Local News Roundup: CMS complies with NC Parents’ Bill of Rights; Fentanyl overdoses are up; Mark Robinson speaks in Charlotte; Panthers prepare to host Detroit

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This week, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools became one of the first North Carolina school systems to comply with the new North Carolina Parents’ Bill of Rights. We’ll hear parent reactions and get an update on “back to school” since CMS starts classes on Monday.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department says overdose deaths in Mecklenburg County have gone up 20% so far this year, and the fentanyl crisis continues to grow.

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a Republican candidate for governor, visited Charlotte this week to speak to the Charlotte Rotary.

Might Charlotte finally be home to a social district? Smaller cities around the area have already made the move to social districts, but none have happened yet in Charlotte — but that soon could change. We’ll discuss Plaza Midwood’s efforts to form a social district and when the city might decide on approval.

Amid the vetoes, overrides, the lack of an approved budget and other issues, North Carolina Republicans are currently divided as lawmakers consider allowing casinos in the state.

The Carolina Panthers play the Detroit Lions in the preseason finale at Bank of America Stadium on Friday. Will we see a different outcome?

Mike Collins and our roundtable of reporters delve into those stories and more.

GUESTS:

Mary C. Curtis, columnist for Rollcall.com, host of the Rollcall podcast “Equal Time”

Erik Spanberg, managing editor for the Charlotte Business Journal

Ann Doss Helms, WFAE education reporter

Ely Portillo, WFAE senior editor

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Aug252023 TAGS: , , , , , , , , , , ,

WFAE All Things Considered NEXT UP: 6:30 PM Marketplace All Things Considered WFAE All Streams Charlotte Talks Charlotte Talks With Mike Collins Local News Roundup: Mark Meadows indicted; No Labels recognized in NC; Legislature overrides Gov. Cooper vetoes; Lyles endorses council candidate

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Mark Meadows, former North Carolina representative and White House chief of staff, is one of 19 people indicted by a grand jury in Georgia for allegedly attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Meadows is facing charges of racketeering and solicitation of violation of oath of a public officer. Others facing charges include former President Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani and North Carolina native and Trump lawyer Sidney Powell.

Elsewhere in politics, a group that may offer an alternative candidate in next year’s presidential election is officially on the ballot in North Carolina. No Labels is cochaired by former Charlotte mayor and North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory and may put forth a candidate of their own if Joe Biden and Donald Trump each win their party’s nomination. Critics worry this will help Trump win another term.

The North Carolina legislature has overridden several key gubernatorial vetoes.

A hot summer got even hotter this week with temperatures in the mid-90s and a heat index that topped 100 at times. Officials around Charlotte took steps to limit heat-related issues, including setting up cooling stations and assisting the unhoused.

UNC Charlotte football will be the subject of a documentary this fall on ESPN+. The 12-episode series will follow the team throughout the season. This is the first year the 49ers are playing in the American Athletic Conference.

And in a rare move, Mayor Vi Lyles endorses a candidate for city council.

Mike Collins and our roundtable of reporters dive into those stories and more on the next Charlotte Talks local news roundup.

GUESTS:

David Boraks, climate reporter at WFAE
Joe Bruno, reporter at WSOC-TV
Mary C. Curtis, columnist for Rollcall.com, host of the Rollcall podcast “Equal Time”
Nick Ochsner, WBTV’s executive producer for investigations & chief investigative reporter

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Aug182023 TAGS: , , , , , ,

Local News Roundup: COVID-19 numbers rise; City Council recommends esports venue for Eastland Yards; CATS Gold Line changes; Beyoncé in Charlotte

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COVID-19 numbers are on the rise in the area as cases and hospitalization numbers in the county are on a slight uptick.

Charlotte City Council’s Economic Development Committee votes to back a proposal for a new proposal at the Eastland Mall site that would bring esports, a concert venue and soccer fields.

We’ll bring you a Charlotte Area Transit System update as the city will soon have a new management system to run the bus system (currently the city contracts with RATP Dev.). CATS is also cutting back on its Gold Line service as the agency struggles to fill vacancies on its staff.

A 900-pound longhorn bull captivated our attention this week by evading authorities in West Charlotte. Will it be caught by show time?

Aaron Rodgers and the Jets are in town this week, first for joint practices with the Panthers, and this weekend, for a pre-season game. How do we look?

And Beyoncé, otherwise known as “Queen Bey,” takes on the Queen City. We’ll give highlights of her Wednesday night concert.

Mike Collins and our roundtable of reporters delve into those stories and more, on the Charlotte Talks local news roundup.

GUESTS:

Mary C. Curtis, columnist for Rollcall.com, host of the Rollcall podcast “Equal Time”
Steve Harrison, WFAE’s political reporter
Shamarria Morrison, WCNC reporter
David Boraks, WFAE’s climate reporter

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Aug112023 TAGS: , , , , , ,

Local News Roundup: Elyse Dashew will not seek another term as CMS Board Chair; City Council rejects zoning petitions in a rare move; LYNX Blue Line repair price tag doubles

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The Charlotte Area Transit System’s new price tag for repairs to the LYNX Blue Line is nearly $60 million. That’s almost double the original estimated cost discussed this spring. In addition, that work will take longer.

Mayor Vi Lyles cast a rare tiebreaking vote Monday night at City Council. After a testy discussion and several deadlocks, City Council ultimately voted down several rezoning petitions — a rare occurrence.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools board chair Elyse Dashew announced this week she won’t seek a third term.

Newly-unsealed documents suggest that the missing Cornelius child Madalina Cojocari could be a trafficking victim.

And although we don’t hear much about cases these days, COVID-19 is still with us. Gov. Roy Cooper announced this week that he’s tested positive and will be working from home.

Mike Collins and our roundtable of reporters delve into those stories and more, on the Charlotte Talks local news roundup.

GUESTS:

Mary C. Curtis, columnist for Rollcall.com, host of the Rollcall podcast “Equal Time”
Steve Harrison, political reporter at WFAE
Shamarria Morrison, WCNC reporter
Ely Portillo, senior editor at WFAE

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Jul222023 TAGS: , ,

North Carolina and the Supreme Court

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The U.S. Supreme Court has finished handing down decisions for the term, and this year North Carolina was at the center of some major rulings.

The court ruled against the University of North Carolina and Harvard in a case involving affirmative action, effectively ending the programs across the country. We discuss the impact.

Elsewhere, in a case that some say had a massive impact on the future of American democracy, the Supreme Court ruled against North Carolina on the independent state legislature theory. Had the ruling gone the other way, state courts would no longer have oversight over state elections. What does this mean for the future of this fringe theory?

Lastly, why is North Carolina at the center of these fights? Is it just a coincidence, or does it say more about the state’s political landscape?

We delve into these questions on the next Charlotte Talks.

GUESTS:

Michael Bitzer, professor of politics and history at Catawba College

Mary C. Curtis, columnist for Roll Call and host of the Roll Call podcast “Equal Time”

Chris Parker, associate professor of political science and pre-law advisor at the University of Rhode Island

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Jul112023 TAGS: , , ,

Local News Roundup: a milestone for the proposed Charlotte tennis complex; a crack in a beam at Carowinds shuts down ride; a lawsuit against Tim Moore is resolved; USMNT comes to the Queen City

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The proposed tennis complex slated for Charlotte needs funding from local government to go through. We discuss where the project stands after a milestone this week.

A crack in a support beam on the largest roller coaster at Carowinds forces it to shut down while repairs are made.

A lawsuit against North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore has been resolved. He had faced allegations of destroying a marriage and exchanging sex for political favors.

And, for the first time, the U.S. men’s national soccer team played in Charlotte, beating Trinidad & Tobago 6-0 in the Gold Cup group stage. More than 40,000 fans showed up for the match. What does this mean for the future of international soccer in the Queen City?

Guest host Erik Spanberg and our panel of guests discuss those and other top stories from the week on the next Charlotte Talks.

GUESTS:

Joe Bruno, WSOC-TV reporter

Mary C. Curtis, columnist for Rollcall.com, host of the Rollcall podcast “Equal Time”

Ely Portillo, senior editor at WFAE News

Alexandria Sands, reporter with Axios Charlotte

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Jul072023 TAGS: , ,

Local News Roundup: Officials look for answers after Charlotte Preparatory fire; Vi Lyles announces reelection campaign; SCOTUS hands down decisions impacting NC cases

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There are millions of dollars of damage at Charlotte Preparatory School after a fire ripped through the building this week. Reports say there were no sprinklers in the section of the building where the fire broke out.

Touting her record on jobs and affordable housing, Mayor Vi Lyles has announced she’s running for another term. The Democrat has held the position since 2017.

The U.S. Supreme Court struck a blow to North Carolina Republicans, rejecting their argument for the independent state legislature theory that would have restricted the power states courts have over elections.

And the North Carolina legislature has revamped its abortion bill that was already vetoed by Gov. Roy Cooper. We explore the changes and what they mean for access to health care in the state.

Those stories and more on this week’s Charlotte Talks local news roundup.

GUESTS:

Joe Bruno, WSOC-TV reporter

Mary C. Curtis, columnist for Rollcall.com, host of the Rollcall podcast “Equal Time”

Ann Doss Helms, WFAE education reporter

Nick Ochsner, WBTV reporter

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Jun302023 TAGS: , , , ,

Local News Roundup: How did NC delegation vote in debt ceiling deal? Protest over CMS boundaries; video released of CATS bus shooting; County narrowly approves CMS bond request

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How did North Carolina’s congressional delegation vote on the debt ceiling deal?

The controversy surrounding the southern Mecklenburg County Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools boundary changes continues as students and parents form a human chain in protest of the proposed changes in boundaries in that part of the district.

Video released this week shows the moment when a Charlotte Area Transit System driver and a passenger shot at each other on a moving bus last month, showing the argument that happened leading up to the shooting.

Charlotte Fire officials are discussing new potential fire-prevention requirements at construction sites after a massive, deadly fire at an apartment building under construction in SouthPark last month.

And Mecklenburg County Commissioners are split on CMS’ request for a $2.5 billion bond package, which narrowly won approval in the budget straw vote this week.

Mike Collins and our roundtable of reporters delve into those stories and more, on the Charlotte Talks local news roundup.

GUESTS:

Erik Spanberg, managing editor for the Charlotte Business Journal
Mary C. Curtis, columnist for Rollcall.com, host of the Rollcall podcast “Equal Time”
Hunter Saenz, WSOC-TV Reporter
Ely Portillo, Senior Editor at WFAE News

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Jun022023 TAGS: , , , ,

WFAE’s EQUALibrium Live conversation on advancing maternal health equity

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The maternal mortality crisis continues to impact the country.

The U.S. has the highest number of pregnancy-related deaths of any developed nation. During the pandemic, those numbers increased. In North Carolina in particular, maternal health gets poor marks. The numbers here, and around the country, are astounding.

Why do Americans continue to die during childbirth? And what resources do expecting parents have to combat the crisis?

Last week, WFAE set out to shine a light on maternal health in North Carolina and around the U.S. with an important conversation.

Through our partnership with the Novant Health Foundation, WFAE presented “EQUALibrium Live: Advancing Maternal Health Equity” hosted by Mary C. Curtis. The discussion explored birth equity, such as accessible prenatal care, and talked about what needs to be done to improve infant and maternal health nationally and in North Carolina.

Panelists:

Dr. Jacquelyn McMillian-Bohler, certified midwife and the director for educational excellence at Duke University School of Nursing
Rebecca Severin, maternal health innovation program supervisor for the Division of Public Health, Maternal Health Branch
Dr. Jaleema Nanton Speaks, obstetrics and gynecology specialist at Novant Health in Winston-Salem
Lisa Lefler, director, culturally-based Native Health Programs at Western Carolina University

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May312023 TAGS: , ,

Local News Roundup: Break Point proposal in River District; County tax hike probable; No 4-year terms for council; Cooper on statewide tour on abortion veto

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Gov. Cooper visits Davidson to talk about his plans to veto the abortion bill on his desk, saying he just needs one Republican member to defect and vote to keep his veto.

City and County officials are considering plans for an international tennis tournament project in the River District, west of the airport. Project Break Point would be a public-private partnership and developers hope it would be the home of the Western and Southern Open.

Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio says additional funds are needed to fund all the county’s proposed projects in the upcoming budget, which means a property tax is likely. The budget will be presented next week.

This week – the Charlotte City Council voted against holding a referendum this year on four-year terms.

We’ll have more information on last week’s story about the hotel and food taxes that Mecklenburg County legislators proposed to be extended.

And the naming rights are up soon at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

Mike Collins and our roundtable of reporters delve into those stories and more, on the Charlotte Talks local news roundup.

GUESTS:

Mary C. Curtis, columnist for Rollcall.com, host of the Rollcall podcast “Equal Time”
Steve Harrison, WFAE’s political reporter
Joe Bruno, WSOC-TV reporter
Shamarria Morrison, WCNC reporter

Charlotte Talks With Mike Collins

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May122023 TAGS: , ,
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