Latest news with #Concord
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Concord mayor won't seek reelection. Two other candidates announce bids
Concord Mayor Bill Dusch told The Charlotte Observer Friday he will not seek reelection to the seat he has held since 2017. Dusch's seat will be up for grabs during Concord's municipal election on Nov. 4. Cities and Towns across North Carolina including Charlotte, Huntersville, Cornelius, Matthews and Kannapolis will host elections for mayor on the same day. 'I've been involved with the city for 36 years… and been mayor for eight years,' Dusch told the Observer. 'At the age of 72, I think it's time to look at my next endeavors in life.' During his time as mayor, Dusch said he was most proud of the city's economic development, recreational improvements and the new businesses that were drawn into the developing downtown. He said he hopes whoever becomes the next mayor continues to work closely with city staff including City Manager Lloyd Payne and City Attorney VaLerie Kolczynski. 'I would love for whoever replaces me to continue the efforts and have the good teamwork we have with our council and with our city staff,' Dusch said. 'We work well together. I want to continue that.' Former Cabarrus County Commissioner Steve Morris announced Friday morning he would run for the mayoral seat. Morris, a Republican, served on the commission for 12 years and acted as chair for a decade. Morris has lived in Concord for over 40 years, he said.'I'm just extremely encouraged and excited about the future, both for me and for the city of Concord,' Morris told the Observer. Morris lost his bid for reelection to the commission in 2024, receiving 160 fewer votes than Commissioner Larry Pittman. In May, Commissioners Kenny Wortman and Lynn Shue both told The Observer they wanted Morris to fill a vacant seat on the commission. Ultimately the seat was filled by Jeff Jones. Wortman and Shue tend to vote opposite Pittman. Morris said in a news release his vision for the city includes improving transportation, expanding housing options and ensuring public safety. 'My top priority is something we don't talk about enough: a government that works,' Morris wrote. Concord City Councilwoman Lori Clay also announced she would run for the seat at a news conference Friday afternoon. If she won, Clay would be the first female mayor of Concord. 'It will be very historic for Concord to have a woman mayor. We have never had one. We've only ever had one other woman mayoral candidate,' Clay told the Observer. 'It's time for old Concord.' Clay, a Republican, took office in 2023 and is set to serve a four-year term on the council. Clay told the Observer her priorities if elected are managing growth, helping small businesses and being fiscally conservative. 'My sole focus is, and always will be, the citizens of the city,' she said.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Bungie's Marathon delayed, no new release date announced
Image via Bungie Marathon is one of the most anticipated extraction games announced by Bungie. The game was set to release in September 2025, but just 3 months before the date, developers delayed the release. Bungie cited that they need some additional development time to address critical feedback from the recent Alpha testing. There is no new release date yet announced by the developers; Bungie plans to share updates later this year. The developer cited the need for additional development time to address critical feedback from recent alpha tests. Let's look deep into what reasons made the game delayed and focus on areas of development from Bungie. Reasons for the delay and development focus areas of Marathon: Marathon | Gameplay Reveal Trailer The game was set to release in September 2025, but in the very last moment Bungie decided to delay it due to the following reasons: 1. Negative feedback from Alpha testing: After the recent May alpha testing of Marathon, testers criticized the game, stating a lack of tension and an underwhelming solo experience. These concerns made developers start redeveloping a few aspects of the game. 2. Plagiarism controversy There are multiple allegations against the development team addressing stolen artwork that came to light shortly after the alpha test. 3. Sony's live service reevaluation Following Concord's disappointing reception, Sony is scrutinizing all upcoming live-service titles, including Marathon. 4. Technical challenges faced by Bungie The team has encountered a few unexpected hurdles with the game's cross-play and progression systems, which require an additional polish. Development Focus Areas of Marathon: Here are the following focus areas of development stated by the developers: Upping the Survival Game More challenging and engaging AI encounters More rewarding runs, with new types of loot and dynamic events Making combat more tense and strategic Doubling down on the Marathon Universe Increased visual fidelity More narrative and environmental storytelling to discover and interact with A darker tone that delivers on the themes of the original trilogy Adding more social experiences A better player experience for solo/duos Prox chat, so social stories can come to life The news of the delay badly disappoints everyone from fans to the development team. But this shows the commitment of Bungie to deliver a polished experience. While there is no information yet on the new release date by Bungie, potentially the game
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Farmington man charged in connection with Concord homeless camp shooting
A Farmington man is in custody in connection with a shooting at a Concord homeless encampment earlier this month, police said. On Saturday, June 7, police and fire personnel responded to the area under the Water Street Bridge in downtown Concord to investigate a call reporting shots fired. According to police, a caller reported a male in the homeless camp under the Water Street Bridge had been shot by an unidentified male. The caller reported the shooter was accompanied by two people, a male and a female, and that all three individuals had fled the area following the shooting. Concord police and fire personnel responded and found a 30-year-old male with an apparent gunshot wound to his back. The victim was transported to Concord Hospital with serious and life-threatening injuries. A search of the area was conducted, with multiple people questioned, but no arrests were made at the time, police said. Concord detectives were called in and began a follow-up investigation. During the subsequent investigation, detectives collected evidence, interviewed witnesses, recovered surveillance footage and executed multiple search warrants. Concord Police said a suspect, Trenton McDonald, 28, of Farmington, was identified, and on June 13, Farmington Police with the help of the Strafford County SWAT team, the Belknap Regional Special Operations Group, and the United States Marshals Service, arrested McDonald in Farmington location on a Concord Police arrest warrant. McDonald was charged with armed robbery, first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault, reckless conduct, felonious use of a firearm, felon in possession of a dangerous weapon, armed career criminal, and criminal threatening with a firearm. McDonald was held at Merrimack County jail pending his arraignment Monday at Concord District Court. The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are expected, police said. Detectives ask that anyone with information regarding this incident contact Detective Evan Cristy at 603-225-8600. Anyone who has information relative to this incident and wishes to remain anonymous is asked to call the Concord Regional Crimeline at (603) 226-3100, or submit information online through the Crimeline website at: or text message TIP234 and your message to CRIMES (274637). Crimeline awards cash to anyone whose information leads to the arrest and indictment of criminals. All tips remain anonymous.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Science
- CTV News
Edmonton keeping eye out for ‘relentless killer' in tree canopy
In this Oct. 26, 2011 file photo, forester Jeff Wiegert, of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, removes emerald ash borer larvae from an ash tree at Esopus Bend Nature Preserve in Saugerties, N.Y. There are reports of a potential emerald ash borer beetle infestation in the Concord, N.H.-area. If the reports are confirmed, state officials will need to set up a quarantine to ensure infested ash trees, branches, logs, and firewood are contained. (AP Photo/Mike Groll, File)
CBS News
5 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Concord farm donates all the produce it grows to fight food insecurity in Massachusetts
Farm in Concord donates everything it produces to combat food insecurity Farm in Concord donates everything it produces to combat food insecurity Farm in Concord donates everything it produces to combat food insecurity One Concord farm is helping to combat food insecurity in Massachusetts by donating all of its produce. Gaining Ground, a 35-year-old, no-till organic farm, doesn't sell a single fruit or vegetable. Every harvest is donated to people facing food insecurity across Massachusetts. "We have never sold a single fruit or vegetable," said Jennifer Johnson, executive director of Gaining Ground. "We have given away everything we grow. We're exclusively dedicated to food insecurity." They said they measure their success, not in sales, but in what they give away to communities in the state. Helping over 10,000 people across Massachusetts Their food reaches more than 10,000 people in 41 cities and towns across Greater Boston, Lowell, and the MetroWest area. And the need continues to grow. In Massachusetts, food insecurity has more than doubled since the pandemic, now affecting one in five households. Rising inflation has made it even harder for many families to afford fresh, healthy food. "I'm a firm believer that access to nutritious food, the kind you need to live a healthy life, is a human right. Full stop," Johnson said. Volunteers and staff grow familiar crops like tomatoes, broccoli, and lettuce, but also more culturally specific ones like Brazilian eggplant, Asian greens, and a wide variety of hot peppers. "We really consider it a gift to be able to give this food to people so that it can nourish them both in body and soul," said Johnson. One of the farm's longtime partners is House of Hope, a family shelter in Lowell. The organization serves three meals a day to around 200 people, with much of the produce coming from Gaining Ground. "I've been a chef for years," said Paul Dubuque, who works at House of Hope. "If this produce was going to a restaurant, you'd be paying a lot of money for it." In 2024 alone, Gaining Ground donated 139,000 pounds of produce. That's enough for more than 650,000 servings. For many, it's not just about nutrition; it's about dignity. "When people receive Gaining Ground food, they tell us that they have the dignity of being seen as equals," said Johnson. Long-term sustainability The farm is also committed to long-term sustainability. By using no-till methods and organic practices, they protect the microbial life in the soil. That's one key to growing nutrient-rich food. "Good farmers grow vegetables and great farmers grow soil," Johnson said. "The fungi and bacteria in the soil take the nutrients and transform them the compounds into a readily accessible compound for the plants," said Mark Condon, Director of Agriculture at Gaining Ground. That makes the plants stronger, the food more nutritious, and the land more resilient... especially as the climate changes. "No-till really assists when we have a lot of rain or a drought," Condon said. "The soil can act as a sponge to absorb or a great filtration for too much water." From farm to food pantry, and soil health to human health, Gaining Ground is growing a lot more than vegetables. To learn more or get involved with Gaining Ground, click here.
