Charlotte Launches $3.4 Million Marketing Campaign After Latest Stabbing Near CATS Light Rail

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Charlotte Launches $3.4 Million Marketing Campaign After Latest Stabbing Near CATS Light Rail

Charlotte leaders have just approved more than $3 million in new spending to rebuild public confidence in the city’s light rail system after another stabbing near the 24th Street station this past weekend.

City Council voted unanimously Monday night to authorize a one-year, $3.4 million marketing and communications contract with the Sherry Matthews Group. The new effort aims to rebuild the public image of Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) and encourage riders to return following a series of violent incidents, including the July killing of Iryna Zarutska on the Blue Line.

The city began searching for an outside marketing firm in September, receiving 18 proposals. Staff selected Sherry Matthews Group for its experience in crisis communications, branding, digital outreach, advertising, and community engagement.

Under the official agreement, the firm will help:

• promote CATS services
• strengthen public outreach
• support crisis communication needs
• improve overall perception of safety

The city manager may renew the contract for up to three additional one-year terms with possible price adjustments.

Winter Storm Shuts Down Schools Across Western NC as Roads Turn Hazardous

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Winter Storm Shuts Down Schools Across Western NC as Roads Turn Hazardous
Snow accumulation in Asheville

Winter weather pushed several North Carolina school districts to alter schedules today, as rain and snow created potentially dangerous road conditions across the northern and western parts of the Charlotte region.

Districts initially announced delays but later shifted to closures or remote learning as conditions deteriorated. Officials said icy roads, wet snowfall, and freezing temperatures made early-morning travel unsafe, particularly in higher elevations.

Several mountain districts opted for remote instruction, including:

  • Avery County Schools

  • Mitchell County Schools

  • Stokes County Schools

  • Surry County Schools

  • Watauga County Schools

  • Wilkes County Schools

  • Yancey County Schools

Other systems closed entirely due to worsening conditions. Those districts include:

  • Alleghany County Schools

  • Ashe County Public Schools

  • Madison County Schools

  • Yadkin County Schools

The National Weather Service warned that the mix of rain and snow would impact travel throughout the morning, especially in communities near the North Carolina–Virginia border. Districts emphasized that decisions were made to protect student safety as slick spots developed on rural roads.

More schools along the state line also reported adjustments, and officials encouraged parents to follow district alerts for updates.

K-9 Teams Deployed After Gastonia Man Escapes Prison

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K-9 Teams Deployed After Gastonia Man Escapes Prison

Law enforcement agencies are searching for 42-year-old Gastonia man Roy Williams Burgess Jr., who escaped Sunday afternoon from the Lincoln Correctional Center in Lincolnton. K-9 units are tracking the area near Hoyles Creek Road and Rhyne Road, and officers believe Burgess may already be moving through Dallas or Gastonia seeking help from acquaintances.

Burgess was serving a one-to-two-year larceny sentence and has nearly 20 years of low-level felony history. He escaped wearing a white thermal shirt and dark green prison pants and may be bleeding from cuts sustained during his escape.

He is described as 5’11”, 180 pounds, with brown hair, blue eyes, a beard, and several tattoos — including “BNG” on his neck.

Residents are urged not to approach him. Anyone with information should call 911 or contact the Lincoln Correctional Center at 704-735-0485.

This Lake Norman Eatery Was Just Ranked One of The Best New Restaurants in America

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This Lake Norman Eatery Was Just Ranked One of The Best New Restaurants in America

Charlotte’s culinary scene received another national spotlight this week as Seaboy, a cozy fish shack tucked along West Catawba Avenue in Cornelius, was named one of Esquire’s Best New Restaurants in America for 2025.

The honor places the Lake Norman eatery—home to only about two dozen tables—among the most celebrated restaurant openings in the country.

Esquire’s editors praised Seaboy as a rare standout in a town of roughly 30,000 residents, noting that “on any given evening, the luckiest of them sit at one of twenty or so tables” in the restaurant.

The publication highlighted chef Jonny Cox, a Cornelius native whose cooking reflects time spent in both Charlotte and Sorrento, Italy. His menu, Esquire writes, showcases “an Italian knack for letting ingredients speak for themselves” while staying grounded in Carolina seafood traditions.

Every plate “hums with flavor,” according to Esquire’s review, which singled out several dishes:

  • Cornmeal-dusted Virginia flounder, pan-fried until tender and paired with Louisiana-style maque choux.

  • Crab-and-chorizo croquettes, described as “bonsai flavor bombs” served atop sweet pepper jam.

The magazine called Seaboy “a roadside restaurant that shines like a beacon,” capturing both its unassuming exterior and high-caliber execution.

The recognition marks another milestone for the Charlotte region’s dining scene, coming off the heels of our city’s first ever Michelin Star award last month.

CMPD: One Critically Injured After Stabbing Near 25th Street Light Rail Station

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CMPD: One Critically Injured After Stabbing Near 25th Street Light Rail Station
25th St Station

A stabbing near a NoDa Charlotte light rail station sent one person to the hospital this afternoon and temporarily shut down Blue Line service.

According to CMPD, officers responded around 4:50 p.m. to the 1900 block of Brevard Street near the 25th Street Station. They found a victim suffering from a stab wound and requested immediate medical assistance. Medic transported the victim to a hospital, where they remain in critical but stable condition.

The Charlotte Area Transit System paused all trains at the 25th Street stop as investigators secured the area. CATS implemented a bus bridge between the CTC Station uptown and 36th Street in NoDa to maintain service during the investigation.

CMPD is asking anyone who witnessed the stabbing or has information to contact Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

South Carolina’s Hottest New Musician is a 24-Year-Old USC Grad and 100% A.I. Generated

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South Carolina’s Hottest New Musician is a 24-Year-Old USC Grad and 100% A.I. Generated

An up-and-coming South Carolina musician is now starting to attract tens of thousands of listeners online and is being picked up by media outlets across our state…but there’s only one problem: he isn’t real.

Rowan Hart, described as a 24-year-old University of South Carolina graduate who bartends in Columbia’s Five Points, is marketed as a soulful, up-and-coming singer with Southern roots.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Rowan Hart (@rowanhartmusic)

As Hart’s streaming numbers climbed, criticism mounted. Local musicians have accused the project of blurring ethical lines and threatening an industry already wrestling with AI’s rapid expansion. The most controversial element: Hart’s creator, Steve Varholy, did not disclose on streaming platforms that Hart’s voice is AI-generated, leaving many listeners unaware the singer is fictional.

Hart’s bio describes him as a “South Carolina-based multi-media persona” sharing “songs, stories, and a little Southern soul.”

As artificial intelligence pushes deeper into creative spaces, Hart’s rise signals a growing debate in the Carolinas’ music community: What happens when a musician with no pulse can still build a fanbase?

Charlotte Lands New Frontier Route Offering Ultra-Low Fares to Cancun

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Charlotte Lands New Frontier Route Offering Ultra-Low Fares to Cancun

Frontier Airlines is adding a new nonstop route from Charlotte to Cancun, offering promotional fares as low as $99.

The service begins March 6, 2026, and will run three times per week, giving Frontier a total of 16 nonstop destinations from Charlotte Douglas. The $99 fares must be purchased by 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 10 and apply to select dates through April 13.

Cancun remains one of Charlotte’s most popular international vacation spots, and the new low-cost option is expected to draw strong demand.

You can find out more or book your flight on FlyFrontier.com.

NC Man Charged With Felony ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction’ After Deputies Find Booby-Trapped Rd

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NC Man Charged With Felony ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction’ After Deputies Find Booby-Trapped Rd
Satellite image of 96 Titleist Dr via McDowell Co GIS

A McDowell County man is now facing multiple felony charges after deputies discovered a trip-wire that was “connected to a device that was pointed toward the road”, according to the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office.

Cooper was arrested at the home he shares with his girlfriend at 96 Titleist Drive, Marion, about 80 miles northwest of Charlotte. Cooper allegedly struggled with deputies during the arrest, injuring a detective’s leg, the warrant reports.

Detectives charged 52-year-old Joseph D. Cooper with three counts of felony possession of a weapon of mass destruction, felony possession of a firearm by a felon, misdemeanor resisting a public officer, and misdemeanor assaulting a government official.

Winter Weather Advisory Issued For Charlotte Region Tonight

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Winter Weather Advisory Issued For Charlotte Region Tonight

A fast-moving storm system will reach the Charlotte region tonight, bringing a wintry mix to our region. Temperatures will stay unusually cold Friday, with many communities stuck in the 30s.

Rain arrives overnight, with snow and ice accumulating in the northern and western parts of the Charlotte region.

The National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory for parts of North Carolina, calling for 2–4 inches of wet snow through early Friday afternoon.

Slick spots may form Friday morning in the mountains and foothills before conditions improve around midday. This system is not expected to become a major winter storm, but cold air and early timing could still create hazardous travel.

Charlotte will see a cold, soaking rain, while mountain communities face the highest risk of icy roads during the morning commute. Drivers across the region should allow extra time and watch for rapidly changing conditions.

North Carolina Emergency Management officials remind all residents to: 

Armed Hijacker Seizes NC-Based Mission Plane Before Dramatic Safe Landing in South Sudan

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Armed Hijacker Seizes NC-Based Mission Plane Before Dramatic Safe Landing in South Sudan

A plane owned by North Carolina–based Samaritan’s Purse was hijacked Tuesday in South Sudan by an armed man who forced a mid-flight diversion before being arrested. No injuries were reported.

The Cessna Grand Caravan was carrying medical supplies from Juba to Maiwut when the gunman, identified as Yasir Mohammed Yusuf, emerged from the rear cabin and demanded the pilot fly to Chad.

Instead, the pilot safely landed in Wau, where security forces quickly detained the hijacker. Only the pilot and one crew member were on board.

Yusuf is from the disputed Abyei Administrative Area, an oil-rich region claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan. Hijackings of humanitarian aircraft are uncommon but underscore lingering instability in the region.

Boone-based Samaritan’s Purse said it will continue medical flights in South Sudan and praised authorities for the rapid response as the investigation moves forward in a press statement they released today:

“A Samaritan’s Purse plane, which is based and operating only within Africa, was involved in a hijacking incident on Tuesday, Dec. 2, with a pilot and one staff member on board. The Caravan aircraft was en route to Maiwut, South Sudan, to deliver medicines to be used by our mobile medical unit based there. The pilot was eventually able to land the plane in Wau, South Sudan, where the armed hijacker was taken into custody by the National Security Service of South Sudan.

We praise God that no one was seriously injured, and we are grateful to the security forces for their support and swift action on the ground to resolve the situation and bring a safe outcome.“

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