This week in Charlotte
Good morning! Today is Saturday, February 22, 2020. You’re reading The Charlotte Ledger’s End-of-the-Week Round-Up.
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Editor’s note: The Ledger is expanding into Saturdays. We’re testing something a little different. Here’s the idea: You’ve had a long week. And there’s a lot of information out there. On Saturdays, The Ledger will sift thought it all and deliver the top Charlotte news and features from the previous week to your inbox — regardless of where they appeared — in areas including education, sports, politics and business. We’ll help you get caught up. That’s what Saturdays are for.
This week in Charlotte: CMS ‘gender identity’ survey; Voter ID takes another beating; Coach leaves football powerhouse; Ginormous Wells Fargo fine
(Photo courtesy of Myles Gelbach)
Politics
Another voter ID smackdown (Raleigh News & Observer): The N.C. Court of Appeals found that the state’s voter ID law seems to have been passed with “discriminatory intent” against African-Americans. The ruling means it’s possible that the requirement to show ID when voting might not take effect in any elections this year as the case continues through the courts. The law was passed after voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2018.
N.C. insurance commissioner told to ‘man up’ (WFAE, Observer): Businessman Greg Lindberg told N.C. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey to “man up” and fire a senior insurance regulator who was causing Lindberg’s company trouble, according to recordings played this week in a federal bribery trial in Charlotte. Lindberg is accused of trying to funnel $2M to the commissioner in exchange for a personnel move that would have benefited his company. Lindberg’s lawyers have said he was entrapped. The Wall Street Journal reported: “In another sign of the large amount of money being spent on defense, four mock jurors are sitting in the courtroom to give feedback to Mr. Lindberg’s team.”
Presidential candidates arrive (WCNC): Former NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg is expected in Charlotte Feb. 29. Mayor Pete Buttigieg was scheduled to appear next week, though the event no longer appears on his website. President Trump is expected on March 2, the day before the primary election in North Carolina. Others are hitting South Carolina before its primary on Feb. 29. Early voting in Mecklenburg County runs every day through the 29th.
Education:
6th grade sexual-orientation survey (WFAE): Some CMS parents are concerned about a mandatory survey the school district is giving to students in grades 6-12 that asks about their sexual orientation and gender identity. Questions on the survey include “How do you describe your gender identity?” (possible answers: “male,” “female,” “non-binary” and “gender-fluid”); and “Which of the following best describes your sexual orientation?” (possible answers: “straight/heterosexual,” “gay or lesbian,” “bisexual,” “pansexual,” “asexual,” “questioning my sexual orientation” and “other”) A district official said the intent was to “be able to direct precious resources to make sure that students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer (or) transgender can feel safe and supported.” But he said the district should “go back to the drawing board” and reassess those questions. A commenter on a private Facebook page where the issue was discussed reported that “the questions sparked inappropriate jokes among middle school students.”
Local news
Light-rail repairs (WSOC): The city’s light rail cars have experienced service outages and need to be sent to California for repairs at a cost of between $30M and $50M, CATS says. The overhaul process is expected to last four years and start in 2021.
Airport grounded (Ledger): Wilgrove Airport, a small airfield off Albemarle Road in east Charlotte that is home to the city’s only flight school, will close this spring after more than 50 years. Its manager joked that it is the city’s “second-largest airport.” Developers are interested in the land.
Healthcare transition? (Observer, WSOC) Mecklenburg County might end its relationship with managed care company Cardinal Innovations Healthcare, an assistant county manager told commissioners this week. Cardinal has provided inadequate help for the county’s neediest residents, county staff says, and the county might want to look for a different provider to help residents with developmental disabilities and mental-health and substance-abuse issues.
Business
Huge, huge Wells fine (CNN): Wells Fargo agreed to pay $3B — billion, with a “B” — to settle charges that between 2002 and 2016 it “falsified bank records, harmed the credit ratings of customers, unlawfully misused their personal information and wrongfully collected millions of dollars in fees and interest.” The government could still prosecute former and current Wells employees. Andrew Murray, U.S. attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, said in a statement: “Today’s announcement should serve as a stark reminder that no institution is too big, too powerful, or too well-known to be held accountable and face enforcement action for its wrongdoings.” Let’s finish the housecleaning by moving the headquarters to Charlotte.
Plaza-Midwood land deal (Agenda): Crosland Southeast has a 12-acre site and three other parcels along Central Avenue under contract in a deal that is expected to close in the next 30 days, Charlotte Agenda reported, citing an unnamed source close to the transaction. “Crosland hasn’t made any decisions about the long-term businesses in the area.” The company is known for developing mixed-use properties including Birkdale Village and Waverly.
Bankruptcies, explained (Ledger): Some companies teeter into bankruptcy when revenue falls, but others file for bankruptcy when they grow too fast and take on too much debt. SD Holdings, a Matthews company that runs more than 70 Sonic Drive-Ins and MOD Pizzas, filed for bankruptcy protection this month after receiving a surprise $7M tax bill and struggling to make enough money to pay its debts. There were more bankruptcy filings nationally in January than in any January since 2012. Pier 1 also filed for bankruptcy this week and will close a store in Gastonia.
Sports
Mallard Creek football coach heads to Georgia (Observer): Mallard Creek High football coach Mike Palmieri is leaving for a head coaching job outside Atlanta. Under Palmieri’s leadership since it opened in 2007, Mallard Creek has been a football powerhouse, winning three state championships. In the last 11 years, Mallard Creek went an astounding 136-15, despite playing in one of the toughest conferences in the state. He said: “This is family, and anytime you leave family, it’s tough, you know?” The job in Georgia pays more.
Olsen heads to Seattle (NFL): Former Panthers TE Greg Olsen signed a one-year, $7M deal to play for the Seattle Seahawks. “The two-time second-team All-Pro will play with arguably the best quarterback of his career in Russell Wilson.” (Ouch.)
Reading list
The human side of the affordable housing crunch (Agenda): Michael Graff’s latest in-depth piece takes readers inside the world of Mona Lisa Hill, a 54-year-old homeless woman struggling to land a job as a school bus driver while balancing life’s struggles. Worth your time.
New jazz club beats projections (Charlotte magazine): Andy Smith takes us inside Middle C Jazz, the new jazz club that opened uptown late last year. Shows have been selling out, and its membership club has grown to 400 — twice as many as the venue has seats. “Live music is alive and well in Charlotte again,” the club’s managing partner says. “This is place where you’ll feel good, like your favorite restaurant. You may not know the special that day, but you know it’ll be good.”
Next week:
The CIAA Basketball Tournament runs from Tuesday-Wednesday at Bojangles’ Coliseum and Thursday-Saturday at the Spectrum Center. This is the final year for the CIAA in Charlotte after 15 consecutive years. It heads to Baltimore in 2021.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education is holding a work session on the 2017 school bonds on Tuesday. The board says that because of rising construction costs, it lacks the money to complete the projects promised as part of the $922M bonds passed by voters. They’ll try to sort some of that out.
Charlotte Beer Garden opens next week in South End, with a (supposedly) world-record-setting number of beers on tap — 436. Brace for the hype. (Biz Journal has photos)
Loves me some internet
— Enjoy your weekend.
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The Charlotte Ledger is published by Tony Mecia, an award-winning former Charlotte Observer business reporter and editor. He lives in Charlotte with his wife and three children.