Sir Richard Branson Might Soon Bring High-Speed Rail To Charlotte

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Sir Richard Branson Might Soon Bring High-Speed Rail To Charlotte

Sir Richard Branson might soon help build a new high-speed passenger rail line between Charlotte and Atlanta, transporting commuters at speeds upwards of 125 mph for relatively low fares.

The new line has just been proposed in Virgin Trains USA’s IPO filing with the SEC.

The company is a strategic partnership between Miami-based Brightline Trains and Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group.

“We have had a lot of fun and success creating innovative transport businesses that shake up markets and establish loyal followings. We transformed domestic air travel with Virgin America.  Tens of millions of Americans travel on the railways every day, and we have tried for over a decade to find an opportunity to provide them with that same excellent service experience,” said Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin.  “Brightline is at the forefront of innovation in this market, and the ideal partner for Virgin to work with to alter perceptions and traveling habits across the United States.”

America’s first new major private passenger railroad in over 100 years launched their first service between Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach in May of this year, and they’re now working on 2 additional lines between Orlando and Tampa and Las Vegas and southern California.

The partnership with Virgin will help them rapidly expand to a potential 8 new lines, including routes from Houston to Dallas, Atlanta to Charlotte, Chicago to St. Louis, LA to San Diego, Portland to Vancouver, San Antonio to Dallas, Houston to Austin, and Washington DC to Boston, according to their SEC filing;

Brightline’s line between Miami and West Palm Beach currently travels at speeds up to 80 mph, but the new lines between Cocoe and Orlando and Las Vegas and Southern California will reach speeds upwards of 125 mph (201 km/h).

The proposed new line between Atlanta and Charlotte will likely maintain these high speeds, meaning that you might soon be able to inexpensively travel from Charlotte to Atlanta in under 2 hours.

What do you think about a new high-speed rail line between Atlanta and Charlotte? 

NWS Predicting 12+ Inches Of Snow For Charlotte Region – A “Once-In-A-Generation Event”

Steve
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NWS Predicting 12+ Inches Of Snow For Charlotte Region – A “Once-In-A-Generation Event”

UPDATE 12/6/2018 12:30pm: 

The National Weather Service has just increased their snowfall predictions for our region. They are now predicting 13″ of snowfall for Charlotte and 16″ of snow for Gastonia between Friday (12/07) and Tuesday (12/11);

Original Article 12/6/2018 6:00am: 

According to a new alert sent out this morning by the National Weather Service, Charlotte could see over 12 inches of snow this weekend during what they term a “once-in-a-generation event”.

This morning they released their updated snowfall prediction map;

They also predict up to .16 inches of solid ice accumulation, with even more expected for Monroe and Rock Hill;

According to the recent alert by the National Weather Service;

“Early estimates continue to place snow amounts between 10 and 20 inches across the mountains, foothills Piedmont northwest of I-85. Local 20+ amounts are possible across higher east facing mountain and foothill locations. Dangerous freezing rain and sleet accumulations in excess of one half an inch continue to be possible with the high totals and therefore impacts between I-85 and I-40 outside of the mountains. Although latest model trends suggest areas closer to I-85 might have the most cause for concern.

The bottom line is that a potentially very dangerous winter storm looms for much of the forecast area this weekend. And as the day shift yesterday put it, this could be a once-in-a-generation event for areas that experience mostly snow and ice. Now is the time to prepare. Finish preparations by Friday as if this storm speeds up Saturday may be too late, especially for the Upstate of SC into northeast GA.”

According to Weather Underground, we’ll likely see the first snowflakes fall Saturday morning between 8am-11am, with the majority of snow falling Saturday night and Sunday night;

It’s now being recommended that Charlotte residents lay down de-icing salt on sidewalks and driveways and prepare for possible power outages and impassable roads before the storm hits.

Follow NC Emergency Management and NCDOT on Facebook and Twitter for the latest storm updates. Real-time weather and road conditions, as well as winter safety tips, can be found on the free ReadyNC mobile app or online at readync.org.

Travelers are urged to go to drivenc.gov for up-to-date roadway conditions. Motorists are reminded NOT to call 911 or the State Highway Patrol Communication Centers for roadway conditions.

Here’s Why Everyone In Charlotte Buys Milk And Bread Before A Snow Storm

Steve
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Here’s Why Everyone In Charlotte Buys Milk And Bread Before A Snow Storm

One of the most curious things that happens when snow is predicted in the Charlotte region…people stock up on milk and bread.

Last year, I decided to have some fun with the tradition and fill my Harris Teeter cart with the southern staples – the picture received over 700 likes, 400 shares, and 140 comments:

All joking aside, people really are buying up all the milk and bread yesterday and today in preparation for this weekend’s possible snowstorm:

So why is this happening? Why do southerners love milk sandwiches during snow storms?

Bread makes sense…the CDC even recommends having it on hand for storms, but why milk? Why buy something that will spoil if the storm knocks out power to your fridge?

The Atlantic investigated this phenomenon and discovered that, “buying things that might spoil is an assertion of optimism: It’s “like saying, ‘The storm will be over soon and I won’t be stuck in this situation for long,’” buying perishables may be a simple matter of psychology.

Duke University behavioral economist Dan Ariely believes that it’s a matter of seeing others doing something and feeling the need to join in. “If we go somewhere and we see other people buying those particular things, all of a sudden (we’re) even more interested in those (things),” he noted.

At the end of the day, it seems that many people would rather be too prepared than not enough.

Are you prepared for this weekend’s storm? 

Let us know how much milk and bread you have in the comments below!

The Late Show Discusses Possible Republican Voter Fraud In Charlotte’s 9th District (Video)

Steve
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The Late Show Discusses Possible Republican Voter Fraud In Charlotte’s 9th District (Video)

Last night Stephen Colbert, host of CBS’s ‘The Late Show’, spent the majority of his opening monologue discussing the possible voter fraud in North Carolina’s 9th district congressional race.

During the monologue, Colbert lightheartedly addressed the growing controversy surrounding Mark Harris’s narrow victory over Dan McCready, which the bi-partisan NC Board of Elections has now voted twice to not to certify.

The video was uploaded this morning and has already been viewed over 230,000 on Youtube and over 80,000 views on Facebook;

According to newly released court documents, much of the alleged voter fraud stems from North Carolina’s Bladen County for the following reasons:

  • Only 19% of mail-in ballots were sent to Republicans, but 61% of the mail-in ballots voted for the Republican candidate.
  • The same witness was listed on multiple ballot envelopes.
  • Voter claimed that people came to their door offering to fill out and collect their ballots for them.

North Carolina law states that a re-election can be held if the results were proven to be tainted.

We will update our 9th district election results article here as we receive new information.

American Express Opening The World’s Largest ‘Centurion Lounge’ At Charlotte Douglas

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American Express Opening The World’s Largest ‘Centurion Lounge’ At Charlotte Douglas

American Express today announced plans to open the fourteenth location in its signature airport lounge network, The Centurion Lounge, at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, which will become the largest location in the network.

Opening in 2020, the Centurion Lounge at Charlotte Douglas International Airport will be located post-security on the top floor of a new expansion at the intersection of Concourses D and E, near the airport’s central Atrium. Spanning more than 13,000 square feet, this location will be the largest in the Centurion Lounge network, and floor-to-ceiling windows will offer sweeping airfield and downtown skyline views. The new lounge will also feature the exceptional amenities found across all Centurion Lounge locations, including complimentary food and beverage from top chefs, mixologists and wine experts, a family room, premium restrooms and shower suites, access to high-speed Wi-Fi, noise-buffering workspaces and more. The Centurion Lounge at Charlotte will also lean into local food, beverage and design influences.

“We are excited to welcome The Centurion Lounge to Charlotte Douglas International Airport in 2020,” said Ted Kaplan, Director of Business and Revenue, Charlotte Douglas International Airport. “As the sixth busiest airport in the country, we are constantly seeking ways to improve the customer experience at the Charlotte Douglas Airport. The opening of the Centurion Lounge will fit that bill by providing the Platinum Card and Centurion Members among our 46 million yearly passengers a premier space to relax and take in the sights of Charlotte Douglas before heading off to their next destination.”

Current locations of The Centurion Lounge include New York’s LaGuardia Airport, Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Miami International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Houston’s George Bush International Airport, Hong Kong International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport. In addition to The Centurion Lounge at Heathrow and Charlotte Douglas International Airport, American Express recently announced new locations coming to New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, Denver International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport.

The Centurion Lounge is the signature lounge program within the broader American Express Global Lounge CollectionSM, which provides Platinum Card Members and Centurion Members with access to the most lounges across the globe compared to other U.S. credit cards, including access to more than 1,200 lounges around the world, in 500 plus cities, across 130 countries and counting.

Charlotte Ranked Among The Top 10 Cities In America For Rent Increases

Steve
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Charlotte Ranked Among The Top 10 Cities In America For Rent Increases

According to a new study, Charlotte now ranks among the top 10 cities in America for rent increases.

The personal finance website SmartAsset ranked the largest cities in the country by comparing their 2017 rent as a percent of household income from their 2014 rent as a percent of household income. The cities with the largest difference, where the relative cost of rent went up the most, ranked first, and the city with the smallest difference ranked last.

The study ranked the Queen City #6, just above Nashville (#7) and below Sacramento (#5).

According to the report, “the largest city in North Carolina has seen rent prices rise recently. From 2014 to 2017, the average rental increased in price by 27%. Incomes, on the other hand, only grew by 11%. Taking those two numbers together, we see rent as a percent of income went up by 3.3%. The good news is that while rent is rising, most residents should not find themselves rent cost-burdened. In 2017, the average rental is worth only 26.3% of income for the average household.”

What are your thoughts about Charlotte’s rental rates? 

New $16 Million Bridge Project Shutting Down Part of 277 For 7 Months

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New $16 Million Bridge Project Shutting Down Part of 277 For 7 Months

For the first half of 2019, drivers around Uptown Charlotte will need to take a little more time for their commutes.

The NCDOT has just started working on a new $16 million bridge project around the inner loop of our city, aimed at repairing and improving 22 city bridges.

According to officials, the project will require one of the two lanes on 277 between 4th and 10th streets as well as the westbound lane coming from Independence Blvd. into I-277 to be shut down until July of next year.

The NCDOT will primarily be installing new driving surfaces on all the bridges over Elizabeth Avenue, 3rd Street, and 4th Street.

NC Groups Partner to Help First Responders and Veterans Affected by Hurricane Florence

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NC Groups Partner to Help First Responders and Veterans Affected by Hurricane Florence

When Hurricane Florence slammed into North Carolina on September 14, 2018, as a category 1 rainmaker, it was clear that damage to the already rain-soaked state would be immense. As the state continues the recovery process, two groups – the Carolina Loggers Association’s Logs for the Cause and NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski’s Checkered Flag Foundation’s United2gether – have joined forces with the St. Bernard Project (SBP) to help first responders and veterans impacted by the storm get one step closer to a Home for the Holidays.

“Every gift given through both the Logs for the Cause and United2gether campaigns between now and January 31, 2019, will go toward SBP’s efforts to rebuild homes for first responders and veterans throughout North Carolina who were impacted by Hurricane Florence,” said Ewell Smith, executive director of the Carolina Loggers Association. “While those affected have long since returned to work, the impact from this storm will be felt for years to come. The logging community in NC – one that was hit especially hard by the storm – is close-knit; we believe in giving back and paying it forward, and helping to kick-start the rebuilding process is the perfect place to start.”

“Recovery is a collaborative effort,” noted SBP co-founder and CEO Zack Rosenburg. “Through this partnership, SBP will be able to provide a predictable path home for disaster-impacted families of veterans and first responders in North Carolina.  This is a great example of Americans rallying together for other citizens during times of great need.  We believe that this partnership is an example of the seldom discussed, but ever-present ties that bind us together.”

“Growing up in Eastern North Carolina and seeing first-hand the devastation of Hurricane Florence was heartbreaking,” commented Paige Keselowski. “Immediately following the storm, we created the United2gether campaign to support first responders in affected areas. Teaming up with the Carolina Loggers Association and SBP USA on the Home for the Holidays program is a great way for us to continue our support of first responders and veterans that are still dealing with the impact of the storm.”

15 NC Summer Nutrition Programs Win Awards

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15 NC Summer Nutrition Programs Win Awards

Summer Nutrition Programs fulfill a critical need in providing nourishment and educational enrichment to children when school is out. Fifteen Summer Nutrition Programs in North Carolina were recently recognized with one of three state-level awards for going above and beyond to serve children.

During the school year, many students rely on the nutritious meals served through the School Breakfast Program, School Lunch Program, and Afterschool Meals Program. But hunger doesn’t take a summer break. N.C. Summer Nutrition Programs, administered by NCDPI’s School Nutrition Services with federal assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), serve nutritious meals to children up to age 18 living in low-income areas (where 50 percent or more of the students qualify for no-cost or reduced-price school meals). These programs may operate in schools, public housing centers, playgrounds, camps, parks, faith-based facilities, and other sites where students gather during the summer months. Meals are served to eligible children at no cost, and registration is not required.

Last summer, the N.C. Summer Nutrition Programs served more than 5.2 million meals to children and teens at nearly 3,000 locations across the state.

“It takes school and community partners working together to address childhood hunger. The sponsors and sites honored with these awards recognize the crucial need they fill and have truly gone above and beyond to ensure children are well-nourished, ready-to-learn and on the path to success,” said Cynthia Ervin, manager of Summer Nutrition Programs with NCDPI.

School Nutrition Services developed three state-level awards to recognize Summer Food Service Programs and Summer Seamless Option School Food Authorities and program sponsors in our state that are implementing innovative and creative changes to expand their Summer Nutrition Programs:

  • The Rising Star Award recognizes superior first-year N.C. Summer Nutrition Program sponsors that include a menu that promotes a healthy lifestyle and sustainable participation or partnerships. They provide fresh, locally produced menu items, at least one hot meal per week, whole fruit three times per week, water at no cost, and only low-fat or fat-free dairy products. They do not offer any sweet grain treats, such as desserts, but instead focus on and promote healthy choices.

Rising Star Award recipients for 2018 include Baptist Grove Church (Raleigh, Wake County), Carolinas HealthCare System University (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County), and GrowthQuest (Matthews, Mecklenburg County). 519 Church (Apex, Wake County) received an Honorable Mention.

  • The Going the Distance in Innovation Award recognizes returning Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option sponsors in North Carolina that implement innovative concepts and marketing strategies in their summer programs to increase participation.

Going the Distance in Innovation Award recipients for 2018 include Alamance-Burlington Schools, Bertie County Schools, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church (Cary, Wake County), Martin County Schools, and New Hanover County Schools. Washington Outreach Ministry (Shelby, Cleveland County) received an Honorable Mention.

  • The Superior Site Award recognizes a N.C. Summer Nutrition Program sponsor or site for going above and beyond to gain and maintain participation from the local children and community.

Superior Site Award recipients for 2018 include Adelphia CDC (Cove City, Craven County) in partnership with the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, Carolinas HealthCare System University (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County), Fairview Community Garden in partnership with Orange County Schools, Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church (Cary, Wake County), Hillcrest in partnership with New Hanover County Schools, The SPOT (Wilson, Wilson County), Wake County Human Services in partnership with the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, Whiteville High School in partnership with Whiteville City Schools, and Hillcrest Apartments in partnership with the YMCA of Western North Carolina and Asheville City Schools.

All SFAs and sponsors are encouraged to consider applying to the North Carolina awards as applicable. Sponsors may be self-nominated or nominated by a third party such as a community partner.

Additional information regarding the state-level awards and N.C. Summer Nutrition Programs can be found on the NCDPI, School Nutrition Services website. Citizens and organizations interested in getting involved as a sponsor, site, activity provider or volunteer should contact NCDPI Summer Nutrition Programs Manager Cynthia Ervin.

North Carolina Woman Hospitalized After Being Attacked By A Group of Pit Bulls (Video)

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North Carolina Woman Hospitalized After Being Attacked By A Group of Pit Bulls (Video)

Yesterday morning a woman in her mid-60s was taken to the hospital after a pack of mixed pit bull terriers attacked her as she was walking down a sidewalk in Winston Salem, according to police.

The woman was attacked around 10am on East Sprague Street on Winston Salem’s South Side.

A security camera on a nearby home captured footage of the attack;

When a nearby neighbor heard the cries for help and saw the attack, she quickly ran to the rescue and scared away the dogs.

“I hear someone screaming. I wasn’t sure if it was around the house in this area or where, but the screaming was, ‘Help me! Help me!’ — very weak sounds,” the neighbor said. “The lady was laid down in the driveway, four dogs around her biting. So I run to her immediately. I was screaming, ‘Get out. Get out.’”

The neighbor then called 911 and the woman was rushed to the hospital.

According to authorities, the woman suffered severe bites to her head, arms, and legs.

Winston-Salem police quickly searched the area and found 11 dogs on the loose, all originating from a home in the 1200 block of Sprague Street.

All the dogs have been transferred to Forsyth Animal Humane Society and their owner, Kenneth Byrd, has been charged with assault inflicting serious injury in connection to the incident. He is now facing $3,700 in fines and possible prison time.

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