Top Stories for Sept. 24 2025
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 Wednesday, Sept. 24. The agenda is available online and the meeting can be viewed on MeckTV. The Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 6 p.m.
1. Honoring Catherine M. Wilson: Mecklenburg County will host a dedication ceremony this weekend for the newly renamed Catherine M. Wilson Center. The Board of County Commissioners last year renamed the social services building to honor Wilson, Mecklenburg County’s first African American program administrator. Wilson served as director of Youth and Family Services, before retiring in 1987 after 38 years of service. The dedication will be held Saturday, Sept. 27, at 10:30 a.m. at 301 Billingsley Road in Charlotte.
2. Roads, Rail, and Buses: Ahead of the Nov. 4 countywide referendum on raising the sales tax by 1% for transportation projects, Mecklenburg County residents are invited to learn more about transportation issues and the referendum. Commissioner Susan Rodriguez-McDowell, District 6, invites the public to attend one of two scheduled community meetings: “The Whole Story on the Transit Tax.” The meetings will be held Thursday, Sept. 25, at Christ the King Church in southwest Charlotte and Thursday, Oct. 9, at Matthews Town Hall. Each will feature a presentation from the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), a panel of community stakeholders with differing views, and information for residents to consider regarding the referendum.
3. Touch-a-Truck: Kids and kids at heart have a chance to explore and learn more about large vehicles from Mecklenburg Solid Waste and Recycling and other local organizations. It’s the annual Touch-a-Truck event, hosted by Mecklenburg County. Attendees can expect to see tractors, bulldozers and other large vehicles. Entry is free at Compost Central, 140 Valleydale Rd. in Charlotte, Saturday, Sept. 27, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. View photos from last year’s Touch-a-Truck event.
4. Hoop Dreams: Park and Recreation will open registration for its 2025-2026 youth basketball league in October. Teams are available across the county to young players of all skill levels. Registration will be open Oct. 1-31. There are multiple divisions to match players’ ages and skills, and to grow their confidence and abilities. Participants can sign up for a co-ed division or a girls division, with divisions separated by age.
5. Fish Stories: Watch this video and hold your breath. You're swimming with the fishes inside a tank at Quest Nature Center. Or you might be Mecklenburg County’s senior (and only) aquarist. No one else has this job in County government, which entails a lot of work to maintain a healthy population for aquatic animals. Savannah Simpson’s goal is not only to maintain them, but set them each up to thrive, as they all serve as community ambassadors and bring nature and conservation to Park and Recreation guests every day. Take a deeper dive into the life and work of Mecklenburg County’s aquarist at Blog.MeckNC.gov.