Traveling soon? Through Saturday, June 26, the automated exit lanes at Charlotte Douglas International Airport’s Concourse D/E Connector are closing for repairs after 8 p.m. The airport recommends using the lanes in the Atrium to exit or get to baggage claim. Keep your travel as smooth as possible by visiting our guide to CLT Douglas.
🩺 Wake Forest University launches Charlotte’s first four-year med school
Presented by Wake Forest University
WFU aims to eventually have nearly 1,000 medical students training across both its campuses. | Photo courtesy Atrium Health
Wake Forest University is making Charlotte history with a brand-new academic campus opening this summer, anchored by the city’s first-ever four-year medical school.
Charlotte has been the largest city in the U.S. without a four-year medical school for years now.
That all changes in August when the School of Medicine will welcome the inaugural class of 48 students to the Howard R. Levine Center for Education. (Class sizes will expand over time, eventually growing to 100 students, for a total of 400 medical students enrolled at any given time.)
Students will experience:
State-of-the-art facilities, equipped for advanced medical training and research.
Proximity to IRCAD: A world-renowned French surgical-training institute, opening its four-floor North American headquarters at The Pearl.
Collaboration opportunities with Connect Labs, which offers prebuilt lab and office space for small biotech companies that need access to specialized equipment + personnel. Talk about helpful neighbors.
Education across disciplines
Wake Forest also plans to relocate its Charlotte-based MBA program and School of Professional Studies from Uptown to The Pearl, giving working professionals even more ways to upskill and connect.
The new campus is specifically designed to encourage collaboration between students and faculty across these varying industries.
The School of Professional Studies will continue offering 100% online programs, with in-person courses and events potentially on the horizon.
Statewide strategy
Looking at the big picture, this strategic expansion will further strengthen Wake Forest University’s growing Innovation Corridor, bridging the Winston-Salem location with its new CLT campus.
The result? A supercharged network driving talent, research, and entrepreneurship across NC.
Gastonia Ghost Peppers vs. Lexington Legends | 12:30 p.m. | CaroMont Health Park, Gastonia | $12+ | Prepare for a hot day on the field as the Ghost Peppers bring the heat against the Legends.
Summer Scroll Saw Art | 1-5 p.m. | Rockler Woodworking and Hardware | $161 | Learn the techniques to create a masterpiece using a scroll saw.
The Drunk History of Gerrymandering | 7:30-9 p.m. | Resident Culture | $15+ | Laugh along to a live, unfiltered show combining American history, live music, and alcohol.
Queen Charlotte Fair | Tuesday, June 19-Saturday, July 5 | 4-10 p.m. | Route 29 Pavilion, Concord | $0+ | Bring the family to opening night of the annual fair, packed with games, rides, and live shows.
Juneteenth Arts Fest | 4-8 p.m. | Shoppes at University Place | Free | Celebrate Juneteenth with artists showcasing their work, live music dancing, games, and local vendors.
Friday, June 19
The Vitamin Shoppe | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | 8908 Lindholm Dr., Huntersville | Free | Enjoy complimentary samples and refreshments at this celebration welcoming the shop to Huntersville.
Marina’s x Substrate Summer Solstice | 5-9 p.m. | Substrate | Cost of purchase | Savor this takeover offering wines by the glass and tapas, croquetas, and other snacks.
Science on the Rocks | 6-10 p.m. | Discovery Place Science | $22+ | Experience the science museum during this adults-only party with cocktails in hand.
Sundown Sounds: The Catalinas | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Ramsey Creek Beach, Cornelius | Free | Sundown doesn’t get much better than at a free concert by the water.
SuperChix is now open in Strawberry Hill. The fast-casual chain serves salads, fried and grilled chicken sandwiches, and fries, plus it’s the chain’s fourth Charlotte-area location, joining Stonecrest, Fort Mill, SC, and Indian Land, SC.
Active
Jungle Cycle + Strength Studio, a studio that offers heated mat and cycling classes, is now open in West Charlotte’s Lower Tuck Development. The class size range is 20 to 30 people, offering themed playlists + memberships start at $169 per month. (Axios Charlotte)
Development
The City of Charlotte broke ground on Hoover Townes, a new affordable housing community near Sugar Creek Road and I-85. Thirty-nine townhomes will be built at the former Economy Inn site with down-payment assistance available through House Charlotte Plus.
Civic
Golf carts are now allowed on Tega Cay city streets at night. Carts are to be driven only on roads with a 35 mph or less speed limit, and must have headlights and taillights. The change aligns with a new SC law enacted in May. (Queen City News)
The nephew of Leon Levine is now the owner of the Levine mansion in SouthPark. Daniel Levine purchased the home on Sharon Road for over $6 million. The home was built in 1958 and boasts five bedrooms, seven full and three half bathrooms, and an indoor pool. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Plan Ahead
OneBlood is hosting a blood drive on Tuesday, June 24 at Brixham Park in Ballantyne. Fun fact: donating once save up to three lives. It’s happening from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and registration is encouraged.
Feel Good
Charlotte Fire crews reunited with a baby they helped deliver in January. Charlotte resident Halena Khen didn’t know she was pregnant until firefighters responded to her emergency call. After months in the hospital, baby Leilani is doing well. (WCNC)
Number
60,000. That’s how many tickets have been sold for the Real Madrid-CF Pachuca FIFA Club World Cup game at Bank of America Stadium kicking off Sunday, June 22. The stadium is set to host four matches, ending on June 30. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Sports
Can QB Bryce Young carry the momentum gained from the end of the 2024-25 season to this upcoming season? Go beyond training camp for the biggest stories on the Carolina Pantherswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Plan Ahead
Does your business have an upcoming event? Promote it in CLTtoday. Head to our self-service ad portal to find an option that works for your budget — from eye-catching banner ads to engaging social posts.
Home
Still climbing ladders to clean your gutters? HomeBuddy installs premium gutter guards in just a few hours — and it’s 100% no-clog guaranteed. See your local offer.*
Try This
Escape the city and make your way to Jackson County, NC, for fresh air, mountain views, and scenic trails. While you’re there, catch Groovin’ on The Green — a free summer concert series kicking off Friday, June 20. Sounds like the perfect excuse for a road trip.*
Category
Try This
☀️ Plan your long day
Find an adrenaline rush at the U.S. National Whitewater Center. | Photo courtesy of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
The summer solstice is this Friday, June 20, marking Saturday, June 21 as the longest day of the year. And we want to help you make it count by filling it with local gems to make the day feel extraordinary.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
IRCAD North America is officially at The Pearl. The world-renowned surgical training center will teach medical students everything from robotic surgery to augmented reality and how AI plays a part in medicine. The Pearl is certainly shaping up nicely.
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