Ben Bradford
Ben Bradford is a city kid, who came to Charlotte from San Francisco by way of New York, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. Prior to his career in journalism, Ben spent time as an actor, stuntman, viral marketer, and press secretary for a Member of Congress. He graduated from UCLA in 2005 with a degree in theater and from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism in 2012. As a reporter, his work has been featured on NPR, WNYC, the BBC, and Public Radio International.
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In 1976, Kansas City, Missouri, was the unlikely host of a drama-filled Republican presidential convention that ended up defining the conservative agenda for decades to come. Incumbent President Gerald Ford found himself in a heated battle with then-California Gov. Ronald Reagan to win over delegates and obtain the party’s nomination. WFAE’s Ben Bradford tells the story of how this “shoot-out” shaped the modern GOP. (This episode comes to us from the podcast Landslide.) -
The debate over immigration and "sanctuary cities" has escalated. The Trump administration sued California over three laws designed to keep local officials and businesses from helping enforce immigration measures. State officials say they will stand their ground.
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The state legislature is considering moving up the date of the presidential primary to March from June in order to have more sway over who becomes the Democratic Party's nominee. -
The Confederate flag is again causing controversy after the Charleston church shooting that killed 9 people. The alleged gunman is believed to have been influenced by white supremacists and the flag.
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Two of the biggest dollar stores are merging. Family Dollar shareholders agreed to an $8.7 billion takeover Thursday, choosing not to accept a bigger offer from Dollar General due to antitrust fears. -
Coal ash, a byproduct of burning coal, leaked into the Dan River this month, magnifying an ongoing fight. Now the Justice Department is examining how coal ash is stored and regulated in the state. -
An ATM that lets you video chat with a teller hundreds of miles away? It's part of an effort by the banking industry to cut costs: The more ATMs can do, the less banks have to spend on tellers and real estate. But in-person branches still remain the best way for banks to get new business. -
Civilian furloughs have begun at U.S. military installations worldwide. The mandatory days off without pay, prompted by the current round of budget cuts known as sequestration, are looming over Defense Department-run schools that serve the children of military families. For teachers at the nation's most populous Army base, Fort Bragg, cuts mean no new textbooks and a loss of school days.
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The prefabricated nuclear reactors, which would be small enough to build in a factory and ship on trucks, would generate about one-tenth the power of a typical nuclear power plant. It's potentially a growth opportunity for American industry, but critics say the reactors carry a host of safety, security, environmental and economic concerns. -
The Labor Department announced on Friday the lowest unemployment rate since January 2009. Most big companies use software to screen resumes and ultimately move that unemployment number. These programs can be a big help for hiring departments, but a hindrance for job searches everywhere.
