On this week’s North Carolina News Roundup...

The state legislature has reached a bustling pitch – considering a moratorium on some tax changes, making confidential NIL agreements, and a social media ban for some teens.

A potential major healthcare merger is on the table in the Triangle. One North Carolina congressman is under investigation. And Charlotte’s mayor will soon step down.

Due South host Jeff Tiberii and a panel of local journalists provide context and analysis from those and other stories from the week.

Laura Leslie, editor, NC Newsline

Claudia Rivera Cotto, state political reporter, Enlace Latino NC

Bryan Anderson, NC politics reporter, The Assembly

Ely Portillo, executive editor, WFAE in Charlotte

0:01:00

North Carolina was once an emerging national leader on the solar power front. But disincentives, policy changes and a hold on new projects have changed the solar power landscape. A conversation about energy costs and possible solutions for the future.

Liz McLaughlin, climate change reporter, WRAL

Matt Abele, Executive Director, NC Sustainable Energy Association

0:33:00

Residential solar panels are becoming more common on rooftops in North Carolina. But they are still a big financial stretch for most people. Leoneda Inge talks with a couple who got panels installed several years ago about how they look back on their decision. And, the president of a local solar panel company joins the conversation to talk credits, incentives, and the nuts and bolts of home solar power systems.

Dan and Saritha Vermeer, residential solar panel customers

Karl Stupka, President and Chief Operations Officer, NC Solar Now

0:01:00

Due South's Leoneda Inge chats with a family therapist, who offers advice and recommendations for navigating grief and loss around the holiday. (This Due South encore conversation originally aired May 9, 2024.)

Dr. Kristen Wynns, founder and owner of Wynns Family Psychology and author of The No Wimpy Parenting Handbook

0:13:00

Even under the best circumstances, parenting can be stressful. So, when natural disasters upend a community’s sense of safety, security, and routine, the impact on families can be particularly profound. (This Due South encore conversation originally aired May 7, 2025.)

Gray Chapman, writer based in Atlanta

Erin Brethauer, director, cinematographer and photographer based in Asheville

0:33:00

Moms Mabley was born in Brevard, NC in 1897. By the mid-20th century, she was one of the biggest names in standup comedy. 

But her hometown has been slow to publicly recognize her historic career achievements. The tides of recognition seem to be slowly turning now. (This Due South encore conversation originally aired May 9, 2024.)

Lisa Rab, freelance investigative journalist and author of the maternal health newsletter, Overdue

0:01:00

The first woman to head the nation’s second-largest credit union talks overcoming failure, learning to lead, and the growth of female representation in banking. Due South's Leoneda Inge has an extended conversation with the woman at the helm, Leigh Brady. (This Due South encore conversation originally aired January 14, 2026.)

Leigh Brady, President and CEO of the North Carolina State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU)

0:33:00

Humidity and heat in the South are creating another housing problem: mold. Multidisciplinary researchers at Duke University are collaborating to understand mold’s impact on human health. 

Two BPR reporters and a Duke researcher join Due South. Their article for Grist is titled "A hotter, wetter South is becoming a breeding ground for mold." (This Due South encore conversation originally aired March 5, 2026.)

Asiya Gusa, microbiologist who works with the Duke Climate and Fungi Research Group (CLIF)

Laura Hackett, Helene Recovery Reporter at Blue Ridge Public Radio

KatieMyers, reports on climate change in Appalachia through a partnership between Grist and Blue Ridge Public Radio

0:01:00

Drought conditions persist across North Carolina

North Carolina is experiencing its driest season in nearly 20 years. WCNC Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich talks about the drought, how it compares to past record dry seasons in North Carolina and what to expect in the weeks to come. 

Brad Panovich, chief meteorologist, WCNC in Charlotte

0:13:00

The Broadside: Where have all the Black farmers gone?

A little over a hundred years ago, there was an abundance of Black farmers in the U.S., and the vast majority of them farmed in the South. But today, less than 2% of farmers are Black, and what was once a flourishing vocation in Black America has now become something of a novelty. Yet despite decades of decline and documented discrimination, Black farmers are finding ways to thrive as they inspire the next generation of growers.

Shirlette Ammons, creator of the podcast series Tending

Aallyah Wright, rural issues reporter for Capital B News

0:33:00

NC farmer who bought the land where his ancestors were enslaved

In 2021, Warren County farmer Patrick Brown bought the plantation where his ancestors were once enslaved. He’s working to build a just and sustainable food system, to enrich both the soil and his community, on land once used to extract and exploit. (This encore interview originally aired January 15, 2025.)

Patrick Brown, farmer and manager of Brown Family Farms and owner of Connect Group, LLC

Related: Read a piece in The Bitter Southerner about Patrick Brown titled “Black Earth.” 

On this week’s North Carolina News Roundup... 

It’s May Day – and tens of thousands of educators have convened in Raleigh, calling for better pay and support from the legislature. The Voting Rights Act was further gutted – a look at what that means for our state. One local university files for bankruptcy. And we get the latest from a busy week in state politics. 

Due South host Jeff Tiberii and a panel of local journalists provide context and analysis from those and other stories from the week.

Liz Schlemmer, education reporter, WUNC News

Zachery Eanes, reporter, Axios Raleigh

Danielle Battaglia, congressional impact reporter for The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer

Will Michaels, Senior Reporter for State Issues at NC Local

An extended version of this Due South conversation originally aired April 9, 2026.

From layoffs to AI to social media, the ever-changing news landscape impacts both journalism organizations and consumers.

Co-host Jeff Tiberii talks with North Carolina news industry experts about the past, present and future of local media in our state.

Marisa Porto, Director of the Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media and Knight Chair, Hussman School of Journalism and Media, UNC-Chapel Hill

Shannan Bowen, Founder & CEO, NC Local

Glenn Burkins, Founder and Publisher, QCity Metro

Josh Bergeron, Government Editor, The Charlotte Observer

Paul Hunton, President and General Manager, WUNC News

0:01:00

For Hayti residents, affordable housing redevelopment is long overdue

A revitalization project focused on the long-overlooked historically Black community of Hayti in Durham is still fighting for affordable housing for residents. Henry McKoy, director emeritus of the project, Hayti Reborn, joins Due South to discuss planning efforts and obstacles. (This Due South encore conversation originally aired February 23, 2026.)

Henry McKoy, president and CEO of Carolina Community Impact and director emeritus of Hayti Reborn

7:30

Habitat for Humanity of Orange County seeks to address growing affordable housing needs

Buying a home in Orange County is becoming increasingly prohibitive. Housing prices are on the rise, as wages stagnate. Habitat for Humanity of Orange County is working to address a growing need for affordable housing throughout the county and particularly in Chapel Hill. (This Due South encore conversation originally aired February 23, 2026.)

Jennifer Player, president and CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Orange County

22:00

Ali Siddiq brings his brand of anecdotal comedy to Durham

Award-winning standup comic Ali Siddiq is bringing his latest tour to Durham on May 1. Due South’s Leoneda Inge talks to him about his life, career and his approach to storytelling and humor.

Ali Siddiq, writer, public speaker and stand-up comedian

0:01:00

Several school districts have changed their calendars so school will be out on Friday, clearing the way for educators to attend the march in Raleigh.

It’s organized by the North Carolina Association of Educators, which says the goal is to demand more spending on education.

Liz will be joining Due South's NC News Roundup on Friday live from Raleigh where she'll be covering the march.

Liz Schlemmer, is the K-12 Education Reporter at WUNC News

0:08:35

“The Creative Lives of Educators” is now on display at the North Carolina Museum of Art. It features original artwork by educators from across the state, and poses the question: “How do educators make space for creative practices in their life outside of teaching?”

Leoneda Inge speaks with two art teachers about having their work on display at the NCMA, how they hone their craft, and the joy of sharing the creative process with students. And both share the deeper meaning and significance behind their paintings.

Brandi Criscitiello, is the art teacher at White Oak High School in Jacksonville, NC. Criscitiello’s piece is “The Heartbeat of America” 1968 El Camino, acrylic on wood with cedar frame.

Quintin Neal, teaches at Bugg Elementary School in Wake County. Neal’s piece is “Life in Bloom-Sunflower.”

It's the last week to see this exhibit, so check it out soon https://ncartmuseum.org/exhibitions/the-creative-lives-of-educators/.

0:23:51

Comedian Paula Poundstone returns to Due South for a conversation about finding humor in challenging times, engaging politics onstage and trimming down her overweight rescue cat Larry.

(This Due South encore conversation originally aired October 29,2025.)

Paula Poundstone, humorist, author, regular contributor to NPR’s WaitWait…Don’tTell Me! and host of Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone

This encore edition of Due South originally aired in April 2024.

As the weather warms, many animals emerge — including snakes. Co-host Leoneda Inge talks with a reptile conservation biologist to find out where snakes are likely to be, how they behave and how to love them from afar.

Jeff Hall, reptile conservation biologist, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

Then, what to do if you are bit by a venomous snake? Our guest today says first, stay calm, and then seek medical care.

The number of deaths associated with snake bites in the U.S. is relatively low, in part because of access to anti-venom — but the treatment is expensive. Dr. Charles Gerardo is working on a cheaper, more accessible way to treat snake bite. He talks with co-host Jeff Tiberii about how to respond to a snake bite now – and how that treatment might change in the future.

Charles J. Gerardo, MD, MHS, Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine and Professor, Emergency Medicine & Global Health, Duke University