DWI Charges Drop By 43%, But It’s Not A Good Thing

Steve
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DWI Charges Drop By 43%, But It’s Not A Good Thing
The number of people in Charlotte  charged for committing DWI offenses has dropped by 43% over the course of two years, according to The Charlotte Observer. While this may sound impressive and as though  drivers are being more sensible about drinking and driving, many say that it’s the lack of law enforcement on the city’s roads that has resulted in this decline, rather than better driving practices.
DWI accidents on the rise
The number of fatal accidents that occurred throughout the whole of Mecklenburg County over the same two year period shot up by 17%, according to figures from the Department of Motor Vehicles. This shows how drivers in the county continue to  drink alcohol and get behind the wheel of their motor vehicles without considering the consequences. Charlotte Mecklenburg police department’s (CMPD) officer shortage further fuels this problem, as locals know that the chances of being caught driving while intoxicated are slim, and this encourages them to risk driving.
The risks
Despite intoxicated drivers in Charlotte unlikely to be caught in the act, it is highly likely that they will be involved in a collision on the road. This is because  alcohol seriously impacts a person’s coordination, reaction time, concentration, vision and judgment. As a result, the chance of being injured or injuring another party is high. Where an  injury has occurred on the road, legal assistance may be sought as this will help to determine liability, as well as claim compensation, where necessary. While it’s reassuring to know that there is help available, there’s still more that officials in Charlotte need to do to stop so many serious alcohol-related accidents from happening.
Improving road safety
The CMPD has assured Charlotte residents that they are actively looking to recruit new officers so that there are more law enforcement personnel on the roads ready to clamp down on motorists that drive while under the influence. However, the CMPD should consider taking inspiration from police in neighboring Concord. They take drink driving so seriously that six officers make up a team known as the DWI Task Force, who go in on their days off work to come up with initiatives and procedures to prevent drink driving in the area.
An increasing number of drivers in Charlotte are getting away with driving while under the influence of excess alcohol. Not only is this illegal, but it’s highly dangerous, which is why the CMPD urgently needs to put measures in place to stop this behavior once and for all.

The Best Student Gifts You Can DIY for a Dollar

Raymond J Rednour
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The Best Student Gifts You Can DIY for a Dollar

We all know how hard college life can be – not only are we away from home, but we are also in a big financial hole throughout our years. Instead of shopping for expensive gifts, you could start using your imagination and creativity and come up with Do It Yourself presents for your friends. In the end, I am sure they will appreciate you more for putting in the effort than they would appreciate a usual gift. When presents come from the heart, they are 10 times better. If you are in need of gift ideas, here is the perfect spot to look for advice. You can check plagiarism even – we swear these ideas are original. So, welcome. We hope this article will help you!

  1. Smores

Indoor smores are a thing, and they can actually be even more delicious than the bonfire ones! They are super easy to make (take less than 20 minutes total, including Prep time and Cook time), and won’t be expensive either. Here are some quick instructions that might help you:

  • Preheat your over to 400 degrees F.
  • Take graham crackers, lay them on a cookie sheet, and top them with chocolate pieces. Place marshmallows on top of each cracker. 
  • Bake until marshmallows are puffed and brown (that will take you approximately 5 minutes). Remove them from the oven, place another graham cracker on top of your half-sandwich, and serve!

You can find all the ingredients at your local Dollar Store, but honestly, you might already have them in your home, so look well! Cooking smores for your friends is a nice way of saying, “thank you,” or, “happy Christmas.” 

Tip: sometimes, students need a break from their duties to just relax and spend time with their friends. If you find it unable to do so, use some of the simple online plagiarism checker websites to check your content faster; this will help you write an essay and save your time, trust me!

  1. “Owl” Miss You

All you need are two types of the same chocolate (I like using Snickers or Twix) and some colorful paper. Shape the paper in the form of an owl head, add the eyes and the nose, and stick it to the top of the two chocolates (that are now sitting right next to each other), uniting them at one end. Stick another paper on the other side of the chocolates with the text, “Owl miss you.” Cute, funny, easy to make. 

  1. Creative Bookmark

How can a student avoid plagiarism, if not by being creative? You can get as creative as you’d like with your bookmarks! All you need is paper and colors, so this gift might actually cost you nothing. You can make them out of paint samples, add text to them, or draw something (if you’re good at it!) on the bookmarks. You should definitely sign your name at the bottom! 

Tip: make sure you use colorful designs.

  1. Be Smart and Eat Cookies

Smart cookies are a great way of showing someone how much you care about them (especially during wintertime!). Go to the closest dollar tree and buy them (or even at Walmart to be honest, they are so cheap!). Use some ribbon to make them look nicer and offer them as a gift. I promise you won’t become a college student expelled for plagiarism if you implement these DIY ideas. 

  1. Painted Rocks

Another cool idea is painting rocks! All you need are rocks (which, obviously, won’t cost you anything) and paint. You should also look for a marker. You could paint one or many, adding all of them to a nice bag. According to the student plagiarism checker, “You could write funny messages on each one of them, or uplifting quotes to get your friends through the day. Make sure you make them look as diverse and colorful as possible!”

  1. Summer Breeze

If you want to help your friends have a “Kool” summer, buy them some Kool-Aid! Then, stick a quote to the package; you should use intelligent puns, such as, “Have a Kool summer,” or, “You’re so Kool I can’t even say hi to you.” Make your friends feel special and Kool, will you?

  1. Dollar Store Christmas Mugs

This is not necessarily a DIY gift, as you can find multiple Christmas mugs at the Dollar Store. However, if you only find simple models, grab one and decorate it yourself using text or color.

  1. Cozy Socks

Buy some dollar tree cozy socks for your friends or make them yourself! You should practice kitting needling beforehand if you want them to look good though. Be a cool grandma for one day, show your friends some affection by making them personalized socks!

  1. Popcorn, Movies and Chill

Another great idea is buying a bag of popcorn and a movie, sticking them together inside a box, and giving it as a gift to your friends. They will definitely get the message – Netflix, popcorn, and chill?

  1. The Best Treats Ever 

If you already have cooking ingredients at home, cook your friends something tasty! What better way to show them your affection than by putting in the effort to create something edible and delicious for them?

Conclusion

These are just some of the ideas that we came up with, but there are so many others available! Hope we helped! If you have any comments or ideas to add, please leave us a comment. Enjoy!

 

Tennessee Student Quarantined For Possible 3rd Case of Coronavirus In The United States

Charlotte Stories
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Tennessee Student Quarantined For Possible 3rd Case of Coronavirus In The United States

A Tennessee Tech student is now being tested for what would be the 3rd confirmed case of the Coronavirus in the United States.

Today the University released the following statement about the student:

“On Thursday, a student at Tennessee Tech University presented with very mild symptoms, and with his recent travel history met the criteria for testing for possible infection with the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Health providers quickly recognized that the patient met the criteria for coronavirus testing, but nothing has been confirmed. The individual is being kept isolated while precautionary testing is being conducted. Tennessee Tech and healthcare professionals continue to communicate and collaborate with the Tennessee Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control.”

The Coronavirus was first discovered in Wuhan, China in December and has since spread to most provinces of the country. So far there have been 846 cases confirmed with at least 26 people having already died from the virus.

This week’s Chinese New Year holiday has increased concerns of a pandemic as hundreds of millions of Chinese residents and visitors travel across the country to visit friends, relatives, and tourist sights.

Here in the United States, the first confirmed case of the coronavirus was announced on Tuesday in Washington State, and the second was confirmed by the CDC this morning in Chicago.

According to the CDC, patients with confirmed 2019-nCoV infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:

  • fever
  • cough
  • shortness of breath

CDC believes at this time that symptoms of 2019-nCoV may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure. This is based on what has been seen previously as the incubation period of MERS viruses.

Some of the best ways to protect against the coronavirus include;

41% of Charlotte Renters Are Now Looking to Move Elsewhere

Charlotte Stories
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41% of Charlotte Renters Are Now Looking to Move Elsewhere

Apartment List has just published their new 2020 Renter Migration Report, analyzing the metros people are looking to call their new home.

As Charlotte’s rents continue to rise, our crime increases, and our traffic congestion continues to worsen, renters in the Queen City are increasingly looking to move elsewhere.

Some key insights that Apartment List found for the Charlotte region include:

  • 41.0% of apartment hunters currently living in Charlotte are looking to move elsewhere, while 36.8% of those looking for a place to live in Charlotte are searching from outside the metro.
  • Among renters looking to move away from the Charlotte metro, the most popular destinations are Raleigh, NC (9.2%), Los Angeles, CA (7.0%), or Columbia, SC (5.8%).
  • Renters looking to move to the Charlotte metro from elsewhere are most likely to be searching from Raleigh, NC (13.2%), New York, NY (7.2%), or Washington, DC (4.2%).

Charlotte was actually ranked as the 5th major metro in terms of percentage of renters looking to leave;

You can find out more on Apartment List’s full report here.

How do you feel about Charlotte’s changing environment? 

What do you think we can do to improve? 

Belmont’s Annual Art & Orchids Exhibit Kicking Off Next Month

Sharon Anderson
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Belmont’s Annual Art & Orchids Exhibit Kicking Off Next Month

Visitors can experience the creative works of North Carolina artist Patrick Dougherty at the Garden this winter. Dougherty’s latest interactive installation, The Magnificent Seven, was constructed in November 2019 at the Garden for all ages to explore. In addition, the exhibit will feature seventeen photographs of Dougherty’s large-scale sculptures and The Orchid Conservatory will be filled with showy orchids in bloom and the Garden’s own woven sculptures inspired by Dougherty’s work. Art & Orchids featuring Stickwork will be open daily Feb. 1 through Mar. 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The exhibit is free with general admission or free for Garden Members.

Using minimal tools and a simple technique of bending, interweaving, and fastening together sticks, Dougherty creates works of art inseparable with nature and the landscape. With a dazzling variety of forms intertwined with their context, his sculptures evoke fantastical images of nests, cocoons, cones, castles, and beehives. Constructed on-site using locally sourced materials and local volunteer labor, Dougherty’s sculptures are tangles of twigs and branches that have been transformed into something unexpected and wild, elegant and artful, and often humorous. Sometimes freestanding, and other times wrapping around trees, buildings, railings, and rooms, they are constructed indoors and in nature. As organic matter, the stick sculptures eventually disintegrate and fade back into the landscape.

Over the last thirty years, Dougherty has built more than 300 works throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. His latest installation, The Magnificent Seven, was constructed in November 2019. Visitors can wander through the seven rooms of woven sticks and twigs, peer through the windows and skylights, and let your imagination run wild! In addition to this interactive installation, seventeen photographs of Dougherty’s large-scale sculptures will be on display in the Visitor Pavilion. The sculptures are unique to each site using locally sourced materials and volunteer labor. The Orchid Conservatory will also feature a collection of showy orchids in bloom and the Garden’s own woven sculptures inspired by Dougherty’s work.

General admission for Garden members is free, $14.95 for adults, $12.95 for seniors 60+, and $7.95 for children 2-12. For more information visit www.DSBG.org or call (704) 825-4490.

How Light Pollution Impacts Your Health

Robert Dale
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How Light Pollution Impacts Your Health

The human eyes are not adapted well for seeing in the dark. Unlike owls or cats, people need help in order to see in dim or dark lighting conditions. Because of this, humans have designed homes and cities that are brightly lit on a 24/7 basis. This is good except for when you’re trying to sleep. Too much light in your sleep environment is associated with weight gain, obesity, sleep disorders, depression, cancer and other serious health conditions. Consider the types of light pollution, the ways in which  light pollution could be impacting your sleep and what you can do about it.

Disability Glare

Disability glare is a result of a single, intensely bright light in an otherwise dark environment. For example, a single street light on a road. The glare of the light makes you look elsewhere because the retina cannot handle the brightness. The result is that everything else looks dark except the lone source of light.

Exaggerated Darkness

Exaggerated darkness is a concept in which the positioning of a bright light in front of your eyes makes it nearly impossible to see what is behind the light. For example, when you’re driving at night, extremely bright LED head lamps on another vehicle can temporarily blind you and prevent you from seeing what is behind that vehicle. A bright light could make it difficult for you to see what is lurking in a dark alley. Properly shielded lights direct the brightness away from your face so that you can see a larger area.

Impacts on Sleep

Exposure to bright lights in the evening disrupts your body’s circadian rhythm. This is your internal clock that triggers metabolic and hormone changes that prepare your body for sleep. Of all the lights in the visible spectrum, blue light is the type most strongly associated with sleep disruption. The bright lights reduce your body’s ability to make and release melatonin, which is a hormone that makes you feel sleepy and helps you fall asleep and stay asleep. Disruption of the circadian rhythm also lowers the production and availability of serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the brain, and low levels of it are associated with depression and mood disorders.

Effects of Circadian Rhythm Disruption

Scientists are only beginning to discover the wide range of effects on circadian rhythm disruption. They believe that disrupted sleep is associated with mood changes, cravings for carbohydrates, impaired immune system function and slower healing times after an injury. Research also indicates that disrupted circadian rhythms increase your risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease. People with chronic sleep disruption face high rates of depression and suicidal ideation.

What You Can Do About Light Pollution

In addition to lobbying your local government about ways to curb light pollution, there are a few things that you can do in order to darken the environment in which you sleep. Maintain a consistent sleep routine. Consider purchasing room-darkening blinds and drapes. These block out a high percentage of outdoor light. Eliminate electronics from your bedroom. Even a small LED light from a charger could be enough to disrupt your sleep. Charge your devices somewhere else, such as the kitchen or living room. Consider a sleep mask if you’re able to tolerate it on your face.

 

What are the stats saying about the Super Bowl?

Rose Blue
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What are the stats saying about the Super Bowl?

With the Super Bowl coming up quickly, it is important to get a view on who is likely to win out this year. Already, Pennsylvania online sports betting has gone into overdrive trying to back the winner, with it likely to be one of the closest Super Bowls we have seen in many years. So, what are the stats and figures telling us about the biggest game of the year?

Patrick Mahomes, one of the best ever?

There is no question about who most people consider to be the best QB of all time. Tom Brady. His achievements and contributions to game-winning plays at crucial times makes him stand out over everyone else. However, Patrick Mahomes has been putting himself close to that conversation in the last few years. At just 24 years of age, he is yet to hit his peak, but he is already impressing a huge number of people within the NFL, especially after winning the MVP award in his first full season as a starter. So, what do the stats say about Mahomes’ ability to drive the Chiefs to a Super Bowl title?

Well, so far across his career, Mahomes has pulled off just four game-winning comebacks. While this may seem like a negative, as it shows he can sometimes struggle to pull his team back from the brink, there is also a positive spin. It means that Mahomes often pushes the Chiefs into winning positions that they then do not lose. This shows with his record of just seven losses from 31 starts. Mahomes does not have too many fourth quarter comebacks because he put his side into the lead in the other three quarters. 

This shows a more important quality: Mahomes is reliable across the whole game, not just when the team is in a pinch. It means that he performs well enough to not need a fourth quarter comeback. So, while he will likely never reach the same numbers as Manning or Brady, his performance across the first three quarters is far more important to the Chiefs.

In Mahomes, the Chiefs have arguably the best QB playing at the moment. He could be the difference between the Chiefs and the 49ers when they play. What is so special about Mahomes is his ability to throw with both hands. He can throw almost as well with his left as his right. It means that whatever side he is rushed from, he can still pull a pass out of the bag. It makes it harder for the opposition defense to close him down and ensures that he can drive the Chiefs forward.

The 49ers have identified the threat

The 49ers are undoubtedly the underdogs for this game. With the Chiefs regarded as the second favorites to win the Super Bowl before the season started, the 49ers will still be going into the game knowing they have a chance, and the players have been honest about what they perceive as the biggest threat to their chances of winning: the throwing ability of Patrick Mahomes. As already mentioned, he is dangerous on either side and is able to pull out special moments as though they are nothing with shocking regularity. 

This is why Nick Bosa has been talking to his brother in order to get some tips on how to stop Patrick Mahomes. Joey Bosa has played against Mahomes three times over the last two seasons and has managed to restrict Mahomes to less than 65% passing accuracy in those games. He also managed to get five QB hits across the three games. It is safe to say that Joey Bosa knows Mahomes as well as anyone else in the league. 

It is also safe to say that the 49ers seem to think that if they stop Mahomes, then they stop the Chiefs. That is something that lots of people would agree with. In just two seasons, Mahomes has made a reputation for himself as a classy QB who could go on to legendary status. What the 49ers have is a top-tier defense of which Bosa is a strong part of. If his brother can pass on some wisdom to him before the game, then he could end up ending his rookie season as a Super Bowl winner. It will be a hard feat to achieve, but if Bosa and his team mates can stop Mahomes, then they will have earned it. 

Wells Fargo Executives Banned From Banking and Fined $59 Million Over Fake Account Scandal

Charlotte Stories
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Wells Fargo Executives Banned From Banking and Fined $59 Million Over Fake Account Scandal

Several former Wells Fargo executives, including former CEO John Stumpf, are finally receiving penalties for their actions in the 2017 Fake Account scandal.

The company admitted in July of 2017 that it had opened millions of unauthorized checking and credit card accounts between 2011 and 2015, blaming unrealistic sales goals and pressure put on its sales people. The outrage forced the resignation of longtime CEO John Stumpf, the restructuring of Wells Fargo’s sales targets, and massive federal and local investigations.

Today the U.S. government announced that former Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf has been permanently banned from ever working in the banking industry again and will be forced to pay $17.5 million for damages.

Additionally, 5 other former Wells Executives are facing federal charges and settlements amounting to over $59 million for their role in the scandal.

“The actions announced by the OCC today reinforce the agency’s expectations that management and employees of national banks and federal savings associations provide fair access to financial services, treat customers fairly, and comply with applicable laws and regulations,” Comptroller of the Currency Joseph Otting said in a statement.

Wells Fargo said it is freezing any remaining compensation payments to the former executives while it reviews the OCC’s findings.

In a statement to current Wells employees, current CEO Charlie Scharf said that the bank is now freezing all remaining compensation packages and payments to all executives involved with the scandal until all of the OCC’s findings are reviewed.

“We must all dedicate ourselves to ensuring that such failings never again occur at Wells Fargo,” said Scharf.

Wells Fargo currently employees over 27,000 workers in Charlotte, its biggest employment center.

Teenage Girl Missing After Getting Up From Her Movie Seat At Concord Mills

Charlotte Stories
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Teenage Girl Missing After Getting Up From Her Movie Seat At Concord Mills

Update 3/2/2020 10:30am: 

15-year-old Amy Lisets Rivera has just been located in Chesapeake, VA with the help of Charlotte’s FBI Field Office and the Concord Police Department.

She was found unharmed at the residence of an acquaintance.

Original Article 1/23/2020 11:57am: 

Concord Police are now asking for the public’s help in finding a missing 15-year-old girl who vanished yesterday after leaving her movie seat at the Concord Mills Mall.

According to police, Amy Lisets Rivera was last seen at Concord Mills Mall on January 18, 2020 after attending a movie at AMC Theaters. Her father dropped her off to watch a movie with her friends. Her friends told police that she left the theater before the movie ended.

Security video footage shows Rivera walking outside the mall entrance # 1 on the sidewalk alone. When the camera tilted away, and then back again, Rivera could no longer be seen. Police now think that she got into a vehicle with someone else.

Amy Rivera is described as standing 5-feet-2-inches-tall and weighing approximately 120 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes and a medium complexion. She was last seen wearing a black jacket with cat images and black leggings.

If you have any information about her whereabouts, please call Concord Police at 704-920-5000 or Cabarrus County Crime Stoppers at 704-932-7463.

Please help spread the word!

Today Eleanor Health Opening Their 4th Opioid & Substance Abuse Clinic

Steve
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Today Eleanor Health Opening Their 4th Opioid & Substance Abuse Clinic

Today, January 23, Eleanor Health will open its fourth outpatient recovery center in North Carolina.  Eleanor Health is rethinking how to treat addiction, which is now the leading cause of death in America for those under 50, by fully treating addiction as a chronic disease. Eleanor Health also has clinics in Mooresville, High Point and Durham.

The fourth clinic in North Carolina, Eleanor Health Hickory clinic will deliver comprehensive services in the community including medication assisted treatment, psychiatric evaluation, medication management, individual and group therapy, support to address social determinants of health, and peer recovery coaching.

The new clinic is located at 410 4th Street SW, Hickory, NC 28602.

Eleanor Health, whose name was chosen for the Greek meaning of Eleanor, “shining light” and as an ode to Eleanor Roosevelt, one of the earliest champions for universal human rights including medical care, is an emerging national addiction treatment provider. The company delivers comprehensive, evidence-based, outpatient treatment for individuals with opioid and other substance use disorders. Eleanor Health has differentiated itself by its evidence-based clinical approach, value-based payment model, level of care coordination, field-based community recovery teams, supporting technology, and focus on whole-person outcomes. The company launched in 2019 in North Carolina and is expanding nationally in 2020.

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