Afternoon Observer | Deal may restore $56M to CMS budget + Expect flight delays as Elsa nears
It’s Wednesday, Charlotte. Kristen here. Are you ready for the weekend? Get your social calendar topped up with CharlotteFive’s roundup of what to do around town, the July 9-15 edition. You can appreciate artwork by Black women artists, check out some new food or join a group workout all in the next several days. Get out there and appreciate our fine city, folks.
Now, let’s talk about today’s news:
1. Deal may restore $56M to CMS budget after spat with Meck leaders
As the Observer’s Anna Maria Della Costa reports, Mecklenburg County and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools leaders could soon reach a resolution over millions of embattled dollars.
To catch you up:
- Last month, the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners put $56 million earmarked for CMS into conditional funding.
- The county is keeping that money until CMS provides a detailed plan to improve the lowest-performing schools.
Two sources close to the situation told the Observer on Wednesday that representatives from both sides have reached an agreement that see the millions going to the district. However, it’s not final until Mecklenburg officials vote tonight.
George Dunlap, the chair of the Board of County Commissioners, confirmed: “The board will vote in closed session to consider a proposed agreement tonight.”
Stay updated on the situation with Della Costa.
2. Updated Tropical Storm Elsa forecast for Charlotte
As Tropical Storm Elsa rolls up the coast, the Charlotte area should expect a bit of less-than-pleasant weather. Here’s the latest, with the Observer’s Joe Marusak:
- Rain from Elsa should arrive in the Charlotte area on Thursday morning and hang around during the day, a National Weather Service meteorologist said Wednesday.
- Passengers flying out of Charlotte’s airport should expect delays beginning on Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration warned on Twitter on Wednesday morning.
- Other major airports, like Atlanta, Boston, and Los Angeles should also anticipate delays, the FAA said.
- Charlotte could see up to 2 inches of rain before Elsa moves on by mid- to late afternoon Thursday, meteorologist Chris Horne of the NWS office in Greer, S.C., told the Observer.
Here’s what else you need to know about Elsa.
3. The friendly rivalry and unlikely friendship of 2 TV anchors
Two Charlotte news anchors, despite having the same job at different Charlotte TV news stations — and technically being rivals — are thick as thieves.
“It’s an unlikely friendship, but it’s a sincere friendship,” Molly Grantham says.
“Yeah,” Morgan Fogarty adds, “or even in the newsroom if we have a new employee, or a newer employee, and I say, ‘Oh, yeah, Molly...’ and they’re like, ‘Oh! Are you and Molly friends?’ ‘Yeah, we’re friends.’ ‘Like in real life?’ ‘Yeah, in real life!’”
They recall the beginnings of their careers in Charlotte and how they competed over stories. They remember how people tried to pit them against each other. “Other people wanted us to not like each other. We’re both blonde. We both have names that begin with M,” Grantham said.
Perhaps most importantly, they remember becoming fast friends, bonding over a late-night call about new motherhood. From there, they forged a bond essential to both of them.
Read more about the history of their friendship with the Observer’s Théoden Janes.
4. Billy Graham’s family house in NC is up for sale
The original family house of the late evangelist Rev. Billy Graham was put up for sale this week, as reported by the Observer’s Yiwen Lu.
The details:
- The house is currently listed for $599,000.
- It’s in Montreat, NC, near Asheville.
- It’s the first and only property owned by the Graham family that entered the real estate market, according to Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, which is marketing the house.
- Graham and his late wife, Ruth Bell Graham, purchased the house in the late 1940s.
A Charlotte native, Graham was one of the most influential Christian leaders of the 20th century. He died in 2018 in Montreat.
The family lived in the house during the time period in which Graham made it as “America’s Pastor.”
“It is where it all began,” said Ruth Graham, the Rev.’s daughter, in a statement to Premier Sotheby’s.
5. Today’s sports news
For an update on the world of sports in Charlotte and beyond, check out what our sports team has been up to recently:
Here are the Charlotte athletes who will compete at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo by Scott Fowler and PJ Morales.
Charlotte FC has a new coach and they’re calling it a perfect match. Here’s why by Alex Andrejev.
Fantasy football expert says McCaffrey should be your No. 1 draft pick this season by PJ Morales.
Find all of their reporting here.
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This story was originally published July 7, 2021 at 3:49 PM.