Charlotte Just Lost A Professional Sports Team – The Charlotte Express

Steve
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Charlotte Just Lost A Professional Sports Team – The Charlotte Express
via charlotteexpress.com
via charlotteexpress.com

Did you know that Charlotte has more professional sports teams other than the Panthers, Hornets, Knights, and Checkers?

We are also home to the Charlotte Hounds (lacrosse), Charlotte Independence (soccer), Carolina Queens (women’s football), Charlotte Roller Girls (roller derby), and for a few more months, the Charlotte Express (ultimate frisbee).

Charlotte’s first major league ultimate frisbee team just announced they will be selling their ownership rights to the Atlanta Hustle, according to a statement by the team’s ownership.

“It was a very difficult decision for me and Albert [Banks] as Charlotte is our home. Our goal has always been to grow the sport of Ultimate and we will continue to support our local Ultimate community. We are incredibly grateful for the hard work of the Express players, coaches, staff, volunteers and the support of our sponsors,” commented Charlotte Express’ co-owner Steve Hall.

The Charlotte Express concludes their two-year run here in the Queen City with an overall record of 6-22.

Here is a video from their first game of the 2016 season against their biggest rivals, the Raleigh Flyers:

Would you have watched professional ultimate frisbee if you knew we had a team here?

Cam Newton Was Ranked The #1 Player For 2016

Steve
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Cam Newton Was Ranked The #1 Player For 2016

cam newton number 1 playerCarolina Panthers’ MVP quarterback Cam Newton has been ranked as the #1 NFL player according to the NFL Network’s “Top 100 Players of 2016” list.

The rankings also included Luke Kuechly at #7. This marks the first time that any Panther player has landed inside the top-10 for this particular ranking (which started in 2011). The rankings are based on votes from all of the current players around the NFL.

This also marks one of the biggest ranking improvements as Cam was ranked #73 last year after battling through broken ribs and a surgically repaired ankle. This past year Cam truly dominated, becoming the first player in NFL history to score at least 30 passing touchdowns (35) and 10 rushing touchdowns in a single season. He’s also now the first player to ever pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 500 yards in five different seasons – and beating the record in his first five seasons.

Now, with the return of Kelvin Benjamin, the Panthers are stronger than ever.

Superbowl 51 here we come!

Hurricane Hermine Now Expected To Reach Charlotte Region This Weekend

Steve
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Hurricane Hermine Now Expected To Reach Charlotte Region This Weekend

This afternoon, at 3pm, Tropical Storm Hermine officially became a Category 1 hurricane.

It’s now expected to make landfall sometime around midnight tonight just south of Tallahassee, FL:

avn_lalo-animated (1)

The storm is currently moving north at about 14 mph, but as it hits landfall, it’s northbound speed will continue to increase over the next day or so.

The National Weather Service has just issued a Flash Flood Watch from this evening until early on Saturday for the greater Charlotte region.

huricane hurmine

Gov. Pat McCrory has also just declared a state of emergency for 33 North Carolina counties.

“We are working together across multiple agencies throughout North Carolina to make sure we are over prepared and underwhelmed for this storm because we want people to safely enjoy their Labor Day vacation in North Carolina,” said Governor McCrory. “Safety always remains our top priority.”

The US National Hurricane Center is recommending that Carolina residents have their disaster emergency kits stocked and readily accessible in case of extended flash flooding or downed power lines.

The effects of Huricane Hermine should be mostly dissipated by Saturday evening.

Top 10 Things To Do In Charlotte on Labor Day Weekend

Steve
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Top 10 Things To Do In Charlotte on Labor Day Weekend

This weekend is going to be incredible! There will be tons of food trucks, live music, parades, football, baseball, and motorcycles!

Here are the top 10 things happening around the Charlotte region this Labor Day Weekend;

#1 Panthers vs. Steelers 

panthers stadium charlotte

The Panthers are taking on the Steelers in Uptown Charlotte tonight starting at 7:30 – you can still get tickets starting at just $21 each.

For tickets or more info click here.

#2 Matthews Alive

matthews alive 2016

The Matthews Alive Festival is a Labor Day weekend celebration dedicated to the support of local non-profit organizations. There will be tons of rides, games, live music, and food.

The Festival will be held Sept 2nd-5th. Check out more info click here.

#3 Monster Energy MXGP of America’s 2016

The global motocross championship is coming here to the Charlotte region this coming weekend. This will be one of the only stops in America on the global motocross championship series – tons of dirt-bikes doing amazing things.

For tickets or more info click here.

#4 Charlotte’s Kosher BBQ Championship

gastonia bbq truck won national competition

Charlotte’s Jewish Community Center will once again be hosting their annual Kosher BBQ Championship. There will be a free kids zone that includes moon bounces, slides, face painting, mechanical bull, a green screen, and a pickle eating contests. There will also be plenty of food, live music, and activities for the adults.

For tickets or more info click here.

#5 Southend Gallery Crawl

Come explore and experience the many galleries South End has to offer starting Friday night at 6pm. The gallery crawl will feature unique paintings, sculpture, jewelry, mosaics, live music and refreshments!

For more info click here.

#6 Labor Day Parade

charlotte parade

Starting at 11am this coming Monday (Labor Day), Charlotte’s annual Labor Day Parade will be rolling down Tryon Street in Uptown Charlotte.

For more information click here.

#7 Charlotte Open Air Market

charlotte open air market

Charlotte’s biggest open air market this weekend will be taking place at the old Eastland Mall site Saturday and Sunday from 7am-5pm.

It will feature hundreds of local vendors, farmers, and craftsmen selling everything you can imagine.

For more information or tickets click here.

#8 Prosperity Village Food Truck Rally

prosperity-village-food-truck-rally

Prosperity Village is hosting a massive food truck festival this coming Saturday from 4pm-9pm. Leashed dogs are welcome and you can bring your own beer or wine. The festival is sponsored by Google Fiber.

For more info click here.

#9 Stephane Wrembel Live

Arguably one of the greatest guitar players in America is coming to Charlotte to perform live at the Evening Muse.

For tickets or more info click here.

#10 Charlotte Knights Vs. Norfolk Tide

bbt-uptown-charlotte-ballpark2

The Charlotte Knights will be taking on the Buffalo Bisons this coming Friday, and Saturday at the now famous BB&T ballpark in Uptown Charlotte.

For more information or for tickets to any of the games click here.

If you think other events should be on this list or future lists, let us know – Scott@CharlotteStories.com

Private Security Officers Now Being Hired For All Fort Mill Elementary Schools

Charlotte Stories
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Private Security Officers Now Being Hired For All Fort Mill Elementary Schools

fort mill school security officerPrivate security guards are being hired for all Fort Mill Schools for this fall semester.

The school board approved contracts with the Fort Mill and Tega Cay police last month to provide private security officers for the Elementary Schools which didn’t already have a Middle School attached to them, including; Doby’s Bridge, Riverview, Orchard Park and Tega Cay.

The school board decided that they wanted to provide security throughout the entire district, not just at middle and high schools.

Numerous elementary school principals spoke to the school board before the vote, urging approval of the plan. Some said they and school staff are often the first-responders in potentially dangerous situations and that having an armed officer on campus would greatly increase security. They said officers also form relationships with students and help resolve conflicts with angry adult visitors.

What do you think about hiring private security guards for our Elementary Schools?

North Carolina’s Stricter Voting Laws Struck Down By US Supreme Court

Steve Peters
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North Carolina’s Stricter Voting Laws Struck Down By US Supreme Court

north carolina voter id lawsThe U.S. Supreme Court has just refused to reinstate North Carolina’s voter identification requirement and early voting restrictions.

The Supreme Court upheld the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’s ruling that North Carolina’s new state law was racially targeting.

Lawyers for North Carolina state officials were trying to delay the 4th Circuit Court’s ruling while they drafted an appeal on legal arguments for the Supreme Court to consider, but this delay has now officially been struck down.

The Supreme Court was equally divided in their ruling by a count of 4-4 (while by default upheld the lower court’s ruling), with the four more conservative justices supporting the state’s bid to enforce them in the upcoming election.

North Carolina’s highly contested law stipulated that a drivers license, state issued ID card, passport, military or Native American card would be required for a person to vote. It basically stopped the 318,000 registered North Carolina voters — disproportionately African-Americans and Latinos — that do not have a driver’s license, state issued, military, or tribal ID card. (birth certificates, social security cards, bank statements, or other forms of ID were no longer accepted). The law also stopped early voting and same-day registration.

The appeals court cited data that these methods were used disproportionately by black voters.

In 2012, 70 percent of black voters used early voting — and cast ballots at a slightly higher percentage than whites. Although black voters made up about 20 percent of the electorate, they made up 41 percent of voters who used same-day registration.

The new 2013 ‘Voter ID’ law was created in an attempt to stop voter impersonation, however, there was never any evidence of voter impersonation that might justify the voter ID requirements established by the new law.

When the law was originally passed in 2013, a former NC Republican Chairman even stated, “If it hurts a bunch of lazy blacks that want the government to give them everything, so be it…”

What do you think about North Carolina’s voter ID law? Do you think it should be upheld?

King Of Pops Just Launched Their New Willy Wonka ‘Golden Stick’ Contest In Honor of Gene Wilder

Steve
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King Of Pops Just Launched Their New Willy Wonka ‘Golden Stick’ Contest In Honor of Gene Wilder

golden stick king of popsThe King of Pop’s new retail location just launched their new Willy Wonka ‘Golden Stick’ contest in honor of the late Gene Wilder (the actor who played Willy Wonka in the 1971 movie ‘Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory’).

Just like in the movie, if you buy a winning popsicle with the golden ticket (stick), you’ll get a full tour of the King of Pops factory and you’ll be able to create your very own popsicle recipe, help make it, and take an entire box home with you.

The limited edition ‘Willy Wonka pop’ is filled with all sorts of candy goodness, including nerds, chocolate, and other secret ingredients;

king of pops golden ticket

When we stopped by the shop this morning, Martha Bland told us that they only produced 100 Wonka pops, and they’re expecting them to sell out soon.

They will only be selling them at their retail location at 2500 Dunavant St. in Charlotte’s South End daily from 12pm-9pm;

South End - King of Pops

UPDATE 8/31/20616 5:15pm: 

The golden stick has just been found:

The First Lady of NASCAR Has Just Passed Away

Charlotte Stories
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The First Lady of NASCAR Has Just Passed Away

Betty Jane France first lady of nascarBetty Jane France ‘the first lady of NASCAR‘ just passed away. The Winston-Salem native was credited with founding most of NASCAR’s philanthropic endeavors. She was also the wife of former NASCAR chairman Bill France Jr. and the mother of current NASCAR chairman Brian France and vice chairwoman Lesa France Kennedy.

Though her husband and children were involved in making NASCAR what it is today, France was perhaps best known for her charitable efforts.

She founded the NASCAR Foundation in 2006 and was its chairperson for many years, helped establish a children’s “Speediatrics” unit at two Florida hospitals and has her name on the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award presented annually by NASCAR.

France, whose age was not known publicly, saw her children become the key decision-makers in stock-car racing. Brian France is chairman and CEO of NASCAR, and Lesa France Kennedy is the CEO of International Speedway Corp., which owns tracks like Daytona International Speedway.


The NASCAR Hall of Fame just released the following statement:

“On behalf of everyone at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, I would like to send our most sincere condolences to Lesa, Brian and the entire France family on the passing of Betty Jane France. Affectionately and appropriately known as “The First Lady of NASCAR,” Betty Jane touched countless lives within the NASCAR industry and many, many more through her extensive philanthropic work. Her impact on the NASCAR community is immeasurable, working mostly quietly behind the scenes in a wide variety of capacities. Words cannot adequately describe her huge heart and her passion for helping those less fortunate and facing serious challenges. Speediactrics in Daytona Beach and the Betty Jane Humanitarian Award are just two of the numerous philanthropic efforts she has led. Betty Jane will be dearly missed, but her incredible legacy of helping others will live on forever.”  

FBI Issues Warrant For The Arrest Of Man Accused Of Masturbating On A Flight To Charlotte

Charlotte Stories
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FBI Issues Warrant For The Arrest Of Man Accused Of Masturbating On A Flight To Charlotte
via arthurdavidfischer.com
via arthurdavidfischer.com

The task officer in the Charlotte division of the FBI has just issued a warrant for the arrest of Arthur David Fischer for masturbating on American Airlines flight number 1775 from NYC to Charlotte, NC, according to the criminal complaint.

Three separate witnesses on the flight told authorities they saw Fischer expose himself on the flight.

One witness said that she awoke to see Fischer “put his right leg up on the middle seat” and proceed to rub his leg, then expose himself. After seeing this she immediately moved seats. The second witness, the son of the first, also moved after seeing what was happening.

The third witness stated that it was obvious what Fischer was doing.

Fischer stated that he may have exposed himself while wiping his groin area because it “smelled bad”.

The task force officer with the FBI states Fischer violated Section 46506 of Title 49 of the United States Code and District of Columbia Code by exposing himself and masturbating, “seated in the cabin of a commercial aircraft in flight…where any reasonable man would know that his acts would be open to observation by others.”

Arthur David Fischer is an artist who currently lives in New Orleans.

NC DMV Has Blocked Tesla Motors From Selling Any Cars in Charlotte

Steve
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NC DMV Has Blocked Tesla Motors From Selling Any Cars in Charlotte

tesla blocked in charlotteThe North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles recently ruled that Tesla Motors cannot sell or take orders or deposits for cars at its Charlotte area showroom and service facility, and blocked them from trying to sell cars at any new facility.

Consumers will still be able to buy Teslas from the company’s store in Raleigh, although the Raleigh store is also selling direct to consumers, which is the entire reason why the NC DMV blocked Tesla sales in Charlotte.

North Carolina state law technically prohibits any auto manufacturer from selling directly to consumers, unless the car maker is able to secure an exception, which is only granted if the car company shows that selling directly would benefit consumers.

Tesla recently applied for that exception in Charlotte and several local car dealers as well as the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association objected. The DMV then held a two-day hearing in Matthews, which resulted in a rejection of Tesla’s exception.

DMV hearing officer Larry Green said that not only did Tesla fail to make its case that selling its own cars would be in the best interest of the public, but there was also a local alternative. Green said that of four local dealers who were “willing” to sell Tesla automobiles, in his estimation three of them are qualified to do so.

Tesla’s next step would be to appeal to the DMV commissioner in Raleigh, and if an appeal doesn’t work, they could then take the NC DMV to court.

Many are now asking why the Raleigh Tesla Store can remain open without any local dealers or the DMV trying to block them. Are car dealers now fearful of the all-electric car maker’s increasing popularity? Or is this another attempt by Raleigh to show their dominance over the Charlotte market?

What do you think?

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