Michael Gavin Smith was arrested after a multi‑agency probe and is being held on a $1 million secured bond while facing multiple felony child‑sex charges.

Investors led by Sandee Road Ventures bought the 98‑unit Sharon Oaks in Oakhurst and say they’ll preserve rent limits while spending about $1.1M on repairs.

Crews battled a heavy structure fire Friday morning on the 27100 block of Tuckaseegee Road; officials issued only an initial alert.

The Panthers used the 19th overall pick on Georgia tackle Monroe Freeling, adding a long-armed, athletic rookie to a unit hit by injuries. The selection mixes upside and development needs.

A Mecklenburg County deputy was arrested after a domestic call at his Mint Hill home and fired the next day. Records show he faces an assault-on-a-female charge and was released on a $5,000 bond.

Federal sign‑offs freed $319M in BEAD funds to launch builds that the state says will reach more than 93,000 homes, businesses and community sites, prioritizing rural and mountain areas.

A Thursday-night shooting in Concord’s Hartsell Park left one person dead and another hospitalized. Concord police say the scene is under investigation and there's no ongoing threat.

AJ Sankofa is turning his Optimist Hall stall into a four‑seat tasting counter, pairing inventive multi‑course plates with wine and showcasing dishes like lion’s mane and coffee‑roasted squash ravioli.

A Lancaster County planning panel denied a conditional‑use permit for a proposed mosque on Harrisburg Road after neighbors raised traffic and compatibility concerns. The county council will decide May 11.

Sunny and warm Friday with highs near 86°F. Code Orange air quality alert and burn bans in effect; showers and thunderstorms are likely Saturday.

Belmont police said officers were on scene of an incident in the Park Street parking lot near Planet Fitness and Starbucks and would release no further details.

Atrium says it will transfer a 14‑acre parcel to the city housing authority and reserve roughly 5% of units at The Pearl as affordable, but critics call that too small.

Raleigh’s 321 Coffee is rolling into Costco stores statewide with a two‑pound 'Elevate' medium roast — a significant retail win for the inclusion‑focused roaster.