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Category: Faith & Family

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  • CMS Parents and Teachers Deserve Better

    CMS Parents and Teachers Deserve Better

    Opinion – Addul Ali

    My children are successful graduates of East Mecklenburg High School. I have seen firsthand what Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools can accomplish when dedicated teachers, engaged parents and hardworking students come together.

    That is why the latest leadership crisis at CMS deserves serious attention.

    On September 22, the CMS Board of Education voted 5–4 to terminate Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill for convenience, following an expensive outside investigation.

    The investigation reportedly cost at least $379,000, while Hill’s contractual severance is approximately $340,770. Together, those expenses total roughly $720,000, with the final cost potentially higher.

    That is a substantial amount of public money, and taxpayers deserve a complete accounting of how it was spent.

    One-Party Control and Accountability

    All nine CMS board members are Democrats.

    The five members who supported termination should explain their decision, including how they weighed the investigation’s findings, the financial consequences and the district’s need for stable leadership.

    The four members who opposed termination should also have their concerns reflected in the public record.

    Our Teachers Deserve Better

    The people who should not bear the burden of this controversy are CMS teachers.

    My children graduated from East Mecklenburg High School because they had educators who challenged them, supported them and prepared them for life beyond the classroom.

    Those teachers represent what is valuable about CMS.

    Across Mecklenburg County, educators continue showing up for students while district leadership faces uncertainty. Their work should not be overshadowed by administrative controversies.

    The Board Owes Families Answers

    The board should release a complete accounting of the investigation and separation costs, explain the basis for its decision within applicable personnel confidentiality rules, and establish a transparent process for selecting the next superintendent.

    It should also explain what steps it will take to prevent another costly leadership disruption.

    CMS families deserve stable leadership, responsible stewardship of public funds and a school system focused on student achievement.

    My family’s experience proves that CMS can deliver meaningful educational opportunities. I want every child in Mecklenburg County to have the same chance to succeed.

    Our teachers are doing their jobs. The school board must demonstrate that it is doing its job, too.

    Addul Ali is a Charlotte-area parent whose children graduated from East Mecklenburg High School.

  • Tri-Hamlet Community Health Alliance Launches With Senior Farmers Market in Mastic Beach

    Tri-Hamlet Community Health Alliance Launches With Senior Farmers Market in Mastic Beach

    MASTIC BEACH, NY — A new community health organization serving the Mastic, Moriches and Shirley area is launching with a focus on connecting residents to critical resources and reducing barriers to healthier lives.

    The Tri-Hamlet Community Health Alliance, or CHA, will make its public debut at a free farmers market and information fair for senior citizens on September 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the St. Jude’s Catholic Church parking lot, 89 Overlook Drive in Mastic Beach.

    The event is being hosted by the Town of Brookhaven and Long Island Cares and will offer fresh produce along with information about health and community services available to Town of Brookhaven senior residents.

    For CHA Chairman William Doyle, the farmers market provides a natural setting to introduce the new organization and its mission.

    “This farmers market is a vital opportunity for organizations to come together to offer resources for seniors in need. This event, hosted by the Town of Brookhaven and Long Island Cares, is an ideal initiative to launch the Tri-Hamlet Community Health Alliance. The new organization is partnership of the William Floyd School District, the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library and the Suffolk County Department of Health Services that seeks to enhance the health of those in our area.”

    The Tri-Hamlet Community Health Alliance is a collaborative partnership involving the William Floyd School District, Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library and Suffolk County Department of Health Services. Its broader network is intended to bring schools, government agencies, nonprofits, health and human services providers and community members together around local health needs.

    Doyle said the organization is designed to help residents navigate the resources already available throughout the community.

    “The Tri-Hamlet Community Health Alliance is a new, collaborative partnership aimed at identifying the needs of residents and connecting them with resources to improve and enhance the health of those in the community. Members of the organization aim to achieve these efforts through education, outreach, collaboration and volunteerism. The goal of the Tri-Hamlet Community Health Alliance is to bridge the gap between those in need and available support, fostering a healthier community.”

    CHA plans to serve residents of all ages while focusing on areas where access to support can be difficult. Among the issues the Alliance expects to address are food access, substance use disorders and housing, while also identifying gaps in existing services and looking for ways to strengthen what is already available locally.

    The organization describes its guiding objectives as the “Three C’s” — Communication, Collaboration and Cooperation.

    At the September 30 event, CHA will participate alongside the Town of Brookhaven Senior Department, Suffolk County Department of Health Services and Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library.

    For more information about the farmers market, residents can contact Harrison Smith at Long Island Cares at 631-582-FOOD (3663), ext. 120, or Hsmith@licares.org.

  • GETLABS BRINGS MOBILE BLOOD DRAWS TO CHARLOTTE-AREA PATIENTS

    GETLABS BRINGS MOBILE BLOOD DRAWS TO CHARLOTTE-AREA PATIENTS

    A healthcare service that brings blood draws directly to patients is now available across the Charlotte area.

    Getlabs⁠ provides mobile phlebotomy, allowing patients to schedule a trained phlebotomist to come to their home or office rather than traveling to a traditional laboratory collection site. The company’s North Carolina service directory now specifically lists Charlotte, along with surrounding communities including Concord, Cornelius, Davidson, Belmont and Gastonia. 

    The process is relatively straightforward. Patients schedule a visit, a Getlabs specialist comes to them to collect the sample, and the specimen is transported to a laboratory such as Labcorp or Quest for testing. Patients can provide an existing lab order or have Getlabs obtain the order from their doctor’s office. 

    An important distinction: Getlabs itself is not a laboratory. The company handles collection and transportation of specimens, while laboratory partners perform the actual testing and provide results. 

    The Charlotte expansion is part of a broader shift toward bringing more routine healthcare services into patients’ homes. Getlabs says healthcare organizations can also use its platform for services beyond blood draws, including collection of other diagnostic samples and, depending on the region and partnership, services such as vitals checks and other diagnostic procedures. 

    The company, founded in 2018, says its goal is to reduce barriers that can cause patients to delay or skip diagnostic testing. Its current service map shows Getlabs operating across numerous states, including North Carolina. 

    For Charlotte-area patients, the concept is simple: instead of going to the lab for a routine blood draw, the blood draw can now come to you.

  • CHILD KILLED AFTER GUNFIRE STRIKES NORTHWEST CHARLOTTE HOMES

    CHILD KILLED AFTER GUNFIRE STRIKES NORTHWEST CHARLOTTE HOMES

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A child is dead and an adult was injured after gunfire struck multiple homes in northwest Charlotte early Sunday morning, according to information attributed to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police.

    The shooting happened around 3 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, on Glassy Patch Lane. Officers responding to a 911 call found that several homes had been struck by gunfire and two people had been shot.

    One victim, identified by police only as a juvenile, suffered life-threatening injuries. An adult victim suffered injuries described as non-life-threatening. Both were transported to a hospital, where the juvenile was pronounced dead at 7:18 a.m., according to the initial report.

    Police had not publicly identified either victim as of midday Sunday. No suspect was reported in custody, and investigators had not publicly disclosed what led to the shooting or whether a particular home or person was targeted.

    The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is investigating the child’s death as a homicide.

    The shooting comes just weeks after another northwest Charlotte home was struck by gunfire. In that Sept. 2 incident on Grass Ridge Drive, a 49-year-old woman was seriously injured while seven people—including an 11-year-old child—were inside the residence. No connection between the two incidents has been established.

    CMPD’s public newsroom had not yet posted a detailed release on Sunday’s Glassy Patch Lane homicide when AUXIO reviewed it. That means important questions—including the child’s identity, the circumstances surrounding the gunfire and potential suspects—remain unanswered.

    Anyone with information can contact CMPD’s Homicide Unit at 704-432-8477 (TIPS) or submit information anonymously through the P3 Tips app.

    This is a developing story. AUXIO will update it as CMPD releases additional verified information.

  • THE MEDIA’S GREATEST PROTECTION ISN’T WHITE HOUSE ACCESS — IT’S THE TRUTH

    THE MEDIA’S GREATEST PROTECTION ISN’T WHITE HOUSE ACCESS — IT’S THE TRUTH

    OPINION | ADDUL ALI

    President Donald Trump’s decision to remove certain news organizations from White House access has reignited the familiar debate over freedom of the press.

    That debate matters. A free press must be able to question those in power, regardless of which political party controls the White House.

    But there is another side of this conversation that deserves attention: the press has a responsibility to earn the public’s trust.

    For years, Americans have watched the line between journalism and political commentary become increasingly difficult to see. Too often, people can predict how a story will be framed simply by knowing which network or outlet is reporting it.

    That isn’t healthy for journalism, and it isn’t healthy for the country.

    The answer isn’t for government to become the referee of truth. Presidents and politicians shouldn’t get to decide which facts Americans are permitted to hear simply because they dislike the coverage.

    The answer is for journalism to become better.

    At AUXIO.TV, that means going back to basics.

    When possible, we go directly to the documents. We read the legislation. We examine court filings, government reports, police statements, election records and other primary sources. When someone makes an allegation, we identify it as an allegation. When someone disputes it, we tell you that too.

    And when the evidence doesn’t prove something, we should say so.

    That’s not glamorous journalism. It doesn’t always produce the most sensational headline. But it is how credibility is built.

    I don’t believe our job is to tell you what to think. Our job is to give you enough verified information to decide for yourself.

    That principle becomes even more important when journalists are covering Donald Trump—or any president. Supporting a president shouldn’t require ignoring legitimate questions about his administration. Opposing a president shouldn’t become permission to stretch facts to fit a narrative.

    The standard should remain the same regardless of who occupies the White House.

    The current fight will generate legitimate arguments about press access and presidential authority. But it should also remind journalists of something fundamental:

    A free press deserves protection. A credible press has to earn trust.

    At AUXIO.TV, our goal is straightforward: follow the evidence, report what we can verify, and let you decide what it means.

  • WAKE PARENTS THREATEN LAWSUIT OVER TRANSGENDER TEACHER DISPUTE

    WAKE PARENTS THREATEN LAWSUIT OVER TRANSGENDER TEACHER DISPUTE

    WAKE COUNTY, N.C. – A dispute involving a transgender music teacher at Middle Creek Elementary School could be headed to court.

    The Thomas More Society says it sent Wake County Public School System a demand letter September 15 on behalf of parents seeking religious accommodations for their children. The group says the parents are not demanding that the teacher be fired. (Thomas More Society)

    The parents are asking the district to allow their children to opt out of classes taught by the teacher, protect students from discipline over pronoun or courtesy-title use, provide advance notice and opt-outs for discussions involving gender identity or sexuality, and address their concerns involving bathrooms and similar spaces.

    According to the parents’ attorneys, music is a required weekly class and families were told that keeping children out would result in unexcused absences. Those assertions come from the parents and their attorneys and have not been established by a court.

    North Carolina law separately prohibits gender identity, sexual activity or sexuality from being included in curriculum for kindergarten through fourth grade, while specifically excluding responses to student-initiated questions from that restriction.

    The Thomas More Society gave Wake County schools 15 days to provide written assurances addressing the parents’ demands or potentially face litigation.

    AUXIO.TV will continue following the district’s response and any resulting court action.

  • LEADERSHIP CRISIS AT CMS?

    LEADERSHIP CRISIS AT CMS?

    CHARLOTTE, N.C.– Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is confronting what could become a significant leadership crisis as multiple senior administrators head for the exits and members of the Board of Education challenge the leadership of Chair Stephanie Sneed.

    The turnover reaches some of the district’s most important executive positions.

    Deputy Superintendent Dr. Melissa Balknight, Chief Financial Officer Kelly Kluttz and Chief Operations Officer Tim Ivey have announced plans to retire, while Chief Human Resources Officer Angela Wood has resigned.

    Those positions touch nearly every major part of CMS operations, from academics and staffing to finances and facilities.

    The departures also come after months of instability surrounding the district’s top leadership.

    Earlier this year, Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill was placed on paid administrative leave while an outside investigation examined administrative and operational matters. Hill subsequently returned to lead the district.

    Now the Board of Education itself is facing a leadership dispute.

    Board members Cynthia Stone, Lenora Shipp and Monty Witherspoon have called for consideration of removing Stephanie Sneed as board chair, arguing that a change in leadership would be in the interests of the board, district and community.

    Sneed has pushed back, alleging that she has been subjected to targeting, bullying, discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Those are Sneed’s allegations and have not been established as findings of fact.

    Sneed currently remains chair and the elected District 4 representative. Removing her as chair would not by itself remove her from her elected seat.

    The developments create an unusual convergence for CMS: turnover among senior administrators, recent uncertainty surrounding the superintendent and an internal dispute over who should lead the school board.

    The timing is particularly notable because CMS entered the new school year publicly emphasizing stability and academic progress. The district recently reported gains across every tested content area for the 2025-26 school year.

    That makes the central question facing CMS increasingly difficult to ignore:

    Is the district experiencing routine executive turnover, or a broader leadership crisis?

    The number and seniority of the departures make the question legitimate.

    The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education’s next regular meeting is scheduled for September 22, putting additional attention on how board members address the leadership dispute and the district’s growing list of vacancies.

    For CMS families, employees and taxpayers, the next question may be less about any individual departure and more about whether the district can maintain stable leadership while replacing several of the officials responsible for running one of North Carolina’s largest school systems.

    AUXIO.TV will continue reviewing official CMS records and statements as the district fills the vacancies and the Board of Education considers its own leadership.

  • Moms for America Action Targets High-Potency 7-OH Products

    Moms for America Action Targets High-Potency 7-OH Products

    WASHINGTON — Moms for America Action is joining the growing push for stronger safeguards around highly concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine, commonly known as 7-OH, while drawing a clear distinction between those products and natural kratom.

    In an August policy statement, the national organization said policymakers should preserve responsible adult access to natural kratom while strengthening oversight of high-potency 7-OH products. The group cited concerns about youth access, product potency, labeling and consumer safety. 

    The issue has also drawn federal action.

    The Food and Drug Administration says 7-OH occurs naturally in kratom only in trace amounts, but concentrated products containing added or enhanced levels of the substance are being marketed in forms including tablets, gummies, drink mixes and shots. FDA has warned consumers to avoid these products, describing them as potent opioid products that have not been proven safe or effective for any use. 

    In July, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced the start of a process to temporarily place 7-OH above a specified threshold and three related synthetic substances into Schedule I. DEA said its action does not target botanical kratom containing naturally occurring 7-OH below that threshold. 

    Moms for America Action says its preferred approach includes protecting natural kratom access for adults while supporting stronger manufacturing standards, accurate labeling, consumer education, youth protections and accountability for unsafe or misleading high-potency products. 

    The organization’s position puts it in the broader national debate over how regulators should address concentrated 7-OH without treating traditional botanical kratom and manufactured high-potency products as the same thing.

    Sources: Moms for America Action — Protect Natural Kratom. Protect American Families⁠ · FDA — 7-OH Consumer Warning⁠ · DEA — 7-OH Scheduling Action⁠

  • CRUTCHFIELD POINTS TO HUMAN-TRAFFICKING LAW AS PART OF HOUSE RECORD

    CRUTCHFIELD POINTS TO HUMAN-TRAFFICKING LAW AS PART OF HOUSE RECORD

    CABARRUS COUNTY, N.C. — Former NC House Rep Kevin Crutchfield is seeking to represent Cabarrus County in NC Senate District 34, and his legislative record includes a significant bipartisan measure targeting human trafficking.

    Crutchfield was a primary sponsor of House Bill 971, which became Session Law 2024-26 in June 2024. The legislation expanded North Carolina’s efforts to identify trafficking, protect victims and strengthen penalties associated with commercial sexual exploitation.

    The law directs the state to develop human-trafficking awareness training and requires certain hotel, lodging and vacation-rental workers to complete that training. Those employees can be in positions to recognize signs of trafficking that might otherwise remain hidden.

    The measure also increased the penalty for a first offense of soliciting prostitution, created a process allowing trafficking victims and alleged victims to seek confidentiality in criminal proceedings, expanded trafficking-awareness training through the Division of Social Services and protected certain housing records involving victims of human trafficking, domestic violence and sexual assault.

    Crutchfield’s original legislation focused specifically on trafficking awareness in lodging establishments. As the bill moved through the General Assembly, lawmakers expanded it into a broader package of human-trafficking reforms.

    The final legislation received broad bipartisan support. The House voted 114-0 to concur with the Senate version before the measure became law on June 28, 2024.

    Crutchfield is now running for North Carolina Senate District 34, giving voters a documented example of legislation he helped advance from proposal to state law.

    NORTH CAROLINA NEWS NOW — Presented by AUXIO.TV

  • Southampton Marks 25 Years Since September 11 With 343 Flags and a Community-Wide Moment of Remembrance

    Southampton Marks 25 Years Since September 11 With 343 Flags and a Community-Wide Moment of Remembrance

    Twenty-five years after the attacks of September 11, 2001, Southampton Town is again pausing to remember the lives lost, the first responders who answered the call and the generations that continue to carry the weight of that day.

    Earlier this week, staff from the Southampton Town Department of Public Safety and Emergency Management placed 343 flags on the lawn outside its Hampton Bays facility, one for each FDNY firefighter killed in the attack on the World Trade Center. 

    The Town said the display is intended to honor not only the firefighters who died that morning, but also the law-enforcement officers, civilians and others whose lives were lost or forever changed.

    Southampton officials noted that 63 law-enforcement officers and thousands of civilians were among those killed in the attacks, while many more people have since died or suffered from illnesses linked to exposure at Ground Zero and related sites. 

    Across Southampton Town and the surrounding region, fire departments are also expected to sound horns and sirens at key moments between 8:46 a.m. and 10:28 a.m., marking the times associated with the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, the crash of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and the collapse of the Twin Towers. 

    The anniversary carries particular weight on Long Island, where many families lost loved ones on September 11 and where thousands of police officers, firefighters, construction workers and other responders participated in the rescue, recovery and cleanup.

    Suffolk County is also holding a commemorative ceremony Friday at noon, led by County Executive Ed Romaine, that will include a reading of the names of Suffolk County residents who were lost. 

    For many residents, the 25th anniversary is not simply a historical milestone.

    It is a reminder of neighbors who never came home, first responders who ran toward danger, families who endured unimaginable loss and communities that came together in the days and months that followed.

    In Southampton, the 343 flags now standing in Hampton Bays offer a simple but powerful image of remembrance.

    Each represents a firefighter.

    Together, they represent something larger: sacrifice, service and a promise that the names and stories of those lost will not be forgotten.