Dorian Weakens To Cat 1
(Undated) -- Hurricane Dorian is weakening to a Category 1 storm as it brings heavy rain and high winds to Eastern North Carolina. The National Hurricane Center reports the storm now has maximum sustained winds of 90 miles per hour. The center of the storm is about 40 miles east-northeast of Wilmington. Tropical storm conditions are spreading northward as the storm moves northeast at 15 miles per hour.
Hurricane Dorian Brings Flooding, Damage, Power Outages To Triangle
(Raleigh, NC) -- People across the Triangle will be cleaning up today after Hurricane Dorian brought heavy rains, high winds, flooding, and power outages to the region. More than seven-thousand homes, schools, and businesses in Wake and Johnston counties lost power overnight. Winds snapped and knocked down trees in Five Points and Wake Forest. Possible tornadoes were reported in Wayne and Wilson counties.
Schools Closed, Delayed Friday Due To Hurricane Dorian
(Undated) -- School districts throughout Central North Carolina are canceling and delaying classes today because of the effects of Hurricane Dorian. Schools are closed in the following counties: Wake, Johnston, Cumberland, Franklin, Harnett, Wayne, Wilson, Hoke, Robeson, Sampson, Halifax, Hoke and Nash-Rocky Mount. Classes will be on a two-hour delay in Durham, Chapel Hill-Carrboro, Orange, Granville, and Chatham counties. College classes are canceled today at Barton College, Fayetteville State, Methodist, University of Mount Olive, Johnston Community College, while classes will begin at noon at North Carolina Wesleyan's main campus in Rock Mount.
Second Hurricane Dorian Death Reported
(Wilmington, NC) -- A second Hurricane Dorian-related death is being reported in North Carolina. Authorities in Pamlico County say a man had a heart attack and died while pulling his boat out of the water to prepare for the storm. Earlier this week, an 85-year-old man died after falling off a ladder while fortifying his home ahead of Dorian's arrival. The storm is pounding the state with heavy rain, wind and storm surge.
Hurricane Dorian Spawns Tornado
(Emerald Isle, NC) -- North Carolina residents are feeling the effects of Hurricane Dorian as a tornado ripped through as a result of the storm. The twister touched down in Emerald Isle yesterday morning in a park populated with RVs and mobile homes. More than half of the homes appeared to be destroyed or heavily damaged. No one was hurt.
Mountain State Fair Opens Today
(Fletcher, NC) -- The annual North Carolina Mountain State Fair begins its ten-day run today in Fletcher. The rides are set up, while the food, entertainment, livestock shows and more are ready to go at the Western North Carolina Ag Center. The fair usually brings in an average crowd of 170-thousand people. Opening weekend is expected to be sunny and warm.
WCU Dorm Named After First Black Student
(Cullowhee, NC) -- Western Carolina University's newest dorm is now named after the school's first black student. A dedication ceremony was held in Cullowhee for the Levern Hamlin Allen Residence Hall, which opened last month to 600 students. University officials say Allen was on campus for two days of activities centered around the dedication this week. She attended the school in the late 1950s.
Asheville Planning Commission Votes Against Proposed Restaurant
(Asheville, NC) -- Asheville's Planning and Zoning Commission is against a restaurant proposed on Riverside Drive along the French Broad River. Two businessmen are looking to build a seafood restaurant called Jettie Rae's Fish n' Such. Commission chair Laura Hudson says she likes the proposal's community-focused design, but has concerns it would disrupt the continuity of green space in that area. The commission voted against the project by a vote of four-three.
Marshall Under Boil Water Advisory
(Madison County, NC) -- Residents in a Madison County town are under a boil water advisory. Town officials in Marshall say E. coli was discovered in a ground water source on Wednesday. They're now treating the problem and hope to be back to normal by the weekend. Madison County Schools are closed today due to the problem.
Ninth District Candidates Want Early Voting Extended
(Charlotte, NC) -- Two ninth district congressional candidates are asking the board of elections to extend early voting due to the hurricane. Republican Dan Bishop is requesting an extension into Saturday, while Democrat Dan McCready is urging for the early voting period to last until Monday. Early voting for next Tuesday's election is expected to wrap up today, if nothing changes. Libertarian Jeff Scott and the Green Party's Allen Smith are also in the race.
Grammy Winner Dies In York County Accident
(York County, SC) -- A Grammy-winning songwriter is one of two victims in a deadly York County wreck. Troopers say a Kings Mountain woman drove her truck head-on into a van driven by Lashawn Daniels on Highway Five Tuesday night. Both Daniels and the woman died at the scene. Daniels helped write songs for artists ranging from Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson to Beyonce.
Gusty Winds Die Down Today In Charlotte
(Charlotte, NC) -- Gusts from Hurricane Dorian are gradually diminishing today in Queen City. The Charlotte Observer is reporting the largest gust yesterday was 34-miles-an-hour, which registered at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. It was a little more intense in Union County. Gusts could reach up to around 20-miles-an-hour for the area today, with skies clearing up and temperatures reaching the 90s for the weekend.
Suspect Accused Of Stabbing A Man Just Trying To Help
(Mint Hill, NC) -- A suspect is in jail for allegedly stabbing a man who came to his aid. Police told WSOC-TV the victim came to help Brian Robinson after spotting his car on the side of Thompson Road in Mint Hill Wednesday afternoon. Robinson reportedly stabbed the man and was arrested soon after for assault with a deadly weapon. The victim was said to be in the hospital with serious injuries.
Greensboro First Responders Head To East Coast
(Greensboro, NC) -- First responders from Greensboro are on the East Coast, ready to help the victims of Hurricane Dorian. The Greensboro Fire Department arrived in Plymouth yesterday. Forty-two firefighters left for the east coast and could be there for up to two weeks.
Greensboro Man Accused Of Kidnapping, Rape, Robbery
(Greensboro, NC) -- A Greensboro man is facing kidnapping, rape and robbery charges. Roderick Thacker was arrested Wednesday afternoon. He's being held in the Guilford County Jail on a 500-thousand-dollar bond. Details involving Thacker's arrest were not released.
Orange County Woman Charged With Murder In 'Self-Defense' Shooting Of Husband
(Hillsborough, NC) -- An Orange County woman who said she shot her husband in self-defense is now charged with first-degree murder. Teresa Mosser surrendered to police Thursday. The 59-year-old Mosser called 911 in late April and said she shot at her husband before running into another room but didn't know if she hit him. She was charged Wednesday after a four-month investigation and is free on 50-thousand dollars bond.
Hopscotch Music Festival Opens This Evening
(Raleigh, NC) -- Hurricane Dorian isn't washing out the Hopscotch Music Festival. The first act takes the stage in downtown Raleigh's City Plaza early this evening. Organizers of the 10th annual festival built the stage Thursday and they'll add the sound system and design elements this morning. Organizers told The News & Observer that as long as sustained winds stay below 25 miles an hour, the show will go on.