kayman

I could post that information, but it's skewed to show "equality" using that warped STI formula from NCDOT. For the record, that STI Law is pure garbage and I've seen better allocations put together by the FDOT standalone divisions, GDOT, or TXDOT. NCDOT needs to overhaul its need to serve the metropolitan area from needs standpoint from highway, non-motorized corridor improvements (pedestrian scrambles, allowing state funds to be used for greenways, multiuse paths, and sidewalk improvements), & better assistance with regional mass transit development and implementation. It's about equity versus "equality" due to the overwhelming economic strength of the Metro Charlotte area and rapidly growing needs of this region in comparative standing versus other areas that have more state support .

Once again, NCDOT is at fault for this delay, and there is nothing local governments of CoC, Mecklenburg County or the Charlotte MPO (CRTPO) can do speed up the process. Instead of building unnecessary intestate highway connections in the Piedmont Triad or the Triangle, NCDOT should be widening and adding managed toll lanes to the 8-mile stretch of I-77 from I-277 to the North Carolina-South Carolina state line. This 8-mile stretch is way more congested for longer periods of time (nearly 16 hours daily) than any other single corridor in this state or SC. ETA: It's always amusing to see confusing emojis when it's the truth that NCDOT has repeatedly screws Charlotte on long-term investments. Even when the region goes on its own then it creates new "technically supported" paradigms to not support future investments like the STI law. It says a lot about said posters' comprehensive and bias, not my informed opinion on the topic since I work with NCDOT regularly...

Lovelace is also a common Lumbee surname as well

Yep, I was at SouthPark on Friday and Saturday and noticed that then.

The fact the you ignored what is happening in Virginia, Maryland, and DC which is more relevant to North Carolinians than Oregon tells me you want to compare apples to oranges. I'm good on not further discussing anything with you on this topic.

All I know is this. NCDOT should stop trying to block the rollout of congestion management tools in this region. Those measures such as ramp metering, flexible managed lanes allowing HOV 3+/transit vehicles usage on all freeways, and the completion of grade separation and upgrades to the freeway standards to Independence inside of I-485 and Briar Creek Road and upgrading to grade separated freeway standards to NC 16/Brookshire from I-277 to I-485 Northwest. All of those things have been planned and, on the table, since the early 2010s but NCDOT has not been supportive of these measures. For the non-freeway, grade separated expressway roads measures pedestrian scrambles at intersections of two non-arterial or collector (i.e., locally maintained roads) in very densely developed walkable neighborhoods and communities, They also need to fully support a regional rideshare and vanpool network (with a guaranteed ride home for emergencies) and the formation of a regional transit authority for our region to assist in getting more formalized technical support staff and potential board for transit investments across the board.

Legalization of marijuana shouldn't be blocked because some parents or legal guardians can't keep up with their adolescences, thus I can nor will continue to entertain the tangent about adolescence usage. That is my point. The purpose of legalization of marijuana is for adults (18+) who want to purchase it or cannabis from a state-regulated and taxed retail shop can do so and the state receives the tax revenue from the legalized monetary transactions. North Carolina has little to nothing in common with Oregon aside from them both being states and on respective ocean coastlines. What has and is occurring in Oregon isn't exactly germane to the argument. It's like comparing Alabama to New York or Arizona to Illinois. This might be a case study of why some mostly rural states like Oregon, Colorado, etc. should be better regulating its permittees related to tax evasion and subverting the state regulatory codes for legalization of marijuana. North Carolina, like its peers Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia have shown that it can benefit from its legalization. That's what we can refer to as Virginia has a similar state code (constitution), economic conditions, political makeup and environment, and our direct regional peer to the north.

Yep, I've heard similar things as well. The Nikole Hannah-Jones recruitment situation and fallout exposed the UNC System weaknesses. It has gotten worse especially when it comes with the system’s reputation. I'm from Alabama and the UNC System doesn't want to get the negative rep that the UA System has to non-sports collegiate athlete recruits. There are severe consequences for such biased perspectives of the NCGOP political puppets controlling the UNC System as of late.

I get it, but our peer states of VA, DC, & MD have shown it is the tax revenue would be beneficial if regulated by the state's coffers. We can't stop recreational marijuana usage rather regulate & tax it. Also, it is easier rather than criminalize people with felonies for non-violent offenses who use it for medicinal or mental health anxiety reasons. The issues in Southern Oregon sound like the state not doing its job of regulating applicants and operators rather than the marijuana legalization itself. Also, it sounds like tax evasion is occuring which illegal but some the state of Oregon should Fentenyl and marijuana are two different substances. Fentenyl is a kin to cocaine and other opioids which used as a recreational chemical substance is highly addictive. Whereas, marijuana has yet to show any negative addictive effects except people's reflex recactions are slower while high on via consumption or smoking it similarly to alcohol consumption.

https://www.wral.com/story/unc-system-may-eliminate-diversity-goals-and-jobs-at-17-campuses-across-the-state/21383986/ No local media outlet in the Charlotte DMA has covered this story. WBTV, Channel 9, WCNC, WCCB, & Fox 46 should all be covering this story as it will negatively impact UNCC & Appalachian State recruitment efforts of outside and non-white prospective students at both rapidly growing public universities. This is a very bad idea and shows that too many bigoted individuals in the GOP-led NC General Assembly are attempting to undo years of positive good will and inclusive reputation of the UNC System. As a black person, this will directly hurt the UNC System HBCUs such as NC A&T, NC Central, Winston-Salem State, Elizabeth City State, and Fayetteville State universities. They seem to not understand that would eliminate programs that help first-generation of college graduates from black families available at these said HBCUs and UNCC, which has a large black student body. Many of whom have limited resources due to them being the first in their families to pursue higher education degrees and come from often-time meager means. The full UNC Board of Governors vote on this will occur on Thursday, May 23rd.

I say go on and give them both. Casinos work for Mississippi, who actually has local home rule governance in all 82 counties. Through economic development fun the casinos, it works at helping these rural and impoverished counties to fund basic public welfare services and fund their public local education districts in Tunica and Neshoba counties. It should help all 3 rural counties with economic development and leisurely tourism revenue. At this point, North Carolina should have long legalized and regulated via taxation casual usage of marijuana or cannabis. We ought to take a note from our peers to the north Virginia, DC, and Maryland and go on and follow suit. It would help as well.

Considering this region's layout and economics, Wegman's will likely open 6-7 locations here including 1 in the South Carolina suburbs. There will likely be the 2 intown urban-layout locations considering the demographics and the growth of our intown population.

I've always said Charlotte historically underinvested in its regional tourism industry for a major city with a major hub airport in the top 10. It's good to have business tourism but it is great to have business, sports, and leisurely tourism. Charlotte must continue to capitalize and invest in all three. It will pay off as we must continue to make Charlotte the hub of both Carolinas for tourism on all fronts.

Technically I'm not even allowed to say anything publicly not even on SM. Stay tuned

Also another thing I can add without revealing too much, Amtrak is working behind the scenes to get more passenger service to and from Washington to Charlotte. Amtrak won't overtly admit that publicly but that along with more long-term passenger services to Charlotte in general. These movements will likely elevate desirability of passenger rail in Iredell and Mecklenburg from the north, which will yield more TOD philosophy to planning & long-range development along the Red Line and eventual Charlotte to Winston-Salem passenger rail corridors. However, the state (NCDOT Rail & NCRR) have aimed at connecting Raleigh to places like Columbia & Wilmington first. There are talks of something else transit & rail-related that might satisfy those who complaining about a certain regional hub, but I'll wait for David Hodges of WBTV 3, Joe Bruno of Channel 9, or WCNC scoop that. The state has basically admitted they dropped the ball on this and attempted to blame Charlotte for this but might own up to it by creating a possible fix. When it happens then I'll confirm it's true and incoming.