AP-US-DRUG-EVIDENCE-SHORTCUT

Court: Officers’ shortcut across yard soiled evidence

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina Court of Appeals says police unlawfully obtained evidence at a home because officers took a late-night shortcut through the suspect’s yard, instead of walking up the driveway. Tuesday’s split decision by a three-judge panel discusses how police must act when performing a “knock and talk” at someone’s home to collect information about a possible crime. Judge Chris Brook wrote that Gastonia officers lacking a search warrant exceeded the “background social norms” expected of a traveling salesman or other visitor. A trial judge refused to suppress the evidence. The suspect pleaded guilty to charges but appealed.

BC-NC-HBCUS-PHILANTHROPIST’S GIFTS

North Carolina HBCUs receive gift from MacKenzie Scott

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Three historically black North Carolina colleges have received historic financial gifts from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Scott is the former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. She gave Winston-Salem State University a record $30 million as part of more than $4.15 billion in donations to 384 organizations in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. She donated $45 million to North Carolina A&T State University and $15 million to Elizabeth City State University. Scott listed the recipients of her donations and why she did it in a post on Medium.com. Among the other recipients are food banks, emergency relief funds and legal defense funds which address institutional discrimination.

AP-NC-TROPICAL WEATHER-DISASTER DECLARATION

Cooper signs disaster declaration for N. Carolina counties

RALEIGH, N.C> (AP) — The Small Business Administration has approved North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s request for a disaster declaration for five counties affected by heavy rains from the remnants of Tropical Storm Eta. The declaration affects Alexander, Caldwell, Catawba, Iredell and Wilkes counties. Heavy rains from Eta caused widespread flooding across North Carolina on Nov. 12, requiring evacuations and water rescues, and leading to 12 deaths. The storm also damaged and washed out roads and caused widespread power outages. Approval of the declaration means SBA low-interest disaster loans are available to people and businesses recovering from the storm.

BC-NC-CASINO LAWSUIT

Judge agrees to speed up challenge against planned casino

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A federal judge has agreed to expedite a lawsuit that could stop a tribe from building a casino in North Carolina outside the city of Charlotte. The Charlotte Observer reports that District of Columbia District Judge James Boasberg agreed to expedite the suit on Monday. The suit is against the Catawba Indians and the Department of Interior. The Catawba want to build the Two Kings Casino Resort in Kings Mountain. The lawsuit was filed by the Eastern Band of the Cherokees. They have operated their own casinos in western North Carolina since 1997.

BC-NC-VIRUS OUTBREAK-NORTH CAROLINA-FURNITURE MARKET

High Point Furniture Market moves April show due to pandemic

HIGH POINT, N.C. (AP) — The High Point Furniture Market is moving its spring show back by more than a month because of the coronavirus pandemic. The High Point Enterprise reports Tom Conley, president and CEO of the High Point Market Authority said Monday that the market changed the spring date from April 17-21 to June 5-9. At the outset of the pandemic, market authority leaders considered moving the spring 2020 trade show from late April to mid-June and scaling it down, but ultimately canceled it because of restrictions on travel and pandemic emergency orders. It was the first time the trade show wasn’t held since 1942.

AP-NC-MURDER CHARGE-2018 SHOOTING

North Carolina man charged in fatal shooting in 2018

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina police department says a man has been arrested in connection with a shooting more than two years ago. The News & Record of Greensboro reports Greensboro police said 30-year-old Joel Adam McCarthy of Winston-Salem is charged with first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. On Sept. 8, 2018, police responding to a report of shots fired found 22-year-old Jaylan Irvin Lassiter of Durham and a second shooting victim. Durham died at a local hospital, while the other shooting victim survived. McCarthy is jailed without bond and it’s not known if he has an attorney.

AP-NC-OUTER BANKS WINDFARM STUDY

Windfarm off Outer Banks expected to create nearly 200 jobs

COROLLA, N.C. (AP) — A wind farm that is scheduled to be built off North Carolina’s Outer Banks is projected to create nearly 200 full-time jobs in Virginia and North Carolina. The Virginian-Pilot reported Tuesday that the projection comes from an economic study by alternative energy developer Avangrid Renewables. The Kitty Hawk Offshore Wind Project will be built roughly 27 miles off Corolla. Construction is set to begin in 2024. Building the windfarm is expected to create 800 jobs. And it will produce 193 full-time jobs in Virginia and North Carolina once it’s running. Those jobs will including turbine generator technicians and welders. Support companies and services could add hundreds more jobs.

OFFICER SHOT-INDICTMENT

Grand jury indicts man accused of killing NC police officer

GASTONIA, N.C. (AP) — A grand jury in North Carolina has indicted a man accused of fatally shooting a police officer who was responding to a call. Gaston Superior Court Clerk Roxann Rankin told The Charlotte Observer the Gaston County grand jury returned the indictment against Joshua Tyler Funk on Monday. Funk had been charged with murder for the death of Mount Holly police officer Tyler Herndon on Friday. Rankin says the indictment indicates the grand jury thinks there is enough evidence for a trial. She says a trial will happen when the courts resume activities. Funk’s first court appearance will be on Friday. Herndon’s funeral service will be held in Kings Mountain on Tuesday.