Second Bear Attack in WNC, Teen Killer Back in Custody, Code Purple Issued

Second Bear Attack Reported In Mountains

(Spruce Pine, NC) -- Another bear attack is being reported in western North Carolina. WLOS-TV says a homeowner in Mitchell County's Mountain Brook gated community was bitten by a full-size bear in his garage on Saturday night. The resident was treated for a puncture wound and has since been released from the hospital. A hunter was also bitten by a bear in Haywood County last weekend.

Governor Vetoes Bill To Purge Foreign Citizens From Voting Rolls

(Raleigh, NC) -- Governor Roy Cooper is putting a halt to a bill that would purge non-citizens from voting rolls. The General Assembly passed a bill this session that requires courts to notify the elections board when a foreign citizen is disqualified from jury duty. Cooper vetoed the bill yesterday because he says it could potentially block legitimate voters. He called it a high risk of voter harassment. Two Republican state senators said it was radical to block the bill.

Attorney Seeks Trial Delay For Former Buncombe Commissioner

(Asheville, NC) -- A defense attorney is seeking to push back the trial of a former Buncombe County commissioner. Ellen Frost is accused of improperly using public money for equestrian events in connection to the Tryon Equestrian Center. Frost's lawyer requested a trial delay this week to further prepare after revealing that tens-of-thousands of Frost's emails and documents were seized by the government. The original trial date is coming up in less than a month.

Code Purple Issued For Asheville Shelters

(Asheville, NC) -- Asheville shelters are preparing for a couple of cold nights. A Code Purple has been issued so that participating sites can be prepared with extra bed space to prevent anyone from sleeping outside. Temperatures are expected to reach freezing with gusty winds later tonight, with a drop into the 20s overnight Friday. It will be even colder around Tuesday of next week.

Women Accused Of Stealing Mail In Four Counties

(Burke County, NC) -- Three women are accused of stealing mail in four North Carolina counties. Investigators say mail was taken from 60 residents across Burke, Caldwell, Catawba and McDowell counties earlier this fall. The Burke County sheriff's office made the arrest of the final suspect on Monday. All of the mail has been recovered.

Write-In Votes Decide Election In Town Of Ruth

(Ruth, NC) -- Write-in votes are continuing to make impacts in a Rutherford County town. WLOS-TV says David Guy was elected as the mayor of Ruth on Tuesday, all due to 51 people who wrote his name in. The county's election director says current mayor Denver Buchanan also won with write-in votes in the previous election. The results will be finalized next week.

Teacher Accused Of Sex Crimes Found Dead In Apparent Murder-Suicide

(Huntersville, NC) -- A CMS teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with a student is dead in an apparent-murder suicide. Police in Huntersville say 63-year-old Emma Ogle and her husband Michael were found shot to death at their home on Hambright Road Wednesday morning. Investigators say a family member saw the body of Michael Ogle laying next to his armed wife before calling police. Ogle was suspended from Garinger High School last Thursday after her arrest.

Teen Climate Activist Joining Charlotte Strike

(Charlotte, NC) -- A teen climate activist from Sweden is joining a strike in the Queen City tomorrow. Sixteen-year-old Greta Thunberg posted to Twitter yesterday that she'll be joining other youth at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center to protest inaction on climate change. A similar climate strike was attended by several hundred students outside the center in September. Thunberg gained international attention last year when she started climate strikes outside the Swedish parliament.

CMPD Implementing New De-Escalation Policies

(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is making changes to its use of force policy. The department revealed yesterday that officers will focus on de-escalating a situation before bringing a gun or taser into the mix. The policy also gives more clear definitions of when force is reasonable to use. Police Chief Kerr Putney says the policy can be changed and improved with input from the community.

Plane From Charlotte Makes Emergency Landing Due To Intoxicated Passenger

(Tulsa, OK) -- The diversion of a plane out of Charlotte is being blamed on an intoxicated passenger. NBC Charlotte is reporting an American Airlines flight heading from Charlotte-Douglas to Salt Lake City was forced to make an emergency landing in Oklahoma Tuesday night. A mother and daughter accused a passenger of assault, so the plane diverted and quickly landed. The passenger was removed from the flight and charged with public intoxication by the Tulsa Police Department. The FBI is now investigating further.

City Of Charlotte Says Putney's Retirement Plan Is Legal

(Charlotte, NC) -- The city of Charlotte is continuing to stand behind Police Chief Kerr Putney's retirement plan. Putney intends to retire at the end of the year before returning for a short time in the spring through the end of the Republican National Convention in Charlotte. City officials said yesterday there is nothing in state or local law that would prohibit the plan as long as he remains under temporary employee status. The state treasurer's office is in the midst of reviewing Charlotte's policies.

New Hotel, Offices Planned For Midtown

(Charlotte, NC) -- A new hotel and multi-development space is coming to midtown. The Charlotte Observer is reporting a 40-million-dollar Tapestry by Hilton hotel will be built across from Pearl Street Park. An office building with space for retail shops is expected to go alongside the hotel on the seven-acre property. Construction is planned to start next fall.

Suspect Dies In Fayetteville Hospital Shooting

(Fayetteville, NC) -- A deadly officer-involved shooting is under investigation in Fayetteville. It happened yesterday morning at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. The suspect, Treva Smutherman, was arrested the night before on outstanding warrants related to a home invasion. Cumberland County sheriff's officials say he complained of not feeling well and was taken to the hospital by a deputy. Officials say that's where Smutherman grabbed the deputy's gun and opened fire. The deputy was shot but is expected to be okay. A Fayetteville police officer who was also at the hospital at the time shot and killed Smutherman.

UPDATE: Teenage Murder Suspect Back In Custody

(Lumberton, NC) -- A 13-year-old murder suspect who escaped custody in Robeson County is back behind bars this morning. Sheriff's officials say Jericho Werrell was brought back to the Cumberland Juvenile Detention Center late last night. He'd been there since October 14th on two charges of first-degree murder. The boy escaped custody on Tuesday and was found with his mother who was reportedly returning him to authorities.

Governor Roy Cooper Vetoes Juror Voting Bill

(Raleigh, NC) -- Governor Roy Cooper is vetoing a controversial bill that would have barred residents who got out of jury duty from voting. The bill would have forwarded jury excuses to election officials, who could have stripped their voting rights by saying they are not citizens. Cooper said yesterday "blocking legitimate voters from casting a ballot is a risk we cannot take." During his time at the desk yesterday, Cooper also signed six bills into law, including one on absentee ballot fraud.

UNC Chapel Hill Student On Verge Of Winning Town Council Election

(Chapel Hill, NC) -- A student at UNC Chapel Hill is close to winning a seat on the town council. Twenty-two-year-old Tai Huynh holds an unofficial 24-vote lead over incumbent Nancy Oates. Provisional and absentee ballots have not yet been confirmed. They're expected to be tallied later this month.

Mayor McFarlane Declares Nov. 6 'Astronaut Christina Koch Day'

(Raleigh, NC) -- Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane is declaring November 6th as Astronaut Christina Koch Day. Koch is a North Carolina State University graduate and NASA flight engineer who's been living at the International Space Station since March. McFarlane shared a video of Astronaut Koch at a City Council meeting yesterday. Koch shared her experience living in Raleigh and thanked the city for supporting science education

Suspect In Davidson Co. Officer-Involved Shooting ID'd

(Davidson Co., NC) -- Davidson County sheriff's officials are identifying the suspect accused of repeatedly firing at deputies who were tending to his injured girlfriend. Terry Simerson is facing several charges in connection with the incident yesterday morning. Deputies were called to a home on Cox Avenue in Linwood about a domestic situation and were met with a barrage of gunfire. They found a woman in the yard suffering from a gunshot wound, and every time they tried to help the woman, Simerson allegedly shot at them. The female victim, a deputy and the suspect were shot, but they're all expected to be okay.

Police: Girl Hit By Truck That Went Around Stopped School Bus

(Danville, VA) -- A 12-year-old girl is recovering after she was hit by a truck near her school bus in Danville. Police say the Westwood Middle School student was getting off the bus yesterday afternoon when a truck driven by an 80-year-old man ignored the bus' stop sign and hit her. The girl was take to a local hospital, and the driver was cited.

Person Killed In Randolph Co. Crash

(Randolph Co., NC) -- A person is dead after a car crash in Randolph County. It happened around 4:30 yesterday afternoon on U.S. 64 near Pleasant Ridge Road. Troopers did not say what caused the crash or who died. U.S. 64 was closed in both directions for about four hours. An investigation is ongoing.


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