MJ sells the Hornets + Charlotte is ‘sprawl capital’ of the world

Hey, everyone! Zach here. I’m sorry to report that my offer to buy the Charlotte Hornets wasn’t accepted. Thank you for your help during this trying time.

Even though he didn’t select my offer, Michael Jordan still sold his majority share of the NBA franchise on Friday, finalizing a deal with a group that includes Hornets minority owner Gabe Plotkin and Atlanta Hawks minority owner Rick Schnall (not to mention J. Cole and Eric Church). Roderick Boone wrote about the news while Scott Fowler opines that maybe Jordan not being the majority owner of the team actually wouldn’t be a bad thing.

On top of all that, Genna Contino reports on changes coming to the Spectrum Center as the Hornets shift into new ownership.

Now on to the day’s news:

1. He called Charlotte the world ‘sprawl capital.’ So why’d the urban expert praise the city?

Charlotte, one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the country, has earned some of the ridicule, Delahanty explained in a 16-minute video posted earlier this month to his YouTube page. It historically has balanced quick-pace growth with the impact new development can have on existing neighborhoods.

Using Google Earth images, Delahanty described the city as possibly the “sprawl capital of planet earth.”

Gordon Rago writes about how he didn’t totally hate the Queen City though.

2. Biden picks Mandy Cohen, the architect of NC’s COVID-19 response, as CDC director

Former North Carolina health secretary Mandy Cohen will be the CDC’s next director. She’ll be tasked with leading federal efforts to track and manage health problems and diseases.

Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi and Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan break down the decision.

3. From picking cotton to head of Food Lion. Rowan County loses a legend.

Tom Smith, former CEO of Food Lion, died June 2. He is remembered as a business man, philanthropist and a person who loved Salisbury and Rowan County. “I think he became a household name in many ways,” said Margaret Kluttz, who met Smith decades ago. “If they had the internet then, he would have gone viral.”

Gavin Off remembers the grocery store leader.

4. New pizza ‘joint’ to blaze in Charlotte as first NC location

A Florida-based pizza chain is establishing its first location in North Carolina in uptown’s Queen City Quarter.

Stoner’s Pizza Joint is an herb-themed pizza chain headquartered in Fort Lauderdale that has 32 locations across the Southeast and Colorado. It will enter the North Carolina market with an agreement to open three locations in Charlotte. The first opens this fall in Queen City Quarter.

Audrey Elsberry previews the upcoming addition to the food scene.

5. Some more stories to read

• Seeing Dierks Bentley in Charlotte? Go early to miss the parking fiasco

• Local artist created Charlotte FC jersey celebrating Juneteenth and ‘Black excellence’

• Cabarrus County board upholds denial of Barber-Scotia’s tax-exempt status

• Planned Parenthood files federal lawsuit to stop abortion law from taking effect in NC

• Date night turns lucky when woman buys NC lottery ticket. The prize left her in tears

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