David Hodges
WBTV News
Charlotte, NC, United States
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Past articles by David:
Homeowners vs Developers: The fight for HOA control in North Carolina
The WBTV Investigates Team is uncovering the scope and impact of developer-controlled associations, called declarant control. It allows developers to profit off the sale of new homes while simultaneously appointing HOA board members to manage the homeowner fees. → Read More
NC a “lawless” land for HOAs and community associations
A dearth of rules and regulations in North Carolina over developers and community associations put homeowners at risk according to Charlotte attorney James Galvin, who represents homeowners in cases involving their association. → Read More
South Carolina patient fights back against hospital garnishment, case dismissed
In 2021, Goode received a letter from Beaufort Memorial notifying her that they were going to collect on an unpaid medical bill by garnishing her tax refund. She decided the garnishment attempt was worth fighting. → Read More
Charlotte’s bus system didn’t hold contractor accountable for poor performance, records show
The records show CATS leaders only started demanding more accountability and better bus service after WBTV’s reporting on the problems plaguing the bus system. → Read More
REPORT: NC hospitals claim Medicare losses. Other records show millions in profits
A new report shows that many hospitals are actually making money off of Medicare, raising new questions about why the price you pay keeps rising. → Read More
Charlotte bus operators claim unsafe environment. The data agrees
Our investigation follows months of bus operators raising safety concerns and claims from CATS CEO John Lewis that CATS buses and transit centers are safe. → Read More
Pink Energy closes, WBTV answers what customers should do next
Many Pink Energy customers told WBTV that their solar panels aren’t producing the energy or the savings they were originally promised. Nonetheless, customers still must make monthly payments on loans that were used to buy the systems. In some cases, the loans are upwards of $60,000. → Read More
Pink Energy reportedly lays off employees, set to ‘close doors completely and immediately’
Pink Energy, a solar energy company based out of Mooresville N.C. is laying off all of its employees according to an emailed letter sent to employees on Wednesday. Pink Energy has faced thousands of complaints ranging from faulty equipment to allegations of deceptive sales tactics over the past year. → Read More
Bad Bonds: The failed Panthers-Rock Hill project had major questions from the start
The WBTV Investigation found the amount of bond money agreed to by Rock Hill was far more public investment than other similar projects and simultaneously sidestepped key oversight steps. → Read More
NC solar power company faces investigation, lawsuits and hundreds of customer complaints
Consumers owe millions of dollars in loan payments for solar power systems they say don’t work. → Read More
He left his job accused of misusing taxpayer dollars. Then he was hired to run Charlotte’s bus system
Most concerning for city leaders about the WBTV Investigation, is the hiring was made without any serious vetting from CATS leadership, despite contractual obligations that gives the city the ability to interview and approve senior leaders brought in by the company. → Read More
Tow truck driver investigated by WBTV for years legally labeled habitual felon
Recently, Satterfield has even been charged with stealing money and firearms and now he’s been legally labeled as a habitual felon. → Read More
Hidden Camera investigation: Half of fareboxes on Charlotte buses not working
CATS buses are missing out on money, possibly millions of dollars, because of broken and malfunctioning fareboxes. A WBTV hidden-camera investigation found roughly half of the fareboxes used to punch tickets and collect money aren’t working properly. The numbers are backed up by riders and drivers who have told WBTV the problem has existed for months without a fix. → Read More
City Manager announces review of CATS “organizational structure” & “leadership team” after WBTV Investigation
The July 17 memo from Jones also mentions the contractor from the WBTV Investigation, RATP Dev, several times and says they will be part of the review process. The city manager told council he directed his staff to prepare a “request for proposals” for the bus operations service contract currently held by RATP Dev. → Read More
Internal records dispute CATS’ tweets with driver absence numbers
For weeks, Charlotte's transit service, CATS, has claimed its bus service would be impacted by a high number of unexpected driver absences. But internal CATS records show the actual number of unplanned driver absences are far lower than what the transit service has claimed. → Read More
Medical Debt and Deeds: How hospitals use homes to collect debt
In 2005, Terry Belk and his wife Sandra signed a Deed of Trust with Atrium. Essentially, Atrium has a claim on part of the equity of his home, $23,311 in this case. It’s separate from the lawsuit and altogether puts his debt at about $30,000. → Read More
York County responds after Panthers owner David Tepper’s real estate company files for bankruptcy over Rock Hill project
Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper’s real estate company, GT Real Estate Holdings, LLC, filed for bankruptcy in Delaware on Wednesday night. → Read More
Panthers owner David Tepper’s real estate company files for bankruptcy over Rock Hill project
Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper’s real estate company, GT Real Estate Holdings, LLC, filed for bankruptcy in Delaware on Wednesday night. → Read More
“It needs oversight”: South Carolina law allows hospitals to garnish paychecks and tax refunds to collect medical debt
The WBTV Investigation raises more questions about whether hospitals are complying with state law to notify patients of garnishments and their right to protest. → Read More
Tepper Sports & Entertainment CEO steps down
Kelly was named the president of Charlotte FC in 2020 before accepting his role at TSE in February. → Read More