Delegates at the North Carolina Republican convention in Charlotte Saturday elected Claude Pope as the party’s new state chairman. Pope easily defeated Charlotte Tea Party activist Jack Brosch in the vote.
The theme of the three-day meeting has been unity, as leaders urged party members to help unseat Democratic incumbent U.S. Senator Kay Hagan in the 2014 election. Former presidential adviser and Republican strategist Karl Rove packed a ballroom at the Westin for a dinner Saturday night, where in the words of The Charlotte Observerhe bashed the Obama administration over several recent scandals.
The annual convention was scheduled to wrap up Sundayat Westin Hotel in downtown Charlotte, with a Faith and Freedom prayer breakfast and an executive committee meeting.
NEW GOP LEADER IN S.C.
In South Carolina, Republicans have a new leader. Former state chair Chad Connelly resigned Saturday to take a job with the Republican National Committee. Connelly was re-elected to a second two-year term just last month. With his departure, South Carolina party leaders chose former GOP executive director Matt Moore to take over as chairman.
DEAD SUSPECT IN HICKORY IDENTIFIED
Police have released the name of a man killed in a standoff with deputies in Hickory Thursday morning. He is 67-year-old John Settlemyer. Deputies went to a Hickory home to check on a report of a domestic disturbance. As they approached, Settlemyer left the home armed with weapons and shot at deputies, who fired back. Officers involved were not hurt, but they have been placed on administrative leave during an investigation.
POLICE CHARGE SUSPECT IN WOMAN'S DEATH
Updated 12:50pm - Charlotte police on Sunday charged a man with murder in the death of an 88-year-old woman in west Charlotte last week. Robert Maurice Nixon, 44, was questioned and then charged with murder, breaking and entering, financial transaction card theft, and unauthorized use of a financial card in the death of Dorothy C. Gregg.
Police and Medic were called to a home on Plainview Road Thursday for a report of a woman unconscious. They found Gregg dead inside the home. After an initial investigation, detectives said they believed foul play was involved in her death.
Nixon was arrested without incident on Sunday. Police said he knew the victim and they're not looking for any other suspects.
SURFER LOST OFF N. MYRTLE BEACH
Authorities have called off a search for a teenage surfer who disappeared Friday in choppy waters off North Myrtle Beach after Tropical Storm Andrea passed through the area. Officials told the 19-year-old man’s family on Saturday morning that they were ending the search, which involved boats, jet skis and helicopters. North Myrtle Beach spokesman Pat Dowling said the surfer and his brother went into the water together in the Cherry Grove area, and the teen's board later washed ashore. His name has not been released.
SPORTS: NCAA BASEBALL REGIONAL
Freshman Skye Bolthit a game-winning RBI singlethrough the right side in the ninth inning to lift North Carolina past South Carolina 6-5 Saturday in the opener of the NCAA super regional best-of-3 series.
In another regional game, NC State beat Rice 4-3 in the ninth inning to take a 1 to nothing lead in their series.