Charlotte Talks

The stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska on the Blue Line is getting national attention and a response from the White House. That comes as city elections take place. The results are in, and we’ll catch you up. Last week, CMS announced good news for testing, but this week brings more sobering news: nationwide declines in 12th grade math and reading scores. In short, they are abysmal. Plus, Charlotte FC goes for history.

Ben Greene, a trans man, speaker and author of "My Child Is Trans, Now What?," is on a mission to bring joy, humor and humanity into the conversation about raising and supporting trans children. Greene will share his philosophy of “joy-centered” storytelling, why he wrote his book, and what he’s learned speaking with families across the country.

We examine the results of Charlotte's primary election as the city gains national attention, including from President Trump, over a stabbing death on the Blue Line in South End.

Hurricane Helene took a severe toll on western North Carolina’s art scene, but it also resulted in uplifting stories of recovery.

Few people understand the struggles and power of newspapers better than Rob Christensen, who spent decades at North Carolina’s capital newspaper as chief political reporter. In his latest book, he recounts how The News & Observer shaped modern North Carolina in ways both profound and eyebrow-raising.

Fallout continues over a stabbing on the Lynx Blue Line as the mayor calls a special meeting of the MTC. The Charlotte municipal primary is less than a week away and turnout has been less than stellar. New state testing data is out and we look at where CMS stands, and the Panthers kick off a new season.

This weekend, the Carolina Panthers return to regular-season NFL action with high hopes to improve their standing in the NFC South. The pressure is on for third-year quarterback Bryce Young and coach Dave Canales to deliver after a slight roster shake-up on offense and defense. The Panthers haven’t made it to the playoffs in seven years. Will this be the year?

Author Dan Fesperman, who grew up in Charlotte and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is no stranger to dangerous situations. He was a foreign correspondent for the Baltimore Sun and reported from Europe and the Middle East. He now writes thrillers full-time. He’ll be in Charlotte at Park Road Books on Sept. 4 to discuss his new novel Pariah.

Among the concerns some parents have heading into the new school year is whether there will be an ICE presence at their child's school. That includes CMS, where community members have expressed concern — even though board members say ICE can't enter campus without a subpoena or warrant. Still, anxiety remains. We explore that and dive into some of the legal questions around this issue.

As NPR founding mother Susan Stamberg prepares to retire, we revisit a special conversation with Mike Collins. Stamberg came to Charlotte in 2017 and joined us for a conversation about her early years in public radio, working in a male-dominated field, and her thoughts on the future of radio.

A fatal stabbing has officials concerned not only about crime but also its potential impact this incident might have on the transit vote in November. The CMS school year is underway, North Carolina's legislature is back in Raleigh, but won’t vote on a budget, and the Panthers have traded a star.

The Biden administration had planned for the most generous repayment plan in history, but the Trump administration is moving in a different direction. We examine the system in flux and how to navigate it.

For the first time in more than a decade, Mecklenburg County has a new manager. Mike Bryant stepped into the role in June following Dena Diorio’s retirement, but he’s been involved in local government for three decades and served as the county’s deputy manager.

The "P.T. Barnum of motorsports," Humpy Wheeler, died last week at the age of 86. He made immeasurable contributions to NASCAR and the sport of racing and that means he made immeasurable contributions to Charlotte and the region. He was a character, the likes of which we may never see again. We listen back to a conversation we had with Humpy Wheeler, to remind us of who he was and what we’ve lost.

Last year, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children logged more than a half million reports of online enticement, manipulation and sextortion of children. This school year, districts are helping students spot this dangerous trend. We hear from a survivor of online grooming and those working to prevent it.

Hurricane Erin is causing concern as rough seas hit the coast, a second sheriff’s deputy resigns, echoing concerns of a previous deputy about Garry McFadden’s leadership, the Black Political Caucus endorses Joi Mayo over Tiawana Brown for Charlotte City Council and Charlotte FC is the hottest team in Major League Soccer.

We're replaying highlights of the candidate forum hosted earlier this week by WFAE and the League of Women Voters of Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Moderated by WFAE's Steve Harrison, hear from several candidates for offices across Charlotte ahead of the primary election in September.

Texas plans to redistrict to help Republicans retain control of the House in the midterm elections. That effort is being met by similar moves in Democrat-controlled states. North Carolina is no stranger to gerrymandering and we take a closer look at how our past efforts can inform the current moment.

444. That’s the number of homeless people living on the streets in the Charlotte area — the highest since 2010. The reasons people fall into homelessness are as numerous as the debates over how to address it. We examine the different strategies to quell this problem and what has and hasn’t worked.

The earth is warming and so are the oceans, resulting in shifts in feeding and migratory patterns. Sharks are part of this. At the top of the food chain, their health can tell us a lot about the well-being of the larger ecosystem. Scientists are working to understand sharks and they share what they know about the impact of climate change on sharks, their behavior, and their role in the environment.