Charlotte Talks With Mike Collins

On the local news roundup Democrats close in on even more congressional upsets in North Carolina, a Union County lawmaker plans to introduce legislation to break up Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools as the board says it will take a look at how it's been operating, and the Carolina Panthers are on a losing streak, but stay near the top of the division

Former South Carolina Governor David Beasley has had a storied political career on both local and international stages. In August, he launched Breaking Bread Together, a national movement designed to bridge cultural, religious, and political divides in America. We sit down with Beasley to discuss civility in politics.

Indigenous people fought alongside settlers and later served in the armed forces, but their contributions were often minimized and their cultural traditions disrespected. We discuss the importance of honoring their participation in America’s wars and efforts to bring them the respect they deserve.

The results of the midterms are still reverberating with members of both parties trying to figure out their next moves. Democrats will now control both houses of Congress and the state House in North Carolina. We discuss how this will impact the balance of power and leadership.

As unemployment rates among young people continue to rise, Charlotte sees an influx of jobs going to those 25 to 34. The next challenge is keeping them here for good. We discuss how Charlotte seems to defy the national narrative that it’s a hard time to enter the workforce.

On the local news roundup, Democrats pick up big wins in the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives and North Carolina General Assembly, the Charlotte Hornets owners are among those purchasing the site of the former EpiCentre, and Charlotte FC is set to wrap up the regular season Saturday, with home-field advantage in the playoffs on the line.

The U.S. Census Bureau has proposed removing questions on race and ethnicity from the 2030 U.S. Census along with other changes. We discuss how these changes could impact how North Carolina gets counted.

Voting is complete and the results are in, so what do we know about the midterm elections locally and beyond? From consequential and competitive congressional and state office races to down ballot issues on constitutional amendments and city bond proposals, how did it all pan out?

A city of newcomers, but one with a history. The Queen City dates back to the mid-1700s. Named after the wife of King George III of England, Charlotte was just that — a small town, but over the years it has grown even as its principal industries have changed. Ashley Mahoney has traced those changes in her book, "Historic Maps of Charlotte: A History of the Queen City in Rare Maps", and we'll plot the course with her.

Local news is in crisis. Newsrooms have shrunk, newspapers have closed, and communities across the country are increasingly becoming news deserts. In his new book, “Why Local News: A Memoir and Plea for an Endangered Form of Journalism,” Rick Thames argues that strong, local journalism remains essential for informed communities and democracy.