Aerospace Company Adding Hundreds Of Jobs In Buncombe

(Buncombe County, NC) -- An aerospace company is bringing hundreds of jobs to Buncombe County. Governor Roy Cooper announced yesterday that Pratt and Whitney plans to invest 650-million-dollars into a turbine airfoil production facility. The company is expecting to employ 800 jobs by 2027. Average annual salary will be close to 70-thousand-dollars.

Public Gives Feedback On Vance Monument

(Buncombe County, NC) -- The public is weighing in on what to do with downtown Asheville's Vance Monument. A virtual town hall was held yesterday by a joint city-county task force. A second town hall is coming up next Wednesday. The memorial is named after Zebulon Vance, who served as a Confederate officer and North Carolina's governor during the Civil War.

WNC Park Names After Obama, MLK

(Waynesville, NC) -- A small town park in western North Carolina is going to be named after Barack Obama and Martin Luther King, Junior. WLOS-TV reports town leaders approved to name the park in Waynesville's Pigeon community "Obama-King Park." A new sign will be placed on the land soon.

Interstate Back Open Following Tanker Crash

(Polk County, NC) -- Interstate 26 in Polk County is completely re-open following a tanker crash. Lanes were blocked from Wednesday into early Thursday after a gas tanker flipped and caught fire in the westbound lanes. The driver suffered serious injuries. DOT crews came in to resurface the burned part of the roadway.

Man Sentenced For Guns, Drug Charges

(Buncombe County, NC) -- A Buncombe County man is heading to prison on gun and drug charges. The Justice Department said Thursday that Jerrell Bowman was sentenced to 15-years for a late June guilty plea to possession and distribution of cocaine and fentanyl, in addition to firearm possession charges. The case stems from a search of Bowman's apartment and car in March 2018.

Application Fees Waived For Colleges

(Asheville, NC) -- College application fees are being waived for another week for some western North Carolina schools. College Application Week has been extended by the College Foundation of North Carolina. That means families can typically save anywhere from 50-to-85-dollars when their children apply to UNC-Asheville, Western Carolina University and Mars Hill University. The foundation is also holding free live virtual events and on-demand webinars.

Man Arrested In Kannapolis Accused Of Threatening Biden's Life

(Kannapolis, NC) -- A suspect arrested in Kannapolis is accused of possessing explosives and possibly attempting to assassinate Joe Biden. Alexander Treisman was arrested in May after police searched his van, which was left in the parking lot of the Fifth Third Bank on South Main Street. Investigators say there was evidence Treisman searched for child pornography and ways to kill Biden, while his abandoned van was allegedly filled with guns, ammunition, explosives and half-a-million-dollars in cash. The Kannapolis police chief said yesterday he was proud of the officers' quick actions to prevent an incident from happening.

Another Death Reported In COVID-19 Outbreak At Church

(Charlotte, NC) -- The health fallout from a Charlotte church event is getting worse. A third death was reported yesterday in connection to a convocation event at the United House of Prayer for All People earlier this month. The total case count from the attendees is now over 80, including eight patients who live at a senior living community. Mecklenburg County is holding a free testing event today near the church on Beatties Ford Road.

Health Officials Concerned Over Possible COVID-19 Spread After Rally

(Gaston County, NC) -- Health officials are preparing for a potential influx of COVID-19 cases after a President Trump rally in Gastonia. The Secret Service told NBC Charlotte that more than 20-thousand people attended the Wednesday night event. County spokesman Adam Gaub said it's concerning because Gaston County is already experiencing a spike in metrics like hospitalizations.

Union County Man Arrested For 1976 Murder

(Fairfield County, SC) -- A Union County man is being charged in a cold case murder. It was 44 years ago when 45-year-old Elizabeth Wilson disappeared from her job in Chester before her body and stolen car were found in Fairfield County, South Carolina. Investigators were finally able to make an arrest in the case with new DNA testing. Charles Coleman was jailed yesterday for murder and rape.

Two Teens Arrested For Charlotte Homicide

(Charlotte, NC) -- Two teens are accused of killing a man in southwest Charlotte. CMPD officers found a 21-year-old man shot to death Wednesday night along Farmhurst Drive. Two 16-year-olds were arrested on charges of murder and robbery yesterday.

American Airlines Shows Large Revenue Losses

(Charlotte, NC) -- American Airlines is still showing big revenue losses. The company revealed yesterday it lost two-point-four-billion dollars in revenue last quarter. Things are looking better at CLT, which is considered one of the two best performing hubs for American. Passenger numbers rose to one-point-two-million people in September, compared to two-million in February pre-pandemic.

Eric Trump To Campaign In Raleigh Today

(Raleigh, NC) -- The day after last night's final presidential debate between President Donald Trump and challenger Joe Biden, Trump's son Eric is scheduled to campaign in Raleigh today. The younger Trump will host an 'Evangelicals for Trump praise, prayer and patriotism' rally at RFA Church on Yonkers Road. President Trump returns to the state tomorrow for an event at the Robeson County Fairgrounds in Lumberton.

U.S. Supreme Court Asked To Intervene In North Carolina's Absentee Ballot Extension Controversy

(Raleigh, NC) -- Republican leaders in North Carolina have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene and stop a lower court decision that extends the deadline for receiving absentee ballots for an additional nine days. In an appeal filed Thursday, Republicans in the North Carolina General Assembly, as well as the Trump campaign, argued that the absentee ballot extension will result in unequal treatment of voters and dilute the value of those ballots.

Man Jailed For Making Online Threats Against Biden

(Kannapolis, NC) -- A North Carolina man remains behind bars after being arrested for making a series of online threats to kill Joe Biden. Nineteen-year-old Alexander Treisman was taken into custody back in May following an investigation that led federal agents to a van containing guns, explosive-making materials and over 500-thousand dollars in cash. Court documents also say Treisman traveled to a location that was about four-miles from Biden's home in Delaware.

Higher Trending COVID-19 Metrics More Proof Of Spike In North Carolina

(Raleigh, NC) -- Thursday was another near record-breaking day in North Carolina in terms of COVID-19 metrics. The Health Department reports there were an additional 50 deaths along with 24-hundred confirmed new cases of the virus. The number of patients in the hospital decreased to 12-hundred-five yesterday. And, North Carolina's positivity rate also dropped to five-point-nine-percent.

Over 12-Thousand Have Already Applied For Rent Relief Program

(Raleigh, NC) -- Governor Roy Cooper says the response to a new grant program that helps people avoid being evicted from their homes has been astonishing. In a little more than a week, more than 12-thousand residents have applied for assistance from the North Carolina Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions Program. The so-called HOPE program is funded by a 117-million-dollar grant from the CARES Act. Eligible residents can apply by calling 211-on their phones, or by visiting NC211.org.

Guilford Co. Deputy Who Died After Testing Positive For COVID-19 ID'd

(Guilford Co., NC) -- The Guilford County Sheriff's Office is identifying the deputy who died shortly after testing positive for COVID-19. Deputy LaKiya Rouse was working as a bailiff at the county courthouse Tuesday when she started feeling sick. She died the following day at the hospital. Doctors say Deputy Rouse tested positive for the coronavirus, but so far, that has not been linked to her death.

Pres. Trump To Appear In Robeson Co.

(Robeson Co., NC) -- President Trump will speak at an event in Robeson County tomorrow. It will be held at the county courthouse in Lumberton at 12:30 p.m. Trump's campaign said he'll deliver remarks on "fighting for the forgotten men and women." It's Trump's eighth visit to North Carolina since accepting the Republican nomination in August.

Investigation Underway In Wilkes Co. Where Body Was Found

(Wilkes Co., NC) -- An investigation is underway in Wilkes County where a wrapped body was found. The discovery was made Monday afternoon on private property in the Roaring River Community. Deputies say the body appeared to have been at that location for several days. They say it was wrapped in "an article." An autopsy will help determine the victim's identity and cause of death.

Man Arrested In Connection With Death Investigation In Reidsville

(Reidsville, NC) -- A 26-year-old man is under arrest in connection with a suspicious death in Reidsville. Steven Mayes was taken into custody yesterday and booked into the Rockingham County Jail on a one-million-dollar bond. He's charged with voluntary manslaughter, common-law robbery and larceny of a motor vehicle. Officers responded to the eleven-hundred-block of Walnut Street one week ago about a suspicious death. The victim has not yet been identified.

Weekly Jobless Claims Fall In North Carolina

(Undated) -- Weekly jobless claims are down in North Carolina. The Labor Department reports 13-thousand-172 North Carolinians filed claims for unemployment benefits last week. That's two-thousand-362 fewer than the week before. Nationwide, jobless claims are at their lowest level since the start of the coronavirus outbreak at 787-thousand. The biggest declines were in North Carolina, Michigan, Virginia, Montana, and Mississippi.

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