With dreams of commuter or light rail in the Triangle deferred, local governments are turning to a far cheaper and easier form of mass transit that uses buses.
Durham County is the latest to consider bus rapid transit. The county’s plans get underway this fall with an online survey and a series of public workshops to determine how and where people might use BRT.
The effort is a response to what the county heard as it developed the 2023 Durham Transit Plan, which guides how revenue from the county’s half-cent sales tax for transit should be spent.
“Residents and our governing boards requested that we prioritize quick and reliable bus service,” Ellen Beckmann, the county’s transportation director, said in a written statement. “The BRT Vision Plan will identify the specific projects and corridors that we want to advance using our local sales tax to accomplish this goal.”
BRT is a bus system with some similarities to rail. Passengers board from covered, elevated platforms, as on a train car, and electronic boards show when the next bus is due to arrive. The buses also get priority green lights at intersections and often travel in their own dedicated lanes, to avoid getting slowed by traffic.
Both Raleigh and Chapel Hill have committed to bus rapid transit. Raleigh hopes to begin service on the state’s first BRT line along New Bern Avenue by the summer of 2030 and plans three more BRT lines radiating from downtown. Chapel Hill expects to begin building a line through the heart of town in 2027, connecting the Eubanks Road park-and-ride lot near Interstate 40 with Southern Village.
Meanwhile, the city of Durham is planning what it calls Central Durham Bus Rapid Transit. It will run about 5 miles from Wellons Village through downtown to the Duke University and Veterans Administration medical centers.
Compared to rail, bus rapid transit is much easier to develop and less expensive. GoRaleigh expects to spend $108 million to build the 5.4-mile New Bern Avenue line, or about $20 million per mile. In contrast, planners estimated several years ago that a proposed commuter rail line between Durham and Garner would cost $75 million to $80 million per mile.
GoTriangle completed a feasibility study for the commuter rail line in early 2023, then shelved the project after it became clear the federal government would not help pay for it. An earlier effort to build commuter rail between Durham and Raleigh was also abandoned in 2006 after failing to win federal support or funding.
To learn more about Durham County’s Bus Rapid Transit Vision Plan, including a link to the survey, go to durhambrtvision.com/. The survey will be live through Nov. 29.
The county also plans three workshops — two in person and one online:
Thursday, Oct. 30, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Durham County Main Library, 300 North Roxboro St.
Thursday, Nov. 6, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Durham Station, 515 West Pettigrew St. (Use Willard Street entrance to avoid construction.)
Richard Stradling covers transportation for The News & Observer. Planes, trains and automobiles, plus ferries, bicycles, scooters and just plain walking. He’s been a reporter or editor for 38 years, including the last 26 at The N&O. 919-829-4739, rstradling@newsobserver.com.
Coyote Joe’s on Wilkinson Boulevard brings live music to Charlotte.
DREW GREY
A man shot and killed another man over the weekend at the popular Coyote Joe’s nightclub in west Charlotte.
The shooting took place about 1:25 a.m. Sunday in the parking lot of the bar, located at 4621 Wilkinson Blvd., according to a CMPD news release. Off-duty officers working for the nightclub heard the gunfire.
Jason Lamar Neal, 41, was killed, according to police.
Andre Tyrell Walker, 44, of the Lake Norman area, was charged with murder. No bond was allowed, according to court records. He was also charged Sunday with trafficking in cocaine.
According to witnesses, including Neal’s girlfriend, the shooting stemmed from a dispute. Before three shots were fired, a witness overheard a man say, “Youngblood you started some problems you didn’t want to deal with but now you have to,” according to a police affidavit filed in court.
The club could not be reached for comment; a phone number listed on its Facebook page did not allow voicemail.
The shooting followed three homicides in Charlotte on Saturday, all of which were unrelated.
Known for its downtown art galleries and studios, the town of 4,770 residents is 10 miles north of Asheville and 134 miles northwest of Charlotte.
A 2.1 magnitude quake is considered weak, and is rarely if ever felt, seismologists said.
No one reported feeling the quake, according to the USGS, which also received no reports of damage.
Still, are we the only ones a tiny bit spooked by the recent spate of tiny mountain quakes?
On Saturday, Sept. 20, the town of Rosman experienced its 11th small earthquake of the year, according to the USGS. Weaverville is 50 miles northeast of Rosman.
Three days earlier, a 2.2 magnitude earthquake registered nearly 5.6 miles west of Rosman, according to the USGS, as did a 2.1 magnitude quake about 2.5 miles southwest of the town on Sept. 10.
About 100 miles northeast of Rosman, a 1.8 magnitude quake registered about five miles west of Bakersville early Sept. 11, The Charlotte Observer previously reported, citing the USGS.
Strongest quake of the year felt in Charlotte
Rosman also saw three quakes over four days in August, McClatchy News previously reported.
Joe Marusak has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1989 covering the people, municipalities and major news events of the region, and was a news bureau editor for the paper. He currently reports on breaking news. Support my work with a digital subscription
A woman charged in connection with a brutal, five-year-old Charlotte homicide can remain free despite repeated violations of her court-ordered electronic ankle monitoring, a Mecklenburg County judge ruled Friday.
America Diehl was indicted on charges of accessory after the fact of first-degree murder and concealment of a body in the 2020 killing of .Mary Collins.
Collins, a 20-year-old with a cognitive disability, died after prosecutors said she was lured to an apartment and stabbed 133 times.
A calendar with “April 2020” written at the top remains on a wall of the bedroom of Mary Collins. KHADEJEH NIKOUYEH Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com
Kelly Lavery, one of four defendants charged in the case, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. But more than five years after the attack, the others haven’t been tried. They include Diehl, who has been allowed to stay with her mother and grandmother in their Clover, South Carolina, home, court records show.
Although Diehl has cooperated with investigators, she should be returned to jail on a $500,000 bond for repeatedly failing to charge her electric ankle monitor over the years, including as recently as Oct. 9, prosecutor Bill Bunting told the judge Friday. She’s been free on $150,000 bond, court records show.
Diehl’s lawyer, Lambert Guinn, said Diehl has complied with other orders of her bond, including a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. She had no previous criminal history and poses no flight risk, he said.
“She was 18 years old when this happened and was forced into a terrible situation,” Guinn said. “She goes to work. She has stayed out of trouble as much as possible. Her willingness to help, to participate (in the cases against the other defendants) has not changed.”
The judge also agreed with Guinn regarding the unreliability of electronic ankle monitoring and ruled that Diehl no longer has to wear one.
None of which excuses Diehl’s allegedly having “stuffed Mary in a mattress,” Bunting told the judge.
Diehl “could have prevented Mary’s death” by calling 911 the night of the attack, Collins’ mother, Kasei Canfora, told the judge. For days, she failed to notify police as to where Collins’ body was hidden, Canfora said.
“But I have no control over the justice (system),” Canfora told the judge.
Collins’ family members reacted with anguish in the courtoom after the ruling.
“Get ready for hell,” one said loudly to Diehl as the family exited the courtroom.
‘Justice I did not get,’ mom of homicide victim says
Collins’ grandmother, Mia Alderman, said outside the courtroom later that she was “dumbfounded” by the ruling.
“I cannot believe this,” she said. “I’m literally in shock.”
Outside the courthouse after Friday’s hearing, Canfora reiterated her disappointment in the ruling.
“The mother, the person who carried her for nine months and gave birth to her, gets no say at all, other than to express my heartfelt pain and plead with the judge to give me some kind of justice, which I did not get at all,” Canfora said.
“And it’s not just me,” she said. “It happens over and over again, and it’s unacceptable.”
A calendar with “April 2020” written at the top in Mary Collins’ room where she lived with her grandmother, Mia Alderman, in Charlotte. KHADEJEH NIKOUYEH Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com
This story was originally published October 10, 2025 at 7:02 PM.
Joe Marusak has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1989 covering the people, municipalities and major news events of the region, and was a news bureau editor for the paper. He currently reports on breaking news. Support my work with a digital subscription
Twenty One Pilots perform during The Clancy Tour: Breach 2025 at PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte, NC, on Thursday, October 9, 2025.
DIAMOND VENCES
dvences@charlotteobserver.com
I’ve now seen Twenty One Pilots in Charlotte three times in the past six years, and yet …
… as someone who’s not a card-carrying member of the Skeleton Clique — the official name of the duo’s fanbase — these can be increasingly tricky reviews to write.
For instance, here’s what I observed over the span of a few songs performed midway through lead vocalist Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun’s sold-out show at PNC Music Pavilion on Wednesday night:
As an old sedan became engulfed in flames behind him, on a B stage smack in the middle of the venue’s massive lawn, Joseph submerged his hands in wet black paint to match the dry black paint on his neck while rapping through a shortened version of “Pet Cheetah”.
Then he intentionally smeared the paint all over his white T-shirt and, moreso incidentally, got it on the white bass guitar he played during the poppy, peppy “Polarize”.
Then finally, while cranking out the groove-oriented “Chlorine” (and dishing out some messy-but-most-welcome high-fives) on his silky-smooth strut back to the main stage, Joseph made a pit stop to engage in a brief singalong with a group of fans clad in furry costumes that had little antlers and big ears.
Tyler Joseph of Twenty One Pilots performs while wearing one of two different masks he put on at PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte on Thursday (although for most of the night, his face was in full view). DIAMOND VENCES dvences@charlotteobserver.com
All-in members of the Clique, meanwhile, would have immediately recognized all sorts of symbolism tied to the lore and the mythology that the duo’s series of conceptual albums is drenched in — the burning car a nod to Joseph’s oppressed Clancy character, the black paint associated with the inner demons tormenting Joseph’s antagonistic Blurryface character, and the furry costumes a tribute to a creature named Ned that represents Joseph’s creativity.
(Obviously, I had to look this stuff up, and apparently, me trying to take a crash course in Twenty One Pilots lore is kind of like a second-grader trying to wrap their head around theoretical physics.)
The good news, however, is that even casual fans of their music can enjoy and appreciate what Joseph and Dun are doing up there.
Tyler Joseph of Twenty One Pilots performs during “The Clancy Tour: Breach 2025” at PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte on Thursday night. DIAMOND VENCES dvences@charlotteobserver.com
You don’t have to be a hardcore fan to appreciate Joseph’s versatility as an instrumentalist. He can pluck the thin strings of a ukulele on a song like “We Don’t Believe What’s on TV” or throttle the thick strings of an electric bass guitar on a song like on their 2016 hit “Heathens” with equal aplomb.
He can respectably tickle the ivories of both a traditional piano and an electronic keyboard (although he admitted while playing the former on “Garbage” that he favors the ebonies, because he thinks doing so helps hide the fact that he’s “not even very good”). And if you put him in a proper mood, he’ll even shake a tambourine, like he did for “Heavydirtysoul,” or beat a drum, like he did during show-closer “Trees” (more on that in a moment).
You also don’t have to be a hardcore fan to be impressed by Dun’s power, precision, prowess and — should he peel off his shirt, as he did at one point Wednesday night — his pecs as he pounds on his drum kit. Or to appreciate him as a strong-silent type; Dun vocalized just twice in Charlotte, first chiming in to deliver the “I’ve been this way / I want to change” lyric on “Drum Show” and later briefly adding harmony to the initial chorus of 2015 hit “Stressed Out.”
Both times the crowd reacted as if he’d announced everybody had just won a free car.
Josh Dun of Twenty One Pilots performs during “The Clancy Tour: Breach 2025” at PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte on Thursday night. DIAMOND VENCES dvences@charlotteobserver.com
Nor do you have to be a hardcore fan to appreciate how Joseph interacts with his hardcore fans, whether that’s mixing it up with the ones cosplaying as Neds; or bringing the little girl named Emma on stage and turning her into an instant star as she helped him sing the “Oh-ooo-Oh-ooo, OOHH-OOH / Oh-ooo-Oh-ooo, OOH / I’m fallin’ / So I’m takin’ my time on my ri-ee-ii-ee-ii-ide” chorus of “Ride”; or trusting little bunches of much bigger members of the Clique to hold up platforms in GA sections so that Joseph and/or Dun can perform directly in their midst.
Twenty One Pilots perform during “The Clancy Tour: Breach 2025” at PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte on Thursday night. DIAMOND VENCES dvences@charlotteobserver.com
And you don’t have to be a hardcore fan to admire Joseph’s off-beat sense of humor, which the frontman put on display most notably here in Charlotte when he said: “I want you to know I have a feeling there’s a lot of people in this room who are creatives. I want you to know, just keep making it, keep putting it out there, keep showing people. It means something to somebody, I promise.” Then, after loud cheers and a long pause, he added his kicker: “Unless it sucks.”
As if that wasn’t enough, Twenty One Pilots also continues to demonstrate a skillful way of designing TikTok- and Instagram story-ready moments for fans of all flavors.
Exhibit A: The flaming car.
Exhibit B: That one time, during a break in the middle of “Lane Boy,” when he got all 20,000 of us to crouch as low as possible — to the sound of ominous piano notes and anxious electronic drumming; followed by the the … wait for it … wait for it … NOW! moment that saw everyone springing to their feet and erupting into screams, as band extras in full hazmat suits unloaded $5,000 fog blasters into and above the crowd.
But perhaps the best example of that knack is the stunt they pull at the end of every one of their two-plus-hour shows: Joseph and Dun, standing on matching platforms held aloft by matching sets of fans, pouring a layer of water onto matching drums, and then savagely hitting those drums to the beat of “Trees,” as splashes of water and falling red confetti fill the pit.
For hardcore fans, I think all that is supposed to symbolize a baptism of sorts, symbolizing rebirth and renewal for, um, the Clancy character. I think.
The rest of us? We’re just takin’ — and enjoying — our time on the ride.
Tyler Joseph of Twenty One Pilots performs during “The Clancy Tour: Breach 2025” at PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte on Thursday night. DIAMOND VENCES dvences@charlotteobserver.com
Twenty One Pilots’ setlist
1. “Overcompensate”
2. “The Contract”
3. “RAWFEAR”
4. “We Don’t Believe What’s on TV”
5. “Tear in My Heart”
6. “Backslide”
7. “Lane Boy”
8. “Shy Away”
9. “Heathens”
10. “Next Semester”
11. “Routines in the Night”
B Stage
12. “Message Man”
13. “Pet Cheetah”
14. “Polarize”
15. “Chlorine”
Main Stage
16. “Jumpsuit”
17. “Nico and the Niners”
18. “Heavydirtysoul”
19. “The Line”
20. “Garbage”
21. “Doubt”
22. “Tally”
23. “Ride”
24. “Drum Show”
Encore:
25. “City Walls”
26. “Guns for Hands”
27. “Stressed Out”
28. “Trees”
This story was originally published October 9, 2025 at 5:04 PM.
Théoden Janes has spent more than 18 years covering entertainment and pop culture for the Observer. He also thrives on telling emotive long-form stories about extraordinary Charlotteans and — as a veteran of three dozen marathons and two Ironman triathlons — occasionally writes about endurance and other sports. Support my work with a digital subscription
Engineered Land Solutions CEO Drew Nations addresses a citizens question during a community meeting at the Matthews Town Hall on Thursday, October 2, 2025. A rezoning petition for a proposed data center is receiving opposition in Matthews.
JEFF SINER
jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
The developers behind a proposed data center in Matthews have withdrawn their rezoning request with the city, halting plans that had drawn weeks of public backlash.
The data center, dubbed Project Accelerate, called for five two-story buildings across 123 acres along East John Street near Interstate 485. Developers with Engineered Land Solutions said the site could house a large data campus requiring up to 600 megawatts of electricity — a level some residents described as “massive.”
The development team initially sought to rezone the property from residential to industrial use to allow construction of the data center.
“The development team for Project Accelerate has requested withdrawal of its rezoning petition,” a spokesperson for Crosland Southeast, one of the development companies involved, said in a statement Tuesday evening. “This will allow additional time to explore options.”
The proposal had faced strong resistance from nearby residents, who packed recent town meetings to raise concerns about noise, power, water use and the town’s character. Some said the industrial-scale project didn’t belong near neighborhoods like Brightmoor, which borders the site.
“What I want for Matthews is responsible development,” resident Emily Moore told commissioners at a September meeting, after launching a petition that gathered more than 2,700 signatures. “Way more than a data center, I would love to see a neighborhood. I would love to see community space… I think it’s a bigger conversation than even just this property off East John.”
Others argued the plan risked raising electricity bills and permanent changes to the town’s identity.
Mayor John Higdon confirmed the withdrawal Tuesday evening, thanking residents for their involvement.
“For many of you who have been following the proposed rezoning for a data center on John Street, the developer has withdrawn its application,” Higdon wrote on Facebook. “Thank you for your diligence and engagement through this process; your investment in our community is one of the many reasons Matthews is an incredible place to call home.”
It’s not clear whether the developers plan to resubmit the project or propose a different use for the site. The rezoning request had been scheduled for additional meetings and a public hearing later this month.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
“The last almost six years have felt frozen in grief since the death of my twin, Scott. The time for justice has finally come,” David said in an open letter addressed to friends, family, customers, neighbors and the community.
In December 2019, 61-year-old Scott Brooks was shot and killed as he attempted to open Brooks’ Sandwich House for the day. Terry Connor and Steven Staples were charged with murder and pled not guilty in 2022.
Hundreds of people gathered to mourn Scott Brooks in 2019 after he was killed outside his and his brother David’s longtime Charlotte restaurant, Brooks’ Sandwich House. Xavier Tianyang Wang xwang@mcclatchy.com
The restaurant was opened in 1973 by Scott and David’s father. The twins didn’t always want to go into the restaurant business; David considered banking and Scott, who was 5 minutes older, went to law school for a brief stint, they told CharlotteFive in 2018. The family-run business has continued with the next generation, with David’s children, Lauren and Teal, also working there. The restaurant continues to honor Scott’s memory with his trademark saying: “Too blessed to be stressed.”
Trial for the death of Scott Brooks
The trial is scheduled to begin on Oct. 27 and is expected last about two weeks, David said. The restaurant will be closed during this time. “I want to speak for my brother and make sure justice is served.”
More details about Scott’s trial will be announced next week, and David said he will share more once he receives additional information from the district attorney.
He thanked the community for its continued support and put out another request: “I welcome anyone from the community to come to the courthouse and stand with us during this time. It has been far too long, and your presence would mean everything to me and my family.”
Scott Brooks and David Brooks with their father. Alex Cason CharlotteFive
Melissa Oyler is the editor of CharlotteFive. When she’s not writing or editing, you’ll find her running, practicing hot yoga or snuggling with her rescue dogs, X and Charlie. Find her on Instagram or X: @melissaoyler. Support my work with a digital subscription
In its preliminary report, State Auditor Dave Boliek’s staff said CATS armed security staff shrunk in recent years despite increased spending on security. The auditor’s office also questioned the transit authority’s use of diversity rules in its hiring process for its private security firm.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles pushed back on the report’s findings in a response letter included in the report. She stood by the city’s contracting practices and security firm.
Tuesday’s report notes the auditor’s office “will release a final report after conducting a full review.”
NC auditor’s preliminary CATS report
The preliminary report says CATS’ number of armed security personnel fell from between 68 and 88 in 2018 to 39 this year. The agency’s security spending increased from $5.9 million in 2022 to $18.4 million in 2025, the report states.
The report also questioned Charlotte’s efforts to increase contractor diversity during the CATS security firm selection. Republicans at the state and federal level have taken aim at diversity and inclusion practices related to hiring in recent months.
The audit says the city’s request for proposals from security firms in 2022 “was ‘targeted only’ to businesses that were registered and certified” with its inclusion program, which aims to get more women- and minority-owned businesses involved in city contracting.
That contract ultimately went to Professional Security Services out of eight applicants, the audit said.
“The safety of the citizens of Charlotte needs to be first and foremost when security decisions are being made. Our report shows there has been a clear shift away from armed security in the CATS’s private security contracts,” Boliek said in a statement on the preliminary report. “Further, limiting any part of a contract providing citizens with security to only firms that meet a DEI checkbox raises questions as to whether politics has taken priority over public safety. As we continue our investigation, we will be examining the decisions that went into designing, soliciting, and approving these security contracts.”
Charlotte responds to CATS audit
In a response letter included in Tuesday’s report, Lyles stood by the hiring of PSS, saying the firm “was chosen following a competitive process” and noting that President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign contracted with the company for event security.
“The report appears to suggest that PSS is not qualified but fails to offer specific evidence to support this conclusion,” she wrote, adding “PSS has met contract requirements and continues to provide satisfactory services.”
The mayor said the city adhered to its policies for awarding contracts and that CATS has increased security personnel overall, with unarmed security personnel “assisted, as needed, by armed security.” She also said the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department increased the prescence of police along the Blue Line.
In her letter, Lyles also questioned the auditor’s office timeline for its report.
She said the city met an initial deadline to answer questions and was then given less than 24 hours to respond to follow-up questions. Lyles said the auditor’s office sent a copy of the report to the city Friday afternoon and said it planned to release the report Monday. Boliek’s staff then sent an updated report Monday afternoon and said it would be released publicly Tuesday, Lyles said.
Lyles wrote she “would respectfully request” the auditor’s office “provide reasonable deadlines for city responses and clarify the process moving forward.”
CATS said in an additional statement it “is working to meet the needs of our community,” citing increased overall security staffing, CMPD presence and fare enforcement.
Lyles, City Manager Marcus Jones and interim CATS CEO Brent Cagle previously announced a news conference about CATS security would happen Wednesday. After the auditor’s report was releasede, the news conference was moved to Friday.
Other investigations into CATS after stabbing
In addition to the state auditor’s investigation, multiple other agencies are looking into CATS following the light rail stabbing.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Federal Transit Administration would examine CATS’ safety plans, security spending and any risks to operators and customers. He also said the FTA could withhold federal money from Charlotte depending on its findings.
FBI Director Kash Patel also said on social media after security footage of the stabbing went viral the agency had “been investigating the Charlotte train murder from day one.”
This story was originally published September 30, 2025 at 5:49 PM.
Mary Ramsey is the local government accountability reporter for The Charlotte Observer. A native of the Carolinas, she studied journalism at the University of South Carolina and has also worked in Phoenix, Arizona and Louisville, Kentucky. Support my work with a digital subscription
“With so many people settling in Mecklenburg County, now is the time to make the critical infrastructure investments to keep the county a great place to live, work, and raise a family,” Stein said in a Tuesday statement. “This referendum will enhance safety, reduce congestion, and keep the region moving and thriving.”
NC Gov. Josh Stein, flanked by Charlotte-area leaders, signs a bill allowing Mecklenburg County to put a sales tax referendum on the ballot to pay for transportation projects. Behind Stein is Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles (in red dress) and State Rep. Tricia Cotham (in green dress). Screenshot YouTube
And on Friday, the influential Black Political Caucus announced its endorsement. Chair Jocelyn Jones-Nolley said in a statement the group’s “overwhelming vote of support demonstrates the unity of our members in recognizing the importance of this referendum to Mecklenburg County’s future.”
“We look forward to partnering with the Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority and other stakeholders to ensure community concerns are prioritized and addressed, and that the benefits of this investment are shared broadly across all neighborhoods,” she said. “This is about ensuring growth that works for everyone.”
Mecklenburg County voters will decide whether to approve a 1% sales tax increase to fund road, rail and bus projects. Plans include, among other initiatives, the construction of the Red Line commuter rail to the Lake Norman area and an overhaul of the region’s bus system.
The revamped public transit system would be led by a new regional authority.
Supporters say the plan will relieve traffic congestion and improve the region’s infrastructure. Opponents say a sales tax is regressive and question the decision to shorten the long-planned Silver Line light rail from the airport to eastern Mecklenburg County due to funding constraints.
Safety became part of the conversation about the referendum in recent weeks following the killing of Iryna Zarutska on the LYNX Blue Line in South End. Zarutska’s death also attracted national attention and a congressional hearing on crime in Charlotte on Monday.
CLT Alliance CEO Robert McCutcheon said in a statement Stein’s endorsement “reinforces the urgency of this moment.”
“With the Governor’s support, we are sending a clear message: this referendum is essential for the future of Mecklenburg County, and now is the time to act,” McCutcheon said.
The “Yes For Meck” campaign said in a statement the BPC’s endorsement “adds significant momentum to the referendum campaign.”
Election Day is Nov. 4, and early voting begins Oct. 16.
This story was originally published September 30, 2025 at 2:18 PM.
Mary Ramsey is the local government accountability reporter for The Charlotte Observer. A native of the Carolinas, she studied journalism at the University of South Carolina and has also worked in Phoenix, Arizona and Louisville, Kentucky. Support my work with a digital subscription
I arrived at La Lima Sangucheria a few minutes before the doors opened, and already a small line had gathered. It felt like an encouraging sign for a newcomer.
The fast-casual Peruvian sandwich launched in March from the co-founder of Viva Chicken, CharlotteFive reported.
The restaurant’s minimalist design, from the pale wood furniture to the soft globe lighting, feels warm thanks to earthy textures and abundant natural light, creating a calm, modern space, perfect for enjoying a meal.
That calmness, however, was soon overtaken by the kitchen, with the hiss of the pans, stir of the pots and sharp calls exchanged between cooks quickly filling the air, along with the sounds of an upbeat Peruvian song playing in the background.
La Lima Sangucheria is at 131 E Park Ave. in South End. Evan Moore
La Lima is in the heart of South End, and the clientele reflects it: twenty- and thirty-something professionals on their lunch breaks or treating themselves on a day off.
And, like with many other restaurants in the neighborhood, you can expect sleek, Instagram-ready interiors, buzzing atmospheres and food that always delivers on its promise.
Unfortunately, bargains are scarce in South End – even a quick lunch carries a premium.
Here’s what you need to know about La Lima.
What’s on the menu at La Lima?
The La Lima menu includes an assortment of sandwiches, salads, bowls, soups and desserts.
Menu prices range from $8.25-$17 for entrees and most sides cost around $4.
La Lima’s Verda Fiora sandwich is packed with fried eggplant, fresh arugula, pesto, and cheese and served with a rich tomato sauce. Denise Casalaz CharlotteFive
Here’s everything I got for roughly $20 (before tax and tip):
Tusan sandwich: made with marinated grilled steak, red onion, tomato, carretillero sauce and micro cilantro ($16)
Sweet potato fries ($3.55)
If you scoffed at those prices, you’re not wrong.
It’s South End. There are plenty of great restaurants, but you can expect to pay at least $20 for a meal at most places. Add an appetizer or alcoholic beverage, and the tab can easily climb past $30.
I made a point to stay under my budget of $25, but if I ordered what I usually do when I eat out (an appetizer, entree, dessert and any number of beers dictated by the Panthers’ performance), I would have spent upwards of $40.
Now, the sandwich.
The Tusan sandwich at La Lima is made with marinated grilled steak, red onion, tomato, carretillero sauce and micro cilantro. Evan Moore
This sandwich hits you with flavor from the very first bite. The steak is juicy and smoky, packed with marinade that makes it anything but ordinary. Then comes the crunch – fresh red onion and tomato bringing that snap of flavor you need to balance the richness.
But the real star? That carretillero sauce. It was tangy, spicy and just messy enough to remind me it was comfort food at heart. The sprinkle of micro cilantro gives it a fresh little kick at the end. Think bold street-food energy, but dressed up just enough to feel special.
And the sweet potato fries were the kind you wouldn’t want to share. Crispy on the outside with that caramelized edge, they give way to a soft, almost creamy center that makes each bite addictive.
So, is La Lima worth a visit? Absolutely. The sandwiches are hearty, the flavors blend effortlessly together and the atmosphere has a magnetic energy that draws you in.
Consider the cost part of the experience – good, quality food rarely comes cheap, and there, every bite feels worth the cost.
The restaurant’s minimalist design, from the pale wood furniture to the soft globe lighting, feels warm thanks to earthy textures and abundant natural light, creating a calm, modern space, perfect for enjoying a meal. Evan Moore
Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.
Inside Wolfspeed’s corporate headquarters near Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
Brian Gordon
bgordon@newsobserver.com
Three months after filing for Chapter 11 protection, the North Carolina semiconductor supplier Wolfspeed is out of bankruptcy.
“Wolfspeed has emerged from its expedited restructuring process, marking the beginning of a new era,” CEO Robert Feurle announced in a statement Monday. “Which we are entering with new energy and a renewed commitment to the growth mindset and entrepreneurial spirit that have powered Wolfspeed since its inception.”
Through restructuring, the Durham chipmaker eliminated nearly 70% of its debt, representing billions of dollars, and pushed its earliest loan repayment date to 2030. Wolfspeed creditors, including the semiconductor manufacturer Renesas and the investment firm Apollo Global Management, had their debt holdings converted to equity, with previous shareholders receiving a fraction of the new company’s stock.
On Monday, Wolfspeed canceled its old shares and issued new ones under the same stock ticker, WOLF, at an exchange ratio of 0.0084. Some online stock platforms showed Wolfspeed stock rising upwards of 1,700% before trading was temporarily halted midday due to volatility, though these websites appear not to have calculated that the restructured Wolfspeed (trading under the same ticker) had significantly reduced its number of shares, the financial advice outlet The Motley Fool reports.
The company also reincorporated in Delaware on Monday, a move it says won’t impact its North Carolina operations.
Wolfspeed bets on 200-millimeter
Founded in 1987 under the name Cree, Wolfspeed manufactures a unique semiconductor material called silicon carbide, which is used in electric vehicles, fast-charging stations, and renewable energy storage units. The company also has a lineup of power devices. As Wolfspeed divested from its legacy lighting divisions, it took on large amounts of debt in recent years to fund two silicon carbide factories, including a massive materials plant near Siler City in western Chatham County where Wolfspeed promised to employ more than 1,800 workers.
Yet production delays at its New York State factory, coupled with increased Chinese chip competition and flagging electric vehicle demand, caused Wolfspeed’s stock to spiral beginning last year. The company ended this past March with $1.3 billion in cash but also faced mounting debt obligations over the next several years, including a $575 million payment due date in 2026. Wolfspeed rejected offers this year to restructure part of its debt, opting instead for a broader solution.
On June 30, the company filed under Chapter 11 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, one of the nation’s most used bankruptcy courts. At the time, Wolfspeed had approximately 3,400 total employees, down from more than 5,000 the previous year. Its “prepackaged” restructuring plan was supported by enough creditors to help it move through bankruptcy court within the anticipated three-month window.
With Monday’s announcement, Wolfspeed struck an optimistic tone about its ability to supply silicon carbide both now and into the future. It completed its Siler City factory in June and earlier this month unveiled its commercial 200-millimeter silicon carbide products, which are 25% larger than the existing industry standard.
This story was originally published September 29, 2025 at 6:00 PM.
Brian Gordon is the Business & Technology reporter for The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun. He writes about jobs, startups and big tech developments unique to the North Carolina Triangle. Brian previously worked as a senior statewide reporter for the USA Today Network. Please contact him via email, phone, or Signal at 919-861-1238.
Rep. Ralph Norman, a South Carolina Republican whose district borders Charlotte, reaches for a poster sized image of Iryna Zarutska being stabbed during The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight hearing in Charlotte on Monday.
KHADEJEH NIKOUYEH
knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com
A Congressional hearing in Charlotte on Monday further stoked debate over how to address crime and public safety in the wake of a high-profile stabbing on the city’s light rail.
The U.S. House Judiciary Committee and others from the Carolinas congressional delegation gathered at the Charles R. Jonas Federal Building in uptown for a field hearing weeks after the death of Iryna Zarutska.
On Monday, the committee heard from family members of other victims of violent crime, a local police officer injured in the line of duty and law enforcement experts. While no witnesses were directly connected to the stabbing, the committee focused on several of the most prominent points of debate related to the case.
The predominantly Republican group criticized Democrats for “soft-on-crime” policies. Local Democrats and a group of protestors outside the event called the exercise political.
New Jersey Republican Jeff Van Drew, who chairs the Oversight Subcommittee, noted the group has held similar hearings in Philadelphia and New York City.
“The story is the same. The faces may be different, the accents may be different, the city may look different. But the same story — we’re mourning for innocent lives that have been lost,” he said.
NC’s Adams interrupts SC’s Norman over Zarutska stabbing image
Although no one from Zarutska’s family or directly connected to her case were among the witnesses at Monday’s hearing, her story featured prominently throughout the discussion.
South Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman, whose district borders Charlotte, held up an image of Zarutska on the train taken moments before her death from the security footage of the incident.
“It’s sick,” the Republican said.
Democratic Rep. Alma Adams, whose district includes much of Charlotte, briefly interrupted Norman’s comments, saying he was going against Zarutska’s family’s wishes by showing the image.
Her family said in a statement Sept. 9 calling for “accountability and systemic change” they were “urging the public and media to respect Iryna’s dignity and their grief by not reposting or circulating the footage of her killing.”
The suspect in Zarutska’s death, DeCarlos Brown, Jr., also came up throughout the hearing. Brown, who has a criminal record, is charged with first-degree murder and a federal transit charge in the case.
Multiple representatives criticized a local magistrate for releasing Brown on a written promise to appear earlier this year when he was charged with misusing 911, a misdemeanor. They said Brown’s history of prior criminal charges and mental health issues should’ve led him to remain incarcerated.
“You don’t need a degree to know that it’s absurd. You don’t need to be an attorney or a judge to know that it’s wrong. You don’t have to have a high-ranking title to know that it doesn’t make sense,” Van Drew said.
A Charlotte Observer review of North Carolina law and Mecklenburg County’s bail policy found releasing someone on a non-violent misdemeanor is routine.
Congressional committee hears from victims’ families, experts
Witness Mia Alderman speaks during a U.S. House Judiciary subcommittee hearing in Charlotte on crime and public safety. KHADEJEH NIKOUYEH Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com
Monday’s hearing also featured testimony from the families of other victims of violent crime.
Mia Alderman told the group her family’s been waiting more than 5 years for the suspects in her granddaughter’s death to go to trial. Mary Collins, a 20-year-old with a cognitive disability, died in 2020 after prosecutors said she was lured to an apartment and stabbed 133 times, the Observer reported previously. Two men and two women were arrested in the case.
“Five years is not justice. Five years is torment,” Alderman said Monday.
Steve Federico also addressed the committee Monday. His daughter, Logan Federico, a 22-year-old from Waxhaw, died in Columbia in May when she was fatally shot while visiting friends, South Carolina law enforcement said previously.
Witness Steve Federico speaks during a U.S. House Judiciary subcommittee hearing in Charlotte on crime and public safety. KHADEJEH NIKOUYEH Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com
Steve Federico said the suspect in the case, Alexander Dickey, had been arrested 39 times.
“39 crimes in 10 years. 25 felonies. Can anybody in here explain to me how possibly he could be on the street?” Federico asked.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Justin Campbell, injured in last year’s fatal police shooting on Galway Drive in Charlotte, spoke Monday, too. Campbell testified that officers are frustrated by quick releases of people they arrest.
“The judicial system here in Mecklenburg County, I can speak first hand, is trash. I’ll say it again over and over again. I’ll take the repercussions, what comes next after me saying that,” Campbell said.
Dena J. King, formerly the federal attorney for North Carolina’s western district, speaks during a U.S. House Judiciary subcommittee hearing in Charlotte. KHADEJEH NIKOUYEH Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com
But some on the committee questioned the accuracy of the numbers Asher reported. Others said the numbers are no comfort to the families of crime victims.
“Statistics don’t always tell the story,” Van Drew said.
NC Democrats, protesters call hearing political
Rep. Alma Adams, a Democrat whose district covers Charlotte, listens during a U.S. House Judiciary subcommittee hearing in Charlotte. KHADEJEH NIKOUYEH Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com
Adams and Rep. Deborah Ross represented North Carolina’s Democratic congressional delegation at Monday’s hearing.
Adams called for an end to “senseless” violence and said “perpetrators of violent crimes must be held accountable.” But Adams also said she was “a little disappointed my colleagues here are politicizing the pain under the guise of seeking justice.”
“I think there’s an eye on this open seat,” Adams said, referring to the U.S. Senate seat on the ballot in North Carolina next year.
Some Republicans at the hearing criticized Adams’ comments.
Progressive and religious groups, including Indivisible Charlotte and the Poor People’s Campaign, organized the protest. Demonstrators held up signs to passing traffic with slogans such as “EXECUTE JUSTICE NOT PEOPLE” and “NO TROOPS IN CHARLOTTE.”
Potential policy impacts of Charlotte hearing
Rep. Addison McDowell, a North Carolina Republican, speaks during a U.S. House Judiciary subcommittee hearing in Charlotte. To McDowell’s right is another N.C. Republican representative, Pat Harrigan. KHADEJEH NIKOUYEH Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com
Monday’s hearing included discussion of the potential policy implications of Zarutska’s death.
North Carolina Republican Rep. David Rouzer, who chairs the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, said his group will look at fare enforcement procedures in Charlotte and other cities while drafting upcoming transportation legislation.
The Charlotte Area Transit System said previously Brown did not buy a ticket to board the light rail the night of the stabbing and said it would step up fare enforcement on trains.
“Fares are not enforced, and that is a widespread problem. Not just here in Charlotte but all across the nation,” Rouzer said. “And so we’re going to be looking very intently at ways to incentivize enforcement of fare requirements so that we don’t have another tragedy like this.”
Rep. Mark Harris, a Republican from North Carolina, said he plans to introduce legislation related to federal crime funding in Congress soon.
Some also endorsed Iryna’s Law, legislation passed by the North Carolina General Assembly. The bill would, among other things, enact stricter bail rules for a broad new category of “violent offenses” and expand when mental health evaluations are conducted, The News & Observer reported.
Gov. Josh Stein had not signed the bill as of Monday afternoon.
Voters will decide whether to approve a 1% sales tax increase to fund billions in road, rail and bus projects.
Van Drew said the referendum came up when speaking with local leaders ahead of the field hearing.
“They seem to have a really positive outlook. They want to make it better, they want to make it even safer,” he said.
Asked if safety concerns should sway voters, Charlotte-area Rep. Tim Moore said “a key part” of the plan “is going to be funding additional law enforcement.”
Observer reporter Ryan Oehrli contributed to this story.
This story was originally published September 29, 2025 at 5:21 PM.
Mary Ramsey is the local government accountability reporter for The Charlotte Observer. A native of the Carolinas, she studied journalism at the University of South Carolina and has also worked in Phoenix, Arizona and Louisville, Kentucky. Support my work with a digital subscription
Mia Alderman points to a cross backlit with sunlight on a portrait painted of her granddaughter, Mary Collins, in Charlotte on Sept. 24. Collins was fatally stabbed in 2020. Her grandmother, Alderman, has been on a yearslong campaign to seek justice for her.
KHADEJEH NIKOUYEH
Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com
Mary Collins loved art, makeup and photography, wigs, hats and shoes.
She played the guitar, sang and “loved gothic stuff,” part of her “quirky,” endearing personality, grandmother Mia Alderman recalled.
“She liked to make people laugh, and would mess with you,” Alderman told The Charlotte Observer in the split-level Charlotte home where she raised her granddaughter. “She was very kind and always wanted people to be happy.”
Collins, a 20-year-old with a cognitive disability, died in 2020 after prosecutors said she was lured to an apartment and stabbed 133 times. Two men and two women were arrested.
Mary Collins Courtesy of Mia Alderman
One of the accused, Kelly Lavery, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. But more than five years after the attack, the others haven’t been tried. They include America Diehl, who’s allowed to stay with her mother and grandmother in their Clover, South Carolina, home, court records show.
Mia Alderman stands in the bedroom of her granddaughter Mary Collins in Charlotte on Wednesday, September 24, 2025. Collins was fatally stabbed in 2020. Alderman has left the room as it was the day Collins was killed in a NoDa apartment. KHADEJEH NIKOUYEH Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com
Another round of court hearings is scheduled for the end of the year: Dec. 11 and Dec. 31 for suspect James Salerno and Dec. 31 for suspect Lavi Pham, court records show.
“Do you know what a hell this is for us?” Alderman said about waiting for the suspects to be tried in Mecklenburg County Criminal Superior Court. “I want justice for Mary. She matters, and we have to wait years and years. I don’t want to sue. I want change.”
Mary Collins lived in this bedroom in the Charlotte home of her grandmother Mia Alderman. KHADEJEH NIKOUYEH Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com
The fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska on the city’s light rail system on Aug. 22 prompted Alderman to call attention to her granddaughter’s case, as she did when Salerno was given bond in 2023.
Mary Collins Courtesy of Mia Alderman
“Our family sees heartbreaking parallels between Mary’s case and Iryna Zarutska’s,” Alderman said, including their closeness in age and that both were brutally stabbed.
“We believe now is the moment to bring overdue attention to Mary’s case, as the city reckons with systemic justice issues that continue to cost young women their lives,” Alderman said in a recent media statement.
A calendar with “April 2020” written at the top remains on a wall of the bedroom of Mary Collins in Charlotte. KHADEJEH NIKOUYEH Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com
Collins and Zarutska “were both Charlotte’s daughters,” she told the Observer on Sept. 24. “And Charlotte’s daughters should be safe in their community, our community.”
About her granddaughter’s killing, she said: “What they did to her was so heinous, they should have faced the harshest penalties” and never been given bonds.
“Bled her out in a bathtub”
Collins was found dead, hidden in a mattress in a NoDa apartment on April 4, 2020, according to previous reporting by The Charlotte Observer.
She was lured to the apartment by Lavery and Pham, who planned in text messages to kill her for refusing a threesome with them, prosecutors said in court in June 2022. Lavery was 24 and Pham 23.
Salerno, then 22, is accused of helping conceal her death.
Collins had 22q deletion syndrome, also known as DiGeorge Syndrome — the second-most common genetic disorder behind Down syndrome, according to the International 22q11.3 Foundation. Collins had the cognitive abilities of a 15-year-old, her family said.
Collins believed the suspects were her friends, Alderman said.
“They tricked her under the guise of friendship,” she said. “She was barely 100, 110 pounds. They killed her for entertainment because they are depraved, and they tortured her.”
Collins was last seen in south Charlotte on March 28, 2020, when she got into an Uber paid for by Lavery and went to the apartment with Lavery and Pham, prosecutors said in court.
Alderman became concerned when Collins stopped answering texts, the Observer reported. Two days later, she went to the Yards apartment complex in NoDa to pick her granddaughter up.
After hours of searching the complex and the apartment, she called 911.
Collins was endangered because of her disability, Alderman said she told police. Police told her to fill out a missing persons report, she said.
Five days later, police found her granddaughter’s body wrapped in plastic and stuffed in a mattress, Alderman said. The next day, police charged Lavery, Pham and Salerno with murder and kidnapping, public records show. Pham and Salerno also were charged with concealing a death.
“They bled her out in a bathtub, into Charlotte’s water system,” Alderman said Wednesday.
Diehl, 18 at the time, was later charged with accessory after the fact and concealing a death, according to court documents.
Pham has been in the Mecklenburg County jail since his arrest, jail records show.
Pham and Salerno refused the same plea deal as Lavery’s, Alderman said. She has attended the nine or 10 bond and other court hearings involving the suspects over the years, she said, always urging judges to keep the suspects behind bars.
Diehl was released on bond in 2021, according to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office website. She was given a curfew and ordered to wear an electronic ankle monitor.
The company monitoring the device filed two violation notices in court in February after Diehl kept her ankle monitor off,, according to an Observer review of the notices.
An assistant district attorney newly assigned to her granddaughter’s case is considering asking a judge to return Diehl to jail because of the violations, Alderman said.
Alderman said she’ll raise the issue of Diehl’s bond when she testifies Monday at the Victims of Violent Crime hearing, scheduled by the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight at the federal courthouse in Charlotte. The hearing was scheduled because of the light rail stabbing.
She’ll tell the committee how Salerno was out on bond, about Lavery’s plea deal and how police treated her 911 call.
“I’ll never stop advocating for Mary,” she said.
A painting of Mary Collins is displayed in the Charlotte home of her grandmother Mia Alderman. KHADEJEH NIKOUYEH Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com
Keeping “Mary’s Voice” alive
Alderman staked two “Mary’s Voice” signs in her front yard.
Reminders of her granddaughter are everywhere in the home: her guitar; photos of Mary; her bedroom left untouched since she went missing, her clothes laid out on the bed and black, gothic artwork across a wall.
A six-foot-by-six foot mural of Mary stands on wheels in the great room. Alderman has wheeled the mural to the courthouse to raise awareness about her granddaughter and the justice Alderman seeks.
Sun shines through a window of the great room onto a cross depicted in a tiny corner of the mural, as if transforming the cross into a piece of stained glass.
“The first time I saw it, I was stunned,” Alderman said. “Light always found Mary. There were so many photographs taken by or of Mary where light found her. It gives me some semblance of peace where there is no peace.”
Joe Marusak has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1989 covering the people, municipalities and major news events of the region, and was a news bureau editor for the paper. He currently reports on breaking news. Support my work with a digital subscription
If you’re thinking about moving to North Carolina, bustling cities like Charlotte or Raleigh might come to mind. However, this state has much more to offer. From quaint downtowns to festivals that bring the community together, North Carolina’s small towns are perfect for anyone looking to experience what life is like in its quieter corners. In this Redfin article, we’ll discuss 9 charming small towns in North Carolina, each with their own unique character and plenty of reasons to call home.
Southern Pines is a charming town known for its beautiful longleaf pine forests and equestrian culture. The town’s Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities is a local gem, providing a glimpse into North Carolina’s literary heritage and hosting events year-round. Golf enthusiasts also love Southern Pines, with its proximity to world-class courses like the Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club. The town’s historic downtown area features boutique shops, art galleries, and cafes, making it the perfect spot for a leisurely afternoon.
Pinehurst, often referred to as the “Home of American Golf,” is famous for its legendary golf courses. The Pinehurst Resort has hosted numerous U.S. Open Championships, drawing golf fans from all over the world to experience its iconic courses. Beyond the greens, Pinehurst’s village boasts quaint shops, cozy cafes, and a rich history that can be explored at the Tufts Archives.
Hope Mills is located just outside Fayetteville. The town’s Hope Mills Lake is a popular spot for locals to relax, fish, and enjoy a day by the water. Each year, the community hosts the Hope Mills Independence Day Celebration, complete with parades, live music, and a fireworks display. The town also features several parks and walking trails, like the Hope Mills Municipal Park, which provides plenty of space for outdoor activities.
Laurinburg is a town steeped in history and Southern hospitality. St. Andrews University, a small liberal arts college in the heart of town, gives Laurinburg a lively energy. Also, the college hosts events like the Scottish Heritage Festival, celebrating the town’s Scottish roots. The John Blue House and Heritage Center is another highlight, offering a glimpse into 19th-century farm life with its beautifully preserved house and outbuildings. Locals enjoy spending time outdoors at nearby Lumber River State Park, where fishing, kayaking, and hiking are popular activities.
Lexington is often referred to as the “Barbecue Capital of the World,” and for good reason. The town’s annual Lexington Barbecue Festival in October draws thousands who come to sample its famous slow-cooked pork barbecue. In addition to its culinary fame, Lexington has a historic downtown with charming shops and galleries, including the local favorite Candy Factory. The nearby Childress Vineyards, owned by NASCAR legend Richard Childress, adds a touch of elegance to the area, offering wine tastings and scenic views.
Mount Airy, the inspiration for the fictional town of Mayberry from The Andy Griffith Show, is a must-visit for fans of the classic TV series. Visitors can tour landmarks like the Andy Griffith Museum or take a ride in a vintage squad car through the town’s streets. Beyond its connection to television history, Mount Airy is known for its Blue Ridge Parkway access, making it a perfect base for exploring the mountains. Every fall, the town hosts the Mayberry Days Festival, a celebration of Andy Griffith’s legacy with music, parades, and nostalgic events.
Lewisville is located just west of Winston-Salem. Locals often gather at Shallowford Square, the town’s central park, for outdoor concerts, movie nights, and seasonal celebrations. The annual Lewisville Christmas Parade is a cherished tradition, where residents line the streets to enjoy floats, marching bands, and a visit from Santa. Lewisville also has several scenic parks and trails, including the Great Wagon Road Trail, perfect for walking and biking.
Spout Springs has a quiet atmosphere while being conveniently close to larger cities like Fayetteville and Sanford. Many residents enjoy outdoor activities like hiking and fishing in nearby Carvers Creek State Park, where longleaf pines and historic structures offer a relaxing escape. The town may not host many festivals. However, its strong sense of community shines through in local gatherings and outdoor barbecues. Spout Springs provides a laid-back, close-knit environment perfect for those looking to get away from the hustle and bustle.
Boone is situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Home to Appalachian State University, Boone has a unique energy, with a thriving arts scene and plenty of live music events. Outdoor enthusiasts love Boone for its access to the Blue Ridge Parkway, where hiking, skiing, and exploring the mountains are popular pastimes. Fun fact: the town is named after legendary frontiersman Daniel Boone. Each summer, the town celebrates its namesake with the outdoor drama Horn in the West, which tells the story of early settlers in the area.
Methodology: The median home sale price and average monthly rental data is from the Redfin Data Center.
Open carry is legal in North Carolina without a permit if you are at least 18 years old and have no felony convictions, according to Raleigh-based Manning Law Firm.
File photo by DAVID PULLIAM
The Kansas City Star
Concealed carry permits allow North Carolina residents to transport firearms on their person and in their vehicles. But what if you don’t have a permit?
Open carry is legal in North Carolina without a permit if you are at least 18 years old and have no felony convictions, according to Raleigh-based Manning Law Firm.
State law also includes rules on driving with a firearm in your vehicle without a permit. Here’s what to know about open carry while traveling in North Carolina.
Can you open carry in your vehicle in NC?
North Carolina law allows gun owners without concealed carry permits to transport firearms in their vehicles, but the weapons must be displayed openly, visible and readily seen, according to Charlotte-based law firm Randall & Stump.
However, state law allows those without concealed carry permits to store weapons in the trunk, since they wouldn’t be within reach of anyone in the vehicle.
“If you’re driving a vehicle with access to the trunk area, like an SUV or van, your weapon must be securely locked away in a container,” the firm says.
What is the penalty for concealing a gun inside a vehicle in NC?
First-time offenders convicted of illegally concealing a weapon without a permit could be charged with a Class 2 misdemeanor, which comes with up to 60 days in jail and a fine, according to Randall & Stump.
Any subsequent offense could result in a felony conviction, punishable by up to 39 months in prison depending on criminal history, the firm says.
Can you fly with a gun in NC?
People over the age of 18 can fly with firearms and ammunition, but they must be unloaded and in a locked, hard-sided container. They can only be transported in checked baggage, according to the Transportation Security Administration.
Gun owners must also declare their firearms or ammunition when checking their bags at the ticket counter, the TSA says.
What is the penalty for carrying a loaded gun through TSA?
If TSA finds you have a loaded gun in the airport, “you will be charged with a crime and face civil fines,” says law firm Randall & Stump.
“Also, if you have an unloaded gun that is not stored and transported properly, you will face charges and civil fines.”
Fines range from a few hundred dollars for BB guns and flare pistols to nearly $10,000 for any type of loaded firearm (or unloaded with accessible ammunition).
You could also be fined between $650 and $2,610 for firearms that are not stored properly inside your luggage.
Ask the North Carolina Service Journalism Team
Have a question about your community you’d like answered? Or maybe a tip or story idea you’d like to share? The service journalism teams at The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer want to hear from you.
Related stories from Charlotte Observer
Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police are investigating why a 37-year-old woman was lying on the tracks before a train hit and killed her Friday morning, July 26, 2024.
File Photo
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police are investigating why a 37-year-old woman was lying on the tracks before a train hit and killed her Friday morning.
The woman died after a Norfolk Southern train hit her behind the 200 block of Peachtree Drive South about 9:45 a.m., according to a CMPD news release.
That’s between Interstate 77 and Nations Ford Road in southwest Charlotte.
Officers found the woman unresponsive lying on the railroad tracks. MEDIC pronounced her dead at the scene.
Police urged anyone who saw or has more information about the collision to call Detective Justin Kupfer of the CMPD major crash investigations unit at 704-432-2169, extension 1. Or call the Crime Stoppers anonymous tips line at 704-334-1600.
This is a developing story that will be updated.
Related stories from Charlotte Observer
Joe Marusak has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1989 covering the people, municipalities and major news events of the region, and was a news bureau editor for the paper. He currently reports on breaking news. Support my work with a digital subscription
Dorothy takes visitors to the Land of Oz atop Beech Mountain for a tour of the yellow brick road during a “Journey with Dorothy” event in 2018.
Robert Willett
rwillett@newsobserver.com
BEECH MOUNTAIN
Every year in September, the ski slopes on Beech Mountain transform into a fantasy-land of munchkins and winged monkeys, resurrecting North Carolina’s mythical Land of Oz theme park.
Fans of a certain age will recall the 1970s curiosity, with its trail of 40,000 yellow bricks, hot-air balloon rides and a museum holding Dorothy’s original blue gingham dress from “The Wizard of Oz.”
And while that version of Land of Oz went bankrupt, partially burned down and finally closed in 1980, it now reopens each fall for a wizard-packed revival — notably for three weekends this September.
‘Largest Oz festival in the world’
Billing itself as the “largest Oz festival in the world,” Autumn at Oz pulls what remains of the original “Wizard of Oz” park into an immersive day that, for a $60 ticket, invites fans to follow Dorothy’s steps from cyclone at the Gale family farm down a reconstructed yellow-brick path.
“The Wizard of Oz” comes to life again, as does the Land of Oz theme park, in September for three weekends. BEECH MOUNTAIN CHAMBER BEECH MOUNTAIN CHAMBER
Live scarecrows, tin men, lions and witches appear on the mountaintop park and recreate the wizard wish-granting scene onstage. An extra $6.50 gets fans into the scenic overlook at Beech Mountain’s 5,500-foot summit.
But for many, a trip to the Land of Oz excites more for the memory of what was than what now lies down the yellow path.
For three weekends in September, people will return to what remains of the Land of Oz theme park in the North Carolina mountains. JOHN BORDSEN
When it opened in 1970, the park cost the equivalent of nearly $40 million to construct, built mainly to keep Beech Mountain ski employees busy in the off-season.
In its first year, the park drew a whopping 400,000 people to the remote corner of North Carolina near Banner Elk, where they gawked at giant mushrooms, waterfalls, cages full of toucans, hot air balloons from the Kansas State Fair and a real Emerald City.
‘That $1,000 piece of gingham’
A museum at the theme park held one of the dresses Judy Garland wore in the 1939 movie, obtained at an MGM auction, described by a then-PR-staffer, better known now as U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, as “that $1,000 piece of gingham.”
The original cast at the park consisted of nine Dorothys, four scarecrows, four tin men, four witches and five cowardly lions — an extra considering the lions wore the most cumbersome costume and spent down-time in a cave.
Land of Oz Theme Park reopens in Beech Mountain for three weekends in September, recreating the wonderland North Carolinians enjoyed in the 1970s. Curtis Brown Photography
But dwindling attendance and unpaid creditors forced the then-owners of the Land of Oz to file bankruptcy in 1975, and a court-appointed trustee shut the park soon after.
At the end of that year, both looters and fire struck Land of Oz, destroying Emerald City. Police told reporters in 1976 that both Dorothy’s dress and the coat worn by the movie’s Emerald City gatekeeper had been “cleared out.”
The park limped on until 1980, when it closed for good.
Tickets selling fast for September weekends
But after more than a decade, the Land of Oz started reopening for fall weekends. And it started drawing back crowds that were more like its early years. Organizers report tickets are 70% sold out for this September.
The Land of Oz operated as a sister park to Tweetsie Railroad from 1970 to 1980. Part of it parts of it remain atop Beech Mountain. JOHN BORDSEN
The hot air balloon ride is gone, as is the original Emerald City, and some of those 40,000 bricks were missing by the time they were unearthed.
But the recreated cyclone still happens, and visitors still emerge from Dorothy’s farmhouse post-tornado to find a wicked witch’s feet protruding from the wreckage.
And in the end, ruby slippers or not, everybody gets to go home.
Josh Shaffer is a general assignment reporter on the watch for “talkers,” which are stories you might discuss around a water cooler. He has worked for The News & Observer since 2004 and writes a column about unusual people and places.
Charlotte City Council members heard conflicting views from a half-filled chamber Monday on whether to contribute hundreds of millions to renovations to Bank of America Stadium.
The council held a public hearing a week ahead of its scheduled vote on Tepper Sports & Entertainment’s plan for the largest and most expensive renovation yet to the home of the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC. The stadium also hosts college football games, such as the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, and concerts.
The plan calls for $650 million in city money, which would come from hospitality tax revenue. That money can only be spent on a limited number of tourism-related projects. The plan includes a 20-year non-relocation agreement for both teams, though that could be bought out after 15 years.
Charlotte initially didn’t plan a public hearing and had scheduled a public forum on the same day as the full council’s vote. But the city held Monday’s hearing after some council members said they needed to hear more public input. Some online questioned whether the city was limiting public comment by holding the hearing during business hours on a weekday and not publicizing it more.
Hundreds also submitted their thoughts on the plan through an online survey, and those comments primarily opposed the deal.
Of the 23 people who spoke Monday, 15 supported the project and six opposed it. Others offered more mixed opinions.
Those who spoke in support of public investment in the stadium said it’s essential to maintaining an asset to the city’s economy. But others questioned the plan, whether the city has been transparent about it and team owner David Tepper’s history.
Bank of America Stadium renovation plan comments
Here’s what residents said Monday about the proposal:
▪ “These funds are specifically earmarked for hospitality-related projects, ensuring that our investment directly benefits our community,” said Vinay Patel, SREE Hotels president and CEO and Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority board member, on tourism taxes being used to fund stadium renovations.
▪ “We’ll make it the best outdoor stadium in America, which will have tremendous impact as we compete with these other cities,” said Danny Morrison, executive director of the Charlotte Sports Foundation, on the possibility of an upgraded stadium drawing major events to Charlotte.
▪ “If our investment does not come with any kind of tangible financial benefit, it’s not truly an investment. It’s a shakedown,” said Charlotte resident Bobby Lord, questioning why the city would invest in a stadium it doesn’t own or get a portion of ticket sales from.
▪ “Your handling of this has made clear transparency is anything but a priority,” said Grace Fendrick, organizer of petition in opposition to public investment in the stadium, questioning how the city has handled the process. Fendrick was among those who spoke on social media ahead of Monday’s meeting with concerns it wasn’t better publicized.
▪ “Beyoncé thought the stadium was okay. If it’s good enough for Beyoncé, it’s good enough for half the city,” said Charlotte resident Sylvia Cobb, sharing doubts about whether stadium upgrades are a worthwhile public investment.
What’s next for Panthers plan
Mayor Vi Lyles thanked the crowd for offering an “array” of views on the proposal.
“You’ve given us a lot to think about,” she said.
The City Council didn’t vote or take any action based on Monday’s comments. It’s expected to vote on the plan June 24.
City Council approves rezoning for Panthers practice facility
City Council members also voted unanimously Monday to approve a Panthers’ rezoning petition to make way for the team’s new practice facility.
The rezoning request was for 12 acres on the east side of South Cedar Street. The Panthers want to expand their footprint with a new fieldhouse, outdoor practice fields and a fan area after announcing they would move training camp to Charlotte from Wofford College.
Some in the community had raised concerns about the project, including asking questions about whether a well-used pedestrian path would be blocked. But city staff and the team said the pathway won’t go away and instead will be widened in places.
Both city planning staff and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission’s Zoning Committee recommended the council approve the project.
Council member Malcolm Graham, whose District 2 includes the site, applauded the Panthers team and the community for working together to address concerns.
“This really has been a collaboration,” he said.
This story was originally published June 17, 2024, 5:26 PM.
Related stories from Charlotte Observer
Mary Ramsey is the local government accountability reporter for The Charlotte Observer. A native of the Carolinas, she studied journalism at the University of South Carolina and has also worked in Phoenix, Arizona and Louisville, Kentucky. Support my work with a digital subscription
Boaters enjoy time on the water near Ramsey Creek County Park at Lake Norman, NC.
Dillon Deaton
ddeaton@charlotteobserver.com
Boating season has arrived in North Carolina, with many already hitting the water to beat the heat.
Having a beer on the lake is common during those 90-degree days, but it can also be dangerous.
Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents, and it was listed as the leading factor in 16% of deaths in 2022, according to the most recent report from the U.S. Coast Guard.
Luckily, North Carolina has laws that protect people on the water.
Here’s what to know about the state’s boating while under the influence laws.
What are the laws on drinking + boating in NC for drivers & passengers?
According to state law, it is illegal to operate a boat “while under the influence of an impairing substance” or “in a reckless or negligent manner so as to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person.”
Similar to driving statutes, a person is in violation of the law “after having consumed sufficient alcohol that the person has, at any relevant time after the boating, an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more,” the law says.
While it is against the law to drive a boat while impaired, it is legal for passengers to consume alcohol while on a boat, according to Glover Law Firm, a firm based in eastern North Carolina.
Boaters enjoy time on the water near Ramsey Creek County Park at Lake Norman, NC. Dillon Deaton ddeaton@charlotteobserver.com
What happens if you break the law?
Violations of North Carolina’s BWI law are a class two misdemeanors, according to the law
If convicted, you could be fined a minimum of $250, the law says.
People who are found guilty of breaking the law could also face up to 60 days in jail or probation, according to NC-based Wentz Law Firm.
Do you need a license to drive a boat in NC?
You don’t need a license to drive a boat in North Carolina.
However, any person born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, must complete a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators-approved boating education course before operating a boat with 10 horsepower or greater, according to state law.
Boating education courses can be completed in-person or online. There is no minimum age requirement, but the course is taught at a sixth-grade level, and a written exam must be completed to pass the class, NCWRC says.
Ask the North Carolina Service Journalism Team
Have a question about your community you’d like answered? Or maybe a tip or story idea you’d like to share? The service journalism teams at The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer want to hear from you.
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Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.
Dave Matthews in concert at Raleigh, N.C.’s Coastal Credit Union at Walnut Creek, Friday night, June 14, 2024.
Scott Sharpe
ssharpe@newsobserver.com
The Dave Matthews Band took the stage Friday night in the blinding glare of the setting sun, casually eased into their song “Spoon,” then eased out as the sun set on a blazing evening in Raleigh.
The band, on their Summer Tour 2024, followed with an eclectic blend of songs including “When the World Ends,” “Dancing Nancies,” and even a cover of David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance.”
Check out photos from the show below.
Dave Matthews peers out at the near-capacity crowd at Raleigh, N.C.’s Coastal Credit Union at Walnut Creek, Friday night, June 14, 2024. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
Drummer Carter Beauford waves to fans as The Dave Matthews Band takes the stage at Raleigh, N.C.’s Coastal Credit Union at Walnut Creek, Friday night, June 14, 2024. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
Guitar player Tim Reynolds shades his eyes from the bright setting sun as he surveys the crowd after The Dave Matthews Band took the stage at Raleigh, N.C.’s Coastal Credit Union at Walnut Creek, Friday night, June 14, 2024. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
The Dave Matthews Band in concert at Raleigh, N.C.’s Coastal Credit Union at Walnut Creek, Friday night, June 14, 2024. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
Dave Matthews in concert at Raleigh, N.C.’s Coastal Credit Union at Walnut Creek, Friday night, June 14, 2024. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
The Dave Matthews Band drummer Carter Beauford smiles at Dave Matthews as DMB starts their show at Raleigh, N.C.’s Coastal Credit Union at Walnut Creek, Friday night, June 14, 2024. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
Dave Matthews Band bassist Stefan Lessard in concert at Raleigh, N.C.’s Coastal Credit Union at Walnut Creek, Friday night, June 14, 2024. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
Dave Matthews jokes about “easing in” and “easing out” after the first song of their show at Raleigh, N.C.’s Coastal Credit Union at Walnut Creek, Friday night, June 14, 2024. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
The Dave Matthews Band trumpet player Rashawn Ross eases the crowd into their show at Raleigh, N.C.’s Coastal Credit Union at Walnut Creek, Friday night, June 14, 2024. Scott Sharpe ssharpe@newsobserver.com
This story was originally published June 14, 2024, 9:54 PM.
