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Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers has declared February 24th as National Steakburger Day! And they’re celebrating with a big deal for burger lovers.
The restaurant’s namesake Freddy Simon would have turned 101 on February 24, 2026.
To celebrate its famous steakburgers and commemorate Freddy’s 101st birthday, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is offering its famous Freddy’s Original Double Steakburger for just $1 to rewards members on February 24, 2026, at participating locations.
No purchase required.
The burger is regularly $8.49, so it’s definitely a big deal for burger lovers. Regular price may vary by location.
Freddy’s Original Double is made with two patties, two slices of cheese, mustard, onion slices and pickle planks. Freddy’s steakburgers are made with premium, lean ground beef pressed thin and seared on a flat-top grill to create deliciously crispy, caramelized edges, and a juicy center. The steakburger is topped with Freddy’s Famous Fry Seasoning.
Deals offered by national chains are usually “participating locations only.” We can’t generally verify participation with a particular location, so we encourage you to contact the location to make sure. In addition, limited time offers can end without warning. Deals may not be available when you order from a 3rd party delivery service.
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. – Minors are no longer allowed at Birkdale Village in Huntersville without an adult after 6pm. This new policy is in response to a disturbance last weekend. Video posted on social media shows a group of teens dancing on a car and blocking traffic.
Jordan Miller says he was at North Italia when he noticed the crowd of at least 100 teens.
“I know just a few people can ruin it for the bunch but you have to have some sort of control over it, or things do get out of hand. People do get hurt, and things can get violent.” Jordan Miller, Birkdale Village Customer said.
Huntersville Police Chief Brian Vaughn says they got a call about a disturbance Saturday night and arrived within minutes but no crime was reported.
“The kids that were present worked with the officers and said, ‘Hey, need to leave’ and vacate the area and they respected those, those requests and immediately left the area.” Chief Vaughn said.
Minors are no longer allowed without an adult after 6pm. Birkdale Village will contract with Huntersville Police to enforce the rules.
“Birkdale village is actually hiring our officers off duty. We’ll have extra police out there for the foreseeable future, on the weekends that Birkdale village is paying for.” Chief Vaughn said.
Some teens are not sure the curfew will solve the problem.
“If you thought the 10 curfew would work but it didn’t why would the 6 work?,” a teenager asked. “From my perspective, I feel like [kids] just don’t care. Like, if they want to have fun, they will have fun.”
Some residents would like to see the community come together to find productive ways for kids to spend their time.
“I don’t like the light that they are putting on this because most of the kids that they are trying to demonize are black and brown kids,” Rachel Zwipf, Huntersville Resident said. “One of the ladies brought up ‘well, this is gangs’, I’m sorry you have no idea of what gangs are. These are teenagers looking for something to do, hanging out with their friend.”
Extra police will be out Friday night when the new curfew goes into effect.
On this week’s episode of Tying it Together, State Senator Michael Garrett, a Democrat, joins Tim Boyum to talk about his recent visit to Minnesota, where he sat in on legislative hearings about ICE operations.
Then, the night of the Super Bowl, a post he made about Bad Bunny went very viral.
About the Podcast
With the speed of the local news cycle, it’s easy to forget that the politicians who represent us and the influencers in our communities are more than just a sound bite. North Carolina’s veteran reporter and anchor, Tim Boyum, loosens his signature bow tie to give listeners a glimpse behind the curtain, showing us who these power players really are and why they do what they do. Through Tim’s candid conversations on “Tying It Together,” his guests reveal their most fascinating life stories, passions, and help all of us get a better grasp on the issues affecting our communities.
Do you have any thoughts or questions for Tim? Weigh in on X with the hashtag #TyingItTogetherNC. Afterward, rate the podcast and leave a review to tell us what you think!
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, the civil rights leader who died Tuesday at 84, had deep Charlotte and North Carolina ties.
Jackson often passed through the Queen City for voter rallies, funerals and political conferences. Education and drug abuse were two common focal points in his messaging.
In a dramatic visit to West Charlotte High School in 1989, he inspired 250 students to publicly acknowledge they’d tried drugs or alcohol and pledge to avoid them in the future.
Jackson delivered a 35-minute address to nearly 1,000 students during the school rally, where he emphasized individual responsibility and discipline in his appeal against drugs, The Charlotte Observer reported at the time.
Students subsequently signed a pledge promising to say no to illicit substances and study two hours per night, and engaged in a call-and-response chant with Jackson.
“I want to be a better person … I have slipped … and fallen … onto the low road … I want to do better … I will do better … I must do better,” he said, with each repeating.
Jackson was especially present during the height of his political career in the 1980s.
He visited the Marriott City Center in September 1988 to speak at a banquet for national minority enterprise development week, the Observer previously reported. That same month he met with supporters at Johnson C. Smith University.
The United House of Prayer for All People on Beatties Ford Road welcomed him on multiple occasions, including for an October 1988 visit to encourage congregants to vote. The church’s bishop at the time was Walter McCollough, a fellow South Carolinian whom Jackson sometimes turned to for inspiration.
Jackson returned to the church with a similar message in 2004 during the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County branch of the NAACP’s “Taking Souls to the Polls” rally.
Rev. Jesse Jackson (center) greets supporters outside of the United House of Prayer for All People on Beatties Ford Road, prior to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County branch of the NAACP-sponsored “Taking Souls to the Polls” voting rally on Sunday, August 8, 2004. DAVID T. FOSTER III
An education advocate, Jackson founded the PUSH/Excel program to motivate Black and impoverished students to achieve excellence through schooling. Charlotte hosted the annual PUSH/Excel Pro Basketball Classic event several times, which was the program’s biggest fundraiser.
In 1989 he spoke to a group of Black political and civic leaders at the former McDonald’s Inn on Beatties Ford Road, announcing Charlotte as the venue for its upcoming fundraiser.
“Our youth practice basketball on an average of four hours a day,” Jackson said at the time. “My friends, if we spent four hours a night working on reading, writing and problem-solving, we’ll be able to slam-dunk thoughts just like we slam-dunk basketballs.”
He joined Charlotte Hornet Larry Johnson at J.T. Williams Middle School in 1994 as part of the NBA’s stay-in-school program, incentivizing students with a free day at Carowinds if they maintained no unexcused absences, no suspensions and at least a 2.0 average.
Jackson also helped launch a national $4 million fundraising campaign in 1994 to help Barber-Scotia College in Concord with its financial problems. He raised more than $40,000 during two on-campus rallies alone.
In 1996 he spoke at the 87th annual NAACP Convention at the Charlotte Convention Center. And in 2012, while stumping for President Barack Obama, he spoke at the Democratic National Convention hosted at the Time Warner Cable Arena, now the Spectrum Center.
Jesse Jackson in North Carolina
A Greenville, S.C., native, Jackson frequented the Tar Heel state dating back to his college days. He moved to Greensboro in 1963 to attend what was then the N.C. Agricultural and Technical College. There, he became the star quarterback of the football team and was elected student body president of the historically Black university.
He spent the rest of his life filtering through North Carolina, often to advocate for voting rights, education and issues affecting Black citizens.
In 1984, he ran for president and supported Democratic North Carolina Gov. Jim Hunt in a tight battle for U.S. Senate against incumbent Republican Sen. Jesse Helms. He organized a voter registration drive to help Hunt and increased Black registration in the state by 37%, The News and Observer reported. Hunt and Jackson ultimately lost.
Jackson made many stops in North Carolina in the months leading up to the 1988 presidential election, delivering a number of speeches that emphasized the important role of young voters.
On the 25th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous March on Washington that August, Jackson spoke to 7,000 people during a Duke University freshman orientation event. He encouraged students to be a part of the vision Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. laid out in his “I Have a Dream” speech.
The crowd waited for two hours in the summer heat, the Associated Press reported.
“If I can aspire to be president of the United States of America, you can aspire to be president of Duke University,” Jackson told Black students in the audience.
Jackson ran for president in 1988 and outlasted most of the Democratic primary field before losing to Michael Dukakis, who would become his party’s nominee. Jackson helped Dukakis stump against then-Republican Vice President George H. W. Bush.
He also delivered remarks to an audience of 1,000 people at St. Augustine’s College, now University, in Raleigh and again encouraged civic participation.
“Hands that chopped lettuce and picked cotton can now pick Congresspeople and presidents,” Jackson said in his speech, according to previous reporting from The Charlotte Observer. “Don’t sit here cheering for change if you’re not registered to vote.”
The Rev. Jesse Jackson talks with N.C. State University students during a visit to the Raleigh campus in this undated photo from the university’s archives. North Carolina State University, Division of Student Affairs, Student Media Authority Records, 1909-2011 (UA016.035), Special Collections Research Center at NC State University Libraries Contributed
In 1993 he met with UNC Chancellor Paul Hardin in Chapel Hill to rally support for building a Black cultural center on campus, the News & Observer reported. UNC established the cultural center a few years later.
And in 1998 he joined a rally in Raleigh to bring attention to an array of issues facing the Black community, according to the News & Observer.
He returned to Greensboro in 2010 to help open the International Civil Rights Center and Museum in the old Woolworth building, where Greensboro’s civil rights movement began in earnest with a sit-in at a segregated lunch counter, according to the News & Observer. The museum honored him with a Lifetime Civil and Human Rights Award in 2017.
Nick Sullivan covers city government for The Charlotte Observer. He studied journalism at the University of South Carolina, and he previously covered education for The Arizona Republic and The Colorado Springs Gazette.
This is a free event on Monday, March 2, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., at 6 Grogs Game Bar, 131 Matthews Station Street, Suite 1C, Matthews, North Carolina. Please register at the above link.
Beavers don’t just build dams—they build entire ecosystems. Join Ruby Davis, Director of NC Wildlife Rehab and environmental scientist, for a fun, eye-opening look at how beavers improve wetlands, support wildlife, and occasionally drive humans a little nuts. You’ll learn why they matter and how we can peacefully coexist with nature’s best engineers.
With 15+ years as a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, a wildlife biology degree, and hands-on experience solving real-world beaver dilemmas, Ruby brings serious science—plus a sense of humor (her spirit animal is a skunk, after all). Expect smart insights, practical takeaways, and a newfound respect for those buck-toothed overachievers.
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Upcoming Events in the Charlotte area
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A shooter unleashed a flurry of bullets during a Rhode Island youth hockey game, killing two people and injuring three others, in an attack that was cut short when a spectator stepped in to help stop the tragedy, authorities said.
Investigators had spoken to nearly 100 witnesses as of Monday evening as they attempt to piece together what happened earlier that afternoon inside the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, a few miles outside Providence.
Police and ATF agents stand near the Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, R.I., after a shooting at the ice rink, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said Monday that the shooter died from an apparent self-inflicted gun wound, though authorities are still investigating.
Goncalves credited an unnamed “good Samaritan” who intervened, bringing the attack “to a swift end.” She did not provide details.
It is not entirely clear what precipitated the shooting, who was targeted or why. The game was livestreamed by LiveBarn, a streaming platform for youth sporting events, whose videos have been shared on social media showing players on the ice as popping sounds are heard. Chaos quickly unfolds as players on benches dive for cover, those on the ice frantically skate toward exits and fans flee their seats.
LiveBarn’s social media account has been issuing warnings to those who shared the video that they do not have permission to do so. An email to LiveBarn seeking comment was sent Tuesday.
“It appears that this was a targeted event, that it may be a family dispute,” Goncalves said. Authorities said both people who died were adults but have not released the identities of the victims.
Goncalves identified the shooter as Robert Dorgan, who she said also went by the name Roberta Esposito, who was born in 1969.
Dorgan was an active employee at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, a ship building facility in Bath, Maine, that contracts with the U.S. Navy, David Hench, a spokesperson for the shipyard, said Tuesday. Hench did not immediately respond to questions about Dorgan’s job title or how long Dorgan worked at the shipyard.
Monday’s shooting came nearly two months after Rhode Island was rocked by a shooting at Brown University that left two students dead and wounded nine others, as well as a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor. Authorities later found Claudio Neves Valente, 48, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a New Hampshire storage facility.
“Our state is grieving again,” Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee said in a statement. “As governor, a parent, and a former coach, my heart breaks for the victims, families, students, and everyone impacted by the devastating shooting at Lynch Arena in Pawtucket.”
A Charlotte-area restaurant slinging sushi, egg rolls and bulgogi bowls is set to close next month after nearly two years in business.
Skinny Buddha plans to shutter its stall at The Bank Food Hall in Kannapolis, the restaurant said in a recent Instagram post. The Asian eatery will hold its last day of service on March 8.
“This decision comes with deep gratitude for everyone who has shared a meal, a laugh, and a memory with us,” the restaurant’s management said in a farewell message. “To our loyal guest, friends, and neighbors — thank you for being part of our story. Your support has meant everything, and it’s been an honor to serve y’all.”
Skinny Buddha serves hibachi dinners, sushi rolls, dumplings and more at its food stall at Bank Food Hall in Kannapolis, NC. Screen grab from Skinny Buddha’s Facebook page
A reason for the closure wasn’t immediately clear. CharlotteFive reached out to Skinny Buddha for more information Feb. 17, and was awaiting a response.
The restaurant opened in August 2024, serving up classic sushi rolls, hibachi dinners and dumplings. Bulgogi rice bowls are also on the menu, as are beef kimchi fries and Thai iced tea.
Other restaurants at The Bank Food Hall include Big City Bites Bistro, The Getaway Slice pizza and wings, and Blendz Lab smoothies.
Tanasia is a service journalism reporter at the Charlotte Observer | CharlotteFive, working remotely from Atlanta, Georgia. She covers restaurant openings/closings in Charlotte and statewide explainers for the NC Service Journalism team. She’s been with McClatchy since 2020.
Police charged a 26-year-old woman with hit-and-run after she fatally struck a 30-year-old woman in a roadway with her car Sunday on Freedom Drive.
Getty Images/iStockphoto
A 26-year-old woman charged in a fatal hit-and-run this weekend was accused of being intoxicated at the time of the crash, police said in a news release Monday.
The crash occurred at 12:02 a.m. in the 2800 block of Freedom Drive on Sunday when Yolanda Brown was accused of fatally striking Deanna Moore, 30, with her car in the roadway.
A police arrest affidavit said officers spoke to witnesses who described the vehicle. The vehicle, a silver Saturn Vue, was later found at a home nearby, the affidavit said.
Police gave Brown a sobriety field test after she showed “signs of impairment,” and she failed, the affidavit said. Brown should have also known to stay at the scene after her vehicle was damaged, police said.
An officer also found cocaine in Brown’s jacket during a search, the affidavit said.
Brown was charged with felony death by vehicle, hit-and-run, and possession of cocaine. She is being held on a $250,000 bond at Mecklenburg County Jail, according to records.
Jeff A. Chamer is a breaking news reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He’s lived a few places, but mainly in Michigan where he grew up. Before joining the Observer, Jeff covered K-12 and higher education at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette in Massachusetts.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For the first time in recent decades, Mecklenburg County recorded 365 days of clean air last year.
According to the county’s air quality team, air pollution stayed within a healthy range every day of 2025.
“For the last decade, Mecklenburg County has met all health-based air quality standards, but we still would experience, on average, five days of unhealthy air quality each year,” Megan Green, the county’s air quality program manager, said. “This year [2025] is unique because we did not have any days with unhealthy air quality.”
What You Need To Know
Mecklenburg County had 365 days of clean air in 2025
On average, the county previously recorded five unhealthy air quality days each year
The county said sustained pollution reduction efforts, favorable weather conditions and limited impacts from wildfires and prescribed burns led to the 2025 milestone
A team of scientists has been monitoring air quality across Mecklenburg County since the 1950s. Their work found that air quality has improved over the last several decades.
“The factors that contributed to this year’s milestone are sustained pollution reduction efforts, favorable weather conditions and limited impacts from things like wildfires and prescribed burns,” Green said.
Healthy air quality can have a positive impact on wellness.
“Air quality can definitely affect everyone’s everyday health in a number of ways,” said Dr. Jaspal Singh, a pulmonologist for Atrium Health. “One is people who have respiratory conditions, such as asthma or COPD. Many people may not realize that air pollution can actually affect your risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attacks and strokes. Areas that have higher incidents of heart attacks and strokes oftentimes have higher incidents of air pollution.”
The county is now turning its focus to 2026 and hopes to have another year of clean air.
“We want everyone to have healthy air quality,” Green said.
If you want to do your part to reduce air pollution, Green recommends driving a fuel-efficient car, carpooling and parking your car instead of letting it idle while waiting in a drive-thru.
Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.
Bobbee O’s BBQ began as one family’s dream — founded on lovingly handed-down recipes, a standout signature sauce, and the belief that good food has the power to bring people together.
Since opening in 2008, the locally owned barbecue joint has paired traditional Southern fare with an atmosphere that reflects its roots; think slow-cooked meats, soulful sides and in-house music that’s meant to “feed the soul” once your belly is full.
All in the family
Bob S. Roberts opened Bobbee O’s nearly 20 years ago. As for the name? Bob’s given first name is indeed Bob (not Robert), and the family felt “Bobbee O’s” had a “soulful/jazzy blues sound.” Roberts managed various restaurants before following his dream to open a spot of his own.
Founder Bob Stevens Roberts, center, poses with colleagues inside Bobbee O’s BBQ in Charlotte. Bobby O’s
Roberts’ path to barbecue was shaped over decades: Originally from Rowland, NC, he served in Vietnam, lived in New Jersey and California and continuously experimented with recipes of his own while working in the food industry.
Chloria Chandler, Bob’s great niece, has since become a business partner and a leader of the business.
“After encouragement from his wife, Linda, and their sons, he took his sauce and recipes that were inspired by his mother, Missy,” Chandler said. “[His mother] always wanted her sons to know how to cook and take care of themselves, despite gender stereotypes.”
Chloria Chandler, right, pictured with longtime kitchen manager Shaniqua M. Howie, left, brings her background in business and a passion for entrepreneurship to the daily operations at Bobbee O’s BBQ in Charlotte. Bobbee O’s
Bob took those recipes and perfected them with the help of Linda and the children. You only have to walk through the door once to realize music is just as essential to the Bobbee O’s experience as the menu.
“Blues and soul music, like any music, is an expression of art,” Chandler said. “It speaks to the history of when music and food was one of the few expressions available to certain folks and it was perfected to a point that it literally ‘fed the soul.’ The music we play and the food we serve go hand-in-hand, and we love for folks to check out the art on our walls and the tribute to Bob’s favorite artist.”
Chandler became involved in her great uncle’s business while searching for a career she could feel passionate about.
“I learned that I loved entrepreneurship,” she said. “Pulling the restaurant to success is still taking a lot of work on my end, but we are growing and becoming many people’s favorite spot to talk about … and we have been for almost 20 years. ([Today)] we are growing into a system and a program versus being a mom-and-pop hole in the wall … We started with no AC and two tables.”
A Charlotte native with a background in business and philanthropy, Chandler is an Ivy League graduate who returned to work alongside her great uncle with the mission of both preserving and growing the family business.
The Menu
The menu at Bobbee O’s is full of barbecue classics done right, with pulled pork, chicken and beef brisket platters. Or, opt for the St. Louis ribs and jumbo wings that can be smoked or fried, paired with a choice of house sauces.
Beyond the regular dine-in service, Bobbee O’s also offers catering and frequently partners with local organizations for fundraisers.
Options like sampler platters, veggie plates, sandwiches and salads round out the offerings, and Bobbee O’s has remained committed to being affordable enough that they can be family-friendly in the truest sense. A barbecue pulled pork platter with two sides and bread runs around $15.99, with pulled chicken similarly priced. For lighter meals, a pulled pork sandwich is often under $8, while three jumbo wings range from about $8.99 to $15.99 depending on preparation.
Smoked jumbo wings and slow-cooked ribs are served with the restaurant’s signature sauce at Bobbee O’s BBQ on Statesville Road in Charlotte. Bobbee O’s
Bobbee O’s is community-minded
For Chandler, the menu is only part of the story. Bobbee O’s has long prided itself on being present for customers during both celebrations and difficult moments — friends buying food for friends, families gathering after a long day, or groups coming together to mark a milestone. Whether it’s a solo lunch or catering for large groups doing important work in the city, she says the goal is to feed everyone.
That philosophy extends behind the scenes as well. Chandler’s continued vision of the restaurant emphasizes paying employees well, encouraging health in all aspects of life and serving every plate with Southern hospitality. At its core, Bobbee O’s has always operated on a simple but consistent mantra: good food, good friends and good fun.
Chandler’s connection to Bobbee O’s runs just as deep. She jokes that she’s been a fan since before birth, recalling how her mother would tell Roberts during pregnancy that “the baby wants ribs.”
While in college, Chandler even began selling jars of the restaurant’s sauce after her uncle sent her nearly a pallet’s worth to make sure she wouldn’t run out — a move that introduced countless friends to Bobbee O’s long before they ever stepped inside the restaurant.
After all this time, Bobbee O’s is still doing daily what it set out to do: feeding Charlotteans and making the restaurant feel like a second home.
A vibrant jazz-inspired mural overlooks the dining area at Bobbee O’s BBQ in Charlotte, honoring the “soulful/jazzy blues” atmosphere founder Bob Stevens Roberts envisioned for the restaurant. Bobbee O’s
Highs aren’t the only things on the rise – rain chances pick up by the end of the week, as well.
Get ready for another shot of spring over the next several days as highs approach record territory by the end of the week. Temperatures surge back into the mid-to-upper 60s across the Piedmont & Foothills this Tuesday afternoon, boosted by plentiful sunshine and southwesterly winds. More clouds build in overnight into Wednesday, but this may end up keeping us warmer, as the overcast conditions will keep morning temperatures very mild in the 40s & 50s. Despite the gray skies, highs will swell near 70° around the Metro for our Hump Day. A few isolated showers may roll into the WCCB Charlotte viewing area Wednesday afternoon, but the bulk of the rain chances hold off until the end of the week.
An expansive rainmaking system will push into the Carolinas by Friday, but the mercury will continue to rise near record territory as we close out February’s penultimate workweek. Highs approach the upper 70s in the Queen City before scattered showers – and possibly a few thunderstorms – roll through later in the day. Both the American & European models agree that we will see late-week rain, but there’s still significant disagreement on how the weekend looks. The American keeps the rain around through Sunday morning, while the European dries us out by noon on Saturday. Regardless of what happens this weekend, much colder air slams back into the Carolinas by early next week – all the more reason to enjoy the warmth while it lasts!
Lowe’s home improvement provided additional details of the “mass layoff” of about 600 workers — and Charlotte-region employees are taking the biggest hit, a company filing made public Monday shows.
About 38% of the jobs being cut by the Mooresville-based retail giant will impact corporate and tech jobs in the Charlotte region, according to an N.C. Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filed with the state.
Lowe’s will cut 178 jobs at its corporate headquarters at 1000 Lowe’s Blvd. in Mooresville and 49 positions at the Lowe’s Technology Hub in South End at 100 W. Worthington Ave., Charlotte. The company disclosed the actions to the North Carolina Department of Commerce in its WARN filing submitted on Friday and posted Monday. Such notices are required by federal law during mass layoffs.
Lowe’s first confirmed with The Charlotte Observer on Friday that there would be layoffs for hundreds of corporate and support staff. One of the biggest employers in the Charlotte region, Lowe’s has refused to say how many employees work at its corporate office.
The company said the cuts, which don’t impact frontline store workers, will help “to strengthen our frontline focus while remaining agile in a dynamic home improvement environment.”
Lowe’s described the “mass layoffs” as permanent in the WARN notice. The company employs approximately 300,000 people and operates over 1,700 home improvement stores, 530 branches and 130 distribution centers.
Lowe’s mass layoffs include dozens of workers at the Tech Hub in South End, which opened in October 2022. Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez mrodriguez@charlotteobserver.com
Lowe’s said the layoffs represent less than 1% of its workforce companywide.
In 2024, Lowe’s said it had about 11,000 employees in the Charlotte region, including 5,000 corporate workers when the company laid off other corporate workers.
On Friday, a 10-year career with Lowe’s was ended in a four-minute call, one employee told the Observer on Monday. Neither his direct supervisor nor his director knew about what was going on, the worker said. The Observer is not identifying him because he was not authorized to speak for the company and may apply for another job at Lowe’s.
Other workers took to social media sites like Reddit to bemoan the mass layoffs, with one calling it “a bloodbath” while others said they were simply heartbroken.
More details on mass layoffs at Lowe’s home improvement
The WARN report includes a 10-page list of little over 600 remote and Charlotte corporate office jobs throughout the U.S. covering over two dozen states, from California to Connecticut, as well as South Carolina, Texas and Illinois.
Roles that are being eliminated include analysts, asset protection auditors, training moderators and supervisors, quality assurance specialists, in-home sales specialists, product designers, managers and researchers, renovation project representatives, retail facilities operations managers, account managers, and supply chain managers and coordinators.
Layoffs will begin April 19 and will be completed by May 1, according to the report.
Lowe’s mass layoff of over 600 corporate workers includes over 225 employees in the Charlotte region, state filings show. Lowe’s home improvement
The company is working with affected employees with financial assistance, continued benefits for a period of time and career transition resources.
The hundreds of layoffs were disclosed ahead of Lowe’s fourth-quarter earnings call that’s expected this month. In November, Lowe’s reported sales rose to $20.8 billion in the third quarter compared to $20.2 billion in 2024.
Catherine Muccigrosso is the retail business reporter for The Charlotte Observer. An award-winning journalist, she has worked for multiple newspapers and McClatchy for more than a decade.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An accused impaired driver has been charged in the fatal hit and run that happened early Sunday morning in west Charlotte, according to CMPD.
Investigators say 26-year-old Yolanda Brown was identified as the driver who struck and killed 30-year-old Deanna Moore on Freedom Drive.
Yolanda Brown
Police say Brown showed signs of impairment and has been charged with:
Felony Death by Motor Vehicle
Hit and Run
Possession of Cocaine
Police say they were able to locate Brown’s vehicle by using CMPD’s Real Time Crime Center.
Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden talks about reopening Jail North as Children’s Alliance Advocacy Director Frank Crawford, to the left, and state Department of Public Safety Deputy Secretary William Lassiter listen.
Ryan Oehrli
The Charlotte Observer
Sheriff Garry McFadden on Monday named his price to reopen Mecklenburg County’s shuttered juvenile jail: $17 million a year.
That’s about $2 million more than what Jail North cost the last year it operated, McFadden said after the meeting that lasted more than an hour. But taking care of kids costs money, he said.
“I will be disappointed if we trim anything, because all of these things, the kids need,” he said. “But we’re going to have to look at something to make this reality.”
McFadden, county commissioners and state officials met in uptown Charlotte on Monday and tried to get on the same page. Before the sheriff closed Jail North in 2022, the facility was considered a model for other juvenile jails because of its educational and vocational programs.
He shut it down to alleviate staffing troubles at uptown Charlotte’s adult jail. Now, minors charged with crimes and required to be kept in detention stay further away. Often, they are kept in an overcrowded jail in Cabarrus County.
The Children’s Alliance, a collection of 40 groups who advocate for local kids, organized Monday’s meeting.
Everyone at the meeting agreed that teenagers charged with crimes and kept in jail should be in Mecklenburg County, Children’s Alliance Advocacy Director Frank Crawford said.
As of Monday, it also appeared that everyone wanted McFadden’s staff to run the facility.
The stakeholders’ next meeting will be more granular, looking at areas where they might trim the sheriff’s $17 million budget proposal. No date has been set for that meeting yet.
Ryan Oehrli covers criminal justice in the Charlotte region for The Charlotte Observer. His work is produced with financial support from the nonprofit The Just Trust. The Observer maintains full editorial control of its journalism.
Ryan Oehrli writes about criminal justice for The Charlotte Observer. His reporting has delved into police misconduct, jail and prison deaths, the state’s pardon system and more. He was also part of a team of Pulitzer finalists who covered Hurricane Helene. A North Carolina native, he grew up in Beaufort County.
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers are hosting Boomer’s Shamrock Festival on Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Atrium Health Ballpark, 1 Cannon Baller Way, Kannapolis, North Carolina.
Providence Presbyterian Church, 10140 Providence Church Lane, Charlotte, North Carolina, is holding its annual Attic Sale on Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
It’s free to attend. Items will be priced low to sell!
Calling all vintage lovers and treasure hunters! The Providence Presbyterian Church Attic Sale features a well-curated collection of vintage finds, unique pieces, and hidden gems, including jewelry, clothing, furniture, dish ware, crystal, décor, tech, bikes, and more.
Proceeds benefit Youth Ministry Program.
Double-Check Before You Head Out!
We make every effort to make sure that everything on Charlotte on the Cheap is 100% accurate.
However, sometimes things change without notice, and we are not always notified. It’s also possible that we can make a mistake.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.
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Upcoming Events in the Charlotte area
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Annual Attic Sale at Providence Presbyterian Church
When
March 14, 2026 @ 7:00 am-1:00 pm
What
Annual Attic Sale at Providence Presbyterian Church
If you purchase a ticket from this page, Charlotte on the Cheap might earn a commission
Harlem Globetrotters are celebrating their 100th year with a world tour, and are making a stop in Charlotte! The roster has changed over the years, but their ability to wow crowds with their combination of athleticism, artistry and humor has not changed.
The Globetrotters’ high-flying hijinks, intricate juggling and iconic ball-spinning have made them favorites for generations of families.
They’ll be at Bojangles Coliseum, 2700 E Independence Blvd, Charlotte, North Carolina, on March 28, 2026, at 2 p.m.
Interested in going? Save 28% with this offer from Groupon. With the Groupon offer, tickets are $34.50. This is a discount from the regular price of $48.13. The Groupon price of $34.50 is the full price, including fees and taxes. (The $48.13 also includes fees, but not tax.)
Make sure to compare the Groupon price and Ticketmaster price, including all fees and taxes.
You might find some resale tickets on Ticketmaster that are a good price too. The price for these tickets can fluctuate a lot, depending on how easy or hard people are finding it to sell their tickets.
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However, sometimes things change without notice, and we are not always notified. It’s also possible that we can make a mistake.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.
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Upcoming Events in the Charlotte area
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Harlem Globetrotters’ 100th Anniversary World Tour (get discounted tickets)
When
March 28, 2026 @ 2:00 pm
What
Harlem Globetrotters’ 100th Anniversary World Tour (get discounted tickets)
Krispy Kreme is celebrating Mardi Gras with a one-day doughnut giveaway.
On Tuesday, Feb. 17, anyone wearing colorful beads synonymous with the religious and cultural holiday can get a free original glazed doughnut at participating shops nationwide, the Charlotte-based doughnut chain said.
Doughnuts are limited to one per person, and no purchase is required.
Charlotte-based Krispy Kreme is offering customers a sweet deal for Mardi Gras. Krispy Kreme
This year, Mardi Gras falls on Tuesday, Feb. 17. The festive occasion marks the last day of Carnival season and is usually celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday when Lenten season begins, according to Mardi Gras New Orleans.
“The tradition of float riders throwing trinkets to the crowds began in the 1870s, and continues today,” the website says. “Typical throws include beads, cups, doubloons and stuffed animals.”
The season of fun and feasting is typically spent filling up on “rich, fatty foods” in the weeks leading up to fasting for Lent, History.com reports.
A single Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut packs plenty of fat and sugar — 10 grams each — making it the perfect Mardi Gras treat.
Tanasia is a service journalism reporter at the Charlotte Observer | CharlotteFive, working remotely from Atlanta, Georgia. She covers restaurant openings/closings in Charlotte and statewide explainers for the NC Service Journalism team. She’s been with McClatchy since 2020.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In just a matter of seconds, Rita Connolly’s life drastically changed recently. With joy and tears streaming down her face, Connolly rolled in her wheelchair into Ildereton Conversions in Charlotte where she was surprised with a new set of wheels.
What You Need To Know
Lisa Sexton founded All Things Possible Medical Fundraising after experiencing health concerns and troubles
Sexton found a dire need for wheelchair accessible vehicles and people who cannot afford them
Sexton’s nonprofit has helped 49 people gain mobility again through their donations
The organization relies on donations and volunteers to help those in need in the Carolinas
“I know how much you need this wheelchair van and the challenges that you’ve been through,” Lisa Sexton said to Connolly while giving her a hug. “It’s been rough,” she added.
Spina bifida, paralyzed feet and increased muscle weakness in recent years have led the 56-year-old wife and mother to lose her ability to independently get around. Tasks many of us often take for granted, like a trip to the grocery store or doctors office, became difficult and nearly impossible.
“Everything just started getting worse and worse for me, depression and stuff like that because I couldn’t get out,” Connolly said.
And when she did get out, it was in a van driven by her husband that was not equipped for Rita or her wheelchair. Connolly’s children were forced to help lift her inside, where she dangerously sat on the floor with no seatbelt, crammed next to her 400-pound wheelchair.
“It’s hard enough to get up in the morning and get in the shower. It’s hard to do all that. And then to have to go to the car and then squeeze myself into the car and use all that energy. By the time I get somewhere, it’s like the day is ruined for me almost,” Rita said of her experience.
Thanks to Lisa Sexton and All Things Possible Medical Fundraising, community partners like Ilderton Conversion of Charlotte and other donors and volunteers, she received the keys to a wheelchair accessible van that will allow her to stay seated in her wheelchair and drive herself using her hands.
“The wheelchair will actually have a locking bracket on the bottom of the chair, a grade-A bolt pin that will actually come in here and lock into place. So that will actually hold the wheelchair in place,” Mike Alfaro, general manager of Ilderton Conversion of Charlotte, said.
“Oh, I get so excited. The public has really come together and donated, and we just pray that that continues because there’s no greater blessing than to change a life,” Sexton said of the donation.
The group has worked to make an impact for 49 people since 2013 with each accessible van driving toward mobility and a renewed sense of self-worth.
“People don’t think about disabled people and what they have to do to get places and what they can afford and what they can’t afford. And so this is one organization that’s focusing on this very thing. And it’s not just a vehicle, it’s helping somebody’s dreams come true. So that’s really what happened for me,” Connolly said while laughing.
It’s a mission that’s close to Sexton’s heart. Before starting the nonprofit, she faced her own set of medical hardships that led her to want to help her neighbors in need. And that’s when she found out just how many people needed wheelchair accessible vans, but couldn’t afford one.
So All Things Possible Medical Fundraising’s mission changed from helping meet all medical needs, to focusing primarily on helping people obtain wheelchair accessible vans. And that’s why the nonprofit is officially changing its name to All Thing Possible Mobility. Sexton hopes their mission as one of the only nonprofits in the country doing this type of work only continues to grow. And recipients like Connolly say they couldn’t be more grateful.
“This is life-changing safety equipment that will last for years and years and get her to her medical appointments and be able to do physical therapy and get there safely to just go visit family, you know, and go to church, be part of the community,” Sexton said.
“The nerves were really bad coming in but I’m just so excited now, like I don’t know what to do first. My brain doesn’t know what to do first,” Connolly added.
