North Carolina lawmakers eviscerated Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden in a hearing Monday in Raleigh.

Why it matters: What was billed as a way to address crime in the state's largest city, with mostly GOP lawmakers grilling the Democratic sheriff over a host of issues, including immigration, turned into an all-out questioning of his competency to serve.

Catch up quick: The August 2025 fatal stabbing of Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte's light rail drew widespread GOP scrutiny, including from President Trump.

• Charlotte political and law enforcement leaders were called to testify before the House Select Committee on Oversight and Reform on their roles in keeping the city safe.
• Rep. Brenden Jones, the committee chair, said Charlotte leaders were brought to Raleigh "for one reason: incompetence."

The big picture: Throughout the hours-long hearing, McFadden dodged questions related to accusations against him. Most were documented in a petition that prompted an ongoing SBI investigation.

Flashback: In January, Rep. Carla Cunningham and four of McFadden's former employees filed a court petition accusing him of misconduct and extortion.

• McFadden was also accused of mismanaging resources, including directing on-duty deputies to drive people to bars and strip clubs in county-owned vehicles.

In his first question to McFadden, Jones asked if deputies ever drove people to bars and strip clubs.

• McFadden declined to respond, even hypothetically.
• McFadden also refused to comment on inmate deaths, citing five ongoing lawsuits. Since McFadden took office in 2018, 21 inmates have died.

At one point, McFadden could not say which branch of government he operates under.

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💼 See who's hiring around the city.

1. Advancement Coordinator at Trinity Episcopal School.
2. Assistant Head of Upper School at Charlotte Country Day School.
3. Senior Salesforce Admin Specialist at Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job.

Panda Fest, a popular Asian food and culture festival, announced it will return to Concord this spring.

Why it matters: The outdoor event debuted last year at Ballantyne's Backyard, drawing thousands of attendees and mixed reviews, with complaints ranging from prices to long lines.

Zoom in: The three-day festival will be held at Route 29 Pavilion to accommodate a larger check-in area, more room to explore, easier parking and an enhanced layout.

What to expect: Over 80 food stalls serving 200+ dishes from countries like China, Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines.

• Plus live performances, demonstrations and a vendor market.

State of play: This spring, menu items are expected to be between $7-$25.

If you go: Panda Fest will run April 17-19 at 5650 Sandusky Blvd., across from Charlotte Motor Speedway.

• Tickets go on sale Feb. 13 at 10am and start at $10.

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The Improper Pig is officially firing up the smoker in the heart of Plaza Midwood.

Driving the news: The Charlotte-born barbecue joint, known for mixing smoked meats with Asian flavor, opens its new flagship restaurant at 1600 Central Ave. on Monday, Feb. 16.

Context: The new restaurant replaces the former Pizza Peel & Tap Room on the corner of Central and Thomas avenues.

• It also marks a rebrand for the restaurant, which first opened in Cotswold in 2014 and has since expanded to Fort Mill and Rea Farms.
• The concept grew out of Stomp, Chomp & Roll's earlier Mama Fu's brand and was featured on The Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" for its creative toppings.

Dig in: The flagship will debut new menu items, like a kimchi burger with wagyu beef, smoked curry rolls and a miso-glazed salmon.

• It'll also have a grab-and-go patio bar, serving slushies and catering to the Plaza Midwood social district.

Take a look around with us

🥐 Coquette will close Feb. 22 and reopen at its new Uptown location on March 3, its owners confirmed to Axios.

🍕 Miami-born pizza chain Mister 01 will open its first North Carolina location at The Bowl at Ballantyne this fall.

👩‍🍳 Food content creator Maxine Sharf (@maxiskitchen) will host a cookbook signing at Williams Sonoma SouthPark on Mar. 5 at 6pm.

🛍️ Petra's in Plaza Midwood has opened a daytime consignment shop, "Little Shop of Petra's." It's open Thursday-Saturday noon-6pm.

📈 Charlotte added the second-most jobs of any metro area in 2025, highlighting the city's continued economic growth. (Charlotte Ledger)

🚫 West Morehead Street at Calvert Street (just off I-77) will remain closed until further notice as crews rebuild the roadway following a water main break. (WBTV)

News you can use from our partners.

• Single, coupled or "it's complicated," (Un)Valentine's Science on the Rocks is back Feb. 13 at Discovery Place Science. Enjoy cocktails, live entertainment, hands-on science and a twist on Valentine's Day. Get tickets. 💕
• 🩺 Hiring event alert: CEENTA invites job seekers to explore open Clinical and Ophthalmic Assistant roles on Feb. 18 from 10am-2pm at the SouthPark office. Meet hiring managers, ask questions and put your best foot forward. Apply here.

J. Cole made surprise stops in Charlotte and other North Carolina cities over the weekend to celebrate his latest album. But the future of Dreamville — the festival he founded but has stepped back from — remains unclear.

Why it matters: The festival draws tens of thousands of people to Raleigh every spring, and attendees inject millions of dollars into the local economy.

Catch up quick: North Carolina-raised rapper J. Cole launched the massively popular festival in 2018 under the banner of his Dreamville record label.

• Cole said he was stepping back after 2025, but Live Nation promoters said they'd struck a deal to keep Dreamville Festival alive.

Yes, but: There's been no news since. The festival is also expected to be rebranded under a different name, but that hasn't been revealed yet either.

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Despite what recent weather might suggest, North Carolina isn't a hotbed for winter sports.

Yes, but: Five Carolina Hurricanes stars are on Olympic rosters.

• 🇺🇸 Defenseman Jaccob Slavin is playing for Team USA.
• 🇩🇰 Denmark has two Canes— goalie Frederik Andersen and forward Nikolaj Ehlers.
• 🇫🇮 Reigning champs Finland have forward Sebastian Aho.
• 🇨🇦 Seth Jarvis is joining as a late replacement on Team Canada.

Zoom in: Paralympic athlete Kayden Beasley, from outside Raleigh, is the only Team USA member with a North Carolina hometown. He plays sled hockey.

• He began playing sled hockey with the Hurricanes organization in 2019 and won a gold medal last year in the International Para Hockey Cup.

The 2026 Winter Olympics run through Feb. 22 in northern Italy. Meet the rest of Team USA