When you've experienced a school shooting, some moments are so vivid and everlasting, you'll break out in goosebumps every time you retell them. I was a senior at UNC Charlotte on April 30, 2019. Here's what I remember from that day. The long silence. Before the "Run, Hide, Fight" text...

Lovin' Life Music Fest's top organizer and city leaders expressed confidence during a press conference Monday in this weekend's festivities going smoothly.Why it matters: The pressure is on for this three-day, inaugural music festival, which will draw more than 25,000 people daily to First Ward Park.Lovin' Life — which has the potential to fulfill Charlotte's dreams of becoming a music city — will call for road closures, cause traffic, and test the city's transit system and infrastructure."We understand that we're disrupting people with closing streets," said Bob Durkin, co-founder of Southern Entertainment, which is producing the festival. "The major stakeholders...

Eight law enforcement officers were shot, four fatally, in a Monday afternoon shootout in the Shannon Park neighborhood in east Charlotte.Three of the officers killed were with the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force. The state Department of Adult Correction identified two of them as Sam Poloche and Alden Elliott.One Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer, Joshua Eyer, died later Monday night from gunshot wounds, according to CMPD. He'd been taken to the hospital in critical condition earlier in the day.The other officers are in stable condition, CMPD chief Johnny Jennings said.State of play: Shortly before 5pm, CMPD lifted a shelter-in-place recommendation for the...

Women-owned business openings in the Charlotte metro increased 19% in 2023 compared to 2022, Axios' Analis Bailey reports from new Yelp data.By the numbers: 610 women-owned businesses opened up in metro Charlotte in 2023, compared to 511 in 2022. A few include a pickleball hub, a bookstore on wheels and a nail salon. Data: Yelp; Table: Alice Feng/AxiosThe big picture: Women-owned business openings rose 17% nationwide.Austin (34%), Miami (31%), Washington, D.C. (25%), Denver (25%) and Orlando (22%) saw the highest growth rates among U.S. metros with at least 500 openings in 2023, according to Yelp.Fun fact: Women-owned hotels and travel businesses saw the highest new business growth, 16% more than the national average. The Charlotte metro saw women-led limo businesses grow by 400%.Charlotte also saw a 233% uptick in home organization businesses owned by women. What they're saying: "Whether you attended a women-led stadium tour, adopted a new wellness routine, picked up a new bestselling book, or updated your wardrobe, the 'she-conomy' dominated cultural trends and ultimately drove economic growth," Yelp trend expert Tara Lewis told Axios in a statement.

There's a new race in town. The Meck Mile presented by Albemarle debuts May 25, 2024, at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Elizabeth, but race organizers envision it as more than a race. They're building it like a festival.Why it matters: Charlotte Sports Foundation (CSF), the race's organizer, is known for putting on marquee events in Charlotte, including the Duke's Mayo Classic and Bowl, which draw thousands of people to Charlotte every year.What to expect: The race, which is intended to be an annual event, is open to all ages and skill levels. You can walk, run or dance your...

Charlotte is one of the few major U.S. cities where homicides are rising this year, not falling. Why it matters: The prevalence of gun violence, especially among teens, could be a symptom of Charlotte's persistent upward mobility challenges. An oft-cited 2014 Harvard study ranked Charlotte dead last out of 50...

Boring weekdays? Not on our watch. This week is packed with events, from themed cocktail pop-ups to Friday's inaugural Lovin' Life Music Fest kick-off in Uptown.Monday, April 29🎵 Perform at The Evening Muse's opening mic featuring LVDY. | $5 | 7:30pm | Details🎤 Sing your go-to karaoke song at Starlight on 22nd. | Free | 7-10pm | Details🧘‍♀️ Move with Bodhi Love Yoga, a fusion of yoga, HIIT, and free movement at The Music Yard. | $15.46 | 6pm | Details🎨 Learn how to create watercolor galaxies at SkillPop in Camp North End. | $38 | 6:30pm | DetailsTuesday, April...

Whataburger expects to be in North Carolina by 2025, the company confirmed, declining to provide additional details.Why it matters: Whataburger is to Texas what In-And-Out is to California: A longstanding burger chain known for its fresh, juicy patties and its die-hard following.Zoom out: Like Shake Shack and Wegmans, Whataburger is a national brand that customers clamor for. When the company opened its first Nashville location in 2022, customers camped out and waited in line for hours.Driving the news: Whataburger is in its "very early phases" of planning restaurants in Raleigh, Cary and Durham, a spokesperson told the News & Observer...

You could live the penthouse lifestyle in this recently listed Uptown condo for $4.8M. Why it matters: Located on the sixth floor of The Trust building at 139 S. Tryon St., it's one of the highest-priced condos to go up for sale in Charlotte.Shane McDevitt with The McDevitt Agency has the listing.The layout: The sixth-floor penthouse is 7,335 square feet with four bedrooms and four-and-a-half baths. There are two covered terraces for open-air living spaces, one off the primary suite and another off the great room. The custom floorplan was designed to make the front of the house hosting-friendly with...

These recently listed houses come with charming features including built-in shelving and a resort style pool.

Taylor Swift fans have convinced themselves that the megastar is sending coded messages about a surprise appearance at the Lovin' Life Music Festival in Charlotte. Why it matters: While very unlikely, it would be wild if true. Catch up quick: The inaugural festival will take place in Uptown on May 3-5, featuring headliners Post Malone, Stevie Nicks and Noah Kahan. Swift has long used riddles and clues to create a buzz and get fans excited about album releases and other big news, as Axios Chicago's Justin Kaufman pointed out recently.The intrigue: Swifty sleuths on TikTok think she's performing with Post...

Lovin' Life Music Festival organizers released the dates, times and stages that artists will perform during the inaugural Uptown festival on May 3-5. Why it matters: The festival will showcase several bucket list performances. Plan ahead so you don't miss any.There will be three stages, per the event map. The main stage, AKA the "Coors Light Stage," is where headliners Post Malone, Stevie Nicks and Noah Kahan will perform. The Northwood Ravin Stage is where other top acts like The Chainsmokers, DaBaby and The Avett Brothers will perform.The Music Everywhere CLT stage will feature local musicians. Photo: Courtesy of Lovin'...

All eyes will be on Drake Maye and the NFL draft tonight in Detroit.State of play: Analysts expect Maye, a standout quarterback at Myers Park High and North Carolina, to be selected high in the first round. Other Charlotte-area prospects include: Delmar Glaze Offensive lineman | West Mecklenburg High | Maryland Photo: Ben Jackson/Getty ImagesDevontez Walker Wide receiver | West Charlotte High | North Carolina Photo: Grant Halverson/Getty ImagesCedric Gray Linebacker | Ardrey Kell | North Carolina Photo: Grant Halverson/Getty ImagesMalik MustaphaDefensive back | Weddington High | Wake Forest Photo: Quinn Harris/Getty ImagesSam HartmanQuarterback | Davidson Day...

Several free and family-friendly festivals are happening in Charlotte this weekend, plus a couple of charity events if you're looking to support a good cause.Friday, April 26🎶 Experience a two-day music and arts festival with a lineup of artists at GreenLife Family Farms. | $65+ | Time | Details🎤 Listen to award-winning country music performers Rivers Rutherford and Brett James at The Union to benefit Hopeway. | $300 | 6-10pm | Details🎵 Join South Charlotte Partners Breakfast Club to talk about music at The Amp Ballantyne. | $25 | 7:30am-9am | Details🌳 Stroll through Wing Haven for the 30th annual...

An effort to more than double the Gold Line route — a fare-free streetcar that sometimes runs nearly empty — is moving forward despite sloping ridership.Why it matters: As part of an ongoing planning effort for the Gold Line's third phase, the Charlotte Area Transit System is studying ways to drum up streetcar ridership and improve reliability. That could mean giving the streetcar priority at streetlights, or bypassing stops where no one is getting on or off."There's some newer technologies out there that we're going to be looking at," Gold Line project manager Jim Fatula tells Axios. It's unclear whether...

Data: Chain Store Guide; Chart: Axios VisualsWalmart and Harris Teeter remain Charlotte's top grocers — though both lost market share from 2022 to 2023 while grocers like Food Lion and Publix grew their share of the market. Why it matters: Supermarket chains are fighting for customers' dollars at a time when inflation has been pushing grocery bills higher.Zoom out: Inflation is changing how many Americans shop for groceries, with more people buying store-brand items and shopping at discount stores, the Associated Press reported earlier this year.By the numbers: Walmart commanded 24.6% of the local grocery store market share in 2023, down from 25.7% in 2022, according to Chain Store Guide, which tracks sales data.Harris Teeter was 15.9% of the market (down from 17.1%). Food Lion had 14.8% (up from 13.8%), per Chain Store Guide.Publix, which entered the Charlotte market with a Ballantyne store in 2014, had 10.3% market share last year, up from 9.2% in 2022.Shoppers in the Charlotte metro spent $10.17 billion on groceries in 2023, the data showed.Go deeper: Wegmans to open its first Charlotte store, fueling North Carolina's grocery store wars

The new restaurant and bar called Flight will open in Elizabeth this summer.Why it matters: The new neighborhood spot aims to take customers around the world through its international wines and decor, according to owners Dwight and Vicki Bailey.The big picture: Flight is in a booming area of a historic neighborhood — in the same plaza as popular restaurants like The Crunkleton, Menya and Puerta.Context: The husband-and-wife duo decided to pilot the idea by incorporating their traveling experiences, which they've gained from taking breaks from their full-time medical jobs, into their new bar.Trips to destinations like Portugal and Austria inspired...

We're back with another installment of our Blind Date series. This time, we paired Matthew and Stefone.Ready to meet your match? Click here to apply for an upcoming date, and tell your single friends to apply. Editor's note: Responses have been edited lightly for length and clarity.First, let's get to know MatthewHe's 23 and works in healthcare. His hobbies/interests include tennis, bowling, eating, music, working out, hiking and binging TV.He says his ideal day in Charlotte includes "going thrifting then getting lunch/dinner at Optimist Hall or a new restaurant."On why he should be selected for the blind date: "As someone...

Evy Leibfarth is heading to Paris this summer to compete in her second Olympic Games. But before she gives us the scoop on where to get the best croissants in Paris, let's dive into how she'd spend the day in Charlotte. Catch up quick: The 20-year-old Bryson City native, who frequently trains at the U.S. National Whitewater Center, qualified earlier this month at the U.S. Olympic team trials for canoe/kayak slalom in Montgomery, A.L. First of all: She's sleeping in. "I'm not a morning person," Leibfarth told Axios' Maxwell Millington at the Team USA media summit earlier this month....

It's the end of an era for one prominent spot in Uptown Charlotte. A new cocktail lounge called Palace on 4th will open in the former Green's Lunch spot. Why it matters: Green's, founded in 1926, was Charlotte's oldest restaurant until it closed last June. A low-cost option in a city full of national chains, Green's was a longtime favorite of everyone from bankers to construction crews. Driving the news: The Green's Lunch mural was recently painted over and replaced with a new one by local artist Swych19.In addition to the new mural at 309 W. 4 St., we noticed...