A Cleveland County foot doctor is facing 19 counts of prescribing controlled substances without a legal medical purpose. Dr. Steven Skorman of Shelby was arrested yesterday as part of an investigation conducted by the Cleveland County sheriff, the DEA and the State Bureau of Investigation.
Skorman is accused of prescribing large amounts of narcotics to people with little or no need for the drugs.
Sheriff Alan Norman said prescription drug abuse has become an epidemic in Cleveland County.
Twenty others were arrested in the bust.
AG Cooper Wants Sexual Harassment Suit Against Gaither Dropped
North Carolina's attorney general wants a judge to throw out a sexual harassment suit filed against Catawba County District Attorney Jay Gaither.
Former assistant D.A. Whitney Shaffer filed the suit in June. She claims Gaither made sexual advances toward her and sent her inappropriate text messages. Attorney General Roy Cooper says the text messages should be used as evidence, because, Cooper believes her responses show the messages were welcomed.
Planning For I-77 Toll Lanes Continues
Construction of toll lanes on I-77 from Morresville to Charlotte will begin next spring or summer according to representatives of Cintra, the Spanish company that will design, build and manage, and collect the tolls.
That was the message at three meetings in the Lake Norman area yesterday. Those meetings are as controversial as the toll project itself. They were not announced to the public and only two elected commissioners from each town were in attendance at any single meeting. That allowed the meetings to be closed under state law.
Duke Energy Selling Stake In Midwest Power Plants
Duke Energy announced today it is selling its stake in 11 power plants in the Midwest to Houston-based Dynergy. The all cash deal is worth $2.8 billion.
The sale also include Duke's retail power business in Ohio.
The purchase still needs approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission before it is finalized. Duke believes that approval will come later this year or early 2015.
Charlotte Hosts American Legion National Convention
Thousands of American Legion members are expected to attend the groups national convention in uptown Charlotte. The gathering begins today at the convention center and runs for about a week.
Among the speakers at the event will be the new head of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Robert McDonald.
NC Zoo Has A New Resident
The North Carolina Zoo is getting a new attraction, Anana, a 15 year old polar bear who moves to the Asheboro zoo from Chicago.
Anana is on loan while the Lincoln Park Zoo constructs a new polar bear exhibit expected to open in 2016.
Panthers Play Third Pre-Season Game Tonight
The Panthers play their third pre-season game tonight. They'll be in New England taking on the Patriots.
Carolina quarterback Cam Newton is expected to play the entire first half.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.