Some Charlotte moms-to-be are considering skipping epidurals to avoid surprise medical bills, Axios' Paige Hopkins writes.

What's happening: Providence Anesthesiology Associates is the exclusive anesthesiology provider for Novant Health, one of Charlotte's largest health care networks. For more than a year, PAA has been in a contract dispute with UnitedHealthcare that left people with that insurance out-of-network.

• UHC and PAA blame the other for the out-of-network change, and ask the other party to compromise in negotiations.

The state of play: Some families have gone home with newborns only to be surprised by bills up to $7,000, as Paige first reported in September. Others are changing their treatment plans to avoid this costly risk altogether.

• Julia Barno spent most of the last weeks of her pregnancy preparing for the pain of delivery. She'd grown to trust her doctor by the time she learned that her epidural wouldn't be in-network, so she didn't want to switch to another doctor and health care system.
• Ultimately, she got the epidural. Now, Barno waits to see what her bill will say. "It's just one blow after another," she says.

The other side: PAA says customers “should not be alarmed” by the potential costs because they’re often reduced. In the event of high bills, PAA says it files appeals with the state insurance department, “which has consistently sided with Providence,” obliging United to cover the patients at in-network rates.

• "No Providence patients have been sent to collections, and fewer than 5% have had to pay anything toward their bill," PAA told Paige.

The bottom line: Barno, who gave birth in December, says the uncertainty is tough.

• "I shouldn’t have even been in that position to begin with," she said.

Full story.

Residents of "Tent City" have until 5pm Friday to be off of the properties, Mecklenburg County ordered late yesterday afternoon.

The state of play: It's been 11 months since the first tent went up at College and 12th Streets. These next three days will be tense for the 140 or so people who now call it home.

• County health director Gibbie Harris said the abatement of imminent hazard order is necessary to address a growing rat problem and the potential spread of disease.
• "I'd love to give more time," Harris told the commission last night. "But ... if I had my way, we would make a change in 24 hours. It is just not safe for people to be living in this environment."

The county says it has enough beds for each person who wants one.

On the ground: Deborah Woolard’s nonprofit, Block Love CLT, has delivered food and clothes to the people she calls her "block family" since the start of the pandemic.

• "I am heated," she told me shortly after hearing the news. "I had no idea."
• But after talking with county officials later in the evening, Woolard says she’ll be at "Tent City" this morning to help the neighbors make the transition.

“I told them get some rest,” she said. “We’re gonna get through this together.”

Go deeper with our "10 days in Tent City" special report from July.

🔥 Hot and fresh from our Job Board. 

1. Certified Medical Assistant – Resource Team – Medical Group at Atrium Health.
2. Compliance Manager, Marketing and Social Media at Wyndham Capital Mortgage.
3. Epic Ambulatory Analyst at Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates.
4. Development and Finance Director at Circle de Luz.
5. Senior Treasury Analyst at Albemarle Corporation.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.
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Traffic climbed steadily at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport since the initial COVID-19 shutdown, but it still saw a 46% drop in passengers in 2020, Axios' Katie Peralta Soloff reports.

Why it matters: Charlotte takes pride having the sixth-busiest airport in the country, but it'll be a while before air travel returns to pre-pandemic levels.

• American Airlines, which operates 90% of daily flights at CLT, has had to pause several flights to Europe because of revenue drops.
• Last month, the airline warned it may have to furlough hundreds of workers in Charlotte this spring, CBJ reported.

The big picture: Charlotte’s drop wasn’t as bad as it was at other airports.

• In Minneapolis, for instance, total passenger traffic was down 62% in 2020 from 2019, Axios Twin Cities reported.

A silver lining: For passengers, slower air travel could mean cheaper airfare.

• Last summer, the average price for a one-way domestic flight dropped to $135, a two-decade low, the New York Times reported, citing numbers from aviation data firm Cirium.

🏡 An excellent story by the Observer's Danielle Chemtob on how the the residents of Howie Acres, a bastion for Black single-family homeownership since the 1940s, are banding together against oncoming development.

🎮 Abari Game Bar is looking to reboot by the end of summer, CBJ reports.

🌳 Local philanthropist Keith Cradle is starting a program to get city kids out into the woods and camping, WCNC says.

Did you know that around 40% of produce grown in the U.S. goes to waste — often before it even sees a store shelf? Hungry Harvest is a produce delivery service on a mission to change that — and help fight food insecurity while they're at it. 

And yup — they deliver in Charlotte.

NoDa is still one of the most interesting neighborhoods to walk. Axios' Symphony Webber looks like she had a fun time making this list. Here are a few of my favorites from her picks, plus a bonus one.

1. Eat a burger at Brooks' Sandwich House.
2. Hunt for vintage tees at The Rat's Nest.
3. Get a gigantic pizza slice at Benny P's.
4. Two words: Mac-n-cheese crawl.
5. Find a patio for food or drinks. The Goodyear House's is beautiful. The NoDa Company Store's is fun.
6. Support the Neighborhood Theatre by seeing a virtual show.

That bonus: Wave to the firefighters with their feet kicked up on the porch at maybe the quaintest little neighborhood firehouse in the city, station No. 7. It's a local historic landmark, you know.

• And of course, whatever you're doing, be safe.

Check out the full list.

The Hornets postponed their next two games — tonight vs. Chicago and Friday vs. Denver — after their most recent opponent, the San Antonio Spurs, had four players come down with COVID-19.

The big picture: The Hornets can't participate in in-person activities like practice or film watching until Friday at the earliest, local NBA writer Rod Boone reports.

• They're still scheduled to host the Golden State Warriors and hometown hero Steph Curry on Saturday.
• The Spurs remain quarantined in Charlotte. (Been there, right?)

My thought bubble: Someone should send Spurs coach Gregg Popovich some wine.

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

• 🏋️ Northwood Office is gearing up for a new outdoor fitness series. You can weigh-in on what types of workouts they should bring to Ballantyne in this survey. We vote for another glow-in-the-dark bootcamp.
• If you're looking to refresh a space in your house (maybe a closet, pantry or home office), California Closets is offering up to 15% off when you upgrade your finish this month. Plus, they're offering virtual consultations. 

My loosely held belief is that it's acceptable to drink a Guinness in August, and if so, the opposite must be true, too. Axios' Brianna Crane tested the to-go margarita scene for anyone who wants to taste summer now.

She rounded up six places for you, but one caught my eye:

• Taco Mama, which has about a dozen flavors.

The state of play: Gov. Roy Cooper extended his executive order to allow bars and restaurants to sell cocktails to-go through the end of March. You can only order one per customer and it must be in a sealed container.

Bri's full list here.