NC Senators Support Supreme Court Nomination
(Raleigh, NC) -- North Carolina's senators are standing behind President Trump's nomination for Supreme Court. He officially announced Saturday that Judge Amy Coney Barrett is his choice to replace Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Republican Richard Burr said Barrett has demonstrated her commitment to upholding the Constitution and called on the Senate to vote on the nomination as soon as possible. Fellow Republican Thom Tillis called her well-qualified.
Lowe's Distribution Center Coming To Henderson County
(Mills River, NC) -- Another large company is bringing a distribution center to Henderson County. Town Manager Daniel Cobb revealed last week the home improvement giant, Lowe's, is building a facility on Banner Farm Road in Mills River. It should be finished around a year from now. This comes after Amazon just opened a distribution center in Mills River earlier this month.
COVID-19 Tests Nearing Three-Million Across State
(Raleigh, NC) -- Nearly three-million COVID-19 tests have been administered in North Carolina. A little more than 207-thousand of those have been positive as of yesterday's report from the Department of Health and Human Services. There were close to 13-hundred new cases reported. Over 900 patients are currently hospitalized across the state due to the coronavirus.
Hearing On Controversial Asphalt Plant Coming Up
(Henderson County, NC) -- A public hearing is coming up this week over a controversial asphalt plant proposal in Henderson County. Some residents in the East Flat Rock community have been vocal against a plan to build the plant off Spartanburg Highway. The group, Friends of East Flat Rock, held a virtual rally on Saturday ahead of this Thursday's hearing. The planning board has already denied a zoning request.
Health Officials Pushing Flu Shots
(Henderson County, NC) -- Health officials are pushing the importance of the flu shot in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Henderson County just held a clinic on Saturday for flu vaccines. The county's nursing director says there's a big community push this year to decrease the risk of co-infection with COVID-19. Symptoms are similar for both coronavirus and the flu.
Duke Energy Payments Returning To Normal
(Asheville, NC) -- Duke Energy is again reaching out to customers who may need help paying their bills. The company is resuming regular billing soon for the first time in several months during the coronavirus pandemic. A moratorium has been in place to prevent utility disconnections for those who can't pay in North Carolina. Duke is urging anyone who is behind on a bill to contact the company and set up a payment plan.
Fights, Gunshots Erupt At Rowan County Haunted House
(Rowan County, NC) -- Rowan County investigators are still piecing together details from a violent night at a haunted house. Shots were fired when multiple fights broke out at Reaper's Realm Haunted House and Trail in China Grove Saturday night. Investigators told WSOC-TV there were around one-thousand people at the attraction when the fights began. One person suffered a gunshot wound to the foot. Five arrests have been made so far.
Protesters March Again In Uptown
(Charlotte, NC) -- Calls for social justice are continuing in Charlotte protests. Hundreds walked through uptown in a peaceful march on Saturday, spurred on by events in the Breonna Taylor case last week. The grand jury decided not to charge any police officers in her death in Kentucky, and protests erupted around the country afterwards. The messages for social justice and Black Lives Matter in Saturday's march mirrored those that happened all summer.
Cabarrus Courthouse Closed After COVID-19 Cases
(Cabarrus County, NC) -- COVID-19 is causing a closure of the Cabarrus County courthouse today. A court employee and magistrate's office employee both tested positive, and now a dozen employees may also need to quarantine. The courthouse and magistrate's office have already been deep-cleaned. District court hearings will be held virtually in the meantime, while Superior Court cases scheduled after tomorrow are not expected to be affected.
Teen Dies In Charlotte Homicide
(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is investigating a northeast Charlotte homicide. A teenager was reportedly shot to death on North Tryon Street last night. Officers are still looking to make an arrest.
Speed, Alcohol Factor Into Deadly Wreck
(Charlotte, NC) -- Speed and alcohol are considered factors in a deadly Charlotte wreck. The CMPD says a car overturned off the outer loop of the East John Belk Freeway early Sunday morning. The 19-year-old driver reportedly lost control of the car before it broke through a guardrail and overturned. A passenger was treated for injuries, while the teen died at the scene.
Panthers Win First Game Of Season
(Los Angeles, CA) -- The Panthers' long losing streak is over. Carolina used 235 passing yards from Teddy Bridgewater and five field goals to earn a 21-to-16 win over the Los Angeles Chargers yesterday. The defense also forced three L-A turnovers. The Panthers' ten-game losing streak dated back to last season, when the team lost its final eight games.
VP Candidate Harris And Trump Daughter-In Law Lara To Campaign In Raleigh Today
(Raleigh, NC) -- Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris and President Trump's daughter in-law will both campaign in North Carolina today. With just 35-days to go before the election, Harris is scheduled to deliver a speech to supporters this afternoon at 2:15 in Raleigh. She will later have a sit-down private discussion with black voters. And, North Carolina native Lara Trump, who's married to President Trump's second oldest son Eric, will visit the Trump re-election campaign headquarters in downtown Raleigh before attending a 'Make America Great Again' event at Finnigan's Run Farm in New Hill.
Vandalism Of Raleigh Businesses Blamed On Anarchists, Not On Peaceful Protesters
(Raleigh, NC) -- What started out as a peaceful Breonna Taylor protest march through the streets of downtown Raleigh during the daylight hours ended up being a violent evening of vandalism and destruction Saturday night. Protesters in the second group, described as mostly white anarchists, smashed windows, sprayed graffiti and clashed with police as they defied an 11 p.m. curfew. Raleigh Mayor Mary Ann Baldwin urged people not to judge the peaceful protesters by the actions of those with an agenda of destruction. Police arrested at least a dozen protesters from the second group.
New Coronavirus Cases Slightly Down In NC Sunday
(Raleigh, NC) -- Figures released by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services showed there were 12-hundred-90 new cases of the coronavirus confirmed on Sunday, a decrease of 469 from the day before. That brought the total number people who have tested positive for the virus to over 207-thousand. At last report, 917 people were in the hospital. The Department reported only one person died from the illness yesterday, which brought to total to 34-hundred-41.
Outdoor Venues To Begin Operating At 7-Percent Capacity On Friday
(Raleigh, NC) -- Starting this Friday, October 2nd, large outdoor venues that hold more than 10-thousand people can resume operations at seven-percent capacity. The loosened restrictions announced by Governor Roy Cooper last week moves the state one step closer to full Phase Three reopening. Cooper's Phase 2.5 is also set to expire on October 2nd. Although Cooper has not indicated whether he will extend 2.5 or move into Phase Three, he said the easing of restrictions on outdoor venues was because of the state's "continued stability."
Durham Police Still Searching For Hit-And-Run Driver
(Durham, NC) -- Durham police are continuing to search for the driver of a car that collided with a motorcycle Saturday night, leaving the rider critically injured. Surveillance video shows the driver of the gray Honda Accord, briefly stopping, then speeding away. It happened around 8 p.m. on Angier Avenue and Pleasant Drive in Durham. Investigators say the injured man has life-threatening injuries. The Honda Accord has a Virginia license plate that reads 'USU 4244'. Anyone with information is asked to contact Durham police.
Man Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Two Women In Winston-Salem
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- A man is accused of forcing two women into their apartments and sexually assaulting them in North Winston-Salem. Twenty-year-old Tavon Taylor was arrested Saturday. He's facing several charges, including forcible rape, sex offense, kidnapping and assault by strangulation. Police say in both cases, the women returned to their apartments and were approached from behind, forced inside and attacked. They say in one case, the victim was able to escape and call 9-1-1.
Seven Arrests Made During Graham Protests
(Graham, NC) -- At least seven people are under arrest after a protest calling for Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson to step down. A group of around 200 protesters marched along Main Street in Graham Saturday. At least seven people were taken into custody when the group made its way into Court Square. Officials have not said what prompted the arrests.
Reidsville Middle School Closed Due To COVID-19 Exposure
(Reidsville, NC) -- Reidsville Middle School is closed for two weeks after a COVID-19 exposure. School officials say students in the seventh-grade class were exposed to the coronavirus last week. Anyone who was directly exposed has been contacted. School is expected to resume on October 12th, and in the meantime, students will learn remotely.
Person Hurt In Haunted House Shooting In China Grove
(China Grove, NC) -- One person is recovering from a gunshot wound after shots were fired at a haunted house attraction in Rowan County. The scene unfolded Saturday at the Reaper's Realm in China Grove. Sheriff's officials tell the Charlotte Observer a fight broke among a crowd of about a thousand people. One person was shot in the foot, and several people were treated for injuries suffered during the fight. Five juveniles were taken into custody.
Phase 2.5 Could Expire This Friday
(Rural Hall, NC) -- North Carolina could enter Phase 2.5 of reopening as early as this Friday. An executive order signed by Governor Roy Cooper this past week allowed gyms, playgrounds and museums to open at limited capacity. Pool halls, clubs and bars would be able to open until Phase 3, the final step in Cooper's three-part plan to reopen the state.