Davidson’s Town Board on Tuesday will devote its monthly work session to a presentation and public hearing on the proposed financial plan for Red Line Regional Rail Project. The Red Line also is the topic of a Lake Norman Chamber Focus Friday issues session Friday morning in Cornelius. And also this week, there’s a MI-Connection board of directors meeting Thursday.

Meanwhile, a planned meeting of the Cornelius Rail Task Force that had been scheduled Thursday has been canceled. Read the full story

Rotary International announced at its assembly last week that it has exceeded its goal to raise $200 million for its End Polio Now campaign. And it did so more than five months before the official end of the challenge, which earned it another $50 Million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Also, The Rotary Club of North Mecklenburg plans its annual talent show and pancake breakfast to raise money for two nonprofits. Read below for details. Read the full story

A 26-year-old Charlotte woman who lost an arm after a boat backed over her during a party on Lake Norman in June has sued the boat’s operator, owner and manufacturer. Deondra Scott is seeking unspecified damages of more than $10,000 in the suit, which was filed this month at Mecklenburg Superior Court. Read the full story

The J.M. Alexander Middle School Future City team celebrated after winning the N.C. championship and qualifying for a trip to the national championship. (Rachel Stewart photo)

A team of eight graders from the J.M. Alexander Middle School IB program on Saturday won the North Carolina Future City Competition at N.C. State University in Raleigh. Their alternative-energy powered “future city” of Mahali Kuwa, South Africa, was judged tops among more than two dozen schools.

It was the fifth straight year a north Mecklenburg International Baccalaureate team won the competition, continuing a tradition that began when the IB program was housed at Davidson IB Middle School. Read the full story

Backers of the proposed Red Line Commuter Rail Project are seeking approval from area governments, saying all must be on board for the plan to work. But there’s another player in the background that determine whether the project goes forward: Norfolk Southern Corp., which owns the tracks north of Charlotte. And the Charlotte Business Journal reported Friday that Norfolk Southern officials have lots of questions about the project including whether commuter service is viable on the line.

LINK: Jan. 20, 2012, Charlotte Business Journal, “Norfolk Southern is not on board with Charlotte transit plan.” – Reporter Erik Spanberg reports on Norfolk Southern’s “broad range of concerns” and questions about the project.

By CHRISTINA RITCHIE ROGERS
DavidsonNews.net

Jeff Tarte

CORNELIUS – Cornelius Mayor Jeff Tarte said Thursday he will run for a seat in the N.C. Senate. His announcement follows months of buzz that he might seek the District 41 seat, a new district that includes North Mecklenburg as well as Matthews and Mint Hill southeast of Charlotte.

His announcement creates at least a two-way battle for the Republican nomination in the district: John Aneralla, a self-described conservative Republican from Huntersville, also has announced his candidacy. In 2010, he ran unsuccessfully for the District 40 seat now held by state Sen. Malcolm Graham. In a press release last week, Mr. Aneralla announced he already has endorsements from 35 state and local leaders, including some Cornelius Commissioners and School Board members. Read the full story

One boutique on Main Street in Davidson has shut its doors, while another is on the way. La-De-Daa’s on South Main Street closed last Saturday, Jan. 14. Pretty, A Beauty Boutique, is renovating a space next to the Soda Shop. Also, other business comings and goings around the area, including news about the Paddy’s Pour House in Cornelius, new coffee at Ben & Jerry’s and more. Read the full story

The head of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce said this week the chamber supports the idea of a rail line north of Charlotte, though current plans to pay for the line require “proper analysis.” Chamber members will get a closer look at the $452 million Red Line Regional Rail Project during the next Focus Friday issues session on Jan 27.

Read the full story