North Carolina

NC high schoolers’ access to loaded weapons

Published

12 months ago

April 4, 2025

NC high schoolers’ access to loaded weapons

NEW BERN, N.C. (WITN) – After a string of shootings in the past few weeks in New Bern, it’s drawing attention to the access young people have to guns.

NC S.A.F.E., with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS), shared data on social media from a report that found nearly 30% of high schoolers within the state say they could access a loaded weapon within an hour without permission, leaving one parent in New Bern worried.

“That makes me want to homeschool my child whenever she’s even able to go to school. I mean, hearing about all of the shootings and everything is really concerning,” says New Bern resident Alexis Branham.

Even for the New Bern Police Department, hearing the data came as a shock.

“It’s definitely a percentage too high in my opinion,” says SGT. Joseph Leggett.

It’s adding another layer of concern surrounding young people and their access to guns, a topic taking center stage after five shootings in the past three weeks in New Bern.

Police say they are mostly involved people between the ages of 15 to 25.

“We have seen juveniles and teenagers in possession of firearms. Most of the time, they’re getting them because they’re not secured or locked,” says SGT. Leggett.

New Bern Police say that gun owners, especially those who are parents, should safely store their guns by using safes or gun locks.

LazyK Cartridge Company gun store manager Kenneth Lipscomb says they try to help people who are turned away by the cost of gun storage by giving away gun locks to promote gun safety.

“Making sure that they [gun owners] understand that these are yours, not theirs. Once again, if they’re yours, have them locked up in a place that they can not access. When you have it out freely and about and anyone can access it, you’re not showing that it’s yours,” says Lipscomb.

More than 60,000 gun locks were given away in 2024 by the NCDPS to promote gun safety.

New Bern Police say they will be holding a press conference Friday to discuss the issues. WITN will be present and will bring you the latest.

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North Carolina

North Carolina decision on coach Hubert Davis’ future is reportedly coming next week

Published

10 hours ago

March 21, 2026

Press Room

North Carolina decision on coach Hubert Davis’ future is reportedly coming next week

North Carolina is picking up the pieces after a heartbreaking March Madness loss to VCU. The Tar Heels blew a 19-point lead, allowing the sixth-largest comeback in NCAA tournament history, including the largest the first round has ever seen.

They’ve now bowed out of the tournament’s Round of 64 in back-to-back years, and questions are swirling about the job security of head coach Hubert Davis.

Those won’t be answered until early next week, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

“The future of Hubert Davis at North Carolina right now is squarely in flux in the wake of these back-to-back, first-round NCAA tournament exits,” Thamel reported on Saturday. “The sides are expected to talk in the upcoming days, and no decision on Davis’ future is expected until early next week.
“Do not expect Davis to be fired outright. Any kind of departure would be synchronized, likely between he and the school. Hubert Davis is a legend at North Carolina and will be treated with that type of respect.”
Thamel added: “The options here are simple: Keep Davis with significant changes to the staff and program or orchestrate some type of wholesale change to the coaching staff and bring in a whole new regime.”

In other words, even if Davis stays, staff changes are expected.

Outgoing UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham, who will be replaced by Steve Newmark when Cunningham steps down from his role this summer, reportedly told Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman that he and other administrators are in the process of evaluating the men’s basketball program.

“Every year at the end of the season, it’s important to evaluate all facets of the program and look for ways to improve,” Cunningham said, per Goodman. “The Chancellor, Steve and I are doing that together now and will continue to have discussions over the coming days.”

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North Carolina

North Carolina vs. Western Illinois – First round NCAA tournament extended highlights

Published

22 hours ago

March 21, 2026

Press Room

North Carolina vs. Western Illinois – First round NCAA tournament extended highlights

Women’s Basketball

March 20, 2026

North Carolina vs. Western Illinois – First round NCAA tournament extended highlights

March 20, 2026

Watch the highlights from No. 4 North Carolina and No. 13 Western Illinois’ matchup in the first round of the 2026 women’s NCAA tournament.

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North Carolina

Spruce Pine equestrian estate sells for record $4.1 million

Published

2 days ago

March 20, 2026

Press Room

Spruce Pine equestrian estate sells for record .1 million

An expansive equestrian estate in Spruce Pine has sold for $4.1 million, the highest residential sale on record in Mitchell County, according to Premier Sotheby’s International Realty.

Located on 68 acres west of downtown Spruce Pine, 1987 Rabbit Hop Road sold March 16, taking the equestrian compound off the market. The property had been listed for sale in mid-2025 for over $4.2 million, according to Zillow.

Developed as an equestrian compound, the estate features a main residence, a six-stall heated barn with a tack room and studio apartment, an indoor riding arena, an outdoor riding track and an RV and horse trailer storage area. The main residence features three bedrooms, 3,000 square-feet of living space and vaulted wood ceilings.

The property is located at elevations between 2,500 and 3,000 feet, according to Premier Sotheby’s International Realty. Properties of the size and scale of the estate are “extremely limited,” Premier Sotheby global real estate advisors Leslie Young and Cheryl Cenderelli said in a March 19 news release.

Western North Carolina’s luxury real estate market has remained relatively strong in recent years, as more luxury homes list across the region. In Buncombe County, not including the city of Asheville, 99 homes were listed above $1.5 million at the end 2025, according to Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty’s 4th quarter of 2025 market report. It represented an estimated 11.5 months of inventory.

The most expensive home in Buncombe County is Deerhaven Gardens, which is currently listed for $15.9 million on Zillow, down from its $34 million listing in 2023. With a 5% down payment and a 30-year loan term at 6.22% fixed-rate mortgage, one would pay $104,881 a month to rent the property, according to Rocket Mortgage’s loan calculator.

Will Hofmann is the growth and development reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com or message will_hofmann.01 on Signal.

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