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INSIDE ▼ NCDOT moves forward on express lanes
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PAGE 3A Friday, February 13, 2026 • Vol. 26 • No. 6
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I-485 Express Lanes set to open Feb. 28 CHARLOTTE – The North Carolina Department of Transportation plans to open the I-485 Express Lanes to traffic at 6 a.m. Feb. 28. The express lanes will run 18 miles from I-77 to U.S. 74 in Charlotte.
NCDOT said the project will enhance regional connectivity and reduce travel times for commuters and residents. The toll rates for the I-485 Express Lanes will initially be determined by vehicle length, time of day and the day of the week. Plan a trip with the NC Quick Pass
toll calculator to view toll rates. For the first few weeks, roadway transactions will be manually reviewed to ensure accuracy. This additional review will temporarily delay transactions from appearing on NC Quick Pass accounts for several days after travel. Within 12 months of opening, the express lanes will begin dynamic pricing. The prices will fluctuate based on factors such as the number of drivers in the express lanes and average speeds to ensure traffic in the express lanes maintains a minimum of 45
miles per hour. Drivers will be notified of the price NC Quick Pass account holders will pay on the toll pricing signs prior to entering any segment of the express lanes. Drivers without a NC Quick Pass will pay a higher rate. Visit ncquickpass.com to open an NC Quick Pass account and save 50% tolls. After the express lanes open to traffic, project contractors will continue working to complete final construction activities at various locations along I-485. Drivers can expect to see ongoing activity, including
lighting and signage installation, roadway work and toll technology with intermittent lane closures. Project contractors will continue work on East John Street. Drivers can expect to see intermittent lane closures or shifts while contractors finish asphalt paving and pavement markings. Drivers may see intermittent lane closures along Weddington Road near Fincher Farm Road while contractors install a new signal and finalize work on the interchange.
Bowl Street Pop-Up Market returns April 4
Sheriff defends music studio for inmates By David Beasley Contributor
The Bowl at Ballantyne is a destination for dining, retail, entertainment and community featuring 70,500 square feet of retail space in the heart of Ballantyne. Bowl Street Pop-Up Market is among its most popular events. Svetlana Baker/Northwood Office
CHARLOTTE – The Bowl at Ballantyne announced the return of the Bowl Street Pop-Up Market, a recurring outdoor shopping experience in partnership with Shop Local QC.
Launching April 4, the market will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on The Bowl’s green space and will continue on the first Saturday of each month from April through November. The market will spotlight local artisans, makers and small businesses. Each market will feature a thoughtfully curated mix of handmade goods, specialty items and one-of-a-kind finds, creating an engaging experience for guests of all ages. “Shop Local QC is so excited to bring the Bowl Street Pop-Up Market back to Ballantyne,” said Katie Greder, founder of Shop Local QC. “The Ballantyne community has always shown incredible support for our small business partners, and it means so much to be able to return with an even more exciting vendor lineup. This season, we’re introducing new vendors, welcoming back some of Ballantyne’s favorites and showcasing unique finds that truly make the Bowl Street Market special.” Cayla Stauffer, marketing and events manager
Shop Local QC provides a platform for small businesses to grow while giving the community a fresh and exciting way to shop local at events like Bowl Street Pop-Up Market.
for The Bowl, said the market has become a favorite for visitors and vendors. She added that the collaboration with Shop Local QC reinforces the venue’s support of local entrepreneurs while offering fresh, fun experiences. Visitors are encouraged to make a day of it at The Bowl. Guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner at one of The Bowl’s restaurants, explore the nearby Stream Park and continue the evening with live entertainment or special events at The Amp or The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery.
Tension-filled testimony centers on Charlotte crime By Alan Wooten Contributor
(The Center Square) – Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden was among six local leaders invited to testify Feb. 9 before the Committee on Oversight and Reform in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Lawmakers asked him about his role in public safety, inclusive of the county, Charlotte and the Charlotte Area Transit System; strategic plans; spending; and initiatives such as diversity, equity and inclusion. “Come and I will show you a progressive sheriff’s office,” McFadden said. “Come and I can guarantee you this: You will see a difference, and you can compare me to any other sheriff’s office in North Carolina. No sheriff’s office has my resume.” Charlotte’s crime issues have drawn criticism, from polls indicating people are afraid to be there to perception after multiple incidents and lack of security on CATS. The stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska on Aug. 22, 2025, on a CATS train also became national news.
The more than four hours of testimony also covered the role of the sheriff’s office when it comes to cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and McFadden’s inability to name the three branches of government, igniting a social media frenzy bent with humor amid disgust. “We often get to see real leaders step in and say the buck stops here,” said Rep. Allen Chesser, R-Nash. “I have never heard anyone with the rank that is on your shoulder, sir, say that nothing is their fault, that no blame belongs on them. “Today I’ve heard you blame staff. I’ve heard you blame lobbyists. I’ve heard you blame the Legislature. I have not heard you take responsibility for a single question that we have asked you today.” Rep. Brenden Jones, R-Columbus, a co-chairman, asked in advance for emails related to diversity policy and said he has reason to believe all were not sent. House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, isn’t on the panel. Though on social media he wrote, “I’ll be blunt. I sponsored House Bill 318
because Sheriff McFadden repeatedly refused to cooperate with ICE and turned Charlotte into a sanctuary for illegal aliens.” ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol visited Charlotte in November with enhanced enforcement of immigration law in Operation Charlotte's Web. Leaders of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools released a statement Nov. 15 noting that border patrol operations were causing "unnecessary fear and uncertainty in our community." McFadden said he’s different from most other sheriffs, including being the first Black sheriff in the county. “That itself comes with a burden,” he said. “We were called every name in the book. Let’s be honest with that. I am the elephant in the room, but I’m the proud elephant in the room.” McFadden was one of six Mecklenburg County leaders invited to testify. Lyles and Patterson were two others. Charlotte City Manager Marcus Jones; Brent Cagle, the interim CEO of the Charlotte Area Transit System; and District Attorney Spencer Merriweather, were also on the agenda.
(The Center Square) – Testifying before a North Carolina legislative committee Feb. 9, the sheriff of Mecklenburg County defended a music studio for inmates in the county jail. State Rep. Carla Cunningham, a Democrat from Mecklenburg County, asked Sheriff Garry McFadden about the studio. “The family members of some of the victims that were murdered were very upset about that,” the legislator said. “Do you think that’s appropriate to have a music studio for people to rap in that are in jail for rape for murder or other felonies?” McFadden replied, “Every single one of us in here listens to music.” Music, he said, is part of rehabilitating inmates, the sheriff said. “You can look at many studies and see that music helps us,” he said. “We should be talking about the mental health that is incorporated inside a detention center. We should highlight all we do for the good of helping young men and women be rehabilitated.” Cunningham is one of five people who have filed a petition to remove McFadden from office, alleging that the sheriff threatened to withhold law enforcement protection for the legislator unless she voted to sustain the governor’s veto of a bill the sheriff opposed. The case was dismissed. House members were critical of McFadden for his department’s compliance with requests by ICE to notify the agency at least 48 hours before releasing illegal immigrants who are subject to deportation. According to legislators, the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office has missed out on federal grants because of its low compliance rate on ICE detainers. McFadden said he was not aware of any grants lost or ICE detainers ignored “We all know this has been a political battle,” he said. “We have never not notified ICE of someone coming to our detention center. Simply, that is a political play. We have always followed the law in notifying ICE.” McFadden was one of six invited to testify. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles; City Manager Marcus Jones; Charlotte Police Chief Estella Patterson; Brent Cagle, the interim CEO of the Charlotte Area Transit System; and Spencer Merriweather, the district attorney for the District 26, were also on the agenda.