Good morning! Today is Wednesday, August 19, 2026. You’re reading The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C.
Today’s Charlotte Ledger is sponsored by T.R. Lawing Realty:
Good morning! Tony here. Charlotte has had some big job announcements in the past year — Scout Motors, SMBC, Capital Group and others — and it is among the top cities in the country for job creation. But as Ashley Fahey shows in our lead story today, Charlotte actually has many different job markets: “Not every community is experiencing the economy and job opportunities the same right now,” one nonprofit leader told her. We’re also looking at the return of Crystal Hill, new frights on the way for SCarowinds, a Toppman review of a new exhibition at the Bechtler and how Bank of America’s CEO relishes dropping arcane words into conference calls with analysts. Let’s get to it!
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For some, finding a job can be harder than the city’s booming economy might suggest
Natalia Aguilar, left, and her mentor, Amanda, are pictured in 2021 at her senior signing day, an UrbanPromise ceremony for high school students’ next steps. (Photo courtesy of Brooke Brown Photography)
by Ashley Fahey
Natalia Aguilar thought being bilingual, having a master’s degree and pursuing a career in social work — an industry with a well-documented labor shortage — would make her a competitive candidate in the job market.
But Aguilar, the daughter of immigrants and the first in her family to go to college, didn’t anticipate how hard it would be to land a full-time job after getting her bachelor’s degree, followed by a Master of Social Work, from UNC Charlotte in May 2025. She was excited to be given an offer as a substance-use counselor three months after graduation — only for the company to call her shortly before her start date to say it could no longer hire her.
“To have to start over was really hard,” she said.
After applying for dozens of jobs, even ones that she didn’t think she had enough experience for or that advertised lower-than-hoped-for pay, Aguilar secured a job at a clinic and started there in early October. But, she said, she was seeing dozens of patients a day and felt herself quickly burning out. Aguilar left that job in December and restarted her search — for the third time in less than a year.
Finally, she landed a job at a psychiatric hospital in Charlotte in February, a role she says she’s happy in and believes will be a stable, long-term fit.
“It’s been a long up and down,” Aguilar said. “I can’t believe I have the job that I do. As a new clinician, there’s honestly no place I'd rather be.”
Charlotte has enjoyed a recent spate of major economic development announcements and arguably has one of the strongest job markets in the country. But not every economic development win benefits Charlotteans equally, and it comes amid a more competitive labor market and rising cost of living.
SPONSORED CONTENT
Before River ever took his first breath, his life was already being fought for.
Now 7 months old, with expressive eyes that seem to tell their own story and a personality beginning to shine through, River is finally home — after 195 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital.
At 20 weeks pregnant, Alli scheduled a private ultrasound — a chance to get an early glimpse of her baby before her anatomy scan.
Instead, she got a moment she’ll never forget.
Back on the job, Crystal Hill says her focus is on getting ready for the start of school
CMS Superintendent Crystal Hill (left) speaks with the media at the new location of J.T. Williams Secondary Montessori (formerly Marie G. Davis) off South Tryon Street. (Photo: Tony Mecia/The Charlotte Ledger)
An upbeat Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Crystal Hill faced the media at a press briefing on Tuesday, deflecting questions about her two months on paid leave amid a district investigation.
In prepared remarks, she said she wanted to “acknowledge the events of the past several weeks” but that “today is not the time or the place to have that discussion. Today, we are focused on the opening of school.”
In response to a question about whether people should have confidence in leadership stability in CMS, she said: “I feel very confident about my leadership and the leadership of our team. … We are aligned. We are a team. And we are ready to go.”
The first day of classes for about 140,000 CMS students is Tuesday (Aug. 25). —Tony Mecia
😱 SCarowinds adds Jason-themed haunted maze for Halloween season
Ever wanted to be terrified by the hockey-mask-covered face of iconic horror movie villain Jason Vorhees? This fall, you’ll have your chance.
Six Flags, the owner of Carowinds amusement park on the Carolinas border in the Charlotte metro, says it’ll add eight new attractions to its SCarowinds event this fall, which runs on select nights between Sept. 11 and Nov. 1.
A year after debuting its The Conjuring: Beyond Fear attraction (which, as a “SCREAMium” attraction, requires a reservation and a separate ticket that starts at $15), Six Flags is adding a haunted maze at SCarowinds based on another horror movie franchise. It’s called Jason: Blood Reign, which will feature Voorhees of “Friday the 13th” fame.
You don’t have to wait until Friday the 13th to be scared witless. The new Jason: Blood Reign maze debuts at Carowinds on Sept. 11. (Image courtesy of Carowinds)
🎭 TOPPMAN ON THE ARTS
Local arts criticism — from touring Broadway shows to community theater and museum exhibits — from longtime critic Lawrence Toppman.
Jiha Moon’s “Jay Skin 2 (Sleep)” is on display at Bechtler Museum of Modern Art through Nov. 9. (Installation photo by Ghost Crab Production, LLC)
Bananas, butterflies and plenty of surprises fill the Bechtler’s latest exhibit.
Arts critic Lawrence Toppman takes a look at Jiha Moon’s “Collection, Reframed” exhibition, running now through Nov. 9, and how it uses familiar symbols to explore identity, culture and emotion — with a sense of humor.
Quotable: How BofA’s CEO slips obscure words into earnings calls
From the Aug. 18, 2026, edition of the Wall Street Journal:
When the second-largest U.S. bank discloses its quarterly financial results, analysts have to decipher the lexicon of CEO Brian Moynihan, riddled with obscure, archaic words fit for novelists or judges of bygone centuries.
It’s no happenstance that Moynihan regularly jams words such as “gainsay,” “concomitant” and “fantods” into otherwise ordinary sentences when he addresses the street. It’s part of a secret game the 66-year-old plays on calls with analysts, according to people familiar with the matter. …
Moynihan challenges himself to find a way to use certain vocabulary words on the calls, the people said. The more arcane, the better. The words are randomly chosen at the last minute for Moynihan to insert within the prepared scripts, one of the people said.
Moynihan has more than once used “gainsay,” or to declare something as untrue or invalid. One quarter, he said the bank saw strong adviser productivity and “concomitant” growth in fee-based assets. Another quarter he said he didn’t “get fantods,” or rather that he wasn’t nervous.
“There is no question, Brian loves a good challenge and always makes us think,” a Bank of America spokeswoman said. “Or what might be called ludically noetic.”
Moynihan tends to slide in one vocabulary word for each earnings call. But sometimes there are multiple suspect words in a single sentence. …
At times it’s obvious.
“A perspicacious analyst might wonder whether talk of inflation, recession and other factors would fructify in a slower spending growth,” Moynihan said in an analyst call in 2022. …
An AI review of earnings transcripts since 2010 by the Wall Street research firm AlphaSense found that Moynihan uses a “distinct mix” of “highly obscure vocabulary” and “sophisticated” corporate terminology.
You might be interested in these Charlotte events
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21: “Founders & Funders: 2026 Pickleball Social,” 12-4 p.m., at Tipsy Pickle, 201 Camp Road, #120. Join Innovate Charlotte for a laid-back summer afternoon of networking, open play and friendly competition. Whether you're a seasoned player or just here for the vibes, this is your chance to connect with Charlotte's innovation community outside the usual meeting rooms. Free to attend. $10 to compete in an optional mini-tournament.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 23: “A Very Laufey Day 2026,” 1-5 p.m., at Mint Museum Uptown and Mint Museum Randolph. The Mint Museum is thrilled to invite all the Lauvers as an official “Celebration of The Arts” stop for “A Very Laufey Day” – a worldwide celebration of art in every form: music, museums, live performances, books and everything in between. Take a self-guided Laufey-themed tour through the museum while listening to a curated playlist of your favorite hits. Free.
SEPTEMBER 1: “The Day the Music Didn’t Stop: 9/11 at 25 Years,” 7-8 p.m., at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 115 W. 7th St. Music and memory tell a story of hope and resilience, commemorating 25 years since 9/11. The Rev. Dr. Stuart Hoke shares his firsthand account from Ground Zero, interwoven with live music by 7th Street Concerts. Featuring string quartet, oboe, piano and organ, this moving program honors remembrance, healing, and the enduring power of music. $30-$45/ticket.
In brief
N.C. to launch mobile driver licenses: The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles plans to roll out digital driver licenses and state IDs in December through the NC Wallet app. The mobile IDs will be accepted at TSA checkpoints, NCDMV offices and by law enforcement, with Apple, Google and Samsung Wallet support expected in early 2027. (WRAL)
State audit flags CATS security gap: A state audit released on Monday found security shortcomings, fare evasion losses and $1.7M in unspent funding for safety upgrades for the Charlotte Area Transit System. The review follows heightened scrutiny of transit security after last year’s fatal stabbing on the LYNX Blue Line. (Observer, subscriber-only)
Next audits: State Auditor Dave Boliek told the Rotary Club of Charlotte on Tuesday that he expects to have a report next month on the $650M in bonds the city of Charlotte issued to help renovate Bank of America Stadium. He said his office is also preparing a report on the state lottery, which he said is giving a diminishing share of its revenue to education.
Judge denies bond in Dilworth attack: Di-Quan Hunt will remain jailed without bond after being accused of repeatedly punching a woman in an unprovoked attack and posting a video of it online. He has been in custody since being released from a mental health facility on Friday. (Observer, subscriber-only)
Girl Tribe to close South End store: Charlotte-based apparel company Girl Tribe Co. shared on its social media accounts Monday that it’s closing its longtime South End store on Aug. 31 to focus on faster-growing wholesale, licensing and e-commerce businesses as it exits brick-and-mortar retail.
Stein vetoes bills: Gov. Josh Stein vetoed two Republican-backed bills Monday: one that would shorten North Carolina's primary early voting period and another that would let the chief justice suspend certain trial judges without pay during misconduct investigations. The move sets up likely override attempts when lawmakers return in November. (Carolina Public Press)
American to install entertainment screens: American Airlines will begin installing 4K seatback entertainment screens, Bluetooth audio and USB-C charging on new aircraft starting in 2028, as well as retrofit much of its existing fleet, as part of a broader push to add more premium seating and close its profit gap with Delta and United. (CNBC)
Pollen time: Charlotte-area health officials are urging residents to start allergy medications now as ragweed pollen levels rise and late-summer allergy season gets underway. (WSOC)