Officials Asking NC Residents To Look Out For Armadillos

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Officials Asking NC Residents To Look Out For Armadillos

The NC Wildlife Resources Commission has sent out an alert to all residents to be on the looking for 9-banded armadillos.

Scientists are now asking for help in determining the full range of the armored creatures, especially in East Coast states.

According to the commission, Armadillos have long been native to Central and South America but they’ve gradually expanded their range northward as temperatures continue to warm up. So far the creatures have been spotted in 27 North Carolina counties, including Gaston and Mecklenburg.

“Whether armadillos continue spreading beyond their current range will be largely determined by climate,” said Colleen Olfenbuttel, the Commission’s black bear and furbearer biologist. “Mild winter temperature conditions are good for armadillos. Since they lack thick insulation and must dig for most foods, freezing conditions can cause them to starve or freeze to death.”

If you’d like to help, you can report observations to armadillo@ncwildlife.org.

The email should include:

  • A photo of the armadillo
  • When it was observed (date and time)
  • The location where it was observed (GPS coordinates are best, but a detailed location description is acceptable)

You can find out more about North Carolina armadillos by reading the Commission’s armadillo species profile and by visiting the armadillo webpage here.

Gastonia Man Accused of Shooting Firework Into Dollar Tree and Causing Major Fire

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Gastonia Man Accused of Shooting Firework Into Dollar Tree and Causing Major Fire

A Fourth of July fireworks incident has shut down a large part of Gastonia after a Dollar Tree caught fire.

According to the Gastonia Police Department, South York Road is closed in the area while firefighters battle the blaze and police investigate what happened.

Authorities say a Gastonia man allegedly lit a firework and shot it into the Dollar Tree (2406 S York Rd), triggering an explosion that ignited the fire. No injuries have been reported.

Motorists are urged to avoid the area and use alternate routes. Officials expect the roadway to remain closed for several hours as crews extinguish the fire and investigators process the scene.

The incident comes as communities across the region have reported an increase in fireworks-related calls around the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Fire officials continue to remind residents that fireworks can quickly ignite buildings, vegetation, and other combustible materials when used improperly.

The Gastonia Police Department and Gastonia Fire Department remain on scene. Authorities have not yet released additional information about possible charges or the extent of the damage.

Drivers are encouraged to avoid the section of U.S. 321 near South York Road until the investigation is complete and the roadway reopens.

LeBron James Just Became A Free Agency: The Queen City Might Land the King

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LeBron James Just Became A Free Agency: The Queen City Might Land the King

In a stunning development that has shaken the NBA landscape, LeBron James has informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he will not return for the 2026-27 season, entering free agency as he prepares for his historic 24th NBA campaign.

The four-time champion and all-time leading scorer is now officially on the open market — and while contenders like the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers are viewed as frontrunners, local voices and analysts are making a compelling case for an unexpected landing spot: Charlotte.

Why the Hornets Are Quietly Emerging as a Intriguing Option

James’ departure from the Lakers opens the door for a fresh chapter, and Charlotte’s recent roster overhaul may have unintentionally positioned the franchise better than many realize.

The Hornets’ blockbuster trade of LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves created a record $40.7 million trade exception, giving the team rare financial flexibility to absorb salary or facilitate major moves. Combined with a young, ascending core featuring Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, newly acquired Naz Reid, and others, Charlotte suddenly offers a blank canvas for a veteran leader.

Key Reasons LeBron Should Seriously Consider Charlotte:

  • Legacy Over Everything: By joining the Hornets, James could achieve what Michael Jordan — the franchise’s longtime former owner — never could: deliver a championship to Charlotte. It’s a narrative tailor-made for the King’s final act.
  • Perfect Mentor Fit: The post-LaMelo roster is younger and more collaborative. LeBron has repeatedly praised the Hornets’ growth and chemistry in recent seasons. A short-term deal would allow him to mentor rising stars while chasing a fifth ring.
  • Personal Connections: James was a Hornets fan as a child during the franchise’s exciting 1990s run. He’s also long shown admiration for LaMelo Ball’s game — and the recent trade clears the path for LeBron to step into a leadership role. Add in his well-known love for Bojangles (a Charlotte original he fell in love with as a rookie), and the personal ties are stronger than casual fans might expect.
  • Market and Lifestyle: A move to Charlotte would offer a lower-pressure environment than LA or New York, a growing Southern city, and proximity to family-friendly living — all while still competing in the East.

What Charlotte Can Do to Woo the King

Hornets fans and city leaders aren’t waiting passively. Here’s how residents can help turn this longshot into reality:

  • Launch a social media blitz with #LeBronToCharlotte and #KingInTheQueenCity
  • Organize fan videos and petitions highlighting the MJ legacy angle and the city’s passion
  • Lean into the Bojangles connection with creative local campaigns
  • Pack Spectrum Center this season to prove Charlotte is a true NBA market ready for stardom

While oddsmakers still favor traditional contenders, the NBA has seen bigger surprises. With James seeking the right fit for his final run, Charlotte’s combination of cap flexibility, youth, and unique legacy opportunity makes it a dark horse worth watching.

Hornets ownership and GM Jeff Peterson now have a chance to swing big. For a city that has waited decades for its first title, this could be the moment.

Could the King be coming to the Queen City? Charlotte Stories will continue to monitor this developing situation closely.

Charlotte’s 10 Worst Restaurant Health Scores In June 2026

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Charlotte’s 10 Worst Restaurant Health Scores In June 2026

Mecklenburg County health inspectors found food temperature issues, pest concerns, dirty equipment, and repeat violations during June restaurant inspections.

Most restaurants still earned A grades, however, several locations received lower scores after inspectors documented food safety concerns.

Below are the 10 lowest restaurant inspection scores reported in Mecklenburg County during June 2026, ranked from #10 to #1.

10. Inchin’s Bamboo Garden – 90

9601 N. Tryon St., Suite A, Charlotte

Notable observations included:

  • “Observed no paper towels at cook line handsink.”
  • “Observed multiple items above 41F.”
  • “Observed paneer, tofu, cut cabbage, baby corn, and veggie cakes with no date marks.”

9. King Crab Juicy Seafood – 90

7401 E. Independence Blvd., Charlotte

Notable observations included:

  • “Observed no certified food protection manager present.”
  • “Observed raw shrimp stored over RTE crab legs.”
  • “Observed prep top with RTE crab legs and raw shrimp very over stacked.”
  • “Observed 3 flies present in the kitchen.”

8. Waffle House #1319 – 90

8635 Hankins Rd., Charlotte

Notable observations included:

  • “Observed several food employees wash hands and turn off hand sink without a protective barrier.”
  • “Observed several bins of clean dishes stored in containers with food debris.”
  • “Observed high temp dish machine temping at 112F.”
  • “A large quantity of flies flew out from beneath the ice machine cabinet.”

7. Sushi 101 Noodle Bar – 88.5

5355 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte

Notable observations included:

  • “Observed dishwasher handle soiled equipment then proceed to handle clean equipment.”
  • “Observed another employee washing gloves off at vegetable prep sink.”
  • “Observed employee using sushi rice leftover from day before.”
  • “Observed salmon stored in container on ground in WIF.”
  • “Observed sushi rice utensil stored in water at 88 degrees F.”

6. New Century Oriental Deli – 88

4500 N. Tryon St., Suite C, Charlotte

Notable observations included:

  • “No employee present with active ANSI food protection manager certification.”
  • “Raw beef stored above dried shrimp.”
  • “Steamed buns, boiled eggs, and sausage were missing prep date labels.”
  • “Cooked pork had 5-24 prep date on it.”
  • “Several dead insects observed throughout kitchen.”
  • “Using cardboard lids for bun containers.”

5. Shake Shake Seafood King Crab – 87

9925 Leitner Dr., Pineville

Notable observations included:

  • “Opened package of ground beef beside cabbage.”
  • “Dishes and ice scoop stored as clean with stickiness and food debris.”
  • “Snow crab legs at 48F.”
  • “Dressings cooling in broken beverage cooler above 70F.”
  • “Crawfish thawing in undrained water at 65F.”
  • “Several dead roaches on floor.”
  • “Fryer baskets with deteriorated metal wire.”

4. Masa Sushi Asian Grill – 87

12806 S. Tryon St., Suite 220, Charlotte

Notable observations included:

  • “PIC touched lo mein noodles with bare hands.”
  • “Raw shrimp stored above ginger and lo mein.”
  • “Sesame chicken at 101–110F.”
  • “Cooked vegetables at 60–65F.”
  • “No written procedures for sushi rice.”
  • “Back door not fully closed.”

3. Homewood Suites Charlotte Uptown 1st Ward – 86

508 N. College St., Charlotte

Notable observations included:

  • “No employees washed hands unless prompted.”
  • “Handwashing sinks blocked.”
  • “Over 10 utensils soiled.”
  • “Potatoes below 135F.”
  • “Breakfast foods above 41F.”
  • “Undated foods including ham and hotdogs.”
  • “Expired salsa bottle.”
  • “Apples displayed unwashed and unwrapped.”

2. Fiesta Maya Mexican Restaurant – 85.5

3503 David Cox Rd., Charlotte

Notable observations included:

  • “No PIC until halfway through inspection.”
  • “Unable to demonstrate food safety knowledge.”
  • “Raw meats improperly stored.”
  • “Heavy food debris on utensils.”
  • “Salsa and beef stock improperly cooled.”
  • “Prep unit above 41F.”
  • “Several flies throughout kitchen.”
  • “Trash, food and mattress behind building.”

1. Irie Nation Restaurant – 83.5

3501 S. Tryon St., Suite D, Charlotte

Notable observations included:

  • “No certified food protection manager on duty.”
  • “Sanitizer bucket stored in hand sink.”
  • “Food debris in hand sink.”
  • “Unwashed produce over cooked pasta.”
  • “Food hot held under 135F.”
  • “No date marks throughout facility.”
  • “Containers of flour and sugar without labels.”
  • “Back door ajar.”
  • “Sauce stored on floor.”
  • “Utensils stored with visible debris.”
  • “Clean dishes stacked wet.”
  • “Rusted shelving.”
  • “Facility in need of cleaning.”
  • “Hand lotion stored with clean dishes.”

Restaurant inspection scores can change after violations are corrected and follow-up inspections are completed.

NOAA Issues Geomagnetic Storm Warning – Northern Lights Possibly Visible Tonight Across The Carolinas

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NOAA Issues Geomagnetic Storm Warning – Northern Lights Possibly Visible Tonight Across The Carolinas

A powerful solar storm is expected to bring the Northern Lights to the Charlotte region late tonight into Saturday morning.

Another coronal mass ejection is arriving today, following a strong solar flare from earlier this week.

The KP index is forecast to reach 6, a level that often allows aurora viewing across the Carolinas. The best chance to see the lights will be from around 8pm to 9pm tonight, according to NOAA.

If you want the best possible shots with the brightest colors, you’ll need a long-exposure camera. Go to a very dark place where you have an unobstructed view toward the northern sky. The best place would be a remote mountain with north-facing views.

You can find the dark spots in your area using the official light pollution map here.

Happy aurora hunting!

Atrium Health Agrees To Pay $1.8 Million In Class Action Settlement – You May Be Owed Money

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Atrium Health Agrees To Pay $1.8 Million In Class Action Settlement – You May Be Owed Money

Thousands of Charlotte-area residents who have used an Atrium Health patient portal over the past decade could be eligible for a cash payment after the healthcare system agreed to a $1.8 million class action settlement over alleged patient privacy violations.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority, which operates as Atrium Health, agreed to settle claims that it embedded tracking pixels on its website and, for a limited time, its patient portal without patients’ consent. The lawsuit alleged the technology disclosed users’ personal and health-related information to third parties, including Meta, for advertising purposes.

The settlement received preliminary court approval on May 22, 2026. Atrium Health denies any wrongdoing as part of the agreement.

The settlement applies to all U.S. residents who had a MyAtriumHealth or MyCarolinas patient portal account between January 1, 2015, and April 10, 2024.

Eligible patients fall into two groups:

Group 1: People who accessed or used their patient portal between January 1, 2015, and July 31, 2019. These claimants will receive a proportional share of a $1.5 million settlement fund after court-approved fees and expenses.
Group 2: People who had a patient portal account between January 1, 2015, and April 10, 2024, but do not qualify for Group 1. They may receive up to $10 from a separate $300,000 fund. Those eligible for Group 1 cannot also receive a Group 2 payment.

Eligible patients can submit a claim online or by mail through the court-approved settlement website. Claims must be filed by September 28, 2026. Alternatively, you could have a claim advisors handle it for you here.

A final approval hearing is scheduled for September 30, 2026. Payments will be distributed only if the settlement receives final approval and any appeals are resolved.

The lawsuit alleged Atrium Health failed to obtain patients’ consent before using website tracking technology that transmitted certain personal and health-related information to third-party companies for advertising and analytics purposes.

Homeland Security Uncovers Gaston County Man’s $7.8 Million Counterfeit Operation

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Homeland Security Uncovers Gaston County Man’s $7.8 Million Counterfeit Operation

Authorities have just uncovered one of the largest counterfeit merchandise busts in the Charlotte region, seizing more than 96,000 fake items with an estimated retail value of $7.8 million from a home in Gaston County.

The Gaston County Police Department said investigators began looking into the alleged sale of counterfeit merchandise from a Gaston County man last month. After a weeks-long investigation, officers executed a search warrant at the home on June 25.

During the search, investigators seized 96,108 suspected counterfeit items with an estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $7,845,817.

As a result of the investigation, authorities obtained arrest warrants for Adela Ortiz-Portillo and Ever Roberto Martinez-Olivia. Each faces two counts of criminal use of a counterfeit trademark and one count of felony conspiracy.

The investigation involved the Gaston County Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Office, and Blazer Investigations.

Officials said counterfeit products can harm consumers, legitimate businesses, and trademark owners by flooding the market with fake goods that often fail to meet safety and quality standards.

The Gaston County Police Department thanked its partner agencies for their assistance and said the investigation reflects an ongoing effort to combat counterfeit merchandise throughout the region.

Anyone with information about this case or similar activity is encouraged to contact Officer Rogers with the Gaston County Police Department at 704-866-3320.

Advanced Drone Warfare Company Opening 200,000 SqFt Factory in Charlotte

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Advanced Drone Warfare Company Opening 200,000 SqFt Factory in Charlotte

Charlotte is set to gain another major manufacturing operation as advanced weapons contractor INKAS expands its North American footprint with a new 200,000-square-foot production facility.

The company announced the new Charlotte factory as a part of a historic expansion that will more than double its manufacturing capacity across North America. INKAS expects the new facilities to be fully operational by July 31, 2026.

The Charlotte facility is expected to support production for INKAS’ growing portfolio of advanced defense technologies. The company has invested heavily in counter-drone and autonomous drone systems designed for military and government customers. Its product lineup includes AI-powered interceptor drones capable of autonomously tracking and destroying hostile drones, electronic warfare systems that jam or disrupt enemy drone communications, and mobile command-and-control platforms integrated into armored tactical vehicles.

INKAS also develops radio-frequency detection systems that can locate hostile drone operators and autonomous maritime platforms capable of deploying drones during naval operations. While the company has not specified which individual products will be manufactured in Charlotte, the expansion is intended to increase production capacity across its armored vehicle and advanced defense systems businesses as demand continues to grow worldwide.

Code Orange Air Quality Alert Issued for Mecklenburg County Today

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Code Orange Air Quality Alert Issued for Mecklenburg County Today

Residents across Mecklenburg County are being urged to limit outdoor activity today after officials issued a Code Orange Air Quality Alert for elevated ozone levels.

The alert is in effect from 10 am to 8 pm Thursday and means air pollution could reach levels that are unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children, older adults, and people with asthma, heart disease, or other respiratory conditions.

According to the North Carolina Division of Air Quality, a persistent area of high pressure has created ideal conditions for ground-level ozone. Sunny skies, light winds, and little rainfall are allowing pollution to build throughout the day, especially during the afternoon and early evening.

Sensitive individuals should avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity during peak hours. Residents are also encouraged to help reduce pollution by limiting driving, avoiding engine idling, conserving electricity, and walking or biking when possible.

The air quality outlook shows gradual improvement after today:

  • Thursday (July 2): Green to Orange AQI, with Mecklenburg County under a Code Orange ozone alert.
  • Friday (July 3): Green to Yellow AQI as ozone levels are expected to improve.
  • Saturday (July 4): Code Yellow air quality is forecast across much of North Carolina, meaning moderate conditions that could still affect unusually sensitive individuals.

Forecasters say isolated afternoon thunderstorms in western North Carolina could provide localized relief by reducing ozone levels.

A Code Orange alert means air quality may pose a health risk for sensitive populations, while most healthy adults are not expected to experience significant effects.

Plane Crashes and Bursts Into Flames Near Charlotte

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Plane Crashes and Bursts Into Flames Near Charlotte

A twin-engine plane crashed and caught fire in the Charlotte region early Thursday, seriously injuring two men and prompting a large emergency response.

The crash happened just before 1 a.m. in a wooded area off Brooklyn Avenue near Springdale Road in Lancaster, South Carolina.

According to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, the aircraft struck trees before coming to rest on a hillside, where it burst into flames.

The two men aboard, believed to be the pilots, were found near the wreckage. Both were conscious but suffered serious burns and were airlifted to hospitals. Their current conditions have not been released.

The aircraft, a twin-engine Beechcraft BE55 owned by North Carolina-based Pressley Aviation, was traveling from Poplarville, Mississippi, to Stanly County Airport in Albemarle. Investigators said the pilot reported engine failure and attempted an emergency landing before the crash.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident, while local authorities continue to secure the crash site.

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