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INSIDE ▼ Blume Studios offers VR experiences
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Senior living is getting better than ever about 35 minutes south of Charlotte at Park Pointe Village.
– 2026
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PAGE 3A Friday, June 5, 2026 • Vol. 26 • No. 22
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City budget tackles safety, mobility for adoption on June 8. Manager's recommendation includes tax rate increase budget The fiscal year begins July 1.
CHARLOTTE – City Manager Marcus Jones recently presented his budget recommendation for the 2027 fiscal year to the mayor and city council. The budget includes a proposed 1.89 cent property tax rate increase per $100 of assessed value, as well as two other service fee increases – Storm Water (which equates to
a $0.48 monthly increase for the typical customer) and Water and Sewer (which equates to a $4.41 monthly increase for the typical customer). “I am pleased to propose a balanced budget that not only invests in meeting the needs of our growing community with a specific focus in public safety but also positions our city to
capitalize on the recent voter approved one-cent sales tax for mobility investments,” Jones said. “This budget reflects our ongoing commitment to the high level of service our community relies on, and it provides the added resources needed to enhance public safety and invest in our growing city.” Council will consider the
The city shared these highlights of the budget: Maintaining a strong financial foundation • Presents a structurally balanced budget with a two-year lens that: - Proposes a 1.89 cent property tax increase dedicated to enhancing public safety
Disney on Ice New show features 30 characters, 3B
POSTINO expands in Charlotte Postino is a restaurant and wine bar with a location at the Bowl of Ballantyne. Photo courtesy of Pistino
Reasons to get out to the greenway, 3B
Fill the belly Try these tasty tuna recipes, 1B
CHARLOTTE – Postino is continuing its expansion in Charlotte with a second location in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood. Scheduled to open in late summer, Postino Plaza Midwood will be located at the Commonwealth development at 1606 Commonwealth Ave., Suite 101. The opening follows the brand’s debut in the Charlotte market at The Bowl at Ballantyne. The new location will
feature a 4,113-square-foot interior and a 1,060-squarefoot patio, offering ample space for guests to gather, unwind and connect. Designed with Postino’s “come-as-youare” spirit, the restaurant will include a seasonal enclosed patio, custom millwork crafted in-house and a marquee wine display. The space will also incorporate subtle nods to the neighborhood’s history, with art and design elements
inspired by early 1900s trolley cars and Plaza Midwood’s roots as one of Charlotte’s first streetcar suburbs, as well as nearby industrial landmarks like the historic Cole Manufacturing plant. A standout feature will be a custom art wall composed of layered camera imagery set against a pixelated backdrop, inspired by a nearby midcentury camera and film shop, see POSTINO, Page 3A
Ardrey Kell student wins art competition WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tim Moore announced that ninth-grader Valentina Cutitaru, a student at Ardrey Kell High School and the Allan Fine Art Academy, is the winner of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition. Valentina’s artwork, “Perfect Landing,” was chosen to represent North Carolina’s Fourteenth District and will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. Suheena Lily Biswas of Ballantyne Ridge High School earned second place for her work, “A Flight in Outer Banks.” Matilda McDaniel of Gaston Day School was awarded third place for her piece, “Heading North.” Both of these works will be displayed in Congressman Moore’s Washington, D.C.
see BUDGET, Page 3A
Rumble inspires reading
WHAT'S INSIDE
Exploration
- Maintains core services • $4.49 billion budget net of transfers, including Aviation, the Charlotte Area Transit System, Charlotte Water, Storm Water, and the general government funds • $1.04 billion General Fund budget; a 10.5% increase from FY 2026 • Continues Charlotte’s achievement of affordability for
office in the Longworth House Office Building. Honorable mentions were as follows: • ”Tideglass over the Carolinas” by Raygan Maxey, 11th grade, Belmont, • ”Mountain Landscape” by Chloe Acosta, ninth grade, Gastonia • ”Oak Island Beach Sunset” by Riley Fanis, ninth grade, Charlotte • ”Guardian of the Egg” by Luke Williams, 10th grade, Huntersville • “Will vs. Wire” by Aamana Girdhar, 11th grade, Charlotte Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district.
“Perfect Landing” by Valentina Cutitaru won the 2026 Congressional Art Competition Winner for North Carolina’s 14th District. Photo courtesy of Congressman Tim Moore’s office
Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries.
Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC.
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CHARLOTTE – Students at Ballantyne Elementary School are proving that reading can be both rigorous and exciting through their participation in the Reading Rumble. The districtwide academic competition is facilitated by Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Schools’ Academically and Intellectually Gifted department. The Reading Rumble challenges students to demonstrate comprehension of literature through fast‑paced, trivia‑style competitions based on curated book lists. While the AIG department oversees the program districtwide, each school prepares differently, tailoring practices to meet the needs of its students. At Ballantyne Elementary, students compete on a Junior Team with secondand third-graders and a Senior Team for fourth- and fifth-graders Teams meet regularly to study their assigned books, analyze plot details, see RUMBLE, Page 3A
Case study focuses on CMS success CHARLOTTE – CharlotteMecklenburg Schools has been selected for inclusion in a national case study conducted by the Center for Public Research and Leadership at Columbia University, recognizing the district’s “All In” approach to instructional excellence, aligned systems and continuous improvement. The report, titled “All Systems Go: How Shared, High-Quality Curriculums Are Helping School Districts Reach Higher, Together,” highlights CMS as an example of how a large, complex school district can create sustainable academic improvement through strong internal systems, intentional leadership and investment in educator expertise. CMS was selected for the study because of its ability to “hardwire” student success through consistent instructional practices, meaningful collaboration and intentional human infrastructure that supports highquality teaching and learning across schools. “This recognition affirms the impact of our educators, school leaders and staff members who are committed every day to doing what’s best for students,” said see STUDY, Page 3A