'Respiratory illnesses' close 2 North Carolina schools: Wednesday, Oct. 26

Two schools in Stanly County will be closed the rest of the week due to an increase in respiratory illnesses, administrators said. Richard DeVayne joins Wake Up Charlotte To Go with the latest update on why district leaders felt it was necessary to keep students home and how they plan to use the next few days to keep everyone healthy. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools announced it won't defy North Carolina state law by starting the school year early and the decision has board members divided. Tradesha Woodard breaks down why some education officials want to get a head start on learning, what CMS wants to hear from parents and how families can impact the new school year calendar. Plus, it might sound like a Halloween attraction, but so-called "ghost forests" and popping up all over North Carolina. Scientists say the state's beautiful coastal communities and wetlands are turning gray due to rising sea levels brought on by climate change. Sarah French connects the dots on how this could have a lasting, drastic impact on North Carolina's wildlife moving forward. Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte and join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!