Charlotte City Council dominated the headlines this week as council member Tiawana Brown was indicted on charges of falsifying loan applications and receiving more than $124,000 worth of Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, loans intended for COVID-19 relief. Brown denied the charges, which date back to before she took office, and said she paid back the portion of the loan she was responsible for. She also said she will not resign and intends to run for reelection.
The North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek announced an investigation into a reported settlement to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Johnny Jennings. Boliek announced the investigation in a letter to Mayor Vi Lyles this week. The city hasn’t announced the amount of the settlement or even that there is one. The alleged settlement comes after Jennings was reportedly upset over text messages he had received last year from then-council member Tariq Bokhari over a disagreement about police protective vests. In the texts, Bokhari threatened to have Jennings fired and “cripple his legacy.”
Meanwhile, the vote to finish Bokhari’s term in District 6 came and went this week. Edwin Peacock edged out Bokhari’s wife, Krista, with Mayor Lyles breaking a 5-5 tie. Despite the issues surrounding her husband’s texts with the police chief, Krista Bokhari had the support of a number of state lawmakers that could be key to getting the transit bill on the ballot in Mecklenburg County this fall. Peacock has said he does not intend to run for the seat when it opens in the fall. Krista Bokhari could run still for the seat.
Tuesday was the 250th anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. Or was it? Whether or not you believe in the story, uptown Charlotte was filled with celebrations honoring the anniversary of what some call the real Declaration of Independence.
And is North Carolina becoming a hockey state? Two teams are making deep runs in their respective league's postseasons. Both the Charlotte Checkers and Carolina Hurricanes are in top form at the right time. We break down where their runs stand and what could come next.
Those stories and more on the Charlotte Talks Local News Roundup.
GUESTS:
Ryan Pitkin, co-founder and editor of Queen City Nerve
Ely Portillo, senior editor at WFAE News
Mary Ramsey, local government accountability reporter for the Charlotte Observer
Hunter Sáenz, WSOC-TV reporter
