704 Unfiltered

New research shows there is cause for concern when it comes to the nursing shortage. Nurses are leaving the bedside at an alarming rate. It was an issue before the pandemic and leaders in the industry say it has only gotten worse because of the challenges COVID-19 presented.

Nurses spend more time beside a patient than any other healthcare provider.

“The healthcare system just cannot exist without the nursing workforce,” Dennis Taylor with the North Carolina Nurses Association told WCNC Charlotte.

Unfortunately, that workforce is shrinking.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/new-survey-shows-grim-outlook-for-the-north-carolina-nursing-shortage/275-887323e6-cfaf-4829-81d3-eb76e135d9b2

Mecklenburg County Public Health has announced a new medical director this week. Dr. Bonnie Coyle, MD, MS, joins the County as its leading medical professional.

“I am very excited to have Dr. Coyle join Mecklenburg County Public Health. Her clinical expertise and public health experience will be a huge contribution to our team and our mission to make the community a healthier place for all of us,” Dr. Raynard Washington, Public Health director, said.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/medical-director-mecklenburg-county-health/275-04a71dad-622e-4bdd-ace9-ec88d00e860b

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! 

The York County, South Carolina government has announced a resolution on a settlement with a David Tepper-owned company in the fallout of the failed building project that would have seen the Carolina Panthers headquartered in the city of Rock Hill.

In a news release shared Wednesday evening, York County said it would receive $21,165,000 from an affiliate of GT Real Estate (GTRE). That amount has been held in escrow since July 2022 as both York County and GTRE worked to reach the settlement.

The county's statement said the receipt of the funds would be "in full and final satisfaction and discharge" of all claims York County had against the company, Tepper, and other related entities. Additionally, York County will withdraw any allegations that any Tepper-linked party involved in its suit violated the Pennies for Progress statute or C-Fund statute, or engaged in any other wrongdoing regarding the payment.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/nfl/panthers/gt-real-estate-york-county-settlement-money/275-9ce2c04c-5713-4961-85bc-f5fa08f57c24

A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer was arrested with DWI early Wednesday morning, Chief Johnny Jennings announced. 

Officer Peter Lombardo was charged with driving while impaired (DWI) after another CMPD officer found his squad car parked on the grassy shoulder along Interstate 277 near 12th Street, Jennings said. Lombardo was off duty and not in uniform at the time of his arrest, according to Jennings.

Lombardo was given a breathalyzer test and it was determined his blood alcohol content was 0.17, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08. Lombardo was immediately placed on unpaid leave and will be cited for termination in accordance with CMPD policy, Jennings announced. A final determination about Lombardo's employment status will be made by the CMPD civil service board.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/charlotte-police-officer-arrested-dwi-interstate-277/275-4cc6a448-40ee-438c-9e3b-190ab044bc14

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 rock that was thrown through a day care window in north Charlotte Monday morning had a message containing hate speech attached to it, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said. Investigators also believe the attack is linked to a shooting at a north Charlotte park last month.

CMPD responded to a 911 call at the Marizetta Kerry Child Development Center on Beatties Ford Road a few minutes after 8:30 a.m. CMPD alleges the rock had hate speed and multiple threats toward children on it. The day care is across Beatties Ford Road from Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. 

No one was hurt during Monday's incident, CMPD said. Staff members and parents are being notified by detectives and the day care. 

“Panicked and scared," father Daquan Jeter said. “I would have never thought something like this would happen over there.”

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/marizetta-kerry-child-development-center-hate-speech-attach-linked-to-north-charlotte-shooting/275-a9f737ad-d17b-462b-ae53-26a8c8557a68

The city of Charlotte has $75 million to put toward affordable housing initiatives over the next year. 

On Monday night, city council’s Housing, Safety and Community committee discussed how to spend the money in a focused way to help residents beyond housing. 

One idea was to invest in affordable housing projects that are built where existing transportation and jobs are to meet several needs of low-income residents.

City staff also presented an idea that many members supported called “teamforce” housing. The strategy calls for the city to partner with corporations to fund and build housing for a company’s workforce.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/markets/real-estate/affordable-housing-crisis/charlotte-city-council-affordable-housing-housing-safety-community-committee/275-3c77a102-6c85-401f-b00f-f5e168d415fa

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! 

As of Friday afternoon, Iowa is out as the first primary state for Democrats. While a final decision is still to be made, it appears South Carolina will be the first to vote for Democratic presidential primaries.

In conversation with the Democratic National Committee on Thursday, President Joe Biden told party leaders privately that he would like to see South Carolina go first to better ensure that voters of color are not marginalized as Democrats choose a presidential nominee.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/regional/democratic-committee-moves-to-make-sc-first-in-primaries/101-a5b9b9e5-2356-4316-98dc-998a8ac28ad7

Two kids are dead and an adult is in the hospital after a fire ripped through a home in Salisbury overnight Saturday, according to officials.

The Salisbury Fire Department and Rowan County Emergency Services responded to a call about a house fire around 12:30 a.m. along South Church Street, not far from South Main Street. Flames and smoke were showing from the home when firefighters arrived.

Fire officials at the scene told WCNC Charlotte the fire originated on the first floor of the home where two adults and two children were located, as well as another adult on the second floor.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/two-children-dead-one-adult-injured-after-overnight-house-fire-in-salisbury-officials/275-14874ff8-0dc9-4c88-bc47-26d27ccf54ad

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! 

Workers spend much of Thursday putting the final touches on the ACC Fan experience in Romare Bearden Park ahead of Saturday's Atlantic Coast Conference Championship game at Bank of America Stadium.

On Saturday night, No. 9 Clemson will face No. 24 ranked North Carolina with both schools less than a few hour's drive away from Charlotte. Thousands of Clemson Tigers and North Carolina Tarheel fans will make their way into the Queen City for the ACC championship game.

The game comes at a time when colder temps might normally keep locals home and others from making a trip to Charlotte, but few things can make customers decide to spend like sporting events.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/wake-up-charlotte/acc-championship-game-charlotte-nc-basketball/275-f055f0ea-22d4-4b6c-8470-f01912644e49

A juvenile is in custody after a 17-year-old Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools student was hospitalized after being shot on Wednesday.

According to CMS, a high school student, identified by family as Rocky River senior Nahzir Taylor, was shot shortly after getting off of a school bus on Wednesday. 

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department responded around 2:30 p.m. to the shooting, which they said took place on Lanza Drive near Culver Spring Way.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/cms-student-shot-after-getting-off-bus-in-east-charlotte-school-police-shooting-injury-lanza-drive-cmpd-north-carolina-nc/275-a06c952a-8eac-4c91-83e2-0190dbfd874c

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! 

According to the CDC, both North and South Carolina are still experiencing very high flu activity. State data updated Wednesday shows the number of reported flu and COVID-19 cases in North Carolina increased over the last week.

It’s not even the height of the typical flu season yet, but many people have already caught a respiratory virus.

“We’ve seen an increase in flu, we’ve seen an increase in strep, ear infections, some RSV, COVID is still going around,” Natalie Anderson, the pharmacist at Dilworth Drug and Wellness Center, said.

Doctors’ offices and hospitals across the region are slammed with patients. Statewide, the number of emergency department visits for flu-like illness is way up compared to the same time in the past two years.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/flu/antibiotic-tamiflu-shortage-early-respiratory-virus-season/275-49840c78-f1e9-4760-9e9b-9dbc5cf402d2

 A man has been charged with physical child abuse after police say an infant he was taking care of was found with multiple injuries, including a fractured skull.

On Wednesday, Renaldo Demetrius Johnson, 35, was charged with felony physical child abuse for injuries that happened to his girlfriend's four-month-old son, according to the Gastonia Police Department. 

Police say the child's mother brought the infant to a local hospital on Nov. 26 around 5 p.m. Officers were called to the hospital after medical staff believed the injuries were the product of child abuse.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/gastonia-man-accused-of-fracturing-infants-skull-police-say-north-carolina-nc-child-abuse-renaldo-johnson-investigation-gaston-county/275-0d749333-f3c7-4110-ad9f-f5facb910b79

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! 

The Pineville Police Department announced it has finished its internal investigation of the July 2022 severe injury of a woman that was in its custody. Now, the department is reforming several of its policies. 

In the early hours of July 17, 28-year-old Morgan Johnson managed to escape from a moving police car while traveling on I-485. 

Pineville Police reported that Johnson was able to uncuff one of her hands and open the passenger-side rear window. When the officer realized what was happening, she was already hanging halfway out of the window.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/pineville-police-reforming-policies-woman-jumps-out-patrol-car/275-a6892a4c-27b8-4ad8-a48a-00b4d484b647

Charlotte City Council is working to make Charlotte more affordable for lower income residents.

The council approved more than $20 million to cover additional costs for already approved affordable housing projects on Monday night.

This comes as ground broke Tuesday on a new affordable housing apartment complex for seniors in west Charlotte. It's called the Historic Nathaniel Carr affordable housing for seniors. Carr is credited for creating the first neighborhood in the West Boulevard corridor. 

Right now, the demand for affordable housing is almost impossible to keep up with.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/markets/real-estate/affordable-housing-crisis/construction-affordable-housing-west-charlotte/275-297c92da-0845-4fa0-8c47-66b648478b10

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 lawsuit has been filed against the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office over the delays regarding gun-purchase permits and concealed-carry handgun permits.

Grass Roots North Carolina, Gun Owners of America and three citizens are suing Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden, accusing him of obstructionism because of the time it takes the agency to issue concealed carry handgun permits.

The agency maintains it is "in compliance with the law" and has also taken steps to make the process more efficient.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/mecklenburg-county-sheriffs-office-sued-delays-gun-permits/275-1bd0172d-2add-4308-8cee-eb1d48bfb718

A man has died after a shooting in south Charlotte, police confirmed. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said a homicide investigation is underway at the McDonald's located on South Boulevard near East Arrowood Road. 

Police said a person was shot and killed right outside the McDonald’s around 8:30 p.m. Monday. The parking lot was blocked off as the crime scene unit investigates.

A witness told WCNC Charlotte she was next door when she heard a gun shot and saw a man lying on the ground. She said there was another man standing next to him.   

Police couldn’t comment on whether an employee was involved or if the suspect and victim knew one another but officials say it was the result of a fight. 

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/cmpd-1-person-killed-south-charlotte/275-9949b65b-a8ba-4d2f-9254-8dda03a1d7cf

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! 

Charlotte leaders could make some big decisions on everything from affordable housing to overcrowding at the animal shelter during Monday's City Council meeting. We start this morning's show by breaking down three critical items on the agenda for Monday, Nov. 28. Then we're joined by Richard DeVayne, who breaks down the $21 million multi-family rental affordable housing developments up for consideration. Richard will explain what this could mean for Charlotte residents seeking an affordable place to live and why some leaders say it's necessary.

Next, Congress returns to Washington after the Thanksgiving holiday with House Democrats facing a serious time crunch. With only a few working days left until the new Congress takes over -- with Republicans controlling the U.S. House -- Democrats know they have to work quickly to advance numerous bills. Brie Jackson joins Wake Up Charlotte To Go from Washington, explaining how Democrats hope to approve stricter gun measures and further President Biden's agenda before they lose control of the chamber.

Tens of thousands of passengers are expected to make their way through Charlotte Douglas International Airport Monday as the Thanksgiving holiday weekend comes to a close. Sarah French speaks with airport officials, who ask everyone traveling to be patient and understanding of delays that are out of airlines' hands.

And finally, today is Cyber Monday. Sure it's a great time to catch a good deal online, but you could make a big difference by saving a few bucks for tomorrow: Giving Tuesday. Ben Thompson connects the dots on how you can ensure your donation isn't going to scammers or fraud.

You can watch Wake Up Charlotte from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!

Holiday shopping fever began in 1924 with the original Christmas ad - The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade - kicking off the holiday shopping season.

The term "Black Friday" didn't enter the national conversation until the late 1980s, when retailers turned it into an unofficial holiday.

The 2008 recession started the demise of Black Friday. Retailers embraced a new strategy, starting Black Friday sales earlier in the holiday season.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/connect-the-dots/black-friday-losing-popularity/275-9a2301f1-5753-45bb-a7af-5717cde473f2