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WCNC Charlotte
News and weather for Charlotte, North Carolina: More news, in less time. Updated weekday mornings from the Wake Up Charlotte team at WCNC Charlotte.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district is working to revamp its district goals and guardrails for the next four years. These goals and guardrails range from increasing literacy in elementary school students to improving discipline disparities. For the last six years, CMS has used a list of goals and guard rails to guide policy and how schools run. For example, one of its goals in the past few years is to increase the number of Black and Hispanic students reading at an advanced level. The past state testing scores showed schools in the district saw progress and an increase in testing scores in both math and reading scores, although the gains they made fell short of the academic goals and guardrails the district has set for itself. One example of a goal for CMS is the district's goal of wanting 36% of Black and Hispanic students to be college and career-ready based on English test scores by the end of the 2022 school year. Data showed the district fell short and only hit 15.9% of Black and Hispanic students being college and career-ready based on English test scores.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cms-goals-guardrails-reflect-past-years/275-a4403c05-d96d-4445-906d-8a81bac6a8d3
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
A suspect has died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after an hours-long SWAT stand-off in east Charlotte Monday afternoon, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. CMPD said around 10 a.m., CMPD found an armed man at the intersection of Albemarle Road and East W.T. Harris Boulevard. He had warrants out for his arrest, including for assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, CMPD said. He refused to drop his weapon when told to by officers, and positioned himself against a wall of a business. After seven hours, shortly before 5:30 p.m., the suspect put down his weapon. Police said officers then used flash bangs to distract the suspect, but he got his weapon back and police believe he shot himself before officers could get to him. CMPD said no officers fired service weapons. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/swat-situation-east-charlotte-cmpd-north-carolina/275-65da557f-2d21-499a-a2b7-81f381a6ef14
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
A natural gas leak caused last week's Mooresville home explosion that killed the father of Tennessee Titans player Caleb Farley, Iredell County investigators revealed Tuesday. The Iredell County Fire Marshal's Office said the explosion was triggered by natural gas with an unknown point of origin. While investigators were able to make that determination, the office said the instability of the home's remaining structure prevented them from investigating the cause and origin of the explosion. Robert Farley, 61, died in the explosion while another person at the home, identified as 25-year-old family friend Christian Rogers, suffered a concussion and was treated at a Charlotte hospital. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/mooresville-nc-home-explosion-chris-caleb-farley-local-news/275-e43a78c3-914f-461a-aa4b-2d198c662fc1
The Charlotte City Council was expected to decide at Monday night's council meeting which project proposal it prefers for Eastland Yards. However, instead of voting for one plan, councilmembers voted unanimously to task the developers behind the two final proposals to collaborate on one new vision. The future of the 29-acre site of part of the old Eastland Mall property could finally be determined after what some community members have called a drawn out process. City leaders have previously said they're taking their time to make sure they find the right fit for the site but neighbors are tired of the site sitting vacant. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/charlotte-city-council-discuss-eastland-yards/275-0a7c246e-e7e5-4457-ad37-134f23c9900c
Monday, a Gastonia church closed its encampment where dozens of homeless people lived. Some have been there for months, some even a year. This is the same church in a legal battle with the city of Gastonia. Faith Hope and Love Community Enrichment Ministries said they were between a rock and a hard place. They continued to face fines from the city and with the lawsuit looming, closing the encampment was the only thing they felt they could do. Pastor Moses Colbert is the executive director of the ministry. “It is heart-wrenching because we have all of these people and we have to put them off the property and they have nowhere to go,” Pastor Moses Colbert said. Many people lived in tents on the property. Pastor Moses Colbert said the population reaches over 100 at night. They were all told they had to vacate by Monday morning.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/gastonia/gastonia-church-closes-homeless-encampment/275-ffd1377f-d60c-40ba-a93f-e00ef2d89c12
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Dozens of people came together to honor the life of Shanquella Robinson, the 25-year-old Charlotte woman who was killed in Mexico while on vacation with friends in October 2022. Loved ones are turning this tragedy into purpose. An empowerment brunch was hosted by SBR Helping Hands, a nonprofit named after Robinson. The women behind the group, which includes Shanquella’s sister Quilla Long, said they are determined to keep Shanquella's legacy alive and push initiatives she was passionate about. “With this we [definitely] want to keep her name alive,” Keairra Grier, chief marketing officer of SBR Helping Hands, said. Shanquella’s story touched the hearts of many – many who marched and wrote letters demanding justice for her. SBR Helping Hands said this organization is their way to give back. “The story was just devastating. I'm a mom and there are so many unanswered questions that need to be answered… so why not come and support,” said Caila Jerigan, a guest.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/keeping-shanquella-robinsons-legacy-alive-sbr-helping-hands-kicks-off-with-empowerment-brunch-charlotte-north-carolina-keairra-grier/275-a17204ee-3d55-42e0-b457-0b4c6606865a
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Caleb Farley said he received a call he would have never been prepared for. "It didn’t sound good from the start," Farley said recalling the call that told him his father had been killed in a North Carolina home explosion. One person was killed and another was taken to the hospital after a Mooresville home near Lake Norman exploded early Tuesday morning, Iredell County emergency officials confirmed. Multiple agencies responded to the explosion at a home along Barber Loop and Old Arborway Road, which is just off Brawley School Road. It happened right around midnight. When the Iredell County Sheriff's Office arrived, deputies reported a heavy smell of natural gas on the property. Hazmat crews were immediately called to assist with the situation. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/lake-norman-home-explosion-mooresville-iredell/275-67d8d9c6-a294-45e9-ab0c-198c23bde119
A former Burke County teacher who also worked at a church in Morganton is facing charges for alleged crimes against children, investigators announced Wednesday. Aaron Doyle Mirtsching was charged with three counts of third-degree exploitation of a minor by the Burke County Sheriff's Office after deputies received an online tip alleging Mirtsching of misconduct. He was arrested and is scheduled to appear in court Thursday, Aug. 24. Mirtsching was a kindergarten teacher at New Dimensions Charter School in Morganton, according to a now-deleted LinkedIn profile. The school confirmed that Mirtsching was a former employee, telling WCNC Charlotte he resigned after the last school year and was not involved with the school when he was arrested. "We are cooperating with all authorities involved with this investigation," the school said in a statement. "At this time, we have not been made aware of any circumstances relating to New Dimensions." Thrive Church in Morganton said Mirtsching was fired from his staff position after being arrested. Church leaders said they were unaware of any ongoing investigation before they were notified of his arrest. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/burke-county-north-carolina-teacher-charged-crimes-against-children-church-employee/275-eb44b92d-712f-4a77-ae88-57216e44fbe1
Caleb Farley said he received a call he would have never been prepared for. "It didn’t sound good from the start," Caleb Farley said. His father, Robert Farley, was killed when his house near Lake Norman in Mooresville exploded around midnight Monday night. Emergency officials said a natural gas leak is the suspected cause of the explosion, which remains under investigation. For Farley, it was another devastating blow. His mother died from breast cancer in 2018. Farley's teammates with the Tennessee Titans, as well as thousands of fans and supporters, offered their condolences online as the Catawba County native copes with the heartbreaking news. FULL STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/lake-norman-home-explosion-mooresville-iredell/275-67d8d9c6-a294-45e9-ab0c-198c23bde119 Ask any parent and they'll tell you that finding child care is one of the biggest challenges they've faced. And experts say it's only going to get worse. Emergency federal funding that's kept many day care facilities open the last two years will run out in December and it could have devastating consequences. Hundreds of day care centers could be forced to close if a solution isn't found soon. Michelle Boudin shares details on what parents can expect and how industry leaders are pushing lawmakers for money to avoid an imminent crisis. FULL STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/child-care-crisis-emergency-funding-runs-out-wheres-the-money-parents-struggling-north-carolina/275-26fdc31b-e147-496f-a8db-118ed8683e8b Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
A 3-year-old girl was killed and three other people were injured in a rollover crash in the Millbridge community in Rowan County Sunday afternoon, North Carolina State Highway Patrol said Monday. The crash happened along White Road near North Carolina 150, not far from Mill Bridge Speedway, around 12:30 p.m. Sunday. According to state troopers, the driver of a 2004 Scion went off the right side of the road, drove into the ditch and the vehicle flipped over. Click here to sign up for the daily Wake Up Charlotte newsletter Troopers identified the girl who was killed as 3-year-old Ema Gutierrez. No charges have been filed in connection with the crash at this time, Highway Patrol said. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/rowan-county-north-carolina-deadly-crash-kills-3-year-old-child/275-f49d8a03-9d37-4775-99ae-df51b9dbc448
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
A person was arrested after a homicide happened Sunday. Gastonia police say the homicide happened around 3 p.m. Sunday at Faith Hope Love on North Oakland Street. No information was given on how the homicide took place or how many victims there were. A suspect was taken into custody at the scene, police said.
https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/homicide-under-investigation-in-gastonia-suspect-arrested-north-carolina-oakland-street-faith-hope-love/275-4c80f1f0-b772-429d-9f28-301149f51b9d
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
A child is in the hospital after an apparent accidental shooting in Lenoir, according to the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office. Deputies responded to a home along Rocky Road around 10:40 a.m., responding to a call about an accidental shooting. The child was taken to a hospital to be treated for injuries. As of publication, the sheriff's office did not know the child's condition and did not share the child's age. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/child-shot-caldwell-county-nc-local/275-bd78e595-e8b6-4ec0-bb73-cc09c1ea3315
One person was found shot to death at a northwest Charlotte gas station Wednesday morning. "People just done care anymore," said Lynette Jewel, who lives close by. "A shooting at this time of day -- it could have been anybody." Emergency crews responded to the reported shooting near the intersection of Bellhaven Boulevard and Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road around 10 a.m. Medic confirmed one person was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Crime tape was put up in the parking lot of a QuikTrip gas station at the intersection. The shooting happened near where Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road meets North Carolina 16, near Interstate 485. According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, police were pursuing a larceny suspect before the shooting took place. That suspect reportedly fired one shot while driving off. Then, police said the suspect got into an "altercation" with a person at the QuikTrip gas pump. That person drew a firearm before shooting and killing the suspect, according to CMPD. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/northwest-charlotte-deadly-shooting-bellhaven-boulevard-mt-holly-huntersville-road/275-c5dd7c0e-cd10-4507-bfab-484699db0372
Ready to feel old and out of touch? Apparently it's not hip to use "LOL" in texting anymore. So before you ha, ROFL or LMAO, consider giving "IJBOL" a spin. Experts say this term, which stands for "I just burst out laughing," has gained popularity with teens since the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, we're quizzing each other on all the hot new slang, such as drip, stan, Heather and situationship. Wednesday is the first day of school for tens of thousands of kids in the Charlotte area as Gaston, Cleveland and Lincoln counties welcome students back to class. Destiny Richards joins us live from Gaston County, where district leaders are working to regain teachers' trust after payroll problems caused many educators to bring home incorrect or no pay at times. And finally we're connecting the dots on self-driving cars. The concept sounds great. You don't have to do the actual driving and you should in theory not be stuck in a traffic. But it turns out that isn't true. Ben Thompson explains why experts say a self-driving car may be safer, but that security will mean more time behind the wheel. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Saturday was a day for prayer at a Charlotte church as loved ones, neighbors, and advocates lifted their voices in prayer for Allisha Watts, the missing Moore County woman who was last seen in Charlotte in the middle of July 2023. Racial Justice Network organized the event at Little Rock A.M.E. Zion Church. The group's president, Dr. Candace Brewer, spoke about the need to continue the search. Watts' sister, Tammy Utley, also attended and thanked everyone for their prayers for her older sister. She said about Watts, "Life is not the same. It's like an empty piece is there for her. It's like we're missing that piece." The missing 39-year old from Moore County woman was last seen on July 16 with her boyfriend, James Dunmore, leaving his Charlotte home. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/allisha-watts-prayer-vigil-charlotte-nc-local/275-2fc4bf86-4c2b-4598-bfa2-a54ac8ccb69f
A plane crash into Lake Hickory left two people dead on Sunday, the Hickory Fire Department says. For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app and enable push notifications. Authorities were called to a plane crash on Lake Hickory near Selkirk Drive in Catwaba County on Sunday around 11:30 a.m. A single-engine Super Petrel Amphibious Plane struck power lines and crashed just after departing the Hickory Regional Airport. A power line was also knocked down due to the crash, initially causing over 18,000 outages shortly before noon. Duke Energy told WCNC Charlotte that they rerouted power in order to restore it quickly. Power was fully restored by around 1:30 p.m. The crash happened in the part of Lake Hickory that is inside Caldwell County, but all of the power outages are inside the City of Hickory in Catawba County.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/plane-crashes-into-lake-hickory/275-ba6d38b3-0573-4daf-ab5e-243dbbc3806a
A man is dead after being shot and killed by a Hickory police officer overnight. Shortly after midnight on Sunday, the Hickory Police Department responded to a call about a home being shot into on the 800 block of 5th Avenue SW in Hickory. When officers arrived at the scene, they found the suspect, identified as 23-year-old Timothy Craig Setzer, Jr. Setzer ran from the police after they tried to make contact with him. Police chased Setzer, telling him to stop, but Setzer continued to flee and then turned and pulled a gun from his waistband. At that point, officers shot at Setzer.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/man-killed-officer-involved-shooting-hickory-nc/275-70f6ffbe-940d-4759-b741-151e9e624a30
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
After being shut down for a month, Carowinds' Fury 325 roller coaster officially reopened Thursday. It's been a lengthy repair procedure for the ride, which was closed all of last month after a guest recorded a video showing a huge crack on one of the coaster's support beams. Now, Carowinds has confirmed repairs, testing and final inspection by the North Carolina Department of Labor's Elevator and Amusement Device Bureau have been completed. By 3 p.m. Thursday, riders had returned to the coaster. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/fury-325-reopened-repair-testing-carowinds/275-01fb9797-a583-45ff-8e1a-d51dc7461367 Plus, Taylor Swift made a big announced this week when she told fans at a Los Angeles concert that she'll be releasing the "Taylor's Version" of her "1989" album. If you aren't a Swiftie, you may not realize why that's a big deal. It actually has to do with a yearslong legal fight over who actually owns her music as Swift tries to earn her art. And finally there's a new debate taking over social media. Do you shower at night or in the morning? A popular TikTok user shared a video explaining his choice and we can't help but weigh in ourselves. What's your preference and why? Text us at 704-329-3600! Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
County officials are mourning the loss of a long-serving commissioner who they say was passionate about the community. Stony Rushing, the Union County Board of Commissioners Chairman, died after battling health issues over the past year, Union County officials said on Tuesday. Rushing was a county commissioner for 13 years. He was first elected in 2002 and served until 2006 before joining the board again in 2014 where he served to the present. Rushing served as the chairman of the board during his second stint. "Chairman Rushing loved Union County and was passionate about serving this community," county officials said in a statement. "His contributions to Union County have been immeasurable and will leave a lasting impact." In 2019, Rushing made an unsuccessful bid for North Carolina's 9th congressional district in a special election that was held after voting fraud allegations prevented certification of the 2018 election's winner, Mark Harris, a Charlotte area pastor. Harris chose not to run in the special election and endorsed Rushing. Rushing is survived by his wife, Anne-Marie, and their two children.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/union-county-commissioner-chairman-dies-after-health-complications-stony-rushing/275-7aad7ab4-359a-4b21-b7e1-427bb434b12a
A single winning ticket sold in Florida has taken the $1.58 billion Mega Millions jackpot, the largest in the game's history. Seven tickets that matched five white balls but not the gold Mega Ball were sold, with $1 million winners in California, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia and $2 million winners in Florida and North Carolina. The jackpot now resets to a measly $20 million. It was a long stretch of jackpot futility, but Tuesday night's 32nd straight drawing since the last winner still didn't set a record. The longest run for a Mega Millions jackpot was 36 drawings that ended on Jan. 22, 2021, with someone winning a $1.05 billion jackpot. "There’s always an air of excitement around the country when Mega Millions jackpots soar," said Gretchen Corbin, the Mega Millions Consortium lead director and Georgia Lottery CEO, in a release. "The growing jackpot is a source of entertainment and winnings for players while generating important dollars for the good causes supported by each lottery."
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/mega-millions-winning-numbers-tuesday-aug-8-2023/507-acb114bf-90f7-4321-8490-8830e4a66aec
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Mega Millions is soaring to record heights after nobody won the $1.35 billion jackpot Friday, with a new estimated jackpot of $1.55 billion, the largest Mega Millions prize ever and the third-largest lottery prize overall. Nine tickets matched all five white balls but not the gold Mega Ball; tickets in Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas won $1 million, and two tickets in Michigan and Tennessee are worth $2 million with the Megaplier. A ticket sold in downtown Los Angeles won the $1.08 billion Powerball jackpot last month. "There’s always an air of excitement around the country when Mega Millions jackpots soar," said Gretchen Corbin, the Mega Millions Consortium lead director and Georgia Lottery CEO, in a release. "The growing jackpot is a source of entertainment and winnings for players while generating important dollars for the good causes supported by each lottery." READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/mega-millions-winning-numbers-friday-aug-4-2023/507-de7d8974-000f-45b5-84cb-5faf8ffd91e0
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
The assistant superintendent for Union County Public Schools was arrested and charged with driving while impaired (DWI) and stop sign violation early Sunday morning and has now been placed on paid administrative leave. For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app and enable push notifications. Bashawn Harris, 48, was arrested at Marie Garris Dr. and Guion Ln. in Stallings shortly after 2 a.m. on Sunday. Harris is currently the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources for Union County Public Schools. He was appointed to this position in July 2020 after serving as the School Performance Officer for two years. He has been put on administrative leave for an unknown amount of time. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/assistant-superintendent-arrested-dwi-union-county/275-3ea12fb0-fe68-463d-a94d-e10ba9da48ad
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Donald Trump is due in federal court Thursday to answer to charges that he sought to overturn the results of the 2020 election, facing a judge just blocks from the U.S. Capitol that his supporters stormed to block the peaceful transfer of presidential power. In what's by now become a familiar but nonetheless stunning ritual, Trump is expected to be processed by law enforcement, be officially taken into custody and enter a not guilty plea in front of a judge before being released, so he can rejoin the campaign trail as he seeks to reclaim the White House in 2024. An indictment Tuesday from Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith charges Trump with four felony counts related to his efforts to undo the presidential election in the run-up to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding. The charges could lead to a yearslong prison sentence in the event of a conviction. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/trump-arraignment-jan-6-charges/507-290433e7-49c2-420b-9b2a-d4410e13c6cb
Police say a man was arrested after he rammed into six migrant farm workers outside a Walmart in Lincolnton on Sunday afternoon. Lincolnton police responded to a reported crash at the Walmart on North Generals Boulevard around 1:15 p.m. Sunday. Detectives said a man driving a black SUV turned as if he was going to park near a bus, but instead of parking, the driver plowed into a group of migrant workers who were standing outside the store. Six people were taken to the hospital for their injuries and have now been released, according to police. Police said 20 to 30 people were on a grocery run when the six were hit, though it's not clear how many people were standing outside the store at the time of the incident. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/police-searching-for-driver-who-intentionally-hit-six-workers-at-walmart-in-lincolnton-north-carolina/275-e1c9e868-95a3-4039-bcac-4642ef7c02c6
A South Carolina judge denied bond for the woman charged with driving drunk and killing a Charlotte bride on her wedding night in Folly Beach earlier this year. Tuesday's hearing was the second time Komoroski asked a judge for bond, according to WCBD. Jamie Komoroski, 25, is facing multiple charges including reckless homicide. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Forensic Services Laboratory report, obtained by WCNC Charlotte, shows Komoroski had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.261%. It's illegal in South Carolina to operate a motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.08% or higher.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/wake-up-charlotte/alleged-drunk-driver-folly-beach-crime-bride-killed-golf-cart/275-e306bfb7-b802-43f8-8f64-264fea9ac81f
Starting Aug. 1, several benefits and exceptions that were made available through the WIC and SNAP food assistance programs during the pandemic will come to an end. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, 1.6 million people in North Carolina receive SNAP benefits and 260,000 North Carolinians are enrolled in WIC, a supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children. Although the public health emergency ended in May 2023, families tell WCNC Charlotte’s Jesse Pierre that people are still facing higher costs of living, inflation, and other financial expenses and those benefits provided them with relief. For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app and enable push notifications. “Food has risen in cost just like a lot of things have and it’s def been helpful to focus my money, what money I do have on other things instead of having to think am I going to be able to feed my family tonight,” said Alyssa Herrholz, the mother of a two-year-old. Herrholz is enrolled in both programs. “It is something I look forward to every month because it saves us every month in lots of ways,” said Herrholz. For WIC, the changes mean fewer options for families. For example, loosened restrictions are ending that allowed families to make brand substitutions. Crisis Assistance Ministry CEO, Carol Hardison, said the flexibility allowed families to make healthier choices.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/regional/expanded-benefits-wic-snap-programs-pandemic-end-aug/275-b7fb9b0c-fe55-4161-be43-006274a05b52
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Three people were treated for injuries after a shooting following a domestic dispute on Sunday. Matthews police say a man was shot by his girlfriend's ex-husband and shot at by his girlfriend's ex-husband's brother at Windsor Park on Sunday around 12:15 p.m. The shooting happened after a domestic dispute regarding a child exchange in the parking lot of the park. The victim and his girlfriend drove toward a local hospital as the suspects followed them before leaving the area. Police say both victims were treated for injuries and released from the hospital. The shooting suspect was found driving near the 7-Eleven gas station on E. Independence Boulevard near Matthews-Mint Hill Road, where he was treated for injuries to his arm. The suspect's brother and two children were also in the car at the time of the shooting, police said. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/shooting-matthews-gas-station-injures-one-person/275-2ea212cd-4d5c-4d44-900a-012fa8bbd661
Police are looking to identify three people after a break-in at a jewelry store on early Thursday morning. Officers responded to Fink's Jewelers in Huntersville around 3:25 a.m. on Thursday after a break-in was reported. A witness told police they saw a blue van parked outside of the store, broken glass, and several people inside. The suspects left the store and attempted to drive away in the van, but it broke down so they ran from the area where police believe they were picked up by another car. The three suspects are described as:
Large framed man wearing a white button-down shirt, gray pants, a dark baseball hat, sunglasses, an N95-type mask, and gloves
Large framed man wearing a light-colored hoodie, black sweatpants, a head covering, sunglasses, gloves, and white sneakers
A person who stayed in the van with an unknown description
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/police-investigation-underway-birkdale-village-huntersville/275-71d732ca-8e20-493e-98d1-9af32fa5a89a
Bus lanes along East Independence Boulevard could reopen in early 2024. Wednesday night, Charlotte's Metropolitan Transit Commission approved $550,000 in additional funds to complete the project. The project was initially expected to cost about $750,000 and restore access for buses and emergency vehicles to lanes closed since 2017. According to the resolution set forth by the City of Charlotte, work was expected to be completed by the end of 2022. An NCDOT spokesperson did not say Wednesday night why the project was not finished as planned last year. The project, which is expected to be funded by the CATS Capital Investment Plan, is now expected to cost $1.3 million. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/independence-boulevard-bus-lanes/275-4deb1483-00e5-4a0f-af14-30ba700fa9dd
The Mega Millions jackpot is inching closer to $1 billion after no one won the $820 million prize Tuesday. The jackpot now sits at $910 million for Friday night's drawing. Two players won at least $1 million: a ticket in Maryland matched five white balls but not the Mega Ball, and another in Texas is worth $4 million thanks to the added Megaplier. The prize is now the eighth-largest U.S. lottery prize and the fifth-largest in Mega Millions history. July has been a hot month for lottery prizes after a ticket sold in downtown Los Angeles won the $1.08 billion Powerball jackpot. Mega Millions hasn't seen a grand prize winner since April 18, when a 71-year-old man from New York won the state's largest Mega Millions jackpot ever. Johnnie Taylor of Howard Beach in Queens, New York, won $476 million but opted for the cash option — a lump sum of more than $157 million after taxes. Since mid-April, there have been 28 drawings without a grand prize winner. Winners almost always take the cash option, but they do have a choice to instead get the full amount in regular payments over 29 years. The cash option for Tuesday's drawing is $422 million.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/mega-millions-winning-numbers-tuesday-july-25-2023/507-b22fb8c6-e8df-4539-9a6f-6149863776fb
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
ESPN's iconic "College GameDay" show will roll into the Queen City for the season-opening matchup between the North Carolina Tar Heels and South Carolina Gamecocks, the network announced Monday. The Tar Heels and Gamecocks will face off in the Duke's Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium. "GameDay" will be held at nearby Romare Bearden Park on Sept. 2, where it's previously welcomed guests for the huge Clemson vs. Georgia game in 2021, as well as ACC championship games. Rece Davis will be joined by Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and Pat McAfee, as well as Lee Corso, who will put on a mascot head for the first time in 2023 at the show. Both teams enter the season with high expectations due to experienced quarterbacks. UNC's Drake Maye is one of the preseason Heisman favorites, while South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler showed flashes in wins over Tennessee and Clemson last season. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/ncaa/ncaaf/espn-college-gameday-charlotte-north-carolina-vs-south-carolina-college-football-2023-romare-bearden-park/275-42e77e50-b46d-4ad8-b651-e59bc8de7383 Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
A vigil was held at Camp Greene Park on Sunday to remember a woman who was killed nearly a week ago. Family and friends honored Tyra Crosby, the 25-year-old woman who died after being shot on Tuesday, July 18 at a home on Porter Street. According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Stephanie Alexander, 51, came home to find Crosby in her home early when she shot and killed Crosby. Crosby's family told WCNC Charlotte that Crosby was invited over by Alexander's husband. One by one, Crosby's loved ones shared stories and memories. They described her as a beautiful soul and an angel that will watch over everyone. “But I am so grateful for whatever god sent her to do, she accomplished that mission," Hoskins said.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/community-holds-vigil-in-honor-of-woman-shot-and-killed-in-northwest-charlotte-north-carolina-tyra-crosby-stephanie-alexander/275-67bcfc7b-dfbf-47fb-a038-d8c6474d030d
The White House on Thursday expressed deep concern about the well-being of a U.S. soldier who bolted across the heavily armed North Korea border earlier this week as North Korean officials have yet to respond to U.S. requests for basic information about the AWOL soldier. The history of rough treatment of Americans detained by North Koreans — including the 2017 death of a 22-year-old student after he was flown home in a vegetative state after 17 months in captivity — is top of mind as U.S. officials seek answers about Pvt. Travis King.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/north-korea-us-soldier-across-border/507-a6a73bd3-e0a6-4c33-98d4-f017cdcef368
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Investigators are continuing to try and find out what happened to Madalina Cojocari, a Bailey Middle School student who went missing in November 2022, but say that reported sightings of her have proved not to be her. The Cornelius Police Department says they have received numerous tips about possible sightings of Cojocari but all have been determined to be false. This announcement comes just two days after search warrants relating to her disappearance were unsealed in Mecklenburg County. In the search warrants, investigators describe a lead on a child that looked like Cojocari with her only known blood relative in the United States. Police also said they were looking into a tip of a possible Cojocari sighting in California earlier this month. However, police doubled down on Thursday, saying that Cojocari was last seen getting off a school bus on Nov. 21, 2022. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/cornelius-police-say-reported-madalina-cojocari-sightings-were-not-her-north-carolina-missing-girl-diana-cojocari-christopher-palmiter-disappearance/275-fe3c72d9-746a-49ff-8521-46c7904fb201
A month has passed since a mobile home park in Kannapolis was flooded due to torrential rain. Dozens of residents had to evacuate and power was knocked out for days. The city of Kannapolis, Cabarrus County, and the Red Cross asked Camino to help because of its extensive experience working with the Latino community for the last 20 years. The organization has been sending out team members on a weekly basis to check in with neighbors. Deidre John, Camino's director of community outreach and engagement, told WCNC Charlotte they assisted 26 families, or a total of 80 people, to move back home. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/kannapolis-flooding-latino-community-local/275-416eadc1-829a-49a5-b798-08b794e8c20b
Convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh is serving out a double life sentence at a South Carolina prison. The disgraced lawyer was convicted of murder in March of this year for the shootings of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul. Hours ago, pictures began circulating online, showing what seems to be selfies Murdaugh has taken while in prison. The images have generated lots of online conversation, with people wondering where these pictures came from. Is it contraband? Is it legal? Is it really Murdaugh? News 19 went searching for answers and found that yes, it’s totally legal. In fact, the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) tells us it’s a service given to all inmates. The pictures of Murdaugh were released after a Freedom of Information Act request was filed, which provides the public the right to request access to federal agency records. The SCDC tells News 19 that every inmate is issued a tablet, which they can use to make monitored telephone calls, take classes, read books, subscribe to entertainment that is pre-approved and receive messages from the institution. The department says they are not connected to the internet or to social media. These tablets are from ViaPath Technologies, the department’s telephone partner, formerly called GTL. According to a statement from the company, it serves more than 2,100 facilities and over 1.6 million inmates in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/photos-circulating-online-inmate-alex-murdaugh-appears-selfies-inside-prison/101-24005ef8-01f5-4e22-9072-47618082b9bf
A man was arrested after police say he impersonated a medical professional and performed an illegitimate medical exam on a woman. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said that a woman reported the incident on Tuesday, July 11. She told officers a person impersonating a medical professional gave her a medical exam at her home on Teal Point Drive. The type of exam given was not released, however, this incident has been labeled as a sexual assault investigation. The impersonator was identified as Daniel Pitti-Casazola, 41. Police said that Pitti-Casazola was working as a Spanish language interpreter with the Mecklenburg County Public Health Department at the time of the incident.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/mecklenburg-county-health-worker-accused-of-sexual-assault-posing-as-medical-professional-charlotte-north-carolina-daniel-pitti-casazola/275-2b83d04a-af61-4c9b-8b73-cbe9aa3c3ea8
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Air quality in Charlotte is now "unhealthy" for some members of the general public and not just those who have health-related sensitivities. An Air Quality Alert is in effect through midnight for all North Carolina counties. Smoke from the fires in Canada is once again having an impact on the area. Expect reduced visibility and air quality concerns for sensitive groups. Plus, Richard DeVayne joins the show from east Charlotte, where a child was rescued and a woman was taken to the hospital after a SWAT situation Monday night. When officers were approaching the apartment, a person fired at least one shot inside the apartment, according to CMPD. Officers entered the apartment and saw a woman reaching for a gun, and told the woman to stop moving, according to CMPD. At that point, CMPD says, one officer fired his weapon. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/suspect-barricaded-after-shooting-in-southeast-charlotte-police-say-krefield-drive-independence-blvd/275-5f688463-d5b8-47c9-bcd0-c8e25e7c9ed7 Plus, we have the top headlines across the Charlotte area in your morning rush. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Alexander Rescue Squad announced the search is over for a missing woman who was swept into Duck Creek Saturday night. Officials said Lisa Riahi, 49, was in a vehicle with a passenger on Dover Church Road when the roadway began to flood. The two people tried to exit their vehicle while it was in the water. The other passenger, officials said, grabbed onto a tree for about 30 minutes when someone passing by spotted him and called 911. The rescue squad was then called out to the scene. The man was rescued at around midnight Saturday evening but they could not find Riahi. The search for the Riahi ended sometime Sunday morning when they recovered her body. The investigation into this incident is ongoing.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/swept-into-duck-creek/275-f600adf2-542c-42b1-99dd-01ef5e8cf9eb
: Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Leaders at Union County Public Schools met to discuss increasing the number of school resource officers at Thursday night's Board of Education meeting. Before the meeting, only one deputy was assigned to two elementary schools at Union County Public Schools. Now, the goal is for every school to have an officer, and only six of the 39 Union County officers will have to work at two schools. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/union-county-public-schools-increasing-school-resource-officers/275-2a1f7b8a-2633-4c80-9f88-aeeba4dba090
Workers began the process of removing the cracked support beam of the Fury 325 roller coaster at Carowinds Wednesday following nearly two weeks of inspections. Carowinds announced that cranes were assembled at the park Wednesday to hold the coaster's track in place while workers remove the cracked support beam. A new beam built by Bolliger & Mabillard, the manufacturer of Fury 325, is expected to be delivered to the park Thursday for installation. "Our skilled associates will diligently install the column, ensuring precise alignment and securely fastening the track/column connection," a Carowinds statement reads. After originally telling the Associated Press that the crack may have started at least six to 10 days before a viral video was shared, North Carolina Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson told WCNC Charlotte on Wednesday that officials aren't sure when it formed, but they're investigating and hope to learn more once the beam is removed from the ride. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/carowinds-fury-325-roller-coaster-crack-repair-cranes-support-beam-replacement-charlotte/275-93109968-e293-456b-a357-4761d1f69882
A preliminary report has been released detailing what caused a plane to land without front landing gear at the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport last month. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its preliminary findings Tuesday. The report states a fractured upper lock link, a mechanism of the landing gear system, prevented the nose landing gear from functioning properly. Delta Air Lines flight 1092, a Boeing 7171-200 aircraft, was en route to Charlotte from Atlanta on June 28 when the plane was forced to land without the nose gear. None of the 104 passengers or flight crew were hurt during the landing, which was captured on video by multiple passengers.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/ntsb-report-released-plane-landed-without-nose-gear-charlotte-north-carolina-plane-lands-without-landing-gear/275-a573e5f2-779a-43ae-94ab-5ac0b59f4676
The outer loop of Interstate 485 reopened after a deadly crash near Pineville-Matthews Road closed the highway for hours Tuesday afternoon, officials said. Charlotte Fire Department units responded to a crash on the outer loop near Park Road around 12:30 p.m. It happened just past the exit for Pineville-Matthews Road near the Carolina Place Mall. Medic confirmed one person was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. The outer loop opened around 2:45 p.m., significantly earlier than some estimates expected. At one point, DriveNC.gov estimated the road would be closed until 5:30 p.m. It was one of multiple separate crashes on I-485 in that area Tuesday. Just before 7 p.m., one person was seriously injured in a crash, according to Mecklenburg EMS.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/major-delays-on-i-485-outer-loop-after-crash-near-pineville-matthews-road/275-dac15b6a-5cd4-4c18-b2fb-cbb5a2456a9f
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
A Cleveland County deputy was hurt when a suspect attacked him with a piece of rebar Monday morning, investigators said. Capt. Jody Seagle was investigating a suspicious vehicle on Curt Ledford Road around 8 a.m. when the suspect assaulted him, according to the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office (CCSO). Chief Deputy Durwin Briscoe said Seagle was on his way to work when Seagle noticed a suspicious vehicle off a dirt path. He said no one was inside the vehicle, but when Seagle left his car to investigate, the suspect hit him in the back of the head with a steel rod. Briscoe said the officer and suspect began fighting before the suspect drove away.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/cleveland-county-deputy-attacked-suspect-on-the-run/275-ef85306d-6cbf-4c34-958f-575ffb2ef1c5
A 17-year-old was arrested after a shooting in Rock Hill sent one person to the hospital, police said. Rock Hill officers responded to a reported shooting at a home on Fieldcrest Circle, not far from the Carolina Gardens at Rock Hill assisted living facility, around 11:30 a.m. Monday. When officers arrived, they found a person who had been shot in the abdomen. The victim was rushed to Atrium Health's Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte for treatment. Officers found the suspect, only identified as a 17-year-old boy, outside the house and arrested him. Rock Hill police haven't named the suspect or announced his charges at this time.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/rock-hill-south-carolina-shooting-investigation-teenager-arrested/275-0bd9c30b-bd37-4103-a747-c7b26dc9ff49
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
The Kannapolis Fire Department is mourning the loss of one of their coworkers. Matt Goodman died while off-duty on Saturday morning, Kannapolis Fire Chief Tracy Winecoff announced on Sunday. Goodman's cause of death was not released. Winecoff said that Goodman was assigned to a station in the Royal Oaks community of Kannapolis and noted he was affiliated with other volunteer departments in Iredell County. Winecoff said the city will grieve Goodman and remember his years of dedicated service.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/kannapolis-firefighter-dies-off-duty-remembered-for-his-service-north-carolina-firefighter-passes-away/275-2607aeee-4a71-4f24-a80b-d665c09f161c
The Powerball jackpot rose from $615 million to $650 million after nobody won the big prize Saturday night. Not everyone is going away empty-handed, though — the lottery game said three tickets sold in California, Colorado and Illinois matched all five white balls to win $1 million. The lottery game hasn't seen a grand prize winner since April 19, when a winning ticket for $252 million was sold in Ohio. Jackpot winners have the option to be paid out the full amount over 29 years, or choose the smaller cash option. The cash option for the next drawing on Monday is $328.3 million.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/powerball-numbers-july-8-2023/507-8b861f23-6af8-4af8-94d2-af4fd815d62c
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Two people are in jail after a missing Laurens, South Carolina woman's body was found dead along Mangum School Road in a rural area in South Carolina just south of the state line. However, investigators said there was evidence to suggest that the crime occurred in Union County, North Carolina before the body was taken to be left about 20 feet off the side of the road. The Union County Sheriff's Office received a report on Sunday that 18-year-old Kierstyn Makennah Williamson was believed to be at a home on Bethpage Lane in Monroe. Williamson's family reported her missing to the Laurens Police Department after they were unable to contact her on June 30, investigators said. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/missing-south-carolina-woman-found-dead-monroe-north-carolina-suspects-arrested/275-53d65806-3d0c-4d44-9b72-3ca10f3bd5ac
More than 30 people were arrested or cited after a huge brawl broke out at a Fourth of July celebration at Romare Bearden Park in Uptown, police announced Wednesday. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings confirmed that of the 32 people who were cited or arrested, 17 were minors. The parents or guardians of 15 arrested minors were cited for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, CMPD said. The suspects are facing numerous charges, including disorderly conduct, carrying a concealed weapon, resisting a public officer, assault on a government official, and possession of a firearm on city property. Jennings said it started when a group of teenagers lit illegal fireworks and started fights. He said some of the suspects were running through the crowd wearing masks, causing panic in the park. Jenning condemned their actions, saying that's "not who Charlotte is," and credited officers and staff for keeping things under control. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/firearms-seized-people-arrested-after-uptown-fourth-of-july-celebrations-charlotte-north-carolina/275-699dce5b-b9ee-4a89-9bf3-aadbbf122145
The company that manufactured the Fury 325 roller coaster is at Carowinds Tuesday to inspect the ride after a large crack was found in one of the track's support beams last week. A spokesperson from Bolliger & Mabillard, the firm that designed and manufactured Fury 325, confirmed to WCNC Charlotte that a representative was at the park Tuesday. Bolliger & Mabillard has built custom coasters for theme parks around the world since its founding in 1988. The company is credited for developing the inverted roller coaster. "We will continue to work closely with Carowinds to determine the cause, the repair and the reopening of the coaster," the statement reads. "Please rest assured that safety is our top priority."
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/fury-325-carowinds-crack-support-beam-manufacturer-inspection-damage/275-c0bdbd8a-5b9c-4268-b0fc-3d2b6a7ef028
Police arrested multiple people in the aftermath of Fourth of July celebrations on Tuesday. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department says officers were present around Uptown after fireworks events on Tuesday night to ensure the safety of people for everyone in attendance. Police say they intervened in fights between juveniles and made numerous arrests in Uptown. Four firearms were seized during this investigation, police said. Medic says nobody was injured during these incidents. Thousands gathered in Uptown on Tuesday to watch the Charlotte Knights' Fourth of July celebration at Truist Field. A massive fireworks show was held at the stadium after the Knights game.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/firearms-seized-people-arrested-after-uptown-fourth-of-july-celebrations-charlotte-north-carolina/275-699dce5b-b9ee-4a89-9bf3-aadbbf122145
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
A man was shot and killed in Salisbury Sunday night, police said. Salisbury police responded to a reported shooting along West Jake Alexander Boulevard near Grants Creek around 11:45 p.m. When officers got to the area, they found 49-year-old Otha Keith Sherill suffering from a gunshot wound. Sherill was rushed to a hospital where he died from his injuries. Salisbury detectives haven't released any suspect information at this time and no arrests have been made. The Salisbury Police Department said this shooting appears to be an isolated incident and there is no active threat to the public at this time. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/salisbury-north-carolina-homicide-investigation-jake-alexander-boulevard/275-790a9458-f8c1-4f02-96c1-a9302845de74
And on a special holiday edition of #WakeUpCLT To Go, meteorologist Chris Mulcahy and Larry Sprinkle have your complete Fourth of July forecast and look ahead to a scorching week in the Carolinas.
Mecklenburg County has revoked the fireworks permit for the U.S. National Whitewater Center's July Fourth celebration. The center also separately announced the fireworks show on July 3 will also not be happening. WCNC Charlotte received the following statement from Mecklenburg County when we first asked about the permit for the July 4 show being pulled: "Mecklenburg County has communicated to the Whitewater Center the fireworks permit for 7/4 has been rescinded and the permit for 7/3 is approved." The Whitewater Center's website previously advertised fireworks happening at 9:30 p.m. on Monday, July 3. However, it has since been updated to reflect the new cancellations. The Center's official Facebook page also confirmed the new details.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/us-national-whitewater-center-july-fourth-fireworks-permit-pulled-mecklenburg-county/275-8337b167-1f82-4f8f-8eea-df7a214e106c
Gunfire erupted at a block party in Baltimore on Sunday — killing two people, wounding 28 and leaving an extensive crime scene that marred the U.S. holiday weekend, police said. Three of the wounded were in critical condition and more than a dozen were under 18. The shooting took place just after 12:30 a.m. when at least two people opened fire at a block party in the Brooklyn Homes area in the southern part of the city, said Richard Worley, Baltimore's acting police commissioner. No arrests had been made by late afternoon. It wasn't clear if the shooting was targeted or random, Worley said.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/baltimore-mass-shooting/507-e2d1ca71-7e01-4d13-b6fa-28ab0525b4cb
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
A record number of North Carolinians is expected to travel for the Fourth of July holiday, AAA predicts. Nearly 1.5 million people will travel at least 50 miles between Friday, June 30, and Tuesday, July 4. That's 60,000 more travelers than last year's record, AAA data shows. The travel bug has bit Americans nationwide this year with an estimated 50.7 million people traveling for July Fourth. That's nearly 2 million more than last year and almost 1.8 million more than the record set in 2019. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/travel/fourth-of-july-busy-travel-season-charlotte-north-carolina-record-number-drivers/275-edf99610-6b6d-4d59-bbd6-27a995d21680
All passengers are safe after a Delta Air Lines flight landed at Charlotte Douglas International Airport without its nose gear Wednesday morning. Delta Flight 1092 departed from Atlanta at 7:25 a.m. and landed in Charlotte at approximately 8:58 a.m., the airline confirmed to WCNC Charlotte. A Delta Air Lines spokesperson reported the crew reported a nose gear issue to air traffic control and safely landed with the nose gear in the up position. The pilot landed the plane safely and no one was hurt. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/delta-air-lines-charlotte-douglas-international-flight-nose-gear-missing/275-aaf4e3ee-4b38-4151-9f71-3593eb472cc0
Huntersville's planning board voted 6-2 to recommend the denial of the Lagoona Bay project Tuesday. The vote comes as neighbors continue to fight against the development from happening. Jake Palillo, the developer behind the massive 300-acre project, proposed several changes during a public meeting last week. Those changes included revamped housing plans, road improvements and the addition of 20 affordable housing units. Palillo told the planning board Tuesday night he will commit at least $3 million to road improvements. However, several members said the plan is too dense for the area and they couldn't support it in its planned location.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/markets/real-estate/lagoona-bay-huntersville-north-carolina-project-development-planning-board-vote/275-6545a793-b729-4d26-bcc0-a5cc1da94c28
There's an early look at state testing scores in math for high school students at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and the results aren’t great. The results show less than 10% of high school students tested were considered career-or-college-ready based on math scores. “It is disappointing. That is a really low number," CMS Superintendent Crystal Hill said to board members Tuesday night. The scores are typically not released by the state until fall but were released for CMS on an unofficial basis to compare results to previous years.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cms-leaders-concerned-unofficial-testing-scores/275-c5358e31-c322-45a8-9126-f1580f7e9c39
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
One-by-one, nearly two dozen victims stood in a courtroom to confront the person who pleaded guilty to murdering five people and injuring 17 others in an attack last year on a nightclub that served as a sanctuary for the LGBTQ+ community in Colorado Springs. Some cried, others seethed with anger. They called him coward, monster, terrorist. Family and friends of the deceased and survivors who witnessed Anderson Lee Aldrich unleash terror at Club Q a week before Thanksgiving made sure during Monday’s emotional hearing that Aldrich won’t start a life prison sentence without confronting the truth of the many lives ruined or inalterably changed. “This monster next to me decided to come into my job and our community safe space and begin hunting us down as if our lives were meaningless,” said Michael Anderson, who was bartending that night. “He has broken this community into pieces that may never be repaired." Aldrich pleaded guilty in state court to five counts of murder and 46 counts of attempted murder – one for each person at Club Q during the attack. Aldrich also pleaded no contest to two hate crimes.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/gay-nightclub-shooting-suspect-guilty-plea/507-6903a930-7af9-4db1-9121-9fc88d8f8b6e
Two construction workers moving traffic cones were struck by a car on Monday. The crash happened on NC Highway 150 near Vinewood Road in Catawba County on Monday around 3:35 p.m., according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. Two construction crew flaggers were hit by a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox driven by Jerry Lee Johnson, 80. One of the flaggers, Ryan Tanner, 23, died from injuries suffered in the crash. The other flagger was transported to a local medical center and is in stable condition. A member of the flag crew was in the roadway with a stop sign during the crash, troopers said. Troopers say alcohol was not a contributing factor. Charges are pending against Johnson as the investigation continues.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/deadly-crash-under-investigation-in-catawba-county-north-carolina/275-67180f2f-a819-4fbf-8c71-eb3220ae9ae6
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
A piece of Charlotte's history is nearing its final day of business. Green's Lunch, the Uptown hot dog restaurant, announced on Sunday that it will close down on Wednesday, June 28. The move will end a 97-year run for the restaurant which opened in 1926. The restaurant's location at the corner of W 4th Street and S Mint Street was put up for sale for $3 million in December 2022. No information was publicly released about the sale. In May, Green's Lunch posted on social media debunking rumors that the restaurant closed in February and assured they would remain open. However, they are now closing just over a month after that post. "We would like to thank our loyal customers for these wonderful 97 years, also for the love and support that you have given us thru our recent loss," wrote the restaurant owners on Facebook. "We will always remember your smiles, hugs, and laughter, you will remain in our hearts as our family." READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/greens-lunch-sets-closing-date-ending-97-year-run-uptown-hot-dog-restaurant-greens-lunch-charlotte-north-carolina/275-d79dbb8b-2056-4e7b-85ef-1bb20ffe21a1
A renowned Titanic expert, a world-record holding adventurer, two members of one of Pakistan's wealthiest families and the CEO of the company leading an expedition to the world's most famous shipwreck were killed when a small submersible suffered a "catastrophic implosion" in the Atlantic Ocean. The submersible Titan was reported overdue Sunday night about 435 miles (700 kilometers) south of St. John’s, Newfoundland, according to Canada’s Joint Rescue Coordination Center, spurring a desperate international rescue effort. Rescuers were racing against the clock because the oxygen supply was expected to run out by approximately 6 a.m. Thursday. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/titanic-submersible-passenger-list/507-0346799f-c617-4863-b8e1-298fd0398a66
The Charlotte Area Transit System bus driver, who police said got into a shootout with a passenger last month, will likely not face charges at this time. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department shared that information Wednesday, noting the expectation of no charges came after consultation with Mecklenburg District Attorney's Office. Surveillance video from the Charlotte Area Transit System shows the May 18 shooting. Authorities said the incident occurred after Omarri Tobias, a passenger, asked David Fullard, the driver, to make an unscheduled stop as the bus traveled through Charlotte's Steele Creek neighborhood. When Fullard refused, Tobias can be heard on the recording taunting Fullard, who continues to drive. Then, Tobias can be seen pulling a gun, and moments later, Fullard pulls out his own gun. Gunfire is then exchanged as the bus drives off the roadway. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/cmpd-no-charges-anticipated-cats-driver-shootout-passenger/275-7a2150f1-09a3-4c61-8e84-1da593dbe808
The developer of the controversial Lagoona Bay project was back in front of the public and Huntersville town leaders during a meeting Tuesday. Project developer Jake Palillo and his company had 68 pages worth of proposed changes to the project. Among the changes: Accessibility improvements, revamped housing plans, roadway improvements to reduce traffic impact in the area, and the addition of 20 affordable housing units. The massive $800 million project would turn an empty plot of land along Sam Furr Road into an almost 300-acre community with membership fees. The development would include a huge lagoon with water sports, dining and retail options, as well as a luxury hotel and convention center. Lagoona Bay would also create hundreds of housing options.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/lagoone-bay-project-huntersville-north-carolina-town-meeting-neighbors-pushback-complaints-disney-world-traffic-local-news/275-f64e1780-2d14-4691-b476-d758476f5e54
New Indy attorneys went before a federal judge on Tuesday to push to have one of the many lawsuits against them dismissed. But outside the Matthew J. Perry, Jr. Courthouse in Columbia, South Carolina, neighboring residents of the paper mill say the pervasive smell is still making them sick. “It’s like when that smell comes, I have to go in the house, my eyes itch, my ears, my head, you can tell that it’s toxic,” Bonnie Lins, who recently moved near the paper mill, said. Tuesday, New Indy pushed to dismiss a lawsuit filed by several York County and Lancaster County residents. The lawsuit alleges the paper mill failed to apply for a ‘prevention of significant deterioration’ or PSD permit, and instead turned off its steam stripper, which helps control air pollution.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/special-reports/new-indy/new-indy-lawyers-push-dismissal/275-aea569b2-2913-4a17-8600-0b630943ca29
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
In the final days of the legislative session, Republican House and Senate leaders have resurrected proposals to ban some gender-affirming care for transgender minors, even those who have their parents' consent. Two proposals are scheduled for committee hearings this week. For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app and enable push notifications. On Tuesday, the House Health committee will hear a proposed committee substitute for Senate Bill 631. It would ban any UNC or UNC-affiliated healthcare facility, or any other public hospital, or any provider under contract to such a facility, from providing any gender-affirming medical care to a minor, including puberty blockers and hormone treatment. It would also block the use of state funds to pay for any such care. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/north-carolina-lawmakers-gender-affirming-transgender/275-d0bd9a92-bbf0-4c45-ad5c-f359193a0b54 Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
A longtime Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police detective has died, according to Chief Johnny Jennings. Detective Jason Grier passed away Saturday night after battling health complications, Chief Jennings wrote in a social media post. He was only 38 years old. "It pains me to share this information on Father’s Day of all days," Chief Jennings said. Detective Grier had been with CMPD since October of 2002 and was most recently assigned to the Anti-Crime Unit. "Please join me in sharing our thoughts and prayers with his family during this difficult time," Chief Jennings said. CMPD said funeral arrangements for Detective Grier will be announced soon.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/cmpd-detective-jason-grier-dies-health-complications/275-c29af6d1-129c-4172-a13b-cdbcc97220bb
Cabarrus County leaders are set to approve millions of dollars for next year's budget on Monday, County leaders say they're focusing on the future investing in things like education, service to county residents and public safety. "Public safety is a top priority for a lot of folks and so that includes our fire departments, law enforcement agencies, and our EMS agencies," Steve Morris, the Chairman of Cabarrus County Commissioners, said.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/wake-up-charlotte/cabarrus-county-budget-meeting-news/275-41d1a9ed-6169-469c-98a8-77b2d9c29ef2
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Vice President Kamala Harris will be in Charlotte on June 24 to deliver a speech rallying reproductive rights advocates on the anniversary of the reversal of Roe v. Wade. The White House confirmed the trip with WCNC Charlotte. NBC News reports Harris' visit is among several events the White House plans to hold this month to mark the anniversary and keep the issue of abortion rights front and center for the 2024 presidential election. A White House official told NBC News Harris plans to draw a contrast between Republican-led efforts to further restrict abortion access and that of the Biden administration. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/vpotus-kamala-harris-abortion-rally-speech-charlotte-north-carolina-local/275-5a35f2cb-fa05-44c7-b1c4-bc8656761370
Amelie's French Bakery is set to reopen its Uptown Charlotte location this week. It comes as more workers return to the office on a full-time basis, giving businesses in Charlotte's central district a much-needed boost. Ben Thompson connects the dots on why Uptown could see a resurgence in the wake of the pandemic. Plus, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster is expected to sign a bill Thursday into law that will make it harder for repeat offenders to get out of jail. The bond reform act aims to keep violent offenders behind bars while they await trial. Tradesha Woodard joins the show to explain how the bill plans to do this and what state leaders are saying about the effort to keep the public safe. And finally, we're looking at the biggest headlines from across the Charlotte area on Thursday, June 15 in your morning rush. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper will be at Spectrum Center in Uptown Charlotte Wednesday to sign a bill into law that will soon legalize sports betting across the state. The legislation, which takes effect in early January, will allow sports gambling on mobile devices, as well as establish multiple sportsbooks and venues across the state. Richard DeVayne joins the show with the latest details, plus we break down how gambling revenue will be taxed and used to help youth sports and education programs in North Carolina. FULL STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/gov-cooper-to-sign-online-sports-betting-bill-in-charlotte-north-carolina-nc-sports-betting-mobile-app-phone/275-b3cade8a-925d-4d53-932f-497bcbf06af6 Next, we're looking at the cost of quiet quitting. A recent Gallup survey found about half of American workers are doing the bare minimum to get by on their job. Kia Murray has the details as we look at how impactful quiet quitting is on the economy, and discuss what workers say would help them stay engaged at the office. And finally, Carolina Panthers training camp continues in Charlotte this week. All eyes are on rookie quarterback Bryce Young for obvious reasons, but there's more to it than just a "get to know me" period for new players. Ben Thompson connects the dots on what minicamp is, how it can make or break a team's season and why it's so important for a new coach and quarterback to make the most of this summer period. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to face a judge Tuesday in a historic criminal case charging the former president with hoarding top secret government documents, boastfully displaying them to visitors and trying to hide them from investigators who demanded them back. We're connecting the dots on the serious charges Trump is facing and how it could impact his run for the White House in 2024. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/trump-court-appearance-classified-documents/507-b6e02706-fb2a-4791-8bb4-4b76468fbfc2 Parents in Iredell County are calling on school board members to resign after a heated meeting Monday night. Tradesha Woodard joins #WakeUpCLT To Go with the latest details, including records that revealed secret meetings and jokes about students fighting, as well as the response from board members who are asking for grace from the community. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
A Salisbury church was destroyed by a fire caused by a lightning strike Sunday. Richard DeVayne joins #WakeUpCLT To Go from Salisbury, where firefighters are still monitoring the church for hot spots after the flames have died down. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/lightning-strike-causes-church-fire-in-salisbury-north-carolina-nc-church-power-cross-ministry/275-750afb6a-4c7a-4c61-92a6-855feda0d8c7 Plus, we've all seen the commercials. A new medicine has been developed for a condition and it has a name you can hardly pronounce and definitely can't spell. But did you know there's a method behind those crazy names? Ben Thompson connects the dots on how new drugs are named and what goes into giving them a confusing moniker. And in our morning rush segment, we're recapping some of the biggest headlines across the Carolinas, including the push for a huge tennis complex in west Charlotte that could eventually host major events and bring hundreds of thousands of people to the Queen City on a yearly basis. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
The Belmont Police Department is investigating after a man attempted to abduct a child out of a car Monday evening. The mother of the child told police she was on Park Street, near Wilkinson Boulevard, waiting for the light to turn green when she saw a man walking towards her vehicle. The suspect, identified as Joshua Pelzer, 31, walked to the passenger side of the vehicle where the juvenile was sitting with her window down when he grabbed the child’s arm and attempted to pull her out of the car, police said. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/attempted-child-abduction-belmont-police/275-b363e1c9-ff96-4591-a182-ac0975165f6a
School administrators and law enforcement are investigating after a student was found with a stun gun at a middle school. The principal of Druid Hills Academy sent a message to parents on Wednesday about the incident. School officials say law enforcement was contacted as soon as the stun gun was found. No threat was made to students or staff, according to Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/student-brings-stun-gun-to-north-charlotte-middle-school-north-carolina-gun-at-school/275-9f76336c-1afb-4555-ae9f-cb33038df26e
The Supreme Court of South Carolina has announced it will hear arguments on the constitutionality of the latest abortion law passed by the State Legislature last month. The court said oral arguments will be held at 9:30 a.m. June 27 at their main building on Gervais Street. McMaster signed the Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion (2023) Act, banning abortions after roughly six weeks, on May 24. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, the Greenville Women's Clinic, and two doctors then sued the State of South Carolina, Gov. Henry McMaster, Attorney General Alan Wilson, and others over the new law.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/south-carolina-supreme-court-abortion-hearing/101-30b5a542-8428-413e-b1cd-373c1132ce3b
The Human Rights Campaign declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. on Tuesday and a released a guidebook summarizing what it calls discriminatory laws in each state, along with “know your rights” information and health and safety resources. Sounding the alarm about the current political environment, the nation’s largest organization devoted to the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans said advisories warning against travel to dangerous places aren't enough to help people already living in so-called hostile states.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/lgbtq-state-of-emergency-declared-human-rights-campaign/507-5890a3e5-1cef-409c-b8c8-083b1e4ea2e9
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Workers spend much of Thursday putting the final touches on the ACC Fan experience in Romare Bearden Park ahead of Saturday's Atlantic Coast Conference Championship game at Bank of America Stadium.On Saturday night, No. 9 Clemson will face No. 24 ranked North Carolina with both schools less than a few hour's drive away from Charlotte. Thousands of Clemson Tigers and North Carolina Tarheel fans will make their way into the Queen City for the ACC championship game.The game comes at a time when colder temps might normally keep locals home and others from making a trip to Charlotte, but few things can make customers decide to spend like sporting events.READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/wake-up-charlotte/acc-championship-game-charlotte-nc-basketball/275-f055f0ea-22d4-4b6c-8470-f01912644e49A juvenile is in custody after a 17-year-old Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools student was hospitalized after being shot on Wednesday.According to CMS, a high school student, identified by family as Rocky River senior Nahzir Taylor, was shot shortly after getting off of a school bus on Wednesday. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department responded around 2:30 p.m. to the shooting, which they said took place on Lanza Drive near Culver Spring Way.READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/cms-student-shot-after-getting-off-bus-in-east-charlotte-school-police-shooting-injury-lanza-drive-cmpd-north-carolina-nc/275-a06c952a-8eac-4c91-83e2-0190dbfd874cWatch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
According to the CDC, both North and South Carolina are still experiencing very high flu activity. State data updated Wednesday shows the number of reported flu and COVID-19 cases in North Carolina increased over the last week. It’s not even the height of the typical flu season yet, but many people have already caught a respiratory virus. “We’ve seen an increase in flu, we’ve seen an increase in strep, ear infections, some RSV, COVID is still going around,” Natalie Anderson, the pharmacist at Dilworth Drug and Wellness Center, said. Doctors’ offices and hospitals across the region are slammed with patients. Statewide, the number of emergency department visits for flu-like illness is way up compared to the same time in the past two years.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/flu/antibiotic-tamiflu-shortage-early-respiratory-virus-season/275-49840c78-f1e9-4760-9e9b-9dbc5cf402d2
A man has been charged with physical child abuse after police say an infant he was taking care of was found with multiple injuries, including a fractured skull. On Wednesday, Renaldo Demetrius Johnson, 35, was charged with felony physical child abuse for injuries that happened to his girlfriend's four-month-old son, according to the Gastonia Police Department. Police say the child's mother brought the infant to a local hospital on Nov. 26 around 5 p.m. Officers were called to the hospital after medical staff believed the injuries were the product of child abuse.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/gastonia-man-accused-of-fracturing-infants-skull-police-say-north-carolina-nc-child-abuse-renaldo-johnson-investigation-gaston-county/275-0d749333-f3c7-4110-ad9f-f5facb910b79
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
The Pineville Police Department announced it has finished its internal investigation of the July 2022 severe injury of a woman that was in its custody. Now, the department is reforming several of its policies. In the early hours of July 17, 28-year-old Morgan Johnson managed to escape from a moving police car while traveling on I-485. Pineville Police reported that Johnson was able to uncuff one of her hands and open the passenger-side rear window. When the officer realized what was happening, she was already hanging halfway out of the window.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/pineville-police-reforming-policies-woman-jumps-out-patrol-car/275-a6892a4c-27b8-4ad8-a48a-00b4d484b647
Charlotte City Council is working to make Charlotte more affordable for lower income residents. The council approved more than $20 million to cover additional costs for already approved affordable housing projects on Monday night. This comes as ground broke Tuesday on a new affordable housing apartment complex for seniors in west Charlotte. It's called the Historic Nathaniel Carr affordable housing for seniors. Carr is credited for creating the first neighborhood in the West Boulevard corridor. Right now, the demand for affordable housing is almost impossible to keep up with.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/markets/real-estate/affordable-housing-crisis/construction-affordable-housing-west-charlotte/275-297c92da-0845-4fa0-8c47-66b648478b10
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
A lawsuit has been filed against the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office over the delays regarding gun-purchase permits and concealed-carry handgun permits. Grass Roots North Carolina, Gun Owners of America and three citizens are suing Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden, accusing him of obstructionism because of the time it takes the agency to issue concealed carry handgun permits. The agency maintains it is "in compliance with the law" and has also taken steps to make the process more efficient. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/mecklenburg-county-sheriffs-office-sued-delays-gun-permits/275-1bd0172d-2add-4308-8cee-eb1d48bfb718
A man has died after a shooting in south Charlotte, police confirmed. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said a homicide investigation is underway at the McDonald's located on South Boulevard near East Arrowood Road. Police said a person was shot and killed right outside the McDonald’s around 8:30 p.m. Monday. The parking lot was blocked off as the crime scene unit investigates. A witness told WCNC Charlotte she was next door when she heard a gun shot and saw a man lying on the ground. She said there was another man standing next to him. Police couldn’t comment on whether an employee was involved or if the suspect and victim knew one another but officials say it was the result of a fight.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/cmpd-1-person-killed-south-charlotte/275-9949b65b-a8ba-4d2f-9254-8dda03a1d7cf
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Charlotte leaders could make some big decisions on everything from affordable housing to overcrowding at the animal shelter during Monday's City Council meeting. We start this morning's show by breaking down three critical items on the agenda for Monday, Nov. 28. Then we're joined by Richard DeVayne, who breaks down the $21 million multi-family rental affordable housing developments up for consideration. Richard will explain what this could mean for Charlotte residents seeking an affordable place to live and why some leaders say it's necessary. Next, Congress returns to Washington after the Thanksgiving holiday with House Democrats facing a serious time crunch. With only a few working days left until the new Congress takes over -- with Republicans controlling the U.S. House -- Democrats know they have to work quickly to advance numerous bills. Brie Jackson joins Wake Up Charlotte To Go from Washington, explaining how Democrats hope to approve stricter gun measures and further President Biden's agenda before they lose control of the chamber. Tens of thousands of passengers are expected to make their way through Charlotte Douglas International Airport Monday as the Thanksgiving holiday weekend comes to a close. Sarah French speaks with airport officials, who ask everyone traveling to be patient and understanding of delays that are out of airlines' hands. And finally, today is Cyber Monday. Sure it's a great time to catch a good deal online, but you could make a big difference by saving a few bucks for tomorrow: Giving Tuesday. Ben Thompson connects the dots on how you can ensure your donation isn't going to scammers or fraud. You can watch Wake Up Charlotte from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Holiday shopping fever began in 1924 with the original Christmas ad - The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade - kicking off the holiday shopping season. The term "Black Friday" didn't enter the national conversation until the late 1980s, when retailers turned it into an unofficial holiday. The 2008 recession started the demise of Black Friday. Retailers embraced a new strategy, starting Black Friday sales earlier in the holiday season. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/connect-the-dots/black-friday-losing-popularity/275-9a2301f1-5753-45bb-a7af-5717cde473f2
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to make their way through Charlotte Douglas International Airport this week as Thanksgiving travel hits its peak Wednesday. Tradesha Woodard joins the show from the airport, where long lines are already formed and officials are asking passengers to be patient. Plus, it's the day before Thanksgiving. And while most folks think of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie, those foods probably weren't eaten at the first Thanksgiving. Ben Thompson connects the dots on how traditional holiday foods got their start and why the Pilgrims probably even know about cranberry sauce and pie. And finally, we've got your top headlines from across the Carolinas ahead of Thanksgiving. Watch Wake Up Charlotte from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
We're learning more about the victims who were injured or killed in the massacre at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado over the weekend. One of the survivors was a Charlotte man who recently moved to Colorado. He was shot seven times in the back. Miraculously, Barrett Hudson says the bullets missed his vital organs and he's doing "amazing" in his recovery. Tradesha Woodard joins the show with a look at the victims in the shooting, as well as the federal charges the alleged gunman is facing. FULL STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/club-q-lgbt-shooting-colorado-update-charlote-native-wounded/275-20b649ce-01cf-4adf-b702-86a70f86feca Next, we have your top headlines in the morning rush segment. These stories will get you caught up as you begin your day, including an update on a shocking home invasion in Salisbury, President Joe Biden's Thanksgiving visit with North Carolina military families and the death of an 11-year-old girl in Raleigh's Christmas parade. It's no secret the housing market is tough for buyers right now, but there are a few things you can do to reduce your monthly housing costs. Ben Thompson connects the dots on how you can lower your mortgage payment amid rising prices. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
An estimated 800,000 people will make their way through Charlotte Douglas International Airport for Thanksgiving, officials said. Tradesha Woodard joins us from the airport, where leaders are asking people to just be patient because the lines will be long and it's going to be jam-packed with travelers. Plus, AAA predicts an extremely busy Thanksgiving on the roads with tens of millions of people expected to drive over 50 miles for Thanksgiving. President Biden and the first lady will be in North Carolina today for a special Friendsgiving event with the military. The Bidens will make a stop at Marine Corps Air Statio Cherry Point as part of the White House's initiative to celebrate the men and women serving our country during the holidays. Sarah French explains how this is just one of many presidential holiday traditions aimed at giving thanks to those on the front lines. And finally, we recap the biggest headlines you need to start your day in your morning rush. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, you can join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT.
A new report released by the “Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement" shows a 39 percent increase in teacher vacancies in South Carolina at the start of this school year. From last school year to this school year, teacher departures increased by 20%. According to the report, the 2022-2023 school year started with 1,474 teacher vacancies compared to 1,063 the previous year. The state has tried different things to combat the shortage, including raising starting pay for all teachers to $40,000, with local districts increasing pay by even more, but the changes have not had any major impacts on the teacher shortage so far. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/teacher-vacancies-increased-this-year-new-south-carolina-report-shows/275-beb8d875-8d03-4aa4-b775-607d059f0a6e
A prized piece of real estate in Uptown Charlotte just hit the market. Could it be the missing piece for a new Panthers stadium? Richard DeVayne joins Wake Up Charlotte To Go to break down what it means now that the Charlotte Pipe and Foundry will be available. The land has long been rumored as a possible site for a new stadium in Uptown, but how much would it cost? And in the aftermath of the Rock Hill fiasco, who knows? FULL STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/charlotte-pipe-foundry-for-sale-soon-speculation-panthers/275-d6265b63-2030-4425-979f-e2e2d415870b Charlotte-Mecklenburg police announced that three card skimmers were confiscated from three ATMs in Charlotte. These weren't off-the-radar spots, either. They included a Wells Fargo locatio in Uptown and a Bank of America off Freedom Drive. Tradesha Woodard joins the show with an update on the investigation and clues detectives have to track down the suspects. FULL STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/charlotte-bank-atm-card-skimmers-update-located-bank-of-america-wells-fargo-state-employees-credit-union/275-9dbc0013-a666-441b-b40f-c97b0089bf3f Next, Ben Thompson breaks down why reducing speed limits may not be enough to improve road safety in Charlotte. A recent study from Europe shows that some major steps taken to reduce deaths on the road aren't working the way officials want, but that isn't slowing down their efforts to slow down drivers. So what's a feasible next step? Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Former President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he will mount a third White House campaign, launching an early start to the 2024 contest. The announcement comes just a week after an underwhelming midterm showing for Republicans and will force the party to decide whether to embrace a candidate whose refusal to accept defeat in 2020 pushed American democracy to the brink. “In order to make America great and glorious again, I am tonight announcing my candidacy for president of the United States,” Trump said to an audience of several hundred supporters, club members and gathered press in a chandeliered ballroom at his Mar-a-Lago club, where he stood flanked by more than 30 American flags and banners bearing his “Make America Great Again” slogan. “I am running because I believe the world has not yet seen the true glory of what this nation can be,” Trump said. “We will again put America first,” he added.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/trump-presidential-campaign-launch-2024/507-da4caac8-5f26-4185-a3ed-a921d4b2a5c1
One man is in custody after police say he intentionally set an ice cream shop on fire in August. According to the Gastonia Police Department, Marvin McCaskill, 35, was arrested after DNA matched him to an arson committed at Tony's Ice Cream in Gastonia on Aug. 4. McCaskill is charged with attempted murder and other arson-related offenses. Firefighters were called to Tony's Ice Cream on Aug. 4 around 5:45 p.m. to extinguish a fire at the business. A fire was located inside the building which they quickly put out. Investigators said the business sustained minimal smoke and heat damage. An employee working inside of the building at the time of the fire was uninjured.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/gastonia-ice-cream-shop-arson-suspect-charged-with-attempted-murder-north-carolina-gaston-county-marvin-mccaskill-tonys-ice-cream-shop/275-99cce9ce-3409-4c60-885e-99ea36d6a18b
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One of the victims killed in the University of Virginia shooting was a graduate of Hough High School in Cornelius, officials confirmed. Devin Chandler was one of three University of Virginia football players killed in the overnight shooting. Two others were hurt in the incident. The suspect, identified as UVA student Christopher Darnell Jones, was taken into custody Monday morning, police confirmed. Investigators said the shooting took place on a charter bus at the Culbreth Garage on the University of Virginia campus. Law enforcement said the students were returning from a field trip when the suspect opened fire.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/hough-high-school-graduate-devin-chandler-killed-university-of-virginia-shooting/275-3a570dfa-30d4-4a48-a02d-0c1b55c860ec
Matthews leaders held a town hall Monday evening to allow residents to speak on a large proposed development that some neighbors are trying to stop before it gets started. The project, which would be built on Idlewild Road, would include new town homes, apartments, single-family homes and commercial space off Stallings Road. Neighbors first rallied against plans for a town house and single-family community back in 2010. Residents that are against "Sante Matthews" packed into the town hall Monday night and said they want developments in the area to be single-family houses only.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/markets/real-estate/idlewild-development-matthews-north-carolina/275-657178e1-2529-47b5-a622-61f43d86b113
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Police are investigating a shooting that left two people injured on Sunday. According to the Salisbury Police Department, officers responded to a shooting call at 416 Messner Street on Sunday around 1:48 a.m. When police arrived, they found a juvenile with gunshot injuries. The child was transported to a nearby medical center for treatment on their injuries. Around 2 a.m., a 20-year-old man arrived at a hospital for a gunshot wound as well. Police determined this man was at the scene of the shooting on Messner Street. Police are continuing to investigate this incident. No suspects have been arrested at this time.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/juvenile-injured-in-salisbury-shooting-police-investigating-north-carolina-messner-street-child-shot-shooting-crime/275-632bc45f-2c9a-4c3b-8eee-48d8f08b42f5
Miami hosted the Charlotte Hornets following the Miami Heat's 117-112 overtime win over Charlotte on Thursday. The Hornets hoped to sting in a win Saturday, but the Heat scorched them 132-115. Max Strus scored 31 points, making eight 3-pointers, and the Miami Heat spoiled LaMelo Ball’s return to the Charlotte lineup. Bam Adebayo had 24 points and 15 rebounds for the Heat, who swept a two-game home series with the Hornets and got consecutive wins for only the second time this season. Charlotte lost its eighth straight, extending the longest current slide in the NBA. Jimmy Butler had 20 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for Miami, while Gabe Vincent scored 20 points. Miami outscored Charlotte 45-25 in the third quarter, tying the sixth-highest scoring quarter in any period in Heat history.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/nba/hornets/charlotte-hornets-play-miami-heat-for-second-round-following-overtime-loss/275-492d7416-67b8-417f-aeb7-3c1317543705
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Flu activity is continuing to pick up across the country and South Carolina is one of four states experiencing the highest spread right now according to the CDC. North Carolina is also seeing high spread right now. Hospitals and doctors’ offices are swamped with patients, and the biggest rise in flu cases has been in school-age children. “A lot of the kids who are coming in are saying 'we had 10 kids out in my class today,' things like that,” Dr. Rhonda Patt with Atrium Health said. Rock Hill Schools sent a letter home to parents last week, saying it's working closely with SCDHEC to monitor flu conditions in its schools and asked them to be aware of the symptoms and keep their kids home if they’re not feeling well.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/flu-viruses-health-season-local/275-16b32583-6444-47ae-95f1-b5df5f701042
A U.S. judge in Texas on Thursday blocked President Joe Biden's plan to provide millions of borrowers with up to $20,000 apiece in federal student-loan forgiveness — a program that was already on hold as a federal appeals court in St. Louis considers a separate lawsuit by six states challenging it. District Court Judge Mark Pittman, an appointee of former President Donald Trump based in Fort Worth, said the program usurped Congress' power to make laws.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/student-loan-forgiveness-unconstitutional/507-f297207c-4c2c-4798-b39e-03e099a7f056
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The investigation into an unknown chemical substance found on a Lancaster County school bus is still ongoing more than two weeks after a student passed out on the bus. The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office provided an update in a news release on Wednesday. Sheriff Bailey Faile said the powdery substance found on the bus carrying Indian Land High School students and staff members was sent to the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) for testing. However, Faile noted there was no timeline as to when the results would be back since SLED has to work with evidence from more than 300 agencies in the Palmetto State.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/indian-land-hs-bus-substance-investigation-local/275-80f5c6bc-33d4-4a08-9449-b3f3d0a6ee41
Republicans inched closer to a narrow House majority Wednesday, while control of the Senate hinged on a few tight races in a midterm election that defied expectations of sweeping conservative victories driven by frustration over inflation and President Joe Biden’s leadership. Either party could secure a Senate majority with wins in both Nevada and Arizona — where the races were too early to call. But there was a strong possibility that, for the second time in two years, the Senate majority could come down to a runoff in Georgia next month, with Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker failing to earn enough votes to win outright.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/updated-election-results-republicans-house-majority-senate-control/507-8102f5e2-eeca-4488-b21f-6fd04075384d
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After 40 consecutive drawings without a grand prize winner, someone has finally won the $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot. One ticket sold in California won the jackpot. According to the California Lottery, it was purchased at Joe’s Service Center in Altadena. That ticketholder isn't the only winner — 22 tickets matched the five white balls to win $1 million. One player in Florida added the Power Play and won $2 million. The tickets worth $1 million were sold in California, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina, Washington, Georgia, Maryland, Oregon and Texas. The news follows a dramatic night for Powerball — the Monday drawing was delayed by 10 hours as game officials scrambled to deal with a processing issue in one state. It couldn't commence until all 48 participating lotteries submitted their sales and play data. After the drawing took place, the Minnesota Lottery confirmed it had been the state that caused the delay.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/winning-numbers-powerball-monday-delayed-drawing/507-4b2576a6-5880-491f-8620-eacb5742d7dc
All lanes of Interstate 85 were closed in Kannapolis following a fatal crash, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The lanes have since reopened. Kannapolis Fire responded to the serious wreck on I-85 near Brantley Road. According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol and Kannapolis Fire Department, two people died and multiple people were injured. Their identities are not being released at this time until their families have been notified.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/i-85-southbound-closed-kannapolis/275-f7ebb097-33ad-4169-90a3-4316e782f5cc
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Ted Budd win NC’s open seat in the US Senate, Jeff Jackson wins US House District 14. Here's a closer look at key races in the Carolinas.
Monday's Powerball drawing for the largest-ever jackpot was delayed because of a technical issue, the lottery game said during the live broadcast. The results will be posted on Powerball's website as soon as they can conduct the drawing, the host said. In an emailed statement to queries from The Associated Press, the Multi-State Lottery Association said the delay was the result of a participating lottery that needed additional time to process its sales. “We still plan on holding the Powerball drawing tonight,” the statement said, though no timing was provided. Winning numbers still weren't announced as of early Tuesday.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/powerball-winning-numbers-nov-7-2022/507-8b309017-07fc-4d81-8766-67e598432331
Investigators are searching for a man wanted for sexually assaulting a woman in southwest Charlotte. According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, a sexual assault report was made on Saturday, Nov. 5 around 10:30 p.m. on Memorial Parkway near the intersection of Arbor Loop Drive. The reporting party, a female employee of a hotel in the area, told police she had been sexually assaulted. The suspect, in this case, is described as a dark-skinned male around 30-45 years old, five feet nine inches with an average build.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/man-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-hotel-worker-police-say-charlotte-cmpd-north-carolina-nc-investigation/275-8771a221-5674-44e3-872a-f07b728c9434
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The Powerball jackpot officially broke the record for the largest prize ever offered in a U.S. lottery — and kept growing. Saturday's jackpot soared to $1.6 billion after a strong sales boost. With no big winner, the estimated grand prize is now at a shocking $1.9 billion, according to the California Lottery's website. The winning numbers for Saturday's drawing were 28-45-53-56-69, Powerball 20 and Power Play 3. The next drawing is on Monday, Nov. 7. Several people woke up millionaires after Saturday's drawing thanks to Powerball's smaller prizes. There were 16 winners of $1 million across Florida, California, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey, South Dakota, New York, Michigan, Missouri and Pennsylvania. Only one person in Kentucky won $2 million, thanks to the Power Play option.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/powerball-jackpot-the-winning-numbers-nov-5-2022/507-83eafedf-1ac2-4aab-b1c7-431511cde893
One week ago, the Carolina Panthers were on the verge of taking the NFC South lead and seemed to not be one of the NFL's worst teams. On Sunday, though, the Panthers snapped back to reality and were mauled in a 42-21 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Panthers offense and defense seemingly decided to take the first half off and were blanked 35-0 at halftime. Carolina only managed to pick up one first down in the first two quarters.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/nfl/panthers/carolina-panthers-bengals-look-to-stabilize-after-emotional-losses/275-2c0cfe21-5ddd-4427-95c9-6a19fb23565e
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A recent shooting at the home of GOP congressional candidate Pat Harrigan’s parents and young children caused no injuries but has placed “tremendous stress” on the family in the final weeks of his campaign, Harrigan’s mother said. The firearms manufacturer and U.S. Army Special Forces veteran is running against Democratic state Senator Jeff Jackson for an open U.S. House seat in North Carolina’s new 14th District based in western Charlotte.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/nc-us-house-candidate-family-house-shot-at/83-03e1ac5a-cf0f-4588-933f-cea9c4930199
Miles Bridges will serve no jail time after pleading no contest to domestic violence charges after officials said he assaulted his then-girlfriend. Bridges, 24, appeared in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Thursday and pleaded no contest to one count of injuring a child's parent. The two felony counts of child abuse were dismissed. In response to his plea, the judge issued a three-year probation sentence for Bridges.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/miles-bridges-pleads-no-contest-receives-no-jail-time-in-domestic-violence-case-charlotte-hornets-nba-court-case-los-angeles-basketball/275-a6b7077d-59fc-4d27-ac27-3f72854047b5
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Tyler Terry and Adrienne Simpson, the suspects in at least four homicide cases in three states and a week-long manhunt in Chester County, pleaded guilty in court Wednesday morning. Terry was charged in connection with at least four homicides in two states before his arrest in May of 2021. He also led Chester County police on a chase that led to an all-out manhunt before he was finally captured. Prosecutors said it was the most extensive manhunt in Chester County's history. “More than 600 law enforcement officers at the state, federal and local level participated in this investigation in the hunt and capture of these individuals," Chester County Sheriff Max Dorsey said after the sentencing.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/tyler-terry-murder-suspect-plea-deal-court/275-21cfa1d6-d86a-4846-a125-51f57162c29c
North Carolina health leaders are reporting the first pediatric flu death of the 2022-2023 season. In a news release Wednesday, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) said the child was in the eastern part of the state and faced complications from influenza. NCDHHS notes this is the first child flu death since February 2020. "We extend our deepest sympathies to this child’s family on this heartbreaking and tragic loss," said State Epidemiologist Dr. Zack Moore. The child's hometown, county, age, and sex are not being released to protect the family's privacy. The death was reported just two days after South Carolina health officials reported their first pediatric flu death of the season. The first adult flu-related death in the state was reported on Oct. 14. NCDHHS is urging people to get their flu shots as the Tar Heel State sees a rapid, early rise in cases. Five adult deaths tied to influenza have thus far been reported in North Carolina as well.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/nc-child-flu-death-2022-health/275-ac4830c0-80dd-48f1-ada5-3264902b2493
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The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has partnered with federal agencies to crack down on illegal gambling. "We just want them to abide by the law," Sgt. Kevin Triola, with CMPD, said. "If they are going to have these machines they need to be for entertainment purposes only." Officials say the number of machines in a facility that contributes to any cash payouts on winnings is illegal. Last week undercover detectives went into a sweepstakes location on Brookshire Boulevard where officers seized numerous video gaming machines and approximately $21,000.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/wake-up-charlotte/charlotte-police-illegal-gambling-news-crime/275-89a3af80-9673-4e62-a172-f732411aff32
Law enforcement in the Charlotte area has responded to two separate machete assaults in the last week, officials announced Wednesday. The incidents are not believed to be related. A suspect has been taken into custody in both cases. Statesville machete assault On Friday, patrol deputies with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office responded to Big Forest Drive in Statesville after a report of a fight in the area. Deputies determined the disturbance happened at a home on Big Forest Drive and interviewed multiple victims inside the home.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/gastonia-police-3-men-struck-by-man-with-machete-north-carolina-stabbing-officers-suspect-arrested-bicycle/275-6bf4f4dd-70e0-45ac-a4f5-bdeffa4a9df9
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Charlotte transportation leaders are scheduled to hold a public meeting Tuesday night to discuss the proposed Silver Line light rail project. It would connect Belmont to Matthews along US 74, including stops in Uptown Charlotte and at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Wake Up Charlotte's Richard DeVayne joins the show to discuss the project, getting you caught up on what exactly it would entail and how much it might cost to complete. We're now one week away from midterm elections, and it's an important deadline in North Carolina. Voters have until the end of the day on Tuesday, Nov. 1, to request an absentee ballot. If you don't have an absentee ballot request submitted in time, your only option is early voting or in-person on Election Day. 2022 midterm voter guide: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/elections/voter-guide-2022-midterm-election/275-3d54cd63-6ec0-4bcc-b6ee-e853166a1109 Plus, we have the latest on the attack on Paul Pelosi, husband of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The FBI issued new details on the brutal assault and investigators say the suspect's tactics were similar to that of rioters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 following the 2020 presidential election. And finally, if your kids got too much Halloween candy, you might be wondering how much they should eat. Well, that's a personal choice, but health experts believe you might be better served if you take at least some of it away. There are some alternatives, like buybacks and charity organizations that will help. Ben Thompson connects the dots on why doctors are urging parents to take it easy with their kids' sugar intake for the long haul. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
For the second time in 2022, there will be a $1 billion jackpot. Powerball's grand prize surged over the milestone figure after no one claimed the jackpot in Saturday night's drawing. Talk about a Halloween trick ... or treat, depending how your tickets turned out. The odds of winning the jackpot are about as long as the number of dollars in the jackpot, but folks are trying their luck with a few dollars hoping to win big. Richard DeVayne joins the show from Concord, where lottery players are crossing their fingers for a Halloween they won't soon forget. Plus, little goblins and ghouls will fill the streets tonight hoping to score a jack-o'-lantern full of candy. But how exactly did trick-or-treating become a Halloween tradition? Sarah French connects the dots on how a spiritual ceremony turned into a rite of passage for kids every October. And finally, it's a Weather Aware day in the Carolinas due to the threat of storms and lightning. One of Larry Sprinkle's close, personal friends -- Count Sprinkula -- stops by the studio with an extra spooky Halloween forecast! Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
North Carolina has had its first flu death of the season; North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services officials confirmed an adult in the western part of the state died due to complications of influenza during the third week of October. The state will not be releasing the person’s hometown, county, age or gender. "This is a sad reminder that flu can be a serious illness and can lead to complications and even death in some cases," State Epidemiologist Zack Moore said. "With flu cases increasing and COVID-19 still with us, it is tremendously important for people to get a flu vaccine this year." READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/ncdhhs-first-flu-death-season/275-59746328-35fc-4aaa-a3c5-92ba13cf9ff5
Two schools in Stanly County will be closed the rest of the week due to an increase in respiratory illnesses, administrators said. Richard DeVayne joins Wake Up Charlotte To Go with the latest update on why district leaders felt it was necessary to keep students home and how they plan to use the next few days to keep everyone healthy. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools announced it won't defy North Carolina state law by starting the school year early and the decision has board members divided. Tradesha Woodard breaks down why some education officials want to get a head start on learning, what CMS wants to hear from parents and how families can impact the new school year calendar. Plus, it might sound like a Halloween attraction, but so-called "ghost forests" and popping up all over North Carolina. Scientists say the state's beautiful coastal communities and wetlands are turning gray due to rising sea levels brought on by climate change. Sarah French connects the dots on how this could have a lasting, drastic impact on North Carolina's wildlife moving forward. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte and join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Two victims were killed and several others were injured after a shooting at a St. Louis high school Monday morning. The suspect was killed. The victims were identified by family members as a teenage girl who was a student at the school and a grandmother who was a teacher at the school. At 9:11 a.m., St. Louis police were called to Central VPA High School at Kingshighway Boulevard and Arsenal Street for an active shooter.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/st-louis-school-shooting/63-64842130-cbbb-4731-9536-7cb66f0e2ae3
Millions of Americans will submit their ballots or head to the polls for the 2022 midterm elections in November. While presidential candidates won't be on the ballot, there are plenty of races worth your attention. The midterms typically don't draw as large of a turnout as presidential election years, but the races can make a big impact on national and local politics.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/2022-midterm-elections/507-8cf0e358-e3a4-420b-9c26-6ebe3b5ad167
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
The Charlotte 49ers have fired head football coach Will Healy. The move comes one day after the team lost is homecoming game to FIU, 34-15, to fall to 1-7 on the season. "We are grateful to Will Healy for the incredible energy and enthusiasm he brought to our program," Director of Athletics Mike Hill said. "Sadly, however, our on-field results have not met expectations." Healy was 15-24 as the second coach in program history. The 37-year-old was hired ahead of the 2019 season to replace Brad Lambert. Healy enjoyed immediate success at Charlotte, finishing 7-6 in 2019 and guiding the team to the first bowl appearance in its history. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the team only played six games in 2020, finishing 2-4.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/unc-charlotte-fires-football-coach-will-healy/275-3df8b9dd-0e8f-42aa-84d1-ffbdcb466cc3
A man is facing a first-degree murder charge for the death of a woman who was shot and killed at an ATM in July. On Sunday, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department announced that J'wuan Horton, 24, was arrested for the death of Karen Baker, 48. Horton is charged with first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and possession of a firearm by a felon. Baker was shot on July 13 at University Plaza on University City Boulevard, near America's Best Wings and Toppers Pizza near Old Concord Road. Police believe it was a random incident.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/cmpd-man-arrested-for-murder-accused-of-shooting-woman-at-atm-charlotte-north-carolina/275-65cb80e9-c077-4899-b9ce-c74ae1d64c01
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Christian McCaffrey's career with the Carolina Panthers is over. After weeks of speculation about McCaffrey's future with the team, the do-everything running back was traded to the San Francisco 49ers for multiple draft picks. NFL sources said the Panthers will receive three picks in the upcoming draft and one in 2024 in exchange for CMC. Tradesha Woodard has the latest on CMC and the Panthers' future ahead of a difficult stretch of games. Richard DeVayne joins the show from the North Carolina High Country, where falling leaves aren't just a change of seasons: they're big business. Richard explains how the fall foliage is a huge industry with so many small businesses relying on fall tourism to float their bottom lines out of the pandemic. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte and join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Charlotte transportation leaders held a meeting Wednesday night to discuss a proposal to add more tolls to Interstate 77, stretching from Uptown to the South Carolina border. The Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization said the proposal would add two express lanes in each direction from I-277 to I-485. Cintra, the company behind the existing tolls on I-77, sent an unsolicited proposal to North Carolina and Charlotte transportation officials earlier this year. NCDOT said any tolls projects in North Carolina must be requested and approved by the local planning organization, per state law.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/interstate-77-toll-lane-proposal-transportation-meeting-uptown-charlotte-north-carolina/275-318ebb75-31f6-421c-ba50-46116c1cd4c1
Early Wednesday was a terrifying night for a family living in northwest Charlotte. Around 1:30 a.m., someone started shooting into the home where a 15-year-old, 5-year-old, and 3-year-old were sleeping along with two others. The family told WCNC Charlotte they now plan to leave the home. They had been renting for the past few months. From top to bottom, there were at least 20 visible bullet holes visible in the home off of Coy Court. Several vehicles were damaged as well.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/shooting-into-northwest-charlotte-home-crime-investigation/275-b4ed9153-54e7-4357-93b7-e5bd40eca142
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Gun violence is increasing in Mecklenburg County, and according to county data, homicides doubled in a five-year span. A comprehensive plan has been unveiled by the Office of Violence Prevention in an attempt to address some of the violence. The data gathered by the office shows that there were 64 homicides in Mecklenburg County in 2015 and 126 in 2020. Gun-related assaults also doubled during the same time period. "The way forward" is a multi-faceted strategy by the OVP to create safer communities by offering support for families, community engagement, and economic opportunities.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/mecklenburg-county-gun-violence-reduction-plan/275-1ea3c3d7-6d93-4855-88ca-0dd357f8042b
Police are investigating a shooting that occurred in front of a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools bus on Tuesday. According to a release, the shooting took place on West Blvd near Remount Road around 6 p.m. on Tuesday. A CMS school bus was behind the vehicles when the shooting occurred. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department says a road rage incident led to the shooting. A person in a black Dodge Charger fired shots into an occupied vehicle, however, no injuries occurred. Five people were found along with the Dodge Charger around 10 p.m. on Tuesday. Police arrested all five people.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/shooting-happens-in-front-of-cms-bus-charlotte-shots-fired-school-bus-cmpd-police-investigation-education/275-820f131b-c42d-4f1e-b1af-d647371f7d1d
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Just over 20% of South Carolina schools received an overall rating of excellent as state education officials monitor the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on students, report cards issued by the SC Department of Education said. Statewide, 20.6% percent of schools received an overall excellent grade, which is in line with 2019 data. Despite seeing success in many schools, the Education Oversight Committee (EOC) and SCDE stressed there is much work ahead for students to reach college and career readiness. "I commend the effort of South Carolina educators and students," EOC Executive Director Matthew Ferguson said. "These results beat all expectations of what was thought possible while living through the COVID disruptions."
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/south-carolina-schools-report-cards-released/275-d62d80f6-b16f-4f54-b1fb-13db37118fc9
Hornets guard James Bouknight was arrested Sunday on suspicion of DUI, the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office confirms. Officials report Bouknight was released early Monday morning from the county jail in Charlotte, North Carolina on an unsecured bond. WCNC sports anchor Nick Carboni confirmed Bouknight was at practice Monday. A search of public records shows Bouknight has other upcoming court appearances for other driving-related offenses, including charges of speeding and reckless driving in both Mecklenburg and neighboring Cabarrus counties.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/nba/hornets/hornets-guard-sports-baskeball-arrest-james-bouknight/275-95be489c-378b-4e4e-9b14-1185c87c0576
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President Joe Biden first announced the program, which will impact millions of Americans, this summer. It's expected to provide relief for up to $10,000 in student loan debt for those making less than $125,000 a year or as much as $20,000 for eligible borrowers who were also Pell Grant recipients. We have a huge first round victory," Said Melissa Byrnes, with 'We the 45 Million.' Byrnes, who is also a student loan borrower, says this is a historic first step. "I'm partly holding my breath, but I'm glad to see the administration moving forward," she said. Applications won't be processed until the website officially opens, but those who apply during the beta testing phase will not need to reapply. This comes as the Department of Education is facing several lawsuits challenging the policy, but along with those challenges - many are left wondering if any money forgiven would be considered taxable income by the state. "In those states, you'll have a tax burden that may be the equivalent of a few months. Some of those states are trying to change the laws to make it tax-free, but it seems unlikely it will happen this year," said Mark Kantrowitz, a student loan expert with Cerebly.com. He says people living in certain states, like Minnesota, may want to weigh their options first. "You may want to wait until next year, hoping it becomes tax-free at the state level, however, there's also a reason to apply immediately, there are several legal challenges, and if any are successful, they may block the president's plan," he said.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/what-you-need-to-know-student-loan-relief-applications-now-open/89-2abbdbaf-b481-49ce-8b5f-ff1779a385a8
A fired head coach, multiple rough losses in a row, and now an embattled receiver are on the list of problems for the Carolina Panthers this season. In another disappointing performance, the Panthers lost 24-10 to the Los Angeles Rams on the road in Steve Wilks's first game as head coach. The Panthers led 10-7 at halftime thanks to a Donte Jackson interception touchdown, but Carolina failed to muster any offensive production in the second half and let the Rams run away with the game. To make matters worse, wide receiver Robbie Anderson was seen visibly arguing with coaches and asked to leave the field by his own team. Anderson headed to the locker room possibly for the last time as a Panther as rumors swirl about the team's trading ventures heading in the coming days.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/nfl/panthers/panthers-game-sunday-carolina-rams-la/275-71484d71-9501-4616-9ef2-fa19c3ae866b
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Five people were killed, including an off-duty police officer, in a mass shooting in Raleigh Thursday. The suspect, only identified as a minor, was taken into custody late Thursday night, police said. We have an update from NBC News in Raleigh, plus reaction from Gov. Roy Cooper, who said "terror has come to our doorstep" while addressing the tragic event. Richard DeVayne joins the show to break down the upcoming midterm elections. Friday, Oct. 14, is the deadline to register to vote in person on Election Day for North Carolina. If you don't meet the deadline, don't worry. North Carolina still has options available for people who aren't registered to vote. Click here for our 2022 midterm election voter guide, which includes information for both North Carolina and South Carolina. Sarah French connects the dots on why CATS is shutting down the light rail and streetcar this weekend. It's nothing bad, just maintenance. City officials say the maintenance will help keep the system efficient and will improve rider experience going forward. And of course we have our Morning Rush, with all of the top headlines across the Carolinas and in the Charlotte area! We preview the Panthers game against the Rams, a major shakeup at CATS and more. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. and join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Help is on the way for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools with overloaded classrooms. District leaders approved $1.3 million for mobile units during Wednesday's board meeting. Tradesha Woodard joins Wake Up Charlotte To Go with details on the funding, as well as the schools that will see relief first. CMS leaders are also seeking input from parents as the district deals with growing pains in a growing metro area. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police released third-quarter crime data Wednesday that showed overall crime is up in Charlotte. If you're looking for a silver lining, CMPD's data shows that aggravated assaults involving guns were down nearly 10% and violent crime is also decreasing from where it was a year ago. Richard DeVayne joins our show to break down this data and we hear from CMPD officials on their efforts to reduce the Queen City's crime numbers. Ben Thompson connects the dots on why school lunches could get a facelift in North Carolina through a new partnership that not only benefits students with tastier meals, but helps small businesses across the state. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks says the next 12 weeks are about doing everything he can to get the team back on track after a disappointing 1-4 start to the season. During his first news conference as the team's head coach, Wilks said he's confident Carolina has the opportunity to turn things around starting this week against the Los Angeles Rams. "One thing I do know, for sure, they're not canceling our season," Wilks said. "We've got to do a great job of coming together collectively and finding a way to turn this thing around quickly."
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/nfl/panthers/steve-wilks-confident-panthers-turnaround-los-angeles-rams-matt-rhule-fired/275-aa1bb8a8-7030-4dff-ae4f-dc4122265a9c
A sleepy section of Uptown is about to get a long overdue makeover. Let's connect the dots. Decades ago, Brooklyn was a thriving African-American neighborhood in Uptown's Second Ward. It was a town within a town with 1,500 homes, shops, restaurants and churches. But in the '60s and '70s, it was all bulldozed in the name of development and replaced by government buildings and Marshall Park. In recent years, a new plan slowly gained traction for a newly reimagined Brooklyn Village. Ditching the current buildings and park and replacing it with 1,200 apartments and condos of all price points. You can stream WCNC Charlotte on Roku and Amazon Fire TV, just download the free app. The multi-year, multi-million dollar Brooklyn Village community is set to be smack in the heart of Uptown.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/connect-the-dots/brooklyn-village-development-uptown-makeover/275-b9dac516-234b-4235-a3e1-4cd30e3276b7
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Renting out property through Airbnb or VRBO is now a popular way to make some money. But in Rock Hill, city leaders have put a pause on issuing new permits for short-term rentals, saying more rules are needed to protect neighborhoods. But a property owner who opposes the decision told WCNC Charlotte the decision could put business owners at risk. In the last 20 years, Rock Hill’s population grew by around 78%. In addition to more people moving here, sports tourism is also booming. Earlier this year, Rock Hill leaders put a temporary moratorium in place on new permits for short-term rentals. Leaders voted to extend it through the rest of this year on Monday night.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/rock-hill-consider-extending-short-term-rental-moratorium/275-211a28b2-32b7-4e92-8491-74d6dbf8cdab
A teenage girl is shaken up after she said she was face to face with a gunman when a West Charlotte Burger King was robbed over the weekend. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department still searching for the man involved in that robbery. This is also not the first time that the same fast-food restaurant has been held up this year. Jadyn Carter is 15 years old, and she said she was very excited to have her first job at Burger King. But Friday night was her last shift after she said a masked man came in, waving a gun and demanding money. “I told him the inside [dining room] was closed and he mumbled something, but I didn’t hear him,” Jadyn Carter explained. “So, I said it again and then he just pulled up his shirt and started holding the gun at me."
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/teenager-faced-gunman-burger-king-robbery/275-c4e412d8-49ae-4959-adeb-4d8a87ce2cff
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Authorities have issued a swimming advisory at Lake Norman due to a sewage spill that may have leaked into the lake. The Lincoln County Health Department issued the advisory on 11 p.m. on Sunday after a sewage spill occurred on Rivendell Lane in Denver. Authorities say around 900 gallons of wastewater may have leaked into Lake Norman in this area. Officials say a sewer force main break caused the issue and say they have stopped the flow and are testing the water.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/sewage-spill-may-have-leaked-into-lake-norman-lincoln-county-officials-say-north-carolina-denver-rivendell-lane/275-acebca19-7b6f-410e-8c46-3e69c843834b
There are some games where you can look back at the tape and say if just one or two things had went your way, the result would have been way different. Sunday's game between the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers was not one of those games. The Panthers fell to 1-4 after an abysmal 37-15 loss to the 49ers where they were completely outmatched by their opponent. Carolina opened the home match as 6.5-point underdogs to the 49ers, who only had one more win coming into this game.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/nfl/panthers/baker-mayfield-carolina-panthers-meet-top-ranked-san-francisco-49ers-defense/275-dbda775a-e050-4056-b1b2-cc2aa049fdef
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Union County Public Schools could soon outsource substitute teachers. School board members will vote on allowing a staff management group to hire substitutes during the next meeting on Monday, Oct. 10. It's a possible action the district could take as school districts across the nation scramble to find substitute teachers. “We're all hands-on deck and trying to be creative this year,” district superintendent Andrew Houlihan said. UCPS leaders said over the last year, they've been meeting with potential staffing and management groups to address the need for substitutes. The board of education could vote to approve a substitute staffing company called ESS to fill positions they haven't been able to.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/outsourced-substitute-teachers-union-county-nc-education/275-357b9ee2-b4f4-4af6-8152-19373b5f3ba3
President Joe Biden is pardoning thousands of Americans convicted of “simple possession” of marijuana under federal law, as his administration takes a dramatic step toward decriminalizing the drug and addressing charging practices that disproportionately impact people of color. Biden's move also covers thousands convicted of the crime in the District of Columbia. He is also calling on governors to issue similar pardons for those convicted of state marijuana offenses, which reflect the vast majority of marijuana possession cases.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/national-politics/biden-pardons-simple-possession-of-marijuana/507-fa1006fe-dbd7-40db-b589-a894bd99130a
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Charlotte area shelters say more families are extending their stays due to inflation and rising rents. They say they don't anticipate the issue going away any time soon, and the slow turnaround times have a major impact on the number of families they can help. The Charlotte Housing Authority said as the number of people who are homeless continues to increase, they’re starting to see new trends. "We are seeing recently a change in the patterns," Elizabeth Kurtz, with Charlotte Housing Authority, said. "Typically in the past, we have seen most people coming in for help due to evictions due or financial reasons, now we are seeing people pitched into homelessness simply because rent is going up," she said.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/markets/real-estate/affordable-housing-crisis/affordable-housing-money-inflation-families-demand-homes/275-33e9716a-a78e-4ece-a743-28c81fe12e79
In the season's penultimate match, Charlotte FC saw their playoff hopes dwindle away, but it wasn't without giving it an intense effort. Charlotte FC (13-18-2) had their last home game of the season with Columbus Crew (11-7-15) end with a 2-2 draw. The Queen City team made a noble effort in the second half to get the win, but it just wasn't met to be. Columbus Crew was the first team to add a point on the scoreboard when Lucas Zelarayán made an insane goal in the 36th minute from near midfield that caught Charlotte FC's defense and goalkeeper by surprise as it soared across the field and landed in the net.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/soccer/charlotte-fc-clinging-on-to-playoff-hopes-ahead-of-final-home-match-columbus-crew-bank-of-america-stadium-soccer-football-game-mls-daniel-rios/275-a859d3fa-b6b6-4e4f-9f27-7159b7e4eab7
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Five high school students could face felony charges after officers accused them of assaulting one of their classmates. The Statesville Police Department said a fight broke out on Monday, Oct. 3 inside Statesville Senior High School. The student who was hurt was transported to a Winston-Salem hospital for treatment and was later released. Police said they started a criminal investigation and found video of the group of students hitting and kicking the victim. Investigators then conferred with the District Attorney's Office and said in a news release the department will seek felony assault charges against the five students. The students' names are being withheld due to their juvenile status. WCNC Charlotte has reached out to Iredell-Statesville Schools for further comment.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/assault-satesville-senior-high-school-north-carolina-crime-education-local/275-5199bfcd-538e-4e85-a39e-4838653296ca
Fort Mill Schools is ramping up security and is putting new policies in place to deal with school threats, and some of them are similar to what the secret service uses. This comes just weeks after two students were charged with making threats in the district, and now the district says one of the protocols they will be using is the Behavior Threat Assessment and Management model. They say this model will be used if you know the person who is making the threat, and will now be closely examined in close coordination with law enforcement and other stakeholders to determine the credibility of the threat.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/fort-mill-schools-security-education-wake-up-charlotte/275-bd241287-6c46-417c-9d02-bdd20305eabe
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One person was killed and another was seriously hurt in a shooting at the Pilot Travel Center off Statesville Avenue and I-85 in north Charlotte late Monday night, police say. WCNC Charlotte's Richard DeVayne has an update on the shooting and what we know from police and witnesses. So far, no arrests have been made, but it's unclear if police are searching for any suspects. FULL STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/shooting-pilot-truck-stop-charlotte-north-carolina/275-e2ef5e48-e604-4cbe-871e-3aed6bd623ab Tradesha Woodard joins us from Huntersville, where residents are pushing back against a proposed development that would bring apartments and hotel accommodations to the already crowded Birkdale Village. Neighbors voiced those concerns at a town meeting, saying the traffic is an unwanted nuisance for an already busy area. Plus, Ben Thompson connects the dots on how experts say the COVID-19 pandemic changed everyone's personality and we have your top stories in the morning rush. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
The Carolina Panthers lost an ugly 26-16 game at home to the Arizona Cardinals, leaving fans frustrated. Quarterback Baker Mayfield was under pressure all game long and the offense struggled to move the ball against the Cardinals' defense.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/nfl/panthers/carolina-panthers-seek-to-continue-complete-dominance-over-arizona-cardinals/275-d553bcc1-d1ee-4c8d-9de5-45606c01b143
Plus, we've got the latest on construction at Charlotte Douglas International Airport that could affect travelers, Cabarrus County district leaders will discuss new recommendations that will allow parents to submit concerns about books with controversial material after outcry over new rules and Lancaster County Schools announced plans for a new bus-tracking app for parents and students. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Guidance on who qualifies for Biden's student loan forgiveness program changed weeks before the application is set to open and will affect eligibility for millions of student loan borrowers. Borrowers who had Perkins loans or Federal Family Education Loans are at the center of the most recent change, NPR reported. Federal Family Education Loans, known as FFEL loans, were issued and managed by private banks but were backed by the federal government. The program ended in 2010, but over 4 million borrowers still have FFEL loans, NPR reported. Before Thursday, the Department of Education told borrowers they could consolidate the loans into federal Direct Loans to qualify under the debt relief program. "As of Sept. 29, 2022, borrowers with federal student loans not held by ED cannot obtain one-time debt relief by consolidating those loans into Direct Loans," the website says. Borrowers who applied to consolidate their FFEL and Perkins Loans into Direct Loans prior to Thursday are still eligible for the one-time debt relief through the Direct Loan program, according to the website. It is unclear why the department changed its guidance on FFEL loans.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/education-dept-changes-student-debt-relief-guidance/507-8fc37d55-cb70-4fe7-844a-db7a716e2457
Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, stood by the false claim that the 2020 election was fraudulent during an interview Thursday with the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection, the panel's chairman said. “It’s a work in progress,” Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., told reporters after the more than four-hour interview ended. “At this point, we’re glad she came.”
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/virginia-thomas-jan-6-hearing/507-4eb0d89f-37d7-4135-a065-120aa952961a
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Test scores show high school students in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools are severely underperforming in math. On Wednesday, CMS released data that show just 8.2% of high schoolers are testing at the highest levels of end-of-year exams in this area. The goal for CMS is to have at least 26% of high schoolers scoring a level 4 or 5 on end-of-year math exams by 2024. When students reach this score, this means they’re ready for a job or to head to college. CMS says teachers are no longer tamping down expectations due to the pandemic.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cms-high-school-math-scores-data-education-local/275-45fb3f92-c391-414b-b29a-cde432b56062
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department released bodycam footage of an incident where a 14-year-old shot an officer in December 2021. On Wednesday, CMPD officers released the footage from the shooting that occurred on Dec. 27, 2021, on Winged Elm Court. The video shows CMPD officer Elliot Whitley chasing after a suspect before the teen turns around and shoots Whitley in the shoulder. Whitley fell to the ground after being hit and shot at the suspect, but did not strike the teen. Whitley stays around the area before other officers come to offer aid. He was transported to a local hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/released-bodycam-footage-shows-teen-shooting-cmpd-officer-elliot-whitley-shot-teen-crime-north-carolina-charlotte-december-2021/275-12f0a2e8-604f-441a-a53d-9119a00bb2d0'
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On Tuesday morning part of Interstate 485 outer loop in Matthews was closed due to a crash that left one person dead. More than 1,700 people were killed in car crashes in 2021. The 5% increase from 2020 made 2021 the deadliest on North Carolina streets in two decades. Officials say so far this year, the trend seems to be leveling out. “The roads have not changed significantly since 2020. Driver behavior has changed significantly,” Mark Ezzell, the director of the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program, said. That includes distractions behind the wheel. State data shows over the last five years, there has been a 15% increase in distracted driving-related accidents and fatalities. So far this year 117 people have died in distracted driving accidents, one more than this time last year.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/north-carolina-deadliest-roads-drivers-death-data/275-674f8ee8-720b-423b-bf0a-3b8643d9e3a7
The Epicentre has a new name: Queen City Quarter. Global Commercial Real Estate Services announced Tuesday it will lead marketing, property management and renovations at the 302,324-square-foot Epicentre mixed-use development in Uptown Charlotte. CBRE said its renovation project will "enhance the visitor experience." The property has been renamed Queen City Quarter, inspired by Charlotte’s nickname, “The Queen City.” “It’s a chance to bring a fresh approach, a new vision to the property,” Compie Newman, managing director of CBRE, said.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/epicentre-queen-city-quarter-charlotte-uptown-new-name-branding/275-e056161d-633a-4893-8db6-a81beb305c0a
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Plus, on this edition of #WakeUpCLT To Go, forecaster Larry Sprinkle and Chris Mulcahy have the latest update on Hurricane Ian. The powerful Category 4 storm is approaching landfall along the Florida coast with sustained winds of 140 mph, as well as heavy rain and life-threatening storm surge.
An eighth grader was arrested by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for reportedly making threats of "mass violence" against Southwest Middle School in Charlotte, CMPD said. According to police, on Sept. 19, school staff alerted a school resource officer at Southwest Middle School that a massing shooting threat had been posted on Instagram. Officers were able to track the Instagram account to an eighth-grade student. They talked to the student at their home, and the student reportedly admitted to making the threat and was arrested. "Making a school threat is not a prank - it's a crime," CMPD tweeted after announcing the arrest.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/14-year-old-arrested-making-mass-violence-threats/275-18bfa96e-bcb4-45aa-b857-4fb427d8bcc7
The South Carolina House of Representatives returns Tuesday to vote on an abortion bill passed earlier this month by the state Senate. The Senate's proposal would ban abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy and reduce the exceptions included in the state’s current “fetal heartbeat” law. House Republicans like Melissa Oremus (R-Aiken) and her Freedom Caucus colleagues are expressing disappointment over the changes.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/amended-abortion-bill-back-south-carolina-house/101-e6e4cdb9-7229-4a17-acb7-30e9932de050
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It took until Week 3, but the Carolina Panthers have their first win of the season. The Panthers took control of the game early using a strong defense, commendable offense, and undeniable determination to defeat the New Orleans Saints 22-7 at home on Sunday. Both teams traded punts to open the first three possessions but things changed quickly with five minutes left in the 1st Quarter. Alvin Kamara fumbled and Marquis Haynes Sr. recovered the ball for Carolina and took it back 44 yards for a touchdown. Both offenses struggled during the first half with only the Panthers adding points. Carolina added two Eddy Piñeiro field goals to go up 13-0 at the half. The Saints' best chance to score came on an 11-play 70-yard drive in the closing minutes of the 2nd Quarter that took them into the red zone before the Panthers blocked a 30-yard field goal that would have given New Orleans their first points of the game. The Saints drove back into scoring territory to open the 3rd Quarter but another field goal attempt failed when Will Lutz sailed his kick wide right. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/nfl/panthers/carolina-panthers-look-to-continue-to-fluster-winston-get-first-win-of-the-season-vs-saints/275-89c1e7ae-dfd1-4884-95fa-c2d91a38f1ca
The Conover Police Department is investigating after remains were found in the shallow grave behind a home in Conover. On Friday, officers received word about a body possibly being buried in the backyard of a home on Fourth Avenue SW in Conover. Conover officers, the Catawba County Sheriff's Office and NC State Bureau of Investigation officials found what appeared to be a shallow grave behind the home. Remains were found in the grave, although they did not appear to be recent, police said. The remains were taken to Wake Forest Baptist Hospital to determine if they were human remains or other remains, police said.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/police-investigating-remains-found-behind-conover-home-sbi/275-40dcbe7a-651d-4333-86b4-d479567abe2f
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Emails released between state officials show that Gaston County Schools administrators were advised to not transition to a payroll system that has led to missing paychecks and retirement funds. North Carolina Representative Kelly Hastings (R-110) revealed emails between him and Eric Moore, North Carolina General Assembly Fiscal Analyst, that show partially what led to payroll issues impacting Gaston County Schools. The email chain begins on Thursday, Sept. 8 when a concerned employee reached out to Hastings asking for help with the payroll issues at the school district. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/gaston-county-shools-were-advised-to-delay-use-of-system-causing-payroll-issues-state-officials-confirm-north-carolina-kelly-hastings/275-caf8720e-d1a6-4440-b1dc-2df96a3de9e0
In a stark repudiation of Donald Trump's legal arguments, a federal appeals court on Wednesday permitted the Justice Department to resume its use of classified records seized from the former president's Florida estate as part of its ongoing criminal investigation. The ruling from a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit amounts to an overwhelming victory for the Justice Department, clearing the way for investigators to continue scrutinizing the documents as they consider whether to bring criminal charges over the storage of of top-secret records at Mar-a-Lago after Trump left the White House. In lifting a hold on a core aspect of the department's probe, the court removed an obstacle that could have delayed the investigation by weeks. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/court-lifts-hold-mar-a-lago-documents-trump/507-63875e8c-f22c-4c39-a7ad-57049f392756
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New York’s attorney general sued former President Donald Trump and his company for fraud on Wednesday, alleging they padded his net worth by billions of dollars by lying about the value of prized assets including golf courses, hotels and his homes at Trump Tower and Mar-a-Lago. Attorney General Letitia James dubbed it: “The art of the steal.” James' lawsuit, filed in state court in New York, is the culmination of a three-year civil investigation of Trump and the Trump Organization. Trump’s three eldest children, Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric Trump, were also named as defendants, along with two longtime company executives, Allen Weisselberg and Jeffrey McConney. The lawsuit strikes at the core of what made Trump famous, taking a blacklight to the image of wealth and opulence he’s embraced throughout his career — first as a real estate developer, then as a reality TV host on “The Apprentice” and “Celebrity Apprentice,” and later as president.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/new-york-attorney-general-sues-donald-trump-donald-junior-ivanka-trump-eric-trump/507-c0ef0bec-c459-4707-8b26-1dfc01159004
More than half of all bomb threats against the United States were reported against schools, according to data from the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Two Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools were put on lockdown after bomb threats were reported Wednesday morning. Cox Mill High School was evacuated again Wednesday following another bomb threat. The threats are the latest in a series of threats this week, including threats Tuesday against multiple schools in Cabarrus County.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/school-bomb-threats-increasing-data-review/275-d16debd3-974b-42f3-a225-da7c66ad4776
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The Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners has voted to approve guidelines by which all property values in the county are assessed. It's one of the final steps in the reappraisal process of all 400,000 properties in the county. The county has been working on reassessing property values for the past two years, which could lead to property taxes going up for thousands of homeowners. The new values will be released to homeowners in January 2023. The last time there was a county-wide reappraisal was in 2019. In the commissioners' Sept. 20 meeting, they passed the "Uniform schedules of values, standards and rules for the 2023 county-wide reappraisal," which lays out how the value adjustments are made.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/mecklenburg-county-board-commissioners-county-reappraisal-process/275-fff0c872-da96-44fb-a7c2-2e16edcb5048
Carowinds announced a new chaperone policy Tuesday following an incident Saturday that set off a panic among guests. The new policy requires all guests under the age of 17 to be accompanied by a chaperone who is at least 21 years old during SCarowinds hours. "We are implementing additional security protocols, including a new chaperone policy that will be introduced tomorrow," a spokesperson for the amusement park said Monday in a released statement.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/carowinds-introduce-chaperone-policy/275-f4167b99-5dbf-407e-925b-c55463ee1411
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Gaston County school employees made their voices heard at the Gaston County Board of Education meeting on Monday. In a post on social media, NCAE President Pam Miller called for students, parents and concerned citizens to participate in a rally and walk-in at the BOE meeting Monday evening. The rally began at 5 p.m., just outside the school district headquarters, with several educators joining together to demand a solution to these payroll problems, including a hardship bonus. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/gason-co-ncae-rally-board-of-education-meeting/275-d0f8561e-2683-4326-a91a-94afbed7e31a
House Democrats are voting this week on changes to a 19th century law for certifying presidential elections, their strongest legislative response yet to the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection and former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat. The vote to overhaul the Electoral Count Act, expected Wednesday, comes as a bipartisan group of senators is moving forward with a similar bill. Lawmakers in both parties have said they want to change the arcane law before it is challenged again. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/house-democrats-electoral-count-act/507-32e34fac-097f-413a-9c57-54ed64dbee49 Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
The Carowinds theme park closed early Saturday night, but park officials said unruly guest behavior led to panic inside. The amusement park kicked off the spooky season with Scarowind this weekend. However, a night of thrills turned into a night of horror for families. “We were walking normally then out of nowhere a massive crowd of probably like, between 50 and 100 people running towards us screaming. So, we ducked over and got out of the way. It was chaotic,” said Bethany Bloomer. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/unruly-behavior-carowinds-charlotte-nc-crime-local/275-922b00d9-ea24-493d-bab0-c183df3cc4af
In the past few years there’s been plenty of change as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and experts say with that change can come stress and trauma. "A lot of people have physically lost family members to death, there’s been lost some sense of safety and innocence that we once had," Victor Armstrong with Recovering Innovations International said. North Carolina ranks 12th in the US for states dealing with mental health struggles. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/nc-students-dealing-with-added-stress-from-pandemic/275-dad3017c-b790-40ee-b9eb-04994c7da3dd
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Mecklenburg County is expanding access to monkeypox vaccination appointments as cases continue to climb in the Charlotte area. Richard DeVayne has details on who is eligible for walk-in appointments as health officials in Charlotte attempt to contain the virus before it spreads even further. Tens of thousands of people are waiting in miles-long lines to pay their final respects to Queen Elizabeth II. Jay Gray joins Wake Up Charlotte To Go from London, where the royal family is preparing for the Queen's funeral with thousands of mourners saying goodbye to the beloved ruler. Plus, Starbucks is making big changes. Ben Thompson connects the dots on what you can expect when it comes to getting your morning coffee faster and why the company believes these changes will raise employee morale. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is calling on state lawmakers to pass legislation that would exempt those who have their student loans forgiven from paying state income tax. Under current North Carolina law, forgiven loans are considered income, thus making anyone whose loans are forgiven responsible for around $500 for every $10,000. Wake Up Charlotte's Richard DeVayne has the details on Cooper's plan and how it could affect those hoping to have their debt erased. State regulators have begun weeks of testimony over how Duke Energy can reduce carbon emissions. But the cost of going green may be passed down to customers through higher utility bills, critics say. Ben Thompson connects the dots on Duke's proposed measures and how state leaders will make a decision on the best way to move forward without hurting consumers. Plus, we have details on the ongoing legal battle between David Tepper's real estate firm and local governments in South Carolina over the Panthers' failed training facility, Larry Sprinkle has your complete forecast and more on #WakeUpCLT To Go! Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Upending the political debate, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham introduced a nationwide abortion ban Tuesday, sending shockwaves through both parties and igniting fresh debate on a fraught issue weeks before the midterm elections that will determine control of Congress. Graham's own Republican Party leaders did not immediately embrace his abortion ban bill, which would prohibit the procedure after 15 weeks of pregnancy with rare exceptions, and has almost no chance of becoming law in the Democratic-held Congress. Democrats torched it as an alarming signal of where “MAGA” Republicans are headed if they win control of the House and Senate in November.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/lindsey-graham-nationwide-abortion-ban/507-5f623200-497a-44ea-9a28-62b556529e37
Black and Hispanic Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools students saw progress on their English test scores at the end of last school year, but are still behind. CMS says between September 2021 and May 2022, students testing at college and career levels went from 3.1% of students to 15.9%. The school board wants at least 36% of all Black and Hispanic CMS students to test at the highest levels of end-of-year exams this school year.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cms-college-and-career-ready-black-and-hispanic-students/275-7e36e965-bd32-41c0-83ef-48462e8fc6b4
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The Gaston County Schools Superintendent apologized to staff members with incorrect or missing paychecks during a town hall meeting Monday night. "I have great regrets that all this is done to different people," Jeffrey Booker, Gaston County Schools Superintendent said. For months now some employees received incorrect or no paychecks due to a new payroll system. The payroll system, currently a pilot at Gaston County Schools, is a step to modernize the outdated system they previously had.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/gaston-county-schools-employees-no-timeline-payroll-issues/275-8c88780d-cbcf-47ba-9352-0b8cb1ca0eb6
Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather is requesting assistance from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation into a Charlotte city councilman, the district attorney's office confirmed. James "Smuggie" Mitchell was recently elected to city council and holds one of the four at-large seats.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/mecklenburg-county-da-sbi-councilman-stake-james-smuggie-mitchell/275-01284608-1f4a-4b90-83cb-61a466a16062
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Efforts to curb the violence in Mecklenburg County continue with a community event in the Beatties Ford Road community, Saturday afternoon. The Alternatives to Violence Teams (ATV) are getting to know the people they are serving through its meet-and-greet event. More importantly, the organization wants the residents to know their faces as they push to stop violence in the area. There was a DJ playing music to keep the atmosphere fun and inviting. “It’s about us -- meeting the people where they are, finding out what the needs are because once you find out what their needs are then you can better serve them," said Leondra Garrett, a violence interrupter. She’s on the frontlines, has lived in the neighborhood, and said that has helped her build relationships with residents. “It makes the connection easier because they trust you.”
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/seeking-solutions-alternatives-to-violence-charlotte-nc-local/275-2c80788a-8676-4068-b8b2-ca5d9d3965ab
Queen Elizabeth II's grandson Prince Harry hailed her Monday as a “guiding compass” and praised her “unwavering grace and dignity," as members of the public were to get the chance to pay their respects to the monarch when her coffin lies at rest at St. Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. The personal statement, posted on Harry and his wife Meghan’s Archwell website, said he cherished their times together “from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as my Commander-in-Chief, to the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved greatgrandchildren.”
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/queens-coffin/507-76b5d259-e377-4753-be80-55bb8a7d3206
Plus, a tough loss for the Carolina Panthers to start the season. Despite a near-comeback in the fourth quarter, the Panthers fell to the Cleveland Browns 26 to 24. The loss means Carolina will go over a calendar year without winning a game at home.
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South Carolina senators rejected a ban on almost all abortions Thursday in a special session called in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Although Republicans had a majority of votes to pass the ban, Republican Sen. Tom Davis threatened to filibuster and proponents of the ban could not get the extra votes to stop him. Davis, the chief of staff for former Gov. Mark Sanford before being elected to the Senate in 2009, was joined by the three Republican women in the Senate, a fifth GOP colleague and all the chamber’s Democrats to oppose the proposed ban. Davis opposes a blanket ban on abortions in South Carolina and said he would argue against the bill until the 46-member Senate mustered the 26 votes required to end the filibuster. That appeared unlikely to happen, as only after 24 senators voted for an amended bill that included exceptions for pregnancies cause by rape or incest up to 12 weeks after conception. Twenty senators were opposed and two were absent. After a recess to work through their options, Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey conceded the abortion ban likely couldn't pass, although a vote to end debate had not been taken. ”This is a math question, you have to have the votes to pass it - and we do not,” Massey said. Davis said he promised his daughters he would not vote to make South Carolina’s current six-week abortion ban stricter because women have rights, too.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/south-carolina-senate-abortion-ban/101-04933ad1-2515-401e-80a4-0dab42decb7a
The Concord Police Department has released body camera footage from a deadly police shooting in Concord; the shooting happened in February at the Modern Nissan Dealership in Concord. The Concord Police Department said former Concord police officer Timothy Larson was on routine patrol when he says he saw 29-year-old Brandon Combs trying to steal a vehicle from the dealership. Police said during their interaction, Combs jumped into the driver's seat of the police SUV. The body camera video shows the moments before Larson pulled the trigger. Police said Larson shot Combs after Combs ignored several commands to stop. The State Bureau of Investigation found that Larson did not use excessive force in the deadly shooting because Combs was driving a vehicle pointed at Larson. For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app. The Concord Police Department and SBI looked into the shooting and questioned Larson about his actions. Larson was effectively terminated in May. According to a notice of dismissal, the officer gave investigators false information in regards to the shooting.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/investigations/body-camera-video-police-shooting-concord-timothy-larson-brandon-combs/275-daf24959-cf6e-4288-907a-0cc2426ff600
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Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and a rock of stability across much of a turbulent century, died Thursday, Sept 8 after 70 years on the throne. She was 96. The palace announced she died at Balmoral Castle, her summer residence in Scotland, where members of the royal family had rushed to her side after her health took a turn for the worse. A link to the almost-vanished generation that fought World War II, she was the only monarch most Britons have ever known. Her 73-year-old son Prince Charles automatically becomes king, though the coronation might not take place for months. It was not immediately known whether he will call himself King Charles III or some other name. The BBC played the national anthem, “God Save the Queen,” over a portrait of her in full regalia as her death was announced, and the flag over Buckingham Palace was lowered to half-staff as the second Elizabethan age came to a close. The impact of her loss will be huge and unpredictable, both for the nation and for the monarchy, an institution she helped stabilize and modernize across decades of huge social change and family scandals.
A woman walking along the McAlpine Creek Greenway in Charlotte Thursday morning was assaulted by a suspect who also attempted to rape her, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Around 11 a.m., the woman was walking on the greenway near Margaret Wallace Road, which is located near Independence Boulevard and north of McAlpine Creek Park. "A male suspect assaulted her and attempted to rape her," CMPD said in a tweet later in the day. "The victim was able to fight off the suspect." The suspect may have injuries to his face or hands as a result of the victim fighting him off, police believe. The suspect is described as a 5 foot 6 inches tall Black man, with a heavy build, dreadlocks, and was wearing all black clothing at the time of the attack, according to police.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/mcalpine-creek-greenway-attempted-assault-rape-charlotte-police/275-b3ee2f6d-b525-49c3-a141-1ffe788979ce
Legislation that would have authorized sports betting across all of North Carolina fell apart late Wednesday as the House narrowly rejected a key measure amid warnings about the dangers of gambling from an unusual coalition of social conservatives and liberal Democrats. The House voted 51-50 not to approve one of two measures that, when combined, would have established the rules to authorize and regulate gambling on professional sporting events and out-of-state horse racing. Prospects already looked shaky earlier Wednesday when the House voted by a similar 51-50 margin for a supplemental measure that would have mostly made changes to a separate, comprehensive bill unveiled last year that laid out the structure of how sports betting would be conducted. The supplemental measure focused on how gambling license operators would have been taxed and where the proceeds would have gone.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/north-carolina-sports-betting-legislation-falters-house/275-c2f714c5-4b4e-4354-bada-95382f01a8c9 Plus, Apple’s latest line-up of iPhones will boast better cameras, faster processors, and a longer-lasting battery — all at the same prices as last year’s models, despite inflationary pressure that has driven up the cost of many other everyday items. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
On Wednesday The South Carolina Senate will debate a near-total abortion ban that right now, does not include exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest. Abortion exceptions for rape and incest up to 12 weeks of pregnancy were removed by a 7-3 vote from a Senate committee Tuesday. Democrats abstained from voting in an effort to prevent the bill from passing through the legislature. “This is an awful bill. I just can’t say that enough,” said Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto, (D-Orangeburg). “What we've witnessed here is the Republican majority’s attempt to impose an extreme total ban on abortion on women in South Carolina." READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/senate-committee-removes-rape-incest-exceptions-abortion-bill-south-carolina/101-87e8e3df-740c-4a1e-a7b3-5bbdf7491872 In a legal victory for former President Donald Trump, a federal judge on Monday granted his request for a special master to review documents seized by the FBI from his Florida home and also temporarily halted the Justice Department’s own use of the records for investigative purposes. The decision by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon authorizes an outside legal expert to review the records taken during the Aug. 8 search and to weed out from the rest of the investigation any that might be protected by claims of attorney-client privilege or executive privilege. Some of those records may ultimately be returned to Trump, but the judge put off a ruling on that question.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/trump-special-master/507-a4b919b1-b31e-4fb3-9ec2-0330f17e891e
Plus, turns out Charlotte is one of the most polite cities in the US, at least according to people who live here. A new survey asked residents around the country to rank their city's politeness. Charlotte tied with Dallas, Texas at number 15 for more polite.
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Charlotte welcomes a new city council on Tuesday, September 6 during a swearing-in ceremony. The new council includes mostly familiar faces with a few new names. "The priority should be 'let's get back to basics.' We've had a lot of self-inflicted wounds, we really need to go back and think about regular infrastructure, potholes, the job of the city," Tariq Bokhari, district six councilman, said. In recent years, council tackled a number of controversial issues including the Unified Development Ordinance, the Charlotte 2040 comprehensive plan, pandemic response, and transit. "This last council was able to put a bow on a lot of big things before this term ended... it's got to be back to the basics of housing, community safety, transportation," Larken Egleston, outgoing district one councilman, said. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/charlotte-city-council-swears-in-new-members-on-tuesday-september-6-flashpoint/275-96188c90-5a54-4785-8bd8-765ecdd0275f
In a legal victory for former President Donald Trump, a federal judge on Monday granted his request for a special master to review documents seized by the FBI from his Florida home and also temporarily halted the Justice Department’s own use of the records for investigative purposes. The decision by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon authorizes an outside legal expert to review the records taken during the Aug. 8 search and to weed out from the rest of the investigation any that might be protected by claims of attorney-client privilege or executive privilege. Some of those records may ultimately be returned to Trump, but the judge put off a ruling on that question.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/trump-special-master/507-a4b919b1-b31e-4fb3-9ec2-0330f17e891e
Plus, have you ever had a boss treat you so badly that you were forced to quit your job? Welcome to "quiet firing."
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Authorities say a man shot at police on Sunday when they approached him about an assault report. On Sunday, the Gaston County Police Department released details about a shooting between officers and Matthew Curtis Buford, 33, on Stoney Oaks Drive. The situation began on Sunday when a resident on Stoney Oaks Drive told police they found a vehicle on their property. Officers arrived and found an assault rifle in the vehicle and confiscated it along with the vehicle.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/man-shot-by-police-after-shooting-at-officers-in-gaston-county-officials-say-matthew-buford-north-carolina-shooting-investigation/275-7fd2682e-9452-4130-ac85-73996bd44a82
Legislation banning nearly all abortions with few exceptions is heading to the Senate for consideration after a third and final vote from House Lawmakers Wednesday. "It's a sad day for women across this state," said Rep. Beth Bernstein (D- Richland). "A person’s a person, no matter how small. Today is a great day in south Carolina," said Rep. Adam Morgan.
https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/sc-house-passes-abortion-ban-with-exceptions/101-d3a8f4d2-b70b-44e2-81c7-7d9f5485b5dc
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
A suspect is hospitalized in critical condition after being shot by Concord police officers at Concord Mills Mall Wednesday. Two other suspects, who weren't injured during the incident, were also arrested. Concord police responded to the mall after a shopper called 911 saying her credit cards were stolen. The caller gave the dispatcher a description of the suspects, according to Concord police. Responding officers confronted the suspects outside the mall, triggering a foot chase. Maj. Todd McGhee said officers chased the suspects into the mall before they led officers outside to a construction area on the property. During the chase, one of the three suspects fired a shot at the pursuing officers, according to McGhee. The bullet struck the ground in front of the officers, police said. The two officers returned fire striking the suspect, who was airlifted by helicopter to Atrium Health's Carolina Medical Center in Charlotte. The suspect remains in critical condition.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/concord-mills-mall-closed-due-to-police-activity/275-27c3c1e9-3d4c-4606-b0ab-5fc1ac7bbf78
A federal judge on Thursday ruled that constitutional protections don't shield U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham from testifying before a special grand jury investigating possible illegal efforts to overturn then-President Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss in Georgia. The ruling from U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May rejected Graham’s argument that all his calls with Georgia's secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, were protected under the U.S. Constitution’s “speech or debate” clause, which shields members of Congress from questioning about official legislative acts.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/lindsey-graham-trump-election-probe-fulton-county-georgia/85-067515b9-cb47-4f9c-80f0-5ecbfa15f778
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Fittingly, Davidson College honored its most famous alumnus with a "Curry for 3" ceremony. Steph Curry, who has the most made three-point shots in NBA history, was given a three-part event to celebrate three big accomplishments on Wednesday. Curry, who famously led the Wildcats to the Elite 8 in 2008 and is the school's second all-time leading scorer, had his No. 30 jersey retired and entered Davidson's athletics hall of fame. But all of that was predicated on the other portion of the ceremony: his graduation.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/steph-curry-graduates-from-davidson-as-part-of-three-point-ceremony/275-17d0f034-2747-47e9-b867-375c89a82fba
A suspect is hospitalized in critical condition after being shot by Concord police officers at Concord Mills Mall Wednesday. Two other suspects, who were not injured, have also been arrested. Police officers responded to the mall after a shopper called 911 to say her credit cards had been stolen. The caller provided police with a description of the suspects, according to officials. Responding officers attempted to question three individuals outside the mall when the three ran from officers, Concord Police Department Chief Major Todd McGhee said in a briefing later Wednesday. Officers chased after the suspects, who reentered the mall. The chase exited the mall and entered a construction area on the mall property, officials said. During the chase, one of the three suspects fired a shot at the pursuing officers, according to McGhee. The bullet struck the ground in front of the officers, police said. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/concord-mills-mall-closed-due-to-police-activity/275-27c3c1e9-3d4c-4606-b0ab-5fc1ac7bbf78
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A 14-year-old student is now in juvenile custody after the Rock Hill Police Department said the teen aimed a gun at other students during a fight Tuesday morning. This is now the second time within a week a gun was found on a Rock Hill campus. The department said a School Resource Officer was watching students during class transitions just before 9 a.m. when students in the electives hallway yelled someone had a gun while running away. The officer reported going to the area and found a school staff member with the student. The department said the staff member reported the teen was involved in the fight and took the student to the office.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/gun-dutchman-creek-middle-school-rock-hill-sc-crime-education/275-9cae44e9-3ca3-4869-87ea-9774b73ab8ac
NASCAR announced it is moving its NASCAR Productions operations to a new state-of-the-art facility in Concord. The new 58,000-square foot studio will be built on the land adjacent to the NASCAR R&D Center, which is across Derita Road from the airport in Concord. The move comes months after Cabarrus County officials approved an incentives package designed to bring NASCAR Productions to Concord. NASCAR confirmed the new facility will house 125 NASCAR Productions and Motor Racing Network employees with room to expand further in the future. NASCAR said it will also keep a large presence in Uptown Charlotte with a contingent of employees remaining at Fifty Five South (formerly NASCAR Plaza) for the foreseeable future.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/motor/nascar/nascar-productions-concord-north-carolina-facility-cabarrus-county-relocation/275-ca5bcb4d-fade-46a8-9401-00d7e3e3a2dd
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
House Lawmakers are preparing to debate legislation Tuesday that would outlaw nearly all abortions in South Carolina except for those needed to save a mother's life. This comes two months after the U.S. Supreme Court Overturned Roe v. Wade, which left the legality of abortions to state lawmakers to decide. House Democrats and Republicans are gearing up for a possible two day debate they say will be like any other. "A lot of women, a lot of men who will be affected by this bill are standing up and saying no we do not want this," said Rep. Beth Bernstein (D-Richland). "With the Dobbs decision we know that what we do here this week is likely to be the law in South Carolina," said Rep. Micah Caskey (R-Lexington). READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/south-carolina-house-abortion-bill/101-7cb269b1-31df-4bf6-a0ed-a18ef825fc8b
A parent attempted to bring a gun onto the campus of Butler High School in Matthews last week, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools confirmed Monday. A CMS spokesperson said the incident happened during an open house at Butler last week and the district has launched an investigation. No further information was made available by CMS. The district gave the following statement to WCNC Charlotte: "We are aware that a parent attempted to bring a firearm into Butler. We are conducting an investigation into the incident. We want to remind people that firearms are not permitted on CMS campuses with the exception of law enforcement."
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/butler-high-school-matthews-north-carolina-parent-firearm-gun-investigation/275-2a61986c-1aa7-4538-9ea9-62247051a942
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
A Raleigh mother told WCNC Charlotte her three-year-old was enrolled at Tutor Time's Steele Creek branch last week. "My daughter is living with her grandmother right now in Charlotte. My son, her brother, is having some health issues," Alyssa Stillwell explained. "They don't know what's going on, but he has severe neutropenia. He cannot get sick. Because he's also in kidney failure, he's at risk of another kidney injury. So we decided that my daughter should stay with her grandma for a couple of weeks to a month until we figure out what's going on." Stillwell was able to log onto the daycare's live stream last Tuesday and said she was disturbed by what she was watching. "The first thing that happened was the ruler thing," Stillwell said of the teacher. "I can't really tell if she hit that kid. It looked like it."
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/life/parenting/i-thought-she-was-gonna-slam-him-hard-mothers-tiktok-video-of-charlotte-day-care-alarms-area-parents-children-cps-police/275-7a2c6069-6cb9-4780-8052-6157735cd22c
A suspect is in custody following a shooting at Lancaster Motor Speedway that left one person dead Saturday night, according to the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office. Just before 11 p.m., deputies responded to a shooting during the last event of the Steven Johnson Memorial Race, just inside the front gate near the ticket office. A 53-year-old man was found with multiple gunshot wounds and began receiving aid from deputies working extra duty at the track, deputies said. The man was later taken to MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center where was pronounced dead, according to deputies. The Lancaster County Coroner's Office later identified the victim as 53-year-old Rodney Cunningham of Heath Springs, SC. An autopsy will be scheduled by the Lancaster County Coroner who will identify the victim at a later time. Lancaster County deputies named 37-year-old Bryan Terrell Mitchell as a suspect shortly after arriving at the speedway.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/1-person-killed-during-race-lancaster-motor-speedway-saturday-night-deputies-say/275-ef3a125d-c296-4b80-b627-ccc7540e236b
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Alder Alfonso Marin-Sotelo, one of two brothers charged in the Aug. 11 murder of a Wake County deputy, was transferred Thursday to a Wake County jail and appeared in court the same afternoon. On Thursday, Marin-Sotelo was appointed a court-appointed attorney. Marin-Sotelo will remain in a Wake County jail without parole. An arraignment or trial date have yet to be scheduled. Before Thursday's court appearance, WRAL News was filming while Marin-Sotelo was walked into the jail.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/no-bond-second-murder-suspect-wake-county-deputy-ned-byrd/275-07170fa9-8463-48c2-afaa-b104fe3a49a2
South Carolina state employees are now eligible for up to 6 weeks of paid family leave thanks to a bipartisan effort by members of the General Assembly. Governor Henry McMaster signed bill S.11 Thursday morning at the State House. The bill will give employees of the state of South Carolina paid family leave for the birth of a child, adoption of a child and for fostering a child.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/life/family/southcarolina-governor-mcmaster-signs-paid-family-leave-act-for-state-employees/101-335d9dcf-a604-4bb4-a9db-a6e35fbf4773
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Another stop will be added on the CATS light rail in South End. On Wednesday, the Charlotte Metropolitan Transit Commission voted to approve a stop on the rail to be constructed near the Publix on South Blvd. A pedestrian crossway will also be built at the stop. The stop will not only give riders more options for transit but will serve as an easy and safe way to cross the light rail tracks. The light rail station project stems from the partnership between CATS, Center City Partners, and various residential and retail stakeholders in South End.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/south-end-light-rail-station-approved-by-cats-charlotte-train-transportation-north-carolina-city-travel/275-0c735bda-d2fc-480d-a48b-3a1ea0642542
A former Belk CEO is facing a federal lawsuit from the department chain's corporate office after they say he violated the terms of his contract by taking company documents and employees to GameStop, where he now works as COO. The lawsuit was filed on Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. Nir Patel, a former Belk CEO, GameStop, and Tim May, a former senior member of Belk who now works for GameStop, are named as defendants in the lawsuit. Patel began working with Belk as an executive vice president in 2016 and was promoted to CEO in July 2021. In less than a year, he left this position to become the COO of GameStop.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/belk-sues-former-ceo-gamestop-for-stealing-employees-documents-lawsuit-company-nir-patel-ceo-coo-north-carolina/275-b3519252-6b5a-4fe2-b463-cabcc3c27078
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Mecklenburg County health officials expressed confidence that they can work through the monkeypox vaccine waiting list in the coming days after administering hundreds of doses during Charlotte Pride weekend. Dr. Raynard Washington said Mecklenburg County is down to about 660 people on the list. The health department anticipates getting those folks set with appointments by the end of the week. Washington called vaccine distribution during Pride weekend a "success," praising staff workers for meeting at-risk individuals in public settings. Washington said the county vaccinated roughly 540 people who meet North Carolina's criteria for high risk. As of Tuesday afternoon, 3,300 people have been vaccinated in Mecklenburg County. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/monkeypox/monkeypox-vaccine-mecklenburg-county-update-charlotte-pride-raynard-washington/275-0ae1f8f5-a8d2-4435-b4c1-5033724d394e
Pfizer asked U.S. regulators Monday to authorize its combination COVID-19 vaccine that adds protection against the newest omicron relatives — a key step toward opening a fall booster campaign. The Food and Drug Administration ordered vaccine makers to tweak their shots to target BA.4 and BA.5 that are better than ever at dodging immunity from earlier vaccination or infection. Pfizer and its partner BioNTech aim to offer updated boosters to people 12 and older, and shots could begin within weeks if the FDA quickly clears the modified vaccine — a step not expected to require waiting on new studies. Moderna is expected to file a similar application soon for updated boosters for adults. The U.S. has a contract to buy 105 million of the Pfizer doses and 66 million Moderna ones, assuming FDA gives the green light. “It’s going to be really important that people this fall and winter get the new shots. It’s designed for the virus that’s out there,” White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha said last week. For now at least. BA.5 currently is causing nearly all COVID-19 infections in the U.S. and much of the world. There’s no way to know if it still will be a threat this winter -- or if another mutant will have replaced it.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/vaccine/pfizer-updated-covid-vaccine-booster-fall/507-be2be25f-8daf-4c92-b516-78d59ce1eb5f
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Some schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district are going into the new school year with the same problem facing thousands of other schools in the United States — not having enough teachers. A week before classes are set to start CMS still has 360 open teacher positions. Despite the teacher vacancies the district — which employs around 9,000 teachers — said 96% of classroom positions are filled. When there’s not a teacher to cover a class the quality of education suffers, and so do the teachers who must pick up the workload.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cms-360-teacher-vacancies-week-before-school-starts/275-95229deb-076c-4424-ae32-99a837613775
The debate continues over how to reduce carbon emissions from energy production in the state. The North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) is weighing comments and proposals for a carbon-reduction plan with the final two public hearings set to take place on Tuesday. The commission must craft its plan by the year’s end, as required by a 2021 energy reform law with climate goals of curbing carbon emissions by 70% by 2030 as compared to 2005 levels and reaching net-zero carbon by 2050.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/tech/science/environment/carbon-plan-development-public-hearing-nc/275-c580891c-936f-4ee5-8f04-89ad5e6dc7c9
U.S. adults who haven’t gotten any COVID-19 shots yet should consider a new option from Novavax -- a more traditional kind of vaccine, health officials said Tuesday. Regulators authorized the nation’s first so-called protein vaccine against COVID-19 last week, but the final hurdle was a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “If you have been waiting for a COVID-19 vaccine built on a different technology than those previously available, now is the time to join the millions of Americans who have been vaccinated,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, CDC's director, said in a statement, endorsing an earlier decision from an influential advisory panel. Most Americans have gotten at least their primary COVID-19 vaccinations by now, but CDC officials said between 26 million and 37 million adults haven’t had a single dose -- the population that Novavax, for now, will be targeting. “We really need to focus on that population,” said CDC adviser Dr. Oliver Brooks, past president of the National Medical Association. Hopefully, the vaccine "will change them over from being unvaccinated to vaccinated.”
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/vaccine/cdc-advisers-endorse-novavax-covid-vaccine/507-5cf10985-355d-4a0e-97ca-46495cc961ae
It was a jampacked weekend in Charlotte. Charlotte Pride just wrapped up and a whole bunch of sporting events kicked off. Thousands were in the streets of Uptown. The quiet and dead Uptown we all came to understand had some life breathed back into it. Whether you were here for an event two years in the making, preparing for the big Charlotte FC game, or headed out to the ballpark -- Energy was felt. Jada Nelsen, Manager of Day and Night Cereal Bar in the French Quarter said sales skyrocketed. “It’s been packed everyone been in the ally," Nelsen said. "Double the amount of people have come in from out of town for this.”
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/people-flock-to-uptown-businesses-see-the-impact-charlotte-economy-business-north-carolina/275-e2d92c93-4652-4a22-ac01-d74cff3ea394
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
The Mecklenburg County Health Department made changes to the way the monkeypox vaccine is given on Thursday. Following the Food and Drug Administration’s emergency use authorization last week, the shots can now be given intradermally, or under the skin. Doctors say the shots are just as effective when given this way, but this change allows providers to get five times as many doses out of each vial, which will be a big help given the high demand for the vaccine. Plus, the federal government is ramping up its response to the outbreak. Starting on Monday, 1.8 million more doses of vaccine will be made available for states to order. There are just under 200 cases of monkeypox in North Carolina and Mecklenburg County is still the epicenter of the outbreak, with more than 90 of those cases.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/monkeypox/extra-monkeypox-doses-charlotte-pride-mecklenburg-county/275-e86cc214-6d0e-49ab-9b3c-e6fcb6e206d9
One of two men arrested by federal agents in Burke County earlier in the week has now been charged with the murder of a Wake County deputy. On Tuesday, the U.S. Marshals assisted with taking two people into custody along Interstate 40 in Burke County. The Marshals said they could not comment on what the investigation pertains to. The Wake County Sheriff's Office initially said these arrests are unrelated to the shooting death of Deputy Ned Byrd, despite reports circulating that said otherwise. However, during a news conference on Thursday, Aug. 18, Sheriff Gerald M. Baker said one of the two men arrested along Interstate 40 was now formally accused of killing Byrd.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/two-arrested-in-burke-county-for-federal-warrants-north-carolina-deputy-arrest-investigation/275-4b67c724-38f5-41d6-afbf-bd281e9eff62
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
The head of the nation's top public health agency on Wednesday announced a shake-up of the organization, saying it fell short responding to COVID-19 and needs to become more nimble. The planned changes at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — CDC leaders call it a “reset”— come amid ongoing criticism of the agency's response to COVID-19, monkeypox and other public health threats. The changes include internal staffing moves and steps to speed up data releases.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/cdc-walensky-changes/507-8f94be91-5a61-4eee-85b1-cabb10362095
The South Carolina Supreme Court has temporarily blocked the state's fetal heartbeat abortion law which only went into effect weeks ago. The justices Wednesday unanimously voted in favor of a temporary injunction against the measure, which stops it from taking effect for now while they consider the legality of the measure. That ruling likely will take several more weeks to come down.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/south-carolina-supreme-court-abortion-law/101-b326a2f1-e11a-4618-8b4e-4b63bd5e5651
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
A bill that would ban nearly all abortions without exceptions for rape or incest in South Carolina is heading to the full House floor after a 13-7 vote from the House Judiciary Committee. It's the latest move as some lawmakers move to outlaw the procedure following the decision to overturn Roe V. Wade earlier this summer. The vote fell along party lines, with all yes votes coming from Republicans and all votes against the bill from Democrats. Five members did not vote. Rep. Weston Newton (R-Beaufort) hinted that exceptions for rape or incest could be added back. "Exceptions including rape and incest of minors are not now included in this bill, but are no less significant today, than they were when we passed the heart beat bill and celebrated that as being pro life," said Newton. The proposed legislation does provide protections for the life of the mother and includes a limited number of health conditions that would allow doctors to perform abortions. The bill does not criminalize South Carolinian's seeking an abortion, but does include penalties for those who perform the procedure. It also includes banning the selling and buying of drugs that induce abortions. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/near-abortion-ban-south-carolina-full-south-carolina-house-representatives/101-42635f32-94ba-43e3-b008-6c1c927e0b19
Less than two weeks after her husband's COVID-19 isolation ended, first lady Jill Biden has tested positive for the virus. The White House said Jill Biden tested negative for COVID-19 Monday as part of regular testing, but then developed cold-like symptoms in the evening. A rapid antigen test came back negative, but she tested positive on a PCR test. "The First Lady is double-vaccinated, twice boosted, and only experiencing mild symptoms," the White House said in a Tuesday morning statement. Like her husband, Jill Biden was prescribed the anti-viral drug Paxlovid. She will isolate from others for at least the next five days and is currently in South Carolina, where she and Biden were on vacation. She will return home after two negative COVID tests in a row. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/jill-biden-tests-positive-for-covid-19/507-5ef9f695-2a80-4af0-8470-92bcad6d13dc
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
After receiving a tip, administrators at South Middle School in Lancaster, South Carolina, found a gun in a student's book bag on Monday, the Lancaster County School District confirmed Monday afternoon. This comes as students in Lancaster County head back to school Monday. According to a news release from the district, after receiving the tip from another person who saw the pistol, the student was taken out of class and detained, then the pistol was recovered. The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the student had a 9 mm semiautomatic pistol with a loaded magazine; a round was not chambered. The student did not point the pistol at anyone or make any threats, according to the sheriff's office.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/gun-found-students-book-bag-south-middle-school-lancaster-south-carolina/275-999da6a3-b541-42f4-9192-306d1f331616
A federal judge on Monday said U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham must testify before a special grand jury in Atlanta that is investigating whether former President Donald Trump and his allies broke any laws while trying to overturn his narrow 2020 general election loss in the state. Attorneys for Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, had argued that his position as a U.S. senator provided him immunity from having to appear before the investigative panel and asked the judge to quash his subpoena. But U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May wrote in an order Monday that immunities related to his role as a senator do not protect him in this case.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/lindsey-graham-georgia-election-probe-donald-trump/101-b7e55f90-a7ad-483d-adde-1ad3c87b6a8b
And on this morning's edition of #WakeUpCLT To Go, we're discussing the new social media trend that's taking over the workplace: Quiet quitting! It sounds bad, but is it? Workers say they're taking back their lives by no longer going above and beyond what they're paid to do.
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Happy first day of school, South Carolina! Thousands of students in our area will wake up Monday morning and head back to the classroom for the new school year. Indira Eskieva joins Wake Up Charlotte To Go from Rock Hill, where pay raises and better incentives led to the hiring of nearly 200 new teachers. We hear from some of those teachers, who discuss why Rock Hill offers a lot to educators who were considering a major change in life. Tradesha Woodard is in Lancaster, where district leaders are preparing for heavy traffic on the first day of school. To help prevent major backups, schools in Lancaster have made some changes to schedules and are asking for parents to be patient in student pick-up and drop-off lines Monday. Ben Thompson connects the dots on North Carolina's COVID-19 State of Emergency, which ends Monday. You may not notice an immediate change, but the state of emergency did so much more than simply enforce COVID-19 safety measures and protocols. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m., and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
GT Real Estate, one of multiple companies owned by Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper, submitted a plan to pay back creditors in the failed Rock Hill Panthers HQ project. Under a reorganization plan submitted in court on Thursday morning, Tepper's other company, DT Sports Holding, will make $82 million available in cash under a Plan Sponsor Agreement with GT Real Estate. The plan includes paying contractors who worked on the site $60.5 million, as well as paying York County $21.165 million.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/rock-hill/gt-real-estate-bankruptcy-panthers-rock-hill-project-money/275-6031ce02-fd4c-4c0b-b61e-c7fddea5b9e3
Carowinds will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year with an all-new area that pays tribute to the Carolinas' spirit of invention and the history of flight. Carowinds first opened on March 31, 1973, to 6,000 guests and great fanfare. Now, 50 years later, the beloved theme park will celebrate "50 years of Carolina fun" with new rides and attractions, including Aeronautica Landing. “I am proud to be celebrating the golden anniversary of Carowinds as well as the amazing associates who have delivered on our goal to make our guests happy,” Manny Gonzalez, Carowinds vice president and general manager, said.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/carowinds-aeronautica-landing-50th-anniversary-celebration/275-d7685647-6c25-4b0b-b1ae-43de36c967b0
Plus, Friday will start wet but things will quickly improve as we have the most pleasant weather since early summer! Larry Sprinkle has your full forecast. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
NASCAR announced it is moving its NASCAR Productions operations to a new state-of-the-art facility in Concord. The new 58,000-square foot studio will be built on the land adjacent to the NASCAR R&D Center, which is across Derita Road from the airport in Concord. The move comes months after Cabarrus County officials approved an incentives package designed to bring NASCAR Productions to Concord. NASCAR confirmed the new facility will house 125 NASCAR Productions and Motor Racing Network employees with room to expand further in the future. NASCAR said it will also keep a large presence in Uptown Charlotte with a contingent of employees remaining at Fifty Five South (formerly NASCAR Plaza) for the foreseeable future.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/motor/nascar/nascar-productions-concord-north-carolina-facility-cabarrus-county-relocation/275-ca5bcb4d-fade-46a8-9401-00d7e3e3a2dd
An elaborate scam in Charlotte is swindling families out of money and their homes, according to police and a large rental company. FirstKey Homes owns hundreds of houses across the Charlotte area and rents them out to residents. The company told WCNC Charlotte scammers are pretending to own some of its properties and are renting them out to victims to collect rent money. India Green said she is a victim of this scam, after moving to Charlotte from Virginia with her two sons. She moved into a house at the beginning of August, only to find out she doesn’t have permission to be there.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/consumer/charlotte-rental-scam/275-6ac0539a-8a74-41f6-87cf-ee290e1e24d5
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
There's a new development in the battle over abortion in our state. The procedure is legal in North Carolina but a lawsuit seeks to reinstate a 1973 ban after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The State Attorney General's Office asked a federal judge Monday not to reinstate the ban. Last month, Judge William Osteen with the Middle District of North Carolina said his previous injunction on the 20-week ban "may now be contrary to law" after the Supreme Court struck down Roe V. Wade.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/court-battle-over-nc-abortion-rules-continues-as-state-ags-staff-asks-judge-not-to-restore-20-week-ban/83-1d7dc1d6-dfe9-498d-ac33-22645c522f04
Former President Donald Trump will be questioned under oath Wednesday in the New York attorney general’s long-running civil investigation into his dealings as a real estate mogul, he confirmed in a post on his Truth Social account. Trump’s testimony comes amid a flurry of legal activity surrounding him, taking place just days after FBI agents searched his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida as part of an unrelated federal probe into whether he took classified records when he left the White House.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/trump-testifying-investigation/507-3d0e1fe2-1b96-4525-ab66-a896cb30d15f
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Months after they were sentenced to life in prison for murder, the three white men who chased and killed Ahmaud Arbery in a Georgia neighborhood faced a second round of criminal penalties Monday for federal hate crimes committed in the deadly pursuit of the 25-year-old Black man. U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood scheduled back-to-back hearings to individually sentence each of the defendants, starting with Travis McMichael, who shot Arbery with a shotgun after the street chase initiated by his father and joined by a neighbor.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/ahmaud-arbery/ahmaud-arbery-sentencing-greg-travis-mcmichael-william-roddie-bryan-federal-hate-crime/85-99e3a176-5358-4a6b-ad5d-fc1c1ce52f03
With monkeypox cases on the rise in the United States, the federal government has declared a public health emergency to bolster the response to the outbreak that has infected more than 7,500 Americans as of Aug. 5. Online searches show many people are wondering how monkeypox spreads. Several VERIFY viewers, including Becki and Rob, have asked us whether the virus can be transmitted by touching surfaces that have come in contact with a person who has monkeypox.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/verify/monkeypox-verify/monkeypox-transmission-spread-touching-contaminated-surfaces-risk-level-fact-check/536-a793bb82-adac-43ab-8df9-dad4c7f17a06
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Police are searching for at least two suspects after nine people were injured in a shooting in Cincinnati’s Over-The-Rhine neighborhood early Sunday morning. Officers were called to the 1300 block of Main Street near downtown shortly before 1:40 a.m. following reports of a disorderly crowd. Police said two groups started fighting while officers were clearing the crowd from the street. At least two individuals involved in the altercation pulled out firearms and exchanged multiple rounds of gunfire into the crowd. In a press briefing, Cincinnati police said eight men and one woman were hurt and treated for injuries that were not life-threatening. The victims’ ages range from 23 to 47. An officer fired one shot at an unidentified suspect who was leaving the scene, but it’s unclear whether the suspect was struck by gunfire, according to police. "Today's events are completely and totally unacceptable. The use of guns to solve disputes cannot become a normal part of our culture. I want to express the city's gratitude to the officers on the scene. Their quick response likely saved many more from injury and prevented the loss of life," Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval said in a statement. If anyone witnessed the shooting or has additional information, they are asked to contact the Cincinnati Police Department Criminal Investigations Section at 513-352-3542. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/ohio/cincinnati-shooting-9-injured-2-gunmen-sought/530-7f2cf5bd-099b-4025-8177-94558179ab62
Over 400 flights have been delayed and dozens more are canceled at Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Sunday, according to Flight Aware. About 245 of these are American Airlines flights, with another 88 of the flights being run by PSA Airlines, an American Airlines subsidiary. American Airlines told WCNC Charlotte that the delays are cancellations are due to storms expected Sunday afternoon and evening. This comes after over 600 flights were delayed and 50 were canceled at the airport on Saturday, and another 1,100 flights were canceled across the U.S. on Friday. Last weekend, weather conditions left hundreds of flights delayed or canceled at the Charlotte Douglas Airport.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/travel/hundreds-of-flights-delayed-dozen-canceled-at-charlotte-douglas-airport-over-weekend/275-280d5397-5b78-4d1c-ac9e-c1742e65c6c8
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
The Federal Bureau of Investigations has arrested four current and former Louisville Metro Police officers in relation to Breonna Taylor's death. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Thursday charges include violating Taylor's civil rights, unlawful conspiracies, unconstitutional use of force, and obstruction offenses. The officers charged include former LMPD detectives Joshua Jaynes and Brett Hankison, and current LMPD Sgt. Kyle Meany and detective Kelly Goodlett. LMPD Police Chief Erika Shields says termination procedures for Meany and Goodlett have begun. Jaynes, who was the lead investigator in the case, was the officer who signed the search warrant that lead to Taylor's death on March 13, 2020.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/investigations/breonna-taylor-case-lmpd-officers-arrested-charged-doj-fbi-investigation/417-dc411eda-4a7c-460c-a0c3-2f8a8f8218c6
Robinhood, a popular app that allows users to buy and sell stock without paying commission or account minimums, is closing its Charlotte office as company layoffs continue. The Uptown office opened last year, promising to bring hundreds of jobs to Mecklenburg County. Charlotte-based employees will begin working under Robinhood's "work from anywhere" remote model, company spokesperson Casey Becker told WCNC Charlotte. It's unclear how many Robinhood workers are based in Charlotte or when the office will be closed. The fintech firm's move to Uptown was seen as a revival of sorts, with Charlotte's center being mostly empty due to the COVID-19 pandemic after years of growth and a thriving corporate environment. Robinhood stock made its Wall Street debut in July of 2021. The company introduced millions of people to investing and went viral for the Gamestop saga of 2021 which saw stock prices rise rapidly and cause volatility in the market. CEO Vlad Tenev announced another round of layoffs and corporate reorganization on Aug. 2. Tenev said Robinhood would be letting go of 23% of its workforce, after cutting 9% of employees earlier this year.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/robinhood-uptown-charlotte-office-closing/275-e07d97cf-9fec-46ae-a965-d03c87bbfec7
Plus, Duke Energy is offering customers a $75 gift card to adjust their smart thermostats. Would you sign up for the program?
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, North Carolina is one of few states in the South where abortions are legal for up to 20 weeks, but in a press conference with fellow Democrats, Attorney General Josh Stein says that could change depending on which party leads the state after the November elections. Stein said more than 30% of people making appointments at abortion facilities in North Carolina are from out of state. Wednesday, the attorney general vowed to continue fighting to protect laws allowing them to do so. “I have a message for the woman of North Carolina -- no matter what the Supreme Court said in the DOBS case, you have a legal right to an abortion here in this state," Stein said. Stein was joined by two other elected leaders and a doctor in Wednesday's news conference as he voiced concerns abortion rights could be at stake come November elections. North Carolina is one of a few states in the region with the least restrictive abortion laws. “North Carolina currently stands as a safe haven in the South, but we need to fight to keep it that way," U.S. Congresswoman Deborah Ross said.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/democratic-leaders-nc-vow-fight-abortion-rights/275-b4c22bd9-0951-4807-8eaf-aa7aaf3197dc
Robinhood, a popular app that allows users to buy and sell stock without paying commission or account minimums, is closing its Charlotte office as company layoffs continue. The Uptown office opened last year, promising to bring hundreds of jobs to Mecklenburg County. Charlotte-based employees will begin working under Robinhood's "work from anywhere" remote model, company spokesperson Casey Becker told WCNC Charlotte. It's unclear how many Robinhood workers are based in Charlotte or when the office will be closed. The fintech firm's move to Uptown was seen as a revival of sorts, with Charlotte's center being mostly empty due to the COVID-19 pandemic after years of growth and a thriving corporate environment. Robinhood stock made its Wall Street debut in July of 2021. The company introduced millions of people to investing and went viral for the Gamestop saga of 2021 which saw stock prices rise rapidly and cause volatility in the market. CEO Vlad Tenev announced another round of layoffs and corporate reorganization on Aug. 2. Tenev said Robinhood would be letting go of 23% of its workforce, after cutting 9% of employees earlier this year.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/robinhood-uptown-charlotte-office-closing/275-e07d97cf-9fec-46ae-a965-d03c87bbfec7
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
The city of Rock Hill is asking a judge to dismiss it as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by York County earlier this summer over the Panthers' failed training camp and headquarters. In the lawsuit, York County says it lost millions of dollars when the project collapsed after Rock Hill failed to issue bonds for the construction. The county is seeking damages from David Tepper's companies and the city of Rock Hill, blaming them for the project's demise. Rock Hill failed to issue $225 million in bonds to pay for public infrastructure, like roads and sidewalks, related to the Panthers' headquarters construction. The lawsuit states, "Rock Hill failed to issue required bonds, the development project collapsed, and the City and the Tepper Defendants were left blaming each other."
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/nfl/panthers/rock-hill-york-county-lawsuit-dismissal-motion-carolina-panthers-headquarters-project-collapse/275-aa31c3ca-a018-4970-b945-25971c51acef
Charlotte FC was set to host the Columbus Crew at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday for a long-awaited rematch. But instead of seeing which team would rain on the other's parade, it turned out Mother Nature would rain on it - literally. Before kickoff, lightning near the stadium forced a weather delay that spanned more than three hours. Then the match finally got started just after 10 p.m., but just mere minutes in, the storms rolled back around. It would be nearly two hours before Charlotte FC shared the official news: the rematch with Columbus was postponed to a later date. On Tuesday, Charlotte FC announced the match was rescheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. The game will recommence in the 16th minute.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/soccer/charlotte-fc/charlotte-fc-faces-off-against-columbus-crew-at-bank-of-america-stadium/275-445a08d6-c6fd-4ae7-8176-c066d308daed
Health officials announced there are now 33 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Mecklenburg County, nearly doubling last week's case count of 18. During a news conference Monday, county health leaders said the Mecklenburg County Health Department will receive an extra 2,000 doses of the monkeypox vaccine. There are approximately 1,800 people on the waiting list to be vaccinated. Monday's update also revealed there has been local transmission of monkeypox in Mecklenburg County. Health Director Dr. Raynard Washington said there previously was no evidence of local spread in the county. Washington said Mecklenburg is seeing the doubling of monkeypox cases every three to four days. The health department is working "with urgency" to stem this trend with vaccines and education.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/monkeypox-mecklenburg-county-case-update-vaccine-waiting-list-public-health-department/275-03331034-47b8-4f16-b075-3d14d401cb43
The Clover School District Board of Trustees held a special meeting Monday to vote on a bond resolution for the November ballot, ultimately giving the green light to a $156 million bond referendum. This comes after voters failed to pass last year’s proposed $196 million bond request. The district met up weeks ago to build consensus around the resolution, with some board members expressing interest in constructing a new high school.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/clover-school-meeting-bond-nov-ballot/275-3ae3bdf5-2dae-4203-8ec5-be03f53141e9
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Days after ending his COVID-19 isolation, President Joe Biden has tested positive for the virus again, his physician said Saturday. Biden's treatment included a five-day course of Paxlovid, an antiviral drug used to treat COVID-19 that has helped prevent more severe illness. His physician said Biden is one of a small percentage of Paxlovid patients who "rebound" and test positive again. "After testing negative on Tuesday evening, Wednesday morning, Thursday morning and Friday morning, the President tested positive late Saturday morning, by antigen testing," wrote Dr. Kevin O'Connor in a letter. "This in fact represents 'rebound' positivity." READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/biden-positive-covid-test-paxlovid-rebound/507-4977ebee-0147-4ab4-8caf-820728ddc680 Will all school districts offer free lunch for all students? No, not all school districts will offer free lunch for all students. WHAT WE FOUND Screen says a balanced will offmeal can make all the difference in a kid's day, which is why lunch is so important. During the height of the pandemic, federal waivers were put in place that allowed all schools to offer free meals for all students, regardless of family income status. "In March of 2020 everyone across the country got free lunch and that extended all last year," says Marshall. However, those waivers have now expired. "This year it's going back to the way it was before. We need to apply in order to receive lunch," says Marshall.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/verify/school-districts-free-lunch-waivers/275-e4fbce79-cc93-40b3-9f92-d1a4d959e361
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Republican lawmakers in the North Carolina General Assembly are calling on a federal judge to reinstate North Carolina's 20-week abortion ban. It's the latest decision from conservatives to restrict abortion access in North Carolina, which is one of the only states in the South to allow abortion. Meanwhile, Democrats have pledged to fight for women's right to choose. Tradesha Woodard will have the latest on the motion to reinstate the ban and what could be next ahead of midterm elections. A Charlotte mother filed a lawsuit against Abbott, the maker of Similac baby formula, saying the company misled parents and doctors that its products are safe for premature babies. The lawsuit comes after the woman's daughter died after drinking a cow-based formula, which led to a deadly condition in premature babies. Richard DeVayne has the details on the lawsuit and why attorneys in the case say Abbott's comments against the lawsuit don't add up. Plus, if you're still unable to smell after having COVID-19, you're not alone. In fact, new research shows roughly 27 million people haven't regained their senses despite an otherwise full recovery. Ben Thompson connects the dots on the long-term impacts of losing your sense of smell and why you shouldn't panic just yet. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. and join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
A hearing Wednesday ended with a key decision to release the body camera video of Joshua Rohrer's October 2021 arrest by Gastonia Police. In North Carolina, a judge has the power to tell the police to share the video with the public. Months after the arrest went viral, the video will now be released to the public. Joshua Rohrer was arrested on charges of panhandling and resisting arrest in October. According to Rohrer, his service dog Sunshine Rae was shot with a stun gun during the encounter. While she was in the care of Rohrer's veteran advocate, she ran away and later died after being struck by a car.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/gastonia-hearing-court-homeless-veteran-arrest/275-e6525b42-3cc5-4ce5-b4a1-509a7d67e700
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations across the Carolinas are crawling back up once again. In South Carolina, state COVID-19 numbers are up 13% and in North Carolina data shows numbers are up 17%, reaching the highest level it’s seen since last February. That’s why health officials on both sides of the Carolinas are working to increase the lagging vaccination rate among children. They’re encouraging parents to take action to combat the unwanted trend.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/covid-19-hospital-data-trend-charlotte-sc-nc/275-87ff6067-6614-4089-a94e-4d6225c2a004
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
A construction worker at Charlotte Douglas International Airport died when they were electrocuted over the weekend, officials said. The North Carolina Department of Labor confirmed the incident happened around midnight Sunday. A spokesperson for the NCDOL said the worker was an employee of Rosendin Electric. An investigation surrounding the incident is underway by the Occupational Safety and Health Division. NCDOL officials said it may take several months to complete the investigation. The worker who died has not been identified. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/charlotte-douglas-international-airport-worker-electrocuted-investigation/275-e06d043e-ba70-4029-8950-68d8778697f8
Part of the new lobby at Charlotte Douglas International Airport is finally opening up. After years of construction and frustration at the airport, this marks the first phase of the $3 billion terminal expansion project Construction will continue on the east side of the terminal lobby, and renovations of the existing departures/ticketing and arrivals/baggage claim areas will kick off at the end of the month. "It is still under construction. So while this phase is opening, there are still things that you'll see that aren't quite finished yet," Christine said. "Some of those will be finished by next week. Some of it will actually take us a little bit more time." Eventually, the current five security checkpoints will be consolidated into three larger ones, with one more lane than the airport has today and additional technology to increase capacity.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/travel/charlotte-douglas-international-airport-terminal-lobby-expansion/275-e3ff113b-e8b5-4085-974e-a06056ac95a7
Plus, because of the gun violence in Durham, North Carolina, some residents – including children – are learning how to treat gunshot victims. The training was requested by the resident council president at the McDougald Terrace public housing complex. On this episode of #WakeUpCLT To Go, we're discussing whether children should be trained to treat gunshot victims or if it should be left to first responders. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, Greenville Women’s Clinic, and two physicians have filed suit against the state of South Carolina, Attorney General Alan Wilson and others who would impose the six-week abortion ban that comes in the wake of the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Rove vs. Wade.The new six-week abortion ban prohibits abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat and carries felony criminal penalties and civil liability for those performing an abortion. The lawsuit also states “In particular, the Act is an attack on families with low incomes, South Carolinians of color, and rural South Carolinians, who already face inequities in access to medical care and who will bear the brunt of the law’s cruelties. South Carolinians face a critical shortage of reproductive health care providers, including obstetrician-gynecologists, and the rate at which South Carolinians, particularly Black South Carolinians, die from pregnancy-related causes is shockingly high.” In response to this lawsuit, SC Attorney General Alan Wilson counters the state's Constitution's Section 10 dealing with privacy issues -- and adopted in 1971 -- dealt with protecting citizens from improper surveillance of electronic devices and computer data banks. He said, ""The committee simply did not intend or understand the provision to extend any further. It certainly did not intend to confer a state constitutional right to abortion." READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/restraining-order-sought-for-south-carolinas-6-week-abortion-ban-richland-county-court-planned-parenthood/101-f04fd3d6-2056-4560-a6b1-5f56882e88e9
A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools spokesperson confirms that the school district has approved the clear backpack sale last Friday for $85,000. It's about a fifth of what the district spent to buy the bags, close to half a million dollars. A spokesperson for CMS told WCNC that the decision to accept the bid was a "cabinet-level decision." District leaders opted to put the approximately 46,000 backpacks up for auction after it was discovered they came with a Proposition 65 cancer warning from the state of California. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cms-clear-backpacks-bid-auction-sale/275-fd8549d0-5b4d-4537-88c4-f23257b0cd61
Plus, there is an election Tuesday in places including the cities of Charlotte, Hickory, Statesville and Mooresville. Voters will decide who holds political offices including the mayor and other city officials. FULL ELECTION GUIDE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/what-you-need-to-know-election-day-tuesday-july-26-charlotte-hickory-statesville-mooresville/275-19a27265-e180-4a8c-89a3-61c4acb16150
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
The company behind a natural gas odor that was reported all across Charlotte on July 14 said it violated Mecklenburg County's 'objectionable odor rule.' In a statement, Legacy Environmental Services said it was "informed of a Notice of Objectionable Odor from Mecklenburg County Air Quality." The company said it is cooperating with the county to complete its investigation. The natural gas odor was reported in NoDa, Uptown and South End, among other parts of Charlotte. Multiple buildings in Uptown Charlotte were evacuated due to the possibility of a gas leak. Wells Fargo notified employees that they would be allowed to work from home for the remainder of the day. Charlotte city officials received so many 911 calls that an emergency alert was issued to cellphones in the area advising people to not report the smell.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/company-behind-charlotte-odor-violated-meck-countys-objectionable-odor-rule-natural-gas-legacy-environmental-services-july-smell/275-f046d078-f7ca-4f67-9e6f-1ae5e7a24c85
Emergency workers have recovered a person that drowned in Lake Norman. On Sunday, the Cornelius-Lemley Fire Rescue said they were searching for a drowning victim in the area of the Peninsula Yacht Club on Lake Norman. Several agencies were at the scene attempting to locate the person. Around 11 p.m., workers stated they had located the body of the deceased person. WCNC is attempting to learn more about this incident. More information will be provided when it is available.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/one-person-drowns-at-lake-norman-officials-say-north-carolina-death/275-c323c760-a40c-42a0-a66a-ab57502f3c99
Plus, Ben, Larry and Ruby discuss first dates and drinking. How important is drinking in your dating life? How many times have you said "Let's meet up for a drink," or have been invited for a cocktail by a potential date? Is dating and drinking a good mix? Well, post-pandemic some people being more intentional about their alcohol intake or are ditching the liquor altogether and adopting the "sober" title. And dating app Bumble is helping it's members wear it as a badge of honor.
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Many are in search of their dream home -- a place to plant roots with a street to raise their children on. But that dream could become a nightmare for some. In just a few months, the Mecklenburg County Assessor's Office will lay out the new property taxes after revaluation. In short, you will find out how much you'll pay just to live there. For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app. In 2019, we saw a big hike in property taxes. When this happened, many community members were outraged and said lower-income families couldn't afford the increase and were forced out due to gentrification.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/markets/real-estate/mecklenburg-county-property-taxes-revaluation/275-4b32ef50-a970-49ed-9f72-4665e30bcb18
Vice President Kamala Harris advocated for affordable access to high-speed internet during a visit to Charlotte Thursday. She spoke of the Biden administration's Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which was part of the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Harris continued her trip to North Carolina despite President Joe Biden testing positive for COVID-19. Harris told the crowd at Carole Hoefener Center in Uptown Charlotte Thursday that said she spoke to Biden by phone Thursday morning and he is "doing well." Biden, who was not scheduled to travel with the vice president, remains in Washington where he is said to be experiencing "mild symptoms" from COVID-19. Harris and Biden last saw each other in person Tuesday.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/national-politics/vp-harris-charlotte-nc-visit-politics-internet/275-57ab7a66-b6d8-4367-8e8a-98eb40f86537
Plus, as a front lingers south of the Piedmont, expect a few showers and storms Friday afternoon, especially south of Charlotte. It'll still be a hot and humid day regardless with highs in the low-mid 90s. Heat Index temperatures will be over 100 degrees.
On this episode of #WakeUpCLT To Go, forecaster Larry Sprinkle is joined by Ben Thompson to have a full weekend forecast for the Charlotte, North Carolina area. In this video, Larry Sprinkle will have the weekend forecast for North Carolina and South Carolina for Friday July 22 through Sunday, July 24. From the heat dome causing extreme heat to our chances of storms, Larry will break down what you can expect before making plans in the Charlotte metro area.
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Charlotte FC's club academy facility will not be housed at the Eastland mall, at least for now. Tepper Sports & Entertainment (TSE), which owns Charlotte FC as well as the Carolina Panthers, announced they no longer had plans to be involved with the redevelopment of the Eastland Mall. "After a great deal of consideration, the timeline for the Eastland project posed challenges that led us to research expedited alternatives," Tepper Sports said in a statement. "We continue to work towards a practice facility for Charlotte FC’s first team, the club’s academy and its MLS Next Pro team and will provide updates as our plans are finalized." TSE noted that while they have no plans at this time to have a presence at Eastland, they are open to discussions. Additionally, TSE added that since they took Bank of America Stadium over in 2018, they have contributed over $70 million in facility improvements and doubled events taking place all without public funding from the city of Charlotte. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/tepper-sports-plans-eastland-mall-redevelopment-charlotte-fc-panthers-north-carolina-david-tepper/275-bb809144-92c2-4349-822c-1bd68e712263
Charlotte transportation officials met Wednesday to discuss the possibility of allowing more tolls on Interstate 77, stretching from Uptown to the South Carolina border. The North Carolina Department of Transportation says it received a request from an unidentified company to build toll lanes to the South Carolina state line. NCDOT said it must be formally approved by Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization before it can analyze the proposal. Any toll projects in North Carolina must be requested and approved by the local planning organization, NCDOT said citing state law. NCDOT issued a statement saying the proposal is only a concept and not anywhere close to being approved, and went further saying it's not "advocating for any particular path forward" regarding I-77 tolls.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/more-tolls-proposed-interstate-77-charlotte-south-carolina-state-border/275-b3ad3d8d-ff1e-4f4c-ba51-b2dcb50756b9
Rep. Alma Adams, D-N.C., was arrested Tuesday afternoon while protesting for abortion rights and reproductive justice at the Supreme Court, her staff announced on Twitter. Adams tweeted earlier in the day that she would be participating in a protest for reproductive freedom and abortion rights with fellow members of the Democratic Women's Caucus. "We will not be silent as our fundamental rights are under attack," Adams tweeted. Adams issued a statement following the incident, calling the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade "fundamentally wrong." “I took part in this protest today for all of the people who feel unheard after the decision in the Dobbs case," Adams said. "The Supreme Court’s decision was fundamentally wrong, so I will continue to put my body on the line - and record my votes in House - in defense of abortion rights.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/alma-adams-protest-nc-charlotte-abortion-rights-supreme-court/275-f6242c4e-8aa3-4e29-b93c-049fd9fa9ac2
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón's office has filed domestic violence charges against Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges Bridges, 24, faces one felony count of injuring a child’s parent and two felony counts of child abuse under circumstances or conditions likely to cause great bodily injury or death. According to the criminal complaint, the alleged assault on Bridges' girlfriend happened in front of their two children on or around June 27 and 28. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/los-angeles-county-district-attorney-domestic-violence-charges-miles-bridges/275-1c8b4cd3-1448-49fe-8407-48fc385d4fe0
Plus, The Carolina Panthers will wear black helmets for the first time in franchise history this season, with the team announcing a new alternate uniform combo Tuesday. On this episode of #WakeUpCLT To Go, we're getting a better look at the Panthers' new alternate threads and sharing some of the fan responses on social media. Panthers fans have been clamoring for an all-black look for years but NFL rules prevented the team from having alternate helmets in recent seasons. Now, as part of the new color rush uniforms, teams are allowed to have an alternate helmet and the Panthers are making the popular switch! Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
It’s the last week to vote early in the City of Charlotte’s general election, which is on Tuesday, July 26. There are 14 early voting locations across Charlotte that voters can pick from. When going early, voters can choose the location most convenient for them. However, on election day, voters must go to the precinct they're assigned. Charlotte has 166 precincts. Voters can check what precinct they're assigned to online. Candidates for Charlotte's mayor and city council are on the ballot, so only city residents can vote in this election. Voter Anita Shipman told WCNC Charlotte she participated in this election because "it all starts locally," so she wants to make sure her voice is heard.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/elections/vote-early-charlotte-city-election/275-abbda976-c9b6-4bee-b312-1d3d043bec15
Two former White House aides are expected to testify at the House Jan. 6 committee's prime-time hearing Thursday as the panel examines what Donald Trump was doing as his supporters broke into the Capitol, according to a person familiar with the plans. Matthew Pottinger, former deputy national security adviser, and Sarah Matthews, a former press aide, are expected to testify, according to the person, who was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and requested anonymity. Both Pottinger and Matthews resigned immediately after the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection that interrupted the congressional certification of President Joe Biden's victory.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/former-white-house-aides-testify-next-jan-6-hearing/507-28ce563d-f140-4440-ba17-96520cd9a55c
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Plus, the Wake Up Charlotte team discusses the future of Charlotte's Epicentre. In a week the Epicentre will be auctioned off. What do you think should happen to it?
Nearly 400 law enforcement officials rushed to a mass shooting at a Uvalde elementary school, but “egregiously poor decision-making” resulted in more than an hour of chaos before the gunman who took 21 lives was finally confronted and killed, according to a damning investigative report released Sunday. The nearly 80-page report was the first to criticize both state and federal law enforcement, and not just local authorities in the South Texas town for the bewildering inaction by heavily armed officers as a gunman fired inside two fourth-grade classrooms at Robb Elementary School, killing 19 students and two teachers. Altogether, the report and more than three hours of newly released body camera footage from the May 24 tragedy amounted to the fullest account to date of one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history. Some families blasted police as cowards and demanded resignations. “At Robb Elementary, law enforcement responders failed to adhere to their active shooter training, and they failed to prioritize saving innocent lives over their own safety," the report said.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/uvalde-damning-report/507-6bc43e55-00c9-407f-b6b4-f284f239da3e
Police are investigating a shooting at Greenwood Park Mall that happened around 6 p.m. Sunday. Four people are dead and police tell 13News the shooter is among those killed. Greenwood Police Chief James Ison said two others were wounded in the shooting and were being treated at area hospitals. Early Monday morning, Johnson County Coroner Michael Pruitt identified those who had died as three males and one female. That includes the shooter, who police have only identified as an adult male. Chief Ison previously stated Sunday night, before the coroner's investigation, that those shot included one male and four females. The coroner's office is working with the Marion County Coroner's Office on positive identification of those who died. Their identifies are expected to be released some time Monday morning.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/multiple-victims-reported-in-shooting-at-greenwood-park-mall/531-df15bbf5-8eca-4220-b149-7de4735fbe37
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
With continuing employment issues causing delays, CATS will be reducing the number of trips some buses will take. Richard DeVayne will have the latest on what this means for bus riders in Charlotte and which routes will be affected. A new omicron subvariant, BA.5, is now the dominant strain of coronavirus in the United States. And while it's early, experts say this could be the most contagious strain. Ben Thompson connects the dots on what this means for people who are vaccinated and why doctors are trying to get everyone's attention before it's too late. Plus, we have your morning rush with all the biggest headlines from the Carolinas. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police released its mid-year crime stats for 2022 and Ivana Trump, the former wife of former President Donald Trump, died. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
German automaker BMW announced it will be selling $18 monthly subscriptions for customers to use the heated seats in their cars. All vehicles will come equipped with the parts for heated seats, but only customers who pay the subscription fee will have access to use them. What do you think? Would you pay to use heated seats in your car? Text us at 704-329-3600! A new lawsuit was filed in South Carolina Tuesday challenging the state's new fetal heartbeat abortion law. Under the law, most abortions are illegal after six weeks of pregnancy, before most women even know they're pregnant. Tradesha Woodard has the latest on the lawsuit, why the plaintiffs say the abortion ban is a bad law and the push by state lawmakers to impose even stricter regulations on abortion in South Carolina. Richard DeVayne reports on the latest developments with the Eastland Mall open-air flea market site. Vendors pleaded with Charlotte City Council for help finding a new spot, then 48 hours after the meeting, Councilman Tariq Bokhari and his staff claimed to have it figured out. Vendors told WCNC Charlotte they're excited to get back out and sell. Many vendors lost thousands of dollars worth of products and revenue. And finally, gas prices are finally going down! Can we get an amen?! With drivers finally paying around $4 (and sometimes less) how long will the prices stay that low? Ben Thompson connects the dots on the price of oil, what could happen this fall and just how cheap gas industry experts say we could see fuel across the Carolinas. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will spend nearly $10 million on body scanners in all its middle and high schools. Most of the area high schools already have body scanners. At a school board meeting, interim Superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh said middle schools will start seeing them in the first few months of the school year. There were reports of long lines, learning curves, and skeptics’ when CMS first started its pilot program of body scanners. "It's been taking some time obviously," Juan Torres Muñoz, the CMS Board Student Advisor said, "because it's a new technology." Torres Munoz’s school was one of the first to have body scanners. Hattabaugh said the technology will cost $9.9 million and include a four-year service subscription, and staff training. "We will begin to finish out our seven large comprehensive high schools to expedite the scanning processes," Hattabaugh said. "And then we'll go to our middle 6-8, our specialty high schools, and lastly, our K-8 schools." Board members asked for more. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cms-spends-nearly-10-million-body-scanners-middle-high-schools/275-e5cdebd3-cac5-4c10-82b3-1838c56892b2
South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh is expected to be indicted by a grand jury on murder charges in last year's killings of his wife and son, NBC News reported Tuesday. A possible indictment is the latest twist in the sprawling scandal that's engulfed Murdaugh's legal dynasty. Three sources close to the investigation told NBC News the grand jury will indict Murdaugh later this week on double murder. The family has been notified of the indictment and so has Murdaugh. Part of the indictment is based on new evidence presented to the grand jury.
Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin, Murdaugh's attorneys, issued a statement Tuesday afternoon saying they were unaware of a decision to indict their client. "We have not been advised by anyone associated with law enforcement or the Attorney General's office that Alex will be charged with murder. I am aware that SLED advised the family that they intend to seek murder indictments from a grand jury later this week. We won't have any comment until charges are actually brought against Alex," the statement reads.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/alex-murdaugh-indictment-murder-investigation/275-78b1043a-bd73-457d-aac4-04447ecf0460
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Black Americans are far more likely to be denied mortgages, according to Zillow an online real-estate firm. This means homeownership may be out of reach for many people, but Charlotte programs are trying to help residents achieve the American Dream and own a home. “In Charlotte right now, homeownership among people of color has dropped," President of DreamKey Partners, Julie Porter said. “For white folks, it’s about 77%, for black and Hispanic people it’s in the low 40’s." Porter says they're working to create more opportunities for people of color to own a home by creating more affordable housing and offering down payment loan options through the House Charlotte Program.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/markets/real-estate/homeownership-among-poc-has-dropped/275-29216198-4cc5-45f0-ad32-e58f219e7d1f
The average U.S. price of regular-grade gasoline plunged 19 cents over the past two weeks to $4.86 per gallon. Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg of the Lundberg Survey said Sunday that the continued decline comes as crude oil costs also fall. “Assuming oil prices do not shoot up from here, motorists may see prices drop another 10-20 cents as the oil price cuts continue making their way to street level,” Lundberg said in a statement. The average price at the pump is down 24 cents over the past month, but it's $1.66 higher than it was one year ago. Nationwide, the highest average price for regular-grade gas was in the San Francisco Bay Area, at $6.14 per gallon. The lowest average was in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at $4.19 per gallon. According to the survey, the average price of diesel dropped 13 cents since June 24 to $5.76 a gallon. Gas prices in much of the United States shot past the $5 a gallon mark last month before a slight drop, and Americans have responded by driving a bit less, two sets of data show. June gas sales are about 5% below pre-pandemic 2019 levels and 2.6% below a year ago, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/average-us-gasoline-price-plunges/507-c92fccad-9bfa-4d2d-a5eb-571556635fa3
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Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a divisive arch-conservative and one of his nation's most powerful and influential figures, has died after being shot during a campaign speech Friday in western Japan, hospital officials said. Abe, 67, was shot from behind minutes after he started his speech in Nara. He was airlifted to a hospital for emergency treatment but was not breathing and his heart had stopped. He was later pronounced dead despite emergency treatment that included massive blood transfusions, hospital officials said.
Police arrested the suspected gunman at the scene of an attack that shocked many in Japan, which is one of the world’s safest nations and has some of the strictest gun control laws anywhere. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Cabinet ministers hastily returned to Tokyo from campaign events around the country after the shooting, which he called “dastardly and barbaric." Nara Medical University emergency department chief Hidetada Fukushima said Abe suffered major damage to his heart in addition to two neck wounds that damaged an artery, causing extensive bleeding. He was in a state of cardio and pulmonary arrest when he arrived at the hospital and never regained his vital signs, Fukushima said. Abe was Japan’s longest-serving leader before stepping down in 2020.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/shinzo-abe-assassinated/507-7691dd2f-13f3-4705-af0c-8e1c2f1b8198
South Carolina lawmakers held a public hearing Thursday to consider banning nearly all abortions in the state, following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling last month to overturn Roe v. Wade. Many speakers shared personal stories. Aaron Cameron Popkin of Spartanburg told lawmakers he was a father of three children he called "survivors." “We lost three other children before they were born. All three died in my wife's body and required medical professionals to operate and save my wife’s life," said Popkin. "That procedure is not a flippant decision, it’s a live-saving procedure some legislation would ban." "My mother was shocked and possibly disappointed when I took my first breath because I survived an abortion by induction," said one woman. Outside of the packed room, demonstrators from both sides chanted for and against abortion access. Many of them waited in line for hours for the opportunity to speak their mind in front of lawmakers.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/sc-house-lawmakers-first-public-testimony-total-abortion-ban/101-2a7f0040-8f39-4995-b3c4-b2c88353e1aa
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A suspect will be facing multiple charges in connection with a police chase that resembled Grand Theft Auto more than real life Wednesday afternoon. The suspect is accused of stealing multiple vehicles, crashing at least twice and carjacking someone in Ballantyne during the incident. Richard DeVayne has the latest on the investigation and what charges the unnamed suspect will face when he's released from the hospital. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper took executive action to protection abortion access in the state, but lawmakers in South Carolina are going the other way. Tradesha Woodward has an update on the house committee meeting that will see state leaders consider even tougher restrictions against abortion, which is already illegal after 6 weeks in South Carolina. And finally, the Panthers have a new quarterback. Baker Mayfield will be coming to the Carolinas in exchange for a 2024 draft pick. He was so ready to get out of Cleveland that he gave up $3.5 million to make it happen. So what does it mean for the Panthers? Can he take the starting job from Sam Darnold or is it another move that doesn't make a splash for the organization? Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
A prosecutor in suburban Chicago said Tuesday that the gunman accused of attacking an Independence Day parade has been charged with seven counts of first-degree murder. Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart promised that dozens more charges would be sought. He added that the suspect, if convicted of murder, would receive a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole. The gunman who attacked an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago, killing at least seven people, legally bought two high-powered rifles and three other weapons despite authorities being called to his home twice since 2019 after he threatened suicide and violence, police said Tuesday. A spokesman for the Lake County Major Crime Task Force told a news conference that the suspected shooter, who was arrested late Monday, used a high-powered rifle “similar to an AR-15" to spray more than 70 rounds from atop a commercial building into a crowd that had gathered for the parade in Highland Park, an affluent community of about 30,000 on the Lake Michigan shore. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/police-highland-park-parade-gunman-fired-more-than-70-rounds-wore-disguise/507-92739728-ca10-4435-8b89-ca8887105b47
There could be an escape from traffic in a popular Rock Hill area. A brand-new road extension behind the Galleria Mall is now open, connecting Galleria Boulevard to Red River Road. County leaders said the newly paved 2,000-foot addition will help ease congestion on Dave Lyle Blvd. Less than a week since its debut, residents are already seeing a difference. “I can actually take that backroad to get to work a lot quicker," Rock Hill resident Phillip Ingram said. "It cuts out a lot of traffic lights for those mornings that I wake up and I’m running a little bit late." The $7 million project is paid for by the Pennies for Progress tax. Patrick Hamilton, who oversees the program, said the road has been planned since the first section of Galleria Boulevard was built years ago, and it is designed with future development in mind. “We don’t want somebody to come in and tear up the road in a few years to add in driveways or turn lanes," Hamilton said. "Those features are already there so whenever it does get built out, the road will not be torn back up to make those improvements."
https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/new-road-helps-rock-hill-traffic/275-d2b2c263-28fd-469f-a622-87c385a74c37
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A gunman on a rooftop opened fire on an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago on Monday, killing at least six people, wounding at least 30 and sending hundreds of marchers, parents with strollers and children on bicycles fleeing in terror, police said. Authorities said a man named as a person of interest in the shooting was taken into police custody Monday evening after an hourslong manhunt in and around Highland Park, an affluent community of about 30,000 on Chicago’s north shore.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/highland-park-july-4-parade-shooting/507-db5f2f84-d1c6-4442-b329-906696ab533b
Right now, 38.5 cents from every gallon of gas you put in your tank goes toward road construction projects in North Carolina. However, as more drivers make the switch to electric or more fuel-efficient vehicles, the state says funding from the gas tax won't be enough to pay for future transportation projects. As state officials work to find a replacement for the gas tax, North Carolina drivers can take part in a pilot study: Making a switch from paying by the gallon to paying by the mile. It's called a mileage-based user fee. Drivers keep track of the mileage on their odometer or attach a small device to their car's on-board computer to log miles. Then, drivers get a bill to pay at the end of the month.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/gas-prices/driver-volunteers-wanted-study-new-way-pay-road-maintenance/275-ba67bc3d-cd6c-46f7-9d32-6aba1da68e5b
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Thousands of American Airlines flights were left without pilots through the end of July after a system glitch this weekend. In a statement, the Fort Worth, Texas-based airline confirmed there was a technical issue with the company's "pilot trip trading system" that allowed pilots to drop their scheduled flights. "As a result of this technical glitch, certain trip trading transactions were able to be processed when it shouldn't have been permitted," the statement read. According to a report from ABC News, the American Airlines pilots' union said the issue affected at least 12,000 flights from July 3 through the end of the month. In their statement, the airline said: "We already have restored the vast majority of the affected trips and do not anticipate any operational impact because of this issue." American did not specify how many flights were affected by the glitch. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/travel/thousands-american-airlines-flights-without-pilots-system-glitch/287-0a6ffd59-d89d-4ea8-9d8c-73049ddf31ad
One man is dead after officials say he drowned on Sunday during what has been a busy day for rescue crews. According to a release, the Oak Island Water Rescue, Fire Department, and Police Department were called to a beach access location around Sunday at 2:04 p.m. in reference to a swimmer in distress. Bystanders pulled the swimmer to shore and attempted CPR before the rescue crew arrived. Life-saving measures were attempted but were unsuccessful. Kevin Whitley, a 52-year-old man from Hickory, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the release. Oak Island officials say more than half a dozen similar calls have been made in the area just on Sunday. Tropical Storm Colin's impact is causing rough conditions on the Carolina coast. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/hickory-man-drowns-at-nc-beach-north-carolina-beach-rescue-oak-island-tropical-storm-colin-kevin-whitley/275-f2af320b-ce6b-4eef-8dfa-4ebe87612e45
On Thursday, a judge sentenced a woman in connection the killing of a 20-year-old woman in Charlotte's NoDa neighborhood. Kelly Lavery, one of four people arrested in connection to the murder, was sentenced to 25-32 years in prison for the death of Mary Collins. Prosecutors say Collins was lured to an apartment and then brutally killed during the first COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020. Collins' friends and family described her as sweet, kind and innocent. On March 28, 2020, authorities said Kelly Lavery and Lavi Pham sent Collins an Uber because she didn't drive and lured her to their apartment Detectives said Lavery and Pham were in a relationship, and Collins knew the pair because she had previously briefly dated Pham. She thought she was heading to hang out with friends. Police believe Lavery, Pham and their friend Jimmy Salerno attacked Collins when she arrived.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/mary-collins-homicide-suspects-court-appearance/275-0dc80821-12c5-4d99-bfa1-c8315ed52dbf
It's a budding business. A law that makes the sale of hemp products legal in North Carolina was about to expire, but North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper signed legislation on Thursday that keeps the state's burgeoning hemp industry operating lawfully. The General Assembly had given final approval Wednesday to language that would make hemp products for industrial use and others with personal care uses like CBD permanently exempt from the state's list of illegal drugs. Such language was required by the end of June so that North Carolina growers could keep participating in a production program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The state had run its own pilot production program for several years until recently. There are more than 1,500 licensed hemp producers in the state. “Agriculture is North Carolina’s largest industry and giving North Carolina farmers certainty that they can continue to participate in this growing market is the right thing to do for rural communities and our economy,” Cooper said in a news release announcing he had signed three bills.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/hemp-could-become-illegal-north-carolina/275-fe1d8211-dc0c-42b8-9176-74f849a408cd
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Bruton Smith, the founder of Speedway Motorsports, the parent company of Charlotte Motor Speedway, will be laid to rest Thursday during a public funeral in Charlotte. Smith's life will be celebrated at Central Church on Sardis Road. The service, which is open to the public, will begin at 1 p.m. Charlotte Motor Speedway will provide a livestream for those who are unable to attend Smith's funeral. Smith died of natural causes on June 22. The 95-year-old visionary got his start as a promoter in the 1950s after serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He bought his first race car for $700 when he was 17 years old. During his 2016 NASCAR Hall of Fame induction speech, Smith said he gave up aspirations of being a race driver when his mother prayed for him to quit.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/motor/nascar/bruton-smith-charlotte-motor-speedway-founder-funeral-plan-stream/275-72d70226-d8ed-4a2d-8918-1b6a3781530f
Fallen R&B superstar R. Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison Wednesday for using his fame to subject young fans — some just children — to systematic sexual abuse. Through tears and anger, several of Kelly's accusers told a court, and him, that he had preyed on them and misled his fans.
“You made me do things that broke my spirit. I literally wished I would die because of how low you made me feel,” said one unnamed survivor, directly addressing a Kelly who kept his hands folded and his eyes downcast. “Do you remember that?” she added. Kelly, 55, didn't speak at his sentencing, where he also was ordered to pay a $100,000 fine. The Grammy-winning, multiplatinum-selling singer and songwriter was convicted last year of racketeering and sex trafficking at a trial that gave voice to accusers who had previously wondered if their stories were being ignored because they were Black women.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/r-kelly-sentenced-sex-trafficking-case/67-4b3dd2ab-da01-4b28-a7f1-d6f4379807e5
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A new bill introduced in the South Carolina Senate seeks to ban abortions with few exceptions, going even further than the new Fetal Heartbeat Act that took effect Monday. The "Equal Protection at Conception - No Exceptions" act would outlaw abortions at any stage of pregnancy unless the mother's life is at risk. It was introduced by Sen. Richard Cash of Anderson County, as some state lawmakers consider even stricter limits on abortion in South Carolina. Protesters flooded the State House Tuesday to voice their opposition to the Fetal Heartbeat Act, which outlaws most abortions to six weeks, before most women even realize they're pregnant. South Carolina previously allowed abortions from 20 weeks of pregnancy before the law, previously blocked by a federal court, took effect Monday. The law does allow exceptions due to rape and incest if the fetus is less than 20 weeks along, and in cases to save the mother's life.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/south-carolina-fetal-heartbeat-abortion-ban-protest-columbia-roe-v-wade-overturned/275-0dbf4d51-9020-4db2-9308-273379ba9f38
Legal advocates in Mecklenburg County are pushing for the state to expand Medicaid sooner, rather than later. Douglas Sea, senior attorney and senior program manager at the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, said there’s currently a coverage gap in North Carolina that leaves thousands without access to health insurance. He says it's because their income is too high to qualify for Medicaid, but too low for coverage through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace. Sea said expanding Medicaid in the state would add about 600,000 people to the health care program who don’t have access to coverage.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/medicaid-expansion-north-carolina-health-law-politics-news-regional-state/275-8e9cbdff-efea-4d55-a4c8-2b738c5212af
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Health officials confirmed the first case of monkeypox in Mecklenburg County Monday, just days after the first case of the illness was reported in North Carolina. Mecklenburg County Public Health said most monkeypox infections last 2-4 weeks. Monkeypox is a rare, but potentially serious, viral illness that typically involves flu-like symptoms, swelling of the lymph nodes and a rash that includes bumps that are initially filled with fluid before scabbing over. Mecklenburg County health leaders are working with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the patient's health care provider to notify any individuals who were in contact with the patient while they were infectious. Monkeypox is typically spread through skin-to-skin contact.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/monkeypox-mecklenburg-county-north-carolina-first-case-confirmed/275-589baedd-25bd-4420-9ac1-6cb1e7364d17
Forty-six people were found dead of heat-related injuries inside a semitruck in far southwest San Antonio on Monday evening, and federal authorities have opened an investigation. San Antonio Fire Department Chief Charles Hood said 16 others were taken to local hospitals. Of those, 12 are adults and four are "pediatric" patients. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said three people were taken into custody, but at this time it's unknown whether they're "absolutely connected to this or not." “The plight of migrants seeking refuge is always a humanitarian crisis. Tonight we’re dealing with a horrific human tragedy," San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said. The nationalities and ages of the victims haven't been confirmed. If the incident is confirmed as having started as a smuggling attempt, it would be the deadliest such event in U.S. history. Hood said those transported to hospitals appeared to be suffering from heat stroke and exhaustion, adding there were "no signs of water" or working air conditioning in the truck. “We’re not supposed to open up a truck and see stacks of bodies in there," the fire chief added. "None of these people were able to extricate themselves out of the truck, so they were still in there awaiting help when we arrived. Too weak in state to actually get out and help themselves."
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/san-antonio-monday-evening-south-side-law-enforcement-police/273-991af328-d8a2-4f82-a1ee-7d6e65123a17
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President Joe Biden signed the widest ranging gun violence bill Congress has passed in decades Saturday. The bill is a measured compromise that at once illustrates progress on the long-intractable issue and the deep-seated partisan divide that persists. "I was there 30 years ago the last time this nation passed meaningful gun safety laws, and I'm here today to sign the most significant law passed since then," Biden said before signing the bill.
The Democratic-led chamber approved the election-year legislation on a mostly party-line 234-193 vote, capping a spurt of action prompted by voters' revulsion over last month’s mass shootings in New York and Texas. The Senate approved the measure late Thursday by a bipartisan 65-33 margin. Every House Democrat and 14 Republicans — six of whom won't be in Congress next year — voted for the measure. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., underscored its significance to her party by taking the unusual step of presiding over the vote and announcing the result from the podium, to huzzahs from rank-and-file Democrats on the chamber's floor. Biden said the bill doesn't include all of the measures he wanted, but would help prevent gun violence and aid survivors. "Today, we say more than enough," he said Saturday. "This time, when it seems impossible to get anything done in Washington, we are doing something consequential."
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/biden-sign-gun-violence-bill-congress/507-1a6de230-5030-494b-a384-a15ea8c6da33
As Charlotte continues to grow, there is a need to reduce the dependence on cars and trucks and other vehicles and the pollution they create. On Monday, the city council will look at mobility issues now as part of its 2040 plan. Leaders know that if not addressed directly, traffic and sprawl would only worsen. Ed McKinney, the Deputy Transportation Director of Charlotte, said we only need to look at other cities for guidance on what can be done. "Cities around our country that are doing the same thing, that is achieving the same goals that we are putting in place, so we have peers that show us the way, it's possible," McKinney said.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/life/automotive/charlotte-nc-money-mobility-plan/275-c506af5f-4edc-41e2-bb0d-5a0f40089555
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North Carolina now has its first case of monkeypox. The state's Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) announced it confirmed the infection through the State Laboratory of Public Health. While the agency did not disclose where in the state the infected person lives, Atrium Health said Thursday that the case is not from Charlotte. The patient's health care providers are now reaching out to possible close contacts. "Though this is the first confirmed case in North Carolina, we know there are likely other cases in the state," Dr. Zack Moore, State Epidemiologist and Epidemiology Section Chief, said. "We are encouraging doctors to consider this in people who have a rash or skin lesion that looks like monkeypox."
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/nc-monkeypox-case-health-regional/275-78ac7d47-26cf-4bda-b412-e04bf77d42fb
Federal health officials on Thursday ordered Juul to pull its electronic cigarettes from the U.S. market, the latest blow to the embattled company widely blamed for sparking a national surge in teen vaping. The action is part of a sweeping effort by the Food and Drug Administration to bring scientific scrutiny to the multibillion-dollar vaping industry after years of regulatory delays. The FDA said Juul must stop selling its vaping device and its tobacco and menthol flavored cartridges. Those already on the market must be removed. Consumers aren't restricted from having or using Juul’s products, the agency said. To stay on the market, companies must show that their e-cigarettes benefit public health. In practice, that means proving that adult smokers who use them are likely to quit or reduce their smoking, while teens are unlikely to get hooked on them. The FDA noted that some of the biggest sellers like Juul may have played a “disproportionate″ role in the rise in teen vaping. The agency said Thursday that Juul's application didn’t have enough evidence to show that marketing its products “would be appropriate for the protection of the public health.”
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/fda-bans-juul-e-cigarettes/507-3cdfe242-14b4-473d-9ebf-94d481c762a1
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Gaston County 911 Communications is looking for more people to answer the call for service. The unit is currently short 20 telecommunicators, which is about a third of its total workforce. “It’s very important for us to get these positions filled with qualified applicants so that we can serve the community in the way that they should be served,” Suzanna Mauney-Smith, assistant chief of police with the Gaston County Police Department, said. Kaela Kiser has served as a 911 telecommunicator in Gaston County for nearly six years. She said it’s a high-stress job, but it’s also highly rewarding.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/gaston-county-911-telecommunicator-openings/275-b4deb7be-7b7b-474b-9a84-3a2a192d7279
The Jan. 6 committee will hear from former Justice Department officials who faced down a relentless pressure campaign from Donald Trump over the 2020 presidential election results while suppressing a bizarre challenge from within their own ranks. The hearing Thursday will bring attention to a memorably turbulent stretch at the department as Trump in his final days in office sought to bend to his will a law enforcement agency that has long cherished its independence from the White House. The testimony is aimed at showing how Trump not only relied on outside advisers to press his election fraud claims but also tried to leverage the powers of federal executive branch agencies.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/jan-6-panel-thursday-hearing-trumps-pressure-on-justice-department/507-fafdaaef-dfbe-430c-9027-9bd8f5287167
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Law enforcement authorities had enough officers on the scene of the Uvalde school massacre to stop the gunman three minutes after he entered the building, the Texas public safety chief testified Tuesday, condemning the police response as an “abject failure.” Police officers with rifles instead stood and waited in a hallway for over an hour before they finally stormed the classroom and killed the gunman, putting an end to the May 24 attack that left 19 children and two teachers dead. "One hour, 14 minutes and eight seconds," DPS director Col. Steve McCraw told a state Senate hearing Tuesday. “The officers had weapons, the children had none. The officers had body armor, the children had none. The officers had training, the subject had none." McCraw said the officers never checked a classroom door to see if it was locked. The classroom door, it turned out, could not be locked from the inside. “I have great reasons to believe it was never secured,” McCraw said of the door. ”How about trying the door and seeing if it’s locked?”
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/special-reports/uvalde-school-shooting/uvalde-school-shooting-texas-state-police-condemn-response/285-12e11ac9-93a2-4b88-88f3-ca43694dadf3
North Carolina parents and guardians can now begin booking coronavirus vaccine appointments for children aged 6 months to 4 years old. This is the first time babies, toddlers, and children under the age of 5 have been eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. StarMed Healthcare began accepting vaccination appointments Monday at some of their Charlotte locations beginning Wednesday. Information from Novant Health and Atrium Health was expected soon.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/covid-shots-vaccines-kids-infants-north-carolina-health/275-1f32bf14-bb5b-4cdd-a6f7-c0a50337adfd
Fundraisers are ongoing to help those recovering from a devastating crash involving a golf cart last week in Statesville. The crash, which police said was caused when a drunk driver crossed over the center line and struck the golf cart, killed three people and injured three others. One of the passengers in the golf cart, 13-year-old Jada Marlowe of Statesville, passed away on Monday, officials confirmed. One of those recovering is 16-year-old Teagan Murphy, who was riding with her friend and her friend's family in the golf cart. "We are blessed to still have Teagan with us, but it will be a long, hard road to recovery," her family wrote in this GoFundMe.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/fundraisers-gofundme-statesville-golf-cart-crash-victims/275-a21936f4-7018-4cff-b645-70e820089bb0
North Carolina parents and guardians can now begin booking coronavirus vaccine appointments for children aged 6 months to 4 years old. This is the first time babies, toddlers, and children under the age of 5 have been eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. StarMed Healthcare began accepting vaccination appointments Monday at some of their Charlotte locations beginning Wednesday. Information from Novant Health and Atrium Health was expected soon.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/covid-shots-vaccines-kids-infants-north-carolina-health/275-1f32bf14-bb5b-4cdd-a6f7-c0a50337adfd
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
North Carolina health leaders say COVID-19 shots for the youngest children eligible to be vaccinated will be available in a matter of days. On Saturday, CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky gave her endorsement of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for children aged 6 months to under 5 years. This means about 18 million kids will be able to get the shots, but how many actually will is still to be seen. Less than a third of kids aged 5 to 11 have been vaccinated against the coronavirus. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) said in a news release just minutes after Walensky's endorsement vaccines for kids under 5 would be available across the Tar Heel state as early as Monday. That's when the first wave of shipments is expected, but NCDHHS urged parents and guardians to coordinate with their child's pediatrician, medical provider, or local health department for more details on availability. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/covid-shots-vaccines-kids-infants-north-carolina-health/275-1f32bf14-bb5b-4cdd-a6f7-c0a50337adfd
World swimming’s governing body has effectively banned transgender women from competing in women’s events, starting Monday. FINA members widely adopted a new “gender inclusion policy” on Sunday that only permits swimmers who transitioned before age 12 to compete in women’s events. The organization also proposed an “open competition category.” “This is not saying that people are encouraged to transition by the age of 12. It’s what the scientists are saying, that if you transition after the start of puberty, you have an advantage, which is unfair,” James Pearce, who is the spokesperson for FINA president Husain Al-Musallam, told The Associated Press. “They’re not saying everyone should transition by age 11, that’s ridiculous. You can’t transition by that age in most countries and hopefully you wouldn’t be encouraged to. Basically, what they’re saying is that it is not feasible for people who have transitioned to compete without having an advantage.” Pearce confirmed there are currently no transgender women competing in elite levels of swimming. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health just lowered its recommended minimum age for starting gender transition hormone treatment to 14 and some surgeries to 15 or 17.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/new-fina-policy-for-transgender-athletes/507-6f74161e-4cac-4f5e-ac10-9d33ea56877a
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
A single gunman opened fire inside a suburban Alabama church Thursday evening, killing two people and wounding a third at a small group meeting before being taken into custody, authorities said. FULL STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/police-multiple-people-shot-at-alabama-church-suspect-held-birmingham/507-9dc1c3a6-b9b4-4986-b86a-d67498259c26 Plus, crews in Rowan County are investigating what caused a historic black church to catch on fire and Mecklenburg County officials say they've seen a surge in people coming to shelters to get out of the dangerous heat. The heat wave has caused temperatures in the 90s and a heat index well over 100 degrees all week with another stretch of scorching weather ahead for the Carolinas. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday intensified its drive to tame high inflation by raising its key interest rate by three-quarters of a point — its largest hike in nearly three decades — and signaling more large rate increases to come that would raise the risk of another recession. The move the Fed announced after its latest policy meeting will increase its benchmark short-term rate, which affects many consumer and business loans, to a range of 1.5% to 1.75%. The central bank is ramping up its drive to tighten credit and slow growth with inflation having reached a four-decade high of 8.6%, spreading to more areas of the economy and showing no sign of slowing. Americans are also starting to expect high inflation to last longer than they had before. This sentiment could embed an inflationary psychology in the economy that would make it harder to bring inflation back to the Fed’s 2% target. The Fed’s three-quarter-point rate increase exceeds the half-point hike that Chair Jerome Powell had previously suggested was likely to be announced this week. The Fed’s decision to impose a rate hike as large as it did Wednesday was an acknowledgment that it's struggling to curb the pace and persistence of inflation, which has been worsened by Russia’s war against Ukraine and its effects on energy prices. Borrowing costs have already risen sharply across much of the U.S. economy in response to the Fed’s moves, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate topping 6%, its highest level since before the 2008 financial crisis, up from just 3% at the start of the year. The yield on the 2-year Treasury note, a benchmark for corporate borrowing, has jumped to 3.3%, its highest level since 2007. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/fed-rate-hike/507-712efdf8-4e15-42f6-a21e-9c5b33328ca7'
An exhibit highlighting photography will be without a photo taken during a Charlotte Pride event after a decision from the Gaston County manager. The Gaston County Museum of Art and History is currently displaying Into the Darkroom, a photography exhibit aimed at showing photography's use as an art form and its place in history. The exhibit uses photos from the 20th century, showcases vintage cameras, and features work from four modern photographers in Gaston County. One of these photographers, Grant Baldwin, used a photo he took at the 2019 Charlotte Pride Parade of two men kissing. Baldwin says the photo was taken during a marriage proposal. However, shortly after opening the exhibit, this photo was removed. Gaston County officials state this decision was made after Kim Eagle, the county manager, instructed museum staff to work with Baldwin to select another photograph to highlight. "The idea behind the exhibit is to document a historical event, and there are other options from the photographer’s work that more fully capture the context of the parade that was documented," the county said in a statement. The decision did not involve the museum's board of commissioners.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/lgbtq-photo-removed-from-gaton-county-museum-photographer-speaks-out-pride-men-kissing/275-f25200f5-8b5f-45a5-88ca-9da4edaf3f83
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Two people were killed, including a 5-year-old, and several others were hurt in a crash involving a suspected drunk driver and golf cart in Iredell County, North Carolina late Monday night, police said. Multiple emergency crews responded to a crash involving a golf car on Fort Dobbs Road near Dobbs Drive in Statesville around 9:45 p.m., the North Carolina Department of Public Safety said. Officers said a 2009 Honda Accord crossed the center line, hitting the golf car head-on. The driver of the golf cart, Michael Shane Marlowe, 39, of Statesville, died at the scene. A passenger, 5-year-old Bentley Marlowe, also died from his injuries. Four passengers on the golf cart, ages 2, 13, 16, and 26, were critically injured and transported by medical helicopters to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte and Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, troopers reported.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/statesville-fatal-crash-golf-cart-nc-highway-patrol/275-409d48f5-767a-4f7d-a878-f8a13f8ec68f
Charlotte Hornets forward Montrezl Harrell was cited for a felony drug charge in Richmond, Kentucky, last month, according to police records. Harrell was pulled over by a Kentucky state trooper for following too closely on May 12. When the trooper walked up to Harrell's car, he smelled marijuana and Harrell admitted to having some in his possession. The police report states Harrell pulled marijuana from his pocket before the trooper searched his vehicle, where approximately three pounds of marijuana was found in vacuum-sealed bags inside a backpack on the backseat.
Harrell was cited for trafficking less than 5 pounds of marijuana, which is a felony, according to the Associated Press. During a court appearance on June 13, Harrell pleaded not guilty to the charge. He is scheduled to appear in court again next month. The Hornets traded two players and a draft pick to Washington for Harrell in February. Harrell is originally from Tarboro, North Carolina, and he played at the University of Louisville before turning pro in 2015. He joined the Wizards in 2021 as part of a trade that sent Russell Westbrook to the Los Angeles Lakers.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/montrezl-harrell-marijuana-felony-drug-charge-traffic-stop-charlotte-hornets/275-9cfb20a0-8873-436b-b9c9-89d99478067c
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Charlotte City Council approved a $215 million plan to upgrade Spectrum Center in Uptown. As part of the plan, the Hornets' practice facility will move out of the arena and across the street, where the Charlotte Transit Center is located. The city will now build an underground transit center where the current CATS transit center is. The new facility will be used until 2045 at least. Voters in South Carolina head to the polls today for the 2022 primary election. Tradesha Woodard has the latest on how voters can make their ballot count, and we have an update on two Charlotte homicide suspects who were arrested near Wilmington, North Carolina. For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
A Heat Advisory is in effect for Charlotte and much of the area from 12 p.m. until 8 p.m. Heat index values could be up to 105º. Expect highs near 98º on today with heat index values of 105º and above across the Charlotte area. Temperatures and humidity levels will continue to rise on Tuesday and Wednesday. Expect heat index values near 107º on Tuesday, which meets the criteria for a heat advisory. This first wave of triple-digit heat should be taken seriously by anyone working or participating in outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day. By definition, a heat wave is traditionally defined as a prolonged stretch of hotter-than-normal temperatures. For us, skyrocketing temperatures will likely break records on several afternoons this week. FULL FORECAST: https://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/forecast/charlotte-weather-forecast-update/275-50501550
The nationwide average price for a gallon of gasoline has topped $5 for the first time ever. Auto club AAA said the average price on Saturday was $5.00. Motorists in some parts of the country, especially California, are paying far above that. The national average price has jumped 19 cents in just the past week, and it's up $1.93 from this time last year.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/5-dollar-gas-is-here-aaa-says/507-9429347b-10f7-4a5c-8631-9a5ad25c1b30
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Rock Hill Mayor John Gettys spoke out for the first time since the Carolina Panthers terminated agreements to build a training facility in Rock Hill and David Tepper’s GT Real Estate subsequently filed for bankruptcy, accusing Tepper of filing bankruptcy to avoid paying contractors for their work on the project. Following a press conference announcing a new development on the south side of Rock Hill Thursday morning, Gettys addressed concerns about the future of the 200-plus acre site and the unfinished building on it, both of which are owned by Tepper’s organizations. “That site is within the city limits. The city of Rock Hill owns the water, we own the sewer, we own the electricity, we have zoning, and we have the entitlements,” said Gettys. “We’ll have what’s there that needs to be there for the people of Rock Hill’s best interest. Nothing is going to be built there or done there without the city of Rock Hill figuring out what is in our best interest going forward.” In early March, Tepper Sports and Entertainment, another one of David Tepper’s companies, said it was pausing the Rock Hill project because the city of Rock Hill did not hold up its end of the bargain in the deal. WCNC Charlotte later discovered the city failed to secure $225 million in bonds to pay for roads, sidewalks and other public infrastructure on the site.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/nfl/panthers/rock-hill-mayor-speaks-carolina-panthers-training-facility-terminated-south-carolina/275-f88509dd-c11f-4a14-8495-796b6e1251ba
A gallon of gas in the U.S. costs, on average, $5 for the first time in the nation's history, according to price tracker GasBuddy. The platform tracks the price of gas at fuel stations across the U.S., and in 2022 has had increasingly alarming announcements about the national average price as the war in Ukraine and increased demand across the globe have sent prices skyrocketing.
For months, drivers have felt increasing pain at the pump, with some states such as California seeing prices above $6 per gallon. And as prices reach the $5 mark, they're unlikely to drop sson. Americans, largely freed from the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic, are preparing for summer road trips. The high price of oil is the main cause of the biting gasoline prices. A barrel of U.S. benchmark crude was selling for over $100 a barrel Thursday, a price tag that has been climbing throughout the year.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/gas-prices-5-dollars/507-c96e3c4f-8be0-4007-a461-74b9f211006a
A former Myers Park High School student is now launching a lawsuit against the board of education for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, claiming district leaders failed to properly address a sexual assault complaint she made during her time on campus. Serena Evans, who has previously spoken out about her experience at the school, filed the suit this week with her attorney, Christiana Graziano. The lawsuit lodges five key complaints against the district: that CMS violated Title IX of the Education Amendments Act, that the district did not protect her, that CMS was negligent, that school leaders did not do their duty to investigate, and that school leadership intentionally inflicted emotional distress on Evans. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cms-myers-park-high-school-charlotte-schools-sex-assault-lawsuit/275-e186c7f6-a203-4bd3-9af4-1b65dc3bc311
The national average for a gallon of gas is now at the doorstep of $5, and with diesel climbing at an even faster clip, it's impacting Charlotte landscape businesses. “We're at a 146% increase since January in fuel costs alone,” Chief Operating Officer for MetroGreenscape Todd Cioppa said. MetroGreenscape has about 40 vehicles on the road every day, and dozens of other types of equipment. “The way we’re trending right now, I bet you we'll spend an extra $150,000 to $180,000 this year on fuel," Cioppa said. “We got to buckle up and get ready for the ride.” It's a ride that shows no signs of slowing down. “It’s hard, it’s hard on everybody," Cioppa said.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/gas-prices/gas-prices-charlotte-company-impacts/275-33116f4e-7476-4427-bc5d-3670f514d39d
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Legislation making it lawful to smoke marijuana or consume cannabis-infused products for medical purposes in North Carolina cleared the state Senate on Monday evening. After no debate, the measure received bipartisan support by a vote of 36-7. The margin was similar to the outcome of an initial Senate vote last week that followed floor discussion. The bill now goes to the House, where chances for passage before this year's primary work session adjourns in a few weeks appear long. Speaker Tim Moore has said the issue may have to wait until next year. The legislation creates a system whereby someone with one of more than a dozen “debilitating medical conditions” — cancer, HIV/AIDS, epilepsy and post-traumatic stress disorder among them — can be prescribed cannabis by a trained physician. Users or their caregivers would have to receive a registration card from the state Department of Health and Human Services. A new state commission would issue 10 medical cannabis supplier licenses, each of which could open up to eight sales centers. Up to five independent testing labs would be licensed to scrutinize the pot and related-products sold. It would still be awhile before sales occur under the bill given required rule-making and licensing.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/nc-medical-marijuana-bill-house-senate-ok/275-60b786de-cd76-4782-bfce-b84fc9ccf44f
American adults who haven’t yet gotten vaccinated against COVID-19 may soon get another choice, as advisers to the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday backed a more traditional type of shot. Next, the FDA must decide whether to authorize the vaccine made by latecomer Novavax, a protein vaccine that's made with a more conventional technology than today's U.S. options. Novavax shots are already used in Australia, Canada, parts of Europe and dozens of other countries. But U.S. clearance is a key hurdle for the Maryland-based company. FDA's vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks said another choice in the U.S. may entice at least some vaccine holdouts -- whatever their reason -- to consider rolling up their sleeves. “We do have a problem with vaccine uptake that is very serious in the United States," Marks said. "Anything we can do to get people more comfortable to accept these potentially life-saving products is something that we feel we are compelled to do.”
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/fda-advisers-back-novavax-covid-19-shots/507-a2508a24-4476-4764-a52b-3465549b373a
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A husband and wife serving in the U.S. Army used their positions to obtain excess military products and either re-sell them or take them for their own private use, according to charging documents recently unsealed by federal prosecutors. Court documents revealed Christopher and Heather Hammond, both stationed in Fort Bragg, illegally obtained Department of Defense equipment such as gun barrels, holsters, magazines, electric guitars, bayonets, gym equipment, and night vision goggles, among other things. Prosecutors allege Christopher Hammond used his position as a Chief Warrant Officer during the years-long scheme. Hammond, according to charging documents, would request excess military property through his unit and then "used it for his own or others' private use and/or profit." READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/national/military-news/fort-bragg-officer-major-arrested-allegedly-stealing-military-equipment/275-ab718304-6aa1-42c9-b39a-ea3d3530d07f
The state Department of Health and Human Services said families participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) can use their benefits for a wider variety of formula. DHHS said the expansion will help families get formula available in stores when Gerber products are not available. As of Monday, 55 additional products are available to families. That's in addition to the eight options added last week for different sizes and types of Gerber products. North Carolina contracts with Gerber to provide families standard types of infant formulas, a press release said.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/life/parenting/dhhs-expands-formula-options-wic-families/275-8cc88bd7-b138-4422-9d37-c272b7331a4a
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Gunmen opened fire on worshippers and detonated explosives at a Catholic church in southwestern Nigeria on Sunday, leaving dozens feared dead, state lawmakers said. The attackers targeted the St. Francis Catholic Church in Ondo state just as the worshippers gathered on Pentecost Sunday, legislator Ogunmolasuyi Oluwole said. Among the dead were many children, he said. The presiding priest was abducted as well, said Adelegbe Timileyin, who represents the Owo area in Nigeria’s lower legislative chamber. “Our hearts are heavy," Ondo Governor Rotimi Akeredolu tweeted Sunday. “Our peace and tranquility have been attacked by the enemies of the people.” Authorities did not immediately release an official death toll. Timileyin said at least 50 people had been killed, though others put the figure higher. Videos appearing to be from the scene of the attack showed church worshippers lying in pools of blood while people around them wailed. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said “only fiends from the nether region could have conceived and carried out such dastardly act,” according to a statement from his spokesman. “No matter what, this country shall never give in to evil and wicked people, and darkness will never overcome light. Nigeria will eventually win,” said Buhari, who was elected after vowing to end Nigeria’s prolonged security crisis.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/nigeria-church-attack/507-bbf9dab2-302d-49ed-a2a1-a954a3b7abde Americans at the low end of the income rung are once again struggling to make ends meet. A confluence of factors — the expiration of federal stimulus checks and surging inflation on staples like gas and food — are driving an even bigger wedge between the haves and have-nots. While wealthier shoppers continue to splurge, low-income shoppers have pulled back faster than expected in the past two months. They're focusing on necessities while turning to cheaper items or less expensive stores. And they're buying only a little at a time.
It's a reversal from a year or so ago when low-income shoppers, flush with money from the government and buoyed by wage increases, were able to spend more freely. Kisha Galvan, a 44-year-old mother of eight children from ages 9 to 27, was able to stock up on groceries for the week and buy extras like clothing and shoes at Walmart for her children last year. But without the pandemic-related government support and inflation hovering at a near 40-year high, she is buying more canned food and depending on the local food pantry several times a week instead of once a week. “I shop meal to meal," said the Rockford, Illinois, resident who has lived on disability for the past 15 years. "Before, we didn't have to worry about what we were going to get. We just go get it."
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/soaring-inflation-divides-spending/507-db2d13b5-7f4a-4a75-bc3d-9e955258ea7f
North Carolina’s highest education department is urging school districts to opt-in to an anonymous reporting app called Say Something. This comes after the tragic mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Say Something is a violence prevention program from the nonprofit Sandy Hook Promise. The program allows both students and adults to submit anonymous safety concerns through an app, website, or hotline. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is the latest school in WCNC Charlotte's viewing area to get the Say Something App. They started training students in January.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/nc-education-leaders-school-districts-anonymous-reporting-app-say-something/275-398b5b74-b94e-49eb-be76-808e246d2236
Marijuana would be legalized for medical use in North Carolina with a physician's prescription and purchased through dozens of tightly regulated dispensaries in a measure receiving initial approval Thursday in the Senate. The legislation, which received strong bipartisan support, could help people facing more than a dozen different “debilitating medical conditions” in which their doctor declares the health benefits of smoking or consuming cannabis outweigh the risks. The bill's chief sponsors, however, focused on giving relief to patients with terminal illnesses that bring unbearable pain and suffering, while preventing them from having to act illegally. “It is our duty as lawmakers to pass legislation that helps people who need our help,” said Brunswick County Republican Sen. Bill Rabon, a cancer survivor who has worked on this legislation for five years. “It is not going to make them ashamed or reluctant to seek help if it is recommended to them by their physician.”
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/medical-marijuana-bill-advances-north-carolina-politics-state-news/275-6c7aa57f-16bc-4a50-b5af-6c0f59058316
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Four people were killed Wednesday in a shooting at a Tulsa medical building on a hospital campus, police said. Tulsa Police Department Deputy Chief Eric Dalgleish confirmed the number of dead and said the shooter also was dead, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. It was unclear what prompted the deadly assault. However, the unidentified gunman carried both a handgun and a rifle during the attack, Dalgleish said. “Officers are currently going through every room in the building checking for additional threats,” police said in a Facebook post just before 6 p.m. “We know there are multiple injuries, and potentially multiple casualties.” Police responded to the call three minutes after dispatchers received the report and made contact with the gunman one minute later, Dalgleish said. Police Capt. Richard Meulenberg also said multiple people were wounded and that the medical complex was a “catastrophic scene.” Police and hospital officials said they were not ready to identify the dead.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/multiple-people-shot-at-medical-building-in-tulsa/507-4fab7980-9a07-4941-88c5-8d2fba60d94f
Up to 200 people could be forced to find a new place to live as a west Charlotte motel is slated to close by the end of the month. During Tuesday evening's City Council meeting, Mayor Vi Lyles noted she received a letter dated May 26 alerting her to the closure of Southern Comfort Inn. The extended-stay motel is set to shut down on June 30 according to Lyles, and it has provided low-price rent for residents there. Lyles said the city government is making outreach to see what can be done. WCNC Charlotte has reached out to the City of Charlotte for more information. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/markets/real-estate/affordable-housing-crisis/charlotte-extended-stay-motel-closing-local-life/275-b0e5fd63-9f84-4981-a6a9-2459bbcab72e
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Charlotte City Council has voted to pass the $3.24 billion 2023 fiscal year budget, which will mean no tax increase for residents and a boost in pay to city employees. While citizens won't see a bump on their taxes, there will be changes to parking in South End and uptown. Chiefly, hourly parking rates in both areas will go up by 50 cents, and drivers will now need to pay to park on Saturdays. Along with those items, the budget also includes money to electrify city vehicles. The city government's Twitter account noted the council voted unanimously to adopt the budget, and said the budget also would not lay off or furlough employees. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/wake-up-charlotte/charlotte-city-council-meeting-budget-eastland-mall-projects/275-96dc067c-560d-44e1-8490-0bf0bce8e596
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has finally confirmed clear backpacks will not go to high school students this school year, with only one week left in the school year. This comes after months of silence on the backpacks -- which cost the district nearly $500,000 -- didn’t go out as planned in March. The backpacks were supposed to be one of many tools to curb violence in CMS schools. When the plan to deploy clear backpacks in CMS high schools was first announced, the community backlash was swift.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cms-clear-backpacks-not-distributed-school-year/275-8580dc74-bcaa-403c-b329-c17db3d900ec
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Two people, including a 4-month-old baby, were killed in a shooting in Monroe late Sunday night, police said. Monroe police were called to a reported shooting at a home on Morrow Avenue, near the intersection with South Church Street, around 10:30 p.m. When officers arrived, they found both victims dead at the home. The victims were identified as 25-year-old Darion McClendon and Da'mari McClendon. "This is a difficult time for our community and our officers in the face of this senseless act of violence," Chief Bryan Gilliard said. "We are committed to bringing the perpetrator of this crime to justice."
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/monroe-double-homicide-shooting-investigation/275-c0a4d437-1dfb-421d-a1f5-654d2078f7aa
Health officials in South Carolina have completed their monitoring of two people who were exposed to a person confirmed to have monkeypox during a flight. The infected person lives in the United Kingdom. Both South Carolina residents have been cleared and the state still has no confirmed cases of the virus so far. To date, the World Health Organization has identified around 250 confirmed or suspected cases of the rare disease in at least 16 countries. A handful of those cases have been in the United States. Dr. Katie Passaretti, an infectious disease expert with Atrium Health, said it wouldn't be surprising if cases pop up in the Charlotte area, but it's unlikely there will be significant monkeypox spread in the region.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/monkeypox-spread-coronavirus-covid-19-doctors-say-no/275-f13b792c-d6b8-448d-a018-17b1ecf9fbe3
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A group of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools seniors is trying to undo what they say is a senior prank gone wrong. CMS officials confirmed students vandalized the Myers Park High School campus earlier this week and the students responsible were disciplined according to the code of conduct. It was all in good fun, rumors of a senior prank swirling around the Myers Park campus.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/myers-park-students-raising-money-undo-senior-prank-gone-wrong/275-de0fb24f-acdf-4bd8-9445-dc5db521f9e1
The wreckage of a plane carrying 22 people that disappeared in Nepal's mountains was found Monday scattered on a mountainside, the army said. There was no word on survivors. The Tara Air turboprop Twin Otter was on a 20-minute flight Sunday when it the lost contact with the airport tower while flying in an area of deep river gorges and mountaintops just before it was scheduled to land. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/nepal-plane-wreckage/507-b4beb223-f983-4a1a-9276-b4992096cfc4
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The Carolina Panthers paused work on its planned $800 million training facility in Rock Hill the day before South Carolina Commerce Secretary Harry Lightsey, local leaders and the team's chief operating officer were scheduled to tour the site, newly obtained state records show. Department of Commerce emails and text messages obtained by WCNC Charlotte through a public records request suggest state economic development officials were blindsided by the Panthers' March 7 decision to bring the project to a standstill. In fact, at the city of Rock Hill's request, Lightsey had planned to spend time at the site on the morning of March 8. "Lordy Lordy!" Deputy Secretary of Commerce Ashely Teasdel wrote in an email reply on the evening of March 7 about the canceled tour. Text messages reveal Gov. Henry McMaster spoke with Panthers Owner David Tepper in mid-April, six days before Tepper's GT Real Estate Holdings terminated its agreements with Rock Hill.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/south-carolina-commerce-officials-blindsided-carolina-panthers-training-camp-rock-hill-construction-stopped/275-130b0383-8ccf-407e-892d-beb13d6e5642
A new pandemic program offering financial help to homeowners is delivering an average of $13,500 to families in need, but four months in, those dollars are taking longer than expected to arrive. The NC Homeowner Assistance Fund has approved roughly 1,800 applications since opening the program on Jan. 31, but more than 8,600 applications remained pending as of May 20, according to the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency. The agency, tasked with managing the $273 million federally-funded program, reports an average payment turnaround of 74 days, which is higher than the goal of no more than 56 days.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/homeowner-pandemic-program-money-charlotte-nc/275-0f50cc20-eb5e-4384-a835-e8eb5b38b4a2
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On Wednesday, the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners heard public feedback from the community on its upcoming budget. The board, which was not allowed to engage with any of the comments made about the budget, heard over 40 people provide feedback on the budget proposal. Some of the speakers were parents, concerned over staffing and resources for their children -- especially in light of the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. "It was terrifying to send them to school today," Kate Murphy, a mother of three CMS students, said. "One thing you can do is fully fund CMS next year. I know you want the same thing. We want excellent education. Underfunding will not get us there." WCNC Charlotte reached out to Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio after the deadly Texas shooting to ask if more money be allocated for officers in schools. Diorio said hiring officers is not the county's job but it's up to the Charlotte Police Department.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cms-advocates-petition-mecklenburg-county-funding/275-053a8237-80dc-421b-b54e-d9394eddc2f9
An EF0 tornado with wind speeds up to 75 mph touched down near Great Falls in Chester County, South Carolina, on Monday, the National Weather Service confirmed. The tornado touched down near Dewitt Road west of Great Falls during Monday's severe weather outbreak in the Carolinas. The storm moved northeast for about half a mile, causing damage to trees and uplifting some before lifting northeast of Dewitt Road. This is the second confirmed tornado in the Charlotte area on Monday. National Weather Service crews also confirmed a tornado touched down near Reedy Creek, along the Mecklenburg-Cabarrus county line.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/severe-weather/tornado-confirmed-chester-county-south-carolina-may-23/275-755c6f53-030e-4058-b1fa-4932ad919841
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North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein is recovering in a hospital after suffering a minor stroke Monday night, and he's thanking his wife for her quick thinking. According to a Facebook post shared on Tuesday, Stein and his wife Anna had walked their dog when he started exhibiting stroke-like symptoms. Anna Stein was able to get an ambulance, and doctors confirmed the details to them. Stein said he underwent a successful procedure to remove a small blood clot, and is now back to normal and facing no lingering effects. He thanked his wife, EMTs, and medical staff for their roles in ensuring he could be treated. Stein said Anna's recognition of the signs of stroke was critical to ensuring he got the care he needed. He shared more information from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) about what to look for if you believe someone may be facing a stroke. Neurologist Dr. Dena Little with UNC Medical Center says time lost is brain lost and the best treatments can only be given within a few hours of the symptoms. It's why she says knowing the signs and symptoms are so important.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/north-carolina-ag-josh-stein-stroke-health-politics-regional/275-10ae29c7-16ef-4770-a0d1-245c29dfcf92
On Wednesday, the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners will start hearing public feedback from the community on its upcoming budget. Teachers, education advocates, and other stakeholders are expected to be at the meeting to advocate for more money for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. The district is poised to get less than half of the additional money it requested from the county government. The CMS school board and others have a few weeks to try and convince members of the Mecklenburg BOCC to give them additional dollars for the upcoming school year.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cms-advocates-petition-mecklenburg-county-funding/275-053a8237-80dc-421b-b54e-d9394eddc2f9
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The Mecklenburg County health department will begin offering Pfizer's COVID-19 booster to children ages 5 to 11, beginning Monday, May 23. Mecklenburg County Public Health announced the boosters will be available to kids five months after their most recent vaccine dose. The Pfizer booster is currently the only brand available to children. “The booster for children 5 to11 years old comes at an opportune time,” said Paige Bennett, deputy director for Mecklenburg County Public Health, said. “The booster provides a significant increase in protection against serious illness, hospitalization, death and long-term complications from COVID-19 ahead of summer activities like vacations, camps and play dates.”
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/pediatric-covid-boosters-mecklenburg-county-north-carolina/275-8d645bd4-fd95-4b0f-a70e-555dabc72fa7
The House Ethics Committee is investigating allegations that Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn had a conflict of interest in a cryptocurrency he promoted and engaged in an improper relationship with a member of his staff, the panel said Monday. The investigation is just the latest moment of high-profile scrutiny for the North Carolina Republican, who will be leaving Congress at the end of the year after losing his primary race last week to state Sen. Chuck Edwards. Cawthorn's defeat came despite support for his reelection bid from former President Donald Trump.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/ethics-panel-opens-investigation-madison-cawthorn/275-e5987990-a5c9-4cb3-ab23-c8ffd97db50d
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A military plane carrying enough specialty infant formula for more than half a million baby bottles arrived Sunday in Indianapolis, the first of several flights expected from Europe aimed at relieving a shortage that has sent parents scrambling to find enough to feed their children. President Joe Biden authorized the use of Air Force planes for the effort, dubbed “Operation Fly Formula,” because no commercial flights were available. The formula weighed 78,000 pounds (35,380 kilograms), White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters aboard Air Force One as Biden flew from South Korea to Japan. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was in Indianapolis to greet the arrival of the first shipment. The flights are intended to provide “some incremental relief in the coming days” as the government works on a more lasting response to the shortage, Brian Deese, director of the White House National Economic Council, said Sunday.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/78000-pounds-of-formula-arrives/507-25134b29-5d39-4380-be5e-b352c8fd3427
Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention, America’s largest Protestant denomination, stonewalled and denigrated survivors of clergy sex abuse over almost two decades while seeking to protect their own reputations, according to a scathing 288-page investigative report issued Sunday. These survivors, and other concerned Southern Baptists, repeatedly shared allegations with the SBC’s Executive Committee, “only to be met, time and time again, with resistance, stonewalling, and even outright hostility from some within the EC,” said the report.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/southern-baptists-sex-abuse-report/507-f263bab8-8bec-4bed-af85-eda042ca86c8
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Kids ages 5 to 11 should get a booster dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, advisers to the U.S. government said Thursday. If the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agrees, as expected, it would open a third COVID-19 shot to healthy elementary-age kids — just like what is already recommended for everybody 12 and older. The hope is that an extra shot will shore up protection for kids ages 5 to 11 as infections once again are on the rise. Earlier this week, the Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer's kid-sized booster, to be offered at least five months after the youngsters' last shot. The CDC takes the next step of recommending who actually needs vaccinations. Its advisers debated if all otherwise healthy 5- to 11-year-olds need an extra dose, especially since so many children were infected during the huge winter surge of the omicron variant. But the U.S. now is averaging 100,000 new cases a day for the first time since February. And ultimately, the CDC's advisers pointed to growing evidence from older kids and adults that two primary vaccinations plus a booster are providing the best protection against the newest coronavirus variants.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/vaccine/cdc-advisers-urge-pfizer-covid-booster-shot-children-ages-5-to-11/507-5271c368-2529-4f02-b9a5-a6bd502a21e5 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools confirmed a gun was found at a middle school Thursday morning. A district spokesperson confirmed the weapon was found at Ranson Middle School, located along Statesville Road. Students and staff are safe, and the spokesperson said that was all the information available as of writing. WCNC Charlotte has reached out to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for additional information. We will update this article as new details are provided. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/crime-charlotte-mecklenburg-schools-cms-gun-ranson-middle-school-local-education/275-3243871f-52ae-46aa-a6fc-e38baa368b79
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The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is looking for a man they said shot into a Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) bus early Wednesday morning. The man fired three or four rounds into a bus at the stop along Nations Ford Road near Huntsmoor Drive, according to CMPD. There were no passengers on the bus at the time. The driver was unharmed, according to officials. CMPD released a surveillance photo of the suspect. He's shown wearing a dark blue jacket, a light blue T-shirt, and blue jeans. He also had a backpack and appears to be wearing dark-colored shoes with white underlining. Anyone with information is urged to call 911 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers. Tips can be called in at 704-334-1600 or submitted online. WCNC Charlotte reached out to CATS for further comment. A spokesperson for the system provided this statement: We are aware of the incident that took place last night on bus number 2150. CATS can confirm that the operator was not injured and there were no passengers on the bus. CATS takes all safety and security incidents very seriously and we work alongside our law enforcement partners to hold all parties involved accountable. As this incident is still under investigation, please reach out to CMPD for more information.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/man-shoots-into-cats-bus-transit-charlotte-nc-local-crime/275-31b30507-e01e-4287-b428-9949b76536e6
President Joe Biden on Wednesday invoked the Defense Production Act to speed production of infant formula and authorized flights to import supply from overseas, as he faces mounting political pressure over a domestic shortage caused by the safety-related closure of the country's largest formula manufacturing plant.
The Defense Production Act order requires suppliers of formula manufacturers to fulfill those orders before other customers. Biden is also authorizing the Defense Department to use commercial aircraft to fly overseas formula supplies that meet federal standards to the U.S., in what the White House is calling “Operation Fly Formula.” Supplies of baby formula across the country have been severely curtailed in recent weeks after a February recall by Abbott Nutrition exacerbated ongoing supply chain disruptions among formula makers, leaving fewer options on store shelves and increasingly anxious parents struggling to find nutrition for their children. The announcement comes two days after the Food and Drug Administration said it was streamlining its review process to make it easier for foreign manufacturers to begin shipping more formula into the U.S. In a letter Wednesday to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture, Biden directed the agencies to work with the Pentagon to identify overseas supply of formula that meets U.S. standards over the next week, so that chartered Defense Department flights can swiftly fly it to the U.S. “Imports of baby formula will serve as a bridge to this ramped-up production,” Biden wrote.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/baby-formula-shortage-defense-production-act/507-a5d6fb4f-8560-4e01-9e45-fbc099689c72
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The North Carolina race for U.S. Senate is down to two candidates, as Republican Ted Budd and Democrat Cheri Beasley won their respective primaries Tuesday. Budd, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, cruised to victory over former Gov. Pat McCrory and U.S. Rep. Mark Walker, while Beasley won in a landslide after her top competitor dropped out in December. Budd won the 14-candidate Republican primary over former Gov. Pat McCrory and U.S. Rep. Mark Walker, while Beasley had entered Tuesday as the front-runner for the Democratic nomination, which 11 people sought. Current GOP U.S. Sen. Richard Burr is retiring. Their election victories came as North Carolina voters whittled down Democratic and Republican candidates seeking to serve on Capitol Hill, in the General Assembly and on the judicial bench. Trump, who narrowly won the state's electoral votes in 2016 and 2020, gave his endorsement to Budd nearly a year ago. Budd benefitted from millions of dollars spent by the Club for Growth Action super PAC that was used to praise him and brand McCrory as too liberal. Richard DeVayne and Chloe Leshner join Wake Up Charlotte To Go to break down victory speeches from both candidates and we hear from Pat McCrory after his defeat. Ben Thompson and Sarah French break down several key local races, including Patrick Cannon's unsuccessful bid to get on November's ballot. INTERACTIVE MAP: North Carolina primary election results
StarMed Healthcare announced it will be handing out baby formula this week for parents who are unable to find formula for their children due to the nationwide shortage. In a tweet, StarMed said it would be distributing formula at its Tuckaseegee and Central locations. StarMed said it keeps formula on hand for various reasons and after checking inventory, it's able to give it to families in need. No registration is required but supplies are limited. The distribution will begin at noon on Tuesday.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/starmed-health-care-free-baby-formula-giveaway-charlotte-north-carolina-similac-gerber-nestle/275-06810c28-0191-4b50-863d-98898d20cfd0
South Carolina investigators believe they have solved the disappearance and murder case of Brittanee Drexel, who went missing 13 years ago while on a spring break trip to Myrtle Beach. Multiple law enforcement agencies held a press conference Monday afternoon in Georgetown County to announce two major developments: that Drexel's body had finally been recovered and positively identified and that the man they believe killed her is in custody and charged.
Raymond Douglas Moody, 62, is charged with murder, kidnapping, and criminal sexual conduct first degree. "Brittanee has been found and she can be with her family and at peace," said Susan Ferensic, the FBI Special Agent in Charge. Drexel, a 17-year-old from Rochester, New York, had gone down to Myrtle Beach for spring break in April of 2009. She was reported missing on April 25. Investigators now believe Moody kidnapped Drexel and took her to Georgetown County, where he lived. Not long after they arrived, they believe he sexually assaulted her, killed her, then buried her body hours later.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/brittanee-drexel-remains-found/101-08b825b7-311f-4bff-8aec-f11293bc010c
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A man opened fire during a lunch reception at a Southern California church on Sunday, killing one person and wounding five senior citizens before being stopped and hog-tied by parishioners in what a sheriff’s official called an act of “exceptional heroism and bravery.” Four of the five people wounded suffered critical gunshot injuries during the violence at Geneva Presbyterian Church in the city of Laguna Woods, Orange County Sheriff’s Department officials said. The suspect in the shooting, an Asian man in his 60s, was in custody and deputies recovered two handguns at the scene, Undersheriff Jeff Hallock said. A motive for the shooting wasn't immediately known but investigators don't believe the gunman lives in the community, he said. The majority of those inside the church at the time were believed to be of Taiwanese descent, said Carrie Braun, a sheriff’s spokesperson. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/multiple-people-shot-at-california-church/507-5bbbe95c-5c20-4009-83fb-ceb5f1c44a01
Right now, the average price for a gallon of gas in North Carolina is up 42 cents over a month ago. In South Carolina, prices are up 47 cents, but AAA said there are ways to save at the pump. They say the increase in gas prices has some people a little hesitant about summer travel, but there is still a demand for travel and many families aren't changing summer plans. They say some people are making some adjustments, and doing things like making sure you maintain a constant speed and avoid traffic peak times could save you money. Oher things AAA says you can do is combine multiple errands and lighten the load in your vehicle.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/gas-prices/gas-prices-new-high-surge-expensive-nc-sc/275-7a28b789-8644-4108-ba67-143bc1d3342e
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More than a dozen Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools students were taken to the hospital Wednesday after a school bus was involved in a head-on crash in south Charlotte. On Thursday, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department documentation revealed the driver of a dump truck told investigators he fell asleep while driving. The preliminary CMPD crash report said the dump truck then crossed over the center line striking the school bus and another vehicle head-on. Medic confirmed 16 total people were hurt, including 14 students. All of the students suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to Medic. Atrium Health later confirmed that all students were discharged Wednesday.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/south-charlotte-school-bus-crash-sharonbrook-drive/275-fd4f4e05-bc83-4ec3-8c35-a67f308e1b22
Charlotte's Citizens Review Board ruled in favor of a teacher that was wrongfully detained by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers. During a hearing on Thursday, May 12, the board voted 8-2 and decided CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings or a designee "erred" in exonerating the officers that detained Jasmine Horne, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools teacher. A spokesperson for the board confirmed with WCNC Charlotte that Thursday's decision and recommendations of action will be sent to the chief or designee and Charlotte's city manager. The board previously voted unanimously in favor of Horne during a hearing in April.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/citizens-review-board-rules-in-favor-of-cms-teacher-wrongfully-detained/275-94915445-ed14-4aac-9c7f-cb104331cb6e
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North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said his proposed state budget for fiscal year 2022-2023 has sights set on everything from early childhood education to healthcare, while still cutting down on taxes. The price tag: $29,284,765,214. Cooper was joined in a Wednesday afternoon news conference by Charlie Perusse, the state budget director, to discuss the details of the budget during an afternoon news conference. As he opened up his conference, Cooper applauded Republicans in the state General Assembly for working with Democrats and his office last year to come up with a budget and says they're doing the same thing in 2022. This year's proposed budget, themed "Building on Success", includes an expansion in Medicaid, a key goal for Cooper after 2021's approved budget ended up not including it.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/nc-budget-recommendation-cooper-government-politics/275-d4a82d27-8228-4a87-b35f-2f45ef1139d0
Atrium Health announced Wednesday that it will merge with Advocate Aurora Health to provide a leading health care system for patients in the U.S. Together, the two companies will form Advocate Health. Atrium Health, which is one of Charlotte's largest employers, will nearly double in size as part of this merger. The company will serve more than 5 million patients across 1,000 sites and 67 hospitals. Advocate Health's headquarters will be based in Charlotte. It will have locations in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina and Wisconsin. The company will employ over 7,600 doctors, 41,000 nurses and 148,000 total employees.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/business/atrium-health-advocate-aurora-health-merger-charlotte-headquarters/275-0bb988a8-6209-45e1-a3dc-1e220a03769c
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A white wreath hangs on a house on ACL avenue in Cheraw, South Carolina, just up the road from the Lanely Landing on the Great Pee Dee River. There are other new floral arrangements in the front yard and a sign from a local funeral home. “We are dealing with this the best we can,” Thomas Gary said about the sudden death of his 12-year-old granddaughter Stori Gary. “She was everywhere I went.” He said about his youngest grandchild who drowned last week in the river," he said.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/wake-up-charlotte/drowning-cheraw-sc-mourns-loss-wake-up-charlotte-wcnc/275-699ca5d8-e844-47ee-bb67-59ef85931869
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools has hired Crystal Hill as the new chief of staff. Hill comes from Cabarrus County Schools. She became the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction in Cabarrus County after the resignation of her predecessor. Hill's hire was announced at Tuesday night's board meeting. CMS Interim Superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh says Hill's focus is on the district's Title IX office, which ensures CMS is following federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation. In November 2021, the district added additional staff to its office after multiple students claimed complaints of sexual harassment were mishandled by the district. "She'll be dealing with Title IX, which is a big issue, critical issue, strategic management, and other issues," said Hattabaugh.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cms-board-meeting-may-10-2022-local-education/275-a3334c80-afb8-485d-97ae-23e4fa0330ac
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Passionate community members of Charlotte took the mic and weighed in on how the city should spend the proposed $3.24 billion budget. Around 100 community members showed up to the Charlotte City Council meeting on Monday, May 9. Many from the crowd were members of the Charlotte city workforce. People cheered during public comment and advocated for the adoption of the budget. In the proposal, there is an increase of pay for city employees including water, sewer and transit hourly workers. The budget would raise the minimum hourly pay for a 40-hour work week to $20 an hour. Employees on a salary would see a 4% hike in pay.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/city-of-charlotte-budget-public-feedback/275-a32a6817-d6f5-45f1-9819-95db8c9b2cb6
A former Alabama jail official on the run with a murder suspect she was accused of helping escape shot and killed herself Monday as authorities caught up with the pair after more than a week of searching, officials said. The man she fled with surrendered. The death of Vicky White, 56, only deepened the mystery of why a respected jail official would leave everything to help free Casey White, 38, a hulking inmate with a violent and frightening history.
The two fugitives were caught — following a manhunt through three states — in Evansville, Indiana, when U.S. Marshals chasing them crashed into their vehicle, authorities said. Casey White gave himself up and Vicky White shot herself and was taken to a hospital, authorities said. Vanderburgh County Coroner Steve Lockyear said she died from her injuries.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/ex-jail-official-alabama-inmate-caught-in-indiana/507-058346a2-d557-4a15-9a23-a3cfc33e1d33
The leak of the Supreme Court's majority draft opinion in favor striking down Roe vs. Wade still has Congress scrambling. The issue is inflaming passions on both sides. There have been rallies in support of and in protest against the Supreme Court's potential decision. On Mother's Day, hundreds gathered in support of abortion rights at Freedom Park in Charlotte. “Our community is desperate for our freedoms," Reproductive Rights Coalition Charlotte leader Hope Robertson said. Freedom of choice was at the forefront Sunday. Local leaders from the Reproductive Rights Coalition, Charlotte for Choice and the Black Abortion Defense League organized the protest calling for safe and legal abortion access. Several women spoke about how they or someone they knew decided to have an abortion.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/charlotte-abortion-rights-rally-roe-v-wade-supreme-court-leaked-draft-opinion/275-711de895-d2f3-4864-b509-14576c33412c
Details remain limited following a shooting that happened on May 8 in west Charlotte. Medic confirmed one person was transported with "life-threatening" injuries after a shooting in the 2500 block of Little Rock Road Sunday night. A crew from WCNC Charlotte was at the scene and located a heavy police presence, crime tape and damaged car near a shopping center in the area. The shooting allegedly happened around 8 p.m. Traffic from Tuckaseegee Road into Little Rock Road was also impacted due to the scene.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/west-charlotte-shooting-investigation-shopping-center/275-201c005a-713f-4158-8de6-6555a896425e
Friday is a Weather Aware Day for the Charlotte region as a line of storms will bring the threat of damaging winds, hail and isolated tornadoes to the Carolinas. Forecaster Larry Sprinkle says there will be some spotty showers Friday morning ahead of the main line but most of that morning rain will be gone by lunchtime Friday. This period of sunshine will create storm fuel that leads to favorable conditions for severe weather in the Carolinas. FULL FORECAST: https://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/severe-weather/severe-weather-possible-charlotte-region-friday-weather-aware-brad-panovich-tornado-hail-thunderstorms/275-54ac4078-c549-459e-98ce-5975ad68aff8 Plus, COVID-19 activity is on the rise in North Carolina and Mecklenburg County. The good news, is hospitalizations are still extremely low, meaning people are getting sick but not sick enough to get hospitalized. Richard DeVayne has the latest from Dr. Raynard Washington, plus an update on what health officials are saying about another booster shot as we head into the summer. FULL STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/vaccine/covid-19-booster-doctors-vaccinations-varies/275-f6bacdbc-f8ad-44e3-b4dd-db5e7a0026f8 And finally, new data from NerdWallet shows a graduate degree might not be worth it. Seriously! Researchers found the average person with a master's degree earns only about $400,000 more over the course of their lifetime compared to people with bachelor's degrees. Now, there are some variables, like your major and career field, but it's something to think about if you're worried about taking on more student loans. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
CMS board leaders met with state officials to discuss their legislative goals for the district on Tuesday. The board of education will meet with members of the North Carolina General Assembly. The meeting comes before the State House and Senate are set to convene in Raleigh on Wednesday. CMS leaders laid out multiple requests from the state, including allowing the school board to switch to remote learning during severe weather or other emergency situations. The district also wants its board to be able to determine the school start and stop dates for all schools within the CMS system. Currently, the dates are limited to a certain window from the state.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cms-board-meeting-state-leaders-north-carolina/275-9a075395-1416-4a4c-b328-203388eff4c3
Employers posted a record 11.5 million job openings in March and the United States now has an unprecedented two job openings for every person who is unemployed. The latest data released Tuesday further reveals an extraordinarily tight labor market that has emboldened millions of Americans to seek better paying jobs, while also contributing to the biggest inflation surge in four decades. A record 4.5 million Americans quit their jobs in March — a sign that they are confident they can find better pay or improved working conditions elsewhere. Layoffs, which has been running around 1.8 million a month before the pandemic hit the economy in early 2020, ticked up to 1.4 million in March from 1.35 million in February, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday. The U.S. job market is on a hot streak. Employers have added an average of more than 540,000 jobs a month for the past year. The Labor Department is expected to report Friday that the economy generated another 400,000 new jobs in April, according to a survey by the data firm FactSet. That would mark an unprecedented 12th straight month that hiring has come in at 400,000 or more. The U.S. economy and job market roared back with unexpected strength from 2020's brief but devastating coronavirus recession, fueled by massive government spending and super-low interested rates engineered by the Federal Reserve.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/record-millions-job-openings-in-march/507-9120e0e5-4171-4c24-b8cf-cfb2b41331c7
A loaded gun was found on the campus of Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology Monday morning, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools confirmed. A CMS spokesperson said the weapon was found while the student was going through one of the school's new body scanners. The 18-year-old student was arrested and charged with gun possession charges, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. CMS said the school was not put on lockdown. "Please speak with your students about the serious consequences of bringing a weapon to school," school principal Tanya Branham said in a message to parents.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/loaded-gun-berry-academy-charlotte-north-carolina/275-9bbee12f-5d8d-4795-bb65-0d765c9c0162
The first civilians evacuated from the bombed-out steel plant that has become the last stronghold of Ukrainian fighters in Mariupol slowly made their way toward safety Monday, as others who managed to escape the city described terrifying weeks of bombardment and deprivation. More than 100 civilians — including elderly women and mothers with small children — left the sprawling, rubble-strewn Azovstal steel mill on Sunday and set out in buses and ambulances for the Ukrainian-controlled city of Zaporizhzhia, about 140 miles (230 kilometers) to the northwest, according to authorities and video released by the two sides.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/ukraine/first-evacuees-from-mariupol/507-8652663e-c7b5-405f-8caa-c14055db01df
Partners at a Starbucks location in Boone have reportedly voted overwhelmingly in favor of unionizing, becoming the first store in the Carolinas and in the Tar Heel State to have a certified union. In a statement shared on Saturday, Starbucks United Boone announced members at the Blowing Rock Road location voted 33-2 in favor of unionizing. The union said partners formally declared intent to join the nationwide Starbucks Workers United movement on April 4, with votes in an election finalized on April 30.
"We first want to extend our deepest gratitude to our friends and neighbors for providing us with invaluable support throughout this process," part of the statement read. "To our Boone community- your displays of solidarity, your supportive words, your belief in us, and your willingness to stand with us has done more for our team and for this movement than we can convey. Additionally, thank you to all our partners for working to stand up for what they believe in, for exercising their right to vote, and for committing an unbelievable amount of time and dedication to this process."
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/starbucks-union-store-boone-north-carolina-local-money-news/275-0eff5ba6-19af-41f4-b121-bf88384129c3
A pillar of leadership in Huntersville is continuing to be remembered by the community. Jill Swain, the former mayor of Huntersville, passed away on Thursday, April 28. Swain was a civil servant in the community, starting in 1999 as a commissioner. She served in that role for eight years before being elected mayor. Swain was mayor of Huntersville from 2007 to 2015. She was most recently the executive director for the Huntersville Regional Chamber of Commerce. Her passing was felt across the state with U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R - North Carolina) also paying tribute to her on social media.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/celebration-of-life-jill-swain-huntersville-scheduled/275-0b5d76d4-9a08-4d76-ae15-8490be5d4b1a
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Leaders in Hickory are pursuing legal action following the collapse of wooden arches over the Rudy Wright pedestrian bridge from Feb. 18. Documents obtained by WCNC Charlotte showed a lawsuit was filed Wednesday, April 27, in Catawba County Superior Court. The defendants in the case have been identified as Neill Grading and Construction Company, Dane Construction and Western Wood Structures. City of Hickory is identified as the plaintiff. According to the complaint, the city is suing the companies for breach of contract and negligence for their work with the arches.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/hickory-lawsuit-collapsed-arches-rudy-wright-bridge/275-162f6863-6e0a-4883-9967-55e377d63b70
A Fort Bragg family is in mourning tonight after a US Army soldier was killed in a military vehicle accident. Three other soldiers who were injured are still receiving treatment at the hospital. At the moment, it's unclear what’s responsible -- whether equipment failed, or if a mistake was made. WRAL News has been searching for answers from officials on post. Soldiers who spoke with WRAL News said military activities are risky, and the injury or death of a fellow soldier is always difficult to process. Thomas MacDougald, a medic who proudly serves in the 82nd Airborne Division of the Army, says during his four years of service, he's seen many soldiers get hurt.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/regional/fort-bragg-soldier-dies-3-injuried-military-vehicle-accident-nc/275-ed368619-ade6-4f13-a553-1233f783f1ce
Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper refused to answer questions about the team's training facility in Rock Hill Wednesday, saying he stood by his previous statements and wanted to honor the city's request to avoid a public back and forth. "We released a statement already," Tepper said. "We will respect the city's request not to have a back and forth in public about it. They requested it, we're going to respect it." It was announced on April 20 that Tepper's real estate company was terminating the agreement surrounding the York County training facility. Tepper said he still wants to sit down with Rock Hill leaders and talk, but did not say if he’s committed to keeping the Carolina Panthers project in Rock Hill. Instead, the NFL team owner said he’ll support York County in other ways. “No matter what they say about me, we will be there for the people of Rock Hill, supporting the community in different fashions," Tepper said. "In charity and I think we’ll probably be in York County for Keep Pounding day." READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/nfl/panthers/carolina-panthers-david-tepper-news-conference-rock-hill-training-facility-nfl-draft/275-407f9154-e581-4c9f-b77e-ce789f48f81b
A Mooresville man is warning others about how to protect your personal property after he says he found a credit card skimmer at a gas station pump. On Tuesday night at the Speedway in Mooresville, Erick Baxter says he performed his typical routine checking the card reader before filling up. But this time was different. “I was like, 'Look I found it!' Kind of like Charlie in the Chocolate Factory type of thing, like the golden ticket," Baxter said. He said he discovered a credit card skimmer that appeared to be attached to the pump by double sided tape. Oftentimes the skimmers aren't so obvious, but Baxter says a simple step can help you notice a difference. “If you give it a slight tug, it comes right off which is exactly what happened," Baxter said.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/mooresville-man-finds-credit-card-skimmer-gas-pump/275-2e386db1-7b23-4afd-9211-d194f7b537ab
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Tuesday evening, Hugh Hattabaugh assumed a familiar role of leading Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, the second-largest school district in North Carolina, on an interim basis, presiding over a meeting in which board members voted to approve a budget that his predecessor Earnest Winston proposed. If approved by Mecklenburg County Commissioners, the proposal would provide a pay raise for teachers. The budget proposal includes an average state salary increase of up to 2.7% for teachers, assistant principals, and other certified staff. It also proposes a 10% increase for the local teacher supplement. A new teacher with a bachelor's degree currently gets paid more than $41,000 a year at CMS. If the proposal passes, that same teacher would get more than $43,000.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/cms-board-budget-request-voting/275-a9373cf3-c150-417d-85ec-4f80e65d2901
The U.S. defense chief urged Ukraine's allies to “move at the speed of war” to get more and heavier weapons to Kyiv as Russian forces rained fire on eastern and southern Ukraine amid new fears that the fighting could spill over the country’s borders. For the second day, explosions rocked the separatist region of Trans-Dniester Tuesday in neighboring Moldova, knocking out two powerful radio antennas. And a Russian missile hit a strategic railroad bridge linking Ukraine’s Odesa port region to neighboring Romania, a NATO member, Ukrainian authorities said. Meanwhile, two other neighboring NATO members, Poland and Bulgaria, said the Kremlin is cutting off natural gas supplies starting Wednesday, the first such actions of the war. Poland has been a major gateway for the delivery of weapons to Ukraine and confirmed this week that it is sending the country tanks.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/ukraine/russia-ukraine-war-wednesday/507-697cc9ca-2e5a-436c-9dcf-801c96b2b838
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
The Epicentre, a once-thriving entertainment hub stretching the entirety of a Charlotte city block, will be auctioned off as a result of its bankruptcy, court documents obtained by WCNC Charlotte Monday confirmed. In an auction scheduled for May 12 at 10 a.m., the highest bidder will walk away as the owner of the complex. The Epicentre was built in 2008 on the site of the old Charlotte Convention Center. It grew into a popular nightlife spot. “When I was younger there was a lot of businesses a lot of people come and go but It’s been closed down for a long time now," Charlotte resident Caniyah Asbury said. Matt Ragona, the original architect for the site and current operator of Ragona Architecture & Design, said his team sought to create an urban town center utilizing the negative space as outdoor public spaces.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/epicentre-auction-bankruptcy-uptown-charlotte/275-c861f8a9-c339-4aa6-ac1e-22ec47d8b3e8
Former cadet and now current firefighter Elliot Bishai pleaded guilty to his involvement in the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Bishai appeared in front of Magistrate Robin Meriweather in D.C. District Court Monday morning to enter a guilty plea to entering or remaining on restricted grounds. It carries a maximum one-year prison sentence. Bishai and another cadet, Elias Irizarry, were arrested in 2021 after the FBI received a tip from a witness who positively identified Bishai and Irizarry from video and photos of the attack. A photo showed Bishai, Irizarry with one other person inside the U.S. Capitol. The third person was later identified as Grayson Sherill. He was arrested on March 1.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/national-politics/capitol-riot-fort-mill-guilty-elliot-bishai/275-20ee9e39-23a8-45e2-bba7-5e90e2d6699c
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district will see a familiar face back on campus Monday. Hugh Hattabaugh started his career with CMS back in 2007 and served as interim superintendent for the district in the 2011-12 school year. The school board of education voted to have him step in for the role during an emergency meeting on April 19. "He is a man of high integrity," board member Rhonda Cheek said during the meeting. "He is a man who understands organizational leadership and the operation of a school district.” Hattabaugh will take over for now-former superintendent Earnest Winston who was fired earlier this month for low performance. He rejoins the district at a critical time when academic performance and low tests scores are a big concern.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cms-interim-superintendent-hugh-hattabaugh-campus-monday/275-c0464f43-444b-4d55-9f0b-3daa79ef71ce
Leslie McCrae Dowless Jr., the key player in a North Carolina absentee ballot fraud probe that led to a do-over congressional election, has died. His daughter, Andrea Dowless Heverly, wrote that her father “passed away peacefully" Sunday morning, according to a social media post. He had been diagnosed with an advanced form of lung cancer and died at his daughter's home in Bladen County, his friend Jay DeLancy told The Associated Press in a brief interview. Dowless was in his mid-60s. The political operative was set to go on trial this summer on more than a dozen state criminal counts related to absentee ballot activities for the 2016 general election and the 2018 primary and general elections. A half-dozen others were also charged.
READ https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/mccrae-dowless-9th-district-has-died/275-04b7b022-c49d-4c30-a7c5-847cb9c73ab3
The city of Rock Hill and the city of Tega Cay in South Carolina are both being sued by York County for reportedly failing to pay for services associated with sending inmates to the York County Detention Center, including not paying or reimbursing the county for housing its inmates. Attorneys representing York County believe this lawsuit is about the "dignity of local governments under Home Rule." In the lawsuit released Thursday, attorneys stated in June 2021 the two cities along with the city of Fort Mill, the town of Clover, and the city of York sent a joint letter to York County Council. In the letter, the municipalities said they would still send inmates to the detention center but had no plans to reimburse the county for the expenses associated with the inmates from the respected municipalities.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/rock-hill-tega-cay-sued-york-county-failing-to-pay-detention-center-housing-inmates/275-1f0c38ca-6ac3-4f65-a432-7d52339f6850
Residents of a Fort Mill neighborhood are upset after several families reported receiving sewer bills for the month of March charging them $1,000 or even $2,000. Kevin Connolly has lived in Sutton Place for more than 10 years, and despite living alone with his wife and paying his bills on time, he was charged $2,139.39 in March. “They cannot convince me, they cannot show the technical data, to support that bill," Connolly said. "They can’t."
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/fort-mill-neighborhood-reports-soaring-sewer-bill/275-30d95b5d-ee1f-44dd-9ddf-867f393e2bc0
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
The uncertainty concerning the Carolina Panthers Training Facility and Headquarters project in Rock Hill, South Carolina, got a bit clearer Tuesday when Panthers' owner David Tepper's GT Real Estate Holdings told WCNC Charlotte they would be terminating the agreement surrounding the project. Speaking Wednesday, McMaster said the state held up its end of the deal. "Our part was done -- that was the interchange, which was needed in any event but it'll be getting there a little earlier than was planned, but that area of the state is growing. But the parties -- the city and the county and the Tepper organization -- seem to have differences that they could not reconcile and that's a disappointment." McMaster previously addressed the paused facility at a news conference on April 12. McMaster said he's spoken to Tepper and says he hopes both parties can come to an agreement. "The state has done its part and we would encourage everyone to resolve whatever differences and let's get moving," McMaster said. "We want the Panthers to do the right thing."
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/nfl/panthers/panthers-terminating-rock-hill-south-carolina-project-agreements/275-be9a47a6-22f4-448b-aa84-8801a29278db
A Conover-based furniture company is expanding west, while also creating new jobs. On Wednesday, Gov. Roy Cooper praised Vanguard Furniture Company's plans to add 100 new jobs with a $5.9 million expansion to Morganton. This will add on to the family-held company's 680 employees, who work out of seven facilities in Conover and in Hillsville, Virginia, along with showrooms in High Point and Las Vegas. “North Carolina continues to be the global leader for furniture manufacturing,” said Gov. Cooper. “Vanguard’s decision to expand in our state affirms that our quality of life and skilled workforce can provide a thriving business climate that brings success.”
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/vanguard-furniture-company-jobs-expansion-money-local/275-f4edbbef-aa4f-46a9-856b-e691323caaae
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
"Effective immediately, masks are optional on Charlotte Area Transit System vehicles for customers and employees," CATS announced Tuesday. CATS cited the federal judge ruling in Florida on Monday that struck down the Biden administration's mask mandate for public transportation, including airplanes. While the ruling is still being reviewed, the Biden administration said the order would be no longer in effect. As of April 2, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' COVID-19 dashboard, 76% of adults in North Carolina are vaccinated and 38% of children and teens are vaccinated. Data collected during the two-week period between March 20 and April 2 showed no counties in North Carolina are in a high-level risk of illness and strain on the health care system, though six counties are in the medium-risk level. Mecklenburg County is listed in the low-level risk READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/masks-cats-vehicles/275-48491c9c-09f5-432f-b61c-ce65fe3f7c34
Moderna hopes to offer updated COVID-19 boosters in the fall that combine its original vaccine with protection against the omicron variant. On Tuesday, it reported a preliminary hint that such an approach might work. Today's COVID-19 vaccines all are based on the original version of the coronavirus. But the virus continues to mutate, with the super-contagious omicron variant — and its siblings — the latest threat. Before omicron came along, Moderna was studying a combination shot that added protection against an earlier variant named beta. Tuesday, the company said people given that beta-original vaccine combination produced more antibodies capable of fighting several variants — including omicron — than today’s regular booster triggers.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/moderna-covid-vaccine-omicron/507-3554be0f-a31d-4232-83da-f4d31fa7ea81
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education announced an emergency meeting will be held Tuesday on "matters related to superintendent contracts and attendant personnel items." While officials would not go on the record Monday to confirm, Tuesday's meeting is expected to address reports Earnest Winston would be leaving the job after fewer than three years. Winston was named superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools back on Aug. 2, 2019, following the suspension and resignation of Clayton Wilcox that same year. Winston's current employment contract, which was extended in February 2021, currently continues until June 2025.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/earnest-winston-cms-schools/275-5a0fa9ac-2420-4864-b0ae-24bcffc4a3a0
The Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office and Sheriff Garry McFadden are facing a lawsuit in connection to a juvenile who died by suicide while in the Mecklenburg County Jail. The family of the detainee, who is referred to in the press release as "D.W.", is represented by Littlejohn Law, PLLC, and Tin Fulton Walker & Owens. According to the lawsuit, the incident occurred at the Mecklenburg County Jail North facility on Nov. 21, 2020.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/lawsuit-mecklenburg-county-dw-jail-death-inmate/275-03dbdd3a-9ec0-453d-b811-d4ba0528d364
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Millions of Americans wait until the last minute to file their taxes and this year is no exception. Monday is Tax Day — the federal deadline for individual tax filing and payments — and the IRS will receive tens of millions of last-minute filings electronically and through paper forms. As of April 8, the IRS had received more than 103 million returns for this tax season, and it had issued more than 63 million refunds worth more than $204 billion. For comparison, last year more than 169 million people completed an income tax return by the end of the year. That probably leaves nearly 40% of this year's taxpayers still unaccounted for, with many scrambling to submit their documents by Monday. Nina Tross at the National Society of Tax Professionals says if people haven’t filed their taxes by now, “they're better off filing an extension.”
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/tax-day-irs-extension/507-38af10ee-0df4-4d48-b83a-e907d876b913
There are thousands of hemp-based products sold across the state, but it could soon all become illegal. Hemp products have been legal in the state since 2015 when lawmakers passed the Hemp Pilot Program bill. It removed the term hemp from the definition of marijuana under the state's Controlled Substance Act. However, in January, the state’s hemp farming laws expired. The state’s hemp exemption laws will also expire by June 30. State lawmakers are considering a medical marijuana bill but its narrow definition would not include hemp.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/hemp-based-products-could-become-illegal-in-north-carolina/83-e0602a87-1369-43ef-8d6d-52d8254be25e
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday issued an emergency use authorization for what it said is the first device that can detect COVID-19 in breath samples. The InspectIR COVID-19 Breathalyzer is about the size of a piece of carry-on luggage, the FDA said, and can be used in doctor’s offices, hospitals and mobile testing sites. The test, which can provide results in less than three minutes, must be carried out under the supervision of a licensed health care provider. Dr. Jeff Shuren, director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, called the device “yet another example of the rapid innovation occurring with diagnostic tests for COVID-19.” The FDA said the device was 91.2% accurate at identifying positive test samples and 99.3% accurate at identifying negative test samples. “InspectIR expects to be able to produce approximately 100 instruments per week, which can each be used to evaluate approximately 160 samples per day,” the agency said. “At this level of production, testing capacity using the InspectIR COVID-19 Breathalyzer is expected to increase by approximately 64,000 samples per month.” READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/covid-19-breath-test-fda-authorization/507-bd965cb6-2142-49e1-9490-93d21970989e
A Union County high school remembered its beloved football coach Thursday evening. Parkwood High School's Terrance Gittens died unexpectedly last week. The stadium lights at the Parkwood High Stadium didn't turn on Thursday night. Instead, candles were lit over the field where Coach Gittence once led his team. "We're grieving, we're sad, we're angry," Terrence Gittens, Jr. said. He took over as head coach back in May 2020. His son, Terrence, and daughter, Mya, were overcome with support as for nearly two hours, his former colleagues, players and family shared stories of a head coach in his prime -- with a whole life ahead of him.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/wake-up-charlotte/vigil-parkwood-high-school-terrance-gittens/275-ceed215e-e755-41b4-807b-21fda8a2c948
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Several state and local leaders in South Carolina continue to search for answers following the Carolina Panthers decision to pause construction on a practice facility and team headquarters in Rock Hill. South Carolina State Representative JA Moore (D - District 15) condemned the recent actions taken by Carolina Panthers team owner David Tepper in a statement provided Wednesday, April 13. No public comments have been issued by the Carolina Panthers organization, or Tepper, following the announcement that construction was halted on March 7. Moore spoke with WCNC Charlotte by Zoom on Wednesday and said he was concerned something like this would happen back years ago. Gov. Henry McMaster signed the so-called "Panthers Bill" into law back in June 2019. The bill gave the Panthers roughly $115 million in tax breaks to relocate across the state line.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/south-carolina-state-representative-carolina-panthers-rock-hill-construction-paused/275-b179ddfb-23ec-44b4-8fa1-9d9ca3d69ccf
The man accused of shooting 10 people on a Brooklyn subway train was arrested Wednesday and charged with a federal terrorism offense after the suspect himself called police to come get him, law enforcement officials said. Frank R. James, 62, was taken into custody about 30 hours after the carnage on a rush-hour train, which left five victims in critical condition and people around the city on edge.
“My fellow New Yorkers, we got him," Mayor Eric Adams said. James was awaiting arraignment on a charge that pertains to terrorist or other violent attacks against mass transit systems and carries a sentence of up to life in prison, Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said. In recent months, James railed in online videos about racism and violence in the U.S. and about his experiences with mental health care in New York City, and he had criticized Adams' policies on mental health and subway safety. But the motive for the subway attack remains unclear, and there is no indication that James had ties to terror organizations, international or otherwise, Peace said.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/hunt-for-nyc-subway-gunman/507-9d392b57-06e3-441f-b3b0-80a95ee25c2e
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
U.S. Representative Ralph Norman is the latest leader to speak regarding the Carolina Panthers training facility project in Rock Hill. The project has now been on hold for more than a month, and despite receiving a new funding offer from both the City of Rock Hill and York County, Panthers owner David Tepper has not responded. In a public letter released Sunday night, Norman called on Tepper to “break the silence and be transparent about what’s happening from his perspective.” The major construction site on 240 acres has sat idle for weeks, and hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake. “The longer it goes, people will assume that it’s just dead,” Norman said. “The taxpayers deserve a lot better than what they’re getting. To go this far for something this big… something’s not right.” The project was first paused in early March. WCNC Charlotte later learned Rock Hill failed to secure $225 million in bonds to pay for roads, sidewalks and other public infrastructure on the site. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/rock-hill/panthers-david-tepper-new-offer-training-facility-rock-hill/275-552fe774-2fc1-4344-9398-9a51488d9fe6
U.S. Marshals arrested a man who had been wanted on multiple charges in northeast Charlotte Tuesday afternoon. Daniel Black was wanted for a parole violation in 2020 and had warrants for robbery and felony conspiracy with the U.S. Marshals. Investigators said Black had an extensive criminal history that includes resisting arrest, narcotics, firearm by a felon and larceny with firearms. A WCNC Charlotte viewer was at a shopping center in University City Tuesday when federal agents surrounded an SUV outside the Ross department store on JW Clay Boulevard. Black, identified as the driver of the SUV, attempted to back out but was blocked by a light pole and other vehicles. Investigators said Black was located after his vehicle was pinged in the area.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/us-marshals-arrest-ross-shopping-center-university-city-charlotte-north-carolina/275-8d161c78-ffd4-4529-a963-67bca3af28d3
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
City of Charlotte leaders are looking to ease the affordable housing crisis and are eyeing several new projects that could bring hundreds of affordable homes to the region. “The ability for people to afford housing and be able to live in the city is of the utmost importance because cities are made up of people,” Charlotte City Councilman Braxton Winston said. Funding for a handful of projects was approved during Monday's Charlotte City Council meeting. It means funding is now available for the development of more than 600 affordable homes. According to information provided to WCNC Charlotte, about 140 units would be geared toward households that make less than 30% of the average median income.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/markets/real-estate/affordable-housing-crisis/affordable-housing-projects-eyed-by-city-of-charlotte-leaders/275-50f17024-cf45-4edf-85d5-371d36025a69
U.S. Representative Ralph Norman is the latest leader to speak regarding the Carolina Panthers training facility project in Rock Hill. The project has now been on hold for more than a month, and despite receiving a new funding offer from both the City of Rock Hill and York County, Panthers owner David Tepper has not responded. In a public letter released Sunday night, Norman called on Tepper to “break the silence and be transparent about what’s happening from his perspective.” The major construction site on 240 acres has sat idle for weeks, and hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake. “The longer it goes, people will assume that it’s just dead,” Norman said. “The taxpayers deserve a lot better than what they’re getting. To go this far for something this big… something’s not right.”
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/rock-hill/panthers-david-tepper-new-offer-training-facility-rock-hill/275-552fe774-2fc1-4344-9398-9a51488d9fe6
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Weddington officials are giving residents more time to voice their concerns after an overwhelming response to a proposed development project Monday night. The 80-acre mixed-use project would allow new homes, retail, restaurants and green space in a town center-style development between Providence Road and Weddington Road. Many people say the development would make an already crowded area too busy. Diana Iannacone has lived in the same house for 30 years. She raised her family in Weddington because of the quiet rural feel. “When we first moved here, people would ride their horses,” Iannacone said. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/weddington-nc-rezoning-proposal-concerns-raised/275-eaa9cb54-d060-488f-b18a-f8af890b68b9
City of Charlotte leaders are looking to ease the affordable housing crisis and will consider several new projects this week that could bring hundreds of affordable homes to the region. “The ability for people to afford housing and be able to live in the city is of the utmost importance because cities are made up of people,” Charlotte City Councilman Braxton Winston said. If the projects are approved, it could mean the development of more than 600 affordable homes. According to information provided to WCNC Charlotte, about 140 units would be geared toward households that make less than 30% of the average median income. City Council Member Dimple Ajmera said it's a step in the right direction, but added that the need far outweighs what is being proposed.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/markets/real-estate/affordable-housing-crisis/affordable-housing-projects-eyed-by-city-of-charlotte-leaders/275-50f17024-cf45-4edf-85d5-371d36025a69
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
A well-known brewing company based in Charlotte is suing another company because it "ripped off" a trademark. According to court documents obtained by WCNC Charlotte, Sycamore Brewing is suing Stone Brewing, based out of California, for using the "Keep It Juicy" phrase on merchandise and in advertising.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/sycamore-brewing-charlotte-keep-it-juicy-copyright-lawsuit/275-8914e085-7398-4c4c-b7e9-9abb7e793bac
The Senate confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court on Thursday, shattering a historic barrier by securing her place as the first Black female justice and giving President Joe Biden a bipartisan endorsement for his effort to diversify the court. Jackson, a 51 year-old appeals court judge with nine years experience on the federal bench, was confirmed 53-47, mostly along party lines but with three Republican votes. Presiding was Vice President Kamala Harris, also the first Black woman to reach that high office.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/ketanji-brown-jackson-supreme-court-senate-confirmation-vote/507-114300dc-82a4-4af5-b88b-f7220848ed80
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools still plans to eventually distribute clear backpacks to high school students, according to superintendent Earnest Winston. Last week, when schools were giving out the bags, they stopped due to due to a warning tag issue related to possibly harmful materials. The district spent close to half a million dollars on the backpacks as part of a larger effort to reduce weapons in schools. "We are talking to the vendor and the manufacturer to make sure that we erase all doubts with regard to the safety of the backpacks," said Winston. "The issue that has come up recently is specifically related to California.” Winston said CMS wants to do its own investigation into proposition 65 tags on some of the bags. He didn't expand on what exactly an investigation consists of.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/clear-backpacks-cms-charlotte-nc-crime-education-local/275-2b974449-80f1-4ced-9577-1dac43075a82
South Carolina State Senator Wes Climer (R-York County) is not holding back on his thoughts on David Tepper and the Carolina Panthers. It has been a month since the organization pressed pause on an $800 million construction project that included a practice facility and team headquarters in Rock Hill. York County Council voted on March 21 to bring a new financing offer for infrastructure at the site. On March 29, Rock Hill City Council adopted a resolution supporting the financing plan. But for the project to get the OK, Tepper Sports and Entertainment also has to sign off on the deal. WCNC Charlotte has reportedly reached out to the organization for a statement with the last attempt on April 5 with no response. Climer told WCNC Charlotte on Wednesday everyone from the city, county and state arenas has worked over the years in good faith to bring the project to fruition. He added it is time for a resolution.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/sc-state-senator-york-county-carolina-panthersconstruction-project/275-8694e91f-2237-4ee2-8a68-5c305af750fa
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Thousands more Charlotte-Mecklenburg high school students will start going through body scanners in the coming weeks. CMS Superintendent Earnest Winston said at a Tuesday night school board meeting the district will put body scanners in 14 more high schools to try and curb weapons entering campuses. It’s been a little under a week since seven initial CMS high schools started using body scanners.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cms-body-scanners-high-schools-next-phase/275-4ebe3914-672d-4726-9cf7-af22140f4d40
Criminal charges have been filed against a now-former Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools bus driver accused of swabbing students' cheeks, the District Attorney's Office confirmed to WCNC Charlotte. CMS parents previously said they were concerned their child's bus driver pressed kids into giving up a swab from inside their mouth. According to the parents, the students said the driver offered money for the supposed COVID-19 test. “It was a red flag, and it happened on the bus, on the school grounds," CMS parent Dawn Thompson previously told WCNC Charlotte.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/cms-former-bus-driver-facing-charges-swab-cheek/275-a557de85-d05f-4560-b2fa-7c682fea8c2d
Charlotte city leaders are seeking solutions to the city's affordable housing crisis. Monday night, Charlotte City Council discussed several new projects that would bring hundreds of affordable apartments and some homes to the Queen City. The city of Charlotte is looking to add 602 new and affordable units throughout the city. "There is a real crisis," District 4 councilwoman Renee Perkins Johnson said. "People cannot afford to live here." READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/markets/real-estate/affordable-housing-crisis/charlotte-city-council-affordable-housing-plans/275-338486e9-9b03-4709-be6a-df681f4cfc3d
Teachers in Cabarrus County could get some extra cash heading into summertime. The school board heard a presentation Monday about a $475 bonus for all certified staff including teachers and certified instructional support staff. That's an estimated 2,500 employees. The payment would be made on May 31 and be funded with state allotment. This initiative is separate from the $1,000 bonus that Cabarrus County teachers received earlier this year.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cabarrus-county-teachers-bonus-pay/275-96006771-75dd-4924-b7f2-45e078bc2876
The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations nationwide are at an all-time low falling 32% over the last two weeks. We are also seeing similar trends here in the Carolinas with South Carolina and most of North Carolina having low community levels. Health officials say hospitalizations are continuing to decrease week after week, and even though the BA.2 subvariant of omicron is becoming more prominent they’re not expecting a surge in cases.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/covid-19-hospitalizations-all-time-low-nc-charlotte/275-2b5e61a8-a321-435e-8e3d-cdffc52b22f2
A Fort Mill restaurant was forced to close on April 3 after a car drove into the building causing major damage. In a Facebook post, Flipside Cafe stated the driver passed out and drove into the restaurant. Employees and guests were injured.
"I don't think people realize how crazy this could've been," Jonathan Fortes, owner told WCNC Charlotte. Fortes also said one guest was transported to a local hospital and three employees suffered minor injuries.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/fort-mill-restaurant-closed-flipside-cafe-car-into-building/275-56bd9fd8-8ecc-4010-822a-2d96f4256962
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
A tornado likely touched down near the border of Anson and Stanly counties in North Carolina Thursday. Photos shared by the Anson County Emergency Management show severe weather storm damage from the possible tornado in the Burnsville community near Polkton. Emergency officials said chicken houses were destroyed, and damage occurred to homes and trees. The National Weather Service in Raleigh, which has jurisdiction issuing warnings for this area, will visit the site Friday to confirm the strength of the storm responsible for the damage.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/suspected-tornado-polkton-stanly-county-severe-weather/275-bd757562-96c9-43af-b239-050be6bbba61
A 12-year-old boy has died after deputies in the upstate of South Carolina say he was shot inside a middle school by another boy Thursday afternoon. More than 200 law enforcement officers, including deputies with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office in the upstate of South Carolina, responded to the shooting at Tanglewood Middle School, on Greenville's western side. NBC affiliate WYFF-TV said deputies confirmed the school's resource officer requested emergency backup around 12:30 p.m. after the student was wounded. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/school-shooting-south-carolina-middle-school-greenville-county-crime-regional/275-fc2aad43-554e-421b-8b0a-d0237ebc2386
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Students at Hopewell High School in Huntersville spent their first day going through newly installed body scanners Wednesday morning, as Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools seeks solutions for violence on its campuses. Hopewell is one of seven schools piloting the scanners to test how CMS handles them before they're rolled out at every high school in the district. The decision to install the scanners came after a record number of guns were found on CMS campuses this year. CMS took a hit earlier this week when it had to half the rollout of clear backpacks after they discovered at the last minute that multiple bags that sat in a warehouse had a Proposition 65 label about possible cancer-causing materials in them. The body scanners now join the anonymous reporting app that was introduced earlier this year as new tools to make schools safer. According to a CMS purchase order, $1.6 million was spent on equipment needed for the body scanners in all seven schools. Students said the scanners caused a significant slowdown at the start of the day Wednesday. CMS did not respond to a WCNC Charlotte request to see the scanners installed at Hopewell High School.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/charlotte-mecklenburg-schools-hopewell-high-school-body-scanners-school-security/275-709005f1-b9ba-4f2d-a7cf-8543e06e8890
Beloved actor Bruce Willis is stepping away from his decades-long acting career following a series of recent health issues, his family announced. Willis has recently been diagnosed with aphasia and it is impacting his cognitive abilities, according to a statement posted Wednesday by the 67-year-old's family. "As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him," read the statement signed by Willis' wife, Emma Heming Willis, his ex-wife Demi Moore, and his five children, Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel and Evelyn. "This is a really challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion and support." "As Bruce always says, 'live it up,' and together we plan to do just that," the family statement continued. According to the Mayo Clinic: "Aphasia is a condition that robs you of the ability to communicate. It can affect your ability to speak, write and understand language, both verbal and written."
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/bruce-willis-ends-career-following-health-issues/507-37d981ce-d027-45d4-bd71-36421296d0ba
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein visited Charlotte on Tuesday to discuss the state's efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. Stein was joined by the Center for Prevention Services, Queen City Harm Reduction, the Mecklenburg County Health Department, and other local officials. The discussion focused on the area's allocation of opioid settlement funds, the syringe program, and the negative impact opioid addiction has had on individuals, families, and communities. Stein's visit to Charlotte comes more than six months after four drug companies agreed to pay for their role in fueling the opioid crisis; 48 states, including North Carolina, were set to receive nearly $26 billion total as part of the agreement from pharmaceutical companies Cardinal, McKesson, AmerisourceBergen, and Johnson & Johnson. North Carolina's share was $750 million. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/josh-stein-opioid-discussion-charlotte-north-carolina-local-state-politics-drugs-health/275-36a7f481-3b3c-4d1c-ab22-f44bf9e9aeca
Myers Park High School's football program is forfeiting its 2021-22 season after the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) found fraudulent documents were used for school enrollment and athlete eligibility for the varsity team. In a letter sent to parents, principal Robert Folk said the school was made aware of the fake documents in January 2022 and investigated. The school then self-reported its findings to the NCHSAA.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/myers-park-hs-football-student-ineligibility-education-athletics-sports-local/275-f2dccc79-eb73-4577-a736-b68ebb652d1c
The Carolina Panthers training facility project is still in limbo, and a Rock Hill, South Carolina, business owner spoke out about his concerns by writing a letter and sending it to city and county leaders. Ryan Sanderson is the co-founder of the Knowledge Perk coffee shop. In his letter, he asked leaders to work together so the Panthers training facility project doesn’t leave Rock Hill. “I’m not just trying to look out for my business and my employees, but I’m trying to look out for my kid’s businesses down the road and my grandkid’s businesses down the road,” Sanderson explained. “And I don’t want us to set a precedent of not being able to communicate with the public and [not] collaborate with each other, and lose something as significant as this deal.” READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/business/small-business/carolina-panthers-training-facility-deal-issues-rock-hill-south-carolina-small-businesses/275-e8625fc7-b755-4ac3-b039-5241321d96f7
The day after slapping Chris Rock on the stage of the 94th Academy Awards, Will Smith issued an apology to the comedian, the academy and viewers at home, saying he was “out of line” and that his actions are “not indicative of the man I want to be.” The fallout of Sunday's show continued Monday as the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences condemned Smith's onstage assault and said it would launch an inquiry into it. Later in the day, Smith gave a stronger apology than he did in his best actor acceptance speech, which notably didn't include apologizing to Rock.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/entertainment/events/oscars/academy-condemns-will-smith-actions-launches-review/507-c1f8411a-d49a-416f-95e6-789f30767dbc
A plan years in the making could pick up some traction on Monday, March 28, from Charlotte City Council. According to Monday's agenda, in 2016, members of SouthPark's business community began discussions to create a municipal service district to "enhance the economic vitality of the area." READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/southpark-municipal-service-district-charlotte-city-council/275-d37dd484-2468-4ab8-ab3f-db927e8e34e5 Larry Sprinkle has a look at your Monday forecast, which calls for sunny skies and cool temperatures in the Carolinas, plus we have the latest update on the war in Ukraine, as military leaders fear Russia will try to split the country in half with a goal of controlling the eastern side. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLt!
Two former Charlotte teachers filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission after claiming their attempts to buy the historic Torrence-Lytle School in Huntersville were denied while white buyers were offered lower prices. Tyson and Regina Bates attempted to buy the historic school, which was among the first for Black students in Charlotte, as part of an expansion of their summer camp program. The couple said they wanted to make Torrence-Lytle an affordable private school for underserved students from around the Charlotte area. According to the lawsuit, the Commission required them to submit multiple proposals and provide extensive financial statements, architectural plans and modified the terms of the deal to raise the price. The couple says the Commission offered lower prices to white-owned groups and didn't require significant down payments or extensive financial documents.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/racial-discrimination-lawsuit-torrence-lytle-school-huntersville-north-carolina/275-65b11077-8be4-4ba2-8b69-aeccae81b4ee
Based on pictures and videos sent to WCNC Charlotte Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich and data he gathered, it looks very likely that a tornado touched down in Alexander County Wednesday night. The damage occurred along Mount Olive Church Road around 11 p.m., just north of Ellendale. There seems to be a clear damage path as well as a few mobile homes damaged, too. Tiles were also missing from a few roofs with multiple tree limbs and branches down.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/severe-weather/national-weather-service-survey-damage-alexander-county/275-cf6ea910-cb58-4b05-b22c-b885eec4b96b
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools third-graders continue to fall behind in English Language Arts despite returning to the classroom. This was revealed at Wednesday night's school board meeting in a mid-year progress report on college and career readiness in schools in the district. Preliminary reports show Black and Hispanic third-graders at CMS are still off track to be college and career ready based on English Language Arts scores. Some board members were visibly disappointed that in-person learning didn’t increase scores.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cms-third-graders-falling-behind-despite-in-person-learning/275-8e6270db-c870-486b-8194-945af9af2456
Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine works in babies, toddlers and preschoolers the company announced Wednesday -- and if regulators agree it could mean a chance to finally start vaccinating the littlest kids by summer. Moderna said in the coming weeks it would ask regulators in the U.S. and Europe to authorize two small-dose shots for youngsters under 6. The company also is seeking to have larger-dose shots cleared for older children and teens in the U.S.
The nation’s 18 million children under 5 are the only age group not yet eligible for vaccination. Competitor Pfizer currently offers kid-sized doses for school-age children and full-strength shots for those 12 and older. But parents have anxiously awaited protection for younger tots, disappointed by setbacks and confusion over which shots might work and when. Pfizer is testing even smaller doses for children under 5 but had to add a third shot to its study when two didn't prove strong enough. Those results are expected by early April.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/vaccine/moderna-says-low-dose-covid-shots-work-for-kids-under-6/507-b29f704a-455e-4639-8733-f29151b5a7ae
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
House Democrats have introduced multiple proposals aimed at sending direct payments to Americans to help cover high gas prices. The plans have some similarities to the one that sent $1,400 stimulus checks to millions last year during COVID-19. The national daily average has been more than $4 per gallon for two weeks. It was $4.25 on Monday, down seven cents from a week ago, but still 72 cents higher than a month ago and $1.37 more expensive than the same date last year. AAA cited lower crude oil prices as one reason for the slight price drop at the pump since last week. It also said demand for gas is down, which is atypical for this time of year and may be a sign of people changing their driving habits. One proposal by Reps. Mike Thompson of California, John Larson of Connecticut and Lauren Underwood of Illinois would send what they call an energy rebate of $100 per month for individuals or $200 to couples, plus $100 for each dependent, for each month the national gas price exceeds $4 per gallon. The rebate would be in effect though the end of 2022. The payments would go to people based on their income and would follow the same guidelines as the 2021 Economic Impact Payments: Single filers earning up to $75,000 or married couples filing jointly earning up to $150,000 would be eligible. A statement on Thompson's website did not explain how it would be paid for. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/gas-price-stimulus-checks/507-a450d9c6-1e5e-4f66-b43a-420f62ebb7db
Livingstone College will hold a town hall meeting Wednesday about changing the look of the criminal justice system with the group Reform Alliance. The meeting, titled “Criminal Justice Reform: A Critical Conversation,” will begin at 3 p.m. at Varick Auditorium and is open to the public. The nonprofit organization was founded by recording artist Meek Mill and Michael Rubin, a co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers. Grammy award-winner Jay Z; and Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, are also part of the organization's high-powered philanthropists. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/wake-up-charlotte/livingstone-college-national-leaders-criminal-justice-reform/275-aea9014e-44b1-4932-a102-0b1b81b9f1c4
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
York County leaders voted Monday night on a potential plan to save the Carolina Panthers training facility. In a last-minute vote, members of the York County Council agreed to bring a new financing offer for the infrastructure on the Rock Hill site. Earlier this month, the Panthers said construction on the new practice facility was put on pause after the city didn't pay an installment on the project.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/york-county-council-panthers-training-facility-rock-hill-site/275-7194d096-bf60-4d7f-849d-52997ece8aee
No survivors have been found as the search continued Tuesday of the scattered wreckage of a China Eastern plane carrying 132 people that crashed a day earlier in a forested mountainous area in China's worst air disaster in a decade. “Wreckage of the plane was found at the scene, but up until now, none of those aboard the plane with whom contact was lost have been found," state broadcaster CCTV said Tuesday morning, more than 18 hours after the crash.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/chinese-airliner-crashes/507-218ff028-d169-4814-82f9-b20adfb4fd69
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
The Senate Judiciary Committee said Wednesday that confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson will begin March 21, keeping the Senate on track for a possible final vote next month. Sen. Dick Durbin, the committee chairman, announced the hearing schedule on Wednesday as Jackson was holding her first meetings with senators on Capitol Hill. Jackson met in the morning with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. She planned to see Durbin and the committee’s top Republican, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, in the afternoon.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/ketanji-brown-jackson-heading-to-capitol-hill/507-b7874891-f762-4470-8869-c5eec1dd5655
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) is continuing to investigate after a call caused a store to evacuate on Sunday, March 20. According to the CMPD Twitter account, Freedom Division officers responded to the 3200 block of Wilkinson Boulevard for an assault with a deadly weapon call. No one was hit by gunfire and a store in that block was evacuated, according to officers. Officials also said a person of interest was detained and they're not looking for anyone else. While officers did not identify which store was evacuated, the area does host a busy shopping center. Medic confirmed no patients were transported from the scene. Walmart's corporate office later confirmed it was the store.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/west-charlotte-store-evacuated-cmpd-call-investigation/275-337a6fb4-df2a-4c6e-9ec4-0b50f271d7a9
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Gov. Roy Cooper said North Carolina is now entering the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, as hospitalizations and daily cases continue to drop statewide. "We can look forward with the belief that the worst is behind us," Cooper said. "As we look ahead, it's important to take stock of how far we've come." Cooper praised North Carolina's response during the pandemic, all the way back to the first cases of COVID-19 in early 2020. Cooper said state leaders took action to keep the economy going and get children back in schools. "We came together, took strong action, protected people's health and worked to prevent our hospitals from being overwhelmed," Cooper said. "We focused not only on saving lives, but livelihoods."
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/roy-cooper-north-carolina-covid-response-next-phase-pandemic-omicron/275-be441f09-b9e1-4338-a694-c3d1266534ba
Drugmaker Moderna asked the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday to authorize a fourth shot of its COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose for all adults. The request is broader than rival pharmaceutical company Pfizer's request earlier this week for the regulator to approve a booster shot for all seniors. In a press release, the company said its request for approval for all adults was made “to provide flexibility” to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and medical providers to determine the “appropriate use” of a second booster dose of the mRNA vaccine, “including for those at higher risk of COVID-19 due to age or comorbidities." U.S. officials have been laying the groundwork to deliver additional booster doses to shore up the vaccines' protection against serious disease and death from COVID-19. The White House has been sounding the alarm that it needs Congress to “urgently” approve more funding for the federal government to secure more doses of the COVID-19 vaccines, either for additional booster shots or variant-specific immunizations. U.S. health officials currently recommend a primary series of two doses of the Moderna vaccine and a booster dose months later. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/vaccine/moderna-4th-dose-covid-shot-seeks-fda-authorization/507-5440ba0b-9136-4f09-bed3-a4357e04d74e
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
The average price for a gallon of gas in North Carolina hit a record high of $4.19 last week, and although prices are dropping penny by penny, drivers are paying a lot more than they were just a few weeks ago. At what point do the rising prices change people's behavior and driving habits? Experts say a lot of it depends on someone’s personal situation, but some have already changed where they’re going because of the high price of gas. Whether it's work, school or grocery shopping, it's difficult for most people to avoid getting in the car every day. With gas prices slowly coming down from a record high, when will Americans say enough is enough?
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/gas-prices/when-will-record-gas-prices-change-driver-behavior-north-carolina-south-carolina/275-8a7acdbe-03cb-4d00-a2c9-ade7cf012849
A Russian airstrike ripped apart a theater where hundreds of people have been living in the besieged city of Mariupol, Ukrainian officials said, as Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a “self-purification” to rid his country of anyone who questions his invasion. The bombardment Wednesday of the theater, which had become a makeshift shelter as combat tore across the port city over the past three weeks and made thousands homeless, left many people buried in the burning rubble, Ukraine’s foreign ministry said in a statement. There was no immediate word on how many people were killed or injured.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/ukraine/russia-ukraine-war-thursday/507-c81bf261-f253-4192-bb6d-712537f7cdce
The owners of Brooks' Sandwich House and Myers Park Presbyterian Church are teaming up to build more than a dozen townhomes in east Charlotte to help address the city's affordable housing crisis. In 2018, one year before Scott Brooks was shot and killed at the beloved NoDa restaurant during an armed robbery, he and his brother David donated a 2-acre tract of land on East Lane Drive, just off W.T. Harris Boulevard, to Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region. Habitat drew plans to maximize the use of the property to build 17 affordable townhomes on a lot that would accommodate eight or fewer freestanding single-family homes. “It’s going to be such a boost for people-- hardworking people-- like ourselves and I think it’s going to be something that’s appreciated and I can sleep well at night knowing I’ve done my part," David Brooks said.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/brooks-sandwich-house-habitat-humanity-townhomes-myers-park-presbyterian-donation/275-01b4cfdb-ff77-4acd-a385-8e6fe28574c9
The Iredell County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help to find a missing woman. According to a post from the Iredell County Sheriff Facebook page, Niecy Rose Moore was last seen in the area of Shinnville Road in Mooresville on Monday, March 14. Deputies say she is reported to have schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Authorities believe she is in the Gastonia area with an unknown male. Moore also reportedly took at Uber to the 1400 block of E. Franklin Boulevard in Gastonia on Monday.
https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/iredell-county-missing-woman-investigation/275-72924064-353b-497c-a530-74ba6d5fe24b
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The Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners will vote for Wilhelmenia Rembert to temporarily fill the empty at-Large County Commissioner seat. The seat is currently open due to the Board approving a Commissioner At-Large Ella Scarborough’s request for medical leave back in February. Rembert was up against three other candidates for the empty at large county commission seat left open by Ella Scarborough. Commissioners said she led the pack of finalists READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/who-is-wilhelmenia-rembert-mecklenburg-county-bocc-county-commissioners-politics/275-eaeeab08-ee9a-47c6-b376-7ab809f4bfee
After posting on Facebook a call for letters of support before he is set to be sentenced for his involvement in the U.S. Capitol riot, an acquaintance from James Little's past submitted a letter to a federal judge, asking for a harsher sentence for the Catawba County resident. Little reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in November 2021. He pleaded guilty to one count of parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. It carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a $5,000 fine.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/north-carolina-man-jan-6-riot-letters-judge/275-08d9e892-1652-4da4-8f33-2329f0733697
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Just six weeks after announcing his career was finished, Tom Brady pulled a stunner on Twitter by saying he will return for his 23rd NFL season. Needless to say this wasn't well received by the Panthers or Carolina fans. Our panel reacts to Brady's announcement, and we joke about what it will look like when we finally retire. For weeks, you've heard reports about the Russian economy collapsing under sanctions following Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. But who are these Russian oligarchs that are being targeted by the sanctions and how did they acquire so much wealth? We connect the dots on that, plus Sarah French has a look at the top headlines from across the Carolinas. Charlotte City Council will hear concerns from CATS operators Monday, one month after driver Ethan Rivera was shot and killed in Uptown during a road rage attack. Drivers say their concerns have gone unheard, but officials say they want to make a difference for those simply trying to do their jobs. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media with #WakeUpCLT!
Happy Friday! March 11 will be a mild day in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area with afternoon highs around 60 degrees. Larry Sprinkle has your complete forecast as we get ready for the weekend, plus we're moving our clocks forward. Do you like the change, or do you wish we'd have one standard time all year? Let us know -- Text the show at 704-329-3600! Gas prices are at record highs across North Carolina and experts say it's only going to get worse. A new survey from AAA found the majority of Americans say $4 is just too much to pay, but will it have a major impact on summer vacations? Tradesha Woodard joins #WakeUpCLT to discuss what she found talking to folks filling up. COVID-19 cases are on the decrease in the Carolinas but with new variants lurking, will another COVID-19 booster be needed this fall? Ben Thompson connects the dots on what experts are saying about the next phase of the pandemic. Plus, Sarah French has the morning's biggest headlines, including an update on the ACC Tournament, a water main break causing problems in Plaza Midwood and more. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT.
In the next few weeks, Charlotte-Mecklenburg School’s superintendent is expected to ask the school board to consider millions of dollars in new funding for teachers and staff. The district has seen more than 10% of its staff resign or retire since the beginning of the school year. CMS central staff presented a working budget document that asks the school board to consider allocating $72.1 million in increased and new funds for teachers and staff that work with students. This proposal would need to get buy-in from the state and local government who fund the majority of the school’s budget.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cms-teacher-supplements-mecklenburg-county/275-6daac9ba-f667-4de0-99ec-7773a7e3f50a
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is investigating after an officer fired a weapon at a driver accused of trying to run over an officer. The driver is not in custody at this time. Police do not believe the driver nor anyone else was injured in the shooting. Officers along Nations Ford Road near the intersection with Farmhurst Drive were looking for a vehicle they say was being driven unauthorized when they found a car matching the description at an extended stay motel.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/cmpd-nations-ford-road-officers-shooting-investigation/275-bae12ed5-5ec8-456f-a794-33e5d9eff03b
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The final four applicants have been selected for the open Mecklenburg County Commissioners seat. The seat is currently open due to the Board approving a request for medical leave from Commissioner At-Large Ella Scarborough. North Carolina General Statutes (NCGS) § 128-40 permits the Board of County Commissioners to appoint a temporary replacement for the period of the official's leave of absence. A total of 22 applications were received for the temporary At-Large County Commissioner seat. Of the 22 applications, three did not meet the eligibility requirements set by the Board of County Commissioners and one chose to withdraw from consideration.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/mecklenburg-county-commissioners-seat/275-bbee2c1b-f16a-40e4-aac0-46b20fb8f2a0
Sheriff Garry McFadden presented the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners with his plan to address staffing issues Tuesday following a state inspection that found the jail had severe shortages and failed to adequately supervise inmates. Staffing has been a concern at the jail central in Uptown Charlotte for some time. Last month, WCNC Charlotte learned the sheriff's office entered into a contract with a New York-based private security company to provide guards through at least the end of June. The state gave McFadden until March 11 to fix the issues identified in their report. A WCNC Charlotte investigation discovered an increase in violent attacks against guards and staffing shortage issues that resulted in a lack of inmate supervision on a consistent basis. An inspection by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services found the Mecklenburg County Detention Center failed to meet minimum supervision requirements. The inspection was completed following a formal complaint that was filed by the Fraternal Order of Police in December.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/mecklenburg-county-jail-staffing-shortages-charlotte-north-carolina-garry-mcfadden/275-ec6b943c-5893-4897-b0ff-ebc3eada0167
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People in the United States can now order four more free, at-home COVID-19 tests from the federal government as part of the Biden administration's effort to increase testing after the omicron surge. The tests can be ordered from COVIDtests.gov in a program that's being run in conjunction with the U.S. Postal Service. Just like the first round of at-home test ordering, entering a U.S. home address will create a free order for four tests. Households that already received a package of tests are eligible to order a second set. President Joe Biden announced the additional tests during his State of the Union speech last week. A reporter with NBC News successfully ordered a second batch of tests Monday, though a message on the website still advises those who ordered tests before to "check back later" to place a second order.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/at-home-covid-tests-available-biden-administration-omicron-surge/275-4c6ae913-fcf8-479f-a4ce-30dd7e4008ec
Average gas prices across the U.S. rose 46.5 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.06 a day, according to GasBuddy. Gas prices are on the minds of millions of drivers as they prepare for spring break vacation and make summer travel plans. Experts told WCNC Charlotte the weekly uptick in prices will likely continue for some time, given the fluctuation of the market and the impending summer travel season.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/verify/last-week-highest-one-week-uptick-national-gas-prices/275-88f59c16-926f-4649-92b7-4c0c517def8c
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Face masks will be optional on UNC Charlotte's campus effective Monday, March 7. The university provided the update on Monday, Feb. 28, just days after the UNC System issued guidance that makes face masks optional in all indoor settings on campuses within the system effective on that day. Masks will be optional in all indoor settings at UNC Charlotte, including classrooms and other academic spaces. The university encourages people who are unvaccinated or at a high risk for complications to still wear a mask. The university is reminding people that face masks will still be required on NinerTransit and in the Student Health Center due to state and federal regulations for health care settings and transportation. Even with the guidance, the school is encouraging people to wear a mask on campus to help reduce the risk of infection to yourself and others. Employees can also make their own choice about asking visitors in their personal office space to wear a mask.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/unc-charlotte-masks-optional-mecklenburg-schools-universities/275-a5fcd2de-407b-4c58-91ef-9f7577c3de6b
Charlotte FC took the field at Bank of America Stadium for the first time in franchise history, facing off against the LA Galaxy Saturday evening. However, the black and blue weren't able to defend their home turf, falling to the Galaxy 1-0 after full time. The match was Charlotte FC's second overall in Major League Soccer play, coming off a 3-0 loss against DC United last week. LA Galaxy's visit to Charlotte comes after shutting out New York City FC 1-0. “We play football because we want to win. But I believe I am the happiest coach in the world. The energy, it was amazing," said coach Miguel Ramirez during a postgame news briefing. "Thank you North Carolina, South Carolina, and everyone that came. One request I would like for them to come back the next game.”
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/soccer/charlotte-fc/charlotte-fc-facing-la-galaxy-inaugural-home-match-saturday-bank-of-america-stadium/275-7e3cb653-d9d0-45dc-9f8a-099d0715e3cf
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Baptist churches across North Carolina are continuing to offer aid with more than 1 million people being displaced due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Baptists on Mission, a Cary-based agency under the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina umbrella, is sending teams of volunteers to eastern Europe to support refugees escaping the war. A six-person team is scheduled to leave for Poland on Friday, March 4, and a 12-person team is scheduled to depart for Hungary on March 7, according to the agency. Tom Beam, disaster relief coordinator for Baptists on Mission, told WCNC Charlotte the team will assess the situation over a 10-day span along with the Polish Baptist Union to see how future teams can help refugees.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/nc-baptists-churches-support-ukraine-refugees/275-9a5bed37-e67c-45a9-a18e-04879c523fc9
Hickory city leaders are considering hiring outside attorneys for guidance following the collapse of two wooden arches on the City Walk pedestrian bridge last month. Hickory City Attorney John Crone told the Hickory Daily Record last week that "in all likelihood" the city would bring in outside counsel and that he was unaware of any lawsuits related to the incident, which was caught on camera. The arches, which were recently completed, collapsed during a thunderstorm in mid-February. Hickory Mayor Hank Guess said there's still no word on what caused the arches to collapse. The city announced Thursday that the arches will be removed this weekend. As a result, Highway 127, which runs under the Rudy Wright bridge, will be closed.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/hickory-bridge-collapse-update/275-34edae58-5633-4d03-b2d6-3865a9834144
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The South Carolina House on Wednesday unanimously approved allowing two weeks of early voting and other smaller changes to state election laws, uniting Democrats and Republicans on issues that have been contentious in other states. The 114-0 vote sends the bill to the state Senate. Democrats praised Republicans for listening to them and crafting a bill they could support, even if there were a few partisan votes on alterations like making voter fraud a felony and requiring audits of at least 5% of all votes in a county in the days after an election.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/south-carolina-house-passes-early-voting-bill/101-adfd8810-b08a-4c11-a561-32a5c328e80b
North Carolina voters and advocacy groups urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to reject an effort by state Republicans to block a congressional district map drawn by state judges that would likely give Democrats an additional House seat in 2023. GOP legislative leaders filed an emergency request last Friday with Chief Justice John Roberts asking that the court set aside the new map while they seek to challenge the ability of the state's judiciary to adjust the lines in light of the U.S. Constitution. They say the delay should be granted because the Constitution directs state lawmakers to determine how U.S. House elections are held.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/nc-redistricting-supreme-court-voting-maps/275-a8b187f4-f4c6-4425-8a0d-1f89357c5e96
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President Joe Biden vowed in his address to check Russian aggression in Ukraine, tame soaring U.S. inflation and deal with the fading but still dangerous coronavirus. Biden declared that he and all members of Congress, whatever political differences there may be, were joined “with an unwavering resolve that freedom will always triumph over tyranny.” He asked the lawmakers crowding the House chamber to stand and salute the Ukrainians as he began his speech. They stood and cheered.
Biden highlighted the bravery of Ukrainian defenders and the commitment of a newly reinvigorated Western alliance that has worked to rearm the Ukrainian military and cripple Russia’s economy through sanctions. He warned of costs to the American economy, as well, but warned ominously that without consequences, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggression wouldn’t be contained to Ukraine. “Throughout our history we’ve learned this lesson – when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos,” Biden said. “They keep moving. And, the costs and threats to America and the world keep rising.”
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/biden-state-of-the-union/507-29458548-5905-4dc3-8f34-8b10d775fb3a
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its COVID-19 guidance last week, putting a greater emphasis on hospitalizations and health care impacts over daily case counts while relaxing mask recommendations for most Americans. Under the new CDC system, more than 70% of the U.S. population lives in counties where COVID-19 is posing a low or medium threat to hospitals. Those people can stop wearing masks, according to the CDC. However, officials are still advising people, including schoolchildren, wear masks where the risk of COVID-19 is high. That's the situation for about 37% of U.S. counties, including several in the Charlotte area.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/cdc-covid-19-new-guidance-mask-recommendations-omicron-vaccine-community-spread/275-d8eaac71-2364-4602-a710-5cc934f6583e
CATS bus drivers and other employees gathered outside of Charlotte's government center Monday afternoon, demanding safety changes in the wake of the shooting death of a fellow driver, Ethan Rivera, 41. Rivera died after police said a man shot him in a road rage incident while he drove his bus along Trade Street in Uptown. "It's time to stand up," Willis Draughn, who goes by 'Red,' said. Many of those in attendance at Monday's rally dressed in all black as they continue to mourn Rivera's death and hope no other bus driver experiences the same dangers he faced while on the job. Draughn and others rallied city and CATS workers before heading inside to deliver their message to the mayor. "The city works because we do," Dominic Harris said as he spoke before council on Monday night.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/wake-up-charlotte/cats-drivers-protest-charlotte-uptown-shooting/275-9beee186-cce1-4b03-a300-4822a6c688b8
A member of the Carolina Panthers who signed a new extension with the team Feb. 25 is awaiting his court date in Mecklenburg County for misdemeanor charges from last summer in Huntersville. Tight end Ian Thomas is expected in court Aug. 29, according to Mecklenburg County court documents. Joseph Person with The Athletic first reported the case on Monday, Feb. 28, and said Thomas is facing those charges after evading police on a dirt bike. According to a police report obtained by WCNC Charlotte from the Huntersville Police Department, he was placed under arrest July 12 for the charges, including reckless driving and felony fleeing to elude arrest. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/ian-thomas-carolina-panthers-huntersville-mecklenburg-county-court-arrest/275-1a880692-4b23-49e1-984f-4f6fa12d12f3
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On Monday afternoon, CATS bus drivers and other employees are expected to flood city hall demanding safety changes in the wake of the shooting death of a fellow driver, Ethan Rivera, 41. Rivera died after police said a man shot him in a road rage incident while he drove his bus along Trade Street in Uptown. Police have named Darrian Dru Thavychith as the suspect, but have yet to catch the 21-year-old. Thavuychith has a Charlotte address and police said they have spoken to his family and CMPD continues to ask the public's help in catching him.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/wake-up-charlotte/cats-drivers-protest-charlotte-uptown-shooting/275-9beee186-cce1-4b03-a300-4822a6c688b8
A man is in custody after police said he sexually assaulted a teen in an east Charlotte parking lot, police said. Officers responded to a sexual assault call at Novant Mint Hill around 7 p.m. Thursday evening. The victim told police that she was sexually assaulted in the Harris Teeter parking lot on Wylalong Drive in the Mintworth Commons area.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/man-charged-after-sexually-assaulting-teen-harris-teeter-parking-lot-police/275-ff735082-62e8-460d-b284-ccea708883c7
The Biden administration will significantly loosen federal mask-wearing guidelines to protect against COVID-19 transmission on Friday, according to two people familiar with the matter, meaning most Americans will no longer be advised to wear masks in indoor public settings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday will announce a change to the metrics it uses to determine whether to recommend face coverings, shifting from looking at COVID-19 case counts to a more holistic view of risk from the coronavirus to a community. Under current guidelines, masks are recommended for people residing in communities of substantial or high transmission — roughly 95% of U.S. counties, according to the latest data.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/cdc-easing-covid-recommendations-mask-restrictions/507-645e3ace-14ea-4224-bc07-e6d94db183fa
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education is responsible for deciding how millions of dollars are spent on children’s education. At a special called meeting on Thursday night, the board started the groundwork to decide where to prioritize funds for the 2022-23 school year. The meeting focused on how additional resources could help schools within CMS reach goals the district has for students by 2024. Data shows CMS students have fallen behind academically on multiple fronts. One strategic goal includes achieving a 34% increase in the number of Black and Hispanic 3rd graders who are on track to be ready for college and careers. CMS wants 50% of these students to have a combined score of at least a 4 or 5 at the College and Career Ready level in English Language Arts.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cms-starts-working-school-year-budget/275-18501757-0d4d-4881-959b-9ae32a4b53a3
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Candidate filing in North Carolina will resume Thursday as scheduled now that the state Supreme Court has refused to delay the use of redistricting maps that were endorsed by trial judges. The justices declined any delay Wednesday night despite a flurry of appeals from Republican lawmakers and from voters and advocacy groups. The Supreme Court's decision means the primary is still on for May 17. The elections will use state House and Senate maps that the legislature approved last week and a congressional plan that was redrawn and adopted by a panel of trial judges earlier Wednesday.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/elections/new-legislative-congressional-maps-north-carolina-gov-roy-cooper/275-88281012-da2f-4592-a7aa-be5bd91dc235
Lancaster Interim Police Chief Phillip Hall is officially retiring from his role, a decision he announced at Tuesday night's City Council meeting. He will effectively leave the Lancaster Police Department on April 1. In an interview with WCNC Charlotte on Wednesday, Hall said he made the decision after Lancaster City Council voted to hire an outside consulting firm to search for a permanent chief instead of giving the job to him. "I felt like I got slapped in the face," Hall said. "The dedication that I’ve given to this department, time that I’ve spent away from my family – it’s all in vain now."
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/lancaster-sc-interim-police-chief-council-member-resign/275-cf1ab23f-df6e-4225-9aa5-57f87da3bf1d
Imagine going to a pharmacy to pick up and pay for regular medications, only to find out your debit card is declined. It's a situation that happens to many people. But then imagine using that same debit card to pay for items at a different store, only to again see it declined. That's what happened to Kim Pruett, a Tennessee mom who was simply running errands on a Monday morning. "So everything we had to do today, we've had to put on our credit card, which isn't incredibly inconvenient...," Pruett said. "But for people who don't have access to credit cards, that's problematic."
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/truist-bank-customers-lose-access-cards-money-merger/275-56c6adcb-54dd-4f5a-a5b5-dd1861da870a
The East-West faceoff over Ukraine escalated dramatically Tuesday, with Russian lawmakers authorizing President Vladimir Putin to use military force outside his country and U.S. President Joe Biden and European leaders responding by slapping sanctions on Russian oligarchs and banks. Both leaders signaled that an even bigger confrontation could lie ahead. Putin has yet to unleash the force of the 150,000 troops massed on three sides of Ukraine, while Biden held back on even tougher sanctions that could cause economic turmoil for Russia but said they would go ahead if there is further aggression.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/russia-sets-stage-for-ukraine-invasion/507-382af746-f16e-4841-b028-90bee2671e46
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Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools students and staff are preparing for the possibility of going mask optional. The CMS school board will vote on the mask mandate Tuesday night. Eve Weiss and her mom Brooke Weiss spoke at Wednesday's Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners Meeting about the impacts they say masks have had on her education. “It has gone on long enough. People will still wear them even if we are told we don't have to. If they want to they will," Eve said.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cms-charlotte-school-mask-policy-health-north-carolina/275-1b722133-1bc7-45c0-a582-1399ef10511d
Charlotte City Council voted unanimously Monday to approve plans to build a new elementary school across from Ardrey Kell High School. City council also voted to approve a multi-family development in the same area, with one no vote from Councilman Ed Driggs -- who represents that area. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and Woodfield Development plan to build a new elementary school and multi-family units across from Ardrey Kell High School, but some residents in south Charlotte are against it. “I just thought you can’t be serious, if you’ve got those two schools and a lot of traffic already why would you want to put all those apartments right there and create a situation that’s worse for the schools and could be dangerous for the kids and create a huge inconvenience for the neighbors," District 7 Charlotte City Councilman Ed Driggs previously said.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/charlotte-council-rezoning-ballantyne-elementary-school-apartments-ardery-kell/275-a88fea18-a416-4235-ad7b-b8ee8675fe45
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It has been four years since world-renown evangelist Billy Graham passed away, but the North Carolina native's work continues to be felt. Rev. Billy Graham died on Feb. 21, 2018, from natural causes in his home in Montreat. He was born in Charlotte in 1918. Rev. Billy Graham retired to his mountain home in 2005 after nearly six decades on the road calling people to Christ at 417 all-out preaching and musical events from Miami to Moscow. According to his obituary, during the week of his 95th birthday in 2013, Rev. Billy Graham delivered his final message by more than 480 television stations across the U.S. and Canada. More than 26,000 churches participated in the My Hope project, making it the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s largest evangelistic outreach ever in North America.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/rev-billy-graham-anniversary-memorial-charlotte/275-1d7df35e-eb77-4bd9-86ad-979d45abdb29
A controversial rezoning decision will soon be made in the Ballantyne area. Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and Woodfield Development plan to build a new elementary school and multi-family units across from Ardrey Kell High School, but some residents in south Charlotte are against it. “I just thought you can’t be serious, if you’ve got those two schools and a lot of traffic already why would you want to put all those apartments right there and create a situation that’s worse for the schools and could be dangerous for the kids and create a huge inconvenience for the neighbors," District 7 Charlotte City Councilman Ed Driggs said. The rezoning petition comes as Charlotte continues to grow and student enrollment increases.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/charlotte-council-rezoning-ballantyne-elementary-school-apartments-ardery-kell/275-a88fea18-a416-4235-ad7b-b8ee8675fe45
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North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper encouraged schools and local governments to end mask mandates Thursday, citing widespread vaccine availability and decreasing COVID-19 metrics statewide. "The last couple of months, omicron overran the nation quickly," Cooper said during a Thursday briefing from Raleigh. "Now, just about as fast as the numbers peaked, they're falling. This variant is clearly more contagious, yet generally causes less severe illness, particularly to people who are vaccinated and boosted. And now people know how to gauge their level of risk and best protect themselves." Cooper's recommendation comes one day after Mecklenburg County commissioners unanimously voted to drop the county's indoor mask mandate.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/north-carolina-mask-guidance-update-governor-roy-cooper-coronavirus-omicron-surge/275-451e982f-cb43-49c1-8d75-8924ededa58c
With a day to spare, North Carolina state lawmakers successfully passed new versions of congressional and legislative maps for approval by a trial court. State lawmakers were given a deadline of Feb. 18 to create new maps after the North Carolina Supreme Court struck down the first proposals, calling them unconstitutional. The new maps will now go to a three-judge panel in Wake County Superior Court on Friday. Judges have until Feb. 23 to approve or reject the legislature's new proposals. The congressional proposal gives North Carolina Democrats a better chance to pick up more seats in the state.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/north-carolina-lawmakers-new-redistricting-maps/275-be93afc9-7091-48dc-883a-5f42c6868033
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Novant Health announced it is adjusting visitor restrictions at its North Carolina hospitals due to a decline in COVID-19 cases statewide. Most patients hospitalized at Novant facilities in North Carolina will now be allowed to have an unrestricted number of visitors who are at least 12 years old, with limits remaining in place in certain areas, or as needed for safe social distancing in waiting areas and patient rooms. Visitor restrictions will remain in place for COVID-19 positive patients who are either hospitalized or in the emergency room, as well as patients who are being tested for COVID-19. Prior to Wednesday's change, most patients were granted up to two visitors per day, with visitation ending at 9 p.m. Overnight stays were not permitted without approved exceptions.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/novant-health-north-carolina-hospital-visitor-restrictions-relaxed-guidelines-covid/275-261ed36e-650a-40f6-877c-15080ae03077
A pilot died Wednesday when a plane crashed onto a highway in Davidson County, according to Sheriff Richie Simmons. The plane went down and crashed with a tractor-trailer on I-85 in Lexington at mile marker 91 to 88. The North Carolina Highway Patrol said the plane took off from the Lexington Davidson County Airport before quickly crashing into the back of a tractor-trailer on the highway. The plane hit the rear causing a fire as the tractor-trailer overturned. The pilot of the plane, Raymond John Ackley, 43, from Charlotte, died in the crash. The Highway Patrol said the plane experienced a possible mechanical issue after departing from the airport.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/plane-crashes-onto-i-85-in-davidson-county/83-3fbf0dce-d036-490b-9ef9-14884af6345b
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A teenager from Charlotte has died after falling from a hotel balcony in North Carolina. Chapel Hill Police say the 13-year-old fell from a fifth-floor balcony at the Graduate Hotel on West Franklin Street Saturday just before 11 p.m. The teenager reportedly landed on the third floor, according to police. The cause of the fall is under investigation. Once known as the Franklin Hotel, the facility reopened as the Graduate Hotel in 2020. WCNC Charlotte learned on Tuesday, Feb. 15, the teenager's identity is Brick "Bryant" McDermott.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/regional/chapel-hill-hotel-balcony-fall-child/275-df9187a0-23a5-45e2-a408-672b13772ea2
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team and the Gaston County Sheriff's Office SWAT team brought a hostage situation in northern Lincoln County to an end shortly after midnight. The incident involved a barricaded subject in a mobile home on Woodland Hills Trail holding two adult females hostage. Shortly after midnight, flash-bang grenades were exploded and the SWAT team breached the door of the mobile home taking the suspect in custody, the sheriff's office reports. The suspect, identified as Patrick Andrew Shomo, 40, of Gaston County, was taken into custody and the two women were freed from the mobile home. He was wanted in Gaston County on trafficking charges, officials said. No one was injured in the incident.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/lincoln-county-standoff-hostage-situation/275-34f1e3fa-b752-4146-8b48-d1c473ee2260
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Wings, nachos, a cold drink, and a big TV to watch the game is what a Super Bowl celebration is made of. The Hickory Tavern in Ballantyne is throwing its annual Super Bowl party with an all-you-can-eat buffet. They’re expecting a big crowd, but nothing like before COVID-19. “It's been a tremendous impact on this industry, our staffing issues have been impacted, our getting the product has been an issue for us," said Nicole Sharpe, the restaurant's regional manager. "And then the mask mandate has been another issue. Having people come in and feel safe, we had to social distance, we had to have a sanitation station.”
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/mecklenburg-county-mask-mandate-end-covid-health-coronavirus-local/275-ea0809d1-553b-4e3d-ad3e-d246c8e6aa28 Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officials said detectives are working tirelessly to solve the killing of Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) bus driver Ethan Rivera in Uptown Charlotte Friday night. Rivera was shot during an alleged road rage incident on West Trade Street, near West 4th Street and South Graham Street, which is near Truist Ballpark, around 9:30 p.m. Friday. He was rushed to a hospital where died from his injuries. CMPD Capt. Joel McNelly said homicide detectives were immediately assigned to the case due to Rivera's injuries. McNelly said CMPD is working with CATS to receive videos and photos of the shooting and encouraged anyone who was in Uptown Friday night to call police with what they know or saw.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/police-investigation-update-shooting-death-charlotte-bus-driver/275-4610fa58-279c-415e-9da0-b2fe8ae10c26
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On Monday night, Charlotte City Council is planning to cover a lot of ground from leveraging city-owned land for high-quality affordable housing, to deciding who to give millions of dollars of COVID-19 relief funds from the American Rescue Act. Right now, the city is working with developers to finalize affordable housing proposals at four vacant city-owned properties which they identify as suitable for affordable housing developments. The properties are off Providence Road West, Newland Road, University City Blvd, and South Blvd. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/wake-up-charlotte/charlotte-city-council-meeting-monday-covid-relief-affordable-housing/275-b6630c1c-8ef1-4366-88fe-b3f410b37f6c
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department says a three-year-old child that caused a North Carolina AMBER earlier on Sunday has been located. CMPD made the announcement on social media. Her alleged abductor is confirmed as Corey Patterson, 31. CMPD did not provided details on whether or not Patterson was arrested. "Following an extensive investigation, Marlaya Patterson has been located. As additional information develops, it will be released by the CMPD's Public Affairs Office," said in a statement posted on social media.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/amber-alert-issued-3-year-old-charlotte-marlaya-monet-patterson/275-fa6f2877-767d-4284-a89c-a7fb5acfc5ff
New complaint investigation findings from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services found the Mecklenburg County Detention Center failed to meet minimum supervision requirements. It comes after a WCNC Charlotte investigation identified a rise in violent attacks against guards and a lack of consistent inmate supervision due to a staffing shortage. The Fraternal Order of Police also filed a formal complaint with the NCDHHS in December, requesting an investigation. As part of its biannual inspection along with the complaint investigation, NCDHHS found the detention center failed to maintain enough staff to keep the jail safe.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/investigations/mecklenburg-county-detention-center-investigation-ncdhhs-safety-staff/275-160700d1-d3ef-4e32-a617-e01d06e51d67
For more than a month now, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been soliciting public feedback on a proposed consent decree and $1.1 million penalty against New-Indy Containerboard for high levels of foul-smelling hydrogen sulfide emissions. After receiving requests for an extension on the comment period, the Department of Justice has decided to extend the comment period for an additional 30 days, or until March 11. Since early last year, homeowners have filed thousands of complaints alleging the paper mill's emissions caused them to develop nosebleeds, headaches, and coughs. The paper mill, which is part-owned by NFL owner Robert Kraft, is also the subject of two lawsuits that could potentially be consolidated into class-action status. Attorneys for homeowners are attempting to intervene in the EPA's proposed consent decree, which they criticize as being too soft on the paper mill. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/special-reports/new-indy/new-indy-containerboard-public-comment-extended-epa/275-74741191-465e-438a-b72f-ab7f5e199ded
Leaders in North Carolina are working to help alleviate the staffing shortages at schools across the state. Governor Cooper announced Wednesday an extension of the policy, which allows state employees to use volunteer days to fill in at schools. “We want to keep students learning safely in the classroom and encourage state employees to serve as substitutes and volunteers and be able to keep any compensation they receive,” Gov. Cooper said. “This extension gives school districts more time to bring in volunteers and gives our generous state employees more opportunities to lend their talents to their local schools.”
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/gov-cooper-extends-school-volunteering-policy/275-050f1baa-3a77-4d95-b3c5-4c200a2e3121
North Carolina Senate leaders say Republicans and Democrats in their chamber will work together on creating replacement redistricting maps. Republican Senate leader Phil Berger and Democratic leader Dan Blue released a statement on Wednesday. The state Supreme Court last week struck down plans arranged by the GOP, calling them illegal partisan gerrymanders. Blue and Berger says that any “negotiated end product” would be released "as early as practicable.” The Supreme Court told lawmakers to turn in replacement maps by Feb. 18. Both the House and Senate must pass any new legislative and congressional boundaries. The House plans to vote on maps next week.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/nc-senate-redistricting-maps-supreme-court-elections/275-92e0b15d-fcd4-4677-b673-5ebc7a5dcf30
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education will meet Tuesday, Feb. 8 to discuss more retention bonuses for employees. If approved, bonuses would double to $5,000 for full-time staff members and $2,500 for part-time employees. Those extra payments would come later this month and again in November. Guest teachers would also get bonuses under the new plan. Right now, they aren't eligible. These bonuses would cost $49 million with CMS using funds from the American Rescue Plan to cover the bill. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/charlotte-mecklenburg-board-of-education-meeting-teacher-retention-bonuses/275-8caeacc3-5e51-42a3-aa30-d4f37f0e0bae Two members of the administrative staff of Hawthorne Academy who were suspended with pay following an investigation from November 2021 will now be in new roles within Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. The reason for the suspensions of Principal Diann Weston and Assistant Principal Nina Adams was not publicly released by the district and when WCNC Charlotte inquired about more information regarding the matter, officials stated, "We have no further information to share, as the information requested is confidential personnel information." READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/nina-adams-diann-weston-hawthorne-academy-sexual-assault-suspended-new-roles/275-3a1271fa-eff8-48c0-a61b-e43181c0e2fa Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
The Biden administration will begin making 400 million N95 masks available for free to Americans starting next week, now that federal officials are emphasizing their better protection against the omicron variant of COVID-19 over cloth face coverings.
The White House announced Wednesday that the masks will come from the government's Strategic National Stockpile, which has more than 750 million of the highly protective masks on hand. The masks will be available for pickup at pharmacies and community health centers across the country. They will begin shipping this week for distribution starting late next week, the White House said.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/biden-to-give-away-400-million-n95-masks/507-90b1db93-2964-4a81-b5a3-d5bf4038b925
Mecklenburg County is scaling back its COVID-19 contact tracing efforts and will instead depend on individuals to do it themselves.
The change, of course, was announced to Mecklenburg County leaders during an update on the COVID-19 pandemic at Wednesday's Board of County Commissioners meeting.
Dr. Raynard Washington, who was sworn in as Mecklenburg County Health Director Wednesday, said about 83% of current COVID-19 cases in Mecklenburg County are the omicron variant. Washington said he expects that number to rise, but expects ad decline from the current surge soon.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/mecklenburg-county-board-commissioners-covid-tests/275-5db8c0b9-9254-466c-aef2-70afbb45911d
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported more people were in the hospital for COVID-19 this year than at the same time last year, breaking a record for coronavirus-related hospitalizations set in early 2021.
According to the latest numbers released on Tuesday, Jan. 18, NCDHHS reported 4,630 people were in hospitals across the Tar Heel State with COVID-19. That's a 16% increase from the same time in 2021 when the total number hospitalized was at 3,992.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/north-carolina-covid-19-hospitalization-record-broken-january-18-2022-health-regional-state/275-220dfe0c-cc7b-400c-bd98-014fa936ae89
As U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits Ukraine, the Biden administration said Wednesday it’s providing an additional $200 million in defensive military aid to the country amid soaring fears of a Russian invasion.
A senior U.S. State Department official said the assistance was approved in late December as part of American efforts to help Ukraine protect itself. Until Wednesday, however, the administration had refused to comment on it. The official wasn't authorized to discuss the matter publicly before Blinken's meetings in Kyiv and spoke on condition of anonymity.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/us-boosts-military-aid-to-ukraine-as-russia-tensions-soar/507-a1c1e6e9-acd2-4b13-9817-6eb21dd78fb1
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
The winter storm is gone but we're still dealing with its effects as many roads in the Carolinas are covered by a sheet of ice. Even in areas where the snow melted, black ice is lurking. Richard DeVayne joins the show from the Chevy Storm Tracker and gives us an idea of how neighborhood streets are looking before folks head to work.
Many school districts made the decision to close Tuesday due to the icy conditions, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Tradesha Woodward has an update on school closings and why officials are asking people to just stay home if they can.
And finally, we've been talking about black ice for days. But what exactly is it? First, it's not actually black, but it's definitely dangerous. Ben Thompson connects the dots to help you stay safe if you're driving during wintry weather.
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Happy Monday! The Carolinas are hoping to thaw out after a winter storm brought an icy mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain to the Charlotte area this weekend. In fact, we're told the mountains got up to 14 inches of snow from Saturday through Sunday night. Forecaster Larry Sprinkle has the latest on today's weather in Charlotte and just how cold we'll get on Tuesday morning.
Plus, Richard DeVayne and Tradesha Woodward have updates on the conditions in Charlotte, as crews have been working around the clock to clear snow and ice from major highways and roads in the Queen City. Despite the precipitation leaving, officials still want everyone to stay home due to the threat of black ice, which could cause accidents.
And finally, Sarah French has your morning checklist, three stories you should know about before starting your day.
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Charlotte is bracing for the biggest winter storm in nearly four years as the Carolinas will be blanketed by snow, ice, sleet and freezing rain this weekend. We start today's show with an update from First Warn forecaster Larry Sprinkle. Larry details his forecast with the timing of the storm, what kind of impacts you'll see in your area and just how long we'll be hit with wintry weather. GET THE LATEST FORECAST: https://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/winter-storm-charlotte-north-carolina-snow-ice-sleet-accumulation-weather-updates/275-a704e3e4-2916-4097-911b-9554f1c0383b
Tradesha Woodard joins this morning's show to discuss how North Carolina DOT crews are preparing. With salt brine and plows on standby, keeping the roads clear will be a high priority as the storm impacts the region.
Plus, you've probably seen grocery store shelves sitting empty lately. But please, we're asking that you don't panic. Ruby Durham explains the psychology of panic buying and why supermarkets are asking everyone to remain calm so we can get through this without another toilet paper shortage. STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/consumer/panic-buying-grocery-store-empty-shelves-supply-shortage-out-of-stock/275-e31014fb-86a8-4518-9c6a-17b7063590f0
Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
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🌩️ If you like weather, watch Brad Panovich and the WCNC Charlotte First Warn Weather Team on their YouTube channel, Weather IQ. 🎥