Asheville Council Names Reparations Commission
(Asheville, NC) -- Asheville's new Reparations Committee is set. The city council released 25 names at its meeting yesterday after the selection was delayed last month. Many of the committee members will represent at least five historically-impacted African-American neighborhoods. Committee members will serve up to ten-hours a month for up to two-years.
Two Injured In Asheville Shooting
(Asheville, NC) -- A double shooting is being investigated at an Asheville business. Two men were rushed to the hospital after being shot at Green's Mini-Mart on Depot Street last night. One witness told WLOS-TV he feels lucky to be alive when shots were fired towards his car. The search is continuing for a suspect.
FEMA Assistance Still Available In Haywood County
(Haywood County, NC) -- Federal assistance remains available for those affected by flooding in Haywood County. It's been around seven-months since the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred wreaked havoc on western North Carolina, which resulted in several deaths in Haywood County. March 31st represents the deadline to complete applications for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Gas Prices Up In WNC
(Asheville, NC) -- Tourism officials in Asheville are weighing the effects of gas prices on future travel. Triple-A reports the current average locally has shot up to four-oh-eight-a-gallon for regular unleaded. That's nearly 80-cents above what drivers were paying just a month ago. The executive director for Henderson County's Tourism Development Authority says the travel season has still been unusually busy.
Asheville Schools Recruiting Teachers
(Asheville, NC) -- Asheville City Schools is coming up with ways to help fill vacancies. WLOS-TV reports the school system is now taking advantage of a program with the personal finance company called Landed, which helps education employees with down payments for new homes. Bonuses have already been approved to help retain teachers for Asheville schools. District officials revealed this week there have been more than 70 resignations since last summer.
Property Tax Challenges Still Accepted In Buncombe
(Asheville, NC) -- Appeals are still being accepted on property values for Buncombe County homeowners. Residents have until April 20th to challenge real property values. The Citizen-Times reports one-on-one in-person help is available every Saturday morning this month at libraries across the county.
Candidates Narrowed Down For Commission Seat
(Mecklenburg County, NC) -- Mecklenburg County Commissioners are narrowing down a list of candidates to fill a board spot. A temporary seat will be filled while at-large commissioner Ella Scarborough is on medical leave. Commissioners whittled down a list of finalists last night from more than 20 down to four last night. Final interviews will take place on Saturday.
Truck Driver For Mooresville NASCAR Team Killed
(Mooresville, NC) -- A Mooresville-based NASCAR team is mourning the loss of a truck driver. Investigators say Steven Stotts was driving a semi-truck carrying NASCAR vehicles that crashed into an SUV on I-20 in Texas yesterday. Stotts was killed in the accident, while two of his passengers were injured. The second driver also suffered injuries in the wreck.
Charlotte In Running To Host College Football Rivalry
(Charlotte, NC) -- The Queen City is in the running to host one of college football's most historic rivalries. The Charlotte Sports Foundation revealed yesterday that the city is one of a few finalists being considered as the future home of the Army-Navy game, which is being held in Philadelphia this year. Boston, Charlotte and Dallas are also being considered as sites for the match-up.
Union County Restaurant Owner Committing Funds To Help Ukraine
(Union County, NC) -- A restaurant owner in Mooresville is using food sales to help out people fleeing Ukraine. WBTV reports Michael Bay is planning to donate proceeds from two days of business this week from his restaurants, Barcelona and Alino. Lines were reportedly out the door at the Barcelona Restaurant yesterday. Bay says he was hoping to raise around 50-thousand-dollars.
Fallen Arches Removed In Hickory
(Hickory, NC) -- Debris from the site of collapsed arches in Hickory has now been cleared. The 90-foot structure fell onto the pedestrian bridge over Highway 27 a few weeks ago. The city of Hickory is not investigating the collapse because it alleges the city never claimed ownership of the arches. Clean-up at the site was completed this week.
Two Sought For Credit Card Fraud
(Matthews, NC) -- A search is underway for suspects accused in credit card thefts around Charlotte. Two women are accused of making false charges at a Lowe's home improvement store in Matthews last Thursday. Investigators say they've made transactions totaling over 37-thousand-dollars.
Hornets Fall To Brooklyn
(Charlotte, NC) -- The Hornets are struggling to make it back to the 500 mark on the season. Kyrie Irving dropped 50 points on Charlotte last night to lead Brooklyn to a 132-121 win last night at the Spectrum Center. Despite the loss, the Hornets remain in the running for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte fell two-games below even for the season.
Nine Month Old Baby Identified As Fatal Victim Of Huge Cary Apartment Fire
(Cary, NC) -- The continuing investigation into a deadly fire that destroyed 12-units of a Cary apartment complex has found that the lone fatality was a nine month old baby. Of the other residents who were injured in the massive fire at the Aurella Apartments on Monday, a 28-year old woman remained hospitalized in critical, but stable condition Tuesday. Two other victims, described as a 21-year old man and a 70-year old woman, were treated for non-life threatening injuries. Many residents have told inspectors that there had been electrical problems at the apartment complex even before the fire.
Suspect Jailed After Kidnapping A Woman And Robbing A Chapel Hill Credit Union
(Chapel Hill, NC) -- Authorities in Chapel Hill are holding a suspect in custody after he was arrested for an attempted kidnapping and robbery of a credit union. It happened shortly before noon Tuesday at the State Employees Credit Union on South Elliot Road. Investigators say the suspect, identified as 36-year old Michael Riley Wilson, initially tried to rob a woman of the building before forcing her to accompany him inside where he demanded money. Police captured Wilson on foot a short time later near the Credit Union. There were no injuries.
Regular Session Of NC General Assembly Finally Coming To An End
(Raleigh, NC) -- After more than a year of legislative meetings, the regular session of the North Carolina General Assembly is expected to come to an end later this week. That from House Speaker Tim Moore, who said Tuesday that it was the first time in state history that a legislative session has carried over into a second year. An adjournment resolution that both Houses will vote on this week, will call for a so-called 'Short Session' to begin on May 18th, the day after statewide primary elections are held. Normally, the regular session runs for six months.
Senate To Attempt To Override Cooper's Veto Of Mask-Optional Bill For Schools
(Raleigh, NC) -- Republicans in the North Carolina Senate are expected to stage an override attempt today, of a veto by Governor Roy Cooper on a mask optional bill for public schools. The vote is scheduled to take place during the 4:30 pm session. If successful, the statewide masks-optional bill override would move to the House for consideration on Thursday. The vote comes as the vast majority of local school districts in North Carolina have already voted to end masks mandates.
Bus Fares To Remain Free For GoTriangle Passengers Despite Rising Fuel Cost
(Raleigh, NC) -- Despite gas and diesel fuel prices nearing record high levels in central North Carolina, public transportation officials say the cost will not immediately be passed on to customers. According to Chuck Latta, CEO of GoTriangle, bus fares will remain free for at least another year. Latta said any fare increases will have to be factored into the budget for the next fiscal year, which begins on July 1st. Right now, GoTriangle gets a discount on diesel and unleaded gas, paying less that 3-dollars-15 cents a gallon.
NC State Season Ends With First Round Tournament Loss To Clemson
(Brooklyn, NY) -- The season for the NC State men's basketball team came to a disappointing end Tuesday night, with a first round ACC Tournament loss to Clemson 70-64. The Wolfpack made only about 35-percent of its field goal attempts at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and went 4-for-23 in 3-point attempts. NC State was able to pull within 5-points at the half and 5-points again with just over a minute left in the game. But that was not enough as Clemson held on for the victory.
Gas Prices Rise Over Four-Dollars In Winston-Salem
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- Gas prices are over the four-dollar mark in Winston-Salem. Triple-A reports the current average is around four-oh-one-per-gallon, which is close to 50-cents higher than just one week ago. Prices in Greensboro haven't quite crossed the four-dollar barrier yet, but have still also climbed a half-dollar from last week. The national average is already at an all-time high.
Woman's Body Found In Guilford County
(Guilford County, NC) -- The discovery of a body is being investigated in Guilford County. A woman was found dead along Old Liberty Place Tuesday afternoon. The sheriff's office says there were undisclosed injuries on the woman's body.
D-A Seeks Death Penalty In Forsyth County Murder Case
(Forsyth County, NC) -- The death penalty is being sought in a Forsyth County murder case. A suspect is accused of kidnapping and killing a man during an armed robbery at his apartment in late December 2018. A Superior Court judge granted the district attorney's request to seek the death penalty in the case yesterday. Another woman is also facing murder charges.
Grant Provides Funds For Metal Detectors
(Forsyth County, NC) -- Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools have access to new metal detectors for security. The state recently awarded the school district with a grant which allows for the purchase of more than 70 detectors. The grant will also help provide safe-school training in emergency situations.
Broadway Show Brings In Massive Ticket Sales
(Greensboro, NC) -- A Broadway show is having a big impact on Greensboro's economy. The News and Record reports the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts pulled in over three-and-a-half-million-dollars in ticket sales for Disney's The Lion King. The two-week production just wrapped up on Sunday. The new Tanger Center opened up its three-thousand seat center in early September.