CMS Board Announces Plans To Rename All Schools Tied To The Confederacy and Racism

Steve
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CMS Board Announces Plans To Rename All Schools Tied To The Confederacy and Racism

The CMS Board has just announced plans to rename all schools that were originally named after people who might be seen as glorifying “a racist, hateful and painful past”.

During yesterday’s virtual board meeting, CMS Superintendent Earnest Winston said; “we know changing the school’s name is largely symbolic, but it is an important step in the right direction,”

Here is the full meeting along with the statement to rename schools with names tied to the confederacy and racism:

Superintendent Winston noted that one of the first names to be changed is Z.B. Vance High School, which was originally named after Zebulon B. Vance, a North Carolina governor who owned slaves and who fought to preserve the institution of slavery and the rebellion of the confederate states.

During the meeting, Winston noted that; “Vance owned slaves and as governor of North Carolina spoke out against and fought anti-discrimination laws and other protections for racial minorities. His is not the example we want to project for our students, families and staff.”

CMS staff will now be reviewing the names of all 175 schools in the district and will change any school “named after individuals who owned slaves or promoted slavery, expressed racist or bigoted views, actively fought against equality”.

What do you think about the decision?

Mecklenburg County Just Approved A New Rule To Require The Wearing of Face Masks

Charlotte Stories
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Mecklenburg County Just Approved A New Rule To Require The Wearing of Face Masks

The Mecklenburg County Commissioners just approved a new rule to require the wearing of face masks in our county.

In yesterday’s meeting, Commissioner Trevor Fuller said, “my motion is that we adopt a rule today to require masks in Mecklenburg County to the extent of our legal authority.”

Fuller went on to clarify that the rule would specifically mandate that, “if you’re anywhere within our legal authority, you are required to wear a mask”.

The final vote was 7-2 to pass the motion. The details, scope, and exemptions will now be “quickly drafted” and emailed to the chairman to sign. Once he signs it, it will become an official rule in unincorporated parts of Mecklenburg County, and will be up to each city to sign into law for their jurisdiction.

You can watch the full discussion here:

What do you think about the new rule?

Casino and alcohol

Jon Sutton
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Casino and alcohol

If you play in a casino and drink during the process, it should not surprise you why all bank cards and electronic wallets are empty in the morning. And as the zero balance shows, the idea did not justify itself.

In this post, we will examine the consequences of excessive drinking and playing in a casino.

Why do players strive to combine gambling and alcohol?

It’s not the Lady Luck’s tricks, but the lack of adequate situation’s perception and the unequivocal advantage of the casino.

The main reason players like to drink during the game is that it is easier for them to relax and relieve nervous tension., playing in a casino is a flurry of emotions, and often you cannot control them. And when you are in a light intoxication, you’re up to pay through your nose.

Even a small dose of alcohol can cause a “loss”. When the player is uncontrolled to replenish the game account in Mr Bet online casino nz dollars and depart only when the funds run out. As a result, depression, spoiled mood, bitterness. Consistently doing this can be a sign of alcohol addiction or dependency.

We are not talking about everyone without exception, there are individuals who can afford to drink two glasses of whiskey and, having lost a small amount. Well, these are the players who control their game in the Syndicate casino online NZ. 

Conclusion

We do not recommend combining gambling and alcohol. You can relax and play in an online casino, but in this case, you need to take the most responsible approach to the game:

  • Leave free the amount you are definitely ready to lose.
  • If the option to limit yourself in finances is not for you, we recommend that you put restrictions on deposits in online casinos. Fortunately, such functionality is present.
  • Allow a certain time for the game and after it has passed, regardless of your balance, and quit playing.
  •  Remember, playing while intoxicated, you significantly increase your chances of losing, since it becomes harder or even impossible to control yourself and make adequate decisions.

Sahara Dust Storm Will Dim The Sun in Charlotte This Weekend

Charlotte Stories
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Sahara Dust Storm Will Dim The Sun in Charlotte This Weekend

An epic dust storm is now heading our way from the heart of the Sahara Desert.

It’s officially being called the ‘Saharan Air Layer’ (SAL), a thick and dry plume of desert dust traveling across the Atlantic Ocean in the middle atmosphere.

According NASA’s Atmospheric Composition Model, the heart of the storm will be covering the Charlotte region this weekend. If trends hold up, it may be thick enough to dim the sun.

The heart of the storm just passed over Puerto Rico yesterday, here is what conditions looked like:

NC’s Juniper Level Botanic Garden Opening To The Public This Summer

Charlotte Stories
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NC’s Juniper Level Botanic Garden Opening To The Public This Summer

“Gardening is booming in all parts of the country, and nurseries have struggled to keep up with the unprecedented and unexpected demand,” said global plantsman, Tony Avent, founder and proprietor of Juniper Level Botanic Garden and Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh.

“Gardening is a huge pastime in America, but no one was prepared for this. Nurseries are propagating as fast as they can and shipping as quickly as they can. People have reconnected with the earth, and every plant that goes into the ground pulls carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. That’s undoubtedly a good thing.
“I believe the bulk of the boom is coming from existing gardeners. However, at our open houses, we see a tremendous number of younger people, generations X, Y, and Z. They’re interested in connecting to nature and having a garden experience in a different way than their parents or grandparents, who were all about better living through chemicals. They’re learning to be more a part of nature, to garden more sustainably.
“Summer is an incredible time in the garden. At our open house, you’ll see a range of plants you’ve never seen. Many plants don’t emerge until mid-June, early July. People who don’t see the gardens in summer miss so many things. They miss many of our great native perennials in the Aster family – so many beautiful gold flowers.
“All the tropical-looking plants are at their peak in the summer months; the cannas, the elephant ears, so many of the aroids [love lilies], and all kinds of crazy things. These are at their peak in the garden, so we see a peak in sales of tropical-looking plants in the summer.
“Pollinators are also more active in the summer months; all the bees, the native bees, the honeybees, and the amazing wasps. Wasps are actually predators of many beetles, so you want them in your garden. Some gardeners are caught up in spraying every time they see an insect, but there are naturally balanced systems in place to take care of pests as long as your plants aren’t stressed. If you provide a sustainable environment, there is balance. When a pest arrives, another insect will take it out. The birds also dine on many problematic insects.
“Nature is fascinating, and there is no more active time than summer. Everything is fully at work. We invite you to bring your children to our open houses and teach your children; or, let us help you teach them. We have a full-time entomologist on staff to teach people about insects and how insects work in the garden. Maybe we can get away from the concept that bugs are bad – they are critical to our life and nature.
“In the summer, you’ll find a 25 to 30-degree difference just walking through sections of Juniper Level Botanic Garden. A garden is like a house. It has walls. It has ceilings. It has the floor. It has furniture, and it has decorations. But we often don’t think of the outside of our house like we do the inside. So, when you walk outside, if you have a ceiling, the trees, it’s going to be much cooler in there. Some plants love that baking sun, other plants like to have the filtered light of the tree canopy.
Juniper Level Botanic Garden

“Many people also think you cannot plant in the summer, which is simply not true. The establishment time for a plant is so much faster in the summer months, and the watering time for new plants is much shorter. If you plant in the winter, you can get by with infrequent waterings, but if you plant in summer, you need to water every day. But the tradeoff is that you only have to water for a week or so before the plant is fully established.

“Gardening is about diversity. Hopefully, we’ve learned that we, as a society, are better with diversity. Gardens are the same way; we want everyone to have an incredibly diverse garden. That way, the garden has something for all the pollinators and something for every season for people to enjoy. That’s what we hope to show people when they come to visit.
“It’s also important for human society to share plants; it’s critical that we not allow plants to go extinct. The rarer a plant is, the more it should be shared. We believe in getting plants where they will thrive and become abundant.
“We’ve joined forces with NC State University and JC Raulston Arboretum because we have the same mission. Secure the plants, study the plants, propagate the plants, and share the plants. It’s so important to our society. Every plant has a place, and every plant has a purpose,” said Tony Avent.
Juniper Level Botanic Garden in Raleigh is a $7.5-million gift to North Carolina State University from Tony and Anita Avent. To contribute to the university’s endowment fund to maintain and open the garden year-round and in perpetuity for the public, click here.

Fundraising efforts for Juniper Level Botanic Garden in conjunction with JC Raulston Arboretum, operate under the auspices of The Endowment Fund of NC State University, a 501(c)3 non-profit, tax ID 56-6000756. Donors will receive an official receipt for contributions to the fund.

City of Charlotte Giving Out $30 Million To Small Businesses Impacted by Pandemic – Apply Now

Charlotte Stories
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City of Charlotte Giving Out $30 Million To Small Businesses Impacted by Pandemic – Apply Now

Applications for the Access to Capital Small Business Recovery grants program are now available at fftc.org/CLTcitygrant. The City of Charlotte recently partnered with Foundation For The Carolinas to launch the program, which will distribute $30 million in federal CARES Act funding to local small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program is part of the City’s Open for Business initiative and will distribute grants of either $10,000 or $25,000 (depending on the number of employees) to small businesses headquartered within Charlotte city limits that have been affected by the pandemic. FFTC serves as the City’s grantmaking partner for the effort.

The Access to Capital Small Business Recovery Program aims to provide funding rapidly, accessibly and equitably for Charlotte’s diverse small business community. Applications will be selected randomly by geography from the applicant pool for review. Businesses only need to apply once. However, the likelihood of receiving a grant increases the earlier an application is received, because it will be available for selection each day.

To qualify, a small business must:

  • Be headquartered within the Charlotte city limits
  • Employ 25 or fewer employees (including part-time, if reported on company’s W-3)
  • Have been established before Jan. 1, 2020
  • Have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Have gross sales for 2019 of at least $30,000 and less than $2 million
  • Not be currently engaged in bankruptcy proceedings

Full eligibility requirements and a list of required documentation are available at fftc.org/CLTCityGrant. It is anticipated that the number of applicants will exceed the available funding, so grants are not guaranteed.

Priority will be given to businesses that have not received federal or state COVID-19 related financial support, or funding from the City’s Micro Business Relief Fund. Phase 1 awards will be distributed the week of June 30 and July 6, while Phase 2 awards will be issued the week of Aug. 3.

Applications will be accepted through 5 p.m., July 31, and are available in English, Spanish, Nepali, French, Chinese and Vietnamese. For a complete list of criteria and to apply, visit fftc.org/CLTCityGrant. Contact cltcitygrant@fftc.org or 704.998.6499 for assistance.

Top 5 Urban Scavenger Hunts In Uptown Charlotte

Steve
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Top 5 Urban Scavenger Hunts In Uptown Charlotte

urban-scavenger-hunts-in-charlotteAs high-rise development in Uptown Charlotte continues to grow and expand, so does the number of things to explore and discover for both visitors and locals alike.

As more and more people feel the need to explore our city, a new trend is starting to emerge – the ‘Urban Scavenger Hunt’.

The idea is basically to challenge a group of friends to see who can solve clues and find iconic spots, businesses, statues, and memorials around Uptown the fastest.

Based on Groupon user reviews, these are currently the top 5 best Urban Scavenger Hunts in Charlotte:

#5 Operation City Quest Scavenger Hunt

Our Operation City Quest is a massive, uptown scavenger hunt and adventure tour. With over 130 city objects to locate, and get points for, as well as trivia and guide challenges for even more points.

They’re now offering a 57% off Groupon deal.

#4 3Quest Challenge

With the power of the smartphone, 3Quest Challenge transforms cities into massive playing fields for timed scavenger hunts. True to its name, the game consists of “quests” to locate a trio of checkpoints, where teams answer riddles or complete tasks to collect a clue that will be used to solve a larger overall puzzle. After visiting each checkpoint, teams must return to the home base for another clue before setting off on the next quest, all while racing against the clock.

They are also offering a 57% off Groupon deal.

#3 Big City Hunt

Fifteen clues. Two hours. One city. This is Big City Hunt, a self-led scavenger race that sends groups capering around town to solve riddles and challenges. But unlike other city-wide excursions, Big City Hunt unshackles racers from the tyranny of official start times and concrete dates. Players simply click on a launch code, head to the starting line, and set afoot whenever they’ve got two hours to spare. Guided by clues sent to their smartphone, they’ll discover hidden gems while getting fun stories and insights about historical sites they encounter.

Big City is offering an even bigger 66% off Groupon deal.

#2 Puzzling Adventures

Puzzling Adventures provides an unconventional way to explore some of the most beautiful cities around the world. All players need is a mobile device with Internet access and they’re prepared for excursions that combine the fun of scavenger hunts with the information of self-guided tours and the competition of The Amazing Race. During adventures, individuals, couples, and teams are guided to various locations where they are asked to solve puzzles in order to receive instructions to the next stop.

They are now offering a 50% off Groupon deal.

#1 Crazy Dash Digital Adventures

Crazy Dash’s organizers transform familiar city streets into playgrounds – or digital adventure games, as they put it. Teams sign up and, using their smart phones, follow a predetermined course along avenues and boulevards, taking in key sights from the city as they go. Along the course, they encounter ten or more checkpoints, where they answer challenge questions or snap selfies of a silly task such as singing in the street, sneaking through a fountain’s spray, or making eye contact with a stranger.

They’re offering a 62% off Groupon deal.

Senate of North Carolina passes the bill, limiting litigation risks amid coronavirus

Rebecca wright
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Senate of North Carolina passes the bill, limiting litigation risks amid coronavirus

We all know how the coronavirus damaged economy and situation in general around the world. The United States has been the most affected country by Covid-19, with more than 100,000 people dying from the virus. The states have begun gradual reopening, but it is far from over.

Most recently, the North Carolina Senate passed two bills, which basically limit lawsuit against companies that are opening during the coronavirus. The adoption of both bills was straightforward, and no additional debate took place.

The unemployment had a devastating impact, and it has been seen in various fields, For instance, online FX brokers accepting US clients expressed their discontent with the fact, that unemployment significantly affected the number of customers. And nothing is over yet. 

Paul Newton, who is a Cabarrus County Republican, declared that HB 118 would limit the lawsuit risk, once businesses reopened. But he also noted that if someone claimed, he or she contracted the coronavirus, at the business that had been shut down temporarily during the pandemic, could force away from the company out of business. 

However, the businesses are required to announce all the measures they are taking to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Of course, the consumer should take into account all the dangers, he or she will face while stepping into the company. If the bill becomes the law, some scenarios could create liability. 

The bill passed 40-7, and another bill called the immunity bill passed 39-8. Next, they should go to the House. 

How has the situation been in the United States recently?

Record morbidity and hospitalization for coronavirus are recorded in several US states, including Florida and Texas, amid President Donald Trump’s plans to hold an election rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

For Alabama, Sunday was the fourth consecutive day when state authorities reported a record number of new cases.

According to Reuters, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma and South Carolina have recorded a record number of new cases in the past three days.

Many health officials attribute the surge to Commemoration Day celebrations in late May.

Across the country on Saturday, more than 25 thousand new cases were recorded. This is the highest figure for Saturday, starting May 2, but partly due to the expansion of testing over the past six weeks.

However, health authorities are particularly worried by the fact that many of these states also record a record number of hospital admissions, which are not associated with expanded testing.

Hospitals in Arkansas, North Carolina, Texas, and Utah received a record number of patients on Saturday.

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo warned authorities in New York City and Long Island that their “discovery” would be in jeopardy if crowds did not stop.

Cuomo said that the state received 25 thousand complaints about violation of the rules of social distance and other requirements caused by an emergency. Most of them relate to Manhattan and Hamptons – a rich beach area on the eastern tip of Long Island.

“There is a real possibility that we will suspend the opening in these areas,” he said at a briefing.

 

The World’s Top Esports Betting Industries

Robert Tilman
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The World’s Top Esports Betting Industries

Esports have their origin in the arcade video gaming competitions of the late 1970s and early 1980s, but they have come a long way since!

The arrival of widely-available internet in the 1990s, followed by the development of ever more sophisticated computer technology and fast broadband, made it possible by the late 2000s for gaming fans to compete online, leading to the development of the first serious esports teams and leagues.  

Since then, esports has developed into a billion dollar business, with millions of fans following the action around the world and companies competing to get involved through sponsorships.

Even betting companies have been cashing in on this passion for esports around the world. In fact, esports is the hottest trend in betting today as fans attempt to turn their knowledge of the sports and players into profit, and new esports betting sites spring up to cater to this demand. 

The modern esports industry features a wide variety of games but some games remain more popular than others and there is no doubt that the three pillars of esports, attracting the most money, prestige and competitors are Dota 2, League of Legends and CS:GO. 

League of Legends

League of Legends is the elder stateswoman of the esports betting world. Sometimes abbreviated simply to LOL, it was released in 2009, quickly becoming the first global esports success. The game itself is classed as a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game, which is one of the most popular genres for esports competitions. It features two teams of five players, each playing as one of a range of heroic avatars, competing to be the first team to destroy the enemy’s base.

LOL is one of the most popular esports for betting in the world, as it offers a variety of opportunities for esports fans to use their knowledge. Dedicated LOL bettors will bet on many of the in-game aspects, though the most popular betting markets are those for Match Winner or Tournament Winner, particularly the end of season LOL World Championships.

CS:GO

While MOBA titles dominate in Asia and South America, Europe’s favourite esports genre is the First Person Shooter (FPS) and no FPS title is more popular than Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO). This game is based around two teams taking it in turns to play as terrorists and counter terrorists. Each game is played over a different map and the teams score points for various in-game achievements including kills, assists and the planting or defusing of bombs. 

As with LOL, the CS:GO esports scene has spawned its own betting community. The ESL Pro League, made up of four separate regional tournaments, along with the annual CS:GO Majors attract plenty of betting action, and CS:GO is popular with in-game bettors who try to predict the outcome of live markets such as Total Kills and Next Map Winner. 

Dota 2

Dota 2 is the newest of the big three games, having been released in 2013, but it quickly caught on with the esports fraternity, particularly in Asia. Dota 2 is another two-team, five-player-based MOBA that brings together some of the most attractive features of strategy and role play gaming, though with a particular twist of its own, that can make for compelling viewing. 

As with its two big rivals, Dota 2 has generated plenty of interest from betting fans, and its global schedule boasts the highlight of the esports betting year, in The International, the annual tournament that offers huge prestige and prize money for the winning team. 

Election Protection Hotline Available to Help North Carolina Runoff Voters

Charlotte Stories
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Election Protection Hotline Available to Help North Carolina Runoff Voters

On Tuesday, June 23, legal volunteers staffing the non-partisan Election Protection 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) hotline will be available to answer calls from North Carolina voters experiencing problems at the polls, including issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The hotline will be available for the duration of North Carolina’s election day – polls open in North Carolina from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm EDT. The hotline is a resource for voters who seek to confirm their voter registration status, find their polling location or report any complaints regarding the voting process.

The following suite of hotlines are available to voters:

  • 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) – English hotline
  • 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682) – Spanish/English
  • 844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287) – Arabic/English hotline
  • 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683) – Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, Urdu and Vietnamese hotline

Election Protection is the nation’s largest and longest-running nonpartisan voter protection coalition. Founded in 2001, Election Protection is anchored by the 866-OUR-VOTE hotline and other hotlines that provide support to voters in 11 languages. The Election Protection coalition, led by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, also carries out its work through voter education, advocacy with election officials, roving poll monitors and rapid response litigation when necessary to protect the vote.

“The 866-OUR-VOTE Election Protection hotline is a resource for all eligible voters in North Carolina who seek to participate in the election. We are particularly focused on ensuring that voters impacted by the pandemic are able to access absentee ballots and are aware of in-person voting opportunities on Tuesday,” said Marcia Johnson-Blanco, co-director of the Lawyers’ Committee’s Voting Rights Project the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “Election Protection stands ready to help ensure that every North Carolina voter has the opportunity to exercise the fundamental right to vote.”

Voters can contact 866-OUR-VOTE with questions or if they encounter problems when seeking to cast their ballots.

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