Detours Begin on I-40 Westbound in Haywood County
I-40 Westbound will be shut down tonight at 6 p-m. For how long remains to be seen. A contractor will begin emergency bridge repairs in Pigeon River Gorge between mile markers 15 and 20. The closure could be necessary for the rest of the week. To get around the closure, drivers need to take I-240 west in Asheville, to I-26 west. Once in Tennessee, take I-81 south to I-40 west in Dandridge.
Convicted Contractor Reports To Prison
(Asheville, NC) -- A contractor at the center of a Buncombe County corruption scheme is now in prison. The Citizen-Times is reporting Joe Wiseman recently reported to a federal correctional complex in eastern North Carolina to begin a 37-month sentence. Wiseman was accused of bribing former county administrators with gifts in exchange for contracts. Everyone involved has reported to prison on corruption charges.
Johnson City Woman Wins National Gingerbread Competition In Asheville
(Asheville, NC) -- A Johnson City woman is the big winner from last night's 27th annual National Gingerbread House Competition in Asheville. More than 200 creations were on display at the Omni Grove Park Inn. Gail Johnson won the grand prize for a gingerbread house she calls "The Water Hole." All winning projects will remain on display from Sundays through Thursdays until January 4th.
Boil Water Advisory Coming Up For Parts Of Asheville
(Asheville, NC) -- The city of Asheville is preparing some residents about an upcoming boil water advisory. Crews will be working on waterlines at the North Fork Water Treatment plant beginning Friday. City officials say the lines are susceptible to failure during major flooding. A boil water advisory is tentatively planned for residents in the Laurel Ridge neighborhood near the North Fork Dam on Saturday and Sunday.
Duke Energy Campaigning Against Utility Scamming
(Charlotte, NC) -- Duke Energy is expanding a campaign to protect its customers from scams. The company has posted an interactive quiz and protection tips on its website, Duke-Dash-Energy-Dot-Com. It's part of an effort during the fourth annual Utility Scam Awareness Week. Duke Energy says its customers have lost over 300-thousand-dollars in utility scams so far this year, and two-million-dollars since 2015.
Man Shot In Polk County
(Columbus, NC) -- A shooting is being investigated in Polk County. Investigators told WLOS-TV that a man was shot at least once in his neck while in his backyard in the town of Columbus last night. The extent of his injuries isn't known.
New Cultural Center Opening In Henderson County
(Henderson County, NC) -- A cultural center is opening next year in Henderson County. Renovations are underway at the Jackson Park House in Jackson Park for the new Hola Cultural Center. The space represents a vision of educational, economic and cultural life in the region. It will be open to host community events like art exhibits and creative functions, with the ability to expand into an outdoor space. Hola Community Arts has a planned opening for the spring.
Changes In Epicentre
(Charlotte, NC) -- The Epicentre is undergoing changes in uptown. NBC Charlotte is reporting businesses that were once bars are being advertised as retail and office space up for lease. Councilman Larkin Egleston says there's been a desire for more retail in the area for a longtime, and it could probably create more foot traffic during the day. The emerging news comes just a few days after another violent night at the Epicentre, where one person was killed in an officer-involved shooting. Officials with the Epicentre aren't talking yet.
Panthers' Tepper Fed Up With Mediocrity
(Charlotte, NC) -- Panthers' owner David Tepper says he's fed up with the team's mediocrity. He held a Q-and-A on Monday, one day after Carolina fell to five-and-five on the year with a 29-three loss to Atlanta. Tepper said he won't make a decision on the future of Cam Newton with the Panthers until he knows if the quarterback can return to full health. He declined to comment on the job security of coach Ron Rivera and general manager Marty Hurney.
Juvenile Arrested For Arson At Youth Group Home
(Gastonia, NC) -- A juvenile is accused of setting a fire that tore through a youth group home in Gastonia. Four children and a social worker were able to escape safely when flames erupted at With Friends on Keith Drive early Sunday morning. Fire officials estimate the damage at around half-a-million-dollars, and now the home is in need of donations. The juvenile was arrested for arson on Sunday.
Iredell Murder Suspect Arrested
(Yadkin County, NC) -- A man accused of a Monday morning murder in Iredell County is in jail. Deputies began searching for 23-year-old Pierson Colbert after they found a man dead in a driveway in Union Grove. Colbert was arrested several hours later on I-77 north of Statesville. He was reportedly in a stolen truck.
Deputy Dismissed After Crashing Patrol SUV
(Caldwell County, NC) -- A Caldwell County deputy who wrecked his patrol SUV on Sunday is off the force. The North Carolina Highway Patrol says James Chester lost control while he was helping another deputy on Creekway Drive in Lenoir. The SUV hit four parked cars. The Caldwell County Sheriff's office says Chester is no longer employed there.
Charlotte Housing Authority Changes Names
(Charlotte, NC) -- The Charlotte Housing Authority has a new name. The authority's president told WSOC-TV yesterday that it will now be known as Inlivian [[ in-LIVE-ee-in ]], which is based off the word enliven. It was considered a better description for an agency that serves over 20-thousand residents facing financial insecurity. The group is planning to build one-thousand new affordable apartments over the next five years.
Feds Say UNC-Chapel Hill Violated Law Aimed At Keeping Students, Staff Safe
(Chapel Hill, NC) -- Federal investigators say, for years, UNC-Chapel Hill violated a federal law designed to keep students and staff safe on campus. The violations resulted in what the investigators' report called a systemic failure to provide students and employees with important campus crime information. This included not issuing timely warnings for ongoing threats and not complying with sexual assault prevention, response, and discipline standards. The U.S. Department of Education began investigating in 2013 and UNC released the findings Monday.
Violent Crime Up In Durham
(Durham, NC) -- Violent crime in Durham is up slightly this year. Police Chief C.J. Lewis told the City Council last night that violent crime was up 17-percent through September, compared to the first nine months of last year. Lewis said a 33-percent increase in murders and a 19-percent jump in aggravated assaults are driving the increase, while rapes fell and robberies are down to a three-year low. Davis said her office is working with the Durham County Sheriff's office to beef up the gang task force in response to a series of shootings in late October.
Wake Commissioners Approve $1-Million Grant To Take On Opioid Epidemic
(Raleigh, NC) -- Wake County Commissioners are giving a Raleigh agency a million-dollar grant to help fight the opioid epidemic. On Monday the commissioners approved the grant to Healing Transitions, which is trying to raise 12-million dollars to expand its men's and women's facilities. The expansion will add 110 beds for men and 90 more for women, increasing total capacity to 500. Healing Transitions provides long-term addiction treatment and offers a place for people to stay overnight, particularly during extreme weather.
Wake County Firearms Instructor Accidentally Shoots Himself
(Raleigh, NC) -- A Wake County firearms instructor is recovering after he accidentally shot himself. The Wake County Sheriff's office in Raleigh says the civilian instructor shot himself in the leg while holstering his handgun. It happened at the county's Firearms Training Center on Sunday. The instructor was taken to WakeMed in Cary and the sheriff's office says no charges will be filed against him.
Duke Hoops New #1 In Top-25 Coaches' Poll
(Durham, NC) -- Duke is on top of the latest men's college basketball rankings. The Blue Devils jumped three spots to number-one in this week's Top-25 Coaches' Poll. Duke's 4-and-0 start includes a two-point win over Kansas in the season opener. The Blue Devils travel to Berkeley on Thursday to take on California.
UPDATE: Last Of Suspects Arrested In Sweepstakes Robbery
(Eden, NC) -- All four suspects wanted in connection with an armed robbery at a sweepstakes business in Eden are now under arrest. Jordan Turner turned himself into police on Sunday, and James Flood was caught and arrested that same day. The robbery happened late Saturday night at the Vault on East Meadow Road. Darehyon Rucker and Yalieq Brown were already in custody.
Chicago Fugitive Under Arrest In Alleghany Co.
(Sparta, NC) -- A fugitive wanted for attempted murder in Chicago is under arrest in Alleghany County. Jheisson [[ Jhei-SON ]] Galacia-Vasque was found Friday at an apartment in Sparta and arrested. He's facing charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery. Galacia-Vasque is being held without bail while he awaits extradition back to Chicago.
Police Warn Of Armed And Dangerous Man In Iredell Co.
(Iredell Co., NC) -- Iredell County sheriff's officials are warning the public about a armed and dangerous man. Twenty-three-year-old Pierson Colbert is wanted on suspicion of murder. Sheriff's officials say he shot and killed someone in north Iredell County yesterday morning. He's described as white and about five-feet, ten-inches tall. Colbert could be driving an older-model Nissan Sentra or an older-model GMC Sonoma Truck. If anyone comes across this guy, they're asked to stay away and call 9-1-1.
Early College At Guilford No. 1 In Southeast
(Greensboro, NC) -- Early College at Guilford is one of the top ten STEM high schools in the nation. According to a recent Newsweek list, Early College at Guilford is considered the best in North Carolina and in the southeast. It's ranked 7th in the country. The list looked at more than 20-thousand high schools throughout the U.S.
Triad Food Hall To Open Next Summer
(High Point, NC) -- Local vendors are coming together for the Triad's first food hall. Stock + Grain Assembly will open next summer at The Outfields development in High Point. It's currently accepting vendor proposals. The marketplace, located near the Rockers stadium, will feature ten vendors, seating and an outdoor space.