Former Charlotte Televangelist Selling $45 Trump Coin As ‘Point of Contact With God’

Steve
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Former Charlotte Televangelist Selling $45 Trump Coin As ‘Point of Contact With God’

Former Charlotte televangelist Jim Bakker and prosperity gospel preacher Lance Wallnau have teamed up to sell a gold-plated ‘prayer coin’ for $45.

“When I asked the Lord, ‘Why the coin?’ he said ‘Because when you take the coin, it’s a point of contact,’” Wallnau told Bakker on his show.

The coin includes images of Donald Trump and Ancient King Cyrus on the front, with a crest of words reading; “The 70 Year Decree Cyrus – Trump Proclamation”. A Bible passage in Isaiah 45:1 and “The 45th President” are engraved on the back.

Some have compared Donald Trump to King Cyrus after he moved the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. People also point out that Donald Trump is the 45th President, and that in Isaiah 45:4, it is written about Cyrus that God will “bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me”, some say that Trump, likewise has been given a title of honor without ever truly acknowledging God. 

The coin is being advertised and sold through former Charlotte televangelist Jim Bakker’s ‘The Jim Bakker Show’.

Bakker is most well known for scamming investors out of millions of dollars to build Heritage USA, a sprawling 2,300-acre tv broadcasting, conference, and amusement park complex in Fort Mill.

The complex first opened in 1978, and by 1986 it was attracting nearly 6 million visitors annually and employing about 2,500 people from around the Charlotte region.

Throughout most of the 80s, Jim Bakker was investigated on a slew of embezzlement, fraud, and rape charges.

In 1982 the FCC sent a detailed fraud report to the Justice Department. They decided not to press charges due to insufficient evidence. Bakker then used the controversy to raise even more funds from his audience, branding the investigation as a “witch-hunt”.

In 1988 he was arrested on 8 counts of mail fraud, 15 counts of wire fraud and, 1 count of conspiracy.

A Charlotte jury found Bakker guilty on all 24 counts and he was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison and given a $500,000 fine. His prison sentence was reduced to 8 years in 1992. He was paroled in July of 1994, after serving almost 5 years in jail.

In 2003, he relaunched his televangelism career with a new daily show called The Jim Bakker Show, co-hosted with his second wife, Lori.

Cornelius’ SPRiZZi Drink-Co. Secures $100 Million Investment For Massive New Facility

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Cornelius’ SPRiZZi Drink-Co. Secures $100 Million Investment For Massive New Facility

Cornelius’ SPRiZZi Drink-Co. just announced a $100 million investment initiative from the government of Rugao, China, attributed to its environmentally friendly products. This investment will not only increase the production and efficiency of SPRiZZi Drink-Co., but it reinforces both parties’ values of expanding the variety of green products and technology through quality service to its users, decreasing the amount of un-recyclable waste and diminishing their carbon footprint.

“SPRiZZi Drink-Co.’s model and products are exactly what we’ve been looking for,” said Secretary Ma from the Chinese Government. “With typical beverages being 84 percent water, we are helping provide a smart solution which will save large amounts of plastic, cans and bottles, while also reducing the carbon footprint left on the planet with the help of SPRiZZi Drink-Co.’s 100 percent recyclable flavor bullets.”

Over the course of five years, the $100 million investment will include a 60,000 square foot manufacturing warehouse with an accompanied 5,000 square foot executive office space in Rugao, China. The investment will also take the form of tax credits, a cash fund for innovation awards, letters of credit to vendors, loans for equipment, tax breaks and various government cash grants. Funds will also be used for building a bullet-filling factory in Rugao as well. In addition to the international investor, SPRiZZi Drink-Co. has received funding from strategic partners for global licensings, angel investors and is currently in talks with several other partners and independent investors.

“This is by far, the most disruptive product to come to market in the beverage industry,” said SPRiZZi Drink-Co. president and CEO, Michael Breault. “Not only are we helping the environment, but with how fast we are growing, we will be able to help people as well. We deem ourselves an ever growing brand with new facilities, machinery and positions that will offer increased opportunities in states such as North Carolina, where SPRiZZi Drink-Co. has another manufacturing facility that will employ over 200 people.”

SPRiZZi Drink-Co. is attempting to challenge the wildly popular SodaStream countertop soda maker by offering “instant cold beverages made fresh and carbonated in seconds”.

The company currently operates out of a 118,000 square foot facility in Cornelius, NC.

Top 10 Things To Do Around Charlotte This Weekend – 5/17/2019

Steve
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Top 10 Things To Do Around Charlotte This Weekend – 5/17/2019

The weekend is almost here!

There will be tons of concerts, festivals, dogs, and Bernie!

Here are the top 10 things happening around the Charlotte region this weekend:

#1 South End Hops Fest

The South End Hops Festival is about to hold its 6th annual event for beer enthusiasts, foodies, and puppy lovers. Proceeds will benefit RescuedMe, a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing dogs in dire need, rehabilitating them and placing them in stable, loving homes.

The festival, a staple in South End, will take place on Saturday, May 18th at 308 W. Carson Boulevard and Mint Street from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Attendees will experience craft beer, live music, and tons of amazing food.

new this year is the first annual South End Hops Fest Eve beer dinner and the pre Fest Pup Parade.

For more info click here.

#2 Festa Italiana Charlotte

Enjoy the BEST Italian Cuisine, Open Wine Prosecco Bar and PERONI Beer Garden, Continuous Live Stage Entertainment, Silent Auction, Kid Zone, and MORE all afternoon, Sunday, May 19, 2019. All proceeds go to Nevins Center to help them create opportunities and a better life for people with disabilities.

For more info or tickets click here.

#3 Chris Young ft. Chris Janson 

Chris Young, winner of the Nashville Star and member of the Grand Ole Opry, is now one of the hottest rising stars in Country Music. He’ll be coming to Charlotte this Spring to rock the Queen City with hits like “I Can Take It from There”, “Lonely Eyes”, and “Voices”.

He will be performing live with Chris Janson at the PNC Music Pavilion this Friday night starting at 7pm.

For tickets or more info click here.

#4 3rd Annual Cheerwine Festival

The free event is set to take place, Saturday, May 18, in downtown Salisbury from 12pm to 10pm, and will be celebrating both Cheerwine and late 90s pop-rock band Smashmouth.

For more info click here.

#5 Bernie Sanders Rally in Charlotte

Bernie Sanders will be hosting a rally in Charlotte this coming Friday. This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Free parking available at the faculty theater garage at 1225 E. 4th Street.

For more info or to RSVP click here.

#6 Canine Carnival 

See beautifully groomed and impressively talented pups at Gaston County’s 47th annual ‘Canine Carnival’.

The Canine Carnival will start out with check-in at 9:30am, carnival dog games at 10:00am, Animal Care & Enforcement Parade at 10:45am, and we will finish up with the 46th Annual Just Plain Dog Show at 11:30am

For more info click here.

#7 Whitewater River Jam 

This coming Friday night, the US National Whitewater Center will be hosting Old Salt Union.

Bring your friends, enjoy our large food and craft beer selection, and take in the sights and sounds of River Jam.

For more info click here.

#8 Waxhaw’s Kaleidoscope Fest

The Kaleidoscope Fest is Waxhaw’s largest one-day Food, Music and Art Festival. The goal is to promote Waxhaw’s culture and all things art in Waxhaw from fine arts and crafts, to the performing arts, and the culinary arts. This year, they will be adding the Taste of Waxhaw venue featuring food bites from more than 14 Waxhaw area restaurants

For more info click here.

#9 Sum 41

This iconic punk rock band is responsible for some of the biggest punk hits in recent decades, including “Fat Lip” and “In Too Deep.” Sum 41 has been an active force in alt-rock for two decades now, and this platinum-selling punk band certainly knows how to put on a great live show.

They will be playing this coming Sunday evening at The Underground Charlotte.

For tickets or more info click here.

#10 Feast of Thrones

Dinner is Coming! May 19th, 2019 at 7pm join Huntersville’s Rural Hill for a night of feasting, Trivia with Renaissance Festival’s Lord Mayor Bullfrog, and the final battle for the Iron Throne! Come dressed in your Westerosi best for the costume contest* and play our “Alive, Dead, or White Walker” guessing game.

For more info click here.

If you think other events should be on this list or future lists, let us know – Scott@CharlotteStories.com

New Study Finds 22 Locations In North Carolina With Dangerous Chemical in Drinking Water

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New Study Finds 22 Locations In North Carolina With Dangerous Chemical in Drinking Water

A new report by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has found that 22 locations across North Carolina are exposed to high levels of contaminated drinking water. The report was compiled using data from the Pentagon and water utilities.

Most of the locations are between Raleigh and Fayetteville, with 1 location about 25 miles East of Charlotte in the City of Albemarle;

According to the report, the locations are contaminated with PFAS chemicals. “PFAS chemicals, used in hundreds of consumer products, have been linked to weakened childhood immunity, thyroid disease, cancer, and other health problems.”

The CDC notes that the chemicals contaminate the blood and never break down in our body or in the environment.

In conjunction with the report, the EPA has released a PFAS Action Plan outlining “concrete steps the agency is taking to address PFAS and to protect public health.”

If you’re concerned about the drinking water around your home, officials recommend using a drinking water test kit and installing a reverse osmosis filtration system if contaminants are found.

Dan Bishop Wins Primary – Now Trading Blows With Dan McCready In 9th District Re-Do Election

Steve
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Dan Bishop Wins Primary – Now Trading Blows With Dan McCready In 9th District Re-Do Election

North Carolina’s highly contested 9th District Congressional Race is heading for a new general election after Dan Bishop was declared the winner of yesterday’s Republican primary. A Democratic primary was not held as Dan McCready was uncontested.

The re-do election for the 9th district was announced this past February after The North Carolina State Board of Elections investigated voter fraud due to falsified absentee ballots.

Now, just one day after the Republican candidate was announced, the insults are already flying.

On Dan Bishop’s public Facebook page, his new header video shows him walking through a number of blow-up dolls with Democratic leader’s faces on them (at one point, the camera zooms in on one of the dolls with McCready’s face on it), in the video, Bishop calls his opponents “crazy liberal clowns”;

In a more private manner, Dan McCready sent a letter to his supporters this morning, saying that Dan Bishop “wants to take his extreme far-right agenda to Washington…”

The re-do general election for North Carolina’s 9th district will take place on September 10th.

Do you live in the 9th district? 

Who will you be voting for this September? 

LifeWay Liquidating and Closing All Stores, Including 4 Around The Charlotte Region

Steve
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LifeWay Liquidating and Closing All Stores, Including 4 Around The Charlotte Region

America’s largest Christian retailer, LifeWay Christian Resources, is closing all of their 170 of its retail locations by the end of 2019, including 4 locations in the greater Charlotte area.

The move comes amid a slew of other retail brand closures, including Gymboree, Sears, Bi-Lo, Kroger, Gander Mountain, and Toys-R-Us.

Lifeway will be shifting all of their focus toward selling books, music, and other Christian materials online.

“LifeWay is fortunate to have a robust publishing, events and church services business. Our retail strategy for the future will be a greater focus on digital channels, which are experiencing strong growth,” acting President and CEO Brad Waggoner said in an announcement Wednesday. “LifeWay is moving into a new era with a strategic digital focus that will prepare us for the future and allow us to better serve our customers.”

Earlier this year, the company closing several dozen brick-and-mortar locations, saying that declining foot traffic and sales made their continued operation unprofitable.

The company said that most of the remaining stores’ will liquidate their inventories and close within the next few months, including their locations in North Charlotte, Pineville, Gastonia, and Hickory;

South Carolina Ranked As One of 2019’s Worst States for Police Officers

Steve
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South Carolina Ranked As One of 2019’s Worst States for Police Officers

The personal-finance website WalletHub just ranked South Carolina as one of 2019’s Worst States to Be a Police Officer.

The site compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 27 key indicators of police-friendliness. The data set ranges from median income for law-enforcement officers to police deaths per 1,000 officers to state and local police-protection expenses per capita.

The Palmetto State ranked just below Tennessee and just above Arizona;

Source: WalletHub

South Carolina was also found to have the lowest median incomes for law enforcement officers;

Charlotte’s Fabi Preslar Inducted into The NC Women Business Owner’s Hall of Fame

Charlotte Stories
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Charlotte’s Fabi Preslar Inducted into The NC Women Business Owner’s Hall of Fame

Fabi Preslar, founder and president of SPARK Publications, was inducted into the North Carolina Women Business Owners Hall of Fame Class of 2019 at a gala on May 7, 2019. Founded in 2018, the Hall of Fame honors North Carolina’s most successful female entrepreneurs and advocates who have made significant and enduring contributions for women’s entrepreneurial development in North Carolina.

Fabi Preslar moved to Charlotte by herself at age 17 with no money, car or family support ­– she knew no one. Working three jobs, she put herself through school and earned a degree in commercial art at Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) and also soon earned her U.S. citizenship. Today, she is the founder and president of SPARK Publications, a 21-year-old independent publishing firm. She and her team help entrepreneurs, associations and corporate leaders empower their brand communications to influence their stakeholders. Custom magazines, catalogs and books created with print, digital and interactive solutions are the tools of their trade. The firm has won over 200 industry awards. Fabi has been celebrated with numerous awards for her creativity and business savvy from prestigious organizations such as NAWBO, WBENC, CPCC, The Stevie Awards and Enterprising Women magazine. Fabi contributes a great deal of her time as a mentor and guide to women business owners. She is also the publisher of b2bTRIBE, a magazine for business owners, and has authored two books, On Heaven’s Couch and Fabulous F Words of Business Ownership. She works full time with her husband of 33 years and their daughter as part of her talented team of “SPARKlers.”

The North Carolina Women Business Owners Hall of Fame initiative is coordinated and sponsored by the National Association of Women Business Owners chapters in Charlotte and Raleigh, the Small Business Association, the National Federation of Independent Business, Bank of America and many other North Carolina organizations. Previous inductees include Dale Halton, former CEO of Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company; Elizabeth Nisbet Miller, founding director of First Trust Bank; and Janice Byrant Howroyd, founder and CEO of the ActOne Group and the first African-American woman to create and run a billion-dollar business.

2.1 Magnitude Earthquake Struck 30 Miles North of Charlotte

Steve
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2.1 Magnitude Earthquake Struck 30 Miles North of Charlotte

Yesterday morning, a 2.1 magnitude earthquake rattled the small town of Woodleaf, NC, according to the USGA.

The epicenter of the quake was located about 30 miles north of Charlotte;

Earthquakes have been increasing in frequency around the Charlotte region over the past few years, about a year ago, we saw a 2.9 magnitude quake hit Asheville and a 2.1 magnitude quake that struck Bryson City, NC.

The Carolinas have been known to experience the occasional damage-causing earthquakes.

According to USGS.gov, “The largest earthquake in the area (magnitude 5.1) occurred in 1916. Moderately damaging earthquakes strike the inland Carolinas every few decades, and smaller earthquakes are felt about once each year or two.”

Did you feel yesterday’s quake? 

Primary Election for 9th District Congressional Race Will Take Place Today

Steve
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Primary Election for 9th District Congressional Race Will Take Place Today

North Carolina’s 9th district is holding a special election for their Republican nominee for Congress today.

The new primary election was announced this past February after The North Carolina State Board of Elections investigated voter fraud due to falsified absentee ballots.

If you are a Republican or independent living in the 9th district, you can find out the times and locations of your specific voting locations on the North Carolina’s State Board of Elections website here.

There are a total of 10 candidates vying for the Republican spot, including;

  • Stony Rushing
  • Fern Shubert
  • Dan Bishop
  • Matthew Ridenhour
  • Gary Dunn
  • Kathie Day
  • Stevie Rivenbark
  • Leigh Brown
  • Chris Anglin
  • Albert Wiley Jr.

Stony Rushing became the front runner a few months ago when former nominee Mark Harris announced he would back him after former Governor Pat McCrory announced he would not run.

Democratic candidate Dan McCready is now running unopposed on the Democratic ticket.

The general election will be held on Sept. 10 if one of the Republican candidates collects over 30% of the votes today.

If no one tops 30%, a new primary will be held on Sept. 10th between the 2 top candidates and the general election will be rescheduled for November 5th.

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