Year: 2026

features

A New Shade of Blue: Estella Patterson Prepares to Lead CMPD

May 6, 2026
By Angela Lindsay Estella D. Patterson officially assumed the role of chief of police with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) in December 2025, making her the first woman in Charlotte’s history to hold the position. Patterson, who was born in Colon, Panama, where her military father was stationed, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and her Master of Science in criminal justice from the University of Oklahoma.…
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Charlotte’s Rise as a Hub for Black-Owned Businesses

May 6, 2026
By Derik Hicks Charlotte has long been known as one of the fastest-growing cities in the Southeast. Now, recent data from LendingTree shows the city is also becoming a significant hub for Black entrepreneurship. According to LendingTree’s 2023 study analyzing data from the U.S.…
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Carolina Panthers cornerback Troy Pride Jr.’s winding journey

May 6, 2026
Carolina Panthers cornerback Troy Pride Jr.’s winding journey By Charles K Harris One of the most critical objectives of memorizing a team playbook is to ensure that both individual players and the team can implement an alternative play straight away, effortlessly, cohesively and seamlessly.…
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Why We Should Enthusiastically Celebrate Juneteenth

May 6, 2026
As African American people in the United States, we shape the narrative aroundJuneteenth and what it means. Juneteenth is about more than good food, parades andgood times. It’s a day that reminds us of who we are, what we’ve survived and what weshould continue to build for ourselves and future generations.…