Top Stories for Jan. 14, 2026
Mecklenburg County provides this weekly rundown of top stories from the Board of County Commissioners meetings and the Public Information Department’s newsroom. The Board met on Jan. 13. The Meeting agenda is available online and the meeting can be viewed on MeckTV.
1. Share Your View. Shape Our Future: The Board of County Commissioners has kicked off the process of crafting the FY2026-2027 Mecklenburg County budget. The Board met jointly on Jan. 8 with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education where they discussed collaboration and quality of life indicators; CMS data on growth, performance, graduation, and student achievement for school year 2024-2025; and the County and CMS budget landscapes.
The Board will host its first public hearing on the budget at its regular meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. Residents can sign up to speak or submit comments via mail or email. Following the public hearing, the Board will hold its annual budget retreat Jan. 27, 28 and 30. Sign up to speak at the hearing or learn more about the budget process at Budget.MeckNC.gov.
2. State of the County’s Health: The Board received the annual State of the County Health Report, in a presentation by Public Health director Dr. Raynard Washington. It included updates on selected health indicators, new or emerging community health trends, and health priorities. Those priorities include access to care, chronic disease prevention, mental health, violence prevention, and maternal and infant health. The Board also heard the communicable disease report, including an update on HIV and sexually transmitted diseases.
3. Same Day Measles Vaccinations: Public Health has detected measles during routine surveillance of wastewater. While no measles cases are identified in Mecklenburg County, Public Health is monitoring amid several cases reported in North Carolina and an outbreak in South Carolina. Public Health says now is time to ensure children are up to date on their vaccines, and is offering walk-in-services for the MMR vaccine at all immunization clinics. Learn more at Health.MeckNC.gov.
4. Everyone Counts Charlotte: In the early morning hours of Thursday, Jan. 22, volunteers and staff will span out across Charlotte-Mecklenburg streets, shelters, and encampments to identify people who are living without homes. The Point in Time Count takes place on a single night in January each year and provides a snapshot of homelessness. During last year’s Point in Time Count, 2,101 people were identified experiencing homelessness. Among them were 152 families with minor children, 76 unaccompanied youth (ages 18–24), and 444 people sleeping outside.
5. Celebrate Small Businesses in a Big Way: It’s the last chance for residents to nominate their favorite small business for a Crowns of Enterprise Award in one of six categories. Nominations close Friday, Jan. 23. Hosted annually by Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte, the awards recognize the hard work of our small businesses and entrepreneurs, and the economic benefits they provide the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. Nomination also helps winners and nominees network and build relationships with fellow entrepreneurs, business leaders, officials and government agencies – instrumental steps for their growth and success!
6. Help for Those Who Help At-Risk Youth: The Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) is accepting applications for funding of programs that serve at-risk and delinquent youth, or those under the supervision of juvenile court in Mecklenburg County. More than $2 million has been allocated for the next fiscal year. Mecklenburg County supports JCPCs mission of supporting programs and organizations that make meaningful change in the lives of our at-risk youth. The deadline for organizations to apply is Feb. 13 with mandatory information sessions scheduled for Jan. 28.
7. Honoring MLK Jr.: Mecklenburg County offices and services will be closed on Monday, Jan. 19, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Park and Recreation and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library are hosting events to celebrate the life of MLK Jr. and the annual MLK Jr. Day parade will take place on Jan. 17 in uptown Charlotte.