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5 things you need to know Monday, February 19

1. Wine not? City leaders to debate whether Charlotte should welcome wineries

Charlotte's city leaders will debate whether to make the brewery-heavy Queen City more wine friendly.

The Bold Rock Cider company submitted a petition, asking the city to allow wineries just like they allow breweries. Currently, the issue is due to zoning laws.

The city council will take up the issue at Monday night's meeting.

2. Community launches nonprofit to honor teen fatally shot at The Peach Stand

More than a hundred people gathered at a Rock Hill church Sunday afternoon to celebrate the life of Karson Whitesell. The 19-year-old was fatally shot less than a month ago at The Peach Stand in Fort Mill. Sunday would have been Whitesell's 20th birthday. As a way to remember her legacy, the community launched a new nonprofit in Whitesell's name. Karson's mother Debbie is calling it "Karson's Kompassion Project." Its mission is to spread peace and love to those in the shadows. Friends, family and church members are putting together different projects to help the community. Debbie said Karson was a beautiful, gentle, soul who loved serving other people. The project is just one of many ways to keep her legacy alive.

"Karson had a very keen sense of those people," Debbie said. "I call them on the fringe, you know, people who needed a little extra attention. She had a keen sense of those people and could sense what they needed and took care of it quietly."

Sunday afternoon ended with a balloon release. Everyone came outside, said a prayer and let go of their balloons.

3. Adam Rippon decides not to do TV for NBC at 2018 Winter Olympics

After agreeing to an offer to work for NBC, Adam Rippon decided overnight that he would rather remain as an Olympian, according to a person close to the situation who would not speak publicly because of the sensitivity of the matter. When Rippon and his team realized he would have to relinquish his official Olympic standing, give up his Olympic credential, move out of Team USA Housing and not be allowed to march in the closing ceremony, he changed his mind and turned down NBC, the person close to the situation said.

“I am so flattered that NBC wanted me to work as a correspondent, but if I took this opportunity, I would have to leave the Olympic team and I would have to leave the (Olympic) Village," Rippon said on NBCSN. "It’s so important to me, you know, I worked so hard to be on this Olympic team, and my teammates and my friends were there for me during my events, and that meant so much to me, that I really feel like I need to be there for them during their events.

Rippon was offered a position by NBC after becoming one of the breakout stars of these Games, helping the Americans win a bronze in the team event.

Here's the Olympic live stream schedule for Monday

Olympic Bonus: US women's hockey team on to the final

For the fifth time in the last six Winter Olympics, the U.S. women’s hockey team will play for the gold medal. Team USA posted a 5-0 win against Finland in the semifinals to continue its quest to end Canada’s 16-year hold on gold in women’s hockey. The USA will play the winner of Monday's second semifinal between Canada and Russia (known there as the Olympic Athletes from Russia) in the gold medal game Thursday. The U.S. men's hockey team plays Slovakia at 10:10 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

4. Austin Dillon wins Daytona 500, drives No. 3 back to victory

The No. 3 is No. 1 again at Daytona, on a day, in a race and at a place forever linked with the great Dale Earnhardt. Austin Dillon won the Daytona 500 on Sunday night driving the iconic No. 3 Chevrolet that Earnhardt piloted for most of his career. Earnhardt was behind the wheel of No. 3 when he won his only Daytona 500 in 1998, and when he was killed in an accident on the final lap of the race three years later. Dillon's victory, in the 60th running of "The Great American Race," came 17 years to the day of Earnhardt's fatal crash.

5. Massive tree falls onto northwest Charlotte home

A family in northwest Charlotte is thankful to be alive after a massive tree crashed onto their home early Monday morning. Three people were inside a home at the intersection of East Todd Lane and Old Mount Holly Road when the tree fell, taking a huge part of the home’s roof with it. Fortunately, everyone inside the home was able to escape without injury.

“I opened my eyes, I heard a big boom, and then I could see the roof caving in on me all around me, except for my bed,” said one of the victims. To see photos, click here.

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