Episodes
March 21, 2023
“It is their full-time job to take your money.” How to protect yourself from hackers and thieves
Thieves busted a Raleigh woman’s car window and stole her purse, but that was just the beginning. Months later scammers had cleaned out her account, and she was caught in an unhelpful loop with the bank’s customer service. Un...
March 20, 2023
NC’s teacher colleges work to fix reading education
A recent report finds that North Carolina’s universities need to do more to prepare educators to teach reading to the state’s K-12 students. The situation has raised the ire of University of North Carolina Board of Governors,...
March 17, 2023
History hidden beneath North Carolina’s lakes
Have you ever wondered what lies beneath the surface of the lake where you are swimming? Well, lakes in North Carolina have other worlds lurking beneath their surfaces including a train, an airplane, cemeteries, and remnants ...
March 16, 2023
Urban trails lead hikers to historic NC spots
Have you ever wondered why there is a crumbling chimney or a rusted car along the trail where you’re hiking in the Triangle? You may have even walked by an old cemetery in the woods and not even seen it. In this episode, WRAL...
March 15, 2023
“Crisis Next Door”: fentanyl is killing North Carolinians
More than 4000 people in North Carolina died from drug overdoses in 2021. This is the highest number of drug-abuse deaths ever recorded in our state in a single year. 77% of those deaths involved fentanyl according to the Nor...
March 14, 2023
UNC basketball, like life, doesn’t always go well
Weighed down with high expectations, UNC’s men’s basketball team never really got it going this season. Now they’ve missed the NCAA Tournament, despite starting the season ranked No. 1. What went wrong? Where do the Tarheels ...
March 13, 2023
In do-over cases, NC court flexes GOP power
The new Republican majority on the North Carolina Supreme Court recently made the extraordinary decision to rehear two big voting rights cases that Democrats won in 2022. The justices’ choice, which questions decisions by the...
March 10, 2023
In 1961, nuclear bombs fell from crashing plane but didn’t detonate
In 1961, a B-52 Bomber bound for the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base crashed in Wayne County. It was carrying two nuclear bombs which fell into the wetlands there. Amazingly, they did not detonate. Most of the evidence of the ...
March 9, 2023
Super-Agers—they’ve found the fountain of youth
What is the secret to not just aging gracefully, but to thriving as we get older? Currently, there are 56 million people over 65 in our country according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This amounts to almost 17% of the population...
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...