North Carolina
Police: Father accused of killing daughter in North Carolina intended to shoot girl’s mother
MAXTON, N.C. (WBTV) – A father accused of killing his daughter had intended to kill the girl’s mother, according to reports.
Sister-station WMBF said the fatal shooting happened Sunday afternoon on East Graham Street – just off Business 74 – in Maxton, which is a small town in Robeson and Scotland counties.
WMBF said that the father, 31-year-old Dedric Dewayne Page, shot into a vehicle with people inside and hit his 7-year-old daughter. The station reported that Maxton Police said Page had been targeting the girl’s mother.
The girl was taken to the hospital after shooting and later died there. Police said her name was Quazariya Williams.
Including the girl and her mother, police said there were five people in the car when Page opened fire.
Robeson County Jail records show that Page is facing several charges, which are listed below:
- First-degree murder
- Attempted first-degree murder
- Discharging firearm into occupied property
- Possession of a firearm by a felon
- Discharging a firearm in city limits
Records show he was denied bond and remains in custody.
Man accused of shooting, killing elderly relatives at North Carolina home
Copyright 2024 WBTV. All rights reserved.
North Carolina
Eric Church Sings 'Darkest Hour' for North Carolina Flood Victims at CMA Awards
Eric Church paid tribute to his home state of North Carolina and those affected by the flooding of Hurricane Helene with a performance of “Darkest Hour” at the 2024 CMA Awards.
Dressed in a black velvet blazer and accompanied by a choir (including longtime vocal foil Joanna Cotten), a horn section, and strings, Church delivered a grand version of the song, which he rush-released last month to help raise funds for disaster relief. “I’ll do everything in my power/To take even a minute off your darkest hour,” he sang in a falsetto on the CMAs stage.
Like the live version he played at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, the recorded version of “Darkest Hour,” which he released as the “Helene Edit,” features strings, a choir, and production by Jay Joyce. The song evokes the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Band, and the symphonic compositions of Queen or, more recently, the Verve. It’s rock opera from the Seventies, crossed with Church’s rough-hewn mountain country, all built on the skeleton of his talked-about Stagecoach headlining set.
On Tuesday night, Church played an intimate full-band concert at his Nashville bar Chief’s, which streamed live on SiriusXM. While the set featured his own hits like “How ‘Bout You,” “Homeboy,” and “Springsteen,” it was mostly an homage to Church’s influences: He sang covers by Bob Seger, the Band, Hank Williams Jr., and more, culminating with a reading of Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road.”
Church has pledged to sign over all royalties of “Darkest Hour,” in perpetuity, to the state of North Carolina, to further aid in rebuilding.
“‘Darkest Hour’ is a song dedicated to the unsung heroes, the people who show up when the world’s falling apart,” he said in a statement. “This is for the folks who show up in the hardest times, offering a hand when it’s most needed, and standing tall when others can’t. Even in your darkest hour, they come running. When the night’s at its blackest, this is for those who are holding the light, guiding the lost and pulling us through.”
North Carolina
North Carolina Supreme Court GOP Candidate Challenges 60K Ballots
As the recount in North Carolina’s state Supreme Court race gets underway, Republican candidate Jefferson Griffin is challenging the validity of tens of thousands of ballots statewide.
One of two Democrats on the seven-member high court, Associate Justice Allison Riggs, is locked into a tight race with appeals court judge Griffin (R). Griffin was leading on Election Day, but Riggs is ahead by roughly 625 votes.
On Tuesday, Griffin requested a recount. He also filed challenges to over 60,000 ballots, according to a release from the North Carolina Republican Party. The release said Griffin’s protests focus on “specific irregularities and discrepancies in the handling and counting of ballots, raising concerns about adherence to established election laws.”
“As North Carolinians, we cherish our democratic process. Protecting election integrity is not just an option—it’s our duty,” Griffin said. “These protests are about one fundamental principle: ensuring every legal vote is counted.”
A review of the challenges filed with the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) found that Griffin targeted ballots cast by people with prior felony convictions, ballots cast by people whose voter registration may be incomplete and absentee ballots cast by voters under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), a federal 1986 law that grants some U.S. citizens living overseas the right to vote. Before the election, the Republican National Committee tried but failed to block certain overseas ballots from being counted.
On X, Riggs said Tuesday that Griffin was “taking a tired page from the playbook of previous failed candidates.”
“He’s filed more than 300 protests to challenge 60,000 ballots across NC, in an attempt to disenfranchise voters,” she said. “My goal has always been to ensure that every voter’s voice is heard.”
On Monday, Griffin sued NCSBE over requests he made to the board for voting-related data. Griffin wanted the board to send him lists of “conflict voters” (voters suspected of casting a ballot in person and via absentee). He also asked for lists on how many voters have felony convictions. A board spokesman said the complaint was “unnecessary.”
Recounts began Nov. 20 and will be completed by Nov. 27, according to a Nov. 15 memo Executive Director Karen Brison Bell sent to county elections boards. Recounts are open to the public, the memo stated, and “any person may attend the recount,” including the candidates and the media. A NCSBE meeting was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
Read more about the challenges here.
North Carolina
Dark Horse Stages Unveils New Stages to Boost North Carolina’s Film Industry
Two brand-new 20,000-square-foot studios now compliment the studio’s existing 42,500 square feet of state-of-the-art production space, enhancing Wilmington’s vibrant film scene
WILMINGTON, N.C., Nov. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — In a grand opening event complete with legendary rock stars, politicians, film industry veterans, and more, Dark Horse Stages, one of North Carolina’s premier production studios, last week officially opened two brand-new sound stages, Stages 3 and 4, adding more than 40,000 square feet of state-of-the-art production space to Wilmington’s vibrant film scene. This significant expansion enhances the infrastructure supporting North Carolina’s film industry, already renowned as a traditional and reliable stalwart in the film space, with experienced production crews as well as stunning and diverse landscapes.
The event garnered more than 550 attendees, including industry leaders, state and local officials, and film professionals, underscoring Wilmington’s status as a key player in the film and television sector.
“We are committed to providing world-class facilities that enable creators to realize their visions,” said Kirk Englebright, President and CEO of Dark Horse Stages. “The turnout reflects the excitement surrounding our expansion and the bright future of film in North Carolina.”
Guests were treated to an unforgettable evening featuring live music, thrilling stunts, and special video messages of congratulations from North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Gov.-elect, Josh Stein, currently the state’s attorney general. Rock legend Dee Snider also made a special appearance, revealing plans to bring his production company, Defiant Artists, to North Carolina. To cap off the celebration, Snider electrified the crowd with a powerful performance of his iconic Twisted Sister anthem, “We’re Not Gonna Take It.”
For photos from the grand opening, click here.
For a video highlight from the event, click here.
For a video about Stages 3 & 4, click here.
*Photos should be attributed: Courtesy of Dark Horse Stages
“The expansion of Dark Horse Stages brings tremendous value to North Carolina’s film industry by enhancing our capacity to meet the diverse needs of today’s productions,” said North Carolina Film Office Director Guy Gaster. “The continued evolution of this outstanding facility elevates North Carolina’s appeal as a premier film destination to both major studios and independent filmmakers, alike, providing a modern and attractive entertainment hub that will foster creativity, efficiency, and true collaboration for years to come.”
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