Charlotte Blogs

Our November edition of Average Joes will focus on topics chosen by the panel, including discussion on the bailout and the economy, the environment, health and wellness, Charlotte crime and Charlotte’s development and transit plans.
John Smith, Laura Foxx, and Mark Killion

Average Joe panelists are WFAE listeners just like you! If you are interested in joining a future panel, email us with a little about yourself and your personal and political viewpoints to charlottetalks@wfae.org

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Charlotte may not have a majestic river running through it but we do have a vast creek system, which is vital to the health of our watershed and wildlife. But now, its health is in trouble- from erosion, pollution and damage from disappearing wetlands caused by growth. We’ll get an update on our creek system when Charlotte Talks.

Guests
Rusty Rozzelle – Program Manager, Mecklenburg County Water Quality
David Kroening – Analyst, Mecklenburg County Surface Water Systems
Daryl Hammock – Manager, Environmental Permitting & Water Quality, City of Charlotte

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With our dependency on oil a continuing issue, both presidential candidates mentioned nuclear energy as an important part of our energy plan. We’ll look at the current status of nuclear energy generation and how President Elect Obama would include nuclear in his plan.
Guests
Jim Warren – Exec. Director, NC Warn
Adrian Heymer – Senior Director of New Plant Deployment, Nuclear Energy Institute

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The Charlotte Area Transit System has held a series of public sessions to find out what Charlotteans think is most important in regards to transit in the Queen City. We’ll find out the result of surveys that were taken at the sessions and talk about the CATS Budget for the next year.
Guests
Keith Parker – CEO of CATS
Dee Pereira – Chief Financial Transit Officer at CATS

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On this Veteran’s Day we look back at Charlotte’s history with American wars. From the moment British General Cornwallis described our region as a “Hornets Nest” of resistance during the Revolution, Charlotteans have put down pitchforks, plows and their briefcases and taken up arms to defend American interests. We’ll take a look at our veteran’s commitments and sacrifices.
Guests
David Erdman – Attorney and amateur historian, Creator of Charlotte at War Presentation
Dr. Dan Morrill - Professor of History, UNC Charlotte

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Jonathan Kozol is perhaps one of the biggest critics of this nation’s education system, but his criticism is aimed at making our schools better. He shares his recommendations and addresses the mania of testing over teaching on the next Charlotte Talks.
Jonathan Kozol - Educator and activist
Author of The Shame of the Nation, Letters to a Young Teacher, Savage Inequalities
This conversation was prerecorded as part of Lenoir Rhyne’s Visiting Writers Series

Web Extra: Hear Jonathan Kozol’s story about a close friend, Mr. Rogers. Click to Listen.

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We meet the “Clown Prince of Basketball,” Meadowlark Lemon. He’s well-known for his on-court antics and his off-the-court ambassadorship as a longtime member of the Harlem Globetrotters. Mr. Lemon remains active in the community as a minister and motivational speaker.
Guest
Meadowlark Lemon – American Basketball player
Since this is an encore presentation, we won’t be able to take your phone calls.

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With cold and flu season approaching, we’ll talk germs and bacteria. The excessive use of antibiotics (from the doctor and the foods we eat) is helping to create dangerous “superbugs.” We’ll find out ways to stay safe and healthy and we’ll also find out why our guest biologist says you should throw away all of your anti-bacterial soaps and cleaners.

Guest
Dr. Michael Hudson – Chair of the Biology Department, UNC Charlotte
Since this is an encore presentation, we won’t be able to include your comments.

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A look at the outcomes of all of the local, state and national political races and we take your phone calls with your thoughts on the election and its results.

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