Missing Man Found Dead In Graham County
(Graham County, NC) -- A suspicious death investigation is underway in Graham County. The sheriff's office says the body of a missing man was found in a stream off Lower Mountain Creek on Sunday morning. The man reportedly had physical injuries, but investigators didn't go into detail. An autopsy is set for today.
NC COVID-19 Hospitalizations Climb Back Over One-Thousand
(Buncombe County, NC) -- COVID-19 hospitalizations are back up over one-thousand in North Carolina. Public health officials confirmed the small increase in yesterday's report, which included more than 12-hundred new cases. There have been 200 cases over the last week in Buncombe County. Health director Stacie Saunders recently said the positivity rate has dropped to four-and-a-half-percent locally, which is a promising sign.
Assistance On Way For Struggling Homeowners
(Asheville, NC) -- Housing assistance is coming for those facing eviction in Buncombe County. WLOS-TV reports Asheville's Affordable Housing Committee is expected to receive 800-thousand-dollars in funds to help keep people from losing their homes. Homeward Bound and Pisgah Legal Services will help divide the money out once it's received some time next month.
Elkin Man Dies In Biking Accident
(Cades Cove, TN) -- An Elkin man is dead from injuries suffered in a bicycle accident in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Rangers say the 60-year-old man suffered severe head trauma after wrecking on a downhill section of Cades Cove Loop Road on Sunday. He was airlifted to University of Tennessee Medical Center, but died the next day.
Grants To Help Rural Internet Access
(Asheville, NC) -- Some help is on the way for kids having internet access troubles in western North Carolina. N.C. State University's Institute for Emerging Issues is awarding five-thousand-dollar grants for several mountain counties, including Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania. The money is expected to help broaden access and make internet more reliable for students working remotely.
Area Stein Marts Closing
(Asheville, NC) -- A discount department store is closing two western North Carolina locations. Stein Mart filed for bankruptcy last week due to COVID-19 impacts and what company officials called a challenging retail environment. The stores on Merrimon Avenue in Asheville and on Greenville Highway in Hendersonville are undergoing liquidation, so everything is marked down. They are expected to shut down sometime this fall.
Gun Permit Purchases Up Drastically In Meck
(Mecklenburg County, NC) -- Gun permit purchases are up drastically in Mecklenburg County. Public records show around 24-thousand permits have been purchased locally since March, which is more than triple the amount bought last year during the same time. Sheriff Garry McFadden told NBC Charlotte everyone seems to be buying a weapon out of fear. He's especially concerned about gun safety after three children were accidentally shot over the last week.
Second Day Of Virtual Learning Goes Better For CMS
(Charlotte, NC) -- Virtual learning seems to be going a bit better for CMS students. Thousands of students were unable to log on to the learning system Monday due to a statewide server power outage. Parents and students reported few issues on Tuesday. CMS says there are still 85-hundred kids without reliable internet connectivity to do school work.
Man Convicted In Murder Of Jordan's Father Granted Parole
(Charlotte, NC) -- One man convicted of killing Michael Jordan's father is being released from prison in a few years. State officials granted parole yesterday for Larry Demery, whose tentative date of release is August 2023. Demery was found guilty of killing James Jordan while he took a nap in his car near Lumberton in 1993. Hornets' owner Michael Jordan had wrapped up another NBA title with the Chicago Bulls just one month before the murder.
Suspect Arrested For Homeless Camp Murder
(Statesville, NC) -- A suspect is being charged in a Statesville homicide. Investigators say one man was shot to death yesterday in a homeless camp in the woods off I-40. Officers arrested a 68-year-old Statesville man for murder after speaking with witnesses. The suspect and victim were reportedly arguing at the time of the shooting.
Two Men Arrested For Matthews Murder
(Matthews, NC) -- Two men are accused of a murder in Matthews. Officers were checking for an abandoned vehicle on Lakeview Circle last week when they discovered the body of 27-year-old Cory Carpenter. He was shot multiple times. The CMPD says two men were arrested on Monday and booked into Mecklenburg County jail.
App State Suspends Football Practice Over COVID-19 Cluster
(Boone, NC) -- Appalachian State University is suspending football practice due to a COVID-19 cluster. There are seven students and four staff with active COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday. The university says public health officials have contacted close contacts with the patients so they can quarantine, but the number isn't clear. No date was set for the Mountaineers to return to practice.
Three Suspects Now In Custody For The Murder Of A 17-Year Old Girl
(Raleigh, NC) -- Police in Raleigh have arrested three suspects and are looking for a fourth in connection with the fatal shooting of a 17-year old girl in a Bojangles parking lot Saturday night. The two women and one man are between the ages of 18 and 19. The fourth person being sought is a juvenile. All have been charged with felony after the fact of murder in the death of 17-year old Veronica Lee Baker. The suspects are being held at the Wake County Detention Center.
City Of Raleigh Cancels Special Events For Rest Of Year
(Raleigh, NC) -- The City of Raleigh has canceled all special events for the remainder of 2020. The threat of further spread of COVID-19 cited as the reason. The recommendation approved by the Raleigh City Council Tuesday, also includes the popular New Years Eve First Night celebration. The decision does not affect events at the Raleigh Convention Center, the Performing Arts Center or any recreation program by Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources.
Duke Investigating Charges Of Student Misconduct As It Relates To Coronavirus
(Durham, NC) -- Officials at Duke University say they are investigating seven instances of flagrant misconduct and persistent misconduct on the part of students who've returned to campus for the start of the fall term. In addition, the University's Office of Student Conduct says it has received over 100-reports of students violating COVID-19 safety protocols on and off campus since August 2nd.
Over 40-More COVID-19 Cases Recorded At UNC Chapel Hill
(Chapel Hill, NC) -- As students packed up to leave the campus of UNC Chapel Hill Tuesday, school officials reported that 42-more people had tested positive for the coronavirus. This came one day after administrators decided to move all undergraduate classes online for the remainder of the fall semester, in response to four clusters of COVID-19 confirmed on the campus during the first week. At last report, a total of 324-cases of the virus had been detected.
Postmaster General Temporarily Suspends Changes To USPS
(Greensboro, NC) - Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is calling off any operational changes to the United States Postal Service until after the November presidential elections. The decision comes after protests this past weekend at the postmaster general's homes in Greensboro and Washington, D.C. President Trump and DeJoy have been accused of trying to sabotage mail delivery to stop millions of people from voting by absentee ballot.
Inappropriate Zoom Meeting Under Investigation In Kernersville
(Kernersville, NC) - An investigation is underway after someone managed to get access to a virtual class in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools District and make inappropriate remarks. It happened during a Zoom meeting Tuesday at Southeast Middle School in Kernersville. District officials say someone began yelling obscenities and making inappropriate gestures. They say the student did attend school in the district but not at that particular school. Officials are trying to figure out how they gained access to the Zoom meeting.
Man Hit, Killed By Car Near His Home In Winston-Salem
(Winston-Salem, NC) - An elderly man is dead after he was hit by a car near his home in Winston-Salem. Seventy-seven-year-old David Clark was found lying in front of a Chevy Corvette in the one-hundred-block of Glenn Avenue Tuesday morning. He was pronounced dead at the scene. It's not clear if the driver who hit him will face charges.
Sparta, NC Officials Give Update On Earthquake Damage
(Sparta, NC) - The mayor of Sparta says his town is still dealing with the aftermath of an earthquake earlier this month. Wes Brinegar made his comments yesterday, more than a week after the quake struck the town just south of the Virginia state line. Alleghany County Emergency Management Coordinator Daniel Roten said there have been more than 500 reports of damage. The mayor also pleaded with folks to not fall victim to earthquake-related scams.
Eight Students At NC State Test Positive For COVID-19
(Raleigh, NC) - Eight students at North Carolina State have tested positive for COVID-19. All eight are members of the Greek life system. The Wake County Health Department says a gathering was hosted on August 6th, leading to the cluster. The students were tested off-campus and instructed to self-isolate. Clusters have also been confirmed at UNC Chapel Hill and East Carolina University in recent days.