Top Stories for Oct. 16, 2024

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, Oct. 15. The agenda is available online and the meeting can be viewed on MeckTV. The Board’s next budget and public policy meeting is scheduled for Oct. 22 at 2:30 p.m. 

1. I-77 South: The Board of County Commissioners voted to reject a resolution that would authorize its representative on the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO), Commissioner Leigh Altman, to support a plan to expand Interstate 77 in south Charlotte. Last month, the N.C. Department of Transportation told the Board that an option where a private developer would build and manage toll lanes is most financially feasible over a traditional State-funded toll road. 

2. Introducing the Catherine M. Wilson Center: The Board approved the renaming of the Wallace H. Kuralt Center in honor of the late Catherine M. Wilson. Wilson, who died in 2007, was a long-time social worker and became Mecklenburg County’s first African American program administrator when named as director of Youth and Family Services in 1978. She also led efforts to preserve Little Rock AME Zion Church during the city’s period of “urban renewal” of the Brooklyn neighborhood. The building is located at 301 Billingsley Road, has housed offices for social and economic services for several decades, and is scheduled for extensive renovation. 

3. County Expansion of CARES: The Board approved the transfer of the CARES program from the City of Charlotte to Mecklenburg County Public Health, and authorized expansion of the program. CARES is a civilian 911 response team designed to assist law enforcement on calls for help involving the homeless population and others. CARES staff works to connect residents to services that are often outside the scope of law enforcement. The Board’s action approves County responsibility for the work, realignment of the federal resources for the program, and additional staffing to help more people. 

4. Kudos for Park and Recreation: Park and Recreation was recognized before the Board for two recent prestigious milestones. The department has received the Carolina Public Sector Star Award for the fifth time since 2008. The Star Program through the North Carolina Department of Labor recognizes employers and employees that work together to reduce injuries and illnesses in the workplace. N.C. Commissioner of Labor Josh Dobson joined the Board to present the award and recognize the department for its work to maintain safety. Park and Recreation also achieved its five-year national reaccreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation (CAPRA), through the National Recreation and Park Association. The department first received national accreditation status in 2009 and has been successfully reaccredited every five years since. 

5. Your Vote Counts: Early voting for the 2024 General Election begins Thursday, Oct. 17. Voters who plan to vote early in person can do so at any of the 33 early voting sites in Mecklenburg County through Nov. 2. Voters are encouraged to check their voter registration before heading to the polls. During early voting, voters can register and vote the same day. The registration deadline to vote on Election Day, Nov. 5, has passed. And don’t forget—voters need a photo ID to vote in North Carolina elections. Most voters can use their driver's licenses, but there are many types of accepted photo IDs. Voters without an ID can still vote with a provisional ballot. Here are 10 facts about photo ID from the N.C. Board of Elections. Find more resources and information at Vote.MeckNC.gov. 

6. This Is My Brave: Public Health’s ReCAST team will host its mental health show series This Is My Brave this weekend. The program uses performing arts as a tool to help end the stigma around mental illness, substance abuse, and community violence. The performances are from residents who have lived through struggles and want to help others. This Is My Brave will be held Oct. 19 and 20 at CPCC’s New Theater at the Parr Center, 1201 Elizabeth Ave. in Charlotte. There will be a resource fair before each show where attendees can access mental health service information. View this video from behind the scenes as its many participants work to bring This Is My Brave to life.  

7. Get Shredded: It’s a good time of year to clean out those desks and drawers, and that includes shredding your old sensitive documents. Mecklenburg County Solid Waste and Recycling offers free and secure paper shredding events for Mecklenburg County residents. A fall secure paper shredding event will take place this Saturday, Oct. 19, 9 a.m. to noon, at Compost Central and Recycling Center. Residents can bring up to three banker boxes of materials and are asked to sign up in advance.