The State of Things

The state epidemiologist in the division of public health resigned yesterday in protest over the McCrory administration’s handling of a controversy stemming from Duke Energy's handling of well water surrounding coal ash sites. Dr. Megan Davies wrote a resignation letter accusing the Department of Health and Human Services of deliberately misleading the public. Her resignation follows accusations by Governor McCrory’s chief of staff that an employee who worked under Davies lied under oath. Host

North Carolina is among the top 10 states with the highest number of reported human trafficking cases, according to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center. Experts say the number of major interstates that cross through the state, the large agricultural population, and the state’s strategic location along the East Coast contribute to the issue. Host Frank Stasio talks with legal experts, victim services advocates, and a law enforcement officer about human trafficking in the state. Victim

Attorneys for a Durham teenager who is being held at an immigration detention center in Georgia say they expect him to be released soon.

When Sen. Richard Burr declared his re-election bid last year, his odds looked good; he had had a large war chest and no clear opponent. But now, Democratic challenger Deborah Ross has emerged as a strong contender and polls show the two in a hot race. Analysts are watching the race closely as it will play a significant role in determining which party controls the U.S. Senate. Host Frank Stasio talks with WUNC Capitol Bureau Chief Jeff Tiberii about the latest on the race.

There are tens of thousands of transgender individuals living in North Carolina. House Bill 2 sparked a national conversation about one particular aspect of their lives, but the North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival aims to paint a broader picture. One of the documentaries featured this year "Deep Run," is a verite portrait of a trans man named Cole Ray Davis living in Deep Run, N.C., a rural town outside of Kinston. Host Frank Stasio talks with one of the documentary’s producers Chris

In 1866, communities across western North Carolina were forced to pick up the pieces left by the Civil War. Residents had ties to the Confederacy and the Union. As a result, the region was scattered with divided homes and hostile relations. In his new novel, "That Bright Land" (Turner Publishing Company/2016), Terry Roberts tells the story of a former soldier and spy who is sent down to investigate a serial killer responsible for the deaths of Union sympathizers in western N.C. Host Frank Stasio

In the early hours of Sunday morning, a 20-year old African American man was shot to death in North Raleigh. Tapes of the 911 calls feature the accused shooter, Chad Cameron Copley, declaring himself a member of neighborhood watch who fired what he called warning shots that hit Kouren-Rodney Bernard Thomas. Copley said there were "hoodlums" on his street and told the 911 operator that he was going out to "secure" the neighborhood. Copley has been charged with first-degree murder. Host Frank

A federal court ruling created uncertainty in North Carolina's election process when it overturned the state's controversial voting regulations. The law would have required photo identification, reduced early voting days and eliminated same day registration. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that measure violates the U.S. constitution, because it discriminates against African-American and Latino voters. Local Board of Elections are now making changes that advocates say do not comply with

Curly Seckler grew up a farming kid in the tiny town of China Grove, NC and liked to listen to the Monroe Brothers on the radio. Eventually, he became one of the forebearers of bluegrass music as a part of the Foggy Mountain Boys. Seckler's iconic mandolin style and tenor harmonies carved a music career that spanned more than 50 years. In her new book, "Foggy Mountain Troubadour: The Life and Music of Curly Seckler" (University of Illinois Press/2016), Penny Parsons recounts Seckler's journey

Four years ago the novel "Gone Girl" took the world by storm. The book invoked a familiar thriller novel premise—a sudden mysterious disappearance—but also explored deep psychological and emotional themes. Critics say the new novel "All The Missing Girls" (Simon & Schuster/2016) from North Carolina author Megan Miranda follows in the tradition of "Gone Girl." It tells the story of a woman named Nicolette Farrell who moves back home to take care of her father and is suddenly confronted with

This is a rebroadcast of a program that originally aired on June 27, 2016. Whitney Way Thore knows how much she has weighed at every point in her life. And for decades, deconstructing the size and shape of her body consumed much of her mental and emotional energy. She struggled with an eating disorder, compulsive exercise, and eventually was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Note: this segment originally aired April 7, 2016. Journalist and social activist Dorothy Day challenged the structure of the Catholic church when she co-founded the Catholic Worker Movement in the 1930s. The group advocated for direct aid to the poor and civil disobedience on their behalf. Today, Day's granddaughter Martha Hennessy continues Day's work. Host Frank Stasio talks with Hennessy about the teachings of the Catholic Worker Movement and Day's legacy. Hennessy speaks at Duke Divinity

Note: this segment originally aired June 1, 2016. Writer Bronwen Dickey grew up with the impression of pit bulls that dominates popular discourse: they are mean, aggressive, and dangerous dogs. But after a freelance writing piece put her in an environment with a sweet and gentle pit bull, she began to wonder whether there was more to the stereotype.

Note: this segment originally aired April 29, 2016. Shirlette Ammons's rhythms and rhymes can take on many different shapes. The Durham musician's latest album Language Barrier blends rock and hip-hop. She says the eclectic music echoes the album's interpretation of love "as an act of resistance."Host Frank Stasio talks with Ammons about creating a musical identity through this resistance. Ammons performs in the studio with Tom Rau on synthesizer and bass, Griffin Wade on drum and Alec Farrell

The 2016 Summer Olympics kick off in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil tomorrow. This year, dozens of athletes with connections to North Carolina are competing in events ranging from basketball, track, and swimming to air rifle and canoe slalom. Basketball players Harrison Barnes and Kyrie Irving are part of the star-studded men’s basketball team coached by Duke University’s Mike Krzyzewski, and women’s soccer player Tobin Heath will be playing with the hopes of winning a third gold medal. Guest host Adam