Food Insecurity Persists In The Triad
A new report shows the Triad still has a long way to go to address food insecurity. Greensboro and Winston-Salem are both among the cities with the highest need.
According to the Food Research & Action Center report, the United States has made considerable progress in reducing food hardship since the height of the recession.
But the need is still high in the Triad.
Last year, Greensboro was rated the worst city in the nation for food insecurity. It inched upward slightly, to number nine.
The report says food assistance programs like SNAP are helping some families to make ends meet, but they only go so far.
Issues Remain At Winston-Salem Apartment Complex
City leaders in Winston-Salem say they're trying to address some major problems with the owners of a low-income housing complex.
Residents at Rolling Hills apartments say a litany of issues aren't getting addressed.
They've reported everything from mold, to sewage backup, to roach and bed bug infestations. And they say the property owner, a company called Aspen, isn't responding well enough.
City officials agree, saying even the quality of some recent repair work has not been up to code. Some families have even qualified for emergency relocation.
In a statement to WFDD, The Aspen Companies' legal counsel says the company is addressing all violations as quickly as possible, and has hired an outside contractor to help with repairs.
Dozens March In Charlotte Protesting Shootings Of Black Men
Dozens of people marched in two groups in Charlotte to protest police shootings of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota, hours before the shooting of 11 police officers in Dallas.
The first group met about 5 p.m. Thursday and marched to a park where they gathered to chant and share their feelings.
A second group marched about 10 p.m. and blocked some traffic in the uptown area, while chanting and holding signs.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Maj. Gerald Smith said officers coordinated with the first group to block intersections to allow them to march safely. Smith said it appeared the second group's goal was to shut down the streets. He did not know if the two groups were affiliated with each other.
No arrests were reported in either march.
Family Seeks Answers In Asheville Police Shooting Death
Relatives of a black man shot and killed by a white Asheville police officer are calling the man's death unjustified.
The family of 35-year-old Jai Williams spoke at a news conference Wednesday outside the Buncombe County courthouse, demanding more answers about the weekend shooting.
Authorities say Williams was fatally shot by Police Sgt. Tyler Radford after a police chase Saturday evening. Officials said Radford was in fear for his life after seeing Williams armed with an AR-15 rifle.
Williams' mother, Najiyyah Avery, described her son's death as "an unnecessary, unjustified shooting."
Charges Dismissed In Teen Sexting Case In North Carolina
Charges have been dismissed against a North Carolina teenager who once faced child porn charges for taking nude photos of himself.
The father of 18-year-old Cormega Zyon Copening confirmed to The Associated Press that the charges were dismissed Thursday. The Fayetteville Observer first reported the development.
The newspaper also reported the case against Copening's former girlfriend was dismissed in February.
The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office arrested the teens in February 2015 on felony charges of making and possession of child pornography, saying nude pictures were found on their phones.
Officials Arrest Suspect In Connection With Bomb Threats
Authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with nearly 400 bomb threats that were made in Catawba, Burke and Caldwell counties.
The Hickory Police Department said in a news release that officials arrested 27-year-old Cody Matthew Startt Wednesday in West Virginia on charges of felony probation violations for convictions related to prior bomb threats. Startt had been charged with felony counts of a false bomb report in a public building in May 2015.
The Hickory Daily Record reports that authorities haven't charged Startt in the most recent bomb threats. He is awaiting extradition to Catawba County.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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