🌱High-End Heist From Car Dealership + Baller Charged With Kidnapping

Hello again, everybody! It's me, Alexis Goring, your host of the Charlotte Patch newsletter. Come along to find out the most important things happening in town, including updates on...

• A Maserati costing more than $100,000 and a BMW were among the cars stolen overnight from a North Carolina dealer.
• Former NBA guard Anthony Morrow is accused of assaulting and kidnapping a woman in his hometown of Charlotte.
• A newly released Mecklenburg County report shows homelessness is increasing with the rising costs of housing.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and warm. High: 73 Low: 54.

Are you a business owner or marketer in Charlotte who wants to build awareness, connect with customers and increase sales? If that's you, then I invite you to see how our newsletter sponsorships combine our local audience reach with your expertise to attract new customers. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top six stories today in Charlotte:

1. "Queen City News, CBS 17’s sister station in Charlotte, needs your help to ‘Find A Fugitive.’ Several suspects were caught on camera ripping off some very expensive cars. The theft happened at Adams Auto Group on Independence Boulevard on Feb. 27 at about 2 a.m. The suspects smashed the front door, then found the key fobs on a desk on the showroom floor.
   They jumped into the cars, started them up, and drove right off the lot," CBS17 reports. (CBS17.com)
2. "It's been two months since a deadly construction incident in Dilworth. Three people were killed after scaffolding collapsed at a work site. The North Carolina Department of Labor tells us this is still under investigation and it could take up to six months to conclude the investigation. So that made us look into how North Carolina compares workplace deaths to previous years," WCNC reports. (WCNC.com)
3. "Friends and family of 17-year-old Jayden Blackmon came out to a candlelight vigil in his honor, hosted by Mothers of Murdered Offspring (MOM-O) on Saturday. According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), Blackmon was killed in a drive-by shooting on Feb. 19 while standing outside on Lynn Street. Bianca Gamble attended the vigil on Saturday. Gamble shared that she was Blackmon’s girlfriend and was with him earlier on the day of the shooting," WBTV reports. (WBTV)
4. Former NBA guard Anthony Morrow is accused of assaulting and kidnapping a woman in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, authorities said. Morrow, 37, who played nine years in the NBA from 2008 to 2017, is facing charges of assault on a female, assault by strangulation, communicating threats and second-degree kidnapping," WSB Atlanta reports. (WSB Atlanta)
5. "A newly released Mecklenburg County report shows homelessness is increasing with the rising costs of housing. The 2022 State of Housing Instability and Homelessness shows the homeless population went from 3,171 in October 2021 to 3,260 in October 2022. Jeff Hairston has been homeless for two years in Charlotte," Spectrum News reports. (Spectrum News)
6. "Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools families won't see a south Charlotte relief campus open in the coming 2023-24 school year because of construction and permitting issues, according to the district. In a news release shared on Friday, CMS said district leaders now plan for the Elon Park-area campus to welcome students in the 2024-25 school year. The district said this decision was made to maintain continuity and ensure minimal disruptions to learning. This means students who were set to attend the new campus this coming school year will instead stay at their current schools," WCNC reports. (WCNC.com)

Today in Charlotte:

• Beginner Pottery on a Wheel at MakerSpace Charlotte (10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
• Food Truck: Cousins Maine Lobster at Hayes Building (11:00 a.m.)
• Atkins BookTalk: A Salon for Readers and Book Lovers at UNC Charlotte in J. Murrey Atkins Library (3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
• Gerald Albright performance at Middle C Jazz (6:00 p.m.)
• Cozy Crochet at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library - Sugar Creek (6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)
• Friends of the Library & Park Road Books Presents: Rebecca Makkai at Queens University of Charlotte - Continuing Education (6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.)
• Charlotte Black Love Matchmaking & Networking hosted by Invitation Homes Carolinas (6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.)
• Monday Music Bingo at Harris Teeter Riverbend Village (6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• AbCharlotte educator leaves a legacy beyond the classroom. (WRAL News)
• We need your help! As Charlotte Fire prepares to host our annual FREE camp for girls, Camp Ignite, the need to help local students is more significant than ever.(Charlotte Fire Department, Charlotte NC via Facebook)
• #WomensHistoryMonth Spotlight: CSO flutists Amy Orsinger Whitehead and Erinn Frechette and principal oboist Hollis Ulaky. As passionate educators & chamber musicians, you can see Hollis and Amy perform together. (Charlotte Symphony via Facebook)
• We can’t wait for our 2023 Gala tomorrow! Our six community and corporate leaders have been working so hard raising money AND putting together an incredible show for us. We’re excited to see them take to the stage with their partners...(Charlotte Ballet via Facebook)
• Join the Charlotte Symphony and JCSU Choir for an exciting performance on the campus of Johnson C. Smith University on March 21. Tickets just $15 for adults & $5 for students! >> bit.ly/cso-jcsu (Charlotte Symphony via Facebook)
• The Force is strong with the Charlotte Symphony at Return of the Jedi in Concert! The Orchestra performs the score along with the iconic film on March 17 and March 18 at Belk Theater. Get tickets >> bit.ly/csojedi (Charlotte Symphony via Facebook)
• Celebrate Women's History Month at the Library with an inspirational read from powerful women leaders and entrepreneurs. Our curated book list is complied of books authored by women for women. (Charlotte Mecklenburg Library via Facebook)
• We're having our first annual BookTalk gathering! Connect with your fellow 49ers as we talk about our favorite reads, genres, and get recs on what to read next. There will be food, fun, and giveaways. (UNC Charlotte Atkins Library via Facebook)
• If anybody sees this dog please please contact me ASAP. He’s an emotional support animal for depression and is needed back badly. Please contact me at this number: 980-785-6669. He answers to Rocko and is very friendly. (Nextdoor)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• MickeyTravels — (Visit website)
• CyberMax iPhone Repair — (Visit Website)
• Add your business here

Featured events:

• Lake Norman Philharmonic - Free Concert! (April 1)
• Add your event

Alrighty, you're all good for today. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with a new 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 Patch newsletter? Contact me at charlotte@patch.com