Articles

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Charlotte region full of great places
   March 7, 2013

Concord's Union Street, downtown Belmont and Charlotte's First Ward and Plaza Midwood neighborhoods have all been nominated for "People's Choice" awards in this year's "Great Places in North Carolina" contest. North Carolinians can vote until March 15. (Graphic: APA-NC) Read more


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N.C. unemployment benefits take a dramatic hit
   March 6, 2013

Recently approved unemployment benefit changes in N.C. are structured in a way that will cause additional federal cuts to kick in – reducing by 74 percent the maximum number of weeks that jobless North Carolinians can receive unemployment checks. (Photo:Jmturner via Wikimedia Commons) Read more


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Saving Charlotte’s trees, one at a time
   February 28, 2013

The historic Duke Mansion was nearly lost once to fire and later to plans to convert it to condominiums. Its historic landscape is just as vulnerable. But some outstanding efforts are preserving its tree-studded setting. (Image: Bing Maps) Read more


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Gaston, once a manufacturing sector powerhouse, now lags Union
   February 28, 2013

Local perceptions may not have caught up with the new reality in the Charlotte region’s manufacturing economy. Even before the recession began in 2007, declines in the textile and furniture industries were changing the structure of local employment. As the downturn continued, counties that depended less on textile and furniture manufacturing lost fewer jobs. The result: Several counties... Read more


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Advanced manufacturing: Economic lifeline?
   February 28, 2013
Jeff Michael
North Carolina's young people are increasingly steered away from manufacturing jobs. But many people now believe manufacturing has more promise than the low-wage service jobs that dominate the limited options for young people outside the state’s urban areas. (Photo: GMI) Read more


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HOT lanes: A hot topic at Huntersville meeting
   February 28, 2013

Huntersville Town Hall was the setting for Wednesday afternoon’s public information meeting about HOT (High Occupancy Toll) lanes proposed on I-77. HOT lanes are a red-hot topic, and citizens were vocal about their concerns. Is the region ready to accept pay-as-you-go highways? (Photo: Melissa Currie) Read more


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Neighborhood schools? More city parents are taking a fresh look
   February 27, 2013
Mae Israel
In at least a half-dozen older Charlotte neighborhoods many white, middle-income families avoided sending their children to neighborhood schools with a majority of low-income, minority students.  Some parents are now taking a closer look at those nearby schools. (Photo: Keihly Moore) Read more


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A night for children's rights
   February 20, 2013

Not in my neighborhood. That is what many people think when they hear about child abuse and human trafficking. In reality, these crimes occur in neighborhoods across the nation, and Charlotte is no exception. Read more


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Harness the power of data: Charlotte Data Day
   February 20, 2013

On March 26 the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County will host a forum in uptown Charlotte designed to tell the public about powerful sources of data and how to use them. Read more


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Measure to encourage low-income housing wins council OK
   February 19, 2013
Mary Newsom
The Charlotte City Council passed a measure to to try to encourage developers to build low-income housing in affluent neighborhoods, heard pro- and con- comments about a proposed outlet mall, and designated a historic landmark. Read more