Axios Charlotte

September 17, 2024
Hello, Tuesday. It's Ashley, reminding you a partial lunar eclipse will shave a sliver off the top of the full supermoon tonight.
π§ Weather: High 72.
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π Happy birthday to our Axios Charlotte members Claudia Cano Wolff, Thomas Whitlock, Heather Kuelz and Mark Norman!
βοΈ Situational awareness: Ten new gates open at Charlotte Douglas International Airport today.
Today's Smart Brevityβ’οΈ count is 870 words β a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: π Benching Bryce
The Carolina Panthers have decided to bench quarterback Bryce Young, first-year head coach Dave Canales confirmed Monday.
Why it matters: The Panthers are 0-2 and desperately need an offensive spark. They've turned to 36-year-old veteran quarterback Andy Dalton to provide that, or at least throw a touchdown, which Young has failed to do this season.
The intrigue: Despite the young quarterback getting booed by fans Sunday, Canales emphatically said "Bryce is our quarterback" following Sunday's loss to the Chargers.
What they're saying: During his 12-minute press conference Monday, Canales declined to provide specifics about why he opted for Dalton over Young, beyond saying he feels Dalton gives them the best chance to win.
- Canales said after watching the tape this was the "best decision for the team" and declined to give a timeline or indicate whether the quarterback transition was permanent or temporary.
- There will likely be other changes to the offense, he confirmed.
By the numbers: If you were around for the 1-15, 2-14 and 2-15 seasons, none of those compare to the Panthers being outscored 73-13 during their first two games this season.
Flashback: The Panthers traded up to select Young, the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner, No. 1 overall in the 2023 NFL draft.
- In exchange, they gave the Chicago Bears the No. 9 pick, a 2024 first-round pick, wide receiver D.J. Moore and two second-round picks.
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- Service Desk Technician at Charlotte Latin School.
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2. βοΈ Coffee shop replaces Stroke in Plaza Midwood
Yemeni coffee shop Qahwah House will open Oct. 10 in Plaza Midwood, where Stroke (1318 Pecan Ave.) used to be.
Why it matters: Owner Sulaiman Abidu tells Axios it'll be a late-night option for people who want a place to gather that's not centered on alcohol.
What they're saying: "Charlotte doesn't have a nightlife outside of bars and hookah lounges," Abidu said. "I don't drink, I don't smoke, so I find myself in a pickle."
The vibe: The 2,700-square-foot coffee shop seats about 90 people inside and about 30 on its outdoor patio.
- It'll open 6am-1am on weekdays and 7am-2am on weekends.
Stop by: Qahwah House will open at 1318 Pecan Ave.
3. π Experience Nicholas Sparks' new book set in North Carolina
Beloved author Nicholas Sparks' new book "Counting Miracles" comes out Sept. 24. It's set in Asheboro, N.C., about a 90-minute drive from Charlotte.
Here are a few ways to explore Asheboro like the characters in the book:
π Head to the zoo.
β° Go for a hike in the Uwharrie National Forest.
πΊ Grab a beer downtown.
4. π€ Concert news and other speed reads
π€ Thomas Rhett's "Better in Boots" tour will stop at PNC Music Pavilion on Aug. 1. Tickets go on sale on Sept. 20 at 10am on ThomasRhett.com.
β½οΈ Carolina Ascent remains undefeated after Sunday's 2-0 win vs. Spokane. (Axios)
π Flournoy Development Group, an Atlanta developer, plans to buy land previously planned for Centene's $1 billion corporate University City campus.(π CBJ)
π³ Vice President Kamala Harris' rally in Charlotte last week was the largest rally for Democrats in the city since one for Barack Obama in 2008. (WFAE)
π« Students were evacuated from Bailey Middle School in Cornelius after a bomb threat was reported Monday morning. Hough High School was placed on modified lockdown as a precaution due to its proximity, per CMS. (WBTV)
π³ The State Board of Elections reprimanded a Henderson County elections board member for writing "partisan statements" in an email but has yet to take any further action. (WLOS)
- "I want to strongly state my belief that if you do not intervene immediately either legislatively or legally, we are going to lose NC to the Dems in November which will likely mean we lost the country," the board member, Linda Rebuck, wrote in an email to Republican lawmakers.
π Charlotte 49ers director of athletics Mike Hill has signed a four-year contract extension, per a release from the university.
βοΈ Charlotte Douglas International Airport recently added a LEGO vending machine on Concourse A near gates A 23-25, across from Smashburger. (X)
π Johnson C. Smith football is 3-0. (The Charlotte Post)
5. π Hornets practice facility moves forward
The Charlotte City Council zoning committee approved zoning changes for the roughly 1.9-acre lot off Caldwell Street across from Spectrum Center, which will be the future site of a new Charlotte Hornets practice facility.
Catch up quick: The petition was recommended for approval in August.
What's next: The project is still in the planning stages and is expected to open for the start of the Charlotte Hornets 2026-2027 season.
- Next steps include working with land development and other city departments in the permitting and review processes, per a city spokesperson.
6. π§ 1 fun thing to go: Ted is back in your inbox
Ted Williams, Charlotte Agenda co-founder and media maven, is back in your inbox starting Thursday with a new newsletter called Tiny Money.
Why it matters: With the Agenda, Ted forced people who hate change in media to rethink how they survive in this industry.
What to expect: A "bite-sized newsletter breaking down Charlotte trends and headlines that impact your wallet" according to TinyMoney.com, plus weekly money polls, personal finance confessions, job openings and it wouldn't be a Ted creation without "bullish hot takes."
How it works: Tiny Money will publish every Thursday at 11am.
My thought bubble: Ted gave several journalists, myself included, a place to call home.
β€οΈ Do good: Donate new or gently used washcloth-size cloth to Carolina Raptor Center's raptor hospital. You can drop them off any day of the week between 10am and 4pm at their visitor's center (6000 Sample Road, Huntersville).
Thanks to Katie Peralta Soloff for editing this newsletter.
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