Charlotte Talks With Mike Collins

Nationwide, animal shelters have been overcrowded and overwhelmed. Much of the burden may stem from the rising costs of pet ownership. We look at the issues shelters are facing, the many financial challenges pet owners are dealing with, and how major advances in veterinary medicine also come with a price.

South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham died earlier this month after representing the state for more than 20 years in the U.S. Senate. We look at the candidates vying to fill his seat, examine the power Graham wielded as a senator, and explore what to expect in Congress as the midterm elections approach.

Charlotte is expected to see a multi-million dollar boost from MLS All-Star week, with spending at hotels, restaurants, bars and shops across uptown and beyond. The game, featuring MLS All-Stars against Liga MX All-Stars at Bank of America Stadium, builds on the momentum from the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup and reinforces Charlotte’s push to become a year-round destination for major sporting events.

Former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan shares his record, his views on what’s happening at the EPA now and his connection to North Carolina.

The CMS Board of Education says it expects to reveal the results of an investigation into Superintendent Crystal Hill before school starts. Darline Graham Nordone and Ralph Norman are among those vying for Lindsey Graham’s seat in the U.S. Senate, and Duke Energy has reached a settlement on its rate of return.

Cases of cyclosporiasis are ticking up in our region as the state cites more than 500 cases across North Carolina. We’ll discuss what you need to know and how to protect yourself. We’ll also discuss why, despite major advances in treatment and prevention, HIV continues to disproportionately affect Black residents in Mecklenburg County.

The county is set to vote on whether to reverse its rejection of the I-77 toll lane project, and we’ll see which way he’s leaning. Plus, the state finally has a budget — after a long delay — and we’ll look at how the county dealt with the uncertainty surrounding it. We’ll also get into data centers, finances, the immigration crackdown and more with Mecklenburg County Commission Chair Mark Jerrell.

Pat McCrory is one of the most consequential and polarizing political figures in North Carolina history. From mayor of Charlotte to governor of North Carolina, McCrory spent nearly two decades shaping the city before a turbulent term as governor that transformed his career and public image. Journalist and columnist Andrew Dunn focuses on McCrory’s rise, reckoning and legacy in a new book, “The Change Agent.”

North Carolina’s hemp industry has largely been unregulated, but that may soon change, and this multi-billion-dollar sector of our state’s economy hangs in the balance. A federal law banning intoxicating hemp products is scheduled to go into effect in November and the General Assembly is considering its own prohibitions. A look at what this may mean for the industry and the 16,000 people working in it.

Charlotte City Council is looking for ways to address teen takeovers and may implement a stricter curfew. There's a new wrinkle in the I-77 toll lane saga. South Carolina U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sister has been appointed to fill his seat in Congress, and a parasitic illness has arrived in North Carolina.

‘Teen takeovers’ have become a nuisance in cities like Charlotte and Raleigh, with large groups of teenagers gathering in public spaces, causing disruption and sometimes engaging in destructive behavior. CMPD now recommends a 9 p.m. curfew for all minors. We look at how that curfew would be enforced, what is contributing to the gatherings, and possible solutions for providing safe spaces for minors.

A look at how the recently passed North Carolina state budget affects higher education. One of the biggest headlines from is a fully funded UNC system, but it would also make certain records related to discipline proceedings exempt from the state public records law including cases of sexual misconduct. That plus tuition changes, student loans, and more.

In 1898, a white mob massacred dozens of Black residents in Wilmington, North Carolina. They used a machine gun and stoked fear to stage what is considered the only successful coup in U.S. history. Author Lauren Collins joins Charlotte Talks to discuss the impact.

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina died Saturday following what his office said was a brief and sudden illness. We’ll discuss Graham’s leadership in the state and what’s next for filling his seat and his reelection bid. We also get an update on where North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race stands and what it could mean for the balance of power in Congress.

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 impact.

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 latest book, “This Land Is Your Land.”

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.