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An argument over legislative control of elections to be argued in the coming Supreme Court session has roots in North Carolina and presents serious questions about the future of free elections.

What's next for North Carolina’s hemp industry after legislation was signed to keep its production legal and what it may mean for the potential legalization of medical marijuana.

Carolina Panthers football is set to begin and Charlotte FC appears to be in the thrust of a playoff push. That should make owner David Tepper a hero, but questions have been raised by other moves off the field. We discuss what this might mean for the future on Charlotte Talks.

It’s our monthly conversation with Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles fresh from her election victory to a third term in office. We get some post-election thoughts on her priorities for this new, but shortened, term.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools have a high number of teacher vacancies and reports of poor test scores — meanwhile, advocates say funding isn't nearly as high as it should be. With students heading back to school on Aug. 29, we sit down with CMS teachers to discuss morale, pay, retention and more.

From the racial backlash against former President Obama to the rise of white nationalism, a former Charlotte Observer editor and a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist argue the changing politics and culture of the nation have deep roots in the South. We discuss their book, “The Southernization of America: A Story of Democracy in the Balance.”

With our politics in shambles and trust in the other side at an all-time low, a group of Republicans and Democrats are coming together in North Carolina to restore that trust in government and our elections.

After more than a year of debate, Charlotte City Council passed the Unified Development Ordinance. Monkeypox hospitalizations are on the rise and CMS prepares for the first day of school. Mike Collins and local journalists talk through these stories and more.

COVID-19 is lingering, and the number of infections is increasing again while monkeypox is making inroads here in Mecklenburg County and around the country. Mike Collins checks in with infectious disease experts about it all.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles wins her third term in office in this week’s elections, and incumbents on council take the day along with some returnees to council. The Panthers are in training. Charlotte's Epicentre faces another auction delay. And more people are leaving the county than coming here.

While COVID-19 has impacted virtually the entire country, some communities have been hit much harder than others. We look at how viruses can exploit systemic vulnerabilities with Dr. Steven Thrasher, author of “The Viral Underclass: The Human Toll When Inequality and Disease Collide.”

The Unified Development Ordinance has been approved by Charlotte's City Council, and the document includes development regulations from parking to affordable housing. The plan was contentious and may still change before it goes into effect next year. We speak with Charlotte's Interim Planning Director and local analysts.

School's back in session at CMS but they plan on going back even earlier next year. State test scores are out. Stephen Curry becomes a Davidson graduate and is celebrated around the region. And, Duke Energy rates are rising 10% in western and central North Carolina. Mike Collins and a roundtable of reporters discuss those stories and more.

Class is back in session at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. We sit down with interim Superintendent, Hugh Hattabaugh, to discuss teacher retention and pay, an improvement in test results (although they did not return to pre-pandemic levels), how the district plans to reduce chronic absenteeism and more.

With the first week of classes underway in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, we sit down with CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings to discuss the record number of guns found on CMS campuses the last academic year and the effectiveness of body scanners in middle and high schools, as well as the slight uptick of crime throughout Charlotte.

Early voting begins. Mecklenburg County leaders discuss a long-term approach to stopping violence called “The Way Forward.” The Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization meets with state DOT officials about new I-77 toll lanes. Mayor Vi Lyles says Charlotte will learn from mistakes made in the hiring of an uncertified vendor. And, the Hornets start the season with a win despite an injured LaMelo Ball.

North Carolina author Jason Motts has had a remarkable amount of success as a writer — with his debut novel "The Returned" adapted into an ABC TV series, and his fourth novel, "Hell of a Book," winning the 2021 National Book Award for fiction. He’ll join guest host Erik Spanberg for a look at his poetry and novels, and his roots in North Carolina.

The number of RSV cases continues to rise here. And, Senator Lindsey Graham hits a wall. He will have to testify to a Georgia grand jury about possible interference in the 2020 election. We update you on how the races in our region are going just days before the midterms.

Races in states that could determine which party controls the U.S. Senate are tight. That includes North Carolina where polls have Democrat Cheri Beasley and Republican Ted Budd in a dead heat. We look at both candidates and where they stand on the issues.

Our monthly conversation with Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles will cover topics such as the change in CATS leadership, crime stats and questions swirling around a questionable hiring decision. Mike Collins and the mayor discuss those stories and more.