Surface-Level Earthquake Caused Massive ‘Boom’ In Pineville Over The Weekend

Charlotte Stories
-
0
Surface-Level Earthquake Caused Massive ‘Boom’ In Pineville Over The Weekend

This past Friday a rare surface-level 2.1 magnitude earthquake was reported near the heart of Pineville.

Due to the shallow nature of the quake, a massive ‘boom’ was heard as far as Charlotte, Fort Mill, and Ballantyne, leading many to speculate that the rumbling was actually caused by a massive blast or explosion.

In several social media posts, however, local meteorologist Brad Panovich confirmed that the shacking and boom was actually from a geological earthquake.

“Geologists using data from 16 seismographs from across the southeast, which recorded it took 2.5 hours to review the data and determined it was an #Earthquake. No blasting was reported this morning at the local quarries or construction sites,” Panovich said “Those types of events don’t appear on 16 seismographs, and geologists at USGS know what those look like in the data.”

Earthquakes have been increasing in frequency around the Charlotte region over the past few years. Last year, we experienced the largest earthquake in over 100 years when a 5.1 magnitude quake hit Sparta, NC, and since then, dozens of aftershocks have continued to rattle our state.

According to USGS.gov, “Moderately damaging earthquakes strike the inland Carolinas every few decades, and smaller earthquakes are felt about once each year or two.”

Did you feel this weekend’s Pineville quake? 

Tom Cruise Seen Visiting Charlotte Over The Weekend

Charlotte Stories
-
0
Tom Cruise Seen Visiting Charlotte Over The Weekend

Legendary actor Tom Cruise visited Charlotte over the weekend to watch Janet Jackson perform live at the PNC Music Pavilion.

The visit was also likely related to NASCAR’s 75th anniversary, as Cruise was the star of the hit NASCAR movie filmed in Charlotte, ‘Days of Thunder‘, as well as narrating the 2009 film about Charlotte’s Hendrick Motorsports, ‘Together‘.

60-year-old Cruise took the time to pose with a number of fans at the concert, as well as with Jackson herself.

Were you able to spot Maverick over the weekend? 

Three North Carolina Cities Rank Among the Top 7 Best for Clean Air in the US

Charlotte Stories
-
0
Three North Carolina Cities Rank Among the Top 7 Best for Clean Air in the US

This week is Air Quality Awareness Week, so the American Lung Association just released which cities in the US have the cleanest air. This year, only seven cities rank on all three cleanest cities lists for particle pollution and ozone.

To make the list, a city must experience no high ozone or particle pollution days and rank among the 25 cities with the lowest year-round particle pollution levels, and your city is one of seven that meets that criteria.

This year, North Carolina dominated the list, with 3 cities making the top 7 list, including Asheville, Greenville, and Wilmington (no other state even had 2 cities).

Fast facts about air quality:

  • Over 18 million people “live in counties that got an ‘F’ for all three air pollution measures in ‘State of the Air’ 2023.”
  • Over 64 million Americans (54% of the 120 million total) who live in areas with unhealthy air quality are people of color.
  • People of color were 3.7 times as likely to live in a county with a failing grade for all 3 of the American Lung Associations air pollution measures.
  • The other cities on the list are Bangor, Maine; Lincoln, Nebraska; Rochester, New York; and Honolulu, Hawaii.

You can check out the full report here.

North Carolina Ranked As #1 State In America for Summer Road Trips

Steve
-
0
North Carolina Ranked As #1 State In America for Summer Road Trips

As gas hovers around its lowest level in decades and temperatures remain moderate, this summer is shaping up to be the perfect time for road trips.

If you live in North Carolina, this is especially good news, as our state has just been ranked the #1 best state in America for Summer road trips, according to WalleHub (up from #2 last year).

The site compared all 50 states across three key dimensions; costs, safety, and activities, using 22 relevant metrics.

The Tar Heel state received a combined score of 57.57, landing us at the number 1 spot, just behind Wyoming and Minnesota;

Overall Rank
(1 = Best)		 State Total Score ‘Costs’ Rank ‘Safety’ Rank ‘Activities’ Rank
1 North Carolina 57.57 9 30 8
2 Wyoming 57.26 1 19 20
3 Minnesota 56.95 25 3 19
4 Virginia 56.52 16 12 16
5 Texas 56.52 4 42 7
6 New York 55.44 48 4 2
7 Louisiana 55.29 2 40 11
8 Oregon 55.14 39 10 6
9 Utah 55.02 22 18 12
10 Wisconsin 54.70 8 8 31
11 Washington 53.45 45 20 4
12 Maine 52.96 32 2 26
13 Michigan 52.93 18 15 28
14 Ohio 52.65 29 22 13
15 Pennsylvania 52.47 43 11 9
16 Massachusetts 50.64 41 7 24
17 Illinois 50.37 38 13 22
18 Nebraska 50.08 15 14 38
19 Florida 50.05 31 50 3
20 Iowa 50.02 23 5 40
21 South Dakota 49.67 11 25 34
22 Georgia 49.57 20 33 27
23 Idaho 49.48 44 9 23
24 South Carolina 49.31 5 49 25
25 Colorado 49.20 35 35 10
26 Oklahoma 49.03 6 34 36
27 New Hampshire 48.74 30 6 37
28 Maryland 48.36 40 31 14
29 Vermont 48.26 28 1 50
30 Nevada 48.18 34 32 18
31 New Jersey 47.68 36 21 30
32 Tennessee 47.65 12 43 32
33 California 47.39 50 37 1
34 Missouri 47.37 13 45 29
35 New Mexico 47.28 14 48 21
36 West Virginia 46.97 7 29 47
37 Arizona 46.96 24 47 15
38 Alaska 46.60 46 46 5
39 Kentucky 46.45 26 26 35
40 North Dakota 46.03 17 17 44
41 Montana 45.20 21 38 33
42 Alabama 44.31 3 44 39
43 Mississippi 43.65 10 41 43
44 Kansas 43.54 27 27 45
45 Indiana 43.12 33 24 42
46 Arkansas 43.07 19 39 41
47 Hawaii 42.63 49 28 17
48 Connecticut 39.41 47 16 46
49 Delaware 39.05 37 36 48
50 Rhode Island 39.02 42 23 49

One of North Carolina’s biggest ranking boosts was in the ‘scenic byways’ category – the Blue Ridge Parkway and our Outer Banks simply can’t be matched (check out the ‘Backroads of North Carolina Guide‘ to plan the ultimate scenic trip).

Road Tripping in North Carolina (1=Best; 25=Avg.):

  • 23rd – Number of Attractions
  • 4th – Lowest Price of Three-Star Hotel Room
  • 12th – Avg. Gas Prices
  • 20th – Nightlife Options per Capita
  • 13th – Car Thefts per Capita
  • 4th – Access to Scenic Byways
  • 18th – Lowest Price of Camping
  • 7th – Driving Laws Rating
  • 28th – Fatalities per 100 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled

Do you agree with the results? 

Full Details on When Online Sports Betting Starts in NC

Sharon Anderson
-
0
Full Details on When Online Sports Betting Starts in NC

Online sports betting is coming to North Carolina. Soon.

After passing the House in March, Bill HB 347, which is called simply “Sports Wagering,” has popular support in the state Senate and is on track to be approved during this legislative session and be signed by Governor Roy Cooper.

The 25-page bill creates a Commission that will oversee sports betting in North Carolina. Here’s looking at how sports betting will work, what’s in the bill and when online sports betting could go live in North Carolina. 

How Online Sports Betting Works

According to usalegalbetting.com sports betting, it’s already legal in North Carolina, but only at the three tribal casinos in the western part of the state and only in person. Online betting, or mobile betting, allows players to download apps on their phone or use websites provided by sports betting operators (think DraftKings or FanDuel) to create accounts and place a variety of bets on sports events.

Players must establish the fact that they are currently within state borders through geolocation software before placing an online bet.

An early incarnation of a sports betting bill in North Carolina prohibited wagering on college sports, but as we all know, North Carolina loves its college basketball, and the fact that it eliminated betting on college sports meant a decreased revenue stream. A bill to allow sports betting was voted down in 2022 by one vote.

What’s In Bill HB 347?

The new bill allows the Commission to approve at least 10 mobile operators, but not more that 12. Mobile licenses would cost the operators $1 million a year for five years. These operators would be taxed at a rate of 14 percent on their AGI (adjusted gross income).

Wagering on professional, college, and Olympic sports will be allowed. The legal age to bet will be 21.

The bill also allows for any facility that is a home location for a Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Hockey League and National Women’s Soccer League franchise within North Carolina to open its own sports betting facility.

Motor sports facilities, like Charlotte Motor Speedway, can also open sports betting lounges on site, provided they have over 17,000-person capacity stadiums.

When Will Sports Betting Go Live?

The North Carolina Senate session runs through August. The initial timeline in the bill called for online sports betting to be launched Jan. 8, 2024.

States like to time the launch of sports betting before major professional sports events. January is the start of the NFL playoffs and the end of the college football season. It’s also before March Madness, which is the term for the NCAA college basketball tournament.

Other nearby states have all followed similar timelines where it takes months after approval for the first online sports bet to happen. Ohio, one of the more recent states to approve mobile sports betting, signed its bill Dec. 22, 2021, announced a launch date in June in 2022 and went live Jan. 1, 2023. That’s a bit longer than usual.

In Indiana, the sports betting bill passed in April of 2019, it was signed into law May 8 of that year and the first bet was made four months later.

Virginia legalized the activity in April of 2020 and launched eight months later.

 

TOP-7 Simple Ways to Get More Youtube Views

Sharon Anderson
-
0
TOP-7 Simple Ways to Get More Youtube Views

Understanding how to get many YouTube views should be the skill every YouTube content creator needs. Because, let’s face it, there is nothing as bad and disappointing as getting less than 100 views on a video you spent hours creating. YouTube views are very important because they also determine whether you will have a successful career on YouTube or not. Other than that, many people who log into YouTube always select YouTube videos with many views because of the assumption that the YouTube video has many views because it’s good.

To get more YouTube views, you have to put into perspective a few tips that can help you unlock many opinions in your videos, such as buying real YouTube views or making your videos interesting with attractive descriptions. There are many other tips that you can use to increase YouTube video views, and if used properly, you can go viral on YouTube.

1. Post high-quality videos consistently

The easiest way to get viral YouTube videos is to post high-quality videos consistently. YouTube channels that tend to go viral all the time post videos consistently, like approximately four to five YouTube videos every day. The YouTube video that you post should not be more than 6 minutes long. This is because most viewers lose interest quickly if the video is too long.

Regularly posting videos increases the expectation of your viewers. They will always watch your YouTube video because they are assured of high-quality content. Other than that, you should post the video daily to establish your audience and give them an idea of when to expect a good YouTube video. This will make them anxious and ready to watch your video when you post.

2. Create a video on trendy topics

This is one of the surest ways to get viral YouTube views. People like gossip, and authentic gossip sells more on social media than anything else, especially if you have evidence and facts to support the topic. Creating videos on trendy issues that are currently on display, like Russia and Ukraine war or the Met Gala, can drive many viral YouTube views and consequently make your YouTube video viral.

When you create a video on a trendy topic, ensure that you introduce the facts about 2 minutes into the video. Use keywords in the video and let the title touch on that trendy topic with adding hashtags to bait viewers who might be looking for information about that topic.

3. Network with other creators

The chances of your YouTube channel going viral on your own, even with good and high-quality content, can be hard to measure, and the results might be minimal. Networking with other content creators and audiences on the platform can help you get more YouTube views. Networking with other content creators will give you access to their audience, who might be interested in your videos. Other than that, it gives you access to skills that the additional content creator has been using to get more YouTube views.

Networking with other content creators means that the minute you publish the video and tag the person, your viewers and their viewers will watch the video, and if people share it, you have a chance of going viral.

4. Buy YouTube views

Viral YouTube videos can be achieved by buying YouTube views from social media promotion services like Viewsta. Social media promotion services allow users to buy YouTube views at affordable prices. You can buy as many views as 5000 views through these services, boosting your YouTube video views. Viewsta.com is one of the best social media promotion services in which you can buy YouTube views.

Many YouTube creators prefer to buy organic YouTube views to increase views on YouTube because it’s easy and fast. You do not have to spend hours a day creating videos and trying to gain natural viral views, which can be very time-consuming. Utilizing the buying option can make your videos rank higher in views and go viral.

5. Use catchy titles

Use catchy titles for your YouTube video. This makes it easy for people to understand what the video is about even before clicking on it. Other than that, it can be a way of luring people into clicking the video to watch it. Catchy titles can be very enticing to the viewer, and they can be very helpful for people who love watching enticing things.

Use particular keyword phrases in the video’s title to drive more traffic into watching your video. You will likely get more views with a catchy title than if you do not add one. Other than that, your chosen title should be short and simple to read for viewers who wish to share it with others.

6. Create an enticing video thumbnail

The thumbnail is the image of the video. A thumbnail is meant to encourage the viewer to click on the video since it gives the viewer an image of what the video looks like. Platforms like Netflix discovered that thumbnails drive viewers to watch a particular video. An intriguing thumbnail that is colorful and which aligns with what the video is all about can drive many viewers to click on it and watch the video.

Adding a thumbnail is very important; ensure the picture quality of the thumbnail is high and interesting for the viewer. Also, ensure that your thumbnail is appropriate according to your target audience.

7. Participate in trends

Trends drive the world of social media. When a trend becomes popular, everyone hops into the trend and creates videos that get very high views at a time. When a trend appears, ensure that you hop into it with either a friend or a fellow YouTube creator to increase the chances of your video going viral and getting more YouTube views.

Conclusion

Real YouTube views can make your video go viral on the platform. Posting videos regularly and networking with other creators on YouTube will ensure your videos get as many views as possible. You must create engaging thumbnails that can drive users to click on the video.  Follow these tips and you can get more views and likes on your YouTube channel.

The Power of Virality: How to Generate Free YouTube Views

Sharon Anderson
-
0
The Power of Virality: How to Generate Free YouTube Views

YouTube is one of the most popular platforms from which thousands of content creators are living. Most people have turned to content creation by creating you-tube channels to earn income. Moreover, entrepreneurs should use YouTube to generate more income for their businesses.  It is important for your video to have as many views as possible to grow your channel quickly. Views are established by watching a video for more than thirty seconds. The more views you get, the higher the chances your videos get to more people, eventually generating revenue. The most important question asked is how one can get many views.

What are free YouTube views?

These are services made available frequently that enable you to grow your channel. Free YouTube views will help you to push your content to more people and boost your ranking. YouTube services have made this service available, enabling you to grow your channel faster. These views are real therefore, you do not have to worry about the effect it might cause your channel. You will experience positive results after using this free YouTube views service.

Where to get free views on YouTube

The most effective step is to visit the free YouTube views page. Click the button and wait for the process to be done. This service is always available once a week hence is sure to be on the lookout. Free YouTube views are normally completed between 12-36 hours therefore, you must be patient. The advantage of this is that you are assured of getting legit views which will positively affect your channel.

How to get more views on YouTube

It is important to understand that you will require more effort on your part to grow your channel.  Some of the crucial things to focus on are:

  • Your market strategy

You need to develop attractive titles or headlines that will make people want to see your video. You should research some of the attention-grabbing headlines to use. Remember that this is the most important part of attracting more views to your content.

  • Use of keywords

The use of appropriate keywords is vital in promoting your content on YouTube. This is because most people use the search engine on YouTube to get the content or products they need. Use appropriate target keywords, and do not forget to mention them in your videos to prevent ambiguity.

  • Know your audience

This entails focusing more on what your audience needs. You should conduct thorough research by checking out the top-ranked videos. This will give you a clue on the appropriate niche to choose to gain many views.

  • Engage with your viewers

One of the best ways to get more views is by engaging. Always create time to respond to comments and like them. This will make your audience see you as an interactive person and keep you wanting to see more of your content. Create a promotional strategy for your subscribers to keep them.

Does YouTube pay?

The secret to generating income is through your audience on YouTube. You can get paid according to how many people watch your videos. This is mainly done through ads which you will get according to the number of people who view the ads on your channel. There are also various promotions of individuals and companies that one can undertake to generate income.

Types of YouTube Views

1. Organic views 

These are real YouTube views gained without purchasing them. They are gained through people who watch videos for the purpose of clicking. They comprise the number of people who watched your videos on your page. Organic views can be gained by giving your audience the kind of content they want, depending on what they prefer seeing the most.

2. Inorganic views 

These are those content creators pay to increase their viewership. They are readily bought and are available at affordable prices.

Can one buy organic YouTube views?

The answer is yes, one can buy organic views which are legit. It is crucial to buy YouTube views to improve your chances of ranking. Organic views are proven to be real thus, you stand a better chance of encouraging more people to watch your videos. The good thing about organic views is that your chances of going viral are high, and you rank on top of search engines.

What to consider when buying organic views

  • Be sure to purchase from legit views provided to avoid acquiring fake views. Many trusted providers are available. 
  • Organic views are fairly priced across various view providers. This means you should be keen not to get fake views because they seem expensive.
  • Take time to wait for the organic views to reflect on your account. It takes some time and is not instant since the views are real.

How does YouTube paid promotion work?

It entails marketing some given products or brands on videos by content creators. It is a lucrative deal since one can earn a lot when you have many views on your channel. You earn income per click on your views according to the product you are promoting. YouTube promotions can also attract more subscribers to your channel as they would want to view the products.

How to easily grow your subscribers

You should focus on content that you are passionate about. Post new videos on your channel to avoid losing some of your already-acquired subscribers. You may also place the link to subscribe in your descriptions. Remember that the more subscribers you get, the more views you will have on your videos.

Conclusion

When focusing on content creation for revenue, it is important to keep track of your viewers. Your viewers are important in determining the progress and growth of your channel. Buying YouTube views is legit, so do not worry about being banned. All you have to do is to buy from legit sites like Viewsta.com to get the boost you need for your channel.

Are You Overpaying For Your North Carolina Home Insurance?

Sharon Anderson
-
0
Are You Overpaying For Your North Carolina Home Insurance?

If you’re a homeowner or plan to own a home someday, you already know home insurance is crucial to keeping your property safe and covered in case of disaster. If you have a mortgage, homeowners insurance is required by almost every home lender — and even if you own your home outright, not having homeowners insurance is simply inviting financial disaster.

But homeowners insurance can also be expensive, and with the economy being the way it is, you don’t want to pay too much for your homeowners’ insurance if you can help it. Every state has its own idiosyncrasies when it comes to state laws, potential loopholes, and factors that can influence your insurance premiums, and North Carolina is no different. The trick is to make use of those idiosyncrasies to get the best cheap home insurance in North Carolina.

Average Home Insurance Premiums and Coverage

To know whether or not you’re paying too much, you must first know how much you should be paying. The average yearly premium for homeowners insurance in North Carolina is $1,166, or $97 a month (numbers courtesy of The Zebra’s Ross Martin). Of course, this can vary not only according to things like driving record and zip code, but also insurance carriers — getting your homeowners insurance from Safeco, for example, will cost about $660 a month, while Nationwide will cost you more than $1,800.

As is the case with most states, homeowners insurance in North Carolina will cover losses due to theft, burglary, and many kinds of damage but does not cover flooding. Flood insurance will likely have to be purchased separately and is a good idea to have on hand, given the state’s propensity for hurricanes and heavy rainfall.

North Carolina’s Home Insurance Laws

One specific law regarding home insurance in North Carolina is that the state sets a maximum limit on the amount insurance companies can charge for home and car insurance. These limits are established by the North Carolina Rate Bureau and enforced by state law. But insurance companies have found a way to work around this limitation by what’s known as the “consent to rate” loophole.

This loophole — which takes the form of an agreement between the insurer and the policyholder — allows the insurance company to charge more than the mandated limit for insurance premiums. The “consent” part comes in when the insurer asks (or requires) the policyholder to sign a form allowing them to do so — one great reason to know what you’re signing before you put your signature down.

Why Do Insurance Companies Charge More?

So why would an insurer exceed the mandated limit for homeowners insurance premiums? The most obvious answer is “they want more money,” but that’s not the entire story. Some policyholders might be determined to be at a higher risk for whatever reason (for example, a poor driving record), and if they’ve signed the “consent to rate” agreement, the insurance company can charge them more to help address that risk.

What Can You Do?

If you think (or know) that your insurance company is overcharging you, there are some options. First, in order to make sure you’re paying too much, take a moment to review your policy and compare your premiums against the maximums set by the North Carolina Rate Bureau. If there are discrepancies, your next step might be to call your insurer and see what, if anything, they’re willing to do about it. If that doesn’t work, you can file a complaint at the North Carolina Department of Insurance, which is responsible for regulating insurance practices in North Carolina.

Finding Cheap Home Insurance in North Carolina

If you find you are being overcharged, you have options that go beyond filing a complaint. For one, you can go shopping around for cheap North Carolina homeowners insurance — there are free online tools that make this fast and easy. Once you compare quotes, you may find yourself paying a lot less for the same (or superior) coverage.

However, if you do decide to switch insurance companies, just make sure you don’t sign another “consent to rate” agreement when you do. Do your best to carefully review any documents before you sign, so you don’t get burned a second time.

If you decide switching insurance companies isn’t for you, there are still a few steps you could take to bring your premiums down:

  • Take a defensive driving course, or purchase and install new safety equipment or anti-theft devices on your car. This will reduce your risk in the eyes of insurers and you could get a discount.
  • Speaking of discounts — ask about them! Insurance companies offer discounts for all sorts of reasons, including low mileage, good student discounts, and discounts for certain professions.
  • Increase your credit rating. Having a better credit rating will demonstrate financial responsibility and vigilance to your insurer, and may result in a lower rate.

Ruby Sunshine Announces Plans to Bring “That Brunch Life” to Ballantyne

Steve
-
0
Ruby Sunshine Announces Plans to Bring “That Brunch Life” to Ballantyne

All-day brunch restaurant Ruby Sunshine is bringing brunch to Ballantyne, NC with a new location opening in summer 2023. Located in Toringdon Circle Shopping Center, Ruby Sunshine Ballantyne will join Ruby Sunshine South End, which opened in July 2020, to bring even more of its extensive brunch program to the Charlotte area.

“With its convenient access to Ballantyne attractions and shopping, the Ruby Sunshine Ballantyne location provided the perfect new space for us in the greater Charlotte area,” says Jennifer Weishaupt, founder of Ruby Slipper Restaurant Group. “The restaurant is spacious, with 150 seats inside and over 50 seats on an exterior patio, and we can’t wait to welcome the community through our doors. We look forward to bringing even more all-day brunch to the North Carolina market and are confident that families and foodies alike will love Ruby’s friendly atmosphere and craveable brunch dishes.”

Ruby Sunshine Ballantyne will offer a similar menu to its sister restaurants, echoing the original Ruby Slipper Café with a variety of benedicts, pancakes, French toasts, mimosas, Bloody Marys and plenty fresh, flavorful sides.

The original Ruby Slipper Café opened in New Orleans over 14 years ago and has since expanded to several locations around the southeast.

To learn more, you can visit the restaurant online and follow @rubysunshinebrunch.

New Data: Millennial Homeownership in Charlotte Metro Reaches 51%

Charlotte Stories
-
0
New Data: Millennial Homeownership in Charlotte Metro Reaches 51%

Today the annual Apartment List Millennial Homeownership Report was released for the past year. 2022 was a milestone year for millennials, who achieved 50% homeownership for the first time according to the latest census data.

When they combine data from their long-running renter survey, they uncovered a deeply divided generation – 51.5% of millennials own homes but those who continue to rent are falling increasingly behind.

Here are some more highlights from this year’s report:
  •  Nationwide, millennials have finally passed 50% homeownership, but they have purchased homes slower than previous generations. For instance, when Gen X was the same age as millennials today, their homeownership rate was 58%.
  • Homeownership varies greatly by location. In Charlotte metro, the millennial homeownership rate is 51%, just shy of the national average. In general, millennials own more homes in the nation’s smaller markets, particularly those in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions.
  • Millennials who continue to rent are getting priced out of homeownership by rapidly rising prices. In our latest survey, 25% of millennial renters say they will rent forever, and two-thirds have no money set aside for a down payment.

1...404405406...1,317Page 405 of 1,317