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Hi readers, Lindsey here. Funny how I’ve never craved a salad more in my whole life than I have the past week. There’s a parasite going around connected to fresh produce (particularly lettuce) that’s been giving people “explosive diarrhea.” Apologies for the descriptive language, but it’s an increasing nationwide issue from which Charlotte is not immune. This week, The Ledger team put our heads together, fanned out to talk to people across town and assembled a comprehensive look into how the cyclosporiasis outbreak is impacting local grocery stores, restaurants, farms and farmers markets. Lettuce explain. Keep reading to learn more — including where to buy safe produce.
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As consumers rethink salads, Charlotte-area farmers, grocers and restaurants navigate growing concerns over produce safety; N.C. cases nearly double in a week
In the wake of the cyclosporiasis outbreak, more Charlotteans are buying produce from local farmers markets, like the Kings Drive Farmers Market pictured above. (Photo by Emily Brietz/The Charlotte Ledger)
When Cherie Jzar arrived at the Uptown Farmers Market last Saturday, she was bracing for the worst.
Following reports of a widespread parasite outbreak linked to produce, the Deep Roots CPS Farm co-founder expected shoppers to steer clear of fresh fruits and vegetables. Instead, she said customers flocked to her stand looking for produce they felt they could trust.
"We were bracing for just no sales at all," Jzar said. "And then things kind of changed a little bit ... people were saying, ‘We want local.’ We got a surge in the community calling, saying, ‘How can we shop with you? Where do we shop with you?’"
Since news of the cyclosporiasis outbreak gained traction over the past week, the effects have rippled throughout businesses in Charlotte and across the country, as consumers pull back from salads and start wondering about the safety of their food.
Grocery stores have pulled items from shelves. Some restaurants have experienced big drops in customers. And local farmers like Jzar say they hope the outbreak reinforces the value of local produce.
Produce-handling tips 🥒
Wash fruits and vegetables under running water before eating them.
Dry produce with a clean cloth or paper towel after washing to help remove additional bacteria.
Remove damaged or bruised portions of fruits and vegetables before eating.
Wash your hands with soap and water before handling food.
Refrigerate cut fruits and vegetables promptly.
Source: Food and Drug Administration
Foreclosures in Charlotte metro up sharply year-over-year
Foreclosures are increasing across the Charlotte metropolitan statistical area, with about 1 in 500 local homes the subject of a foreclosure filing in the first six months of the year.
That’s up 71% from the same six-month period in 2025, with Chester County seeing the highest rate of foreclosure filings (0.45% of all housing units) among 10 local counties analyzed. The findings came from a Ledger analysis of data that was provided by property data company Attom.
While that’s a sharp increase, it’s important to note that it’s coming off a period of historically low foreclosure filings in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, so foreclosure activity may simply be returning to pre-pandemic levels.
Charlotte’s new mayor reports no financial conflicts on ethics disclosure
New Charlotte Mayor Rob Harrington has listed no financial conflicts of interest on a routine city form filled out by public officials that allows them to list potential ethical issues connected to their position.
Harrington, who was sworn in as mayor on July 1, is a partner at law firm Robinson Bradshaw and was backed by Charlotte’s business community for the job. He was appointed by a 6-5 City Council majority and succeeded Mayor Vi Lyles, who resigned to spend more time with family.
In his “statement of economic interest,” which council members and the mayor complete annually, Harrington listed only his home in the Cotswold area as a real estate holding. The form asks public officials to disclose significant real estate holdings, company ownership and nonprofit positions, especially those that could be affected by the city’s actions. Harrington listed no company ownership of 10% or more or nonprofit roles that could be potential conflicts.
The form Harrington and council members fill out asks them to disclose that information as of Dec. 31 of the previous year, though the form the city used this year appears to be outdated: Questions on business and real estate ownership ask for that information “as of Dec. 31, 2023.”
The disclosures are public documents maintained by the city clerk. The Ledger requested and received them earlier this month.
Here’s what Charlotte’s 11 council members disclosed on their forms this year, which they filed in February:
From the ABC files: ALE agents shut down Sugar Creek Brewing’s ‘Tap It Tuesday,’ in which $6 could fill any container up to 32 oz; ‘could be a flower pot’
It’s time once again for the popular Ledger recurring feature that takes a closer look at how North Carolina’s alcohol laws are being applied to local businesses.
This month’s tale takes us to Sugar Creek Brewing Co., in the area known as LoSo. According to documents from the N.C. ABC Commission, Alcohol Law Enforcement headed to the Charlotte brewery on Sept. 19, 2025, to investigate a complaint “alleging that patrons could bring in any sized container and have it filled with a malt beverage for $6 on Tuesdays.”
Let’s go straight to the law enforcement report, written by ALE Agent Matthew Stemple:
🎙️ New on the pod: How Davidson hopes to make a liberal arts education more affordable
Higher education is facing more than one challenge: growing skepticism about the value of a liberal arts education, rising tuition costs and fewer high school seniors enrolling in college, said Davidson College President Doug Hicks.
Davidson, a private liberal arts college about 20 miles north of Charlotte, is pushing back.
On the most recent episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Hicks sits down with Ledger reporting intern Cooper Hall to talk about the college’s new financial aid package, which promises free tuition and housing for in-state households making $85,000 or less, the emerging mindset devaluing a liberal arts education and how artificial intelligence fits in.
Hicks believes that Davidson — and a liberal arts education in general — is crucial to a student’s life after graduation:
I’ve had two CEOs of some of the largest banks and institutions in Charlotte sit in that chair in my office, say that they want to hire all liberal arts graduates, or many liberal arts graduates, because they learn the skills that are needed in their workplace. So, those skills are the ability to ask great questions, the ability to write well, to work well in diverse groups, to be creative, to take leadership roles. …
It’s five years out when those liberal arts skills start to shine. We believe that very much. When AI is getting better and better, AI is human-driven in terms of innovation, but that capacity — that’s driven by machines through human ingenuity — is being able to do more and more technical skills. But somebody has to drive that bus. Somebody has to guide those machines to be able to have the right processes to give the right answers. …
The liberal arts, people who learn — students, graduates — who are learning history, learning ethics, learning philosophy, who understand how language conveys culture, as well as specific words, those are the kind of things that serve people in really important leadership positions in their workplace.
You might be interested in these Charlotte events
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
JULY 24 THROUGH AUG. 2: “Queen’s Feast: Charlotte Restaurant Week,” at over 120 participating metro-area restaurants. Get fancy. Have fun. Splurge smart during Queen’s Feast, as restaurants in 9 metro-area counties showcase their best with multi-course menus at special prix fixe prices. Explore menus and make reservations at CharlotteRestaurantWeek.com. $30-$55/person.
SUNDAY (JULY 26): “Discussion with Author Patricia Joslin,” 2-3 p.m., at Park Road Books, 4139 Park Road. Park Road Books wants to celebrate Patricia Joslin and her book of poetry, “No Packing Necessary, Poems for the Solo Journey,” with an in-person discussion. You will be able to purchase the book and have it signed by the author. Free event. Books are available today.
JULY 30: “South Charlotte Partners Breakfast Club,” 8-9:30 a.m., at AC Hotel Charlotte Ballantyne, 14819 Ballantyne Village Way. July Breakfast Club will focus on the topic of “The State of Healthcare in South Charlotte.” The conversation will bring together local health care leaders to explore how hospitals are evolving to meet the needs of a growing and diverse community. $25 in advance. $35 at the door.
In brief
West Nile virus detected in county mosquitos: The North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health has detected West Nile virus in a mosquito sample collected this month, though no human cases have been reported. Health officials are urging residents to use insect repellent, eliminate standing water and take other precautions to reduce mosquito exposure. (Press Release)
Commissioners maintain strong attendance: Mecklenburg County commissioners attended more than 90% of meetings on average between January 2025 and mid-2026, with Susan Rodriguez-McDowell posting the highest attendance rate at 98.7%. Most current commissioners seeking reelection missed relatively few meetings during the period. (Observer, subscriber-only)
Settlement trims energy rate increase: Duke Energy Carolinas has agreed to cut its proposed rate increase roughly in half under a new settlement, reducing its requested return on equity after customer opposition. If approved, residential electric bills would rise 5.9% in 2027 and 3.6% in 2028, adding about $6.50 a month for the average customer. (WFAE)
State board approves stricter mail ballot rules: The North Carolina State Board of Elections approved new absentee ballot rules that could lead to more mail ballots being rejected if voters do not follow envelope requirements. The changes, which split the board along party lines, require approval before taking effect. (WFAE)
Moms file claims over Border Patrol stop: Two Charlotte mothers have filed $3M in claims against the U.S. government, alleging Border Patrol agents unlawfully chased them, pointed a rifle at them, broke their car windows and detained them during last year’s “Operation Charlotte’s Web.” Federal prosecutors later dropped the charges against the women, who say their constitutional rights were violated. (Observer)
Cam Newton laid off at ESPN: Former Carolina Panthers MVP Cam Newton was among the on-air personalities laid off by ESPN this week as the network cut jobs following its integration of NFL Network, according to The Athletic.
Fury 325 back open: Carowinds on Tuesday said Fury 325, the theme park’s tallest and fastest roller coaster, has reopened and resumed operations after the ride closed on July 7. Carowinds in a social media post said a “slight change in the foundation” surrounding one of the ride’s support columns was detected, prompting the closure. It said it worked with engineers, maintenance professionals, third-party experts and the N.C. Department of Labor to make “necessary corrections” and inspect the ride. (Instagram)