Tasnim Shamma

A Trifling Place, Episode 9: And The Charlotte Accent Is ...

Tasnim Shamma — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:20:46 +0000

Welcome to “A Trifling Place,” a podcast dedicated to exploring the ins-and-outs of Charlotte.

So about a month ago, reporter Lisa Miller handed me a book called How To Speak Southern. It has some funny tips on how to exaggerate a Southern drawl – but it wasn't too surprising – I mean, it's pretty easy to identify a Southern accent. But it got me thinking – I have no idea what a Charlottean sounds like. In New York, I can easily tell what part of the city you're from by your accent. In Charlotte, I still can't tell the tourists apart from the people who live here. So that's one reason we launched The Charlotte Accent Project … on a quest to find the one true Charlotte accent.

Anti-Tax Advocate Grover Norquist Visits Huntersville

Tasnim Shamma — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:07:40 +0000

Influential anti-tax advocate Grover Norquist made several stops in North Carolina yesterday. He visited the capitol to show support for Republican proposals to overhaul the state’s tax system, and ended the day in Huntersville.

Cleveland County To Launch Inmate-Work Program

Tasnim Shamma — Mon, 13 May 2013 20:37:27 +0000

The Cleveland County Sheriff's Office is launching a new program this summer that will allow inmates in Cleveland County to volunteer with local nonprofits.

Northeastern-Charlotte Doubles Graduate Programs

Tasnim Shamma — Thu, 09 May 2013 21:33:39 +0000

Boston-based Northeastern University opened its Center City campus in January 2012 with eight masters programs. Now, the University is adding seven masters degrees and two doctoral degrees. The programs were approved two weeks ago by the UNC Board of Governors.

Bank Of America Shareholders Approve Executive Pay

Tasnim Shamma — Wed, 08 May 2013 19:15:30 +0000

Bank of America held its annual shareholders' meeting in Charlotte today. CEO Brian Moynihan began the meeting highlighting the company's financial gains. He says the company has seen large growth in deposits and credit card accounts and has helped close to 2 million homeowners avoid foreclosure. He says internally, the company has been able to reduce costs to more quickly increase payouts for its shareholders.

US Airways Mechanics File For Election To Join Teamsters

Tasnim Shamma — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:03:56 +0000

US Airways mechanics and technicians now have enough signatures to call for a union vote. At a news conference in south Charlotte, they announced that nearly 3,000 mechanics and technicians signed a petition to hold an election to be represented by another union, the Teamsters. Mechanics complained about low wages, high insurance premiums and poor representation by their current union, The International Association of Machinists. Luis Martinez is a lead mechanic for US Airways in Charlotte.

Slideshow: Charlotte Asian Dragon Boat Festival

Tasnim Shamma — Mon, 06 May 2013 17:04:56 +0000

Thirty-seven teams competed for the top spot at the eighth annual dragon boat festival in Cornelius on Saturday. The teams consisted of up to 20 people and included three rounds of 200-meter races. Wells Fargo Aquabeasts (Team I) took home the top prize.

See the full results here.

Incentives That Landed Iron Man 3 Production Under Legislative Review

Tasnim Shamma — Sat, 04 May 2013 00:27:37 +0000

Iron Man 3 – one of the most expensive films to ever come out of North Carolina – hit theaters Friday. It received $20 million in state incentives and lawmakers are now debating a bill that would remove the state's film tax credit – the same credit that brought the Iron Man 3 production to the state.

Changed Choices Gives One Woman A Second Chance

Tasnim Shamma — Wed, 01 May 2013 13:12:43 +0000

Nationally, more than a quarter of all women who end up in prison, return to prison. A local nonprofit, Changed Choices, works to change that by providing support to female offenders from when they first enter prison and follows them even after they leave. After nearly a decade of work, only four percent of its clients have returned to prison.

Charlotte Named Finalist To Host Summer X-Games

Tasnim Shamma — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 21:05:33 +0000

The X-Games may have a three-year run in Charlotte. ESPN announced that Charlotte is one of four cities being considered to host the summer X-Games for three years, starting in 2014. It's a four-day event with multiple extreme sports including BMX freestyle, skateboarding and motorbike competitions. Josh Frazier, the owner of the South End clothing and skateboard shop, Black Sheep, says the event would show a different side to the city.