Task Force Recommends Removing Vance Monument

(Asheville, NC) -- The Vance Monument in downtown Asheville is a step closer to removal. A task force appointed by the city and county recommended by an overwhelming majority yesterday to take the statue out of downtown. The monument is named after Zebulon Vance, who served as an officer in the Confederate Army during the Civil War and as governor of North Carolina. The committee will officially present its recommendation in a couple of weeks.

Single-Day COVID-19 Cases Top Four-Thousand In NC

(Raleigh, NC) -- COVID-19 numbers are continuing on a troubling path in North Carolina. Yesterday's new case count of just under 43-hundred shattered the record of the previous single-day high for the state. That's close to 400 above the record set last weekend. Another record-high in hospitalizations was reported yesterday as well, with nearly 15-hundred-40.

Governor Warns About Potential Changes In Restrictions

(Raleigh, NC) -- Governor Roy Cooper is warning that COVID-19 restrictions could tighten statewide in the coming weeks. He hinted at potential changes yesterday during a visit to Research Triangle Park as the state hit a record high for coronavirus cases in one day. The current set of guidelines is set to expire on December 4th. Cooper said North Carolina is in a position to turn the corner of the pandemic if people follow guidelines in place.

Two Recounts Underway In Buncombe

(Buncombe County, NC) -- A recount for two races is underway in Buncombe County. Elections officials have started tabulating ballots cast in the race for North Carolina's Supreme Court Chief Justice, which is going on statewide. Latest numbers show incumbent Democrat Cheri Beasley behind Republican Justice Paul Newby by just over 400 votes. A recount is also underway for Buncombe County Schools Owen District.

APD Closes Case In Assault Of News Blogger

(Asheville, NC) -- Asheville police say there's nowhere else to turn in the alleged assault of a news blogger. Chad Nesbitt has been dealing with a spinal injury since being knocked unconscious while trying to film protests in downtown at the end of September. The Citizen-Times reports the APD has exhausted its leads in the case. Nesbitt said yesterday he's raising up to ten-thousand-dollars for information on a suspect, claiming he has 28 leads.

Chimney Rock Re-Opens Parking Lot

(Chimney Rock, NC) -- Chimney Rock State Park is welcoming back visitors in its upper parking lot. Crews just completed a ten-month project to restore the retaining wall, which was deemed unsafe after heavy rain. The original wall was built in the 1940s. The park was forced to shuttle guests from midway up the mountain to the top during the duration of the repairs.

Deaths Increase In Charlotte Church Outbreak

(Charlotte, NC) -- The COVID-19 outbreak at a Charlotte church is growing more deadly. Public health officials confirmed yesterday that three more people have died in connection to the convocation events held last month at the United House of Prayer for All People on Beatties Ford Road. That brings the death toll to 12, while more than 200 positive cases have been reported. WSOC-TV says it's been Mecklenburg County's largest outbreak during the pandemic so far.

Petition Seeks Halt To Prayer Walk Outside Abortion Clinic

(Charlotte, NC) -- A movement is growing to attempt a forced cancellation of a Charlotte prayer walk. Participants are expected to gather tomorrow morning for the Love Life Week 40 Prayer Walk outside an abortion clinic on Latrobe Drive. Nearly 150-thousand people have signed an online petition that was just started this week, opposed to the event due to the ignorance of face masks. The creator of the petition claims the group holds smaller walks outside the clinic every week, and hardly anyone wears coverings over their faces.

Toddler Seriously Hurt In Wreck

(Charlotte, NC) -- A toddler is being treated for serious injuries suffered in a Charlotte crash. The CMPD says a man caused a wreck on Brookshire Boulevard at I-85 after fleeing from a traffic stop Wednesday night. He was wanted for an alleged assault on a Fayetteville police officer. A total of five people were hurt in the crash, including a three-year-old girl who remains in the hospital.

Livingstone Student Dies Of COVID-19 Complications

(Salisbury, NC) -- A Salisbury college student is dead from complications due to COVID-19. Twenty-three-year-old Jamesha Waddell died yesterday after suffering through a two-month bout with the virus. She was isolating at home since the diagnosis, but was taken to the ICU when things recently worsened. Waddell was a senior at Livingstone College.

Leaders Break Ground At Beatties Ford Road Revitalization

(Charlotte, NC) -- A revitalization project is underway on Beatties Ford Road. City leaders and developers broke ground yesterday at the LaSalle Street intersection, which is expected to be strengthened to provide more economic opportunity. It's also the former site of the historic McDonald's Cafeteria. The project is one of six the city of Charlotte is funneling millions of dollars into in hopes of bolstering community programs.

Lenoir County Sheriff's Deputy Shot In The Neck While Trying To Defuse A Domestic Dispute

(Lenoir County, NC) -- Authorities are continuing to search for a suspect who shot and wounded a Lenoir County sheriff's deputy Thursday night after responding to a call about a domestic disturbance. It happened at a home on Lang Skinner Road near Kennedy Home Road in Lagrange. The Deputy was reportedly rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for injuries to the neck. No word on his condition.

North Carolina Records Its Largest Single Day COVID-19 Total Since The Start Of Pandemic

(Raleigh, NC) -- State health officials are reporting the largest single-day total for new coronavirus cases in North Carolina since the start of the pandemic. The 4-thousand-296 figure yesterday topped the previous record of 3-thousand-885 set just last Saturday, representing a 50-percent increase within the past seven days. North Carolina's positivity rate dropped to 7-point-9 percent Wednesday. The Department of Health and Human Services also reported 15-hundred-38 people in the hospital. There were three additional deaths, which brought the total to 4-thousand-936.

Cooper Not Ruling Out Bringing Back More Social Distancing Restrictions

(Raleigh, NC) -- Governor Roy Cooper says he would not rule out enacting a new set of restrictions in an attempt to slow the spread of COCID-19. Cooper made the statement while on tour of a PPE manufacturing facility at RTP Thursday. Cooper said his decision will be driven by the science and data received over the next few days.

Company That Makes COVID-19 Syringes To Be Located Inside RTP

(Raleigh, NC) -- Apiject Systems has announced plans to build a new manufacturing plant at RTP that will assist in the distribution of vaccines. Apiject was recently awarded a grant totaling 590-million dollars as part of 'Operation Warp Speed' to produce single-dose pre-filled syringes. Company officials say the plant will have the capability of manufacturing up to three-billion pre-filled syringes a year. Apiject Systems will also employ around 600-workers.

Official Audit Of North Carolina Election Found Few Cases Of Irregularities

(Raleigh, NC) -- A recently completed auditing of the 2020 November 3rd general election in North Carolina, has found few incidents of voting irregularities. According to the North Carolina Board of Elections, the audit examined data from more than 150-precincts statewide, along with 30-different early-voting sites. The Board also reviewed absentee mail-in ballots. Of more than 200-separate audits conducted, only 13-reported any differences between ballots counted by machine and those counted by hand.

Cone Health Hits New COVID-19 Record

(Greensboro, NC) -- Cone Health's Green Valley location has hit a new COVID-19 record. As of yesterday, the facility had 82 coronavirus patients. Capacity is 116. Cone Health says if the trend continues, they'll have to prepare other spaces in the hospital for patients.

Burlington City Council Approves Community Police Advisory Team

(Burlington, NC) -- The city of Burlington is creating a Community Police Advisory Team to help strengthen the relationship between police officers and residents. The City Council yesterday approved the team, called C-PAT. It will be made up of 15-to-20 people from throughout the community. Once the participants are selected, the team will present its findings to city leaders monthly.

N.C. A&T Receives $5M Grant From Walmart

(Greensboro, NC) -- N.C. A&T University is announcing a five-million-dollar grant to help prepare African Americans for the fields of business and engineering. The corporate grant is from Walmart and is part of its Equity in Education Initiative. University officials say African Americans have been underrepresented in business and engineering for years, and this grant will help change that.

Winston-Salem Greek Fest Held This Weekend

(Winston-Salem, NC) -- The annual Winston-Salem Greek Festival is transforming this year into "The Greek Fest Express." The historic festival was supposed to take place in May but was postponed due to COVID-19. The rescheduled event takes place today and tomorrow at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. Organizers say it will includes a lot of the same food and pastries, but the event has been turned into a drive-through festival due to the coronavirus.

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