Red Zone Counties Dropping In North Carolina
(Raleigh, NC) -- COVID-19 numbers are continuing to drop for the better in North Carolina. The Department of Health and Human Services reports there are only 37 counties in the red zone, which is a reduction of more than half from two weeks ago. More than 23-hundred new cases were reported in Monday's numbers, which is well below recent averages. The positivity rate is down to around six-percent.
Man Dies In Shootout With McDowell County Deputies
(McDowell County, NC) -- The SBI is investigating a deadly deputy-involved shooting in McDowell County. The sheriff's office says a shootout erupted on Monday morning during a traffic stop in the Nebo community. One of the car's occupants was killed, while another occupant and a deputy were injured in the shooting. The injured suspect is now in jail under a 200-thousand-dollar bond for being an accessory to attempted murder.
WCU Plans To Open Vaccine Clinic This Week
(Cullowhee, NC) -- Western Carolina University is preparing to open a new COVID-19 vaccination site. The Cullowhee school was slated to start giving out doses last week, but supply and the weather caused a delay. Eligibility for the vaccine is being expanded to teachers statewide beginning tomorrow. The clinic may be open by then.
Asheville Stabbing Suspect On Run
(Asheville, NC) -- Asheville police are on the lookout for a stabbing suspect. Investigators say Dominque Fore is accused of assaulting someone at the Holiday Inn on Smokey Park Highway Sunday. WLOS-TV reports the victim remains at Mission Hospital in stable condition. Fore is considered armed and dangerous, and can be identified by his full-head tattoo.
Asheville Artist A Finalist In PBR Contest
(Asheville, NC) -- An Asheville artist is among five finalists in a national competition. Holden Mesk's entry into Pabst Blue Ribbon's beer can design contest is still in the running for a ten-thousand-dollar grand prize. An online contest for the best illustration lasts until tomorrow. PBR will place the winning design on more than 30-million cans worldwide.
City Pulls Land Sale For Affordable Housing Off Agenda
(Asheville, NC) -- An affordable housing project in Asheville is in jeopardy. WLOS-TV says the city of Asheville was considering selling land to Haywood Street Congregation for a 42-unit affordable housing apartment building in the South French Broad neighborhood. The item was pulled from today's city council meeting agenda based on community feedback.
One Dead In Gaston County Triple Shooting
(Gaston County, NC) -- A deadly triple shooting is being investigated in Gaston County. One person was killed and two others were injured in the Crowders Mountain community last night. It's unclear if police are looking for any suspects. One of the injured was considered to be in critical condition.
Charlotte City Elections In Jeopardy This Year
(Charlotte, NC) -- The chances of holding Charlotte city elections this year are dwindling. The city attorney told council members last night it is not likely they will be held due to delayed U.S. Census numbers. Charlotte needs to redraw its district lines, but won't be able to until the data is released around September. The city council will await on potential action from the General Assembly before making a decision locally.
COVID Outbreak Reported At Caldwell County Nursing Facility
(Caldwell County, NC) -- Health officials are monitoring a large COVID-19 outbreak at a Caldwell County skilled nursing facility. More than 150 patients and staff at Hickory Falls Health and Rehabilitation have tested positive since last month. NBC Charlotte reports eight are under the age of 17. There was a much smaller outbreak at Hickory Falls last summer.
Suspect In Davidson County Kidnapping Accused Of Contacting Children
(Davidson County, NC) -- More details are emerging in the kidnapping of a Davidson County teen. Savannah Childress was found safe in Arkansas last weekend, after her alleged kidnapper wrecked an SUV while fleeing from police. Davidson County's sheriff revealed yesterday that Childress had contacted the 38-year-old suspect using her school-issued computer. He was also accused of trying to meet a child for sex in Ohio last year and talking online with several girls from Alamance County.
Fort Mill Police Seek Homicide Suspect
(Fort Mill, SC) -- Police are looking for the suspect in a deadly Fort Mill shooting. One man died after he was shot at the Circle K on U.S. Highway 21 Bypass late last Friday night. The suspect allegedly fired shots from a car and sped off to I-77. Fort Mill police have identified the suspect as 23-year-old Anquante Watts.
Students Back In UNCC Classrooms
(Charlotte, NC) -- UNC Charlotte students are back in the classroom. The school resumed in-person instruction yesterday for the first time since December. All students and staff were required to take COVID-19 tests before returning to class on campus. UNCC is also implementing random coronavirus testing throughout the spring.
Thousands More North Carolinians Will Become Eligible For Vaccines On Wednesday
(Raleigh, NC) -- Starting tomorrow, some 240-thousand North Carolinians will become eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines as part of the Group 3 rollout plan. The Group 3 category includes a wide range of frontline essential workers including teachers, police officers, firefighters and EMS workers, grocery store workers and mail carriers. Those working in child care and schools will get vaccinated first.
Free Rides Now Being Provided To And From Vaccination Sites
(Durham, NC) -- Several public transportation systems across the state are now providing free transportation to and from vaccination sites. The service is being made possible by a two-point-five-million-dollar grant from the North Carolina Department of Transportation's Integrated Mobility Division. In the Triangle, Wake County, GoDurham, Durham County and Orange county public transit buses are all being used to provide free transportation to vaccination distribution sites.
Unemployment Benefit Recipients Will Soon Have To Show Proof Of Job Hunt
(Raleigh, NC) -- The North Carolina Department of Employment Security is now considering a reinstatement of a policy requiring those receiving unemployment benefits to be actively seeking work. That from Assistant Secretary Pryor Gibson, who recently told a group of lawmakers that the change is imminent. The new policy could go into effect in a matter of weeks.
Board Votes To Rename School That Honored Segregation Era Administrator
(Orange County, NC) -- The Orange County Board of Education voted Monday to change the name of one of its schools that honored a segregation era administrator. By a 5-2 vote, the Board decided to rename C.W. Stanford Middle School before the start of the next school year. The action came after a report submitted with the help of the District's Equity Task Force concluded that little was done during Stanford's 16-year tenure to integrate Orange County Schools or to improve segregated Black schools. Stanford served on the Board from 1941 to 1967.
Educators, School Staff Eligible For COVID-19 Vaccine
(Raleigh, NC) -- Teachers, child care workers and other school staff can start receiving their COVID-19 vaccines this week after all. State health officials say the next group is ready for their shots starting Wednesday. About 240-thousand people are included in this group. It was unclear whether providers would move forward with the next round of vaccinations due to weather-related shipping delays.
Remote Learning Friday For Guilford Co. Schools
(Greensboro, NC) -- Guilford County Schools will have a remote learning day on Friday. The district is giving teachers the day off to get vaccinated against COVID-19. That means there will be no live instruction on Friday. The district says some three-thousand GCS employees will receive their vaccines from Thursday through Saturday.
Winston-Salem Bulky Item Collection Resumes
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- Winston-Salem is resuming its residential bulk pickup service. Starting March 1st, crews will collect larger items, like furniture and appliances. The city cannot dispose of hazardous waste or building materials. The service will run through September 3rd.
Body Found In Recycling Load In Winston-Salem
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- An investigation is underway in Winston-Salem after a body was found in a Waste Management recycling load. The gruesome discovery was made early yesterday morning at the Republic Services cardboard waste facility. Detectives say the woman was found in a cardboard load. Neither her identity nor her cause of death has been released.
Boy Shot While Riding In Car In Alamance Co.
(Alamance Co., NC) -- An eight-year-old boy is expected to be okay after he was shot in Alamance County. The scene unfolded Sunday afternoon on West Stagecoach Road in Mebane. Investigators say the boy and his family were driving when their vehicle was hit by gunfire. The child was rushed to a local hospital where he's listed in stable condition. A 25-hundred-dollar reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest in the case.