Dot Counts-Scoggins recently recoiled when she heard George Dunlap, the county commission chairman, talk of throwing verbal rocks at Earnest Winston, the superintendent of schools, Axios' Michael Graff writes.

Flashback: Counts-Scoggins, a civil rights icon and career educator, thought back to the Sept. 4, 1957 morning when she walked into all-white Harding High through a crowd of jeering, spitting white kids and parents.

• "I had real stones thrown at me that day," she says in a new statement provided to Axios Charlotte. "Forgive me if I don’t care for seeing our elected officials talk about throwing verbal stones in a Zoom meeting."

What's happening: The county commission will vote today on a budget that would withhold $56 million from CMS — about 10% of its annual allotment — unless the school system presents a plan to close racial achievement gaps by 2024.

• The process has been messy. Dunlap has repeatedly called Winston unqualified. Black faith leaders said it's time to "sound the alarm" about the failure rate of students of color, and the Black Political Caucus called CMS "a house on fire."
• On the eve of the vote, a group of Black leaders, including Counts-Scoggins is speaking out in support of Winston.

Full story: Black leaders come forward to stand with CMS as budget vote looms

This Victorian-style home is nearly 150 years old and is named after the late Hugh Pharr McManaway, the eccentric Charlotte figure and local legend.

• You've probably driven by the gold statue of McManaway at the intersection of Queens and Providence a million times.

About the home: The four-bedroom home just hit the market today at $2.3 million. The house is known for its symmetrical layout and well-preserved architectural details, Axios' Bri Crane reports.

Full story: Historic McManaway House in Myers Park asks $2.3M

💼 Check out these fresh openings from the Job Board

1. Director of institutional giving at Discovery Place.
2. Full-time bridal stylist at Ladies of Lineage Fort Mill.
3. Leasing consultant at Marsh Properties.
4. Assistant vice president, customer experience at Foundation For The Carolinas/E4E Relief.
5. Maintenance technician at Marsh Properties.
6. Kitchen staff at RH.
7. Real estate assistant/transaction coordinator at Savvy + Co. Real Estate.
8. Full charge bookkeeper at Lakeside Project Solutions.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job. 

The Degenerate's first day in business was supposed to be March 17, 2020 — the very day North Carolina ordered all restaurants and bars to close for dine-in service due to COVID-19.

• The NoDa gastropub postponed its opening and finally served its first pierogi one year ago today.
• "There were many moments where we thought our dreams weren’t going to survive COVID and we would lose everything," co-owner Greg Guillorn says.

Today: They're celebrating one year with speciality duck pierogies and drink specials from 4pm-midnight. And they're giving back: 10% of proceeds will benefit Time Out Youth, the LGBTQ youth center.

• Location: 2116 N. Davidson St., Ste. A.

Full weekday planner: 22 things to do in Charlotte this week

• Go deeper on the win, via NASCAR.

After a series of wildly popular cheesesteak pop-ups, Cheat’s Cheesesteak Parlor will open a brick-and-mortar restaurant on Pecan Avenue this summer.

Why it matters: Cheat’s checks all the boxes a good Philly cheesesteak should, and boy is the demand there. Each one of the pop-ups since they started in October have sold out.

• While you wait for the restaurant to open, Cheat's next pop-up is on June 7 at Wooden Robot in South End. Pre-order here.

Full story: Real-deal Philly cheesesteak "whiz wit" coming to Charlotte this summer

In the market for an engagement ring or other special piece this month? You're in luck - Diamonds Direct is offering special financing in June.

The details: From June 1-30, you can get 0% APR for 5 years (subject to credit approval). 

Shop online or stop by the SouthPark showroom. Cheers to spending your money on carats instead of interest. 💎

From $1 million cash prizes to a free dinner with your governor, states and cities are offering incentives as part of their efforts to boost vaccination rates, Axios' Jacob Knutson reports.

North Carolina hasn't gone as big as other states like Ohio and California, but there are a few fun things if you're on the fence about getting vaccinated:

• The N.C. Zoo is hosting a vaccine clinic on June 10-12. Get a shot and get free admission.
• StarMed continues partnering with breweries, giving away free beer in exchange for getting your shot.
• And there's the ongoing free doughnut promo at Krispy Kreme (see below for more).

The North Carolina Rabbit Hole newsletter recently polled their readers on what they think should be our statewide incentives for getting vaxxed:

• "You start handing out $50 Cook Out gift cards and the state's fully vaxxed in a month."
• "Ride-a-long at Charlotte Motor Speedway with Dale Earnhardt Jr."
• My thought bubble: Raffle off one-week beach house stays on the Carolina coast. They're impossible to book right now, and this weather is taunting us.

North Carolina-based doughnut giant Krispy Kreme has given away over 1.5 million free doughnuts to vaccinated individuals across the U.S. since March.

Celebrate National Doughnut Day this Friday with more freebies. Krispy Kreme is giving away two free glazed doughnuts to anyone who has received at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot, and one free doughnut for anyone.

• Sounds like the perfect excuse to check out Krispy Kreme's new-ish South End location with a 24-hour doughnut vending machine.

Related Axios guide: Top 13 donut spots in Charlotte, and what to order at each

🌀 News you can use from our super cool, very important Axios Charlotte partners.

• Looking for ways to stay healthy with minimal effort? OrthoCarolina helped us come up with a few "healthy hacks" in Charlotte. 
• Could your screen time be impacting your skin? Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates broke down the effects blue light can have on your skin.