(CBS NEWS) — Colgate-Palmolive is recalling 4.9 million bottles of Fabuloso all-purpose cleaner because of possible bacterial contamination.
The cleaners were sold at Dollar General, Family Dollar, The Home Depot, Sam’s Club, Walmart and other major retailers, as well as online at Amazon.com elsewhere, between December 2022 and January 2023. The manufacturer is recalling an additional 56,000 units sold in Canada.
The cleaners could be contaminated with Pseudomonas bacteria, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the manufacturer. Pseudomonas,which are present in soil and water, pose a threat to people with weakened immune systems, lung conditions or who use external medical devices, according to the CPSC.
No infections have been reported in connection with the recall, the CPSC said. Colgate-Palmolive is recalling the cleaners “because a preservative was not added at the intended levels during manufacturing. With inadequate preservative, there is a risk of bacteria growth in the recalled products,” the company said in a statement.
Buyers are asked to stop using the product and contact Colgate-Palmolive for a replacement or refund. Instructions for requesting a refund can be found at fabulosorecall.com.
The affected products and UPC codes are as follows:
| Lavender Scent | UPC # |
| Fabuloso® Original Multi-Purpose Cleaner, Lavender Scent, 16.9 OZ + 30% Free Bonus Pack (22 FL OZ) | 035000995025 |
| Fabuloso® Multi-Purpose Cleaner 2X Concentrated Formula, Lavender Scent, 56 FL OZ | 035000530325 |
| Fabuloso® Multi-Purpose Cleaner 2X Concentrated Formula, Lavender Scent, 128 FL OZ | 035000530585 |
| Fabuloso® Multi-Purpose Cleaner 2X Concentrated Formula, Lavender Scent, 169 FL OZ | 035000531223 |
| Fabuloso® Multi-Purpose Cleaner, Lavender Scent, 210 FL OZ | 035000531230 |
| Fabuloso® Professional All Purpose Cleaner & Degreaser, Lavender Scent, 1 GALLON | 035110043074 |
| Refreshing Lemon Scent | |
| Fabuloso® Original Multi-Purpose Cleaner, Refreshing Lemon Scent, 16.9 OZ + 30% Free Bonus Pack (22 FL OZ) | 035000995018 |
| Fabuloso® Multi-Purpose Cleaner 2X Concentrated Formula, Refreshing Lemon Scent, 33.8 FL OZ | 035000974716 |
| Fabuloso® Multi-Purpose Cleaner 2X Concentrated Formula, Refreshing Lemon Scent, 56 FL OZ | 035000470416 |
| Fabuloso® Multi-Purpose Cleaner 2X Concentrated Formula, Refreshing Lemon Scent, 128 FL OZ | 035000973542 |
| Fabuloso® Multi-Purpose Cleaner 2X Concentrated Formula, Refreshing Lemon Scent, 169 FL OZ | 035000969873 |
| Passion of Fruits Scent | |
| Fabuloso® Multi-Purpose Cleaner 2X Concentrated Formula, Passion of Fruits Scent, 33.8 FL OZ | 035000530981 |
| Fabuloso® Multi-Purpose Cleaner 2X Concentrated Formula, Passion of Fruits Scent, 56 FL OZ | 035000530301 |
| Fabuloso® Multi-Purpose Cleaner 2X Concentrated Formula, Passion of Fruits Scent, 128 FL OZ | 035000530608 |
| Fabuloso® Multi-Purpose Cleaner 2X Concentrated Formula, Passion of Fruits Scent, 169 FL OZ | 035000458162 |
| Spring Fresh Scent | |
| Fabuloso® Multi-Purpose Cleaner Bleach Alternative 2X Concentrated Formula, Spring Fresh Scent, 56 FL OZ | 035000530998 |
| Ocean Scent | |
| Fabuloso® Professional All Purpose Cleaner & Degreaser, Ocean Scent, 1 GALLON | 035110043739 |
The company noted that only some scents and formulations are being recalled, with Fabuloso Antibacterial products not affected.
(AP) — A city bus crashed into a day care center north of Montreal on Wednesday, killing two children and injuring six, authorities said. The driver was arrested and charged with homicide and careless driving.
A neighbor who ran to the center in Laval, Quebec, said she saw children screaming and crying and watched a mother collapse. Other panicked parents were diverted to a nearby elementary school as dozens of police and emergency vehicles swarmed the area.
Immediately after the crash, the driver stepped out of the bus, ripped his clothes off and started screaming, another neighbor said.
“He was just yelling; there were no words coming out of his mouth,” Hamdi Benchaabane said. The driver, he said, “was in a different world.”
The driver is 51, had worked for Societe de transport de Laval for 10 years, and had no criminal history and a clean work record, police officials and Laval Mayor Stéphane Boyer said at two separate news conferences.
“As of now, we don’t know the motive for the crime,” Police spokesperson Erika Landry said. She did not say why police determined the crash to be a homicide and didn’t release the driver’s name. Laval Police Chief Pierre Brochet said police are interviewing the driver.
“There is a theory that it was an intentional act, but that remains to be confirmed by the investigation,” Boyer said.
The day care is located at the end of a driveway off a cul-de-sac. There is a bus stop on the cul-de-sac, but the driver would have had to veer off the road and head down the long driveway to hit the building.
“There were no signs of skidmarks. …. He went directly into the day care,” said another eyewitness, Mario Sirois.
Sirois’ wife, Ginette Lamoureux, the neighbor who ran into the day care shortly after the crash, said the driver was hysterical.
“His eyes were like popping out,” she said.
The six children who were hospitalized had injuries that were not life-threatening, Brochet said.
A senior Canadian government official said the crash was not a terrorist act and did not pose a threat to national security. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
Benchaabane said he and three parents had to strike the driver in order to subdue him, before police cuffed him.
Brochet said officers at the scene were crying.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his office was “following the situation closely.”
Members of Parliament observed a moment of silence in Ottawa.
ELIZABETHTOWN, NC (WWAY) — The community is invited to a special celebration this month near Elizabethtown.
Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and the Elizabethtown-White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce are partnering up for a ribbon cutting celebration on February 17 at 2:00 p.m. to open a new bridge over the Jones Lake Drain in Turnbull Creek Educational State Forest.
Attendees should gather at the Jones Lake State Park visitor center parking lot by 1:45 p.m. for a short walk to the bridge site.
“We’re so excited about this project because the bridge opens a new one-mile section of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) in Bladen County, allowing additional hiking opportunities in the area and an opportunity for long-distance MST hikers to get off roads and onto hiking trails” said Sherri Seagover, with the Friends of the Mountain-to-Sea Trail.
The ribbon cutting will coincide with the Year of the Trail Festival in Bladen County the weekend of February 17th through 19th.
KURE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — A special game night is being held Wednesday evening at Front Street Brewery.
The Game Night Untamed: Love in the Animal Kingdom event was organized by the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher.
This date night will run from 7:00 pm. until 9:00 p.m. for partners 21 and up who want to test their animal love knowledge.
The cost for the two-people-per-team admission is $25 with all proceeds supporting North Carolina Aquariums’ conservation initiatives.
“Game night inspires healthy competition while raising awareness about different species in a way that competitors will absolutely love,” unique experiences coordinator Gail Lemiec said. “If you’re looking for the perfect date night or friends’ night out, this checks all the boxes—romance, fun, and a good cause.”
Space is limited for the event. Reservations for Love in the Animal Kingdom are available HERE.
PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — If you have a ‘crappy’ ex, the Pender County Humane Society wants to hear from you.
For a $5 donation, the organization is letting anyone submit the name of their ex to be placed at the bottom of their cat’s litter boxes.
Their latest fundraiser will allow people to get back at their ex by letting adoptable cats to do what they will on the names, all while raising money for a good cause.
To make a donation and submit your ex’s name, you can go to their Facebook page HERE.
GAZIANTEP, Turkey (AP) — With hope of finding survivors fading, stretched rescue teams in Turkey and Syria searched Wednesday for signs of life in the rubble of thousands of buildings toppled by the world’s deadliest quake in more than a decade. The confirmed death toll passed 11,000.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the especially hard-hit Hatay province, where more than 3,300 people died and entire neighborhoods were destroyed. Residents there have criticized the government’s response, saying rescuers were slow to arrive.
Erdogan, who faces a tough battle for reelection in May, acknowledged “shortcomings” in the response to Monday’s 7.8 magnitude quake but said the winter weather had been a factor. The earthquake destroyed the runway in Hatay’s airport, further disrupting the response.
“It is not possible to be prepared for such a disaster,” Erdogan said. “We will not leave any of our citizens uncared for.” He also hit back at critics, saying ”dishonorable people” were spreading “lies and slander” about the government’s response.
Search teams from more than two dozen countries have joined tens of thousands of local emergency personnel in Syria and Turkey. But the scale of destruction from the earthquake and its powerful aftershocks was so immense and spread over such a wide area — including a region isolated by Syria’s ongoing civil war — that many people were still awaiting help.
Experts said the survival window for those trapped under the rubble or otherwise unable to obtain basic necessities was closing rapidly. At the same time, they said it was too soon to abandon hope for more rescues.
“The first 72 hours are considered to be critical,” said Steven Godby, a natural hazards expert at Nottingham Trent University in England. “The survival ratio on average within 24 hours is 74%, after 72 hours it is 22% and by the fifth day it is 6%.”
Rescuers at times used excavators or picked gingerly through debris. With thousands of buildings toppled, it was not clear how many people might still be caught in the rubble.
In the Turkish city of Malatya, bodies were placed side by side on the ground, covered in blankets, while rescuers waited for vehicles to pick them up, according to former journalist Ozel Pikal, who said he saw eight bodies pulled from the ruins of a building.
Pikal, who took part in the rescue efforts, said he thinks at least some of the victims froze to death as temperatures dipped to minus 6 degrees Celsius (21 Fahrenheit).
“As of today, there is no hope left in Malatya,” Pikal said by telephone. “No one is coming out alive from the rubble.”
Road closures and damage in the region made it hard to access all the areas that need help, he said, and there was a shortage of rescuers where he was. Meanwhile, cold weather hampered the efforts of those who were there, including volunteers.
“Our hands cannot pick up anything because of the cold,” said Pikal. “Work machines are needed.”
Unidentified bodies were to be buried within five days after being photographed and undergoing DNA tests and finger printing, Turkey’s disaster management agency said. Islamic funeral rites prescribe quick burial.
The region was already beset by more than a decade of civil war in Syria. Millions have been displaced within Syria itself and millions more have sought refuge in Turkey.
Turkey’s president said the country’s death toll passed 9,000. The Syrian Health Ministry said the death toll in government-held areas climbed past 1,200. At least 1,400 people have died in the rebel-held northwest, according to the volunteer first responders known as the White Helmets.
That brought the overall total to 11,600. Tens of thousands more are injured.
Stories of rescues continued to provide hope that some people still trapped might be found alive. A crying newborn still connected by the umbilical cord to her deceased mother was rescued Monday in Syria. In Turkey’s Kahramanmaras, rescuers pulled a 3-year-old boy from the rubble.
But David Alexander, a professor of emergency planning and management at University College London, said data from past earthquakes suggested the likelihood of survival was now slim, particularly for individuals who suffered serious injuries or significant blood loss.
“Statistically, today is the day when we’re going to stop finding people,” he said. “That doesn’t mean we should stop searching.”
Alexander cautioned that the final death toll may not be known for weeks because of the sheer amount of rubble.
The last time an earthquake killed so many people was 2015, when 8,800 died in a magnitude 7.8 quake in Nepal. A 2011 earthquake in Japan triggered a tsunami, killing nearly 20,000 people.
Many of those who survived the earthquake lost their homes and were forced to sleep in cars, government shelters or outdoors amid rain and snowfall in some areas.
“We don’t have a tent, we don’t have a heating stove, we don’t have anything. Our children are in bad shape,” Aysan Kurt, 27, said. “We did not die from hunger or the earthquake, but we will die freezing from the cold.”
The disaster comes at a sensitive time for Erdogan, who faces an economic downturn and high inflation. Perceptions that his government mismanaged the crisis could hurt his standing.
On his tour of hard-hit areas, he said the government would distribute 10,000 Turkish lira ($532) to affected families.
Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of Turkey’s main opposition party, blamed the devastation on Erdogan’s two-decade rule, saying he had not prepared the country for a disaster and accusing him of misspending funds.
In Syria, aid efforts have been hampered by the ongoing war and the isolation of the rebel-held region along the border, which is surrounded by Russia-backed government forces. Syria itself is an international pariah under Western sanctions linked to the war.
The European Union said Wednesday that Syria had asked for humanitarian assistance to help earthquake victims. An EU representative insisted the bloc’s sanctions against the Syrian government had no impact on its potential to help.
The U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Syria, Muhannad Hadi, said Wednesday that there was still no access to the Bab al-Hawa border crossing into rebel-held Syria, the only terminal where U.N. aid can be delivered, because of damaged roads.
Using other crossings, or sending the aid across conflict lines from Damascus, requires “multiple levels of coordination between different parties, security, humanitarian, NGOs,” he said. “It’s not a straightforward operation.”
Critics have accused the Syrian government of deliberately slowing down the process because it does not recognize aid groups operating in rebel-held areas and has sought to cut off support for those areas throughout the conflict.
In rebel-held parts of northwest Syria, rescuers pulled a man, a woman and four children from the rubble in the towns of Salqeen, Harem and Jinderis, according to the White Helmets group.
Turkey sits on top of major fault lines and is frequently shaken by earthquakes. Some 18,000 were killed in similarly powerful earthquakes that hit northwest Turkey in 1999.
JACKSON COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Finding forever homes for shelter animals often can take time.
For a hound dog in Jackson County, it’s been a seven year wait.
But Mitch has finally been adopted!
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A popular tool store is opening a new location in the Cape Fear.
Harbor Freight Tools has announced it is building another store in Wilmington this spring, promising 25-30 new jobs.
Construction has already begun at 7316 Market Street, using local workers and companies from the surrounding Wilmington area.
“We’ve been looking to open a location in Wilmington for a number of years so that we can provide the tools and equipment at tremendous values to the community,” said Trey Feiler, Senior Vice President, Real Estate and Construction for Harbor Freight Tools. “In addition to finding a great location, we were attracted by the availability of great associates in the Wilmington area, and we look forward to having them join the Harbor Freight team.”
If you’re interested in working for Harbor Freight, you can apply HERE (just search ‘Wilmington, NC’).
SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) — A recent event by the Dosher Memorial Hospital Foundation helped to raise a large amount of money.
The hospital held its 9th annual Heart to Heart event on February 2nd at the St. James Community Center, raising over $21,000 to benefit Dosher Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation Center.
“This program provides a unique combination of fundraising, heart health education, and camaraderie for those who attend,” said Lynda Stanley, President and CEO of Dosher Memorial Hospital. “We are grateful for the speakers, volunteers, and community supporters who helped make this year’s event a success.”
The Dosher Memorial Hospital Foundation was established and began operating in March of 2010. The Foundation’s primary responsibility is to encourage a steady flow of funds to the hospital from individuals and organization within the hospitals’ service area.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Law enforcement is looking for information related to a robbery Tuesday night.
The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office says the incident took place at the Burger King in Ogden along Market Street just before 7:00 p.m.
Officials say the suspect showed a firearm and demanded money.
The Sheriff’s Office says you can contact them anonymously HERE at 910 798-4162.
(CBS NEWS) — LeBron James has just surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most regular season points scored in NBA history.
In front of cheering fans at L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena, the Los Angeles Lakers star secured his place in the record books during the third quarter of Tuesday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. James set the record with a fadeaway jumper with 10.9 seconds left in the third quarter.
James outstretched his arms, threw both hands in the air, then smiled. Abdul-Jabbar rose from his seat and clapped. The game was stopped as some members of James’ family, including his mother, wife and children, took the floor for a ceremony recognizing the moment.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Abdul-Jabbar came out to mid-court to honor a clearly emotional James.
“LeBron, you are the NBA’s all-time scoring leader, congratulations,” Silver said.
James then took the microphone to say “thank you to the Laker faithful. You are one of a kind.”
He then asked the crowd to give a standing ovation to Abdul-Jabbar.
“To be able to be in the presence of such a legend as great as Kareem, it’s very humbling,” James said. “Please give a standing ovation to the Captain, please.”
James’ record-breaking night was bittersweet, with the Lakers falling to the Thunder 133-130. James finished the game with 38 points, his career regular-season total now at 38,390 points.
James, at age 38, is now in sole possession of the coveted record —long considered one of the NBA’s unattainable— leaving Lakers icon Abdul-Jabbar and Utah Jazz legend Karl Malone in second and third, respectively, on the all-time scoring list. Abdul-Jabbar became the league’s leading scorer in 1984, and his 38,387 career points had stood as the record since 1989.
James, an Akron, Ohio native, scored his first NBA points on October 29, 2003, when he made a jump shot against the Sacramento Kings as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team that drafted him. Since then, he has averaged 27 points per game throughout his 20 seasons in the NBA, according to Basketball Reference, despite not labeling himself as a prototypical scorer.
Last month, he became the only player other than Abdul-Jabbar to score over 38,000 points. However, James still trails Abdul-Jabbar, who, rather surprisingly, had only one three-pointer in his career.
In an interview with CBS News, Memphis Grizzlies forward Danny Green, a former teammate of James, called the 6-foot-9 James a “unicorn” who can beat you in many ways offensively.
“He’s like a freight train coming at you,” he said ahead of James’ historic moment. “And knows how to use his body and coordinate. It’s damn near impossible to guard, especially when he jumps 40 inches in the air.”
Last week, James jumped to fourth on the all-time assists leaders list. Green said his passing abilities make it difficult to contain him on the court.
“He’s gonna burn you in many different ways other than scoring because he’s capable of doing that,” Green added. “I think it makes it easier for him to score and harder to guard.”
Ticket prices to see James had soared to more than $69,000 for Tuesday’s game against the Thunder, and a pair of tickets surpassed $106,000 for Thursday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks, according to VividSeats.
Green told CBS News he doesn’t believe anyone else will break James’ record –just like he didn’t think anyone would beat Abdul-Jabbar’s.
“You have to see somebody else play 20 years again at a high level, which I don’t think we’ll see,” he said. “With the contracts that we have, guys are gonna retire –they don’t need to play 20 years anymore.”
In October, James reflected on the possibility of breaking the scoring record before the start of the season.
“To sit here and to know that I’m on the verge of breaking probably the most sought-after record in the NBA, things that people said would probably never be done, I think it’s just super humbling for myself,” James said at Lakers Media Day.
Last year, Abdul-Jabbar told ESPN that if James were to break the record, he would be “very happy for him.”
“The game always improves when records like that are broken, so LeBron should enjoy his achievement,” he said. “He’s worked very hard to get this far. And for him, he’ll get to wait and see who might be lucky enough to break his record, if that’s gonna happen. It’s always about passing it on to the next guy in line.”
James told ESPN in January that he would like to play until his eldest son, Bronny Jr., makes it to the league, which means the scoring record could be much higher when he hangs up his sneakers. Bronny Jr. would be eligible to be drafted in the 2024-2025 season under the current collective bargaining agreement, ESPN reported.
Since entering the league in 2003, James has become one of the NBA’s biggest stars, collecting four championship rings in the process. He has played with the Lakers, the Miami Heat and had two separate stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Whenever he retires, James will leave behind a Hall of Fame resume and be widely revered as one of the best players to ever step onto an NBA court.
WWAY— Are you looking for a healthy way to sweeten up Valentine’s Day for your kids? See how you can make your cuties smile with this simple craft on this week’s Mom-To-Mom.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) –The New Hanover County Board of Education has voted to amend Policy 3620.
During Tuesday night’s meeting, the board of education voted four to three to amend the language in Policy 3620 to no longer allow transgender middle school students to play on sports teams that match their gender identity. The policy now reads that students may participate only on the team consistent with the gender on the student’s birth certificate unless in violation of North Carolina State Law.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, most of the comments were about Policy 3620 — whether for or against.
“The issue on the table is that democrats want boys to have the option to take away sports opportunities from girls. I mean, it’s so ridiculous. It’s not even a thoughtful issue,” Nevin Carr said.
“The fear you express for children is the fear I, a transgender student, face every single day,” Jett Tidd said. “I ask you, as an elected official, shouldn’t you have the same level of worry for all students? Are your children better or more important than students like me?”
Before the meeting, hundreds of people were lined up outside the building waiting to go in. The building that hosts the Board of Education meetings has a capacity of 170 people, that capacity was reached and a long line of people was left outside as the meeting began.
Along the back wall stood a group of Proud Boys. According to a bystander, someone bumped into one of the Proud Boys and knocked them into the lap of someone sitting down. This resulted in a loud argument, disrupting public comment. Board Chair Pete Wildeboer called for a five-minute break and then the situation escalated. People began shouting “take them out,” in an effort to have the Proud Boys removed from the meeting. No one was forcibly removed from the meeting, but several people left following the incident and public comment resumed.
When the board reached Policy 3620 on the agenda, Board Member Pat Bradford made the motion to strike and insert the phrasing that “students may participate only on the team consistent with the gender on the student’s birth certificate unless in violation of North Carolina State Law.” Josie Barnhart seconded this motion.
Stephanie Kraybill offered an amended motion to postpone the discussion on Policy 3620 until the board could receive more training on Title IX and how it impacts transgender students. Stephanie Walker seconded this motion and expressed concern that amending the policy would open the board up to lawsuits.
After a brief discussion, Kraybill attempted to make another motion to go into a closed session to further the discussion with the board’s attorney. Wildeboer responded to this by telling her she was out of order. When she asked why he said, “because I said you are.” Kraybill then said she could appeal Wildeboer’s decision to call her out of order. The back-and-forth was interrupted by the board’s attorney, instructing them to vote on Kraybill’s first motion to postpone. That motion failed, then the board voted to go into closed session.
When the board returned, another motion to postpone the discussion failed and Bradford’s motion to strike and insert her phrasing remained on the table. She said she intended for the policy to go into effect when it was passed. Hugh McManus asked for clarification that transgender students currently involved in a sport would essentially have to turn in their uniforms tomorrow.
“Is that really what we want to do? That’s getting awfully low folks,” McManus told the board.
Walker made another motion to send the policy back to the policy committee. During this discussion, Wildeboer asked McManus if he would be comfortable passing a motion tonight that had a start date for the beginning of the next school year.
“Well, now I’m not sure. I’m totally disgusted with what was just recommended,” McManus replied. “To throw kids under the bus. It’s one thing to make a decision, it’s another to cut somebody and watch them bleed.”
There were several more failed motions involving postponing the discussion and when it would go into effect. Barnhart shared an anecdote about coaching a rec-league volleyball team that was primarily middle school-aged girls but allowed three middle school-aged boys to play for one season because they did not have a team to play on. She said her team dominated that season and the decision was made to no longer allow the boys to play on the team because it gave the team an unfair advantage.
“This is not an easy thing, this is not a religious thing, this is not a political thing. This is something that when we’re writing policy, we have to look at the fallout for the effects of our decision,” Barnhart said. “What I fear is by allowing this, there’s at some point going to be a tipping point. We’re not going to know when it is, how many it’s going to be, but when it comes we’re going to say ‘oh shoot what did we do.'”
Ultimately, the board voted four to three to amend the policy, no longer allowing transgender middle school students to play on teams that match their gender identity.
McManus, Walker, and Kraybill voted against the amendment.
The board did agree to allow the new policy to go into effect at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year.
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Wilmington Police Department (WPD) held its swearing-in and promotional ceremony for their new officers on Tuesday.
Officers new to the WPD and brand new to their new positions stood proudly as the agency held the ceremony at the Port City Community Church, arriving in their brand new police cars and wearing their newly earned badges.
Wilmington Police Chief Donnie Williams says he is very proud.
“To our new officers that are being sworn-in and taking the oath, I want to say ‘welcome’ to being a Wilmington police officer. You’re official. That car ceremony was pretty impressive, wasn’t it? Seeing them come in like that.”
When speaking with newly sworn-in officer Sarah Mooney, who is former military and served in many different branches, says the one thing she is ready to take from training to the streets, is being involved with the community.
“Community engagement… getting out, being there for people whether it’s their best day or their worst day. It’s about serving your community and the people around you and your loved ones.”
When asked how she felt finally getting her badge and seeing all of her hard work pay off, she described it with one word:
“It’s amazing. It really is. I feel like it’s been a long road getting here, but it’s like a breath of fresh air. I kind of feel like I can breathe again, you know? It feels good, it’s wonderful.”
A number of officers who have been with the department for a few years were also promoted to corporal positions Tuesday during the ceremony.
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Coach Bill Dooley Education Foundation hosted a luncheon today at Cape Fear Community College.
The foundation is used to help provide scholarships to student athletes.
The keynote speaker at the event was ECU Football Head Coach Mike Houston.
Many alumni and local sports figures were in attendance at Cape Fear Community College for the event.
Marie Dooley, Chairman of the Coach Bill Dooley Education Foundation, was excited for this year being the foundation’s third annual event.
“This is our third annual Coach Bill Dooley Education Foundation Annual Luncheon and we’re here to raise money for the foundation, and our goal is to raise money to endow scholarships for deserving student athletes in the greater Wilmington area.”
Coach Bill Dooley died in 2016, and was known for being the head football coach at UNC, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest.
FORT FISHER, NC (WWAY) — The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office investigating a death after a body was found in Fort Fisher Tuesday evening.
A spokesman with the sheriff’s office said the body of a black man was found in Fort Fisher around 5 this evening. The sheriff’s office said the man drowned and was found floating in the water.
The sheriff’s Office said it is being considered a death investigation at this time. The man’s identity will be released after the family is notified.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Port City United held an open house on Tuesday, February 7, showcasing its new office space and providing an opportunity to meet the department’s team members.
The department has been operating out of a temporary office space in the same building since spring of last year.
Port City United’s new office space holds PCU Connect, its 24/7 call center, community resource coordinators, and mediation and outreach specialists.
The team officially moved into the office last Monday, and has already started welcoming residents in need of its services.
“Community members are already coming in and utilizing the space. Community members was coming and squeezing in –in our small temporary office. So, yeah our outreach workers, call center staff, and they’re already having people come up and work with them in whatever capacity,” said Cedric Harrison, Port City United director.
PCU team members say they look forward to helping the community in the new space.
“I’m extremely proud, and I’m extremely happy. Growing up, I did not have as many resources as we can provide right now, and it’s just amazing how many people I can help,” said Flor Bautista, Port City United connect specialist & outreach specialist for Hispanic community.
“It’s comfortable, makes you feel like you ready to come to work, motivated to work. You have to prove yourself to the community. You know, what I’m saying. You have to show them that, we’re about what we we’re talking about and we’re going to do what we say we’re going to do, and after that they’re always receptive,” said Anthony Brumm, Port City United community outreach worker.
In addition to outreach and connecting residents with resources, the department also uses data to identify and prevent violence from happening in the community.
“For my project specifically, we’re looking at violent crime rates, along with street lighting. So, just finding those correlations and explaining this is what’s happening and here are the numbers behind it. I think it just builds a strong case for like resources and gathering information and distributing that information,” said Ashley Crane, Port City United intern.
Port City United also connects residents with resources for employment assistance, financial assistance, and housing assistance.
RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — The North Carolina Senate has passed Bill 49, the ‘Parents’ Bill of Rights’.
Proponents say the bill would give parents greater authority over their children’s education and health. But critics say it would harm young LGBTQ people.
The bill would require public school personnel to alert parents, in most circumstances, before calling their child by a different name or pronoun.
It also would prohibit instruction about gender identity and sexuality in K-4 classrooms, with an exception for ‘student-initiated questions’.
The bill now goes to the House of Representatives.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — New Hanover County Fire Rescue responded to a house fire Tuesday afternoon.
The blaze broke out just after 1:30 p.m.
When the first engine arrives, crews say the fire was consuming most of the building.
The home was in an area without fire hydrants, so tanker trucks were used to haul water into the scene.
Heavy black smoke could be seen from as far away as the airport. The fire was contained in 30 minutes.
There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians, however, a dog was killed in the fire.
The fire is under investigation by the New Hanover County Fire Marshal’s Office.
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY)– February is Rare Disease Awareness Month, and 1 in every 10 American has a rare disease.
8-year-old, Davis Point, is a Wilmington native who was diagnosed with a rare disease called Koolen-de Vries Syndrome when he was just 10 months old.
The disease makes his muscles weak, which makes it difficult for him to move around. He also suffers from epilepsy.
To raise awareness to Davis’s Disease, his family, alongside many young professionals, created a film called “Davis Out of the Unknown”, and a foundation called “My Kool Brother”. Both have a goal of developing better medical therapies and treatment options for individuals with KDVS.
“My Kool Brother” was started about a year ago, after we created the movie “Davis Out of the Unknown”. It came out of a way of wanting to connect Koolen-de Vries with researchers,” said Ashley Point, Davis’s Mom, and President of My Kool Brother Foundation.
‘Davis Out of the Unknown’ will have its first North Carolina screening next Wednesday, February 15th, from 6-9 at the Lumina Theater in the Fisher Student Center at UNCW.
The documentary is 12-minutes long, and features the Point Family fighting to find a treatment and cure for their son’s rare disease.
The film has been screened at NFFTY, Scout Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, Beyond the Short, 3 Global Genes Conference and won the Premio Speciale USR-Telethon Award at the Uno Sguardo Raro Film Festival (the European Rare Disease Film Festival) so far.
For more information on how you can get involved, you can click here.
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A Wilmington city parks and recreation community center is inviting teens to come and play in an upcoming e-gaming tournament it’s holding.
The tournament will be held at the Derick G.S. Davis Community Center at Maides Park on Friday from 5:45 p.m. until 6:45 p.m.
It is a free event for kids ages 13 and older.
They will be competing by playing UFC 4 on a Play Station 4 gaming system. They will face off in a game, before moving on to the next round. The winners will receive a prize.
“We live in a food desert. We live in a gaming desert. We live in a desert, period –of programs,” Lubben said. “So, any new programming that can be brought to the area is highly beneficial. We brought this program here to mainly because it was new. We had heard about things we wanted to give back to the community with, and video games is one of those up and coming things.”
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A Wilmington man was sentenced Tuesday to 4.5 years (54 months) in prison for felon in possession of a firearm.
Michael Bridges, 27, pled guilty to the charge on October 31, 2022.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, on July 28, 2020, Bridges was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by the Wilmington Police Department. During a search of the vehicle, officers located a Glock 45 with a 24-round magazine in a cupholder, a .380 pistol in the other cupholder, and a stolen Sig Sauer rifle in the backseat with Bridges. He was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and was released on bond on July 29, 2020.
On March 16, 2021, while out on bond for the July 28, 2020 arrest, the Wilmington Police Department conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle Bridges was driving. After Bridges told officer he had marijuana on his person, officers conducted a search and located a Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum pistol in his pocket. Bridges was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and was released on bond on March 18, 2021.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — We have an exciting update for a story we brought you a couple weeks ago.
A New Hanover County elementary school is participating in a Valentine’s Day project hoping to get letters from all 50 states in America.
They’re very close to their goal, with a week left until the big day.
So far the classes have received cards from 46 of the 50 states. They still need Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Mary C. Williams Elementary School
Ms. McDaniel’s K Class
801 Silver Lake Road
Wilmington, NC 28412
(CNN) — Jupiter already reigns as king of the planets — it’s the largest one in our solar system. And now, the gas giant has the most known moons, too.
Astronomers have observed 12 additional moons orbiting Jupiter, bringing its total number of confirmed moons to 92.
The discovery was made during observations by astronomer Scott Sheppard of the Carnegie Institution for Science and his team. They used the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii in September 2021 and the Dark Energy Camera located on the Blanco telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile in August 2022. The Dark Energy Camera can survey the sky for faint objects.
Jupiter and its natural satellites were in alignment with more distant targets that Sheppard and his team have been seeking in the Kuiper Belt, a ring of icy objects circling the sun that’s located past the orbit of Neptune on the edge of the solar system.
“We have been surveying for new moons around Jupiter serendipitously while our main survey is looking for planets in the outer solar system beyond Pluto,” Sheppard said.
The team could tell the difference between Jupiter and the objects around it versus the distant solar system objects because any objects around Jupiter would be moving at the same rate as the gas giant. Distant solar system objects can’t move as quickly as objects moving with Jupiter.
Follow-up observations for the 12 new moons took about a year to confirm, and the team used the Magellan Telescope in Chile to conduct that work.
None of the moons have names yet since their discovery was just announced, but the Minor Planet Center will assign each one a number in the coming months.
The Minor Planet Center tracks the positions of minor planets, comets and space rocks. Under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union, the organization is responsible for the identification, designation and orbital data for such celestial objects.
“The International Astronomical Union allows the naming of any moon larger than about 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) in size, of which half of these new discoveries are larger than that, so they will get names,” Sheppard said.