North Carolina News – February 10

XGR-VIRUS OUTBREAK-RELIEF BILL

Cooper signs COVID relief bill distributing federal money

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has signed a bill from state lawmakers that will distribute money approved by Congress for reopening schools, improving vaccine distribution and helping people pay their rent. Many parts of the proposal mirror that of a supplemental request of Cooper. Still up for discussion is an effort by Cooper to provide direct one-time checks to teachers, principals and staff members. The COVID relief package Cooper signed includes another opportunity for parents to get $335 checks to help offset costs they’ve incurred associated with childcare and remote learning.

HOMEMADE BOMBS

FBI offers $10,000 for information on homemade bombs

GIBSONVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Authorities in North Carolina are asking the public for help in an investigation that involves homemade explosive devices in Gibsonville. The FBI said in a press release on Tuesday that at least five homemade explosive devices have been found in the town outside of Burlington. The agency said that residents have also reported hearing explosions for the last several months. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who are responsible. Robert R. Wells, special agent in charge of FBI Charlotte, said he hopes the community will help the FBI resolve this “dangerous situation.”

VIRUS OUTBREAK-HOSPITALS

Efforts continue to vaccinate hospital employees

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Hospitals in North Carolina are still trying to get employees vaccinated against the coronavirus. The Raleigh News & Observer reported Tuesday that the state does not yet know what portion of nearly half a million eligible health care workers have been inoculated. That’s according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. Hospital leaders are encouraging employees to get vaccinated. And they say they’re pleased with the results so far. That’s even though as many as one in four eligible workers remain unvaccinated. For instance, WakeMed estimates that 70% of nearly 18,000 employees and independent health care workers have received their initial dose.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-SCHOOL REOPENING

N.C. Senate approves bill requiring K-12 schools to reopen

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina state senators have sent a bill over to the House that would require K-12 public schools to offer an option of at least some in-person instruction to students. Teacher advocates worry about the safety of reopening since the state is not currently allowing those workers to get vaccinated. Gov. Roy Cooper has strongly recommended school boards reopen but does not want to mandate it. The bill introduced by Republicans would give districts a couple weeks to get kids back into classrooms. Parents would still have the option of having their child continue to learn remotely.

BODY FOUND-SUITCASE

Sheriff: Woman’s body found in suitcase alongside river

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina sheriff’s office says a woman’s body has been found inside a suitcase near a river. Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker says a witness contacted Raleigh police Monday morning and reported seeing a body along a section of the Neuse River Trail. The case is being investigated as a homicide. A cause of death wasn’t immediately released. Baker declined to say whether the body is that of 28-year-old Brittany Samone Smith, a pregnant woman who was reported missing Thursday. Baker says the investigation is ongoing.

BC-US-VIRUS-OUTBREAK-DISTANCE-LEARNING

Schools plan for potential of remote learning into the fall

After seeing two academic years thrown off course by the pandemic, school leaders around the country are planning for the possibility of more distance learning next fall at the start of yet another school year. President Joe Biden has made reopening schools a top priority, but administrators say there is much to consider as new strains of the coronavirus appear and teachers wait their turn for vaccinations. And while many parents are demanding that schools fully reopen, others say they won’t feel safe sending children back to classrooms until vaccines are available to even young students.

BC-NC-VIRUS OUTBREAK-UNC CELEBRATION

UNC-Chapel Hill faculty can teach remotely after celebration

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Leaders at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill say faculty members can teach remotely until Feb. 17 in light of the crowded and largely maskless celebration of the men’s basketball team’s victory over Duke University on Saturday. Hundreds of students rushed Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill to celebrate the 91-87 victory in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as variants of the virus spread across the country. UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz and Provost Robert Blouin wrote in a message that students found to have violated he school’s COVID-19 Community Standards face disciplinary action.

COLLEGE CAMPUS-FATAL SHOOTING

Trial set for lawsuit over shooting on Wake Forrest campus

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — A lawsuit filed over the shooting death of a Winston-Salem State University student on Wake Forest University’s campus has been scheduled for trial. The Winston-Salem Journal reported Monday that the court proceeding is set for Oct. 4 in federal court. Najee Ali Baker was WSSU football player from New York. He was shot to death in 2018 when he was leaving a party that was held at The Barn on Wake Forest University’s campus. Two men were charged in his death. Baker’s mother filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the school and a company that was providing private security. The lawsuit claims Wake Forest was negligent. School attorneys deny the allegation.