State Senate Approves Medicaid Expansion
(Raleigh, NC) -- Medicaid expansion is back on the table in North Carolina. The state Senate voted yesterday to expand the program, which would make healthcare more accessible for around half-a-million residents. The maximum annual income for an individual to qualify would be raised to 20-thousand-dollars. The bill reportedly faces some opposition in the state House.
Recounts Underway In Buncombe County
(Buncombe County, NC) -- A couple of primary election recounts are underway in Asheville. The Republican race in state House district 115 ended in a tie between Pratik Bhakta and Sherry Higgins, with more than three-thousand votes each. Election workers in Buncombe County are combing through all ballots to gain an accurate count from the May 17th vote. A separate recount is underway for the district attorney's seat.
House To Vote On Gender Identity Bill
(Raleigh, NC) -- Legislation known as the Parents' Bill of Rights is heading to a vote in the North Carolina House. The Senate passed a bill yesterday which would ban teachings about gender identity and sexual orientation for student in kindergarten through third grade. The proposal is expected to pass the state House, but a veto could be coming from the governor.
ADA Suggests Dog Have Vocal Cords Removed
(Graham County, NC) -- An assistant district attorney in Graham County is offering an interesting suggestion to solve a noise violation. A resident told WLOS-TV that he has 750-dollars in fines to pay due to barking from his Great Pyrenees dog. An A-D-A allegedly suggested in court yesterday that the dog's vocal cords be surgically altered to help solve the problem. Another assistant said the tip was inappropriate.
Buncombe County Changes Drug Screening Rules
(Buncombe County, NC) -- A new drug-testing ordinance is going into effect for Buncombe County employees this weekend. The Citizen-Times reports pre-hire testing for new employees is being removed, with the exception of drivers. Random drug testing is also no longer part of the ordinance.
Plans Approved At Site Of Proposed Amazon Center
(Asheville, NC) -- Plans for a once-rumored Amazon center in Asheville are moving forward in a different capacity. The Citizen-Times reports new plans given to the city last week outline details for three buildings totaling over half-a-million-square-feet of space. The land was previously considered to be the location of an Amazon distribution plant, but those ideas fell through. The land is being referred to as the Enka Commerce Park.
Mother Arrested For Child's Drowning In Charlotte
(Charlotte, NC) -- A mother is facing charges in connection to her child's drowning death. The toddler was found unresponsive in a pond at Park Road Park in early March. Investigators say the woman gave inconsistent statements when she called police to report the incident. She was arrested for murder last weekend in New York.
New Indy Tries To Have Lawsuit Tossed
(Catawba, SC) -- A Catawba company is trying to have a lawsuit tossed out of court. A class-action suit claims the health and livelihood of residents is at risk due to a foul smell coming from the New Indy Containerboard plant. Representatives for New Indy argued in court yesterday that the lawsuit isn't specific enough. There's no word on when the judge will have a decision.
State Senate Approves Medicaid Expansion
(Raleigh, NC) -- Medicaid expansion is back on the table in North Carolina. The state Senate voted yesterday to expand the program, which would make healthcare more accessible for around half-a-million residents. The maximum annual income for an individual to qualify would be raised to 20-thousand-dollars. The bill reportedly faces some opposition in the state House.
Child Drives SUV On Gastonia Streets
(Gastonia, NC) -- A child is accused of getting behind the wheel and driving through the streets of Gastonia. Police report n eight-year-old boy was asked by his mother to start their SUV on Tuesday night. He ended up driving two miles with a one-year-old in the backseat. Luckily, no one was injured and the child won't face any charges.
Extended Stay Motel Closing
(Charlotte, NC) -- An extended stay motel in Charlotte is shutting down. Southern Comfort Inn in west Charlotte has served as a low-rent place to stay for as many as 200 people. The owners of the motel told WSOC-TV that they've lost money after multiple tenants have failed to pay rent. It comes as city leaders continue to find ways to add affordable housing across Mecklenburg County.
Money Raised To Clean Up Vandalism At High School
(Charlotte, NC) -- Some seniors are trying to raise money to clean up vandalism at a Charlotte high school. Graffiti, food sauce and broken items were found across the campus last week in what was thought to be a senior prank. CMS is planning to punish students involved based on its code of conduct. More than six-thousand-dollars has been raised to help with the clean-up.
Tepper Real Estate Company Files For Bankruptcy
(Rock Hill, SC) -- The proposed practice facility for the Panthers in Rock Hill is off the table. The real estate company run by team owner David Tepper filed for bankruptcy. It comes after agreements with the city of Rock Hill over the new facility were terminated earlier this year. Tepper Sports reportedly invested 170-million-dollars into the planned project.
Raleigh Metro Area Has One Of The Fastest Growing Job Markets In U.S.
(Raleigh, NC) -- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has released new figures ranking the City of Raleigh 15th in terms of job growth out of 55 cities with a population of more than a million people. The report also said the more than 35-thousand jobs added within the last year represents a 5 and a half percent increase. The current unemployment rate in the Raleigh metro area is 3-point-1 percent. In the category of mid-sized cities with populations of between 350-thousand and 1-million, Durham-Chapel Hill was ranked 31st and Fayetteville was listed at number 45.
After More Than A Year Of Negotiations, WakeMed Kicked Out of UnitedHealthcare's Coverage Plan
(Wake County, NC) -- Contract negotiations between WakeMed and UnitedHealthcare have broken down and now, as of June1st, the hospital system is no longer apart of the UnitedHealthcare in-network coverage plan. The move will impact an estimated 20-thousand patients across North Carolina. At issue is the level of reimbursement the hospital would be paid for services provided, especially to Medicaid patients. UnitedHealthcare says the 20-percent WakeMed has requested would drive up premiums.
North Carolina Senate Republicans Approve Their Own Version Of Medicaid Expansion
(Raleigh, NC) -- A Republican backed bill that would expand Medicaid in the state of North Carolina, has been approved by the state Senate. By a 44-2 vote Wednesday, the proposed legislation would extend Medicaid coverage to more than 500-thousand people in the state who make too much money to be covered by traditional Medicaid, but not enough to afford the cost of the Exchange offered under the Affordable Care Act. The law would also allow nurse practitioners to provide services with less supervision by doctors. The bill now moves to the House.
Patients Bill Of Rights Passed By NC Senate
(Raleigh, NC) -- The so-called Patients Bill of Rights bill was also passed by the North Carolina Senate Wednesday. House Bill 755-would ban the teachings of LGBTQ subjects for students in grades K-3. The controversial piece of legislation would also give parents more control over the curriculum young children are taught. If approved in its current form by the House, Governor Roy Cooper has already indicated he will veto the bill.
ShotSpotter Technology Nearing Approval By Durham City Council
(Durham, NC) -- Members of the Durham City Council have scheduled a budget hearing for Monday, June 6th, to get public opinion on a proposal that would allow the use of 'Shot Spotter' technology to help combat gun violence in the Bull City. This, in response to what appears to be another record year of violent crimes committed with guns. If approved, the City would allocate 198-thousand dollars to test the gunfire detection technology on a one year trial basis.
Fortnite Champion Series Invitational To Be Played In Raleigh
(Cary, NC) -- The 2022 Fortnite Champion Series Invitational will be held in the Triangle. That from Cary-based Epic Games, which announced Wednesday that the in-person event will take place on November 12th and 13th in Raleigh. Organizers say it will be the first major esports in-person tournament for Fortnite since the conclusion of the 2019 Fortnite World Cup, which was held at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City.
Federal Jobless Report Shows Discouraging Signs for Piedmont Triad-Area
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- An analysis by Politico says the true unemployment picture in the Piedmont Triad region is higher than previously thought. The analysis says the biggest increases in "functional unemployment" last year were in the Greensboro-High Point area. The political news outlet says 60 percent of the adult population either didn't have a job, was working part-time but wanted full-time work or made less than 20-thousand dollars per year.
Demonstrators Gather to Protest Lack of Gun Safety
(Greensboro, NC) - A group concerned about their children's safety in schools is calling for more to be done for their kids. They held a vigil Wednesday night at City Center Park to pray together. Another organization, Mothers Standing Against Gun Violence, also gathered to voice frustration in the wake of continued gun violence. Members say their signs of victims outside the Melvin Municipal Building in Greensboro help to serve as a reminder of the damage that's been done to people's lives.
Reidsville Man Pleads Guilty to Involvement in Capitol Riots in January 2021
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- A Reidsville Man who was arrested in Winston-Salem has pleaded guilty to felony charges for his part in the riot at the U.S. Capitol. Matthew Mark Wood, who is 25, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of obstruction and to five related misdemeanors. Court documents say three days before he traveled to Washington, Wood sent an iMessage to someone in which he stated, "If they want to raid Congress, sign me up, I'll be Braveheart." Wood faces a maximum of 20 years in prison on the obstruction charge.
Officials Release Name of Person who Died in King Officer-Involved Shooting
(King, NC) - Officials have named the person who was killed Sunday in an officer-involved shooting in King. Jeffery Moctezuma Noyola of Winston-Salem was the shooter who died. The incident happened during a traffic stop. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is handling the shooting.
Sheriff's Deputy Recovering after Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting
(King, NC) -- The Stokes County Sheriff's department says one of their officers who was involved in a police shooting Sunday is recovering well. WFMY-TV reports that the officer is awake, talking and is in good spirits after suffering a fractured skull in the shooting. Sheriff Joey Lemons says the part-time deputy was also a member of the King Police Department.