Republican Senate Majority Leader Paul Newton announced his resignation from the North Carolina Senate, effective Wednesday evening, creating a leadership vacancy as the Senate enters a busy legislative period

Newton, 64, is stepping down to pursue an opportunity outside of state government, according to a statement from Senate Republicans.

His specific plans have not been disclosed, according to the Associated Press.

“It has been an honor of a lifetime to serve the people of Cabarrus County for nearly a decade,” Newton said in his statement.

Senate leader Phil Berger praised Newton as a “valued voice and leader” who “provided a calm presence and wise counsel to many legislators during his time in Raleigh.”

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Newton’s departure means that Republicans in the 34th Senate District will select someone to fill his seat through the end of 2026. Additionally, Senate Republicans will need to convene to choose a new majority leader.

As majority leader, Newton played a significant role in enacting laws that extended conservative tax policies, removed the three-day grace period for mail-in absentee ballots, and set greenhouse gas reduction mandates on electric power plants operated by Duke Energy.

Newton, a former Duke Energy state president, joined the Senate in 2017 and was elected by his GOP colleagues to the majority leadership post after the 2022 elections.

The Senate’s bill-filing deadline was Tuesday, and the Senate aims to approve a two-year state government budget proposal next month.

Newton’s resignation marks a significant change in the North Carolina Senate’s leadership as the legislative body prepares for an intense work period.

The selection of his successor will be crucial in shaping the Senate’s future direction.

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KINSTON, N.C. (WBTV) – A Charlotte man and two others were in critical condition after he allegedly shot at multiple Amazon vans and crashed head-on into a car in eastern North Carolina this past weekend.

The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office said the man, 34-year-old Lonneil Cordarius Mason, shot into three Amazon vans in Kinston, N.C. on Sunday, March 23. The first two vans were on C.F. Harvey Parkway near Kinston Regional Jetport, while the third happened on Highway 11.

Deputies said none of the Amazon drivers were hurt, but investigators found bullet holes left by .45-caliber and AR-15 pistols. One of the shots fired went through a van’s passenger door.

Just minutes after Mason allegedly shot into the vans, deputies said he drove up the wrong side of Highway 11. Deputies said he hit three vehicles. The first vehicle lost a mirror, the second was hit head-on by Mason, and the third vehicle was a truck towing lawnmowers.

The sheriff’s office said two females were in the car that Mason hit head on, and both of them and Mason were taken to the hospital. All three were said to have been in critical condition as of Sunday evening.

After the crash, deputies said .45 and AR-15 pistols were found, along with cocaine and fentanyl in Mason’s car and on him.

Mason is facing a list of charges related to Sunday’s chaos. Those offenses are listed below:

• Three counts of attempted first degree murder
• Three counts of shooting into occupied property
• Possession of a firearm by a felon
• Possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule I controlled substance

The sheriff’s office said more charges could come later.

Deputies said Mason previously served more than 11 years in prison after he was convicted of second-degree murder and breaking and entering following a 2007 incident. Records showed he was convicted of those crimes in Mecklenburg County.

The Lenoir County sheriff called Sunday’s shootings and crash “tragic” and said his office did not yet know why Mason shot at the Amazon vehicles.

Anyone who witnessed or has information about the events was asked to call Lenoir County Communications at 252-559-6118.

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A North Carolina man decided to take a more creative approach to tackling a persistent bear problem in his backyard by putting on a cartoony bear costume and, somehow, successfully scaring the unwelcome ursid away.

Video footage captured a man in Asheville, bravely approaching a ferocious-looking black bear in his own brown bear costume that more closely resembled a college mascot.

The man emerges from the side, attempting a mock prowl while slowly approaching the wild animal.

With caution thrown into the wind, the costumed man kept inching forward bit by bit, even growling at the black bear.

Before he got too close, the black bear appeared to have been spooked. It scampered away, but not before pausing at the edge of the property to stare down his faux counterpart before giving up and making its way back into the woods.

The black bear had been spotted multiple times on the property, and the residents were fed up and decided to take matters into their own hands.

Bears tend to have seemingly erratic responses to challenges in their path.

In July, a black bear and her cub opted to tear a car to pieces in Connecticut when they somehow became trapped inside the vehicle.

Meanwhile, in New York, brown bears demonstrated a type of fearlessness that speaks against any sort of survival instinct as they pranced across a frozen pond.