VIRUS OUTBREAK-AMBULANCES

Ambulances sent to North Carolina counties for COVID-19 aid

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Nine North Carolina counties are benefiting from 25 ambulances and their crews provided by the federal government to help locals struggling to respond to the spikes in calls during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Division of Emergency Management says the two-person ambulance crews are ready to work after receiving personal protective gear and communications gear on Monday. The crews are assigned to Brunswick, Franklin, Graham, Guilford, Macon, Mecklenburg, New Hanover, Pender and Robeson counties. The ambulances could be assigned elsewhere after 10 days. The Federal Emergency Management Agency sent the “advanced life support” ambulances after the state had requested 50 ambulances in all.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT-US ATTORNEYS

Biden nominates 9 candidates for federal prosecutor posts

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is nominating nine lawyers to run U.S. attorney’s offices across the country. It’s a diverse group of candidates in the latest round of picks for the top law enforcement positions. The nominations are announced by the White House on Tuesday. The nominees are expected to run the federal prosecutors’ offices in Hawaii, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Colorado, Ohio, Vermont and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The slate would include several historic firsts, including the first Black female attorneys to lead their districts. The Justice Department’s 93 U.S. attorneys are responsible for federal criminal prosecutions in their respective districts and are central to Biden’s efforts to combat violent crime.

TRAFFIC STOP-SHOTS FIRED

North Carolina police officer shot at during traffic stop

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Police in a North Carolina city are looking for a suspect who shot at an officer during a traffic stop. The Fayetteville Police Department says in a news release that detectives were making a stop Monday afternoon for an equipment violation. According to the news release, both the driver and the passenger ran from the car and one of them fired shots in the direction of the officers. None of the officers was hit and no injuries were reported. Police captured the passenger and are still looking for the driver of the car. 

VIRUS OUTBREAK-NORTH CAROLINA

Novant Health fires more than 175 for not getting vaccinated

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina-based hospital system says more than 175 of its workers have been fired for failing to comply with its vaccination requirement. Novant Health announced the firings on Monday. Last week, Novant Health announced 375 employees had been suspended and been given five days to comply with the mandate. The deadline was Friday. Of the 375, spokesperson Megan Rivers says nearly 200 workers came into compliance. Rivers didn’t provide specific numbers on how many lost their jobs. More than 99% of Novant Health’s 35,000-plus employees are now compliant with the vaccine mandate, including employees who have submitted an approved religious or medical vaccine exemption.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS-COOPER

Cooper vetoes GOP bill that sought to weaken AG’s powers

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has vetoed a measure that would have limited powers of the attorney general to enter into future legal settlements. The legislation was passed by Republicans furious with Attorney General Josh Stein’s handling of a 2020 elections lawsuit. The measure would have required formal approval of settlements challenging state law or the constitution by the Senate leader and House speaker when they’re named parties. The Democratic governor on Monday called the bill “unconstitutional and unwise.”  Republicans are unlikely to have the votes to override his veto, since the bill passed without Democratic support. Cooper served as attorney general for 16 years. 

FREEDOM PARK-HOLT BROTHERS

NFL Holt brothers’ firm to build North Carolina Freedom Park

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A construction company founded by former NFL players and brothers Torry and Terrence Holt will build the project designed to honor the contributions of African Americans in North Carolina. Leaders of the North Carolina Freedom Park initiative announced Monday that the Black-owned Holt Brothers Construction has been awarded the contract to complete the $5.4 million project in downtown Raleigh.  Freedom Park’s leaders broke ground last fall on the park. It’s expected to be completed by next year. The Holts went to North Carolina State University. Freedom Park was designed by the late architect Phil Freelon and a Durham architecture firm.

CHILD-SHOOTING DEATH

Police: Assault rifle used in 7-year-old’s death in 2016

SALISBURY, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina police department says an assault rifle was used in the shooting death of a 7-year-old girl in 2016. The Salisbury Post reports a Chinese-made Norinco SKS 7.62×39 semi-automatic rifle was used when A’yanna Allen was shot as she slept in a bedroom she shared with her grandmother on Dec, 4, 2016. According to police, the rifle was seized in June 2019 after sheriff’s deputies served a narcotics search warrant at an address in Gold Hill. Police say it remained in an evidence room for some time before investigators confirmed that it was used in A’yanna’s death. 

PLANT EMPLOYEES DEAD

Officials: Worker hurt at plant where 2 died recently

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Officials say a worker at a North Carolina plant was taken to a hospital over the weekend after a crane collapsed onto a truck. News outlets report that a Fayetteville fire department official said the crane fell on the cab of a truck while the driver was inside on Saturday. The incident comes two weeks after two workers died after they were found unresponsive at the same Valley Proteins plant. On Sunday, some workers gathered to remember their coworkers who were killed and hurt on the job and call for safer working conditions. Valley Proteins says it’s investigating the fatal incident earlier this month and workers may not have followed safety protocols. State labor officials are also investigating.

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