CMPD Chief Retiring Amid Controversy

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Johnny Jennings announced his retirement, effective Jan. 1, 2026, following a $305,000 separation agreement with the city of Charlotte, reached after tensions with former council member Tariq Bokhari and internal department disputes.

The agreement prompted a state audit and a police union’s announced no-confidence vote. It grants $25,000 for legal costs, a 5% raise, 40 vacation days, and a $45,699 bonus for staying through the leadership transition. Jennings will also receive $175,000 in severance upon retiring.

In 2024, Jennings drew criticism from some officers after he disapproved of their use of outer carrier vests due to their “military-style appearance” and lack of ballistic protection.

Bokhari argued that the vests can be equipped to conceal lightweight Level 3a plates for added protection. The officers said they preferred wearing the vests to help carry their equipment.

Lumbee Executive Order Sparks Debate

President Trump’s push to federally recognize North Carolina’s Lumbee Tribe has sparked controversy among Native American communities like the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, who argue the Lumbees lack sufficient historical and genealogical evidence to qualify for federal recognition.

Trump issued an executive order on Jan. 23, advancing the tribe’s 140-year quest for acknowledgment and benefits. The Interior Department has been tasked with exploring pathways beyond the traditional recognition process established in 1978, which Cherokee leaders warn could set a harmful precedent.

The Lumbee trace their roots back to 1725 and count about 55,000 members across North Carolina. It claims to be “the amalgamation of various Siouan, Algonquian, and Iroquoian speaking tribes.”

The Lumbee Act of 1956 declared that the tribe be “known and designated as Lumbee Indians of North Carolina,” but it denied them the federal rights and benefits granted to other tribes.

Map Shows Public Beach Access Points

A program within the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management has launched an interactive map that displays the location and amenities for more than 800 publicly funded beach and estuarine water access points along the state’s coast.

Users can access the map via mobile devices and computers. Its Find Sites Near Me tool pinpoints public access sites within 10 miles of a user’s location.

The site can also filter locations based on the type of access amenities available and change views via a gallery of basemaps.

The Public Beach and Coastal Waterfront Access Program, which created the map, awards about $1 million a year in matching grants to local governments for projects that improve pedestrian access to North Carolina’s beaches and waterways.

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➤ Charlotte attributes its loss of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) basketball tournaments to scheduling conflicts, as the city’s main venues were already booked for other events. (More)

➤ Richmond County: The North Carolina Supreme Court blocked a ruling allowing Richmond County Schools to pursue a $272,000 claim tied to traffic fees. The court will review whether legislative approval is needed, pausing all proceedings for now. (More)

➤ Clayton: Jones Cafe, which has been in business since 1958, made a list of America’s best hole-in-the-wall restaurants thanks to its classic diner food, regular customer base, and reputation as a “quintessential small town breakfast joint.” (More)

➤ Yancey County: The NuWray Hotel in Burnsville—North Carolina’s oldest continuously operating hotel—is reopening after serving as a community relief hub following Hurricane Helene. The hotel will host a Restoration Shindig on May 30-31. (More)

➤ Johnston County: A 21-year-old woman faces 11 charges after she led a high-speed multi-county chase reaching 115 mph that forced a motorcycle off the road and ended when she crashed into a patrol car during a rolling roadblock. (More)

➤ Asheville: Locals hope the rare “blue ghost” firefly viewing season, which continues through mid-June and is unique to the southern Appalachian Mountains, will help boost tourism across the city, which is still recovering from Hurricane Helene’s impact. (More)

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➤ Ross Chastain won the 2025 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway after passing William Byron with six laps remaining. Kyle Larson crashed out in both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600. (More)

➤ UNC took down Northwestern on Sunday to win the 2025 NCAA women’s lacrosse championship. The Tar Heels finished with a 22-0 record on the season. (More)

➤ Four North Carolina-based schools made the College World Series tournament cut—UNC as a No. 1 seed, NC State and Duke as No. 2 seeds, and East Carolina as a No. 3 seed. (More)

➤ The Carolina Hurricanes kept their Stanley Cup hopes alive on Monday night, defeating the Florida Panthers 3-0. Game 5 is set for Wednesday in Raleigh. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: MLB | NBA | WNBA | NHL | Soccer

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➤ Raleigh and Durham reached No. 2 and No. 4, respectively, in a ranking of southern innovation hubs thanks to their “talent density,” a concept based on 15 metrics that include employment, business environment, and education. (More)

➤ Norfolk Southern resumed rail service from Tennessee to Asheville with repairs from Hurricane Helene damage continuing on a 16-mile stretch between Grove Stone and Old Fort, including the historic Old Fort Loops. (More)

➤ Avelo Airlines is launching twice-weekly nonstop flights from Concord-Padgett Regional Airport to Long Island MacArthur Airport on a Boeing Next-Generation 737. Flights, priced as low as $49, will take off on Thursdays and Sundays. (More)

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➤ A tagged American oystercatcher known as AL has returned to the Outer Banks for at least her 21st year, surpassing the species’ average 17-year lifespan. The 2-foot tall shorebird is considered a “high priority” species. (See Photo)

➤ Meanwhile, an alligator at a Sunset Beach golf course was spotted with a soccer ball stuck in its mouth. Specialists were called to help remove the ball, but the alligator rolled in the water and dislodged it on its own, then swam away unharmed. (See Photo)

➤ Bodie Island Lighthouse offers evening climbs every Tuesday from May 27 to Aug. 26, with tours at 7:30, 8, 8:30, and 9:30 p.m. Tickets can only be purchased starting at 7 a.m. the day of the intended climb. (More)

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Should the Lumbee Tribe have full access to federal benefits?

1. Yes
2. No
3. I’ll ponder it

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever gotten stuck in a rip current?

1. No, hoping to avoid it: 55%
2. Yes, at least once: 29%
3. It’s highly possible: 16%

Which North Carolina lighthouse displays a diamond pattern?

Show me the answer