Top Stories for March 12, 2025

angled view of the top of CMGC

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 11. The agenda is available online and the meeting can be viewed on MeckTV. The Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for March 18 at 6 p.m.

1. State of the County: County Commission Chair Mark Jerrell will deliver the annual State of the County address on Wednesday, March 19, at 10 a.m. at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center. Chair Jerrell will address the Board’s priorities and the County’s accomplishments and challenges during the past year. The address can also be viewed at Watch.MeckNC.gov or on the Government Channel (Spectrum Channel 16). 

2. Tracking the Measles: As cases of the measles rise across the country, Public Health is encouraging parents to ensure their children are up to date on their vaccines, especially the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. The CDC reports 222 cases of measles in 12 states as of March 7 this year, including one death each in Texas and New Mexico. No cases have been reported in Mecklenburg County this year. Last year, there was a confirmed case in Mecklenburg County that was the first North Carolina case of measles since 2018. The MMR vaccine is widely available at healthcare providers and retail pharmacies across Mecklenburg County, and it is offered for free or low-cost at the Mecklenburg County Public Health Immunization Clinic. 

3. Ending the Epidemic: Mecklenburg County invites the community to participate in its third annual meeting as part of the National Opioid Settlement. Mecklenburg County is expected to receive $73 million over an 18-year period after the historic 2021 agreement that can bring relief to communities harmed by opioids. The annual meeting where residents can participate will be held March 27, 2025, from 9 – 11 a.m. at CPCC’s Harris Conference Center, 3216 CPCC Harris Campus Dr. in Charlotte. 

4. Small Biz? Drop Your Hazardous Waste: Solid Waste and Recycling is offering a hazardous waste collection event for small businesses, which will allow organizations to bring hazardous waste for a reduced fee. Hazardous waste includes fluorescent light bulbs, pesticides, rechargeable batteries, paints, and more. The event is not intended for residential customers. Solid Waste is offering an incentive of $100 off for the first five Mecklenburg County customers to qualify, sign-up, and participate. Learn more about the event and registration. 

5. El Camino Campeon: County Manager Dena R. Diorio was recognized for her long-standing commitment to the Hispanic and Latino community through the County’s partnership with Camino, a bilingual and multicultural nonprofit. Diorio received the El Camino Campeon Leadership Award. Camino’s service campus includes a health center, economic mobility program, thrift store, church, research institute and university. Since 2016, Mecklenburg County has allocated more than $9 million to support Camino’s work in health services.