🌱 Money Order Thieves Face Charges + City Popular for Black Business

Hello, hello. I'm back in your inbox this morning with all the most important things happening in town today. In this issue, you'll find news about:

• Four people are facing charges after allegedly stealing around 2,500 blank USPS money orders from a Charlotte-area post office.
• The Charlotte area is proving to be a hotspot for Black entrepreneurs.
• A man who attempted to kidnap a Charlotte woman now faces life in prison.

But first, today's weather:

Not as warm. High: 72 Low: 49.

Are you tired of blending in with all the other real estate agents in Charlotte? Stand out with a premium sponsorship in our newsletter. Gain valuable exposure for yourself to our highly engaged local readership. Click here to learn more about this exclusive opportunity.

Here are the top five stories today in Charlotte:

1. "Four people are facing charges after allegedly stealing around 2,500 blank USPS money orders from a Charlotte-area post office, U.S. District Attorney Dena King said Thursday. The indictment alleges that the four suspects acquired the money orders between November 2020 and February 2023. Officials said they used legitimate United States Postal Service money orders as “templates” to make falsified and forged money orders which they then deposited into multiple bank and credit union accounts," WGHP FOX8 Greensboro reports. (WGHP FOX8 Greensboro)
2. "Charlotte Mecklenburg Library (CML) announces a partnership with Teach for America North Carolina (TFA NC), a national nonprofit dedicated to expanding educational opportunities for children. While informal partners for years, CML and TFA NC will now work together to develop a comprehensive, strategic, and sustainable partnership that will strengthen the educational success of both entities. The partnership will be designed to enhance the professional development and skillset of CML staff and TFA NC staff, corps members, and alumni based in Mecklenburg County and surrounding areas. Shared training focusing on the topic of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) will launch this summer. The Library’s robust branch system and experience with online programming will provide the infrastructure for delivering classes and seminars via in-person and online-based training modules," WCCB Charlotte reports. (WCCB Charlotte)
3. "Black-owned businesses make up just 3% of all businesses in the US, according to Smart Asset. However, the Charlotte area is proving to be a hotspot for Black entrepreneurs. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia recently ranked number two among the top 15 places for Black entrepreneurs, with Black-owned businesses making up 27.59% of all businesses in the area, according to Smart Asset," WCNC reports. (WCNC.com)
4. "When Billy Harris, the owner of Charlotte Tattoo Company, started tattooing in the mid-’90s there weren’t many people who looked like him getting tattoos, let alone being the ones doing them. “The more I got into it, the more I loved it and the more clientele grew…and just the history of it really intrigued me,” Harris said. Born and raised in Wilkesboro, N.C., Harris would grow up playing sports and idolizing the same person a lot of kids in North Carolina did, Michael Jordan. But in addition to his ‘Airness,’ Harris also had other role models he looked up to, ones that shared his artistic roots," CBS17 reports. (CBS17.com)
5. "A man who attempted to kidnap a Charlotte woman from her apartment now faces life in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina. New York resident Russell Martini, 45, faces multiple charges including kidnapping charges and cyberstalking. According to court records, in May of last year, Martini traveled to Charlotte, and waited at a woman’s apartment complex who he had previously been communicating with, before attacking her as she arrived. He then attempted to drag her to his car, but a bystander intervened and Martini fled," WGHP FOX8 Greensboro reports. (WGHP FOX8 Greensboro)

Today in Charlotte:

• Charlotte Regional Farmers Market (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
• Charlotte Home & Remodeling Show at The Park Expo and Conference Center (10:00 a.m.)
• Weekend Live Music and Food Trucks at Blue Blaze Brewing (12:00 p.m.)
• JAZZ ROOM presents Jeremy Davenport, A Quintessential Lounge Experience at Stage Door Theater (6:00 p.m.)
• Jazz at The Gantt featuring Camille Thurman Quintet (6:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.)
• Disney's Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation at Stage Door Theater (6:30 p.m.)
• Art & Soul: Paint Night at beSocial Charlotte (6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The Experts Say These Are The Best Cities To Live In North Carolina (kiss951.com)
• Kendra Jason joins ODI as executive fellow for strategic initiatives (Inside UNC Charlotte)
• The NRP Group, Partners and Local Officials Cut Ribbon on Transit ... (Business Wire)
• Charlotte's tourism arm under increased scrutiny following WCNC investigation (WCNC.com)
• Dom Capers comes full circle with return to Panthers (Spectrum News)
• Fast Five with Angela Charles (charlottenc.gov)
• We're excited to share the latest news from J.M. Alexander Middle School's robotics program! Their two teams, the Robo Assassins and Axolotls, recently faced off in an intense competition. Read about the challenges...(Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools via Facebook)
• Meet fashion designer, musician, and ArtPop Cities Program artist, @ThatWillWhite!⁠ ⁠Will White "lives to create art. From his time at Howard University, majoring in Fashion Merchandising, to his employment...(ArtPop Street Gallery via Instagram)
• Attention Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Charter and Private schools in Mecklenburg County! Join us for our Annual Fire Safety Challenge! Students win prizes and learn life safety skills! (Charlotte Fire Department, Charlotte NC via Facebook)
• “As we Journey Through” A new work by choreographer Ashley Lindsey performed by our incredible Charlotte Ballet II Dancers. Thank you to all who joined us on Sunday to experience our collaboration with Harvey B. Gantt Center for Africa...(Charlotte Ballet via Facebook)
• The Empire and the Rebel Alliance prepare for the final confrontation in Return of the Jedi. See it on the big screen with the Charlotte Symphony, March 17 and March 18 at Belk Theater. >> bit.ly/csojedi (Charlotte Symphony via Facebook)
• Meet fashion designer, musician, and ArtPop Cities Program artist, Will White! Will White "lives to create art. From his time at Howard University, majoring in Fashion Merchandising, to his employment Illustrating for Tyson's Galleria...(ArtPop Street Gallery via Facebook)
• Celebrate the true lion king of Africa on March 3 and March 4, where audiences are invited to become part of the show with music, dance, and acting. Get tickets for "Sunjata Kamalenya" by visiting bit.ly/thetruelionking (Children's Theatre of Charlotte via Facebook)
• Always stay sober and alert on the road. When you make the right choice, chances of fatal and serious injury crashes decrease. Take the Vision Zero Pledge to commit to traveling safely, no matter the mode you choose. (City of Charlotte Government via Facebook)
• During Black History Month here at the District Attorney's Office, we remember those who paved the way for prosecutors of color and their contributions to the justice system. Shirley L. Fulton...(Charlotte-Mecklenburg District Attorney's Office via Facebook)
• #BlackHistoryMonth spotlight: Daniel Bernard Roumain is a Haitian-American composer, violinist, educator, and activist. His signature violin techniques fuse electronic and African American music influences...(Charlotte Symphony via Facebook)
• Celebrate Irish–American Heritage Month this March with a free performance from the Walsh Kelley School of Irish Dancing at Matthews Library! Learn more and register for this performance at https://bit.ly/3lOM53m (Charlotte Mecklenburg Library via Facebook)
• Join us online every Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. starting Feb. 28 for our Writing Accountability Group. This is a weekly check-in to set personal writing goals and share encouragement. (Charlotte Mecklenburg Library via Facebook)
• Futures Without Violence shares this informative and helpful guide on the "Top 10 Things Employers Can Do Right Now to Address Sexual Harassment in the Workplace." Take the time to read through this and consider how it can be implemented...(Brave Step via Facebook)
• Connect with your fellow book lovers at UNC Charlotte for our first annual BookTalk gathering! March 6 from 3:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. (UNC Charlotte Atkins Library via Facebook)
• "Pulcinella was…the epiphany through which the whole of my late work became possible.” Experience the work that changed everything for Stravinsky with the CSO at Pablo + Igor. March 10 and March 11 at Knight Theater. Get tickets >> bit.ly/csopablo (Charlotte Symphony via Facebook)
• Charlotte needs a viable funding source to implement a $13.5 billion plan that includes an expansion of our transit system and better pedestrian and bike infrastructure. The likeliest source of that funding would be a sales tax. (Sustain Charlotte via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• 24hourgutters.com — (Visit website)
• CyberMax iPhone Repair — (Visit Website)
• MickeyTravels — (Visit website)
• Add your business here

You're all caught up for today. See you all next Monday 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 Patch newsletter? Contact me at charlotte@patch.com