Undercover operation busts shoplifting ring at Northwoods Mall; 4 women charged, police say

WE HAVE A LOOK AT TODAY’S TOP NEWS STORIES, TRAFFIC AND WEATHER AND NEWS TO GO ALL BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT THE DOOR. BUT FIRST, WE START WITH THE PLANS FROM TOWN LEADERS IN WARE SHOALS TO PREVENT FUTURE DROWNING DEATHS IN THE SALUDA RIVER. TWO PEOPLE HAVE DROWNED IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS. YESTERDAY, THE LAURENS COUNTY CORONER IDENTIFIED THE LATEST VICTIM, 38. YEAR-OLD DIEGO ALVAREZ MUNIZ DIED SUNDAY. THE DEATH WAS THE CENTER OF DISCUSSION DURING THE TOWN’S PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING. THE TOWN HAS SIGNS POSTED AT THE PARK WARNING PEOPLE ABOUT THE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS, BUT FIRE OFFICIALS SAY NONE ARE POSTED IN SPANISH, CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE FOR SOME PEOPLE. THE COMMITTEE ALSO DISCUSSED ADDING MORE LIFE JACKETS FOR PARK VISITORS. THE TOWN HAS ANOTHER COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULED FOR NEXT TUESDAY. DUKE ENERGY CUSTOMERS IN SOUTH CAROLINA WILL SOON SEE A PRICE HIKE IN THEIR ENERGY BILL. THE STATE’S PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION JUST APPROVED NEW CUSTOMER RATES ARE. ISABEL MERRICK IS LIVE AT DUKE ENERGY’S SIMPSONVILLE OFFICE WITH. WHEN WE CAN SEE THESE HIKES, ISABEL, ERIN. DESTINY. GOOD MORNING. SO STARTING AUGUST 1ST, CUSTOMERS THAT USE 1000 KILOWATT HOURS WILL SEE AN INCREASE IN THEIR MONTHLY BILL OF ABOUT $12. AND THEN STARTING AUGUST 1ST OF 2026, YOU’LL SEE ANOTHER PRICE HIKE OF $6. COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS WILL SEE AN AVERAGE INCREASE OF AROUND 4.6% AND 4.4%. THE COMPANY SAYS IT’S DOING THIS TO MEET FUTURE ENERGY DEMANDS OF NEARLY. 660,000 CUSTOMERS. IN ALL, PRIMARILY HERE IN THE UPSTATE AREA. NOW, THIS ALL COMES AFTER A SETTLEMENT THAT DUKE ENERGY SUBMITTED BACK IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. LIVE IN SIMPSONVILLE IS WALMART WYFF NEWS FOUR. ALL RIGHT ISABEL THANK YOU. HAPPENING THIS WEEK DUKE ENERGY AND OCONEE COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE SET TO TEST THE SIRENS AROUND THE OCONEE NUCLEAR STATION. IT’S SCHEDULED BETWEEN 11 A.M. AND 1 P.M. TOMORROW. THE TEST WILL LAST FIVE TO 30S. WE’RE TOLD NO PUBLIC ACTION IS REQUIRED. DUKE ENERGY SAYS THERE’S 65 SIRENS WITHIN TEN MILES OF THE OCONEE NUCLEAR STATION. THE TESTS ARE TO ENSURE THEY’RE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, AND IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO TEST SOME SIRENS MORE THAN ONCE. SOUTH CAROLINA IS ONE OF ONLY TWO STATES IN THE NATION THAT DOESN’T HAVE A STATEWIDE HATE CRIME LAW, A HATE CRIME BILL PASSED IN THE STATE HOUSE BACK IN MARCH OF 2023, BUT IT STALLED IN THE STATE SENATE. IN THE MEANTIME, SEVERAL CITIES AND TOWNS, INCLUDING GREENVILLE AND CLEMSON, HAVE RECENTLY ENACTED LOCAL ORDINANCES, AND HATE CRIMES CAN ALSO BE ENFORCED ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. BUT THE LACK OF A UNIFORM STATEWIDE LAW MEANS FINES AND SENTENCING ARE RESTRICTED, ACCORDING TO THE DOJ, SOUTH CAROLINA EXPERIENCED 65 HATE CRIME INCIDENTS IN 2022. THAT’S COMPARED TO MORE THAN 100 IN YEARS PAST. THE OTHER STATE WITHOUT A LAW IS WYOMING. WELL, TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE NATO SUMMIT IN WASHINGTON MARKING 75 YEARS OF THE ALLIANCE. THE GATHERING IS GENERATING QUESTIONS ABOUT UKRAINE’S DESIRE TO JOIN THE ORGANIZATION. THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PROMISES NATO WILL REVEAL THIS WEEK. STEPS UKRAINE NEEDS TO TAKE TO BECOME A MEMBER. BUT SOME REPRESENTATIVES SAY AN ANNOUNCEMENT CALLS THAT THE PATH IS IRREVERSIBLE. THE FORMER U.S. SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR UKRAINE NEGOTIATIONS SAYS HE DOESN’T THINK THAT MEANS UKRAINE WILL BE A MEMBER SOON. WE’RE TOLD THE OBSTACLE IS THAT NATO MEMBERS PLEDGED TO DEFEND EACH OTHER IN WAR. BUT ALLEGEDLY THE U.S. AND SOME OTHER COUNTRIES DON’T WANT A FIGHT WITH RUSSIA. THE USDA HAS ISSUED A RECALL ALERT FOR SOME FROZEN CHICKEN ITEMS. AL-SAFIR U.S. IS RECALLING MORE THAN 2,000 POUNDS OF FROZEN, READY TO EAT CHICKEN PRODUCTS. ROUTINE TESTING THERE FOUND THE AL-SAFIR HALAL CHICKEN PRODUCTS MAY BE CONTAMINATED WITH LISTERIA. TO DATE, THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTS OF ILLNESSES, BUT THE USDA’S FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE SAYS THE RECALLED CHICKEN SHOULD NOT BE EATEN. THE PRODUCTS WERE PRODUCED IN CANADA AND IMPORTED TO THE U.S. LAST MONTH. WE ARE STRONG AND TEXANS ALWAYS PULL TOGETHER OFFICIALS IN TEXAS SAY THEY’RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS JUST YET. EVEN THOUGH BARREL HAS PASSED THROUGH, THE STORM HAS NOW BEEN DOWNGRADED TO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION. AT LEAST THREE PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THE HOUSTON AREA, BRINGING THE DEATH TOLL TO 13 SO FAR. DESPITE BARREL LOSING FORCE, THE FRONT IS STILL THREATENING TO FLOOD AREAS OF EASTERN TEXAS, WESTERN LOUISIANA AND ARKANSAS, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER. PARELLA. OKAY, WELL, GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. 649 LET’S TAKE A LIVE LOOK IN ASHEVILLE. THE MOUNTAINS KIND OF COVERED UP RIGHT NOW. WE’VE GOT SOME OF THOSE LOW HANGING CLOUDS ACROSS PARTS OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. WE’RE GETTING A LITTLE BIT MORE SUNSHINE ACROSS PARTS OF THE UPSTATE. EVERYONE IS GOING TO CLEAR OUT. IT’S GOING TO BE A HOT DAY. IT’S ALREADY PRETTY WARM, 78 DEGREES IN GREENVILLE, BUT IT FEELS LIKE 81. FEELS LIKE 78 IN ANDERSON AND 73 IN SPARTANBURG. AS WE TAKE A LOOK OUTSIDE LIVE SUPER DOPPLER FOUR RADAR, A FEW ISOLATED SPRINKLES HERE AND THERE. THOSE ARE DISSIPATING. AND HERE COMES A MIX OF SUN AND CLOUDS AND TEMPERATURES IN THE LOW TO MID 90S THAT FEELS LIKE WILL BE 102 TO 105 ON AVERAGE. SOME OF US SOUTH OF I 85 COULD FEEL A LITTLE BIT HOTTER. SO JUST KNOW THE HUMIDITY REALLY KIND OF THE BIG WEATHER HEADLINE TODAY IN THE MOUNTAINS. UPPER 80S WITH THE FEELS LIKE IN THE MID 90S. I WILL SAY FOR THE MOUNTAINS ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS RIGHT AROUND LUNCHTIME OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER FOR THE UPSTATE. MORE LIKELY TONIGHT, BUT AGAIN, PRETTY ISOLATED. JUST A MINUTE. WE’LL TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR FOUR DAY PLUS, WHICH HAS THE REST OF THE WEEK AND YOUR WEEKEND TO THE LATEST ON IT ALL COMING UP IN JUST A LITTLE WHILE. RIGHT NOW. LET’S GET YOU OUTSIDE, GET A CHECK ON THOSE TRAFFIC’S. HOW’S HOW THE ROADS LOOKING RIGHT NOW HERE PARELLA. THEY’RE GOOD. SO FAR WE’VE BEEN UP AND DOWN 85 THROUGH 85. CALLED US AND SAID, HEY, WHERE’S OUR COVERAGE? WE GOT BOTH FOR YOU RIGHT NOW. SKY4 IN THE AIR, I-85 AT 35. THIS IS AN AREA THAT DOES TEND TO BACK UP AS WE GET CLOSER TO 7:00. AND YOU CAN SEE MORE TRAFFIC ON THE ROADS. FORTUNATELY, WE’RE NOT SEEING ANY SLOWDOWNS OR DELAYS THERE OR REALLY ANYWHERE ACROSS OUR AREA SO FAR THIS MORNING. GREAT NEWS IF YOU’RE HEADED BACK TO WORK. PERHAPS YOU TOOK YESTERDAY OFF THINGS ARE LOOKING GOOD. TRAVEL TIMES LOOK GOOD TO. THESE HAVE BEEN IN THE GREEN MOSTLY THROUGHOUT THE MORNING. I-240 TO ASHEVILLE HIGHWAY 12 MINUTES 85 SOUTHBOUND AIRPORT AT WOODRUFF ROAD. IT’S UP JUST A MINUTE TO SEVEN MINUTES. STILL ON THE GREEN THOUGH. 35 NORTHBOUND FROM FAIRVIEW ROAD ALL THE WAY INTO DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE. INCLUDING THAT STRETCH RIGHT THERE AT 85, 13 MINUTES FOR THAT COMMUTE. THE GREENVILLE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS ASKING FOR YOUR HELP TO SOLVE A MURDER FROM NEARLY 50 YEARS AGO. ON JULY 11TH, 1978, THE BODY OF ASHEVILLE RESIDENTS DONNA MCCRACKEN AND DAVID CLEMESHA, WERE FOUND ALONG A CREEK BED IN TIGERVILLE. THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS RULED STRANGULATION. DAYS LATER, THEIR CAR WAS FOUND IN NORTH CAROLINA AND AFTER YEARS OF FOLLOWING LEADS FROM SEVERAL STATES, THE CASE WENT COLD. NOW THE GREENVILLE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS NO PIECE OF INFORMATION IS TOO SMALL TO HELP THEM SOLVE THE CASE. THE GOAL FOR THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE IN ITS ENTIRETY IS JUST TO PROVIDE JUSTICE. NOW IT’S WHETHER IT’S A NEW CASE OR WHETHER IT’S AN OLD CASE. JUSTICE STILL NEEDS TO BE PROVIDED, AND SO A NEW SET OF EYES WILL BE PLACED ON THESE CASES AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BRING SOME NEW PERSPECTIVES. AND HOPEFULLY BY COMMUNICATING THINGS TO THE PUBLIC THAT’LL BRING SOME ADDITIONAL FACTS TO THESE CASES TO HELP US SOLVE THESE CASES. ANYONE WITH ANY INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL CRIME STOPPERS OF GREENVILLE AT 86423. CRIME DEPUTIES EMPHASIZED THAT ANYONE WITH ANY INFORMATION CAN REMAIN ANONYMOUS. IT’S 651, AND FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, UNITED MINISTRIES HAS BEEN HELPING ADULTS IN THE GREENVILLE AREA GET THEIR GED. BUT NOW THAT’S COMING TO AN END. THE ORGANIZATION SAYS IT WILL NO LONGER OFFER ITS ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM DUE TO LACK OF DEMAND THAT GOES INTO EFFECT SEPTEMBER 20TH. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UNITED MINISTRIES SAYS IT WAS NOT AN EASY DECISION. BUT AFTER THOROUGH ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION, THEY FELT IT WAS BEST FOR THEM TO REDIRECT THEIR RESOURCES TO THEIR HOMELESS SERVICES. AS THE COST OF LIVING AND GREENVILLE COUNTY HAS RISEN AND WAGES CONTINUE TO BE UM, STAGNANT OR NOT GROWING AS QUICKLY, IT’S HARD FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE. AND SO WE’VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN DIFFERENT WAYS. STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN THE ADULT PROGRAM WILL BE ABLE TO TRANSITION TO UNITED MINISTRIES, PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS SU