Charlotte Talks With Mike Collins

On the next Local News Roundup: Donald Trump rallies in Charlotte as Gov. Roy Cooper finds himself among possible Democratic vice presidential candidates. Violent and juvenile crimes are up dramatically here. And some local athletes are in Paris for the Summer Olympics. Those stories and more.

A woman of great accomplishment, Charlottean Cathy Bessant spent more than 40 years in key jobs at Bank of America around the world. She retired from that job and now runs the Foundation for the Carolinas.

We spend the hour with Grammy Award-winning musician and host of NPR’s "Jazz Night in America," Christian McBride. He brought a musical tribute to town this year inspired by the words of Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr, Muhammad Ali and others.

The shake-up in the presidential race and the possibility that N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper could find himself in the race — Mike Collins discusses it all with local reporters and political representatives.

We’re spending time this week listening to some of our favorite interviews of 2024. We begin with opera star Denyce Graves, who came to town in February to appear in a production centering on Mary Cardwell Dawson, who grew up during Jim Crow but founded the first Black opera company in America. Graves talks about her mission to preserve Dawson’s legacy and more.

On the local news roundup — Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. will be on North Carolina ballots. Cornel West will not. Josh Stein is way ahead of Mark Robinson in political contributions in the gubernatorial race. A change in the Charlotte Checkers’ ownership, and the heat continues.

As we prepare for the start of the Paris Olympics, we look back at the competition and politics at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin to see what it can teach us about the past and the future.

The Queen City is bucking a national trend. Homicides are down nationwide, but not here. Here they’re up 33%. We take a closer look.

Mike Collins meets Bob Gale, co-creator and screenwriter for the "Back to the Future" films — and the man who wrote the script for "Back to the Future: The Musical," now playing in Charlotte.

We focus on the Republican National Convention, its presumptive nominee, his possible vice presidential nominee, and the party platform. Plus a document to change the nation: Project 2025.

A rash of shootings in Charlotte as homicides continue to rise, bucking a national trend. Charlotte’s city manager is optimistic about our mobility plan but predicts a higher price tag. And an international soccer tournament comes to town. Mike Collins and guests discuss.

It’s been two years since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which gave women the constitutional right to an abortion. Lisa Lerer and Elizabeth Dias, authors of "The Fall of Roe," join guest host Erik Spanberg to talk about how it happened and its ongoing impact.

It’s hot and getting hotter. What’s being done to help municipalities be better prepared for the hotter temperatures climate change is ushering in?

On the next Charlotte Talks, doing the right thing can often be costly for those calling out a wrong others would like concealed. We hear from a whistleblower about that cost and what makes it worth it.

Both Trump and Biden believe they can win North Carolina this fall. With recent Supreme Court decisions and issues facing both candidates, who has the upper hand?

A group of Charlotte faith leaders went to Northern Ireland to understand The Troubles. They join Mike Collins to discuss what they learned and how it can be applied to the United States.

North Carolina has a lot of choices when it comes to travel. Need summer road trip suggestions? We've got you covered.

City Council votes to contribute $650 million to refurbish Bank of America Stadium. The Charlotte Knights are sold to a New York-based company. The state’s fiscal year is about to end without a budget. The major sticking points include teacher and state employee raises. And, after two years, Madalina Cojocari’s mother has been named as a suspect in her disappearance.

On the next Charlotte Talks, we preview the first presidential debate between President Biden and Donald Trump, look back at famous debate moments in history and discuss whether these events still serve their purpose.

As Charlotte FC enters the second half of the Major League Soccer season, we look at what their past performance this year might mean for the rest of the season — and their playoff hopes.