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Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Lunch Break (8/24/16): Mayor Roberts to offer up rebuttal to Pence appearance in Charlotte
Posted By Ryan Pitkin on Wed, Aug 24, 2016 at 11:30 AM
Mayor Jennifer Roberts will hold a press conference this afternoon that will serve as a rebuttal to Republican vice-presidential nominee Mike Pence's speech at Charlotte Pipe & Foundry this morning. Roberts will be appearing alongside Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota and Mecklenburg County Democratic Party Chair Matt Newton at the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party headquarters in east Charlotte.
According to a press release announcing the press conference, the speakers "will focus on the contrasting visions for the American economy offered by Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, as well as call on Donald Trump and Mike Pence to release their tax returns to the American public. They will also underline the importance of voter registration and access to early voting for all North Carolinians."
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Police released the details this morning of two deaths that occurred as a result of unrelated traffic accidents. First, a CMPD release confirmed that 39-year-old Brian Bartlett succumbed to injuries suffered in an accident that happened on August 18. Bartlett struck a dump truck head-on at around 3:18 p.m. that day after crossing the yellow line. Police believe Bartlett was impaired. He was pronounced dead last night at 8:09 p.m.
Second, a woman was killed in a wreck that happened in south Charlotte at about 5:06 p.m. yesterday. Police say Jacqueline Lookabill, 80, pulled her Ford Explorer into the path of a Freightliner truck on Quail Hollow Road at Gleneagles Road. The truck struck the Explorer's front end. Lookabill was transported to CMC, where she was pronounced dead about two hours later. The driver and passenger in the truck suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
►►Here's Quail Hollow Rd SB @ Gleneagles Dr
— Charlotte TrafficGuy (@Clt_TrafficGuy) August 23, 2016
this crash is blocking the intersection #AVOID#CltTraffic #Charlotte pic.twitter.com/hxkIIVRPxt
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Police made an arrest yesterday evening in the case of Rechard Mickle's murder on Saturday. Detectives arrested Kedar Muhammad, 22, in Union County and charged him with murder. He's now in the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office. Mickle was shot on South Tryon Street in the Steele Creek area on Saturday night and later dropped off at CaroMont Regional Medical Center in Mount Holly, where he was pronounced dead.
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Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Tuesday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Tue, Aug 23, 2016 at 4:36 PM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Aug. 23, 2016 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
• Oscar “Buddy” Folk : Expressionism “Sacred Geometry Collection exhibit at Charlotte Fine Art Gallery
• Hard Working Americans at Neighborhood Theatre
• Cocktails & Gardens at The Duke Mansion
• Charlotte Knights vs. Durham Bulls at BB&T Ballpark
• Trivia at Big Ben British Pub & Restaurant
• Oscar “Buddy” Folk : Expressionism “Sacred Geometry Collection exhibit at Charlotte Fine Art Gallery
• Hard Working Americans at Neighborhood Theatre
• Cocktails & Gardens at The Duke Mansion
• Charlotte Knights vs. Durham Bulls at BB&T Ballpark
• Trivia at Big Ben British Pub & Restaurant
News Lunch Break (8/23/16): Friends and family gather to remember Daniel Harris, killed by state trooper
Posted By Ryan Pitkin on Tue, Aug 23, 2016 at 11:30 AM
Family and friends of Daniel Harris held a candlelight vigil last night on the street near his home in northeast Charlotte where the 29-year-old man was killed by a North Carolina State Trooper last Thursday.
The circumstances of Harris' death are still unclear, but the incident began as an attempted traffic stop for speeding on I-485. Family members say Harris, who is deaf, may not have known the police were following him. It has been reported that the state trooper's vehicle was involved in some sort of accident before Harris finally stopped on Seven Oaks Drive, where he lived. Police have said there was an "encounter" between Harris and the trooper trying to take him into custody, but haven't explained any other details.
At last night's vigil, Daniel's brother, Sam Harris, spoke about how things could have been different had police known his brother was deaf. He also said there will be a memorial for Daniel at First Baptist Church in Uptown this evening at 5 p.m. The family is raising money to pay for the memorial and cremation expenses on a YouCaring page.
"Any monies left over will be used to set up a foundation in his name to educate and provide law enforcement proper training on how to confront Deaf people," the family wrote on the page. "Subsequently, we hope to change the DMV registration system by requiring states to set up a 'DEAF' alert to appear when law enforcement look up a car's license plate. With this change, Daniel will be a hero in our Deaf community."
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Police have arrested a man for the murder of a 20-year-old woman in south Charlotte yesterday morning. Police have charged 23-year-old Jalen Anderson with murder, attempted murder and shooting into an occupied property causing serious injury. The victim, Mary Tarr, was shot in a home on Baybrook Lane and Pineville-Matthews Road at around 3 a.m. yesterday. A second female victim was transported to the hospital with serious injuries, but it's unclear what condition she is now in.
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Police yesterday confirmed that a body found in the Cabarrus County woods last Wednesday during the search for Truc Quan "Sandy" Le was, in fact, Le's body. Police are still searching for Alexandro Castillo and Ahmia Feaster, Le's coworkers who are believed to be involved in her murder. Castillo and Feaster are believed to have driven Le's car across the country, dumping it in Phoenix, Arizona, and crossing the border into Mexico.
The circumstances of Harris' death are still unclear, but the incident began as an attempted traffic stop for speeding on I-485. Family members say Harris, who is deaf, may not have known the police were following him. It has been reported that the state trooper's vehicle was involved in some sort of accident before Harris finally stopped on Seven Oaks Drive, where he lived. Police have said there was an "encounter" between Harris and the trooper trying to take him into custody, but haven't explained any other details.
At last night's vigil, Daniel's brother, Sam Harris, spoke about how things could have been different had police known his brother was deaf. He also said there will be a memorial for Daniel at First Baptist Church in Uptown this evening at 5 p.m. The family is raising money to pay for the memorial and cremation expenses on a YouCaring page.
"Any monies left over will be used to set up a foundation in his name to educate and provide law enforcement proper training on how to confront Deaf people," the family wrote on the page. "Subsequently, we hope to change the DMV registration system by requiring states to set up a 'DEAF' alert to appear when law enforcement look up a car's license plate. With this change, Daniel will be a hero in our Deaf community."
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Police have arrested a man for the murder of a 20-year-old woman in south Charlotte yesterday morning. Police have charged 23-year-old Jalen Anderson with murder, attempted murder and shooting into an occupied property causing serious injury. The victim, Mary Tarr, was shot in a home on Baybrook Lane and Pineville-Matthews Road at around 3 a.m. yesterday. A second female victim was transported to the hospital with serious injuries, but it's unclear what condition she is now in.
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Police yesterday confirmed that a body found in the Cabarrus County woods last Wednesday during the search for Truc Quan "Sandy" Le was, in fact, Le's body. Police are still searching for Alexandro Castillo and Ahmia Feaster, Le's coworkers who are believed to be involved in her murder. Castillo and Feaster are believed to have driven Le's car across the country, dumping it in Phoenix, Arizona, and crossing the border into Mexico.
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Saturday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Sat, Aug 20, 2016 at 10:08 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Aug. 20, 2016 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
• Charlotte Pride in Uptown
• Elizardi Castro at Booth Playhouse
• Open Occupancy: Artists Respond to HB2 exhibit at McColl Center for Art + Innovation
• Dirty Dancing Festival at Morse Park Meadows
• The Aftermath w/ Delighted ToBeHere, Dixie Crystal, Bethann Phetamine, and Malachi at Visulite Theatre
• Charlotte Pride in Uptown
• Elizardi Castro at Booth Playhouse
• Open Occupancy: Artists Respond to HB2 exhibit at McColl Center for Art + Innovation
• Dirty Dancing Festival at Morse Park Meadows
• The Aftermath w/ Delighted ToBeHere, Dixie Crystal, Bethann Phetamine, and Malachi at Visulite Theatre
Friday, August 19, 2016
News Lunch Break (8/19/16): SLIDESHOW: Peaceful protesters gather for street action outside Trump/McCrory fundraiser, march outside of convention center
Posted By Ryan Pitkin on Fri, Aug 19, 2016 at 11:59 AM
Trump supporters were met with a relatively tame group of protesters outside of his Charlotte appearances yesterday. A group of protesters, a mixture of environmentalist organizers with Greenpeace and the Durham-based NC United Front Against Racism and Fascism, gathered in front of The Westin, where Trump was enjoying a fundraiser dinner with state leaders like Gov. Pat McCrory, Sen. Thom Thillis and Sen. Richard Burr. The protesters, some of which wearing hazmat suits, poured out buckets of coal on the sidewalk in front of the hotel, then swept it under the rugs, symbolizing McCrory's continuous cover-ups regarding coal ash and the health risks it poses.
After the coal clean-up, protesters marched next door to the Charlotte Convention Center, where Trump was scheduled to speak at 7:30 p.m. A small group of protesters gathered at the entrance and chanted slogans like "Black Lives Matter" and "Let's be clear, immigrants are welcome here" for an hour or so, with not much engagement coming from Trump supporters. The group disbanded before Trump's speech with promises of meeting Trump supporters to protest his policies at any appearance he makes in Charlotte.
The following photos were taken at The Westin and Charlotte Convention Center between 4:30 and about 6:30 p.m.
Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Friday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Fri, Aug 19, 2016 at 11:19 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Aug. 19, 2016 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
• Jaggermouth w/ Elonzo Wesley, Sinners & Saints at Visulite Theatre
• Science on the Rocks at Discovery Place
• Laugh your Tails Off w/ Kenny Zimlinghaus at UpStage
• Bolllywood Dreams f. Akbar Sami at Label
• SlamCharlotte Poetry Slam at McGlohon Theater
• Jaggermouth w/ Elonzo Wesley, Sinners & Saints at Visulite Theatre
• Science on the Rocks at Discovery Place
• Laugh your Tails Off w/ Kenny Zimlinghaus at UpStage
• Bolllywood Dreams f. Akbar Sami at Label
• SlamCharlotte Poetry Slam at McGlohon Theater
Thursday, August 18, 2016
News Lunch Break (8/18/16): NC United Front Against Racism and Fascism have plans for Trump Charlotte appearance
Posted By Ryan Pitkin on Thu, Aug 18, 2016 at 11:37 AM
A group called the NC United Front Against Racism & Fascism will be gathering in The Green to protest a fundraiser dinner being held in Uptown that will feature such GOP names as presidential candidate Donald Trump, RNC Chair Reince Priebus, NC Gov. Pat McCrory, NC Sen. Thom Thillis and NC Sen. Richard Burr. The $50,000-per-ticket fundraiser at The Westin will precede an appearance by Trump at the Charlotte Convention Center next door beginning at 7:30 p.m. Around 200 people have already shown interest in a Facebook event asking anyone and everyone to attend to "Shut down racist billionaire Donald Trump — and his friends…"
"The rise of Donald Trump reflects a desperate and dangerous effort to destroy working-class unity by trying to turn the anger of white workers away from billionaires like himself and against their immigrant, Mexican, Arab, Muslim, African, Asian, Indigenous sisters and brothers in this country and across the world," the event's hosts wrote. "He doesn't simply travel the country giving speeches — he is creating a toxic climate to give rise to violence against immigrants, Muslims and Arabs, LGBTQ people and women, and all oppressed people."
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The investigation into the disappearance of Truc Quan "Sandy" Le led police into the Cabarrus County woods yesterday, where they say they found a deceased body. It is unclear yet whether it is Le's body, but the CMPD report specifically states that tips during this specific investigation led detectives, the Charlotte Fire Department, the Robinson Volunteer Fire Department and Medics to that area of the woods.
Le disappeared along with two coworkers last week and police announced during a press conference earlier this week that her car was found in Phoenix, Arizona. The investigation was then handed over the CMPD's Homicide Unit. It is believed that her two coworkers, Alexandro Castillo and Ahmia Feaster, drove her car across the country and are now in Mexico.
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A 22-year-old man was killed in a single-vehicle wreck near Charlotte Douglas International Airport this morning. Police responded to the crash just after midnight on Wilkinson Boulevard near Rosemont Street and found a Dodge Ram pickup truck that had struck two utility poles and overturned before striking a metal box and metal pole. The driver, Zachary Eubanks, was partially ejected and pronounced dead on the scene. His two passengers, 23-year-old Reed Camp and 22-year-old Ian Stanley, were both transported to CMC-Main with non-life-threatening injuries. Police believe speed and alcohol played a role in the crash.
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Local police are searching for a man they believe to be involved with a Monday shooting on LaSalle Street in west Charlotte. Daniel Marquise Moore is wanted on nine counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to cause serious injury and seven counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling. Detectives say he has family and friends in the Beatties Ford Road area and was last seen driving an older model box-style silver Grand Marquis. He is considered armed and dangerous and has a lengthy arrest history involving violence. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Moore is asked to immediately contact the Violent Criminal Apprehension Team at 704-336-VCAT or call 911.
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Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Thursday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Thu, Aug 18, 2016 at 10:36 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Aug. 18, 2016 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
• Packway Handle Band w/ Caleb Caudle at Double Door Inn
• Cocktails & Gardens at The Duke Mansion
• Beach volleyball pro Emily Day meet and greet at The Sandbox at VBGB
• Keith Urban at PNC Music Pavilion
• Vanessa Silberman at Petra's
• Packway Handle Band w/ Caleb Caudle at Double Door Inn
• Cocktails & Gardens at The Duke Mansion
• Beach volleyball pro Emily Day meet and greet at The Sandbox at VBGB
• Keith Urban at PNC Music Pavilion
• Vanessa Silberman at Petra's
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Wednesday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Wed, Aug 17, 2016 at 5:18 PM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Aug. 17, 2016 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
• T. Hardy Morris & The Hardknocks, Dust & Ashes, Landless at Snug Harbor
• The Women Behind the Beer at Sugar Creek Brewing Co.
• Beyond the Rubik's Cube exhibit at Discovery Place
• Justin Moore at Coyote Joe's
• Trivia at Ed's Tavern
• T. Hardy Morris & The Hardknocks, Dust & Ashes, Landless at Snug Harbor
• The Women Behind the Beer at Sugar Creek Brewing Co.
• Beyond the Rubik's Cube exhibit at Discovery Place
• Justin Moore at Coyote Joe's
• Trivia at Ed's Tavern
Lunch Break (8/17/16): Erin Brockovich weighs in on NC coal ash contamination
Posted By Ryan Pitkin on Wed, Aug 17, 2016 at 11:31 AM
Famed lawyer and environmental health advocate Erin Brockovich has cited the continuing coal ash crisis in North Carolina as a reason federal regulators must set a nationwide "maximum contaminant level" for hexavalent chromiums found in residents' drinking water.
In a joint letter to Environmental Protection Agency administrator Gina McCarthy, Brockovich and Environmental Working Group President Tim Cook wrote: "We write with deep concern about this continued delay. It is clear that the delay is sowing confusion among state and local regulators, utilities and the public about how much hexavalent chromium is safe in drinking water. This confusion is resulting in many Americans’ exposure to unregulated levels of hexavalent chromium that federal, state and independent scientists agree pose health hazards."
The letter went on to name North Carolina as an example for why these regulations are needed following a controversy regarding Gov. Pat McCrory and his staff seeking to retract “do-not-drink” warnings directed at some residents whose tap water comes from wells likely tainted by hexavalent chromium from nearby Duke Energy coal-burning facilities.
"States like North Carolina, where industrial byproducts like coal ash increase the risk of hexavalent chromium contamination, need a federal mandate to set strong, health-protective standards for levels of the contaminant in drinking water," Brockovich and Cook wrote. "Without it, states will continue to use inconsistent and potentially unsafe guidelines, and leave citizens confused about whether their drinking water is safe."
Another state health director lying about deadly water contamination. A heartless criminal. https://t.co/OmhYMRhctT
— erin brockovich (@ErinBrockovich) August 5, 2016
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Detectives with CMPD's Armed Robbery Unit are asking for the public's help in identifying a man who attempted to rob a gas station near the Noda neighborhood last week. Police say the man pictured below walked into Sam's Mart on The Plaza on August 12 and attempted to rob the business at gunpoint. He left before receiving any property. Anyone with information concerning this case or the suspects is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
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CMPD has charged James Leaks, 51, with the murder of Darrell Cureton, 49, in southwest Charlotte. Police responded to an assault call on Plymouth Drive and found Cureton suffering from a stab wound. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The initial investigation indicates that Cureton and Leaks knew each other and no other suspects are being sought.
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Two men are facing a slew of charges for their involvement in a series of armed robberies in late July and early August. Trey Lindsay and Derrick Pettus, both 30 years old, were arrested yesterday and later charged for the series of armed robberies.
On July 27, the two men allegedly tried to rob a Jack in the Box on Westinghouse Boulevard, but were unsuccessful. An hour later, they allegedly robbed a Domino's on W. W.T. Harris Boulevard. The two men allegedly picked up where they left off at the beginning of the new month, robbing a Steak and Shake on N. Sardis Road and the hitting a Justice store on Rea Road the following day. In each of the robberies, the suspects either brandished or threatened the use of firearms.
Yesterday, Lindsay was charged with four counts of conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon and attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon. Pettus was charged with four counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, four counts of second-degree kidnapping, three counts of conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon and served an unrelated warrant for embezzlement. Both suspects were then transferred to the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.
