WCNC Charlotte To Go

A new high-rise apartment building is coming to Plaza Midwood and it's the tallest in the neighborhood thus far. Charlotte City Council voted unanimously on Monday night to approve a roughly 12-story apartment building that will have commercial space on its ground floor. The mixed-use development will replace the parking lot on Commonwealth Avenue next to the Julien Apartments. Many people are exc...

Charlotte city leaders could be approving some big changes to Uptown’s skyline this week. The banking giant, Wells Fargo, is still looking to add signage to the top of what was once the Duke Energy building. A vote is expected to take place at the Zoning Committee meeting on Monday, Feb. 19, but city leaders are split on the issue of adding more lights to one of Charlotte's iconic buildings. At th...

The City of Belmont's Planning and Zoning Board held a meeting Thursday night on a controversial proposal to develop a massive new neighborhood. The project, which is called the Henry Chapel Subdivision, aims to build over 600 single-family homes on a massive 275-acre area on Davis River Road, just off South Point Road. According to the proposal, the houses will have a density of 2.26 units per ac...

Polls are set to open in Mecklenburg County on Thursday morning, as early voting for the March 5 primary begins. From waiting in line to casting your ballot, election officials behind the scenes are working tirelessly to make sure your vote is safe and secure. 'If exercising the right to vote is one’s civic duty, protecting that right is an election official’s civic decision. The director of Meckl...

The South Carolina Senate has once again given key approval to a medical marijuana bill, but it's unclear what it's fate will be once it gets to the House. Senators okayed the bill on a 26-17 vote Tuesday afternoon after hours of debate. The bill must still be voted on a third reading Wednesday, but third reasons are usually a formality.  Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/medic...

City leaders voted 7 to 3 to recriminalize several city ordinances during Monday night's city council meeting despite intense pushback from nonprofit organizations and the community.   A total of six city laws regarding sleeping on benches, public defecation, panhandling, public drinking, public masturbation, and trespassing on a motor vehicle will be arrestable offenses starting March 1. Right no...

Another pair of book bans could possibly be in store for Catawba County Schools after a special meeting scheduled for Monday, Feb. 12. Two books were on the chopping block at a similar board meeting on Nov. 20. The books "l8r, g8r" by Lauren Myracle and "The Carnival at Bray" by Jessie Ann Foley are being challenged at Monday night's meeting. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. with doors opening at 5:30...

One person was injured after being shot Thursday by a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officer along Beatties Ford Road, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department confirmed. Shortly before 11 a.m., two CMPD officers observed what they suspected to be "drug activity" occurring between two people, Deputy Chief of Police David Robinson told reporters. Officers said when they approached the two people,...

Allisha Watts’ mother, Evex Franklin, has asked questions about her daughter’s death last year. Why was Watts killed and dumped near a cemetery? Why is Watts’ boyfriend, James Dunmore, charged in her murder? “All I do is cry all the time,” Franklin said. “That is a tear. I can’t dry up.” Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/allisha-watts-mother-mourns-daughter-death-murder-investigat...

North Carolina's top insurance regulator has denied an industry request to raise homeowners' insurance premiums by an average of 42% — and to almost double them in parts of coastal counties — saying Tuesday that “almost nobody” who weighed in agreed with the proposed increase. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey also set a hearing for October to evaluate the request and determine what is reasonable...

As COVID relief funds continue to dissolve, leaders at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools are making some changes in the budget. There’s $190 million left in the district’s current operating budget with $60 million being tied to positions. "We are taking a very close look at what positions are needed that will have the biggest impact on students' achievements," CMS Superintendent Crystal Hill said. Rea...

On Monday, Jan. 29, Cabarrus County Schools had a public hearing where they heard from local families about a proposed decision to close Beverly Hills Elementary School. A week later, the school board will now take a vote on it.  Many families expressed their concerns in that hearing last week -- saying the title one school is an anchor in the community and the decision would have an impact on dis...

For the first time ever, the race for the Democratic presidential nomination officially kicks off this Saturday in South Carolina, the state that resurrected then-candidate Joe Biden’s foundering presidential campaign in 2020 and put him on a footing to win his party’s nod and, eventually, the White House. Unlike four years ago, President Biden now looks to South Carolina voters to cement his camp...

Police say a man was shot, robbed, and kidnapped at his jewelry store on Wednesday. Four men arrived at the victim's jewelry store on South New Hope Road on Wednesday night, according to the Belmont Police Department. The men shot and robbed the victim at the jewelry store before kidnapping him and dropping him off at his home on Amberley Crossing Drive in Belmont, according to police. Read more:...

State Superintendent Ellen Weaver is asking for millions of dollars to raise teacher pay and boost school safety.  Weaver presented the Department of Education's budget priorities for the 2024-2025 school year on Tuesday, breaking it down into four main categories: student success, teacher support, workforce readiness, and safe schools. "We have a lot of hard work to do, but we have hope to propel...

Dozens of shots were fired outside a home in an apparent drive-by shooting in Belmont late Sunday night, police said.  Belmont police responded to a report of shots being fired in the area of Nixon Road near Armstrong Farm Drive and Rachel Anne Drive around 11 p.m. When officers arrived, they found bullet holes on the outside of two homes. A witness told police they heard about 20 gunshots before...

Monday, Jan. 29, is the first day you can file your taxes and there is a good chance you won't even have to pay to file this year.  If you've done your homework and are ready to file, there are plenty of free options that can help you get ahead without sacrificing much of your refund.  Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/connect-the-dots/free-income-tax-options-2024-get-ahead-person...

Governor McMaster and the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) announced that the number of school-based mental health counselors has doubled. The current student-to-counselor ratio has been cut in half, making it easier for students to access mental health services in school settings.   In January 2022, the Governor directed the SCDHHS agency to review mental health ser...

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department held a press conference Wednesday afternoon about a sexual assault that happened in south Charlotte on Wednesday morning. Around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, police responded to a breaking and entering call on Chilvary Drive. When they arrived, officers heard screaming from inside the home.  Officers found the male suspect, identified as 32-year-old Santeriu...

Charlotte Douglas International Airport leaders are kicking off a project that could revolutionize the area around the airport, turning it into a destination in and of itself.  The announcement comes as Charlotte Douglas and the Queen City continue to experience rapid growth.  Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/connect-the-dots/charlotte-douglas-airport-clt-destination-district-dev...

Safety in Charlotte is set to take center stage as city leaders continue their annual retreat. The mayor and city council are in Winston-Salem this week, looking to set the agenda for the upcoming year. Violence among teens is one of the biggest concerns for city leaders. The latest available numbers from police show crimes involving a juvenile suspect increased more than 30%. Watch WCNC Charlotte...

Take a quick trip down to your local supermarket and you’ll likely spot a shopper carrying the extremely popular Stanley cup.  The giant mugs have become quite the social media talking point, sparking memes, fan clubs and fierce debates online. But there are other concerns about the cups that TikTok made famous.  Our VERIFY team looked into it: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/verify/stanley-cup-...

March 5 is the North Carolina presidential primary elections and voters will need to familiarize themselves with some election law changes, many of which concern absentee ballots. On Friday, the County Board of Elections is sending out the first absentee ballots for the presidential primary.  Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/elections/absentee-voting-changes-north-carolina-pri...

President Joe Biden will visit North Carolina on Thursday, the White House confirmed.  According to the White House, he will travel to the Raleigh-Durham area to highlight how over $3 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and American Rescue Plan funding is helping North Carolina. He'll visit the Abbott's Creek Community Center in Raleigh to announce over $82 million in new investments from the...

As cold air moves into central and eastern North Carolina, Duke Energy said it's prepared to meet the demand. Jeff Brooks with Duke Energy said the company sees the highest demand in the winter. He said they’ve learned a lot from a cold blast in 2022, where millions were without power. Now, their preparation starts with anticipating the high demand during lower temperatures. Lows will be in the 20...