Charlotte Talks

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.

We're replaying highlights of the candidate forum hosted earlier this week by WFAE and the League of Women Voters of Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Moderated by WFAE's Steve Harrison, hear from several candidates for offices across Charlotte ahead of the primary election in September.

Texas plans to redistrict to help Republicans retain control of the House in the midterm elections. That effort is being met by similar moves in Democrat-controlled states. North Carolina is no stranger to gerrymandering and we take a closer look at how our past efforts can inform the current moment.

444. That's the number of homeless people living on the streets in the Charlotte area — the highest since 2010. The reasons people fall into homelessness are as numerous as the debates over how to address it. We examine the different strategies to quell this problem and what has and hasn't worked.

The earth is warming and so are the oceans, resulting in shifts in feeding and migratory patterns. Sharks are part of this. At the top of the food chain, their health can tell us a lot about the well-being of the larger ecosystem. Scientists are working to understand sharks and they share what they know about the impact of climate change on sharks, their behavior, and their role in the environment.

Activist Rev. William Barber comes out against the transit plan, a District 3 City Council candidate drops out of the race, concerns over immigration enforcement highlight the last CMS board meeting before the start of school, and Charlotte Pride returns for its 25th year, though with diminished corporate support.

We sit down with superintendents of Iredell-Statesville, Cabarrus County and Union County schools for back-to-school season. These three districts face their own changes and challenges this year. We'll discuss everything from budgets and funding to student safety and closing the learning gap.

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.

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.

Charlotte Pride celebrates its 25th anniversary as an organization this weekend. The marquee event is the largest festival and parade in Charlotte and this year it's moving to First Ward Park in uptown. Another major change includes anti-DEI backlash that has made corporate sponsorship a challenge.

Mecklenburg County commissioners vote on whether to increase the county-wide sales tax by 1 cent to fund the transit plan. North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein signs the mini budget, albeit reluctantly. Nancy Mace throws her hat in the ring for South Carolina governor. Plus, the Panthers open preseason play.

Eighty years ago, the United States dropped a weapon unlike anything ever seen before on Japan. In his new book, "The Devil Reached Toward the Sky," author Garrett Graff writes about the development of the atomic bomb from those directly involved. Graff joins us to discuss what was going on inside the brain of those who created the first atomic weapon and what today's leaders can learn from that moment in history.

Congress may be in recess, but the news from Washington hasn't stopped. We talk to Washington correspondents covering it all from the handling of the Epstein files and a redistricting arms race to the start of attack ads in the U.S. Senate race and more.

Blumenthal Arts is showing a production of “Immediate Family,” a play billed as “'Modern Family'” meets 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.'” Led by the direction of two-time Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad, noted for her role as Clair Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” and written by Paul Oakley Stovall, a Tony Award-winning actor and playwright who also worked in the Obama White House.

On the next Charlotte Talks, a conversation with Nick Walker, the new director of Mecklenburg County's Park and Recreation Department.

Formal announcements are made in the race for N.C. Senate, Republicans override several of Gov. Stein's vetoes with the help of local Democrats, and the National Transportation Safety Board investigates an accident on Interstate 485 that left six dead.

So far this year, there have been 35 traffic-related deaths in Charlotte, including four cyclists and eight pedestrians. This has happened despite the city's Vision Zero plan to eliminate all traffic deaths by 2030. We explore what's behind this rise in traffic-related deaths, its relationship to road design and what is and isn't being done to make our streets safe.

The North Carolina Board of Elections is moving forward with plans to update information on thousands of voters. Some of their registrations don't comply with the law and now, many of those already-registered voters will have to fix their information. We tell you how to know if you're among them and discuss the politics of this issue.

We look at the separate but connected impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on food assistance and health care access now that the bill has passed. For Medicaid, new eligibility restrictions and administrative requirements could affect thousands. For SNAP, work-reporting rules and imposed time limits could impact access to food aid for individuals and low-income families.

Not only has Crawford made significant contributions to the national success of this homegrown band, he's also hosting a new podcast. It's called “American History Hotline,” and he talks with some of the best historians about everything from the American Revolution to rock 'n' roll feuds.

The city of Charlotte has hired an outside attorney to investigate allegations of unethical conduct on the City Council made earlier this year. Charlotte Civil Rights icon and a member of the legal team that ended racial segregation in education, James Ferguson, has died. The latest on North Carolina's Senate race and the Charlotte Hornets win the NBA's Summer League.

On the next Charlotte Talks, we explore some of the work of photographer Annie Leibovitz, on display at the Mint Museum, and a unique exhibit at the Bechtler that uses sound to experience various visual works.

Mosquitoes — these tiny blood suckers can be annoying and drive you away from enjoying the outdoors. But they can also be dangerous. More than 900 cases of tick- and mosquito-borne illnesses were reported statewide last year, including West Nile Virus. As we head into the peak of mosquito season here, we look at how to protect yourself and what may happen as the climate continues to warm.

The impact of federal funding cuts to public radio and television — what it means for news, children's programming, and how stations are working to limit the damage.

Candidate filing for this fall's elections is wrapping up — we look at who's running. Attorney General Jeff Jackson has filed lawsuits against the Trump administration over education funding cuts. And Charlotte has been named the host city for next year's MLS All-Star Game.

You may be vacationing, but the folks at CMS are hard at work getting ready for the next school year. It's just around the corner and before the bell rings, we spend an hour with CMS Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill to discuss the many concerns the district will face, including the presence of ICE agents, absenteeism, and the issue of frozen federal funds.

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 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.

Larry Sprinkle has been a fixture in Charlotte broadcasting for decades, most recently as the morning weatherman on WCNC. He is entering a new chapter in his long career, and we sit down with him to look back and ahead.

Candidate filing for local elections began Monday. The Monroe City Council held a vote of no confidence in Mayor Robert Burns. Parts of Central North Carolina are recovering from Tropical Storm Chantal. And the NAACP national convention comes to town.

On the next Charlotte Talks, the 116th NAACP Convention in Charlotte. Thousands are expected to be at the Charlotte Convention Center for the event, the theme for which is "The fierce urgency of now.” Martin Luther King Jr. coined that phrase in 1963, but organizers believe it accurately describes conditions today. We get a preview of the convention ahead, and thoughts on its theme and its relevance.

The long-discussed transit plan may be coming to a ballot near you. The referendum for a one-cent sales tax for transit has one more hurdle to clear: the Mecklenburg County Commission. If they say yes, you'll be asked to vote on it in November. But not everyone is on board for what has been described as a once-in-a-generation opportunity. We'll talk about pros and cons.