Counter- in Wesley Heights has earned one Michelin Star, plus a Michelin Green Star for sustainability, the famed guide announced in a Monday night ceremony in Greenville, S.C.

Why it matters: This is the first Michelin Award for a North Carolina restaurant in the guide's inaugural evaluation of the South. It's also a major milestone for Charlotte's dining scene and recognition for chef-owner Sam Hart's boundary-pushing tasting-menu restaurant.

• Lang Van, the family-run east Charlotte Vietnamese restaurant, nabbed a coveted Bib Gourmand award.
• Colleen Hughes, the James Beard-nominated beverage director at Supperland, received Michelin's Exceptional Cocktails Award.

Driving the news: Michelin's inaugural American South list features 10 restaurants with one Star and one with two Stars.

• Emeril's in New Orleans landed two Stars.
• The selection spans 228 restaurants across 44 cuisine types, plus 50 Bib Gourmands and four special awards.

Michelin Stars: Elsewhere throughout the Carolinas, these restaurants also received one star:

• Scoundrel in Greenville, S.C.
• Vern's in Charleston
• Wild Common in Charleston
• Malagón Mercado y Taperia in Charleston

Zoom in: Inspectors call Counter- "sui generis," praising its immersive, narrative-driven tasting menus that weave in music, nostalgia and personal history.

• The experience leans hard on local sourcing — ingredients come from 20+ nearby farms — and a robust fermentation/preservation program to cut waste.

Yes, and: Lang Van, a beloved Charlotte spot for 35 years known for its authentic Vietnamese dishes and year-round Christmas lights, was one of several Southern recipients of Michelin's Bib Gourmand award, which recognizes value, or great food at reasonable prices.

• Among the other Bib Gourmand recipients in the Carolinas were Leon's Oyster Shop in Charleston, Little Chango in Asheville and Mala Pata in Raleigh.

Read more about Charlotte's Michelin star ... Plus: Michelin Guide's South edition puts Carolina restaurants on the map

💼 See who's hiring around the city.

1. Associate Vice President - Communications at Central Piedmont Community College.
2. Police Captain at Town of Matthews.
3. Digital Support Specialist at Spectrum.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job.

Today, Charlotte voters will elect city council and school board representatives, and make a potentially transformational decision on the countywide transportation sales tax.

Why it matters: Local elections are often overlooked and result in low turnout, but they can greatly affect how our tax dollars are prioritized and how the region grows.

How it works: Polls are open 6:30am to 7:30pm. Registered voters should go to their assigned polling place. Find yours here.

Among the races we're watching today:

Will the transportation referendum pass?

As Charlotte grows, it's widely agreed that the city needs a stronger public transit network to stave off worsening traffic.

• But there's debate over whether a 1-cent transportation tax, dubbed "regressive" by critics, is the right way to get there.
• If it passes, the tax is estimated to generate $19.4 billion over 30 years for road, bike, pedestrian, rail and bus projects.

Will a council seat flip to blue?

Tariq Bokhari narrowly held onto the District 6 seat by just a few hundred votes in 2023 and 2022. He served as one of only two Republicans on the 11-member council for years, representing the SouthPark area.

• But he stepped down in the spring to take a role with the Trump administration. His wife, Krista Bokhari, is running for his former seat. She's up against Democrat Kimberly Owens, a lawyer who's advocated with groups like Moms Demand Action and Planned Parenthood.
• District 6 is one of the last remaining competitive areas in Charlotte for the GOP.

Keep reading

Mecklenburg County is rolling out $740,000 in emergency food assistance to support county residents who depend on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Why it matters: SNAP benefits, commonly known as food stamps, are one of many areas affected by the ongoing federal government shutdown. Roughly 138,500 people in Mecklenburg County who rely on the program haven't received their November SNAP benefits.

By the numbers: SNAP benefits distributed through Mecklenburg County equal $24 million per month, or roughly $175 per person.

Zoom in: The county plans to provide 28,000 boxes with enough food for a week that will be distributed by local nonprofit Nourish Up. Food is also available at each of the county's community resource centers.

Read more about what the county is doing

News you can use from our partners.

• The final "Mad About Modern" tour will be on Nov. 8. Get exclusive access to three Charlotte-area homes inspired by modern + midcentury design and architecture. Tour proceeds support the Charlotte Museum of History. Buy tickets.

Charlotte's incoming police chief, Estella Patterson, said Monday she intends to fill all officer vacancies as she assumes the role, then seek funding to increase the size of the city's roughly 1,850-officer force.

Why it matters: Amid rising citywide safety concerns, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has grappled with a persistent officer shortage and dwindling confidence in local law enforcement.

Catch up quick: Patterson was named Charlotte's first female chief on Friday. She begins her role Dec. 1.

• She spent 25 years with CMPD, rising from a recruit to a deputy chief, before becoming Raleigh's chief for four years. She "retired" in March.

What she's saying: "My number one priority will be to look inwardly within the department to increase the morale and the wellness," Patterson told reporters at an introductory press conference, "because when our employees are whole, they can better serve the whole community."

Read about Patterson's other priorities

Business uncertainty loomed over Gov. Josh Stein's visit to Japan and Taiwan last week, the governor told Axios exclusively. (Axios)

🛜 A $50 million Broadband Recovery Program will provide grants to internet providers to help them rebuild and repair their broadband infrastructure destroyed by Hurricane Helene. (Gov. Josh Stein's office)

Ally Financial, which employs about 10,000 nationwide and about 2,200 in Charlotte, is cutting roughly 2% of its workforce. (🔒 CBJ)

⚡️ AC/DC will perform at Bank of America Stadium on July 11. Tickets go on sale Friday, Nov. 7, at 10am. (Instagram)

A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer is under criminal investigation after a viral video allegedly shows the officer slamming a female West Charlotte High School student to the ground. (WBTV)

Santa Claus is coming to town, and he's stopping at several local malls, including:

• SouthPark: Nov. 7
• Concord Mills: Nov. 11.
• Carolina Place: Nov. 21.
• Northlake: Nov. 22.
• Charlotte Premium Outlets: Nov. 29.

If you go: Santa will be available for photo ops at each location until Dec. 24.

• Photo packages range from $39.99-$49.99.

Bonus: Santa will also visit the newly opened custom picture frame shop Framebridge. He'll stop by the South End store on Saturday and Myers Park on Sunday.

Find more holiday things to do in our holiday guide