At the basketball game. I would like the know, you know, what was the cause. Why two principals were suspended. On the phone, one School Board Member wouldnt talk about the suspensions but assured me steps have been taken to address the fight and ensure it doesnt happen again. Based on my knowledge of what happened at the game, the board and the superintendent and our athletic directors all together have come together and addressed the issue in the best way that we can. Yeah, and this week the School District did reach out to the state asking it to reverse its decision and allow both schools to finish out the rest of the year but the state answered no to that question, scott. The question is, is it a final no. Do you think theyll continue to push the state on this issue . Reporter yeah, they are, district leaders say they students who were at the game that night were not fighting and they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. So they are reaching out to the state today sending off various videos of that fight to prove that about 19 of those students were not involved and theyre hoping that they will reverse the suspensions for next year, reporting live in salisbury, tina terry, channel 9 Eyewitness News. Turning to a major developing story tonight at 6 00, investigators are getting closer to trying to understand what led to a terrifying shooting rampage in a small kansas community. Police and coworkers saying that 38yearold cedric ford is the one responsible. Just before 5 00 on thursday, Officials Say he first opened fire from his car on other drivers. Two people were hurt before he drove to his workplace. There investigators say he shot one person in the parking lot of the industrial plant and then went inside. In all, three people were killed and 14 others injured. Painters in the booth. And one of them he shot was the good gentleman that just took me out. Took my spot. A deputy shot and killed ford. The sheriff says that that likely stopped others from being hurt or killed. Months ago ford posted this pick cure and this video of himself on facebook firing a rifle there. He had an extensive criminal record including arrests for burglary and battery. Less than two hours before his rampage, deputies served ford with a protection order at work. The team at world news will have much more on this developing story immediately after Eyewitness News at 6 00. Weve been updating you on breaking news tonight. The crash between a fire truck and two cars in dilworth. Investigators say firefighters were on the way to a call when the crash happened outside levine childrens hospital. Two people from the smaller vehicles did so go for treatment. Tonight were asking what led to the crash. Thousands of people are in uptown tonight for the citys its one of the most lucrative events for charlotte businesses and the nice weather could bring even more people to the area. Eyewitness News Reporter ken lemon is live in uptown where the party gets under way later on tonight. Ken . Its the largest annual event in charlotte. And for a lot of people, its just getting started. I spoke to several people who told pi they just got in last night. If you look at the lines right over there. You see a lot of people are here to see those games but there are a lot of businesses relying on the same crowd to boost profits during a slow time of year. The festivities are just beginning for tammy hinton and her friends. Reconnecting with past friendships. Three of them drove from raleigh. Dotty moore came from hampden virginia. The bulk of the Economic Impact will come from people like them according to the charlotte regional Visitors Authority. 83 of attendees will travel 50 miles to get here and stay 3. 4 nights. Last year the tournament its like nothing ive seen before. Businesses booming at the hyatt house. All the rooms are booked in what is usually a slow month. Theyre spending money and drinking and eating and enjoying the city. Operators are passing out menus at local hotels hoping to attract some visitors. Were hoping a lot of people step in. There are no walk ins. The barber shop is next to the arena and business is up by 50 . The Visitors Authority says the weather can be a big factor with ciaa. This weekend we expect clear skies. That means a number of attendees and the amount of money spent maybe up. Live in uptown charlotte, ken lemon, channel 9 Eyewitness News. Looking forward to a great weekend, thank you, you can find a full list of the events online at wsoctv. Com. We have that and kens story on new tonight at 6 00, two teenagers and a third man are accused of forcing their way into an 84yearold mans home in clover and sticking a gun in his mouth last summer. Kyler brake field, jordan brooks. And wesley henny are charged with kidnapping and other charges. It happened on cedar grove road in clover. The trio woke the victim up and demanded money from a safe and ransacked his house. It took workers with shovels and a bobcat more than an hour to clean up this mess. We brought you live pictures as breaking news this morning on daybreak, a driver lost control of this truck. It flipped over and spilled 20,000pounds of gypsum. The driver was coming from duke energys marshal steam station in catawba county. A person was taken to the hospital after they were hit by police cars were on the scene near independence and farming dale drive. When channel 9 got there at 5 00 a. M. Officers say a pedestrian that was hurt had minor inge ris. Inge investigators say the fire started by food on the stove and caused 7,000 worth of damage. Strong wind likely to blame for a downed tree that was hit by a train in rural burke county. A channel 9 viewer sent us photos from the scene showing crews looking at the damage at around lunch time. Branches there just sticking out from the front of the engine. Crews dug out the tree and then the train was able to continue on. New tonight, the u. S. Economy ended 2015 stronger than expected. And that could mean that were slipping into a recession. Today the government says the nations economy grew 1 between october and december. Experts say we shouldnt celebrate too much though. The economy is still under pressure from the slowing Global Growth and the strong u. S. Dollar. Not much moving on wall street the day. At the closing bell, the dow jones closed down 57 points. Nasdaq closed up 8 points. Uber is officially approved for use at Charlotte Douglas international airport. Officials say uber starting march 1st passengers can be picked up and dropped off from zone d. According to uber passengers, theyll be charged an extra dollar to use the service to and from the airport. Tributes continue to pour in tonight for former Charlotte City councilman, malachi green. Green died yesterday after a long battle with cancer. But Eyewitness News reporter jim bradley says his legacy in charlotte as a politician, mentor, and influential Voice Community is still very much alive. Malachi greens face changed over the years. But not even a long bout with cancer could change the passion he felt for politics and the Community Long time friend ivan petis says he loved to serve. Green was best known by much of charlotte for the two terms he spent on Charlotte City council in the 90s. But he kept a finger in politics after words. Mentoring malcolm graham. He councilled all of us and gave us political direction. Never got in front of us. But made sure he was around to lead us. Green made one of his last visits to the Tuesday Morning breakfast. A staple of west side politics. Its up to us. She was a strong and consistent voice for the west side. Until a few months ago spent the bojangles on west trade. He called it his office. Today i sat there with his friends who recalled lively debates about politics and anything else. We talk about everything. We dont have any limbs at this table. If youre thin skinned, please dont sit on this end. Malachi greens smile was contagious but its his wisdom city councilman James Mitchell will remember most. He tried to do it right for 73 years. In charlotte, jim bradley, channel 9 Eyewitness News. Malachi greens passing brought tributes from many, including the governor, the state. You can find a list of them on our website. Go to wsoctv. Com. All that sunshine we saw today, it was great. But it didnt do anything for were exactly where we were ill show you how much that will change as we head through the weekend. Trash pick up could soon be eliminated for homeowners in pick up the bill. We should not be punished by our choice in housing. Next at 6 00, why the city says the property taxes enough to keep up that service. O keep up tha 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 alittle forced. And steve, steve yeah . Woman i am still missing that raw emotion. Woman pretty awesome for atuesday, but tomorrow is hump day, so lets really bring it lucky for life. Win a thousand dollars a day, this is channel 9 Eyewitness News. Covering the carolinas. Charlotte city officials just faced some tough questions from renters and condo owners who are upset. New at 6 00, Eyewitness News reporter jenna deery was there for a very heated discussion. This is a for real honest conversation. Were here to listen to you. Reporter city leaders opened the floor for feedback. Perhaps not realizing the eager crowd they were in front of. They were cut off during a citizens for rum forum by questions from renters and condo owners. The fact that my building not have any bearing on whether or not my tacks pay for my services or not. This i find discriminating. Its an idea thats been four years in the making but is now getting traction. City staff says it could save up to 3. 6 million when funds are limited. And expensive feeds like more Police Officers are on the horizon. This is a really sensitive issue. And we recognize that. Councilman greg says this isnt about moving money around, its about whether this is a service the city should still provide. Were always looking at ways to be more efficient. How we can deliver services to be, you know, to the advantage of taxpayers. Whats upset these taxpayers, the fact theyd be paying the same tacks Single Family homeowners do but without getting the services they receive. If youre going to cut my services, cut my taxes. Thats just fair. Their points would be taken into account before city leaders will make a decision on whether or not to throw out the idea. Jenna deery, channel 9 Eyewitness News. Charlotte city council will go over this again next month. But another Citizens Forum is happening march 11th at the government center. Charlotte Mecklenburg Police outlooking for someone they say robbed a Grocery Store with a knife in east charlotte. They say it happened wednesday night at the savealot in the plaza where the suspect took 300 from the Cash Register if police. Strong winds fueled a fire that destroyed this home on bureau. It started yesterday afternoon with an extension cord outside of the mobile home. The wind then drove the flames toward the home. Safely. Preparing for an active shooter situation. We see it happening as recently as yesterday. More than 100 people took part in the active Shooter Training this morning at the weston hotel in uptown a company hosted this seminar with charlotte Mecklenburg Police. More preparation we can find for them and the more training we can give them is clearly an advantage for them. Officer chris cop gave the presentation today. Specialist with cmpd. The city of charlotte is partnering with a Technology Giant to offer summer internships to under privileged children the program with microsoft is part of president obama eat my brothers keeper initiative. Microsofts charlotte campus will offer 360 paid internships and 4,000 Career Exploration opportunities for charlottes youth. The president created the program to give children something to do during their summer break as a way to top violence and give them an educational opportunity. On i85 in Cabarrus County will be shut down for demolition activities as progress continues on the 85 widening project. Crews will have the north ramp closed from interstate to u. S. 29 beginning at fine oclock. They say the closure will remain in place until 6 00 a. M. Monday. Drivers can detour from the Dale Earnhardt boulevard exit. Lets check in with chief meteorologist steve udelson. Sun officially set two minutes ago. Clouds. In boone. You can see clouds hanging overhead. Notice the snow on the street is gone. Come. Temperatures all over start to warm up. Were going to see it cool quickly tonight. Biting winds over the last few days, certainly die down in the charlotte area. And tarting to calm down across the high country as well. Temperatures have cooled quite a bit. 41 statesville and hickory. Were still in the 20s up over the mountains. And heres why im saying you dont need a coat if youre heading uptown for a night on the town, youre going to enjoy ciaa action. Temperatures cooling off. By 8 00, low 40s in town. Upper 30s lincolnton salisbury and hickory. And below freezing in the mountains. By 10 00 or 11 00 tonight, well be in the 30s. Its going to be a winter like night. Dont worry. This is the start of a warm up. Tomorrow, well add a few degrees. Well be in the mid 50s. But im forecasting 60s from sunday right through the middle of next week. Well above the average high which is 58. With your week always in view. Not only do we keep the warm up going. But the sunshine sticks around to mid 60s on sunday. Talk about a gem of a day. Woe talk about a lot of 5ks. What makes this one a little unique. You run two miles. You stop. And then run another two miles. I can say a lot about that. Have fun. Temperatures rising from the 30s to the 40s. The mountains get in the sunshine tomorrow. A gorgeous day. Lets keep the future cast going right through sunday. Not a cloud to be found. As far as sunshine goes, youre set this weekend. Tomorrow, the finals of the ciaa, lots of folks will be hanging around uptown. Temperatures look to rise into the mid 50s and cool back in the 40s as the mens game gets under way. Philtalk about that in a bit. Baseball weather looks great tomorrow with temperatures around 50 as the game gets under way and rising in the mid 50s without a big wind. Up in the high country, the wind finally dying down in the mountains. Boone looking at lower 50s saturday mid 50s on sunday and ill tell you what, youre going to have a lot of company if youre heading to the mountains to ski this weekend. The reason is conditions are as good as theyve been all season. Weve had natural snow. Theyre making snow to deepen warm up. It looks like a great weekend on the slopes. My fiveday forecast, sunshine as we head through the weekend. Mid 50s tomorrow. Mid 60s on sunday. And well gradually increase the clouds next week. The rain waits until wednesday. Find a reason, get outside this weekend. Excuse do o panthers Gm Dave Gettleman made it clear the team wasnt in the business of developing players for other teams. So they want to retain corner back josh norman. Hes one of the most coveted free agents in the nfl. Hell hit the market tuesday unless the panthers apply the franchise tag which seems inevitable. That will buy a few months during which the panthers can negotiate a longterm contract. Its a oneyear deal. Shy of 14 million. The money is right. The security isnt. Gettleman was asked if he thought theyd take unbridge to a potential franchise tag. Josh is a pro. Hes a pro. And no. Not at all. Because im not. The eastern conference playoff race is as tight as they come. The hornets are 3. 5 games back of third place boston. Tonights date with indiana is particularly important. The two teams met two weeks ago. The first of three regular season importance. A win were going to have to bounce back tonight. Imagine your marcus page returning from a broken hand to two maryland in early december. He was primed for a new year. But recently his struggles have become more apparent. Coming in the loss to duke when the offense moved away. And page couldnt hit a shot. But hes a senior and a leader and handling a disappointing season as well as you can expect and takes great pride in being a leader for whats been a spectacular season. Its opinion a fun ride. Although it hasnt been exactly the way i thought it would be. But i have no issues with it and thats just life sometimes. Big one for your heels tomorrow. They face uva on the road. Go get em. Good weather to do anything. Including watch basketball. Were talking about mid 50s tomorrow. Warmer on sunday. Next shot of rain holds off until the middle of next week. Time to clean up the yard. Even that will bring nice in this weather. Thanks for making us your at 11 0 tonight, right here, the bombshell endorsement. The president ial race turning personal. The new attacks leveled tonight. Rubio going after trump. And Chris Christie tonight, now saying its time for president trump. Breaking news, the motive in the deadly rampage. The video now discovered, and the notice the gunman got 90 minutes before the shootings. The new head line about the zika outbreak, and pregnant women in the u. S. The miscarriages as well. And the sudden explosion. The little girl grabbing her bag when a hoverboard ignites