Latest news with #WCNC
New York Post
02-05-2025
- New York Post
Sickos film live opossum they set on fire — while laughing with delight: ‘One of the most heinous cases'
A group of sickos filmed themselves lighting a helpless opossum on fire and then giggling with delight as it burned — with cops teasing an update Friday after being flooded with tips. The distressing video shows them dousing the terrified creature with fuel and lighting it on fire as it's pinned against a fence in Charlotte, North Carolina. They scream and laugh as the opossum, engulfed in flames, writhes in pain for over a minute before keeling over, seemingly dead, the video shows. Advertisement 4 A video of a opossum being set on fire while a group of people watched it burn has gone viral. WCNC 4 The opossum writhed in pain for over a minute before keeling over, seemingly dead. WCNC 'It was one of the most heinous cases we've heard of recently,' Kevin Chambers from Animal Wellness Action told WCNC while offering a $5,000 reward. Advertisement Authorities have scheduled an update on the case for 1:30 p.m. Friday, having earlier said the disturbing attack could lead to felony charges. They have yet to confirm the poor opossum died. The horrific video went viral locally after being posted last week on Facebook, with local law enforcement agencies saying they were swamped with tips — saying they no longer needed more and had enough 'to move forward.' 4 The animal was doused with fuel and and lit on fire while pinned against a fence in Charlotte, North Carolina. WCNC Advertisement 4 According to Kristofer Blankenship, a senior officer with the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission, the incident is 'under investigation, but this is looking like it's going to be a felony matter of animal cruelty.' WCNC At least three people appear to be involved in the torture, authorities said. 'It's under investigation, but this is looking like it's going to be a felony matter of animal cruelty,' Kristofer Blankenship, a senior officer with the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission, told WCNC.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
‘Children trapped' on flipped school bus in South Carolina
Children as young as 11 may be trapped inside a school bus after it crashed on a main road in South Carolina. The bus, carrying pupils from Pine Ridge Middle School in Lexington County, rolled over on Thursday afternoon after a tyre blew on I-77 in Chester County. As many as 35 students were on the bus, as well as two adults, Fox 57 reported. Local media reported 18 people had been hospitalised. Some children were trapped inside the bus, which had been travelling back from a school trip, according to WCNC. Video and pictures from the scene show a large police and ambulance presence. The top speed on the I-77 is 70mph. More to follow. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Axios
15-04-2025
- Climate
- Axios
Charlotte meteorologist Brad Panovich explains chance of rain, talks AI in meteorology and more
We recently caught up with WCNC's chief meteorologist, Brad Panovich, to hear his thoughts on the Apple weather app — and why he thinks you should delete it. Why it matters: During the interview, we hit on a few other topics in the world of meteorology, including what "chance of rain" means, AI replacing your local meteorologist and federal cuts impacting forecasts. On the chance of rain. A few years ago, a trend on TikTok made many people realize they didn't understand what the chance of rain in a forecast actually meant. Panovich explains it like this: The probability of precipitation, AKA "chance of rain," is how much of the area will see rain multiplied by the confidence in the forecast that it will rain. "So, 100% chance of rain doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be a heavy all-day rain," Panovich says. "It just means we're 100% confident that everybody's going to get some rain at some point." That said, it might just be a short shower, not a reason to cancel your beach plans. On whether AI could replace your local weatherperson. So far, it hasn't. Panovich says he's been using AI for years as a tool to improve weather models and save time. "It just makes our job easier," Panovich says. "I can focus more on communicating the forecast, putting out better people understand it, and I don't have to spend as many hours crunching numbers." On federal cuts impacting the forecasts. Government cuts have led the National Weather Service to reduce weather balloon launches across the U.S. Those balloons gather crucial information for forecasting, such as a three-dimensional view of the atmosphere. "If there's a cold front in North Dakota right now and it's going to be our weather this weekend, we would not have a good sampling of that storm," Panovich says, "because the weather balloons in Fargo or Grand Forks are not being launched."
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Oprah Winfrey Reveals Why She Encouraged BFF Gayle King to Join the Blue Origin Space Flight
Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King have been best friends for decades, and they've championed one another throughout it all. So, of course, it's no surprise that Winfrey supported King today at the long-awaited Blue Origin Space Flight. 'We've been friends for… it'll be 50 years next year; we became friends when we were 21, 22, and I've never been more proud of my friend than today,' Winfrey told WCNC. More from SheKnows Katy Perry Shared This Telling Moment During the Blue Origin Space Flight & the Internet Has Thoughts Winfrey then explained that this milestone was more than King checking an accomplishment from her bucket list; it's about her facing her fears. 'This is bigger than going to space,' Winfrey said. 'Anytime we're on a flight, she's in anybody's lap if there's any bit of turbulence, has real, real anxiety flying and this is overcoming a wall of fear, a barrier. I think it's gonna be cathartic in so many ways for her.' In fact, it seems Winfrey was one of the people who encouraged the CBS Mornings host to take on the challenge in the first place. Why? 'Because I think life is about continuing to grow into the best of yourself, and the fullest expression of yourself and I think this is one of the fullest expressions you can possibly have,' Winfrey said. 'And I felt deeply that she would regret it and I didn't want to hear about it for the next 15 years, 'I wish I had gone!'' she joked. 'I said, 'There's only one time that all the women are going up for the first time. There'll be other trips, but they'll be only one first time. So, to be a pioneer is great.' As for what their last conversation was before the flight, Winfrey reminded King of her fate. 'I said, 'Peace be still, hold God's unchanging hand, he's got your back,'' Winfrey said. All in all, it seems Winfrey was thrilled to be there at the historic moment. 'Gayle has been there for me for hundreds of events, I can't even remember them, but you will never forget this day,' she said. 'None of us will ever forget this day.' During the flight, Winfrey was filmed getting visibly emotional looking at the spaceship take off, People reports. Luckily, the flight went well as predicted. Along with King, Katy Perry, Jeff Bezos' fiancée and journalist Lauren Sánchez, engineer and NASA veteran Aisha Bowe, activist and scientist Amanda Nguyen and movie producer Kerianne Flynn all made it back safely. A historic moment!Best of SheKnows Every Celebrity Who Put Their Own Spin on the Little Black Dress Trend 15 of the Most Controversial SNL Skits of All Time 54 Celebrities Who Died Tragically Young: Lucy Markovic, Michelle Trachtenberg, & More
Axios
11-04-2025
- Climate
- Axios
Why Charlotte meteorologist Brad Panovich wants you to delete your Apple weather app
Brad Panovich says it's for your own good (and his): Delete the default weather app off your phone. "I'm tired of taking the blame for it," the Charlotte meteorologist posted on social media recently. Why it matters: An inaccurate weather forecast can ruin your day. It's how we plan what to wear, where to go and what to do. Yes, but: Most people still use stock weather apps (or as Panovich and others call them, "crap apps") that are automatically uploaded to their devices simply for the sake of convenience. How it works: These apps rely on automated information, sometimes from unknown sources, without human insight. The apps also can't filter out "ground clutter" or "false returns" on a radar, Panovich explains. For example, on a sunny day, it might interpret wildfire smoke as a thunderstorm. Case in point: Last fall, when Hurricane Helene was coming, one of those apps might've only warned of a 100% chance of rain with a thunderstorm icon, Panovich explains. "There's nothing in the app that tells you this is going to be a catastrophic flood, and there's going to be landslides and the worst storm to ever hit western North Carolina," Panovich adds. By the numbers: Default apps are right about 80% to 85% of the time, Panovich says. However, human-driven forecasts reach about 90% to 95% accuracy. That roughly 10% of added value may seem insignificant, but could be a difference of 25 to 50 days out of your year. "If that's your day off or a holiday or maybe you got a wedding, that day could be pretty important," Panovich says. Be smart: There are better options, Panovich says. Of course, he plugs WCNC's app. However, any app from a local TV station is a more reliable choice.
