The Charlotte Observer laid off eight newsroom staff Thursday — about a quarter of the room — and according to the Associated Press, the cuts took the only two investigative reporters the paper had. It's part of a McClatchy purge of more than 90 unionized journalists across 17 papers. Queen City Nerve folded last month. Charlotte Magazine closed last year. All of it lands in a week when the school board is sitting on an unreleased investigation, a city task force met twice before Council knew it existed, and a $70 million penalty goes to a vote in eleven days. Plus: three board members move to remove CMS chair Stephanie Sneed, Blumenthal pauses the Charlotte International Arts Festival over money, and the Panthers open at home tomorrow.

CLT Daily — Charlotte's independent daily briefing. New episodes every morning. cltdaily.com

Sources this episode: The Charlotte Ledger, Associated Press, WFAE, WSOC

CLT Daily is written, hosted and produced by Steve Bouboulis, an independent journalist covering the Queen City. Got a tip, a document, or a story the city isn't telling? Reach him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevebouboulis/

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Charlotte's immigration court ordered 18,286 people removed between January and August — nearly 90% of every case it completed, up from about half two years ago. But the number nobody put beside it: the court handled fewer cases this year, not more. This isn't a court moving faster. It's a court reaching a different outcome. Plus: three CMS cabinet officers head for the door after the summer's leadership turmoil, the I-77 toll vote comes down to who shows up on September 23rd, and your weekend — three food festivals and a field of 2,977 flags uptown.

CLT Daily — Charlotte's independent daily briefing. New episodes every morning. cltdaily.com

Sources this episode: WFAE, WSOC, WCCB, WBTV, Axios Charlotte, U.S. Executive Office for Immigration Review

CLT Daily is written, hosted and produced by Steve Bouboulis, an independent journalist covering the Queen City. Got a tip, a document, or a story the city isn't telling? Reach him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevebouboulis/

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A new state audit finds North Carolina Education Lottery ticket sales jumped 51% in two years — from $4.3 billion to $6.6 billion — while the money transferred to public schools stayed roughly flat at about $1 billion a year. As a share of revenue, education's cut slid from 23% to 20% to 16%, against a statutory target of 38%. The cause is one product: digital instant games went from zero sales to $2.6 billion, about 40% of everything the lottery sells, and they pay out roughly 87%, which compresses the profit schools depend on. Lottery CEO Mark Michalko says the 38% target predates digital gaming and should be reconsidered. State Auditor Dave Boliek's question is whether anyone has decided what the lottery is meant to optimize. Also: Charlotte Water is keeping Stage 2 restrictions despite the rain, and here's what that means for your yard. Police have charged a man in Wednesday's shooting of a CMPD officer, who is expected to recover. Plus your weekend — the 9/11 anniversary, the Yiasou Greek Festival, and the Panthers' home opener.

CLT Daily is written, hosted and produced by Steve Bouboulis, an independent journalist covering the Queen City. Got a tip, a document, or a story the city isn't telling? Reach him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevebouboulis/

CLT Daily — Charlotte's independent daily briefing. New episodes every morning. cltdaily.com

Sources this episode: Office of the State Auditor, WFAE, NC Newsline, WBTV, WCCB, Axios Charlotte

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.