CMS reveals a billion-dollar budget with teacher raises, and COVID funds phasing out: Wednesday, March 29

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools interim superintendent revealed a $2.2 billion budget recommendation Tuesday night.This money is for the district's operating budget and is funded by both the state and county.This year, the district plans to ask the Mecklenburg County Commission for $38.9 million more than it did last year to fund its portion."We took a look and asked a general question and said to people, 'We don't want you to think about money right now, we will ask a simple question, what systems and initiatives do we need to put in place to ensure the achievement of our goals and guardrails?'" Crystal Hill, CMS interim superintendent, said. The school board restructured how it governs itself in the last few years. It has a set of measurable action items and goals surrounding things like student achievement and test scores. Those goals inform what decisions the board makes and how funding is prioritized.READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cms-billion-dollar-budget-recommendation-teacher-raises-covid-funds/275-4ff550e5-befa-4996-9196-9c5203d788a1Authorities have arrested the third and final suspect in a drive-by shooting from earlier this month in Statesville, police report.The United States Marshals Service, with the assistance of Carolina’s Regional Fugitive Task Force, took Javis Black, 22, into custody in Beckley, West Virginia, according to an update from the police department.Black, Tevin Seymour, and Dakota Michael Duke were all wanted for a March 15 shooting on Goldsboro Avenue. Within two days of the incident, authorities announced they had Seymour and Duke in custody. At the time, Black's whereabouts were unknown.Statesville Police said the three men fired into a home around 10 p.m. on March 15, hitting 19-year-old Zion Sincere Wilder and an unnamed 15-year-old in the head. Police said Wilder died at the scene and the 15-year-old remains in critical condition at the hospital.READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/us-marshals-arrest-final-suspect-deadly-statesville-drive-by/275-eec12d9d-458e-4dd9-8d01-ed387223cbbfWatch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!