UNC Charlotte Partners with The Washington Center for RNC Student Learning Experience

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UNC Charlotte Partners with The Washington Center for RNC Student Learning Experience

UNC Charlotte is offering a unique educational experience to students seeking internships and other learning opportunities during the upcoming 2020 Republican National Convention in Charlotte. Through an exclusive partnership with The Washington Center (TWC), UNC Charlotte will host hundreds of students from across the country for an extraordinary two-week educational program from Aug.16-28, 2020.

TWC, a respected nonpartisan, not-for-profit educational organization, partners with universities, government agencies and public and private organizations to introduce college-age students with an interest in government, media and related careers to an intensive, behind-the-scenes look into the political process during the national convention. They will provide a range of courses, forums and volunteer opportunities for UNC Charlotte students and those visiting from other campuses. Attendees who participate in the convention seminar will spend the first week of the program on UNC Charlotte’s campus learning the history of political campaigns, convention planning and procedures and the role of the media. The second half of the program will be spent at the convention, participating in fieldwork and internship assignments and attending convention receptions and events.

“UNC Charlotte is proud to again partner with The Washington Center. In 2012, our students were able to benefit from once-in-a-lifetime experiences by participating in the Center’s Democratic National Convention seminar. This partnership also provides a tremendous opportunity to highlight the University to visitors from across the country,” said Chancellor Philip L. Dubois. “Students will emerge with new skills and insights that will shape their development as citizens for the rest of their lives, and I’m excited for UNC Charlotte to play a key role in the process.”

“As in 2012, we are again thrilled to partner with UNC Charlotte for our in 2020 Convention program,” said Kelly Eaton, Ph.D., senior vice president and chief academic officer of The Washington Center. “UNC Charlotte is a well-respected institution with top-notch facilities. The University shares The Washington Center’s goal of engaging students in the democratic process, and we welcome the participation of their student delegation next summer. This unique experiential learning opportunity set in the environment of a major historical event allows students to have engaged lessons in citizenship as well as opportunities to develop their professional identity.”

Student participants will have the opportunity to interact with political insiders, attend exclusive events and engage in on-site fieldwork with media outlets, advocacy groups, host committees, state delegations and other organizations connected to the convention. More than 120 students are expected to attend the academic seminar and will be eligible to receive academic credit for their work.

Through the partnership with TWC, interested UNC Charlotte students will have the opportunity to apply for one of 10 scholarships allotted to the University (valued at $4,300 each) for the two-week program. UNC Charlotte will host visiting students and faculty and utilize on-campus buildings for the academic portion of the program. Scholarship postings can be found through Hire-A-Niner (search for either “The Washington Center – Scholarship Program” or Job ID#48685). Applications for the scholarship are currently open and are due Wednesday, Feb. 19.

UNC Charlotte and TWC first partnered for this program during the 2012 Democratic National Convention, when Charlotte also served as the host city.

CMS Board Just Approved Teacher Pay Raises and New Hires

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CMS Board Just Approved Teacher Pay Raises and New Hires

Yesterday the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board (CMS) approved a county-wide salary increases for all of their teachers, assistant principals, principals and all other employees (about 9,000 in total). During the meeting, the board also approved 72 new student-support positions, according to a press release.

“We have waited to do this because we were hoping to have a state budget,” said Mary McCray, Board chair. “We care about our employees and our students, and we are committed to doing what’s best for them despite uncertainty in Raleigh. We’d prefer to have a state budget rather than taking these actions piecemeal but lacking that, we decided to do something now.”

The pay raises will be put in place by step increases (set by state salary schedules), and a general 3% raise for school employees not listed in the schedule. Hourly employees wages will be raised to an hourly pay of $13.22. In total, the raises will vary from 1% – 8% with a county wide average of about 3%.

The raises will be retroactive to July 1, the start of the district’s fiscal year, and the retroactive amounts will be paid by the end of this year.

The CMS board also voted to add 72 new social and emotional health positions to benefit students (bringing the total number of social and emotional health employees to 622).

“Social and emotional health is essential if students are going to be able to achieve in school,” said McCray. “Adding these will help us provide better support in our schools. We’re still not where we need to be, but these 72 positions will move us closer.”

Funds for the raises will be appropriated from the state and from Mecklenburg County.

Another Man Shot and Killed In Uptown Charlotte’s Epicenter

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Another Man Shot and Killed In Uptown Charlotte’s Epicenter

Another shooting death has just occurred early this morning in Uptown Charlotte’s Epicenter. This comes just one month after DisposeRX’s CEO John Holaday died after being shot in the Epicenter.

According to CMPD, two individuals were injured in the shooting, with one of the injuries proving to be fatal;

Several witnesses told WSOC’s Gina Esposito that they saw 2 men shooting at each-other before police got involved;

This is an ongoing investigation.

We will updated this article as more information comes in.

Factory Church Delivering Free Christmas Trees To Families in Need Around Charlotte

Charlotte Stories
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Factory Church Delivering Free Christmas Trees To Families in Need Around Charlotte

Factory Church will be delivering free Christmas trees and Christmas tree starter kits to families in need across the Concord and Charlotte area on Thursday, November 21st, 2019 from 3pm – 8pm. 

Factory Church is partnering with Beds for Kids to provide 100 Christmas trees and Christmas tree starter kits to families across Cabarrus and Mecklenburg County this holiday season. Many of these families have just moved out of a shelter and into a home, but often reside in these homes without basic furniture or beds to sleep in. “We have a saying at Factory that goes like this: We over me – always! There’s something special when a movement swells around a mission, and when service becomes the vision rather than looking for what we can get from someone,” said Pastor Andy Williamson. 

Beds for Kids provides these families with beds and other essential furniture, and Factory Church is partnering with them to provide Christmas trees and Christmas tree starter kits, filled with items for each family to decorate. Williamson said taking on this partnership was a no brainer. “We have a chance to make a great impact in the lives of many families this holiday season. We want to be the catalyst that jump starts hope for them. We know that we will gain a bigger blessing than the families that we are serving. We like to think that actions speak more to who we are than anything else.” 

Church members have donated 100 Christmas tree starter kits and raised the money to purchase 100 live trees. On Thursday, November 21st these church members will be meeting at the Factory Church location, loading Christmas trees on the tops of their cars, gathering starter kits, and delivering to families in need. 

Factory Church- 8230 Poplar Tent Road, Concord, NC 28027. thefactorychurch.com 

Panthers Confirm They Will Not Attend Colin Kaepernick’s Workout This Weekend

Charlotte Stories
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Panthers Confirm They Will Not Attend Colin Kaepernick’s Workout This Weekend

The politically controversial Quarterback Colin Kaepernick has confirmed that he will be working out in front of NFL personnel this weekend to display his readiness and talent to interested teams.

The former 49er was considered one of the leagues top QBs while on the team, and according to many evaluators, he’s still more talented than most currently unsigned QBs.

There have now been a total of 11 teams confirmed to attend the workout, but according to league sources, the Panthers will not be one of them.

 

Earlier this month, Cam Newton was placed on injured reserve, effectively ending his season, but Panthers Head Coach Rivera has said he is comfortable with their current QB depth with Allen as the started and Grier backing him up.

The former 49er was considered one of the leagues top QBs while on the team, and according to many evaluators, he’s still more talented than most currently unsigned QBs.

The 11 teams who will be attending the workout include; the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Washington Redskins. An interview and video of the workout will also be made available to all 32 NFL teams.

According to SportsBettingDime.com, the Bengals and Steelers are currently favorites to sign Kaepernick.

Do you think the Panthers should pursue Kaepernick? 

Lidl Just Announced Grand Opening Date For Their First Store in Charlotte

Charlotte Stories
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Lidl Just Announced Grand Opening Date For Their First Store in Charlotte

Popular discount grocer Lidl has just announced the grand opening date for their first store in Charlotte.

The company sent out a press release yesterday saying their new 15,000 square foot location at 9318 Monroe Rd. will officially open for business on December 4th.

“I am excited to be part of this Charlotte community and to have the opportunity to introduce Lidl to new customers, as well as serve our loyal customer base,” Store Manager Derek Fernandez said. “We want to be the number one shopping destination for customers in Charlotte and look forward to opening in December.”

You can take part in the grand opening festivities from Wednesday the 4th through Sunday the 8th. Wednesday’s activities begin with ribbon cutting at 7:40am.

  • The first 200 customers will be presented with a special gift card ranging from $5 to $250 each
  • Free Lidl reusable bag (while supplies last)
  • Sign up for our newsletter and 3 lucky winners will win a $500 Lidl gift card
  • Samples of our best products all weekend long

Lidl currently has stores in Rock Hill, Indian Trail, and Concord, and they are also planning on opening another location in Matthews by the end of the year.

Have you been to Lidl? What do you think of the store? 

The North Carolina Zoo Announces Birth of New Baby Chimpanzee Girl

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The North Carolina Zoo Announces Birth of New Baby Chimpanzee Girl

The North Carolina Zoo announces a new addition to the chimpanzee troop! Tuesday, Nov. 12, a healthy baby girl was born to chimp Amy. Both mother and baby are doing well, and the baby started nursing quickly.

This is the fifth chimp birth in the last nine years at the Zoo. They are now the most successful Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) zoo for breeding chimps.

The North Carolina Zoo welcomed baby boy chimp Obi earlier this year on March 18.

Amy, who is 35 years old, is an experienced mother and very protective of her young. Amy was born at the North Carolina Zoo in 1983 and is the mother of Gus, who was born in 2014.

According to zookeepers, the troop is being respectfully curious about the new infant, including big brother Gus. The adult male chimpanzees in this troop are known for being gentle and playful with younger chimps.

The Chimpanzee Species Survival Plan (SSP), managed by the AZA, recommended this planned birth. The Zoo’s Curator of Mammals, Jennifer Ireland, is the Vice Program Leader of the Chimpanzee SSP. The Zoo’s chimpanzee troop is one of the largest troops in AZA-accredited zoos in the United States.

“Having two baby chimps born close together is such an exciting time,” Zoo Director Pat Simmons said. “Our guests will be able to watch them grow and play together and understand why it’s important to save chimpanzees in the wild. We are always thrilled with births at the Zoo because it’s a win for conservation.”

Chimps are one of the five types of great apes along with gorillas, orangutans, bonobos and humans. They are well-known for their intelligence, tool-use, complex social structures and communication through vocalizations, gestures and body posture and facial expressions that convey emotions such as happiness, anger, depression and fear.

Chimps are endangered in the wild because of habitat destruction of the forests of central Africa, and populations have steadily declined over the years. Although numbers are difficult to estimate, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) believes there are 172,000 – 299,000 left in the wild.

The gestation period for chimpanzees is 230 days. Chimps have an average life span of 35-40 years under human care.

With the new baby, the Zoo’s troop now consists of 16 chimpanzees – 10 females – Amy, Gerre, Ebi, Gari, Genie, Gigi, Nori, Ruby, Tammy, and the new baby girl, and six males – Gus, Obi, Kendall, Jonathan, Lance, and Sokoto.

The Zoo has recently mourned the loss of two of its older chimps – Ruthie, who died in 2018 at the age of 47 and alpha chimp Maggie, 45, who died earlier this year in April.

Community Risk Management: How A HOA Management Company Can Help

Robert Tilman
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Community Risk Management: How A HOA Management Company Can Help

One of the things a homeowners association board or HOA board oversees is community risk management, which entails all the possible risks a community may face legally and financially. Without proper risk management, the community can face huge money losses from things like market fluctuations and natural disasters that could’ve been prevented if the HOA board prepared for them ahead of time. 

Four Areas of Community Risk Management

According to the Community Associations Institute or CAI, these are the four areas of risk management:

1. Property

Under property risks, there are four categories:

  • Natural disasters –from flooding, hurricanes, hail, windstorms, etc.
  • Human perils –from pollution, theft, negligence, property damage by humans
  • Economic perils –from market fluctuations, strikes, new technology 
  • Technological perils –from hackers, Internet viruses, construction costs

2. Liability

Liability is considered another big category for risk management in community associations. This involves loss from liability that would’ve resulted from harm or injury of an individual or a breach of a legal requirement. A common scenario with HOA boards is when they hire third-party vendors that increases the chances of having liabilities when these vendors do not comply with requirements, liability insurance, and safety measures.

3. Net Income

This involves the risk of loss in the HOA’s cash flow if there is an increase in expenses, a decrease in revenue, or both. This risk becomes higher when the HOA board are not financial experts.

4. Personnel

Personnel risks involve a key person in the HOA board, volunteer, or employee passing away, resigning, retiring, or becoming disabled. Further, any worker’s compensation claim falls in this category as well.

How Can HOA Management Companies Help?

HOA management companies have professionals and experts that knows community risk management. They are capable of assessing risks per community and plan the necessary steps to prepare for these risks. A HOA management company will come up with a risk-management protocol according to the needs of a specific community, which includes both risk control (minimize loss) and risk financing (funding for loss).

What are the steps to ensure a solid risk-management program for a community?

  • The HOA management company will get a comprehensive insurance program to make sure the community is financially covered for any loss. At the same time, the HOA management company will implement a claims administration program, wherein the HOA manager and board will explain the claim system to homeowners as well.
  • The HOA management company will then implement the risk-management policies and make sure everyone in the community follows the policies. The HOA manager will monitor the compliance and regularly review the policies and adjust them accordingly if needed.
  • HOA boards will no longer have to screen third-party vendors; the HOA management company can take the helm on that. This makes sure that the screening process is detailed to guarantee that nothing falls through the cracks, such as checking vendor licenses, vendor references, etc.

Don’t Take the Risk

When it comes to managing the finances of the entire community as well as having the responsibility of making sure the common interests of homeowners are met, you just cannot take the risk of accidental losses. Risk management is all about preparation, and the more prepared your community is, the fewer losses you will suffer. Don’t hesitate to seek the help of professionals who knows the ins and outs of risk management so that your community is always protected! 

What to do if you find an error on your Experian credit report?

Raymond J Rednour
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What to do if you find an error on your Experian credit report?

Who are Experian?

A leading consumer credit company, Experian provide aggregated information for a number of banks and businesses throughout the world. Known as one of the big three agencies alongside TransUnion and Equifax – the company helps eliminate fraud, prevent identity theft, and analyse customer use cases to help businesses provide better standards of service. The company currently holds information on over one billion individuals that helps their clients and customer make better decisions about how to serve their users. 

For financial institutions, this is extremely helpful when it comes to making assessments about their customer’s eligibility for lines of credit and – in particular – how likely they are to repay. If your chosen bank uses Experian, they will provide a report on your credit information which can help them make a decision about what products and services to offer you.

However, no institution is perfect and, if Experian does makes a mistake, the knock-on effects can potentially be severe.   

How can an error impact your life?

Having a poor credit rating can be damaging to any individual looking to secure a loan or make use of other financial services. Any time you previously used a service that involved loans or repayments, your key information is collected into your credit report. This can be as simple as repaying a student loan, paying a credit card debt, or as comprehensive as filing for bankruptcy.

If you report has information that does not match your use history, this can result in an inaccurate view of your finances and result in you being unduly reprimanded. 

What should I know before querying?

How often you can ask: If your provider is Experian, you can request a look at your credit report once a year for free. If you want to review your information more closely – with the ideal figure being every three to four months if your credit is a concern – this will incur some extra spend. 

When to ask: Conventionally, being turned down for a loan or line of credit should prompt you to take a look at your records. If your credit is already a potential concern for you, it’s also helpful to review your rating before approaching financial bodies. This can let you get a better picture of the options you have available to you and help get better guidance from the business. 

Best processes for credit: In the chance that an ‘error’ on your report is accurate, it is essential that you review your current approach to managing your personal finances and institute some best-practice changes. This can be as simple as setting up auto-payments to ensure that your credit lines are paid off in time or changing your budget to allow you to repay outstanding debts quickly and – most importantly – responsibly. 

What next?

If you want further help when it comes to dealing with institutions like Experian, please do not hesitate to visit our site here https://www.crediful.com/experian-dispute/. This can help you find some best-practice advice about how to proceed with a dispute and bespoke guidance on how to maximise your chances of success. 

Why Are Online Casino Slots So Popular?

Robert Dale
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Why Are Online Casino Slots So Popular?

If you have been on the internet, ever, you would have definitely seen pop up ads promoting online casino slots. Over the years online casino gaming has become increasingly popular and turn this has had a positive effect on online slots. But what makes them more popular than video poker or roulette for that matter? What makes online slots stand apart from other casino games and why are players opting for online slots rather than land based casino gaming? Here is where you will find out all the answers to the above questions and better understand the dynamic nature of online slots and new online casinos. 

Variety 

If there is one thing that makes online gambling so popular it’s the variety that is readily available. Land based casinos are limiting, they tend to get rather old for regular goers rather quickly and any new updates to systems or new additions to the lobby tend to take months. Online gaming and slot sites on the other hand, well this is something that is instantly accessible and slots gaming is widely known for the impressive variety under most online casinos gaming options. 

Affordability 

Because slots take longer to pay out big wins, depending on the volatility of the software developers creation, the coin sizes range from as little as 0.01 to anything above 100.00. This makes slots games far more affordable than casino table games as the stakes are set by the players partaking in the game. Slots are adjusted according to player’s pockets and payouts are paid out in accordance with the wager staked. 

Players are able to determine just how often a slots game pays out according to the return to player (RTP) percentage which is often displayed under reviews or casino gaming information. Low volatility slots pay out more frequently but smaller amounts while higher volatility slots payout higher cash prizes albeit less frequently. 

Progressive Jackpot Payouts 

Progressive jackpot games are amongst the most popular of casino gaming mostly due to their higher payouts and these are at times life-changing sums of money, even running into the millions. Progressive slots are considered to be high volatility slots and require more patience than your average slots games, but they are well worth the wait. 

Bonus Games / Additional Features 

An interesting feature of slots games is the incredible bonus rounds which ultimately function as new games within the game you are playing. Basically, bonus games are unlocked during gameplay and throughout the journey of the players, they are able to unlock these games and special features. 

Special features are another alluring factor in this form of casino gaming. These are symbols that help form winning combinations and combined they pay out generous amounts according to what the player has wagered. The bonus games and additional features can also be found under reviews and information which is easily found online, another reason for online slots games being popular amongst players. 

Some bonus symbols will include scattered wilds, sticky wilds, stacked wilds, multipliers and bonus symbols. Here is where you are bound to make your money. 

 

Mobile Slots Gaming 

Mobile slots can be accessed online from smartphones or smart devices web browsers. Naturally this is a massive attraction based on statistics which prove the biggest majority of internet users are mobile users. Through mobile slots gaming, there are all of the above perks plus more! Mobile users are instantly able to connect to their favourite online slots, add to their accounts and stand the chance of winning real money playing online slots. 

Free Online Slots 

Unlike land based casinos, online casinos allow users to play for real cash while the internet allows players the advantage of playing online slots for free, without even signing with an online casino. Nowhere else is this possible unless of course, you are on your mobile device. The internet is a great place but what makes it even greater is the advantage online users have to playing slots. 

As you can see from the most obvious factors in favour of online slots, the internet certainly has its advantages for casino players. Naturally, there are more advantages that players will discover along the way but this simply adds to the alluring nature of online slots gaming. 

Availability

The biggest reason for online slots popularity and the one that combines all the reasons mentioned above must be availability slot games on online casinos and online gambling platforms. No casino that wants to exist on the internet and have players come visit can do so without presenting on it’s main page a variety of at least a 100 slot games.

If all this talk about online slots has got you worked up on playing some slots. Click on the following link to find the best online slots and start spinning some virtual reels.  

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