CMPD Investigating Green Laser Blasted Into Cockpit of Plane Approaching Charlotte

Charlotte Stories
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CMPD Investigating Green Laser Blasted Into Cockpit of Plane Approaching Charlotte

Late last night a large green laser was blasted into the cockpit of a Delta Airlines aircraft in-route to the Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

The pilots onboard Delta Flight 2409 (flying to Charlotte from Atlanta) reported seeing a green light illuminate the cockpit when they were on final approach at about 11:30pm last night.

A laser light can be especially dangerous at low altitudes where mistakes are magnified if a pilot becomes disoriented or blinded.

This is now the second time in 4 days that a green laser has been blasted into the cabin of a commercial aircraft coming into Charlotte.

Police are now investigating the incidents. If you have any information, please call CLT Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

North Carolina’s Butterball Issues Massive Recall of Over 78,000 lbs of Turkey

Charlotte Stories
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North Carolina’s Butterball Issues Massive Recall of Over 78,000 lbs of Turkey

North Carolina’s Butterball LLC has just issued a ‘Class 1’ (the worse class) recall for roughly 78,164 pounds of raw turkey products that might contain Salmonella Schwarzengrund, according to a press release by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The FSIS notes that consumption of any infected turkey could lead to “diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating the contaminated product…in some persons, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. Older adults, infants, and persons with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a severe illness. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact their health care provider.”

The recalled turkey includes the following line of products;

  • 48-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “BUTTERBALL everyday Fresh Ground Turkey WITH NATURAL FLAVORING (85% LEAN/15% FAT)”, lot code 8188, and UPC codes 22655-71555 or 22655-71557 represented on the label.
  • 48-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “BUTTERBALL everyday Fresh Ground Turkey WITH NATURAL FLAVORING (93% LEAN/7% FAT)”, lot code 8188 and UPC code 22655-71556 represented on the label.
  • 16-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “BUTTERBALL everyday Fresh Ground Turkey WITH NATURAL FLAVORING (85% LEAN/15% FAT)”, lot code 8188 and UPC code 22655-71546 represented on the label.
  • 16-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “BUTTERBALL everyday Fresh Ground Turkey WITH NATURAL FLAVORING (93% LEAN/7% FAT)”, lot code 8188 and UPC codes 22655-71547 or 22655-71561 represented on the label
  • 48-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “Kroger GROUND TURKEY FRESH 85% LEAN – 15% FAT”, lot code 8188, and UPC code 111141097993 represented on the label.
  • 48-oz. plastic wrapped tray containing “FOOD LION 15% fat ground turkey with natural flavorings”, lot code 8188 and UPC code 3582609294 represented on the label.

The products were distributed to many major grocery chains, including; Kroger, Bi-Lo, and Food Lion.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

North Carolina Broadband Office Releases 2019 Homework Gap Report

Charlotte Stories
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North Carolina Broadband Office Releases 2019 Homework Gap Report

Eric Boyette, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (DIT) and State Chief Information Officer, announced today the release of the “The Homework Gap in North Carolina,” a report that provides communities with strategies to bridge the homework gap that occurs when students are assigned homework that requires internet access but lackan internet connection at home.

N.C. DIT’s Broadband Infrastructure Office developed the homework gap report in partnership with The William & Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at North Carolina State University. This report contributes to a growing body of research and strategic policy recommendations designed to equip state and local policymakers, educators, and other key stakeholders with information to understand the homework gap and strategies to address it.

“We know we have many children in our state that are victims of this digital divide,” Secretary Boyette said. “Understanding the nature and scope of this problem is key to closing the homework gap.”

Governor Roy Cooper’s budget proposal makes closing the homework gap a significant priority. Governor Cooper proposes a $5 million fund to support schools that need internet hot spots for students and Wi-Fi technology for school buses.

“Too often I hear of students doing homework in the parking lots of fast food restaurants or driving long distances to use free Wi-Fi at churches and friends’ homes,” Governor Cooper said. “This is unacceptable in this day and age and it creates inequity in our educational system.”

Governor Cooper also signed Executive Order 91, which establishes a new Governor’s Task Force on Connecting North Carolina and directs state government leaders to identify and remove barriers to facilitate private-sector deployment of last-mile infrastructure, eliminate the homework gap, and support the adoption of affordable, high-speed internet access.

N.C. DIT has already begun implementing the report’s recommendations, including the BIO’s continued effort to gather more and better data through surveys such as the Speak Up survey. Speak Up is an annual research project and a free service to all schools and was the first online research tool designed to help parents share their ideas directly with schools and national policymakers. BIO partnered with the N.C. Department of Public Instruction to include homework gap specific questions in the 2018-2019 Speak Up survey.

One way the state is currently working to combat the homework gap is through the State Library of North Carolina and N.C. DIT’s pilot program with the Robeson County Public Library and Public Schools of Robeson County. The pilot program is funded by a $250,000 two-year grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and will provide Robeson County Public Library with 35 Wi-Fi hotspot devices for up to 35 K-12 households.

To access the report, please visit The Homework Gap in North Carolina on the Broadband Infrastructure Office website. To take the Speak Up survey, please visit http://speakup.tomorrow.org.

23rd Annual St Patrick’s Day Parade Marching Through Uptown Charlotte Today

Steve
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23rd Annual St Patrick’s Day Parade Marching Through Uptown Charlotte Today

Cead Mile Failte! (100,000 welcomes)!

The 2019 Charlotte St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Charlotte Goes Green Festival will be held in Uptown Charlotte today.

The Twenty-Third Annual Parade promises to be even bigger and better. The Charlotte Goes Green Festival was very well attended as capacity crowds enjoyed the beautiful afternoon weather as they listened to Irish music, watched performances by Irish dancers, played in the Celtic Kids Zone, had lots to eat and checked out the great Irish/Celtic vendors that attend the festival from around the U.S.

Parade: The Charlotte St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a non-profit event, open to the public. It is produced by the Charlotte St. Patrick’s Day Parade Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and will include pipe & drum bands, musical groups, neighborhood associations, schools, alumni groups, cheerleading and drill teams, international organizations, police, fire, elected officials, commercial businesses, and more.

The parade will step off at 11:00 A.M. at N. Tryon St. and 9th Street in uptown Charlotte. It then marches south to 3rd Street where it takes a left and marches down 3rd St. to Caldwell.

Here is the complete parade route;

Festival: The Festival will include tons of  Irish music, Irish dancers, bagpipers, Irish/Celtic and other vendors, children’s amusements and plenty of food & beverages. It will be located on S. Tryon St. between 3rd St. & Stonewall St., and it will run today from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

There is no admission fee to attend the parade or festival.

How To Kill Cankerworms in Charlotte

Katherine Miele
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How To Kill Cankerworms in Charlotte

cankerworm in charlotteOver the past few years, Charlotte’s cankerworm infestation has continued to rise, despite all of the city-sponsored tree-banding. Local entomologists think this may due to a decrease in migratory birds, and lower ground beetles numbers from over-manicured lawns.

Although cankerworms usually don’t kill trees, they do eat plenty of leaves, which can weaken trees and make them more vulnerable to drought, other insects, and disease.

The first defense is to band trees in the fall to prevent cankerworms from traveling to the top to lay eggs. This includes small trees and even shrubs, which are overlooked by Charlotte’s grant-sponsored program, as well as by most homeowners.

The second, more aggressive defense against the leave-eaters is really more of an offense – spraying. One of the safest and more benign pesticides is Bacillus thurigensis or Bt. This product is sold under various brand names including Safer or Thuricide. It will cause a bacterial disease to develop only in moths and butterflies. This pesticide is legal for organic food production and has been used for decades with no known adverse effects on humans, wildlife, pets, fish, or honey bees. This pesticide is best used when insects are small to give them time to get sick and die – you won’t see immediate results.

If Charlotte’s canopy does not start to see decreased cankerworm populations, they may once again resort to aerial spraying, as they did in 1992, 1998 and 2008 – which proved to be very effective in reducing the population for several years.

Please share;

Charlotte Ranked #11 In America For Having The “Most Aggressive Drivers”

Steve
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Charlotte Ranked #11 In America For Having The “Most Aggressive Drivers”

Today fuel research company GasBuddy released their 2019 study for which cities have the most aggressive drivers.

The company compiled data from its GasBuddy app’s drives feature, examining the top 30 metropolitan areas by population as defined by the United States Census Bureau from Nov. 2018 – Feb. 2019, noting the frequency of an aggressive event while driving, whether it be speeding, hard braking or accelerating.

“Frustration while driving in densely populated cities with high levels of congestion leads motorists to drive more aggressively and with more urgency. Interestingly, these are areas that typically see some of the highest gas prices in their respective states,” said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “With drivers in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Sacramento and Atlanta being 20 percent more aggressive than the average driver in America, it’s particularly important for commuters and rideshare drivers in these areas to work on shedding their lead foot and relax more to keep money from flying out the window each time they hit the road.”

The study found that these were the top 15 cities with the most aggressive drivers in the nation, ranking Charlotte even higher than Boston and Philadelphia:

1. Los Angeles

2. Philadelphia

3. Sacramento, Calif.

4. Atlanta

5. San Francisco

6. San Diego

7. Orlando, Fla.

8. Detroit

9. Austin, Texas

10. Las Vegas

11. Charlotte

12. Pittsburgh

13. Phoenix

14. Boston

15. Dallas-Fort Worth

What do you think about drivers in Charlotte? 

“One of the world’s best air shows” Coming To Goldsboro, NC

Charlotte Stories
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“One of the world’s best air shows” Coming To Goldsboro, NC

“Wings Over Wayne” is one of the world’s best air shows,” said Chuck Allen, Mayor of Goldsboro. “Seymour Johnson does a phenomenal job attracting the best lineup of airpower and performers, alongside the F-15E Strike Eagle and KC-135 aircraft already stationed at the base.”
Located in Goldsboro, the seat of Wayne County, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base will stage and choreograph the Wings Over Wayne Air Show on Saturday and Sunday, April 27-28. Headlining the exhibition from Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, is the premier Air Force jet demonstration team, the Thunderbirds. The gates open each day at 9 AM, with aerial displays from 11 AM until 4:30 PM.

“As our guests, you will be able to see world-class acrobatics and ground demonstrations that are truly a sight to be seen,” said Colonel Donn Yates, Commander of Seymour Johnson’s 4thFighter Wing. “Some of the performers scheduled include the F-35 Demonstration Team, Tora! Tora! Tora!, the US Army Black Daggers, the B-2 Spirit, and other elite aircraft within the Air Force Arsenal.”
Wings Over Wayne is a family-friendly expo including the Kids’ Zone, occupying one of the largest aircraft hangars on the base. A $10 admission charge covers access to the Zone for the entire day. “There is something for everyone,” said Colonel Yates. “Come out and witness this spectacular show while enjoying great food and fun with your family and ours.”
“For the more serious air show enthusiasts, the two-day show has evolved into an air show week,” said Mayor Allen. “Performing aircraft and dozens of display aircraft generally fly in on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The Thunderbirds rehearsal is Friday afternoon. Anywhere near the base with an open view will allow for a good air show preview.”
Combat ready within 72-hours, the Thunderbirds perform approximately 40 breathtaking formation and solo maneuvers in an air and ground show lasting about 75 minutes. The squadron consists of eight F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots, four support officers, four civilians, and more than 100 enlisted personnel performing about 30 job specialties.
During air show week, Goldsboro offers many activities for early arrivals and enthusiasts. These include behind the scenes tours of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base; a history tour including Bridge Battlefield and revitalized downtown; a North Carolina Barbeque Trail Tasting Tour, including Wilber’s BBQ, Grady’s BBQ, and Adam’s Roadside BBQ; the Ghosts of Goldsborough Tour; parks activities and more. Tour tickets are limited, and reservations are recommended.
The Wings Over Wayne Air Show, presented every two years, was named ‘Event of the Year’ by the North Carolina Association of Festivals and Events, attracting more than 230,000 people in 2017.

Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is home to the 4th Fighter Wing and 916th Air Refueling Wing. The base opened in 1942 during World War II; closed in 1947; and reopened in 1956. Formerly commanded by Chuck Yeager, the 4th Fighter Wing is one of the largest wings in the United States Air Force, attaining a highly decorated history spanning more than 75 years.

North Carolina’s Solar Power Output Grew 36 Percent in 2018

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North Carolina’s Solar Power Output Grew 36 Percent in 2018

Annual solar energy production in North Carolina jumped 36 percent in 2018, according to the latest government data – firmly placing North Carolina as the No. 2 solar-producing state in the nation.

Data (page 54) from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) confirmed North Carolina’s 36 percent growth, which significantly outpaced other leading solar states. By comparison, California’s annual solar production rose 15 percent; Arizona’s and Nevada’s outputs each grew 10 percent in 2018.

At year-end 2018, EIA reported North Carolina produced 7.2 million megawatt-hours of solar generation – enough to power more than 600,000 homes. North Carolina was third in the nation for connecting new solar projects in 2018.

One of the biggest factors for solar growth in our state is North Carolina’s growing solar rebate program.

“Duke Energy continues to connect more solar to the North Carolina energy grid and promote new customer programs in response to the state’s 2017 solar law,” said Stephen De May, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president.

Under the program, residential customers are eligible for a rebate of 60 cents per watt for solar energy systems 10 kilowatts (kW) or less. For example, a typical rooftop array of 8 kW is eligible for a $4,800 rebate. Installed systems 10 kW or greater are eligible for a maximum rebate of $6,000.

Nonresidential customers are eligible for 50 cents per watt. Nonprofit customers (such as churches and schools) are eligible for an enhanced rebate of 75 cents per watt for systems 100 kW or less.

New solar systems can be purchased for between $1-$1.50 per watt here.

Local Charlotte Dentist Has Been Traveling To Haiti To Provide Free Dental Care

Steve
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Local Charlotte Dentist Has Been Traveling To Haiti To Provide Free Dental Care

volunteering-copyThe Nation of Haiti was hit by a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 earthquake in 2010, and a category 4 hurricane just last year – it would be an understatement to say they are in need. While many non-profit organizations send full time employees to the hardest hit areas of the country, one Charlotte dentist is using his vacation time to help those in need.

In 2010, soon after the earthquake, Dr. Saint Jean with Midtown Dentistry joined Bethesda Medical Mission to volunteering one week every year to travel down to Haiti and provide free dental care to children.

He also volunteers in the NC Missions of Mercy free dental clinic that takes place at Charlotte’s Convention Center each year.

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His Charlotte-based practice, Midtown Dentistry just celebrated 8 years of dental care in the Charlotte area.

You can find out more about Dr. Saint Jean’s volunteer work in Haiti or getting your teeth fixed at charlottemidtowndentistry.com

Charlotte’s Joedance Film Festival Announces Partnership With Arts+

Charlotte Stories
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Charlotte’s Joedance Film Festival Announces Partnership With Arts+

The Joedance Film Festival, now in its 10th year, is partnering with Arts+ to provide youth in Charlotte an opportunity to showcase films.

Joedance, which is riding a wave of expansion in Year 10, will add a third night (Thursday) of film showings. Thursday, Aug. 1 will be the Cultural Arts Evening Showcasing Arts+, a non-profit organization that serves 4,500 students in the region through music and visual art programs, half of whom receive free or reduced programming.

The Arts+ and Joedance Film Festival partnership will be officially announced at a reception on Tuesday, March 26, 6-8 p.m., at WeWork, 615 South College Street, 9th Floor, in Uptown Charlotte. There is no charge, but donations are accepted. Beverages will be provided by Assorted Table Wine Shoppe (located in the Uptown 7th Street Public Market), food will be provided by The Hunter’s Wife.

Showcased at the announcement event will be the Arts+ Chamber Ensemble, made up of middle and high school strings students and directed by Judy Meister.

The 10th annual Joedance Film Festival, which raises money for pediatric cancer research, will run Thursday-Saturday nights, August 1-3, 2019 at Charlotte Ballet, which will host the event for the second consecutive year. The move to Charlotte Ballet positions Joedance to participate in the North Tryon Street renaissance and contribute to the northern tier of Uptown Charlotte’s continued growth.

Starting this year, Joedance is expanding its film eligibility footprint by accepting films throughout North Carolina and South Carolina. The territory expansion is designed as a first step to position Joedance as a major film festival in the Mid-Atlantic region, and to mirror the service footprint of the organization it benefits, Atrium Health and Levine Children’s.

“A partnership between Arts+ and Joedance has been in the works for quite some time,” said Devlin McNeil, Executive Director at Arts+. “We are thrilled to see it come to fruition. Our student performers will benefit greatly from performing at the upcoming events. We look forward to kicking it all off March 26.”

“Our partnership with Arts+ allows us to expand on our promise of promoting local and regional artists by providing a platform for their student performers to be recognized for their hard work and talent,” said Diane Restaino, President, Joedance Film Festival. “We look forward to kicking off our new partnership on March 26th as Joedance continues to grow.”

Joedance Film Festival, including related events year-round, honors the late Joe Restaino by raising funds and awareness for pediatric cancer research at Atrium Health Levine Children’s through an annual film festival featuring directors, producers, writers and actors who share a North Carolina or South Carolina connection. Joedance supports research and clinical trials for pediatric sarcomas, blastomas and brain tumors.

Joedance is also committed to raising awareness of the regional film industry by showcasing films from North and South Carolina. The family chose a film festival to honor their son because of his love of movies.

To date, Joedance has donated more than $170,000 for Atrium Health Levine Children’s in nine years, including $20,000 in 2018.

Joedance Film Festival Submissions

Joedance Film Festival annually showcases short and feature-length films. Eligible filmmakers have to:

*reside in North Carolina or South Carolina;

*be originally from North or South Carolina

or

*be connected to North or South Carolina (films, cast or crew)

To submit a film, follow the link, https://joedance.org/film-submissions/.

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