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WBTV's Good Question

WBTV's Good Question

101 episodes — Page 2 of 3

Why is the Inflation Rate So High Right Now?

Americans are paying more for just about everything, but why? Alex and Jess talk with financial expert Bill Dendy.

Feb 9, 202230 min

What Do We Know About COVID-19 Variants?

Dr. Arin Piramzadian, Chief Medical Officer at StarMed joins Alex, Jamie and Jess to discuss the COVID-19 variants, why they're all so different, and what to expect from them in the future.

Feb 2, 202232 min

Why Do COVID Mask Recommendations Keep Changing?

First it was cloth masks, but now the CDC is recommending N95 or KN95 masks. Why does it matter, what's the difference, and is one really better than the other? Novant Health's Dr. Charles Bergier joins Alex Giles to answer those Good Questions.

Jan 26, 202225 min

How Does NCDOT Keep Streets Safe in a Winter Storm?

Winter storms can make traveling in the Carolinas hazardous. Alex, Jamie and Jess talk with Jen Thompson from the North Carolina Department of Transportation about the process that keeps roads clear, the pre-storm preparation, and the science of brine.

Jan 19, 202239 min

What are the Different Types of COVID-19 Tests?

Novant Health's Dr. Charles Bergier joins Alex, Jamie and Jess to discuss the various types of COVID-19 test, which are most effective, and how your test results should affect your behavior to curb the spread of the virus.

Jan 12, 202234 min

How Can I Keep My New Year's Resolutions?

Dr. Rebecca Jackson from Brain Power talks with Alex Giles about training your brain to give you a better chance at sticking to those New Year's Resolutions.

Jan 5, 202224 min

A Conversation with Anthony Hamilton

Grammy Award-winning R&B artist and Charlotte native Anthony Hamilton joins WBTV's Dedrick Russel for a conversation about his new album "Love is the New Black."

Dec 22, 202119 min

WBTV Chief Meteorologist Eric Thomas

WBTV Chief Meteorologist Eric Thomas joins Alex, Jamie and Jess in-studio to discuss his nearly 40-year career in Charlotte, how a failure led to becoming a meteorologist, and what's next for him as he retires in 2021.

Dec 15, 20211h 2m

Why are Scam Calls Increasing?

What to do if you receive a scam call from someone threatening to take immediate action.

Dec 8, 202119 min

The Mysteries Surrounding the Murdaugh Family

The team looks at the mystery surrounding a prominent South Carolina family of attorneys, and the questions after a series of mysterious deaths.

Dec 1, 202116 min

What's Recyclable and What Isn't?

Jeffrey Smithberger, Director of Mecklenburg County's Solid Waste Management Program talks to WBTV anchor/reporter Alex Giles about just what it and isn't recyclable in the county... and what to do with those pesky pizza boxes.

Nov 24, 202133 min

Who Issues Amber and Silver Alerts?

Nona Best, from The North Carolina Center for Missing Persons talks with Alex, Jamie and Jess about the Amber Alert System in North Carolina, including where the alerts come from, who decides if an Amber or Silver alert is appropriate, and what the public should do when they see an alert.

Nov 17, 202129 min

Why are There So Few Truck Drivers?

Supply chain delays in the US could cause major problems over the next few months. one of the contributing factors is a declining number of active truck drivers. But why? The WBTV team is looking for answers!

Nov 10, 202119 min

Who Decides What Color Charlotte's Skyline Is?

Alex, Jamie and Jess talk with Charlotte Center City Partner's Moira Quinn about the process that goes into deciding what colors light up the Queen City's skyline.

Nov 3, 202133 min

How Does Crimestoppers Work?

Detective Adrian Johnson from CMPD joins WBTV anchor-reporter Alex Giles to discuss the department's Crimestoppers program, and just how community involvement in the program helps fight crime.

Oct 27, 202124 min

Is Social Media Good for Kids?

At what age should your child become active on social media? WBTV anchor/reporter Alex Giles talks with Novant Health social worker Jaren Doby.

Oct 20, 202130 min

What Every Parent Should Know About SIDS

WBTV anchor/reporter Alex Giles is joined by Novant Health Pediatrician Dr. Sumon Bhowmick to answer questions about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and a recent recall of a popular infant pillow.

Oct 13, 202124 min

Can You Be Fired From Your Job If You Are Unvaccinated?

The short answer is yes, you can be fired if you are unvaccinated against COVID-19. Alex Giles digs into the details and the letter of the law with a Charlotte attorney.

Oct 6, 202123 min

How Do Antibodies Work?

Antibodies protect us from getting sick from COVID-19... But what are they? And how exactly do they work? We’re taking those questions to a doctor.

Sep 29, 202124 min

Why Are Gas Prices Going Up?

With gas prices creeping up again, WBTV anchor/reporter Alex Giles talks with AAA of the Carolinas spokesperson Tiffany Wright about what might be causing the spike, and what to expect heading into the Fall season.

Sep 22, 202120 min

Is Contact Tracing Still Important?

With at least one community doing away with COVID-19 contact tracing, we're asking Dr. Meg Sullivan, Medical Director for Mecklenburg County Public Health, if it still matters.

Sep 15, 202127 min

What goes into renaming city streets?

Charlotte has been renaming city streets named for Confederate soldiers and white supremacists. What goes into renaming these streets, and what kind of impact can that make on people’s lives? Dedrick Russell speaks with two community leaders about it.

Sep 9, 202130 min

Do I Need a COVID-19 Booster Shot?

WBTV anchor/reporter Alex Giles talks with Dr. Arin Piramzadian, Chief Medical Officer at Starmed, about the need for COVID-19 booster shots if you are already vaccinated, and when you might need the booster.

Sep 1, 202128 min

Where is Alejandro Castillo?

Five years ago, Alejandro Castillo allegedly committed a violent crime in Charlotte, and then vanished. Today, he's on the FBI's Most Wanted list. CMPD's Captain Joel McNally and Sgt. Allison Rooks join WBTV anchor/reporter Alex Giles in-studio to discuss what they know about Castillo's whereabouts.

Aug 25, 202124 min

Back to School Series Part 1: Are Our Children Safe Back In School?

As the pandemic continues across the country…students are heading back to schools… How do we keep them safe, in the classroom? WBTV Anchor/Reporter Alex Giles talks with Dr. Daniel Donner, Pediatrician at Novant Health.

Aug 18, 202117 min

Back to School Series Part 2: Are Our Children Ready to Learn In The Classroom?

After a year of uncertainty - remote learning, quarantines, and masks - how do we make sure our kids are ready to get back in the classroom? WBTV Anchor/Reporter Alex Giles talks with Dr. Drew Polly, Professor of Elementary Education at UNC Charlotte.

Aug 18, 202121 min

Back to School Series Part 3: Are Our Children Emotionally Ready to Return to the Classroom?

Getting your kids in that ‘back to school mindset’ might be tricky. WBTV Anchor/Reporter Alex Giles talks with Angela Poovey, School Counseling Coordinator from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools about preparing your kids for what could be another unusual school year.

Aug 18, 202119 min

Can a Four-Day Work Week be Effective?

Companies and organizations around the world are considering implementing a four-day work week. Could it work in the US? At least one local organization believes it can. WBTV anchor/reporter Alex Giles talks with Jack Kellum from the UK think tank Autonomy, and CMPD Officer Kristina Frazita about shortening the hours we work.

Aug 11, 202126 min

Why Are Some People Hesitant to get the COVID-19 Vaccine?

Dr. Yvette Rudisel from Novant Health joins WBTV Anchor/Reporter Alex Giles to discuss the reasons she gets from patients who are hesitant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and how to talk to family members who are reluctant to get vaccinated.

Aug 4, 202124 min

Can Cheap Sunglasses Hurt My Eyes?

Wearing the right sunglasses could save your eyes from the sun's damaging rays. WBTV anchor/reporter Alex Giles talks with Dr. Stephanie Hahn, OD, about the importance of selecting sunglasses that don't just look cool, but protect your eyes.

Jul 28, 202117 min

Has the Pandemic Affected Blood Donations?

Maya Franklin from the Red Cross of the Greater Carolinas addresses the area's critical blood shortage, and talks about potential reasons behind it connected to the COVID 19 pandemic with WBTV anchor/reporter Alex Giles.

Jul 21, 202122 min

Why Are All These Dirtbikes on Charlotte's Streets?

Listeners are asking questions about dirt bikes and other ATV's seemingly driving recklessly on Charlotte's streets... especially in Uptown. WBTV Anchor/Reporter Alex Giles talks with Isaiah Harris from Team Charlotte Motorsports, and Trooper Ray Pierce from North Carolina State Highway Patrol about the legality of these vehicles on the streets.

Jul 14, 202132 min

Do I need a COVID Vaccine Booster?

WBTV anchor/reporter Alex Giles answers your questions about the potential of COVID vaccine boosters, and we learn more about the COVID variants from Epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Graham from UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, and Dr. Dan Janus, Professor of Bioinformatics and Genomics at UNC-Charlotte.

Jul 7, 202120 min

How Can I Get the Best Night's Sleep?

Dr. Nancy Behrens of Novant Health talks with WBTV anchor/reporter Alex Giles about how to make sure you get the best night's sleep.

Jun 30, 202126 min

Why Are We Getting So Many Scam Calls?

WBTV's Alex Giles talks with James Evans from the Federal Trade Commission about an increase in robocalls and phone scams, the latest technology and laws to fight these annoying calls, and how simply picking up a call and saying "hello" can compromise your privacy.

Jun 23, 202132 min

How Do Cyber Attacks Work?

David Sims, from Security First IT joins WBTV anchor/reporter Alex Giles to discuss the rash of recent ransomware attacks, what they mean to you and your family or business, and how to best protect yourself against cyber criminals.

Jun 16, 202125 min

Who Controls Traffic Lights?

WBTV anchor/reporter Alex Giles talks with Nathan Conard, Charlotte Transportation Systems Manager about just why some traffic lights seem longer than others, and what does it take to get a traffic light installed in your neighborhood if you think it needs one.

Jun 9, 202127 min

Should We Keep Wearing Masks?

With new COVID-19 cases continuing to drop, and restrictions lifting almost everywhere, should we continue to wear masks? WBTV anchor/reporter Alex Giles talks with Dr. Arin Piramzadian, Chief Medical Officer at StarMed, about the efficacy and continued benefits of wearing a mask beyond the pandemic.

Jun 2, 202126 min

Can Your Return to the Office Hurt Your Pets?

As we slowly begin to go back to our offices, our pets may start to develop signs of separation anxiety. WBTV anchor/reporter Alex Giles talks with Dr. Melissa Keck from Harper Point Animal Hospital about transitioning your pets from being with you all the time, to being without you for several hours a day.

May 26, 202117 min

What is Charlotte's 2040 Plan?

Just what is Charlotte's 2040 plan and why is it so important? WBTV Anchor/Reporter Alex Giles talks with Sam Spencer, Chair of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Planning Commission and Planning Committee about the plan, which details are the most important, and why it's taken so long to put together.

May 19, 202134 min

Should Law Enforcement be Wearing More Protective Gear?

WBTV Anchor/Reporter Alex Giles speaks with attorney Walter Bowers Jr., a former police officer turned attorney, answering your questions about the equipment and procedures that keep law enforcement officers safe.

May 12, 202132 min

Teens and the Mental Effects of COVID-19

Alex Giles speaks with Juliet Kuehnle from Sun Counseling and Wellness about the effect COVID-19 is having on our children and how to talk with them about their own mental health; and we hear from Ginger Finley, a local mom whose son took his own life in February without warning.

May 5, 202138 min

Will the Price of Gas Go Up?

With the country opening back up after more than a year, what will happen to the price of a gallon of gas? WBTV anchor/reporter Alex Giles talks with Patrick De Haan from GasBuddy.com about what to expect at the pump, and what might really be behind what you're going to pay for gas.

Apr 28, 202118 min

Are You Having Second Thoughts About the Second Dose?

Alex Giles talks with Becky Decamillis, a Novant Health Infectious Disease Specialist, about some of the reservations you might have about receiving the second COVID vaccine dose.

Apr 21, 202121 min

Blood Clots and the Johnson and Johnson COVID Vaccine

Anchor/reporter Alex Giles is joined by Dr. Robert Brodsky from Johns Hopkins to talk about the blood clots and just what they mean for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine; and Dr. Meg Sullivan, Medical Director for Mecklenburg County Public Health, about the county's reaction to the Johnson and Johnson vaccine "pause" and just how long the other vaccines will be effective.

Apr 14, 202132 min

COVID-19 and the Price of Lumber

WBTV anchor/reporter Alex Giles speaks with David Logan from the National Association of Home Builders about the effects of COVID-19 on the cost of a new home, and specifically the spike in lumber prices.

Apr 7, 202125 min

I'm Vaccinated... Now What?

Dr. Daniel Janies, Professor of Bioinformatics and Genomics at UNC Charlotte joins WBTV Anchor Alex Giles to answer viewer's questions about just what being vaccinated against COVID-19 really means? When can life go back to "normal," and can a vaccinated person still spread the virus?

Mar 31, 202120 min

COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects

WBTV anchor Alex Giles gets answers to your questions about the side effects from the COVID-19 vaccination from Dr. Katie Passaretti, Atrium Health's Medical Director of Infection Prevention.

Mar 24, 202119 min

COVID-19 Vaccination Confusion

WBTV anchor Alex Giles and Dr. Charlene Wong, NC Department of Health and Human Services Chief Policy Officer for COVID-19, answer viewer's questions about just who is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and why the eligible groups have changed so much over the past several weeks.

Mar 17, 202122 min

Allergies and the COVID-19 Vaccines

In the premier installment of WBTV's Good Question, Alex Giles, Jamie Boll and producer Jess Dyer discuss questions viewers have been sending in to On Your Side Tonight with Jamie Boll about the COVID-19 vaccine and their concerns around allergies and just what is in the vaccine. Later, Alex is joined by Dr. Edwin Kim from UNC's Allergy and Immunology Clinic to answer your Good Questions.

Mar 10, 202124 min