WCNC Charlotte To Go

Friday, Nov. 21, marks three years since missing Cornelius girl Madalina Cojocari was last seen in public.

The last known video taken of her shows the then-11-year-old getting off her school bus around 5 p.m. on Nov. 21, 2022. Her mother Diana Cojocari and stepfather Christopher Palmiter did not report her missing for another three weeks, investigators say.

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/investigations/three-years-madal...

Protesters gathered in Charlotte's University area on Wednesday, voicing opposition to ongoing Border Patrol operations and sharing personal stories of family members deported to Mexico.

Maria Bautista joined demonstrators carrying signs and chanting "No more CBP," driven by memories of her father, who was deported to Mexico last year.

"I don't want anyone else to feel how I felt and I just feel that this is injustice and it's not ok...

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will not offer remote learning despite requests from parents fearful of Border Patrol operations in their communities, even as more than 30,000 students stayed home Monday amid heightened anxiety over federal immigration enforcement.

Parents packed a school board meeting Tuesday night, demanding the district provide a hybrid learning option while immigration operations continue in the Charlotte area.

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Video shows Border Patrol agents arresting two U.S. citizens in Charlotte's Plaza Midwood neighborhood Monday morning after accusing them of honking their horn to alert others that troops were in the area, according to witnesses and family members.

Dramatic video captured the moment agents took the two women into custody following a chase down Central Avenue. The women were later released with citations after spending several hours ...

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents resumed making arrests in Charlotte on Sunday, the second day of Operation "Charlotte's Web."

Commander Gregory K. Bovino posted about multiple arrests on his X feed, stating each person has a criminal history and emphasizing the purpose of CBP's presence in Charlotte.

The continued enforcement operations drew protests from residents voicing opposition to the agents' presence in the city.

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Leaders from across Mecklenburg County are holding a press conference Friday morning to address reports that Border Patrol agents could be deployed to Charlotte as soon as Saturday.  

The event, taking place at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center, is expected to be the first public discussion by local officials seeking clarity on the federal operation.

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/local-leaders-address-p...

Even as President Donald Trump signed legislation ending the government shutdown, experts warned that recovery for federal programs and services won't be immediate.

"There will be some delay in terms of the immediacy," Michael Bitzer, a political science professor with Catawba College, said.

Bitzer said reopening the government is just the first step in a longer process before operations return to normal.

Read more: https://www.wcnc.c...

Now that Mecklenburg County voters have approved a sales tax increase to fund decades of transit improvements, Charlotte City Council is moving forward with selecting members for the new Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority (MPTA) Board of Trustees.  

Interviews for council-appointed seats begin Wednesday, Nov. 12, and will continue through Saturday, Nov. 15.

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/charlotte-city-c...

The Senate officially passed a funding bill Monday night after a decisive final vote, moving one step closer to ending the prolonged government shutdown. The spending package will still need approval from the House and President Trump's signature before the government can reopen.  

We're taking a closer look at how North Carolina lawmakers are reacting. 

WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so yo...

After more than a month of a partial government shutdown, there’s finally movement in Washington.  Lawmakers have reached a bipartisan agreement that would fund the government at its current rate through Jan. 30, and fully fund SNAP benefits through next September. 

While that’s a promising sign for federal workers and programs, travelers are still feeling the frustration at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

As of Monday morni...

Charlotte Douglas International Airport is expected to cut flights by 10% after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and announced it would reduce air traffic at 40 of the country's busiest airports due to the federal government shutdown. 

The shutdown, which is now in its 38th day, is the longest in U.S. history. On Wednesday, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford cited growing fatigue among air traffic controllers who have worked w...

The Federal Aviation Administration will reduce air traffic by 10% at 40 busy airports beginning Friday, citing growing fatigue among air traffic controllers who have worked without pay since the government shutdown began Oct. 1.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced the cuts Wednesday afternoon, saying the move would affect roughly 3,500 to 4,000 flights daily. 

Read more: https://www.wcnc...

Mecklenburg County residents voted to approve a one-cent sales tax that would fund transit and road projects. The measure passed with 52% in favor of the tax, Tuesday's election results show. The votes will be canvassed at a later date. 

The tax increase has left both city leaders and community members with split feelings about impacts on the Charlotte area — and their pockets — in the long run.

Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/articl...

Tuesday marks Election Day in Charlotte, and voters are heading to the polls to make their voices heard in key local races.  

Polls opened at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4, and will remain open until 7:30 p.m.

Charlotte residents are deciding on the mayoral race, four at-large City Council seats, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education, a transit tax referendum and several district council seats. 

Read more: https://www.wcnc....

The city of Charlotte announced Friday Estella Patterson will serve as the next Chief of Police for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

City Manager Marcus Jones made the announcement in an internal email to CMPD staff, saying the decision followed an extensive search and input from officers and community members. Patterson, who previously served as Chief of Police in Raleigh, will officially begin her new role on Dec. 1.

“P...

Days before Mecklenburg County voters will decide whether to increase the sales tax to fund transit projects, a campaign finance report is revealing which corporations are funding the effort to pass it.

The 30-year plan is projected to generate approximately $19.4 billion to fund road, bus, and rail improvements across the region, including the creation of the Red Line light rail. If approved by voters, it would also provide funding...

North Carolina lawmakers are weighing options to reduce wait times at Department of Motor Vehicles locations, including a proposal to separate the DMV from the Department of Transportation — a partnership the state auditor calls "dysfunctional."

State Auditor Dave Boliek released a report in August finding long waits are becoming more common, with 13.8% of visits lasting over two and a half hours — a nearly 80% increase since 2019.

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The second day of the Brooks’ Sandwich House murder trial focused on one of the final pre-trial motions before jury selection got underway.

Scott Brooks, co-owner of the beloved NoDa restaurant, was shot and killed in December 2019 while opening the family business early one morning. Nearly six years later, the two men accused of his death - Steven Staples and Terry Conner - are finally standing trial in Mecklenburg County Superior ...

The Charlotte City Council voted Monday to change ordinances allowing the installation of 30 digital kiosks throughout the city, a plan officials say will cost taxpayers nothing.

The kiosks will offer free Wi-Fi, touchscreen navigation, local business highlights, emergency alerts, and city content such as events and wayfinding. They will also feature ADA-compliant, multilingual displays and advertising screens, with the city receivi...