Charlotte Water will implement mandatory water restrictions on May 15 due to North Carolina's ongoing drought.

Why it matters: More than 90% of Mecklenburg County is experiencing an extreme drought and more than 9% of the county is experiencing an exceptional drought. These conditions could affect crops and livestock at farms across the state.

This is Mecklenburg County's fifth-driest March on record and driest year to date (January–March), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Nonessential water restrictions to help protect the region's water supply include:

• Irrigate lawns and landscapes no more than two days per week, from 6pm to 6am (Tuesdays and Saturdays for odd-numbered addresses and Wednesdays and Sundays for even-numbered addresses).
• Residential swimming pools may be topped off on Thursdays and Sundays, between 6pm and 6am. You may not completely fill an empty swimming pool.
• You may not wash your vehicle at home, but you may use a commercial car wash.
• Water features that do not support aquatic life may not be used.
• Do not power-wash surfaces.
• Save car wash fundraisers for after the drought.

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💼 See who's hiring around the city.

1. Lifestyle Coordinator at As You Wish Charlotte

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A Charlotte nonprofit aims to deliver flowers and gifts to 700 mothers who have lost a child ahead of Mother's Day.

Why it matters: Mother's Day can be especially painful for bereaved mothers, and the effort aims to show that their children are remembered, Watch Love Grow founder Ashley Manning tells Axios.

How it works: Leading up to Mother's Day on Sunday, May 10, Manning's nonprofit Watch Love Grow and several volunteers will package and deliver gifts for bereaved mothers in the Charlotte area.

• A Mother's Love, as the initiative is called, has 575 nominations as of Friday. Recipients can be nominated here.
• The fundraising target is $70,000, with more than $58,000 raised so far.

Context: The project grew out of Manning's initial Valentine's Day Widow Outreach Project in 2021, which continues to this day.

• This is the organization's second year of recognizing mothers. They'll more than double last year's 300 recipients.

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The streets of downtown Raleigh surrounding the General Assembly and State Capitol are typically sleepy on Friday mornings, at least in recent years.

• But on May 1, they swelled with crowds of thousands of people protesting the state of public education in North Carolina.

Why it matters: Friday's protest is the first gathering on its scale that North Carolina educators have organized since rallies in 2018 and 2019 attracted national attention.

What they're saying: "What is this? A school budget for ants?" read one protester's sign with a photo of Ben Stiller from "Zoolander."

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Spirit Airlines announced just after 2am Saturday, May 2, that it's going out of business.

Why it matters: The budget carrier canceled all its flights, and several airlines are offering "rescue" fares to stranded Spirit passengers.

Zoom in: Spirit averaged eight departures per day out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport, accounting for roughly 1% of the airport's total operations, a CLT spokesperson tells Axios.

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News you can use from our partners.

• 📦 What can you build with a box? Find out in "Boxopolis: A Creative Cardboard City" at Discovery Place Science. Bring a one-of-a-kind cardboard city to life in this interactive, community pop-up, only through May 10. Plan your visit.

⚾️ The Charlotte Knights will wear their new Carolina Sweet Teas uniforms for three games this season (June 26, July 23 and Aug. 29). (Knights)

🏥 WakeMed Health is moving to combine with Atrium Health, the state's largest hospital system. (Axios)

🏒 The Carolina Hurricanes beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-0 in the first game of the second round of the playoffs. (Athletic)

From a galaxy far, far away to ways to get outside, there's plenty to do in Charlotte this week.

🪐 Monday: See if the force is with you during Vaulted Oak Brewing's Star Wars Trivia Night. | Free | 7pm | Details

💃 Tuesday: Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at the Music Yard. | Free | 4-11pm | Details

🖼️ Wednesday: See what's new at the Mint Museum. | Free | 5-9pm | Details

🌼 Thursday: Shop local vendors at District One's Spring Market in Uptown. | Free | 11am-3pm | Details

⛳️ Friday: Catch some of the world's best golfers at the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow Club. | Gates open at 7am | $109+ | Details