First Drip (9/11/15): Plaza Midwood residents petition against proposed development

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Plaza Midwood residents are speaking out against what they call a "cookie-cutter" development planned for the middle of the Commonwealth/Morningside neighborhood. More than 600 people have signed a petition against the development, which they say is too dense and does not fit the neighborhood's character. Five homes would need to be demolished on St. Julien Street and McKlintock Road for the project. It goes in front of city council on September 21. 

Elected officials and executives with Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont held an event yesterday at the 18-acre site of a new Goodwill Opportunity Campus, currently under construction off Wilkinson Boulevard. The campus, scheduled to open in spring 2016, will include the 16,000-foot Leon Levine Opportunity Center, which will host various resources and job training opportunities. Officials at the event announced four full-time partners that will work full-time on campus, including Charlotte Community Health Clinic, Common Wealth Charlotte, Charlotte Metro Credit Union and The Center for Community Transitions. 

Democratic mayoral candidate David Howard has reportedly raised $60,000 from the African-American community during his campaign, far surpassing the amounts raised by competitors Dan Clodfelter, Jennifer Roberts and Michael Barnes. African-Americans make up 64 percent of registered Democrats in Charlotte, and therefore play a large role in choosing a Democratic nominee during Charlotte primaries. Early voting for the primaries ends tomorrow, while election day is Tuesday, September 15. 

Strong storms last night reportedly left 1,500 Charlotte residents without power this morning. Duke Energy is still assessing the damage and did not have an estimated time this morning for the power being turned back on. 

Duke Energy finally settled a 15-year lawsuit from the federal government regarding air pollution violations at five North Carolina plants. The lawsuit, which was filed in 2000, was settled for about $5.4 million, according to the Environmental Protection Agency and Justice Department. A trial was scheduled to begin next month.