Fire Burns Over 100 Acres At Cold Mountain
(Haywood County, NC) -- A portion of the Pisgah National Forest is closed due to fire. Forest service crews and some local agencies started battling a blaze on Cold Mountain south of Canton early Thursday. Last word was that the fire spread to over 100 acres. At least 50 miles of hiking trails in the area are closed. Investigators are looking into what caused the blaze to start.
New State Maps Alter Buncombe Commission Districts
(Buncombe County, NC) -- Districts in Buncombe County look a bit different in newly drawn state maps. Lawmakers just approved new state legislative district maps, which share the lines of Buncombe's county commission districts. The new lines mean some current commissioners will be thrown into new districts, which will be decided in 2020. Voters affected by the changes are expected to receive mailers with the new information. Buncombe County is now basically broken down into districts of equal-thirds in size.
Bridge Work Complete In I-40 In Haywood County
(Haywood County, NC) -- Interstate 40 westbound in Haywood County is back open. The DOT blocked off a section between miles 15 and 20 for three days this week. Bridge repairs at Jonathan Creek wrapped up yesterday. A DOT engineer says they were happy it took less than the five-day estimate for the project.
Asheville Kidnapping Suspect Found
(Asheville, NC) -- Asheville police say a kidnapping suspect has been found. Shannon Adams was indicted for allegedly trying to take a one-year-old at Pack Square Park in early August. She was also wanted for failing to appear in court and violating a protection order. WLOS-TV reported yesterday Adams had been located by police.
Suspect Caught With Two Pounds Of Meth
(Polk County, NC) -- A suspect is facing charges in a meth bust in Polk County. Deputies searched a disabled SUV at Silver Creek Road and Bishop Lane on Thursday morning. They allegedly found two pounds of meth valued at just under 44-thousand-dollars. A 24-year-old Cabarrus County man was arrested for felony possession and trafficking charges.
Winter Lights Twinkle Tonight At Arboretum
(Asheville, NC) -- Holiday lights are back at the North Carolina Arboretum outside of Asheville. The sixth annual Winter Lights holiday show opens tonight for a run through January 4th. The Arboretum's marketing director told WLOS-TV it takes a year's worth of planning and up to three months to install the half-million lights. It's their largest fundraiser of the year.
Suspended Chester County Sheriff Facing More Charges
(Chester, SC) -- Chester County's suspended sheriff is facing new federal charges. Indictments released yesterday reveal that Alex Underwood has been accused of using county money for personal trips and ordering deputies to complete manual labor on his property. Underwood allegedly conspired with a former lieutenant and former chief deputy to intimidate others. The governor suspended Underwood in May after he was indicted for helping covering up an unlawful arrest.
Student Group Seeks Removal of UNCC Security Head
(Charlotte, NC) -- Close to 200 students at UNC Charlotte want the school's head of security fired. John Bogdan has served as the associate vice chancellor for safety and security since the beginning of the year, following a stint as commander of the Guantanamo prison camp. Attorneys for the prisoners previously accused Bogdan of harassment and for bugging their rooms. A student group called the Coalition to Remove John Bogdan is calling for his termination. UNCC told WSOC-TV yesterday it is standing behind Bogdan.
Cam To Help Out Kids For Thanksgiving
(Charlotte, NC) -- Cam Newton is once again helping give area underprivileged children a better Thanksgiving. The Panthers' quarterback and more than 80 volunteers are joining together Monday to hand out 13-hundred meals as part of his foundation's Cam's Thanksgiving Jam. He says it will be the biggest yet. The Charlotte event assists kids who are part of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina's Kids Cafe program.
Monroe Company To Lay Off Over 100
(Monroe, NC) -- Some employees of a Union County company are losing their jobs before Christmas. The Charlotte Observer is reporting Packers Sanitation Service in Monroe plans to lay off more than 100 people in two weeks. The job cuts are expected to happen by December 5th. Packers provides contract cleaning and night sanitation services.
Texting To 911 Starts Soon In Charlotte
(Charlotte, NC) -- Charlotte residents will soon be able to text in an emergency. The CMPD says the entire 911 system went through an upgrade this summer to make the new technology possible. The ability to text 911 is expected to start in January, though emergency officials still prefer the traditional phone call.
Panthers Play Key Division Game Sunday
(Charlotte, NC) -- The Panthers are preparing for a showdown with the first-place Saints. Carolina travels to play New Orleans in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday at 1 p.m. A win would pull the Panthers within two games of the NFC South lead, while a loss drops them to four games out with five to play. Quarterback Kyle Allen will be looking to rebound from a four-interception game last Sunday against the Falcons.
Carrboro Student's Father Arrested After Social Media Gun Threat Hoax
(Carrboro, NC) -- A Carrboro High School student's father will be in court today on drug and firearms charges following an online school violence threat that turned out to be a hoax. Authorities investigated Thursday after getting reports of an Instagram post showing a student holding a gun and text saying students at Carrboro High would be in danger. The investigation led officers to 38-year-old Orontes Rogers' home where authorities say they found a handgun and 17 jars full of marijuana. Carrboro Police and the Orange County Sheriff's office say the student holding the gun posted the photo on Instagram earlier this week and another student added the threatening words days later.
Hoke County Deputies Seek Person Of Interest In Raeford Murder
(Raeford, NC) -- Hoke County Sheriff's deputies are asking the public's help in finding a man they call a person of interest in a murder in Raeford. Officers investigating the shooting of a man last night want to find John Brian Rockholt. Authorities say Rockholt was last seen driving a black four-door 2006 Ford Focus. Rockholt is considered to be dangerous and anyone who sees him should contact authorities, but stay away from him.
Goldsboro Headmaster Resigns After Sexual Misconduct Investigation
(Goldsboro, NC) -- The headmaster at Wayne Country Day School in Goldsboro is out after a sexual misconduct investigation. Todd Anderson resigned Tuesday. School administrators say Anderson resigned immediately after an outside law firm was hired to investigate his conduct. Anderson had been headmaster at the kindergarten through 12th grade school since 2005.
Duke Routs Cal, 87-52 At Madison Square Garden
(New York, NY) -- Number One-ranked Duke is still perfect after routing California, 87-52 Thursday night in the semifinals of the 2K Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden. The Blue Devils got a game-high 31 points and 12 rebounds from freshman center Vernon Carey Jr. Duke takes its 5-0 record into tonight's tournament championship game against Georgetown. Game time is 7 p.m. on ESPN2.
NC State football
(Atlanta, GA) -- There will be no bowl game for NC State this season after the Wolfpack fell to Georgia Tech 28-26 in Atlanta last night. The loss puts NC State at 4-7 and no chance of hitting the six-win threshold to be bowl-eligible. This ends the Wolfpack's five-year bowl game streak under Coach Dave Doeren. NC State season ends a week from Saturday at home against UNC.
Planned Guilford Co. Bus Driver Walkout Canceled
(Guilford Co., NC) -- Guilford County bus drivers do not plan on walking off the job next week after all. Organizers of the walk-out tell FOX 8 they've reached an agreement with the district. Bus drivers had planned to walk out on Monday and Tuesday over salary concerns. A meeting with Superintendent Sharon Contreras yesterday led to the cancellation. The details of their agreement were not released.
Two People Killed In Crash In Stokes Co.
(Stokes Co., NC) -- Two people are dead after a crash on U.S. 52 in Stokes County. It happened yesterday afternoon near the Pinnacle exit. Troopers say the driver of a pickup truck lost control and struck a guardrail. The truck overturned, and all three people inside were thrown out. Two of them died at the scene, and the third was rushed to the hospital. An investigation is ongoing.
Williams HS Student Accused Of Bringing Gun To School
(Burlington, NC) -- A high school student in Burlington is accused of bringing a gun on campus. Eighteen-year-old Demaggio Robinson was arrested yesterday and charged with possession of a firearm on school grounds and carrying a concealed weapon. Williams High School officials say he was found in possession of a gun during an investigation into an off-campus altercation the day before. The school was placed on lockdown for about two-and-a-half hours. No one was hurt.
Kernersville Woman Facing DWI Charges Following Deadly Wreck
(Kernersville, NC) -- A Kernersville woman is under arrest, accused of causing a wreck that left a motorcyclist dead. Amanda Lawson is facing DWI, felony death by vehicle and other charges in connection with the crash on November 8th. It happened on Highway 66, between Indeneer Drive and Shields Road. William Boles was hit and killed. Lawson is being held at the Forsyth County Detention Center.
Man Arrested In Connection With October Murder
(Greensboro, NC) -- Police are announcing an arrest in connection with the death of a Greensboro man. Alan Brown was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of first-degree murder. Police say he's responsible for killing Steve Barnett, who was found unconscious in his front yard on West Terrell Street on October 26th. Barnett was taken to the hospital where he later died.