Shots Fired On Campus of UNCC – University Tells Students To “Run, Hide, Fight”

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Shots were fired on the campus of the UNCC in Northeast Charlotte during the last day of classes late Tuesday afternoon.

According to police, 6 people were shot and they now have a shooter in custody.

Officers began evacuating students as soon as they arrived;

The shooting took place in the Kennedy building, where a Charlotte SWAT team is currently sweeping the building.

The University’s emergency management department sent out a tweet at approximately 6pm this evening telling students to “Run, Hide, Fight. Secure yourself immediately.”

About 15 minutes later, after the shooter was apprehended by police, the department sent out a second tweet, saying the university is still on lockdown and told students to “Remain in a safe location.”

UPDATE 4/30/2019 6:48pm:

Police have now confirmed that 2 people have died from gunshot wounds. 4 other victims are now in the hospital, 3 with life-threatening injuries.

CMPD is asking parents and family members to pick up students at the University City Harris Teeter at 8600 University City Blvd.;

UPDATE 4/30/2019 7:18pm:

Police have released the identification of the shooter in custody as 22-year-old UNCC student Trystan Andrew Terrell.

UPDATE 5/1/2019 6:00am:

Police are now confident that the buildings are clear and the lockdown has officially been lifted. The Kennedy building is still an active crime scene and remains closed to the public and students.

UPDATE 5/1/2019 10:00am:

Trystan Andrew Terrell has now been charged with two counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder, four counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, possession of a firearm on educational property, and discharging a firearm on educational property.

We will update this article as we receive more information.

Why Are Giant Inflatable Bunnies Descending On Uptown Charlotte?

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Several massive bunnies have ‘intruded’ the Queen City this week as part of the Queen City’s most ambitious city-wide festival to date.

The giant inflatable glowing bunnies kicked off the 2-week-long ‘Charlotte SHOUT’ festival in the heart of Uptown. They are currently being displayed in ‘The Green’ as part of a world-renowned art installation out of Australia called “Intrude”;

 

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The bunnies are definitely ‘gram worthy, go see them. 🐇🐇 #CLTshout

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Couldn’t resist checking the bunnies out Downton! #shoutfestival #cltshout #intrude #bunnies

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Across Tryon St. is another massive Charlotte SHOUT installation called Impulse, which features equally epic glowing see-saws;

The entire Charlotte SHOUT! festival will feature several other art installations, tons of food, concerts, and other creative events from April 29th through May 11th.

The Charlotte Jazz Festival officially kicked off Charlotte SHOUT! yesterday and will run through May 4th, featuring some of the country’s best jazz performers, including; Wynton Marsalis, Gino Castillo, Camille Thurman, and The Darrell Green Trio.

Charlotte SHOUT! will also feature a glowing stalk art installation in First Ward Park, a pivoting prism installation between 5th and 6th streets, a ‘constellation canopy’ over trade and tryon, and tons of food trucks, cooking demonstrations, and special menus around Uptown.

The massive celebration is the culmination of CLT250, the year-long celebration of Charlotte’s 250th anniversary.

You can find out more on the official Charlotte Shout website here.

Former Charlotte Student Nominated for 2nd Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress

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The nominations for the 2019 Tony Awards were announced April 30. Entering awards season with the most nominations is Hadestown, which earned a total of 14 nominations. Former Charlotte Northwest School of the Arts student Eva Noblezada was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Hadestown).

According to Broadway.com Eva Noblezada previously starred in Hadestown at the National Theatre in London. City AM called her “brilliant” and The Arts Desk said she is “blazingly good.” Last fall, she shot a lead role in the upcoming indie film, Yellow Rose. In 2017, Noblezada starred on Broadway in the title role of Cameron Mackintosh’s epic revival of Miss Saigon, receiving a Tony nomination at age 21. Variety called her Broadway debut performance “entrancing” and The Hollywood Reporter said “her vocals have an expressive range and sweetness that cuts through all that surrounds her. She’s a legitimate discovery.” She previously starred in the long-running London revival of Miss Saigon, for which she received the WhatsOnStage award for Best Actress in a Musical. She also played Eponine in the West End revival of the legendary musical, Les Misérables. Noblezada was a high school student at Northwest School of the Arts, Charlotte, NC, when she was discovered by casting director Tara Rubin at the 2013 Jimmy Awards in New York City. Rubin introduced her to Mackintosh and director Laurence Connor, who chose her to star for two years in their long-awaited hit 2014 West End revival of Miss Saigon.

Northwest School of the Arts is recognized internationally and is the only public arts magnet school serving Mecklenburg County students in grades 6 through 12. The school’s unique educational approach combines elements of creativity, art, and technical prowess with a strong academic foundation. The history and prestige that comes with Visual & Performing Arts means something different to everyone – that’s why our students have multiple ways to launch into a professional career down the path they choose in Band, Chorus, Costume Design, Dance, Musical Theatre, Orchestra, Piano, Theatre, Technical Theatre, and Visual Arts.

McDonald’s Restaurants in North Carolina Anticipate Hiring 11,650 this Summer

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McDonald’s and its independent franchisees across North Carolina are expecting to hire approximately 11,650 restaurant employees to better serve customers this busy summer season, including 780 in the Charlotte area.

McDonald’s provides a signature education and career advising program, Archways to Opportunity. Eligible after 90 days and 15 hours a week, restaurant employees have the chance to earn a high school diploma, receive $2,500 in upfront college tuition assistance, access to free education and career advising services and the opportunity to learn English as a second language. To date, McDonald’s has given out more than $1,700,000 in tuition assistance and supported 897 restaurant employees in North Carolina.

Through a summer job at McDonald’s, restaurant employees will not only learn transferable soft skills on the job, such as teamwork, customer service and responsibility, they will also get the chance to further their education once eligible.

“By offering restaurant employees the option to further their education paired with skills they learn on the job, we’re supporting their full potential to succeed whether that’s at McDonald’s or beyond,” said Jeff Stanton, a McDonald’s franchise Owner/Operator with restaurants in North Carolina.

In addition, McDonald’s is supporting a multi-generational hiring push this summer through a first-of-its-kind collaboration in the quick service industry (QSR) with AARP and AARP Foundation. From morning shifts to management roles, AARP and AARP Foundation will help connect McDonald’s to a growing, yet underutilized workforce.

The partnership with AARP and AARP Foundation includes current McDonald’s U.S. restaurant job postings being featured on AARP’s job board, which only includes employers who are committed to an age-diverse workforce and looking for experienced talent. McDonald’s USA will also work with AARP Foundation on a pilot program that aligns employer and candidate job needs and interests leveraging AARP Foundation’s Senior Community Service Employment Program and BACK TO WORK 50+ workforce development programs.  The pilot will start in five states: Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and North Carolina, before rolling out nationwide later this summer.

“For the first time ever, five generations are now working together under the Arches. Together with our franchisees we have a responsibility to each generation to provide opportunity, flexibility and resources for wherever they are on their career journey,” said Melissa Kersey, McDonald’s U.S. Chief People Officer. “Thanks, in part, to our new partnership with AARP and AARP Foundation we’re looking to position McDonald’s as place where people at every stage of working life can see themselves.”

McDonald’s also continues to invest in the communities in which it serves through two major scholarships:

  • HACER® National Scholarship: Expanded the McDonald’s HACER® National Scholarship from five to 30 winners, providing more Hispanic students the opportunity to obtain a college degree. Scholarship applicants have the opportunity to directly receive up to $100,000 to help finance their tuition.
  • Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund: Partnered with the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund to support students attending one of the 47 publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) within the TMCF member-school network offer six merit scholarships of $10,000 for the 2019-2020 academic year, which can be applied to verifiable costs associated with average tuition and usual fees.

Job seekers can visit McDonalds.com/careers to learn more and apply to a restaurant near them.

Gaston County Approves Massive New $20 Million Solar Farm

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Gaston’s largest solar farm has just been approved by County commissioners. The $20 million project will produce an estimated 10 megawatts of power, enough to provide power to over 1,000 area residents.

Ecoplexus Incorporated will be building the new facility on approximately 130 acres around the old Briar Creek Golf Course in North Gastonia;

The project was initially rejected by Gaston County commissioners earlier this year due to neighbor complaints but after some redesign and PR campaigning, the commissioners changed their votes.

Ecoplexus currently operates about 20 sites around North Carolina which feed power to both Duke Energy and Dominion Energy grids.

South Carolina Now Ranks As Having The 3rd Highest STD Growth Rate In America

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South Carolina was just ranked as having one of the fastest growing STD rates in the nation.

According to a new study by Health Testing Centers, the Palmetto State now ranks 3rd in the nation for the most increasing rates of several sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

They currently have the 4th highest level of gonorrhea in the nation at 254.4 per 100,000 residents (compared to a national average is 171.9 cases per 100,000 residents) and the 5th highest levels of chlamydia at 649.8 cases per 100,000 residents (compared to a national average of 528.8 cases per 100,000 residents).

The alarming increases of STDs in South Carolina are part of a much broader trend across our nation.

According to the report, “when the CDC began collecting data on sexually transmitted diseases in 1941, there were only 679,028 reported cases of syphilis and gonorrhea, with syphilis being over twice as prevalent. Today, the total number of reported cases includes chlamydia and has reached a high of almost 2.4 million. However, chlamydia is now the most prevalent and has increased the most dramatically since the beginning of the data collection.”

With STD rates now reaching record levels without any signs of slowing downs, experts are now urging all those who are sexually active to get tested both early and often.

For those who don’t want to get tested at their doctors due to embarrassment or time constraints, there are many at-home STD testing kits available.

A Newbie’s Guide to Choosing Out of State Moving Companies

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Moving out of state can be a big challenge for anyone, never mind people who are doing it for the first time. There is so much involved that you can easily become stressed, and no one can blame you. There’s so much to think about, and countless things you have to remember. Even the smallest details going missing can result in a disaster, so it’s vital you make sure you are organised and take care everything you need to do. There are a lot of things to go through and you need to make sure you check them all off, and hiring an out of state moving company can help you with a lot of these things. We know this can seem like a daunting task, and that’s why we’re here to give you our newbie’s guide on selecting the best out of state moving companies.

Finding a quality moving company is one of the most important things to consider when you are moving property and need to take heavy loads with you. Unless you don’t have much to move, hiring a moving company will ensure you are able to do so in a smooth and trouble-free manner. Although you may think packing and moving your belongings is an easy task, there’s definitely more to it than you think. This is obviously the case when you are moving to another state entirely, as the distances and costs can be huge and you’ll need all the help you can get. This is why selecting the best out of state movers is so essential to giving you a smooth and stress-free move.

Finding a moving company which is good value for money can be vital in saving you funds during the moving process. Getting a quote from a removal company can also play a big role in helping you decide which to choose. You should aim to get quotes from at least three companies in order to compare them, and try to look at companies who will actually come to your home to have a look. This will allow them to come up with a very accurate amount, rather than just hazarding a guess over the phone. Be as honest as possible when telling companies about the possessions you’ll be moving, as this will reduce the chances of you being shocked when you get additional costs at the end of the process. You may also be able to get breakdowns of the costs; insurance, packing, hourly rates and mileage are all aspects to find out the cost of prior to hiring a company, and you should also look into whether or not the company charges for overtime- this can add a significant amount to your total cost. The best companies will offer competitive prices to go alongside their exemplary work in helping your out of state moving.

You need to make sure you choose a trustworthy removals company (with lots of legit and positive reviews) that’ll give you good value for money. You should always take into consideration the amount of goods you are transporting first and foremost. However, factors such as the distance being travelled, the size of the crew you hire and the speed of packing will also play a role in the final cost. Make sure you find a company who will offer you high quality labour for a good price. Some companies may also offer you discounts if you provide packing materials yourself, or if you help with the packing, so make sure you give a helping hand wherever you can to lower the cost. Taking these factors into consideration will ensure you choose the best out of state movers available to you.

Briefing a moving company before hiring them will also allow you to get the best possible deal. You should inform them of any items that need special packing, such as family heirlooms or expensive ornaments. Difficult-to-move items, such as musical instruments and large pieces of furniture, should be included in the brief to allow for extra space and hands on the job. Let them know if you’ll be taking any items by yourself, and provide them with a floor plan of your new property so that they know which order to load and unload items in. Providing companies with this information will give you a clearer idea of whether or not they are up to the task, and whether or not they will be good value for money. It’ll also give you the best possible chance of being able to make your move to a new state stress-free.

You should also make sure your moving company has valid insurance, as this will ensure you have a relatively stress free move across states. This can come in handy if you are suddenly unable to move on the day you had previously planned, or if an unexpected issue arises. Research how soon insurance has to be claimed after the move in case you get tricked into a legal loophole, as this can give you more security over high-priced items. This will ensure they are less likely to be damaged, and even if they are you’ll at least have good insurance cover to fall back on. If you are able to eliminate the possibility of these events happening and are certain your items will be well insured, you will most likely have a very pleasant moving experience which will be made easier by hiring a reliable moving company.

If you are moving state and are using a moving company, you could also look into whether it could tow your own personal vehicle. Not only would this potentially save you hundreds of dollars in fuel, but it also prevents any unwanted damage that could occur to your car over a very long drive. Look into “vehicle dollys” to assist you. This would then allow you to take more of a comfortable trip to your new state of residence, such as by flying, and checking these kinds of options out will make sure you get the best possible out of state movers.

There’s never an easy first time for anything, and hiring an out of state moving company is no different. However, just as with all other things, you’ve got to start somewhere and following our newbie’s guide should hopefully send you on the right path. Movers out of state always find it difficult to begin with, but there’s only one way and that’s up.

New Financial Transparency Website Shows NC Schools Spent $15.8 Billion Last Year

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State Superintendent Mark Johnson announced today the launch of a publicly accessible website, www.schoolfinance.nc.gov, to provide better financial transparency for North Carolina’s public schools.

Developed in partnership with the Government Data Analytics Center of the N.C. Department of Information Technology and Cary-based SAS, the North Carolina School Finances website provides an easy-to-navigate yet powerful tool for citizens, parents, educators, policymakers, and taxpayers alike to access the facts about how the more than $15 billion that funds the state’s public schools is spent.

“As the elected leader of North Carolina’s public schools, I want to encourage constructive discussions about our education system,” Johnson said. “A subject as important as our public schools deserves all the transparency we can provide.”

The NC School Finances site is part of the multi-million-dollar, multi-year School Business Systems Modernization program that the General Assembly has funded to modernize systems including financial and payroll information, human resources information, and capital and repairs and renovations planning information systems at both the state and school district levels.

While saving the state money in the long-run by harnessing the bulk purchasing power of state-level contracts and absorbing prohibitively expensive start-up costs, the program will also allow for better data-driven decision-making at both the state and local levels.

Site users can explore both how schools are funded and how those funds are spent at the state and local level, whether the funds are spent by a school district or a charter school. Across the site, the level of detail displayed begins as general, but users can easily access more detail by drilling down for more information on the numerous charts and tables used to convey information.

Overall, Johnson says he hopes the resource will serve to create more fact-based conversations about North Carolina’s public schools, noting how education benefits all of North Carolina’s society and the state’s future.

“Education is what can create a path for every student, no matter their background, or where they live, to be able to work hard and reach their American Dream,” Johnson said. “And, our education system is vital for the economic future of our state. By launching this resource, I hope to provide greater transparency for where our taxpayer dollars are going.”

Netflix Needing Paid Extras For New Series They’re About To Film in The Carolinas

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Netflix is now in the Carolinas preparing to film a new series and they’re now asking for a wide range of paid extras who want to appear on the small screen.

Their new series is called OBX, “a coming of age story about four best friends in high school during the summer following a devastating hurricane”.

The show will start filming on May 1st and they will pay each extra $80/8 hours of work.

On the casting company’s Facebook page they note that;

“Submissions should be sent to OBXBG@TWCastAndRecruit.com, subject line: General Submission and MUST INCLUDE ALL of the following to be considered for extra work on OBX:

1.) 2 Recent Pictures (Head Shot and Body Shot)
2.) Name
3.) PHONE NUMBER
4.) Age
5.) Location
6.) Height
7.) Weight
8.) Shirt Size
9.) Jacket Size (if applicable)
10.) Pant Size (W and L, if applicable)
11.) Dress Size (if applicable)
12.) Shoe Size
13.) Color, Make, Model (Year) of Vehicle, Brownie Points if you include a photo!
14.) List of Any Tattoos or Piercings”

They also detail the specific roles they are looking for (in addition to “general extras”), including Pogues, Kooks, and Regular Teen Tourists;

Meal Delivery Services Helping People Lose Weight

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Even if you are working out several times a week trying to slim down, exercising is not enough. Well-balanced diet is equally important to reach your weight loss goals. Any fitness trainer will want you to adhere to a healthy diet, and any fitness programs you buy will include a meal plan. To help you out with portion control, some of the programs will even come with a set of containers of different sizes designed for different types of food.

Thus, Autumn Calabrese’s 21 Day Fix program, for example, offers 5 containers of various sizes and colors. The green box taking in one cup is for vegetables. The purple container is of the same size but designed for fruits. The red box can accommodate ¾ cups of food and is meant to contain protein sources. The yellow container is for ½ cup of carbs. The blue container is made to accommodate 1/3 cup of healthy fats. That is, when you are doing the 21 Day Fix program, you are supposed to measure your food quantity by these boxes. Putting the right type of food in the box of the right color is also essential for your fitness success.  Those who are not exercising or at least not working out with Autumn Calabrese, can try another good weigh loss solution: the online meal delivery services. Although Blue Apron, the pioneer of the online meal delivery services, wanted only to ease people’s struggle with cooking, its followers took its idea a step further. Other meal delivery services focused on food that was not only easy to cook but that also helped customers shed those unwanted extra pounds. In what follows below, we are telling about three meal delivery services that assist people on their weight loss journey.

One of the biggest names among meal delivery services specializing in helping people become slimmer is Nutrisystem. Its chefs and nutritionists have designed an easy-to-follow 4-week plan that immediately put people’s body in a fat-burning mode. What is particularly appealing about Nutrisystem’s food philosophy is that people do not need to starve themselves to get slim. Quite the contrary, the company invites customers to eat as often as 6 times a day, allowing them to include in their diet burgers, pasta, and different snacks. The only restriction people have is the size of these meals, because, like many fitness gurus and dietitians, the company practices portion control.

Although Nutrisystem offers more than 150 menu options, the typical menu for a day would include the following meals. The first thing in the morning people eat Nutrisystem Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal with mixed nuts and a cup of coffee. For a mid-morning snack, they would have peanut butter and celery sticks. Their lunch consists of Nutrisystem Three Cheese Chicken with steamed broccoli. The basis plan also includes afternoon snack, which is a low-fat plain yogurt with fresh fruit. The dinner is the most delicious. People can feast on Nutrisystem Meatballs in Marinara Sauce over whole wheat pasta. Before they go to sleep, at around 9 pm, customers can have white cheddar popcorn. As is easy to see, Nutrisystem’s meals are sufficiently fulfilling and do not leave people crave for more food. Yet by following this plan, customers lose weight easily. If for some reasons, they do not, the company refunds their money back to their credit cards.

Another meal delivery services company specializing in weight loss diet is Green Chef. Unlike Nutrisystem whose only variety is meals for people suffering from diabetes, Green Chef caters to customers with different dilatory needs. There are meals for vegetarians, keto, vegan, carnivore, omnivore, gluten-free, and paleo. What also sets this company out among its competitors is its pre-made dressings and sauces. While other meal delivery services simply include ingredients from which people can make their own sauces, Green Chef saves their time by making them itself. But willing to help people lose weight, the company gives them an option to exclude these sauces and dressings from their meals altogether, since they usually contain sugar. All ingredients that Green Chef includes in its meal kits are organic, low in sodium, high in protein, and full of healthy fats.   

Equally healthy food is offered by Veestro. Yet there is a significant difference between this meal delivery company and Green Chef or Nutrisystem, or any other meal delivery company for that matter.  Unlike companies that leave bags with ingredients at customers’ doors, Veestro delivers prepared meals. People do not need to cut vegetable or mince any meat. All they need to do is to make the meal warm before placing it on their tables. Yet this is not to say that ordering meal from Veestro is similar to buying frozen foods from a supermarket. Veestro’s prepared meals are plant-based, low in calories, and help people shed those unwanted extra pounds. To make its help even more effective, Veestro offers 3-day, 5-day, and 7-day weight loss plans and different types of juice cleanses that reboot customers’ metabolism within 3 or 5 days. Another distinguishing feature of Veestro’s meals is that they are fully balanced, giving people all needed nutrients to lose weight.

When people are struggling to lose weight, how much food they place on their plate matters. Weight loss meal plans help them control their portions and eat a healthy amount of food at each meal. Meal delivery services also do shopping on people’s behalf, which not only saves their time but also prevents them from buying extra, unnecessary food that could sabotage their weigh loss goals. By not dropping by their local supermarkets, people stay on track easier. Many meal delivery services focusing on healthy food also offer to their customers pieces of diet advice, weight loss tracker, articles on healthy eating, and diet plans suggestions, all of which keep their spirits strong and their bodies healthy.