Charlotte Talks With Mike Collins

On the local news roundup Democrats close in on even more congressional upsets in North Carolina, a Union County lawmaker plans to introduce legislation to break up Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools as the board says it will take a look at how it's been operating, and the Carolina Panthers are on a losing streak, but stay near the top of the division

Former South Carolina Governor David Beasley has had a storied political career on both local and international stages. In August, he launched Breaking Bread Together, a national movement designed to bridge cultural, religious, and political divides in America. We sit down with Beasley to discuss civility in politics.

Indigenous people fought alongside settlers and later served in the armed forces, but their contributions were often minimized and their cultural traditions disrespected. We discuss the importance of honoring their participation in America’s wars and efforts to bring them the respect they deserve.

The results of the midterms are still reverberating with members of both parties trying to figure out their next moves. Democrats will now control both houses of Congress and the state House in North Carolina. We discuss how this will impact the balance of power and leadership.

As unemployment rates among young people continue to rise, Charlotte sees an influx of jobs going to those 25 to 34. The next challenge is keeping them here for good. We discuss how Charlotte seems to defy the national narrative that it’s a hard time to enter the workforce.

On the local news roundup, Democrats pick up big wins in the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives and North Carolina General Assembly, the Charlotte Hornets owners are among those purchasing the site of the former EpiCentre, and Charlotte FC is set to wrap up the regular season Saturday, with home-field advantage in the playoffs on the line.

The U.S. Census Bureau has proposed removing questions on race and ethnicity from the 2030 U.S. Census along with other changes. We discuss how these changes could impact how North Carolina gets counted.

Voting is complete and the results are in, so what do we know about the midterm elections locally and beyond? From consequential and competitive congressional and state office races to down ballot issues on constitutional amendments and city bond proposals, how did it all pan out?

A city of newcomers, but one with a history. The Queen City dates back to the mid-1700s. Named after the wife of King George III of England, Charlotte was just that — a small town, but over the years it has grown even as its principal industries have changed. Ashley Mahoney has traced those changes in her book, "Historic Maps of Charlotte: A History of the Queen City in Rare Maps", and we'll plot the course with her.

Local news is in crisis. Newsrooms have shrunk, newspapers have closed, and communities across the country are increasingly becoming news deserts. In his new book, “Why Local News: A Memoir and Plea for an Endangered Form of Journalism,” Rick Thames argues that strong, local journalism remains essential for informed communities and democracy.

Donald Trump heads back to South Carolina to campaign for Darline Graham; Charlotte City Council approves an 11-month extension of a data center moratorium; CMPD says it was a deadly week in Charlotte, with five people killed in separate shootings and Muggsy Bogues climbs the rafters.

Big money is flooding into elections nationwide as the two parties fight for control of Washington. The Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision 16 years ago helped give the loudest political voice to the wealthiest individuals. We look at how that is affecting races large and small and what it means for voters’ voices.

More than just making art, creativity can help us make sense of the world, connect with others and find purpose in our lives. We discuss how people can discover their creative potential, overcome barriers holding them back from expressing themselves and find ways to make creativity part of their daily lives.

Artificial intelligence has been making its way into this campaign cycle, with concerns about AI-generated campaign ads leading to confusion over content. Two-thirds of Americans are at least somewhat concerned about AI’s use in this year’s midterms. Thirty-one states have enacted some form of regulation for AI in political campaigning, but North Carolina has not. We discuss how AI is shaping our elections.

Mosquito-eating bats eat nearly their entire body weight in insects every night, but bats are under threat of extinction. This Halloween season, we look at efforts to reverse the trend.

Donald Trump comes to the Carolinas to stump for Michael Whatley and Darline Graham in their bids for the U.S. Senate. Whatley trails Roy Cooper while Graham has a slim lead over Annie Andrews, high turnout so far in early voting, and more information revealed about CMPD officers who sent racist text messages.

North Carolina’s healthcare system faces mounting questions about access to affordable care, hospital consolidation and rising costs. The State Health Plan moved the largest hospital system out of network; Duke Health is expanding into the region and Medicaid changes have prompted concerns from state officials.

Early voting is underway and people are lining up to cast their ballots in the midterms. Election officials have been fighting a barrage of mis- and disinformation, but despite their efforts, the attacks continue, and some voters are concerned. A closer look at the integrity of our elections.

While sports betting has been debated in North Carolina for years, bets on the midterm elections are raising new concerns about prediction markets. We discuss the ethics of election prediction markets, whether they constitute gambling or a new financial avenue and potential regulatory measures.

Charlotte is experiencing a bookstore boom, despite rates of reading for pleasure being down nationally. We explore the impact of AI use, social media and more on traditional literacy.

Charlotte City Council hears from the public about a proposal to extend the ban on new data centers, six CMPD Officers are at risk of being fired in the wake of racist text messages, and weeks after CMS Superintendent Crystal Hill is fired, parents and others have the chance to sound off to the school board about that decision. Those stories and more with our roundtable of reporters.