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Meteorologists Confirm Multiple Tornadoes In North Carolina
The National Weather Service has confirmed tornadoes have struck in several locations across North Carolina.
The weather service office in Blacksburg, Virginia, said on its Twitter page Thursday that survey teams confirmed an EF-2 tornado crossed into Yadkin County from Davie County. In Yadkin County, the storm cause heavy damage to a gymnasium at an elementary school.
A survey team from the weather service office in Greer, South Carolina, confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down southwest of Monroe in Union County. The team found damage to a few structures, including a barn that had its sides and most of its roof torn off.
The Greer survey team confirmed damage found in Iredell County was the result of a tornado. That team was also headed to Davie County.
Two Winston-Salem Boys Acquitted In Death Of 15-Year-Old
Two boys from Winston-Salem have been acquitted in the death of a 15-year-old boy.
Jose Angel Chegue Mendoza was shot on July 29, 2016 behind a church near his home.
The Winston-Salem Journal reports that two 12-year-old boys were charged with conspiracy to commit murder in Mendoza's death.
Their names haven't been released because they were juveniles. They couldn't be charged as adults because under North Carolina law juveniles must be at least 13 years old at the time of the offenses.
The boys were found not responsible Thursday after a four-day bench trial in Forsyth District Court.
House Budget Leaves Out Senate Spending Cuts
North Carolina House Republicans have unveiled large sections of their budget proposal that leave out several spending cuts proposed by the Senate in its budget bill passed two weeks ago.
House budget subcommittees met Thursday to discuss spending details covering things like public schools and universities, Medicaid, prisons and roads.
The House leaves out Senate budget provisions to cut funding for the Department of Public Instruction by 25 percent and the University of North Carolina law school by 30 percent. Plans by the Senate to eliminate more than 40 positions in the Department of Environmental Quality also were left out.
A Senate provision that could eliminate food stamps to more than 100,000 people also is absent.
Official: North Carolina Determined To Be Drought-Free
A state official says North Carolina is free of drought or dry conditions for the first time in more than a year.
Linwood Peele, acting chairman of the N.C. Drought Management Advisory Council, said Thursday that recent rainfall has brought relief statewide, particularly southwestern North Carolina. The last time the state enjoyed that status was March 2016.
Authorities Seize 358 Animals From North Carolina Poppy Site
Sheriff's deputies in North Carolina have confiscated hundreds of animals from the same property where they had pulled up 2,000 opium poppy plants a day earlier.
The Charlotte Observer reports that Catawba County deputies confiscated 358 chickens, dogs and cats on Wednesday after they were removed by the county's animal services. In addition to the live animals, officials found 40 dead animals in cages and pens.
The sheriff's office said Cody Xiong was arrested and charged with manufacture and trafficking by possession in connection with the poppy plants.
Move Over, Andy Hawkins: Elon Throws No-Hitter, Loses 1-0
Call it the oh-no-hitter.
Two Elon pitchers combined on a no-hitter Thursday, but the Phoenix lost 1-0 to the College of Charleston. The loss eliminated Elon from the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament and ended its season at 27-30.
Jordan Barrett and George Kirby combined to throw the first no-hitter in CAA Tournament history.
The lone run came after a rain delay in the fifth. Barrett walked two and hit a batter to load the bases, and Erven Roper scored on Bradley Dixon's groundout.
It was reminiscent of the no-hitter Andy Hawkins of the New York Yankees threw in 1990 — when he lost 4-0 to the Chicago White Sox.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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