Episodes
Sept. 11, 2025
Why a stabbing in Charlotte sparked a political firestorm nationwide
Last month, a 23-year-old Ukrainian woman who came to the U.S. to flee the war with Russia was fatally stabbed on a light rail train in Charlotte. Though it received little national attention for a few weeks, in the last few ...
Sept. 10, 2025
Who is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine this year? We'll find out more this month
As the cooler months approach, respiratory illnesses are front of mind, which includes COVID-19. Unlike years past, as of now, not everyone can walk up to a pharmacy and get the shot. WRAL's Ashley Rowe talks about where thin...
Sept. 9, 2025
Why people in Tarboro are pushing back against a proposed data center
On Monday, Tarboro Town Council held a public hearing about a proposed data center. Hundreds of people have signed a Change.org petition against it. WRAL's Destinee Patterson explains the plans for the facility and the pushba...
Sept. 8, 2025
Durham woman partners with Duke to start grief program for brain cancer patients, families, doctors
Duke University's Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center will soon offer new mental and emotional support for its patients, their families and their caregivers, all thanks to the donation of a former patient's daughter. Durh...
Sept. 5, 2025
EMS employees worked more than 30,000 hours of overtime amid staffing crunch
Durham County EMS workers made nearly $2 million in overtime and worked more than 30,000 hours of overtime in just one year, according to reports obtained by WRAL Investigates through a public records request. It's an example...
Sept. 4, 2025
Making the grade: NC test scores show proficiency rates are still behind pre-pandemic levels
New data from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction shows student test scores are still not up to pre-pandemic levels, across nearly all subjects and grade levels. But, there’s some positive news: Test scores ar...
Sept. 3, 2025
Why the South Wake Landfill is causing a stink for neighbors
The South Wake Landfill has been causing an odor problem for neighbors in Apex and Holly Springs since it opened in 2008. In the past three months, complaints are on the rise again. The county said most come from within a hal...
Sept. 2, 2025
Saint Augustine's University interim president resigns ahead of first day of classes
Fall semester starts at Saint Augustine's University on Tuesday but students will begin classes without a clear leader in place. SAU's interim president resigned two days before the first day citing personal reasons. WRAL's S...
Sept. 1, 2025
How a former NASCAR executive plans to guide UNC into a new era of college sports
The University of North Carolina has turned to former NASCAR team executive Steve Newmark to help guide the Tar Heels into a new era of college athletics. Newmark says UNC is looking for every last bit of new revenue for an a...
Aug. 28, 2025
EPA data shows more "forever chemicals" are showing up in NC drinking water
New EPA data shows PFAS, short for per-and polyfluroalkyl, is showing up in 200 more drinking systems nationwide, including in Durham and Fayetteville. Those chemicals, known as "forever chemicals" because of how hard they ar...
Aug. 27, 2025
"One Big Beautiful Bill" will likely bring changes to free or reduced-price school meals in NC
Changes to federal benefit programs will likely mean a loss in free school meals for some students, advocates warn. The "One Big Beautiful Bill," signed into law by President Donald Trump in July, tightens eligibility for the...
Aug. 26, 2025
Genentech becomes the latest biotech company to invest in Holly Springs
Biotechnology company Genentech broke ground on its first east coast facility on Monday. It plans to hire 420 people in Holly Springs as it works on developing obesity drugs. WRAL's Shaun Gallagher explains what the company's...
Aug. 25, 2025
NC officials scramble to keep defendant tracking system running
The North Carolina Criminal Justice Information Network is scrambling to find permanent funding for a program that tracks defendants in domestic violence cases across the state. The group’s ankle monitors are being used in 12...
Aug. 22, 2025
Belichick at UNC, Duke's transfer QB among Triangle's top college football storylines
WRAL's Mark Bergin and Pat Welter discuss the top storylines for UNC, Duke and NC State before the start of the 2025 college football season. The top storylines include: Will the Bill Belichick experiment work at UNC? Duke QB...
Aug. 22, 2025
5 On Your Side: How do educators in NC plan to use AI in the classroom?
Artificial Intelligence – what most people now refer to as “A-I” – is a powerful tool that could help students learn. But it’s also raising new concerns about cheating and bias, and educators are being forced to rethink how t...
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 ...
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 bea...
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 e...
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...
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. Accord...
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 cust...
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 devel...
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 kin...
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, an...