704 Unfiltered

The death toll for Hurricane Helene continues to grow as President Joe Biden plans to visit the Carolinas on Wednesday. The storm is now being blamed for at least 166 deaths in the Southeast. Of those, 49 confirmed deaths were reported in North Carolina with the majority of those being in Buncombe County. Over 600 people are reported missing but it's unclear exactly how many people are unaccounted for because so many areas are still isolated from the outside world. 

Richard DeVayne joins the show from Boone, where cleanup is underway. The floodwaters have receded but business owners fear it could take years for the local economy to recover from Helene's impacts. 

Plus, we're sharing ways you can help those impacted by the storm. WCNC Charlotte has partnered with the Red Cross and Operation Airdrop to assist those feeling the impact of Helene. 

There are approximately 30 helicopters and more than 50 airplanes transporting supplies, and all pilots are volunteers.

WCNC Charlotte has partnered with Operation Airdrop for a community-wide donation day on Wednesday, Oct. 2. Donations can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the parking lot of the Walmart near Concord Mills Mall at 5825 Thunder Road NW Concord, NC 28027

At least 133 people were killed by Hurricane Helene, officials in multiple states. Of those, 49 were in North Carolina, with the majority of storm-related deaths being in Buncombe County. On this special episode of WCNC Charlotte To Go, we're following the latest developments as Helene cleanup continues across the Carolinas. 

Richard DeVayne joins the show live from Boone, where floodwaters have receded but the work is just getting started as folks get a good look at Helene's devastation. Plus, we're updating you on emergency shelters and efforts to deliver food and essential supplies to those impacted by Helene in the High Country. 

President Joe Biden will visit North Carolina on Wednesday in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, NBC News reported on Monday.

Biden had said earlier on Monday that the federal government would be with survivors and others in the nation’s southeast affected by Helene “as long as it takes.”

He expected to ask Congress for additional money for disaster assistance and intends to travel to North Carolina later this week when his presence wouldn’t divert from live-saving search-and-rescue missions.

FULL STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/hurricane/helene/president-biden-helene-north-carolina-storm-damage/275-262f1638-1022-4c86-ac98-f0e6ad778771

WCNC Charlotte has partnered with the American Red Cross to help gather donations to go to efforts that will help people impacted by Helene. We've launched a special web page where you can either select a monetary amount or enter your own. You can make donations using a credit card or PayPal account.

Click here to donate. 

WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  
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All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

North Carolina officials pledged to get more water and other supplies to flood-stricken areas by Monday after Hurricane Helene left a trail of destruction across the U.S. Southeast and the death toll from the storm rose to nearly 100.

At least 91 people across several states were killed. A North Carolina county that includes the mountain city of Asheville reported 30 people killed.

Gov. Roy Cooper predicted the toll would rise as rescuers and other emergency workers reached areas isolated by collapsed roads, failing infrastructure and widespread flooding.

FULL STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/weather-impact/hurricane-helene-death-toll-climbing-buncombe-county-asheville-north-carolina/275-e7178fd6-4cf1-46cd-9a2f-f2bedd505f30

WCNC Charlotte has partnered with the American Red Cross to help gather donations to go to efforts that will help people impacted by Helene. We've launched a special web page where you can either select a monetary amount or enter your own. You can make donations using a credit card or PayPal account.

HOW YOU CAN HELP: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/community/red-cross-helene-assistance-donations-9-27-2024/275-e3a7980a-c226-4bc1-851a-4e3274520fe6

WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart

All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

A cold front brought heavy rain and severe weather to the Charlotte area on Wednesday and the Carolinas are bracing for the impacts of Hurricane Helene starting Thursday evening. 

Tropical storm watches and warnings are in place, including portions of our viewing area. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Mecklenburg, Union, York, Chester, Gaston, Lincoln, Catawba, Cleveland, Burke, Caldwell and Avery counties. Impacted cities and towns include Banner Elk, Shelby, Lenoir, Morganton, Hickory, Newton, Gastonia, Charlotte, Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Chester, Lincolnton, Monroe, Huntersville, Matthews, and Cheraw.

Closer to the Charlotte area, rainfall totals will range from 3-6 inches west of I-77 and around 2-4 inches east of the interstate.

On top of the wind and rain, the Carolinas are expected to be in the right-front quadrant of Helene, often referred to as the "dirty side". This will lead to a higher-than-average risk of quick spin-up tornadoes. Tropical tornadoes are often very weak but they can still produce impacts.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/weather-impact/weather-aware-helene-impacts-carolinas-charlotte/275-345813de-f66d-41af-9488-7ca23947e080

Plus, Ben Thompson connects the dots on why fall is a great time for stargazing and we're recapping the biggest headlines from around the Charlotte area. 

WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart

All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education voted Tuesday on whether to relocate some kids to new schools next year.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is looking at changes to its assignment policy and updating school attendance boundaries for the 2025-26 school year.  The district is still reviewing phase one of this plan.  

The four projects included in phase one would impact creative and visual arts schools, expand the Montessori program, improve school buildings, and expand the early college program. Here's how the board voted on the projects Tuesday night: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/charlotte-mecklenburg-school-board-votes-changes-2025-school-year/275-a0ceec43-33e0-40d7-b8ff-3407e94ab0e5

WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart

All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

Authorities are investigating threats made to several middle and high schools, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools confirmed on Monday.  

A district spokesperson said increased security would be in place Monday at schools that received direct threats. It's unclear if any of these threats were deemed credible. CMS didn't disclose which schools were threatened, and it's unclear if the threats were made by the same person.

It comes after threats were made at West Charlotte High School and Hough High School. There was also a bomb threat at Bailey Middle School in Cornelius. Detectives identified a possible suspect in connection with the Bailey and Hough threats in Texas. It's unclear if charges will be brought against that person.  

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/school-threats-charlotte-meckenburg-schools-middle-high-school-campuses/275-ad555030-545b-4d8b-bba7-f5a8211ac18a

WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart

All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

A police officer and a suspect were hurt in a shooting after a traffic stop in south Charlotte.

The shooting happened near the intersection of Arrowood Road and Nations Ford Road on Sunday around 7:30 p.m., according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Police attempted a traffic stop on a person believed to be involved in an assault with a deadly weapon investigation.

The suspect was seen with a gun when officers approached, police said, causing gunfire to be exchanged between officers and the suspect.  Police did not say who fired the first gunshot.

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/southwest-charlotte-shooting/275-7562c603-c8d3-4b99-8e20-b535981b3f44

WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart

All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

Republican North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson is under pressure from members of his own party to drop out of the state’s gubernatorial race, people familiar with the matter told WRAL on Thursday.

A spokesman for Robinson's campaign shot down the questions about him dropping out of the race.  

"It is absolute fiction," Mike Lonergan told WRAL in a text message.  

The pressure comes as a new CNN report focused on remarks Robinson allegedly made on a pornographic website's message board. Robinson also trails in the polls, with a recent WRAL poll showing Robinson as polling worse than other Republicans in statewide races. 

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/mark-robinson-under-pressure-drop-out-north-carolina-gubernatorial-race/275-00f8e373-d847-4a92-9b45-81ff2f788bd3

WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart

All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

A second shooting was reported at a west Charlotte apartment complex just days after a 2-year-old was shot, police said.  

The shooting happened just after 4 a.m. Tuesday on Evoke Living Lane, just off Wilkinson Boulevard in west Charlotte. It happened at the Evoke Living at Westerly Hills apartment complex. 

Detectives with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said no one was hit in the shooting. Multiple bullet holes were visible in the siding of one of the buildings.  The first shooting happened around 1:40 a.m. on Sunday. CMPD said someone opened fire in the parking lot, hitting multiple apartments. A 2-year-old girl was taken to the hospital after being shot in the stomach. She remains hospitalized as of Wednesday.  

Then Thursday morning, Medic responded to a shooting on Babbling Brook Road, about a mile and a half away from the Evoke Living Apartments, and near Harding University High School. One person was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.  

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/second-shooting-west-charlotte-apartment-complex-where-toddler-was-shot-cmpd-investigating/275-a1ba65cf-9f06-4557-aaea-9d3947fa4816

WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart

All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

Mecklenburg County leaders voted in favor of a proposal to increase the county's sales tax to fund future transit projects.  In particular, the money would fund the future Red Line commuter rail line, which the city of Charlotte purchased from Norfolk Southern earlier this month. The future train line is intended to link Uptown Charlotte with the suburban commuters in northern Mecklenburg County, including Huntersville, Cornelius and Davidson.  

County commissioners voted 6-3 in favor of the measure on Tuesday. With Mecklenburg County's approval, the proposal heads to the North Carolina legislature. If approved by the legislature, the sales tax would then be voted on by the public in 2025.

The Red Line project included the $91 million purchase of the existing Norfolk Southern tracks between Charlotte and Davidson. The tracks, which the freight railroad calls the O-Line, are part of the 2030 regional transit plan.

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/mecklenburg-county-vote-red-line-transit-projects/275-c81a6c51-a9cd-47f3-af2d-c1f2aa642490 

WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart

All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.