WFAE staff and wire reports

Charlotte City Council member Marjorie Molina is calling for a recount, after losing by 37 votes in Tuesday night’s Democratic primary. Challenger J.D. Mazuera Arias’ victory was by less than 1 percent of the votes cast. Molina said she is committed to a fair process. The Mecklenburg County elections board meets on Tuesday to certify the primary results. There’s no Republican running in District 5, so if Mazuera Arias’ win is confirmed, he will be sworn in on Charlotte City Council in December.

Turnout was up big in Tuesday night’s Charlotte municipal primary election compared with two years ago — but still in the single digits. Data from the Mecklenburg County elections board shows that 8% of voters, more than 42,000, cast ballots in the races for Charlotte City Council and mayor. Less than 5% of voters turned out in 2023. The general election is in November, and typically draws turnout somewhere in the teens.

Almost three weeks after the killing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, a slew of investigations into Charlotte's transit system have been announced.

The Carolina Panthers will be without one of their defensive lineman following an injury in Sunday’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Defensive tackle Treshawn Wharton will miss two to four weeks due to a hamstring injury. The Panthers will remain on the road this weekend when they take on the Arizona Cardinals.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has signed an executive order directing the state Department of Social Services to seek federal approval to block food stamp purchases of candy, energy drinks, soda and other sugary drinks.

A clogged sewer line near Carowinds Boulevard caused about 3,300 gallons of untreated wastewater to spill into Steele Creek this week, according to Charlotte Water.

The man accused of killing retired Rock Hill police lieutenant Larry Vaughan four years ago was found guilty by a 12-person jury in York County on Tuesday. The Rock Hill Herald reports Evan Hawthorne’s murder verdict came a couple hours after the jury heard closing arguments from attorneys Tuesday morning. Judge Keith Kelly gave Hawthorne a life sentence in prison.

Huntersville has a new police chief. Brian Vaughn was sworn in Sunday as Huntersville's new chief of police, capping a 24-year career with the department that started when he joined as a patrol officer in 2001.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Police have identified and charged the suspect who allegedly fired at officers yesterday morning in a southeast Charlotte neighborhood.

An obituary published by the family of Iryna Zarutska provides more details on the 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who was stabbed to death on the light rail in South End on Friday night. Zarutska came to the U.S. in 2022 with her mother, brother and sister to escape Russia’s war. She had an art degree from a college in Kyiv, loved animals and wanted to become a veterinary assistant.