Local Archives | Page 5 of 17 | Randolph News Now

Jun292023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

NC Zoo Asks Public to Vote on Names of Sand Cat Triplets

NC Zoo

Photo provided by North Carolina Zoo ASHEBORO N.C. (NC ZOO) - The North Carolina Zoo is asking the public to vote on the “purr-fect” names for the sand cat kitten triplets born on May 11, 2023. The triplets are two females and one male. People can vote on this online poll from among names chosen by zookeepers. Voting is open now and closes Wednesday, July 5, at 4 p.m. (all EDT). The public can also access the poll through the Zoo's website at nczoo.org. There is no charge to select names. The winning names will be announced on Friday, July 7. Females (top two names given to the female kittens) Cleo (Cleopatra): Iconic Queen of Egypt, Greek name meaning “glory of the father” Amira (“Uh-MEER-uh"): Arabic name meaning “princess” Cyra ("SEER-uh”): Persian ...

Jun252023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

NWS Warns of Severe Weather Threat Monday Evening

Weather

ASHEBORO N.C. - Forecasters are calling for severe weather including the threat of severe thunderstorms, hail, and an isolated tornado all possible across central North Carolina, including Randolph County, Monday evening. Monday will start off nice with partly to mostly sunny skies and a high reaching near 90 degrees, but an approaching cold front is expected to arrive sometime around 3pm in the afternoon. That cold front brings a serious threat of severe storms across western Piedmont Monday afternoon and into the evening as it develops into a line or large cluster of severe thunderstorms that will move eastward across the area. Those storms are likely to bring severe thunderstorms, including damaging winds, large hail, lighting, flash flooding and a possiable tornado. T...

Jun222023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

NC Zoo Announces Winning Name for Giraffe Calf

NC Zoo

Photo provided by NC Zoo ASHEBORO N.C. - The North Carolina Zoo has announced the name chosen by the public of the giraffe calf born last month on May 20th. With more than 100,00 total votes the Zoo announced that out of the six choices, the winning name is “Fenn.” The other names offered were, “Nelson,” after Nelson Mandela, “Mosi”, African name used for firstborn son, “Tamu” Swahili for sweet, “Jackson” The calf's dad is named Jack, Son of Jack, and “Bongani” This Zulu name means grateful, thankful. Fenn was chosen after the founders of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, Julian, and Stephanie Fennessy. World Giraffe Day is celebrated every year on June 21. Fenn was about six feet tall and 145 pounds when he was born on May 20th of 2023, and is expected to grow to 1...

Jun62023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

Smoke from Canadian Wildfires Trigger Air Quality Alert

Weather

Smoke from Canadian Wildfires can be seen blanketing Asheboro near the Interstate on June 6th, 2023. (Scott Pelkey / RNN-North State Journal) ASHEBORO N.C. - Smoke from wildfires in eastern Canada has triggered a Code Orange Air Quality alert across much of North Carolina, and tomorrow will be worse with officials already issuing a Code Red Air Quality Alert for Wednesday. Wildfires have burned nearly one million acres over the past two weeks across Western Canada, producing incredibly large plumes of smoke that have stretched across the North American continent, making their way into North Carolina throughout today. The smoke plumes are so large that they were captured on NOAA weather satellite imagery on Monday and can be seen in the video below compiled by the Cooperative Insti...

Jun52023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

Three Births Announced at NC Zoo

NC Zoo

ASHEBORO N.C. - The North Carolina Zoo has announced the births of a giraffe calf, an infant chimpanzee, and three Sand Cat kittens, all in less than two weeks. Sand Cat Kittens Photo provided by NC Zoo Three sand cat kittens (sexes unknown at this time) were born on May 11. Small enough to fit into the palm of your hand, the kittens were born to first-time mother Sahara, 3, and father Cosmo, 9. This marks the first litter for the sand cat pair. Cosmo previously fathered daughter Layla, now living at the Greensboro Science Center. The mom and triplets are doing well. The trio are beginning to explore their surroundings in the Desert Habitat. Lucky guests may be able to catch a glimpse of them in the coming days. Though they appear adorable with big ears, eyes, and petite...

May252023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

Low Pressure System Promises Rain for Most of Holiday Weekend

Weather

ASHEBORO N.C. - After a week of nice weather, a low-pressure system off the coast is promising to bring rain for most of the holiday weekend. According to the National Weather Service Office in Raleigh, an area of low pressure off the Southeast coast will move into the Carolinas over the weekend. Widespread rain, possibly heavy at times, will develop on Saturday and continue into Sunday. This may result in flooding of low lying or poor drainage areas. Additionally, northeasterly winds will gust up to 25 to 35 mph at times on Friday and especially Saturday. Weekend Forecast FridayPartly sunny, with a high near 70. Northeast wind 13 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Friday NightA slight chance of rain after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Northeast win...

May242023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

NC Zoo – Baboon Habitat Reopens & New Event Premiers This Weekend

NC Zoo

[Scott Pelkey | North State Journal] ASHEBORO N.C. - The Baboons are back with a newly renovated habitat, and this weekend you can check it out yourself along with a brand-new event in 2023. Baboon Habitat Re-Opens In the 45 years the Baboons have been at the Zoo they have become one of the most popular attractions, and the Zoo's troop of twenty-two baboons ranging in age from senior adults to infants, is the largest in the United States (tied with San Diego Zoo). When the Baboons first came to the Zoo in the 19080's, their original habitat, what is now Lemar Island, lasted until 2005 when they were moved to the Africa Pavillion. Old African Pavilion / Acme News Archive In March of 2020, Zoo staff took a final walk through the Africa Pavillion before the iconic building ...

May182023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

SECU Foundation Donates $2 Million to Asia at NC Zoo

NC Zoo

Pat Simmions, Director of the NC Zoo, poses for photos with the leadership of the NC Zoo Society and the SECU Foundation. [Scott Pelkey | North State Journal] ASHEBORO N.C. - On May 17th, 2023, the SECU Foundation gifted $2 million to go towards the new Asia expansion currently under construction. Asia, the NC Zoo’s first new continent since North America in 1994, broke ground on August 17th, 2022, after $46 million in funding from the state budget was allocated to the project. Combined with the approximately $28 million raised through donations by the NC Zoo Society’s capital fundraising campaign brings the approximate total for Asia to around $75 million dollars. At a private event held at the newly renovated baboon habitat on May 17th, 2023, the SECU Foundation presented a che...

May162023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

NWS Wars of Threat of Severe Storms Tuesday Afternoon

Weather

ASHEBORO N.C. - The National Weather Service Office in Raleigh has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook with severe storms expected Tuesday afternoon and into the evening. According to forecasters, strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across much of the Piedmont of North Carolina this afternoon and evening, with the highest risk over the Triad region, including all of Randolph County. Some storms may produce damaging winds over 60 mph, large hail, and isolated tornadoes. The greatestthreat will occur between 3 PM and 10 PM. In addition, isolated flooding is possible where multiple storms pass repeatedly over the same areas. The Storm Prediction Center has placed this area at a Level 2 (out of 5) risk of severe storms. People in this area are urged to check frequently...

May152023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

Street View Car Spotted Around Asheboro

Local

https://youtu.be/2qFRnHgaXIw ASHEBORO N.C. - A Google Street View car has been spotted around Asheboro last week; did you see it? On May 10th, 2023, Scott, the editor for Randolph News Now spotted a Google Street View car while driving down Old Farmer Rd in Asheboro. On May 14th, 2023, PJ, Photojournalist for the North State Journal spotted the vehicle while at the intersection of N Fayetteville St and E Presnell St, also in Asheboro. According to Google's Street View Website, in 2023 the company is updating images in Charlotte, Fayetteville, Goldsboro, Greensboro, noting that "the list specifies a particular city, this may include smaller cities and towns that are within driving distance," which would include Asheboro. Launched in 2007 in just a few select cities, today...