704 Unfiltered

The pain of families who lost loved ones to violent crime was front and center Monday as Congress held a field hearing at the federal courthouse in Uptown Charlotte.

The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight convened the hearing, titled “Victims of Violent Crime,” to examine repeat offenders, lenient bail policies, and whether the criminal justice system is failing victims.

The session came just weeks after 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, was stabbed to death on Charlotte’s Blue Line light rail. Zarutska fled a war-torn country only to be killed in her new community. It's a tragedy that lawmakers repeatedly referenced during testimony.

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/violent-crime-congressional-hearing-in-charlotte/275-fae52629-d746-48ec-a851-e5bf052a2f62 

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Eleven people, including seven juveniles, were taken into custody in relation to the fatal shooting of a 9-year-old in Pageland, the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office said. 

Deputies responded to a shooting at a convenience store parking lot along Highway 9 on Sunday morning.

"We extend our deepest condolences to the family affected by this heartbreaking tragedy," Sheriff Cambo Streater said. “This case has deeply impacted our community. Our investigators have worked tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice. We remain committed to ensuring that every individual connected to this senseless act is held accountable.”  

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/9-year-old-killed-in-pageland-convenience-store-parking-lot-shooting/275-1bde684e-15b0-4356-a48f-8a9b28d0a4f5 

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A year after the floodwaters of Helene tore through Boone, signs of recovery can be seen across the High Country. But for many residents, the memories and the struggles remain fresh.

When Helene hit last September, water rushed into homes, businesses, and apartment complexes. Among the hardest hit was the Bavarian Village Apartments, where residents were forced to evacuate as water rose quickly, sweeping away cars, furniture, and in some cases, entire lives.

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/hurricane/helene/one-year-helene-boone-residents-working-rebuild/275-45c81844-c8e5-41ec-a3e1-b3b8249ad9e0

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It’s been one year since Helene tore through the High Country, leaving behind a path of destruction that many families are still struggling to recover from. For John Randall, a longtime Avery County resident, the storm left behind more than $100,000 worth of damage to his home. But he said a last minute decision may have saved his life.

Randall, who has lived on his property near Newland for 20 years, remembers the warnings the day before the storm. He and his neighbor chose to accept a friend’s offer to ride it out farther up the mountain.

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/hurricane/helene/avery-county-man-last-minute-decision-hurricane-helene/275-55c03664-ceac-4925-846f-8f87e8272498

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A sign outside the PackRats surplus store on Main Street in Newland reads “29 years 3 floods we are still here.” It comes after Hurricane Helene struck a year ago.

“We had seen some storms, but nothing ever like that,” a smiling Julie Vernable said. “I was standing in waist deep waters, wasn’t expecting that.”

One year ago, the water came. Not a gentle rise of the river, but a vengeful surge of brown, silt-choked fury, sent down from the mountains by the remnants of Hurricane Helene. It poured into the low-lying parts of Newland, Avery County, a place where people lived and worked for generations, trusting the land beneath their feet.

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/hurricane/helene/newland-packrats-reopens-western-north-carolina/275-e3f500f0-bfff-4fdf-975d-fecba23c7da9

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Nearly one year after Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, businesses in Boone are rebuilding but face a challenging path to full recovery, with many still struggling economically despite the area's resilient appearance.

The storm struck at the worst possible time for the region's tourism-dependent economy, hitting just before the biggest push of the year. Many businesses were still recovering from COVID-19 impacts when rising floodwaters washed away their progress.

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/hurricane/helene/long-road-to-recovery-boone-north-carolina-businesses/275-a803ea14-ff74-4dd2-8589-ca68c3110de6

WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  
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One year after the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene brought tourism to a sudden halt in western North Carolina, the mountain town of Blowing Rock is beginning to breathe again.

The storm, which struck in late September 2024, caused widespread landslides, downed trees, and left much of the Blue Ridge Parkway impassable. Hotels, restaurants, and trailheads were shuttered for weeks — some for months — as emergency crews worked around the clock to restore access and safety to one of North Carolina’s most beloved travel destinations.

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/hurricane/helene/blowing-rock-rebounds-one-year-helene/275-c836a149-c646-41fd-b32d-ed9797cff002

WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  
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North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein announced Thursday he will meet with the family of Iryna Zarutska, the 23-year-old victim of a fatal stabbing on the Charlotte light rail system.

Decarlos Brown, 34, is charged with killing the Ukrainian refugee on Aug. 22 on the LYNX Blue Line in South End. Brown was arrested and charged with murder after the incident and was indicted earlier this week. He also faces a federal charge prosecutors said could result in the death penalty.

When asked about the city's response to the stabbing, Stein said he was happy that Charlotte was increasing security on public transit.

"I think everybody wishes we'd been more on our toes and local government had been more on its toes," Stein said. "I'm gratified that the local government has surged law enforcement and safety officials on the transit system."

The announcement came as the General Assembly prepares to reconvene Monday, with lawmakers expected to immediately introduce and vote on legislation aimed at preventing similar crimes.

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/stein-to-meet-iryna-zarutska-family-charlotte-light-rail-stabbing-investigation/275-0c21a6d4-a4f4-4e72-919c-d99b92c2a50a

A child was shot and killed in the Steele Creek neighborhood early Wednesday, Medic said.  

It happened around 6 a.m. on Cigar Court. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers responded to the area after reports of a stolen black Dodge Charger, then learned shots had been fired into a home. Officers found the child who had been shot, and Medic confirmed he died at the scene. 

While authorities have not identified the victim beyond being under 18, neighbors told WCNC Charlotte the victim was a 4-year-old boy who was in his bed sleeping at the time of the shooting.

A source has confirmed to WCNC Charlotte that four arrests have been made in the case.

LATEST: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/steele-creek/victim-steele-creek-deadly-shooting-under-18/275-54807949-2d28-47ca-b89a-0e21f2f50133

WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  
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All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

The fatal stabbing of a passenger on Charlotte’s Lynx Blue Line light rail has triggered a citywide -- and national -- conversation that’s reaching deep into the political sphere. With the November election approaching, and a major sales tax proposal on the ballot, crime and public safety are quickly becoming defining issues in the Queen City.  

The attack occurred on Aug. 22, when 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was fatally stabbed while riding the light rail. Authorities say the suspect, Decarlos Brown Jr., acted without provocation. Tuesday, a grand jury returned a murder indictment for Brown. 

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/fallout-light-rail-stabbing-impact-charlotte-political-sphere/275-4a6af9c7-1034-4db6-8ac5-dda5132d86dd

WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart

All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.