Charlotte area residents in earshot of the nuclear power plants on Lake Wylie and Lake Norman are about to hear emergency siren blasts on July 1st.
The Catawba and McGuire nuclear station sirens will be tested between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and may sound for five to 30 seconds. Officials said anyone who hears them during that window does not need to take action.
Some sirens could sound more than once, and follow-up testing may continue after 1 p.m. if maintenance crews need to check certain units again.
The test covers a large network of sirens around both plants, including 89 sirens near the Catawba Nuclear Station in York County and 67 sirens near the McGuire Nuclear Station in Huntersville.
Because this is only a test, local TV and radio stations will not interrupt programming with emergency alerts. In a real emergency, those stations would broadcast public instructions.
The testing is being done with emergency management agencies in Mecklenburg, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, and Catawba counties, along with York County in South Carolina.
For people around Charlotte, Lake Norman, and Lake Wylie, the bottom line is simple: if you hear a siren late Wednesday morning, it’s probably just the scheduled nuclear warning system test.
Last night, the York County Council unanimously approved the second-reading for incentives for Octapharma’s proposed $1.5 billion U.S. headquarters and plasma therapy manufacturing campus at Palmetto Research Park in Rock Hill.
The Swiss biopharmaceutical company plans to process donated human plasma into life-saving therapies, including immunoglobulins, coagulation factors, and albumin for rare diseases, immune disorders, and critical care. The project is expected to create over 1,200 direct jobs with strong average wages.
Councilman Bump Roddey’s amendment adjusted the FILOT tax revenue split: Rock Hill Schools would forgo 31.9% (improved from 50%), York County 50%, and the City of Rock Hill 100% of its share. While this directs more funding to schools, it requires separate City of Rock Hill approval. If the City rejects the change, the incentive package — and potentially the entire project — could be at risk.
A final City vote is now a key next step. Construction is slated to begin late 2026 if all approvals move forward.
Update – June 29th at 10am:
The York County Council has called a special meeting for tonight (June 29th) at 6pm to announced who the company is and what exactly they will be doing.
According to York County, “You’ll be able to learn who the company is, hear from them directly and receive details about their future plans during a public hearing and second reading before Council, scheduled for June 29, 2026. The public will also have the opportunity to provide feedback to Council during the meeting as well. The meeting will be held at the York County Government Center, located at 6 S. Congress Street in York.”
Original Article – June 14th at 8pm:
via palmettoresearchpark.com
A mysterious company operating under the code name “Project Palmetto Rock” could soon become the largest economic development investment in York County history.
York County Council is being asked to approve a Fee-in-Lieu of Tax agreement and other incentives for the project, including special source revenue credits designed to help attract the investment. Council will also consider authorizing staff to apply for a $65 million grant from the South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development, for site preparation, road improvements, and construction-related costs.
What makes Project Palmetto Rock unusual is the reference to establishing a “corporate headquarters.” Most major pharmaceutical companies, including Eli Lilly and Company and Novo Nordisk, typically announce manufacturing facilities rather than new headquarters locations. Based on this, it’s likely the project could involve a foreign biopharmaceutical company establishing a North American headquarters, regional headquarters, or flagship U.S. campus rather than simply adding another factory.
The most likely candidates are Samsung Biologics, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, and Lonza Group. All three companies have invested billions of dollars in advanced biologics manufacturing facilities in recent years and have pursued major U.S. expansion efforts.
The project is planned for land associated with the failed Panthers headquarters development near Interstate 77, which local officials have since rebranded as part of the Palmetto Research Park initiative.
The site is located within District 5, represented by York County Council Chairwoman Christi Cox.
The Panthers Fiasco — Christi Cox’s Central Role and Costly Failure
In 2020–2022, York County Council Chairwoman Christi Cox was one of the most vocal and active supporters of the Panthers project to be built in her district. Under her leadership, the County approved massive tax incentives and infrastructure commitments. When the deal began collapsing in early 2022 over Rock Hill’s failure to deliver promised bonds, Cox issued public statements insisting York County had “performed all of its obligations in good faith” and would “take all necessary measures to protect the taxpayers.”
York County and Rock Hill poured massive public resources into that project. When it collapsed in 2022, York County sued Tepper’s development entities and ultimately recovered $21 million in a settlement. But the true cost to taxpayers was far higher: forgone tax revenue, hundreds of millions in promised infrastructure, years of legal battles, demolished buildings, and a shattered reputation for economic development competence. The fiasco left local governments with empty land, broken promises, and a lingering financial hangover.
Same Playbook, New Code Name
This is part of a disturbing pattern in the region. Silfab Solar’s controversial chemical manufacturing facility in Fort Mill was originally hidden behind the code name “Project Mountie.” The massive QTS data center project was known internally as “Project Cobra.” Each time, local officials have used confidential code names to shield major deals from public scrutiny.
While Rock Hill handles this latest mystery buyer, York County — still led by Chairwoman Christi Cox — continues to demonstrate the same troubling approach to major projects.
Cox and County Manager Josh Edwards ignored the law to push forward Silfab’s toxic chemical factory directly next to elementary and middle schools, with their staff issuing all permits to Silfab after the Board of Zoning Appeals ruled their use prohibited in the Light Industrial district.
The pattern is unmistakable. Whether it was the Panthers headquarters collapse, the continued defense of Silfab’s unlawful operations, or the mishandling the QTS data centers, Chairwoman Christi Cox has repeatedly been at the center of decisions that prioritize big promises and insider deals over transparency, fiscal restraint, and public safety.
York County residents have already paid a steep price for the Panthers fiasco. With another secret code-name deal unfolding on the exact same ground — and the same leadership still in charge — taxpayers have every reason to demand full transparency and accountability before more public money and community trust are put at risk.
Meteorologists warn of a dangerous heat wave hitting the Charlotte region this week.
The National Weather Service forecasts sweltering highs Monday through Wednesday. Heat indices will soar above 100 degrees across greater Charlotte. Residents must prepare now for the intensifying threat.
🥵 Summer heat is turning up this week. Heat index values will reach the upper 90s to around 100°F today and Tuesday, with 100-105°F possible across parts of Upstate SC and northeast GA. Stay hydrated and take frequent breaks. #scwx#ncwx#gawxpic.twitter.com/7LiU6NapXe
Heat danger grows steadily over several days. Elevated overnight temperatures make recovery harder for the body. Nightly lows will climb higher as the week progresses.
North Carolina faces moderate to high extreme heat risk on July Fourth. Forecasters expect the holiday to feel dangerously hot and sticky.
The elderly, young children, and anyone who suffers from heat sensitivity, respiratory conditions, or heart or lung disease should limit their time outside this weekend.
If you’re planning on spending an extended amount of time outside this week, make sure you wear breathable clothes and consider getting a small fan, personal air conditioner, or evaporative cooling towel.
Relief is expected by Sunday when a cold front will bring temperatures back down into the 90s for our region.
Commuting through south Charlotte is about to get more expensive as toll lane fees are about to increase on I-485.
Beginning June 29, the North Carolina Turnpike Authority will raise tolls by up to 25 cents on five express lane segments during peak travel times.
Since opening in late February, the I-485 Express Lanes have logged more than 750,000 trips. Transportation officials say the targeted rate changes will help preserve reliable travel times as more drivers use the corridor.
The NC Quick Pass toll calculator has been updated with the new rates, and officials say additional adjustments could be made as traffic patterns change.
Drivers with an NC Quick Pass will be able to receive a 50% discount on North Carolina toll roads.
State transportation officials will continue monitoring traffic conditions and adjusting tolls as needed to keep the profits increasing.
The Charlotte Hornets have made one of the biggest moves in franchise history, trading former All-Star LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a blockbuster deal that has sparked strong reactions from fans across the Carolinas.
Many Hornets supporters quickly criticized the move online, calling it one of the franchise’s biggest mistakes in years. Others believe the trade gives Charlotte a chance to accelerate its rebuild with additional draft capital.
The Hornets traded Ball and reserve guard Josh Green to Minnesota in exchange for forward Naz Reid, an unprotected 2033 first-round draft pick, first-round pick swaps in 2028, 2029, and 2030, and three second-round picks in 2029, 2032, and 2033.
Ball leaves Charlotte after six NBA seasons that included an NBA Rookie of the Year award in 2021 and an All-Star selection in 2022. He averaged more than 20 points per game in each of the past five seasons and played 72 games last year, one of the healthiest and most productive seasons of his career.
Selected third overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, Lamelo Ball quickly became the face of the Hornets franchise. His flashy passing, deep shooting range, and high-profile family brought international attention to Charlotte and helped make him one of the league’s most recognizable young stars.
For Minnesota, the move creates a dynamic backcourt featuring Ball alongside All-Star Anthony Edwards. Reports indicated the Timberwolves were searching for another elite playmaker to strengthen their roster after concerns about keeping Edwards surrounded with championship-caliber talent.
Charlotte, meanwhile, adds one of the NBA’s top reserve forwards in Naz Reid while significantly increasing its future draft assets. The collection of picks and swaps gives the Hornets additional flexibility as they continue building for the future.
Whether the trade ultimately becomes a turning point or a missed opportunity will depend on how Charlotte develops its new assets and how Ball performs in Minnesota. For now, one thing is certain: the Hornets have moved on from the player who defined the franchise for much of the past six seasons, marking the beginning of a new era in Charlotte basketball.
Charlotte light rail riders could soon face more frequent ticket checks as city leaders move to crack down on fare evasion and improve safety across the transit system.
Charlotte City Council has approved a new “fare ambassador” program that will place uniformed inspectors on CATS trains to verify passengers have paid before riding.
The city approved a three-year, approximately $5 million contract with Block by Block to operate the program.
Charlotte City Council unanimously voted in favor of the $5 million fare ambassador program. No discussion pic.twitter.com/y1HM4qGFk8
CATS has already increased ticket checks in recent months, and officials estimate that roughly half of Blue Line riders were not paying fares earlier this year.
Officials have not yet announced when the program will begin or how many inspectors will be hired.
Shopping and dining in Charlotte are about to get more expensive. Beginning July 1, Mecklenburg County’s new 1% local sales tax officially takes effect, increasing the total sales tax rate from 7.25% to 8.25% (a 13.6% total increase).
The tax increase was approved by voters during a countywide referendum on Nov. 4, 2025. County leaders say the additional revenue will help fund transportation projects, including road improvements and transit expansion.
Starting Tuesday, the new 8.25% combined sales tax rate will apply to most purchases of tangible personal property, certain digital products, and other transactions already subject to North Carolina sales tax.
The new tax rate is made up of:
State tax: 4.75%
County tax: 2.00%
Transit tax: 0.50%
New additional county tax: 1.00%
Total sales tax:8.25%
The additional 1% tax does not apply to several items that are already taxed at special rates, including qualifying food, aircraft, boats, manufactured and modular homes, electricity, piped natural gas, telecommunications services, aviation fuel, video programming, and spirituous liquor.
The change also affects Mecklenburg County businesses. Retailers must begin collecting the new tax rate on all eligible sales beginning July 1 and use updated state sales tax forms for reporting periods after the change takes effect. Businesses that file electronically will see the new rate automatically reflected in the state’s online filing system.
For shoppers, the increase means paying an additional $1 in sales tax for every $100 spent on most taxable purchases. A $500 purchase, for example, will now cost an extra $5 in sales tax compared to last month.
The new tax makes Mecklenburg County one of the higher-taxed shopping destinations in North Carolina, with officials expecting the additional revenue to support long-term transportation investments across the county.
Rock Hill is preparing to celebrate its 175th anniversary with a unique new public art project that will permanently transform its downtown. City leaders have just approved plans to install 13 massive stone sculptures along the city’s Storyline urban park over the next two years.
The Rock Hill City Council approved a memorandum of understanding with North Carolina artists Carl and Ethan Peverall, a father-and-son stone sculpting team that has worked together professionally since 2011.
The sculptures will be placed throughout the Storyline, a two-mile urban park that connects Winthrop University with Fountain Park in downtown Rock Hill. City officials say the artwork will commemorate the city’s past, present, and future while enhancing one of Rock Hill’s signature public spaces.
Five sculptures are scheduled to be installed by April 2027 in time for Rock Hill’s 175th anniversary celebration. The remaining eight will be added by December 2027.
Under the agreement, donors will fund 10 of the sculptures, while fundraising efforts will continue for two additional pieces. The Peveralls will donate the 13th sculpture to the city at no cost.
The city will prepare installation sites, coordinate transportation, and host a public unveiling event in the spring of 2027. The artists will assist with installation, participate in community events, and provide ongoing maintenance and repairs if needed.
One of the sculptures is currently on loan in Cashiers, North Carolina, and will be transferred to Rock Hill before its installation in late 2027.
The project is part of Rock Hill’s ongoing investment in the Storyline, a growing network of parks, trails, and public spaces designed to connect downtown destinations while celebrating the city’s history through art and storytelling.
The memorandum of understanding remains in effect through Jan. 1, 2028, as the city completes the installation of all 13 sculptures.
With Fourth of July travel expected to surge, researchers at Luxury Link analyzed domestic airline traffic data to examine the metros and states that see the largest increase in arriving flights for the holiday.
The analysis found that scheduled flights rise 16.3% during the week ending on July 4th, while cancellations jump 121.5% and flights delayed more than three hours increase 74.6%.
Alaska (+51.7%), Maine (+50.9%), and Montana (+49.9%) experience the nation’s largest holiday-related increases in arriving flights. For complete rankings, see the full report below.
Key Takeaways, With Data for Charlotte, NC
Holiday Travel Surge: The Charlotte metro ranks #39 out of 51 large metros included in the analysis for Fourth of July travel demand—with arriving flights increasing +13.8% during Independence Day week compared to the rest of the year. Out of all 330 metros in the analysis, the Charlotte metro ranks #205.
Flight Cancellations: Flight cancellations in the Charlotte metro increase +163.6% during the Fourth of July travel period, highlighting the strain that holiday demand can place on airline operations.
Long Delays: Flights delayed more than three hours increase +81.1% in the Charlotte metro during Independence Day week.
The 1994 men’s World Cup was a significant watershed moment for soccer. Since 1930, the tournament had bounced around South America and Europe every four years, with a couple of editions in Mexico. The hosts were different – having a tournament in Chile is very different from having one in Sweden – but they were all “soccer nations,” where the beautiful game was the most popular sport.
We know that wasn’t the case in the USA in 1994, and it still isn’t the case in 2026, but the decision to host the World Cup here in the 90s was the first instance of using the tournament as a means of growth. The idea was that exposing the US to soccer would grow the profile of the game in the world’s wealthiest country, helping soccer take a slice of America’s lucrative sports pie.
US interest in soccer has risen
Did it work? Not really. The MLS is stronger today than it was in the 1990s, but that is not a legacy of the World Cup, at least not directly. Soccer is, overall, more popular than it was in the 1990s. Some of that is organic, coming through the rise of social media and streaming, making it more accessible than ever before. Some of it is more deliberate, such as the project at Inter Miami, which, among other things, brought the world’s greatest player, Lionel Messi, to play his trade in the MLS.
But what sort of impact will the 2026 World Cup have? As we get underway, it will be interesting to see how the excitement grows. It is, of course, also playing in Canada and Mexico, but the US has the lion’s share of the knockout games, and it will have the World Cup Final on July 19in NY-NJ at MetLife Stadium.
Arguably, tournaments need narratives to catch the casual fans’ attention – look at the current NBA Finals with the long-suffering Knicks and Wembanyama-inspired Spurs, for example – and probably the best way for that to happen is with a good performance from the USMNT.
The USMNT is an underdog
Let’s be frank, the US won’t win the tournament. They are longshots in the World Cup odds. More worryingly, the form of the team hasn’t been anything to write home about. But in saying that, this is a very good US squad – light-years ahead of the 1994 team in quality, and probably superior to the 2002 team that made the quarter-finals in Japan and Korea.
That type of run into the latter stages of the tournament would be just the thing to capture the imagination of the wider public. There is a potential Round of 16 clash with Argentina in Atlanta on July 7 if the group stage pans out as forecasters expect, though there are too many potential outcomes in a complicated 48-team tournament. Yet, a matchup like that would be instant box-office viewing, especially as we will be in the offseason for the NFL and NBA.
Of course, it is not only the case that the USMNT must do well for Americans to enjoy the action. World Cups can be funny things, throwing up interesting side stories and heroes It could be a minnow team, someone like Haiti or Cabo Verde, that suddenly charms the rest of the world with their exploits. Morocco did it in 2022. Or maybe it’s the prospect of a heavyweight clash, which could happen if Portugal runs into Argentina, which would see Lionel Messi take on Cristiano Ronaldo in what is likely their final tournament.
It’s our view that this World Cup will take time to warm up. The scope of the tournament – literally and figuratively – is too big, and there is a distinct lack of jeopardy in the format. But when we reach the knockout stages, the business end of the tournament, we may see the public really engage. After that, we will see if men’s soccer makes its big impression on the US at the second attempt.
Charlotte area residents in earshot of the nuclear power plants on Lake Wylie and Lake Norman are about to hear emergency siren blasts on July 1st.
Last night, the York County Council unanimously approved the second-reading for incentives for 
The most likely candidates are 
This is part of a disturbing pattern in the region. Silfab Solar’s controversial chemical manufacturing facility in Fort Mill was originally hidden behind the code name “Project Mountie.” The massive QTS data center project was known internally as “Project Cobra.” Each time, local officials have used confidential code names to shield major deals from public scrutiny.
Meteorologists warn of a dangerous 
Commuting through south Charlotte is about to get more expensive as 
The Charlotte Hornets have made one of the biggest moves in franchise history, trading former All-Star LaMelo Ball to the 
Charlotte light rail riders could soon face more frequent ticket checks as city leaders move to crack down on fare evasion and improve safety across the transit system.
Shopping and dining in Charlotte are about to get more expensive. Beginning July 1, Mecklenburg County’s 
Rock Hill is preparing to celebrate its 175th anniversary with a unique new public art project that will permanently transform its downtown. 
With Fourth of July travel expected to surge, researchers at Luxury Link analyzed domestic airline traffic data to examine the metros and states that see the largest increase in arriving flights for the holiday.
The 1994 men’s World Cup was a 