Local News Roundup: Early voting begins in Mecklenburg; Possible new life for the Red Line; Social District vote Monday; Mecklenburg Commissioners support Israel

Featured at WFAE

Early in-person voting started this week in Charlotte, just a few weeks before Election Day on November 7. What races will bring you to the polls? Be sure to bring your ID.

As President Biden visited Israel this week, Mecklenburg County Commissioners passed a resolution to support Israel and condemn terrorism.

Charlotte City Council’s vote on a new social district will happen on Monday. We give a preview.

Charlotte Area Transit System’s long-planned Red Line commuter train may have a future in Mecklenburg and Iredell counties. We’ll discuss the letter Norfolk Southern sent to the city.

Gov. Roy Cooper sued the North Carolina GOP members this week after an overhaul to the state’s election boards removed gubernatorial power.

And global soccer star Lionel Messi may play against Charlotte FC this weekend at Charlotte’s final home game. This has many fans very excited.

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”
· Joe Bruno, WSOC-TV reporter
· Ann Doss Helms, WFAE education reporter

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Oct202023 TAGS: , , , , , , , ,

Local News Roundup: redistricting continues, another high school lockdown, new nondiscrimination ordinance for Mecklenburg

Featured at WFAE

On the Local News Roundup, the redistricting process continues for state and local elections. Legislators get into the nitty-gritty of drawing state Senate and House districts while Mecklenburg County Commission reviews three possible maps for local districts.

A local Charlotte high school goes on lockdown after a gun is found on campus. One student is arrested and charged following a shooting near the school.

Volleyball players at Olympic High are benched for participating in a protest over sexual assault.

And, Mecklenburg County passes its own LGBTQ nondiscrimination ordinance.

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

Guests

Steve Harrison, WFAE’s political reporter

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

Joe Bruno, WSOC-TV reporter

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

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Oct082021 TAGS: , , , , , , , ,

Mary C. Curtis: NC Gains Seat in Congress After 2020 Census

Featured at WCCB Rising

CHARLOTTE, NC — North Carolina has gained another seat in congress based on new census data.

The state will get a 14th seat in the house, which means North Carolina is also gaining an electoral vote.

WCCB Political Contributor Mary C. Curtis is breaking it all down.

You can catch Mary C. Curtis on Sunday nights at 6:30 PM on WCCB Charlotte’s CW discussing the biggest issues in local and national politics and also giving us a look at what’s ahead for the week.

You can also check out Mary’s podcast ‘Equal Time.’

Read the rest atWCCB Rising
Apr282021 TAGS: , , ,

POLITICAL WRAP: Candidates in North Carolina; Final Presidential Debate

Featured at WCCB Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two weeks and two days until the November 3rd election.

Millions across the country have already voted early, including more than 98,000 people in Mecklenburg County.

The candidates are in our area this week, fighting for any voters who remain undecided.

President Trump will hold a rally in Gastonia on Wednesday, while former Vice President Joe Biden spent the day Sunday in Durham.

Our political contributor Mary C. Curtis has more in the video above.

Read the rest atWCCB Charlotte
Oct182020 TAGS: , , , , , , , ,

Mary C. Curtis: Lawmakers Work On Police Reform Legislation

Featured at WCCB Rising

CHARLOTTE, NC — WCCB political contributor Mary C. Curtis talks police reform as lawmakers of both parties work on a legislation.

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Jun172020 TAGS: , , , , , ,

Charlotte Talks Local News Roundup: Phase 1 Begins; NC Behind On Testing; Proposed City Budget

Featured at WFAE

On the next Charlotte Talks local news roundup …

We take a look at the latest on the coronavirus outbreak and its impact in Mecklenburg County and beyond.

Today is May 8, the day Gov. Roy Cooper has declared an end to North Carolina’s stay-at-home order as we currently know it. Stay-at-home is still in effect, but with fewer restrictions. At 5 p.m., we begin Phase 1 of the governor’s plan to reopen the state. We’ll talk about what that means here in Mecklenburg County and beyond, and how local businesses are preparing to get back to work.

And while we’re making moves to open up the state again, a COVID-19 tracking project shows that North Carolina does not rank well when it comes to testing for the virus — and experts say testing is the key to stopping the spread. So what does the state say about our 45 out of 50 ranking? We’ll discuss.

Charlotte City Manager Marcus Jones recommended the city budget for next year, and included no tax increases or furloughs or layoffs for city workers. The plan also includes no losses in city services. We’ll go over the details.

Although the announcement was made in recent weeks that schools in North Carolina were closed due to the coronavirus, distance learning has continued across the state — for some. How are educators and school officials reaching those students who may otherwise fall through the cracks?

Schools in North Carolina will open a week earlier next year, on August 17. That announcement was part of a COVID-19 response plan signed by the governor this week. What will that mean for educators and families here and around the state?

Host Mike Collins brings those stories and much more along with area journalists.

Guests:

Mary C. Curtis, columnist for Rollcall.com and WCCB 

Jonathan Lowe, anchor/ reporter for Spectrum News

Joe Bruno, WSOC-TV Reporter

Ann Doss Helms, WFAE Education Reporter

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May082020 TAGS: , , , ,

Mary C. Curtis: Phase 1 of North Carolina’s Reopening Plan

Featured at WCCB Rising

CHARLOTTE, NC — This week, North Carolina will take a step toward reopening the state.

Governor Roy Cooper says phase one of reopening starts Friday.

WCCB political contributor Mary C. Curtis breaks down the plan and what it means moving forward.

Read the rest atWCCB Rising
May062020 TAGS: , , , ,

Charlotte Talks Local News Roundup: Coronavirus Now Present In Mecklenburg; Mass Cancellations

Featured at WFAE

There are more diagnosed cases of the coronavirus (which has now been officially named a pandemic by the World Health Organization) this week, including two so far here in Mecklenburg County.

President Trump has halted travel from most European countries. Gov. Roy Cooper has declared a state of emergency for North Carolina, and the Mecklenburg County Health Department is making preparations. Airlines are slashing the number of flights, and several entities are talking about intensifying their cleaning efforts (including Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, Charlotte Area Transit System and Charlotte Douglas International Airport).

Universities in North Carolina and around the country are suspending classes or moving them online, and CMS has stopped all field trips. We’ll give you the latest.

The Hawthorne Lane Bridge has an estimated completion date for later this month, but the project looks months away from being ready. What are officials saying?

And we’ll have local reaction to this week’s primaries.

A panel of local journalists will discuss these stories and more on the local news roundup.

Guests:

Glenn Burkins, founder and publisher of Qcitymetro.com

Mary C. Curtis, columnist for Rollcall.com and WCCB

Joe Bruno, WSOC-TV reporter

Ann Doss Helms, WFAE education reporter

Claire Donnelly, WFAE health care reporter

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Mar132020 TAGS: , , , ,

Takeaways From Election Night 2019

Featured at WCCB Rising

CHARLOTTE, NC  —Voters in Mecklenburg county reject one of the biggest items on Tuesday’s ballot, a quarter-cent sales tax increase.

The sales tax would have generated an estimated $50 million a year for the arts, parks and schools.

As for the mayor’s race incumbent Democrat Vi Lyles has been re-elected for a second term.

She easily beat republican challenger David Rice.

Political contributor Mary C. Curtis discusses some of the biggest takeaways from the election.

Read the rest atWCCB Rising
Nov062019 TAGS: , , , ,

North Carolina’s Republican Party is having an identity crisis

Featured at Roll Call

OPINION — All eyes with be on North Carolina next year, when the Republican Party holds its 2020 convention in Charlotte to nominate President Donald Trump for a second term. In truth, though, the state has been the center of attention for a while because of actions of party members — and the gaze has not been kind.

Read the rest atRoll Call
Jun132019 TAGS: , , , , , , ,
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