Jackson County School Remains Closed Over COVID-19

(Jackson County, NC) -- A Jackson County school is sticking with remote learning this week. Health officials first reported a cluster of COVID-19 cases at Smokey Mountain Elementary School a week ago after four students and four staff members tested positive. It's unclear how many others are affected at this point. School officials will assess the situation again this Friday.

Tropical Storm Expected To Affect Asheville

(Asheville, NC) -- A tropical storm could be bringing heavy rain to the mountains later this week. The National Weather Service is predicting Tropical Storm Zeta could be a hurricane before striking somewhere between Louisiana and the western Florida panhandle late Wednesday or Thursday. Current projections show Zeta will turn to the northeast after landfall. That could result in significant rainfall in western North Carolina the second half of this week.

Missing Polk County Goats Reportedly Attacked By Bear

(Polk County, NC) -- Polk County investigators are no longer blaming humans on the disappearance of six goats belonging to the 4-H program. The animals, including two pregnant females, initially disappeared over several days last week from the property of the county's extension office. County officials revealed over the weekend following an investigation that the goats were actually killed in a bear attack. The remaining goat herd was moved to a safe space.

Two Teens Missing In WNC

(Henderson County, NC) -- A couple of teens are missing in western North Carolina. Henderson County sheriff's officials are looking for 13-year-old Shayla McIntyre, who disappeared from her residence on McElrath Road Sunday afternoon. In McDowell County, 17-year-old Shelby Harwood was reported missing after she disappeared from her home in Old Fort last Thursday.

Asheville Humane Society Waiving Adoption Fees

(Asheville, NC) -- A big pet adoption drive is continuing this week in Asheville. Prestige Subaru is teaming with the Asheville Humane Society to waive adoption fees for all cats and dogs over six-months-old from Tuesday through Friday. Over 100 homeless animals were available when the event kicked off on Saturday.

Union County Native Dies In Navy Training Crash

(Union County, NC) -- A Union County native is one of two people killed in a Navy training plane crash. Morgan Garrett was on board an aircraft that went down near Foley, Alabama on Friday. The U.S. Navy says the plane initially headed out from Pensacola, Florida for a routine training session. Garrett attended Weddington High School before moving on to graduate from the Coast Guard Academy last year.

Charlotte Church Banned From In-Person Events

(Charlotte, NC) -- A Charlotte church is ordered to halt all in-person events in the wake of a COVID-19 outbreak. Over 120 people who attended a convocation event this month at the United House of Prayer for All People have now tested positive, including three deaths. Mecklenburg County health officials issued an Abatement of Imminent Hazard Order on Saturday morning. Health director Gibbie Harris said the order is rare, but it prevents the church from opening in hopes the virus doesn't spread any further.

CMPD Investigating Homicide

(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is looking for the suspect in a northeast Charlotte homicide. A 22-year-old man died after he was shot on Potenza Drive early Saturday morning. The death marked the city's 98th homicide of the year, which is set to outpace last year's total. The police department reported 107 homicides in 2019.

Two Dead In Salisbury Homicide

(Salisbury, NC) -- Investigators are piecing together details in a Salisbury double homicide. The Salisbury Post reports two people were found dead inside a home on Lincolnton Road Saturday afternoon. Officers haven't yet said what they suspect the cause of the deaths may be.

Panthers Drop Close Game To Saints

(New Orleans, LA) -- The Panthers have a short week to make up for Sunday's close loss to the Saints. New Orleans hung on to beat Carolina 27-to-24 after Joey Slye's 65-yard field goal fell just short late in the fourth quarter. The loss drops the Panthers to three-and-four on the season. Carolina will host Atlanta at Bank of America Stadium on Thursday night.

COVID-19 Cases Drop By Over 700-Sunday In NC

(Raleigh, NC) -- Figures released by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services showed there were 18-hundred-07 new cases of the coronavirus Sunday, a dramatic 777-person decrease from the day before. However the state's positivity rate remained at 7-point-2 percent, higher than the 5-percent target set by health officials. The Department also reported 1-thousand-148 people in the hospital yesterday, down 33 from Saturday. There were 13-additional deaths reported Sunday, which brought the total to 41-hundred-57.

Weddington Native, Navy Pilot Killed In Military Plane Crash

(Foley, AL) -- A North Carolina Navy pilot was among those killed in a military plane crash in Foley, Alabama on Friday. According to a statement released by the Navy, 24-year old U.S. Coast Guard Ensign Morgan Garrett of Weddington, was part of a two-person crew whose training aircraft went down in a residential neighborhood about 30-miles southeast of Mobile. The crash destroyed a house and two cars, but no civilians were injured. The other pilot killed in the crash was identified as 30-year old Navy Lt. Rhiannon Ross of Wixom, Michigan. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Pence Continues North Carolina Campaign Schedule Despite COVID Outbreak In His Inner Circle

(Raleigh, NC) -- Vice President Mike Pence campaigned in Kinston Sunday, speaking to a modest crowd that gathered at the municipal airport. All were required to wear face masks. But Pence made no mention of the five people in his inner circle who tested positive over the weekend for COVID-19, including his Chief of Staff Marc Short. Both Pence and his wife Karen tested negative for the virus Sunday and said they plan to continue campaigning this week. Mrs. Pence will make a stop in New Hill today, while the Vice-President plans a return visit tomorrow for stops in Wilmington and Greensboro.

Record Number Of North Carolina Voters Cast Ballots Early In NC

(Raleigh, NC) -- The latest numbers released by the North Carolina Elections Board shows more than 42-percent of the registered voters in North Carolina have cast ballots early. That's more than double the number of early votes casts in the 2016 election. All total, more than 2-point-3 million people have already cast ballots. With just nine days to go before the election, Wake County leads all others in the state with nearly 226-thousand early votes cast.

Students In State's Largest School District Return For In-Person Learning Today

(Wake County, NC) -- More than eight-thousand Wake County students are scheduled to return to school today for in-person classroom instruction. This after spending the last several months remote learning. Grades scheduled to return include pre-K through 3 and K-12 starting with a three week rotation. All students will be required to wear masks, social distance and sanitize often. High school students won't return for in-person learning until January.

Vice President Mike Pence To Rally In Greensboro Tuesday

(Greensboro, NC) -- Vice President Mike Pence is making a campaign stop in Greensboro tomorrow. The event will be held at the Piedmont Triad International Airport at 12:30 p.m. Doors open at 10 a.m. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis.

Kamala Harris' Husband To Campaign In Winston-Salem

(Winston-Salem, NC) -- Senator Kamala Harris' husband will appear at two events in the Piedmont Triad today in support of her campaign for vice president. Doug Emhoff will be in Winston-Salem at 12 p.m. and Boone at 3:10 p.m. He'll speak about the campaign's "plans to put working families first and fight for North Carolinians every step of the way."

Driver Wanted In Deadly Hit-And-Run

(Burlington, NC) -- Burlington police are searching for the person responsible for a deadly hit-and-run accident. It happened Saturday night in the 24-hundred-block of North Church Street/U.S. 70. Fifty-three-year-old Joe Gomez-Morales was declared dead at the scene. Officers are looking for a dark-colored sedan with front-end damage in connection with the crash. Anyone with information is urged to come forward.

Alleghany Co. Rocked By Small Quake

(Alleghany Co., NC) -- No injuries or damages are reported after a small earthquake in Alleghany County. The magnitude-2.8 quake hit Saturday night, about two miles northeast of Sparta. More than 350 people said they felt the quake. It's one of many small earthquakes and tremors since the magnitude-5.1 quake hit the area in August, resulting in widespread damage.

Two People Shot At Four Season Town Centre

(Greensboro, NC) -- Two people are hospitalized after a shooting in Greensboro. Officers were called to the Four Season Town Centre on Vanstory Street around six o'clock yesterday evening. Two people were found suffering gunshot wounds. Their current conditions are unknown. Police have not identified a possible suspect or a motive in the case.