Latest news with #MarcusJones
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Charlotte City Council votes no to $25/hour minimum wage for city employees
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The Charlotte City Council will use one-time funding to help various organizations in the city, but when it comes to giving city workers an additional pay bump, that vote was a no. In November 2025, the minimum wage for city workers will increase from $23 an hour to $24 an hour. Some on the council wanted to raise the hourly wage to $25 an hour, but it was voted down 6 to 5 on Monday night. The main reason is that raising the pay to $25 an hour would mean a structurally unbalanced budget for the city. Also, the additional funding would only be a one-time payment from the American Rescue Plan Act, also known as ARPA money, that the city of Charlotte has in reserve. So, city manager Marcus Jones would have to find a way to maintain the pay raises in the 2027 city budget. Charlotte leaders consider regulation changes for street vendors Other organizations did receive money for their operations from the ARPA funding. Those nonprofits provide services in the city, addressing issues like climate change and tutoring students. Some on the council worry that if they keep spending the reserve funds, there may not be money in case of an emergency. 'The very fact that we can literally keep some of this funding for future opportunities or something that we need next year, where we want something discretionary done,' said District 5 councilwoman Marjorie Molina. 'Next year, I feel like if we are empty, we are going to regret it.' With all the changes, an additional $1.2 million will be added to the budget. Charlotte City Council will vote to approve the full budget next week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Charlotte leaders plan national search for CMPD Chief Jennings' successor
Now that Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings has shared his plans to retire by 2026, city leaders will begin a nation-wide search for his successor, a city announcement said. Jennings, who joined the department in 1992 and was promoted to chief in 2020, went public with his decision Sunday — the same day he released details of the $305,000 closed-session settlement he made with the city earlier in May. The deal reportedly stopped a lawsuit over comments made by former City Council member Tariq Bokhari, who pushed Jennings to get new bulletproof vests for police officers, The Charlotte Observer previously reported. After Jennings announced his retirement plans, two of the city's top leaders thanked him for his commitment to the city. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles praised Jennings as a 'transformative leader for CMPD and a true champion for Charlotte,' her statement read. 'His dedication to public safety and his innovative approaches to policing have made our city safer and stronger,' Lyles said. 'We are immensely grateful for his 33 years of service and his commitment to leading the department through the end of the year.' Charlotte City Manager Marcus Jones also thanked Jennings. He said Jennings' leadership has been 'instrumental in advancing public safety.' 'As we begin the search for our next chief, we are committed to finding a leader who will continue to build upon Chief Jennings' legacy and uphold our city's commitment to safety and justice for all,' said Jones in a statement. Jennings' separation agreement awards the chief the following: ▪ $14,016.70 in retroactive pay ▪ $45,698.56 retention bonus ▪ $45,284.70 for 40 days of vacation ▪ $175,000 in severance pay ▪ 25,000 'for costs incurred related to the Dispute.' Jennings annual salary was about $280,300. Last week, State Auditor Dave Boliek said his office planned to investigate the city's settlement with Jennings. At the time, city officials refused to share details of the agreement, saying details of the agreement were not public record. 'Even if the payment was worth one penny, it should be disclosed to the public in a timely and transparent matter,' wrote Boliek in a letter to Lyles. Details of the separation agreement were first reported by The Charlotte Optimist and The Assembly.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
2025 Emmy Predictions: Who Will Win at the Primetime Emmy Awards?
Editor's note: As Emmys season rolls along, IndieWire will update this page with in-depth Emmy predictions from Awards Editor Marcus Jones. A link to each category will lead to lists of the ever-changing contenders, plus reporting on what shows are playing well with voters, TV Academy rules changes, interviews with potential nominees, and more. As the TV season winds down, it is time to begin the conversation around which shows will win at the 2025 Emmys. (It is!) More from IndieWire 'USS Callister': Everything to Remember from the 'Black Mirror' Episode Before Its Season 7 Sequel 2025 Emmys Predictions: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie The Television Academy will be looking to honor programs that aired between June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2025, a period of time still reeling from the widespread contraction of work in the industry, as well as the wildfires that devastated Los Angeles in January. However, unlike last year, which was jam-packed with two Emmys ceremonies, but was short on returning series, the Outstanding Drama Series race alone has Emmy winners like 'Severance,' 'The White Lotus,' 'The Last of Us,' 'Squid Game,' and 'The Handmaid's Tale' all back in contention for more awards. Similarly, 'Hacks,' 'The Bear,' 'Abbott Elementary,' and 'Only Murders in the Building' are all back in the Outstanding Comedy Series race, which has gotten more and more competitive by the year. Looking at the winter awards season, there have not been too many new shows to break through besides limited series 'The Penguin' on HBO, but as we have seen before with a project like 'Baby Reindeer,' there is still room for more shows to surprise and delight us by the time the first round of Emmys voting wraps on Monday, June 23, and nominations are announced on Tuesday, July more insight on the shows and stars we expect to be contenders this Emmys season, see the individual prediction pages listed below. IndieWire's Emmy predictions will be refreshed throughout the race, so bookmark this page for the most accurate power rankings out there, and make sure to follow IndieWire on X, Facebook, and Instagram for all the latest Emmys news. Outstanding Drama SeriesOutstanding Lead Actor in a Drama SeriesOutstanding Lead Actress in a Drama SeriesOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama SeriesOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Outstanding Comedy SeriesOutstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy SeriesOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy SeriesOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy SeriesOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Outstanding Limited or Anthology SeriesOutstanding TV MovieOutstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a MovieOutstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a MovieOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a MovieOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie Outstanding Animated ProgramOutstanding Talk SeriesOutstanding Scripted Variety SeriesOutstanding Documentary or Nonfiction SeriesOutstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special The nomination round of voting will take place from June 12 to 23, with the official Emmy nominations being announced on Tuesday, July 15. Final voting will commence on August 18 and will close on the night of August 27. Finally, the 77th annual Primetime Emmy Awards are set to take place on Sunday, September 14, live on CBS at 8:00 p.m. ET/ 5:00 p.m. PT. Make sure to bookmark this landing page to stay in the loop on the latest news on the 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards race, and who we expect will be collecting trophies come September. Best of IndieWire 2023 Emmy Predictions: Who Will Win at the Primetime Emmy Awards? 2023 Emmy Predictions: Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special 2023 Emmy Predictions: Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series
USA Today
09-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Patriots CB Marcus Jones shares first impressions of WR Stefon Diggs
Patriots CB Marcus Jones shares first impressions of WR Stefon Diggs The New England Patriots started their offseason workout program on Monday, and newcomer Stefon Diggs is making a strong impression. Fourth-year cornerback Marcus Jones shared his initial thoughts on the four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver when fielding questions from the media. "He's been in the league for a little minute, and he has one of those unique traits––he's very strong as a receiver," said Jones. "He's not the crazy size that people always think, but just having him on the team is great to have as well." Diggs is expected to serve as a top receiving option for second-year quarterback Drake Maye. There's hope that he can help Maye in some of the same ways that he helped Josh Allen during his run with the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots are expected to have one of the best defensive backfields in the NFL. Jones, Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III will test the offense right out of the gates. It'll make for an interesting summer once training camp is up and running. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
Axios
17-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
NCDOT is considering a "temporary station" at Charlotte Gateway Station, records show
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is considering building a "temporary" station at the unopened Charlotte Gateway Station to begin running passenger trains, according to records obtained by Axios. Why it matters: The existing train station on North Tryon is inconvenient — and, some may say, embarrassing — for visitors arriving by train. NCDOT acknowledges the station is "poorly located, subject to flooding, too small, and not an ideal front door to the Queen City." NCDOT has another brand new $84.6 million train station that it could use in Uptown, where it's successfully tested running trains, but the Charlotte Gateway Station hasn't opened yet. The agency is waiting for the city to begin the project's second phase — a mixed-use development with a transit hub built in partnership with a private developer — which has not broken ground. Driving the news: As an interim solution, NCDOT has discussed building a "temporary" or "early" station along Wilkes Place between Trade and Fifth Streets. The state-owned land is adjacent to the completed platform and across from the permanent station and future development site. NCDOT confirmed it is in discussions with its partners, including the City of Charlotte, about establishing an early station. The station needs additional infrastructure to "safely access and support serving customers." The proposed temporary station building, according to one slideshow obtained by Axios, would be 4,828 square feet, including a 2,500-square-foot waiting room. No plans, including estimated costs or the timeline, have been finalized. What they're saying: In a letter to Charlotte City Manager Marcus Jones, NCDOT Deputy Secretary for Multimodal Transportation Julie White wrote that the early solution would "ensure we reap the benefits of the completed infrastructure the State invested in as quickly as possible and provide the best possible access for visitors to Charlotte's Uptown." NCDOT is requesting $10 million from the Federal Rail Administration for an "early station" that could be completed in the next few years, according to the letter. The agency asked the City of Charlotte to provide half of the required nonfederal match ($1.25 million), contribute $1.5 million for upgraded facilities such as elevators, and cover any cost overruns. An NCDOT spokesperson said there are no updates on these funding requests. Catch up quick: Over two years ago, in October 2022, NCDOT completed construction of the track, structures and signal infrastructure for the first phase of Charlotte Gateway Station. The project was on time and within budget, NCDOT says. However, phase two has not begun swiftly. The city is still working on a "preliminary master plan" with Spectrum Companies, a Charlotte-based developer, and Republic Metropolitan. It has not shared a timeline. The development is expected to include hospitality, shops, residential and office towers, the intercity passenger rail facility and a new bus facility. "Naturally a complex project like this can take time. There is nothing delaying the project," a city spokesperson told Axios in December. Reality check: The project is years behind schedule. The city was supposed to review the master development plan in late 2022, the Observer reported at the time, with the headline: "Work on new $86M Amtrak station in Charlotte is done. You still can't catch a train there." Spectrum's managing director told Axios on Monday there were no updates and the project is still "in approval phases." In December, Axios Charlotte put Charlotte Gateway Station on a list of developments that are " ghosting us," aka developments we had heard no update on in years. Between the lines: Charlotte Area Transit System officials discussed funding Charlotte Gateway Station through the proposed 1-cent transportation sales tax, but the General Assembly has yet to authorize a Mecklenburg County referendum on the tax increase. The Charlotte Gateway Station will one day connect with the Red Line commuter rail — the city's next rail line to be built — and the Silver Line light rail. Currently, the North Tryon station is only served by bus. Train passengers have limited options in the modes to reach their next destination. The big picture: More people than ever are taking the train in North Carolina. NC By Train carried over 720,000 passengers in 2024, marking a 12% uptick from 2023 and a 55% increase since 2019. Rail officials attribute the record growth to the train service's convenience, affordability and environmental benefits. Charlotte Gateway Station is expected to boost ridership even more once it opens. "The project locates the busiest station in North Carolina into the heart of the City's Uptown," White wrote in her letter to Jones, "with substantially improved access to destinations, amenities, and transportation connections."
