Friday, Feb. 8, 2019
Charlotte will gain a new banking headquarters as BB&T and SunTust Bank plan to merge and move to the Queen City. The Cross Charlotte Trail continues to frustrate City Council as the city suggests ways to finish the project. The debate over four-year City Council terms is about to face a key vote. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper joins other Democrats calling for Virginia’s governor to quit. The United Way has to cut its giving to area nonprofits.
Monday night’s City Council meeting brought with it suggestions on how to finish the Cross Charlotte Trail, which has come up $77 million short in funding, but the new plan left council members frustrated. We talk about the proposed solution and council member reactions.
BB&T and SunTrust Bank announced Thursday that the two banks would merge and move their new headquarters to Charlotte. What are the implications of this merger here and around the Southeast?
Charlotte City Council plans to vote next week on whether they’ll start the referendum process to extend their terms from two to four years. We discuss what council members said about the process.
United Way is experiencing budget problems, with plans to cut grants by 25 percent and cutting $1 million from its yearly budget. The reasons for the cuts go back several years.
Governor Cooper calls for the resignation of Virginia Governor Ralph Northam after a racist 1984 yearbook picture surfaced.
Guest host David Boraks from WFAE News and our roundtable of reporters discuss those and other stories.
Guests:
Ann Doss Helms, reporter for the Charlotte Observer
Glenn Burkins, founder and publisher of QCityMetro.com
Mary C. Curtis, columnist for Rollcall.com and WCCB
Steve Harrison, WFAE political reporter