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Saturday, February 28, 2015
News / Opinion Shooting at Label is disheartening; so were the responses on social media
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Sat, Feb 28, 2015 at 11:08 PM
The folks who hate when the annual CIAA basketball tournament hits town couldn't wait to chime in on social media about this breaking news. Numerous media outlets (including USA Today, The Grio, Vibe, even TMZ has video already) are reporting shots were fired at Label today during a party advertising to feature T.I., Young Jeezy, Yo Gotti and Young Dolph.
According to the Observer, two people sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The management at Label made the decision to still be open tonight.
While it's really disheartening someone or someone(s) — police haven't arrested anyone yet — was stupid enough to fire shots (not "shoot up," as some might say) inside a club during a party and risk serious injury to a lot of people over what probably will turn out to be something petty, the responses I've seen on social media have also been pretty disappointing. It's a shame that some people see this incident as an opportunity to decry the presence of CIAA in Charlotte. As if the tournament, with its accompanying celebratory parties — many of which are not even sanctioned by the conference — breeds violence.
That's ridiculous. The truth is, CIAA week is a massive yearly reunion for alumni who attended the schools a part of the conference, mixed in with locals who want to be out in the middle of all that live energy, with a few bad apples sprinkled in. And that's just like any other huge event that brings in thousands of visitors to a city. (See WBTV's story last year comparing arrest numbers from CI and Speed Street.) Anyone who says otherwise needs to seriously analyze their own motives.
Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Saturday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Sat, Feb 28, 2015 at 9:00 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Feb. 28, 2015 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
• Katt Williams at Bojangles' Coliseum
• Krispy Kreme Race in Rock Hill
• Diddy Day Party at Oak Room
• Above & Beyond at The Fillmore
• Nicki Minaj & Meek Mill Tournament Takeover at Oasis Tent
Friday, February 27, 2015
Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Friday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Fri, Feb 27, 2015 at 11:16 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Feb. 27, 2015 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
• Precious Memories at Warehouse Performing Arts Center
• Donna The Buffalo at Neighborhood Theatre
• Jazz at Packard Place
• TI and Lil Wayne at Label
• Helmet at Visulite Theatre
First Drip First Drip (2/27/15): One of the Charlotte Three to be honored, #thedress, more
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Fri, Feb 27, 2015 at 10:18 AM
One of the "Charlotte Three," political activists who were arrested and convicted of burning down a stable, a case that marked the first time Amnesty International declared political imprisonment a thing in the U.S., will be honored on Saturday by the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. Jim Grant, 78, will receive the Frank Porter Graham Award for his lifetime dedication to working on behalf of the disenfranchised.
The FCC approved stronger net neutrality rules yesterday, which will keep the Internet "fast and fair" for everyone. From the Washington Post: "The rules ban Internet providers from several specific activities: They can’t block or stop Web services such as Netflix. They can’t slow down or 'throttle' content from particular Web sites. And they can’t speed up a Web site’s traffic, particularly in exchange for money."
Yesterday, the Internet proved once again how it can be both unifying and divisive. First, #llamadrama, in which two llamas made a break for freedom in Arizona. And then there was the #thedress, in which the world argued over whether a dress posted online was either black and blue or gold and white. (For what it's worth, I saw it as white and gold first, and then later, black and blue.)
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Inside CL Creative Loafing is now hiring for news writer
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 5:15 PM
Good news: We’re hiring! Is this you?
Your new title: NEWS WRITER
WHO you are: A writer who’s hungry for news, eager to challenge the city you live in, with some published clips under your belt (college, etc.) who's ready to hit the ground running
WHAT are you great at: Research, combing public records, asking the right questions, writing across multiple platforms (but especially love long form), putting a face on social issues and occasionally being snarky
WHERE do you live: Charlotte or nearby. Or you at least know the city pretty well
WHEN should you send your cover letter, resume and three samples of writing: As soon as possible
WHY do you want this job: Because you want to impact the community with your writing. Oh, and you love Creative Loafing
HOW experienced are you: You've got at least one to three years of writing behind you. It's an ideal gig for someone who's about to graduate or is fresh out of college.
Email your materials to backtalk@clclt.com with the subject line: HIRE ME I'M A NEWSIE. No phone calls. Qualified candidates will be contacted about an interview.
Politics Tillis snubs Lynch in vote for Attorney General
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 4:56 PM
Earlier today, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to approve North Carolina native Loretta Lynch to take Eric Holder's place as U.S. Attorney General. The next stop for confirmation is a vote in front of the full Senate.
A few months ago, we sang Lynch's praises, as she comes from a long line of Baptist preachers (we won't hold that against her) committed to civil rights.
But guess who didn't have Lynch's back? One Thom Tillis.
In a statement, he explained his reasoning for not choosing to vote for Lynch.
I have immense respect for Loretta Lynch both personally and professionally. However, in light of the testimony at her confirmation hearing and her subsequent refusal to provide straightforward answers to written questions from myself and other Senators, it appears that she would represent little, if any, tangible policy or management difference from Attorney General Eric Holder. I cannot vote to confirm a nominee who will not make a firm and explicit commitment to reverse the partisan politicization that presently exists at the Department of Justice.
Don't you wish "partisan politicization" would cease to exist in general?
Tillis also pointed out that he didn't like the fact Lynch would probably continue with the "costly and frivolous lawsuit" the Justice Department has brought against North Carolina for that pesky, discriminatory voter ID law. The one he had a hand in.
I like N.C. Congressman G.K. Butterfield's response to Tillis' vote. To loosely paraphrase: Thom had a chance to get it right, for once, and vote for the country's first black female attorney general. But he was too worried about politics to do that.
Film / Film News Opening Friday
Posted By Matt Brunson on Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 4:45 PM
- Relativity Media
- The Lazarus Effect
Focus - Will Smith, Margot Robbie
The Lazarus Effect - Olivia Wilde, Mark Duplass
Nonprofit How The Possibility Project builds leaders in our community
Posted By Give N Go NPO on Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 3:08 PM
Editor's Note: This story is a part of an ongoing series about the local nonprofit world, thanks to a partnership with Give N Go. Give N Go's mission is to support established and emerging nonprofits by providing them with the tools to promote their causes effectively through traditional and nontraditional marketing.
Mildred D. Taylor, author of children’s books Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry and The Land, once said, “So many things are possible as long as you don’t know they are impossible." This quote is the basis of what the nonprofit organization The Possibility Project stands for.
TPP is a leadership organization that focuses on making young people aware of their potential as community activists through performing arts. In its 14th year, managing and artistic director Nikkeia Wiler and her staff have focused on ways to give 50-60 teens per year, ages 13-19, an outlet to foster and enhance their creativity while focusing on utilizing their voices as socially responsible young adults.
TPP’s approach covers three basic points: awareness, arts and action. The full-year program culminates with a performance which is fully produced by the teens. (This year's takes place May 29-30 at Spirit Square’s McGlohon Theater. Visit possibilitycharlotte.org for ticket information).
Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Thursday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 9:43 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Feb. 26, 2015 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
* K. Michelle at The Fillmore
* CIAA Fan Fest at Charlotte Convention Center
* A Conversation with Michael Lewis at Knight Theater
* Old School Skate Party at Kate's Skating Rink
* Shiprocked at Snug Harbor
First Drip First Drip (2/26/15): Snow fail, Senate fail, more
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 8:55 AM
On Wednesday, State Senate passed a bill to allow magistrates the right to bow out of performing wedding duties if they feel their right to religious freedom is infringed upon. Charlotte's Joel Ford, a Dem, broke party lines and voted in favor of the bill. So much for upholding the law, even if you don't agree with it.
#snOMG turned out to be meh. Forecasters were predicting as much as 6 to 8 inches last night, but some parts of the Charlotte area got more rain than snow. Uptown and nearby neighborhoods got about 2 to 3 inches. Secondary words are slushy, so drive with extra caution.
Police released the names of the three people killed in a triple homicide north of Uptown Tuesday. Among them was an aspiring model who competed on America's Next Top Model last year. Mirjana Puhar was 19 years old.
Jihadi John has been unmasked. The guy responsible for beheading several ISIS hostages has been identified as Londoner Mohammed Emwazi.
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First Drip (4/13/15): Shooting at N.C. community college, more
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