UNC Charlotte Receives External Review of April 30, 2019, Campus Shooting

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The University of North Carolina at Charlotte has received the external review it commissioned of the April 30, 2019, shootings that took the lives of Reed Parlier and Riley Howell and injured four other students in the Kennedy Building. The review was completed by the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) and the National Police Foundation (NPF).

“The National Police Foundation commends UNC Charlotte leadership for commissioning this independent review to identify opportunities to enhance campus safety and resiliency,” said Jim Burch, president of the National Police Foundation.

The report focuses on four primary areas: leadership, relationships and preparedness; crisis communication; threat assessment; and mental health, resilience and recovery. The full report document is confidential because of safety and security planning and preparedness; a summary has been made available to the community.

Among the areas of strength identified in the report were the initial law enforcement response; actions taken to secure the campus; campus leadership’s preparations for ongoing campus needs; and communication with the University community that focused on compassion and respect, according to Sue Riseling, now-retired executive director of IACLEA, who oversaw the review process.

“UNC Charlotte did many things right on April 30, 2019, and in the days and months that followed,” said Riseling. “We made several recommendations for ways in which UNC Charlotte can strengthen their readiness for emergencies and crises, including the refinement and additional practice of existing plans and procedures. However, even with these recommendations, it was clear in our review that there was no information available to UNC Charlotte prior to the incident that would have identified the shooter as a threat or prevented the tragedy that unfolded.”

Based on the recommendations, Chancellor Philip L. Dubois, in consultation with Chancellor-elect Sharon L. Gaber, has outlined the University’s immediate next steps:

  • A review and revision of the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and the configuration and location of its Emergency Operations Center (EOC), focusing on the development of specific procedures to govern the lifting of a campus lockdown order.
  • A review and revision of the crisis communications plan, focusing on the further specification of staff roles and responsibilities and coordination of public communications with external agencies involved in responding to a campus emergency.
  • Additional research related to strengthening the ability of the University to identify, assess and manage campus behavioral and threat-related concerns.
  • A review of training programs for dealing with campus emergencies, particularly those necessary for the onboarding of new senior administrators, and continuing attention to active shooter training for employees and students.
  • A senior-level dialogue surrounding community resilience planning, focusing on supporting the ongoing mental health services needed to address the psychological trauma experienced by many members of the campus community as a result of the shootings and the lockdown.

“I appreciate the thoroughness and professionalism of IACLEA and NPF in completing this review,” said Dubois. “Nothing can take away the grief of April 30 or the pain of losing Reed and Riley, but we hope to show our commitment to honoring their memory through our actions going forward. We take this report’s recommendations seriously, and we hope other universities and colleges around the nation will also benefit from the findings.”

In total, the external review produced 31 findings and 79 recommendations for consideration by UNC Charlotte. As acknowledged in the review, many of the recommendations have already been addressed through the University’s own after-action review that occurred shortly after the shootings.

Charlotte Ranked As Having The #6 Biggest Rent Decrease Since Start of Pandemic

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As the COVID-19 pandemic and its ensuing economic fallout continue to overwhelm renters across the country, a new report found that the rental market in Charlotte has been one of the most heavily affected.

According to ApartmentList.com now ranks as having the 6th biggest rent decline since March:

Here are some of the report’s highlights:

  • Rents in Charlotte have decreased by 0.5% month-over-month, and are down 1.7% since the start of the pandemic in March, the #6 fastest decline among the nation’s 50 largest cities.
  • This is normally peak season for rental activity, and from 2014-2019, rent growth from Marth to June in Charlotte averaged 1.9%.
  • Year-over-year rent growth in Charlotte currently stands at -0.4%, the lowest rate in June of any year since the start of our estimates.

Check out the full Charlotte report: (https://www.apartmentlist.com/nc/charlotte#rent-report) and the national report here.

New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut Requiring 14 Day Quarantine For All North Carolina Residents

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North Carolina now has a total of 62,142 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 4,959 new cases reported over just this past weekend.

Due to our recent surge, several states in the North East have now put sweeping travel restrictions on all our residents.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, along with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont held a joint videoconference to announce that quarantines will be required for anyone from states where 10% of those tested for COVID-19 came up positive on a seven day rolling average, or a state where 10 per 100,000 on a seven-day rolling average.

The new restrictions currently apply to Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Utah and Texas. They mandate that anyone traveling from such a state will be required to quarantine for at least 14 days.

What do you think about the new restrictions?

Cam Newton Signs $7.5 Million Deal To Replace Tom Brady As NE Patriots Starting QB

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NFL officials have just announced that the New England Patriots have signed a new 1-year contract with former Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton for $7.5 Million.

31-year-old Cam Newton, the former Panthers MVP, will now be competing to replace the legendary Tom Brady after Newton was released by the Panthers this past March.

NFL insider Adam Schefter made the announcement this evening on Twitter:

What do you think about the decision?

Laundry Company Attempting To Get Back To Normal Service

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As most of America is easing out of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, we’re all just trying to return to normal life and get on with our lives. Businesses, especially, are happily reopening their services and hoping that local customers will support them on the road to recovery after the coronavirus has wreaked havoc on the economy and the community. One place, in particular, is back in full swing and is assuring Charlotte customers that now’s the time to use their services once again, and that’s The Laundry Room located on 901 E Arrowood Road, 28217.

The business, which is housed in a former McDonald’s building, doesn’t look like a regular laundromat. This is no small, dirty, and depressing place to do your laundry, but instead a bright, large, and fun area with entertainment options. Apart from the high-quality Electrolux laundry equipment and comfortable seating zones, you’ve also got large-screen TVs, free WiFi, food trucks, children’s play area and even free parking. While you’re free to bring your own favorite type of laundry detergent, The Laundry Room also has some options available if you forget.

The company recently released a small update on their website about how things will function after the COVID-19 pandemic. The Laundry Room states that they are “taking every measure to keep our customers and employees safe during these trying times. We are maintaining our normal business hours of 7am-11pm 7 days a week.” The business has also asked customers to wear a mask in the store, although they can also provide you with one for free. The TVs and games will be turned on for some entertainment as well.

It’s recommended that you stay in your car or outside the store while your laundry is being washed, but the drop-off wash, dry, and fold service is available for a fee if you have other chores to run (only offered on weekdays). “We know laundry is a necessity, and we want to make sure you can complete it in a clean and sanitary environment with your health in mind,” wrote The Laundry Room.

So, no matter which Charlotte neighborhood you’re living in, support local businesses like The Laundry Room and help the economy get back on track after the pandemic. It’s also worth stating that the business has a pick-up and drop off service called 2Ulaundry if you can’t make it to their location during the day.

New Report Ranks Charlotte and Matthews Among The Fastest Declining Rents in NC

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There’s something for everyone in North Carolina, as rent is decreasing all over the state.

According to a new report by Rent.com, in 2020, the average one-bedroom tenant can expect to pay around $1,145 per month, down 5.22 percent from $1,208 over the same period for the previous year. That’s a decrease of $63 a month.

The report uses a weighted average formula that more accurately represents price availability for each individual unit type and reduces the influence of seasonality on rent prices in specific markets. Cities were excluded if they did not have an average of at least 20 units in our available inventory during that time period. The data contained herein does not constitute financial advice or a pricing guarantee for any apartment.

According to the report, these are the 10 cities in North Carolina where rent is decreasing the most are:

1.       Clayton

  • Average 1-BR rental price: $1,078
  • Rent change in the past year: -9.24 percent

2.       Morrisville

  • Rent change in the past year: -6.74 percent
  • Average 1-BR rental price: $1,065

3.       Chapel Hill

  • Rent change in the past year: -6.05 percent
  • Average 1-BR rental price: $1,127

4.       Asheville

  • Rent change in the past year: -5.75 percent
  • Average 1-BR rental price: $1,068

5.       Greenville

  • Rent change in the past year: -5.44 percent
  • Average 1-BR rental price: $774

6.       Durham

  • Rent change in the past year: -5.25 percent
  • Average 1-BR rental price: $1,178

7.       Mooresville

  • Rent change in the past year: -4.48 percent
  • Average 1-BR rental price: $1,062

8.       Raleigh

  • Rent change in the past year: -4.46 percent
  • Average 1-BR rental price: $1,199

9.       Charlotte

  • Rent change in the past year: -3.17 percent
  • Average 1-BR rental price: $1,342

10.     Matthews

  • Rent change in the past year: -1.97 percent
  • Average 1-BR rental price: $1,070

 

Owner of NC Race Track Offers “Bubba Rope” For Sale

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The owner of a North Carolina racetrack is now coming under fire after he posted a Facebook ad for “Bubba Rope”, referring to the rope that was found hanging in Bubba Wallaces garage at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.

Mike Fulp, owner of 311 Speedway in Pine Hall, NC (about 100 miles north of Charlotte), said in his ad, “Buy your Bubba Rope today for only $9.99 each, they come with a lifetime warranty and work great.”

Here is a screen shot of the Fulp’s post (left), along with a picture NASCAR released of the rope found in Bubba Wallace’s garage (right):

Many of Fulp’s Facebook followers criticized his ad, and some regular speedway patrons even said they would stop attending his races because of the post.

A quick search of Fulp’s public Facebook posts uncovered numerous other racially charged statements and memes:

Fulp recently launched his first political campaign and came close to winning a county commissioner seat in this past election:

According to his Facebook profile, Fulp is the owner of both Hillside Dan River Tubing and 311 Speedway.

His companies regularly sell and promote confederate and right-wing memorabilia:

No one could be reached for comment at the Speedway on Friday morning.

CBD Oil Benefits for Your Fitness: A Complete Guide

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In recent times, CBD oil has become extremely popular across the globe. When it comes to products containing CBD, Cannabidiol, the demand has increased since its legalization in several countries. Majority of its consumers reside in Canada and the USA. 

CBD is often derived from the hemp plant, whose production has been legalized because of containing THC in race amounts. On the other hand, marijuana is the cannabis plant containing THC in abundance, the substance responsible for causing a “high”. Due to this reason, the production and sale of marijuana are illegal in many states. 

Unlike THC, CBD does not result in psychoactive effects. However, it happens to be great for fitness. Many bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts take CBD oil to facilitate their fitness regime. Let’s take about it in detail. 

What is CBD?

CBD, or Cannabidiol, is one of the essential compounds found in the Cannabis Sativa plant. CBDLife UK’s Vape Juice has been found to be effective in the treatment of many health problems. The plant also contains THC, tetrahydrocannabinol, which is the main compound responsible for making a person high. 

However, CBD is extracted from cannabis Sativa plants that have low levels of THC and does not result in any form of dependency. The CBD derived from hemp plants are popular for treating epileptic seizures. 

Most countries have legalized the production of hemp plants. Under favourable conditions with necessary water and light, the plant can be grown easily to meet the demand. 

Benefits of CBD 

CBD derived from hemp strains are known it be extensively used for its therapeutic benefits. As humans, we live in a world where health issues aren’t uncommon. We have to manage health conditions, be it heart disease or anxiety, on a daily basis. The market is filled with so many products that are meant to help deal with these conditions effectively. 

As a consumer, it is our responsibility to find a product that is suitable for your health condition. Hemp-derived CBD is organic, which is not as harmful as the chemicals you will find in the market. 

CBD has also been found useful in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and stress. People prefer using CBD oil for treating these psychological problems instead of depending on drugs that causes several side effects. However, the prolonged use of any product isn’t good for your health. Therefore, it is essential to keep the safety concerns in mind before using CBD oil for the treatment of any health condition. 

People who work from Monday to Friday every week tend to have a very busy routine, especially who are fitness freaks as well. Having tight schedules can easily lead to mental pressure, fatigue, and stress. Managing home life, work-life, and fitness isn’t an easy task, and can easily lead to a lot of problems when not done right. CBD oil is meant for people who regularly maintain a busy lifestyle and want an organic product to ease things for them. 

A 2008 study illuminated the fact that cannabinoids can be used for treating chronic pain. Many users have also claimed that they have found relief from chronic pain after using CBD oil. Gym goers often tend to use body pains and body aches as excuses to skip their workout regime. However, this problem can be easily solved with the help of CBD oil. 

During old age, sleep seems to be a big issue. In such instances, CBD oil can aid them in having a good night sleep. Currently, researchers are trying to find more pieces of evidence for CBD oil’s role in treating insomnia. 

CBD Oil for Fitness

As mentioned earlier, CBD oil is quite popular among fitness enthusiasts. People who love working out find it easy to reach their fitness goals and target with the help of CBD oil. People who are finding it challenging to maintain a healthy lifestyle may also benefit from CBD oil. 

There are several factors responsible for making CBD oil so effective in the fitness industry. Let’s understand them better. 

CBD helps in reducing appetite and hunger, which means that you will be eating less. Most fitness enthusiasts find it difficult to deal with food cravings. They might end up eating less food in order to control the urges. In such instances, CBD oil works like a miracle because it can lower the craving without letting you starve. 

CBD oil is also used as a popular post-workout and pre-workout supplement. It may not fill your stomach, but when a few drops reach the bloodstream, it can enhance your ability to perform cardio exercise, weight training, and other workout formats. 

CBD oil is also known to relax the body and mind, which ends up increasing the motivation to perform well. People who have a hectic day can use CBD oil to deal with stress effectively. Therefore, CBD oil is like a stress and energy booster that helps you carry out your fitness regime. 

CBD oil is also an asset for people who have difficultly falling asleep. Peaceful sleep is necessary for the muscles to recover after a heavy workout. Therefore, taking CBD oil can help you sleep better a night, 

After a strenuous workout or exercise, muscles tend to get really sore. Feeling body pains and aches isn’t uncommon. As CBD oil can help in the treatment of pain and inflammation, it can offer great relief to bodybuilders and fitness freaks. 

As you can see, CBD oil acts as a miracle for fitness enthusiasts. If you are interested in trying it out to enhance your fitness lifestyle, buy CBD oils at IHF to make every moment count. 

How to Use CBD Oil?

The best thing about CBD oil is the fact that it is so easy to use. Use a dropper and place a few drops of CBD oil on your tongue and wait for the magic to happen. 

The dosage is critical when you take CBD oil regularly. Therefore, you must consult with a licensed healthcare professional to figure out a dose that suits well for you. Most users would ask you to start with a low dose and move your way upwards till you find the perfect dose for your body. 

Closing Thoughts 

CBD oil is an outstanding product for people who are into fitness. By taking CBD oil, your life will undoubtedly become easier. Unlike other products, CBD oil is pretty easy to use and can be taken anywhere with you. Clinical trials have proven that CBD oil is not harmful to your health. Hence, you can use it to derive the maximum of its benefits. 

 

 

Kratom for Body Building: Everything You Need to Know

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Kratom is a unique herb that has taken the healthcare industry by a storm. Many people are drawn to this herb for its analgesic, sedative-like, stimulant, and mood-enhancing properties. 

Recently, many fitness freaks and health enthusiasts have also found this herb to be valuable in facilitating their fitness regime. Users have claimed that kratom supplements have been quite helpful to them during strenuous exercises and workouts. 

Today, we are going to evaluate how kratom can be useful in the fitness industry.

Kratom – What Is It?

Kratom is an evergreen herb that is grown primarily in the Southeast Asian jungles. It is also referred to as Mitragyna Speciosa, a plant that belongs to the coffee family. The leaves of this plant contain several alkaloids and flavonoids that are known for its relaxing energizing, and pain-relieving properties. 

In the last two centuries, kratom has become very popular all across the globe because of its role in treating several kinds of health conditions. If you want to learn more, you can check a good article on kratom vendors here.

Uses of Kratom

Traditionally, people used kratom as an energy booster. Nowadays, people use it for its medicinal properties. Some of the uses of kratom are – 

  •   Fighting insomnia 
  •   Relaxing 
  •   Coping with opiate withdrawal 
  •   Improving motivation and concentration 
  •   Easing depression symptoms 
  •   Relieving anxiety symptoms 
  •   Relieving pain 

Kratom Use in Fitness 

When people started using this magical herb, they realized that it has great potential in enhancing the energy levels of the body. Due to this reason, people could perform daily activities, like cleaning, washing, walking, and running, with ease. 

As the trend started to develop, people became curious to find out the full potential of the plant and how its uses can be applied to other industries. As a result, people started discovering its benefits in aiding athletes, gymnasts, bodybuilders, and players to achieve better. Due to this reason, kratom became one of the popular pre-work supplements in the market. 

Pre-workout supplements like FitnessVolt are known to contain ingredients that can offer an immediate energy boost. By taking pre-workout supplements before workout or training can provide the perform with increased energy, motivation, high levels of confidence, and an ability to carry out longer workout durations. 

Kratom has the potential to offer these benefits to the human body, making it an excellent pre-workout supplement. When kratom is consumed at the right time and in the right doses, it can aid the person’s workout regime. As it can be tricky to get the dosage right, people prefer consuming Kratom Crazy kratom capsules because they allow you to control the dosage better. 

Benefits of Using Kratom for Bodybuilding 

People might be curious to find out kratom’s role in building muscles. Unfortunately, kratom doesn’t have muscle-building properties. There are a few studies on kratom, but none of them focuses on the role of kratom in bodybuilding. 

The benefits associated with kratom use are known to affect the muscle building and bodybuilding process indirectly. Let’s take a look at these benefits – 

  1.   Pain Relief – Kratom is popular among users because of its analgesic properties. Several users buy kratom supplements to manage pain effectively. As strenuous workout routines can leave your body sore, taking kratom can provide the relief that is necessary to carry on with the next day’s workout. 
  2.   Appetite Control – Taking kratom supplements can be very useful in reducing appetite. Therefore, you are bound to feel less hungry. As most bodybuilders are expected to maintain a strict diet, taking kratom can make it effortless for the person to stick to the diet 
  3.   Motivation – Kratom is also very useful in increasing motivation. Many users have suggested that taking kratom helps them stay motivated, especially when they are so prone to losing interest and motivation to workout regularly. Therefore, taking kratom is bound to make you less lazy. 
  4.   Energy Boost – Kratom is known to give the user an energy boost, which ultimately helps in building stamina. Due to this reason, carrying out workout routines for longer durations becomes easy. Kratom is also considered to be a brilliant alternative to the energy drinks that you might find in the market. Unlike energy drinks, kratom will offer relaxing effects without making you jittery or nervous. 

How to Use Kratom Supplements to Enhance Your Workouts 

There are different ways in which you can take kratom. They include the toss, kratom tea, wash method, and kratom capsules. You can also make yogurt, juice, and smoothies by adding kratom to them. 

There are a few things you need to keep in mind before using kratom as a workout supplement. They include – 

  1.   Kratom is known to act as a stimulant in low doses, but it can offer sedative-like effects at high doses. Because of this reason, it is best to keep the doses low when using it as a workout supplement. 
  2.   The effects of kratom start showing up typically after 30-40 minutes. Hence, you should keep it in mind when you plan to begin your workout. The effects are also known to last for more or less 3 hours, so you shouldn’t take another dose of kratom between your workout. 
  3.   Taking kratom regularly can make you pretty dehydrated. Therefore, it is essential to consume a lot of water. Otherwise, you might experience constipation. 
  4.   White kratom strains are known to be the most energizing strains. Therefore, if you are looking for the best options in white strains, look for White Maeng Da and White Thai. Green strains are also quite popular for its energizing effects. In that case, try to get Green Malay from the market. Avoid red strains of kratom for your workout because they to have sedative-like and relaxing properties. 
  5.   As kratom is an energizing substance, you shouldn’t mix it with another energy product. By combining it with energy drinks, you might find yourself to be jittery. 

Side Effects of Kratom 

Though kratom offers many benefits to the human body, it can also cause many side effects. A 2019 study tried to understand the current perspectives on the full impact of kratom use. 

The frequent intake of kratom can result in the following side effects – 

  •   Loss of libido 
  •   Eye wobbles dehydration 
  •   Stomach upset or nausea
  •   Headaches and dizziness 
  •   Constipation 

It is not necessary for all to experience these side effects. However, the best way to prevent them would be by taking kratom at low doses. 

Closing Thoughts 

Kratom is a miraculous herb and can facilitate your workout regime tremendously. However, just like any other drug, you need to keep the consumption in moderation. If you avoid taking it regularly, you will be able to enjoy the benefits of kratom without developing a tolerance to it. 

 

6 Ways to Become a Web-Designer

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Watch videos on YouTube, take Photoshop lessons in master classes or still enter a specialty at university? Learn how to become a web designer.

Way #1

It is possible to enter the university in the profile “Graphic Design” and get five years of classical education. In addition to special subjects, web design, animation, 3D modeling, there are many general disciplines waiting for you.

You will study design architecture of IX century and a lot of fascinating things, which on the one hand is good: get a powerful theoretical base, you will understand how it all developed and where the modern trends and techniques came from. On the other hand, not everything will come in handy, some information will not be assimilated and the practice will be less time. But to save time, you can always use the paper writing service.

Way #2

Set a goal and become a designer yourself: read literature, blogs, and forums, watch free webinars and tutorials – step by step repeat the author in Photoshop or something else.

For example, you can spend months repeating the actions behind the authors of video lessons. Is it worth your time?

This method is suitable only for beginners – to stuff your hand and find out which button to press in Photoshop. However, in the long term, it does not stand up to the critique.

Way #3

You can sign up for free or budget webinars and masterclasses. This can be the next step after self-study, when you will be tempted by another contextual advertising in Instagram. Often the information in such master-classes is really useful and can be useful in practice.

Way #4

When a newcomer already has some basic knowledge and skills, he can go freelance. The point is: you learn from real tasks, quickly search for information if something is not clear, and thus constantly learn something new.

But there are disadvantages – about the size of a small elephant. At first you have to perform cheap, crazy and not always profile tasks. There’s a risk of getting stuck in them.

Way #5

The alternative to freelancing is an internship in a design studio as a junior. Same internship, but with a mentor who will teach. In addition, you can learn a lot about working in a team, see how the manager communicates with the client and sets tasks for the designer, and the latter – passes the layouts to the programmer.

The main risk here is that it is impossible to know in advance what you will be taught, whether there will be any program at all at the internship. You may have to do a rough job for two months: to reduce a thousand layers or repaint icons in Photoshop. And employment is not a fact at all that will end.

Way #6

You can bet on specialized online education. Unlike the classical one, there is an emphasis on practice: you get an idea of real business tasks and exactly as much theory as you need – and ordered, relevant, from experienced and authoritative teachers.

Even in online universities have homework and a mentoring system. This means that you will surely get feedback, in time to understand your mistakes and do not allow them in the future.