Thousands of Atrium Health patients across the Charlotte region could be eligible for cash payments as part of a $1.8 million class-action settlement involving the health system’s online patient portal.

The settlement resolves allegations that Atrium Health used tracking pixel technology on its website and, for a limited period, shared certain personal and health-related information with third parties, including Meta and Google. Atrium denied wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement.

The settlement applies to patients who had a MyAtriumHealth or MyCarolinas account at any time between Jan. 1, 2015, and April 10, 2024.

Eligible patients fall into one of two groups:

Group 1: Patients who accessed their online portal between Jan. 1, 2015, and July 31, 2019, are eligible to receive a proportional share of the settlement fund after attorney fees and administrative costs are deducted.
Group 2: Patients who had an account during the settlement period but did not access it during those earlier years may receive up to $10. Payments may be reduced if approved claims exceed the group’s $300,000 allocation.

Patients must submit a claim to receive a payment.

Eligible patients can submit a claim online or by mail through the court-approved settlement website. Claims must be filed by September 28, 2026. Alternatively, you could have a claim advisors handle it for you here.

The settlement administrator’s mailing address is:

Julie Roberts, et al. v. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority
c/o Kroll Settlement Administration
P.O. Box 225391
New York, NY 10150-5391

A tractor-trailer fire caused miles of traffic backups on Interstate 485 during Charlotte’s Monday evening rush hour.

The charred semi could be seen along I-485 Outer near Exit 4 at Steele Creek Road. The cleanup of the wreck is now creating significate congestion as drivers headed through southwest Charlotte during the worst driving window of the day. Traffic is backed up roughly five exits to Wilkinson Boulevard at Exit 9, according to Queen City News.

TRAFFIC ALERT | Heavy delays on I-485 Outer from charred tractor-trailer in SW Charlotte. #CLTtraffichttps://t.co/t0rc3AuhMI pic.twitter.com/W2FjJgk8en

— QCN Traffic (@QCNTraffic) August 31, 2026

Authorities said no one was transported from the scene following the fire, which first began just before noon today.

Drivers traveling along I-485 Outer should expect lingering delays as crews handle the scene and traffic clears.

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte has enrolled 33,045 students for the fall 2026 semester, surpassing the University’s previous record of 32,207 in 2025. This marks the third consecutive year of record-breaking enrollment at the University.

Charlotte’s enrollment was boosted by a record first-year class of 5,165 and record transfer class of 3,154. This year’s enrollment includes 27,464 undergraduate students and 5,581 graduate students. The University’s student population spans a broad geographic area, including 99 North Carolina counties, 46 states and 109 other countries.

“Record enrollment is a strong vote of confidence in the value of a UNC Charlotte education,” said Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber. “More students are choosing Charlotte because they see the opportunities that come with attending a major research university in one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities. As we continue to grow, our focus remains on ensuring every student has the support, experiences and connections they need to succeed here and well beyond graduation.”

The University continues to attract high-achieving students. The incoming first-year class arrives with an average weighted GPA of 3.96. Charlotte’s transfer student enrollment for the fall 2026 semester is 3,154 – a 5.6% increase over the fall 2025 semester.

Online learning options have boosted transfer enrollment, providing access and opportunity for working adults, allowing students to quickly address workforce needs in the region. Reflecting growing demand from learners balancing work, family and other responsibilities, enrollment among undergraduates aged 25 and older increased 9%, with fully online programs driving the growth. Charlotte Online enrollment rose 21%, from 2,900 to 3,514 students. Enrollment in Charlotte’s online bachelor’s programs —  ranked No. 1 in North Carolina and No. 4 nationally — grew 66%, from 950 to 1,579 students. This includes 103 students in the new B.A. in Computer Science with a concentration in AI-Assisted Software Engineering.

The record enrollment comes during a period of significant momentum for UNC Charlotte. In the past two years, the University achieved R1 status, recognizing its high level of research activity. In June, Charlotte received the largest research award in University history — up to $160 million from the National Science Foundation. These milestones reflect the University’s growing reputation for academic excellence, research innovation and student opportunity.

Flock Safety built its brand on roadside plate cameras. Now the company is betting on their latest technology – AI surveillance drones.

CEO Garrett Langley said this month on the “All-In” podcast that Flock’s license plate readers now only make up half of Flock’s “forward-looking revenue”, and he said drones are, “our fastest growing business right now.”

Police departments around Charlotte are buying in. The pitch is simple. A 911 call launches a docked drone before a patrol car leaves the lot.

Flock calls the program Drone as First Responder. The aircraft sit in rooftop docks at stations and firehouses. Then operators fly them remotely and stream live video back to headquarters.

The company’s Alpha drone can reach about 60 mph. Flock also says its camera can read plates from up to 2,000 feet. Unlike hobby drones, these craft can fly beyond an operator’s line of sight. Therefore, dispatchers can run several missions from a desk. Police can fly multiple drones with AI-driven navigation from a desk and use advanced AI technology to ‘predict’ possible criminal offenders even before a crime is committed.

Mooresville was among the first local agencies to deploy the system. The department launched their first drone program in late 2025. Three dock at headquarters near U.S. 21 and Brawley School Road. Three now sit at One Mooresville Center.

The Flock drone growth arrives as the company faces a wave of alleged abuse.

On July 29, agents arrested CMPD Officer Seth Elliott. Investigators say he queried Flock and the state’s CJLEADS database on June 16. Records allege he ran an undercover plate for a Watauga County drug target.

CMPD does not own Flock cameras. Still, Charlotte officers can search devices owned by other agencies. Elliott was charged with illegally accessing a government computer and placed on unpaid leave.

Mooresville faced its own case. Officer Elizabeth Snowman was arrested after alleged searches of her boyfriend’s ex-wife. Police later found policy violations among other officers, but no extra criminal charges.

South Carolina saw similar fallout. Greer fired two officers in June after unauthorized searches. Greenville County later fired two sheriff’s employees after an audit. Meanwhile, Pageland police said vandals cut down Flock poles.

Flock has shortened default data retention to seven days and made audits mandatory. Even so, the local question remains sharp. Drones can beat officers to a scene. Yet the same system has already been used to track partners, neighbors, and undercover cars. That debate is no longer abstract here.