Tuesday, August 11, 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. Another long time Charlotte favorite restaurant is closing. More on that in a minute, but first. It's Tuesday, August 11th, 2026. Sunny today, a high of 94 and a low of 73. I'm Kendall Kendrick. Charlotte City Council met last night and considered Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department's proposed 9 p.m. curfew for everyone under 18. CMPD requested the new policy in response to recent so-called teen takeovers, large public gatherings of kids, some including instances of violence and police involvement. The proposal would expand the current youth protection ordinance, which prohibits juveniles under age 13 from public places or businesses after 10. 10 p.m. and for 13 to 15 year olds after 11 p.m. Some city leaders and community members support the stricter 9 p.m. curfew, but youth advocates say recent events point to a need for accessible spaces for teens to gather and socialize. City Council is expected to vote on this issue at a later date. Interim Mayor Robert Harrington attended the meeting. It was his first business meeting since he was appointed last month. More than three years after Charlotte's unified development ordinance went into effect, thousands of duplexes, triplexes, and quadruplexes have been submitted or approved. The Charlotte Ledger obtained data from the city showing a total of 8,537 duplexes, triplexes, and quads were reviewed by the CLT Development Center. Since the UDO allowed construction of those residences in more areas of the city. But it's not clear from city data how many have actually been built. The ledger estimates just a fraction of those proposals were realized. Businesses impacted by the recent drought are now eligible for up to $2 million of federal disaster assistance. WFA reports the U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest loans beginning in May 27 to small businesses, private nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and small agricultural entities across seven eligible counties in North Carolina. The deadline to apply is March 10th. More information at SBA.gov slash disaster. An American Airlines flight bound for Charlotte was forced to return to Myrtle Beach Monday morning after an apparent bird strike. Crew reported seeing engine smoke and sparks, prompting the aircraft to turn around out of caution. American Airlines released a statement saying the plane landed safely and has been taken out of service for inspection.

After nearly 20 years, good food on Montford will close at the end of August. Chef Bruce Moffitt says he will make way for another chef's concept. Leanne Olcetto will open a restaurant called Bitter Sweet. Good food may have been Charlotte's first farm-to-table style restaurant, a style that earned Charlotte's first James Beard Foundation nomination for Best New Restaurant in 2010. The Charlotte Area Transit system will soon introduce a new system to their gold-line street car that they believe will improve travel times. Beginning Monday, August 31st, riders on the streetcar will have to press a stop request button before their stop, meaning cars will now only stop when a rider has requested a stop or when passengers are waiting to get on board. If no one requests a stop and no one is waiting, the cars will no longer stop at every station. The Miss North Carolina USA saga begins its next chapter 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 City Podcast Network.com. And everywhere you get your podcasts.

The former Miss North Carolina USA, Brittany Boltonhouse, says her title was stripped from her over something that happened years ago. QCPN's Brian Baltashevitz has more. Kendall, in Brittany Boltonhouse's first public statement since the Miss North Carolina USA title was taken away earlier this month, John Bolton House says she was removed because of her, quote, conservative Christian beliefs, unquote, John Bolton House is Mormon. The Miss USA pageant organization says they do not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia, nor language that strips any person of their identity in response to reports of some social media posts that had resurfaced John Bolton House had this to say in a podcast from Carolina Journal published August 7th two days after her title was taken away. Let's go back to some of the posts that have been circulating that I think that they... are pinning this on. And how old were you in those posts first? You're very young now. I imagine you were very, very young then. Yes. So like I said, there's a lot of speculation again, but I will say every teenager has made a mistake. Every person here has made a mistake. But I'm not really here to talk about that. I'm here to talk about the woman I am today. Things may happen decades ago. but I'm here to talk about the hardworking woman, the woman that was standing up there as Miss North Carolina, USA, that I won Fair and Square, four out of five awards, Miss Congediality, Best Gown, People's Choice, and Fitness. But misconduct was given to me because of my character and who I am. And I'm also the first married woman when I had that title. And that's something that I'm proud about. And that's what I'm here to speak about. I won't be judged for my past. Charlotte's Maya Headley was named the New Miss North Carolina USA. She'll compete for the national title in Miami, August 24th. Kendall? Thanks, Brian. For the first time, Charlotte is hosting gospel music's biggest night. The stellar gospel music awards will be held on Saturday, August 15th, at the Spectrum Center. It will be hosted by 20-time Grammy winner Kirk Franklin. But check out QC Metro's calendar of events surrounding the award ceremony. There's a full slate of concerts and lectures starting on Wednesday, including the stellar marketplace at the Omni Charlotte Hotel and a stellar unplugged concert at the Fillmore on Thursday. A hot, busy week ahead. Let's make the most of it and we'll see you tomorrow with an all new 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.