North Carolina Man Facing Capitol Riot Charges

(Washington, DC) -- A North Carlina man is facing new charges in the U.S. Capitol riot. Aiden Bilyard of Cary is accused of spraying bear spray at officers on January 6th. He also allegedly entered the building through a broken Senate office window. Investigators arrested Bilyard this week in Raleigh for assault and other charges.

Half-Dozen Arrested In Cherokee County Meth Bust

(Cherokee County, NC) -- Six suspects are facing charges in a massive Cherokee County drug bust. The sheriff's office says three men and three women were arrested last Friday after investigators seized large amounts of methamphetamine and ecstasy. The raids were done at three homes around the Andrews area. The sheriff said it puts a big dent in the county's illegal drug trade.

Afghan Refugees Reach Asheville

(Asheville, NC) -- Some Afghan refugees are now in western North Carolina. WLOS-TV reports 21 of the expected 45 refugees are living in Asheville. The Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte is helping the families resettle locally. Nearly 30-thousand-dollars has been raised through a GoFundMe account to assist the organization in its efforts.

City Names Equity and Inclusion Director

(Asheville, NC) -- The city of Asheville has a new director of equity and inclusion. City manager Debra Campbell appointed Brenda Mills earlier this month after she served several months in the interim position. The interim term was also removed from Nikki Reid, who was named the permanent Community and Economic Development Director.

Crew Breaks Ground At Mental Health Center

(Asheville, NC) -- Work on a new behavioral health center is underway in Asheville. WLOS-TV reports Mission Health broke ground this week off Sweeten Road near I-40, where crews will begin building the 84-thousand square foot facility. The Sweeten Creek Mental Health and Wellness Center will house 120-beds and multiple therapy rooms. It is set to open in 2023.

DOT Preparing Travelers For Closures

(Asheville, NC) -- The North Carolina DOT is warning travelers to expect delays in I-40 this Thanksgiving holiday. Crews are currently working to replace a bridge on the interstate at Harmon Den Road and Cold Springs Creek. Digital signs will be posted about delays through the Pigeon River Gorge.

Injured Trooper Returns Home To Gaston County

(Gaston County, NC) -- A North Carolina state trooper severely injured in Charlotte two-years ago is finally back home. Chris Wooten returned to Gaston County yesterday after spending time in rehab to treat paralysis from the neck down. He was struck while riding his motorcycle on a police chase following an attempted traffic stop in July 2019. The community lined the streets to welcome Wooten back.

Volunteers Give Out Thousands Of Thanksgiving Meals

(Charlotte, NC) -- Thousands of Charlotte families are getting some help for their Thanksgiving meals. Carolina Panthers wide receiver Robby Anderson and some teammates gave out food to 250 families outside Nations Ford Elementary School yesterday. WBTV reports several thousand boxes of food were also given out at the Ophelia Garmon-Brown Community Center.

North Carolina Man Facing Capitol Riot Charges

(Washington, DC) -- A North Carolina man is facing new charges in the U.S. Capitol riot. Aiden Bilyard of Cary is accused of spraying bear spray at officers on January 6th. He also allegedly entered the building through a broken Senate office window. Investigators arrested Bilyard this week in Raleigh for assault and other charges.

Charlotte's Thanksgiving Parade Set For Tonight

(Charlotte, NC) -- Uptown Charlotte will host another parade to celebrate Thanksgiving this evening. The 75th annual Novant Health Thanksgiving Parade will start at six on Tryon Street. A dozen floats, ten high school marching bands and more are taking part. Road closures are already in place.

Former Employee Sues CPI

(Charlotte, NC) -- A former employee is seeking compensation from a Charlotte security company. Ex-employee Kelley Phelps claims she was fired from CPI for bringing up her concerns about racial culture within the company. The company's CEO is accused of making controversial comments after the death of George Floyd last year. The Carolina Panthers and Charlotte Hornets have since dropped CPI has a sponsor.

Christmas Tree Shortage Felt Locally

(Charlotte, NC) -- Christmas trees may be a little harder to come by in Charlotte this year. A co-owner of the Darrell Simpson family Christmas tree lot told WBTV that fewer tree farms and a labor shortage are likely to cause a supply issue. Prices are also up as much as ten-percent. Artificial tree prices have increased as well.

Motorists Driving Through North Carolina Are Being Reminded That The 'Click It Or Ticket' Campaign Is Now Underway

(Raleigh, NC) -- Motorists traveling through the state of North Carolina this weekend are being reminded that the annual Highway Patrol 'Click it or Ticket' Thanksgiving campaign is now underway. State Troopers will out in force specifically looking for dangerous driving behaviors, including speeders, drunk drivers, those not wearing their seat belts and distracted drivers using cell phones. The campaign runs through Sunday, November 28th.

North Carolina Holiday Travelers Wish Biden Had Issued Order Releasing More Crude From Reserves Sooner

(Raleigh, NC) -- There has been mixed reaction across the state of North Carolina to President Joe Biden ordering the release of 50-million gallons of crude from the Strategic Oil Reserve. While some are happy with the decision, other industry officials say it may not result in lower prices at the pump for quite a while. Gary Harris with the trade group North Carolina Petroleum and Convenience Marketers estimates it will be three or four weeks before prices begin to drop. Even then, he says prices will only be about 5-cents lower than they are currently.

Cary Teen Facing Multiple Felony Charges Related To Riot On U.S. Capitol

(Cary, NC) -- A teenager from the Triangle town of Cary is facing a number of federal charges related to his alleged participation in the January 6th riot on the U.S. Capitol. Court documents show 19-year old Aiden Bilyard was arrested Monday in Raleigh, after an indictment accused him of attacking several D.C. and Capitol police officers with bear spray. Bilyard is also charged with damaging government property with a baseball bat.

North Carolina Christmas Tree Buyers Cautioned To Be On The Lookout For Invasive Bug

(Raleigh, NC) -- State agriculture officials are warning North Carolinians to be on the lookout for an invasive insect that could be hiding in Christmas trees recently transported in from neighboring Virginia. The 'Spotted Lanternfly', which is gray and red in color, has been known to cause significant damage to more than 70-types of plants, including grape vines, fruit trees and hardwoods. A small swarm of the insects were discovered about two weeks ago in Hillsville, Virginia.

Paralyzed State Trooper Gets To Come Home For First Time In Over Two Years

(Gaston County, NC) -- A North Carolina state trooper will be spending Thanksgiving at home with his family for the first time in nearly two and a half years. Chris Wooten was discharged from an Atlanta rehab facility Tuesday, after he was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident in 2019 while pursuing a suspect in the Charlotte area. Fellow state troopers escorted Wooten and his wife back to their home in Gaston County, where he received a hero's welcome.

Report: Car Battery Plant To Be Built Near Greensboro

(Greensboro, NC) -- Toyota is reportedly the car company that is being given a large tax incentive by the state to build an electric battery plant near Greensboro. Bloomberg News says Toyota will invest billions in the facility in Randolph County. The North Carolina General Assembly last week approved 338-million-dollars in its budget for the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite that would likely be used for the facility. Bloomberg also reported that there's been no formal commitment and that the plan could change.

Dangerous Opioid More Deadly Than Fentanyl May Already Be in Region

(Guilford County, NC) -- The U.S. Justice Department is warning law enforcement officers to protect themselves from a new drug that might be 100 times more potent than fentanyl. A recent safety alert says law enforcement should follow safety protocols to avoid accidental exposure to Carfentanil. They say it may be being cut into different types of drugs -- so much so that people won't know that it's been mixed in. Its proper use is as a large-animal tranquilizer. Greensboro Police said opioid-related overdoses have increased 28 percent in the community since last year.

Burlington Man Charged with Child Sex Offense

(Burlington, NC) -- A 91-year-old Burlington man is facing child sex offense counts involving felony indecent liberties with a child. A news release from the Alamance County Sheriff's Office says Billy Joe Keck has been charged after the sheriff's office received a report from Child Protective Services about an alleged incident that happened the previous year. Following an investigation, Keck was arrested earlier this month and is being held on bond.

Man Facing Many Charges for Allegedly Kidnapping Woman Tuesday

(Reidsville, NC) -- Reidsville Police have arrested and charged a man with kidnapping following a situation Tuesday morning. They received a call just after 5:30 a.m. for a reported incident involving suspect Brian Hampton and a woman he knew who'd just left the scene by car. Two hours later, the two were located on Freeway Drive and the woman was escorted away by police. Hampton is being held in the Rockingham County Jail on various kidnapping charges.

High Point Church to Again Feed 10,000 for Thanksgiving

(High Point, NC) -- Leaders at Williams Memorial C.M.E. Church in High Point say they will again be feeding thousands of people this coming Thanksgiving. Pastor Robert Williams says the goal this year is to feed 10-thousand people, almost 10 percent of the city's residents. It is the 11th consecutive year that the church has undertaken the challenge.

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