News & Opinion
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ESSAY: Why Community Organizing Is Front of Mind This Fourth of July
I arrived at my neighborhood meeting a little late, but that didn’t seem to surprise anyone. I took a seat and glanced at the agenda written in marker on butcher paper. Tonight’s topics: Neighborhood newsletter, traffic on Boyd Street, illegal dumping concerns, affordable housing conversation and the upcoming potluck. Over…
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New Owners Discuss NoDa Company Store Rebranding to Relic NoDa
[This Q&A originally ran in the July issue of NoDa News as part of that publication’s ‘Micro-galleries in NoDa’ series, a monthly exploration of how small businesses have carried on the artistic traditions of the neighborhood’s identity as an arts district following gallery closures.] In August 2025, Jesse Fell and…
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Park Planned for Large Tract Along Lake Wylie Shoreline
Gaston County has purchased one of the largest undeveloped tracts along Lake Wylie to build a massive park with trails for hiking and mountain biking, public access to Lake Wylie and a connection to the Carolina Thread Trail. The culmination of a years-long effort between Catawba Lands Conservancy (CLC), The…
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NC Senate Passes Bill to Restrict Homeless Encampments, Expand Drug Penalties
The NC Senate approved legislation last week that would prohibit local governments from allowing homeless encampments on public property and create enhanced penalties for some drug crimes committed near homeless service providers. House Bill 437 would bar cities and counties from regularly allowing public camping or sleeping on public property, including…
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LaMelo Ball Trade Shocks Fanbase Just as Things Were Looking Up
“Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?” That was the feeling that permeated throughout the Spectrum Center Thursday as the Charlotte Hornets introduced their two new players from the first round of Tuesday’s NBA Draft. Nobody cared. Right after Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Jeff Peterson introduced the two players…
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Council Quickies: Robert Harrington Named Interim Mayor
Charlotte City Council’s regularly scheduled business meeting on Monday was a big one, as the body was responsible for appointing an interim mayor who will finish out Mayor Vi Lyles’ term when she steps down at the end of the month. Because the two appointment votes were disjointed, with unrelated…
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Could Technology Stop Repeat Speeders? Some NC Lawmakers Think So.
Matt Simpson was on a bicycle ride with his wife and two young children when a Volkswagen Jetta barreled through a crosswalk near their Durham home in July 2022. The car, which was traveling at nearly twice the posted speed limit, struck Simpson, who died from his injuries at a local hospital. “Matt was…
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ESSAY: Juneteenth Is My Fourth of July
Juneteenth is my Fourth of July. It comes with all my favorite things: barbecues, commemorations, drum circles, and elders standing up on stages with kente cloth and canes. I love it all. It’s my day of remembrance. I celebrate Juneteenth like I personally delivered the 1865 message of freedom to…
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Why Pollinator Gardens Are Important (and Now Legal) in Charlotte
Perfectly manicured turf grass lawns have not only become the norm in America but, in many cases, the law. A vast majority of cities across the country have some form of overgrown vegetation ordinance incorporated in its municipal health and sanitation codes, and Charlotte is no exception. The issue with…
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Top Candidates for Interim Charlotte Mayor Address Council Before Vote
Charlotte City Council held a special meeting on Thursday afternoon that allowed council members to engage with the five final candidates for interim mayor before an upcoming vote to appoint Mayor Vi Lyles’ temporary replacement. What’s next: Charlotte City Council is scheduled to vote on the interim mayoral appointment at…
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Jay Sifford of Sifford Garden Design Shares Tips for Charlotte Yards
In its February 2023 issue, Fine Gardening magazine described Jay Sifford as “magical.” A quick glance at the past projects carried out by Sifford’s company, Sifford Garden Design, shows the description was anything but hyperbolic. As a garden designer, writer, speaker and frequent podcast guest, Sifford wastes no opportunity to…
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The Ultimate Charlotte Outdoor Adventure Guide, From Whitewater to Greenways
This mix of outdoor adventures presented by NOVEL River District by Crescent Communities At NOVEL River District, luxury and nature come together to create a lifestyle that feels both vibrant and effortlessly connected. Nestled within Charlotte’s expansive River District community, NOVEL invites residents to embrace a more adventurous way of…
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Nooze Hounds: Jessica Lefkowitz, Hearts for the Invisible
On episode 104 of the Nooze Hounds podcast, Ryan talks to Jessica Lefkowitz, founder and executive director of Hearts for the Invisible Charlotte Coalition, providing street outreach for individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness. On the episode, Lefkowitz discusses how she grew the group from a grassroots effort to the lead agency…
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How to Transform Your Charlotte Backyard with Three Weekend DIY Projects
Charlotte summers make you want to live outside, but a lot of backyards just aren’t there yet. Maybe your “patio” is a grill on a patch of grass, your garden lives in randomly collected pots, or you’re hopping through mud every time you take the dog out at night. The…
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Kemba Walker to Open State-of-the-Art Sports Academy in Concord
A Charlotte sports legend will continue to cement his legacy in the Charlotte area later this month with the grand opening of Kemba Walker Sports Academy in Concord, scheduled for June 26, with the inaugural Kemba Walker Invitational tournament taking place at the facility over the weekend that follows. Designed…
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City Council Passes 150-Day Moratorium on Data Center Petitions
Charlotte City Council held a business meeting on Monday night, voting on the Fiscal Year 2027 budget and an anticipated moratorium on data center petitions. Council voted 9-2 to approve the budget, with LaWana Mayfield and Ed Driggs casting the only No votes. You can read the budget in full…
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