And if it will have an impact on the drive home tonight. Reporter looking live right now at independence boulevard inbound near briar creek. Not seeing the delays we were seeing this morning but as the day progresses, and most of the travel is headed outbound later today, not expecting impact. Again, inbound towards 277, drive Time Technology showing 43 miles per hour. So 15 minutes coming in from 485 towards the freeway. At this time, no alternate route needed. Thank you. We will send out a breaking news alert as soon as all lanes are open. You can sign up on the alerts on wsoctv. Com under the news tab. A former chairman of the unc board of governors is now on his way to jail. We are live outside the county jail to explain this arrest. Blake Reporter Police tell us that the former unc board of governors chair tried going douglas with a gun in his bag. Now, he is a charlotte attorney, he was a board of governors chairman until he resigned in october. A captain said he forgot the gun was in the bag. They have not told us if the gun was loaded or not but it does not affect the charge. He will be charged with possession of a weapon on city property. And now we will be asking for his side of the story of course and have much more on Eyewitness News starting at 5 00. Reporting live, channel 9 news. Nearly 2,000 customers are without power after some trees fell and pulled down a distribution line. This is in the area of the golf club. Duke energy is telling us, this is a very difficult area to access with a truck. They do estimate power should be restored by 1 30. This midday, stocks are 13year low after they crashed below 27 a barrel. Stocks in europe and asia are also tumbling and making it worse on wall street. The dow is down a whopping 317 points. The nasdaq composite is down 53 points. New at noon, lawyers for a south Charlotte Church are responding to channel 9s questions about a growing discrimination lawsuit. Yesterday we learned two more families joined the lawsuit against cavalry church. They claim the churchs school discriminated against them for their childrens disabilities and medical issues. The churchs lawyer sent can a statement saying the church has not seen the new lawsuit and cannot comment on it. And it said in part, quote, with respect to the allegations made in the original complaint, my clients strongly disagree with the allegations that have been made against them. A new leader is coming to charlottes largest employer, the place many of you trust with your familys health. Carolinas Health Care System executive will take over as ceo. We were there early this morning when the chs board of directors voted. Reporter the chairman of the board here at carolinas Health Care System called the day a historic day for the hospital system. For only the third time in the last 35 year, chs is getting a new ceo. Today the board of directors met in a private session and unanimously approved gene woods as the top executive. He is a Hospital Executive in texas right now and is the president elect of the American Hospital association. He will take over the system here in charlotte with 60,000 employees across the carolinas and 30,000 right here in the charlotte area. He says the Health Care Industry faces huge challenges in the years ahead. He says he plans to spend his first days once he starts at the end of april by getting as i want to hear their aspirations, where they see the best future is and take that dream. Reporter gene woods says he plans to be active in the community and he will be taking over for ceo right now who has been ceo for the last 14 years. He is retiring attend of june. Channel 9 Eyewitness News. Today, a toddler is being treated for a Drug Overdose and the mother is expected to face a judge. She faces felony child abuse by negligent charges. A friend found her in the bed with the baby. Officers found drugs inside the home. The child is expected to recover. Passengers are back on dry land after a serious storm aboard a cruiseship. At one point, i thought i wasnt going to see my family again. The frightening moments facing 30foot waves and hurricaneforced winds that would lose their lives. Plus, the president ial race is heating up. The candidates coming font the damage control Hillary RodhamClintons Campaign is doing today. The bright sunshine helping us out after 17 degrees this morning. Were already close to 40 and thankfully the wind not a factor today. A small snow chance tomorrow a small snow cha if you have a speech challenge to be understood on the phone, speechtospeech relay provides a speciallytrained operator to revoice your conversation. I want to order fflowflowers, fffor my niece, alison rose. I want to order flowers for my niece, alison rose. Great well send her the bundle of joy basket and sign the card, love, uncle tim. For more about speechtospeech relay, yncsts. C tonight several republican president ial candidates will be in rock hill answering your questions. The university is hosting a forum at 6 00. Dr. Ben carson ask ted cruz have confirmed theyre going. Bernie sanders will be there on marco rubios behalf. South carolina because of the upcoming primary. Its the first in the south. Jeb bush is hoping a strong showing will save his campaign. John Kasich Donald trump both campaigned in South Carolina last night. If we win here after winning so big in New Hampshire, all of give it up. Im not going to be the a pin cushion or a marshmallow but im also not going to spend my time trashing other people. Yesterday, Chris Christie and Carly Fiorina dropped out of the race. Meanwhile, Hillary Rodham clinton and Bernie Sanders will debate tonight in wisconsin. Clintons advisers are calling supporters trying to ease concerns. She barely won in iowa and lost by a wide margin in New Hampshire but sanders will be tested in South Carolina among black and minority voters. Rock hill. We are breaking down their messages for voters tonight on in the next the few hour, the Charlotte Knights look to hire workers for the upcoming season. They collect applications for cooks, cashiers, servers and bartenders. It runs in the Home Plate Club at the ball park. The home opener is april 14th. Seats on planes across the country are getting smaller and smaller. The new plan being debated right now to make your next flight more comfortable. Then when i looked at my wife and said, its over. We held hands because we thought it was over. Cruiseship passengers finally back on land. Now at havertys furniture, its our annual president s day sale. Which means its the perfect time to create the perfect home. Now through february 15th, everything in our store is on sale. Plus, were offering thirtysix month, no interest financing. Come in today for our best prices of the year. With havertys, your home can be perfect. Even when life isnt. Sfx knocking. Were early the president s day sale. From classic to contemporary, at one point, i thought i wasnt going to see my family again. This midday, passengers are finally back on dry land after facing 30foot waves and hurricaneforced winds on what was supposed to be a relaxing cruise. Passengers said it was the scare of their lives. And we have the cruise lines response to the scary situation. Reporter pure relief were happy to be alive. Reporter and anger today. Angry as hell. Never again. Reporter 4500 passengers on royal caribbeans anthem of the seas back on solid ground in new jersey after this, their ship cruising right into a foot waves and wind gusts topping 100 miles per hour. Out of nowhere, the ship started going crazy. Rocking. The ship was on the side. We saw the ocean coming in. Try to keep it moving, please. Water coming in. Scary. Reporter some questioning the captains judgment, knowing severe storm warnings were in the forecast. Royal caribbean refunding the passenger, giving them half off a future cruise and an apology. Royal caribbean couldnt be sorry. We already know were going to make changes to provide more guide examines overtime. Reporter but a lawyer says despite the nightmare, passengers looking for anything more probably dont have a case. We simply think that the cases are too difficult and probably wont be successful. Reporter abc news, new york. Tonight leaders will decide should move forward. Developers want to add retailers to this space of land at the intersection. But more than 100 neighbors have signed a petition against it with worries about too much traffic for that twolane road. This afternoon, lawyers will meet again to possibly offer a plea deal in a 25year old double murder case. Yesterday a judge declared a mistrial in william murphys case after the jury could not reach a verdict. He is accused of killing a cup until 1990. The daily record tell us, lawyers will discuss the next steps this afternoon. This midday, the North Carolina ski industry is getting ready for what could be the biggest weekend of the year. The owners says the recent cold snap has allowed them to make several feet of snow. He is expecting a lot of skiers this weekend for both valentines day and the president s day holiday on monday. Already in the high country enjoying the conditions. Very cold. You know, not very cold but cold enough so it wont get slushy. Nice powder. And we are expecting an update from the d. O. T. Around 1 00 on the road conditions. The main roads are clear. We are tracking the bitterly cold temperatures and the chance of seeing light snow right here. Yeah, it was nice that the mountains got a break today. The sunshine back but we will see more snow up there tomorrow and likely more snow in the mountains heading into next week. We have a clear picture here at its beautiful and its warming up pretty well. I mean, were already 20 degrees warmer than we were 17. Already 41 in lancaster. Mountains. You wont get close to freezing in the high country. You are still several days off back up. Staying cold, the low the to mid40s for highs. And difference tonight though, the clouds will build up much more and that should keep us from falling into the teens once again. Still 20s but not as severe as we had this morning. Forecasted 25 in charlotte. Still teens in the mountains tomorrow morning. And as we get out there, especially mid to late morning tomorrow, maybe not the Early Morning drive but there will be snow that starts up. And its not expected to accumulate outside the mountains. All the numbers still showing zero which means less than an inch. So yes, maybe a brief snow shower late morning for a while but by midday, its long gone to the east. We will track this for you and i will have the update tomorrow morning at 4 30 and we will let you know the outlook for what to the expect as we dont expect it to start up until the mid to late morning. The weekend sunny but very cold, 34 on sunday. The forecast has been trending colder and colder for the weekend. Still dry this weekend, so remain. Fast tomorrow. Sunny and dry through the snow. And it lingers into early saturday morning. But saturday afternoon, the southeast is completely clear. And dry and quiet on sunday. And the next weather maker back country. And thats forecast to move our direction on monday. And some of the newest data this morning as we have been mentioning the last couple day, the models go back and forth on what to expect. Than snow. So we are still several days we cannot nail down exactly what we will see just yet but there will be a wintery mix across the carolinas on monday. We will nail down timing days. Stay tuned, we could have an week. Stay on top of the forecast through the weekend and tracking the big chill and the flurries rolling through with weather app. The weekend always in view, cold is the main story, another blast into the weekend. We wont crack 40 for saturday and sunday. And lows back in the teens sunday morning. And out to dinner late saturday night, its going to be blustery and cold. Hopefully some of the cold air eases out into early next week but we will have to watch the time of the system. This has been several days of this with no break. I know. Next week does look better eventually with 50s. Eventually. All right. , keith, thank you. Employees of charlottes Water Department can work long hours during emergencies but some are making huge amounts of overtime year after year and one worker almost doubled his annual pay. We are asking people in charge how someone racks up that much overtime week after week and whether your tax dollars are being wasted. Airlines are giving you less legroom so they can flight. Now that could keep seats from shrinking even further and make and the winning numb if you have flown recently, you may have noticed you have less legroom on the plane. A lawmaker in washington wants to stop seats from shrinking and its being debated by a house panel right now. We explain, the plan to make flying more comfortable. Reporter a u. S. Congressman says this is more than just about being uncomfortable, cramped on a plane he says its so crowded these day, risk. The faa does require planes be evacuated in a certain amount of time in case of an emergency. Theres going to be access where people cant get off because they havent tested the these small of seats. Reporter the tennessee act. It would establish minimum standards, limiting how small can be. He says airlines are literally squeezing people on to planes in tiny seats to boost profit it felt Airline Industry says the government doesnt need to regulate seat sizes, that the transportation departments own Advisory Committee looking for the flying public decided not to make recommendations on seat sizes and that consumers have plenty of options when it comes to flying. The Consumer Airline blog called the idea absurd and said it would cause ticket prices to soar. Airlines say more seats means in washington, channel 9 Eyewitness News. Federal customs agents seized nearly 1. 7 million in counterfeit hoverboards at the port of charleston. Officials say the boards pose a fire risk because their batteries dont meet safety standards. Officials across the country have been testing shipments. They seized 16,000 in chicago last month. Several local universities are restricting or banning hoverboards. That includes queens university, State University and the university of South Carolina. The boards are banned in the Carolina Panthers locker room. New at noon, fewer americans applied for jobless benefits last week. Applications dropped sharply by 16,000 to 269,000. Its well below the 300,000 benchmark that shows employers are confident enough in the economy to hang on to workers. Its a good sign after last months disappointing jobs temperatures have gone up a little bit. Still very cold out there. Yeah, it is. Its better than yesterday. We are warmer than we were throughout the entire day today. Theres no big wind chill. We may see mid40s this afternoon. So enjoy this little bit of a break because its going to get colder tomorrow, clouds in the morning and maybe a few flurries and then more cold air for the weekend. We will have the time lines today at 5 00 and the latest coming into early next week. When the 40s feel warm, sad. Thats when you know. All right. Thank you. Thanks for making channel 9 your choice for news this midday. Join us for Eyewitness News starting at 5 00. Everyone. N, everyone phone ringing you cant deal with something, by ignoring it. But thats how some president ial candidates seem to be dealing with social security. So our next president needs a real plan to keep it strong. elephant noise donkey noise answer the announcer its time to play family feud give it up for Steve Harvey Steve come on, yall. Lets play now. Come on. Hey, folks. Welcome to the show. Thank yall very much. Thank you very much, yall. I appreciate you. Thank you very much. Thank yall. Well, welcome to family feud, everybody. Im your man steve harvey. We got a good one for you today. Returning for their second day, from st. Petersburg, florida, its the styles family [cheering and applause] and from belgrade, minnesota, its the Gruber Family [cheering and applause] everybodys here trying to win theirself a lot of cash and the possibility of driving out of here in a brandnew fuelefficient ford fusion hybrid. Yep. Lets play feud give me brea. Give me tiffany. [theme music playing] all right, ladies, here we go. Top 7 answers on the board. We asked 100 women name something youd do to a guy who dumped you on your birthday. Brea. Steve kick him