🌱 Guns On Campus + Tragic Fire + Help For Artists

Up and at 'em, Charlotte! Let's get you started this Friday with everything you need to know going on in town today.

First, today's weather:

A shower in the afternoon. High: 57 Low: 53.

Here are the top stories in Charlotte today:

1. 2 Guns Found On CMS High School Campus, But Not Inside School (Charlotte Patch)
2. Prosecutors will not seek the death penalty for mother accused of killing 4-year-old found buried in yard (WBTV)
3. North Carolina woman sentenced to identity theft, mail fraud (Charlotte Observer)
4. Charlotte House Fire Claims Lives Of 2 Dogs (Charlotte Patch)
5. The community is pulling together to help local emerging artists take their skills to new heights (WCNC.com)

Today's Charlotte Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Charlotte!

Today in Charlotte:

• Mixed Honors Theater Performance (7:00pm in Auditorium) (12:00 AM)
• Wrestling: Trojan JV Scramble @ Olympic (AWAY) (12:00 AM)
• Handmade Holiday Sale at Grovewood Gallery (10:00 AM)
• Basketball vs Weddington (AWAY) - South Mecklenburg High (10:30 AM)
• 6th Annual Christmas Enchantment in the Garden (5:00 PM)
• Youth Prom 2021 - Time Out Youth (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• ArtPop Street Gallery: "Take a step into this beautiful art exhibition with us! Featuring the works of #ArtPopCLT artist, Caroline Rust, this exhibit was located at Upstairs Artspace, a non-profit art center in Tryon, NC. 
 The show highlights a collection of p..." (Instagram)
• Charlotte Ballet: "Repost from company artist @mauricemouzon_ with company II artist @anna.mains Are you all ready for weekend two? We sure are! Come experience the magic of Nutcracker with magnificent sets, costumes and dancers like these two✨ 🔗 https://..." (Facebook)
• Charlotte Mecklenburg Library: "Celebrate the holiday season this year by giving the gift of early childhood literacy and the love of reading during our Snowy Active Reading Storytime featuring "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats and other Winter themed books and activi..." (Facebook)
• ArtPop Street Gallery: "Take a step into this beautiful art exhibition with us! Featuring the works of #ArtPopCLT artist, Caroline Rust, this exhibit was located at Upstairs Artspace, a non-profit art center in Tryon, NC. 
 The show highlights a collection of p..." (Facebook)
• Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte: "As Santa mentioned last night at the tree lighting, our House elves, Nugget and Cookie arrived safely from the North Pole. They packed their bags for a fun few weeks to explore our House. Where will they end up next? #elfontheshelf #keep..." (Facebook)

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Events:

• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (December 15)
• Top 10 Divorce Mistakes & How to Avoid Them – Charlotte, NC Hub ~ No-Cost Event (December 15)
• ACT Master Strategies In-Person Class (December 26)
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Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with your next update.

— Cassie Fambro

About me: A Texas-native, I've spent most of my life in Alabama but have recently moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. I have an avid interest in motorsports, so this makes the Carolinas an ideal region to call home. I have a decade of experience in journalism, graduating from the University of South Alabama with honors in journalism with a double major in psychology and a minor in criminal justice. I spent roughly five years of my career in front of a camera in TV news but I have spent years in print journalism and even earned a couple of cool awards like an Edward R. Murrow award along the way. I enjoy covering stories in education, healthcare, government and most of all, stories that directly help people and improve their lives in some way. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my partner Matt, and our two cats, Kenly and Gotenks, going to new restaurants and hanging out at racetracks.