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5.9 magnitude earthquake felt across the Carolinas

5.9 magnitude earthquake felt across the Carolinas

An earthquake hit the Virginia region about 1:51 pm. and was felt throughout North Carolina -- and as far south as Savannah, GA.

The earthquake was centered in Virginia about 34 miles northwest from Richmond and was a 5.9 magnitude. (Original reports put it at 5.8 strength)

The Pentagon was evacuated at just afterward and the US Capitol was also being cleared.

Suspect in dragway shootings proclaims innocence in YouTube video

Suspect in dragway shootings proclaims innocence in YouTube video

SALISBURY - Quentin Mathis, wanted for two counts of attempted murder from an incident that happened at the Mooresville Dragway late Saturday night, says that he was the victim in the case.

Mathis is proclaiming his innocence in a video posted on YouTube under the name "SOSA DA KING."  There are several other videos of hip hop songs also posted under that name.

The above image, taken from the video, show Mathis posing with a gun in his pants and the following message:

“Quentin "SOSA DA KING" Mathis Responds to the Suspects aka Victims who shot and tried to end his life At the MOORESVILLE DRAGWAY Bike Fest on Sat. May 7, 2011. After being shot in the left arm by the victims,SOSA picked up the fire arm after the suspect droped it, and returned fire out of fear for his life!

“Now Sosa Is charged with attempted murder 2 counts! Now the truth is out there for those who have judge SOSA wrongly! There saying Sosa DA KING is Armed and Dangerous!

All charges dropped in string of south Charlotte break-ins

All charges dropped in string of south Charlotte break-ins

SOUTH CHARLOTTE (Mike Parks, Frank DeLoache and Josh Lanier, The South Charlotte Weekly) - The Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office has dismissed all charges against a man and a couple tied separately to a string of home break-ins in south Charlotte.

Doubts about the initial charge against Carl Caleb Allen, of Huntersville, first arose after his mother, Diana Allen, followed leads and tracked down the couple that was later charged with being involved.

Caleb Allen was charged in one break-in, and Justin Aldrich and Anna Hoard, of 20317 Wilcher Court in Cornelius, faced charges related to three home break-ins and the theft of thousands of dollars in jewelry, guns and electronics in south Charlotte’s Providence Division.

Now, prosecutors have dropped all charges against the three, stating that a combination of a misidentification of Allen as one of the suspects and the mishandlin

Rare mouse found in Mecklenburg Co.

By Kristen Hampton - bio l email

HUNTERSVILLE, NC (WBTV) - Rob Gilson thought his find might be significant. The biology student found a rare mouse inside at trap at Cowan's Ford Wildlife Refuge.

The mouse hasn't been seen in Mecklenburg County since 1968. Mecklenburg County Natural Resources coordinator Lenny Lampel mentors Ron.

"Although it does live in a field, it's different from a field mouse," said Lampel, "because a field mouse is just a name people call any old mouse running around in a field."

The species discovered by Gilson is called an oldfield mouse. The little guys usually don't go so far north. They're native to the more southern areas of the Southeast.

Wandering cow struck and killed on I-485

By Ron Lee - bio l email

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Traffic was backed up for at least 12 miles in northwest Charlotte early Wednesday morning after some vehicles struck and killed a wandering cow.

The incident occurred around 3 a.m. on Interstate 485 near Mount Holly Road.

One of the drivers involved said there just simply wasn't enough time to react and avoid colliding with the animal.

"Boom!  There's a cow, and I couldn't turn fast enough," one driver said.

More News (story continues below):

Teen shows up at school intoxicated, gets cited

LAKE NORMAN - A Lake Norman High School student has been charged after deputies say he showed up at school smelling of alcohol.

According to Iredell County Sheriff Phil Redmond, School Resource officer Deputy G. Crandford was contacted after a teenager showed up at school and was suspected of being intoxicated.

Cover Story: Breaking law to punish lawbreakers?

By Jeff Atkinson - bio l email

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Controversial Mecklenburg County Commissioner Bill James wants to break the law to catch lawbreakers.

The immigration debate taking center stage at the Government Center.

If you're born in this country, you're an American citizen. Period.  First sentence - Section One -14th Amendment of the Constitution.

"All persons born or naturalized in the United States Are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside."

And you're guaranteed certain benefits - food, medicine, and welfare, if you need it.

But Republican Commissioner Bill James has a plan that would take those benefits away from the children of illegal immigrants who were born here.