Charlotte has a new mayor at a pivotal moment. The city is closing in on 1 million residents, wrestling with questions about growth, affordability and transportation, and navigating political divisions over how to shape its future. 

Just days after taking the oath of office, Mayor Rob Harrington sat down with The Charlotte Ledger's Ashley Fahey to talk about how he plans to lead through those challenges — and what kind of city he hopes Charlotte will become.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Harrington discusses his first days in office, why he believes business and community interests shouldn't be viewed as opposing forces, and how Charlotte can continue to grow while creating opportunity for longtime residents. He also shares his views on building trust within City Council, the importance of Charlotte Douglas International Airport, investing in affordable housing through the city's Housing Trust Fund, and why partnerships among government, businesses and nonprofits have long been one of Charlotte's greatest strengths.

The interview wraps up with a lighter round of rapid-fire questions: Harrington reveals the Charlotte institutions he'd show a first-time visitor, the cities he admires, what he thinks leaders don't talk about enough and why he wants Charlotte to become a national model for how fast-growing cities can thrive without losing what makes them special.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Tony Mecia. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, go to TheCharlotteLedger.com. 

Charlotte's political landscape is shifting.

Mayor Vi Lyles is preparing to leave office after nearly nine years, a new mayor is stepping in and City Council is wrestling with some of the biggest issues the city has faced in years — from I-77 toll lanes and airport negotiations to data centers and the future direction of city government.

On this week's Charlotte Ledger Podcast episode, Tony Mecia is joined by WSOC-TV reporter Joe Bruno and WFAE reporter Steve Harrison for a wide-ranging conversation about what this moment means for Charlotte. The trio breaks down why City Council selected lawyer Rob Harrington as mayor, what kind of leadership style he is expected to bring and how his relationship with an increasingly independent City Council could shape major decisions over the next 18 months. They also discuss Mayor Vi Lyles' legacy, the possibility of future leadership changes at City Hall and the political dynamics that could define Charlotte's next chapter.

Whether you closely follow local politics or just want to understand what's happening at City Hall, this episode offers an inside look at one of the most consequential moments in recent Charlotte government.

Today’s episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc. Looking for child care? Our team provides guidance every step of the way! Search online at www.FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685 for live assistance and free, customized referrals.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, go to TheCharlotteLedger.com. 

The Charlotte region adds roughly 150 new residents every day, but beyond the statistic are thousands of individual stories about why people choose to make the region home.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Ashley Fahey talks with Charlotte filmmaker and videographer Duvale Murchison about his new micro-documentary series, "150+ A Day: Everybody's Moving to Charlotte." Inspired by the region's rapid growth, the project captures candid conversations with transplants from across the country — and around the world — about what brought them here, what surprised them and how Charlotte has changed their lives.

Murchison shares how a chance visit to Charlotte in 2014 convinced him to relocate from Michigan, why he believes the city offers a unique blend of opportunity and quality of life, and what he's learned from interviewing dozens of newcomers. From New Yorkers who say Charlotte helped them slow down to international residents discovering the Queen City's culture, the conversations paint a portrait of a region that continues to evolve.

Check out "150+ A Day: Everybody's Moving to Charlotte" on Murchison's YouTube channel.  

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is presented by PBS Charlotte's Unspun program. Wondering what politicians are thinking but not saying? Watch PBS Charlotte Fridays at 8 p.m. as former Governor Pat McCrory delivers no-spin answers. Stream anytime on demand at wtvi.org/unspun.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, go to TheCharlotteLedger.com. 

Kristen Wile has spent more than a decade documenting Charlotte’s restaurant scene, and in that time she’s watched the city transform from a place searching for its culinary identity into one drawing national attention. Michelin stars, Top Chef contestants and James Beard semifinalists may dominate the headlines today, but Wile argues Charlotte’s rise didn’t happen overnight. Instead, it’s the result of years of growth, local talent, ambitious chefs and a dining community that has steadily built something worth noticing.

In this live episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, recorded at The Sharon in SouthPark, Wile — founder and editor of Unpretentious Palate — joins Ledger managing editor Ashley Fahey for a conversation about the forces shaping Charlotte’s food scene. They discuss:

• How Charlotte evolved into a city chefs increasingly want to build careers in 
• The growing challenges independent restaurants face from national chains and rising costs 
• How takeout, changing drinking habits and labor shortages continue to reshape the industry 
• Why the “regular” restaurant customer has largely disappeared 
• The surprising rise of chicken tenders and other comfort foods during economic uncertainty 
• Whether viral food trends actually help restaurants build lasting success 
• How Charlotte diners can better support local restaurants 
• Wile's favorite restaurants, dishes and hidden gems around Charlotte 
• Why she believes Charlotte should stop looking to outsiders for validation of its food scene

➡️ Find out more about Unpretentious Palate

Today’s episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc. Looking for child care? Our team provides guidance every step of the way! Search online at www.FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685 for live assistance and free, customized referrals.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, go to TheCharlotteLedger.com. 

Charlotte’s growth has made it one of the hottest real estate markets in the country. But what does the city look like through the eyes of the developers betting millions of dollars on its future?

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, The Ledger's managing editor Ashley Fahey sits down with two industry leaders helping shape Charlotte’s next chapter: Adam McMichael of Republic Development Group and Paul Zarian of Hines. The conversation explores why their firms are investing heavily in Charlotte, how the city compares to other fast-growing Sun Belt markets and what opportunities they see as Charlotte continues to evolve. In this episode, they also discuss: 

• Why Hines and Republic Development chose to expand their presence in Charlotte 
• How Charlotte compares with peer markets like Raleigh, Nashville and other high-growth cities 
• The opportunities and challenges facing developers in today’s market 
• Why both firms are bullish on Charlotte despite economic headwinds 
• The role infrastructure and transportation play in supporting future growth 
• Why relationships and local partnerships matter in Charlotte’s development community 
• The neighborhoods and corridors they believe have the most potential over the next decade 
• Lessons Charlotte can learn from cities across the country 
• Development projects they admire, from South Carolina to California and beyond 
• Their picks for underrated cities worth visiting

This conversation was recorded as part of a partnership with the local chapter of the Urban Land Institute (ULI).

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is presented by PBS Charlotte's Unspun program. Wondering what politicians are thinking but not saying? Watch PBS Charlotte Fridays at 8 p.m. as former Governor Pat McCrory delivers no-spin answers. Stream anytime on demand at wtvi.org/unspun.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, go to TheCharlotteLedger.com. 

May was one of the busiest months Charlotte has seen in recent memory. Mayor Vi Lyles announced her resignation, city leaders reversed course on the controversial I-77 toll lane expansion, data centers sparked heated debate at City Hall and the region continued grappling with a months-long drought. 

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Ledger editors Tony Mecia, Ashley Fahey and Lindsey Banks sit down for a live Reporters Roundtable to unpack the biggest local stories of the month. Recorded via Zoom in front of a live audience on May 29, 2026, the conversation goes beyond the headlines to explain how these developments happened, why they matter and what comes next for Charlotte.

Whether you've been following every twist in Charlotte politics or just need a catch-up on the month's biggest developments, this conversation offers context, insight and a behind-the-scenes look at the stories shaping the region. Also, discussed: 

• Lake Lure's reopening after Hurricane Helene and what it says about Western North Carolina's recovery. 
• Why affordable housing is becoming harder to find not only in Mecklenburg County, but across the entire Charlotte region. 
• The rise of homeowners choosing major renovations instead of moving because of today's housing market. 
• Reflections on the lives and legacies of Charlotte figures including Chris Thomas and media pioneer Ted Turner. 
• The surprisingly competitive world of Charlotte birthday freebies. 
• Some of the Ledger stories that stood out most to the newsroom this month, from neighborhood history to soccer moms and hospital oversight. 

Today’s episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc. Looking for child care? Our team provides guidance every step of the way! Search online at www.FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685 for live assistance and free, customized referrals.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, go to TheCharlotteLedger.com. 

After losing her 2-year-old son Mitchell to leukemia, Meg McElwain found herself navigating unimaginable grief while also trying to help her surviving son process the trauma that had reshaped their family. What began as a donor-advised fund supporting other pediatric cancer families eventually evolved into Mitchell's House — now the first nonprofit counseling center in the country focused specifically on children, siblings and parents facing pediatric medical trauma.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, McElwain reflects on Mitchell’s life, the emotional toll of caregiving, and the difficult years that followed his death. She talks candidly about grief, divorce, parenting a surviving sibling, faith and rebuilding her life while transforming personal tragedy into a growing nonprofit that now serves families across the Charlotte region. McElwain also discusses:

•  Why siblings of sick children often become “glass children” whose grief and trauma are overlooked 
•  The emotional and financial strain pediatric illness places on entire families 
•  Why the organization focuses on the entire family — not just the child receiving treatment 
•  The realities of anticipatory grief for parents whose children have terminal diagnoses 
•  How grief changes over time and what healing looked like more than a decade after losing Mitchell 
•  The challenges pediatric illness places on marriages and family dynamics 
•  What friends and loved ones often misunderstand about supporting grieving families 

This episode is hosted by Steve Dunn. For more information on Mitchell’s House or to donate, please visit MitchellsHouse.org. 

This podcast episode is sponsored by PBS's Unspun program. Wondering what politicians are thinking but not saying? Watch PBS Charlotte Fridays at 8 p.m. as former Governor Pat McCrory delivers no-spin answers. Stream anytime on demand at wtvi.org/unspun.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, go to TheCharlotteLedger.com. 

Charlotte’s restaurant scene has changed dramatically over the past two decades, and few people have helped shape it more than Jamie Brown. Alongside her husband, Jeff Tonidandel, Brown has built some of the city’s most recognizable restaurants — from Growler’s Pourhouse and Haberdish to Supperland, Ever Andalo and Leluia Hall — while also helping define what Charlotte’s food culture can become.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Brown reflects on the unconventional path that led her and Jeff from corporate jobs and world travel into the restaurant business, why each concept is deeply personal to their lives and how they approach building restaurants around storytelling, hospitality and design. She talks about the meticulous details that go into every space, from table spacing and plate placement to preserving historic Charlotte buildings and creating restaurants that feel rooted in the city’s identity. Brown also discusses:

•  The highs and lows of opening restaurants in Charlotte, including projects that never came to fruition 
•  The importance of paying a living wage and building career paths for restaurant employees 
•  Why her restaurant group adopted tip pooling and how it changed workplace culture 
•  Her experience with anxiety, panic attacks and the gut-health journey that transformed her life 
•  How her dietary restrictions reshaped the way her restaurants think about accommodating guests 
•  What it takes to preserve consistency in an industry where “one strike and you’re out” 
•  Why Charlotte’s food scene is becoming an increasingly important part of the city’s identity 
•  What’s next for the restaurant group, including Olivelli Deli, Wyatt’s Superfine and a new commissary project in South End

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is presented by PBS Charlotte's Unspun program, helping you learn what politicians are thinking but not saying. Hosted by former governor Pat McCrory.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, go to TheCharlotteLedger.com. 

The Levine Museum of the New South is preparing for a major new chapter — one that museum leaders hope will help redefine how Charlotte engages with history, community and public conversation. After years without a permanent home, the museum plans to relocate to a new South End campus that blends modern design with the preservation of a historic church site, while expanding its role as both a cultural institution and a civic gathering space. 

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Levine Museum president and CEO Richard Cooper discusses the museum’s search for a new home, why South End emerged as the right fit and how the institution has continued growing its audience even without a permanent building. The conversation also explores:

•  How the museum plans to preserve and incorporate the historic Grace Covenant Church site into the new campus 
•  Why community feedback is shaping everything from exhibits to gathering spaces and family programming 
•  How technology like AI, virtual reality and interactive design could play a role in the future museum experience 
•  What “New South” means in 2026 and how the South continues evolving culturally and demographically 
•  Why museums and libraries remain among the country’s most trusted institutions during a divisive political era 
•  How the Levine Museum hopes to become both a history museum and a community hub where difficult conversations can happen safely 
•  The challenges of funding and building a major cultural institution in one of America’s fastest-growing cities

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is presented by PBS Charlotte's Unspun program, helping you learn what politicians are thinking but not saying. Hosted by former governor Pat McCrory.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, go to TheCharlotteLedger.com. 

Applying to college has always been stressful, but for today’s students and families, the process can feel more overwhelming than ever. Acceptance rates are shrinking, expectations are shifting and the pressure to stand out — academically and personally — starts earlier than many realize. For parents in Charlotte and beyond, it can be hard to know when to step in, when to step back and how to help their child navigate it all without burning out.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Lee Shulman Bierer of Bierer College Consulting and Ashley Ausman of The Essay Architect break down what’s really driving the stress behind today’s admissions process — from the surge in applications to the growing emphasis on “spike” interests over well-rounded resumes. They share practical advice on everything from course selection and extracurriculars to summer planning and campus visits, along with candid insights into what colleges are actually looking for.

The conversation also dives into some of the most important — and often misunderstood — parts of the process:

• How students can tell authentic, compelling stories that go beyond grades and test scores 
• Why specificity matters more than topic and how to uncover meaningful personal stories 
• How tools like AI are complicating essay writing — and why authenticity still matters most 
• How to identify strong-fit schools, including overlooked and in-state options 
• Strategies for keeping both students and parents grounded throughout the process

Today’s episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc. Looking for child care? Our team provides guidance every step of the way! Search online at www.FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685 for live assistance and free, customized referrals.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, go to TheCharlotteLedger.com.