WCNC Charlotte Flashpoint

This week on Flashpoint, Leaders in Charlotte's Black community are sounding the alarm on the ongoing disparities in education outcomes for students of color at CMS, saying the impacts will be felt community-wide. In September, the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg hosted an online forum with CMS leaders to discuss ways to correct the educational gap between Black and white students, a gap made worse by COVID-19.

Later, fresh off a blazing-hot housing market this summer, and just before the market slows down for the holidays, realtors say October might prove to be an opportune time for buyers who've stayed on the sidelines. One expert anticipates a seasonal slow down this winter which means fewer homes will be coming on the market.  Already, the inventory of homes for sale in the Charlotte metro area is down nearly 42%, comparing August 2020 to August 2021.

All of this and more on WCNC Charlotte's Flashpoint!

This week on Flashpoint, Mark Walker, a candidate for U.S. Senate from North Carolina, discusses his campaign and how he is looking to distinguish himself from democrats, fellow republicans, and anyone associated with Washington, D.C.  

Later, as Charlotte City Council considers new district boundaries lines, current and former councilmen say leaders should add a council seat. Lawana Mayfield, a Democrat, said Council should be politically representative of the city's voters. She is currently running for an at-large council seat.  

All of this and more on Flashpoint on WCNC Charlotte!

Before a single district map is drawn, members of Charlotte city council's committee on redistricting are at odds over the process. Republican Ed Driggs appeared on WCNC's Flashpoint with committee chair Malcolm Graham, a Democrat on the council.

Driggs accused Graham of holding a vote on the criteria involved in redistricting without Driggs, the lone Republican on the committee, present.

The issue echoes a similar decades-long debate at a statewide level about redistricting and gerrymandering, but with the opposite power dynamic: democrats complain republicans strategically limit democratic strongholds in drawing new districts.

On Flashpoint, a veteran of the Iraq and Afghan wars looks back on the two-decade war on terrorism.

Matt Hoh spoke out against the war in Afghanistan long before recent critics. In 2009, the Marine combat veteran resigned in protest from his post with the US State Department in Afghanistan.

"This last month in Afghanistan is what losing looks like, this is what defeat looks like," he said. "That's the consequence of choosing military victory as a sole outcome as opposed to negotiations."

This week on FLASHPOINT, WCNC's Hunter Sáenz sits down with Charlotte City Councilmen, Republican Tariq Bokhari and Democrat Larken Egleston on Mecklenburg County's mask mandate for public buildings.

The City of Charlotte has had a mask mandate for a few weeks now, but this week Mecklenburg County's went into effect county-wide. The mandate is for inside public buildings in Mecklenburg County, regardless of vaccination status.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department plans to handle enforcement of the mandate the same as it did before, with voluntary compliance and education. In most cases, officers will remind people who are not wearing masks inside public spaces that it's now required. 

This week on FLASHPOINT, WCNC's Ben Thompson is joined by U.S. Senate hopeful Cheri Beasley. Beasley was the first African-American woman to serve as Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. She's using that role, and two successful statewide races, to tout her strength on the campaign trail.  Beasley discusses why she thinks President Biden has earned a 'B' grade for his first seven months as head of state, her plans for NC ahead of the 2022 election, and more. 

Next, Ben sits down with Republican National Convention spokesman Paris Dennard on how the committee wants to appeal to voters of color ahead of the 2022 election. This week, Dennard spoke to a group of Black conservatives in Charlotte.  Dennard said the RNC is putting down roots in key battleground states, hoping to make inroads with black voters. "When you look at the things people are concerned about; safety and security, making sure they have jobs and the economy. Those are things that are applicable to all walks of life," Dennard explained. 

All of this and more on FLASHPOINT!

This week on Flashpoint, the North Carolina House and Senate get ready to work out a compromise on the state budget, and local lawmakers are expressing measured optimism. 

Rep. Wesley Harris, a Democrat from Mecklenburg County, and Rep. Dean Arp, a Republican from Union County, join Ben Thompson on Flashpoint to discuss why they think a state budget is in the works.

Next up, WCNC Charlotte's Indira Eskieva discusses the effects of the war in Afghanistan on local veterans.

On this week's Flashpoint, we're discussing Charlotte's affordable housing crisis. First up, Ben Thompson has an interview with Ely Portillo, the assistant director of outreach and strategic partnerships at UNC Charlotte's Urban Institute. The two discuss the housing market in Charlotte, and UNCC research that shows Wall Street-baked firms have bought more than 11,000 single-family homes in Mecklenburg County. This has made it especially difficult for first-time homebuyers in an already competitive housing market. 

Next up, Michelle Boudin joins the program to recap some of the outrageous things realtors and buyers are doing to secure bids on houses in Charlotte. We're talking European vacations, new cars and even paying over $100,000 above asking price! 

A WCNC Charlotte investigation uncovered hundreds of hours of bodycam footage that's reviewed by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police. Nate Morabito spoke with a CMPD captain, who says despite hundreds of recorded "concerns," officer behavior is actually improving. 

Flashpoint is back after a two-week break for the Olympics! On this week's show, Ben Thompson has an exclusive interview with Mecklenburg County Health Director Gibbie Harris. During this interview, Ben chats with Gibbie about the delta variant of COVID-19, how quickly it's spreading and how health officials believe they can get it under control. 

Harris also discusses how Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is working with the county health department to form its COVID-19 protocols for the upcoming year, including testing and masking. 

Watch Flashpoint on Sundays at 11 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte. For the latest political news in the Carolinas, follow Ben Thompson on Twitter @Bentnews, and @FlashpointWCNC. 

Flashpoint is still on break due to the Olympics in Tokyo, but we're going to bring you another Flashpoint Flashback. This week, it's Ben Thompson's interview with North Carolina. Sen. Thom Tillis in May. 

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

Weeks after surgery to remove prostate cancer, Sen. Thom Tillis is already back at work in Washington.

"I feel great. Came out of surgery with the typical post-operative challenges. But that lasted for about a week," Tillis said, in a recent interview with Wake Up Charlotte anchor Ben Thompson.

Tillis and Thompson both share family histories of prostate cancer, which is a leading risk factor.

Tillis says his high-profile job has helped keep him focused.  He chose surgery over other, less aggressive treatment options like radiation or hormone therapy.

"Quite honestly, part of it had to do with my official duties. I had to find one I was willing to accept the risk of the side effects, but also be able to do it within the contours of a tough schedule."

Tillis said his wife Susan and other family members were still processing the news when he started making an action plan.

"I was already in project mode to figure out how we'll beat this. But it took my wife and some of the family members a bit more time," Tillis said.

Keep reading: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/thom-tillis-prostate-cancer-health-diagnosis-update/275-895c0845-27cc-4e6d-9731-6003f557b905