WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports, and Traffic for Charlotte, NCOn Your Side Headlines

On Your Side Sections
New section!
Pass 3 On
WBTV's Brigida Mack finds folks who want to help others
Tune in each Thursday night for these heart-warming tales.
Consumer Stories
Kristen Miranda brings you information affecting you and your family.		 Problem Solver Investigations
Jamie Boll investigates issues with businesses and  organization. Click here to send your ideas.		 See, Click, Fix
Got problems in your neighborhood? Report them on our map and we'll look into them!
Stretching Your Dollar
Maureen O'Boyle explains how to make your money go further in her weekly segment at 5 on Monday. Share your ideas!		 The Good News Is...
Kristen Hampton focuses on all sorts of positive stories throughout the WBTV viewing area. 
Send your Good News ideas!		 Protecting Your Cyberturf
Theresa Payton, the first woman to hold the position of CIO at the White House, brings you ideas for safe computing.

  • Wednesday, February 22 2012 9:22 AM EST2012-02-22 14:22:01 GMT
    Drive through Villa Heights in Northeast Charlotte, and it's easy to see that things are turning around.

  • Tuesday, February 21 2012 7:05 PM EST2012-02-22 00:05:18 GMT
    A former Charlotte Mecklenburg school (CMS) district teacher who was falsely accused of assaulting his students wants justice.

  • Monday, February 20 2012 1:19 PM EST2012-02-20 18:19:46 GMT
    Gov. Nikki Haley says her proposed budget for the next fiscal year increases money for public schools. But a closer look shows her recommendations would actually decrease state funding by nearly $80 million.

  • Friday, February 17 2012 6:05 PM EST2012-02-17 23:05:59 GMT
    It's that time again. The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) is changing school conferences. This mean schools that used to play each other for competition may not be in the same conference.

  • Friday, February 17 2012 12:19 PM EST2012-02-17 17:19:49 GMT
    About 200 students from the University of North Carolina Charlotte are taking a specialized computer class that will land them an exciting career.

  • Wednesday, February 15 2012 7:35 PM EST2012-02-16 00:35:52 GMT
    Charlotte - Mecklenburg school (CMS) district Interim Superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh has decided not to continue with adding more than 50 additional tests to give to students.

  • Wednesday, February 15 2012 6:25 PM EST2012-02-15 23:25:14 GMT
    It looks like a long list of schools in Gaston County may finally get much-needed makeovers, but the money that would pay for the maintenance would have to come from a building fund for brand new schools.

  • Tuesday, February 14 2012 7:45 PM EST2012-02-15 00:45:57 GMT
    There is a push to split Charlotte - Mecklenburg school (CMS) district into three districts. Proponents believe this will be a win win situation for all students.

  • Monday, February 13 2012 5:34 PM EST2012-02-13 22:34:11 GMT
    We found several apps that will save you money and time.  One even gives you points towards gift cards just by walking in the door!

  • Investigators are trying to figure out what started a school bus fire while students were on board Wednesday afternoon.

  • Friday, February 10 2012 8:13 AM EST2012-02-10 13:13:10 GMT
    Olympic HS senior Katie Matthews got the surprise of her life when she found out she was ineligible to swim. She found out three days before a regional swim meet.

  • Thursday, February 9 2012 11:39 PM EST2012-02-10 04:39:28 GMT
    Shoplifters make a large ipad haul and a cat burglar is after copper.

  • Thursday, February 9 2012 7:32 PM EST2012-02-10 00:32:28 GMT
    Religious freedom versus the Obama administration.  A local catholic college fights back against a new rule requiring contraceptive health coverage for its employees.  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson reports in our Cover Story.

  • Kelley Blue Book's latest study, on total cost of new vehicle ownership, has named Kia as the most affordable brand and Audi as the most affordable luxury brand.

  • Wednesday, February 8 2012 7:34 PM EST2012-02-09 00:34:50 GMT
    It's still anyone's game.  Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum can all claim wins in early primaries and caucuses.  So what does this mean for your vote in the May primary in North Carolina?  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson reports in our Cover Story.

  • Wednesday, February 8 2012 4:50 PM EST2012-02-08 21:50:12 GMT
    A $300,000 machine is helping a 10 year old girl who turns 11 Wednesday walk again.

  • Tuesday, February 7 2012 7:34 PM EST2012-02-08 00:34:04 GMT
    In seven and a half months the Charlotte Douglas Airport will be teaming with added security, more TSA agents and even more air marshals all designed to keep the airport, and the people safe for the Democratic National Convention this September.  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson reports in our Cover Story.

  • Tuesday, February 7 2012 1:00 PM EST2012-02-07 18:00:22 GMT
    No need to go spend a fortune on spring trends to look fashionable.  We ask a celebrity stylist to show us how to transform what we already have into some of the hot looks for when the weather warms up.

  • Monday, February 6 2012 10:46 PM EST2012-02-07 03:46:49 GMT
    Thousands of charter school teachers from around the country could have to find another way to fund their retirement. The Treasury Department wants to change the tax code.

  • Friday, February 3 2012 11:53 PM EST2012-02-04 04:53:09 GMT
    The students at Briarwood Elementary School in east Charlotte had been planning the party for months.

  • Friday, February 3 2012 7:32 PM EST2012-02-04 00:32:27 GMT
    Move over Hollywood.  Charlotte is becoming a hot spot for making movies.  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson reports in our Cover Story.

  • Friday, February 3 2012 5:45 PM EST2012-02-03 22:45:49 GMT
    A campaign designed to save lives has officially kicked off. It is directed to teenagers who text while driving. Ashley Mariah showed up at Fort Mill High School to tell students how dangerous it is.

  • Friday, February 3 2012 5:08 PM EST2012-02-03 22:08:10 GMT
    A North Carolina woman recently got a scare when someone stole nearly all of her personal photos on Facebook and creating a new profile using those photos.

  • Friday, February 3 2012 10:12 AM EST2012-02-03 15:12:00 GMT
    There is some concern over a North Carolina teacher pay scale showing teachers were making less in 2011-2012 school year than 2008-2009 school year.

  • Thursday, February 2 2012 10:50 PM EST2012-02-03 03:50:17 GMT
    At Hunter Street Elementary School in York, the art class is a little different these days.

  • Thursday, February 2 2012 7:32 PM EST2012-02-03 00:32:22 GMT
    WRAL image
    Erskine Bowles' decision not to run for North Carolina governor hasn't quenched the interest of other Democratic politicians still looking at the idea of running since Gov. Beverly Perdue announced she wouldn't seek re-election.  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson has our Cover Story.

  • Thursday, February 2 2012 4:42 PM EST2012-02-02 21:42:18 GMT
    Students and staff arriving at Garinger High School and Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School Thursday morning found the buildings spray painted with gang graffiti, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools officials said.

  • Wednesday, February 1 2012 6:10 PM EST2012-02-01 23:10:43 GMT
    The Charlotte PBS station, WTVI, is in desperate need of money. It is in jeopardy of going dark. That's why station administrators are wondering if it merges with CPCC (Central Piedmont Community College).

  • Tuesday, January 31 2012 7:42 PM EST2012-02-01 00:42:06 GMT
    Charlotte - Mecklenburg school district (CMS) recently signed a five year agreement with the philanthropic group Project Lift. The contract is causing some concern amongst teachers.

  • Tuesday, January 31 2012 5:53 PM EST2012-01-31 22:53:47 GMT
    The Catawba County School System is facing a four million dollar budget shortfall if projections of revenue stay the same, said Superintendent Glenn Barger on Tuesday.

  • Tuesday, January 31 2012 9:16 AM EST2012-01-31 14:16:36 GMT
    Just one day before officially announcing his run for North Carolina governor former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory is talking with WBTV about the political battle he faces.  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson has our Cover Story.

  • Monday, January 30 2012 5:33 PM EST2012-01-30 22:33:09 GMT
    Take an hour to really examine where your money is going in four different areas.  Our financial expert says that hour of time could mean hundreds in savings.

  • Saturday, January 28 2012 8:58 AM EST2012-01-28 13:58:32 GMT
    Recipe for the perfect Valentine's Day dessert.

  • Saturday, January 28 2012 8:51 AM EST2012-01-28 13:51:02 GMT
    For a weekend in April the focus in the Queen City will be on wine and food.

  • Friday, January 27 2012 7:32 PM EST2012-01-28 00:32:29 GMT
    One day after North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue announced she won't seek re-election some are asking if the Democrats have enough time to mount a serious campaign for the office.  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson has our Cover Story.

  • Friday, January 27 2012 7:14 PM EST2012-01-28 00:14:49 GMT
    South Carolina residents planning to purchase new ENERGY STAR qualified appliances will be eligible to receive rebates ranging from $50 to $100 starting this Friday.

  • Friday, January 27 2012 9:38 AM EST2012-01-27 14:38:12 GMT
    CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Robberies don't always require weapons. Sometimes, a piece of paper or quick feet is all that's needed to steal things of value. Surveillance video at a Boost Mobile cell phone

  • Thursday, January 26 2012 2:11 PM EST2012-01-26 19:11:22 GMT
    The balloons were a giveaway that Friday was not just any old day at Sharon's Untouchable's Hair Salon in Mount Pleasant.

  • Thursday, January 26 2012 6:42 AM EST2012-01-26 11:42:01 GMT
    Two wrestling coaches have been fired from their coaching jobs in Gaston County after a 10th grade wrestler suffered a broken bone during a practice last week.

  • Wednesday, January 25 2012 6:18 PM EST2012-01-25 23:18:52 GMT
    CMPD officers now have a new weapon to help fight crime.  Officers got their new Tasers on Wednesday.  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson reports in our Cover Story.

  • Monday, January 23 2012 7:33 PM EST2012-01-24 00:33:11 GMT
    Bank of America and Wells Fargo Bank are among several big banks agreeing to overhaul the mortgage industry, part of a multi-billion dollar settlement with states attorneys general.  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson reports on the proposed deal in our Cover Story.

  • Monday, January 23 2012 5:39 PM EST2012-01-23 22:39:24 GMT
    Don't throw that serving of mac and cheese away, freeze it!  We turn to "The Queen of Leftovers" Fran Scibelli for expert advice on how to make every morsel of food you cook count!

  • Friday, January 20 2012 10:30 AM EST2012-01-20 15:30:04 GMT
    There's a new experience to be had in Pineville, and it has kids bouncing off the walls, quite literally.

  • Friday, January 20 2012 9:45 AM EST2012-01-20 14:45:18 GMT
    It seems like everyone wanted to Pass 3 On this morning. At the Park Road shopping center in south Charlotte, person after person approached me looking to pay it forward.

  • Wednesday, January 18 2012 10:06 AM EST2012-01-18 15:06:15 GMT
    The class may be full of women who happen to be senior citizens, but you should take care not to call anyone in Kim Picton's Hoola Hoop class an old lady.

  • Tuesday, January 17 2012 10:13 AM EST2012-01-17 15:13:27 GMT
    Giving convicted felons a second chance.  It's part of a program launched Monday in connection with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior holiday.  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson has our Cover Story.

  • Saturday, January 14 2012 9:07 AM EST2012-01-14 14:07:18 GMT
    Art contest will display winner's work on one of the most visible canvasses in Charlotte.

  • Friday, January 13 2012 7:32 PM EST2012-01-14 00:32:42 GMT
    CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Remember the site...and spectacle...of last year's Home Arama? The much-anticipated event is The Home Builders Association of Charlotte's annual showcasing of luxury homes, and

  • Wednesday, January 11 2012 5:28 PM EST2012-01-11 22:28:50 GMT
    Times are hard for some Charlotte - Mecklenburg school district (CMS) teachers. They are forced to work second jobs because they haven't had a raise since 2008.

  • Monday, January 9 2012 10:47 PM EST2012-01-10 03:47:49 GMT
    Alyssa Bloomer is the perfect name for a little girl who took a tiny bloom of a cabbage seedling, and turned it into a one-yard-wide, 25 pound beast.

  • Monday, January 9 2012 7:33 PM EST2012-01-10 00:33:13 GMT
    Three years ago, Bev Perdue shortly after being elected governor, predicted the entire Charlotte outerbelt I-485 would get completed her watch.  As PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson reports in our Cover Story, the project is on a fast-track.

  • Monday, January 9 2012 5:40 PM EST2012-01-09 22:40:19 GMT
    Mark your calendar for the best time to buy just about everything!  Over the course of a year, saving on these items, could reach to hundreds of dollars.

  • Friday, January 6 2012 7:32 PM EST2012-01-07 00:32:35 GMT
    Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the gas pump, think again.  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson has our Cover Story.

  • Friday, January 6 2012 6:52 PM EST2012-01-06 23:52:17 GMT
    Tuesday night the temperatures in the North Carolina Piedmont were hovering in the 20's with wind chills into the teens.

  • Friday, January 6 2012 12:59 PM EST2012-01-06 17:59:12 GMT
    There are a lot of stories that start out with a healthy dose of fate. This one is no exception.

  • Friday, January 6 2012 9:49 AM EST2012-01-06 14:49:36 GMT
    Police need your help to solve the first homicide of 2012 in Charlotte.

  • Thursday, January 5 2012 7:32 PM EST2012-01-06 00:32:02 GMT
    Midnight madness erupts in Raleigh.  An unprecedented meeting by the General Assembly in the middle of the night.  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson reports in our Cover Story.

  • Thursday, January 5 2012 5:52 PM EST2012-01-05 22:52:19 GMT
    A new year and new opportunities to Pass 3 On. The first Pass 3 On of 2012 is one that will restore your faith in the kindness of strangers.

  • Wednesday, January 4 2012 7:33 PM EST2012-01-05 00:33:15 GMT
    Michele Bachmann backs out of the GOP presidential race.  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson reports in our Cover Story on the impact her decision will have on presidential politics in the Carolinas.

  • Wednesday, January 4 2012 3:17 PM EST2012-01-04 20:17:58 GMT
    When a county official came into Dot Faris' post office and asked her to name every road in the town, she said she'd give it a try.

  • Tuesday, January 3 2012 7:32 PM EST2012-01-04 00:32:43 GMT
    The Iowa caucus were held Tuesday night.  Voters picked from a handful of Republican candidates.  And what happens in Iowa could have an impact on elections here in the Carolinas.  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson reports in our Cover Story.

  • Monday, January 2 2012 5:35 PM EST2012-01-02 22:35:54 GMT
    If you're resolved to save in the new year making a simple system could have long term benefits.

  • Friday, December 30 2011 7:33 PM EST2011-12-31 00:33:03 GMT
    Shining light on new changes coming to your light bulbs.  It's the beginning of the end for old-fashioned light bulbs.  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson reports in our Cover Story.

  • Friday, December 30 2011 9:28 AM EST2011-12-30 14:28:38 GMT
    The holiday season is one of the deadliest and most dangerous times of the year due to an increase in drunk driving.  In our Cover Story PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson totals up the cost.

  • Thursday, December 29 2011 9:50 AM EST2011-12-29 14:50:04 GMT
    Charlotte proves the critics wrong with the help of a few thousand fans.  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson explains in our Cover Story.

  • Wednesday, December 28 2011 9:29 AM EST2011-12-28 14:29:11 GMT
    Campaign 2012 is heating up.  The first votes will be cast in just one week.  And then the attention will focus on South Carolina.  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson has our Cover Story.

  • Thursday, December 22 2011 7:33 PM EST2011-12-23 00:33:38 GMT
    CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Changes are coming to the Charlotte Douglas International Airport that will hopefully make it easier for you to get in and out. Our airport seems to be a place that it is constantly

  • Tuesday, December 20 2011 5:08 PM EST2011-12-20 22:08:42 GMT
    If you're hoping for some nice weather to do last minute Christmas shopping, you can pretty much forget it.

  • Friday, December 16 2011 11:20 AM EST2011-12-16 16:20:54 GMT
    Before Icard Elementary's Christmas Play kicked off, 8 year-old Landon McCarter was quite vocal about this feelings on the matter, "I like to watch them, I just hate having to go up there and be in them."

  • Thursday, December 15 2011 7:31 PM EST2011-12-16 00:31:46 GMT
    New information to help get traffic moving on one of the area's most congested roads.  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson has our Cover Story.

  • Thursday, December 15 2011 9:47 AM EST2011-12-15 14:47:51 GMT
    The National Transportation Safety Board is calling for a nationwide ban on cell phones while driving.  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson reports in our Cover Story.

  • Tuesday, December 13 2011 10:50 PM EST2011-12-14 03:50:12 GMT
    The talk in city and county government is all about consolidation.  City leaders voted to study the possibility of merging Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson has our Cover Story.

  • Brush up on what's allowed and what's banned at security checkpoints. Skip the snow globe, leave presents unwrapped and think twice about the food you plan to carry on.

  • Stretching Your Dollar

    Tuesday, December 13 2011 3:01 PM EST2011-12-13 20:01:44 GMT
    This year 8 out of ten people will buy at least one gift card as a holiday gift.  Now you can purchase them with no expiration date at a discount!

  • Monday, December 12 2011 8:59 PM EST2011-12-13 01:59:27 GMT
    Lowe's Home Improvement under fire.  Some are threatening a nation-wide boycott.  There are accusations of bigotry against Muslim-Americans.  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson has our Cover Story.

  • Friday, December 9 2011 8:18 AM EST2011-12-09 13:18:21 GMT
    It's likely the sugar-rush from Thursday's activities is still in affect at Griggs Road Elementary in Clover.

  • Monday, December 5 2011 10:45 PM EST2011-12-06 03:45:52 GMT
    Many cars pass by Sidney Brown everyday and don't even know what he's doing.

  • Monday, December 5 2011 5:43 PM EST2011-12-05 22:43:21 GMT
    No need to brave the madness at the mall for a holiday party dress, we've found the perfect way to look fabulous and help those in need!

  • Wednesday, November 30 2011 10:37 PM EST2011-12-01 03:37:47 GMT
    There's speculation that Charlotte's biggest carrier, US Airways, could benefit from another airline's bankruptcy.  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson reports in our Cover Story.

  • Tuesday, November 29 2011 8:59 AM EST2011-11-29 13:59:09 GMT
    The end to a controversial law in North Carolina?  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson reports on the effort to repeal the Racial Justice Act.

  • Monday, November 21 2011 7:35 PM EST2011-11-22 00:35:03 GMT
    With a deadline just hours away, lawmakers in Washington admit defeat on a deficit deal.  But we talked with two leading figures who have been sounding the deficit alarm for nearly a year.  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson reports in our Cover Story.

  • Monday, November 21 2011 5:36 PM EST2011-11-21 22:36:53 GMT
    Make a beautiful pasta sauce from your leftover Thanksgiving dinner! All you need is a can of tomato paste and leftovers!

  • Monday, November 21 2011 9:50 AM EST2011-11-21 14:50:25 GMT
    We're getting a closer look at how a majority of people in our area get their power.  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson reports in our Cover Story.

  • Friday, November 18 2011 6:24 PM EST2011-11-18 23:24:40 GMT
    The plane touched down about 12:15 p.m. on Friday, then slowly taxied up to the Carolina's Aviation Museum.

  • Wednesday, November 16 2011 8:54 AM EST2011-11-16 13:54:14 GMT
    On the corner of Main Avenue and Main Street in Maiden, sits a sizable shop that's a testament to good customer service.

  • Wednesday, November 16 2011 8:51 AM EST2011-11-16 13:51:03 GMT
    Professional basketball's been a part of Charlotte's winters for almost the last 25 years.  But now it's looking more likely that there won't be an NBA season this year.  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson has our Cover Story.

  • Monday, November 14 2011 7:34 PM EST2011-11-15 00:34:08 GMT
    One week after Democrats make big gains in local elections in Charlotte, Mecklenburg county's top Democrat and the number two in charge make surprise announcements.  PrimeTime's Jeff Atkinson reports in our Cover Story.

  • Monday, November 14 2011 5:48 PM EST2011-11-14 22:48:51 GMT
    Shoes clubs grow in popularity as a way for women to have the latest trend without breaking the bank.

  • Saturday, November 12 2011 5:00 AM EST2011-11-12 10:00:51 GMT
     Kim and Brad Colesworthy were looking for a car.  They really liked a Nissan Maxima they found in an on-line ad for a Charlotte used-car lot.

  • Wednesday, November 9 2011 5:31 PM EST2011-11-09 22:31:28 GMT
    Sign shows the department store's policy when it comes to holiday decorations.  However, take a close look at the picture.

  • Monday, November 7 2011 5:31 PM EST2011-11-07 22:31:37 GMT
    We register for weddings, why not register for Christmas?  A new web site lets you develop a registry so everyone can make sure the money they spend on your gifts if money well spent on something they want!

  • Monday, October 31 2011 5:30 PM EDT2011-10-31 21:30:27 GMT
    Make sure if you're shopping daily deal web sites you price compare and read the fine print!

     

  • Monday, October 24 2011 6:16 PM EDT2011-10-24 22:16:54 GMT
    If you have been salivating over the new iPhone 4s but you just can't fit it into your budget, there is a way to make some money on your old cell phone!

  • Tuesday, October 11 2011 9:38 AM EDT2011-10-11 13:38:46 GMT
    Imagine saving 40% on your energy bill over the course of a year.  With the price it costs to heat and cool your house, it sounds pretty good.  Energy Tight auditing service makes it their business to find out how you can save on heating and cooling your home.

  • Tuesday, October 4 2011 9:22 AM EDT2011-10-04 13:22:57 GMT
    'Jenny's Number' is hard to forget, 867-5309, and it turns out it might be a way to save money and protect your personal information!

  • Monday, September 26 2011 6:05 PM EDT2011-09-26 22:05:17 GMT
    Slow cookers of the '70s make a comeback thanks to the economy and our busy lives.  Maureen O'Boyle gives you tips on how to make the most out of your slow cooker meal.

  • Monday, September 19 2011 6:41 PM EDT2011-09-19 22:41:28 GMT
    A Charlotte woman searches thrift stores and estate sales to find incredible modern and vintage clothing.  She sells her eclectic treasures from $4 to $60 dollars from her traveling trunk show.

  • Tuesday, August 23 2011 9:59 AM EDT2011-08-23 13:59:11 GMT
    North Carolina Dental Society's Mission of Mercy had an incredible turnout at the convention center in Charlotte over the weekend where more than 2,000 patients were seen.

  • Thursday, August 18 2011 5:08 PM EDT2011-08-18 21:08:29 GMT
    Long before the doors opened at midnight, a sizable crowd of people athered inside the Charlotte Convention Center Thursday afternoon to be among the lucky thousands who will receive free dental care.

  • Monday, August 15 2011 5:36 PM EDT2011-08-15 21:36:26 GMT
    The cost of renting to own appliances and electronics, even furniture will cost you almost three hundred times the price to purchase.

     

  • Monday, August 8 2011 5:34 PM EDT2011-08-08 21:34:51 GMT
    If you are spending a lot on your vacation don't let weather or a family illness wash all that money down the drain.  Experts weigh in on the plus side to travel insurance.

     

  • Monday, July 25 2011 5:29 PM EDT2011-07-25 21:29:18 GMT
    Charlotte's well dressed men no longer have to spend top dollar on designer digs.  Revolve in Dilworth is an upscale men's consignment shop and business at the new East Boulevard location is booming.

  • Monday, July 11 2011 5:57 PM EDT2011-07-11 21:57:23 GMT
    If you have always wanted to take a dream vacation, but costly airfare stands in your way, perhaps you need to pick up your phone for a deal. 

  • Friday, July 8 2011 12:22 PM EDT2011-07-08 16:22:19 GMT
    After a few months on hiatus, Pass 3 On is back! Once again, I'm out in the community with my sign that reads: "I'm giving away $300. Ask me how!"

  • Monday, July 4 2011 11:45 PM EDT2011-07-05 03:45:18 GMT
    The same week Duke Energy asked state regulators for a 17 percent rate hike for customers, the power company launches a web site designed to help you save on your energy bill. 

  • Monday, June 20 2011 5:56 PM EDT2011-06-20 21:56:13 GMT
    It has happened to many of us, you open your cell phone bill to find overage charges.  It is not a pretty picture.  But there are some things you can do to protect yourself the next time you sign on the bottom line.

  • Stretching Your Dollar

    Monday, June 13 2011 5:34 PM EDT2011-06-13 21:34:45 GMT
    Flea markets are in full swing so now is a good time to brush up on the easy things you can do to save.

  • Thursday, June 9 2011 6:08 PM EDT2011-06-09 22:08:26 GMT
    When using Facebook or an online invitation service it's surprisingly easy to accidentally invite more guests than you intend.

  • Tuesday, June 7 2011 9:48 AM EDT2011-06-07 13:48:11 GMT
    Like a lot of super savers, Amber Barefield knows you have to invest time to save money.  That is why she's learned to shop for the best prices and the best coupon deals.  Sometimes that means shopping at the drug store for food!

  • Monday, May 30 2011 5:33 PM EDT2011-05-30 21:33:19 GMT
    Last year ‘couponing' reached new heights in popularity.  As more and more Americans look for ways to save, coupons can be a small way to save big!

  • Stretching Your Dollar

    Monday, May 23 2011 5:35 PM EDT2011-05-23 21:35:23 GMT
    How would you like an assistant the next time you're looking for a deal?  Well Shop Savvy is a smartphone app that promises to be your ticket to better prices with less work.  The phone application works on barcodes.

  • Saving on private labels

    Monday, May 16 2011 5:32 PM EDT2011-05-16 21:32:44 GMT
    We're putting name brand snacks up against the new Family Gourmet brand, the private label of Matthews-based Family Dollar stores.  We got an interesting reaction when we told shoppers many of their choices could save them between 30% and 40%!

     

  • Stretching Your Dollar

    Monday, May 9 2011 5:40 PM EDT2011-05-09 21:40:15 GMT
    What can you do without, make yourself or buy for less money.  An interesting list of things frugal people don't buy!

  • Stretching Your Dollar

    Monday, May 2 2011 5:44 PM EDT2011-05-02 21:44:29 GMT
    You don't have to spend a great deal of money to protect your skin.  You can actually buy some store brands, they've been found more effective than the name brand sunscreens.

  • Stretching Your Dollar

    Monday, April 11 2011 5:44 PM EDT2011-04-11 21:44:17 GMT
    If you are cleaning out your garage or attic this spring, think outside the box.  Instead of slaving for hours to price for a yard sale, perhaps you've got what it takes to consign.  Your first step should be careful consideration of what might be saleable.  Remember, even if you inherited a collection of figurines you don't like, collectors frequent consignment shops in search of treasures.

  • Thursday, March 31 2011 5:00 PM EDT2011-03-31 21:00:15 GMT
    Neighbors. You live side-by-side, sometimes for years. Maybe you know their situation, maybe you don't. But if you had the opportunity to help them out, would you?

  • Thursday, March 31 2011 3:23 PM EDT2011-03-31 19:23:31 GMT
    Who knew Facebook had the power to help someone Pass 3 On? That's what I discovered when Amy Lambert saw sign while running errands on her lunch break in South Charlotte one Thursday morning.

  • Thursday, March 31 2011 3:16 PM EDT2011-03-31 19:16:47 GMT
     This week, I took my sign to Belmont looking to Pass 3 On. I set up shop outside the local Roses store and waited.

  • Thursday, March 31 2011 3:14 PM EDT2011-03-31 19:14:25 GMT
    It was a chilly Thursday morning in a shopping center on Freedom Drive where I met Vania and Cornell Carrington.

  • Thursday, March 24 2011 5:48 PM EDT2011-03-24 21:48:05 GMT
     The rainy weather one Thursday morning didn't stop Priscilla Flimb from running up to me in Plaza Midwood to tell me why she wanted to Pass 3 On.

  • Stretching Your Dollar

    Monday, March 7 2011 5:54 PM EST2011-03-07 22:54:34 GMT
    If you have joined several rewards or loyalty programs, how do you make the most of those points.  A money saving savvy Charlotte mother has a simple but brilliant idea.

  • Stretching Your Dollar

    Tuesday, February 8 2011 10:41 AM EST2011-02-08 15:41:38 GMT
    Have you finished the latest vampire series of books, and now they just sit on the shelf? Those books could be just what you need to find some new treasures.

  • Saturday, January 22 2011 12:00 AM EST2011-01-22 05:00:23 GMT
    "We will even deliver Express Mail packages on Christmas day for an additional fee for those of us who like to procrastinate until the last minute," a spokesperson said.

  • Monday, November 29 2010 3:39 PM EST2010-11-29 20:39:37 GMT
    The nation's biggest shopping day of the year has come and gone, but that doesn't mean the deals are history. Online retailers are rolling out big savings for those who are logging on and checking out on Cyber Monday.

  • Friday, November 26 2010 11:56 AM EST2010-11-26 16:56:48 GMT
    Thousands of North Carolina consumers braved the crowds on Black Friday to find deals on holiday gifts but many consumers will instead decide to shop online on Cyber Monday.

  • Friday, November 19 2010 11:56 PM EST2010-11-20 04:56:16 GMT
    We put two groups of children in the same room with a dozen of this year's hot holiday toys and then we watched to see what held their attention longest.

  • Tuesday, November 16 2010 9:27 AM EST2010-11-16 14:27:58 GMT
    Matt Thomas and his wife Christine decided in the down housing market it was better to upgrade then sell. They remodeled the kitchen in their quaint country home.

  • Thursday, November 11 2010 12:07 AM EST2010-11-11 05:07:23 GMT
    If you take any kind of vitamin or supplement every day, or even occasionally, how do you choose which brand to buy?  A researcher reveals what he's found in his lab that could impact how you shop the vitamin aisle.

  • Tuesday, November 9 2010 12:53 PM EST2010-11-09 17:53:53 GMT
    Lee Vickrey joined the Air Force and sent all his money home to provide his growing family with new furniture.  Now, it's all ruined.  

  • Monday, October 18 2010 6:01 PM EDT2010-10-18 22:01:20 GMT
    By Maureen O'Boyle - bio l email CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Love is in the air at WBTV. My photographer for this series of reports, Alison Toole, is now Mrs. Bronson Hill. Alison and Bronson wed this weekend

  • Thursday, October 7 2010 7:42 AM EDT2010-10-07 11:42:42 GMT
    We're hearing back from the company responsible for the railroad tracks you've been complaining about on See, Click, Fix. WBTV's Christine Nelson reports.

  • Wednesday, October 6 2010 9:03 AM EDT2010-10-06 13:03:55 GMT
    Thousands of people are expected to turn out to Charlotte Motor Speedway this Saturday for the 9th annual Carolinas Walk Now for Autism Speaks.

  • Tuesday, October 5 2010 10:26 AM EDT2010-10-05 14:26:35 GMT
    It's not exactly a "bridge over troubled water", but it is a bridge that a viewer says is trouble.  It's the New Hope Road Bridge that crosses I-85 in Gaston County and it's certainly one of the heaviest traveled bridges in the county.

  • Friday, October 1 2010 11:34 AM EDT2010-10-01 15:34:56 GMT
    It's a story you brought to our attention in recent weeks on See, Click, Fix. We started working the phones last week after you told us about a problem spot in front of a Charlotte elementary school. Let's just say the road was lacking direction on letting drivers know where to turn, so you turned to See, Click, Fix to get the problem solved. WBTV's Christine Nelson reports.

  • Monday, September 27 2010 5:49 PM EDT2010-09-27 21:49:01 GMT
    If you want to get through this holiday season and not end up with a pile of bills, now is the time to make a budget and start saving.

  • Monday, September 20 2010 2:45 PM EDT2010-09-20 19:45:21 GMT
    Middle school students enrolled in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools will find out this week if they made their football teams.  It is also the time parents will have to pay up.

  • Wednesday, September 15 2010 7:03 AM EDT2010-09-15 11:03:39 GMT
    Cyber crooks are banking on consumers not being able to tell the difference between and email from a legitimate company versus an email designed to steal information and money.

  • Thursday, September 9 2010 5:38 PM EDT2010-09-09 21:38:49 GMT
    If your children use special headsets to play their home video game systems interactively with strangers, there's a threat that the game system or your home computer could be hacked.

  • Friday, September 3 2010 5:43 PM EDT2010-09-03 21:43:04 GMT
    Charlotte Mecklenburg Police say writing down the numbers on your electronics greatly increases the chance you'll get them back if they're stolen.

  • Thursday, September 2 2010 12:08 PM EDT2010-09-02 16:08:17 GMT
    Our next issue is leaving some Charlotte residents in the dark but it's not by choice. A street light in their neighborhood that has been fixed before, needs to be fixed again.

  • Friday, August 27 2010 10:02 AM EDT2010-08-27 14:02:47 GMT
    It's Thursday and you know what that means. Time to Pass 3 On! Our location this week: the Rivergate Shopping Center in Southwest Charlotte.

  • Toyota recalled 1.13 million cars Thursday because their engines may stall, the latest in a string of quality problems at the Japanese automaker.

  • Thursday, August 26 2010 12:11 PM EDT2010-08-26 16:11:26 GMT
    From a distance all is well on S. Mint Street and Penman Street. It's until you walk right up to the northwest corner that you see the gaping problem.

  • Tuesday, August 24 2010 11:58 AM EDT2010-08-24 16:58:50 GMT
    A federal agency says 380,000 pounds of possibly tainted deli meat products sold in sandwiches at Wal-Mart stores have been recalled by a food company in Buffalo.

  • Tuesday, August 24 2010 9:43 AM EDT2010-08-24 13:43:51 GMT
    Tall grass and weeds are a no-no in Charlotte.  There's an ordinance that regulates how high grass and weeds are allowed to grow before property owners have to cut it.

  • Thursday, August 19 2010 5:43 PM EDT2010-08-19 21:43:06 GMT
    Cyber criminals target children because they can use their social security numbers as their own without getting caught quickly.

  • Tuesday, August 17 2010 6:26 AM EDT2010-08-17 10:26:47 GMT
    You know that old saying about "step on a crack and you'll break your mother's back!"?  If that were true, there's a section of sidewalk in one Charlotte area that would certainly give mom the mother of all backaches!

  • Monday, August 16 2010 11:58 PM EDT2010-08-17 03:58:39 GMT
    Late afternoons, just as August temperatures would reach their sizzling pinnacle, Randy Cernohorsky's air conditioner would just shut off.

  • Friday, August 13 2010 12:00 AM EDT2010-08-13 04:00:39 GMT
    An AT&T website breach exposed a little known number that could lead a hacker to an iPad user's front door. Experts warn if a hacker has your ICC-ID number and  the right technology, they could track down your exact location.

  • Tuesday, August 3 2010 11:45 AM EDT2010-08-03 15:45:40 GMT
    The beginning of August reminds us school is just around the corner, time to get ready to go back to class.

  • Tuesday, July 27 2010 9:33 AM EDT2010-07-27 14:33:25 GMT
    If your kids are going stir crazy mid way through summer vacation, you are not alone.

  • Thursday, July 22 2010 6:03 PM EDT2010-07-22 22:03:40 GMT
    Parents are being asked by their children at younger and younger ages whether they can enter the world of e-mail. 

  • Tuesday, July 20 2010 11:15 AM EDT2010-07-20 15:15:56 GMT
    Tina Lackey's wheelchair gives her what disease took away. The ability to get around.   She grew frustrated when a repair shop held her chair for six months. 

  • Tuesday, July 20 2010 5:51 AM EDT2010-07-20 09:51:14 GMT
    Today's see, click, fix is about a problem that you can't see. It's lane markings. They're missing from the WT Harris boulevard bridge over Interstate 77. See, Click, Fix viewer Paula wrote in to us about it saying in part, "there are no dividing stripes for the lanes in either direction... It's extremely dangerous at night". WBTV's Christine Nelson investigated the problem and found out this problem will be getting fixed sooner than later.

  • Because it's odorless and invisible, there's only way to find out if this radioactive gas is in your home. Learn about radon testing and repair.

  • Thursday, July 15 2010 5:48 PM EDT2010-07-15 21:48:41 GMT
    Telling people where you are is the same as telling people where you are not.

  • Thursday, July 15 2010 12:04 AM EDT2010-07-15 05:04:44 GMT
    New research tonight confirms a nutrition nightmare in many of Charlotte's poorest neighborhoods.  A new study shows tens of thousands of our neighbors live in potential Food Deserts.

  • Thursday, July 8 2010 3:56 PM EDT2010-07-08 19:56:47 GMT
    If you are exhausted from trying to find summer activities for the kids that will not break the bank let a local web site do some of the leg work for you.

  • Wednesday, July 7 2010 6:22 PM EDT2010-07-07 22:22:05 GMT
    CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - It's an equation that equals trouble. Take the country's stubborn unemployment rate, add a new health care system many people don't understand, and what you'll get is a big, brand

  • Thursday, July 1 2010 9:44 AM EDT2010-07-01 13:44:41 GMT
    We're looking further into two viewers' problems, issues they submitted on our See, Click, Fix page at wbtv.com. One involves an abandoned house that's become a major eyesore. The other, a highly-traveled intersection that one viewer asked are drivers breaking the law there.  WBTV's Christine Nelson reports.

  • Thursday, June 24 2010 5:50 PM EDT2010-06-24 21:50:45 GMT
    Wireless carrier suffers security breach which compromises some personal information of customers.

  • Tuesday, June 22 2010 5:54 PM EDT2010-06-22 21:54:17 GMT
    CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - A local company has been preying on people in danger of losing their homes, according to the Better Business Bureau and North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper. Cooper obtained

  • Monday, June 21 2010 5:41 PM EDT2010-06-21 22:41:18 GMT
    School has been out for less than two full weeks and chances are, parents have already heard their children say, "I'm bored".

  • Monday, June 7 2010 5:39 PM EDT2010-06-07 22:39:06 GMT
    There is a new way to get free stuff and it all starts with the GPS in your cell phone.  Several new companies have created apps for your cell phone that utilize the GPS tracking in your mobile phone.

  • Monday, June 7 2010 10:37 AM EDT2010-06-07 14:37:48 GMT
    Now that the 485 loop will finally be closed, attention now turns to the outerbelt's most pressing problem.

  • Thursday, June 3 2010 5:48 PM EDT2010-06-03 21:48:41 GMT
    What to do if you think Google may have inadvertently acquired your personal information.

  • Thursday, June 3 2010 9:42 AM EDT2010-06-03 13:42:48 GMT
    It's easy to see that potholes remain a big issue for you on See, Click, Fix. It continues to be the No. 1 problem we're hearing about on wbtv.com.

  • Wednesday, June 2 2010 9:05 AM EDT2010-06-02 14:05:37 GMT
    When you're cleaning up from your Memorial Day barbeque take a good look inside your recycling bin.  There might be treasures in the trash.  Some of your recyclables have a hidden purpose just waiting to be revealed.

  • Thursday, May 27 2010 3:53 PM EDT2010-05-27 20:53:19 GMT
    A new kind of hero is emerging in America.  Big men are taking on stereotypes, fighting battles with food and fat and speaking out.

  • Tuesday, May 25 2010 3:55 PM EDT2010-05-25 19:55:38 GMT
    Fish lovers don't always get what they ordered. DNA testing has found grouper being substituted with cheaper alternatives at several Carolina restaurants.

  • Thursday, May 20 2010 6:56 PM EDT2010-05-20 22:56:04 GMT
    It's a murder that shocked West Charlotte in June of 2003.

  • Tuesday, May 18 2010 9:17 AM EDT2010-05-18 13:17:39 GMT
    Marisol Rodriguez and her husband, Luis Arguedas, wanted something very simple -- the money deposited in their savings account.

  • Tuesday, May 11 2010 7:57 AM EDT2010-05-11 11:57:29 GMT

    It's been several weeks now since the Department of Transportation told us it would take care of a problem along highway 321 in Gaston County that we first brought you in our See, Click, Fix feature and we wanted to check back to see how things were going.

  • Thursday, May 6 2010 9:39 AM EDT2010-05-06 13:39:21 GMT
    It's a See, Click, Fix Q&A this week.  We often get questions from you asking about certain issues or services in your neighborhood.  And this week WBTV's Christine Nelson is finding answers to some of the questions you've posed to us.  One has to do with an abandoned parking lot where a department store once stood.  The other a caution light that's no longer helping drivers heed the warning about a sharp curve.

  • Tuesday, May 4 2010 7:40 AM EDT2010-05-04 11:40:32 GMT
    Two businesses in east Charlotte are getting some parking relief this morning.  The problem has been a number of truckers and others who decided to park behind the businesses without permission. That led viewers to write See, Click, Fix about the problem.

  • Monday, May 3 2010 5:39 PM EDT2010-05-03 21:39:25 GMT
    Mother's Day shoppers can expect to spend a little more this year.  The National Retail Federation says Americans will spend about $127 on Mother's Day gifts.

  • Friday, April 30 2010 12:42 PM EDT2010-04-30 16:42:22 GMT
    It is by far the biggest complaint we're seeing since we launched See, Click, Fix in February... Potholes!  If you commute day to day to work or school chances are you've had to dodge one (or two or three) on your way in.  WBTV's Christine Nelson is looking into the progress crews have made getting the ones you told us about fixed.

  • Thursday, April 29 2010 5:41 PM EDT2010-04-29 21:41:36 GMT
    Scammers are targeting Facebook, Twitter and e-mail profiles in an attempt to get money from family, friends and contacts.  Our Cyber Expert explains how to prevent this.

  • Monday, April 26 2010 5:45 PM EDT2010-04-26 21:45:40 GMT
    If you are looking for a very specific shoe, you no longer have to tire out your feet at the mall on the hunt.  We found a web site that does all the searching for you and it's called Myshoes.com. 

  • Thursday, April 22 2010 6:14 AM EDT2010-04-22 10:14:13 GMT
    It's the time of year when the grass is growing, but when it gets overgrown that's when there's an issue.  That's the nature of the complaint we received online at the See, Click, Fix page on wbtv.com.  WBTV's Christine Nelson has the result of our investigation.

     

  • Thursday, April 15 2010 11:11 AM EDT2010-04-15 15:11:22 GMT
    This week's problem is the lack of working streets lights on certain parts of University.  You asked us to investigate. We did, two months ago, with the promise that those lights would be fixed and working.  At last check they still weren't and you deserve to know why.