News

CMS superintendent reorganizes administration

Submitted by Dedrick Russell on Wednesday, June 19th, 8:59 pm

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- Charlotte-Mecklenburg school (CMS) Superintendent Dr. Heath Morrison has revealed his new plan as he enters year two of his four year contract.

"Every office now has the word service," Morrison said. "That is very deliberate and by design."

Morrison has reorganized his administration to reflect more service and support surrounding schools. He says administrators have said over and over again schools need more attention than they have been getting in the past.

"I want everyone of our offices as it restructures," the superintendent said. "To have that intense customer focus on support and providing assistance to our schools."

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Charlotte Police Chief favors ban on assault weapons

Submitted by Steve Crump

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013, 6:00pm

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- Under his watch, murder in Charlotte plummeted to a 30 year low, but Chief Rodney Monroe says there is still a great risk to the city as it relates to guns and gun violence.

"We recover an awful amount of guns every year," Monroe said.

On average, more than 1,500 a year.

"2008, 24 hundred guns, "he said." 2012 over 18 hundred guns, and many of these guns we recover are your guns."

Chief Monroe points to stolen guns. "We've over the last five years, over 13 hundred guns stolen just stolen out of people's cars."

There is also the questions of firearms on local school campuses?

"We've recovered of 144 guns over the last five years from our schools."

Monroe says curbing violence means tougher back ground checks, and stronger rules at local gun shows.

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Police looking for Mint Hill car thief

Submitted by John Cominsky on Tuesday, June 18th, 5:42 pm

MINT HILL, NC (WBTV)- The Mint Hill Police Department is asking the public for help in identifying a man responsible for a commercial breaking and entering and auto theft.

The incident occurred on Sunday, June 16, at approximately 3:15 a.m. on Idlewild Road in Mint Hill.

The vehicle taken from the scene was described as a 2001 Nissan Maxima 4-door, gold in color, which was later recovered by deputies with the York County Sheriff's Office in South Carolina.

The burglar is described as a white male, with short groomed dark colored hair and hairstyle. He was wearing camouflage style baggy shorts, a dark color zip-up windbreaker with an unknown logo over the upper left chest, and low-top style tennis shoes.

Anyone with information regarding the theft is urged to contact Detective Mickovic with the Mint Hill Police Department at (704)545-1085. All information provided can be done so anonymously.

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Duke Energy board elects new president, CEO

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013, 8:48am

Duke Energy announced that the board of directors has unanimously elected Lynn Good as its next president and chief executive officer, succeeding Jim Rogers.

Rogers will continue to serve as chairman of the board until his retirement on Dec. 31, 2013.

Good will also serve as a director on the Duke Energy board. She will assume her new role on July 1.

Good, 54, has served as Duke Energy's executive vice president and chief financial officer since July 2009. She joined Cinergy, a Duke Energy predecessor company, in 2003 following 20 years working in senior management roles and as a partner for Deloitte & Touche and Arthur Andersen.

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Mecklenburg County Flood Mitigation Program Facing Challenges

Submitted by Steve Crump

Friday, June 14th, 2013, 7:32pm

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- Gripping electronic images stored on Tim Trautman's desk top offer a compelling visual narrative into the hardship that high water brings to some of Charlotte's most flood-prone neighborhoods.

The pictures reveal standing water at many homes.

He works with Mecklenburg County Storm Water Services.

Many vulnerable houses may remain in harm's way, because federal dollars normally used to demolish them are dwindling.

"What we've been able to do is take 25 cents and what we've been able to do is take 75 cents from the federal government to make that a dollar," Trautman said.

Remember the Doral and Caviler apartments?

The mix of federal dollars combined with local storm water fees allowed parts of the complex to be bulldozed.

Eloise McClary lives on Seldon Avenue it is a place with a history of flooding. She said, "If it gets too high. I know that I have to leave."

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Extension of unemployment benefits to expire June 30

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff

Wednesday, June 12th, 2013, 7:48pm

Extension of unemployment benefits to expire June 30

The North Carolina Division of Employment Security is reminding people that the Federal extension of benefits, better known as the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program, will expire at the end of the month.

The unemployment measure was designed to help the State repay $2.5 billion owed to the federal government for paying jobless benefits more quickly by cutting future maximum weekly jobless benefits from $535 to $350. Recipients will only receive benefits for 20 weeks, instead of 26.

Because of this change, thousands of people are expected to turn to human services for help.

"Anyone in human services is concerned.

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Charlotte-Mecklenburg School to start summer schedule

Submitted by Chris Dyches

Wednesday, June 12th, 2013, 1:49pm

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is moving to its summer schedule starting next week.

Beginning Monday, June 17, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will follow its four-day work week schedule through Friday, Aug. 9.

The auxiliary services department reported $439,000 in savings last year due to limited use of utilities on Fridays.

Most district offices and departments will be open 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday during the summer.

There will be some exceptions to ensure support for Project Leadership and Investment for Transformation (L.I.F.T.) schools which will operate on a continuous learning calendar beginning in July.

During the week of July 1-5, CMS offices will operate on an 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. schedule, with July 4 as a holiday. In addition, specific school sites will be operating throughout the summer for various programs.

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