Charlotte, NC News and In-Depth Reporting

Company Misspent $6.2 Million in State Funds to Lure Olympic Groups, Audit Finds

A field hockey player works out at the U.S. Performance Center gym. (Photo by Travis Dove for The Assembly)

A review finds the U.S. Performance Center misspent nearly a quarter of the funds it was given by the legislature.

North Carolina’s $55 Million Olympic Dream

The USA field hockey team uses the US Performance Center in Charlotte. (Travis Dove for The Assembly)

Top legislators quietly allocated large state grants to attract Olympic organizations to the Charlotte area, with little to show for it.

After a Tragedy, A Fight Over Video Footage

Law enforcement vehicles respond to the April 29 shooting in Charlotte. (Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez/The Charlotte Observer via AP)

News outlets have been seeking body-camera footage amid questions about how four Charlotte officers were killed.

Here’s the Beef

Joe Hampton and Lee Menius at the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services’ Piedmont Research Station. (Travis Dove for The Assembly)

State measures taken to address the shortage of local meat during the pandemic have had a longer shelf life than anyone imagined.

Uniting the United Methodist Church

Delegates and supporters gather at First United Methodist Church for a celebratory service after the General Conference. (Travis Dove for The Assembly)

A meeting in Charlotte tests whether the United Methodist Church can forge a new path on issues like gay marriage and ordination.

The Smell Test

THCA cannabis buds viewed under a magnifying glass container at the Hempary in Graham. (Cornell Watson for The Assembly)

Police could once use the smell of marijuana as probable cause to search a vehicle. Now that hemp is legal, the system faces a quandary.

Jim Hunt’s Daughter Tries to Win In a New North Carolina

Rachel Hunt speaks at a Pittsboro retirement community in January. (Julia Wall for The Assembly)

Rachel Hunt will have to navigate a state that is much different from when her father dominated.

When the State Comes for Your Estate

Tammy Crowder and her daughter Kendra Pate outside the family home. (Travis Dove for The Assembly)

Medicaid was designed to provide healthcare for the poorest Americans. But after death, their relatives can be socked with massive bills.

A Safe Haven In The Queen City

A bulletin board shares affirming messages at Time Out Youth’s space in Charlotte. (Travis Dove for The Assembly)

Sisters Tonda and Terry Taylor each found their way to LGBTQ+ advocacy, leaving a legacy that extends across the state.

Can Charlotte Re-Sort Itself?

Charlotte’s Unified Development Ordinance has been a major point of contention. (Travis Dove for The Assembly)

One year ago, the city passed a landmark zoning reform aimed at reversing a century of segregation. The battle still rages.