Man Pulls Gun On Driver After Being Forced Off I-85 (Video)

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Man Pulls Gun On Driver After Being Forced Off I-85 (Video)

Earlier this afternoon on I-85, a potentially deadly incident of road rage was captured on camera when a man pulled a gun and potentially shot at another driver.

The incident occurred on I-85 South, just before exit 26. A silver Toyota and a grey Honda Accord were swerving on the road when the driver of the silver Toyota appears to force the grey Honda off the road. The driver of the silver Toyota then stepped out of his vehicle and walk toward the grey Honda. The driver of the grey Honda then pointed his gun at the other driver.

According to Fox Charlotte, a witness believes the man in the grey Honda fired a shot at the other driver;

Police are now investigating the incident.

Top 10 Things To Do Around Charlotte This Christmas Weekend

Steve
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Top 10 Things To Do Around Charlotte This Christmas Weekend

Christmas is almost here!

There will be millions of lights, tons of Christmas concerts, ballets, the Panthers, and more!

In no particular order, here are the top 10 things happening around Charlotte the weekend before Christmas;

#1 McAdenville Christmas Lights

McAdenville, just three miles from Belmont, welcomes thousands of worldwide visitors each year since its 1956 debut. Its holiday display is brimming with nostalgia – street-lined lit homes, more than 375 decorated trees, 200 shining lamppost wreathes, chiming Christmas music, a life-size Nativity scene and a large gleaming lake fountain, reflecting its brilliant colors along the water. For more than six decades, this globally renowned tradition has warmed hearts even on the coldest of North Carolina nights.

For more information click here.

#2 Charlotte Motor Speedway Christmas Lights

Drive through the infield and see 800 displays made up of more than 3 million holiday lights.

Be sure to stop by the Christmas village from 6pm-10pm each night.

For more info click here.

#3 Santa Hustle North Carolina 5K & Half Marathon

Tomorrow morning from 8am-11am in Belmont, enjoy overplayed holiday music, devouring candy and cookies, and joining in on an epic after party during the 2018 Santa Hustle® North Carolina 5K and Half Marathon!

For more info click here.

#4 Charlotte Hornets vs. Detroit Pistons

This coming Friday night, the Hornets will be taking on the Detroit Pistons at the Spectrum Center in Uptown Charlotte.

Click here for tickets to The Hornets Vs. Detroit Pistons on Friday at 7pm

#5 Holiday Showcase w/ Lisa De Novo & Chelsea Locklear

Saturday night at Heist Brewery check out live music by Chelsea Locklear, Ellie Morgan, and Lisa De Novo.

The ladies will perform holiday classics with 3 part harmonies along with some of their original songs! You won’t want to miss this show

For more information click here.

#6 Holiday At The Garden

Visitors will enjoy annual traditions including the towering orchid tree, live music (daily 6 to 8 p.m.), holiday shopping in The Garden Store, crackling fires to warm cold hands or roast a marshmallow, the Children’s Discovery Trail of activities, warm beverages, activities and more. Model train displays built by the Metrolina Model Railroaders can be found throughout the Garden.

Santa Claus will be available for photos with families on Monday, Dec. 17  from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. (additional fee, reservations required).

For more info click here.

#7 The Nutcracker

Celebrate the sights and sounds of the holidays at Nutcracker every night this weekend! Join Clara as she encounters an epic battle between the Mouse King and Nutcracker, a breathtaking snowfall, jumping candy canes and the iconic Sugar Plum Fairy.

For more info or tickets click here.

#8 Marc Rebillet w/ Cheechmo

Armed with his voice, a MIDI keyboard and tambourine, his trusty Boss RC-505 loop station and an uncensored, freewheeling imagination, the last three years have seen him become an online phenomenon. Making up songs and skits about his love of women’s posteriors, Martha Stewart’s recipe for spinach or how mosquitoes are real life vampires

For tickets or more info click here.

#9 Moscow Ballets Great Russian Nutcracker

This coming Sunday afternoon and evening at the Oven’s Auditorium, check out one of the oldest running Christmas ballets in the world.

The Moscow Ballet presents Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Great Russian Nutcracker, a cherished holiday tradition. While maintaining Tchaikovsky’s classic score and working from the original libretto, the Moscow Ballet has added touches that pay tribute to its home, from the backdrop of Moscow to the use of characters out of Russian folktales.

For more information or tickets click here.

#10 Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons

The last home game of the season is happening this weekend. While we do, technically, have a chance to make it to the playoffs, Cam Newton has already been pulled from the last two games and we’ve now lost 6 straight games.

For more information or tickets click here.

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

Google and Other Corporations Donate $1 Million To NC Teachers For Hurricane Florence Relief

Steve
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Google and Other Corporations Donate $1 Million To NC Teachers For Hurricane Florence Relief

State Superintendent Mark Johnson visited one of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Florence today to announce major new corporate support for Florence Aid for Students and Teachers in NC (FAST NC).  FAST NC is a bi-partisan initiative created last fall after so many North Carolina Schools were affected by the storm.

Johnson announced that since the initiative began, FAST NC has received donations of nearly $1 million from individuals and businesses across the country. Those funds will be used to help affected schools replace supplies, equipment and other materials that were damaged or lost due to Hurricane Florence.  The largest of those donations was announced today in Wilmington: a donation of $500,000 from Google.org to FAST NC to be used for hurricane relief.

“I am excited about this generous donation from Google.org to go toward our relief efforts,” Johnson said. “I have been inspired by all of the private and business support that has come in since we announced FAST NC in September. I thank Google.org and the many other companies and organizations that rose to the occasion to help these schools recover.”

Johnson was joined by former State Superintendent Mike Ward, who initially contacted Johnson with the idea of a bipartisan effort to help affected schools.

“The outpouring of help and support for these schools has been overwhelming to say the least,” said Ward. ”I hoped it would be something we could use to make a difference, but I am not sure I expected this level of support.”

Also at today’s announcement were representatives from Google.org, Communities In Schools and other corporate partners.

Johnson made the announcement at College Road Early Childhood Center in Wilmington, an area that received heavy damage from Hurricane Florence. Johnson was joined by Santa Claus and delivered new books to the pre-K and kindergarten students at the school. The books were donated to the FAST NC initiative to be distributed to affected schools.

FAST NC will work in partnership with Communities In Schools of North Carolina to specifically address the recovery needs of teachers and students in the classroom, including books, supplies, technology and other resources that were destroyed by water and mold. These funds will be used to fill the gaps not covered by insurance or state and federal resources.

To find out more about FAST NC, visit www.ncpublicschools.org/fastnc 

After 6 Straight Losses – The Panthers Benching Cam Newton For The Rest of The Season

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After 6 Straight Losses – The Panthers Benching Cam Newton For The Rest of The Season

After suffering 6 grueling defeats, the Panthers have now decided to bench Cam Newtown for the last 2 games of the regular season.

The move is likely due to Cam’s continued shoulder issues. In 2017, he had surgery to repair a partially torn right rotator cuff from an injury in 2016 and his shoulder has had continued issues ever since.

NFL Insider Ian Rapoport first announced Cam’s 2018 departure yesterday afternoon;

Ian, however, is incorrect in saying that we are “out of the playoff race”.

If the Vikings lose their next 2 games (to the Lions (5-9) and Bears (10-4)), and the Panthers win their next 2 games (to the Saints (12-2) and Falcons (5-9)), and the Eagles and Redskins both lose next week’s game and the Eagles beat the Redskins in their final game, it would give both the Panthers and Eagles an 8-8 record, tied for 6th, and since we beat the Eagles on 10/21, we would end up making to the playoffs.

Cam Newton now finishes the season with a 67.9 completion rating, 3,395 yards, 24 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a 94.2 quarterback rating.

The Panthers’ backup Taylor Heinicke will likely start the 2 remaining games in the Panthers regular season. It’s unknown whether or not Cam would return if the Panthers were to make it to the playoffs.

I-77 Toll Lanes Now Set To Open Ahead Of Schedule

Charlotte Stories
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I-77 Toll Lanes Now Set To Open Ahead Of Schedule

Cintra has just announced new dates for opening the first sections of the highly controversial I-77 Toll Lanes.

The northern part of the project from Exit 36 to just above Hambright Rd. will now open in the first quarter of 2019, with the remainder set to open sometime in the summer.

In a statement, Javier Tamargo, CEO of I-77 Mobility Partners commented;

“We are proud that the express lanes project will still be delivered much faster than traditional road construction and financing would have allowed.”

The project’s contractual deadline with the NCDOT is set at October 2019.

Cintra also recently released the final costs of the tolls once they open.

According to their website, they will initially charge $6.55 to drive 1-way along the entire length of a toll lane during rush hour for the first 6 months of operation and $9.40 for that same trip thereafter.

This means that after 6 months, driving round trip from Mooresville to Uptown Charlotte during rush hour times will cost motorists a total of $18.80 per day.

Most drivers will end up paying for segment changes (totaling up the individual sections they drive and at what time). For example, driving on the toll section from 277 to I-85 will cost $2.62 during rush hour and $1.46 at 1am on Tuesday morning.

What are your thoughts on the new I-77 toll lanes? 

CMPD Offering Cash Reward For Help In Finding Armed Robbers

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CMPD Offering Cash Reward For Help In Finding Armed Robbers

Charlotte police are now offering a cash reward to anywho who can assist in helping them find 2 men who robbed a north Charlotte Family Dollar store at gunpoint last night.

They released the following photos and statement about the robbery;

According to the statement;

“Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Armed Robbery Unit are requesting the public’s assistance in identifying the suspects in the photographs below who are responsible for a business robbery.

On Tuesday, December 18, 2018, at 6:13 p.m., the suspects entered the Family Dollar, located at 3618 Beatties Ford Road in the Metro Division. The suspects brandished firearms and demanded property from the victim business. The suspects fled the scene in an unknown direction of travel. (CMPD report number 20181218-1813-03)

The first suspect is described as a black male. approximately 30 years.old. and was last seen wearing a blue work style coveralls. The second suspect is described as a black male. and was last seen wearing a black/gray winter jacket and black pants.
Anyone with information concerning this case or the suspects is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.”

Police also noted that CMPD’s K-9 unit was sent out in search of the assailant immediately after the incident, but did not find any solid leads.

Please help spread the word.

NASCAR Hall of Fame partners with Richard Childress Racing on 50th anniversary exhibit

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NASCAR Hall of Fame partners with Richard Childress Racing on 50th anniversary exhibit

During the Richard Childress Racing 50th Anniversary Fireside Chat with Richard Childress, Austin Dillon and Daniel Hemric at the NASCAR Hall of Fame today, the team and Hall of Fame announced plans to co-create and launch a special exhibit—“RCR 50: Only in America”—in May 2019 in honor of this significant milestone.

“Who would have thought that a $20 investment more than 50 years ago would have grown into the organization that RCR is today,” said Richard Childress, Chairman and CEO of Richard Childress Racing.

“I’m very proud of RCR’s accomplishments, from race wins to championships and the many drivers, employees and partners who have been associated with our race team along the way,” he said. “I’m most proud of the relationships we’ve formed and the many race fans who support us each weekend.”

Throughout 2019, Richard Childress Racing will celebrate its 50th anniversary with special paint schemes, at-track events, social media initiatives and a variety of other fan engagement opportunities including the special exhibit at the Hall of Fame.

Through a combination of artifacts, cars, images and audio/video displays, this limited-time exhibit will demonstrate the timeline and breadth of Richard Childress Racing, celebrating the long and successful history of the team and honoring the accomplishments of 2017 Hall of Famer Richard Childress as well as the many people who contributed to the team’s success.

“Richard Childress Racing has an incredible 50-year history and many stories to share,” said Hall of Fame Director of Exhibits Kevin Schlesier. “Mr. Childress’ career path from selling popcorn at the track to becoming an independent driver and then championship owner fuels an entrepreneurial story, which he proudly describes as one that could happen ‘Only in America.’”

More details about the exhibit will be announced closer to its opening in May 2019. Follow #RCR50 on social media for more information about Richard Childress Racing’s 50th anniversary celebration activities.

General admission tickets to the NASCAR Hall of Fame can be purchased online at nascarhall.com or via Ticketmaster by calling 877-231-2010. Admission is $25 for adults, $22 for seniors with ID, $18 for military with ID, $18 for youth 8-12, $12 for youth 3-7, and free for members and children younger than 3.

North Carolina Launches New Broadband Grant Program For Rural Communities

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North Carolina Launches New Broadband Grant Program For Rural Communities

Eric Boyette, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (DIT) and State Chief Information Officer, announced today the launch of the state’s new Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) Grant Program.

The GREAT Grant Program is a $10 million grant program authorized by the North Carolina General Assembly and administered by NC DIT’s Broadband Infrastructure Office. The program allows internet service providers and electric membership cooperatives to compete for funding to lower financial barriers that prevent broadband expansion in rural communities.

“We are excited about what this can do for Tier One counties in North Carolina,” said Secretary Boyette. “We expect to see some great ideas for meaningful broadband expansion in these areas. This is an important step toward ensuring that our children are equipped to complete homework assignments and that small business owners are poised for growth.”

The GREAT Grant Program was established by Session Law 2018-5. Eligible areas are census blocks or portions of census blocks in Tier One counties that lack access to a service providing a minimum of 10 Megabits per second download and 1 Megabit per second upload speeds. The state classifies the 40 most economically distressed counties in the state as Tier One counties.

To learn more, visit the GREAT Grant Program webpage.

Charlotte Soccer Club Becomes One Of US Club Soccer’s First-Ever Licensed Clubs

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Charlotte Soccer Club Becomes One Of US Club Soccer’s First-Ever Licensed Clubs

US Club Soccer – a prominent member of the U.S. Soccer Federation and leading organization developing soccer clubs across America – announces the first-ever group of Player First-licensed clubs, which includes the Barca Academy Charlotte.

Featuring 46 clubs from 19 states around the country, these organizations have proven their commitment to providing a holistic club soccer experience for parents and players, which emphasizes the development of each individual to his or her full potential, and helps parents make better choices about where their children should play. As youth soccer’s “Good Housekeeping Seal,” they immediately take this newfound recognition into their communities and nationally, standing out as pioneers in improving the club soccer experience.

In addition to the Barca Academy Charlotte, these exemplary clubs have met the rigorous Players First standards of offering comprehensive Club Development, Coaching Development, Player Development, Parent Engagement & Education and Player Health & Safety:

“We believe this to be the most rigorous and comprehensive attempt in U.S. Soccer history to identify those clubs that have demonstrated a commitment to creating the kind of infrastructure and culture necessary to provide the best overall environment for players,” says Kevin Payne, CEO of US Club Soccer. “Congratulations to the inaugural cohort of Players First-licensed clubs.”
These 46 clubs enjoy Players First licensing status through Dec. 31, 2020, at which time there will be a renewal opportunity. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and approved clubs will be announced quarterly. Entities not meeting the standards and requirements will receive a detailed letter explaining deficiencies with suggestions and resources to correct those.

The application includes seven sections, in which clubs must demonstrate their commitment to the Players First pillars:

  • Club and Applicant Information
  • Club Leadership Expertise and Development
  • Staff Education and Development
  • Player Health and Safety
  • Training and Competition Structure
  • Staffing Structure
  • Parent Education and Engagement
US Club Soccer prides itself on fostering the safest environment for players in youth sports. They’ve implemented best-in-class background checks for all registered staff, and require personnel to complete a Sideline Sports Doc/US Club Soccer online injury recognition course, as well as SafeSport online training.

Rare ‘Polar Vortex’ Could Give Charlotte A White Christmas This Year

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Rare ‘Polar Vortex’ Could Give Charlotte A White Christmas This Year

Climate researchers have recently detected a weather anomaly in the North Pole that could turn into a powerful ‘polar vortex’, potentially causing one of the harshest winters in years, The Washington Post reports.

A polar vortex occurs when there’s a disruption in the stratosphere that causes warming winds to decrease or change direction. The vortex then splits apart and dumps cold air into the middle atmosphere.

Judah Cohen with Atmospheric and Environmental Research released a series of reports which indicate a high probability of a vortex hitting us sometime between next week and early January.

“Confidence is growing in a significant PolarVortex disruption in the coming weeks. This could be the single most important determinant of the weather this winter across the Northern Hemisphere,” Cohen noted in his report.

Cohen also points out that the GFS is predicting the chance of snow extending into the Deep South for the holidays;

The Weather Channel is currently predicting a 40% chance of rain in Charlotte on Christmas Day, meaning that if the polar vortex does indeed spin off early next week, the temperature could plummet and that rain could turn into snow;

While the potential vortex does increase the chance of a white Christmas in Charlotte, the chance is still slim, especially given that the primarily American models and European models have different conclusions on when exactly the disruption might occur.

Amy Butler, a scientist with the NOAA, tweeted that even though all models aren’t on board, there’s still reason to be cautious;

Would you like to see snow in Charlotte next week?

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