You'll soon be able to rename the General channel in Microsoft Teams Microsoft Teams will soon gain the option to rename the General channel within a team Every team within Microsoft Teams has a General channel by default you have not been able to rename that channel Microsoft is in the final stages of testing the ability to rename the General channel and the functionality can be tried by members of the Teams Public Preview or Microsoft 365 Targeted release on the new Teams for Windows or macOS The General channel in a team cannot be archived or deleted and every member of a team is placed within that channel making it a bit odd that Teams lacks the option to rename the channel "We’ve heard from users that they wanted the option to retitle this channel to something more meaningful," said Microsoft The General channel can now be renamed by the team’s owners It will then show up in alphabetical order like other channels in the teams and channels lists for all members." Team owners can rename the General channel through the "More options" button for that channel or through the "Manage channel" settings page you won't be able to change the name back to "General" in the future it is an effective tool for keeping in touch with a team and getting work done.  some missing features were either acceptable or at least expected The platform was put on a global stage during the pandemic and expected to meet growing demands rapidly Teams was only a few years old when millions of people had to shift to working from home and remote learning but it seems like this gap could have been filled a while ago from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT leading to strong ties with app developers utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.  UNC Charlotte has been awarded a Strategy Development Grant of $500,000 from the U.S Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration The federal funding is part of the inaugural Tech Hubs program The University is partnering with the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance; Centralina Regional Council; and more than 25 industry academic institutions and workforce development organizations in North and South Carolina on the grant which will launch the Carolinas Innovation Center for Optics and Metrology (CICOM) Consortium further bolsters UNC Charlotte’s position as a catalyst for technology commercialization and industry growth The grant was the only one in the Charlotte region The EDA funding is part of the inaugural Tech Hubs program an economic development initiative designed to drive regional innovation and job creation by strengthening a region’s capacity to manufacture commercialize and deploy technology that will advance American competitiveness “The greater Charlotte region has long been a hub of global manufacturing, and UNC Charlotte is a recognized national research leader through the Center for Optoelectronics and Optical Communications and the Center for Precision Metrology,” said Interim Vice Chancellor for Research John Daniels “Creating high synergy between the two core technologies coupled with the region’s robust manufacturing and materials ecosystem will strengthen our country’s innovation capacity and accelerate our ability to produce the next generation of advanced products and talent here in Charlotte.” The planning grant aims to significantly increase local coordination and planning activities which could make recipients more competitive for future designation as a Tech Hub UNC Charlotte’s success of commercialization within optics and metrology is particularly promising executive director of the Office of Research Partnerships who led the proposal process along with Devin Collins director of technology and business support programs in the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation emphasized the critical role of UNC Charlotte’s core technologies “With UNC Charlotte’s nationally distinguished optics and metrology research centers we are uniquely positioned to be able to move quickly from the laboratory to commercialization of innovative technology solutions which is needed to increase domestic manufacturing especially optics manufacturing — a national priority to drive economic growth and national security,” said Needham 7,700 jobs and $4.9 billion in capital investments were announced in the Charlotte region 16-county area that makes up the CICOM region is home to more than 3,500 manufacturers more than a dozen optics firms and 190 advanced materials firms all contributing more than $26 billion to the regional economy “The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance was proud to partner with UNC Charlotte and Centralina in securing this important investment for our region,” said Rob Horton chief marketing and communications officer at the CLT Alliance “We are grateful that the EDA has recognized the impact precision metrology and optics can have in advanced manufacturing driving long term competitive advantage and creating opportunities for all in our region.” Emerging technology developments within the CICOM consortium will be a catalyst for local job creation and global awareness of the innovation capacity of the Greater Charlotte region executive director of Centralina Regional Council The Tech Hubs Program will invest directly in regions with the assets capacity and potential to transform into globally competitive innovation centers in approximately 10 years while catalyzing the creation of good jobs for American workers at all skill levels The Tech Hubs Program was enacted as part of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 (as the Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs program) The statute authorized $10 billion for the program over five years As part of the FY 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act Congress appropriated EDA $500 million to launch the program regions that are focused on technologies within or across the key technology focus areas outlined in the statute Inside UNC Charlotte is produced and maintained by the Office of University Communications. Faculty and staff members can submit news or story/video ideas for consideration via the online form or email insideuncc@charlotte.edu Text version Presentation slides The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office) hosted a webinar on community charging The purpose was to inform on key considerations of community charging models and how electric vehicle (EV) charging can meet community needs Lessons learned from these projects can help identify best practices for communities pursuing electrification including strategies for improving the project benefits and permitting and policy considerations that could impact the project Audience members left the webinar with a better understanding of best practices for planning for and implementing community charging models The Ranlo town manager won an award for excellence in government leadership Jonathan Blanton is the recipient of the James D Prosser Excellence in Government Leadership Award from the Centralina Regional Council of Governments The annual award is intended to recognize individuals who demonstrated excellence in government and high personal and professional standards throughout their public career Blanton has bolstered Ranlo’s financial position and secured federal and state funding for infrastructure improvements He has taken the lead in planning successful community events to bring together the citizens of Ranlo," Centralina said in a written statement he also demonstrates kindness and empathy and strives to build consensus among staff and the Town Council." Previous award winners include Kannapolis City Manager Mike Legg in 2021 and Mecklenburg County Manager Deana Diorio in 2020 you see those awards going to the the bigger city managers because Centralina Regional Council of Governments I think they have nine counties that they encompass," Blanton said So I was very excited and certainly pleased to have some positive spotlight on Ranlo and the things we've done the last three years because it's been it's been a very challenging past three years here in Ranlo." Blanton is Ranlo's first town manager ever the town of Ranlo was in financial trouble They had not submitted audits to the North Carolina State Government Commission for almost four years and the town had been dipping into its savings to balance its budget The town was put on a list of local governments that the state was watching the town sheered back spending and issued a tax increase and they have since submitted their audits to the state commission Blanton has asked the state to take Ranlo off the list of problem towns "We were able to catch up pretty quickly with the audit so I think that's going to fare well for us," he said Carolina Carshare offers Charlotte residents access to electric vehicles at a fraction of the cost of traditional car ownership A new carshare initiative is steering Charlotte toward a more equitable and sustainable future launched last week at Peppertree Apartments in the Albemarle Road/Central Avenue Corridor of Opportunity offers residents access to electric vehicles (EVs) at a fraction of the cost of traditional car ownership — a development that’s already having an impact on lives like that of Lucius Johnson and you don’t have to call an Uber,” Johnson said The program is a collaboration between the City of Charlotte the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) It’s part of the national Affordable Mobility Platform (AMP) a Community Car Share pilot developed by Forth to increase clean transportation options in underserved communities Charlotte is the only city in the Southeast selected for the pilot and one of just 13 nationwide Carolina Carsharee is part of a broader national initiative to bring EVs to affordable housing sites Forth aims to deploy 50 shared EVs and Level 2 chargers in low-income and underserved communities across eight states by the end of 2025 Charlotte is the only AMP location east of Michigan but all share the goal of improving mobility options while reducing transportation emissions in areas often left behind in the EV transition Residents can reserve Chevy Bolt EVs for $5 per hour or $50 per day through a mobile app No-cost charging stations are conveniently located on-site at the Peppertree Apartments making it easy for users to access and return the vehicles exposure is one of the biggest challenges to widespread EV adoption Consumers are not always aware of the benefits EVs provide high-performance ride with no emissions and lower operational costs Experiences like test drives have historically helped shift opinions on EVs Carolina Carshare builds on this idea by offering residents an ongoing real-world opportunity to drive EVs in their daily lives “EV car-sharing programs are another way to provide people with EV experiences they might not be able to access or not choose to access on their own,” Cross said By bringing electric vehicles to renters and families in affordable housing Carolina Carshare helps bridge the awareness and access gap that has kept EVs out of reach The car-share program also makes EV charging available to residents of multi-family housing Because multi-family developers typically do not install EV chargers home charging access at apartments adds an additional challenge to EV adoption Expanding charging infrastructure directly at affordable housing sites removes another key barrier to EV ownership especially as more used EVs enter the market “This project is a perfect example of what it looks like when we align our values with action By investing in electric vehicle access in our Corridors of Opportunity we’re giving families the tools they need to reach better jobs while building a more sustainable future for Charlotte.” The program supports the city’s broader goals for sustainability and equity outlined in the Strategic Energy Action Plan “The Affordable Mobility Platform tackles two challenges at once – the high cost of car ownership and poor air quality in underserved areas – by bringing affordable electric vehicles to low-income communities,” Courtney Cucchissi one of the biggest benefits is freedom of movement without relying on public transit or ride-hailing apps “You don’t have to stand at the bus stop $5 and you can get anywhere in Charlotte.” While Peppertree is the first site for the carshare program additional locations are planned throughout the city in 2025 The expansion could bring the benefits of electric mobility to more neighborhoods including those without reliable access to public transportation “Wherever the bus station doesn’t participate in transportation it would be nice to have… in rural areas,” said Johnson “If you’ve got a clean driver’s license record and you can pay for the car—$5 I don’t know where you can go get a rental car for $5 with insurance,” he said With support from a network of local and national organizations Carolina Carshare is designed to be more than just a mobility solution — it’s also an investment in community health “This is more than a transportation solution it’s a housing stability solution,” said Rebecca Hefner Director of Charlotte’s Housing & Neighborhood Services Department Together we’re making a lasting impact across the Southeast From a motorsports park going solar to a police chief embracing EVs and even a conservative county going electric individuals and communities across the Southeast are embracing… Glades County embraces electric school buses blending innovation with agricultural values to improve student health and honor the land that defines this tight-knit Florida farming community Sign up to receive clean energy updates in your inbox PO Box 1842Knoxville, TN 37901865.235.1448 the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region has suffered severe job losses in manufacturing and textiles exacerbated by insufficient economic diversification coupled with increasingly higher housing prices The area also exhibits persistent patterns of racial segregation and ongoing struggles with upward intergenerational economic mobility Charlotte-Mecklenburg is one of the few regions in the country that has named these challenges explicitly and demonstrated a clear intention to address them a comprehensive framework to close racial gaps and pursue shared prosperity provides a model for other regions to follow Leading on Opportunity’s focus on child and family stability and college and career readiness emphasizes the imperative of elevating the cross-cutting factors of segregation and social capital as part of a regional economic development strategy The Charlotte-Mecklenburg region is itself a part of a larger regional collaboration The Centralina Regional Council was created to serve the needs of a nine-county region and individual levels to shape area-wide planning One of Centralina’s key successes was CONNECT Our Future a framework built on consensus across two states and 14 counties to guide and invest in the region’s growth planning director at the Centralina Regional Council said elected officials’ leadership was key to Centralina’s success “It started when we were deemed one of the fastest growing regions in the country with no growth plan,” Nance explained “Elected officials from across the region realized that if they wanted to sustain the benefits from growth Nance emphasized the importance of understanding and accepting that the 14 Centralina counties are not the same Each community implements those priorities in ways most appropriate to them Regionalism works best for needs that cut across multiple areas “Gridlock isn’t business friendly,” Nance quipped “and if we’re going to invest in our infrastructure Everybody doing their own thing isn’t efficient.” Regional collaboration not only cuts down on the administrative burden and cost of a given program “Agencies want to see everyone on the same page,” Nance observed It’s also critical to engage all stakeholders “We learned to do things on a slow bake,” Nance said We call it ‘harvesting the worries.’ We make sure everyone is heard because you don’t want something coming out of left field when you’re 75 percent done with a project.” While Centralina is deeply ingrained within its communities so Centralina leans on them as critical interfaces between regional efforts and the individuals they serve and heads of economic development planning commissions are well versed in our projects and have communication materials to take back to their constituents,” Nance explained “We don’t have to take center stage for a project to be successful.” The greater Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) region faces common challenges including traffic congestion and problems with equity and digital inclusion The region is less typical in its immense sprawl and permeable borders that people frequently cross for daily activities coordination across localities on service provision makes sense and a number of institutions work on various aspects of regional coordination The North Texas Innovation Alliance (NTXIA) works collaboratively to improve quality of life and increase resource efficiency using data and technology and the DFW International Airport to help connect cities It plans to establish strategic advisory committees to tackle complex topics including data standards and privacy non-profit entity running regional efforts is effective in corralling resources and providing focus without risking allegations of favoritism it was a nucleus of 10 agencies and cities that were passionate about the need for a regional approach,” Sanders said She hammered home the indispensability of involving all sectors of society and clearly defining the mission and noted the importance of being honest about barriers “Regions need to find sustainable financial models,” Sanders emphasized Think about securing private equity funding If you’re working on a large infrastructure project – which is exactly the kind of thing where regional approaches are effective – collaborate on buying agreements and requests for proposals (RFPs) on infrastructure design deals.” Sanders highlighted the importance of data-sharing across regions noting many municipalities don’t fully understand the problems they face without the broader view that comes from pooling information Consider an extreme example: The authorities had no idea the Golden State Killer’s murders were connected because they didn’t share information Sanders recommended an instrument called inter-local agreements (ILAs) to help structure data-sharing arrangements Educate Texas works with communities across the state to establish and implement strategic and measurable community-specific action plans and to ensure resources are directed toward developing innovative programs or scaling evidence-based practices that lead to better outcomes The group recognizes that cross-sector collaboration within communities is key to the creation and support of an aligned pipeline between K-12 and the workforce to support students’ success in school Educate Texas’ managing director of Programs no one entity is going to be able to turn the ship and certainly not to accelerate to the level of progress the broader community expects.” Coxon emphasized the importance of clarity around an initiative’s goals and how they’re measured “What does success look like?” Coxon asked “Answering requires some degree of data and analytical acumen but also an ability to translate that to a publicly digestible message If you can’t get someone off the street and explain your work to them in simple terms Asked how to engage the public school system in regional collaborations Coxon said they have to see that the players are truly there to help school districts are leery of actively engaging in these types of initiatives because it’s just about ‘Let me show you more data on how our schools are failing our children,’” Coxon observed Educate Texas brought together two non-profits with school superintendents and university presidents the non-profits started tearing into the school districts,” Coxon said not to take pot shots.’” Successful collaboration means working together to achieve shared goals Leadership North Texas (LNT) is a graduate-level leadership program aimed at recruiting developing and supporting leaders who have a commitment to civic engagement Participants learn best practices in regional stewardship from other successful regions and participate in the development of appropriate strategies for North Texas program director of LNT and its parent organization said it all came together around a common goal “People support what they help to create,” Walton said One of the highest profile examples of best practice was when DFW hosted Super Bowl XLV through a concerted regional effort The Dallas Cowboys approached the NTC because it was “Switzerland,” neutral territory so it didn’t favor any specific municipality Having a neutral convener is all about instilling trust in the community The NTC works hard to ensure that its events are balanced detractors point to fissures in what some characterize as a veneer of regional success These include regionalism’s propulsion of Dallas’ migrating economic center dispersing jobs in a way that deepened economic divides and income inequality Detractors also highlight Dallas’ endemic poverty attributing these in part to the fact that the city’s and region’s leaders have prioritized a version of economic growth that takes advantage of DFW’s abundant cheap landmass to disperse new investment across a vast landscape reaping short-term economic success while ignoring the long-term challenges of sustaining such growth Metro is the regional government for the Oregon portion of Portland’s metropolitan area it is the only directly elected regional government and metropolitan planning organization in the United States Metro’s master plan for the region includes transit-oriented development that promotes mixed-use high-density development around light rail stops and transit centers and multi-modal transportation investments Manages land use and development and works with communities to plan for future population growth; Plans investments in the transportation system for its three-county area and decides how to invest federal highway and public transit funds; Acts as a regional clearinghouse for land use information and coordinates data and research activities with government partners Plans and oversees the region’s solid waste system Metro has a number of advisory committees made up of elected officials Most also have seats reserved for members of the community Metro’s President Lynn Peterson took office in January 2019 and has focused on addressing the housing and transportation needs of areas outside the region’s thriving city centers “We’ve done a great job prioritizing the centers but what makes a transport system work is the entire corridor “That is the next step in where we need to go It’s the places that connect those centers that we’ve allowed to decay Noting that sprawl is bad for the environment and our collective mental health with the caveat that it be done well and in the right places “Our job is to lead the conversation,” Peterson said “We can’t solve all of Beaverton’s or West Linn’s problems as a region But we can certainly be part of the investment tool that brings them closer to being able to do more of what they need to accomplish voters let Metro borrow $652 million for affordable housing across the region “It was the first time we'd really passed a regional initiative to address this challenge and it shows that people understand we have to address these sorts of issues together,” said Metro Councilor Sam Chase “People understand now that it’s not just one jurisdiction or two jurisdictions; all 27 jurisdictions in our region need to be part of the solution.” Charlotte-Mecklenburg County and the Centralina Council of Governments Smart long-term investments in public infrastructure Higher education institutions geared toward credentialing a technologically sophisticated next-generation workforce Strong regional institutions focused on technological innovation Decades of rapid growth with strong urban governance and a focus on regional planning Economy driven primarily by the tech sector cities for attracting and retaining college-educated people State Government websites value user privacy. To learn more, view our full privacy policy A lock icon or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the official website Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCABARRUS COUNTY (WBTV) - Cabarrus County Manager Mike Downs was recently honored with the James D Prosser Excellence in Government Leadership Award from the Centralina Regional Council Downs received the award during a ceremony on February 8 in Charlotte according to a press release from Cabarrus County Prosser Award is presented to “an individual who exemplifies and promotes excellence in government outstanding leadership and high ethical standards.” During a 37-year career with Cabarrus County Public Safety Services Director and Deputy County Manager According to his nomination form: “Mike has led Cabarrus County’s involvement in numerous transformative projects: construction of the downtown Courthouse the new Emergency Medical Services headquarters the downtown Concord parking deck and many more “He pushed for more transparency in government operations evidenced by the County’s award-winning website and communications efforts He spearheaded efforts to collaborate with other governments within the county—the quarterly Elected Leaders Summit he helped organize continues to this day He led efforts to create the County’s first Strategic Plan which set the framework for individual goals and performance measures for all county departments.” adding that “recognition belongs to the incredible team I work with every day Their dedication and commitment truly make Cabarrus County shine.” Outside his work with Cabarrus County Government Downs is a longtime member of the Rotary Club of Cabarrus County He is a board member of The Cabarrus County Convention and Visitors Bureau Centralina Economic Development District and United Way He also serves with Stokes Masonic Lodge and Oasis Shriners Centralina Regional Council serves the greater Charlotte region Its mission is to lead regional collaboration and spark local action to expand opportunity and improve quality of life an electric vehicle charging station developed by UNC Charlotte’s Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) in partnership with Duke Energy the city of Charlotte and the Centralina Regional Council was unveiled at the Ritz at Washington Heights park Thursday Roy Cooper’s Charlotte visit to promote the Clean Energy and Equitable Economy for All executive order “The transition by vehicle manufacturers to electric vehicles is upon us and this station is just one example of how North Carolina is getting ready,” said Cooper the more affordable electric vehicles will become for everyday people Our state is moving toward an equitable clean energy economy and public-private partnerships like this one will help make that happen.” the first universal electric vehicle charging solution of its kind in the country provides a solution for people that lack the off-street parking needed for home charging systems Nearly 90% of electric vehicle charging is expected to happen at home but only about 50% of vehicles in the United States are parked at single-family homes with easy access to electric power Placing charging stations in the public right-of-way along the curb can be expensive and difficult because of the potential need to run underground wiring and install new charging bollards in or near sidewalks Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technology Office allowed the team to address this access disparity in a cost-effective manner as PoleVolt™ can be installed on existing street lights allowing the use of existing infrastructure “As North Carolina’s urban research university, UNC Charlotte is uniquely positioned to partner with Duke Energy, the city of Charlotte and the Centralina Regional Council in the development of the PoleVolt™,” said Rob Keynton, dean of The William States Lee College of Engineering “PoleVolt™ is just one of many examples of how UNC Charlotte’s research combined with community and business partnerships leads to creative solutions for current and relevant societal needs.” Two UNC Charlotte undergraduate engineering students — Grady Harwood and Philip Harmon — led the development of the project’s cloud-based software to launch charging from a smartphone. The students, along with Rob Cox, associate director of EPIC gave a demonstration of the PoleVolt™ to the governor and Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles “PoleVolt™ allows us to look at new innovation through the lens of equity,” said Lyles “This new station is an example of the city’s commitment to both sustainability and to the residents in our vital Corridors of Opportunity areas of our city that have been underrepresented in the past.” meets the governor during the demonstration of the EV charging station the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) announced the launch of a new electric vehicle (EV) carsharing program in Charlotte in partnership with Centralina Regional Council and the City of Charlotte The program is part of a nationwide Affordable Mobility Platform (AMP) funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and managed by Forth Mobility The purpose of AMP is to increase access to electric transportation by making low-cost EVs available to underserved communities Out of the 10 participating cities in the U.S. Charlotte is the only one in the Southeast The EV carsharing program will launch in July of 2023 with 10 shared EVs that will be made available to residents and staff in five affordable housing developments across the city the five developments that have committed represent 538 housing units and eligible residents with valid driver’s licenses will have the opportunity to first test drive the vehicles through ride-and-drive events allowing them to become more familiar with the technology residents will be able to reserve the vehicles online and rent them at a small hourly or daily fee The program is funded for two years and designed with the intention to continue as a self-funded model in the years to come “With Governor Cooper’s administration’s focus on the rapid and equitable shift to electric transportation this innovative project will serve as a model for wider-scale EV sharing in underserved communities across the state,” Stan Cross Electric Transportation Policy Director at the  Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) said.“The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy has been advocating for centering equity in state electric transportation policies and we are excited to roll up our sleeves with our partners and help get it done.”    the program will address a critical issue of a lack of charging options for residents of multi-unit housing which has been considered a key barrier to mass EV adoption AMP will install two EV chargers at each housing location Each charger will come equipped with two ports One port will power the shared electric vehicle and the other will be used for charging vehicles from the surrounding communities “AMP presents a novel model that addresses several intersectional issues faced by many middle to lower-income residents,” Patrick King Electric Transportation Equity Manager at SACE “The program provides a means of transportation that reduces emissions and at a low cost that’s a fraction of traditional vehicle ownership The benefits of which improve the air quality not just for members of the housing developments but for all communities.”  Drivers who use a carsharing system can access a car when needed without having to pay the costs of maintenance and insurance associated with traditional ownership especially for lower-income residents for whom transportation costs can consume a significant portion of their household spending “Because transportation makes up 40% of Charlotte’s total greenhouse gas emissions decarbonizing this sector through electrification is a critical strategy for a low carbon future,” said Sarah Hazel Chief Sustainability and Resiliency Officer at the City of Charlotte “We are thrilled to partner on an impactful initiative that centers residents of affordable housing in our electrification journey as we work towards a healthy Electric car sharing is efficient and benefits the environment and public health and produce 85% fewer carbon emissions than traditional cars The benefits can be magnified when the vehicles are powered by electricity produced from renewable energy sources like solar and wind By placing 80 EVs in 10 cities across the US this project will bring low-cost electric vehicles to underserved communities and demonstrate a scalable model that increases access to clean transportation “Our region is at the crossroads of equity and unprecedented levels of funding for transportation electrification; therefore this project is extremely timely and will further define the role local governments can play in the deployment of electric vehicles for everyone,” Jason Wager Assistant Director at Centralina Regional Council and Director said.“The Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition is poised to build on its previous EV project learnings to the benefit of our region and beyond.” Gastonia residents will get a chance Tuesday to tell city leaders what they think of a redrawing of election maps that divide the city by wards and play a role where elected officials must live May 3, in Gastonia City Hall located at 181 S “The public hearing will offer residents the opportunity to review the proposed plans for redistricting and give their feedback before any decisions are made,” said Gastonia Assistant City Manager Quentin McPhatter Uneven population growth in Gastonia over the past 10 years has created an unbalance in population between the six wards of the city A City Council member comes from each of the six wards although city voters cast votes for candidates regardless of what ward they live in.  Gastonia experienced a 12% growth — 71,741 residents to 80,411 residents — between the 2010 and 2020 census.  But some wards — Ward 1 and Ward 3 in southeast Gastonia — experienced more growth while Ward 4 and Ward 6 in west Gastonia had less Tuesday's meeting will include the city presenting different map scenarios of the redistricting plans for residents to provide input. The city has provided an interactive map online of the map scenarios for each ward for residents to view in advance.  How is Gastonia redrawing ward maps?The city has partnered with Centralina Regional Council to help make the process seamless and easier to understand.  The city has worked with Centralina Regional Council to analyze Census 2020 data gather local GIS data and review ideal scenarios for the size of each ward.  the city has determined that each ward should have about 13,402 residents.  for redrawing maps which will change borders for all six wards.  The new maps will represent a population close to the ideal size for each ward which includes about 13,402 residents in each ward.  The maps online show residents the existing wards in comparison to the unique redistricting scenarios which are being considered for adoption.  The city redraws district boundaries to make sure that voting power and representation in each ward will be based on the most recent population data Redistricting is mandatory under the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution The redistricting is also a federal and state-mandated process for communities with district-based voting to ensure equal distribution of representation.  Reach Janiya Winchester at 980-319-6819 or jwinchester@gannett.com North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper toured PoleVolt a new electric vehicle charging station in Charlotte created by a partnership between the City of Charlotte Centralina Regional Council and UNC Charlotte The station uses existing streetlights to provide free curbside charging for electric vehicles and expand access to charging infrastructure for people who do not have access to dedicated off-street parking “The transition by vehicle manufacturers to electric vehicles is upon us and this station is just one example of how North Carolina is getting ready,” said Governor Cooper “PoleVolt allows us to look at new innovation through the lens of equity,” said Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles areas of our city that have been under-represented in the past.” “Duke Energy is working hard to eliminate barriers such as access to charging so we’re proud to play a role in innovative solutions such as PoleVolt,” said Stephen De May “We are committed to supporting state and local policy goals that deliver a cleaner energy future for all our customers.” “As North Carolina’s urban research university UNC Charlotte is uniquely positioned to partner with Duke Energy the City of Charlotte and the Centralina Regional Council in the development of the PoleVolt™ the first universal electric vehicle charging solution of its kind in the country,” said Rob Keynton dean of The William States Lee College of Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte “The PoleVolt™ is just one of many examples of how UNC Charlotte’s research combined with community and business partnerships leads to creative solutions for current and relevant societal needs.” “As the long-time home to the US Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program for our region Centralina Regional Council recognizes the importance of projects like PoleVolt in meeting the challenges of our future transportation needs As our region is poised for exponential growth Centralina will translate lessons learned through this project around intentional planning and streamlined local government development review processes to help move pilot ideas to a more comprehensive deployment of curbside EV charging infrastructure at scale in Charlotte and beyond,” said Geraldine Gardner Centralina Regional Council Executive Director PoleVolt was created through a partnership with the Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) at UNC Charlotte the Centralina Regional Council and Duke Energy The station uses existing streetlights to provide free curbside electric vehicle charging for people who do not have access to dedicated off-street parking EPIC at UNCC received funding from the Department of Energy to develop this technology in partnership with Duke Energy including involving students to help develop the technology for the station In January 2022, Governor Cooper signed Executive Order No. 246 directing the North Carolina Department of Transportation to work with public and private sectors to create a Clean Transportation Plan that will craft solutions for a cleaner and more resilient transportation system The Order underscores the importance of emphasizing environmental justice and equity in the state’s transition to a clean economy NC: Shuck ‘N’ Pluck Fundraiser for Soup Kitchen to be Held Mar Deadline Approaching for Carolina Prize for Writing Contest: Enter by Mar By Kay Whatley, Editor “Tag, you’re it!” Do you remember playing tag as a child? The children’s chasing game is being promoted as a world sport:  World Chase Tag™. Chase Tag® events have been held […] For Halloween, let’s look at a local “legend”. We’ll visit the Morpheus Bridge on the aptly named Morpheus Bridge Road in Wendell, North Carolina. The story goes that a mother, father, and child — alledgedly a daughter — were driving along […] By Kay Whatley, Editor Three Colorado residents reported UFO sightings during the month of April. Photos available for two of them are nearly identical. The first sighting reported via the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) occurred […] Watch WHIG TV episode of The Grey Area TV from September 19, 2013 Watch WHIG TV episode of The Grey Area TV from October 24, 2013 Watch WHIG TV episode of The Grey Area TV from November 21, 2013 Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Gastonia City Council adjusted its six political wards to bring population balance between the six districts inside the city's limits.  The wards play a role in where elected officials must live.  we want to take care of the whole population," said Gastonia City Councilman Dave Kirlin.  presented two scenarios at the May 3 meeting.  The city approved "Scenario C," which can viewed online along with other interactive maps showing ward layouts before and after the redistricting process.  McPhatter reported that the city only received a few emails from residents with questions about the process.  He also recommends for residents to use their addresses and the interactive online maps to find which ward they live in and contact the city staff with any questions.  "We had some districts that weren't the ideal number of residents," said McPhatter The uneven population growth in Gastonia over the last 10 years created an unbalance in population among the six wards of the city.  Gastonia's population increased by 12% from 71,741 residents to 80,411 residents over the last 10 years.  The city's redistricting process prioritized maintaining one City Council member per ward although city voters can vote for candidates regardless of what ward they live in.  How is Gastonia redrawing ward maps?The city partnered with Centralina Regional Council to help in the process 1 and ended at the City Council meeting Tuesday The city worked with Centralina Regional Council to analyze census data The city considered two scenarios for redrawing maps which changed borders for all six wards.  The new maps represent a population close to the ideal size for each ward McPhatter recommends for residents to reach out to city staff for any questions or concerns about the maps or redistricting process.  Reach Janiya Winchester at 980-319-6819 or jwinchester@gannett.com Michael Mack was having a good time Wednesday The 50-year-old Gastonia man was sitting down and enjoying the show inside the Gaston Senior Center in Dallas moving his head to the music as people danced a resident at Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation in Gastonia was one of dozens of people attending the 22nd annual Gaston County Residents Rights Celebration at the center Centralina Council of Governments’ Area Agency on Aging puts on such gatherings across the region as a way to get residents of assisted- and senior-living facilities together to have a good time and promote awareness of their rights Mack has been at Brian Center for about three years and he says he and fellow residents there routinely go on small trips and “do a little of this and that.” But he likes coming to the Residents Rights Celebration each year “I meet different people and ask about how the place is where they’re living and everything is going to be all right,” Mack said regional ombudsman program coordinator with the Area Agency on Aging said residents from 13 Gaston County facilities came to Wednesday's event they learned about 17 rights established by North Carolina law for people who live in adult care facilities Most residents care the most about their rights to dignity and respect fair treatment without fear of retaliation and to live without being abused “The hard part with retaliation is there are a lot of residents who are afraid to speak up about issues that are going on in their buildings because they’re afraid,” Englert said They have protections against that — that can’t happen either — but they don’t always believe that or believe they are going to be singled out in some way.” Englert said one of the things her organization does is encourage facilities to have residents’ councils which she called “an opportunity for residents to have a more collective voice about issues.” The Area Agency on Aging is always looking for volunteers Wednesday’s event also served as a social function — it’s the only time each year that residents from different facilities might see each other Gaston County Commission Chairman Chad Brown read a proclamation identifying October as Long-Term Care Residents’ Rights Month To learn more about the Residents Rights Celebration or to get involved or volunteer You can follow Dashiell Coleman on Twitter @DashiellColeman but Minecraft certainly continues to grow over time Mojang also updated some of the statistics we have on the momentum that Minecraft continues to grow over time In April, 2021, we reported that Minecraft had nearly 140 million monthly active users It seems that momentum has impossibly managed to sustain and even grow since then with Minecraft boasting over 141 million monthly active users in Aug That means the number of people that actively played Minecraft just in Aug approached and even surpassed the number of copies sold by some of the best-selling video games of all time This shows that an incredible number of people are still investing plenty of time in Minecraft in 2021 Below are some of the key statistics on Minecraft Mojang did not provide an updated number for how many copies of Minecraft have been sold so far meaning that number is still officially 238 million and we're keeping track of it all to keep you up to date Minecraft is an inarguable and complete success It has sold copies in the hundreds of millions and lets you unlock your every creative desire It's also available on every platform imaginable Is the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate the best value in all of gaming Ultimate bundles your Xbox Live Gold subscription an Xbox Game Pass subscription for both Xbox consoles and Windows PCs A new planning effort involving Mecklenburg and 11 surrounding counties envisions a network of trains and buses that one day could link Charlotte with smaller cities across the region But there's still lots of work to do before final routes are decided and there's still the thornier question of how to pay for it all.  The $2.2 million Connect Beyond initiative looks at transportation needs between Charlotte and cities 40 to 50 miles away The 18-month effort is coordinated by the Centralina Regional Council and Metropolitan Transit Commission It builds on Charlotte Area Transit System's 2030 Plan which includes existing and planned light rail and streetcar lines within Mecklenburg County.   "The next natural step is to figure out how do we broaden that beyond just Mecklenburg County How do we meet the commuting and mobility needs of our regional partners to the growth and economic wellbeing of our community," CATS CEO John Lewis said during a virtual meeting Wednesday.  Gastonia and Lincolnton to the west; Statesville to the north; Concord Albemarle and Wadesboro to the east; and Rock Hill Planners are looking at transportation decades ahead because the area is growing rapidly The 12-county area's population is expected to increase from 2.6 million now to 4.1 million by 2045 The Charlotte region will account for two-thirds of North Carolina's overall growth during that time principal planner with the Centralina Regional Council And York and Lancaster counties in South Carolina have the region's highest growth rates efficient and well-connected transportation options is one of the most important factors to ensure everyone could benefit from this growth," Wager said planners unveiled a map of possible future transit corridors It shows new corridors or extensions of existing transit lines that stretch from Cleveland County west of Charlotte to Anson and Stanly Counties on the east and from Iredell County to South Carolina.  But the map doesn't specify whether those corridors would get commuter or light rail dedicated bus lanes or commuter express buses.    "We're not saying it's going to be a particular mode We're just saying that the corridor is high capacity transit and there's additional work to be done to identify what mode is the best fit for that particular corridor," said Jorge Luna with the consulting firm HDR the group will gather more feedback on the proposed corridors and then this winter pick a series of preferred corridors Luna said they'll take into account commuting patterns population growth and where people are more likely to need and use public transit such as where seniors and low-income residents live or where people are less likely to have cars.  the plan is also to study other modes of transportation like scooters carpools and even future autonomous vehicles.  planners hope to be discussing how to implement the plans.  the cost could easily reach billions of dollars Keyboards on Windows PCs will feature a Copilot key going forward Microsoft's own Surface Studio could not update to Windows 11 due to the operating system's minimum requirements Microsoft has no comment on whether Windows PCs will need 16GB of RAM to run AI Microsoft did not share a comment on the report when we reached out so we don't have confirmation one way or the other it seems unlikely that PCs will need 16GB of RAM to use AI NPUs are more efficient when performing the repetitive tasks required for AI such as blurring backgrounds or processing images in Adobe Lightroom but a ton of laptops and PCs will have Neural Processing Units Your New Best Friend," in which Dell outlines all the advantages of Intel Core Ultra having an NPU Right above that section is a link to the full spec sheet of the XPS 13 which will have a configuration with only 8GB of RAM Would Dell highlight the importance of AI on its new laptop when one of the configurations will not support AI features It seems Dell would at least include a note that AI requires a certain configuration if that were the case The new XPS 13 will have a Copilot key on its keyboard as well so it seems especially unlikely that Dell would have that button on a computer that didn't support Copilot That being said, laptop makers have made mistakes or failed to note things before. Dell incorrectly claimed Windows 11 version 24H1 was coming in April Microsoft received a massive amount of pushback and criticism when it unveiled the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11 The tech giant pointed toward security reasons for requiring a TPM to upgrade to Windows 11 I question if Microsoft would line up for more criticism with a hardware requirement for the AI features it pushes so hard and may even have a shortcut from File Explorer Microsoft is working on Copilot and AI shortcuts within the Edge snipping tool It's hard to believe the company would integrate AI into all of its apps and services and then set a minimum requirement of having 16GB of RAM to use any of them There's a chance that certain AI features will be limited to systems with more memory Locally processing a video using AI can be resource-intensive so it would make sense to require certain specs But calling up Copilot shouldn't take 16GB of RAM Microsoft may recommend 16GB of RAM to use AI features while still supporting systems with lower specs Minimum requirements and recommend specs usually have a wide gap between them so it seems plausible that Microsoft will have two sets of specs SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM: Please consider donating to keep our website running and free for all - thank you In a year that has been marked by historic events in Spain Princess Leonor travelled to Portugal for her first solo official trip overseas She departed the State Pavilion of the Adolfo Suárez-Madrid Barajas International Airport during which the princess was given military honours and briefly reviewed troops before her and her entourage (which included staff from the Royal Household among which there were military and protocol officials as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs) boarded the State Place where she was welcomed by Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa Alongside the President were also the Spanish ambassador to Portugal and the Portuguese Presidency’s Chief of Protocol Following a military salute and a greeting of the respective delegations Princess Leonor jumped in a car that took her to one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites: the Monastery of Jerónimos of Santa María de Belém she was welcomed by its Director and the Prior who led her through a guard of honour to the Basilica where she offered a floral tribute at the tomb of poet Luis de Camões she was given a brief tour of the Monastery before sitting down to sign the guest book Princess Leonor was then driven to Belém Palace where she received the official welcome from President Rebelo de Sousa the official welcome ceremony included the playing of both national anthems which was followed by one of the day’s most significant moments as President Rebelo de Sousa bestowed the heir to the Spanish throne with the Grand Cross of the Military Order of Christ the second most important order in Portugal the two delegations sat down for a closed door meeting which was offered by the Portuguese President both the President and the princess gave speeches Princess Leonor remarked on the importance of Portugal as her destination this beloved country was the first destination of my parents as King and Queen of Spain so I can’t deny how special it is for me as well being here today” adding that she was grateful for the warm reception that she was given upon her arrival in the country The last stop of the day was Lisbon’s Oceanário accompanied by Spanish and Portuguese authorities as well as top officials from the facility and scientists before sitting down for a roundtable discussion titled “Defence of the Ocean” during which topics such as the scientific expeditions and economic policies to safeguarding the biggest bodies of water on the planet were tacked the princess was heard using her English skills to pose a question before signing the guest book and greeting the many people who were congregated in the hall of Europe’s biggest indoor aquarium and Princess Leonor was accompanied back to the Lisbon Airport by President Rebelo de Sousa Official trips are the highest form of visit that can be undertaken by officials that are not Heads of State so everyone’s eyes were on Princess Leonor on Friday a red bag and ruby earrings which she borrowed from Queen Letizia.  Many have pointed out the similarities between her choice and many of her mother’s outfits in the past and the choice of colour was definitely not a coincidence given that red is the most prominent colour that the Spanish and Portuguese flags have in common.  who finished her first year of military training last week is not yet on holiday; the Royal Household’s agenda shows her taking part in the graduation ceremony of the Naval Academy next Tuesday – another sign of her growing role within the family but also a taste of what’s to come for her as she will be expected to report there in mid-August to begin her second year in the Armed Forces Read receipts will bring Skype more in line with its competitors Read receipts let you see who's seen your messages at a glance their avatar appears beneath it in Skype chats enabling you to see how far someone has read in the conversation without tapping on every message the feature works in one-on-one conversations and in group chats with up to 20 people the people you're chatting with will also need to be running the latest Skype Preview build as well for those who are uncomfortable with sending read receipts you can disable the feature from the "Privacy" section of the settings menu Read receipts will also be disabled if you've set your status to "Invisible." the feature is available in preview build 8.26.76 across Android we should see the feature roll out to everyone soon Luxembourg has a new royal baby as Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie welcomed their second child The Grand Ducal Court announced that the new royal was named Francois Henri Luis Marie Guillaume The Grand Ducal Family has not used Francois as a first name which is the Papal name of the current Pope and the Grand Ducal Family are staunch Catholics a middle name to Prince Robert – a paternal first cousin to Grand Duke Henri His middle name Henri honours his paternal grandfather Grand Duke Henri; Luis is one of his paternal uncles while Marie and Guillaume are traditional names that every Luxembourg royal baby has in some form Marie was also the middle name of his maternal grandfather His full title is His Royal Highness Prince Francois of Luxembourg, and he is third in the Luxembourg line of succession Prince Francois was born at 10.04 am on 27 March in Luxembourg’s Grand Duchess Charlotte Maternity Hospital Here's a rundown of all the companies that have decided not to attend a new company announces it's pulling out of the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco due to health concerns surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) It makes sense since the outbreak is hitting the tech industry at large and gaming has seen delays and esports league cancelations one of the biggest events for gaming each year here's what we know and which companies have dropped out: Related: Coronavirus: How COVID-19 shut down the tech industry The conference is still set to take place from March 16-20 in San Francisco The team notes that it is working to provide a safe environment for attendees and will be following guidelines from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) The San Francisco Travel Association sent a letter to GDC attendees on Tuesday following the state of emergency news to reiterate that "the risk to the general public is low" and that people who are sick to stay home It's also worth noting that it's also working with several federal organizations and the Moscone Center on providing updated information The U.S. said on Tuesday that an outbreak is "inevitable." and Activision Blizzard also pulled out of GDC SDx Central, 32-38 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FHEmail. [email protected]SDx Central is a subsidiary of InfraXmedia Microsoft's next major update of Windows 10 (version 1803) is expected to arrive on April 30 but it doesn't mean your PC will get it immediately Here's how the rollout will happen and who is getting it first Windows 10 also continues the gradual implementation of Fluent Design a new version of Microsoft Edge gets introduced Related: Our in-depth Windows 10 April 2018 Update review etc.) that came pre-installed with Windows 10 Microsoft will be collecting telemetry data Then based on that data the rollout of version 1803 will expand to other devices Microsoft is known to put a block on devices that have been identified to experience problems with new updates and the restriction will stay in place until the company can ensure that the issue has been resolved It's always recommended to wait until the new version is available to you automatically If your device meets the minimum hardware and software requirements you can use the Update Assistant tool to skip the queue and install version 1803 The Microsoft's Update Assistant is just an installer that allows you to force the update on a compatible system when Windows Update isn't working correctly even if the update mechanism on Windows 10 is working correctly you can use the Media Creation Tool to upgrade your computer without waiting for Windows Update to offer the new version automatically it's possible to install the Windows 10 April Update preserving your files Although the Windows 10 April Update development is now complete and ready for deployment it doesn't mean that it's compatible with every device and it's one of the reasons feature updates usually roll out in phases and for the first several months they aren't considered ready for widespread use in organizations hundreds of thousands of devices will start getting version 1803 automatically If you're want to jump into the new version as soon as it's available and if your device isn't getting the update and answers to common questions about Windows 10 He also has an IT background and has achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft He has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years.