NC Residents encouraged to prepare for hurricane season

Friday, May 31st, 2013, 2:09pm

The Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1, and Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin is reminding all North Carolinians to prepare for severe weather by visiting www.NCHurriClaims.com.

NCHurriClaims.com is North Carolina’s source of insurance-related information pertaining to hurricanes and other natural disasters. The website includes tips for before and after a storm, descriptions of insurance coverages, important contact information and more.

“Everyone in North Carolina is at potential risk of property damage or loss from hurricanes or other natural disasters,” said Goodwin. “Don’t wait until a storm is approaching to prepare.”

To prepare for hurricane season:

Review your insurance policies. Make sure that you have appropriate insurance coverage for your needs. Know what your policy does and does not cover.

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Police have special message about high blood pressure

Submitted by Joe Hester, Community News Producer

Friday, May 31st, 2013, 8:00am

Police have special message about high blood pressure

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is holding a Community Blood Drive this week.

Most of the 68 million people living with high blood pressure don't realize that they are eligible to donate blood.

The Police Department would like to remind those individuals that they may still give life-saving blood, even if they take blood pressure medication.

Donors can make their contribution at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, located at 601 E. Trade Street in Charlotte, Friday May 31, from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.

For more infromation on the Blood Drive, call 704-972-4700.

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Commission chair thinks County's list doesn't make sense

Submitted by Dedrick Russell on Thursday, May 30th, 6:44 pm

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- There could be a compromise when it comes to building new schools in Charlotte-Mecklenburg school (CMS) district. CMS wants to build a new K8 magnet school in District 6. The money could be made available for that school through the next bond referendum, but that might not happen because the county doesn't see it as a top priority.

CMS came up with its priority list but the county can override it with their priority list. CMS had the new magnet school at number 15 but the county had it at number 29.

Parents living on the south side of town in District 6 have problems with that.

"I don't think it's a good thing," CMS Parent Stephanie Johnston. "It's definitely going to hurt this area definitely."

Parents are also concerned in the county's top priority list, there are no projects for District 6 mentioned. County commission chairperson Pat Cotham believes all areas should be represented in a bond referendum.

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CATS revisits plans for disabled vets after WBTV investigation

Submitted by Steve Crump

Thursday, May 30th, 2013, 6:24pm

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- Charlotte Area Transit officials said Thursday Afternoon they will revisit the VA clinic to see what it will take to get their vehicles closer to the front door.

As we've seen several days this week, getting health care can be a challenge...and means that some are traveling another difficult road.

North Carolina Congressman Robert Pittenger has a simple request for decision makers at CATS: Give the place another look and try again to make it more accessible for those who rely on public transportation.

"They've got a prosthetic limb. They're in wheel chairs. These people have real needs,"he said.

It is a 2/10ths of a mile walk from the transit stop at Back Creek Drive to this health care facility, and can be a struggle for those who are disabled.

We sat down with Larry Kopf who is the planning director with CATS who said despite the difficulties, he plans to honor the congressman's request.

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Services for English language learners and their families

Submitted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 30th, 9:06 am

Faculty at Huntigntowne Farms Elementary are putting the finishing touches on their summer programs including ways for English learners and their parents to improve their communication skills.

"We gave them strategies that they can work at home how they can use their daily conversations to enhance to improve the vocabulary background," said ESL Teacher Martha Pico.

The idea is to encourage English as a second language or ESL families to help their young ones develop important language skills before the next school year.

"We have 272 LEP students, which means low English proficiency students," said Pico.

The course is to be done at home.

"That support that they can receive from parents at home, that's very very valuable," added Pico.

During the summer parents and their children will read specific stories.

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New numbers show economy improving

Submitted by Melissa Hankins

Wednesday, May 29th, 2013, 7:45pm

New numbers released Wednesday show that the unemployment rate fell for the third consecutive month in Mecklenburg County. Charlotte, Gastonia, and Rock Hill are all adding jobs, and the leisure and hospitality industry alone added almost 7,000 positions in April.

That lift is encouraging a boom in building.

At Ballantyne Village, a hotel developer called Pharros Hospitality just bought three parcels of land, and the same company is also building a big hotel at the Langtree project in Mooresville.

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Tax hike likely for Charlotte residents

Submitted by Steve Crump

Wednesday, May 29th, 2013, 7:18pm

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- If you live in Charlotte, there's a pretty good chance your taxes are going up. In a preliminary vote Wednesday afternoon, council members voted Nine-to-two for a new budget.

Tax increases don't normally happen when folks are running for reelection, but that didn't stop some council members from taking a big chance. The package of more than 800 Million dollars buys new streets and sidewalks.

It also pays for new affordable housing initiatives, and this funding plan allows the next eight years allows Bojangles Arena to be up-fitted as well.

But will voters take it out on incumbent council members this fall? Some council members say they're not overly concerned.

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