🌱 Local Food Truck Owner Wins $10K + Armed Takedown Stops Thieves

Hi all! Alexis Goring here with your Tuesday edition of the Charlotte Daily, full of everything you need to know about what's happening locally. Including updates on...

• Today is the last day to apply for The Child Tax Credit (CTC), which is a tax benefit that helps families cover the costs of raising children.
• Charlotte food truck owner, Anthony Denning, won the $10,000 prize on a recent episode of Food Network’s “Chopped.”
• A ring of thieves accused of stealing millions of dollars worth of merchandise from stores in the Charlotte area was recently busted in a heavily armed takedown.

But first, today's weather:

Cloudy, rain; colder. High: 45 Low: 40.

Here are the top five stories today in Charlotte:

1. "The holiday season can be a great time - but for many there is a lot of unmanageable stress around the holidays – especially during financial difficulties like many face now. So we see an increase in the rates of depressive symptoms, and an unhealthy increase in drug or alcohol use. If you are living with a mental health condition, stress can also contribute to worsening symptoms. … Be intentional about the events you choose to go to – avoid events where alcohol use is expected or excessive – or that may be stressful and set a spending limit to reduce financial stress. Limit the time at these events if they are going to be challenging - or even go with a friend who understands your challenges," WCNC reports. (WCNC.com)
2. Nov. 15 is "the deadline for families to apply for the Child Tax Credit benefit that can provide qualifying families up to $3,600 per child. The Child Tax Credit (CTC) is a tax benefit that helps families cover the costs of raising children. ... This year, families can get up to $3,600 per child under 6 years old and $3,000 per child ages 6-17," WCNC reports. (WCNC.com)
3. "A ring of thieves accused of stealing millions of dollars worth of merchandise from stores in the Charlotte area was recently busted in a heavily armed takedown, but the community could end up paying the price for their crimes. The thieves were shoplifting over-the-counter drugs from stores like Walgreens, CVS and Target. ... Investigators allege the thieves targeted busy stores including CVS, Walgreens, Publix, Target and Walmart, across the Charlotte area stealing over-the-counter drugs and selling them online. They racked up more than $5 million in stolen goods over the last three years," WCNC reports. (WCNC.com)
4. "Charlotte food truck owner, Anthony Denning, won the $10,000 prize on a recent episode of Food Network’s “Chopped.” Denning owns “Another Food Truck” and competed in a cheese-themed episode. He says his journey began when the show sent him several inquiries through email. He assumed they were fake emails and initially ignored him. However, the emails turned out to be legitimate. He responded, and the rest is history," K104.7 reports. (K104.7)
5. "Families are waking up Monday morning to frigid temperatures and that means a cold start for students who ride the school bus. Lots of drivers were already at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ Wilkinson Boulevard bus lot around 5 a.m. Monday, cranking up the heat to make sure students stay warm on the way to school...While bus drivers will be warming up the buses early each morning this week due to the cold weather, the group Here Comes the Bus recommends parents dress children in one more layer than they would an adult in the same conditions," WBTV reports. (WBTV)

Today in Charlotte:

• Charlotte Regional Farmers Market (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
• Atlantic Farmers Market (9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.)
• Southern Christmas Show at The Park Expo & Conference Center (10:00 a.m.)
• Charlotte Black Love Matchmaking & Networking at Invitation Homes Carolinas (6:00 p.m.)
• Taste of the Season - Pumpkin at Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee (6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.)
• The "Where Should We Vegan?" Dinner Tour at Camp North End (6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Show your support for our Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestras at their Fall Concert! The Youth Orchestra & Youth Philharmonic show off their skills with works by Dvořák, Holsinger, Tchaikovsky, and more on Nov. 19 at Belk Theater. (Charlotte Symphony via Facebook)
• Has your family entered the big competition yet? Join the CMS #FamilyChallenge for a chance to win a prize! Our Week 3 challenge winner will be announced Sunday, November 20. (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools via Facebook)

Alrighty, you're all good for today. See you all tomorrow morning 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