News lady in the Carolinas • WCNC News at 5,6&11p• Host, Love Your Local, WCNC Streaming • Animal shelter volunteer/foster • Outdoors enthusiasthttps://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvvoyj3di22mCharlotte councilmembers weigh changing votes on I-77 South toll lanes https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/community/transportation/charlotte-councilmembers-weigh-changing-votes-on-i-77-south-toll-lanes/275-b32a11c4-9cb3-4e6d-9118-a8297f37c32319 Sep 2026 22:07 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvvoyj3di22mhttps://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvvo7eljps22Man shot and killed by a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officer in north Charlotte https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/cmpd-shooting-north-charlotte/275-c95f047e-1c61-440a-8d64-9f24f64f11b419 Sep 2026 21:53 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvvo7eljps22https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvvo6i5uds22Body found in retention pond at Arboretum shopping center https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/body-found-at-arboretum-shopping-center/275-6a5b790a-24f7-4028-b91b-11350671c99d19 Sep 2026 21:52 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvvo6i5uds22https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvvo5qhzek22Mecklenburg County DA requests SBI investigation into CMS financial concerns https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/mecklenburg-county-requests-sbi-investigation-into-cms/275-36e35bb5-4e22-47b1-83a1-07ea4c1b7a1019 Sep 2026 21:52 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvvo5qhzek22https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvvo4uhumc22Most North Carolinians support legalizing marijuana, Elon poll finds https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/majority-north-carolina-voters-support-legal-marijuana-medical-use-recreational-purposes/275-937913b5-1e04-45b4-bbe2-a2867b18573419 Sep 2026 21:51 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvvo4uhumc22https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvoo6foexk23Trump visit draws supporters, protesters to Gastonia as Michael Whatley holds Senate campaign rally https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/trump-visit-draws-supporters-protesters-to-gastonia-as-michael-whatley-holds-senate-campaign-rally/275-bb4865c6-a7d2-4ea5-bacf-c3ea1543a12617 Sep 2026 03:03 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvoo6foexk23https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvo5ui3rzc23Hearing Air Force One has landed at CLT -- [contains quote post or other embedded content]16 Sep 2026 22:12 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvo5ui3rzc23https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvo5qos64223Traffic, road closures expected across Charlotte area during Trump's Gastonia visit https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/gastonia-road-closures-trump-whatley-rally/275-10c4e6a0-4320-4533-9eda-7c611e5c124916 Sep 2026 22:09 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvo5qos64223https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvo5n6qhw223Charlotte lands WTA Finals, will become tennis' global HQ starting in 2027 https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/local-sports/charlotte-lands-wta-finals-2027/275-f839ac42-49b0-43b1-80de-5059345573ec16 Sep 2026 22:07 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvo5n6qhw223https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvo4y4pjuc23Charlotte lands WTA Finals, will become tennis' global HQ starting in 2027 https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/local-sports/charlotte-lands-wta-finals-2027/275-f839ac42-49b0-43b1-80de-5059345573ec16 Sep 2026 21:56 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvo4y4pjuc23https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvo4tzqeoc23Charlotte approves $125K contract for police behavior tracking system https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/charlotte-approves-125k-contract-for-police-behavior-tracking-system/275-4d192521-4a5f-4b5b-b209-86069ed820cd?tbref=hp16 Sep 2026 21:53 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvo4tzqeoc23https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvo4rk3yt223Ed Sheeran Charlotte concert faces questions after Macklemore removed from tour https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/ed-sheeran-charlotte-concert-faces-questions-after-macklemore-removed-from-tour/275-87d61a66-0dd8-41af-a4dc-f941e0373224?tbref=hp16 Sep 2026 21:52 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvo4rk3yt223https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvo2rem4kc23Rocky River principal to transfer to Ardrey Kell High School, CMS announces https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/rock-river-principal-to-transfer-to-ardrey-kell-high-school/275-698e8287-2f8b-4f34-845a-5659b997dd4916 Sep 2026 21:16 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvo2rem4kc23https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvo2l3klis23CMPD police chase ends in Spartanburg County following north Charlotte shooting https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/northeast-charlotte-police-presence/275-15dd5318-14e4-4d9a-b3d5-c6d611c8ae8216 Sep 2026 21:13 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvo2l3klis23https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvo2jrcxkc23TSA to expand Gateside PreCheck access at Charlotte, Raleigh airports in October https://www.wcnc.com/article/travel/tsa-to-expand-gateside-precheck-charlotte-raleigh-airports-october-2026/275-f2109eb6-0fe9-401b-b915-0a4ee52ba213?tbref=hp16 Sep 2026 21:12 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvo2jrcxkc23https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvo2dn6fws23Man charged with felony DUI causing death in February Rock Hill crash https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/joel-smith-felony-dui-rock-hill-fatal-february-2026-crash/275-7e4cd997-4ac6-4750-a510-9cee37bd3dc6?tbref=hp16 Sep 2026 21:08 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvo2dn6fws23https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvo2bwoibk23Suspect convicted of manslaughter in deadly Lincoln County stabbing https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/suspect-convicted-in-deadly-stabbing/275-778cea93-3225-4654-8543-aa3fbdf4f477?tbref=hp16 Sep 2026 21:07 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvo2bwoibk23https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvo26yoig223New hospital planned near Lake Wylie as York County population grows https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/new-hospital-planned-near-lake-wylie/275-704fbbf6-8819-43b3-8d7f-07f49fb7ab1416 Sep 2026 21:06 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvo26yoig223https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvo253awxc23Embattled CMS board chair accused of bypassing contracting rules, HR complaint reveals https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/investigations/cms-board-chair-faces-scrutiny-over-30k-payments-without-board-approval/275-82686621-aad1-4054-a1af-2aa1b487516216 Sep 2026 21:05 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvo253awxc23https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvno5rc2d22vContrary to what the sign outside says—the owner of Frank’s Beer Shop in East Charlotte is actually a Joe! 🫢 It turns out the story of how Frank’s got its name is a sweet one, made sweeter knowing it’s now home to a weekly dog walk drawing dog lovers and shelter pet advocates ❤️16 Sep 2026 17:30 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvno5rc2d22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvm5gi72cc24Lancaster County water district says taste, odor changes are not a safety issue https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/lancaster-county-water-district-says-taste-odor-changes-are-not-a-safety-issue/275-f02e9a39-2bed-45ca-9520-a2b53d2f54c316 Sep 2026 02:58 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvm5gi72cc24https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvm5ewuza224Statesville approves 180-day pause on new data centers https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/statesville-approves-180-day-pause-on-new-data-centers/275-b2f8508b-6049-40a8-8064-f44c5254e2cd16 Sep 2026 02:58 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvm5ewuza224https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvm5dkv5hs24NC voter group reacts to Supreme Court ruling on mail-in ballot restrictions https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/elections/voter-group-reacts-to-supreme-court-ruling-on-mail-in-ballot-restrictions/275-d190551c-e744-4a41-9224-79b0201c9c8716 Sep 2026 02:57 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvm5dkv5hs24https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvlkmqw33224More than 4,200 Duke Energy customers without power in north Charlotte https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/power-outage-north-charlotte-duke-energy-sept-15-2026/275-b529211a-de9e-45f5-9dc5-1b2b5f20b72215 Sep 2026 21:22 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvlkmqw33224https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvlkhtaowc24Road closures expected in Gastonia ahead of Trump rally for Michael Whatley https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/gastonia-road-closures-trump-whatley-rally/275-10c4e6a0-4320-4533-9eda-7c611e5c124915 Sep 2026 21:19 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvlkhtaowc24https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvlk6lpf5224Iredell County parents charged with murder in infant's death https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/parents-charged-with-murder-in-infants-death/275-772c49e8-7f9d-454f-a82d-00eff8705d1915 Sep 2026 21:14 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvlk6lpf5224https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvlk5cjyv2241 person hurt in northeast Charlotte shooting https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/northeast-charlotte-shooting/275-8fa00f23-e284-4166-967d-85cb8fc6057315 Sep 2026 21:13 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvlk5cjyv224https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvlk46wf4c24What's really recyclable in Mecklenburg County now? https://www.wcnc.com/article/tech/science/environment/whats-recyclable-in-mecklenburg-county/275-f8c03091-22d8-49b7-b14d-5aad349799d815 Sep 2026 21:13 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvlk46wf4c24https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvlk2tbxks24Panthers waive WR Jimmy Horn Jr., sign linebacker Tyrel Dodson https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/nfl/panthers/panthers-waive-jimmy-horn-jr/275-c4f781c5-d0ca-4fe2-b7c6-e9ede91c214815 Sep 2026 21:12 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvlk2tbxks24https://bsky.app/profile/vanessaruffesnews.bsky.social/post/3mvljz36qcc24Two more CMS leaders announce retirement, making five announcements in past month https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/two-more-cms-leaders-announce-retirement-making-five-announcements-in-past-month/275-aaaa000d-937c-42a0-9c66-30bff267edc115 Sep 2026 21:11 +0000at://did:plc:pg35b5rhlm4wbhp3abacifsy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvljz36qcc24