Man Arrested After Sliding Down Epicentre Roof and Damaging Vehicle (Video)

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Man Arrested After Sliding Down Epicentre Roof and Damaging Vehicle (Video)

At around 2:30 am this morning, a man was arrested after for injury to personal property after he slid down an Epicentre roof and damaged a parked car, according to CMPD.

Weaverville resident Alex Freudenberg was allegedly offered a bet $100 to slide down the awning that covers one of the Epicentre’s escalators.

Witnesses also say that Freudenberg had a few drinks in him at the time of the incident.

Cell phone cameras were rolling when he took the bet;

So a guy slid from the top of the stairs and landed on somebody’s car!!

A post shared by Chewy 92.7 The Block (@iamchewy5) on

About this time last year, a different man was arrested for damaging a car after he jumped off the Epicentre’s skybridge.

State of North Carolina Suing Purdue Over Growing Opioid Epidemic

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State of North Carolina Suing Purdue Over Growing Opioid Epidemic

This past week, North Carolina joined several other states in a massive multi-state lawsuit against OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma LP. The states are accusing the massive drug company of fueling a national opioid epidemic by deceptively marketing prescription painkillers in order to generate billions of dollars in sales.

The attorneys general of Nevada, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, North Dakota and Tennessee all said that the company had violated state consumer protection laws by falsely denying or downplaying the risk of addiction while overstating the benefits of opioids.

According to the official court documents filed by North Carolina’s Attorney General, Purdue Pharmaceuticals should be held accountable for helping to increase the death toll from opioid overdoses in our state from 109 people in 1999 to 1,384 in 2016 – an increase of over 1,000% (between 2016-2017, NC saw opioid-related emergency room visits grow by over 40%).

“Purdue repeatedly deceived people about its products and thereby increased Purdue’s profits, at a staggering human cost.

Purdue’s decisions and actions played a pivotal role in igniting and spreading the opioid epidemic in North Carolina. In an effort to achieve its goal of ever-expanding opioid sales growth, Purdue designed an aggressive, expensive, multi-faceted marketing campaign, deployed across many platforms, spokespeople, and media. Purdue was caught and penalized for deceptive marketing in 2007, after three executives also pleaded guilty to criminal charges, but this appears to have had no impact on its willingness to cross the line in marketing its opioid products,” the documents state.

In addition to holding drug makers accountable, North Carolina has recently changed several laws related to opioid overdoses to help curb the epidemic.

Our state recently changed Naloxone (opioid overdose antidote) from requiring a prescription, to now be available ‘over the counter’, and we implemented a new ‘Good Samaritan Law’.

The law essentially protects people who administer Naloxone to someone who has overdosed from any liability.

The following are common signs of an opioid-related overdose;

Small pupils
Pale face
Limp body
Shallow or slowed breathing
Vomiting
Loss of consciousness

If you know anyone who might use heroin or any other opioids, please pick up some Naloxone from your local pharmacist and keep it handy – you never know when it might save someone’s life.

What do you think about North Carolina’s recent actions surrounding the opioid epidemic?

What more do you think should be done? 

Greenville Spending $40 Million To Build Its Largest Public Project in History – Unity Park

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Greenville Spending $40 Million To Build Its Largest Public Project in History – Unity Park

The City of Greenville is about to undertake it’s largest public project in history – Unity Park.

The $40 million project will completely transform 60 acres of lowland just west of downtown, which has often been seen as an area of blight over the city.

The center of the park will feature a massive 120-foot observation tower, complete with a winding staircase and elevator, which will match the height of city hall and allow visitors to see for miles around in every direction.

Another iconic feature in the park will be the Reedy River pedestrian bridge, which will cost about $5 million to construct, and which will allow visitors a breathtaking vantage point to view the park’s sprawling wetlands.

The park will also include a sprawling playground with water jets, a modern gathering hall, and new retail and recreational development in the old warehouses along the Swamp Rabbit Trail.

Work on clearing land is set to start later this year, at which point Greenville residents will begin to see the tower start to rise. The entire park will likely take another 3-4 years to complete.

For more information, check out the Unity Park page here on GreenvilleSC.gov.

What do you think about the new park?

Do you think Charlotte should build something like this?

Romaine Lettuce is Now Safe To Eat Again

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Romaine Lettuce is Now Safe To Eat Again

Almost 4 weeks after warning all US consumers against consuming Romaine Lettuce due to an E. Coli outbreak, the CDC has just announced that all non-expired romaine lettuce is now safe to eat.

They made the announced on their website and on Twitter, saying;

“According to the FDA, the last shipments of romaine lettuce from the Yuma growing region were harvested on April 16, 2018, and the harvest season is over. It is unlikely that any romaine lettuce from the Yuma growing region is still available in people’s homes, stores, or restaurants due to its 21-day shelf life. The most recent illnesses reported to CDC started when romaine lettuce from the Yuma growing region was likely still available in stores, restaurants, and in peoples’ homes.”

On April 19th, the CDC expanded their romaine lettuce warning to all 50 states, instructing everyone to “Throw away all chopped romaine lettuce, including salad mixes containing romaine, and any other foods stored with it or touching it…”

They also noted that the infected lettuce is coming out of Yuma, Az;

Do you know anyone who has recently become ill after eating romaine? 

Top 5 Things To Do Around Charlotte This Weekend

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Top 5 Things To Do Around Charlotte This Weekend

The weekend is almost here!

There will be several festivals, shows, and races!

Here are the top 5 things happening around the Charlotte region this weekend:

#1 5th Annual South End Hops Fest

Charlotte’s first ever week-long beer festival will kicked off on Tuesday night (5/15) with the release of the first ever South End Hops Fest brew created by Triple C Brewing and a meet-and-greet with NASCAR favorite Jeffrey Earnhardt.

Join RescuedMe on Thursday at Pop the Top to find your forever pup! Pop the Top will be the second spot where you’ll get to enjoy a pint of the fest brew.

Friday night will feature renown chef Chris Coleman’s Hoppy Hour bites at the 5 Year Anniversary Hoppy Hour Celebration – enjoy the fest brew inspired bites, music and of course fest brew at Stoke Charlotte.

On Saturday, the Hop’s Fest main event will be taking over a large section of South End – enjoy unlimited beer tastings from over 35 North Carolina breweries, a sprawling beer garden, live music, art, crafts, food and tons of dogs.

For more info or tickets click here.

#2 Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race

The stars of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will battle under the lights at America’s Home for Racing, Charlotte Motor Speedway in what will surely be a night to remember.

The race will start this Saturday night at 8pm.

For more info or tickets click here.

#3 Primus and Mastodon

Saturday night, Primus will be rocking out with Mastodon starting at 7pm at the Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre.

Primus is an experimental rock band that has been around since the 1980s. The group’s unique blend of funk metal, progressive rock and alternative metal have earned them quite a devoted following over the decades, and to this day Primus shows still attract large crowds. If you love funky experimental rock, Primus is definitely one band you’ll want to see in concert when the opportunity arises.

For tickets or more info click here.

#4 25th Annual UniverSoul Circus 

UniverSoul Circus proudly celebrates 25 high-flying years as North America’s top-ranked venue for music, laughter and unrivalled performance artistry. UniverSoul Circus sets up its single ring big top in Charlotte, NC at Old Eastland Mall (5471 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28212) this coming Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

For tickets or more info click here.

#5 10th Annual Charlotte Cuban Festival

On Saturday, May 19th, from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. A Piece of Havana Restaurant (11126 South Tryon Street) will be hosting Charlotte’s annual Cuban Festival in their parking lot.

As always, Charlotte’s Cuban Festival is free to the public (not including food and drinks).

There will plenty of live music, dancing, food, drink, kids’ activities, and more.

For more info click here.

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

Charlotte Council Woman Lawana Mayfield Compares Police To Terrorists in Tweet

Charlotte Stories
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Charlotte Council Woman Lawana Mayfield Compares Police To Terrorists in Tweet

Charlotte City Councilwoman Lawana Mayfield is in hot water once again from a controversial tweet – this time it was about police officers.

She originally posted it in March but it’s just now starting to get attention due to National Police Week.

“Being black in America under number 45 has created homegrown terrorist wearing blue uniforms,” she stated in her post;

After people began commenting on the tweet, she defended herself on the social media platform;

This is now the second major tweet controversy from the councilwoman.

Last month, she shared an article about a conspiracy theory and questioned the 9/11 terrorist attack.

The tweet was soon deleted, but not before a petition was created, calling for her resignation.

According to the petition;

“This theory was completely and thoroughly debunked in a 2017 study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. It conclusively proved what most of the nation saw that day–the towers collapsed due to the massive damage from the impact of two large jumbo jets.

By giving her imprimatur to this conspiracy theory, Mayfield has brought shame and disgrace upon herself, her district, her city, and her state. It is simply not acceptable for an elected official to use his or her platform to promote such claptrap.”

What do you think about her tweets?

Thousands of Teachers March in Raleigh Today For Better Working Conditions (Video)

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Thousands of Teachers March in Raleigh Today For Better Working Conditions (Video)

Thousands of teachers from all across North Carolina are streaming into Raleigh to march in protest for better wages, supplies, and working conditions.

At least 15 school districts canceled classes today due to the protest, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Wake County Schools, Guilford County Schools, Mooresville Graded School District, Durham Public Schools, Nash-Rocky Mount Schools, Orange County Schools, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Asheville City Schools, Iredell-Statesville Schools and Cabarrus County Schools.

Here is the live video feed from today’s march in Raleigh;

According to the North Carolina Association of Educators, the protest will be focused on asking our elected officials for:

  • Significant investment in per-pupil spending so our students have the resources to be successful.
  • A multi-year professional pay plan for educators, education support professionals, administrators and all other school personnel. This plan must include restoration of compensation for advanced degrees and longevity. The plan must also stop the flat-lining of experienced educator’s pay.
  • Investing in the health and well-being of our students and making schools safer through increased school nurses, counselors, social workers and other support personnel and expansion of Medicaid to improve the health of our communities.
  • Fix our crumbling schools and large class sizes with a Statewide School Construction Bond.
  • Prioritize classrooms and not corporate board rooms.

What do you think about today’s protest? 

Gaston County Man Arrested For Shooting Into Random Vehicles

Steve
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Gaston County Man Arrested For Shooting Into Random Vehicles

A Gaston County man was just arrested for shooting at numerous cars and a South Point Volunteer Fire Department truck near his home.

According to police, 62-year-old Michael Edward Wilson was taken into custody at his home on South Point Road in Belmont this past Monday. He was charged him with four counts each of discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle and assault in secret.

According to police, there have been at least four incidents over the past year near his home on South Point Road in Belmont.

This video, by reporter Ken Lemon, recalls what one of the shooting victims experienced;

Wilson is currently awaiting trial in a Gaston County Jail under a one million dollar bond.

Police are still investigating the incidents. If you have any additional information, please contact Detective Dow at (704) 866-3320 or Crimestoppers at (704) 861-8000.

David Tepper Agrees To Buy Carolina Panthers for a Record Breaking $2.2 Billion

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David Tepper Agrees To Buy Carolina Panthers for a Record Breaking $2.2 Billion

Carolina Panthers founder Jerry Richardson will officially make our hometown team the most valuable in NFL history when he sells it to Pittsburgh Steelers minority owner David Tepper for $2.2 billion.

If finalized, the sale would set a record for the highest price ever paid for an NFL team, surpassing the $1.4 billion that the Buffalo Bills were sold for in 2014.

An insider league source confirmed the details of the deal to ESPN’s Seth Wickersham and Adam Schefter earlier today.

The deal will need approval from the NFL financial committee and a 3/4ths approval from the 32 NFL team owners.

Because Tepper is a minority owner of the Steelers and has already passed the league’s vetting process, and because his estimated net worth is in excess of $11 billion, the deal is expected to be approved at the upcoming May 22nd owners meetings in Atlanta.

He will have to sell his 5% minority interest in the Steelers before completing the purchase.

He is planning on keeping the Panthers in Charlotte for the time being.

The Panthers’ sale is being widely watched since the final price will become a new benchmark for other teams. Several sources are now saying the Denver Broncos, the New Orleans Saints and the Tennessee Titans are also looking to change hands over the next few years. The senior owner of each of those teams has died in recent years or is in currently in bad health.

What do you think about the sale?

Chili’s Reports Data Breach Affecting Customer Credit and Debit Card Data

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Chili’s Reports Data Breach Affecting Customer Credit and Debit Card Data

The casual restaurant chain ‘Chilis’ has just sent out a press release telling all their customers to check their credit after discovering a massive data breach in the restaurant’s payment system.

According to the release, On May 11, the chain learned that some of their customer’s payment information was compromised between March and April 2018.

They are continuing an investigation with third-party forensic experts to determine what led to the breach and how better to prevent any possible future breaches.

The company now thinks that some type of malware was used to gather credit and debit card information from their payment systems.

Chili’s said customers personal information such as social security numbers, full dates of birth, and federal identification numbers were not compromised.

They are now telling anyone who used a payment card at a Chili’s Restaurant during March and April to contact all three national credit reporting agencies as soon as possible to place a fraud alert on their record.

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