South Carolina Hit by Back-to-Back Earthquakes, Hundreds Report Feeling Them

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has confirmed two earthquakes in South Carolina within a two-day span.

The first quake struck Saturday at 10:37 p.m., measuring 2.9 magnitude. The epicenter was located about six kilometers south-southeast of Centerville.

USGS reported the quake occurred at a depth of 5.2 kilometers. Several hundred residents across the Lowcountry reported feeling shaking, and some minor damage was reported.

Then, early Monday morning at 4:10 a.m., a second earthquake was recorded. That quake measured 1.6 magnitude and was centered about six kilometers southwest of Ladson.

The second quake struck at a depth of 6.2 kilometers. USGS continues to monitor seismic activity across the region.

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?

This Charlotte Group Just Performed with Pharrell at the Grammys and Charlie Puth at the Super Bowl

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Charlotte’s own Sainted Trap Choir has taken center stage nationally after a whirlwind stretch of major performances.

So far this year, they’ve already performed at the Grammys, alongside Pharrell Williams and Clipse.

They then followed that up yesterday at the Super Bowl, where Sainted backed Charlie Puth during the national anthem. Puth said the arrangement intentionally honored Whitney Houston’s iconic rendition.

Founded in 2020 by Reed Jr. and DJ Fannie Mae, the Sainted Trap Choir blends gospel roots with hip-hop culture. Recent highlights include performances in Vatican City, at the Hip Hop Museum Gala, One Music Festival, and a sold-out original holiday production in Charlotte.

With Grammy appearances, Super Bowl exposure, and national acclaim, Sainted Trap Choir continues to elevate Charlotte’s creative voice on the world stage.

Super Bowl Backlash Hits the Carolinas as Kid Rock Cancels Major South Carolina Tour After Headliners Back Out

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Fallout from Kid Rock’s February 8th performance on Turning Point USA, (marketed as an alternative to the Super Bowl halftime show) is rippling into the Carolinas, triggering a major festival cancellation.

The Kid Rock–led Rock the Country tour has scrapped its South Carolina stop after multiple artists withdrew from the politically charged event. The two-night festival was scheduled for July at the Anderson Sports & Entertainment Center in Anderson.

The lineup included major headliners Creed, Shinedown, Brantley Gilbert, and Ludacris, along with Gretchen Wilson, Morgan Wade, Parmalee, Chase Matthew, Lakeview, and Fox N’ Vead. Organizers did not specify which artists pulled out, but confirmed that Kid Rock’s cancellation followed multiple departures.

With the South Carolina date now canceled, the tour’s future stops remain under scrutiny as public reaction and artist participation continue to shift.

Spectrum Announces Numerous New Grants For Non-Profits Across the Charlotte Area

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Spectrum today announced a donation of $5,500 to four different nonprofits in the Charlotte area through the company’s employee-driven grants program that recognizes the value of community service, Spectrum Employee Community Grants.

The recent Spectrum Employee Community Grant recipients are:

  • Guardians of the Children Gastonia Chapter – $1,000 to support programs that help children who have experienced child abuse.
  • Hope Match – $1,000 to support the Adopt-a-Family program that provides families with essential items, school supplies, support groups for women, celebration assistance for children, food and financial education information.
  • The Bulb – $1,000 for their mobile farmers market to provide access to fresh produce in food-insecure neighborhoods.
  • Turning Point, Inc. – $2,500 to their Tree House Children’s Advocacy Center providing ongoing support for children and families impacted by abuse.

“Spectrum Employee Community Grants support local nonprofits that hold a meaningful connection to the Spectrum employees who nominate them, and to the communities they serve,” said Rahman Khan, Group Vice President, Spectrum Community Impact. “We’re increasing our investment in the program, in support of our employees’ dedication to volunteer work and vital community organizations that enhance the lives of local residents.”

Launched in 2019, Spectrum Employee Community Grants support nonprofits nominated by employees with a personal connection to the organization through at least one year of their own volunteer work. Recipients deliver a broad range of critical social services to underserved community members, including food pantries, homeless shelters, clothing distribution, job training for veterans and paying overdue rent and utility bills for those in crisis.

More information about Spectrum Community Employee Grants is available here.

Luke Kuechly Makes History as First Lifelong Panther Draft Pick To Be Inducted Into The Hall of Fame

Panthers legend Luke Kuechly will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer.

The seven-time All-Pro linebacker was announced as part of the Class of 2026 during NFL Honors Thursday night in San Francisco. Kuechly earned induction in just his second year of eligibility.

When he was brought in to hear the news, he responded in Luke’s classic humble and heartwarming way – a simple “aww…cool man…”

Kuechly, who turns 35 in April, will now become the second-youngest inductee ever, trailing only Gale Sayers. Drafted ninth overall by Carolina in 2012, the Boston College product made an immediate impact, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year. He followed with Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2013.

Although injuries shortened his career to eight seasons, Kuechly totaled 1,092 tackles and 18 interceptions. He earned All-Pro honors seven times, a rate matched by only a few all-time greats.

Kuechly is the first Panthers draft pick to spend his entire career in Carolina and reach Canton.

The enshrinement ceremony will take place this summer in Canton, Ohio.

Amazon Planning To Build $10 Billion A.I. Facility Between Charlotte and Raleigh

Richmond Facility Rendering via Amazon Web Services

Amazon recently announced plans to invest $10 billion in a new cloud computing and artificial intelligence campus in Richmond County, sandwiched between Charlotte and Raleigh.

The development will be one of the largest economic investments in state history and will significantly strengthen North Carolina’s growing role in tech infrastructure.

“Amazon’s $10 billion investment in North Carolina underscores our commitment to driving innovation and advancing the future of cloud computing and AI technologies,” said David Zapolsky, Amazon’s Chief Global Affairs and Legal Officer in a press release“This investment will position North Carolina as a hub for cutting-edge technology, create hundreds of high-skilled jobs, and drive significant economic growth. We look forward to partnering with state and local leaders, local suppliers, and educational institutions to nurture the next generation of talent.”

The new cloud computing and artificial intelligence innovation campus will house servers, data storage systems, and advanced networking equipment that power cloud-based services and generative AI tools. It’s expected to create at least 500 high-paying technology jobs focused on cloud computing, data storage, and AI innovation.

Construction timelines and hiring details have not yet been announced.

NCDOT Decides on ‘Elevated’ Design For New I-77 Toll Lanes, Despite Previous ‘Double-Decker’ Highway Failures

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The North Carolina Department of Transportation is moving forward with elevated, double-decker express lanes for Interstate 77 from Uptown Charlotte to South Carolina.

After extensive public feedback, NCDOT says the elevated design is the ‘least impactful’ option. The plan places express lanes above the existing interstate.

via NCDOT

Double-deck highways have a complicated history. Mid-century projects sped traffic but often blighted neighborhoods. Seattle and San Francisco’s double-decker highways were built and then later removed elevated freeways after safety concerns and public pushback.

Embarcadero Freeway

Houston’s double-decker stretch of Interstate 10 expanded capacity but failed to solve long-term congestion, drawing criticism from urban planners.

Houston I-10

NCDOT says Charlotte’s proposal differs from earlier projects. Officials argue the elevated option avoids impacts to Frazier Park, Pinewood Cemetery, and neighborhoods like McCrorey Heights. Over the past year, the agency met with residents at nearly 30 small-group meetings and two public forums, reaching about 2,000 people.

Calls to bury I-77 in a tunnel were also reviewed. NCDOT said tunneling would cost billions per mile and require more than $50 million annually to maintain.

“NCDOT’s priority is to deliver transportation improvements in partnership with the region that respect the history of the neighborhoods along this project corridor,” said NCDOT Division 10 Engineer Felix Obregon in a press release. “Community feedback has been critical in shaping this project and the elevated design option balances regional mobility needs with meaningful reductions in neighborhood and environmental impacts. We are grateful to the residents, stakeholders, and community leaders who have taken the time to participate and share their perspectives.”

Construction is now expected to begin in the 2030s.

North Carolina Man Sentenced To Life in Prison For Plot to Kill Trump

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A North Carolina native with deep roots in Greensboro will spend the rest of his life in federal prison for attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump during the 2024 campaign.

Ryan Wesley Routh, 59, was just sentenced to life in prison following a federal trial in Florida. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon imposed the sentence after jurors convicted Routh on attempted assassination, assaulting a federal officer, and multiple firearms charges.

Routh was born in Guilford County and spent most of his life in Greensboro. He attended local schools, earned Eagle Scout honors in 1980, and later enrolled at UNC Greensboro and North Carolina A&T, though he did not graduate.

In the early 1990s, Routh ran a Greensboro-based roofing company that employed dozens of workers. Former neighbors later described his family as unsettling and unpredictable. His criminal history dates back decades, including a 2002 conviction involving a fully automatic weapon and a 2010 stolen-goods case.

Despite later instability, Routh was once publicly praised in Greensboro. In 1991, he helped confront a suspected rapist during a dramatic chase and received a civilian honor from a local police association.

Prosecutors said Routh spent months planning the 2024 assassination attempt at Trump International Golf Club. A Secret Service agent spotted him with a weapon, opened fire, and sparked a chase that ended with his arrest. Investigators found a scoped rifle, armor plates, and surveillance equipment at the scene.

Prosecutors argued the life sentence reflects the seriousness of targeting a major presidential candidate and threatening public safety.

Charlotte Chosen for 2026 Curling Nationals Beginning Later This Month

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The City of Charlotte is gearing up to host one of the biggest curling events in the world later this month as the 2026 Men’s and Women’s National Curling Championships come to our city.

USA Curling awarded the event to Bojangles Coliseum, running from February 23 through March 2, 2026, with national titles and World Championship berths on the line.

The event will feature the nation’s top eight men’s teams and top eight women’s teams. The winners will represent the United States at the 2026 World Men’s and World Women’s Championships as Team USA.

Teams qualified through multiple pathways, including Olympic Team Trials, the Saint Paul Cash Spiel, the Last Chance Qualifier, and world ranking positions. Several teams declined invitations due to Olympic qualification or World Junior Championship commitments, opening spots for additional ranked teams.

Organizers say Charlotte’s selection highlights the region’s expanding curling footprint and growing fan base. The championships are expected to draw elite athletes, national attention, and visiting fans to the city during the late winter sports calendar.

HGTV’s $2.4 Million Lake Wylie Dream Home Contest Now Open – Enter Once Per Day

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HGTV’s annual Dream Home sweepstakes is now officially open.

Charlotte-area residents can now enter twice per day for a chance to win a fully furnished waterfront retreat on Lake Wylie, valued at more than $2.4 million, plus $100,000 in cash.

Photo: Laurey Glenn

The newly built 3,000-square-foot home sits on a secluded peninsula and offers sweeping lake views. It features three bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms, and sweeping lake views. Knotts Builders constructed the property, with interior design by Brian Patrick Flynn.

“This year’s HGTV Dream Home showcases the beauty of Lake Wylie and the unmatched lifestyle of this lakeside destination,” said Howard Lee, Chief Creative Officer & President, US Networks in a press release. “We’re thrilled to invite viewers to explore this stunning retreat and enter for a chance to make it their own.”

Photo: Laurey Glenn

The home includes a two-story dock, earth-toned interiors, custom millwork, stone accents, and a chef’s kitchen with an over-grouted stone backsplash.

Photo: Laurey Glenn

The main suite offers a spa-style bathroom and lake views, while added touches include a morning room, pet-wash station, and garage pantry access.

Photo: Laurey Glenn

Lake Wylie’s location — 20 minutes from uptown Charlotte and close to Belmont and Fort Mill — adds regional appeal to the annual HGTV showcase.

Sponsors for the 2026 home include Spectrum, Sherwin-Williams, Husqvarna, SimpliSafe, Trex, VELUX, Stanley Steemer, Wayfair, and Snuggle.

The sweepstakes opens December 16, 2025, and runs through February 13, 2026. Fans can enter daily at HGTV.com and FoodNetwork.com. A one-hour special about the home will air January 1, 2026, on HGTV and stream on Max and Discovery+.

Photo: Laurey Glenn

Fans can now enter once per day at HGTV.com and once per day at FoodNetwork.com through February 13, 2026. No purchase is required to participate, and all U.S. residents 21 and older are eligible.

The contest will run through February 13th. Full rules are available at HGTV.com/DreamRules.