Charlotte Talks With Mike Collins

Mecklenburg County Sen. Caleb Theodros joins to discuss some of the bills he’s proposed during his first term, including decriminalizing marijuana and helping school athletic coaches recognize and respond to student mental health needs. Then we dive into how area school systems are coping with tight budgets and uncertainty because of the lack of a state budget.

On the next Charlotte Talks, North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson joins us. Since taking office, he has worked on opioid crisis litigation, consumer scams and housing-cost reforms. He also recently won a case breaking up the Ticketmaster–Live Nation monopoly that could save ticket buyers money. Then we’ll talk with Michael Graff, founder of the Charlotte Optimist, which just celebrated its first anniversary.

Henry David Thoreau lived in a time of rapid technological and economic change, political division and a pandemic. He reassessed his priorities and decided to pare down to trade up. Mike Collins discusses that with Jen McGivney, author of "Finding Your Walden."

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles announces her resignation, the state Senate votes to pause property tax assessments for a year, Wake County delays a vote on the merger of Atrium Health with WakeMed, and the PGA is back in town.

On the next Charlotte Talks, everyone is talking about data centers — and so are we. We look at the latest: what impact they might have on our city and surrounding areas, why this region makes for a desirable location, and the community objections. Politicians at all levels have also been weighing in, with some calling for a moratorium on data centers. We’ll hear about all of this — and how their spread could impact your power bill.

Over the last decade, several inmates suffering from mental illnesses have died inside South Carolina jails. An investigation by the Post & Courier dove into the reasons why, how the situation got so bad, and possible solutions. Plus, in the wake of Iryna's Law, we'll see what lessons North Carolina can learn.

On the next Charlotte Talks, educators are facing a tough time. North Carolina dropped three spots to 46th in the nation for teacher pay this year, and teachers from across the state marched in Raleigh last week for higher pay. Also, last week, the CMS board rejected the superintendent’s budget, then met for three hours on Saturday before closing the meeting to discuss personnel matters.

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.

On the next Charlotte Talks local news roundup, the CMS board rejects Superintendent Crystal Hill’s proposed budget, leaving her to question how to proceed with little direction. Gaston and Cabarrus County schools join others in canceling classes Friday as teachers protest in Raleigh for higher pay. A bill to protect immigrant students from immigration enforcement is filed in the state House, and Duke Energy proposes a June rate increase.

Across the country, the commercial real estate sector is facing problems. Although it’s been years since COVID-19, the impact of remote work lingers, and landlords are still having trouble filling vacant space. In some cases, they’re selling properties at a loss. But locally, a number of companies looking to expand have chosen Charlotte for their next home. We discuss what makes the Queen City different and whether it’s a trend.

On the next Charlotte Talks, former Environmental Protection Agency head Michael Regan shares his record, his views on what’s happening at the EPA now and his connection to North Carolina.

The North Carolina General Assembly’s short session is underway, with lawmakers focused on several issues. One is the budget. The state has not had a comprehensive budget since 2023 and teacher and state employee pay raises are awaiting passage. An extension of Medicaid funding has just passed, but now there’s a new question: whether to cap property taxes.

Drought is worsening in North Carolina and municipalities across the Charlotte region are asking residents to voluntarily conserve water. As the region grapples with the worst drought since 2008, the state’s agricultural economy is also under stress. We’ll discuss why this drought has progressed the way it has, how it's affecting the region and we look at how an already fractured farming industry is dealing with the conditions.

A report this week revealed Rep. Alma Adams was investigated and cleared by a House committee for an alleged inappropriate relationship with a staffer, the North Carolina General Assembly starts its short session, drought continues across the Carolinas, and the Panthers prepare for the NFL draft.

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.

A recent survey shows that while North Carolinians are pessimistic about the nation’s political future, they are strongly united in support of constitutional checks and balances. They also oppose presidential overreach. And they say these feelings would influence their vote in the next election, including among members of both parties.

Charlotte is growing, but the construction industry is facing headwinds as they try to keep up. The industry is staring down a mix of challenges from rising costs, tariffs and workforce shortages. There's also opportunities, like how to implement artificial intelligence. We check in on an industry navigating change in a constantly evolving region.

Nearly two years ago, Hurricane Helene devastated portions of the Carolinas. Since then, a change in administrations in Washington and a budget standoff in Raleigh have led to confusion and frustration. Access to resources has often been difficult. Hear the conversation we had about that and resiliency during WFAEs Carolina’s Climate Summit.

The North Carolina General Assembly’s short session starts Tuesday, and a proposal to cap property tax increases has Mecklenburg leaders on edge. Meanwhile, CMPD just dropped first-quarter crime stats and separate new data shows nearly half those arrested in last year's Charlotte Border Patrol operation had no criminal record. Also, after an overtime win on Tuesday, the Hornets face the Orlando Magic on Friday night, fighting for a final playoff spot.

Marie Curie is the most famous woman in the history of science. She coined the term “radioactivity” and traveled the world to share its secrets. Her story is told in a new book by acclaimed Pulitzer Prize finalist Dava Sobel, but, along the way, she tells the stories of other women who trained in Curie’s lab who would pursue their own scientific careers.