Charlotte Just Experienced Her Hottest November 7th In Recorded History

0

Did you notice how unusually warm it was yesterday?

The record books noticed as well…

November 7th, 2022 is now officially the hottest day on record in Charlotte’s history with a recorded high temperature of 82 degrees (just 3 degrees shy of the November record, set on Nov. 2nd, 1961).

Before today, these were Charlotte’s record highs for the month of November:

November 1 84 1950, 1961
November 2 85 1961
November 3 84 1961
November 4 84 1946
November 5 81 2003
November 6 82 2003
November 7 79 2020
November 8 79 2020
November 9 82 2005
November 10 83 2006
November 11 82 2020
November 12 81 1989
November 13 81 1931
November 14 79 1924, 1931, 1999
November 15 82 1955, 1993
November 16 82 1958
November 17 84 1958
November 18 78 2013
November 19 77 1906
November 20 78 1931
November 21 76 1991, 2003, 2007
November 22 76 2011
November 23 78 1900
November 24 75 1958, 1973
November 25 76 1931
November 26 75 2001
November 27 77 2001
November 28 77 1990
November 29 76 2001
November 30 76 1991

10 Tips for North Carolina Voters on Election Day

0

As millions of North Carolinians prepare for election day, the State Board of Elections offers the following tips for voters who choose to go to the polls on Election Day, Tuesday, November 8:

  1. On Election Day, polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voters in line at 7:30 p.m. will be able to cast a ballot. As required by state law, every N.C. voter will cast a hand-marked paper ballot or use a touch-screen ballot-marking device that produces a paper ballot for the voter to verify before casting. All voters will insert their ballots into a tabulator that has been tested before being used for the election. To find which voting equipment is used in your county, read Voting Equipment.
  2. Voters must go to their assigned Election Day polling place. Find your polling place through the Voter Search or the Polling Place Search.
  3. Sample ballots are available through the Voter Search tool.
  4. If you are voting by mail and have not returned your ballot, you may not return your ballot to a polling site on Election Day. You may mail your ballot back or return your ballot sealed inside the completed envelope to your county board of elections by 5 p.m. on Election Day. Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day. If you mail your ballot on or before Election Day, you may not vote again in person.
  5. North Carolina residents may not register to vote on Election Day, unless they became eligible after the October 14 voter registration deadline due to becoming a U.S. citizen or having their rights restored following a felony conviction. Due to a recent court decision, North Carolinians who are convicted of a felony have their rights restored when they leave jail or prison. They have the right to vote while on felony probation, parole, or post-release supervision.
  6. Voters are not required to show photo ID to vote. See Voter ID for details.
  7. Voters who need assistance at the polls must request that assistance. Curbside voting is available for voters who are unable to enter the voting place without assistance due to age or disability. Once inside the polling place, voters who experience difficulties should request help from an election worker. For more information, see the Help for Voters with Disabilities page.
  8. If you present to vote and your name is not on the voter list, you may request a provisional ballot. About 10 days after an election, voters who cast a provisional ballot can check the status of their ballot with the Provisional Search tool. For more information, read Provisional Voting.
  9. State and federal laws forbid intimidation or interference with voters, including hindering access to the voting place, whether inside or outside the buffer zone. The law also makes it a crime to interfere with election officials carrying out their duties. Penalties for violations include prison time, a fine, or both. The State Board takes these incidents very seriously. When they occur, we will work with our law enforcement partners on appropriate responses. Voters who are harassed or intimidated should notify an election official immediately.
  10. Election results will be posted throughout election night at the State Board’s Election Results Dashboard. For more information, read What to Expect on Election Night in North Carolina.

For more information about Election Day voting, please visit Vote in Person on Election Day.

Charlotte Ranks in the Top 20 Best Cities for Thanksgiving

0

With consumers having spent around $300 per person in the period between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday last year, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its 2022’s Best Places to Go for Thanksgiving report. It also released fun and interesting stats about the holiday in its Thanksgiving Fun Facts infographic.

To help Americans decide where to enjoy a Thanksgiving feast without breaking the bank, WalletHub compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 20 key metrics. They range from the cost of Thanksgiving dinner and share of delayed flights to volunteer opportunities per capita and forecasted precipitation.

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

  • 40th – Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner
  • 6th – Share of Delayed Flights near Thanksgiving Holiday
  • 52nd – Forecasted Thanksgiving Precipitation
  • 48th – Thanksgiving Events per Capita
  • 32nd – Traffic Congestion
  • 47th – Percentage of Residents Who Are Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19

For the full report, you can visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-places-to-go-for-thanksgiving/67603

Charlotte Knights Building Snow Tubing Mountain and Skating Rink in Uptown

0

Uptown Charlotte is about to be transformed into a winter wonderland with the inaugural launch of ‘Light The Knights’ festival.

During their off season, the Charlotte Knights will build a full-sized skating rink, 6-lane 150-foot snow tubing mountain, Christmas village, and thousands of lighted strings and displays installed throughout the complex.

‘Light The Knights’ will kick off on November 23rd with live music, food, and Santa and will run through Friday, January 6.

For more information or tickets click here.

U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree to Visit North Carolina Zoo During 2022 Tour

0

Each year, a different national forest provides a tree to light up the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol building for the holiday season. The National Forests in North Carolina, in partnership with nonprofit partner Choose Outdoors, will bring the 2022 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree from the Pisgah Forest to Washington, D.C., including a special appearance at the North Carolina Zoo Nov. 10 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

The 78-foot-tall Red Spruce was harvested from the Pisgah National Forest in early November and prepared for the nearly 1,000-mile expedition. The journey will include a series of outdoor community celebrations before being delivered to the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 18, where it will be decorated with handmade ornaments and tree skirts specially created by North Carolinians.

Festivities during the tree’s visit to the North Carolina Zoo on Nov. 10 will include remarks by Zoo and public officials, a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and hot cocoa and cookies. The event will be in the North America Parking Lot by Solar Pointe picnic area and is free to the public (but does not include free admission to the Zoo).

“We are honored that the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree will visit the North Carolina Zoo on its journey from North Carolina to Washington, D.C.,” said N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Deputy Secretary Jeff Michael. “Visiting the North Carolina Zoo is a family tradition at any time of year, but we are thrilled to add the joy of hosting the ‘People’s Tree’ to inspire our guests for the upcoming holiday season.

“We are beyond grateful for the host cities who play such a vital role in bringing the tree across the country,” said James Melonas, Forest Supervisor, National Forests in North Carolina.

For more information on the North Carolina Zoo event, visit https://www.nczoo.org/events/us-capitol-christmas-tree-tour.

HFX Trading Tips for Beginners

0

With the technological advances of the twenty-first century, making money online has become easier than ever before. However, many other people still need to learn how to get started. So, if you’re new to the world of online currency trading, often known as Forex, you might feel a little overwhelmed. Don’t be concerned. We’re here to assist you. Here are a few basic Forex trading recommendations to get you off to a good start.

One of the best HFX trading tips for beginners is to use a demo account. A demo account allows you to trade in a simulated environment using real-time market data. It is a great way to learn the ropes of hfx trading for beginners without putting any real money at risk.

Find a Good Broker

One of the most important things you can do is find a good broker. With so many different options, it can be overwhelming to figure out which is right for you. Here are a few tips to help you narrow your search and find a broker that’s a good fit for your trading style.

One of the first things you need to consider is what type of trader you are. For example, do you like to take on many risks or prefer to play it safe? It will help narrow your choices because some brokers are better suited for high-risk traders, while others are geared more toward those who want to minimize risk. Another critical factor is what kind of features and tools you’re looking for in a broker. Before making the final decision, checking out online forums and reviews is essential. 

Get to Know the Basics

Here are some basic terms every beginner should know before they start trading:

Bid-Ask Spread

There is a difference between the bid price and the asking price. The bid price is the highest amount someone is willing to pay for a security, while the asking price is the lowest amount someone is willing to sell it for. Therefore, the bid-ask spread usually represents the cost of buying or selling a security.

Pip 

A pip is the smallest unit of measurement in foreign exchange trading. It’s used to indicate the change in value between two currencies. For example, if the EUR/USD currency pair moves from 1.0950 to 1.0951, that’s a one-pip move.

Leverage

Leverage is the amount of money a broker will lend you to trade with. So, for example, if you have $1,000 in your account and your broker offers 100:1 leverage, you can trade up to $100,000 worth of currency. Be careful with leverage — it can magnify your profits and losses.

Use a Demo Account

In a demo account, you can test different trading strategies without worrying about losing money. Once you’ve found a method that works well for you, you can apply it to live trades. Take advantage of a demo account and get started practicing your skills. With some practice, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a successful trader.

Don’t Overcomplicate Things

For many HFX trading beginners, the temptation to over-analyze and second-guess every move can be shattering. But more often than not, simplicity is the key to market success.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when trading HFX:

  • Stay disciplined with your trading plan. Don’t let emotions or outside factors influence your decisions.
  • Keep your analysis simple. Complex models and indicators can often lead to false signals and bad trades.
  • Focus on what you can control. You can’t control the markets, but you can manage risk management and position sizing.

Manage Your Risk

It would be best if you took the time to learn about HFX trading and managing the risk associated with trading. It is one of the essential HFX trading tips for beginners.

Regarding HFX trading, there are two main types of risks: 

  1. Transaction risks
  2. Market risks. 

Transaction risks include credit risk, interest rate, and country risk. On the other hand, market risks include political, economic, and liquidity risks. Here are some tips to minimize the risks associated with HFX trading and increase your chances of making a profit.

  • Diversification is one way to manage your risks is to diversify your portfolio. It means investing in a variety of countries and currencies. By doing this, you’ll be able to offset losses in one market with gains in another. 
  • Manage your emotions. Don’t let greed or fear affect your decisions.
  • Please be patient. Don’t let frustration or recklessness undermine your chances of success.

Conclusion

Finally, these are only a few Forex trading strategies. The most important, of course, is to educate yourself, not overcomplicate things, have risk tolerances, and trade with discipline. You may be well on your way toward becoming a successful Forex trader if you keep these considerations in mind.

How can businesses keep travel expenses under control?

0

Following the pandemic scenario and the raging economic crisis, it became evident for businesses to minimize the budget associated with employee travel expenditures – both for hygienic and budgetary reasons. However, one must use caution because this charge modification must not have a detrimental impact on the company’s operating effectiveness. So, this can be accomplished by the following advice:

However, before discussing this issue, it is vital to establish precisely the travel expenditures for businesses.

Where does the money go for travel expenses?

A business travel expenditure incurred when traveling for work. This might include the number of items, or services required for the trip, typically connected with being away from home for several days or weeks. Employees can be paid for expenditures such as

  • Domestic or international airfare
  • Traveling by train
  • Rental of a personal automobile
  • Taxis and minicabs
  • Business food delivery or meals
  • Hotels, inns, and serviced flats.

Of course, these costs will vary based on the size of the company and its travel and expenditure policies. So, let’s look at what businesses need to do to reduce travel expenses:

Make specific orders regarding trip expenditures.

One of the benefits of a clear travel and spending policy is that it specifies the maximum spend for each feasible item, which the finance team may use to estimate expenses. Of course, for those costs to remain low and estimates to be correct, the policy must be clear and properly implemented. Companies may save money by forming alliances and negotiating contracts with a specific list of hotels, preferred airlines, and other travel arrangements to obtain the cheapest pricing.

Make specific orders regarding trip expenditures.

One of the benefits of a clear travel and spending policy is that it specifies the maximum spend for each feasible item, which the finance team may use to estimate expenses. Of course, for those costs to Remain Low and evaluated to be correct, the policy must be properly implemented. Companies may save money by forming alliances and negotiating contracts with a specific list of hotels, preferred airlines, and other arrangements to obtain the cheapest pricing.

Rethink reservation policies.

When developing a clear travel and expenditure policy, companies must consider rewriting their reservation standards in light of the current global circumstances.

Many businesses began to assume corporate social responsibility, and as a result, some adjusted their policies. For example, if the trip duration is shorter than 2 hours, an employee should use the train rather than fly.

Tracking Expense Report Fraud

Employees may occasionally tend to enhance their bills of costs. As a result, the most efficient strategy to avoid it is to have a clear picture of spending records. Proof of expenditure is an important step in monitoring and reimbursing company expenses.

Paper reports are easier to forge; therefore, getting rid of them would be a sensible option. After then, a variety of flexible payment options might be considered.

Change from manual to digital expenditure management.

As we return to the new world, where most of the labor will be digitized, 70% of firms currently have or are working on a digital transformation plan.

Companies nowadays must be prepared to work effectively remotely at any time. Thus, they must digitize their procedures to enable paperless costs.

Passengers can only be compensated, even if they are working remotely, and remote audits of their receipts are performed, reducing interruption for finance personnel in case of future government changes, such as work-from-home or border closures.

Based on the advice provided, it is clear that the best way to save money on business travel is to use travel management software that can customize budgets for specific trips, minimize expense management by automatically limiting choices based on the corporate travel policy in place and easily scan and analyze all of the employees’ bills.

North Carolina Has 5th Most Powerful Voters In 2022 Midterms

0

With the 2022 election approaching and voters’ influence varying from state to state, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2022’s States with the Most & Least Powerful Voters.

WalletHub compared the relative clout of 2022 voters in swinging the seats of power in Washington. In order to make such a comparison, they calculated a Voter Power Score for each state.

In the upcoming Midterm House Race, North Carolina was determined to have the 5th most significant voter base in America.

House Elections – States with the Most & Least Powerful Voters

Rank*  State Vote Power  Rank  State Vote Power 
1 Minnesota 3.64 26 Texas 1.72
2 Alaska 3.61 27 Illinois 1.72
3 Maine 3.57 28 Arkansas 1.72
4 Colorado 3.50 29 South Carolina 1.72
5 North Carolina 3.39 30 Kentucky 1.72
6 Georgia 3.38 31 California 1.71
7 Pennsylvania 3.30 32 North Dakota 1.70
8 Michigan 3.29 33 Louisiana 1.69
9 Virginia 3.26 34 Utah 1.67
10 Florida 3.20 35 Missouri 1.67
11 Montana 2.30 36 Maryland 1.67
12 Rhode Island 2.26 37 New Jersey 1.66
13 Wyoming 2.24 38 Tennessee 1.66
14 Nebraska 2.03 39 New York 1.65
15 Vermont 1.89 40 Oklahoma 1.65
16 New Mexico 1.83 41 Washington 1.65
17 Kansas 1.79 42 Nevada 1.64
18 Alabama 1.79 43 Ohio 1.63
19 Oregon 1.77 44 Iowa 1.63
20 Mississippi 1.77 45 Massachusetts 1.60
21 New Hampshire 1.77 46 Arizona 1.59
22 Hawaii 1.76 47 South Dakota 1.48
23 Connecticut 1.74 48 West Virginia 1.40
24 Wisconsin 1.73 49 Idaho 1.40
25 Indiana 1.72 50 Delaware 1.26

1*=Most powerful

To see the methodology of the study you can see the full report here.

This year, there are a total of 359 early voting sites across our state, which is up 17% from 2018, according t a press release from the State Board of Elections.

“The 100 county boards of elections have spent months preparing for the start of in-person voting for the important 2022 general election,” said SBE executive director Karen Brinson Bell. “The bipartisan election officials who work in each early voting site are prepared for a smooth voting process and to ensure the ballots of all eligible voters are counted.”

You can still register and vote at the same time during the one-stop early voting period, October 20 through November 5, at any early voting site in their county. County-by-county early voting sites and schedules are available at the State Board of Elections’ One-Stop Early Voting Site Search.

On Election Day, November 8, polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voters who vote on Election Day must go to their assigned polling place. Find your polling place in the Voter Search tool and navigate to “Your Voting Locations.”

Gastonia Police Lock Down Neighborhood After Armed Assailant Escapes On Foot

0

Last night a domestic dispute in Gastonia erupted into a hostage situation, a gun fight, and a neighborhood lockdown as police used helicopters, K9 units, and dozens of officers to search for an armed assailant late into the night.

The incident began in a home off Pine Forest Drive, near the intersection of Titman Rd:

At about 11pm last night, one man was arrested, but the armed suspect still remained at large as police told local neighbors to stay inside their homes and keep their doors locked.

At about 1am last night, the armed suspect went live on Facebook and was “saying goodbye” to the camera, according to the police scanner.

Photo of helicopter last night in Autumn Acres off Titman Rd, Gastonia.

According to Gastonia Police, the armed assailant is still at large.

If you have any information about this incident or the suspect, please call the Gastonia Police Department at 704.866.3300.

NC Governor Just Released $8.45 million in Local Workforce Development Grants

0

The NC Department of Commerce has just awarded over $8.45 million to local organizations across our state.

The state granted a total of 20 special grants to 11 local workforce organizations to help jobseekers and small businesses retain and increase their workforces. The grants primarily focused on helping workers who are in the reentry process and those struggling with substance abuse.

“In today’s changing economy, we must help more North Carolinians overcome barriers to entering the workforce, particularly individuals reentering after incarceration, while also helping our employers train workers with the skills they need,” said Governor Cooper in a press release. “These grants will provide new opportunities for communities to fill good jobs and put more money in the pockets of hard-working North Carolinians.”

There were a total of 4 NCWorks Reentry Support Grants, including:

  • Charlotte Works Workforce Development Board (Mecklenburg County): A $200,000 grant will leverage the workforce board’s existing reentry partnership, alongside a new partnership with a minority and service-disabled veteran-owned business to help small businesses grow and help “non-traditional” talent secure employment.
  • Eastern Carolina WDB (Carteret, Craven, Duplin, Greene, Jones, Lenoir, Onslow, Pamlico and Wayne counties): A $200,000 grant will help jobseekers who are in the reentry process with job placement through NCWorks Career Centers and community partners in the Eastern Carolina local area.
  • Mid-Carolina WDB (Cumberland, Harnett and Sampson counties): A $100,000 grant will recruit individuals for training and work-based learning in the skilled trades. This initiative will cover eligible participants’ tuition for a short-term training certification in the skilled trades, including the purchase of needed tools and supplies.
  • Mountain Area WDB (Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania counties): A $200,000 grant will assist individuals who are in the reentry process and are transitioning back into the community and need assistance finding skills training and supportive services to achieve more permanent job placements.

There were 5 NCWorks Substance Use Disorder Recovery Grants, including:

  • Capital Area Workforce Development Board (Chatham, Johnston, Lee and Wake counties): A $200,000 grant will help youth with, or at risk for, substance use disorders to develop and carry out a career plan that leads to successful employment. Partners will provide wrap-around supportive services and encouragement to youth participants.
  • Eastern Carolina Workforce Development Board (Carteret, Craven, Duplin, Greene, Jones, Lenoir, Onslow, Pamlico and Wayne counties): A $200,000 grant will provide training opportunities for front-line NCWorks Career Center staff on serving customers in need of substance use recovery; in addition, selected career advisors will participate in a Peer Support program to become specialists for their centers.
  • High Country Workforce Development Board (Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties): A $200,000 grant will allow community partners to provide supportive services, case management, and access to skill enhancement opportunities for participants, so they can prepare to reenter the workforce.
  • Mid-Carolina Workforce Development Board (Cumberland, Harnett and Sampson counties): A $100,000 grant will connect NCWorks Career Centers to substance abuse clinics and nonprofit organizations that provide supportive services not covered by existing federal funds. Eligible participants will receive free tuition and supplies for short-term training and certificates in the skilled trades, followed by a three-month paid internship.
  • Mountain Area Workforce Development Board (Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania counties): A $200,000 grant will assist individuals in recovery from substance use disorders through treatment support, social services, training and employment support, helping them transition back into the community with more permanent job placements.

There were 11 NCWorks Small Business Work-Based Learning Grants, including:

  • Cape Fear Workforce Development Board (Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover and Pender counties): A $450,000 grant will implement a multiple pathway approach to connect targeted small businesses and micro-businesses with job-ready talent. The program will provide sustainability and growth options, while developing talent pipelines to meet future needs.
  • Capital Area WDB ((Chatham, Johnston, Lee and Wake counties): An $850,000 grant will make an impact on small businesses through an initiative to scale the board’s current small business workforce development focus to its entire service area.
  • Charlotte Works WDB (Mecklenburg County): A $500,000 grant, in conjunction with the Reentry Support Grant, will leverage the workforce board’s existing reentry partnership, alongside a new partnership with a minority and service-disabled veteran-owned business to help small businesses grow and help “non-traditional” talent secure employment.
  • Eastern Carolina WDB (Carteret, Craven, Duplin, Greene, Jones, Lenoir, Onslow, Pamlico and Wayne counties): A $900,000 grant will provide services and training to connect small businesses to underserved individuals with barriers to employment, while allowing the board to employ two Business Engagement Specialists, who will target and provide intensive services to historically underutilized and minority-owned businesses in the region with 25 or fewer employees.
  • Foothills Workforce Development Board (Cleveland, McDowell, Polk and Rutherford counties): A $321,000 grant will build on the existing local work-based learning program, utilizing On-the-Job Training (OJT), Adult and Youth Work Experience (WEX) and Incumbent Worker Training (IWT).
  • High Country WDB (Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties): A $500,000 grant will focus on enhancing the availability of work-based learning opportunities, including On-the-Job Training (OJT), Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) and Work Experience (WEX), for the more than 9,000 small businesses in the region.
  • Mid-Carolina WDB (Cumberland, Harnett and Sampson counties): A $400,000 grant will connect small businesses and micro-businesses to jobseekers who will be trained through education and work-based learning, covering eligible participants’ tuition for a short-term training certification in the skilled trades, including the purchase of needed tools and supplies, along with a three-month Work Experience program, followed by either direct employment or an On-the-Job Training placement.
  • Mountain Area WDB (Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania counties): A $904,000 grant will assist local employers with 25 or fewer employees impacted by the economic conditions caused by the pandemic through a variety of work-based learning tools and entrepreneurship programs with NC IDEA and the N.C. Community College System.
  • Piedmont Triad Regional Workforce Development Board (Caswell, Davie, Forsyth, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin counties): A $1 million grant will focus on Incumbent Worker Training to address the equitable recovery and growth of small businesses and micro-businesses that are currently facing talent shortages and skills gaps.
  • Rivers East Workforce Development Board (Beaufort, Bertie, Hertford, Martin and Pitt counties): A $750,000 grant will focus on providing local entrepreneurs with additional support through training and work-based learning funding, to enhance the skills of current employees and grow their businesses with support to hire, train and retain new workers. Partners are set to include NC IDEA and N.C. Community College Small Business Centers.
  • Southwestern Workforce Development Board (Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties): A $276,000 grant will invest in the region’s youth by highlighting meaningful career opportunities available locally. Another component of the board’s initiative will focus on fostering productive work environments, promoting talent development and enhancing business growth with work-based learning.

The NC Department of Commerce is about to begin reviewing new grant applications for another round of funding across our state.

If you’d like to apply for a local workforce grant, you can find out more information and apply at NCWorks.gov.