Andy Griffith died Tuesday at his coastal North Carolina home in Manteo. He was 86.

But home was Mount Airy, North Carolina, in Surry County near the Virginia border, also known as Mayberry.

Andy Griffith had many roles on television and in movies, but his legend was made in the 249 episodes of The Andy Griffith Show from 1960 to 1968.

The show gave us more than laughs. The Rev. Neal Brower says it also gave us life lessons. Brower is the author of "Mayberry 101: Behind the Scenes of a TV Classic."

Lt. Col. Paul Mikeal
Major Joseph McCormick

Major Ryan David
Senior Master Sgt. Robert Cannon

The North Carolina Air National Guard has released the names of four full-time airmen who died Sunday when their plane crashed while fighting a fire in South Dakota.

They are: Lieutenant Colonel Paul Mikeal of Mooresville, Major Joseph McCormick of Belmont, Major Ryan David of Boone, and Senior Master Sergeant Robert Cannon of Charlotte. The names of two additional airmen injured in the crash have not been released.

Rep. Becky Carney

If all went as expected, House Republicans would have failed Monday in their effort to override Gov. Perdue's veto of legislation that allows fracking of natural gas. The veto was successful by one vote, but one of those votes was a mistake.

Democratic Representative Becky Carney of Charlotte says she accidentally pressed the wrong button.

When she realized her mistake, she called out to House Speaker Tillis to change her vote.

Floyd's Barber Shop was called City Barber Shop until 1989 when owner Russell Hiatt decided to change the name to attract Andy Griffith Show tourists. Photo: Tanner Latham

Andy Griffith's hometown of Mount Airy, North Carolina, has taken on the identity of Mayberry.

With the news of Griffith's passing, WFAE's Tanner Latham drove to the town and walked along Main Street. Visitors by the carload and locals have gone there to pay tribute and pause to remember their favorite son.

Whether Norfolk Southern Corp. decides to let commuter trains run on its tracks north of Charlotte some day will depend on how much it thinks passenger service will hinder expansion of freight service on the line. Local officials met with the rail company three weeks ago, and hope to agree soon on the outline of a rail traffic study to answer that question.

A slaughterhouse opens Thursday evening in Cabarrus County. It's a big deal for many of the region's farmers.

Until now the closest slaughterhouse was a long haul. Many farmers had to take their cattle to either Alexander County or Gibonsville, east of Greensboro. That much travel cuts into the bottom line.

"It's a stress on the animal to transport, it's time, it's transportation money, it increases the cost of the commodity that you're going to turn around and sell to the consumer."

Eight weeks before the start of the Democratic National Convention, some vendors who hope to sell merchandise are frustrated they have no information.
Convention organizers asked businesses last fall to sign up with an online directory to hear about opportunities. Some vendors said they hoped they'd hear by now about chances to sell souvenirs during the September event. Sellers say they need time to prepare enough merchandise.
But so far, they've heard nothing.

S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has vetoed 81 spending items in the legislature's $6.7 billion budget. Her vetoes would completely eliminate the state arts commission and cut one-time money lawmakers hoped to use for teacher pay raises.

Haley also vetoed the legislature's plan to divert part of the state's share of a national mortgage fraud settlement to a business incentive fund. The money was intended to help homeowners avoid foreclosure, but lawmakers want to use it for "closing the deal" with companies looking to locate in South Carolina.

We'll have a better idea today about who will shape the future of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

CMS Superintendent Heath Morrison is expected to name his cabinet this afternoon at a specially-called school board meeting.

People with different titles will surround Morrison. For example, Morrison will name a chief of staff. Previous superintendent Peter Gorman did not have a chief of staff.

Morrison will also name a deputy superintendent, a position that Gorman axed because of budget cuts.