Charlotte Talks

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.

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.