COVID-19 Causes Shutdown Of Workouts For Asheville City Schools

(Asheville, NC) -- COVID-19 is causing a shutdown of summer workouts at Asheville City Schools. District officials revealed yesterday two high school and two middle school athletes from four different sports teams tested positive. The cases are reportedly not linked to any workouts. Training at the middle and high school is canceled through at least the end of this week.

Henderson County Barricade Suspect Killed By Florida Police

(Henderson County, NC) -- A man who allegedly barricaded himself inside a Henderson County home last December is dead in a Florida shooting. James Munro, Junior died in a shootout with Miami-Dade police on Saturday. The Henderson County Sheriff's Office told WLOS-TV Munro was out on bond for several counts connected to the local crime. He reportedly fired shots at deputies during the 2019 standoff, but no one was injured.

Mission Health System Treating Record Number Of COVID-19 Patients

(Asheville, NC) -- The Mission Health system is dealing with more hospitalized COVID-19 patients than ever before. Nearly 50 patients at six hospitals were reported yesterday, which marks a slight increase from one week ago. The number of hospitalized patients is more than double what Mission Health experienced in June. More than 17-hundred total coronavirus cases have been reported in Buncombe County.

Injured Hawyood Deputy Released From Hospital

(Haywood County, NC) -- A Haywood County deputy shot in the line of duty is now out of the hospital. The sheriff's office told WLOS-TV Eric Batchelor was just sent home after undergoing treatment connected to the shooting one week ago. Investigators say a man fired at deputies while he stood on a billboard along Old Asheville Highway. The man was killed in response. Batchelor still has more treatments as part of his recovery.

More Than 40 Ask For City Council Application

(Asheville, NC) -- The Asheville city council may have a long list of names to choose from as one of its members prepares to leave. Vijay Kapoor previously advised the city he was leaving his council seat effective August 8th. The Citizen-Times is reporting more than 40 people requested applications to fill the seat. The ultimate decision will be made by the council, not by a public election.

Commissioners Okay Removal Of Gaston Confederate Statue

(Gaston County, NC) -- A Confederate statue in Gaston County is being moved. County commissioners approved the measure last night, which puts the Sons of Confederate Veterans in charge of taking it some place away from the courthouse. A study committee initially advised the monument needed to be moved, but the commission decided to put it in the hands of voters this fall. Chair Tracy Philbeck decided to put the item back on yesterday's agenda after finding out the state legislature wouldn't be able to approve placing the measure on the ballot in time.

Reward Offered In Murder Of Charlotte Grandmother

(Charlotte, NC) -- A reward is offered in a deadly shooting that killed a Charlotte grandmother. Wilma Jean was shot to death as she went to pick up her granddaughter from a party off West 28th Street in late July. The CMPD joined her family yesterday to seek out information from the public. Crimestoppers is offering as much as 15-thousand-dollars for information leading to an arrest.

Some Union County Teachers And Parents Protest For All-Virtual Learning

(Union County, NC) -- There's a call to go to all-virtual learning in Union County schools. A group of parents and teachers used their cars for a drive-thru protest yesterday outside the school administrations building. Students have the option of going back to the classroom on a limited basis or going full virtual. The superintendent told NBC Charlotte about 20-percent of district families have chosen full remote.

Panthers Linebacker Opts Out Over COVID-19

(Charlotte, NC) -- A second-year linebacker is sitting out this season for the Carolina Panthers. Christian Miller told the team yesterday he's opting out because he's considered high risk for COVID-19. An undrafted rookie linebacker is the only other player to opt out so far. Miller played limited time in seven games last season.

Charlotte Named Good Place For Millennials Working Remotely

(Charlotte, NC) -- Millennials have the upper hand while working from home in Charlotte. That's according to a recent study from data website WhistleOut, which ranks the Queen City eighth in the U.S. as a good place for millennials to work remotely Cities are analyzed based on factors like income, average internet speed and amount of coffee shops nearby. Another annual ranking already rated Charlotte high for being attractive to millennials in general.

Isaias Heading Out Of North Carolina Today

(Raleigh, NC) -- Isaias [[ ee-sah-EE-ahss ]] is making its way up the coastal plain of North Carolina. The storm strengthened back into a hurricane Monday night before making landfall near Ocean Isle Beach. Heavy wind is expected around the path of Isaias up the I-95 corridor early this morning. Accompanying storms from the hurricane have already caused rain through much of the state.

Duke Energy Not Expecting COVID-19 To Hamper Power Restoration After Isaias

(Raleigh, NC) -- Duke Energy is not anticipating any delays in storm restoration for Isaias due to COVID-19. On Monday, the power company said it brought in an extra 300 crews from the Midwest so the company could adhere to social distancing guidelines. According to reports, the workers will be separated into small groups of about 16 people and then working in isolation. They'll also be wearing masks, have temperature checks and will even have their down time monitored. Duke Energy says they tested out the new safety measures earlier this summer with a large-scale training exercise in Florida and now feel confident in executing their response plan.

Counties Actively Seeking Poll Workers As Election Day Approaches

(Raleigh, NC) -- Wake County officials are looking for poll workers for the upcoming election in November. Spencer Berg, who is the recruiting coordinator for the Wake County Board of Elections, says they are looking for more poll workers than ever after as many as 700 former poll workers decided they won't be working the polls during the pandemic. Berg says anyone who is above the age of 17 by November 3rd can apply to be an election worker in their home county anywhere in North Carolina.

UNC-Chapel Hill Students Move Into Dorms Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

(Raleigh, NC) -- Students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are moving back in to dorms for the fall semester. On Monday, students began heading to campus as the number of COVID-19 cases remain high in the state. According to health officials, there were over 13-hundred new cases reported on Monday in the state and the death toll now stands at nearly two-thousand. UNC officials said they are taking the necessary preventative measures to keep students safe on campus. When students return to class next week, they can expect to find reconfigured classrooms where students will be sitting at least six feet apart. University officials say they have also created a dashboard website where the campus community can find out how many students and employees have tested positive for the virus.

One Dead Following Shooting On Beauty Avenue

(Raleigh, NC) -- Raleigh police are investigating a shooting that left one man dead on Saturday. Officials say the incident occurred at around 11 p.m. in the 14-hundred block of Beauty Avenue, near Rock Quarry Road. When they arrived at the scene, deputies say they found 29-year-old Martin Dexter Penny suffering from a gunshot wound and transported him to a nearby hospital for treatment. He was later pronounced dead. Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact Raleigh Police.

Lewisville, King Firefighters Deployed To Roanoke Rapids

(Lewisville, NC) - The Greensboro Swift Water Rescue team is on standby as Hurricane Isaias [[ ee-sah-EE-ahs ]] slams the east coast. Firefighters from Lewisville and King have already been deployed to Roanoke Rapids to help with swift-water rescues. A dangerous storm surge between three-and-five feet is expected along the entire coast. Flash-flooding and tornadoes have already been reported.

Isaias Expected To Do Majority Of Damage In the Next 24-30 Hours

(Undated) - Hurricane Isaias [[ ee-sah-EE-ahs ]] is expected to do the majority of its damage in the next 24 hours. Forecasters are saying the storm is linked to a polar jet stream, which is creating severe thunderstorms and dangerous winds as it moves inland. Isaias made landfall along the Carolina coast, near Ocean Isle Beach, overnight as a category one hurricane. Hurricane Warnings are in effect on the Carolina coastline, while Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect up the East Coast to Maine.

COVID-19 Has Effect On How Red Cross Operates During Disaster

(Undated) - The coronavirus pandemic is having a significant impact on the American Red Cross and how it responds to disasters. The director of the American Red Cross in the Piedmont Triad, John Hughes, tells NBC 12 one of the biggest changes is the way they shelter people who've been displaced. The organization typically sets up emergency shelters in gyms or other large facilities, but due to social distancing guidelines, that's not possible. The Red Cross is now having to house people in hotels and dormitories to keep people safe. Volunteers also wear masks and gloves, and disinfect frequently.

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