Asheville Teen Found Safe
(Asheville, NC) -- A missing Asheville teen is safe thanks, in part, to hand gestures she used to signify distress. The 16-year-old was found in the back seat of a car driven by a man from Cherokee while they were in Kentucky last Thursday. Sheriff's investigators say the girl reached out to another driver using hand signals popularized on the TikTok app. The man is reportedly facing charges of unlawful imprisonment.
Henderson County Public Schools Lifting Mask Mandate
(Henderson County, NC) -- The face mask mandate is ending in Henderson County Schools. The school board voted yesterday to lift the requirement for all students and staff starting Monday. The board's chair attempted to push the date to January 1st so younger kids can get vaccinated first, but the motion failed.
Asheville City School Teachers to Receive Bonuses
(Raleigh, NC) -- Teachers for Asheville City Schools are in line to receive bonuses. The school board decided last night to give classified employees an extra 35-hundred-dollars, while certified employees will receive three-thousand. The money is coming from American Rescue Plan funds. The bonuses will be split up into two payments.
Asheville Street Performer Assaulted, Robbed
(Asheville, NC) -- Asheville police are looking for suspects who attacked a street musician over the weekend. Investigators say the man was robbed and assaulted while performing near the Asheville Museum of Science in broad daylight Sunday. Three suspects may have been involved. A member of the Board of Asheville Buskers Collective told WLOS-TV these kinds of attacks are happening more and more.
Suspect On Loose After Asheville Bank Robbery
(Asheville, NC) -- The search is continuing for an Asheville bank robbery suspect. A man reportedly sped off in a white SUV after holding up the Mountain Credit Union on Haywood Street last Friday. Surveillance footage shows the suspect wearing a black hoodie and mask.
Small Relief Possible For WNC Gas Prices
(Asheville, NC) -- There could be some small relief in western North Carolina's pump prices this week. The cost for a gallon of regular unleaded has risen roughly 20-cents-per-gallon over the past month in Asheville. GasBuddy reports the average stands at three-27. The company's head of petroleum analysis says there should be small declines due to a drop in wholesale prices, but no big changes through Thanksgiving.
Hidden Valley Community Speaks Against Redistricting
(Charlotte, NC) -- Some residents of a Charlotte community are standing against the city's new district map. The city council voted for the redistricting plan in a large majority last night. Dozens of residents from the Hidden Valley community came out to voice opposition to the map because it relocates them from district-four to district-one. NBC Charlotte reports the Hidden Valley community is mounting a challenge in federal court.
Shooting Injures Two While Riding In Car In Union County
(Union County, NC) -- The search is on for someone who opened fire on a car in Union County last weekend. A man and woman were injured while riding along Griffith Road in Monroe Saturday night. One bullet came close to striking a three-month-old child. The shots were allegedly fired from a vehicle behind the victims' car, but there's no description for the suspect.
Snapchat Bomb Threat Against Charlotte School Investigated
(Charlotte, NC) -- A bomb threat made against a Charlotte high school is being investigated by the CMPD. The warning against Ardrey Kell High School was reportedly posted to Snapchat on Sunday. The principal told parents in a message yesterday that the threat is being taken seriously. She also dispelled rumors about guns and cocaine at the school last week.
Bonuses Going To Mooresville Teachers
(Mooresville, NC) -- Bonuses are coming to employees in the Mooresville Graded School District. School officials have approved an extra three-thousand-dollars for permanent employees ahead of the holiday break in December. The district's chief communications officer said the purpose is to show appreciation and to serve as a recruitment effort for potential employees.
Three Suspect Arrested For Charlotte Armed Robberies
(Charlotte, NC) -- Three suspects are facing charges in two armed robberies in Charlotte. The trio was arrested after a failed attempt at an AutoZone on Albemarle Road and a robbery at a nearby Dollar General, which both happened within a half-hour on Sunday afternoon. CMPD officers chased down the men a short time later.
American Airlines Preparing For Busy Holidays
(Charlotte, NC) -- American Airlines is implementing measures to make holiday travel easier on travelers. Flight attendants are scheduled to be paid 150-percent for working the last week of this month and the end of December. The announcement comes after American was recently forced to cancel hundreds of flights over Halloween weekend. Charlotte serves as the southeast hub for the airline.
Bus Driver Strike Affecting Over 26-Thousand Cumberland County Students Today
(Cumberland County, NC) -- Parents across Cumberland County are making alternate plans to get their children to school today, as most bus drivers are expected to stage a sick-out. The strike is a form of protest over poor working conditions an low pay. Despite recently receiving a one-time thousand dollar bonus, the school bus drivers maintain the starting pay of 12-dollars-21 cents an hour, is simply not enough to make a living. In addition to the strike, bus drivers are also planning to hold a demonstration at the District headquarters starting at 9:am.
Armed Robber Approaches NC State Student Monday Night Who Safely Ran Away
(Raleigh, NC) -- Police at North Carolina State University have issued a warning to students to exercise vigilance following an attempted armed robbery incident. It happened around 7:pm along Gorman Street near the McKimmon Center. A female student, whose name is being withheld, told authorities that as she was walking down the street, three men in a black Honda Civic pulled up next to her and one of them got out and pointed a gun. The student said when she saw the weapon she began to run. The suspect then got back into the car and the driver sped away on Sherman Avenue. Fortunately, no one was injured.
Durham County Commission Passes New Non-Discrimination Ordinance
(Durham County, NC) -- As expected, the Durham County Commission followed the City of Raleigh and Wake County Monday by passing a new non-discrimination ordinance. The new legislation bans discrimination in public places, as well as in the workplace. It covers 18-other categories, including race, sexual orientation, disability and religion. The ordinance also protects against discrimination of racial and ethnic hair styles and hair types.
Arson Suspected As Possible Cause Of Fire That Destroyed Five Mobile Buildings At Chatham County School
(Chatham County, NC) -- An investigation is underway into the cause of a fire that destroyed five mobile buildings at a Chatham County elementary school. It happened early Sunday morning at North Chatham Elementary. It took firefighters several hours to bring the blaze under control. School officials say thousands of dollars in supplies and equipment were torched by the fire, including computers, art supplies and musical instruments. The buildings were used for classrooms, staff offices and storage.
Over 8-Thousand NC Children Ages 5-11 Have Gotten Vaccinated In Just Over One Week
(Raleigh, NC) -- New figures released by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services show that to-date, over 8-thousand children ages 5-11 have already gotten their COVID-19 vaccines. That's just since the pediatric doses were approved by the FDA and CDC a little more than a week ago. With over 400-thousand doses available, parents can now make appointments at all county health clinics, as well as pharmacies and pediatric health care clinics.