Martin Luther King Jr. Day Report: North Carolina Ranks 9th in U.S. Racial Progress

0

With Martin Luther King Jr. Day around the corner and half of adults saying a lot more needs to be done to ensure equal rights for all Americans, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on States with the Most Racial Progress.

To measure America’s progress in harmonizing racial groups, the site measured the gaps between black people and white people across 21 key indicators of equality and integration in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The data set ranges from median annual household income to standardized-test scores to voter turnout.

This report examines the differences between only black people and white people in light of the high-profile police-brutality incidents that sparked the Black Lives Matter movement. We released this report ahead of the holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who played a prominent role in the Civil Rights Movement to end segregation and discrimination against black people.

Racial Progress in North Carolina (1=Most Progress, 25=Avg.):

Note: All of the following comparisons refer to the gaps between white people and black people over time:

  • 19th – Change in Median Annual Household Income Gap
  • 9th – Change in Labor-Force Participation Rate Gap
  • 24th – Change in Unemployment Rate Gap
  • 14th – Change in Homeownership Rate Gap
  • 7th – Change in Poverty Rate Gap
  • 22nd – Change in Gap in % of Adults* with at Least a High School Diploma
  • 15th – Change in Standardized-Test Scores Gap
  • 2nd – Change in Voter-Turnout Gap (2020 Presidential Election)

*“Adults” include the population aged 25 and older.

2024 Pokémon Regional Championships Coming to Charlotte This Week

0

The Pokémon 2024 Regional Championship are coming to Charlotte the weekend of January 19.

Pokémon players from throughout the region will compete at the Charlotte Convention Center for up to $50,000 in scholarships and prizes, including the coveted title of Pokémon Regional Champion and valuable Championship Points that count toward a potential invite to the 2024 Pokémon World Championships.

The tournament will be highlighted by intense head-to-head battles with both trading cards and video game players.

When:   January 19–21, 2024

Event begins Friday, 1/19 – information may be found here

Where:

Charlotte Convention Center
501 S College St

Charlotte, NC 28202, USA

Checkers and Knights Joining Forces This Weekend For First Outdoor Pro Hockey Game in Charlotte History

0

This weekend, the Charlotte Checkers will make history in the Queen City.

The Queen City Outdoor Classic will become the very first professional outdoor hockey game in Charlotte’s sporting history, and it will mark the first time Checkers have ever played on an outdoor rink.

The groundwork for this exciting venture was laid in December when the Knights installed an ice rink on the field for their annual holiday festival, allowing the Checkers to partake in an outdoor practice.

This historic event will take place on January 13, hosted at Truist Field in the heart of Uptown Charlotte.

The official game rink will be located located between first and third base across the infield dirt behind the pitcher’s mound.

via Charlotte Knights

Here’s a teaser reel about the historic upcoming outdoor match:

This winter’s Queen City Outdoor Classic game will join an exclusive club of outdoor games.

To date, there have been only 11 such games in AHL history, with just two of them taking place at minor-league baseball stadiums, those being the 2013 matchup between Rochester and Lake Erie at Rochester’s Frontier Field and the 2015 showdown between Stockton and Bakersfield at Sacramento’s Raley Field.

You can find out more information or buy tickets here.

Second Storm Surge: Carolinas to Experience More Severe Weather This Afternoon

0

As the Carolinas recover from Tuesday’s storm featuring record rainfall and a tornado in Catawba County, another storm is forecasted for Friday afternoon. This system will bring gusty winds, heavy rain, and possible severe storms, mainly affecting the afternoon and early evening.

Though not as severe as Tuesday’s event, Friday’s storm could still cause a ton of issues, with wind gusts expected between 30 to 40+ mph, potentially toppling shallow-rooted trees due to saturated soil, and chances of flash flooding across our region.

Some areas around Charlotte could see up to 1 to 2 inches in heavier downpours.

North Carolina Emergency Management officials remind all residents to: 

Vice President Harris Coming To Charlotte Today to Address Gun Violence

0

This week both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are visiting the Carolinas. Vice President Harris will be speaking in Charlotte today, coinciding with President Biden’s campaign speech in Charleston this week.

In Charlotte, Vice President Harris will focus on the Biden Administration’s initiatives to curb gun violence. She will be meeting with educators, counselors, parents, gun safety advocates, and local and state officials.

Harris is expected to talk about ways to reduce gun violence during a roundtable discussion at Eastway Middle School. The talk will be held just a few days after a senior at Myers Park High School was fatally shot.

During her visit, Harris will announce funding from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, aimed at enhancing mental health resources in schools.

Vice President Harris has made nine visits to North Carolina during her tenure, including a trip to Greensboro last September and a visit to Charlotte in June to commemorate the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision being overturned.

NFL Selects Panthers To Represent American Football in Germany Next Year

0

The Carolina Panthers have just been selected by the NFL to represent American Football in Germany next year with a live game in Munich along with other events. This follows the NFL’s schedule expansion, allowing teams with an extra home game to play internationally.

“We are looking forward to welcoming the NFL to our Allianz Arena for the second time,” said Andreas Jung, chief marketing officer of FC Bayern Munich in a press release. “Since we played in the Carolina Panthers’ stadium in Charlotte in the summer of 2016, it’s a great story to welcome the Panthers to Munich.”

Panthers legend Steve Smith Sr. has been a key ambassador, hosting events in Frankfurt. The team has also participated in various activities in Germany, such as football clinics and fan meet-and-greets, and has been promoting their brand through German social media and web content since 2019.

This expansion into Germany aligns with the NFL’s Global Markets Program, granting the Panthers marketing and fan engagement rights in the country.

This initiative is part of the NFL’s strategy to grow its international fan base, involving 19 teams across 10 countries.

What do you think about the NFL’s decision to send the Panthers to Germany?

Charlotte Launching A 12-Month Series in Filmmaking

0

The Carolina Film Community (CFC) (carolina film community) is launching “Picture This: A 12-Month Series in Filmmaking.” Each month in 2024, the CFC will explore a different aspect of filmmaking, providing valuable insights and knowledge to aspiring filmmakers with time for questions and answers. 

The first meeting on January 9th will feature Jennifer Errington, an award-winning entertainment lawyer (errington law) in Charlotte. Attendees should come to Heist Brewery and Barrel Arts (heist brewery/barrel-arts), 1030 Woodward Ave, Charlotte, NC January 9 at 7pm. 

Tickets are $10. 

As an entertainment lawyer, Errington works with artists, agents, managers, and production companies to protect their clients’ interests and ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations. She handles contract negotiations, intellectual property rights, licensing agreements, and other legal matters specific to the industry. Filmmakers will learn how to protect themselves legally and how to navigate this less creative, but necessary, side of making visual art. 

The Carolina Film Community (CFC) is an award-winning nonprofit 501c3 organization created to raise the awareness of film and filmmakers in both North and South Carolina. CFC hosts contests, workshops, networking events, monthly meetings, the notable Made in Carolinas Film Project, and more. The CFC is focused on education, fellowship, and advocacy for filmmaking in the Carolinas. This 2024 program aims to guide the audience through the entire process of making a professional film, from inception to completion. CFC has been nominated for and received numerous awards for its work in education, including: 

  • 2018 AMG Heritage Awards BEST EDUCATIONAL GROUP Nominee ● 2017 AMG Heritage Awards BEST SPECIAL EVENT
  • 2016 AMG Heritage Awards BEST EDUCATIONAL GROUP ● 2015 AMG Heritage Awards BEST EDUCATIONAL GROUP ● 2015 AMG Heritage Awards BEST SPECIAL EVENT Nominee ● 2015 Elevate Lifestyle BEST EDUCATIONAL GROUP
  • 2014 Elevate Lifestyle BEST CREATIVE GATHERING

NC Man Falsely Imprisoned 44 Years Wins $25 Million from Concord – Largest in History

0

The City of Concord has just agreed to the largest false conviction settlements in North Carolina’s history after wrongfully imprisoning Ronny Long for 44 years.

In 1976, Long was sentenced to life in prison for false allegations of rape. His conviction was overturned in 2020 after overwhelming evidence of police misconduct was presented.

After being released on August 27th, 2020, Long was officially pardoned by Gov. Cooper and his legal team then filed a civil lawsuit against Concord and the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI).

This week a settlement of $22 million payment from Concord and $3 million from the SBI was announced, making it the largest of its kind in North Carolina and one of the largest in American history.

After the settlement was reached, the City of Concord released the following statement:

“We are deeply remorseful for the past wrongs that caused tremendous harm to Mr. Long, his family, friends, and our community. Mr. Long suffered the extraordinary loss of his freedom and a substantial portion of his life because of this conviction. He wrongly served 44 years, 3 months and 17 days in prison for a crime he did not commit. While there are no measures to fully restore to Mr. Long and his family all that was taken from them, through this agreement we are doing everything in our power to right the past wrongs and take responsibility. We are hopeful this can begin the healing process for Mr. Long and our community, and that together we can move forward while learning valuable lessons and ensuring nothing like this ever happens again.”

Forex Copy Trading: Strategies for Success

0

One of the most successful strategies in the Forex market, copy trading, has helped traders of all skill levels overcome the market’s difficulties. 

This strategy, which originated in the larger field of social trading, allows regular people to automate their trading by making decisions that are similar to those of successful traders.

Pluses

The pros of copy trading extend beyond mere replication. Investors can diversify their portfolios by mimicking decisions from various traders, enhancing their chances of success. 

Leading platforms like MT4 and cTrader have streamlined the copy trading experience, offering traders a user-friendly environment for seamless automation.

However, using copy trading as a method requires a discerning eye. The success of this strategy depends on the credibility and expertise of service providers. 

As AI and machine learning advance, the potential for more sophisticated data analysis and pattern recognition in copy trading becomes evident.

Minuses

Yet, challenges persist. The method does not guarantee foolproof winning, and blind reliance on automated approaches can damage a trader’s understanding of the market. 

Integrating automated decision-making with the preservation of fundamental FX knowledge is the highest priority.

Tips for Improvement

Brokers must invest in creating an optimal environment for novice and experienced traders to maximise success. This involves selecting high-quality experts, providing comprehensive educational resources, fostering transparent communication, and ensuring a user-friendly interface. 

Innovation is the key to staying ahead in the competitive FX market, with advanced features and tools setting platforms apart.

Final Remarks

Strategic decision-making, ongoing learning, and a dedication to innovation are necessary for mastering FX copy trading. The future of copy trading is bright, with brokers constantly improving their platforms and providing traders with an exciting and lucrative environment.

What is Liquidity Aggregation, And How Does It Benefit the Crypto Industry?

0

In the field of digital trading and virtual coins, maintaining market stability is crucial. Consolidation of liquidity is a considerable factor in achieving this goal. It is a process that aggregates currency pairs from various exchanges and provides them to traders at the most favorable prices. 

This automated function gathers liquidity from multiple sources and creates a delicate balance between supply and demand. Doing so helps counterbalance the unpredictability of cryptocurrencies and ensures the market operates smoothly.

Why Is Liquidity Aggregation Paramount for the Crypto Industry?

Liquidity unification plays a crucial role in stabilising the prices of cryptocurrencies and preventing large-volume traders from manipulating the market. 

This method allows smaller traders to obtain fair market prices and access to global trade data. Many crypto organisations adopt this approach to regulate price quotes and prevent industry volatility from escalating during critical times.

Strengths and Drawbacks of Liquidity Aggregation

Aggregating liquidity is a crucial process that improves market liquidity, transparency, and trading accessibility. However, it comes with several obstacles, such as latency, security vulnerabilities, and slower order fulfilment. 

Overcoming these challenges is essential to ensure that the benefits of liquidity consolidation are fully realised and to establish an efficient and dependable trading environment. 

As a result, effective solutions that can address these challenges have become an urgent concern for market participants and regulators.

The Major Characteristics And Functionalities of Aggregation

The trading effectiveness of global crypto markets can be improved by using Liquidity incorporation, which is a methodology that aims to balance the markets. The methodology is equipped with various features such as the Smart Order Router (SOR) system, algo-trading, and reverse split of the order book.

The SOR System

Traders can utilise smart order routing to locate the most profitable trading prospects by scanning various liquidity pools and selecting the most advantageous options based on all the relevant factors.

Algo-Trading

Automated trading using bots, software, and other solutions is known as algorithmic or algo trading. This type of trading enables aggregators to identify the best prices by dynamically filtering prices from a vast pool of exchange offerings without the need for manual tracking of every crypto exchange.

Order Book’s Consolidation

The consolidation process provides a transparent overview of trade orders on both sides. When liquidity is unified, the order book from various sources is merged, resulting in a comprehensive market view. 

Market players can utilise this feature to gain insights into market dynamics and create advanced trading strategies.

Which Firms Serve As Liquidity Aggregators?

Exchange platforms and retail/corporate market participants are the major liquidity suppliers in the world of virtual assets. Digital asset exchanges have the largest pools of cryptocurrencies and use sophisticated processing techniques, making them the most obvious choice for sourcing liquidity. 

Retail investors enhance the trading volume on these exchanges, while corporate shareholders provide liquidity to smaller pools in exchange for interest and dividends.

The Bottom Line

Ensuring liquidity incorporation in the digital currencies market is of utmost importance as it plays a vital role in stabilising prices, enhancing liquidity ratios, and propelling growth by streamlining order matching and reducing spreads.