Fewer than 6% of American physicians identify as Black, but census data show roughly 12% of the U.S. population is Black. Some experts say that disparity is one reason communities of color tend to experience worse health outcomes in the U.S., including higher rates of high blood pressure, shorter life expectancy and higher risks during childbirth. A new book from a former ProPublica reporter links today’s inequalities to a long history of structural racism — part of which runs through North Carolina.

The FBI launches an investigation into CMS. The county might wait on the outcome of the several probes being conducted before it asks its own questions. But the county is asking questions about why Discovery Place can’t repay a $14 million loan. The General Assembly is set to consider suspending the gasoline tax, and PTL’s Jim Bakker dies. Those stories and more with our roundtable of reporters.

The Civil War was the deadliest conflict in American history. Yet more than 160 years later, its legacy is still being written, and one historian argues a key part of that legacy involves free people of color. At the beginning of the war, nearly half a million people of color were free, and he says their stories ultimately helped lay the groundwork for a more expansive vision of American freedom.

Two years after Hurricane Helene devastated communities in western North Carolina, the state is still navigating the long process of recovery, while also preparing for the next disaster. We speak with N.C. Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Reid Wilson to discuss North Carolina’s environmental priorities and how it is preparing for the challenges ahead.

A conversation with Seth Harp, author of "The Fort Bragg Cartel," about his book. It covers drug trafficking, murder, and a cover up involving members of the U.S. military.

For Susanne Dillingham, food is more than sustenance. It has opened a world of opportunities for her as a personal chef, sommelier and business owner. Food has taken her around the world as she learned more about it and the importance of hospitality. Now, she runs The Tiny Chef from her small farm in Gold Hill. She shares her experiences in the food world and in her book, “Secret Ingredients of Life.”

The fallout over the firing of CMS Superintendent Crystal Hill continues with dissension on the board and another CMS executive staff resignation; Charlotte City Council passes a new 10 p.m. curfew for teens under 18; Mooresville Mayor Chris Carney is out, and, with Election Day a month away, U.S. Senate races in both Carolinas are in the spotlight.

Mail-in or absentee voting for the midterms began in North Carolina in early September. Though not as popular as early or Election Day voting, it provides important access for many, but there have been numerous attempts to curtail mail-in voting and call into question the legitimacy of votes cast in this way. We take a look at those efforts, the new rules in place and what’s behind these efforts.

Pat McCrory is one of the most consequential and polarizing political figures in North Carolina history. From mayor of Charlotte to governor of North Carolina, McCrory spent nearly two decades shaping the city before a turbulent term as governor that transformed his career and public image. Journalist and columnist Andrew Dunn focuses on McCrory’s rise, reckoning and legacy in the book, “The Change Agent.”

Political division is rampant. But what if courage, not just compromise, could help bring us back together? Marine Corps veteran and author Rye Barcott explores what we can learn from ten veterans who put principle ahead of party.