McCrory signs "911 Good Samaritan" bill into law

Submitted by John Cominsky on Wednesday, April 10th, 10:59 am

RALEIGH, NC (WBTV)- North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory signed a bill into law Tuesday that aims to encourage drug overdose witnesses to seek help for the victims, rather than fear getting into trouble.

Senate Bill 20 (SB20), Good Samaritan Law/Naloxone Access , or simply the "911 Good Samaritan" laws, go into effect immediately. Lawmakers hope they will reduce drug overdose fatalities in North Carolina, by providing limited criminal immunity from prosecution charges for less than one gram of drugs or paraphernalia to people who call 911 to report an overdose.

The immunity also applies to underage drinkers who seek help for alcohol poisoning. In North Carolina, more than half of drug overdoses occur in the presence of another person, yet in most cases, officials say witnesses are afraid to call for help for fear of police and criminal repercussions for drug possession.

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Fish Consumption Advisory released for Lake Norman

Submitted by John Cominsky on Tuesday, April 9th, 7:49 pm

LAKE NORMAN, NC (WBTV)- The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health has issued a fish consumption advisory for striped bass and largemouth bass in Lake Norman in Mecklenburg, Iredell, Lincoln, and Catawba Counties.

Elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were found in striped bass that exceeded the state action level for PCBs of 0.05 mg/kg. Because, officials say, previous studies have shown that largemouth bass in all waters of North Carolina have elevated levels of mercury, this advisory for Lake Norman includes largemouth bass as well as striped bass.

DHHS is recommending that pregnant women, nursing women, women who may become pregnant, and children under the age of 15 should not eat any striped bass or largemouth bass from Lake Norman.

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Gas prices falling, despite spring travel demand

Submitted by Brigida Mack

Tuesday, April 9th, 2013, 5:47pm

Gas prices falling, despite spring travel demand

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- If you have filled up at the pump lately, you've probably noticed there's not as much sticker shock. Gas prices have actually been going down.

This despite spring travel demand when prices usually rise.

But Tanda Misenheimer of Charlotte finds it hard to believe gas prices have been steadily dropping over the past couple of months.

"Well they see the difference, we don't," she said.

Even with the drop in prices, Tanda says it's still tough on her household budget.

"You can't go put five dollars like you used to in my day and get a half a tank of gas,"she said. "You can't do that now. You're putting $20 and $30 in now just to get a half a tank of gas."

But prices have been falling steadily after peaking at $3.80 a gallon in February. They are down 24 cents since then, an unusual trend says Angela Daley with AAA Carolinas.

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BI-LO hosts 4th Annual "Feed the Love" campaign to help needy families and their pets

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff

Tuesday, April 9th, 2013, 5:42pm

BI-LO hosts 4th Annual "Feed the Love" campaign to help needy families and their pets

BI-LO is committed to helping the community and its customers receive the resources they need to care for the ones they love during tough financial times. BI-LO’s care extends beyond the reach of just individuals and family members to also include beloved household pets.

Beginning today Tuesday, April 9, and lasting until Tuesday, April 30, BI-LO will host its fourth annual PAWS “Feed the Love” campaign. “Feed the Love” is a pet food drive in which food donations go to local-area food banks for families in need to be able to provide food for the four-legged members of their families.

Shoppers can purchase a $5 bag of pet food with the MY BI-LO BONUSCARD, and the food will be picked up by or delivered to the store’s food bank partner.

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Second chance means $3 million win for Lincoln County woman

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff

Tuesday, April 9th, 2013, 5:15pm

Second chance means $3 million win for Lincoln County woman

Emily Stone, a physician assistant from the town of Denver in Lincoln County, has won the largest second-chance prize in N.C. Education Lottery history: $3 million.

“I’m just overjoyed,” Stone said when she found out she won. “This is an amazing prize.”

Second-chance drawings are a feature of some instant scratch-off games, allowing players to enter their non-winning tickets online for another chance to win. Stone’s winning entry was randomly selected from a total of 276,119 made in the Holiday Millions second-chance drawing, held on April 3.

Stone had the option of claiming the $3 million prize in annual installments of $150,000 over the next 20 years, or a one-time cash payment of $1.8 million. Stone took the cash option, worth $1,224,000 after taxes.

“I am going to pay off all my debt, that’s the first thing I’m going to do,” she said.

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Mecklenburg County had second-highest domestic violence deaths in NC last year

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff

Tuesday, April 9th, 2013, 12:45pm

Mecklenburg County had second-highest domestic violence deaths in NC last year

A total of 122 North Carolinians lost their lives in domestic violence murders in 2012, an increase of 16 from the previous year, Attorney General Roy Cooper announced Tuesday.

"I have great concern about this increase," Cooper said. "It's clear that North Carolina must do more to stop domestic abuse before it turns deadly."

Under a state law enacted in 2007, law enforcement agencies are required to report domestic violence related homicides yearly to the State Bureau of Investigation.

Of the 2012 murders, 78 of the victims were female and 44 were male. The murders were committed by 104 male offenders and 18 female offenders.

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McCrory to overhaul Commerce Dept.

Submitted by Melissa Hankins

Monday, April 8th, 2013, 5:47pm

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory announced a plan Monday that will essentially privatize major elements of the state's job creation efforts.

New legislation will create a separate nonprofit corporation to spearhead economic development for the state, including the design of incentive packages used to lure companies.

McCrory also said that a board of directors, chaired by McCrory himself, will oversee this new nonprofit corporation.

The board is designed to lessen worries about the reform.

Critics question whether a private organization should distribute publicly funded incentive packages.

But new Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker has said that she views her department as the sales and marketing arm of the state and that she needs a leaner, faster, more nimble organization.

McCrory says this new approach will deliver that, though he does admit the change will come with controversy.

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