Orthodontist in Charlotte, NC

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte Softball falls to NC State in a midweek match-up 8-2 to open up a four-game home stand.

HOW IT HAPPENED The Wolfpack struck first, scoring one in the top of the inning after a lead-off double from Michele Tarpey. NC State continued the momentum into the second, scoring four more runs, including a homer from Hannah Church to give the Wolfpack a five-run lead. Neither side scored again until the 6th when two more NC State players came around, making the score 7-0.

The bottom of the 6th is where the Niners managed to find some life when Jenna Lord hit her 14th bomb of the year to put Charlotte on the board. Three batters later London Dirks came through with an RBI double that scored Jasmine Sanchez who came in to pinch run for Kari Shedrick.

NC State scored one more in the 7th on a Kendall Simmers homer to secure the 8-2 victory.

Brooke Bowling got the start in the circle for the Niners going an inning and two thirds which included three strikeouts to put her at an even 100 career Ks. Aubrey Yarnall came in relief of Bowling and pitched four and a third only allowing five hits and striking out one. Lilian Berry came in to close out the game pitching a complete 7th.

Carly Maxton got the win for NC State pitching six complete innings allowing five hits and two runs to improve her record to 9-2 on the season. Wynne Gore also pitched an inning for the Wolfpack allowing two hits.

UP NEXT Charlotte will now hop back into conference play with a series at home against East Carolina starting on Friday at 6:00 p.m.

FOLLOW THE TEAM Stay up to date with everything Charlotte Softball by following the team on X (Formerly Twitter) @CharlotteSB and Instagram and Facebook @CharlotteSoftball.

Residents of a Rutherfordton neighborhood were ordered to evacuate immediately on Wednesday afternoon, March 26, when a fire developed rapidly in the area of South Winds Dive and Davenport Road.

Rutherford County Emergency Management said an emergency shelter has been opened at First Presbyterian Church, 252 N. Washington Street in Rutherfordton. Firefighters are on the scene.

Meanwhile, a wildfire of more than 1,000 acres was burning Wednesday afternoon in the Alarka Community, which is in Swain County about 16 miles southwest of Cherokee, according to an N.C. Emergency Management post on social media.

According to the post, “The fire is moving toward Frye Mountain, Shepard’s Creek and Conley’s Creek. Evacuation orders have been issued and Swain County is notifying those that need to evacuate directly.”

At the time of the notice, the fire was 0% contained.

Members of the public are urged not to fly drones near where fires are burning because they can damage or ground fire-fighting aircraft, making the work even more dangerous.

The wildfires in Polk County, North Carolina, have surpassed 6,000 acres and can now be seen 500 miles up by satellites, according to the Joint Polar Satellite System.

Collectively, the Black Cove Fire, Deep Woods Fire and Fish Hook Fire have burned 6,168 acres, destroyed 22 structures, prompted evacuations on 18 roads and put one firefighter in the hospital, the county and N.C. Forest Service say.

Smoke plumes and red flames from the fires were intense enough to be recorded March 23 by infrared imaging onboard the NOAA/NASA Suomi-NPP satellite, NOAA reports. The satellite orbits 512 miles above the earth.

“Yesterday (March 25), fire behavior was intense, with rapid fire spread and extreme burning conditions as high winds and dry weather returned to Western North Carolina,” the N.C. Forest Service said in a news release.

“A firefighter was injured on the Black Cove Fire. The individual was airlifted to Spartanburg, South Carolina, where he received medical attention and is currently in stable condition.”

Mandatory evacuations are in place for 165 homes in Polk County due to growing concern the fires are rapidly feeding on a glut of fuel created by Hurricane Helene.

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“Hurricane Helene brought catastrophic damage to forests across the advisory area in late September of 2024. Lighter fuels cured rapidly through a winter with below average rainfall, but extreme rates of drying have been observed in recent weeks,” the Southern Area Coordination Center reported March 25.

“Extraordinarily low humidity has persisted throughout March in the Southern Appalachians, foothills and Piedmont, resulting in accelerated drying of leaf litter and fine fuels left in the wake of Helene’s destruction.”

The end result is “fire spread and intensity” exceeding predictions, the center says.

In Polk County — an 85-mile drive west from of Charlotte — the fires have more than doubled in size since first being reported.

The 3,046-acre Black Cove Fire is the largest and most destructive of the three, accounting for 14 destroyed homes and out buildings, officials said.

It is 0% contained and “remains highly active in the steep terrain of the Green River Gorge,” the county says. The fire was started by a downed power line, state officials say.

The 2,923-acre Deep Woods Fire is also 0% contained and has forced 110 homes to be evacuated, officials said.

Only the smallest of the three fires, the 199-acre Fish Hook Fire, has a partial containment of 72%, officials say. The fire destroyed three homes and one outbuilding before being brought under control.

“The fires continue to pose a serious threat to homes and communities,” the county says.

“Currently there are 263 personnel from North Carolina and other states are present to manage the incident. Firefighters have come from South Carolina, Michigan, Montana, Wyoming, Tennessee, Oregon, South Dakota, and California to help contain this fire.”

This story was originally published March 26, 2025 at 12:14 PM.

Whether you’re craving something sweet or salty, North Carolina has a flavorful lineup of fast-food restaurants — some of which have been named the best in the region.

Southern Living released a list of the top Southern fast-food chains, according to its readers. Of the 12 fan-favorite spots included, three with North Carolina roots were ranked among the best.

“There’s nothing like Bojangles’ famous Cajun Filet Chicken Biscuit for breakfast, but our readers also love this spot for their Bo-Berry Biscuits and plethora of creative new offerings rolled out every so often,” Southern Living’s report says.

“Come by for breakfast, lunch, or dinner where you’ll find some of the best fried chicken and biscuits you can find anywhere, plus Southern fixings like dirty rice, Cajun pinto beans, green beans, coleslaw, and mashed potatoes. The first Bojangles opened in Charlotte in 1977, but now spans the region and beyond.”

Nearly 50 years later, the Carolinas chicken chain’s original location is still open. After a major renovation and throwback reopening event in 2023, it stands as the longest-operating restaurant in the company of the hundreds of restaurants in more than a dozen states.

“You can’t beat the deals — or the variety — at this beloved restaurant that started in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1989,” the report says.

“Order a ‘tray,’ which comes with a large entrée (barbecue sandwiches, double cheeseburgers, two hot dogs, chicken strips, and more), plus two sides that include your standard fries or onion rings, but also options like corn dogs, chicken wraps, and quesadillas. Did we mention the chain offers more than 40 flavors of milkshakes? What’s not to love?”

After its debut in the Triad, Cookout quickly expanded to even more locations – opening its 10th restaurant nine years after opening. Now, there are more than 300 locations across the country, with even more on the way, according to the company website, including nine in North Carolina.

[Who needs cake? NC couple serves Cook Out milkshakes to wedding guests instead.]

“Those who live in North Carolina (where the chain was founded), plus parts of Virginia and South Carolina, are big on Biscuitville. As the name suggests, the spot is known for one thing and one thing only: biscuits. Served from 5 a.m. or 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, the locally and family-owned spot is all about breakfast. There are dozens of different biscuit sandwiches to choose from, or you can simply have one smothered in gravy. You won’t regret either option.”

The Southern breakfast restaurant, known for its scratch-made biscuits, originally started out as Pizzaville in 1966 in Burlington, according to a 2016 blog post from the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. But years later, after opening its first biscuit-only restaurant in Virginia, all locations were converted to Biscuitville.

Want to know how the three North Carolina-based chains compared to others named the best in the region? Here’s the full list of the Southern chains ranked the best:

Fortunately for local foodies, most of the other chains have locations across North Carolina, including Chick-fil-A, Chicken Salad Chick, Church’s Texas Chicken, Popeye’s, Raising Cane’s — and, soon, several Whataburger locations, too.

You can find Southern Living’s full report of the best Southern fast-food chains online at southernliving.com.

Warmer weather in North Carolina means critters are becoming more active. Unfortunately, that includes mosquitoes.

More than 200 types of mosquitoes live in the U.S., and some can spread germs that can make you sick, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (West Nile Virus is one of the most common mosquito-borne diseases in the country.)

Aside from being germ carriers, mosquitoes are a nuisance and a common source of itchy, swollen bites during our state’s warm months.

Mosquitoes can appear as early as February in North Carolina, but they generally become active when spring starts, Chris Hayes, a postdoctoral scholar at N.C. State University who specializes educating the pest management industry on critter habits, told The Charlotte Observer.

That time is now.

There are “tons” of mosquito species in the state, but one of the most common types of mosquito species is the Asian tiger mosquito, which is a “tiny black mosquito with white stripes,” Hayes said.

Here’s what you need to know about the Asian tiger mosquito.

Asian tiger mosquitoes are known as “container breeders,” meaning they thrive in environments like buckets, tires, kids’ toys and anything that can hold water, Hayes said.

One of the best ways to control mosquito populations around homes, including the Asian tiger mosquito, is to follow the “tip and toss” method, NC State Extension’s entomology department says, to get rid of standing water.

“The idea is to disrupt and (preferably) to eliminate the many breeding sites that often exist around our homes and are quite likely the result of our own activities (or inactivity),” a blogpost says.

NC State says standing water can often be found in:

No, it’s a common misconception that mosquitoes tend to bite some people more than others, Hayes said.

“There are some people maybe who smell different to them,” said Hayes. “But really what it boils down to is an allergic response.”

Hayes explained that the typical reaction to mosquito bites, such as itching and swelling, are allergic reactions to proteins in the mosquito’s saliva — and that some people experience those reactions more than others.

Some people may have a mild reaction to bites, while others can experience more severe symptoms, the CDC says.

According to the CDC, mosquito bite symptoms include:

Mosquito bites are generally harmless, but they can become dangerous when mosquitoes are carrying diseases, Hayes said.

“They’re the deadliest animal in the world,” Hayes said, adding that mosquitoes are considered “vectors,” meaning they can spread diseases like Zika virus and malaria. “When a mosquito lands on you, you don’t know if it’s carrying a virus or not.”

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 700,000 people die annually from vector-borne diseases.

Luckily, those diseases aren’t common in North Carolina, Hayes said.

There have not been any cases of Zika reported in the U.S. since 2019, according to the CDC.

At least five cases of malaria were identified in Florida and Texas in 2023, but those were the first cases of locally-acquired malaria found in the U.S. in two decades, CDC data show.

You can use insect repellents that include picaridin, a synthetic repellent that targets insects, to protect yourself from mosquito bites, Hayes said.

The CDC recommends the use of Environmental Protection Agency-approved insect repellents to deter mosquitoes, with at least one of these active ingredients:

Natural products, such as essential oil-based creams that include lemongrass or citronella, can also help deter mosquitoes, Hayes said.

Hayes said the best way to protect yourself and your home from mosquitoes is to enlist the help of a pest control professional, since they have access mosquito control services that the public doesn’t.

He also pointed out that store-bought insecticides can be effective against mosquitoes, but he cautioned homeowners about using them.

“Be very careful when applying insecticides by yourself,” Hayes said. “The general public is not always educated on safety measures when using them.”

Hayes urged homeowners to wear protective clothing while applying insecticides, and keep kids and pets away from areas that have been treated with them.

“If you get insecticides on anything, make sure you clean it or throw it away,” he said.

Have a question about your community you’d like answered? Or maybe a tip or story idea you’d like to share? The service journalism teams at The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer want to hear from you.

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March 18, 2025 3:07 PM

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This story was originally published March 26, 2025 at 8:00 AM.

A new Senate bill proposes adopting the song "Raise Up" as North Carolina's official state hip-hop song.

Why it matters: All my fellow North Carolinians know the 2001 hit by Petey Pablo. We've all, at some point, whipped a towel or other fabric above our heads and belted along: "This one's for North Carolina! Come on and raise up. Take your shirt off, twist it 'round your hand. Spin it like a helicopter."

If passed, the bill would give "Raise Up" official recognition, paying it the same respect our state shows the dogwood flower (state flower) and the cardinal (state bird).

What they're saying: "'Raise Up' was released in August 2001 as a tribute to the people of North Carolina and maintains its cultural significance as an anthem for the State," the bill reads.

The big picture: The bill acknowledges the worldwide celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip hop in 2023 and highlights HBCUs' influence on the genre:

Context: Petey Pablo was born and raised in Greenville, as were other hip hop icons mentioned in the bill, including J. Cole, Rapsody, 9th Wonder, Phonte and Big Pooh.

Between the lines: The bill was filed by Democratic Senators Natalie S. Murdock (Chatham, Durham), Kandie Smith (Edgecombe, Pitt) and DeAndrea Salvador (Mecklenburg).

The intrigue: Charlotte rapper DaBaby wants to create the next anthem of the Carolinas — a song that can rival Pablo's "Raise Up."

What's next: Pablo will return to LLMF this year. He's set to take the 5th Street stage at 4:30pm on Saturday, May 3.