WASU Afternoon News Updates

In local news, the Turchin Center for visual arts will observe its 20th anniversary on Friday. According to the Watauga Democrat, a celebration will take place on Friday, May 5 from 5 to 8 p.m. as a part of Downtown Boone’s “First Friday.” The event will include art exhibitions in six galleries, live music, art-making stations, refreshments and a cash bar. The event is free and will be open to the public. 

In state news, a Roanoke Rapids firefighter was charged with with statutory rape and indecent liberties with a child. According to WRAL, Matthew Monroe Norton was arrested on April 28 and charged with one count of statutory rape and one count of of indecent liberties with a child. Norton was issued a $500,000 secured bond. The investigation remains ongoing. 

In national news, the Department of Justice announced Tuesday that it made a record number of arrests and seizures in a coordinated effort to target fentanyl and opioid sales on the dark web. According to NPR, the operation began in October 2021 and spanned the United States, Europe and South America. Authorities arrested 288 people and seized 85 kilograms of drugs, 117 firearms and $53 million in cash and online currencies. 

And now for a special weather report powered by Booneweather.com. Today will be a mostly cloudy day with some spotty rain in the morning and a high of 49 with a low of 36. Winds will range from 15 to 25 miles per hour. Some gusts are expected to be up to 40 miles per hour so make sure to bundle up! For 90.5 WASU, I’m Andrew Rice.

In local news, a new gallery exhibit will be featured in the Jones House. According to the Watauga Democrat, the gallery will feature images of animals which were photographed over the past century and a half. The images are all courtesy of the Digital Watauga Project. The exhibit will be in the Jones House from May 3rd to May 30th. The opening reception will be held Friday, May 5th from 5 to 7 P.M. According to the Watauga Democrat, the Digital Watauga Project will be donating 20% print sales revenue to the Watauga County Humane Society.

In state news, more than half of the buildings on UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus contain lead. According to WRAL, after water testing on all of the campus’ buildings was completed after almost a year, it was found that 149 buildings out of the 262 buildings tested had lead detected in water fixtures. Vice Chancellor for Institutional Integrity and Risk Management George Battle told WRAL that "We started remediation of those fixtures where we found lead during the testing so that process continues.” In addition to this, the school will now test buildings built before 2014 every three years starting next year.

In national news, a new mystery balloon has been spotted. According to NBC News, the U.S. military is tracking a balloon that flew over Hawaii last week. Three U.S. officials told NBC News that they do not know who owns it, however, it does pose a threat as it is not “communicating signals.” According to NBC News, it is unclear whether or not the balloon is a weather device. The balloon also appears to not be controlled by someone or something. It is now headed in the direction of Mexico. Officials are still investigating who this object belongs to.

Now onto sports.

Good afternoon everyone! My name is Andrew Travers and this is your final Tuesday afternoon sports break of the spring semester.

In App State sports news, the Mountaineer baseball team will be in action here in Boone later today as they take on ETSU at 6 PM. The Mountaineers enter the game with a record of 21-19 overall and 11-9 in Sun Belt Conference play. The team is coming off a three-game conference series with JMU this past weekend, where they won the games on Friday and Sunday and lost the game on Saturday.

The NBA playoffs continue tonight as games are beginning to shift into the Conference Semifinals. Recapping the action from last night, the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Boston Celtics, with James Harden finishing with 45 points for the Sixers and Jason Tatum finishing with 39 points for the Celtics. The second game of the night finished with the Denver Nuggets beating the Phoenix Suns. Nuggets center Nikola Jokic had a standout performance, finishing with 39 points and 16 rebounds in the game. Tonight’s matchups will see the Miami Heat taking on the New York Knicks at 7:30 PM, and the Los Angeles Lakers taking on the Golden State Warriors at 10 PM.

And finally in NFL news, Super Bowl 57 was just named the most watched U.S. television broadcast of all time according to recent ratings provided by Nielsen. According to ESPN, the data from Nielsen that was released today shows that the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs on February 12th brought in an average of 115 million viewers. This is almost two million more viewers than Nielsen’s previous estimate of viewership for the well-known sporting event.

That is all for sports, thank you to everyone who listened to my sports breaks throughout the semester. Now, here’s your weather forecast.

Today’s weather is courtesy of Booneweather.com. Today is a windy day, with a wind advisory currently in place, with a high of 53 degrees and a low of 36. For the last time of this semester, for 90.5 WASU-FM, my name is Jenna Guzman, and thank you for listening to all of the news breaks I've been a part of.

In local news, a historic photo was transformed into a mural. According to the Watauga Democrat, the photo-turned mural is of community members from Junaluska which is estimated to be dated to the 50s. According to the Watauga Democrat, the mural was installed on a building in Junaluska this month. Having this mural put up was a collaborative effort between the Junaluska Heritage Association, members of App State faculty and staff, along with Dr. Chip Thomas, a physician who has worked with the Navajo nation for over 30 years. Thomas, who is also a street artist, helped paint the mural onto the building, which is located at the intersection of Church and Tremont Street.

In state news, the North Carolina Supreme Court has modified several laws regarding voting. According to CBS17, the first change is that the state’s voter ID law has been reinstated, which was passed five years ago. The second change is in regard to voting rights. According to CBS17, the court has decided to end voting rights for felons who “are out of prison but still serving probation or parole.” Finally, the court overturned a gerrymandering decision in the state.

In international news, Ukraine was hit with “the deadliest strike” from Russia. According to the New York Times, a rocket hit an apartment this morning in the center of Ukraine. This attack killed over 20 people and injured dozens more, making it “The deadliest attack”.  According to the New York Times, this attack is the first large attack against civilians in over a month.

Now onto sports.

As always starting with App State sports the App State softball team will be traveling to Harrisonburg Virginia to face off in a three-game set with JMU. Games start this afternoon at 4 followed by a game Saturday at 1 and one Sunday at 1 as well. App State Baseball is also in action vs JMU but at home instead for their three-game series. Games start this afternoon at 6 followed by a game Saturday at 3 and a game Sunday at 1.

 In local professional sports, the Carolina Panthers selected Alabama quarterback Bryce Young With the first pick in the NFL draft. This marked the second time that the Panthers have had the first pick in the NFL draft, and the second time they have used it for the Quarterback position. Following the selection of Cam Newton back in 2011.

Also happening around North Carolina professional sports the Carolina Hurricanes continue their series against the New York Islanders tonight with game 6 of the 1st round. The puck drops at 7 PM. More action also happening in the NHL playoffs is the Bruins and Panthers at 7:30, the Stars and Wild at 9:30, and the Avalanche and Kraken at 10. 

The NBA playoffs are also in action this afternoon with the Kings and Warriors facing off at 8, and the Grizzlies and Lakers at 10:30. That's it for me, as always I hope everyone has a great rest of their Friday, then a wonderful weekend.

From Booneweather.com, today is a cloudy and warm day with a high of 66 degrees and a low 49. There will also be some thunderstorms later today.

In local news, a celebration for what would have been Robert Dotson’s 100th birthday will take place on May 13. According to the Watauga Democrat, the event will gather to celebrate the flatfoot dance legend at the Historic Apple Barn in Valle Crucis. The event will feature workshops, a documentary film showing, a potluck dinner, a square dance and performances by the Green Grass Cloggers. 

In state news, the NC State police chief announced Thursday that a student’s body was found in the woods near Lake Raleigh Wednesday night. According to WRAL, the death of Ben Salas is being investigated as an apparent suicide. This is the eleventh student death at NC State this school year and if the cause of death is determined to be a suicide, it will be NC State’s sixth student death by suicide this school year. 

In national news, Jerry Springer died at age 79 on Thursday. According to AP News, the one-time mayor and weekday afternoon television show host died peacefully in his Chicago home after a brief illness. Springer’s show was seen as a phenomenon, at times surpassing Oprah Winfrey’s show in ratings. After more than 4,000 episodes over a 27-year span the show ended in 2018. Throughout his life, Springer flirted with politics becoming the mayor of Chicago before resigning after a year. Now to sports. 

The NBA playoffs provided an exciting night of basketball action last night, as two first-round teams won their respective series. The New York Knicks put away the Cleveland Cavaliers winning game five by a score 106-95 and finished the series with four wins and one loss. Jalen Brunson led the scoring for the Knicks in the final game of the series, finishing with 23 points and four rebounds. The other series that concluded last night was the 8th-seed Miami Heat finishing off the first place Milwaukee Bucks. The Heat beat the Bucks by the final score of 128-126 and won the series overall with four wins and one loss. Miami was aided by another big performance from Jimmy Butler, who finished with 42 points last night. The lone game on the schedule tonight is Game 6 of the series between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks. The Celtics currently lead the series 3-2 and can finish the series tonight with a win in Atlanta.

The moment that NFL fans have been waiting for is here. The first-round of the 2023 NFL Draft takes place tonight in Kansas City, Missouri. This is a particularly exciting night for the hometown Carolina Panthers, as they hold the first overall pick in the draft. The Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks round out the top-five of thirty-two selections that will be announced tonight. If you want to tune in to the draft, coverage will begin at 8 PM Eastern Time on ESPN.

That is all for sports. Now, here’s your weather forecast.

And now for a special weather report powered by Booneweather.com. Today will be mostly cloudy with rain developing throughout the afternoon. The high is 54 with a low of 51.

First up, in campus news, The Appalachian reports that there are free moms on campus! News Editor Jenna Guzman detailed the efforts of the Free Moms, a volunteer group on campus comprised of parents and community members who give out free snacks, support and hugs to passing students on Sanford Mall. The group was started in the aftermath of COVID-19 and other tragedies across the UNC school system. Barbara Krueger, an 80-year-old volunteer, says “she wants students to feel loved and not feel alone, as well as for students to have a release through what the group has to offer.” The group is out on the mall every Thursday from 11am to 2pm until May 4th. Grab your free hugs, y’all!

Next, in local news, the Watauga Democrat reports that the King Street Farmers Market is back up and open for the season starting Tuesday, May 2nd. The market will feature more than 30 vendors this year, including produce and crafts, and will have such special events this year as Kid’s Art Day, Tomato Day, and a Year of the Trail celebration! The market will kick off their first day of the season with live music and select food treats.

Next, nationally, NPR reports that one of my personal favorite writers and figures in the culture sphere, Neil Gaiman, has released his first album of music to add to his pantheon of comic books and novels. Collaborating with Australian string band FourPlay String Quartet, the British author is excited to take his storytelling into a new space. Although, as he protests, whether it would be novels or comic books or film and television or plays or shadow puppets" — Gaiman says his job remains the same. The album is called Signs of Life. Inspiring!

Finally, the weather as ever from Booneweather.com. It’s more showers today with a high of 54 degrees.

Nationally, Pope Francis has given women the right to vote in the next meeting of bishops at the Vatican. According to NPR,  For 2000 years, women have been denied a say in the decision making process of the Catholic Church. Francis has vowed to change that, at least in this voting body, ushering in five religious sisters to sit astride five priests in the Synod of Bishops, as well as 70 non-Bishop participants, of which half will be women and Franics hopes more than a few will be young people. A welcome change for one of the oldest institutions in the West.

Finally the weather as ever from Booneweather.com. We have rain on the forecast, but as the saying goes, with April showers brings your college, your station, your music, 90.5 WASU The App FM.

In local news, Brittany Luxton has been named the new W.A.M.Y. community action executive director. According to the Watauga Democrat, W.A.M.Y. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals and families struggling with poverty. Luxton started with the organization as a client in its Total Family Development before being promoted to Finance Director in 2012. Luxton is set to step into her new position on June 1. 

In state news, a Raleigh man was charged with kidnapping Tuesday afternoon following an AMBER alert that was sent out on Monday. According to WRAL, Dustin Taylor Oakley stole a car with 5-year-old Arielle Williams inside before driving an hour away to Lillington when police caught up with him. Oakley is being held on a $510,000 bond and will face a probable cause hearing on May 15. 

In national news, singer, actor and human rights activist Harry Belafonte died Tuesday. According to NPR, Belafonte broke racial barriers as a breakout star in the 1950’s who went on to claim EGOT status, winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and a Tony throughout his lifetime. Belafonte died at his home in New York due to congestive heart failure.

Now to sports.

App State baseball is about to have a rematch against the second ranked D-1 team in the country. Following a series win against Ole Dominion at home this past weekend, the Mountaineers will play the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in Shelby tonight at 6PM. App State is looking to avenge their loss to Wake Forest earlier in the season, as they lost in front of a record breaking crowd in Boone, 10-4, back on April 11th. There will be free admission in Keeter Stadium for the game. 

The NBA playoffs are heating up, and a number of teams up 3-1 in a best of seven series are looking to close out their series. The New York Knicks are looking to advance against the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7pm on NBA TV, the Los Angeles Lakers will have an opportunity to move on to the second round against the Memphis Grizzlies at 7:30 on TNT, and the Miami Heat have an opportunity to upset the top seeded Milwaukee Bucks at 9:30 on NBA TV. If the Heat wins, they would be the sixth eighth seed to ever make it to the second round. To end the night, the Sacramento Kings will try to keep home court advantage in a 2-2 series against the Golden State Warriors at 10pm on TNT. This has been your Wednesday morning sports break, and it is now time for your Boone weather report.

And now for a special weather report powered by Booneweather.com. Today will be a partly sunny day with some scattered afternoon showers and a high of 59 with a low of 42.

In local news, a pedestrian was killed Monday night in Sugar Grove. According to the Watauga Democrat, 57-year-old Tammy R. Wolfe was struck by a 2014 Forde Escape on U.S. 321 after attempting to cross the road. Wolfe died on the scene. The driver, 71-year-old Brenda Farthing, had no injuries and no charges are expected to be made. 

In state news, a man from Raleigh has been charged after stealing a car and abducting the child within it. According to the News & Observer, 28-year-old Dustin Taylor Oakley stole a dark blue 2003 Dodge Durango, which had a 5-year-old girl inside of it Monday night in Chapel Hill. After the vehicle was stolen, an amber alert was released. According to the News & Observer, the child was found an hour later at a Sheetz gas station in Lillington, Chapel Hill   and she was safe. Oakley was arrested and is now facing the charges of “first-degree kidnapping, felony larceny, misdemeanor larceny, possession of a stolen motor vehicle and felony possession of stolen goods.” He is in custody with a $510,000 bond and is expected to be seen in court today. According to the News & Observer, Oakley has a history of larceny and breaking and entering vehicles. 

In national news, President Joe Biden announced he will be running for reelection. According to the Associated Press, Biden had made his announcement today, saying he will “ finish this job.” Biden is the oldest serving U.S. president, and if given another term, he will be 86 years old by the end of it.

Now onto sports.

It was a big night in the NBA playoffs last night, with arguably the biggest game of the night being the matchup between the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks. The Heat won the game by a final score of 119-114 and were aided by a spectacular performance from forward Jimmy Butler. Butler finished the game with 56 points, setting a Heat playoff record for scoring. The first round continues tonight, with three games taking place. The Atlanta Hawks, who picked up a win in their last game, will play on the brink of elimination against the Boston Celtics at 7:30 p.m. The Minnesota Timberwolves will also fight to stay in the playoffs as they take on the Denver Nuggets at 9 p.m. And finally, the night will conclude when the Los Angeles Clippers, who are also on the brink of elimination in their series, take on the Phoenix Suns at 10 pm.

Finally, in NHL news, the Carolina Hurricanes will once again be in action tonight, taking on the New York Islanders in the fourth game of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. With a win tonight, the Hurricanes will win the series over the Islanders and advance to the next round of the playoffs. If you want to tune in, coverage of this game will start at 7 p.m. on ESPN. Other NHL games in action tonight include the Minnesota Wild taking on the Dallas Stars at 8 p.m. and the Los Angeles Kings taking on the Edmonton Oilers at 9:30 p.m.

Today’s weather is courtesy of Booneweather.com. Today is a cloudy day with a high of 57 degrees and a low of 38.

From around campus, Beaver Scholars program propels App State grad’s health care career close to home. According to Appalachian Today , App State alum Lexie Farr, 22’ graduate became the first person in her family to graduate from college. App States’ Beaver Scholarship Program has provided her with this opportunity and she now has a leadership role at UNC Health Blue Ridge in Morganton. The Beaver Scholars program was established in 2019, and is the premier scholarship program in App State’s Beaver College of Health Sciences.

From around North Carolina, R. Kelly is placed in federal prison in Granville County. According to ABC 11, the dishonored R&B star, R. Kelly is now in a Granville County prison. He is serving a 30 year sentence for racketeering and sex trafficking. Kelly denies any wrong doings and is planning on appealing his conviction. As of right now, he is listed as an inmate at Butner Medium I Federal Correctional Institute. 

In national news, A South Florida man shot at 2 Instacart delivery workers who went to the wrong house. According to NPR, a man in South Florida shot at 2 people driving in a car on his property, accidently going to the wrong house for an instacart delivery. The resident states that he shot at the car after they drove over his foot. On April 15, Waldes Thomas Jr.(19) and Diamond Harley Darville (18) were having trouble figuring out the address for the instacart order they were delivering. They accidentally pulled into  Antonio Caccavale (43)’s house. His son approached the car as the teenagers tried to reverse out of the driveway, accidentally hitting a boulder. The teenagers told investigators that Caccavale aggressively went up to the car and grabbed at the driver’s side window. As they drove away, they heard gunshots. Caccavale says he told his son to tell the car to leave and then heard his son screaming for help. He came to his aid, saying that the car was erratically driving and hitting things in his yard. He also claims that the car sideswiped him on his foot and that's when he pulled out his handgun.  There are two bullet holes in the car and the rear passenger tire was flat. Police are unsure if there was a crime that occurred, and say "Each party appear justified in their actions based on the circumstances they perceived”.

According to Booneweather.com, today is going to be partly cloudy with a high of 56 and a low of 36, with early frost in the valley and slight wind.

In local news, the SGA president and vice president for the upcoming school year have been announced. According to The Appalachian, the winning president-vice president duo was JP Neri and Margaret-Ann Littauer. According to The Appalachian, the duo won with 59.83% of the votes, beating the opposing candidates 26.47% of the votes. Neri has been serving as a senator on SGA. Littauer on the other hand, who will be serving as vice president, has not had any SGA experience at App State. The duo told The Appalachian that although they don’t take office until the fall, they will start planning for the upcoming year shortly.

In state news, a furniture museum is opening in North Carolina. According to CBS17, the future furniture museum will be in High Point, where most furniture is made. The museum, which will be called The American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame, will open in May. According to CBS17, different furniture companies will have their furniture on display for a certain amount of time, and then it will be switched to a different company’s work on display.

In international news, Len Goodman, a Dancing With the Stars Judge, died Saturday. According to the New York Times, Goodman died at age 78 in a hospice in England. He died surrounded by his family. According to the New York Times, Goodman had bone cancer. Goodman was best known for his time on BBC’s “Strictly Come Dancing” and the spin off, “Dancing With the Stars.”

Now onto sports.

The Mountaineer baseball team won off a run-rule this past weekend, scoring 18 past Old Dominion on the road. With that win, the Mountaineers moved to 19-18 on the season, 9-8 in conference play, and have won four out of their last six Sun Belt series. Caleb Cross, who now moves to 4-2 on the season pitching, struck out the first four batters he faced, had seven strikeouts, all in 4.2 innings of work. Congrats to the baseball team on a great win.

As for the NBA playoffs, only one team has punched their ticket into the second round, as the Philadelphia 76ers swept the Brooklyn Nets in four games to none. They will take on the winner of the Celtics and Hawks, with the Celtics currently up 3-1 in the series over the Hawks. But, their have been some crazy results so far, as the #1 seeded Bucks out in the Eastern Conference are down 2-1 to the Heat, with game four taking place tonight at 7:30. The Lakers and the Grizzlies will also face off tonight, with the 7 seeded Lakers leading the series 2-1 over the Grizzlies. That game takes place at 10:00 tonight.

Also, the NHL playoffs have kicked off as well! There are four games for you tonight, with the first one between the Devils and Rangers starting at 7:00 EST today. The other games include the Maple Leafs vs. Lightning at 7:30, Golden Knights vs Jets at 9:30, and Avalanche vs Kraken at 10:00.

That’s all for sports, but here is your weather report.

Today’s weather is courtesy of Booneweather.com. Today is a clear and a bit of a chilly day with a high of 54 degrees and a low of 32.

In local news, the Blowing Rock Town Manager will be leaving his role next month. According to The Watauga Democrat, Shane Fox, the current town manager for Blowing Rock, will leave this role May 31. After he leaves this role, Fox will serve as the Alexander County manager starting June 7th.   

In state news, Carowinds amusement park will be enforcing a chaperone policy. According to The Charlotte Observer, guests aged 15 or younger are no longer allowed to be in the park without a chaperone. Beginning Saturday, April 22nd, people 15 and younger must be with someone aged 21 or older to enter and remain in the park after 4 P.M. This policy comes after an increase of incidents of “unruly and inappropriate behavior” at the parks over the past two years, Carowinds stated on their website and social media accounts on Thursday. Under this new policy, chaperones can only chaperone 10 or less children, chaperones must show a valid ID, and the chaperone must be present in the park. The policy exempts 15-year-olds or people younger who work at the park, however, they must have their work ID.

In national news, the North Carolina man accused of shooting a 6-year-old girl and her family was arrested. According to NPR, 24-year-old Robert Louis Singletary turned himself into a Sheriff's Office in Tampa, Florida, two days after shooting at a 6-year-old and her parents after a ball rolled into his yard. Singletary turned himself in about 600 miles away from where the actual shooting took place, which was in Gaston County, North Carolina. According to NPR, authorities have charged Singletary with “four counts of attempted first-degree murder, one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflicting serious injury.” According to NPR, Singletary already has a criminal history. He will be appearing in court Friday in Florida. The 6-year-old was released from the hospital, the mother had an injured elbow, and the father remains in serious condition at the hospital.

Now onto sports.

As always starting off with App State sports the App State softball team squares off against conference opponent Georgia State at home this weekend in a three-game series. Games start this afternoon at 4 PM followed by a game on Saturday at 6:30 PM, and Sunday at 1 PM. App State baseball is also home this weekend taking on conference opponent Old Dominion in a three-game series. Games start this afternoon at 6 PM, followed by a game on Saturday at 3 PM, and Sunday at 1 PM. 

In professional sports, the Stanley Cup playoffs continue this afternoon with the Hurricanes and Islanders facing off at 7, The Bruins and Panthers playing at 7:30, The Stars and Wild facing off at 9:30, and the Oilers and Kings squaring off at 10:00. The NBA playoffs are also going on with the Celtics and Hawks playing at 7, The Cavaliers and Knicks playing at 8:30, and the Nuggets and Timberwolves playing at 9:30 tonight. And last but not least the Atlanta Braves are back in action tonight starting a three-game series against the Houston Astros at 7:20.

Today’s weather is courtesy of Booneweather.com. Today is a warm and sunny day with a high of 72 degrees and a low of 46.

In local news, Banner Elk is doing their biannual Spring Litter Sweep Roadside Cleanup. April 15th was the first day for this roadside cleanup and will continue on until April 29th. According to the Watauga Democrat this initiative usually occurs around the last two weeks of April and September. Participation is encouraged and a list of town streets to volunteer at are available at the town hall.                                             

In state news, on Wednesday the North Carolina house approved a ban on transgender athletes. According to WRAL, the House approved 73-39 for the separation of sports by biological sex. Representative Kristin Baker said “This bill is a bill to be inclusive, not to be exclusive.” This has been one of many bills in North Carolina that have pertained to trans youth including restrictions on gender affirming care or jail time for public performance such as drag shows. This bill will be heading to the senate 

In national news, In the case of Ralph Yarl, a black teenager who was shot after knocking at the wrong door to pick up his siblings, the 84 old man, Andrew Lester, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday. According to the Associated Press “The case is among three in recent days involving young people who were shot after mistakenly showing up in the wrong places.” The hearing for Andrew Lester is still ongoing.

Today’s weather is brought to you by Booneweather.com. It is a beautiful day with a high of 72 and a low of 46.

In local news, a fire destroyed a home in the Beaver Dam Fire District Wednesday afternoon. According to the Watauga Democrat, the fire which occurred at 100 Salmon Smacker Lane began in the back of the house. There were no occupants inside the home and no reported injuries. An investigation by the Watauga County Fire Marshal’s Office found that the fire was caused by burning materials too close to a structure that led to the home catching on fire. The home is a total loss. 

In state news, North Carolina lawmakers proposed a bill to bring Walt Disney World Parks to the state. According to WFMY News 2, if the bill, named “Mickey’s Freedom Restoration Act” passes, the state will appoint a committee focused on attracting the Walt Disney Company and its Florida theme parks to the state. The bill sponsors say North Carolina offers a stable and prosperous environment for Disney to make a long-term investment in its future. 

In national news, SpaceX’s Starship rocket exploded 4 minutes after liftoff during an inaugural test Thursday morning. According to NPR, the uncrewed spacecraft was expected to take a 90-minute trip around the Earth before a splashdown near Hawaii. The company expected the debris to fall somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico and will work with local authorities for recovery options. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk says the team will try to test the rocket again in the next few months.

And now for a special weather report powered by Booneweather.com. Today is a beautifully sunny day with a high of 76 and a low of 50.

In local news, more than 100 people came to the commissioners meeting voicing their concerns about the Broyhill Wellness Center. The commissioners meeting on Tuesday April 18th was the first meeting to have public comment as the first item on the agenda rather than the last. This change comes after 13 members urged the commissioner to have the public comment earlier at the April 4th meeting. According to the Watauga Democrat, Appalachian Regional Healthcare System sent a letter on April 4 to members stating that the Paul H. Broyhill Wellness Center will no longer offer community memberships to the public effective on May 31. Several members and instructors voiced their opinion about the good that the center provides. This comes after two years of deliberation once membership numbers started to decline because of Covid-19.

In State news, NC House Speaker, Tim Moore, visits Ukraine. Tim Moore visited Ukraine this past week and said that there were so many sad things to witness. He helped humanitarians unload boxes, met with missionaries risking their lives to spread the gospel and he talked with members of parliament to learn their views of a war that tore their country apart. Surprisingly, Moore kept his trip a secret from everyone. According to WRAL News, he told McClatchy he was in Kiev via a phone call from Kiev and he told his family and friends via a social media post. Moore said that despite all the sadness, the people of Ukraine were resilient.

In national news, the Supreme Court delays action on abortion pill ruling. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court delayed making a decision that would block people from receiving the abortion pill via the mail. According to NBC News, the court said the hold, first announced last week, would be extended another two days until just before midnight on Friday. The decision means that, at least for now, women can still obtain the pill by mail as the legal battle continues.

Today's weather is brought to you by Booneweather.com. A very warm day today with a high of 75 and a low of 50.

In local news, the Center for Judaic, Holocaust and Peace Studies hosted an event for the Jewish Holiday of Yom Ha’Shoah. According to The Appalachian, Yom Ha’Shoah is recognized as a day of remembrance for those who died in the Holocaust. The event took place from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. outside the Plemmons Student Union. Volunteers recited names of those who were killed in the Holocaust as well as their ages, places of birth and the locations of their deaths. 

In state news, one person is dead and two more have been hospitalized after a deadly home invasion Tuesday night in Fayetteville. According to WRAL, Officers arrived at the scene Tuesday night where they found a man who had been shot and died at the scene. Two others were taken to the hospital with serious injuries and police said both victims are in critical condition. 

In national news, two Texas cheerleaders were shot in a supermarket parking lot after one mistakenly got in the wrong car after a late night practice. According to NPR, one of the cheerleaders was treated and released on the scene while the other sustained serious injuries and remains hospitalized in critical condition. According to social media posts, the incident occurred when one of the cheerleaders mistakenly got into the wrong car and quickly got out to enter her own car. The suspect, 25-year-old Pedro Tello Rodriguez, walked up to the girls’ car and began firing shots. Now to sports.

App State baseball took an unfortunate loss to UNC Asheville yesterday in Boone. Despite a two RBI performance from Dylan Rogers and playing a competitive game throughout, a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning by Bulldogs third baseman Cameron Johnson proved to be the decisive run that put UNC Ashville up 7-6, which turned out to be the final score. That game evened the season series, as both teams won a game on the road against each other this season. App State has lost three straight games, and six of the last seven games, and they are looking to end their struggles against Ole Dominion starting this Friday.

The NHL playoffs have started, and the Carolina Hurricanes are looking to get over the hump this year. They will play against the New York Islanders in PNC arena at 7PM. The Hurricanes are looking to go up 2-0 in the best of seven series, as they won the first game against the Islanders 2-1. They are looking to continue their strong defense, as their second ranked penalty kill stopped all four of the Islanders power plays in game one. This has been your Wednesday afternoon sports break, and it is now time for your Boone weather report. 

And now for a special weather report powered by Booneweather.com. Today is a beautiful day with mostly sunny conditions and a high of 75 with a low of 50.

In local news, George Shinn, a former Charlotte Hornets owner purchased Cornerstone Christian bookstore. According to the Watauga Democrat, Shinn and his wife are residents in Linville and are taking over the store in hopes to expand throughout the High Country. 

In state news, the Raleigh City council is considering development of a 40 story tower in the middle of downtown. According to WRAL, about 1.75 acres is currently approved for downtown mixed use of up to 20 stories but developers want to double the allowed height. Since 2020, the Raleigh City Council has approved 26 rezoning requests for 20 or 40 stories. 

In national news, Fox News and its parent company Fox Corp have struck a deal in its defamation lawsuit. According to NPR, the news corporation reached a settlement with Dominion Voting Systems over claims of fraud made on the network in the 2020 presidential race. No details of the settlement have been made immediately available but experts say this is the most desirable outcome for Dominion Voting Systems. Now to sports.

App State baseball is looking to rebound after a rough stretch in sun belt conference play. They will play a three game series against the Ole Dominion Monarchs starting this Friday at 6PM. The Monarchs are off to a great start, with a 24-11 record, and a 9-6 start in conference play. The Mountaineers have lost the last two conference series after winning the first three, and they are looking to rebound at home. All games will be broadcasted on ESPN+, and games 2 and 3 on Saturday and Sunday feature WASU’s Riley Carlson and Jordan Luker as Color commentators respectively. 

The NBA playoffs have started, and some exciting games will take place tonight. At 7:30 on TNT, the Los Angeles Lakers will face the Memphis Grizzlies in game 2 of the series. It will be a must win game for the Grizzlies, as it would be devastating for them to lose the first two in a seven game series at home. At 9 pm the Miami Heat will look to play spoiler against the Milwaukee Bucks on NBA TV. The Bucks are in a similar situation as the Grizzlies, they can’t afford to lose both home games at the start of the series. At 10 pm the Minnesota Timberwolves will face off against the Denver Nuggets on TNT. The Nuggets dominated game 1 at home and will look to dominate tonight. This has been your morning sports break, now it is time for your Boone weather report.

And now for a special weather report powered by Boonweather.com. Today will be a mostly sunny day with warm temperatures with a high of 74 and a low of 50.

In local news, in light of recent car break-ins, the Boone Police Department is advising people to take certain precautions to ensure it doesn’t happen to them. According to the Watauga Democrat, the Boone Police Department has responded to multiple incidents in Boone where parked vehicles were broken into and items were stolen. The police advise people to lock their vehicles, park in well-lit areas, either hide or remove valuables from the car and make sure to not leave the vehicle running when away from the vehicle.

In state news, a centuries-old canoe was found in a North Carolina lake. According to, The News & Observer, the canoe, which was recovered April 12th, is believed to be about 900 years old and is believed to be in relation to Native Americans who lived near Lake Waccamaw. According to The News & Observer, about a dozen people worked together to pull the canoe out of the water. The 28-foot canoe is now being taken to Waccamaw Siouan lands.

In national news, a Black teenager was shot in the head after knocking on the wrong house in Kansas City Missouri. According to The New York Times, 16-year-old Ralph Yarl went to pick up his brothers from a friend's house, but instead of going to a house on Northeast 115th Terrace, he went to a house on Northeast 115th Street. Answering the door was a white man who shot him in the head and then in the arm. The shooter, 84-year-old Andrew D. Lester, was taken into custody and then released on Friday after 24 hours without any charges. However, given recent uproar this past weekend, officials said Lester was recently charged with the following:

• “Assault in the first degree.” 

• “A class-A felony, and could face life in prison if convicted.” 

• “He also was charged with armed criminal action, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.”

Yarl was hospitalized but has since been released.

Now onto sports.

In App State sports news, the Mountaineer softball and baseball teams are in action today. The softball team will travel to Cullowhee this afternoon to take on Western Carolina at 4 pm. The softball team is coming off a three-game series with South Alabama, where they lost all three games of the series. As for the baseball team, they will take on UNC Asheville tonight at Smith Stadium at 6 pm. The team is coming off a three-game series with Georgia Southern, finishing the series 1-2.

In NBA news, the first round of the playoffs continued last night, as the 76ers and Kings secured wins over the Nets and Warriors by the scores of 96-84 and 114-106 respectively. The Warriors and Kings matchup culminated with Warriors power forward Draymond Green getting ejected after stomping the chest of Kings’ power forward Domantas Sabonis. This was just one negative in the Warriors’ close loss.

And finally in NFL news, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has been cleared to resume football activities after he suffered a cardiac arrest on the field during a game in January. According to ESPN, Bills general manager Brandon Beane said he is “fully cleared and is in a great head space to come back and make his return”.

That is all for your Tuesday afternoon sports report. Now, here’s your Weather forecast.

Today’s weather is courtesy of Booneweather.com. Today is a windy and clear day with a high of 65 degrees and a low of 47.

From around Boone, headliners are announced for the 2023 High Country Jazz Festiva1. According to the Watauga Democrat, the Jazz Studies Program, the Boone Sunrise Rotary, and the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country are coming together for the second time. They have just revealed the headliners for the upcoming 2023 High Country Jazz Festival taking place in Boone and Blowing Rock from June 9th through the 11th. There will be headliner performances from The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra and the Emmet Cohen Trio and will be performing in the historic Appalachian Theatre in Boone with the Reggie Buie Group performing outdoors under a tent at the Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock. Other festival activities will be announced soon. These events will include activities such as outdoor concerts, late night jams, jazz lunches and a popular jazz themed film. Stay tuned.

From around North Carolina, a 13-year-old boy got stuck in Carowinds claw machine after trying to get a toy, staff says. According to CBS17, a Carowinds spokesperson explains that a teenage boy climbed into a claw machine in hopes of stealing toys, but ended up getting stuck instead. On Sunday afternoon, around 2 PM, the Carowinds staff was notified that the teen climbed into the Cosmic XL Bonus Game located in the Thrill Zone. The park’s medical staff helped the young teen and say he was only stuck for about 17 minutes. After treatment the boy was released to his guardians.

In national news, SpaceX scraps Starship launch at the last minute due to a frozen pressure valve. According to NPR, the commercial spaceflight company SpaceX has scrapped its first scheduled test flight of the huge, stainless steel rocket called Starship-a rocket designed to carry humans to the moon, Mars, and beyond.. The first launch attempt was set to take place in Texas during a 150 minute time period on Monday morning. About 10 minutes before the scheduled launch, SpaceX CEO, Elon Musk, said in a tweet that a pressure valve appeared to be frozen, meaning the mission will be untenable. SpaceX claims that it will take 48 hours until the next launch is possible. SpaceX acknowledges that the first test flight will be extremely risky. 

Now time for sports.

For local App State sports, today women’s golf begins their second day in the Women’s Golf Sun Belt Championship in Daytona Beach, Florida. Softball will be at Western Carolina today for a midweek matchup at 4pm. The team is trying to overcome a three game losing streak to South Alabama currently 20-21. Finally the Mountaineer Baseball team plays UNC Asheville today in Boone at 6pm. The baseball team is hungry for a win after going 1-3 against Georgia Southern last weekend. 

For your national news today the NHL playoffs will continue with the Rangers taking on the Devils, the Lightning taking on the Leafs, the Jets taking on the Golden Knights, and the Kraken in their playoff debut play the defending champions the Avalanche. Finally in the NFL, Jalen Hurts has just signed a 5-year 255 million dollar extension with the Eagles making him the highest-paid player in NFL history.

According to Booneweather.com, today is going to be a beautiful day, clear skies with a high of 62 and a low of 45, getting warmer closer to the afternoon.

In local news, Boone will be celebrating ‘Earth Weekend’ this weekend in honor of Earth Day, which is Saturday, April 22nd. According to The Watauga Democrat, Boone will be having different events, such as live music, free giveaways, food samples, and more, in addition to the Boone Clean Up Day. Now called “Earth Third Friday” which is held in Downtown Boone every April, the Earth Day events will kick off at 5pm on Friday, April 21st. People can also visit the Jones House lawn to learn more about programs in Boone that promote sustainability and more. 

In state news, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools now require schools to profit on student pictures. The CMS’s new mandate on profiting on student picture packages is a way of fundraising, according to the Charlotte Observer. There have been concerns from families about this policy saying things such as, “How is this equitable for all families?” However, according to the Charlotte Observer, there are regulations being set to protect families from being overcharged.

In national news, South Florida residents are dealing with widespread flooding and damage after a historic rainfall hit. According to Claire Hardwick from the Associated Press, people in Fort Lauderdale lost their cars, furniture, and houses due to the flood. The water in Florida accumulated up to 4 feet over this past week. Cars are still stuck or are being towed through the water, and residents and their families do what they can to recover from all of this damage.

Now onto sports.

The NBA playoffs kicked off this weekend, with lots of surprises already coming early in the first games of the first round. The one seeded Bucks took a loss to the 8 seeded Heat 130-117, even with Miami’s Tyler Herro suffering an injury. But, the Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a back injury as well, the Bucks best player and MVP candidate. The Lakers also defeated the 2 seeded Grizzlies out in the West, with Rui Hachimura and Austin Reeves leading the way for LA. And lastly, the Kings get their first playoff win since 2006, defeating the Golden State Warriors, the reigning champs, 126-123. 

In App State news, the Sun Belt Championship has kicked off for the Women’s Golf team. The Mountaineers traveled down to Dayton Beach and are playing at the LPGA International Course. Best of luck ladies!

And the App State tennis team just keeps on cruising, with the Mountaineers defeating the Marshall Thundering Herd in a top four Sun Belt showdown on Saturday, before defeating Radford on Sunday in a shutout, 5-0. That is 5 straight wins for the Lady Mountaineer tennis team.

Today's weather is brought to you by Booneweather.com. Today is a windy day with a high of 55 degrees and a low of 38.

In local news, a historical cabin is being restored. According to the Watauga Democrat, the Tatum Cabin at Horn in the West is planned to be restored after a year of the Southern Appalachian Historical Association working to do so.  According to the Watauga Democrat, the cabin is 230 years old, and weather has impacted the way the building looks today. The association received the permit to restore the cabin Monday from The Town of Boone. After its approval, the cabin will be taken apart and then rebuilt.

In state news, thousands of dollars in camera equipment has been stolen from a NASCAR driving school. According to WBTV, the Rowan County Sheriff's office is investigating more than $27,000 worth of items stolen, including multiple cameras, camera bags, radios and more. According to the report, a padlock on a trailer at the Rusty Wallace Driving Experience in Mooresville was cut, allowing the thief to break into the trailer and steal the equipment. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Rowan County Sheriff's office.

In national news, the FBI arrested an Air National Guardsman on Thursday who was suspected of leaking classified documents. According to NBC News, 21-year-old Jack Teixera was arrested “without incident” in connection to the investigation of classified documents being leaked on the internet. Teixera is a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. He will have an appearance at the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. This is still an ongoing investigation. 

Today’s weather is courtesy of Booneweather.com. Today is a cloudy and rainy day with a high of 62 degrees and a low of 48.

In local news, a structure fire broke out in Foscoe Wednesday morning. According to Watauga Online, the structure was a total loss however, no occupants were found in the home at the time of the fire and no other injuries were reported. Multiple nearby departments responded to the fire including Foscoe, Boone, Seven Devils and Linville Fire Departments. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation and will remain undetermined at this time. 

In state news, a 15-year-old girl was killed and five teenagers were hospitalized after a shooting at a Goldsboro home Wednesday. According to WRAL, officers from the Goldsboro Police Department responded to a home where witnesses said a pool party for teenagers was going on at the time. According to Goldsboro Police, officers found four gunshot victims that were between the ages of 15 and 19. Three were transported to the hospital and one died at the scene. Two other teenagers drove themselves to the hospital. Officers are investigating what led up to the shooting and who was responsible. 

In national news, Tennessee Democratic lawmaker, Justin Pearson was reinstated to the Tennessee House Thursday. According to APNews, Pearson was sworn in Thursday after a unanimous vote to reinstate him by the Shelby County commissioners. The state House voted to expel Pearson and his colleague Justin Jones after their protest on the house floor in response to the Nashville school shooting that left 6 dead, including 3 children. The current appointments are interim but both Jones and Pearson plan to run in special elections for the seats later this year. Now to sports. 

And now for a special weather report powered by Booneweather.com! Today is a beautifully warm day with partly cloudy skies and a high of 72 with a low of 52.

In local news, the Hospitality House recently reported nearly 30 COVID cases and has announced changes to their operational systems. According to the Watauga Democrat they announced on Facebook Tuesday that these changes would be effective immediately. Some of these changes include who is allowed inside the shelter buildings, donations being made outside the food pantry door or the outreach center, and masks are mandated once again. 

In state news, the American Civil Liberties Union has decided to sue North Carolina over its harsher riot punishments. According to WRAL it is said that these fines and increased prison times will be implemented beginning in December of this year. The ACLU is arguing that the court is going against people’s right to free speech, assembly, and petitioning rights.

In national news, Representative Justin Jones was reinstated into the Tennessee House after republicans had removed him from his seat for protesting gun violence. According to the Associated Press the vote was unanimous towards reinstating Justin Jones just four days after he was expelled. Representative Justin Pearson, one of the two expelled Tennessee lawmakers, has also been reinstated as of Wednesday's county vote.

Now onto sports

Today’s weather is brought to you by Booneweather.com. It is a sunny day with a high of 70 and a low of 50.

In campus news, this Friday will see the bow of The Appalachian Young People’s Theatre performance of “The Hundred Dresses,” a play based on the Newbery Honor Book by Eleanor Estes. The Hundred Dresses, according to the Department of Theatre and Dance’s website, is a “timeless tale that explores the bonds of friendship, bullying, and forgiveness” in a second-grade classroom. The show goes on this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the Greer Studio Theatre. Tickets are $5, and can be purchased at the DTD online box office. Put on your best dress and get out to see The Hundred Dresses!

In local news, The Appalachian news reporter Hollie Moore reports that Primal Flame Tattoo, a new tattoo parlor in the High Country, is partnering with OASIS to raise money for the organization. Primal Flame will be holding a flash tattoo event, where Boone denizens can walk-in without appointment, on April 16th. 50% of the proceeds will go to support OASIS, and Primal Flame will also be accepting cash and item donations, a list of which includes girl’s and men’s clothing. The 12 tattoos that go towards the event cost $120, and can be found on the parlor’s Instagram page and website. The event will be running from noon until 8pm, Primal Flame’s hours, this Sunday, the 16th.

Finally, in national tidings, radio staple NPR has quit Twitter after being falsely designated as “state-funded media” by the social media company, the same label ascribed to propaganda   outlets overseas. NPR reports that it made the decision to stop posting to its 52 Twitter accounts after the label was made in order to protect its integrity and reputation as a reputable news source, something Twitter may undermine. Elon Musk, Twitter’s owner, apologized for the initial declaration, and conceded he may have mislabeled NPR, but NPR has made a firm decision to withdraw. NPR employees were given the choice about whether or not to continue using Twitter on a personal basis.

Now, sports!

Finally, the weather as ever from Booneweather.com. We have a high of 70 degrees today, wow, and a low of a still-nice 50. Enjoy, mountaineers, and see you outside! 

In local news, the Boone Police Department is warning the community about a scam involving Bitcoin ATMs. According to the Watauga Democrat, the premise behind the scams is tricking people into thinking their accounts were seized and that to access their money they would have to use the machines. The police department was made aware of this scam from a community member that was told to use the machine and was scammed out of thousands of dollars. Boone police are asking people to never give their information over the phone and to instead call their bank or the police department. 

In state news, two men were hospitalized Tuesday after an explosion at a News and Observer recycling plant in Garner. According to WRAL, a 36-year-old man and a 46-year-old man suffered burns from the explosion and were taken to an area hospital to receive treatment. The two men were removing carpet from the floor before a chemical reaction at the plant triggered a flash fire. Authorities say the 36-year-old man had 80% burns across his body and the 46-year-old man had minor burns. 

In national news, Louisville police released bodycam footage Tuesday from a shooting at a local bank the previous day. According to AP News, the bodycam footage shows two patrol officers responding to the shooting and were both wounded, with one of them being struck in the head. The shooter killed five people and wounded 8 more.

In local news, a bioblitz event is occurring this month in Watauga County. According to The Watauga Democrat, a bioblitz is a collaborative event where people “try to record as many species of animals, plants or fungi as possible in a specific geographic area over a predetermined period.” According to the Watauga Democrat, all one needs to do in order to participate is download an app called iNaturalist or upload photos to the iNaturalist website. All findings will automatically be recorded for Watauga County, just as long as it was found in the county and uploaded this month.

In state news, armadillos in North Carolina are out and about! According to WRAL, armadillos are showing up more and more around the state, and experts are trying to see where they are going in North Carolina. According to WRAL, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission wants people who spot a nine-banded armadillo to contact them. If you spot one, the commission encourages people to download the app iNaturalist, and upload a picture of the animal if possible, and include the date, time, and place where it was spotted. Or, you can email armadillo@ncwildlife.org and provide them with the same information. 

In national news, a mother is being indicted over her 6-year-old son. According to the Associated Press, on January 6th, a boy shot his first grade teacher with a gun in the classroom. According to the Associated Press, the mother’s attorney said the gun was legally purchased by the mother, and the gun was locked up in the mother’s closet with a trigger lock. The 25-year old mother is being charged with felony child neglect, as well as a misdemeanor charge of endangering a child. 

Now onto sports.

Today is a busy day in the world of App State sports, with the Men’s Golf team, Baseball team and Softball team all in action this afternoon. First, the men’s golf team will participate in the Stitch Intercollegiate tournament in Raleigh. The team is coming off a third place finish in the Wofford Invitational tournament in Spartanburg, South Carolina last week. Next, the softball team will play in a doubleheader in Boone today against ETSU. The first game is set to begin at 4pm, while the second game is set to begin at 6:30pm. And finally, the baseball team will play arguably the biggest game of the day, as they are set to take on No. 2 Wake Forest here in Boone at 6pm. Be sure to come out tonight and support your Mountaineer baseball and softball teams!

Finally, a story from the NFL wraps up today’s news. According to ESPN, the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets are still discussing a deal for trading Aaron Rodgers even with a current delay in the process. However, when asked about the trade, Packers president Mark Murphy wouldn’t comment on whether the team is waiting for the Jets to accept their proposal for Rodgers or if it was the other way around.

Today’s weather is courtesy of Booneweather.com. Today is a sunny and warm day with a high of 66 degrees and a low of 40.

From around campus, student-led ASUREI unveils largest project expenditure. According to The Apppalachian, the Appalachian State University Renewable Energy Initiative has unveiled their largest project yet. Joey Crews,a senior sustainable technology major and president of the student-run club, has been working on this project since 2017. This project uses a photovoltaic system, a system composed of one or more solar panels combined with an inverter that uses energy from the sun to generate electricity. Anyone can join the club no matter what their major is and can help provide more sustainable energy to App State.

From around North Carolina, a North Carolina ministry launches a primary care mobile unit. According to CBS 17, Washington Outreach Ministry believes in bringing services to people and meeting the needs of the community. The ministry started their latest service project in March, 2023. They are in partnership with Atrium Health, and held the first primary care mobile unit in Cleveland County. They are expanding and moving quickly in all different types of areas to help the country in not just emergency and crisis situations, but also in a holistic approach. The unit is similar to a mobile urgent care and will be used to treat minor injuries such as sprains, cuts, and diagnosing flu and strep. They also deal with long term illnesses such as diabetes, arthritis and heart disease. The unit also helps provide resources for things like food and transportation. The goal of this mobile care unit is to cover all the elements for what a person might be dealing with. 

In national news, 5 people are dead and 6 are injured after a shooting in downtown Louisville. According to NPR, 5 people are dead and 6 others have been injured during a morning shooting in downtown Louisville, according to the Louisville Metro Police Department. The suspected shooter is dead and there is no longer an active threat, according to the police. The shooting occurred at the Old National Bank Building, a multistory building located across the street from Louisville Slugger Field. Early Monday morning, authorities said there was “an aggressive shooter” on the 300 block of East Main Street and urged people to stay out of the area. FBI special agents were called to the scene as well as other law enforcement.  

Now time for sports.

According to Booneweather.com, today is going to have mostly clear skies with a high of 65 and a low of 40

In local news, The Appalachian’s Best of Boone 2023 awards are available for viewing! The Best of Boone  is an annual readers’ choice issue produced by the staff of The Appalachian that highlights the community from the 2022-2023 academic year. Some of the winners include Stick boy kitchen for best sandwich, rough ridge for best overlook, Thunder Hill for best residence hall and Charlotte for best alumni chapter. This is The Appalachian’s ninth year of producing its special edition. 

In state news, North Carolina lawmakers introduced a bill that would require student-athletes to play based on their sex at birth. According to WRAL, the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act was filed in both the House and the Senate earlier this week. The bill says that “a student’s sex shall be recognized based solely on the student’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.” The bill also says that no males can play on women’s teams and no women on men’s teams unless “there is no comparable female team for a particular sport and the sport is not a contact sport.” In the State House, 42 Republicans are currently sponsors of the legislation.

In national news, representatives of the Auschwitz Memorial criticized a WWE promotional video that used images from the Auschwitz concentration camp. According to NPR, The image appeared in a five-minute video introducing a Wrestlemania 39 contest between stars Dominik and Rey Mysterio. The shot was used as b-roll accompanying Dominik’s comments about being a hardened criminal. Representatives of the Auschwitz Memorial criticized the video on Twitter saying, “Exploiting the site that became a symbol of enormous human tragedy is shameless and insults the memory of all the victims of Auschwitz.” 

Now to sports.

Good luck to the men's and women's track teams as they head to Durham tomorrow to compete in the Duke Invitational

App State softball has a conference game tomorrow night at Georgia Southern. First pitch is at 6pm as the mountaineers try to get their 2nd win in conference play this year, they are 18-15 overall.

App State baseball plays Liousianna tonight at 6pm, its a home game at beaver field, your mountaineer baseball team is coming off of a commanding win against UNC Asheville and they have won 3 of their last 4 games. The winner of this three-game series against Louisiana will sit alone in second in the sun belt.

Men's golf team has a competition in Raleigh on Friday. Good luck to them. 

In professional sports news the NHL regular season is winding down and the seeding is becoming more clear and teams fight for the final playoff spots. Twelve teams have already secured a playoff spot but only Boston has locked up the division. The Hurricanes are atop their division by three points with 5 games left. They need 3 wins or New Jersey losses to score the metropolitan division and get the second seed in the East as Boston has already secured the first.

And now for a special weather report powered by Boonweather.com. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue throughout the rest of the day. Warm temperatures will continue, though, with a high of 72 and and a low of 48.

In local news, Foggy Pine Books announced Monday that they will be closing on April 15. According to the Appalachian, Max Ruthless, owner of the independent bookstore made the announcement on Instagram after seven years of business. Ruthless said the decision was made due to the consideration of personal health and financial wellbeing. The store has been operating for seven years and has remained at its location on King Street since 2018. The store will be open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. until it closes on April 15. All new books will be discounted 30% off and all used books will be discounted 50% off. 

In state news, an astronaut from North Carolina is going to the moon. According to WSOC-TV, Christina Koch is one of the mission specialists who will take the first trip to the moon in 50 years. Koch is from Jacksonville North Carolina but went to highschool in Durham before going on to earn degrees in electrical engineering and physics along with a masters degree in science from North Carolina State University. This is Koch’s second spaceflight with her first being an all-female spacewalk in 2019. The Artemis II mission is tentatively set to launch a crew of four astronauts in November 2024. The spacecraft is set to go up, and perform a flyby of the moon before returning back to Earth. 

In national news, Tennessee Republican lawmakers took the first steps Monday to expel three of its Democratic members. According to AP news, Representatives Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson led chants in the House floor encouraging protesters advocating for stricter gun laws in the state. The protests are occuring in the wake of a recent Nashville school shooting that killed six people, including three children. The vote is expected to take place on Thursday.

Now to sports.

App State baseball stayed hot, as they beat the UNC Ashville Bulldogs 7-3 yesterday at the Greenwood baseball field. Hayden Cross had a good game at the plate, going 3-5 with an RBI single, and CJ Boyd had two hits, including a triple and an RBI off of a sacrifice fly ball. The win continues a hot streak for the Mountaineers, as they have won three of the past four games. That included a series win at Louisiana this past weekend, which meant that they won their first three conference series for the first time since joining the sun belt. The 16-11 Mountaineers are only four wins off from their win total last year, and will play their next series starting tomorrow at 6PM against Louisiana Monroe in Boone. 

College basketball has ended, and a new men’s and women’s champion have been crowned. The UCONN Huskies have won their fifth men’s basketball national championship after beating the San Diego State Aztecs 76-59. The Huskies dominated their competition, winning every NCAA tournament game by double digits on their tournament run. The LSU Tigers won their first ever women’s basketball national championship, defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes 102-85. The 102 points in the national championship were the most points scored by any women’s basketball team in a women’s national championship game, and even exceeded any point total by an individual team in a women’s final four game. 

This has been your Wednesday morning sports report, and it is now time for your Boone weather report.

And now for a special weather report powered by booneweather.com! Today will be a partly cloudy day with very warm temperatures including a high of 73 and a low of 58.

In local news, a guest speaker will be visiting App State to discuss climate through storytelling, today, April 4th. According to The Appalachian, Matt Scott, the director of storytelling and engagement for Project Drawdown, will be presenting his talk “Your Story is Your Climate Solutions Superpower: Accelerating Climate Solutions Through Storytelling,” in room 420 of Plemmons Student Union. His talk will be from 5 to 7 P.M. During his talk, Scott will be sharing his knowledge and tips on ways to get involved with climate literacy with attendees.

In state news, a man was arrested on a North Carolina college campus for having hundreds of rounds of ammunition and multiple weapons. According to WXII 12 news, 27-year-old Brandon James Bentley was arrested at North Carolina A&T State University’s campus early morning on March 26. In his vehicle, police found multiple guns, including one rife; a crossbow; a machete; a stun gun; pepper spray; choking devices; knives; a blow dart gun; brass knuckles; over a thousand rounds of ammunition; and more. Bentley is currently facing multiple charges such as multiple weapon offenses. In addition to these charges, Bentley is banned from the campus.  According to WXII 12 News, no security alert was sent out to students on campus because the weapons were confiscated immediately. 

In national news, former president Donald Trump will be arraigned today, Tuesday, April 4th. According to NPR, Trump will be arraigned in  a New York court after a grand jury “voted to indict him last week.” It is expected that he will turn himself in to a DA’s office sometime during the day. It is likely that we will know the exact charges he faces after the indictment is unsealed, which could possibly happen during the arraignment hearing. 

Now onto sports.

In App State sports news, the Mountaineer baseball and softball teams are in action this afternoon. The softball team will play a doubleheader here in Boone against Queen's University with the first game scheduled to start at 4pm and the second game scheduled to start at 6:30pm. The baseball team will travel to Asheville to take on the UNC Asheville Bulldogs at 5pm. The baseball team is coming off of a weekend series with Louisiana in Lafayette, winning their games on Friday and Saturday.

In men’s college basketball news, the champion of the men’s Division I tournament was decided last night. The UConn Huskies defeated the San Diego State Aztecs by a final score of 76-59 to win their 5th tournament title all time. The Huskies had three players that all achieved double digit points in the scoring column. Guard Tristen Newton finished with 19 points to lead all scorers, this was followed by forward Adama Sanogo with 17 points and guard Jordan Hawkins with 16 points.

That is all for your Tuesday Afternoon Sports Report. Now, here is your weather forecast.

Today’s weather is brought to you by Booneweather.com. Today is a beautiful and warm day with a high of 72 degrees and a low of 56.   

In local news, the red cross announced it will be hosting its first disaster relief classes in the High Country since the pandemic. According to the Watauga Democrat, the Blue Ridge Piedmont Chapter of the American Red Cross will be organizing the free classes that will take place in the Deep Gap Fire Department on April 19 at 7 p.m. The curriculum for the class is designed for adults as well as middle/highschool audiences. The majority of the curriculum is set to focus on educating participants in how to keep their families safe from home fires and weather disasters. Participants can RSVP by texting DG419 to (919) 523-0424. 

In state news, a gas leak was discovered in downtown Raleigh on Thursday morning. According to ABC11, McDowell Street to Hargett Street to Hillsborough Street were closed to fix the leak. Dominion Energy said the leak was found and shut off but the roads will remain closed until repairs to the leak are made. The investigation started after a gas odor was reported at the intersection of Hargett Street and Salisbury Street. 

In national news, a train carrying ethanol derailed and caught fire in Western Minnesota Thursday morning. According to NPR, an evacuation for residents in the nearby city of Raymond, Minnesota was issued early in the morning. In total, 22 train cars carrying ethanol and corn syrup derailed, leaving four on fire in the initial incident. Of the 22, ten cars were carrying ethanol. Authorities initially called for a half-mile evacuation area and nearby town of Raymond for fears of a possible explosion. Cleanup is expected to take several days and will begin when the National Transportation Safety Board gives the railroad company permission.

And now for a special weather report powered by Booneweather.com! Today is a bright and sunny day with a high of 58 and a low of 40.

In local news, Howard Knob park was granted $350,000 for renovations by the Parks and Recreation Authority. $9.6 million worth of grants has been awarded to 21 other projects within the state as well. According to the Watauga Democrat, the main purpose of the grant will be to update and upgrade facilities and make them accessible to people of all abilities. Some of the first improvements at Howard Knob will be to enhance existing facilities, improving the parking and to make the current path to the overlook accessible to everyone. A construction timeline is being put together right now but they don’t anticipate a groundbreaking until at least 2024. 

In state news, 7 were injured in Brevard, NC after the wind picked up inflatable rides. Firefighters and EMS were called out to a little league opening day around 4:30 PM last Saturday. Two large inflatables were blown across the sports complex, one landed 150 feet from where it was originally anchored and the other was 450 feet from its original spot. According to WRAL News, when rescuers arrived 4 people were hurt and they found 3 others while searching the crowd. Three people were sent to the hospital in critical condition and the fourth was sent just as a precaution however, none of the injuries seem to be life-threatening.

In national news, Tennessee Representative, Tim Burchett, said that Congress is not going to fix the problem of school shootings. Burchett also stated that the country needed a revival rather than stricter gun laws. This comes after a tweet where Burchet said “we aren’t going to fix it” when asked about what congress would do about the shootings. According to NBC News, he then goes on to compare this situation to his father’s time serving in World War 2. After the Uvalde shooting last year congress passed the first gun control measures in years but now Republican lawmakers are using this shooting as an excuse to stop pursuing stricter gun control. 

Now onto sports.

A new season of Major League Baseball kicks off later today as the MLB begins its 2023 campaign. All 30 teams will be taking the field today with action all day long. Games begin at 1:05PM with The Yankees VS Giants Braves VS Nationals. Games will run throughout the day, with the night cap being between the Cleveland Guardians and Seattle Mariners at 10:10pm. Opening Day marks the start of a 162 game regular season for the MLB. 

Penn State has announced hiring Mike Rhodes as their next head basketball coach. This deal has been in the works for several days, with Rhodes jumping to Penn State from VCU after Micah Shrewsberry left the Nittany Lions for Notre Dame. Rhodes, 50, had a winning season all six years with the Rams, taking VCU to three NCAA Tournaments. While he never won a tournament game, he went 129-61 and won both the A10 regular season and conference title this past year. Rhodes takes over a Penn State program that just won its first NCAA Tournament game in 21 years earlier this month.

VCU is hiring Ryan Odom as its head basketball coach. Odom, 48, spent the last two seasons at Utah State, going 26-9 and taking the Aggies to the NCAA Tournament this year. He previously spent five seasons at UMBC, memorably guiding the Retrievers to a historic upset of No. 1 Virginia in the 2018 tournament. Odom put together four winning seasons, including three 20+ win seasons, at UMBC. He now returns to the east coast to lead a VCU program that has seen its last five HCs move on to a power-conference coaching job.

Today's weather is brought to you by Booneweather.com. Today will be a lot like yesterday with a high of 58 and a low of 40. It will be sunny and warmer in the afternoon with clouds rolling in at night.

First, on campus, the lineup for the 2023 Appalachian Summer Festival has been announced at the Schaefer Center! According to its website, the arts festival, featuring shows across the music, dance, theatre, film, and visual arts disciplines, will run from June 24th to July 29th, beginning with a big name: An Evening with Leslie Odom Jr., of Hamilton and last year’s Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. Other features include the musician John Oates, on July 14th, and country music artist Darius Rucker will close out the festival on July 29th. Tickets go on sale April 12th at 10am, and more information can be found on the Appalachian Summer Festival website, appsummer.org.

Locally, the Watauga Democrat reports that Grandfather Mountain, beginning on April 1st, is set to spring back to life in the community with “Dollar Days,” a promotion for residents of Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga and Wilkes counties, as well as students of local universities, that admits entrance to Grandfather Mountain for only $5 a person. The discount works by vehicle: local residents should reserve their space online, and then will be asked to present a driver’s license or student ID at the gate in order to ensure their Dollar Days status for themselves and passengers in their vehicle. This is the perfect time for Grandfather Mountain to begin this promotion, as daily nature programming begins again on April 1st as well. This includes “Keeper Talks,” where park educators teach about and interact with habitat animals like black bears, bald eagles, river otters, and elk. For all my locals, see y’all up the mountain!

At last, in national news, the New York Times reports that Adnan Syed, subject of the popular true crime podcast Serial, has been thrust back into the spotlight after he was freed from prison last September. A Maryland appeals court has ruled that the overthrow of Syed’s conviction did not give fair representation to the murder victim’s brother, who appeared in court over Zoom, and that a retrial must be done in order to allow the relative to appear in person. A University of Maryland law professor called the decision “stunning and surprising.” The appeal could mean major things for legal precedent for victims moving forward.

Now, sports!

Goodluck to our App State women's track team who is in Texas today competing in the Texas relays meet. The men's track team has back-to-back meets tomorrow and Friday. Tomorrow in Virginia and Friday the men's and women's track team will be at ECU in Greenville NC. 

The softball team is in the middle of a doubleheader today, both games against NC Central. The first game started at 2 and the second at 430. The softball team is coming off their first-ever ranked win as they just beat number 23-ranked Louisiana by a score of 5-3

The App State baseball team just came off a thrilling walk-off single to beat Georgia state and to win the three-game series against them. Appstate trailed by 8 early on before rallying to a 15-14 victory. The 13-9 Mountaineers play tonight at 6pm in uptown charlotte. The game is at Truist park against Queens University. 

The final four tips off this Saturday. The 9 seeded underdogs of FAU plays 5th seeded san diego st at 6pm, and 5 seeded miami plays the favorites by way of seeding, number 4 Uconn at 850

Finally, the weather as ever from Boone Weather dot com. It’s a high of 54 degrees and a low of 33 today in the High Country, which is down from the warmth of earlier this week, but still indicates spring is on the rise.

In local news, one person was found dead after a house fire in Ashe County on Monday. According to the Watauga Democrat, Ashe County Sheriff B. Phil Howell announced the death on Tuesday. Callers reported a house fire at around 9:50 a.m. Identification of the victim and the cause of death are pending an autopsy that will take place at the N.C. Medical Examiner’s Office. 

In state news, President Biden kicked off his investing in America tour in Durham on Tuesday. According to WRAL, the President visited Wolfspeed, a semiconductor manufacturer on Cornwallis Road in Durham in an effort to revive American manufacturing. Wolfspeed recently announced a $5 billion investment for its facility which would create 1,800 new jobs and expand its semiconductor capacity. Durham is the first stop in the tour which will include more than 20 states like Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania over the next three weeks. 

In international news, at least 39 migrants are dead and 29 are injured following a fire Monday at an immigration processing facility in Mexico. According to NPR, the migrants started the fire in protest, lighting their sleeping mats after learning they were being deported. 68 men from Central and South America were staying at the facility while waiting for requests for asylum to be granted in order to cross the border into the United States. Of the 39 victims in the fire, there were 28 Guatemalans, 13 Hondurans, 12 Venezuelans, 12 Salvadorians, 1 Colombian and 1 Ecuadorian. The fire broke out at 10 p.m.

Now onto sports.

After a thrilling series win against Georgia State, App State baseball will be back in action. They will face off against Queens today at 6pm in Charlotte at Trust Field. The Mountaineers have already swept the Royals in Hickory in the first three games of the season, and they are looking to stay undefeated against them. After that game the Mountaineers are looking to improve their conference record at Louisiana this weekend. The Mountaineers have already won their first two conference series of the year, but Louisiana looks like the best Sun Belt opponent the Mountaineers have faced so far. App State football will have its pro day tomorrow, March 30th, at 9:30 am. A group of former Mountaineers including Cameron Peoples, Nick Hampton, and Steven Jones, will work out to try and impress NFL scouts. 

The men’s final four will happen this Saturday, and will include some new teams. UCONN has won national championships before, but Miami, Florida Atlantic, and San Diego State are all set to play in their first final four ever. It looks like it will be an exciting conclusion to the men’s college basketball season.

And now for a special weather report powered by Booneweather.com. Today will be a mostly sunny day with a high of 52 and a low of 33.

From around campus, campus dining halls anticipate modifications. According to The Appalachian, renovations to the dining hall are aiming to begin in May and end before the 2023 fall semester. Changes to Central and Trivette will include new accommodations to the new dining format that they introduced in fall 2022. Improvements include: renovating self-service areas to facilitate foot traffic, replacing the self-serve equipment with more fitting utensils, and updating past renovations.

From around North Carolina, a juvenile responsible for bomb threat at the North Carolina Zoo has been identified. According to WXII 12, investigators have identified the suspect they said was responsible for the bomb threat towards North Carolina Zoo on Monday. The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office stated that the zoo received a bomb threat around 10:43 am. Over 1,000 guests had evacuated with assistance of zoo deputies. Upon further investigation, there was no suspicious items found after looking through the zoo. 

In national news, three students and three adults were killed in Nashville shooting at a private Christian elementary school. According to the Washington Post, the suspect was a former student. Officials said that Hale was armed with two AR style weapons and a handgun. He is also dead after being shot by police. Police are still investigating what the motive was. 

Now time for sports.

For local App State sports news today women’s golf heads to Atlanta, Georgia for the Georgia State Invitational. The Mountaineers hoped to improve their luck this year after a 16th place finish at Low Country Intercollegiate at Hilton Head. Tomorrow Women's Track and Field heads to Austin Texas to continue their outdoor season. Softball will play a doubleheader tomorrow against NC Central in Cary, North Carolina; Currently 16-10. Finally App State Baseball took on Queens once again in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently 13-9 after winning 3 of their last 4 games.

In national sports news, yesterday Lamar Jackson in a series of tweets announced he had requested a trade from the team on March 2nd according to ESPN. Ravens coach John Harbaugh however still thinks Jackson will be his QB come the 2023 NFL season. For March Madness the scene is now set for the Final Four Matchups that will take place on Friday for the women’s and Saturday for the men’s. However, I want to take one moment to talk about a standout player I’ve seen in this tournament. It's been Caitlin Clark for the Iowa Hawkeyes Women’s Basketball Team. Clark against Louisville scored the first 40 point triple-double in men’s or women’s NCAA tournament history. This win over Louisville thrust Iowa into the women’s Final Four for the first time since 1993.

According to Boonweather.com, it's going to be a partly cloudy day with a high of 57 and a low of 32 with light rain in the late day.

In local news, the Watauga County Farmers Market will be entering its 50th season. According to the Watauga Democrat, the season will start Saturday April 1st and will run from 8 A.M. until noon. The market will be held at the Daniel Boone Park parking lot at 591 Horn in the West Drive. According to the Watauga Democrat, the market opening in April is a month earlier than previous seasons. The market will be open each Saturday, and over 60 vendors will be present. And stay on the lookout because this season, they will be hosting the market’s 50th Birthday Celebration on May 6th!

In state news, North Carolina has approved a Medicaid expansion deal. According to the Associated Press, the decade-long debate over this deal has finally reached a conclusion after gaining legislative approval on Thursday March 23rd. The House vote was 87-24. With this new Medicaid expansion, it is estimated that around 600,000 will be helped. With North Carolina approving the expansion, only 10 states are left without having a Medicaid expansion in the U.S.

In national news, the suspect of a recent Denver high school shooting has been found dead. According to NPR, 17-year-old Austin Lyle shot and injured two faculty members at East High School in Denver, Colorado on Wednesday, and soon fled the scene. Officials found a dead body near his car in a nearby county Wednesday night, and officials confirmed it was Lyle Thursday morning. The cause of death is still under investigation.

Today’s weather is courtesy of Booneweather.com. Today is a beautiful and sunny day with a high of 73 degrees and a low of 53.

In local news, the Blowing Rock town council approved a new childcare facility for full time employees at their March meeting. According to the Watauga Democrat, the Blowing Rock Academy is set to open on July 1st and will cost $400 dollars. Before opening, the building will undergo renovations which will include building lattice on the back porch, a privacy fence around play areas, two new doors, a new outdoor porch, hand-washing sinks, and an interior wall to separate toddlers and infants. The cost of the renovations is estimated to be between $50-60,000. The facility will operate with two full-time employees with a director and a staff member. Ten children will be able to attend at the start of the academy but it can could have up to 20 children. The academy is not open to the public. 

In state news, the North Carolina House passed a bill Wednesday requiring students at state universities and state community colleges to take a three-credit hour course on the U.S. Constitution and other founding documents. According to the Carolina Journal, the bill passed by a vote of 69-47, with all Republicans and two Democrats voting in favor of the bill. The class would include the required reading of documents such as the Declaration of Independence, five Federalist Papers, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Address and Martin Luther King Jr.’s letter from a Birmingham Jail. Students would also be required to pass a final exam on the documents, their historical context and authors’ perspectives. The Board of Governors would have the ability to remove the chancellor of a university and the state board of community colleges would be able to remove the president of a community college that fails to comply with the course requirement. The bill will now go to the State Senate where, if supported by Republicans, would pass with a veto-proof margin. 

In national news, the CEO of TikTok appeared before a U.S. Congressional committee Thursday. According to AP News, CEO Shou Zi Chew was questioned on data security and user safety, while making a case to prevent banning the app. TikTok has acquired 150 million American users and drawn sharp criticism and calls to ban the app from U.S. officials on the basis of its data privacy and user safety concerns. On Wednesday, the company sent dozens of popular TikTokers to Capitol Hill to lobby lawmakers to preserve the platform. It is unclear how officials would go about a ban on the app but many have anticipated pressure being placed on Google and Apple to restrict or limit services the app provides, virtually making it useless. 

And now for a special weather report powered by booneweather.com! Today is a beautiful, warm and sunny day with a high of 71 and a low of 51.

In local news, Boone Police have decided to charge a woman after she reported a false robbery. On March 12th, officers responded to the Greenway Trail where the woman, Kayla Anderson, stated that a man held a weapon to her throat and demanded her purse that had $1000 inside. The officers searched the surrounding area for a man that fit the description but did not find anything. During the investigation, BPD said that the description of the robbery had some discrepancies. According to the Watauga Democrat, it was later discovered that Anderson plotted with another individual to have the responding officers believe that a robbery had occurred. On March 16th, Anderson was arrested and charged with filing a false police report. She was issued an April 14th court date and was placed in custody under a $1000 secured bond.

In state news, North Carolina Schools for the deaf and blind’s oversight changes head to Roy Cooper. On Tuesday, the North Carolina General Assembly approved legislation changing the administration of the state’s two residential schools for the deaf and one for the blind. Governor Roy Cooper vetoed a similar measure last summer under the Republican-controlled legislature. Cooper said it was unconstitutional based on the imbalance trustee boards it would have created. According to WRAL News, Republicans now hold the majority in the House and Senate making it easier to override his veto. State education officials and agencies now oversee the schools but the measure heading to Cooper’s desk would give schools' boards authority to hire directors, employ staff and develop admissions eligibility standards.

In national news, two Virginia inmates were found at an IHOP hours after they had escaped by digging a hole through a brick wall. Jail staff discovered that John M. Garza and Arley V. Nemo were missing from their cell at 7:15 P.M. on Monday. The two men found a weakness in the construction of the building and created a tool made out of a toothbrush and a metal object to dig the hole. Citizen’s tips helped officials track Garza and Nemo to a 24-hour IHOP located nearby. According to NBC News, officers were called to the restaurant around 3:30 A.M. Tuesday morning and the pair were arrested without incident. An internal and criminal investigation are being conducted to make sure no such escapes can happen again.

Today’s weather is brought to you by Booneweather.com. A little change of pace for Boone today with some sunny weather. The high for today is 71 while the low is only 51. Light breeze throughout the day.

First, in campus news, the Appalachian reports that campus dining halls Central and Trivette will be receiving renovations beginning this May, with an estimated completion before the start of the Fall 2023 semester. The renovations will take into account the revamped meal plan that was implemented in Fall 2022, allowing for an easier flow of students to enter the dining halls and access the self-serve dining options. The project’s contractor has not yet been determined, but early layouts have been designed by Moseley Architects. Designs for the dining halls and further information about the renovation specifics are available on the App State Futures webpage, but I know I’m already looking forward to dining with ease.

Next, locally, the Appalachian Theatre welcomes the 35th anniversary of American roots and blues band The King Bees, headlined by Rob “Hound Dog” Baskerville and Penny “Queen Bee” Zamagni. The King Bees will be playing at App Theatre tomorrow night, March 23rd, beginning at 7pm. The event is another in the theatre’s Local Night music series. See you locals there!

Finally, in national news, NPR reports that actress Gwenyth Paltrow has appeared in a Park City, Utah, courtroom as a defendant in a suit filed against her over a skiing accident that occurred in 2019. In the case, Terry Sanderson is accusing Paltrow of ramming into him skiing and then fleeing the scene, leaving the 76-year-old with four broken ribs. He’s seeking $300,000 in damages. Paltrow, conversely, filed a countersuit that Sanderson endangered her and her family on the slopes, and is seeking $1 in damages. As of now, it’s unclear if Paltrow will take the stand, but wishing the best carriage of Justice to both parties involved.

Now onto sports!

App State baseball has a weekend series against conference foes Georgia State. The first game will be Friday at 6 pm, followed by Saturday at 3 and Sunday at 1. The 11 and 8 Mountaineers will try to keep the momentum going as they’re coming off a win against the College of Charleston.

App StatE softball is trying to get back on track after falling to the Tar Heels by a score of 5 to 3. The softball team plays NC A&T tonight at 6 pm before they head back into conference play this weekend.

Men's and women's track teams have meets tomorrow. The men's team is going to Raleigh for the Raleigh relays meet and the women's team is headed to rock hill SC for the Winthrop invitations. Good luck to both our men's and women's teams.

In professional sports news, the US and Japan played yesterday in the championship game of the world baseball classic. Japan won 3-2 to win their third baseball classic. 

The NBA is nearing the end of the season and the playoff race is tightening up. The Thunder won a nail-biter last night against the Clippers as they try to gain some seeding and avoid the play in games. However, it came at a significant cost as Paul George left the game with a leg injury. There’s no update on how bad the injury is or how many games he could miss.

Finally, the weather as ever from Booneweather.com. We’re looking at more rain today, but middling temperatures, reaching a high of 48 and a low of 44 degrees.

In local news, the Hunger and Health Coalition raised more than 9,000 dollars on March 18th. According to the Watauga Democrat, the empty bowls event is held annually at Watauga High School and is organized through Watauga High School’s National Art Society. Participants at the event purchase a ticket which allows them to select a handmade bowl, their choice of soup provided by local restaurants, and a dessert. Many of the soup and dessert vendors were from local restaurants in Boone and the surrounding area. The event also featured a silent auction with items donated from various local businesses.  In total, the empty bowls event raised 9,500 dollars for the Hunger and Health Coalition which seeks to provide fresh food and prescription medication access to members of the high country. 

In state news, a Raleigh teacher and coach was arrested Tuesday on charges of sexual misconduct with a student. According to WRAL, Almando Kilpatrick Brown, a physical education teacher and assistant football coach, was charged with attempting a sex act with a student and taking indecent liberties with a student. According to the arrest warrant, both charges involve the same student at the high school with the incident supposedly occurring in January. Brown’s employment at the school ended on Friday. The state alleges that a month ago parents contacted Raleigh police about sexual conversations their daughter had with Brown and sexually explicit communications on Instagram. Brown is currently being held on a $50,000 bail. 

In national news, surveillance video from a Virginia psychiatric facility shows seven sheriff’s deputies and three hospital employees piling on top of a 28-year-old Black man for 11 minutes until he stopped moving. According to NPR, a grand jury issued indictments on charges of second-degree murder against 10 people who were charged last week in the March 6 death of Irvo Otieno. The video shows sheriff’s deputies dragging a handcuffed and shirtless Otieno into a largely empty room in Central State Hospital with several small tables and placing him on some sort of seat. Several minutes later, the deputies moved Otieno to the floor and start to pile on top of him. Now to sports. 

App State Baseball is heading into conference play. After winning the series at Marshall 2-1, the team will play their first home series against Georgia State looking to capitalize on the road series win. Every home series is going to be important to the mountaineers in order for them to keep up with a challenging sun belt conference. March Madness is in full swing, but the coach for Fairleigh Dickenson has already been promoted as a result the team’s performance. After the team became the second 16 seed to ever beat a 1 seed in the men’s college basketball tournament, coach Tobin Anderson agreed to a five year deal to coach for Iona, after their coach Rick Pitino left Iona for St John’s. He was a finalist for the Iona job back in 2020 before the gales picked Pitino, but he likely would not have gotten the job if Fairleigh Dickenson was unable to beat Purdue. Elsewhere in the tournament, some notable results include fifteen seeded Princeton making it to the sweet 16, top seeded Kansas losing to Arkansas in the second round, and only one ACC team, the Miami Hurricanes, making it to the sweet 16. In NFL news, Cam Newton is trying to make a comeback. The best quarterback in Carolina Panthers history will participate in Auburn’s pro day. He will throw to Auburn receivers looking to impress NFL scouts and make his way back into the league after missing the entire previous season. This has been your Wednesday morning sports report, now it is time to hear your Boone weather report.

And now for a special weather report powered by booneweather.com! Today will be a cloudy day with a high of 49 and a low of 43. Rainy conditions are expected throughout the day until the mid-afternoon so stay dry!

In local news, a local hotel will be serving as student housing for the 2023-23 academic year. According to The Appalachian, Chancellor Sheri Everts announced in her weekly newsletter that the Sleep Inn Boone University Area hotel will house transfer students.The Sleep Inn, located on the NC-105 extension, will have enough space to accommodate 140 students, and will offer 58 double-occupancy rooms and 24 single-occupancy rooms. 

In state news, on Friday, Gov. Roy Cooper announced he passed two new laws. According to CBS17, the first bill, which he once vetoed, is House Bill 40, also known as the “Prevent Rioting and Civil Disorder Act.” The purpose of this act is to  “INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR RIOTING OR INCITING RIOTING THAT CAUSES DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, SERIOUS BODILY INJURY, OR DEATH AND ASSAULTING EMERGENCY PERSONNEL DURING A RIOT OR STATE OF EMERGENCY.” The second law passed is Senate Bill 53, also known as the “Hotel Safety Issues'' bill. The purpose of this bill is to clarify that “occupants of accommodations provided by hotels, motels or similar lodgings” are governed by the statutes related to inns, hotels and other transient occupancies.” 

In national news, schools in Los Angeles, California have shut down due to teacher’s strikes. According to the Associated Press, thousands of workers walked out of their jobs Tuesday, March 21 for reasons such as stalled contract talks. This walk out initiates a three-day strike amongst the workers in the LA School District.

Today’s weather is courtesy of Booneweather.com. Today is a sunny day with some clouds with a high of 53 degrees and a low of 35.

From around campus, App State has recently hosted more than 80 Watauga County Schools’ for the 8th annual High Country MathCounts Competition. According to the Watauga Democrat, the contest hosted students from 10 different schools from Watauga and Avery County schools. Math problems in the competition included algebra, geometry, number sense, probability and statistics. Several students succeeded in both team and individual competitions.

From around North Carolina, a car was stolen from a Rocky Mount car dealership. According to CBS17, the theft happened early Friday morning at the Rocky Mount Chrysler Dodge Jeep Fiat dealer. When police arrived at the scene, they found that the building was broken into and 2 vehicles were stolen- a Jeep Trailhawk and a blue 2021 Dodge Charger wide-body Hellcat edition. A Nash County deputy spotted the vehicles near Interstate 95 and West Mount Drive. The deputy started chasing the stolen cars and they crashed. The suspect ran from the Jeep. Deputies and K-9 dogs were brought to the scene, but the suspect is still yet to be found. 

In national news, a Colorado dentist is charged with murder in the ‘complex and calculated’ poisoning death of his wife. According to NBC, James Toliver Craig, 45, a dentist in Aurora, was arrested Sunday, for the murder of his wife. He was arrested 4 days after he drove his wife to the hospital, because she was complaining about a severe headache and dizziness. While at the hospital, the wife’s health was deteriorating fast. She was placed on a ventilator in the ICU and was declared “she was declared medically brain dead a short time later”. Authorities launched an investigation into her death and found she was poisoned, but are not sure what she was poisoned with.  A warrant for first-degree murder was obtained early Sunday, shortly after doctors made the decision to take the wife off life support. Homicide detectives worked hard to uncover the truth behind the case.

In local App State sports news today both Baseball and Softball play today at 6pm here in Boone. The Baseball team will face the College of Charleston at Beaver Field. The Baseball team is trying to get momentum back on their side. After a 7 game winning streak the team now sits at 10-8 through a number of losses to Campbell, West Virginia, and Duke.

The softball team heads into a game with North Carolina which was originally scheduled for a couple weeks ago but will now be played today at Lloyd Family Stadium in Boone. The Softball team sits 15-7 after a recent loss to Marshall 8-0.

Finally on Thursday if the weather gets any better the women's and men's track and field team will begin their outdoor season in Raleigh, North Carolina. This start to the outdoor season will be the first track and field event for the mountaineers since the Sunbelt Indoor Championships on February 20 and 21.

In national news today Georgetown University announced it would be hiring Providence coach Ed Cooley. Cooley in the past has turned Providence into a program that consistently performs in the regular season and a regular in the March Madness tournament. Georgetown while having a rich Basketball history and legendary rivalries with Syracuse has become a shell of its former self. They hope by hiring Cooley they will be able to reclaim some of that glory back.

The end of the NHL regular season is also rapidly approaching as multiple questions remain unanswered. The Boston Bruins are currently looking at breaking the NHL wins in the regular season record. The record is currently held by the 1995-1996 Detroit Red Wings and 2018-2019 Lightning. In the Metropolitan division there is a tight race between the New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes for supremacy of that division. Their games today against the Rangers and the Wild are essential to making or breaking their grip on the division.

From Booneweather.com, there will be a high of 54 and a low of 32 with lots of sun but increasing clouds throughout the day.

In local news, the Watauga Economic Development was awarded a grant for a Boone and Blowing Rock corridor study. According to the Watauga Democrat, the grant will help fund a feasibility study to explore how the arts may be advanced along the US-321 corridor. The grant totaled to $5,000 and its main purpose is to study how the introduction of the arts between Watauga County’s two largest towns and how the introduction of the arts in the area can spur greater economic development. 

In state news, Crews found the body of a teenager who went missing in Jordan Lake Thursday morning. According to WRAL, crews found Roberto Deleto’s body, the 15-year-old boy had been missing since Tuesday. The boy was operating a jet ski with a family member Tuesday evening when it had a mechanical issue. The family member rode for help and when he returned, Deleto was nowhere to be found. 

In national news, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell suffered a concussion and will remain in the hospital for “a few days of observation and treatment.” According to NPR, McConnell had a fall at a super PAC event aligned with establishment republicans held in the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Washington, D.C.

And now for a special weather report powered by Booneweather.com. Today has been a mostly warm day with a high of 58 and a low of 41 with partly sunny skies.

In local news, Appalachian State’s SGA is suspended indefinitely after their legal troubles were causing mental health problems. Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, J.J Browns announced in a senate meeting on Tuesday that the elections will be suspended indefinitely. A potential lawsuit that listed numerous students and App State had a negative impact on many people’s mental health. Many students named hired private lawyers as a response to the lawsuit. According to The Appalachian, a mental health survey was sent out from a student leader in the Wellness and Prevention Center and it stated that more than 50% of SGA said the organization was severely impacting their mental health in a negative way. Browns wants the current members to reflect on this situation and try to find ways to better the organization.

In state news, Arkansas Senate gives the OK on a bathroom bill people are calling extreme. On Tuesday in the Arkansas legislature, a bill that would criminalize transgender people using bathrooms that match their gender identity received initial approval. This bill is just one of many flooding state senates nationwide. This year, a minimum of 155 bills targeting transgender people have been introduced. The only Republican to vote against the bill, Joshua Bryant, said this would be like charging someone with armed robbery if they carried a concealed handgun in a building where they are prohibited. According to WRAL News, similar laws have been brought up by Oklahoma, Alabama and Tennessee. Lawsuits have been filled challenging the restrictions in Tennessee and Oklahoma.

In national news, the world’s first 3D printed rocket is set to make its first flight. Developed by the California-based startup Relativity Space. The Terran 1 booster made its first flight yesterday. While 3D pretend parts have been on rockets in the past, the booster would be the first to be made almost entirely of 3D printed parts. This manufacturing process is meant to make the cost of building rockets cheaper which has been a growing competitive market in the last years. According to NBC News, the Booster will not be carrying anything and is just meant to see how it works when launched into low-Earth orbit. The rocket stands at roughly 110 feet tall and 85% is made from 3D printed materials with the mission being named, “Good Luck, Have Fun.” 

Today's weather is brought to you by Booneweather.com. Another warm day here in Boone with a high of 56 and a low of 37.

In local news, 4 under 40 finalists have been announced by Boone Chamber. Sixteen High Country community members have been picked as category finalists for the 7th annual Boone Area Chamber of Commerce 4 Under 40 Awards. The ceremony will be on Thursday April 6, from 5:30-7:30 P.M at the Appalachian Theater where the winners will be announced. There will be a pre-event reception with red carpet arrivals according to the Watauga Democrat. The nominations came from 4 categories: Business Owner, Educational Professional, Non-Profit Business Professional and Rising Star. For the full list of nominees please visit the Watauga Democrat.

In state news, a suspect was killed after a shoot out and pursuit with officers in Forsyth County. Around 2:10 A.M Monday morning a deputy tried to pull a vehicle over but it quickly escalated when the driver refused to pull over. During the pursuit the driver fired multiple shots at the officers and multiple police cars were hit by the bullets. The pursuit ended at 2:21 A.M after the driver crashed. The shooter, Alexander Parks Holland, fired off several more round from a rifle when he exited th vehicle. According to WXII 12 News, the Officers fired back and struck Holland before attempting life-saving procedures but Holland, who was already hurt from the crash, died on scene. The two officers and three deputies will be placed on administrative leave until the investigation is closed. 

In national news, the FBI is investigating a mysterious death on a cruise ship. On a 5-day cruise from South Carolina to the Bahamas a 44 year-old woman, who has not been named, died. The cruise ship left Charleston on February 27th and the passenger likely died on the morning of the 28th. Once medical personnel found the woman unresponsive, they attempted to perform life-saving measures. The woman was traveling with her husband who disembarked the ship with her remains on March 1st. As of now there is no one in custody according to NBC News. The woman’s death was an isolated incident and the other passengers were under no threat. Today's weather is brought to you by Booneweather.com. It’s another beautiful day here in the High Country with a high of 52 and a low of 29. Boone may see some clouds in the late afternoon

In local news, Brooks Forsyth will perform at the Appalachian Theatre on Thursday at 7 p.m as part of the theatre’s “Local Night” showcase, occurring all month long. According to the Watauga Democrat , Forsyth is from Valle Crucis, and has performed as a musician in Appalachia and beyond. Forsyth primarily writes in the style of Americana and has been performing around the country as a solo act for the past 16 years. Local artist Will Easter is set to open for Forsyth on Thursday

In state news, the Raleigh Fire Department rescued a vulture stuck on top of a chimney on Tuesday. According to WRAL, a Raleigh firefighter and an animal control officer worked together to rescue the vulture, which had a broken wing. The animal control officer said the vulture had a hard landing and that his wing had been impaled on a pole. Officials said the vulture would be taken to a local emergency veterinarian and could be used for wildlife educational programs. 

In national news, California said they will cut ties with Walgreens over the company’s announcement to drop sale of abortion pills in stores. According to NPR, California Governor Gavin Newsom tweeted the announcement on Monday. Last week Walgreens confirmed that it wouldn’t dispense the popular abortion pill mifepristone in certain states after 20 Republican state attorneys general sent letters threatening legal action. Newsom has yet to share any details on the plan, pharmacists in the state say that Walgreens business would be “severely limited” by changes to state insurance plans. Now to sports.

And now for a special weather report powered by Booneweather.com!

Today will be slightly cooler than the previous few days with a high of 52 and a low of 29. Conditions are expected to be mostly sunny throughout the day.

In local news, mice have been found in an App State dining hall. According to The Appalachian, two mice have been trapped this semester: one being in Roess Dining Hall and the other being trapped in the basement’s dry storage area. Executive Director of Campus Dining Elizabeth Riede told The Appalachian that there has been no contamination of the food from the mice, and that the university is working with Dodson Pest Control. Based on the most recent health inspection reports of the dining halls, each dining hall and area have received an A for their score.

In state news, Fuel Pizza in South End, Charlotte closed its doors. According to WBTV, the staple pizza restaurant closed business Monday March 6th, after being open for over 20 years. According to WBTV, the restaurant’s management said they plan to re-open a new location somewhere else in South End.

In national news, the four Americans kidnapped in Mexico last week were found. According to the Associated Press, Mexican officials said two of them were killed in Mexico as a result of their van being caught in a shootout between cartel groups. The other two are alive, with one of them being injured.

Today’s weather is courtesy of Booneweather.com. Today is a partly cloudy day with a high of 55 degrees and a low of 28.

From around campus, App State Office of Diversity brings monthly read-alouds to lab schools. According to Appalachian Today, App State’s Office of Diversity has started to do monthly read-alouds with mini-Mountaineers at the university’s two lab schools in Walkertown and Elkin. The program features a different book each month. Selected readings include topics about Black history, disability awareness, military appreciation, among other insightful topics.

From around North Carolina, a charter bus hits and kills pedestrian in Dallas, NC. According to WCNC Charlotte, a pedestrian was hit and killed by a charter bus shortly after 9 PM on Saturday night. Ashley Garrison was crossing Highway 321, when she was hit by the bus. She was pronounced dead at the scene. There are currently no criminal charges, as this case is still under investigation.

From around the US, the FBI offers a $50,000 reward for the safe return of 4 US citizens who were kidnapped at gunpoint in Mexico. According to NBC News, 4 Americans were believed to be kidnaped in Mexico on Friday. The FBI has sent out a reward for $50,000 for the safe return of these citizens. The Americans crossed into Matamoros, Tamaulipas, in a white minivan with North Carolina plates on Friday. Shortly after crossing into Mexico, they were met with gunfire by unidentified shooters. 

Now onto sports.

In local App State sports news, today the mountaineers Baseball team heads to Durham to take on the Duke Blue Devils at 4pm. This is coming off of a blowout loss to Gardner Webb on Sunday 6-19. The Mountaineers currently 8-2. Then tomorrow the softball team will play North Carolina here at home at 6pm. The softball team is currently having a solid year at 11-5 so far and trying to keep a 2 game win streak alive after winning both their games on Sunday against Jacksonville State and Belmont. 

In national news Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Mark Giordano set the record for blocked shots on Sunday against the Seattle Kraken. The record was previously held by Kris Russell with the Calgary Flames. Giordano now holds the record with 2,045. The Saints and Derek Carr have agreed to a 150 million dollar four-year contract. Carr previously played with the Raiders but was released into free agency earlier this year. Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis states “Derek’s experience, leadership and skills will be an asset to our offense.”

According to Boonweather.com, it is going to be mostly cloudy with light AM showers. It's a high of 56 and a low of 29. 

In local news, a new traffic pattern has been installed at an intersection that leads to Boone Greenway, Rec Center. According to the Watauga Democrat, this will go into effect today, March 6th, at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Street and Farm Road. Left turns are permitted at this intersection between 4pm and 6pm to protect the safety of drivers and pedestrians, according to the town of Boone. Boone also stated that the new traffic pattern should help improve the flow of traffic on Martin Luther King Jr. Street and the neighborhoods around that area. 

In state news, a popular rolling skating rink in Lowell, North Carolina closes on March 5, 2023. According to the Charlotte Observer, this rink has been open for over 40 years, but has decided to shut down, according to the owner, Billy Thompson. Thompson announces on FaceBook, “Announcing the LAST ROLL. After 40+ incredible years at our Lowell Location, it is with heavy hearts that we announce it’s closing.” Thompson discusses the challenges his business has faced, including the forced shut down during COVID. This location will move over to its Hudson rink at Union Road and Hudson Boulevard in Gastonia. 

In national news, another Norfolk Southern train derailed in Ohio, on Saturday evening in Springfield, Ohio. According to NPR, It caused 28 cars to slide diagonally across the tracks, but no one was injured, according to several state and local agencies. This crash makes this rail line its second major derailment in just over one month. This brings into question the environmental and public health in nearby East Palestine when a train that was carrying toxic chemicals derailed on February 3rd. However, this car was not carrying any toxic materials and does not pose a threat to the community, officials stated.