Asheville Investigators Seek Two For Death Of Teenager
(Asheville, NC) -- Asheville police are looking for two suspects charged in the death of a teenager. The body of a 19-year-old was found in the Swannanoa River on October 2nd, around five-days after he was last seen in Woodfin. Samuel De La Cruz and Roberto Robles-Ramirez are wanted for murder.
Buncombe Test Scores Drop
(Buncombe County, NC) -- State testing scores are down across the board in Buncombe County. End-of-course test scores from last school year dropped just over ten-percent from the 2018-2019 year. The COVD pandemic prevented students from taking the statewide standardized tests in 2020. Buncombe's director of testing credited teachers because he thought the gap was going to be larger.
Train Derails On Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
(Bryson City, NC) -- The cause of a train derailment is being investigated in western North Carolina. WLOS-TV reports several cars from the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad left the track between the Nantahala Outdoor Center and Bryson City on Saturday. No injuries were reported. The railroad's vice president said all repairs and inspections should be completed later today.
Transylvania Commissioners Vote Against Medicaid Expansion
(Transylvania County, NC) -- Transylvania County's elected leaders are taking a stance against Medicaid expansion. WLOS-TV says the board of commissioners voted Monday against supporting the measure, which would reportedly close the health care gap statewide. Information revealed at Monday night's meeting shows that Transylvania County is among the top in North Carolina when it comes to adults who need healthcare coverage.
No Public Concern After Body Found On BRP
(Boone, NC) -- There's no cause for public concern in the death of a man on the Blue Ridge Parkway. A man was found dead below the Yadkin Valley Overlook in the Blowing Rock area early Saturday afternoon. Parkway officials said yesterday said there's no evidence to suggest any ongoing concern for public safety. An autopsy is scheduled today.
Almost All State-Operated Healthcare Employees Vaccinated
(Raleigh, NC) -- Nearly all employees with the Division of State-Operated Healthcare Facilities are vaccinated against COVID-19. The state says just 16 people were fired once a September 30th deadline for required vaccines came and went. Around six-percent of the roughly ten-thousand people were either medically or religiously exempt.
Mask Requirement Extended In Cabarrus Schools
(Cabarrus County, NC) -- A face mask mandate will remain in effect for Cabarrus County schools. The board of education decided yesterday in its monthly vote to extend the current requirement. It won't be changed until the county hits lower targeted marks for either the COVID positivity rate, hospitalizations or total case rates. District leaders also approved a slight increase in pay for bus drivers, as around 50 openings are currently available.
Inmate Stabs Kershaw Jail Officer
(Kershaw, SC) -- An inmate is accused of attacking an officer at a Lancaster County jail. South Carolina Corrections officials say the suspect used a shank to stab the officer four times inside the Kershaw Correctional Institution last night. The inmate also allegedly stole keys and unlocked some cells before he was caught. The officer is expected to recover from the injuries.
Driver Flees Scene After Hitting CMPD Cruiser
(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is looking for a man who ran away from a hit-and-run involving a police cruiser. The suspect allegedly ran a red light at Monroe Road and Village Lake Drive in southeast Charlotte Monday morning. His car slammed into the officer's vehicle, causing it to flip. The officer suffered injuries, but should be okay. Investigators say the driver ran off down nearby railroad tracks and hasn't been seen since.
Human Remains Found In Burke County
(Burke County, NC) -- The discovery of human remains is being investigated in Burke County. Residents in Drexel reportedly came across the remains in woods off Oak Drive Saturday afternoon. The SBI is assisting in the investigation. Burke County deputies are currently searching through missing persons cases to see if a match can be made.
CMPD Officer Honored After Death From COVID
(Charlotte, NC) -- The community is saying goodbye to a CMPD officer who died from COVID-19. Julio Herrera was laid to rest yesterday after a funeral service at Uptown's First Baptist Church. Students lined the street outside Ardery Kell High School as Herrera's processional passed by beforehand. He worked as a school resource officer at the school for 15-years.
Almost All State-Operated Healthcare Workers Vaccinated
(Raleigh, NC) -- Nearly all employees with the Division of State-Operated Healthcare Facilities are vaccinated against COVID-19. The state says just 16 people were fired once a September 30th deadline for required vaccines came and went. Around six-percent of the roughly ten-thousand people were either medically or religiously exempt.
Faith Leaders From LGBTQ Community Hold Protest Gathering To Condemn Lt. Governor Mark Robinson
(Raleigh, NC) -- Faith leaders from as many as 20-LGBTQ organizations rallied outside the offices of Lt. Governor Mark Robinson Monday, some calling for his resignation, others demanding an apology. The protests came in response to comments he made four months ago at a church, in which he labeled teachings about homosexuality and transgender studies in school's "Filth". But Robinson remained defiant Monday and in fact, called for the removal of three books from public schools in North Carolina.
No Classes Today At UNC Chapel Hill; Students Urged To Focus On Better Mental Health
(Chapel Hill, NC) -- All classes are cancelled today on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill. Students and faculty are being given the day off to focus on mental health following two suicides and one attempted suicide within the past few weeks. A statement released by the University Sunday said mental health counselors will be available throughout the day today. School officials are also planning to host a mental health summit later this month.
City Of Durham Names Former Police Captain As Its New Police Chief
(Durham, NC) -- The City of Durham has announced the selection of a new police chief. Patrice V. Andrews is a 25-year veteran of law enforcement and is currently the police chief of the town of Morrisville. She began her career in 1997 as a patrol officer for the Durham Police Department. During her time in Durham, Andrews served on the street level gang and narcotics enforcement unit and in the Special Operations Division. She became police chief of Morrisville in 2016.
Proud Boys Disrupt Orange County Board Of Education Meeting Multiple Times
(Orange County, NC) -- A Monday night meeting of the Orange County Board of Education was repeatedly disrupted by members of the far right extremist group 'The Proud Boys'. Many were escorted out of the meeting room after blasting school board members for their support of a number of issues, including vaccine and face mask mandates. In the end, the Board voted unanimously to approve a resolution stating that "the Orange County Board of Education stands united against all forms of white nationalism and white supremacy."
New Report Shows Most State Health Employees Now Vaccinated
(Raleigh, NC) -- Data released by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services shows nearly all 10-thousand employees at state health clinics have been vaccinated. The deadline for employee vaccinations was September, 30th. Since that time 16-workers have been fired for refusing to comply with the mandate. The report also said about 6-percent received medical or religious exemptions.
Officer Shoots Man In Greensboro
(Greensboro, NC) -- An investigation is underway in Greensboro where an officer shot and injured a man. The scene unfolded around 4:45 yesterday afternoon during a traffic stop near South Elm-Eugene Street and East Vandalia Road. Police say a passenger in the vehicle took off running and reportedly raised his weapon toward the officer who took off after him. The officer opened fire, striking the man. He's expected to be okay.
Police: Food Lion Employee Stabbed On The Job
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- A Winston-Salem Food Lion employee is recovering after he was stabbed on the job. Police say 23-year-old Keshawn Jenkins was confronted by a man with a knife just before 7 p.m. yesterday. They say the two got into a fight, and the suspect stabbed Jenkins multiple times. The man took off in a Chevy Impala, and Jenkins was rushed to a local hospital in stable condition. Anyone with information is asked to call Winston-Salem P-D.
Couple Arrested In Danville Woman's Death
(Danville, VA) -- A young couple is under arrest in connection to the murder of a Danville woman. Twenty-four-year-old Lindsey Johnson and 22-year-old Nicasio Guzman are accused of murdering Johnson's 88-year-old grandmother. Elizabeth Morris-Adkins was found dead at her home on Juless Street on Sunday morning. Officers immediately launched a homicide investigation. The motive for the killing is not yet known.
Man Shot, Killed During Basketball Game In Greensboro
(Greensboro, NC) -- A man is dead after a fight broke out at a basketball game in Greensboro. It happened at Barber Park Sunday evening. Police say 27-year-old Isaac Lattimore was gunned down inside the gym after an altercation on the basketball court. He died at the hospital. Police have not released any information about the suspect.
More Than 99% Of Cone Health Workers Vaccinated
(Greensboro, NC) -- More than 99 percent of employees at Cone Health are vaccinated against COVID-19. The entire workforce had until October 7th to prove they'd received their shots. Only about 70 people out of 13-thousand chose to voluntarily resigned.