Mary C. Curtis: Lawmakers Divided on COVID Relief Bill & Trump Impeachment Trial

CHARLOTTE, NC — As former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial plays out in the Senate, the House is working on a $1.9 trillion dollar COVID relief bill which includes $1,400 stimulus checks.

But lawmakers are divided on who should be eligible for those direct payments and whether to include an increase to the minimum wage.

WCCB Political Contributor talks about what’s at stake.

You can catch Mary C. Curtis on Sunday nights at 6:30 PM on WCCB Charlotte’s CW discussing the biggest issues in local and national politics and also giving us a look at what’s ahead for the week.

POLITICAL WRAP: Trump 2nd Impeachment Trial; Latest on Stimulus

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Former President Trump’s second impeachment trial begins this week.

Our political contributor Mary C. Curtis gives us her take on that in the video above, along with Democrats’ latest push on the stimulus.

Mary C. Curtis: COVID Relief Bill And Increased Vaccine Rollout

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Efforts continue on another COVID-19 stimulus for millions of struggling Americans. President Biden already meeting with both democrats and republicans this week to talk about his $1.9 trillion plan.

Senate democrats ready to move forward, saying the danger is not doing too much, it’s doing too little.

Political contributor Mary C. Curtis joins Rising to talk about the COVID-19 relief plans in Washington.

You can catch Mary C. Curtis on Sunday nights at 6:30 PM on WCCB Charlotte’s CW discussing the biggest issues in local and national politics and also giving us a look at what’s ahead for the week.

You can also check out Mary’s podcast ‘Equal Time.’

POLITICAL WRAP: New Impeachment Attorneys for Fmr. Pres. Trump; COVID Stimulus Talks

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Five of former President Trump’s impeachment defense attorneys are off the case, a little more than a week before the Senate Trial beg

POLITICAL WRAP: President Trump 2nd Impeachment Trial; COVID Rollout Improvement Efforts

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Senate plans to begin former President Trump’s trial next month.

The article will be presented Monday, and Senators will be sworn in as jurors Tuesday.

Our political contributor Mary C. Curtis has more on this in the video above, along with the latest on efforts to improve the COVID vaccine rollout.

Local News Roundup: NC Delegation Reacts To Biden Inauguration; Trump Pardons Hayes; Search For Council Member Mitchell Replacement

Friday, Jan. 22, 2021

On the next Charlotte Talks Local News Roundup …

Former President Donald Trump issued dozens of pardons on his last full day in office Tuesday. North Carolinians were included in that number, like Robin Hayes, the former chair of North Carolina’s Republican Party and former congressman from North Carolina’s 8th District, who pleaded guilty last year to lying to the FBI. Trump also pardoned Waxhaw’s Carl Andrews Boggs and Charlotte’s Patrick Lee Swisher. We’ll discuss.

Last week, we talked about the resignation of longtime City Councilman James “Smuggie” Mitchell, who left his post on council because of a conflict with his new job as a part owner of a Charlotte construction company. This week, City Council began accepting applications to replace the at-large council member. The process is scheduled to be completed Feb. 1 with the announcement of Mitchell’s replacement.

The months-long look into North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr’s insider trading allegations has been dropped by the Department of Justice. Burr has consistently denied the allegations. We’ll catch you up on what’s happened.

As the U.S. surpasses 400,000 deaths to the coronavirus, vaccines in North Carolina are ramping up. Dr. Mandy Cohen, the NC DHHS Secretary, said this week that 450,000 people have been vaccinated in North Carolina so far. What’s ahead on vaccinations in North Carolina and in Mecklenburg County (where this week we had our first pediatric death at the hands of the virus)? We’ll have an update.

Mike Collins and our roundtable of reporters delve into the week’s top news on the Charlotte Talks Local News Roundup.

Guests:
Steve Harrison, WFAE’s political reporter
Nick Ochsner, WBTV’s executive producer for investigations & chief investigative reporter
Mary C. Curtis, columnist for Rollcall.com, host of the Rollcall podcast “Equal Time” and contributor at WCCB-TV
Claire Donnelly, WFAE health reporter

Local News Roundup: Insurrection At Capitol, The Coronavirus Surges As Vaccine Rolls Out, Transit Proposal Moves Along

On the Local News Roundup, protesters angered by what they perceive to be a “stolen election,” engage in an act of insurrection, storming the Capitol in Washington. Four people die. The president continues to spread the lies that led to that event and some Republicans begin to distance themselves while others persist in cynical opportunism.

The rate of the coronavirus infection continues to rise to alarming levels. As a result, Gov. Roy Cooper extends Stage 3 restrictions in North Carolina.

And Charlotte City Council takes up the one-cent sales tax for transit.

Our roundtable of reporters fills us in.

Guests

David Boraks, reporter for WFAE (@davidboraks)

Claire Donnelly, health reporter for WFAE (@donnellyclairee)

Joe Bruno, reporter for WSOC-TV (@JoeBrunoWSOC9)

Nick Ochsner, executive producer for investigations & chief investigative reporter for WBTV (@NickOchsnerWBTV)

Mary C. Curtis, columnist for Rollcall.com, host of the Rollcall podcast “Equal Time” and contributor at WCCB-TV (@mcurtisnc3)

Mary C. Curtis: Will Lawmakers Increase Stimulus Money?

CHARLOTTE, NC — President Donald Trump is pushing for higher COVID payouts as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocks a vote on them in the Senate.

WCCB political contributor Mary C. Curtis discusses the latest from Washington and what it means moving forward.

You can catch Mary C. Curtis on Sunday nights at 6:30 PM on WCCB Charlotte’s CW discussing the biggest issues in local and national politics and also giving us a look at what’s ahead for the week.

You can also check out Mary’s podcast ‘Equal Time.’

POLITICAL WRAP: Stimulus on Hold as President Trump Pushes for $2,000 Checks

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The stimulus bill remains unsigned as President Trump digs in on his demand to increase direct payments to Americans.

“I am asking Congress to amend this bill and increase the ridiculously low $600 dollars to $2,000 dollars or $4,000 dollars for a couple. I’m also asking Congress to immediately get rid of the wasteful and unnecessary items from this legislation,” the President said last week.

Mary C. Curtis: Previewing President Trump’s Last Month In Office

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Donald Trump is expected to spend his last Christmas as president at Mar-a-Lago this week. The final weeks of the Trump administration are upon us and though he hasn’t been very visible, the president isn’t leaving the White House quietly.

Our political contributor, Mary C. Curtis is previewing the president’s unpredictable last month in office.

You can catch Mary C. Curtis on Sunday nights at 6:30 PM on WCCB Charlotte’s CW discussing the biggest issues in local and national politics and also giving us a look at what’s ahead for the week.

You can also check out Mary’s podcast ‘Equal Time.’