Panthers in primetime on Monday Night Football + How filmmaker landed Petey Pablo for her latest project

Andrew Nantais
·2 min read
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Hey, everyone! Drew here. Happy Monday and GO PANTHERS!!!

The weather this past weekend has me ready for fall to arrive. While it might not be here just yet, it’s right around the corner.

There’s also plenty to do this time of year in and around the Queen City. CharlotteFive worked up a list of fall events for you to check out.

1. Memorable Monday Night Football QB debuts that Bryce Young could learn from

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, left, talks with quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, right, during first half action against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA on Sunday, September 10, 2023. The Falcons defeated the Panthers 24-10.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, left, talks with quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, right, during first half action against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA on Sunday, September 10, 2023. The Falcons defeated the Panthers 24-10.

Are you ready for some football?

The Panthers’ 2023 home debut is tonight in primetime on ESPN’s Monday Night Football. And there’s one piece of advice Carolina head coach Frank Reich offered his rookie QB: relax.

Alex Zietlow with more on tonight’s game.

2. Charlotte’s dismal 2023 election turnout isn’t even city’s second-worst. See how it falls

Empty polling boots at the Berewick Recreational Center polling location in Charlotte’s District 4 on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 in Charlotte, NC.
Empty polling boots at the Berewick Recreational Center polling location in Charlotte’s District 4 on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 in Charlotte, NC.

23,676.

That’s the number of people that voted in last week’s Democratic primary in Charlotte. It could have been worse though.

Josh Bergeron and Gavin Off dive in to the numbers and explain.

3. New NC parent activist group wants to focus on real issues — not ‘manufactured’ ones

Janice Robinson, of Mecklenburg County’s Public School Strong, speaks during a public hearing at a CMS board meeting on Aug. 22, 2023.
Janice Robinson, of Mecklenburg County’s Public School Strong, speaks during a public hearing at a CMS board meeting on Aug. 22, 2023.

When Gov. Roy Cooper declared a rare state of emergency for public education in May, it revved teams of parents across the state.

They, too, wanted to push back against the impacts of what Cooper called the Republican legislature’s “schemes” to expand private school vouchers, defund public schools and push culture wars in the classroom.

Anna Maria Della Costa has the story.

4. How did this filmmaker from NC get Petey Pablo to star in her first project?

Neither Alex Ellis (at left) or Petey Pablo could have predicted that, more than a year after a chance first encounter, they’d spend a week together in LA making an audacious short film.
Neither Alex Ellis (at left) or Petey Pablo could have predicted that, more than a year after a chance first encounter, they’d spend a week together in LA making an audacious short film.

Alex Ellis had a chance encounter with North Carolina rap icon Petey Pablo on a family visit to Charlotte in Christmas 2019.

The whole interaction lasted about 10 seconds, but neither Ellis or Pablo ever could have predicted that just over a year-and-a-half after that meeting, they’d spend an entire week in Los Angeles shooting a short film together.

Théoden Janes shares their story.

5. Some more stories to read

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Drew Nantais is a Senior Growth & Engagement Producer for the Charlotte Observer.
Drew Nantais is a Senior Growth & Engagement Producer for the Charlotte Observer.