CAROLINA Focus with Sharon Thorsland and Ed Billick – 2-1-26

On this Feb 1, 2026 episode of CAROLINA Focus with Sharon Thorsland and Ed Billick

Guest: Mike Kucharski is the Co-Owner and Vice President of JKC Trucking, discuss the Department of Transportation’s decision to “move full speed ahead” with autonomous trucking.   DOT leadership is actively promoting autonomous trucking: Deputy Secretary Steven Bradbury emphasized easing regulatory barriers and creating a national framework to accelerate autonomous vehicle (AV) deployment, with support from multiple DOT components including NHTSA. Updating outdated safety standards: DOT plans to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) that were written for human-driven vehicles, such as requirements for manual controls, to better accommodate autonomous trucks and facilitate commercialization. Industry support and rule changes: DOT is looking to speed exemptions and provide clearer guidance on performance standards for automated driving systems, with backing from industry groups looking to roll out fully driverless commercial trucking with Ed 

WBT’s Nick Craig – Carolina Journal News Hour – discusses North Carolina continues to rank among the top three states for population growth, a trend that state leaders say is driving both economic opportunity and infrastructure strain. At the same time, bipartisan state and federal officials are increasing pressure on regional power grid operators to rein in rising electricity costs that are hitting consumers and businesses alike 

Recorded – JJ Jansen, Carolina Panther along with David Chadwick joins Bo, Beth, and Jim Szoke on Good Morning BT to share his thoughts and conversation concerning, this past season’s performance of the Carolina Panthers, his future after 17 seasons, hoping for an 18^th season.  Also, his take on the Patriots and Myers Park HS QB Drake Maye, Seattle’s Sam Darnold and this year’s Super Bowl.  His prediction, Patriots 26 – Seahawks 17

Listen here for more !!!