❄️ Ice storm preparation tips
Plus: Full storm coverage on Ledger blog; 2 measles cases confirmed in Mecklenburg; Eastover's views on Manor Theatre redevelopment; Former council members join lobbying firm
Today is Friday, January 23, 2026. You’re reading The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C. This post is sent to paying subscribers only.
Good morning. It’s Tony. A new forecast from the National Weather Service this morning says freezing rain in Charlotte is more certain, with precipitation starting on Saturday afternoon. The amounts are expected to be enough to cause “significant ice accumulation on power lines and tree limbs, causing widespread and long-lasting power outages,” the National Weather Service says. The Charlotte Ledger is sharing up-to-date news and tips on our Charlotte Weather Watch live blog. In this morning’s newsletter, we’re sharing some helpful prep tips you might think about today before the nasty weather starts tomorrow, courtesy of my former Observer colleague Steve Lyttle, who writes the “Weather With Steve” Facebook page.
Today’s Charlotte Ledger is sponsored by Crimson Park Digital. Digital visibility shouldn’t feel complicated. Crimson Park Digital helps Charlotte’s bold, service-driven brands get seen, capture demand, and turn attention into measurable growth, every day. Ready to cut through the noise and make an impact?
Getting ready: Preparing your home — and yourself — for a winter power outage
by Steve Lyttle
With a major storm on the way, now is the time to get ready — not after the lights go out. A little planning today can make a big difference if you end up stuck at home without power.
Ahead of the storm
◼️ Prepare to be stuck at home for a few days.
Make sure you have enough food for a few days, and that it doesn’t depend on refrigeration. Stock up on canned meats and peanut butter. It’s a good idea to have bottled water, too.
Make sure you have a supply of medications to get you through a few days.
Don’t forget baby items, too.
Make sure you have the batteries needed to operate flashlights and other devices.
Charge your cellphones and other electric devices. If you have power banks, make sure they’re fully charged.
◼️ Get the pipes ready.
If possible, insulate any pipes under or outside your home. That includes the pipes on your tankless water heater, if it is outside your home. This insulation is available at home improvement or hardware stores.
Disconnect water hoses from your spigots. Then apply insulating “gloves” around your outdoor water spigots.
If the power goes out …
◼️ Try to stay warm:
Use alternative heating sources, such as a wood-burning fireplace or gas fire logs.
Wrap yourself with extra blankets, sleeping bags or winter coats.
Close the blinds when it’s dark to keep cold air from getting in. But during the day, open those blinds if it’s sunny. You’d be surprised by what a difference solar heat can make, even when the air temperature is in the 20s or 30s.
If you have the fireplace/gas fire logs going, close any unused rooms in your house. You only want to preserve heat in the rooms you’ll be using.
Don’t burn paper in the fireplace.
◼️ Preserve your refrigerated/frozen food.
Try not to open the refrigerator or freezer unless necessary. Food will stay good in a freezer for 48 hours and in a refrigerator for about four hours.
Since temperatures will be at or below refrigerator levels for several days, have a cooler ready. You can put your refrigerated foods in the cooler and put it outdoors (unless critters are a problem).
◼️ If you are using a generator …
Don’t operate generators in an area that is not ventilated — like inside the home, garage or screened-in porch. They should be operated at least 20 feet from a window or door.
Don’t store gasoline or other fuels indoors.
Use heavy-duty outdoor-rated extension cords to attach to the generator.
◼️ Other tips:
For lighting, use flashlights or battery-operated lanterns.
Keep a trickle of water going in your pipes. That will help prevent the lines from freezing — although if you have an extended power outage and frigid temperatures, be prepared for possible freezing in the lines.
If a water line bursts in the house, go to your main shutoff valve and turn off the water.
◼️ And …
Don’t use charcoal or propane grills indoors as a heating source. That will create potentially deadly carbon monoxide.
Don’t use candles indoors for lighting.
Don’t run your cars in the garage. You might need to start your car to warm it up. If so, make sure you pull it out of the garage. Running a car in the garage can send carbon monoxide fumes into your home.
Steve Lyttle is a longtime Charlotte-area weather writer with a passion for meteorology and delivering smart, insightful updates that aim to inform and educate. Follow his “Weather With Steve” Facebook page for daily updates on Charlotte weather.
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Get the latest Charlotte storm info from our live blog
Here’s the latest from The Ledger’s Charlotte Weather Watch live blog, which provides up-to-date news, tips and insights about the approaching storm:
Measles in Mecklenburg: Two cases confirmed Thursday
Health officials on Thursday confirmed two cases of measles in Mecklenburg County — one in an adult and one in an unvaccinated child — both tied to exposure outside the county.
The cases come as measles continues to surface in North Carolina and across the country, a rise health experts link to slipping vaccination rates.
The Mecklenburg County child was in contact with a child from Spartanburg, S.C., where more than 600 have been infected in a fast-spreading outbreak that started in December, according to a Mecklenburg County news release. That child is isolating at home, and health officials are still investigating to determine possible contacts, the release said.
The adult was exposed “via travel,” the release said, and is also isolating at home. The department’s contact investigation process into that case is complete. To protect privacy, the health department said it would share no other information about the cases.
Nationally, there were 2,144 confirmed cases of measles in 2025, the highest number of cases in decades. In North Carolina, 11 other cases have been confirmed since mid-December, including two in Cabarrus County. —Michelle Crouch
Related Ledger article:
➡️ Four things you need to know about the measles, including symptoms to watch for and whether you might need a booster.
Whispers: Eastover’s initial reaction to Manor Theatre site plans + What’s next for Brookhill Village
In an edition published Wednesday as its own standalone newsletter, paying Ledger members who have opted in to receive Real Estate Whispers in their inboxes enjoyed learning about the following topics:
What Eastover’s neighborhood president has to say about the planned Manor Theatre redevelopment
What’s coming to the high-profile Brookhill Village site on South Tryon Street
CBRE Charlotte leaders share their expectations for local office activity in 2026
Apartments and retail planned for a busy corridor in South End
A permit that suggests another venue is coming to the IPH-anchored building near NoDa
A wrap-up of land deals and real estate news from other sources
Charlotte Commercial Real Estate Whispers is our regular check-in on Charlotte growth and development, available exclusively to Ledger paying members. It provides an inside look at what developers and other real estate pros are buzzing about — including plenty of scoops you won’t find elsewhere.
➡️ Receive Whispers as a newsletter by opting in online
As flights prepare to start from CLT to Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways says passengers can earn American frequent flier miles
When Etihad Airways starts flying between Charlotte and Abu Dhabi on Friday, March 20, it will have an agreement with American Airlines that allows passengers to accumulate American Advantage frequent flier miles.
That’s a big benefit in Charlotte, where American carries 90% of the passengers. The interline agreement between American and Etihad also means that Abu Dhabi passengers can have their bags transferred between the carriers. (American passengers can earn Advantage miles but not loyalty points toward status.)
Additionally, Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi has preclearance, so passengers arriving in Charlotte will not be required to go through Customs and Border Protection.
The new flight “gives people an opportunity to see the world,” said Alpna Mathews, Etihad’s regional general manager for the Americas, in an interview.
In Abu Dhabi, which is Etihad’s hub, passengers can connect to India, Thailand, Vietnam and other destinations in Asia. So far, India has been the most popular destination from Charlotte (Etihad has 11 destinations in India), but Abu Dhabi is also an emerging tourist destination. The Louvre opened a branch there in 2017, and Disneyland Abu Dhabi is slated to open in the early 2030s. Also, high-speed rail to Dubai, 30 minutes away, will start this year.
The Charlotte departure is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. four days a week — Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The eastbound flight takes 13 hours, arriving at 10:40 a.m., while the westbound return takes 15 hours. Etihad will operate a Boeing 787-9 with 303 seats, including 28 business class/lie-flat seats. Fares vary widely, with a mid-April round trip currently priced at about $1,000 in coach and about $3,500 in business class.
Etihad had originally scheduled the start date for May but moved it to March due to high demand, Mathews said. The carrier has seven North American destinations including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York, Toronto and Washington. All but Charlotte have daily service. Atlanta service began in July 2025 and has already grown to daily, even though in Atlanta, Etihad does not have an interline agreement with hub carrier Delta.
Mathews’ name may be familiar to some Charlotte residents. In 1998, she was a sales account manager for US Airways in New York. Based in New York, she visited Charlotte this week for meetings with media as well as airport officials and potential corporate customers — part of a larger push by Etihad executives this week to introduce themselves to Charlotte. —Ted Reed
Former council members to start Charlotte office of The Southern Group, a Florida-based lobbying firm
Former Charlotte City Council members Tariq Bokhari and Larken Egleston, who became friends despite being on different sides of the political aisle, are starting the Charlotte office of a leading government relations and business strategy firm.
In a press release on Wednesday, the two said they are joining The Southern Group, a Florida-based lobbying firm that focuses on state and local issues.
The two said that building a government relations firm is important for Charlotte because, although the state’s largest city is an economic powerhouse, the city’s business interests are not always fully represented in Raleigh.
“Charlotte punches below its weight in Raleigh,” Egleston said. “That is not because the city lacks importance. It is because many companies lack a coordinated, senior-level strategy for government engagement.”
➡️ Keep reading: The Ledger reported on the move on Wednesday morning. You can read the full article here.
You might be interested in these Charlotte events
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board — with the approaching storm, please double check any activities in the next few days:
TOMORROW THROUGH FEBRUARY 8: “Over the River and Through the Woods,” 8-10 p.m., at Theatre Charlotte, 501 Queens Road. Tengo famiglia! In this boisterously funny and warm-hearted comedy, two sets of grandparents cook up Sunday family dinners complete with loving manipulation and schemes to stop their beloved grandson from moving away. Performances take place Thursday through Sunday. $34/ticket.
FEBRUARY 5: ““Do the Right Thing” - Movie and Talkback,” 7-9:30 p.m., at Independent Picture House, 4237 Raleigh St. On the hottest day of the year, on a street in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant, buried tensions of hate and bigotry simmer until they erupt into violence. Join The Independent Picture House for a post-film discussion with panelists Jess Thompson, Rahquelah Conyers, Davita Galloway and Carla Aaron-Lopez, moderated by Shawn Allison (Black Ferris Bueller). $9.75/ticket.
FEBRUARY 7: “Love Notes Valentine’s Concert,” 7:30-9:30 p.m., at Booth Playhouse, 130 N. Tryon St. Join Tosco Music for a special evening to celebrate love, joy and community through music. Artists will perform a selection of love-themed songs of various genres. The event will also feature a silent auction to benefit Tosco Music’s nonprofit programs! Come paired or single, all are welcome! Tickets start at $40.
FEBRUARY 7: “Royal Weekend FanFest,” 2-4 pm., at the Levine Center for Wellness and Recreation, 2201 Wellesley Ave. Join Queens University of Charlotte on the lawn outside the Levine Center for Wellness and Recreation! We warmly welcome members of the community to visit with friends, meet Rex the lion and attend the Queens homecoming basketball games. Kids can enjoy face painting and inflatable obstacles in the Kids Zone—fun for all ages! Free FanFest. $14/ticket for men’s and women’s basketball game combo.
➡️ List your event on the Ledger events board.
In brief
Stein puts pressure on data centers: Gov. Josh Stein joined federal officials and other East Coast governors in urging grid operator PJM to require data centers to pay their fair share for electricity, warning that the artificial intelligence-driven surge in power demand could otherwise raise costs for residential customers. (WFAE)
Charlotte chess grandmaster’s death ruled accidental overdose: The North Carolina Medical Examiner says Daniel Naroditsky, 29, died Oct. 19 from cardiac arrhythmia caused by an accidental drug overdose, with methamphetamine and kratom found in his system. Naroditsky was a top-ranked U.S. player and a popular coach at the Charlotte Chess Center. (WBTV)
Homeless person found dead: For a second year in a row, a homeless person was found dead during Mecklenburg County’s annual Point-in-Time Count, after volunteers discovered a body early Thursday near Woodlawn Road and Interstate 77. (Observer)
Avett family backs revival of historic Cabarrus theater: A long-vacant Mount Pleasant movie house will be transformed into The Avett Theater, a 634-seat live music and performing arts venue supported by the Avett family. The $3.75M project aims to bring touring acts and new economic activity to the small town, with construction expected to begin this summer. (Axios Charlotte)