High Court Rules Against North Carolina Voting District Maps
(Raleigh, NC) -- It appears North Carolina lawmakers are heading back to the table to start redrawing legislative district lines. The state Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the recently-passed maps are unconstitutional. Republicans were critical of the decision, calling it politically motivated. Any new plans drawn up by lawmakers will now be considered in court.
Drug Overdoses Reported At Asheville Resort
(Buncombe County, NC) -- Multiple drug overdoses are being reported at an Asheville resort hotel. Officers say six people were treated and conscious after suffering apparent overdoses in a suite at the Grove Park Inn on Saturday. Buncombe County Health and Human Services just revealed one day before that there had been a significant increase in fentanyl and cocaine overdoses in the area last week.
Body Found In Haywood County River
(Haywood County, NC) -- The discovery of a body is being investigated in Haywood County. Rescues crews pulled a man's body from the Pigeon River on Sunday afternoon. Sheriff's investigators have not announced if the death is considered suspicious at this point. No identification has been released.
Asheville Apartment Fire Injures One
(Asheville, NC) -- One person is being treated for injuries suffered in an Asheville fire. Flames broke out on a floor of a Bartlett Street apartment building yesterday. It appears the fire was contained to one unit.
COVID Hospitalizations Still High In Henderson County
(Henderson County, NC) -- COVID hospitalizations in Henderson County are continuing to stay at a high number. Officials with AdventHealth and UNC Pardee hospitals told the Times-News that numbers are still in the 20s, as they have been during the recent omicron surge. More than 18-hundred COVID cases have been reported in Henderson County over the last two-weeks.
COVID Testing Continues At UNC Asheville
(Asheville, NC) -- UNC Asheville is continuing to hold free COVID-19 testing. Health officials wrapped up another round of testing over the weekend, with two more weekends to go. Anyone interested is encouraged to pre-register, but no appointment is required. The tests are being distributed at the Highsmith Student Union this Friday through Sunday.
Mint Hill Child Safe After AMBER Alert
(Mint Hill, NC) -- The Mint Hill child at the center of an AMBER Alert is safe. The one-year-old was found late Sunday morning after being reported missing around 1 A.M. The girl's father is the alleged abductor. Investigators are still looking for 39-year-old Jeremy Lemmond, who was said to be traveling in a black Subaru Legacy.
Protest Expected Over Cabarrus School Mask Policy
(Cabarrus County, NC) -- Parents and students are expected to protest the face mask mandate in Cabarrus County Schools. WSOC-TV reports a group is expected to show up at the school board meeting tonight. The latest action comes after a 12-year-old was initially suspended for not wearing a mask on Thursday. The decision was reportedly reversed.
One Dead In Lincoln County Deputy-Involved Shooting
(Lincolnton, NC) -- The SBI is investigating a deadly deputy-involved shooting in Lincoln County. The sheriff's office says a deputy was dragged through a field during an attempted traffic stop on Woolie Road in Lincolnton early Saturday. The deputy was able to shoot the suspect, who died at the scene. The man had an outstanding warrant.
COVID Tracing Requirements Ending In Union County Schools
(Union County, NC) -- Some COVID guidelines are being dropped for Union County schools today. The school board voted last week to end quarantine and contact tracing requirements for staff and students. It was reported at last week's meeting that COVID cases had dropped 50-percent in recent weeks.
Reward Increases In Charlotte Murder
(Charlotte, NC) -- The reward is increasing in the case of a Charlotte murder. Michael Camp was shot to death during a suspected robbery on Pressley Road last July. CrimeStoppers reports a private donation helped raise the reward to six-thousand-dollars for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
Davidson Secures Another Basketball Win
(Washington, DC) -- The Davidson basketball team is continuing its path towards a conference title. The Wildcats took down George Washington over the weekend to run their record to 19-and-three for the year. There are six games left on the Atlantic Ten schedule for Davidson, which holds a one-and-a-half game lead over Saint Louis at the top of the standings. Next up is a match-up with Saint Joe's on Wednesday at Belk Arena.
Longtime Fire Chief In Wake County Dies Of Medical Emergency
(Wayne County, NC) -- A small community in Wayne County is in mourning after a much beloved volunteer fire chief dies in the line of duty. It happened around 1:pm Saturday. According to the Polly Watson Fire Department, Chief James Radford was responding to a call in Wilson County when he suddenly suffered a medical emergency in the parking lot of the fire station and crashed into a parked vehicle. Radford was rushed to Wayne UNC Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The cause of death for the veteran firefighter was not released. Radford was 63.
17-Year Old Durham Boy Injured When Barrage Of Bullets Fired Into His Home
(Durham, NC) -- Authorities in Durham are continuing to search for suspects in a shooting that left a 17-year old boy seriously wounded. It happened around 3:15 pm Sunday at an apartment complex along Wabash Street. Witnesses say someone knock on the door of an apartment unit an then fired multiple shots into the dwelling. The unidentified teen was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for serious injuries. No word on his condition. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers or Durham police.
Ft. Bragg Soldiers In Germany And Poland Bracing For Possible Russian Invasion Of Ukraine
(Rzeszow, Poland) -- Hundreds of Fort Bragg troops were seen landing in southeastern Poland Sunday near the boarder with Ukraine. Around 17-hundred-soldiers were deployed to Poland and Germany last week in anticipation of a possible invasion by Russia. However, the Pentagon continues to stress that American troops are there to reinforce NATO allies, not Ukraine, because Ukraine is not a member of NATO. Meanwhile, dozens of members of the Ukrainian Association of North Carolina held a rally outside the state capitol in Raleigh Saturday to show their support for Ukraine against a Russian military action.
Bridge Replacement Work Likely To Keep Roads Closed For Nearly A Year
(Raleigh, NC) -- A bridge replacement project that began Sunday in Raleigh, will result in the roadway being closed for about a year. That from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, which announced over the weekend that demolition of the Athens Drive Bridge over the Beltline will be torn down and replaced. Drivers are being advised that detour signs have been posted south and east of the Beltline, as well as north and west of the heavily traveled bridge.
NC General Assembly Given Deadline To Come Up With New District Maps
(Raleigh, NC) -- Republicans in the North Carolina General Assembly have been given until February 18th to submit a new set of Congressional district lines. This, after the North Carolina Supreme Court on Friday, voted 4-3 to strike down the first draft of GOP drawn district maps, stating that they unconstitutionally disenfranchised black and minority voters. The new maps were ordered to be re-submitted to a three judge panel of the North Carolina Superior Court for approval.
UNC Women Trounce Miami By Almost 50-Points
(Chapel Hill, NC) -- After a disappointing 20-point loss by the men's team to rival Duke Saturday night, the UNC women's basketball team routed Miami Sunday in an 85-38 blowout. The Lady Tar Heels literally exploded out of the gate with a 28-2 run making 11-out of 19 shots in the first few minutes of the game. On the defensive side, North Carolina was relentless throughout the entire game, forcing 18-turnovers and allowing Miami to make just 23-percent of their shots.
Officials Reduce Evacuation Order To Minimum Housing Threat
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- Officials have reduced the evacuation order to only 275-feet from the Weaver Fertilizer Plant as of Sunday evening. The Winston-Salem Fire Department announced that reduction has gone into effect as of 8 p.m. There are no homes within 275-feet of the plant's location. The original evacuation zone was a one-mile area, and that had been put in place a week ago when the fire broke out on January 31st. Officials from the Environmental Protection Agency have confirmed that there is no extreme hazard with the smoke at this point as air quality has been a primary concern.
Runoff From Fire May Be Affecting Local Waterways
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- State Health officials said there is currently an ongoing investigation to determine the extent the Weaver Fertilizer Plant fire may have had on nearby waterways. Officials say fire at which started last Monday at the plant at 4440 North Cherry Street has potentially impacted Monarcas Creek due to runoff from the site from rainfall and firefighting efforts. While the investigation is ongoing, the health department has issued a recreational water advisory for the section of Monarcas Creek and the downstream sections of Mill Creek and Muddy Creek, ending at the Muddy Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Free Food, STI Testing Offered Today In Greensboro
(Greensboro, NC) -- In honor of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, the Guilford County Division of Public Health will be offering free testing. Officials say anyone can be tested for free for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections today, with no identification required. The health department's Sexual Health Action Group will be doing the free testing for HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis - and offering the free food - Monday from noon to 3 p.m. at 1-0-0-2 S Eugene Street in Greensboro, NC. That's the parking lot for Urban Ministries and Triad Adult and Pediatric Medicine. All testing services are confidential.
Federal Officials Hint at Possible New Interstate for North Carolina, Would Start in Triad Area
(Raleigh, NC) -- The recently-passed federal infrastructure bill could include plans for a new interstate to be built in North Carolina. It would be called I-685 and start in the Triad area and join I-95 in Dunn, North Carolina, near Fayetteville. It would mainly run through Lee and Harnett County along the route of Highway 421. The potential new roadway still needs to be approved by the Federal Highway Administration before work could begin.
Armadillos Expanding their Range as Sightings Increase in North Carolina
(Raleigh, NC) -- State Wildlife watchers say sightings of Armadillos are increasing by quite a bit in the Tar Heel State. The NC Armadillo Project has noted sightings of 34 armadillos for the year ending in December - a nearly double the 19 seen in North Carolina in 2020. One spotting was in Guilford County. State wildlife officials say the armadillos have been expanding their range north and east from Texas, likely reaching North Carolina sometime in 2007. Researchers in NC believe the armadillos are moving into new areas like the Blue Ridge Mountains because of climate change.