704 Unfiltered

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district is continuing its efforts to revamp long-term academic goals for students over the next few years.

Every five years, CMS centers itself around new goals and guardrails that can range from increasing literacy among elementary school students to increasing the number of students post-graduation who get a job. 

Experts say the hallmark of a good goal needs a few things.

It needs to be specific, measurable, achievable, timely, and realistic. These attributes were at the center of the discussion around the goals and guardrails conversation on Tuesday night. 

CMS Board Member Melissa Easley immediately expressed frustration with the first recommended CMS goal. 

“There is absolutely no way we can require our staff to have 97% in anything, we're just setting them up to fail," Easley said.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cms-school-board-achievable-realistic-district-goals/275-da8b6dd4-3294-4571-a7ac-753a2965fcd7

All lanes of Interstate 77 at Clanton Road were closed following a shooting. The northbound lanes were closed at Exit 7, but have since reopened. 

The closure backed up traffic for miles all the way back to the South Carolina state line.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/i77-northbound-closed-charlotte-shooting-police-investigation-traffic/275-f185df0c-2ab3-4fd8-9ca7-3515efcc1be8

Kenneth Walker III rushed for 97 yards and two second-half touchdowns, Jason Myers kicked four field goals, and the Seattle Seahawks pulled away in the second half for a 37-27 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

Walker was a star on a day things didn’t come easily for Seattle’s offense for the first three quarters. But Walker produced big plays both on the ground and in the pass game. Walker’s 36-yard reception midway through the third quarter set up his 1-yard touchdown run after Seattle had settled for field goals every other time it reached Carolina’s side of the field.

Walker later restored a two-score lead for Seattle (2-1) when he sprinted untouched on a 7-yard touchdown run with 11:40 remaining.

Myers connected on field goals of 43, 35, 33 and 37 yards a week after starting the season just 3 of 6 on field-goal attempts through two games.

Seattle quarterback Geno Smith threw his first interception of the season, but still had a solid day in throwing for 291 yards and a 5-yard touchdown pass to undrafted rookie Jake Bobo with 4:17 left. DK Metcalf had six catches for 112 yards.

Veteran Andy Dalton started in place of No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, who missed the game with an ankle injury suffered last Monday in Carolina’s loss to New Orleans.

Dalton did his part in keeping the Panthers (0-3) close, throwing for 361 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown to DJ Chark Jr. in the first half and a 15-yard TD to Adam Thielen with 1:40 left. Thielen had 11 catches for 145 yards.

Carolina led 13-9 only to see Seattle score the next 13 points. The Panthers pulled within 22-20 on Miles Sanders' 1-yard TD run on the first play of the fourth quarter but would get no closer. It was Carolina’s 53rd consecutive loss when trailing in the fourth quarter.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/nfl/panthers/seattle-seahawks-carolina-panthers-andy-dalton-kenneth-walker-iii-adam-thielen/275-a344ef0a-221f-4282-8583-912f84728c46

A middle school student was hit by a driver in a stolen SUV while trying to get on a school bus in southwest Charlotte Thursday morning, police confirmed. 

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police responded to a crash involving a school bus at West Arrowood Road and Arborgate Drive around 9:30 a.m. CMPD alleged the student was running across the street to the bus when the suspect hit them at a high rate of speed. The suspect then sped away from the scene. The stop arms of the bus were not in operation at the time of the crash, according to CMPD. 

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/cms-student-hit-vehicle-board-bus-district/275-3d461824-55f1-4bcd-bc9d-57c3b6d45cb0

A man charged with entering a residence hall at Belmont Abbey College and sexually assaulting a student faced a judge Tuesday.

John Foster Alexander was charged with breaking and entering, trespassing, sexual battery and burglary in connection with the Sept. 3 incident. Alexander, 38, is accused of entering dorm rooms at the St. Michael's Dorm and assaulting a student. He surrendered to police a few days later. 

Investigators alleged that Alexander only entered dorm rooms that were unlocked. He was released from the Mecklenburg County jail on bond. 

He was given a $500,000 bond on Tuesday and is still in custody. 

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/belmont-abbey-college-sex-assault-suspect-court-appearance-john-foster-alexander/275-50f5bceb-cb65-47f7-9f5e-aabec39326a2

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!

A 35-year-old woman was found dead in Salisbury on Sunday morning, police said. 

Salisbury police responded to reports of a woman being found along Park Avenue about a block from Cannon Park. Investigators say the victim, identified as Nohemy Herndandez-Laines had injuries that were consistent with an assault. First responders attempted life-saving measures but Hernandez-Laines died at the scene, according to police. 

No arrests have been made and Salisbury police haven't released any suspect information. Anyone with information is asked to call Sgt. Hill at 704-638-5333. Witnesses may also call 704-638-5262 to anonymous speak with detectives. 

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/salisbury-homicide-investigation-woman-found-dead/275-20c291c5-c0b0-42d0-857d-818c4901b258

The Statesville Police Department is investigating a shooting that left a teen grazed in the head by a bullet early Thursday morning.

Police said it happened just before 12:30 a.m. along Forrest Hollow Drive. Officers responded to a report of shots fired and found the 14-year-old victim with a wound to the head.

The teen was taken to a hospital for further evaluation and treatment. The investigation remains ongoing.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/teen-grazed-bullet-shooting-crime-local/275-4c958e08-52fd-4ae0-b58e-fc899b714b78

Months after Huntersville residents first learned of a proposed resort-type project, the developer behind it has told WCNC Charlotte the project is officially ended and no longer happening.

Jake Palillo, the man in charge of Bi-Part Development, told WCNC Charlotte reporter Austin Walker that the Lagoona Bay/Waterside development will no longer move forward, claiming it wouldn't work out financially with a reduced plan to meet current zoning regulations. 

“We decided the Lagoona Bay project at a scaled-back version doesn’t make sense, doesn’t work," Palillo said.

Palillo told WCNC Charlotte there were a few reasons behind the decision. There were a slew of changes due to zoning problems with the city, the city didn't approve a zoning change, and Palillo had to adjust his design. He also had to eliminate key items and hundreds of homes. Further, he said the economy has taken a turn. 

“The economy is scaring us, mortgage rates are 7 ½%," Palillo said. "Business loan failures are going out there.”

While he pulled the plug, he said he also lost $800,000.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/lagoona-bay-huntersville-project-over-local/275-b1541003-9ebd-4d08-9a63-28cfae4bbc1d

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district is working to revamp its district goals and guardrails for the next four years.

These goals and guardrails range from increasing literacy in elementary school students to improving discipline disparities.

For the last six years, CMS has used a list of goals and guard rails to guide policy and how schools run.

For example, one of its goals in the past few years is to increase the number of Black and Hispanic students reading at an advanced level.

The past state testing scores showed schools in the district saw progress and an increase in testing scores in both math and reading scores, although the gains they made fell short of the academic goals and guardrails the district has set for itself. 

One example of a goal for CMS is the district's goal of wanting 36% of Black and Hispanic students to be college and career-ready based on English test scores by the end of the 2022 school year. Data showed the district fell short and only hit 15.9% of Black and Hispanic students being college and career-ready based on English test scores.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cms-goals-guardrails-reflect-past-years/275-a4403c05-d96d-4445-906d-8a81bac6a8d3

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! 

A suspect has died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after an hours-long SWAT stand-off in east Charlotte Monday afternoon, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

CMPD said around 10 a.m., CMPD found an armed man at the intersection of Albemarle Road and East W.T. Harris Boulevard. He had warrants out for his arrest, including for assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, CMPD said. 

He refused to drop his weapon when told to by officers, and positioned himself against a wall of a business. 

After seven hours, shortly before 5:30 p.m., the suspect put down his weapon. Police said officers then used flash bangs to distract the suspect, but he got his weapon back and police believe he shot himself before officers could get to him. 

CMPD said no officers fired service weapons.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/swat-situation-east-charlotte-cmpd-north-carolina/275-65da557f-2d21-499a-a2b7-81f381a6ef14

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!