The City of Charlotte is about to take out a $200 million loan to improve traffic flow, increase bike paths, reducing congestion, repairing bridges and sidewalks, and upgrade traffic signals.

At the recent Local Government Commission (LGC) meeting, the state approved a $200 million request to issue a short-term bond. The bond, backed by general obligation debt, will be drawn in monthly advances as project work begins. The bond bears a variable interest rate tied to SOFR and matures in 2028, with a possible extension to 2031. The city can repay early without penalty.

No new land will be added to existing ground leases, and the project is expected to boost jobs, tourism, and tax revenue.

PNC Bank will purchase the bond; Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein is serving as bond counsel, and DEC Associates is the municipal advisor. The LGC, chaired by State Treasurer Brad Briner, ensures that local governments only take on reasonable and affordable debt.

Waymo’s autonomous vehicles have just arrived in Charlotte.

Yesterday, at least a dozen Waymo driverless Jaguars were spotted in a parking lot next to the Panthers stadium. User WarriusBirde uploaded a shot of the vehicles to Reddit:

Posts from the charlotte
community on Reddit

The company said the vehicles are here in the Queen City to begin an extensive mapping and testing of all of our roads. Waymo policy requires that all roads be driven on at least 3 times before full driverless status can be opened up to the public in any particular city.

Residents have spotted a row of Waymo’s white, sensor-packed electric Jaguars parked near the Panthers’ practice fields in Uptown.

The vehicles appear staged in a gravel lot off McNinch Street, where at least a dozen cars have been lined up. The presence suggests Waymo is in an early “mapping and validation” phase, a step the company typically completes before opening rides to the public.

Charlotte’s Waymo arrival comes the same week as the company announced the launching of their service in four new markets: Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando = bringing their active dispatch footprint to 10 major U.S. metro areas.

Waymo says its robotaxis already deliver more than 400,000 trips each week. Those rides currently operate in Phoenix, the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta, and Austin. The company now has a goal of surpassing 1 million weekly paid trips by the end of 2026.

To fuel their rapid growth, Waymo recently raised $16 billion at a $126 billion valuation in mostly private equity.

For Charlotte, the immediate impact is simple: don’t expect public robotaxi rides yet. The sightings point to early groundwork, not an open service.

Still, the fleet presence raises the stakes for what comes next. If Waymo progresses beyond mapping, Charlotte could eventually join a short list of U.S. cities with truly driverless ride-hailing.

The Mecklenburg County Natural Resources staff has just announced they will be setting the Latta Nature Preserve on fire today at around noon as part of a controlled burn.

The county sent out an alert noting that smoke will be seen around West Charlotte and Huntersville today between 1-4 pm:

“Mecklenburg County Natural Resources staff are conducting a controlled burn today beginning around 1:00 at Latta Nature Preserve off of Sample Road. Smoke will affect air quality in the downwind area for 2-3 hours. To reduce your exposure to smoke, stay indoors or avoid areas of heavy smoke.”

For more information on controlled burns click here.

“Married at First Sight” is casting Charlotte singles for an upcoming season, putting local residents in the mix for the show’s match-and-marry premise.

The series pairs strangers through relationship experts, then has them meet at the altar and get married immediately. Couples take a honeymoon, move in together, and navigate daily life for several weeks. On “Decision Day,” they choose to stay married or get divorced.

Interested singles can apply online here. Applicants must be at least 21, have a valid passport, and be legally single. Producers also ask personal questions about past relationships, family background, and partner preferences.

The franchise previously held casting calls in Charlotte in 2018, when it aired on Lifetime. The show now streams on Peacock.

Families supporting a loved one with special needs now have a powerful new tool designed to simplify care coordination and long-term planning. A Special Needs Support—a newly launched mobile app and the first of its kind—provides a secure, centralized platform to organize, manage, and share critical information with a support team.

For many families, planning must go beyond daily care. Parents often face the daunting task of preparing a “second support team” — the people who will continue caring for their child when the parents are no longer able to do so. A Special Needs Support was created to organize and guide that team with clarity and confidence.

Built for ease of use, the app uses enterprise-grade security controls to connect family members, service providers, healthcare professionals, educators, employers, friends, and faith or community groups through a secure, coordinated network. Families maintain full control over access and permission levels, ensuring each team member receives the right information at the right time.

Research shows:

• Nearly 1 in 5 children in the U.S. have special health care needs
• 24.8% of families spend 1–4 hours per week just coordinating care
• 84.8% of parental caregivers report significant caregiver burden

The platform centralizes essential information, including medical history, dietary needs, sensory considerations, and daily routines. It also securely stores vital legal and financial documents, such as special needs trusts, insurance policies, and asset distribution plans.

“Families often manage care using scattered documents and conversations, often trying to keep everything in their head, which becomes nearly impossible over time,” said creator Ryan Platt, MBA, ChFC®, ChSNC™, CFBS. “I wanted to create a platform to reduce stress and prepare future caregivers by bringing everything into one convenient and secure place.”

A Special Needs Support is available nationwide on the Apple App Store, Google Play, and at aspecialneedssupport.com. A no-obligation, free two-week trial is available and subscriptions are $7.99/month or $75 annually.

Charlotte skywatchers should mark February 28 on their calendars. Just after sunset, seven planets will appear in the evening sky in a rare “planet parade.”

According to NASA, Mercury, Venus, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus, and Jupiter will line up along the ecliptic shortly after the sun sets. Although they are not actually aligned in space, their positions from Earth will create the illusion of a glowing chain across the twilight sky.

Four of the planets will be visible to the naked eye if skies are clear. Venus and Jupiter will be the brightest and easiest to spot. Saturn will shine nearby with a steady yellow glow. Mercury will sit low on the western horizon and will be visible only briefly after sunset.

Uranus and Neptune will require binoculars or a small telescope. The brighter planets will help guide viewers to the fainter worlds.

For the best view, head outside just after sunset and find a clear view of the western horizon. Clear skies will be essential.

Events like this happen only every few years as planets orbit the sun at different speeds. On February 28, much of the solar system will briefly share the same patch of sky, offering a rare and memorable sight.