Topic
New CMPD Chief Stella Patterson told state legislators violent crime is down 29% in Charlotte, but residents still feel unsafe. Bridging that gap defines her first 90 days on the job.
Jack Beckett·Feb 10, 2026
CMPD says crime fell through September, yet Uptown's high-profile incidents keep fear high. We examine the numbers, the nightlife strategy, and the gap between data and trust in Charlotte.
Jack Beckett·Oct 16, 2025
Charlotte considers a 62-room non-congregate shelter with on-site care and a faith-based transitional campus. The council seeks guaranteed access to outreach, clear metrics, and contract guardrails.
Jack Beckett·Oct 14, 2025
A $3 million federal safety plan sparked a bigger question at City Council: should Charlotte keep paying consultants, or rebuild in-house capacity to deliver projects and keep the know-how.
Jack Beckett·Oct 14, 2025
Federal shutdown hits Day 12, Charlotte debates National Guard deployment, and November elections loom. Here's what voters need to know—and do—right now.
Jack Beckett·Oct 12, 2025
Charlotte's police union asks leaders to request National Guard troops after a string of homicides and staffing shortages; officials push back, citing crime reductions and new transit patrols.
Jack Beckett·Oct 8, 2025
Charlotte's FOP requested National Guard help while cutting teacher positions. A homicide, missing teen, and billionaire-funded venues reveal what the city values—and what it doesn't.
Jack Beckett·Oct 7, 2025
At the Tuesday Forum, Vi Lyles and Rob Yates split on transit tax, converged on community policing, and faced Charlotte's hardest fact: thousands of CMS students are without stable housing.
Jack Beckett·Oct 5, 2025
Charlotte's transit leaders turned a tragedy into a communications disaster. Here's the crisis management playbook they ignored—and what they should have said instead.
Peter Cellino·Oct 3, 2025
Jack Beckett·Oct 1, 2025
CATS cut armed security to 39 posts while spending exceeded $49M. We trace the contracts, staffing gaps, and what that means for riders and 2025 voters.
Jack Beckett·Oct 1, 2025
A House field hearing in uptown Charlotte put grief, policy, and statistics on the record as witnesses and lawmakers sparred over bail, court delays, and what the numbers mean.
Jack Beckett·Sep 29, 2025
A House Judiciary field hearing on violent crime brought national lawmakers to Charlotte. We unpack what happened, why it matters for Iryna's Law, and how local families shaped the narrative.
Jack Beckett·Sep 29, 2025
The 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.
Jack Beckett·Sep 12, 2025
Joi Mayo ousts Tiawana Brown in District 3, District 5 heads toward a recount, and safety on Charlotte Blue Line becomes a central test for November.
Jack Beckett·Sep 10, 2025
A 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.
Jack Beckett·Sep 9, 2025
CATS 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?
Jack Beckett·Sep 8, 2025
Charlotte mayoral contenders clash over housing, transit, and public safety, offering voters sharply different plans and political philosophies ahead of the 2025 primary.
Jack Beckett·Aug 12, 2025
A candid look at President Trump's July 2025 executive order targeting homelessness, the rising numbers behind it, criticisms from advocates, and why sweeping tent encampments might miss the mark.
Jack Beckett·Jul 26, 2025
CMPD touts a 25 % drop in violent crime, yet an Uptown shooting reminds residents that statistics don't stop bullets. We dig into the half-year numbers, the fear, and the money at stake.
Jack Beckett·Jul 19, 2025
SkyShow 2025 drew 12,000 to uptown Charlotte. CMPD reported no major incidents—unless you count the $5,000 in seized cash, guns, weed, and "drug paraphernalia."
Jack Beckett·Jul 4, 2025