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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools have a high number of teacher vacancies and reports of poor test scores — meanwhile, advocates say funding isn't nearly as high as it should be. With students heading back to school on Aug. 29, we sit down with CMS teachers to discuss morale, pay, retention and more.

Construction is to start at the former Eastland Mall site. Area public schools are in a recruitment bonus battle with less than a month to go before teachers and students return to the classroom. The State Board of Elections certifies the Green Party as an official party. And we now have evidence in Mecklenburg of community spread of monkeypox. Mike Collins and a roundtable of reporters detail those and other stories.

As laws and lawmakers on the Christian-right have been growing in number and prominence in the U.S., we discuss Christian nationalism and what it means for North Carolina and the country.

The answer to the questions on everyone’s mind: are we heading toward a recession? Are we already in one? GDP fell for a second straight quarter. That’s usually a sign of recession and that’s certainly triggered fears of a slowdown. We get the scoop from a group of economists.

What's next for North Carolina’s hemp industry after legislation was signed to keep its production legal and what it may mean for the potential legalization of medical marijuana.

While COVID-19 has impacted virtually the entire country, some communities have been hit much harder than others. We look at how viruses can exploit systemic vulnerabilities with Dr. Steven Thrasher, author of “The Viral Underclass: The Human Toll When Inequality and Disease Collide.”

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles wins her third term in office in this week’s elections, and incumbents on council take the day along with some returnees to council. The Panthers are in training. Charlotte's Epicentre faces another auction delay. And more people are leaving the county than coming here.

We take a look at the growing problem of gun violence and that of illegal firearms used in crimes. What is being done and how you can help.

COVID-19 is lingering, and the number of infections is increasing again while monkeypox is making inroads here in Mecklenburg County and around the country. Mike Collins checks in with infectious disease experts about it all.

For the last two and a half years, figuring out how to offer high-quality instruction amid a pandemic has been just one of the challenges public schools have navigated. We speak with State Superintendent Catherine Truitt about everything from the coronavirus pandemic, to test scores, to the surge of guns found in schools.

After the disaster they experienced during the pandemic, restaurants and bars are starting to get some breaks – at least in terms of alcohol restrictions. Mike Collins and our panel of guests look at that and other changes.

Ridership on Charlotte Area Transit System buses has declined 75%. Mecklenburg County has more than half of all the monkeypox cases reported in the state. More toll lanes could be coming to I-77 and South Carolina considers more abortion restrictions. We discuss those stories and more on the Local News Roundup.

To many, it seems their values no longer align with what government is doing. Are they right? If so, how do we fix it? Mike Collins and our panel of guests discuss.

No bus system in the top 50 cities has lost more riders than the Charlotte Area Transit System has and, in recent months, other problems have cropped up, too. We take a closer look.

The spotted lanternfly has arrived in North Carolina with the potential for great environmental damage. Mike Collins and our panel of guests discuss what residents should know and ways to mitigate the spread.

Host Mike Collins sits down with a panel of experts on kids' mental health to talk about the crisis in adolescent mental health and what the American Academy of Pediatrics calls a national emergency.

On the Local News Roundup, the governor signs the budget into law while vetoing other recent legislation. He also lifts the COVID-19 state of emergency beginning in August. And, the nation’s new poet laureate teaches at Queens.

For most Americans, from their home address to medical conditions, a significant amount of personal information can be found online. And with Roe v. Wade overturned, some worry people seeking abortions could be tracked, and even prosecuted, from their online data. We discuss the future of digital privacy with two of the country's premier experts.

We get some tips on good books to spend time with this summer at the beach or on your couch.

Mecklenburg County is under-parked and struggling to keep pace with growth but now, $50 million has been allocated to parks and rec for future parks so enjoying the outdoors might improve soon.