Ely Portillo

@CLTAirport and airlines, including @AmericanAir, have agreed to extend negotiations on a new long-term operating agreement for up to a year beyond the current June 2026 expiration. Current terms remain in place, with no expected impact to travelers, airport says.

The view from some state lawmakers: We’ll take Charlotte’s $700 million. And we may try to recover the sunk costs while we are at it too.

The #ncga House has approved two constitutional amendments on taxes to put on the November ballot with help from two legislators who recently left the Democratic Party: wunc.org/politics/2026-… #ncpol

Random lobbying tidbit: The city of Charlotte has 11(!) registered lobbyists representing its interests at the #ncga. #ncpol

NCDOT has released all six designs to reconnect west Charlotte. But NCDOT stresses they are dependent on widening I-77 to 10 lanes with tolls. "If support for the P3 were rescinded ... concepts released today would also not move forward." No cost estimates.

North Carolina Department of Transportation Secretary Daniel Johnson warned Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles that if local leaders withdraw support for the Interstate 77 toll lane project, the state would be required to remove it from a long transportation plan. buff.ly/NqDeMM5

Which city grew faster last year than any other city with more than 500,000 people? Charlotte. It's on the verge of crossing the one-million mark, joining a club with only 12 other members. wsj.com/us-news/americ…

On Friday, NC has a budget framework, the fallout from Vi Lyles' resignation, and Charlotte City Council withdraws its support for the I-77 toll lane project. That and more with @farrellj329, @pitkin_ryan, @alexsands_, and @Bentnews at 9am on @WFAE. wfae.org/show/charlotte… .

The CRTPO representative for the town of Cornelius is signaling the town will join Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and Matthews in voting to rescind support of the I-77 toll lane project. That’s a majority of votes on the CRTPO. That means the project can be pulled if this item is placed on an agenda. If a member tries to take action on an item not on the agenda, a supermajority is required. The I-77 project is not on next week’s agenda wsoctv.com/news/local/cha…

This is canceled.

🚨 Charlotte City Council has called a special meeting for tomorrow at 1pm for an update on the I-77 South tolls project. There could be action.

Today’s presser isn’t a budget announcement, more a joint update that there have been “extremely productive” talks that could lead to a full budget. Berger: “This is a starting point, there's still a lot that will need to be decided and discussed between the two chambers.”

On I77, @leighaltman of Meck County and Matthews Mayor John Higdon say they will vote with Charlotte to rescind support for current toll lane project. That would give the no side 36 of 74 votes. One or two more local governments would to join for the project to be stopped.

With Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles set to resign next month, former Mayor Jennifer Roberts says she wants to serve as the city’s interim mayor. buff.ly/ebeWxlb

BREAKING: @CLTMayor announches she will resign from office June 30. Background here: x.com/i/status/20523…

Mayor Vi Lyles is resigning in June, a move we've been hearing rumblings about for a while now. #cltcc More here: wfae.org/politics/2026-…

BREAKING: there is increasing speculation that @ViLyles @CLTMayor will step down before her term ends in December 2027. wfae.org/politics/2026-…

2023: NC lawmakers exempt selves from public records law, including communications about redistricting 2025: Exempt athletes from having to disclose name, image, and likeness contracts 2026: Currently advancing bill to make payments to athletes private. theassemblync.com/news/culture/s…

Donald Gintzig, WakeMed’s president and CEO, says combination with Atrium is necessary to cope with “headwinds,” including rebuilding the system’s flagship New Bern Avenue hospital.

A Charlotte council committee had a rushed meeting yesterday on 77. NCDOT ran out of time to present. They ultimately decided to call another meeting dedicated to the project. Council members emphasized they may want to take some form of action then, too. axios.com/local/charlott…