🌱 Fentanyl Disguised As Halloween Candy + 16K Traffic Cases Dismissed

Hello again, neighbors. It's Thursday in Charlotte and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on all the most important things happening in the community, including updates on...

• Beware of colorful fentanyl that looks like fruity candy given to kids for Halloween.
• A computer error led to 16,000 traffic cases being dismissed in Mecklenburg County.
• CMS wants to start next school year early and is asking parents of students for feedback.

But first, today's weather:

Nice with plenty of sunshine. High: 71 Low: 46.

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Here are the top five stories in Charlotte today:

1. "Halloween is just around the corner and in a few days, parents will be taking their kids trick-or-treating. However, police departments are already warning people about the possibility of candy that's been tampered with. In August, the Drug Enforcement Administration revealed an emerging trend of colorful fentanyl that looks like fruity candy. But is this something parents really need to be concerned about on Halloween? The Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office posted a warning about drugs disguised as candy," WCNC reports. (WCNC.com)
2. "Sim racing performed on its grandest stage Tuesday night and delivered an event to remember. The eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series held its championship finale at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina, in front of a crowd that gathered to watch virtual racing on its real-life counterpart’s hallowed ground — with winner Casey Kirwan taking home an astounding $100,000 championship prize. There to present the trophy was none other than NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr., iRacing’s executive director and a key sim racing leader who helped design the championship trophy that bears his name to resemble Cup Series trophies of decades past," NASCAR reports. (NASCAR)
3. "A computer error led to 16,000 traffic cases being dismissed in Mecklenburg County. Now, some of those cases have been reopened. The accidental dismissals stem from the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office working with the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts to dismiss low-level misdemeanors and some traffic charges to curb the backlog the Mecklenburg County Courts are facing. A several hundred-page document with specific criteria for what cases could be dismissed was sent from Mecklenburg County to the AOC in Raleigh. But somehow, the AOC’s computer program showed that 16,000 cases that did not meet the dismissal criteria were dropped," WBTV reports. (WBTV)
4. Natalie Siburt, a new homeowner in North Carolina, was shocked to find out her condo was listed on Airbnb. Five days after getting the keys to her home, she saw a man park in her assigned parking spot, then he walked to her door with a piece of luggage. Siburt opened the door, the man walked in and asked how he could check into the Airbnb. It was puzzling to Siburt because she had never listed her new home as an Airbnb. (WBTW)
5. "Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools announced it won't defy North Carolina state law to start the next school year early, but the district does want to talk to parents about the 2023-24 calendar. ... State law dictates schools shouldn't start before Aug. 26. Some board members are at odds over the decision to not get an early start. CMS says right now, it's still asking parents for feedback. The district is encouraging parents to take an online survey choosing from two different options," WCNC reports. (WCNC.com)

Today in Charlotte:

• Charlotte Regional Farmers Market (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
• Disability Ministry Leaders Network Meeting (12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.)
• Happy Hour at Napa on Providence (4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
• Music on the Patio at Juniper Grill - Ballantyne (4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.)
• CLT Social Club: Happy Hour at Vinyl | Lincoln Street Kitchen & Cocktails (6:00 p.m.)
• Live Music Thursday Ft. Isaac & Adele performance at SouthBound (6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.)
• The "Where Should We Vegan?" Dinner Tour at Camp North End (6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.)
• Men's Caregivers Care Group with Joni & Friends Charlotte (8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• There is no doubt that your Charlotte firefighters are something special. We want to congratulate two exceptional people for being selected as Charlotte Fire Firefighters of the Year! (Charlotte Fire Department, Charlotte NC via Facebook)
• Join the ArtPop team for Open Studios Night at ACSM Design + Build Firm! Our team enjoys coworking out of this creative space and is thrilled to join a line up of talented artists for this evening of shared talent. (ArtPop Street Gallery via Instagram)
• National Principals Month is an opportunity to celebrate our principals for their visionary leadership and tireless pursuit of success for their students, staff and community. (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools via Facebook)
• We always have the best time when we get together with our ArtPop community! These five artists showed out Saturday night for our last Artist Pop-Up of the year with an incredible company and an even better selection of artwork! (ArtPop Street Gallery via Facebook)
• There's a pretty special day coming up just a few short months from now — in February! Mark your calendars for Fairy House 2023: February 25 at Latta Nature Preserve! (Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Nature Centers via Facebook)

• It's National Lead Poisoning week! Hanna Kirlin from our LeadSafe Charlotte program spoke at the 2022 National Lead and Healthy Housing Conference last week, and Lead Lady made an appearance. (City of Charlotte Housing & Neighborhood Services via Facebook)
• It's time to buy your jewels raffle tickets! With two prizes to choose from, this is an excellent option for those not able to attend Jerseys & Jewels in person. Will you be the lucky winner? (Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Charlotte via Facebook)
• The Charlotte City Council on Monday formalized its approach to evaluating city policies and determining if and how they are equitable for residents. The Equity in Governance Framework will help council members. (City of Charlotte Government via Facebook)

• Tune in LIVE virtually and participate in Jerseys & Jewels 2022! Bid in our silent auction directly from your computer or phone and buy raffle tickets for jewelry and jersey prizes. Grab your friends, family. (Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Charlotte via Facebook)

• We are in URGENT need of Spanish and English puzzle books! We serve a lot of families who speak many different languages. Visit our #Amazon link below to help or drop off donations at the House 7 days a week between 8 & 8. (Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Charlotte via Facebook)
• Want to learn how to use a 3D printer, laser cutter, or CNC routers? Area 49 has you covered! Sign up for our upcoming trainings and workshops at 👉 http://bit.ly/A49trainings. (UNC Charlotte Atkins Library via Facebook)
• From Holiday Pops to Brahms and The Princess Bride in Concert, there’s a variety of concerts to choose from when you Create Your Own series! Select 6 or 8 favorites by 11/11 for 25% off! >> bit.ly/cyo25 (Charlotte Symphony via Facebook)
• Are you interested in being a peer leader? Sign up for peer leader training Nov. 5. (Brave Step via Facebook)
• Join us this Saturday for A Cup of Courage, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., a time of courage and connection. We will be covering the topic of sexual violence and will include inspirational speakers and engaging conversation. (Brave Step via Facebook)
• Believe it or not its almost time for Snowflake Village 2022! We have secured all of our Christmas trees thus year and will have a tree for everyone! We open on Nov. 19 at 10:00 a.m. (Nextdoor)

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You're officially in the loop for today! See you tomorrow for your next 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