WCNC Charlotte Flashpoint

This week on Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson spoke to several city leaders about the transportation plan going forward and some of the skepticism lawmakers have toward the plan.

"I think we have work to do to modify the plan in order to bring in the partners we need regionally and also to cooperate with the General Assembly on the referendum authorization that we need," Ed Driggs, city councilman, said.

The city's $13.5 billion transportation plan relies on a one-cent sales tax referendum, which first requires approval of the Republican-led General Assembly in Raleigh. Driggs said he's "skeptical" a referendum could be put before voters by this November, the goal of many city leaders.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/charlotte-city-council-transportation-chair-skeptical-transit-plan-will-get-approved-this-year/275-285edd19-de6b-44da-8144-6a9fe72a2a9f

On this week's episode of Flashpoint, we're joined by U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis! The North Carolina Republican has an extended conversation with Ben Thompson about the discovery of classified documents at the home of President Joe Biden, as well as documents found at the homes of former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence. Tillis faulted the White House's lack of oversight across multiple administrations and says the entire process must be evaluated and improved to ensure this doesn't happen again when it comes to the nation's secrets.

FULL STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/thom-tillis-documents-white-house-biden-pence-trump-flaspoint-politics/275-1b895d5b-fdb6-431f-8b03-6a0f9bf28339

Next, Julia Kauffman has details on crime data from Charlotte-Mecklenburg police. Stopping violent crime remains a major point of emphasis for CMPD as law enforcement officials updated Charlotte city leaders on recruitment efforts to fill hundreds of positions on the force.

FULL STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/charlotte-city-council-year-end-report-cmpd/275-6de5ca08-1b21-45f2-9e8d-1f4b1232f46c

Finally, Ben takes a look at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools legislative agenda as the search for a new superintendent continues for the district.

Flashpoint is a weekly in-depth look at politics in Charlotte, North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond with host Ben Thompson. Listen to the podcast weekly. 

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This week on Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson sits down with Mecklenburg County Commissioner Pat Cotham on the upcoming annual Point-In-Time Count, where volunteers will take to the streets to help understand the size and scope of the homeless population here in Mecklenburg County.

"It's very helpful to gain this information so we can really identify and allocate resources from the county and nonprofits in the city as well," Cotham said.

Later, Ben talks with Charlotte city councilman Malcolm Graham, who highlights the importance of affordable housing in a continuously-growing city.

"We're really, really growing. 121 individuals every day moved to the city of Charlotte, all looking for affordable housing," Malcolm Graham, city councilman, said. 

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/mecklenburg-county-prepares-for-annual-homeless-count/275-88130d59-3df4-4548-9848-35263aee4a27

On this week's episode of Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson sits down with Congresswoman Alma Adams to discuss the divided U.S. House. Rep. Adams strikes an optimistic tone, stating she believes there is room for agreement.

"The Republicans are just barely in the majority, and we're barely in the minority," Adams said on WCNC Charlotte's Flashpoint. "That gives us an opportunity to come together and focus on those things that not only the citizens care about."

Adams expects some bipartisan agreement on issues surrounding the environment, housing, and transportation.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/rep-alma-adams-charlotte-congresswoman-sees-agreement-divided-house/275-2a57151c-7ed0-4c36-92a7-a345ea523e2e

This week on Flashpoint, we take a look back at some of our best moments of 2022.

This week on Flashpoint, WCNC's Ben Thompson sts down with Sustain Charlotte's Meg Fencil about its CATS transportation wish list. Sustain Charlotte advocates for sustainable growth in Charlotte. Its Executive Director recently penned the "wish list" for change the group would like to see in 2023, starting with improving bus stops and making bus service more reliable.

"Those are the basics. And they are absolutely essential. If we don't make sure that our bus service is fast, frequent, reliable and walkable, it's going to be really hard for people just to get to and from jobs and other daily destinations," Fencil said.

Later, Ben talks with economist and UNC Charlotte professor John Connaughton, about what next year's economy could bring. He warned economic progress won't be quick.

"It's going to play out, as I say, very, very slowly over the year, and we probably won't know very much about how the year went until about this time next year," he said.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/2023-recession-charlotte-economist-predicts-slow-growth-next-year/275-b4e41210-9eb3-4749-9cd4-d3e65e5e2fa7

This week on Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson talks with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools board members-elect Lisa Cline and Stephanie Sneed about the upcoming term. Five new Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools board members will be sworn in this week. They'll face a long list of issues to tackle.

Chief among their priorities, selecting a new superintendent.  A former teacher, Kline said she worked with several committed superintendents earlier in her career. She cited Peter Gorman, who served CMS between 2006 to 2011, as one she respected.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/charlotte-mecklenburg-schools-board-members-look-to-new-term/275-fefce6ee-3438-4c96-9bbc-dadad8e71157

This week on Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson talks with Tom Wolf, deputy director in the democracy program at the Brenner Center about the upcoming Moore v. Harper case being heard in US Supreme Court.  At issue, "independent state legislature theory", an controversial legal theory that suggests state legislatures have the final say on federal election laws. Critics of the theory argue it undermines America's history of three separate branches of co-equal government, all for short-term political gain.  

"It just fundamentally misunderstands the way American governments worked for centuries. And it's threatening to upend all of it," Tom Wolf, deputy director at the Brennan Center for Justice, said.

Later, Ben talks with J. Christian Adams, president of the public interest legal foundation. The org filed a brief in support of Moore.  

"This theory is about destroying our system of checks and balances. For over 200 years, state legislators have shared power for making the rules for federal elections with any number of people, including state courts, governors, election officials, and even the people themselves through direct democracy, ballot initiatives, referenda," Wolf said.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/us-supreme-court-to-hear-nc-case-that-could-have-catastrophic-results/275-7c864cee-bdea-4597-84a9-1878ff5bc6b5

This week on Flashpoint, WCNC's Ben Thompson talks with Concord Mayor Bill Dusch about the explosive growth expected in the coming year. Concord is now the tenth-largest city in North Carolina. It's attracted big-name companies recently including Red Bull and Eli Lilly that will bring more than 2,000 high-paying jobs. It's a far cry from where city leaders found themselves when Phillip Morris shut down and 2,500 jobs nearly fifteen years ago.  

Later, Ben talks with Gastonia Mayor Pro Tem Dave Kirlin about how the city is actively investing in infrastructure, business development, and affordable housing.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/concord-gastonia-mayors-look-toward-explosive-growth-in-2023/275-b02642e3-f8eb-418b-9dac-824cab533abb

This week on Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson is joined by NC House Speaker Tim Moore is discusses the House's legislative priorities following Tuesday's election. Medicaid expansion, long the source of disagreement among republicans and democrats, will be addressed early in the session, according to Moore. Currently, North Carolina is one of only twelve states that doesn't provide Medicaid expansion.

Later, Ben talks with Catawba College politics Professor Michael Bitzer about North Carolina's mixed election results. Despite disappointing results nationwide, the GOP celebrated some solid victories in North Carolina this week. This, even though voter registration numbers in the state favor democrats and unaffiliated voters.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/we-are-indeed-a-purple-state-an-expert-explains-north-carolinas-mixed-election-results/275-3d200edf-d7b2-42d1-905c-a71b5476b619