Trial Of Former Buncombe County Commissioner Delayed
(Asheville, NC) -- The federal fraud trial of a former Buncombe County commissioner is being pushed back to March 30th. Federal prosecutors and the attorney for Ellen Frost requested an extension in hopes of gaining more time for negotiation talks. The judge granted that request on Friday. Frost has been accused of misusing county funds in equestrian events tied to the Tryon International Equestrian Center.
APD Picks Up Cop Presence In Downtown Asheville
(Asheville, NC) -- More cops are now covering the streets of downtown Asheville. Lieutenant Mike Lamb told city officials Friday that the department has shifted its coverage alignment to create a new section called the Charlie District, which specifically covers downtown. This means the number of officers covering the district will increase from two to seven, which is made possible by shifting personnel. Lamb says the change was put in place due to an increase in crime.
Weaverville Quilt Shop Helping Animals In Australia
(Weaverville, NC) -- A quilt shop in Weaverville is taking a unique approach to help out animals affected by fires in Australia. The owner of Five Little Monkeys Quilt & Sew told WLOS-TV that a group is busy sewing pouches for baby kangaroos and koalas. The sewing club is using natural fibers to create the items, and they expect to have as many as 50 made to send out this week. Ecologists estimate as many as a billion animals have been affected in some way by the fires.
Women's March On Asheville Canceled For January
(Asheville, NC) -- Financial strain is causing a change to the Women's March on Asheville. Organizers say the event is called off for this month due to high costs for fees, like insurance and permits. Plans are in the works to hold a march around September, when it is closer to the general election. A women's march is still set to be held at the Black Mountain Town Square on Saturday morning.
Road Closure Expected To End At Nantahala Gorge
(Swain County, NC) -- The DOT is expected to re-open U.S. 19/74 in the Nantahala Gorge today. Crews set out last Thursday to clean out loose debris from the site of a recent rockslide. The work was initially expected to take a day, but the DOT was forced to push the project through the weekend after crews found more exposed dangerous rock. A DOT engineer said at the end of the week that they had already removed four times more rock than expected.
Hendersonville Tree Contest Canceled Due To Warm Weather
(Hendersonville, NC) -- Warm weather is foiling a contest in Hendersonville. The Hendersonville Tree Board originally scheduled a contest for the second-half of January, where residents and visitors guess when a star magnolia tree in downtown would bloom. That contest was canceled on Sunday because the tree is already blooming. The organizer says the tree board was amazed it started so early. Temperatures are expected to hit the upper 60s through Wednesday.
Two Found Dead In Car Down Embankment
(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is investigating a homicide after a car was found down an embankment in north Charlotte. A resident first spotted the vehicle early Sunday morning off Atando Avenue. A man and woman were both found dead inside. Investigators have not said how the victims may have died. A five-thousand-dollar reward is now being offered for information.
Subcontractor Dies After Ammonia Leak
(Statesville, NC) -- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating a deadly leak at a Statesville warehouse. A subcontractor died and three others were injured after an ammonia spill at Lineage Logistics on Taylorsville Highway Friday afternoon. Emergency officials say the ammonia is used to help flash-freeze chicken. Air levels outside the facility yesterday were deemed safe.
Storms Roll Through Carolinas
(Rowan County, NC) -- Parts of the Carolinas are cleaning up damage from the weekend's storms. The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touched down in Kershaw County, South Carolina. The twister heavily damaged one high school there. The storm dropped a tree onto a Rowan County home, but everyone escaped safely. There was also considerable damage and debris in the Ballantyne area.
Bicyclist Dies In Mooresville Wreck
(Iredell County, NC) -- North Carolina troopers say a 64-year-old man was killed while riding a bike in Mooresville yesterday. The man allegedly turned in front of a car on Highway 115 near Bridges Farm Road. It's unclear if the driver is facing charges. A 14-year-old boy was injured on Friday night in Charlotte when he was hit by a car while trying to push his bicycle across East Independence Boulevard.
State Board Reviewing Huntersville Charter School Application
(Huntersville, NC) -- A state board is taking a closer look at a possible charter school in Huntersville today. WBTV says the Charter Schools Advisory Board is reviewing an application for the creation of Huntersville Charter High School. The application states that town leaders are 100 percent in favor of the project, and options for charter schools are needed. Around 25 acres has reportedly been secured for the high school around Hambright and Beatties Ford Road.
Belk Pays For One School's Prom
(Matthews, NC) -- Charlotte-based Belk is helping some local high school students attend prom. NBC Charlotte says the department store is covering every cost for around 200 students of Levine Middle College High School in Matthews. Belk originally targeted spending 500-dollars as part of its Project Hometown program, but decided to go much further. One teacher says it means everything.
Iranian-American Community Mourns Victims Of Ukrainian Airlines Jetliner Shot Down
(Raleigh, NC) -- The Triangle's Iranian-American Community is mourning the 176 people killed when Iranian forces mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian Airlines jet minutes after take-off last week. Dozens of people gathered in front of the Wake County Courthouse Sunday night to sing somber songs and comfort one another. The Iranian Cultural Society of North Carolina's Nazi Ahmadi Kite said, "Many people feel so said that this tragedy happened in our own home country, and we wanted to share our sorrow together." One of those killed was NC State master's graduate Bahareh Kamari, who lived in Canada.
Pentagon IDs Fort Bragg Soldiers Killed In Afghanistan
(Fort Bragg, NC) -- The Pentagon is identifying two Fort Bragg soldiers killed in Afghanistan over the weekend. The Army Airborne soldiers were Ian McLaughlin from Virginia and Miguel Villalon from Illinois. They were killed by a roadside bomb Saturday in the southern province of Kandahar. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Christmas Season Convenience Store Robbery Suspect In Court Today
(Raleigh, NC) -- A man suspected in a string of convenience store robberies during the Christmas season is due in court this morning. Wake County Sheriff's deputies say Kadarly Mcleod [[ ma-CLOUD ]] broke into at least three and possibly four convenience stores in eastern Wake County. Mcleod is facing nearly a half-dozen charges in connection with the robberies. Investigators believe the 28-year-old Mcleod and another man stole an SUV from the Torchlight Academy Charter School in Raleigh to commit the robberies.
Holt Bothers Playoff Party Raises $160,000 For Families Fighting Cancer
(Raleigh, NC) -- The 7th Annual Holt Brothers Playoff Party raised 160-thousand dollars this weekend for children whose parents or guardians are fighting cancer. The watch party for Sunday's Chiefs-Texans AFC divisional playoff game drew a number of former NFL players and athletes from the Triangle. The Holt Brothers Foundation is a charity founded by former NFL All-Pro wide receiver Torry Holt and his younger brother Terrence, who played six NFL seasons as a defensive back. Both Holt brothers starred at NC State.
Number-2 Duke Blows Out Wake Forest, 90-59
(Durham, NC) -- Number-2 Duke was hitting on all over in blowing out Wake Forest, 90-59 Sunday at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils ran out to a 26-point halftime lead, hitting 18 of their first 24 shots in winning their ninth straight. Duke is now 5-0 in the ACC and 15-1 overall. Tre Jones led the Blue Devils with a game-high 23 points.
Pentagon IDs Fort Bragg Soldiers Killed In Afghanistan
(Washington, DC) -- The two Fort Bragg soldiers killed in Afghanistan this past weekend are being identified. The Army Airborne soldiers were Ian McLaughlin from Virginia and Miguel Villalon from Illinois. They were killed by a roadside bomb Saturday in the southern province of Kandahar. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Man Killed In Rockingham Co. Crash Involving Children
(Rockingham Co., KY) -- A man is dead and three children are hurt after a single-vehicle wreck in Rockingham County. It happened Saturday afternoon on N.C. Highway 87 near Crumpton Road. Troopers say Miguel Bahena lost control of his SUV and hit a tree. A six-year-old, three-year-old and three-week-old child were also in the vehicle. Bahena died at the scene and the children were taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Storms Knock Out Power To Thousands Across Triad
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- The storm system that wreaked havoc across Louisiana, Alabama and Texas also left a mess in the Piedmont Triad. The storm hit overnight Saturday. It uprooted trees and knocked out power to thousands of customers. Duke Energy said at one point, about three-thousand customers were left in in the dark. Fallen power lines are also to blame for starting a fire in Davie County. No injuries were reported.
Police Say Armed And Dangerous Man Could Be In Greensboro
(Greensboro, NC) -- Orange County deputies are looking for a violent fugitive who could be in Greensboro. Alexander Gillett, a wanted felon, is accused of assaulting his girlfriend over the weekend after she refused to break into a home with him. He fled on foot and was spotted by Greensboro police near the Home Depot on Battleground Avenue. Anyone who might know where Gillett is should call police.
Police: Customers Take Down Woman Who Tried To Rob Bank
(Burlington, NC) -- Burlington police say customers took down a woman who tried to rob a local credit union. They say Alicia Rickman walked into the Truliant Federal Credit Union Saturday and fired her rifle at the ceiling. She was subdued by customers until police arrived. No one was hurt. Rickman was booked into the Alamance County Jail on a 250-thousand-dollar bond.