A truck carrying 50,000 pounds of potatoes overturned on I-77 this morning, closing down all southbound lanes near the West Boulevard exit except one. The clean up is expected to last until noon, and it’s unclear where crews will bring the spuds, as they’ve reportedly been tainted with diesel fuel and can’t go into a normal landfill. The driver will be charged with reckless driving after apparently falling asleep at the wheel. He was not seriously injured in the crash. We recommend the amazing photo slideshow that accompanies the Fox46 story. (Fox46 Staff) 


Following a letter from the Department of Justice on Wednesday stating that HB2 threatens billions of dollars in funding for universities in North Carolina, other departments are looking into how the law could affect their funding. The U.S. Department of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development are now reportedly looking into how HB2 could violate federal law, threatening more funding for state agencies. The Observer reports that the DOT is reviewing whether the law violates non-discrimination grant provisions and that HUD is continuing to review the law as they have been for the past month. (Ames Alexander, Charlotte Observer) 

Police have stepped up efforts in the search for a mother and two young children who were reported missing in Statesville on Tuesday. Shannon Johnson Ickard, 37, was reportedly last seen with her two children, 11-year-old Brandon Johnson and 8-month-old Tarella Johnson, on Sunday. The family may be driving in a gray 2007 Toyota Corolla with North Carolina license plate BME-4564. Anyone with information is asked to call the Statesville Police Department at 704-878-3406. (WBTV Web Staff) 


Police in Gastonia are investigating a homicide today after a woman found in the bathroom of a home on West 10th Avenue yesterday was determined to have been murdered. The woman, whose name was not released, is believed to be in her mid-40s. She was found in the same home where a man shot another man last month and was later charged with aggravated assault and attempted first-degree murder. Police said it’s too early to tell if there’s a connection. (DaShawn Brown, WSOC) 

This article appears in May 4-10, 2016.

Ryan Pitkin began his journalism career at Creative Loafing as an intern, later becoming the writer of CL's satirical column, The Blotter, and recently became the News Editor. Other publications he has...

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