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Legislators in Raleigh are grilling Mecklenburg County leaders on Monday about crime — especially the high-profile killing of Iryna Zarutska on the light rail — and their cooperation with federal immigration officials.

Local leaders say they are mostly prepared for Iryna’s Law, which takes effect Monday. House Bill 307 was passed in response to the August killing of Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte’s light rail system, and it tightens pretrial release conditions for people who are arrested — particularly those with mental health concerns.

The August murder of Iryna Zarutska has caused national outrage, notably from President Donald Trump and his supporters.

In the month after 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska was murdered on the Lynx Blue Line, the Charlotte Area Transit System has scrambled to have more private security on trains — both to keep people safe and to make sure passengers have bought a ticket.

A preliminary report from North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek faults the Charlotte Area Transit System for not hiring enough armed security guards on its light rail system. The report released Tuesday says that even though CATS tripled its security budget and hired more security personnel overall in recent years, the number of armed officers fell by 40 percent. The city of Charlotte responded that it has added more CMPD officers to supplement patrols on the light rail. The audit was prompted by the killing of Iryna Zarutska on the Blue Line light rail. A final report is pending.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles on Monday said judges and magistrates allow criminals to be released too quickly.

The General Assembly passed the legislation in response to the widely publicized murder of Iryna Zarutska on board a Charlotte light rail car.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said Monday that the fatal stabbing of a Ukrainian refugee on the city's light rail system was "a tragic failure by the courts and magistrates" and announced new steps to increase transit security.

A U.S. House subcommittee holds a hearing in Charlotte about crime and safety, state auditor Dave Boliek publishes a report on CATS security, Gov. Josh Stein calls on the General Assembly to make up a shortfall on Medicaid, and the impact of the federal government on North Carolina.

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.

Viewed one way, Monday’s hearing on crime in Charlotte was a huge success for Republican state legislators.

On the local news roundup, Charlotte City Council’s safety committee focuses on transit security and debates the return of red light cameras, Mooresville Mayor Chris Carney says he won’t resign following a vote of no confidence by the town board, and the Hornets are in the final stretch of their most successful season in years.

The proposal was added to Iryna's Law during debate late Monday evening. It added a partisan element to a bill that had appeared to have bipartisan support.

Decarlos Brown Jr., the man charged with stabbing Iryna Zarutska on the Charlotte light rail, suffered from schizophrenic delusions and poor mental health since his release from prison in 2020, according to his family. The case shows how the state struggles to contain and treat mentally ill people who may pose a risk to the public.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles on Tuesday easily won the Democratic primary, getting 71% of the vote against four opponents. That’s a rout. But the results also showed some softening of support compared to her three previous primaries, when she got 85%, 84% and 87%.

As higher gas prices are pushing riders elsewhere onto buses and trains, Charlotte's ridership continues to stagnate.

Vice President JD Vance visited North Carolina for the first time since taking office, urging Gov. Josh Stein to sign a new crime bill and saying the administration would send the National Guard to Charlotte if asked.

Interim Charlotte Area Transit System CEO Brent Cagle said he has tripled the amount of money the transit system spends on security since 2023.

What did voters say in this off-year election where some key local races and the transit referendum were on the ballot? What will those decisions mean for the area’s future? Republican spending in local races was up. Did it make a difference? We look at the outcome of the election and talk with former North Carolina governor and former Charlotte mayor, Pat McCrory, about a host of issues.

After two high-profile stabbings on the Lynx Blue Line train, questions about safety on public transit remain front and center. We sit down with CATS interim CEO Brent Cagle to ask what’s changed, what hasn’t and what riders can expect now.