🌱 Local Cafe Serves Coffee And Hope + City Councilman Not Guilty

Good morning, everybody! I'm back with your new copy of the Charlotte Daily. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening locally. In today's Daily, you'll find these stories and more...

• Bitty and Beau's in South End offers delicious coffee and an endless supply of hope.
• Charlotte City Councilman James Mitchell was cleared of any criminal charges.
• A mess at an apartment complex in west Charlotte is causing a real stink.

But first, today's weather:

Sunshine and cooler. High: 55 Low: 37.

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Here are the top 7 stories in Charlotte today:

1. "At Bitty and Beau's in South End, you can get a delicious cup of coffee and an endless supply of hope. That hope is because this unique business is all about the value, acceptance and worth of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Ben and Amy Wright opened the first Bitty and Beau's in 2016 with the goal of making a difference in the lives of those with disabilities...The name comes from two of their children, Bitty and Beau, who both have Down syndrome," WCNC reports. (WCNC.com)
2. "Charlotte City Councilman James “Smuggie” Mitchell was cleared of any criminal charges related to his business dealings with a local construction company. ... Queen City News previously reported that the legality of Mitchell’s right to serve on the council was called into question due to his business dealings with Bright Hope Construction LLC, the parent company of RJ Leeper. Mitchell, who previously served on the Charlotte City Council, resigned to become the CEO of RJ Leeper in January 2021 and took on 25% ownership in Bright Hope Construction LLC. He later stepped down as the CEO in 2021 and, according to him, didn’t get rid of his 25% ownership," WGHP FOX8 Greensboro reports. (WGHP FOX8 Greensboro)
3. "A mess at an apartment complex in west Charlotte is causing a real stink. Many folks have reached out to WBTV about trash piling up at the Arbor Glen apartment complex. All the dumpsters on the property are overflowing with bags of trash and neighbors say this has been happening since before Christmas. On Thursday, workers were seen loading trucks with some of the trash bags. However, it’s still a major problem," WBTV reports. (WBTV)
4. "The City of Charlotte’s Zoning Administration voted to recommend adoption of a petition that would tear down a local Chick-fil-A then rebuild it as a drive-thru only restaurant. The plan, if adopted by the City Council, would eliminate indoor seating. ... Renderings also show an outdoor patio and walk-up ordering window that customers can use. Supporters of rezoning believe it would help ease traffic on Randolph Road, which has been an issue as customers have poured into the restaurant’s parking lot and drive-thru lanes," WBTV reports. (WBTV)
5. "Queen City Brewers Festival is back! QCBF co-organizer and Charlotte Beer Collective Founder, Jeremy Selan stopped by Rising to share all the details. The event will take place Saturday, February 11 at the Grady Cole Center. QCBF benefits Project Life Movement; a Charlotte-based non-profit organization that matches healthy stem cell and bone marrow donors to patients in need. Around 40 breweries in the CLT region, restaurants and other vendors take part in the festival," WCCB Charlotte reports. (WCCB Charlotte)
6. Charlotte FC Captain Christian Fuchs is retiring from professional soccer. "Fuchs’ decorated career spans over 19 seasons and features seven professional teams across four different countries. Prior to serving as captain for Charlotte FC during the Club’s inaugural season, he won the 2015/16 Premier League with Leicester City against 5,000-1 odds and captained Austria to UEFA Euro 2016. The 36-year-old finishes his illustrious career with 577 total professional club appearances, scoring 37 goals and adding 83 assists," Charlotte FC reports. (Charlotte FC)
7. "Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is holding a hiring event Thursday in an effort to recruit more bus drivers. The shortage of bus drivers has been going on for a couple of years now and the district wants those who may be interested to know there are some good benefits that come with the job. That hiring event will take place at the bus lot on Wilkinson Boulevard in west Charlotte," WBTV reports. (WBTV)

Today in Charlotte:

• Charlotte Regional Farmers Market (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
• Plus Size Trunk Show at New York Bride & Groom (9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
• Weekend Live Music and Food Trucks at Blue Blaze Brewing (12:00 p.m.)
• Jazz at the Bechtler: Original Music by Ziad at Bechtler Museum of Modern Art (6:00 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Charlotte winter date ideas that are relationship expert approved (kiss951.com)
• Our FREE Community Dance Classes are back! Join us at various locations throughout the county to experience a variety of dance classes through our partnership with Culture Blocks! (Charlotte Ballet via Facebook)
• We are looking forward to our first performance series of the new year: Innovative Works! This fan-favorite series includes two world premieres and the Charlotte premiere of our Artistic Director's own work. (Charlotte Ballet via Facebook)
• Explore themes of freedom, strength, and justice through music in honor of MLK Jr. Day with the Charlotte Symphony at Together We Rise, Jan. 18 at the Sarah Belk Gambrell Center at Queens University of Charlotte. (Charlotte Symphony via Facebook)
• Charlotte City Council will hold its Housing and Jobs Summit on Jan. 9 – Jan. 10 in Charlotte. The Summit will allow council members to discuss opportunities, recommendations and plans for housing and jobs...(City of Charlotte Government via Facebook)
• This month is Blood Donor Awareness Month. Roughly, only 3% percent of the U.S. population donates blood each year. A blood transfusion occurs every 2 seconds in America. (Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Charlotte via Facebook)
• One great way to kick off the new year is introducing you to our newest team member. Please help us welcome Erica Butler, MA, LMFT, who will be leading our Loved Ones program. Get to know Erica at https://bravestep.org/ericabut... (Brave Step via Facebook)
• I am new in this neighborhood. My name is Manuel Aguilar and I do any kind of painting jobs: Fences, kitchen cabinets, porches, decks. I am very responsible and I do professional jobs. If you need me to work for you, call or text me at this number: 980-226-8920. (Nextdoor)
• Lost cat. It's orange and white. This cat answers to "Goose". It lives at Madison SouthPark apartments at the corner of Fairview and Colony, adjacent to Phillips Place. If you see Goose, call Alec at this number: 704-840-9065. (Nextdoor)

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You're all caught up for today. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with 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