704 Unfiltered

The Epicentre, a once-thriving entertainment hub stretching the entirety of a Charlotte city block, will be auctioned off as a result of its bankruptcy, court documents obtained by WCNC Charlotte Monday confirmed.

In an auction scheduled for May 12 at 10 a.m., the highest bidder will walk away as the owner of the complex.

The Epicentre was built in 2008 on the site of the old Charlotte Convention Center. It grew into a popular nightlife spot. 

“When I was younger there was a lot of businesses a lot of people come and go but It’s been closed down for a long time now," Charlotte resident Caniyah Asbury said.

Matt Ragona, the original architect for the site and current operator of Ragona Architecture & Design, said his team sought to create an urban town center utilizing the negative space as outdoor public spaces.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/epicentre-auction-bankruptcy-uptown-charlotte/275-c861f8a9-c339-4aa6-ac1e-22ec47d8b3e8

Former cadet and now current firefighter Elliot Bishai pleaded guilty to his involvement in the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Bishai appeared in front of Magistrate Robin Meriweather in D.C. District Court Monday morning to enter a guilty plea to entering or remaining on restricted grounds. It carries a maximum one-year prison sentence.

Bishai and another cadet, Elias Irizarry, were arrested in 2021 after the FBI received a tip from a witness who positively identified Bishai and Irizarry from video and photos of the attack.

A photo showed Bishai, Irizarry with one other person inside the U.S. Capitol. The third person was later identified as Grayson Sherill. He was arrested on March 1.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/national-politics/capitol-riot-fort-mill-guilty-elliot-bishai/275-20ee9e39-23a8-45e2-bba7-5e90e2d6699c

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district will see a familiar face back on campus Monday.

Hugh Hattabaugh started his career with CMS back in 2007 and served as interim superintendent for the district in the 2011-12 school year.

The school board of education voted to have him step in for the role during an emergency meeting on April 19.

"He is a man of high integrity," board member Rhonda Cheek said during the meeting. "He is a man who understands organizational leadership and the operation of a school district.” 

Hattabaugh will take over for now-former superintendent Earnest Winston who was fired earlier this month for low performance.

He rejoins the district at a critical time when academic performance and low tests scores are a big concern.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cms-interim-superintendent-hugh-hattabaugh-campus-monday/275-c0464f43-444b-4d55-9f0b-3daa79ef71ce

Leslie McCrae Dowless Jr., the key player in a North Carolina absentee ballot fraud probe that led to a do-over congressional election, has died.

His daughter, Andrea Dowless Heverly, wrote that her father “passed away peacefully" Sunday morning, according to a social media post. He had been diagnosed with an advanced form of lung cancer and died at his daughter's home in Bladen County, his friend Jay DeLancy told The Associated Press in a brief interview. Dowless was in his mid-60s.

The political operative was set to go on trial this summer on more than a dozen state criminal counts related to absentee ballot activities for the 2016 general election and the 2018 primary and general elections. A half-dozen others were also charged.

READ https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/mccrae-dowless-9th-district-has-died/275-04b7b022-c49d-4c30-a7c5-847cb9c73ab3

The city of Rock Hill and the city of Tega Cay in South Carolina are both being sued by York County for reportedly failing to pay for services associated with sending inmates to the York County Detention Center, including not paying or reimbursing the county for housing its inmates.

Attorneys representing York County believe this lawsuit is about the "dignity of local governments under Home Rule." 

In the lawsuit released Thursday, attorneys stated in June 2021 the two cities along with the city of Fort Mill, the town of Clover, and the city of York sent a joint letter to York County Council. In the letter, the municipalities said they would still send inmates to the detention center but had no plans to reimburse the county for the expenses associated with the inmates from the respected municipalities.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/rock-hill-tega-cay-sued-york-county-failing-to-pay-detention-center-housing-inmates/275-1f0c38ca-6ac3-4f65-a432-7d52339f6850

Residents of a Fort Mill neighborhood are upset after several families reported receiving sewer bills for the month of March charging them $1,000 or even $2,000.

Kevin Connolly has lived in Sutton Place for more than 10 years, and despite living alone with his wife and paying his bills on time, he was charged $2,139.39 in March.

“They cannot convince me, they cannot show the technical data, to support that bill," Connolly said. "They can’t."

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/fort-mill-neighborhood-reports-soaring-sewer-bill/275-30d95b5d-ee1f-44dd-9ddf-867f393e2bc0

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 uncertainty concerning the Carolina Panthers Training Facility and Headquarters project in Rock Hill, South Carolina, got a bit clearer Tuesday when Panthers' owner David Tepper's GT Real Estate Holdings told WCNC Charlotte they would be terminating the agreement surrounding the project. 

Speaking Wednesday, McMaster said the state held up its end of the deal.

"Our part was done -- that was the interchange, which was needed in any event but it'll be getting there a little earlier than was planned, but that area of the state is growing. But the parties -- the city and the county and the Tepper organization -- seem to have differences that they could not reconcile and that's a disappointment."

McMaster previously addressed the paused facility at a news conference on April 12. McMaster said he's spoken to Tepper and says he hopes both parties can come to an agreement.

"The state has done its part and we would encourage everyone to resolve whatever differences and let's get moving," McMaster said. "We want the Panthers to do the right thing."

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/nfl/panthers/panthers-terminating-rock-hill-south-carolina-project-agreements/275-be9a47a6-22f4-448b-aa84-8801a29278db

A Conover-based furniture company is expanding west, while also creating new jobs.

On Wednesday, Gov. Roy Cooper praised Vanguard Furniture Company's plans to add 100 new jobs with a $5.9 million expansion to Morganton. This will add on to the family-held company's 680 employees, who work out of seven facilities in Conover and in Hillsville, Virginia, along with showrooms in High Point and Las Vegas.

“North Carolina continues to be the global leader for furniture manufacturing,” said Gov. Cooper. “Vanguard’s decision to expand in our state affirms that our quality of life and skilled workforce can provide a thriving business climate that brings success.”

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/vanguard-furniture-company-jobs-expansion-money-local/275-f4edbbef-aa4f-46a9-856b-e691323caaae

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! 

"Effective immediately, masks are optional on Charlotte Area Transit System vehicles for customers and employees," CATS announced Tuesday.

CATS cited the federal judge ruling in Florida on Monday that struck down the Biden administration's mask mandate for public transportation, including airplanes. While the ruling is still being reviewed, the Biden administration said the order would be no longer in effect.

As of April 2, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' COVID-19 dashboard, 76% of adults in North Carolina are vaccinated and 38% of children and teens are vaccinated. Data collected during the two-week period between March 20 and April 2 showed no counties in North Carolina are in a high-level risk of illness and strain on the health care system, though six counties are in the medium-risk level. Mecklenburg County is listed in the low-level risk

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/masks-cats-vehicles/275-48491c9c-09f5-432f-b61c-ce65fe3f7c34

Moderna hopes to offer updated COVID-19 boosters in the fall that combine its original vaccine with protection against the omicron variant. On Tuesday, it reported a preliminary hint that such an approach might work.

Today's COVID-19 vaccines all are based on the original version of the coronavirus. But the virus continues to mutate, with the super-contagious omicron variant — and its siblings — the latest threat.

Before omicron came along, Moderna was studying a combination shot that added protection against an earlier variant named beta. Tuesday, the company said people given that beta-original vaccine combination produced more antibodies capable of fighting several variants — including omicron — than today’s regular booster triggers.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/moderna-covid-vaccine-omicron/507-3554be0f-a31d-4232-83da-f4d31fa7ea81

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 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education announced an emergency meeting will be held Tuesday on "matters related to superintendent contracts and attendant personnel items."

While officials would not go on the record Monday to confirm, Tuesday's meeting is expected to address reports Earnest Winston would be leaving the job after fewer than three years.

Winston was named superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools back on Aug. 2, 2019, following the suspension and resignation of Clayton Wilcox that same year.

Winston's current employment contract, which was extended in February 2021, currently continues until June 2025.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/earnest-winston-cms-schools/275-5a0fa9ac-2420-4864-b0ae-24bcffc4a3a0

The Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office and Sheriff Garry McFadden are facing a lawsuit in connection to a juvenile who died by suicide while in the Mecklenburg County Jail.

The family of the detainee, who is referred to in the press release as "D.W.", is represented by Littlejohn Law, PLLC, and Tin Fulton Walker & Owens. 

According to the lawsuit, the incident occurred at the Mecklenburg County Jail North facility on Nov. 21, 2020.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/lawsuit-mecklenburg-county-dw-jail-death-inmate/275-03dbdd3a-9ec0-453d-b811-d4ba0528d364

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! 

 Millions of Americans wait until the last minute to file their taxes and this year is no exception.

Monday is Tax Day — the federal deadline for individual tax filing and payments — and the IRS will receive tens of millions of last-minute filings electronically and through paper forms.

As of April 8, the IRS had received more than 103 million returns for this tax season, and it had issued more than 63 million refunds worth more than $204 billion.

For comparison, last year more than 169 million people completed an income tax return by the end of the year. That probably leaves nearly 40% of this year's taxpayers still unaccounted for, with many scrambling to submit their documents by Monday.

Nina Tross at the National Society of Tax Professionals says if people haven’t filed their taxes by now, “they're better off filing an extension.”

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/tax-day-irs-extension/507-38af10ee-0df4-4d48-b83a-e907d876b913

There are thousands of hemp-based products sold across the state, but it could soon all become illegal.

Hemp products have been legal in the state since 2015 when lawmakers passed the Hemp Pilot Program bill. It removed the term hemp from the definition of marijuana under the state's Controlled Substance Act. However, in January, the state’s hemp farming laws expired. The state’s hemp exemption laws will also expire by June 30. State lawmakers are considering a medical marijuana bill but its narrow definition would not include hemp. 

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/hemp-based-products-could-become-illegal-in-north-carolina/83-e0602a87-1369-43ef-8d6d-52d8254be25e

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 Food and Drug Administration on Thursday issued an emergency use authorization for what it said is the first device that can detect COVID-19 in breath samples.

The InspectIR COVID-19 Breathalyzer is about the size of a piece of carry-on luggage, the FDA said, and can be used in doctor’s offices, hospitals and mobile testing sites. The test, which can provide results in less than three minutes, must be carried out under the supervision of a licensed health care provider.

Dr. Jeff Shuren, director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, called the device “yet another example of the rapid innovation occurring with diagnostic tests for COVID-19.”

The FDA said the device was 91.2% accurate at identifying positive test samples and 99.3% accurate at identifying negative test samples.

“InspectIR expects to be able to produce approximately 100 instruments per week, which can each be used to evaluate approximately 160 samples per day,” the agency said. “At this level of production, testing capacity using the InspectIR COVID-19 Breathalyzer is expected to increase by approximately 64,000 samples per month.”

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/covid-19-breath-test-fda-authorization/507-bd965cb6-2142-49e1-9490-93d21970989e

A Union County high school remembered its beloved football coach Thursday evening. Parkwood High School's Terrance Gittens died unexpectedly last week.

The stadium lights at the Parkwood High Stadium didn't turn on Thursday night. Instead, candles were lit over the field where Coach Gittence once led his team.

"We're grieving, we're sad, we're angry," Terrence Gittens, Jr. said.

He took over as head coach back in May 2020. 

His son, Terrence, and daughter, Mya, were overcome with support as for nearly two hours, his former colleagues, players and family shared stories of a head coach in his prime -- with a whole life ahead of him. 

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/wake-up-charlotte/vigil-parkwood-high-school-terrance-gittens/275-ceed215e-e755-41b4-807b-21fda8a2c948

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! 

Several state and local leaders in South Carolina continue to search for answers following the Carolina Panthers decision to pause construction on a practice facility and team headquarters in Rock Hill. 

South Carolina State Representative JA Moore (D - District 15) condemned the recent actions taken by Carolina Panthers team owner David Tepper in a statement provided Wednesday, April 13. 

No public comments have been issued by the Carolina Panthers organization, or Tepper, following the announcement that construction was halted on March 7.

Moore spoke with WCNC Charlotte by Zoom on Wednesday and said he was concerned something like this would happen back years ago. Gov. Henry McMaster signed the so-called "Panthers Bill" into law back in June 2019. The bill gave the Panthers roughly $115 million in tax breaks to relocate across the state line.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/south-carolina-state-representative-carolina-panthers-rock-hill-construction-paused/275-b179ddfb-23ec-44b4-8fa1-9d9ca3d69ccf

The man accused of shooting 10 people on a Brooklyn subway train was arrested Wednesday and charged with a federal terrorism offense after the suspect himself called police to come get him, law enforcement officials said.

Frank R. James, 62, was taken into custody about 30 hours after the carnage on a rush-hour train, which left five victims in critical condition and people around the city on edge.

“My fellow New Yorkers, we got him," Mayor Eric Adams said.

James was awaiting arraignment on a charge that pertains to terrorist or other violent attacks against mass transit systems and carries a sentence of up to life in prison, Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said.

In recent months, James railed in online videos about racism and violence in the U.S. and about his experiences with mental health care in New York City, and he had criticized Adams' policies on mental health and subway safety. But the motive for the subway attack remains unclear, and there is no indication that James had ties to terror organizations, international or otherwise, Peace said.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/nation-world/hunt-for-nyc-subway-gunman/507-9d392b57-06e3-441f-b3b0-80a95ee25c2e

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! 

U.S. Representative Ralph Norman is the latest leader to speak regarding the Carolina Panthers training facility project in Rock Hill.

The project has now been on hold for more than a month, and despite receiving a new funding offer from both the City of Rock Hill and York County, Panthers owner David Tepper has not responded.

In a public letter released Sunday night, Norman called on Tepper to “break the silence and be transparent about what’s happening from his perspective.”

The major construction site on 240 acres has sat idle for weeks, and hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake.

“The longer it goes, people will assume that it’s just dead,” Norman said. “The taxpayers deserve a lot better than what they’re getting. To go this far for something this big… something’s not right.”

The project was first paused in early March. WCNC Charlotte later learned Rock Hill failed to secure $225 million in bonds to pay for roads, sidewalks and other public infrastructure on the site.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/rock-hill/panthers-david-tepper-new-offer-training-facility-rock-hill/275-552fe774-2fc1-4344-9398-9a51488d9fe6

U.S. Marshals arrested a man who had been wanted on multiple charges in northeast Charlotte Tuesday afternoon. 

Daniel Black was wanted for a parole violation in 2020 and had warrants for robbery and felony conspiracy with the U.S. Marshals. Investigators said Black had an extensive criminal history that includes resisting arrest, narcotics, firearm by a felon and larceny with firearms. 

A WCNC Charlotte viewer was at a shopping center in University City Tuesday when federal agents surrounded an SUV outside the Ross department store on JW Clay Boulevard. Black, identified as the driver of the SUV, attempted to back out but was blocked by a light pole and other vehicles. Investigators said Black was located after his vehicle was pinged in the area.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/us-marshals-arrest-ross-shopping-center-university-city-charlotte-north-carolina/275-8d161c78-ffd4-4529-a963-67bca3af28d3

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!