SouthPark fire 911 calls + Fowler on Hornets’ draft

Hey, everyone! Zach here. Y’all, it’s Friday, the sun returned to Charlotte for the first time in like a week and I had a great sandwich for lunch. What more can we ask for?

Before you settle into the weekend, here’s some news for you:

1. ‘We have a fire!’ Workers tried to extinguish flames before deadly SouthPark blaze

A photo from the street outside the massive fire in South Park.
A photo from the street outside the massive fire in South Park.

Workers first tried to extinguish a growing fire before flames engulfed a construction zone in SouthPark and killed two people on May 18, newly released 911 calls reveal.

Julia Coin and Mary Ramsey break down the calls that came in.

2. Hazing complaint from Davidson College athlete prompts review of school traditions

The entrance sign to the campus of Davidson College in Davidson, NC
The entrance sign to the campus of Davidson College in Davidson, NC

Davidson College is reviewing anti-hazing policies and auditing sports team traditions after receiving a complaint from a member of the men’s swimming and diving team. The complaint alleges freshmen were forced to participate in team activities outside of practices and competition — some of which resulted in injuries — because of tradition. It left the member “traumatized,” according to the complaint provided to The Charlotte Observer.

Anna Maria Della Costa takes a look at the alleged incident.

3. He left dozens of patients to meet a prostitute. Instead, a cop was waiting, report says.

Jeffrey Harrell, a former physician’s assistant in Hickory, was convicted of solicitation and reprimanded by medical regulators in two states.
Jeffrey Harrell, a former physician’s assistant in Hickory, was convicted of solicitation and reprimanded by medical regulators in two states.

A Charlotte-area medical professional has been publicly reprimanded for abandoning dozens of urgent care patients in the midst of the pandemic to meet a would-be prostitute for sex.

On March 18, 2021, Jeffrey Michael Harrell, a licensed physician assistant then working in Virginia, was the only provider on duty at his Richmond-area urgent care center when he sent a text to a person he believed to be a teenage sex worker, according to a filing by the N.C. Medical Board.

Mike Gordon has the full story.

4. Hornets picked Brandon Miller at No. 2, but could have done better in NBA Draft

Brandon Miller, right, greets NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected second overall by the Charlotte Hornets during the NBA Draft on Thursday night in New York.
Brandon Miller, right, greets NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected second overall by the Charlotte Hornets during the NBA Draft on Thursday night in New York.

Underwhelming. That’s the word that comes to mind when you look at what the Charlotte Hornets did Thursday night in the NBA Draft.

Scott Fowler offers his take on last night’s NBA Draft for the Hornets.

5. Some more stories to read

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