Man threatens StarMed worker with dogs, gun + Temporarily closing: Brooks Sandwich House
Happy Wednesday. This is Kristen. Do you watch The Amazing Race? If you do, keep an eye out for some familiar faces on tonight’s season debut — West Charlotte High football coach Sam Greiner and his wife Connie will be on the popular CBS reality show. Get the details with the Observer’s Langston Wertz Jr.
Let’s talk headlines:
1. StarMed closes COVID testing site for the day after man threatened worker with shotgun
COVID testing sites are busy these days, but that isn’t a reason to resort to violence. One man felt differently today, however, since he threatened a StarMed worker with two dogs and a shotgun, the Charlotte health care company confirmed to the Observer.
The incident happened at the South Boulevard testing site, StarMed CEO Mike Estramonte told WBTV. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police were called. No one was hurt, as reported by the Observer’s Jonathan Limehouse.
After a couple hours of normal operation following the incident, StarMed closed the site for the day.
In other COVID news, North Carolina continued to top its record for daily COVID-19 cases today. The state netted more than 20,000 cases in a single day — for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. Learn more with The News & Observer’s Avi Bajpai.
2. Today’s business news
Brooks Sandwich House is closing temporarily — hold that burger craving ‘til next week by CharlotteFive staff
- Important to note: IT’S ONLY TEMPORARY!
An anticipated downtown Rock Hill food and drink stop is now open by John Marks
- Fans of the Plaza Midwood spot may want to make a trip south.
With $13.6 million investment, Atlanta company expands operation into Charlotte region by Hannah Lang
- The new plant will create 20 full-time jobs with average wages higher than the Iredell County average of $51,136.
Charlotte gift shop ‘pausing’ after 11 years leaves one less spot to shop for local art by Catherine Muccigrosso
- Owner Patricia Snow has the hope and intent of reopening at another location.
3. North Carolina politics news
Companies reflected on ‘values’ after Jan. 6. They decided to stick with NC lawmakers by Danielle Battaglia and Lucille Sherman
- Some corporate donors that said they would pause contributions to lawmakers following the Jan. 6, 2021, riots at the U.S. Capitol have resumed giving.
It’s harder now for NC school districts to switch to remote instruction by T. Keung Hui
- Senate Bill 654 says individual schools or classes can only switch to remote instruction if COVID exposures lead to not having enough staff or too many students quarantined.
NC’s political maps are on trial. Here are 5 key takeaways from the testimony so far by Will Doran
- The trial will wrap up Thursday morning with closing arguments from both sides.
One more thing...
Many folks have seen information online about how cloth and surgical masks aren’t cutting it anymore. If you’re on the hunt for N95 or KN95 masks, which are advertised to provide more protection against the highly contagious variant, you may be running into difficulties sourcing them.
The Observer’s Mary Ramsey has these details about N95 and KN95 masks as well as where to find them in the Charlotte area and beyond.
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This story was originally published January 5, 2022 at 4:05 PM.