Friday News and Sports

One person was killed, and three were injured by a tornado six miles northwest of Greensboro late last night. An unidentified man was killed when his pick-up truck overturned in a parking lot. A Tornado Watch continues for areas north and west of the Albemarle Sound through 9am today.

The Pasquotank Sheriff’s Office is investigating an alleged improper teacher-student relationship at Pasquotank High School. The Daily Advance reports that investigators have removed a computer from the school and have sent it to the SBI. No arrests have been made, and Sheriff Randy Cartwright declined further comment on the case.

Washington County school officials say a recent finding of mold at Pines Elementary School in Plymouth is unrelated to breathing problems that developed in several children in November and forced the closing of the school for several days. Tests by state health officials after the closing found nothing conclusive that caused the children to get sick. WITN-TV reports that state officials recommended several measures to reduce the humidity levels inside the school to prevent the formation of mold.

Former Elizabeth City councilman Johnnie Walton has joined Leonard Bartlett in filing for the now vacant Fourth Ward seat according to The Daily Advance. A special election is set for June 24th to replace Kirk Rivers on the council, after he was ruled by the Pasquotank Board of Elections to not be eligible to serve on the council because he was not a resident of the city. A hearing in Superior Court on Rivers appeal of the ruling is yet to be heard, and Rivers is eligible to run after changing his registration recently to inside the city limits. Rivers has not filed for the special election, but has until next Friday to do so.

The University of North Carolina Board of Governors has named Holden Thorp to be the next chancellor at UNC-Chapel Hill. Thorp is the dean of the university's College of Arts and Sciences. The 43-year-old also is a chemist and a North Carolina alumnus, and has spent most of his career with the university. Thorp will replace James Moeser, who is stepping down next month to take a year's research leave, before returning to Chapel Hill as a professor.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL
North Carolina reserve Mike Copeland will need surgery after injuring his knee during a pickup basketball game last week.The senior forward suffered a torn right anterior cruciate ligament. The surgery is scheduled next month once swelling goes down. Recovery time is typically six to eight months. The Winston-Salem native scored a total of 30 points in 25 games last season for the Tar Heels.

West Virginia University officials say basketball coach Bob Huggins was taken to a hospital in Charlotte, for precautionary reasons after tripping on an airport tarmac and hitting his head on the pavement. Athletic director Ed Pastilong says Huggins had a bump on his head, and never lost consciousness. The coach and other athletics staff were in Charlotte Thursday for a booster club event.

GOLF
Golf legend Arnold Palmer will be in Bertie County today for the official grand opening of a new course that bears his name. The Innsbrook Golf and Boating Community is located in Merry Hill along the western shore of the Albemarle Sound, and is home to the 7,643 yard, par 72 course which is one of less than 400 Arnold Palmer courses in the world.

Scotland's Mhairi McKay (VAR'-ee muh-KY') fired a bogey-free 8-under-par 63 to take the first-round lead in the LPGA's Michelob Ultra Open at Williamsburg, Virginia. She leads Annika Sorenstam (AHN'-nih-kuh SOHR'-en-stam) and Sun Young Soo by one shot.

Sergio Garcia is the leader heading into the second round of the Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. He opened with a 6-under-par 66 to put him two shots ahead of Kenny Perry and Paul Goydos. Garcia birdied all the par-5s and sank a 50-foot birdie put on 14 as he tries to win for the first time in his last 54 PGA starts.


NBA Playoffs
Conference Semifinals Best-of-7
Thursday
Boston Celtics 89 Cleveland Cavaliers 73 Celtics lead series 2-0
San Antonio Spurs 110 New Orleans Hornets 99 Hornets lead series 2-1
Today
L.A. Lakers at Utah Jazz, 9 p.m. Lakers lead series 2-0

NHL Playoffs
CONFERENCE FINALS
Thursday
Western Conference Finals - Game 1
Detroit Red Wings 4 Dallas Stars 1
Today
Eastern Conference Finals - Game 1
Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7:30 p.m.


BASEBALL
AMERICAN LEAGUE
N.Y. Yankees 6 Cleveland Indians 3
Chicago White Sox 6 Minnesota Twins 2
Boston Red Sox 5 Detroit Tigers 1
Baltimore Orioles 4 Kansas City Royals 1
Tampa Bay Devil Rays 8 Toronto Blue Jays 3
Texas Rangers 5 Seattle Mariners 0

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Pittsburgh Pirates 5 San Francisco Giants 4
Atlanta Braves 5 San Diego Padres 4
Colorado Rockies 9 St. Louis Cardinals 3
Arizona Diamondbacks 8 Philadelphia Phillies 3
Florida Marlins 7 Milwaukee Brewers 2
Washington Nationals 8 Houston Astros 3

INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE
Louisville 8 Norfolk 7

High School Baseball state playoffs began yesterday, and continues with First Round games scheduled tonight and Saturday.

High School Softball state playoffs start Tuesday.

RACING
NASCAR: Darlington, Nationwide Series tonight, Sprint Cup Series Saturday
IndyCar: Qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 begins Saturday
Dixieland Speedway: Week four of 2008 season