WCNC Charlotte To Go

It's been over a month since the stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte's light rail, and people are still pushing for more safety initiatives because of what happened to her.Friday, Charlotte city leaders are expected to announce new security measures for the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS). WCNC Charlotte's Richard DeVayne shares how with this next step, leaders hope to improve public safety.WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeartAll of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

Two Delta Air Lines regional jets collided while on the taxiway at LaGuardia Airport in New York, injuring at least one person in what the airline described as a “low-speed collision.”The wing of an aircraft carrying 32 people getting ready to take off Wednesday night to Roanoke, Virginia, hit the fuselage of an aircraft arriving from Charlotte, North Carolina, with 61 people aboard, according to a statement from Delta.Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/syndication/associatedpress/delta-jets-have-low-speed-collision-on-the-ground-at-new-yorks-laguardia-injuring-1/616-3102eba5-ea49-41b1-a8bc-4f50a3f9b046WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeartAll of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

CATS reduced armed security personnel by at least 40% in recent years and failed to follow competitive bidding practices when expanding a contractor's role, according to a state auditor's report released Tuesday that examined safety failures before a deadly stabbing on the light rail.The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor launched its investigation after the Aug. 22 stabbing death of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska on the LYNX Blue Line, which gained national attention after surveillance video showed the violent attack.Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/audit-reveals-drop-in-cats-security-personnel/275-c741726d-1558-4d9c-83b5-6dc5d0f88fcaWCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeartAll of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

The pain of families who lost loved ones to violent crime was front and center Monday as Congress held a field hearing at the federal courthouse in Uptown Charlotte.The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight convened the hearing, titled “Victims of Violent Crime,” to examine repeat offenders, lenient bail policies, and whether the criminal justice system is failing victims.The session came just weeks after 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, was stabbed to death on Charlotte’s Blue Line light rail. Zarutska fled a war-torn country only to be killed in her new community. It's a tragedy that lawmakers repeatedly referenced during testimony.Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/violent-crime-congressional-hearing-in-charlotte/275-fae52629-d746-48ec-a851-e5bf052a2f62 WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeartAll of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

Eleven people, including seven juveniles, were taken into custody in relation to the fatal shooting of a 9-year-old in Pageland, the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office said. Deputies responded to a shooting at a convenience store parking lot along Highway 9 on Sunday morning."We extend our deepest condolences to the family affected by this heartbreaking tragedy," Sheriff Cambo Streater said. “This case has deeply impacted our community. Our investigators have worked tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice. We remain committed to ensuring that every individual connected to this senseless act is held accountable.”  Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/9-year-old-killed-in-pageland-convenience-store-parking-lot-shooting/275-1bde684e-15b0-4356-a48f-8a9b28d0a4f5 WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeartAll of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

A year after the floodwaters of Helene tore through Boone, signs of recovery can be seen across the High Country. But for many residents, the memories and the struggles remain fresh.When Helene hit last September, water rushed into homes, businesses, and apartment complexes. Among the hardest hit was the Bavarian Village Apartments, where residents were forced to evacuate as water rose quickly, sweeping away cars, furniture, and in some cases, entire lives.Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/hurricane/helene/one-year-helene-boone-residents-working-rebuild/275-45c81844-c8e5-41ec-a3e1-b3b8249ad9e0WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeartAll of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

It’s been one year since Helene tore through the High Country, leaving behind a path of destruction that many families are still struggling to recover from. For John Randall, a longtime Avery County resident, the storm left behind more than $100,000 worth of damage to his home. But he said a last minute decision may have saved his life.Randall, who has lived on his property near Newland for 20 years, remembers the warnings the day before the storm. He and his neighbor chose to accept a friend’s offer to ride it out farther up the mountain.Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/hurricane/helene/avery-county-man-last-minute-decision-hurricane-helene/275-55c03664-ceac-4925-846f-8f87e8272498WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeartAll of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

A sign outside the PackRats surplus store on Main Street in Newland reads “29 years 3 floods we are still here.” It comes after Hurricane Helene struck a year ago.“We had seen some storms, but nothing ever like that,” a smiling Julie Vernable said. “I was standing in waist deep waters, wasn’t expecting that.”One year ago, the water came. Not a gentle rise of the river, but a vengeful surge of brown, silt-choked fury, sent down from the mountains by the remnants of Hurricane Helene. It poured into the low-lying parts of Newland, Avery County, a place where people lived and worked for generations, trusting the land beneath their feet.Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/hurricane/helene/newland-packrats-reopens-western-north-carolina/275-e3f500f0-bfff-4fdf-975d-fecba23c7da9WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeartAll of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

Nearly one year after Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, businesses in Boone are rebuilding but face a challenging path to full recovery, with many still struggling economically despite the area's resilient appearance.The storm struck at the worst possible time for the region's tourism-dependent economy, hitting just before the biggest push of the year. Many businesses were still recovering from COVID-19 impacts when rising floodwaters washed away their progress.Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/hurricane/helene/long-road-to-recovery-boone-north-carolina-businesses/275-a803ea14-ff74-4dd2-8589-ca68c3110de6WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeartAll of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

One year after the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene brought tourism to a sudden halt in western North Carolina, the mountain town of Blowing Rock is beginning to breathe again.The storm, which struck in late September 2024, caused widespread landslides, downed trees, and left much of the Blue Ridge Parkway impassable. Hotels, restaurants, and trailheads were shuttered for weeks — some for months — as emergency crews worked around the clock to restore access and safety to one of North Carolina’s most beloved travel destinations.Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/hurricane/helene/blowing-rock-rebounds-one-year-helene/275-c836a149-c646-41fd-b32d-ed9797cff002WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeartAll of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein announced Thursday he will meet with the family of Iryna Zarutska, the 23-year-old victim of a fatal stabbing on the Charlotte light rail system.Decarlos Brown, 34, is charged with killing the Ukrainian refugee on Aug. 22 on the LYNX Blue Line in South End. Brown was arrested and charged with murder after the incident and was indicted earlier this week. He also faces a federal charge prosecutors said could result in the death penalty.When asked about the city's response to the stabbing, Stein said he was happy that Charlotte was increasing security on public transit."I think everybody wishes we'd been more on our toes and local government had been more on its toes," Stein said. "I'm gratified that the local government has surged law enforcement and safety officials on the transit system."The announcement came as the General Assembly prepares to reconvene Monday, with lawmakers expected to immediately introduce and vote on legislation aimed at preventing similar crimes.Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/stein-to-meet-iryna-zarutska-family-charlotte-light-rail-stabbing-investigation/275-0c21a6d4-a4f4-4e72-919c-d99b92c2a50a

A child was shot and killed in the Steele Creek neighborhood early Wednesday, Medic said.  It happened around 6 a.m. on Cigar Court. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers responded to the area after reports of a stolen black Dodge Charger, then learned shots had been fired into a home. Officers found the child who had been shot, and Medic confirmed he died at the scene. While authorities have not identified the victim beyond being under 18, neighbors told WCNC Charlotte the victim was a 4-year-old boy who was in his bed sleeping at the time of the shooting.A source has confirmed to WCNC Charlotte that four arrests have been made in the case.LATEST: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/steele-creek/victim-steele-creek-deadly-shooting-under-18/275-54807949-2d28-47ca-b89a-0e21f2f50133WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeartAll of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

The fatal stabbing of a passenger on Charlotte’s Lynx Blue Line light rail has triggered a citywide -- and national -- conversation that’s reaching deep into the political sphere. With the November election approaching, and a major sales tax proposal on the ballot, crime and public safety are quickly becoming defining issues in the Queen City.  The attack occurred on Aug. 22, when 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was fatally stabbed while riding the light rail. Authorities say the suspect, Decarlos Brown Jr., acted without provocation. Tuesday, a grand jury returned a murder indictment for Brown. Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/fallout-light-rail-stabbing-impact-charlotte-political-sphere/275-4a6af9c7-1034-4db6-8ac5-dda5132d86ddWCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeartAll of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

Rider safety will be front and center as Mecklenburg County commissioners prepare for a pivotal decision on the region's transportation future. County commissioners will hear directly from residents on a proposal that could reshape how transit and transportation projects are funded and managed across the county.The Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing and vote Tuesday night on whether to authorize the creation of a Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority (MPTA). The authority would only take effect if voters approve a one-percent countywide sales tax increase on the November ballot.Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/safety-concerns-loom-mecklenburg-county-transit-vote/275-718a672c-6843-4df2-9b97-d1b627af04afWCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeartAll of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

Public transit safety is back in the spotlight this week in Charlotte. Monday, State Rep. Laura Budd is planning to address how Democrats are responding to the deadly light rail stabbing. Tuesday, Mecklenburg County Commissioners are following up with the vote on a possible new transit authority.We're breaking down the latest developments.WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeartAll of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

Republican leaders at the North Carolina Capitol announced new legislation Thursday in response to the killing of Iryna Zarutska on the Charlotte light rail, with plans to unveil the bill package later this month.The proposed legislation could potentially include restarting the death penalty and ending cashless bail, according to Senate Leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Destin Hall.They were joined by Michael Whatley, who recently left his post as RNC Chairman to run for North Carolina's open Senate seat against former Gov. Roy Cooper. Whatley's comments criticized Democratic leaders' "soft-on crime" policies. Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/republicans-propose-reinstating-death-penalty-charlotte-light-rail-murder-case/275-0568c4ee-e5aa-4111-ac7e-a154e43b0e47WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeartAll of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

Today, marks 24 years since the devastating attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. People across the nation and in Charlotte will come together to remember the many lives lost in the tragedy. WCNC Charlotte's Richard DeVayne shares how the city is coming together in remembrance.MORE HEADLINES ON WCNC CHARLOTTE:Police continue hunt for shooter a day after 'political assassination' of conservative activist Charlie KirkRiders question Charlotte's light rail security amid recent tragedyUS businesses brace for over 9% health insurance premium rise in 2026WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeartAll of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

Decarlos Brown, the man accused of stabbing and killing a Ukrainian refugee on a LYNX Blue Line train in August 2025, now faces a federal charge tied to the incident.On Tuesday, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi shared that federal prosecutors officially charged the 34-year-old Brown with one count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system. Brown is accused of killing Iryna Zarutska on the train."Iryna Zarutska was a young woman living the American dream — her horrific murder is a direct result of failed soft-on-crime policies that put criminals before innocent people,” said Bondi in a statement. “I have directed my attorneys to federally prosecute DeCarlos Brown Jr., a repeat violent offender with a history of violent crime, for murder. We will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable act of violence — he will never again see the light of day as a free man.”Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/federal-charge-deadly-blue-line-stabbing-charlotte-nc-9-9-2025/275-e5038d8d-228e-45c4-b572-bf25f2b5a8b8 Also on WCNC Charlotte: 2 incumbents lose Charlotte's Democratic primaries, Krista Bokhari wins Republican District 6WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeartAll of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere. 

Polls open in Charlotte for the municipal primary election on Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 6:30 a.m. and will close at 7:30 p.m. This year’s ballot features several high-profile contests, including the mayor’s office, four at-large Charlotte City Council seats, and multiple district races.What voters see on their ballot depends on their party registration or if they’re unaffiliated. Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/primary-day-charlotte-what-voters-need-know/275-0351e418-a322-43b4-aa5d-dc3678898f3eALSO IN THIS EPISODE:US Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday the federal government will investigate Charlotte's public transit system following the August stabbing death of a Ukrainian woman on the city's light rail, threatening to withhold federal funding from cities that cannot keep their transit systems safe.  Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/dot-investigate-charlotte-transit-safety-deadly-stabbing-iryna-zarutska/275-ecf6ffb7-e08c-4da8-93e0-372ef768a9e0WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeartAll of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

President Donald Trump is expected to look into the killing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska. The Ukrainian woman was brutally stabbed while riding the light rail in Charlotte's South End last month. Trump's comments after surveillance video of the assault was released, sparking a national conversation about public safety and violent crime in major cities. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/deadly-cats-stabbing-surveillance-video-to-be-released/275-347a6496-4a0c-4049-a87d-72533fce7e71Water shortages are disrupting supply chains, cutting crop yields, and pushing up feed costs—especially in water-stressed regions like India and the U.S. Now, experts say these water shortages are becoming bigger than environmental, with tech leaders pressing for new solutions. Farmers are looking to solutions like drip irrigation, which can cut water use by up to 40%, and humidity-sensing tech that delivers water precisely where it's needed. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/connect-the-dots/global-droughts-puts-pressure-on-meat-dairy-production-connect-the-dots/275-e7a2aee3-86af-49bf-a800-dd77d72b201eWCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with news that impacts you from the team at WCNC Charlotte.  SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeartAll of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.