Cornelius seems to be in the midst of a small boom in construction of condos and multi-family housing. Planners will host a pair of simultaneous community meetings at Town Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 4, to unveil plans for two proposed apartment complexes off West Catawba Avenue. The projects will fill vacant lots where developments have long been planned, and join other apartments already under construction around town. In REAL ESTATE & HOME.

HUNTERSVILLE – The North Mecklenburg Republican Women will welcome radio talk show host Frank Roche as their keynote speaker June 12. Mr. Roach’s show airs on Rush Radio, 106.1 FM, and he has been called “talk radio’s chief economist.” He also ran in the 2012 primary race for Republican nominee for N.C. State Treasurer, but did not win. Read the full story

By JULIE ROSE
WFAE

Shareholders of Granite Falls-based Bank of Granite on Tuesday approved a merger with the parent company of CommunityONE Bank. The move is an effort to save both banks from crumbling under the weight of loan losses and regulatory action.

The warning to Bank of Granite shareholders in a letter from executives was dire: Without this merger, the bank is at risk of being taken over by regulators and you – the shareholders – could lose your entire investment. Read the full story

By LISA MILLER
WFAE-FM

In a year of controversy, the CMS board’s decision to close 11 schools last year was perhaps the most controversial. The public was told the action would save money. And, in the long-term, that’s still expected to be the case.

But the first-year savings have fallen far short of what CMS administrators projected. In fact, there weren’t any savings at all. Read the full story

SOURCE: WFAE
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools has announced it will keep some middle school sports next year, thanks to a surplus from an initiative launched last year to save the sports program.

The district announced Thursday that community donations and its “pay-to-play” program have resulted in enough extra money to fund middle school sports next year at a reduced level. The middle school sports the district is keeping include football, basketball, track, and cheerleading.

There will be no baseball, softball, soccer, or golf next year, however.

The district says it will need more private donations in order to bring back all middles school sports.

RELATED COVERAGE

Jan. 27, 2011, “CMS proposes ending middle school athletics.”

By LISA MILLER
WFAE

Mecklenburg County plans to begin borrowing money for building projects three years after the recession put a halt to most construction.

County staff identified 17 new projects that would cost about $156 million. The county would need to borrow $100 million of that. Read the full story

By LISA MILLER
WFAE

Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools announced some good news last week. No teachers, teacher assistants or librarians would be laid off.

But how could that be?

After all, for the last year the school board has been making cuts anticipating a $100 million shortfall. Among those: the controversial closing of schools, ending middle school sports and changes to transportation.

Now, some commissioners say CMS pulled a fast one. Read the full story

CHARLOTTE – The Mecklenburg County Commission on Tuesday gave its final approval to a $1.385 billion budget for fiscal 2011-12, a plan that boosts funding for schools, parks and libraries and lowers the tax rate by 2 cents per $100 of assessed value. Read the full story