators say Edward Garner, Senior fled the scene with his two young children after Aiesha Summers was shot to death at the Tryon Park at Rivergate apartments. The two kids were found safe on Tuesday morning. The white Mercedes-Benz Garner was suspected of driving was abandoned at a home on Nations Ford Road. Summers was reportedly 24-weeks pregnant.
Police Respond To Shooting Call At Gastonia Restaurant
(Gastonia, NC) -- Gastonia police are investigating a shooting at a restaurant. Officers responded to the Buffalo Wild Wings just off exit 21 on I-85 last night. WSOC-TV says one person was rushed to the hospital after being shot. Gaston Mall Drive and Cox Road were completely shut down during the investigation.
Toxic Algae Found In Two Area Ponds
(Charlotte, NC) -- Toxic algae has been found in two area ponds. Water officials told WSOC-TV that a pond in Mooresville's Tall Oaks neighborhood and one at Robbins Park in Cornelius tested positive for a dangerous bacteria that's been linked to several dog deaths. Veterinarians believe three dogs died in Wilmington and one died in Georgia within the last week after coming into contact with a blue-green algae. A Charlotte stormwater services manager says the algae blooms are more likely to pop up in hot conditions and stagnant water.
Hickory Shooting Called Double Murder-Suicide
(Hickory, NC) -- A deadly shooting in Hickory is being considered a double murder-suicide. Hickory police say they believe David Covington killed his estranged wife and a second woman before turning the gun on himself at an apartment on 17th Avenue Monday night. A fourth injured victim ran away from the scene and was rushed to the hospital. Two children were home at the time and weren't harmed.
Price Of Lunch Increases In CMS
(Charlotte, NC) -- The price of lunch is going up at Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools. The school board approved a 50-cent hike on lunches at both elementary and secondary schools at last night's meeting. The prices take affect this school year. New superintendent Earnest Winston was also sworn in during the meeting.
Rowan Little League Team Playing For Softball Championship
(Portland, OR) -- The Rowan Little League team is playing for the world softball championship. The team, representing the Southeast, scored two runs in extra innings last night to defeat Oregon in the semifinal game. The Rowan girls are moving on to play Louisiana from the Southwest Region in the World Series championship game in Portland tonight. The Rowan team is undefeated this summer.
NCDOT To Lay Off Hundreds Of Workers
(Raleigh, NC) -- Hundreds of NC Department of Transportation workers are looking at layoffs. NCDOT said Tuesday it plans to lay off hundreds of temporary and contract workers to help cover the costs of repairing roads damaged by severe storms. The layoffs will include contractors who review highway plans, inspectors on construction sites, and laborers who patch potholes. There are no numbers yet but an NCDOT official told the News & Observer late Tuesday the department is looking at more than a thousand positions to determine which ones it can get by without temporarily.
Xerox Bringing Hundreds Of New Jobs To Cary
(Raleigh, NC) -- Xerox is bringing hundreds of high-paying jobs to Cary. Governor Roy Cooper announced Tuesday the print and digital document heavyweight will create 600 new jobs with an average salary of more than 112-thousand dollars a year. Many of those jobs will be in the tech arena and Xerox is talking with Wake Technical Community College to help develop a program to train people who can fill those positions.
Raleigh Puts Underground Trash Collection Experiment On Hold
(Raleigh, NC) -- The City of Raleigh is tossing out its underground trash collection experiment, at least for now. The six semi-buried garbage bins were installed at the intersection of Hargett and Wilmington streets to get trash and recycling carts off the street. The city's solid waste services director said Tuesday that people who live and own businesses near the bins have complained about how the bins look and smell. Director Stan Joseph said the city will stop using the bins on August 25th and consider other spots downtown.
Severe Storms Do Heavy Damage Across Region
(Undated) -- People all across the region are picking up and cleaning up after a system of severe storms did a lot of damage Tuesday evening. Powerful winds knocked down trees, and a lightning strike in Nashville is suspected of crashing a tree into a house in Nashville. Hundreds of lightning strikes were seen. Winds blew down power lines and left homes and businesses in the dark for hours.
WakeMed Cary Now Designated Trauma Center
(Cary, NC) -- WakeMed Cary Hospital is now the Triangle's fourth designated trauma center. On Tuesday, the state Office of Emergency Medical Services approved WakeMed Cary's designation as a Level Three trauma center. That means emergency medical physicians are at the hospital 24 hours a day and general surgeons and anesthesiologists are promptly available around the clock. WakeMed Cary officials say the designation comes after a years-long effort to develop a trauma program in western Wake County.
Thousands Lose Power During Storm
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- Severe weather is wreaking havoc across the Piedmont Triad. Thousands of Duke energy customers were left without power yesterday evening when the first storm blew threw. It knocked down dozens of trees -- one came crashing through a kitchen in Stokes County and another one fell on a pickup truck in Winston-Salem. No injuries were reported. Forecasters say another wave of storms is expected today.
Celebration Of Life Held For Winston-Salem Man
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- More than a thousand people are coming together to celebrate the life of Julius Sampson Junior. An event was held at the Union Baptist Church yesterday afternoon in honor of Sampson. He was shot and killed last week outside of BJ's Brewhouse restaurant near Hanes Mall. The NAACP [[ N-Double-A-C-P ]] is looking into whether the crime was racially-motivated.
Greensboro Woman Accused Of Running Illegal Daycare
(Greensboro, NC) -- A Greensboro woman is accused of running an illegal daycare out of her home. Shamyya Johnson was taken into custody last Wednesday. The Department of Health and Human Services denied her a license after 35 violations were found over a five-month period. Neighbors complained after still seeing children go in and out of her home.
Winston-Salem City Council To Vote On Fair Name Change
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- The Winston-Salem City Council will vote next week on whether the change the name of the Dixie Classic Fair. A committee decided yesterday to schedule a vote for next Monday. The name of the fair has come into question in recent months because some people associate "Dixie" with slavery in the south.
Joggers In Greensboro Shot With Pellets
(Greensboro, NC) -- Some joggers and walkers in Greensboro say they're being harassed. Reports have come in about a group of teens who've harassed the joggers or shot them with pellets. It's happening near Starmount Drive in what victims call a "quiet and peaceful" neighborhood. So far, no arrests have been made. Anyone with information is urged to call police.