New omicron subvariant in Meck + The latest snow forecast
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It’s Friday Jr. once again, everyone. Kristen here. Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit, we hardly knew ye. After 2 years in operation in South End, the Charleston-based chain has shut down its Charlotte location. CharlotteFive’s Heidi Finley has the news here. As a proud College of Charleston Cougar, my heart hurts about this news. Guess y’all will have to head down to King Street to try the famous biscuits!
Let’s talk news:
1. Mecklenburg reports 2 cases of new omicron subvariant, but officials aren’t worried yet
At least two cases of the new subvariant of omicron have been found in Mecklenburg County, local health officials say. The subvariant is called BA.2.
It’s likely Mecklenburg has hit a peak in the current surge of omicron infections, Mecklenburg County health director Dr. Raynard Washington said this week.
On Jan. 14, Mecklenburg set a new all-time record for COVID cases reported in a single day, with 4,376 cases reported, but since then, daily infections have started to fall.
The identification of the new subvariant in Mecklenburg is not necessarily a cause for concern right now, Washington said. “There is no indication that we should be concerned or expect another surge at this time,” Dr. Washington told the Observer.
The Observer’s Hannah Smoot has more details here.
2. Don’t expect a lot of snow in Charlotte area, but uncertainty remains, NWS says
The Charlotte area will get snow this weekend, but don’t expect a ton, the Observer’s Jonathan Limehouse reports. Friday’s forecast calls for rain and snow showers between 11 p.m. and midnight, with a chance of more snow after midnight. Less then an inch total is possible.
According to the latest weather models, the amount of snow for Friday night is “trending downwards.” However, uncertainty in the data means upcoming forecasts could be different, Mike Rehnberg of the National Weather Service office in Greer, S.C., said Thursday. But the tea for now is that Charlotte is not expected to go into a winter weather advisory.
Current models say the “big snow maker” will stay a little bit farther off the Carolinas coast, but a second wave could cross the mountains and into the Piedmont.
3. Some local news to know
4 things to know about Mecklenburg County’s plans for its 2023 property revaluation by Gordon Rago
Mecklenburg is on track to set new tax values for homes and business properties next year.
Mecklenburg’s COVID rent relief applications quietly closed by Lauren Lindstrom
The change was made on the program’s website in January, but was not widely publicized.
‘Urgency, unity’ heightened in Charlotte Jewish community amid violence by Devna Bose
Three days after a rabbi and three others were held hostage at gunpoint inside a Texas synagogue, the Jewish Federation of Charlotte announced a $5 million fundraising campaign.
4. Today’s sports dispatch
What Hornets’ LaMelo Ball is doing is elite. There’s no doubt he should be an All-Star by Rod Boone
“To be doing what he’s doing at the age of 20 is special. You don’t see this very often,” coach James Borrego said.
Charlotte FC has found its big-time goal-scorer. What’s next for the club’s MLS roster by Alex Andrejev
Said Charlotte FC sporting director Zoran Krneta, “(We’re) trying to bring the best possible players. We don’t take no for an answer and we’re trying to build a roster that we think is a competitive and winning roster.”
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