WCNC Charlotte's Flashpoint

On WCNC's Flashpoint, operators and the state appear poised for Monday's rollout.

Political observers are used to watching election results come in at the close of polls at 7:30 p.m. but things will be different on Tuesday for North Carolina's Primary. It's all because a new state law prohibits election boards from tabulating early voting ballots until after polls close.

Nine years after the mass shooting at Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston killed nine Black parishioners, South Carolina still doesn't have any hate crime legislation on the books. "It's going to take strong leadership, people would backbone, willing to do what's right," State. Rep. Wendell Gilliard said on WCNC's Flashpoint.  

"It's not the way we should lead. We've actually been down this path before here in North Carolina, and we paid in immense economic costs," Stein, North Carolina Attorney General, said on WCNC's Flashpoint.  Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who is also running for governor, suggested at a campaign event in Cary this month that transgender women should be arrested if they use women's restrooms. At an event...

Nearly four years after the Charlotte MOVES Task Force first recommended a multi-billion dollar transit plan to city council, casual observers might wonder if any progress has been made.  City and state leaders have occasionally made news by weighing in on the plan but, so far, the plan's promise of transit, trail and road expansion has made little public progress. "It's not that nothing has happe...

The Charlotte Black Voter Project is working to turn around a recent trend at the polls: A "precipitous drop" in Black voter turnout. "In 2023, you had over 200,000 Black registrants in Mecklenburg County and only 71,000 Black voters cast their ballot," Colette Forrest, the group's founder, said on WCNC's Flashpoint.     You can stream WCNC Charlotte on Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV, just down...

A little more than a month before the North Carolina Primary, Salisbury attorney Bill Graham has a warning for his fellow Republicans: don't nominate Mark Robinson. "I'm sick and tired of losing," Graham said on WCNC's Flashpoint.   For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app and enable push notifications. Graham is facing Robinson for the Repub...

Barring some unforeseen circumstance, Jordan Lopez will represent State House District 112 in the General Assembly starting next year. Lopez, who would serve east Charlotte, is running unopposed in the primary and general election.   The 25-year-old said a "sense of urgency" drove him to run now.

WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson spoke to Vice President Kamala Harris during her visit to a Charlotte middle school Thursday.  Vice President Kamala Harris was at Charlotte's Eastway Middle School on Thursday to  promote the Biden administration's plan to reduce gun violence and announce a $285 million federal government investment in mental health for students nationwide. North Carolina is set to r...

If you haven't donated to any favorite nonprofits during the holiday season, local charities are encouraging you to start the new year with charitable giving. "Be searching for those ways to support nonprofits all year long," Melissa Hovey, managing director of  Share Charlotte , said. "Think about a January start. It's never too late and there's always a need." Share Charlotte  offers a technolog...

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper is ending 2023 with one of his biggest achievements in office: Medicaid expansion. "I think one of the best days I've had as governor is being in an Enrollment Center in Charlotte. And seeing everyday working people finally being able to get health care," Gov. Cooper said in a one-on-one with WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson on Flashpoint. 

Democratic Rep. Jeff Jackson says being North Carolina's Attorney General would be a dream job. "This would fill any sense of ambition that I have, because it is probably the best job in public service," Jackson said, appearing on WCNC's Flashpoint. Current Attorney General Josh Stein is running to be Governor. And Jackson, a former prosecutor, was essentially drawn out of his current U.S. House d...

A new Charlotte City Council is sworn in Monday, Dec. 4, with familiar faces filling all but one seat.  Newcomer Tiawana Brown will be representing Charlotte's District 3. Brown is replacing Victoria Watlington, who will now serve in an at-large position on the council. Watlington and Councilman Tariq Bokhari appeared on WCNC's Flashpoint, outlining their priorities for the new council.  

Earlier this month, Charlotte City Council members approved a motion to increase parking fees, hiking up fines from $25 to $100. Just before the vote, Sustain Charlotte's Meg Fencil appeared on WCNC's Flashpoint and argued why the $25 fine wasn't enough to change motorist behavior.

There's a dichotomy in Charlotte's commercial real estate market: Part of it is thriving and the other, faltering. "The broader retail market is healthier than it's really ever been. We've seen record low vacancy rates. The big exception is the mall space," said Chuck McShane, director of market analytics at Costar. Carolina Place Mall recently joined a growing list of properties across Charlotte...

On this jam-packed edition of Flashpoint, Ben Thompson interviews David Longo, the co-chair of Vote Yes for School Boards, about the $2.5 billion bond package for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools that will be on November's ballot. Longo is also a part of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance and believes the investment in our schools is long overdue. During this conversation, Longo will make his c...

Charlotte Center City Partners  announced the  Reimagining Vintage Office Design Competition .  This fall, the Uptown development group is collecting ideas from architecture, design and building firms on ways to repurpose some of Uptown's underutilized office space. "We still have economic development momentum," Charlotte Center City Partners Senior Vice President James LaBar said on WCNC Charlott...

Teachers are returning to the classroom across North Carolina, wondering what pay raises they're getting. State lawmakers are still trying to hammer out a state budget, weeks late.  "We need a pay raise that acknowledges the hard work that our educators do on a daily basis, but also allows them to live with dignity in order to pay their bills, and not have to work a second job or not have to leave...

As Charlotte celebrates  Pride  this weekend, the North Carolina LGBTQ+ community is facing  new restrictions  that the General Assembly passed this week. "We've come a long way. But the battle is not over, Liz Schob, communication manager of Charlotte Pride, said. "The journey is not over. We have a long way to go. And frankly, we can't do this alone. We need folks who are allies to step up and w...

This week on Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson speaks with the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley on the possibility of expanding Medicaid in the state of North Carolina. Later, Bens talks to NC State University professor Shiyan Jiang about incorporating AI in the classroom. Flashpoint is a weekly in-depth look at politics in Charlotte, North Carolina, South Car...

It appears plans for a $500 million casino in Anson County are progressing. News of the possible facility only recently came to light. On this episode of Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson interviews Anson County Manager Len Sossamon about the casino and what lawmakers have told him as the county prepares for a major economic boost. Sossamon said Raleigh lawmakers have assured him the casin...

This week on Flashpoint, WCNC's Ben Thompsons talks to with Mario Black of Millions Youth March of Charlotte about crime in the Queen City. Black said online platforms offer a place for teens to organize. He said a massive July 4th brawl at Romare Bearden Park in Uptown was orchestrated first on social media. "They post something on social media, then they post a meet up," he said. Later, Ben talk...

This week, the North Carolina General Assembly is expected to try to override the governor's veto of two bills aimed at transgender youth. The house is expected to vote on Wednesday. "Transgender youth have a much higher rate of suicide or suicide attempts. However, when they are affirmed in their life by their families, at school, that kind of thing, their rate of suicide goes down to the nationa...