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Community Corner

🌱 CATS To Give Free Rides + New Grocery Store For South Charlotte

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Charlotte.

Alexis Goring, Neighbor
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Morning, neighbors! It's me, Alexis Goring, your host of the Charlotte Daily — back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in town these days. Today you'll find news about:

  • CATS will give fare-free rides Saturday (Feb. 4) in honor of Transit Equity Day.
  • Developers are proposing the return of a grocery store option for south Charlotte.
  • Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police are investigating a homicide in southeast Charlotte.

But first, today's weather:

Breezy with clouds, then sun. High: 49 Low: 24.

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Here are the top four stories in Charlotte today:

Find out what's happening in Charlottefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  1. "The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office continues to wait on mental health facilities to return the releases needed to process concealed carry permits, department officials said. This update on the MCSO’s permitting process comes after gun rights groups and Charlotte-area gun owners sued Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden late last year. They say McFadden has purposely delayed concealed carry permits for months and even years while waiting on mental health records from the veterans’ administration, regardless of if the applicant is a veteran," WBTV reports. (WBTV)
  2. "In the early 2000s, the Providence Square Shopping Center was home to a Harris Teeter. The developers are proposing the return of a grocery store option for this part of south Charlotte. The 100,000-square-foot store is nearly double the size of a typical Harris Teeter or Food Lion. Supermarket expert Phil Lempert of supermarketguru.com says he would bet the new store is Wegmans. ... A source tells Channel 9, the Providence and Sardis area was pitched to Wegmans four or five years ago as a potential location for a new store. A spokesperson for Wegmans declined to comment," WSOC Charlotte reports. (WSOC Charlotte)
  3. "The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) announced that on Saturday, Feb. 4, all CATS bus routes, paratransit, the LYNX Blue Line and the City LYNX Gold Line will be fare-free in honor of Transit Equity Day. Transit Equity Day is a nationally recognized day to promote equity and accessibility in public transit. CATS said this day serves to honor the legacy of the civil rights activist, Rosa Parks on what would have been her 110th birthday," WCNC reports. (WCNC.com)
  4. "Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police are investigating a homicide in southeast Charlotte. Shortly before 11 p.m. on Wednesday, officers responded to a shots fired call at an apartment complex in the 6000 block of Pineburr Road. Police say when they arrived on scene they found the victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene by Medic. Police have identified the victim as 37-year-old Michael White. An arrest has not been made at this time," WCCB Charlotte reports. (WCCB Charlotte)

Today in Charlotte:

From my notebook:

  • What are the leash laws in Charlotte? (WCNC.com)
  • QC Happenings: 7 ways to enjoy your weekend in Charlotte (WCNC.com)
  • 14 Local Charlotte North Carolina Flower Shops For Valentines Day (kiss951.com)
  • Emerging wedding trends in the New Year (Spectrum News)
  • Do My Job: Baking with Renata's Kitchen (WCCB Charlotte)
  • Good luck, graduates! We are SO proud of you. Stream the graduations here on Feb. 2 at 4:00 p.m. charmeckschools.org/midyrgrad234 (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools via Facebook)
  • CHOREOGRAPHER SPOTLIGHT: Meet Ashley Lindsey! ⁠In the midst of preparing for Innovative Works, Charlotte Ballet II has also been in the studios creating with choreographer, director and educator, Ashley Lindsey! ⁠(Charlotte Ballet via Facebook)
  • #BlackHistoryMonth Spotlight: Dorothy "Dot" Counts-Scoggins is an American civil rights pioneer. At the age of 15, she became one of the first and, at the time, the only Black student to enroll in the newly desegregated...(Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools via Facebook)
  • My name is Alexandra Smither and I’m taking over the @cltsymphony instagram for the weekend! Super excited to sing Britten’s “Les Illuminations” with our fabulous conductor, Vinay Parameswaran. (Charlotte Symphony via Facebook)
  • Happy Black History Month, Uptown! Take this time to learn more about and support local Black-owned businesses. Right now, The Market at 7th Street is home to five Black-owned businesses including: Mad Dash Kitchen...(Charlotte Center City via Facebook)
  • We're excited to share Will Pitts has been named Chief Operating Officer of the Charlotte Sports Foundation. (Charlotte Sports Foundation via Facebook)
  • Did you know Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools offer six endorsements? Endorsements are pathways that are designed to prepare students for success after high school. (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools via Facebook)
  • We love that our staff members have the opportunity to engage with our community by tutoring. Check out this blog post by Heart Math Tutoring highlighting the recent experiences of Alexis Young, our Volunteer Coordinator...(Charlotte Freedom School Partners via Facebook)
  • A new City of Charlotte Housing & Neighborhood Services and DreamKey Partners homeownership pilot program will provide up to $80,000 in assistance for eligible residents purchasing a home in "areas of influence"...(City of Charlotte Government via Facebook)
  • Did you know that you can fundraise for RMHC of GC on Facebook? Whether it's your birthday or just because, share your story, tag us, and encourage friends' support. You'll be ready to go...(Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Charlotte via Facebook)
  • We'll celebrate #TransitEquityDay early by thanking transit riders and CATS operators at the Charlotte Transportation Center on Friday! Amid a #climatecrisis, investing in public transit is more important than ever. (Sustain Charlotte via Facebook)
  • In honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, we’re celebrating the contributions of Black composers to classical music, sharing resources on the history of racism in classical music, and more. (Charlotte Symphony via Facebook)
  • Beatlemania is coming to Knight Theater! Join the CSO in paying tribute to the Fab 4 at Classical Mystery Tour: A Tribute to The Beatles. Feb. 17 and Feb. 18 at Knight Theater. SAVE 50% on tickets for Saturday night...(Charlotte Symphony via Facebook)
  • Join Myers Park Library on Feb. 7 at 5:00 p.m. is pleased to host Angela Jones, Levine Children's Hospital Resource Center Librarian in a virtual presentation of How to Search for Reliable Health Information. (Charlotte Mecklenburg Library via Facebook)
  • Are you signed up for our Family Volunteer Day this Saturday? Join us for a fun and easy family philanthropy day! Email Risa Brandon, Classroom Central Volunteer Coordinator, at risa@classroomcentral.org to get signed up! (Classroom Central via Facebook)

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Alexis Goring

About me: My name is Alexis A. Goring. I'm an East Coast Girl with a pulse for people, news and feature stories! I've worked as a freelance writer/editor/proofreader in the media industry for 15 years. I'm also a published author, experienced blogger, and founder of Writer at Heart Editorial Services. Visit my website for more details about me and my work. Here's the link: https://alexisagoring.jimdofree.com.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Charlotte Daily? Contact me at charlotte@patch.com

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