Due South

When it comes to child care, the numbers just don't seem to add up: parents struggle to pay increasing child care tuition costs, child care workers often earn less than a living wage, and child care center owners often can't even afford to pay themselves.

North Carolina's child care industry will face another challenge at the end of June -- that's when federal funds intended to stabilize the industry during the pandemic are set to run out. Some experts anticipate that if the funding support goes away large numbers of centers will close, tens of thousands of child care slots could be lost, and the vast majority of centers that stay open will be forced to raise their tuition fees. Many advocates, early childhood educators, and parents are at a rally today demanding the state legislature allocate funding to help.

Today on Due South, a range of voices and perspectives, including an interview with two members of the state legislature, to explore the anticipated impact of the "funding cliff" and how to address the struggling child care system in the short term and for the long haul.

HBCU 101, Due South's series on historically Black colleges and universities, continues as co-host Leoneda Inge chats with graduates of St. Augustine's University, Morehouse and NCCU School of Law about their experiences. 

Dr. Damon Tweedy discusses his choice to enter the field of psychiatry, despite its stigma within the medical industry. He sits down with co-host Leoneda Inge to discuss his new book, Facing the Unseen: The Struggle to Center Mental Health in Medicine.

North Carolina’s private school voucher program began over a decade ago to offer low-income families an alternative to low-performing public schools. The Opportunity Scholarship program has expanded in recent years — now there is no income requirement to qualify and tens of thousands of moderate to higher-income applicants are waiting to hear if they'll get scholarships as well.

As a massive expansion to the program is debated and winds its way through the legislative process, we hear from a panel including education reporters, as well as advocates on both sides of the voucher debate. They explore the history of the program, who the proposed expansion will impact, and how quality and accountability standards are applied in the private school voucher program.

State lawmakers seek to define antisemitism. The legal fight over Voter ID returns to federal court. An investigation of mental health facilities finds allegations of abuse, patient over-medication, and a general lack of care. 

Plus, updates on private school vouchers, demonstrations in Chapel Hill, a notable group speaks out against new proposed water quality standards. And we've got another primary next week – did you know!? Join Jeff Tiberii and a panel of reporters for context and analysis of the week’s news.

Guests
Colin Campbell, Capitol Bureau Chief, WUNC
Gary Robertson, Statehouse Reporter, Associated Press
Lauren Ohnesorge, Senior reporter, Triangle Business Journal
Taylor Knopf, Reporter, NC Health News
Danielle Battaglia, Capitol Hill Correspondent, The News & Observer/The Charlotte Observer/McClatchy

A research study tracks women's pathways to motherhood; family therapist Dr. Kristen Wynns offers advice for navigating difficult feelings about Mother's Day; a look at the life and career of Brevard, NC native Moms Mabley

From Texas, to New York City, to Chapel Hill, students protesting university and U.S. support of Israel during its ongoing military effort in Gaza are being arrested, suspended and threatened with expulsion. 

A conversation about the line between protected free speech, unwelcoming speech, and unacceptable disruption to campus life, and who gets to decide what is allowed.

Guests:

-Sarah Brown, News Editor for the Chronicle of Higher Education

-Sarah Ludington, Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the First Amendment Clinic at Duke Law School

- Dr. Irene Mulvey, President, AAUP (American Association of University Professors)

-Nico Perrino, Executive Vice President, FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression)

Doctors, researchers, and students at Duke University are developing an oral history archive to shed light on the stories of abortion patients and providers impacted by the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision and North Carolina’s 12-week ban.

In part one of this conversation, co-host Leoneda Inge talks with three doctors about why they're contributing to this audio archive, which captures reproductive health history, happening now.

Then, Leoneda Inge is joined by two students who are also involved in the oral history project, as well as by a reproductive justice advocate, to talk about the disproportionate impact of abortion restrictions on historically-marginalized populations, particularly Black women, and how abortion bans impact Black maternal health.

Part One: NASA Astronaut Christina Koch
We're lifting off today with Astronaut Christina Koch. She grew up here, graduated from the North Carolina School of Science and Math, then NC State, and today works for NASA. Koch has spent more than 300 days at the International Space Station and is readying for a lunar mission. Christina Koch talks training, outer space food, and common questions she gets.
Christina Koch, NASA Astronaut

Part Two: Digging into the Mysteries of the Universe with NC Astronomer
After talking with a NASA Astronaut, we wanted to learn more about research that’s happening here on Earth. Rachel Smith, an astrophysicist at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science, studies star and planet formation. We talk with her about that, and space out on some of humankind's biggest questions, like – are we alone in the universe? 
Rachel Smith, PhD, Astronomer at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, and Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Appalachian State University.

Co-host Jeff Tiberii checks in with a roundtable of reporters on college protests at UNC Chapel Hill; law enforcement tragedy in Charlotte and updates on primary elections and school vouchers.