North Carolina News – October 1

BC-NC-CHURCH ZOOM BOMBING-INVESTIGATION

Authorities investigating ‘Zoom bombing’ of church

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Authorities are investigating after someone committed a so-called “Zoom-bombing” of a North Carolina church’s virtual worship service. The Greensboro News & Record reported Wednesday that Minister Nicholas Glenn of the Sharpe Road Church of Christ filed a complaint with the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office. A sheriff’s office spokeswoman said the case has been turned over to an internet crimes detective. But it’s unclear if any charges could be filed. The congregation had switched to virtual services because of the coronavirus pandemic. The so-called Zoom “bombers” had identified themselves as white supremacists. They also typed “black lives don’t matter” and other disturbing language.

AP-NC-AMAZON-JOBS

Amazon said it will hire 1,100 for sort center in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Amazon says it will hire more than 1,000 people for a sort center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Charlotte Observer reported Thursday that the e-commerce giant opened its new 600,000-square-foot sort center on Sept. 20. The company said it will bring in 1,100 full and part-time workers to the facility. Hiring has begun and positions are still available at both the new Charlotte sort center as well as a Concord delivery station. The company said pay starts at $15 an hour plus benefits for full-time employees. Amazon now has 17 sites in the state. The Seattle-based company said it has more than 6,000 employees in North Carolina.

OFF-CAMPUS SHOOTING

Police: 4 NC A&T State University students shot off-campus

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Police say four North Carolina A&T State University students were wounded during a shooting off-campus. Greensboro Police Spokesperson Ron Glenn said the shooting happened around 4 p.m. Wednesday at an off-campus apartment complex. The school sent out an alert around 5:30 p.m. Two victims were in critical condition and the others were stable. School officials say all four victims are expected to survive. Two suspects were taken into custody but it’s unclear whether they will face charges. Information on the victims wasn’t immediately release. Police say the investigation is ongoing.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NORTH CAROLINA-REOPENING

N. Carolina moves to Phase 3 but COVID progress is ‘fragile’

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina will soon allow bars to partially reopen outdoors only and open up amusement parks and movie theaters as the state transitions to Phase 3 of reopening. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper announced the executive order will go into effect Friday and remain in place through Oct. 23. While students in K-5 schools will be able to move to daily, in-person classes as early as Monday, Cooper said no decision has been reached about reopening middle schools and high schools. Outdoor sports venues that can seat more than 10,000 people will be able to allow fans to attend at 7% capacity.

PAYCHECK PROTECTION FUNDS-FRAUD

North Carolina man charged with fraud in virus aid scheme

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina man accused of fraudulently applying for $6.1 million in coronavirus relief funds has been federally charged. The U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday that 38-year-old Tristan Bishop Pan submitted 14 Paycheck Protection Program loan applications and received more than $1.7 million for fake businesses. Prosecutors said some of the businesses were named for fictional characters from the television series Game of Thrones and included falsified tax filings and false statements about payroll expenses. It’s unclear whether he has an attorney who can comment for him. The Paycheck Protection Program was created to give small businesses forgivable emergency loans during the pandemic.

ELECTION 2020-ABSENTEE BALLOTS-NORTH CAROLINA

Federal judge questions North Carolina absentee rule change

A federal judge says a North Carolina elections board directive making it easier for voters to fix witness deficiencies in absentee ballots may violate a previous ruling he made. Federal Judge William Osteen, who presided over one of multiple lawsuits over absentee ballots, asked lawyers for the North Carolina State Board of Elections to schedule a status conference “at the earliest possible date and time” to explain to him recent changes to absentee ballot rules announced last week. The elections board’s new directive allows voters who cast mail-in ballots with incomplete witness information to fix the problem by returning an affidavit, rather than starting the ballot over from scratch.

WORKER KILLED-NC STATE CAMPUS

Worker killed in lift collapse at North Carolina university

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A construction worker has died after a lift carrying the laborer collapsed on a North Carolina university’s campus. A state Labor Department spokeswoman said the lift was about 35 feet in the air when dirt on the wet ground caved in around a tire Saturday, killing Tiburcio Mendoza. The accident happened at the site of a new, 185,000-square-foot sciences building at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. DPR Construction said Mendoza was a subcontractor with the company. A spokesman said DPR was working with investigators to determine the details surrounding the accident. The university said campus police were called to the scene but aren’t investigating.

BC-NC-ROCKINGHAM COUNTY-JOBS

Nestle Purina to occupy old MillerCoors North Carolina plant

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The N.C. Department of Commerce said Wednesday that a pet food manufacturer is taking over the former MillerCoors plant in Eden and pledging to create 300 jobs. In exchange, Nestlé Purina Petcare will get $49 million in incentives from the state as well as from local governments. N.C. Senate leader Phil Berger announced the project in a news release, which said the average job would pay $42,000 a year. MillerCoors closed the Eden brewery in 2016, after saying it needed to streamline its operations amid a drop in demand for its products