Episodes

Feb. 24, 2025

Anderson Clayton wins second term as NC Democratic Party chair

North Carolina Democrats reelected Anderson Clayton as state party chair over the weekend — again putting the 27-year-old in charge of a critical state for the party. Clayton originally won the seat in 2023, promising to impr...
Feb. 20, 2025

A closer look at the state's winter storm response and WRAL's continuous coverage on it

North Carolina is experiencing another winter storm this week. On this episode of the WRAL Daily Download, we share how the state prepared and what officials say YOU need to do to stay safe. Also, a breakdown on WRAL's contin...
Feb. 19, 2025

How climate change is altering NC’s winter storms

Even though we've seen three winter storms in the Triangle this season, experts say Raleigh's winters are warming. It will mean extreme weather patterns and fewer cold nights as winter changes over time. WRAL Climate Change R...
Feb. 17, 2025

What if the Department of Education goes away?

President Donald Trump says he wants to close the department of education, and some members of Congress are on board with the idea. North Carolina receives billions of federal dollars for public schools, plus aid and loans fo...
Feb. 14, 2025

How a UNC student fell victim to financial "sextortion"

If your child is old enough to be online, they're old enough to be taken advantage of by criminals. The FBI is warning of a rise in what's known as financial " sextortion ." In the last few months, at least two UNC students w...
Feb. 13, 2025

North Carolina board warns of people posing as dentists

The State Board of Dental Examiners says its seen an increase in unlicensed people posing as dental professionals over the last year and a half. Many patients are drawn in by low prices in social media advertisements. WRAL's ...
Feb. 12, 2025

Fort Liberty is now Fort Bragg again--but not that Bragg

Earlier this week, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegeseth declared the Army would rename the base in Fayetteville back to Fort Bragg. Instead of taking the name of a Confederate general, as it was for decades until 2023, this tim...
Feb. 11, 2025

Public records reveal Durham District Attorney comes to the office roughly half of work days

They're elected officials funded by your tax dollars--how often should local district attorneys be in the office? WRAL Investigates went through years of data and found there are big discrepancies between counties. WRAL's Sar...
Feb. 10, 2025

A new ruling in lawsuit to toss 60K NC ballots; Helene relief funding update

A Wake County judge issues a key ruling in the legal battle over ballots that could determine the winner of a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court. Meanwhile, state lawmakers meet to discuss more funding for victims of Hu...
Feb. 7, 2025

The Raleigh WWII veteran with a post office and a Netflix movie dedicated to her service

Millie Dunn Veasey's family knew about her accomplishments as a civil rights activist but they didn't know the full extent of her military service until late last year. The Raleigh native served in the only all-Black, all fem...
Feb. 6, 2025

Broken: WRAL's newest documentary investigates North Carolina's foster care system

The tragic deaths of two local foster children and the arrest of their adoptive mother have raised big questions about our state’s child welfare system -- a system meant to protect the most vulnerable children. WRAL Documenta...
Feb. 5, 2025

North Carolina school districts trying to calm parents as fake ICE messages cause panic

This week both Nash and Edgecombe County Schools responded to Immigration and Customs Enforcement hoaxes that alarmed parents this week. It comes as President Trump's stronger immigration policies go into affect. WRAL's Heidi...
Feb. 4, 2025

The federal lawsuit targeting North Carolina's 'broken' foster care system

A new federal lawsuit wants the courts to force North Carolina to fix what it calls a broken foster care system. Children, many of them already traumatized, spend years inside the system and many of them bounce from home to h...
Feb. 3, 2025

How new officials are trying to speed Helene recovery efforts

Newly elected state and federal leaders are looking to improve government efforts to help victims of Hurricane Helene. President Donald Trump and North Carolina Governor Josh Stein are promising to speed up relief. WRAL State...
Jan. 31, 2025

What changes from the Trump administration could mean for water treatment efforts in NC

Earlier this week, several new PFAS treatment facilities opened in the Triangle in part of a larger effort to remove the toxic "forever chemicals" from the water supply. Meanwhile, the Trump administration as withdrawn an EPA...
Jan. 30, 2025

Deaths at the Dentist: The push for anesthesia regulations in North Carolina

Many people dread a visit to the dentist, but few think of it as dangerous. WRAL Investigates found numerous times, in recent years, when local dentists were deemed responsible for patients’ deaths. WRAL Investigates Reporter...
Jan. 29, 2025

How a Department of Defense change to moving could affect military service members in North Carolina

Hundreds of thousands of military service members move every year nationwide. It can be a big undertaking for military families and some worry that a change at the Department of Defense could make the process more stressful. ...
Jan. 28, 2025

North Carolina doesn't require training hours for tattooing, we explore the dangers and concerns

In North Carolina, you need more training to cut someone's hair than to put permanent ink on someone's skin. After hearing concerns from a Raleigh tattoo shop owner, WRAL's Chris Lovingood investigated what it takes (and does...
Jan. 27, 2025

How the teacher shortage is affecting students with disabilities

North Carolina’s worsening teacher shortage is hampering schools that need special education services. Students with disabilities are increasingly being taught by people who aren’t qualified to provide them with special servi...
Jan. 24, 2025

Where the battle over NC's Supreme Court seat stands

This week, the NC Supreme Court ruled the battle over which candidate should sit on its bench has to go to trial in Wake County Superior Court. Democrat incumbent Allison Riggs leads Republican Jefferson Griffin by about 700 ...
Jan. 23, 2025

What we know about a Raleigh shootout that killed two men and seriously hurt a police officer

On Wednesday, we learned the names of the suspect and victim of a shootout in a Raleigh neighborhood that also injured a Raleigh Police officer. As police continue to investigate, WRAL reporters have been piecing together the...
Jan. 22, 2025

North Carolina sues President Trump over birthright citizenship

North Carolina is joining the list of states suing the Trump administration over an executive order targeting birthright citizenship. State Attorney General Jeff Jackson sued over President Trump's executive order that would ...
Jan. 21, 2025

Why North Carolina taxes illegal drugs--and why some want to stop

North Carolina is one of a handful of states where people who sell or by illegal drugs are supposed to pay taxes on them. Some argue the bills for those taxes are double jeopardy for people already paying a price in the crimi...
Jan. 20, 2025

How Trump's next term could affect North Carolina

President-Elect Donald Trump's second term begins this week. On the campaign trail, he promised sweeping changes to immigration and economic policy that could affect us here in North Carolina. WRAL's Brian Murphy explains tho...