Tasnim Shamma

When you "talk,"  do you say "tawk" or "tock?" What does it mean to have a Charlotte accent? If you were born in the Charlotte region (or even if you’re a newcomer like me), we want to know what you sound like. 

So we've started a new project to collect your voices called The Charlotte Accent Project. We'll publish your recordings and photos on the radio as well as our web site, Tumblr blog, Facebook and Twitter. 

If you've been to any DMV office recently, you may have seen the “Tax and Tag Together” posters. Starting July 1, state residents will receive one bill for both their vehicle's property tax and tag fee.

 One of China's largest IT consulting firms, Pactera, announced Monday it's adding 200 jobs in Charlotte over the next few years and making the city its U.S. headquarters.

The House Insurance Committee voted down a bill Tuesday that would have changed how the auto insurance industry makes changes to auto premiums. Currently, auto insurance companies are represented by an agency – the North Carolina Rate Bureau – that files for rate increases on behalf of more than 160 companies each year.

OK, lots of cities have a Square. There’s Red Square, Times Square, St. Peter’s Square to name a few.

And then … there’s Independence Square. Where’s that, you ask? Charlotte – at the intersection of Trade and Tryon.

In case you didn’t know, this intersection is where a Native American trading path - Trade Street – crossed what used to be called the Great Wagon Road, which we now know as Tryon.  

Today, the intersection is named Independence Square to recognize the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. County leaders signed the document on May 20, 1775, declaring freedom from tyranny … I mean England … more than a year before the Continental Congress did it in Philly.

Four statues at each corner of the intersection further distinguish the square. These statues are the subject of this edition of A Trifling Place. 

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx is not running for a third term.

Foxx announced his decision during this interview with WSOC-TV. Foxx says reports that President Obama is considering him as the next Secretary of Transportation has nothing to do with his decision. He said he's been discussing it with his wife for a few months. Foxx said the big reason he’s leaving because he feels he’s accomplished much of what he came into office to do.

Composting ... has a certain ick factor. But Cabarrus County commissioners are trying to make it cool and are working on converting 15-acres of one of their landfills into a composting facility.

Fifty-five South Carolina lawmakers have signed on to legislation that would prohibit health care providers from asking patients about gun ownership. 

At issue is confusion around what is in the Affordable Care Act.

These days, it's not that often that employees work for the same company for most if not all of their careers. Thursday night, US Airways celebrated employees who have done just that.