Where to get a COVID test in Charlotte + Controversial Davidson College course

Good afternoon, Charlotte. This is Kristen. Don’t forget: tomorrow morning at 10:45 a.m., CMS Superintendent Earnest Winston will join Observer reporter Anna Maria Della Costa for a live virtual Q&A. Student safety and what families can expect this school year will be discussed — and our panelists will take your burning questions about all things back to school. Head here to reserve your spot and submit your questions ahead of time. We’ll see you there.

Now, let’s get into today’s news:

1. Need a COVID test? Here’s where you can find one around Charlotte

As COVID cases increase in the Charlotte region, spurred by the highly contagious delta variant, so does the daily demand for COVID testing.

As reported by the Observer’s Alison Kuznitz, an average of 2,700 COVID-19 tests were being administered each day in Mecklenburg County at the start of August — a 130% increase compared to the start of July.

However, demand for testing is a fraction of the volume seen around the holidays — an average of over 5,500 COVID tests were given daily before Christmas.

With the COVID wave rising, you may be wondering where to get a COVID test.

Options include:

• StarMed Healthcare
• Area pharmacies
• ... and more.

Allow Kuznitz to give you the options here.

2. New Davidson College course controversial among police, alumni

Davidson College will offer a new Black studies course this fall, and some folks are unhappy with its concept and name: #Abolishthepolice.

It will explore “the specific relationship between Blackness and policing in the U.S. from a philosophical perspective,” according to the course description.

What are people saying about it?

• Police in Charlotte, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Chief Johnny Jennings, criticized the course’s title. Jennings said the course’s name is “inflammatory, charged and polarizing.”
• “No matter the course’s objective, the title certainly is directional on what a student will perceive about it, and that is detrimental to all of the men and women who sacrifice their lives every day to protect others,” Jennings said in a statement to the Observer.
• One alum says the course represents “teaching students how to think, but rather telling them what to think,” while a professor says, “Our job is to make sure students learn how to think critically.”

Learn more about the course — and the discourse about it — with the Observer’s Jonathan Limehouse.

3. School mask policies vary widely across Charlotte region. Here’s a look.

As the school year gets closer, public and private schools across Mecklenburg, Gaston, Union, York and Iredell counties have sets of rules and decisions surrounding a return to school amid COVID-19 spread.

But as the Observer’s Alexandra Karlinchak reports, push back from some parents who don’t want their child required to wear a mask has contributed to many schools leaving the issue optional.

Find a crash course here on where local schools fall on requiring masks as the highly contagious delta variant increases COVID spread in the region.

4. Nucor steel finalizes $1 billion deal with NC company

Charlotte-based steel company Nucor Corp. completed a $1 billion acquisition of two insulated metal panel brands from Cary-based Cornerstone Building Brands this week. The company also has plans to build a $164 million tube mill in Kentucky.

With this new acquisition of CENTRIA and Metl-Span brands, Nucor adds insulated metal panels to its TrueCore unit, according to a company news release. This helps the company provide a wider range of products to customers.

Driven by consumer preferences for e-commerce, demand for insulated metal products products is expected to grow at double-digit annual rates through the decade, Nucor said in June when it announced its intention to make the acquisition.

Nucor will add 830 employees from seven Cornerstone Building Brands manufacturing facilities, three offices and a product center.

Learn more about the deal with the Observer’s Catherine Muccigrosso.

5. Find seafood and Charlotte skyline views at Mizu, opening Thursday

Looking for a fine-dining experience that includes fresh seafood and lovely views of the Charlotte skyline? A new spot for just that is opening in SouthPark on Thursday.

Situated on the top floor of the Hyatt Centric SouthPark hotel, Mizu is the newest restaurant from Charleston-based Indigo Road Hospitality Group. You might know the group from O-Ku and Oak Steakhouse.

The details:

• The seafood-forward menu will infuse Southern influences with Asian flavors and traditions of ancient Japanese cooking.

• The cooking style is influenced by the wood-fired Robata grills of Japan. Executive chef Michael Chanthavong will apply the method to serve a menu with wood-fired, chilled and raw offerings.

• Some dishes to look out for are Hokkaido Scallop Crudo and Prawn Cocktai.

Hungry for more info? CharlotteFive’s Jessica Swannie and Heidi Finley have the details.

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This story was originally published August 11, 2021 at 3:43 PM with the headline "Where to get a COVID test in Charlotte + Controversial Davidson College course."