North Carolina
Hantavirus symptoms, treatment, risk factors in North Carolina
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — After actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico home, investigators have revealed their cause of death.
Hackman appeared to have died from a heart disease with Alzheimer’s as a contributing factor. Investigators believe he died about a week after his wife passed away. She died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
Dr. David Weber from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said hantavirus is a rare disease that is more commonly found in the southwestern part of the United States. He said roughly 850 cases of the disease have been reported in the last 20 years.
Dr. Nicholas Turner from Duke University said he’s only aware of one case of hantavirus confirmed in North Carolina in that time, adding that the disease is carried by rodents like deer mice, voles and rats.
“What happens is their droppings can contaminate the dust or fecal matter of these mice and when that gets stirred up and people breathe it in, that’s when we catch the disease,” Turner said.
Despite the disease being rare, the symptoms are relatively common.
“They start off with things like fatigue, fever, muscle aches, and after several days, about half will go on to develop headache, dizziness, chills, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, and some of them will then go on to develop the pulmonary syndrome of cough and congestions and filling up the lungs, fill up with fluid,” Weber said.
The early symptoms of hantavirus can be quite similar to a more common disease in North Carolina.
“The beginnings of Flu A and hantavirus would look very similar, it’s worth reminding people that in North Carolina, Flu A is going to be far and away the most common cause of those symptoms,” Turner said, adding that sometimes doctors in North Carolina will test for hantavirus if the patient has recently traveled to the southwest and stayed somewhere mice might be more common, like cabins.
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Both doctors confirmed that there isn’t a specific treatment or vaccination available for hantavirus, but that doctors can typically treat the symptoms if patients seek treatment early enough.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that if hantavirus progresses to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, about 38% of people end up dying from the disease.
Weber maintains that people in North Carolina should not be worried much about hantavirus, instead, he said measles should be a big concern on the minds of North Carolinians, adding that it’s something he’s “really concerned” about.
Texas just reported the first death from measles in a decade, in an unvaccinated child without underlying conditions. A possible second death is now being reported in an unvaccinated child in New Mexico. Weber warns that our immunization levels across the country, particularly in private schools, fall below the levels needed for us to lack concern about spreading outbreaks.
“It’s not a question of if you’ll see measles, it’s a question of when, and this is because of less people getting immunized,” Weber said.
To learn more about hantavirus, click here.
To learn more about measles, click here.
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North Carolina
Businesses worry of potential impacts as Marion tightens water restrictions amid drought
MARION, N.C. (WLOS) — The City of Marion is tightening water restrictions as drought conditions persist across western North Carolina, prompting local businesses to prepare for possible impacts on daily operations.
The drought monitor released on Thursday, May 14, shows that extreme drought now covers 90% of western North Carolina.
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As the region continues moving into a hotter and drier pattern, the City of Marion officials announced Stage Two water shortage restrictions less than a month after issuing a Stage One Water Advisory.
Businesses in Marion said the quick escalation is raising concerns about what could come next if drought conditions persist.
“They put us in stage one at the end of April and already it’s not through, it’s not the end of May and they’re already putting us in stage two,” said Barbara Brown, owner of Bruce’s.
Under the Stage Two restrictions, watering lawns, gardens and golf courses will be prohibited. Washing cars, filling residential swimming pools and serving water in restaurants except upon request will not be allowed.
Brown said her restaurant is already taking steps to conserve water.
“We check the bathrooms often to make sure people have turned the water off because we have found from time to time, people leave them running,” she added.
She said she worries stronger restrictions could eventually force businesses to make bigger operational changes.
“I’m concerned that eventually we might have to go to paper plates, paper cups, silverware,” Brown said.
Other businesses are also considering adjustments.
Kat Garner, a tattoo artist at Blue Ridge Tattoo, said water shortages could affect how the shop operates day to day.
LEADERS URGE WATER CONSERVATION AS DROUGHT DEEPENS ACROSS WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
“We would definitely be reduced to using distilled water for everything, which would become harder if everyone’s buying it out, so that would definitely make things a little bit more difficult,” Garner said.
The Stage Two water restrictions are set to begin Friday, May 15, at 8 a.m. and will last until further notice.
North Carolina
Police: North Carolina man charged after high-speed chase in Erie County, arrested in the Town of Perry
PERRY, N.Y. — A North Carolina man is in custody after a chase that started in Erie County and ended with an arrest in Perry.
Wyoming County Sheriff’s deputies say Ericson Vasquez-Moran, 22, rammed a Border Patrol vehicle in Erie County around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday before taking off. The suspect was spotted in Warsaw on Route 20A, but a chase was called off due to high speeds.
Then around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, deputies say Vasquez-Moran called 911 from Perry to surrender.
He’s charged with speeding, failure to keep right, unlawful fleeing a police officer, reckless driving, and reckless endangerment in the second degree.
Vasquez-Moran was given an appearance ticket for the Village of Warsaw Court and was released to the custody of the United States Border Patrol.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — After nearly two hours of public comment, the Asheville City Council unanimously denied a proposed affordable housing complex off Caribou Road—despite the city’s ongoing housing crisis.
The proposal, submitted by developer Pennrose, would have brought 100 affordable housing units to a nearly 10-acre site in the Shiloh neighborhood.
“I’m going to vote against affordable housing tonight, and that’s not a norm for me,” said Asheville City Councilmember Sage Turner.
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News 13 asked Vice Mayor Antanette Mosely why the city would deny this project amid a housing crisis in Asheville.
She said, in a statement, “I absolutely believe Asheville needs more affordable housing, and I have consistently supported housing projects across the city. But not every site is appropriate for every project.”
Residents who opposed the project said they were not against affordable housing itself, but believed the development was too large for the area.
MAY 13, 2026 – The Asheville City Council unanimously denied a proposed affordable housing complex off Caribou Road—despite the city’s ongoing housing crisis. (Photo credit: WLOS Staff)
“The access is too narrow, there was only one access point, the streets are too narrow, we’ve got a big problem with traffic here,” said Shiloh resident Scott Raines.
“Perhaps the only thing that I consider as a dead stop for affordable housing is if people are going to be injured or possibly die from the traffic that’s created,” Michael Boses, another resident, said.
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The Shiloh neighborhood, established in 1870, is one of Asheville’s last historically Black communities. Several council members said preserving the area’s legacy factored into their decision.
“My vote for no is because I feel hyper protective of our legacy neighborhoods, I feel hyper protective of Shiloh,” Turner said.
Pennrose responded to the denial in a statement, saying: “While we are disappointed in the Council’s decision concerning the rezoning application at Caribou Road, we respect the community’s interest in preserving the character of legacy neighborhoods.”
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