704 Unfiltered

Dozens of people came together to honor the life of Shanquella Robinson, the 25-year-old Charlotte woman who was killed in Mexico while on vacation with friends in October 2022.

Loved ones are turning this tragedy into purpose. An empowerment brunch was hosted by SBR Helping Hands, a nonprofit named after Robinson. The women behind the group, which includes Shanquella’s sister Quilla Long, said they are determined to keep Shanquella's legacy alive and push initiatives she was passionate about.

“With this we [definitely] want to keep her name alive,” Keairra Grier, chief marketing officer of SBR Helping Hands, said.

Shanquella’s story touched the hearts of many – many who marched and wrote letters demanding justice for her. SBR Helping Hands said this organization is their way to give back.

“The story was just devastating. I'm a mom and there are so many unanswered questions that need to be answered… so why not come and support,” said Caila Jerigan, a guest.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/keeping-shanquella-robinsons-legacy-alive-sbr-helping-hands-kicks-off-with-empowerment-brunch-charlotte-north-carolina-keairra-grier/275-a17204ee-3d55-42e0-b457-0b4c6606865a

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! 

Caleb Farley said he received a call he would have never been prepared for. 

"It didn’t sound good from the start," Farley said recalling the call that told him his father had been killed in a North Carolina home explosion.

One person was killed and another was taken to the hospital after a Mooresville home near Lake Norman exploded early Tuesday morning, Iredell County emergency officials confirmed. 

Multiple agencies responded to the explosion at a home along Barber Loop and Old Arborway Road, which is just off Brawley School Road. It happened right around midnight. When the Iredell County Sheriff's Office arrived, deputies reported a heavy smell of natural gas on the property. Hazmat crews were immediately called to assist with the situation.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/lake-norman-home-explosion-mooresville-iredell/275-67d8d9c6-a294-45e9-ab0c-198c23bde119

A former Burke County teacher who also worked at a church in Morganton is facing charges for alleged crimes against children, investigators announced Wednesday. 

Aaron Doyle Mirtsching was charged with three counts of third-degree exploitation of a minor by the Burke County Sheriff's Office after deputies received an online tip alleging Mirtsching of misconduct. He was arrested and is scheduled to appear in court Thursday, Aug. 24. 

Mirtsching was a kindergarten teacher at New Dimensions Charter School in Morganton, according to a now-deleted LinkedIn profile. The school confirmed that Mirtsching was a former employee, telling WCNC Charlotte he resigned after the last school year and was not involved with the school when he was arrested. 

"We are cooperating with all authorities involved with this investigation," the school said in a statement. "At this time, we have not been made aware of any circumstances relating to New Dimensions."

Thrive Church in Morganton said Mirtsching was fired from his staff position after being arrested. Church leaders said they were unaware of any ongoing investigation before they were notified of his arrest. 

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/burke-county-north-carolina-teacher-charged-crimes-against-children-church-employee/275-eb44b92d-712f-4a77-ae88-57216e44fbe1

Caleb Farley said he received a call he would have never been prepared for. 

"It didn’t sound good from the start," Caleb Farley said. 

His father, Robert Farley, was killed when his house near Lake Norman in Mooresville exploded around midnight Monday night. Emergency officials said a natural gas leak is the suspected cause of the explosion, which remains under investigation. For Farley, it was another devastating blow. His mother died from breast cancer in 2018. Farley's teammates with the Tennessee Titans, as well as thousands of fans and supporters, offered their condolences online as the Catawba County native copes with the heartbreaking news.

FULL STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/lake-norman-home-explosion-mooresville-iredell/275-67d8d9c6-a294-45e9-ab0c-198c23bde119

Ask any parent and they'll tell you that finding child care is one of the biggest challenges they've faced. And experts say it's only going to get worse. Emergency federal funding that's kept many day care facilities open the last two years will run out in December and it could have devastating consequences. Hundreds of day care centers could be forced to close if a solution isn't found soon. Michelle Boudin shares details on what parents can expect and how industry leaders are pushing lawmakers for money to avoid an imminent crisis.

FULL STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/child-care-crisis-emergency-funding-runs-out-wheres-the-money-parents-struggling-north-carolina/275-26fdc31b-e147-496f-a8db-118ed8683e8b

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 3-year-old girl was killed and three other people were injured in a rollover crash in the Millbridge community in Rowan County Sunday afternoon, North Carolina State Highway Patrol said Monday. 

The crash happened along White Road near North Carolina 150, not far from Mill Bridge Speedway, around 12:30 p.m. Sunday. According to state troopers, the driver of a 2004 Scion went off the right side of the road, drove into the ditch and the vehicle flipped over. 

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Troopers identified the girl who was killed as 3-year-old Ema Gutierrez. No charges have been filed in connection with the crash at this time, Highway Patrol said. 

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/rowan-county-north-carolina-deadly-crash-kills-3-year-old-child/275-f49d8a03-9d37-4775-99ae-df51b9dbc448

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 person was arrested after a homicide happened Sunday.

Gastonia police say the homicide happened around 3 p.m. Sunday at Faith Hope Love on North Oakland Street. No information was given on how the homicide took place or how many victims there were.

A suspect was taken into custody at the scene, police said.

https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/homicide-under-investigation-in-gastonia-suspect-arrested-north-carolina-oakland-street-faith-hope-love/275-4c80f1f0-b772-429d-9f28-301149f51b9d

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 child is in the hospital after an apparent accidental shooting in Lenoir, according to the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies responded to a home along Rocky Road around 10:40 a.m., responding to a call about an accidental shooting. The child was taken to a hospital to be treated for injuries. As of publication, the sheriff's office did not know the child's condition and did not share the child's age.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/child-shot-caldwell-county-nc-local/275-bd78e595-e8b6-4ec0-bb73-cc09c1ea3315

One person was found shot to death at a northwest Charlotte gas station Wednesday morning. 

"People just done care anymore," said Lynette Jewel, who lives close by. "A shooting at this time of day -- it could have been anybody."

Emergency crews responded to the reported shooting near the intersection of Bellhaven Boulevard and Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road around 10 a.m. Medic confirmed one person was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Crime tape was put up in the parking lot of a QuikTrip gas station at the intersection. 

The shooting happened near where Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road meets North Carolina 16, near Interstate 485. 

According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, police were pursuing a larceny suspect before the shooting took place. That suspect reportedly fired one shot while driving off. Then, police said the suspect got into an "altercation" with a person at the QuikTrip gas pump. That person drew a firearm before shooting and killing the suspect, according to CMPD. 

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/northwest-charlotte-deadly-shooting-bellhaven-boulevard-mt-holly-huntersville-road/275-c5dd7c0e-cd10-4507-bfab-484699db0372

Ready to feel old and out of touch? Apparently it's not hip to use "LOL" in texting anymore. So before you ha, ROFL or LMAO, consider giving "IJBOL" a spin. Experts say this term, which stands for "I just burst out laughing," has gained popularity with teens since the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, we're quizzing each other on all the hot new slang, such as drip, stan, Heather and situationship.

Wednesday is the first day of school for tens of thousands of kids in the Charlotte area as Gaston, Cleveland and Lincoln counties welcome students back to class. Destiny Richards joins us live from Gaston County, where district leaders are working to regain teachers' trust after payroll problems caused many educators to bring home incorrect or no pay at times.

And finally we're connecting the dots on self-driving cars. The concept sounds great. You don't have to do the actual driving and you should in theory not be stuck in a traffic. But it turns out that isn't true. Ben Thompson explains why experts say a self-driving car may be safer, but that security will mean more time behind the wheel.

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! 

Saturday was a day for prayer at a Charlotte church as loved ones, neighbors, and advocates lifted their voices in prayer for Allisha Watts, the missing Moore County woman who was last seen in Charlotte in the middle of July 2023.

Racial Justice Network organized the event at Little Rock A.M.E. Zion Church. The group's president, Dr. Candace Brewer, spoke about the need to continue the search.

Watts' sister, Tammy Utley, also attended and thanked everyone for their prayers for her older sister.

She said about Watts, "Life is not the same. It's like an empty piece is there for her. It's like we're missing that piece."

The missing 39-year old from Moore County woman was last seen on July 16 with her boyfriend, James Dunmore, leaving his Charlotte home.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/allisha-watts-prayer-vigil-charlotte-nc-local/275-2fc4bf86-4c2b-4598-bfa2-a54ac8ccb69f