Garland Haywood is the Bridge Manager for the North Carolina Department of Transportation. It’s his job to make sure bridges in our area are safe, secure and inspected every two years.

“You could certainly have something undermining a bridge that if you don’t have these diligent inspections you’re not going to catch,” said Haywood.

According to AAA, nearly 900,000 people across the state are expected  to hit the roads for Memorial Day weekend.  But most of us don’t think twice about the bridges we drive near until we see accidents like the one Thursday in Washington.

A truck carrying an oversized load slammed into a bridge which caused it to collapse.

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- If Mecklenburg County officials have their way - home owners will be paying more in property taxes.

Interim County Manager Bobbie Shields presented his 2014 recommended budget to county commissioners Tuesday night.

Shields says the property tax increase will help pay for services in the current budget and deal with increased demand.

The county says funding is needed to "address the growth in CMS student population, opening of new parks, libraries, and merit increases for employees."

According to county officials, a 2.5 cent tax increase would mean about $50.00 higher property tax bill for a $200,000 home.

WBTV checked in with some homeowners to see how they feel about possibly paying more in taxes.

John O'Neill of Huntersville says "if the money is gonna be well spent, ensure financial - fiduciary - responsibility to make sure we're paying our debt - I think it's necessary."

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- There will be stiff competition this time around for Charlotte as it tries to keep the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) basketball tournament. 

Next year is the last scheduled year for the CIAA  to come to Charlotte. The successful tournament has been in Charlotte for about seven years. City leaders traveled to Richmond,VA Wednesday. They talked to CIAA Board of Directors as they held their Spring Meeting at Virginia Union University.

"We are trying to understand," Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA) CEO Tom Murray said. "What it is the CIAA hopes and dreams of the future."

CIAA leaders told Charlotte leaders they want more money to come back to the organization.  For the past several years Charlotte has given back $1 million to CIAA while the organization has pumped millions and millions of dollars into Charlotte's economy.