Vice President Kamala Harris is in Charlotte today. What to know about her visit
Vice President Kamala Harris is in North Carolina Thursday, once again visiting the Charlotte area.
It’s her second visit to the community in the last eight months.
She is slated to meet with state legislators to discuss issues involving abortion rights and access to affordable high-speed internet.
The news comes as the state gears up for elections that could impact the laws surrounding abortion in the wake of the Supreme Court’s latest decision on the issue.
Here’s what to know about Harris’s latest visit to the Charlotte area and how to keep up with it:
WHEN IS HARRIS COMING TO CHARLOTTE?
According to a statement from her office, she is scheduled to arrive at Charlotte Douglas International Airport at 9:45 a.m. and return to Washington, D.C., at about 4:30 p.m.
WHERE WILL HARRIS BE IN CHARLOTTE?
Harris will tour a computer lab at the Carole Hoefener Center to promote the Biden administration’s initiative to offer free or reduced-cost high-speed internet to qualifying households and speak about the program, per her office’s statement.
Harris will also “hold a roundtable discussion at the Carole Hoefener Center with North Carolina state legislators to discuss the fight for reproductive rights,” her office says. Gov. Roy Cooper will join Harris for the Thursday events.
WHY IS HARRIS COMING TO CHARLOTTE?
Harris is scheduled to meet with North Carolina state legislators while in town to discuss issues such as abortion rights and the Biden administration’s plans to expand access to affordable, high-speed internet access.
The visit comes ahead of elections that could help determine the fate of abortion access in the state, with Republican legislators looking to gain a supermajority in the legislature that would allow them to override vetoes by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
CMPD: EXPECT TRAFFIC FROM HARRIS VISIT
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department cautioned Thursday morning that drivers should anticipate some road congestion due to the vice president’s visit.
“Expect shifts in the traffic pattern and increased congestion in the Uptown Charlotte area today between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.,” CMPD said in a statement.
Observer reporter Will Wright contributed to this story.
This story was originally published July 21, 2022 at 9:32 AM.
