North Carolina To Add Congressional Seat After Census Results
(Raleigh, NC) -- A rising population means North Carolina will soon have a new member of Congress. The Census Bureau revealed yesterday the state's population grew close to ten-percent, or just over 900-thousand people between 2010 and 2020. State lawmakers will now be in charge of figuring out where new district lines will go, in order to fill 14 Congressional seats. The U.S. saw one of its smallest growth rates ever at seven-point-four-percent.
Cooper Urges Bipartisan Unity In State Of State
(Raleigh, NC) -- Bipartisan unity is the message from North Carolina's governor. Yesterday, Roy Cooper delivered his State of the State address, which covered topics ranging from the budget to the pandemic. The governor is continuing to push for Medicaid expansion and increased pay for teachers. Lawmakers stood and applauded after he delivered words about stopping racial injustice.
Hendersonville Mother Waives Court Appearance In Stabbing
(Hendersonville, NC) -- A Hendersonville woman remains in jail for the death of her young daughter. Henderson County's chief public defender told WLOS-TV Peggy Hartle waived her initial court appearance yesterday. A probable cause hearing is next set for May 17th. Hartle was arrested for second-degree murder after her five-year-old daughter was found stabbed to death in their home on Sunday morning.
Ex-Asheville Cop Hired By Madison County Sheriff's Office
(Madison County, NC) -- A man fired from the Asheville police force last year has a new job in law enforcement. Madison County Sheriff's officials have confirmed that Anthony Sorangelo now serves as a detective for their office. Sorangelo was fired after being charged in the assault of an intoxicated man in February 2020. Charges were dismissed against him nearly three months ago.
No Major Injuries Reported In School Bus Wreck
(Asheville, NC) -- No major injuries are being reported from a school bus wreck in Buncombe County. The bus veered off Porter Cove Road through a guardrail yesterday afternoon. More than a dozen middle school-aged students were evaluated for minor injuries, while the driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries as well. A nearby exit ramp for the interstate was shut down during the investigation.
Some Mountain Communities Resuming J&J Vaccine
(Asheville, NC) -- Health officials are resuming the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in western North Carolina. The Madison County health director told WLOS-TV they're preparing to give out the single-doses again later this week for the first time since they were initially paused over unusual blood clots. The state's Health and Human Services Department says it's okay to resume administering the vaccine, which was recommended by the FDA and CDC last week. AdventHealth in Henderson County is awaiting word from Johnson & Johnson before starting back up.
Caldwell County Father Accused Of Killing Toddler Daughter
(Caldwell County, NC) -- A father is accused of shooting his toddler daughter to death in Caldwell County. The two-year-old girl was unable to survive injuries after being flown to a Winston-Salem hospital on Friday. Investigators say the man also shot the child's mother and himself. The suspect remains in the hospital, while the woman was treated and released. Two seven-year-olds have also been killed in Charlotte-area shootings over the past two weeks.
City Council Approves More Money For Affordable Housing
(Charlotte, NC) -- Charlotte is committing more money for affordable housing. The city council decided at last night's meeting to use around 25-million-dollars for renovations and 14 additional developments. Council members did express concern that the proposed projects aren't spread out enough across the city.
Suspect Wanted In Drug Cartel Shooting
(Union County, NC) -- Investigators are on the lookout for a suspect wanted in an Alamance County shootout that killed a Union County teacher. Union Academy teacher Barney Harris and his brother-in-law were shot to death while allegedly trying to steal from a drug cartel earlier this month. The sheriff's office said yesterday that Gar-Yon-Ded-Weh Stepney is facing murder charges, but remains on the run. Another suspect has already been arrested for murder.
Airport Expands Parking For Employees
(Charlotte, NC) -- Parking is expanding for employees at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. A flight attendant told the city council last night that one-thousand employees signed a petition asking for changes, claiming that compact spaces in their assigned lot forced them to squeeze out of vehicles. The situation was relieved during the pandemic, as employees were allowed to park in a different area. Airport officials say employees will be going back to the previous lot next month, but options will also be available in the Express Deck and Business Valet Two.
Building To Light Purple In Honor Of Charlotte Woman
(Charlotte, NC) -- An uptown building will pay tribute to a Charlotte woman who lived to the age of 116. Hester Ford was considered to be the oldest living American when she passed away last week. WBTV is reporting the Duke Energy Center will light up in purple tomorrow night. It was Ford's favorite color.
Family And Attorneys Called Police Shooting Of Anthony Brown 'An Execution'
(Elizabeth City, NC) -- After family members and attorneys representing the case of Anthony Brown Jr. were allowed to view the bodycam video of his death, they called his fatal shooting "an execution." While the Pasquotank County Sheriff's Office maintains Brown was shot last Wednesday while driving away from officers who were attempting to serve a search warrant, the attorneys claimed the video showed Brown was shot multiple times inside his car while both hands were on the steering wheel. Protesters returned to the streets for a sixth straight night of demonstrations Monday. Elizabeth City is now under a state of emergency.
Apple To Construct New Billion Dollar Tech Hub At RTP
(Raleigh, NC) -- Apple has announced plans to invest more than one-billion dollars to construct a new tech engineering hub at Research Triangle Park. It will be the first U.S.-based campus expansion for Apple in more than 20-years. At RTP, Apple engineers will work to advance technology in software development, Artificial Intelligence, 5-G and machine learning. Once completed, the new facility will employ around three-thousand workers.
Buttigieg And Second Gentleman Emhoff To Visit Raleigh On Friday
(Raleigh, NC) -- Vice President Harris' husband Doug Emhoff and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg are scheduled to visit Raleigh on Friday. According to the White House, the visit is part of an effort to push the Biden administration's new infrastructure plan. One that involves spending billions of dollars on broadband internet, roads, bridges, rail transportation and care for the elderly. The visit comes one week after the Vice President toured Greensboro and High Point to promote the two-trillion- dollar American Jobs Plan.
Greensboro Waterpark Upping Pay To Attract Workers
(Greensboro, NC) -- A Greensboro waterpark is offering potential workers even more pay. Wet'n Wild at Emerald Pointe will start at eleven dollars an hour, and then go up to 13 dollars an hour. That's between two-50 and four-50 more than they used to pay. The water park hopes to expand its operating hours to pre-pandemic standards. It's looking to hire about 300 people.
Two Teens Missing In Reidsville
(Reidsville, NC) -- The search is on for two teenage girls from Reidsville. Fifteen-year-old Chelsey Busick and 14-year-old Madison Busick were last seen on Ellington Street. Police say they could be in either Reidsville or Eden. Both girls are described as white with blonde hair and blue eyes. Their relation is unknown. Anyone with information is urged to call police.