Early Voting Begins Today
(Raleigh, NC) -- Today is the first day of early in-person voting in North Carolina. Sixteen early polling locations will be open across Buncombe County for the next few weeks. Residents will be able to complete same-day registration during early voting if needed. For locations, head to the state Board of Elections website.
Kamala Harris Visiting Asheville This Morning
(Asheville, NC) -- Senator Kamala Harris is visiting Asheville this morning. The Joe Biden campaign says the Democratic vice presidential candidate will deliver remarks at an early voting mobilization event at 11:30, but the location is unknown. It will be live-streamed. Harris will head to Charlotte for another campaign event after finishing up in Asheville.
Buncombe Courthouse Undergoing Restoration
(Buncombe County, NC) -- Restoration projects are beginning this week at the Buncombe County Courthouse. Crews installed scaffolding outside the building this week in preparation for projects that total nearly six-million-dollars. The detention center is also included in the renovation plan. The project includes replacing cracked bricks and washing the building.
Crowd At Macon County Volleyball Event Warned About Potential Exposure
(Macon County, NC) -- A recent sporting event in western North Carolina may have exposed some people to the coronavirus. Public health officials in Macon County are advising of a potential exposure to anyone who attended a volleyball match at Franklin High School on October 1st. It's unclear who tested positive at the game.
Grant Money To Improve Asheville Transit Stops
(Asheville, NC) -- Upgrades are coming to the Asheville Rides Transit system thanks to federal funding. The city is using one-million-dollars to improve lighting at more than 70 bus stops and add bus shelters at 45 stops. The city council approved adding in 250-thousand-dollars of its share to the funding this week. All phases of the projects are expected to be completed within three years.
More Flu Shots Offered Today At East Henderson High
(Henderson County, NC) -- Henderson County Schools is continuing its rounds of flu shots today. Health officials will be on hand at East Henderson High School for a drive-thru clinic from 4-to-6 p.m. The week's last session will be held tomorrow from noon to 4 at North Henderson High School. No appointment is necessary.
Kamala Harris Visiting Charlotte Today
(Charlotte, NC) -- Kamala Harris is stopping in the Queen City this afternoon. The Democratic vice presidential candidate is first visiting Asheville this morning for an early voting event. She is expected to then head to Charlotte for a campaign hub grand opening. in the early afternoon Another early voting event will take place around 6:30 p.m., but it's unclear where.
Panthers Enter Intensive Protocols Due To COVID-19
(Charlotte, NC) -- The Panthers are undergoing further safety measures due to COVID-19. Carolina entered the NFL's intensive protocol yesterday after an Atlanta Falcons' defensive tackle was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The Panthers defeated the Falcons in Atlanta last Sunday. The biggest change affecting players is that they'll be required to wear face masks during practice this week.
Two Arrested In Gastonia Double Homicide
(Gastonia, NC) -- Two suspects are facing charges in a 2018 double homicide in Gastonia. Two people were found stabbed to death at a home on Mary Avenue in April 2018. Gastonia police arrested Marcus Meadows and Brittany Gidney yesterday for first-degree murder.
Man Accused Of Shooting Mother To Death
(Alexander County, NC) -- A man is accused of killing his mother in Alexander County. Investigators say the woman died after she was shot at a home in the Sugar Loaf community yesterday. Deputies chased the suspect as he attempted to drive away from the scene. Thirty-six-year-old Christopher Brown was eventually arrested for first-degree murder.
Drywall Manufacturer Opening Headquarters In Monroe
(Monroe, NC) -- A drywall manufacturing company is bringing its regional headquarters to Monroe. Governor Roy Cooper announced yesterday that Hamilton Drywall Products will invest five-million-dollars into a production warehouse that will provide nearly three-dozen jobs. The average annual salary for the positions will be around 45-thousand-dollars-a-year.
Cooper And Forest Stage High Energy Governor's Debate For Voters
(Raleigh, NC) -- Voters in North Carolina were treated to a rather spirited virtual governor's debate last night, the only one scheduled before the general election next month. Governor Roy Cooper and Lt. Governor Dan Forest spent most of the allotted time arguing over Cooper's response to the coronavirus pandemic and the issuing of multiple executive orders. Forest blamed those orders for the state's record high unemployment rate and the severely damaged business climate.
Judge Orders Election Officials To Make Sure All Absentee Ballots Have Witness Signatures
(Raleigh, NC) -- A federal judge in North Carolina handed down a new ruling Wednesday ordering state elections officials to ensure that all absentee ballots have a witness signature. This includes ballots that have already been sent in. Judge William Osteen also said those ballots without the required witness signature must be corrected. Voters could be allowed to make the corrections by returning an affidavit, instead of filling out a new ballot.
Long Lines Expected At The Polls During The First Day Of Early Voting
(Raleigh, NC) -- Voters across North Carolina are being warned to expect long lines at polling locations as today marks the first day of early in-person voting. Because the voting period runs through October 31st, election officials are advising people to visit the polls on days when the crowds will be smaller and at times when the lines will be shorter. Select early voting sites have been set up in all 100-North Carolina counties.
Coronavirus Numbers Appear To Be On The Increase Again In North Carolina
(Raleigh, NC) -- State health officials are becoming increasingly concerned that recent COVID-19 metrics have started to trend upward again. Figures released Wednesday showed there were 1-thousand-926 new cases confirmed, an increase of 192-over the day before. North Carolina's positivity rate was at 6-point-6 percent, which is higher than the state's goal of five percent. The Department also reported 11-hundred-52 people were in the hospital. And there were 40-additional deaths yesterday, which brought the total to 3-thousand-856.
Report Finds An Alarming Number Of Children Without Health Insurance In North Carolina
(Raleigh, NC) -- A new report finds an increasing number of children in North Carolina without health insurance coverage. The survey, conducted by the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University, found that nearly six-percent of children 18-years old and younger in North Carolina were uninsured. The report ranks North Carolina 33rd in the country in terms of children who don't have health insurance.
Controversial Confederate Statue In Davidson Co. To Be Relocated
(Davidson Co., NC) -- Davidson County commissioners say the Confederate monument in Lexington will be relocated. They announced yesterday the United Daughters of the Confederacy had reached an agreement with the city to move the controversial statue. In exchange, a lawsuit involving the organization will be dropped. Commissioners say the decision was made without them, and they wanted the monument to stay at its original uptown location in honor of those who lost their lives during the Civil War.
Two COVID-19 Outbreaks ID'd In Alamance Co.
(Alamance Co., NC) -- The Alamance County Health Department is announcing two COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care facilities. Four positive cases came from Moneta Springs Memory Care at Twin Lakes, and another three cases were identified at Peak Resource in Graham. The cases involve both staff members and residents. Health officials say they're working with the facilities to help control the outbreaks.
Driver Charged With DWI In Greensboro Crash
(Greensboro, NC) -- A young woman is charged with DWI in connection with a crash that injured three people. It happened yesterday morning at West Gate City Boulevard and Binford Street. Police say the driver, 24-year-old Kala Parrish, lost control of her vehicle, ran off the road and crashed into a building. One victim suffered life-threatening injuries, and the other two were seriously hurt. An investigation is ongoing.
Guilford Co. Schools Update Re-Entry Plan
(Greensboro, NC) -- Guilford County Schools is revising its plan to put students back in the classroom. The school system is allowing pre-kindergarten through second grade to return on October 20th as originally planned. However, middle school students are not allowed back until November 12th now. They were supposed to return on October 26th. Grades three-through-five will be able to come back the first week of November, and high schoolers are set to return on an A/B schedule at the start of the new year. The plan is pending community health results and trends.
UNCG Pushes Back Spring Semester
(Greensboro, NC) -- UNCG is delaying the start of the spring semester. The university announced this week it will push the semester back by a week and eliminate spring break altogether. The spring semester now starts on January 19th. The changes are part of the university's ongoing efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus.