WCNC Charlotte's Flashpoint: Recent Episodes
WCNC
Each week, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson moderates a conversation with newsmakers and community leaders about politics in Charlotte - and across North Carolina and South Carolina.
Mecklenburg County Commissioner Leigh Altman has mixed emotions about news this week involving potential mass transit plans. Altman also serves on the Metropolitan Transit Commission.
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While Altman describes herself as "encouraged" by a tentative agreement announced between CATS and Norfolk Southern to start the Red Line commuter rail between Uptown and Iredell County, she's disappointed at what it could mean for the Silver Line, traveling to east Charlotte and Matthews.
Amid pro-Palestinian protests on the campuses of UNC Charlotte and UNC Chapel Hill, debate continues over their impact on student life.
At UNC Charlotte, school officials accused some protesters of vandalism and disruption of classes and final exams.
On WCNC's Flashpoint, two sides disagreed with each other.
As Back the Blue N.C. raises funds for the families of four officers killed while they were trying to serve a warrant at an east Charlotte home Monday, the group's leader is calling for reform.
"I would say our judicial system definitely needs to change," CEO Lindsay LiCausi said on WCNC Charlotte's Flashpoint.
LiCausi said violent offenders are being let out of jail too often, posing a threat to neighborhoods and police officers.
Republican governors in southern states are pushing back against United Auto Workers' effort to organize automotive factories.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster is among those saying unions could lead to layoffs and fewer investments.
"The reason why the latest effort is happening is largely because of the success that the UAW had with its strike last year against General Motors, Ford and Stellantis," Steven Sylvia, professor at American University, said on WCNC's Flashpoint.
"In certain parts of North Carolina, it's almost impossible to find child care at this point," U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson said on WCNC's Flashpoint.
Charlotte's mayor is expressing renewed optimism that CATS' Red Line commuter rail line will come to fruition.
The line, which has been discussed for more than 20 years, would stretch from Uptown to Mooresville.
"Here we are decades later talking about this, so I am enthusiastic about the concept that we can make this happen this time," Vi Lyles, Mayor Charlotte, said on WCNC's Flashpoint.
On Flashpoint, NCDHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley says expansion impacts communities across the state.
CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings, Mecklenburg Co. Sheriff Garry McFadden, and MOMO Director Lisa Crawford discuss youth violence crime and how to fix it.
On Flashpoint, an official from the Environmental Defense Fund says it could be 'just the beginning.'
Political observers are used to watching election results come in at the close of polls at 7:30 p.m. but things will be different on Tuesday for North Carolina's Primary. It's all because a new state law prohibits election boards from tabulating early voting ballots until after polls close.
Nine years after the mass shooting at Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston killed nine Black parishioners, South Carolina still doesn't have any hate crime legislation on the books.
"It's going to take strong leadership, people would backbone, willing to do what's right," State. Rep. Wendell Gilliard said on WCNC's Flashpoint.
"It's not the way we should lead. We've actually been down this path before here in North Carolina, and we paid in immense economic costs," Stein, North Carolina Attorney General, said on WCNC's Flashpoint.
Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who is also running for governor, suggested at a campaign event in Cary this month that transgender women should be arrested if they use women's restrooms. At an event in Greenville, Robinson they should "find a corner outside somewhere to go" to the bathroom.
Nearly four years after the Charlotte MOVES Task Force first recommended a multi-billion dollar transit plan to city council, casual observers might wonder if any progress has been made.
City and state leaders have occasionally made news by weighing in on the plan but, so far, the plan's promise of transit, trail and road expansion has made little public progress.
"It's not that nothing has happened. I think we underestimated all the work that was going to be needed," Councilman Ed Driggs, who chairs the city's transportation, planning and development, said on WCNC Charlotte's Flashpoint.
Read more here: Leaders working to find common ground on NC transit plan | wcnc.com
The Charlotte Black Voter Project is working to turn around a recent trend at the polls: A "precipitous drop" in Black voter turnout.
"In 2023, you had over 200,000 Black registrants in Mecklenburg County and only 71,000 Black voters cast their ballot," Colette Forrest, the group's founder, said on WCNC's Flashpoint.
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A little more than a month before the North Carolina Primary, Salisbury attorney Bill Graham has a warning for his fellow Republicans: don't nominate Mark Robinson.
"I'm sick and tired of losing," Graham said on WCNC's Flashpoint.
For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app and enable push notifications.
Graham is facing Robinson for the Republican nomination in the governor's race. Graham doesn't think his opponent could win against Democrats in the general election.
"Those folks know, the statements that he's made and more," Graham said, referring to a variety of statements Robinson has made about the Holocaust, abortion, the LGBT community, and Martin Luther King, Jr.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/nc-gop-candidate-republicans-risk-losing-governors-race/275-30f86f59-d437-4473-b56d-78e344465539
Barring some unforeseen circumstance, Jordan Lopez will represent State House District 112 in the General Assembly starting next year. Lopez, who would serve east Charlotte, is running unopposed in the primary and general election.
The 25-year-old said a "sense of urgency" drove him to run now.
WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson spoke to Vice President Kamala Harris during her visit to a Charlotte middle school Thursday.
Vice President Kamala Harris was at Charlotte's Eastway Middle School on Thursday to promote the Biden administration's plan to reduce gun violence and announce a $285 million federal government investment in mental health for students nationwide.
North Carolina is set to receive $12 million of this federal funding to hire 332 mental health counselors in schools statewide.
If you haven't donated to any favorite nonprofits during the holiday season, local charities are encouraging you to start the new year with charitable giving.
"Be searching for those ways to support nonprofits all year long," Melissa Hovey, managing director of Share Charlotte, said. "Think about a January start. It's never too late and there's always a need."
Share Charlotte offers a technology platform that allows people to search its database of 650 local nonprofits.
Hovey calls it "the Google of nonprofits."
"The demand for services is way up on our nonprofit partners," Hovey said.
According to the North Carolina Secretary of State's office, charitable giving increased 18% over the last year, totaling $58 million.
"North Carolinians are very generous," NC Secretary of State Elaine Marshall said.
Marshall urges people to donate to local, reputable organizations so you have a better idea of how that money will be used.
You can look up charities registered with the state on www.sosnc.gov.
The Salvation Army, WCNC Charlotte's partner for The Magical Toy Drive, also encourages people to revisit donating in 2024.
"Need knows no season," Salvation Army Area Commander Jason Burns said. "You know, it's not just a Christmas season. It's an all-year thing. When people come to us in crisis, it doesn't matter what time of the year."
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.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || Google Podcasts || iHeart
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper is ending 2023 with one of his biggest achievements in office: Medicaid expansion.
"I think one of the best days I've had as governor is being in an Enrollment Center in Charlotte. And seeing everyday working people finally being able to get health care," Gov. Cooper said in a one-on-one with WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson on Flashpoint.
Democratic Rep. Jeff Jackson says being North Carolina's Attorney General would be a dream job.
"This would fill any sense of ambition that I have, because it is probably the best job in public service," Jackson said, appearing on WCNC's Flashpoint.
Current Attorney General Josh Stein is running to be Governor. And Jackson, a former prosecutor, was essentially drawn out of his current U.S. House district by North Carolina's new congressional maps.
Earlier this fall, the Charlotte democrat announced a run for Attorney General.
A new Charlotte City Council is sworn in Monday, Dec. 4, with familiar faces filling all but one seat.
Newcomer Tiawana Brown will be representing Charlotte's District 3. Brown is replacing Victoria Watlington, who will now serve in an at-large position on the council.
Watlington and Councilman Tariq Bokhari appeared on WCNC's Flashpoint, outlining their priorities for the new council.
Earlier this month, Charlotte City Council members approved a motion to increase parking fees, hiking up fines from $25 to $100.
Just before the vote, Sustain Charlotte's Meg Fencil appeared on WCNC's Flashpoint and argued why the $25 fine wasn't enough to change motorist behavior.
There's a dichotomy in Charlotte's commercial real estate market: Part of it is thriving and the other, faltering.
"The broader retail market is healthier than it's really ever been. We've seen record low vacancy rates. The big exception is the mall space," said Chuck McShane, director of market analytics at Costar.
Carolina Place Mall recently joined a growing list of properties across Charlotte including the EpiCentre, Northlake Mall and uptown's "One Wells Fargo" building that are defaulting on their loans.
McShane said interest rate hikes and a shift away from certain commercial spaces are to blame.
Read more.
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.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || Google Podcasts || iHeart
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.
On this jam-packed edition of Flashpoint, Ben Thompson interviews David Longo, the co-chair of Vote Yes for School Boards, about the $2.5 billion bond package for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools that will be on November's ballot. Longo is also a part of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance and believes the investment in our schools is long overdue. During this conversation, Longo will make his case for the school bonds and explains why it's critical to secure funding for Charlotte's public schools as soon as possible.
Then we turn our attention to North Carolina's political scene where new election laws and redistricting have put the Tar Heel State back in the national spotlight. State lawmakers will return to the General Assembly soon to draw new district lines for the U.S. House, Senate and state House districts. Dr. Michael Bitzer, a political science professor at Catawba College, says Republicans have the power to do whatever they want due to the balance of power in the General Assembly. During this interview, Bitzer explains the history of North Carolina's redistricting and why Republicans view North Carolina as a critical state for keeping their slim lead in the U.S. House.
And finally, WCNC Charlotte's Tradesha Woodard has an update on the Eastland Yards development. The property, which has sat vacant for years despite numerous grand ideas, could soon start moving in the right direction. after developers agreed to work together on a shared project that will benefit the east Charlotte community. FULL STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/charlotte-leaders-approve-proposal-eastland-mall-site/275-0aec878d-16fb-418b-8218-6d28912e6eb4
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.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || Google Podcasts || iHeart
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.
Teachers are returning to the classroom across North Carolina, wondering what pay raises they're getting. State lawmakers are still trying to hammer out a state budget, weeks late. "We need a pay raise that acknowledges the hard work that our educators do on a daily basis, but also allows them to live with dignity in order to pay their bills, and not have to work a second job or not have to leave the profession entirely," Tamika Walker Kelly, President of the North Carolina Association of Educators, said. According to the teacher's advocacy organization, North Carolina ranks 46th in the country for starting pay. The State Superintendent for Public Instruction says she's confident the state's new budget, when passed, will include generous pay raises. "I am hoping along with all of our other teachers and parents, I'm sure, that this year's budget is going to make a big dent in that beginning teacher pay ranking," Superintendent Catherine Truitt said.
As Charlotte celebrates Pride this weekend, the North Carolina LGBTQ+ community is facing new restrictions that the General Assembly passed this week. "We've come a long way. But the battle is not over, Liz Schob, communication manager of Charlotte Pride, said. "The journey is not over. We have a long way to go. And frankly, we can't do this alone. We need folks who are allies to step up and walk beside us and help us keep doing this work." On Wednesday, a GOP supermajority in the General Assembly overrode Governor Cooper's vetoes and passed a host of new laws impacting the LGBTQ+ community. They include a ban on trans women from participating in women's sports, a ban on doctors from providing gender-affirming care to minors and a ban on elementary schools having any materials dealing with gender and sexuality. Teachers would also be legally required to "out" any of their transgender students to the child's parents. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/charlotte-pride-festival-laws-targeting-lgbtq-youth-north-carolina/275-c2e8c98d-8ec3-430d-a1fb-1ebc05c6c412
This week on Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson speaks with the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley on the possibility of expanding Medicaid in the state of North Carolina. Later, Bens talks to NC State University professor Shiyan Jiang about incorporating AI in the classroom. 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.
It appears plans for a $500 million casino in Anson County are progressing. News of the possible facility only recently came to light. On this episode of Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson interviews Anson County Manager Len Sossamon about the casino and what lawmakers have told him as the county prepares for a major economic boost. Sossamon said Raleigh lawmakers have assured him the casino "will be" in the budget that is still being hashed out in the General Assembly. With the promise of approximately 1,750 jobs, the project could be transformative for Anson County, a place that's come across economic hard times as factories closed over the years. He said the western part of Anson County is being eyed for the project due to its proximity to Charlotte.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/anson-county-casino-will-be-in-ncs-new-budget/275-3b9b6fda-a121-4ce5-91c1-2a4cf8bc3aa4
This week on Flashpoint, WCNC's Ben Thompsons talks to with Mario Black of Millions Youth March of Charlotte about crime in the Queen City. Black said online platforms offer a place for teens to organize. He said a massive July 4th brawl at Romare Bearden Park in Uptown was orchestrated first on social media. "They post something on social media, then they post a meet up," he said. Later, Ben talks to Stephanie Hand – Democratic candidate for District 6, Charlotte City Council. Hand narrowly lost the race for the district six seat on Charlotte City Council. "We missed the mark by 357 votes the last time," Hand said. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/anti-violence-group-says-social-media-driving-charlotte-crime/275-2c5e0b96-fb1d-45c5-b558-609554578104
This week, the North Carolina General Assembly is expected to try to override the governor's veto of two bills aimed at transgender youth. The house is expected to vote on Wednesday. "Transgender youth have a much higher rate of suicide or suicide attempts. However, when they are affirmed in their life by their families, at school, that kind of thing, their rate of suicide goes down to the national average," Katie Jenifer, mother of two, said. The bills are focused on banning gender-affirming care and transgender athletes. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/worry-about-possible-new-north-carolina-restrictions/275-50be9c06-7152-4540-b3ff-1e8d0be2cce3
Charlotte's housing market is finally leveling-off after years of soaring prices left many potential home buyers on the sidelines. "We're not seeing what we saw last year and the year before," Tiffany Johannes, president of Canopy Realtor Association said. "But this year, we're seeing more of a normalized market out there." Johannes appeared on WCNC's Flashpoint this week. Despite the slight slowdown, she said Charlotte's still one of the hottest markets in the country. "We are in the top eight markets in the country right now, if you look at where people are moving and where they want to be," she said. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/charlotte-housing-market-flashpoint/275-3ffa8b79-e202-4791-9d56-1922770c2b3e
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against North Carolina Republicans Tuesday and said state legislatures don't have absolute power over election laws, and that state courts are constitutionally allowed to weigh in on those laws. At issue in Moore v. Harper, a fringe legal argument called Independent State Legislature theory. "I think the court felt that they were going to have to decide this question sooner or later. It had been raised in a number of cases during the 2020 election, and the majority of the court never directly addressed it. There are cases from other states where it's percolating," said Professor Richard Briffault. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/legal-scholar-litigation-nc-supreme-court-case/275-b4ab5630-9344-4219-9392-d304a0a921d4
This week on Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson speaks with Senate leader Phil Berger regarding the General Assembly's final stretch of its legislative session. Berger discusses the top priorities of the General Assembly and more.
Former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory appeared on WCNC Charlotte's Flashpoint with a simple message for Democrats and Republicans ahead of the 2024 elections: Wake up. McCrory recently joined the No Labels campaign as the group's national co-chair. No Labels promotes bipartisanship and compromise, and organizers say the group is considering a third-option unity ticket in the 2024 presidential election. "Sixty percent of people in America do not like or do not want to select from the current frontrunners of the Democratic or Republican Party," McCrory said. No Labels is still waiting until Super Tuesday next spring to make any decisions about its 2024 plans. If President Joe Biden and Donald Trump win their respective parties' nominations, McCrory said the group will put forward a ticket with a Democrat and Republican. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/pat-mccrory-issues-warning-to-democrats-north-carolina-republicans-general-assembly-roy-cooper-thom-tillis/275-4f6ced17-100c-4c2e-a5cb-be469f905266
The Belmont Police Department is investigating after a man attempted to abduct a child out of a car Monday evening. The mother of the child told police she was on Park Street, near Wilkinson Boulevard, waiting for the light to turn green when she saw a man walking towards her vehicle. The suspect, identified as Joshua Pelzer, 31, walked to the passenger side of the vehicle where the juvenile was sitting with her window down when he grabbed the child’s arm and attempted to pull her out of the car, police said. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/attempted-child-abduction-belmont-police/275-b363e1c9-ff96-4591-a182-ac0975165f6a
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
Ted Budd win NC’s open seat in the US Senate, Jeff Jackson wins US House District 14. Here's a closer look at key races in the Carolinas
This week on Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompsons talks with Scott Huffmon, a Winthrop University professor, and Susan Roberts, a Davidson College professor. They're warning that the country's current political polarization will only get worse after Tuesday's midterm election. "I think we are in a pendulum swing right now. I think it may get worse before it gets better. But there's always the hope that the pendulum will swing back," Huffmon said. In recent years, US politics have turned to vitriolic, partisan, and even violent rhetoric. Experts say there's a lack of trust in our basic institutions. "I think there's been a steady decline in trust in government," Roberts said. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/may-get-worse-before-it-gets-better-experts-warn-political-polarization-will-deepen-after-election/275-8f4625ac-96dc-4094-815d-7293de91a6e1
This week on Flashpoint, WCNC's Jane Monreal talks all things 14th Congressional District with candidates Democratic state Senator Jeff Jackson and Republican businessman Pat Harrigan. Both candidates are veterans who served in Afghanistan, and they discuss their reasons to run for office. Harrigan says his reasons for going into politics stem from having a family. The former Green Beret said, "My wife and I have two little girls. And we're very concerned about what kind of America they're going to get to grow up with, and what kind of opportunity they're going to have in their lives." A state legislator for eight years, Jackson said work needs to be done at both the national and state levels but started his campaign locally. "I said I'm going to knock on one thousand doors personally over summer. It was Republican. Independent," Jackson said. "It was just a wonderful education about what folks actually want and are talking about. Housing comes up a lot. Water and sewer come up a lot. So the idea is, independent of how people feel about national politics, also have a real local agenda." READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/elections/candidates-for-new-nc-14th-congressional-district-discuss-why-they-believe-they-deserve-to-win/275-d983ba28-562e-4051-93d3-554c385a6291
This week on Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson is joined by Republican Congressman Ted Budd and former North Carolina Chief Justice Cheri Beasley. Both candidates are running to replace Richard Burr (R) in the U.S. Senate. In the interview with Budd, Thompson asked the senate candidate what his ideal abortion law would look like in light of Budd's co-sponsorship of a bill that would ban abortions after 15 weeks. Budd hinted that he does not support abortion in cases of rape or incest. Budd called the Democrats' proposed Women's Health Protection Act "the most radical abortion bill in history," before saying he felt abortion rights should be a state's issue. In Beasley's interview, Beasley called codifying Roe v. Wade "reasonable." "The question is: Who makes the decision? Is it a woman and her physician or is it politicians up in Washington?" Beasley asked rhetorically. "Congressman [Ted] Budd has to understand that, in an exam room with a woman and her doctor, there is no place for him for that decision to be made." READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/ted-budd-abortion-exceptions-for-the-life-of-the-mother/275-10a98ec1-f567-44c0-829a-237836bf4774
This week on Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte Ben Thompson talks to Catawba College politics professor Michael Bitzer about trends emerge from absentee-by-mail voting. As of October 9, 55% of requested absentee ballots were from women and 38% were from men. "Women are making up substantial majorities of these early ballots," Bitzer said. Overall, absentee voting is outpacing the 2018 midterms, but behind the 2020 general election, which happened amid the COVID-19 pandemic. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/north-carolina-women-outpacing-men-in-voting-by-mail/275-dc16555b-8bb7-4051-87f3-6f6474c64bda
This week on Flashpoint, WCNC's Ben Thompsons talks to Lariza Garzon, director of North Carolina operations for the Hispanic Federation. For several months, the Hispanic Federation has been working to register Hispanic voters in North Carolina, ahead of November's midterm election. Garzon estimates there are 400,000 Latinos in North Carolina who are eligible to vote, but only 60% are registered. "We've been going to places where the community frequents, like supermarkets, the Hispanic festivals, churches, universities, places like that, to tell people about the elections to register them to vote," Lariza Garzon, director of North Carolina operations, said. Later, Ben sits down with Stefanía Arteaga, co-executive director of the Carolina Migrant Network. The organization aims to provide legal representation to immigrants. Arteaga co-founded the Network because she saw a growing immigrant and migrant population in Charlotte, but with very few free or affordable legal services. "We have not had any sort of nonprofit that provides resources for individuals who are in deportation proceedings," Arteaga said. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/north-carolina-grassroots-group-providing-legal-representation-to-immigrants/275-bf530377-4d04-4213-8227-fd0bf0484045
This week on Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson speaks to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's Lt. Joan Gallant on how the department is addressing mental health-related calls in Charlotte. In 2019, CMPD launched a Community Policing Crisis Response Team. The team was created to respond to 911 calls that involve mental health issues, that aren't necessarily criminal matters. "Police services include any host of things, not just answering a call that is regarding a crime. We're the helpers," CMPD Lt Joan Gallant said. "That crisis can be anything. It can be mental health, substance abuse, homelessness, situational." Later, Ben talks to Anne Geissinger, program coordinator for North Carolina's suicide prevention program. Recently, the NC Department of Health and Human Services released a new action plan to address suicide. The action plan includes coordination among state agencies, increasing community awareness, and identifying at-risk communities. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/north-carolina-rolls-out-suicide-prevention-action-plan/275-c515d600-167d-416d-9413-08bcbae1c930
This week on Flashpoint, WCNC's Ben Thompson talks to CRVA CEO Tom Murray about the lasting impact of the Presidents Cup on Charlotte. More than most other recent events, the Presidents Cup is bringing more attention to Charlotte as a world-class travel destination, Murray tells WCNC. It comes as Charlotte is emerging as a post-pandemic destination for leisure travel, after years of being a city famous for business travel. "The leisure side of the recovery happened first and quite frankly, happened stronger than we even expected," Murray said. Murray said business travel is rebounding but hasn't returned to pre-pandemic levels. Charlotte has a long history of attracting convention travel as well. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/presidents-cup-charlotte-north-carolina-is-attracting-more-leisure-travelers/275-993ba2e5-1f5f-4b88-858a-1379f4637d75
This week on Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson talks to CATS CEO John Lewis on the transit system's challenges and its long-term plan. Amid union negotiations this summer, CATS struggled with staffing shortages that lead to service delays and subsequent schedule changes for riders. According to CATS, the private contractor that manages the agency's operations has reached a tentative deal with its union. Amid the recent problems, Charlotte leaders are looking to expand transit and transportation options. In 2020, the Charlotte Moves task force, whose members were appointed by the mayor, released a sweeping $13.5B transit and transportation plan. It included plans for an east-west silver light rail line, commuter rail to north Mecklenburg County, greenways and more. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/cats-ceo-addresses-challenges-long-term-transit-plan-charlotte-flashpoint/275-2927ee79-a79d-404e-9741-ad6386ed58c4
This week on Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson talks to former Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts and former N.C. Supreme Court Judge Bob Orr about the North Carolina Trusted Elections Tour, which is working to restore faith in our election system. It's a pilot program created by the Carter Center in North Carolina and several other states. The group is holding town halls in the state's fourteen congressional districts this fall, touting the integrity of the state's elections. In Charlotte, a town hall is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept 13th, at 6:30 p.m. at UNC Charlotte's McKnight Hall. In Belmont, a town hall is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept 14th, at 6:30 p.m. at Gaston College, Kimbrell Auditorium. And in Albemarle, a town hall is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 15th, at the Albemarle Neighborhood Theatre. Each meeting will feature key speakers with backgrounds in election security, election law, and election administration. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/nc-trusted-elections-tour-to-charlotte-promising-secure-elections/275-035c8557-d3f0-4869-ab03-a4d906e27c2a
This week on Flashpoint, WCNC's Ben Thompson talks to outgoing Charlotte city council member Larken Egleston and current city council member Tariq Bokhari about the passage of the UDO and Affordable Housing. Later, Ben continues his conversation with outgoing Charlotte city councilmember Larken Egleston and current city council member Tariq Bokhari about transit. Charlotte City Council is also slated to welcome a new city council on Tuesday, September 6 during a swearing-in ceremony. The new council includes mostly familiar faces with a few new names. In recent years, council tackled a number of controversial issues including the Unified Development Ordinance, the Charlotte 2040 comprehensive plan, pandemic response, and transit. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/charlotte-city-council-swears-in-new-members-on-tuesday-september-6-flashpoint/275-96188c90-5a54-4785-8bd8-765ecdd0275f
This week, students and educators across the Charlotte area return to school. WCNC's Ben Thompson spoke to a CMS teacher and a district board member about the start of a new school year. They worry this year's pay raise may not be enough to keep and retain teachers. "A lot of our veteran teachers are still struggling because their pay raise is smaller. The pay raise is heavily weighted at the earlier entry points for teachers and the newer teachers," Cheek said. Longtime teachers like Justin Parmenter have watched colleagues leave for more lucrative positions outside of teaching. "We've got people who are seeing, you know, greener grass on the other side of the fence and leaving," Parmenter said. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/charlotte-cms-teachers-start-school-year-amid-staffing-and-salary-challenges/275-289d313d-030d-4675-a570-e685a2e04258
On this week's episode of Flashpoint, WCNC's Ben Thompson talks with Clark Simon, the President of Charlotte Pride about why holding pride in Charlotte remains more relevant than ever. Charlotte Pride returned this weekend after a two-year hiatus, and organizers say its message of diversity and acceptance for the LGBTQ community has never resonated more. Recent rulings from the US Supreme Court, including the reversal of federal abortion rights, have led some in the LGBTQ+ community to worry about federal protections. "I think it's more important than ever to reaffirm the majority of Americans' opinions that gay marriage should be legal, it is legal," Simon said. All of this and more on a new episode of Flashpoint, only on WCNC Charlotte. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/more-important-than-ever-charlotte-pride-festival-kicks-off-20th-anniversary/275-9b5d0be9-63de-49f6-b4f0-32c39c0b53e1
This week on Flashpoint is all about growth. WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson talks to Kelly O'Brien, the Chief Advocacy and Strategy Officer for the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance about the alliance’s Q2 Growth Report. Later, Ben talks to North Carolina Secretary of State, Elaine Marshall about the growth of new businesses in NC over the second quarter. All of this and more on Flashpoint, only on WCNC Charlotte.
This week on Flashpoint, WCNC's Ben Thompson talks to Mecklenburg County Health Director, Dr. Raynard Washington about the county’s response to monkeypox. Mecklenburg County still has a long waitlist for those who want the Monkeypox vaccine, despite a shipment of 2,000 doses earlier this week. But there's good news. Washington said he expects his department will be receiving routine shipments of the vaccine going forward. Ben and Dr. Washington later address the latest with COVID in Mecklenburg County. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/monkeypox-vaccination-waitlist-mecklenburg-county/275-0a65b8c3-be2f-43e9-83d8-cb475884c8fa
On this week's episode of Flashpoint, less than one after Charlotte's general election, WCNC's Ben Thompson talks to Charlotte city councilwoman, Dimple Ajmera about her win on Tuesday and about being the night’s top vote-getter. Later, Ben talks to Charlotte city councilman, Tariq Bokhari about his win on Tuesday and what’s next. Before a new city council is sworn in in September, Charlotte's current council has one remaining heavy lift on their agenda: a vote on the city's Unified Development Ordinance. In Charlotte's recent municipal elections, republicans ran heavily against the UDO, a sweeping set of regulations designed to guide the city's future development. With the exception of district six councilman Tariq Bokhari, every republican in a contested race lost. And Bokhari won by the slimmest of margins. "I'm going to view that as the community's voices spoken here. And I'm gonna vote no, but move on," Bokhari said. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/elections-charlotte-city-councilmembers-look-to-vote-on-controversial-zoning-law/275-664f814c-8f85-4010-9d98-5364fd1e9d72
This week on Flashpoint, WCNC's Ben Thompson talks to Catawba College Professor Michael Bitzer about Charlotte as well as the upcoming Senate race. Voting data from the second week of early voting showed democrats were over-performing when it came to voting, republicans were right on track, and unaffiliated voters were lacking when it came to getting to the polls. Charlotte is increasingly dominated by democrats and unaffiliated voters, and Bitzer said that can create voter apathy. "When you don't have a competitive two-party system, that often affects turnout," he said. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/abysmal-turnout-fewer-than-10-percent-of-voters-expected-to-cast-ballots-in-charlotte-election/275-f364ccfe-9394-4b42-9845-eba0260b7e44
This week on Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson talks to Charlotte city councilmen, Tariq Bokhari and Larken Egleston, about their last five years on council as well as the latest with not getting a social district in Charlotte. Egleston lost a primary election race in May for an at-large seat on council and finishes his term in September. He said council made progress on transit, affordable housing, and public safety, but admitted there was plenty of work to do for the next council. "Those aren't issues you ever really solve. You just keep making progress. And I think we've done that on all the fronts," he said. In addition, Tariq Bokhari and Larken Egleston discuss CATS issues, the silver line, and the UDO vote. READ MORE: https://bit.ly/3OQREbc
This week on Flashpoint, WCNC's Ben Thompson talks to NC Congresswoman Alma Adams about the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Adams argues the impacts will be the most severe in marginalized communities. "Black and brown women, those will be impacted the hardest I believe. Those who live in rural areas, those who have lower incomes and can't afford to cross state lines for care. Young people. LGBTQ people and women in abusive relationships," she said. Later, Ben talks to Davidson political science professor, Susan Roberts about the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade Experts say the real impacts will be seen in the weeks and months to come. In the meantime, women across the country will be left with a confusing patchwork of laws. READ MORE: https://bit.ly/3uj77Zp
This week on Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson is joined by Charlotte Pride Communications Director Matt Comer and transgender liaison for Charlotte Black Pride Rell Lowery as they discuss the importance of commemorating Pride Month in Charlotte. See the full episode Sunday at 11 a.m. on Flashpoint, only on WCNC Charlotte.
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
This week on Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson spoke with an expert on the number of unaffiliated voters in North Carolina. Last week, unaffiliated voters in North Carolina finally outnumbered registered Republicans and Democrats in the state. "This has been the trend that has been happening for several decades now," Dr. Michael Bitzer, political professor at Catawba College, said. As of March 13th, state records show nearly 2.5 million registered unaffiliated voters in North Carolina, just a few hundred more than democrats. 2.18 million voters are registered as Republicans. Watch the full interview on Flashpoint, only on WCNC Charlotte. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/nc-unaffiliated-voters-outnumber-republicans-democrats-but-their-candidates-face-hurdles/275-86aaf5c6-8ead-4657-b30f-e803b5a32c1c
Supporters of Charlotte's massive transit plan are eagerly hoping to get some consensus on the issue in the coming weeks. "It's still the hope," Julie Eiselt, Charlotte's Mayor Pro Tem, said. Eiselt chairs the city council's Transportation & Planning Committee. The sweeping plan requires the involvement of surrounding cities and counties, as well as the approval of the North Carolina General Assembly. "There's an incredible level of conversation going on between our mayor and the town mayors and our city manager and the town managers," Eiselt said.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/looming-deadline-charlottes-transit-plan/275-e3dce53a-68c9-4807-91e5-f1e0600d508a
This week on Flashpoint, Ben Thompson talks to a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools board member and teacher after the district voted to make masks optional. In a new release, the school system said the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services StrongSchools Toolkit was updated to coincide with the CDC guidance that states masks are no longer required on buses or vans operated by public or private schools. CMS Board Member Rhonda Cheek speaks about the mask mandate being dropped starting Monday and her thinking it should have been dropped sooner. Later we hear from teacher Justin Parmenter, who expressed that some teachers aren't happy about the mandate being dropped. All of this and more on Flashpoint, on WCNC Charlotte.
In this episode of Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson sits down with North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell as he tackles high hospital costs in the state. "Last fall, I had a procedure that took eight minutes, that cost $6,000," Dale Folwell, North Carolina State Treasurer, said. Long before Folwell suffered his own sticker shock, he was on a campaign to make the state's largest hospitals more transparent amount costs and pricing.
Then, Ben talks with Catawba College Professor Michael Bitzer after Mecklenburg County received extra representation in Washington, D.C. It stems from new congressional maps approved by the state supreme court. In previous mapping attempts, much of Charlotte was concentrated in one congressional district, and the new 14th district was sprawling west in rural counties. Now, two districts will be centered mainly along the borders of Mecklenburg County, with sections including Gaston and Cabarrus Counties. "That district has shifted so much now. And is much more democratic I think right now. Mecklenburg could be represented by two Democratic members of Congress," Bitzer said.
READ MORE: https://bit.ly/3sp6AEJ
On this episode of Flashpoint, Ben Thompson sits down with Mecklenburg County Health Director Raynard Washington. He explains that says now is a "good time" to begin the next phase of the pandemic, beginning with rescinding the county's indoor mask mandate. Washington said health officials will focus their response on those most vulnerable to a severe illness from COVID-19. But just as we saw with the delta variant, there's no guarantee county officials won't implement another mask requirement. "I'm certain it will have some surges in the future, but I don't know what they'll look like because I don't know what mutations and what the consequences of those mutations will be," Washington said. "So I can't say definitively that there won't be a time where we as a community may need to implement measures, but I do believe that we have to transition our drive, our decision making about those measures." READ MORE: https://bit.ly/3H1Rx7W
This week on Flashpoint, Ben Thompson discusses best practices for potential homebuyers in the Charlotte area. The Charlotte housing market continues to be one of the hottest in the country in 2022, according to Canopy Realty Association. "You're gonna have to be flexible. This is one of the most unique markets we've seen," Lee Allen, President of Canopy, said. Allen said all signs point to minimal cooling in Charlotte real estate this year.
Then, we hear from the Rental Housing Alliance, who says cutting costly regulation addresses affordable housing. "What we're advocating for is keeping construction and regulatory costs down," Lisa Taylor, Rental Housing Alliance PAC Board Chair, said. Taylor said building code requirements and regulations account for nearly a third of the costs covered in someone's monthly rent. Right now in Mecklenburg County, only 1% of apartments are priced under one-thousand dollars.
Read more in these stories: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/rental-housing-poltical-action-committee-local-races-decrease-regulation/275-146f7d55-221c-4c55-80c7-e7ab6bd040c4 https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/advice-for-charlotte-home-buyers-2022/275-55d35f91-7865-45eb-91ec-77d1f0cbc271
On this episode of Flashpoint, WCNC's Ben Thompson talks to two Charlotte Council members as they lay out a busy agenda during an election year. "Trying to do a lot of things at once, and doing them with a lot of funding at once is what makes this different than years past," district 1 councilman Larken Egleston said.
Later, Ben talks to a Catawba College professor who maps out the future of North Carolina's redistricting case. After a three-judge panel ruled to allow Republican-drawn legislative and congressional maps, political campaigns, lawyers, and scholars are watching the Supreme Court of North Carolina. "I would expect that they would push this as an expedited review and potential decision," Dr. Michael Bitzer, professor of politics at Catawba College, said.
All of this and more on this episode of Flashpoint, only on WCNC Charlotte.
On this episode of Flashpoint, we hear from an NBC News correspondent as they explain how the election outcome of Anson County could be a whole new outcome in the 2022 midterms. "What we're finding is a story of voter apathy," Antonia Hylton said. "A community that feels it's been ignored and mistreated in some cases." Anson County is one of seven counties across the U.S. NBC News will be focused on through the midterm elections in 2022. Anson County is fairly evenly split among white and Black residents.
Next, Ben Thompson talks with two local historians on the long-term impact of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol. "The history books are going to see it as an attack on democracy," Dr. Scott Huffmon, a professor at Winthrop University, said. "These people were domestic terrorists. They attempted insurrection to overthrow the government." As historians, the professors are looking forward to upcoming testimony in front of the House committee investigating the attacks. They're hoping it will give future historians a firm, factual account of what happened that day.
All of this and more on this episode of Flashpoint, only on WCNC Charlotte.
On a new episode of Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson sits down with incoming Mecklenburg County Deputy Health Director, Dr. Raynard Washington about COVID in the county. Washington said he's not planning any sweeping changes in the county's approach. "The level of transmission in our community remains really really high," deputy director Dr. Raynard Washington said.
Later, Ben with state senate candidate, Brad Overcash about why he’s running and the latest trends within the Republican party. Overcash defended the legislative and congressional maps at issue. "We've never seen a more fair process, not by either side, in the history of North Carolina," he said.
All of this and more on Flashpoint, only on WCNC Charlotte and wcnc.com.
This week on Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson speaks with Catawba College political science professor, Dr. Michael Bitzer about the NC primary being delayed. Candidate filing was put on hold this week after the North Carolina state Supreme Court issued an order that postpones 2022 primaries for two months. The ruling comes amid legal challenges to new Republican-approved congressional and legislative maps.
Later, Ben talks with Charlotte city councilmembers, Julie Eiselt and Ed Driggs about a variety of topics including transportation and their opinions on the primaries being delayed again.
All of this and more on Flashpoint, only on WCNC Charlotte.
On this episode of Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Hunter Sáenz sits down with US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg about what's being done to improve transportation and infrastructure in Charlotte and across the country. "We have communities like Charlotte, that are innovating, thinking about the future -- putting their money where their mouth is," Buttigieg said. "But they haven't had the support that they deserve from Washington."
Later, Log Cabin Republicans of North Carolina, a conservative LGBTQ group, is condemning recent remarks by North Carolina Lt. Governor republican Mark Robinson. Several video clips have surfaced in recent months showing Robinson speaking to church groups and conservative gatherings, and insulting LGBTQ people. In one recent clip, he suggested homosexuals are inferior to heterosexuals, saying they serve no purpose.
All of this and more on Flashpoint, only on WCNC Charlotte and WCNC.com.
On a special episode of Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Sarah French talks with experts about the importance of maintaining good mental health. Guests include Jaren Doby, a therapist at Novant Health Psychiatric Associates, Christy Baker, The Director of Development with Hope Haven about what they do, and Dr. Robert Matlack, the creator of "Best Day Psychiatry and Counseling".
Later, Sarah sits down with Coach Lamonte Odums, known for his inspirational YouDay segments on WCNC Charlotte, about his own struggles with mental health.
On this week's episode of Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson is joined by Kelly O'Brien, the chief advocacy and strategy officer for the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance to discuss the Transformational Mobility Network. During the first segment, O'Brien discusses accusations that the project isn't inclusive of all stakeholders and addresses concerns about the future of the Red Line rail project in northern Mecklenburg County.
The TMN includes having 110 miles of rapid transit corridors like the light rail, 140 miles of bussing, 115 miles of a greenway system, 75 miles of a bicycle network, and more.
"It has the potential to be the largest economic development initiative in the history of the state of North Carolina," O'Brien said.
Then, Briana Harper has a report on redistricting in the Charlotte area, and why some communities in north Charlotte say redistricting is not what they need in their neighborhoods.
Finally, Ben has a conversation with Kendrick Cunningham, a candidate running for a seat on Charlotte City Council.
On this week's episode of Flashpoint, WCNC's Ben Thompson talks with Republican strategist, Larry Shaheen, about what results from the national elections mean for the midterm as well as his trip up to Raleigh to talk to lawmakers about the transformational mobility network. Later, Ben talks with city council candidate, Billy Maddalon about why he’s running. This and more on this week's episode of Flashpoint on WCNC Charlotte!
On this week's episode of Flashpoint, WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson talks to Mayor Pro Tem Julie Eiselt about the transformational mobility plan and ARPA funds that City Council approved. Last week, the council was updated on the Transformational Mobility Network, or TMN, a multi-pronged plan for transit and transportation. The plan includes having 110 miles of rapid transit corridors like the light rail, 140 miles of bussing, 115 miles of a greenway system, 75 miles of a bicycle network, and more.
Next, a former Union County GOP chair speaks on the redistricting process in North Carolina. Dan Barry echoed the demand for a big-picture approach to transit issues, that involves all stakeholders. "We need a serious conversation with the General Assembly, in the urban core, in the feeder areas, about how to get employees to employers, or labor to manufacturing, in an efficient way," Barry said.
All of this and more on Flashpoint, only on WCNC Charlotte!
This week on Flashpoint, WCNC's Ben Thompson talks to Meet the Press moderator, Chuck Todd about NBC News’ County to County project and why Anson County is one of the counties they are focusing on. Todd thinks winning African American support in 2022 will be essential for Democrats.
Then, Ben talks to Catawba College political science professor, Dr. Michael Bitzer about what Anson County can show us, and then transitions into the state’s progress on redistricting for the second half of the interview.
All of this and more on an all-new Flashpoint, on WCNC Charlotte.
October is domestic violence awareness month. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, more than 10 million people deal with some sort of physical abuse every year in the US.
Women 18 to 24 are most likely to face abuse and only 34% of victims receive medical care. Domestic violence hotlines receive an average of 20,000 phone calls per day.
This and more only on Flashpoint on WCNC Charlotte!
This week on Flashpoint, two city council members debate how to handle vaccine hold-outs among city staffers. According to new numbers released by the City of Charlotte, the Charlotte Fire Department has a vaccination rate under 60%. 68% of CATS workers are vaccinated. And 67% of CMPD staff are vaccinated.
All three departments have shown substantial increases in vaccination rates since September 1, but the numbers still rank low in comparison to other city departments.
On Thursday, the City of Charlotte announced it will require the COVID-19 vaccine for new workers after officials said 70% of the city's workforce was vaccinated, falling just short of their goal of 75%.
This and more only on Flashpoint on WCNC Charlotte!
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
Flashpoint is taking a week off for the Olympics, but don't worry, we still have a podcast! On this week's flashback, Ben Thompson is discussing Charlotte's red hot housing market and how difficult it is for potential homebuyers to find property in the Queen City.
This episode features an interview with David Kennedy, president of Canopy Realtor Association, who says "there's not a quick fix to this."
So far in 2021, new listings are down nearly 7%, while home sales and listing prices are up. Nearly all homes are being sold for the original list price or higher.
"You will get a great offer on a property you list," Kennedy said.
In her first interview since announcing her retirement, Health Director Gibbie Harris joins WCNC Charlotte's Hunter Saenz on FlASHPOINT to discuss her decision to step down, what's next for the health department and the delta variant. Harris says the pandemic and stress that came from the last year and a half did not factor in on her decision but her family did.
Later, Hunter details Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials and Mecklenburg County leader's agreement on the CMS budget after the county restricted $56 million from the district's budget earlier this year. When asked about the decision, Chairman George Dunlap said, "It's a win for the county because it's a win for the community."
Keep reading: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/gibbie-harris-talks-retirement-future-of-health-department-charlotte-mecklenburg-director/275-c400e22d-0412-4c44-be53-5c66b250035a
This week's guest is Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles! During the interview, Ben Thompson asks Mayor Lyles about controversial votes the city council has made over the past month, including the 2040 future plan and the decision to postpone all city elections until 2022. And speaking of those elections, will Mayor Lyles seek a third term in office? She seems open to the idea but no matter how hard Ben tries, she isn't ready to commit just yet! STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/charlotte-mayor-vi-lyles-re-election-plans-flashpoint/275-5329ca40-b5fc-4ca3-8939-eefd50a4d9ae
In our third segment, Michelle Boudin joins the program to discuss her report this week on the rise of co-working spaces in Charlotte. Even after the pandemic, people are returning to these spaces but businesses are finding a new way to be profitable and give remote workers a new space that isn't their home. STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/coworking-spaces-comeback-covid-19-pandemic/275-a05d5e87-56e6-4843-89e3-7a10aa5d804e
On this week's Flashpoint, we're talking about the new North Carolina state budget and how it affects teachers. In our first segment, Ben Thompson speaks with Tamika Walker, president of the North Carolina Association of Educators, who says the new proposal favors tax cuts over teacher pay.
In segment two, Ben interviews WCNC Charlotte's Hunter Saenz about Charlotte City Council's vote on the controversial Future 2040 plan. Plus, we discuss the city's new budget and the upcoming decision about local elections and how it could cost a lot should they be held.
Next, Nate Morabito joins Ben to discuss a controversial program that puts tablets in the hands of Mecklenburg County inmates. Not only do the inmate connect with their family, they're able to listen to music and watch movies. FULL STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/investigations/mecklenburg-county-inmates-tablets-message-family-listen-to-music-and-watch-movies/275-14ccf9a6-74b0-4d17-9178-1a16c8c3aea7
In our last segment, Ben discusses Las Vegas Raiders player Carl Nassib, who came out as gay this past week. Ben shares his point of view and why Nassib's coming out could lead to more role models and influencers for young people struggling with their identity and sexuality.
Flashpoint is back in the studio this week! First, Ben Thompson is joined by Dr. Aman Nadhiri, a professor at Johnson C. Smith University, to discuss the history of Juneteenth and the importance of it today. Did you know Juneteenth is the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was signed into law in 1983? Dr. Nadhiri discusses how we can use this as a teaching moment about the struggles Black Americans have faced for more than 150 years. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/johnson-c-smith-university-juneteenth-professor-relfections/275-5f1bb52c-2b90-46b7-a54d-818f4c871526
In our second segment, Ben is joined by Charlotte City Councilman Tariq Bokhari and Kyle Luebke, a local gay Republican, to discuss a non-discrimination ordinance that's being drafted by Charlotte Republicans. This conversation carries over into our third segment, with Ben asking Bokhari if Republicans should have been on board sooner and if this could become another "House Bill 2" controversy. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/nc-republicans-support-on-citys-non-discrimination-ordinance/275-eef1316d-c3bb-4b7d-bcba-40d191ba7536
For the latest political news from the Carolinas and all things Wake Up Charlotte, follow Ben Thompson on Twitter @Bentnews. Contact Ben Thompson at bthompson@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
On Flashpoint, two Charlotte city councilmembers say new developments from the federal government show promise, but urge local consensus.
This week's episode is another FlashPOINT Flashback! We go back to April 4, when US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joined Ben Thompson to discuss Charlotte's controversial 2040 mobility plan.
The city's current plan calls on a $4 to $6-billion investment from the federal government.
"We're in a position to capitalize on that enthusiasm I think, and we've done a lot of the groundwork to make sure we are ready," Egleston said.
But some question if the city, and region, are ready to compete against other states for those federal dollars. A delay in 2020 census data is likely forcing the postponement of a 1-cent sales tax referendum originally scheduled for the November ballot. Another obstacle, consensus among the state and neighboring towns about the costs of a regional transit system.
We're also joined by Charlotte City Councilmen Tariq Bokhari and Larken Egleston to get their point of view on Charlotte's transportation plan and whether the Silver Line rail system will become reality. That plan also includes streetcar, bike lanes and greenway.
READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/flashpoint-politics-charlotte-transit/275-f31da8b9-e7db-48a0-8603-622f0808ff6d
On this week's show, Ben Thompson discusses potential new LGBTQ protections in Charlotte as we kick off Pride Month.
First, we're joined by City Council members Tariq Bokhari and Larken Egleston to discuss if the city will ever pass another non-discrimination ordinance after the fiasco that was House Bill 2 following Charlotte's first non-discrimination bill several years ago. The council members also discuss their upcoming votes on the controversial 2040 plan that has all of the city talking.
Then in our second segment, Ben chats with Matt Comer, communications director for Charlotte Pride, about why LGBTQ citizens are calling on city leaders to implement a new non-discrimination order and why those protections are necessary.
And then in our third segment, there's another issue dividing the county. Mecklenburg County leaders voted to withhold $56 million from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools until they provide a measurable plan that addresses inequities facing minority students.
Watch FlashPoint every Sunday on WCNC Charlotte, immediately following Meet the Press! And for the latest Charlotte news and politics from North Carolina, follow Ben Thompson on social media, @Bentnews.
On this week's episode, it's another flashback as we go back to the Feb. 21 edition of FlashPOINT. This episode followed North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr's choice to vote in favor of convicting former President Donald Trump after the riots at the Capitol on Jan. 6. Burr was one of a few Republicans who crossed party lines and supported the conviction.
Burr has a rock-solid reputation as a conservative leader in Washington and his accomplished career speaks for itself. Still, that vote was enough for the North Carolina Republican Party to censure him. Some county headquarters went as far as to ban him from their offices for going against the president.
Ben Thompson interviews Michael Whatley, head of the NCGOP, to get his thoughts on Burr's vote and why he felt it was important to get the party in line. We also chat with Dan Berry, a Republican who has been in North Carolina's political game for years. Berry describes the situation as "a mess" and explains that even though he was a Trump elector, Sen. Burr has a right to vote in line with his beliefs.
This is an interesting discussion for Republicans and Democrats, and says a lot about where American politics are today. For the latest political news from across the Carolinas, follow Ben Thompson on Twitter @Bentnews!
STORY: NCGOP votes to censure Burr after guilty vote in impeachment trial: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/richard-burr-north-carolina-republicans-censure-trump-impeachment/275-f32b597b-ec01-4665-a330-4e5c645f2c8f
FlashPoint is off this week but the FlashPoint podcast never takes a week off! On this episode, we revisit an interview with North Carolina Rep. Alma Adams, a Democrat, following the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. During this interview, Adams discusses what happened, as well as the inauguration of President Joe Biden and the importance of establishing the new administration and Congress.
Then, Ben Thompson talks with strategists from both sides of the political spectrum to get their perspective on the inauguration and what each party must do to convince voters they should take power in the 2022 midterm elections.
Follow Ben Thompson on Twitter for the latest North Carolina and South Carolina political news, as well as regular updates and conversations from Wake Up Charlotte, WCNC Charlotte's weekly morning newscast. Find Ben on Twitter @Bentnews!
Pat McCrory is running for U.S. Senate but he's making it clear, he wants to avoid the drama that surrounds Washington D.C. politics.
"I'm talking about issues," McCrory said on this week's WCNC FlashPoint.
The former Charlotte mayor and North Carolina governor weighed in on the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack and the subsequent panic-buying that followed in cities like Charlotte.
McCrory was mayor in 2008 when the city saw its last big gas supply issue. At the time, a hurricane had stopped the output from oil refineries in the Gulf of Mexico.
McCrory also spoke about enhanced federal unemployment benefits and immigration during his interview. He said he'd prefer to focus on the issues and not the in-fighting between Republicans after top GOP leadership ousted Liz Cheney from her position over criticism of former President Donald Trump.
KEEP READING: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/pat-mccrory-republican-shakeup-washington-us-senate-race-2022/275-7b8c6671-55c1-4ca0-9834-9f2ec0891da9
This week on Flashpoint, we're looking ahead to 2022. That's when North Carolina will vote for a new U.S. Senator to represent citizens in Washington, and the race is heating up more than a year out.
Dr. Michael Bitzer joins Ben Thompson for this week's episode. Bitzer is a professor of politics at Catawba College, and he says senatorial races in North Carolina draw a lot of national attention already, but a member of the Trump family possibly throwing her name in could shake things up.
Bitzer is also taking the temperature of the GOP, particularly involving anything with Liz Cheney. Cheney was one of only a handful of Republican legislators to vote in favor of impeaching former President Trump following the storming of Capitol Hill earlier in the year, and since then she's faced vitriol from the largely pro-Trump wing of the party at both the federal and state levels.
PLUS: WCNC Charlotte's Hunter Saenz paid attention to the latest information on COVID-19 in Mecklenburg County, and this week health leaders revealed they're planning for the long run in dealing with the virus. He breaks down the county's plans for staffing and making use of government funds as they plan for three years of virus response.
Get the latest Flashpoint episodes each week by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts, and check out more about this story and more online: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/2022-north-carolina-senate-campaign-battleground-state-preview-michael-bitzer/275-d5d931af-9da3-44ce-a80e-7937ed5119c3
This week on Flashpoint, Ben Thompson sits down for an exclusive one-on-one interview with U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R - N.C.). Tillis was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer and had surgery to tackle it instead of less aggressive treatments. Tillis says he's already back to work on Capitol Hill while still recovering from surgery. You'll hear the full interview on the podcast today.
PLUS: We pivot back to the Queen City, where a question that continues to be asked has new answers popping up: what is Charlotte doing to expand access to affordable housing? Hunter Sáenz dives into a new development approved by the city council that could offer a solution, one housing advocates say is desperately needed.
Want the latest news from the Carolinas? Need to keep up with the major power players in business and politics? Download the WCNC Charlotte app for your device today, and check out wcnc.com for the latest news, weather, sports, and political updates you want.
This week on Flashpoint, it's all about real estate in the Queen City, and we're looking at all sorts of angles.
Up first: Ben Thompson chats with David Kennedy about the housing boom Charlotte is seeing right now. Kennedy is the president of the Canopy Realtor Association, and he says that there's a lot to like about an active market, but notes there still needs to be work done to ensure housing discrimination is tackled properly.
Next: Ben chats with Colette Forrest, a community activist here in Charlotte. She has concerns about how the active housing market is affecting historically Black neighborhoods. A key issue she says Black homeowners have to deal with are rising property taxes, which is especially an issue for newer homeowners who may have inherited a home from a relative who may look to sell along with elderly homeowners who could fall behind on those taxes.
Speaking of older homeowners, WCNC Charlotte is highlighting For The Struggle, a local nonprofit that's aiming to help those elderly homeowners in historically Black neighborhoods, specifically with a variety of programs for them. Bill McGinty details the work they're doing and how you can help.
All of that and more, this week on Flashpoint and online: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/charlotte-north-carolina-housing-market-boom/275-0d39178a-cf1e-488f-b212-007a2817c3b1
This week on Flashpoint, Ben Thompson tackles two tough subjects: the trans rights debate, and racial inequity in healthcare.
Up first: U.S. Representative Alma Adams, a North Carolina Democrat, has proposed a "Momnibus" bill, which has multiple bills rolled into it. The goal: to get Congress to address the inequities Black women face in healthcare, especially pregnant Black women. She relates to this personally; years ago, her daughter had a scare during pregnancy, and it felt like her family was up against a wall with doctors. We dive into the legislation package and what all it includes.
Next: Transgender rights are again being fought over in the North Carolina political arena, years after H.B. 2 brought with it national ire and major financial consequences to the state. But are companies who share pro-LGBTQ messages playing both sides of the fight with their donations? Judd Legum, a journalist in Washington, says they are, and shares his reporting on Flashpoint.
Speaking of H.B. 2: Ashley Daley catches up with Pat McCrory, former Charlotte mayor and former North Carolina governor. He's officially tossed his hat in to the Senate race for Richard Burr's soon-to-be-open seat. We discuss his hopes for politics, reflect on the so-called "bathroom bill", and more.
All of that is discussed on today's episode of Flashpoint with Ben Thompson. Find more online from WCNC Charlotte: https://www.wcnc.com/politics
This week, Flashpoint's Ben Thompson sits down with a Winthrop professor who debunks myths about widespread elections fraud.
Despite a long list of proposals in state capitols promising to secure our elections, the U.S. doesn't have a problem with election fraud, according to Dr. Scott Huffmon.
"This is a solution that can't quite find the real problem," said Huffmon, professor of politics at Winthrop University.
Huffmon also serves as the director of the Center for Public Opinion & Policy Research and the Winthrop Poll initiative.
"Our elections are secure," he said.
All of this and more online: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/flashpoint-elections-voting-rights-north-carolina-south-carolina-wcnc-politics-elections/275-0d5ebf43-c9aa-4a2e-ad64-44ee8fe8413b
Ben Thompson goes one-on-one with US transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg about Charlotte's 2040 plan, possibilities of expanding rail, and more.
PLUS: Charlotte city leaders discuss the city's plans for transit and what could come.
These stories and more, online: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/flashpoint-politics-charlotte-transit/275-f31da8b9-e7db-48a0-8603-622f0808ff6d
As restaurants, stores and museums reopen at near-normal capacity limits across North Carolina, public health officials are displaying a cautious optimism.
Dr. Raynard Washington, the deputy director of the Mecklenburg County Health Department, said his office continues to closely watch the numbers. There's been a recent plateau in downward progress.
In the meantime, the county is getting more vaccines than expected from the state, and it's moving through prioritization groups at a quicker pace. At this rate, the vaccine will available to all adults in Mecklenburg County by the end of April, Washington estimates.
The full story, and much more, is online: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/flashpoint-covid-optimism-charlotte-public-health/275-c3a399ca-07fa-4988-a257-e9a221428e07
Some Charlotte Democrats are pushing for changes with the city's Future 2040 plan, which supporters say will make the Queen City more equitable, connected and affordable. The plan also tackles some of the city's ongoing problems, such as affordable housing, heavy traffic and long commute times.
Policy 2.1, under the Neighborhood Diversity & Inclusion section, calls for allowing "duplex and triplex housing units on all lots where single-family housing is allowed." Currently, 84% of Charlotte is zoned for single-family housing.
"We have an equity issue," said Democrat Sam Spencer, who is chair of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission.
Spencer says the 2040 plan strengthens struggling neighborhoods.
"This doesn't eliminate single-family zoning," Spencer said. "If you're a small-time developer, or a homeowner, or a landowner, you get the choice of what kind of housing types you want to build in your neighborhood."
MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/flashpoint/charlotte-city-leaders-future-2040-growth-plan-affordable-housing-crisis-solution/275-7384c557-8c4e-4cd0-850e-e06dabb46629
Charlotte's affordable housing crisis is nothing new, and now city leaders are addressing proposals that could bring solutions to people in need. First, Ben Thompson is joined by Taiwo Jaiyeoba, assistant city manager and chief city planner, to discuss the Charlotte 2040 plan. Next, City Councilman Tariq Bokhari discusses a proposal to add more duplexes and triplexes in the city and the elimination of exclusive zoning for single-family housing. Bokhari also shares his concerns over the Charlotte 2040 plan.
Our third guest this week is the new chairwoman of the North Carolina Democratic Party, Dr. Bobby Richardson. She's the first African-American woman to hold the position, and talks about where the Democratic party is headed the next two years as they try to gain more representation in the 2022 elections.
On this week's FlashPOINT, we're looking at Charlotte's affordable housing crisis and the hidden cost of the coronavirus pandemic. There was nearly 1,000 evictions in the last few months of 2020 in Charlotte alone. These are folks who have fallen between the cracks despite the moratorium on evictions.
Plus, we discuss efforts to make Charlotte more inclusive for LGBTQ citizens and protections local leaders are considering as the state's ban on local ordinances has expired.
If you thought the new year would mean a break from partisan politics, think again! We start this week's show with North Carolina State Sen. Jeff Jackson, a Democrat from Charlotte, who tells us why he chose to run for U.S. Senate in 2022 and why now is the right time to make that announcement.
Then we're joined by Charlotte City Councilmen Larken Egleston and Tariq Bokhari for a roundtable discussion about WCNC's report on Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police still arresting low-level drug offenders despite the district attorney's decision to not pursue the cases. We also discuss how Charlotte's economy is faring one year after the state's first COVID-19 case.
In case you hadn't heard, Charlotte received over 100 inquiries for the at-large city council seat. Egleston and Bokhari break down the process of getting a new councilmember and their plans for the future in the Queen City.
After focusing for months on the 2020 election and COVID-19 pandemic, this week's FlashPoint with Ben Thompson is all about Charlotte! Guests on this week's show include City Council members Larken Egleston and Tariq Bokhari.
Topics on this week's program include Charlotte's biggest obstacles entering 2021, as well as renaming streets that are named after Confederate generals and white supremacists. Is the matter of renaming streets worth considering during the pandemic?
In 2017, Charlotte and North Carolina became the epicenter of American politics with the controversial House Bill 2. When the bill was repealed, a section in the law barred local governments from enacting or amending non-discrimination ordinances regulating private businesses until Dec. 1, 2020. Now that the ban has expired, will Charlotte look to pass another non-discrimination ordinance? If so, how can they keep the city's desires from becoming another disaster that leads to state intervention?
The Silver Line light rail extension has been the talk of Charlotte transportation plans for years. The proposal would create a new rail line from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Matthews on the southeast end of Independence Boulevard. But how would it be paid for? Larken and Tariq discuss the city's options and where they could go to find the money for the huge project.
After spending weeks focusing on the 2020 presidential election, this week's episode is all about Charlotte. Years after the Queen City's non-discrimination ordinance caused shockwaves across North Carolina and ultimately cost the state billions of dollars (and an NBA All-Star Game) will Charlotte move to create another non-discrimination ordinance?
Charlotte City Council members Larken Egleston and Tariq Bokhari discuss how Charlotte can avoid another House Bill 2 disaster now that the bill's ban on local ordinances has expired.
Plus, we take a look at the new transportation plan Charlotte leaders are hoping to approve and how it would be paid for. And speaking of getting around Charlotte, city leaders are considering changing the names of streets that are named after Confederate generals and white supremacists. Is this issue big enough to tackle in 2021?
Election Day is behind us and absentee ballots are still being counted in several states that could determine the final outcome of the presidency.
On this week's show, Ben Thompson is joined by Michael Dickerson, director of the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections, who explains the absentee ballot counting process and what poll workers have to do in order to accurately count every vote. We also discuss how provisional ballots cast by those who requested an absentee ballot could impact the total count.
Then we're joined by Davidson College political science professor Susan Roberts, who pulls out her crystal ball to predict where Democrats and Republicans go from here, what lessons can be learned from the 2020 election and how Democrats can pick up voters in Republican strongholds. Winthrop University political science professor Scott Huffmon then breaks down what we can learn from 2020 polling and if claims about inaccurate polls have a leg to stand on.
Finally, Ben shares new information from the Department of Health and Human Services that shows us why COVID-19 won't "magically disappear" despite claims from President Donald Trump that we were turning a corner.
We're now less than 3 days away from Election Day 2020 and the stakes couldn't be higher. Now that early voting has wrapped up, it's down to in-person voting and any remaining absentee ballots that will come through the mail.
Ben Thompson is joined by Catawba College political science professor, Dr. Michael Bitzer, who breaks down voter turnout, record early voting and what we can expect after the election and why we won't have the "official" results for several days or weeks.
Then we're joined by Winthrop University's Dr. Scott Huffmon, who has the inside track on the South Carolina Senate race between Lindsey Graham and Jaime Harrison. Dr. Huffmon also tells us what we can expect in South Carolina during the overall election.
Dr. Susan Roberts, a political science professor at Davidson College, also joins the show to discuss the tight Senate race between Republican Thom Tillis and Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham. Dr. Roberts also analyzes the race for North Carolina governor and a general outlook on North Carolina politics heading into the contentious election.
All this, plus Ben has some Election Day tips before you head to the polls and cast a ballot.
We're less than 2 weeks until the 2020 election and all eyes are on the Carolinas, where President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden are focusing their campaigns. On this special edition of FlashPoint, Fred Shropshire and Sarah French break down what's happening in our area as Election Day gets closer.
Ben Thompson examines why North Carolina is so important to both candidates. And we get an idea of why so many campaign ads are featured on our TVs.
Ashley Daley joins the show to recap Cal Cunningham's extramarital affair and questions about his credibility in North Carolina's Senate race. Then we head south of the state line where Jaime Harrison and Lindsey Graham are in an extremely tight Senate race.
Plus, we explain the electoral college, why it exists and answer your questions about absentee ballots, mail-in voting and early voting in the Carolinas.
We're less than a month away from the 2020 election and all eyes are on North Carolina, where President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden are focusing their campaigns. But it goes far beyond the state level, with campaigns going so far as to target specific neighborhoods. Ben Thompson is joined by Michael Dickerson, the head of the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections, as they gear up for a busy early voting period and expected heavy voter turnout November 3.
Plus, we hear from three election experts who tell us how to protect your vote and keep your ballot legitimate if you plan to vote absentee. Then, Dr. Michael Bitzer, a political science professor at Catawba College, joins the FlashPoint to break down just how competitive North Carolina is and he explains why the Tar Heel State is a microcosm of what we're seeing across the country when it comes to partisan alignment. Finally, an election attorney joins Ben to tell us why it could be mid-December before the presidential election results are finalized and we have a winner. And based on his experience with the infamous Florida recount of 2000, what we see in 2020 could make that a walk in the park.
On this week's episode of FlashPoint on WCNC Charlotte, Ben Thompson is joined by former Charlotte mayor Anthony Foxx, who talks about what he's been up to lately, why he's backing Joe Biden in November's presidential election and if he'll ever return to politics. North Carolina voters are on track to set a record when it comes to absentee ballots due to the coronavirus pandemic. Ben is joined by the man responsible for making sure it goes smoothly, elections director for Mecklenburg County, Michael Dickerson, who breaks down the absentee ballot process and how election workers are preparing for an influx of voting by mail. During his interview, Dickerson also talks about the importance of poll workers and keeping them safe during the election.
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The Republican National Convention is in the rearview mirror and the race to the White House is on! Ben Thompson is joined by North Carolina State Rep. Chaz Beasley and former Vice-Chairman of the NCGOP, Wayne King to discuss the RNC and they each make the case for their party's candidate in November's election. In Segment Two, Ben is joined by Dr. Micahel Bitzer, a political science professor at Catawba College, who offers his analysis of the RNC, Trump's acceptance speech and an update on absentee ballots in North Carolina. In our third segment, WCNC Charlotte reporter Hunter Saenz discusses his experience covering the RNC in Charlotte and his exclusive access as part of the president's motorcade in Charlotte and at a speaking engagement outside Asheville, North Carolina. FlashPoint is where power and politics collide, airing every Sunday at 11 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte!
It's finally here. The 2020 Republican National Convention has rolled into Charlotte and the 2020 presidential election is on! On this week's show, Ben Thompson is joined by Charlotte City Council members Larken Egleston and Tariq Bokhari to discuss the RNC and what it will look like compared to the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee. Then, Egleston and Bokhari discuss multiple ethics complaints against Charlotte City Council members, including Bokhari himself.
In our third segment, Catawba College political science professor Michael Bitzer analyzes the DNC, breaks down what it's like to teach during a pandemic and updates the influx of absentee ballot requests in North Carolina. Bitzer's analysis really drives home the point on how the Postal Service controversy could help swing the election in many states.
As North Carolina prepares for the 2020 election, the state has received well over 100,000 requests for mail-in ballots. That is five times where we were this same time in 2016. To discuss the tremendous increase across North Carolina, we're joined by Catawba College political science professor Dr. Michael Bitzer. Bitzer digs into the data and tells Ben Thompson why the 2020 election could be determined by the U.S. Postal Service. Plus, Ben is joined by former Charlotte City Council Member LaWana Mayfield and former North Carolina Rep. Charles Jeter. Mayfield and Jeter discuss absentee voting and if Democrats are a little too cocky after early polls show a "blue wave" heading for the Tar Heel State. White House officials remain split on whether President Trump will actually be in Charlotte for the Republican National Convention. Ben tells us he's not convinced Trump will arrive in the Queen City. What about the panelists?
We're just a couple of weeks away from the Republican National Convention in Charlotte. And as changes seem to be made on a daily basis, we're still learning what the toned-down convention might look like in the Queen City. Ben Thompson is joined by Republican strategist Larry Sheehan, as well as Democrat strategist Douglas Wilson to discuss it. Plus, we're talking about the methods schools are using to prepare students, teachers and their families for an upcoming year unlike anything we've ever seen due to COVID-19. And the U.S. Census Bureau announced it will stop collecting field data one month earlier than anticipated. What kind of lasting impact could this have on marginalized communities and what could be done differently to increase participating in the Census?
As protests against racial injustice continue across America, there are louder calls to "defund the police." On this episode, Ben Thompson is joined by Charlotte City Councilman Braxton Winston to discuss the semantics and meaning behind defunding the police. Winston shares his thoughts on the movement, how police tactics should be changed and if defunding police is really "reform." Winston also explains why people in the Charlotte community who have been impacted by violent crime need to lend their credibility to those calling for change.
Ben is also joined by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police spokesman Rob Tufano to discuss how Charlotte's law enforcement division will fight violent crime in the future. Tufano also pleads for the community to join officers in helping stop violent crime in their neighborhoods as Charlotte is on pace for more homicides than 2019's tragic mark.
Coronavirus continues to be the biggest headline nationwide and in the Carolinas. While the numbers aren't great for North Carolina, they're better than some of our neighbors, including North Carolina. Ben Thompson is joined by Ashley Smith of Reopen NC, the group pushing for Gov. Roy Cooper to be impeached and have businesses across the state back open. Smith explains why her group believes Cooper should be pushed out and why it's not worth shutting down the state's economy in the name of safety. Ben is also joined by State Rep. Chaz Beasley and former Union County Republican Chair Dan Barry to discuss the inconsistencies in the state's reopening plan. Plus, we discuss what led to the RNC leaving Charlotte for Florida and how state leaders should tackle back to school plans or if they should leave it up to individual districts.
FlashPoint airs every Sunday at 11 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been going for nearly six months. Ben Thompson is joined by Congresswoman Alma Adams, who says the federal government's response to COVID-19 was insufficient. Adams also discusses what could be done to help people in North Carolina and nationwide recover. During her interview, Adams talks about protests for social justice during the pandemic and what law enforcement and police can do to safely protect communities, plus we touch on the renaming of military bases named after Confederate generals, including Fort Bragg in North Carolina. We're also joined by Charlotte leaders Tariq Scott Bokhari and Larken Eggleston to break down Mecklenburg County's response to coronavirus and if the right steps have been taking during the pandemic. And our panel discusses how much responsibility lies with state leaders, including Governor Roy Cooper, on the balance of safely reopening the state when it came to the now-gone Republican National Convention.