APD Trying To Identify Woman Found Dead
(Asheville, NC) -- Asheville police are seeking out the public's help in identifying a woman found dead last week. Human remains were discovered in woods near Bleachery Boulevard on January 5th, but investigators are still trying to figure out who it is. Foul play is suspected in the death. The A-P-D released an image of a tattoo yesterday in hopes of making a positive identification.
Challenge To Cawthorn's Seat On-Hold
(Haywood County, NC) -- A challenge to Congressman Madison Cawthorn's re-election campaign is being put on hold. WLOS-TV reports judges decided to postpone a challenge to his seat due to redistricting lawsuits. A panel has also refused to throw out newly-drawn district lines after groups last week argued that the maps were illegal. The decision is likely to be challenged again in court.
COVID Hospitalizations Rising In WNC
(Asheville, NC) -- COVID hospitalizations are up drastically in western North Carolina. The Citizen-Times reports around 180 people are in Mission Health, Pardee and AdventHealth medical centers for COVID issues, That's double the amount of patients reported three-weeks ago. All inpatient and outpatient elective surgeries have been paused at Pardee Hospital in Hendersonville in the meantime.
Candidate Qualifying Resumes Next Month
(Raleigh, NC) -- Candidates will resume qualifying in county and municipal races next month. State officials reported yesterday the qualifying period would resume on February 24th, after a decision by judges to keep redistricted maps in place. The period will last through March 4th.
Man Sues Asheville For Protests Injuries
(Asheville, NC) -- A man is suing the city of Asheville for actions taken in 2020 protests. WLOS-TV says a 23-year-old man claims his rights to protest were violated by police in late May nearly two-years ago. He says he went partially blind after being hit by a projectile. The city is withholding comment on the case.
Property Near Mall Rezoned
(Charlotte, NC) -- Property near the Asheville Mall is being rezoned. The city council decided this week to rezone around 130 acres on South Tunnel Road The land will be used for mixed use, affordable housing or public transit initiatives.
Teacher Shortages Reported In CMS
(Charlotte, NC) -- CMS is dealing with staff shortages among spreading COVID cases and quarantines. The school board discussed those absences in a meeting Tuesday night. Around one-thousand teachers are calling out every day, while more than 120 bus drivers are calling out daily on average. The superintendent and central office staff are helping fill in the gap in classrooms. About 85-percent of students are attending school each day.
One Dead In Mooresville Fire
(Mooresville, NC) -- A deadly fire is being investigated in Mooresville. One person was killed when flames erupted in a home on Foursquare Road late Tuesday morning. There's no word yet on the cause of the fire. No firefighters were injured in the attack on the blaze.
City Councilman Accused Of Assault
(Charlotte, NC) -- A Charlotte city councilman is accused of assault and battery. WSOC-TV reports Braxton Winston was charged late last week after his estranged wife was released from jail for simple assault. She claims Winston punched and pushed her. The councilman claims his wife assaulted him as well. The two are undergoing a divorce process, which started in November.
Three Panthers' Coaches Fired
(Charlotte, NC) -- The coaching staff for the Carolina Panthers is changing. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported yesterday that the Panthers fired its offensive line coach, defensive line coach and special teams coordinator earlier this week. Carolina is already looking for a new offensive coordinator. The Panthers finished the season with five wins and 12 losses.
Train Hits Mobile Home In Stanly County
(Stanly County, NC) -- A train wreck is being investigated in Stanly County. It appears a freight train struck part of a mobile home, which was being moved over tracks just off Highway 52 in Richfield on Tuesday. The state highway patrol says the train was traveling around ten-miles-an-hour at the time. No injuries have been reported.
SBI Investigating Police Shooting Of Knife Wielding Man At Site Of Multi-Car Accident Off I-440
(Raleigh, NC) -- The State Bureau of Investigation is examining the details of an officer-involved shooting in Raleigh, following a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate-440 Tuesday. It happened around 1:30 pm near the Brentwood Road Exit. Authorities say two men got into an altercation at the site, with one of them pulling out a knife. Officers arrived on the scene and repeatedly ordered the man to lay down his weapon. When he refused, he was tased and then later shot. A preliminary investigation also said the man was intoxicated. He was rushed to a nearby hospital and treated for unspecified injuries.
Crowds March The Streets Of Fayetteville For Third Straight Night In Protest Of Officer-Involved Shooting Of A Black Man
(Fayetteville, NC) -- Dozens of protesters marched through the streets of Fayetteville for the third night in a row Tuesday, demanding answers in the fatal police shooting of 37-year old Jason Walker. Walker was shot and killed by an off-duty Cumberland County Sheriff's Deputy on Saturday, after he reportedly jumped onto the officer's pickup truck. The Deputy, identified as Lt. Jeffrey Hash, has been placed on administrative leave while the case remains under investigation. The FBI has also joined the investigation.
Durham Police Department Looking To Charlotte And Raleigh To Help Fill Dozens Of Vacancies
(Durham, NC) -- The Durham Police Department has launched a new recruiting initiative aimed at hiring personnel from neighboring Charlotte and Raleigh to help fill vacant positions. The move comes as the Department reports severe employment shortages in a number of divisions, including 87-sworn officer vacancies and 111-operational vacancies. In addition, there are 81-vacancies in the Field Operations Department and 22-vacancies in the Investigative Services Bureau. Meanwhile, homicides are reported up this year, with the city now averaging two shooting incidents per day.
State Superior Court Rules Against Plaintiffs In Lawsuit Over Redistricting
(Raleigh, NC) -- A three judge panel of the state Superior Court has ruled in favor of the recently re-drawn Congressional and legislative district maps for the state of North Carolina. In a decision handed down Tuesday, the judges rejected arguments filed in a lawsuit, that claimed the lines were purposely drawn by the Republican controlled General Assembly to disenfranchise Black voters and enhance the chances of more GOP candidates getting elected. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit vowed to appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court.
COVID-19 Key Metrics Somewhat Down Tuesday, But Still Dangerously High
(Raleigh, NC) -- Figures released by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services showed there were 17-thousand-705 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, a decrease of 549-from the day before. North Carolina's test positive rate increased by four tenths of a percent to 30-point-6 percent yesterday. There were also nearly four-thousand people in the hospital, the highest number in nearly a year. And, there were 21-coronavirus related deaths.