How I scored a REAL ID in less than 3 hours (free version)
Plus: Tariffs could raise coffee prices; new police station planned for northwest Charlotte; uptown will be packed this weekend; college in Gaffney, S.C., is shutting down
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With DMVs swamped ahead of Wednesday’s REAL ID deadline, I may have hit the bureaucratic jackpot. But if you still need one, you can try to replicate my success.
SWEET VICTORY: I’m sure more 16-year-olds snap selfies in front of the DMV than 50-year-olds, but getting my REAL ID during what must be one of the busiest weeks of the year seemed like a moment worth capturing. Right: This QR code sign was the magic bullet.
by Cristina Bolling
As I hopped in the security line at the Charlotte airport for a 6 a.m. flight last week, the last thing I expected was a moment of bureaucratic clarity.
But there it was, courtesy of a Transportation Security Administration agent with a firm grip on my driver’s license:
“To board a plane after May 7, you’ll need your passport, because you don’t have the REAL ID,” she said.
Gulp.
I’d seen the signs, read the reminders, and put getting the REAL ID on my mental to-do list a long time ago. After all, it’s been years since officials announced that we would need updated driver’s licenses or identification cards to board domestic flights or access certain federal facilities.
But with my driver’s license set to expire this October, I knew I’d have to wait until this month to avoid making two trips to the DMV. (Driver’s license renewals can only happen within 6 months of your license’s expiration date, and because I renewed my license online last time, I would need to appear in person this time.)
I’d made some attempts to book DMV appointments online in the last couple months, but I was never able to find an appointment within an hour’s drive of my house. (On Thursday, there were no appointments for the next three months.)
I’d heard horror stories of people waiting in line all day for a walk-in appointment in these last few weeks, only to be turned away.
It wasn’t an emergency — I do have an up-to-date passport, which would allow me to get on a plane or into a federal building. But wouldn’t it be nice not to have to dig it out every time I head to the airport?
So, with a strong sense of foreboding, I decided this was the week to get it done.
And, spoiler alert, it was a success. Here’s a time-stamped description of how I did it:
Coffee bean prices were already at record highs — now, coffee shop owners say tariffs could push prices higher
Charlotte’s coffee roasters and coffee shops could soon feel the heat from international trade policies, as local roasters like HEX Coffee worry that tariffs on imported coffee may force them to raise prices.
Construction starts next month on a new CMPD station in northwest Charlotte
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police plan to break ground next month on a new northwest division police station. The facility, located at 1800 Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road, will be 16,000 s.f. and one-story, and will have a fleet of electric vehicles. Site work begins this week and a groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for June 17. CMPD Major Michael Anderson shared renderings with the community at a town hall meeting Tuesday night hosted by District 2 Councilmember Malcolm Graham, who represents the area.
Uptown is gearing up for a jam-packed weekend with Lovin’ Life, Kendrick Lamar and the Charlotte Knights
Unless you’re going to the Lovin’ Life Music Fest, Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s concert at Bank of America Stadium, or a Charlotte Knights game, you might want to steer clear of uptown this weekend. City officials are predicting record-breaking foot traffic over the next few days.
More than 20,000 attendees are expected each day for the Lovin’ Life Music Fest alone, Axios Charlotte reported, which begins today at 2:30 p.m. and ends Sunday evening around 11 p.m. Headliners include Gwen Stefani, Weezer, Dave Matthews Band, Benson Boone, Pitbull and Teddy Swims.
Lamar and SZA’s concert, called the Grand National Tour, will attract an additional 50,000+ attendees on Saturday night. The show starts at 7 p.m. and will end around 11 p.m.
The city has shut down roads in the First Ward area that will remain closed through the weekend and will close off roads around Bank of America Stadium. You can find a full list of which roads are closed here. According to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police website, most roads will reopen on Tuesday, May 6.
If you’re looking for a way into uptown this weekend, public transportation might be your easiest and cheapest option. Extra light rail vehicles will run, and Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is offering express buses from University City Boulevard, JW Clay and I-485 park and rides after the concerts. —Lindsey Banks
You might be interested in these Charlotte events
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
MONDAY: Speak Easy with Brian Lafontaine, 6 p.m., VisArt Video, 3104 Eastway Dr., Charlotte. Speak Easy is a networking group designed specifically for speakers and those interested in speaking. Whether you are practicing storytelling, preparing for a keynote or actively working on your presentation skills, this is an event to get practice in front of an intimate audience. You may also join us as a spectator if you have aspirations of taking the stage one day. $35.
MAY 8: The Charlotte Ledger’s 40 Over 40 Awards presented by U.S. Bank, 6-9 p.m. at Heist Brewery and Barrel Arts, 1030 Woodward Ave., Charlotte. In its 6th year, the 40 Over 40 Awards presented by U.S. Bank has become a beacon of recognition for those over the age of 40 who continue to shape the future of Charlotte. Join us for a fun night out of networking, dinner, drinks, live music from Uptown Dueling Pianos, award ceremony, and more. $95.
MAY 14: Charlotte Economics Club meeting about Trade, Tariffs and the U.S. Economy, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Charlotte City Club, 121 W. Trade St., 31st Floor. Michael S. Hanson, executive director and senior economist at J.P. Morgan, will be the featured speaker. $60 for members, $75 for nonmembers.
➡️ List your event on the Ledger events board.
In brief
Ex-Panthers star sued: Former Carolina Panthers wide receiver and NFL analyst Steve Smith Sr. is facing a lawsuit for allegedly having a monthslong affair with a married Baltimore Ravens marching band member. (Observer)
GOP takes over elections board: Republican State Auditor Dave Boliek appointed a Republican majority to North Carolina’s elections board Thursday, after an appeals court upheld a new GOP-backed law stripping Democratic Gov. Josh Stein of his authority to make the appointments. (AP News)
Children’s museum site: Under a proposal presented by Matthews town officials, the new Discovery Place Kids Museum would be built inside the new Matthews Elementary School building, while the old school site would be turned into a park. (Observer)
Massive markdown: A historic Plaza Midwood mansion sold for $3.75M, $2M under its original asking price. (Biz Journal - subscriber only)
Defamation case tossed: A judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police spokesperson who sued the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police and its president after the organization criticized her on social media last fall. (Observer)
College shuts down: Limestone University, a private college in Gaffney, S.C., is closing its doors at the end of the semester due to a lack of funding. (WBTV)
Cheapest food delivery? Charlotte Five ordered the same five meals from DoorDash, Grubhub and Uber Eats and found that Uber Eats usually had the lowest price. (Charlotte Five)
Free Mother’s Day at the Mint: Everyone gets free admission to the Mint Museum uptown from 12-5 p.m. on May 11 as part of a Mother’s Day community celebration that includes the Annie Leibovitz exhibit and free photography portraits. (Mint Museum)
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