Mission Health Making A 22-Million Dollar Investment In Its Employees
(Asheville, NC) -- Mission Health is raising pay for employees. The HCA Healthcare owned hospital system is putting 22-million dollars toward pay increases for employees of the six hospitals outside Asheville and its non-union employees in the city. The increases are effective immediately. In a press release this week, Mission says they are investing in their colleagues with "pay increases for key roles which support patient care."
Driver Shortage Forcing Asheville Schools To Get Creative
(Asheville, NC) -- Several bus routes in the Asheville City Schools district are being affected by the ongoing bus driver shortage this week. Parents of the district were notified earlier this week of three bus routes in particular that would be impacted. Word from the district is that those issues have been resolved, at least in the short term. The district says school administrators and other employees have stepped into driver roles to patch the holes in some routes, but they know it's not a permanent solution.
Hazmat Spill Closes North Carolina Roadway Through This Morning
(Mitchell County, NC) -- North Carolina State Highway Patrol officials say it was a hazmat spill that forced the closure of a major Mitchell County thoroughfare last night. A tanker hauling 45-hundred gallons of hydrofluorosilicic acid crashed along NC-226 at NC-197 yesterday morning, around 9:15. The driver was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries and most of the spill has been contained at this point. The roadway is closed at least through this morning.
Nonprofit Conducting A Craggy Dam Removal Study
(Asheville, NC) -- A local nonprofit is looking into the potential benefits of the removal of the Craggy Dam. The American Rivers group is working with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission on a feasibility study regarding the aging dam. One glaring issue that would arise after the removal is the loss of the hydropower provided by the dam. The study is expected to last a year with the final dam decision coming from the Metropolitan Sewage District.
Fisherman Reels In North Carolina Record Swordfish
(Newport, NC) -- A North Carolina man is a new state record holder after reeling in a really big fish. Brandon Carney was on his son's boat out about 50 miles off Beaufort Inlet in the Atlantic recently. The 59-year-old seasoned fisherman says he battled the fish for more than two hours before reeling in the largest swordfish ever caught in the state. The beast weighed in at 504-pounds, stretching 12-and-a-half-foot long from tail to tip, with the bill measuring a whopping 47-inches.
Suspect Attacked Woman In Broad Daylight At McAlpine Creek Park
(Charlotte, NC) -- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police are looking for a suspect in an attempted rape on the southeast side of the city. The assault happened in broad daylight Wednesday, just about 11:15 a.m., near McAlpine Creek Park. The victim was able to fight off her attacker and call police on her cell phone. The suspect is described as a male, about five-feet, six-inches, with shoulder-length braided hair and a heavy build.
Bank Of America Paying First Time Homebuyer Down Payments
(Charlotte, NC) -- Charlotte-based Bank of America is offering a new incentive for first-time homeowners. The effort is part of the broader Community Affordable Loan Solution that looks at on-time rent and utility payments when considering home loans, opposed to credit scores. Now, Bank of America is offering ten-thousand dollar down payments for qualifying homebuyers through non-repayable grants. The federal initiative is geared toward Black and Latino communities, but eligibility is ultimately based on income and home location.
Community Remembers Toddler One Year After Deadly Drive-By Shooting
(Charlotte, NC) -- The Charlotte community is still feeling the impact of the murder of a local toddler one year after the tragic shooting. Roughly 150 shots were fired into three-year-old Asiah Figueroa's great grandmother's home on Richard Rozelle Drive on September 7th last year. The young boy was left dead and the community was left with a hole in its collective heart. Yesterday, dozens of residents gathered for a memorial and a balloon launch in honor of young Asiah, the same day a judge ruled on a two-million dollar bond for one of the three shooters charged in his death.
Hornets Bridges Assault, Child Abuse Court Date Moved To Next Week
(Charlotte, NC) -- Hornets forward Miles Bridges is awaiting a court date next week on felony domestic violence charges. Bridges was in Los Angeles court for a preliminary hearing this week as his official court date was rescheduled for the 16th. Bridges was arrested back in July for the alleged late-June assault of his girlfriend and mother of their two children. Bridges is facing assault and child abuse charges related to the incident.
Mayfield Downplays "Revenge Game" Hype Ahead Of Panthers Season Opener
(Charlotte, NC) -- New Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield says there is no animosity ahead of the week one matchup with his former team. A lot of hype has been surrounding Sunday's Panthers - Browns game in Charlotte. Mayfield joined Carolina over the summer and was just named the team's starting quarterback over Sam Darnold. Prior to joining the Panthers, Mayfield spent the first four years of his career in Cleveland after the Browns drafted him number one overall, three picks ahead of Darnold, in the 2018 draft.
Suspect Charged With Murder After Bringing The Body Of A Woman To The Police Department
(Youngsville, NC) -- An investigation continues in Youngsville into the shooting death of a woman, whose body was found inside a car in the parking lot of the town's police department yesterday. Officers initially responded to a call around noon about a shooting at a BP gas station in Wake Forest. But when they arrived they found no victims at the location. About an hour later, a man identified as 33-year old Terrance Hartsfield showed up at the Youngsville Police Department and reported a dead woman inside his car. Hartsfield was subsequently arrested and charged with murder.
Man Wanted For Rape Tracked Down And Arrested By U.S. Marshals In Rocky Mount
(Rocky Mount, NC) -- Authorities in Rocky Mount arrested a rape suspect Wednesday, following a nearly five hour standoff with law enforcement. Mark Johnson was taken into custody after he was tracked to a home on Nashville road by U.S. Marshals who had outstanding warrants charging him with multiple counts of first degree robbery and sexual assault. There were no injuries. Court records show Johnson had recently been released from prison.
Memorial Balloon Release Held For Middle School Student Who Committed Suicide Earlier This Week
(Wake County, NC) -- Dozens of mourners gathered in Wake County last night for a balloon release and vigil to honor the life of a Wendell Middle School student who died by suicide on Tuesday. Investigators believe 13-year old Austin Pendergrass had been bullied. Crisis team counselors have been dispatched to the school to provide services to students who may need help.
Fayetteville PD Announces Plan To Begin Use Of ShotSpotter Technology
(Fayetteville, NC) -- The Fayetteville Police Department will soon be using ShotSpotter technology to help reduce violent crime in the city. According to Mayor Mitch Colvin, the ShotSpotter gunfire detection system is being added to license plate readers and surveillance cameras that are already in place. Colvin gave no timeline for which the new technology will be installed.
Novo Nordisk To Invest Over A Billion Dollars To Expand Johnston County Operations
(Johnston County, NC) -- Global biotech giant Novo Nordisk has announced plans to invest 1-point-85 billion dollars to expand its operations in Johnston County. The Danish producer of insulin and other diabetes products, the new 200-thousand square foot manufacturing facility in Clayton, will nearly double its current 700-employee workforce. The expansion will be done in phases over the next 12-years.
UNC Chapel Hill Athletes Have Earned More Than 1-Million On NIL Deals So-Far
(Chapel Hill, NC) -- New figures released by UNC Chapel Hill, show that athletes at the University have earned more than 1-million dollars in Name, Image and Likeness deals, since it was first approved by the NCAA last year. However, because there is no legal requirement to report earnings to the school's athletic department, the total amount received during the first year could be twice as much. Some 650-NIL endorsement deals were reported to the UNC athletic department during the first year.