Governor Cooper Urging EPA To Stop Chemours From Importing 4 Million Lbs of Deadly GenX Into NC

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Governor Cooper Urging EPA To Stop Chemours From Importing 4 Million Lbs of Deadly GenX Into NC

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper is now urging the EPA to block a recently approved shipment of over 4 million pounds of GenX chemical to North Carolina’s Chemours plant in Fayetteville.

The projected imports of GenX by the Fayetteville Works facility are substantially higher than in previous years. Research by the Dutch news organization ILT revealed that exports of GenX from Dordrecht to Fayetteville rose from 10 tons in 2014 to 116 tons in 2018.

GenX is a member of the PFAS family, a group of around 15,000 chemicals known to be detrimental to human health, implicated in a variety of serious conditions including cancers of the testicles, kidneys, liver, and pancreas, as well as birth defects, fertility issues, immune system depression, and elevated cholesterol levels.

“North Carolina has been at the forefront of PFAS issues for the past seven years and worked relentlessly to mitigate the health risks posed by these chemicals,” said Gov. Cooper in a press release. “It is unacceptable for North Carolinians to bear the risks associated with importing millions of pounds of GenX from other countries for disposal in our air, land and water.”

These substances are notorious for their persistence in the environment, leading to their designation as “forever chemicals.” The EPA has found GenX to be significantly more hazardous than previously assessed. In October 2021, the agency’s final toxicological report on GenX revealed that even minimal concentrations in drinking water could pose a risk to human health, especially affecting the liver. Earlier in the year, the EPA suggested new drinking water guidelines for various PFAS compounds, including GenX.

“Chemours has not come close to cleaning up the mess they’ve already made,” said Wilmington’s Cape Fear River Watch director Dana Sargent. “Neither DEQ nor EPA have held them accountable for the breadth of the damage. Here again is proof that, if another state or country has something dirty to dispose of, North Carolina is first in line to put our health and environment at risk, in support of padding the pockets of polluting industries.”

What do you think about the potential importation of 4 million lbs of GenX into our state?

7 Men’s Style Do’s and Don’ts

Sharon Anderson
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7 Men’s Style Do’s and Don’ts

For men who want to look stylish and put together, following key style guidelines is essential. Certain do’s and don’ts exist when it comes to fashion and grooming for men. By being aware of these style rules, any man can avoid common pitfalls and always look his best. 

Do Keep it Simple

The first rule for men’s style is to keep it simple. Stick to classic, versatile pieces that will stay in fashion season after season. Basic items like a white button-down shirt, navy blazer, gray suit, dark wash jeans, and leather Oxford shoes make up the foundation of a solid men’s wardrobe. While trends come and go, these timeless staples will always be in style. Choose quality over quantity and avoid overly trendy pieces. Investing in a few well-made basics will carry you far.

Do Pay Attention to Fit

No matter how nice a piece of clothing is, if it doesn’t fit properly, it won’t look good. Many men make the mistake of wearing suits, dress shirts, and pants that are too baggy or too tight. Getting the right fit for your body type is key. Suits and dress shirts should follow your natural lines without pulling or sagging. Pants should break just above the shoe with a slight break. Don’t be afraid to get clothes tailored for the best fit. Properly fitted clothes are essential for a sharp, put-together look. 

Don’t Wear Socks with Sandals

One style faux pas that should be avoided at all costs is wearing socks with sandals. Nothing says fashion blunder like this major footwear mismatch. Sandals are designed to be worn barefoot in warm weather conditions. Socks should only be worn with fully closed shoes and sneakers. If you must wear socks in the summer, opt for boat shoes, loafers, or canvas sneakers instead of sandals. Don’t let this major style offense sabotage an otherwise good look.

Do Learn to Tie a Tie

Every man should know how to properly tie a necktie. Know at least a few tie knots like the simple four-in-hand and versatile half Windsor. The half Windsor is great for spreading collar dress shirts, while the four-in-hand works well for skinny ties and smaller shirt collars. Watch YouTube tutorials and practice tying knots until you’ve mastered these essential skills. Tying your own tie results in a neatly done knot positioned at the right length. Looking crisp and polished depends on the details.

Don’t Mix Black and Brown

An easy rule to follow is to avoid mixing black and brown pieces in one outfit. Brown shoes don’t pair well with black pants or belts. The same rule applies to navy and black – don’t try to match these together. Stick to one color palette for a cohesive look. Black and brown fall into different shades on the neutral color spectrum. Mixing them together looks disjointed. Even alternating black and brown accessories like belts or watches is a style no-no.

Do Invest in a Quality Haircut

No amount of good fashion sense will matter if your haircut is outdated or just plain awful. Visit a great men’s salon or barber and pay for a fashionable, up-to-date haircut that emphasizes your facial features and suits your face shape. The linked barbershop has been in Grand Rapids since 2007 and offers the kind of styling every well-dressed man needs. 

Don’t Forget to Iron

An often overlooked yet critical part of men’s style is proper ironing. Heading out the door in wrinkled, messy clothes conveys laziness. Even a high-quality suit or dress shirt looks bad if poorly ironed. Take a few extra minutes each morning to iron your clothes. For wrinkle-free pants, hang them up immediately after drying instead of leaving them balled up in the dryer. Properly ironed clothes show attention to detail and polish. 

By avoiding common mistakes like socks with sandals while focusing on fit and well-made classics, men can look sharp and sophisticated. Simple changes make a big impact. Follow these fundamental guidelines and you’ll be dressed for success in no time. Good style is about being comfortable and confident in well-fitting, quality clothes.

NC Officials Declare State of Emergency As Wildfires Consume Thousands of Acres and Destroy Homes

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NC Officials Declare State of Emergency As Wildfires Consume Thousands of Acres and Destroy Homes

North Carolina Forestry Officials have just declared a State of Emergency due to a rapidly spreading wildfires in Henderson County and Cherokee County that have already consumed thousands of acres, several buildings, and injured at least one firefighter.

According to Henderson County officials, the ‘Poplar Drive Fire’ now spans 431 acres (174 hectares). 2 houses, a cabin, and several outbuildings have been completely destroyed and there are now 75 structures in immediate danger of burning.

In Cherokee County, another fire has spread over more than 2,100 acres (850 hectares), according to the U.S. Forest Service.

North Carolina Forestry officials have now issued a burn ban on most Western NC counties, including the Charlotte-area counties of Gaston and Cleveland.

“Several counties in Western North Carolina are currently in a severe drought, and we are seeing wildfire activity increase due to dry conditions. Because dry conditions are expected to continue this burn ban is necessary to reduce the risk of fires starting and spreading quickly. Our top priority is always to protect lives, property and forestland across the state,” said NC Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler in a press release. “Even though not all areas of the North Carolina fall under the burn ban, we do encourage extreme caution with any burning as conditions are dry in many areas of the state. We will continue to assess conditions in the coming weeks to determine if we need to expand the burn ban.”

Elsewhere in the U.S., there are reports of unusually high temperatures and dry spells. The Dallas-Fort Worth area has experienced temperatures in the 80s, which is roughly 10 degrees above the seasonal average. This milder weather has also reached the Midwest, with Wichita, Kansas, seeing temperatures nearing 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius). However, a cold front is expected to move into the Central and Southern Plains later in the week, which should bring the temperatures back to the seasonal norms.

Today is Election Day – Who Is Running And How To Vote in North and South Carolina

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Today is Election Day – Who Is Running And How To Vote in North and South Carolina

Today is election day across the country. Here in the Carolinas, we have some significant races that will determine the future direction of our cities and towns, especially here in the Charlotte region, with our city and most towns in the area having mayoral and city council races.

In the City of Charlotte, we have a 3 way mayoral race between our current mayor Vi Lyles (Democrat), Misun Kim (Republican), and Rob Yates (Libertarian), a $2.5 billion school bond referenda, as well as city council and school board races.

If you live in North Carolina, polls will be open today from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm on November 7th – you’ll be able to vote as long as you’re standing in line at your assigned polling place by 7:30pm.

North Carolina voters need to present a valid form of photo ID to vote including at least one of the following:

  • North Carolina driver’s license
  • NC State ID (non-operator ID)
  • IDs from other states if you moved within the past 90 days
  • US passports
  • Board of Elections ID card
  • College or university student ID
  • Government or school employee IDs.

You can find out your polling location as well as your sample ballot showing all the candidates you’ll be choosing between on the North Carolina State Board of Elections website here.

If you live in South Carolina, it’s also election day, with polls open from 7am to 7pm, with a similar requirement of being in line at your polling location by 7pm to be allowed to cast your vote. Photo ID is also required, with the same types of IDs being allowed as are in North Carolina.

You can find your polling location and your sample ballot at SCVotes.gov.

Happy voting!

Charlotte Ranks in the Top 20 Best Cities for Thanksgiving

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Charlotte Ranks in the Top 20 Best Cities for Thanksgiving

With consumers spending hundreds of dollars on Thanksgiving travel and celebrations each year, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on the Best Places to Go for Thanksgiving in 2023.

North Carolina dominated the list, with Raleigh ranking 5th, Greensboro ranking 9th, and Charlotte ranking 19th overall.

Thanksgiving in Charlotte (1=Best; 50=Avg.):

  • Overall rank for Charlotte: 19th
  • 37th – Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner
  • 20th – Pumpkin Patches per Capita
  • 1st – Holiday Decoration Shops per Capita
  • 50th – Giving Ratio
  • 35th – Total Volunteer Hours per Residents Age 16 and Over

Best Cities for Thanksgiving

Overall Rank 

City

Total Score 

Celebrations & Traditions Rank 

Affordability Rank 

Safety & Accessibility Rank 

Giving Thanks Rank 

Weather Forecast Rank 
1 San Francisco, CA 65.11 4 58 36 28 16
2 San Jose, CA 64.23 7 68 22 27 8
3 San Diego, CA 63.77 1 85 21 73 38
4 Scottsdale, AZ 61.97 23 63 5 6 27
5 Raleigh, NC 61.17 29 26 15 45 27
6 Atlanta, GA 60.75 3 47 87 12 15
7 Phoenix, AZ 60.74 5 59 76 47 27
8 Las Vegas, NV 59.96 18 28 18 61 52
9 Greensboro, NC 59.41 36 13 32 56 23
10 Virginia Beach, VA 59.04 57 19 16 26 27
11 Mesa, AZ 58.96 26 56 19 35 5
12 Gilbert, AZ 58.63 31 64 12 10 8
13 Los Angeles, CA 58.55 6 80 34 74 64
14 San Antonio, TX 58.28 14 7 71 67 69
15 Orlando, FL 58.12 8 42 73 55 23
16 Chesapeake, VA 58.06 54 34 6 22 38
17 Dallas, TX 57.89 2 44 93 33 48
18 Louisville, KY 57.79 15 24 60 38 74
19 Charlotte, NC 57.71 13 27 57 59 69
20 Tucson, AZ 57.50 10 49 58 76 64
21 Birmingham, AL 56.89 19 11 91 17 63
22 Omaha, NE 56.79 32 14 38 77 85
23 Miami, FL 56.67 9 70 41 79 57
24 Norfolk, VA 55.95 99 30 27 19 38
25 Pittsburgh, PA 55.86 59 43 17 15 1
26 Colorado Springs, CO 55.81 34 48 26 69 7
27 St. Paul, MN 55.33 75 33 49 5 75
28 Minneapolis, MN 55.18 42 35 43 14 93
29 Irving, TX 55.09 70 52 25 3 16
30 Tampa, FL 54.34 25 61 55 31 23
31 Wichita, KS 54.18 95 6 68 91 16
32 Houston, TX 54.10 17 3 92 54 97
33 Fort Wayne, IN 54.05 93 4 8 82 80
34 Chandler, AZ 53.99 41 69 28 13 8
35 Lincoln, NE 53.87 52 32 7 62 85
36 Fort Worth, TX 53.77 45 23 45 43 38
37 New York, NY 53.66 11 92 33 85 46
38 Washington, DC 53.58 50 78 51 1 16
38 Plano, TX 53.58 65 70 11 2 38
40 Boise, ID 53.41 39 67 2 66 69
41 Lexington-Fayette, KY 53.22 33 12 40 90 100
42 El Paso, TX 53.08 60 9 23 88 76
43 Seattle, WA 52.86 16 53 56 7 99
44 St. Louis, MO 52.57 38 8 94 18 89
45 Denver, CO 52.52 20 83 31 52 80
46 Philadelphia, PA 52.24 28 57 66 51 35
47 Austin, TX 52.23 21 40 54 63 89
48 Reno, NV 52.10 66 50 4 72 5
49 Columbus, OH 51.99 84 15 65 75 2
50 Fremont, CA 51.98 43 91 13 20 8
51 Boston, MA 51.60 27 80 46 48 48
52 Toledo, OH 51.51 77 5 62 86 62
53 Buffalo, NY 51.40 61 25 53 92 4
54 Oklahoma City, OK 50.90 63 1 74 70 85
55 Garland, TX 50.89 74 90 14 4 38
56 Portland, OR 50.79 12 78 69 24 98
57 Milwaukee, WI 50.68 72 39 64 25 79
58 Cincinnati, OH 50.68 37 31 88 37 60
59 Baltimore, MD 50.48 35 73 70 23 27
60 Chicago, IL 50.27 24 46 63 80 84
61 Anaheim, CA 50.24 40 53 37 40 64
62 Winston-Salem, NC 49.65 69 36 30 50 23
63 Durham, NC 49.57 80 38 47 53 27
64 Irvine, CA 49.52 86 75 1 30 73
65 Indianapolis, IN 49.47 53 17 82 41 83
66 Cleveland, OH 48.95 62 29 95 39 3
67 Henderson, NV 48.89 58 60 3 71 38
68 Jacksonville, FL 48.45 48 21 77 93 35
69 Chula Vista, CA 48.42 67 85 9 42 27
70 Glendale, AZ 48.30 49 65 90 8 16
71 Aurora, CO 47.48 56 66 59 44 57
72 Madison, WI 47.34 90 45 24 81 8
73 Lubbock, TX 46.55 44 89 35 60 89
74 Jersey City, NJ 46.34 68 92 52 46 46
75 Sacramento, CA 46.28 30 80 83 89 16
76 Tulsa, OK 46.22 96 2 97 36 80
77 Kansas City, MO 46.06 78 20 81 21 76
78 Arlington, TX 45.48 79 74 72 9 52
79 Oakland, CA 44.90 83 70 78 16 16
80 Riverside, CA 44.84 73 92 20 65 52
81 Fresno, CA 44.69 51 77 67 96 8
82 Corpus Christi, TX 44.68 98 16 86 87 96
83 St. Petersburg, FL 43.93 85 61 48 34 35
84 Memphis, TN 43.50 64 22 100 11 88
85 Honolulu, HI 42.98 46 92 39 99 38
86 Long Beach, CA 42.97 81 92 42 32 64
87 Santa Ana, CA 42.80 87 53 50 29 64
88 Bakersfield, CA 42.48 55 87 61 97 27
89 North Las Vegas, NV 42.05 47 98 10 68 52
90 Detroit, MI 41.71 71 51 89 78 61
91 Nashville, TN 40.46 82 37 80 57 72
92 Laredo, TX 40.24 92 41 44 100 89
93 Baton Rouge, LA 40.11 91 18 96 64 94
94 Albuquerque, NM 40.10 76 10 99 95 76
95 San Bernardino, CA 39.76 100 84 85 58 52
96 Anchorage, AK 37.15 97 76 75 94 51
97 New Orleans, LA 36.63 88 88 84 83 94
98 Newark, NJ 36.36 94 97 79 49 50
99 Hialeah, FL 36.10 89 99 29 84 57
100 Stockton, CA 30.40 22 100 98 98 8

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

Carolina’s First Millennial-Themed Upscale Steakhouse Just Opened in Uptown Charlotte – STK

Charlotte Stories
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Carolina’s First Millennial-Themed Upscale Steakhouse Just Opened in Uptown Charlotte – STK

STK Steakhouse has just opened their first Carolina location in the heart of Uptown Charlotte. The new upscale eatery, located at 201 S. College Street, will offer lunch, brunch, dinner, and happy hour options, complemented by live tunes from local DJs and a bar replete with inventive cocktails.

“Charlotte deserves a steakhouse that will challenge the norms with twists on signature classics and we are eager to bring STK’s signature Vibe Dining experience to the Queen City’s residents and community,” said ONE Group CEO Emanuel “Manny” Hilario in a press release. “STK serves as a springboard for every guest that walks through our doors to an unforgettable experience for every occasion. We know STK will be a great addition to Charlotte’s already bustling restaurant scene and are proud to open our doors and share our craveable culinary offerings with The Tar Heel State.”

Diners can anticipate a distinctive menu with highlights such as the renowned Lil BRG Sliders, Wagyu Meatballs, and Short Rib Quesadillas. Additionally, STK boasts an expansive wine selection, enabling patrons to complement their premium dry-aged steaks with eclectic wine choices from across the globe.

 

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A post shared by STK Steakhouse (@eatstk)

Operating Hours:

  • Monday-Thursday: 11:00am-12:00am
  • Friday: 11:00am-1:00am
  • Saturday: 10:00am-1:00am
  • Sunday: 10:00am-11:00pm

Specific Meal Times:

  • Lunch: Monday-Friday 11:00am-3:00pm
  • Dinner: Monday-Thursday 3:00pm-12:00am, Friday & Saturday 3:00pm-1:00am, Sunday 3:00pm-11:00pm
  • Happy Hour: Monday-Friday 3:00pm-6:30pm, Saturday & Sunday 3:00pm-5:30pm, Sunday-Thursday 10:00pm-Close
  • Brunch: Saturday & Sunday 10:00am-3:00pm

You can find out more on their website here.

Aritzia’s First-Ever Carolina Boutique Just Opened in Charlotte

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Aritzia’s First-Ever Carolina Boutique Just Opened in Charlotte

SouthPark just welcomed the Carolina’s first ever Aritzia boutique, offering an extensive portfolio of exclusive brands, including Wilfred, Babaton, Tna, The Super Puff and Sunday Best.

Their new Charlotte boutique has been uniquely conceptualized to be an inspiring space for high-end southern living with timeless patterns against a backdrop of bespoke details like hand-painted murals and a selection of mid-century vintage European furniture.

Aritzia is a health and earth conscious design boutique an innovative global sourcing platform with unique designs, cutting-edge materials and timeless style.

2 Monster Solar Flares Bring Dazzling Northern Lights To North Carolina

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2 Monster Solar Flares Bring Dazzling Northern Lights To North Carolina

Last night the awe-inspiring Northern Lights lit up the North Carolina sky for the third time this year after an exceptionally powerful coronal mass ejection from the sun blasted our magnetosphere.

The spectacle was triggered by two coronal mass ejections (CMEs) — powerful bursts of solar plasma and magnetic energy erupting from the sun’s volatile regions. These bursts travel through space and, upon striking Earth, are converted by our magnetic field into the aurora, a display of lights typically seen near the poles. However, intense CMEs can push these lights further south. On Sunday at around 2 p.m. Eastern time, Earth was hit by such a geomagnetic storm. Initially, it was uncertain whether the two CMEs — a preliminary, weaker one followed by a stronger burst — had merged into a single disruptive wave. There was anticipation that the more potent CME was yet to arrive, potentially intensifying the geomagnetic disturbance. However, it later seemed that the second, more forceful CME caught up to and overpowered the first, resulting in both hitting Earth simultaneously that afternoon.

The primary CME was identified as a “full halo” event by space weather experts, meaning it appeared to explode outward in all directions from the sun. This was observed from NASA’s Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), a satellite that monitors solar activity, indicating the CME was Earth-directed.

via NASA

Did you catch the light show last night?

North Carolina’s First Ever State-Wide High School Varsity Esports League Kicks Off this Week

Charlotte Stories
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North Carolina’s First Ever State-Wide High School Varsity Esports League Kicks Off this Week

Stiegler EdTech (SET) and UNC Greensboro Scholastic Esports Alliance (UNCG SEA) in partnership with the State of North Carolina are proud to announce their collaboration and expansion of the state’s first Varsity Esports & STEM League (VESL). This innovative program fully integrates competitive esports and workforce-relevant STEM curriculum into the athletic calendar across every county and high school in North Carolina with the full support and backing of the state.

The first major VESL tournament kicks off with Rocket League on November 6th. Matches will be live streamed on the VESL YouTube channel complete with color commentators and a “QuadBox” multi-stream viewing experience. Streams run from 6pm-10pm nightly during tournament play. Close to 100 teams from 80+ schools from across the state are participating. Teams will start in group play, similar to the World Cup, then play in the 1st and 2nd round of Qualifiers this week. Teams that advance past the 2nd round will qualify for Regional tournaments in Charlotte, Greensboro, and Wilmington to play for the right to go to Greensboro for State Championships in Rocket League this February. Upcoming games also include Super Smash Bros, Madden 24, and Valorant.

“This is an inflection point for the State of North Carolina as we become leaders in the ‘War for Talent’ both in terms of educating the next generation and our youth, and also simultaneously strengthening our pipelines of talent for employers looking to hire strong tech talent,” remarks Charlotte City Council Member and SET Chairman Tariq Bokhari. “North Carolina will now be one of the first states to offer all its high school students a chance to learn how to code which is long overdue and will pay dividends for our citizens and the companies who choose to do business in our state.”

Born in response to the educational challenges onset by COVID-19 in 2020, VESL has worked with thousands of kids to keep them engaged in school while offering high school students a fun, immersive environment to compete against their peers and gain access to coaching and mentoring. VESL goes beyond just gaming by integrating workforce-relevant digital skills and emerging STEM topics into the curriculum.

Students participating in VESL will have the opportunity to play, compete, and learn. Participants will be encouraged to build digital resumes, making themselves more competitive for college applications and when directly entering the workforce. As the program expands, there will be opportunities in the future for students to earn high school and dual-enrollment credits along with industry-recognized certifications depending on the modules they choose. This will enable students to not only gain the critical coding and STEM skills shown to make students up to 10 times more likely to pursue STEM careers after graduation, but students can also potentially enroll in higher education with credits already completed, helping reduce student debt. Additionally, many of our esports athletes have gone on to be recruited by college coaches and it is common for competitors to receive scholarships to compete at the next level, further bolstering their financial ability to pursue post-secondary education.

A core goal of VESL is to provide access and opportunity to students from Title 1 schools and to bridge the digital divide, thus all programming is designed to be accessible by all students simply through their school-issued Google Chromebooks. VESL features direct partnerships with employers to align STEM education and ensure the content is relevant with industry demands. VESL builds optionality for students’ future careers – keeping them engaged in school while exposing them to coding, mentors, and career opportunities.

Registration is now open for the VESL Spring 2023 season. We invite you to learn more and get involved at www.VESL.gg.

Charlotte’s Heartbreak: Panthers Fall to 1-7 in a Clash with Colts

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Charlotte’s Heartbreak: Panthers Fall to 1-7 in a Clash with Colts

The Carolina Panthers’ record worsened to 1-7 after a 27-13 defeat by the Indianapolis Colts yesterday afternoon in Uptown Charlotte.

Rookie quarterback Bryce Young threw for 173 yards and was intercepted three times, with two interceptions returned for touchdowns by the Colts’ Kenny Moore II.

Despite the Panthers’ defense limiting the Colts to 198 total offensive yards, the team’s overall performance was marred by Young’s interceptions and an increase in penalties. The Panthers did show some offensive improvement with a touchdown pass to DJ Chark Jr. and a notable 48-yard play to Hayden Hurst.

The game also saw the Panthers’ linebacker Brian Burns exit with a concussion, adding to the team’s injury concerns. Controversial penalties against the Panthers led to a Colts field goal and touchdown in the first half, contributing to the Panthers’ loss.

The Panthers will now travel to Chicago this coming Thursday to take on da Bears at Soldier Field.

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