Charlotte Talks

Major League Soccer has wrapped up its regular season. Charlotte FC finished fourth in the Eastern Conference and last weekend beat the league's best team — Philadelphia — to secure home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Crown will go into that game without one of its best players and will call on younger players to step up. A look at what to expect, this team's importance to Charlotte and more.

The government shutdown rolls on and it is impacting North Carolina. The Senate is in session, but the House has been out for weeks. We'll catch up on what has been happening and not happening on Capitol Hill and consider the possible impact in Washington D.C. of North Carolina's plans to gerrymander districts for the midterms.

Early voting is underway in Charlotte's municipal elections. The only competitive district race on Charlotte City Council is the one in District 6, formerly represented by Tariq Bokhari, who stepped down. Now his wife, Krista, is running as a Republican against Democrat Kimberly Owens. Last week we spent time with Owens. Today, a conversation with Bokhari about why she wants the job.

On the next Charlotte Talks, an exploration of storytelling and what makes for a good story with award-winning storyteller Donna Washington.

There's another gerrymander as North Carolina lawmakers say they'll redraw districts to allow for one more Republican; an outside investigation clears Charlotte City Council of accusations of unethical, immoral or illegal conduct the CEO of LendingTree dies unexpectedly; and the Panthers have a chance at a winning record.

Early voting begins Thursday, and in Charlotte, races for city council, school board and mayor are on the ballot along with the transit referendum. We look at those and the integrity and security of the vote.

Mosquito-eating bats eat nearly their entire body weight in insects every night, but bats are under threat of extinction. This Halloween season, we look at efforts to reverse the trend.

Mecklenburg voters will decide on a referendum to levy a 1-cent sales tax to fund Charlotte's transit plan. That tax would generate nearly $20 billion over 30 years for various transit projects. Proponents say the time is now to make this critical decision. Others urge a no vote because of who will be hurt by rising taxes. We look at both sides.

Early voting starts Thursday in Charlotte's municipal elections. The only competitive race on the city council is in District 6, formerly represented by Tariq Bokhari, who stepped down. Now his wife, Krista, is running as a Republican against Democrat Kimberly Owens, who has been in Charlotte for more than 30 years, but this is her first time running for office. We sit down for a conversation about why she wants this job and more.

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis pushes back on Attorney General Pam Bondi, telling her he's struggling to make sense of National Guard Deployments. Charlotte hires a new city attorney. Charlotte City Council's Transportation and Planning Committee opts not to advance part of the process for forming a new transit authority. And a big proposal from Tepper Sports.

The stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte's light rail renewed conversations about the need for mental health treatment and led some leaders to examine the involuntary commitment process for people who pose a danger to themselves and others. A crime bill recently passed by the legislature takes steps in that direction and we examine how the involuntary commitment process works and where it might go wrong.

The Trump administration has issued confusing instructions about the causes of autism, including cautioning pregnant women not to take acetaminophen. Experts are pushing back, arguing those claims are misguided and insisting there is no causal link between Tylenol and autism. We look at the science behind this Tylenol claim and examine what autism really is.

Last year, robocalls cost Americans $158 billion in fraud and scams. Who are the people behind these calls? How do you protect yourself? We talk about that and about how the state of North Carolina is leading the charge to end them.

Mankind has always wondered if we're alone in the universe. Now, a Mars rover has found what looks like signs of life in the distant past on that planet. We'll explore that possibility and learn more about what scientists are doing as they search for other signs in a conversation with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.

A U.S. House subcommittee holds a hearing in Charlotte about crime and safety, state auditor Dave Boliek publishes a report on CATS security, Gov. Josh Stein calls on the General Assembly to make up a shortfall on Medicaid, and the impact of the federal government on North Carolina.

On the next Charlotte Talks, moving your garden into fall and preparing for winter. Some experts argue that fall is the best season to garden. We'll hear from some of those experts about fall gardening and what you should be doing right now.

Lawmakers were back in Raleigh last week. They passed a law in response to the murder of Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte's Blue Line train in August, but they didn't tackle the budget and if the House and Senate don't come to an agreement on Medicaid, thousands could lose access to care. Meanwhile, the redistricting debate could be hitting North Carolina.

On this Charlotte Talks, we talk about our state constitution. Fewer than 1 in 10 North Carolinians say they are familiar with what our constitution outlines. One in 5 admits they are not at all familiar with it. This comes from a survey conducted by YouGov, and we dig into the results, take a closer look at our state constitution and its impact on our daily lives.

Violent extremist movements continue to thrive in online spaces. We examine how extreme ideologies spread, why young people are increasingly recruited into violent ideology and what's being done to push back.

The murder of Iryna Zarutska continues to reverberate. In Raleigh, lawmakers pass a crime bill with her name on it and in Charlotte, a vigil is held in her memory. Elsewhere, J.D. Vance visited Concord to focus on the administration's commitment to state and local law enforcement. Plus, on the first anniversary of Hurricane Helene, the federal government releases millions in relief funding.

Free speech in America is under scrutiny, from Jimmy Kimmel's suspension to calls for employers to punish speech deemed offensive. We examine the blurred lines between free expression, hate speech and censorship.

Over the last several decades, areas of North Carolina became news deserts where finding local news was difficult, if not impossible. Mostly, that happened in rural areas. During disasters, a lack of news can result in the spread of misinformation, making it harder to get help and increase distrust of those who really do help.

A year after Hurricane Helene, we look at the environmental changes that led to the storm and the environmental impact of the aftermath of that storm.

After many ups and downs, the film industry in North Carolina is making gains. Last year, film and TV productions here generated more than $302 million in direct in-state spending and Charlotte is taking in some of that money with productions like "The Hunting Wives," "Roofman," "Bad Counselors" and "Top Chef" shooting here. We take a closer look at what this means for our economy, culture and workforce.

Queens and Elon universities announce plans to merge, Mecklenburg County Commissioners approve agreements to create a new MTC if voters approve a transit tax, Congress plans to hold a hearing on crime here in Charlotte following the murder of a Ukrainian refugee on the Blue Line, and Charlotte FC aims to make history this weekend.

Meet two of the master minds behind running creatively crafted restaurants in repurposed historic buildings right here in Charlotte. We'll sit down with Jamie Brown and Jeff Tonidandel, who are about to be spotlighted in a 10-part PBS TV series, "Fork & Hammer."

Improving test scores has been a focus of educators at CMS. The pandemic did a number on those scores and the struggle to raise them up has been daunting, but last year showed marked improvement with 72% of students hitting their benchmarks. Still, they fell short of expectations. So, we take a dive into the numbers, look at tools to improve learning, and more.

We get guidance on who is eligible and how to get the latest COVID-19 vaccine.

Triangle-based Duke Health has crossed into the Piedmont region, expanding its footprint into Atrium Health and Novant Health territory. Duke acquired Lake Norman Regional in Mooresville in April and will rebrand the hospital as Duke Health Lake Norman. What will this mean for health care?

The stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska on the Blue Line is getting national attention and a response from the White House. That comes as city elections take place. The results are in, and we'll catch you up. Last week, CMS announced good news for testing, but this week brings more sobering news: nationwide declines in 12th grade math and reading scores. In short, they are abysmal. Plus, Charlotte FC goes for history.

Ben Greene, a trans man, speaker and author of "My Child Is Trans, Now What?," is on a mission to bring joy, humor and humanity into the conversation about raising and supporting trans children. Greene will share his philosophy of “joy-centered” storytelling, why he wrote his book, and what he's learned speaking with families across the country.

We examine the results of Charlotte's primary election as the city gains national attention, including from President Trump, over a stabbing death on the Blue Line in South End.

Hurricane Helene took a severe toll on western North Carolina's art scene, but it also resulted in uplifting stories of recovery.

Few people understand the struggles and power of newspapers better than Rob Christensen, who spent decades at North Carolina's capital newspaper as chief political reporter. In his latest book, he recounts how The News & Observer shaped modern North Carolina in ways both profound and eyebrow-raising.

Fallout continues over a stabbing on the Lynx Blue Line as the mayor calls a special meeting of the MTC. The Charlotte municipal primary is less than a week away and turnout has been less than stellar. New state testing data is out and we look at where CMS stands, and the Panthers kick off a new season.

This weekend, the Carolina Panthers return to regular-season NFL action with high hopes to improve their standing in the NFC South. The pressure is on for third-year quarterback Bryce Young and coach Dave Canales to deliver after a slight roster shake-up on offense and defense. The Panthers haven't made it to the playoffs in seven years. Will this be the year?

Author Dan Fesperman, who grew up in Charlotte and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is no stranger to dangerous situations. He was a foreign correspondent for the Baltimore Sun and reported from Europe and the Middle East. He now writes thrillers full-time. He'll be in Charlotte at Park Road Books on Sept. 4 to discuss his new novel Pariah.

Among the concerns some parents have heading into the new school year is whether there will be an ICE presence at their child's school. That includes CMS, where community members have expressed concern — even though board members say ICE can't enter campus without a subpoena or warrant. Still, anxiety remains. We explore that and dive into some of the legal questions around this issue.

As NPR founding mother Susan Stamberg prepares to retire, we revisit a special conversation with Mike Collins. Stamberg came to Charlotte in 2017 and joined us for a conversation about her early years in public radio, working in a male-dominated field, and her thoughts on the future of radio.

A fatal stabbing has officials concerned not only about crime but also its potential impact this incident might have on the transit vote in November. The CMS school year is underway, North Carolina's legislature is back in Raleigh, but won't vote on a budget, and the Panthers have traded a star.

The Biden administration had planned for the most generous repayment plan in history, but the Trump administration is moving in a different direction. We examine the system in flux and how to navigate it.

For the first time in more than a decade, Mecklenburg County has a new manager. Mike Bryant stepped into the role in June following Dena Diorio's retirement, but he's been involved in local government for three decades and served as the county's deputy manager.

The "P.T. Barnum of motorsports," Humpy Wheeler, died last week at the age of 86. He made immeasurable contributions to NASCAR and the sport of racing and that means he made immeasurable contributions to Charlotte and the region. He was a character, the likes of which we may never see again. We listen back to a conversation we had with Humpy Wheeler, to remind us of who he was and what we've lost.

Last year, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children logged more than a half million reports of online enticement, manipulation and sextortion of children. This school year, districts are helping students spot this dangerous trend. We hear from a survivor of online grooming and those working to prevent it.

Hurricane Erin is causing concern as rough seas hit the coast, a second sheriff's deputy resigns, echoing concerns of a previous deputy about Garry McFadden's leadership, the Black Political Caucus endorses Joi Mayo over Tiawana Brown for Charlotte City Council and Charlotte FC is the hottest team in Major League Soccer.