Charlotte

Villani’s Bakery in Charlotte, North Carolina, closed temporarily on Tuesday due to an air conditioning system overwhelmed by heat from the kitchen during a heat wave. The bakery reopened on Wednesday after resolving the issue, with staff thanking customers and emphasizing employee safety as the priority.

A person was seriously injured and trapped inside a mobile home in Huntersville, N.C., after a large tree fell on it during storms. Firefighters rescued the individual after 45 minutes, and the person was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. The same storms caused three house fires in Charlotte due to lightning strikes.

Nearly 3,000 households in southeast Charlotte lost power Tuesday night after strong storms caused outages in the Oakhurst and Cotswold areas. Duke Energy reported the outages around 7:30 p.m., attributing them to objects coming into contact with power lines.

Governor Josh Stein signed a $34 billion budget that includes teacher pay raises and Medicaid funding. He is unhappy with a dispute over Charlotte's transportation funding, which may require the city to repay funds allocated for a canceled I-77 South widening project.

A person was seriously injured after a tree fell on a house in Huntersville, North Carolina, around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7. The incident occurred following strong storms that caused three house fires in Charlotte due to lightning strikes overnight into early Tuesday. The injured individual was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, and the cause of the tree fall remains unclear.

An overnight storm caused major damage to Roof Above's Day Services Center in Charlotte, leading to the closure of 'The Hub' and the relocation of modified services to 'The Depot' while repairs are assessed. Some services, including showers and laundry, are temporarily disrupted.

A portion of Roof Above’s primary shelter in north Charlotte is closed after severe storms caused roof damage, disrupting showers, laundry, and cooling services during extreme summer heat. The nonprofit can no longer provide cooling shelter services for vulnerable residents as repairs are underway, though no injuries were reported.

Charlotte is expected to experience a surge in heat with temperatures rising to the mid to upper 90s as storms subside. Storms will remain north of Charlotte tonight and decrease in frequency, with a potential cooldown by the weekend. Weather updates are available through WSOC-TV's Weather 24/7 stream and app.

Villani’s Bakery in Charlotte, N.C., closed on July 7 due to a heat wave that overwhelmed its air conditioning system, leading to unsafe working conditions. The bakery prioritized staff safety over operations and did not specify a reopening date.

For the Struggle, Inc., a Charlotte-based nonprofit, received a $4,000 grant from the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation to provide nutritious meals to seniors facing food insecurity. The grant supports the nonprofit's Senior Feeding Program, which serves over 200 older adults twice weekly, addressing barriers like fixed incomes and food deserts.

Lightning caused multiple house fires in Charlotte, with flames seen bursting through a roof in bodycam video. Firefighters controlled one fire on Tremaine Court within 40 minutes, and no injuries were reported. Officials confirmed three lightning-related fires occurred within an hour.

A 53-year-old man, Idrisu Issaku, was killed Monday morning when he became trapped between a backing tractor-trailer and a loading dock at a shopping center in southeast Charlotte. He was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, where he died.

The Charlotte Fire Department responded to three fires within 30 minutes overnight.

A heat wave continues in Charlotte with heat index values expected to exceed 100 degrees, making it feel hotter during peak heating. Isolated storms are possible on Tuesday afternoon.

Charlotte’s NoDa neighborhood is set to receive a new mixed-use development, Pass 42, as Atlanta-based developer Third & Urban plans to convert a former warehouse on Raleigh Street into a 120,000-square-foot space with office, retail, restaurant, and recreational amenities. The project, awaiting city approval, is the third phase of The Pass development, which includes prior phases like Pass 41 and Sorella Apartments.

Residents of the Oliver Apartments in northeast Charlotte report a lack of functioning management for over a month, leaving them unable to pay rent or request repairs. Court documents cite financial issues between Oliver LLC and its lender, with the previous management company, Arqline, having left due to non-payment. A new management company has been selected but has not yet communicated with residents.

A busy store was intentionally set on fire in Gaston County, a paramedic was killed and another injured in an ambulance accident near the Gaston-Cleveland County line, 28 people were arrested during the America 250 celebration in Uptown Charlotte, and high heat and storm chances continued in the area.

Charlotte experienced rising temperatures into the mid-90s on Monday, with afternoon storms possible. The weather included a mix of sunshine and developing clouds.

One year after a deadly nightclub shooting in Uptown Charlotte, families of victims remain without an arrest. Nekisha Cosey, mother of 27-year-old Gabriel Lee, describes him as the light of her life.

Mission Properties, a Charlotte-based developer, purchased a 19.1-acre site in Huntersville for $7.4 million. The company plans to develop a 'commercial village' with up to 247 apartments and 40,000 square feet of retail space.

Hendrick Automotive Group acquired eight luxury car franchises, including Ferrari, Bentley, and Maserati, from Foreign Car Italia in Charlotte and Greensboro. The sale, confirmed July 1, adds these brands to Hendrick's portfolio in North Carolina.

A Charlotte woman was placed under a $1 million bond after an 8-year-old passenger died in a vehicle crash. The driver, Mayra Castaneda, was found impaired, driving 80 mph in a 50 mph zone without a license when the car hit a tree. She faces charges including felony death by vehicle and reckless driving.

Leah Hixon was shot in the face by a stray bullet during the 2025 Fourth of July in Charlotte, sustaining severe injuries and ongoing emotional trauma. She and her partner, Natalie Mayo, now urge people to avoid reckless gun use, emphasizing that 'guns are not fireworks.' No arrests have been made in the case.

A section of Queens Road West in south Charlotte was closed Friday afternoon due to a water main break near Myers Park. Charlotte Water crews were repairing the pipe, causing a water outage expected to last six to eight hours. The cause of the break remains unclear.

Charlotte Mayor Rob Harrington addresses key issues including American Airlines' lease, data centers, and Interstate 77's future, emphasizing stakeholder collaboration. He will discuss his approach on a TV segment, The Political Beat.

Charlotte was a key city in bringing independence to the 13 colonies as America approaches its 250th birthday.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) warned teens to avoid 'takeovers' during the Fourth of July weekend following recent arrests at an uptown event. The police urged teenagers not to participate in similar gatherings after a 'teen takeover' led to dozens of arrests.

Over 96,000 counterfeit items valued at $7.8 million were seized from a Gaston County home in Stanley. North Carolina lawmakers passed a 2026 budget including an 8% teacher raise, and a deadly crash closed a major stretch of I-277 near Uptown. Record heat is expected in Charlotte for the Independence Day weekend.

A heat advisory was issued as Charlotte reached 100 degrees. Heat index values, when combined with humidity, are expected to exceed 100 degrees, potentially reaching 105 to 109 degrees in some areas.

Triple-digit heat and heat advisories are in effect for the Carolinas this weekend, with temperatures reaching 100 degrees and feeling hotter due to humidity. A Code Orange Air Quality Alert is active in Mecklenburg, Gaston, and Lincoln counties until 8 pm, and extreme heat is expected to persist through Monday before cooling next week.

A deadly crash closed a major stretch of I-277 near Uptown Charlotte early Friday, resulting in one fatality and one person with serious injuries. The incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. near Independence Boulevard and Charlottetowne Avenue, with the inbound lane remaining shut down as of 6:30 a.m. The cause and number of vehicles involved remain unclear.

A pedestrian was killed after being struck by a car near an intersection on Statesville Road in north Charlotte late Thursday. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is investigating the incident, and the victim's identity has not been released. It remains unclear if the driver will face charges.

Charlotte is experiencing a record-setting heat wave during the Independence Day weekend, with temperatures reaching 100 degrees on Friday and 101 degrees on Saturday, breaking historical records. A Heat Advisory and Code Orange air quality alert are in effect, with high humidity pushing feels-like temperatures above 105 degrees. Isolated storms are possible through the weekend, but dangerous heat will persist into early next week before a heat dome breaks down.

The family of Juordan Malik Hill, killed in September 2018 on Pruitt Street in west Charlotte, continues to seek justice as the case remains unsolved. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department released a suspect’s car video in 2019 and offers a reward for information leading to an arrest.

A pedestrian was killed Thursday night at the intersection of Statesville Road and Lake Road in north Charlotte. Police closed both directions of Statesville Road, but details about the vehicle or cause of the crash remain unclear.

Rob Harrington was sworn in as Charlotte’s 60th mayor during a ceremony at the Government Center. He emphasized community service and outlined principles of trust, order, and respect, while addressing the I-77 expansion project and community expectations for transparency and prioritizing residents over corporate interests.

A Heat Advisory will be in effect for Charlotte during the July 4th weekend, with temperatures feeling as hot as 109 degrees.

A Charlotte veteran's nonprofit work has been disrupted after his car was vandalized with racist slurs and a liquid was poured into its gas tank, destroying the engine. Curtis Drafton, who used the vehicle for his nonprofit The U.S. Veterans Hall of Fame, cannot afford repairs costing over $17,000, hindering his ability to assist homeless veterans.

Roof Above is expanding shelter hours and outreach efforts during a heatwave in Charlotte over the Independence Day weekend, partnering with Mecklenburg County and The Salvation Army to provide access to water, food, and air conditioning. Director of street outreach Harper Ellis emphasized the dangers of extreme heat in urban areas and urged public assistance to those in need.

The extreme heat in Charlotte is straining the power grid and emergency responders. Duke Energy has introduced a voluntary Power Manager program to reduce energy demand, while MEDIC is handling a surge in heat-related emergency calls.