North Carolina Ranked Among The Most Charitable States for 2021

Steve
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North Carolina Ranked Among The Most Charitable States for 2021

With the U.S. ranked as the most generous country over the past 10 years by the World Giving Index, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on Most Charitable States for 2021.

To determine where the most generous Americans are inspiring others to be more selfless, WalletHub compared the 50 states based on 19 key indicators of charitable behavior. The data set ranges from the volunteer rate to the share of income donated to the share of sheltered homeless.

North Carolina was ranked in the top 3rd at #17 and South Carolina was ranked among the bottom 3rd at #39.

Most Charitable States in America

Overall Rank*  State Total Score  ‘Volunteering & Service’ Rank  ‘Charitable Giving’ Rank 
1 Utah 72.27 2 9
2 Minnesota 71.51 3 4
3 Maryland 70.08 5 6
4 Oregon 67.84 1 34
5 Ohio 66.29 11 13
6 Pennsylvania 66.25 12 12
7 Virginia 65.80 28 2
8 North Dakota 65.68 4 27
9 Maine 64.18 6 29
10 Colorado 64.13 22 7
11 Alaska 63.41 7 33
12 Georgia 63.41 34 3
13 Wyoming 62.70 14 25
14 Washington 62.57 17 23
15 New Hampshire 62.31 10 31
16 Arkansas 62.16 21 19
17 North Carolina 62.11 24 14
18 Wisconsin 61.64 19 22
19 New York 61.64 45 1
20 Illinois 60.78 35 8
21 Massachusetts 60.66 41 5
22 Nebraska 60.56 13 39
23 Connecticut 60.28 30 17
24 Missouri 60.15 32 15
25 Idaho 59.65 8 46
26 Indiana 59.63 16 40
27 New Jersey 59.48 33 18
28 Florida 59.45 40 10
29 Delaware 59.38 9 47
30 South Dakota 59.06 15 43
31 Oklahoma 58.61 20 32
32 Kentucky 58.52 23 28
33 Montana 57.99 18 41
34 Kansas 57.79 39 21
35 Michigan 57.66 42 20
36 Vermont 57.06 26 36
37 Texas 56.84 25 38
38 Tennessee 56.83 36 26
39 South Carolina 56.67 38 24
40 Alabama 56.40 46 11
41 Iowa 54.95 31 42
42 Hawaii 54.90 29 44
43 California 54.04 50 16
44 West Virginia 53.89 27 48
45 Nevada 52.41 37 45
46 Rhode Island 52.09 44 37
47 Mississippi 51.27 49 30
48 Louisiana 51.19 47 35
49 New Mexico 47.28 48 49
50 Arizona 46.98 43 50

Aldi Announced New Locations Opening Around The Charlotte Market

Charlotte Stories
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Aldi Announced New Locations Opening Around The Charlotte Market

One of Charlotte’s favorite grocers is about to open 2 new locations around the Charlotte area.

The first one set to open is located at 18027 Laith Way in Cornelius. They will hold a grand opening celebration on 11/19 and will be open from 9am-8pm Monday-Sunday from then on.

Their second grand opening will be held in Indian Land sometime next month.

The discount grocer recently announced their newest location will be opening on Charlotte Highway in Indian Land, SC by mid-December.

The new Indian Land location will bring the total number of Aldi locations around the Charlotte area to 30.

Provide Hope for Children Across North Carolina

Charlotte Stories
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Provide Hope for Children Across North Carolina

For more than 90 years, Children’s Home Society of NC’s Little Red Stocking Fund has provided hope for North Carolina children and families. Hope for children like 13-year-old Kamry to come closer to finding their families who can be there for them and love them for the rest of their lives.

Children’s Home Society (CHS) is pleased to launch this year’s state-wide annual holiday fundraising effort with all proceeds going to provide permanent, safe, and loving families for children in need.

“At Children’s Home Society, we believe that healthier families shape healthier communities,” said Brian Maness, President & CEO of Children’s Home Society.  “We are committed to giving every child and family a voice and relentlessly advocating for their success. Because of our supporters, children will thrive, families will grow stronger, and communities will flourish.”

The Little Red Stocking campaign allows CHS to provide the highest quality adoption and foster care services, as well as educational and prevention programs to keep families healthy, strong, and intact.  The need is greater than ever, with more than 12,000 children living in foster care in North Carolina and more than 500 youth aging out of foster care each year.

Last year, the Little Red Stocking Fund helped ensure:

  • Temporary foster care was provided to 999 children.
  • Life-long support services were offered to 618 adoptees, adoptive parents, and birth parents.
  • Family preservation services, which focus on keeping children in their own homes, impacted 465 families and 1,167 youth.
  • Youth education programs addressing life skill development, teen pregnancy prevention, and substance abuse prevention influenced 3,426 adolescents.

You can give hope to children across North Carolina this year by supporting the annual Little Red Stocking Fund. For more information and to donate to the Little Red Stocking campaign, visit www.chsnc.org

South Carolina Woman Struck It Rich While Strolling Along Hunting Island Beach

Charlotte Stories
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South Carolina Woman Struck It Rich While Strolling Along Hunting Island Beach

A South Carolina native just struck it rich while taking a stroll down Hunting Island beach, just outside Beaufort.

This past week, Missy Tracewell posted a picture of her find on the Facebook group ‘Hunting Island State Park (SC), Beaufort & Camping (Memories)’, with the caption, “Biggest one yet…found this afternoon on Hunting Island”

Tracewell said she had found a handful of tiny shark teeth over the years, but nothing even remotely this big. When she noticed the mostly buried object glistening in a water-filled hole just several feet from the shoreline, she had a feeling of what it might be.

When she pulled it out of the sand and rinsed it off, she was sure – it was a prehistoric fossilized Megladon Tooth.

In the comments under her image, one person noted that an “Indian tribe of head hunters lived there on that island many many years ago. They were a feared and fierce tribe. Lol May have belonged to one of them.”

The State also recently reported that a 30-million-year-old mega shark nursery, littered with fossilized shark’s teeth, was by archeologists near what is now Summerville.

If Tracewell ever decides to sell her massive tooth, she could easily make over $1,000 on the find.

4 Home Upgrades That Won’t Break the Bank

Charles Rutherford
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4 Home Upgrades That Won’t Break the Bank

Is your “home, sweet home” making you sour? Is your bank balance making you bitter? 

Well, today’s your lucky day. This article is here to give you some home upgrades that won’t bust your budget.

Read on to learn more!

#1 Change Up Your Kitchen with Small Details

Upgrading your kitchen doesn’t have to be expensive. Sure, new granite countertops might be out of the question (for now), but there’s no reason you can’t start beautifying the belly of the house with these sweet tips: 

  • A cute spice rack with a rainbow-like display of spices and condiments does wonders for the mood and look of your kitchen.
  • Stick-on tiles can transform your kitchen backwash and completely revamp your home’s color scheme. 
  • For a pop of color that’s also practical, buy affordable, multicolored utensils to display in cute containers on your counter. 

#2 Give Your Living Room a New Coat of Paint—Minus the Paint 

Nothing gives your home an upgrade straight off of HGTV like a brand-new wall color. Too bad painting your walls can be tricky, messy, and, sometimes, expensive.

However, with some patience (or some hacks), you can have it all.

If your motto is “time is money,” then paste-up custom made wallpapers could be the key to your new home aesthetic (without locking yourself into a day’s worth of painting). On the other hand, if you want to go with the slightly cheaper, more traditional approach, use these hacks to reduce the hassle:

  • Lay down a plastic tarp on the floor before painting. Secure it with tape.
  • Make sure you use primer, so your paint really sticks.
  • Use a small brush to paint at the corners and edges, so your lines are crisp and neat.
  • If you don’t want to paint, spruce up your wall by taping fake flowers from the floor to the ceiling, spacing them evenly. 

#3 Plants, Plants, Plants

Nothing breathes new life into a space more than gorgeous, lush plants. 

Don’t worry—you don’t need a loaded bank account or a botany degree to give your house a garden-chic makeover. 

Here are some affordable, easy-to-maintain house plants you can put in your space today:

  • Pothos
  • Golden Pothos
  • Dried Eucalyptus
  • Baby’s Breath
  • Alocasia Calidora
  • Monstera Deliciosa
  • Mini Monstera Deliciosa 

For an extra upgrade to your place, take care in selecting the pots and planters that will really highlight your home. Instead of splurging on high-end planters from the most Instagram-worthy nursery in your town, buy cheap clay pots and customize them to your liking.

Check out these ideas to turn your planters from blah to beautiful:

  • Dip your pots in paint or cover them in adorable stickers for a colorful upgrade.
  • Play with copper wire to surround your planters with modern wire art that could rival the great works of the MoMa. 
  • For a more subdued addition, hang some cute gilded animals to your plant branches for a charming jungle feel. 

#4 Reframe Your Decor

You don’t have to buy a new home to live in one you love, just like you don’t have to buy new decor to surround yourself with images that inspire you. 

While you’re reframing your thinking about your house, go ahead and reframe your decor, too—literally.

Have fun at your local flea market, finding the coolest and quirkiest ornate picture frames you can. Then, give them a quick splash of paint, and voila! You have yourself the perfect new frames for all your beloved art prints and pictures—and all well under your budget.  

Have Fun with the Process

When considering home upgrades that won’t break the bank, take inspiration from our collection of window box ideas and pictures. These ideas can help you transform your home’s exterior and add a touch of creativity to your curb appeal.

Upgrading your home on a budget doesn’t have to be a slog. Instead, you can use these projects as an opportunity to flex your creative muscles and bond with your friends and family. Explore that little art shop on the corner, roam that flea market you’ve always wanted to check out—the DIY world is truly your oyster!

Happy upgrading! 

5 Personal and Memorable Gifts for Your SO

Sharon Anderson
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5 Personal and Memorable Gifts for Your SO

Now that you have found the one for you, spending time together is your favorite thing to do, and that is sometimes the only gift you want. Sharing a meal together, traveling, and going on holiday adventures! All those little moments are gifts in themselves. Even though time together is the best gift to give to each other, it is still nice to give and receive an actual present.  We’ve found 5 gifts for you to give your person, that are personal, memorable, and they are definitely things they want.

  1. A Memorable Scented Candle

This year has been a big adjustment for everyone. The lack of travel, having to stay home, and the trips lost to the pandemic are hard pills to swallow. If your SO is missing a specific place this holiday season, Homesick Candles allows you take them there without leaving your home. A scent can instantly transport you to a different time, place, and memory, so why not pick a scent curated with a specific place in mind?  The city you met, where you got married, their hometown, or a place you plan to travel to together in the future. It is a sweet reminder of those special moments and future memories you will make together. You can also give a candle wax melter as a gift.

2. A Custom Pillow

So, your SO isn’t allowed to hang anything on the walls in their apartment, but they still want a way to display images of you two? Did you know you can get pillows with custom pictures on them? Score! Canvas People has you covered when it comes to customized products, and especially unique ones. Get your beau a pillow with your face on it, or if you are trying to keep things a little more casual, have a pillowcase printed with a picture from a sunset you shared together, or from their favorite camping trip. The pillow possibilities are endless, and their displaying of your love won’t hinder them from getting their full deposit back.

3. Underwear

Personal and memorable doesn’t exclusively mean impractical. New underwear is a meaningful gift that maintains all practicality factors. MeUndies has you covered on all those fronts (literally covered, too). They have undergarments for all shapes, sizes, and design preferences. And ok, if you want to take things to the next level… you can get matching underwear! (Wait… what were you thinking we were going to say?)  MeUndies uses ethically sourced materials, natural and sustainable fibers, and everything is imported under fair working conditions. You just can’t get any better than that. Take it from them: “it’s easy to match your bottom half with your better half”. So, what are you waiting for? Select your favorite styles, pick a fun design, and get to feeling comfortable with your person.

4. New Shoes

Continuing on the theme of practicality… When was the last time your SO bought themselves shoes that are actually comfortable, durable, and stylish? Yeah, too long ago, that’s what we thought. Well, they will be glad you read this, because you are about to upgrade their shoe game in a major way. Shoes from AllBirds are comfy, washable, environmentally friendly, and the perfect choice for someone who needs a shoe that will last. Their shoes are made from the finest Merino wool, meaning they are breathable, moisture-wicking, and temperature-regulating. And the best part, they aren’t scratchy! Oh, and did we mention their packaging is made with 90% recycled cardboard and their shoelaces are made of recycled plastic bottles? Yes, we have found you the perfect pair of shoes. You’re welcome.

5. Coordinate Bracelet

Getting a memorable gift sometimes means referencing a memory you have shared together. Something to remind them of a great moment in time. Something like a bracelet from Wanderer with the coordinates of where you met, where you crossed paths (no matter where it was), or your initials, all as a visual reminder of your love for them in that moment, and presently. 

We know that no matter what you get for your SO, they will love it because it came from your heart! So, don’t be afraid to go for it and give them something they will cherish!

How online casino gaming is growing in popularity in North Carolina

Samantha jeorge
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How online casino gaming is growing in popularity in North Carolina

The way we entertain ourselves online is constantly evolving, to the extent that the platforms and media we use are almost unrecognizable from a few short years ago. And it seems modern families across North Carolina have more choice than ever before. 

The advent of streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and Hulu have put a world of entertainment at our fingertips, while the smartphone boom means we can take those platforms with us wherever we go.

Many will justifiably argue the merits of instant access to round-the-clock digital entertainment, but the impact on the way North Carolinians spend their free time away from work commitments is undeniable.

In this article, we will examine how online casino gaming has succeeded in taking its place alongside other entertainment sectors like streaming, in gaining a market share.

Source: Pexels

Catching up

For a variety of reasons, the online gambling sector in America has traditionally been a little off the global pace, with marketplaces across Europe and Asia being at the forefront of the industry during its early development.

However, recent years have seen the rise of new platforms, established by leading names in the industry or offered by new start-ups, that are bringing the best and most exciting games to audiences here in North Carolina.

Today, there’s a huge array of casino games available, with a particular emphasis in the industry on engaging with new players through welcome offers. The welcome offers range from free spins on slots, to money back if your first bet fails, while the popular no deposit casino bonus allows players to sample the games without spending any of their own money.

This strategy has proved particularly effective in growing the market in America, as it has for several years globally.

Which games are the most popular?

Early online casino gaming was built around adapting traditional casino staples, like blackjack, poker, and roulette, for casino online play real money (read more here). Those games remain a major part of the modern landscape, with almost countless variations and twists on the classics available to players.

The arrival of the smartphone around 2007 challenged this status quo as it changed the way that the players enjoyed their favorite games. In the years that followed, many gamers chose to access the platforms on their phone instead of on a laptop or computer.

This helped inspire the growth of casual games, like bingo and slots, which, due to their nature, are better suited to being played on the go. The games are simple, fast-paced and can be completed often within a couple of minutes.

Individual hands of traditional games like blackjack, poker, and roulette can also be completed quickly, but a full session often commands more time and attention, which perhaps doesn’t lend itself as well to playing on the go.

Source: Pexels

As you can see, there are numerous factors that have contributed to the increasing popularity of online casino gaming, here in North Carolina and across America. Undoubtedly, the success that the industry has enjoyed during the last five years in particular demonstrates its potential for the future.

Pros and Cons of CMS Drupal That You Need to Know in Advance

Gail Goforth
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Pros and Cons of CMS Drupal That You Need to Know in Advance

Companies and individuals are regularly changing the configuration of their sites to have a convenient platform for users and owners. Therefore, they take into account all the pros and cons of a content management system. Despite the vast number of CMS available, it is hard to choose the right one. Drupal is considered to be one of the best in the market. However, it also has strengths and weaknesses, and therefore it is vital to know about them before using it.

Advantages of CMS Drupal

The system began to develop in 2000. During this time, dozens of its versions have changed. It was a raw product with a minimal set of tools at first. Every year, the creators have improved the core, increased the level of security, and introduced new functions. Currently, there are hundreds of thousands of ecommerce sites using Drupal around the world. Here are just some of its advantages:

  1. Open-source — this is open-source software, which means that you can update the source code of the program without paying any license fees.
  2. Orientation on developers — this CMS is suitable for experienced developers familiar with programming, which increases its popularity among web programmers.
  3. Creation of advanced sites — since Drupal was intended for developers, this software provides more functions for creating websites than WordPress and Joomla.
  4. Community software solution — it also creates data-intensive sites and community sites with numerous users.
  5. It is distributed gratuitously — users can take advantage of constant updates and improvements. According to various ratings, Drupal is one of the five leaders among free platforms.

Finally, among the key strengths of Drupal is a decent level of security. Any web resource is subject to various threats like viruses, hacker attacks, spam, and other troubles that can ruin the project. Each new release of the system provides an increase in protection level. It makes this CMS an inaccessible fortress.

Disadvantages of CMS Drupal

There are a few moments that can be considered as disadvantages of Drupal:

  1. It requires a high level of technical knowledge: as noted above, Drupal is an advanced CMS that requires the user to know about web development. If your team does not have an expert with experience in this area, then Drupal is most likely not the CMS that suits you. However, you can always hire a team of professionals to do this job for you.
  2. Fewer ready-made solutions: there are thousands of add-ons and design templates for Drupal. At the same time, their number is less than for WordPress.

Drupal is a decent choice for companies with experienced web developers. However, due to the complexity of its use, this CMS is not suitable for everyone. However, it provides the best level of website protection and an unlimited number of options that expand basic functionality. So, why not try it?

FDA Issues Massive Recall For Romaine Lettuce Sent To Carolinas Due To E. Coli Contamination

Charlotte Stories
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FDA Issues Massive Recall For Romaine Lettuce Sent To Carolinas Due To E. Coli Contamination

The FDA just issued a massive recall for romaine lettuce sent to the Carolinas due to potential E. Coli contamination.

According to an official statement, the recalled lettuce is “labeled with a packed on date of 10/15/2020 or 10/16/2020, due to possible contamination with E. Coli 0157:H7. Packages contain a single head of romaine lettuce with the UPC number 0-27918-20314-9.”

A total of 3,396 cartons of the now recalled lettuce was shipped to both North Carolina and South Carolina and surrounding states.

The FDA now recommends that consumers throw away or return any products listed above. Before consuming any questionable meet, be sure to test for E. Coli with at-home testing strips available here.

Consumers with questions or concerns may call the Tanimura & Antle Consumer Hotline at 877-827-7388 Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

CMPD Asking For Help In Finding Murder Suspects From Recent Shooting – $22,000 Reward

Charlotte Stories
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CMPD Asking For Help In Finding Murder Suspects From Recent Shooting – $22,000 Reward

CMPD has just released the surveillance footage of the June 22nd Beatties Ford Road shooting incident that claimed the lives of four members of our community.

They also announced that the reward amount has increased to a total of $22,000 for any information that might lead to the arrest of the suspects.

If you have any information about this shooting, please call (704) 334-1600. Completely anonymous.

Please help spread the word.

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