Charlotte Talks With Mike Collins

For the first time in years, Charlotte may get snow. We detail the forecast. In the election that will not end, the NC Supreme Court has ruled the State Board of Elections should not yet certify a victory for a Democrat. Gov. Josh Stein continues to issue executive orders related to Helene relief. Plus, baby steps in improvement for Charlotte sports.

On the next Charlotte Talks, a look at the challenges, opportunities and issues facing Charlotte City Council this year.

On this episode of Charlotte Talks, a look at what the promise of the largest deportation in American history may mean for those singled out by the incoming Trump administration.

A year after a shooting marred New Year's celebrations Uptown, how did the event fare this year? Meanwhile, the Queen City remembers Jimmy Carter and his impact on the Charlotte area. Plus, Josh Stein takes the oath of office. That and more on the first local news roundup of 2025.

In 2024, North Carolina witnessed political scandals around Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. The state chose Democrat Josh Stein to be the next governor and Republican Donald Trump for president. Meanwhile, Democrats narrowly broke the GOP supermajority in the General Assembly, but a recent bill strips some high-ranking Democrats of power. A look back at 2024 politics in North Carolina — and what to expect in 2025.

For decades, most Americans got local news from newspapers, but the digital revolution destroyed a business model that paid for that coverage. Daily newspaper circulation has declined from 60 million in the 1990s to about 20 million today. Newspapers continue to downsize and shutter nationwide. We examine the alarming trend and look at startups attempting to fill the void.

Construction in Charlotte broke records in 2024 with 16,000 apartment units completed. That doubles the number from a couple of years ago. Meanwhile, for homebuyers, inventory is also increasing, but affordability is still a challenge. Then there's the murky future of commercial property.

A figure in conservative politics in North Carolina, he helped Ronald Reagan win the Republican presidential primary here in 1976, and worked closely with U.S. Senator Jesse Helms. But Helms’ legacy is tied to his support for racial segregation, and his “White Hands” TV ad is infamous in political history. In a new book, Wrenn gives an inside perspective into decades of conservative politics.

UNC-Chapel Hill professor and author Melissa Jacoby on how the bankruptcy system can take advantage of the poor and be used as a tool for those who have done wrong to skirt responsibility.

On the next Charlotte Talks, the efforts Charlotte has put into improving economic opportunity may be paying off. The bar was set by Raj Chetty’s study on economic mobility, and he explains the latest metrics.

Congress squabbles over a stopgap bill as Helene aid hangs in the balance, Gov. Cooper makes his farewell address and Charlotte hires an interim attorney. Those stories and more on the Charlotte Talks local news roundup.

Outgoing state Sen. Natasha Marcus represented Mecklenburg District 41 for three terms and shares her thoughts on that time and her concerns for the future.

Doing the right thing can often be costly for those calling out a wrong others would like concealed. We hear from a whistleblower about that cost and what makes it worth it.

We take a look at the difference Medicaid expansion has made in the lives of North Carolinians, discuss the state’s outreach to the newly qualified, and whether we can expect changes to the program in Trump’s second term.

Household debt in this country is high — and getting higher. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, it increased by $150 billion in the third quarter of this year alone. There are those carrying a lot of debt from student loans to credit cards to car and personal loans, but personal finance author and Charlotte resident Bernadette Joy says there is a way out.

Lawmakers in Raleigh move to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of a bill that would strip power from the incoming Democrats. City Council approves expanding flight paths over Charlotte. North Carolina Rep. Dan Bishop is tapped to join President-elect Trump's administration. And the North Carolina Board of Elections makes some important decisions

After Hurricane Helene, we all witnessed what it was like when the municipal water supply in Asheville stopped working. Eventually, the water was turned back on, the boil water notice lifted, and no lead or other contaminants were found. Still, it will take years to fully recover. And there are other challenges facing drinking water statewide, including from private wells.

On the next Charlotte Talks, the popularity of true crime stories and the ethics of reporting and consuming them.

Following World War II, North Carolina recognized a need for education beyond high school, but shy of a four-year degree. That led to the creation of community colleges. Now, 70 years later, there are 58 community colleges in N.C. and funding is increasing to accommodate growth. We take a look at what’s driving that enrollment, how these schools provide workforce development, and how they help adult learners.

When you think of contributions to the visual arts in the 20th century, New York City and Europe might come to mind. But the South has made its own artistic contributions. And the Mint Museum Uptown is showing over 100 paintings and prints exploring the social history of the period. We talk about this intersection of art and history and what we can learn from it.