News Roundup

The Fayetteville Observer reports that Fayetteville law enforcement is asking the public for information about a disturbing series of burglaries in the city over the past few months.  On several occasions, home security cameras have captured images of a masked person wearing kneepads burglarizing people’s homes while they slept inside.  A police spokesman said that the suspect appears to be intentionally targeting the homes of elderly people.  Keep reading for more news. Blue Lights.  The Port City Daily reports that the Wilmington Police Department has been experimenting with a new technique to enhance their visibility while on patrol.  Newer patrol cars with LED light bars have been burning their blue non-flashing “cruise” lights at all times while out on the streets.  An emergency vehicle lighting specialist said that the intent behind using cruise lights is to communicate police presence in a manner that isn’t alarming or distracting. Covid in Prisons.  A recent article from Carolina Public Press suggests that the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black people may be driven in part by the demographics and locations of prisons.  The article says that prions act as incubators and distribution centers for the virus in the Black population because more than half of prisoners and correctional officers are Black.  One in four North Carolina prison staff members have tested positive for the coronavirus, a rate that far exceeds that of the general public. K9 Training.  WLOS reports that the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office recently constructed a new K9 training facility so that [...]