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As NPR founding mother Susan Stamberg prepares to retire, we revisit a special conversation with Mike Collins. Stamberg came to Charlotte in 2017 and joined us for a conversation about her early years in public radio, working in a male-dominated field, and her thoughts on the future of radio.

Among the concerns some parents have heading into the new school year is whether there will be an ICE presence at their child's school. That includes CMS, where community members have expressed concern — even though board members say ICE can't enter campus without a subpoena or warrant. Still, anxiety remains. We explore that and dive into some of the legal questions around this issue.

For the first time in more than a decade, Mecklenburg County has a new manager. Mike Bryant stepped into the role in June following Dena Diorio’s retirement, but he’s been involved in local government for three decades and served as the county’s deputy manager.

The Biden administration had planned for the most generous repayment plan in history, but the Trump administration is moving in a different direction. We examine the system in flux and how to navigate it.

So far this year, there have been 35 traffic-related deaths in Charlotte, including four cyclists and eight pedestrians. This has happened despite the city's Vision Zero plan to eliminate all traffic deaths by 2030. We explore what’s behind this rise in traffic-related deaths, its relationship to road design and what is and isn’t being done to make our streets safe.

Author Dan Fesperman, who grew up in Charlotte and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is no stranger to dangerous situations. He was a foreign correspondent for the Baltimore Sun and reported from Europe and the Middle East. He now writes thrillers full-time. He’ll be in Charlotte at Park Road Books on Sept. 4 to discuss his new novel Pariah.

This weekend, the Carolina Panthers return to regular-season NFL action with high hopes to improve their standing in the NFC South. The pressure is on for third-year quarterback Bryce Young and coach Dave Canales to deliver after a slight roster shake-up on offense and defense. The Panthers haven’t made it to the playoffs in seven years. Will this be the year?

Fallout continues over a stabbing on the Lynx Blue Line as the mayor calls a special meeting of the MTC. The Charlotte municipal primary is less than a week away and turnout has been less than stellar. New state testing data is out and we look at where CMS stands, and the Panthers kick off a new season.

A fatal stabbing has officials concerned not only about crime but also its potential impact this incident might have on the transit vote in November. The CMS school year is underway, North Carolina's legislature is back in Raleigh, but won’t vote on a budget, and the Panthers have traded a star.

Few people understand the struggles and power of newspapers better than Rob Christensen, who spent decades at North Carolina’s capital newspaper as chief political reporter. In his latest book, he recounts how The News & Observer shaped modern North Carolina in ways both profound and eyebrow-raising.

Hurricane Helene took a severe toll on western North Carolina’s art scene, but it also resulted in uplifting stories of recovery.

For years, Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather has lobbied for more staffing in his office, which has not had a significant increase in nearly 15 years. With Iryna’s Law now on the books, he should be able to hire 10 more prosecutors. Will that be enough? We will ask about that and about his impression of how the law might affect public safety, as well as other issues facing the DA’s office.

State Rep. Carla Cunningham and others file a petition to remove Sheriff Garry McFadden from office. He responds, calling the allegations false. Meanwhile, Gov. Josh Stein endorses Cunningham’s primary opponent, citing statements she made last year about immigrants. A Mint Hill teen is denied bail in an alleged plot and the Panthers are in the playoffs.

When Donald Trump returned to office, he took aim at scientific research and discontinued or disrupted funding, at one point cutting it to the lowest levels in decades. Our state has felt the impact and stands to lose billions of dollars. As the Trump administration refocuses its research priorities, we hear more about how North Carolina is navigating these shifts.

After nearly 27 years on the bench, Mecklenburg County’s longest-serving judge — Lou Trosch — is stepping down. He served beginning in 1999 in the 26th Judicial District and later joined the Superior Court in 2018. In that time, he co-chaired the Race Matters for Juvenile Justice Initiative. We look back on that and other milestones as well as changes to the judicial system.

In 1944, Hickory became the epicenter of a polio outbreak. First one case, then dozens more until hospitals in Charlotte and Gastonia were overwhelmed. Hickory didn’t have its own hospital, but a decision was made to build one. That’s the Miracle of Hickory, but there’s a lot more to it.

Charlotte leaders have long committed to bringing more affordable housing to the region. In October, the city announced partnering with Enterprise Community Partners to start the Faith in Housing Charlotte initiative to transform underutilized land from faith-based organizations into affordable housing. We take a look at the intersection of faith, land and policy to reshape our housing future.

As 2025 comes to a close, we take a look at the public health developments shaping life in Mecklenburg County and what residents should know heading into 2026. Later in the show, we turn to mental health during the holidays, including exploring the impact of financial stress and practical coping tools.

Fallout continues after the arrest and rape charge of a Sycamore Brewing co-founder, Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden warns Border Patrol may return, President Trump is set to speak Friday in Rocky Mount, and the Panthers face their biggest game of the season.

A conversation with Seth Harp, author of "The Fort Bragg Cartel," about his new book. It covers drug trafficking, murder, and a cover up involving members of the U.S. military.