Gov. Stein and Triad police chiefs say fighting crime is getting more expensive — and mental health funding cuts aren’t helping.

Early voting begins Thursday, and in Charlotte, races for city council, school board and mayor are on the ballot along with the transit referendum. We look at those and the integrity and security of the vote.

Airports across the country have received a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blaming Democrats for the federal government shutdown. Many, including Charlotte Douglas International Airport, have chosen not to play the message. CLT Airport officials say local law and airport policy prohibit airing the partisan message. A spokesperson also said the Transportation Security Administration doesn’t own the monitors at Charlotte's security checkpoints, adding that “digital screens owned by CLT are designated for static content that helps people find their way around, provides essential travel information and promotes CLT’s revenue-generating services.”

Officials say voters whose records are still incomplete on Election Day may be asked to cast provisional ballots.

The Charlotte City Council hired the law firm Cranfill Sumner to investigate City Council member Victoria Watlington's comments made in an email.

The Defense Civilian Training Corps serves as a "talent factory" for the Department of Defense.

Charlotte City Council on Monday approved a plan to sort through more than 125 people who have applied to serve on a new transit authority board — if voters approve an increase to the sales tax in November.

Both campaigns have attacked the other for presumed failures in hurricane recovery. Whatley pointed to Cooper's work on Florence and Matthew, Cooper to Whatley's role in Helene recovery.

Charlotte attorney Morris McAdoo launched his campaign Tuesday in the NC House 106 Democratic primary against Representative Carla Cunningham.

The new map would shift voters' districts to give Republicans the advantage in 11 U.S. House seats.