The final round of voting for our 2024 Best in the Nest awards is live! Choose from the list of finalists in over 300 categories from City Life to Food & Drink and more. Voting closes October 31!
Police have trapped protesters in a parking garage and begun hitting them with flashbangs and pepper balls unprovoked, our publisher
@lafrancois_j
is inside and filmed it all. Tune in here:
I got to the Government Center just after the group began a walk. I was, however, able to catch Sam Bethea yelling "One way!" repeatedly at a car going the wrong way on E. 4th Street. So I can report that he knows two more words than "Jesus saves!"
BREAKING: Gov. Cooper announces new tightening of mask mandate, stating that masks must be worn at all times that someone is around people they don't live with, and strengthens role of businesses to enforce mask mandate for all staff and customers. Phase 3 to extend to Dec. 11.
Ellis Parlier, 19, of Midland
Riley Howell, 21, of Waynesville
Drew Pescaro, 19, of Apex
Rami Alramatin, 20, of Saudi Arabia
Sean DeHart, 20, of Apex
Emily Haupt, 23, of Charlotte
Thank you to our volunteer ambassadors who have been pursuing positive dialogue in our community. If you see an ambassador, feel free to approach them about how we can all work together to bridge the difference.
Want to be an ambassador? Please visit:
We have been served a cease-and-desist letter and repeatedly threatened with a defamation lawsuit for reporting on extremism at Freedom House Church. We stand by our reporting and will continue to report on any resulting litigation for transparency.
After losing his son in 2010, Bernard Singleton moved to CLT where he lived with his daughter in a storage unit for some time. He started Bennu Gardens with seeds he bought with food stamps. This year, he opened an 11-acre farm in Indian Trial. His story:
BREAKING: Gov. Cooper announces that Phase 2 will extend three more weeks, adding a statewide mandate for residents to wear masks with exceptions for children and those with medical conditions. Masks not required if outside and standing at a 6-foot distance apart from others.
The mayor called this morning to let us know she appreciated the coverage. When asked about what will result she said there will "at the very least" be an investigation and she expects results sooner than later. "This won't be something you'll have to wait 8 weeks to hear about."
Following this letter from the governor today refusing to commit to full attendance for Trump's Republican National Convention in August, the RNC has now confirmed that it will be seeking out new cities to potentially move the convention to outside of North Carolina.
NEW: CMPD detectives fear someone is targeting Black trans women in Charlotte after two women were killed in 11 days. Police are urging all LGBTQ sex workers to exercise extreme caution. We will have more on this in the days to come.
From the Inbox: Local nonprofit Friends of Queen's Park release new renderings of the group's vision for transforming the 220-acre railyard site north of Uptown into Charlotte's version of Central Park.
In front of Amelie's in NoDa, where former employees and activists are holding a press conference to discuss the alleged mistreatment of employees by leadership.
Our breakdown of recently released footage from CMPD regarding a now infamous June 2 kettling incident: The 10 videos you need to see, the officers involved, and how it proves the attack was premeditated, contrary to department claims.
Joe Biden has selected Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate. We just wanted to share that breaking news with you because no one else is tweeting about it.
It's a somber Delivery Day, as our community reacts to the murder of George Floyd by police and the broader issues around it. In our cover story, we look at how local organizers are dealing with a moment in time that will change our country forever.
Cover images:
@YolianYOrtiz
BREAKING: With a confirmed win in Pennsylvania, Joe Biden has won the 2020 presidential election. Since no one else will prolly tweet about it, we figured we’d share some national news with you.
Sources initially said there would be no white Christmas in Charlotte. A deeper investigation found that
@wxbrad
was hoarding the white Christmas in Charlotte for himself at his home in south Charlotte by snowmaking. This photo is from 8 p.m. this evening.
ICYMI: CMPD body-cam footage confirms the trapping of peaceful protesters on June 2 was a planned ambush that appears to have been devised by supervising officer Maj. Rob Dance, and carried out by his platoon and another supervised by Lt. Chris Rorie.
Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan announces that his brand will donate $100 million over 10 years to organizations that work on racial equality, social justice and access to education.
Queens University will announce this afternoon that the school is removing the name of slaveholder Margaret Anna Burwell from its main administration building. Burwell Hall will be called Queens Hall until the school's Board of Trustees formally renames it.
In Uptown this morning, the Mega Mommy March was put together to support the mothers in Charlotte who have lost children to gun violence. The march is being led by family members and loved ones holding pictures of those they have lost.
Huge turnout for this peaceful march through Myers Park, one of Charlotte's oldest and wealthiest suburbs. Homes here were the first in Charlotte built with property deeds prohibiting Black ownership. A moment of silence before protesters parted ways.
Last night, anti-abortion activists painted Baby Lives Matter on the street in front of a Planned Parenthood in Cherry. We’ve gotten reports of harassment and racist remarks against patients and residents in the historically Black neighborhood over the last week.
EIC
@pitkin_ryan
wrote this note about the importance of raw, live-streamed coverage just before the paper went to print yesterday. A few hours later,
@lafrancois_j
filmed an incident that is now leading to calls for investigation from government leaders.
BREAKING: Shake Shack will reportedly open at the old Pike's Soda Shop location, the line for which will merge with the Jeni's Ice Creams line to set record for largest chain of people who love chain restaurants.
UPDATE: Jewel was found by a Missing Persons detective at around 4 p.m. today. According to CMPD, she left home voluntarily and no foul play is suspected. She has been reunited with her family.
To confront the fact that protests have disrupted the day-to-day life of our homeless neighbors, protesters are marching from the Government Center to
@Urban_Ministry
with much food & supplies. Follow along with
@lafrancois_j
on our Facebook Live channel.
This comes a few days after CPI CEO Ken Gill posted that people should concern themselves with black-on-black crime rather than focus on police brutality.
Last Saturday, we said we are committed to doing our part and we mean it.
CPI Security has been a long term partner but, upon reflection, we feel that it is right to end our relationship.
We have informed Mr. Gill of our decision tonight.
Officers seem to be implying that this arrest was a result of the tussle between Captain Koch and a protester at 4 p.m., though Jamie was not the protester who pushed or who ended up on the ground with Koch, as can be seen in multiple videos of that incident.
We've got a full rundown of two nights of
@theavettbros
, including the five best moments, video of the set they played for a lucky concession stand and a photo gallery courtesy of
@jhahne
. Enjoy, and Happy New Year:
Family and friends are still looking for 17-year-old Jewel McKie, who left her house on Simsbury Road in the SouthPark area at around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday and hasn't been seen since. She was wearing a burgundy shirt and dark pants and had her poodle Leo with her. Call 704-334-1600
Our associate editor
@CourtneyMiho
was making deliveries and saw Fred Armisen picking up our brand new issue at Sabor in NoDa. His show at
@NTheatre
tonight is the first item on our Lifeline. 🙌
Local
@sunrisemvmt
members are outside
@ThomTillis
’ home to demand he support more green infrastructure. They held a rally at Veterans Park in Huntersville today, raising awareness about a more than 1.2-million-gallon gas spill discovered in HVille last August
📹:
@CLTPhotoJourno
After Ink N Ivy fired a security guard who was overheard using the N word while bragging about kicking Black people out, people thought it was over. Then ownership started retaliating against people for their Facebook comments about the incident.
"Many of us are gun owners or married to gun owners."
@shannonrwatts
says this is not about doing away with the 2nd Amendment but passing common sense gun laws. Says the idea that we don't know why gun violence is increasing is "absurd."
The family of 16-year-old Leana Lang, last seen leaving Olympic High School in southwest Charlotte late at night on Feb. 13, is asking for the public's assistance in finding her. She is 5'6" and weighs 120 pounds, wearing either braids or natural hair style.
We're proud to announce that today the
@TheNCPress
Association announced the winners of its annual journalism contest. Queen City Nerve has been recognized in six categories, including four first-place awards.
At Latta Park in Dilworth, where
@AishaThinker
is hosting the Black Mamas March CLT. She's in her hometown of Charlotte as she's expecting her second child and needed help from her own Black mama,
@CLTMayor
Vi Lyles, but wanted to do something in response to
#GeorgeFloyd
's death.
BREAKING: Gov. Cooper’s E.O 183 allows private bars, private clubs, restaurants and hotels to sell mixed beverages to-go in the state of North Carolina beginning tonight at 5 p.m. through Jan. 31.
This standoff happened for about 6-8 minutes while the one in the camo jacket yelled to officers how his parents are military and he's trying to get into the Air Force. Eventually police decided to run at them and arrest the one in the orange.
#BREAKING
The four
@cmpd
officers and one sergeant cited for termination for their roles in the death of Harold Easter in January have resigned ahead of the release of body-worn camera and surveillance footage of the incident. The videos are ordered released on Oct. 1.
Following a press conference at which
@cltuprising
said they've been targeted by
@CMPD
, a group of attorneys including
@DarleneEsqQC
will hold a press conference this week after they say they were threatened with arrest for trying to see their clients.
More than 80 people showed up today to help Abari Game Bar owner Zach Pulliam start his move from the original Optimist Park location right around the corner to Seigle Avenue in Belmont.
📸:
@CLTPhotoJourno
Rundown of
@DaBabyDaBaby
's Monday in Charlotte:
Gives 200 Christmas toys to underprivileged kids at toy drive.
Holds concert to make it up to fans for missing the last one due to flight problems.
Exits arena only to be detained and cited by police for marijuana possession.
People are still looking for answers after the biggest mass shooting in Charlotte's recent history unfolded this morning on Beatties Ford Road during the third night of Juneteenth celebrations.
A group of about 20 protesters just crossed Beatties Ford Road to gather in front of CMPD's Metro Division. Protest hasn't begun yet. "We're not going to protest the way police want us to."
A little more detailed look at the concerns of local organizers that I mentioned above and have heard being voiced since before the night began. Not my post, taken from Facebook.
The few regular CLT protesters I've seen out here have pointed out to me just how few of them there really are. Some of them say this was organized by folks not from here who created it specifically to stir up shit and do damage, and planned it for Beatties Ford to do just that.
CLT burned orange tonight for the national Memorial to Lives Lost as part of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to honor the over 400,000 American lives lost to COVID-19.
📸:
@JaymeMarieJohn
Night two of the hometown boys
@theavettbros
at
@BojanglesCol
for New Year's. They've already broken out the mirror ball and released the confetti (either that or your phone screen is broken) 📸:
@jhahne
Yesterday CMS announced the suspension of Ardrey Kell principal David Switzer, the latest in a string of racism issues at the school. But as recent grad Cecilia Whalen argues in this letter to the editor, the race issue at CMS goes deeper than Ardrey Kell.
Today, U.S.
@RepAdams
of Charlotte introduced a bill that would set new rules for how police across the country deploy riot control agents such as tear gas.
A dozen people out at a jail support station set up by
@cltuprising
to support protesters marching and those leaving jail. The group held a protest medic workshop at Veterans Park today that got shut down by police, even though organizers say it was more a picnic than a protest.
BREAKING: The Biden campaign has announced that Sen. Kamala Harris will travel to Asheville and Charlotte this Wednesday, as originally scheduled for last Thursday.
City manager Marcus Jones just announced that CMPD Chief Kerr Putney will retire on July 1, rather than wait until after the Republican National Convention as originally planned.
.
@CharlotteFC
just unveiled a new mini soccer pitch on Raleigh Street near NoDa, the 11th of the 22 planned as part of the club's Pitches for Progress initiative, which aims to provide more local residents with a safe opportunity to play soccer. Mural by Geoff Gouveia.
Rooftop concert at Abari on Saturday. Stay in your car, tune in on the radio. Performances by Petrov, SOLIS, and Sinners & Saints. Benefiting Abari, Hattie's, and Tommy's Pub.
We are honored to be one of 400 grant recipients announced today by the
@Facebook
Journalism Project, the
@lenfestinst
and the Local Media Association to support COVID-19 news reporting and help fill immediate gaps for resource-constrained local newsrooms.
City council adopts the budget, with
@BraxtonWinston
's added motion to ban the purchase of chemical agents used for crowd dispersal by police and do away with existing inventory, in a 9-2 vote split down party lines. Republicans Driggs and Bokhari vote No.
#CLTCC
BREAKING: A Superior Court judge today dissolved the temporary restraining order handed down on June 19 that prohibited CMPD from using tear gas and other riot control agents for the use of crowd control, and denied the ACLU's request for a preliminary injunction against such use