By Andrew Rice
In local news, a fire destroyed a home in the Beaver Dam Fire District Wednesday afternoon. According to the Watauga Democrat, the fire which occurred at 100 Salmon Smacker Lane began in the back of the house. There were no occupants inside the home and no reported injuries. An investigation by the Watauga County Fire Marshal’s Office found that the fire was caused by burning materials too close to a structure that led to the home catching on fire. The home is a total loss.
In state news, North Carolina lawmakers proposed a bill to bring Walt Disney World Parks to the state. According to WFMY News 2, if the bill, named “Mickey’s Freedom Restoration Act” passes, the state will appoint a committee focused on attracting the Walt Disney Company and its Florida theme parks to the state. The bill sponsors say North Carolina offers a stable and prosperous environment for Disney to make a long-term investment in its future.
In national news, SpaceX’s Starship rocket exploded 4 minutes after liftoff during an inaugural test Thursday morning. According to NPR, the uncrewed spacecraft was expected to take a 90-minute trip around the Earth before a splashdown near Hawaii. The company expected the debris to fall somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico and will work with local authorities for recovery options. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk says the team will try to test the rocket again in the next few months.
And now for a special weather report powered by Booneweather.com. Today is a beautifully sunny day with a high of 76 and a low of 50.