Charlotte Talks on WFAE

Part One: Old Salem. Just as our country was being forged in the halls of the Continental Congress and birthed in the Revolutionary war, a group of hardy Moravian immigrants was building a settlement in the Piedmont of North Carolina. The town of Salem sprang up and still remains just outside of Winston-Salem. Today it is a living museum, a window into some of the earliest founders of our state. We'’ll visit with the President of Old Salem Inc., a company devoted to the settlement and to educating North Carolinians and other visitors on life in colonial North Carolina. Follow us back in time when Charlotte Talks.

We'll meet the author of a new book about the 100-year-old feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys. The families, who famously battled for generations in southern Appalachia, may have begun their feud over a bunch of pigs. No matter the true origin of the battles, the families have captured the imaginations of people across the country for years and the story of the feud has more recently been chronicled in documentaries, TV miniseries and several books. We'll talk with the author of a book on the Hatfields and McCoys with some new takes on their revenge story, when Charlotte Talks.

We are now nearly half way through a pivotal year for the implementation of important aspects of the Affordable Care act. Many doctors, administrators and patients are being affected by these changes and the results are somewhat mixed. Two people in the trenches of healthcare weigh in on the current state of the ACA in our state and the nation. One is an economist and the other a practicing physician and both say that health care "justice" is still far from reality. We'll look at the concept of "healthcare justice," what it means and whether it's possible.

Transportation is a big issue in Charlotte - so is funding it. Officials are exploring financing options for the really big, really expensive 2030 Transit Plan. As a result of the recession, there is a $3 billion gap in funding for the long-term plan that has left some, like Charlotte City Council member David Howard to claim "if we don’t do something different, this 2030 or 2035 Plan is going to be more like a 2080 Plan." He is Committee Co-Chair, along with Huntersville Mayor Jill Swain of a 30-member transit funding working group formed at the behest of Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx (who has been nominated as Transportation Secretary) to explore possible options to help fund $4 billion worth of projects. They join us to share their findings. The future and funding challenges of Charlotte's transit plan, when Charlotte Talks.

When one thinks about coyotes they might imagine the boisterous and rowdy Wile E. coyote playing pranks on that darn roadrunner. But coyotes don’t just exist in cartoons or the Wild West; they actually dwell in all one hundred counties of North Carolina. And like Wile E. these coyotes are wrecking a little bit of havoc. Coyote attacks on small animals and reported sighting by citizens are ever-rising. So how do we safely co-exist with our furry friends? A conversation about coyotes, when Charlotte Talks.

Fifty years ago, a Charlotte Civil Rights activist led a march through Charlotte to call for desegregation in the city. That march triggered an "eat-in" at Charlotte restaurants with African American leaders, led by then Mayor Stan Brookshire. That action in Charlotte helped set the stage for the nation's 1964 Civil Rights Act. Fifty years after that action, we'll gather with historians as well as people who were there to talk about those historic events, how Charlotte has progressed since, and where we still need to go to fully achieve desegregation in Charlotte, when Charlotte Talks.

We've all heard about the benefits of "eating local." Well, you can't get more local than your own backyard! If you haven’t planted yet, or even if you have, we'll explore the best practices for planting and maintaining your beds for the most delicious and nutritious vegetables, even with little yard space to work with. Before you know it, you'll have more tomatoes, zucchini and cucumbers than you know what to do with! So we'll fill you in on creative ways to cook them to get the most out of your summer harvest - from salads, soups and salsas to grilling and more. Join us for summer gardening advice from the experts, tips for preparing and enjoying your summer bounty, plus a look at the health benefits of eating from your own garden. Gardening meets cooking, when Charlotte Talks.

Everybody has a story to tell. The Moth, who many public radio listeners may be familiar with, is dedicated to the art and the craft of storytelling. It features true stories told live on stage - without scripts or notes. And since 1997, they have presented thousands of stories to live audiences, radio listeners and podcasters around the country. And now, The Moth is coming to McGlohon Theatre in Charlotte. In a fast-paced, high-tech world, we'll go back to a very old tradition - storytelling - to find out what makes a good story and a good storyteller from some of the best, when Charlotte Talks.

At just a few weeks into his tenure as city manager, Ron Carlee has no shortage of city issues to occupy him. There's the airport governance study and his take on the results… and then there's the city budget, which he just presented last week. The streetcar has been making news for some time, but this week, city council made time to discuss its future during their meeting. We'll talk with Ron Carlee about the most important city issues he's dealing with as he hits the ground running, when Charlotte Talks.

The City of Charlotte was awarded a grant from Smart Growth America to host a community dialogue regarding Smart Growth concepts and challenges. Through this discussion the city hopes to gain insight on how attract new business, reduce tax burdens and create a stronger foundation for long-term fiscal health and competitiveness. But what might some of those actions steps toward prosperity be? And what hurdles might we face along the way? A conversation about smart growth, when Charlotte Talks.