We’ve assembled a panel of gardening experts to tackle all your spring gardening questions. Write us throughout the show at charlottetalks@wfae.org with “gardening” in the subject line.

The I-77 toll project has been the center of a contentious debate. We hear from officials and stakeholders about where the project stands and what comes next.

Primary day has come and gone, locally one message from voters is that they want party loyalty. Surprisingly, the Phil Berger race is separated by two votes. NCDOT plans to pause its plan for elevating new I-77 toll lanes for a few months, and North Carolina U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis lays into now former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

It’s been three months since U.S. Customs and Border Protection descended on Charlotte. Operation “Charlotte’s Web” brought fear, confusion and disruption to the city, especially to the immigrant community. There are still many unknowns about that operation despite attempts by politicians at all levels asking for transparency and accountability. We get an update on those attempts and examine the economic, legal and cultural fallout.

Voting is complete and the results are in, so what did North Carolina’s primaries decide? From key races in Mecklenburg County to consequential contests that could reshape the balance of power in the General Assembly, we break down what the outcomes mean heading into November.

Many Americans are performing their civic duty, but they’re doing so in congressional races that are almost already decided. More than 90% of congressional seats are effectively settled in primary elections. Fewer than 20 House seats nationwide are true toss-ups, meaning a relatively small number of voters control the balance of power. We break down what’s wrong with this system, how we got here and why it still doesn’t mean you should stay home on Election Day.

Nearly two decades after the hazing death of 19-year-old Harrison Kowiak at Lenoir-Rhyne University, North Carolina has enacted Harrison’s Law, expanding the definition of hazing and increasing criminal penalties. We examine what the new law changes, the federal landscape for hazing and whether stronger statutes can truly shift campus culture.

President Trump invokes the stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska during his State of the Union, incorrectly saying the man accused of killing her is an undocumented immigrant. Four people are taken into ICE custody outside the Mecklenburg County Courthouse, self-driving Waymo taxis may soon be on Charlotte streets, and the impact of the recent winter storm continues as power bills come due.

On the next Charlotte Talks, we take a close look at the findings just released in Mecklenburg County’s 2025 State of Housing Instability and Homelessness Report, plus a deep dive into the data the Charlotte Urban Institute and Mecklenburg County have collected over the past 10 years.

The Charlotte Hornets have been near the bottom of the NBA for years, but things may be changing. Earlier this month, the team went on a nine-game winning streak. That's something that hasn't happened this century. We discuss the team's season, its history, and what a playoff berth would mean.