Federal aviation officials have allowed Charlotte Douglas International Airport to resume daytime takeoffs and landings on its lone diagonal runway. Our news partner CorneliusNews.net reports the move could mean fewer low-flying jets – and a bit of peace and quiet -- in the area north of the airport. The FAA restricted use of Runway 23 last summer amid concerns about the safety of crossing flight paths. Without the runway, the airport shifted all daytime flights to its three parallel runways. That had sent more planes over the Lake Norman and north Charlotte area, prompting complaints. Last week, the diagonal runway reopened. That means more jets will follow a flight path along I-85, instead of farther north.
S.C. SENATE LEADER URGES ELECTION REFORM
The chair of the South Carolina state Senate Judiciary committee is warning that another election in South Carolina could be thrown into chaos unless the Legislature passes a law dealing with the structure of county election offices. Larry Martin’s warning comes after an opinion from the state attorney general's office that a 2008 law on combined county election commissions and boards of voter registration is unconstitutional. Martin wants colleagues to pass his bill creating a statewide governance model. Another senator is blocking debate.
BODY FOUND IN HOUSE, 5 YEARS LATER
A man taking pictures of an abandoned house in Summerville, South Carolina, this week found the body of a man who likely has been dead for at least five years. Dorchester County Coroner Chris Nisbet said the skeletal remains with clothes on were found Thursday. Investigators don't know if the man died in the home or if the body was placed there. Authorities are still trying to figure out who the man was and how he died.
WINSTON-SALEM STATE LEADER STEPPING DOWN
Donald Reaves is stepping down as chancellor of Winston-Salem State University after more than seven years leading the school. He will join the school's faculty as a political science professor with full tenure. Reaves says he has accomplished what he wanted to do at Winston-Salem State like improving student retention and graduation rates even though the state cut its funding for higher education.
MAN SHOT IN ARGUMENT
Lancaster County deputies say a 21-year-old man has been killed after an argument outside a home in Indian Land. Investigators said officers were called to the house around 2:30 a.m. Saturday for a dispute and were told before they arrived that there was a shooting. David Hammer of Fort Mill was dead in the driveway, apparently of a single gunshot. Deputies say everyone involved in the argument is cooperating in an investigation. No charges have been filed.
HOUSE EXPLODES
And also in Lancaster County, a house exploded after midnight Friday with a boom so loud that people 10 miles away called 911. Nobody was in the home when it exploded. Fire officials said at least five nearby homes had some damage from the concussion and the fireball. Natural gas is suspected.
TARHEELS START NCAA TOURNEY WITHOUT HATCHELL
North Carolina’s women’s basketball team will open the NCAA tournament today without Hall of Fame coach Sylvia Hatchell on the bench. Tar Heels assistant coach Andrew Calder said Saturday Hatchell is still recovering from her final round of chemotherapy and won't help coach fourth-seeded UNC against No. 13 UT Martin. The 62-year-old Hatchell was diagnosed with leukemia in October and hasn't coached this season. She had hoped to get back in time to work as a supporting bench coach for the NCAA tournament.
And the UNC men are back in action Sunday afternoon in the NCAA tournament, facing No. 3 seed Iowa State at 5:15 in a battle for a spot in the Sweet 16. The No. 6 seeded Tarheels survived a close one Friday night, beating providence 79 to 77. Iowa State will be missing star forward Georges Niang, who is out with a broken foot.
SCORES: BOBCATS WIN BIG
Al Jefferson scored 28 points and two others finished with more than 20 as the Charlotte Bobcats routed the Portland Trail Blazers 124-94 on Saturday night. Kemba Walker added 26 points, Gerald Henderson had 23. The win was the Bobcats’ highest-scoring game and most-lopsided victory, and snapped a two-game losing streak.
The Carolina Hurricanes scored three straight goals in just under three minutes in the second period and held on for a 3-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday.