The NBA just hosted their first ribbon cutting ceremony for their new Hornet’s themed parks – in partnership with Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte.

The entire Charlotte Hornets team, including Owner Michael Jordan, joined with Charlotte’s mayor and other local officials to cut the ribbon on a fully refurbished basketball court at Latta Park.

The new court features the team colors and seating. Two other courts are scheduled to be built at Camp Greene Park and Tuckaseegee Park.

Several Hornets players and coaches then held a Junior NBA Clinic with Dilworth Elementary kids to officially break in the new court:

Sorry, kids. When you're up against a 7'2" center, you don't stand a chance 😂 #blockparty #youcantseeme https://t.co/Mb5jBOfbUB

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) October 18, 2016

They will also be adding new basketball goals, goal pads, benches, fountains, hornet-themed courts, and other amenities to Camp Greene Park and Tuckaseegee Park.

“We are excited to bring the Hornets Experience to these three neighborhood courts in Charlotte,” said Hornets President & COO Fred Whitfield. “It is important to us to give back to the youth of our community, and we can think of no better way for them to show their love of both the Hornets and the game of basketball than by playing on Hornets-themed courts at their local parks. We also want to thank the NBA for demonstrating its continued commitment to Charlotte and Mecklenburg County by joining us in this effort.”

A massive new discount retailer just opened their first North Carolina location in Charlotte’s University City area.

Charlotte’s new ‘Bargain Hunt’ has over 20,000 square feet of apparel, bed and bath accessories, electronics, home goods, furniture, toys and more.

Their unique selling process works on an across-the-board graduated sale schedule. After the item sits on the shelf for 40 days, it’s discounted 25%, after 60 days, 50%, 80 days, 75%, and after 120 days, if it’s still on the shelf, it’s reduced 90%, according to a statement from the retailer.

The new store is located near the Commons at Chancellor Park, near other low-cost stores including Walmart, Gabe’s, IKEA, and Big Lots;

Here are a few interior shots from this weekend:

Are you excited that another discount retailer is coming to town?

Duke Energy may soon receive final approval to built a new $12 billion nuclear power plant in Gaffney, SC – about 40 miles south-west of Charlotte.

The new facility would be the first nuclear plant the company has built in over 30 years. They currently operate six nuclear plants, all in the Carolinas, and all built in the 1970s and 1980s.

Duke Energy submitted their first application for the new 2,234-megawatt William States Lee III Nuclear Station in 2007. They’ve already spent over $471 million on testing, consulting, and design since then – and their still not sure if they will move forward with the project, even if they receive final approval later this year.

The entire Duke Energy corporation is currently worth about $55 billion, so $12 billion for one additional power plant (20% of their value) is a risky move – even in light of the $471 million they’ve already spent.

If construction started now, it wouldn’t be finished until 2028, and the company is still unsure how well South Carolina legislation will favor nuclear power – and if the area will grow fast enough to provide enough demand.

“There are all kinds of considerations,” CEO Lynn J. Good commented in a recent press release. The utility, as a publicly traded firm, has to take them into account as a “prudent investor.”

Do you think they should built another nuclear power plant?