Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump spoke to veterans at the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention being held in Charlotte yesterday, just a day after Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton addressed the same crowd. Following his speech, a local lawmaker and Charlotte's mayor teamed up to call Trump out for his shady records regarding veterans. The statement, released by Mayor Jennifer Roberts and N.C. Senator Jeff Jackson, reads as follows:

“Donald Trump has made his supposed support for veterans one of his signature issues in this election. But his record simply does not live up to his rhetoric. The truth is that Trump has displayed a pattern of disrespect toward those who have served our country. He has lied about his donations to veterans’ charities and shown contempt toward prisoners of war, claiming that Senator John McCain is ‘not a war hero’ because he spent five years in captivity. Additionally, Trump has put forward proposals that would negatively impact our veterans, such as supporting the privatization of the Veteran’s Administration, which would force the men and women who served our country into a private market that isn’t equipped to handle their unique health needs. Donald Trump lacks the knowledge, stability, and values to be America’s Commander-in-Chief. His ideas are not resonating with North Carolina’s veteran population.”

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Today marks the 10-year anniversary of the day President George W. Bush signed a reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act. Since then, the VRA has been stripped by decisions like the Shelby County vs. Holder decision of 2013, which did away with a VRA provision that requires states and local governments with histories of racial discrimination to obtain federal clearance before implementing changes to their voting laws.

This morning, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights coalition of more than 200 national civil rights groups sent letters to the Republican chairmen of the House and Senate judiciary committees noting that two bipartisan VRA restoration bills are languishing in their committees without action.

“Just months before the first presidential election in 50 years without the full protections of the Voting Rights Act, we write to express our frustration that two bills to help restore the law continue to languish in the committee you chair," the letter to Chairman Bob Goodlatte said. "More than three years since the U.S. Supreme Court’s devastating Shelby County v. Holder decision, voters across the country desperately need Congress to take action to protect their rights.”

#OTD 10 years ago, President Bush signed a reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act. Today, we must #RestoreTheVRA. pic.twitter.com/aqd8Cj3A2x

— Civil Rights (@civilrightsorg) July 27, 2016

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Mecklenburg County Health Director Dr. Marcus Plescia held a press conference this morning to discuss the newly released plan to drain the remaining water in the U.S. National Whitewater Center into the Catawba River.

The plan includes treating the water with chlorine and ultraviolet rays to make sure there is no threat from the infamous brain-eating amoeba that killed an 18-year-old visitor to the center in June. The amoeba is common in warm, freshwater environments like Catawba River, where the USNWC cycles its water from, but Lauren Seitz's death has caused alarm throughout Mecklenburg County.

The new plan was approved by Mecklenburg County Environmental Health and Storm Water Services, Charlotte Water, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and USNWC.

Dr. Plescia assured the public that the treatment plan and dilution of the water would render the water harmless, which is probably already is anyway. "Anything that's in there is going to be hugely diluted to the point where it won't be any different from what you'd normally find [in the Catawba River]," Plescia said. The entire press conference can be seen below. 

Turns out there may actually be something Pat McCrory is worse at than governing the state of North Carolina: stand up comedy. The governor tested his comic chops when he spoke at a Trump rally in Winston-Salem Monday night and attempted to make light of his notorious House Bill 2: “If any of you need to use the restrooms and if you have any questions, go to the Philadelphia convention where all the Democrats are.”

McCrory’s problematic punchline comes a week after the NBA announced plans to pull the 2017 All Star game from Charlotte, costing the city a cool $100 million in projected revenue and joining a growing list of companies that have yanked operations out of North Carolina in response to HB2. 
“Governor McCrory may be making jokes, but his discriminatory law is no laughing matter,” says Jamal Little, campaign spokesman for McCrory's gubernatorial challenger Roy Cooper. “It has already cost us jobs, hurt our economy and damaged our reputation.” 

The ill-advised joke came hours after Cooper released an online ad comparing the Trump and McCrory campaigns: 

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One organization that isn’t abandoning the Queen City in light of HB2 is the National League of Cities (yes, that’s a real thing). The group of 4,000 city leaders meets annually to discuss the goings-on of running cities (no, Sim City doesn’t count), and had made plans to convene in Charlotte in 2017. In a statement Monday, the NLC confirmed that they intend to keep that engagement and continue to support Charlotte.

“We stand with the City of Charlotte, and we will oppose any actions that preempt local control or discriminate against members of our communities,” said CEO Clarence E. Anthony. “Changing the location of City Summit would effectively penalize the City of Charlotte for the state’s action. We will continue our efforts to combat North Carolina’s HB2 and similar state laws across the country.”

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Though the Atlantic Ocean has dodged a bullet when it comes to offshore drilling, conservation activists with Oceana say a stretch of ocean along the east coast is still at risk. According to the organization, an area “twice the size of California” between Delaware and Florida is the target of a process called seismic airgun blasting, which is used to detect oil deposits in the ocean floor. State officials in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia banded together to address the White House today in opposition of the process.

“If seismic airgun blasting is allowed to move forward, it would undoubtedly put at risk marine life, coastal communities and local economies along the entire East Coast,” Oceana said in a statement. “With offshore drilling off the table in the Atlantic, there is absolutely no reason to risk the damage that would be caused by seismic airgun blasting in the region.”

The NBA and commissioner Adam Silver made good on their threats to cancel the NBA All Star Game scheduled for February 2017 in Charlotte due to the discriminatory nature of House Bill 2, passed into law during a special session of the North Carolina legislature earlier this year.

Almost immediately, people and organizations began releasing statements praising or decrying the decision. We've collected a few of these statements to see what folks around the state ahd around the country had to say about it. 

The following is an excerpt from the NBA's statement announcing the relocation of the All Star Game: 

"Since March, when North Carolina enacted HB2 and the issue of legal protections for the LGBT community in Charlotte became prominent, the NBA and the Charlotte Hornets have been working diligently to foster constructive dialogue and try to effect positive change. We have been guided in these discussions by the long-standing core values of our league. These include not only diversity, inclusion, fairness and respect for others but also the willingness to listen and consider opposing points of view.
"Our week-long schedule of All-Star events and activities is intended to be a global celebration of basketball, our league, and the values for which we stand, and to bring together all members of the NBA community — current and former players, league and team officials, business partners, and fans. While we recognize that the NBA cannot choose the law in every city, state, and country in which we do business, we do not believe we can successfully host our All-Star festivities in Charlotte in the climate created by HB2."

Gov. Pat McCrory (surprise) refused to take any accountability for the woeful impact of House Bill 2 yet again and instead blamed the liberal media, among others. His statement read: 

""The sports and entertainment elite, Attorney General Roy Cooper and the liberal media have for months misrepresented our laws and maligned the people of North Carolina simply because most people believe boys and girls should be able to use school bathrooms, locker rooms and showers without the opposite sex present. Twenty-one other states have joined North Carolina to challenge the federal overreach by the Obama administration mandating their bathroom policies in all businesses and schools instead of allowing accommodations for unique circumstances. Left-wing special interest groups have no moral authority to try and intimidate the large majority of American parents who agree in common-sense bathroom and shower privacy for our children."

Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts referenced Silver's implication that Charlotte could still host the All Star Game in 2019 if House Bill 2 is repealed or overturned in court:

"I am deeply disappointed that the discriminatory actions reflected in HB2 have caused the NBA to move the All-Star Game from Charlotte. All-Star weekend would have provided an excellent opportunity to further showcase our great and welcoming city. Charlotte has show its commitment to equal rights and inclusion will continue to promote those values. 
"I am encouraged that Charlotte has the opportunity to host the game in 2019 of changes to HB2 are made and I encourage the state to take action as soon as possible. I appreciate the NBA and our Charlotte Hornets being such strong champions of equality." 

Speaking of the Hornets, owner Michael Jordan released a statement in support of the decision while also hoping to see the All Star Game come to Charlotte in 2019: 

"We understand the NBA's decision and the challenges around holding the NBA All-Star Game in Charlotte this season. There was an exhaustive effort from all parties to keep the event in Charlotte, and we are disappointed we were unable to do so. With that said, we are pleased that the NBA opened the door for Charlotte to host All-Star Weekend again as soon as an opportunity was available in 2019. We want to thank the City of Charlotte and the business community for their backing throughout this entire process, starting with the initial bid. We are confident that they will be just as supportive and enthusiastic for the 2019 NBA All-Star Game."

Gerrick Brenner, executive director of Progress NC Action, released a statement focusing on the negative economic impact that HB2 has had and continues to have on the state of North Carolina: 

“Today’s news is further evidence that HB2 is an economic disaster for North Carolina. Over $100 million in economic activity is leaving our state because of Gov. McCrory’s discriminatory law, on top of the hundreds of jobs and millions in tourism dollars that our state has already lost over HB2. But instead of admitting his mistake, the governor is busy raiding our disaster relief fund to defend this man-made disaster of a law in court. It’s time for Gov. McCrory to accept reality and call for a full repeal of HB2 before any more damage is done to our economy.”

This morning Roy Cooper, current North Carolina attorney general and gubernatorial candidate who was blamed by Gov. McCrory for the NBA's decision, despite having nothing to do with the law that truly did cause the decision, responded to McCrory's morning appearance on WFAE's Charlotte Takes in which he called the decision "total P.C. B.S." in a statement from his spokesperson:  

"While the economic consequences of HB 2 grow, Governor McCrory continues to pass the blame onto others while refusing to take any action to stop the bleeding. Make no mistake, the NBA’s decision to pull the All-Star Game is a damaging blow to our economy and our reputation, and Governor McCrory should stop pointing fingers and take responsibility. It’s time for Governor McCrory to listen to the many North Carolinians who oppose this legislation and repeal HB 2." 

A new location for the 2017 NBA All Star Game has not yet been announced, but it's been widely reported that New Orleans is the front-runner. In a not-so-subtle reminder to Silver that they'd be happy to host, the New Orleans Pelicans also released a statement yesterday: 

"The New Orleans Pelicans fully support the NBA's decision to relocate the 2017 All-Star Game form Charlotte, North Carolina, as a result of the state's rejection to rescind HB2. We're proud to represent a league which upholds the highest standards of humankind. The Pelicans stand alongside Commissioner Silver and the NBA family in support of the LGBT community." 

And then, there's this: 

Great move by the NBA pulling next year's All-Star Game from NC. We must stand with our LGBTQ brothers and sisters. pic.twitter.com/UF5DkJpPg6

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) July 22, 2016

Six people were hospitalized after an explosion at a truck loading dock early this morning. The explosion happened at around 6 a.m. at Wilson Trucking Corporation in north Charlotte, and quickly spread to tractor-trailers docked nearby. 90 firefighters responded to the blaze, and it took two hours to suppress the 4-alarm fire. (WSOC, staff)

Police have released surveillance photos of a man wanted for an attempted armed robbery in southeast Charlotte. The incident took place on July 4, when a woman was using an ATM on Monroe Road near Sardis. A man approached her at gunpoint and attempted to rob her, but then got into a blue Dodge Avenger and fled the scene empty-handed. The man is described as 5’6” and looks to be in his mid-twenties. (WBTV, staff)

Emails outlining plans for the disposal of infected water at the US National Whitewater Center were leaked Tuesday night. The emails depict plans to treat the water with a process known as hyper-chlorination, which will kill the bacteria that infected and killed a USWC visitor last month. The water will then be de-chlorinated and discharged by a ground filtering process, before eventually reaching the Catawba River. County officials say this entire disposal process will be monitored, and will not affect the Catawba River. (WCNC, Elizabeth Thomas and Rachel Brown)

Two Charlotte-area teenagers were struck by lightening while visiting a Clearwater, Florida beach Tuesday. The teens, identified as Cameron Poimboeuf, 15, and Jansen Tabor, 18, were on the beach when a storm broke out. They were reportedly running for shelter when lightening struck. A police officer and a pediatric nurse, both vacationing at the beach, witnessed the incident and began performing CPR while they waited for medics to arrive. The teens remain hospitalized, but reports say their conditions are improving. (Charlotte Observer, Joe Marusak and Mike Reader)

Police are investigating a murder that happened in north Charlotte this morning. Officers responded to an assault call in the 4200 block of Statesville Road just after 6 a.m. this morning and found a man suffering from an apparent stab wound. The victim was later pronounced dead at Carolinas Medical Center. The initial investigation found that the victim was arguing with the suspect before the stabbing, though it's unclear whether anyone has been taken into custody. The name of the victim will be released pending the notification of his family. 

WBTV producer Brian Stephenson tweeted a picture of a tractor trailer engulfed in flames on the side of Interstate 485 this morning between the U.S. 74 and Idlewild Road exits. The accident appears to have happened on the inner lanes, although a traffic map shows that traffic has slowed to a near standstill on both sides of the interstate. 

#BREAKING Tractor trailer on fire 485 between 74 & Idlewild. Expect delays. @WBTV_News pic.twitter.com/L7lDo4Fdd1

— Brian Stephenson (@Luv2telgoodnews) July 15, 2016

Police announced this morning that they are looking for 19-year-old Demahj Wright, who's wanted on charges of armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. CMPD said the robbery happened on June 22 on West Woodlawn Road. Wright, who's also known as Maj, frequents east Charlotte neighborhoods, and was last seen on Moody Road off The Plaza. Police ask that anyone with information on Wright's whereabouts call the Violent Criminal Apprehension Team at 704-336-VCAT or call 911. 

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump announced his vice presidential candidate, naming Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate. The only real news here is that he made the announcement on Twitter, which is a first, so there's that. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

I am pleased to announce that I have chosen Governor Mike Pence as my Vice Presidential running mate. News conference tomorrow at 11:00 A.M.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 15, 2016

Further proof that McCrory is the kind of guy that basks in the smell of his own farts, the Governor travelled to Union County this morning to host a ‘campaign-style’ rally celebrating the signing of a budget that is part of what he has dubbed his “Carolina Comeback.” McCrory totes teacher pay rises as a major victory for the new budget, awkwardly neglecting that North Carolina teachers still face a $10,000 pay gap compared to the national average, and still feel the impact of other McCrory cuts in their classrooms.
Ford Porter, a spokesperson for McCrory's gubernatorial challenger Roy Cooper, released a statement this morning regarding McCrory's ill-informed campaigning. “Today’s press conference is vintage Pat McCrory: A campaign-style rally with a giant banner paid for with taxpayer money, touting a plan that makes big promises but doesn’t actually get the job done. This budget leaves North Carolina uncompetitive with neighboring states who are actively recruiting our best teachers out of state. Meanwhile, the governor has repeatedly refused to even meet with teachers who just want a real plan to improve our schools. This is exactly the kind of empty leadership we need to change in November," Porter said. 

Governor McCrory staffers put the kibosh on a ‘Garden Party Against Hate’ scheduled to take place at the Governor’s Mansion last night in Raleigh, alleging that the event had been scheduled under false pretenses. Hours prior to the cancellation, Progress NC had formally invited McCrory to attend the event and “have an honest conversation about how HB2 puts LGBT North Carolinians at risk, and is bad for the entire state.” McCrory’s administration said “nah thanks” and kicked the group out, citing the Air Horn Orchestra as proof that the event was really just a protest masquerading as a semi-formal garden party. Undeterred, organizers relocated the event to directly across the street from the mansion, where the orchestra usually performs on Wednesday evenings. 
The last-minute cancellation comes just weeks after the Governor’s Mansion hosted to an event organized by the anti-LGBT Jesse Helms Center. Responding to backlash from that event, a member of the McCrory administration stated that all non-profits are welcome to rent the facility. Progress North Carolina and Equality NC now say that’s clearly not the case. 
“Gov. McCrory’s staff explained how the Jesse Helms Center could rent the Executive Mansion by claiming all nonprofits could do the same,” Gerrick Brenner, executive director of Progress North Carolina, said in a press release. “That is now clearly shown to be false. Progress NC did not violate a rental contract. The Governor’s Office canceled our ‘Garden Party Against Hate’ because they don’t like the groups involved or the message they share. Period.” 

Anti-HB2 air horn orchestra goes on, despite group's plans for garden party inside the Gov's Mansion being canceled pic.twitter.com/LavIOv7jhq

— Joel Brown (@JoelBrownABC11) July 13, 2016

An 11-year old girl was struck and killed by a pickup truck while attempting to cross West Boulevard on Wednesday night. The girl and her sister were walking home from a store when they began to jaywalk across West Boulevard at around 5:40 p.m. Reports indicate that they had made it across the eastbound lanes to the center of the road. The 11-year old then began to cross the westbound lanes, stepping directly in front of the oncoming truck. The truck was unable to stop and struck the child. The child was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead shortly after. Her sister was not involved or injured in the accident. The driver, Janelle Garcia, remained on the scene. Police determined that speed and alcohol were not factors in the accident, and reports confirm that the children were not using a crosswalk or intersection. No charges have been filed. 

North Carolina Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Roy Cooper held a press conference at Central Piedmont Community College this morning to announce his jobs plan if he's elected governor. Rolling out his plan with the slogan "A North Carolina that works for everyone," Cooper called for a full repeal of HB2, recalling how many jobs the bill has already lost Charlotte and the state as a whole. With the state's largest community college as his backdrop, Cooper called for more collaboration between high schools, community colleges and the government. 

Progress North Carolina has sent Gov. Pat McCrory an invitation attend the exclusive "Garden Party Against Hate," to be held in his own home. The nonprofit rented out the Governor's Mansion in Raleigh and will be hosting other pro-equality groups there tonight at 6. “We’re grateful to Gov. McCrory for letting us hold our Garden Party Against Hate at his house, and we’d like to return the favor by personally inviting him to attend,” Gerrick Brenner, executive director of Progress NC, wrote in a press release. “Much of North Carolina’s LGBT community feels that Gov. McCrory has completely ignored their concerns, so this would be an excellent opportunity for the governor to have an honest conversation about how HB2 puts LGBT North Carolinians at risk, and is bad for the entire state.” The garden party will also serve as a viewing party for the famous "Air Horn Orchestra," which has used air horns and noisemakers to protest House Bill 2 outside of the mansion every Wednesday since it was passed — save for the Wednesday following the Orlando shootings at an LGBT nightclub, during which members held a memorial. Progress NC will be live-streaming the dinner party on Facebook Live. 

Police are investigating the murder of 41-year-old Donnell Drakeford in west Charlotte overnight. Police responded to an assault call on Ridgevalley Drive just before midnight and found Drakeford suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased by Medic. Detectives are still investigating the case. 

More than 100 people gathered in Marshall Park yesterday evening to protest police brutality and discuss recent events involving police violence. The NAACP Charlotte chapter and the SAFE Coalition hosted the #StayWoke event, and speakers like Bree Newsome, known for removing the Confederate flag from its pole on South Carolina state grounds last year, and Demika Wallace, cousin of Germonta Wallace, who was killed by CMPD officers in January, addressed the crowd. (Grant Baldwin) 

Google Fiber will make its long-awaited debut in Charlotte today, following months of construction to prepare for the high-speed internet service. The launch kicks off in the Highland Creek neighborhood, where residents will be eligible to sign up for one of Fiber’s internet, TV or phone bundles starting today. For $130 a month, the top-tier package includes download speeds up to 1,000 Mbps, 4k HD video streaming, one terabyte of cloud storage, and over 200 cable TV channels. Fiber also aims to bridge the digital divide by bringing free or affordable ($15/month for 25 Mbps broadband) internet to off-line areas. The Fiber launch is expected to spread to other Charlotte neighborhoods, though dates and locations have not been disclosed. In keeping with Fiber’s “now-or-never” sign up model, Highland Creek residents will have until September 1 to register, or (presumably) miss out on Fiber forever. (Madeline Lemieux) 

Sean Garret, 33, died Monday night after crashing his motorcycle into another vehicle on Sharon Road West. CMPD said that Garret was traveling down Sharon Road West at a “high rate of speed” as he approached the intersection of Brandon Forest Drive. A vehicle in the oncoming lane of Sharon Road West was completing a left turn onto Brandon Forest Drive when Garret sped through the intersection. Garret struck the backend of the car, causing it to spin 180 degrees. The driver of the car was not injured, but Garret was transported to the hospital in critical condition and died soon after. Police say the motorcycle’s speed was a contributing factor in the crash. (Madeline Lemieux) 

More than 150 people showed up to a teach-in about the movement for black lives at UNC Charlotte last night. Local organizer Ashley Williams led the discussion, during which she would explain certain things such as the creation of the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag, how that evolved into the forming of the Black Lives Matter organization and how that differs from the broader movement for black lives. For the most part, however, the discussion was led by attendees, as they would speak in turns and form groups to carry on discussions about topics such as ideas for organization and escalation. Meanwhile, on The Plaza, some members of the CMPD participated in a vigil and discussion about police brutality at Crystal Reggae Club. (Ryan Pitkin) 

A Facebook video posted by WBTV social media manager Katie McKiever showing CMPD Chief Kerr Putney's response to recent violence in Dallas, Minneapolis and Baton Rouge went viral over the weekend and is quickly approaching 1,000,000 views. In the video (see below), Putney speaks about his own distrust for police at a younger age and the fear he feels when he puts his uniform on now. (Ryan Pitkin) 

A quick look at Duke Energy's power outage map this morning shows that hundreds of people are still without power following a storm that knocked down trees and power lines throughout the city on Friday night. The map shows that many of the people still experiencing power outages live in east and north Charlotte, with more than 300 people still without power near The Plaza and Shamrock Road. Duke has said they plan to have all power back on before midnight tonight. (Ryan Pitkin) 

A group of about 50 people gathered peacefully at Romare Bearden Park yesterday evening after   marching from the Charlotte Transportation Center through a rain storm to protest the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile by police. The group mourned the killings and took turns speaking out  against white supremacy and systemic racism, with a couple people reciting poetry. Multiple speakers said they were attending a protest for the first time because of how affected they were by videos of both killings. After gathering at the park, the protesters marched back to the the center of the city, shutting down E. Trade Street in front of EpiCentre for a short time. Tia Bradshaw said she helped organize the event because she was fearful that she could become the  next statistic. "It's horrifying. I could be next. Just to think that my father could be next — my mother or even my little sister — that scares me," Bradshaw said. "I have to be scared in the place that I'm supposed to feel safe, especially from the people that are supposed to be keeping me safe." (Ryan Pitkin) 

Similar protests about police brutality turned deadly in Dallas last night when multiple snipers targeted officers on the scene. Shots rang out at around 9 p.m. and 12 officers were struck. Five officers were killed. Police located three shooters and arrested two. The third suspect engaged in overnight negotiations and shot it out with police. When negotiations failed, police detonated a bomb, killing the suspect. At a press conference this morning, Dallas Police Chief David Brown said the suspect “wanted to kill white people, especially white officers.” (Lee Williams & Ryan Osborne, Star-Telegram) 

RAW VIDEO: Our cameras captured the panic after the first shots were fired in downtown #Dallas Thursday nighthttps://t.co/JXcapjFIHv

— WFAA-TV (@wfaachannel8) July 8, 2016

Cynthia Lynn Averitt, 50, of Rock Hill was arrested on charges of boating under the influence after York County police determined that she was intoxicated while operating the boat that Kenneth Varnadore fell from before drowning in Lake Wylie on Wednesday night. Initial reports indicated that Varnadore, 52, had jumped from the boat and never resurfaced. Police were called at around 9 p.m. and his body was recovered the following morning. Officials are continuing to investigate the circumstances of Varnadore’s death and have not ruled out foul play. (WBTV Web Staff) 

A 70-year-old Rock Hill man was found stabbed to death in his home Thursday morning. Police say a maintenance worker discovered the deceased man when he entered the Hutchinson Avenue home on Thursday morning. The victim’s identity has not been released, and police are continuing to investigate the crime as a homicide. (WSOC Staff)