A requirement to get vaccinated against COVID-19 kicks in Thursday for millions of health care workers in about half the states.

The mandate is starting first in states that didn't challenge the rule from the Biden administration. It will take effect later in February for 25 other states that had filed lawsuits.  

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/vaccine-mandate-coronavirus-federal-mandate-biden/275-a106c0a6-c6e6-4ff4-8861-cf8fe56d806a

Three studies released Friday offered more evidence that COVID-19 vaccines are standing up to the omicron variant, at least among people who received booster shots.

They are the first large U.S. studies to look at vaccine protection against omicron, health officials said.

The papers echo previous research — including studies in Germany, South Africa and the U.K. — indicating available vaccines are less effective against omicron than earlier versions of the coronavirus, but also that boosters significantly improve protection.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/vaccine/booster-shots-needed-against-omicron-cdc-studies/507-56e01bb3-7937-4704-a081-5dea46119a2c

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 United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosted a public hearing Tuesday to allow the public to comment on the proposed settlement that would require New-Indy to minimize hydrogen sulfide emissions and pay a $1.1 million civil penalty. 

The proposed settlement comes after nearly a year of complaints regarding an odor emanating from the area near the plant. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control said it started receiving complaints regarding the odor in January 2021.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/special-reports/new-indy/epa-public-hearing-new-indy-proposed-settlement/275-dc8d884c-4060-4424-a22a-21abbac146bc

Since the start of January, CMS has averaged 1,000 teacher absences a day, according to the superintendent report. Of these absences, the district has been able to fill less than half. 

Since late last week, Superintendent Earnest Winston said the district has averaged 400 absences. In particular, on Monday the district had 542 absences, 352 of which were covered by substitutes. 

"It appears the trend is due to lower numbers of COVID cases among staff," Winston said. 

The amount of bus drivers absent on average has also been almost cut in half.

One day in early January, 145 school nutrition employees were absent. Winston said on Tuesday that number was down to 91.

“This does not mean we don’t face challenges," he said.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cms-board-of-education-meeting-teacher-shortage-school-safety/275-345ddf0d-376c-410d-86b0-de6c43d2305a

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 United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hosting a public hearing Tuesday to allow the public to comment on the proposed settlement that would require New-Indy to minimize hydrogen sulfide emissions and pay a $1.1 million civil penalty. 

The proposed settlement comes after nearly a year of complaints regarding an odor emanating from the area near the plant. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control said it started receiving complaints regarding the odor in January 2021.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/special-reports/new-indy/epa-public-hearing-new-indy-proposed-settlement/275-dc8d884c-4060-4424-a22a-21abbac146bc

Even before the pandemic, there were calls for art to get more funding in Charlotte. The ripple effects of COVID-19 have only increased those calls. 

With canceled events hitting artists and the city's culture hard, many people are looking for the light at the end of the tunnel.

At Monday night's city council meeting, Charlotte leaders seemed poised to provide some hope -- helping to fund one of the largest art festivals in the Queen City.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/charlotte-shout-funding-city-leaders-mecklenburg-county-art/275-5e00b592-c408-49ef-ad06-6dd6eecd4a47

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!

It's back to the actual classroom for the Charlotte 49ers on Monday after starting the spring semester remotely due to COVID-19. 

Due to concerns of the omicron surge after the holiday break, UNC Charlotte started with virtual learning when the semester started on Jan. 10.

"Last time I was on campus was right before break," Maryam Thomas, a grad student at UNC Charlotte, said. 

She's loved the ability to learn online and is uneasy about a return to normal. 

"Especially in a school setting where we're all sitting close, next to each other and we all do all different types of things in our personal lives... so it is concerning," Thomas said.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/unc-charlotte-in-person-learning-covid19-precautions/275-5f053a94-f249-4f88-af3b-d75df43e4416

The highly contagious omicron variant of COVID-19 is sending record numbers of people to hospitals, straining hospital capacity, North Carolina health officials reported Friday.

As hospitals statewide continue to take steps to protect their ability to provide patient care in the face of nationwide COVID-19 staffing shortages, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is requesting federal support for the Charlotte region.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/covid-hospitals-north-carolina/275-92d9610b-4abe-4563-8cda-a6f64d1cefc9

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!

South Carolina state investigators are looking into how a resident at a Rock Hill nursing ended up outside in the cold for hours. It happened early Tuesday morning at the Carolina Gardens Assisted Living Center.

Between accounts from Rock Hill Police and a report from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environment Control, WCNC Charlotte has learned a resident of assisted living center left the facility around 5 a.m. Tuesday and fell. 

The resident was found about two and a half hours after leaving and showed signs of hypothermia. Emergency crews were called in to help.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/rock-hill/investigators-rock-hill-nursing-home/275-a6163fa7-d064-46d8-9648-528e173d00d0

A longtime member of the Charlotte Fire Department has been arrested and charged following an alleged domestic violence incident, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department announced Thursday.

The man has been with the department since February 2003 and has been serving as a captain. WCNC Charlotte is not identifying him in order to protect the identity of the victims.

On Jan. 19, CMPD officers were dispatched to a Charlotte home for a reported domestic assault. After officers spoke to all involved and pursued the investigation, officers determined the man assaulted two of his family members. The fire captain is being charged with two counts of assault.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/charlotte-fire-department-captain-arrested-charged-domestic-violence/275-9f099744-4fab-4f05-8734-3cb491261729

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 Biden administration will begin making 400 million N95 masks available for free to Americans starting next week, now that federal officials are emphasizing their better protection against the omicron variant of COVID-19 over cloth face coverings.

The White House announced Wednesday that the masks will come from the government's Strategic National Stockpile, which has more than 750 million of the highly protective masks on hand. The masks will be available for pickup at pharmacies and community health centers across the country. They will begin shipping this week for distribution starting late next week, the White House said.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/biden-to-give-away-400-million-n95-masks/507-90b1db93-2964-4a81-b5a3-d5bf4038b925

Mecklenburg County is scaling back its COVID-19 contact tracing efforts and will instead depend on individuals to do it themselves. 

The change, of course, was announced to Mecklenburg County leaders during an update on the COVID-19 pandemic at Wednesday's Board of County Commissioners meeting.

Dr. Raynard Washington, who was sworn in as Mecklenburg County Health Director Wednesday, said about 83% of current COVID-19 cases in Mecklenburg County are the omicron variant. Washington said he expects that number to rise, but expects ad decline from the current surge soon. 

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/mecklenburg-county-board-commissioners-covid-tests/275-5db8c0b9-9254-466c-aef2-70afbb45911d

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 North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported more people were in the hospital for COVID-19 this year than at the same time last year, breaking a record for coronavirus-related hospitalizations set in early 2021.

According to the latest numbers released on Tuesday, Jan. 18, NCDHHS reported 4,630 people were in hospitals across the Tar Heel State with COVID-19. That's a 16% increase from the same time in 2021 when the total number hospitalized was at 3,992.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/north-carolina-covid-19-hospitalization-record-broken-january-18-2022-health-regional-state/275-220dfe0c-cc7b-400c-bd98-014fa936ae89

As U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits Ukraine, the Biden administration said Wednesday it’s providing an additional $200 million in defensive military aid to the country amid soaring fears of a Russian invasion.

A senior U.S. State Department official said the assistance was approved in late December as part of American efforts to help Ukraine protect itself. Until Wednesday, however, the administration had refused to comment on it. The official wasn't authorized to discuss the matter publicly before Blinken's meetings in Kyiv and spoke on condition of anonymity.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/us-boosts-military-aid-to-ukraine-as-russia-tensions-soar/507-a1c1e6e9-acd2-4b13-9817-6eb21dd78fb1

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 winter storm is gone but we're still dealing with its effects as many roads in the Carolinas are covered by a sheet of ice. Even in areas where the snow melted, black ice is lurking. Richard DeVayne joins the show from the Chevy Storm Tracker and gives us an idea of how neighborhood streets are looking before folks head to work. 

Many school districts made the decision to close Tuesday due to the icy conditions, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Tradesha Woodward has an update on school closings and why officials are asking people to just stay home if they can. 

And finally, we've been talking about black ice for days. But what exactly is it? First, it's not actually black, but it's definitely dangerous. Ben Thompson connects the dots to help you stay safe if you're driving during wintry weather. 

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!

Happy Monday! The Carolinas are hoping to thaw out after a winter storm brought an icy mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain to the Charlotte area this weekend. In fact, we're told the mountains got up to 14 inches of snow from Saturday through Sunday night. Forecaster Larry Sprinkle has the latest on today's weather in Charlotte and just how cold we'll get on Tuesday morning. 

Plus, Richard DeVayne and Tradesha Woodward have updates on the conditions in Charlotte, as crews have been working around the clock to clear snow and ice from major highways and roads in the Queen City. Despite the precipitation leaving, officials still want everyone to stay home due to the threat of black ice, which could cause accidents. 

And finally, Sarah French has your morning checklist, three stories you should know about before starting your day. 

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!

Charlotte is bracing for the biggest winter storm in nearly four years as the Carolinas will be blanketed by snow, ice, sleet and freezing rain this weekend. We start today's show with an update from First Warn forecaster Larry Sprinkle. Larry details his forecast with the timing of the storm, what kind of impacts you'll see in your area and just how long we'll be hit with wintry weather. GET THE LATEST FORECAST: https://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/winter-storm-charlotte-north-carolina-snow-ice-sleet-accumulation-weather-updates/275-a704e3e4-2916-4097-911b-9554f1c0383b

Tradesha Woodard joins this morning's show to discuss how North Carolina DOT crews are preparing. With salt brine and plows on standby, keeping the roads clear will be a high priority as the storm impacts the region. 

Plus, you've probably seen grocery store shelves sitting empty lately. But please, we're asking that you don't panic. Ruby Durham explains the psychology of panic buying and why supermarkets are asking everyone to remain calm so we can get through this without another toilet paper shortage. STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/consumer/panic-buying-grocery-store-empty-shelves-supply-shortage-out-of-stock/275-e31014fb-86a8-4518-9c6a-17b7063590f0

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!

For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app.

🌩️ If you like weather, watch Brad Panovich and the WCNC Charlotte First Warn Weather Team on their YouTube channel, Weather IQ. 🎥