FISH HITS TRUCK

In North Carolina, a fish falls onto a trucker’s windshield

HIGH POINT, N.C. (AP) — A truck was rolling down a highway in North Carolina when its windshield was struck by a fish. The Charlotte Observer reported Friday that the unlucky fish had been caught by a hungry bird and then dropped from the sky. The incident happened southeast of High Point where Interstate 73 crosses Randleman Lake in Randolph County. Video above the truck’s windshield shows the moment when bird flies by and drops the fish. The snipped of video was then posted on social media by Ward Transport and Logistics, a trucking company that has an office in Charlotte. The video lacks sound, so it’s unclear how the driver reacted. But the truck can be seen pulling to the side of the highway.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-TAXES

Bill seeks to give more NC tax breaks on COVID-19 loans

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The state House is backing legislation that would give additional state tax breaks to businesses that took federal loans to weather the COVID-19 pandemic. But the Senate isn’t yet fully on board with the idea, which comes with a hefty price tag. The House gave initial approval to the measure on Thursday by an overwhelming margin. It allows businesses that spent Payroll Protection Program loan proceeds to deduct the expenses from their income for state tax purposes. The PPP money was designed to keep workers at shuttered firms employed. The proposal could mean $400 million less revenue for the state.

COOPER-EDUCATION BOARD

Cooper nominates NC education board leaders to stay on panel

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has nominated the current chairman and vice chairman of the State Board of Education to serve eight additional years on the panel. Chairman Eric Davis and Vice Chairman Alan Duncan are among four people the governor on Thursday asked the General Assembly to confirm for the board. The others are Melody Chalmers McClain and Ronald Hargrave. Eleven of the board’s 13 voting members are gubernatorial appointees. Cooper also announced Thursday he nominated former Cabinet member Larry Hall of Durham to join the panel that hears unemployment benefit appeals. Hall also was previously the state House minority leader.

AP-US-THERMO-FISHER-PPD

Thermo Fisher buying PPD in deal worth $17.4 billion

WALTHAM, Mass. (AP) — Thermo Fisher is buying clinical research company PPD in a deal valued at $17.4 billion. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will pay $47.50 per PPD share. The transaction also includes approximately $3.5 billion in debt. PPD offers a range of clinical research and laboratory services to help increase drug development productivity. Its revenue totaled $4.7 billion last year.

TEACHER DEAD-SHOOTOUT

Police: Teacher killed in shootout with Mexican drug cartel

GREEN LEVEL, N.C. (AP) — A popular teacher in North Carolina has died in what authorities said was an “old Western shootout” with members of a Mexican drug cartel. The Charlotte Observer reported Wednesday that Barney Dale Harris taught Spanish at Union Academy Charter School in Monroe. He was found dead April 8 in an Alamance County mobile home that authorities called a drug “stash house.” Sheriff Terry Johnson said officers found Harris wearing a face cover, gloves and a bulletproof vest. There were also 30 shell casings in and outside of the mobile home. Authorities also said that 1.2 kilos of cocaine and about $7,000 in cash were found.

ROAD RAGE SHOOTING

Police: Man charged in fatal road-rage shooting in Maryland

RIVERDALE PARK, Md. (AP) — Authorities in Maryland say that a woman has been killed in a road rage incident. The Washington Post reports that the fatal shooting occurred Friday evening in the Riverdale area of Prince George’s County. Authorities identified the woman as Keya Beale of Hyattsville. Police said the man who’s been arrested in her death has been identified as Maurice Terrell Bellinger of Riverdale. He faces charges that include first- and second-degree murder, attempted first- and second-degree murder. Authorities said he is in custody at a jail in the Charlotte area of North Carolina and is awaiting extradition to Prince George’s County. It’s unclear if he’s hired an attorney who can speak on his behalf.

BC-US-TRIAL-DEFENDANT ESCAPES

Defendant flees North Carolina courtroom during lunch break

WILSON, N.C. (AP) — Authorities say a man who was on trial on attempted murder charges fled a North Carolina courtroom while he was on lunch break. The Wilson Times reports authorities are searching for 31-year-old Deonta Earl Bridgers, who jurors convicted in absentia on Wednesday after he fled. The Wilson County Sheriff’s Office says that prior to his court proceedings, Bridgers was on house arrest without any additional restrictions. Officials say a deputy received a tampering alert from Bridgers’ electronic monitoring device on Tuesday when he failed to return to court from lunch. Deputies began searching for Bridgers and found his monitoring device at a dilapidated house.

ELECTION 2022-SENATE-NORTH CAROLINA

Former North Carolina Gov. McCrory enters US Senate race

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Former Republican Gov. Pat McCrory says he’ll run for the U.S. Senate in North Carolina in hopes of succeeding the retiring Sen. Richard Burr. The one-term governor revealed his plans Wednesday on his Charlotte-area radio show. McCrory is currently the most well-known candidate to have entered the contest. Former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker is already in the race for the GOP nomination. Democrats have targeted Burr’s seat as a prime pickup opportunity to expand their razor-thin Senate edge. McCrory was elected as North Carolina’s governor in 2012 and served four years in office. He was also Charlotte’s mayor for 14 years.

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