NATIONAL COVERAGE
- Charlotte Future 2040: Council Set to Vote on Community Area Plans and Revised Policy Mapby Jack BeckettCharlotte Council will consider adopting the Charlotte Future 2040 Community Area Plans and a Revised Policy Map, capping a multi-year process with broad engagement and a 7–0 recommendation.
- Parks or Pumps: Charlotte District 5 Pushes Back on Gas Station Near 27-Acre Parkby Jack BeckettA four-pump fueling proposal at E. W. T. Harris and Idlewild faced staff opposition and a sharp rebuke from District 5’s Marjorie Molina, who points to a nearly 27.5-acre county park coming up the road. The hearing closed with no vote, but the signals were clear. What Was Proposed at Harris and Idlewild The case labeled Petition 2025-021 sought to rezone roughly 1.24 acres east of E. W. T. Harris Boulevard and north of Idlewild Road from N1B to Neighborhood…
- Charlotte auditor seeks disclosure on $305,000 CMPD settlement and fund choiceby Jack BeckettThe state auditor urges Charlotte to enter the $305,000 CMPD settlement into public minutes and to consider using the Risk Management Fund instead of the General Fund.
- District 3 flips to Joi Mayo, District 5 likely recount, and a campaign reshaped by Iryna Zarutska’s killingby Jack BeckettJoi Mayo ousts Tiawana Brown in District 3, District 5 heads toward a recount, and safety on Charlotte’s Blue Line becomes a central test for November.
- District 5 Primary: Mazuera Arias Leads Molina by 33 Votes With Four Precincts Outstandingby Jack BeckettDistrict 5 is a cliffhanger. With 26 of 30 precincts in, J.D. Mazuera Arias leads Marjorie Molina 2,712 to 2,679. Four precincts remain. Margin 33 votes, about 0.61 percent. Unofficial.
- Iryna Zarutska: What Happened, What Changed, and Why Charlotte Has to Get Seriousby Jack BeckettA respectful, unblinking look at Iryna Zarutska’s killing on the Blue Line—what happened, what changed, and what Charlotte must fix if riders are going to trust transit again.
- The United States of Amnesia—Now With Brighter Stickersby Jack BeckettThe politics of the rebrand In Washington, the label is often louder than the thing itself. American politics has entered its packaging era. We don’t argue over reality so much as re-sticker it—rename, relabel, retweet, repeat. If the new label peels off, we print a sharper one and keep moving. The spectacle is entertaining; the consequences are not. A medal, a name—and a missing “V.”The reboot began with a glossy video celebrating an executive order giving the Pentagon a secondary…
- Inside CATS’s Fare and Safety Reset After Irina Zarutska’s Killingby Jack BeckettCATS moved fare fights away from drivers, funded transit policing, and promised data. Can validators, roving checks, and a CMPD pact make an open rail system feel safe after Irina Zarutska’s killing?
- Charlotte’s Open-System Dilemma: Can Light Rail Feel Safe Without Turnstiles?by Jack BeckettCharlotte built its light rail as an open system. After a fatal stabbing, Council pressed CATS on safety without turnstiles. The plan: transit policing, fare checks, cameras, and visible upgrades.
- Charlotte’s Early Vote: 13,871 Ballots, Five Days, Big Consequencesby Jack BeckettMecklenburg logged 13,871 early and by-mail votes. Most arrived in five days and clustered at University City, SouthPark, and a few big branches. In primaries, that small surge sets the agenda.
- CMS Posts Historic Gains: 55 Schools Improve, 89% Meet Growth, Low-Performing Drops to 18%by Jack BeckettCMS reports record gains: 55 schools improved grades, 89% met or exceeded growth, and low-performing schools dropped from 32% to 18%. What changed inside the district’s playbook.
- The Excelsior Club’s Latest Revival: $8 Million Plan Seeks $3 Million in Public Moneyby Jack BeckettCharlotte developers seek $3M in taxpayer funds for $8M Excelsior Club revival. Historic venue would be demolished and rebuilt as replica despite sub-1% ROI.
- Charlotte’s Primary Problem: When 1 in 8 Voters Decideby Jack BeckettIn Mecklenburg, just 18.7% voted in the 2024 primary. Here’s how a motivated 7% can set policy for 100%—and what that means for “Poll Dance 2025.”
- The District 1 Decider: Pragmatist vs. Organizerby Jack BeckettA safely blue district, a decisive primary. Dante Anderson backs the mobility tax and corridor investments. Charlene Henderson pushes neighborhood-first growth and worker standards.
- Guide to Charlotte City Council At-Large Candidates 2025by Jack BeckettCharlotte’s at-large races decide four citywide seats. Meet the field, see key dates, and track positions on the transit tax, housing, and stadium funding. Privacy-first, all receipts linked.