Buncombe County High Schoolers Learn Remotely Through Fall

(Buncombe County, NC) -- Buncombe County's high school students aren't returning to the classroom this semester after all. The board of education altered its plan to send all grades back to school on alternating days beginning September 28th. Members narrowly voted yesterday in favor of keeping high schoolers on a remote learning plan through the fall. Nothing was changed for grades K through 8.

Rain To Affect NC Today

(Asheville, NC) -- Rain is a threat to most of North Carolina today as the remnants from what was Hurricane Sally move through the region. Some areas of lower western North Carolina are under a flash flood watch through tomorrow morning. Up to a couple of inches of rain could fall in the Asheville area. The heaviest amount will be through the piedmont, where as many as six inches are possible.

GOP Pressuring For Full-Time Classroom Learning

(Raleigh, NC) -- Pressure is starting to mount from North Carolina Republican leaders on a return to full-time classroom learning. Senate Leader Phil Berger and Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest are helping a group of parents lead a push to allow families across the state to have a choice. Berger called virtual learning a slow-motion train wreck while he spoke at the legislative building in Raleigh yesterday. Democratic Senator Jay Chaudhuri said kids, educators and families need to be kept safe.

Juvenile Shot Five Times In Asheville

(Asheville, NC) -- Asheville police are investigating the shooting of a juvenile. Officers found the victim shot five times on Tuesday night on Scott Street. It all began during a fight at Walton Street Park and ended in the shooting. The juvenile is expected to survive. The APD has a person of interest in the case, but no charges have been announced.

Mission Health Ceasing Primary Care Services At Two Locations

(Asheville, NC) -- Some Mission Health primary care patients are in search of other providers. A hospital spokesperson announced yesterday services are ending in Candler and Biltmore Park at the end of October. Mission Health is expected to contact all affected patients.

Chick-fil-A Testing New Sandwich In Asheville

(Asheville, NC) -- Chick-fil-A is using the Asheville area to test out a twist on its chicken sandwich. The restaurant chain rolled out a Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich, which is a classic fried filet, drizzled with honey, and topped with Southern-style pimento cheese and mild pickled jalapeños. It's available for a limited time.

Union County Schools Go Remote Today Due To Storm

(Union County, NC) -- The Union County School District is changing things up today due to severe weather. All students will take part in a remote learning day as the remnants of what was once Hurricane Sally track through the piedmont. The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for most of the state. As much as six inches of rain could fall in the Charlotte area through tomorrow morning.

Suspect Arrested In Pineville Homicide

(Pineville, NC) -- The suspect in a Pineville homicide is in jail. Officers say a 35-year-old man was gunned down in the parking lot of the Fox and Hound restaurant on Pineville-Matthews Road late Monday night. The suspect was arrested at a home in south Charlotte yesterday. He faces a charge of second-degree murder

CMS Officials Approve Plan To Bring Students Back

(Charlotte, NC) -- A plan for CMS students to phase back into the classroom is now in place. The board of education approved a measure yesterday which transitions different grade levels through the rest of 2020. Things begin late this month for students in exceptional children programs, followed by Pre-K on October 12th and Kindergarten through 5th on November 2nd. Middle school students return November 23rd. High schoolers are being allowed to take in-person testing in December, but won't come back completely until January.

County Leaders Developing New COVID-19 Dashboard

(Mecklenburg County, NC) -- A new dashboard is being developed to track COVID-19 in Mecklenburg County. Health officials are using it to keep a close eye on contract tracing, and connections to clusters and quarantining at area schools. The county's health director says her biggest concern now is spread among young people. Overall, the positivity rate is trending down to five-point-seven-percent.

Gaston County Nursing Home Recovering From Cornavirus Cases

(Gaston County, NC) -- A Gaston County nursing home at the center of a large COVID-19 cluster is now successfully keeping the virus away. Public health officials say more than 100 people tested positive and ten died after COVID-19 started to spread through Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation earlier this year. NBC Charlotte reports the facility was removed off the state's cluster list last month.

Some Voters May Receive Two Absentee Ballots

(Mecklenburg County, NC) -- Some voters in Mecklenburg County might accidentally receive more than one absentee ballot. Elections Director Michael Dickerson says some duplicates were sent out after workers re-labeled a stack of ballots recently. He is asking anyone who receives two ballots to throw one away. There have been over 800-thousand requests for absentee ballots in North Carolina so far.

Triangle Area Red Cross Volunteers Dispatched To Hurricane Ravaged Alabama, Florida

(Raleigh, NC) -- Volunteers from the Sandhills Chapter of the American Red Cross have been deployed to parts of Coastal Alabama and Florida that were hard hit by Hurricane Sally. Work crews from Raleigh and Wilmington are also headed to the area. The volunteers' mission will primarily be to assist in providing shelter, food and comfort to families impacted by the storm.

Missing Person Case Of Andrew Banks Now Homicide Investigation

(Raleigh, NC) -- The case of a Raleigh man who disappeared after going to Cameron Village last weekend to meet man to discuss the sale of his SUV has turned into a homicide investigation. The 2011 Range Rover belonging to 39-year-old William Andrew Banks was found in Danville, Virginia on Monday. Thirty-four-year-old Justin Merritt was arrested and charged with stealing the vehicle at gunpoint. So far, Raleigh police have not filed any charges against Merritt in the homicide investigation.

Coronavirus Case Numbers Trending Back Upward In North Carolina

(Raleigh, NC) -- Data released by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services showed there were one-thousand-137 new cases of the coronavirus confirmed on Wednesday. Of that number, 918 patients were being treated at hospitals. The state's positivity rate trended back upward to five-point-eight-percent yesterday. There were also 32 deaths reported, which brought the total since the beginning of the pandemic to 31-hundred-49.

Forest Towing Party Line On Issue Of Wearing Face Masks

(Raleigh, NC) -- Lt. Governor Dan Forest says if he's elected Governor in November, there will be no statewide mandate for people to wear facemasks. At a news conference Wednesday, the Republican, who's challenging incumbent Roy Cooper for the state's top office, said he would lift the mandate and allow individual freedom to decide whether or not to wear a face covering. Forest also said there is no science that face masks are effective against the spread of COVID-19.

Heavy Rain Expected In Triad

(Winston-Salem, NC) -- Heavy rain is a threat to the Triad today as the remnants from what was Hurricane Sally move through the region. Areas through the piedmont are under a flash flood watch through tomorrow night. Up to five inches of rain are possible by the time the storm is gone. Tornadoes are not totally out of the question.

Man Sentenced For Involuntary Manslaughter

(Forsyth County, NC) -- One man is heading to prison for up to two years for the death of a 69-year-old man in Forsyth County. It was in March 2019 when investigators say Robby Smith pushed Bruce Souther down and kicked him during an argument outside the Budget Inn on Peters Creek Parkway. Souther was treated and released from the hospital but died about seven weeks later. Smith pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and assault yesterday.

Classic Fair Goes Drive-Thru

(Winston-Salem, NC) -- Organizers for the Carolina Classic Fair are now offering an alternative event this year. The fair was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but a drive-thru event is planned for the first four days of October at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds. Visitors will stay in their vehicles while picking up favorite fair foods and taking part in some unique activities. Movies will be shown on the midway on the 2nd and 3rd, with fireworks as well.

Greensboro PD Investigating Two Shootings

(Greensboro, NC) -- Two late Wednesday night shootings are being investigated by Greensboro police. Officers found one person injured at the site of an overturned car on Rugby Street. Another victim was discovered on Ray Street. Investigators haven't released the seriousness of their injuries or if any suspects have been charged.

Coalition Pushing School Bond Referendum

(Guilford County, NC) -- A Guilford County coalition is beginning a campaign push for this fall's school bond referendum. Commissioners approved earlier this year to place the 300-million-dollar initiative on the November ballot. The money would be used for school construction and renovations. The chair of the Vote Smart Committee says they can no longer delay fixing school buildings around the county that are falling apart.

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