Episodes
June 27, 2023
ECourt defects and alleged injustice lead to lawsuit
The state’s eCourt system was rolled out in four counties in North Carolina as a pilot program at a cost of 100 million dollars. Now, many people say it is turning out to be a disaster. Hundreds of defects have made the elect...
June 26, 2023
GOP love triangle sparks suit against NC House speaker
Scott Lassiter, a former Apex town councilman, sued North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore, alleging that an affair between Moore and Lassiter's wife led to the destruction of the Lassiters' marriage this year. Moore says the...
June 23, 2023
WRAL’s 5 On Your Side uncovers more major mismanagement of state benefits
Last month 5 On Your Side shared a story about an 80-year-old former state worker who was told the state’s retirement fund had overpaid him by $240,000. He died while working to pay the money back. Now, our team has discovere...
June 22, 2023
Fayetteville domestic violence victim speaks out to shed light on this silent crime
There are many reasons domestic violence victims don’t report the crimes against them-fear of retaliation, fear of losing their children or their livelihood. In this episode, a powerful and candid conversation with a domestic...
June 21, 2023
WRAL’s Cullen Browder retires from television-his journey, the legacy he leaves behind, and his advice to young journalists
Cullen Browder came to WRAL in 1998. In his twenty-five years here he's blazed an incredible trail and become one of the market's most talented and recognizable journalists. Cullen has worn many hats at WRAL including anchor ...
June 20, 2023
In the era of remote work, are state government offices being used efficiently?
After the pandemic, many people continued to work remotely, or took on a hybrid schedule where they do some work from home and some in the office. In light of this shift, our WRAL Investigates team looked into how our state g...
June 19, 2023
Accountability for private schools receiving public funds?
As North Carolina lawmakers eye a drastic expansion in private school vouchers, a debate is re-emerging over the quality and accountabilty of the schools that could benfit from the effort. WRAL education reporter Emily Walken...
June 16, 2023
The history of Juneteenth in Raleigh, the first days of freedom
Juneteenth commemorates the official end of slavery on June 19, 1865. And while it’s only recently become a federal holiday recognized across the country, it has deeply personal roots for many and has been celebrated for year...
June 15, 2023
Fuquay-Varina mother of four with breast cancer asks the public for help after health insurance denies her claim
A Fuquay-Varina mother of four is battling stage four breast cancer. Recently, her health insurance company refused to pay for a drug that her doctor told her was her best chance of survival. She is now being treated at a cli...
June 14, 2023
Wake Forest dad becomes a musical sensation on TikTok
A Wake Forest dad with a day-job shares his music at night from the corner of his children’s playroom on TikTok. He’s now grown his following to more than fifty-thousand people. What first started as a hobby has morphed into ...
June 14, 2023
North Carolina’s castles, unraveling the mystery and the magic
It’s like something out of a fairy tale, majestic castles right here in North Carolina. Many people don’t know that our state and the Triangle are home to stunning historic structures that evoke a magical feel. Some of them h...
June 13, 2023
New construction brings major stormwater flooding to Raleigh neighborhood
We hear it all the time when established residents in a community fight new development in their neighborhood- Not in my backyard. But what if the new development threatens to flood their backyard? This was the situation for ...
June 12, 2023
Trump, Pence and DeSantis descend on NC
Former President Donald Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence and Florida Gov. Ron De Santis were in North Carolina last week making presidential pitches to the state's Republican convention in Greensboro. The event took on...
June 9, 2023
North Carolina first responders prepare for train derailments
First responders in our area attended a training in Garner to learn how they should respond to a train derailment, especially when hazardous materials are on board. In this episode, WRAL reporter Matt Talhelm tells us about t...
June 8, 2023
Widow of man who died by suicide says emergency resources are lacking for adults in crisis
Every year, 47,000 people die by suicide in the United States. Sharon O’Donnell lost her husband, Kevin, to death by suicide in April. Kevin had been in treatment for depression and had sought care at a local emergency room. ...
June 7, 2023
Black bears recently sighted in Chapel Hill; are they getting bolder?
Recent black bear sightings in Chapel Hill have people in the community wondering if bears are getting bolder, or if increasing development is pushing them out of their natural habitats into more populated areas. In this epis...
June 6, 2023
Veteran finds preparer made major mistake on his tax return, owes thousands of dollars
Greg Gidding spent two decades in the U.S. Army. When he retired from his military service, he became an adjutant for North Carolina’s American Legion. Bogged down with his new duties, he enlisted the help of H&R Block to do ...
June 5, 2023
NC Democrats try to shake the blues
The North Carolina Democratic party has struggled in the past year. Democrats lost every major statewide race in the 2022 midterm elections, including the battle for an open U.S. Senate seat and the races that determined cont...
June 2, 2023
The Soccer Tournament is coming to Cary featuring teams from across the globe
It’s simply called The Soccer Tournament, or TST, but there’s nothing simple about this four-day event at the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary which involves 32 teams from nine professional soccer clubs and six countries. TBT Ente...
June 1, 2023
Raleigh business owner shares his views on Pride Month
Pride Month honors the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community and commemorates the violent Stonewall Riots that took place in New York City in June of 1969. Pride Month was officially designated by President Bill Clinton in 20...
May 31, 2023
Chatham County family must rebuild home after corners cut on building process, inspection
Imagine finding out that your new home was so poorly constructed and has so many faults that the only thing you can do is tear it down and start over. This is exactly what happened to a Chatham County family. Come to find out...
May 30, 2023
Chapel Hill’s very own Stonehenge
Most of us have heard of Stonehenge in England, the mysterious pre-historic vertical stones in a circle that people around the world venture to see. But few people know that we have our very own Stonehenge in Chapel Hill--one...
May 29, 2023
A weakened Cooper at the bully pulpit
For most of his two terms in office, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has worked behind the scenes to bring his priorities to fruition. But in recent weeks, Cooper has resorted to aggressive tactics, using the bully pulpit to oppos...
May 26, 2023
North Carolina’s very own Shangri-La, paradise on earth
In 1968, at the age of 75, a tobacco farmer decided to build a miniature stone village with rocks he mined himself from his own property. What followed was a magical mini-town featuring 27 buildings complete with tiny inhabit...