Santa Claus lit the Christmas tree at Kannapolis' Village Park, marking the start of the holiday season, followed by a fireworks show and ongoing light displays and festivities until December 30.

The NCDOT is closing Gilead Road near I-77 in Huntersville for Diverging Diamond Interchange completion, affecting traffic patterns and requiring detours.

Emanuel Gerardo Gomez in Monroe is charged with sexual battery for groping employees at Family Dollar and Dollar General. He was identified using security footage and faces additional charges.

Shots were fired in a Gastonia Walmart parking lot, leading to one woman injured and the arrest of Makiah Lippencott on firearms and assault charges. The incident is under investigation as potential road rage.

A multi-vehicle crash caused a major shutdown of I-77 north in York County, with reroutes in place and ongoing delays due to injuries and fuel spillage.

Charlotte's forecast includes a warm 70 degrees today and clearing skies. Nighttime temperatures will drop to 48 degrees. The week brings mixed conditions, with chances of rain but clear skies by Thursday.

A house explosion in Weddington injured two people and destroyed the home; Union County officials are investigating the cause, with early focus on a gas leak or structural issue.

Cabarrus County continues its twenty-year tradition with the Wendy Gainey Memorial Christmas Tree, aimed at fulfilling local children, seniors, and veterans' holiday wishes through community donations.

Cabarrus County officials announced the groundbreaking for the Stephen M. Morris Behavioral Health Center, aiming to improve mental health care access.

Today's weather in Charlotte features clouds at 41°F with calm winds and 89% humidity, set to become mostly sunny with a high near 69°F. Patchy fog will clear, followed by partly cloudy skies and a 45°F night.

Former teacher Gabriela Neufeld pleaded guilty to a sexual offense with a student and received a prison sentence followed by probation, with her teaching license revoked.

A house fire in Charlotte, NC, injured one severely and another was evaluated on-site; 30 firefighters controlled the blaze in about 13 minutes. The fire's cause remains under investigation.

A search is underway for Gregory Clifford Houser after the body of 18-year-old Sydney Bisson was found in Boger City. Houser faces charges related to her death and is on the run after tampering with his monitoring device.