Charlotte Talks With Mike Collins

We examine the constitutional amendment proposals in North Carolina and discuss if they could boost voter participation at the polls. We’ll also get an update from South Carolina on how their redistricting plan has panned out.

We discuss a precious time capsule we have here in North Carolina — our state archives. We'll speak with the state archivist about what it takes to maintain history and how someone can find pieces of themselves reflected in archives. We also find out what you won’t discover in the state's archives, and why that is.

The Charlotte Regional Transit Planning Organization votes down the I-77 project; overcrowding leads the Mecklenburg County Sheriff to announce the reopening of Jail North; amid controversy, Mooresville's mayor hints at possible resignation and the Carolina Hurricanes are in the Eastern Conference Finals.

American medicine is changing, transformed by breakthroughs in gene therapies, innovative approaches to behavioral health, the advent of retail medicine and artificial intelligence. Dr. Marschall Runge calls this “the great health care disruption,” but says that understanding what is happening is a way to make these changes work for everyone while lowering costs and barriers to care.

A bill is moving through the North Carolina General Assembly named after Dominique Moody. The 6-year-old died last year after being beaten and starved. Investigations found that the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services had received reports of abuse but failed to protect the child. We look at that failure, the role local reporting played in exposing it and what this bill would do to address it.

Americans are more digitally connected than ever, yet more often isolated from the people living closest to them. A national survey last year showed only about a quarter of adults know all or most of their neighbors. What happens when neighborhood bonds disappear? Can rebuilding them improve our health, trust and resilience?

Despite a rising demand for services, slower revenue growth and uncertainty in support from the state and federal government, County Manager Mike Bryant's proposed budget for FY 2026-2027 calls for no reduction to services, no property tax increases and strategic new investments. He joins us to discuss how he came up with it.

Legislative leaders break the impasse on the budget. That means state employees and teachers may finally get a raise. In the race to replace Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, calls have come for a Black person to fill that slot. Charlotte City Council withdraws its support for the I-77 toll lanes, and the CMS board approves its $2.1 billion budget.

Ahead of the start of this year’s hurricane season, we hear predictions for the number of likely storms and how to brace for whatever may come our way, plus an update on drought conditions and continued Helene recovery efforts.

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.