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INSIDE ▼ Report offers I-77 South solutions
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PAGE 4A Friday, July 3, 2026 • Vol. 26 • No. 26
thecharlotteweekly.
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Harrington takes oath to become mayor by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
CHARLOTTE – Attorney Rob Harrington took the oath of office July 1 to become mayor of Charlotte. Harrington pledged to work with the Charlotte City Council in the remaining 18 months of Vi Lyles’ term to reach their collective goals. Harrington thanked Lyles
for her service to Charlotte, including her nearly nine years as mayor, four years as a city council member and many years working as a staff member for the city. “I want you to know that this city has given me so much more than I have ever anticipated,” Lyles said. “I’m just grateful to be able to pass it along to someone else that I consider a good friend and someone that’s going to do a great job.”
Harrington grew up in Florence, South Carolina. His parents valued education and imprinted on their five children the importance of service. “The community that we found when we moved to Charlotte 27 years ago reflected and reinforced those values,” Harrington said. “The city is full of residents who serve their schools, their neighborhoods, their houses of faith, all to make Charlotte the great city
that it is.” He mentioned three former mayors that shared those qualities: Harvey Gantt, Richard Vinroot and Vi Lyles. “Drawing on the charge from my parents, armed with the examples of these great role models and driven by a desire to move this city forward,” he said, “I pledge to lead with three lenses: trust, order and efficiency, and respect.” He wants to work with the
CATS plans to update fares
WHAT'S INSIDE
Let's celebrate Event billed as largest drone show in NC, 2A
Yummy Try some new peanut recipes, 1B
NBA legend Muggsy Bogues joined the celebration to honor the workforce that has helped connect communities and keep the Charlotte area moving since 1976. Photos courtesy of CATS
50 years of transit
CATS emphasizes workforce at celebration
Long journey Novel explores immigration, 3B
Safety tips Stay safe around the grill & fiireworks, 2B
CHARLOTTE – Charlotte transit employees, industry partners and local officials gathered June 24 to celebrate 50 years of public transit in the region. The event featured one of Charlotte’s original transit vehicles, historic bus designs and recognition of employees whose service has helped sustain public transportation across the region. “For 50 years, public transit has helped connect people to opportunity, but the true story of this milestone is the people behind it,” said Brent Cagle, interim CEO of CATS. “Every day, operators, mechanics, dispatchers, customer service representatives and countless others show up committed to serving our community and helping residents get where they need to go safely and reliably. Their dedication has touched generations of families, supported our region’s growth and helped make Charlotte the city it is today.” Transit Management of Charlotte, whose history dates back to the launch of Charlotte’s first city-run bus service in see 50 YEARS, Page 3A
CATS Interim CEO Brent Cagle addresses the crowd.
Matthews Alive leader previews 2026 festival by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
MATTHEWS – Tributes to Toby Keith and Prince are among the headline performers for this year’s Matthews Alive. Executive Director Lee Anne Moore shared details about the festival June 22 with town commissioners. Moore has been working with
council to make life better for citizens. He specifically mentioned the challenges of public safety, affordable housing and transportation infrastructure. “If we remain committed to each other, if we approach this time with trust and respect, if we remember the examples of Mayor Gantt, Mayor Lyles, Mayor Vinroot and other leaders, then we will grow even stronger,” Harrington said.
Key Signature Entertainment, exchanging ideas and videos on potential sounds to bring to the Labor Day Weekend festival. She is excited about this year’s lineup. Electric Avenue will headline Friday, Sept. 4, with 1980s new wave hits. Moore was taken by how amazing lead vocalist Kevin Spencer sounds. The American Ride Toby
Keith Tribute will headline Saturday, Sept. 5. Lead singer Mike Suggs not only has the sound but also the look of the late country singer. Marshall Charloff & The Purple XPeRIeNCE will headline Sunday, Sept. 6, with a Prince tribute. Festival-goers may remember the band on the Matthews Alive stage 10 years ago. Moore was going for a
concert that pays respect to Prince on the 10th anniversary of his passing but the booking breaks a personal rule of hers not to repeat headliners. “I have not tried to repeat bands in a single season,” said Moore, who doubles as special events coordinator for the town. “If something’s happening in see FESTIVAL, Page 3A
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thecharlotteweekly.com | WEEKLY
CHARLOTTE – The Charlotte Area Transit System plans to roll out programs to modernize and grow ridership while ensuring a convenient and secure experience for customers. Fare Modernization will introduce new ways to pay for a ride. New electronic ticket validators will be added to light rail platforms and onboard buses and streetcars, allowing CATS to monitor ridership trends for service planning and manage fare compliance. Fare Modernization will simplify the fare payment process for riders through expansion of available CATS fare capping and reducing several existing fare products into one pay-as-you-go system. Riders will automatically receive daily, weekly and monthly fare caps rather than determining which product or pass best meets their service needs. Pay-as-you-go allows riders to receive the benefits of unlimited daily, weekly or monthly passes through fare capping, without purchasing in advance. Additional benefits of the Fare Modernization program include: • Online account management to load value, check balance, view account history and track progress towards fare caps. • Free transfers within a two-hour window for fares paid with the CATS-Pass app, contactless credit/debit card or smart card. • Simplification of fare structure through reduction of the number of fare media and products. • Expanded network of locations to purchase fare products and reload funds to registered accounts across the entire CATS service area. • Expansion of reduced-fare eligibility and simplification of approval process. CATS’ new Fare Ambassadors program will launch this fall in partnership with Block by Block. The program introduces a team of trained people tasked with conducting fare inspections, providing rider education and focusing on ways to reduce fare evasion. “These improvements make riding CATS simpler, more convenient and more customer-focused,” said Elizabeth Presutti, chief administration officer at CATS. “Fare Modernization and Fare Ambassadors will help us enhance the customer experience, ensuring all members of our community have a way to ride while supporting future system growth.” CATS expects implementation of both programs to take 12 to 18 months.