We’ll be sending you our newsletter for the next five days, but if you’re not feeling it after that, we’ll call it quits — no action required. If you like what you see, click any link in this email, and each morning, we’ll keep sending the most relevant news, events, and updates from around Charlotte. Our newsletters are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time.
🚗 Express lanes incoming
Construction on the express lanes is not expected to start until after 2030. | Rendering via NCDOT
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is planning to build elevated express lanes to connect Uptown to the South Carolina state line — a $3.2 billion project anticipated to stretch 11 miles.
The plan, according to NCDOT, utilizes the “least impactful design,” and reduces impacts to the McCrorey Heights and Wesley Heights neighborhoods, Frazier Park, and Pinewood Cemetery.
“Community feedback has been critical in shaping this project, and the elevated design option balances regional mobility needs with meaningful reductions in neighborhood and environmental impacts,” said NCDOT Division 10 Engineer Felix Obregon.
The elevated lanes would span from Brookshire Freeway to the South Carolina state line.
Rendering via NCDOT
What to expect
The express lanes would be built over or alongside I-77 between Brookshire Freeway (exit 11) and the South Carolina state line. The project would extend the express lanes that currently run north through Mecklenburg County toward Mooresville, creating a continuous corridor through Charlotte.
The lanes are expected to be funded through a public-private partnership, similar to the existing I-77 Express Lanes.
Volunteer with your Valentine! | 9:45-11:15 a.m. | Nourish Up | Free | Volunteer with your Valentine this Saturday morning to help nourish neighbors in need by delivering groceries to homes around CLT. Email “volunteer@nourishup.org” with subject line “HEART"*
A big week for the Carolina Panthers. Panthers legend Luke Kuechly will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was named the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. (WCNC)
Biz
Publix will open a new store in Uptown. The Lakeland-based grocer purchased the land at 601 N. Tryon St., with plans for a single-story building and two-story parking deck. An opening date is TBA. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Mansion Monday
Northern Italy is currently hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics, but did you know, the region is seeing a real estate boom? It turns out gorgeous landscapes, world-class food, and rich cultural history are appealing to homebuyers. Shocker. There’s no need to travel — Charlotte has European elegance of its own. (Wall Street Journal)
Sports
Today, the Charlotte Hornets are launching Hugo’s Hive Menu, which will feature five fan-favorite menu items — each priced at $2. The new menu is available starting at tonight’s game against the Detroit Pistons.
Stat
50 minutes. That’s how much extra daylight Charlotte will gain by the end of February. As the days get longer, we suggest soaking up the afternoon sun on a local restaurant’s patio with a beverage in hand. (AccuWeather)
Travel
Football season has been over for a matter of minutes, and the NFL is already looking ahead to next year. In October, the league will host a game in Paris for the first time in its history. We hear it’s beautiful in the fall — find out for yourself with a flight from Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Community
This Valentine’s Day, put your heart into local journalism by supporting CLTtoday. Your contributions will go directly toward creating more of the local stories you love, expanding our coverage, and ensuring we can remain a free resource for all. Give a little love to local news.
Number
240,000+. That’s how many active job listings you can find on our Job Board. Explore openings in healthcare, education, manufacturing, and beyond. Roles for all experience levels are hiring now. Find a new gig for 2026.
Stop settling for gutter guards that barely work and still leave you climbing a ladder every month to clear debris. LeafGuard’s award-winning, one-piece system is designed to make clogs impossible. For a limited time, our readers can get 75% off installation plus an extra $200 off. Get a free assessment.*
Featured Deal
Explore an introduction to psychedelic therapy and how it can help depression or anxiety. Pre-order your book today, February 9, and get bonus access to a live online summit with Michael Pollan, Gabor Maté, Melissa Etheridge, and more.*
City Guide
⛷️ Hit the slopes
Beech Mountain Resort also has amenities like a skybar, brewery, and scenic lift rides. | Photo provided by VisitNC.com and the electronic archive prohibition
You may already be aware that the Queen City is not exactly slope city, but a winter sports trip may not be as far from home as you think.
We’ve rounded up six resorts to ski, snowboard, and tube within three hours of Charlotte to help feed your Winter Olympics fever.
🎿 Shred the slopes
Appalachian Ski Mountain | Blowing Rock | ~1 hour 50 minute drive from Charlotte | $54+ | Calling all adventure seekers, this mountain boasts 13 slopes, a trek for skiiers of all levels.
Beech Mountain Resort | Beech Mountain | ~2 hour 32 minute drive from Charlotte | $47+ | With 17 trails, Beech Mountain makes for a great day trip or an overnight stay with night skiing.
❄️ Totally tubular
Chutes at Crowder’s Mountain | Gastonia | ~30 minute drive from Charlotte | $25 per person | Children and families can experience the thrill of winter tubing without the mess of wet snow.
Searching for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift? Surprise loved ones with these gifts that can arrive by the end of the week.
❣️ Remind them how you feel with a little sign to say I love you that’s the perfect size for desks and night stands.
🧦 You can never go wrong with soft, fuzzy socks that make every step feel like you’re walking on clouds.
📚 The perfect gift for any book lover, a three-month Audible membership is under $50 + provides access to thousands of audiobooks.
🍽️ Spark spontaneity with this set of scratch off date ideas that’s been featured in US Weekly, Cosmopolitan, and more.
✋ This top-rated hand massager can ease sore hands with five intensity levels + two heat settings.
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and I love love. Please consider sharing your love story with me! If polls are nerve-racking, you can always hit “reply” to this newsletter, as I’d love to add to these Queen City meet-cutes.
}})
