Chris Jones

Early voting for the March primaries is underway. We discuss some key races to watch for, how certain races could shift power in North Carolina and what to keep in mind as you head to the polls.

We explore what can be learned about character from seven former American presidents. Presidential historian Mark Updegrove profiles Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, the Bushes, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, illustrating the traits that made each suited to their time in the Oval Office.

During his campaign, President Trump denied any knowledge of Project 2025, a 900-page conservative blueprint of policy recommendations drafted by the Heritage Foundation. So far, it has served as the road map to his first year in office, reshaping how the government operates and how power is exercised by the executive branch. We look at the elements of Project 2025 that have been implemented and at what may be coming.

We discuss a precious time capsule we have here in North Carolina — our state archives. We'll discuss with the state archivist 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.

In January, President Trump urged Congress to cap credit card interest rates at 10% and said Americans are being “ripped off” by credit card companies. Bankers quickly opposed the idea, with some calling it an economic disaster. There is also debate over capping credit card late fees. We look at the pros and cons of these proposals and whether any of them would lead to more affordability.

Two years ago, Americans bet $120 billion on sports, a 27% increase from the previous year. That figure grew to $150 billion in 2024. Journalist Danny Funt investigates what's considered one of the most consequential — and least scrutinized — shifts in modern American sports in his new book, "Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling."

Drones are being used in new ways across the region. Police departments throughout the state have turned to drones as first responders. Winston-Salem began using them seven years ago, and now Charlotte-Mecklenburg police are considering their use for rapid deployment in emergencies. We look at the capabilities of drones, their increasing use and some of the concerns surrounding that use, like privacy and transparency.

Gov. Josh Stein has declared a state of emergency as the region braces for a major winter weather event. Also raising concern, the flu has been more deadly than last year, with 67 deaths so far in South Carolina and 181 deaths in North Carolina. Meanwhile, for the second year in a row, a person was found dead during a count to assess homelessness.

For the first time, North Carolina has more registered Republicans than Democrats. The meat continues to be in the middle with unaffiliated voters — the largest group of voters. We’re also witnessing more candidates change their party affiliation. How will all that, plus gerrymandered maps, impact the midterms in our state? We examine this changing landscape.

CMPD released crime statistics for last year. A petition to remove Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden had its first court hearing. Charlotte City Council voted to give the new Metropolitan Transportation Authority $4.3 million in startup funds, as the measles virus was detected in local wastewater.