Staff Writer
Staff writer for Mercury Local covering government, elections, public safety, and development across multiple publications. Beckett has filed more than 600 stories on local policy, crime, zoning, and civic accountability in Connecticut and the Carolinas.
Mecklenburg County's new budget raised 721 county workers to a living wage but left MEDIC's paramedics and EMTs out — their raise sits in restricted contingency, pending two studies and a second vote.
Jun 3, 2026
WheelPrice's founders previewed BBS's first-ever truck and SUV wheel for a NASCAR Sundays crowd — the first time the storied German manufacturer has built for trucks and SUVs, and a measure of how…
Jun 3, 2026
WheelPrice, built by college friends, has spent three years making the enthusiast wheel trade less sketchy — bootstrapped, five people, and an industry-first AI fitment tool.
Jun 3, 2026
Mecklenburg County's 2026-27 budget was a foregone conclusion — but adopting it still took the board most of an hour, through nine contract recusals, a failed park-appointment slate, three motions to…
Jun 3, 2026
A Charlotte City Council committee voted 4-1 to keep exploring a criminal-penalty option for repeat street-vending offenders and unanimously advanced citywide vending regulation, sending both to the…
Jun 3, 2026
At the MTC's final meeting, members praised interim CATS CEO Brent Cagle for steadying an agency in crisis since he arrived in December 2022.
Jun 3, 2026
Charlotte City Council voted 10-1 Monday to direct the city manager to give the Charlotte Fire Department the same 10 percent raise as police, closing a pay gap that drew months of firefighter protest.
Jun 2, 2026
The Metropolitan Transit Commission's final vote adopted the CATS Fare Modernization Program — tap-and-go payments, electronic validation, a new streetcar fare, and expanded reduced fares, phased in…
Jun 2, 2026
Denny Hamlin won the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville by 0.115 seconds — and the two cars he beat were his own Joe Gibbs Racing teammates, Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe, in a three-wide sweep to…
Jun 2, 2026
Carolina Ascent FC led the first Gainbridge Super League final in club history 1-0 at halftime, but Lexington SC equalized in the 72nd minute and scored twice in extra time to win 3-1, capping a…
Jun 2, 2026
The Metropolitan Transit Commission held its final meeting May 27 after 27 years, adopting an amended CATS fare policy and formally handing operational control to the new Metropolitan Public…
Jun 1, 2026
Charlotte went from a bus-only city to a rail-connected region to an independent transit authority in 27 years. A companion to the Mercury's coverage of the MTC's dissolution, laid out as a single…
May 30, 2026
A late substitute motion placed $2,293,759 in restricted contingency rather than fund a same-day move of MEDIC's EMT minimum wage to the new $25.53 county floor.
May 29, 2026
Thirteen new fund-balance allocations cleared at Thursday's FY27 straw vote — eleven external community partners plus two internal Park & Rec restorations.
May 29, 2026
A 7-1 vote sends the FY2027 operating budget to ordinance-drafting for June 2 adoption. Roughly $1.6 million in additional fund-balance allocations cleared.
May 29, 2026
Kyle Larson hasn't won a Cup Series race since Kansas in May 2025. The streak now stands at 37 — his longest since joining Hendrick Motorsports — and on Sunday night he returns to the track where his…
May 28, 2026
Charlotte City Council held a public hearing Tuesday on a proposed 150-day moratorium on new telecommunications and data storage facilities.
May 27, 2026
CMS unanimously approved a 99-year lease option with Innovative Housing Solutions Foundation for educator housing adjacent to Garinger High School. IHSF must secure fundraising by June 2027.
May 27, 2026
Charlotte FC took a 1-0 win over the New England Revolution into the MLS World Cup break Saturday night at Bank of America Stadium.
May 26, 2026
Mackenzie George scored in the sixth minute at Hodges Stadium on Sunday, and the Carolina Ascent spent the next eighty-four minutes defending it.
May 26, 2026
Inside the $2.6 billion budget Mecklenburg commissioners adopt June 2 is the county's share of a $118 million public-safety training complex in Matthews — Central Piedmont's "Community Lifeline,"…
May 24, 2026
CRTPO voted May 20 to withdraw support for the I-77 South toll lanes, all but ending a $3.2 billion expansion, removing it from the state's ten-year construction plan, and putting an estimated $700…
May 23, 2026
One regional board ended a multibillion-dollar state project. Here is what CRTPO is, how its weighted vote works, and why Charlotte's bloc is large enough to decide the outcome.
May 23, 2026
County Manager Michael Bryant's recommended FY2027 budget holds Mecklenburg's property tax rate flat and fully funds Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
May 23, 2026
Charlotte City Council on Monday unanimously approved a partial rezoning of the Manor Theater site on Providence Road, clearing the way for SLRH Acquisitions to redevelop the long-closed Eastover…
May 23, 2026
Kyle Busch, the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion who won more races across the sport's three national series than any driver in history, died Thursday at 41 — days before the sport returns to…
May 21, 2026
Mission City Church, Freedom Communities, and the True Homes Foundation walked Charlotte City Council through their 49-townhome affordable-housing petition Monday night.
May 21, 2026
The Charlotte City Council on Monday rezoned a 0.16-acre Verbena Street parcel from ML-2 (manufacturing and logistics) to TOD-NC, 7-2.
May 21, 2026
At Mecklenburg County's May 20 budget overview, Budget Director Adrian Cox put a number on what the county spends covering the state's share of CMS: more than $400 million — about sixteen cents of…
May 21, 2026
Council Member Renée Johnson (District 4) brought a manually-compiled CMS school-utilization report to Monday's council meeting to argue that the conventional rezoning process is not tracking the…
May 20, 2026
Mecklenburg commissioners got a deliberately neutral briefing on data centers at their May 19 meeting and signaled they want a position on the fast-growing industry.
May 20, 2026
Charlotte City Council unanimously approved a 41.26-acre rezoning of the Atrium Health University City hospital campus Monday, switching the property from Institutional Campus 1 to Institutional…
May 20, 2026
Council Member Renée Johnson pulled petition 2025-136 — a conventional rezoning at 1800 West Sugar Creek Road by Larry Cooper — off the consent agenda Monday, citing her standing concern about…
May 19, 2026
Mayor Vi Lyles had not chaired a 2026 zoning meeting through her current term — Council Member Ed Driggs (District 7) handled each of the four held earlier this year.
May 19, 2026
Carolina Ascent FC beat Sporting Club Jacksonville 3-1 at American Legion Memorial Stadium Saturday night, denying the league leader the Players' Shield and routing the trophy to Lexington Sporting…
May 18, 2026
Charlotte and Norfolk played six times at Truist Field between Tuesday and Sunday and split the series 3-3. The Tides took the first half.
May 18, 2026
Charlotte FC beat Toronto FC 3-1 on Saturday for its first home win since April 4 — its first win anywhere since April 18.
May 18, 2026
Brendan K. Maginnis, the runner-up in Charlotte's September 2025 Democratic mayoral primary, has volunteered for the interim mayor appointment — from Copenhagen, where his family moved in January…
May 16, 2026
Students from Levine Middle College and a Pre-K family advocate used Tuesday's public comment period to ask the CMS Board to protect programs they said were producing results.
May 15, 2026
The Board of Education approved a $5.5 million amendment to its Oracle enterprise software contract, extending the implementation and adding hypercare support as the district works toward a full…
May 15, 2026
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will end its use of Capturing Kids' Hearts and redirect the program's $2.4 million budget toward classroom-based instruction and a competitive procurement process.
May 15, 2026
District Court Judge Elizabeth Trosch spent nearly two decades in juvenile court before showing up at the May 12 CMS board meeting to explain what the district's sustained investment in four…
May 15, 2026
Carolina draws three primetime games — most since 2016 — and the 10th-hardest schedule in the NFL. Full 2026 Panthers schedule with analysis.
May 15, 2026
The MPTA board launched a national CEO search Wednesday and advanced the draft Interlocal Agreement as the July 1 operational transfer deadline approaches.
May 15, 2026
Day-of guide to Charlotte's first mandatory Stage 2 restrictions since 2009: the rules, the five-stage Low Inflow Protocol behind them, the burn ban that arrived with them, and what's enforceable…
May 13, 2026
Senate Pres. Pro Tem Phil Berger and House Speaker Destin Hall announced a budget framework Tuesday afternoon, ending a ten-month standoff. Teachers get an 8 percent raise and a $48,000 starting floor.
May 13, 2026
Two weeks after rejecting Superintendent Crystal Hill's $2.1 billion budget 8-1, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education unanimously approved her amended version on Tuesday.
May 13, 2026
Two weeks after a 5-5 deadlock that required Mayor Vi Lyles to break the tie, Charlotte City Council voted unanimously Monday night to schedule a public hearing on a 150-day moratorium on new data…
May 13, 2026
Council convened in special session at 4 p.m. Monday to take up three of Charlotte's biggest active fights — a $4.5 billion budget hearing, a resolution on the I-77 South toll lanes, and the…
May 11, 2026
Charlotte Water escalates to Stage 2 of the Low Inflow Protocol on Friday, May 15 — the first mandatory water restrictions since 2009.
May 11, 2026
Carolina Ascent FC won 3-0 at Fort Lauderdale on Saturday night. Mackenzie George scored in the 63rd, Mia Corbin in the 77th, Tyler Lussi in the 82nd. Sydney Martinez claimed her seventh clean sheet.
May 10, 2026
Charlotte FC trailed 2-0 at halftime to FC Cincinnati at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday night. Idan Toklomati scored in the 51st minute and Pep Biel scored in the 52nd.
May 10, 2026
Charlotte trailed 6-0 to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp before scoring five runs in the sixth inning. The tying run never came.
May 10, 2026
The Charlotte Knights scored seven runs in their first five innings and held off a ninth-inning rally to beat Jacksonville 8-5 Friday, putting them up 3-1 in the six-game series with two to play.
May 9, 2026
The Charlotte Knights beat the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 16-1 on Thursday night at VyStar Ballpark, taking the six-game series lead at 2-1.
May 9, 2026
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles announced Thursday that she will resign on June 30, ending a tenure that began in 2017. Under North Carolina law, the City Council will appoint a Democrat to serve the…
May 9, 2026
Queen City Garage launches its competitive development program at Florence Motor Speedway on Saturday. The Charlotte holding's sister property — NASCAR Sundays — drew 120 to Mac's Speed Shop for the…
May 8, 2026
At the final public hearing on the Charlotte Area Transit System's Fare Modernization Program, public commenter Carson Cohn told the MTC that CATS had promised him an answer over a month ago on…
May 8, 2026
The Knights took the road-trip opener at VyStar 5-3 on Tuesday behind Shane Murphy and a Triple-A debut from Braden Montgomery.
May 7, 2026
CFO Kelly Kluttz told the board the district's $6.6 million salary reserve covers them to about 5 percent — but bills in Raleigh propose up to 9, the state hasn't passed a budget, and the county…
May 6, 2026
The rental housing production category of Charlotte's 2024 affordable housing bond is now $5.6 million over its allocation goal.
May 5, 2026
Atrium Health and WakeMed announced a strategic combination Friday that would make Atrium the sole corporate member of the WakeMed nonprofit. The dollars are large. The disclosures are not.
May 2, 2026
Superintendent Crystal Hill's final Program Choice plan, presented to the CMS Board of Education April 28, would consolidate the district's choice programs into six themes, cut programs at 11…
Apr 29, 2026
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education voted 8-1 Tuesday night to deny Superintendent Crystal Hill's $2.1 billion budget and gave her two weeks to come back with a revised version…
Apr 29, 2026
The Charlotte City Council deadlocked 5-5 Monday night on whether to even schedule a public hearing on a temporary moratorium for new data center approvals. Mayor Vi Lyles broke the tie, voting no.
Apr 28, 2026
Sam Surridge entered for the second half on Saturday at GEODIS Park, scored twice, and walked off tied for the MLS lead in goals.
Apr 27, 2026
Charlotte Water shifted to voluntary water restrictions on Monday, April 20 — the first time since 2023 — after the Catawba-Wateree River Basin moved to Stage 1 of its regional Low Inflow Protocol.
Apr 26, 2026
After losing her March primary to Rev. Dr. Rodney Sadler by nearly 48 points, the seven-term Charlotte representative re-registered Unaffiliated on Friday.
Apr 25, 2026
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education voted 9-0 in an emergency meeting to convert May 1 from a student instructional day to a teacher workday, after district staffing data projected 1,934…
Apr 24, 2026
Charlotte closed the AHL regular season with a 4-for-8 power-play clinic and opened the Calder Cup First Round 8-1 over Springfield. One more win on Friday and the Checkers advance.
Apr 23, 2026
Charlotte FC out-shot Orlando City 15-11 and held more of the ball at Inter&Co Stadium. Orlando put six shots on target and scored four of them.
Apr 23, 2026
Council Member LaWana Mayfield built Charlotte's Faith in Housing initiative. Monday night she voted against one of its petitions — and told the chamber from the dais why the label alone doesn't get…
Apr 23, 2026
Six scoreless innings from Duncan Davitt and Ben Peoples. Five runs in the next two. Nashville 5, Charlotte 1 in the homestand opener.
Apr 22, 2026
Council Member LaWana Mayfield, the architect of Charlotte's Faith in Housing initiative, voted against a Faith in Housing petition Monday night. Both rezonings passed.
Apr 22, 2026
An 89th-minute header from Rylee Baisden locked in Ascent's second consecutive playoff spot and extended the team's unbeaten run to eight matches.
Apr 20, 2026
SMBC Group, the banking arm of one of Japan's three largest financial institutions, has committed to 2,000 jobs in Charlotte over six years in exchange for an estimated $76 million public incentive…
Apr 20, 2026
Yaniv Perets's 39 saves gave him his first professional shutout, in his eighth AHL game. Charlotte's third-place Atlantic slot is locked either way.
Apr 19, 2026
Chief Estella Patterson reported violent crime down 21 percent and overall crime down 9 percent across Charlotte-Mecklenburg in 2025, but warned that roughly 270 CMPD vacancies and an unfunded ETJ…
Apr 19, 2026
Kristijan Kahlina made seven saves, Idan Toklomati broke the deadlock, and Kerwin Vargas came off the bench to finish it.
Apr 19, 2026
The state funds 78 percent of CMS positions. The county funds 2,707 more. Superintendent Crystal Hill showed the board what happens if either side flinches.
Apr 18, 2026
The Orlando Magic outscored Charlotte 38-16 in the first quarter and led 68-37 at halftime — the largest halftime margin in the six-year history of the Play-In Tournament. The final was 121-90.
Apr 18, 2026
Charlotte tied Jacksonville twice on Wednesday night. Both times, the Jumbo Shrimp pulled ahead again. The go-ahead run scored on a dropped fly ball — off the glove of the player who five days…
Apr 16, 2026
Charlotte FC rested nearly every regular starter, played Wednesday night at a 3,684-seat complex in Matthews, and still put six goals past Charlotte Independence in the first official competitive…
Apr 16, 2026
Sixty-three percent of K-2 students across Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools are at or above benchmark on the DIBELS early literacy assessment — the highest mid-year mark since the district adopted the…
Apr 15, 2026
International migration to Mecklenburg County dropped 41 percent in a single year — from 22,545 new residents to approximately 13,000.
Apr 15, 2026
LaMelo Ball scored 30 points with 10 assists and hit the go-ahead layup with 4.7 seconds left in overtime. Miles Bridges blocked Davion Mitchell at the buzzer as Charlotte beat Miami 127-126 in the…
Apr 15, 2026
Jacksonville shut out the Charlotte Knights 3-0 on Tuesday at VyStar Ballpark. Two home runs in the sixth inning were the only scoring in a game where Charlotte managed three hits and struck out 13…
Apr 15, 2026
Charlotte City Council reviews $20.85 million in Housing Trust Fund staff recommendations — four rental projects, nine homeownership proposals — as council members push back on rezoning timing…
Apr 14, 2026
The first CATS budget built on the new 1% sales tax totals $571.7 million. Council rejected criminalizing street vendors. Staff recommended thirteen of eighteen housing trust fund proposals.
Apr 14, 2026
Charlotte hosts Miami in a single-elimination play-in game Tuesday at 7:30 PM. The Hornets finished 44-38 after starting 4-14. The Heat won the season series 3-1.
Apr 13, 2026
The Hornets closed the regular season with a 110-96 win over the Knicks, finishing 44-38 and clinching home-court advantage in the play-in tournament. Charlotte hosts Miami on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
Apr 13, 2026
Sandis Vilmanis set a franchise record with four goals as the Checkers routed Hershey 6-1. Charlotte is 12-3-1 since March 1 and locked into the Calder Cup Playoffs for the eighth consecutive season.
Apr 13, 2026
The Knights erupted for seven runs in the third inning — highlighted by homers from Pereira and Kelenic — to crush Memphis 13-4 and split the six-game homestand.
Apr 13, 2026
Charlotte's five-game winning streak ends as Hershey's Bogdan Trineyev and Louie Belpedio score in the first two periods.
Apr 12, 2026
Nashville SC rested seven starters for Champions Cup and still beat Charlotte FC 2-1 at Bank of America Stadium. Eddi Tagseth and Patrick Yazbek scored for Nashville; Archie Goodwin's 90th-minute…
Apr 12, 2026
