Friends, family recall officer’s life of dedication + How to get tested for COVID in Charlotte
Good afternoon, Charlotte. This is Kristen, here with some sobering information. North Carolina reported 9,377 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday from the past 24 hours. That’s the highest daily increase since early September. Also, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reports an average of more than 5,900 new cases per day over the past week. At the beginning of December, that rate was less than 1,900. Stay safe out there, folks, and find more information here with the News & Observer’s Ben Sessoms.
Let’s get into today’s headlines:
1. ‘Fallen hero.’ Friends, family at funeral recall Charlotte officer’s life of dedication
CMPD Officer Mia Goodwin, 33, was killed on duty in a wreck involving two semi-trucks on Interstate 85 in the early morning of Dec. 22. She’d just returned from maternity leave. On Wednesday, folks gathered to remember her with laughter and tears at uptown Charlotte’s First Baptist Church.
Her friends, family and colleagues recalled a respected officer, a woman of faith and a dedicated mother. Police Chief Johnny Jennings called the support from the community “overwhelming” and “remarkable.”
“Mia paid that ultimate sacrifice, doing something that she loved to do,” he said.
A procession started at 9 a.m., and her funeral began at noon. The service was open to the public and streamed online.
Learn more about Goodwin and today’s ceremonies with the Observer’s Hannah Smoot, Evan Moore and Joe Marusak.
2. How and where to get a COVID test in Charlotte
We shared a list of COVID test locations the other day, but today, the Observer’s Jonathan Limehouse provides us with an updated list. Rapid-result and PCR testing is available at drugstores and various sites, and take-home kits may also be found at some pharmacies and stores.
Here are some places to get tests:
- Mecklenburg County no-cost testing events
- CVS
- Walgreens
- Amazon
3. Other odds and ends to catch up on today
Novant unveils new online tools, including a doctor match that works like a dating app by Hannah Smoot
- “Swipe right” to find your next doc.
NC city known for BBQ, bluegrass has a $5.9M mansion for sale by Joe Marusak
- Talmadge and Mary Turner have lived in the mansion since it was built in the Cleveland County countryside.
4. Today’s Panthers update
Get ready for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints with our Panthers reporting team.
Cam Newton won’t start at quarterback for the Carolina Panthers this week by Jonathan M. Alexander
- Panthers coach Matt Rhule said Newton would be ready, but did not specify he would play.
Carolina Panthers place star player on COVID list. He’ll likely miss the Saints game by Ellis L. Williams
- Placement of players on the reserve/COVID list stems from a COVID-19 outbreak the Panthers have been dealing with since Monday.
---
That’s all for today, folks. If you don’t already, subscribe to the Charlotte Observer here. If you’re already a subscriber (thanks!), download our iOS or Android app to get connected.
Stay updated with us at charlotteobserver.com, and follow along on Twitter and Instagram to see more from us. Thanks for reading!
Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can sign up here.
This story was originally published December 29, 2021 at 3:56 PM.