NEWS UPDATES FOR DECEMBER 2023

A pilot died Sunday after his small plane crashed in a Mooresville neighborhood.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol identified the pilot as Randy Mysliviec, of Mooresville. The agency said he was attempting to land at Lake Norman Airport when the crash occurred.

The plane went down shortly after noon Sunday near Adrian Lane, WBTV reported.

The Carolina Panthers’ worst loss of an already disastrous season was overshadowed Sunday by owner David Tepper throwing a drink onto the crowd in Jacksonville. A video posted on social media showed Tepper, a billionaire hedge fund owner, tossing the contents a drink from the owner’s box onto fans below near the end of the 26-0 loss to the Jaguars. He then threw the cup down and stormed away.

According to The Athletic, the Panthers didn’t comment Sunday night. An NFL spokesman said the league was aware of the incident and didn’t have any immediate comment.

Rookie quarterback Bryce Young threw for just 112 yards, with no touchdowns, and a game-ending interception. He was sacked six times. Sitting on the bench after one play, Young threw a tablet to the ground.

"I was just frustrated with myself," Young said after the game. "I just missed a, just missed a throw to (wide receiver Jonathan) Mingo that, you know, you gotta make. And, you know, should I do a better job obviously just with, with body language but I'm just frustrated with myself. You know, opportunities like that, you can't leave stuff on the field like that."

Interim Head Coach Chris Tabor said after the game that he was surprised the Panthers got shut out, a week after putting up 30 points in Young’s best game so far.

"I'm disappointed, obviously. And that's a pretty generic answer. I did not see it coming. I will tip my hat to the Jaguars. But you know, the way we were trending, I did not, I did not see this performance coming down," he said.

Now, with the Panthers at 2-14 and one game left, Tabor said the team has a final chance to prove themselves…even if it’s only to themselves.

"And you talk about, you know, the shutout and those things I get that, how are you gonna deal with it? And there's, there's only two choices. It's either character or compromise and those are questions for everybody," he said. "We're gonna go back to work, they're not gonna cancel the last game."

The Panthers will close out their season Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

City of Kannapolis

The 75-year-old Gem Theatre in downtown Kannapolis will close this weekend in preparation for interior renovations.

Its owner, the city of Kannapolis, plans to spend $1.2 million on seats, a projector, the screen and curtains as well as repairs or replacement of historic plaster decorations.

The city bought the theatre in 2015 and previously restored the marquee and repaired the roof, restrooms and heating and cooling system.

The theater will close after Saturday night's 7:30 movie screening. Renovations are expected to take five months.

"The replacement of the seats, the projectors, and screen will make the greatest impact on our movie customers. We are working diligently to preserve the history of the structure while ensuring that today’s customers enjoy the experience of watching a first run movie in an inviting atmosphere,” Kannapolis Parks and Recreation Director Gary Mills said in a press release.

The city is in the midst of a fundraising campaign to pay for the restoration.

Daily newspaper deliveries by carrier will end next month in Gaston County as publishers switch to the U.S. Postal Service. Both the Gaston Gazette and Charlotte Observer said they'll make the change Jan. 29.

The changes come as print newspaper publishers nationwide try to push more readers online to cut costs. The Gazette, which is owned by the Gannett Company, says in a note to readers Friday that the move will ensure more consistent delivery and save money.

The Gazette cited difficulties finding carriers amid fluctuating fuel prices and competition for workers from door-to-door delivery services. The note also said the paper is seeing increased readership online.

Gannett has made the same change in other markets.

"The transition from carrier to Postal Service delivery will ensure we can provide a more consistent experience for our valued subscribers," Gannett vice president Michael A. Anastasi said in the note. "We also encourage readers to visit us regularly on our digital platforms, as well as to access our eNewspaper, a digital replica of the newspaper."

The Charlotte Observer, which is part of McClatchy newspapers, notified Gaston County subscribers of the change by email this week. The email noted that the switch to postal mail means the Sunday paper will arrive on Mondays.

The notice went to subscribers in Gaston County. It wasn't immediately clear if other counties are affected.

The Observer email also noted that subscriptions include access to the Observer's online editions.

Pro golfer Harold Varner III was arrested for driving while impaired in Mecklenburg County Thursday night.

WSOC-TV reports Varner was booked into the Mecklenburg County jail around 7:30 p.m. According to court documents, Varner drove on Providence Road “while subject to an impaired substance.”

He posted his $500 bond around 10 p.m.. Varner played on the PGA Tour and currently plays on the LIV Golf Tour. Varner played college golf at East Carolina University and currently lives in Charlotte.

The Charlotte Hornets losing streak now stands at nine games after Thursday night’s 133-112 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Top draft pick Brandon Miller returned to the lineup after missing Tuesday’s game with an injury and scored 17 points, but he said after the game a quick turnaround means no rest for the weary since the Hornets play again Friday.

"I think one thing you should just keep your body right. Make sure you're 100% tomorrow,, and wake up with a different mindset. You know, you always gotta have a short term memory with these back to backs. Can't worry about the last game. So just think of it as a new game, play as hard as we can," he said.

Charlotte visits the Phoenix Suns at 9 pm as their six-game road trip continues.

Preparations are underway for Charlotte’s New Year’s Eve celebration Uptown. The event starts at 8 p.m. Sunday with food trucks and a DJ. At 10 p.m., the Charlotte band Mo’ Money will take the stage. Just before midnight, the countdown to 2024 starts ahead of the lighting of the “Charlotte crown” and fireworks to celebrate the new year. Representatives from presenting sponsor Ally, Charlotte Center City Partners, and others will help lead the countdown.

As part of this event, Levine Avenue of the Arts will close between South Tryon and South Church streets at 9 a.m. on Sunday. South Tryon Street will close between Brooklyn Village Avenue and MLK Boulevard beginning at 5 p.m. Sunday. Both streets will reopen during the overnight hours.

Expect sunny skies on New Year’s Eve with a high of 54 degrees during the day and partly cloudy conditions with a low of 36 overnight.

Mecklenburg County will begin taking applications on Monday, Jan. 1, for winter heating assistance.

People who have trouble paying their winter heating bills can get financial help so they don't have to choose between heat and other needs, such as food.

Applications have already been open for seniors and disabled residents, but next week will be the first chance for others to apply.

The deadline for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program is March 31.

More information is available on the county website at https://news.mecknc.gov/help-heating-bills-all-applications-accepted-beginning-jan-1

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein says two Charlotte towing companies and their owner engaged in predatory towing and price gouged truck drivers during the pandemic, and did so at a disproportionate rate against Black truck drivers.

Stein filed a lawsuit Dec. 12 against David Satterfield and his companies Automobile Recovery and Parking Enforcement and A-1 Towing Solutions.

According to the lawsuit, the companies engaged in predatory booting and towing of trucks that were being used to haul essential supplies during the pandemic even though drivers had permission of property owners to park their vehicles.

Satterfield says he has no way of knowing the race of people driving the trucks his companies tow and boot, nor what they’re hauling. He called the lawsuit “a bunch of political bull----” and says Stein is “trying to win over Black voters” in his run for governor.

Satterfield also says he never owned A-1 Towing Solutions or had anything to do with it. He says that company existed at the same location under a different owner before he started his towing business in 2019.

Meanwhile, the owner of a different company with a similar name, A-1 Towing Recovery, says he and his drivers have received harassing calls and threats since the media started reporting on the lawsuit.

The Green Bay Packers have suspended cornerback Jaire Alexander for one game after he crashed the coin toss before last Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Alexander, who wasn’t named a team captain, reportedly said he wanted to be on the field for the flip because he’s from Charlotte. Alexander played at Rocky River High School in Charlotte.

Two people were shot and killed at an apartment complex off Sugar Creek Road, near the I-85 exit, at about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. The shooting was reported at an apartment complex on Merlane Drive. Both victims were taken to the hospital but died. Police haven’t released the victims’ identities or said what they think led to the shootings.

The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office says one prisoner at the county jail died overnight. In a press release the Sheriff’s office says 51-year-old Anthony Walton was discovered unresponsive by a detention officer at about 9:30 pm Tuesday. He was transported to Atrium Main where he was pronounced dead at 10:17 pm. Walton had been in the detention center since Oct. 7.. The State Bureau of Investigation is looking into the incident.

He was the second person to die in the jail's custody this month. A 71-year-old man died Dec. 14.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police are investigating an overnight shooting in Steele Creek that left one person dead and another seriously injured on Wednesday. CMPD says officers responded to a report of shots fired on Long Talon Way off Steele Creek Road in southwest Charlotte at about 2:30 a.m. They found one victim dead at the scene and another with life threatening injuries. A house was also struck by gunfire, though no one inside was hurt. No other details have yet been released.

The injury-plagued Charlotte Hornets lost for the eighth straight time Tuesday night, falling 113-104 on the road to the Los Angeles Clippers. PJ Washington had 18 points off the bench for Charlotte but coach Steve Clifford said after the game that early foul trouble forced some adjustments.

"To be honest, PJ getting the second (foul) in the first half hurt us, because he, you know, right from the time he stepped in the game, he had great energy and made a big difference and then, you know, it limited his minutes," he said.

The team was without point guard Lamelo Ball, center Mark Williams and top draft pick Brandon Miller. Coach Steve Clifford said after the game that makes it tough to keep solid lineups on the floor but it is an opportunity for others, like forward Cody Martin who’s played two games now after returning from his own injury.

"He's gonna find his rhythm and everything, but he makes such a difference with our team. You know, just his toughness, his intelligence on the court...he's a legitimate NBA rotation player and it makes a big difference. It always starts with five legitimate starters and then nine legitimate rotation players and they're hard to find. And he's one or the other, but he's a really good player. He makes a big difference," he said.

Miles Bridges led Charlotte with 21 points. The Hornets are now 7-21. They continue their six-game road trip Thursday night against the LA Lakers.

A 27-year-old man has been arrested for a fatal hit-and-run last week, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said Tuesday.

Investigators say Matthew Sean Rowley struck Ericka Jones, 34, Friday night while she was walking on South Tryon Street near Bowman Road.

Rowley then drove away in his Infiniti G37 Sport without stopping, police said. Jones later died.

Police found the Infiniti abandoned nearby.

Rowley was later arrested and charged with felony hit-and-run causing death and reckless driving.

New cases of the flu have been spreading rapidly in South Carolina, and new data from the CDC shows the state is tied with Louisiana with the nation’s highest levels of flu activity for the week ending Dec. 16.

South Carolina health officials say more than 4,500 cases were confirmed that week. That’s the highest number of new cases in the state so far this year.

The state has reported 12 flu-related deaths this season, half of them in the upstate region.

Officials say one person was killed and two others seriously injured in three separate shootings around Charlotte on Christmas Eve.

First responders with MEDIC said the first was reported around 1:30 a.m. in north Charlotte, where a person at the Cheshire Chase apartments was shot in the stomach. The person was rushed to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.

About two hours later, MEDIC said another person was shot and injured on Oakdale Road near I-485.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police reported a third shooting just before 11 a.m. in the Oakdale South neighborhood, where a man was killed. Police have not reported any arrests in any of those cases.

The Carolina Panthers dropped to 2-and-13 on Sunday, but interim head coach Chris Tabor was pleased with what he saw.

"I mean, you're either getting better or you're getting worse," said Tabor. "And I know that's all coach speak. But that's real. And I saw a bunch of guys get better today."

Still, Tabor admitted after the game that the loss to the Green Bay Packers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte hurt. The Panthers clawed out of a 14-point hole and tied the game at 30 points in the fourth quarter, only to lose by a field goal after a disputed Green Bay catch set up their score and the last second ticked away before the Panthers could stop the clock and kick a field goal of their own to send the game into overtime.

"I mean, you don't like to lose and we lost. So it, so it hurts at this moment and it hurts because you care, and you care about the guys that you're in battle with," he said. "I love them to death. And it just, it just hurts...I'm disappointed for those guys in that room. They laid everything out on the line right there and...we ran out of time."

Rookie quarterback Bryce Young played his best game of the season, throwing for 312 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He led multiple comeback drives and looked—maybe for the first time—like the Np. 1 overall pick the Panthers had in mind when they drafted him. But Young said that didn’t make up for the loss.

"The thing is that we lost. You know, there's, you know, you can try to make up whatever moral victory you want with whatever," he said. "At the end of the day, we, we do this to win. And, you know, we didn't, we didn't get that done. You know, I didn't do enough, we didn't do enough."

The Panthers play the Jaguars Sunday in Jacksonville, starting at 1 pm.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police say a city bus driver was shot and seriously injured while on his route Friday afternoon in northwest Charlotte.

Police said they believe the shooting stemmed from an argument between two drivers who were near the bus on Lasalle Street near English Drive about 4 p.m.

One of the drivers fired a stray bullet that went into the bus hitting the driver, police said. No one else on the bus was injured.

MEDIC said one person on the scene was rushed to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Police have not reported any arrests. A spokesperson for the Charlotte Area Transit System referred all questions to the CMPD.

President Biden has shortened the prison sentences of 11 people, including a man from Gastonia.

The White House says James Michael Barber is among those granted clemency by the president Friday.

He was arrested in 2013 with 10 others accused of selling more than 11 pounds of cocaine around the Charlotte area, and later sentenced to 15 years and eight months in prison.

Biden said he’s giving clemency to Barber and 11 others who are serving “unduly long sentences” for non-violent drug offenses, and said all would have been eligible to receive significantly lower sentences if they were charged with the same offense today.

Barber will be released on Feb. 20, 2024, and will then serve a five-year term of supervised release.

A Charlotte nonprofit says a grinch stole two boxes of toy donations from outside two coffee shops collecting toys for kids in need.

Deborah Phillips with Block Love Charlotte says she estimates the two boxes had up to 100 toys that her group was planning to distribute to more than 200 local kids at events over the weekend and on Christmas Day.

The boxes were outside two local Starbucks coffee shop, Phillips said, and the staff at one of the locations told her someone posing as a member of Block Love Charlotte came and took the box of donations.

Phillips said she's not mad the toys were stolen however, and hopes they will find their way to kids who might need them this Christmas.

"Bad Grinch but we hope the toys meet a need and that God blesses their entire hearts so they grow ten times larger this holiday season," the organization wrote on Instagram.

Block Love Charlotte is planning a toy giveaway in Charlotte on Sunday, Christmas Eve, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 2740 North Graham Street. Phillips said people can bring donated toys to that event to help replace the ones that were stolen.

On Christmas Day, the group also plans to host a Christmas brunch and toy giveaway for families living at two motels in Charlotte. The group will also hold a toy giveaway event in Florence, South Carolina, on Saturday.

North Carolina’s seasonally adjusted November unemployment rate was 3.5%, the Department of Commerce said Friday. The state’s unemployment rate decreased 0.4% from a year ago. Major industries experiencing increases in employment were professional and business services, education and health services as well as leisure and hospitality services.

The national unemployment rate stood at 3.7%.

The NC Department of Transportation says it has suspended most construction activity on major highways to help ease traffic. Most work along interstates, U.S. highways and key state routes will resume Jan. 2.

Exceptions include bridges being replaced, long term lane construction that cannot be temporarily removed and highway work that does not impact travel.

In college basketball, Davidson’s men’s team held off USC Upstate on Thursday night 62-59. They’re now 9-and-3 and play next against Ohio on Dec. 30.

The Wildcat women continued their best start in program history yesterday with an 83-56 win over the Charlotte 49ers to retain the 704 Cup. Davidson will put their 11-and-1 record on the line on Jan. 2 when they visit LaSalle.

The 49ers will host North Texas a week from tomorrow.

The Carolina Panthers have a chance to win multiple games in a row this weekend for the first time this season when they take on the Green Bay Packers. Offensive Coordinator Thomas Brown said Thursday that the team is starting to shape its identity offensively.

"I think it's a week-to-week process as far as us establishing who we are, I think definitely in his last three games. it's kind of gotten someone into the mode of understanding how we kind of play from early down standpoint, run the football, the marriage of play, action, pass and movements kind of going with that. I think we're probably averaging close to 100 and 60 yards last three games as well. So being able to kind of build upon that, but obviously I continue to put together in the best spot to have success," he said.

The Panthers play Green Bay at Bank of America Stadium on Christmas Eve at 1PM.

A Black couple from Charlotte is still dealing with the trauma of a cross-burning at their South Carolina vacation home. Corrinne Mack, head of the Charlotte NAACP, said Thursday that Sean and Monica Williams were gathered with family at their Conway vacation home, near the beach, in November to help Sean Williams’ mother, who was in hospice care. They had a dispute with a neighbor who used racial slurs, Mack said. Then, a cross was burned in their yard.

"So while they were coming together, trying to show you the love and consideration because his mother was in hospice, they had to deal with this level of racist attacks against their family. It should not happen, especially, it shouldn't that be happening in 2023,"

Sean Williams’ mother has since died. Two neighbors have been charged with harassment, and media reports say the FBI is investigating the incident.

North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell will divest $40 million dollars from Ben and Jerry’s parent company Unilever over the ice cream company’s boycott of Israel. In a news release, Folwell cites a 2017 state law that prohibits state agencies from investing in or contracting with companies engaged in an Israeli boycott. A statement on Ben and Jerry’s website says it plans to end its agreement with its distributor in Israel at the end of next year, and no longer sell its ice cream in the occupied West Bank. Ben and Jerry’s and it’s parent company did not immediately return requests for comment.

Folwell also said he's notified local governments and state agencies that they can't do business with Unilever, which is one of the largest consumer products and food companies in the world.

More local facilities are joining Atrium and Novant with restrictions on visitors. Caromont, with hospitals in Gastonia and Mt. Holly, along with Iredell Memorial Hospital, are not allowing children 13 and under to visit patients except under limited circumstances.

In men’s college basketball last night, 11th-ranked North Carolina wrapped up the Jumpman Invitational in Uptown Charlotte with an 81-69 win over previously unbeaten and 7th-ranked Oklahoma. RJ Davis led the Tar Heels with 23 points.

"I think we just, we kind of took our foot off the gas a little bit in the second half with no energy, but we were able to pick it up quickly and I would say this is probably one of the most, well, the game where we played with the most energy," he said.

Davis said scoring hasn’t been a problem.

"Offense is really good, but what we lack in is the defense and we put together a couple of good possessions early in the season of defense and then sometimes we lack off in the second half. So, I think, going to the game we wanted to play defense for full 40 minutes and I think that was evident through the steals. We had guys in the gaps, guys in the right positions and, overall, we was making the defensive plays that were needed to be made especially in crunch, crucial times," he said.

North Carolina hosts Charleston Southern on Friday night.

The shorthanded Charlotte Hornets have now lost six straight games after a 144-113 blowout by the Indiana Pacers Wednesday night on the road. Terry Rozier had 25 points for Charlotte, but coach Steve Clifford said after the game his team is struggling without starting point guard Lamelo Ball and starting center Mark Williams.

"Again, you know, like we have enough but turnovers fouling, second chance points are gonna beat you and they all came right in a row," he said.

The Hornets host the Denver Nuggets Saturday night at the Spectrum Center.

Home sales in Charlotte fell 12% last month, compared to the prior year, with 2,845 homes sold — the lowest number of any month so far this year.

Data from Canopy, the Charlotte-area Realtor association, shows that pending contract activity is up nearly 4% compared to last year. However, month-over-month contract activity has gone down nearly 14%.

The median home price fell less than 1% in the Charlotte area, to $390,000.

The Realtor association said high interest rates and "critically low supply" are to blame.

A privately-owned tract of land along the Catawba River will be preserved and developed into a state park, according to a partnership agreement announced Tuesday.

The 600-acre tract of land in Lancaster County, across from the Catawba Nation reservation in Rock Hill, was once proposed as a 1,000-unit housing development. But the partnership between the Catawba Nation, South Carolina park officials and Open Space Institute paved the way for OSI to purchase the land and give it protected status from any future development.

The land is in the Catawba’s ancestral grounds, which once totaled more than 144,000 acres but now comprise just over 1,000 acres.

The agreement gives the Catawbas perpetual access to the land and designates the tribe as a co-manager of the ancestral clay pits on the property. The pits have provided materials for centuries for the tribe’s internationally acclaimed pottery.

Tribal officials say the pottery made from the clay pits provided a livelihood for the Catawbas for more than 6,000 years, allowing them to survive and sustain their community.

No time frame was given for the opening of a park on the heavily wooded, wildlife-filled land that overlooks the river.

OSI officials say they will hold the property until South Carolina officials are prepared to accept the land as a donation and added to the state’s park system.

The city of Charlotte and the Hispanic Federation have awarded 13 Latino-led nonprofits a total of $800,000 through the Community Resilience Fund.

The fund addresses needs in areas such as housing, equity and inclusion, sustainability and environment.

The grant recipients include Circle de Luz, Carolina Migrant Network and NC Congress of Latino Organizations.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport officials said the airport has resumed normal operations after Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police investigated a suspicious package near Checkpoint C.

CMPD found investigated an attended bag and have found the owner. This caused a closure of Checkpoint C for just over an hour.

CMPD also said traffic delays around the airport are still expected.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections voted 4-to-1 on Tuesday to dismiss a challenge to former President Donald Trump’s candidacy. The board said they do not have the authority to hear the dispute for a presidential primary race.

The approved presidential primary ballot will include seven Republican candidates in North Carolina: Trump, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie, Asa Hutchinson and Ryan Binkley.

Charlotte FC traded up for the fourteenth pick in the 2024 Major League Soccer SuperDraft from the Colorado Rapids and selected 21-year-old forward Tyger Smalls from Loyola Marymount University with the pick. The Crown also selected Jahlane Forbes from Wake Forest, Jacob Babalai from Portland and Nathan Richmond from Clemson. Charlotte FC will be back on the pitch at the Coachella Valley Invitational Feb. 4 through Feb. 17.

With both President Biden and former President Trump facing low poll numbers and strong opposition, the No Labels political movement is trying to get on the ballot in more states. Former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory said Tuesday afternoon that the group hasn’t decided whether they’ll field a presidential ticket—but that they think they can win if they do.

"The group strongly believes we're gonna do it to win, we're not gonna do it if we don't think we have an opportunity to win," he said.

No Labels says its internal polling and models show roughly 40% of North Carolinians would be willing to support a third-party, unity slate.

"It's winner-take-all. And a plurality has a very good chance to win with so many candidates in it. And so, we're being very strategic and data driven and listening to the American people and what they're saying, as we make this decision whether to proceed or not after we get on the ballots," he said.

McCrory said the group decide whether to field a presidential slate in early March, after the Super Tuesday primary elections. No Labels and other potential third party challengers like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have fueled fears they’ll act as spoilers and hand the election to Trump, by pulling centrist voters from Biden.

But McCrory said that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t run a candidate.

"And we firmly believe as a team that America deserves a better choice and we're working on that process to possibly do have another choice for them. But our major goal right now is to get ballot access," he said.

No Labels is on the ballot or in the process of getting on the ballot in 27 states — including North Carolina, where they have secured ballot access.

The North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame revealed its 60th class Tuesday, with 11 new inductees.The inductees include:

• former Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith Sr
• sports commentator Jim Nantz
• Charlotte native Pettis Norman, who played in the NFL for 11 years
• Former Davidson basketball head coach Bob McKillop, who led the school to 23 conference championships.

“Not only are they part of a milestone group, given that this is the sixtieth Induction Celebration, they are representative of the reach throughout the Charlotte community, the state of North Carolina, the United States, and beyond,” Jerry McGee, president of the hall’s board of directors, said in a statement.
The induction will take place on May 10 at the Charlotte Convention Center.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police are investigating a deadly overnight shooting in southwest Charlotte. In a press release, CMPD says officers were called to an apartment complex on West Tyvola Road just before 2 am Tuesday. They found one victim of a gunshot wound who was pronounced dead at the scene. Police haven’t released any additional details about the victim or circumstances of the shooting.

The shorthanded Charlotte Hornets lost for the fifth straight time Monday night, falling to the Toronto Raptors 114-99. Charlotte led after three quarters but were outscored 35 to 18 in the decisive fourth quarter. The Hornets were without starters LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams again — but also Miles Bridges, who was denied entry at the border by Canadian authorities.

Terry Rozier led Charotte with 22 points. The Hornets are now 7-and-18 on the season. They’ll visit the Indiana Pacers Wednesday night.

UNC-Chapel Hill on Monday announced the death of former player and commentator Eric Montross.

Montross, who was diagnosed with cancer in March, died Sunday.

He was a key member of the 1993 NCAA Championship-winning team. Montross was drafted by the Boston Celtics as the ninth pick in the 1994 NBA Draft and went on to play until 2002.

Montross was 52.

A popular sledding site in the High Country has been closed due to unsafe conditions.

The area is known as “Sled Hill,” located off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Blowing Rock. The site at Sandy Flat Gap has been growing as an unofficial destination for sledding, tubing, skiing, and snowboarding. But Blue Ridge Parkway officials say they can no longer allow winter recreation in the area.

Parkway Superintendent Tracy Swartout released a statement saying the site was not designed for high levels of pedestrian use and roadside parking. She notes that poor sightlines and increased traffic have led to multiple near misses between passing vehicles and pedestrians.

In addition to closing the hill, parking will be prohibited along portions of nearby roads. Park staff are installing fencing and signage, and citations could be issued to those who don’t comply with the closure order.

Novant Health has implemented visitor restrictions in its hospitals to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses.

Starting Tuesday, Dec. 19, children under 13 cannot visit Novant hospitals, unless they are seeking care or under special circumstances.

Atrium Health also has respiratory virus season restrictions barring children from their hospitals under most circumstances. Masks remain optional.

State regulators have approved a three-year rate hike for Duke Energy in central and western North Carolina.

The North Carolina Utilities Commission issued an order on Friday saying the increase was less than Duke asked for, but it did not specify the amount of the increase.

In January, the company filed for a 15.7% rate hike over three years for customers of its Duke Energy Carolinas division, which stretches from Durham to the Triad to Charlotte to the mountains.

Duke says it needs an increase to upgrade the electric grid, improve reliability and prepare for more renewable energy and electric vehicles.

In a press release, Duke called the order "constructive" but said it's still evaluating how it would affect customer rates.

The Carolina Panthers doubled their win total Sunday, notching their second victory this season. They beat the Atlanta Falcons 9-7 in a miserable, rain-soaked washout of a game. Bank of America Stadium was largely empty, with only a few loyal fans enduring the monsoon. But none of that dimmed rookie quarterback Bryce Young’s joy.

"It feels great. These are a lot more enjoyable after wins," he said at his postgame press conference. "Obviously a lot of adversity, a lot of ups and downs, throughout the year, but just, you know, for us as a team to pull through, this is definitely a team win.

The Panthers are 2-12. They take on the Green Bay Packers next Sunday in Charlotte. Young said the sloppy game — which Carolina won with three field goals and no touchdowns — was pretty much what the team expected going into the storm.

"It was a dirty, nasty game, we knew that it was gonna be that coming in," he said. But he added: "You know, it feels great."

Interim head coach Chris Tabor said after the game that he was confident the team could drive down the field and score a last-second field goal to win, after taking over down 7-6.

"And at the end, we just kept saying we are going to win this game and, that's what they did," he said. "Anytime you have a 17-play drive at the end of the game to get a walk-off field goal, I think that says something about your kids and your guys."

"(I'm) really happy for the guys, proud of them."

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police shot and killed a man they said had a gun pointed at another man, during a confrontation early Saturday.

Police Chief Johnny Jennings said officers were called a little after 6 a.m. to a house on Catherine Simmons Avenue near Lincoln Park, north of uptown.

Gunshots had been fired, and Jennings said more shots were fired when officers arrived. Jennings said the man was armed. The police chief said the man was pointing a gun at someone and officers told the man to put the weapon downthe.

"Those commands were not met, to drop the firearm. At some point, it is indicated that the individual did raise the firearm and officers at that time did fire multiple shots at the individual," Jennings said. He said he didn't know what started the conflict, but said the location is one police have been called to multiple times.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police didn’t release his name as of late Sunday.

No officers were injured.

The State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the officer-involved shooting per standard procedure.

Two people were shot, one of whom died, Thursday night in southwest Charlotte.

Police said that they were called to Apex Landing Way, an apartment community next to Renaissance Park, at about 11:30 pm. They found two male victims with gunshot wounds. Both of them were taken to the hospital, where one died.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police detectives haven't released any other information about the case as of Friday morning.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have closed their investigation into reported embezzlement at Corvian Community School. CMPD referred the case to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General, which looks into reports of embezzlement or mismanagement of federal education money.

The board of the northeast Charlotte charter school fired its founder and executive director, Stacey Haskell, in November, citing evidence of misuse of funds. A few days later the school filed a police report saying $50,000 had been stolen through unauthorized use of a credit card for a hotel room, clothes and a helicopter ride.

Haskell’s lawyer, John Gresham, has said the allegations are related to two credit cards in Haskell’s name that were used for both personal and school spending. He says he’s had trouble getting details of the criminal allegations. He says the Office of Inspector General has not responded to his calls – and WFAE has not gotten a response either.

Charter schools are independent public schools authorized by the state to receive state, federal and local money for education. Corvian has a $15 million operating budget this year.

The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of an inmate at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center.

Officials said on Thursday around 4:30 am there was a medical emergency called by a detention officer who found 71-year old Elijah Kelly unresponsive. Officers attempted to perform life saving measures until paramedics arrived. Kelly was later pronounced dead. The M-C-S-O did not release any information about what caused Kelly’s death.

The town of Pilot Mountain has officially fired three police officers after concluding its weeks-long investigation into departmental corruption. Ian Redman, a spokesperson for the town, explained that the review centered on how the department handled off-duty work at car shows.

“Police officers were knowingly scheduled for off-duty assignments at car shows at the same time as their on-duty assignments with the town of Pilot Mountain, thus defrauding either the town of Pilot Mountain, the nonprofit organization running the car show or both," said Redman.

Investigators also found Robbie Jackson, “used his position as chief of police to assist others” in purchasing firearms using the city’s procurement system. Redman said Jackson then fraudulently signed a federal form stating the guns would be used exclusively by the police department. Officials said the investigation was sparked by a whistleblower within the department. A state criminal investigation into the matter is ongoing.

Johnson C Smith lost the first-ever Florida Beach Bowl last night, falling to Ft. Valley State 23-10. Sophomore running back Jacob Newman scored the lone touchdown for the Golden Bulls, who finished the season at 7-4.

Donald Trump yesterday made a surprise endorsement in the March Republican primary for North Carolina’s 6th Congressional District, which stretches from Greensboro to Cabarrus County.

Trump wrote that Addison McDowell has his complete and total endorsement. McDowell — who hadn’t previously announced his campaign—is from Davidson County. He worked for Ted Budd in Washington, when he was a member of Congress.

Trump passed over former Congressman Mark Walker and Bo Hines, who lost a bid for Congress last year.

Greensboro police have charged 22-year-old Nile Christian Harvey in connection with the vandalism of a Holocaust memorial in Greensboro’s LaBauer Park, where a swastika was drawn on the sculpture.

The artwork is called “She Wouldn’t Take Off Her Boots.” It was modeled after a photo of five women in Latvia just before they were executed.

It's described as the first women’s Holocaust memorial in North Carolina.

U.S. 6th District Congresswoman Kathy Manning, a co-chair of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism, says such desecration has no place in Greensboro.

In an interview with WFDD in October, Manning expressed concerns about rising hate against Jews.

“We are concerned that we're already seeing growing anti-semitism in this country, particularly on college campuses," she said. "And we're worried about the safety of Jewish students, we're worried about the safety of the Jewish community in general.”

In a social media post, Manning called the vandalism an “abhorrent display of hate” and said her heart goes out to her fellow Jews in the community and to the Holocaust survivors and families.

Bank of America Stadium will stadium...Bank of America Stadium. The Carolina Panthers have extended their naming rights deal with Bank of America. It’s been named for the bank since 2004.

The Panthers didn’t say how long the new deal with the Charlotte-based bank will last.

Western North Carolina businessman David Wheeler said Tuesday that he’s not dropping out of the Democratic primary for the state’s Insurance Commissioner.

Over the weekend, Wheeler wrote on social media that he would bow out of the race to clear the path for Mecklenburg Democratic State Senator Natasha Marcus. Marcus was placed into a heavily Republican district in new legislative maps passed by the General Assembly earlier this fall and is running for the Insurance Commissioner job instead.

Wheeler then changed his mind, writing that "I’m in. Well, I never left." He then added “I’m going to beat Natasha in March."

Yolanda Holmes of Charlotte filed paperwork on Tuesday to run against Republican Tricia Cotham for House District 105, which includes Mint Hill, Matthews and parts of south Charlotte.

Holmes finished second to Cotham in last year’s Democratic primary for a similar seat. Cotham won the general election — and then switched the GOP in April. Her defection gave Republicans a super-majority in the General Assembly.

Cotham’s seat was recently redrawn by the legislature to become more conservative. It’s considered a slight lean for a Republican candidate.

Some of Charlotte’s top business leaders met at Camp North End on Tuesday to recap the past year in business and look ahead to 2024. The CEO of Lowe’s, Marvin Ellison, and Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan both said consumers appear to be pulling back on spending amid higher inflation. Ellison said homeowners seem to be spending less on home improvement, which surged early in the pandemic, and instead spending more on concerts, travel and other experiences.

"Yeah, it’s hard for riding a lawnmower to compete with Taylor Swift tickets," he joked.

Despite the shift, Ellison and Moynihan said they’re optimistic about the year to come. Moynihan said consumers are spending about 3 to 4% less from their checking accounts compared to a year ago, but he doesn’t see a recession on the way.

"You have an unemployment rate in this market in the threes. You have an unemployment rate in the low threes. You have an unemployment rate across the country in the mid- to high-3s. It’s hard to have a recession when everyone’s working and making money," he said.

The event was organized by Charlotte Regional Business Alliance.

Dwight Thompson, principal of Renaissance West STEAM Academy, was named today as principal of the year for North Carolina’s southwest region, which includes 10 counties around Charlotte. He’ll be a contender for state principal of the year.

Thompson is in his third year as principal of the pre-K-8 school in west Charlotte. The school showed strong academic gains in 2023 despite high poverty levels.

The school is part of a partnership between Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and several public and private agencies to break the cycle of poverty at the site of the old Boulevard Homes.

Education

For Renaissance West, big gains bring hope as the school moves off the state’s 'F' list

Ann Doss Helms

For the first time in its history, Renaissance West STEAM Academy moves off North Carolina's list of "F" schools. That's important for an education village project.

Listen • 5:52

The Charlotte Hornets fought back from a 14-point deficit Monday night but came up just short, falling 116-114 to the Miami Heat. Terry Rozier is still filling in for the injured Lamelo Ball. Rozier scored 34 points and handed out 13 assists.

"I think we did all the right things, you know, just obviously we just fell short, you know, to a very disciplined team. A team like this, they don't really give too many possessions away. So, you know, when you turn the ball over and you're not getting the best looks for your team is, you put yourself in a, in a tough position because these guys are very disciplined, on offense and defensively," he said after the game.

The Hornets play the Heat again Wednesday night in Miami.

During Monday night’s City Council public forum, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles ordered police to empty the chamber after pro-Palestinian members of the audience shouted down a speaker who was defending Israel.

Lyles had asked City Council members to leave the dais moments earlier in an attempt to get the audience to quiet down. After the second disruption, she halted the meeting again.

"In this case, we are going to recess our meeting and empty the chamber. Thank you, we will give you time. ... I’m sorry, we are not going to have … this is it … we tried," she said.

The City Council resumed the meeting from a basement room at the Government Center.

The Iredell County Sheriff's Office made a major fentanyl bust during a traffic stop on Sunday.

A sheriff's deputy pulled over a 2014 Freightliner tractor trailer on Interstate 77 for a traffic violation. When deputies talked to Lorenzo Juan Arrola, 44 of New Mexico and Lucio Avila, 33 of Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico, they appeared to be taking a load of tiles to Philadelphia.

But a drug dog sniffed out narcotics in the truck. When deputies searched the trailer, they found 118 pounds of fentanyl that was possibly mixed with cocaine. They also found $100,000 in cash in the truck.

According to Sheriff Darren Campbell, the narcotics recovered have a street value of just over $3.7 million.

Garinger High School officials announced Monday that 15-year-old student Allisson Manrique Mejia died Sunday from injuries suffered in a car accident last week.

Mejia and three others were injured in a crash last Thursday.

"We are heartbroken by this loss of life and we grieve with her family and friends.  We ask that you keep Allisson’s family, friends, and our students and staff in your thoughts and prayers," Principal LeDuan Pratt said in an emailed statement.

The school's Crisis Response Team will be available to assist with counseling.

North Carolina state Sen. Natasha Marcus said Monday she will run for state insurance commissioner.

To avoid a primary race, Democratic candidate David Wheeler will drop out of the race.

Marcus, a Mecklenburg Democrat, will face Republican incumbent Mike Causey or challenger candidate Robert Brawley in 2024.

The Carolina Panthers' most painful season in years continued Sunday, with a blowout 28-6 loss to their division rivals the New Orleans Saints.

Playing in New Orleans, the Panthers struggled to put together any semblance of an offense. Rookie quarterback Bryce Young threw for 137 yards and completed just 13 passes, with no touchdowns. He was sacked four times and lost a fumble.

The Saints also blocked a Panthers punt and returned it for a touchdown.

The Panthers are 1-12 on the season.

"We need to figure out how to win," said interim head coach Chris Tabor after the game. "Everything's frustrating right now, if I can be completely honest...This is tough."

A 52-year-old man was shot and killed early Saturday morning in west Charlotte, police said.

Officers patrolling near Camp Greene Street and Wilkinson Boulevard heard gunshots shortly after 4 a.m. They found Rodney Hamilton with gunshot wounds on Camp Greene Street. Paramedics rushed him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said they found Jamar Demontae Davis, 37, shortly after the shooting and took him into custody. He's been charged with murder. Police didn't release any other information, or say whether the men knew other or what might have led to the killing.

Mecklenburg Republican House member John Bradford filed paperwork Friday to run for Congress in the newly drawn 8th District, instead of running for state treasurer as previously planned.

The 8th District stretches from Union and Cabarrus counties to Robeson County. It’s a heavily Republican seat that is currently represented by Dan Bishop. He’s leaving Congress to run for North Carolina attorney general.

Bradford said he’ll loan his campaign up to $2 million dollars. He’ll now face Mark Harris in the Republican primary. Harris’s 2018 congressional win was overturned because of an absentee ballot fraud scandal.

Bradford’s switch means, as of now, the GOP doesn’t have anyone running for treasurer.

“It’s clear to all of us that Washington is broken and that new leadership is needed,” Bradford said. “Those leaders need to know how to create jobs and enable the private sector to flourish. I’m proud of my record of job-creation in the business world and my voting record in Raleigh, where I helped our Republican majorities advance conservative policy in North Carolina.”

Wells Fargo is dropping its sponsorship of the Wells Fargo Championship PGA tournament held annually at Quail Hollow after next year. The bank said it was reevaluating its sponsorship strategy to drive efficiency.

The tournament was founded in 2003 with sponsorship from Wachovia, the Charlotte-based bank Wells Fargo acquired in 2008.

Representative Tricia Cotham, who switched from the Democratic to the Republican Party and gave the GOP a super majority in the North Carolina House, has filed to run for reelection. The Mint Hill Republican will run in District 105, encompassing southeastern Mecklenburg County. Democrat Vermanno Bowman filed to run for the seat Monday.

Now that the Carolina Panthers have been eliminated from playoff contention, the team’s focus shifts to development of players for the future. Most specifically, rookie number one draft pick Bryce Young. In his weekly press conference Thursday, offensive coordinator Thomas Brown said he still believes in Young.
 
"But it has to do with our overall lack of execution offensively in general. I have zero concerns about Bryce at all in the future. I still stand by everything I've said from day one about him being an elite player in this league for a long time, just from the overall process he approaches towards it, his mental capacity, but also his overall natural talent as well," he said.

The Panthers visit the New Orleans Saints at 1 pm Sunday.

The Queen’s Cup Steeplechase will not be run in 2024 as organizers wrestle over who will manage the event going forward, according to the Charlotte Business Journal.

Event founders Bill and Carrington Pricenegotiated a partnership last summer between the steeplechase’s nonprofit board and another local nonprofit, Dream On 3, to operate the annual horse racing event in Waxhaw. However, the management structure fell apart in recent weeks over operating responsibilities. The Business Journal reports the steeplechase board held an emergency meeting this week and plans to hold another one later this month. It's not clear yet whether this will be a one-year hiatus or a permanent end for the event.

North Carolina Democratic Congresswoman Kathy Manning of Greensboro said Thursday that she won’t run for re-election because of what she called the state’s new "egregiously gerrymandered maps."

Manning was first elected in 2020.

The state’s current Congressional delegation has 7 Republicans and 7 Democrats.

The Republican-controlled General Assembly recently re-drew the state’s Congressional map. It now favors the GOP in 10 of 14 seats.

Manning’s seat switched from a safe Democratic district to one that favors a Republican. Democratic voters recently filed a lawsuit to overturn the map.

Like many health systems across the Carolinas, Atrium Health says it’s seeing an increase in respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, flu and RSV. Starting Thursday, Atrium Health will implement temporary visitor restrictions for children age 12 and younger.

To reduce the possibility of spreading viruses, visitors who are age 12 and younger will not be permitted to visit patients in Atrium hospitals, behavioral health and inpatient rehabilitation locations. There are exceptions, such as visiting a dying family member, in which staff can make special arrangements. In a press release, the hospital says visitors of any age who do not feel well or who have a confirmed case of flu, RSV, COVID-19 or any other respiratory virus should not visit.

The Carolina Panthers continue to get bad news on the injury front. On Wednesday, the father of Panther tight end Hayden Hurst posted on social media that his son has been diagnosed with post-traumatic amnesia after a hit he took against the Chicago Bears last month. At his weekly press conference, interim head coach Chris Tabor was asked about the team’s injury-plagued season.

"I think sometimes I really, it's probably luck of the draw. I think our training staff does a great job of getting guys back. I mean, no one's fully healthy at this time of the year and what we're just trying to do is make sure that we get our guys ready because in order to win on the road, I mean, the secret, it's not a, it's not a big secret. You want to win on the road, pack a good team. So, that's, that's what we're trying to do,"

The Panthers visit the New Orleans Saints Sunday afternoon.

The town of Huntersville will begin hiring full-time fire department staff as the town continues to grow. The new Town Board of Commissioners sworn in this week voted to approve a budget amendment that will fund the addition of a Town Fire Chief and 18 full-time fire department staff for Huntersville.

The budget amendment was for more than $300,000 from the Town's general fund, and the rest of the $1.1 million being allocated for funding the new positions will come from grants and existing funding. Existing part-time staff are encouraged to apply, the town said.

The owners of the Gastonia Honey Hunters baseball team have filed for bankruptcy in Maryland. Court records show N-C Gas House Gang LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Honey Hunters started playing in the south division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball in 2021. The league terminated the team's membership in November after the team failed to pay debts to the league. The city of Gastonia has also filed a lawsuit against the team for failing to meet financial obligations. The city told WFAE they are working with their legal team on the status of the ballpark.

Most North Carolina Congressional Democrats voted Tuesday in favor of a Republican-drafted House resolution declaring that that “anti-Zionism is antisemitism.”

The resolution divided House Democrats nationally, showing a split in the party over Israel.

Ninety-five House Democrats voted for the resolution, which some critics said would stifle any criticism of Israel and how it’s conducting it’s war against Hamas. Ninety-two Democrats voted present, which meant they didn’t take a formal position on the resolution.

In North Carolina, Democrats Alma Adams and Jeff Jackson of Charlotte supported the resolution. Democrats Wiley Nickel, Don Davis and Kathy Manning also voted yes.

Deborah Ross voted present. Valerie Foushee did not vote.

All North Carolina Republicans voted yes.

After a contentious debate, Mecklenburg County Commissioners Tuesday night approved an additional $10 million to cover escalated costs for replacing the Discovery Place Nature museum in Freedom Park.

That’s only half of what Discovery Place asked for. The nonprofit had wanted an additional $20 million.

In 2017, county commissioners approved $16 million to pay for the project, but Discovery Place didn't begin work. On Tuesday, commissioners said they were shocked at how much the price tag has jumped in six years.

"When I first received it, I thought it was a typo. I thought this can't be. So I asked the clerk, is this true? And she said this is, it's not a typo," said Commissioner Elaine Powell. She said she was dismayed that Discovery Place wanted more than double its original budget.

"This ask to me is one of the most offensive items that has ever been before me," she said.

Officials said labor and material costs have gone up, and that even though they’ve reduced the size and scope of the project, all of the bids were more than double what they had planned for.

Discovery Place will have to raise the remaining $10 million to complete the project.

Commissioner Pat Cotham said the project appeared to be one of the most disorganized she’s seen.

"I mean, over the 11 years I've been here, we hear a lot about big projects. I've been through a lot of things. I've never heard one that sounds so discombobulated as this," she said.

Still, Powell was the only no vote.

The current building is 72 years old. A replacement will be twice the size, with new exhibits, an expanded nature walk and an outdoor area featuring otters.

U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, a Republican who has represented a district west and north of Charlotte for almost two decades, said Tuesday that he won't run for reelection.

McHenry rose to leadership positions in the U.S. House, and served as acting speaker of the House for three weeks this year during the impasse after former House speaker Kevin McCarthy's ouster.

McHenry said he plans to finish serving out his term. He didn't give a specific reason for retiring from Congress.

"This is not a decision I come to lightly, but I believe there is a season for everything and — for me — this season has come to an end," he said.

And in the first ripple effect, Republican candidate Pat Harrigan announced he's switching from the 14th District to run in McHenry's 10th District. That frees up N.C. Rep. Tim Moore, Speaker of the state House, to run in the 14th without a primary challenge from Harrigan.

The Mint Hill Police Department is investigating a crash that killed a Rocky River High School student on Monday-

MHPD responded to a crash Monday near the 11000 block of Allen Station Drive. When officers arrived, they found a 2013 Honda Civic wedged under the rear of a tractor-trailer.

According to investigators, the truck was occupied and stopped in the far right lane.

The occupants of the Honda had to be extricated from the car. Its driver, 18-year-old Jovany Escamilla Salina, was pronounced dead by paramedics.

Two female passengers were taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board finally locked in its budget Monday night, almost six months into the fiscal year. The tardiness is because the state provides just over half the district’s operating budget, and the General Assembly didn’t approve a budget until October. After that the CMS staff had to figure out how the state’s decisions would play out locally.

Board Chair Elyse Dashew said there were no big surprises.

"We’ve been running in this fiscal year since July, and because of the way things work in our beautiful state we’re just now finalizing our budget. And I know we made some really good educated guesses so we were pretty close with predicting what was going to come out of Raleigh. But you never know until you know," she said.

Chief Financial Officer Kelly Kluttz noted that staff has already begun planning for the 2024-25 budget.

Two juveniles accused of distributing THC-laced Rice Krispies Treats at C.C. Griffin Middle School have been formally charged, police said.

On Friday, Cabarrus County Schools contacted police after students had a reaction to the edibles. Police said a sample tested positive for THC.

Officers also found the students in possession of illegal psychedelic mushrooms. Seven students were transported to the hospital for evaluation.

One student has been charged with two counts of possession and the other has been charged with one count of possession with intent. As juveniles, they were not identified.

Charlotte has been selected as a host city for the 2024 Copa America soccer tournament, organizers said Monday. The international tournament will visit Bank of America Stadium, which will be the site for a semi-final match on July 10 and the third-place playoff on July 13.

A juvenile was shot and killed near uptown Charlotte, police said Sunday.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg officers were responding to a call near 400 Keswick Avenue, just north of uptown, when they found the body at about 7:40 p.m. Sunday.

Officers at the location found the juvenile had been shot. He was pronounced dead by paramedics.

CMPD did not release the name of the juvenile or say what they believe led to the shooting. CMPD homicide detectives are investigating the slaying.

Mecklenburg County Commissioner Arthur Griffin said Monday morning that he will run for reelection for a second term in the at-large seat.

The Charlotte native is a former chair of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education. As a commissioner, Griffin has served as chair of the Public Health and Human Services Committee and Commission liaison to the Building Development Commission.

The Carolina Panthers lost 21-18 in Tampa Bay on Sunday, dropping to a 1-11 record.

It was the Panthers' first game since firing former head coach Frank Reich. Special teams coach Chris Tabor is serving as interim head coach, while offensive coordinator Thomas Brown has returned to play calling.

But the changes to the coaching staff didn't change the outcome. Despite a late-game rally that put the Panthers within striking distance of reclaiming the lead at the end of the fourth quarter, the Panthers were pushed into a fourth down and quarterback Bryce Young threw a game-ending interception.

After the game, Tabor noted a few bright spots in Carolina’s 11th loss in 12 games, including 104 yards and two touchdowns from running back Chuba Hubbard.

"I liked it, you know, I thought that, really for the most part, we tried to get the ball out quickly, we took some shots downfield. And obviously I thought Chuba ran, ran the ball well, there, so, real proud of those guys, something to build on and, and hopefully we can make it better next week," he said.

Young ended the game 15-31 passing with 178 yards and no touchdowns. He converted a two-point conversion, with a run to the end zone capped with a spin. Young was also sacked four times.

The Panthers are now officially eliminated from playoff contention. Young said the team isn't focused on that.

"Obviously, that's out of our control. We haven’t earned that right. We have to take it day by day, so all we're thinking about is tomorrow coming back and correcting the tape," he said.

They’ll travel to New Orleans to take on the Saints Sunday afternoon.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said Sunday that a man wanted in connection with a domestic violence shooting died shortly after being arrested.

The State Bureau of Investigation is looking into the man's death.

Police said the incident started about 4:30 a.m. Sunday, when they were called to Palm Breeze Lane in northeast Charlotte, near Hovis Road.

Police said the man fired a gun multiple times during a domestic dispute then fled.

No one was injured, but police said the man crashed his car into several other vehicles and broke into a nearby residence before they found him a short time later on Windy Valley Drive.

Police said the man was "acting erratically," and that officers used a "soft, empty hands" technique to restrain him. According to the National Institute of Justice, that typically means "officers use grabs, holds and joint locks to restrain an individual."

Police called paramedics, and the man went into cardiac arrest. He was taken to Atrium's main hospital, where he was declared dead.

The man's identity was not released as of Sunday afternoon.

Hundreds of thousands of people in North Carolina who were without health insurance now have coverage, after a decade of political fights. Overnight 300,000 people received full Medicaid coverage. A similar number who made too much money to qualify before, are expected to enroll in the coming weeks.

Gov. Roy Cooper visited a center in Charlotte enrolling people to mark Medicaid expansion taking effect today.

“Today, a dream, a decade in the making, finally becomes a reality,” said Cooper. “Today, we make real the promise of affordable, quality health care for so many. Today, North Carolina officially expands Medicaid to help close the health care coverage gap.”

In the room next door, Kyle Bridges received health coverage for the first time in ten years. He made sure to enroll as soon as possible.

“I dealt with it as it came. Of course, emergencies come. You go to the emergency room. I'm getting older now. I needed it now. Desperately,” said Bridges.

You can apply online and find assistance at Medicaid.nc.gov.

North Carolina Republican Congressmen Patrick McHenry and Dan Bishop voted Friday against expelling George Santos from the House. The state’s other five GOP members of Congress — and all seven Democrats — voted to remove the New York representative.

The resolution to expel Santos passed 311 to 114.

The House has only expelled a member five other times in history. Santos the first member of Congress to be expelled without first being convicted of a federal crime or supporting the Confederacy.

The vote came two weeks after an ethics committee report accused Santos of misconduct, such as stealing from donors and using campaign funds for high-end shopping, casinos, adult website subscriptions and other personal benefits.

On social media, Bishop, of Waxhaw, questioned why Congress departed from “234 years of precedent” in expelling Santos before being convicted.

Democratic Rep. Jeff Jackson of Charlotte, who, like Bishop is running for North Carolina attorney general, said Bishop’s vote was “caving to political corruption” and that Bishop got an easy call wrong.

The FBI and Moore County Sheriff's Office are asking for assistance finding a minivan seen in the area of two electrical substation shootings last December. According to officials, the van is either a silver or light blue Honda Odyssey between the model years 2011 to 2017. The van was seen near the shootings between 6 and 10 pm.

The North Carolina Governor’s office, Duke Energy, the county and the FBI are offering a reward totaling up to $100,000. The Dec. 3 attacks on the electric grid left 45,000 people in the dark for days.

Authorities haven't named any suspects or motive for the attack. One woman who relied on an oxygen concentrator died as a result. The FBI said no further information about the case would be disclosed.

Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL FBI (225-5324), the Moore County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 910-947-4444, or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

Gastonia’s mayor has died, the city said late Thursday. Walker Reid III had been mayor since 2017 and had three decades of public service, including being a retired Mecklenburg County Assistant Fire Marshall and a Gastonia city councilmember for 22 years. He was Gastonia’s first elected Black mayor. He lost his reelection campaign to Richard Franks. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Walker Reid III was 66 years old.