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INSIDE ▼ Athlete honored for sportsmanship PAGE 1B Friday, January 9, 2026 • Vol. 26 • No. 1
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Breakfast Club to discuss ‘State of South Charlotte’ CHARLOTTE – South Charlotte Partners will welcome Mecklenburg County Commissioner Susan Rodriguez-McDowell and Charlotte City Councilmember Ed Driggs to its next Breakfast Club meeting.
The theme of the meeting will be the “State of South Charlotte.” Rodriguez-McDowell, who represents District 6 on the county commission, will talk about recent job growth and economic successes in South Charlotte.
She will also share updates on parks and recreation projects that improve quality of life in the community. Driggs, who represents District 7 on the city council, will discuss rezoning in the area, updates to the South Charlotte Area Plan, public safety issues and new road projects included in the transportation referendum. “This program gives residents and business leaders a chance to hear directly from two key leaders shaping South Charlotte’s future,” said Christina
Thigpen, chair of South Charlotte Partners. “We’re excited to start the year with a timely discussion about growth, infrastructure and quality of life in our community.” The breakfast will be held from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Jan. 22 at AC Hotel Charlotte Ballantyne (16th floor), 14819 Ballantyne Village Way. The free event is open to the community. Story continues, see BREAKFAST CLUB page 3A
Ed Driggs, of the Charlotte City Council, will discuss development, public safety and road projects at the next South Charlotte Partners Breakfast Club meeting. Photo courtesy of City of Charlotte
New Year’s Baby arrives fast at Atrium Health Pineville
Hendrixx Alegend Outen gets a nap in after arriving two minutes after midnight on New Year's Day at Atrium Health Pineville.
Photos courtesy of Atrium Health
PINEVILLE – Atrium Health Pineville staff delivered one of the first babies of 2026 in the Charlotte region at 12:02 a.m.
Parents Jataya Stith and Jordyn Outen welcomed baby Hendrixx Alegend Outen into their family. The New Year’s Baby weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces and measured 19 1/2 inches long. Hendrixx has two older sisters, Honesty and Harmony. The family now has three January birthdays to celebrate: Hendrixx, Dad and Harmony. “We’re deeply honored by the trust families
Zayla Williams was born at 12:11 a.m. Jan. 1 at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center. Zayla weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces.
place in us during life’s most special moments,” said Dr. Katie Borders, senior medical director of Atrium Health Women’s Care, North Carolina and Georgia Division. “We are so proud to continuously provide safe, high-quality care to families throughout our community, and welcoming the first baby of the year is always a fun and special milestone for our team.” Atrium Health Pineville is one of 25 Advocate Health hospitals nationally recognized by U.S. News & World Report in its annual list of “Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.” The list classifies these hospitals as “high performing.” Other Atrium Health hospitals reporting
New Year’s babies include: • Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center: Zayla Williams was born at 12:11 a.m. weighing 7 pounds, 10 ounces and measuring 20 inches long. • Atrium Health Lake Norman: Eleonor was born at 12:13 a.m. weighing 6 pounds, 10 ounces and measuring 20.08 inches long. • Atrium Health Stanly: Eban was born at 2:38 a.m. weighing 9 pounds, 12 ounces and measuring 21 inches long. • Atrium Health Lincoln: Leia was born at 6:02 a.m. weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces and measuring 20 inches long.
Mecklenburg commissioners to get at least 2 new members By Justin Vick Contributor
CHARLOTTE – The Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners will welcome at least two new faces later this year with Elaine Powell and Laura Meier opting not to run for new terms.
Meier represents District 5, which spans several precincts across South Charlotte. District 5 was the last Republican-held seat on the board until Democrat challenger Susan Harden defeated incumbent Matthew Ridenhour in 2018. Meier has held the seat since 2020. Democrat challenger Charles DeLoach finds himself in a unique situation as a first-time candidate running unopposed for Meier’s seat. Usually, it’s a sitting commissioner with the path of least
resistance. Powell’s District 1 seat, on the other hand, will be the most competitive district race with four candidates running for a chance to represent northern Mecklenburg County. District 2 Commissioner Vilma Leake has the toughest road to reelection with an opponent in the Democrat primary election and the general election. District 3 Commissioner George Dunlap will have a primary opponent while Mark Jerrell (District 4) and Susan Rodriguez-McDowell (District 6) are running unopposed. Ten Democrats are running for three at-large seats held by commissioners Leigh Altman, Arthur Griffin Jr. and Yvette Townsend-Ingram. Incumbents for at-large seats usually win big but Townsend-Ingram proved in March 2024 that they can be
Groups provide CPR education to older adults
defeated as she overcame longtime Commissioner Pat Cotham in the primary. The Mecklenburg County Board of Elections will hold the primary election on March 3 and general election on Nov. 3. Learn more at vote.mecknc.gov. Below is a look at each race. Incumbents are marked with (I). Mecklenburg Commissioner, At-Large • Democrat candidates: Leslie Allen, Leigh Altman (I), Nichel Dunlap, Toni Emehel, Arthur Griffin Jr. (I), Sharif R. Hannan, Heather Morrow, Olivia Scott, Felicia R. Thompkins and Yvette Townsend-Ingram (I). • Republican candidates: n/a • Outlook: Leigh Altman, Arthur Griffin Jr. and Yvette Townsend-Ingram are running for reelection against seven challengers
in the Democrat primary. No Republicans have filed. Altman, who serves as vice chair of the board, has served as a commissioner since 2020. Her background is in law, having served as a staff attorney for a children’s rights agency. Griffin, who has served since 2022, was an executive for an education company, a member of the Army and a member of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education. Townsend-Ingram, who has served on the board since 2024, has been involved with the Democratic Party locally and on the state level in addition to serving on the Mecklenburg County Community Relations Committee. Nichel Dunlap, a community Story continues, see ELECTION MECK page 3A
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MEDIC shows older adults how to use automated external defibrillators.
Photos courtesy of American Heart Association
CHARLOTTE – The American Heart Association, DreamKey Partners and MEDIC hosted a CPR Awareness Day for residents at Anita Stroud Senior Apartments.
The event was part of DreamKey’s adoption of the American Heart Association’s Community Accessible AED Training Policy. Residents received education in providing Hands-Only CPR, using of automated external defibrillators, calling 911 and maintaining heart health. The training supports the American Heart Association’s Nation of Lifesavers initiative to prepare more people to respond to cardiac emergencies. MEDIC assisted with CPR instruction and 911 call practice during the event. “Bystanders who are willing to perform CPR with guidance from our 911 dispatchers play a critical Story continues, see CPR page 3A