North Carolina
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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Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
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HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Fire crews are responding to a brush fire near Howard Gap Road in Hendersonville on Friday evening.
The fire is across the street from the Ebenezer Baptist Church and near the Highlands Square Shopping Center.
Henderson County Fire Marshal Glen Gillette said crews are fighting “blowdown from Helene.”
NEW WILDFIRES IGNITE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA FOREST AMID WORSENING DROUGHT
Around 11 p.m., the fire appears larger than it did an hour ago because crews are backburning, which refers to using fire to help control the wildfire.
Dana Fire Department Chief Jimmy Womack said that what was a 3-acre fire an hour ago will be an 8-acre fire due to back burning. He said the fire is 80% contained.
Womack said the cause of the fire is unknown, but one of the conditions contributing to the blaze is the Helene blowdown.
“There’s a lot of blowdown in these woods behind us. That’s what creates most of the problem,” said Womack.
Womack said there has been no property damage and no injuries have been reported for this fire in the woods that 24 personnel are fighting. They got the call to arrive at 6:05 p.m.
LOCAL NEWS
Dana Fire and Rescue and Henderson County Fire Department are supporting the U.S. Forest Service with this fire.
Glen said no structures are threatened at this time and Howard Gap Road is closed.
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This story will be updated as new information is discovered.
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