CRAVEN COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - A baby boy in Bridgeton made an unconventional entrance to the world, but his mother says the traumatic birth event could have been avoided.
“Without a doubt, she was in labor,” said the baby’s father. “Anybody could tell that.” Lauren and Steve Banks were ready to bring their son into the world. At 39 weeks pregnant and contracting, the parents headed to CarolinaEast Medical Center for delivery. “She was denied admittance to labor and delivery a couple of times, and she was in obvious pain and labor, and within 30 minutes of her being home her water broke,” said Steve Banks. The couple rushed back to CarolinaEast an hour after being turned away from the hospital. The family’s home is about a half-hour from the hospital. But Baby Banks had no intentions of holding back. “Thankfully, I was able to get a neighbor to come and watch the girls who were asleep upstairs,” said Banks. “We had to go, right then.” Baby Banks was born in-between pumps four and five at the Handy Mart gas station, his dad and a Bridgeton EMT handling the delivery. “I watched my wife give birth to my son right there in the parking lot,” said Banks. “He came out and he was purple, and he wasn’t making a lot of noise. I was concerned on top of everything else going on.” Just as he made his arrival, emergency services pulled into the parking lot. “They came up and saw what was happening and jumped into action,” recalled Banks. “I’m sure that they are a large part of the reason to why everything went as smoothly as it did and there were no complications. I can’t thank them enough.” The family was then taken to CarolinaEast by ambulance. When the parents questioned the hospital’s prior judgment, they say the hospital offered to detail their car in return. WITN asked CarolinaEast about what happened. The hospital system said in part, “CarolinaEast Health System cannot legally comment on patient matters or concerns. We internally follow all protocols and guidelines for such concerns but cannot publicly comment on them.” On Tuesday the hospital system added that they would not turn anyone away and that an obstetrician evaluated the pregnant woman. “Unfortunately babies don’t always cooperate with expectations…we’ve all heard stories of newborns making debuts in homes, cars, restaurants, and even gas stations. The Banks’ baby certainly made an unexpected entrance but we are so happy he is healthy and precious and absolutely wish the family all the best!” they said. "Someone just please explain to me why this happened,” Banks said. Now a few days recovered from the traumatic birth, the parents are holding their son tightly. “He’s great. He’s healthy,” beamed Banks. “We’re happy he’s home.” This baby is Lauren Banks’ second child. When she tried to get a bed at CarolinaEast she says she was four centimeters dilated, but until she reached five centimeters, she wouldn’t be considered for admittance. As far as the car detailing, Banks says they did take the hospital up on the offer, as the car really needed it. Banks says the boy has some jaundice currently being treated, otherwise, their son is a healthy newborn.
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GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - Dozens of Eastern Carolina breweries pitched a tent and iced down a few kegs to introduce themselves to people in Greenville.
Dickinson Avenue After Dark brought in hundreds of friends and families to sample out the food and drinks of the East. Before the Sun went down in Greenville, brewers prepared their booths in anticipation for thirsty customers. “It’s just really high quality, Eastern North Carolina beer, and I think everybody’s excited to try it,” said Benjamin Self, a brewer at Local Oak Brewery. Each festival goer brought their own game plan to tackle this season’s festival. “We got a few sample tickets,” said Dan Glazewski. “I think we’re going to walk around and sample everything and then get a full one at the end.” It is just as fun for those on the other side of the tap. “And as a brewer, that’s why I like coming to events like this,” said Self. “We tend to attract a lot of beer geeks. These are people that want to talk about the beers they love so this is the perfect place to engage with these folks.” After trying out some local brews, food trucks are to the rescue. All of the East’s household names lined the road to serve hot dogs, tacos, pizza, barbeque, ice cream, and more. “I passed Anita’s, and I pass it every day on my way home from work, so I’m definitely going to try that one,” said Glazewski. It’s a chance for drinkers to branch out. “People are always looking for a new place to come out for afternoons or evenings,” said Self, “and brewery taprooms are a big part of that.” The local-vendor-exclusive experience allows for changing up the routine and rotating the flavors, each one brewed with intension. “Because we’re small and local, we always have new things to try on tap. So, that’s what people are going to be looking for tonight. What have you got that’s new? Show me something new,” said Self. Dickinson Avenue After Dark was inspired by a trip to New Orleans where organizers stumbled upon a beer and art festival and took the concept back home with them to the East.
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - The country’s first female secretary of state died Wednesday afternoon at age 84 from cancer.
While most politicians and civilians were fans of Madeleine Albright, North Carolina political science experts say if there was something she would be criticized for, it was her relentlessness to attack issues from the start. “She helped create organizations that advanced women in international politics, both people that wanted to work in government and international policy, as well as people who wanted to work in academia,” said NC State political science professor Robert Reardon. A major role of the secretary of state is to be an advocate for American policy abroad. “She was somebody who, as secretary of state, was widely known, admired, and respected within the United States,” said Steven Greene, a colleague of Reardon’s at NC State. In the 1990s, Albright watched over developing nations like a hawk and pushed her peers to make the United States a guide for new nations. While secretary of state, Albright was an advocate for NATO and American involvement in developing democracies. “She saw the cold war as opening up an opportunity for the United States to bring a lot of these countries that were formerly within the Soviet’s sphere of influence into the community of democratic states,” said Reardon. Albright addressed issues of unrest, all while breaking the proverbial glass ceiling. “The secretary of state, after the president, is the representation of America to every other country,” said Greene. “You know it’s hard to say what’s good at being secretary of state, but insofar as there is a good at being secretary of state, I think there is largely a consensus that she really was.” Albright was appointed to the top diplomatic position for Clinton’s second presidential term. She was confirmed by a Senate vote of 99-0. Before taking that position, Albright was the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. She was a professor, an author, and an advocate for women taking on leadership roles in the workplace. A child refugee from Nazi- and then Soviet- dominated Eastern Europe, Albright was described by President Biden as a “champion of democracy and human rights.” She was awarded the highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, by former president Barack Obama in 2012; Reardon saying that honor was inevitable. President Biden has ordered flags at the White House and other federal buildings and grounds to be flown at half-staff until Sunday, March 27.
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - The BA.2 subvariant of omicron has risen to make up nearly 25-percent of the country’s COVID infections and the CDC is using household wastewater to track the disease.
Using this method, data can be collected without the variables of patient access to healthcare, seeking healthcare when ill, or the availability of COVID testing. The World Health Organization labeled the BA.2 variant as the dominant variant across the globe. With mask guidelines more relaxed, eyes turn to the U.S. to make it through the summer without a repeat of sky-high case numbers. For a while, researchers at East Carolina University were taking samples in Greenville. "That gave us a target to say, ‘COVID was in this dorm, but not this dorm,’” said ECU’s Director of National Security Initiatives, Jim Menke. “There was a threshold and once it hit that threshold there was enough COVID in the wastewater to say there’s someone sick in that dorm.” While the university has ended that initiative and opted for other means of COVID tracking, the state is participating in the Centers for Disease Control’s nationwide wastewater surveillance program. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services says 24 sampling sites are currently part of the program and 12 more will be added soon. “We believe it’s in the community. It’s always here,” said Menke. “It’s going to continue to develop variations of that virus.” This kind of sampling evens the playing field when it comes to detection. Wastewater measurements include everyone in a community, regardless of whether they have been tested, and can be completed at a fraction of the cost of clinical COVID-19 testing. This method of disease tracking has been around for decades. In the 1940s it was instrumental in tracking and containing outbreaks of Polio. Just last month the Associated Press reported 73-percent of the U.S. was considered immune from omicron. The question that remains is: will that immunity be enough to stop another surge as mask regulations diminish? Health experts stand strong behind vaccination as the most effective tool to fight COVID-19. Since the beginning of the year, the number of fully vaccinated Americans increased just over two percent.
NEW BERN, N.C. (WITN) - About 100 voices were lifted in prayer in New Bern when a crowd gathered calling for peace in Ukraine.
Faith leaders at Christ Episcopal Church led members of their congregation, as well as folks just enjoying the day and stumbling on the vigil, in prayer at Union Point Park Friday afternoon. Handing out scripture and bouquets of sunflowers, the group showed that New Bern, and all of Eastern North Carolina, support Ukrainians in their fight against destruction and violence from Russian military forces. “I am incredibly angry about what’s happening,” said New Bern resident Eugene Simon, Jr. “I think it’s so unfair, but this is really all we can do as individuals right now.” With long stem sunflowers in their hands, park-goers reflected on what they are grateful for. “The people in New Bern, I believe, realize how truly blessed we are. We are all here by choice. We are all very lucky,” said Christie Wineholt. “We do not have to worry about war or fear or any of those things. The flower is just a great symbol, as they said in the service. The flowers turn their light to the Sun.” Though they spoke in unison at the park, each person has a special prayer in their heart that they carry with them. “Just seeing the devastation and seeing how it’s going to have to be rebuilt, that is what I have said to God on multiple occasions. ‘You will make a way.’ We’ll see how it happens but we know that it will,” said Rev. Paul Canady, Christ Episcopal Church rector. As they chanted the scripture, they hoped to send a blanket of protection to Europe. “Well, it’s everyone. It’s the refugees, it’s the children and it’s the brave people that are fighting a mighty army,” said Simon. The church is accepting money to donate to humanitarian efforts in the war-stricken country. “It will be a blessing to be able to help the small children, the hospitals, what we see on television, how sad it is,” said Wineholt, “but the heroic efforts of those people. Our people are willing to step up; there’s nothing we won’t do.” Along with giving to the church system, United Way chapters across the East are accepting donations for their United for Ukraine Fund.
PAMLICO COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - A former teacher of the Pamlico County Schools system addressed the school board in a public comment to allege discrimination in the workplace.
Charlon Long, who taught in Pamlico County for 15 years, says her final year created a “bitter environment” that she had to leave. Long said in her comment to the school board that she now joins a long list of teachers of color who have resigned in the past two years. “If you don’t believe me, just listen to the names of the minority employees that you have lost within the past two years. I know who I am, I know my worth. I love my students,” Long said. Long added that her resignation was sparked by several incidents. She felt microaggressions from her superiors, noticing body language and tone that she identified as discriminatory. She says she watched that dynamic translate to the students, with kids of color being treated differently than their white counterparts. When Long gave her notice of moving on from Pamlico County Schools, she says she was given hours notice to pack up her classroom, turn in her keys and badge, and leave the school campus. They didn’t even give me a chance to say goodbye to my students,” Long said. “They didn’t give me the opportunity because they retaliated.” The Pamlico County School Board returned a request for comment from WITN, saying in part: “The board was briefed in detail about the allegations made by the former teacher who spoke at the March 7 meeting and who recently resigned. The board is satisfied that the former teacher was not discriminated against, nor was she subject to any retaliation. It is an unfortunate fact that there is a relative shortage of minority teachers throughout North Carolina and the entire country. Many efforts are being undertaken to address the situation, but it will require time and a concerted and collaborative effort at various levels. The Pamlico County Schools welcomes applications from strong teacher candidates of all races.” Long says she plans to attend the school board meeting for public comment again next month and is considering seeking help from the American Civil Liberties Union and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission if her complaint sparks no action from the board. The next Pamlico County Board of Education meeting will be held on April 4 and can be live-streamed from the board’s YouTube page.
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - Minges Coliseum will see a new head coach on its home court next season.
East Carolina University trustees confirmed the hiring of Michael Schwartz to lead the men’s basketball team Wednesday afternoon. ECU hopes to have a slam dunk with its new addition, describing Schwartz as one of the “most versatile and well-rounded assistant coaches in college basketball.” Schwartz has a hefty job ahead of him in stepping up to the role, tasked with pulling the Pirates out of their multi-season-long slump. However, until the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament has crowned a victor, Schwartz is sticking with his current team, the Tennessee Volunteers. “The plan is for whenever the season culminates, that I will be able to be in Greenville full time,” Schwartz said Wednesday. Coming off of his seventh season at Tennessee, Schwartz understands that he’ll need to have a different game plan out in the East. “Are there going to be parts of the program, style of play, style of program, culture pieces that we bring? Absolutely. Is it going to look identical? I don’t think so,” Schwartz explained. He doesn’t plan on making the Pirates a carbon copy of the Volunteers, but he does plan to bring some of the things he learned under veteran head coach Rick Barnes to the Pirates. “Rick Barnes is one of the best basketball coaches of all time and I’ve had a chance from being a young player for him, to a young coach, to a veteran coach to learn from him,” Schwartz said. Still, it takes more than play strategy to lead a team to postseason success. “He has an infectious personality, and he brings a lot of enthusiasm and positive energy daily,” ECU Athletics Director Jon Gilbert said. It’s the type of energy that Pirate Nation hopes can pull the team out of a .500 record outcome. “I am just so fired up to get to Greenville, get two feet in, and begin to build the program there,” Schwartz said. Pirates fans can watch Schwartz’s work play out on the court as the NCAA tournament kicks off. Schwartz says North Carolina schools have an outstanding recruiting pool and he is eager to keep those all-star high school Carolinians in the state at ECU. Coach Schwartz replaces former head coach Joe Dooley who was fired last Friday.
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - Family and friends gathered at the scene of an apparent hit and run that left a Greenville teen dead.
The Greenville Police Department confirmed 13-year-old Jaquile Jackson was the victim found lying in a ditch Monday morning on MacGregor Downs Road. Jackson’s family, including his aunt Chinetta Pippen, gathered near where his body was found to release red balloons into the air and say words in commemoration of him. “Justice for Junior! Long live Junior!” those at the vigil said. Part of me didn’t want to take people there, but then the other part of me feel like they need to see that spot,” Pippen said. “Other people need to see that spot so they know this is where a child was left for dead in a ditch... like people need to feel what we felt.” Pippen says her nephew was last seen playing a game at his home off of Moyewood Drive at about 10 p.m. when without warning, he left home on a scooter with a phone. Pippen believes he was heading to see a friend who lives near MacGregor Downs Road on his first night of spring break. “Whenever he felt some type of way he used to leave. He’s a teenager,” Pippen said. “But he never left and went a long ways,” Lisa Artis, Jackson’s grandmother added. “He’s never done that.” Police found Jackson’s body and a scooter two miles away from his home on MacGregor Downs Road the next morning. Jackson’s family said he had a history of diagnosed mental illness. They hope to share his story to help other kids and prevent families from dealing with a similar tragic loss. Pippen and the rest of Jackson’s loved ones also want to advocate for safer streets with proper lighting and speed monitoring, especially where there are a lot of kids. The person responsible for the apparent hit and run has not yet been found. “We have to do better as a community,” Pippen said. “Not only that, I know somebody has seen something, I know somebody heard something. They need to talk.” Anyone with any information about this case is asked to call police at 252-702-4032 or Crime Stoppers at 252-758-7777.
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - Dozens of Greenville worshipers gathered at the Immanuel Baptist Church to pray for Ukraine as Russian attacks surpass a two week long mark.
For each person in the pews of the church, there was a candle and as flames burned, faith leaders from across the Greenville area called for seven special prayers-- each focused on a specific group of Ukrainians affected by Russian war efforts. What was common through each call was a wish for peace. With each heart feeling for those fleeing their homes for refuge, one person has a deep connection to the invaded country. “We’ve had 15 different foreign exchange students over the years and two were Ukrainian students,” said Rev. Rod Debs. Candle flames burned as prayers were spoken and sung. Greenville residents are doing what they can. “I think that this is a moment where we all should come together and understand some of the atrocities that are taking place over seas,” said Greenville Mayor P.J. Connelly. “This is a great way for us to be able to show compassion for those that are suffering right now. I think the community coming together and having a prayer vigil is really showing that.” Debs held relics of his former exchange students. He feels grateful to be able to share them at the vigil Friday night. “This was a special gift that she gave us when we visited,” Debs said holding a doll. “My wife does Facebook with them. Right now they are very much concerned about protecting their skies.” Many in the east are wondering how they can help Ukrainian families from this corner of the world. “The tragedy the world sees unfolding in Europe feels devastating and the feeling of not being able to help often feels hopeless,” said Rev. Asher Panton of Immanuel Baptist Church. Friday night, Greenville stood united with Ukraine. Mayor Connelly suggests that if you weren’t able to make it out to the vigil, you can still contribute in prayer. He says to pray at home and keep those suffering at the forefront of your mind as the crisis continues to displace millions. Immanuel Baptist Church collected donations from their congregation. The proceeds are being sent directly to UNICEF USA to support the food and medical needs of the children impacted by war.
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - As the Russian government isolates the country from the rest of the Western world, its control of public thought through media censorship can cost people who violate a new law.
Many people’s first thought of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is to label it as a “war” or an “invasion,” but under Russian law, using those words could land you in jail for up to 15 years. East Carolina University professor Brian Massey says media censorship and nationwide propaganda are not new tactics for Russian rulers. However, the way to break through for many citizens comes through a different style of speech: emojis. “They are embedded with a great many meanings and they all depend on the users of them to sort of get it, right?” Massey said. In Russia, referring to the invasion of Ukraine as anything but a “special military operation” could land a person in jail for up to 15 years. Emojis are used in place of forbidden terms to evade government persecution. “They’re the ones who control access to the mass media channels and the alternative narrative,” Massey said. “So it’s exceptionally in their favor to spin this alternative narrative and to crack down on, censor access to alternative, factual sources.” ECU has a partner university in Russia. Since the start of the conflict, the global affairs office has not been in contact with them. “How this conflict is presented to them is quite different than how it’s presented here, and that’s probably a little different from what we see on the ground,” Jon Rezek, ECU Global Affairs assistant vice-chancellor said. In the modern era, war is not as simple as it is portrayed in films. “War isn’t just bombs and bullets and missiles and people out to end each other’s lives,” said Massey. “There’s also an information space where war is conducted.” The blurred lines of mass and social media make it harder for governments to completely censor information without a filtered firewall. Russia does not yet appear to have that capability. “Back in the old days, we didn’t have social media and the technology that we have today, so it was easier to maintain the alternative reality,” said Massey. While these educators condemn the practices of Russian leaders, they remain sensitive to their international students and colleagues. “We don’t want to hold them necessarily responsible for what’s going on in their country since there, from all appearances, seems to be a great deal of misinformation,” said Rezek. In response to this censor-driven law in Russia, CNN halted live broadcasting in the country, the BBC suspended its work there, and Tik Tok has barred livestreaming and new content produced by Russian creators. Nonetheless, citizens show resiliency through emojis using a symbol of a walking man or woman to symbolize protesting or a sunflower, Ukraine’s national flower, to show solidarity and support. U.S. leaders have also adopted these symbols. First lady Jill Biden was seen wearing a sunflower embroidered mask earlier this month. |
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