New NC Cannabis Report Warns State’s THC Market Has Become a “Wild West”

A new state report is calling North Carolina’s cannabis market a “Wild West,” warning that unregulated products are widely available and pose growing public health risks.

The draft report from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services outlines a system where intoxicating THC products are already being sold across the state with little oversight or consistent standards.

The report comes from a governor-appointed advisory council tasked with recommending how the state should handle cannabis moving forward.

Details

State officials say intoxicating cannabis products are being sold in vape shops, convenience stores, and online without uniform rules for:

  • testing
  • labeling
  • packaging
  • age verification

That lack of regulation has created what the report describes as a “dangerous policy gap” between prohibition and meaningful oversight.

The council found that consumers, parents, and law enforcement face growing uncertainty, while youth access and safety concerns continue to rise.

Key Recommendations

The report outlines a major shift in how North Carolina could regulate cannabis.

Instead of treating hemp and marijuana separately, the council recommends regulating products based on THC content and intoxicating effects, regardless of source.

Leaders also support creating a regulated adult-use market, while maintaining protections for medical users.

Proposed safeguards include:

  • stricter age limits
  • product testing for contaminants
  • clearer labeling requirements
  • stronger enforcement authority

Officials say this approach would improve safety while bringing accountability to a market that already exists.

Background

The advisory council was created in 2025 by Gov. Josh Stein to study cannabis policy and recommend a comprehensive statewide approach.

North Carolina remains one of the few states without a fully legal cannabis program, even as hemp-derived THC products continue to expand.

The council noted that billions of dollars are already being spent in unregulated or illegal cannabis markets across the state.

A final report with more detailed recommendations is expected in December 2026.

Local Impact

For the Charlotte region and across North Carolina, the report signals that major changes to cannabis laws could be on the horizon.

Lawmakers will ultimately decide whether to adopt a regulated system, but state leaders say action is needed to protect consumers and bring order to the rapidly growing market.

Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett Dies at 22 After Rare Cancer Battle

Carrie Everett, who was crowned Miss North Carolina in 2024, has died at age 22 after battling a rare and aggressive form of stomach cancer, according to her family’s GoFundMe.

Everett passed away on Easter Sunday following a diagnosis of metastatic signet ring cell carcinoma, a fast-moving cancer that originates in the stomach.

A student at North Carolina Central University, she majored in vocal performance and used her platform to advocate for greater access to opportunity.

In July 2025, scans revealed masses in her abdomen. By March, her family shared that chemotherapy was no longer working and began exploring out-of-state treatment options.

Everett made history as the fourth Black woman to win the Miss North Carolina title since 1937. She often spoke about growing up as the child of immigrants and overcoming financial challenges, including wearing borrowed and thrifted gowns during competitions.

She hoped to build a future focused on expanding educational opportunities for young girls.

Her diagnosis was especially rare, as signet ring cell carcinoma is most commonly found in adults around age 40.

Everett’s story has resonated across North Carolina, leaving a lasting impact through her advocacy, resilience, and commitment to helping others.

2 Earthquakes Struck NC This Weekend Between Charlotte and Greensboro

Two shallow earthquakes struck a small town between Charlotte and Greensboro yesterday less than an hour of each other, according to the United States Geological Survey.

A magnitude 2.3 quake struck near Randleman, NC (about 60 miles NE of Charlotte) yesterday at 2:15 PM at a depth of .02 kilometers, followed by a second quake 30 minutes later with the same magnitude at a depth of .01 kilometers.

Earthquakes have been increasing in frequency around the Charlotte region over the past few years. Last year, we experienced the largest earthquake in over 100 years when a 5.1 magnitude quake hit Sparta, NC, and since then, dozens of aftershocks have continued to rattle our state.

According to USGS.gov, “Moderately damaging earthquakes strike the inland Carolinas every few decades, and smaller earthquakes are felt about once each year or two.”

Have you felt any of the quakes?

The Cheesecake Factory Planning To Open Third Charlotte-Area Location

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A building review plan filed March 30 with Cabarrus County shows the Cheesecake Factory is planning on opening their 3rd Charlotte-area location in the Concord Mills Mall. The new location is part of their larger expansion plans, including 26 new locations across the country in 2026.

The Cheesecake Factory is known for its large menu, featuring more than 250 items and over 30 cheesecake flavors.

The brand first opened in the region in 2002 at SouthPark mall. A second location debuted in 2023 at Birkdale Village in Huntersville.

Concord Mills, which opened in 1999, spans about 1.4 million square feet and includes roughly 190 stores, restaurants, and attractions. Recent additions include new retail shops and family entertainment venues, with events like the LuminoCity Dino Safari set to open in May.

The new restaurant is expected to boost foot traffic and add jobs as the company continues its national expansion. The Cheesecake Factory operates more than 370 locations across North America and reported $3.8 billion in revenue last year.

Lee’s Sandwich Shop named 2026 Cabarrus Burger Madness Winner

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Throughout March, diners in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, savored and voted on limited-time specialty burgers from 25 local restaurants during the sixth annual Cabarrus Burger Madness. After 31 days of sizzling competition, 2025 winner Lee’s Sandwich Shop has been named this year’s champion!

The “Lee’s Burgerizza Mama Mia!” featured two 4-ounce pesto garlic marinated hamburger patties with melted cheddar cheese in between. The burger was topped with house-made marinara sauce and melted mozzarella, along with a choice of toppings including grilled onions and peppers, mushrooms, black olives, pepperoni and jalapeño bacon served on grilled pita bread and garnished with Parmesan cheese.

“What began as a way to support our local restaurants during a difficult season has transformed into a culinary event worth traveling for,” said Donna Carpenter, Cabarrus County CVB President and CEO. “This initiative is a success thanks to the creativity and dedication of our local eateries and the overwhelming enthusiasm from our community and visitors. We appreciate everyone who joined in on the fun and can’t wait until next year.”

With 25 mouthwatering burgers to choose from, the 2026 competition offered the most options to date, including creations from four returning champions and four restaurants entering for the first time. Collectively, participating restaurants sold 9,500 specialty burgers! Passholders from 14 states utilized the free mobile pass to track their culinary adventure.

The Cabarrus County CVB introduced Cabarrus Burger Madness in 2021 to support local restaurants amid the pandemic. Six years in, the friendly competition remains a highly anticipated month-long event for the unique burgers and community spirit it generates.

Cabarrus Burger Madness will return in March 2027. In the meantime, visitors and residents alike are encouraged to explore everything the destination’s dining scene has to offer and support local restaurants year-round. Information and inspiration for places to eat in Cabarrus County can be found at ExploreCabarrus.com/eat.

Charlotte’s $650M Stadium Renovation Gets State Approval and New Oversight

via Panthers

The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor will oversee Charlotte’s $650 million investment to renovate Bank of America Stadium, adding new accountability to one of the region’s largest public projects.

The plan received unanimous approval from the North Carolina Local Government Commission, allowing the City of Charlotte to move forward with financing.

The city will issue $650 million in Special Obligation Bond Anticipation Notes to fund the renovations. Charlotte City Council approved the spending in a 7–3 vote in 2024.

The tax payer funding will come from Charlotte’s Convention Center Fund, raised through a one-percent tax on restaurant tabs and hotel stays.

The new Bank of America Stadium would feature:

  • A park-like setting and exterior video boards for watch parties.
  • A new sound system, scoreboard, and video boards.
  • Social areas with skyline views and improved concessions.
  • Expanded Team Store for Panthers and Charlotte FC fans.
  • New seats and upgraded restrooms.
  • Improved accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
  • Enhanced safety and security features, including better lighting.
  • Redesigned South Lawn Pavilion for community use.
  • Modernized building systems to reduce environmental impact.

Dave Boliek backed the plan, citing the city’s triple-A bond rating and verified ability to repay the debt. His office will now work with the city and Tepper Sports & Entertainment to provide regular updates and added transparency.

“This is an important project for Charlotte. With $650 million being spent in public funds, it is incumbent on the North Carolina State Auditor’s Office to provide regular financial oversight updates on the Bank of America Stadium upgrades,” said State Auditor Dave Boliek in a press release. “Through this innovative effort, and as the fiscal watchdog of the State, our office will bring transparency and accountability to the people of Charlotte on how the public’s money is being spent.”

The funding is supported by the Mecklenburg meals tax extension approved by the North Carolina General Assembly and signed into law in 2023.

Bank of America Stadium, operated by Tepper Sports & Entertainment since 2018, hosts about 40 major events annually along with dozens of corporate and community events. The venue draws visitors from across the country and more than 75 nations.

City leaders say the upgrades will help Charlotte compete for major events while securing a non-relocation agreement for the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC through April 1, 2046, delivering long-term economic benefits for the region.

Charlotte Metro Ranks #11 in the Nation for Office-to-Apartment Conversions With 1,649 Units in the Pipeline

As office-to-apartment conversions continue to reshape downtowns across the country, Charlotte is cementing its place on the national map.

According to RentCafe’s annual Future Office-to-Apartment Conversion Report, Charlotte ranks #11 in the U.S. for future office-to-apartment conversions with 1,649 units in the works across the metro.

Here are the key highlights for the Charlotte metro:

  • Office-to-apartment conversions now make up 47% of all future adaptive reuse activity in the Charlotte metro, which has a total pipeline of 3,492 units across all building types.
  • Among the projects in the pipeline are 526 South Church Street with 460 apartments currently under construction in Uptown and 2101 Rexford Road with 675 upcoming units.
  • Charlotte’s office-to-apartment pipeline saw a -8% dip year-over-year — a slowdown following a period of rapid expansion. Several metros are seeing similar trends this year, including Minneapolis (-22%), Kansas City (-19%), and Pittsburgh (-11%).

Nationally, the office-to-apartment pipeline reached a new record of 90,300 units as of early 2026, up 28% year-over-year and nearly four times larger than in 2022. Office conversions now represent 47% of all future adaptive reuse projects nationwide.

First SC Governor Debate Turns to Gambling, Taxes, and Corruption

The first Republican debate for South Carolina’s 2026 governor’s race brought four candidates to the stage Wednesday, marking the first open race in 16 years without an incumbent.

The event, held at the Newberry Opera House, drew a sold-out crowd of about 400 people as voters gathered ahead of the June 9 primary.

Details

The debate featured four candidates:

  • Josh Kimbrell
  • Nancy Mace
  • Ralph Norman
  • Alan Wilson

The sharpest divide of the debate came on South Carolina’s gambling policy.

Norman and Wilson both opposed casinos, citing concerns about crime and human trafficking. Wilson said he would consider discussions around online gambling, noting limits on enforcement.

Kimbrell opposed mobile betting but supported a casino along Interstate 95 to boost economic development in struggling areas.

Mace avoided taking a firm stance, saying she would review legislation and seek public input.

Candidates were also asked to name the state’s biggest issue.

Kimbrell, Mace, and Wilson pointed to affordability and the rising cost of living, emphasizing tax cuts as a solution.

Norman instead highlighted government “fraud, abuse, and corruption” and called for term limits.

Many took Norman’s comments as disingenuous, given that his political career started almost 20 years ago in 2008, and given that, as the co-founder of the congressional solar caucus, he took campaign contributions from Silfab’s lobbying firm SEIA, than admitted on video to personally calling every member of the York County Council and pressuring them to approve Silfab’s factory in Fort Mill. He has continuously been a strong vocal supporter of one of the most controversial factories in the Charlotte region, despite overwhelming and continuous pushback from his constituents.

The debate also featured lighter moments. A protester in a chicken costume stood outside, taking aim at Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, who did not attend.

Evette said earlier that participation costs limited how many supporters she could bring.

What’s Next

Additional candidates did not appear due to eligibility or scheduling issues, though more are expected in future events.

Upcoming Republican debates are scheduled at:

  • College of Charleston on April 21
  • Wofford College on May 26

A potential runoff debate is set for June 16 at Coastal Carolina University.

Candidates will also appear April 9 in Florence at a forum hosted by Russell Fry.

How Aviator Turned One Simple Decision Into a High-Engagement Game Format

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There are plenty of online games that look busy from the start. They arrive with layers of symbols, multiple features, side rules, bonus mechanics, and the expectation that the player will spend a little time learning how everything works. Aviator took a very different route. It removed almost all of that. At its core, the format revolves around one simple question. Do you cash out now, or do you wait a little longer? That decision is not complicated in theory. In practice, it is the entire reason the game holds attention so well. Aviator shows how a very small mechanic can become highly engaging when the timing, visibility, and emotional pressure are all built around it in the right way.

A game built on immediate clarity

One reason Aviator stands out is that it makes itself easy to understand almost instantly. A player does not need to memorize symbols or figure out a complicated paytable before the experience begins to make sense. The round starts, the multiplier rises, and the tension builds second by second. That is enough.

This clarity matters more than it may seem. In digital entertainment generally, the products that keep people engaged are often the ones that explain themselves quickly. People are used to fast interfaces, short videos, live alerts, and instant reactions. Aviator fits naturally into that environment because the game does not make the player work to understand what is happening. The pressure comes from the decision itself, not from confusion around the rules. That makes the experience feel immediate from the first round.

Why one decision feels more intense than it sounds

If someone only reads a description of Aviator, the game can sound almost too simple. Watch the number rise, place an aviator bet, and decide when to leave. That is all. But the real tension comes from the fact that the same choice feels different every time. Cashing out early can feel smart one round and frustrating the next. Waiting longer can feel bold, then suddenly reckless. The mechanic stays the same, but the emotional meaning of the choice keeps changing.

That is what gives the format its grip. It creates repeated involvement without needing repeated complexity. The player is not being asked to learn something new each round. They are being asked to face the same decision under slightly different emotional conditions. That difference is important. Complexity can attract attention at first, but pressure is what often sustains it.

Visibility changed the feeling of risk

Traditional online casino games often hide the key moment behind the system. A spin ends, the result appears, and only then does the player see what happened. Aviator shifts the experience by making the tension visible in real time. The multiplier rising on screen changes the texture of the decision. It gives the player a live moment to react to instead of a closed result to receive. That may sound like a small design adjustment, but it changes the relationship between player and game. Risk feels more personal when it is unfolding in front of you. The player is not simply waiting for an answer. They are choosing whether to act before the moment disappears. That gives Aviator a more active rhythm than many traditional formats, even though the basic structure is minimal.

Why the format keeps people engaged

Aviator works because it understands that engagement does not always come from adding more. Sometimes it comes from isolating one pressure point and building the whole experience around it, which is part of why games like this have found a natural place on major platforms such as Betway. The game has speed. It has visibility. It has a clear feedback loop. Most of all, it has a decision that remains simple while never feeling completely settled. Players know what they are supposed to do, but they never know exactly how the next moment will feel when the choice arrives. That is why Aviator turned one simple decision into a high-engagement game format. It found a way to make timing itself feel like a game.

Home Cleaning Advice for the Immunocompromised

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How should people with weak or compromised immune systems clean their homes? Can they avoid risks while still keeping their home looking spotless? There are some excellent adaptations they can make to standard cleaning practices that will help them meet their home cleanliness goals while still protecting themselves.

Keep on reading to see what the best methods are for home cleaning as an immunocompromised person. These can help you to stay safe while ensuring that you keep a hygienic environment for yourself and the people you care about.

Clean with Protective Equipment

The first step to take in cleaning your home safely is to wear the right gear. Ensure that you wear gloves that do not trigger allergies and that will protect you from germs and other irritants. You should also wear a face mask while you work, and the best kinds are those that provide easy breathing while filtering out germs. We recommend eye protection as  well, such as a sturdy, comfortable pair of goggles.

It is also a good idea to wear protective clothing that you remove as soon as you are done cleaning. You can wear an apron or coveralls to keep your body protected and a long-sleeved shirt and long pants to protect your limbs. For your protection, you should remove these clothes as soon as you are done cleaning, place them in a laundry basket or into a washing machine, and then take a shower to get rid of any germs or irritants that might have stuck to your body.

Ensure High-Touch Areas Are Cleaned Often

It is important to clean those areas that people most often come into contact with. These are likely to be doorknobs, handles, countertops, chairs, and tables. These items are where germs will usually collect, and they are going to be the most dangerous places in the house for your skin to touch.

For your safety, you should disinfect them and wipe them down each day. If you want to clean less often, then at least clean these areas when you have someone come over to your house. After they leave, just disinfect those high-touch spots so that your home is less likely to have contaminants. If you are diligent with this practice, you can greatly reduce your risk of catching a virus or becoming ill. 

Use Professional Cleaners when Possible

One great way to reduce your contact with germs and pathogens is to use a residential cleaning company. Let them do the cleaning so that you don’t have to touch the dirty carpets, shelves, and windows. They can handle regular cleaning tasks for you and make our home look spotless while you stay safe and take a break.

It may not be feasible for you to hire cleaners to come every week, but if you use them as often as possible, you will greatly reduce your risk of contracting a virus or becoming ill. You will protect your immune system better because you won’t be doing as much cleaning, and you will get a house that is well cleaned and hygienic.

One suggestion we would make here is to utilize professional cleaners during flu season or other times when you are most at risk. Use them after you have had guests over so that you minimize your exposure to contaminants, and make use of them at other strategic times where it makes sense to protect yourself and have someone else do the cleaning.

Use Disinfectants That Are Safe

The disinfecting cleaners you use may not be the best ones for your home and your health. Have you considered the type of disinfectants that you use? Are they safe for you or do they trigger allergic reactions or sensitivity problems? Are they powerful enough to kill germs and make your home safe?

Ask these questions about your cleaning tools so that you get the right ones and don’t waste your time on ineffective or harmful cleaning solutions. In order to keep yourself safe, use disinfectants that are plant based and that do not use toxic chemicals. If you take this precaution, then you’ll be less likely to have a bad reaction to the cleaners. It is wise to talk to your doctor about what type of cleaning chemicals are safe to use and which ones you should be avoiding.

You should be trying to avoid strong and harmful chemicals like parabens, chlorine, sulfates, ammonia, and similar ingredients that may not be safe for you. What many people do with autoimmune diseases is use cleaners that they make themselves from safe components that they can trust. When you control what goes into your disinfectant cleaners, you control what lingers around your home.

Keep Dust and Allergens away with HEPA Filters

The final piece of advice you want to give you is to use HEPA filters in your home to reduce dust and allergens. These filters do an excellent job of stopping contaminants and irritants from entering the airways. They improve your environment and boost the air quality in your home, leading to a healthier space for you and your family.

Check the air filters in your home to see if they are HEPA filters or not. If not, then you will definitely want to replace them, but if they are, ensure that they are changed out regularly so that they are clean and effective at all times. With the right kind of filters, you may notice a big difference in your home’s air quality. It should be easier to breathe, and you should encounter fewer irritants in your home.

This also makes the home easier to clean, reducing dust. Many of our points in this article are designed to help you have a cleaner home and a smaller workload. By reducing the effort it takes to clean your house and creating a more hygienic environment, you should be able to live an easier and healthier life with fewer risks to your immune system.