For Susanne Dillingham, food is more than sustenance. It has opened a world of opportunities for her as a personal chef, sommelier and business owner. Food has taken her around the world as she learned more about it and the importance of hospitality. Now, she runs The Tiny Chef from her small farm in Gold Hill. She shares her experiences in the food world and in her book, “Secret Ingredients of Life.”

The fallout over the firing of CMS Superintendent Crystal Hill continues with dissension on the board and another CMS executive staff resignation; Charlotte City Council passes a new 10 p.m. curfew for teens under 18; Mooresville Mayor Chris Carney is out, and, with Election Day a month away, U.S. Senate races in both Carolinas are in the spotlight.

Mail-in or absentee voting for the midterms began in North Carolina in early September. Though not as popular as early or Election Day voting, it provides important access for many, but there have been numerous attempts to curtail mail-in voting and call into question the legitimacy of votes cast in this way. We take a look at those efforts, the new rules in place and what’s behind these efforts.

Pat McCrory is one of the most consequential and polarizing political figures in North Carolina history. From mayor of Charlotte to governor of North Carolina, McCrory spent nearly two decades shaping the city before a turbulent term as governor that transformed his career and public image. Journalist and columnist Andrew Dunn focuses on McCrory’s rise, reckoning and legacy in the book, “The Change Agent.”

Political division is rampant. But what if courage, not just compromise, could help bring us back together? Marine Corps veteran and author Rye Barcott explores what we can learn from ten veterans who put principle ahead of party.

It's not just candidates on the ballot for North Carolinians this midterm election. Voters will also decide on three constitutional amendments. They affect state income taxes, property taxes, and voter ID. We break down why these issues are on the ballot and what you need to know as you make a decision.

A week of ins and outs. The Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization reverses their initial rejection of NCDOT’s I-77 toll lanes so, they’re in. CMS Superintendent Crystal Hill, though, is out. The school board fired her and Stephanie Sneed stepped down as chair with some board members saying the board is broken. Those stories and more with our roundtable of reporters.

North Carolina native Nina Simone was a classically trained pianist turned singer who blended jazz, blues, classical, gospel and protest music. She also blended music with her fight for civil rights. In Asheville, while in high school, she met poet and playwright Langston Hughes and formed a decades-long friendship and creative partnership. That's the topic of a new book about them both by NC State professor Jason Miller.

In a vote on Tuesday, the CMS School Board fires Superintendent Crystal Hill. Then, the fate of the I-77 toll lanes: After public opposition, the project was voted down. But the state passed a law requiring local governments to repay millions to the N.C. Department of Transportation if that vote stands. That has some municipalities rethinking their decisions. We hear from leaders in the region about what comes next, and about how Charlotte reached its decision.

Dr. Annie Andrews is a pediatrician and mother from Charleston. She is the Democratic candidate running for the open U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina. No Democrat has won a Senate seat in S.C. since 1998. She discusses her hopes to flip the seat.