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UNC Chapel Hill | Mary C. Curtis

Local News Roundup: Political drama in Raleigh; New CLT flight paths approved; Bishop tapped for job by Trump; Belichick to UNC

Lawmakers in Raleigh override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of a bill that provides relief for those impacted by Hurricane Helene while also stripping power from top state Democrats. Critics have called the bill a power grab disguised as a relief measure.

Charlotte City Council has approved a plan to expand flight paths at Charlotte Douglas International Airport to 27, aimed at dispersing noise more effectively. There are now eight flight paths. Two members voted against the plan, citing a lack of transparency from the city and the airport.

After losing his election for North Carolina attorney general, former North Carolina Rep. Dan Bishop has been tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to be deputy director for budget at the Office of Management and Budget. He will have to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

And the North Carolina Board of Elections says it will not order a full hand recount of ballots in the race for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat after a partial recount resulted in more votes for the leading candidate, Democrat Allison Riggs. Entering the recount, Riggs led Republican Jefferson Griffin by about 700 votes out of nearly 5.5 million cast.

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 political reporter
Ryan Pitkin, cofounder and editor of Queen City Nerve
Hunter Sáenz, WSOC-TV reporter

Local News Roundup: Budget Spat Between CMS, County Resolved; Hannah-Jones Turns Down UNC, Delta Variant Becomes Dominant

On the Local News Roundup: the budget impasse between Mecklenburg County and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has been resolved. CMS will get the $56 million in retained funds — and more.

Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones rejects UNC Chapel Hill’s delayed offer of tenure after a weekslong debate. The Chapel Hill alum opts to teach at Howard University, instead.

Just when we start reopening from the COVID-19 pandemic, the highly contagious delta variant emerges as the dominant strain in the nation. Meanwhile, COVID-related hospitalization in Mecklenburg County are at all-time lows.

And Mecklenburg County health director Gibbie Harris announces she’s retiring at the end of the year.

Our roundtable of reporters fills us in on those stories and more.

Guests

Claire Donnelly, WFAE health reporter

Nick Ochsner, WBTV’s executive producer for investigations & chief investigative reporter

Mary C. Curtis, columnist for CQ Roll Call and host of its podcast “Equal Time with Mary C. Curtis,” and a senior leader with The OpEd Project.

Hunter Saenz, WCNC reporter

DNC 2012 Notebook: Southern-fried pessimism intrudes on the party

Meet the new South, which has some of the same problems as the old South.

It’s undeniable that a black mayor welcoming a black president into a city can tout skyscrapers, sports and a thriving arts scene. But despite those signs of growth, in the region that has gained political prominence — both parties chose the South for their national conventions — some intractable challenges remain, especially for the poor and the young.

Let’s put it this way: Despite the goodies, a weekend brunch for journalists, with a lineup of experts, was demoralizing. Held at the Charlotte Observer, the topic was “The South and Presidential Politics 2012: Red States and Purple States.” The moderator was PBS’ Judy Woodruff, a Duke grad. The panel was UNC Chapel Hill all the way.