A Christmas parade in North Carolina became a fatal event when a girl was struck by a truck pulling a holiday float, according to police.

Police have charged a 25-year-old man with first-degree murder after they say he shot and killed a 5-year-old boy last week in Wilson, North Carolina. Austin Hinnant told CNN affiliate WRAL he was inside the home when his son, Cannon, was playing outside and was shot. Hinnant says he ran outside and scooped up the injured child and held him in his arms. "I screamed 'somebody help me, please help me save my son,'" he said. Police identified Sessoms as a suspect and arrested him after he was found Monday in a Goldsboro residence about 30 minutes south of Wilson.

(CNN) - The CEO of BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina, whose June arrest for driving under the influence became public last week, resigned Wednesday amid accusations of a coverup. But on Wednesday, the BlueCross NC board said that they were "unaware" of notes from the arresting officers and the investigative files. BlueCross NC had been set to merge with Cambia Health Solutions, but that merger has now been paused, Cambia officials said in a statement. 'Somebody covered something up'On Wednesday, NC Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey called on Conway to resign and accused the insurance giant of a cover-up. "To his credit, he immediately disclosed the incident to the Blue Cross NC Board.

That's why Raleigh's UNC-Rex Birth Center NICU is seeking volunteer cuddlers. "It's a huge stress reliever," said Jennifer Majure, who sometimes has to leave her 2-month-old son Wilder with volunteer cuddlers. While Ready cuddles newborns such as 2-week-old Kamani, it allows mom Cecelia Williams to snuggle Kamani's twin brother Kamari. Cuddlers like Ready have improved the care provided to patients and their families at UNC-Rex, the hospital says. It started a trial program for volunteer cuddlers a little more than a year ago, and due to its success, they are hoping to expand.

(CNN) - Two agents with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation's Bomb Squad were injured, one critically, in an explosion Friday morning in an eastern county, the SBI said. Agents Timothy Luper and Brian Joy had been called in to help the Sampson County Sheriff's Office after deputies found bomb-making materials in a search. The explosion happened as the agents were working to dispose of the material, the SBI said in a statement. Sampson County deputies on Thursday stopped a vehicle suspected of carrying explosives, and found pipe bombs during a search, CNN affiliate WRAL reported, citing the sheriff. They then called in the SBI bomb squad.