BC-NC-GIRLFRIEND KILLED-BOYFRIEND CHARGED

Police: Man charged in stabbing death of girlfriend

CLAYTON, N.C. (AP) — Police in North Carolina say they’ve arrested a man on charges alleging that he fatally stabbed his girlfriend. A press release from the town of Clayton stated that David Alan Brinson was arrested Thursday at a hotel in Wilmington. He faces a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Karen Barney. Her body was found in her Clayton apartment Wednesday afternoon. Clayton is southeast of Raleigh. Police said that her neighbors had contacted Barney’s family after they hadn’t seen her outside as usual. Police then entered the home and found her. Police said that Brinson will be returned to Johnston County to face the charges against him.

AP-NC-VIRUS OUTBREAK-SECOND-GRADER DIES

Second-grader in North Carolina succumbs to the coronavirus

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — A young girl in North Carolina has died after a battle with the coronavirus. WRAL reports that Aurea Soto Morales died Monday after she was hospitalized for complications from COVID-19. The second-grader from Durham had started feeling sick in late May and was rushed to the hospital after having a seizure. Relatives said her brain swelled before she went into a coma and eventually passed away. Family members said they want to spread the message that children are not immune to the virus and that people should take the pandemic seriously.

BC-NC-POLICE CHIEF APOLOGY

Police chief apologizes after officers destroy medical tent

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A police chief in the North Carolina city of Asheville has apologized for the destruction of a medic station that was set up for people protesting police brutality and the death of George Floyd. The Citizen-Times reported Thursday that the chief’s apology followed pointed criticism from community leaders. It was also a dramatic departure from an earlier statement that apologized for the destruction but still defended it. An all-volunteer team of doctors and other medical staff had set up near an alley. Asheville police had surrounded the medic station and stabbed water bottles with knives and tipped over tables of medical supplies and food.

MOPED DRIVER-BRIDGE

North Carolina man riding moped falls off bridge into marsh

WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — Police in North Carolina say a moped rider is recovering in a hospital after he fell off a bridge and into a marsh. The Wilmington Police Department says in a news release that 32-year-old Ian Jones was riding back and forth between lanes on Wednesday when his moped clipped a truck that was trying to pass him. Police say Jones was thrown off the moped and off the Isabel Holmes Bridge and into the marsh below. Jones was taken to a local hospital, and police said he was charged with failure to maintain lane.

ZION WILLIAMSON-LAWSUIT

Court grants Williamson stay on improper-benefits inquiry

MIAMI (AP) — A Florida appeals court has temporarily granted NBA rookie Zion Williamson’s attempt to block his former marketing agent’s effort to have the ex-Duke star answer questions about whether he received improper benefits before playing for the Blue Devils. Thursday’s order granted Williamson a stay and paused proceedings in the lawsuit from Prime Sports Marketing and company president Gina Ford. The lawsuit filed last summer accused Williamson and the agency now representing him of breach of contract. Williamson had filed his own lawsuit in North Carolina to terminate a five-year contract with Prime Sports after moving to Creative Artists Agency LLC.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-REPUBLICAN CONVENTION

RNC to conduct official convention business in Charlotte

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — President Donald Trump won’t accept his party’s nomination in North Carolina, but the Republican National Committee confirmed that it would still hold meetings in Charlotte. Trump announced Tuesday that he will not be giving his acceptance speech in Charlotte because the state refused to give in to his demands that the event be held without public health restrictions due to the pandemic. The RNC plans to visit several cities to evaluate their options. A GOP spokesman confirmed that the convention’s official business will be kept in Charlotte. The RNC’s top considerations to host Trump include Orlando, Florida; Jacksonville, Florida; New Orleans, Dallas and Phoenix.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-TASK FORCE

COVID-19 order directs efforts to fix N.C. racial disparity

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Gov. Roy Cooper has unveiled a state commission and other initiatives to address socioeconomic and health disparities for African Americans and Latinos in North Carolina underscored during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cooper announced on Thursday a task force that will collect information and identify solutions to health access issues, economic opportunities for minority-owned business, education and environmental justice. Cooper pointed to disproportionate numbers of black and Hispanic residents diagnosed with the coronavirus. The task force will be led by state Administration Secretary Machelle Sanders. The order also directs state agencies to work toward equity in the distribution of COVID-19 recovery funds and virus testing.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-GYMS

N.C. legislators aiming to reopen gyms despite Cooper order

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina gyms could reopen thanks to legislation advancing in the state Senate that would essentially overturn Gov. Roy Cooper’s COVID-19 executive order keeping them closed. The measure approved on Thursday by a committee would allow the gyms and health clubs to reopen at 50% capacity. It’s another effort by lawmakers to overturn Cooper’s restrictions that have kept certain types of businesses shuttered during the pandemic. Legislation already on Cooper’s desk would allow bars to reopen outdoors. Cooper has defended keeping bars and gyms closed based on health decisions, but late Thursday left open the possibility that they could reopen sooner than now anticipated.

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