Episodes

Protecting Ocracoke Island and the only road in and out of it
Aug. 21, 2025

Protecting Ocracoke Island and the only road in and out of it

Right now, Hurricane Erin is churning offshore, pushing waves over dunes and spilling water across some roads. That’s not unusual along N.C. Highway 12 in the Outer Banks. But a new collaborative study finds that some of the very efforts to protect this road whenever a major storm comes through may actually be making Ocracoke more vulnerable in the long run. WRAL climate reporter Liz McLaughlin has been digging into the findings.
How to get a refund if a hurricane ruins your vacation plans
Aug. 20, 2025

How to get a refund if a hurricane ruins your vacation plans

Hurricane Erin is not projected to make landfall on the North Carolina coast, but that doesn't mean we won't feel its impact. Hurricane season in general tends to line up with some of the busiest times of the year for the beach. 5 On Your Side's Keely Arthur shares with us what you can do to get a refund if you have to cancel your vacation plans.
Hurricane Erin prompts evacuation orders, rip current warnings from hundreds of miles offshore
Aug. 19, 2025

Hurricane Erin prompts evacuation orders, rip current warnings from hundreds of miles offshore

Hurricane Erin is not expected to make landfall but it is still having serious effects on the North Carolina coast. The Outer Banks are expected to see the most impacts from the storm's wind and rain. WRAL's Shaun Gallegher explains the precautions taken so far.
Your favorite ACC team can make more money if you watch them on TV. Will it make them perform better?
Aug. 18, 2025

Your favorite ACC team can make more money if you watch them on TV. Will it make them perform better?

College football season kicks off soon. And if your team is in the ACC, you can make them more money, just by watching them on TV. Those behind the move say its not just a way to help make teams more money, but also make them perform better. WRAL’s Sports Investigative Reporter Brian Murphy shares what he's learned about the change.
Wake County schools hope to expand therapy resources despite losing federal grant
Aug. 15, 2025

Wake County schools hope to expand therapy resources despite losing federal grant

Wake County school leaders hope to expand student access to therapy to all campuses by the end of the upcoming school year, desptite the district losing most of a $14.1 million federal grant to do so earlier this year. According to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention 40% of US high school students in 2023 reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year and 20% reported seriously considering attempting suicide in the past year. More than half of U.S. adolesce...
What hundreds of dollars spent at a Smoothie King can tell teach us about data breaches
Aug. 14, 2025

What hundreds of dollars spent at a Smoothie King can tell teach us about data breaches

A Garner teen is facing charges after allegedly using someone else's Smoothie King account to order nearly $600 of food items. Authorities say the account was compromised during a 2023 data breach, impacting thousands of customers. WRAL's Shaun Gallagher shares how he found the story and what steps to take to protect yourself.
What's next for the Heritage Square development in Durham
Aug. 13, 2025

What's next for the Heritage Square development in Durham

Heritage Square is a 10-acre former shopping center in Durham, located in the middle of the historic Hayti community. Sterling Bay, a real estate development group, purchased the site in the summer of 2022 with plans to develop it into an area for lab science spaces, offices, and residential units. But there’s a lot in flux, including a pulled rezoning request and the feelings of the historic African American community around it. WRAL news reporter Monica Casey dives into the history and details...
How Wake County students want to modernize their school's HVAC systems
Aug. 12, 2025

How Wake County students want to modernize their school's HVAC systems

Wake County Public School System has a $200 million dollar maintenance backlog affecting heating and cooling its classrooms. Students have been pushing for new HVAC technology but the district says it's not ready for that kind of upgrade. WRAL's Destinee Patterson explains the obstacles.
How Wake's school system is trying to improve special education
Aug. 11, 2025

How Wake's school system is trying to improve special education

The Wake County Public School System is taking a deep look at how it serves students with disabilities. District leaders are evaluating how to better utilize staff and tweak processes to improve special education services, and they’re looking for ways to improve management of individualized education plans — a source of frustration for many parents. WRAL education reporter Emily Walkenhorst breaks down the reorganization.
Fact check: How many Congressional seats would Democrats lose if noncitizens are excluded from the Census?
Aug. 8, 2025

Fact check: How many Congressional seats would Democrats lose if noncitizens are excluded from the Census?

North Carolina State Representative John Blust, a Guilford County Republican, said Democrats have 24 more seats in the U.S. House than they would if noncitizens were not counted in the U.S. Census. And now, President Trump is calling for changes to the Census to count them out. But would it make a difference? PolitiFact Reporter Paul Specht weighs in.
Why Person County road repairs from Chantal could take months to complete
Aug. 7, 2025

Why Person County road repairs from Chantal could take months to complete

More than two dozen roads are still damaged or washed out in North Carolina two months after Chantal's floodwaters. Most of those are in Person County. WRAL's Eric Miller takes a look at how it's impacting people who live there.
Cases of a rare flesh-eating bacteria are slowly rising off the NC coast
Aug. 6, 2025

Cases of a rare flesh-eating bacteria are slowly rising off the NC coast

Vibrio Vulnificus is a flesh-eating bacterium that can cause serious illness and lead to sepsis, shock, and large blisters that destroy tissue. Infections are rare, but can be fatal, and the North Carolina coast is seeing an uptick in cases. WRAL Climate Change reporter Liz McLaughlin puts the danger into perspective, discusses who is most at risk, and looks at the reason for this troubling trend.
WRAL Investigates the cost of a gunshot
Aug. 5, 2025

WRAL Investigates the cost of a gunshot

More than 3,500 people become gun violence victims in our state every year. Survivors have their lives totally altered by their injuries in physical, emotional and financial ways. WRAL's Willie Daniely tells the story of one woman.
How a North Carolina woman’s case over menstrual pain could help others
Aug. 4, 2025

How a North Carolina woman’s case over menstrual pain could help others

A federal judge in Raleigh ruled that endometriosis can qualify as a disability for legal protections. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran explains how the decision could help women who suffer from the condition receive accommodations at work or school.
RNC Chair Michael Whatley officially launches U.S. Senate campaign in North Carolina
Aug. 1, 2025

RNC Chair Michael Whatley officially launches U.S. Senate campaign in North Carolina

Thursday, Michael Whatley, Republican National Committee Chair and longtime ally of President Trump, launched his campaign to seek his party's nomination for the U.S. Senate Seat. We explore his background, his platform, and why going up against the Democratic challenger, former Governor Roy Cooper, will make this an expensive and exciting race.
A new bill could make getting and renewing an NC driver's license easier
July 31, 2025

A new bill could make getting and renewing an NC driver's license easier

The North Carolina House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to pass House Bill 245, which would allow North Carolinians to renew their driver’s licenses online more frequently and ease a law requiring new drivers to document their driving practice hours and submit logs to the state. The bill now goes to the Senate. WRAL's Kirstyn Clark explains the impact to DMV lines and safety.
NC lawmakers override vetoes and reach deal on 'mini budget'
July 30, 2025

NC lawmakers override vetoes and reach deal on 'mini budget'

On Tuesday, republicans in the General Assembly found enough democratic support to override some of Governor Josh Stein's vetoes. They also reached a deal on a 'mini budget' plan to fund some basic state functions. WRAL's Laura Leslie and Liz McLaughlin explain the impacts of these moves.
The illness linked to cannabis and THC landing more people in the hospital
July 29, 2025

The illness linked to cannabis and THC landing more people in the hospital

Doctors in the Triangle report seeing more patients reporting persistant nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and dehydration. Many are being diagnosed with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. WRAL health reporter Grace Hayba talked to one woman who was sick for months before doctors could get to the bottom of it.
Here are North Carolina's ties to Netflix's 'The Waterfront'
July 28, 2025

Here are North Carolina's ties to Netflix's 'The Waterfront'

Set in the fictitious North Carolina coastal town of Havenport, the Netflix drama "The Waterfront" follows the powerful Buckley family as their fishing and restaurant empire crumbles. To stay financially afloat, the family resorts to drug smuggling. Created by New Bern native Kevin Williamson, the eight-episode first season features prominent Wilmington and Southport landmarks. WRAL's Mark Bergin and Justin Arner shared their thoughts on the first season of "The Waterfront," and whether they'd l...
The race for North Carolina's open U.S. Senate seat begins
July 25, 2025

The race for North Carolina's open U.S. Senate seat begins

On Thursday, WRAL News learned Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley is entering the race as the likely GOP front runner for the 2026 U.S. Senate race. Meanwhile, former governor Roy Cooper is likely to be the front runner fo the Democrats. WRAL's Paul Spect explains as the race takes shape.
5 On Your Side team gets Morrisville man refund after a Raleigh Vrbo troubles
July 24, 2025

5 On Your Side team gets Morrisville man refund after a Raleigh Vrbo troubles

A Morrisville man thought he'd picked the perfect Vrbo rental in Raleigh while his family's home was under construction, until he got there. A discovery about what happened at the home, and help from the 5 On Your Side team, got him a $6,000 refund.
WRAL Investigates anesthesia safety concerns after Greensboro toddler dies during dental procedure
July 23, 2025

WRAL Investigates anesthesia safety concerns after Greensboro toddler dies during dental procedure

A two-year-old boy's death has raised questions about anesthesia protocols at dental offices in our state. WRAL Investigates has reported on deaths from anesthesia-related dental procedures. Sarah Krueger explains the growing calls for reform.
New college football season begins with an uncertain future
July 22, 2025

New college football season begins with an uncertain future

Tuesday marks the beginning of the ACC Kickoff in Charlotte. It's the Atlantic Coast Conference's annual football preview event. It's the unofficial start to a season full of uncertainty. WRAL Sports Investigative Reporter Brian Murphy looks at the changes to revenue sharing, player endorsment deals and more. Plus the biggest stories to watch for this season across the Triangle.
Storm Myths, Cloud Seeding and North Carolina’s Geoengineering Debate
July 21, 2025

Storm Myths, Cloud Seeding and North Carolina’s Geoengineering Debate

After the deadly floods in Texas, your social media feed may have been filled with viral false posts blaming "weather-control planes" for the storms. Experts say the physics do not line up but state lawmakers are seeking to ban geoengineering. WRAL's Liz McLaughlin separates fact from fiction.