Press Releases

North Carolina is preparing for another round of winter weather expected this weekend and now is the time for people to get ready, especially in the mountains and foothills, Governor Roy Cooper said Thursday.  “Our emergency managers and DOT engineers are watching the forecast closely and making sure North Carolina is prepared for more winter weather,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “Residents should monitor their local forecast and make sure they are prepared as well.”
Area residents can get tips and advice on how to make their homes more resistant to flood damage at community mitigation resiliency workshops. FEMA flood mitigation specialists will be available to answer questions about home repair and resiliency, making disaster plans, the importance of flood insurance and the opportunity for attendees to locate their properties on the flood plain map. Mitigation is an effort to reduce the loss of life and property damage by lessening the impact of disaster. The workshops will be held at the following locations and dates:
Offender David Burleson (#0694678) died Saturday afternoon at Scotland Correctional Institution after an apparent suicide. He was found unresponsive in his cell at approximately 12:07 p.m. Prison staff, medical staff and local paramedics responded and worked to resuscitate the offender. He was pronounced dead at 12:42 p.m. at the facility by local EMS.
Public Safety Secretary Erik A. Hooks today named Chris Holland and Tracy Little as deputy secretaries within the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice effective Monday, Jan. 7.
If you are a Hurricane Florence survivor who needs to extend temporary housing assistance from FEMA, it’s important you provide FEMA with the proper documents. If you are eligible for an extension, you may use continued temporary housing assistance to pay for a place to live, such as a house, apartment, hotel or recreational vehicle. The assistance covers rent, security deposit and essential utilities, like electricity and water.
Offender Robert Spicer (#0927311) died this morning at Nash Correctional Institution after an apparent suicide. He was found unresponsive in his cell Monday morning at approximately 12:36 a.m. Prison staff, medical staff and local paramedics responded and worked to resuscitate the inmate. He was pronounced dead at 12:56 a.m. at the facility by Nash County EMS.
Laurinburg --On December 22 at approximately 2:15p.m. at Scotland Correctional Institution, multiple offenders were involved in an altercation in which nine inmates assaulted a fellow offender in their housing unit. That offender was transported to an outside facility for further medical attention for non-life threatening injuries. 
Asheville – State correctional and local law enforcement officers from Woodfin Police Department are seeking Craggy Correctional Center minimum custody inmate David W. Hinkle (#0716211), who was reported missing from the facility at approximately 10 p.m. Wednesday evening. Hinkle was last seen near the facility at approximately 7 p.m.    Hinkle, 35, is a 5-foot-8 white male, bald with brown eyes from Gaston County.  He was serving a sentence for speeding and eluding arrest and was admitted on Oct. 18, 2018. He was scheduled for release April 16, 2019. 
Craggy Correctional Center minimum custody inmate David W. Hinkle (#0716211), who was reported missing from the facility Wednesday night, was apprehended around 4:30 am. Hinkle was last seen near the facility at approximately 7 p.m.    Hinkle, 35, was serving a sentence for speeding and eluding arrest and was admitted on Oct. 18, 2018. He was scheduled for release this April.    Hinkle now faces escape charges.  # # #  
Offender Benjamin Williford (#1537738) died Tuesday afternoon at Maury Correctional Institution after an apparent suicide. He was found unresponsive in his cell at about 1:20 p.m. Prison medical staff and local paramedics responded and worked to resuscitate the offender but were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead by emergency medical staff at 2:03 p.m. Williford, 32, was sentenced in Watauga County in 2017 and was serving a 35-year sentence for second degree murder and arson. He was scheduled to be released in August 2052.