“We’re sort of sawing the branch on which we are sitting." - UN Environment Director Inger Andersen The COP climate summit in Brazil is a good time to take stock of progress since the Paris Agreement a decade ago. The answer: not far enough. @apnews.com has this. apnews.com/article/clim...

Davidson Historical Society hosts a tour of the Davidson College Cemetery on Nov. 16. Details and registration here: www.davidsonhistoricalsociety.org/post/davidso...

Spotted on the Thursday #morningwalk: "With These Hands" by Hank Willis Thomas at @davidsoncollege.bsky.social

Duke Energy has put out a new long-range plan and it calls for increases in climate pollution through the 2030s, writes WFAE's @wfae.bsky.social Zachary Turner. Clean energy advocates say it doesn't include enough solar or wind. www.wfae.org/energy-envir...

In the final segment of our series "CAFO Country" on WHQR @whqr.bsky.social in Wilmington, NC, I talked with news director Benjamin N. Schachtman about key takeaways from my reporting about concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs. Listen at www.whqr.org/local/2025-0...

How do farmers view the growth of North Carolina's hog and poultry industry, and the criticism they face? In the final segment of my WHQR @whqr.bsky.social series "CAFO Country," I visit Marlowe Ivey in Goldsboro, who has taken over and expanded her dad's farm. www.whqr.org/local/2025-0...

Part 3 of my series "CAFO Country" on @whqr.bsky.social WHQR in Wilmington, NC, takes us to Sampson County, where we meet Rayford Bennett. He talks about what it's like to live next door to a big hog and poultry farm. Listen/read here: www.whqr.org/local/2025-0...

Part 2 of my series "CAFO Country" is out from @whqr.bsky.social WHQR Public Media in Wilmington. www.whqr.org/local/2025-0...

I have a new series out on WHQR @whqr.bsky.social in Wilmington about industrial animal farming in NC. It's become big business across the state. Today: the view from above, with help from @capefearriverwatch.bsky.social and @southwings.bsky.social Join us for the ride! www.whqr.org/local/2025-0...

California's Supreme Court asked the state appeals court to review a ruling favoring power companies in a dispute over cuts in what rooftop solar owners get paid for electricity sent send to the grid. NC cut payments, too, and the state appeals court upheld it. calmatters.org/economy/2025...

Friends: Our neighbor T Berry is in need. A tree recently fell on his house and he's also been ill. He's that guy you've seen around town selling walking sticks, to supplement his tiny income. Can you help? gofund.me/199cd949

Henry David Thoreau’s "Walden" was written in 1854 but has lessons for life in the 21st century. On this week's WDAV Piedmont Arts podcast, I talk with Charlotte writer Jen McGivney about her new book "Finding Your Walden." wdav.org/episode/jen-...

For the #WDAV Piedmont Arts podcast, I had the good fortune to sit down with Charlotte writer and editor Michael Graff for a conversation about his new venture, The Charlotte Optimist. It's a weekly newsletter of magazine-length stories about Charlotte's people and issues. bit.ly/PiedmontArts

A crowd in downtown Davidson this afternoon is waving signs, chanting and demonstrating as part of the nationwide "No Kings" protests. They're demonstrating against President Trump, who has claimed broad executive power in setting policy, closing programs and firing government employees. #nokings

Here's an The Associated Press fact check: The Trump Administration wants to bring back coal-fired power plants. So the EPA now says carbon emissions from fossil fueled power plants don't contribute significantly to dangerous air pollution. Scientists disagree. apnews.com/article/clim...

For the latest Piedmont Arts podcast from WDAV, I interviewed Alvin Jacobs about his photo exhibit "Black Behind Bars," at Charlotte's Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture. He talked being a photographer/activist and the triple meaning of the exhibit title. wdav.org/episode/alvi...

Lots going on with politics in Washington, and that can be distracting. Meanwhile, atmospheric carbon dioxide continues to set records. "Another year, another record" is not encouraging. (Via USAToday ) www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

This week's WDAV Piedmont Arts podcast is a double feature: Jeffrey Biegel on his upcoming concert with Western Piedmont Symphony marking the 100th anniversary of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” And Rachel Stewart previews Charlotte Bach Festival w/Aisslinn Nosky. wdav.org/episode/jeff...

Who is WFAE morning host Marshall Terry ? Tony Mecia turns the tables and interviews him in this fun episode of The Charlotte Ledger podcast. open.spotify.com/episode/7u94...

A new NC group called Piedmont Shakespeare debuts in June with a touring production of “Hamlet” - 9 free performances indoors and out. On this WDAV Piedmont Arts podcast, I talk with the company’s three founders - David McGraw, Kim Shively and Carl Forsman. wdav.org/episode/meet...

"Annie Leibovitz/Work" is open at the Mint Museum Uptown #CLT. On this week's Piedmont Arts podcast from WDAV, I talk with Mint chief curator Jen Sudul-Edwards about Leibovitz’s style and career. wdav.org/episode/jen-...

Jennifer Sudul Edwards, chief curator at Charlotte's Mint Museum, talked about photographer Annie Leibovitz at a press preview Fri. for "Annie Liebovitz/Work." Opens Sun. Go for the celeb pix, but also study the evolution of Leibovitz's career. And look for my upcoming WDAV Piedmont Arts podcast.

A potentially game-changing climate story has been hiding in plain sight — until now. Today marks the launch of #The89Percent Project, a yearlong global journalistic effort to highlight the vast majority of people who care about climate change and want their governments to do something about it.

A large crowd waving anti-Trump signs and American flags is lining the NC73/US21 intersection in Huntersville, NC. It's a national "Day of Action" by people opposed to Trump administration policies. I heard people chanting, "This is what democracy looks like!" 700+ events were planned nationwide.

More than 2M people rely on the #CatawbaRiver for drinking water, energy and recreation. These competing interests are mediated by the Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group. I hosted a new documentary about the group's origins. Out this week on YouTube. youtu.be/whhrKo3IxrA?...

On this week's WDAV Piedmont Arts podcast, I talk with curators Jen Sudul Edwards of the The Mint Museum and Lisa Homann of UNC Charlotte about the recent major update of the Mint Museum Randolph's African art galleries. Listen: www.wdav.org/programs/pie...

Happening now (Sat. midday) in downtown #CorneliusNC: hundreds of north Mecklenbu residents are gathered for a peaceful "Hands Off" rally and march to protest the budget cuts, layoffs and other policies of President Trump and advisor Elon Musk. It's one of dozens nationwide. handsoff2025.com

For the latest WDAV Piedmont Arts podcast, I sat down with Adam Santalla Pierce, new president of the Arts & Science Council of Charlotte to chat about the state of the arts in Charlotte and his vision for the organization. www.wdav.org/programs/pie...

While you were sleeping: U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey has been speaking all night on the Senate floor against Trump's actions. “These are not normal times in our nation,” Booker said at the start of his speech. (via Associated Press ) apnews.com/article/cory...

J.S. Bach was born in March 1685. Three #CLT area groups are planning the first-ever Davidson Bach Festival. On this week's WDAV Piedmont Arts podcast, I talk with organizers Barbara Krumdieck and Jane Cain, who are also musicians and Bach lovers. Listen here www.wdav.org/programs/pie...

"The lawsuit filed by USAID employees and contractors argued that Musk and DOGE are wielding power the Constitution reserves only for those who win elections or are confirmed by the Senate. (Via AP )

USDA is sending out some unhappy news as it shrinks its budget. (via @wunc.org ) www.wunc.org/news/2025-03...

Davidson neighbors: A nice remembrance of Richard Blackwelder, who is well known to longtime Davidson residents. He passed away last week. Worth reading even if you didn't know Richard - full of town history. www.kepnerfh.com/obituaries/r...

The 1920s Carolina Theatre Charlotte reopens this month after years of construction. On this Piedmont Arts podcast, I take you on an audio tour with director Sean Seifert and program director Doug Young. Also, turmoil at the Eastern Music Festival and Opera Carolina. www.wdav.org/programs/pie...

On the WDAV Piedmont Arts podcast, Rachel Stewart interviews Charlotte Symphony cellist Alan Black, who is retiring after 38 years. And I talk with critic Lawrence Toppman about the symphony's immersive performance of John Luther Adams "Become Ocean" at Blume Studios. www.wdav.org/programs/pie...

Tonight's entertainment: Bluegrass and more with the The Wilder Flower, at Summit Coffee in Davidson. Madeline Dierauf, Molly Johnson and Danielle Yother know how to put on a fun show.

Factcheck.org is an independent project that checks the accuracy of statements by people in the news. I'd recommend the newsletter. In this instalment, they show the president's statements attempting to justify shutting the Department of Education are falsehoods. www.factcheck.org/2025/02/trum...

President Trump is halting enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which bans US companies from bribery to win overseas deals. Is this what Congress intends? apnews.com/article/fcpa...

The Wilder Flower, with Davidson College fiddler Madeline Dierauf, plays Friday night at Summit Coffee basecamp in Davidson. I interviewed Madeline recently for the WDAV Piedmont Arts podcast. www.wdav.org/programs/pie...

111 years ago today, Davidson town pharmacist Monroe Jetton shot to death his friend and business partner Dr. W.H. Wooten "in a fit of jealousy." I wrote about it last fall for Charlotte magazine. www.charlottemagazine.com/a-murder-on-...

Like the #mandolin? @davidsoncollege.bsky.social will host a Mandolin Symposium including 2 concerts this Fri-Sat 2/7-8. On this week's WDAV Piedmont Arts podcast, I talk with organizers/mandolinists Michael Orlando and Jonah Horton. Listen here or at Apple or Spotify. www.wdav.org/programs/pie...

On this week's WDAV Piedmont Arts podcast, I talk with Larry Farber, a longtime Charlotte music entrepreneur and founder of Middle C Jazz club in Charlotte. Learn more about Middle C Jazz, the music and Farber's role in bringing jazz to a wider audience. Listen now: bit.ly/PiedmontArts

Experts say the Trump administration's plan to shift the country to less fuel-efficient vehicles will wind up raising costs for drivers. (Via AP) apnews.com/article/clim...

I've seen a couple of texts recently seeking payment for supposed unpaid tolls. Beware of a scam. At least in NC, the turnpike authority doesn't use texts. www.ncdot.gov/news/press-r...

This week on the WDAV "Piedmont Arts" podcast, Rachel Stewart talks with Bach Akademie Charlotte's Guy Fishman and flutist Emi Ferguson about their upcoming performance of Bach's "The Musical Offering." It was inspired by a challenge from Frederick the Great of Prussia. www.wdav.org/programs/pie...

On WDAV's Piedmont Arts podcast, I talk with Seton Hall prof Thomas Healy, who wrote a history of Soul City, a late 1960s attempt to develop a Black-led city in NC. Healy will be on an MLK Day panel 1/20 at Charlotte's Gantt Center discussing Soul City & its lessons. www.wdav.org/programs/pie...

Lynn Good is retiring as CEO at Duke Energy in Charlotte. Current president Harry Sideris takes over April 1. He originally came from Progress Energy, which Duke acquired in 2012, and has overseen various Duke businesses. Good has been CEO since 2013. news.duke-energy.com/releases/duk...

A dusting of snow last night got covered by ice overnight in downtown #DavidsonNC

They'll be testing emergency sirens around the McGuire nuclear plant on Lake Norman and Catawba nuclear plant at Lake Wylie today, Jan. 8, 2025, between 11am and 1pm. Only a test. www.duke-energy.com/Safety-and-P...

Fossil fuel interests plowed big money into the 2024 election, most of it to Republicans. yaleclimateconnections.org/2025/01/the-...