WFAE Local Content

School districts across the state are bracing for the possibility of teachers calling out sick to protest school funding Friday.

Transit advocates pick up a big win, Democrats run the table in local elections, CMPD announces a new chief, and it’s nail-biting time as Charlotte F.C. comes home to take on New York City in the final playoff game of a three-game series.

Travelers brace for delays at major airports, including Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden announced Thursday that he is running for reelection in 2026.

Charlotte-based insurance company Brighthouse Financial said Thursday that it will be acquired by a New York-based company. Aquarian Capital will pay $4.1 billion for Brighthouse, which is headquartered in Ballantyne. Brighthouse’s offices will remain in Charlotte, the company said.

Cabarrus County Commissioner Lynn Shue has died after lengthy health challenges. The former Cabarrus School Board chairman has served as a county commissioner since 2014. He had received two life-saving organ transplants and was undergoing treatment when some county commissioners tried to appoint Lamarie Austin-Stripling to a vacant seat on the board in April, but a court blocked the move.

Three North Carolina Republican lawmakers are urging Gov. Josh Stein to deploy the National Guard to Charlotte, saying police are strained and violent crime is a growing concern. The request comes despite CMPD data showing overall crime is down this year.

Charlotte Douglas International is among the 40 airports across the country that will face 10% reductions in air traffic starting Friday. Multiple media outlets are reporting Charlotte is on that list, but the Federal Aviation Administration has not officially released it yet. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Tuesday the move comes amid shortages of air traffic controllers who are working without pay during the federal government shutdown. In a press release early Thursday, CLT says they have not been notified of any reductions at CLT at this time and that airline partners, including American, will determine and communicate any schedule changes directly to customers.

Mayor Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles says work will begin immediately to implement the county's newly approved transportation plan. Turnout for Tuesday's Mecklenburg County municipal election was the highest in 10 years. Tega Cay elects its first female mayor. Cabarrus County Commissioner Lynn Shue dies at 71.

A clean energy group is claiming that a Duke Energy program would fool customers into buying clean energy credits that don’t actually generate new clean energy.

Let’s take a break from talking about this week’s election results for a moment to look at some business news in the Charlotte area. As usual, Tony Mecia of the Charlotte Ledger Business Newsletter joined WFAE’s Marshall Terry for our segment BizWorthy.

Former Mayor Jennifer Roberts says the 52-48% result is "not a mandate," and city and county leaders still have work to do to build trust in their multibillion-dollar transit plan.