One Dead In Asheville Homicide

(Asheville, NC) -- The Asheville Police Department is investigating its first homicide of the year. Officers say a man died after he was shot in the Southern Street apartment complex near the Livingston community on Thursday morning. The search is on for suspects. WLOS-TV reports six people have been shot in the city so far in 2021.

Rezoning For Henderson County Asphalt Plant Denied

(Henderson County, NC) -- A Henderson County community isn't backing off its opposition to a proposed asphalt plant. A group of people in East Flat Rock has pushed back against two proposals from Southeastern Asphalt, which is seeking to build a new plant off Spartanburg Highway. The county's planning board turned down a rezoning request last night, which would have allowed construction. The recommendation will now pass to the county commission for a final decision.

Johnson & Johnson Appointments Being Rescheduled

(Asheville, NC) -- Thousands of appointments for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are being rescheduled across North Carolina. The director at Western Carolina University's clinic told WLOS-TV they've reached out to patients to let them know there are Pfizer vaccines available. WCU is currently holding about one-thousand Johnson & Johnson doses, which have been paused due to adverse reactions. AdventHealth is also encouraging people to reschedule for available appointments next week.

Another Candidate Announces District Eleven Run

(Hendersonville, NC) -- Another Democrat is joining the race for Madison Cawthorn's Congressional seat. Army vet and Hendersonville resident Jay Carey announced his intentions to run in the District Eleven race next year. Three other Democrats appear poised to vie for the seat as well. Carey says the Republican Cawthorn doesn't represent the interests of people in the western North Carolina district.

Asheville Police Find Person Of Interest In Shooting

(Asheville, NC) -- A person of interest is being questioned in an Asheville shooting. The APD says one victim was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries after being shot on Smokey Park Highway just north of I-40. An alleged fight in the middle of the parkway led to the shooting yesterday. It happened a few hours after a man was shot to death near Livingston.

Bryson City Teen Makes Olympic Team

(Bryson City, NC) -- A Bryson City teen is heading to the Summer Olympics. Seventeen-year-old Evy Leibfarth will be the only female paddler on the U.S. team after sweeping the trials for whitewater slalom kayak and canoe earlier this week in Charlotte. Women's slalom kayak will be featured for the first time ever in the Tokyo games. Leibfarth was born and raised in western North Carolina.

Two Transgender Women Killed In Separate Hotels

(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is investigating separate deadly shootings of two transgender women. Investigators say the victims were sex workers who were killed at hotels last week and this Thursday. They've been gathering details from the crime scenes at the Quality Inn on Queen City Drive and Sleep Inn on North Tryon Street. It's still unclear if the shootings are connected.

Renderings Released For Stadium Upgrades

(Charlotte, NC) -- Bank of America Stadium is undergoing some major renovations in preparation for Charlotte's Major League Soccer team. Charlotte FC revealed renderings of stadium plans yesterday, which show an upgraded Mint Street entrance and a high-definition LED video board. It's part of 50-million-dollars planned in changes for the stadium before the team takes the field next year. Construction began last month.

Self Sentencing Hearing Moves Into Fourth Day

(Gaston County, NC) -- Testimony will continue for a fourth day in the sentencing hearing of Roger Self. He was charged with second-degree murder for driving his car into a Bessemer City restaurant nearly three years ago, which killed two of his family members. Self was emotional as he took the stand yesterday, while detailing his suffering of a mental illness before the crash. His wife said Self is the best man she knows.

Grandfather Shoots Masked Grandson In Home Invasion

(Burke County, NC) -- A Burke County home invasion suspect is being treated for injuries after being shot by his grandfather. The man was allegedly unaware it was his grandson who broke into his Long View home while wearing a mask Thursday morning. Investigators say the suspect ran to a nearby motel before he was rushed to a Charlotte hospital.

Bartender Charged After Drunk Driver Crashes

(Charlotte, NC) -- A Matthews bartender is facing charges for allegedly serving an intoxicated woman who ended up wrecking her car. NBC Charlotte says the driver was nearly three times over the legal limit when she crashed on Crowell Dairy Road in late February. Alcohol Law Enforcement investigators traced the woman's night back to the Beantown Tavern. The business is also facing potential punishment for violations reported to the ABC commission.

Charlotte Man Wins Big In Lotto

(Charlotte, NC) -- A Charlotte man is a million-dollar lottery winner. Shane Hypio cashed in his winning scratch-off ticket at North Carolina's lottery headquarters on Wednesday. He said he got goosebumps after realizing the ticket he bought from a Quick Trip in Matthews turned out to be worth seven-figures. Actual winnings ended up around 425-thousand-dollars after he took the lump sum amount with taxes taken out.

Market House In Fayetteville To Be Repurposed

(Fayetteville, NC) -- Members of the Fayetteville City Council approved a resolution Thursday that calls for the historic Market House to be repurposed. This comes after several months of heated debates that began during protests last summer following the death of George Floyd. The Market House was once used for slave trading. By a 9-1 vote, the Council decided it would consider five options to determine the future of the controversial structure. They include a structural modification of the building, turning it into an art exhibit, making it a black history museum, converting it into a marketplace for black vendors, or changing it into an event venue.

One Worker Killed, Two Others Injured After Striking Electric Wire At Wayne County Farm Supply Company

(Wayne County, NC) -- The North Carolina Department of Labor's occupational safety division has been called in to investigate an accident at a Wayne County farm products company, where three employees were injured by electricity. One of the workers was killed. It happened Wednesday at the Cashwell & Jones facility in Mont Olive. Company officials say the men were in the process of installing a flag pole when they accidentally struck an electric power line. All three suffered severe electric shock. The two remaining survivors are still being treated at a nearby hospital.

Lt. Governor Robinson Exploring Possible Run For U.S. Senate

(Raleigh, NC) -- Newly elected North Carolina Republican Lt. Governor Mark Robinson has announced that he is seriously considering a run for the U.S. Senate in 2022. Robinson made the statement during a four minute video recording on social media Thursday. The state's first African American Lt. Governor said he first began to consider a run for the seat being vacated by retiring Senator Richard Burr after a recent poll showed him coming in second behind Lara Trump on a list of likely candidates.

North Carolina PPE Loan Recipients To Get Tax Break From The State

(Raleigh, NC) -- North Carolina businesses that received PPE loans from the federal government will now get a tax break from the state. House members on Thursday, overwhelmingly voted to pass a bill that would allow more than 127-thousand PPE loan recipients to deduct a certain amount for which they used for expenses. The measure must be approved by the full House before moving on to the Senate.

City Of Raleigh Purchases Tract Of Land For Low-Income Housing Redevelopment

(Raleigh, NC) -- The City of Raleigh has announced the purchase of a tract of land that it plans to redevelop for affordable housing. The property, which comprises a section of old Duplex Village built back in 1949, is also located along a future rapid transit bus route along New Bern Avenue. In a statement released Thursday, the City said it plans to initiate a rezoning of the property for apartments and begin the search for an affordable housing developer to build the proposed new complex.

Teacher Killed In Shootout In Alamance Co.

(Alamance Co., NC) -- A beloved high school teacher is dead after an "old west style" shootout at a trailer park in Alamance County. Police say Barney Harris and his brother-in-law tried to rob members of a Mexican drug cartel. Harris was pronounced dead at the scene. He was a Spanish teacher and coach at Union Academy Charter School near Charlotte. Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson says Harris was well-loved and respected, but, on the side, he was involved in the "dangerous and deadly" drug world." Union Academy released a statement, saying students and staff are heartbroken.

Wake Forest Baptist Health Unveils $450M Care Tower

(WInston-Salem, NC) -- Wake Forest Baptist Health is investing in a 450-million-dollar care tower. It will include an upgraded emergency department, advanced operating rooms, and modern adult intensive care units. The tower is expected to be complete by the end of 2025.

Elderly Man Killed After Car Crashes Into Home

(Burlington, NC) -- An elderly man is dead after he crashed his vehicle into a home in Burlington. Police say the 94-year-old Raymond Rudd suffered a medical emergency before driving off the road and crashing into the home on Piedmont Way. His wife, who was a passenger in the car, was seriously injured. Officers say the house was badly damaged, but no one inside was hurt.

Wet'n Wild Emerald Pointe To Open In Greensboro

(Greensboro, NC) -- Wet'n Wild Emerald Pointe is getting ready to open for the first time in more than 600 days. The Greensboro water park will welcome guests back on Memorial Day weekend. Families can reserve their spot starting May 1st on Wet'n Wild's website, Emerald-Pointe-dot-com.

Person Hospitalized After Greensboro Shooting

(Greensboro, NC) -- One person is hospitalized after a shooting in Greensboro. It happened Thursday afternoon in the 18-hundred-block of Merritt Drive. Police say the victim was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition. Neither the victim nor the suspect has been identified. Police are investigating what led to the shooting.

First News on 570 with Mark Starling

About First News on 570 with Mark Starling