Union County approved a $174M 2026–27 budget that prioritizes teacher pay, repairs and tech upgrades. The proposal now goes to county commissioners for final review.

Three people were found dead at a Fairview home; a 16‑year‑old resident was later located in Gatlinburg and will be questioned as investigators probe the deaths.

North Carolina set a new tourism record in 2025 with $37.2 billion in visitor spending, boosting payrolls and tax receipts across the state.

Neese’s Country Sausage paused parts of production after FSIS found environmental Listeria; Charlotte shelves remain thin while the family brand works through remediation.

A May 5 follow‑up in east Charlotte resulted in nine firearms seized and multiple arrests, police said.

A 31-year-old is jailed after a Sanford Street shooting in Hamlet left a man wounded; deputies say the incident appears isolated.

Mecklenburg County's January Point-in-Time Count identified 2,018 people experiencing homelessness, with unsheltered numbers up about 12% as shelter capacity fell.

Gaston County prosecutors say undercover officers were justified when they shot a man at Jakob's Food Mart in January after reviewing surveillance and witness statements.

High Five Coffee’s riverside shop was destroyed in an apparent arson; police arrested a suspect and the town has begun raising support for staff.

A Charlotte street‑outreach nonprofit says pandemic-era ARPA grants ended in April and remaining funds will run out June 30, threatening teams that move people into housing.

Police circulated a photo after multiple Matthews apartments were entered through smashed patio doors. Officers ask anyone with information to call 704-847-5555.

A Charlotte mother says her daughter was raped inside a local vape shop and is warning neighbors. Advocates and police point to resources and safety tips for parents.

New data show roughly one-third of 18–34-year-olds are living with a parent; experts point to high rents, student debt and a tight housing supply.