Paul Foster

As a part of WNCW's celebration of Black History Month, Cleveland County native, Dr. James Benton, spoke with the Friday Feature about his book, Fraying Fabric - How Trade Policy and Industrial Decline Transformed America.

Joining a national trend, the city of Durham, N.C. has been dispatching mental health teams and not police to some 911 calls — with WUNC Reporter Jay Price.

This Friday Feature helped celebrate Black History Month with a combination of several significant topics that took place in Western North Carolina. That included educator Lucy Herring, the African American community The Happy Land, the National Park Service, and music and civil rights icon Nina Simone. WNCW's Kevin Washington and Smoky Mountain News contribute to the program that originally aired Feb. 10th.

WFAE Public Radio's Steve Harrison, Politics Reporter, returned to More to the Story to discuss some of the hot topics from Charlotte. That included CATS (Charlotte Area Transit System) avoiding a strike by its employees to changes with the Wells Fargo building, located downtown. Steve also talked about Mecklenburg County's property tax revaluation and what to expect

Food Connection's Leader of Community Engagement, Flori Pate, was our guest on this interview to talk about the ongoing growth and milestones of the non-profit group, which receives excess food from caterers and restaurants to feed those in need. Within this interview, learn about the number of meals the group has now served over the years, ownership of a new food truck, and growth in Henderson County

Shelby Harris, representing Carolina Public Press, talked about the latest news and notes on ARPA - The American Rescue Act. Its purpose is to effectively support, especially underserved and rural communities. Just how have different cities and counties spent ARPA funds that were provided from the events caused by Covid-19?

Smoky Mountain News Reporter Holly Kays went over her story, "Marked Absent, From Kindergarten Through College - Men Struggle In School". Across the state and Western North Carolina, Holly talked about evidence showing a significant gap between the academic success of males compared to that of females. The question remains, how far will educational leaders and institutions, as well as political leaders, go to adjust the problem?

Small Woodruff, S.C., located in Spartanburg County, is home to the Stone Soup Storytelling Institute. Guests to the Friday Feature sharing the good news for storytelling lovers and performers were group President Karyn Page Davies and Storyteller and Board Member Cora Newcomb. From pop-up and virtual events to a yearly festival and the arts, Stone Soup is well-equipped for a storytelling good time.

About The Tannery takes you to Wilkes County, N.C. in the year 1900, when the deceased body of the young daughter of the local tannery owner is discovered on the north bank of the Yadkin River. Who took her life and why? Retired North Carolina Attorney-turned-author, Michael Almond, visited with the Friday Feature to talk about his heralded book.

WUNC Political Reporter and Capital Bureau Chief, Jeff Tiberii, joined WNCW for a conversation about the North Carolina General Assembly coming back into session to start a new year. As House and Senate members joined back together, Jeff said issues like education, voting maps, abortion, and Medicaid expansion would be some of the biggest things they debate. Another hot-button topic is no doubt Gov. Roy Cooper's current veto power.