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  The Mecklenburg Union Metropolitan Planning Organization voted unanimously Wednesday night to add the N.C. DOT’s proposed I-77 widening project to the region’s long-range transportation plan and priority list. The vote was uneventful, but the meeting wasn’t, as toll opponents packed a meeting room in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center continuing their fight against the widening project.

As long as you try hard, grades of zero are not given at Mallard Creek High School. The worst grade a students can get is a 50, even if they turn in homework late or get less than half the questions right on a test. The policy went into effect last fall, and now CMS officials are reviewing it to see if it should be implemented system wide.

Mark Bosco is a big supporter of the policy. He’s the Executive Director of the Northeast Zone of CMS. Bosco says the grading policy doesn’t mean a 50 is the new 0.

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx appears to be on a smooth course for confirmation as the next U.S. Secretary of Transportation. He fielded mostly friendly questions from a Senate Committee today and could be confirmed by the full Senate in a matter of weeks.

Foxx spent the last few weeks in a crash course on transportation department structure and lingo. And he's been meeting the senators who must approve his nomination, so he had a pretty good idea what they'd ask during his confirmation hearing.

When it comes to the technology industry, Charlotte isn't usually listed as a hub. That title goes to places like Silicon Valley, New York, Boston and Seattle. But, Charlotte shows a lot of promise in the emerging technology field known as "Big Data."

The Charlotte Bobcats have called a 6 p.m. press conference on Tuesday where they're expected to announce a name change.

Evan Kent couldn't be more thrilled. For several years, he and his brother have built a grassroots effort to re-christen the team the Charlotte Hornets. They've organized "swarms" of hundreds of nostalgic fans who wear their purple and teal Hornets gear at Bobcats games.

Republicans in the North Carolina Senate have proposed a $20.6 billion budget for next year.  That’s essentially the same size as Governor Pat McCrory’s proposal. Spending in major categories would be mostly flat except for health and human services and natural and economic resources.  However, Medicaid spending would grow 11 percent compared to this year. 

The Senate’s Plan For Education

When billionaire David Murdock opened the North Carolina Research Campus five years ago, his goal was to create a global biotechnology center in Kannapolis and to replace the thousands of jobs lost when Cannon Mills—formerly the city’s largest employer—closed. Murdock has poured upwards of $600 million into development of the NCRC, but today, there are only a handful of companies and few jobs compared to his sweeping vision. This week, Murdock donated another $50 million to the endeavor. Outside of Murdock’s millions, there are few signs of growth, but many are still betting on it.