Nurses Hold Another Rally At Mission Hospital
(Asheville, NC) -- Registered nurses at Mission Hospital are demanding better safety. A group rallied outside the hospital yesterday, voicing concerns over patient wait times, safety and staff cuts. A recent report sent to hospital management shows more than two-dozen patients spent an entire day in a waiting room to be seen. Mission Hospital officials say they have not broken their contract with the nursing union.
Pedestrian Project Funding Skipped Over For Baseball Park Renovations
(Asheville, NC) -- Money once slated for a pedestrian project in Asheville is going towards baseball park renovations. WLOS-TV reports the city council voted to redirect two-million-dollars from the Coxe Avenue Green Street project to McCormick Field renovations. Upgrades to the Asheville Tourists' ball field were necessary in order to keep the organization based locally.
New Bill Addresses Short-Term Rentals In NC
(Raleigh, NC) -- A new bill could change laws over short-term rentals in North Carolina. A measure proposed by state Senator Tim Moffitt gives homeowners the right to do what they want with their home. As of now, property owners in Asheville can't rent out their entire homes for less than 30-days. Rooms can be rented out on a daily basis. It's unclear if lawmakers will be able to take up the bill with limited time left in the legislative session.
More Funds Available For Flood Relief
(Haywood County, NC) -- Even more funding is coming to western North Carolina to help with flood recovery. More than five-million-dollars from Housing and Urban Development can be used to more specifically help those impacted by the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred in 2021. Haywood County's board of commissioners will hear details Monday on how funds can be used there. It was one of the hardest-hit areas from the storm.
Prescribed Burns Scheduled For Burke County
(Burke County, NC) -- The air could be a little smoky in Burke County this week. The U.S. Forest Service is completing a planned burn over more than four-thousand acres in the Grandfather Ranger District. Weather conditions will determine the exact date and final size of the burn. Forest Service officials say regular burns promote the growth of plants.
Coat Drive To Be Held April 21
(Arden, NC) -- Gently used coats are needed for an annual drive in the Asheville area. Teams will be at Carolina Furniture Concepts in Arden on April 21st to collect coats and more winter items as part of the Spring Clean Coat Drive. The items will be available through Eblen Charities.
Security Company Changing For CATS
(Charlotte, NC) -- Security is increasing for the Charlotte Area Transit System. The city council approved a measure last night to switch third-party contracts in an attempt to make CATS vehicles and stations safer. The budget for security will double to 14-million-dollars annually. Some council members said using the CMPD would be better, but CATS' interim CEO said it would take 100 extra officers.
Suspect Charged With Mall Stabbing
(Charlotte, NC) -- A suspect is accused of assaulting a man at Northlake Mall in Charlotte last Saturday. The CMPD says the victim was stabbed over an Apple Watch. WSOC-TV says it was part of a violent weekend in the Queen City, where ten people were injured in multiple shootings over Easter weekend. There have been three shootings at the mall since December.
NASCAR Driver Arrested In Iredell County
(Iredell County, NC) -- A NASCAR driver is facing criminal charges in Iredell County. Cody Ware was booked into jail yesterday for assault and strangulation. NASCAR announced it has indefinitely suspended the 27-year-old. He's already bonded out of jail.
Driver Charged With DWI After Bus Accident
(Charlotte, NC) -- A driver is accused of being impaired during a wreck with a CATS bus. Investigators say a truck ran through a red light and hit the bus at Oaklawn and Statesville avenues Sunday morning. As many as 15 people were treated for injuries, though none were considered life-threatening. The 30-year-old was arrested for DWI and driving with a suspended license.
Ballantyne Affordable Housing To Be Considered
(Charlotte, NC) -- A project in Ballantyne is one of nine affordable housing initiatives that Charlotte's city council is considering. A complex called Evoke Living would be made up of 60-units. Councilman Ed Driggs says there always been a shortage of affordable housing in his district. In total, all nine projects would provide 700 units.
Panthers Meeting With Quarterbacks
(Charlotte, NC) -- The Panthers are taking a deeper look at the next class of quarterbacks. WSOC-TV reports former Alabama QB Bryce Young is stopping in Charlotte today, while CJ Stroud and Will Levis are expected to visit with the team next week. Anthony Richardson was supposed to be in town yesterday. Carolina will have the first pick of the NFL draft on April 27th.
Firefighters Battle Massive Fire at Abandoned School Building
(Sanford, NC) -- Firefighters in Sanford battled a huge blaze at an abandoned school building for nearly two hours last night, before finally bringing it under control. Smoke could be seen for several miles coming from the old Jonesboro Elementary School on Cox Maddox Road. Multiple crews responded to a call of a fire around 7 p.m. and arrived to find the structure totally engulfed in flames. There were no injuries. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.
High-Speed Police Chase Lands Four Suspects In Jail On Monday
(Sampson County, NC) -- A high-speed police chase through at least two North Carolina counties, ended with four people being taken into custody. The chase started around 2 p.m. Monday in Sampson County, when a driver suspected of speeding refused to stop for Highway Patrol officers. Multiple law enforcement agencies joined in the pursuit, which continued into Wayne County before swiping two other cars at the intersection of US-70 and Millers Chapel Road and finally coming to a stop in front of a Clayton Homes dealership. All four suspects were arrested inside the building.
NC State Grad Chosen To Be The New Director Of The National Hurricane Center
(Raleigh, NC) -- An NC State grad has been named as the new director for the National Hurricane Center. Mike Brennan, who earned his bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees from State, had served as branch chief for the Center's Hurricane Specialist Unit since 2018. The Hurricane Specialist Unit issues warnings and forecasts for the public. The 45-year old Brennan officially began his new duties on Monday.
State Utilities Commission Grants Duke Energy Request To Change Rate Structure For Solar Energy Customers
(Raleigh, NC) -- The North Carolina Utilities Commission has approved new rate changes for solar energy customers in the state. The agreement between Duke Energy and several solar installers, will also reduce the credits homeowners receive, making it more expensive to use solar energy. Customers with rooftop solar panels, will now have to pay a mandatory monthly minimum fee, instead of receiving a one-to-one credit for energy added to the statewide grid.
Winston-Salem Textile Manufacturing Company Announces 25-Million Dollar Expansion
(Forsyth County, NC) -- A Forsyth County textile manufacturer has announced plans to invest nearly 25-million dollars to expand operations at its Winston-Salem plant. Tex-Tech Industries, which produces high-performance fabrics and coatings for the automotive, health care, aerospace and defense industries, says it will use the funds to construct a new 170-thousand square foot facility to increase its output. The expansion will also create 49 new jobs.
Carolina Hurricanes Lose Third Game In A Row On The Road
(Ottawa, ON) -- The Carolina Hurricanes lost their third game in a row last night, with a 3-2 defeat against the Ottawa Senators on the road. Coach Rod Brind'Amour called it a "trash game" as the Canes appeared sluggish and disorganized for most of the contest. Despite getting scores from Brett Pesce and Brent Burns to tie it up 2-2, late in the third period, the Canes defense was no match for the Senators speed in preventing their winning point. Carolina will take on Detroit tonight at PNC Arena for the final game of the regular season.
Man Arrested for Attempted Murder in Guilford County
(Greensboro, NC) -- A 21-year-old man has been arrested for attempted murder after a shooting in Browns Summit. Guilford County deputies say Malik Scales is being held on a 700-thousand-dollar bond for allegedly shooting a 25-year-old man Friday night. The incident happened in the 7400 block of Doggett Road. Scales also faces counts of felony assault with a deadly weapon and assault committed in front of a minor.
Guilford County Schools Launches First Fire Academy For High School Seniors
(Greensboro, NC) -- The Guilford County School District hopes to launch a fire academy for high school seniors next year. District officials say the effort will address firefighter shortages while helping students get started in a career. Officials say by the end of the program, students will have the credentials to get hired at most fire stations. Eighteen seniors will get to participate in the program. A public meeting for more information will be offered April 20th at Guilford Tech in Jamestown.
Electric Vehicle Sales Increase In North Carolina
(Raleigh, NC) -- State officials say the number of registered electric vehicles in North Carolina is rapidly growing. In 2022, their numbers increased by a little over 50 percent. To meet demand for public charging stations for the vehicles, state officials say they'll use over a 100-million-dollars in federal funds to install EV stations every 50 miles along interstates and heavily-traveled highways. The federal government also continues to offer tax incentives for buying both new and used EVs. You can get a 75-hundred-dollar federal credit for buying a new electric vehicle, or four-thousand-dollars for a used one.
North Carolina Can Now End COVID Emergency Procedures
(Washington, DC) -- President Biden has signed a bill ending the national COVID emergency. The measure gives North Carolina and other states permission to start winding down their emergency operations as well. The GOP-led resolution was opposed by most Democrats in the U.S. House, but the White House has said it would not veto the measure if it made it to the president's desk.
Cody Ware Suspended from Racing for NASCAR After Assault Charges
(Bristol, NC) -- NASCAR officials have issued an indefinite suspension for driver Cody Ware. The action Monday came after the NASCAR Cup Series driver and Greensboro native was arrested this past Saturday for allegedly assaulting and trying to strangle a woman, reportedly in a domestic dispute. The Iredell County Sheriff's Office says Ware posted bond after his arrest Monday. Rick Ware Racing, which is owned by Cody's father, Tweeted Saturday that Cody would miss that night's race at Bristol Motor Speedway to "focus on a personal matter."