WCNC Charlotte To Go

The Senate officially passed a funding bill Monday night after a decisive final vote, moving one step closer to ending the prolonged government shutdown. The spending package will still need approval from the House and President Trump's signature before the government can reopen.   We're taking a closer look at how North Carolina lawmakers are reacting.  WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and we...

After more than a month of a partial government shutdown, there’s finally movement in Washington.  Lawmakers have reached a bipartisan agreement that would fund the government at its current rate through Jan. 30, and fully fund SNAP benefits through next September.  While that’s a promising sign for federal workers and programs, travelers are still feeling the frustration at Charlotte Douglas Inte...

Charlotte Douglas International Airport is expected to cut flights by 10% after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and announced it would reduce air traffic at 40 of the country's busiest airports due to the federal government shutdown.  The shutdown, which is now in its 38th day, is the longest in U.S. history. On Wednesday, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford cited growing fatigue among air t...

The Federal Aviation Administration will reduce air traffic by 10% at 40 busy airports beginning Friday, citing growing fatigue among air traffic controllers who have worked without pay since the government shutdown began Oct. 1. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced the cuts Wednesday afternoon, saying the move would affect roughly 3,500 to 4,000 flight...

Mecklenburg County residents voted to approve a one-cent sales tax that would fund transit and road projects. The measure passed with 52% in favor of the tax, Tuesday's election results show. The votes will be canvassed at a later date.  The tax increase has left both city leaders and community members with split feelings about impacts on the Charlotte area — and their pockets — in the long run. R...

Tuesday marks Election Day in Charlotte, and voters are heading to the polls to make their voices heard in key local races.   Polls opened at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4, and will remain open until 7:30 p.m. Charlotte residents are deciding on the mayoral race, four at-large City Council seats, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education, a transit tax referendum and several district counci...

The city of Charlotte announced Friday Estella Patterson will serve as the next Chief of Police for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. City Manager Marcus Jones made the announcement in an internal email to CMPD staff, saying the decision followed an extensive search and input from officers and community members. Patterson, who previously served as Chief of Police in Raleigh, will offici...

Days before Mecklenburg County voters will decide whether to increase the sales tax to fund transit projects, a campaign finance report is revealing which corporations are funding the effort to pass it. The 30-year plan is projected to generate approximately $19.4 billion to fund road, bus, and rail improvements across the region, including the creation of the Red Line light rail. If approved by v...

North Carolina lawmakers are weighing options to reduce wait times at Department of Motor Vehicles locations, including a proposal to separate the DMV from the Department of Transportation — a partnership the state auditor calls "dysfunctional." State Auditor Dave Boliek released a report in August finding long waits are becoming more common, with 13.8% of visits lasting over two and a half hours...

The second day of the Brooks’ Sandwich House murder trial focused on one of the final pre-trial motions before jury selection got underway. Scott Brooks, co-owner of the beloved NoDa restaurant, was shot and killed in December 2019 while opening the family business early one morning. Nearly six years later, the two men accused of his death - Steven Staples and Terry Conner - are finally standing t...

The Charlotte City Council voted Monday to change ordinances allowing the installation of 30 digital kiosks throughout the city, a plan officials say will cost taxpayers nothing. The kiosks will offer free Wi-Fi, touchscreen navigation, local business highlights, emergency alerts, and city content such as events and wayfinding. They will also feature ADA-compliant, multilingual displays and advert...

The Charlotte Metropolitan Transit Commission approved a fare evasion resolution that will increase fare enforcement after the suspect in the stabbing of Iryna Zarutska was on the light rail without a ticket.   Security on public transit will prioritize checking riders for a ticket or pass as a part of daily duties. WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you...

A violent crime spree that left one person dead and two others wounded ended with Charlotte police fatally shooting a suspect who kidnapped a woman and fired at officers during a car chase on Thursday, authorities said. The incident began around 4 p.m. when officers responded to reports of multiple shots fired on North Hoskins Road near Brookshire Boulevard in northwest Charlotte. Police found two...

A Charlotte man faces dozens of felony charges in connection with a series of break-ins at businesses that netted more than $65,000 in cash and merchandise over two nights this month, court documents show. Emil Jafeth Lagos-Herrera, 19, was charged with breaking and entering at 16 separate locations, larceny after break-in at 11 businesses, and 16 counts of felony conspiracy, according to warrants...

Wednesday marks 60 days since the tragic stabbing of Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte's light rail. Now, Republican leaders in the city are demanding more accountability on what they call a public safety crisis.   WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte .   SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts |...

North Carolina state lawmakers moved forward Monday with redrawing the state's congressional maps , with the Senate Elections Committee approving the proposal in its first step toward passage. The redistricting effort is part of a multi-state push to shift party representation in the U.S. Congress. In North Carolina, only a simple majority is needed to redraw maps, which Republicans hold easily in...

A man was killed in a shooting early Sunday morning in a parking lot on Wilkinson Boulevard, marking the fourth homicide reported in Charlotte in the last 24 hours, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Off-duty officers working in the 4600 block of Wilkinson Boulevard responded to gunfire around 1:25 a.m., police said.  Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/wilkin...

Four months after millions of Americans participated in "No Kings" protests across the U.S. against President Donald Trump, organizers are setting up more demonstrations this weekend.   On June 14, millions of Americans took to the streets protesting the president's rise to power with signs, music, and dancing. The same day, Trump was planning to celebrate his 79th birthday with a 21-gun military...

Violent crime in Charlotte has seen a significant decrease from this time last year, according to new data released by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department on Wednesday.   CMPD's third-quarter public safety report found an 8% decrease in overall crime, highlighted by a 20% drop in violent crime. Property crime is down 5%, the department said. The report comes amid growing concerns about vio...

Parents are demanding greater transparency from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools leaders following numerous complaints about late buses, wrong drop-offs, and communication breakdowns in the district's transportation system. Andrew Dunn, a CMS parent with three children in the district, told school board members during a recent meeting that the problems extend far beyond individual incidents. Read mor...

The Charlotte City Council is moving forward on appointing nine members to the proposed transit authority, after delaying a vote last week.     Of the 27-seat authority, seven will be appointed by the council and two by the mayor. These members would oversee fund spending if a 1% sales tax increase passes in November.  Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/charlotte-city-council-trans...

A shooting in north Charlotte left one person dead on Sunday. The shooting happened in a business on Beatties Ford Road near Sunset Boulevard around 7 p.m. Police say they found a male victim dead at the scene from a gunshot wound. The victim's name has not been released. Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/deadly-shooting-north-charlotte/275-75b1fad0-49c1-4134-8443-85f6f86e6917?tbr...

With early voting just a week away, residents packed Matthews Town Hall on Thursday seeking clarity on a proposed one-cent sales tax increase for transportation projects, as confusion and concerns about the measure persist. Leaders say the forum was put in place to ensure people have the whole story and correct information before November's vote. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/...

Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of a peace plan for Gaza, paving the way for a pause in the fighting and the release of the remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Palestinians greeted the news cautiously Thursday as a possible breakthrough in ending the devastating 2-year-old war. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/syndication/associatedpress/israel-and-hamas-to-...

Nearly two months after the stabbing of Iryna Zarutska, new data shows which Charlotte light rail stations have a higher concentration of crime. City Councilman Edwin Peacock, who requested the data in August, received the information Sunday night, showing incidents over the last three years within one-eighth of a mile of light rail stops. Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/six-kni...