Repair work begins on cracked Carowinds coaster + Sledgehammers used in local jewelry store heist

Andrew Nantais
·2 min read

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1. Carowinds begins work to remove cracked pillar from Fury 325 roller coaster

A person works on the Fury 325 roller coaster at Carowinds. A crack formed in one of the support pillars and the ride has been closed since Friday.
A person works on the Fury 325 roller coaster at Carowinds. A crack formed in one of the support pillars and the ride has been closed since Friday.

Work has begun at Carowinds to install a new support beam on Fury 325.

Last month, the amusement park situated on the border of North and South Carolina was alerted by a guest about a fracture in one of the support pillars. The park then shut down the ride down indefinitely.

Catherine Muccigrosso details the repair process.

2. Sledgehammers used in brazen lunchtime heist at Birkdale Village jewelry store

Police are searching for three masked robbers who held handguns and used sledgehammers in a noontime heist at Fink’s Jewelers in the Birkdale Village mixed-use community of Interstate 77 exit 25 in Huntersville on Lake Norman Tuesday, July 11, 2023.
Police are searching for three masked robbers who held handguns and used sledgehammers in a noontime heist at Fink’s Jewelers in the Birkdale Village mixed-use community of Interstate 77 exit 25 in Huntersville on Lake Norman Tuesday, July 11, 2023.

Police are searching for three masked individuals who robbed a jewelry store at Birkdale Village yesterday.

The three suspects used sledgehammers during the lunchtime heist and fled the scene before police arrived.

Joe Marusak has more on the robbery.

3. NoDa Y sale is symptom of bigger financial problems at Charlotte’s YMCA

The YMCA of Greater Charlotte announced that the Johnston branch in NoDa will close at the end of the year. They have talked for years of trying to renovate the building, but COVID hit the YMCA hard financially.
The YMCA of Greater Charlotte announced that the Johnston branch in NoDa will close at the end of the year. They have talked for years of trying to renovate the building, but COVID hit the YMCA hard financially.

At the end of this year, the Johnston YMCA in NoDa will close.

The YMCA of Greater Charlotte plans on selling the property after deeming renovation costs were too much amidst mounting financial losses. Money from the sale will help the YMCA, but not rescue the nonprofit entirely.

Jodie Valade reports on the financial issues the YMCA of Greater Charlotte faces.

4. These are the hottest zip codes for home buyers in Charlotte.

Home buying
Home buying

Ever wondered if your zip code is an attractive one for home buyers in Charlotte?

A new report shows which areas are the hottest on the housing market in the Queen City.

Evan Moore runs down everything you need to know.

5. Some more stories to read

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Drew Nantais is a Senior Growth & Engagement Producer for the Charlotte Observer.
Drew Nantais is a Senior Growth & Engagement Producer for the Charlotte Observer.

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