Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials contend that their plans to close eight schools, consolidate three others and relocate three more is part and parcel of a desperate scramble to prepare for next year’s looming budget crisis, when the state is already directing local school districts to prepare for budget cuts of 5, 10 or 15 percent, an […]
Despite all the gnashing of teeth and general angst earlier this year – not to mention teacher layoffs, pay-for-play athletic fees, and scuttled neighborhood bus stops – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools saw its total 2010-11 budget increase by about $10 million, up to $1.15 billion, thanks to myriad, last-minute funding boosts from state and federal sources. Not […]
It’s all but self-evident that Mecklenburg County Sheriff Chipp Bailey, a Democrat up for reelection, broke state law, or at least purposefully skirted its intent, when he used a taxpayer-funded county database for campaign purposes. Bailey even admits to nabbing a list of employee names and addresses from his office’s computer, which he used to […]
While of obvious importance to the functioning of our government, the Judicial races in North Carolina have historically seen a tremendous drop-off in terms of votes cast as compared to offices higher up on the ballot. Among the reasons for this would be the “non-partisan” nature of these offices. Many who vote straight party ticket […]
Another chance to hear from local and state candidates, this time at a public forum on Thursday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m., at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 301 Caldwell Lane, in Davidson. Slated to attend: at-large candidates for Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners (minus incumbent chairman, Jennifer Roberts, a Democrat, who has a prior commitment); state […]
Bill James is his own worst enemy. The Republican county commissioner from suburban south Mecklenburg has a history of raising valid questions and concerns about serious policy matters, sometimes even proposing legitimate solutions, but doing so using such inflammatory language and over-the-top rhetoric that it obscures the issue at hand. James was at it again […]
Stone-broke Mecklenburg County is looking to hit up the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services for grants totaling upwards of $385,0000 to support “family planning services to the Latino population.” The funding would include a one-time grant of $10,000 to purchase “expensive long-acting contraceptives.” Mecklenburg commissioners will be asked at their meeting Tuesday night […]
Two popular Montessori magnet schools have gotten a reprieve from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ proposed massive upheaval for continuous improvement: Chantilly and Highland Mill were targeted to be mothballed and consolidated at Oakhurst Elementary, under recommendations rolled out last week. That plan got nixed today at a school board workshop, TCO’s Ann Doss Helms is reporting. Board […]
UPDATE (10/04): After meeting behind closed doors Monday night, City Attorney Mac McCarley emerged to announce that no settlement has been approved in the Jackson case. But that doesn’t mean the city isn’t getting ready to shell out some big bucks. While no official settlement was announced, the uptown paper of record is reporting that […]
After nearly eight hours of deliberations over two days, the jury in the Demeatrius Montgomery trial today returned a unanimous verdict: guilty on two counts of first-degree murder, life in prison, no parole, for the 2007 brutal slayings of Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers Sean Clark and Jeff Shelton. We’ll have updates as they become available.
