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Tag: coastal

  • Christian McCaffrey’s big night leads 49ers to 20-9 victory over Panthers

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    SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Christian McCaffrey maintained that playing Carolina for the first time since the Panthers traded him to San Francisco three years ago wouldn’t raise his level of urgency one bit.

    McCaffrey responded to the reunion game like he does almost every week, with a productive performance that led the 49ers to another win.

    McCaffrey gained 142 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown, and San Francisco overcame a rough performance by quarterback Brock Purdy to beat the Panthers 20-9 on Monday night.

    “Obviously when you see familiar faces, it’s always good to see them before the game and after the game,” McCaffrey said. “But that’s a completely new team than when I was there. So it’s really just business once the ball was snapped.”

    McCaffrey’s big night helped the 49ers (8-4) overcome three interceptions in the first half by Purdy to remain in playoff position heading into the stretch run of the season.

    Bryce Young and the Panthers (6-6) struggled to take advantage of their opportunities a week after he threw for a franchise-record 448 yards in a win at Atlanta. Young threw for 169 yards with one touchdown and one interception as Carolina missed a chance to move into sole possession of first place in the NFC South.

    Purdy wasn’t much better in his second start back from a toe injury as he became the first player this season to throw three interceptions in the first half of a game. Purdy said neither the toe nor rust was an issue.

    “Honestly, the decisions of going to those spots, I was fine with,” he said. “It’s just the execution of throwing a better ball. I feel like on really all of them, I needed to just drive the ball a little bit more. I kept it up in the air too long on multiple of them.”

    The 49ers went conservative in the second half after Purdy’s rough start to the game, relying mostly on McCaffrey and short passes. The strategy worked with McCaffrey scoring on a 12-yard run to make it 17-3 and the Niners adding a field goal by Matt Gay.

    Young did connect on one big play, a 29-yard TD pass to Tetairoa McMillan, but Carolina couldn’t convert on 2-point try after a penalty moved the ball to the 1.

    Young then threw his second interception of the game to Ji’Ayir Brown with Carolina in scoring position with a 20-9 deficit.

    “Just lack of execution,” Young said. “Couple of plays I’d like to have back, some stuff we could do better. Not what we wanted. We didn’t do good enough and I take ownership of that.”

    The frustration from the loss contributed to a spat, with Carolina safety Tre’Von Moehrig hitting San Francisco receiver Jauan Jennings in the groin after a run play late in the game and Jennings responding with a punch to the helmet after the game.

    “I was just responding to some childish behavior,” Jennings said.

    McCaffrey, who has transformed the 49ers’ offense since being acquired in October 2022, finished with 89 yards rushing and 53 receiving for his 10th 100-yard game of the season — two shy of the franchise record he set in 2023.

    The 49ers gave the ball to McCaffrey on the first five plays, leading to the first opening-drive TD of the season against Carolina. Purdy connected on a 12-yard pass to Jennings for the score.

    The two offenses did nothing after that. Jaycee Horn had two of Carolina’s three picks of Purdy, but the Panthers turned those takeaways into only three points. Young ruined one drive when he was intercepted by Brown on a first-down play from the 1.

    “I like the call,” coach Dave Canales said. “It was an aggressive call, a play action that we had opportunities on. Unfortunately came out with an interception.”

    The teams traded field goals and the Niners led 10-3 at the half.

    Injuries

    Panthers: Horn and LB Claudin Cherelus left the game in the first half with concussions and didn’t return. … G Chandler Zavala (calf) and CB Corey Thornton (ankle) both left in the second half and didn’t return.

    49ers: DE Sam Okuayinonu (ankle) left in the second half and didn’t return.

    Up next

    Panthers: Host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

    49ers: Visit Cleveland on Sunday.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Associated Press

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  • Thanksgiving Travel Forecast

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    According to AAA, more Americans will travel for Thanksgiving this year than ever before. Whether you’re flying or driving, the weather could impact your trip. Here’s what to expect across the country this week.

    What You Need To Know

    • An early week system will bring rain from the Plains to East Coast

    • Thanksgiving looks mostly quiet across U.S.

    • Much colder air after Thanksgiving


    Here are the weather highlights for Thanksgiving travelers this week. 


    A more detailed forecast for each day can be found below.

    Monday

    A system will be on the move and bring widespread rain from the Southern Plains to Great Lakes. Scattered storms could create travel issues for places like Dallas, St. Louis and Memphis. 


    Tuesday

    By Tuesday, our system will continue its path to the east with showers and storms expected in the Southeast and up the East Coast. Areas farther north will see mostly showers, so nothing too concerning other than a wet commute up and down I-95.

    Wednesday

    By Wednesday, the system will be mostly gone with only a few areas of lingering rain chances in the East and lake-effect snow in the Great Lakes. Attention turns to the Pacific Northwest where the next system will be moving on shore. Rain and mountain snow will be likely in this region.


    Thanksgiving Day

    If you are traveling short and far on Thanksgiving Day, most of the country thankfully looks quiet and uneventful. The Pacific NW system will be pushing inland bringing snow across the northern Mountain West. Additionally, the lake-effect machine will continue in the Great Lakes.


    Black Friday

    Black Friday shoppers may need to deal with some winter weather from the Northern Plains to Great Lakes. Temperatures will be far colder behind the early week front setting this one up.

    Saturday

    Forecast info.


    Sunday

    Forecast info.


    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Spectrum News Weather Staff

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  • Madalina Cojocari: Police still searching 3 years later

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    Three years after the disappearance of Madalina Cojocari, police are still searching for answers.

    What You Need To Know

    • It has been three years since Madalina Cojocari, 11 at the time, was last seen getting off the school bus on Nov. 21, 2022

    • Her mother did not report her missing until Dec. 15, 2022, to avoid a “conflict” with Madalina’s stepfather, Christopher Palmiter, who she divorced earlier this year 

    • Her mother had asked someone for help getting her daughter away from Palmiter before Madalina’s disappearance, according to warrants 

    • After serving jail time for failing to report Madalina missing in a timely manner, her mother went back to her home country of Moldova


    Madalina was 11 years old when her mother, Diana Cojocari, reported her missing to her middle school on Dec. 15, 2022, after school officials began investigating why she did not return to school after Thanksgiving break.

    The last confirmed sighting of Madalina was on Nov. 21 of that year when she got off her school bus in Cornelius, a suburb in Charlotte where she lived.


    Diana Cojocari pleaded guilty in 2024 to failing to report a child missing to police. Madalina’s stepfather, Christopher Palmiter, was found guilty of the same charge.

    Diana Cojocari told investigators she last saw her daughter on Nov. 23, and the following morning, Madalina was not in her room. A backpack and some of her clothes were gone too.

    Diana Cojocari said she waited to report her missing to “avoid a conflict” with Palmiter, according to investigators.

    Search warrants released in March of 2023 revealed that Diana Cojocari had asked a man described as a “distant relative” to get her and her daughter away from Palmiter before Madalina’s disappearance.

    The man “stated that she told him she was in a bad relationship with co-defendant, Palmiter, and wanted a divorce,” the warrant said.

    Diana Cojocari and Palmiter were married in 2016, and their divorce was finalized in March of this year, according to court documents.

    The mother and daughter are from Moldova, in eastern Europe.

    After serving jail time, Diana Cojocari moved back to her native country, according to police.

    Those with any information about the whereabouts of Madalina are asked to contact the Cornelius Police Department at (704) 892-7773, or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

     

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    Caroline King

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  • Mpox cases on the rise in Mecklenburg County

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    Mpox cases have been on the rise in Mecklenburg County, public health officials said Friday. 

    What You Need To Know

    • There were three cases of Mpox in Mecklenburg County in October compared to seven so far this month 

    • Mpox, previously called monkeypox, is most commonly spread through close skin-to-skin contact 

    • Common symptoms include rashes, fever, chills and other flu like symptoms  

    • Vaccinations are available at Mecklenburg County Public Health clinic locations


    There were three cases in October and seven so far this month, according to Mecklenburg County Public Health.

    This comes while Clade I, a more deadly strain of the virus, has been reported in parts of Europe and Africa.

    “While the overall risk from mpox in our community is very low, we encourage those who are at higher risk to take steps to protect their health,” Mecklenburg County’s Health Director Raynard Washington said. “The vaccine remains the best tool we have to prevent mpox and serious complications from the virus.” 

    Mpox, previously called monkeypox, can spread from rodents and primates, like monkeys, to humans, according to the Mayo Clinic. But it is mainly spread person to person through close, skin-to-skin contact with someone who is infected.  

    People at higher risk for contracting the virus are those with weakened immune systems, babies, pregnant women and people who have had eczema.

    Common symptoms include:

    • Rashes
    • Fever
    • Chills
    • Swollen lymph nodes
    • Exhaustion
    • Muscle aches and backache
    • Headache
    • Sore throat
    • Nasal congestion
    • Cough

    Getting vaccinated can help reduce the likelihood of contracting mpox and make symptoms less severe if so.

    Mpox vaccinations are available at Mecklenburg County Public Health clinic locations. People can call 704-336-6500 to make an appointment or walk in any time during business hours. 

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Caroline King

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  • Federal judges uphold several N.C. U.S. House districts drawn by Republicans

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    RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Federal judges on Thursday upheld several U.S. House districts that North Carolina Republicans drew in 2023 that helped the GOP gain additional seats the following year. They rejected accusations the lines unlawfully fractured and packed Black voters to weaken their voting power.

    What You Need To Know

    • Federal judges have upheld several U.S. House districts drawn by North Carolina Republicans in 2023

    • The judges on Thursday rejected accusations that the lines unlawfully fractured and packed Black voters to weaken their voting power

    • The order by three judges didn’t rule on changes made last month to the 1st Congressional District. That alteration is still being considered

    • It stemmed from efforts by President Donald Trump starting in the summer to secure additional GOP House seats through mid-decade redistricting in several states


    The order by three judges — all of whom were nominated to the bench by GOP presidents — didn’t rule on changes made last month to the 1st Congressional District that are designed to unseat Democratic Rep. Don Davis in 2026.

    That alteration, completed at the urging of President Donald Trump as part of an ongoing national mid-decade redistricting fray, is still being considered by the panel. The judges heard arguments on Wednesday in Winston-Salem but didn’t immediately rule on whether they would block now the use of the 1st District and the adjoining 3rd District for next year’s election while more legal arguments are made. Candidate filing for the 2026 elections is set to begin Dec. 1.

    Many allegations made by the state NAACP, Common Cause and voters cover both 2023 and 2025 changes, in particular claims of voter dilution and racial discrimination violating the U.S. Constitution and Voting Rights Act.

    The 2023 map helped turn a 7-7 North Carolina delegation into one in which Republicans won 10 of the 14 seats in 2024. Three Democrats chose not to seek reelection, saying it was essentially impossible to get reelected under the recast lines.

    Thursday’s ruling by 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Allison Rushing and District Judges Thomas Schroeder and Richard Myers rejected claims that GOP legislators drew lines in 2023 so skewed for Republicans that many Black voters could not elect their preferred candidates.

    “We conclude that the General Assembly did not violate the Constitution or the VRA in its 2023 redistricting,” they wrote in a 181-page order.

    The judges convened a trial several months ago hearing testimony for a pair of lawsuits that challenged portions of maps redrawn in 2023. Thursday’s decision focused on five congressional districts: three in the Greensboro region and two in and around Charlotte, as well as three state Senate districts. The judges also upheld the Senate districts.

    The plaintiffs argued Republicans split and weakened the Greensboro region’s concentrated Black voting population within multiple U.S. House districts. Then-Rep. Kathy Manning, a Greensboro Democrat, decided not to run again last year because her district shifted to the right. They also cited what they called packing Black voting-age residents into a Charlotte-area congressional district that in turn helped Republican Tim Moore win an adjoining district.

    Attorneys for Republican leaders argued that lawfully partisan — and not racial — considerations helped inform decision-making on the 2023 map. They pointed out that no information on the racial makeup of regions were used in drawing the lines. A 2019 U.S. Supreme Court decision essentially neutered federal legal claims of illegal partisan gerrymandering going forward.

    The judges’ order favoring the GOP lawmakers said “the circumstances surrounding the plans’ enactment and the resulting district configurations and composition are consistent with the General Assembly’s non-racial motivations, which included traditional districting criteria, North Carolina law, and partisan performance.”

    The ruling can be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Spokespeople for Republican legislative leaders didn’t immediately respond late Thursday to emailed requests for comment. A lawyers group representing the state NAACP and others said it was disappointed with the ruling.

    Still at issue are the changes made to the 1st and 3rd Districts that GOP legislators said are designed to create an 11-3 seat majority in 2026. Davis continues a line of Black representatives elected from the 1st District going back more than 30 years. But he won his second term by less than 2 percentage points.

    North Carolina is among several states where Trump has pushed for mid-decade map changes ahead of the 2026 elections. This week, a federal court blocked Texas from using a GOP-engineered map.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Associated Press

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  • Eden dump truck driver indicted on murder charges in utility workers’ deaths

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    The driver of a dump truck that crashed into a crew of utility workers in Eden, North Carolina, earlier this year has been indicted on murder charges, court records show.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Authorities said Michael Vernon was driving a dump truck on April 24 when he crashed into a crew of utility workers in Eden, N.C.

    •  Four of the linemen were killed, two were seriously injured and a third suffered minor injuries

    •  On Tuesday, Nov. 19, Vernon was indicted on multiple counts of second-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury


    Michael Ray Vernon, 66, is charged with four counts of second-degree murder and three counts of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.

    The indictments were issued Tuesday afternoon, according to records.

    The murder charges are related to the deaths of Douglas Garland Sides, 72, of Summerfield; Madison Carter, 32, of Sandy Ridge; William Evans, 35, of Randleman; and Matthew Lockwood, 30, of Winston-Salem, all of whom died at the scene.

    The assault charges are connected to three linemen who were injured, two seriously, during the crash.

    On Thursday, April 24, Vernon failed to stop on Carroll Street at the intersection with Church Street and Park Road and hit the workers, who were conducting power line work, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

    Vernon also hit a bucket truck before stopping in a ditch.

    A week after the incident, the city of Eden announced that Vernon and Public Works Operations Superintendent Elmer “Dusty” Curry had been fired and Public Works Operations Manager Darren Gatewood had announced his retirement.

    Vernon was initially charged with a stop sign violation and several counts of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, according to court records. Those charges were dismissed following Tuesday’s indictments.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

     

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    Justin Pryor

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  • Decaying leaves: The gift that keeps on giving

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    When you think of autumn, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Pumpkin spice? Cooler weather?

    For many, it’s the leaves transforming.

    With most of the country past peak foliage, those leaves have likely fallen and are littering lawns and streets. It’s a great time to think about what to do with the leaves as they fall.

    What You Need To Know

    • Fall foliage has reached peak or past peak across most of the country

    • Fallen leaves are biodegradable

    • Composting is one of the many options for decaying leaves

    While stepping on a crunchy leaf is extremely satisfying, the leaves take over yards, sidewalks and streets.

    Sometimes when it rains, fallen leaves clog storm drains and can be a hazard while walking. So, it’s no surprise that many want to clean up these dead leaves.

    People commonly bag the fallen leaves and consider the leaves trash.

    But what if there were more environmentally friendly ways to take care of these dying leaves?

    (Pic by Remi Lynn)

    When you bag the dried autumn leaves and put them on the curb, they end up as trash in a landfill. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, yard waste accounts for nearly 20% of all garbage generated in the United States each year. That’s over 31 million tons.

    As the leaves and other yard waste sit in landfills, they produce methane, which can pollute nearby air and soil.

    So what are the alternatives?

    Alternatives to leaf bagging

    Realistically, leaves can remain in the yard where they fall. You can chop them with a mulching mower or even a regular lawnmower.

    Leaves are biodegradable, meaning that bacteria or other living organisms can decompose them. While whole leaves take a longer time to break down (about two to three years), cut-up leaves decompose faster (about one year) and can provide plenty of nutrients for the soil.

    (Photo by Chris Thompson)

    You can use whole and/or chopped leaves in gardens and flower beds as mulch.

    If you still don’t want leaves scattered all across the lawn, composting is a great way to beautify your lawn and garden in multiple ways.

    To compost decaying leaves, chop them with a mower and combine them with green material (grass clippings work great here). Keep the combination moist and well mixed. It will probably take until spring to break down, but the result is a nutrient-rich fertilizer for any plants or crops.

    If DIY composting isn’t your thing, check out local groups that collect leaves for composting. Happy leaf collecting!

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Britney Hamilton

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  • Decaying leaves: The gift that keeps on giving

    [ad_1]

    When you think of autumn, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Pumpkin spice? Cooler weather?

    For many, it’s the leaves transforming.

    With most of the country past peak foliage, those leaves have likely fallen and are littering lawns and streets. It’s a great time to think about what to do with the leaves as they fall.

    What You Need To Know

    • Fall foliage has reached peak or past peak across most of the country

    • Fallen leaves are biodegradable

    • Composting is one of the many options for decaying leaves

    While stepping on a crunchy leaf is extremely satisfying, the leaves take over yards, sidewalks and streets.

    Sometimes when it rains, fallen leaves clog storm drains and can be a hazard while walking. So, it’s no surprise that many want to clean up these dead leaves.

    People commonly bag the fallen leaves and consider the leaves trash.

    But what if there were more environmentally friendly ways to take care of these dying leaves?

    (Pic by Remi Lynn)

    When you bag the dried autumn leaves and put them on the curb, they end up as trash in a landfill. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, yard waste accounts for nearly 20% of all garbage generated in the United States each year. That’s over 31 million tons.

    As the leaves and other yard waste sit in landfills, they produce methane, which can pollute nearby air and soil.

    So what are the alternatives?

    Alternatives to leaf bagging

    Realistically, leaves can remain in the yard where they fall. You can chop them with a mulching mower or even a regular lawnmower.

    Leaves are biodegradable, meaning that bacteria or other living organisms can decompose them. While whole leaves take a longer time to break down (about two to three years), cut-up leaves decompose faster (about one year) and can provide plenty of nutrients for the soil.

    (Photo by Chris Thompson)

    You can use whole and/or chopped leaves in gardens and flower beds as mulch.

    If you still don’t want leaves scattered all across the lawn, composting is a great way to beautify your lawn and garden in multiple ways.

    To compost decaying leaves, chop them with a mower and combine them with green material (grass clippings work great here). Keep the combination moist and well mixed. It will probably take until spring to break down, but the result is a nutrient-rich fertilizer for any plants or crops.

    If DIY composting isn’t your thing, check out local groups that collect leaves for composting. Happy leaf collecting!

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Britney Hamilton

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  • GOP Sen. Ted Budd talks shutdown, Epstein files and spending time in Oval Office

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    U.S. Senator and Republican Ted Budd joins host Tim Boyum for a wide-ranging conversation on the Tying it Together podcast.

    They talk about his upbringing and how his first run for office happened just hours before the deadline and resulted in a 17-way primary.

    Later, they talk about the government shutdown, health care, federal raids in Charlotte, the 2026 elections and the controversy of the Epstein files.

    About the Podcast

    With the speed of the local news cycle, it’s easy to forget that the politicians who represent us and the influencers in our communities are more than just a sound bite. North Carolina’s veteran reporter and anchor, Tim Boyum, loosens his signature bow tie to give listeners a glimpse behind the curtain, showing us who these power players really are and why they do what they do. Through Tim’s candid conversations on “Tying It Together,” his guests reveal their most fascinating life stories, passions, and help all of us get a better grasp on the issues affecting our communities.

    Listen and Subscribe

    Apple | Spotify | Stitcher

    Join the Conversation

    Do you have any thoughts or questions for Tim? Weigh in on X with the hashtag #TyingItTogetherNC. Afterward, rate the podcast and leave a review to tell us what you think!

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Maersk’s new Charlotte-based North American headquarters will create 520 jobs

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    Maersk, a global logistics company, has chosen Charlotte as the location for its new North American headquarters, Gov. Josh Stein announced Tuesday.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Global integrated logistics company Maersk has selected Charlotte for its new North American headquarters location

    •  The new headquarters will bring 520 jobs to the Queen City

    •  Officials say the average salary is expected to be around $101,000, which is roughly $15,000 more than the Mecklenburg County average

    • The Charlotte headquarters will house corporate functions, including finance, human resources, commercial strategy and technology, according to a release


    “Maersk’s decision to bring its North American headquarters to Charlotte speaks to North Carolina’s reputation as a top destination for global business,” Stein said in a release. “We are home to a world-class workforce, and we’re proud to welcome Maersk to North Carolina – the top state for business in the country.” 

    The new headquarters is expected to bring 520 jobs over the next several years, officials said, as well as a $16-million investment in Mecklenburg County.

    “North Carolina has been a key partner in our growth for more than two decades, “ said Charles van der Steene, president of the North America region at Maersk. “Designating Charlotte as our North American headquarters location reinforces our confidence in the state’s business climate and workforce. We’re investing in North Carolina’s future because it’s a place where innovation and opportunity come together.”

    The Charlotte headquarters will house corporate functions, including finance, human resources, commercial strategy and technology, according to a release.

    Officials say salaries for the new positions will vary, with the average annual salary expected to be nearly $101,000. Mecklenburg County’s current average salary is roughly $86,000.

    “This is a proud day for Charlotte and our state. Maersk’s investment brings not only hundreds of good-paying jobs, but also new opportunities for our local workforce and small businesses,” said N.C. Senator DeAndrea Salvador. “I’m committed to ensuring that this growth benefits all our communities and strengthens our region’s position as a hub for global commerce.”

    “Maersk’s selection of Charlotte is another win for our city and a signal to the world that North Carolina and the Mecklenburg County region is a premier destination for innovation and investment,” said N.C. Representative Terry M. Brown Jr. “As someone who has long championed economic opportunity, I’m excited to see how this move will uplift our communities and create new pathways to prosperity.” 

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

     

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    Justin Pryor

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  • Former Marine sniper accused of mass shooting and warning signs that came before

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    Estranged friends and family and even a judge had raised concerns months before authorities say a wounded Iraq War veteran killed three people and injured five at a North Carolina waterfront bar.

    What You Need To Know

    • Estranged friends and family and even a judge had raised concerns months before authorities say a wounded Iraq War veteran killed three people and injured five at a North Carolina waterfront bar.

    • A former friend got a no-contact order against Nigel Max Edge, saying he feared for his safety and describing the former Marine sniper as armed and “mentally unstable”

    • Several people told The Associated Press they inquired about having Edge involuntarily committed for psychiatric evaluation but believed they lacked standing

    • Edge has been charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder but the case has been postponed to January


    Marc Simmons hadn’t heard from his estranged friend in nearly seven years. Then, Nigel Max Edge showed up at his work and falsely accused Simmons of stealing his identity.

    They met taking community college classes and bonded over their time with the Marines in Iraq. Simmons’ kids once called Edge “Uncle Sean” — back when his name was still Sean William DeBevoise.

    Simmons was now terrified his old friend would retaliate against him, he told a judge.

    “The defendant, Nigel Edge, is mentally unstable,” Simmons said in a handwritten request for a protective order. “Always has a pistol on him, on high doses of medications that cause defendant to be anxious.”

    That was back in May, four months before authorities say Edge, a former Marine sniper, guided a motorboat up to a crowded Cape Fear River bar in Southport, North Carolina, and opened fire with an AR-style rifle, killing three and wounding five.

    Edge, 41, is charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder and has been in jail without bond since the Sept. 27 shooting at the American Fish Company. A November hearing to determine next steps in the case was pushed to January.

    Prosecutors and Edge’s attorney did not respond to questions about why the case was postponed.

    Options to intervene

    Following the shooting, police recovered two handguns and a short-barreled rifle from Edge’s car and boat. At his home, they found two more rifles and pistols, including one with a silencer.

    Democratic Gov. Josh Stein said North Carolina needed to join the 21 states that have “red flag laws,” which allow authorities to temporarily confiscate guns from people deemed a threat. But there was another legal option.

    It’s unclear whether anyone petitioned a magistrate to involuntarily commit Edge to a psychiatric facility for evaluation because the records are not public. But anyone could have, not just close family and friends, said Mark F. Botts, a University of North Carolina School of Government associate professor.

    “It seems like he was estranged from the very people that would normally intervene,” Botts said.

    Rachel Crowl feels there’s a lot of blame to go around, from his family, to the government, even herself.

    “We failed him, as a whole,” she said.

    Struggling to understand

    In this undated photo provided by Rachel Crowl, Nigel Max Edge, then known as Sean DeBevoise, lies in a hospital bed next to his wife, Rachel Crowl, in Tampa, Fla. (Rachel Crowl, via AP)

    Edge joined the Marines right after high school, eventually rising to the elite recon sniper corps. He was shot four times in 2006 on his second deployment to Iraq. The wounds led to his medical retirement in 2009.

    When he returned from Iraq, a large chunk of his skull missing and an insurgent’s bullet still lodged in his brain, Marine Sgt. Sean DeBevoise — as he was then known — still seemed to have a firm grip on reality, Crowl said.

    Crowl, who fell in love at 14 with the blond, blue-eyed wrestler when he came to her New York middle school for a match, said his description of how he was wounded in Iraq matched his comrades’ version of events; he loved his family, and they loved him.

    Then he began patrolling the house with a rifle and sleeping with a loaded pistol under his pillow. Separate bedrooms led to estrangement, then, ultimately, divorce.

    When Crowl last saw him, 10 years ago on a Wrightsville Beach pier, “it was heartbreaking,” she said.

    “He looked me straight in my face and told me a completely different story,” she said. “Basically, how I hired the platoon to kill him, and the friendly fire. And did I know they buried him and peed on him? And why would I do this? And then asked me about if I remember us being sex trafficked when we were in high school, and told me his parents had kidnapped him and weren’t his parents.”

    Those are the stories he told in “Headshot: Betrayal of a Nation,” the book he self-published in 2020. Three years later, he legally changed his name, saying there are “events in my life that I don’t understand” and that he did “not trust my family.”

    Doubts about how to help

    Crowl said she didn’t hear from Edge again until May, when the man she’d nursed, bathed and fed filed a federal lawsuit against her, Simmons, an ex-girlfriend and a former Marine from his first Iraq deployment. It alleged they were all part of a “Civil Conspiracy” to sexually traffic and kill him, or to make him kill himself.

    Edge filed lawsuit after lawsuit against friends, family, doctors, hospitals, the Department of Veterans Affairs, even a church. Crowl and others said they thought authorities would get him the mental health care they felt he clearly needed.

    “Plaintiff suffers from war injuries and he suffers from delusions” and post-traumatic stress disorder, his mother, Sandra DeBevoise, wrote in a legal response last December, after he sued her and her husband. “The VA needs to take care of him!!!”

    The VA declined to comment, citing medical privacy laws.

    The legal onslaught became so bad that a judge in Brunswick County moved to restrict Edge from filing lawsuits without court approval.

    Several people told The Associated Press they believed they lacked standing to file a commitment petition because they were not close relatives.

    And the state Department of Health and Human Services cautions that this is “a last resort.”

    “A person like this just falls through the cracks,” Botts said.

    In June, a judge ordered Edge to stay away from Simmons. Simmons told AP he did not want to talk about his former friend.

    Behind bars, Edge hasn’t been idle.

    About three weeks after the shooting, he filed a handwritten notice of appeal after a federal judge dismissed his civil rights lawsuit against the FBI, U.S. Department of Justice, several local law enforcement agencies and a charity that helps veterans.

    On lined notebook paper, he wrote, without further context: “Recent events, ‘Self defense’ against ‘White Supremacist Pedophiles’ directly related to this case.”

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

     

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Catch the dazzling Leonid meteor shower

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    The Leonid meteor shower is one of the most famous and historically significant celestial events, occurring every November, with tons of meteors available to view.

    What You Need To Know

    • Meteors appear to radiate from a point within the constellation Leo

    • Best viewing hours are between midnight and dawn
    • The Leonids are known to feature fast-moving meteors



    We’re lucky enough to witness this celestial show from now until Nov. 20. This meteor shower is caused by Earth’s passage through the dusty trail left behind by the comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. This small comet orbits the Sun roughly every 33 years, creating a river of cosmic stardust in its wake.

    How to see the shower

    The best time to look is typically in the hours after midnight and before dawn when the constellation Leo climbs highest in the eastern sky. The shower is active throughout this month, but its peak usually occurs around Nov. 18. Below is a forecast loop of cloud cover through early morning of the 21st. 

    For optimal viewing, find a location far from city lights, lie flat on your back, and simply look up, allowing about 30 minutes for your eyes to adapt to the dark. 

    Science behind the shower

    The Leonids are renowned for their exceptional speed, clocking in at around 158,000 mph, making them one of the fastest annual meteor showers. This high velocity directly results from the comet’s orbit, going around the Sun in the opposite direction to Earth.

    Because the comet’s debris hits our atmosphere nearly head-on, the resulting flashes are typically bright and leave behind glowing trails or produce colorful fireballs. These meteors appear brighter than the brightest stars and the planet Venus.

    Even in a typical year, when observers might see a modest rate of 10 to 20 meteors per hour, the sheer intensity of the Leonids ensures a captivating display.

    Why this shower is so special

    The Leonids are in a class of their own among other meteor showers for the sheer volume of meteors to see. While most meteor showers are consistent year over year, the Leonids are capable of bursts of activity where the rate of visible meteors skyrockets to over 1,000 per hour.

    This phenomenon occurs approximately every 33 years, coinciding with the comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle’s closest approach to the Sun. During these rare events, Earth passes through a particularly dense, fresh debris field. Historically, these storms have been awesome, with the 1833 and 1966 events being among the most famous, where meteors “fell like rain.”

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Nathan Harrington

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  • Catch the dazzling Leonid meteor shower

    [ad_1]

    The Leonid meteor shower is one of the most famous and historically significant celestial events, occurring every November, with tons of meteors available to view.

    What You Need To Know

    • Meteors appear to radiate from a point within the constellation Leo

    • Best viewing hours are between midnight and dawn
    • The Leonids are known to feature fast-moving meteors



    We’re lucky enough to witness this celestial show from now until Nov. 20. This meteor shower is caused by Earth’s passage through the dusty trail left behind by the comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. This small comet orbits the Sun roughly every 33 years, creating a river of cosmic stardust in its wake.

    How to see the shower

    The best time to look is typically in the hours after midnight and before dawn when the constellation Leo climbs highest in the eastern sky. The shower is active throughout this month, but its peak usually occurs around Nov. 18. Below is a forecast loop of cloud cover through early morning of the 21st. 

    For optimal viewing, find a location far from city lights, lie flat on your back, and simply look up, allowing about 30 minutes for your eyes to adapt to the dark. 

    Science behind the shower

    The Leonids are renowned for their exceptional speed, clocking in at around 158,000 mph, making them one of the fastest annual meteor showers. This high velocity directly results from the comet’s orbit, going around the Sun in the opposite direction to Earth.

    Because the comet’s debris hits our atmosphere nearly head-on, the resulting flashes are typically bright and leave behind glowing trails or produce colorful fireballs. These meteors appear brighter than the brightest stars and the planet Venus.

    Even in a typical year, when observers might see a modest rate of 10 to 20 meteors per hour, the sheer intensity of the Leonids ensures a captivating display.

    Why this shower is so special

    The Leonids are in a class of their own among other meteor showers for the sheer volume of meteors to see. While most meteor showers are consistent year over year, the Leonids are capable of bursts of activity where the rate of visible meteors skyrockets to over 1,000 per hour.

    This phenomenon occurs approximately every 33 years, coinciding with the comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle’s closest approach to the Sun. During these rare events, Earth passes through a particularly dense, fresh debris field. Historically, these storms have been awesome, with the 1833 and 1966 events being among the most famous, where meteors “fell like rain.”

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Nathan Harrington

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  • Funeral to be held Monday for WakeMed officer killed in line of duty

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    Funeral services for WakeMed Officer Roger Smith will be held Monday, Nov. 17, officials announced on Friday.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Officer Roger Smith was killed in the line of duty on Saturday, Nov. 8

    •  Smith was shot during a struggle, officials said, at WakeMed Garner Healthplex

    •  The suspect has been arrested and charged with murder, officials said

    • A memorial service will take place Monday, Nov. 17, at noon in Raleigh, N.C., followed by interment in Clayton, N.C.


    The service will start at noon at Providence Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. 

    Smith’s casket will be taken by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol’s Caisson Unit, starting at 10:45 a.m., down Glenwood Avenue from Mitchell Funeral Home to Providence Church.

    Following the service, Smith will be buried at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Clayton, N.C., officials said.

    A visitation will be held on Sunday, Nov. 16, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Mitchell Funeral Home at Raleigh Memorial Park, according to Smith’s obituary.

    Smith, 59, served as an officer with WakeMed Campus Police for 14 years.

    He was shot and killed on the morning of Saturday, Nov. 8, while on duty. Officials say the shooting happened during a struggle at the WakeMed Garner HealthPlex.

    The suspect has been arrested and charged with murder, officials said.

    Authorities have not released many details as to what led up to the shooting. The Garner Police Department and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation are investigating.

    “He will be remembered for his compassion, his dedication to others, his kind smile, his friendship and his heroism,” WakeMed Health and Hospitals said in a statement earlier this week. “Officer Smith lost his life while protecting the lives of others – and we will forever remember and honor his memory.”

    A spokeswoman for WakeMed Health and Hospitals said there will be a memorial in Smith’s honor soon.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

     

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    Justin Pryor

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  • Immigration enforcement arrests begins in Charlotte, officials confirm

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    Federal officials confirmed Saturday that a surge of immigration enforcement in North Carolina’s largest city has begun, as agents were seen making arrests in multiple locations.

    “Americans should be able to live without fear of violent criminal illegal aliens hurting them, their families, or their neighbors,” Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. “We are surging DHS law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed.”

    What You Need To Know

    •  Federal immigration agents began a large enforcement action in Charlotte Saturday

    •  Agents made several arrests, including in front of news crews as the operation began

    •  The Border Patrol operation was met by protests in the Queen City

    •  Immigration officials said they made 81 arrests in Charlotte on Saturday


    Local officials including Mayor Vi Lyles criticized such actions, saying in a statement that they “are causing unnecessary fear and uncertainty.”

    “We want people in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County to know we stand with all residents who simply want to go about their lives,” the statement said. It was also signed by Mecklenburg County Commissioner Mark Jerrell and Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board member Stephanie Sneed.

    There were several protests in the Queen City Saturday and more protests are planned in Raleigh and Charlotte Sunday.

    Federal agents arrested 81 people Saturday, Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino said in X Sunday morning. 

    Crime is down in the city this year through August, compared with the same months in 2024. Homicides, rapes, robberies and motor vehicle thefts fell by more than 20%, according to AH Datalytics.

    But President Donald Trump’s administration has seized upon the fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light-rail train to argue that Democratic-led cities fail to protect residents. A man with a lengthy criminal record has been charged with the woman’s murder.

    Enforcement begins after rumors

    The federal government had not previously announced the push. But County Sheriff Garry McFadden said this week that two federal officials told him Customs agents would be arriving soon.

    Charlotte is a racially diverse city of more than 900,000 residents, including more than 150,000 who are foreign-born, according to local officials.

    Willy Aceituno, a 46-year-old Honduran-born U.S. citizen, was on his way to work Saturday when he saw “a lot of Latinos running,” chased by “a lot of Border Patrol agents.”

    Aceituno said he himself was stopped — twice — by Border Patrol agents. During the second encounter, they forced him from his vehicle after breaking the window and threw him to the ground.

    “I told them, ‘I’m an American citizen,’” he told The Associated Press. “They wanted to know where I was born, or they didn’t believe I was an American citizen.”

    After being forcibly taken into a Border Patrol vehicle, Aceituno said, he was finally released after showing documents proving his citizenship. He had to walk some distance back to his car and later filed a police report over the broken glass.

     

    Spokesperson Paola Garcia of Camino, a bilingual nonprofit serving families in Charlotte, said she and her colleagues have observed an increase in stops by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents since Friday.

    “Basically what we’re seeing is that there have been lots of people being pulled over,” Garcia said.

    Greg Asciutto, executive director of the community development group CharlotteEast, said via email that the “significant border patrol activity” was seen Saturday.

    “Most have been extremely quick, targeted arrests; others have been them ‘fishing,’” Asciutto said.

    An encounter in a front yard

    In east Charlotte, two workers were hanging Christmas lights in Rheba Hamilton’s front yard in the morning when two Customs and Border Patrol agents walked up. One tried to speak to the workers in Spanish, she said. They did not respond, and the agents left without making arrests.

    “This is real disconcerting, but the main thing is we’ve got two human beings in my yard trying to make a living. They’ve broken no laws, and that’s what concerns me,” said Hamilton, who recorded the encounter on her cellphone.

    “It’s an abuse of all of our laws. It is unlike anything I have ever imagined I would see in my lifetime,” the 73-year-old said.

    Amid reports of the crackdown, she had suggested the work be postponed. But the contractor decided to go ahead.

    “Half an hour later, he’s in our yard, he’s working and Border Patrol rolls up,” she said. “They’re here because they were looking for easy pickings. There was nobody here with TV cameras, nobody here protesting, there’s just two guys working in a yard and an old white lady with white hair sitting on her porch drinking her coffee.”

    Some businesses close

    JD Mazuera Arias, who was elected to the City Council in September, was among a group standing watch outside a Latin American bakery in his east Charlotte district.

    Another bakery nearby closed for fear of the crackdown, he said, showing the harm to livelihoods and the economy.

    “This is Customs and Border Patrol. We are not a border city, nor are we a border state. So why are they here?” he said. “This is a gross violation of constitutional rights for not only immigrants but for U.S. citizens.”

    Asciutto said many businesses in his part of town were closed and “We’re brainstorming ways to keep them afloat, as we don’t know how long this is going to last.”

    The Trump administration has defended unprecedented federal enforcement operations in cities like Los Angeles and Chicago as necessary for fighting crime and enforcing immigration laws.

    Some in North Carolina welcomed the blitz. Mecklenburg County Republican Party Chairman Kyle Kirby said Democratic officials “have abandoned their duty to uphold law and order” and are “demonizing the brave men and women of federal law enforcement.”

    “Let us be clear: President Trump was given a mandate in the 2024 election to secure our borders,” Kirby said in a statement. “Individuals who are in this country legally have nothing to fear.”

    But several hundred people protested Saturday in a Charlotte park.

    Democratic Gov. Josh Stein said the previous day that the vast majority of people detained in such operations have no criminal convictions, and some are citizens. He urged people to record any “inappropriate behavior” and notify local law enforcement.

    The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has emphasized that it is not involved in federal immigration enforcement.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Border Patrol official says dozens arrested in N.C. enforcement surge

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    A top Border Patrol commander touted dozens of arrests in North Carolina’s largest city on Sunday as Charlotte residents reported encounters with federal immigration agents near churches, apartment complexes and stores.

    The Trump administration has made the Democratic city of about 950,000 people its latest target for an immigration enforcement surge it says will combat crime, despite fierce objections from local leaders and downtrending crime rates.

    Gregory Bovino, who led hundreds of U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in a similar effort in Chicago, took to X to document a few of the more than 80 arrests he said agents had made. He also posted a highly-edited video of uniformed CBP officers handcuffing people.

    “From border towns to the Queen City, our agents go where the mission calls,” he posted on X, referring to Charlotte.

    The effort was dubbed “Operation Charlotte’s Web” as a play on the title of a famous children’s book that isn’t about North Carolina.

    Some welcomed the intervention, including Mecklenburg County Republican Party Chairman Kyle Kirby, who said in a post Saturday that the county GOP “stands with the rule of law — and with every Charlottean’s safety first.”

    Fear and many questions

    The flurry of activity prompted fear and questions, including where detainees would be held, how long the operation would last and what agents’ tactics — criticized elsewhere as aggressive and racist — would look like in North Carolina. On Saturday, at least one U.S. citizen said he was thrown to the ground and briefly detained.

    At Camino, a nonprofit group that offers services to Latino communities, some said they were too afraid to leave their homes to attend school, medical appointments or work. A dental clinic the group runs had nine cancellations on Friday, spokesperson Paola Garcia said.

    “Latinos love this country. They came here to escape socialism and communism, and they’re hard workers and people of faith,” Garcia said. “They love their family, and it’s just so sad to see that this community now has this target on their back.”

    Bovino’s operations in Chicago and Los Angeles triggered lawsuits over the use of force, including widespread deployment of chemical agents. Democratic leaders in both cities accused agents of inflaming community tensions. Federal agents fatally shot one suburban Chicago man during a traffic stop.

    Bovino, head of a Border Patrol sector in El Centro, California, and other Trump administration officials have called their tactics appropriate for growing threats on agents.

     

    Bovino posted pictures Sunday of people the Trump administration commonly dubs “criminal illegal aliens,” meaning people living in the U.S. without legal permission who allegedly have criminal records. That included one of a man with an alleged history of drunk driving convictions.

    “We arrested him, taking him off the streets of Charlotte so he can’t continue to ignore our laws and drive intoxicated on the same roads you and your loved ones are on,” Bovino said.

    Residents report activity at churches and apartment complexes

    The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees CBP, did not respond to inquiries about the Charlotte arrests. Bovino’s spokesman did not return a request for comment Sunday.

    Elsewhere, DHS has not offered many details about its arrests. In the Chicago area, the agency only provided names and details on a handful of its more than 3,000 arrests in the region from September to last week. U.S. citizens were detained during several operations. Dozens of protesters were arrested.

    By Sunday, reports of CBP activity around Charlotte were “overwhelming” and difficult to quantify, Greg Asciutto, executive director of the community development group CharlotteEast, said in an email.

    “The past two hours we’ve received countless reports of CBP activity at churches, apartment complexes and a hardware store,” he said.

    City council member-elect JD Mazuera Arias said federal agents appeared to be focused on churches and apartment buildings.

    “Houses of worship. I mean, that’s just awful,” he said. “These are sanctuaries for people who are looking for hope and faith in dark times like these and who no longer can feel safe because of the gross violation of people’s right to worship.”

    DHS says so-called sanctuary policy plays a role in Charlotte operation

    Two people were arrested during a small protest Sunday outside a DHS office in Charlotte and taken to a local FBI office, said Xavier T. de Janon, an attorney who was representing them. He said it remained unclear what charges they faced.

    DHS said it was focusing on North Carolina because of so-called sanctuary policies, which limit cooperation between local authorities and immigration agents.

    Several county jails house immigrant arrestees and honor detainers, which allow jails to hold detainees for immigration officers to pick them up. But Mecklenburg County, where Charlotte is located, does not. Also, the city’s police department does not help with immigration enforcement.

    DHS alleged that about 1,400 detainers across North Carolina had not been honored, putting the public at risk.

    “We are surging DHS law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.

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    Associated Press

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  • ‘Cloak of secrecy’: Charlotte leaders in the dark about Border Patrol deployment

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    Charlotte leaders voiced their frustration with the lack of communication with federal officials about the Border Patrol’s impending deployment to the Queen City.

    What You Need To Know

    • Local and state officials in Charlotte condemned U.S. Customs and Border Patrol’s lack of transparency about its plan to come to the city 

    • Reports circulated Wednesday that federal immigration agents operating in Chicago would move to Charlotte

    • The reports were not confirmed until Thursday when Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden said he received confirmation from Border Patrol personnel 
    • Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools sent an email to parents Thursday night about how the school system will handle agents’ presence in the city, Board of Education member Liz Monterrey Duvall said 


    “This has just not been a transparent process overall, and none of us stand for it,” Aisha Dew, State House Representative for District 107, said Friday morning.

    There were reports Wednesday that the federal agents stationed in Chicago would move to Charlotte to continue enforcing the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration.

    “This isn’t a request that came from Mecklenburg County for assistance or for help,” County Commission Chair Mark Jerrell said. “And so, we don’t understand what the plan is.”

    “Everything has been veiled in this cloak of secrecy,” he said.

    In a separate statement, Gov. Josh Stein asked people to “stand with our neighbors” and be peaceful. 

    “Public safety is the top priority for all of us in government — that means fighting crime, not stoking fear or causing division. We should all focus on and arrest violent criminals and drug traffickers. Unfortunately, that’s not always what we have seen with ICE and Border Patrol Agents in Chicago and elsewhere around the country.  The vast majority of people they have detained have no criminal convictions, and some are American citizens,” the governor said. 

    “I want to encourage North Carolinians to remember our values. We follow the law. We remain peaceful. We do not allow ourselves to be provoked. We stand with our neighbors. And when we see injustice, we bear witness. If you see any inappropriate behavior, use your phones to record and notify local law enforcement, who will continue to keep our communities safe long after these federal agents leave. That’s the North Carolina way,” Stein said.

    The Trump administration’s “Operation Midway Blitz” in the Chicago area was announced in early September, over the objections of local leaders and after weeks of threats on the Democratic stronghold.

    It started as a handful of arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in the suburbs but eventually included hundreds of Customs and Border Protection agents whose tactics grew increasingly aggressive. More than 3,200 people suspected of violating immigration laws have been arrested across Chicago and its many suburbs dipping into Indiana.

    Democrats have accused the federal agents of using unnecessary force and creating a climate of fear. 

    “Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and what we have seen the border patrol and ICE agents do in places like Chicago and Los Angeles — using excessive force in their operations and tear gassing peaceful protestors — threatens the wellbeing of the communities they enter,” U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, a Democrat who represents the Charlotte area, said on social media.

    A top Border Patrol leader responded Friday to Stein and Adams.

    “Immigrants rest assured, we have your back like we did in Chicago and Los Angeles,” Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino said on X. “Rep. Adams, perhaps you & Gov. STEIN should learn the difference between an illegal alien & an immigrant. Illegal aliens have NO PLACE in our communities and should self deport via CBP Home.”

    Bovino has ties to North Carolina, having completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees at universities in the state’s western mountains.

    Many of the local leaders at a press conference in Charlotte on Friday issued a statement of solidarity Wednesday addressing the rumors about the agency’s deployment that were unverified at the time.

    “More than 150,000 foreign-born residents live in our city, contributing billions to our economy and enriching every neighborhood with culture, hard work and hope,” it read, adding: “We will stand together, look out for one another, and ensure that fear never divides the city we all call home.”

    The rumors were confirmed by the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office Thursday.

    “Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry L. McFadden was contacted by two separate federal officials confirming that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel will be arriving in the Charlotte area as early as this Saturday or the beginning of next week,” the sheriff’s office said in a release.

    The sheriff’s office said federal officials have not shared details of what CPB will do in the Queen City and has not asked the office for help.

    Charlotte leaders said they have already begun receiving reports of what appeared to be plainclothes officers in neighborhoods and on local transit.

    “This is some of the chaos that we also saw in Chicago,” state Sen. Caleb Theodros, who represents Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, said Thursday.

    Some of the federal operations were carried out near schools in Chicago.

    Duvall, the school board member, said that Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools sent an email to parents Thursday night about how the school system will handle agents’ presence in the city.

    She said the policies and procedures have also been posted on the board’s website.

    “We have tons of resources there available to the public, and if you have any other questions, please reach out directly,” she said. 

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

     

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    Caroline King, Associated Press

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  • QBs in spotlight as Panthers, Falcons look for more help from passing game

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    ATLANTA (AP) — Carolina’s Bryce Young and Atlanta’s Michael Penix Jr. delivered identical somber messages following disappointing performances in losses last week: “I’ve got to be better.”

    The quarterbacks are in the spotlight as the Panthers and Falcons seek more balanced offense in the renewal of their NFC South rivalry on Sunday.

    The Panthers (5-5) and Falcons (3-6) share similar stories of frustration in recent seasons. Each team is looking to snap a streak of seven consecutive losing seasons and reach the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

    Each team is counting on its young quarterback to spark a turnaround, but the 2025 results have been mixed as the running games have been more reliable for Atlanta and Carolina. Penix and Young rank 21st and 25th, respectively, in passing yards.

    Falcons second-year coach Raheem Morris is facing increased pressure as last week’s 31-25 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Berlin left Atlanta with a four-game losing streak. Morris knows criticism is part of his job, but he has spoken more this week about his concern about Penix “being so hard on himself” after completing only 12 of 28 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown against the Colts.

    Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said patience is needed with young quarterbacks.

    “Knowing how difficult this game is, knowing the immense pressure that goes into that position, being the franchise quarterback, all the different expectations that come with young quarterbacks, we can obviously jump on these guys super early in their career and not even give them a chance to develop,” Robinson said.

    Relying on the run

    Each team has relied on deep running games. Carolina’s Rico Dowdle ranks third in the league in rushing and has support from Chuba Hubbard. The Falcons counter with Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. Robinson, also productive as a receiver out of the backfield, ranks third in the league in scrimmage yards.

    Low point for Penix

    Penix has thrown only three interceptions this season. Two picks came in an ugly 30-0 loss at Carolina on Sept. 21, including one returned for a touchdown by Chau Smith-Wade. Penix completed only 18 of 36 passes for 172 yards and former starter Kirk Cousins took over in the fourth quarter with the Falcons trailing 27-0.

    Penix promised the Falcons will be more competitive.

    “Obviously if you look back at that game, they had success in that game,” Penix said. “So, maybe they do show some of the same things that they did in that game, but we will be ready for every look. We’ll definitely make it a better game than what we did last time.”

    Protecting Young

    The Panthers were held to 175 total yards in last week’s 17-7 home loss to the one-win New Orleans Saints. Young had just 124 yards passing and turned the ball over twice. The Saints stuffed the box on defense to stop Dowdle and forced Young to beat them. Young couldn’t, but it wasn’t all his fault.

    The No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL draft spent most of the day on the run as the Saints were able to get pressure up the middle, disrupting the timing of several pass plays.

    Panthers coach Dave Canales has similar concerns this week facing the Falcons, who come in tied for fifth in the league with 29 sacks, including seven last week. Rookies Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. have helped boost the pass rush.

    “At the end of the day, they got some talented guys, and they got some young speed on the edges,” Canales said.

    Speak for yourself

    Linebacker Nic Scourton said on Sunday the Panthers may have taken the Saints lightly. The rookie’s comments didn’t sit too well with Canales, who said he’d prefer those comments stay in-house.

    Canales added that the Panthers looked sharp in practice Wednesday.

    “It’s a learning opportunity to say, OK, for our guys, speak for your own performance,” Canales said. “If you want to make a general comment about, hey, when we lose, we’re upset, we’re disappointed. But the specific part of it that we can do a better job of just keeping those things within us and the stuff that we talk about.”

    Stopping Bijan

    The Panthers defense shut out the Falcons the first time around. Carolina cornerback Mike Jackson knows duplicating that effort on Atlanta’s home field will take another stellar performance.

    Robinson had 13 carries for 72 yards and six catches for 39 yards but was held out of the end zone. Robinson’s No. 7 jersey will be the focus for the defense.

    “We just played good clean defense, we got a couple of turnovers,” Jackson said. “I feel like we just kind of disrupted their timing. We have to contain No. 7. It all starts with No. 7.”

    ___

    AP Sports Writer Steve Reed contributed to this report.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Associated Press

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  • Hornets snap losing streak with 111-100 win over Bucks as Bridges scores 20

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Miles Bridges scored 20 points, Ryan Kalkbrenner had 17 points on 8-for-8 field goal shooting, and the Charlotte Hornets snapped a three-game losing streak on Wednesday night with a 111-100 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, who played without Giannis Antetokounmpo.

    Collin Sexton and Kon Knueppel had 16 points apiece for the Hornets.

    Ryan Rollins led the Bucks with 25 points on 10-for-15 shooting, going 4 for 6 on 3-pointers. Myles Turner had 21 points. Kyle Kuzma, who was shooting 55.3% from the field and was coming off a season-high 26 points against Dallas, was limited to eight points on 3-for-12 shooting.

    Antetokounmpo, a two-time NBA MVP, sat out with left knee patellar tendinopathy but is expected to return for the rematch with the Hornets on Friday night in Milwaukee.

    The Hornets took the lead with 3:52 remaining in the first quarter and did not trail again. The Hornets led 59-50 at halftime.

    The Hornets were 23 of 27 from the free throw line compared to 8 of 13 for the Bucks. The Hornets also outrebounded the Bucks 50-34.

    Charlotte played without LaMelo Ball (right ankle impingement) and Brandon Miller (left shoulder subluxation).

    Up next

    The same two teams play again Friday night in Milwaukee.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Associated Press

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  • Border Patrol heads to Charlotte, Mecklenburg County sheriff confirms

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    Agents with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol plan to deploy to Charlotte as soon as this weekend, according to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.

    What You Need To Know

    • Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden says he has confirmation that U.S. Customs and Border Patrol personnel are planning to come to Charlotte

    • Reports circulated Wednesday that federal immigration agents operating in Chicago would move to Charlotte 

    • The sheriff’s office and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department say they are not involved in any activities that Customs and Border Protection might be planning in the city

    • Activists, faith leaders, and local and state officials in the city have been preparing the immigrant community, sharing information about resources and trying to calm fears

    There were reports Wednesday that the federal agents stationed in Chicago would move to Charlotte to continue enforcing the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration.

    “Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry L. McFadden was contacted by two separate federal officials confirming that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel will be arriving in the Charlotte area as early as this Saturday or the beginning of next week,” the sheriff’s office said in a release.

    The sheriff’s office said federal officials have not shared details of what CPB will do in the Queen City and has not asked the office for help.

    “We value and welcome the renewed collaboration and open communication with our federal partners,” McFadden said in a news release. “It allows us to stay informed and be proactive in keeping Mecklenburg County safe and to maintain the level of trust our community deserves.”

    Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin declined to comment, saying, “Every day, DHS enforces the laws of the nation across the country. We do not discuss future or potential operations.”

    President Donald Trump has defended sending the military and immigration agents into Democratic-run cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and even the nation’s capital, saying the unprecedented operations are needed to fight crime and carry out his mass deportation agenda. Charlotte is another such Democratic stronghold, and the state will have one of the most hotly contested U.S. Senate races in the country next year.

    Activists, faith leaders, and local and state officials in the city had already begun preparing the immigrant community, sharing information about resources and attempting to calm fears. A call organized by the group CharlotteEAST had nearly 500 people on it Wednesday.

    “The purpose of this call was to create a mutual aid network. It was an information resource sharing session,” said City Councilmember-Elect JD Mazuera Arias.

    “Let’s get as many people as possible aware of the helpers and who the people are that are doing the work that individuals can plug into, either as volunteers to donate to or those who are in need of support can turn to,” said CharlotteEAST executive director Greg Asciutto.

    The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department also sought to clarify its role, saying it “has no authority to enforce federal immigration laws,” and is not involved in planning or carrying out these enforcement operations.

    Mazuera Arias and others said they had already begun receiving reports of what appeared to be plainclothes officers in neighborhoods and on local transit.

    “This is some of the chaos that we also saw in Chicago,” state Sen. Caleb Theodros, who represents Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, said Thursday.

    Theodros was one of several local and state officials who issued a statement of solidarity this week.

    “More than 150,000 foreign-born residents live in our city, contributing billions to our economy and enriching every neighborhood with culture, hard work, and hope,” it read, adding: “We will stand together, look out for one another, and ensure that fear never divides the city we all call home.”

    Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol chief who led Customs and Border Protection’s recent Chicago operation and was also central to the immigration crackdown in Los Angeles, had been coy about where agents would target next.

    The Trump administration’s “Operation Midway Blitz” in the Chicago area was announced in early September, over the objections of local leaders and after weeks of threats on the Democratic stronghold.

    It started as a handful of arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in the suburbs but eventually included hundreds of Customs and Border Protection agents whose tactics grew increasingly aggressive. More than 3,200 people suspected of violating immigration laws have been arrested across Chicago and its many suburbs dipping into Indiana.

    The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees both immigration agencies, has offered few details on the arrests, aside from publicizing a handful of people who were living in the U.S. without legal permission and had criminal records.

    The group Indivisible Charlotte and the Carolina Migrant Network will be conducting a training for volunteers on Friday.

    “Training people how to recognize legitimate ICE agents, versus obviously those who don’t look legitimate,” said Tony Siracusa, spokesman for Indvisible Charlotte. “They’re not always wearing vests that say ‘ICE.’ And what your rights are.”

    The groups will also discuss areas where they can conduct “pop up protests.”

    “Obviously, we’re not doing anything that is going to encourage people to go get arrested by federal agents,” he said.

    Siracusa said locals are “not freaking out, but very definitely concerned. Nobody asked for this help. Nobody asked for this, at least no one of any official capacity.”

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

     

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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