Gabe Altieri

CMS Superintendent Crystal Hill makes her first public appearance since being suspended. A state audit finds CATS has not spent the nearly $2 million set aside for safety improvements. North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein vetoes a bill to change the election process by shortening voting periods. And Queen City Nerve ceases publication.

Rob Harrington has served as Charlotte’s mayor for about two months, filling the post vacated by Vy Lyles. He’s only in office until the end of next year, but he has a lot on his plate as the council grapples with data centers, Interstate 77 toll lanes, teen takeovers and other issues.

CMS Superintendent Crystal Hill is back in the driver’s seat, but we still know little about what led to her suspension. Democrats on City Council are uneasy about CMPD’s push to apply for a federal “Make America Safe Again” grant. We’ll tell you why. Plus, the latest on campaigns in western North Carolina and South Carolina.

First, we address breaking news as CMS reinstates Superintendent Crystal Hill. Then, Operation Charlotte’s Web, last fall’s Border Patrol operation, didn’t really end; it just quieted down. ICE officials are still making arrests here and throughout the state. In western North Carolina, there are questions about cooperation with ICE. In eastern North Carolina, a detention center could open. The latest on the impact this is having on immigrant communities and more.

Western North Carolina Rep. Chuck Edwards ends his reelection bid after a censure recommendation from the House Ethics Committee. Charlotte City Council holds discussions this week on toll lanes, data centers, e-bikes and more. Plus, the state’s hemp industry can chill. House Republicans vote against holding a vote that would have killed the industry.

Heading toward the midterm election, the North Carolina General Assembly moves to make changes affecting voting access. In a Senate vote along party lines, legislation passed to cut early voting, increase post-election audits, and reduce transparency in campaign financing. Plus, we discuss campaign press access and more.

NCDOT says it will work with community partners to address food deserts on Charlotte’s west side in an effort to get support for toll lanes. The North Carolina General Assembly is back in session and making changes to the recently passed budget bill, and honeybee-killing yellow-legged hornets are spotted near Matthews. What you should keep an eye out for.

Charlotte is expected to see a multi-million dollar boost from MLS All-Star week, with spending at hotels, restaurants, bars and shops across uptown and beyond. The game, featuring MLS All-Stars against Liga MX All-Stars at Bank of America Stadium, builds on the momentum from the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup and reinforces Charlotte’s push to become a year-round destination for major sporting events.

The CMS Board of Education says it expects to reveal the results of an investigation into Superintendent Crystal Hill before school starts. Darline Graham Nordone and Ralph Norman are among those vying for Lindsey Graham’s seat in the U.S. Senate, and Duke Energy has reached a settlement on its rate of return.

The county is set to vote on whether to reverse its rejection of the I-77 toll lane project, and we’ll see which way he’s leaning. Plus, the state finally has a budget — after a long delay — and we’ll look at how the county dealt with the uncertainty surrounding it. We’ll also get into data centers, finances, the immigration crackdown and more with Mecklenburg County Commission Chair Mark Jerrell.