Highlights from tonights live episode of American Idol featuring a special appearance from two of the biggest stars on the fox show empire. Good evening and thank you for joining us tonight for fox 46 news. I am bill melugin peer to Gaston County mom is arrested and charged. This is after police say she decided to keep her on children out of school for more than three years preached first on fox site are all day long. Hes joining us live from belmontes with the latest on this case. Thats right bill. Three teenagers kept out of school for more than three years. This high school behind me was within walking distance of their home a few minutes away. Their mother is behind bars for not all lined up to come here and continue their education in any other way. This story isnt about whos getting off the bus. Its about whos not getting on Gaston County police say this woman or a 6yearold Jennifer Elam kept her three children now ranging from 13 to 16 years old years. She is currently in jail for three misdemeanor charges of contributing to the delinquency this is their home and its just minutes away or my Public School they could have attended. We knocked on the front door today and elams or a friend asked us to leave immediately. Spinach is regular everyday nextdoor family. Neighbor Jacqueline Smith said elam and her kids within a few months ago and she never saw evidence to suggest it was happening next year. As elam sits in jail at the two officials to get these three children back in the school and move forward after they have been left behind. There are going to be so far behind all the other kids their age is. Now School District tells me was in keeping track this family because in 2012 the mother filled out all the proper paperwork to pull the kids out of school and have them homeschooled but police say that never happened reporting live in belmont David Sentendrey fox 46 wjzy. Bill three years is a lot of time to have to make up. Thank you for that live report. Elam is being held on 30,000dollar bond tonight. All new at 10 00 local Law Enforcement agencies are starting to crack down on illegal gambling initiatives. Operation a pot of gold to place today. 40 locations and Gaston County were checked and 100 different machines were seized. 20 people were charged for violating North Carolina statute. All the seized money will eventually be given to the Gaston County school system. People about scammers trying to pose as public utility workers. Authorities believe this is just a scheme for them to get inside peoples homes and try to commit larceny. The department has one active case that fits the scenario. For the most part the city of leonore utility workers should have no reason whatsoever to ever be in your home for any kind of testing. 13 and 14yearold arrested and charged after they are accused of shooting a cmpd police officers. It happened on milton road in charlotte. Police chief kerr putney said while they dont believe its gangrelated its obviously concerning to the department because of just how young the suspects are. Officers not in uniform are responding to a shots fired call because they were nearby and in witnesses suspects firing again. After the suspect saw police he the officers. We are doing all that we can to address it but its frustrating that things would get to that level. Cmpd said officers chased the teams and ended up arresting them. A 14yearold is charged with three counts of assault with a deadly weapon, shooting within city limits in possession of a firearm by a minor as well as resisting arrest. The other team the 13yearold is charged with resisting arrest and possession of marijuana. Its still an ongoing investigation. As a way to try to fight this crime the police chief is now asking the city for more officers. He made the request of the government center. He said more technology for dispatchers is needed as is another Police Station. The chief says charlotte has experienced an increase in crime crime. In 2015 the crime rate went up almost 10 compared to 2014. He says more officers need having to do privacy investigations so we have to catch up. The important thing for me is whatever the allocation is we have the adequate support. Bill chief putney says theyre hoping to have funding for a Police Station by july and then they would have to figure out exactly which area would benefit the most by a bigger police presence. Earlier tonight crews were on the scene of a house fire in belmont. Take a look at this photo. This happened just before 6 00 6 00 on clay street. Officials say everybody who was inside the house thankfully got out okay but unfortunately the owners to the still missing tonight. The cause of the fire still under investigation. Fire officials tell us that home appears to be a total loss. Now until fox 46 news. As five sheriffs deputies are serious discipline. This is following a protester at last week donald trump rally in fayetteville. After investigation sheriffs deputy saw the assault happened and didnt do anything about it. Three the deputies were demoted as a result and were suspended without pay for five days. The other two deputies were suspended without pay for three days. All five of the deputies are facing oneyear probation. Meanwhile john mcgraw pictured right here the 78yearold who threw the punch was charged with assault and battery. An investigation is now underway by the sbi after deputy was killed in the shooting. Happened Late Wednesday on both landing road and anson county. The sheriffs offices deputies kyle beaman Justin Martin fired the shots that killed dennis penny, want to clear it up it was a deputy involved shooting. Dennis penny was the man killed. The starter when they would dispatch a check on the welfare of pennys girlfriend. The three of them got into an altercation at some Point Exchange gunfire which ultimately killed penny. Been assaulting his girlfriend. Two guns had been recovered and are being examined tonight. An update for you as a man has been charged with a deadly shooting that happened yesterday afternoon. 19yearold du jour smith was booked this morning on a long list of charges including aggravated assault with intent to kill a Police Responded to a call after 3 30 yesterday. When they arrived on scene one man was lying in the street for several gunshot wounds. This was sparked by some type of a disagreement. Police believe it was not a random act and Police Telling us the investigation is not over and is still ongoing as we speak to a Restaurant Owner still dealing with the loss after his business caught on fire this morning. Happened around 3 30 a. M. Firefighters finding flames coming out of the rough. It took crews 18 minutes to get the blaze under control. To ease lounge used only to traffic were shut down temporarily. Injuries but Officials Say there are 50,000 of the damage. No word on what the cause was but Business Owners asking police to review surveillance video. That investigation is still ongoing. Brought to School District says its considering a brandnew policy. The policy would allow students to leave class for religious reasons. Superintendent kelli pew introduced a policy which would allow students to leave the School Campus with an excused absence or religious instruction during an elective class period one daiichi week. Kids would be able to leave for prayer or bible study no matter what their religion is. Parents would have to sign off on the deal and students could cut could not cut core classes such as math and science. Popper Department Store in our area is closing up shop. Kohls announcing plans to close a number of us doors across the country including the one on south hola barden pineville. Strategy by the company to try to improve sales. Between 80 and 100 people would be laid off from when the store closes on june 19. There are currently four other kohls stores in the charlotte area. The a band with a major presence in the queen city is keeping its pay at the same level. Wells fargo ceo john stumps 19. 3 million. Stumps receives 2. 8 million in salary, 4 milliondollar bonus and 12. 5 million in stock the same amount he got back in 2014. Wells fargo had a banner year in 122015 a record amount of 23 billion in profit. The bank holds most of its employees here in charlotte. Plans for a 30 story residential condo tower and uptown charlotte are officially on hold. This would have been the First Developers say they have learned there is in the market for their plans. Sam smith has more on what this means for the condo market in charlotte. Big plans for big project of stock. The developers wanted to add to charlotte skyline with highend condos but ended up changing their minds. On their web site they state it quote the project was extremely well received yet in and the market was not there. That would be a wise business decision at the market is not responding. Mary is the president of the charlotte regional realtors association. She believes there is a market for highend condos and uptown. The issue might have been specific to the projects plans. Lets face it you have parents that kids who are gone to college and they may want to they dont want to go too far, work downtown may be. Obviously theres a marketplace for them as well. The Developers Say considering alternative uses for the property and those alternative uses will fulfill them that needs of uptown and benefit the city of charlotte. What will happen with one per bard is yet to be determined. In the past of the residential towers that were supposed to be condos became rentals. I caught up with experts on the rental market at the Apartment Association trade show. They say business is going very well for renters with more and more people moving to the queen city. There are 10 to 12,000 units under construction and another 10 to 12 proposed in the charlotte area. She is confident something will go into the space off brevard street as the city needs it. With the residential projects. In Charlotte Sam smith fox 46 wjzy. Too according to the Charlotte Business JournalDevelopers Plan to break ground on the project at some point this year. Some of the neighbors have been fighting items the neighborhood. Bill Neighborhood Watch groups are raising serious concerns about the amount of students they say have been skipping class and causing problems in their neighborhoods. We will find out what they say about it. Plus it up to you what you might not know about our irish roots in the queen city as we celebrate the st. Patricks day and brian what a gorgeous day its been. Its been nice over the last several days that we have changes on the way and that will include opportunities for rain this weekend. After the break. Bill welcome back. Bill its idol night. So i have heard that you are back there listening to them. Bill is singing. For every song. That is not for air. We have a big night here. I dont know if youre watching, laporsh renee was crying. I didnt get a chance to see the im getting caught up. We are down to five contestants. Tristan mcintosh. I will tell you what she is 15 and she doesnt quite connect. See that she has a good future. Anybody on the show. Its weird because youre watching her and they will popup her age and you dont realize shes 15. When i was 15 i was sitting home playing computer games. It was completely live and there were special guests. I wanted to point out your favorite moment. I havent seen every episode of the season but one guy saw mckenzie a young looking guy. He said the league sang billie jean by Michael Jackson. Anytime you say Michael Jackson you are taking a bigtime risk and i think he knocked it out of bill pretty impressive. Slow down and gave it a different vibe. Jlo went for it and i think he would have loved that. Bill uber dancing. That sub good it was. Bill anybody that knows me knows i dont dance. Another big night. If youre watching American Idol viewer watching empire. To the biggest arch of empire. Check this out Jussie Smollett and i have to look and for some reason i cant say his last name but just watch. Twitter was blowing up in these guys were on. I saw it and it makes you want to say, have you ever seen people that are so good it makes you want to do it . Unfortunately we have to go into reality and it sounds like nails on a chalk word. Im bummed to see the last season American Idol was having an awesome run. Clay aiken Kelly Clarkson the original crew were awesome and the show has come a long way. And a lindbergh was on and he was one of those, his ear was big and it was awesome. You have to continue checking it out. They are down to five well talk more about it next week in the meantime talking about a little i ditched it. This shot came in from concord a beautiful picture. By the way a couple of these pictures here came in from folks using fresco and that came in from concord. They are making money bills sending these pictures then. We have a nap or you can send pictures. And that we will ask for pictures wanted something special, video or pictures, 20 bucks for a picture and video, 50 bucks. This was sent in from johnny w and again just a beautiful skyline from the belmonts neighborhood near charlotte. All right guys i hope you enjoyed that by the way. Things are changing here. We are going to see changes and tomorrow he will pick up cloud cover. Mostly nice tomorrow but we have chances for rain saturday and chance on both of those days it was with your headlines we will die up another beauty for you tomorrow. Those temperatures are going to slip as well. Right now we are still okay, 50s and amounts and 60s for much of the lower elevations. Estonia you are 65 and 66 in lincolnton. He feels very comfortable out there. Lets talk about st. Patricks day because we have a big parade in uptown. It starts at 11 00. Its going to be 60 for the daytime vibe with a chance for showers out of the east at two to seven half an hour. We want to track this for you over the next couple of days. Tomorrow High Pressure in the area. High pressure generally thinking dry conditions and i will be the case friday but that will continue to shift off the coast the clouds will come in, 9 30 potential showers willing to Charlotte Sophie are going to the parade where clothing and preprepared to see snowfall. The parade is going rain or shine. We will be there from fox 46 news hope you can make it out there. Tonight we are sitting at 40 degrees. Its cool but it wont be as chilly as it was yesterday morning and temperatures over the next couple of days they times are cooling down. 70 friday, 60 on saturday and 55 on sunday. By the way bill sunday has a chance for rain as well and we will delve into that more and 10 minutes from now. As the saying goes today im irish. Kiss me, im irish. Evolved as a hol vo want to be happy with your next vehicle purchase . At enterprise, we guarantee it. Head to your neighborhood enterprise car sales and let the people who buy more vehicles than anyone. Seaworld is make a big changes in hopes of bringing people back to their struggling the killer whales will remain the things that those fancy shows with the tricks are history crazy world is no longer going to be breeding orcas that they have in captivity. Kristin delgado reports from orlando. Keeping an animal that says in captivity. Mixed reaction about a monumental decision announced by seaworld. It said the nextgeneration mobile to see the orcas. The Company Announcing three major moves no more breeding of orcas inactivity. The phasing out of the shows and a new partnership with a former enemy the Humane Society of the united United States. Seaworld says its time to get back to the bases basics in and for them its caring for animals. 20 twentyyear adversaries coming together to focus on animals wellbeing. 50 million with an effort to be the leading rescue organization in the world. Check all this in direct response to public treasure. 29 orcas live in captivity in seaworld parks one of which is pregnant. The nuclear well will live in activity. The company says families will continue to be entertained focusing on education and fun. Rides attractions shows, tv shows. Its about direction and 20 million guests, 20,000 employees and an army of people making the world better. Bill vessel is foxs christian duck out of reporting. So they, growing concern among west lake is westlake neighborhood students. Students roaming the streets. We come back youll find out what cms is going to do to try to get these kids back in the classroom plus ministers of the we were there and when we ret bill taking a look at our top stories mother in belmont is in jail charged with keeping your kids out of school for more than three years. Authorities say 36 euros Jennifer Elam filled out the correct paperwork to take her three out of school but she was supposed to be homeschooling them in the meantime. Their ages range from 13 to 16. The school they would be attending is within walking distance of the house. Meanwhile subbot is charged with misdemeanor charges contributed links to the juvenile pay Law Enforcement agencies are tracking down on illegal gambling machines put operation pot of gold to place a 40 locations in Gaston County were checked in over 100 machines were seized. 20 people were charged for violating