Latest news with #CBS17
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
‘You're never the sum of your worst mistake': April Barber Scales, from prisoner to advocate
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Sentenced to prison for the rest of her life for the murder of her grandparents, April Barber Scales now spends her time on the outside making amends. Thirty years after the then 15-year-old pleaded guilty, April was granted clemency. In the decades that followed her guilty plea, new research on adolescent brain development emerged and laws regarding juvenile sentencing changed across the country, including North Carolina. In 2021, the newly established Juvenile Sentencing Review Board considered 300 petitions. Of those, April was one of three people to be granted clemency by then governor Roy Cooper. After three years of probation, she is now fully free. To understand how April received her freedom, a moment that was full of joyful tears, you have to know the story of the tears of sorrow, regret and fear that were shed in Wilkes County back in 1991 and 1992. 'I didn't understand that I was actually being mistreated, so to speak, by him. I was still very much in love. You know, this was my boyfriend. This was my son's father. This happened, but somehow, some way, we're still going to work through it. And my naive mind said it's going to be okay at some point somehow,' April told CBS 17's Russ Bowen. At 14 years-old, April became pregnant by a 29-year-old. It was a relationship that was encouraged by her own mother. But it was a pregnancy that was discouraged by her grandparents who had adopted April. 'It was supposed to be like a Lifetime movie. Everyone paints this picture where some tragedy happens, and everyone is all so accepting and comes out on the lawn and hugs everyone and all the bad is forgiven and everyone moves forward. And that's the way it was supposed to be. And then it wasn't. And it couldn't be undone.' As for what April would say to her grandparents, if she could see them face-to-face, she said she would, 'profusely apologize and explain to them I never wanted to harm them; I only wanted them to see my point of view.' The house fire she and her then boyfriend, Clinton Johnson, were accused of setting killed her grandparents, Aaron and Lillie barber. April faced two murder charges at 15 years old. 'They had me kind of painted like Long Island Lolita, like I was the mastermind and that he was under my influence. 106 days after I gave birth, he [the defense attorney] brought a plea to me saying that I would be wasting the taxpayer's time and money if I took it to trial. And I plead guilty to murder, to the two counts, not knowing that the judge was going to make the sentences consecutive.' April was also threatened with the death penalty. After entering prison, the teenage mother did get the opportunity to create a relationship with her son, Colt. Colt went on to attend Appalachian State and played on the university's football team. It's a relationship that has survived. 'He's been by my side since he has been able to do so. And we maintain a very still close and open relationship. He is now 33. He is a very accomplished young man. He's a marine with a lot of good things behind him. And we still maintain that, just communicating and visiting as much as we can,' she said. Ten years into her sentence, April was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. In one of April's published books, she recalls what that was like. Reading an excerpt for CBS 17, she said, 'MS is such an iffy, scary disease. How could my life be over at 25? We discussed treatments to slow the progression of the disease. I began to research as much as I could.' April has also written about coming to terms with her mother's decisions as a child and as an adult. 'Shelia attempted to leave on a better note than she came—promising to write, visit, send money and find a lawyer to help April obtain freedom. April heard these words, but deep down knew they were false,' she read. April's mother died while April was in prison, however she has become close with her biological father. Since her release in 2022, April has become an advocate for juvenile defenders and a messenger of hope and frank reality for those on the inside. She said she does believe that she is reaching people. 'I do. I do in in small increments,' she said. 'I do think I'm reaching them. I developed this mantra in there: 'One-day, one-step, one-moment at a time.' And I think that's how I reach them.' April continued to say, 'I would like to reach them all and snap my fingers and be able to go back and change policy and how they're treated in prison. But you know, that's not going to happen overnight. I wasn't released overnight, so I know that big changes don't come overnight, but that's why I keep at it, because I do believe they will come. April recognized that there are people who might say that she should not have been released from prison for a crime that she admitted committing, even if she was 15 years old at the time. 'I want those people to know you're never the sum of your worst mistake and I am not a juvenile. I am not someone who will make rash decisions now or be influenced. You know I have made a lot of mistakes, as a lot of people, and I've learned to live with those mistakes, and I understand that not everyone is going to be as supportive. And I just let my success be something that those people can hopefully look up to one day as opposed to looking down on me.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
101 Dogs Found Crammed into 'Unsanitary Spaces' During Rescue at 'Unassuming' N.C. Home
A pet rescue in North Carolina was called to help rescue 101 dogs found crammed in cages and other small, filthy spaces inside a residence The SPCA of Wake County worked alongside Raleigh Animal Control to transport the dogs out of the house and into recovery Officers from the Raleigh Police Department discovered the neglected dogs after responding to a complaint about the propertyAuthorities rescued 101 dogs from an "apparent puppy mill" in a Raleigh, North Carolina, home, according to a Wake County shelter. The SPCA of Wake County received a phone call on June 4, alerting them to 101 dogs living in "egregious conditions" at one residence. Within the hour, rescuers say they made their way to the property and began escorting the dogs to safety, SPCA of Wake County wrote in an Instagram post. "101 dogs were removed yesterday from an apparent puppy mill inside a Wake County home," the SPCA of Wake County wrote in the June 5 social media post. The nonprofit animal shelter partnered with Raleigh Animal Control to ensure all the animals found on the property were safely transported out of the home. The two rescue agencies found the dogs in cages crammed with 5 to 6 dogs stacked from floor to ceiling in the "unassuming" home, per the SPCA of Wake County's website. The organization also reported that rescuers found uncaged dogs roaming a maze of "tight, unsanitary spaces" inside the residence. All the dogs were found surrounded by their own waste, and some recovered canines included pregnant dogs and mothers nursing their puppies. After the rescue, the SPCA brought 19 of the dogs found in the home to their facility to begin immediately nursing them back to health. "We are working quickly to medically assess each dog and begin providing treatment," SPCA wrote on Instagram. In the photos posted from the rescue, dogs of various ages and breeds are seen with matted fur and in a filthy state. Many of the dogs rescued were a form of "doodle" mix, Samantha Ranlet, a spokesperson for the SPCA of Wake County, told CBS 17 in an interview. Pomeranians, chihuahuas, Yorkies, and many toy poodle mixes were among the breeds found in the house. A golden retriever was among a group of dogs discovered in a locked cage in the back of the house next to another cage filled with golden doodle puppies. "The dogs in our care are being medically evaluated, and some have been moved into foster homes," Ranlet told CBS 17. "They will be placed up for adoption once they have received veterinary care and recuperated. We need to make sure they are healthy and rehabilitated so they can start fresh as somebody's family members." Raleigh Animal Control visited the home after receiving a phone call about chickens living on the property in poor conditions, Raleigh police told CBS 17. When officers arrived on location to survey the property, they discovered the dogs. "During the investigation, officers discovered multiple dogs living in unsanitary conditions," the Raleigh Police Department said in a news release. "All animals have since been placed in various rescues and will face a long road to recovery." On June 6, the SPCA posted an update on the dogs it took into their care. Since their rescue, the dogs have enjoyed a spa day that included baths, haircuts, and plenty of pampering. "These dogs have been getting the spa day of their lives — and their first taste of fresh air, possibly ever," the SPCA wrote in the updated post. The organization also thanked its supporters for all the donations that made this rescue work possible. "Thank you to everyone who has donated or reached out in support of these efforts ❤️ This rescue is a big undertaking, and we can't do it without you." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Local Matters: What potential Medicaid cuts could mean for North Carolinians, rural hospitals
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — As the U.S Senate debates the House version of the budget, there are a number of sticking points within the GOP on the Senate side. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act received no Democratic votes in the House. Among the main sticking points for some holdouts is the expected impact the budget could have on health care, particularly Medicaid. It was just a little more than two years ago that Medicaid expanded in North Carolina. It allowed access for around 600,000 additional people. CBS 17's Russ Bowen sat down with Rep. Deborah Ross, a Democrat who represents Wake County, to talk about her concerns. Below is an excerpt from the attached on-air interview segment. Rep. Deborah Ross: 'Kicking people off of Medicaid is going to have dire consequences, particularly when we just got people onto Medicaid with the expansion. But the other thing that this bill does that I don't think enough people are talking about, is it takes away some of the subsidies for the health care marketplace. So, there's another 5,000 people who now will not be able to afford health insurance and may not be Medicaid eligible who have been paying for their health insurance through the marketplace. They just have gotten some subsidies because they don't earn a lot, but they are people who are working.' 'The bottom line is this; any system has some waste, fraud and abuse. There's a recent article that came out that said that maybe 3% could be avoided here. But the number of people who would be kicked off of their health insurance, that has ripple effects not just for them and their families, but it means they won't be able to pay their bills.' 'We did a Medicaid round table a few months ago and we brought the Rural Center in. And the Rural Center said if Medicaid goes away in these rural areas, particularly the expansion that we've had, up to seven rural hospitals could immediately close their doors. Those are not my statistics. Those are the statistics we got from the Rural Center.' North Carolina among 9 states that could halt Medicaid expansion if Trump cuts funding CBS 17 is working to schedule an in-person interview with Republican Rep. Brad Knott. Rep. Knott also represents part of Wake County, as well as a number of other counties in the region. He shared the following statement with CBS 17 on the federal budget. Rep. Brad Knott: 'The House delivered a once-in-a-generation opportunity with the passage of 'The One Big Beautiful Bill.' Without this becoming law, we would see trillions of dollars in tax increases for Americans – which would affect every person in my district and across North Carolina. The House further moved to protect and preserve Medicaid for those who truly need it and remove costly handouts for illegal immigrants and able-bodied young men. The bill also makes the largest border security investment in history to protect our communities. And perhaps most importantly, the bill begins to get our fiscal house in order with $1.5 trillion in cuts. I look forward to the Senate's quick consideration of this bill so we can get it to President Trump for his signature.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Officials Warn of 'Dangerous' Swimming Conditions at NC Beaches
If you're planning on spending time in the ocean for Memorial Day weekend, you may want to stay on high alert. Oak Island and Sunset Beach in North Carolina are dealing with dangerous swimming conditions this week because Portuguese Man o' War washed ashore. These organisms are known for packing an incredibly painful sting even after they've died. With that said, Cape Lookout officials have issued a warning to beachgoers. "These aren't jellyfish, but colonies of organisms with a powerful sting. Even when dead, their tentacles can still sting, so DO NOT TOUCH them," fire officials in Sunset Beach said. That's not the only issue plaguing North Carolina this month. Swimming advisories have been issued for parts of the Outer Banks due to a serious bacteria problem. According to the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program, test results from Whiskey Creek show that bacteria levels have blown past the state and federal action levels of 104 enterococci per 100 milliliters. This is a sign of fecal contamination in the water. From CBS 17: Testing at Jockey's Ridge Sound-side Access in Nags Head found water samples that show a running monthly average of 37 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water, according to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. The levels in the Roanoke Sound exceed the state and federal standards of a running monthly average of 35 enterococci per 100 milliliters, based on five samples taken within a 30-day period, officials said. The beaches in these areas have not closed despite these swimming advisories. It's unclear how long these beach troubles will last for the Outer Banks.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CBS 17 Investigates: NC homeowner's associations and buyers beware
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — We are in the middle of 'homebuying season' and there are many items people have on their dream home wish lists. One may be living in a neighborhood with one of the nearly 15,000 community associations in North Carolina. However, some buyers want to avoid these organizations completely. 'There's two HOAs here. The first one is kind of an overhead HOA, so it covers, you know, all of the amenities,' Jessica Mclemore told CBS 17 Investigates about her Wake Forest home, which is currently up for sale in the Traditions neighborhood. 'Then the second HOA for this house covers all lawn care and maintenance.' She told CBS 17 Investigates the home used to be owned by her grandparents. The couple's realtor, Brian Pate, said it's not uncommon potential buyers-say 'no thanks' to a neighborhood with an HOA. 'You always hear the bad stories, you never hear the good. So, for that reason, people often want to avoid HOAs, and it can be a challenge with all of the new construction in the Triangle area market because all of those large, new subdivisions are going to have homeowner's associations,' said Pate. 'Look at it! It's huge! This is beautiful,' said Michael Bruner of his Fayetteville home, positioned in the Preston community. He and his wife, Kala Elenes say an HOA was a dealbreaker for them when they were on the market for a home a few years back. 'Rules, regulations for me,' Bruner said, were the reasons why he didn't want an HOA. Shortly after moving into their home in 2021, the couple said they were notified an HOA was collecting dues. 'It was very devastating to find that out, especially while I was still pregnant and I was like what are, we just got here, we paid all this money, we've painted this house, we've done all this stuff…now what do we do?' Elenes said. CBS 17 Investigates found a copy of the original Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions for the Preston Homeowner's Association of Fayetteville dated 2002, along with amended versions. It was filed with the Register of Deeds Office in Cumberland County. The couple also told us their realtor did notify them of the covenants. 'Yeah, there was covenants on the properties and bylaws, but like I said, nobody was enforcing anything,' said Bruner. CBS 17 Investigates found other documents filed for the HOA, but we didn't locate any paperwork showing it was ever disbanded. It's also registered with the North Carolina Secretary of State's Office, listing November 2002 as the time it formed. 'From a legal standpoint, there's really nothing that we can do because they're there. They've existed in its entirety forever,' said Bruner. However, the couple also provided us a copy of the MLS for the property, which is the system used by the real estate industry to show listing information about properties. In their case, the MLS says 'No' next to 'HOA.' Additionally, the couple told us an HOA was not listed on their financing paperwork, and they provided documentation showing the previous homeowner signing off on a section that says the property is not subject to governing documents, 'which impose various mandatory covenants, conditions, and restrictions upon the lot or unit.' The Preston HOA of Fayetteville tells CBS 17 Investigates in part; 'The HOA has remained active since its inception. At one point, some residents perceived the HOA as inactive due to a period when dues were not being collected while the leadership at the time addressed a legal matter. However, new leadership took over in 2021, and dues collection resumed.' 'According to everybody that we talked to, there was no HOA, okay, so that that was under the assumption that we had,' Bruner told CBS 17 Investigates. We asked —who specializes in community associations with Law Firm Carolinas—if a buyer does not want to live in a neighborhood with an HOA, what should they look out for and whose responsibility is it to vet the process. 'When someone is purchasing property, they need to make sure that they understand all of the regulations and restrictions that bind that property to make sure it's going to be appropriate for their use,' Taylor said. 'The real estate agent who was assisting them is responsible for working with them on that. The buyer is required to get certain disclosures from the seller and that includes information on any community association that might be regulating that community. And then, of course, through title inspections and title insurance, anything would come up if there wasn't a community association in effect.' After their annual dues doubled recently, Elenes and Bruner say they are looking to move elsewhere. 'I've been actively looking for a home and I really wanted to get out of here before they raised it again because—what comes next now? It's 500 a year, now it's 1,000 year…they can do anything they want to do,' Elenes said. Back in Wake Forest, the McLemores just finished house shopping a few months back and are settling in with their dogs. 'We purchased a home kind of on the outskirts of town, and the homeowner's association there is less intrusive. That's kind of what we were looking for,' said Holden McLemore. 'Nobody likes to be told what they can and can't do with their house and their property,' Jessica McLemore told us. In North Carolina, there are about 15,000 community associations, according to the Community Associations Institute. According to Attorney Taylor, about 99% of associations are set up as nonprofits in the state. 'In North Carolina, there are different types of HOAs…we have condominium associations, town home association, property owner's associations and then general HOAs, all different types,' Taylor told CBS 17 Investigates. 'But generally, these are organized as nonprofit corporations under the nonprofit corporation act, set up like any other nonprofit corporation and they're administered pursuant to that statutory framework.' You can find their information on the . Here is the full statement we received from the Preston Homeowner's Association of Fayetteville: 'The Preston HOA was established and officially filed with the state of North Carolina in 2006 when the community was first developed. The HOA has remained active since its inception. At one point, some residents perceived the HOA as inactive due to a period when dues were not being collected while the leadership at the time addressed a legal matter. However, new leadership took over in 2021, and dues collection resumed. Since its establishment, the HOA has remained publicly recorded with the state, though we understand that some homeowners may not have been made aware of its existence during their home purchase. This information is typically provided through real estate transactions, and we encourage all buyers and agents to verify HOA status during the home-buying process. The HOA prioritizes transparent and consistent communication with residents. Information is regularly shared through multiple channels, including our homeowner portal (which contains meeting minutes, governing documents, project invoices, and budgets), email updates, text messages, a quarterly newsletter, and the community bulletin board. Participation in meetings and HOA activities is always encouraged, as these forums provide opportunities for homeowners to stay informed and involved. The HOA operates in accordance with its bylaws, which are accessible through the homeowner portal. We encourage all homeowners to review these documents to gain a clear understanding of HOA procedures and responsibilities. Our goal is to maintain open communication and provide homeowners with the resources they need. We welcome any questions or concerns and encourage residents to reach out at any time to discuss HOA matters.' CBS 17's Mary Smith is an Investigative Reporter focused on Digging Deeper and Getting Answers. If you have a story that needs investigating, send an email to Investigates@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
