More than 90 firefighters worked for hours to extinguish a five-alarm fire at a construction site in south Charlotte last month. We discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the Charlotte Fire Department — including those around safety and mental health.

We hear from four artists about the Asian American and Pacific Islander experience in Charlotte, and how they express that experience through their art.

A new take on "1776". It's the story of the debate in the Continental Congress over the Declaration of Independence and contains surprises, even if you think you know American history. This version, opening Tuesday at the Belk, turns casting upside down, which shifts the perspective of the arguments and the results.

How did North Carolina’s members of Congress vote on the debt ceiling deal? Protests over school boundary changes in southern Mecklenburg continue. Video is released of the shooting incident involving a Charlotte Area Transit System bus driver and passenger. Charlotte Fire officials discuss new potential fire-prevention requirements at construction sites following a massive fire near SouthPark. And the county narrowly approves a straw vote for Charlotte-Mecklenburt Schools’ request for a $2.5 billion bond package.

Mike Collins and our panel of guests discuss how transgender kids are affected by being at the center of culture wars raging throughout the country.

Through WFAE's partnership with Novant Health Foundation, "Advancing Maternal Health Equity" explores all aspects of birth equity and talk about what needs to be done to improve infant and maternal health.

The latest discussions over thwarting the expiration of the debt ceiling are going down to the wire. An agreement apparently reached between President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy must still meet approval by Republicans and Democrats in Congress but the deadline for going into default is now June 5. Even if this agreement takes hold, we’ll face a similar crisis in 2024. Why do we keep doing something so important the same way over and over?

The two presidential frontrunners for 2024 are getting up in years as are many members of Congress. Mike Collins speaks with reporters from Insider's "Red, White, and Gray" series to look at what impact this may be having on how we’re governed.

Gov. Roy Cooper visits Charlotte on his road trip declaring a state of emergency in public education. Newly named Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Crystal Hill starts her tenure with a lot on her plate including a contentious meeting on school boundaries. Tempers also flared at City Council this week. And Charlotte Area Transit System puts its chief of rail operations on leave. Our roundtable of reporters covers those and other stories.

Mike Collins is joined by leaders of the No Labels movement in politics, Pat McCrory and Dr. Ben Chavis. They explain the movement, why it started, why they’re involved and what they hope to accomplish.