704 Unfiltered

Wings, nachos, a cold drink, and a big TV to watch the game is what a Super Bowl celebration is made of. 

The Hickory Tavern in Ballantyne is throwing its annual Super Bowl party with an all-you-can-eat buffet. 

They’re expecting a big crowd, but nothing like before COVID-19.

“It's been a tremendous impact on this industry, our staffing issues have been impacted, our getting the product has been an issue for us," said Nicole Sharpe, the restaurant's regional manager. "And then the mask mandate has been another issue. Having people come in and feel safe, we had to social distance, we had to have a sanitation station.”

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/mecklenburg-county-mask-mandate-end-covid-health-coronavirus-local/275-ea0809d1-553b-4e3d-ad3e-d246c8e6aa28

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officials said detectives are working tirelessly to solve the killing of Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) bus driver Ethan Rivera in Uptown Charlotte Friday night. 

Rivera was shot during an alleged road rage incident on West Trade Street, near West 4th Street and South Graham Street, which is near Truist Ballpark, around 9:30 p.m. Friday. He was rushed to a hospital where died from his injuries. CMPD Capt. Joel McNelly said homicide detectives were immediately assigned to the case due to Rivera's injuries. 

McNelly said CMPD is working with CATS to receive videos and photos of the shooting and encouraged anyone who was in Uptown Friday night to call police with what they know or saw.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/police-investigation-update-shooting-death-charlotte-bus-driver/275-4610fa58-279c-415e-9da0-b2fe8ae10c26

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!

On Monday night, Charlotte City Council is planning to cover a lot of ground from leveraging city-owned land for high-quality affordable housing, to deciding who to give millions of dollars of COVID-19 relief funds from the American Rescue Act.

Right now, the city is working with developers to finalize affordable housing proposals at four vacant city-owned properties which they identify as suitable for affordable housing developments. 

The properties are off Providence Road West, Newland Road, University City Blvd, and South Blvd.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/wake-up-charlotte/charlotte-city-council-meeting-monday-covid-relief-affordable-housing/275-b6630c1c-8ef1-4366-88fe-b3f410b37f6c

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department says a three-year-old child that caused a North Carolina AMBER earlier on Sunday has been located. 

CMPD made the announcement on social media.

Her alleged abductor is confirmed as Corey Patterson, 31. CMPD did not provided details on whether or not Patterson was arrested. 

"Following an extensive investigation, Marlaya Patterson has been located. As additional information develops, it will be released by the CMPD's Public Affairs Office," said in a statement posted on social media.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/amber-alert-issued-3-year-old-charlotte-marlaya-monet-patterson/275-fa6f2877-767d-4284-a89c-a7fb5acfc5ff

New complaint investigation findings from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services found the Mecklenburg County Detention Center failed to meet minimum supervision requirements.

It comes after a WCNC Charlotte investigation identified a rise in violent attacks against guards and a lack of consistent inmate supervision due to a staffing shortage. The Fraternal Order of Police also filed a formal complaint with the NCDHHS in December, requesting an investigation. 

As part of its biannual inspection along with the complaint investigation, NCDHHS found the detention center failed to maintain enough staff to keep the jail safe.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/investigations/mecklenburg-county-detention-center-investigation-ncdhhs-safety-staff/275-160700d1-d3ef-4e32-a617-e01d06e51d67

For more than a month now, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been soliciting public feedback on a proposed consent decree and $1.1 million penalty against New-Indy Containerboard for high levels of foul-smelling hydrogen sulfide emissions.

After receiving requests for an extension on the comment period, the Department of Justice has decided to extend the comment period for an additional 30 days, or until March 11. 

Since early last year, homeowners have filed thousands of complaints alleging the paper mill's emissions caused them to develop nosebleeds, headaches, and coughs.

The paper mill, which is part-owned by NFL owner Robert Kraft, is also the subject of two lawsuits that could potentially be consolidated into class-action status.

Attorneys for homeowners are attempting to intervene in the EPA's proposed consent decree, which they criticize as being too soft on the paper mill.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/special-reports/new-indy/new-indy-containerboard-public-comment-extended-epa/275-74741191-465e-438a-b72f-ab7f5e199ded

Leaders in North Carolina are working to help alleviate the staffing shortages at schools across the state.

Governor Cooper announced Wednesday an extension of the policy, which allows state employees to use volunteer days to fill in at schools.

“We want to keep students learning safely in the classroom and encourage state employees to serve as substitutes and volunteers and be able to keep any compensation they receive,” Gov. Cooper said. “This extension gives school districts more time to bring in volunteers and gives our generous state employees more opportunities to lend their talents to their local schools.”

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/gov-cooper-extends-school-volunteering-policy/275-050f1baa-3a77-4d95-b3c5-4c200a2e3121

North Carolina Senate leaders say Republicans and Democrats in their chamber will work together on creating replacement redistricting maps. 

Republican Senate leader Phil Berger and Democratic leader Dan Blue released a statement on Wednesday. 

The state Supreme Court last week struck down plans arranged by the GOP, calling them illegal partisan gerrymanders. 

Blue and Berger says that any “negotiated end product” would be released "as early as practicable.” 

The Supreme Court told lawmakers to turn in replacement maps by Feb. 18.

Both the House and Senate must pass any new legislative and congressional boundaries. The House plans to vote on maps next week.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/nc-senate-redistricting-maps-supreme-court-elections/275-92e0b15d-fcd4-4677-b673-5ebc7a5dcf30

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education will meet Tuesday, Feb. 8 to discuss more retention bonuses for employees. 

If approved, bonuses would double to $5,000 for full-time staff members and $2,500 for part-time employees. Those extra payments would come later this month and again in November. 

Guest teachers would also get bonuses under the new plan. Right now, they aren't eligible. These bonuses would cost $49 million with CMS using funds from the American Rescue Plan to cover the bill.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/charlotte-mecklenburg-board-of-education-meeting-teacher-retention-bonuses/275-8caeacc3-5e51-42a3-aa30-d4f37f0e0bae

Two members of the administrative staff of Hawthorne Academy who were suspended with pay following an investigation from November 2021 will now be in new roles within Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. 

The reason for the suspensions of Principal Diann Weston and Assistant Principal Nina Adams was not publicly released by the district and when WCNC Charlotte inquired about more information regarding the matter, officials stated, "We have no further information to share, as the information requested is confidential personnel information."

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/nina-adams-diann-weston-hawthorne-academy-sexual-assault-suspended-new-roles/275-3a1271fa-eff8-48c0-a61b-e43181c0e2fa

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department on Tuesday released body camera footage of a November 2021 shooting in which a CMPD officer shot a suspect who would not drop his weapon.

In addition to releasing the body camera footage, CMPD published a nearly-10-minute produced video in which a lieutenant with the CMPD Public Affairs Office narrated the details of the incident. The videos were released after media outlets petitioned the courts. 

WCNC Charlotte has confirmed that Charlotte City Council saw both the produced video and the raw body camera footage before the videos were released to the public.

CMPD does not usually produce narrated videos to accompany the release of body camera footage, though it's not clear at this time why the department did in this instance.

WCNC Charlotte reached out to CMPD, asking if the department was planning to have a press conference to address questions from journalists regarding the release of the body camera video. CMPD told WCNC Charlotte the narrated video released accompanying the footage served in place of a press conference, and no further questions will be publicly addressed at this time. 

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/investigations/cmpd-bodycam-video-november-2021-shooting-officer/275-238fe78c-4214-46df-9fe6-590914076ab4

 The Weaver Fertilizer Plant fire continues to burn, creating a risk for explosion and endangering thousands of homes nearby. Winston-Salem fire officials said they don't know when evacuees could return to their homes. 

"We've got too much product. Too many unknowns," Winston-Salem Fire Chief Trey Mayo said. He didn't have a timeframe for when evacuees might be able to go home. 

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/winston-salem-firefighters-battle-fertilizer-plant-fire-prompting-evacuations/83-6da6f345-c117-48e3-8511-f3727606644d

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!

Union County Public Schools will officially end contact tracing and quarantine requirements starting on Monday, Feb. 7.

It comes after the board of education and county leaders filed a joint resolution to show their support of ending the protocols last month.

The state health department continues to push schools to follow the Safe School's Toolkit.

READ  MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/union-county-public-schools-to-end-covid-19-guidelines-monday/275-19b6e7ee-df7d-4988-8332-d768be21a427

A team of 16 federal support staff members from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will arrive in North Carolina on Wednesday to help with a surge in Atrium Health Pineville's emergency department.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) confirmed the details via a news release on Tuesday, Feb. 1. The team from HHS is set to remain on hand through Feb. 13, 2022. 

This federal team includes five oversight and support personnel and 11 clinicians. The 11 clinicians include one physician, two advanced practice providers, four registered nurses, and four paramedics.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/hhs-federal-medical-aid-atrium-pineville-health-coronavirus-covid/275-9f45b84f-f82d-4e58-8a4e-6b88ae6529f6

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!

U.S. regulators are urging drugmaker Pfizer to apply for emergency authorization for a two-dose regimen of its COVID-19 vaccine for children 6 months to 5 years old while awaiting data on a three-dose course, aiming to clear the way for the shots as soon as late February, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press Monday.

The company's application was expected to be submitted as soon as Tuesday.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/pfizer-under-5-covid-shots/507-77a1f928-a763-4058-866d-c8fea05989c9

Moderna announced Monday that U.S. health regulators granted full approval to its COVID-19 vaccine, a shot that's been given to tens of millions of Americans since its emergency authorization over a year ago.

The action by the Food and Drug Administration means the agency has completed the same rigorous, time-consuming review of Moderna's shot as dozens of other long-established vaccines.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/vaccine/moderna-covid-vaccine-fda-approved/507-dc60a134-20ef-4d07-8dec-f7ee238c657c

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!

The retired K9 of fallen Mooresville officer Jordan Sheldon, Loki, has died, Sheldon's K9s announced Saturday.

Born on Dec. 26, 2010, Loki worked with the Mooresville Police Department from 2012  to 2017 and was assigned to Officer Sheldon in 2015.

Officer Sheldon was fatally shot in the line of duty during a traffic stop in 2019. He served with the Mooresville Police Department for six years.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/retired-k9-fallen-mooresville-police-officer-jordan-sheldon-dies/275-d0ac39ff-2d1b-4fed-b6bf-ac6b0b182aef

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is investigating its first homicides of the year. Two people were killed in shootings over the weekend.

The two shootings happened just a few miles from each other in east Charlotte Saturday night.

One local organization is committed to putting a stop to the violence in the city.

Greg Jackson is a community advocate and the founder and director of Heal Charlotte. The organization is leading an initiative to end gun violence in the region. 

“We want to keep providing hope to the city that this is something that we can combat,” Jackson explained. He added that progress is being made.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/heal-charlotte-cmpd-shootings-gun-violence-community/275-872ff68d-5347-4ff3-ae06-f99b9bb73259

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!

After a jury found former Rock Hill police officer Jonathan Moreno not guilty of misdemeanor assault in the arrest of Travis Price last June, Moms Against Racism says they will continue to protest for change. 

"Moreno was exonerated by an almost exclusively white jury, a jury which did not represent the racially diverse makeup of Rock Hill's population," Natasha Witherspoon, founder of Moms Against Racism, said. "It is therefore obvious that our justice system in Rock Hill is both biased and broken. Until it is fixed, innocent citizens will continue to be harmed by the very people sworn to protect us."

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/jonathan-moreno-not-guilty-verdict-protest-moms-against-racism-travis-price-rock-hill-south-carolina/275-b8bc5eab-2e92-4322-a3fb-d40babb6022b

Mecklenburg County announced Thursday that free at-home COVID-19 tests will be available for residents on Jan. 29. 

The county said those experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and are unable to access a local testing site or purchase at-home test kits, can get free tests this Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at two locations: 

• J.M. Alexander Middle School, 12010 Hambright Rd, Huntersville, NC 28078  

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/free-at-home-covid-test-kits-mecklenburg-county-north-carolina-omicron/275-ed5f65c5-fa7e-4ab6-99a6-f5d8f57b7c0d

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!