Congress squabbles over a stopgap bill as Helene aid hangs in the balance, Gov. Cooper makes his farewell address and Charlotte hires an interim attorney. Those stories and more on the Charlotte Talks local news roundup.

Outgoing state Sen. Natasha Marcus represented Mecklenburg District 41 for three terms and shares her thoughts on that time and her concerns for the future.

Doing the right thing can often be costly for those calling out a wrong others would like concealed. We hear from a whistleblower about that cost and what makes it worth it.

We take a look at the difference Medicaid expansion has made in the lives of North Carolinians, discuss the state’s outreach to the newly qualified, and whether we can expect changes to the program in Trump’s second term.

Household debt in this country is high — and getting higher. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, it increased by $150 billion in the third quarter of this year alone. There are those carrying a lot of debt from student loans to credit cards to car and personal loans, but personal finance author and Charlotte resident Bernadette Joy says there is a way out.

Lawmakers in Raleigh move to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of a bill that would strip power from the incoming Democrats. City Council approves expanding flight paths over Charlotte. North Carolina Rep. Dan Bishop is tapped to join President-elect Trump's administration. And the North Carolina Board of Elections makes some important decisions

After Hurricane Helene, we all witnessed what it was like when the municipal water supply in Asheville stopped working. Eventually, the water was turned back on, the boil water notice lifted, and no lead or other contaminants were found. Still, it will take years to fully recover. And there are other challenges facing drinking water statewide, including from private wells.

On the next Charlotte Talks, the popularity of true crime stories and the ethics of reporting and consuming them.

Following World War II, North Carolina recognized a need for education beyond high school, but shy of a four-year degree. That led to the creation of community colleges. Now, 70 years later, there are 58 community colleges in N.C. and funding is increasing to accommodate growth. We take a look at what’s driving that enrollment, how these schools provide workforce development, and how they help adult learners.

When you think of contributions to the visual arts in the 20th century, New York City and Europe might come to mind. But the South has made its own artistic contributions. And the Mint Museum Uptown is showing over 100 paintings and prints exploring the social history of the period. We talk about this intersection of art and history and what we can learn from it.