Ex-Buncombe Deputy Charged With Assault

(Buncombe County, NC) -- A former Buncombe County deputy is facing assault charges. Tyler McDonald was issued a criminal summons last week after the SBI wrapped up an investigation into his actions during a traffic stop. The summons alleges McDonald kneed a handcuffed man on October 5th. A hearing is scheduled for May 6th.

Ice Causes Minimal Problems In WNC

(Undated) -- Western North Carolina residents are heading into the weekend with minimal problems from this week's ice storm. Rain ended up being the main culprit early Thursday, while crews were expecting one-million power outages statewide from ice. Less than one-thousand were reported this morning. One lane of a west Asheville road was blocked after a mudslide. No other major outages or damages were reported.

Governor Debating School Requirement Bill

(Raleigh, NC) -- Governor Roy Cooper is debating what to do with a bill requiring public schools to offer in-person instruction. Both the state House and Senate have signed off on the proposal, which awaits the governor's signature. Cooper said yesterday the bill doesn't adhere to the state's safety guidelines for in-person learning, which contain more social distancing recommendations. Most of the state's districts are already expected to offer face-to-face learning within a month.

Asheville Tourists To Open Baseball Season In May

(Asheville, NC) -- Baseball is coming back to Asheville. Opening day is set for May 4th at McCormick Field as the Asheville Tourists play for the first time since the 2019 season. The Tourists will play 60 of their 120 games at home. Fans will be allowed to attend with reduced capacity and face mask requirements.

One Injured In Asheville Shooting

(Asheville, NC) -- Asheville police are investigating a shooting on South French Broad Avenue. Officers say the victim drove himself to the Pack Square area after being shot inside his car in the parking lot of an apartment complex Wednesday night. He was then rushed to the hospital in critical condition. There are several people of interest in the case, but no charges have been announced.

Application Deadline Approaching For One Buncombe Fund

(Buncombe County, NC) -- Businesses have a little more than a week to apply for help through the One Buncombe Fund. The county is in the process of collecting half-a-million-dollars in donations to assist businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The deadline is February 28th. WLOS-TV reports 70 businesses have applied so far.

Gastonia Man Facing More Charges For Threatening President

(Gastonia, NC) -- A Gastonia man is facing more charges for allegedly threatening to kill President Biden. David Reeves was initially arrested earlier this month after investigators say he called up the White House switchboard, Capitol Police and a Secret Service agent. He was indicted in federal court this week for threatening to kill the president and influencing a federal official by making a threat. Gastonia police say Reeves demanded to be arrested after his contact with the Secret Service agent.

Mecklenburg County Manager Critical Of City's Tent City Response

(Charlotte, NC) -- Mecklenburg County's manager is critical of Charlotte's response to a rat infestation at an uptown homeless encampment. The residents of Tent City were told earlier this week they had to leave by today after the county issued an abatement order. Around 180 people have taken up the county's offer to stay at a local hotel for free. County Manager Dena Diorio said yesterday the city, CMPD and sheriff's office haven't helped in the matter.

Two Arrested For Union County Overdose Death

(Union County, NC) -- Two suspects are in jail in connection to a Union County overdose death. Emergency crews found a 47-year-old unresponsive in a Unionville home last October. Investigators say they believe a Monroe man and Matthews woman supplied the victim with heroin before her death. The suspects were arrested this week for second-degree murder.

Charlotte Avoids Major Problems In Storm

(Charlotte, NC) -- Threatening weather is out of the Charlotte region for a while. Thursday was mostly rain for the Queen City, while some areas north of Charlotte saw some ice. Power outages from the storm statewide are few and far between. There's currently no high chance of precipitation in the next week.

Suspect Dead After Salisbury Shootout

(Rowan County, NC) -- A suspect is dead after a shootout with deputies in Salisbury. Investigators first found a wanted man at a home on Jacob Bost Road yesterday. The suspect and another man drove off in a truck and led deputies on a chase, which ended on an I-85 onramp. The wanted man allegedly fired a gun at deputies, who then fired several shots of their own.

Charlotte Knights Open Baseball Season In April

(Charlotte, NC) -- Baseball is coming back to Charlotte. The season opener is set for April 6th at Jacksonville as the Charlotte Knights take the field for the first time since the 2019 season. The Knight's home opener comes one week later at Truist Field. Fans will be allowed to attend with reduced capacity.

Motorists In Northeastern Part Of State Face Icy Roads This Morning

(Raleigh, NC) -- Residents in the northeastern part of the state are waking up to more frozen roadways after another ice storm moved across North Carolina overnight. Counties north of I-85 near the Virginia border received around one-tenth of an inch of ice early this morning. Elevated surfaces such as bridges and overpasses are where most of the accumulation occurred. Motorists are being urged to drive with caution during the morning commute.

Snow And Ice Forced Delays Of Vaccine Shipments To North Carolina This Week

(Raleigh, NC) -- Winter weather conditions this week have caused delays in shipments of vaccines to the state of North Carolina. The state Health Department reporting North Carolina received no shipments of the Moderna vaccine, and only a limited number of Pfizer doses were delivered. In addition, closures of county health departments and outdoor mass vaccination sites have forced the rescheduling of thousands of vaccination appointments for next week.

Some COVID Key Metrics In North Carolina Now At Lowest Levels Since November

(Raleigh, NC) -- COVID-19 hospitalizations in North Carolina dropped to their lowest level in three months on Thursday. The 18-hundred-92 infections were 62 fewer than the day before and represented the first time the number was below 19-hundred since November 29th. North Carolina's test positive rate was six-point-two-percent. There were also 96 additional deaths yesterday, which brought the total to 10-thousand-766.

Durham City Schools Approve Plan To Return Students To Classes Next Month

(Durham, NC) -- In anticipation of Senate Bill 37 becoming law, the Durham City Board of Education met in emergency session last night to approve a plan to return students to classes on their own. The plan allows the option of bringing students back starting on March 15th. Under its provisions, elementary school students would attend classes four days a week. And middle and high school students will be divided into three groups that would alternate in-person learning for two days a week. Leaders had initially planned for students to continue with virtual learning for the remainder of the academic school year.

Piedmont Triad Impacted By Freezing Rain, Ice Storm

(Winston-Salem, NC) -- The Piedmont Triad is dealing with the after effects of Thursday's ice storm. The ice accumulation has made roads and walkways very slick. Ice-covered trees and power lines have resulted in thousands of power outages across the state. Damage from the storm has also been reported in multiple Triad counties. Rain is forecast for this morning, followed by sunshine this afternoon and a high of 47 degrees.

Gov. Cooper Issues State of Emergency

(Undated) -- Governor Roy Cooper is issuing a State of Emergency after an ice storm caused widespread damage across the state. The emergency order will help get out-of-state repair crews to impacted communities much faster. Cooper also authorized National Guard personnel to help remove debris from fallen trees. He released a statement yesterday, saying folks need to be ready to be without power for several days, "especially in the northern, western and Piedmont counties."

UPDATE: Piedmont Triad School Closures, Delays

(Winston-Salem, NC) -- A lot of schools throughout the Piedmont Tried are switching to online instruction today in response to the recent ice storm. Other schools will be starting at a later time. Alleghany-Burlington, Winston-Salem/Forsyth and Caswell County schools are operating remotely today. Guilford County Schools will run on a two-hour delay. All areas of the Triad are under a Winter Storm Warning until 7 a.m.

Several Vehicles Crushed During NC Ice Storm

(Winston-Salem, NC) -- No one is hurt after several vehicles were crushed by a tree in Winston-Salem. It happened during yesterday's ice storm. Officials say multiple vehicles in the parking lot of Ardmore Terrace Apartments were crushed when an uprooted tree fell on them. Thankfully, no one was inside the cars at the time.

One Person Killed In Randolph Co. House Fire

(Randolph Co., NC) -- One person is dead after a house fire in Randolph County. The blaze broke out yesterday afternoon in the seven-thousand-block of Canaan Church Road, northeast of Denton. Emergency Services Deputy Director Jared Byrd says the fire severely damaged the home. Neither the victim nor the cause of the fire has been identified. An investigation is ongoing.