This week on Flashpoint, WCNC's Ben Thompson talks to Charlotte professors about the significance of Juneteenth.

Sunday marks Juneteenth, a federal holiday that marks the true end of slavery in the United States. On Jan. 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves of the Confederate states. But it took two-and-a-half years for Lincoln's proclamation to reach Texas and its quarter of a million slaves. 

"It reminds us of the long-standing struggle for black freedom in the United States," Dr. Crystal Eddins, Assistant Professor in the Department of Africana Studies at UNC Charlotte, said.

Congress created the federal holiday in June 2021, following a year of civil unrest across the country.

"I think that it's hard to make an argument that it would have been a holiday without a lot of unrest," Dr. Aman Nadhiri, Associate Professor of English and Arabic at Johnson C. Smith University, said.

SEE THE FULL INTERVIEW SUNDAY AT 11 A.M. ON FLASHPOINT, ONLY ON WCNC CHARLOTTE.

On this week's episode of Flashpoint, Ben Thompson discusses the future of Uptown Charlotte with Mayor Vi Lyles. For much of the pandemic, Uptown was a ghost town. The vibrant foot traffic brought by the banks and other employers for decades evaporated overnight. In the last six months, companies have slowly brought back workers, but often on hybrid schedules.

Restaurants, bars, and shops are reliant on the business brought by weekday workers, still not at 2019 levels.

"I don't think that you'd see it today. But will we see it at some point in the 2022-23 timeframe? I do believe that there's the opportunity to see it then," Lyles said.

Lyles doesn't see an active role for the city to play in forcing the return of workers. Instead, she believes the free market will force the issue.  

See the full interview on Flashpoint, only on WCNC Charlotte.

Read more here: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/charlotte-mayor-vi-lyles-predicts-full-uptown-rebound-by-2023/275-7a585fa1-a8a5-47e2-a906-6f5d1f44d37c

This week on Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson talks to Catawba College Political Science professor, Dr. Michael Bitzer about the primary results. Bitzer said conditions going into the general election favor republican Tedd Budd.

"The president's party always loses seats, typically in midterm elections. Joe Biden's approval rating is low on economic issues, particularly inflation is at the forefront," he said.

Later on, Ben talks to Starmed CEO, Michael Estramonte about the provider’s baby formula giveaway, how they are responding to COVID, and their business model in general.

"We're always looking for ways to see where we can add value or where there's a challenge in the community,' Estramonte said.

All of this and more on Flashpoint, only on WCNC Charlotte.

North Carolina's primary election is just days away on May 17. Ben Thompson interviews Michael Dickerson, the director of elections for Mecklenburg County, about voter turnout, how you can vote and what officials are expecting come Election Day.

In our second segment, Ben Thompson has a conversation with Stephen Billy, executive director of Charlotte Lozier Institute, which focuses on science and statistics related to anti-abortion issues. Charlotte Lozier Institute's data was cited by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito in the leaked draft opinion that indicted the court would overturn Roe v. Wade.

WCNC Charlotte's Lexi Wilson has a report on this week's Flashpoint focusing on two women who both had abortions but now have different feelings about their decisions. One woman explains why she regrets having an abortion, while the other explains how the experience allowed her to answer her calling in life. FULL STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/north-carolina-women-abortion-stories-roe-v-wade-supreme-court-stories/275-7d66f732-efa8-47b0-a13e-b88d52c50daf

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.

On this week's episode of Flashpoint, WCNC's Ben Thompson talks with Mecklenburg County Health Director, Dr. Raynard Washington about COVID in our community. Fresh off spring break and Easter vacations, health officials are seeing an uptick in COVID-19 cases.

"We're experiencing sort of a spring bump here, and COVID activity is increasing in our community," Dr. Raynard Washington, Mecklenburg County Health Director, said.

Later, Ben interviews James “Smuggie” Mitchell about why he’s running for city council again.

All of this and more on Flashpoint, only on WCNC Charlotte.

This week on Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson talks with Charlotte city councilman, Braxton Winston about running again for an at-large seat.

"We have really taken that hands-off approach. And I think that's been fatal in this process," Winston, councilman at-large, said.

Winston co-chairs the city's intergovernmental committee and is running for re-election. He said the city has lost substantial time in engaging in regional, state, and business stakeholders.

Next, Ben talks with Republican Charlotte City Council at-large candidate, Carrie Olinski about why she’s running. Olinksi said public safety is her number one priority, but said all the issues facing city leaders are connected.

"We have transportation and housing and jobs, all of them are intertwined," Olinski said.

All of this and more on Sunday at 11 a.m. on Flashpoint, only on WCNC Charlotte.

On this week's episode of Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson and NC congresswoman, Alma Adams talk Black Maternal Health week and what she's doing to push legislation for it. Rep. Adams is the co-founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, and she's pushing the passage of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, which was reintroduced in February 2021, and remains stalled in the US Senate.

Later. Ben sits down with Charlotte city councilwoman, Dimple Ajmera about running again for an at-large seat and Republican Charlotte City Council at-large candidate, David Merrill about why he’s running.

All of this and more on Flashpoint, only on WCNC Charlotte.

On this episode of Flashpoint, WCNC's Ben Thompson talks with former NC Congressman, Robert Pittenger about his time along the Ukrainian border. Pittenger was in Bucharest planning a summer conference for the Parliamentary Intelligence Security Forum, which he currently serves as chairman. While there, Romanian officials took him to several refugee camps.

"Let me just commend the multiple nonprofit groups, thank the NGOs that have gone there in earnest to help these people. The coordination has been outstanding. The government has done a remarkable job in Romania," he said.

Later, Ben speaks with Republican Charlotte City Council at-large candidate, Charlie Mulligan and Larken Egleston about why he’s running at-large as opposed to trying to keep his D1 seat.

All of this and more on this week's episode of Flashpoint, only on WCNC Charlotte.

On this episode of Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson starts our conversations with all the Charlotte City Council at-large candidates. First up is LaWana Mayfield. She is a former councilwoman who is running again, but this time as an at-large candidate.

Next, Ben spoke with Sam Spencer, the former chair of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg planning commission. They chat about the 2040 policy map being passed this week and why that’s important.

All of this and more only on Flashpoint, on WCNC Charlotte. Join the conversation on social media by following Flashpoint host Ben Thompson on Twitter at @BentNews!

On this episode of Flashpoint, WCNC's Ben Thompson talks to former state representative (who is also now running again) Tricia Cotham about her battle with long COVID.

Cotham previously served in the North Carolina General Assembly between 2009 and 2015. Cotham said she's battled COVID-19 on and off for the last two years.

"January and February were the absolute worst," she explained. "March has been a little bit better. But it's also just very unpredictable."

Next up, Ben talks to former Union County GOP Chair, Dan Barry about the latest on the GOP side of the Senate race.

While democrats coalesce behind former NC Supreme Court Justice Cheri Beasley, the republican field remains contentious and competitive. U.S. Rep. Ted Budd, former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker, former Gov. Pat McCrory, and veteran Marjorie K. Eastman are running on the republican side.

Barry cites polling that shows McCrory with an edge.

"All indications are that McCrory is outside the margin of error as we approach the primary day," Barry said.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/gop-official-sizes-up-ncs-senate-race/275-121e09d3-d16e-4d34-820b-b6bfe591c279