Latest news with #WFAE
Axios
6 days ago
- Business
- Axios
NPR cuts could weigh on North Carolina's largest public radio stations
North Carolina's largest public radio stations — WFAE and WUNC, which serve Charlotte and the Triangle, respectively — get hundreds of thousands of dollars a year from the federal government. Absent those funds, the stations may have to scale back their offerings. Why it matters: A federal halt of funding for public radio stations, as the Trump administration has proposed, could affect how some communities access local news and information — from what their state lawmakers are doing to alerts from the emergency broadcast system. Catch up quick: Earlier this month, President Trump issued an executive order to halt federal support for NPR and PBS, calling the two biggest public broadcasters in the U.S. "biased." The latest: NPR and several affiliates on Tuesday announced they're suing the Trump administration over the executive order to curtail their funding. By the numbers: The Corporation for Public Broadcasting allocates about $535 million in federal funding annually to NPR and PBS, including to local stations. Zoom in: WFAE and WUNC each get about $800,000 annually from the federal government, according to station leaders. These funds are both direct, meaning they're matching funds based on how much revenue the stations generate; and indirect, which refers to shared public radio infrastructure and support like music licensing. These funds represent about 5% of the stations' budgets. Between the lines: The biggest expenses for these stations are personnel and programming. NPR affiliates are required to carry expensive programs such as Morning Edition and All Things Considered, but other smaller programs are ones that stations can elect to pay for and broadcast. "When those [federal] dollars go away it means we're cutting into those core offerings we have in some way," WFAE president and CEO Ju-Don Marshall tells Axios. "We're certainly concerned." Context: Station heads say a cut in federal funding would prompt them to turn to their communities to help make up for the shortfall. Fund drives are the top sources of dollars for the station, says WUNC president and general Paul Hunton. Given uncertainties in the broader economy, it's not a guarantee that they'd be able to make up the entire shortfall, however. "Everybody's a bit tentative now in how they spend their dollars," Hunton added. Zoom out: WFAE's signal reaches 32 counties across the Carolinas, and WUNC can be heard from the Triad to the Outer Banks. Many of the communities they serve are considered news deserts, meaning they lack reliable local news and information from sources like a newspapers. In many rural areas, public radio is the only source of reliable information. Case in point: During Hurricane Helene when communities in western North Carolina lost power and Internet, many relied on just public radio for updates like when the water was coming back on, Hunton says. "It truly was a lifeline for many people in North Carolina," he tells Axios.
Axios
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
CMPD chief to retire
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Johnny Jennings will retire, effective Jan. 1, 2026, Jennings announced Sunday night. Why it matters: The announcement follows Charlotte City Council's agreement in closed session earlier this month on a six-figure settlement with Jennings in order to avoid a potential lawsuit over comments made by former council member Tariq Bokhari. The latest: Jennings' settlement with the city is $305,000, the Charlotte Optimist reported Sunday. It's also being referred to as a " separation agreement" and includes: $175,000 in severance that he'll receive in January. $45,699 will be split between two payments for Jennings to stay until the end of the year. $25,000 to cover the costs of the ordeal, such as legal counsel. $14,017 for a 5% merit increase, which is retroactive to the start of the year. 40 additional vacation days, valued at $45,284. Jennings may use these days or be paid for them when he leaves next year. Catch up quick: Bokhari told Jennings he would call for his resignation and work to "cripple" his legacy if he did not agree to let officers wear outer-carrier vests, according to texts published by WFAE. Jennings had restricted officers from wearing the vests because they didn't align with his department's "community-oriented policing philosophies," according to the Charlotte Optimist. The vests offer extra protection from gunfire, WFAE reported, but can make officers appear intimidating. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police was expected to begin accepting ballots for a vote of no confidence on Monday, May 26, WCNC reported. Zoom out: Republican state auditor Dave Boliek is investigating the City of Charlotte for "the $100,000 to $300,000 in public dollars [that] may have been given" to Jennings to avoid a potential lawsuit, Axios' Alexandria Sands reported. "Our goal with launching this investigation was simple: bring transparency to the City of Charlotte. The people of Charlotte, along with all North Carolinians, deserve to know where their tax dollars are going," Boliek said in a statement Sunday night. What's next: Charlotte City Manager Marcus Jones will lead a national search for CMPD's next chief. Flashback: Jennings has served as chief since July 1, 2020. He joined CMPD in May 1992 as a member of their 108th recruit class. He didn't have to take the job, Jennings told the Charlotte Optimist. The now 57-year-old Jennings was eligible to retire five years ago. "Most athletes would love to retire with the same team that they came in on, and that's difficult to do," Jennings, who played college football at Appalachian State, told the Charlotte Optimist's Michael Graff. "So, you know, there are very few of us [who] get an opportunity to be a chief in your originating department, and it was hard to pass that up."
Axios
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
State auditor investigates reported police settlement
Republican state auditor Dave Boliek is investigating the City of Charlotte for "the $100,000 to $300,000 in public dollars [that] may have been given" to police chief Johnny Jennings to avoid a potential lawsuit. Why it matters: The city has not confirmed to the public how much money was paid or even whether a payment exists, as Boliek underscored in a letter sent Tuesday to Charlotte City Council. "Even if the payment was worth one penny, it should be disclosed to the public in a timely and transparent matter," Boliek wrote. "There is no tax dollar free from public scrutiny." Catch up quick: According to multiple media reports, the council voted behind closed doors on May 5 to pay Jennings $300,000 so he would not take legal action against the city for comments former council member Tariq Bokhari made. In texts published by WFAE, Bokhari told Jennings he would call on the chief's resignation and work to "cripple" his legacy if he did not agree to let officers wear outer carrier vests. The city has not confirmed the settlement. Instead, officials — including interim City Attorney Anthony Fox and City Council member Malcolm Graham — have discussed investigating leaks of information to the media. Meanwhile, the Fraternal Order of Police is taking a no-confidence vote against Jennings, and fractures within council are being revealed. What he's saying: " It is my understanding there is a possibility that as much as $100,000 to $300,000 in public dollars may have been given to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Johnny Jennings for a legal settlement that may have been entered into by the City Council," Boliek wrote in his letter. Boliek continued, "This is only what has been gathered by the Auditor's Office from news reports, social media, and conversation. The truth of the matter remains unclear." The reported settlement may be higher than Jennings' yearly salary of just over $280,000. Boliek remarked that the mayor's office could quickly release information that answers some of the most pressing questions — "which I strongly encourage." Per state law, the city can vote on settlements behind closed doors, but it must publicly share the terms "as soon as possible" after finalizing the deal, as the Charlotte Observer reported.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Charlotte City Council member alleges corruption amid reported CMPD settlement
Charlotte City Council member Victoria Watlington alleged corruption within city government in an email to supporters Tuesday night amid reports of a settlement with the city's police chief. The email, sent from her campaign account, begins with the words 'Power Corrupts' and says she's 'extremely concerned with the level of unethical, immoral, and frankly, illegal activities occurring within City government.' The email also contains a 'contribute to the cause' link that typically appears on top of Watlington's campaign messages and directs to an ActBlue donation page for her council campaign. 'I have seen enough. Over the last five and a half years, I have witnessed the brazen disregard for dissenting opinions and the rule of law. Never, however, have I seen such an egregious example as what has occurred in the last week,' the email continues. 'It is time for a change.' The email did not specify what Watlington was referring to. But it was sent the same day WSOC and WFAE reported the City Council agreed in closed session to a settlement with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings to prevent a potential lawsuit over now former-Council member Tariq Bokhari's push to get new bulletproof vests for police officers. WSOC, The Charlotte Observer's news partner, reported council members voted during a closed session April 28 on a potential settlement but failed to meet the threshold for approval with multiple members absent from the meeting. During another closed session Monday, the previous vote was deemed to meet the six-member threshold under council rules because of a council member who left the meeting without being formally excused, according to WSOC. The potential lawsuit reportedly stemmed from friction between Bokhari and Jennings over outer-carrier vests for police, including heated text messages previously reported by WFAE. Charlotte City Councilman Malcolm Graham said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that Watlington's statement was 'not based in reality, political rhetoric at best.' In a statement posted to social media Tuesday night, The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police said Charlotteans 'should be outraged' over the reported settlement. The organization supported Bokhari in his push to get outer carrier vests for officers. 'While the city is negotiating paying out over hurt feelings, many Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers who are physically suffering feel the city pays no attention to them,' the FOP's statement said. Charlotte NAACP President Corine Mack confirmed to the Observer she filed an ethics complaint against Bokhari in January over the issue, claiming he and the FOP 'began a crusade against' Jennings. WSOC reported two top Jennings aides advised her on her complaint, which Mack said was dismissed by interim City Attorney Anthony Fox for insufficient evidence. Multiple City Council members declined to speak with an Observer reporter about a settlement deal. Bokhari, who now works for the Federal Transit Administration, also declined to comment. Watlington did not immediately respond to a call from an Observer reporter Tuesday night about her email. First elected in 2019 to represent District 3, Watlington is now an at-large council member and unsuccessfully sought mayor pro tem in 2023. She leads the city's Housing, Safety and Community Committee and was the top vote-getter among council candidates in the last municipal election.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Competing bills loosening the NC school calendar law differ, move through the legislature
Students work in class at Bugg Magnet Elementary School in Raleigh on Aug. 28, 2024. (Photo: Galen Bacharier / NC Newsline) School boards would have a bit more leeway in deciding when to start and end the school year under a bill the Senate passed Wednesday. Senate bill 754 would let schools start up to a week earlier than currently allowed. It passed the Senate with on a 39-7 vote. Since 2004, a law backed by the tourism industry required schools to start no earlier than the Monday closest to Aug. 26 and end no later than the Friday closest to June 11. Over the years, House members approved bill after bill to lift those restrictions. The Senate resisted any changes and the House bills died there. Local school boards have been defying the law. One quarter of the state's 115 school districts voted last year to defy it, according to WFAE. Sen. Amy Galey (R-Alamance) told senators the bill was a product of weeks of discussions with the NC School Boards Association and the state's travel and tourism industry. The industry has a strong financial interest in school calendars, she said. The change senators endorsed Wednesday would allow traditional calendar schools to open no earlier than the Monday closest to Aug. 19 and close the academic year no later than the Friday in May before Memorial Day. In the House, the chamber's K-12 Education Committee on Tuesday approved repealing the calendar law with a bill allowing local school boards to decide on their own when the school year starts and ends. The House Rules Committee was set to vote on the bill Wednesday evening, likely its last stop before it reaches the House floor. The Senate bill establishes the State Board of Education as a gatekeeper. It will decide whether districts deserve to open a week early. The bill includes penalties for school districts that defy the law. The board would be required to withhold financial support for districts' central office administration until the districts comply. Individuals and businesses within school districts would be able to sue those that don't comply with the law. Courts would be able to award claimants up to $10,000 and attorney's fees. It has been lawsuits in some districts that forced local boards to open schools later than they wanted. The Union County school board backed away from its plan to start school early in 2023 when two parents sued, WFAE reported. The Carteret County school board dropped its plan to appeal a court decision last year that its school calendar was illegal. Businesses sued the Carteret board over a decision to start school in mid-August, the News & Observer reported.
