State transportation officials have reopened a community engagement center as they move forward with the I-77 South toll lanes project.

The 2026 midterms are now over.That means the 2028 presidential contest on both sides of the political party aisle has officially started.On Thursday, Democratic Sen. Cory Booker was first out of the gate, announcing two trips to South Carolina this month, starting with a Friday trip to Sumter, where he'll speak at a NAACP banquet.

Mecklenburg County has reopened Jail North, once a juvenile facility, and plans to take federal inmates. Where juveniles go has not been worked out yet.

Charlotte Mayor Rob Harrington is proposing a new Interstate 77 toll lanes working group to help ensure west Charlotte receives $300 million in community benefits promised by the N.C. Department of Transportation.On Thursday, the department also provided details on how the $300 million could be spent.Under the proposal, at least $150 million would go toward a concrete cap over a portion of the highway near uptown. The state would also invest in addressing food deserts and a lack of recreation space in surrounding neighborhoods.City Council member Joi Mayo said she supports leaving flexibility in how those goals are pursued.“I like the fact that we were a bit vague in some of our wording, so food insecurity doesn’t necessarily have to be grocery stores. We can think outside the box,” Mayo said. “It could be farms, community co-ops. It could be so many other things.”City Council is expected to vote Monday on creating the new working group.

Former Gov. Roy Cooper defeated Michael Whatley in North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race, but Republican Sen. Thom Tillis will continue serving until January.Tillis has been critical of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. In an interview with CNN the day after the election, Tillis said he hopes President Donald Trump will remove Hegseth following what he described as the mishandling of the war with Iran and other issues.

Mecklenburg County has reached a tentative agreement with Discovery Place to repay more than $14 million in debt tied to construction of its nature center, though some county commissioners remain skeptical.

On the local news roundup, Democrats pick up big wins in the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives and North Carolina General Assembly, the Charlotte Hornets owners are among those purchasing the site of the former EpiCentre, and Charlotte FC is set to wrap up the regular season Saturday, with home-field advantage in the playoffs on the line.

Both incumbents lost in this week's election following a year marked by controversy over a proposed data center.

Public school advocates say they worry what the new tax limits will mean for public schools, which they say are already underfunded.

Even as Democrats gained ground, voters approved constitutional amendments limiting taxes and strengthening voter ID requirements. Here’s what changed.