Dirty Slicer, School Shields: Mooresville’s Top News Of The Week

MOORESVILLE, NC -- It’s clear spring is in the air. This week, readers have been excited about planning holiday getaways thanks to an airfare sale, and hungry for one of the best burgers in the U.S. (which happens to be located right here in the Charlotte-metro area, according to Thrillist). We’ve all been more than a little freaked about about the CDC’s warning about “nightmare bacteria,” and what health inspectors found during recent inspections.

There was also a great story about five North Carolina cities that were ranked among the best, places to live in the country, according to US News, reminding us why we love calling the Tar Heel state home.

Here's a look at the top stories this week according to Patch readers:

Dirty Meat Slicer: What Recent Iredell Kitchen Inspections Found
A dirty meat slicer, food kept at improper temperatures and raw chicken stacked above other meats in a walk-in cooler were some of the infractions found during recent kitchen health inspections in Iredell County.

Ballistic Shields Heading To Iredell Elementary Schools: Sheriff
While the novelty of fictional caped superheroes brandishing shields as protection against evil villains may be everyday subjects in elementary schools, kids in Iredell County elementary schools will soon see actual shields in place as part of a new initiative aimed at protecting schools from active shooters. Portable ballistic shields will soon be purchased and distributed to elementary schools throughout the county to be used as part of school security measures, Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell said Monday afternoon.

CDC Warns Of Nightmare Bacteria In North Carolina
Antibiotic-resistant "nightmare bacteria" infections were found more than 220 times last year in 27 states, including North Carolina, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this week. The bacteria are known as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, or CRE, and can cause pneumonia as well as infections of the bloodstream and urinary tract. Health officials say an alarming 50 percent of those infected with CRE typically die.

This Charlotte Burger Joint Named One Of The Best In The Country
America has a long-running love affair with hamburgers, and a Charlotte burger joint was named to Thrillist's list of the 31 best burger joints in America.

$87 Southwest Airline Flight Sale From Charlotte Airport
Southwest Airlines is offering a travel deal with discounted flights — $87 and up for some of the airline's one-way routes — are available out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The sale offers primarily nonstop, one-way flights for as low as $87, and the one-way prices increase to $92, $108 or up to $130 for longer flights. Tickets must be purchased by the end of the day on April 19 and are nonrefundable.

New Hurricane Predictions For 2018 Season: What NC Can Expect
While last year's Hurricane Irma will not soon be forgotten in the Sunshine State and Puerto Rico is still reeling from Maria, weather researchers at Colorado State University said on Thursday they are predicting a slightly above-average Atlantic Hurricane season in 2018. The university's Tropical Meteorology Project team is predicting 14 named storms between June 1 to Nov. 30. Of those, researchers expect seven to become hurricanes and three to reach major hurricane strength.

NC Baby's Death Tied To Incest, Double Murder In Connecticut
Four people are dead in three separate states in what police are saying is all connected to the death of an infant in Knightdale, North Carolina. The baby was born as a result of an incest relationship between Steven Pladl, 43, and his biological daughter, Katie Pladl, 20, according to police and news reports.

2018 Best Places To Live: 5 NC Cities Make US News Rankings
Affordability, the availability of jobs and quality of life are all things people consider when deciding where to move. U.S. News & World Report's 2018 Best Places to Live in the United States shows people are moving to the South, Western states and the Midwest. Charlotte came in at 22nd place in the ranking of the country's 125 largest metropolitan areas.

Send local news tips, photos, and press releases to kimberly.johnson@patch.com. Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news in Mooresville — or other neighborhoods. Access Patch on the go with our iPhone app or our brand new app for Android phone users.