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Articles by Brandon Plotnick
The ACC announced a new plan on Tuesday. It is called Two Traditions. One Court. and it covers men's and women's basketball games against Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the 2026-27 season. ACC teams will face 18 HBCU programs in 37 games, and a 38th may come later. ACC Network and ACC Network Extra will carry coordinated coverage. It will focus on the players, the coaches, and the history tied to each game.
American Airlines Opens Applications for 2,000 Flight Attendant Jobs in 2027
American Airlines wants to hire 2,000 flight attendants in 2027. Applications are open now through Oct. 18. A large share of the new hires will live and work in Charlotte, though the airline didn't say how many. New trainees will earn their wings in the first half of 2027. Candidates can apply at flightattendants.aa.com. In a statement, the airline said Charlotte will be "one of the top hubs where flight attendants will be based." American already ranks as one of the biggest employers in the city.
Fort Mill Residents Recall Jim Bakker’s Heritage USA Park After Televangelist Dies at 86
Jim Bakker, founder of the Praise the Lord Club, died Oct. 5 at age 86, his family said. Fort Mill, South Carolina, is now looking back on the theme park he built in town. Bakker started the Praise the Lord Club with his wife at the time, Tammy Faye Bakker, in the 1970s. In 1978, the couple opened Heritage USA in Fort Mill. It closed in the 1980s. A few of its buildings still stand in 2026. David Ward grew up in Fort Mill.
Fort Mill Residents Recall Jim Bakker’s Heritage USA Park After Televangelist Dies at 86
Jim Bakker, founder of the Praise the Lord Club, died Oct. 5 at age 86, his family said. Fort Mill, South Carolina, is now looking back on the theme park he built in town. Bakker started the Praise the Lord Club with his wife at the time, Tammy Faye Bakker, in the 1970s. In 1978, the couple opened Heritage USA in Fort Mill. It closed in the 1980s. A few of its buildings still stand in 2026. David Ward grew up in Fort Mill.
Developer Files Construction Permit for $8.3M Excelsior Club Redevelopment in West Charlotte
Developer Shawn Kennedy of Kennedy Properties & Development has filed a land development construction plan permit with the city of Charlotte for the $8.3 million Excelsior Club redevelopment, according to The Charlotte Observer. City records show the filing. Work could start this year. Permits like this usually signal that grading and building are about to begin. Details weren't available right away. A public record request for the plan has not been answered yet.
Toys for Tots Charlotte Launches Drive as Holiday Demand for Children’s Gifts Rises
Toys for Tots in Charlotte expects more kids to need gifts this holiday season, so the group is asking the public for toy donations. The nonprofit started its drive Oct. 1. "We want to ensure that all of these children that are needing assistance this upcoming holiday receive an open toy for Christmas," Sgt. Justin Schmidt said, according to Spectrum News. Schmidt thinks the group will reach 5,000 to 6,000 children in Charlotte this year.
Fort Mill Residents Recall Jim Bakker’s Heritage USA Park After Televangelist Dies at 86
Jim Bakker, founder of the Praise the Lord Club, died Oct. 5 at age 86, his family said. Fort Mill, South Carolina, is now looking back on the theme park he built in town. Bakker started the Praise the Lord Club with his wife at the time, Tammy Faye Bakker, in the 1970s. In 1978, the couple opened Heritage USA in Fort Mill. It closed in the 1980s. A few of its buildings still stand in 2026. David Ward grew up in Fort Mill.
Charlotte Considers Tougher Towing Rules as Drivers Report Bills of $1,100 or More
On Monday, Oct. 5, the Charlotte City Council's Safety Committee talked over changes to the city's towing ordinance. The goal is to punish predatory towing companies. State law limits how far the city can go. No vote has been taken. Assistant City Attorney Jessica Battle told the committee the city cannot cap what a towing company charges. She laid out four options that stay within state law.
Charlotte Considers Tougher Towing Rules as Drivers Report Bills of $1,100 or More
On Monday, Oct. 5, the Charlotte City Council's Safety Committee talked over changes to the city's towing ordinance. The goal is to punish predatory towing companies. State law limits how far the city can go. No vote has been taken. Assistant City Attorney Jessica Battle told the committee the city cannot cap what a towing company charges. She laid out four options that stay within state law.
Toys for Tots Charlotte Launches Drive as Holiday Demand for Children’s Gifts Rises
Toys for Tots in Charlotte expects more kids to need gifts this holiday season, so the group is asking the public for toy donations. The nonprofit started its drive Oct. 1. "We want to ensure that all of these children that are needing assistance this upcoming holiday receive an open toy for Christmas," Sgt. Justin Schmidt said, according to Spectrum News. Schmidt thinks the group will reach 5,000 to 6,000 children in Charlotte this year.
Developer Files Construction Permit for $8.3M Excelsior Club Redevelopment in West Charlotte
Developer Shawn Kennedy of Kennedy Properties & Development has filed a land development construction plan permit with the city of Charlotte for the $8.3 million Excelsior Club redevelopment, according to The Charlotte Observer. City records show the filing. Work could start this year. Permits like this usually signal that grading and building are about to begin. Details weren't available right away. A public record request for the plan has not been answered yet.
Fort Mill Residents Recall Jim Bakker’s Heritage USA Park After Televangelist Dies at 86
Jim Bakker, founder of the Praise the Lord Club, died Oct. 5 at age 86, his family said. Fort Mill, South Carolina, is now looking back on the theme park he built in town. Bakker started the Praise the Lord Club with his wife at the time, Tammy Faye Bakker, in the 1970s. In 1978, the couple opened Heritage USA in Fort Mill. It closed in the 1980s. A few of its buildings still stand in 2026. David Ward grew up in Fort Mill.
Developer Files Construction Permit for $8.3M Excelsior Club Redevelopment in West Charlotte
Developer Shawn Kennedy of Kennedy Properties & Development has filed a land development construction plan permit with the city of Charlotte for the $8.3 million Excelsior Club redevelopment, according to The Charlotte Observer. City records show the filing. Work could start this year. Permits like this usually signal that grading and building are about to begin. Details weren't available right away. A public record request for the plan has not been answered yet.
Toys for Tots Charlotte Launches Drive as Holiday Demand for Children’s Gifts Rises
Toys for Tots in Charlotte expects more kids to need gifts this holiday season, so the group is asking the public for toy donations. The nonprofit started its drive Oct. 1. "We want to ensure that all of these children that are needing assistance this upcoming holiday receive an open toy for Christmas," Sgt. Justin Schmidt said, according to Spectrum News. Schmidt thinks the group will reach 5,000 to 6,000 children in Charlotte this year.
Toys for Tots Charlotte Launches Drive as Holiday Demand for Children’s Gifts Rises
Toys for Tots in Charlotte expects more kids to need gifts this holiday season, so the group is asking the public for toy donations. The nonprofit started its drive Oct. 1. "We want to ensure that all of these children that are needing assistance this upcoming holiday receive an open toy for Christmas," Sgt. Justin Schmidt said, according to Spectrum News. Schmidt thinks the group will reach 5,000 to 6,000 children in Charlotte this year.
Charlotte Considers Tougher Towing Rules as Drivers Report Bills of $1,100 or More
On Monday, Oct. 5, the Charlotte City Council's Safety Committee talked over changes to the city's towing ordinance. The goal is to punish predatory towing companies. State law limits how far the city can go. No vote has been taken. Assistant City Attorney Jessica Battle told the committee the city cannot cap what a towing company charges. She laid out four options that stay within state law.
Charlotte Considers Tougher Towing Rules as Drivers Report Bills of $1,100 or More
On Monday, Oct. 5, the Charlotte City Council's Safety Committee talked over changes to the city's towing ordinance. The goal is to punish predatory towing companies. State law limits how far the city can go. No vote has been taken. Assistant City Attorney Jessica Battle told the committee the city cannot cap what a towing company charges. She laid out four options that stay within state law.
Bojangles Launches ‘Boojangles’ Bite Box for Halloween With Costume Giveaways and Collectible Designs
Bojangles rolled out a limited-time Halloween dinner box on Oct. 5. It's called the Bite Box, and it's sold at participating locations while supplies last. Three designs come in the lineup, and a haunted house takes shape when fans stack all three, per a Business Wire press release. Every box holds a made-from-scratch buttermilk biscuit, a choice of fixin's, a drink, and a dipping sauce. Guests pick six, nine, or 12 hand-breaded Bo Bites chicken tender pieces to go with it.
North Carolina Starts $78M Replacement of 93-Year-Old Catawba River Bridge
Work has started on a $78 million plan to replace and widen the 93-year-old bridge over the Catawba River between Gaston and Mecklenburg counties. The North Carolina Department of Transportation shared the news, as reported by Queen City News. Under the contract, crews should finish in late summer 2032. The US-74 (Wilkinson Blvd) Catawba River Bridge, also known as the Sloan's Ferry Bridge, will grow from four lanes to six. That means three lanes each way.
Livingstone College Welcomes Largest Freshman Class in Nearly 150 Years
Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina, greeted 505 freshmen this semester. That is the biggest first-year group in nearly 150 years, the college said. Last year, the school took in 400 new students. College president Dr. Anthony Davis said enrollment has jumped by roughly 70% over the past four years. "I was excited, I was doing the happy dance," Davis said, according to WBTV. Davis visited 27 cities last year and spent 12 weeks on the road.
NC Football Week 6: Wake Forest Visits NC State, North Carolina Faces Pittsburgh
Wake Forest travels to NC State in Raleigh at noon on Saturday, Oct. 10. It's the biggest in-state game of Week 6 in North Carolina college football, according to NCFootballNews. The CW will air it. In all, 27 games with North Carolina programs are set for Saturday, and a 28th follows on Sunday, Oct. 11. Four games start at noon. North Carolina plays at Pittsburgh on ESPN. New Hampshire visits North Carolina A&T on FloCollege, while Chowan plays at North Greenville on CCDN.
Charlotte Could Invest $6M in Parking at Bojangles Coliseum as Park Expo Center Redevelopment Nears
A Charlotte City Council committee moved a $6 million plan forward Monday. It would add 219 parking spaces near Bojangles Coliseum on city-owned land off Chipley Avenue, right next to the Coliseum's current lot. The full council takes up the plan later this month. The council's economic development and workforce committee voted unanimously to send the proposal ahead. City staff say the project is a first step in making up for parking that will vanish at the Park Expo Center.
Charlotte Marathon Changes 2026 Course, Expects Record Field
The Novant Health Charlotte Marathon changed two parts of its course this year. Organizers expect more than 13,000 runners across the full marathon, half marathon, and 5K races, which would set a record for turnout. Marathon and half marathon runners will take a new route between miles 7 and 8. They will turn onto East Boulevard and cut through Dilworth to Morehead Street. That skips the old Morehead Street climb. Full marathon runners won't face the hilly loop around mile 24 anymore.
Charlotte MORE THAN PINK Walk Moves to Memorial Stadium on Oct. 10
Charlotte's Susan G. Komen MORE THAN PINK Walk will shift to American Legion Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10. Survivors will gather there. So will families and corporate backers. North Carolina leads the nation in breast cancer cases, making this event crucial for the community. The walk leaves Symphony Park at SouthPark Mall behind and heads to the 10,500-seat venue in Elizabeth.
North Carolina Gets $45.2 Million in First Meta Settlement Payment for Child Safety
North Carolina received $45,167,732 from Meta as the first installment. This money comes from a settlement over child safety concerns on Facebook and Instagram. The payment is part of a $17.1 billion agreement that could bring up to $645 million to the state by 2035. The state is guaranteed at least $451 million. An additional $194 million is available if other major social media companies agree to similar safety measures. The remaining funds will be paid in nine installments each Jan.
CDC Issues Advisory After 17% Jump in Rabies Exposures Across Nation
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put out a Health Alert Network Health Advisory after rabies-related inquiries jumped 17% from July to August 2026 when compared with that same stretch in 2025. This advisory covers mass exposure events where more than one person got involved.
Charlotte Housing Market Cools: Sales and Listings Drop Amid Economic Adjustments
Home sales across the 16-county Charlotte region plummeted 8.7% compared to last year, hitting 3,560 in August. This marks the steepest annual decline among major housing indicators. Pending contracts slipped 1.8% to 3,763 when measured against August 2025. New listings dipped 2.2% to 4,940, per Canopy Realtor Association's monthly report. Canopy MLS compiled the numbers from properties throughout the region. Month-to-month figures revealed sharper drops. Sales tumbled 14%. Contracts sank 5%.
Carolina BaloonFest Seeking New Home Due to Statesville Airport Growth
Carolina BalloonFest must relocate from Statesville Regional Airport, or its 51st edition could be its last. Sam Parks, the festival's executive director, said Thursday that they need 200 acres to lease in the Statesville area for three weeks each year. Airport expansion plans are forcing the move. The second-oldest hot air balloon festival in the country faces a dire situation.
Warbirds Over Monroe Air Show 2026 Canceled Due to Airport Construction
The Warbirds Over Monroe Air Show won't happen in 2026. Construction at Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport has forced the cancellation. City officials made the announcement on Oct. 1. This event has become a Veteran's Day tradition for the area. The construction work has made it impossible to host the show. City of Monroe officials haven't decided if the show will return after 2026, according to WSOCTV.com. For more than twenty years, the event has drawn thousands of spectators from across the region.
Sherwin-Williams Opens Expanded Statesville Facility, Largest in North American
Sherwin-Williams held a ribbon-cutting on Sept. 30 for its expanded architectural paint and coatings manufacturing site in Statesville, North Carolina. The location is now the company's largest plant in North America. The expansion added nearly 50,000 square feet. Workers completed production space upgrades, automation improvements, four new rail spurs, and infrastructure designed to streamline material handling and boost operational efficiency.
NASCAR’s Kyle Busch Celebration of Life and Tribute Event Set for Oct. 9
Charlotte Motor Speedway will host a Celebration of Life for Kyle Busch on Friday, Oct. 9, at 8 p.m. ET following the Craftsman Truck Series race. Fans can attend free at the start/finish line of the 1.5-mile track in Concord, North Carolina. FS1 will broadcast the ceremony. Samantha Busch, widow of the late driver, will appear alongside his brother Kurt Busch.
Charlotte Hornets Launch Month-Long Fan Tour Across Carolinas
The Charlotte Hornets started "The Pull-Up," a month-long string of pop-ups, partner events, and community gatherings across North Carolina and South Carolina throughout October. Action began Oct. 1 in Uptown Charlotte. Mascot Hugo handed out gift cards at the team's fan shop. The series brings the franchise into restaurants, breweries, retail spots, and festivals outside Spectrum Center. Team personalities show up at various locations. Former players make appearances.
Panthers’ Kicker Ryan Fitzgerald Misses Two Straight Extra Points in Loss to Lions
Ryan Fitzgerald botched two extra points in a row. The Carolina kicker struggled during Week 4's Sunday Night Football matchup with Detroit on Sept. 27. His first kick clanged off the upright. The second sailed wide. Those misses sparked concern about the second-year specialist. Extra points are supposed to be automatic — basically a 33-yard chip shot. Before this game, Fitzgerald had connected on 8 of 9 tries through three weeks. His field goal work had been flawless.
Will Potenial ‘Protect College Sports Act’ Impact Size of ACC With 20-School Limit?
The Senate voted to push the conference size cap from 19 schools to 20. This happened as part of the Protect College Sports Act, which passed 77-22 on Sept. 28. The shift creates space for the Big Ten to add two more members and the SEC to add four, though rules about which schools can switch still apply. Florida Sen. Ashley Moody wrote the amendment. Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal joined as a co-sponsor, according to ACCSports.com.
Charlotte’s Eco-Friendly River District Firehouse 44 To Break Ground on Oct. 8
Charlotte will break ground Oct. 8 at 1 p.m. for a new firehouse. The station will serve the River District. The ceremony will take place at 7900 Dixie River Road near Charlotte Douglas Airport. This two-story station spans 14,000 square feet with three bays. City officials call it the first mass-timber firehouse in the Southeast. Builders will use mass timber instead of steel or concrete. The design cuts carbon emissions while creating a warm appearance, according to Charlotte.gov.
Rock Hill Proposes Nearly $10k Impact Fee Per Home, Adding to Construction Costs
Rock Hill City Council gave initial approval Monday to boost impact fees from $3,924 to $9,588 per new home. This would make the rates higher than any other municipality in York County. The proposal would shift growth costs onto developers instead of existing residents through property tax increases.
Gastonia Police Seize 6 Kilos of Fentanyl, Arrest Two in Drug Trafficking Case
Gastonia police grabbed two suspects Tuesday after finding six kilograms of fentanyl worth $750,000 and more than $100,000 in cash. The raid happened at a local house. Sergio Martinez-Avalos, 50, and Karina Mondragon-Gamino, 37, were cuffed and taken away. Detectives launched their probe after receiving a tip from Louisiana officers who flagged Martinez-Avalos as someone moving serious weight across state lines, according to WSOC-TV.
Hunter’s Bagels To Open in Cornelius With Deli-Style Menu
Hunter's Bagels will open at 19905 W. Catawba Ave. in Cornelius. Brothers-in-law Brandon Kurz and Andrew Roth own the shop, which brings a breakfast and lunch concept to Lake Norman. The business will take over the former Coffee Republic & Bakery space on West Catawba Avenue. A full renovation has transformed the space. Kurz has a business background. Roth spent over a decade working in food service.
CLT Airport Restaurant Employee Suspended After Confrontation With Motivational Speaker
A Charlotte Douglas International Airport restaurant worker got suspended after what happened with Lizzie Velasquez. She's a motivational speaker who says staff told her to leave because her order was too small. HMS Host runs the food service company that operates the Midwood Smokehouse airport spot, and they started looking into the Sept. 29 incident. Lizzie Velasquez was traveling by herself. Monday layover. She stopped at the airport location to grab food.
No Stranger to NC, Grayson Allen Brings Eight Years of NBA Experience to Charlotte
The Charlotte Hornets acquired Grayson Allen in July through a swap that shipped Miles Bridges to Phoenix. Allen, 30, just wrapped up his finest season in the NBA. He averaged 16.5 points per game. His 3-point shooting was the best in the league at 46.1%. Allen played eight years in the NBA, spending most of that time out West. Back in 2015, he won a national title with Duke, dropping 16 points off the bench when the Blue Devils beat Wisconsin for the championship.
Gastonia Ghost Peppers Cease Operations After Two Seasons
The Gastonia Ghost Peppers baseball team ceased operations in late September. The team withdrew from the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Zawyer Sports & Entertainment owns both the Ghost Peppers and the Charlotte Checkers. The owners cited a change in business direction. They want to concentrate on arena-based sports and entertainment from now on. "This was not a decision we made lightly," the team said, per WBTV.
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