Climate-driven flooding poses well water contamination risks
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Experts say more intense storms driven by climate change are boosting contamination risks for privately owned drinking water wells. While estimates vary, studies say roughly 53 million U.S. residents rely on private wells that draw groundwater. Flood waters pick up bacteria and other contaminants that can seep into wells and cause illnesses. Tests have detected elevated levels of E. coli in some wells after Hurricane Harvey and other major storms. Even ordinary rainfall can be a threat. Private wells are largely unregulated and many owners don’t regularly test their water. Scientists say regular sampling and simple maintenance can help protect those who drink well water.
FORMER TEACHER-SEX CRIMES
Ex-teacher sentenced to at least 50 years for sex crimes
ELIZABETHTOWN, N.C. (AP) — A former North Carolina middle school band teacher has been sentenced to up to 60 years in prison after his conviction for sex crimes with children. News outlets report Peter Frank. who taught at Roland-Grise Middle School in New Hanover County, was sentenced on Tuesday. He was convicted on May 17 of multiple charges, including statutory sex offense with a person 13, 14 or 15 years old. It took the Bladen County jury less than 30 minutes to return a verdict. The judge in the case said some of Frank’s sentences would be served concurrently.
MAN ATTACKED-COOKING OIL
Police: Woman poured hot cooking oil on disabled cousin
THOMASVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Police in North Carolina say a woman poured hot cooking oil on her cousin while he was sleeping, leaving him severely burned. The High Point Enterprise reports 32-year-old Andrew Kirby, called the Thomasville Police Department early Monday. Officers arrived at a house to find Kirby sitting outside in his wheelchair pleading for help. Police say he had third-degree burns on his head and upper torso. According to police, Keeva Dawn Carlton left the house before police arrived, but officers found her at a shopping center and arrested her. She’s charged with assault on a disabled person inflicting serious injury and jailed on a $25,000 secured bond.
EX TREASURER-EMBEZZLEMENT CHARGE
Ex-church treasurer charged with embezzling over $150K
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Police in North Carolina say a former church treasurer has been charged with embezzling more than $150,000 from a church over seven years. The Winston-Salem Journal reports 72-year-old Jane Carol Davis has been charged with eight counts of felony embezzlement. Winston-Salem police began investigating after board members of Covenant Presbyterian Church went to the police in November. Police say fraud unit investigators found that Davis had embezzled a total of $156,118 from Covenant between 2014 and October 2021. Davis was jailed on a $250,000 unsecured bond and assigned a public defender during a court appearance on Tuesday.
ILLEGAL FIREARMS-CONVICTED FELON
North Carolina man sentenced to prison for illegal firearms
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison and three years of supervised release for his conviction on charges of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. U.S. Attorney Michael Easley says Edward Shaquille Alford of Lumberton was indicted last July on two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Easley says that on March 9, Alford entered a guilty plea to a single count. Alford was previously convicted of robbery with a dangerous weapon and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
CHILD ABUSE-TWO CHARGED
North Carolina couple accused of child abduction, abuse
STANFIELD, N.C. (AP) — Authoirities say a North Carolina couple is facing several charges following an investigation into allegations of child abduction and sexual battery. The Stanly County Sheriff’s Office says in a news release that an investigation focused on “multiple allegations” of illegal activity at a home in Stanfield. After several search warrants were executed, the sheriff’s office filed eight charges against Marissa Grace Bolton, including misdemeanor child abuse, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile and sexual battery. The sheriff’s office also charged Alois James Bolton with felony conspiracy and abduction of a child
FOREVER CHEMICALS
5 years into GenX probe, new NC gov’t action plan unveiled
WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and his environmental chief have unveiled a new strategy to address further efforts to reduce and remedy a broad category of “forever chemicals” like GenX in water sources. Cooper and Environmental Quality Secretary Elizabeth Biser visited Wilmington on Tuesday to chronicle state government’s efforts so far to address discharges like those from a Chemours Co. plant in Bladen County and what’s ahead. GenX ended up in the Cape Fear River, the drinking water sources for several hundred thousand people in southeastern North Carolina. A state investigation of the pollution began five years ago this month.
TROOPER SHOOTS DRIVER-NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina patrol releases video of fatal shooting
A video released by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol shows a motorist had a gun in his hand when he stepped out of a truck during a traffic stop and was fatally shot by a state trooper. Trooper Rodney Cook, a 16-year veteran of the patrol, shot and killed 21-year-old Mark Anthony Diaz of Staley on May 30. Cook has been placed on routine administrative duty during an internal investigation. The full video provided by the patrol is nearly 37 minutes long, and includes a shorter version which has subtitles describing the incident and pausing the action multiple times to focus on the gun Diaz was holding.
