Another WNC Fair Taking Precautions Against Legionnaires
(Cherokee, NC) -- Organizers at the Cherokee Indian Fair aren't taking any chances when it comes to Legionnaires' disease. None of the vendors set up this week are using water features, while attendees are prohibited from bringing in misting bottles. The precautions come after more than 130 people who attended the Mountain State Fair in Fletcher last month were diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease. Health officials say they believe the bacteria was spread from a hot tub display.
More Details In Case Of Man Set On Fire
(Asheville, NC) -- More details are coming out in connection to the death of a man who was set on fire in Asheville. Investigators say it appears 58-year-old Larry Alston was doused in an accelerant and set on fire along Tunnel Road in August. The Citizen-Times is reporting a search warrant issued this week reveals the suspect filled up a two-liter bottle with two-dollars'-worth of gasoline at a nearby gas station. Robert Austin has been in jail for first-degree murder since his arrest a few days later.
Asheville Woman Claims She Was Fired Over Sexual Orientation
(Asheville, NC) -- An Asheville woman is claiming she was fired this year over her sexual orientation. She told WLOS-TV that she was tormented by two managers for several months after attending a pride festival. The allegations come as the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments yesterday on whether the Civil Rights Act protects gay and transgender workers from workplace discrimination and termination. The state of North Carolina has no laws that prohibit sexual orientation discrimination in the workplace.
New Buncombe County Restaurant Causing Traffic Back-ups
(Arden, NC) -- A new fast food restaurant is causing a stir in Buncombe County. WLOS-TV is reporting a constant lines of cars has been backed up on Airport Road in Arden trying to make it to a Popeyes that opened earlier this week. As many as 30 cars have clogged the road during peak meal hours. Popeyes ran out of a newly-released chicken sandwich in August which created a nationwide stir.
Asheville Man Sentenced For Child Sex Crimes
(Asheville, NC) -- An Asheville man is heading to prison for trying to meet up with a child for sex. The Justice Department said Tuesday that Jonathan Alexander was sentenced to ten-years and will be under supervised release for the rest of his life. Alexander was arrested in 2017 after he tried meeting up with a 14-year-old girl at a Hendersonville restaurant. The teen ended up being an undercover Homeland Security Agent.
Plans On Hold For Madison County Retreat Center
(Madison County, NC) -- Plans for a retreat center in Madison County are being tabled. The Citizen-Times says the School for Wholeness and Awareness pulled its special use permit application over concerns brought up by neighbors in a September planning board meeting. The school was seeking to build a facility on 300 acres in Brush Creek. The non-profit will have to file a new permit if it intends to move forward with the project.
City Checking Legality Of Police Chief's Retirement Plan
(Charlotte, NC) -- The city of Charlotte is looking to make sure CMPD Police Chief Kerr Putney's retirement plans are following the law. Word broke on Monday that Putney is stepping down on January 1st, but will be re-hired in March to serve until the end of the Republican National Convention. A city press conference scheduled for today concerning Putney's retirement was canceled as officials await clarification on the legality. The city said in a statement yesterday that the state statute doesn't prohibit hiring back a retiree.
Police Seek Deadly Hit-And-Run Suspect In Caldwell County
(Caldwell County, NC) -- The suspect accused in a deadly hit-and-run in Caldwell County is at-large. Police in Lenoir say 36-year-old Kenneth Davis drove his car head-on into another car on Fairview Drive Monday night. Davis ran away from the scene on foot, and hasn't been seen since. The wreck killed a 25-year-old mother.
Peeping Toms Caught On Camera In Two Nights
(Charlotte, NC) -- A south Charlotte neighborhood is keeping a close eye out on suspected peeping toms. The homeowners association president of Thuringer Court told WBTV that two different men where caught peering into one home on consecutive nights recently. Both instances were captured on a security camera. The CMPD said yesterday they haven't identified the suspects.
Allen To Start For Panthers In London
(Charlotte, NC) -- Quarterback Kyle Allen is expected to make his fourth straight start in the absence of Cam Newton this Sunday. The Panthers are traveling to London to take on Tampa Bay. Coach Ron Rivera says Newton won't make the trip overseas as he continues rehab on an injured foot. Carolina has won all three games Allen started during Newton's injury.
CMPD Investigates Two Shootings
(Charlotte, NC) -- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police are investigating two Tuesday night shootings. One person was taken to Atrium CMC after suffering a gunshot wound on Lake Drive in East Charlotte just before 8 p.m. A second victim was shot on Julia Avenue north of uptown less than an hour later. There's no word on any arrests.
Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem To Square Off In Matthews Race
(Matthews, NC) -- The race for mayor in Matthews is coming down to the incumbent and the Mayor Pro Tem. Mayor Paul Bailey came out on top with nearly 55-percent of the vote in yesterday's primary election. Mayor Pro Tem John Higdon followed with almost 42-percent, while a third candidate, Jason Majewski, bowed out with three-and-a-half percent. Higdon and Bailey will face off in the November general election.
Raleigh Mayoral Candidates Headed For Runoff Election
(Raleigh, NC) -- Last night's race for Raleigh mayor is too close to call. Mary-Ann Baldwin and Charles Francis will go head-to-head in a runoff election. With 100-percent of precincts reporting, Baldwin had about 38 percent of the vote, and Francis had roughly 31 percent.
Cary Bonds Pass, Weinbrecht Wins Mayoral Election
(Cary, NC) -- Harold Weinbrecht will return as the mayor of Cary. Weinbrecht won in a landslide during last night's city elections. Bonds for parks and recreation facilities in Cary, as well as transportation, also passed. In Rocky Mount, Sandy Roberson won the race for mayor. Incumbent Mayor Eddie Ellington was in the lead in Henderson
Man Charged In Death Of Teenage Basketball Star In Raleigh
(Raleigh, NC) -- Raleigh police are announcing an arrest in the death of a teenage basketball star. Roland Lacure is behind bars on suspicion of murder. He's accused of shooting 18-year-old Desmond Jenkins near the teen's home last August. Jenkins was a former star basketball player at Sanderson High School and was set to continue his career at Vance-Granville Community College.
BCBS CEO Found Guilty Of DWI, Child Abuse
(Asheboro, NC) -- The CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is found guilty of driving drunk with his two young daughters in the car. Patrick Conway of Raleigh appeared in a Randolph County courtroom yesterday to answer to DWI and child abuse charges in connection with a car crash back in June. Although he was found guilty, he will not face any prison time. Conway is also able to keep his job with the insurance company.
HPU Offers MMR Vaccines
(High Point, NC) -- High Point University is offering free MMR vaccines in an effort to stop mumps from spreading on campus. HPU and the Guilford County Health Department have confirmed nearly a dozen cases of the contagious infection in recent weeks. The vaccine clinics will be held today through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Slane Student Center or the Cottrell Hall Kushner Ballroom. No appointment is needed.
Dozens Of Weapons Vanish From Home That Caught Fire
(Randolph Co., NC) -- An investigation is underway in Randolph County where dozens of weapons vanished from a home before it caught fire. Sheriff's officials say 16 rifles, a shotgun and six pistols were stolen from the home on Hanner Hill Road before the fire on September 29th. Investigators are not sure how it started. The case has been handed over to the sheriff's office.
BCBS CEO Found Guilty Of DWI, Child Abuse
(Asheboro, NC) -- The CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is found guilty of driving drunk with his two young daughters in the car in Archdale. Patrick Conway appeared in a Randolph County courtroom yesterday to answer to DWI and child abuse charges in connection with a car crash back in June. Although he was found guilty, he will not face any prison time. Conway is also able to keep his job with the insurance company.
Statesville City Officials To Allow Large American Flag
(Statesville, NC) -- The battle over a giant American flag in North Carolina appears to be over. The city of Statesville fined Gander RV for flying a 40-foot-by-80-foot flag next to I-77, which was well above the local ordinance. The City Council approved an amendment to the ordinance this week to allow the flag to be flown legally. The mayor says Gander RV has agreed to pay more than 16-thousand dollars for violations and legal fees.