Good morning, Huntersville.

Candidates for Schools District 1 shared their top priorities ahead of early voting at Cornelius Town Hall on Thursday, October 23 — emphasizing teacher recruitment, competitive pay, and clear communication.

Melissa Easley highlighted support for educators while Bill Fountain and Charlitta Hatch focused on merit-based accountability and family engagement to boost student success in the region.

NC students can apply for free to most public universities and some private schools during College Application Week, which ends Sunday at 5 p.m. (applications are submitted via CFNC.org).

Discovery Place Kids in Huntersville began a week-long celebration on Oct.

21 for its 15th anniversary with a DIY slime bar and will host a birthday bash on Oct. 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.—featuring a science show, party hats, a dance party, photo ops, and complimentary treats for families. The museum has welcomed 2.4 million visitors since opening in Oct. 2010 and remains a local favorite for school field trips and family outings.

On Tuesday night, Mecklenburg County Commissioners discussed the future of the historic Excelsior Club as two developers proposed tearing it down and rebuilding it, each asking for $1.5 million+ from the city and county.

The Charlotte City Council will vote on the proposals next week.

Federal flood insurance policies have halted because of the ongoing government shutdown—homeowners in Huntersville may face delays in renewing their coverage until government operations resume.

Charlotte FC will face fifth ranked New York City FC at Bank of America Stadium in a playoff series with tickets on sale soon.

The best-of-three series will begin Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 6:45 p.m.—the second game is scheduled in New York on Nov. 1 and a final match will be held in Charlotte on Nov. 6 if needed—following a strong finish by Charlotte this season.