South Carolina Ranked As One of 2019’s Worst States for Police Officers

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The personal-finance website WalletHub just ranked South Carolina as one of 2019’s Worst States to Be a Police Officer.

The site compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 27 key indicators of police-friendliness. The data set ranges from median income for law-enforcement officers to police deaths per 1,000 officers to state and local police-protection expenses per capita.

The Palmetto State ranked just below Tennessee and just above Arizona;

Source: WalletHub

South Carolina was also found to have the lowest median incomes for law enforcement officers;

Charlotte’s Fabi Preslar Inducted into The NC Women Business Owner’s Hall of Fame

Fabi Preslar, founder and president of SPARK Publications, was inducted into the North Carolina Women Business Owners Hall of Fame Class of 2019 at a gala on May 7, 2019. Founded in 2018, the Hall of Fame honors North Carolina’s most successful female entrepreneurs and advocates who have made significant and enduring contributions for women’s entrepreneurial development in North Carolina.

Fabi Preslar moved to Charlotte by herself at age 17 with no money, car or family support ­– she knew no one. Working three jobs, she put herself through school and earned a degree in commercial art at Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) and also soon earned her U.S. citizenship. Today, she is the founder and president of SPARK Publications, a 21-year-old independent publishing firm. She and her team help entrepreneurs, associations and corporate leaders empower their brand communications to influence their stakeholders. Custom magazines, catalogs and books created with print, digital and interactive solutions are the tools of their trade. The firm has won over 200 industry awards. Fabi has been celebrated with numerous awards for her creativity and business savvy from prestigious organizations such as NAWBO, WBENC, CPCC, The Stevie Awards and Enterprising Women magazine. Fabi contributes a great deal of her time as a mentor and guide to women business owners. She is also the publisher of b2bTRIBE, a magazine for business owners, and has authored two books, On Heaven’s Couch and Fabulous F Words of Business Ownership. She works full time with her husband of 33 years and their daughter as part of her talented team of “SPARKlers.”

The North Carolina Women Business Owners Hall of Fame initiative is coordinated and sponsored by the National Association of Women Business Owners chapters in Charlotte and Raleigh, the Small Business Association, the National Federation of Independent Business, Bank of America and many other North Carolina organizations. Previous inductees include Dale Halton, former CEO of Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company; Elizabeth Nisbet Miller, founding director of First Trust Bank; and Janice Byrant Howroyd, founder and CEO of the ActOne Group and the first African-American woman to create and run a billion-dollar business.

2.1 Magnitude Earthquake Struck 30 Miles North of Charlotte

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Yesterday morning, a 2.1 magnitude earthquake rattled the small town of Woodleaf, NC, according to the USGA.

The epicenter of the quake was located about 30 miles north of Charlotte;

Earthquakes have been increasing in frequency around the Charlotte region over the past few years, about a year ago, we saw a 2.9 magnitude quake hit Asheville and a 2.1 magnitude quake that struck Bryson City, NC.

The Carolinas have been known to experience the occasional damage-causing earthquakes.

According to USGS.gov, “The largest earthquake in the area (magnitude 5.1) occurred in 1916. Moderately damaging earthquakes strike the inland Carolinas every few decades, and smaller earthquakes are felt about once each year or two.”

Did you feel yesterday’s quake? 

Primary Election for 9th District Congressional Race Will Take Place Today

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North Carolina’s 9th district is holding a special election for their Republican nominee for Congress today.

The new primary election was announced this past February after The North Carolina State Board of Elections investigated voter fraud due to falsified absentee ballots.

If you are a Republican or independent living in the 9th district, you can find out the times and locations of your specific voting locations on the North Carolina’s State Board of Elections website here.

There are a total of 10 candidates vying for the Republican spot, including;

  • Stony Rushing
  • Fern Shubert
  • Dan Bishop
  • Matthew Ridenhour
  • Gary Dunn
  • Kathie Day
  • Stevie Rivenbark
  • Leigh Brown
  • Chris Anglin
  • Albert Wiley Jr.

Stony Rushing became the front runner a few months ago when former nominee Mark Harris announced he would back him after former Governor Pat McCrory announced he would not run.

Democratic candidate Dan McCready is now running unopposed on the Democratic ticket.

The general election will be held on Sept. 10 if one of the Republican candidates collects over 30% of the votes today.

If no one tops 30%, a new primary will be held on Sept. 10th between the 2 top candidates and the general election will be rescheduled for November 5th.

US Navy’s Blue Angels Recreate Top Gun’s ‘Inverted’ Maneuver Off East Coast in New Viral Video

Have you ever seen Top Gun? You know the scene where Maverick pulls a 4G inverted dive with a MiG-28?

The US Navy’s insanely talented Blue Angels just showed us what that may have felt like in real life in an incredible demonstration off the east coast.

They just posted a 1-minute clip where a Blue Angel flips his $21 million jet upside down and flies just 18 inches away from another jet below him…close enough to snap a Polaroid.

The 360-degree video was posted this past Friday and it’s already been viewed over 450,000 times;

The Blue Angels are the US Navy’s elite flying squadron who perform epic public demonstrations around the country.

The team is currently based in Pensacola, Florida, and one of its 15 members is from right here in Charlotte. Lt. Garrett Hopkins is a native of Charlotte, and graduated from South Mecklenburg High School in 1997.

You can see the Blue Angel’s full demonstration schedule at their website here – www.BlueAngels.Navy.mil.

Prepaway – Benefits of Getting Cisco CCNP Routing & Switching Certification

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If you are determined to become a highly sought-after professional in the field of networking, then you might be interested in getting professional certification from Cisco, one of the world-leading IT companies. Cisco offers certifications on the entry, associate, professional, expert and architect level.

CCNP Routing & Switchingcredential is one of the top Cisco certifications that are offered at the professional level. It is intended for professionals who possess advanced knowledge of routing and switching technology. CCNP certified IT professionals are expected to have a profound understanding of implementing, planning, verifying and troubleshooting compoundenterprise networks. These skills are assessed by a series of exams that determine the success of the candidates.

Description

As you prepare to achieve CCNP R&S credential, it is very important to note that there are several prerequisites that you must meet. Here is what you have to consider:

  • A valid CCNA R&S credential or any type of CCIE credential is considered as a prior requirement to CCNP R&S.
  • It is recommended to have an experience of 1 year in the networking-related environment.
  • One should also have a desire and passion to advance the practical skills already attained in the field.

Now that you have checked that you meet the minimum requirements that are needed, let’s move to exams. In order to get certified, you must pass three required tests: 300-101 ROUTE, 300-115 SWITCH and 300-135 TSHOOT. Below you will find a brief description of all these three tests.

300-101 ROUTE Exam

300-101 exam enlightens candidates with the skills and knowledge applicable during the implementation of Cisco IP Routing. The candidates need to show the skills required to implement highly scalable and secure Cisco routers that are connected to WANs, LANs and IPv6.

  • Time limit: 120 minutes
  • Number of questions: 45-65
  • Cost: $300

300-115 SWITCH Exam

300-115 exam equips candidates with the utmost knowledge in switching technologies. The main areas that candidates are expected to have profound understanding are configuring, planning and verifying the actual implementation of switching solutions that utilizeCECA (Cisco Enterprise Campus Architecture).

  • Time limit: 120 minutes
  • Number of questions: 30-40
  • Cost: $300

300-135 TSHOOT Exam

300-135 testassesses the candidates who are supposed to have profound knowledge in:

  • Planning and performing maintenance on complex switched and routed networks
  • Using technology-based and systematic ITIL methodto perform network troubleshooting.
  • Time limit: 120 minutes
  • Number of questions: 15-25
  • Cost: $300

Benefits of CCNP R&S Certification

There are a number of advantages attached to this prestigious R&S credential from Cisco. It takes individuals to the most relevant positions in the IT networking industry. Possession of CCNP R&S certification implies that you have a great mastery of skills inthe networking field. Here are the benefits that you should know as you plan to get certified:

  1. Great foundation

CCNP R&S credential is designed to equip the candidates with an advanced understanding of routing and switching technologies. As you undergo the pre-exam training, you get a solid base and understanding of virtualized and physical networks. Therefore, CCNP R&S provides you with professional-level knowledge to apply in solving problems today, tomorrow and forever!

  1. Employment

IT professionals acquire great jobs and opportunities upon achieving CCNP R&S credential. It is true that today’s hiring managers consider individuals specializing in a certain field rather than just ordinary professionals. Therefore, CCNP R&S grants the certified specialist a good opportunity to get recognized and easily employed.

  1. Promotions

The skills gained during the certification process define the IT professional as the most competent and proficient in providing professional solutions related to networking. Therefore, employers will consider elevating you to high positions that fit your advanced skills.

  1. Global recognition

Cisco is the worldwide leader in providing IT certifications. Every organization in the world recognizes Cisco as the best institution that offers quality and relevant education in the networking field. Upon achieving CCNP R&S certification, you will have a privilege of working anywhere in the globe. Besides, you can work online for big companies because Cisco allows you to use their credential on freelancing platforms.

  1. Updated knowledge

CCNP R&S credential is known to expire and every professional is expected to recertify. This simply means that the certification shows you have the updated knowledge that the companies are looking for in the industry. Besides, it shows your commitment to keeping in pace with the rapidly growing technology.

How Prepaway website can enhance your performance?

You must have made up your mind to get certified and enjoy the lots of benefits that are attached to CCNP R&S certification, haven’t you? If so, you need to prepare thoroughly and pass all three certification exams.

The Prepaway website is the worldwide leader for providing candidates with the exam dumps and video training that will enable you to pass your examssuccessfully. Prepaway is the best to opt for because:

  • It offers you VCE files and VCE Exam Simulator to enable you to create, edit andplaypractice questions in a way that is similar to the main exam.
  • It offers IT training courses that consist of lectures created by qualified professionals.
  • It provides you with both free and paid quality preparation materials.

Job Opportunities

With CCNP R&S certification, you can work as a system administrator, network engineer and network technician. CCNP R&S certified professionals earn an estimated annual salary of $102,786. Isn’t it worth it?

Conclusion

CCNP R&S certification is surely the best if you want to gain advanced skills in routing and switching. However, you have to train hard with prep materials from Prepaway and other platforms in order to pass the exam easily. We wish you success!

The Cuban National Baseball Team Is Coming To Charlotte To Face Off Against Team USA

bb&t uptown charlotte ballparkUSA Baseball recently announced a new international game between the Cuban National Team and Team USA. Charlotte has been selected as the host city of the game, which will take place on the 3th of July.

The exciting day in Uptown Charlotte will also feature the 42nd Annual WBT SkyShow, which includes the largest fireworks show in the Southeast. Gates will open at 6:00 p.m. and first pitch of the game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at BB&T Ballpark.

“We are ecstatic to host the Cuban National Team for the sixth annual international friendship series in 2019,” said Paul Seiler, Executive Director and CEO of USA Baseball. “Bringing in this level of opponent is special and fans can expect an incredibly high-caliber, hard-played series between two international baseball powers.”

The game will also include a SkyShow Street Party on Mint Street. Live music, games, prizes, and a one-of-a-kind fireworks show headline the annual event.

For tickets or more information about the game click here.

Charlotte’s Anthony Hamilton To Recieve His Own Holiday and A Key To The City

Anthony Hamilton has paid homage to his hometown of Charlotte through his lyrics, and he’s known for showing kindness and giving back to those in need through volunteering and monetary donations. Now city leaders want to say thank you.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles will officially declare May 8 as “Anthony Hamilton Day” in the Queen City on Wednesday, May 8 at 11 a.m. during a special ceremony at Harding University High School, Hamilton’s alma mater. He graduated from Harding in 1991. Several city council members are scheduled to speak at the event including: Councilwoman LaWana Mayfield (D-3), Councilman Larken Egleston (D-1) and Councilman James Mitchell, Jr. (At-Large). Hamilton will also deliver a message of inspiration to students. Harding’s band and chorus will perform at the event as well.

On Monday, May 13 at 6 p.m., the “King of Soul” will receive the key to the city from Mayor Lyles and the Charlotte City Council during their regularly scheduled meeting at the Government Center in Uptown.

The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame inductee most recently received the Order of the Hornet—Mecklenburg County’s highest award—during the Board of County Commissioners public meeting last month.

Hamilton will be performing at Charlotte Shout’s celebration in honor of the city’s 250th anniversary on Thursday, May 9 at Romare Bearden Park. Tickets are still available at charlotteshout.com. He is expected to release a new album in the coming months.

Charlotte City Leaders In Talks Over Eliminating Single-Family Zoning Throughout Our City

Charlotte City leaders are now in controversial talks about possibly removing single-family zoning throughout the Queen City.

The move would be primarily focused on addressing Charlotte’s continued struggle with racial and economic segregation and our incredibly low upward mobility stats (a recent study ranked Charlotte 50 out of 50 for upward mobility in America).

Last year, Minneapolis became the first city in America to completely eliminate single-family zoning when the Minneapolis City Council voted to remove the restrictive zoning and allow duplexes and triplexes to be built on lots restricted to a single-occupant dwelling. Their primary reasoning for the change was to make it easier to build affordable, denser communities, while also helping to integrate neighborhoods that are still segregated as a result of discriminatory housing practices from decades past.

On the West Coast, the high-cost cities of Seattle and Portland are also now considering rezoning single-family lots or allowing up to 4-unit complexes in single-family neighborhoods. One Oregon lawmaker has even proposed allowing fourplexes on single-family lots in any city in the state that has over 10,000 residents.

In an interview with WFAE, Charlotte’s planning director Taiwo Jaiyeoba, said that Charlotte is now hitting a “breaking point” similar to Minneapolis, with historically racist housing practices leading to record levels of wealth disparities almost entirely defined by zip codes.

“If you’re born in a particular zip code where you don’t have access to full-service grocery stores and don’t have quality of schools or can’t even access a medical facility, or have delayed fire and police response to issues — that was connected to the upward mobility issue for people,” Jaiyeoba commented.

The localized single-family zoning policies from the 40s helped to solidify Charlotte’s predominantly white and wealthy area known as “the wedge” (between I-77 and Independence), and concentrated areas of poverty in the area known as “the crescent,” in the north and western part of our city.

Any final decision to eliminate or change single-family zoning regulations in Charlotte are likely years away.

What are your thoughts on single-family zoning? 

What do you think we can do to help improve upward mobility in Charlotte? 

 

 

Ballantyne Building A Massive New 328,000-Square-Foot Mixed-Use Development

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Ballantyne is about to build a massive new 328,000 square foot development in the heart of The Ballantyne Corporate Park.

According to a press release, the new development will include a LEED® Silver certified 11-story office complex and adjacent apartment building, which will become the first apartments ever built inside the corporate park.

“We have a long-term commitment to investing in Charlotte, and we’re excited to break ground on our first project as Northwood in Ballantyne,” said Marshall Nevins, managing director at Northwood Investors. “Ballantyne is already such a successful community, and we have put careful thought into creating an inspiring work environment that addresses future needs for attracting and retaining top talent.”

It will also be the first major development in Ballantyne since Northwood purchased the entire 535-acre park for $1.2 billion back in 2017 – the largest real estate transaction in Charlotte’s history.

“This project encompasses several firsts for Ballantyne – larger floorplates, increased ceiling heights, an amenity floor with programmable space and planned residential. These features all contribute to elevating the workplace experience,” said John Barton, president of Northwood Office.