Wake County GOP Chairman Claude Pope filed a complaint Friday challenging whether the former "American Idol" runner-up can vote lawfully in the county.

Records show Aiken voted last month using the address of his mother's home in Raleigh, where he once lived. He now has a house in nearby Chatham County.

Aiken blogged last week that candidates who won Wake County school board elections are "selfish idiots" who may ruin the school system.

Pope said the challenge isn't about Aiken's words but making sure people are lawfully registered.

An Aiken publicist didn't return a phone call seeking comment.

Army officials selected Athens Drive Senior Robert Crisp to play in the 2010 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Only 90 student athletes from across the country are selected to play in the game in San Antonio, Texas.

Crisp says the honor is extra special because he hasn't been playing football very long.

"I was actually a basketball player before any of this ever started," he said. "I've been working pretty hard for the past two years."

It's the 10th Anniversary of the bowl.

You can see the game live on NBC-17 on January 9th.

Kick off is at 1pm.

After Darren and Lori West were laid off from their construction jobs, they immediately began looking for other sources of income.

"We were sitting around looking for work and discovered this hot dog cart making business on the Food Network channel," Lori said.

Lori is from 40 miles outside Chicago and she wanted to bring the Midwest taste to the South.

Now on the corner of Fayetteville and Hargett streets, starting at $2.50 you can get a fully-loaded, Chicago style hot dog complete with mustard, onions, relish, a pickle, tomatoes, and a pepper.

They even take credit cards

"We tried to include everybody because we feel not a lot of people are walking around with cash these days," Darren said.

The dogs are hit with transplants from the windy city and first-time Chicago dog eaters alike.

"To get right here it's 112 miles from my house and i come down here three or four times a week," Customer Ricky Conner said after trying a hot dog. "I'm gonna stop down here and get me one of these bad boys every time i come."

The West's have only been operating the hot dog stand for about a week, but they said business is going so well that they are already looking at buying another cart.

Inmate Kayin Whitfield was found unresponsive and not breathing during a regular 9:30 p.m. check. The DOC reported that medical staff performed CPR and took Whitfield to the Central Prison emergency room. He was pronounced dead at 10:20 p.m.

Whitfield's body was taken to the state medical examiner's office. Preliminary findings indicate that the death was of natural causes. An investigation and review is underway.

Whitfield had been serving a five-month sentence on for driving with a license revoked, assault on an officer and damage to property.

Williams is wanted for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution on attempted murder charges. Detectives said Williams is wanted in a shooting of a woman at an ATM on Maynard Road in Cary in June 2007.

Witnesses reported seeing Williams leaving with two other men in a burgundy Buick with a New York license tag. The other two suspects have been arrested.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Charlotte office of the FBI at 704-377-9200.

The state's Employment Security Commission on Friday reported the jobless rate continued to hover around 11 percent, as it has for nearly all of this year. September's rate was 10.8 percent.

The state's unemployment rate in October 2008 was 7 percent.

North Carolina's unemployment rate has been worse than the national average for more than a year and that continued in October, when the U.S. figure was 10.2 percent.

Construction suffered the greatest losses, shedding about 6,600 North Carolina jobs in October. Education, health services and government jobs saw the greatest employment growth.

RALEIGH, N.C. (November 20, 2009)-Registration is up more than 75 percent compared to last year for the sixth annual Ridgewood Turkey Trot (www.ridgewoodturkeytrot.com), pushing estimated participation to 2,500—3,000. The Triangle tradition takes place on November 26, 2009 at the Ridgewood Shopping Center on Wade Avenue in Raleigh and benefits the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

"I am amazed at the tremendous community support," says Bruce Bokish, Ridgewood Turkey Trot event coordinator. "With some good weather, we could reach 3,000 participants."

The 2009 Turkey Trot will feature four events: competitive and noncompetitive 8K races, a one-mile fun run and a kids' dash. The race is sanctioned by U.S.A. Track and Field and is held on a certified course. The fastest male and female runners in each competitive division will receive prizes from Fleet Feet Sports of Raleigh and Mizuno. Every one hundredth competitive race finisher will receive a free pair of Mizuno shoes.

Participants have several options to register for the event:

In 2008, more than 1,700 participants help raise $18,500 for charity. Runners and enthusiasts represented 44 North Carolina towns and cities, 33 U.S. States, Canada, France and the Marshall Islands. Visit www.ridgewoodturkeytrot.com for more information.

About MS Events: MS Events is a Triangle nonprofit, dedicated to coordinating bike and foot races that raise funds and awareness for local causes. The organization began as a group of volunteers and continues today as such with nonprofit certification. Currently, MS Events raises funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of Eastern North Carolina. 2009 events include: St. Patty's Run Green 8K, Cup 'n Cone Tour and the Ridgewood Turkey Trot. For more information, visit www.mseventsnc.org.

About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society: MS stops people from moving. The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn't. We help each person address the challenges of living with MS. Each year, through our home office and 50-state network of chapters, we devote approximately $125 million to programs and services that enhance more than one million lives to move us closer to a world free of MS. In 2007, the Society invested more than $46 million to support 440 research projects around the world. We are people who want to do something about MS NOW. If you or someone you know has MS, please contact the National MS Society today at www.nationalmssociety.org or 1-800 FIGHT MS to learn about ways to help manage multiple sclerosis and about current research that may one day reveal a cure.

About Multiple Sclerosis: Multiple sclerosis interrupts the flow of information from the brain to the body and stops people from moving. Every hour in the United States, someone is newly diagnosed with MS, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with more than twice as many women as men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S. and 2.5 million worldwide.

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Meadowbrook was founded in 1959 by 45 black men who were prominent members of society. Barred from membership at segregated clubs in the area, the men worked together to build Meadowbrook so their families would have a place for recreational and social activities.

"They thumbed their noses at the segregated society in which they found themselves," said Dianne Boardley Suber, president of Saint Augustine's College. "They said, ‘We don't have to beg; we can create our own.'"

Joseph M. Sansom, whose father, James Joseph Sansom Jr., was one of Meadowbrook's founding members, said the idea of having something that the black community could have ownership of was one of central reasons the founders built Meadowbrook.

"If you don't own it, you can't control it," Sansom said. "Ownership is the key to anything."

Sansom said his father invested a lot of his own money into Meadowbrook. That was the kind of thing the original members did—they put their time and resources into making the country club something they could all be proud of.

It was Meadowbrook members who built the clubhouse and other buildings on the grounds. Often, families would load their lawnmowers onto their cars and go cut the grass out at Meadowbrook, Sansom said. It was a family environment.

"We swam in the lake. It had chiggers and red bugs, but we didn't care because we owned this land," Sansom said.

Saint Augustine's College bought Meadowbrook in 2007. Original members wanted to ensure that its legacy as a traditionally black country club was preserved. Suber said the College plans to continue the legacy started by the 45 charter members through the students who now benefit from their investment.

"(Buying the golf course) was not just an investment in property, but an investment in the future," Suber said.

Meadowbrook was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places.

And what a time it will be! The celebration has plenty of activities for all ages. In fact, the festival is so large that it flows outside to Bicentennial Plaza and the State Capitol grounds. The celebration is a firsthand opportunity to learn about the state's Indian culture, past and present.

During the Call of Nations at noon, see dancers in colorful regalia move to the rhythm of the drum groups Southern Sun and Red Wolf. Throughout the day, watch a dugout canoe take shape, or talk with artisans at work, such as John Blackfeather Jeffries, a member of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, who crafts traditional weapons. Other artists will carve gourds and stone, make pottery, create ribbon work and feather art, and more. (This is a great opportunity to get an early start on holiday shopping.)

Hands-on crafts, traditional games and workshops provide interactive experiences galore. You can play a game of corncob darts, shoot a blowgun, grind corn or join a beadwork workshop, among other things. Hear storytellers from the Eastern Band of the Cherokee and the Lumbee tribes share tales of long ago, or join a presentation by Dr. Malinda Lowery, a Lumbee tribe member and an assistant professor of history at UNC-Chapel Hill. She has produced several documentary films about American Indians, including "In the Light of Reverence," which aired on PBS in 2001.

Stay for lunch and make a day of it. Vendors will sell fry bread, sweet potato fries, Sappony salsa, buffalo burgers, fried pies and other tasty treats. Speaking of food, explore the museum's gardens to see plants that were grown by American Indians in North Carolina before the first European contact, such as a Cherokee flour corn variety, the Seminole pumpkin, and the Hidatsa Shield Figure bean.

This event is the perfect way to spend a fall day and celebrate American Indian Heritage Month. For a complete schedule or more information, go to ncmuseumofhistory.org or call 919-807-7900.

The American Indian Heritage Celebration is supported by the N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs; Museum of History Associates; and United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County, with funds from the United Arts campaign, the N.C. Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes a great nation deserves great art. Additional funding is provided by Food Lion and IBM.

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* The eight state-recognized tribes are Coharie, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Haliwa-Saponi, Lumbee, Meherrin, Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, Sappony, and Waccamaw-Siouan. For more information about the tribes, go to http://www.doa.state.nc.us/CIA/.

RALEIGH, N.C. (November 20, 2009)-Join the Crabtree Rotary Club and Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department for the third annual Holiday Express (http://tinyurl.com/holidayexpress2009) December 10-13, 2009. From 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. nightly, children and adults alike will enjoy this holiday experience as Pullen Park is festively decorated with thousands of lights and transformed into a winter wonderland. Tickets are $7 per person, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit the Clarence E. Lightner Leadership Endowment Fund.

Guests will experience the Santa Express Train, an adventure through acres of holiday magic ending with a meeting with Santa himself at the North Pole. The evening will also feature carousel rides, holiday entertainment, concessions and more. More than 16,000 guests have attended the Holiday Express in its first two years.

The Holiday Express is the final event held at Pullen Park before it closes for a restoration project by the Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department. The park is expected to reopen by spring 2011.

"We are extremely excited to bring the Holiday Express to life for a third year," says Jeffrey Hobart, Holiday Express committee chair. "It's a wonderful experience for the Rotary to continue its mission and supports a fantastic cause."

For the second consecutive year, a portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit the Clarence E. Lightner Leadership Endowment Fund. The endowment provides leadership development programs that have a positive impact on youth throughout the Triangle area.

"We are thankful for the continued efforts of the Crabtree Rotary," says Martha Waters, Clarence E. Lightner Endowment board member. "Their support helps us continue to develop and challenge young people to embrace leadership responsibilities in their communities."

To purchase tickets in advance, visit http://tinyurl.com/holidayexpress2009 or call the Pullen Park ticket office at 919.831.6468.

Event parking is located off Western Boulevard at the Dorthea Dix soccer fields on Hunt Drive. Both parking and shuttle services are free to the public and will be available daily from 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm. Shuttles will also be able to accommodate ADA and stroller needs.

About the Crabtree Rotary Club:The Crabtree Rotary Club is a member of Rotary International and its local District 7710. Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and to help build goodwill and peace in the world. Visit www.rotary7710.org for more information.

About the Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department:The purpose of Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department is to actively encourage, provide, promote and protect quality leisure, recreation and cultural opportunities, facilities and environments that are essential for the enhancement of the lives of our citizens. For more information, visit www.parks.raleighnc.gov or call 919.831.6640.

About the Clarence E. Lightner Leadership Endowment Fund:The Clarence E. Lightner Leadership Endowment Fund was established to provide leadership development programs that will have a positive impact on youth throughout the region. By working with foundations, corporations, government entities, faith organizations, neighborhood leaders and schools, the Lightner Fund will help stimulate an active multiracial cadre of young people to help address social problems in communities. This becomes the true living legacy of Clarence Lightner. Visit www.lightnerfund.org for more information.# # #

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What does this mean: This means when a flag is faded, tattered, torn, or other-wise in less than good condition; the flag should be removed from display and retired and a new flag should be placed into service.

To assist the citizens of the Town of Wake Forest through a demonstration in the proper way to retire US Flags, and in conjunction with the membership of the American Legion (Post #187) and the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 5—A Flag Retirement Ceremony will take place and the public is invited, and encouraged, to attend. The Scouts and Leaders of Boy Scout Troop 5, chartered to Wake Forest Presbyterian Church, is leading this event under the guidance of American Legion Post 187.

Organizations such as the Boy Scout Troops, Cub Scout Packs, Venturing Units, Girl Scout Troops and the like can participate through actively retiring multiple US Flags.

If your organization or unit would like to join in on this ceremony, please email FLAG <at> alpost187.org and we can place your unit on our roster.

If you are in possession of a US Flag you would like retired during the event you can bring it to the ceremony and be a part of the retirement of your flag.

At each fire there will be veterans to salute and honor the Flag they defended as the symbol of freedom is consumed by the flames. The veterans will also be advisors to the unit or organization working on the fire so-as to educate those in attendance, and participating, in the respect our flag is due.

The two national goals met by WakeMed were: achieving a 75 percent organ donation rate and a 10 percent donation rate after cardiac death (DCD). WakeMed and our affiliated organ procurement organization, Carolina Donor Services, were presented with the Medal of Honor at the Fifth National Learning Congress for the Donation and Transplantation Community of Practice held in Texas this fall. The HHS Donation and Transplantation Community of Practice connects donation and transplantation professionals with hospital leaders to identify best practices regarding the integration of organ donation into hospitals' end-of-life care.

Upon the awards announcement, HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Howard K. Koh, MD, MPH, said, "Today we honor the partners who have collectively demonstrated extraordinary acts of humanity. We are humbled to recognize these public health stewards who offer such a profound service to society."

For more information on organ donation in North Carolina, visit www.carolinadonorservices.org.

About WakeMed Health & Hospitals

WakeMed Health & Hospitals, one of the first hospital systems in the country, is a private, not-for-profit health care organization based in Raleigh, N.C. The 870-bed system comprises a network of health care facilities throughout Wake and Johnston Counties, including: a Level I Trauma Center and tertiary referral hospital and rehabilitation hospital in Raleigh, a community hospital in Cary, comprehensive outpatient centers and freestanding emergency departments in North Raleigh and Apex, seven outpatient rehabilitation sites, two skilled-nursing and outpatient facilities, a 100+-physician multispecialty practice, and home health services. The system includes accredited Chest Pain Centers and Joint Commission-certified Stroke Centers. Throughout the system, there are an additional 60 beds under construction and 41 newly approved by the state. WakeMed also provides management services for Betsy Johnson Regional Hospital in Dunn, NC. Centers of excellence include cardiac and vascular care, women's and children's services, physical rehab, emergency and trauma, orthopaedics, neurosciences, home care and numerous wellness and community outreach programs. WakeMed's team of 7,750 employees, including but not limited to nurses, technologists and medical support staff, 1000 volunteers and more than 1,000 affiliated physicians serve the residents of North Carolina using the most advanced technologies and facilities to ensure the finest in health care. For more information, visit www.wakemed.org.

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Online shopping has made it more convenient for consumers to shop from home for gifts for the holidays in addition to everyday items. Unfortunately, along with the convenience of online shopping comes possible scams and an abundance of businesses to purchase from that may be untrustworthy.

One online store BBB warns consumers about in their November Consumer Alerts is ThePerchStore.net. ThePerchStore.net is an online pet supply store claiming to be located at a Raleigh address. The store sells items including cages, cleaning supplies, and toys on their Web site.

BBB started receiving complaints from consumers in December of 2007, but more recently has seen an increase in inquiries and complaints on the company. Since January 2009, BBB has received 204 inquiries on the company from consumers, compared to only 27 inquiries in 2008. BBB has recently received 22 complaints concerning products not being shipped in a reasonable timeframe and communication issues. These complaints are currently pending as the BBB is waiting for the company's response. BBB has processed a total of 12 complaints in the last four weeks against ThePerchStore.net. Eight of these complaints were closed with no response from the company. The complaints came from consumers who ordered their pet supplies online, but never received the order they paid for, or they received broken items. Customers who have tried to reach the company have been unable to contact the business. When BBB called the three phone numbers they have for the business, they reached recordings stating that one number is not accepting calls, one has been disconnected, and the other has a full mailbox.

BBB cautions consumers to exercise caution when considering purchasing items from an unfamiliar store online.

"With ThePerchStore.net, and many other online stores, if a consumer calls BBB before doing business with them, we can let them know about any complaints or provide other details we are aware of to help them make a more informed decision when deciding which site to utilize," said Beverly Baskin, President & CEO of BBB serving Eastern North Carolina.

If you are not familiar with a particular store you want to purchase from online, BBB recommends that shoppers look for the following red flags:

The prices for items are too good to be true. Everyone is looking for a bargain and scammers use tantalizingly low prices online to lure victims in. If the prices for items are well below those of trusted competitors, it's a sign to walk away.

Spelling and grammatical errors abound. Some phony Web sites are created by scammers overseas. As a result, the Web sites, or spam e-mails directing shoppers to the site, might have many grammatical mistakes or spelling errors. However, if the site is polished and without grammatical error, don't rely on the professional look of the Web site as proof of a company's quality or good reputation.

The business accepts payment via wire transfer only. Scammers often ask victims to wire payment through Western Union or MoneyGram because the money cannot be easily tracked or retrieved in the case of fraud. BBB recommends always using a credit card to pay for items online. If the Web site turns out to be fraudulent, you can dispute the charge with your credit card carrier and hopefully get your money back. It is also a good idea to check your credit card statements often.

The business has earned a rating that does not meet your standards. Always review the business reliability report online at www.bbb.org to find out what rating it has received from BBB. If you don't find a BBB Reliability Report®, it doesn�t necessarily mean the business is fraudulent, but it may indicate the business has not been around for long or has yet to develop a track record with consumers.

The Web site fraudulently uses security seals. Scam websites will often display the seals from certification organizations such as VeriSign, IQNet or TRUSTe without authorization or falsely claim to be accredited by BBB. When shopping online you want to look for the seals of trusted organizations and confirm that the business' use of the seal is legitimate. To ensure that your transaction is safe, before you enter your credit card digits, make sure the URL reads 'https,' or it has a golden box at the bottom to make sure that the transaction is encrypted and secure.For more information on how to be a savvy shopper this holiday season, visit bbb.org.

About the BBB serving Eastern North Carolina:The Better Business Bureau serving Eastern North Carolina is a 501 (c)(6) not-for-profit corporation serving 33 counties in Eastern North Carolina. The organization is funded primarily by membership dues from more than 2,900 local businesses and professional firms. The BBB promotes integrity, consumer confidence and business ethics through business self-regulation in the local marketplace. Services provided by the BBB include, reports on companies and charitable organizations, general monitoring of advertising in the marketplace, dispute resolution services, and consumer/business education programs. All services are provided at no cost to the public, with the occasional exception of mediation and arbitration. Visit bbb.org.

The Smiths are each making about $7.50 an hour. Captain Greg Davis with the Salvation Army said this is the organizations way of getting more bell ringers out in the community after doubling the number of kettle locations in the area.

"Last year, we raised $175,000 and this year our goal is $350,000," Davis said.

And in order to do this, the organization is also going cashless in some locations.

"You can swipe your card to be able to give," Davis said.

Throughout the year, they have been serving more people, and this holiday season is no exception.

The Salvation Army has seen a 19 percent increase in the number of children that will benefit from the holiday program.

"This year we're already taken applications for 5,330 children. That's 1,000 more kids than last year," Davis said.

The Smiths said the most important part of the program is helping others.

"To make a lot of families happy, especially children," Smith said.

But it also helps them make ends meet.

The credit card donations will be available at four locations; the Wal-Mart in Cary at 2010 Kildaire Farm Road and in Raleigh at 6600 Glenwood Avenue. Also, at the Triangle Town Center and the Cameron Village Harris Teeter.

The cashless donations will begin the day after Thanksgiving.

"We can't go back to schools, we're doing it within Central Services," said Burns. "The impact in Central Services will ultimately reach the classroom."

Central Services is the business side of the school system and includes functions like accounts payable, computer support, maintenance of school facilities and the school system's communications department.

Changes the school system must prepare for include:
• $8 million in discretionary cuts in state funding as part of the second year of the biennial budget;
• Anticipated increase of $6 million in employee retirement, hospitalization, dental insurance and local salary supplements;
• A reduction of $3 million available from system reserves to balance the budget
• And unknown expenses associated with growth and new schools.

During the recent school board campaign, several candidates complained about Central Services' funding and called for cuts.

"I respect his decision to make all these cuts in Central Services and to protect our teachers," said newly-elected board member John Tedesco. "This is what we've been asking for and I respect his willingness to work with us in this manner."

Burns cautioned that the cuts were not a "silver bullet" that will solve problems for the long term.

"This is a fiscal response to a very challenging budget year coming up," he said. "What we're trying to do is be very proactive, to get out early so that we can make the best decisions possible."

He expects to have an estimate of recommended cuts from his staff within four to six weeks. The final budget will be presented to the Board of Education in early March.

The school board will work through the recommendations and submit their request to the Wake County Board of Commissioners by May 15.

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Officials say if the sign isn't removed by midnight Friday morning, they will start enforcing the town's sign ordinance. 

They're threatening to charge him $100 Friday, then $250 if it's not down after a three-day waiting period and eventually $500 every day after that.

Bowden said he has no intention of removing the sign until Cary agrees to buy his house.  He contends that roadwork along Maynard Road has ruined the building, and that the town should be held responsible.

"I couldn't get the Town of Cary's attention until I put the sign up. If I take the sign down, the attention's gone," said Bowden.  "All they want to do is get the sign down; they're not worried about my house."

Instead, Bowden and the American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit Thursday.

The lawsuit asks the Court to declare the Cary sign ordinance unconstitutional and to issue a temporary restraining order and an injunction against the Town, preventing the ordinance from being enforced against Bowden.

The suit claims the town is trying to silence free speech.

Town officials say the size and color of the sign -- not the message itself -- is what they have a problem with.

Firefighters were called to the two-story home located at 311 Colleton Road around 12:30 p.m.

An NBC17 crew on scene said the home appears to suffered major damage inside.

Officials continue to investigate the cause of the fire.

In a written statement, Kris Charles, spokesperson for the Kellogg Company says it has begun a program called K-LEAN or Kellogg's Lean, Efficient, Agile Network. In the process of becoming more efficient at the Cary bakery, some jobs were impacted.

Charles could not disclose how many employees work at that location or how many were affected by the decision.

"I can assure you that we're taking a fair and thoughtful approach and we are supporting impacted employees through transitions," stated Charles.

The clinics will be held on Saturday, Nov. 21 at Sunnybrook Building in Raleigh, the Northern Regional Center in Wake Forest, and Apex High School in Apex. Clinics will be open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and will offer both the nasal and injectable forms of the vaccine.

"The last several times we have opened H1N1 vaccination clinics, we have seen long lines throughout the day," said Wake County Community Health Director Sue Lynn Ledford. "People who plan to attend the Saturday clinics should be prepared to be waiting inside and outside the clinic buildings. For some people this may include bringing water to drink, chairs to sit in and having plans in place to keep children occupied."

For more information about the clinics, or to download required paper work, click here.