RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA (BNO NEWS) – North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue on Monday appointed Karen Eady-Williams to the District Court bench for the 26th Judicial District, the Governor’s Office announced.

The District Court Bench became vacant after the resignation of Judge William Belk back in November 2009, after a controversial term and facing misconduct charges.

“The lawyers in the 26th District sent me a tremendous list of candidates to select from,” said Gov. Perdue. “I am confident that Karen Eady-Williams will serve the people of the 26th District with distinct and professionalism.”

Eady-Williams served seven years as an Assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Before her appointment, she was the vice president and assistant general counsel for six years with Wachovia in its legal division.

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA (BNO NEWS) — Twelve people were injured when a truck slammed into the back of a school bus in Charlotte, North Carolina on Wednesday morning, officials said.

The accident happened around 8.35 a.m. local time on Freedom Drive when a truck ran into the back of school bus number 106. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools spokeswoman Kathleen Johansen said eleven students and the bus driver were transported to local hospitals.

“They are minor injuries like cuts and scrapes and bruises,” Johansen said. Others were complaining of neck and back pain.

The accident is under investigation.

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA (BNO NEWS) – A Four Oaks, North Carolina woman pleaded guilty to making false statements in child abduction case, prosecutors said.

Rosnah H. Thomason, 43, pleaded guilty to making material false statements during a criminal investigation into the kidnapping of a three-year-old child.

Officers met with Thomason who claimed she was the child’s mother and that while at the Brightleaf Flea Market buying produce, she turned and the child was gone. Officers, along with other search personnel, conducted an extensive search of the area for the child. Witnesses who were interviewed, however, did not remember a child being with Thomason.

The charges against Thomason further allege that agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were called in and, that same day, interviewed Thomason. Through the investigation it was learned that, on May 12, 2008, Thomason had booked flights for herself and the child from Raleigh, North Carolina, to Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. However, Thomason said that she and the child had spent their entire day (May 17) at a Raleigh park and then returned to their home, where they stayed for the entire evening.

A search of Thomason’s residence also revealed an internet printout on how to report a missing child.

On May 19, 2008, Thomason admitted that she had been dishonest with authorities, claiming that her brother had forced her to turn the child over to him. Law enforcement learned that Thomason’s brother and the child were on a flight to Japan. They unsuccessfully attempted to direct the plane back to the United States based on Thomason’s statements.

Federal agents met with and interviewed Thomason’s brother in Japan, where he claimed the child was his biological offspring and that Thomason refused to return the child after a visit with her. Upon review, the passports and related documentation for the child were determined to be legitimate.

A subsequent DNA analysis confirmed that Thomas was not the mother of the child.

Thomason faces a maximum penalty of up to five years imprisonment followed by up to a three year supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Smithfield Police Department.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) – President Obama on Tuesday declared a major disaster exists in the State of North Carolina and ordered federal aid to help the State and local recovery efforts in areas struck by severe winter storms.

Federal funding is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and flooding in various North Carolina counties.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

FEMA said that additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the State and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA (BNO NEWS) – North Carolina on Friday temporarily waived motor carrier regulations so that transporters of essential fuels and utility services in the State can operate above the maximum hours.

Lt. Governor Walter Dalton signed the executive order to allow uninterrupted supply of fuel oil, diesel oil, gasoline, kerosene, propane, and liquid petroleum gas to residential and commercial establishments during the wintertime. The continuous flow of those fuels is essential to the public welfare, as is the prompt restoration of utility services to citizens.

In addition to the maximum hours waiver, the executive order waives certain size and weight restrictions and penalties for vehicles transporting equipment and supplies for the restoration of utility services along North Carolina roadways to impacted counties.

Upon request by law enforcement officers, exempted vehicles must produce documentation sufficient to establish their loads are being used for relief efforts associated with the cold weather and winter storm.

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA (BNO NEWS) – North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue on Friday has declared a state of emergency to help fifteen western North Carolina counties to recover from snow and ice storms that hit the state last month.

The declaration of a state of emergency is the first step in seeking federal funds to pay for debris clearing, emergency utility restoration, and other damages. The state is seeking more than $9 million in funds.

“The federal assistance is needed to help our communities recover losses from the heavy snows, icing and flooding,” Perdue said. “Power service was lost to thousands of residents, drinking water facilities were damaged and significant amounts of debris had to be cleared. I want to commend our local and state emergency management, law enforcement and transportation officials for their outstanding response and tireless work to respond to these storms.”

Local, state, and federal crews surveyed the damage throughout the area last week, preliminary damage assessments indicate costs to cover from the back-to-back winter storms will exceed $12.5 million.

The emergency declaration covers Alleghany, Avery, Ashe, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Haywood, Jackson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey counties. Watauga and Madison counties incurred the most damage, with $3.3 million and $1.1 million in damages respectively. Ashe, Avery, Burke and Haywood counties each sustained more than $1 million in damages.

The winter storms that began December 18 blanketed much of the western part of the state with up to two feet of snow in a 48-hour period. The heavy snowfall stranded a number of motorists for hours, many sought refuge in shelters. Ice and snow from the storm knocked down trees, damaged roads and bridges and caused widespread power outages for thousands.

A week later, heavy rains caused flooding and icing downing more trees and leading to additional power outages.