HCA Healthcare Files Motion To Dismiss Lawsuit
(Asheville, NC) -- HCA Healthcare is trying to have a lawsuit dismissed. Asheville and Buncombe County are part of a suit which claims the system has monopolized healthcare in western North Carolina. HCA filed a motion this week to toss the case, calling the allegations baseless. Mission Hospital is run by the healthcare system.
NC Congressman Supports Nationwide Abortion Ban
(Washington, DC) -- A North Carolina Congressman is in support of a nationwide abortion ban. Republican Ted Budd co-sponsored a House bill this week that is similar to Senator Lindsey Graham's proposal to ban most abortions after 15-weeks. Budd is running against Democrat Cheri Beasley for Senate in November. The chair of North Carolina's Democratic Party says Budd will take away women's freedoms to make their own medical decisions if elected to Senate.
Sylva Extends Time Period For Social Districts
(Sylva, NC) -- A western North Carolina town is keeping its social district in place. It's been six months since town leaders decided to give the idea a shot in downtown, allowing visitors to carry alcohol outside of businesses. The ordinance to allow the district was extended last week because of positive feedback and popularity. The district will also be in place Monday through Saturday, rather than weekends only.
Health Trust Gives Asheville Money For Affordable Housing
(Asheville, NC) -- Asheville is getting a boost for two affordable housing projects. The Dogwood Health Trust is providing one-point-six-million-dollars the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry's Transformation Village and Habitat for Humanity projects. The village provides beds for the homeless, education and training certifications.
Suspect Heading To Prison For Gun Store Burglary
(Asheville, NC) -- A man is heading to prison for his role in stealing nearly three-dozen guns in Asheville. Investigators say he acted as a lookout while a co-conspirator burglarized Carolina Guns and Gear in January. Only eight of the 33 stolen guns have been found. A judge sentenced the man to over eight-years in prison this week.
Hundreds Of Projects Complete After Tropical Storm Fred
(Haywood County, NC) -- Projects are still underway to repair damage done by the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred in the mountains. State officials say roughly 265 repair projects, or just over 40-percent of those eligible for financial assistance, have been completed. Over 700 applications have been received through the state's recovery program over the last eight-months. Around 25-million-dollars is still available to be used in the recovery process.
Federal Funding To Help Interstate Widening Project
(Gaston County, NC) -- Federal funding will go towards widening I-85 outside Charlotte. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced yesterday that 100-million-dollars will help replace overpasses and add safer pedestrian options on a ten-mile stretch in Gaston and Cleveland counties. The interstate is being expanded from six to eight-lanes.
Meck Officer Dies In Off-Duty Wreck
(Mecklenburg County, NC) -- The Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office is mourning the loss of one of its own. The highway patrol says Brandon Thomas died in a motorcycle wreck in Shelby yesterday. He was off-duty at the time. Thomas had worked as a detention officer locally for just over two-years.
Four Arrested After CMPD Officer-Involved Shooting
(Mecklenburg County, NC) -- An officer-involved shooting is being investigated in northwest Charlotte. Officers allegedly opened fire on an armed man who fled from a traffic stop near LC Coleman Neighborhood Park yesterday. He had been in a car that was suspected to be stolen. No one was injured in the shooting, but the suspect and three others were arrested.
Charlotte Mayor To Visit DC
(Charlotte, NC) -- Charlotte's mayor is traveling to the nation's capital next week to discuss federal relief funds. Vi Lyles is joining a handful of other North Carolina mayors to talk about how American Rescue Plan Act funds have helped local communities. Infrastructure projects will be discussed as well.
Woman Wins 200K In Lottery
(Charlotte, NC) -- Big lottery winnings are coming out of the Queen City. A Charlotte woman collected just over 140-thousand-dollars after taxes earlier this week after purchasing a winning ticket from the Mountain Island BP on Vinnie Way. The Lincoln game offers six jackpot winners of 200-thousand-dollars.
App State Hosting GameDay
(Boone, NC) -- Appalachian State's football team will be featured on a national stage tomorrow. The Boone campus will be the host of ESPN's College GameDay program, just one week after upsetting nationally-ranked Texas A&M. Troy University will take on the Mountaineers at 3:30.
Holly Springs Boy Hospitalized After Being Hit By An Amazon Truck Driver
(Holly Springs, NC) -- A seven-year-old Holly Springs boy remains hospitalized today after being struck by an Amazon delivery truck on Tuesday. It happened at the intersection of Morning Oaks Drive and Honey Ridge Lane. Police records show the boy was walking home from school with his father and brother when the accident occurred. He underwent surgery yesterday for several broken bones. The Amazon driver was not charged.
Bond Reduced By More Than 900-Thousand For Former Teacher Accused Of Statutory Rape With A Student
(Johnston County, NC) -- Bond has been reduced for a former Johnston County school teacher charged with sex crimes involving a student. At a hearing Thursday, a judged lowered the bond for 37-year old Amanda Doll from one-million dollars down to 75-thousand. This, after her attorneys argued that she is the mother of four children and needs to work full time in order to support them. Doll has been formally charged with statutory rape with a student under the age of 15 and indecent liberties with a child.
Two Employees And A Nurse Become Sick After Eating Homemade Cookies
(Raleigh, NC) -- Officials at Duke Raleigh Hospital are investigating after two employees became sick after eating homemade cookies. Witnesses say the workers began experiencing symptoms of illness after receiving the cookies from a patient. About 30-minutes earlier, a Duke-Health nurse also became sick after eating the same batch of cookies. Hospital officials say the incident has been reported to the Raleigh Police Department.
Two UNC Chapel Hill Students Claim Their Drinks Were Tampered With While Attending A Fraternity Gathering
(Chapel Hill, NC) -- A fraternity at UNC Chapel Hill is under investigation following allegations of drink tampering at a party. Campus police say the incident happened at the Pi Kappa Phi house on August 26th. One of two students who claimed to have consumed the tampered drinks also said he was later assaulted. So far, no arrests have been made.
Police Chief And Senior Captain Resign From The Enfield Police Department
(Enfield, NC) -- The police chief of the Halifax County town of Enfield has resigned. According to the Durham Herald Sun, Chief James Ayers, along with a captain in the Department, turned in their resignations last week citing the recent controversy over the removal of a Confederate monument and a hostile work environment as reasons for their departure. Two weeks ago, Enfield Mayor Mondale Robinson ordered the statue torn down and posted a video of the event on social media.
NC State Coach Doeren Says Wolfpack Is Ready For High Octane Texas Tech
(Raleigh, NC) -- A lot of eyes will be on NC State tomorrow when the undefeated Wolfpack take on the high powered offense of Texas Tech at Carter-Finley Stadium. Coach Dave Doeren says his team has had good practices this week and welcomes the opportunity to play against a Power 5 Conference opponent like the Red Raiders. Doeren says he plans to use a 3-3-5 defense against Texas Tech's up tempo spread offense. He says a victory over the Big 12 team will help NC State gain more respect. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.
City-owned Truck Reportedly Involved in Fatal Hit-and-Run
(Greensboro, NC) -- Traffic investigators say it was a city-owned truck that was involved in a fatal hit-and-run incident Thursday morning. WGHP-TV says Greensboro Police have ID'ed the victim as 71-year-old John Wayne Rankin who was hit in the 2800 block of South Elm-Eugene Street. A Ford Ranger, reportedly driven by Pernell Winston Fulton, is believed to be the vehicle that hit Rankin. Fulton allegedly failed to remain on site following the collision, which continues to be investigated.
Amazon Facility Planned for Greensboro Cancelled
(Greensboro, NC) -- Amazon says plans for the fulfillment center that had been proposed for Greensboro have been cancelled. The online retailer has announced the site is one of nearly 30 canceled or delayed facilities, along with one in Wilmington. Plans for the Greensboro site had not yet been finalized. Amazon's center in Kernersville added some 400 employees last fall and now has about 15-hundred workers.
Man Wanted for April Homicide Arrested in Winston-Salem
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- A man who'd been wanted for a fatal shooting in April has been taken into custody in Winston-Salem. Police say they arrested Rayshun Crowder Thursday for gun possession by a felon and murder in the death of Shaunte Rhyne Junior. He was shot in the parking lot of the Garden Court Apartments during an argument on April 25th. He later died at an area hospital.
School System Looks for 1,000 Students "Missing" Since Pandemic
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- The Winston-Salem school district is looking for nearly a thousand students who came to school before the pandemic but have not been back since. One official says many reasons can explain the absences including parents moving away or some students dropping out completely. Dr. Fredricca Stokes says the district is paying contractor Teach Tech U over 382-thousand-dollars to discover the students' status, with the goal of getting them back to class.
Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security Comes to Greensboro
(Greensboro, NC) -- North Carolina will be hosting a prestigious federal official next week. Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security Gentry Smith will travel to Raleigh and Greensboro to recruit students for careers in the Foreign Service. He'll go to North Carolina State University and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University to talk about opportunities for special agents, security positions for engineers and tech specialists as well as diplomatic couriers. Smith is also a graduate of N.C. state.