WFAE staff and wire reports

A Justice Department investigation involving Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell could complicate the confirmation of future Federal Reserve nominees, after a key Republican senator from North Carolina said he would oppose any picks tied to the situation.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport will soon add another lounge for travelers. The 14,000-square-foot Capital One Lounge will open in Concourse A. It will feature airfield views, locally inspired food and a workspace. The construction schedule and opening date will be announced at a later date.

A South Carolina judge has denied the NFL’s request to dismiss a brain injury lawsuit filed by the family of former player Phillip Adams. The Rock Hill Herald reports the case can now move forward in Orangeburg County. In 2021, Adams killed six people before killing himself in York County. The Adams’ family claims Phillip suffered from CTE from his time playing pro football.

North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis escalated his criticism of the Trump administration on Wednesday, directing sharp remarks at White House adviser Stephen Miller over comments about Greenland.

NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps is stepping down, just weeks after the sport resolved a contentious legal challenge over its charter system and revenue sharing.

The troubled Sycamore Brewing company is shelving plans for a major new taproom in Cotswold Village. The Charlotte Business Journal reports that the 11,000 square-foot beer garden on Randolph Road has had its lease terminated. Sycamore’s co-founder was arrested last month and charged with sex crimes involving a minor, prompting stores, bars and distributors to dump its beer. The brewery is also closing its South End taproom.

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson is joining a multistate lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s plan to halt funding for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Discovery Place Science in Charlotte will be closed Monday due to a water main break that affected the museum. There’s no word yet on what may have caused the break

The National Transportation Safety Board is continuing its investigation into a plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport that killed seven people, including former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife and two children.

Federal investigators are on site Friday at Statesville Regional Airport after a plane crash that killed seven people, including former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife and their two children.