North Carolina Bill Proposes A Statewide Maximum Speed Limit

The maximum speed limit on North Carolina highways may be increased. When I first read the headlines about this story, I thought for sure that the state would be proposing bringing the speed limit down, but no; it's the opposite.

According to WCNC, lawmakers in North Carolina are proposing a bill that would raise the maximum speed limit on interstate highways from 70 miles per hour to 75 miles per hour.

The bill would also include new cutoffs for serious speeding violations; the cutoff would be increased from 80 miles an hour to 85.

I'm kind of shocked at this bill if I'm being honest.

If you've driven around Charlotte, you know that oftentimes, people don't obey the speed limit as it is. Especially on roads like Independence. The last thing I would think would help is increasing the speed limit.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation reported that while the actual number of car crashes in the state has decreased in the last few years, the number of fatalities from crashes has increased.

I have a hard time believing this bill will pass. A similar bill was proposed about two years ago but lawmakers did not pass it, and I feel like this one will go the same way. I understand that raising the speed limit will probably ease the stress on police departments regarding speeding tickets, but when you consider the safety ramifications, I don't believe it is worth it.

What do you think? Does a raise in the speed limit scare you, or are you reading to get your Fast and Furious on?

Social media influencers are really the new wave. If you are in your 20s like me, then you probably grew up on social media. I have been on some form of social media since elementary school. I know, that's pretty early but things were different back then. But, one thing social media has brought us over the years is influencers. Social media influencers have grown so much over the years from being your local celebrities to anyone who can capture people's attention. When TikTok came out, it took influencing to a whole new level. TikTok was, and still is, the platform that you can blow up on pretty quickly and gain a huge following.

If there's one thing we also love about social media, it's seeing everyday people in the area you live in and know blowing up on social media. It's a natural reaction to see their content and when you recognize a place or thing they're doing, it makes it easier to relate. Since moving to Charlotte a few years ago, I have been able to really find many local influencers. Whether I am looking for restaurants to try, things to do, or they just so happen to pop up on my for you page. So, I thought... let's recognize some of my favorite Black influencers in the Charlotte area.

Now, before we get started... Understand that this is MY list. There are thousands, if not millions, of influencers that I do not know about. This list is not based on most followers, but just on Black people I enjoy seeing on social media. Their content is either putting me on to new spots to eat or simply making me laugh. So, now that the disclaimer is out there. Check out my list of six Black influencers you should be following in the Charlotte area.

If you are a girl's girl and looking for someone that is entertaining, but also just living her best life... Then, you need to follow Madison Denise. I found her on TikTok last year when she was making videos about living a double life in corporate America. While watching, I realized she was in the Charlotte area and always going out so I wanted to check out some of the places that she would suggest. She posts fashion content, travel vlogs, going out and about in Charlotte with her friends, bottle girl content, and just girly girl vibes that plenty of people are entertained by. If you have not seen her videos, then maybe you should take a look. On TikTok, she has over 370,000 followers and over 25 million likes. Clearly she is entertaining for quite a few people!

The next influencer is for our foodies in the Charlotte area. Let me tell you, if you're looking for something good to eat Swale Eats is your man! He reviews a little bit of everything from McDonald's and Bojangles to local Charlotte spots like Kitchen + Kocktails and the best food trucks in the city. You can also find him posting food spots in different cities he travels to, so he's pretty much the foodie for everyone. Plus, he does go out and about to different concerts and events so it's your one-stop shop for plenty of things in the Charlotte area.

Dev the Menace is technically not in Charlotte, he's located in Gastonia. But, he still is one of the most entertaining people and I had to include him on the list. Dev the Menace is the type of influencer that really is truly authentic to himself. He literally posts random thoughts, video vixen dance moves, and just chilling living his everyday life at work. My coworkers always laugh at me, because I will sit and laugh at his videos all of the time. If you are looking for someone who will just make you laugh and someone being themselves, Dev is the person to follow. He is currently going viral for a dance he choreographed for Chicago and everyone is redoing the moves. He has over 300,000 followers and 26 million likes.

Looking for someone entertaining and who will give her opinion on it all, Alexus is your girl. She lives and works in the Charlotte area and is always giving her hot take on situations going around on TikTok. They are all funny and will make you want to have a conversation about it in the comments. She will posts fun videos and photos as well, but her conversation and think pieces are some of the best. She currently has over 60,000 followers and over 6 million likes on TikTok.

For all of my fashion girlies, Daiquan is who you want to follow. I may be a bit biased because she went to college with me, but her content is amazing! She is completely aesthetically pleasing, knows how to dress, and styles her pieces to a T! If you are looking for outfit inspiration, affordable places to shop, and make-up tips then Daiquan is who you should follow. In my opinion, there are not many dark-skinned beauty influencers out there, so to have one in Charlotte is one of my favorite things. Daiquan has over 100,00 followers and over 1 million likes. Be sure to follow her!

Now, here is someone new that I found recently. Shionda is on TikTok and posts all things travel, food, and lifestyle. You can check out tons of Airbnb spots that are close by that she has reviewed, beauty spots in Charlotte, and where to grab great drinks and food in the city. Her content is fun and entertaining, but also very informative and detailed if you are someone who likes a full and honest review. Shionda has over 60,000 followers and nearly 1 million likes.