Charlotte Talks With Mike Collins

On the next Charlotte Talks local news roundup, North Carolina’s budget passes and is signed, sealed and delivered. We dive into the details. Heat continues to plague much of the country including our state where heat indices soared to triple digits, leading to power outages. Plus, a new state law eliminates mandatory parking minimums for the majority of new developments. We examine the possible i...

We take a political vibe check on North Carolina by examining what the latest Catawba-YouGov poll shows. We’ll separate signal from noise while discussing what these polls really tell us about the state’s electorate as another consequential election season gets underway.

Charlotte now experiences nearly a month of additional dangerous heat days compared to 50 years ago. By the 2060s, state officials expect nearly 40 more days each year when the heat index exceeds 95 degrees. Extreme heat is now considered the top climate-related threat for residents. We explore how that heat is changing daily life for Charlotteans.

The General Assembly passed its long-awaited budget last week with bipartisan support — the first in more than two years. The $34 billion plan includes teacher pay raises and additional money for Hurricane Helene recovery, but it also contains a provision that would force Charlotte and other governments to repay money already spent on the rejected I-77 toll lanes.

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the United States. For many Americans, Independence Day means a celebration of hot dogs, fireworks and freedom. For historian Beverly Gage, the holiday is much more complicated. Her new book recounts the long history of the United States through a road trip to places that helped shape the country. She joins us to unpack 250 years of American history in her...

In a world flooded by AI — from useless slop to groundbreaking code — what happens to our human imagination? Charlotte Talks presents a special series: "Wired to Create." Hosted by bestselling author and PBS host Kelly Corrigan — discover the quiet satisfaction and mental health benefits of making things with your own hands.

This week, the Charlotte City Council appointed Rob Harrington as the next mayor and approved a pilot program to bring red-light cameras back. Meanwhile, the General Assembly overrode four of Gov. Josh Stein’s vetoes. The Hornets also traded away guard LaMelo Ball. We discuss it all on this week’s local news roundup.

Classes are out at CMS for the summer, but tensions over education policy and administration linger. Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill was put on paid leave while the board investigates administrative oversight matters. We’ll discuss the latest from CMS, look back at some of the significant events of the last school year, and examine the growing pushback against classroom technology.

Fewer than 6% of American physicians identify as Black, but census data show roughly 12% of the U.S. population is Black. Some experts say that disparity is one reason communities of color tend to experience worse health outcomes in the U.S., including higher rates of high blood pressure, shorter life expectancy and higher risks during childbirth. A new book from a former ProPublica reporter links...

Food has always been a means to connect with others, but recent studies show Americans are spending more time dining alone. Social connection is critically important for our health and happiness, and sharing meals is associated with greater wellbeing. We discuss why that is and what we stand to lose when we stop gathering for meals. Plus, attorney Rob Harrington will be Charlotte's next mayor.

Social prescribing is changing how health care is traditionally thought of by linking patients to community-based activities to address stress, loneliness and overall well-being. Through partnerships at hospitals and museums, Charlotte is beginning to explore how creative expression can support mental and physical health. We explore how social prescribing works and the research behind it.

CMS Superintendent Crystal Hill is placed on leave, facing an investigation into how the district is run. Monroe City Council votes to reverse course and renew support for the I-77 toll lanes. Charlotte City Council has narrowed down mayoral candidates list. Plus, the Carolina Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup and more.

On the next Charlotte Talks, a story of the courage and tenacity it sometimes takes to open doors. It’s a story set in 1950, before Martin Luther King, Jr. was a household name, before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus. It is the story of a man taking a stand against discrimination who ended up on the front lines of the famous Montgomery Bus Boycott, and it is a story told by his dau...

North Carolina’s outdoor industry continues to grow and contributed nearly $18 billion to the state’s economy in 2024. We explore what’s behind this boom, how to increase accessibility and participation, and practical tips for staying safe outdoors — including how to avoid interfering with wildlife and what to do if you do.

The Civil War was the deadliest conflict in American history. Yet more than 160 years later, its legacy is still being written, and one historian argues a key part of that legacy involves free people of color. At the beginning of the war, nearly half a million people of color were free, and he says their stories ultimately helped lay the groundwork for a more expansive vision of American freedom.

For the first time in nearly 20 years, professional women’s basketball has returned to the Queen City. The head coach of the Charlotte Crown joins us to discuss the team’s inaugural season. We also examine the latest on the Hurricanes, Hornets, soccer and other sports when we take a timeout for sports.

Charlotte City Council approves a moratorium on data centers and decides to use a property tax increase to fund raises for some city officials and employees. The man accused of killing Iryna Zarutska last August is deemed incompetent to stand trial. Meanwhile, the Carolina Hurricanes continue their quest for the Stanley Cup.

Over 12% of North Carolinians were living in poverty in 2024. However, a new report finds a much larger group in North Carolina still struggles to make ends meet. An additional 28% of the state’s households earn above the federal poverty threshold but not enough to afford basic expenses. We discuss the study and the affordability crisis impacting families.

For more than a century, the Outer Banks has been acclaimed as the birthplace of flight — but what if it was also the birthplace of the wireless world we live in today? We revisit the origins of American radio with author and historian Kevin Duffus and explore how a stretch of the North Carolina coast helped give voice to the world.