Cawthorn Challenging Board Of Elections
(Haywood County, NC) -- Western North Carolina's Congressman is suing the board of elections. A group of voters is currently attempting to keep Madison Cawthorn's name off the ballot because of claims he helped incite the U.S. Capitol riot just over a year ago. Cawthorn filed a lawsuit this week, saying that it's his constitutional right to run for office. An attorney for the voter's group is planning to challenge Cawthorn's suit.
One Dead In Rutherford County Fire
(Rutherford County, NC) -- Rutherford County investigators are looking into details from a deadly fire. One person was killed and another was seriously injured when flames erupted at a home on Davis Lake Road early Tuesday afternoon. While the exact cause isn't known, the fire marshal said it appears the blaze started in the living room.
Swain County Deputy Arrested for DWI
(Swain County, NC) -- A Swain County deputy is accused of driving impaired. Sergeant Michael Harrison was arrested for DWI after crashing into a bridge late Friday night. He has worked as a school resource officer for Swain County High School. There's no word on his employment status from the sheriff's office.
Former Teacher Reaches Plea Deal In Child Porn Case
(Buncombe County, NC) -- A plea deal has been reached in a child pornography case involving a former Buncombe County teacher. Asheville police allegedly uncovered thousands of illegal images on electronic devices owned by Christopher Lee Todd, who worked at Cane Creek Middle School until his resignation last February. The Citizen-Times reports Todd took a plea deal in December. His punishment remains unclear.
Funds Extended For Code Purple Shelters
(Asheville, NC) -- Buncombe County is setting aside more money for Code Purple shelters. WLOS-TV reports the county commission doubled funding this week to 80-thousand-dollars-a-year to help with staffing and daily operations. Shelters in Asheville extend help for the homeless on Code Purple nights during the cold season. Staffing issues recently led to the closing of two shelters.
Canton Opening Temporary Offices
(Canton, NC) -- A western North Carolina town is setting up temporary offices. WLOS-TV says Canton is setting up units next to the city parking garage for employees. The town's previous permanent offices were damaged in last summer's flooding. A new town hall will be placed in a different location to prevent future flooding problems.
Federal Team Helping Atrium Health Pineville
(Pineville, NC) -- A federal medical team is helping the emergency department at Atrium Health Pineville. U.S. Health and Human Services has deployed a team this week made up of physicians, nurses and paramedics to help with a surge in needed services. More than two-dozen ambulances are being sent to help in various counties across the state tomorrow.
Face Masks Still Required In Mecklenburg County
(Mecklenburg County, NC) -- Mecklenburg County's face mask requirement will stay in place for now. The county commission didn't make a change to the ruling last night despite a call from some people to lift it. The 29-percent positivity rate for COVID tests still remains well above the desired five-percent number to lift the mandate. Mecklenburg's health director said the county will look at surrounding areas to make a choice in the future.
One Dead After Northeast Charlotte Shooting
(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is investigating a homicide in northeast Charlotte. Investigators say a man died after he was shot on Meadow Drive Monday afternoon. The police department hasn't given out any information on potential suspects.
CMPD Releases Video From Officer-Involved Shooting
(Charlotte, NC) -- A video from an officer-involved shooting in Charlotte is out. The CMPD released a ten-minute clip yesterday from the scene outside a Walmart on Albemarle Road in early November. Investigators say officers shot and killed Derrell Raney after he refused to drop a gun. They were searching for Raney after he allegedly claimed there were two dead bodies in his home, but none were found.
NC COVID Numbers Continue Drop
(Raleigh, NC) -- COVID case numbers are continuing to drop in North Carolina. Health officials reported just under 88-hundred yesterday, which was around 20-thousand less than five-days before. Hospitalizations are down as well. Despite the declines, the positivity rate for COVID tests was still close to 30-percent.
Charlotte FC Wins Preseason Match
(Charlotte, NC) -- Charlotte FC's preseason is off to a good start. The city's new Major League Soccer team defeated the Grenada National Team three-nothing in a friendly match yesterday. An open training session is coming up at Bank of America Stadium one week from tomorrow. This year marks the first season for Charlotte FC, which is the latest franchise added to the professional league.
COVID-19 Key Metrics In North Carolina Starting To Show Declines
(Raleigh, NC) -- Figures released by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services showed there were eight-thousand-seven-hundred-57 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, the lowest single-day total since late December. There were also 47-hundred-86 people in the hospital, a decrease of 97-from the day before. North Carolina's test positive rate was at 29-point-eight-percent yesterday. And, there were 60-coronavirus related deaths.
Wake County Board Of Education Extends Mask Requirement For Students Five And Up
(Wake County, NC) -- The Wake County Board of Education has voted to extend its mandatory face mask policy for students ages 5-and older. However, at its regular meeting on Tuesday, the Board also rejected a proposal that would have required pre-school children to wear masks. Instead, they decided only to recommend children between 2-and-4 wear face coverings. On a separate item, the Board discussed implementing a new social and mental wellness curriculum for students in grades K-8.
Battle Over Newly Drawn District Lines Goes Before State Supreme Court Today
(Raleigh, NC) -- Opening arguments are set to get underway today before the North Carolina Supreme Court in a controversial redistricting lawsuit. The seven justices will hear testimony from both sides via online conference, in a case that claims the current Republican-drawn maps for Congress and the General Assembly were purposely created to dilute black voting strength and to ensure GOP control of federal and state offices. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the plaintiffs, state lawmakers will have two weeks to draw new district lines.
Amazon Building New Fulfillment Center In Fayetteville
(Fayetteville, NC) -- City leaders in Fayetteville have confirmed that Amazon is in the process of investing 100-million dollars on construction of a new million square foot fulfillment center near Bragg Boulevard. According to Mayor Mitch Colvin, once completed, the fulfillment center will employ around 500-workers, with the possibility of expanding to about one thousand. Other Triangle areas where Amazon is operating fulfillment include Durham, Kernersville and Garner.
FEMA Sending Additional Emergency Vehicles To North Carolina Counties
(Raleigh, NC) -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced plans to send more ambulances to North Carolina to help counties that have been struggling to respond to emergency calls. In a statement released Tuesday, the agency said 25-emergency vehicles have been assigned to the state. This is in addition to the more than two dozen sent in early January. The ambulances are expected to arrive in North Carolina by Tuesday, February 8th.
Evacuation Zone Around Fertilizer Plant to Stay in Place for 48 Hours
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- Winston-Salem Fire Chief Trey Mayo says an evacuation zone will remain in place around the Winston Weaver fertilizer plant for at least another day. A massive fire broke out at the 80-year-old plant Monday, prompting the evacuation of everyone within a mile of the factory. At a news conference Tuesday, Chief Mayo said there is not an immediate heat threat to rail cars containing about 100 tons of ammonium nitrate. However, he says, the one-mile evacuation radius needs to stay in effect for now. Chief Mayo went on to say there was no fire code when they built the fertilizer plant, so the building is missing a sprinkler system - and that adds to the potential danger.
Air Quality in Piedmont-Triad Impacted by Fertilizer Plant Fire
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- Officials say the air quality in the Piedmont on Wednesday will be poor, due to smoke and pollutants in the air from an ongoing fire in Winston-Salem. The Winston Weaver fertilizer plant caught fire Monday night and some parts of it are still burning. The officials say the closer you are to the fire, the worse the air quality will be. Health experts are also advising anyone with asthma or breathing trouble to be extra cautious and avoid outdoor activities.
Region Could See Fourth Weekend of Wintry Weather, Beginning Wednesday
(Greensboro, NC) -- Forecasters say the Piedmont Triad could be in for a fourth round of winter weather this weekend. Meteorologists with the National Weather Service say a cold front that's currently hitting the Midwest will arrive in the Piedmont late Wednesday and Thursday. The agency also says some models show a risk for some wintry precipitation across parts of central North Carolina on Sunday. Thursday will be a rainy day with a chance of rain at 50 percent, possibly turning into colder weather for Friday and Saturday.
Greensboro Shooting Tuesday Night Leaves One Person in Critical Condition
(Greensboro, NC) -- A person is in critical condition after a pre-dawn shooting in Greensboro on Tuesday. A news release says police were called to the 16-hundred block of McPherson Street where they found 14-year old Jakaylen Chambers who'd been shot. Chambers was hospitalized and later died there. There is no word on the circumstances leading up to the incident. Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to contact Greensboro / Guilford Crime Stoppers.
International Civil Rights Museum Postpones Observance Due to COVID
(Greensboro, NC) -- The International Civil Rights Museum is postponing its commemoration of the student sit-in at the "whites-only" counter of Woolworth's in downtown Greensboro. Ordinarily, it's held on February 1st, the day of original action in 1960, which started the Civil Rights Sit-in Movement. But officials say due to COVID, the museum and center has moved its annual gala to July 25th. Co-Founder Skip Alston says the museum will instead feature dramatic readings and history lessons on its website throughout the month of February.