Thursday, August 6, 2026

This is a podcast produced by actual humans from the Queen City Podcast Network. From the Queen City Podcast Network, this is CLT First, Charlotte's First Daily News podcast. North Carolina's hemp vote. Delayed. More on that in a minute, but first. It's Thursday, August 6th, 2026 rain in the forecast, a high of 87 and a low of 72. I'm Kendall Kendrick. Mecklenburg County has a new public health director, county manager, Mike Bryant, has appointed Dr. Kimberly Scott, who has been serving as interim director since January. Public health is one of four departments within the county's health and human services agency and includes nearly 1,000 employees who provide clinical care, investigate infectious diseases, inspect restaurants, and staff school nurses across Charlotte Mecklenburg schools. Bryant calls Dr. Scott a proven leader noting her guidance during recent measles and cyclosporiasis outbreaks and saying a national search showed the best candidate was already here. Dr. Scott previously served as assistant health director for population health, overseeing chronic disease prevention, violence prevention, and health equity. She brings 15 years of experience in public health across North Carolina, Georgia, and national research programs. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported the state's first West Nile virus case of 26 occurred in Gaston County. The agency also confirmed a Mecklenburg County blood donor has tested positive for the virus, and West Nile was found in mosquitoes collected in Cabarris, Forsyth, and Mecklenburg counties in July. West Nile virus activity often increases around this time of year. Wild birds carry the virus and infected mosquitoes can transmit it to humans. Most people with the virus don't have symptoms, but elderly or immunocompromise people are at greater risk for severe illness. You can take steps to protect yourself and the people around you by using mosquito repellent and make your home less inviting to mosquitoes by preventing water from collecting in gutters, puddles, or bird baths. August can be a costly month for families preparing to send kids back to school. The C.W. Williams Community Health Center is hosting its 12th annual Back to School Community Health Fair from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. this Saturday, August 8th. Children and families can stop by the Center on Wilkinson Boulevard for free school supplies and free or low-cost health care services. Offerings include free health screenings. immunizations, and low-cost physicals and dental cleanings for kids ages 12 and under. Community members can also enjoy music, games, and free food. Families must make appointments for physicals and immunizations. To learn more and register, go to cW Williams.org.

Republicans in the State House decided against holding a vote on a bill that would ban most products containing hemp and THC. WFAE reports crowds filled the legislative building Monday, both supporters and opponents of the effort to make any product containing more than 0.4 milligrams of THC, a schedule for controlled substance. The same as marijuana. Hemp industry workers and advocates called for regulations instead, including a 21 and up age requirement. But law enforcement officers and prosecutors argued the products are dangerous and shouldn't be on the market at all. With neither party able to reach a consensus on the issue and a break coming up, legislators likely won't return to hemp until after election season. Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools is making a major shift in how some students learn this fall. The district's virtual school will move high schoolers to a fully asynchronous model. In a video posted to YouTube, principal Misty Sweat says the new Atlas program gives students all their assignments at the start of each week, letting them work on their own schedules. She says the flexibility is aimed at high schoolers who need it, but stresses they must stay engaged daily and turn in work by Friday. It's very important for our students that they are good with time management or they learn good time management some come in and have to learn time management but it is an essential piece Our teachers are highly qualified trained teachers. They know exactly what they're doing with virtual learning. They're available to the students day in, day out if they need extra support or need extra tutoring or if they have questions. Teachers have posted office hours each day and students can pop in and out on their own time at their own schedule during those office hours. Otherwise, they're only an email away. We have students from all across Charlotte Mecklenburg County. However, our faculty and staff who are fantastic show up here at E.E. Waddell each and every day, and that is where students will report when they have to come in person for testing. We follow the exact same guidelines as every other high school in Charlotte, and we're still able to offer that rigorous education opportunity with very highly qualified teachers who are experts at virtual learning. The virtual school is based at Waddell High and serves grade 6 through 12 with remote instruction taught by certified teachers. CMS says the change begins this school year. Your chance to help a local news source next. Where do you turn to stay in touch with the city around you? Broadcast news isn't what it used to be. Commercial radio doesn't scratch that itch. If only there was one place you could get it all. When you want, wherever you want, on your schedule, there is the Queen City Podcast Network. Listen to your city on your schedule at queen citypodcastnetwork.com. And everywhere you get your podcasts.

We talk a lot about how local stories matter, how local news matters. Now our friends at Queen City Nerve are reaching out. Editor-in-chief, Ryan Pitkin and publisher Justin LaFrancois announced via the Nerve's email list on Thursday that they are suspending the print version of Queen City Nerve indefinitely. For the past eight years, 200 issues, the nerve picked up where their predecessor left off, providing news coverage of Charlotte people, groups, and events not always found in traditional media. It's called an alt newspaper for a reason. Ryan Pitkin was very transparent in the email. Closing it with The Future of the Business remains unclear at this time. If you value local news, local voices, and local journalism that matters, you can help support Queen City Nerve by becoming a member. You can learn more at QCNerve.com. Steve Andy Biggs, who with his father, Neil, ran Andy Biggs Camera on South King's Drive, died on Thursday, according to their Instagram account. Andy Biggs camera has been Charlotte's go-to destination for photographers of all abilities for nearly 70 years. Andy Biggs launched as Hi-Fi Camera Center in 1959, moving to the current location and renaming itself when Charlottetown Mall fell into decline. Steve's father, Neil, passed away in 2020 at the age of 94. Steve's contribution to Charlotte's photography and arts communities will not soon be forgotten. That's it for today. Brian will be here tomorrow to guide you into the weekend with an all-new episode of CLT First. See you then. CLT First is produced by the Queen City Podcast Network at the QCPN Studios in Uptown, Charlotte. Got a story idea or something you want to talk about? Email us at hello at queencitypodcastnetwork.com.