The Charlotte Post

10/22/2025

The Charlotte 49ers (1-6, 0-4 American) are trying to keep their heads above water.

After a blowout 49-14 homecoming loss to Temple last week, they have a short turnaround before facing North Texas (6-1, 2-1 American) on Friday. The Mean Green have one of the most explosive offenses not just in the conference, but the country.

North Texas has yet to score under 30 points in any game this season and 49ers’ coach Tim Albin knows the task is a tall one.

Mean Green one of the top scoring teams in nation

10/22/2025

North Carolina Republicans have an 11th GOP-leaning congressional district.

The Republican-dominated state Senate approved a redistricting plan that reshapes the 1st Congressional District into a GOP stronghold that theoretically would push U.S. Rep. Don Davis, a Black Democrat, out of office. Democratic lawmakers, voting rights advocates and two of Davis’ predecessors criticized the redrawn map.

“Recent actions by Senate Republicans raise serious concerns about the lengths to which some politicians are willing to go to protect their own power,” Sen. Caleb Theodros, a Charlotte Democrat said in a statement. “Instead of focusing on serving the people of North Carolina, Senate Republicans appear to be prioritizing political alliances and personal interests.

Republicans maximize expansion of congressional delegation

10/22/2025

The parents of a Gaston County girl who died during a sleepover in 2024 are pulling out all the stops in pursuit of the truth.

“I will not stop until my daughter’s truth is told,” said Dee Camm Washington, the mother to 6-year-old Ariana Baldwin, one of two girls who died last year in the pool of a Dallas, N.C., family.

Washington and Ariana’s father, Travis Baldwin, announced plans to file a $500 million federal lawsuit against Gaston County officials claiming a violation of their civil rights. Washington and Baldwin feel they were deliberately misled about facts surrounding Ariana’s death, in addition to being denied access to autopsy results and medical reports.

The deaths were ruled “accidental” by investigators.

Family of Gaston County girl pledges legal action over handling of autopsy

10/22/2025

Concessions are a staple of high school football.

It doesn’t matter if you eat before games or plan to afterward, the smell of burgers meandering through the stands can easily overcome a fan, even of the strongest will.

As a reporter who covers high school football, mostly in Charlotte, but other counties, Cameron Williams has the opportunity to sample a lot of different schools’ concession offerings, and a few media spreads as well.

There are a few that stand out.

High school football’s hungry work. We sample the best eating

10/22/2025

coach Maurice Flowers’ opening remarks at his mid-week press conference as the Golden Bulls (6-1) welcome rival Winston Salem State (4-4) to THE CUT on Saturday.

10/19/2025

Johnson C. Smith is still relevant in the CIAA football title fight.

The Golden Bulls earned another week to compete atop the conference standings after Saturday’s 52-0 win at Shaw at Durham County Stadium to clinch a third straight winning season, the program’s longest stretch since 1966-73. Immediately important is Smith (6-1, 3-1) remains a game behind Virginia Union and Fayetteville State for the conference’s best record and a berth in the title game.

“Our young men, we make sure that they’re aware of everything that’s going on in the conference on Monday meeting,” coach Maurice Flowers said. “We’ll show the standings, and our young men know if you get two losses, you’ve got to look for some chaos to happen, and now your destiny is in someone else’s hands. Heck, if you get one loss … really one loss is like two, because now you lose the head-to-head [result], so … we look at the tiebreakers for the conference.” https://www.thecharlottepost.com/news/2025/10/19/hbcu/go-get-it-mentality-keeps-jc-smith-in-the-ciaa-title-fight/

10/17/2025

Say it ain't so! The Sports Charlotte podcast dives into the Carolina Panthers' modest two-game win streak, their chances of beating the New York Jets Sunday and running back Rico Dowdle's outstanding productivity. Question: Is it enough to make you believe the Panthers are finally headed in the right direction?

10/16/2025

The War and Treaty are spreading love.

The country duo of Michael and Tanya Trotter are coming to the Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36th St., on Oct. 19. Since 2014, their career has been rising from performing on “American Idol” to a pair of Grammy nominations.

“This is, I think, our third time coming to the Neighborhood Theatre. And the last time we were there, it was just a party. I mean, it was a love fest,” Tanya said. “It was great, and we expect that to be the same thing, bringing that energy, bringing the love, everyone just loving on each other.”

The couple met at the Love Fest music festival in 2010. A friend pointed out how their voices work together, which led to Michael writing the song “I Am Love,” which they performed together at a church.

“I couldn't believe the response that the song got because it was not the typical song you would do for the church,” Tanya said. “You know, we didn't say ‘Jesus.’ I even said the word ‘sexy' in the song, in church. And the crowd loved it. So, we explored from there.”

Country duo performs in Charlotte Oct. 19

10/16/2025

Hip-Hop creates social change.

“To the Beat Y’all: A Hip-Hop Symposium” with keynote speaker Manny Faces is Oct. 17–19 at UNC Charlotte’s campuses in University City and Uptown. Robinson Hall and The Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City. The symposium is intended for audiences 18 years of age and older.

Faces uses hip hop has as a means for social change through teaching and advocacy. Although he started off making music, he turned his love for the art into a cultural movement through journalism and media projects.

Author, activist Manny Faces to give keynote

10/16/2025

The Charlotte 49ers have relieved Athletics Director Mike Hill of his duties effective immediately.

According to a statement from the school the decision was made after “... careful deliberation and in recognition that the rapidly evolving business, regulatory and competitive landscape of higher education athletics demands a new approach and renewed strategic foundation.”

“Over the past seven years, Mike has led our athletics department with deep commitment,” Chancellor Sharon Gaber said. “He played a pivotal role in many important advances for our athletics department, including the move to the American Conference. His hiring of Head Football Coach Tim Albin has also set us on a path toward success. We deeply appreciate Mike’s service, dedication and contributions, and we wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”

While the school is in the process of finding the next athletic director, vice chancellor for institutional integrity and general counsel Jesh Humphrey will oversee the department until the next hire is made.

General counsel Jesh Humphrey named interim director

10/15/2025

North Carolina is joining the gerrymandering race, which has long-term implications for Black voters.

Republican lawmakers announced Monday they will return to Raleigh next week to redraw the legislative map to give the GOP a better chance to add an 11th Republican representative in Washington. The most likely target is the Republican-leaning 1st Congressional District now represented by Don Davis, a Black Democrat.

According to Data USA, 47.4% of the district’s residents are white and 40.2% Black.

President Donald Trump demanded earlier this year that Texas, which has the nation’s largest Republican-majority congressional delegation, redraw its maps to carve out five more GOP-leaning districts to ward off potential Democratic gains in next year’s midterm elections.

Other Republican-leaning states followed suit, as did Democratic strongholds California and Illinois. California voters will decide via referendum next month whether to permit redistricting.

Typically, redrawing district maps are limited to immediately after the national census, which occurs every 10 years. The most recent census was in 2020.

Gerrymandering has long been a sticky subject in North Carolina politics, primarily because of the state’s racial history. Numerous lawsuits have been filed by Democrats and Republicans since 1992 when Mel Watt of Charlotte and Eva Clayton of Warrenton were the first Black representatives elected since 1901.

Civil and voting rights advocates contend that Republican-draw districts dilute the strength of Black voters while GOP lawmakers contend – and courts have backed – gerrymanders for political purposes.

Creation of 11-3 GOP congressional majority would dilute Black representation

10/15/2025

Developer Shawn Kennedy is cooking up a new way to support the food service industry.

Kennedy hosted an open event for Lucille’s Kitchen at the redeveloped former site of McCarroll’s Catering at 2300 Beatties Ford Road. That business shut down several years ago when its owner retired. Kennedy said his real estate development company, Kennedy Property, bought the site three years ago but was uncertain about what to do with it.

“I ultimately recognized the great potential for economic development along the Beatties Ford Corridor and a need to have positive impact on that area,” he said. “And having some considerable background on hospitality and food service industries, the light went off in my head, and I knew instantly what I was called to do in this area and for its surrounding communities.

“I personally took on the financing side and then along came The Park Community Development Corporation as a major and significant partner on community outreach. “And with them on board, we’re off.”

Developer launches Lucille’s Kitchen in Beatties Ford corridor