Governor's New Executive Order

NC Health officials announced Wednesday afternoon that masks will no longer be required outdoors, but they will continue to be required indoors.

In a press conference, Governor Cooper says the new executive order will go into effect this tomorrow.

In addition, the order allows the mass gathering limit to increase to 100 people indoors, and 200 outdoors.

The announcement comes just one day following the CDC’s easing its guidelines on masks being worn outdoors.

Cooper and health experts say the indoor mask mandate will remain in place until two-thirds of the state’s population ages 16 and older is vaccinated.

Currently, 49-percent of those 18 and older in the state have received at least the first dose of the vaccine, and nearly 40-percent have been fully vaccinated.

The governor said the plan to lift social distancing, capacity and mass gathering limit requirements by June 1^st still stands, regardless of vaccination numbers.

McDowell Man Facing Assault Charges

A disturbance in McDowell County turns into an arrest and charges for a Marion man.

Deputies were called to the domestic dispute on Rockhouse Road April 24^th shortly after midnight.

An investigation revealed 39-year-old Michael Boggs had assaulted a woman and a teenage male at a home.

Boggs was charged with assault inflicting serious injury, assault inflicting serious injury with a minor present, and child abuse.

Teen Arrest after Chase

A 17-year-old has been arrested after Iredell County lawmen say he led officers on a chase and fired a gun at them early Wednesday morning.

Reports say the incident began when a resident reported a breaking and entering of motor vehicles in Mooresville.

Once on scene, officers observed two suspect vehicles leaving the area at high speeds.

Authorities attempted vehicle stops; however, both drivers refused to stop reports say.

Stop sticks were used to halt one of the cars, at which time the driver used his vehicle to sideswipe the police car before shooting at the officer.

Other officers assisted and the teen driver and passenger were taken into custody.

The 17-year-old driver’s name is not being released, but he is being charged as an adult with numerous offenses.

Officers say the investigation into the second vehicle involved is ongoing.

Standoff in Watauga Over 

The standoff in Watauga County ends with the suspect reportedly

killing himself. The man, inside a home on Hardaman Circle in Boone

had reportedly shot two deputies Wednesday morning. Sargeant

Chris Ward, died after being airlifted to Johnson City Medical

Center. The second deputy, Logan Fox, who was inside the home, also died,

according to the Watauga Democrat. Deputies had originally responded

to the home for a family welfare check.