VIRUS OUTBREAK-BRIAN TURNER
State lawmaker says he’s tested positive for the coronavirus
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A state lawmaker in North Carolina has announced that he’s tested positive for the coronavirus. The Raleigh News & Observer reports that state Rep. Brian Turner made the announcement on Monday. Turner is a Democrat who represents House District 116 in Buncombe County. He posted on Facebook that he contact people who might’ve been exposed. Turner said he was not at the N.C. State Legislative Building for the first day of the legislative session last Wednesday. He said he plans to return to the General Assembly on Jan. 27 if his symptoms improve. Turner said there was no specific event to which he can link his exposure.
WAKE COUNTY-VACCINE WEBSITE
County website for coronavirus vaccine waitlist has crashed
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A website that allows seniors to join a waitlist for getting the coronavirus vaccine has crashed in North Carolina’s Wake County. Wake County spokeswoman Stacy Beard told WRAL on Tuesday that hundreds of thousands of people visited the website within seconds of each other. She said the sheer volume is immense. County officials had created the waitlist system so people wouldn’t have to wait in lines to get a vaccine. The website is designed to allow Wake County residents who are 65 years old and older to join a waitlist. After signing up online or by phone, they will get a call when a vaccine appointment is available.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-COLLEGE BASKETBALL
5 members of NC State basketball program in quarantine
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina State University’s basketball coach says five members of the program are in quarantine after two people tested positive for COVID-19. Kevin Keatts said Monday one of those who tested positive was a “Tier I person.” His comments came a day after the Atlantic Coast Conference announced the Wolfpack’s Wednesday game against the University of Virginia was being postponed. The News & Observer reports it’s the third ACC game the team has had postponed this season. Keatts says the team is still planning to play Saturday’s game against the University of North Carolina but it depends on what happens with the virus.
BICYCLIST KILLED
Teen bicyclist dead after collision with car
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina authorities are investigating the death of a 14-year-old bicyclist who was hit by a car. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police say collision happened near the intersection of Freedom Drive and Berryhill Road on Sunday afternoon. Investigators say Jaden Tyre Slade had stopped his bicycle at the intersection on Berryhill Road at a red light and intended to cross Freedom Drive. An 81-year-old motorist on Freedom Drive was approaching the intersection with a green light for his direction of travel. The driver said Slade pulled in front of him and he could not avoid the collision.
BODY IN TRUNK
Four charged with murder after body found in trunk
ROANOKE RAPIDS, N.C. (AP) — Four North Carolina men are facing charges after a police officer who pulled their car over for speeding found a body in the trunk. The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office said a Roanoke Rapids police officer stopped the car around 1 a.m. Monday. Authorities said the officer found the body of 23-year-old Trevon Quantavius Fields of Roanoke Rapids in the trunk of the car. Ralik Robinson, Trevathann Myquan Shearin, Shantron Avondre Person and Deluntae Jaequon Squire were all arrested and charged with murder. They are being held without bond and scheduled for court appearances on Wednesday.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE KILLINGS
Three dead, fourth hospitalized, in apparent domestic case
BOONVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Authorities in North Carolina say three people are dead and a fourth hospitalized with life-threatening injuries in an apparent case of domestic violence. The Yadkin County Sheriff’s Office says it received a 911 call about 2:30 Sunday afternoon from a home on North Oak Ridge Church Road in Boonville but that the caller hung up. Deputies forced their way into the house after seeing someone lying on the floor. They found one person dead and another with serious injuries. Authorities then found two more people dead in the suspect’s vehicle at nearby North Oak Ridge Baptist Church.
COAST GUARD RESCUE
Fisherman saved from sunken vessel off North Carolina coast
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (AP) — Coast Guard officials say man has been rescued from his sunken fishing vessel off the North Carolina coast. Officials say the man was rescued Monday with the help of a good Samaritan about 20 miles southwest of Kitty Hawk. Coast Guard officials received a report from the father-in-law of a man whose 18-foot boat sunk at the mouth of Alligator River, near East Lake. Coast Guard crews from Elizabeth City responded to the incident. A Coast Guard aircrew directed a nearby vessel to the location of the sunken boat. The other vessel’s crew were able to bring the man aboard.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-NORTH CAROLINA
Police department workers test positive after vaccine event
WAYNESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Officials say six workers at a North Carolina police department have tested positive for COVID-19 days after a vaccination event. Haywood County officials said Friday that six people in the Waynesville Police Department received positive test results two days after several police department workers received their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. The health department didn’t say whether those who participated in the clinic were among those who tested positive. The News & Observer of Raleigh reports that officials say the police department has taken the necessary steps to identify those affected and exposed.
Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
