Latest News

A tractor-trailer that was carrying watermelons crashed on the I-485 inner ramp to northbound I-77 in Charlotte.

Overturned trailer spills watermelon all over I-485/I-77 interchange

A wreck involving a tractor-trailer caused heavy delays on I-77 and I-485 in north Charlotte. The truck was carrying watermelons.

After a decade of planning, Charlotte’s light-rail extension finally opens

Business

Three Charlotte apartment buildings have new owners and big plans for upgrades

Middleton Meyers partnered with Torchlight Investors to buy nearly 1,000 units at three northeast Charlotte apartment complexes — Maple Run Apartments, The Townes at University Pointe and Woodland Hollow Apartments.

Brian Call of Call Family Distillery in Wilkesboro, one of the many places in North Carolina that claims to have been the capital of bootlegging.

Food & Drink

The best coconut rum – and 5 more things you should know about N.C.-distilled spirits

Observer writer Kathleen Purvis visited distilleries across the South while working on her new book, "Distilling the South." Here are some of the best things she learned about distilleries in North Carolina.

Teacher suspended after video posted showing him allegedly choking a student

Latest News

Apex High teacher resigns after video shows him apparently choking a student

Brian Kelley, a teacher at Apex High School, resigned amid a Wake County school system investigation into a video showing the educator apparently choking a student. Kelley had been suspended with pay during the investigation.

Children and adults in west Charlotte wait for fire crew to fill kiddie pool for boy's birthday on Monday.

Local

Mom had only pots to fill kiddie pool for son's birthday - until fire truck drove by

Fire engine returning from a call spotted Charlotte mom trying to fill kiddie pool with pots of water. They decided to stop and help, making a boy's birthday wish come true in 95-degree temperatures.

The Carolina Panthers as well as the Charlotte Knights will get a new tax break.

Politics & Government

Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Knights just scored a big break on their property taxes

A bill that gives the Panthers a big tax break becomes law. The measure involves property taxes the teams pay for land they lease from the government. It could amount to more than a half-million dollars a year.

South Carolina police officer surprises local kid with new Michael Jackson swag

Latest News

Young boy who dances like Michael Jackson brought to tears by SC police officer's gift

A Greenville, South Carolina, 12-year-old boy became a viral hit when a video of his Michael Jackson dance impression was shared by a police officer. The boy cried when the officer gave him a "Thriller" jacket, along with glove, socks and hat.

Andrea Pino and Annie Clark and speak at Campus Accountability and Safety Act Press Conference in 2015

Local

UNC found in violation of federal law in its handling of sex assault and discrimination

A federal investigation of sexual assault and sexual discrimination policies at UNC-Chapel Hill found the university in violation of Title IX.

College Sports

A hat trick for UNC's Woody Durham as he enters National Sports Media Hall of Fame

The late Woody Durham, longtime UNC Tar Heels voice, is inducted into the 2018 Hall of Fame by the National Sports Media Association alongside Bryant Gumbel, Thomas Boswell and Dick “Hoops’ Weiss.

Traffic heads south on I-77 as construction continued last month at exit 23 on the controversial I-77 toll lanes project.

Editorials

I-77's tolls will be just as successful as the ones before them

Critics love to hate Cintra's I-77 toll road project. But it's going to provide faster commutes, and travelers will appreciate the quicker ride.

Farmers rallied in Raleigh on Monday, June 25, 2018. Later the same day, Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed a bill adding legal protections for hog farms.

Politics & Government

Roy Cooper vetoes bill protecting hog farmers: 'Property rights are vital'

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper rejected NC lawmakers' attempts to limit nuisance lawsuits against hog farmers. He vetoed the North Carolina Farm Act, Senate Bill 711, on Monday, June 25, 2018.

A utility smart meter has a digital display and gives customers detailed information through a website about their electricity usage.

Latest News

You can say no to Duke Energy's wireless meter. But you'll need a doctor's note.

Duke Energy customers in North Carolina who say wireless two-way smart meters give them headaches, dizziness and memory loss won't have to pay extra for opting out of the meters. But NC Utilities Commission says they will need a doctor's note.

Charlotte Hornets

What NBA award did Charlotte Hornets' Kemba Walker win again?

Charlotte Hornets' Kemba Walker repeats as NBA's Sportsmanship Award winner, became team's leading scorer last season.

Carolina Panthers

Has Cam Newton changed? Panthers QBs coach returns to Charlotte to find he has

Carolina Panthers quarterbacks coach Scott Turner wants Cam Newton to realize that a check-down is not a bad play. Turner was on the Panthers' staff in 2011 when Newton broke Peyton Manning's rookie passing record.

Local

Power outages affecting thousands of south Charlotte residents

A power outage is affecting over 1,000 south Charlotte residents Tuesday morning. According to the Duke Energy outage map, over 1,100 people who live along Park Road are without power.

This 2016 photo shows North Carolina voter ID rules at a voting precinct. A federal court struck down voter ID laws in the state.

Latest News

Republicans move to reshape North Carolina's constitution

The NC legislature may ask voters to approve constitutional amendments in the 2018 elections including voter ID, a lower income tax cap, protecting hunting and fishing, adding rights for crime victims and further weakening the governor.

Charlotte City Council approved a resolution Monday to drastically reduce carbon emissions in the city by 2050.

Politics & Government

Charlotte City Council approves sweeping pledge to lower carbon emissions

Charlotte City Council on June 25, 2018, approved a resolution pledging the city will make drastic reductions in carbon emissions by 2050. The emissions goal: about two tons of carbon dioxide or equivalent gases for each city resident.

North Carolina

Supreme Court sends NC partisan gerrymander case back for more arguments

The US Supreme Court on Monday, June 25, 2018, kicked a North Carolina case over congressional districts back to lower court after the court's decision in a Wisconsin gerrymandering case.

Local

A summer survival guide: Enjoy NC's outdoors, but what captivates can also turn fatal

How to stay safe on your summer vacation in North Carolina, where natural beauty can hide risks that sometimes kill people.

Latest News

Be wary of these NC natural wonders

Find out what potential dangers you should watch out for in North Carolina.

Local

Aliens? Russians? Who owns the mysterious object that washed up on NC Outer Banks?

A mysterious metal object washed ashore along in Corolla at the North Carolina Outer Banks. Locals are trying to figure out who it belongs to, what it does, who is responsible for removing it. The Navy and Army Corps of Engineers don't know.

American Airlines airplanes taxi along at Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Wednesday, March 29, 2017. American

Local

American Airlines airbus bound for Charlotte diverted to London airport

An American #AA745 Barcelona to Charlotte (Airbus A330 N289AY) has been diverted to London Heathrow early Monday.

Amazon is building a distribution center that will bring 1,500 jobs to Charlotte.

Politics & Government

New Amazon center near airport to bring 1,500 jobs, $200 million investment

Charlotte City Council on Monday, June 25, 2018, voted to approve millions of dollars in incentives designed to bring an Amazon distribution center to 100 acres north of Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

The upscale men's and women's underwear retailer Tommy John is opening its second-ever store in SouthPark mall later this summer.

What's In Store

Upscale underwear retailer to open second-ever store at SouthPark mall

The popular upscale underwear maker Tommy John is opening its second brick-and-mortar store later this summer in SouthPark mall. Tommy John currently operates only one other store, which opened last October outside Philadelphia.

Latest News | The Charlotte Observer

Latest News

Overturned trailer spills watermelon all over I-485/I-77 interchange

Three Charlotte apartment buildings have new owners and big plans for upgrades

The best coconut rum – and 5 more things you should know about N.C.-distilled spirits

Apex High teacher resigns after video shows him apparently choking a student

Mom had only pots to fill kiddie pool for son's birthday - until fire truck drove by

Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Knights just scored a big break on their property taxes

Young boy who dances like Michael Jackson brought to tears by SC police officer's gift

UNC found in violation of federal law in its handling of sex assault and discrimination

A hat trick for UNC's Woody Durham as he enters National Sports Media Hall of Fame

I-77's tolls will be just as successful as the ones before them

Roy Cooper vetoes bill protecting hog farmers: 'Property rights are vital'

You can say no to Duke Energy's wireless meter. But you'll need a doctor's note.

What NBA award did Charlotte Hornets' Kemba Walker win again?

Has Cam Newton changed? Panthers QBs coach returns to Charlotte to find he has

Power outages affecting thousands of south Charlotte residents

Republicans move to reshape North Carolina's constitution

Charlotte City Council approves sweeping pledge to lower carbon emissions

Supreme Court sends NC partisan gerrymander case back for more arguments

A summer survival guide: Enjoy NC's outdoors, but what captivates can also turn fatal

Be wary of these NC natural wonders

Aliens? Russians? Who owns the mysterious object that washed up on NC Outer Banks?

American Airlines airbus bound for Charlotte diverted to London airport

New Amazon center near airport to bring 1,500 jobs, $200 million investment

Upscale underwear retailer to open second-ever store at SouthPark mall

Subscriptions

Site Information

Social, Mobile & More

Advertising

Latest News

Trending Stories