Ely Portillo of WFAE Public Radio, in Charlotte, discussed the comprehensive review of a major magnet schools overhaul. A review of student assignment policies is a key factor moving forward. In a second story, Ely shared details of his Eye In The Sky story about drones for police use and better public safety. Will additional funding be there at this time of policing growth in the Charlotte region?

Carolina Public Press Reporter Sarah Michels shared that new registered voter data for the state shows an increase in unaffiliated voters, keeping them in 1st place, which has moved the GOP to 2nd place. That means Democrats are now ranked 3rd. Sarah says that while this change might seem like a victory for conservatives, it still comes down to which candidate and party receives the most votes.

Asheville Watchdog Reporter John Boyle was interviewed about his recent story on the decline of Asheville's black population. John created a four-part series that covered everything from affordable housing to better jobs and salaries, and how leaders in Buncombe County are reviewing public recommendations that might help bring a solution. In another topic, John shared his research about the widely varying prices among propane distributors in Buncombe County.

Host of the political podcast, Frogmore Stew, based in the South Carolina low country, Grace Cowan, shared details from an interview with former State Representative Rita Allison. Topics discussed were how students are handling curricula like math and science, and how parents should always have a choice in the type of school their children attend.

WUNC Education Reporter, Liz Schlemmer, was our guest to talk about how many school districts across North Carolina were able to add new and needed teachers; however, they still had to reduce their number of vacancies. Even though a good number of new teachers were hired in K-12, cuts were necessary in other positions.

Ely Portillo of WFAE shared details of the Charlotte City Council's approval of a plan for a private security firm to patrol more around boarding locations of the city's transit system. Charlotte Transit System (CAT) has received harsh criticism for a lack of security and/or police officers when it comes to the public's safety, on both the rail line and buses. Ely also shared results of a state Latino survey on health and job challenges.

Former Swain County Sheriff Curtis Cochran was charged and arrested on several charges involving female victims, including charges on land belonging to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Cochran resigned from his position, and now Brian Kirkland is serving as the interim sheriff. What's next? Smoky Mountain News - Kyle Perrotti shares the details in this interview from mid-August 2025.

The host of the South Carolina political podcast, Frogmore Stew, Grace Cowan, was on hand to cover the expanding list of candidates vying to be the state's next governor. Grace shares who to take seriously in the race. She also talked about how South Carolina remains one of only a few states without a hate crimes law and how that may be changing.

Staff Reporter for Carolina Public Press, Jane Sartwell, sat down with WNCW to recap her recent story about how federal budget cuts in Washington, DC, were being felt by local programs across the state. Programs like HIV testing, well-water testing, and tobacco prevention. Several State Health and Human Services employees also lost their jobs.