None of the dogs had rabies records. And rescue groups are coming together to take care of them. Right now ted cruz is preparing to speak in kannapolis at Central Baptist Church. Speakers before him are wrapping up the texas senator is expected to speak around auto 5 45. And we will bring you part of the speech. And you can watch it by going to wbtv. Com. Campaign 2016 is heating up in North Carolina one of the main points starting here. Absolutely. And talk about what you think of this. Current temperatures in our area right now. Look at that hard to complain meteorologist leigh brock is tracking what is heading our way and is live in the first alert weather center. How nice is it outside . Up seasonal for this time of year. Temperatures in the mid70s. 74 in charles. And and 72 in land lancaster. And lets look where we are. 75 was the high temperature. Your average high is 61. If you really would love to get outside and start planning fight it dont do it yet because our average last frost is the first week of april we could go back to the Cool Temperatures and go back to the frosty situation hold off a little bit longer. Not going to take too much longer. And 72 is your temperature. We have clear skies and a couple of thin clouds as the sun is heading down now. But we have more than an hour until the sun is officially down. Here is the evening hours, we have a 7 00 p. M. Temperature of 68 and your 9 00 p. M. Temperature 63 and 11 00 p. M. 59. One degree below where we should be for a high temperature. We are not done with the warm temperatures. How long that warm weather lasts in a little bit. Lets check traffic and tonya sponsored by peoples bank. As we check in on independence boulevard two problems. One is close to w. T. Harris. And independence monroe road is a great alternate route to avoid this area. And in addition, another problem independence boulevard close to sardis road north. And congestion. And volume is starting to build on highway 51 down in matthews. And as we check in and look at the volume around independence and albemarle road a lot of volume as well. Stopandgo traffic on the roads. To the dot camera independence and albemarle road we see the volume. And the drive time it maybe off. I suspect longer in this to take independence to matthews we are showing 32 minutes. Back to you. Thank you. Property owners across the state are fighting the government their property is being taken from them for nothing in return. Among the group of angry property openers more than a dozen families in cleveland they were in court fighting the state and it is a battle that on your side investigator nick ochsner discovered is costing taxpayers millions of dollars. A fight over the land where state Transportation Leaders planned to build the shelby bypass does not show much. The plot which has ma materialized more than a draw something frozen by a fight over the land. The first letters i received were 20 years ago. Michael price is one of the Property Owners whose land is stuck in the middle. Ncdot filed a corridor map that included his property. He could not sell or build on the property and bylaw, could not do anything to improve it. To go almost 20 years with no action, no highway built, my property was taken. I cannot sell it. Price his neighbors and hundreds of land owners in similar situations have filed lawsuits against ncdot seeking to force highway planners to buy many of the owners packed the North CarolinaSupreme Court in february for argument. I feel like it is a chance to find out if we have justice in North Carolina. Lawyer arguing for the state at the supreme occur was the solicitor general. And taxpayers put up more than 800,000 to pay private lawyers, too. Invoices provided show the state hired four law firms to help defend their use of the map act. Im wondering why you had to go to outside counsel . I think we look for the best experts to defend us in the situations. But the private firms are working with an attorney from the attorney generals office. Meaning taxpayers are getting billed twice. In a statement a spokesman for ncdot said the outside help was necessary because of the volume of cases. 290 have been filed since 2010 but a review of the legal that did not stop some firms from billing tens of thousands of dollars each month for things like general research. More than a quarter Million Dollars has gone to the firm of senator who wracked up a big payday. One of the Senators Firm he has billed more than any other firm. Im wondering if you are concerned about the appearance there . I rely on the general counsel for those matters. But is it appropriate to be spending a Million Dollars on attorneys when you can go to state attorneys . I will rely on the general counsel for those matters. Nick ochsner wbtv on your side. We made requests for comments to the office but did not receive a response. It could be months before the state Supreme Court rules in the current case on this issue. If you vacation on the outer banks governor mccrory broke ground on the new bridge replacement today. This is the bridge that links the outer bank and North Carolina. Expected to take three years to complete. The time includes the destruct shop of the old bridge damaged two years ago. Next the daughters of this South Carolina man are hoping to catch their dads killer. I dont get those Text Messages from him. Saying i love you. Have a great day. I miss you. Lets do lunch. Police is just a i think we shouldve taken a left at the river. Tarzan know where tarzan go tarzan does not know where tarzan go. Hey, excuse me, do you know where the waterfall is . Waterfall . No, me tarzan, king of jungle. Why dont you want to just ask somebody . If youre a couple, you fight over directions. Its what you do. If you want to save fifteen percent or more on car insurance, you switch to geico. Oh ohhhhh its what you do. Ohhhhhh do you have to do that right in my ear . The two women are increasing the reward to find the killer of their father. Dat was killed in columbia. For five months the killer walked free and way want to change that why they are offering 5,000 to anyone with information that could help police. You always think that he is just going to walk through the door. But as the day goes on you realize that he is not. And its hard as it is to talk about it, i feel like the only way this is going to get solved is if i talk about it. The family says they hope that with columbia being close to our area someone will notice something. If you do, please call police. A South CarolinaPolice Officer will not face charges in a shooting that was caught on camera. Lance corporal crystal buckingham was under investigation after shooting a woman wanted for shoplifting. We showed you the video. In it you can see another officer stuck in the vehicle. She was dragged alongside the car. Investigators say buckingham acted responsiblely. We hear from a man in the National Guard who helped save a girl being sexually assaulted. And we are on the way to a third reported shooting here in charlotte this afternoon. Last hour new information coming a group of North CarolinaNational Guardsmen were in Kings Mountain for a drill when they heard a young girl screaming and she was being sexually assaultedment a teen was in custody thanks to the strangers. Wbtv Steve Ohnesorge talked to one of the heros and the story is new at 5 00. Been around the world taking care of business. Wherever they are needed that is where they will be. Sunday afternoon they did not have to go far. I know everyone has everybodys back. This time a young girl in trouble walking up gold avenue in Kings Mountain when a man grabbed her and groped her across the street the local guard unit was in weekend drill and they heard the girl shouting. And help me, help me. A passerby called police and soldiers yelled at the suspect and spotted two guardsmen going to help. They was coming across the road. The suspect let go. Girl and they grabbed him and the man apologized. He admitted he was guilty of what happened. 19yearold kyle moore was charged with Sexual Assault and battery. Mary says it is a good thing the soldiers were there. Think if they had not seen him . They were being good citizens. What happened until i told them. Officials in raleigh are not sure if this is a recruiting tool but they want everyone to know that the folks in the guard are there to protect and serve. Even if its just around the corner. And if you think the attacker picked the wrong place consider this. Sergeant neil wears a different uniform during the week. North carolina state highway patrol. Moore is behind bars on 100,000 bond and a neighborhood feels safer tonight. Thank god for good people. Steve ohnesorge wbtv on your side. What a job. Police are investigating and say it is possible more charges will be filed. We want to go back to the newsroom are alex giles breaking news at the alert center. Another a third reported shooting in charlotte in the past hour. What have you learned . The medic tweeted out they are responding to a third reported shooting a gunshot charlotte we told you about two reported shootings in North Charlotte one on mcginn grove drive and the other on brookshire boulevard not sure if they are related. Keep you posted as we learn more about the shooting incidents. The third reported one we are hearing about in East Charlotte along the plaza and we have sky3 headed to the scene. As he soon as we get more information we will bring it to you. Back to you. Thank you. More live pictures now. Ted cruz finally at the podium addressing a group that Central Baptist Church in kannapolis. He just started speaking. And lets listen in. Turnouts for republicans. And dismal turnouts for democrats. Now that suggests winds of change may be acoming. And then on super tuesday, a on super tuesday once again turning on the tv. Every pundit said donald trump is going to sweep super tuesday. He is unstoppable. It is another tuesday and there are four more states casting boll lots in the republican primary. Ted cruz here in North Carolina voters here early voting has started and the primary is next tuesday. You can watch this speech right now by going to wbtv. Com. And visiting North Carolina and the charlotte area on a beautiful day. Mid70s today. Incredible springlike. And leigh brock is in the first alert weather center. Its ridiculous to have temperatures this warm but well take it. Here is what it looks like from your hd towercam just beautiful every once in a while mite see thin clouds but that is it. The numbers. 74 your temperature in charlotte. 73 in statesville. And you in boone are at 64. Mainly clear skies and we have had thin clouds into the foothills and you have seen the thin clouds and the rest of us almost nothing whatsoever. Not so lucky in texas and louisiana. Notice all of the thunderstorms that is really heavy rain and a tornado watch the farther south in parts of louisiana and texas. Not a good situation. This system is coming closer to us or it would appear. Its not moving to the east. Its moving a little more north than anything. That is thanks to the High Pressure system in place. Here you see it just offshore. And all of that rain across texas and louisiana is really going to stay there. That is not good for them they have the thunderstorms and they will have rain and heavy rain for days. Meanwhile, that High Pressure system keeps it away from us. We are looking at dry conditions probably through the rest of the week. Tomorrow morning, calm and mimed. For your morning. And the rest of the day we go from the 50s to your noontime temperature of 72. And have lunch outside and kinner for that matter. Your 4 00 p. M. Temperature will be 77. And the one downfall. We have really high pollen. The warm temperatures and the wind and put those together and that allows the pollen indices to go high. And this is better news. 77 tomorrow. 76 on thursday. 75 on friday. Slight chance of showers the last two days of the week and rain over the weekend and we hold on to the 70s and we keep them into next week. And well have more at 6 00 p. M. With eric thomas. Traffic. Thank you, leigh. Your first alert traffic is sponsored by peoples bank. A nice day of weather and a lot of people sitting in traffic as we check in providence road and audrey kell. And we have a lot of volume and a lot of problems around the area at 485 in providence notice indicating a lot of stopandgo traffic. 485 from providence over to south boulevard we have already got congestion in this area as well. Quite a few problems around the area. And one final accident to tell you about. This is south tryon by carowinds boulevard. Back to you. Thank you. Next at 5 00. These big macho men rescued these cute cuddley kit tens. Did you cry a little bit . No. Im Kristen Hampton. The good news is coming up. And coming up all new at 6 00 cmpd chief kerr putney opens up for the first time about a viral video which shows one of his officers striking a man under arrest next. On wbtv news is sponsored by. There are two democratic visions for regulating wall street. One says its okay to take millions from big banks and then tell them what to do. My plan break up the big banks, close the tax loopholes, and make them pay their fair share. Then we can expand health care to all, and provide universal college education. Will they begin to play by the rules if im president . You Better Believe it. It does not get cuter. The kittens are doing fine after rescued from a house fire. The firefighters who saved them are humble and well, maybe just a little bit embarrassed to be on tv for it but that did not stop Kristen Hampton from these tiny felines have those piercing cries to thank for their lives. And these firefighters who heard them. They heard a noise coming from the crawl space that sounded like a cat soundch. Waxhaw volunteer firefighters put i a trash fire. We went back under the crawl space. Sam rivers and oliver pulled back layers of waterlogged insulation and found where the cries were coming from barely a week old eyes closed the babies were trapped but ok. Insulation and ended up saving their lives. So you know, doing this interview straightface second no easy task for a firefighter. The whole kitten rescue thing earned them ribbing around the firehouse. [laughter] big macho men and cute kittens . You cannot do an interview about kittens inside of a fire station. Normally macho and cute do not mix. Today they do. Heros and heart strings are good when you consider the house was ok. And thanks to these guys the precious kittens are ok, too. In waxhaw with the good news, Kristen Hampton wbtv on your side. As big as their palm. Tiny. Six days old. Those big brave tough guys did not want to make it seem they were softies. The kittens are with a rescue group until old enough to be adopted. Lets take you to breaking news. Show you this live picture over the plaza in East Charlotte where police are responding to the third shooting in one hour. P. M. Steve today is your lucky day. Woman surprised oh, my goodness mark youve just won a thousand dollars woman thatamazing that amazing shrieks woman ok, nice job. Mark, way better than yesterday. Maria, that delivery felt a little forced. And steve, steve yeah . Woman i am still missing that raw emotion. Woman pretty awesome for a tuesday, but tomorrow is hump day, so lets really bring it lucky for life. Win a thousand dollars a day, phone ringing you cant deal with something, by ignoring it. But thats how some president ial candidates seem to be dealing with social security. Americans work hard, and pay into it. So our next president needs a real plan to keep it strong. elephant noise donkey noise announcer wbtv on your side. Wbtv news starts right now. We continue to follow breaking news. Two shootings in northwest charlotte and more Police Activity in East Charlotte. Good evening im Maureen Oboyle im paul cameron. Its been a bloody day there is a Large Police Presence on the plaza and alex giles is in the newsroom. Sky3 got to the scene. Lets take you live there again this is East Charlotte the plaza the 6,000 block in a strip mall you see vehicles out there and cars. And investigating trying to figure out what happened. We spotted one person on a stretcher in the last 10 minutes and saw an ambulance pull away. Got to imagine that is one you see medic several cmpd squad cars on scene this is the third reported shooting in the last hour here in charlotte. Back to you. Well continue to follow this and bring you new information that we get. Alex we know that police are investigating two shootings in northwest charlotte one person taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound from the 420 block of mcginn grove drive and another victim was located in the brookshire boulevard where wbtvs sarablake morgan continues our breaking News Coverage and is live with the latest. I spoke to i agroup of tankers standing here. They tell me owe teenagers standing here. They were pumping gas and their honda is in there. They were standing at the pump, pumping gas when they heard multiple gunshots and they estimate it was around seven gunshots. They did not spend time looking i will step out so you can see more of the scene that is extremely active right now. Plenty of officers canvasing this area trying to figure out what happened. I see some officers speaking to witnesses. Theres also many crime scene markers on the ground evidence markers where officers have been mashing evidence trying to piece this together and figure out what happened. One person shot here at the shell off of brookshire boulevard and another person shot too far mcginn drive is a mile up the road not far at all. But we are hearing both of those were taken to the hospital with lifethreatening injuries. One person according to police is in custody. But, of course, still a lot of Unanswered Questions about what led to all of this and if those two shootings are connected. We will stay on it and bring you anymore information as it develops. Reporting in charlotte, sarablake morgan wbtv on your side