Wildfires continue raging in the North Carolina mountains, and the smoke is drifting into Charlotte. We begin with an update on the firefighting effort, then our "Block by Block" series continues with an area that some hope will be the next "big thing" - MoRA.
North Carolina Wildfire Update
More than a dozen wildfires in the North Carolina mountains have burned tens of thousands of acres and driven hundreds of people from their homes. Other parts of the drought-stricken Southeast are wrestling with fires, but North Carolina is said to be the hardest hit. It's possible the state will be dealing with these fires for several months, possibly into next spring. The impact isn't limited to the mountains as waves of smoke have reached the Charlotte area in recent days.
GUESTS
Davin Eldridge, reporter, WCQS Western North Carolina Public Radio
Brad Panovich, chief meteorologist, WCNC NBC Charlotte
"Block by Block" - Charlotte's Monroe Road Corridor
Look out NoDa. Here comes MoRA. At least that's the hope of the Monroe Road Advocates. They're hoping to create an identity for the Monroe Road corridor parallel to Independence Boulevard in east Charlotte - an area stretching from Sharon Amity Road down to Matthews that's beginning to get a piece of the city's development boom. These neighborhood boosters say it's a part of town that's flying under the radar. Our "Block by Block" series continues with MoRA. What are developers seeing there? Could a long-yearned-for mass transit line to the east side be coming?
GUESTS
Kathy Hill, board chair, Monroe Road Advocates
John Lincoln, board member, Monroe Road Advocates
Corey Inscoe, editor, Charlotte Five