Money Provided For Infusions At Henderson County Hospital

(Hendersonville, NC) -- Antibody infusions are increasing for a mountain region hospital. The Henderson County board of commissioners decided yesterday to use 250-thousand-dollars in American Rescue Plan funding for infusions at AdventHealth Hendersonville. The same amount was awarded to Pardee UNC Health Care last month. There were 25 people being treated for COVID symptoms at AdventHealth yesterday.

COVID Cases Stabilize In Buncombe

(Buncombe County, NC) -- COVID numbers in Buncombe County are stabilizing. The county's health and human services office reported Wednesday that around half of Buncombe's ICU beds are occupied by COVID patients. Health Director Stacie Saunders says any potential effects from the Labor Day weekend would be seen right around now, but there have been no drastic changes so far. The number of eligible residents who've been fully vaccinated in Buncombe County is almost 70-percent.

Deputies Confiscating Items At Mountain State Fair

(Henderson County, NC) -- Those coming out to the North Carolina Mountain State Fair this week are being reminded to leave certain items at home. Deputies from the Henderson County sheriff's office told WLOS-TV they've been busy confiscating items like weapons and alcohol during entry screenings. One sheriff's major is welcoming everyone to come have a good time but warns to check your attitude at the gate. The Ag Center in Fletcher is hosting the fair through Sunday.

Asheville Sending Out More Bear-Resistant Trash Cans

(Asheville, NC) -- More bear-resistant trash cans are rolling out in Asheville. The city is in the process of delivering 300 cans after sending out around 340 in a pilot program early this year. Residents can take advantage by paying an extra fee of ten-dollars-a-month. The bear-resistant cans are the same size as regular carts, but weigh ten-pounds more.

Workers Okay After Bucket Lift Malfunction

(Asheville, NC) -- Two workers are safe after a bucket lift malfunctioned in Asheville yesterday. WLOS-TV reports the victims were working on a church steeple along Sand Hill Road when trouble arose. Crews from the Asheville Fire Department rushed out to help in the rescue. They were able to get the lift working again before firefighters pulled out ladders for assistance.

New Asheville Noise Ordinance In Effect

(Asheville, NC) -- An amended noise ordinance is in effect in Asheville. Noise limits have been set for different parts of day and night. Those people or businesses who need to exceed the limit must first gain a permit or face potential shut down. No more than 30 exceedances will be granted to venues per-year.

State Urging Union County Schools To Rescind Policies

(Union County, NC) -- State health officials are threatening legal action against Union County Public Schools. A letter sent to the school district yesterday comes a few days after the school board decided to eliminate contact tracing and quarantines for those students and staff who aren't COVID-19 positive. North Carolina's health secretary is asking the district to rescind its policies by tomorrow. The North Carolina Association of Educators called Union County's decision reckless.

Arrest Made In Murder Of Gastonia Teen

(Gastonia, NC) -- The suspect in the killing of a Gastonia teen is behind bars. A 14-year-old girl was shot to death outside Rodgers Bail Bonding in downtown on Tuesday afternoon. A car allegedly used as a getaway by the suspect was found abandoned several hours later. Gastonia Police say officers later found and arrested the 19-year-old suspect on charges of second-degree murder.

Hundreds Of Meck Employees Suspended Over Vaccine Policy

(Mecklenburg County, NC) -- Mecklenburg County is now punishing employees for not complying with its COVID policy. Any employees who have not submitted a negative COVID test and have not given their vaccination status are in danger of being suspended. County officials revealed yesterday that suspension notices were sent to nearly 600 employees this week, or just under 14-percent of the workforce. Individual suspensions will be lifted as soon as someone provides vaccination proof or a negative test.

Human Remains Found In Iredell County

(Iredell County, NC) -- A teen is facing charges in connection to the discovery of human remains in Iredell County. A baby was recently found buried in a shallow grave behind a home on Tomlin Mill Road. Investigators arrested a 19-year-old man yesterday for concealing the death. It's believed the remains were brought from High Point to Iredell County earlier this month.

Suspect Tied To Crime Family Arrested In Charlotte

(Charlotte, NC) -- A man arrested in Charlotte is being tied to a New York-based crime family. Vincent Ricciardo was handcuffed in the Queen City Tuesday, just as a number of others tied to a mafia investigation were arrested in the northeast. Federal investigators say the Colombo family has been involved in schemes to take control of a Queens-based labor union and a health care benefit program. Ricciardo will be arraigned locally.

Rape Case Arrested In 1988 Case

(Charlotte, NC) -- Investigators are making progress in a Charlotte rape case dating back over two decades. The suspect was accused of sexually assaulting a 48-year-old woman in 1998. A DNA sample finally connected a man to the case last year. He was arrested in California last month and has since been extradited to Mecklenburg County.

Hospitalizations Declining, New COVID-19 Infections Trending Upward

(Raleigh, NC) -- North Carolina's COVID-19 key metrics were mixed on Wednesday. Figures released by the Department of Health and Human Services showed a slight decrease in hospitalizations with three-thousand-630 patients being treated. However, the number of new infections spiked to seven-thousand-277, an increase of more than 25-hundred over the day before. There were also 689 ICU patients on ventilators, the highest number recorded since the start of the pandemic.

Mandatory COVID Testing Requirement Goes Into Effect Monday For Unvaccinated Wake County Employees

(Raleigh, NC) -- Wednesday was the last day for thousands of Wake County employees to get vaccinated, or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing. Those weekly tests are set to begin on Monday. An unofficial accounting of vaccinated employees yesterday showed three-thousand-462 had been inoculated. That represents roughly 80-percent of all Wake County employees. The new safety requirements will remain in effect until Wake County's test positive rate is less than five-percent.

SAS Has Ordered All Employees To Get Vaccinated Or Face Possible Termination

(Cary, NC) -- Software developer SAS has issued an ultimatum to its employees to get vaccinated or risk the possibility of losing their jobs. In a statement released Wednesday, the Cary-based company said employees who are not vaccinated or granted an accommodation by November 1st could be subject to actions, including termination. Some exemptions will be allowed for medical or religious reasons. Just over five-thousand employees work at the SAS headquarters location in Cary. The company has 12-thousand-400 employees worldwide.

Runaway Driverless Pickup Truck Slams Into Durham Home Causing Significant Damage

(Durham, NC) -- Durham Police are investigating an accident involving a driverless pickup truck that crashed into a house, causing extensive damage. It happened early Wednesday morning along the 300-block of East Umstead Street. Police say a neighbor started the engine of his vehicle but briefly left it unattended. That's when another man jumped into the running truck and tried to speed away. When the owner tried to stop the theft, the driver fled the scene on foot, causing the driverless vehicle to slam into the rear of the house. No one was home at the time, and there were no injuries.

Fall Student Enrollment Up At Nearly All UNC System Campuses

(Chapel Hill, NC) -- Despite the challenges caused by the pandemic, fall enrollment at UNC campuses across the state is at an all-time high. Data released by the UNC System Wednesday showed that over 244-thousand students were enrolled for the Fall 2021 semester, an increase of point-zero-eight-percent over the same period a year ago. The largest area of growth was among graduate students, which rose by a bit over five-percent. And, part-time undergraduate student enrollment grew by more than three-percent. NC State in Raleigh remains the largest school in the UNC System, with nearly 37-thousand students enrolled.

Body Of Infant Found In Iredell Co.

(Iredell Co., NC) -- A Statesville man is under arrest after the body of an infant was found buried in the backyard of a home in Iredell County. Nineteen-year-old Alex Best is charged with felony conceal or fail to report the death of a child. The remains were found in a makeshift grave behind a home on Tomlin Mill Road earlier this week. They were reportedly transported there from High Point. Police say both Best and a female gave statements, but the details were not released. An investigation is ongoing.

Pediatric COVID Cases Rise

(Winston-Salem, NC) -- Pediatric COVID-19 cases are on the rise in the Piedmont Triad. Forsyth County health officials say about 30-percent of cases last week were among children under 17. That's up from 20-percent the week before. Novant Health says there are more infections among patients younger than 12 who cannot be vaccinated. Medical Director Dr. L Eugene Daugherty tells "FOX 8" fatalities among young COVID patients are relatively low.

Randolph Co. Schools Switch To Remote Learning

(Randolph Co., NC) -- Two Randolph County schools are switching from in-person to remote learning due to COVID-19 and staff shortages. They're Southwestern Randolph Middle and Eastern Randolph High schools. Officials say there are not enough staff members available to operate the schools right now. Students at both locations will learn remotely through September 24th.

Man Dies After Winston-Salem Apartment Shooting

(Winston-Salem, NC) -- Winston-Salem police are launching a homicide investigation after a man was gunned down inside an apartment. It happened Tuesday afternoon on Ferrell Court. Twenty-seven-year-old Charles Anderson Junior was rushed to a local hospital where he later died. Police believe it started as a robbery. Anyone with information is urged to come forward.

FBI Campaign Raises Hate Crime Awareness In North Carolina

(Greensboro, NC) -- The F-B-I is launching a campaign across North Carolina to raise awareness of hate crimes. It's part of a nationwide effort launched at the F-B-I headquarters in Washington D-C. The campaign will use billboards, social media, radio and television, and bus ads to promote its message.