Arrests Made in 2 Amber Alert Cases

Four men have been charged in connection to two high-profile Amber Alert investigations involving the kidnapping of two 15-year-old girls last week.

Elihue Martin Mahler, 31, and Austyn Lee Cole, 23, were arrested in Dare County Thursday for Human Trafficking of a Child Victim, Felony Kidnapping, and Conspiracy to Kidnap a 15-year-old girl in Harnett County. Both face $5 million bonds.

A separate case involving a 15-year-old girl in Siler City Thursday resulted in the arrests of Ronny Suarez and Saul Ramirez Guvara, who were charged with First-Degree Kidnapping, Human Trafficking of a Child Victim, Soliciting a Child by Computer, and several other charges.

In both cases, the men communicated with their victims online, prompting the State Bureau of Investigation to urge parents to more closely monitor their children’s social media accounts.

“It’s not just one, it’s social media, it’s gaming platforms, it’s any electronic communication application that allows for communication,” said SBI Computer Crimes Child Exploitation Task Force member Chadrick Barefoot.

Senate Fast-Tracks Student Phone Ban Vote

The North Carolina Senate could vote on a bill this week requiring school districts to prohibit students from displaying, using, or having a wireless communication device turned on during instructional time.

The Senate Education Committee fast-tracked Senate Bill 55 a day after a House committee advanced House Bill 87, which requires schools to adopt a wireless policy that limits cell phone use during school hours instead of banning it outright.

At least 76 North Carolina school districts have already enacted limits on when students can use their phones and other wireless devices at school.

Some require students to leave phones in locked pouches all day while others allow students to use their phones between classes.

Duke University Hospital Among World’s Best

Duke University Hospital in Durham ranked 55th on Newsweek’s list of the World’s Best Hospitals and 16th among U.S. hospitals.

The rankings highlight the top 250 of 2,400 hospitals evaluated worldwide and are based on an evaluation process that includes an online survey of thousands of medical experts, patient experience data, hospital quality metrics, and a Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Implementation Survey.

Duke Regional Hospital in Durham was 129th on the national list and FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst was 178th.

Three UNC system hospitals ranked among the top 300 hospitals in the country: UNC Rex Hospital in Raleigh was No. 68, UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill was No. 74, and UNC Health Johnston in Smithfield was No. 290.

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➤ Statewide: Republican House Speaker Destin Hall tapped Rep. John Torbett and Rep. Keith Kidwell to lead an effort to create a North Carolina Department of Government Efficiency. (More)

➤ Central and Western NC: Multiple brush fires—including one impacting 400 acres near Saluda—ignited Saturday during a statewide red flag warning. One fire-related death was reported in Coats. (More)

➤ Buncombe County: Meanwhile, wildfires were confirmed Saturday near Grooms Road affecting 50 acres and Pisgah View Road affecting 2 acres. The Pisgah View Road fire was fully contained, while the Grooms Road fire was 50% contained as of Sunday morning. (More)

➤ Rocky Mount: North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek met with the state’s DMV leadership last week to begin auditing the department. Findings will be released this week. (More)

➤ Raleigh: Rico Boyce, a 25-year member of the Raleigh Police Department, was named the department’s new chief of police on Friday and took over the job upon the retirement of Estella Patterson on Saturday. (More)

➤ Asheville: NCDOT revealed renderings showing the I-26 flyover bridge will carry I-26 beneath Patton Avenue near the Capt. Jeff Bowen Bridge on the west side of the French Broad River. (See Rendering)

➤ The Charlotte Hornets extended their losing streak to six games Saturday night after falling 113-100 to the Washington Wizards. (More)

➤ The Carolina Hurricanes’ slow start Saturday ended in a 3-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, despite a third-period rally that put one point on the board. (More)

➤ Bill Belichick and UNC football will take center stage on NFL Films’ Hard Knocks: Offseason show. The New York Giants were featured in the inaugural 2024 season, but the NFL couldn’t secure a commitment from a team willing to be featured this season, so it pivoted to a college program. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: NBA | NHL | PGA | NASCAR | NCAAM | NCAAW | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer 

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➤ Prescriptions Plus pharmacy in Gastonia will pay $204,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the recordkeeping requirements of the federal Controlled Substances Act. (More)

➤ Raleigh-based Components Cooper Inc. owner David C. Bohmerwald pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to trying to sell electronic devices that have military applications to China without having the required U.S. government license. (More)

➤ Duke Energy Foundation is dedicating $500,000 in grants to support storm preparedness and natural disaster response that North Carolina organizations can apply for in increments of up to $25,000 through April 25. (More)

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➤ A 175-pound rehabilitated loggerhead turtle named “Cheese Curd” was released into warmer Gulf Stream waters by the Network for Endangered Sea Turtles, North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, and the Wanchese-based Phideaux crew. (More)

➤ A Raleigh-based North Carolina National Guard captain and mother spends her free time driving to Swannanoa to search for lost items belonging to victims of Hurricane Helene with a mission to reunite them with their owners. (More)

➤ Cape Lookout was featured in Southern Living for offering some of the best East Coast stargazing opportunities thanks to its International Dark Sky Park and atmospheric views of the Milky Way. (More)

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