>> THIS WEEK ON OFF THE RECORD, ANOTHER MONTH OF EARLY CLOSINGS AND COVID CURFEWS FROM GOVERNOR COOPER.

WHILE CMS EASES ITS RULES ON HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS.

MEANWHILE, WILL BIG VACCINATION EVENTS AT THE STADIUM KEEP SMALLER LOCATIONS FROM GETTING THEIR SHARE OF COVID SHOTS?

WELL, MAYBE.

AT CHARLOTTE CITY HALL, A LONG LIST OF COUNCIL WANNABES AND GET READY FOR LGBTQ, CHAPTER 2, WHAT'S DIFFERENT THIS TIME AROUND.

ALSO IS IT SYSTEMIC RACISM OR JUST RACISM?

THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION DECIDING WHAT TEACHERS CAN AND CAN'T SAY IN THE CLASSROOM.

A DEAL WITH DUKE ENERGY FOR LOWER RATES, A DEAL WITH THE CATAWBA TRIBE FOR A CASINO AND BELK STORES IN BANKRUPTCY..

PLENTY TO TALK ABOUT NEXT ON PBS CHARLOTTE.

[ THEME MUSIC ] ♪♪ >> HI.

I'M JEFF SONNIER AND WE'RE "OFF THE RECORD" TALKING ABOUT THE STORIES YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS YEAR AND IF YOU WATCH THE NEWS, READ THE NEWS AND LISTEN TO THE NEWS, YOU'LL RECOGNIZE THE NAMES AND FACES AROUND OUR VIRTUAL TABLE.

MARK BECKER AND DEDRICK RUSSELL FROM WBTV.

ASHLEY FEIGH FROM THE BUSINESS JOURNAL AND ELI FROM THE UNC-CHARLOTTE BUSINESS INSTITUTE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US, GANG.

YOU CAN JOIN THE CONVERSATION AT HOME.

EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS TO OFFTHERECORD@WTVI.ORG.

WE HEARD FROM THE GOVERNOR THIS WEEK AND WE'RE NOT REALLY SURPRISED THAT WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WE'RE EXPECTED TO KEEP DOING AT LEAST FOR ANOTHER MONTH OR SO.

NOT A GREAT DECISION OR A GREAT CONTINUATION FOR THE BUSINESSES IN CHARLOTTE AND ACROSS THE STATE, BUT I GUESS NONE OF US SHOULD REALLY BE SURPRISED THAT WE'RE IN KIND OF A HOLDING PATTERN RIGHT NOW.

HUH?

>> NO.H IT'S REALLY TOUGH ON SOME OF THOSE BUSINESSES, RIGHT THAT HAVE REALLY BEEN HOLDING THEIR BREATH FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW.

WHEN THIS ALL STARTED, I THINK WE ALL THOUGHT A COUPLE WEEKS MAYBE AND HERE WE ARE.

BUT AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, YOU KNOW, THE BUSINESSES, THEY HAVE TO STICK BY THE RULES.

YOU HAVE TO CLOSE BY 10:00,00 WHATEVER IT IS IF YOU'RE A RESTAURANT.

BUTST PEOPLE DON'T SEEM TO BE CHANGING.

THE LARGER WE DON'T SEEM TO BE CHANGING OUR BEHAVIOR.

PEOPLE AROUND US, TRAFFIC, SHOPPING.

SO IT'S KIND OF A DISCONNECT THERE, RIGHT?

>> YEAH WE DO KNOW THE SECOND ROUND OF THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM HAS BEEN LAUNCHED.

IT STARTED-- LENDERS STARTED DISPENSING THOSE LOANS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND I THINK MORE THAN 5,000 NORTH CAROLINA BUSINESSES HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED FOR THAT SECOND ROUND AND IT'S COMING AT REALLY A VERY CRITICAL TIME BECAUSE WITH THESE CONTINUED RESTRICTIONS , YOU KNOW, SOME SOM PEOPLEE ARE SOCIAL DISTANCING.

SOME AREN'T, BUT WE KNOW THATNO THERE JUST ISN'T THAT-- THERE'S CAPACITY LIMITS AND THAT LACK OF TRAFFIC ISN'T HAPPENING.

SO I'LL BE DEFINITELY WATCHING THAT PPP ROLL OUT IN THEL NEXT FEW WEEKS.

AGAIN, I DON'T THINK IT CAN COME AT A MORE CRITICAL TIME GIVEN THE CONTINUED LIMENTATIONS ON ACTIVITIES THAT AT THE STATE AND LOCALOCAL LEVELS AND THE FACT THAT THOSE T FIRST ROUND OF PPP HAS BEEN SPENT MONTHS AGO BY MOST BUSINESSES >> IT FEELS LIKE WE WERE IN COVID LIMBO RIGHT NOW.

YOU CAN KIND OF CUT AND PASTE OUR DISCUSSION FROM LAST WEEK AND PUT IT IN THIS ONE.

THE METRICS ARE SLIGHTLY BETTER.

STILL NOT WHERE WE WANT TO SEE THEM I TN TERMS OF HOSPITALIZATIONS AND POSITIVITY RATE, CASE NUMBERS, AND I THINK WE'RE JUST W-- I FEEL LIKE I'M WAITING FOR THE NEXT SHOE TO DROP, YOU KNOW.

THERE'S GOOD NEWS ABOUT VACCINES AND SCARY NEWS ABOUT NEW VARIANTS AND MUTATIONS AND WE'RE JUST KIND OF IN THIS BETWEEN WAITING SPOT WHERE IT SEEMS LIKE NOTHING'S REALLY-- NOTHING'S REALLY CHANGED.

>> YEAH.

GO AHEAD.

>> HOPEFULLY THERE'S A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

THE CDC DIRECTOR JUST SAID THIS MORNING THAT THEY BELIEVE THAT BY THIS SUMMER THAT EVERYBODY WHO WANTS TO WILL BE ABLE TO GET A VACCINE THAT 400 MILLION DOSES WILL BE AVAILABLE BY THIS SUMMER.

HERE WE ARE, ALMOST IN FEBRUARY SO THAT'S JUST A FEW MONTHS, YOU KNOW, AWAY BUT AS YOU SAID THAT THAT'S WHAT IT SAID TODAY.

WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS EXECUTED IN THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, GET OUT OF THIS.

>> HOW LONG CAN WE TREAD WATER?

I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN TREADING WATER FOR SEVEN MONTHS.

IT'S TIME.

>> I GUESS YOU'VE MENTIONED THE STRAINS, ELI.

WE'VE HAD DISTURBING NEWS THIS WEEK THAT BOTH NEW STRAINS THAT HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED AND CONSIDERED MORE CONTAGIOUS, THE U.K. STRAIN IS HERE IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY CONFIRMED.

THE SOUTH AFRICA STRAIN CONTIRMED-- CONFIRMED IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

I GUESS THAT'S ANOTHER PIECE OF THE PUZZLE THAT ANOTHER UNKNOWN WE CAN ADD TO THE RECIPE OF UNKNOWNS THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN DEALING WITH SINCE MARCH.

BUT AGAIN, THE VACCINE, THE ROLLOUT IS, I GUESS, WE'RE PAST THE ROLLOUT STAGE.

WE OUGHT TO BE IN FULL-SCALE VACCINES AND WE'RE SEEINGIN THAT THISG WEEK AT-- THISIS WEEKEND AT THE STADIUM.

THEY'RE EXPECTING TO VACCINATE 19,000 PEOPLE AT BANK OF AMERICA STADIUM.

GOOD NEWS FOR THOSE WHO GOT THE APPOINTMENTS.

NOT SO GOOD NEWS FOR SOME OF THOSE SUBURBAN SMALLER HEALTH DEPARTMENTS APPARENTLY, THOUGH.

RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, I THINK-- I WENT TO THE ONE THEY DID LAST WEEK, THE TRIAL RUN UP AT THE SPEEDWAY.

YOU KNOW, TRYING TO BE COMPLETELY OBJECTIVE ABOUTOU IT, ITT WAS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

THEY WERE ROLLING IN AND ROLLING OUT.

THEY GOT AT.

LOT OF PEOPLE VACCINATED.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY QUESTION THAT MASS VACCINATIONS ARE THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY TO GO OF THE ARE THEY THE FAIREST WAY TO GO?

SOME OF THOSE COUNTIES HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED DOSES WHILE WE HAVE 19,000 AT BANK OF AMERICA STADIUM.F >> THERE'S A LET THEY'RE WEEK FROM LOCAL HEALTH DIRECTOR, THE COUNTY HEALTH DIRECTORS SAYING THAT THEY-- BY MOVING VACCINATIONS AWAY FROM LOCAL COMMUNITIES, I'M QUOTING HERE, TRAVEL TO LARGE MEGA SITES IS PROHIBITIVE TO ACCESS FOR MANY.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT COUNTIES EVEN CLOSE TO CHARLOTTE, LIKE LINCOLN COUNTY AND GASTON COUNTY, WHICH APPARENTLY WON'T GET THE VACCINES THIS COMING WEEK THAT THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD BECAUSE OF ALL THE VACCINES THAT ARE BEING CONCENTRATED INTO THE BIG EVENT HERE AT THE STADIUM.

I GUESS, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, VACCINATING 19,000 PEOPLE IN ONE WEEKEND IS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.

IT'S NOT-- IT'S THE FIRST BUT NOT THE LAST OF THESE BIG EVENTS AT THE STADIUM.

THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO YOU DO THIS FAIRLY?

HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THAT THE FOLKS WHO CAN'T GET TO THE STADIUM AND RELY ON THOSE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS IN OUTLYING AREAS, HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THEY GET THEIR SHARE SO THEY CAN HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO A VACCINE THAT WILL KEEP US SAFE FROM THE VIRUS GOING FORWARD?

>> GO AHEAD, ELI >> SORRY.

I WAS GOING TO SAY THERE IS A I BIG EQUITY ISSUE THERE.

BECAUSE SOME OF THE MOST WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE, LOW-INCOME FOLKS, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, OLDER PEOPLE, THOSE ARE ACTUALLY SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LEAST LIKELY TO HAVE ACCESS TO RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION.

SO IF YOU HAVE TO DRIVE FOR 45 MINUTES TO GET TO THESE SITES, THAT'S GOING TO LIMIT THE POOL OF PEOPLE.

I DID SEE A REPORT LATE YESTERDAY THAT GASTON COUNTY IS GOING TO GET ABOUT 600 DOSES FOR THE NEXT-- EACH OF THE NEXT THREE WEEKS IS WHAT THEY'RE EXPECTING NOW.

THAT WAS AFTER THEY WERE NOT SURE THEY WERE GOING TO GET ANY FROM THE STATE.

SO YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING BUT WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT 600 DOSES FOR A COUNTY PER WEEK FROM THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, I THINK THAT JUST SHOWS THE SCALE OF WHAT WE'RE FACING HERE AS DEMAND IS OUTSTRIPPING SUPPLY.

>> YEAH.

WE'RE CONTINUING TO SEE THE SUPPLY ISSUES.

I KNOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS TALKING ABOUT BOOSTING THAT.

BUT IT MAY BE SOME TIME BEFORE WE SEE THE CAPACITY LIMITS INCREASING IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE IN THIS HOLDING PATTERN WITH THE SUPPLY FOR A FEW WEEKS YET, A MINIMUM.

>> IT IS SURPRISING ME THAT THE PLANNING OF M ALL OF THIS.

WE KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT'S JUST CHRISTMAS.

CHRISTMAS COMES EVERY YEAR, DECEMBER 25th.

WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS SINCE LAST YEAR AND WE KNEW THAT THERE WOULD BE A VACCINE COMING.

EVEN THOUGH WHEN WE STARTED THIS, WE DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THE VACCINE WAS GOING TO COME, BUT NOW IT HAS COME, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS HAS BEEN PLANNING ALONG THE WAY ON HOW WE WANT TO GET SHOTS IN THE ARMS TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THAT SO THAT'S JUST AMAZES ME.

IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE ON HOW TO GET THE VACCINE IN ARMS.

THIS IS AMERICA.

WE SHOULD HAVE PLANNED THIS OUT.

LEADERS SHOULD HAVE COME TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE WILL GET IT FROM THE RURAL COUNTIES TO THE URBAN COUNTIES.

IT'S JUST AMAZING TO ME WE'RE STILL AT SQUARE ONENE TRYING TO DELIVER THE VACCINE TO PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM.

>> I DON'T WANT TO BE THE RESIDENT APOLOGIST, AN EXCUSE-MAKER.

YOUR ANALOGY OF CHRISTMAS, YOUR ANALOGY OF CHRISTMAS BREAKS DOWN IN THIS.

THIS IS THE FIRST CHRISTMAS.

WE'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.

SOBE, WELL THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT.

IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT.

LIKE YOU SAY, WE'VE DONE CHRISTMAS EVERY YEAR, WE KNOW WHAT'S COMING.

WE DON'T.

WE COULD ON PAPER KNOW WHAT WAS COMING.

BUT THE PHYSICAL GETTING PEOPLE OUTG THERE.

NOT JUST PLANS OF GETTING PEOPLE AND GETTING THE PHYSICAL VIALS AND ALL OF THAT PRODUCTION SO I'M NOT TERRIBLY SURPRISED THAT THERE ARE HITCHES.

THIS ISCH A HUGE UNDERTAKING AND THE FIRST TIME EVER.

>> YOU KNOW, THERE WAS THE POLIO VACCINATION AND SO PEOPLE GOT THAT OUT AND GOT THE WORD OUT THAT THE QUEEN AND ALL OFEN THAT STUFF.

SO EVEN THOUGH NOT TO SUCH AN AN EXTENT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME TRYING TO INOCULATE PEOPLE.

THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING >> IF THIS IS THE FIRST CHRISTMAS, WE'RE STILL LOOKING FOR THE WISE MEN, RIGHT?

[LAUGHTER] >> GOT ANOTHER 12 DAYS.

>> BY THE WAY, DEDRICK, I WANT TO TOUCH BASE ON CMSMS THIS WEEK.

I KNOW THAT THEY HAD A REVERSAL OF SORTS REGARDING HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS THIS WEEK AND THE RETURN OF HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS.

CAN YOU KIND OF BRING US UP TO DATE ON THAT?

AND ALSO IF THEY'LL BE READY FOR THEIR RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM IN MID-FEBRUARY, AT LEAST AS PLANNED RIGHT NOW?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, SCHOOL LEADERS KNOW THAT EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO BE A WELL-ROUNDED STUDENT.

HEY, LET'S PUT OUR SPORTS BACK UP AND RUNNING.

AND NOT ONLY SPORTS BUT THEY ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE ARTS AS WELL.

THEATER AND DANCE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, SO THEY SAID THAT, HEY, LET'S DO THAT.

YOU KNOW, FEBRUARY 8th, LET'S DO THAT, BUT THEY DID SAY THAT IT HAS TO BE DONE WELL.

YOU KNOW, THE SAFETY PROTOCOLS HAVE TO BE IN PLACE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

THEY HAVE NOT DECIDED WHY VIRTUAL PERFORMANCES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AS FAR AS SPORTS, THAT CAN GO WELL AND THE SUPERINTENDENT DID SAY IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THIS THAT THERE WILL HAVE TO BE RULES FOLLOWED, AND THOSE RULES ARE NOT FOLLOWED, PRACTICING THE THREE Ws, IF THOSE RULES ARE NOT FOLLOWED, THERE COULD BE A STOP TO THIS, BUT THEY FEEL THAT THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND WE TALKED TO SOME STUDENTS AND PARENTS AND SOME STUDENTS THEY FEEL EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND WE TALKED TO ONE PARENT WHO JUST SAID THAT IT WAS JUST TOO SOON TO GO DOWN THIS ROAD.

>> I SPENT SOME TIME AT CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL FOR A STORY THIS WEEK AND IT'S A HIGH SCHOOL OF 1,200 STUDENTS AND THEY'VE BEEN IN CLASS, IN PERSON, SINCE AUGUST, AND YOU KNOW, AGAIN, TALK ABOUT THE RULES THAT EVERYBODY HAS TO GO THROUGH THAT MAKE IT DIFFERENT FROM TESTING AT THE FRONT DOOR TO THE SPACING TO THE MASKS TO MOVING CLASSES TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE COME TO EXPECT IN STORES AND ALL OF THAT.

IT'S REMARKABLE HOW WELL IT WORKS WHEN, AS THE PRINCIPAL SAID, YOU HAVE THE BUY-IN, FROM THE KIDS, FROM THE PARENTS, FROM THE STAFF.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT TAKES IS THAT COMMITMENT, YOU KNOW TO APPLY PLAN AND AGAIN, THAT'S GOT TO BE JUST STILL THE FRUSTRATION LEVEL ESPECIALLY AMONG HIGH SCHOOL PARENTS TO SEE THEIR KIDS PRETTY MUCH OUT OF THE CLASSROOM FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW WHILE OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS DOWN THE ROAD ARE OPERATING, IF NOT NORMALLY, CERTAINLYLY CLOSE TO NORMAL.

I GUESS THAT'S THE CHALLENGE.

UP ONE HIGHHALE SCHOOL AND 1,200 KIDS TO A SYSTEM THE SIZE AND SPREAD OF US HERE IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY.

>> I GUESS SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE BREATHING A SIGH OF RELIEF WITH THE CDC STATING THAT GOING TO SCHOOL AND THEY'RE NOT SUPERSPREADERS.

EVERYBODY SAID THEY WILL FOLLOW THE SCIENCE AND THE CDC IS COMING OUT WITH THAT.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE BREATHINGN AG SIGH OF RELIEF AND MAKING SURE THEY DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AND KNOWING THAT SCHOOLS ARE NOT CONSIDERED SUPERSPREADERS.

>> BY THE WAY, AT THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS, IN-SCHOOL-- THEY SAID THE SPREADD WAS .02.

THAT WAS THE INFECTION RATE THEY'VE HAD SINCE AUGUST FOR FULL-SCALE IN PERSON CLASSES.

IT CAN BE DONE.

THE QUESTION IS HOW LARGE OF A SCALE CAN IT BE DONE?

I GUESS WE'LL FIND OUT IN MID-FEBRUARY WHEN A LOT OF KIDS WHO HAVE BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL FOR SO LONG WILL BE BACK AT SCHOOL IN CMS.

CHARLOTTE CITY COUNCIL MAKING NEWS ON A COUPLE OF FRONTS.

FIRST OF ALL, DID YOU GET YOUR APPLICATIONS IN FOR THE -- [LAUGHTER] FOR THE COUNCIL VACANCY?

QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WANT THE JOB.

IT CAN OFTEN BE CONSIDERED A THANKLESS JOB.

BRING US UP TO DATE ON THAT, ASHLEY.

WHERE THAT STANESHL AND WHEN WE'LL HAVE A REPLACEMENT FOR JAMES.

>> I THINKK 143 IN TOTAL APPLIED.

THE CITY DETERMINED 106 WERE ELIGIBLE AND TODAY, THERE WILL BE A VERY LONG HEARING WITH ALL THOSE SIGNED-UP SPEAKERS, AND MOST OF THOSE SPOKE TWOSE MINUTES ABOUT WHY THEY BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE APPOINTED TO THE COUNCIL,NC AND WE'VE GOT SOME FAMILIAR FACES AMONGAMIL THOSE WHO HAVE APPLIED, INCLUDING FORMER COUNCILMAN GREG PHIPPS WHO USED TO BE A DISTRICT REP AND HE'S GOING FOR THE AT LARGE SEAT WHICH RUNS TO THE END OF THE YEAR.

AND NEXT WEEK IS WHEN-- EARLY NEXT WEEK IS WHEN THE COUNCIL WILL MAKE A DECISION.

IT'S A VERY QUICK PROCESS.

CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS AND THE AMOUNT-- THE HIGH AMOUNT OF INTEREST AND IT SURPRISES ME HOW MANY APPLIED PERSONALLY.

HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE APPLIED AND ARE LOOKING TO FILL THOSE SEATS.

>> AND GET IN LINE FOR THE VACCINE.

[LAUGHTER] >> HUNDRED I WAS SURPRISED AT THE NUMBER.

AS YOU MENTIONED, A COUPLE OF FAMILIAR NAMES.

FORMER COUNCILMEMBERS, FORMER CANDIDATES, COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS BUT A LOT OF FOLKS JUST PLAYING-- PLAIN FOLKS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING A SEAT ON THAT COUNCIL AND MAKING THOSE DECISIONS THIS IS THEEC-- THIS IS THE-- BE CAREFUL OF WHAT YOU WISH FOR BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE ONE OF THE FIRST DECISIONS CITY COUNCIL WILL TACKLE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS WILL BE A RETURN TO THE ISSUE OF LGBTQ RIGHTS IN THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE.

THIS WAS-- WE ALL REMEMBERR THE CONTROVERSY FROM 2016, BUT MAYOR CONFIRMED THIS WEEK, ALONG WITH OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT WHAT THE FRAMEWORK OR THE DETAILS OF A POTENTIAL ORDINANCE THAT I WONDER WILL BRING US BACK TO THE SAME CONTROVERSY WE SAW FOUR, FIVE YEARS AGO.

>> WELL, I WILL NOTE THAT OTHER TOWNS AND CITIES IN THE STATE HAVE PASSED NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCES SINCE IN THINK IT WAS HB2-- YOU'RE CORRECT.

>> THAT DID NOT ALLOW THE ORDINANCES THAT EXPIRED IN DECEMBER.

I THINK IT'S CARBORO, DURHAM, HILLSBORO MAY HAVE BEEN THE FIRST ONE THAT ALREADY PASSED SOME NON-DISCRIMINATION.

>> CHAPEL HILL HAS ONE >> O YEAH, A BUNCH OF THEM HAVE THEM AND SOME INCLUDED ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE, NEW PROVISIONS AND EXPLICIT, NON-DISCRIMINATION SUCH AS AGAINST HAIR, AND FEW TOWNS MENTIONED THAT.

I HAVEN'T SEEN OR HEARD MUCHUC FROM THE STATE.

I WOULD BE WILLING TO BET STATE LEADERS DON'T WANT A REPEAT OF 2016.

THERE MAY BE A LULL BIT MORE OFE A RECONCILIATION BETWEEN TOWNS, CITIES AND STATES ON THIS ISSUE.

BUT WHAT EXACTLY CHARLOTTE WILL CONSTITUTE WE'LL SEE IN THE COMING MONTHS.

IT'S A MATTER OF COMING AT SOME POINT.

WE DON'TME P KNOW YET EXACTLY WHAT IT WILL CONTAIN.

>> YEAH.

I THINK THERE ARE A FEW KEY DIFFERENCES.

THIS TIMEDI AROUND, AS ASHLEY SAID, CHARLOTTE IS NOT THE FIRST AND ONLY RIGHT NOW.

THE LEGISLATURE, OBVIOUSLY, DIFFERENT MAKEUP AND I THINK ALSO REALLY IMPORTANTLY, WE SAW HB2 JUST HAMMER THE TRAVEL CONVENTION, HOSPITALITY, SPORTING INDUSTRIES HERE.

PEOPLE STAYED AWAY FROM NORTH CAROLINA, STATES PASSED RULES PROHIBITING OFFICIAL TRAVELG.

AND THAT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A BOOMING ECONOMY.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF STILL HARD ECONOMIC TIMES AND THE HARDEST-HIT SECTOR, TRAVEL, ENTERTAINMENT, LIVE EVENTS, CONVENTIONS, ALL THOSE THAT HAVE JUST BEEN REALLY DEVASTATED BY THIS PANDEMIC.

SO I THINK THAT DOINGG SOMETHING NOW WHICH WOULD HURT THOSE INDUSTRIES EVEN FURTHER IN TERMS OF QUASHING NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCESNO WOULD BE POLITICALLY A HARDER SALE IN LIGHT OF THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHTG NOW, FOR THOSE INDUSTRIES IN PARTICULAR.

>> YEAH.

THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, WHO WOULDN'T-- I WOULD NOT SIGN THAT INTO LAW.

>> IF THERE WAS SOMETHING FROM HB2 THAT THE CONSERVATIVES PUT FORWARD WOULD FACE A VETO BY THE GOVERNOR AND IT DIDN'T FACE THAT IN 2016 WHEN PAT McCRORY WAS THE GOVERNOR.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

MAYBE THE POLITICAL VIBE HAS CHANGED, BUT AMONG THOSE WHO FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT THESE ISSUES, IT'S STILL AN ISSUE THAT I'M GUESSING THEY'RE WILLING TO FIGHT OVER, AND SO I DON'T SUPPOSE-- I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME WOULD BECOME BUT I EXPECT IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING CONTENTIOUS IN RALEIGH AND INVOLVING THE CITIES THAT ARE GOING FORWARD WITH THESE RULES.

>> AS WE PROGRESS THROUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS YEAR, WE'LL SEE.

>>> SPEAKING OF RALEIGH AND ISSUES THAT CONSERVATIVES ANDS LIBERALS DISAGREE OVER, DEDRICK, YOU BROUGHT A STORY TO OUR ATTENTION THIS WEEK REGARDING THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE CURRICULUM AND SOCIAL STUDIES CLASSES.

IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE HEADLINE NEWS UNTIL YOU DIG INTO THE DETAILS, WHICH YOU DID.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU FOUND AND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

EVERY SO OFTEN, THERE'S AN UPDATE TO THE NORTH CAROLINA SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM.

SO I UNDERSTAND NOW THE WORD SYSTEMIC RACISM, GENDEREND IDENTITYER, AND SYSTEMIC DISCRIMINATION ALL ARE PART OF CURRICULA, BUT THERE'S BEEN A RECOMMENDATION TO REMOVE THE WORD SYSTEMIC FROM RACISM.

REMOVE GENDER FROM IDENTITY AND REMOVE SYSTEMIC FROM DISCRIMINATION AND HAVE IT BE RACISM, IDENTITY AND DISCRIMINATION.

SOME PEOPLERI BELIEVE THAT IS A POLITICAL AGENDA.

TEACHING STUDENTS THAT THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH AMERICA AND WE SHOULD BE TEACHING STUDENTS THAT AMERICA IS GREAT.

EVEN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ROBINSON, HE CHIMED IN AND HE SAYS THAT HAVING SYSTEMIC THAT IS A POLITICALLY CHARGED AND IT'S DIVISIVE AND IT COMES FROM LEFTIST DOGMA AND COLD WORDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE BELIEVE WE SHOULD HELP CHILDREN SUCCEED BY NOT TELLING THEM WHAT TO THINK.

SO HE THINKS THAT I GUESS BY LEAVING SYSTEMIC IN THERE THAT WILL LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH AMERICA.A.

ONE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER SAYSYS WE NEED TO TEACH THAT AMERICA IS GREAT AND AMERICA IS THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.

THE STATE BOARD WILL DECIDE ON THIS NEXT THURSDAY.

THEY WILL VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT TO LEAVE SYSTEMIC IN OR TAKE IT OUT AND EVEN SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR WEIGHED IN PERSONALLY.

SHE SAID YOU NEED TO LEAVE THE WORD SYSTEMIC IN THERE SO WE DON'T WATER DOWN HISTORY.

THAT WE WILLL LET OUR STUDENTS KNOW HOW AMERICA WAS STARTED.

IT COULD BE VERY INTERESTING HOW IT WILL END.

>> DO WE SAY SYSTEMIC POLITICS?

WORDS MATTER.

AND IT SEEMS-- AT THE MOMENT, LIKE WE'RE REALLY DELVING INTO MINUTIA BUT THE WORDS DO MATTER AND OF COURSE, MEANING BEHIND THE WORDS THAT MATTER THE MOST.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LITTLE TRIGGERS IS HOW IT WAS WRITTEN IN THE SONG.

THOSE WORDS CAN AND DO AND PROBABLY SHOULD MATTER.

IT'S AN INTERESTING DEBATE BUT ONE THATIN I THINK SIX MONTHS FROM NOW WILL BE LIKE WHAT WERE WE REALLY FIGHTING ABOUT THAT MUCH?

IT'S FASCINATING.

>> OBVIOUSLY, SOMEONE THOUGHT ENOUGH OF SYSTEMIC AND GENDER TO PUT THEM IN IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> RIGHT.

>> I DON'T THINK ANYTHING HAS REALLYNY CHANGED EXCEPTT MAYBE THE POLITICS, EXCEPTEPT FOR THE POLITICS OF THOSE MAKING THE DECISIONS.

WHEN DID THE RECOMMENDATION COME TO TAKE IT OUT?

AGAIN, WITHOUT TAKING SIDES, I ON WHETHER IT SHOULD BE THERE OR NOT BE THERE, HOW DO YOU GET TO A POINT WHERE IT GETS IN AND THERE'S A CALL TO TAKE IT OUT AGAIN?

THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A GOOD REASON TO PUT G IT IN IN THE FIRST PLACE, RIGHT?

PL EXACTLY.

YOU JUST HAVE TO LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND WHAT THEIR BELIEFS ARE AND WHO APPOINTED THEM AND WHERE THEY COME FROM AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND SO PEOPLE VOTE PEOPLE IN WHO HAVE THEIR SAME VIEWS AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING THAT WILL THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, WILL THEY AGREE OR NOT AGREE OR WILL THEY JUST ALLOW THE TEACHERS TO TEACH ANYWAY ABOUT SYSTEMIC RACISM, ABOUT THE WORD SYSTEMIC BEING IN THERE?

IT'S INTERESTING.

AS YOU SAID MARK, WORDS DO MATTER, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S UP TO THE TEACHERS TO REALLY PUSH OUT WHAT THEY WANT TO TEACH THE STUDENTS.

>> THAT, TO ME, WILL BE THE INTERESTING PART.

HOW TEACHERS REACT TO WHATEVER THE DECISION IS.

AND IN TURN, HOW THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ACTS TOWARDS TEACHERS THAT MAYBE DON'T FOLLOW THE DIRECTIVES THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE COMING.

I GUESS WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS NEXT WEEK SINCE THAT'S WHEN THE DECISION WILL BE MADE BUT WE HEARD LITTLE ABOUT THIS LOCALLY.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT TOUCHES A LOT OF OUR KIDS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL AND OBVIOUSLY, HELPS THEM TO FORM THEIR OPINIONS AND THOUGHTS ON IMPORTANT ISSUES LIKE THIS.

>> RIGHT >> R AND EDUCATED THROUGH THEHE SYSTEM.

>> AND AGAIN, KEEP IN MIND,IND, WE HAVE TWO LOCALS WHO ARE ON THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, ERIC DAVIS AND JAMES FORD.

SO IF YOU WANT TO REACH OUT TO THEM, YOU CAN.

[LAUGHTER] >> I'M SURE THEY'RE GOING TO LOVE THAT.

[LAUGHTER] >> REMEMBER, IT WAS DOUGLAS WHO TOLD THEM.GL WE HAVE TWO MINUTES LEFT AND A COUPLE OTHER STORIES THAT WERE IN THE HEADLINES THIS WEEK.

DUKE ENERGY MAKING A DEAL WITH THE STATE AND THE SIERRA CLUB TO HANDLE THE COSTS OF CLEANING UP COAL ASH.

I'M NO EXPERT ON COAL ASH OR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES BUT THIS SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD DEAL AT LEAST FOR THOSE OF US WHO PAY DUKE ENERGY BILLS, RIGHT?

IL >> IT SOUNDS LIKE A WIN-WIN.

DUKE SAVES A LITTLE FACE WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS AND CUSTOMERS WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY AS MUCH OF THE BILL.

YEAH.

I MEAN, IT'S WHERE THINGS SHOULD END UP.

SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE.

THERE'S A DEAL STRUCK.TR >> I THINK IT ALSO GIVES DUKE SOME CERTAINTY AS THEY MOVE AHEAD.

THERE THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT'S BEEN HANGING OUT FOR A LONG TIME.

IT WILL SAVE THE CONSUMERS ABOUT C 1.1 BILLION OVER THE LIFE OF THE DEAL.

SO IN ADDITION WITH THE AGREEMENT TO ACTUALLY CLEAN UP AND PUT THE COAL ASH IN LINED FILLERS THAT THEY REACHED THIS PART OF IT ABOUT WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR IT IS JUST ANOTHER STEP TOWARD PUTTING THIS ISSUE TO BED AND LETTING EVERYONE MOVE FORWARD.

>> ANOTHER STORY WE HEARD ABOUT AND WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME BUT BELK STORES, 133 YEARS OF HISTORY AND NOW THEY'RE DECLARING BANKRUPTCY.

THAT'S WHATNK HAPPENS I SUPPOSE WHEN YOU GO FROM HOME-OWNED AND HOMEGROWN TO EQUITY AND HEDGE FUNDS BEING INVOLVED IN IN THE OWNERSHIP OF THESE STORES.

I DON'T THINK IT'S THE END OF BELK.

BUT IT'S DIFFERENT THAN THE BELK WE'RE USED TO OVER DECADES HERE IN CHARLOTTE.

>> BELK PLANS TO EMERGE FROM BANKRUPTCY WITH A NEW DEAL.

THEY SAY THEY'RE NOT GOING TO CLOSE ANY STORES OR CUT OPERATIONS AT THIS POINT BUT WE'VE SEEN THAT BEFORE.

A LOT OF RETAILERS HAVE STRUGGLED DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THIS REALLY IS FOR A MID-SIZED COMPANY IT'S A BAD PLACE TO BE.

YOU WANT TO BE THE BIGGEST OR NOT MUCH ON THE INTERNET ECONOMY >> IT'S TOUGH TO BE A STORE LIKE BELK BECAUSE OF THE ONLINE SHOPPING NOT JUST BECAUSE OF COVID BUT INCREASED.

THE OTHER STORY WE DIDN'TID GET TO IS THE CATAWBA TRIBE MAKING AND MAKING A DEAL WITHL THE CASINO PLAN.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS YEAR.

THAT'S GOING TO HAVE IMPACT ON THE CHARLOTTE AREA, THE CHARLOTTE TOURIST ECONOMY IF WE GET A TOURIST ECONOMY.

ANOTHER STORY FOR ANOTHER TIME.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

I WANT TO THANK OUR GROUP FOR BEING HERE THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US AT HOME.

WE ENJOY YOUR VIEWERSHIP AND YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTSS WHEN YOU SEND THEM.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON OFF THE RECORD.

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