WFAE Local Content

Duke Energy announced big profits during this week’s quarterly earnings call. The presentation comes on the heels of new legislation that further improves the company's credit and removes a key North Carolina climate target.

The state Department of Environmental Quality responded that the program would help an estimated 12,000 households, reducing energy bills by 20%. A written statement from the department said that “termination of this program puts economic prosperity and energy security at risk for all North Carolinians.”

On Thursday, the Park Church on Beatties Ford Road held a funeral for Charlotte civil rights attorney James Ferguson, known as Fergie.

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson is launching an initiative he’s calling “Operation Robocall Roundup.” As part of the multi-state effort with other attorneys general, Jackson is taking enforcement action against 37 voice service providers for not following F-C-C rules to prevent robocalls from entering their networks. Jackson is giving the companies three weeks to comply.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said Thursday that they arrested a Kennedy Middle School volunteer football coach for taking indecent liberties with a student. Court records say 22-year-old Shy’mere Kavon Leroy Simms was arrested Wednesday after allegedly forcing a 13-year-old boy’s hand down his pants. The affidavit alleges Simms contacted the boy over social media. Police say the boy immediately told his family. A police affidavit states Simms was previously a behavioral technician at the boy’s school, Alexander Graham Middle School.

Mecklenburg County commissioners vote on whether to increase the county-wide sales tax by 1 cent to fund the transit plan. North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein signs the mini budget, albeit reluctantly. Nancy Mace throws her hat in the ring for South Carolina governor. Plus, the Panthers open preseason play.

Mecklenburg County commissioners decide to end negotiations with The Peebles Corporation over the Brooklyn Village development. The Winston Weaver Company settles a class-action lawsuit related to their 2022 fertilizer plant fire. A preview of the Illharmonic Orchestra's upcoming Charlotte performance.

A new report from the group Public Schools First examines how public money is going to private schools who are allowed to prohibit certain students from enrolling.

The Mint Museum will host a community day this weekend in partnership with the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino.

If you have ever wondered what joining philanthropy efforts could entail or mean for your community, a panel discussion on Wednesday in Charlotte’s low-income West Boulevard corridor aimed to answer some of those questions for residents.

All nine Mecklenburg Commissioners agreed Wednesday that they will no longer attempt to work with Miami Beach-based The Peebles Corp. to redevelop Brooklyn Village in Second Ward.

Students in the Rowan-Salisbury school system get back to class Thursday. Cabarrus County students return Monday (Aug. 11). Kannapolis City Schools start Tuesday (Aug. 12), Gaston County goes back to class Wednesday (Aug. 13). Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools start back on Aug. 25.