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Thursday, August 20, 2015
First Drip First Drip (8/20/15): Panthers top wide receiver out for season
Posted By Ryan Pitkin on Thu, Aug 20, 2015 at 10:34 AM
The Carolina Panthers' top wide receiver, Kelvin Benjamin, will miss the entire upcoming season due to a knee injury he suffered at practice yesterday. The Panthers staff, which has been praising the depth of the team's wide receiver corps throughout training camp, will now struggle to find someone to be a defined top-slot receiver. Unless a free agent is signed, the competition will be between rookie Devin Funchess; speedy receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Philly Brown; and the aging Jerricho Cotchery.
In a 54-10 vote last night, the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization approved a major road plan that includes 91 projects throughout Mecklenburg, Gaston, Iredell and Union counties, and includes the controversial I-77 toll lanes. Charlotte councilwoman Vi Lyles, the city's CRTPO representative, said she voted for the plan to avoid any delay for funding to the Blue Line expansion.
It could be said that Deez Nuts has become the first presidential candidate in American history to go viral before addressing a single voter. News sources began reporting on the candidate's relatively high poll numbers in primary states including North Carolina yesterday and the name began trending on Twitter shortly thereafter. A survey done by Public Polling Policy shows Deez Nuts polling at 9 percent in North Carolina, 8 percent in Minnesota and 7 percent in Iowa. The survey says 81 percent of North Carolina voters don't know how they feel about Deez Nuts.
Residential solar installers have turned to Duke Energy for help in extending solar tax credits set to expire at the end of the year, but will receive no such support. A Duke spokesperson said the company will remain neutral in the legislative debate over the tax credits. Executives at Baker Renewable Energy, Sundance Power Systems, Southern Energy Management and Yes! Solar Solutions wrote an open letter to Duke CEO Lynn Good yesterday, as residential solar installation companies are reportedly already losing money due to the impending expiration of tax credits for homeowners who take advantage of solar power.
A team of 11- and 12-year-old girls from nearby Rowan County will bring the Little League Softball World Series title back to Salisbury when it returns from the championship game this evening. The team, which represented North Carolina and then the Southeast during the finals, beat the East representative from Warwick, Rhode Island last night by a score of 4 - 2. The team is expected back in Charlotte at about 7 p.m. tonight, and a tour bus will bring them from the airport to Salisbury. A parade is scheduled for the team in Salisbury on Saturday morning.
In a 54-10 vote last night, the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization approved a major road plan that includes 91 projects throughout Mecklenburg, Gaston, Iredell and Union counties, and includes the controversial I-77 toll lanes. Charlotte councilwoman Vi Lyles, the city's CRTPO representative, said she voted for the plan to avoid any delay for funding to the Blue Line expansion.
It could be said that Deez Nuts has become the first presidential candidate in American history to go viral before addressing a single voter. News sources began reporting on the candidate's relatively high poll numbers in primary states including North Carolina yesterday and the name began trending on Twitter shortly thereafter. A survey done by Public Polling Policy shows Deez Nuts polling at 9 percent in North Carolina, 8 percent in Minnesota and 7 percent in Iowa. The survey says 81 percent of North Carolina voters don't know how they feel about Deez Nuts.
Residential solar installers have turned to Duke Energy for help in extending solar tax credits set to expire at the end of the year, but will receive no such support. A Duke spokesperson said the company will remain neutral in the legislative debate over the tax credits. Executives at Baker Renewable Energy, Sundance Power Systems, Southern Energy Management and Yes! Solar Solutions wrote an open letter to Duke CEO Lynn Good yesterday, as residential solar installation companies are reportedly already losing money due to the impending expiration of tax credits for homeowners who take advantage of solar power.
A team of 11- and 12-year-old girls from nearby Rowan County will bring the Little League Softball World Series title back to Salisbury when it returns from the championship game this evening. The team, which represented North Carolina and then the Southeast during the finals, beat the East representative from Warwick, Rhode Island last night by a score of 4 - 2. The team is expected back in Charlotte at about 7 p.m. tonight, and a tour bus will bring them from the airport to Salisbury. A parade is scheduled for the team in Salisbury on Saturday morning.
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
First Drip First Drip (8/19/15): DENR asks to put enforcement of coal ash cleanups on hold
Posted By Ryan Pitkin on Wed, Aug 19, 2015 at 10:56 AM
After Duke Energy and environmental advocates have come to terms on the cleanup of coal ash at three North Carolina sites, the state's Department of Environment and Natural Resources has now asked that its own enforcement of those cleanups and seven others be put on hold, angering both sides. DENR filed requests in Mecklenburg and Wake county courts yesterday, stating that the Coal Ash Management Act should be responsible for ash cleanups, not the courts. DENR officials say they want to protect a CAMA process that includes public comment and scientific analysis, while the Southern Environmental Law Center states DENR is trying to shield Duke from releasing info they have requested.
Police have increased the reward to $15,000 for information leading to the arrest of a man who walked into a Drury Inn and shot a clerk without warning in July. Police said the man had robbed a Rodeway Inn on the same day by pointing a gun at the clerk and demanding money. Forty minutes later, the same man allegedly walked into a Drury Inn on W. W.T. Harris Blvd. and shot the clerk without demanding money and left.
An arrest has been made in the murder of a Grier Heights man on Tuesday. CMPD arrested Anthony Howie's girlfriend, Shirley Martin, during a traffic stop yesterday afternoon. Police said they tried to pull over Martin's vehicle when they identified it shortly after the murder, but she ignored them and drove to her home, where she was arrested. Martin reportedly had two children in the car who were unharmed.
Two Marines died at Camp Lejeune on the east coast of North Carolina in two days last week. Lance Cpl. Ricardo A. Rodriguez Jr., 25, was reportedly found unresponsive near his barracks and was later pronounced dead by medical officials on Friday. Rodriguez had been awarded a Combat Action Ribbon, a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons. His death is currently under investigation, officials said. On Thursday, Cpl. Alexis Aaron Alcaraz, 22, with 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, died after collapsing during a training hike.
Jared Fogle, made famous as a spokesperson for Subway, will plead guilty to engaging in sex acts with minors and receiving child pornography, according to federal prosecutors. Documents released Wednesday by the U.S. attorney's office in Indianapolis say Fogle will pay $1.4 million in restitution to 14 victims, register as a sex offender and undergo treatment for sexual disorders. As part of the plea deal, prosecutors will not ask for a sentence over 12.5 years and Fogle will not ask for a sentence under five years in prison.
Police have increased the reward to $15,000 for information leading to the arrest of a man who walked into a Drury Inn and shot a clerk without warning in July. Police said the man had robbed a Rodeway Inn on the same day by pointing a gun at the clerk and demanding money. Forty minutes later, the same man allegedly walked into a Drury Inn on W. W.T. Harris Blvd. and shot the clerk without demanding money and left.
An arrest has been made in the murder of a Grier Heights man on Tuesday. CMPD arrested Anthony Howie's girlfriend, Shirley Martin, during a traffic stop yesterday afternoon. Police said they tried to pull over Martin's vehicle when they identified it shortly after the murder, but she ignored them and drove to her home, where she was arrested. Martin reportedly had two children in the car who were unharmed.
Two Marines died at Camp Lejeune on the east coast of North Carolina in two days last week. Lance Cpl. Ricardo A. Rodriguez Jr., 25, was reportedly found unresponsive near his barracks and was later pronounced dead by medical officials on Friday. Rodriguez had been awarded a Combat Action Ribbon, a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons. His death is currently under investigation, officials said. On Thursday, Cpl. Alexis Aaron Alcaraz, 22, with 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, died after collapsing during a training hike.
Jared Fogle, made famous as a spokesperson for Subway, will plead guilty to engaging in sex acts with minors and receiving child pornography, according to federal prosecutors. Documents released Wednesday by the U.S. attorney's office in Indianapolis say Fogle will pay $1.4 million in restitution to 14 victims, register as a sex offender and undergo treatment for sexual disorders. As part of the plea deal, prosecutors will not ask for a sentence over 12.5 years and Fogle will not ask for a sentence under five years in prison.
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
First Drip First Drip (8/18/15): Closing arguments heard in Kerrick trial
Posted By Ryan Pitkin on Tue, Aug 18, 2015 at 10:37 AM
Closing arguments began today in the high-profile voluntary manslaughter trial of Randall Kerrick, a former CMPD officer who shot and killed an unarmed Jonathan Ferrell following Ferrell's car accident in September 2013. Prosecutor Aden Harris played the dash cam footage from the night Ferrell was killed again this morning, pointing out that Kerrick had non-deadly options during the confrontation and abandoned all of his training. Defense attorney George Laughrun opened with a bible verse and said the case was about split-second decisions.
According to a report from the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, the economic impact of the CIAA tournament in 2015 increased by 12 percent over the 2014 tournament. Fans reportedly spent $32.2 million on hotel rooms, restaurant meals and other expenses during the basketball tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena. On August 10, the CIAA moved its headquarters from Hampton, Virginia to a new office in SouthPark. A recent contract extension that will keep the tournament in Charlotte through 2020 included incentives for the league to move to Charlotte.
A rescue of a construction worker by the Charlotte Fire Department from the roof of an Uptown construction site was caught on video this morning. Officials said that crews were working on finishing an apartment complex at the intersection of Morehead and South Church streets when a worker suffered an injury to his left ankle. Fire crews attached a rescue basket to a fire truck's ladder and picked up the man from the roof, lowering him down with a firefighter at his side.
A Union County woman has been charged with felony child abuse after an infant found in cardiac arrest in her home last week suffered traumatic brain injuries, officials said. Medics responded to Tamika Horne's residence in Marshville last Wednesday and took the baby to the hospital. After further investigation, Horne was charged with felony child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury. She's currently being held in Union County Jail and is expected to appear in court on September 14.
A lawyer for Zachary Hammond, an unarmed 19-year-old shot and killed by Seneca, South Carolina police on July 26 said that law enforcement officers have confirmed to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division that they saw officers lifting Hammond's hand and giving him "high-fives" after he was dead on the night of the shooting. In a five-page letter sent to Attorney General Loretta Lynch and FBI Director James Comey, attorney Eric Bland asks for a federal civil rights investigation, citing the alleged disturbing conduct of the officer on the scene of the shooting.
Monday, August 17, 2015
First Drip First Drip (8/17/15): Suspect runs off with Charlotte woman's baby
Posted By Ryan Pitkin on Mon, Aug 17, 2015 at 10:47 AM
CMPD officers arrested 22-year-old Sharlornai Reid a few hours after she allegedly ran off with another woman's 10-month-old baby on Saturday. Police said Reid asked to hold Keiry Matute's baby in front of her Charlotte home and then ran off with it, fleeing in her vehicle. She was later arrested elsewhere in Charlotte and the baby was returned to its mother unharmed. Reid was arrested on an unrelated larceny warrant from Buncombe County, and is expected to be hit with multiple charges related to the kidnapping, as well.
Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan's attorneys are fighting to protect the secrecy of some of his most lucrative contracts during a Chicago court case regarding his sponsorship value. Jordan, who reportedly became a billionaire in March, filed a lawsuit against supermarket chain Safeway for using his name without permission during a 2009 promotion. Jordan's legal team has already revealed that Jordan made $536.6 million in sponsorships between 2000 and 2012, and made $100 million last year alone. His lawyers are fighting to keep his contract with Nike secret, and have called it "one of the most competitively valuable documents in the industry."
Civil rights leader and longtime NAACP chair Julian Bond, 75, passed away on Saturday evening. Bond was a civil rights and anti-war activist who helped found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Bond also served as president of the Southern Law Poverty Center in the 1970s. On Sunday, the SLPC released a statement that read, "With Julian's passing, the country has lost one of its most passionate and eloquent voices for the cause of justice. He advocated not just for African Americans, but for every group, indeed every person subject to oppression and discrimination, because he recognized the common humanity in us all."
A historical black gymnasium and school in Huntersville, opened in 1937 as Huntersville Colored School, may face demolition as county officials have announced the aged electrical system and possible asbestos contamination mean the repairs to keep the building running would be too expensive. The county-owned building would cost between $1 million and $2 million to fix, and Mecklenburg County Parks & Recreation director Jim Garges has recommended tearing the building down. No decision has been reached on the issue as of yet, but officials emphasize that any potential discrimination would not affect Waymer Park, which sits adjacent to the building.
South Carolina authorities have refused to release video from the dash cam of a Seneca police lieutenant who shot and killed an unarmed 19-year-old man on July 26. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division reportedly declined a Freedom of Information Act request from a local television station to share the footage. The lieutenant has said that he shot 19-year-old Zachary Hammond because he felt threatened as Hammond drove toward him.
Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan's attorneys are fighting to protect the secrecy of some of his most lucrative contracts during a Chicago court case regarding his sponsorship value. Jordan, who reportedly became a billionaire in March, filed a lawsuit against supermarket chain Safeway for using his name without permission during a 2009 promotion. Jordan's legal team has already revealed that Jordan made $536.6 million in sponsorships between 2000 and 2012, and made $100 million last year alone. His lawyers are fighting to keep his contract with Nike secret, and have called it "one of the most competitively valuable documents in the industry."
Civil rights leader and longtime NAACP chair Julian Bond, 75, passed away on Saturday evening. Bond was a civil rights and anti-war activist who helped found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Bond also served as president of the Southern Law Poverty Center in the 1970s. On Sunday, the SLPC released a statement that read, "With Julian's passing, the country has lost one of its most passionate and eloquent voices for the cause of justice. He advocated not just for African Americans, but for every group, indeed every person subject to oppression and discrimination, because he recognized the common humanity in us all."
A historical black gymnasium and school in Huntersville, opened in 1937 as Huntersville Colored School, may face demolition as county officials have announced the aged electrical system and possible asbestos contamination mean the repairs to keep the building running would be too expensive. The county-owned building would cost between $1 million and $2 million to fix, and Mecklenburg County Parks & Recreation director Jim Garges has recommended tearing the building down. No decision has been reached on the issue as of yet, but officials emphasize that any potential discrimination would not affect Waymer Park, which sits adjacent to the building.
South Carolina authorities have refused to release video from the dash cam of a Seneca police lieutenant who shot and killed an unarmed 19-year-old man on July 26. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division reportedly declined a Freedom of Information Act request from a local television station to share the footage. The lieutenant has said that he shot 19-year-old Zachary Hammond because he felt threatened as Hammond drove toward him.
Friday, August 14, 2015
First Drip First Drip (8/14/15): Silver Alert issued for missing Charlotte woman
Posted By Ryan Pitkin on Fri, Aug 14, 2015 at 10:18 AM
The North Carolina Center for Missing Persons has issued a Silver Alert for a 25-year-old Charlotte woman who went missing on Tuesday. Chemise Boyer was last seen at 8628 Stoneface Road wearing a scarf on her head and blue jeans. Boyer is described as being 5'2", 100 pounds, with brown eyes and short, black hair. Boyer is believed to be suffering from dementia or some other type of cognitive impairment.
Former CMPD officer Randall Kerrick testified in own defense yesterday for two hours, stating that he feared for his life on the night he shot and killed an unarmed Jonathan Ferrell. He continued his testimony this morning. Kerrick often got emotional during his testimony yesterday, which did not affect Jonathan's brother, Willie Ferrell. "If he was sincere with all that crying, he would have apologized a long time ago," Ferrell reportedly said.
An "In Loving Memory" sign will be posted on Poplin Road in Union County, where transgender teen Ash Haffner jumped in front of a car in February, committing suicide. Haffner, a student at Poplin Ridge High School, left behind a written diary about issues with gender identification and many accounts of bullying that came along with it. April Quick, Ash's mother, has signed a four-year contract with NCDOT for the sign. It is free of charge, but in return, Quick has agreed to do regular cleanups on the road.
The owners of VBGB have announced a plan to build a "sister concept" next door to their existing building in the N.C. Music Factory. The venture will be titled 8.2.0, a reference to its address on Hamilton Street, and will reportedly meld together a mix of entertainment offerings with an upscale karaoke lounge, arcade with retro-style games and multiple bars and an eclectic lounge. Construction is slated to begin in October, with a goal of opening March 1, 2016.
A woman who was reportedly inside a storage building that caught fire just before 3 a.m. in NoDa is OK, according to officials. A mattress in the building, just behind The Chop Shop, caught fire and did about $10,000 in damage, officials said.
Thursday, August 13, 2015
First Drip First Drip (8/13/15): Senate passes Taxpayer's Bill of Rights against state Treasurer's suggestion
Posted By Ryan Pitkin on Thu, Aug 13, 2015 at 11:19 AM
The North Carolina Senate passed a "Taxpayer's Bill of Rights," which would allow voters to choose whether to amend the state constitution by adding a section to limit the growth of state spending to the rate of inflation and population growth, reduce the state’s maximum allowed income tax rate from ten to five percent, and require yearly deposits in an emergency savings fund that could only be tapped with a two-thirds vote in each house. The bill would put a referendum on next year’s presidential primary ballot. North Carolina Treasurer Janet Cowell sent senators a letter Friday saying the bill would endanger the state’s triple-A bond rating. Losing that, would increase borrowing costs.
Rev. Melvin Clark of Washington Missionary Baptist church in Shelby is seeking 10 church members to act as armed security guards during services as a reaction to the Charleston killing of nine churchgoers by Dylann Roof in June. Clark said the church is working with local law enforcement to make sure proper procedures are followed. It is also mandating that potential security guards take classes in preparation. The church's board members must approved the plan since funding for classes and weapons will come out of the church budget. Clark hopes to have the security guards in place sometime in 2016.
A 22-year-old man has been arrested for a string of robberies in north Charlotte. Police arrested Charles President for three armed robberies that took place last week. First, President allegedly robbed a Fairfield Inn near Northlake Mall at gunpoint at about 4 p.m. on Thursday. He allegedly pulled off a second robbery of an In-Town Suites on North Tryon Street about an hour later. The next day, police responded to an armed robbery call at a U-Haul business on University City Boulevard. Later that day, police arrested President and now say he is the suspect in all three robberies.
A group of residents who live in and around the Wesley Heights neighborhood just outside of Uptown are revamping their efforts to shut down a local club that they say is cultivating a culture of crime and violence in the area. The Wesley Heights Neighborhood Association has reportedly been trying for years to curb the violence they blame on nearby Club 935, and are now making efforts to shut the club down altogether. Police say a recent shooting that left a man in critical condition was the fifth shooting linked to the club in two years, but neighbors say they hear gunshots every Thursday night. Residents are reportedly contemplating legal action against club owner, Adolph Shiver, and the property owner, Rudy Esquival.
One of two breaking-and-entering suspects suffered life-threatening injuries after being shot by a homeowner who came home and found the two in his west Charlotte home on Wednesday. Police say the man found the two suspects inside his home on Merryvale Lane at about 3:30 p.m. and shot at them as they fled. Moments later, police responded to a nearby car accident and found the driver, one of the suspects in the home break-in, to be shot. He was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and the second suspect was later arrested based on a tip.
Rev. Melvin Clark of Washington Missionary Baptist church in Shelby is seeking 10 church members to act as armed security guards during services as a reaction to the Charleston killing of nine churchgoers by Dylann Roof in June. Clark said the church is working with local law enforcement to make sure proper procedures are followed. It is also mandating that potential security guards take classes in preparation. The church's board members must approved the plan since funding for classes and weapons will come out of the church budget. Clark hopes to have the security guards in place sometime in 2016.
A 22-year-old man has been arrested for a string of robberies in north Charlotte. Police arrested Charles President for three armed robberies that took place last week. First, President allegedly robbed a Fairfield Inn near Northlake Mall at gunpoint at about 4 p.m. on Thursday. He allegedly pulled off a second robbery of an In-Town Suites on North Tryon Street about an hour later. The next day, police responded to an armed robbery call at a U-Haul business on University City Boulevard. Later that day, police arrested President and now say he is the suspect in all three robberies.
A group of residents who live in and around the Wesley Heights neighborhood just outside of Uptown are revamping their efforts to shut down a local club that they say is cultivating a culture of crime and violence in the area. The Wesley Heights Neighborhood Association has reportedly been trying for years to curb the violence they blame on nearby Club 935, and are now making efforts to shut the club down altogether. Police say a recent shooting that left a man in critical condition was the fifth shooting linked to the club in two years, but neighbors say they hear gunshots every Thursday night. Residents are reportedly contemplating legal action against club owner, Adolph Shiver, and the property owner, Rudy Esquival.
One of two breaking-and-entering suspects suffered life-threatening injuries after being shot by a homeowner who came home and found the two in his west Charlotte home on Wednesday. Police say the man found the two suspects inside his home on Merryvale Lane at about 3:30 p.m. and shot at them as they fled. Moments later, police responded to a nearby car accident and found the driver, one of the suspects in the home break-in, to be shot. He was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and the second suspect was later arrested based on a tip.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
First Drip First Drip (8/12/15): CMS police officer arrested for indecent liberties with a child
Posted By Ryan Pitkin on Wed, Aug 12, 2015 at 11:16 AM
A Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Police officer has been arrested by CMPD for taking indecent liberties with a child. An August 10 investigation reportedly found that William Stitt touched and fondled a victim on August 7, 2015. CMPD says the victim in this case was not someone that Stitt would have come in contact with at work. Stitt has worked as a CMS police officer since August 2005. He was previously a CMPD officer between 1977 and 2005. Stitt is currently on paid administration leave.
Former Charlotte Mayor and current U.S Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx is being sued by the trustee of his former employer, DesignLine, and accused of not actually doing any work during his tenure there as deputy general counsel. Elaine Rudisill was named as the trustee of the company when it filed for bankruptcy in 2013. She is reportedly suing Foxx for $421,000. The lawsuit states that DesignLine paid firms millions of dollars to help with obtaining financing, board meetings, collection issues, contract negotiations and general legal counsel, while Foxx rarely showed up for work.
The state rested its case against former CMPD officer Randall Kerrick for the shooting death of Jonathan Ferrell yesterday, with CMPD Captain Mike Campagna testifying that Kerrick went against department policy when he killed the unarmed Ferrell. Campagna said that Kerrick was authorized to pull his weapon but not discharge it at Ferrell. Campagna said Ferrell represented a physical threat, but not a deadly threat.
With eight business days left until classes begin in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, there are still 395 teacher vacancies to be filled, according to Superintendent Ann Clark. North Carolina's 2015 budget year began on July 1, but alas, no budget has been passed. Clark said although she has gained international reaction for her comments on teacher shortages last week, the CMS shortage accounts for less than 2 percent of the CMS total and is lower than the shortage at this time last school year.
Congressman Robert Pittenger is reportedly the subject of an FBI inquiry, which focuses on Pittenger's real estate business. Pittenger says he separated himself from the firm when he was elected to Congress. The FBI's Charlotte office is handling the inquiry and questioning employee staffers and investors in the company. PIttenger said he has "no idea" what the inquiry is about.
Former Charlotte Mayor and current U.S Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx is being sued by the trustee of his former employer, DesignLine, and accused of not actually doing any work during his tenure there as deputy general counsel. Elaine Rudisill was named as the trustee of the company when it filed for bankruptcy in 2013. She is reportedly suing Foxx for $421,000. The lawsuit states that DesignLine paid firms millions of dollars to help with obtaining financing, board meetings, collection issues, contract negotiations and general legal counsel, while Foxx rarely showed up for work.
The state rested its case against former CMPD officer Randall Kerrick for the shooting death of Jonathan Ferrell yesterday, with CMPD Captain Mike Campagna testifying that Kerrick went against department policy when he killed the unarmed Ferrell. Campagna said that Kerrick was authorized to pull his weapon but not discharge it at Ferrell. Campagna said Ferrell represented a physical threat, but not a deadly threat.
With eight business days left until classes begin in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, there are still 395 teacher vacancies to be filled, according to Superintendent Ann Clark. North Carolina's 2015 budget year began on July 1, but alas, no budget has been passed. Clark said although she has gained international reaction for her comments on teacher shortages last week, the CMS shortage accounts for less than 2 percent of the CMS total and is lower than the shortage at this time last school year.
Congressman Robert Pittenger is reportedly the subject of an FBI inquiry, which focuses on Pittenger's real estate business. Pittenger says he separated himself from the firm when he was elected to Congress. The FBI's Charlotte office is handling the inquiry and questioning employee staffers and investors in the company. PIttenger said he has "no idea" what the inquiry is about.
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
First Drip First Drip (8/11/19): Lawsuit says Duke board cultivated 'culture of lawlessness'
Posted By Ryan Pitkin on Tue, Aug 11, 2015 at 10:44 AM
A North Carolina judge unsealed large portions of a shareholder lawsuit that asserting that “a culture of lawlessness” at Duke Energy, condoned by its board and abetted by undue influence over state regulators, led to environmental crimes and potentially billions of dollars of liability. Philadelphia shareholder Judy Mesirov filed the suit as a derivative action, meaning she filed it on behalf of Duke, although the power giant is named as a nominal defendant. The true target of the suit is the board of directors and 21 current and former board members and executives.
Protesters held a die-in on 4th Street on Monday evening to support shooting victim Jonathan Ferrell's family, as Jonathan's brother, Willie, stood in the middle of the group holding a #JusticeForJonathan sign. Participants laid in different positions, including face down with hands behind their backs, the way Ferrell lay handcuffed after being shot by then-CMPD officer Randall Kerrick in September 2013. Following the die-in, protestors marched across town to watch a showing of the documentary Ferguson to show solidarity with protesters in that town who have been marching to commemorate the first anniversary of Michael Brown's killing by police there.
The Iredell County Sheriff's Department released a report yesterday stating that Shawn Fuller admitted to shooting and killing his two young sons in Statesville on Sunday and then turning the gun on himself in an unsuccessful suicide attempt. Fuller repeatedly shot his 3- and 6-year-old sons after assaulting his wife. His wife had hidden his weapon from him before police arrived. Fuller also reportedly confessed that he planned to try to kill law enforcement officers but then tried to kill himself before they arrived.
The search for an 18-year-old possible drowning victim in Lake Wylie was called off Monday evening, after rescue crews searched through the afternoon for the teen, who reportedly went under while trying to swim to an island. Officials say Windjammer Beach Park will remain closed today as Tega Cay Police and the York County Sheriff's Office continue the search.
N.C. Rep. Jason Saine, who represents Lincolnton, defended spending $19,000 from his campaign fund on tailored clothes on Monday, saying it's just "part of the cost of doing the business that I'm in." State law allows the use of campaign contributions for expenditures resulting from campaigning for or “holding public office.” Legislative rules require men to wear coats and ties during session. The spending was included in Saine's most recent campaign report and was first reported on by conservative website The Daily Haymaker.
Protesters held a die-in on 4th Street on Monday evening to support shooting victim Jonathan Ferrell's family, as Jonathan's brother, Willie, stood in the middle of the group holding a #JusticeForJonathan sign. Participants laid in different positions, including face down with hands behind their backs, the way Ferrell lay handcuffed after being shot by then-CMPD officer Randall Kerrick in September 2013. Following the die-in, protestors marched across town to watch a showing of the documentary Ferguson to show solidarity with protesters in that town who have been marching to commemorate the first anniversary of Michael Brown's killing by police there.
The Iredell County Sheriff's Department released a report yesterday stating that Shawn Fuller admitted to shooting and killing his two young sons in Statesville on Sunday and then turning the gun on himself in an unsuccessful suicide attempt. Fuller repeatedly shot his 3- and 6-year-old sons after assaulting his wife. His wife had hidden his weapon from him before police arrived. Fuller also reportedly confessed that he planned to try to kill law enforcement officers but then tried to kill himself before they arrived.
The search for an 18-year-old possible drowning victim in Lake Wylie was called off Monday evening, after rescue crews searched through the afternoon for the teen, who reportedly went under while trying to swim to an island. Officials say Windjammer Beach Park will remain closed today as Tega Cay Police and the York County Sheriff's Office continue the search.
N.C. Rep. Jason Saine, who represents Lincolnton, defended spending $19,000 from his campaign fund on tailored clothes on Monday, saying it's just "part of the cost of doing the business that I'm in." State law allows the use of campaign contributions for expenditures resulting from campaigning for or “holding public office.” Legislative rules require men to wear coats and ties during session. The spending was included in Saine's most recent campaign report and was first reported on by conservative website The Daily Haymaker.
Monday, August 10, 2015
First Drip First Drip (8/10/15): Men arrested after bringing gun to church, acting suspiciously
Posted By Ryan Pitkin on Mon, Aug 10, 2015 at 12:10 PM
Police arrested 16-year-old Austin Hannon and 27-year-old Michael Blake after the two brought a gun into First Haitian Church of Grace in northeast Charlotte on Sunday. The two men reportedly entered the church and said they wanted to pray with someone from the church and were led to a room in the back to do so. Church officials became uneasy when they saw the men were carrying a backpack and acting suspicious. When asked, the men admitted they had a .40 caliber handgun in the bag, which was confiscated by church leaders until police arrived.
Mecklenburg County officials are looking for ways to protect a Confederate monument near Memorial Stadium after it was vandalized twice in three weeks. The county contracted a private firm to clean the monument on both occasions, paying $370 the first time and $380 the second. A county spokesperson said video surveillance is one option being discussed by county leaders.
Construction will begin on a 19-story tower next to the Westin Charlotte in Uptown on Friday. Portman Holdings recently secured construction financing for its $122 million office tower, which will be located at 615 S. College St. The 370,000-square-foot office tower will be built atop the Westin parking deck. Portman Holdings now expects construction to be complete in February 2017 instead of the fourth quarter of 2016.
Five people, including two police officers, were shot during an incident in Gastonia on Saturday night. The two officers suffered non-life-threatening injuries, while two other men were killed and another person was injured. Gaton County Police did not release the names of the officers, nor the two men killed in the shootout.
Gunfire erupted in Ferguson, Missouri overnight during protests marking the one-year anniversary of the fatal shooting of unarmed Michael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson. Four people were shot and three arrested early this morning during the protests. Police said one suspect who was shot by police is in "critical, unstable" condition in a local hospital and undergoing surgery. Belmar said that after a shootout between six people, the suspect ran away, but then shot at police who were chasing him in an unmarked vehicle with emergency lights flashing.
Mecklenburg County officials are looking for ways to protect a Confederate monument near Memorial Stadium after it was vandalized twice in three weeks. The county contracted a private firm to clean the monument on both occasions, paying $370 the first time and $380 the second. A county spokesperson said video surveillance is one option being discussed by county leaders.
Construction will begin on a 19-story tower next to the Westin Charlotte in Uptown on Friday. Portman Holdings recently secured construction financing for its $122 million office tower, which will be located at 615 S. College St. The 370,000-square-foot office tower will be built atop the Westin parking deck. Portman Holdings now expects construction to be complete in February 2017 instead of the fourth quarter of 2016.
Five people, including two police officers, were shot during an incident in Gastonia on Saturday night. The two officers suffered non-life-threatening injuries, while two other men were killed and another person was injured. Gaton County Police did not release the names of the officers, nor the two men killed in the shootout.
Gunfire erupted in Ferguson, Missouri overnight during protests marking the one-year anniversary of the fatal shooting of unarmed Michael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson. Four people were shot and three arrested early this morning during the protests. Police said one suspect who was shot by police is in "critical, unstable" condition in a local hospital and undergoing surgery. Belmar said that after a shootout between six people, the suspect ran away, but then shot at police who were chasing him in an unmarked vehicle with emergency lights flashing.
Thursday, August 6, 2015
First Drip First Drip (8/6/15): Dash cam footage in Ferrell killing released
Posted By Ryan Pitkin on Thu, Aug 6, 2015 at 10:50 AM
After nearly two years, the dash cam footage from the night Jonathan Ferrell was shot and killed by then-CMPD officer Randall Kerrick in September 2013 has been released. The video was shown at Kerrick's trial for involuntary manslaughter yesterday, during the testimony of Adam Neal, a CMPD officer who responded to the scene along with Kerrick and whose dash cam caught the moments leading up to the shooting. The video shows police vehicles approaching Kerrick, who is walking towards them with his hands out of his pockets and seemingly calm. After officers exit their vehicles and train laser targets from their taser guns on Ferrell, he runs in their direction. Ferrell leaves the screen before 12 shots are fired by Kerrick.
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Despite higher demand due to warmer weather, Duke Energy fell short of its estimated earnings for 2015's second quarter, earning 11 percent less than it did in the same time frame last year. The Charlotte-based power giant reported a net income of $543 million, or 78 cents per diluted share, on revenue totaling $5.6 billion. Duke said increased operations and maintenance costs took about 11 cents per share out of its earnings, as the company had more planned outages for maintenance at plants in the most recent quarter than it did a year ago.
Fire officials responded to a fire at the Hindu Center in southeast Charlotte early this morning after fire and heavy smoke was seen coming from the center's worship house, located on the 7400 block of City View Drive. There is no word as of yet on damages or what caused the fire.
Cornelius Police Chief Bence Hoyle defended his officers' actions following a brief police chase that was terminated before the driver of the suspect vehicle crashed, killing the two men inside. Hoyle said his officers followed protocol by terminating emergency equipment and giving up on the chase 42 seconds in, due to the vehicle getting away so quickly. Officers found the vehicle wrecked into a tree on Jetton Road shortly after giving up on the pursuit.
Buncombe County commissioners approved an agreement with five men who say they were wrongly accused in a 15-year-old murder case. Taxpayers will foot $5 million of the $7.9 million total awarded in settlements, attorney fees to defend former Sheriff Bobby Medford and several investigators and the cost of civil litigation relating to the 2000 shooting death of Walter Bowman. Insurance will reportedly cover the rest.
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Despite higher demand due to warmer weather, Duke Energy fell short of its estimated earnings for 2015's second quarter, earning 11 percent less than it did in the same time frame last year. The Charlotte-based power giant reported a net income of $543 million, or 78 cents per diluted share, on revenue totaling $5.6 billion. Duke said increased operations and maintenance costs took about 11 cents per share out of its earnings, as the company had more planned outages for maintenance at plants in the most recent quarter than it did a year ago.
Fire officials responded to a fire at the Hindu Center in southeast Charlotte early this morning after fire and heavy smoke was seen coming from the center's worship house, located on the 7400 block of City View Drive. There is no word as of yet on damages or what caused the fire.
Cornelius Police Chief Bence Hoyle defended his officers' actions following a brief police chase that was terminated before the driver of the suspect vehicle crashed, killing the two men inside. Hoyle said his officers followed protocol by terminating emergency equipment and giving up on the chase 42 seconds in, due to the vehicle getting away so quickly. Officers found the vehicle wrecked into a tree on Jetton Road shortly after giving up on the pursuit.
Buncombe County commissioners approved an agreement with five men who say they were wrongly accused in a 15-year-old murder case. Taxpayers will foot $5 million of the $7.9 million total awarded in settlements, attorney fees to defend former Sheriff Bobby Medford and several investigators and the cost of civil litigation relating to the 2000 shooting death of Walter Bowman. Insurance will reportedly cover the rest.
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Milestone begins fundraising campaign for lifesaving renovations
Long-time westside staple in danger of closing if $150,000 not raised for first renovations in over a century
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Antiseen guitarist, founding member Joe Young dead at 54 (updated) 9
Memorial show to take place May 18 at Tremont Music Hall.
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Now taking submissions for the third annual FILTERED photo contest
DEADLINE EXTENDED UNTIL SUNDAY!
