Good morning! Today is Friday, October 9, 2026. You’re reading The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C.
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Good morning! It’s Tony. We have a diverse lineup of interesting and newsy articles this morning, from the outlook for birds roosting in old school chimneys to a big change ahead for the Southern Christmas Show. What strikes me about today’s issue, though, is the visuals: Some stories are best told through images. So we’re showing you the circling chimney swifts, taking you by video inside the new Charlotte Museum of Nature and letting you see what it looks like when Bojangles meets the glitz of the Las Vegas Strip. Enjoy!
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Thousands of chimney swifts swirl above Charlotte at dusk, but the old brick chimneys they depend on are disappearing
Chimney swifts approach a chimney last week at East Mecklenburg High School. (Video courtesy of Amber Veverka)
by Amber Veverka
At first, nothing. Then, in threes and fours, black shapes swooped through a twilight sky. Soon, they were joined by others, all chittering in high, alien voices.
A handful became dozens, then hundreds. Finally, they were a swirling flock of more than a thousand, wheeling in a counterclockwise vortex until it looked like the very sky was alive.
The chimney swifts were returning to their evening roost in an old chimney at East Mecklenburg High School on a recent night, with their human fans watching in wonder below. The massive flocking — part of the birds’ preparation for a 3,000-mile migration to South America — is a sight fewer in Charlotte may get a chance to see. That’s because swifts are losing the large brick chimneys they rely on for pre-migration roosting.
Southern Christmas Show expected to relocate ahead of redevelopment; city grapples with expected BOPlex parking crunch
The Southern Christmas Show, held at the Park Expo and Conference Center and its predecessors, will need to find a new spot after 60 years. The show will be at its usual site this year and next year. (Photo: Lindsey Banks/The Charlotte Ledger)
After 60 years, a big source of Charlotte Christmas cheer will soon have to find a new home for the holidays.
Bojangles opens on Las Vegas Strip with full bar + live-music stage
ALL IN ON VEGAS: Charlotte-based Bojangles opened a restaurant in Las Vegas this week — and it is the first in the chicken chain to feature a full-service bar along with a stage for live music. The new spot, on The Linq Promenade on the Las Vegas Strip, also features an outdoor patio and TVs. An influencer who took a video of the opening reported Bojangles was selling $8 drafts. The company has been expanding outside of the Southeast and now has nearly 900 restaurants in 24 states. (Photos by Schaffner’s Captures/Bojangles)
🔎 CMS INVESTIGATION NOTES
A few facts and tidbits on the investigation into Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ finances, which seems to center on how the school board or school board members hired law firms and contractors and whether those expenditures were authorized.
Full access to The Ledger’s CMS Investigation Notes is available only to paying subscribers. Join us today!
➡️ You can read investigation notes online at The Charlotte Ledger’s dedicated webpage
Articles include:
REAL ESTATE WHISPERS
Real Estate Whispers is our weekly look at commercial real estate development, debates and debacles — with plenty of scoops and information you won’t find anywhere else.
🎵 The latest on the Brookhill Village redevelopment near South End — including plans for a live music venue
🏢 Assessor: Old and new uptown office towers will not be treated the same in revaluation
✈️ Charlotte-Douglas International Airport seeks firms to help determine how to develop airport-owned land
🏫 Developer eyes school board-owned surplus land for hundreds of housing units
🏠 Alliance Residential confirms its plans for Enderly Park
🚜 Space Craft to break ground soon on its fourth Optimist Park project
🎥 WATCH: Charlotte Museum of Nature is nearly ready to open — but its future remains uncertain
The Discovery Place Charlotte Museum of Nature, next to Freedom Park, features interactive exhibits, outdoor trails, classrooms and a future home for two otters. But despite construction being largely complete, there’s still no opening date.
That’s because Discovery Place owes Mecklenburg County $14.6M by Oct. 27 and says it can’t make the payment in full, The Ledger reported Wednesday.
County commissioners are now weighing whether to renegotiate the agreement or declare the nonprofit in default, potentially allowing the county to take control of the building.
Discovery Place says it could open within 90 days, but for now, questions remain about what happens next.
The Charlotte Ledger toured the nearly completed museum Thursday to show residents what the facility looks like amid the ongoing funding dispute. —Lindsey Banks
🎭 TOPPMAN ON THE ARTS
Local arts criticism — from touring Broadway shows to community theater and museum exhibits — by longtime critic Lawrence Toppman.
Charlotte Ballet’s “Black Box Series” runs through Oct. 24 at the McBride-Bonnefoux Center for Dance. (Photo by Taylor Jones)
Charlotte Ballet’s “Black Box Series” brings together two returning favorites and a world premiere, showcasing the company’s impressive talent and versatility. But while the familiar works shine even brighter the second time around, arts critic Lawrence Toppman says the new “Phoenix” struggles to take flight.
You might be interested in these Charlotte events
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10: “‘Written on the Wind’ - Movie and Talkback,” 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Independent Picture House, 4237 Raleigh St. Join the Independent Picture House for a special screening of “Written on the Wind” and post-screening conversation about the film (and its North Carolina connections), hosted by Karina Longworth, creator and narrator of the “You Must Remember This” podcast. The film is featured in the new season of the podcast entitled “The Bisexuals.” $15/ticket.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14: “Facing Your Financial Fears: Smart Money Across Generations—Millennials,” 5:30-7:30 p.m., Mint Museum Uptown, 500 S. Tryon St. Join The Charlotte Ledger for an in-person discussion with tips on how to get ahead in personal finance areas such as building savings, paying off debt and income growth. Every Wednesday in October, we tackle the money questions that show up at different stages in life. Up next on Oct. 14: wealth-building strategies for millennials. Free, but register here.
OCTOBER 22: “My Breast Friend’s Wedding, Benefiting Go Jen Go,” 5:30-9 p.m., at Hyatt Centric SouthPark, 3100 Apex Dr. Make unforgettable memories for an incredible cause during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Dress up in wedding attire (any type), grab your girls and join in for friendship, fun and women showing up for women, all while supporting the Go Jen Go Foundation and local families facing breast cancer. Be a part of the magic: say "I do" to Go Jen Go. $75.
OCTOBER 29: “Public Square: Charlotte’s Civic Conversation Series,” 7-9 p.m., at Charlotte Theatre at Belk Place, 230 N. Tryon St. Public Square civic conversation series seeks to strengthen the civic fabric of our community through respectful conversations that foster learning, understanding and engagement. The inaugural event’s theme is “Freedom and Responsibility: What We Owe Each Other” featuring moderator Carol Quillen and speakers John Hood and Melissa Murray. $35 General Admission; $15 for students.
In brief
Diorio defends nature museum loan: Retired Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio defended a $14.7M loan to Discovery Place as necessary to complete its new Freedom Park nature museum, arguing that county commissioners knew about the arrangement and should have raised concerns earlier, as the nonprofit faces a possible default later this month. (Charlotte Business Journal, subscriber-only)
Federal probe into Wells Fargo: The Trump administration is investigating whether Wells Fargo violated fair-lending laws through programs aimed at increasing Black and minority homeownership. The scrutiny comes as the Charlotte region’s largest banking employer has also faced recent allegations and litigation over racial disparities in mortgage denials. (Wall Street Journal, subscriber-only)
NC lawmakers approve temporary gas tax suspension: On Wednesday, the General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to suspend North Carolina’s 41-cent-per-gallon gas tax through November, sending the measure to Gov. Josh Stein. Even if it becomes law, lawmakers and industry officials say prices may take time to fall and may not drop by the full 41 cents because stations could still be selling fuel purchased with the tax included. (WRAL)
CMPD officer investigated over gun purchase: A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer is on unpaid leave while authorities investigate allegations that the officer bought a gun for a convicted felon. The inquiry began after a firearm recovered in a separate arrest was traced back to paperwork bearing the officer’s name. (WSOC)