Officials At Fort Bragg Report 5 Travel-Related Zika Cases
A spokeswoman at Fort Bragg says there have been five travel-related cases of the Zika virus confirmed since June at the North Carolina Army post.
Spokeswoman Elizabeth Gerhart said Tuesday the five cases involved service members or retired military members who traveled outside the U.S., and none has experienced any Zika-related complication. Gerhart said none of the cases involved pregnant women.
Gerhart said there are no indications that the cases pose threats to the local population. She said the cases do serve as a reminder for people to protect themselves against mosquito bites.
Police Treating Clown Reports As No Joke
Law enforcement officials are treating a recent flurry of creepy clown sightings seriously.
Suspicious clown activity has been reported in Walkertown, Winston-Salem and Greensboro.
The sightings first surfaced two weeks ago in Greenville, South Carolina.
According to the News and Record of Greensboro, police have found no evidence of clown activity, but are treating each report seriously, and warning parents to remind children to be cautious of strangers.
The Reuters news agency suggested the sightings could be connected to the release of “31”, a horror movie featuring a gang of sadistic clowns. A preview of the film screened Thursday night in Greenville, S.C.
Cooper: Reaching Education Goals Wouldn't Mean Higher Taxes
North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper says his public education proposal — including getting school teacher pay to at least the national average — wouldn't require raising taxes.
The Democratic nominee for governor has been critical of corporate and individual income tax cuts approved by Republican Gov. Pat McCrory and the GOP-led legislature as public schools are still falling short with updated textbooks and equipment.
But Cooper told The Associated Press in an interview Tuesday he wouldn't seek to restore these taxes to the previous higher rates. He says his education goals can be reached, including tuition-free community college, with current funds as long as education is given a priority.
Charlotte Pastor Keeps Job After Holding Same-Sex Marriage
A United Methodist Church pastor in Charlotte will keep her job after performing a same-sex marriage at her church earlier this year.
The Charlotte Observer reports that the Rev. Val Rosenquist will not face a church trial for performing the ceremony, either.
Rosenquist married John Romano and Jim Wilborne in April.
The Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church said Tuesday that what is known as a "just resolution" had been reached in the case involving Rosenquist.
Church rules forbid its pastors from performing same-sex marriages.
Lead Found In Water At 2 Harnett County Schools
Officials in Harnett County say slightly elevated levels of lead have been found in the water at two elementary schools.
School officials say that bottled water is being provided to students at Erwin Elementary and Benhaven Elementary.
Officials said the slightly elevated lead levels were found in several places in the buildings but not in the kitchens.
Erwin Elementary was built in 1926 and upgraded in 1948. Benhaven was built in 1924 and upgraded in 1936 and 1948.
Officials said since they learned of the test results they've flushed the water system on days after weekends and holidays. They've also removed some water fountains and sinks and replaced them with water dispensers and hand-washing stations.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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