Charlotte Talks

Housing has been a challenge in Charlotte with the city struggling to balance growth and affordability. Historian Tom Hanchett explains in his new book how policymakers and advocates have wrestled with this issue for decades. Hanchett joins us to discuss the history of housing policy in the region and how Charlotte can do better.

Reparations for African Americans has long been a sticking point for a redress to this nation's reckoning with both its historical wrongs and its contemporary consequences. Experts on the matter weigh in on the practicality and economics of reparations.

CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings releases details of his settlement with the city and says he will retire at the end of the year. Ardrey Kell parents want more transparency from CMS after the principal is suspended. The Trump administration is suing North Carolina over voter registration records, and the CIAA will not bring its basketball tournaments back to Charlotte.

On the next Charlotte Talks, coming and goings, controversy and conflict — even an indictment. All of that is swirling around Charlotte City Council. We take a deep dive and answer your questions.

For years, foreign adversaries have worked to spread misinformation. The German Marshall Fund found that Russia, China and others are becoming more effective at it, targeting state and local governments. North Carolina is one of those targets, and social media is aiding the spread.

On the next Charlotte Talks, we look at the treatment, screening and testing options for prostate cancer patients. We also look at promising new treatment research recently released by Duke University and hear from a prostate cancer survivor.

Dr. Brian Klausner says the time has come to address the problem of homelessness, but it will require solutions grounded in our shared ideals and values. His book, "In the Gaps: Better Understanding the Expensive Human Suffering of Chronic Homelessness," addresses how we can come together to help this population and society as a whole.

Charlotte City Council member Tiawana Brown faces federal charges, the N.C. state auditor announced an investigation into a reported settlement between Charlotte and CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings, and Mecklenburg County celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Meck Dec.

Russ Ferguson was appointed shortly after President Trump took office this year. He leads an office of nearly 100 federal prosecutors and support personnel serving 32 counties. We talk about his priorities as U.S. attorney, including eliminating cartels, reducing drug trafficking, violent crime and more.

A look at Mecklenburg County's proposed budget, a possible property tax increase and County Manager Dena Diorio's time in office.

On the next Charlotte Talks, if legend is correct, the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence turns 250 on Tuesday. It predates the Philadelphia declaration by a year and is a much beloved and much debated piece of Charlotte history. Questions swirl: Did the declaration really exist? Was the oft-quoted text actually part of the Mecklenburg Resolves? Did the wording influence Thomas Jefferson?

Online sports gambling was legalized statewide in March 2024. As wagers increased, so did calls to a hotline for those seeking help. Who is at risk for problem gambling? How can they get support?

The fallout continues over a reported settlement with CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings. The CMS board speaks out after ICE detains a man near Charlotte East Language Academy. Allison Riggs is officially sworn in to her state Supreme Court seat, and the PGA Championship comes to Charlotte this weekend.

On the next Charlotte Talks, a conversation with Mo Green, North Carolina's state superintendent. Green, a Democrat, defeated Republican Michele Morrow in a highly contentious race in November. We find out how he's approaching the job — and meeting parents, students and teachers where they are.

Constitutionally, North Carolina's governor has little power compared to other states. Recently, the Republican-controlled General Assembly has made moves to take away even more power. While legal questions about these moves remain, we look at what these attempts mean for the future of how our state government operates.

On the next Charlotte Talks, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina has asked for federal recognition for decades. Could the Trump administration be the answer?

The PGA Championship returns to Charlotte, bringing the world's top golfers to Quail Hollow. We preview the tournament with organizer insights, and cover everything from players to watch to the local impact on the economy and tourism.

Republican North Carolina Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin concedes. The Charlotte city budget is proposed, but a closed-door meeting to settle a potential lawsuit overshadows that announcement. After years of waiting, REAL ID goes into effect, and the Charlotte Checkers are moving through the Calder Cup playoffs.

The Public Safety Training Facility coming to CPCC's Matthews campus is a collaboration with Mecklenburg County's first responder agencies including the sheriff's office, CMPD, fire and MEDIC. But some community members have pushed back — something that has happened in other communities over similar facilities. We hear from the college and law enforcement about what to expect.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles and City Manager Marcus Jones talk about the proposed budget, transit plan and much more.

Over 600 leaders of universities and colleges recently signed a statement for “constructive engagement” as the result of conflict between the government and higher education. Particularly concerning are cuts in funding for research, student visa status and DEI. On the next Charlotte Talks, we hear from Davidson College President Doug Hicks about the pressures facing educational institutions.

Last year in North Carolina, there was a domestic-violence–related homicide every four days on average. In fact, such homicides have increased nearly 70% since 2018. We look at the root causes of domestic violence, its rise and what's being done to address it.

A look back at the one-year anniversary of the deadliest day for law enforcement in Charlotte history, Charlotte City Council begins its search for a replacement for Tariq Bokhari, and Mecklenburg County is at the center of the immigration debate in North Carolina.

Historically Black colleges and universities have played a vital role in educating generations of students. But today, enrollment among Black males at HBCUs is at its lowest level since the mid-1970s. Studies indicate that when Black men disengage from HBCUs and higher education, the consequences are far-reaching. We examine the impact, why this is happening, what schools are doing to combat it and more.

On the next Charlotte Talks, a conversation with Brandon Jones, the Catawba Riverkeeper. Debris from Hurricane Helene — and the continuous cleanup effort from that storm. We'll also get an update on the environmental and physical impact on the river and what's left to be done. Plus, water safety.

This week marks the 100th day of the second Trump administration — time Donald Trump has used to make good on many of his promises: deporting migrants, slashing government agencies, and taking aim at diversity initiatives. But he hasn't reduced inflation. He hasn't ended the war in Ukraine. And the markets are in turmoil. Public opinion is also down. We look at what's transpired, and the impact here and worldwide.

On the next Charlotte Talks, we explore the fallout from the Trump administration's cuts to college and university research funding, with a focus on what's happening right here in Charlotte.

The CMS Board of Education approves a $2.1 billion budget, the latest in the Riggs-Griffin election case, Catholics across the region react to the death of Pope Francis, and Charlotte FC is on top of the Eastern Conference and hasn't lost at home this season.

We take a deep dive into the race for the North Carolina Supreme Court. It's in the middle of a court battle, where the outcome could be precedent setting. We discuss how we got here and what's at stake.

On the next Charlotte Talks, the clock is ticking. The federal government says it will finally begin enforcing the national Real ID law beginning May 7. What to know and how to prepared, both at the DMV and the airport.

Recent statistics from the American Cancer Society reveal an increase in diagnoses of breast cancer among young women. We hear from two experts and a survivor about this trend, early detection, treatment and more.

The Southern accent — one of the most recognizable in the country — appears to be fading. The shifting of the population seems to be causing us to lose our drawl and with it some of our identity. We explore the evolution of the various Southern accents, how they shape the way we talk today and how accents are a powerful symbol of belonging.

The city of Charlotte is recommending that City Council deny the developer funding for the Brooklyn Village project. Republican Councilman Tariq Bokhari is set to leave office on Sunday. Attorney General Jackson has settled a lawsuit with a landlord accused of using AI to illegally set rents. And the Savannah Bananas sell out Bank of America Stadium.

Among the people deported by the Trump administration to a prison in El Salvador was a man living here: Julio Zambrano Perez. His family says ICE misidentified him as a gang member because of tattoos. His story is not unique. We talk about it, and the legal implications of these deportations.

Two years ago, the then-surgeon general published an advisory stating up to 95% of teens reported using social media “almost constantly.” We know that this increases depression and anxiety, and that is why nine states have taken steps to regulate its use. Now, North Carolina may be jumping on the bandwagon.

A new bill — The Women's Safety and Protection Act — is under consideration in the state Senate, which would require individuals to use restrooms in public schools and some government-funded buildings based on the sex listed on their birth certificates. It would also restrict other rights. We look at the bill and hear from those in favor and those against.

A conversation from WFAE's Climate Summit about how federal environmental policies could affect North Carolina — and what local leaders are doing in response.

On the Local News Roundup, a sigh of relief for some as Trump announces a 90-day tariff pause. The public weighs in on Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools proposed budget. A bill filed Monday seeking to ban most abortions in North Carolina will not move forward. And David Tepper wants to make Charlotte a host city for the 2031 Women's World Cup.

Increasingly, the medical community has issued warnings about the safety of drinking alcohol — even one drink per day — due to links between that and cancer. On the flip side of consuming something potentially harmful is the concept of food as medicine, one being acted on by a cooperative effort between a behavioral health facility and a Charlotte chef.

When President Trump announced tariffs, he said it would make the nation wealthy. But retailers are planning for price hikes and investors are selling, driving stock markets down around the world. We discuss the impact this has on North Carolina, on Charlotte and on your wallet.

We get an update on recovery efforts in western North Carolina from the devastation of Hurricane Helene — and a look at what the summer tourist season looks like.

Hard work and determination are supposed to lead to success. That's the story we tell ourselves — but for many, that story is little more than a myth. One look at the alarming number of people who go to work every day but are homeless will tell you we have a problem.

Commissioners hire a new Mecklenburg County manager. Rain helps firefighters battling mountain wildfires. A wrinkle in the race for state supreme court. And South Carolina women's basketball team and Duke men's basketball team each head to the Final Four.

In Silicon Valley, there is a group referred to as the PayPal Mafia — the founders and employees of PayPal who later started their own successful tech companies. In Charlotte, we have the Passport Mafia which springs from a company called Passport, which provided employees with experience in building a business and helped birth more than a dozen startups. Is Charlotte an entrepreneur's kind of place?

Since 2020, large public safety training centers have been cropping up around the country. Last summer, Central Piedmont Community College announced plans to build a facility in Matthews to provide training for police, fire and Medic personnel. These projects have faced opposition nationally and locally.