Federal Grant To Help Asheville Airport Terminal Expansion
(Asheville, NC) -- A federal grant is going to help the Asheville Regional Airport expand. Senator Thom Tillis announced Wednesday that the airport authority will receive four-point-three-million-dollars from the FAA to support a terminal expansion and improvement. Groundbreaking is set for this spring, with a completion date expected in four-to-five years. The vice president for marketing at the airport says they're seeing record growth again this year.
Buncombe County Detention Officer Fired
(Buncombe County, NC) -- The SBI is investigating a now-former Buncombe County detention officer. The sheriff's office says Lynsie Williams was fired a week ago. It's unclear what the investigation entails, or what led to the termination. Nothing else will be released until the SBI is done reviewing the matter.
Buncombe County Suing Healthcare Billing Company
(Buncombe County, NC) -- Buncombe County is suing a healthcare billing company. A lawsuit filed late last month claims TeamHealth exaggerated the seriousness of conditions in 60-percent of patients last year, which led to unnecessary services. The company is fighting back against the allegations. TeamHealth runs billing for systems like Mission Hospital, Haywood Regional and Rutherford Regional.
Educators Associations React To Board Member Resignation
(Asheville, NC) -- Both the Asheville and Buncombe County association of educators are critical of actions by a local pastor. Asheville school board member Peyton O'Conner resigned this week in the wake of being misgendered multiple times by Ronald Gates. The associations said in a joint statement yesterday it was nothing short of hate speech. They also called it harassment and bullying.
Earthquake Reported In Henderson County
(Henderson County, NC) -- An earthquake is being confirmed in Henderson County. The U.S. Geological Survey revealed that a two-point-seven magnitude quake hit near Laurel Park last night. Earthquakes that small generally don't do damage, but can still be felt by some people. The depth was listed at just over two-miles.
WCU Hikes Tuition For Grad Students
(Cullowhee, NC) -- Tuition is going up for graduate students at Western Carolina University. The vice chancellor for administration and finance said yesterday that there will be a hike of 133-dollars to bring the number to 45-hundred-dollars a year for in-state graduate students. Out-of-state graduate tuition will be 455-more up to 15-thousand. The increase is due to inflationary pressure.
York County, Tepper Agree To Settlement
(York County, SC) -- York County and the Panthers' owner are agreeing to a major settlement. The county government revealed Wednesday that GT Real Estate, owned by David Tepper, will pay out just over 21-million-dollars in connection to the team's failed plans for a new headquarters. The settlement must still be approved by the court. The real estate company also reached a settlement of more than 20-million-dollars with Rock Hill last month.
Power Restored In Moore County
(Moore County, NC) -- The lights are back on in Moore County. Duke Energy was able to restore power to more than 30-thousand customers yesterday in the wake of a massive outage that lasted several days. Shots fired into two substations initially knocked out power for over 45-thousand last weekend. Governor Roy Cooper said yesterday a 75-thousand-dollar reward is now being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction of suspects.
Charlotte Homicides in 2022 Surpass Last Year
(Charlotte, NC) -- The number of homicides in Charlotte this year has already well surpassed totals for all of 2021. The CMPD has reported 102 homicides through yesterday, which is above the 94 for last year. The police department released a plan two-months ago to cut back on gun violence and homicides by ten-percent over the next half-decade. The strategy includes offering family support groups.
Justice Rally To Be Held For Shanquella Robinson
(Charlotte, NC) -- A rally is being held this weekend to call for justice in the death of Shanquella Robinson. A homicide investigation is underway after the Charlotte woman was found dead during a trip with friends to Mexico in late October. The Million Youth March of Charlotte and Salisbury is inviting the public out for a justice rally on Saturday. It will be held at Little Rock A.M.E. Zion Church in uptown Charlotte.
CMPD Officer Arrested For DWI
(Charlotte, NC) -- A CMPD officer is accused of driving under the influence. An on-duty officer allegedly found off-duty Officer Peter Lombardo inside his patrol car on the side of I-277 early Wednesday morning. The police chief says Lombardo's breathalyzer test was over twice the legal limit. He's now been placed on administrative leave.
Charlotte Restaurant Makes Top 100 List
(Charlotte, NC) -- A SouthPark restaurant is being called one of the best in the country. OpenTable released its 2022 list of Top 100 restaurants in the country, based on more than 13-million verified reviews nationwide. Steak 48 on Sharon Road was the only restaurant from Charlotte to make the list.
Panthers' Punter At Top Of Pro Bowl Votes
(Charlotte, NC) -- A Panthers' punter is holding a commanding lead in Pro Bowl votes. Johnny Hekker had received nearly 62-thousand votes through two-rounds, almost twice as much as the next punter. The Panthers' organization says Hekker ranks ninth all-time for punts inside the 20-yard line. Votes will be cast by coaches and players a week from tomorrow.
Law Enforcement Now Turning Full Attention To Finding Those Responsible For Substation Attacks In Moore County
(Moore County, NC) -- Now that power has been restored to most Duke Energy customers in Moore County, law enforcement agencies have intensified their efforts to find those responsible for the gunfire attacks on two substations. Investigators are asking nearby residents and businesses to release door cam and surveillance videos that may help in identifying suspects. Duke Energy has also stepped up security at all of its substations.
Knife Wielding Suspect Jailed After Making Threats On The Campus Of UNC Chapel Hill
(Orange County, NC) -- Authorities in Orange County are holding one person in custody after he was arrested for making threats with a knife on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill yesterday. It happened just before 9:am at the Bojangles restaurant in the student union building and outside against a Chapel Hill bus driver. There were no injuries. The unidentified individual was later apprehended by police along South Road.
NC State Police Report Second Campus Sexual Assault In Less Than A Week
(Raleigh, NC) -- Police at North Carolina State University are reporting another sexual assault has occurred on the school's campus. According to a Wolf Alert, the incident happened around 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Wolf Village Apartments Arctic Hall. Police classified it as a case of sexual battery. The alleged victim described the suspect as a Black male, about 5-feet-6 inches tall, and wearing all black clothing with red and black sneakers. On December 4th, a sexual assault was reported at the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity house.
Governor Cooper Visits Early Childhood Education Center To Tout Stabilization Grant Program
(Durham, NC) -- Governor Roy Cooper visited an early childhood education center in Durham on Wednesday. The purpose of the visit to Wildflower Cottage, was to highlight the impact the Child Care Stabilization Grant Program has had on the State of North Carolina. Over the course of the pandemic, more than one-point-nine billion dollars in American Rescue Plan funding has been invested in the state's child care system. An estimated 42-hundred child care centers and family child care homes across 99 counties, have benefited from the program.
NCDOT Awarded 12-Million Dollar Grant For Railroad Infrastructure Repairs
(Raleigh, NC) -- The North Carolina Department of Transportation has announced the awarding of a 12-million dollar grant for railroad infrastructure improvements. The grant is part of the Freight Rail and Rail Crossing Safety Improvement Program, which was established by the General Assembly in 2013. Combined with private investments, a total of 24-million will be spent on repairing 52-railroad bridges and nearly 123-miles of track across the state.
NC Field Hockey Coach Karen Shelton Retiring After 42-Years
(Chapel Hill, NC) -- After 42-years at the helm, UNC head field hockey coach Karen Shelton has announced plans to retire. In a statement released by the University's athletic department Wednesday, Shelton was lauded as the winningest coach in the sports history with 745-victories, including this year's unbeaten Tar Heels team that claimed an NCAA-record 10th national championship. Shelton will continue in her head coaching duties until a replacement is found.
Driver Found, Charged in Fatal Hit and Run in Greensboro
e(Greensboro, NC) -- Greensboro police have found and charged a man who they say was the driver in a fatal hit-and-run nearly two weeks ago. The collision on North Church Street left victim Jerry Martin McBride seriously injured and he died the next day. Police say Joseph Craig Shelton was the driver who didn't stay at the scene. He's been charged with felony hit-and-run and driving with a revoked license, among other counts.
Man Charged in Greensboro Collision that Fatally Killed Mt. Airy Driver
(Greensboro, NC) -- The driver of the Dodge Challenger truck that slammed into a Mt. Airy woman's car in Greensboro is being charged with involuntary manslaughter. Police say 39-year-old Jeffery Ellerbe of Hoffman was traveling more than a 100-miles-per-hour when he hit the driver's side of Gabriella Portillo's car as she was leaving a fast-food restaurant last Sunday. She died at the scene. Ellerbe is also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, doing a hundred and three in a 35-mile-per-hour zone in addition to careless and reckless driving and driving while his license was revoked.
Hunter Finds Remains of Man Missing 4 Years
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- The body of a Winston-Salem man who went missing four years ago has been found and identified. Police say a hunter found the body of 48-year-old Christopher Peter Sexton near the Nantahala National Forest. Police said evidence at the time suggested he was on the Appalachian Trail. His remains were recently positively identified through dental records.
$75K Reward Offered for Information on Moore County Sabotage
(Moore County, NC) -- Duke Energy and Moore County are each offering huge rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the people who shot out two electrical substations. Governor Roy Cooper said Wednesday the state is offering 25-thousand-dollars and both Duke Energy and Moore County are also putting up rewards of 25-thousand. Anyone with information can call the Moore County Sheriff's Office or the FBI.
Forsyth Humane Society Receives Help with Huge Intake
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- The Forsyth Humane Society says people have responded in a big way to their plea for foster care for more than 70 surrendered dogs. The organization had taken them in from a sheriff's department call earlier this week. In a Facebook post, the humane society says all of the eligible dogs have been able to go to foster families. They're also offering dog and cat adoptions for 25-dollars through the end of this week as part of Bissell's Empty the Shelters promotion.