Top News of the Week: Winter Begins, Armed Robber Arrested

MOORESVILLE, NC -- This past week, Patch readers in the Charlotte and Lake Norman wanted to know more about the shortest day of the year and how the lights going out at the airport in Atlanta would affect air travel in the Queen City. You wanted to know what health inspectors found in area kitchens and the fate of a favorite toy store chain.

Here are the articles that Patch readers were most interested in this past week:

Winter Solstice 2017: 5 Facts To Know In N.C.
The winter solstice arrives Thursday, marking the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Occurring at the moment the North Pole is tilted the farthest away from the sun, the solstice marks the beginning of the winter and the rebirth of the sun. The solstice occurs in North Carolina at 11:27 a.m.

Moldy Peppers, No Soap In The Kitchen: Charlotte Inspections
Proper hand washing and general cleanliness were major issues for two Charlotte-area restaurants that saw their health rating downgraded recently during Mecklenburg County restaurant inspections.

Serial Armed Robber Arrested On The Job: CMPD
Charlotte Police say they have arrested a man wanted for a string of heists around the city this past month. Lucas Hawkinson, 35, was arrested and charged with seven counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon. Police say more charges may be forthcoming.

UNC-Charlotte Fires Head 49ers Basketball Coach
Mark Price, the head coach of the University of North Carolina - Charlotte's 49ers basketball program, became a free agent Thursday after he was abruptly fired from the program he has led for more than two years. The news broke days after the team's fourth straight loss.

Traffic Violation Leads To Two Drug Arrests In Mooresville
A recent traffic stop in Mooresville led to the arrest of two suspects after an Iredell County Sheriff's deputy discovered drug paraphernalia and narcotics, including Oxycodone and Suboxone.

90-Year-Old Man Dies After Being Hit By SUV In Parking Lot
A 90-year-old man struck by a sport utility vehicle while he walked across a grocery store parking lot in north Charlotte Monday afternoon has died from his injuries, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police.

Atlanta Airport's Power Outage Impact On Charlotte Airport
If you're booked on a Delta flight out of Charlotte Monday, you should probably double check your flight status. The morning after an 11-hour power outage at Delta's hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, airlines still were struggling to get back up and running at full capacity. About 1,100 flights were canceled Sunday at the busy hub, and hundreds more already were canceled for Monday.

Man Renting A Room From Family Sexually Assaulted Children: CMPD
A transient man who once rented a room from a family in north Charlotte has been arrested and charged in what Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police describe as multiple counts of sexual assault of a female child. More charges are expected for additional sexual assault against two other children, CMPD said.

Toys R Us May Close Over 100 Stores: Report
Toys R Us management may close at least 100 stores nationwide in the wake of lower-than-expected holiday 2017 sales, according to a report by Bloomberg. People with knowledge of the situation tell the news service that sales in the United States are down 15 percent this holiday shopping season compared to last year.

These NC Cities Among The Neediest In U.S. In a holiday season during which many of our hearts turn to giving, a new report reminds us of the harsh reality many of those around us are facing due to hunger, poverty and homelessness. The struggle is real in many areas of the country, including North Carolina where six cities rated a list of some of the neediest cities in the United States.