Charlotte has until October 5 to accept toll lanes on I-77 South or repay the state for what it has already spent — a 90-day clock started by a provision slipped into July's state budget. The regional planning body has already rescinded its support and votes again next month; Charlotte's council could take it up September 14. But the penalty at the center of the whole thing has now been reported three different ways: $60 million at yesterday's meeting, $64 million on this show, and a $64–80 million range in Axios. This episode says plainly which one we aired and admits we still can't confirm it. We're not alone — Matthews Mayor John Higdon said out loud in that meeting, "I'd like to know where that number came from." NCDOT's position is that this isn't a fine at all, and that argument gets its due. But a repayment nobody can size is a threat with a blank space where the amount goes. Plus: what changes at CMS with school five days out, the teacher-raise math underneath the vacancy numbers, and Charlotte FC drops two points to ten men.

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Sources this episode: WFAE, WCCB Charlotte, Axios Charlotte, WBTV, Toronto FC, The Associated Press

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