City Council Passes One Year Moratorium On New Hotel Construction
(Asheville, NC) -- The Asheville City Council has approved a one-year moratorium on all new hotel construction. The vote followed a public hearing Tuesday night at the U.S. Cellular Center. Citing a recent spike in requests for building permits, the Council said it would use the time to develop new strategies and policies to guard against over-development. The Council also heard public comments on a resolution that would return the city's governing board to at-large elections.
Volunteer Work To Get More Students Registered To Vote
(Durham, NC) -- Several advocacy groups converged on college campuses around the Triangle Tuesday in an effort to get more eligible students registered to vote. It was all part of National Voter Registration Day, which is celebrated on the fourth Tuesday of every September. Volunteers from Siembra NC pointed out that there are an estimated 40-thousand Latinos in the Durham area who are eligible to vote, but only nine-thousand are registered.
Thousands Of Tech Job Openings In North Carolina
(Raleigh, NC) -- Thousands of tech jobs are once again available in North Carolina. A new report released by the North Carolina Technology Association says to date, there are over 13-thousand tech job openings in the Triangle alone, and over 10-thousand in the Charlotte metro area. The organization says the new numbers represent about a seven-percent increase in tech job availability in North Carolina over last year.
Three North Carolina Prisons To Close Because Of Low Staffing
(Raleigh, NC) -- State prison officials have announced that, because of staffing shortages, three minimum security prisons in North Carolina will have to be closed.
In a statement released by the North Carolina Department of Corrections, the agency said the Hoke Correctional Institution in Raeford, the Tyrell Prison Work Farm in Columbia and the Odum Correctional Institution in Jackson will be closed in the coming weeks.
Kidnapping, High Speed Chase Suspect May Have Committed Suicide
(Zebulon, NC) -- Authorities say a kidnapping suspect who led police on a high speed chase Tuesday morning on U.S. Highway 264, is now believed to have committed suicide. Zebulon police say that while the case is being investigated as an officer-involved shooting, 23-year-old Hugo Yaret Corets-Ramirez likely killed himself. Investigators say the suspect's body was found in a wooded area with a pistol in his hand.
Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak In Western North Carolina
(Fletcher, NC) -- The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has launched an investigation into reports of Legionnaires' disease. The report, released Tuesday, said there have been multiple cases confirmed in people who attended the Mountain State Fair in Fletcher September 6th-15th. One Buncombe County Health official said there have been nine cases of Legionnaires' disease reported since last week. One person has died.
Man Arrested For Fatal Stabbing In Uptown Charlotte
(Charlotte, NC) -- A murder charge is being filed in connection to a deadly stabbing in uptown Charlotte. Police say they found Mark Daniel Jamison with stab wounds on North Smith Street on Monday night, and that he was pronounced dead at the scene. They believe Jamison was involved in a fight before the stabbing happened. Yesterday morning, authorities identified a suspect as Marcus Bradley. Both men were listed as homeless.
Man Arrested For Alleged Abduction Attempt In Steele Creek
(Charlotte, NC) -- The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is announcing an arrest of a suspect in an attempted child abduction case. Hector Martinez has been taken into custody for the reported attempted kidnapping yesterday morning in Steele Creek, according to the police department. Reports indicate the suspect tried to get a nine-year-old boy who was going to a bus stop.
Police Use Of Ring Doorbells Questioned
(Charlotte, NC) -- The Charlotte City Council is going to look into the use of doorbell cameras by police. The Charlotte Observer reports a city resident raised concern about law enforcement's use of the Ring doorbell from Amazon at Monday's City Council meeting, and that council members want to debate the issue of privacy surrounding the usage. A few other police departments in the region, including Cornelius and Mint Hill, have signed agreements with Ring, which allows police to watch recorded video from doorbells if the homeowner gives permission.
Billy Joel Concert Happening In 2020 At BoA Stadium
(Charlotte, NC) -- It sounds like the Carolina Panthers are changing their tune concerning concerts at Bank of America Stadium. It was announced on Tuesday that Billy Joel is coming to the stadium for a concert on April 18th, 2020. It's the first concert at BoA since 2012, and officials say more concerts will be added to the schedule. New Panthers owner David Tepper has said he wanted more events at the stadium besides football.
Bus Crashes Into School In Concord
(Concord, NC) -- A school bus crashed into a building on Monday in Concord. The bus was reportedly parked on a hill when it rolled down a driveway and crashed into the school of Concord First Assembly. There was no one in the bus or the school at the time. Classes were canceled for high school students on Tuesday.
Legionnaire's Disease Outbreak Being Investigated
(Fletcher, NC) -- Officials are looking into multiple cases of Legionnaire's disease, possibly linked to the NC Mountain State Fair in Fletcher. The fair ran from September 6th to the 15th. Anyone who went to the fair and is experiencing symptoms of pneumonia is being urged to see a doctor immediately. As of yesterday, there were nine confirmed cases in Buncombe County.
UNC Board Chairman Smith Resigning
(Chapel Hill, NC) -- The chairman of the UNC Board of Governors is resigning. Harry Smith said Tuesday he'll step down as chairman on October 1st but will continue serving on the board. Smith told the News & Observer yesterday he doesn't have the energy to lead anymore and needs to devote more time to his businesses. The developer and entrepreneur from Greenville has served on the UNC Board of Governors since 2013 and was named chairman May of 2018.
North Carolina Joins Suit Against Trump Administration Over California Emissions Standards
(Raleigh, NC) -- North Carolina is joining California and 22 other states in a lawsuit against the Trump administration over stopping California from setting its own vehicle emissions standards. The administration last week revoked a waiver allowing California to impose greenhouse gas emissions requirements that are tougher than federal standards. Attorney General Josh Stein's office said in an email Tuesday that North Carolina is joining the suit to support states' authority to fight climate change and protect public health.
Tech Openings Surge Across State, 13,000 In Triangle
(Raleigh, NC) -- Tech job openings are surging again across the state, and the Triangle is a real hot spot. The North Carolina Technology Association and talent resources firm Greene Resources report companies listed more than 28-thousand tech job opening in August, including 13-thousand in the Triangle. That's a seven-percent increase over August of 2018. It also reverses a four-month decline in tech jobs.
Durham Man Arrested After 100 MPH Chase Ends In Crash
(Wake County, NC) -- A 22-year-old Durham man is in custody after leading a Nash County deputy on a 100-mile-an-hour chase that ended in a crash. The chase last night started when the deputy tried to pull over a car that didn't move for an emergency vehicle on I-95. The car headed west on U.S. 64 into Wake County where the driver lost control and crashed into the median. Raleigh police say a large amount of cocaine was found in the car that was reported stolen in a carjacking earlier this month.
Canes Trade Justin Faulk To Blues For Draft Pick, 2 Players
(Raleigh, NC) -- The Hurricanes are trading defenseman Justin Faulk to the St. Louis Blues for two players and a draft pick. Carolina announced Tuesday it's getting defenseman Joel Edmundson, forward Dominik Bokk, and the Blues seventh-round pick in the 2021 draft. Canes President and General Manager Don Waddell called Edmundson "a big, physical presence on defense" and said Bokk was a first-round pick with a real chance to be an impact player. Along with Faulk, the Canes are sending St. Louis a fifth-round selection in the 2020 Draft.
Winston-Salem Woman Facing Assault Charges
(Davidson Co., NC) -- A Winston-Salem woman is accused of trying to strangle a child with a seat belt. Vanessa Fitzgerald was arrested over the weekend. Davidson County deputies say she scratched the 13-year-old child and tried to choke them with a seat belt. She's charged with assault by strangulation and simple assault.
Man Charged After Student Brings Gun To School
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- A Winston-Salem student is accused of bringing a gun to school. Police say the 17-year-old student had a gun in his backpack at North Forsyth High School last Friday. He was charged with possession of a firearm on school property. A man, who police believe the teen got the weapon from, was cited for failure to secure a firearm.
Five Cases Of Mumps Confirmed In Guilford Co.
(High Point, NC) -- Guilford County health officials are confirming five cases of mumps at High Point University. HPU says it's taking precautionary measures to help stop the infection from spreading. The university sent out a letter to students and staff, warning them of the possible outbreak.
Employee Critically Injured In Greensboro Motel Robbery
(Greensboro, NC) -- A motel employee is in critical condition after a robbery in Greensboro. It happened yesterday morning at the Rodeway Inn and Suites on Cedar Park Road. Police say the worker was found badly hurt and was rushed to a local hospital. They have not identified a possible suspect.