Top Stories for March 11, 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 Tuesday, March 10. The agenda is available online and the meeting can be viewed on MeckTV. The Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 17 at 6 p.m. 

1. I-77 Environmental Impact: The Board of County Commissioner’s Environmental Stewardship Committee received a presentation on the environmental considerations of a proposed expansion of express lanes on Interstate 77 in south Charlotte. The presentation highlighted potential impacts on four greenway corridors, 11 parks, and a public golf course. The presentation also outlined potential impacts on four streams, the effect of construction activity on water quality and floodplains, and potential health risks from air pollution to residents near major roads. View the meeting here or access the agenda and presentation. 

2. Alliance Health and Behavioral Health: At its budget and public policy meeting, the Board received a presentation on the role of Alliance Health in managing behavioral health services in Mecklenburg County. Through Federal, State and County funding, Alliance Health manages care for residents with severe mental health or addiction issues, intellectual or developmental disabilities, or traumatic brain injuries. That includes residents who receive Medicaid or are uninsured. The goal of the presentation is to strengthen the Board’s understanding of North Carolina’s public behavioral health system and inform decisions in addressing behavioral health gaps. 

3. Access to Care: The Board received a presentation on Mecklenburg County's approach to expanding access to health care. Key topics included how Medicaid and other funding sources support care delivery and the current gap among uninsured residents. The discussion also highlighted other health care partners and invited reflection on the definition of "access" in building a more effective system of care. Since Fiscal Year 2018, Mecklenburg County has invested more than $2 billion on services that touch access to care, including public health and Medic funding, Medicaid and SNAP eligibility services, in-home aide and adult day care, behavioral health and substance use services, Mecklenburg Transportation System, and ARPA-funded projects. 

4. Creek Week: If you straightened out Mecklenburg County’s 3,000 miles of creeks, you would have a long, watery line that stretches from Charlotte to Seattle. From March 21-28, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services invites the community to Creek Week and the Big Spring Clean, a celebration of these crucial surface waters through volunteering, education, and environmental stewardship. The week will include the Stormwater Run-off 5K, educational and volunteer opportunities, and the Big Spring Clean. Last year, hundreds of volunteers removed 20,000 pounds of trash from Mecklenburg County parks, greenways, and creeks. 

5. Improving Freedom Park: There’s a lot happening in Freedom Park this spring. Dredging has begun on the pond, which will remove sediment, trash, and debris, and help manage the blue-green algae and improve water quality. The dredging project should be finished this summer. Park and Recreation will also remove two oak trees on the island near the bandshell. The trees are getting older and showing structural issues that can be hazardous to the public. Two replacement trees will be planted for future generations to enjoy. Freedom Park will remain open during these projects, but some parking lots and trails may be closed temporarily to accommodate the work. To learn more about the dredging project, visit PublicInput.com/PondDredging. 

6. Where There’s Smoke…: It’s that time of year when smoke in the air might be coming from a prescribed burn. Small, controlled burns by Park and Recreation play a crucial role in managing invasive plants and reducing potential fire hazards by clearing brush and dead plants. Planning for prescribed burns can begin as much as a year in advance. Many agencies across the region conduct prescribed burns, so smoke seen in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area could be coming from a burn outside the county. If it looks or smells smoky, residents are encouraged to: 

Learn more about prescribed burns from Park and Recreation’s Natural Resources division.