Doctors at a Nebraska hospital treating a missionary infected with Ebola plan to give an update of his condition this afternoon. Dr. Rick Sacra contracted the deadly virus while working in Liberia for the Charlotte-based group Serving In Ministry.
Sacra's medical team said earlier this week he was improving but that it's too soon to tell if he will recover.
Two other American missionaries recovered from Ebola last month after getting an experimental drug and bing treated at Emory Hospital in Atlanta. A fourth missionary arrived at Emory on Tuesday to be treated for Ebola.
SC House Speaker Suspends Self From Office
South Carolina House Speaker Bobby Harrell has suspended himself from office. Harrell was indicted yesterday on nine criminal charges including public corruption and ethics violations. State law requires legislators who are formally charged with certain types of crimes to be suspended until they are tried. If Harrell is acquitted, he would be reinstated. If he’s found guilty or pleads no contest he would be permanently removed from office. House Speaker Pro Tem Jay Lucas is taking over the Speaker’s duties.
Charlotte Officials Ease Efforts To Regulate Ride Sharing Services
Charlotte officials are letting up on their effort to regulate app-based ride sharing services including Uber and Lyft. The city council’s community safety committee canceled a meeting scheduled for today to discuss possible regulations for drivers of the services. That committee’s chair, Councilwoman Claire Fallon says the meeting was called off this week because state lawmakers plan to take up ride sharing regulations next year.
City staff has recommended drivers for so-called digital dispatch ride services be required to pay for the same city license and pass the same background check as taxi drivers.
High Point Mayor Resigns After Pleading Guilty To Worthless Check Charge
High Point’s mayor pro tem Jim Davis is in charge today after mayor Bernita Sims resigned. Sims stepped down yesterday before pleading guilty to a felony worthless check charge. She was sentenced to six months of house arrest and five years probation. High Point City Council can either vote for Davis to serve the rest of Sims’ term or appoint another member of council.
Construction Suspended On Outerbanks' Highway 12
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is temporarily suspending work on highway 12 in the Outer Banks while officials review a court ruling on a planned replacement for the Bonner Bridge, which crosses Oregon Inlet.
A federal appeals court last month rejected the state’s plan to replace the bridge without rerouting the highway around the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. Environmental groups are pushing for a 17 mile bridge that would bypass the refuge. Engineers estimate that bridge would cost $1.1 billion. The environmental groups have sued to block construction.
Going To A Panthers Game Is A Little More Pricey This Season
Taking a family of four to a Carolina Panthers game this season will cost around $405. That’s up 10 percent from last year, and it’s hardly cheap, but Panthers games are among the most inexpensive to attend in the NFL.
The 2014 NFL Fan Cost Index released by Team Marketing Report says the league average is $479. The Index takes into account ticket prices as well as the cost of parking, concessions, and memorabilia.
The most expensive team for a family of four to see the San Francisco 49ers, who moved to a new stadium this season. That would cost about $640.
