Face Masks Required In Asheville City Schools
(Asheville, NC) -- Face masks are being required in Asheville City Schools. The school board decided yesterday to issue a mandate for the upcoming year based on rising COVID cases. Daily screenings for symptoms won't be conducted. Both Transylvania and Henderson County school leaders have decided to make mask wearing optional.
NC Lottery Hauls In Record Sales
(Raleigh, NC) -- The lottery is having a bigger impact on North Carolina education than ever before. Lottery officials report around three-point-eight-billion-dollars in sales for fiscal year 2021, with the direct impact on schools reaching close to one-billion. The larger amount of sales is likely due to the pandemic, as less entertainment was available. This fiscal year's numbers aren't expected to reach quite as high.
Vaccination Rates Up In WNC
(Raleigh, NC) -- There's some good news on vaccination rates in western North Carolina. Dr. Teresa Herbert with AdventHealth told WLOS-TV yesterday that vaccinations have recently been on the rise in the mountain region. Hospitalizations are also on the rise statewide as the delta variant spreads. The number has risen every day for three weeks, now reaching over 13-hundred patients.
Suspect Wanted After Running Over Man
(Asheville, NC) -- Asheville police are looking for a suspect accused of driving over a man. Officers say Michael Hayes, Junior allegedly assaulted the driver and stole his car on White Pine Drive Sunday night. The victim is being treated for serious injuries after the suspect ran him over and drove off. Hayes is wanted for several charges related to the crime, in addition to ten other unrelated charges.
Weaverville Man Dies In Blue Ridge Parkway Wreck
(Weaverville, NC) -- A Weaverville man is dead after a wreck on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Investigators say the man lost control and overcorrected while driving his motorcycle near milepost 298 Saturday morning. No other vehicles were involved.
Zoning Not Recommended For Cidery Expansion
(Mills River, NC) -- An expansion for Bold Rock Mills River Cidery is hitting a road block. The Hendersonville Times-News reports the planning board recently voted against a recommendation to allow warehousing and manufacturing in the neighborhood commercial zoning district. The board's chair says the district's zoning specifications are geared towards avoiding warehouse. The town council will have the ultimate decision.
Mecklenburg County Seeking Vaccine Status Of Employees
(Mecklenburg County, NC) -- More COVID guidelines are going into effect for Mecklenburg County employees. The county announced yesterday that employees will have to take weekly COVID tests beginning September 7th if they aren't fully-vaccinated. All employees are now also required to wear face masks while inside county buildings.
Charlotte Native In Olympic Hurdles Final
(Charlotte, NC) -- A Charlotte native has a chance at gold tonight. Anna Cockrell is running in the finals of the 400-meter hurdles at the Tokyo Olympics. The 23-year-old graduated from Providence Day School in 2016. Her brother played for the Carolina Panthers a few years ago before he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
One Dead In York County Arson
(York County, SC) -- A deadly fire is being investigated in York County. Firefighters found a 63-year-old man dead inside a Rock Hill home on Saturday. WSOC-TV reports the man did not live at the home. The case is considered an arson.
Two Recent Charlotte High School Grads Die In Wreck
(Charlotte, NC) -- Two recent high school graduates are dead in a fiery Charlotte crash. The CMPD says speed was a factor when a Mercedes-Benz station wagon ran off Colville Road early Sunday morning. Two 2020 graduates of Myers Park High School died in the crash. Two other passengers were injured.
Quarantine Numbers Grow At Union County School
(Union County, NC) -- Quarantine numbers are growing at a Union County school. The Union Academy Charter School announced yesterday more than 150 students and staff were told the quarantine after 14 COVID-19 cases were identified. A face mask mandate has now been put into effect for a month.
Charlotte Ranks In Top Cities For Tech Talent
(Charlotte, NC) -- The Queen City is being noted for its tech talent. The real estate group CBRE recently ranked the top 50 cities in the U.S. and Canada based on each market's depth, vitality and attractiveness for talent. Charlotte landed 27th in the overall rankings. CBRE listed the city as the second-most diverse tech talent market.
Drive-By Shooting In Carrboro
(Carrboro, NC) -- At least one person is hurt after an apparent drive-by shooting in Orange County. It happened last night in Carrboro in a Wendy's parking lot on South Greensboro Street. Police say at least one person was taken to the hospital, but first responders say up to four people may have been shot. The car involved in the shooting flipped over while leaving the scene, and one person inside was hurt.
Two Shot In Harnett County
(Coats, NC) -- Two people, including a teenager, are hurt after a shooting in Harnett County. A woman says her son, daughter and son's friend were inside her home last night when the shooting took place. There's no word on their conditions, and no arrest has been announced. The mother of the victims tells WRAL she doesn't know who the shooter is, but he can not hide.
Durham Concert Venue Requiring Masks
(Durham, NC) -- A local concert venue has a new policy to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. The Durham Performing Arts Center announced yesterday it's requiring masks. Last night's show was the first in over a year, and one woman who attended says she was happy to wear a mask, but she noticed some people removed theirs once they sat down. She tells CBS 17 that made her a little nervous.
State Board Meets To Consider Plan For Wake County Schools
(Raleigh, NC) -- Plans to upgrade schools in Wake County could move forward today. The Local Government Commission is meeting to discuss the county's bond request to repair six schools. The projects would cost almost 600 million dollars.
Durham Athlete Suspended From Paralympics
(Durham, NC) -- A local athlete won't be able to chase his dreams. Durham's Desmond Jackson was suspended from the Paralympics yesterday after failing a drug test. The 21-year-old sprinter says he took an over-the-counter drug, DHEA, that unknowingly contained a banned substance. Jackson tells ABC 11 he's devastated to have years of hard work thrown away over two pills.
Greensboro Reinstating Mask Mandate
(Greensboro, NC) -- The City of Greensboro is now requiring masks in city-owned buildings. The new mandate takes effect August 5th. The CDC considers Guilford County a high transmission area with a positivity rate of five-and-a-half percent. Both vaccinated and unvaccinated employees and community members will have to wear masks indoors. Additional safety measures could be put in place if COVID-19 numbers continue to rise.
Wake Forest Requires COVID-19 Vaccination
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- Wake Forest University is in the process of removing students who cannot prove their COVID-19 vaccination status. As of August 1st, all students are required to show proof of vaccination. The students who cannot do that will be removed from courses and student housing, unless they're exempt. Wake Forest says at least 97 percent of all students who are enrolled in the fall semester are vaccinated.
Rev. Graham's Grandson Released From Hospital After COVID Battle
(Raleigh, NC) -- Late Christian Evangelist Billy Graham's grandson appears to be winning his battle with COVID-19. Reverend Graham's daughter, Anne Lotz, says her son, Jonathan Lotz, was released from the hospital. He was in the ICU for over a week with the Delta variant and pneumonia. On Facebook, she thanked everyone for their prayers and asked for continued prayers for his restoration to full health.
Men Wanted In High Point Convenience Store Shooting
(High Point, NC) -- High Point police are looking for two men who became frustrated over a beer purchase and shot a convenience store employee multiple times. The scene unfolded late Saturday night at Apple Tree Grocery on East Green Drive. Police say two men did not want to wait in line to pay for their beer and tried to give another employee their money. When the employee didn't take it, one of the men fired several shots. Both suspects took off in a white Jeep Cherokee. The employee was rushed to a local hospital in unknown condition.
Woman Arrested In Greensboro Shooting
(Greensboro, NC) -- A 40-year-old woman is under arrest on suspicion of shooting someone at a park in Greensboro. It happened Sunday afternoon at Hester Park on Ailanthus Street while kids were present. Police say Maya Asterilla knew the victim. Her charges include assault with a deadly weapon and assault in the presence of a minor. The victim was taken to a local hospital and is expected to be okay. It's not clear what prompted the shooting.