704 Unfiltered

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to make their way through Charlotte Douglas International Airport this week as Thanksgiving travel hits its peak Wednesday. Tradesha Woodard joins the show from the airport, where long lines are already formed and officials are asking passengers to be patient.

Plus, it's the day before Thanksgiving. And while most folks think of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie, those foods probably weren't eaten at the first Thanksgiving. Ben Thompson connects the dots on how traditional holiday foods got their start and why the Pilgrims probably even know about cranberry sauce and pie.

And finally, we've got your top headlines from across the Carolinas ahead of Thanksgiving.

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!

We're learning more about the victims who were injured or killed in the massacre at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado over the weekend. One of the survivors was a Charlotte man who recently moved to Colorado. He was shot seven times in the back. Miraculously, Barrett Hudson says the bullets missed his vital organs and he's doing "amazing" in his recovery. Tradesha Woodard joins the show with a look at the victims in the shooting, as well as the federal charges the alleged gunman is facing. FULL STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/club-q-lgbt-shooting-colorado-update-charlote-native-wounded/275-20b649ce-01cf-4adf-b702-86a70f86feca

Next, we have your top headlines in the morning rush segment. These stories will get you caught up as you begin your day, including an update on a shocking home invasion in Salisbury, President Joe Biden's Thanksgiving visit with North Carolina military families and the death of an 11-year-old girl in Raleigh's Christmas parade.

It's no secret the housing market is tough for buyers right now, but there are a few things you can do to reduce your monthly housing costs. Ben Thompson connects the dots on how you can lower your mortgage payment amid rising prices.

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!

An estimated 800,000 people will make their way through Charlotte Douglas International Airport for Thanksgiving, officials said. Tradesha Woodard joins us from the airport, where leaders are asking people to just be patient because the lines will be long and it's going to be jam-packed with travelers. Plus, AAA predicts an extremely busy Thanksgiving on the roads with tens of millions of people expected to drive over 50 miles for Thanksgiving.

President Biden and the first lady will be in North Carolina today for a special Friendsgiving event with the military. The Bidens will make a stop at Marine Corps Air Statio Cherry Point as part of the White House's initiative to celebrate the men and women serving our country during the holidays. Sarah French explains how this is just one of many presidential holiday traditions aimed at giving thanks to those on the front lines.

And finally, we recap the biggest headlines you need to start your day in your morning rush.

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, you can join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT.

A new report released by the “Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement" shows a 39 percent increase in teacher vacancies in South Carolina at the start of this school year. 

From last school year to this school year, teacher departures increased by 20%. According to the report, the 2022-2023 school year started with 1,474 teacher vacancies compared to 1,063 the previous year. 

 The state has tried different things to combat the shortage, including raising starting pay for all teachers to $40,000, with local districts increasing pay by even more, but the changes have not had any major impacts on the teacher shortage so far. 

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/teacher-vacancies-increased-this-year-new-south-carolina-report-shows/275-beb8d875-8d03-4aa4-b775-607d059f0a6e

A prized piece of real estate in Uptown Charlotte just hit the market. Could it be the missing piece for a new Panthers stadium? Richard DeVayne joins Wake Up Charlotte To Go to break down what it means now that the Charlotte Pipe and Foundry will be available. The land has long been rumored as a possible site for a new stadium in Uptown, but how much would it cost? And in the aftermath of the Rock Hill fiasco, who knows? FULL STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/charlotte-pipe-foundry-for-sale-soon-speculation-panthers/275-d6265b63-2030-4425-979f-e2e2d415870b

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police announced that three card skimmers were confiscated from three ATMs in Charlotte. These weren't off-the-radar spots, either. They included a Wells Fargo locatio in Uptown and a Bank of America off Freedom Drive. Tradesha Woodard joins the show with an update on the investigation and clues detectives have to track down the suspects. FULL STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/charlotte-bank-atm-card-skimmers-update-located-bank-of-america-wells-fargo-state-employees-credit-union/275-9dbc0013-a666-441b-b40f-c97b0089bf3f

Next, Ben Thompson breaks down why reducing speed limits may not be enough to improve road safety in Charlotte. A recent study from Europe shows that some major steps taken to reduce deaths on the road aren't working the way officials want, but that isn't slowing down their efforts to slow down drivers. So what's a feasible next step?

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!

Former President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he will mount a third White House campaign, launching an early start to the 2024 contest. The announcement comes just a week after an underwhelming midterm showing for Republicans and will force the party to decide whether to embrace a candidate whose refusal to accept defeat in 2020 pushed American democracy to the brink.

“In order to make America great and glorious again, I am tonight announcing my candidacy for president of the United States,” Trump said to an audience of several hundred supporters, club members and gathered press in a chandeliered ballroom at his Mar-a-Lago club, where he stood flanked by more than 30 American flags and banners bearing his “Make America Great Again” slogan.

“I am running because I believe the world has not yet seen the true glory of what this nation can be,” Trump said.

“We will again put America first,” he added.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/trump-presidential-campaign-launch-2024/507-da4caac8-5f26-4185-a3ed-a921d4b2a5c1

One man is in custody after police say he intentionally set an ice cream shop on fire in August.

According to the Gastonia Police Department, Marvin McCaskill, 35, was arrested after DNA matched him to an arson committed at Tony's Ice Cream in Gastonia on Aug. 4. McCaskill is charged with attempted murder and other arson-related offenses.

Firefighters were called to Tony's Ice Cream on Aug. 4 around 5:45 p.m. to extinguish a fire at the business. A fire was located inside the building which they quickly put out. 

Investigators said the business sustained minimal smoke and heat damage. An employee working inside of the building at the time of the fire was uninjured.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/gastonia-ice-cream-shop-arson-suspect-charged-with-attempted-murder-north-carolina-gaston-county-marvin-mccaskill-tonys-ice-cream-shop/275-99cce9ce-3409-4c60-885e-99ea36d6a18b

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! 

One of the victims killed in the University of Virginia shooting was a graduate of Hough High School in Cornelius, officials confirmed. 

Devin Chandler was one of three University of Virginia football players killed in the overnight shooting. Two others were hurt in the incident. The suspect, identified as UVA student Christopher Darnell Jones, was taken into custody Monday morning, police confirmed.

Investigators said the shooting took place on a charter bus at the Culbreth Garage on the University of Virginia campus. Law enforcement said the students were returning from a field trip when the suspect opened fire.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/hough-high-school-graduate-devin-chandler-killed-university-of-virginia-shooting/275-3a570dfa-30d4-4a48-a02d-0c1b55c860ec

Matthews leaders held a town hall Monday evening to allow residents to speak on a large proposed development that some neighbors are trying to stop before it gets started. 

The project, which would be built on Idlewild Road, would include new town homes, apartments, single-family homes and commercial space off Stallings Road. Neighbors first rallied against plans for a town house and single-family community back in 2010.  

Residents that are against "Sante Matthews" packed into the town hall Monday night and said they want developments in the area to be single-family houses only. 

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/markets/real-estate/idlewild-development-matthews-north-carolina/275-657178e1-2529-47b5-a622-61f43d86b113

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! 

Police are investigating a shooting that left two people injured on Sunday.

According to the Salisbury Police Department, officers responded to a shooting call at 416 Messner Street on Sunday around 1:48 a.m. When police arrived, they found a juvenile with gunshot injuries. 

The child was transported to a nearby medical center for treatment on their injuries.

Around 2 a.m., a 20-year-old man arrived at a hospital for a gunshot wound as well. Police determined this man was at the scene of the shooting on Messner Street.

Police are continuing to investigate this incident. No suspects have been arrested at this time.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/juvenile-injured-in-salisbury-shooting-police-investigating-north-carolina-messner-street-child-shot-shooting-crime/275-632bc45f-2c9a-4c3b-8eee-48d8f08b42f5

Miami hosted the Charlotte Hornets following the Miami Heat's 117-112 overtime win over Charlotte on Thursday. The Hornets hoped to sting in a win Saturday, but the Heat scorched them 132-115.

Max Strus scored 31 points, making eight 3-pointers, and the Miami Heat spoiled LaMelo Ball’s return to the Charlotte lineup. Bam Adebayo had 24 points and 15 rebounds for the Heat, who swept a two-game home series with the Hornets and got consecutive wins for only the second time this season. Charlotte lost its eighth straight, extending the longest current slide in the NBA. 

Jimmy Butler had 20 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for Miami, while Gabe Vincent scored 20 points. Miami outscored Charlotte 45-25 in the third quarter, tying the sixth-highest scoring quarter in any period in Heat history.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/nba/hornets/charlotte-hornets-play-miami-heat-for-second-round-following-overtime-loss/275-492d7416-67b8-417f-aeb7-3c1317543705

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! 

Flu activity is continuing to pick up across the country and South Carolina is one of four states experiencing the highest spread right now according to the CDC. North Carolina is also seeing high spread right now.

Hospitals and doctors’ offices are swamped with patients, and the biggest rise in flu cases has been in school-age children.

“A lot of the kids who are coming in are saying 'we had 10 kids out in my class today,' things like that,” Dr. Rhonda Patt with Atrium Health said.

Rock Hill Schools sent a letter home to parents last week, saying it's working closely with SCDHEC to monitor flu conditions in its schools and asked them to be aware of the symptoms and keep their kids home if they’re not feeling well.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/flu-viruses-health-season-local/275-16b32583-6444-47ae-95f1-b5df5f701042

 A U.S. judge in Texas on Thursday blocked President Joe Biden's plan to provide millions of borrowers with up to $20,000 apiece in federal student-loan forgiveness — a program that was already on hold as a federal appeals court in St. Louis considers a separate lawsuit by six states challenging it.

District Court Judge Mark Pittman, an appointee of former President Donald Trump based in Fort Worth, said the program usurped Congress' power to make laws.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/student-loan-forgiveness-unconstitutional/507-f297207c-4c2c-4798-b39e-03e099a7f056

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 investigation into an unknown chemical substance found on a Lancaster County school bus is still ongoing more than two weeks after a student passed out on the bus.

The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office provided an update in a news release on Wednesday. Sheriff Bailey Faile said the powdery substance found on the bus carrying Indian Land High School students and staff members was sent to the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) for testing. However, Faile noted there was no timeline as to when the results would be back since SLED has to work with evidence from more than 300 agencies in the Palmetto State.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/indian-land-hs-bus-substance-investigation-local/275-80f5c6bc-33d4-4a08-9449-b3f3d0a6ee41

Republicans inched closer to a narrow House majority Wednesday, while control of the Senate hinged on a few tight races in a midterm election that defied expectations of sweeping conservative victories driven by frustration over inflation and President Joe Biden’s leadership.

Either party could secure a Senate majority with wins in both Nevada and Arizona — where the races were too early to call. But there was a strong possibility that, for the second time in two years, the Senate majority could come down to a runoff in Georgia next month, with Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker failing to earn enough votes to win outright.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/updated-election-results-republicans-house-majority-senate-control/507-8102f5e2-eeca-4488-b21f-6fd04075384d

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!