77 & Belle, named for Hattie Bell, opened on Pegram Street in Belmont with a work‑friendly layout, a private meeting room and a menu of coffee, matcha and pastries.

A Gastonia mother was killed in a crash investigators say involved alcohol. A man has appeared in Gaston County court as the family mourns.

Hot, mostly dry Sunday with highs near 90 and a Code Orange air-quality alert for Mecklenburg County. Sensitive residents should limit outdoor exertion; storms return early next week.

Davidson police say a 16‑year‑old driver allegedly impaired on Shearer Road crashed and killed another 16‑year‑old; the suspect was booked and has posted bail.

A 21-year-old man died while in custody at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center in Charlotte. Medical staff responded and officials have opened an investigation.

A crash on the 4300 block of North Sharon Amity Road closed both directions Saturday night; three people were hurt and CMPD and MEDIC responded. Investigators were on scene.

A fast-moving Saturday afternoon fire on Kilborne Drive damaged multiple apartments and displaced residents while investigators probe the cause. The Red Cross is assisting those affected.

A federal court handed a 23‑year‑old man 20 years after prosecutors say he shot a 19‑year‑old who asked for a ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Donnell Robinson Jr., 29, was charged May 29 with one first‑degree and two second‑degree counts of criminal sexual conduct involving a minor, SLED says. The 6th Circuit will prosecute.

CATS and federal partners will run an overnight, full‑scale security exercise at the Charlotte Transportation Center June 6–7. Expect closures, mock gunfire, smoke and temporary bus detours.

Belmont’s Vision Zero program says it won a statewide safety award and secured federal SS4A funding to remake school routes and downtown corridors.

Warrants say two Duke Energy employees rerouted about $591,000 of power from a substation to Ver‑El RV Park across from Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Curtis Beatty pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and will serve 7.5–10 years for the 2020 killing of Andre "AJ" Boyd in north Charlotte.