BC-NC-VIRUS OUTBREAK-STATE GRANT

A million-plus North Carolina parents to receive $335 check

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — More than a million parents in North Carolina are receiving a $335 check from the state government to help offset costs during the coronavirus pandemic. The Raleigh News & Observer reported Monday that Extra Credit Grant for North Carolina is meant to help with expenses related to schools being closed for in-person instruction. The money comes from the federal government and was part of the CARES Act. But Republican leaders in North Carolina’s General Assembly came up with the idea. And it received support from most Democrats. Not every parent got a check. Some people who make too much money don’t get it. And people who didn’t make enough money to file taxes have to apply for it.

CHILD SHOT

Deputies: 5-year-old boy shot while riding car with family

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A 5-year-old boy has been hospitalized for a gunshot wound he suffered while riding in a car with family members in North Carolina. The Wake County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that the shooting happened Sunday night in Raleigh. Authorities say the family heard a “pop” before the child started to complain that his arm was hurting. The family then parked the car and discovered the child’s wound. He was then brought to a hospital for treatment. It’s not clear what led to the shooting.

AP-US-ONE-GOOD-THING-BAHAMAS-REBUILD

After Hurricane Dorian, a layup helped the Bahamas rebuild

Nathan Bain provided one of college basketball’s signature moments last season. His buzzer-beating layup in overtime gave unheralded Stephen F. Austin a stunning upset over Duke on Nov. 26. 2019. Duke was the No. 1 team in the country at the time and hadn’t lost a nonconference game on its home floor in nearly 20 years. But that became just a sliver of the story that night. Bain’s layup won a game — and rebuilt a home, rebuilt a school and rebuilt a church, all of it directly impacting the lives of hundreds of Bahamians whose lives were upended by Hurricane Dorian.

TEACHER DIVERSITY

N.C. watchdog agency critiques teacher diversity efforts

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina legislature’s government watchdog agency says the state lacks robust and specific statewide efforts to ensure greater racial and ethnic diversity among teachers in public schools. The Program Evaluation Division released on Monday its review of activities by officials and educator preparation programs to describe initiatives to attract and retain Black and Hispanic candidates for K-12 classrooms. The report’s authors say recent state initiatives either don’t explicitly target people of color or are too new or preliminary. The report recommends General Assembly action to promote diversity. Studies link teachers of color to improved scores and lower dropout rates among students of color.

BC-NC-EMPTY RAFT-SEARCH

Coast Guard suspends search prompted by empty life raft

BUXTON, N.C. (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for people after an empty raft was spotted off the shore of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Petty Officer Tara Molle said Monday that the Coast Guard called off its search on Friday evening. She said the raft appeared to be brand new and that there were not indications that it had been occupied. The Coast Guard also found no corresponding reports of missing people. The life raft was spotted one mile offshore of Buxton on Thursday. A Coast Guard aircrew had deployed a swimmer to observe the raft more closely. It was a six-man orange life raft with no visible marine growth or markings.

AP-NC-SEA TURTLE LAYS EGGS

On the Outer Banks, a sea turtle lays eggs unseasonably late

BUXTON, N.C. (AP) — A green sea turtle has laid eggs unseasonably late in the year on a beach in North Carolina’s Outer banks. The Virginian-Pilot reported Friday that it marks the first time in more than two decades that a turtle has laid a nest this far past summer. The eggs were laid Halloween morning near the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Female sea turtles typically lay nests during the warmer months. Nests laid after Aug. 20 are considered late. Meaghan Johnson of the National Park Service said that the baby turtles are unlikely to survive. But she said they could stand a chance if there’s a mild winter.

FATAL SHOOTING-CHURCH

Police: Man fatally shot outside North Carolina church

HIGH POINT, N.C. (AP) — Authorities say a man was fatally shot and a few other people suffered minor injuries during a shooting outside a church in North Carolina. High Point police said in a news release that officers responding to a call about the shooting found the victim dead outside Living Water Baptist Church in High Point on Sunday afternoon. Authorities have not revealed the man’s identity, pending notification of his family. It was not clear how many people were injured in the incident. Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact High Point police.

HELICOPTER CRASH

Helicopter crashes near Highway Patrol academy in Raleigh

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A helicopter belonging to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol has crashed near the agency’s training academy in Raleigh. No one was injured in the crash Sunday. Department spokesman Sgt. Chris Knox says the Highway Patrol pilot was the only person aboard the aircraft when the crash happened shortly after 2 p.m. near an intersection. The helicopter did not collide with any vehicles. Knox says the Federal Aviation Administration will be involved in the investigation. He says the aircraft appears to be a “total loss” based on initial observations. No other details of the crash were immediately available.