AP-NC-SHERIFF’S DEPUTY-VIRUS

Sheriff’s deputy in Guilford County who had coronavirus dies

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office says a deputy who was diagnosed with the coronavirus has died. The Greensboro News & Record reports that Master Cpl. Norman Daye died Saturday at his home in eastern Guilford County. Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Lori Poag said Sunday that Daye was a 16-year veteran with the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office and was an assistant supervisor over the warrant squad. He began his career with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina. Daye had been hospitalized and was released about two days before dying at his home.

BC-NC-HUNTING AND FISHING

North Carolinians have been fishing and hunting more in 2020

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — State officials in North Carolinians say that hunting and fishing have increased this year. The Winston-Salem Journal reported Sunday that license revenue from fishing, hunting and combination licenses rose more than 20% in the past seven to eight months. Vessel revenue was up more than 10%. That information comes from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Paul Thompson, northern mountains land management biologist with WRC, says the increase is a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic. He said layoffs as well as people working and learning remotely has prompted many to turn to hunting and fishing as a way to stay active and cope.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE PRESIDENT

Stith named to lead North Carolina community college system

RALEIGH. N.C. (AP) — The head of the U.S. Small Business Administration in North Carolina is the next president of the state community college system. The State Board of Community Colleges voted unanimously Monday in an online meeting to choose Thomas Stith III to lead the 58-campus system. Stith succeeds Peter Hans, who was at the post for two years before being named president of the University of North Carolina system. Stith was previously Republican Gov. Pat McCrory’s chief of staff and a Durham City Council member. COVID-19 is expected to be an early top priority for Stith. A majority of campus-based instruction occurred online during the fall.

AP-NC-VIRUS OUTBREAK-NORTH CAROLINA

North Carolina reports second-highest virus cases in a day

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina is reporting 6,819 new coronavirus cases. The total number of confirmed cases reported on Sunday is the second-highest total since the pandemic began. The Charlotte Observer reports that brought the daily average of new cases over the last week to a record-high 5,944. North Carolina reached 6,000 new cases for the first time last Saturday. By Friday, the state had crested 7,500 new cases. North Carolina is now reporting an average 11.1% positivity rate over the past seven days. Health officials try to keep the rate of positive tests below 5% — a benchmark North Carolina last reached on Sept. 24.

AP-NC-OFFICER SHOT-VIGILS

Vigils to be held for slain Mount Holly police officer

MOUNT HOLLY, N.C. (AP) — Vigils are scheduled for a Mount Holly police officer who was fatally shot while responding to a call. Officer Tyler Herndon was to turn 26 years old on Sunday. The Charlotte Observer reports that the town of Mount Holly is lit in blue, all as a tribute to Herndon. Several businesses in downtown Mount Holly have blue lighting in their storefronts. A candlelight vigil will take place 5:30 p.m. at the Mount Holly Municipal Complex. Another vigil has been set for 6:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Kings Mountain Amphitheater. Herndon was shot while responding to a breaking and entering call at around 3:30 a.m. Friday.

ELECTION 2020-CHIEF JUSTICE

Beasley concedes defeat in N. Carolina chief justice race

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley has conceded to Republican Paul Newby in their extremely close election after two rounds of recounts saw little change in the vote margin between them. Beasley said she called Newby on Saturday to congratulate him. Newby had led Beasley by 401 votes from almost 5.4 million ballots cast after a statewide machine recount was completed last week. Beasley then requested a hand recount of ballots. Newby is the senior associate justice. Beasley became the first Black female chief justice in North Carolina when Gov. Roy Cooper appointed her last year.

AP-NC-VIRUS OUTBREAK-NORTH CAROLINA TRIBE

Tribe won’t implement governor’s new order on virus limits

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians in North Carolina won’t implement Gov. Roy Cooper’s new executive order on virus restrictions. The News & Observer of Raleigh reports that the tribe’s Principal Chief Richard Sneed announced Friday the tribe won’t adopt Cooper’s latest order at the Qualla Boundary in the western-most corner of the state. Sneed wrote in a statement on Facebook that he has worked with tribal public health officials to enact social distancing measures to protect tribal citizens and guests while balancing the financial position of the community.

MISSING BOY-MICHIGAN

Woman who claimed boy disappeared at mall in ’94 dies

LIVONIA, Mich. (AP) — A funeral is planned for Saturday for a North Carolina woman who claimed her 4-year-old son disappeared at a suburban Detroit shopping mall in 1994. Dwanna Wiggins eventually moved to Durham, North Carolina, where she died. In 1994, just before Christmas, Wiggins told police that D’Wan Sims disappeared while they were shopping at Wonderland Mall in Livonia. Police say surveillance video showed the Detroit woman inside the mall but not her son. A man stepped forward a year ago to say he’s Sims. He provided a DNA sample, which still is being analyzed at a lab in Texas.