NC SPIN Podcasts

Question to Donna Martinez and Dennis Wicker – We talk a lot about those who have been damaged from the coronavirus but a survey by the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians and pediatric society is frightening. 87 percent of practices report being under significant or extreme financial pressure and 92 percent of physician owned practices are threatened. Medicaid and Medicare reimburse them for patient visits less than do commercial insurance plans. Does our state need to provide help for these doctors?

NC SPIN episode #1136 Air Date 08/21/2020

Topics:

Clusters aplenty

School opens, but with problems

Tell Us Something We Don’t Know

Panelists:

Dennis Wicker, former Lt. Governor

John Hood, Syndicated columnist and author

Chris Fitzsimon, Director, States Newsroom

Donna Martinez, WPTF Radio and John Locke Foundation

Tom Campbell, Moderator

This week Tom Campbell discusses voting by mail.

Question to John and Chris – Atrium Health is expanding the Wake Forest University Med School by opening in Charlotte. Does our state need another med school, especially since Atrium lost $36 million in the first half of 2020?

Question to Anna Beavon Gravely and Rob Schofield – It is no secret that portions of our state don’t have access to high speed broadband Internet. We just learned that several rural communities in our state are going to follow the lead of a similar effort in Raleigh by developing co-working hubs. Here businesses can rent spaces to get high speed Internet access, as well as other services like conference rooms. What do you think of this business solution? Can it be used for individuals?

NC SPIN episode #1135 Air Date 08/14/2020

Topics:

12 weeks and counting

COVID-19 declining

School starts Monday

Tell Us Something We Don’t Know

On our panel this week are:

Anna Beavon Gravely, Executive Director of NC FREE

Rob Schofield, Director of NC Policy Watch

Chris Fitzsimon, Director of States Newsroom

John Hood, Syndicated columnist and author

Tom Campbell, Moderator

This week Tom Campbell talks about the importance of North Carolina citizens filling out the census and what it could cost our state if they don't.

Question to John Hood and Chris Fitzsimon - Are our local county and municipal governments facing a budget crisis? Many budget officers are starting the sound the alarm about financial concerns from lower tax revenues due to COVID-19. Will the federal government step in with resources to help county and local governments?

Question to Howard Lee & Joe Mavretic

Howard and Joe pull out your crystal ball and give us what you see coming in the November Election and what that means for the next Governor and State Legislature?

NC SPIN episode #1134 Air Date 8/7/2020

Topics:

Hurricane damage across Eastern North Carolina

Governor Cooper on PHASE 2

Let’s talk fall sports during COVID-19

Surveys on control of the State Legislature

Tell Us Something We Don’t Know

Panelists:

Howard Lee, former Senator and Chair of the State Board of Education

Joe Mavretic, former Speaker of the NC House

Chris Fitzsimon, Director, States Newsroom

John Hood, syndicated columnist and author

Brad Crone, Guest Moderator