Ruben, Hal, and Chris are at it again in the latest episode of The Roundtable Talk Podcast, unearthing the vibrant and sometimes contentious heartbeat of Hoke County, NC, and beyond. As fall unveils its charm, they kick things off by diving into the festive spirit of Halloween. The hosts share exciting local events like candy crawls and trunk or treat gatherings happening around, ensuring the community has its share of spooky fun.

But it’s not all candies and costumes; the trio also ventures into the rough terrains of state policies. The legalization and regulation of casinos, alcohol, and marijuana in North Carolina take the center stage. They explore the undercurrents of out-of-state money potentially swaying local politicians, a concern that extends to the lobbying arenas of casinos and video games. The conversation naturally drifts into budget talks within the legislature, with a keen eye on how casino policies are playing their cards in the budgetary deck. And, of course, the potential veto by Governor Cooper adds a twist to the narrative.

As they steer towards health mandates, a memo from Superintendent Catherine Truitt ignites a discussion on the vaccination and masking of young children. Skepticism about the motives behind these mandates finds a voice among the hosts. They also shed light on various other topics including the rapid residential growth in Hoke County against a backdrop of lacking infrastructure, the murkiness in hospital pricing, and the hurdles in implementing a new electronic health records system at the VA.

Gun regulations, military accolades, and the sweet aroma of North Carolina barbecue also find a spot in their engaging dialogue. And who could miss the Rockfish Candy Crawl? It’s not just a call to embrace the Halloween spirit, but also a gesture of support for the Hoke County Thespian Club.

As they wrap up, a sense of gratitude resonates in their closing remarks, appreciating their listeners and sponsors for making them a chart-topping podcast on Grander Vision Media. A hearty shoutout to Raeford Guns and North State Journal Hoke County Edition paints a picture of community support and engagement that fuels their discourse week after week.