Lyles, Brown expected to file for reelection in Charlotte today
Lyles is seeking a fifth term in office, and she's already facing a primary challenge. One candidate, Tigress Acute Sydney McDaniel, has filed to run, but former mayor Jennifer Roberts has hinted at a possible run for her former seat. Community activist Gemini Boyd also says he is planning to run.
Brown's decision to run for reelection comes amid legal challenges, as she is currently federally indicted for alleged fraud involving the Paycheck Protection Program.
RELATED >> City councilmember, daughters indicted on PPP fraud charges
Brown said she remains committed to her campaign. She's currently facing competition from Montravias King and Joi Mayo in the primary.
Filing for the upcoming election ends this Friday at noon.
(VIDEO: Mayor Vi Lyles backs CMPD chief amid possible lawsuit against city council)

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USA Today
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- USA Today
Does Jaylen Brown's future lie away from the Boston Celtics?
Every summer, Jaylen Brown's name is floated in trade talks. The 2024 NBA Finals MVP is often viewed as a dispensable member of the Boston Celtics' rotation, despite being one of the top forwards in the NBA and a key player in Joe Mazzulla's rotation. This summer has been no different, despite the fact that Brown is set to embrace a leading role on the Celtics roster due to Jayson Tatum's injury-induced absence. Recently, Brown sat down for an interview with Noa Dalzell of Celtics Blog. During the discussion, he noted how he hasn't always felt capable of being his true self around the city, noting politics as a potential reason. 'It's been a long journey here in Boston,' Brown said. 'I've had to deal with a lot. I feel like I haven't been able to be myself in certain capacities — because of the politics, and because maybe people feel uncomfortable with who I am.' Those comments were quickly used to create a new wave of potential trade talk surrounding Brown. In a recent episode of "WEEI Afternoons," the concept of Brown potentially being traded, either this season or next, was a primary discussion point among the two hosts. You can watch the full discussion by clicking on the embedded video above. Watch the "Taylor Talks Celtics" podcast on: YouTube: Website:
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
In Charlotte's competitive 2025 primary, Lyles will face most challengers in years
Voters are in for a competitive primary election in two months with 27 Democrats running for just 12 Charlotte government positions. Every current City Council member and the mayor are seeking election this cycle. Most face multiple challengers, including Mayor Vi Lyles, who is up against six candidates from three political parties. Ed Driggs, who represents south Charlotte's District 7, and Malcolm Graham, who represents District 2 in the north, are the only two council members without an opponent standing in their path to re-election. On the opposite end of the spectrum, a dozen candidates are campaigning for just four at-large seats. Charlotte's primary election is Sept. 9 for City Council. Voters won't have their say in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education or other municipal elections until November, when there will be 70 other candidates competing for seats. Here are some races to watch. Candidates line up to take down Mayor Lyles Mayor Vi Lyles is no stranger to opposition. She dethroned former Mayor Jennifer Roberts in 2017 in an uphill climb to the city's top elected position. But she's faced little signs of resistance since. She won her last general election with 73.6% of the vote after receiving 85.4% of the vote in the primary. And she hasn't faced as many primary election challengers as she does this year since 2019 — when there also were four other candidates. If elected to a fifth term this year, Lyles would be tied for serving the second-longest tenure as Charlotte mayor. Then, she'd fall behind only former Gov. Pat McCrory, who is the city's longest-serving mayor. The crowded pool of challengers includes four Democrats, one Republican and one Libertarian. None have held elected office before. The fledgling Democratic candidates include Jaraun 'Gemini' Boyd, a former prisoner-turned-activist and nonprofit leader; Delter Kenny Guin III, who does not have a campaign website or a clear online campaign presence; Brendan Maginnis, a former Marine and small business owner who ran for Congress in 2024; and Tigress Sydney Acute McDaniel, who has run unsuccessfully for a number of offices across Mecklenburg County. Republican real estate agent Terrie Donovan and Libertarian Rob Yates face perhaps the toughest battle ahead. The last Republican mayor was McCrory, who left office in 2009 to run for governor. There has never been a Libertarian mayor. Absent from the lineup of hopefuls is Roberts, who flirted with the idea of a rematch eight years after leaving office. She would have presented a strong opposition campaign due to her name recognition and a base of supporters that newcomers might lack. But Roberts announced she would not run for mayor about 24 hours before the filing deadline, saying in a mass email that she has 'too many existing commitments that cannot take second place.' District 6 is the only open seat There will be at least one new face on City Council this year. Former Councilman Tariq Bokhari resigned in April after the Trump administration tapped him to become deputy administrator of the Federal Transit Administration. His seat representing District 6 is wide open for the first time since 2017 — and it's the only district without an incumbent in the mix. Three candidates are vying to be Bokhari's successor, including his wife. This would be Krista Bokhari's first time holding public office but not her first time running. She campaigned last year for a seat in the North Carolina House of Representatives, and earlier this spring she unsuccessfully applied to finish the remaining six months of her husband's council term. Sary Chakra, another political newcomer who applied to finish Bokhari's term, is also running for the Republican nomination. Chakra works in stormwater and infrastructure construction. Kimberly Owens, an attorney, is running for the Democrats and will not face a primary challenger. Bokhari and Driggs were the only two Republicans elected to council last cycle. The two south Charlotte districts are the only races where Republican candidates outnumber Democrats and are widely seen as the GOP's best shots at securing representation on the council. Still, party politics traditionally hold little weight in most council decisions, and votes rarely fall down partisan lines. District 3 councilwoman faces a federal indictment and three challengers Tiawana Brown is seeking reelection amid a federal indictment on charges of wire fraud. Brown and her two adult daughters are accused of filing false applications for federal pandemic relief loans and spending loan money on personal expenses. Brown, who is in her first term serving west Charlotte's District 3, faces one of the more challenging incumbent paths to victory against three Democrats who all have political experience. Joi Mayo and Montravias King say they don't want to stake their campaigns on Brown's indictment, though, and want to focus instead on their own records. Mayo is a nonprofit leader and community activist whose work focuses on preservation and responsible growth, among other issues. King is a former Elizabeth City councilman who has worked as a legislative assistant for Democrats in the North Carolina legislature. Democratic candidate Warren Turner represented the district from 2003 to 2011 and is seeking to reclaim his former office, but he brings his own baggage to the election. Turner was voted out of office after a sexual harassment scandal in which an outside law firm found evidence to support some allegations from a city employee. James Bowers also filed as a longshot Republican candidate in the deep blue District 3 for the third consecutive election. Brown pummeled him in 2023, when he received less than a quarter of the votes. Other Charlotte City Council races The at-large race is the most crowded this election season, with five current council members and seven newcomers seeking four seats. Dimple Ajmera, James 'Smuggie' Mitchell Jr., LaWana Slack-Mayfield and Victoria Watlington are the incumbent at-large representatives — all Democrat. Edwin Peacock, a Republican, was appointed to serve out the remainder of Bokhari's term this spring and is running for an at-large position that, if successful, would unseat one of his current colleagues. Peacock also was the last Republican to win an at-large seat in 2009. Democratic candidates Matt Britt, Roderick Davis, Will Holley, J.G. Lockhart, Emerson Stoldt and Namrata Yadav, and Republican candidate Misun Kim, also filed. Several districts will have less complex candidate fields, with voters deciding between two Democrats in head-to-head contests. In District 1 Mayor Pro Tem Dante Anderson will face Charlene Henderson El, a community activist and friend of District 3's Brown. Councilwoman Renee Perkins Johnson in District 4 faces Wil Russell, a construction manager for affordable housing projects. This is a rematch of 2023, when Russell secured just 40.9% of the vote despite an endorsement from Lyles. Perkins Johnson had 52.3%. And Councilwoman Marjorie Molina in District 5 faces J.D. Mazuera Arias, the chair of the Hispanic Democratic Caucus of Mecklenburg County. Municipal elections in November Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will have at least two new leaders this year after two incumbents, Thelma Byers-Bailey and Summer Nunn, did not seek reelection. Every school board race will be competitive besides District 3, where incumbent Gregory 'Dee' Rankin was the only candidate to file. Outside of Charlotte, Mint Hill and Pineville could see some of the biggest leadership shakeups. Mint Hill Mayor Brad Simmons did not seek reelection. Town Commissioner Dale Dalton is one of two candidates seeking to replace him. Pineville will see an overhaul of its town council, with no incumbent seeking reelection. Councilwoman Amelia Stinson-Wesley is risking her seat to take on incumbent Mayor David Phillips for his position. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Investigator says the 'most prolific' fraudsters he's ever seen are a pair of Texas singers
The behind-the-scenes reality wasn't nearly as glamorous as the show they put on. Sidhartha 'Sammy' Mukherjee and his wife Sunita built their reputation as Bollywood-style performers. Beloved in the community, the couple were more than just entertainers — they were stars. Don't miss Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it But now, investigators say they played a much darker role, one rooted not in music but in manipulation. Authorities believe more than 100 investors may have handed over money to Mukherjee for real estate deals that never existed. When dividend cheques started to bounce, suspicions grew. "They will make you believe that they are very successful businesspeople," Terry Parvaga, an alleged fraud victim, told CBS News. "But they will take every single penny you have." At first, police dismissed the complaints as civil disputes. Then a couple came forward, claiming they lost $325,000 in an investment scheme. That's when Detective Brian Brennan of the Euless Police Department took a closer look. "As I got into the case and dug into it, we realized that this was a lot larger than what initially was reported," Brennan said. Here's how it all unraveled. Paper trails and red flags At first glance, the pitch looked legit: remodeling contracts and invoices bearing the Dallas Housing Authority's name. But when Brennan called the agency to verify the deal, the illusion crumbled; there was no such project. "All fake," Brennan said. "The level of counterfeit documents … it had to be a full-time job for him to do that." A new report from IPX1031 found that nearly 30% of Americans have been scammed in 2024, and this case fits right into that growing trend. As the scheme ballooned, Brennan called in the FBI. Forensic accountants traced the cash, uncovering more than $4 million in confirmed losses. So far, 20 victims are on record, but investigators say the real number could top 100. Read more: Americans are 'revenge saving' to survive — but millions only get a measly 1% on their savings. A web of scams, not just showbiz It wasn't just real estate deals raising eyebrows. According to the arrest affidavit, the couple also used a fake company — complete with fake employees — to apply for a federal Paycheck Protection Program loan. When questioned by the FBI over lunch at a McDonald's, Mukherjee claimed he didn't recognize the names on the payroll form tied to his application — a slip-up that sent up serious red flags. And the paper trail didn't stop there. Authorities say the couple's bank accounts were also padded with funds from elderly victims who were targeted with threatening emails that falsely claimed they would go to jail unless they made payments. The FBI warns this isn't uncommon: in 2024, older Americans lost nearly $4.9 billion to fraud schemes — a 43% jump from the year before. "In [my] 23 years, [Sammy Mukherjee] is probably the most prolific fraudster I've seen," Brennan told the CBS News Texas I-Team. "Tentacles going in all different directions." Even as investigators closed in, the Mukherjees stayed in the spotlight, headlining a cultural gala under a nonprofit. One problem — tax records show the nonprofit was registered at their own home, the same place where police eventually made the arrest. The final curtain falls The spotlight has dimmed on the Mukherjees, and this time, there's no encore. The couple is now facing a first-degree felony theft charge that could put them behind bars for five to 99 years. After posting a $500,000 bond each, ICE agents showed up at their Plano home and took Sammy into custody. While the criminal case moves forward, alleged victims remain stuck in financial limbo. The Mukherjees filed for bankruptcy last year, and investigators are still following paper trails to see if any of the missing millions ended up in offshore accounts or crypto wallets. If an investment opportunity feels too good to be true — even when it comes from someone charismatic or well-connected — that's your sign to hit pause. Always verify documents, check for independent records and talk to a licensed financial advisor before sending money. If you've already fallen victim to a scam, getting your money back can be tough, and you can't undo any personal information that's been exposed. But you can take steps to limit the damage. Report the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission, Better Business Bureau and any company involved, such as your bank or email provider. If you clicked on a suspicious link, run a virus scan. Change any passwords the scammer may have accessed and consider using passkeys for added protection. If you share personal or financial details, consider adding a free fraud alert or credit freeze to your credit report to help prevent further identity theft. What to read next Robert Kiyosaki warns of 'massive unemployment' in the US due to the 'biggest change' in history — and says this 1 group of 'smart' Americans will get hit extra hard. Are you one of them? How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you'll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.