https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/high-school/article317529915.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/c09b35ea-798b-4e1b-9b0f-3a3646235a9b/1_th.jpg The Talking Preps Interview: David Echevarria, Ambassador Christian Ambassador Christian's David Echevarria, a 6-5 junior QB, transferred from Rocky River and became the state's leading passer. He sits down for the Talking Preps interview. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/high-school/article317529915.html/video-embed 253 2026-10-07T18:58:03Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-food-drink/article317519413.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/9658c7c6-561e-4354-bbe7-4346fa57bd8d/1_th.jpg Charlotte's best chefs + "Top Chefs" team up for kids Cookies for Kids’ Cancer brought together standout local chefs and nationally recognized talent from “Top Chef’s” Charlotte-filmed season for a Tuesday night event filled with one-of-a-kind dishes, creative cocktails, live music and exciting auction items — all to fund critical pediatric cancer research. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-food-drink/article317519413.html/video-embed 48 2026-10-07T11:11:19Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article317511507.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/b46a10be-a1a7-436b-8ec7-a48224027bc1/1_th.jpg PTL evangelist Jim Bakker died at 86. See him through the years. Jim Bakker, the pioneering TV evangelist who became a symbol of the glitz and greed of the 1980s when his PTL empire near Charlotte collapsed amid sex and money scandals, landing him in prison for fraud, died Monday, according to his wife, Lori, on his Instagram page. She did not say how he died or where. He was 86. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article317511507.html/video-embed 77 2026-10-06T15:32:23Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-food-drink/article317510876.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/ab75fabd-3595-4d7b-b368-2e8a9e364ed6/1_th.jpg Old school Charlotte BBQ joint makes a new start Meet Honey Pies BBQ & Smokehouse, the new spot where Bubba’s Barbecue once stood on Sunset Road. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-food-drink/article317510876.html/video-embed 25 2026-10-08T09:00:00Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-food-drink/article317516175.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/6a65556a-a362-437d-ae1e-802affb52c6a/1_th.jpg New tequila experience at The Ballantyne The Ballantyne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, has launched The Ballantyne Private Select Reposado, a one-of-a-kind tequila barrel created exclusively for the hotel and finished in French oak wine barrels. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-food-drink/article317516175.html/video-embed 28 2026-10-06T20:14:44Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article317516504.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/daa7bb53-d9bb-491b-ae39-e201cf3603d0/1_th.jpg Why people left home to live at Jim Bakker’s Heritage USA Inspired by Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, Roma McCormick moved from Delaware to Heritage USA in 1981 with her son. She remembers the Fort Mill community at its peak. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article317516504.html/video-embed 112 2026-10-06T20:53:12Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article317515812.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/67dc1f89-56f0-40c1-9560-1e5ab6bda97c/1_th.jpg Jim Bakker, PTL televangelist whose empire captivated Charlotte, dies at 86 Bakker, the televangelist behind the PTL Club and Heritage USA, has died at 86, his wife said on Instagram. Here’s a look back at the Observer’s coverage and the case that ended with Bakker’s conviction in Charlotte. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article317515812.html/video-embed 153 2026-10-06T19:59:32Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article317501985.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/cbe2dea3-da1e-4401-8b2a-ab23ec8dde32/2_th.jpg Charlotte opens North Carolina’s largest DMV office as officials tout shorter waits Gov. Josh Stein says the new East Charlotte DMV gives Mecklenburg County residents another place to access services and should help improve customer service. He credited state DMV leaders with reducing wait times, while saying more work remains. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article317501985.html/video-embed 44 2026-10-05T20:24:57Z no