704 Unfiltered

Pfizer is pushing to authorize its COVID-19 booster for all adults, but so far, eligible patients aren't in a rush to get their third dose. Sarah French connects the dots on why health officials are concerned that enough people aren't strengthening their immunity as we head into the holiday season. 

Community members and parents will gather in Huntersville tonight in an effort to seek solutions to violence at Hopewell High School. The town hall comes about two weeks after two guns were found during a fight involving at least six students earlier this month. The school was also linked to the deadly shooting of a 3-year-old boy in September. Kendall Morris talks with parents about their worries and why they feel district leaders aren't doing enough. 

And can you believe Thanksgiving is only a week away? Ruby Durham breaks down everything you need to know if you're flying out for the holidays, from the busiest days to COVID-19 protocol so you can get where you're going without any problems. 

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!

North Carolina Republicans issued their long-awaited state budget proposal, sending it to Gov. Roy Cooper for review. The plan includes infrastructure investments and pay raises for teachers, but Cooper didn't get one of his biggest goals: Medicaid expansion. Kendall Morris breaks down the budget and what's next as the state works to pass the spending plan. 

President Joe Biden signed his ambitious infrastructure bill into law Monday. And while it's not clear how much of the $1.2 trillion North Carolina will get, we have an idea of how it will be used. Ben Thompson connects the dots on how the "Build Back Better" plan could get more people internet and fix our crumbling roads and bridges. 

Finally, Cam Newton is back and he could soon be the Panthers' starting quarterback. Head coach Matt Rhule said Newton will take the majority of first-team reps in practice, putting him in line to start against the Washington Football Team Sunday at Bank of America Stadium. 

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

Cam Newton made his return to the Panthers and it was like old times as Carolina CRUSHED the Cardinals 34-10! Cam's comeback got started in a big way as he scored a touchdown on the very first play. So how did Cam feel about it? We'll hear from him on this morning's show. 

Plus, Kendall Morris has the latest on a huge apartment fire in Pineville that destroyed multiple homes overnight. Fortunately, everyone was able to escape without injury thanks to working smoke detectors. 

And we're looking at some of the biggest headlines from across the Charlotte area, including a protest over an offensive nickname at a school in Gaston County. 

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!

In case you haven't heard, the sports world focused its attention on Charlotte when the Carolina Panthers announced they agreed to terms with quarterback Cam Newton. The 32-year-old spent the first nine years of his career with the Panthers before he was cut in March of 2020. Super Cam's return took Panthers nation by storm and brought a glimmer of hope to a disappointing season that's quickly unraveled. 

Richard DeVayne joins the show from Mooresville, where high school students will return to class with a heavy heart after a classmate's suicide on campus. The teen's family says they will honor his life this weekend and they're hopeful that his story will help others who are struggling in their own battle. 

And finally, after predictions of a baby boom went bust in 2020, all signs are pointing to a baby boom in 2022. Ben Thompson connects the dots on why researchers say there's a telltale indicator of what's to come. 

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!

President Joe Biden touted his $1 trillion infrastructure plan Wednesday as an eventual fix for the nation's inflation and supply chain woes -- if Americans just have the patience to wait for the construction to begin.

The president toured the Port of Baltimore at the start of what is likely to be a national tour to showcase his signature legislation that cleared Congress last week and that he intends to sign on Monday. He declared that the spending would improve transportation of products and supplies from overseas and within the U.S. to help lower prices, reduce shortages and add union jobs.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/biden-baltimore-build-back-better/507-480ee9a7-63fc-4f0f-9a66-282e48c6a161

According to North Carolina Health Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen, more than 24,000 kids ages 5 to 11 in North Carolina have gotten the first dose of the Pfizer pediatric vaccine so far.

State health leaders hope that demand will grow heading into the winter and holiday season, they’re urging parents to talk to a pediatrician if they have any concerns and use the tools available to protect their kids.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/vaccine/kids-north-carolina-pediatric-pfizer-vaccine/275-d96034f4-ace5-4f6a-b247-e4681ee8992b

The principal and assistant principal at Hawthorne Academy of Health Sciences in Charlotte have been suspended with pay, according to a Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools message sent to families at the school Tuesday.

The reason for the suspensions of Principal Diann Weston and Assistant Principal Nina Adams was not publicly released by the district. It was also not known how long the suspensions may last.

In a public letter to the community last week, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Earnest Winston said the district has a task force reviewing "how our district handles allegations of misconduct."

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/hawthorne-academy-principal-assistant-principal-suspended-cms-charlotte-schools/275-a5a76718-ddba-46fc-a478-26b0ed163743

The November installment of the advance child tax credit payment is set to start hitting bank accounts via direct deposit and through the mail next week. The day will also mark a critical deadline for some eligible parents who haven't received any payments this year but still want to get all the money they are owed before the holidays.

The credit is $3,600 annually for children under age 6 and $3,000 for children ages 6 to 17. Eligible families who did not opt-out of the monthly payments will receive $300 monthly for each child under 6 and $250 per older child. Half of that money is going out via the monthly payments, which started in July. The rest will come at tax time next year.

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!

In a 10-1 vote Monday night, Charlotte City Council approved a new redistricting plan meant to relocate 30,000 residents to different districts in order to meet the state's requirement for a more equal population count across the city's seven districts.

But not everyone approves of the plan, especially residents in the Hidden Valley neighborhood, one of Charlotte's largest predominately African American communities.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/hidden-valley-charlotte-redistricting-lawsuit/275-3650464c-4815-4141-ab45-baf791f7bc49

The Biden administration framed its vaccine mandate for private employers in life-and-death terms Monday in a legal filing that sought to get the requirement back on track after it was halted by a federal court.

Its filing in response to a stay issued over the weekend by the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said there is no reason to rush into a ruling on whether the halt should be made permanent because the vaccine mandate won't take effect until Jan. 4. Stopping the mandate from taking effect will only prolong the COVID-19 pandemic and would “cost dozens or even hundreds of lives per day,” lawyers for the Justice and Labor departments said.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/vaccine/biden-team-defends-worker-vaccine-mandate/507-71e6df94-c1b0-42e1-aab6-853d8eadccfa

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!

City of Charlotte leaders are expecting to hold a vote on a redistricting map this week that reportedly would even out voters among the city's seven districts. 

But not everyone is happy with with the options on the table. 

Safeguard Atone Validate Educate (SAVE) is asking people people from the Hidden Valley neighborhood to rally in the council chambers on Monday, Nov. 8, after a lawsuit was filed in response to three of the four options.

Currently, the city is weighing four map options on how to be best redistrict areas of Charlotte for voting purposes. 

City Councilman Malcolm Graham said right now certain districts have more more voters compared to others. 

"We have to move 30,000 voters out of 2, 3 and 4 into 1, 5 and 6," he said about the districts. 

But three of those options are drawing criticism from SAVE.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/hidden-valley-neighborhood-rally-charlotte-redistricting/275-46cee6b2-585e-4d32-993f-5fd10818a907

Having two key offensive weapons back in the lineup wasn't enough for the Panthers. 

The New England Patriots (5-4) were able to take care of business inside Bank of American Stadium, defeating Carolina 24-6 on Sunday, Nov. 7.

Carolina is now 4-5 on the year.

Running back Christian McCaffrey, who has been out since straining his hamstring in Week 3, was activated off of injured reserve for the game. McCaffrey had 52 yards rushing and four catches for another 54 yards. 

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/darnold-cleared-to-play-mccaffrey-activated-ahead-of-panthers-game-vs-patriots/275-25010ea5-6e75-4fc5-b2f9-e6668e1029ad

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! 

Children aged 5-11 in Cabarrus County will soon be able to get a COVID-19 shot from the Cabarrus Health Alliance.

The alliance announced appointments were open to be made online on Thursday, Nov. 4, with the first appointments available for Tuesday, Nov. 9. The authorized pediatric version of the Pfizer shot will be offered for families seeking to vaccinate their children.

“This is another milestone in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr. Bonnie Coyle, CHA Public Health Director. “It is extremely important that we get our children vaccinated, that way they can be safe in the classroom, while playing sports, or visiting family and friends during the upcoming holidays.”

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/vaccine/covid-19-vaccine-kids-cabarrus-health-alliance-north-carolina/275-cbfc874c-b794-46b0-9365-f37140b92e37

Only one Black person will serve on the jury that will be tasked with determining whether three white men accused in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery committed murder or not.

The jury selection process reached its conclusion in the case on Wednesday. The trial is set to begin at 9 a.m. on Friday, following two weeks of the jury selection process.

The jury will be composed of 11 white people and 1 Black person, after defense lawyers for Gregory and Travis McMichael and William "Roddie" Bryan successfully struck 11 of the remaining 12 prospective Black jurors in the final pool from serving on the jury.

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! 

Five students were taken into custody after two guns were found at Hopewell High School in Huntersville Wednesday. Officials said the guns were found following two fights. Ruby Durham has the latest from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and county commissioners. The students involved have not been identified and Huntersville detectives haven't released their charges at this time. 

The first COVID-19 shots for kids ages 5 to 11 were administered in Mecklenburg County and parents now have the option to make an appointment at several health care providers. Richard DeVayne explains how many doses Mecklenburg County received and when parents can book an appointment for their child. 

Thursday will be a cold day in the Carolinas. In fact, we haven't seen an afternoon high this low since early March! And when you get in your car, the low tire pressure light may be on. It's certainly annoying but you may not have a serious issue. Ben Thompson connects the dots on why this happens every time it gets cold. 

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!