
Charlotte Talks With Mike Collins
New episodes every Monday through Friday.
Launched in April 1998, Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins has become the region's exclusive forum for the discussion of politics, arts, culture, social issues, literature, human interest, the environment and more. If something is of interest to the Charlotte region, listeners and leaders know the topic is bound to be discussed on Charlotte Talks. Follow along: @CharlotteTalks.
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Texas plans to redistrict to help Republicans retain control of the House in the midterm elections. That effort is being met by similar moves in Democrat-controlled states. North Carolina is no stranger to gerrymandering and we take a closer look at how our past efforts can inform the current moment.
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444. That’s the number of homeless people living on the streets in the Charlotte area — the highest since 2010. The reasons people fall into homelessness are as numerous as the debates over how to address it. We examine the different strategies to quell this problem and what has and hasn’t worked.
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The earth is warming and so are the oceans, resulting in shifts in feeding and migratory patterns. Sharks are part of this. At the top of the food chain, their health can tell us a lot about the well-being of the larger ecosystem. Scientists are working to understand sharks and they share what they know about the impact of climate change on sharks, their behavior, and their role in the environment.
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Activist Rev. William Barber comes out against the transit plan, a District 3 City Council candidate drops out of the race, concerns over immigration enforcement highlight the last CMS board meeting before the start of school, and Charlotte Pride returns for its 25th year, though with diminished corporate support.
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We sit down with superintendents of Iredell-Statesville, Cabarrus County and Union County schools for back-to-school season. These three districts face their own changes and challenges this year. We’ll discuss everything from budgets and funding to student safety and closing the learning gap.
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Housing has been a challenge in Charlotte with the city struggling to balance growth and affordability. Historian Tom Hanchett explains in his new book how policymakers and advocates have wrestled with this issue for decades. Hanchett joins us to discuss the history of housing policy in the region and how Charlotte can do better.
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Historically Black colleges and universities have played a vital role in educating generations of students. But today, enrollment among Black males at HBCUs is at its lowest level since the mid-1970s. Studies indicate that when Black men disengage from HBCUs and higher education, the consequences are far-reaching. We examine the impact, why this is happening, what schools are doing to combat it and more.
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Charlotte Pride celebrates its 25th anniversary as an organization this weekend. The marquee event is the largest festival and parade in Charlotte and this year it’s moving to First Ward Park in uptown. Another major change includes anti-DEI backlash that has made corporate sponsorship a challenge.
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Mecklenburg County commissioners vote on whether to increase the county-wide sales tax by 1 cent to fund the transit plan. North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein signs the mini budget, albeit reluctantly. Nancy Mace throws her hat in the ring for South Carolina governor. Plus, the Panthers open preseason play.
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Eighty years ago, the United States dropped a weapon unlike anything ever seen before on Japan. In his new book, "The Devil Reached Toward the Sky," author Garrett Graff writes about the development of the atomic bomb from those directly involved. Graff joins us to discuss what was going on inside the brain of those who created the first atomic weapon and what today's leaders can learn from that moment in history.