The NC legislative session will formally re-open for business April 28^th with appropriate measures in place to ensure health and safety.

Officials say the General Assembly will limit access to the legislative campus to members, staff, and credentialed media April 20^th through May 8^th, with those entering having their temperatures taken.

The policy limiting access is in place to balance the need for legislators to return to Raleigh to carry out their constitutional duties while maintaining the health and safety of members as well as the general public.

Officials add that the policy was developed in collaboration with the state capitol press corps and public access advocacy organizations.

Burke County is holding fairly steady with the number of positive Covid-19 virus cases increasing by  one since Wednesday, bringing the county to a total of 64 confirmed cases.

As of Thursday Catawba County reported 40 positive cases, Caldwell 21 and McDowell 20.

In the latest figures, NC’s positive cases total 5-thousand-465 with 131 deaths.

Meanwhile NC Governor Cooper says three factors must be considered when deciding when and how to re-open the state during the current pandemic.

The factors include testing availability, tracing processes and trends as it relates to positive cases, hospitalizations, deaths, the supply of personal protective equipment, and hospital capacity.

Cooper says ‘we want to get back to work, but at the same time prevent our hospitals from getting overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients.’

Cooper states the re-opening will not be like flipping a switch to turn on the economy, but rather compared it to using a dimmer switch that gradually brings light to a room.

He described some normal activities like restaurant dining may look different with fewer people or tables; while sporting events and concerts may not host attendees for some time.

Cooper states ‘a new normal can get us back to work, back to school, and back to play; but in a new way for awhile.’

According to reports, Governor Cooper stated he has conducted conversations with other state governors in exchanging ideas on how to best re-open parts of the economy.

 A Marion man faces charges after allegedly attempting to break into a couple of his neighbor’s homes last month.

42-year-old Kenneth Allan Styles of Styles Drive is charged with two counts of attempted breaking and entering and one count of damage to property.

On March 4^th, two home owners on White Pine Drive in Marion reported that Styles came to their residences and began to bang on their doors, trying to gain entry.

A news release from the McDowell Sheriff’s office says both complainants were familiar with Styles as he lives nearby.

Styles reportedly caused 200-dollars in damages to one of the homes.

He was taken into custody at the scene.

A motorist was killed in Lincoln County Wednesday evening after colliding with a pickup truck.

Highway Patrol reports say 21-year-old Robert Austin Cornelius was headed west on Poarch Road driving a ’94 Chevrolet Geo when he attempted a left turn onto Buffalo Shoals Road.

Troopers report Cornelius failed to yield the right of way and collided with a 2014 Ford pickup driven by 49-year-old Mark Edward Beal.

Cornelius was reported deceased on the scene; while Beal was transported to Atrium Health Lincoln for treatment of his injuries.