REMOVING DIXIE

North Carolina State removes ‘Dixie” from alma mater

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina State University Board of Trustees has decided to remove the word “Dixie” from its alma mater because of its Confederate connotation. The board voted Friday to change the wording of the first line of the song. “Where the winds of Dixie softly blow” will be replaced by “Where the Southern winds so softly blow.” WNCN-TV reports that a letter from Chancellor Randy Woodson said the song was originally written in the 1920s. Woodson said a growing number of students, faculty, staff and alumni have expressed concerns about the word, which they see as contrary to the school’s values and goals.

DEPUTY SHERIFF SHOT

Deputy sheriff shot during traffic stop, shoots suspect

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Authorities say a sheriff’s deputy was shot during a traffic stop in North Carolina, then returned fire and hit the shooter. The Charlotte Observer reports that the deputy, Dijon Whyms, suffered non-life-threatening injuries.  Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden said the suspect, Aidan Cole Bryant, was hospitalized and had surgery Saturday night. The sheriff’s office said in a news release that Whyms was shot after stopping a vehicle about 4:15 p.m. Saturday in northeast Charlotte. As Whyms approached the vehicle, Bryant fired multiple shots, striking Whyms. The sheriff’s office said Whyms returned fire, injuring the suspect.

LIZARD LICK TOWING-SON KILLED

‘Lizard Lick Towing’ star says son killed in N.C. shooting

GARNER, N.C. (AP) — The owner of a towing and repossession business that was featured in a reality TV show confirmed that his son was killed in a shooting in North Carolina. In a post on Facebook, Ronnie Shirley confirmed that 21-year-old Harley Shirley was fatally shot in Garner late Thursday. Shirley and his wife, Amy, own Lizard Lick Towing and starred in a truTV reality show based on their family business from 2011 to 2014. The News & Observer reports that Harley Shirley and a 20-year-old woman were found in a parking lot. Investigators believe they were shot at a home about 3 miles away. The woman’s injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. 

FOUR SHOT

Two killed, two wounded in shooting at apartment complex

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Police say Two people were killed and two others wounded in a shooting at a Durham apartment complex.. WRAL-TV reports that officers found several men with gunshot wounds when they arrived at the Cadence at RTP complex at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday. Two of the men were pronounced dead at the scene. Two other men were taken to a local hospital, with one of them suffering from life-threatening injuries. The apartment complex is about two miles away from North Carolina Central University and five miles away from Duke University. Police did not immediately release any other information about the shooting.

BC-NC-MAN SHOT-NCSU GRADUATE

North Carolina State graduate fatally shot near campus

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A recent graduate of North Carolina State University was shot and killed Friday in a parking lot near the school’s campus. Raleigh police identified the shooting victim as 22-year-old Cody McLaggan. NCSU spokesperson Mick Kulikowski told The News & Observer that McLaggan graduated from the school in December with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business management. Raleigh police said a shooting was reported at about 7:30 Friday night in a Food Lion parking lot near the campus. Officers found McLaggan suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital, where he died of his injuries. Police said Saturday they are investigating the shooting as a homicide. 

REDISTRICTING-NORTH CAROLINA

New NC maps sent to judges; plaintiffs offer alternatives

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina General Assembly has turned over to judges the redistricting maps lawmakers approved to replace boundaries struck down by the state Supreme Court this month. Republican legislators had until late Friday to provide the latest set of plans for state House and Senate seats and for North Carolina’s U.S. House delegation. Voters and advocacy groups that successfully sued over the maps provided their own alternate maps on Friday. A panel of trial judges will now review the enacted districts and decide by Wednesday whether to adopt them or adopt new maps. Candidate filing is supposed to resume Thursday.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-MASKS

Raleigh, Wake County ending indoor mask mandates next week

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s capital and its surrounding county will end their broad indoor mask requirements within stores and other public places later this month. Friday’s decision covers the city of Raleigh, several other municipalities within Wake County and the county’s unincorporated areas. It comes a day after Gov. Roy Cooper encouraged local governments and school systems to end mask mandates. COVID-19 case and hospitalization rates are falling as the surge involving the omicron variant has ebbed. Apex, Cary and other Wake County already don’t have mask mandates. The Wake County school system says it also anticipates it will soon end mask requirements for students and staff.

ARCHES COLLAPSE

Arches weighing 40 tons collapse along pedestrian walkway

HICKORY, N.C. (AP) — An investigation is underway in North Carolina after decorative wooden arches weighing 40 tons collapsed along a pedestrian walkway in the city of Hickory. City officials told the Hickory Daily Record Friday morning that no one was hurt. The arches were erected less than a year ago. They had been a centerpiece of a pedestrian thoroughfare in downtown. Hickory Mayor Hank Guess said he was grateful that no one was hurt. He also said that taxpayers will not bear any costs because there’s a warranty on the arches. City officials said there had been some issues when the second arch was installed last year because part of the wood had splintered.

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