WFAE staff and wire reports

North Carolina’s poultry flocks have been designated avian influenza-free. Agriculture commissioner Steve Troxler said that means the state can resume exports of chicken, turkey and other poultry products. Nearly 1 billion broiler chickens are raised for meat in North Carolina each year, making them the state’s biggest agricultural cash commodity. But that doesn’t mean the bird flu outbreak is over. The virus is still present in wild bird populations in North Carolina and the state is monitoring for more outbreaks.

Street closures began in uptown Charlotte ahead of this weekend’s Lovin’ Life music festival. Streets are closed around First Ward Park as workers erect outdoor stages where Gwen Stefani, Benson Boone, the Dave Matthews Band, and others will perform Friday through Sunday. Festival director Gregg McConnell told reporters the festival won’t just feature national acts this year.

Traffic was snarled in southeast Charlotte after a gas leak on E. John Street in Matthews this morning had shut down that road as well as 485 in both directions. Matthews Police say vehicles have been detoured to the E. John Street exit ramp, then right back onto 485. Piedmont Natural gas is on the scene for repairs.

Charlotte City Council voted Monday night on a timeline that calls for swearing in a replacement for Republican Tariq Bokhari in early June. Bokhari, who represented south Charlotte’s District 6, resigned this month for a job as deputy administrator of the Federal Transit Administration. Some council members pushed for an expedited timeline, including Ed Driggs, who said Bokhari texted him and asked the council to move as fast as possible.

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said Monday that he is directing the state’s law enforcement agency to investigate online fundraising programs that benefit Democrats.

Several streets are closed around First Ward Park as workers erect outdoor stages where Gwen Stefani, Bensoon Boone, the Dave Matthews Band, and others will perform Friday through Sunday.

Five of the six UNC-Chapel Hill students whose visas were terminated by the Trump administration have now been restored, according to the Charlotte Observer. It is not known if the sixth student’s visa will be restored.

Gov. Josh Stein has extended the state of emergency because of wildfires in western North Carolina for another 30 days. The extension applies to 34 counties, including those in the mountains and all in the Charlotte region.

FEMA says it will reimburse up to 75% of North Carolina’s firefighting expenses to combat the Sam Davis Road Wildfire in Swain County. The fire has threatened approximately 70 homes. The county declared a state of emergency over the weekend. The fire also threatened communication, electric and other critical infrastructure.

The South Carolina Senate voted Monday to oust Treasurer Curtis Loftis over a yearslong accounting error, leaving the statewide official one House vote away from being removed from office for willful neglect of duty.