Update On The Coronavirus – 24 Cases Now Reported Across The Carolinas

Charlotte Stories
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Update On The Coronavirus – 24 Cases Now Reported Across The Carolinas

UPDATE: 3/12/2020 11:30am:

The Mecklenburg County Health Director has just announced that 2 individuals have tested positive for the novel coronavirus COVID-19 in Mecklenburg County, bringing the total number of cases to 14 in North Carolina and 24 across the Carolinas.

Original Article: 3/12/2020 10:30am:

There are now a total number of of 22 cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 throughout the Carolinas. North Carolina is under a State of Emergency and an increasing number of businesses, schools, and event organizers are telling people to stay home.

This morning, the North Carolina COVID-19’s task force announced that the number of infected individuals has risen to 12 in North Carolina, with the addition of 2 new cases in Forsyth County and 1 new case in Johnston County.

Yesterday in South Carolina, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control announced a new case of COVID-19 in a Lancaster County woman, who had no known travel outside the state or known contact with any other infected individuals.

This brings the total number of cases in South Carolina to 10.

School districts across the Carolinas, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools have decided to suspend all field trips until further notice.

UNC Schools will be moving a large portion of their classes online.

The NBA has suspended all future games, including all Hornets games, and the NCAA has announced that March Madness games will be played without live fans.

A number of events throughout the Charlotte region have also been canceled in light of the coronavirus pandemic, including; the NC Realtor conference, The Fort Mill Spring Festival and Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, the 2020 Audubon NC Summit, the Banking Institute conference, among others.

According to the CDC, patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:

  • fever
  • cough
  • shortness of breath

CDC believes at this time that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure. This is based on what has been seen previously as the incubation period of MERS viruses.

Some of the best ways to protect against the coronavirus include;

If you have any questions about COVID-19 you can call 866-462-3821 or submit questions online at ncpoisoncontrol.org.

Union County Schools Shut Down Due To Emergency ‘Boil Water Advisory’

Charlotte Stories
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Union County Schools Shut Down Due To Emergency ‘Boil Water Advisory’

All Union County schools have shut down today due to an emergency ‘boil water advisory‘ for all of Union County.

The advisory was caused by the high levels of E.coli detected in the public drinking water supply.

At this point, all school classes, offices, sports, and after-school programs have been canceled for March 12th.

The City of Monroe issued the following statement about the advisory:

“Earlier in the day, the City was advised by the Union County Public Works Department that a location in the County’s water supply area had tested positive for e-coli. E-coli is a standard test that all water systems are required to perform every month. Presence of this bacteria can indicate contamination of fecal material, and the standard response required by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is to issue a boil water advisory as a precaution until the issue can be resolved.”

No illnesses have yet been reported.

Residents can also test their own water for E Coli at home using these kits.

The boil-water advisory will remain in effect until investigators obtain clean samples.

North Carolina’s Economic Forecast: ‘Sluggish Growth’ for Remainder of 2020

Steve
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North Carolina’s Economic Forecast: ‘Sluggish Growth’ for Remainder of 2020

John Connaughton, Barings Professor of Financial Economics at UNC Charlotte’s Belk College of Business, is forecasting an extended period of “sluggish growth” for the state’s economy in 2020.

“The bump up to a 3% annual GSP [Gross State Product] growth rate that was promised as part of the 2018 tax cut appears to be over,” Connaughton said. “The benefit that the January 2018 tax cuts provided are substantially offset by the ongoing trade dispute with China. At this time, there does not seem to be a resolution to this dispute in the foreseeable future, and the forecast for the remainder of 2019 and all of 2020 reflects this fact. In addition, the recent outbreak of coronavirus in China and other nations is beginning to have a real impact on U.S. growth prospects during the first half of 2020.”

Connaughton forecasts 13 of the state’s 14 non-agricultural economic sectors are expected to experience employment increases in 2020. Sectors with the strongest growth include:

  • Construction: 6.4%
  • Utilities: 5%
  • Durable goods manufacturing: 4.3%

The North Carolina unemployment rate is expected to decline slightly throughout 2020 to 3.5% by December, he said. GSP for 2020 is expected to reach $612,844.5 million in 2020.

Connaughton presented his quarterly economic forecast report to members of the Charlotte business community and the media Wednesday, March 11, at UNC Charlotte Center City. The event is sponsored by Barings.

State’s Annual Growth Rate Trails National Average

On paper, North Carolina’s 10 consecutive years of economic growth are impressive, Connaughton said. However, taking a closer look, the size of that economic growth–averaging less than 2% per year–trails the U.S. 10-year average annual growth rate of 2.3%.

“While the U.S. productivity growth has been slow by historical standards, North Carolina’s productivity growth has been even more sluggish over this expansion,” he said.

For 2019, the forecast found:

  • The state added 93,900 net jobs.
  • Twelve of the state’s 14 nonagricultural sectors of the economy experienced employment increases.
  • The sectors with the strongest employment increases were hospitality and leisure services at 5.9% and information at 5%.

The full report is available at belkcollege.uncc.edu/forecast. A new forecast video will be posted on the website by Friday, March 13. Connaughton will release the next Barings/UNC Charlotte Economic Forecast report on May 28.

Connaughton is considered one of the top economists in North Carolina. He joined the UNC Charlotte faculty in 1978 and has served as director of the quarterly Barings/UNC Charlotte Economic Forecast since 1981.

NC Manufacturer Pays $120,567 in Back Wages After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation

Charlotte Stories
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NC Manufacturer Pays $120,567 in Back Wages After U.S. Department of Labor Investigation

After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Butler Trailer Manufacturing Co. – based in Randleman, North Carolina – has paid $120,567 in back wages and liquidated damages to 40 employees for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WHD investigators found the cable and equipment transport trailer manufacturer paid employees straight time rates for all the hours that they worked, failing to pay them overtime when they worked more than 40 hours in a workweek.

“Companies must meet their legal obligation to pay their employees the wages they have earned, including paying overtime for hours worked over 40 in a workweek,” said Wage and Hour District Director Richard Blaylock, in Raleigh, North Carolina. “We encourage employers to contact us with any questions they may have, and to use the variety of tools we offer to help them understand their obligations and to comply with the law. Costly violations like these can be avoided.”

The department offers numerous resources to ensure employers have the tools they need to understand their responsibilities and to comply with federal law, such as online videos, confidential calls, or in-person visits to local WHD offices.

For more information about the FLSA and other laws enforced by the Wage and Hour Division, contact the toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Employers who discover overtime or minimum wage violations may self-report and resolve those violations without litigation through the PAID program. Information is also available at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd.

Is It Time to Move Out of Your Home Office?

Sharon Anderson
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Is It Time to Move Out of Your Home Office?

Is your home-based business running out of space? It’s a common problem for entrepreneurs who do well in their first attempt to work as a sole practitioner. But, with success and growth come challenges, like facing the need for hiring employees, moving out of a home-based office, and perhaps hiring outside accounting or taxation help. If you do find that new office space is a must, what should you do? Here are some of the more effective ways that many owners of small businesses deal with the need for their own away-from-home office.

Work with a Commercial Realtor

To keep costs low as you test the waters of the commercial real estate market, consider opting for the smallest possible space. Work with a professional realtor who knows your area and has experience placing solo practitioners. If you really want to minimize expenses, let the realtor know that you are open to co-leasing with another renter. As long as you stick to a consistent hourly routine and find a good location for your company, even a tiny sliver of a storefront can work well as an alternative to working out of your garage or guest bedroom.

Refinance Student Loans

Many one-person company owners cut their personal expenses in order to free up capital for other purposes. Refinancing student loans can be a fast, effective way to lower your monthly payments on education debt, obtain a lower interest rate and get more time to repay the obligation. The result could be one easy monthly payment along with a nice amount of additional funds to use for growing your for-profit organization.

Export Supplies and Furniture from Home

There’s no need to plunk down thousands of dollars on new furniture and supplies if you remember to transport whatever you need from home. Many people simply export their entire residential workspace to the new location. Retaining and continuing to use things like desktop computers, chairs, tables, sofas, artwork and copy machines can save you a bundle and help keep profit margins high. Shop online for a used mini-frig and a small microwave if you don’t already have extras for your new space.

Focus on Building Clientele

If all works according to plan, you will probably have more time to focus on marketing. Most professionals who ditch the home office realize that working in a distraction free environment allows for an extra hour or two per day of productive time. Use these golden minutes to focus on bringing in new customers. Adding just one new client per month will help pay the bills, add to profits, and finance future expansion.

Sign a Short Lease

Remember to opt for the shortest lease possible, at least on your first solo venture into the commercial real estate market. Some realtors can help you find 6-month mini-leases that are ideal for testing the waters, experimenting with different locations and trying out different floor plan configurations. If you wish to go this route, be sure to let your real estate person know.

York County’s ‘Underexposed Film Festival’ Announces This Year’s Featured Films

Charlotte Stories
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York County’s ‘Underexposed Film Festival’ Announces This Year’s Featured Films
Over four days in March, the Underexposed Film Festival yc showcases the best in independent filmmaking from around the world. Running March 25 – 28, the 9th annual Underexposed Film Festival yc, presented by Morton & Gettys, welcomes filmmakers and movie lovers to Dina’s Place in the DiGiorgio Campus Center on the campus of Winthrop University, to York County Library’s Moore Room, and to the Gettys Art Center in Old Town Rock Hill, SC.
Established in 2012, the Underexposed Film Festival yc focuses on strength in storytelling, screening films that break down the fourth wall and envelop the audience in the story. Filmmakers often share their experiences during question and answer sessions that follow the screenings, giving festivalgoers a glimpse into their vision and process.
From the plight of Judas camels to the celebration of diversity, the slate of films screening in the 2020 festival tackles a variety of subjects through unconventional storytelling. History turned upside down by puppets, a rescued monkey telling his own story, and conception explained through dance are examples of the risks these talented women and men have taken to convey their stories this season.
An ancient artform, puppetry has been used in filmmaking since the early days of film, with large-scale puppets that were used in films like The Witch (1906) by director Georges Melies. It wasn’t until the 1930s that audiences saw the rise of puppetry through short film. George Pal, a notable pioneer in stop motion puppetry on film, used groundbreaking techniques that lead to the creation of a series of films known as Puppetoons. These short films became popular in the U.S. and Europe, however puppetry wouldn’t hit the big time until the late 1970s and 1980s when Jim Henson brought The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, and movies featuring The Muppets to the silver screen. Today, multiple generations flock to theaters and gather around televisions to experience the fantastical world of puppetry, and a new generation of puppeteers and filmmakers continues to push the genre forward. The UFFyc has supported puppetry films since its inception. Season 9 marks our first year with a Best Puppetry Film category.
2020 UFFyc screening times and event locations:
Winthrop University | Dina’s Place at the DiGiorgio Campus Center
2020 Alumni Drive, Rock Hill, SC 29733
Block A | Wednesday, March 25, 2020 | 7 – 9 PM
There will be a question and answer session immediately following Block A.
Block B | Thursday, March 26, 2020 | 7 – 9 PM
Block C | Friday, March 25, 2020 | 3 – 5 PM
There will be a question and answer session immediately following Block C.
Block F | Friday, March 25, 2020 | 7 – 9 PM
There will be a question and answer session immediately following Block F.
Block G | Saturday, March 28, 2020 | 2 – 4 PM
There will be a question and answer session immediately following Block G.
Block H + Awards Ceremony | Saturday, March 28, 2019 | 7 – 9:30 PM
York County Public Library, Main Branch | Moore Room
138 E. Black St. | Rock Hill, SC 29730
Block D | Friday, March 27, 2020 | 3 – 4:30 PM
Block E | Friday, March 27, 2020 | 7 – 8:30 PM
There will be a question and answer session immediately following Block E.
Workshop | YA FILMS: Teen Book Trailers | Saturday, March 28, 2020 | 2 – 4 PM
Gettys Art Center Courtroom
201 E. Main St. | Rock Hill, SC 29730
Puppetry Workshop with Sam Koji Hale | Yamasong: Working with Paperclay
Saturday, March 28, 2020 | 10 AM – 12 PM
Presented in partnership with IBEX Puppetry
Wrap Party | Slow Play Brewing
Saturday, March 28, 2020 | 9:30 – 12 AM
Awards will be announced immediately following Block H on Saturday, March 28, 2020. The 2020 awards include: Grand Jury Award; Best Animated Film; Best Documentary Film; Best Experimental Film; Best Narrative Film; Best Puppetry Film; Woman to Watch; Cinema Carolina; Best Student Film | Collegiate; and the Terry Roueche Audience Choice Award. 2020 awards partners include: Cinematiq, and Toon Boom.
BLOCK A | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25 | 7 – 9 PM
THEME | Delightfully Different
3 Reflections on Bad Art
Narrative | 2019 | 4 min. 52 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG
Language | English
Director | David Hensley
Cast | David Hensley, Katie Bearden
“3 Reflections On Bad Art” is a collection of short films that explore how we define “art.” 
Oh Baby!
Experimental | 2019 | 8 min. 30 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG
Language | No Dialogue
Director | Meghann Artes
Cast | Tia Jemison, Brian Healy, Virginia Mayo, Shea Petersen, Sarah Serabian, Lauren Reed, William Delforge, Jolie Lepselter, Greg Fields, Chloe Baldwin, Tj Thomas, Jayson Lee, Maricruz Menchero, Matthew Elam, Eamon Hurd, Hunter Bryant, Kim Baker, Marchetta Genis
Miracle, science and luck all play a part in this vibrant and fantastic imagining of how life begins.
The Seahorse Trainer
Narrative | 2019 | 12 min. 39 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG
Language | English
Directors | Ricardo Bonisoli, Babak Bina
Writers | Ricardo Bonisoli, Babak Bina, Rodmon Sevilla
Cast | John R Tylor
Enter the surreal and nautical world of Seamour. A lonely old man with a passion for training seahorses. Desperate to have his most prized seahorse perform the highly ambitious “Triple Back Flip,” the final day of training has come and it’s up to his knowledge, preparation and the seahorse’s determination to see the trick come to life. But when the hourglass turns, Seamour realizes it is even harder than he thought and he must overcome his troubled past before the magic fades or the trick will never be achieved.
The Legend of Rasputin
Puppetry | 2017 | 12 min. 40 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Language | English
Producer | Heather Henson
Director | Jamie Shannon
Cast | Marty Stelnick
A chapter in the life of Grigori Rasputin through puppets.
Storm
Narrative | 2019 | 11 min. 05 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Language | English
Director | Will Kindrick
Cast | John Bubniak, Corey Potter
A government enforced dating app malfunctions sending an unexpected user through a series of splash portals determined to seal his fate. 
The Magic Seed
Puppetry | 2019 | 4 min. 20 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG
Language | English
Director | Chris Chappell
Cast | Chris Chappell
A film about a guy (Bud Greenfield), who’s friend (Blue) has to move to Colorado for cancer treatment. Who sends back a magic seed that grows into something special.
My Little Goat
Animation | 2018 | 10 min. 13 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Language | Japanese
Director | Tomoki Misato
A mother goat tries to help her children who has been eaten by a wolf, but one is missing!
Eat the Rainbow
Narrative | 2019 | 19 min. 31 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Language | English
Director | Brian Benson
Cast | Cousin Wonderlette, H.P. Mendoza, Lady Bear, April Kidwell, Dolores Huerta, Jason Brock, Robert Caruso
“Eat the Rainbow” is a musical fable about an odd yet kind man named Bayani who moves into a conservative suburban neighborhood and disrupts the otherwise comfortable homogeny. He doesn’t look or act like anyone else which causes fear and panic and eventually a demand for him to leave the neighborhood. Cousin Wonderlette befriends Bayani and together they take on the opposition led by manipulative and unscrupulous realtor Lobelia Gerber.
BLOCK B | THURSDAY, MARCH 26 | 7 – 9 PM
THEME | Around the World
Maestro
Animation | 2019 | 1 min. 49 sec.
Suggested Rating | G
Language | No Dialogue
Director | Illogic
Deep into a forest, a gathering of wild animals start a nocturnal opera, conducted by a squirrel.
Judas Collar
Narrative | 2018 | 15 min. 00 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Language | English
Director | Alison James
In outback Australia a wild camel is captured and fitted with a tracking device known as a Judas Collar. Based on a real-life practice, Judas Collar is a scripted, no-dialogue, live action short that explores the story of a camel used to betray her kind. 
Oeil Pour Oeil
Animation | 2019 | 5 min. 54 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG
Language | French
Directors | Thomas Boileau, Alan Guimont, Robin Courtoise, Mathieu Lecroq, Malcom Hunt, François Briantais
Writers | Thomas Boileau, Alan Guimont, Robin Courtoise, Mathieu Lecroq, Malcom Hunt, François Briantais
Cast | Antoine Perrichon, Avital Sthapura
A one sighted pirate captain keeps going on a journey to get a treasure, every time with a new crew of pirates as one sighted as he is.
Music & Clowns
Animation | 2018 | 7 min. 29 sec.
Suggested Rating | G
Language | English
Director | Alex Widdowson
Despite being close to nonverbal my brother is funny, charming and perceptive. I discuss with my parents what it was like raising a child with Down syndrome. Our speculations about his inner life reveal as much about our own subjectivity as they do his.  There is a critical under representation of the ordinary and diverse lives of people with Down syndrome. As prenatal testing advances, I feel an urgency to provide insight for people making a life changing decision regarding whether or not to raise a child with Down syndrome.
The Field
Narrative | 2018 | 19 min. 13 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Language | Hindi
Director | Sandhya Suri
Cast | Mia Maelzer
A poor agricultural laborer leads a double life in the village’s last remaining corn field, but the harvest is approaching… 
Giant Bear
Animation | 2018 | 11 min. 30 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Language | Inuktitut
Directors | Neil Christopher, Daniel Gies
Cast | Solomon Awa, Beatrice Deer
ᓇᓄᕐᓗᒃ / Giant Bear | A timeless Inuit legend about a solitary man, a giant bear and their daunting foes: each other.  Centered on a confrontation between the last monster bear and an Inuit hunter, Giant Bear is a chilling short that brings an ancient story out of the North. In Giant Bear, we follow a hunter in the depths of starvation. The snow is thick, his dogs are mysteriously dying, and food is nowhere to be found. A quest for answers leads him straight to a nanurluk, an iceberg-sized polar bear, setting up a “kill or be killed” battle that pits one man’s wits against a fearsome foe. 
The Tattooed Heart
Narrative | 2019 | 10 min. 49 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Language | English
Director | Sheldon Wong Schwartz
Cast | Jennifer Morrison, Madison Wolfe, Nestor Serrano
A creative writing instructor (Jennifer Morrison, “Once Upon a Time”) at a juvenile detention center finds common ground with a troubled student (Madison Wolfe, “I Kill Giants”) yet quickly finds herself in great danger when she decides to help her.
Song Sparrow
Experimental, Narrative
2019 | 11 min. 43 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Language | No Dialogue
Director | Farzaneh Omidvarnia
Based on a real event, in Austria 2015, and in Ireland 2019…
A group of refugees tries to reach a safe country in search of a better life. They pay a smuggler to convey them across the boarders in a fridge truck. However, the freezing temperature of the truck turns their hopes for a better future into a fierce struggle for survival.
A Congo’s Journey
Documentary | 2019 | 16 min. 26 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG
Language | English
Director | Marco G.Lerin
This is the first documentary-film in the world in which a baby monkey tells its own story addressing the human being.  A Congo’s Journey, is a non-profit documentary-film that has been created by Marco G. Lerin for the Jaguar Rescue Center, located in the South Caribbean of Costa Rica, in order to give a voice to the animals and motivate the human beings towards the protection of the natural environment in which they live.
BLOCK C | FRIDAY, MARCH 27 | 3 – 5 PM
THEME | Emerging
Good Intentions
Animation | 2018 | 8 min. 34 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG
Language | No Dialogue
Director | Anna Mantzaris
After a young woman is responsible for a hit and run, strange and spooky things start to happen… A small thriller about people that are not always the best at making decisions.
BALLOON
Narrative | 2019 | 16 min. 46 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Language | English
Director | Jeremy Merrifield
Cast | Paul Scheer, Jonah Beres, Jaylin Ogle, Carson Severson
Exploring gender through the lens of the superhero myth, BALLOON questions how we raise boys when our concept of masculinity has become narrow.  For fourteen-year-old Sam, surviving junior high means staying below radar. But that becomes impossible after he becomes the target of the school’s next viral video. He’s pressured to “hit back,” but Sam isn’t so sure—even if he does have superpowers. 
Ready to Work
Documentary | 2019 | 15 min. 20 sec.
Suggested Rating | G
Language | English
Directors | Seth Farmer, Reagan Wells
Cast | Dr. Clarence Sutton, Jr., Tameria Coleman, Antwone Stowe, Tyler Omar Grice-Williams
At a local high school, three seniors attend a job fair through a career-readiness program. This documentary was produced for the University of Alabama’s Documenting Justice course by Seth Farmer and Reagan Wells.
Girl in the Hallway
Animation | 2018 | 10 min. 12 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Language | English
Director | Valerie Barnhart
Cast | Valerie Barnhart
Why does Little Red Riding Hood give Jamie nightmares? It’s been 15 years, and the girl in the hallway haunts him still. This is a testament to locked doors. A lullaby sung by wolves with duct tape and Polaroids. Not all children make it out of the forest. Some stories children shouldn’t hear.
The Water Will Carry Us Home
Animation | 2018 | 6 min. 47 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG
Language | No Dialogue
Director | Gabrielle Tesfaye
Cast | Gabrielle Tesfaye
Through living ritual and stop motion animation, The Water Will Carry Us Home reveals the story of stolen Africans being thrown off the slave ship whilst sailing through the Middle Passage. Upon crashing in the waves, the unimaginable happens when mermaids dwelling in the waters save these spirits. 
Riveted, Structures, Lands
Experimental | 2019 | 5 min. 35 sec.
Suggested Rating | G
Language | English
Director | Brenda Grell
“Riveted, Structures, Lands” pieces together digital video and stop motion animation to explore loss and memory. Blueprints pilfered from Union Pacific Railroad by my great-grandfather alongside fragments of quilt pieces sewn by my great-grandmother weave together a new personal understanding of family memories. Through interviewing my grandmother who suffers from dementia, I was able to create a broader story and appreciation of her two parents and their own modest creative expressions within a larger history. 
Gloria’s Call
Documentary | 2018 | 16 min. 47 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Language | English
Producers | Cheryl Bookout, Anne Gauldin, Cheri Gaulke, Sue Maberry, Christine Papalexis
Director | Cheri Gaulke
Cast | Gloria Feman Orenstein
Scholar Gloria Orenstein’s life is forever changed through her wild journey into friendships with the women artists of Surrealism. As she witnesses the visionary art and personal struggles of Leonora Carrington, Jane Graverol, Leonor Fini and Meret Oppenheim, she discovers her personal calling as a pioneer scholar of Surrealism and ecofeminism. “Gloria’s Call” takes viewers from the cafes of Paris to the mountaintops of Samiland through richly layered art, animation and personal storytelling. This film delightfully reveals an often-unseen history of women in the arts.
Sankofa
Documentary | 2018 | 27 min. 53 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Language | English
Director | Princess Garrett
Cast | Godsway Anderson, Marcquis Graham, Chiji Akoma, Amari Johnson, Eric Owusu Ansah, Wanluv the Kubolor
This documentary is about the loss of identity and its systemic impact on black males. By exploring the complexities of mental slavery, Sankofa calls its audience to free themselves from the system in which they were born.
BLOCK D | FRIDAY, MARCH 27 | 4 – 5:30 PM
THEME | Kids Watch Party, films for ages 6 – 11
Maestro
Animation | 2019 | 1 min. 49 sec.
Suggested Rating | G
Language | No Dialogue
Director | Illogic
Deep into a forest, a gathering of wild animals start a nocturnal opera, conducted by a squirrel.
Hungry
Animation | 2019 | 2 min. 39 sec.
Suggested Rating | G
Language | No Dialogue
Director | Yaou Chen
A film about a T-rex, who is starving in the desert and looking for food. It is a film about his adventure with meeting with other wild animals.
How Nivi Got Her Names
Animation | 2019 | 8 min. 50 sec.
Suggested Rating | G
Language | English
Co-Directors | Laura Deal & Neil Christopher
Cast | Marie Bellau, Jessie Mike, Niviaq Mike
Nivi has always known that her names were special, but she does not know where they came from. So, one cold afternoon, Nivi decides to ask her mom. The stories of the people Nivi is named after lead her to an understanding of traditional Inuit kinship naming practices, tuqlurausiit, and knowledge of what those practices mean to Inuit. Through her names, Nivi is a little girl, a grandfather, a grandmother, and a well-respected elder. Nivi’s names connect her to the personality and character of those who have passed and make her family so much bigger than she thought before.
Paper People Play: The Fox and The Grapes
Puppetry | 2019 | 7 min. 43 sec.
Suggested Rating | G
Language | English
Director | Kristin Broadwell
Cast | Kristin Broadwell
The Paper People Play (Paper Dolls) cast performs in a play inspired by the Aesop’s Fable play, The Fox and The Grapes. FOX tries to eat grapes from a vine but cannot reach them. Rather than admit defeat, she states they are undesirable and almost gives up until her Goody Tissues friends helps her reach her goal.
When I Find You
Puppetry | 2018 | 4 min. 45 sec.
Suggested Rating | G
Language | No Dialogue
Director | Xi Wang
A toy car and a puppet grew up with a girl together. Nowadays, she doesn’t play with them anymore because she is addicted to play video games too much. The toy car and the puppet feel so sad about it, they run away from home.
What’s My Superpower?
Animation | 2019 | 10 min. 17 sec.
Suggested Rating | G
Language | English
Director | Justin Heymans
Cast | Celina Kalluk, Malaya Quanirq Chapman, Colleen Nakashuk, Rita-Claire Mike Murphy, Johnny Issaluk, Victor Pothier, Vinnie Karetak
Nalvana feels like all of her friends have some type of superpower. She has friends with super speed, friends who can jump so far, she thinks they can fly, and friends who are better than her at a million other things. As Nalvana tries out each of her friends’ superpowers with no success, she wonders if she might be the only kid in town without a special talent. But then her mom shows Nalvana that she is unique and special—and that her superpower was right in front of her all along.
BLOCK E | FRIDAY, MARCH 27 | 7 – 8:30 PM
THEME | After Hours Teen Watch Party, for ages 11 and up
Maestro
Animation | 2019 | 1 min. 49 sec.
Suggested Rating | G
Language | No Dialogue
Director | Illogic
Deep into a forest, a gathering of wild animals start a nocturnal opera, conducted by a squirrel.
Bunny Love
Puppetry | 2018 | 7 min. 25 sec.
Suggested Rating | G
Language | English
Executive Producers | IBEX Puppetry, Heather Henson
Producer | Sam Koji Hale
Director | Pam Severns
From executive producer Heather Henson, daughter of the celebrated puppeteer Jim Henson and performer/director Pam Severns, recipient of a Jim Henson Foundation Grant and graduate of The Second City, comes this charming and absurd girl-meets-bunny tale and tribute to classic silent comedies. Winner of the 2019 Reel Puppetry Film Festival in Minneapolis.
Scavenger Hunt
Narrative | 2019 | 15 min. 50 sec.
Suggested Rating | G
Language | English
Director | Katherine Dudley
Cast | Aubry Dorsey, Lauren Baskin
A young stubborn teen is not interested in finishing a scavenger hunt from her mother’s past, until a tragic event in her own circle of friends causes her to rethink the idea.
KIDS
Animation | 2019 | 9 min. 00 sec.
Suggested Rating | G
Language | English
Director | Michael Frei
Cast | Andrew Bowen, Jamie Grace, Nancy Lantis, Adam Simpson, Ramon Hamilton, Ovington Michael Owston
An animated short exploring group dynamics. How do we define ourselves when we are all equal?
Penny Press
Documentary | 2019 | 4 min. 55 sec.
Suggested Rating | G
Language | English
Director | Anil Dhokai
Cast | Tyler Tyson
Tyler Tyson is a collector and designer of elongated coins, a.k.a pressed pennies. He owns and operates his own penny press machines. In this short documentary, he discusses what drew him to the craft and how he does it.
Floreana
Animation | 2018 | 4 min. 05 sec.
Suggested Rating | G
Language | No Dialogue
Director | Louis Morton
On a remote island in the future, people are training for an important mission. Take a look at the mechanics of this training facility and the creatures within.
The Piñata
Narrative | 2019 | 13 min. 39 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG
Language | English
Director | Stevie Lynn Cavalier
Cast | Gracie Silva, Burgan Luther, Zaila Matthews
On the day of Mia’s twelfth birthday party, her family is excitedly preparing for another family-fun celebration with presents, cake, and most importantly, a hand-made piñata. However, when Mia’s two school friends join the party, they don’t think the piñata is cool, and they refuse to hit it. Mia finds herself stuck between pleasing her friends or her parents, while still trying to figure out how to please herself.
BLOCK F | FRIDAY, MARCH 27 | 7 – 9 PM
THEME | Picture This
Bunny Love
Puppetry | 2018 | 7 min. 25 sec.
Suggested Rating | G
Language | English
Executive Producers | IBEX Puppetry, Heather Henson
Producer | Sam Koji Hale
Director | Pam Severns
From executive producer Heather Henson, daughter of the celebrated puppeteer Jim Henson and performer/director Pam Severns, recipient of a Jim Henson Foundation Grant and graduate of The Second City, comes this charming and absurd girl-meets-bunny tale and tribute to classic silent comedies. Winner of the 2019 Reel Puppetry Film Festival in Minneapolis.
La gita (The School Trip)
Narrative | 2018 | 14 min. 35 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG
Language | Italian
Director | Salvatore Allocca
Cast | Fatou Mbemgue, Filippo Scotti
At the age of 14, Megalie, daughter of an immigrant family from Senegal but born and brought up in Italy, is faced with the difficult task of finding a place for herself in the world she is living in. When she is denied the opportunity of taking part in a school trip abroad, a perfect occasion for the girl to reveal her feelings to her classmate Marco, that place in the world will seem unattainable to her. But will it really be so?
The Big Race
Experimental | 2019 | 10 min. 09 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG
Language | English
Director | John Williams
Cast | Ana da Costa, Lester Gonzales, Kitten Marie Clayman, Jessica DiSalvo, Marilla Wex
Set in a surreal world of giant TV’s, talking flowers and dancing Ravens, two mannequins discuss the controversial race between Mr. Tortoise and Ms. Rabbit after allegations surface that the race was rigged by the Ravens. 
Robin
Narrative | 2019 | 5 min. 55 sec.
Suggested Rating | G
Language | Japanese
Director | Kenji Qurata
Cast | Yuuka Kani, Maki Kawanabe, Takashi Yuki
This is a story about the other side of the world. A daughter grows up without her father, who was a photographer. However, she and her mother only have one photo of him at home. She sees how much her mother misses him and goes on a social media app called “ROBIN” to find special gifts from all over the world.
Curtains
Animation | 2019 | 17 min. 23 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Language | English
Director | Kirsten Vangsness
Cast | Kirsten Vangsness
Kirsten Vangsness (CBS, “Criminal Minds” actor and writer) makes her directorial debut in this animated short adapted from her own personal essay about a feral cat who stars on a network procedural drama, takes ballroom dance lessons, and has an encounter with a predatory tow truck driver. It explores the idea of vulnerability as a source of power and the emotional “curtains” we lay over our essential selves.
A Million Eyes
Narrative | 2019 | 25 min. 24 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG
Language | English
Director | Richard Raymond
Cast | Elijah M. Cooper, Katie Lowes, Joe Morton
A gifted young photographer, grappling with his mother’s alcoholism, sets out to capture something he loves.
WORKSHOP | SATURDAY, MARCH 30 | 10 AM – 12 PM
Yamasong: Working with Paperclay
PUPPETRY WORKSHOP WITH SAM HALE
Tickets | $15, only available in advance
Box Office | online: underexposedfilmfestivalyc.org | By Phone: (803)328-2787
In Person: Center for the Arts, 121 E. Main St., Rock Hill, SC
Filmmaker and artist Sam Koji Hale introduces workshop participants to Paperclay, his choice in puppet-making material. Using puppets from his award-winning film Yamasong and others, Sam will teach participants how to sculpt puppet heads for characters approx 18-20″ tall. He will also show how to combine Paperclay with other materials, like papier-mache. Sam will also present behind-the-scenes footage and a slideshow on how he created Yamasong.
Produced in partnership with IBEX Puppetry.
WORKSHOP | SATURDAY, MARCH 30 | 2 – 4 PM
YA Films | Teen Book Trailers
Tickets | FREE
In a World… where teens make book trailers!  Do you love books and want others to love them too?  Do you love movie previews? Join these two together and you have book trailers!  We will learn how to make and create different types of book trailers. Ages 11-17. Register online or call (803) 504-3763, starting March 17. Limit 12. This event is produced and hosted by the York County Library.
BLOCK G | SATURDAY, MARCH 28 | 2 – 4 PM
THEME | Tension
Meanwhile, at the Abandoned Factory…
Animation | 2019 | 16 min. 08 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG
Language | English
Director | Michael Cusack
Cast | Jo Stone, Holly Myers, PJ Oaten, Andy Seymour
“Meanwhile, at the Abandoned Factory…” celebrates the heyday of cliff-hanger TV serials. Can our intrepid reporter find her way out of this classic dilemma?
Soul Bones
Narrative | 2019 | 11 min. 16 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Language | English
Director | Andrew Huggins
Cast | Zach Ball, Lucien Rattray, Mirachol Carroll, Chris Wolfe
A man living in the Deep South must confront his prejudices when a young boy moves into the neighborhood and tries to befriend him.
The Custer Wolf
Puppetry | 2018 | 9 min. 44 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Language | English
Producers | Xperimental Puppetry Theater, Center for Puppetry Arts
Director | Chris Heady
Cast | Kurt Dise
With the nine-year reign of the Custer Wolf finally coming to an end, an old storyteller reflects back on the tragic, yet incredible true story of the World’s Greatest Criminal Outlaw.
The New HOA President
Narrative | 2019 | 7 min. 22 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG
Language | English
Director | Meredith Jackson
Cast | Kristi McKamie, Taquita Love, Jessica Heath, Devin McGee
Three hopefuls run for the office of Homeowners’ Association President, in an attempt to overthrow the current nincompoop. 
Every Grain of Sand
Narrative | 2019 | 10 min. 44 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG
Language | English
Director | Amanda Spencer
Cast | Tarra Riggs, Regina Williams
Tarra Riggs (“The Help,” Oscar nominated “DeKalb Elementary,” Independent Spirit Award nominee for “Ballast”) stars as Mae, a woman who thinks she has it all: her dream job, a beautiful home, and all the Jimmy Choos her closet can hold.  But when her sister (Regina Williams, Independent Spirit Award Nominee for “Life & Nothing More”) falls ill and the medical bills take every penny she has, she has to reevaluate what is really important to her.
Penny Press
Documentary | 2019 | 4 min. 55 sec.
Suggested Rating | G
Language | English
Director | Anil Dhokai
Cast | Tyler Tyson
Tyler Tyson is a collector and designer of elongated coins, a.k.a pressed pennies. He owns and operates his own penny press machines. In this short documentary, he discusses what drew him to the craft and how he does it.
Alex’s Biggest Race
Documentary | 2019 | 14 min. 15 sec.
Suggested Rating | G
Language | English
Director | Julia Hoppock
A brain cancer diagnosis gives Alex Klose 18 months to live. Then he brings his high school swim relay team back together after 20 years to prepare for his biggest race yet.
Those Lonely Minutes
Narrative | 2019 | 7 min. 23 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG
Language | English
Director | Chris O’Neill
Cast | Gayle Fredrickson, Chandler Moore, Ian Latham, Erica Meece
An artist experiences Night Terrors after the disappearance of her husband, an amateur UFO hunter. Lonely and depressed, her dreams intrude on reality until the veil between the dream world and reality is stretched to the breaking point. 
Summer Headstones
Documentary | 2019 | 18 min. 06 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG
Language | English
Director | Hamilton Young Ward
Cast | Dann Ward, Andrew Kahrl, Kwame Leo Lillard, J.T. Johnson, Al Lingo
This documentary explores the urban decay of municipal swimming pools in the Southern United States, due to their closure and abandonment by white officials after desegregation was instituted in America.
Exam
Narrative | 2019 | 14 min. 55 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Language | Persian
Director | Sonia K. Hadad
Cast | Sadaf Asgari, Hadis Miramini, Masih Kazemi, Elaheh Afshari
A teenage girl involves in the process of delivering a pack of cocaine to its client, and she got stuck in a weird cycle of occurrences.
BLOCK H + AWARDS CEREMONY | SATURDAY, MARCH 28 | 7 – 9:30 PM
THEME | A Little of This, A Lot of That
The Haunted Swordsman
Narrative, Puppetry
2019 | 16 min. 25 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Language | English
Producers | Lisa Henson
Director | Kevin McTurk
Cast | Jason Scott Lee, James Hong, Chistopher Lloyd, Franka Potente
In this handcrafted epic puppet film set in a world of demons and ghosts, a lone samurai and his odd companion, a cursed severed head, seek vengeance in a haunted world.
 
Memorable
Animation | 2019 | 12 min. 02 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG
Language | French
Director | Bruno Collet
Cast | Dominique Reymond, André Wilms
Recently, Louis, painter, and his wife Michelle are experiencing strange events. Their world seems to be mutating. Slowly, furniture, objects, people lose their realism. They are destructuring, sometimes disintegrating… 
Extra Innings
Narrative | 2019 | 8 min. 34 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG
Language | English
Producers | John Gray, Melissa Jo Peltier
Director | John Gray
Cast | Peter Riegert, TJ Thyne
A reporter interviews the manager of the Boston Red Sox in an attempt to uncover secrets from his past.
Dcera (Daughter) 
Animation | 2019 | 14 min. 44 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG
Language | No Dialogue
Director | Daria Kashcheeva
In a hospital room, the Daughter recalls a childhood moment when as a little girl she tried to share her experience with an injured bird with her Father. A moment of misunderstanding and a lost embrace has stretched into many years all the way to this hospital room, until the moment when a window pane breaks under the impact of a little bird.
Volcano
Narrative | 2019 | 10 min. 30 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Language | English
Director | Karen Moore
Cast | Hannah Cheesman, Jess Salgueiro
Hannah and Jess meet up at a tiki bar, seeing each other for the first time since Hannah’s romantic Mexico trip. Hannah has a lot to say about it, except what really happened.
Two Dum Micks
Narrative | 2019 | 4 min. 44 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Language | English
Director | D.B. Sweeney
Cast | Sean Astin, D.B. Sweeney
Two unlucky guys meet in the drunk tank and hatch a plan.
WRAP PARTY | SATURDAY, MARCH 28 | 9:30 PM – 12 AM
SLOW PLAY BREWING | 274 Columbia Ave., Rock Hill, SC
Celebrate the 2020 festival at the UFFyc’s official wrap party! Food provided by Dominique Bunce.
The wrap party is open to the public. Tickets are $25.
Visit the Underexposed Film Festival yc’s website for information about additional events and details, underexposedfilmfestivalyc.org.
UFFyc tickets are on sale now, starting at $8 per block when purchased in advance, $10 at the door. Tickets are available online at underexposedfilmfestivalyc.org and yorkcountyarts.org, by phone at (803)328-2787, or in person at the Center for the Arts, 121 E. Main St., Rock Hill, SC. Winthrop students are admitted free of charge to events held on-campus with valid student ID. Seating is limited.

Charlotte Is 2020’s 5th Worst Large City for College Basketball Fans

Charlotte Stories
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Charlotte Is 2020’s 5th Worst Large City for College Basketball Fans

With March Madness just under a week away, WalletHub today released its report on 2020’s Best Cities for College Basketball Fans.

To find 2020’s top spots for NCAA hoops, the company crunched the numbers on more than 290 cities using nine key metrics. They range from the number of teams per city and the winning percentage of each to stadium capacity and social-media engagement.

Charlotte as a College Hoops Haven (1=Best, 145=Avg.):

  • 272nd – Winning Percentage
  • 143rd – Conference Championships
  • 280th – Social-Media Engagement
  • 272nd – Stadium Capacity

Charlotte ranks 268th overall and 53rd among large cities.

Rank
(1=Best)		 Large City
(Score)		 Rank
(1=Best)		 Midsize City
(Score)		 Rank
(1=Best)		 Small City
(Score)
1 Los Angeles, CA
(53.15)		 1 Durham, NC
(58.62)		 1 Chapel Hill, NC
(53.68)
2 Lexington, KY
(52.60)		 2 Ann Arbor, MI
(38.29)		 2 East Lansing, MI
(53.60)
3 Philadelphia, PA
(48.43)		 3 Norman, OK
(35.76)		 3 Lawrence, KS
(53.52)
4 Washington, DC
(42.69)		 4 South Bend, IN
(34.23)		 4 Storrs, CT
(51.07)
5 Boston, MA
(41.68)		 5 Salt Lake City, UT
(33.43)		 5 Loretto, PA
(50.70)
6 New York, NY
(41.00)		 6 Provo, UT
(30.96)		 6 Fayette, MS
(46.25)
7 Houston, TX
(32.91)		 7 Syracuse, NY
(30.01)		 7 Kingston, RI
(42.65)
8 Cincinnati, OH
(32.03)		 8 Columbia, SC
(28.73)		 8 Bloomington, IN
(42.08)
9 Tulsa, OK
(30.63)		 9 Eugene, OR
(28.47)		 9 College Park, MD
(41.49)
10 Long Beach, CA
(30.61)		 10 Providence, RI
(28.12)		 10 West Point, NY
(40.83)
11 Omaha, NE
(29.31)		 11 Spokane, WA
(27.89)		 11 Morgantown, WV
(40.51)
12 Nashville, TN
(28.82)		 12 Lafayette, LA
(27.18)		 12 Charlottesville, VA
(38.92)
13 Chicago, IL
(28.25)		 13 Toledo, OH
(27.13)		 13 Lewiston, NY
(36.92)
14 Louisville, KY
(27.83)		 14 Dayton, OH
(27.05)		 14 Buies Creek, NC
(36.54)
15 Memphis, TN
(27.41)		 15 Knoxville, TN
(26.68)		 15 Ames, IA
(35.92)
16 Baltimore, MD
(27.34)		 16 Irvine, CA
(25.74)		 16 Fayetteville, AR
(34.96)
17 Dallas, TX
(26.34)		 17 Abilene, TX
(25.36)		 17 Itta Bena, MS
(34.44)
18 Seattle, WA
(26.32)		 18 Boulder, CO
(25.34)		 18 Stillwater, OK
(33.60)
19 Phoenix, AZ
(25.97)		 19 Tempe, AZ
(24.73)		 19 Iowa City, IA
(32.79)
20 Miami, FL
(25.67)		 20 Akron, OH
(24.69)		 20 Clemson, SC
(32.68)
21 Milwaukee, WI
(25.04)		 21 Baton Rouge, LA
(24.63)		 21 West Lafayette, IN
(32.34)
22 Pittsburgh, PA
(24.63)		 22 Tallahassee, FL
(24.51)		 22 Murray, KY
(31.93)
23 Columbus, OH
(24.52)		 23 Greensboro, NC
(24.48)		 23 Spartanburg, SC
(31.04)
24 Austin, TX
(24.19)		 24 Orlando, FL
(24.42)		 24 Champaign, IL
(30.79)
25 San Francisco, CA
(23.90)		 25 New Haven, CT
(24.37)		 25 Hamilton, NY
(30.53)
26 Arlington, TX
(23.70)		 26 Waco, TX
(24.12)		 26 Lewisburg, PA
(29.99)
27 Tucson, AZ
(23.65)		 27 Lincoln, NE
(23.88)		 27 Huntsville, TX
(29.78)
28 New Orleans, LA
(23.64)		 28 College Station, TX
(23.79)		 28 Princeton, NJ
(29.73)
29 San Diego, CA
(23.45)		 29 Gainesville, FL
(23.76)		 29 Troy, AL
(29.61)
30 San Antonio, TX
(23.21)		 29 Norfolk, VA
(23.76)		 30 Highland Heights, KY
(29.61)
31 Jacksonville, FL
(22.87)		 31 Newark, NJ
(23.69)		 31 Boiling Springs, NC
(28.97)
32 Portland, OR
(22.46)		 32 Charleston, SC
(23.60)		 32 Ogden, UT
(28.94)
33 Sacramento, CA
(22.37)		 33 Lowell, MA
(23.60)		 33 Orangeburg, SC
(28.54)
34 El Paso, TX
(22.02)		 34 Murfreesboro, TN
(23.54)		 34 Emmitsburg, MD
(28.44)
35 Corpus Christi, TX
(21.83)		 35 Boise, ID
(23.34)		 35 Olean, NY
(28.26)
36 St. Louis, MO
(21.46)		 36 Jackson, MS
(23.31)		 36 Prairie View, TX
(28.17)
37 Bakersfield, CA
(21.34)		 37 High Point, NC
(23.31)		 37 Thibodaux, LA
(27.37)
38 Fresno, CA
(21.24)		 38 Buffalo, NY
(23.28)		 38 Radford, VA
(27.17)
39 Atlanta, GA
(20.92)		 39 Lubbock, TX
(23.18)		 39 Pullman, WA
(26.85)
40 Raleigh, NC
(20.69)		 40 Hampton, VA
(23.14)		 40 Cullowhee, NC
(26.76)
41 Riverside, CA
(20.55)		 41 Green Bay, WI
(23.06)		 41 Kent, OH
(26.65)
41 Colorado Springs, CO
(20.55)		 42 Beaumont, TX
(23.04)		 42 Grambling, LA
(26.53)
43 Indianapolis, IN
(20.20)		 43 Hartford, CT
(23.00)		 43 Davidson, NC
(26.51)
44 Denver, CO
(20.03)		 44 Greeley, CO
(22.90)		 44 Stanford, CA
(26.43)
45 Detroit, MI
(19.79)		 45 Clarksville, TN
(22.67)		 45 Cheney, WA
(26.43)
46 Las Vegas, NV
(19.32)		 46 Columbia, MO
(22.25)		 46 Nacogdoches, TX
(26.34)
47 Stockton, CA
(19.20)		 47 Worcester, MA
(22.23)		 47 Ruston, LA
(26.28)
48 Tampa, FL
(19.07)		 48 North Charleston, SC
(21.84)		 48 Mount Pleasant, MI
(26.21)
49 Kansas City, MO
(18.75)		 49 Denton, TX
(21.57)		 49 Terre Haute, IN
(26.19)
50 Minneapolis, MN
(18.57)		 50 Little Rock, AR
(21.34)		 50 Jacksonville, AL
(26.15)
51 Albuquerque, NM
(18.42)		 51 Mobile, AL
(21.18)		 51 Carbondale, IL
(26.13)
52 Cleveland, OH
(17.40)		 52 Winston-Salem, NC
(21.16)		 52 Laramie, WY
(26.08)
53 Charlotte, NC
(17.13)		 53 Peoria, IL
(20.97)		 53 New Rochelle, NY
(25.91)
54 Wichita, KS
(17.03)		 54 Madison, WI
(20.82)		 54 Durham, NH
(25.87)
55 San Jose, CA
(16.91)		 55 Fort Wayne, IN
(20.77)		 55 Athens, OH
(25.84)
56 Fort Worth, TX
(16.65)		 56 Birmingham, AL
(20.60)		 56 Lexington, VA
(25.83)
57 Chattanooga, TN
(20.39)		 57 Johnson City, TN
(25.75)
58 Fargo, ND
(20.38)		 58 Starkville, MS
(25.55)
59 Macon, GA
(20.00)		 59 Lynchburg, VA
(25.55)
60 Cambridge, MA
(19.62)		 60 Cedar Falls, IA
(25.48)
61 Des Moines, IA
(19.38)		 61 Easton, PA
(25.34)
62 Reno, NV
(18.98)		 62 Huntington, WV
(25.26)
63 Fort Collins, CO
(18.92)		 63 Ypsilanti, MI
(25.25)
64 Springfield, MO
(18.51)		 64 Ithaca, NY
(25.19)
65 Fullerton, CA
(18.24)		 65 Normal, IL
(25.16)
66 Las Cruces, NM
(17.96)		 66 Statesboro, GA
(25.06)
67 Athens, GA
(17.52)		 67 Williamsburg, VA
(24.92)
68 Richmond, VA
(16.85)		 68 Brookings, SD
(24.76)
69 Wilmington, NC
(15.50)		 69 Albany, NY
(24.72)
70 Evansville, IN
(14.23)		 70 Hanover, NH
(24.68)
71 Huntsville, AL
(13.03)		 71 Amherst, MA
(24.51)
72 Jersey City, NJ
(12.92)		 72 Morehead, KY
(24.49)
73 Montgomery, AL
(12.42)		 73 Rochester Hills, MI
(24.47)
74 Berkeley, CA
(12.17)		 74 Rock Hill, SC
(24.40)
75 Santa Clara, CA
(11.93)		 75 Princess Anne, MD
(24.36)
76 Oxford, MS
(24.33)
77 Orem, UT
(24.27)
78 Hammond, LA
(24.21)
79 San Marcos, TX
(24.12)
80 Bowling Green, KY
(24.09)
81 State College, PA
(23.96)
82 Greenville, SC
(23.82)
83 Logan, UT
(23.71)
84 Corvallis, OR
(23.60)
84 Annapolis, MD
(23.60)
86 DeKalb, IL
(23.34)
87 Trenton, NJ
(23.32)
88 Muncie, IN
(23.30)
88 Charleston, IL
(23.30)
90 Moraga, CA
(23.19)
91 Davis, CA
(23.18)
92 Burlington, VT
(23.16)
93 Farmville, VA
(23.10)
94 Cape Girardeau, MO
(23.09)
95 Long Branch, NJ
(22.97)
96 Natchitoches, LA
(22.94)
97 Richmond, KY
(22.81)
98 Hempstead, NY
(22.81)
99 Florence, AL
(22.80)
100 Monroe, LA
(22.77)
101 Pine Bluff, AR
(22.77)
102 Stony Brook, NY
(22.73)
103 Martin, TN
(22.54)
104 Elon, NC
(22.51)
105 Boone, NC
(22.41)
106 Bowling Green, OH
(22.39)
107 Conway, SC
(22.38)
108 Fairfield, CT
(22.22)
109 Santa Barbara, CA
(22.21)
110 Towson, MD
(21.86)
111 Harrisonburg, VA
(21.80)
112 Valparaiso, IN
(21.74)
113 Fairfax, VA
(21.68)
114 Moscow, ID
(21.44)
115 Kalamazoo, MI
(21.20)
116 Tuscaloosa, AL
(21.17)
117 Newark, DE
(21.17)
118 Macomb, IL
(21.08)
119 Oxford, OH
(20.49)
120 Clinton, SC
(20.41)
121 Lake Charles, LA
(20.31)
122 Cookeville, TN
(20.18)
123 Grand Forks, ND
(20.15)
124 Asheville, NC
(20.07)
125 Jonesboro, AR
(20.01)
126 Bozeman, MT
(19.98)
127 Greenville, NC
(19.92)
128 North Andover, MA
(19.92)
129 Blacksburg, VA
(19.90)
130 San Luis Obispo, CA
(19.89)
131 Edwardsville, IL
(19.73)
132 Fort Myers, FL
(19.68)
133 Cedar City, UT
(19.60)
134 Manhattan, KS
(19.57)
135 Edinburg, TX
(19.41)
136 Missoula, MT
(19.33)
137 Hattiesburg, MS
(19.25)
138 Auburn, AL
(19.04)
139 Binghamton, NY
(18.95)
140 Conway, AR
(18.91)
141 Youngstown, OH
(18.63)
142 Hackensack, NJ
(18.62)
143 Vermillion, SD
(18.55)
144 Boca Raton, FL
(18.34)
145 Orono, ME
(18.24)
146 DeLand, FL
(18.04)
147 Evanston, IL
(17.49)
148 Poughkeepsie, NY
(17.48)
149 Kennesaw, GA
(17.10)
150 Bethlehem, PA
(17.07)
151 Flagstaff, AZ
(16.70)
152 Dover, DE
(15.71)
153 New Brunswick, NJ
(15.36)
154 Malibu, CA
(14.19)
155 Daytona Beach, FL
(11.01)
156 New Britain, CT
(10.99)
157 Pocatello, ID
(7.97)

What do you think Charlotte should do to improve?

St Patrick’s Day Parade and ‘World’s Largest Pub Crawl’ Pressing On In Spite of Coronavirus

Charlotte Stories
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St Patrick’s Day Parade and ‘World’s Largest Pub Crawl’ Pressing On In Spite of Coronavirus

Although our governor has just declared a state of emergency over the novel coronavirus COVID-19, organizers of 2 of Charlotte’s biggest events planned for this weekend say the show will go on.

The 24th Annual Twenty-Fourth Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Charlotte Goes Green Festival will draw thousands to the heart of Uptown this coming Saturday, March 14th. The parade will step off at 11:00 A.M. at N. Tryon St. and 9th Street, marching south down Tryon, and the festival will run from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

At the conclusion of the festival, the 20th Annual Rich & Bennett’s St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl (officially ranked as ‘the world’s largest pub crawl‘) will be kicking off at 6pm.

Yesterday, Rich & Bennett sent out a press release with the following updates:

“As we approach our 20th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl, we are continuing to monitor the possible impact COVID-19 could have on Saturday’s event to ensure the safety of event attendees and our community. We have been in touch with local medical staff and CMPD regarding the situation. Following Governor Cooper’s press conference this afternoon, we feel that this Saturday’s event should be able to go on as planned. As Governor Cooper stated, “We are not making recommendations of canceling mass gatherings.” Additionally, there are no confirmed cases in Mecklenburg County at this time.

We are requesting those planning to attend our crawl to take all reasonable and preventative measures possible. First and foremost, please do not attend this event if you feel sick or are showing cold or flu-like symptoms. You will have the opportunity to crawl again with us in 2021. We advise anyone who has traveled to any areas highlighted under the CDC’s Travel Health Notice to not attend this event. This applies if you fall in a high-risk group as well. These groups include those over the age of 65 or those that have chronic medical conditions. We also ask anyone attending the event to practice proper personal hygiene according to CDC and health department recommendations, including washing hands often with soap and water, avoiding touching your face and refraining from hand-shaking.

Ahead of Saturday’s festivities, we have requested additional hand washing and sanitizing stations at our check-in lot and have been in touch with all participating bars and restaurants to encourage an increase in existing sanitization and maintenance efforts.”

Are you planning on attending any of this weekend’s events?

What do you think about the decision to hold them in light of the state of emergency?

NC Governor Declares State of Emergency As Coronavirus COVID-19 Cases Continue To Increase

Charlotte Stories
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NC Governor Declares State of Emergency As Coronavirus COVID-19 Cases Continue To Increase

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has just declared a State of Emergency due to the growing number of novel coronavirus COVID-19 cases across the Carolinas.

There are now a total of 7 cases in North Carolina and 7 cases in South Carolina.

“While we do expect many more cases, we can limit the number of people who get seriously ill,” said Governor Cooper. “Though we are still in the early stages in North Carolina, time is a valuable resource and we must work together to slow the spread while we can.”

The North Carolina Department of Health has now issued the following recommendations:

HIGH-RISK PERSONS
NC DHHS recommends that people at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 avoid large groups of people as much as possible. This includes gatherings such as concert venues, conventions, church services, sporting events, and crowded social events. People at high risk should also avoid cruise travel and non-essential air travel.

ADULT CONGREGATE LIVING FACILITIES
NC DHHS recommends that all facilities that serve as residential establishments for high-riskpersons described above should restrict visitors. These establishments include nursing homes, independent and assisted living facilities, correctional facilities, and facilities that care for medically vulnerable children.

MASS GATHERING EVENTS
NC DHHS recommends that event organizers:

  • Urge anyone who is sick to not attend.
  • Encourage those who are at high risk, described above, to not attend.
  • Adopt lenient refund policies for people who are high risk.
  • Find ways to give people more physical space to limit close contact as much as possible.
  • Encourage attendees to wash hands frequently.
  • Clean surfaces with standard cleaners.

According to the CDC, patients with confirmed CoVID-19 infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:

  • fever
  • cough
  • shortness of breath

CDC believes at this time that symptoms of CoVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure. This is based on what has been seen previously as the incubation period of MERS viruses.

Some of the best ways to protect against the coronavirus include;

If you have any questions about CoVID-19 you can call 866-462-3821 or submit questions online at ncpoisoncontrol.org.

North Carolina Zoo Announces Birth of a Second Southern White Rhino This Year

Charlotte Stories
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North Carolina Zoo Announces Birth of a Second Southern White Rhino This Year

The North Carolina Zoo is excited to announce another southern white rhino was born at the Zoo on Feb. 24, 2020—the second rhino birth so far this year. The female calf was born to mother Linda and father, Stormy. The Zoo will announce details of naming the new calf at a later time.

Just last week, the Zoo announced the name of a female calf born in January. Her name is “Mguu,” which means “foot” in Swahili, on account of her big feet, according to her keepers.

Jade Tuttle, zookeeper for the Zoo and a board member of the International Rhino Keepers Association, said the calf and her mother are doing well.

The new addition is also the fourth rhino birth in just under two years.

The other two rhinos—Nandi and Bonnie—were born in July of 2018, just eleven days apart.

“We’re excited that the two juvenile rhinos – our ‘teenagers’ — now have two younger siblings to interact within the herd,” Tuttle said.

The birth marks another significant achievement for the zookeepers and the veterinarian team who work with the Zoo’s rhino herd daily.

“It’s going to be wonderful for our guests to watch both the very young rhinos and the older generation interact on the grasslands.”  Zoo Director Pat Simmons said. “These successful births are because of a lot of hard work and collaboration among our entire animal care staff.”

The Zoo’s herd now consists of ten rhinos: male Stormy and females Linda, Kit, Natalie, Abby, Olivia, juveniles Nandi and Bonnie, calf Mguu and the newest calf

The Zoo has been home to rhinos since 1976 as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP). However, the Zoo waited more than 40 years for a healthy rhino calf.

The Zoo’s 40-acre Watani Grasslands expansion – completed in 2008 – was created specifically for a breeding rhino herd, making these multiple births a dream come true.

Zookeepers report the newest addition to the rhino family is healthy and nursing. They expect her to gain 100 pounds a month in the first year. She could weigh 3,500 to 5,500 pounds when fully grown.

Southern white rhinos were hunted to near extinction by the beginning of the 20th century for their horns, which some erroneously believe provide medicinal benefits. Rhino horn is constructed from keratin, which is the same material that makes up human fingernails and hair.

Today, populations in the wild still face significant threats from poaching and habitat loss. In addition to their work with the rhinos at the North Carolina Zoo, staff work on projects in several countries in Southern Africa to protect wild rhinos from poaching and save the species from extinction.

The second-largest land mammal after elephants, rhinos are pregnant from 16 to 18 months (elephants are pregnant for approximately 24 months). A rhino will only give birth every two to five years. At full maturity, a southern white rhino will have two horns, grow 12 to 13 feet long and up to 6 feet from hoof to shoulder, and weigh 4,000 to 5,000 pounds. They can live 40 to 50 years and run at impressive speeds of up to 30 miles per hour.

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