Government archive
All 202 Government stories from The Charlotte Mercury, newest first.
October 2026
- Mecklenburg Early Voting Opens Thursday at 25 SitesOct 14
- Charlotte Data Center Pause May Grow; Two Campuses ExemptOct 13
- Harrington Vetoes Council's Six-Week Airline Lease ReviewOct 13
- Council Gets First Public Look at CLT's Airline LeaseOct 10
- CATS Adds $2.20 On-Demand Van Rides in West CharlotteOct 9
- Road Safety Survey for Charlotte Region Closes Oct. 25Oct 9
- What Charlotte Got in Writing on I-77Oct 8
September 2026
- Enslaved People Believed Buried Outside Sugaw Creek CemeterySep 29
- Charlotte's Housing Bond Plan Now Says Where Homes Should GoSep 29
- Charlotte Annexations Never Ask for Affordable HousingSep 29
- First Union Tower Wins Landmark Status and a Tax Break, 10-1Sep 29
- Charlotte Approves 10 p.m. Curfew Pilot for Minors, 9-2Sep 29
- CRTPO Revives I-77 South Toll Lanes; Two Mayors ResignSep 24
- Charlotte's I-77 Bill Is $69,577,547.67Sep 15
August 2026
- I-77 Toll Lanes: Charlotte Unmoved, $60 Million DisputedAug 26
- Charlotte Debates What a Youth Curfew Pilot Would TestAug 25
- Hendrick Rezoning Pulled From Consent Agenda Over Its BufferAug 20
- MPTA Orders Study of Possible West Craighead StationAug 13
- Charlotte Eyes DOJ Model Cities Deal; Some Terms Come LaterAug 11
- SNAP Penalty Could Cost Mecklenburg Up to $42 Million a YearAug 7
- I-77 Study Would Take Months; Charlotte's Deadline Is Oct. 5Aug 5
July 2026
- Mecklenburg's George Dunlap Sworn In as NACo PresidentJul 21
- Revive the I-77 Toll Lanes or Repay $64M, State Budget SaysJul 16
- Charlotte Panel Advances 9 p.m. Curfew for Everyone Under 18Jul 15
- Charlotte Transit Board Expands Interim CEO's Spending PowerJul 11
- MPTA Panel Votes 5-4 Against West Craighead Red Line StopJul 10
- Mecklenburg Plans West Side Workforce Hub on LaSalle StreetJul 8
- Rob Harrington Sworn In as Charlotte Mayor for 18 MonthsJul 2
June 2026
- Transit Authority Clears Last State Requirement to Run CATSJun 28
- Mecklenburg Drafts Plan to Round Cash Up to Nearest NickelJun 25
- Charlotte Council Names Robert Harrington Its Next MayorJun 23
- The Five Finalists for Charlotte Mayor, in Their Own WordsJun 20
- Hendrick Rezoning Breaks Area Plan, but Staff Back ApprovalJun 17
- Raleigh Wants $60 Million Back for Killing I-77 Toll LanesJun 17
- A Council Member Applying for Mayor Can Vote for HimselfJun 17
- Charlotte Mayor Will Be Appointed; More Than 100 AppliedJun 16
- What Changes July 1 When the MPTA Takes Over CATSJun 11
- Charlotte council approves 150-day data center moratoriumJun 9
- Mecklenburg's Sure-Thing Budget Took Most of an Hour to PassJun 3
- MEDIC's Raise Is in the County Budget but Isn't Funded YetJun 3
- Charlotte Committee Advances Citywide Street Vending RulesJun 3
- Transit Board Says Goodbye to Brent Cagle, Who Steadied CATSJun 3
- Council Backs 10% Firefighter Raise in 10-1 Straw VoteJun 2
- Outgoing Charlotte Transit Board Approves New Fare SystemJun 2
- Transit Commission Holds Final Meeting, Hands CATS to MPTAJun 1
May 2026
- Charlotte Transit's 27-Year Build, in One TimelineMay 30
- Mecklenburg adds $1.6 million for 13 community programsMay 29
- Mecklenburg commissioners advance FY27 budget to June 2 voteMay 29
- Mecklenburg board parks MEDIC wage-floor moveMay 29
- Charlotte Council Opens Interim Mayor ApplicationsMay 27
- Charlotte hears residents on data center pause; vote June 8May 27
- $118M Matthews Training Center Opponents Speak at HearingMay 24
- The I-77 South Toll Lane Project Is Effectively DeadMay 23
- How CRTPO Works and Why Charlotte's Vote Weighs So MuchMay 23
- Mecklenburg Budget Hearing: Flat Tax Rate, Long Line of AsksMay 23
- Manor Theater Redevelopment ApprovedMay 22
- 49-Unit Faith in Housing Petition Reaches Council HearingMay 21
- Manufacturing Land Near Woodlawn Station Just Became TOD-NCMay 21
- Covering the State Costs Mecklenburg $400M, About 16 CentsMay 20
- Renée Johnson Takes CMS School-Utilization Report to CouncilMay 20
- On Data Centers, Mecklenburg Wants a Voice It Mostly LacksMay 20
- Charlotte Council OKs 41-Acre Atrium Rezoning on Second TryMay 20
- Council Defers Rezoning After Renée Johnson Leads 5-4 SplitMay 19
- Vi Lyles Chairs Her First and Last Zoning Meeting of 2026May 19
- Brendan Maginnis Offers to Serve as Interim MayorMay 16
- MPTA Launches CEO Search as July 1 Deadline NearsMay 14
- 30+ Speakers Ask Charlotte for More in $4.5 Billion BudgetMay 14
- Charlotte Mandatory Water Restrictions Begin Friday: A GuideMay 13
- NC Budget Framework: Most Workers' Raises Trail InflationMay 13
- Council Unanimously Sets Data Center Moratorium HearingMay 13
- Charlotte Council Votes 6-5 to Seek I-77 Toll RescissionMay 13
- Budget, I-77, Data Centers and the Question Graham DodgedMay 11
- Charlotte Water Moves to Mandatory Restrictions at Stage 2May 10
- Vi Lyles to Resign June 30; Race to Replace Her Has StartedMay 8
- MTC Closes CATS Fare Plan Comment, Cash-Rider Question OpenMay 7
- Housing Bond Rental Category Runs $5.6M Over Its GoalMay 5
April 2026
- Lyles Breaks 5-5 Tie Against Data Center Pause HearingApr 28
- Charlotte Water Moves to Voluntary Restrictions at Stage 1Apr 26
- Carla Cunningham Leaves the Democratic Party. Apr 25
- Mayfield Votes No on a Petition From the Program She BuiltApr 22
- Charlotte Council Approves Both Faith in Housing Rezonings. Apr 21
- CMPD: Violent Crime Down 21%, 270 Vacancies Threaten GainsApr 19
- Mecklenburg International Migration Fell 41% in One YearApr 15
- Joint Legislative Breakfast Puts Three Boards in One RoomApr 14
- Raleigh's Property Tax Squeeze Could Cap Charlotte's FutureApr 14
- Charlotte Housing Trust Fund Picks Draw Council QuestionsApr 14
- Charlotte Council Passes First Post-Sales-Tax Transit BudgetApr 14
- Mecklenburg Votes to Buy Former Smith School for HousingApr 8
- Mecklenburg Chair Asks Staff to Explore Suing State on TaxesApr 8
- Wilson Center Closed in December, but People Keep Showing UpApr 8
- Affordable Housing Tops Mecklenburg Survey; Tax Support DipsApr 8
- Charlotte Panel Revisits Red Light Cameras After FatalityApr 7
- Charlotte Housing Trust Fund: $45M Asked, $28.7M to GiveApr 7
March 2026
- Charlotte's Silver Line Explained: A $3.3B Line That ShrankMar 28
- Red Line Explained: Charlotte's Commuter Rail, 25 Years OnMar 28
- What Happened to CATS? Charlotte Transit's Move to the MPTAMar 28
- How Charlotte's Transit Tax Works and Who Controls the MoneyMar 28
- Gateway Station: 25 Years in the Making, Still No BuildingMar 28
- What Is the MPTA? Charlotte's Transit Authority, ExplainedMar 28
- McFadden's Rival to Be Chief Deputy After Two Public ExitsMar 27
- Elaine Powell Won't Seek a Fifth Term; District 1 Seat OpensMar 27
- Mecklenburg's George Dunlap to Lead 3,000 Counties at NACoMar 27
- Mecklenburg State of the County: Jobs, Housing, Shutdown AidMar 25
- Three Commissioners Want to Rethink Mecklenburg's CRC ModelMar 25
- Mecklenburg Pauses Capital Plan as CFO Proposes $30M ShiftMar 25
- East Charlotte Housing Passes 6-4; Equity Champions Vote NoMar 23
- Charlotte's $50M Housing Bond Is a Non-Starter, Council SaysMar 23
- Gateway Station: Two Council Members Press for an UpdateMar 23
- Berger Requests Recount in 23-Vote NC Senate PrimaryMar 17
- Charlotte City Council Q1 2026: Budget, Toll Lanes, HousingMar 15
February 2026
January 2026
December 2025
- What to Know About Charlotte's New Transit AuthorityDec 19
- Mecklenburg Board Resets A Home for All, Splits on SoFi DealDec 17
- Charlotte Council Zoning, Dec. 15: Displacement, BrookhillDec 16
- CATS Picks Out-of-State Firm for $3.4 Million Marketing DealDec 9
- What the Mayor Pro Tem Vote Reveals About Charlotte CouncilDec 8
- NC Opens 2026 Election Filing: What It Means for CharlotteDec 2
November 2025
October 2025
- CMS board forum: Districts 1–6 candidates on gains, fundingOct 28
- Corporate, Crypto Donors Fund Trump's $300 Million BallroomOct 23
- No Deal in Raleigh: Medicaid, Pay Raises, Tax Plans in LimboOct 22
- Early Voting in Mecklenburg: Sites, ID Rules, Transit TaxOct 20
- Charlotte crime down, Uptown concern upOct 16
- Council Advances Stadium Financing, Clears 4,400-Seat VenueOct 14
- Charlotte Non-Congregate Shelter Plan: Metrics, GuardrailsOct 14
- Charlotte Council Weighs Consultants vs. In-House CapacityOct 14
- Charlotte at the Ballot Box: When Crime Becomes CurrencyOct 13
- Charlotte Voter Guide 2025: Shutdown, Crime and the BallotOct 12
- Iron District First Phase: 278 Units, Retail, Rail SiteOct 9
- Charlotte Police Union's National Guard Plea Cites StaffingOct 8
- Police Union Seeks National Guard as Teacher Jobs Are CutOct 7
- Charlotte Mayor's Race at Tuesday Forum: Housing and TransitOct 5
- How Transit Leaders Botched Blue Line Crisis ResponseOct 3
- Charlotte Civic Calendar: Political Events, Oct. 3–13, 2025Oct 3
- How Charlotte Will Pick MPTA Transit Board: New TimelineOct 2
- Charlotte Bail and CATS Security Collide at House HearingOct 1
- CATS Security Shrank as Spending Grew: Inside the ContractsOct 1
September 2025
- What a Congressional Field Hearing Is, and Why It Came HereSep 29
- House Field Hearing in Charlotte Clashes Over Bail, BacklogsSep 29
- House Judiciary Subcommittee in Charlotte: What HappenedSep 29
- Charlotte Politics This Week, Sept. 29–Oct. 5: Ballots BeginSep 28
- South Mecklenburg Unincorporated Plan: Policy Map ExplainedSep 25
- Charlotte Future 2040: Council to Vote on Area Plans and MapSep 22
- Parks or Pumps: District 5 Pushes Back on Gas Station PlanSep 16
- State auditor seeks disclosure of $305,000 CMPD settlementSep 12
- Joi Mayo wins District 3; District 5 heads toward a recountSep 10
- Mazuera Arias Leads Molina by 33 Votes in District 5 PrimarySep 9
- Iryna Zarutska: What Happened, What Changed on the Blue LineSep 9
- CATS Fare and Safety Reset After Iryna Zarutska's KillingSep 8
- Charlotte Light Rail: Can an Open System Feel Safe?Sep 8
- Charlotte Early Vote: 13,871 Ballots, Most in Five DaysSep 7
- Excelsior Club Revival Plan Seeks $3 Million in Public MoneySep 5
- Charlotte's Primary Problem: When 1 in 8 Voters DecideSep 5
August 2025
- The District 1 Decider: Pragmatist vs. OrganizerAug 30
- Guide to Charlotte City Council At-Large Candidates 2025Aug 30
- Charlotte Public Forum: Student Makes the Case for Home RuleAug 25
- Charlotte's 1% Transit Tax: Cost, Control, Candidate StancesAug 24
- The Penny That Could Redraw MecklenburgAug 24
- Malcolm Graham, District 2: Record, Transit and 2025 BallotAug 23
- District 1 Rematch: Charlene Henderson vs. Danté AndersonAug 23
- BPC's 46-45 Endorsement of Joi Mayo Shakes Up District 3Aug 23
- Charlotte Council Clashes Over Growth at Aug. 18 ZoningAug 19
- Far East Charlotte Residents Push Back on 94-Townhome PlanAug 19
- Charlotte 2025 Republican City Council Candidates: ProfilesAug 14
- Charlotte Mayoral Challengers Bet on Lived ExperienceAug 13
- Charlotte Mayoral Hopefuls Split on Housing, Transit, SafetyAug 12
- Charlotte 2025 City Council Candidate Guide by DistrictAug 10
- NC Politics: Transit Tax Vote, Stopgap Budget, Veto FightAug 10
- Mecklenburg Ends 9-Year Brooklyn Village Deal With PeeblesAug 8
- Mecklenburg Sets November Vote on 1-Cent Transit Sales TaxAug 7
- Charlotte's Citizens Review Board Seeks Teeth, TransparencyAug 6
- Why Democrats Keep Winning Charlotte's At-Large SeatsAug 3
- Charlotte City Council At-Large Candidates 2025: Full FieldAug 3
- Political Events in Charlotte, NC July 27 - August 3, 2025Aug 3
- Charlotte Mayoral Primary 2025: What to Know and Why to VoteAug 2
- Mecklenburg Advances One-Cent Transit Tax ReferendumAug 2
- Malcolm Graham's Corridor Crusade: Transit, West End RootsAug 1
July 2025
- Susie Wiles' Quiet Hammer: How Trump's Top Strategist WinsJul 30
- Charlotte politics shake‑upJul 29
- Trump's Homelessness Order: What It Does, Why It MattersJul 26
- Tillis Exits, Cooper Eyes Senate, Whatley Tests Trump's GripJul 25
- How House Rules Committee Stalled Congress on Epstein FilesJul 24
- Charlotte's 20 Percent Problem: Primaries Decide the RaceJul 19
- Congressional Cuts Test Local NewsroomsJul 19
- Uptown Shootings Undercut CMPD's Crime Decline ClaimJul 19
- Charlotte's 2025 Ballot Is Final: Lyles Runs, Council SplitsJul 19
- Jennifer Roberts Bows Out as Vi Lyles Files for Fifth TermJul 18
- Summer Nunn Won't Seek Reelection to CMS Board in District 6Jul 17
- Vi Lyles Seeks Fifth Mayoral Term, Eyes Mobility TaxJul 17
- Charlotte Planning Commission Preps Area Plans, UDO UpdateJul 14
- USPS Audit Finds 74,254 Undelivered Mail Items in CharlotteJul 11
- Stein Vetoes HB 96 Over Puppy-Mill Risk in Squatter BillJul 10
- Charlotte 2025 Candidate Filing: What to Know Before July 18Jul 7
- Bradley Tusk on Mecklenburg's 13 Percent Primary TurnoutJul 3
- Tillis, Budd and Harrigan Weigh In on Taxes, Bases and RiotsJul 2