When Kemba Walker broke the Charlotte Hornets all-time scoring record in 2018, he had tears in his eyes as he said after the game, "I'm not supposed to be here. A lot of people where I'm from, they don't make it."

Why it matters: Today the former NBA All-Star has opened a new youth sports facility in Concord, making sure the next generation of players has a place to develop.

The big picture: The Kemba Walker Sports Academy in downtown Concord provides much needed indoor sports space for not only basketball players, but also volleyball, gymnastics, plus pickelball, to name a few.

Driving the news: The new youth sports hub celebrated its grand opening with the inaugural Kemba Walker Invitational over the weekend. More than 60 teams participated from around the country, including the AAU team Walkers grew up playing with in the Bronx.

What to expect: The 54,000-square-foot facility includes:

• Four full-size high school basketball courts.
• Eight volleyball courts.
• A strength and conditioning center.
• Space for performance analysis, including studying game or practice footage.

Stop by: 24 Spring Street SW Concord

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💼 See who's hiring around the city.

1. Lead Teacher - Primary Program at Charlotte Montessori School.
2. Program Manager Small Business Acceleration at Charlotte Regional Business Alliance.
3. Program Coordinator at Heart Math Tutoring.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job.

After years of setting Charlotteans up on blind dates, we wanted to know: What happened next?

State of play: We checked back in with dozens of former participants from the last three years to find out whether there was a second date — and where their dating lives have taken them since.

The big picture: The responses highlighted something we've heard repeatedly throughout the blind date series — chemistry and compatibility aren't always the same thing.

The intrigue: Many participants described enjoyable dates and an initial spark. But out of the 13 couples we've set up over the last three and a half years, none developed into a long-term relationship.

• Only two, that we know of, made it to a second date.
• Some people eventually found that connection elsewhere — through dating apps, mutual friends or meet-cutes in the wild. Others told us they're happily single and not rushing to change that.

What they're saying: It's a sentiment former participant and "Love Is Blind" alumna Sunni summed up well while reflecting on her dating experiences.

• "Since the Axios date, I did spend some time seeing someone I cared about, but it helped me realize that chemistry alone isn't enough if two people aren't aligned emotionally or looking for the same things," she said.

The bottom line: Finding someone you enjoy spending an evening with is one thing. Finding someone whose goals, values and timing align with yours is something else entirely.

Keep reading

🏀 The Hornets are trading Miles Bridges to the Suns. The deal will bring former Duke star Grayson Allen to Charlotte. (Axios)

A Confederate flag appeared in the North Carolina booth at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C. The booth was organized by private entities, not the state. (WRAL)

⚾️ A $1.7 billion Major League Baseball stadium in Raleigh would get a government-backed financing framework under a proposal by North Carolina Senate leaders to support an MLB expansion bid. But House leaders are against public funding for the stadium. (WRAL)

🌡️ A "heat dome" is forecast to bring dangerously high temperatures to much of the eastern half of the U.S. next week. The extreme heat could last through July 4 celebrations. (Axios)

❤️‍🩹 Thousands attended a memorial in Uptown over the weekend to remember Carlos Abrahams. The Crav'n Caribbean owner died unexpectedly earlier this month. (WCNC)

🏁 Food Network star Guy Fieri is now part-owner of Jimmie Johnson's Statesville-based Legacy Motor Club. (Observer)

🔨 The iconic canopy in front of UNC Charlotte's Kennedy Building will be demolished because of drainage damage. There are no plans to rebuild it. (Observer)

Charlotteans are rallying together to support Venezuelans following two devastating earthquakes struck around 100 miles west of Caracas on June 24.

State of play: More than 1,400 people have died.

The big picture: The U.S. Geological Survey issued its highest-level alert, signaling the back-to-back magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes were expected to cause extensive casualties and severe economic damage, Axios' Rebecca Falconer reported.

Zoom in: Roughly 4,700 Venezuelan immigrants call Mecklenburg County home, Migration Policy Institute data shows.

Ways to help in Charlotte:

Manolo's Bakery: You can donate at the bakery itself (4405 Central Ave. Suite C) or via their nonprofit.

• Bakery owner and immigrant rights advocate Manolo Betancur is looking for a bakery in Venezuela to support, similar to his previous efforts in Ukraine and Western North Carolina.

Editor's note: The Latin Corner not accepting additional donations at this time.

From free outdoor live music to Foodie Book Club, here are five fun things to do this week in Charlotte.

🧠 Monday: Play Mindless Minutia Trivia at Divine Barrel Brewing. | Free | 7pm | Details

📖 Tuesday: Head to Foodie Book Club at Park Road Books to discuss "Land of Milk and Honey" by C. Pam Zhang. | Free | 7pm | Details

🎸 Wednesday: Hear the Johnny Folsom 4 perform a Johnny Cash tribute at Middle C Jazz. | $35.65 | 7pm | Details

🍿 Thursday: Stay cool while you watch "Independence Day" at Carolina Theatre. | $16.05+ | 7pm | Details

🎶 Friday: Head to the Whitewater Center for River Jam to kickstart your holiday weekend celebrations. | Free | 7pm | Details