Episodes
March 8, 2023
Big Night In for the Arts 2023
Born during the pandemic, this show hosted by four local arts councils in the Triangle recognizes the immense talent that we have in our area. WRAL showcases this talent in the third annual show and raises money for the organ...
March 7, 2023
Pediatric drug shortages frustrate parents
If you’re a parent looking for children’s over-the-counter pain and fever medication at your local pharmacy in the Triangle you may be surprised to find the shelves sparse. Multiple illnesses over the winter increased the nee...
March 6, 2023
GOP lawmakers quietly plan new NC abortion restrictions
Republican legislators are meeting privately to discuss tightening North Carolina’s abortion law, which currently bans the procedure after 20 weeks. They want to reduce that time, but the question is by how much. Whatever the...
March 3, 2023
WRAL Anchor Ken Smith on balancing work and babies
Today, fathers are often equal partners when it comes to parenting. The joys of juggling twins and a toddler is a new experience for WRAL anchor Ken Smith and his wife Amanda. In this episode, Ken gets personal and explains w...
March 3, 2023
After a decade, Medicaid expansion on tap in NC
The top leaders in North Carolina’s legislature reached an agreement that is expected to expand Medicaid coverage. The momentous deal, announced Thursday, is the culmination of more than a decade of political wrangling and a ...
March 2, 2023
NC Senators pass medical marijuana bill
All but 13 states have laws that allow marijuana to be prescribed by doctors for medical use. North Carolina is considering such a law. This week in their initial vote senators passed the legislation by a vote of 36 to 10. On...
March 1, 2023
VRBO rental gone wrong, tips to avoid vacation pitfalls
Gone are the days when people simply book hotels when they travel. Instead, travelers are taking advantage of the 8 million rentals available in nearly 200 countries around the world through multiple platforms. WRAL’s 5 on Yo...
Feb. 28, 2023
House fires burning hotter, faster
If a fire breaks out at your house, experts estimate you have 3 minutes to escape. That’s far less time than 30 years ago. The reason: Synthetic materials that make up household items these days burn hotter, and faster, than ...
Feb. 27, 2023
Beyond metal detectors: Solving school security
High-profile incidents involving guns in public schools are prompting school systems to investigate the best ways to beef up security. North Carolina education leaders are exploring metal detectors and new-fangled weapons det...
Feb. 24, 2023
Floyd McKissick, Jr. recounts 1963 NC debate between his father and Malcolm X
Back in the spring of 1963, civil rights leader Floyd McKissick, Sr. invited Malcolm X to the Triangle for a debate about assimilation versus integration within the fight for equality. The debate almost didn't happen when the...
Feb. 24, 2023
Durham civil rights leader Floyd McKissick Sr. laid the foundation for school desegregation
Floyd McKissick Sr. worked with civil rights leaders that including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X. When race kept him from getting into UNC Law School, McKissick fought back in court and won. Eventually, his case wo...
Feb. 23, 2023
Corporate profits and food prices
When inflation rises, so do corporate profits. WRAL Investigates looked at how the desire to make more money is raising what you pay for food at the grocery store.
Feb. 22, 2023
Law would require teachers to notify parents if a student questions their gender
A Republican-backed piece of legislation called the Parents’ Bill of Rights has passed the North Carolina Senate and is on its way to the House. The law would require teachers to tell parents when students are questioning the...
Feb. 21, 2023
Anti-rioting bill stirs debate among NC lawmakers
An anti-rioting bill has passed in the state House and is on its way to the state Senate for debate. Supporters say the bill is aimed at quelling violent protests. People who are against it say it is racist and unconstitution...
Feb. 20, 2023
NC drowns in government job vacancies, causing spotty services
Thousands of jobs remain open across North Carolina’s government, hampering the state’s ability to offer basic services to a booming population. WRAL State Government Reporter Paul Specht explains what the state is doing to r...
Feb. 17, 2023
Unveiling Underground Railroad history in Halifax
As part of WRAL’s continuing celebration of Black History Month, we are sharing another story about the Underground Railroad with WRAL’s Hidden History Reporter Heather Leah. This time, she tells us about her experience trave...
Feb. 16, 2023
The Raleigh-Durham football team that didn’t make history
Back in 1991, the Triangle was growing, and so was the interest in professional sports.The World League of American Football started the Skyhawks. They played for exactly one season at Raleigh’s Carter-Finley Stadium and neve...
Feb. 15, 2023
Carolina Hurricanes’ outdoor game brings hockey spotlight to Raleigh
This is a big week for Raleigh and the Carolina Hurricanes. Saturday’s outdoor game at Carter Finley Stadium puts Raleigh in the national hockey spotlight. The Canes are having an amazing season, and with one Stanley Cup win ...
Feb. 14, 2023
Big doings at the NC Supreme Court
Republicans took control of the state Supreme Court in November’s elections, and in short order they’ve moved to overturn precedents in major election cases. Now, based on leaked notes from a recent meeting, more changes are ...
Feb. 13, 2023
Roy Williams, after the court
Gerald Owens' extended interview with Coach Roy Williams
Feb. 13, 2023
WRAL Super Bowl commercial has a big reveal
Some people watch for the game, others watch for the half-time show, still others watch for the creative commercials that we remember long after the game fades from our memories. This year WRAL picked a winner with a commerci...
Feb. 10, 2023
A visit to the Great Dismal Swamp where enslaved people took refuge
African Americans fleeing slavery took refuge in this swampy area that straddles the northern North Carolina and Virginia line in the 1800’s. Today, it is part of the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. As part of ou...
Feb. 9, 2023
Tips to make your DMV wait time shorter
Wait times are up again at North Carolina’s Division of Motor Vehicles, and it’s not even the busy season. 5 On Your Side’s Keely Arthur joins us to break down what she found at the state’s DMV and what’s causing the delays. ...
Feb. 8, 2023
Hostage taking at The Robesonian newspaper
Thirty-five years ago two men walked into a Robeson County newspaper with sawed off shotguns, chained the doors and demanded to speak to the governor. During the 10-hour ordeal, WRAL anchor Charlie Gaddy spoke to one of the m...