Episodes

May 14, 2024

Stakeouts and surveillance: WRAL Investigates high-performance car thieves targeting Triangle dealerships

A rare Camaro, an Escalade – pricey, luxury vehicles stolen from dealership lots in a matter of minutes. WRAL Investigative Producer Randall Kerr joins Ali Ingersoll to talk about the increasing trend with these thefts.
May 13, 2024

State auditor candidates chart different paths for GOP nomination

Dave Boliek and Jack Clark face each other Tuesday in a runoff to become the Republican Party’s nominee for state auditor, a position that voters haven’t sought to change in 16 years. WRAL State Government Reporter Paul Specht explains why partisanship and professional licensing are at the center of the race.
May 10, 2024

The search for two adoptive siblings missing from Fayetteville for years

The disappearances of Blake and London Deven have captured the attention of social media sleuths as the search for them continues to twist and turn. Both adopted siblings disappeared several years ago but were not reported missing until this year. On Blake Deven's 18th birthday, WRAL Anchor Chris Lovingood explains where the case stands.
May 9, 2024

The officers working to stop drug trafficking on I-95

A long stretch of I-95 runs through our state as it takes travelers from Miami to Maine through a dozen states. Law enforcement say it's not just travelers using the route, it's also drug traffickers. WRAL Investigates' Chelsea Donovan rode along with a special team of officers on a 50 mile stretch through Nash County to see what they find in traffic stops every day.
May 6, 2024

GOP runoff: Prosecutor and political operative vie for NC lieutenant governor nom

The battle for the Republican nomination for North Carolina lieutenant Governor will be decided in a May 14 runoff. GOP candidates Jim O’Neill and Hal Weatherman have different ideas for how to lead the office after Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s term ends — assuming one of them can beat Democrat Rachel Hunt in November. WRAL State Government Reporter Paul Specht explains.
May 3, 2024

UNC puts up fence, closes campus YMCA after Pro-Palestinian protests

It's been a week since Pro-Palestinian protesters at UNC first put tents up on a campus quad. Since then, protests and rallies have come and gone on campus after clashes with police and administrators. Thursday, the University put up a 12-foot fence along the quad and closed the campus YMCA. WRAL Matt Talhelm and Chelsea Donovan explain how we got here.
May 2, 2024

The researchers working on a longer lasting flu vaccine

There's a chance your future may include fewer flu shots. Researchers at Duke are trying to create a vaccine that could last for years, instead of having to get a new one each fall. WRAL Health Reporter Grace Hayba breaks down the two ways research groups are trying to get there.
May 1, 2024

Charlotte shooting: everything we know about the officers killed, those injured and the series that led to it

Four officers were killed Monday while trying to serve a warrant at an east Charlotte home. A total of eight officers were shot, according to police. As news broke, WRAL News sent a team of reporters across the state. Eric Miller joins Ali Ingersoll to share the latest details.
April 30, 2024

Tiny homes for sale online! 🏠 There's a catch, though. 5 On Your Side looks into it.

You might have seen these kits on Amazon or at Home Depot – tiny homes in a box. WRAL’s 5 On Your Side producer Pritchard Strong started looking into them to see if they’re worth buying. He joins Ali Ingersoll to talk about some of the hidden costs and interesting history of box homes in Raleigh.
April 29, 2024

Why a powerful NC conservative is scrutinizing a GOP-backed investment group

North Carolina’s $500 million investment in NCInnovation — a GOP-backed group designed to help the state capitalize on discoveries in state universities — is drawing scrutiny from one of the state’s most powerful Republicans. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran explains the allegations — and why the group denied them.
April 26, 2024

History and romance surround centuries-old tree at UNC Chapel Hill

There’s an ancient legend hidden among the historic buildings in the grassy knoll called McCorkle Place on UNC Chapel Hill’s campus. It’s a witness to history—the Davie Poplar tree, as it's known, has been there longer than the university. WRAL’s Hidden History reporter Heather Leah shared the legends and the romance behind this magnificent antique giant.
April 25, 2024

What we know about the plane that crashed at RDU Wednesday

A UNC Health Physician and a pilot survived when a small plane when it crashed near the RDU runway Wednesday. As the investigation into what caused the crash began, so did headaches for travelers. WRAL Durham Reporter Monica Casey walks through what she saw while reporting near the tarmac.
April 24, 2024

Carolina Hurricanes' hot start in NHL playoffs

The Carolina Hurricanes pulled off a miracle comeback in Game 2 of their first-round series against the New York Islanders. Why the win could boost the Hurricanes to another deep run in the playoffs. Carolina is the favorite to win the Stanley Cup.
April 23, 2024

Tight fight for president, Stein's lead widens in governor's race, new NC poll finds

History could repeat itself this political season, polling shows. North Carolina could once again vote for a Republican president while simultaneously putting a Democrat in the governor’s mansion. Ali Ingersoll talks with WRAL State Capitol reporter Brian Murphy about the poll.
April 22, 2024

NC lawmakers return to Raleigh for 2024 legislative session

State lawmakers return to Raleigh this week to start the 2024 legislative session. They’re expected to make updates to the state budget, and they’ll have a $1 billion budget surplus to divvy up. But other hot-button issues could be on the agenda, too. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran breaks down the priorities for the Republican-led legislature in the months ahead.
April 19, 2024

Fire hazards inside toys and lawn tools

Cell phones, e-bikes, tools – what they all have in common is that they run off of lithium ion batteries. 5 On Your Side producer Pritchard Strong talks with Ali Ingersoll about how they might pose a risk.
April 18, 2024

Less than 100 days to go: Paris making final preparations for 2024 Summer Olympics

There are less than 100 days until the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Ali Ingersoll talks with both Liz McLaughlin and Louis Fernandez about the preparations.
April 17, 2024

Mary Ann Baldwin's decision to step down as mayor of Raleigh

Raleigh Mayor Mary Ann Baldwin announced Tuesday she will not run for a third term due to health concerns. She has served the city for 15 years, first as a city councilor. WRAL Reporter Matt Talhelm walks us through her two terms as mayor.
April 16, 2024

The social media app that connected a 22-year-old man and a 12-year-old Durham girl

A 22-year-old man faces the possibility of life without parole if convicted of kidnapping and raping a 12-year-old girl. Her family says she met the man on a gaming app. The defendant's attorney says she was posing as a college student. WRAL's Chelsea Donovan explains what other parents can learn from the case to protect their children.
April 15, 2024

GOP candidates in NC congressional district focus on liberal connections, immigration

Two Republicans are still competing for the GOP nomination to represent North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District. Leading up to a May 14 runoff, Kelly Daughtry and Brad Knott are accusing each other of holding secret liberal beliefs. WRAL State Government Reporter explains why they’re focused on each other’s ties to Democrats, and why immigration has been such a big talking point — even though it doesn’t rank among the top issues for all North Carolina voters.
April 12, 2024

The blossoming business relationship between North Carolina and Japan

Japan's Prime Minister is in North Carolina Friday--a rare visit to a U.S. state by a foreign leader. It's a visit based on business. There are more than 200 Japanese companies operating here. It also comes in the same week that another investment by a Japanese company was announced. WRAL State Government Reporter Will Doran explains what this vist could mean for North Carolina's economic future.
April 11, 2024

How North Carolina became the poster child for stronger drinking water regulations

The Environmental Protection Agency is setting the first-ever drinking water standards for PFAS, an announcement officials made this week in Fayetteville. These forever chemicals have been found in drinking water across North Carolina and are linked to health risks. WRAL Climate Reporter Liz Mclaughlin explains how these changes will impact our state.
April 10, 2024

New headlights could end nighttime blinding, but haven't hit US roads yet

Most of us have experienced this: driving downt he road at night when suddenly you're blinded by a car coming the opposite direction. Adaptive Driving Beam headlights were designed to prevent that from happening but, as 5 On Your Side's producer Pritchard Strong tells Ali Ingersoll, they're not active in the U.S.
April 9, 2024

In first settlement of its kind, city of Durham pays more than $2 million in police chase lawsuit

Durham has paid more than $2 million to a family of a 24-year-old mother who died in a crash following a police chase. WRAL Investigative Journalist Sarah Krueger talks to Ali Ingersoll about the lawsuit and settlement.