DEADLY SHOOTING-PARTY
4 remain hospitalized after Wilmington house party shooting
WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — Four people are still hospitalized after a shooting at a party in Wilmington, North Carolina, that also left three dead. Wilmington Police spokeswoman Jessica Williams told the StarNews on Monday that the injured are still at New Hanover Regional Medical Center and are “stable and recovering.” In the meantime, the investigation into what police said was a gunfight at a house party is continuing. The police department said in a statement that the investigation will take time and significant manpower to “bring justice to the victims and their families.” Police have found several firearms at the scene. And detectives are pursuing leads. Flowers and memorials have been placed at the house.
ELECTION 2022-SENATE-NORTH CAROLINA
U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Jackson raises about $1.3 million
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Democratic senate candidate Jeff Jackson raised nearly $1.3 million since entering the race in January. His campaign says more than 14,000 people contributed by the end of March. Jackson is looking to fill an open U.S. Senate being vacated by Republican Sen. Richard Burr. The Charlotte-area state senator plans to publicly release his first quarterly campaign finance report of the 2022 election cycle on April 15. The median donation was $25. Jackson’s campaign says 86% of the more than 20,000 contributions it received were under $100. Residents in all but one of North Carolina’s 100 counties reportedly donated to his campaign.
AP-US-HIKER-RESCUED-NORTH-CAROLINA
Hiker largely unhurt after tumbling 1,000 feet in mountains
PISGAH FOREST, N.C. (AP) — A hiker in North Carolina was rescued largely unhurt after slipping from an overlook near the Blue Ridge Parkway and tumbling about 1,000 feet. The Charlotte Observer reports the hiker was able to walk with assistance Sunday after rescue crews rappelled about 150 feet down Slate Rock in the Pisgah National Forest to reach him. The Transylvania County Rescue Squad tells the newspaper the hiker was on a trail when he rolled down the largely barren rock outcropping known for its view of mountain peaks in western North Carolina. The fall marks the third time this year that a hiker in the state has needed to be rescued.
TRANSGENDER BILL
N.C. bill would ban treatment for trans people under 21
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A trio of North Carolina Republicans are looking to ban gender confirming treatment options for residents under 21. The measure that will almost assuredly not become law would prevent doctors from providing gender confirming hormone treatment, puberty blockers or surgery. LGBTQ advocates fear the bill would also out people under 21 who tell state workers that they may be transgender. Senate Bill 514 follows a nationwide trend of GOP-controlled state legislatures looking to limit treatments for transgender adolescents. Arkansas’ GOP governor vetoed a similar proposal that would have impacted youth under 18.
AP-NC-TEENAGER DROWNING
N Carolina police recover body of teen who drowned in lake
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina sheriff’s office says deputies have recovered the body of a teenager who drowned in a lake. The News & Observer of Raleigh reports the Wake County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday to a possible drowning at Falls Lake Reservoir in north Raleigh. Deputies found the 19-year-old’s body four hours later. His name was not released because family members hadn’t been notified. Witnesses told deputies they were swimming near a rocky area of the lake when the teenager called for help and then suddenly went under water. A news release says a friend tried to rescue him.
NORTH CAROLINA FERRY SERVICE
North Carolina ferry service says it needs to hire more crew
The North Carolina ferry service that carries passengers to the Outer Banks is facing a shortage of deck hands, seamen and captains. The Virginian-Pilot reported last week that there’s often a waiting list to get a ferry job. But this year the service needs to fill an expanded summer schedule. Jed Dixon, deputy director of the North Carolina Ferry Division, said the pandemic prevented an annual job fair that typically helps recruit enough employees. But he said that people could simply be choosing other careers. North Carolina has a system of 22 ferries on seven routes. About 2 million people ride the vessels each year. The ferry service needs roughly 20 more employees.
AMTRAK-DEEP SOUTH
Amtrak’s long-range plan would add new routes across South
ATLANTA (AP) — Amtrak says a new route in its long-range plans would connect Savannah, Georgia, to Nashville, Tennessee and stop in Atlanta. Amtrak’s proposed new routes also include one that would connect Montgomery, Alabama, to Atlanta. The routes are among several nationwide proposed by Amtrak after President Joe Biden announced his sweeping plan to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure. Amtrak’s 2035 vision plan would add at least 30 new routes across the country and add more trips to at least 20 existing routes. Amtrak officials are hoping Congress will provide the $80 billion designated for rail in Biden’s American Jobs Plan announced last week.
FATAL CRASH-POLICE OFFICER
Police: Officer has died in single-vehicle crash
NEWTON GROVE, N.C. (AP) — Authorities say that a police officer from North Carolina’s Sampson County has died in a single-car crash. WNCN reports that the accident occurred Saturday night and involved an officer from the Newton Grove Police Department. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said the officer was Brent Nelson Hall, 26, of Clinton. The patrol said that he was driving to begin his shift in a department-owned Dodge Charger at a “high rate of speed” on U.S. 701 Business/Northeast Boulevard. Authorities said that he was not pursuing anyone and did not have the lights and sirens activated. The highway patrol said that he was not wearing his seatbelt. The wreck remains under investigation.
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