704 Unfiltered

Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, North Carolina is one of few states in the South where abortions are legal for up to 20 weeks, but in a press conference with fellow Democrats, Attorney General Josh Stein says that could change depending on which party leads the state after the November elections.

Stein said more than 30% of people making appointments at abortion facilities in North Carolina are from out of state. Wednesday, the attorney general vowed to continue fighting to protect laws allowing them to do so.

“I have a message for the woman of North Carolina -- no matter what the Supreme Court said in the DOBS case, you have a legal right to an abortion here in this state," Stein said.

Stein was joined by two other elected leaders and a doctor in Wednesday's news conference as he voiced concerns abortion rights could be at stake come November elections. North Carolina is one of a few states in the region with the least restrictive abortion laws. 

“North Carolina currently stands as a safe haven in the South, but we need to fight to keep it that way," U.S. Congresswoman Deborah Ross said. 

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/democratic-leaders-nc-vow-fight-abortion-rights/275-b4c22bd9-0951-4807-8eaf-aa7aaf3197dc

Robinhood, a popular app that allows users to buy and sell stock without paying commission or account minimums, is closing its Charlotte office as company layoffs continue. 

The Uptown office opened last year, promising to bring hundreds of jobs to Mecklenburg County. Charlotte-based employees will begin working under Robinhood's "work from anywhere" remote model, company spokesperson Casey Becker told WCNC Charlotte. It's unclear how many Robinhood workers are based in Charlotte or when the office will be closed.

The fintech firm's move to Uptown was seen as a revival of sorts, with Charlotte's center being mostly empty due to the COVID-19 pandemic after years of growth and a thriving corporate environment. 

Robinhood stock made its Wall Street debut in July of 2021. The company introduced millions of people to investing and went viral for the Gamestop saga of 2021 which saw stock prices rise rapidly and cause volatility in the market. 

CEO Vlad Tenev announced another round of layoffs and corporate reorganization on Aug. 2. Tenev said Robinhood would be letting go of 23% of its workforce, after cutting 9% of employees earlier this year.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/robinhood-uptown-charlotte-office-closing/275-e07d97cf-9fec-46ae-a965-d03c87bbfec7

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 city of Rock Hill is asking a judge to dismiss it as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by York County earlier this summer over the Panthers' failed training camp and headquarters. 

In the lawsuit, York County says it lost millions of dollars when the project collapsed after Rock Hill failed to issue bonds for the construction. The county is seeking damages from David Tepper's companies and the city of Rock Hill, blaming them for the project's demise. 

Rock Hill failed to issue $225 million in bonds to pay for public infrastructure, like roads and sidewalks, related to the Panthers' headquarters construction. The lawsuit states, "Rock Hill failed to issue required bonds, the development project collapsed, and the City and the Tepper Defendants were left blaming each other."

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/nfl/panthers/rock-hill-york-county-lawsuit-dismissal-motion-carolina-panthers-headquarters-project-collapse/275-aa31c3ca-a018-4970-b945-25971c51acef

Charlotte FC was set to host the Columbus Crew at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday for a long-awaited rematch. But instead of seeing which team would rain on the other's parade, it turned out Mother Nature would rain on it - literally.

Before kickoff, lightning near the stadium forced a weather delay that spanned more than three hours. Then the match finally got started just after 10 p.m., but just mere minutes in, the storms rolled back around.

It would be nearly two hours before Charlotte FC shared the official news: the rematch with Columbus was postponed to a later date. On Tuesday, Charlotte FC announced the match was rescheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. The game will recommence in the 16th minute.

Plus, a new study found that 39% of college graduates would choose a different field of study if they could go back. Would you pick the same thing if you could do it over?

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/soccer/charlotte-fc/charlotte-fc-faces-off-against-columbus-crew-at-bank-of-america-stadium/275-445a08d6-c6fd-4ae7-8176-c066d308daed

Health officials announced there are now 33 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Mecklenburg County, nearly doubling last week's case count of 18. 

During a news conference Monday, county health leaders said the Mecklenburg County Health Department will receive an extra 2,000 doses of the monkeypox vaccine. There are approximately 1,800 people on the waiting list to be vaccinated. 

Monday's update also revealed there has been local transmission of monkeypox in Mecklenburg County. Health Director Dr. Raynard Washington said there previously was no evidence of local spread in the county. Washington said Mecklenburg is seeing the doubling of monkeypox cases every three to four days. The health department is working "with urgency" to stem this trend with vaccines and education.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/monkeypox-mecklenburg-county-case-update-vaccine-waiting-list-public-health-department/275-03331034-47b8-4f16-b075-3d14d401cb43

The Clover School District Board of Trustees held a special meeting Monday to vote on a bond resolution for the November ballot, ultimately giving the green light to a $156 million bond referendum. 

This comes after voters failed to pass last year’s proposed $196 million bond request. 

The district met up weeks ago to build consensus around the resolution, with some board members expressing interest in constructing a new high school.  

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/clover-school-meeting-bond-nov-ballot/275-3ae3bdf5-2dae-4203-8ec5-be03f53141e9

Plus, What is the best part of your morning routine? Do you like hopping in the shower to start your day or is reaching for your phone to get caught up the first thing you do after rolling out of bed?

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! 

Days after ending his COVID-19 isolation, President Joe Biden has tested positive for the virus again, his physician said Saturday. 

Biden's treatment included a five-day course of Paxlovid, an antiviral drug used to treat COVID-19 that has helped prevent more severe illness. His physician said Biden is one of a small percentage of Paxlovid patients who "rebound" and test positive again. 

"After testing negative on Tuesday evening, Wednesday morning, Thursday morning and Friday morning, the President tested positive late Saturday morning, by antigen testing," wrote Dr. Kevin O'Connor in a letter. "This in fact represents 'rebound' positivity."

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/biden-positive-covid-test-paxlovid-rebound/507-4977ebee-0147-4ab4-8caf-820728ddc680

Will all school districts offer free lunch for all students? 

No, not all school districts will offer free lunch for all students.

WHAT WE FOUND

Screen says a balanced will offmeal can make all the difference in a kid's day, which is why lunch is so important. 

During the height of the pandemic, federal waivers were put in place that allowed all schools to offer free meals for all students, regardless of family income status. 

"In March of 2020 everyone across the country got free lunch and that extended all last year," says Marshall.

However, those waivers have now expired. 

"This year it's going back to the way it was before. We need to apply in order to receive lunch," says Marshall.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/verify/school-districts-free-lunch-waivers/275-e4fbce79-cc93-40b3-9f92-d1a4d959e361

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! 

Republican lawmakers in the North Carolina General Assembly are calling on a federal judge to reinstate North Carolina's 20-week abortion ban. It's the latest decision from conservatives to restrict abortion access in North Carolina, which is one of the only states in the South to allow abortion. Meanwhile, Democrats have pledged to fight for women's right to choose. Tradesha Woodard will have the latest on the motion to reinstate the ban and what could be next ahead of midterm elections.

A Charlotte mother filed a lawsuit against Abbott, the maker of Similac baby formula, saying the company misled parents and doctors that its products are safe for premature babies. The lawsuit comes after the woman's daughter died after drinking a cow-based formula, which led to a deadly condition in premature babies. Richard DeVayne has the details on the lawsuit and why attorneys in the case say Abbott's comments against the lawsuit don't add up.

Plus, if you're still unable to smell after having COVID-19, you're not alone. In fact, new research shows roughly 27 million people haven't regained their senses despite an otherwise full recovery. Ben Thompson connects the dots on the long-term impacts of losing your sense of smell and why you shouldn't panic just yet.

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. and join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!

A hearing Wednesday ended with a key decision to release the body camera video of Joshua Rohrer's October 2021 arrest by Gastonia Police.

In North Carolina, a judge has the power to tell the police to share the video with the public. Months after the arrest went viral, the video will now be released to the public.

Joshua Rohrer was arrested on charges of panhandling and resisting arrest in October. According to Rohrer, his service dog Sunshine Rae was shot with a stun gun during the encounter. While she was in the care of Rohrer's veteran advocate, she ran away and later died after being struck by a car.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/gastonia-hearing-court-homeless-veteran-arrest/275-e6525b42-3cc5-4ce5-b4a1-509a7d67e700

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations across the Carolinas are crawling back up once again.

In South Carolina, state COVID-19 numbers are up 13% and in North Carolina data shows numbers are up 17%, reaching the highest level it’s seen since last February.

That’s why health officials on both sides of the Carolinas are working to increase the lagging vaccination rate among children. They’re encouraging parents to take action to combat the unwanted trend.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/covid-19-hospital-data-trend-charlotte-sc-nc/275-87ff6067-6614-4089-a94e-4d6225c2a004

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 construction worker at Charlotte Douglas International Airport died when they were electrocuted over the weekend, officials said. 

The North Carolina Department of Labor confirmed the incident happened around midnight Sunday. A spokesperson for the NCDOL said the worker was an employee of Rosendin Electric. 

An investigation surrounding the incident is underway by the Occupational Safety and Health Division. NCDOL officials said it may take several months to complete the investigation. The worker who died has not been identified.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/charlotte-douglas-international-airport-worker-electrocuted-investigation/275-e06d043e-ba70-4029-8950-68d8778697f8

Part of the new lobby at Charlotte Douglas International Airport is finally opening up.

After years of construction and frustration at the airport, this marks the first phase of the $3 billion terminal expansion project

Construction will continue on the east side of the terminal lobby, and renovations of the existing departures/ticketing and arrivals/baggage claim areas will kick off at the end of the month. 

"It is still under construction. So while this phase is opening, there are still things that you'll see that aren't quite finished yet," Christine said. "Some of those will be finished by next week. Some of it will actually take us a little bit more time."

Eventually, the current five security checkpoints will be consolidated into three larger ones, with one more lane than the airport has today and additional technology to increase capacity.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/travel/charlotte-douglas-international-airport-terminal-lobby-expansion/275-e3ff113b-e8b5-4085-974e-a06056ac95a7

Plus, because of the gun violence in Durham, North Carolina, some residents – including children – are learning how to treat gunshot victims.

The training was requested by the resident council president at the McDougald Terrace public housing complex. On this episode of #WakeUpCLT To Go, we're discussing whether children should be trained to treat gunshot victims or if it should be left to first responders.

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! 

Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, Greenville Women’s Clinic, and two physicians have filed suit against the state of South Carolina, Attorney General Alan Wilson and others who would impose the six-week abortion ban that comes in the wake of the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Rove vs. Wade.The new six-week abortion ban prohibits abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat and carries felony criminal penalties and civil liability for those performing an abortion.

The lawsuit also states “In particular, the Act is an attack on families with low incomes, South Carolinians of color, and rural South Carolinians, who already face inequities in access to medical care and who will bear the brunt of the law’s cruelties. South Carolinians face a critical shortage of reproductive health care providers, including obstetrician-gynecologists, and the rate at which South Carolinians, particularly Black South Carolinians, die from pregnancy-related causes is shockingly high.”

In response to this lawsuit, SC Attorney General Alan Wilson counters the state's Constitution's Section 10 dealing with privacy issues -- and adopted in 1971 -- dealt with protecting citizens from improper surveillance of electronic devices and computer data banks. He said, ""The committee simply did not intend or understand the provision to extend any further. It certainly did not intend to confer a state constitutional right to abortion." 

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/restraining-order-sought-for-south-carolinas-6-week-abortion-ban-richland-county-court-planned-parenthood/101-f04fd3d6-2056-4560-a6b1-5f56882e88e9

A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools spokesperson confirms that the school district has approved the clear backpack sale last Friday for $85,000.

It's about a fifth of what the district spent to buy the bags, close to half a million dollars.

A spokesperson for CMS told WCNC that the decision to accept the bid was a "cabinet-level decision."

District leaders opted to put the approximately 46,000 backpacks up for auction after it was discovered they came with a Proposition 65 cancer warning from the state of California.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cms-clear-backpacks-bid-auction-sale/275-fd8549d0-5b4d-4537-88c4-f23257b0cd61

Plus, there is an election Tuesday in places including the cities of Charlotte, Hickory, Statesville and Mooresville. Voters will decide who holds political offices including the mayor and other city officials. FULL ELECTION GUIDE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/what-you-need-to-know-election-day-tuesday-july-26-charlotte-hickory-statesville-mooresville/275-19a27265-e180-4a8c-89a3-61c4acb16150

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 company behind a natural gas odor that was reported all across Charlotte on July 14 said it violated Mecklenburg County's 'objectionable odor rule.'

In a statement, Legacy Environmental Services said it was "informed of a Notice of Objectionable Odor from Mecklenburg County Air Quality."

The company said it is cooperating with the county to complete its investigation.

The natural gas odor was reported in NoDa, Uptown and South End, among other parts of Charlotte. Multiple buildings in Uptown Charlotte were evacuated due to the possibility of a gas leak. Wells Fargo notified employees that they would be allowed to work from home for the remainder of the day.

Charlotte city officials received so many 911 calls that an emergency alert was issued to cellphones in the area advising people to not report the smell.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/company-behind-charlotte-odor-violated-meck-countys-objectionable-odor-rule-natural-gas-legacy-environmental-services-july-smell/275-f046d078-f7ca-4f67-9e6f-1ae5e7a24c85

Emergency workers have recovered a person that drowned in Lake Norman.

On Sunday, the Cornelius-Lemley Fire Rescue said they were searching for a drowning victim in the area of the Peninsula Yacht Club on Lake Norman.

Several agencies were at the scene attempting to locate the person.

Around 11 p.m., workers stated they had located the body of the deceased person.

WCNC is attempting to learn more about this incident. More information will be provided when it is available.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/one-person-drowns-at-lake-norman-officials-say-north-carolina-death/275-c323c760-a40c-42a0-a66a-ab57502f3c99

Plus, Ben, Larry and Ruby discuss first dates and drinking. How important is drinking in your dating life? How many times have you said "Let's meet up for a drink," or have been invited for a cocktail by a potential date? Is dating and drinking a good mix? Well, post-pandemic some people being more intentional about their alcohol intake or are ditching the liquor altogether and adopting the "sober" title. And dating app Bumble is helping it's members wear it as a badge of honor.

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! 

Many are in search of their dream home -- a place to plant roots with a street to raise their children on. But that dream could become a nightmare for some. 

In just a few months, the Mecklenburg County Assessor's Office will lay out the new property taxes after revaluation. In short, you will find out how much you'll pay just to live there. 

For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app.

In 2019, we saw a big hike in property taxes. When this happened, many community members were outraged and said lower-income families couldn't afford the increase and were forced out due to gentrification.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/markets/real-estate/mecklenburg-county-property-taxes-revaluation/275-4b32ef50-a970-49ed-9f72-4665e30bcb18

Vice President Kamala Harris advocated for affordable access to high-speed internet during a visit to Charlotte Thursday. She spoke of the Biden administration's Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which was part of the bipartisan infrastructure bill. 

Harris continued her trip to North Carolina despite President Joe Biden testing positive for COVID-19.  Harris told the crowd at Carole Hoefener Center in Uptown Charlotte Thursday that said she spoke to Biden by phone Thursday morning and he is "doing well."

Biden, who was not scheduled to travel with the vice president, remains in Washington where he is said to be experiencing "mild symptoms" from COVID-19.

Harris and Biden last saw each other in person Tuesday.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/national-politics/vp-harris-charlotte-nc-visit-politics-internet/275-57ab7a66-b6d8-4367-8e8a-98eb40f86537

Plus, as a front lingers south of the Piedmont, expect a few showers and storms Friday afternoon, especially south of Charlotte. It'll still be a hot and humid day regardless with highs in the low-mid 90s. Heat Index temperatures will be over 100 degrees.

On this episode of #WakeUpCLT To Go, forecaster Larry Sprinkle is joined by Ben Thompson to have a full weekend forecast for the Charlotte, North Carolina area. In this video, Larry Sprinkle will have the weekend forecast for North Carolina and South Carolina for Friday July 22 through Sunday, July 24. From the heat dome causing extreme heat to our chances of storms, Larry will break down what you can expect before making plans in the Charlotte metro area.

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!