Employee Electrocuted At Marion Plant
(Marion, NC) -- An employee of a Marion medical equipment manufacturer is being treated for serious injuries suffered on the job. A helicopter airlifted the person to a burn center in Winston-Salem Monday afternoon. Investigators say the victim was electrocuted at the Baxter plant. No other injuries were reported.
Asheville Murder Suspect Arrested
(Asheville, NC) -- A 19-year-old is behind bars for an Asheville murder. Investigators say one man was killed and another was injured in a shooting at apartments on Spruce Hill Lane early Sunday morning. Asheville police arrested a woman yesterday for charges including murder, attempted murder and trespassing. WLOS-TV says the case is the city's first homicide of the year.
Asheville Rent Prices Top State Rates
(Asheville, NC) -- Rent is rising faster in Asheville than anywhere else in North Carolina, according to a new study. Apartment List reports rent prices locally have increased more than 25-percent over the past-year. The average rental price for a two-bedroom space came in at more than 17-hundred-dollars, which ranked top among the state's major cities. Rent statewide shot up close to 20-percent.
Positivity Rate For COVID Still High In WNC
(Asheville, NC) -- The positivity rate for COVID tests remains high in western North Carolina. AdventHealth reported the number jumped to 35-percent yesterday, which was well above the state's number of 30. More than 270 people remain hospitalized with COVID in the mountain region as well.
Brevard Woman Sentenced For Drug Trafficking
(Brevard, NC) -- A Brevard woman is heading to prison for drug trafficking. Buncombe County's district attorney says the 29-year-old was sentenced to between seven-to-ten-years yesterday after pleading guilty. She was caught with fentanyl, marijuana, meth and thousands of dollars nearly a year ago.
Commissioners Considering Buncombe Rent Relief Assistance
(Buncombe County, NC) -- More federal funds are available for rental help in Buncombe County. WLOS-TV reports the county commission will vote on whether or not to accept two-point-three-million-dollars in assistance funding. Up to 18 months of assistance for rent, mortgage or utilities is available to those who have been accepted through the application process.
Email Accidentally Singles Out Unvaccinated Employees
(Mecklenburg County, NC) -- An email about Mecklenburg County's COVID-19 testing policy is causing concern for some employees. NBC Charlotte reports that an email was supposed to be sent to all government employees yesterday, but the information was only sent to unvaccinated workers. They were all reportedly identified because the email addresses showed up in the "to" section of the email. One county commissioner called the mistake cringeworthy.
Child Shot In North Charlotte
(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is investigating the shooting of a child in north Charlotte. WSOC-TV reports the child suffered injuries that weren't thought to be life-threatening. It happened at a shopping center off Sugar Creek Road on Monday afternoon. No arrests have been announced.
Charlotte Murder Suspect Arrested In Georgia
(Charlotte, NC) -- A suspect wanted in a Charlotte Christmas Day murder is now behind bars. The CMPD says the man was arrested in metro Atlanta last week with help from the FBI. One person was killed and two others were injured in a shooting on Beatties Ford Road near I-85 in the early morning hours of December 25th. The suspect is awaiting extradition.
Atrium Health Opens New ER In Mecklenburg County
(Charlotte, NC) -- A new emergency room is open in northwestern Mecklenburg County. Atrium Health is now offering is now offering emergency care close the Mountain Island Marketplace shopping center. The hospital system is boasting advantages of shorter wait times and on-call medical specialists for that portion of the county.
Truist Closing Moe Banks Around Charlotte
(Charlotte, NC) -- More branches of Truist bank are closing in the Charlotte area. The Charlotte Business Journal reports six locations are shuttering by March. The company says it's an opportunity to reduce redundant branches because of other locations in close proximity.
Students And Driver Injured In Wreck Between Car And School Bus In Durham
(Durham, NC) -- Seven students from the Durham city School District, had to be taken to the hospital Monday, after a car crashed into a school bus. It happened around 3:pm at the intersection of Snow Hill Road and Torredge Road. Witnesses say the car, which was traveling at a high rate of speed, ran a stop sign before colliding with the bus. In all, 15-students were on board the bus. Seven of them, as well as the driver of the car were taken to the hospital for examination as a safety precaution. Fortunately, none of the injuries were considered to be serious.
Shooting At Raleigh Motel Leaves Four Wounded; Two Of Them Seriously
(Raleigh, NC) -- Police in Raleigh are investigating a shooting at a motel Monday night that resulted in four people being wounded. It happened around 9:20 pm at the Wake Inn on New Bern Avenue. Authorities provided few other details about the shooting, only that two of the victims were in serious condition and that there are multiple suspects in this case. So far, no arrests have been made and police have yet to establish a motive.
New Law Takes Effect In North Carolina Today Eliminating The Need For Prescriptions For Birth Control Medications
(Raleigh, NC) -- Starting today, women in North Carolina who want to purchase birth control medications won't need a prescription. The change is the result of a bill passed by the General Assembly and signed into law in August of 2021, that would allow qualified pharmacists to give and administer certain types of contraceptives. In addition to birth control, pharmacists in North Carolina will also be allowed to give out HIV prevention medications, nicotine replacement therapy, prenatal vitamins and glucagon for treatment of severe hypoglycemia.
Man Who Allegedly Taught Others How To Make Bombs Arrested In Duplin County
(Duplin County, NC) -- A Duplin County man made his first court appearance Monday following an arrest last week on allegations connected to bomb making. Prosecutors say 38-year old Christopher Arthur of Mount Olive, was taken into custody January 22nd, after investigators discovered he had provided instructions on how to make and use an explosive device to an individual who was planning to kill a federal law enforcement agent. If convicted, Arthur could be sentenced up to 20-years in prison and fined 250-thousand dollars.
Orange County School Board Votes To Keep Controversial LGBTQ Books
(Orange County, NC) -- The Orange County Board of Education voted unanimously Monday night to keep three controversial LGBTQ books in high school libraries. The books, which have recently drawn the ire of many parents and conservative groups as being obscene and too sexually explicit for children, are the same ones that prompted a criminal complaint to be filed against the Wake County School District.
Area Evacuations Taking Place as Fertilizer Plant Burns in Winston-Salem
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- Firefighters have pulled back on their response to a fire that has destroyed the Winston Weaver Co. fertilizer plant Monday night. Fears of an explosion have led to an evacuation of an area within a one-mile perimeter of the plant on North Cherry Street near Indiana Avenue. Fire department officials are telling people leaving their homes to expect to be gone for up to 48-hours and a shelter has been set up at the fairgrounds to house the residents. Mayor Allen Joines said firefighters had to stop fighting the because of the large amount of ammonium nitrate at the plant and the danger of toxic fumes. No one has been hurt or injured; officials said the business was not open and no employees were in the building at the time of the fire.
Man In Need of Kidney Transplant Would Rather Die Than Get Needed COVID Vaccine
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- A North Carolina man in need of a lifesaving kidney transplant says he would rather die than get the COVID vaccine. That could happen as a hospital in Winston-Salem is refusing to do the procedure unless Chad Carswell gets vaccinated. He says he's had COVID-19 twice and doesn't believe he needs the vaccine. The double amputee also has undergone major surgeries on his heart, but his kidney needs to be replaced because it's only functioning at four-percent. Carswell says that friends and local businesses had raised money for the transplant. The hospital says their policy follows the current standard of care in the United States.
North Carolina A&T Men's Indoor Track Team Ranked No. 1 In Country
(Greensboro, NC) -- North Carolina A&T men's indoor track is keeping the pace coming off its historic 2020-21 season. The Aggies are the Number One team in the nation in the latest United States Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association Poll. It's the first time an A&T Division I team is ranked Number One in a non-historically black college or university national poll. School officials say it's also the highest ranking in program history for the Aggies.
Winston-Salem Teacher Honored As North Carolina's Young Educator Of The Year
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- A Winston-Salem dual language teacher has recently been named Young Educator of the Year. The honor is given by the N.C. Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development. Micaela Bermudez, an instructor in the International Baccalaureate program at Speas Global Elementary says she was very surprised that she was honored. Her colleagues say it's no surprise as she's very creative and innovative in her teaching. Bermudez will accept her award from the NC ASCD next month in Pinehurst. She is now eligible for the national teaching competition.