Duke Energy Wants Rate Hike, Legionnaire's Cases Up, Murder Suspect Caught

Duke Energy Proposes Rate Increase

(Raleigh, NC) -- Duke Energy is requesting a rate increase on power bills in North Carolina. The company submitted a plan to the state's Utilities Commission yesterday that would raise the average residential customer's bill just over eight-dollars-a-month. The proposal is expected to bring in 291-million-dollars to pay for costs to use cleaner energy, hurricane recovery and coal ash clean-up. Duke Energy asked the commission to make a decision by next August.

Former Commissioner Accused Of Unauthorized Spending

(Buncombe County, NC) -- A former Buncombe County commissioner is facing another allegation of unauthorized spending. U.S. attorneys filed a claim on Friday that Ellen Frost and former county manager Wanda Greene signed off to spend 20-thousand-dollars on a local high school project without a full commission vote. Frost's attorney told WLOS-TV that she was just helping out local constituents, not committing a crime. The 64-year-old was indicted in July on accusations that she schemed with Greene to use over 575-thousand-dollars for equestrian events.

Health Officials Taking Survey Connected To Legionnaires' Outbreak

(Fletcher, NC) -- Public health officials are conducting a survey of people who attended the Mountain State Fair in Fletcher as they investigate a large outbreak of Legionnaires' disease. Henderson County posted a link to the survey on its government website yesterday. The number of cases of the respiratory illness is now reaching close to 100, including one death in Buncombe County. Legionella bacteria is usually spread through human-made building water systems like cooling towers and hot tubs.

Suspect Accused Of Taking Rent Money For Non-Existent Apartment

(Hendersonville, NC) -- A Hendersonville man is accused of renting out a non-existent apartment and scamming the elderly. The Citizen-Times is reporting Devontae Gaines took more than 25-hundred-dollars from a Texas man in May to rent out a place in Asheville that was never there. He also allegedly took 15-hundred-dollars from an elderly woman to clean mold at her home, but never did the job. Gaines served time in prison recently for common law robbery.

Escaped Ohio Inmates Caught In North Carolina

(Cary, North Carolina) -- Four inmates who escaped an Ohio jail are behind bars in North Carolina. Investigators say the group overpowered two corrections officer early Sunday in southern Ohio. Three of the inmates spent a little more than 24 hours on the run until they hit the state of North Carolina. They were arrested at a motel in Cary early Monday, while the fourth inmate was found in Durham a few hours later.

Farm Burger Raising Money For Amazon Rainforest

(Asheville, NC) -- A restaurant chain in western North Carolina is collecting donations to help conservation in the Amazon rainforest. The folks at Farm Burger will give customers a five-dollar credit at checkout for every five-dollar donation you make this month. Fire has been burning at a record rate in the rainforest this year. Farm Burger's general manager in Asheville told WLOS-TV that it's devastating and they want to help as much as possible.

Bystander Shot In Uptown Near Fire

(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is investigating a shooting that injured a bystander just a block from the scene of a fire in uptown. Gunfire rang out as two people were reportedly fighting at Trade and College streets Monday afternoon. Emergency personnel were able to respond quickly, as crews were nearby battling the fire. A bullet struck an innocent bystander, who was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries. One suspect was arrested.

High Rise Evacuated In Fire

(Charlotte, NC) -- Everyone is safe after a fire caused the evacuation of a high-rise in Charlotte yesterday. Fire officials say smoke was pouring from a vent at Rooster's Wood-Fired Kitchen at One Bank of America Plaza. The fire eventually reached the second-floor of the building, which forced everyone out onto the streets as more than 60 firefighters responded. The extent of the damage and the cause are currently being investigated.

Suspect Arrested For Murder In NW Charlotte

(Charlotte, NC) -- A suspect is facing charges for a murder in northwest Charlotte. A 51-year-old woman was found dead outside a home on Fagan Way after an alleged argument on September 19th. The CMPD said yesterday that 32-year-old Samantha Williams was taken to jail for murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Witnesses reported hearing gunfire, but investigators haven't released a cause of death.

Manufacturer To Lay Off 900 In Charlotte Region

(Mount Holly, NC) -- A Freightliner truck manufacturer is planning to lay off around 900 employees in the Charlotte region. WSOC-TV is reporting the move will affect plants for Daimler Trucks North America in Mount Holly and Cleveland this month. The company is reportedly adjusting its workforce to reflect lower demand. The decision ironically comes after a year of record sales in the North American truck market.

Allen Expected To Start Again At QB

(Charlotte, NC) -- Kyle Allen is expected to start as quarterback again for the Panthers. Carolina head coach Ron Rivera said Monday that the plan is to play Allen again when Jacksonville comes to Bank of America Stadium Sunday as Cam Newton continues his recovery from a foot injury. The Panthers have won both games started by Allen this season, although he's fumbled the ball five times. It's speculated Newton could miss at least a month.

New Downtown Raleigh Parking Rates Begin Today

(Raleigh, NC) -- Raleigh is changing parking rates downtown in an effort to get more drivers to use parking decks. Starting today, the rate drops from two dollars to a dollar-50 an hour for the first four hours at seven of the nine city-owned decks. The move to reduce on-street parking will also include higher rates for metered spaces. Later this month, the rates will begin going up by 25 cents an hour, starting along Hillsborough Street near the NC-State campus.

Chapel Hill Police Arrest UNC Campus Rape Suspect

(Chapel Hill, NC) -- A man accused of raping a woman on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus is under arrest. Chapel Hill police arrested Vernon Lamont Reed on Monday. The 46-year-old Chapel Hill man is accused of raping, assaulting, and kidnapping a woman in the parking deck of Shortbread Lofts on September 13th. He's being held in the Orange County Jail under half-a-million dollars bond and will make his first court appearance today.

Kohl's Hiring Hundreds For Triangle Holiday Shopping Season

(Raleigh, NC) -- Kohl's is looking to hire hundreds of seasonal workers for the Triangle's holiday season. The company holds its first-ever national hiring event this coming Saturday. Kohl's plans to hire more than 800 seasonal workers in the Triangle. People looking for work can use the store locater on Kohl's website to find stores in this area and get information on available positions.

Uber Driver Accused Of Kidnapping, Assaulting Passenger

(Kernersville, NC) -- An Uber driver is accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a passenger in Kernersville. The alleged attack happened in late June. Police say Tarik Aitouali picked up the female passenger, drove her to an unknown location and assaulted her. He was arrested this past Friday on suspicion of second-degree kidnapping and forcible sex offense. Aitouali is being held in the Forsyth County Jail on a 150-thousand-dollar bond.

Poor People's Campaign Comes To Greensboro

(Greensboro, NC) -- The Poor People's Campaign is shedding some light on poverty and racism in the Piedmont Triad. Folks marched yesterday from the corner of East Bragg Street and Martin Luther King Junior Drive to Shiloh Baptist Church where a community meeting was held. The event was part of a 25-state tour leading up to the Poor People's Assembly and March in Washington D.C. next summer.

Winston-Salem/Forsyth Co. Superintendent Needs Parents' Help

(Winston-Salem, NC) -- Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Superintendent Angela Hairston is pleading with parents to talk to their kids about weapons. Hairston sent a message to parents yesterday, asking them to remind their kids that weapons of any kind are not allowed on campus. The plea comes after multiple toy, airsoft and BB guns were found on school property during the first month of school.


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