🌱 Snow Chances + Birth Control Issue + COVID Down In NC

Good morning, Charlotte! Let's get you all caught up to start this day off on an informed note. Here's everything going on in town today.

First, today's weather:

Cloudy, a shower or two; warm. High: 68 Low: 62.

Here are the top stories in Charlotte today:

1. ‘Everyone is in disbelief.’ Madison Park community blindsided by wastewater project storage news (Fox 46 Charlotte)
2. Snow Round 4? Weather Forecast Has A Small Chance For Charlotte (Charlotte Patch)
3. North Carolina has made birth control more accessible. But there may be a costly hitch (Charlotte Observer)
4. On Groundhog Day, Charlotte’s most famous rodent burrows away into retirement (Charlotte Observer)
5. NC reports over 12300 new COVID-19 cases; percent-positivity rate below 25% (WBTV

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Today in Charlotte:

• Resume Reviews - Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Main Branch Virtual Events (12:00 AM)
• Family Storytime (Facebook Live and YouTube) (9:30 AM)
• Write Like You Mean It - Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Main Branch Virtual Events (10:00 AM)
• Allegra Westbrooks Regional: Family Storytime (10:30 AM)
• Rea Road Readers Book Club - Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Main Branch Virtual Events (10:30 AM)

From my notebook:

• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department: "K-9 Officer Maas has been working with her loyal partner Otto for six years as part of the CMPD's K-9 Unit. They assist patrol officers with the search and apprehension of dangerous crime suspects to make Charlotte a safer place. Thank y..." (Facebook)
• CMPD Animal Care and Control: "We do everything in our power to save as many animals as we can. This album was created specifically for animals that need greater attention than the rest of the population at the shelter. RESCUE ONLY: due to behavior or serious medical ..." (Facebook)
• Charlotte Fire Communications "Fire Alarm": "This week, one of our deployable members spent 2 days in Winston-Salem supporting and co-teaching the Swift Water Communications Specialist Course for NC Emergency Management. On the first evening of the course WSFD (Winston Salem Fire D..." (Facebook)
• CMPD Animal Care and Control: "Each picture has more info. Adoptable at 8315 Byrum Dr. Charlotte unless otherwise noted. There's always more adoptable small pets listed at http://cltgov.me/petadoption #ACCsmallPets #ACCadopt" (Facebook)
• ArtPop Street Gallery: "恭喜发财 ⁠ ⁠ Kung Hei Fat Choy! // Happy Chinese New Year!⁠ ⁠ Chinese New Year, Spring Festival, or Lunar New Year depending on the region, marks the start of new year on the lunisolar calendar and series of celebrations steeped in tradition..." (Instagram)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Thursday off right. I'll be in your inbox tomorrow morning with another 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.