What you’re reading: 10(-ish) of the Observer’s most-read stories in 2023

Sometimes, readers surprise us. We always strive to write stories that will connect with readers and bring the most important information they need to know, but occasionally people will still surprise us with the stories they choose to click on the most online.

That’s why our list of top stories of 2023 doesn’t match exactly with the most-read stories on charlotteobserver.com over the past year.

Here, then, are 10-ish of the most-read stories on our website in the past year — that is to say, the top Observer stories according to you.

They did DNA tests to verify they were sisters. By accident, they found their birth father.

Becca Webster and Dee Iraca are twins, but they don’t look alike, Théoden Janes writes. Because they are both adopted from South Korea, they long wanted to take DNA tests to verify that they are related. A 23andMe test confirmed after almost 45 years that they were, indeed, fraternal twin sisters. But they also discovered their father still was alive — and that the story they’d been told their whole lives about how they came to be put up for adoption wasn’t true.

South Park, Charlotte fire: 2 dead after garage collapse; crane worker saved

This is a story that appeared on The Charlotte Observer’s selection of the top stories of the year, too: a five-alarm fire that blazed at a South Park construction site in May killed two workers. The dramatic tale of a crane worker who used his equipment to save several people trapped in the building before he, himself, needed to be rescued by firefighters was just part of the story.

‘Qualla Bear’ weed strain by Cherokees makes NC medical marijuana history

We learned an important lesson this year at the Observer: readers are very interested in any story about medical marijuana — which still is not legal in North Carolina. This story about a special strain of marijuana grown by the Cherokee in western North Carolina for its medical marijuana dispensary was popular among readers — as was this story where reporter Joe Marusak took us behind the doors at North Carolina’s only medical marijuana dispensary.

Concert review: Jason Aldean goes off on his critics — and the crowd in Charlotte goes wild

Reporter Théoden Janes has a knack for bringing readers right into the concerts he reviews through vivid details recounting whatever he’s covering. His concert reviews are always among our most-read stories of the year. And while it’s tough to top Beyoncé’s 2023 appearance in Charlotte for the sheer level of spectacle, three of his concert reviews were among the most-read on the Observer’s site: A review of Jason Aldean’s performance not long after the release of his controversial song, “Try That in a Small Town;” Carrie Underwood’s concert that included some technical difficulties and her off-script banter; and his first Dead & Company concert — which was also his last (because the group was on its farewell tour).

Three dead after scaffolding collapse at construction site near uptown Charlotte

The year started with tragedy in Charlotte when a scaffolding at a construction site near uptown and Dilworth resulted in the death of three workers on Jan. 2. Subsequent stories told the the anguish of families that lost cherished relatives — and how none of the three workers was wearing a safety harness as they labored 70 feet in the air. North Carolina labor department officials later fined two subcontractors $130,000 for serious safety violations.

NC community in shock, seeking answers after furniture maker’s abrupt closure

The news came in late August that hundreds of workers lost their jobs after a furniture company about an hour north of Charlotte closed abruptly. Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams workers were met with signs on the office door and a gate saying the Taylorsville plant was “unexpectedly” unable to continue business operations. Catherine Muccigrosso’s in-depth look at what happened to 533 employees in Taylorsville, a town of 2,320 residents, showed how important one company can be to an entire community.

Ryan Preece released from hospital after violent, airborne crash at Daytona NASCAR race

If you saw Ryan Preece’s wreck in the August Daytona International Speedway NASCAR race, you know why this story was popular among readers and NASCAR fans: the fact that Preece even walked away from such a crash was stunning. Preece’s car flipped 10 times in the air late in the race, spinning and twirling along the track. “If you want to be a race car driver, you better be tough,” Preece wrote on X that same night, after he was held overnight in a hospital for evaluation. Remarkably, he sustained no serious injuries.

Exclusive: What Frank Reich said after being fired by David Tepper as Panthers coach

Another storyline that both readers and The Charlotte Observer agreed was one of the top ones of 2023: Frank Reich was both hired and fired as the Panthers head coach in the same year. This story, in which Reich spoke exclusively with Observer sports columnist Scott Fowler, summarized Reich’s reaction in late November: “It was a great opportunity,” Reich said. “The way the doors opened up for it was amazing. But there’s not always a storybook ending.”

Carowinds roller coaster shut down days after a crack appeared while people were riding

This one was just a wild story: Carowins’ Fury 325, the popular roller coaster that can reach speeds of up to 95 mph during its 81-degree plunge, shut down in July when someone noticed a large crack in one of the ride’s support pillars. It was a crack that had been previously unnoticed by Carowinds, which said it inspects rides each day. The ride reopened in early August after the amusement park said installed a new steel column.

She’s 16, in high school and making $100K per year opening a new Charlotte soul food restaurant

Gabby Morrison started working in her parents’ southwest Charlotte restaurant, Nana Morrison’s Soul Food, at just 5 years old. By age 10, Théoden Janes writes, Gabby was involved in hiring decisions at Nana Morrison’s, which sits in the shadow of Charlotte-Douglas International Airport at Yorkmont and West Tyvola roads. This story on how 16-year-old Gabby plans to open and be in charge of Nana Morrison’s second location in Charlotte’s Mountain Island area — and how she expects to earn $100,000 per year and skip college to hang onto the job — was inspiring enough to be shared and read by plenty of readers.