Lights out for some Friday Night Lights (free version)
Plus: Johnny Harris on City Council's 'performative activism'; Pineville bans door-to-door sales; Alexander Michael's owner responds after Ledger lawsuit story; Legislature approves transit tax bill
Good morning! Today is Friday, June 27, 2025. You’re reading The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C.
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Editor’s note: This is a shorter, free version of The Charlotte Ledger sent to people on our free sign-up list. The complete version for paying members went out 15 minutes ago. It included:
The full article examining why several Charlotte high schools are having to move their home football games to other sites this fall — and what boosters, coaches and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools have to say about it.
A look at why prominent developer and civic leader Johnny Harris is adding his name to the list of well-known Charlotte figures expressing concern about the direction of the Charlotte City Council.
News out of the town of Pineville, which voted this month to ban all door-to-door sales … which would seem to include the sale of Girl Scout cookies.
An update on an article The Ledger reported earlier this week, on a lawsuit against the owner of Alexander Michael’s restaurant in uptown’s Fourth Ward.
There’s a lot going on in Charlotte. The Ledger aims to get you up to speed on the most important and interesting developments in our city. We round up reliable news from other sources — and also deploy some of the city’s best reporters and writers to unearth and tell you about original topics you probably don’t know about.
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Four Charlotte high schools will lose home games this fall amid construction chaos; ‘It could’ve been better planned’
South Meck’s and Myers Park’s football teams (left) are two of four Charlotte-Mecklenburg high schools that are having to shift home games away from their campuses this fall because of construction. Some teams are using the switch as extra motivation, such as South Meck, which has printed T-shirts that say “Anybody Anytime Anywhere” on the back. (Football photo courtesy of Rick Rothacker; T-shirt photo courtesy of Carter Gillis)
By Michelle Crouch
Thanks to renovation projects and construction delays, football and soccer teams at four Charlotte-Mecklenburg high schools are being forced off their home fields for at least some of their games this fall.
The four schools — South Meck, Myers Park, Butler and Providence — are all in southern Mecklenburg County, where field space is already scarce. Coaches told The Ledger they are juggling schedules, making calls and scrambling to lock in nearby fields, trying to keep games close enough that fans will still show up and cheer.
In addition to the logistical headaches, coaches and the schools’ athletic booster clubs are bracing for a financial hit. Ticket and concession sales from the football season make up a large part of most high school athletic budgets.
“Financially, losing a home game is a big deal,” said Butler football coach Brian Hales, who expects to be without a field for the month of September or longer. “I don’t know the exact numbers. But let’s say tickets are $8 and 3,000 are sold, that’s $24,000 you’d lose right there as an athletics department. Factor in concessions, and it’s a financial burden when budgets are already tight.”
Parents say they’re frustrated — not just by the impact on the bottom line, but by what they see as poor planning by the school district that’s stripping families and students of key high school experiences and traditions.
Johnny Harris says the Charlotte City Council is ‘increasingly driven by performative activism’; says close vote on airport contractors signals ‘troubling shift’
The Charlotte City Council voted Monday on a proposal to look into raising wages of airport contract workers (left). Businessman Johnny Harris says that’s troubling (right).
Earlier this week, The Ledger published excerpts of an article from The Assembly, which quoted several prominent political and business leaders expressing concern about the direction of the Charlotte City Council.
On Wednesday, we heard from another prominent Charlottean who wanted to join the growing chorus of leaders expressing exasperation with the City Council: businessman Johnny Harris.
Harris is one of the city’s best-known real estate developers, who developed large parts of SouthPark and Ballantyne and who lured the PGA Tour here for the annual golf tournament at Quail Hollow Club, where he is the president — among many other Charlotte leadership roles. He’s not known as a wide-eyed partisan, and over the decades, he has generally been in tune with the city’s business-political leadership and has championed the city’s growth.
In a column written for The Ledger, Harris said he was dismayed by a close City Council vote this week — one that could have placed the city on the course of requiring contractors of American Airlines, the biggest tenant of the city’s airport, to pay higher wages.
Proponents said the city should take steps to improve the lives of workers, while opponents questioned whether city has authority to enact such a rule and what it might mean for the future of the airport, a major economic engine. The council deadlocked 5-5, and Mayor Vi Lyles cast the deciding vote to reject the idea.
In his column for The Ledger, Harris says the close vote signals a “troubling shift” away from the spirit of public-private cooperation in Charlotte, and that “this vote reflects a Council increasingly driven by performative activism.”
He continued:
Pineville bans all forms of door-to-door sales after threat of legal challenge; no more Girl Scout cookies?
Pineville has slammed the door on all door-to-door solicitation after a 3-2 vote by the town council, putting an end to a controversial ordinance that had been under legal scrutiny.
The decision comes one month after Charlotte-based Moxie Pest Control hired attorneys to challenge the town’s existing “Peddlers and Hawkers” ordinance, arguing it was unconstitutional for allowing only nonprofits and churches to knock on doors, and only then with a permit and a $1,000 bond.
Related Ledger articles:
“Pineville door-to-door sales ordinance faces scrutiny” (May 14, 🔒)
Alexander Michael’s owner confirms he’s considering a sale
The owner of Alexander Michael’s restaurant in uptown’s Fourth Ward neighborhood confirmed that he’s looking into selling the restaurant, after the issue came to light in a lawsuit The Ledger disclosed earlier this week.
The Ledger reported on Wednesday that owner Steve Casner is being sued by his landlord, 24th Street Partners, over allegations that he and the building’s previous owner altered the restaurant’s lease to make it less favorable to the building’s new owner. The suit also said Casner has agreed to sell Alexander Michael’s to a new buyer.
Related Ledger article:
“Alexander Michael’s lawsuit” (June 25, 🔒)
You might be interested in these Charlotte events
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
SATURDAY: “Carolina Farm Feast,” 6-9 p.m., at CFT Market, 511 S. Hoskins Road, Charlotte. A unique farm-to-table event featuring regional North and South Carolina produce. Friends, supporters, partners and foodies will come together for one of the most unifying human experiences: a meal. $100.
SATURDAY: “Shop the Yard! Pop-Up Market,” 12-6 p.m., at Victoria Yards, 209 E. 7th St. Shop the Yard! is a monthly pop-up market that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every month, from January to October. Shop the Yard! invites local artists and small businesses to participate in a space where creativity and community converge! At Shop the Yard!, you can explore all kinds of unique items from local vendors. Free.
MONDAY: “Democracy Happy Hour,” 5-6:30 p.m., at The Market at 7th Street, 224 E. 7th St. Join the Levine Museum of the New South for an informative social hour learning about the latest efforts to promote democracy, both locally and nationally. A special Democracy Happy Hour wine and cheese pairing from Assorted Table and Orrman’s Cheese Shop will be available for purchase. Registration requested. Free.
JULY 7: “Speak Easy - July,” 6-8 p.m., at VisArt Video, 3104 Eastway Drive. 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. It’s hosted by Brian Lafontaine. You may also join us as a spectator if you have aspirations of taking the stage one day. Registration required. $35.
➡️ List your event on the Ledger events board.
In brief
Transit tax referendum receives final approval: A bill letting Mecklenburg County hold a referendum on a sales tax increase from 7.25% to 8.25% for transit and roads has passed both chambers of the General Assembly, setting the stage for a major vote this November. The measure would fund $25B in rail, bus and road projects over 30 years. Our Transit Time newsletter on Thursday examined recent changes to the bill.
Hornets draft Duke’s Kon Knueppel, trade Mark Williams: The Charlotte Hornets selected Duke University guard Kon Knueppel with the No. 4 pick in the NBA Draft, keeping him in North Carolina just months after his Final Four run. The Hornets also traded center Mark Williams to the Phoenix Suns for guard Vasilije Micić, a 2025 first-round pick (No. 29 overall) and a 2029 first-round pick, according to ESPN.
N.C. school cell phone ban closer to becoming law: North Carolina lawmakers passed bipartisan legislation requiring public school districts to ban student cellphone use during instructional time and limit social media access on school devices. The bill also mandates social media literacy training and now awaits Gov. Josh Stein's signature, potentially placing the state among a dozen with similar policies. (Axios Raleigh)
Helene recovery package: North Carolina lawmakers unanimously passed a nearly $1.4B Hurricane Helene recovery package — combining state and federal funds for infrastructure and community repairs — after months of debate, sending it to the governor just before adjourning for the summer. (Axios Raleigh)
$25K reward in Asha Degree case: Gov. Josh Stein announced a $25,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those involved in the disappearance of Asha Degree, who vanished from Shelby in 2000 at age 9. (WSOC)
City Council votes against higher pay for CLT workers: Mayor Vi Lyles cast the deciding vote Monday to prevent the City Council from exploring wage and conditions improvements for the Charlotte airport’s contract workers, despite union demands and reports that some earn as little as $14 an hour. The move halts further study of the proposal for now. (WFAE)
Bojangles unveils new HQ: Charlotte-based Bojangles has opened a 60,000+ s.f. support center at 500 Forest Point Circle, featuring a full-scale test kitchen, collaborative workspaces and a dedicated training center. The space highlights the company’s roots and focus on employee development. (Axios Charlotte)
Queens makes full Division I jump: Queens University of Charlotte will officially become an active NCAA Division I member on July 1, completing a three-year reclassification process to join the Atlantic Sun Conference. The move marks a major milestone for the school’s athletics program. (WSOC)
Western bar with ties to Charlotte’s past opens in South End: The iconic country bar Nickyo’s Rodeo has returned in South End, opening Wednesday with live music, karaoke and twice-weekly line-dancing lessons in an 8,600 western‑themed space. The bar originally operated from 1985 to 1994. (Biz Journal)
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