704 Unfiltered

On Wednesday afternoon, Charlotte leaders are holding a special meeting to discuss the deal with Tepper Sports to renovate the Bank of America stadium.  

Several council members have questions regarding the drafted contract and how the city can protect itself in case anything goes wrong.

Renovations to the stadium include installing huge screens and gathering spaces around the perimeter outside. The city is looking to chalk up $650 million for the upgrades. The money comes from the city’s tourism and hospitality fund and will be spent between 2025 and 2029.

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/bank-of-america-stadium-renovations-charlotte-north-carolina/275-8273d286-81c5-4b14-9159-62aa8e4a53ad

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Charlotte city leaders voted 8-3 to approve the Queen City's 2025 spending plan Monday night.

City officials have spent the last few weeks laying out their goals and making adjustments, including potential changes to the city’s 1.5 cent property tax increase, a possible $1 million in more funding for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in light of the April 29 ambush, and much more.

The final budget resulted in lowering the property tax increase to 1.37 cents.  

Around $23 million in budget adjustments were made several weeks ago and the budget is a total of $4.16 billion after adjusting to the lower tax rate hike.

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/charlotte-city-council-budget-2025-fiscal-year/275-87b37bf9-2b17-4d82-9f7d-55a3509d4545

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WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at WCNC Charlotte.  
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Charlotte city leaders are expected to finalize and vote on their 2025 spending plan on Monday. It comes as city officials have spent the last few weeks laying out their goals and making adjustments.

The adjustments include potential changes to the city's property tax increase, more funding for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in light of the April 29 ambush, and much more. 

MORE NEWS: https://www.wcnc.com/news

Watch WCNC Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m.

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The Catawba Nation is getting ready to build a brand new Two Kings Casino and Resort. It's been in the works for years, but it's not one step closer to reality.

The groundbreaking of Two Kings Casino had been delayed due to a lawsuit between the Catawba Nation and the former casino developer over the ground lease for the land.

The Catawba Nation settled with Sky Boat Gaming in May for an unknown amount. 

Watch WCNC Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m.

WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with 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 House lawmakers on Wednesday approved legislation that would automatically send 16- and 17-year-olds who commit violent crimes straight to adult court.

The changes would rework some bipartisan juvenile justice reforms that took effect over four years ago addressing 16- and 17-year-old offenders.

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/north-carolina-juvenile-crime-adult-charges/275-aa7aa4b4-4ee9-4331-9ef5-7c32bd837364

Watch WCNC Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m.

WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with 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.

Tuesday night, the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners voted to adopt the budget for the upcoming 2025 fiscal year.

County leaders approved a $2.5 billion county budget for Fiscal Year 2025. This number represents a 5.9%, or $140 million increase, over the county's 2024 budget.

These numbers, along with sustained growth and the lack of affordable housing options for many in the area, have many residents asking where's the money?

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/mecklenburg-county-leaders-adopt-budget-housing-money-politics/275-8f0a5642-183b-4442-86e7-74e6f5d3da12

Watch WCNC Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. 

WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with 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.

At Monday night's Housing, Safety and Community Committee meeting, city leaders presented the "teachers' village" -- a proposal that comes as CMS struggles to retain teachers and teachers push for higher wages to afford to live.

According to Indeed, the average teacher salary at CMS is less than $47,000 a year. Compare that to the median Charlotte home price of $432,000 and the average 2-bedroom rent at $1,731.

The committee decided to allocate $1 million towards the teacher housing concept, but still needs to work with CMS before taking further action.  

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/charlotte-city-leaders-propose-teacher-housing-concept/275-2fe4003b-f1de-463f-ab0b-a77fc58028bd

Watch WCNC Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m.

WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with 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.

Two people are dead and two others are recovering after a shooting at a block party in Rock Hill Saturday night. It happened just after 10 p.m. along Southland Drive. One person said the scene "felt like a war zone" as gunshots erupted during the celebration. 

"Out of the blue, everyone just started running and when everyone started running it felt like I was a deer being hunted," the person said. "I ran from one side and when I finally got to the other side, they started shooting from the other side.”

FULL STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/rock-hill-shooting-investigation/275-a4261a07-c8bf-4fbe-96d8-1e2ec790f8af

The family of an alleged shoplifter who was shot and killed by a Pineville police officer outside a Food Lion in south Charlotte is expected to hold a news conference demanding a full investigation. Destiny Richards catches us up on the controversial case and where it could go next. 

Plus, we're taking a look at the biggest headlines from across North Carolina and South Carolina and Larry Sprinkle has your complete Monday forecast to start your day! 

WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with 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 trial of Christopher Palmiter, the stepfather of Madalina Cojocari, continued Thursday. The court session resumed with continued cross-examination of Palmiter.  Madalina was 11 years old when she was last seen getting off a school bus in November 2022 before going missing.  

After more than a year-and-a-half, she is still missing. Palmiter is only charged with failing to report the disappearance of his stepdaughter. He took the stand on Wednesday and Thursday.

Closing arguments are expected Friday. Here's a recap of what happened Thursday: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/madalina-cojocari-christopher-palmiter-trial-thursday-court-updates/275-622118c1-5875-4814-9fd4-013be0cad988

Watch WCNC Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m.

WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with 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.

Six people are displaced after a three-alarm building fire ignited just outside of Uptown early Thursday morning, the Charlotte Fire Department said. One person is also in the hospital.

At least 60 firefighters battled the blaze on Margaret Brown Street, near South Irwin Avenue, around 2 a.m. Thursday, officials said. The fire took nearly an hour to put out.

Crews at the scene told WCNC Charlotte firefighters battled a fire at the same block on Wednesday; that fire was intentionally set.  

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/charlotte-house-fire-uptown/275-5bcb6a6e-5ce5-4c3a-b326-bea3b241d32c

Watch WCNC Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m.

WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with 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.