Moving to a new fast-growing city like Charlotte means trying to make new friends and find your community. The older you get, the harder that can feel, especially for caregivers, a new study from The Cigna Group shows.

Why it matters: Americans of all ages struggle with loneliness, Jeanette Bennett, an experimental health psychologist and UNC Charlotte associate professor, tells Axios.

What they're saying: Charlotte has a vibrant social culture, but new folks sometimes have a hard time making connections, Lawrence Nycum, a physician and senior medical principal for Cigna Healthcare, Carolinas at Cigna Healthcare, tells Axios.

• It's a challenge facing the roughly 157 people who move to the Charlotte region daily.

Between the lines: Isolation and loneliness can significantly affect your health, leading to anxiety and depression or a higher risk of developing chronic conditions. It was even deemed an epidemic by the Surgeon General in 2023.

• One way to address this is through social prescriptions, Nycum says. For instance, a doctor will tell their patient to go to the gym, meaning the patient will not only get exercise, but they'll also meet people and possibly go out for coffee and make new friends.
• The goal is to build social connections and, by association, boost one's health. Nycum says they'll be tracking the impact of social prescriptions.

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The City of Charlotte is offering $80,000 forgivable, interest-free loans to property owners who build small, affordable rental homes on their land.

Why it matters: For the city, the new Queen City ADU Program helps address the deepening affordable housing crisis. For homeowners, it's a chance to earn extra income from their backyard.

Context: Accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, could be a converted basement or a standalone backyard building. The home has to have a kitchen, bathroom, sleeping area and separate entrance. They typically work well for seniors and single residents.

How the loan works

⚾️ Glow-in-the-dark baseball is coming to Truist Field in 2026. The exact date is TBD. (Knights)

⛰️ The Charlotte Hornets will renovate the Riverview Community Center in Creston, NC — a community in Western North Carolina that has been impacted by Hurricane Helene. (Ashe Post & Times)

🦈 Customers might accidentally be eating endangered shark, according to a UNC Chapel Hill study that sampled shark meat sold in North Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Washington, DC. (National Geographic)

🗳️ North Carolina lawmakers are considering redrawing the state's congressional maps to try for one more Republican seat in the U.S. House in 2026. (Axios)

🍂 Chief's has added fall beverages: a pumpkin spice latte ($6.50) and an orange cardamom espresso ($6). (Instagram)

A mass shooting in Southport, N.C., left three people dead and several others wounded Saturday night. The suspect, a Marine veteran who was later arrested, opened fire on a crowded waterfront bar from a boat. (CNN)

A dead body was found in the landing gear of an American Airlines plane Sunday morning at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. (WSOC)

President Trump recently told pregnant women to "tough it out" and "don't use Tylenol" during pregnancy, suggesting a link to autism despite inconclusive evidence.

Why it matters: Implying pregnant women are to blame for their child's neurodevelopmental condition — and that their pain should be tolerated — could be emotionally damaging to the mom and physically harmful to the baby.

Zoom out: Autism, like other neurodevelopmental conditions, isn't caused by one thing. Instead, it involves multiple factors, including genetics and environmental exposures, says American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists representative Veronica Gillispie-Bell.

• Studies that the Department of Health and Human Services referenced as "evidence" for limiting prenatal use of acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, because of autism risk, are not conclusive.

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Aura HiFi recently soft-opened in University City, within walking distance of PNC Pavilion.

Why it matters: The team behind the new cocktail lounge hopes the place will serve as a go-to pre-show hangout for concertgoers — and a potential afterparty spot for the performing artists themselves.

What to expect: The boutique lounge transitions from a mellow dining experience to an energetic nightlife scene, with music gradually increasing in intensity throughout the night. The idea is to give guests the option of a full evening in one place — from dinner to dancing — without moving to another venue.

• DJs from Miami and New York will spin open-format sets blending a mix of top 40, house, R&B, and Latin influences.
• The kitchen stays open until 1am for those looking for a late-night bite.

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Here are a few ways to do good and have anything but an ordinary week in Charlotte.

🐾 Monday: Start your week by filling out a volunteer form for Windsor Kittens, a Charlotte-based rescue. | Free | Whenever you have time. | Details

🎤 Tuesday: Sing along with Alex Warren as he performs at the Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre. | $147+ | 8pm | Details

🪡 Wednesday: Learn hand embroidery basics during a SkillPop class. | $38 | 6:30pm | Details

🎭 Thursday: Travel to the land of Oz and defy gravity during the hit musical "Wicked" at Belk Theater. | $46.58+ | 7:30pm | Details

🎙️ Friday: Start your weekend with a Papa Roach & Rise Against concert at Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre. | $47.50 | 7pm | Details

Curry Gate, which is known for its Indian and Nepalese cuisine, recently opened its fifth location in University City.

Zoom in: Earlier this year, the popular restaurant expanded to Matthews. Curry Gate has locations on Graham Street, South Boulevard and in east Charlotte.

What to expect: There are also familiar favorites, plus new dishes, including:

• Thukpa — a spicy noodle soup.
• Nepali fried rice and chow mein, which can be customized with a protein and spice level of your choice.

Stop by: 8205 University City Blvd. It's open Tuesday through Sunday from 12-9pm.