Local News

Report says Bobcats begin process to become Hornets

David Boraks — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:50:44 +0000

It looks like the Charlotte Bobcats are getting closer to that big name change that’s been rumored for months. CBSSports.com is reporting that the city’s pro basketball team has begun the process of changing its name to the Hornets. That was the name of Charlotte’s former NBA team, which moved to New Orleans.

N.C., S.C. Unemployment Drops To Lowest Rate In Years

Michael Tomsic — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:58:05 +0000

North Carolina's unemployment rate has dropped to its lowest level in four years, and South Carolina's unemployment rate has declined to the lowest point in five years. That's according to figures released Friday for the month of April.

Cotham Answers Nay-sayers Over Firing With Poll

Lisa Miller — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:27:57 +0000

Mecklenburg County Chairman Pat Cotham has taken a lot of heat for the firing of County Manager Harry Jones last week. So she’s decided to fire back at her nay-sayers by releasing results of a poll she commissioned.

Cotham’s campaign committee paid Public Policy Polling to ask Mecklenburg residents about the decision to fire Jones. The results came back in her favor.

CPCC Grad's Journey Was Arduous

Pam Kelley/Charlotte Observer — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:11:35 +0000

Students attend Central Piedmont Community College for many reasons, but the story of 20-year-old Riyam Al Ghrary’s journey to CPCC surely ranks among the most harrowing.

It began in Iraq, about six years ago, on the day she was kidnapped. It will culminate Thursday evening, as she accepts her diploma at Bojangles’ Coliseum, one of about 1,900 graduates, the largest number in CPCC’s 50-year history. She was student body vice president and a scholarship winner. She’s graduating with a 4.0 average.

Davidson Teen Competes In International Science Competition

Marshall Terry — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:01:37 +0000

A high school student from Davidson is among the students from around the world in Arizona this week competing for scholarships and cash prizes in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Eighteen-year-old Christopher Panuski's entry in the fair looks at cheaper and more efficient ways to shield electronics from cosmic radiation. He joined us to talk about the project and the competition.

Internal Documents Show CMPD's Tisdale Report Sparked Airport Rift

Julie Rose — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:19:56 +0000

At first blush, there’s a lot about the power struggle over Charlotte’s airport that makes no sense. After all, both sides in the debate agree the airport has done extraordinarily well under the city’s control. So what’s happened?

A mysterious death, for one.

And WFAE has reviewed internal airport documents that cast doubt over much of what we thought we knew about that incident.

Mecklenburg Not Part Of Bill To Allow Counties To Own Schools

Lisa Miller — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:23:15 +0000

Most of the state’s counties, including Mecklenburg, are no longer included in a bill that would give counties the authority to build, own, and maintain schools. The bill passed out of a senate committee Wednesday, only giving nine counties the option to take over ownership of schools from local school districts. Those counties include Rowan, Wake and Harnett.

Senator Ron Rabin of Harnett County said county commissions are more equipped to handle business deals.

Commissioners Battle In First Meeting Since Firing Jones

Michael Tomsic — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:44:49 +0000

A meeting of the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners Tuesday turned into a series of heated exchanges between commissioners with accusations of ethics violations, sexism and racism. It was the board’s first public meeting since it fired county manager Harry Jones.

State Bar Claims Former Judge Bill Belk Lied About Health Insurance

Michael Gordon/Charlotte Observer — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:16:48 +0000

Former Mecklenburg County District Judge Bill Belk, already banned from holding judicial office, now faces possible punishment from the North Carolina State Bar.

On Aug. 23, Belk will appear before the bar’s Disciplinary Hearing Commission on charges he lied during a 2009 investigation into his possible misconduct while he sat on the bench.

CMPD Expands Gunshot Detection System

Julie Rose — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:01:56 +0000

Charlotte police are rapidly expanding their use of technology to detect and locate gunshots in real-time.

The "ShotSpotter" system debuted in Uptown Charlotte during the Democratic National Convention and was expanded to the Grier Heights community in March. It uses a system of microphones to detect gunfire and notify police.

On Monday night, the Charlotte City Council approved $140,000 to extend CMPD's contract with ShotSpotter in the Central District and install it in another neighborhood struggling with violent crime: Albemarle Road and Farm Pond Road.