Category: 3. Business

Published on December 31, 2025

In 2025, Charlotte made significant progress on the priorities shaping daily life for residents across the city. Through strategic investment, strong partnerships and community support, the city delivered results across its top priorities, including safety, mobility, jobs and affordable housing.

From record-setting economic growth to expanded housing opportunities, a historic transportation investment and continued reductions in violent crime, 2025 marked a year of momentum and measurable outcomes.

Safety

Charlotte made measurable progress on public safety in 2025, supported by sustained efforts to reduce crime and expanded collaboration among local, state, and federal partners. Overall crime declined 8% citywide, including a 20% reduction in violent offenses, reflecting continued focus on prevention, enforcement and accountability.

Building on this momentum, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department launched Operation Safe Season in December. The proactive, multi-agency public safety initiative is designed to increase police presence and enforcement during peak activity periods. The effort initially focuses on Uptown, with plans to expand to other areas experiencing repeated violence and criminal behavior. The initiative combines strategic visibility, strong partnerships and a commitment to strict accountability.

To tackle public perception while addressing areas of opportunity, CMPD recently launched the Entertainment District Unit (EDU) and the CROWN Culture Initiative. The EDU is a specialized, high-visibility proactive policing unit focused on making Uptown and South End nightlife safer. The CROWN Culture Initiative (otherwise known as Center City’s Restoration of Order, Wellness and Nonviolence) is a focused, high-impact effort through elevated police presence, strict enforcement and close collaboration with our community partners. The goal with both initiatives is to build public confidence, reduce crime and reinforce safe, livable streets.

In addition to these focused initiatives, the strategic deployment of Crime Reduction Units (CRUs) in the four patrol service areas is supporting long-term crime reduction. These units work tirelessly to identify and target high-crime areas, reducing victimization and creating a safer community. Prosecutors assigned to these areas continue prioritizing repeat offenders and serious crimes, reinforcing a coordinated approach to public safety.

Later in the year, CMPD welcomed a new chief, Chief Estella Patterson, who has a continued focus on filling vacancies and sustaining violent crime reduction efforts. The city enters the coming year building on positive momentum and a shared commitment to safe, thriving neighborhoods.

Mobility

Charlotte reached a milestone for transportation in 2025 as voters approved a sales tax referendum to expand transit and roadway improvements across the region. The vote marked the largest investment in public transportation and infrastructure in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County history.

The referendum is expected to generate an estimated $19.4 billion over 30 years to support expanded bus and rail service, improved roadways and enhanced multimodal access for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.

The city also launched its Strategic Investment Areas (SIA) program to accelerate local mobility improvements. Through a data-driven process, the city identified 22 Strategic Investment Areas where coordinated transportation projects can be delivered more efficiently and responsively to community needs.

Initial funding from a $55 million capital bond investment will support pilot improvements in the Far East-Harrisburg and Arrowood areas, including new sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, lighting and intersection enhancements designed to better connect residents with transit, schools, parks and neighborhood centers. The SIA approach lays the foundation for broader future investment across Charlotte as funding becomes available.

These investments will help improve access to jobs, reduce congestion and strengthen connections between neighborhoods as Charlotte continues to grow. Plan details and next steps can be found on the Meck Connect website. More information on the plan, including project details and next steps, is available on the Meck Connect website.

Jobs

Charlotte posted its strongest year for business recruitment in more than a decade, with 15 major project announcements supported by the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. Those projects are expected to deliver more than 3,880 new jobs and over $424 million in capital investment across the city.

Announcements spanned industries and neighborhoods, highlighting Charlotte’s growing competitiveness as a destination for global employers, corporate headquarters and high-growth startups. Business leaders consistently cited workforce talent, infrastructure and quality of life as key factors driving investment decisions.

Highlights for 2025 include:

Affordable Housing

Addressing housing affordability remained a top priority in 2025. The City of Charlotte increased investment in both new housing and preservation efforts to help residents remain in their communities

City Council approved more than $49 million through the Housing Trust Fund to support 1,548 housing units across the affordable housing continuum. This investment ensures a diverse range of options for our residents:

• 798 New Rental Units: Expanding the supply of affordable apartments.
• 222 Homeownership Units: Opening doors for first-time homebuyers.
• 418 Preserved Rental Units: Securing long-term affordability for existing homes.
• 110 Shelter Spaces: Providing critical support for those experiencing homelessness.

The city also advanced voluntary affordable housing commitments with private developers, integrating additional affordable homes into market-rate projects across Charlotte. Detailed data on housing investments, unit production and preservation is available through the City of Charlotte Housing Dashboard.

Looking Ahead

The progress made in 2025 reflects Charlotte’s commitment to delivering results while planning for long-term success. Investments in jobs, affordable housing, mobility, and safety continue to enhance opportunities and improve the quality of life for residents.

As the city looks ahead, the momentum from 2025 provides a strong foundation for continued growth and a more connected, resilient Charlotte.

Did you enjoy this read? Stay in the know by subscribing to our bi-weekly newsletter, City Speaks, for the latest news and updates.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, announced a hearing titled American Energy Dominance: Dawn of the New Nuclear Era.

“Nuclear energy provides affordable and reliable power to our grid while generating the largest portion of carbon free electricity in the United States,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Latta. “This hearing will offer a chance to discuss the current state of our nuclear industry, addressing the licensing and deployment of nuclear power while examining how the implementation of recent laws and policies can support the industry growth that will be vital to meeting our energy and security needs.”

Subcommittee on Energy hearing titled American Energy Dominance: Dawn of the New Nuclear Era

WHAT: Subcommittee on Energy hearing to discuss the licensing, deployment, and implementation of recently enacted federal laws and administration policies in nuclear energy.

DATE: Wednesday, January 7, 2026

TIME: 10:15 AM ET

LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building

This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at energycommerce.house.gov. If you have any questions concerning this hearing, please contact Calvin Huggins at Calvin.Huggins1@mail.house.gov. If you have any press-related questions, please contact Ben Mullany at Ben.Mullany@mail.house.gov.

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The province is cracking down on alcohol and drug-impaired driving with a series of reforms that will impact both first-time and repeat offenders.

Effective January 1, you will see:

1. Increased Roadside Licence Suspensions

• First offence: Suspensions increase from 3 to 7 days.
• Second offence: Suspensions increase from 7 to 14 days.
• Applies to young and novice drivers violating zero-tolerance, warn-range BAC (blood alcohol content) (0.05-0.079), or failing Standard Field Sobriety Testing.

2. Look Back Period

• A ‘look back period’ refers to the timeframe within which the number of previous alcohol and/or drug-related occurrences is considered when determining sanctions for a subsequent occurrence.
• The following look-back periods are being extended from five years to 10 years: this applies to all sanctions related to alcohol and/or drug-related occurrences, including Administrative Penalties, licence suspensions, ignition interlock requirements, and remedial programs.

4. Mandatory Remedial Education for First-Time Occurrences

• Drivers receiving their first roadside suspension for alcohol/drug-related occurrences must complete a remedial education program, delivered by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
• Second or subsequent suspensions require participation in a treatment program.
• These requirements will be reflected in the updated Notice of Suspension and the Inquiry Services System.

If you suspect someone is driving impaired, call 911.

National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation (National Fuel or the Company) has submitted its annual Purchased Gas Cost Filing as required by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC). The filing includes a projection of the cost of gas supplies that the Company expects to purchase and deliver to customers from Aug. 1, 2026, through July 31, 2027. For the period, National Fuel is projecting an increase in overall gas supply charges totaling approximately $71.49 per year. If approved as filed, the monthly bill of a typical residential customer with an annual usage of 98,400 cubic feet of gas would increase from $87.18 to $93.13 per month or by 6.83%, starting Aug. 1, 2026.

The primary reason for this forecasted increase in gas supply charges is that costs associated with the purchase and transmission of natural gas are projected to be higher than current rates. The New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) forecasts that natural gas prices next winter will be higher than the average prices for the twelve months ending November 30, 2025.

National Fuel is required by law to shop for the most reasonably priced gas and maintain an adequate supply for more than 214,000 Pennsylvania customers. As market prices fluctuate, National Fuel is required to pass those charges to customers without any markup or discount.

Customers are advised that this forecast is for prices to be experienced next winter (2026-2027) and must be thoroughly reviewed and approved by the PUC before becoming effective. Additionally, after approval, pricing will be adjusted on a quarterly basis to reflect any changes in the Company’s current projections and actual market prices at the time of the update.

LIHEAP

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP, is open. Eligibility for this federally funded program is based on income guidelines and household size. For example, a family of four with a gross monthly income of $48,225 may qualify for a grant. Funds are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. For additional information, visit www.LIHEAPhelps.com or contact 1-877-443-2743. Customers who are having trouble paying bills should call Customer Service at 1-800-365-3234 to discuss payment assistance programs.

As always, if you Smell Gas, Leave Fast: if a rotten-egg natural gas odor is present, leave the premises immediately and call National Fuel’s 24/7/365 emergency line at, 1-800-444-3130, from a different location. If you smell an odor of gas outdoors, leave the area immediately, call National Fuel’s emergency number and provide the address nearest to the site of the odor. To learn more about natural gas safety, visit www.nationalfuel.com/utility/gas-safety/.

National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation is the Utility segment of National Fuel Gas Company, a diversified energy company engaged in a number of natural gas-related activities. The Utility provides natural gas service for 2.2 million residents in Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania. For more information, visit www.nationalfuel.com.

Crash happened just before 3:30 a.m. in the 3700 Block of SW Military Drive

SAN ANTONIO – A man was detained on suspicion of driving while intoxicated early Wednesday following a two-vehicle crash on the Southwest Side, according to San Antonio police.

Officers responded just before 3:30 a.m. to the crash in the 3700 Block of SW Military Drive.

A 30-year-old woman was driving eastbound on the road, with the unidentified man traveling west. The woman attempted to turn onto Bynum Avenue when the man’s vehicle hit hers, police said in a preliminary report.

The woman was taken to the hospital for unspecified injuries. Officers detained the man on suspicion of DWI, police said. It is not immediately clear if he is facing charges.

SAPD’s investigation is ongoing.

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In a judgment handed down last week by Mr Justice Mellor, the UK Patents Court held that (1) Nokia’s challenge to the jurisdiction of the court to determine the terms of global licences in respect of certain video codec technologies on reasonable and non-discriminatory (RAND) terms has failed and (2) the applications by Acer and ASUSTeK (as well as Hisense, who were separately represented) (together, the Claimants) for declarations relating to interim RAND licences have succeeded.

This decision is a significant win for Morgan Lewis clients Acer and ASUSTeK. It is also the first time that the court has determined the scope of RAND undertakings given by standard essential patent (SEP) holders to ITU-T, the relevant standard setting organisation for video codec SEPs, and whether an SEP owner has the right to specify arbitration rather than court determination of RAND rates. Further details on the decision are set out below.

Acer and ASUSTeK are represented in the United Kingdom by Tim Powell and Hiroshi Sheraton, assisted by their team members Benjamin Rowlatt, Kristjan Bloudoff, Kulraj Singh Bhangra, Dania Al-Bayati, and Teal St. Nicklaus. Morgan Lewis is also representing Acer in parallel US International Trade Commission (ITC) proceedings in the United States, with a team led by partners Brent Hawkins and Stephanie Roberts and associate Zack Miller.

1. BACKGROUND

The Claimants had been each attempting to negotiate with Nokia on the terms of a RAND licence to Nokia’s portfolio of video codec patents, which were declared by Nokia to be essential to ITU-T standards under H.264 and H.265. Nokia brought numerous sets of proceedings around the world (including in the United States, the Unified Patent Court (UPC), Germany, Brazil, and India) seeking injunctions against the Claimants, but without any request for those courts to determine the terms of a RAND licence. As a defensive response, the Claimants each initiated proceedings in the United Kingdom, seeking inter alia the determinations and declarations of RAND terms for global interim and final licences.

2. NOKIA’S CHALLENGE TO JURISDICTION IS REJECTED

Nokia challenged the jurisdiction of the UK Patents Court to make the determinations and declarations sought by the Claimants. Ultimately, the court held that the orders granting each of Acer, Hisense, and ASUSTeK permission to serve their respective claims on Nokia outside of the jurisdiction had been correctly granted. In addition, the court found that the declaratory relief sought by the Claimants is available under Swiss law, and in the alternative, is also available as a matter of English procedural law.

The heart of Nokia’s jurisdiction challenge was two-fold: (1) an SEP owner that has declared its patents essential to the ITU-T under either the H.264 or H.265 standards is obliged to merely negotiate in good faith rather than offer a licence on RAND terms and (2) any obligation owed by Nokia to the Claimants is discharged by Nokia’s offers to settle the terms of a RAND licence through arbitration (termed Nokia’s “Adjustable Arbitration Offers”), which the Claimants do not consent to. Both of these points were rejected by the court.

Under Nokia’s interpretation of its ITU-T RAND obligations, Mr Justice Mellor stated that “the ITU-T system would be wholly unfit for purpose”. Agreeing with the Claimants, the court held that Nokia’s ITU-T RAND obligations created by way of its undertakings to the ITU-T are enforceable contracts under Swiss law. Importantly, these contracts were found to be for the benefit of third-party beneficiaries, which require Nokia to make RAND offers which are capable of acceptance and, when accepted, require Nokia to enter into the resulting RAND licence.

In refuting Nokia’s position in relation to Adjustable Arbitration Offers, the court held that they do not constitute an offer of a RAND licence that is capable of acceptance. Furthermore, the court observed that no arbitration agreement has been concluded between Nokia and any of the Claimants, and that if arbitration was an alternative forum to the English Court as a result of making an offer to arbitrate, it could almost always prevent the English Court from assuming jurisdiction.

3. INTERIM LICENCE DECLARATIONS SOUGHT BY THE CLAIMANTS ARE GRANTED

Following its findings on jurisdiction, the court held that the following two declarations that were sought by the Claimants should be made:

• A declaration that, in accordance with the contractual obligations on the part of Nokia and the undertakings given by the Claimants, a willing licensor and willing licensee would agree to enter into and actually enter into an interim licence pending a final determination of such terms as determined by the court
• A declaration of the terms of an interim licence

The court also found Nokia to be in breach of its ITU-T RAND commitment by making an interim licence offer that was conditional on Acer and ASUSTeK submitting to arbitration.

The court determined the terms of the interim licences that would be declared, including:

• There would be a sum payable by each of the Claimants to Nokia under their respective interim licences. This was for a total amount hallway between Nokia’s offer and the Claimants’ offers. It comprised a non-refundable amount of the sums the Claimants accepted should be paid and a refundable amount that could be adjusted up or down depending on the final RAND determination
• The interim licence would cover both decoding claims and claims which the Claimants contended were technically essential to the operation of the standards

4. WIDER RAMIFICATIONS

This dispute is one of a series of actions brought by SEP holders against implementers of video codec streaming technology. As such, the result is of wide interest to computer manufacturers and providers of streaming services. Nokia has indicated it intends to appeal this decision, but the case will now proceed to a full RAND rate setting trial next summer, where Acer and ASUSTeK will ask the court to settle the terms of a final global licence to Nokia’s video codec SEP portfolio.