Buncombe School Board To Discuss Return To Learn Plan
(Buncombe County, NC) -- Face masks could be a topic of discussion at a special meeting with the Buncombe County board of education tonight. School officials will be discussing the Return to Learn Plan. Anyone wishing to speak will be allowed three-minutes. Haywood, Henderson and McDowell County schools all recently decided to drop their mask requirements.
COVID Hospitalizations Down At Two Henderson County Hospitals
(Asheville, NC) -- Two Henderson County hospitals are continuing to experience drops in COVID patients. The chief medical officer for AdventHealth told WLOS-TV yesterday there was one patient in the ICU and less than a dozen hospitalized overall. Likewise, Pardee UNC Healthcare had eleven hospitalized patients with three in the ICU. The hospitals are still busy because some people with illnesses have delayed care due to the rise in COVID cases.
Two Deaths Investigated By APD
(Asheville, NC) -- Two deaths are being investigated by Asheville police. Officers found a man dead inside a car parked outside the Buffalo Wild Wings on Tunnel Road Sunday afternoon. Another person was found dead around 12-hours later at a homeless encampment behind an Aldi store on Airport Road. Foul play isn't suspected in either case, but investigators are still looking for more details.
Asheville City Council Resumes In-Person Meetings
(Asheville, NC) -- The public can now attend Asheville City Council meetings again. Tonight's session at Harrah's Cherokee Center will mark the first in-person meeting since August. Rising COVID numbers last summer forced the council to hold virtual meetings. Face masks are optional.
DOT Ahead Of Schedule On New I-26 Interchange
(Asheville, NC) -- The DOT is fast-tracking a new I-26 interchange in Asheville. The division engineer for the Asheville office told the Citizen-Times this week the interchange between Brevard and Long Shoals roads is currently in design and construction should start by spring 2023. The agency decided on a plan that will have the least impact on the environment. The interchange will also service the massive Pratt and Whitney aircraft parts plant.
Asheville Taking Input On Greenway Projects
(Asheville, NC) -- The city of Asheville wants to hear from the public on greenway and pedestrian projects. A survey is available through March 21st which seeks input for project recommendations in the city's Close the GAP project. GAP stands for greenway, accessibility and pedestrian networks.
Suspect Identified In Bus Driver's Murder
(Charlotte, NC) -- A 21-year-old man is wanted in the shooting death of a Charlotte bus driver. Ethan Rivera was driving a CATS bus in uptown when he was shot on February 11th. Investigators say it appears the shooting stemmed from road rage. A murder warrant has been issued for Darian Dru Thavychith [[ tha-VEE-chith ]].
Another Suspect Charged After Human Remains Found In Huntersville
(Huntersville, NC) -- Another suspect is facing charges in connection to the January discovery of human remains in Huntersville. Investigators revealed yesterday that the victim was identified as Libby Kerns of Rowan County, who had reportedly been missing since last July. A woman in custody in Michigan is being charged with murder and kidnapping this week. The first murder suspect was arrested in late January.
New Hospital Opens In Mathews Today
(Matthews, NC) -- A new hospital is opening today in Matthews. WSOC-TV reports Atrium Health Union West is the first newly-built hospital in the Queen City area in several decades. The 150-million-dollar hospital includes an ICU, maternity ward and surgery area. Forty acute care beds will be available.
Carowinds Hiring Ahead Of Season
(Charlotte, NC) -- Hundreds of new employees are needed to work at Carowinds for the 2022 season. The park held a hiring fair yesterday in hopes of filling 900 open positions. Carowinds opens next month. YMCA of Greater Charlotte also needs to fill 350 lifeguard positions for the summer.
Group Looks to Restore Historically Black Cemetery
(Salisbury, NC) -- A group of residents is trying to restore a historically Black cemetery in Salisbury. NBC Charlotte reports the Dixonville-Lincoln Memorial Project has raised half-a-million-dollars to help pave paths, repair some graves and place headstones on unmarked graves at Dixonville Cemetery. The task force found out earlier this month that more than a dozen headstones had been turned over or broken. Salisbury police officers are investigating.
Charlotte In Top-Quarter Of Hardest Working Cities
(Charlotte, NC) -- A new study shows that Charlotte is one of the hardest-working cities in the U.S. WalletHub listed the Queen City at number 27 out of the country's 116 largest cities. Findings revealed the average American works more than 17-hundred-hours-a-year. Anchorage, Alaska came in at number-one.
Charlotte FC Kicks Off Inaugural Season Saturday
(Charlotte, NC) -- Charlotte FC is preparing for the opener in its inaugural season. The club's first match is this Saturday in Washington against D.C. United. Bank of America will host Charlotte's first home game on March 5th. Fans can catch all matches at the club's website or mobile app.
350-Motorists Suspected Of Drunk Driving Arrested In North Carolina Over The Weekend
(Raleigh, NC) -- A statewide crackdown on drunk driving this weekend resulted in at least 350-motorists being arrested. That from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, which reported Monday that the campaign involving state and local law enforcement agencies, was an attempt to increase roadway safety around ABC licensed businesses where accidents often occur. Of the nearly 800-charges filed, 101-were alcohol related, 182-were drug related and 292 were motor vehicle violations. 64-drivers were charged with felonies.
SUV Loses Control In Zebulon, Hits A Teenager And Crashes Into Three Other Vehicles
(Zebulon, NC) -- Authorities in Zebulon are investigating a violent Monday night crash that injured a pedestrian and damaged several other cars in a gas station parking lot. It happened around 6:pm near Mitchell's Food Mart on Zebulon Road and Highway 96. State Troopers say the driver of a white SUV first struck a teenager who was walking, then slammed into another SUV, causing both cars to crash into a pickup truck and a taco truck. The teenager and at least one adult were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
More Districts Joining Long List Of NC Schools Ending Mandatory Face Masks Policies
(Raleigh, NC) -- More school districts across North Carolina are ending their masks mandates in favor of optional policies. Starting today, both Wilson and Nash counties will begin new optional face masks policies. And, the Wake County Board of Education will meet today to vote on a specific date to end its masks mandate and replace it with a revised COVID-safety protocol. And, the Orange County School District will implement a new optional masks policy 72-hours after the County's masks mandate expires.
Durham City Council Member Resigning To Move To Europe
(Durham, NC) -- Durham City Council Member Charlie Reece has announced plans to resign from the position. In an announcement posted on Twitter and YouTube Monday, Reece said he was stepping down to move to Europe where his wife is set to begin a new job. Reece, who was first elected at-large in 2015 and then re-elected in 2019, was set to serve out his current term through December of 2023. As an attorney, Reece has also worked as an assistant district attorney and assistant state attorney general. Reece's last day will be March 7th.
Teen Charged In Shooting Death Of NC State Grad Appeared Before A Judge On Monday
(Raleigh, NC) -- A teenager charged with murder in the shooting death of a 22-year recent graduate of North Carolina State University, made his first court appearance in Wake County on Monday. If convicted, 19-year old James Anderson could receive the death penalty for the killing of Cody McLaggan Friday night outside the Food Lion on Western Boulevard. A preliminary investigation says McLaggan was shot while sitting in his car. So-far no motive has been established for the shooting.
Tar Heels Edged By Louisville 70-63 Last Night At The Dean Dome
(Chapel Hill, NC) -- In one of the tightest contest of the entire ACC men's basketball season, Louisville battled North Carolina down to the last 37-seconds of the game last night, before the Tar Heels finally pulled away for the victory. There were nine 9-ties and 8-lead changes, with Brady Manek scoring 17-points and Armando Bacot hitting 12-points and grabbing 15-rebounds for his 21st double-double. North Carolina finished on a 6-0 run and held Louisville scoreless for the last 2-minutes-50 seconds to down the Cardinals 70-63.
City Awarding Families With Relief After Fire Evacuation
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- The city of Winston-Salem is trying to help out families affected by a fertilizer plant fire. Thousands of people were told to evacuate after flames tore through the Winston Weaver Co. facility at the end of January. The city council gave the go-ahead last night to provide affected low-to-moderate income families with up to one-thousand-dollars each. The funds will help cover lodging, food expenses and more.
Volvo Bringing Financial Services HQ To Greensboro
(Greensboro, NC) -- Volvo is pouring money into an expansion in Greensboro. The company announced yesterday that it will relocate its financial services headquarters to the city, with a planned opening next year. Several hundred employees will be relocated. Greensboro is already the home for Volvo Group North America.
Guilford County School Board Drops Mask Mandate
(Guilford County, NC) -- Guilford County is joining a number of other North Carolina school districts in dropping its face mask mandate. The school board voted last night to allow masks to be optional, which comes after the governor urged districts to lift requirements. They'll still be required on buses. The Thomasville board of education also decided to remove its mask mandate.
Train Hits Tractor Trailer In Jamestown
(Jamestown, NC) -- No injuries are being reported from the site of a train collision in Jamestown. An Amtrak train with passengers slammed into a tractor-trailer at Dillon Road and West Main Street last night. The roads are expected to be cleared sometime this morning. One witness told WFMY the large truck was stuck on the tracks.
Man Arrested At Graham Demonstration
(Graham, NC) -- A man is facing charges for his alleged actions in a Graham protest. The United Patriot Party of North Carolina showed up outside the courthouse last weekend to take a stand against COVID policies. Deputies arrested the man after trying to start a fight during an argument with a counter-protester. He was charged with disorderly conduct.