Axios Charlotte

August 03, 2026
Hello, Monday. It's Ashley, who recently read "Murder Bites." More on that below.
🌧️ Weather: Showers and thunderstorms. High 84. Low 71.
🎈 Happy birthday to our members Helen Katz, Aleksa Sanders, Reed Griffith, and Terri Fishman!
🎧 Sounds like: "Rubber Band Man" by Mumford & Sons.
🍽️ 1 fun thing: We're giving away $200 Henrietta's gift cards to two lucky Axios Charlotte members to celebrate hitting 1,500 members. Join by Aug. 5 for your chance to win!
This newsletter is 976 words, a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: A major week for hemp
This week will be a pivotal one for North Carolina's hemp industry as the N.C. House considers legislation that would ban most intoxicating THC products.
Why it matters: With a federal ban looming in November, the industry hoped that the state legislature might find a compromise that would introduce age restrictions but keep hemp products on the shelves.
Yes, but: Earlier this month the N.C. Senate advanced a bill that would prohibit people under 21 from buying hemp products and cap THC content at 0.4 mg.
- The hemp industry estimates that if adopted, 95% of hemp products sold at vape shops and craft breweries across the state would be illegal.
Driving the news: The N.C. House will consider that language when it gathers this week in Raleigh, says Demi Dowdy, a spokesperson for House speaker Destin Hall.
- "Speaker Hall recognizes the need for stronger hemp regulations, especially safeguards to ensure these products are not sold to minors," she said in a statement. "Whether or not the House adopts House Bill 328 is ultimately up to the Republican caucus."
Flashback: The lack of age restrictions on hemp products has become a major concern for lawmakers.
- "Two things that there should be no controversy over is that these products should not be in the hands of kids, and even if you believe that adults should have them, we should be telling the adults what's actually in them," Republican state Sen. Michael Lee said about the bill.
The other side: Law enforcement agencies argue that not passing the bill would continue to allow children to buy intoxicating THC products.
The intrigue: In the Senate earlier this month, most Democrats voted with Republicans.
New jobs to check out
💼 See who's hiring around the city.
- Sales Associate (Part-time) at Mecklenburg County Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
- Economic Development Manager at Town of Cornelius.
Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.
Hiring? Post a job.
2. 🎶 Concerts around town this month
There's a lot of nostalgia with the lineup of concerts coming to Charlotte this August. Here are some of the biggest shows:
🎙️ Aug. 4: Evanescence returns with striking vocals, orchestral rock and those early-2000s anthems that defined a generation of rock fans.
If you go: Truliant Amphitheater at 7pm. Tickets start at $49.
🎸 Aug. 7: The Fray is back on tour, this time with Dashboard Confessional, giving fans another chance to hear hits like "How to Save a Life" and "Over My Head" live.
If you go: Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre at 7pm. Tickets start at $27.50.
🎤 Aug. 9: Mumford & Sons is back, this time with Medium Medium as their opener. Expect their signature folk-rock sound, newer songs and classics like "Little Lion Man" and "I Will Wait."
If you go: Spectrum Center at 7:30pm. Tickets start at $48.45.
3. 🍨 Ice cream loading and other speed reads
🍨 Artisan's Palate is rolling out new house-made ice cream, which will include rotating seasonal flavors. It will start later this week with limited quantities during dinner, according to a restaurant spokesperson.
🚘 The Matheson Avenue bridge is expected to be closed for construction between North Tryon Street and Jordan Place until Halloween. (WSOC)
🏗️ Johnson C. Smith University has begun demolishing Liston Hall, a dorm building on its campus. (QCity Metro)
🚗 North Carolina lawmakers and business owners are pushing for reforms to rein in what they call the "Wild West" of towing. (WBTV)
4. 🗓️ Plans for the week
From ways to get outside to community conversations, there's plenty to do in Charlotte this week.
🧱 Monday: Get creative at LEGO Build & Talk at Discovery Place Science where families participate in LEGO building activities and conversations about how to navigate the digital world. | Included in admission | Here through Aug. 31 | Details
🏳️🌈 Tuesday: Head to the Levine Museum of the New South for Pride Was a Protest: Then and Now, a community conversation about the Pride movement. | Pay-what-you-can | 6-7:30pm | Details
🐕 Wednesday: Bring your dog to a Charlotte Knights' game for Bark in the Park. The Knights face the Durham Bulls. | $20+ | 7:04pm | Details
🍿 Thursday: Watch "The Wizard of Oz" at Camp North End. | Free | 8:30pm | Details
🎤 Friday: Listen to live music during River Jam at the Whitewater Center. | Free | 7pm | Details
🌀 The loop (we're keeping you in it)
News you can use from our partners.
- 🎥 Experience giant-screen wonder in a bite-sized format during the Dome Docs Summer Series at the Charlotte IMAX Dome Theatre. Meet dinosaurs, swim with dolphins and explore the Moon in films under 25 minutes. Get tickets.
5. 📚 1 book rec to go: "Murder Bites"
Mimi Montgomery's debut novel "Murder Bites" comes out tomorrow.
Context: Montgomery is a Gaston Day School alumna and an Axios D.C. reporter.
What to expect: The book focuses on Margot, a city transplant who feels like an outsider in a dog-obsessed small South Carolina town. Everything turns upside down when the local dog walker is murdered and Margo finds herself the prime suspect.
- "Murder Bites" explores how "none of us are what we seem," Montgomery tells me.
Zoom out: Montgomery calls the D.C. area home now, but when she visits her family in Gastonia, ideal stops include a trip to the Whitewater Center, a brewery and a hike at Crowders Mountain.
What's next: Montgomery will be in town for upcoming book events:
- Sept. 5: Belmont Bookshop LitFest in Belmont
- Sept. 8: Belmont Bookshop at Gaston Day School in Gastonia
✏️ I hope you do a little good and help Thrift Pony reach their goal of $15,000 during their 3rd Annual Adopt a Teacher fundraiser. Thrift Pony raised $10,000 and supported 75 teachers with classroom supplies. Donate here.
🎶 McKenzie thinks August is one of the best concert months.
🎤 Alexis hates that she missed Jay-Z's New York shows and is wondering what it'll take for Charlotte to make the list of upcoming stops.
🤘 Alex is ready to get this Monday rockin'.
☕️ Melissa is recharging after this weekend's urban hike.
Thanks to Jen Burkett for editing this newsletter.
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