🌱 Nonprofit Teaches Tech + Airport Workers Rally For Better Benefits

Hello, everybody! I'm back in your inbox this morning with your new edition of the Charlotte Daily. Let's get this Saturday started off right, with a quick guide to everything you need to know about what's happening around town. In today's issue, you'll learn about these stories and more...

• Fake COVID-19 loan applications lead to imprisonment of a Charlotte woman for 42 months.
• Local nonprofit trains mostly people of color for careers in the tech industry.
• Airport support workers are rallying across the country demanding better jobs, health care and wages.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy. High: 53 Low: 43.

Here are the top six stories in Charlotte today:

1. "Federal officials say fake COVID-19 loan applications will lead to the imprisonment of a Charlotte woman for 42 months. Nkhenge Shropshire, 49, will also have three years of supervised release after being found guilty of attempting to get the relief loans. Court records show that Shropshire and her co-conspirators tried to obtain at least $331,072. They actually got around $45,000. Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, announced the conviction on Wednesday with Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS)," WBTW reports. (WBTW)
2. "Per Scholas North Carolina launched in 2020 to train mostly people of color for careers in the tech industry. The nonprofit offers free courses that include cybersecurity and software engineering online and an information technology support class in person at its Charlotte campus. Per Scholas North Carolina is one of many campuses across the U.S. that offers training to build greater access and equity in the tech industry," WFAE reports. (WFAE)
3. "For many undocumented people, the coming weeks feel like the last opportunity for Congress to act on immigration reform. Among them is Yahel Flores, the Carolinas director for the American Business Immigration Coalition. ... A bipartisan immigration proposal, backed by North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, would provide a pathway to citizenship for around two million people, like Flores, who were brought to the United States as children. ... Flores is one of 611,000 U.S. residents, including 24,000 people in North Carolina, known as "Dreamers" who are temporarily protected from deportation by the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals program or DACA," WFAE reports. (WFAE)
4. "The Charlotte Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), along with local and state investigators, have concluded that the cause of a massive fire at a QVC distribution center in December 2021 in Rocky Mount is undetermined. ... On Dec. 18, 2021, multiple crews from six counties responded to a fire at 100 QVC Blvd. in Rocky Mount. The largest structural fire in state history claimed the life of employee Kevon Ricks and destroyed about 75% of the 1.5-million-square-foot facility. ... Even before QVC decided not to reopen the location, efforts began to help those left without employment and it paid off," WGHP FOX8 Greensboro reports. (WGHP FOX8 Greensboro)
5. "Airport support workers are rallying across the country. Though they were 400 miles from Washington, D.C., dozens of people stood outside Charlotte-Douglas Thursday to call Congress to act. Between the planes, cars and signs, Morgani Brown and about four dozen other airline support workers protested. Their demands were higher wages, better jobs, health care and, most of all, for Congress to step in. Many say they’re on food stamps or struggling to pay bills and will work well over 40 hours a week," WGHP FOX8 Greensboro reports. (WGHP FOX8 Greensboro)
6. "An east Charlotte family lost everything when their apartment caught fire. Now, they’re starting over with a few Guardian Angels. The fire was two weeks ago and things felt like rock bottom for the family, but they’re feeling hopeful again just weeks before the holidays. Ashantee Oliver, a mother of three is reflecting on the past two weeks. On Nov. 21, she lost everything when a dryer caught fire in her east Charlotte apartment. The family was only able to salvage a few items upstairs untouched by the fire," WBTV reports. (WBTV)

Today in Charlotte:

• Charlotte Regional Farmers Market (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
• Read Like A Star Book Club - Charlotte Mecklenburg Virtual Programming (10:00 a.m.)
• Gingerbread Lane at the Ballantyne Benefitting Levine Childrens Hospital (11:00 a.m.)
• The Nutcracker at Belk Theater (2:00 p.m.)
• Trans-Siberian Orchestra at Spectrum Center (3:00 p.m.)
• A December to Remember at Promenade on Providence (3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
• Winterfest at Carowinds (5:00 p.m.)
• Soulful Christmas Holiday Musical at GAP Church International (5:00 p.m.)
• Bagpipes & Drums Celtic Christmas Concert at Myers Park Presbyterian Church (6:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Community police officers emphasized the importance of reading during a Bears Behind the Badge storytime session with the kindergartners of Parkside Elementary School. We are grateful for this incredible learning opportunity! (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools via Facebook)
• Pianist Connie Han tonight at Middle C Jazz (WCNC.com)
• QC Happenings: 11 ways to enjoy the holidays in Charlotte (WCNC.com)
• Join us on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. for the Feminist Book Club! The Feminist Book Club meets monthly to discuss books written by women, for women and about women. All people are welcome. (Charlotte Mecklenburg Library via Facebook)
• Connect to city resources fast with the CLT+ App. Report street issues, pay your water bill, schedule bulk trash pick-up, and so much more! Download CLT+ today in the Google Play or iOS Apple stores. http://cltgov.me/cltplus (City of Charlotte Government via Facebook)
• The Charlotte Symphony is saddened to hear of the passing of former Arts & Science Council President Robert Bush, whose dedication to making the arts accessible for all, including his expansion of Culture Blocks. (Charlotte Symphony via Facebook)
• We are STOKED that Plant Joy is catering our final 704 Impact Academy session on Dec. 15! Their food is delicious! Be sure to get some at this 100% FREE event at Camp North End and learn all about the challenges of sustainable. (Sustain Charlotte via Facebook)
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical" has two exciting weekends in store! First, free activities will occur before and after the show today (Dec. 10), including a special post-show demonstration after the 3:00 p.m. show. (Children's Theatre of Charlotte via Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow 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 Daily? Contact me at charlotte@patch.com